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Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Crowdsource the BLISS of a #LiveFreePH

How do you feel about the future? Is your family doing okay? Are the people around you hopeful or gloomy? With the Brighter Life Index: Social Sentiment or BLISS, Sun Life will show how optimism, prosperity, and the bayanihan spirit can produce a positive ripple from ourselves to our loved ones and to the community where we live.

BLISS is a Facebook application that aims to get the pulse of Filipinos about their current financial situation as well as their outlook for the future.

“BLISS gives us the canvas to paint our #LiveFreePH campaign. Through crowdsourcing, we seek the brightest spots while also determining the areas that are in need of a bit more sunshine,” explained Sun Life of Canada (Philippines), Inc. Chief Marketing Officer Mylene Lopa.“Together with the Sun Life Foundation, we will help turn dim prospects to bright opportunities.”

How BLISS happens

Harnessing the power of crowdsourcing, BLISS gathers insights directly from consumers by asking Filipinos about their current state and their outlook for the future. Responses will be collected primarily via Facebook.

The results will be embodied by a map of the Philippines, where positive sentiments will be represented by sunny weather, while negative ones will be indicated by thunderstorms. This will be updated real time, with different aggregations available for viewing.

BLISS will also radiatewarmth in real life, as the Sun Life Foundation pledges to match survey responses with a donation to help localities with bleak outlooks, as indicated by the stormy icons in the results map. Inspired by the practice of bayanihan (communal work), the initiative translates insight to action, viathe information that will be shared by online users.

"Sun Life Foundation believes in action that is powered by insight, and we’re bringing that to the social media platform through BLISS,” said Sun Life Foundation Executive Director Anne Zillah Flores. “We’re taking it further by actually responding to the gaps that will be determined. We will fund projects to help communities with bleak prospects so they can adopt a brighter outlook.”
 
 

BLISS to #LiveFreePH

From the present to the future, BLISS narrates the changing story of Filipinos from multiple points of view: self, family, and community. Income, health, and work-life balance are identified as personal concerns;food, nutrition and financial security comprise the familial territory; while access to quality education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities are the societal factors that impact the nation as a whole. When addressed properly, these concerns can become the building blocks of a nationwide movement towards financial independence.

“From BLISS, we lay down the blueprint of #LiveFreePH – to practice foresight by being conscious of our needs while sharing the benefits of living the brighter life,” Lopa said.“We hope that by working together towards financial freedom, we can create a story of a prosperous and optimistic nation, because in our journey to financial freedom, we can go far if we go together.”

Share the BLISS to help communities in need and the chance to win awesome prizes like an iPad Air. Go to http://bit.ly/1hDBxhn to begin.

 About Sun Life Financial

Celebrating 150 years in 2015, Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Sun Life Financial and its partners have operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of March 31, 2015, the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of $813 billion. For more information please visit www.sunlife.com.

Eco House, an environment-friendly home

Recent years have shown the destructive effects of climate change. Thus, building with the preservation of our environment as a key factor, is no longer a fad but a necessity. One example is an Eco House--an environmentally low-impact home designed and built using materials and technology that reduces carbon footprint and lowers energy needs. The Eco House is a project by National President of the Philippine Institute of Interior Design and Architect James Jao. Jao is a pioneer of eco-architecture and sustainable development in the Philippines. He has translated inspired visions into actual full-scale projects from stand-alone residences to master-planned communities.

Armed with a degree in Architecture from the University of Santo Tomas and a post-graduate degree in City Design and Social Science from the London School of Economics in the UK, Jao embarked on his Eco House projects when he returned to the Philippines. He has built several residential buildings designed with a tropical climate in mind — PVC roof, polystyrene-lined concrete walls that stabilize indoor temperature, and non-toxic paint, among other things.
Architect James Jao


It was during a trip in Antwerp, Belgium in April of 2008 when Jao first saw a model unit of an Eco House. This started his dream of designing and building a Filipino version of an Eco House suitable for a tropical climate. The succeeding year he created the Eco Jao Bahay Kubo, a 1-bedroom take on the indigenous house found in the country’s lowlands but updated for the modern times with solar panels and Thermawalls.

Eco Houses are made of Thermawall that insulates the building envelope of the entire house keeping off the heat from coming into the interior spaces and giving it a comfortable indoor temperature. Here are the technical requirements according to Jao, “the Thermawall is sandwiched between a 6 mm. Hardiflex panel with a high-density 1" polystyrene insulation on the exterior and spaced a minimum of 100 mm. for reinforced concrete and another 4.5 mm. panel on the inside. It is a load bearing wall built on a mat foundation.” This can supposedly withstand a magnitude 9 earthquake.

Architect Jao shares the other components that make up an Eco House, “steel is used to frame the roof and 2 mm. PVC corrugated roofing is used for the material. The window frame is made of UPVc frame with Low-E glass and double glazed with clear glass on the inside. Only the door jambs and panels are made of wood. All bathroom fixtures and fittings are water saver and all lighting fixtures are energy saver using LED and CFL bulbs. Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) and non-toxic paints are used.” Furthermore, rainwater is collected in a cistern tank plus, the principle of passive cooling is used to create cross ventilation into the house.

The Eco House is not site-specific and so it can be built in any location in the country. Best of all, the materials specified for an Eco House are readily available in the market. Jao has built Eco House projects all over the Philippines. His current projects include the first Eco Schools, a 3-hectare master planned campus for the Holy Spirit School of Tagbilaran in Bohol and the 4-storey academic building of the College of the Holy Spirit in Tarlac. “My dream project is to build a master planned eco towns throughout the Philippines with exemplary standards of sustainability. This low-impact development can survive the impact of climate change, a magnitude 9 earthquake, strong typhoons and thus, all the structures are climate resilient,” explains Architect Jao.




Jao has always spoken to media, colleagues and the general public about the urgency of adapting green solutions. He continues to generously share his time and expertise to students, peers and shareholders whenever invited as a resource speaker on the latest materials, technology and solutions in green architecture. If you are interested to know more about Eco Houses or would like to build one, you can contact Eco Jao Development Corporation athttp://www.jamesjao.com and jamesjao2002@yahoo.com. It’s time for ecologically sustainable and economically affordable structures.

Tuesday, September 01, 2015

Shroff Travel offers exclusive travel deals up to 50% off on the 26th Philippine Travel Mart

Backed with more than  21 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry, Shroff Travel guarantees its customers with professional services in providing overall solutions to their travel needs. This year, as they participate in PHILTOAs 26th Philippine Travel Mart, they are offering international and domestic exclusive travel deals that will surely make everyone excited to take their next holiday!

INTERNATIONAL PACKAGES
3D 2N - SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA with Tours - USD 173
3D 2N - BEIJING, CHINA with compulsory Tours - USD 64
3D 2N - HO CHI MINH Free & Easy Only - USD 72
3D 2N - HANOI Free & Easy - USD 75
3D 2N - BALI INDONESIA Free & Easy Only - USD 62
3D 2N - KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA with Half Day City Tour - USD 76
3D 2N - BANGKOK, THAILAND with Tour - USD 92
3D 2N - SINGAPORE - USD 145
3D 2N - KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA Free & Easy - USD 124
3D 2N - SEOUL, KOREA with Complimentary City Tour - USD 170
3D 2N - MYANMAR with Tours - USD 196
4D 3N - OSAKA, JAPAN Free & Easy Only - USD 720
4D 3N - TOKYO, JAPAN Free & Easy Only - USD 812

DOMESTIC PACKAGES 3D 2N FREE & EASY for as low as:
Puerto Princesa - Php 1,948
Cebu - Php 1,959
Coron - Php 1,969
Boracay - Php 1,990
Batanes - Php 2,736
Davao - Php 2,754
Bohol - Php 2,756
Ilocos - Php 3,782
El Nido - Php 3,932

For  more details about these travel deals and other tour packages, please check the NOTES on Shroff Travel Facebook Page.


Experience Life with Shroff Travel!
SHROFF TRAVEL aims to give everyone memorable travel experiences especially those who have great passion for exploration. That's one of the reasons why they make it easier and affordable for tourists to discover the Philippines and the rest of world by offering these special travel deals. They also offer flight promos and issues ticket on all airlines so booking your tour with them is hassle free.

For more information about Shroff Travel exclusive travel deals, please visit their BOOTH # F1037 & F1042 during the 26th Philippine Travel Mart at SMX Convention Center (SM MoA) on September 4-6, 2015.

For complete information about their available services and packages, please contact  (+63 2) 524 2222 / (+63 2) 524 3636 or text 0917 890 3637. You may also visit their website www.shrofftravel.com to search for available tours, flights, hotels, transfers and other travel needs. Book competitive offers with great value for your money!


Stay connected with Shroff Travel! Like them on Facebook for a chance to win a 3day 3 nights stay in Boracay! Follow their Instagram / Twitter @ShroffTraveland dont forget to them your travel photos and use their hashtag for a chance to win surprise gift from them. #ExperienceLife#ShroffTravel#WeCare
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