Benilde Teams Up with La Salette for Free Workshops in Dagupan

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Volunteers from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde recently conducted free summer training workshops at the Escuela de Nuestra Señora de La Salette in Dagupan City. 

Benilde, through the Center for Social Action (CSA) office led by its director, Leo Cortes, and La Salette, represented by its president, Marianne Tan-Lor, partnered in the Summer of Service (SOS) 2017 program to provide free training and workshop to teachers, staff and students of the De La Salle-supervised school at Tapuac District. 

In the spirit of volunteerism, service and collaboration, Benildeans provided skills-based services to La Salette from April 17 to 27. CSA matched the skills of SOS participants to the training needs of its partner school. 

Anna Aqui, who works as a Counselor for Multimedia Arts at the DLS-CSB Center for Counseling Services, handled Personality Development for La Salette teachers and staff led by Principal Sonia Tandingan-Camacho and Student Services Director Rustan DV. Indong. 

“I signed up for SOS to share what I know about positive psychology and student well-being in schools, learn more about myself and be of service to other communities,” Aqui said. 

IFEX Philippines Spotlights top EU Brands on May 19-21

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Ten leading companies from the European Union (EU) is set to showcase their food products in the much-awaited 11th edition of IFEX Philippines on May 19-21 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM) and the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC).

The Department of Trade and Industry, through its Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (DTI-CITEM), presents in IFEX Philippines the top food brands and technologies from EU states, including Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, and The Netherlands.

“Since IFEX Philippines is the Asia’s premier ethnic and ingredients show, exhibiting companies from Europe are in a strategic position to penetrate the lucrative Eastern Asian market,” says DTI-CITEM Executive Director Clayton Tugonon.

EU became IFEX Philippines’ first international partner region through a collaboration between DTI-CITEM and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) and EU-Philippines Business Network (EPBN).

Under the EU Pavilion, 10 companies representing EU are Black Pepper Limited, Düringer Fleischkontor, Foodsniffer, Imepa B.V., Asia Banff International Trading Corporation, Mlekoma, Nestle Philippines, AInc., PW Partners, and Sante and Union de Guyenne Boxdeaux. Through its embassy, Poland will also have its own country exhibit to promote their products.

PHL-China Closer Ties Opens More Trade Opportunities for Agri-Exporters in IFEX Philippines

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“There is a lot of interest from the Chinese market lately because of the ‘Duterte factor.’ The Philippine-China relationship has been growing really fast, it’s now at a golden era. We should capture this momentum. It’s an opportunity to promote to Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xiamen, Beijing, including HK and Macau,” explained Antonio Tiu, chairman and CEO of AgriNurture, Inc., and one of the country’s agri-export pioneers participating in the 11th edition of IFEX Philippines on May 19-21 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM).

Based on China’s National Bureau of Statistics, food imports in China have recorded an annual average growth of almost 15 percent in the past five years. By 2018, China is expected to become the top importer of foreign food products, with the total value of food imports set to reach RMB 480 billion (US$77 billion).

“In the upcoming IFEX Philippines, more exporters are excited to venture in the Chinese market now that the economic superpower is considered as the world’s biggest food importer,” said DTI-CITEM Executive Director Clayton Tugonon. “Philippine companies have an edge in capitalizing on China’s huge food demand, thanks to the latest diplomatic arrangements brought by the efforts of President Rodrigo Duterte.”

China has surpassed the United States to become the world’s largest importer of agricultural products, according to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Even with 500 million farmers, China has been unable to meet the country’s growing demand for agricultural products.

Last March, China signed an agreement to buy USD 1.7 billion worth of fruits and other agricultural products from the Philippines. On February, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua also encouraged the Philippines to pr oduce more dried mangoes to meet the "insatiable" demand in their country.

Ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Beijing last year, China has lifted restrictions on banana, and pineapple exports; and welcomed exports of Philippine mangoes, coconut and dragon fruit as well as lapu-lapu (grouper), crabs, shrimps, prawns, tuna and bangus (milk fish). Led by Duterte, Philippine delegation also managed to secure a commitment from China to finance $24 billion worth of investment projects and credit facilities for the Philippines.