Prudence Foundation and JA Philippines host Asia Pacific’s First Virtual CCFA Awards 2021

Prudence Foundation, the community investment arm of Prudential plc in Asia and Africa, the parent company of leading life insurer Pru Life UK, together with Junior Achievement (JA) Philippines kick-started 2021 by celebrating the achievements of the Cha-Ching Curriculum at the Cha-Ching Financial Accreditation (CCFA) virtual award ceremony on January 15, 2021.

“The future of a country lies in the classrooms of today; and by providing children with the right financial skills and knowledge, we are building a generation equipped with responsible financial behaviors that will help them achieve their goals and navigate a successful life,” said Marc Fancy, Executive Director of Prudence Foundation.

Amidst the ongoing pandemic, JA Philippines has acknowledged the Cha-Ching teachers through a new series of educational and institutional awards in the beginning of the year.

“We at JA are committed to empowering young people. A great way to drive this is to nurture and recognize outstanding teachers who dedicate and distinguish themselves in such a noble pursuit,” shared Maziar Sabet, President and CEO of JA Asia Pacific.

Celebrating its 10th year of launch in the Asia-Pacific region, Cha-Ching is a financial literacy program that teaches elementary students money-smart concepts of Earn, Save, Spend, and Donate. Through animated music videos and other educational resources, children as young as seven years old are exposed to foundational financial concepts that help guide their decision-making throughout their lives.

Launched in the Philippines in 2016, the Cha-Ching Curriculum, created by Prudence Foundation in partnership with JA Philippines and sponsored by Pru Life UK, is complemented by the rollout of the Cha-Ching Financial Accreditation (CCFA), an online assessment tool which aims to develop educators’ competencies in teaching the Cha-Ching Curriculum in their respective schools and regions, endorsed by the Department of Education in the Philippines and across Asia. Developed in partnership with JA Asia Pacific, the CCFA is aligned with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Core Competencies Framework on Financial Literacy for Youth and the ASEAN Teachers Competency Framework.

Teachers who successfully completed the training have received a CCFA certification as an acknowledgment of their dedication and professionalism in implementing the Cha-Ching Curriculum. Special awards were also given to teachers who have shown exemplary commitment and excellence in teaching young children the value of financial literacy.

“Pru Life UK remains committed to supporting financial education among Filipinos. We encourage everyone to join us as champions of this advocacy,” shared Allan Tumbaga, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Marketing Officer of Pru Life UK at the awarding ceremony.

Rose Fres Fausto, a renowned investment banker and current columnist at the Philippine Star, delivered a keynote speech focused on financial education at the ceremony. She also answered questions and shared valuable insights about the impact of financial literacy on personal development at a discussion forum.

Krishna Alejandrino, Executive Director of JA Philippines also graced the event.

A total of 2,075 Cha-Ching teachers registered and passed the accreditation for the School Year 2019-2020. These teachers are hailed from Negros Occidental, Camarines Sur, and Albay.

The following top awards were conferred during the virtual ceremony. The Top Certified CCFA Passers, given to teachers who scored full marks on their accreditation, were awarded to 50 out of 2,000 recipients across Negros Occidental, Camarines Sur, and Albay.

The Outstanding Educator of the Year Award recognizes teachers who exemplify remarkable dedication and implementation of the Cha-Ching Curriculum despite challenges around resources, geographical location, and fallout from COVID-19. The awards were presented by Marc Fancy to Vicky Sugino from Negros Occidental and Jerica Quitalia from Albay.

The Outstanding CCFA Network Partner went to Goa Elementary School, for their outstanding implementation and program structure. While the Cha-Ching Bling Award went to the school with the best implementation of Earn, Save, Spend, and Donate through school activities, resulting in the greatest impact on students and their community. Pagatpat Elementary School was the proud recipient of this award, with a cash prize for Brigada Eskwela.

Over 157,000 students in the Philippines have benefitted from the Cha-Ching program in the past year. Going forward, this will be expanded with modules further integrated into the country’s existing elementary school curriculum.

FUN WAYS TOY KINGDOM WELCOMES THE YEAR OF THE OX

Did you know that the Ox, the second sign in the Chinese horoscope, is associated, with  Water  a symbol of strength reliability, and diligence? It is not surprising that children born in the Year of the Ox are from a young age aimed at success, and try to make their dreams come true.

Ox children are distinguished by their endurance and diligence. It seems that there are no obstacles for them. Silent and purposeful, they amaze us with their responsible approach to the smallest task.

The Ox girl is a faithful mothers assistant  she loves cleanliness and order, loves cooking. Sweet in disposition she is trustworthy, and prefers to spend time for useful lessons instead of idle chatter. She is drawn to the world of art, and likes attending exhibitions and theatrical performances.

The Ox boy from early years demonstrates practicality, reliability, diligence. He likes to play sports and at the same time have excellent mental abilities. Practical and frugal, they are happy to play with old cars and designers. They possess logical and spatial thinking, and create new constructions from the simplest details.

Celebrate the coming of the Year of the Ox with Toy Kingdoms collection of adorable and lovely ox inspired plush toys that will surely bring luck and lots of playtime fun into your homes. 

These toys and more are available in most Toy Kingdom stores located in most SM Supermalls nationwide. You can also shop at the comfort of your homes because Toy Kingdom is now online, just check out https://www.toykingdom.ph/ for more amazing toy finds. 

 For more updates, follow @ToyKingdomPH at Facebook and Instagram. 

Araneta City extends free AutoSweep RFID installation until February 15

Araneta City is giving travelers until February 15, 2021 to get a free AutoSweep Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) sticker quickly and conveniently at the City of Firsts!

Interested car owners may head to the Gateway Mall for registration and free installation of the AutoSweep RFID stickers from 10 am to 6 pm (or until stocks last). Riders are advised to park at any level of the Gateway Mall parking. No RFID sticker installation and testing shall be done outside the Gateway Mall parking.

Only 250 RFID stickers will be issued per day. The “no vehicle, no installation” and “first come, first serve” policies will be observed. Be sure to come at the Gateway Mall early to avoid the cut-off.

Prepare P200.00 cash as initial load for your Autosweep card. Once the RFID sticker is installed onsite, you are ready to go! Remember to be a responsible driver: stay safe, and don’t drink and drive.

AutoSweep RFID is exclusively used at Skyway, South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway (NAIAX), Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway, Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX), and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX).

PROCEDURES:  

STEP 1. Bring your vehicle at Araneta City and park at the Gateway Mall (any level).

STEP 2. Proceed at the AutoSweep booth located at the ground floor (near Taco Bell and Breadtalk).

STEP 3. Fill out form (or submit accomplished form, if downloaded online) at the booth.

STEP 4. After presenting your form, the Autosweep representative will conduct a short interview to assess your vehicle. Pay the P200 initial load (strictly cash only).

STEP 5. After paying, accompany the Autosweep representative to your vehicle for the installation and testing of RFID sticker.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

1. Promo is on a first come, first served basis.

2. Only 250 RFID stickers will be issued per day.

3. No online or phone-in reservations will be allowed.

4. No vehicle onsite, no RFID sticker issuance policy.

5. Payment of P200 load shall be made in cash only.

6. No RFID sticker installation and testing shall be done outside the Gateway Mall parking.

SPREAD THE LOVE WITH MINISO

Japanese fast fashion brand Miniso celebrates love and life this Valentines Day with adorable finds that make perfect gifts in this season of love. 

There are pastel colored heart shape pillows with embossed sweet Valentines messages to hug and to hold.  Express your love and care through the power of words with Minisos Valentines inspired notebooks and pens.  Keep your loved ones cool and hydrated with We Bear Bears water tumblers and Cookie Monster water bottles. 

Spread the love to your special someone as well as family and friends with these heartwarming gifts from Miniso. All these and more are available in Miniso stores located in most SM Supermalls nationwide. 

For a more convenient shopping experience, you can also check out these Miniso items and more at Shopee, Lazada and Miniso Philippines Official Website- https://shop.minisoph.com/. 

For more updates you can also follow @MinisoPhilippines at Facebook and Instagram. 

NutriAsia and Papa team up with DepEd to teach students about proper nutrition

Proper diet and nutrition are crucial in young children’s formative years. These foster proper development for children, leading to good health, intelligence, and behavior, thus giving them better chances in succeeding later in life.

 Department of Education Usec. Diosdado M. San Antonio paved the way for the partnership with Papa Catsup.

In light of this, NutriAsia and Papa forged a partnership with both Marylindbert International and the Department of Education (DepEd) for school year 2020-2021, the Pinggang Pinoy Pina-Sweet Sarap Comprehensive School Program. It is a special module that teaches the importance of having the right diet and nutrition. Powered by Papa Banana Catsup and Papa Spaghetti Pack, the program aims to educate Grade 1 and 2 Filipino students about how keeping a good diet with the right nutrition leads to proper and healthy development.

“With the Pinggang Pinoy Pina-Sweet Sarap Comprehensive School Program, we have a whole plan ready for teaching young Filipinos how to keep a proper diet and take in the nutrients they need,” said NutriAsia President and COO Angie Flaminiano. “We hope to be a part of their good growth and development and, in turn, the Philippines’ growth as well.” The Pinggang Pinoy program will be launched in 30 participating schools across the country, namely in Regions I, X, XI, and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

The class module is the first in the three-stage Pinggang Pinoy program. The second stage will involve cooking demonstrations and activities that will show students and parents how to prepare healthy snacks using Papa products. The final stage will involve a cooking contest that will challenge students, teachers and parents to create unique recipes using Papa Banana Catsup and Papa Spaghetti Pack.

Papa’s advocacy of helping educate Filipinos in the classroom and beyond has also led them to produce edutainment Facebook videos for NutriAsia’s HomeSchool Program. These videos can be viewed athttps://nutriasia.com/homeschool/

For more information and updates on Pinggang Pinoy and NutriAsia’s other initiatives, visit the official website atwww.nutriasia.com, and follow NutriAsia on Facebook.

 

 

SM Center Angono holds its first 3-Day Sale for 2021

The holidays may be over but it’s the season of big discounts! Mark your calendars for the BIGGEST SALE at SM Center Angono on JANUARY 29, 30 and 31, 2021! 

Score the best deals at unbelievably great discounts on countless finds mall-wide of up to 70% off. Check out the latest finds from SM Savemore, ACE Hardware, Watsons, SM Appliance Center, and Simply Shoes.

One lucky shopper will in a brand new Suzuki S-Presso MT at the grand raffle draw. For every P1,000 purchase (single or accumulated receipts) is equal to 1 e-raffle entry. Shopping on Saturday and Sunday shall equal to double e-raffle entry per qualified minimum purchase. 

Get ready to clear the racks on SM Center Angono’s 3-Day Sale! Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-111672, Series of 2021. 

ACE HARDWARE HELPS REBUILD LIVES

While the series typhoons late last year have gone, many of those severely affected are still trying to rebuild their lives. To help fast-track recovery, ACE Hardware staff recently donated needed items such as bed & mats, PPEs, and cleaning materials to affected residents of Kasiglahan Village in Rodriguez, Rizal. This activity was done jointly with SM Foundation and the local DSWD chapter.

 The ACE Hardware team turns over the donations to the residents of Kasiglahan Village Rodriguez Rizal with SM Foundation and DSWD. 

The Kasiglahan Village residents received donations of beds, matts, cleaning materials and PPE's from ACE Hardware that will help them rebuild their homes and keep their families safe from Covid-19 pandemic.

To fulfill its "Helpful Place" promise, ACE Hardware serves communities through outreach initiatives like this, as well as provide customers nationwide with relevant and helpful products.