Smile Train Beneficiaries, Aboitiz Foundation Celebrate World Smile Day with Binibining Pilipinas 2019 Titleholders

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October 4 is World Smile Day, Smile Train, the world's leading cleft charity, together with Aboitiz Foundation celebrated the ocassion along with Pilipinas 2019 Titleholders through and art-filled day with the beneficiaries.

World Smile day is celebrated on every first Friday of October which not just encourages smile but also for people to do acts of kindness around the world.
Held at the office of Aboitiz Foundation at NAC Tower in Bonifacio Global City, over twenty five Smile Train beneficiaries showed their creativity in creating plushie toys with the help of the Binibining Pilipinas Titleholders led by Bb. Pilipinas Universe Gazini Ganados, Bb. Pilipinas International Patch Magtanong, Bb. Pilipinas Supranational Resham Saeed, Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental Emma Tiglao, and Bb. Pilipinas Globe Leren Bautista.

Apart from the celebration, Aboitiz Foundation supports Smile Train by also raising awareness and funds for children through KINDer by Aboitiz which is an online platform where the public can donate to various advocacies that aim to help and create a kinder world for our children and the future. Besides from Smile Train, Aboitiz also support causes that benefit education, enterprise development, environmental, health and other foundations.

With this small celebration, Smile Train along with its partner Aboitiz Foundation aims to raise more awareness and inspire others to join the cause in spreading smiles throughout the country.

For more information about Smile Train's programs in the Philippines along with the organization's global efforts, or to make a donation you can visit smiletrain.org.

Written by Alice Mate, Correspondent

Have There Been Any New Rules Concerning Driving, Introduced This Year?

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With everything happening in the EU in the last couple of years, there have been many changes regarding the driving and traffic rules. Other than all having some effect on the UK, these laws are going to see some changes as the year and the process of Brexit progresses. They are mainly relating to climate change, changes in administration because of Brexit, and technological developments incars.


What are some of the changes on an administrative front?

Depending on the deal made by the UK, there are changes in the current documents and paperwork in the UK. People holding licences registered in the UK have to purchase new ones if they are planning on driving in the EU. They would have to apply and going through the entire processagain. Secondly, vehicles that went through the MOT test wouldn't be valid in the EU and would have to get re-examined.

Furthermore, driving in these parts would need insurance that covers them. This might not be an issue for most, however, if the current insurance company being worked with doesn’t, it might make sense to find one that does.

The amounts being paid for taxes on vehicles are also being revised. Furthermore, other prices and details of licences and permits are being worked on but would be revised as well.

On an environmental front, these are some of the changes in the works.

Some areas are working on ideas on how to reduce pollution and to get this done are considering banning vehicles older than a specific number of years. Certain vehicles would be banned from specific locations if the rule passes but it would only happen by 2020 at the earliest. 

There are penalties for using cars older than a specific number of years.


Are there any changes being made on an MOT front?

The labels used when reviewing cars have been revised. They now account for cars and the various stages of the process that they have been brought into the inspection. Certain labels are used when mentioning cars that won't clear the MOT test but would have to reapply. Labels like ‘dangerous’ and ‘major’ mean that specific issues need to be solved immediately. While the rest implies that the car will pass the MOT but would have to be given in for repairs at the soonest. ‘Minor’ and ‘advisory’ would mean that the vehicle needs some work done but would pass the test since it is not threatening.

Post multiple conversations about the MOT being outdated, the test finally has some new checks that have been added. They added under-inflated tyres, contaminated brake fluid, brake pad warning lights and missing brake pads or discs to the list. Although these are often taken for granted, they are quite significant. Additionally, they have added, reversing lights and daytime running lights for the newer versions of vehicles. There are older vehicles that might not have these features and those are going to be addressed soon as well.

UP CIEM Proudly Presents IEshikawa 14

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IEshikawa is an annual event organized by the University of the Philippines Circle of Industrial Engineering Majors (UP CIEM) that aims to impart a range of relevant topics to strengthen the skills of future industrial engineers, to provide alternative avenues for growth and learning, and to instill a sense of nationalism for the betterment of the country.

In its 14th installment, IEshikawa comes back to delve deeper into data science and explore its endless possibilities and opportunities. In a world where information is power, it is an advantage to be able to convert data into a meaningful basis for decision-making. This year, through ENIGMA: Beyond 0’s and 1’s, IEshikawa aims to encourage the community to go beyond the numbers and integrate data science to IE concepts and practices.

Data Science is a combination of different tools, algorithms, and technology with the goal to recognize patterns from raw data and use them as basis for predictions and actions on succeeding events. It is a forward-looking approach of analyzing the past to be able to come up with informed decisions for the future.

With this, IEshikawa 14 calls on trailblazers and change-makers to venture into data science and transform their views from it being enigmatic or incomprehensible to being a valuable tool to move forward towards progress. #IEshikawa14 #BeyondTheNumbers