Newest All-Stars Announced at National Training Camp of Jr.NBA/Jr.WNBA Philippines 2016 Presented by Alaska

The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2016 All-Stars and Coaches of the Year with NBA and Alaska officials. (L-R) Front Row : Blen Fernando, Alaska VP for Marketing, Jr. NBA Coach of the Year Chollo Alegino, Cecilia Quilenderino, Rozie Amatong, Aloja Betanio, Darlene Regasajo, Jill Talas, Harold Alarcon and Tracy Dadang; Scond Row : E Cow, Jeffrey Cariaso, Norris Cole of the New Orleans Pelicans, Miguel Roy Tan, Jearico Nunez, Andrei Lechoncito, Fritz Valencia, Julian Jugo, Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Head Coach Craig Brown, Ric Ozner Gatuz, Isaiah Blanco, Jr. WNBACoach of the Year Ewon Arayi, Kai Sotto, NBA Philippines Managing Director Carlo Singson and Taj McWilliams-Franklin, WNBA Legend.

10 Boys and 5 Girls —Players from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao were selected as Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA All-Stars during the last day of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2016 presented by Alaska National Training Camp at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on April 24.

Bacolod City is represented by Fritz Felix Valencia and Harold Alarcon of Taytung High School and Andrei Philip Lechoncito of St. John’s Institute while Cebu and Baguio City are represented by Tracy Carl Dadang of University of San Carlos and Ric Ozner Gatuz of Cherished Moment School respectively.  Jearic Nuñez of University of Perpetual Help System-DALTA, Miguel Roy Luis Tan of Xavier School, Kai Zachary Sotto of St. Francis of Assisi School, Julian Alfonso Jugo and Isaiah Miguel Blanco of La Salle Greenhills are the Manila contingent completing the ten Jr. NBA All-Stars.

The Jr. WNBA All-Stars are composed of Florence Jill Talas and Darlene Regasajo of Abellana National High School in Cebu, Rozie Amatong of Modern International Learning Center in Davao, Aloha Marie Betanio of Malaybalay Corpus Christi School in Bukidnon, and Ma. Cecilia Quilenderino of Dalig National High School in Antipolo.

The Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball participation program for boys and girls, teaches fundamental skills, builds character, and promotes active lifestyles of Filipinos nationwide. In its ninth year, 2-time NBA Champion Norris Cole and WNBA Legend Taj McWilliams-Franklin joined Jr. NBA Coaches Craig Brown and Jeffrey Cariaso in training and working with the young campers at Don Bosco Technical Insitute Gym in Makati.

After three days of experiencing world class basketball instruction, the 10 Jr. NBA and five Jr. WNBA All-Stars will be rewarded with a unique, overseas NBA experience together with fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia later this year.  The program will also feature the selections of the 2016 Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA Coaches of the Year—Ewon Arayi of Magis Academy in Antipolo and Elegino Chollo of Ateneo de Davao—who will also join the experience trip.

The 2016 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines All-Stars were chosen from a group of 50 boys and 24 girls ages 10-14 from Regional Selection Camps in Baguio, Cebu, Davao and Manila and the Alaska Power Camp this year.  Highlighting the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2016 program was Kai Zachary Sotto and Rozie Amatong who were named as the camp’s Most Valuable Players.  In addition, the National Training Camp showcased the fourth edition of the Jr. NBA All-Star alumni game and the first Jr. WNBA All-Star 3x3 exhibition.

For more information, fans can follow Jr. NBA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jrnbaphilippines.  For all things NBA, fans can visit www.nba.com, like the NBA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/philsnba and follow www.twitter.com/nba_philippines on Twitter.

To learn more about the Alaska Milk Corporation, visit www.alaskamilk.com and www.playph.com.

*This is Press Release

One hundred Filipino cultural dancers say 'thank you' at World Culture Festival

100 Filipino cultural dancers performed a thanksgiving dance that wowed millions of attendees from around the world at the recent World Culture Festival, the biggest gathering for world peace that brought together people of various nationalities and faiths on one grand, magnificent global stage in New Delhi, India. The Art of Living Foundation, founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, organized the event in celebration of 35 years of service to humanity.

The dancers, who belong to the multi-awarded Buyogan Festival dancers from the province of Leyte, one of the areas ravaged by typhoon Yolanda, performed their celebrated dance to express gratitude to all volunteers and donors from around the world who helped their province recover from the disaster. Their attendance marked the first time that representatives from the Philippines graced a global event of such magnitude.

The millions in attendance during this the three-day event included thousands of artists, business, political and spiritual leaders from around the world. All were treated to cultural buffet of dance performances, ancient chants of peace, musical numbers, and inspiring speeches from around the world. The purpose was to celebrate harmony in diversity and love in a world that is increasingly ravaged by conflict caused by regional and religious divides.

Among those who made their presence felt were the likes of Vatican representative H.E. Bishop Marcelo, His Eminence, Grand Mufti of Syria Dr. Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, and Rev. Gerald L. Durley, who is a good friend of US President Barack Obama. These leaders unanimously applauded Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for taking this spectacular step toward world peace.

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, during his inauguration speech at the event highlighted Art of Living’s personality development programs and seminars that were at the backbone of this successful event – its programs uplift society by empowering  individuals and companies world-wide: “When you need to march forward in life to achieve your goals, then that is when you need to know The Art of Living …When you need the strength to overcome difficulties and troubles in life, then that is when you need The Art of Living.”

His speech was immediately followed by a string of remarkable performances that echoed the essence of peace and togetherness, as the finest talents the world over shared the stage with the international dignitaries present.  Close to 1,000 vedic scholars sang chants from ancient scriptures while captivating dance performances left everyone breathless and in awe then 8,500 musicians from the Art of Living Grand Symphony, meanwhile, mesmerized the audience with their enchanting music.

On day two of the festival, the powerful spirit of hope—together with a call to embrace diversity and oneness—stood as the key, reverberating message. The awe-inspiring presence of faith-leaders coupled with the intense response from the crowd was further encouraged by Vatican representative H.E. Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, “Buddhist, Hindus, Muslims, Jews and of course people from the religion I share, Christianity, give an incredible testimony that The Art of Living helps people to get more in whatever faith or tradition they follow. You help people to live in their faith ever more intimately and personally.”

Joel Ruiz, a film director and one of 30 others who had flown from Manila to take part in this peace celebration, recalled how he was hooked on to meditation after he attended a happiness workshop by the Art of Living in Makati. "I have come here so that I can meditate with this sea of people attending this celebration. We have to collectively aim for inner peace so that we can achieve world peace," he said.

The final day culminated with a finale number where all the thousands of international performers from all the groups including the Buyogan Festival danced simultaneously to a medley of songs making the idea of “One World Family” an experience of the audience.

Expressing his deep appreciation for the success of the festival, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said: “To all of you, who have come from nearby and faraway destinations, from different faiths and nationalities, a heartfelt thank you. It’s your faith, love and compassion that have enabled the teams at Art of Living to present the biggest and the happiest family get-together—the World Cultural Festival.”

To know more about Art of Living programs and courses which have helped millions of people manage their stress and live happier lives through its various breathing and meditation techniques, visit www.artofliving.org, or call Kim 0917-848-0063 or Harsh 0905-469-8624.


*This is Press Release

Harte Hanks Open BPO Site in Mall of Asia

Harte Hanks (NYSE:HHS) praised the dedication and service-oriented culture of Filipino workers and called them the country’s main draw for foreign investors.

In a panel discussion, following the opening Thursday of the American marketing company’s new BPO-call center in the Mall of Asia (MOA) Complex, which was moderated by ANC Anchor Ron Cruz, executives of Harte Hanks and its local business said they decided to increase investment here because of the Philippines’ “very good” labor market.

“Filipinos possess a very strong work ethic and a culture of customer service,” said Benjamin Chacko, Harte Hanks’ Head of BPO Operations. “We have been always impressed by the skill and dedication of Filipinos who work for Harte Hanks. They have been an important factor in our success, and we look forward to sustaining our growth here.”

He added: “Our Filipino employees learn quickly, are customer-service minded and culturally aware of the United States, our primary service market.”

Chacko also attributed the steady growth of the country’s BPO industry to a highly-educated, English-speaking workforce.

Butch Valenzuela, treasurer of the Contact Center Association of the Philippines, who participated in the forum along with Jopat Lelay, project director of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines, and Atty. Ray Glenn Agranzamendez, representing Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto, said the IT-BPO industry hired 1.2M workers in 2015 and would add another 100,000 this year to 1.3M.

The Pasay facility, situated at Five E-Com Center, consolidates both of Harte Hanks Philippines’ former primary and secondary locations and creates seats for hundreds of additional new employees.

The US-based firm’s Manila affiliate employs about 2,000 IT-BPO workers, majority of whom are assigned at its primary location in Fort Bonifacio, Global City.

Jonathan Bondoc, Site Director for Harte Hanks Philippines, said the company prides itself as a BPO with a low-attrition rate, or turnover of employees, focusing on in-house programs that engage, enable and retain personnel.

“Our employees generally stay for the culture and work environment we provide,” Bondoc stressed. “We pride ourselves in a culture that is inclusive and embraces diversity.”

He cited the company’s program dubbed Promise Based Management. “It is quite simply ‘Who will do What by When.’ We apply it to both our internal and external customers. Our commitments to our employees is updated through PBM boards across our sites. It outlines the promises we have accomplished and those that we are still working on.”

Harte Hanks began operating in the Philippines over a decade ago with a buy-operate-transfer partnership.