Oakwood Appoints International SOS for Global Accreditation of its “Oakwood Clean360” Programme and Alignment with Expert Health and Safety Protocols

Wazzup Pilipinas!


More than 80 Oakwood properties worldwide to be audited for consistency and compliance


Oakwood, announced the appointment of the International SOS Group of Companies (“International SOS”) to undertake the accreditation of its Oakwood Clean360 programme. Following the launch of Oakwood Clean360 in June 2020, this appointment underscores Oakwood’s unwaivering commitment to protect the health and safety of its guests, associates and partners. International SOS’ global medical advisors will assist Oakwood in ongoing risk analysis and enhancements to ensure robustness of the programme and maintain consistency across more than 80 properties in Asia Pacific, the United States and the United Kingdom.

“Although public health requirements differ in every country, Oakwood is implementing a globally consistent safety program that meets the highest standards of health and hygiene so that our stakeholders can enjoy peace of mind at every Oakwood destination. The hallmark of our hospitality excellence transcends memorable experiences. Oakwood strives to create a safe sanctuary for our guests to feel at home. The partnership with International SOS demonstrates our relentless commitment to mitigating risks with vital precautionary measures in a safe and sustainable manner,” said Dean Schreiber, interim chief executive officer of Oakwood.

International SOS is the world's leading health and security services company with more than 30 years of expertise in building workforce resilience, saving lives, and protecting all employees from any health and security threats.

“We are delighted to work with Oakwood to enhance their operational hygiene procedures, as the hospitality sector prepares for the resumption of travel. Continuous improvements will be introduced to ensure that the programme evolves in response to best practices in managing public health concerns, and that the team is equipped to adjust to these new protocols,” said Dr. Low Kiang Wei, medical director of International SOS.

Taking a holistic approach to the accreditation process, International SOS’ medical consultancy reviewed and enhanced Oakwood’s current hygiene standards framework, and developed audit tools and guidelines to monitor compliance and accurate implementation. Every Oakwood property is required to send operational teams for audit training, including associates from the Housekeeping, Engineering, Front Office as well as Food and Beverage divisions. The company will pilot its new programme at Oakwood Premier AMTD Singapore.

Earlier this summer, Oakwood became the first serviced apartment brand to mandate the use of face masks in all public areas and added that requirement to the global Clean360 programme.



For more information, please visit: https://www.oakwood.com/clean360

WWF-Philippines’ Environmental Education Team Reaches Over One Million Filipinos

Wazzup Pilipinas!


The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines’ Environmental Education (EE) Program has reached out to over one million individuals this 2020 -- a milestone achieved despite the lockdown measures that have been put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Environmental Education Program was formally launched in May 1999, when they began touring coastal communities and major cities around the Philippines through a traveling exhibition called the Project L.I.F.E. (Learning Interdependently For the Environment). Complete with multimedia equipment, educational materials on biodiversity conservation, and a mobile educational van that featured Philippine wildlife in its exterior, Project L.I.F.E was able to teach 20,000 children on its initial run.

With the project’s success, the EE Program expanded its scope to include thematic environmental modules on climate change, waste and energy management, and food security and sustainability – not just for students, but for teachers as well as whole communities.

For 21 years, the EE team continued to conduct sessions integrated with lessons of conservation and sustainability while inspiring the youth to innovate and grow as leaders and champions for the environment.

The EE team provides support to WWF-Philippines’ projects and campaigns, and crafts educational programs and activities for the organization’s conservation partners. While the EE team works mainly with schools and educators across the Philippines, they have also formed strong relationships with Local Government Units and the private sector. Partnerships are an integral component of the EE program.

The team has maintained a constant presence in Southern Bicol, specifically in Donsol, Sorsogon, where they educate students about the whale sharks located in the Ticao-Burias Pass Protected Seascape, as well as the importance of preserving natural habitats.

“This is a big deal for us, especially considering the fact that we’re still under a pandemic. We all worked hard for this – our current team, our previous members, and our partners who continued to reach out to us, even during the pandemic,” says WWF-Philippines Environmental Education Program Manager Dino Calderon. The team continues to work amid the pandemic, reaching students through workshops and webinars using different virtual and online platforms.

Challenged by different issues such as marine life threats, plastic pollution, unpredictable weather, and the COVID-19 pandemic, Calderon stresses the significance of environmental education for deepened understanding of these problems. He emphasized the importance of equipping the youth with knowledge, values, and skills to address these emergent environmental threats and promoting consciousness and conservation efforts for the natural resources.

The EE team continues to explore effective and timely approaches to teaching about the environment. “We’re always looking out for new concepts, new things to teach, whatever we can use to train young minds to be compassionate and caring for the environment,” says Calderon. He added that without environmental education, contemporary issues would be difficult to resolve, and the burden of dealing with their impacts would be shouldered by future generations.

As it enters its 22nd year of operations, the EE team will continue its work and advocacies to reach more young minds.

“Our work doesn’t end here. We’ll continue to work with schools and with the youth, as we always do. We plan on working with professionals and companies as well, raising awareness on sustainable lifestyles and greener workplaces. We want everyone to participate in building a fairer, greener future for all,” added Calderon.

The Environmental Education team is part of the organizing committee of WWF’s Global Education Summit (GES) which is set to be held in 2021. This summit, which is expected to be attended by different educators of the WWF networks worldwide, aims to strengthen the role of environmental education by providing strategies that will contribute to achieving the WWF goal of building a better planet.

As part of its innovative strategies, the EE team has begun practicing the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) approach. ESD looks at social, economic, and environmental considerations to issues, and promotes the Sustainable Development Goals.

FDCP’s Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 4 Offers Premium Films, Classics, Oscars Submissions, Tributes, and More

Wazzup Pilipinas!

FDCP to reveal more titles featured in the PPP 4 lineup in the coming days

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) will showcase over 100 films in the 4th Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) which will have its first online edition this year from October 31 to November 15 at the agency’s new FDCP Online Channel.


The PPP4 is an FDCP-led omnibus project featuring titles from local film festivals like the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, QCinema International Film Festival, Cinema One Originals Film Festival, Sinag Maynila Film Festival, CineFilipino Film Festival, ToFarm Film Festival, and Metro Manila Film Festival as well as from various producers and regional film festivals, a PPP Retrospective, the Lab portion of the Sine Kabataan Short Film Competition, and the CineMarya Women’s Film Festival.


“This year’s PPP is a solidarity event that aims to encourage support for Philippine Cinema in light of the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to propagate the love for Filipino films among audiences and help sustain the country’s film industry that is gravely affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The FDCP is glad to announce that all proceeds will be given to producers involved in the festival through revenue sharing,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.

PPP4 Festival Lineup

PPP4 features the following sections: Premium, Classics, PH Oscars Entries, Tributes, Romance, Youth and Family, Genre, Bahaghari, PPP Retro, Documentary, and From the Regions, along with Sine Kabataan and CineMarya. A partial list was provided by the national film agency when the PPP Early Bird Rate Festival Pass was made available from September 30 to October 15.

The Premium section will feature films that had limited release or have never been released to the Philippine audience. The Premium Showcase lineup, along with the regional short films and other additional selections, will be revealed by the FDCP on October 8 in a press conference.

The Classics section will screen cinematic gems by National Artists for Film, with the first three being restored films by the FDCP’s Philippine Film Archive:

“White Slavery” by Lino Brocka

“Genghis Khan” by Manuel Conde

“Manila by Night” by Ishmael Bernal

“Balikbayan #1: Memories of Overdevelopment Redux VI” by Kidlat Tahimik

“Ang Panday” by Fernando Poe, Jr.


PH Oscars Entries include critically acclaimed films that were submitted by the Philippines to the Academy Awards Best Foreign Language Film race.


“Ma’ Rosa” by Brillante Mendoza

“Verdict” by Raymund Ribay Gutierrez

“Sa Pusod ng Dagat” by Marilou Diaz-Abaya

“Saranggola” by Gil Portes

The Tributes section pays homage to departed screen legends and industry pillars.

“Death Row” by Joel Lamangan (for Eddie Garcia)

“Adela” by Adolfo Alix, Jr. (for Anita Linda)

“Insiang” by Lino Brocka (for Mona Lisa)

“Muro-Ami” by Marilou Diaz-Abaya (for Marilou Diaz-Abaya)

“Filipinas” by Joel Lamangan (for Armida Siguion-Reyna)

“Sonata” by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes (for Peque Gallaga)


The Romance section provides the kilig factor that is a surefire hit among Filipino audiences.



“Sakaling Hindi Makarating” by Ice Idanan


“Moments of Love” by Mark Reyes


“Ulan” by Irene Villamor


“Never Not Love You” by Antoinette Jadaone


“Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw” by Joyce Bernal


“Una Kang Naging Akin” by Laurice Guillen


“Mga Mister ni Rosario” by Alpha Habon
   

  

Films with lighthearted or heartwarming stories, meanwhile, are part of the Youth and Family section.

• “Pepot Artista” by Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr.

• “Family History” by Michael V.

• “1st Sem” by Dexter Hemedez and Allan Ibañez

• “Edward” by Thop Nazareno

• “Dayo” by Robert Quilao

In the Genre section, there are action, horror, drama, mystery, thriller, science fiction, and historical biopic films.

• “Alpha: The Right to Kill” by Brillante Mendoza

• “Instalado” by Jason Paul Laxamana

• “Abomination” by Yam Laranas

• “Dyamper” by Wes de Guzman

• “Jose Rizal” by Marilou Diaz-Abaya

• “El Presidente” by Mark Meily

• “In Nomine Matris” by Wilfredo Manalang

The Bahaghari section features at least five LGBT-themed films.

• “Akin ang Korona” by Zig Dulay

• “Billie and Emma” by Samantha Lee

• “Ned’s Project” by Lemuel Lorca

• “Ang Huling Cha Cha ni Anita” by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo

• “Rainbow’s Sunset” by Joel Lamangan

It’s a walk down memory lane in PPP Retro as this section contains past PPP entries.

• “Pauwi Na” by Paolo Villaluna

• “Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus” by Dwein Baltazar

• “Star na si Van Damme Stallone” by Randolph Longjas

• “Paglipay” by Zig Dulay

• “Circa” by Adolfo Alix, Jr.

In line with FDCP's goal to push for more opportunities for Filipino documentary filmmaking, a Documentary section is included in this year's edition of PPP.

• “Nick and Chai” by Cha Escala and Wena Sanchez

• “Lugta Ke Tamama (Land from God)” by Kevin Piamonte

• “The Search for Weng-Weng” by Andrew Leavold

• “God Bliss our Home” by Nawruz Paguidopon

• “Carving Thy Faith” by Hiyas Bagabaldo

In the From The Regions section, feature-length films show indigenous stories and unique narratives from various parts of the country.

• “Tanabata’s Wife” by Charlson Ong

• “Ang Daan Patungong Kalimugtong” by Mes de Guzman

• “Baboy Halas (Wailings in the Forest)” by Bagane Fiola

• “Tu Pug Imatuy” by Arbi Barbarona

• “Magkakabaung” by Jason Paul Laxamana

• “Ari: My Life with a King” by Carlo Catu

• “Salvi: Ang Pagpadayon” by TM Malones

As for this year’s edition of Sine Kabataan, the youth-oriented filmmaking competition will be focusing on project development where the selected stories and concepts will undergo a Project Lab during PPP. At the end of the Lab, projects will be pitched and the winning stories will receive a production grant to push through with their projects. For the PPP screening, Sine Kabataan short films from earlier editions will be featured, including the following:

• “Sa Unang Araw ng Pasukan” by Arjen Manlapig

• “Bato Bato Pik” by Lorys Plaza and Jaq Sanque

• “Kalakalaro” by Rodson Suarez

Finally, the FDCP’s CineMarya, in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and Philippine Commission on Women, gets its own PPP section this year. The final 12 CineMarya short films will be premiered during PPP4. 

• “Daadaan Na (Her Walks)” by Julius Legoen Lumiqued

• “Super-Able” by Arjanmar H. Rebeta

• “Night Shift (Reverie) (Loud Voices)” by Mariel Joy S. Ong

• “Dalaginding na si Isang” by Kristinne Nigel Cenosin Santos

• “Noontime Drama (Tanghaling Tapat)” by Kim Rivera Timan

• “She’s Perfect” by Jochelle Casilad

• “Hakab” by Mel Rose Aguilar

• “Super Woman” by Angela  Francesca V. Andres

• “Winged Dreams to the Blue Heavens” by Maria Ena Aimee Lourdes Apostol Escasa

• “Binakol sa Dahon” by Gary T. Tabanera

• “Ola” by Mijan Jumalon

• “Adira” by Jorzheema Hamid

PPP4 offers several festival subscription options such as the Full Run Pass (PHP 599) that grants a 16-day access to the Premium Selection films and events, free content, free panel sessions/workshops, calendar, and trailers. The Half Run Pass (PHP 299) provides access to the short films library and full-length scheduled screenings for eight consecutive days while the Day Pass (PHP 99) gives access to the short films library and full-length scheduled screenings for one day.

The Early Bird Rate for the Full Run Pass, priced at PHP 450, is available until October 15. There is also a Free Pass that provides access to the calendar and free content. Beginning October 16, senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) can avail of a 20% discount while students will get to enjoy a 30% discount.

The FDCP announced that additional titles in the PPP4 lineup will be revealed in the coming days. Watch out for updates on more film titles and other events lined up in the first online edition of the PPP.

For updates and more information, visit FDCPchannel.ph and facebook.com/FDCPPPP.