Keeping Up with the Lopezes

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Here’s how the Lopez family lives a healthier, better life with Santé


They say that a family is like the branches of a tree that grow in different directions. However, for the Lopez family, their root remains united through a household hobby–bicycling.

In an interview with the Lopezes, Louie, Alou, Gel, Aira, and Kang shared what they feel about being the newest addition to the family of Santé, a premier natural and organic health and wellness product and services provider, and their secrets to achieving not just a fit body but a healthier lifestyle, especially amid the global health crisis.

Speaking of #FamilyGoals and #FitnessGoals, the Lopez family has the best of both worlds. Heading the tribe of these health enthusiasts is their father, who is well-loved and known by many as “Papa Louie.” His daughters sharing his same energy include Aira Lopez, a duathlete, a YouTube vlogger with half a million subscribers, and the host of a CNN show called Cycling Unlimited, with her equally beautiful and fit siblings Alou Lopez, Angela Lopez, and Alyssa Lopez.

During the height of the pandemic, the family’s home was not an exception to the virus. Alou, who was working as a flight attendant in a local airline, was very much exposed to different people. Thus, she was infected first. Thankfully, due to their active regimen, the family only had mild symptoms and recovered faster.

“With the mobility limitations brought by the pandemic, it was challenging for everyone to stay active. However, we delivered packed foods to frontliners at the hospitals and checkpoints using our bikes. As we helped and gave back to the community, it became an exercise routine for the family,” Papa Louie shared.

Ever since, the family has been health enthusiasts, doing different kinds of sports and physical activities. But more than the benefit to them, they equally see it as their mission to tap more. “Biking is not just a sport for us. It is our advocacy. Because it is a male-dominated sport, we want to encourage more women to participate in it,” Alou shared.

As the Lopezes hope to reach more Filipinos, especially women and inspire them to do the sport they love and enjoy, the family was ecstatic to join Santé as they share the same values and goals with the brand--helping people live better lives.

“We trust the brand. I have been drinking Santé Barley for a long time. It has helped me address my health issues. It is also my secret to keeping an energized and fit body,” Papa Louie added.

Santé Barley™, the company’s flagship product, is made of barley grass gathered at a young age and turned into powder and capsule forms. It is composed of pure organic barley grass rich in vitamins and minerals that help detoxify the body, lower bad cholesterol, aid digestive health, deliver a good number of antioxidants, assist wound healing, bone formation, and many more.

A glass or capsule of Santé Barley™ fortifies the body with Vitamin C, zinc, calcium, amino acids, magnesium, iron, B-vitamins, and carotenoids, essential to giving the immune system an extra boost. The healthy goodness of Santé Barley™ is certified organic by New Zealand’s renowned organic produce and products organization, BioGro.

Lastly, the Lopezes reminded everyone to be happy and mentally prepared before pursuing any sports, such as cycling. “Most importantly, do not forget to drink your everyday supplements, such as Santé Barley,” Aira added.

Santé Barley™ and other Santé products are organic health and wellness products offered by Santé, known for developing a comprehensive selection of everyday barley-based products. They are designed to improve people’s quality of life to live more and do more.

Santé is one of the leading global growers of certified barley grass grown and harvested from New Zealand. With its mission to help people live better lives, the company promotes, produces, and distributes premier natural health and wellness products and services. Today, Santé has expanded its offerings, including a fitness and rehabilitation center with Santé Fitness Lab, staying true to its thrust of promoting a healthy lifestyle.

To learn more about Santé, visit its website at mysante.com.

DOST-SEI issues warning on fake and suspicious social media accounts

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The Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) advises its stakeholders, scholars, applicants, and the public to be wary of fake and suspicious social media groups and pages bearing the name or logo of the Institute and/or its flagship DOST Scholarship Program.  

  

The Institute has recently come across numerous websites, and Facebook pages with misleading information about scholarship programs, including fake job offerings. Some of these social media accounts are:  

  

1. DOST Scholarship 2022 - https://www.facebook.com/groups/677958326348485  
2. DOST Scholarship –  https://www.facebook.com/DOST-Scholarship-100587408740184 

Please be reminded that any announcement regarding DOST-SEI scholarships, and other programs can only come from the official Facebook page and the official website at the following links:  

1. Science Education Institute – Department of Science and Technology - https://www.facebook.com/DOST.SEI 
2. DOST-SEI Website – 
   
   https://www.sei.dost.gov.ph/index.php/newhome
     

Furthermore, applicants and scholars should course all applications and related concerns to the official email addresses of DOST-SEI scholarship division.

SEI has taken a proper course of action to combat these accounts and would like to affirm its stand against misinformation, disinformation, and mal-information.   

Any suspicious social media account or website may be reported to the Institute via email or through the SEI Facebook page.

  

PLDT, Smart train future cybersecurity professionals

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PLDT and Smart engage the next generation of cybersecurity professionals in the fight against cyber threats and cybercrime. PLDT and Smart’s Cybersecurity Operations Group (CSOG) trained graduating Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and Information Technology students from Asia Pacific College (APC) on cybersecurity under a six-month internship program called the Cyber Warrior Course (CWC).

“Cybersecurity is an advocacy. You need discipline to survive the industry. I’ve had 27 years of experience but I am still learning. You have to constantly push yourself to be better because the enemy is getting more sophisticated,” encouraged Angel Redoble, FVP and Chief Information Security Officer at PLDT and Smart.

“Our students spend two terms on internship. It has been a working success for us and our partner-institutions. Internship lets students experience the workplace and the importance of why they are choosing this particular career,” said Rhea-Luz Valbuena, Executive Director of APC School of Computing and Information Technology.

Out of the 40 students who passed the interviews conducted by CSOG, 19 of them chose the CWC and were onboarded into the program. Guided by CSOG trainers and subject matter experts, the interns, also called cadets, were immersed into the group’s daily operations – analyzing real-world situations and using scientific and empirical approaches to solve cybersecurity challenges.

“Every minute counts. You should be quick in addressing issues. We’re glad that our mentors from PLDT and Smart helped us with our tasks,” said Information Technology major Melo John Lorenzo, the Top 2 cadet of his batch.

The interns were assigned to the different CSOG subgroups called ‘pillars’ to learn their specific functions and how they contribute to the PLDT Group’s overall efforts in defending the companies’ data, networks, systems and infrastructure and protecting customers against cyber attacks.

“The world has seen a dramatic increase in cybercriminal activities. Together, let us push back against these nefarious actors who undermine people, organizations, even nations, and help ensure a safer internet for all,” said Francisco Ashley Acedillo, AVP and Head of Cyber Security Strategy and Innovation at Smart.

Developing cybersecurity warriors is part of PLDT and Smart CSOG’s active drive to fortify and ensure the resiliency and sustainability of their cybersecurity systems, which is fundamental to the PLDT group’s much broader program to elevate the quality of customer experience by protecting them from cyberthreats.

Green Run at Vermosa encourages outdoor activity, nature appreciation for physical, mental health

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After two years of quiet and confinement, it’s time to celebrate the green outdoors and have fun in the sun.

Vermosa, an Ayala Land Estate in Imus Cavite, is front running the event. It is a modern, suburban community that promotes healthy and active living. On July 3, Sunday, everyone is invited to lace up and run for a greener tomorrow with the staging of Green Run. It will be a one-day, multi-level run within its 750-hectare property that is fast gaining fame as the new sports and fitness hub down south.

Consisting of 21K, 10K, 5K and 3K distance categories, the Green Run is targeting elite athletes, fun runners, fitness enthusiasts, athletes in training, weekend athletes, families, barkada, and just about anyone who is eager to run. Various running routes winding through wide open spaces and abundant greenery punctuated with wide pedestrian walkways, bicycle and jogging lanes, and enhanced greenways will make this Run a truly pleasant experience.

Vermosa’s famous Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub, a state-of-the-art professionally–managed sports facility that has already hosted various national and international sports events will be the center of activities for registration and information. Featuring a FINA-standard Olympic size swimming pool, a warm up pool, an IAAF standard 400m track oval, field with natural tiff grass, an Athletes Lounge, and a gym operated by Sante Fitness Lab, a premier training ground for amateur and professional athletes.

Vermosa has partnered with Pinoy Fitness, the running, fitness and multisport event organizer, to conduct the Run. A beautiful medal created by artist Cynthia Bauzon-Arre of Forest Foundation Philippines, will be among the perks that runners will get for their participation. Proceeds of the Run will go to Haribon Foundation’s Adopt-a-Seedling Program, to build a greener tomorrow.

Vermosa Estate Head Jay Teodoro, a sports and fitness enthusiast himself, says “As more places begin to reopen, we can now enjoy the outdoors with more activities to engage in. I personally advocate sports and spending time outdoors as it helps boost physical and mental health. Physical activities, like running, provide a change of scenery and help reduce stress. This is why we organized the Vermosa Green Run. We want people to rediscover their surroundings, appreciate nature, enjoy the fresh air and boost their health. With an abundance of wide-open spaces and the state-of-the-art sports facilities at Vermosa Sports Hub, Vermosa provides one of the best venues to engage in physical activities.”

Those interested to join Green Run may go to ayalaland.myruntime.com to register.

Reloadly partners with PLDT Global to enable migrant Filipinos to support their loved ones from abro

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Reloadly has partnered with PLDT Global to make international top-ups available to migrant Filipinos



PLDT Global has partnered with Reloadly, an international airtime top-up and digital goods solution, to give businesses and their developer teams plug-and-play access to PLDT Global network.

Under this partnership, digital businesses can integrate seamlessly to the PLDT Global network all over the world through Reloadly APIs, supporting the growing demand from the global developer community for innovative airtime solutions for the fintech, NGO, cryptocurrency, e-commerce, and customer rewards industries.

Reloadly is also one with PLDT Global on the mission to transform the lives of its clients globally, accelerating the deployment of high-speed data networks, closing the digital divide in the countries where it operates by deploying digital highways for millions of people who today are taking advantage of the new digital economy.

Acting as an airtime aggregator, Reloadly provides the world’s first dedicated platform for connecting to the global mobile network. Within this platform is a growing toolkit of airtime software, including Reloadly’s airtime API, widget, plugin, SDK, GitHub projects and more, as well as a vast multilingual library of developer documentation to build open-source airtime solutions.

“We are delighted to join forces with Reloadly for its airtime solutions to strengthen our Vortex platform. Our partnership reflects PLDT Global’s commitment to make digital solutions more accessible to Filipinos wherever they are in the world. This will uniquely position PLDT Global to offer a more convenient option for our customers to securely and seamlessly make digital transactions, including paying bills and sending load to their loved ones. This fosters our vision of enhancing connectivity for migrant Filipinos and their families back home,” said PGC Global CEO Albert Villa-Real.

Michel Francis, CEO of Reloadly, says that “Reloadly is a startup with global ambitions that enables users of our airtime software toolkit to easily integrate with top mobile operators like PLDT Global.”

“The vast majority of the world -- about 78% -- still depend on prepaid plans,” Francis adds. “Our mission is to reinvent and break down barriers in the global telco industry by empowering developers and brands to fuel mobile access in markets across the world, most of which have been underserved for far too long.”

Reloadly’s partnership with PLDT Global is an important step to seizing the untapped potential that mobile phone ubiquity has ushered in the global economy. Through this alliance, creating, customizing, and integrating airtime services for creative and innovative new business lines will become more possible than ever.

Reloadly, Inc.: RELOADLY provides simple, intuitive, and flexible APIs to send Airtime, Data Bundles, Gift Cards, and Bill Payments across the world. As the world’s first developer platform for connecting to global telcos, Reloadly provides better building blocks for integrating digital mobile payments. Reloadly built several open source solutions for the developer community, taking the complexity out of integrating with telcos. With a transparent system and direct connection to +800 operators worldwide, Reloadly offers a “pay as you go” platform with plug-and-play technology, being the only company that provides SDKs in the industry.

PLDT Global: PLDT Global Corporation (PGC), the international arm of the Philippines’ largest integrated telco network PLDT Inc., is a technology services company that provides high quality communications infrastructure and innovative platforms to its network of carriers, enterprise customers, and distribution partners enabling them to achieve their desired connectivity, reach, and market relevance. For over 20 years, PLDT Global has built its strong international presence by providing meaningful connectivity and data solutions to a growing network of partners. To find out how PGC can help you achieve your digital acceleration goals, please visit pldtglobal.com

Law Group Warns Food Companies: Eliminate Trans Fat Before FDA Deadline

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“One year left. The food industry must ensure that the food they produce and offer for sale to the public is safe and trans fat-free.”

This is the statement of the law group ImagineLaw today, a year before the deadline for the food industry to remove their processed food products with trans fatty acids (TFA) from the market, as set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through Circular No. 2021-028 which mandates food manufacturers, producers, and distributors to reformulate their products and shift towards a TFA-free food production by June 18, 2023.

TFA is a toxic food additive that increases the risks of heart disease and other non-communicable diseases (NCD). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), trans fat is unnecessary and causes only health harms. To address the prevalence of NCDs, the WHO urged countries to remove trans fat from the global food supply by 2023.

“Industry compliance is crucial in achieving our goal of a trans fat-free Philippines by 2023. With a year before the deadline, we urge the food industry to act now and remove TFA from their food production,” said Atty. Mary Grace Anne Rosales - Sto. Domingo, ImagineLaw’s project manager.

Beginning June 19, 2023, pre-packed and processed food items with TFA or partially hydrogenated oil (PHO) should not be offered for sale in groceries, convenience stores, and the like. Food producers, distributors, and sellers are mandated to exhaust their existing product stocks with high TFA content and PHO before the said deadline.

They are also required to reformulate and apply for a Certificate of Product Registration (CPR), an accreditation for evaluated products that are proven safe and healthy.

After the transitory period, violation of the Circular’s provisions can result in the disapproval of the establishment’s application, and CPR suspension or cancellation.

The FDA regulations implement the Department of Health (DOH) Administrative Order No. 2021-0039 regulating TFA in processed and pre-packaged food items. The national policy was issued as part of the government’s effort to curb NCDs in the country and join the global effort to eliminate trans fat.

“The government and civil society advocated for measures against the harmful TFA. It is now in the hands of the food industry to join the collective health effort by complying with the FDA regulations on time,” Sto. Domingo emphasized.

CICC opens cybercrime laboratory

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The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) unveils the latest and state-of-the-art Digital Forensics Platform and Laboratory (DFPAL). DFPAL will be an important tool of the government’s fight against the rising cybercrimes, especially, Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC). This cybercrime laboratory is located at CICC’s headquarters in Quezon City.

“The opening of DFPAL will allow the CICC to monitor and coordinate with other law enforcement agencies in conducting thorough digital and forensic investigations and assist them in prosecuting cybercriminals nationwide,” says CICC Executive Director Cezar O. Mancao II.

One of the goals of the CICC is to address the problem of OSAEC. “The CICC’s DFPAL was established and operationalized to conduct relentless, coordinated efforts to prevent, disrupt, and possibly stop if not mitigate the issues of OSAEC through the collaborative partnership of local and international stakeholders towards providing a cybersafe environment for children,” says Mancao. “We have acquired a powerful state-of-the-art technology, which will improve the success rates of investigators and policing operations in the ongoing pursuit to identify, apprehend, and convict individuals and networks associated with online child sexual exploitation,” he adds. The DFPAL will be manned by trained and certified professionals from various fields such as information and communications technology, psychology, digital forensics, data analytics, research, and communications that would provide vital support to the operations of the CICC.

The CICC was created by virtue of Republic Act 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, for policy coordination among concerned agencies. It is one of the attached agencies of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) tasked to lead the government’s efforts in the fight against cybercrimes, especially those victimizing the most vulnerable segment in society, our children.

The CICC has undertaken several programs, such as Child Online Safeguarding Policy (COSP), Cyber Patrol Program, Batang Barangay Capability Program, and the Cyber Conflict Program, among others. We are also part of the Inter-Agency Council Against Child Pornography (IACACP) and the Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking (IACAT).

“OSAEC is a tragic and growing problem in the Philippines, but it does not need to be a permanent one. We will do everything that we can to protect Filipino children. We have to act now and fight against these monster predators. We need to help each other to protect our netizens, says Mancao.”

Vulnerabilities of children

The COVID-19 pandemic aggravated the problem of online child exploitation involving child pornography and other forms of child online sexual abuse, specifically with children from low-income families. This has strengthened the resolve of the CICC for safer cyberspace. Mancao says, “To support this advocacy, we have child online protection programs and initiatives in partnership with various civil society organizations and many stakeholders.”

He explains that these crimes are borderless. The unprecedented access to the internet through computers and mobile phones has made children the most vulnerable segment to cybercrime. “These technologies are now embedded in their lives, our lives. With the DFPAL, the CICC will be better equipped to fight OSAEC,” adds Mancao.

DFPAL will serve as proof of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s commitment to fighting the threat of OSAEC. “This will serve as the President’s legacy in gathering all the resources of the government to address this threat affecting thousands of families,” adds Mancao. “The opening of this new facility will provide law enforcement agencies with updated data and intelligence that can lead to the arrest and prosecution of these predators.”

To report a cybercrime against children, you can call our helplines, 09666524885, 09206260217, or via email at report@cicc.gov.ph. You may also reach out to our institutional partners, the NBI-Cybercrime Division (nbi.gov.ph or at (877) 624-7707), PNP – Anti-Cybercrime Group (acg.pnp.gov.ph or at 0998 598 8116), and DOJ – Office of Cybercrime ((+632) 523 8482).

Collaboration: A key in creating sustainable agri-enterprises

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Limited market information and market access are two major obstacles to increased smallholder farmers’ income. According to studies, farmers in grassroot communities often lack access to profitable, value-added markets. In the absence of critical supporting functions, such as infrastructure and service provision – farmers struggle to transform their traditional subsistence farms into a feasible commercially oriented production. Buyers, on the other hand, such as wholesalers, find it difficult to get the quantity and quality of produce that they need for processing on a timely basis.

Because of this challenge, SM Foundation collaborated with various government agencies, and engaged various SM business units such as the SM Development Corp. (SMDC), SM Supermalls and SM Markets to ensure that local farmers under the Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan (KSK) program have venues where they can sell their produce amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

From training KSK participants in practicing sustainable farming technologies via technology transfer and product development, SMFI, together with various SM business units used the power of collaboration to create farm-market linkage - which intends to create a powerful driver of rural poverty reduction.

Team social good

The Good Guys Market is a weekend market set up in SMDC properties to connect small-scale farmers directly with consumers—condo residents. This initiative links around 26,000 small-scale farmers directly with consumers.

Together with SM Supermalls, SMFI launched the Green Lane initiative. Led by the wives of the KSK farmers, the social enterprise offers a wide variety of quality yet affordable indoor and landscape plants which cater to every enthusiast’s preference. In addition, the team also launched the KSK Farmers’ Market Day to provide farmers with market exposure in select SM Malls nationwide.

Meanwhile, SMFI also partnered with SM Markets in creating market for onion farmers. Through the partnership, SMFI was able to establish specialized onion pop-up booths creating a stable market for small scale onion farmers.

Millions of smallholder farmers are seeking ways to improve the productivity of their farms and to improve their market performance. Modern farming technologies, paired with market linkage, such as the SM KSK, plays a vital role in improving the livelihood of small-scale farmers and their families.

SM Foundation’s Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan (KSK) is SMFI’s Social Good program on sustainable agriculture that intends to uplift the lives of Filipinos in grassroot communities through sustainable agriculture via technology transfer, product development and farm-market linkage. To date, the program has trained more than 28,500 farmers from more than 900 cities/municipalities nationwide.

Working together to serve more communities for a sustainable future

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Climate change is one of the most pressing and defining global issues today. It has become imperative for both the public and private sectors to continue to band together to primarily, safeguard the welfare of the people and to step up to strengthen the resilience of the nation.

The Philippines currently ranks third globally when it comes to climate change vulnerability. In relation to its geographical location, it is more exposed to altering intensities of climate change manifested through erratic weather systems and natural calamities.

The private sector is called upon now more than ever to align with the principles of sustainable development and to take on the same firm stance on environmentally sound practices in its operations.

“I constantly encourage the private sector to work closely with the government. This way, we can be more cohesive in our efforts to make more meaningful progress towards a better and sustainable future. As a private enterprise, SM Prime will continue to do its share in addressing climate change for the benefit of communities,” said Hans T. Sy, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee.



Water conservation

Sustainability at SM Prime is at the core of its corporate identity. SM Prime has spearheaded sustainable practices as well as set records in pioneering programs to consciously protect the environment and strongly focus on resilience in its developments.

For one, the property conglomerate embarked on a campaign to substantially reduce its water consumption. It pioneered the installation of sewage treatment plants even before the measure was required by way of the Clean Water Act in 2004.

Today, its sewage treatment plants recycle 8.7 million cubic meters of water, lessening its dependence on fresh water sources for air conditioning operations, gardening, water closet flushing and other non-potable uses. SM Prime’s water catchment basins across 20 SM malls can also catch and store almost 79 million liters of water in total every time it rains, or as much as 32 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

By controlling the flow of flood water, surrounding communities have been provided more protection against the devastating effects of floods, alleviating what communities would normally fear when the rains come.



Renewable energy

SM Prime continues to explore ways to promote environmental consciousness in its operations and developments to minimize environmental impact.

In 2014, SM Prime achieved an important milestone in the country with SM City North EDSA becoming then the world’s largest solar-powered mall. Today, SM Prime is adding eleven more malls with solar roof decks.

Showing its firm resolve to advance its sustainability agenda, the company is committed to increase the use of renewable energy by 50% in 2022 across its various business segments, ahead of the national goals to be 35% renewable by 2030.

Through these efforts, SM Prime is committed to provide affordable and clean energy to its tenant-partners, minimizing the carbon footprint emission in its operations.

Collaboration toward resilience

As a key figure in the private sector, Mr. Sy and his dedication to environmental protection continues to serve as a testament to how Philippine businesses can usher positive change toward disaster resilience and risk reduction management in the country.

In 2012, Mr. Sy joined the United Nations Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG) for Disaster Reduction. In 2015, he was also inducted as the first and only Filipino member UNDRR ARISE (Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies) International Board. He currently serves as co-chair in the ARISE-Philippines network and National Resilience Council (NRC) of the Philippines, representing the private sector. He continues to help develop multi-sectoral partnerships in the country to strengthen the ability of corporations, including MSMEs, to prepare and respond to disasters brought about by natural hazards such as earthquake.

“Climate change is looming over our Mother Earth. If we can contribute no matter how little and if I can get everybody to be aware of it, I think we will make an impact. It’s never too late,” said Mr. Sy in a video interview for the 50 Sustainability & Climate Leaders initiative.

Philippine Post Office, UPU announced letter writing contest winners

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The Philippine Postal Corporation (Post Office) recently announced the winners of the 51st Universal Postal Union (UPU) International Letter Writing Competition for Young People, to promote better understanding around the world through the post office.

The first prize winner will represent the country in the worldwide competition to be held in Berne, Switzerland.

This year’s winners are Ms. Loraine C. Evangelista, a student of San Ildefonso National High School, Bulacan– first prize; Ms. Lucia Camila Perez Sta. Ana, of Paref-Woodrose School Inc., Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City – second prize; and Ms. Sofia Luxel C. Alburo of General Santos City National High School. General Santos City – third prize.

The contest is a yearly event organized by the Philippine Post Office under the auspices of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), which is composed of 192 countries around the world of which the Philippines is an active member. The chosen theme for this year is: “Write a letter to an influential person about why and how to take action on climate change.”.

This year’s judges are National Press Club of the Philippines President Ms. Lydia Bendaña Bueno, MC, PMJF; Mr. Genaro R. Gojo Cruz, Professor of Literature, De La Salle University; Asst. Prof. Joreen T. Rocamora, Ph.D., Director, Office of Public Affairs, University of Santo Tomas and Mr. Romeo B. Parayno, Head Special Events Unit, Department of Education.

The Universal Postal Union (UPU), through the International Bureau, has invited youth ages nine to 15 to join its letter writing competition, to strengthen literacy with one theme, making young people aware of the important role postal services play in our societies.

The contest is designed to develop the young people’s skills in composition and the ability to express their thoughts clearly, to foster their enjoyment of letter-writing and to help strengthen the bonds of international friendship, one of the basic missions of the UPU,” the post office said in a statement.

The first prize winner will be awarded P25,000, the second prize P15,000 and the third prize P10,000 plus corresponding medals, plaques and albums of Philippine stamps.

The awarding ceremony will be held on Oct. 9, coinciding with the worldwide celebration of World Post Day.