Say it with PRide

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In celebration of Pride Month, we uncover how CASTRO Communications, from being a startup PR firm to becoming one of the most gender-progressive companies in the industry, has found its ultimate cause.

Representing the PR in Pride—that's what CASTRO Communications has shaped up to be. From a hopeful start-up to a full-fledged communications agency that represents one of the most remarkable gender movements of today, CASTRO is both known for impeccable PR partnerships and its role in pushing the LGBTQ+ agenda in the Philippines.

The brainchild of Martin Castañeda, who spent his early professional years in the Corporate Communications arm of L'Oreal Philippines, CASTRO recognized the opportunity to penetrate the lifestyle PR market as more and more brands clamored for non-traditional and creative ways to communicate with the media and the public. As Managing Director, Martin knew that growing the business wasn't a task he could do alone, so he sought out the services of long-time friend Janlee Dungca, formerly an events professional. Together with the rest of the team, CASTRO slowly built its lifestyle and luxury portfolio, partnering with companies such as Branded Lifestyle Inc., distributor of Ray-Ban and most luxury eyewear brands in the country, and the L'Oreal Philippines flagship, with its lineup of hugely successful brands such as L'Oreal Paris, Kerastase, L'Oreal Professionnel, NYX Cosmetics and Kiehl's. Other well-known brands include Nivea, Levi’s, Guess, SM and Celeteque.

Martin Castaneda

Janlee Dungca

Lui Castaneda

In 2014, Martin and Janlee (the latter named as CASTRO's PR Director) welcomed frequent collaborator Lui Castañeda into the agency fulltime as CASTRO's Accounts Director. This move proved to be a truly auspicious step for the agency, as from there CASTRO grew both in terms of clientele and employee size—two telltale signs of highly competitive and successful startups. Currently, CASTRO has expanded its client portfolio to include household FMCG brands such as Toblerone, Cadbury, Cheez Whiz, Eden Cheese, Oreo, Belvita, Tang and Berocca, and has partnered with the most successful celebrities and content creators in their campaigns and events. The depth of PR services it provides is executed by CASTRO's solid team of hardworking employees, a creative group of individuals who have become both colleagues and friends.

As the Martin-Janlee-Lui trifecta developed CASTRO's commercial success, they also started to be recognized as one of the most progressive, pro-LGBTQ+ companies in the country. The name CASTRO itself was inspired by Castro District in San Francisco, where the yearly LGBTQ+ Pride Parade found its early beginnings. Individually, CASTRO's founders are LGBTQ+ members and advocates themselves, who actively contribute to the cause apart from their full time responsibilities in the agency. Janlee is a member of LoveYourself, a non-profit organization that aims to spread awareness on HIV-AIDS prevention, testing and treatment, especially towards members of the LGBTQ+ community. Martin and Lui also continually push forward the Pride advocacy in their various interviews and features.

But as proud LGBTQ+ individuals, Martin, Janlee and Lui's staunchest act in showing their support for the agenda is choosing to work with and collaborate with members of their community. Throughout CASTRO's seven years in the industry, they have continually hired employees, commissioned suppliers and worked with LGBTQ+ groups and individuals, and consider it as their way of changing the stigma against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in society. Locally, one of CASTRO’s most valued members is Niko Pedro, a proud gay man who does consultancy work for the company and also works as a consultant for a local news network. Outside the Philippines, CASTRO has expanded in Singapore, with an office headed by happily married gay couple Alvin Miranda and Jappy Reyes, both established marketing professionals.

In an interview she did last 2016, Janlee defined CASTRO’S practices as ways of "debunking myths about LGBTQ+ people perceived to always be parloristas or sex workers." As CASTRO built its corporate brand, the trio realized that their pro-LGBTQ+ stand has become an essential part of the company's identity—in fact, it's become the introductory line in their client pitches. The CASTRO directors consider this brand DNA both a privilege and a responsibility, for they now recognize their role as frontliners in the cause to raise awareness on gender equality in the workplace, both locally and internationally.

As Martin works on expanding and starting an office in the US, he explains: "We founded CASTRO in the hopes of introducing a new lifeblood to the Philippine PR and branding industry, which I built with transgender women I trusted for their talents and work ethics. I did not expect that our personal identities would affect and inspire the LGBTQ+ movement both in and outside the country. Now, as CASTRO fully imbibes this spirit in our DNA, I only look forward to how the company can continue to push the Pride agenda through our unique place in the PR industry."

Cusi: Total Electrification Key to a Bright Future

Wazzup Pilipinas!

TOTAL ELECTRIFICATION: Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi addresses the 46th Annual General Membership Assembly of Northern Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NONECO) on Sunday (27 May) during which he vowed to pursue total electrification of its coverage areas.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi reiterated on Sunday (27 May) the government’s plan to provide electricity services to the whole of Northern Negros, as well as all communities across the country so that present and future generations can be empowered.

On the occasion of the 46th annual membership assembly of the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NONECO), Cusi asked NONECO to closely coordinate with the National Electrification Authority (NEA) to fully realize its electrification plan.

Cusi said that the Department of Energy (DOE) endeavors to remove the challenges in providing electricity to all communities across the country so that Filipinos are assured of a brighter future.

"We have to act now [on electrification], because our children on areas without power are already in their growing years,” said Cusi.

“We cannot take back the time when they have to read their school lessons at night without having a conducive environment for learning,” he added.

Data from NEA showed that NONECO has electrified 158,629 households as of March 2018, out of its baseline data of 200,000. This means, 21% of NONECO's franchise area, or nearly 41,000 households remain unserved or underserved.

At the same time, Cusi underscored the need to introduce smart grid technologies all over the country because of their proven efficiency in significantly reducing systems losses and other operational inefficiencies.

He also called for the adoption of the Resiliency Compliance Plan (RCP) which aims to make the power industry resilient to both natural and man-made calamities.

The RCP outlines best practices in disaster management that will make the energy sector more sustainable.

According to Cusi, consumers, as members of the Third Party Bids and Awards Committee (TPBAC) under the Competitive Selection Process should also be involved in the process of contracting agreements to ensure transparency.

The committee is involved in reviewing and approving power supply contracts of a certain power distribution utility (DU).

"Once implemented, the consumers can have a representation in the DU's power supply contracts, and will result in a more favorable and lower electricity rates,” said the DOE chief.

Cusi is also asking public support for DOE’s initiative to reflect the unbundled electricity rates under the proposed standard electric bill format across all DUs.

"We find the need for DUs to provide such information to our consumers so that they will know what they are paying up to the last peso. This advocacy [standard electric bill format] is for all of us to become more informed electricity consumers, thereby becoming more empowered."

NONECO is serving nine towns in the region: the cities of San Carlos, Escalante, Sagay, Cadiz, and Victorias; and the municipalities of Calatvara, Taboso, Manapla, and Enrique B. Magalona.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

CUSI WITH NEGRENSES: Member-consumers of the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NONECO) listen intently as Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi delivers his keynote address during its 46th Annual General Membership Assembly on Sunday (27 May) where he discussed initiatives of the Department of Energy to address energy security issues.

ENERGY ISSUES: Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi together with National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Edgardo Masongsong tackle energy issues during the radio program of the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NONECO), which held its 46th Annual General Membership Assembly on Sunday (27 May).

Types of Projects and Their Main Characteristics: A Guide for Students

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Normally, every student is required to work on at least one project during his or her education.

Projects in a campus environment cannot be treated like projects in a high school environment.

Students are required to work on professional campus projects as possible, adjusting what they will face in the world of work. But many of them do not realize how to achieve systematization on campus projects. This article will explain the types of projects and what to do to ensure they are professionally done.

Every project is born of a need and is aimed at achieving a result within a limited time, with a beginning, an end and some objectives that determine the scope and resources of it. Each project is unique, since it does not involve a routine operation but a specific set of operations. That is why there are many types of projects and it is common for a project team to often include people who normally do not work together because they come from different organizations or come from different geographical locations.

This and other peculiarities of a project make it necessary to be managed and guided by experts to deliver the results within the budget, the deadline and the quality that have been foreseen and always providing learning. Hence the importance of good project management, which is the application of knowledge, skills and techniques for effective and efficient execution. It can also be understood as a strategic competence for organizations, since it allows them to link the results of the project to business objectives and, therefore, compete better and strengthen a stronger market position.

The project management processes are divided into five groups applicable to all types of projects: preparation, planning, execution, monitoring and delivery. The knowledge involved in project management is based on ten areas: 

Scope: refers to the impact that the project has on the environment in which it operates. For example, the number of people addressed or the incidence of the results obtained from its execution.

Time: the short, medium or long term also determine the management of a project, as well as the phases or iterations in which it is divided.

Integration: knowing how to integrate tasks, classify them and find a sequence between them is fundamental for the management and achievement of results in the execution of a project. The best example is the IT project. Most IT projects require integration between design, technology, user tastes, and budgets that all require integration-based management. Therefore, most professional IT projects use professional help that can be found over the Internet. 

Based on my experience, Assignment.EssayShark employs some people who are experts in writing programming assignments. They are clearly one of the best examples of solutions for every IT project, both in an educational environment and in a professional environment.

Cost: the measurement of costs allows us to have an idea of ​the budget that we must have to guarantee the continuity, sustainability and viability of the planned actions.

Quality: the results of a project cannot be of any kind. They must respond to quality standards and the main objectives.

Shareholder management: they are those who support the project and its execution in some way. Project management must also manage the contributions they make and implement their decisions.

Communications: knowing how to transmit messages is a fundamental task for the integration of tasks and good execution.

Risk management: it is essential that we know what we are facing while managing a project: risks, threats, external factors, etc.

Human resources: it is necessary to manage the technical and technological resources on which the tasks are supported; we must do the same with the personnel who execute the tasks.

Supply: the channels of resources, raw materials and other elements necessary for the start-up of tasks must be guaranteed. Otherwise, the project will lose continuity.

What are the main types of projects?

When talking about a project it is always necessary to specify something else that allows defining the area or sector where their competences will be developed. There are many types of projects, but the most common are:

Simple projects: those whose tasks do not have too much complexity and which can be done in a relatively short time.

Complex projects: those that demand more planning or whose tasks are numerous and require an organization. The high-speed train in Mecca is a good example.

Whatever your project, you should make sure it's done in a clear workflow. It is important for you to ask for professional help if the quality of your project is completely non-negotiable.