“World Pandesal Day” on Oct. 16 Free 100,000 Pandesal & foods

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#WorldPandesalDay

In time for the celebration of annual #WorldPandesal Day on October 16 with free 100,000 Pandesal breads to be given away at 84-year-old Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City, some customers and top celebrities shared their favorite ways of eating the uniquely Filipino bread Pandesal.

Movie actress, former Batangas Governor and former Deputy Speaker Vilma Santos Recto said: “My favorite is coffee and cheese in my Pandesal!!!” Movie producer Mother Lily Y. Monteverde said: “Ever since as a child, my favorite is Pandesal breads with bukayo… Happy World Pandesal Day!”

National Artist for music Ryan Cayabyab said: “My favorite is pan or oven-warmed Pandesal with hardened butter, dunked in a cup of hot tablea or traditional chocolate, making sure butter is not completely melted. Yummmmy!” National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee said: “I love eating Pandesal with peanut butter, sometimes cheese. I don’t drink coffee.”

Actress and beauty queen Ruffa Gutierrez said: “I love eating hot Pandesal with butter. It’s most delicious when you dip it in hot coffee with milk in the mornings or merienda time.” Comedian Giselle Sanches said: “I like eating Pandesal with cheese. Kesong puti is the best cheese for Pandesal. The Italians would go wild once they get to taste Pandesal with kesong Pputi. Cheapest nutritious merienda out there.”

Actress Iza Calzado said: “Pandesal toasted with kesong puti and butter and hot chocolate is heavenly!!!” Singer Cooky Chua said: “I love hot Pandesal from the bakery and with palaman of egg or laing.”

Actor Albert Martinez said: “I love old school way of hot Pandesal in the morning with kesong puti and good Batangas coffee.” Actor and painter Jao Mapa said: “I love toasted Pandesal bread with butter or sometimes with peanut butter.”

Quezon City Councilor and actor Alfred Vargas said: “My favorite way of eating Pandesal is when it’s fresh and hot straight from the ‘pugon’, then I’ll put kesong puti as ‘palaman’ or Coco Jam when I’m craving for something sweet. I’ll have the local hot chocolate with it to complete the treat. That is the way we do it in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, my hometown.”

The first “World Pandesal Day” civic and cultural project was launched on October 16, 2015 at Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City with special guests GMA Network, Inc. Chairman Atty. Felipe Gozon, Senator Sonny Angara and National Youth Commission (NYC) Commissioner and actor Dingdong Dantes.

Among top leaders who sent greetings to the annual World Pandesal Day include Vice-President Sara Duterte Carpio, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and others.

The public is invited to annual #WorldPandesalDay celebration on October 16, 2023 Monday 10 am for free foods of 100,000 Pandesal breads, cheese, sardines, hams, juices and other foods to be given at 84-year-old Kamuning Bakery Cafe at Judge Jimenez Street corner K-1st Street, Barangay Kamuning, Quezon City. Special guests to lead the bread-giving ceremony at Pandesal Forum will be Senate Agriculture & Food Committee Chairman Senator Cynthia A. Villar. October 16 is also United Nations’ “World Food Day” to highlight global problems of hunger and food security.

The public is also invited on the eve of #WorldPandesalDay on October 15 Sunday from 8 am to 12 noon at Kamuning Bakery Café for a Free Medical and Dental mission. This shall be undertaken with volunteer doctors, dentists, nurses and staff of Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) and Chinese General Hospital (CGH).

4 public schools near Kamuning Bakery Cafe with representatives to the Oct. 16 kick-off ceremony of free Pandesal distribution are Kamuning Elementary School led by Principal Luisito O. Cleto, Tomas Morato Elementary School Principal Aleth Bautista-Molina, Quezon City High School Principal Josephine Maningas and Don Alejandro Roces Sr. Science & Technology High School Principal Marivic Francisco.

The historic, artisanal Kamuning Bakery Café is Quezon City’s pioneer bakery and its owner, realty entrepreneur and writer Wilson Lee Flores has turned it into a social enterprise with profits going to civic and cultural charities like rural public schools donations and the annual World Pandesal Day.

Started on October 16, 2015 with special guests GMA Network, Inc. Chairman Atty. Felipe Gozon, Senator Sonny Angara and former National Youth Commission (NYC) Commissioner Dingdong Dantes, Kamuning Bakery Cafe owner Wilson Lee Flores said the goals of “World Pandesal Day” are to honor the humble yet great Pandesal as national bread of the Philippines and to highlight the need to solve the age-old problems of hunger and poverty.

Other leaders who have sent messages to support World Pandesal Day in the past included Vice-President Sara Duterte Carpio, former President Rodrigo Duterte, former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, former President Joseph Estrada, late President Fidel V. Ramos, former Vice-President Leni Robredo, late Senate President Edgardo Angara, Senator Imee Marcos, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and others.

Wilson Lee Flores said this philanthropic project of giving away 100,000 free breads and other foods to urban poor families and orphanages every October 16 was inspired by the miracle in the Bible of a humble boy who donated five loaves of breads and two fishes, which Jesus Christ multiplied to feed thousands of people.

World Pandesal Day has the support of Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), Chinese General Hospital, Philippine Foremost Milling, San Miguel Mills, Mondelez Philippines, Hobe Noodles, Mega Sardines, King Sue Ham, Yan Yan International Phils. Inc., Nash Coffee, Caltex in Iba Malhacan Road in Meycauayan Exit of Bulacan, Cathedral Cargo Movers Trucking and Pagcor.

DepEd highlights culture of literacy, lifelong learning in 2023 National Literacy Conference

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The Department of Education (DepEd) underscored the importance of creating a culture of literacy and lifelong learning during the 2023 National Literacy Conference (NLC) on October 11 at DepEd ECOTECH Center.

“Our goal is to promote functional literacy and ensure that every Filipino possesses the skills and knowledge in real life, equipping individuals with the ability to make informed decisions, communicate effectively, and actively participate in the workforce and society,” Vice President and Secretary of Education Sara Z. Duterte said during her keynote address.

With the theme, “Building a Culture of Literacy: The Power of Communities as Catalysts of Literacy Development,” the 2023 NLC gathered around 500 participants to enhance and provide educational opportunities, advocate for lifelong learning, and empower community members in literacy activities.

“By investing in education and promoting literacy, we are investing in the future of our country, unlocking the potential of our people, and paving the way for sustainable development and prosperity,” VP-Sec Duterte added.

During the plenary sessions, regional delegates and resource speakers highlighted the role that communities play in fostering and promoting literacy skills among learners and individuals through four sub-themes, which include Building a Culture of Literacy Towards a MATATAG Nation, Strengthening Intercultural and Inclusive Teaching and Learning Practices, Recognizing the Vital Role of Communities in Literacy Development, and Advancing Literacy Through Research and Development.

“The journey to promote literacy is not without its challenges, but as we come together to share our experiences, knowledge, and innovative approaches, we become a formidable force for change. We are the ones who can break down the barriers to learning whether they be social, economic, or cultural,” Undersecretary for Curriculum and Teaching Gina O. Gonong said.

In addition, the LCC issued a Call for Papers last September 8, to gather policy recommendations that may influence, shape, or impact approaches, strategies, and mechanisms at the national and local levels in building a culture of literacy in the country.

These policy recommendations were also summarized and presented at the end of the conference.

The NLC hopes to increase awareness of key education stakeholders on the current initiatives of the Department and to strengthen intercultural and inclusive teaching and learning practices in an ever-changing education landscape.

Kuryente.org slams MERALCO power rate increase, unjust automatic pass-through

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Kuryente.org slams the recent announcement of MERALCO to increase by .44/kwh in the billing for October. This increase will result in an P84.00 increase for consumers with 200Kwh of electricity consumption per month. The announced increase is double in amount compared to the recent average minimum wage increase of P40.00.

Roland Vibal, National Coordinator for Kuryente.org, said:

“MERALCO’s basis for this abrupt increase is unacceptable and unjust for residential electricity consumers. The increase due to high generation cost as supply of local natural gas is insufficient and the continued high price of imported alternatives is a knee-jerk reaction and not a valid excuse. MERALCO must stop acting as a spokesperson for the generation company.

“The true cause of the increase is the automatic pass-through provisions that the government allows to continue despite calls for its prohibition. This mechanism justifies both power producers and distribution utilities like MERALCO to abruptly pass on to consumers any changes in price to preserve their profit margins.

“Kuryente.org calls for the scrapping of automatic pass-through provision and the Energy Regulatory Commission must review all MERALCO Power Supply Agreements and immediately stop it. Likewise, the review and amendment of the EPIRA should repeal and scrap any section of the law that allows this mechanism of automatic passing of increase in cost to consumers.”