'Song of Negros' book now out

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

 

The newly re-opened Ayala Museum hosted its first event on April 24,  2022 with the well-attended launch of the book SONG OF NEGROS: MYTHS AND CULTURE IN THE PHILIPPINES.  

The book contains fifteen beautifully illustrated myths, legends, and folktales from the island of Negros and explains the significance of these tales to the culture of the provinces in particular, and of the Philippines in general. 

Ms. Narz Lim introduced the main speaker, Dr Rene Samaniego.  “Mythology”, said Dr Samaniego, “is a projection of our unconscious, representing the totality of the human experience.  Depicted in myths are our life events:  our birth, death, illness, loss, and everything else that happens in between.”

Dr. Samaniego is an eminent psychiatrist and psychotherapist who practices at Makati Medical Center and teaches at the Ateneo School of Medicine.

Dr. Victoria Hoffarth, the book’s author, adds, “The fantastical tales of our culture’s mythology can shape our world in ways that we don’t even realise.” 

In the book, she embarks on a journey to seek such tales from Negros, explaining the symbolic values as well as the underpinnings of these fifteen stories, given the collectivistic culture of the country.

Through these well-written accounts, Dr. Hoffarth shows how myths are intimately related to history and religion—from Christianity to Islam, from ancient Greece to Hollywood, from pre-Enlightenment Spain to modern, secular Europe. 

A very accessible book with a tone that bridges the gap between academic and popular literature, it is entertaining, informative, and insightful, whilst stimulating our imagination and encouraging us to ask questions. 

A go-to book especially relevant to those interested in commonalities among peoples coming from different cultures, it is now available for sale at Fully Booked, Ayala Museum, Negros Museum, and their websites for online purchases. 

After June 28^th, it will be available at Amazon.com in paperback, e-book, and audio-book.

Victoria Bantug Hoffarth grew up in Victorias, Negros Occidental.  She left her province in 1964 for university at Maryknoll College in Manila, then earned graduate degrees from Columbia University and New York University.

Married to a German economist, she spent many years in Europe teaching in business schools and doing consulting work on women-in-management. 

She now divides her time between Manila and London, and with her son in Berlin. 

Dr. Hoffarth is the author of the book When Turtles Come Home: A Memoir on Life in the Philippines, and maintains a blog www.victoriahoffarth.com

SM PRIME leads with Green Buildings for Sustainable Cityscapes

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Cities continue to shape the way we live our lives – from shifting to greener lifestyles choices to reducing overall carbon emissions to help save the planet. The successful shift to greener cityscapes begin with the construction of green buildings, providing smart innovations that work with the environment and promote the well-being of the people who use these spaces on a daily basis.

According to a study made by the US Green Building Council, green buildings can reduce carbon emissions by around 40% on average, water consumption by around 30% and waste generation by around 70%. Beyond the environmental benefits, green buildings also help meet social needs by enhancing spaces, protecting human health, empowering differently-abled members of the community to take active participation and ensuring access to basic services at reasonable rates. Economic benefits can be felt as well with green buildings commanding higher rent potentials, encouraging ‘greenovation’ and promoting cultural and recreational activities without harming the environment.

Committed to making every day living better, SM Prime has taken the lead in incorporating sustainability and resiliency in its designs, making each component work together as a fully-integrated city of the future.

“Constructing greener buildings provides holistic solutions not only reducing emissions but also promoting social well-being.” shares Hans T. Sy, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee. “We see this in our developments which drives us to build greener and even retrofit our existing malls to meet green standards.”

Among SM’s developments, a number boast of receiving LEED Gold certification while others are in the process of certification such as the SM Baguio expansion, SM North EDSA BPO offices, SM Megamall Mega Tower and SM Retail Corporation, to name a few.



SM Aura

The iconic SM Aura at the Bonifacio Global City is a mixed-use development that incorporates retail, trade halls and a Grade A office tower. The LEED Gold Certified mall promotes resource efficiency, green mobility and green landscapes.





SM Aura Bicycle Racks

· Green Mobility. Cycling is encouraged with accessible bicycle storage, cyclists’ shower rooms and convenient access to safe lanes to public transit.



SM Aura Premier Park

· Green Landscapes. The SM Aura Premier Park covers over 55% of the building, uses recycled water and provides enough room for plants to grow while protecting the building and people from heat.



SM Aura LEED GOLD Certification

· Resource Efficiency. SM Aura uses 16% less than conventional buildings through a high- performance building envelope that reduces solar heat while allowing sufficient sunlight. Through low flow water sensor and metering faucets, it also reduces 1/3rd of its potable water use. Only low emitting materials were used as paint, adhesive sealants and floor materials.



Conrad Manila

Known as a lifestyle center, Conrad Manila is LEED Gold Certified. The hotel is designed with a dramatically-formed angular structure that houses a stylish 347-room hotel, spa and function space while S Maison is home to a swathe of smaller, more bespoke outlets for brands.

Bicycle racks at the Conrad Manila

· Luxury Means Green Mobility. Boasting of high-end luxury experience, Conrad Manila remains environmentally friend by providing preferred parking slots for low emitting fuel efficient vehicles, car-sharing vehicles and special parking spaces and facilities for cyclists.

· Eco-Friendly Materials. Locally manufactured and recycled materials and products were used whenever possible with more than 80% of the project’s construction waste recycled. Filtration systems maintain a minimum efficiency rating of 90% to eliminate airborne particulates.




Conrad Manila LEED Gold Certification

· Resource Efficiency. Conrad Manila is designed to reduce energy around 12% less than American energy standards. Its water heating system recovers heat from the chiller condensers to produce hot water while its ventilation system recovers the coolness from the exhaust air, returning that into the building. The hotel is outfitted with occupancy sensors, tinted with low emissivity insulated glass to keep heat and noise out,

Going beyond the LEED Certification, SM Engineering and Design Development, the mall's design and construction arm has implemented these sustainable design strategies on the following projects:




SM Baguio Sky Garden

SM Baguio brings outdoor and indoor as one space optimizing natural lighting and ventilation with the Sky Garden. It has a green roof system as well as a provision for an underground water reservoir for storage and reuse of rainwater with a capacity of 4,389 cubic meters.



SM Seaside Cebu

SM Seaside Cebu mall goers can enjoy an extensive green area, center courtyard and roof garden. Constructed with low glass and utilizes EchoStop for noise management, the building is designed to maximize natural light and ventilation.




SM Lanang Sky Garden

SM Lanang Premier showcases lush greens, a roof garden and green pavers that encourage filtration and allow stormwater back to the underground soil. It is equipped with a rain water catchment system and a water reservoir with a 546-cubic meter capacity based on 425mm per hour rainfall intensity. It also has a materials recovery facility which receives, segregates and prepares recyclable materials for marketing to end-user manufacturers.



SM Masinag Holding Tank

SM City Masinag helps communities avoid flood waters through its 15,033 cubic meter water catchment facility. It is designed with green screens to promote vertical plant growth and is constructed with Clerestory windows as a source of natural light.



SM North EDSA Solar Panels

SM North Edsa is one of the pioneers of the use of solar panels. It is also the first to have the Sky Garden and elevated parks.




The Mall of Asia

SM Mall of Asia is uniquely designed with a seawall to avert any damage from potential storm surges or seal level rise. Built on reclaimed land, it used an excavation method providing a greater degree of protection against liquefaction and seismic events. It is also elevated above the required building levels and is equipped with wave return and drainage channel to prevent flooding due to storm surges and high waves.


SM Marikina sits on 246 stilts and is built 20 meters beyond the compliance for safety zone. At 20.5 meters above natural ground level, it serves as a first responder and a place of refuge for the residents of Marikina during times of calamities.



SM Marikina on stilts

Today, real estate investors, both for business and personal use, have grown to prefer spaces that support sustainability agendas of the growing population. Pursuing green building standards support the public’s aspiration for more sustainable communities that are designed for environmental and social well-being. SM Prime believes that it is important for developers to work with communities on addressing climate change and achieving shared aspirations – a greener, more sustainable cityscape for all to enjoy.

“Creating a more sustainable way of life requires a sustainable backdrop that supports the shift. At SM Prime, our passion is to create one that is sustainable and resilient for the life we want for today and the future,” Mr. Sy said.

Pamper Mom at Sheraton Manila Bay on Mother’s Day

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

It is mom’s turn to be pampered this Mother’s Day.

What better way to treat her for the weekend than a relaxing staycation and memorable dining experience at Sheraton Manila Bay. Avail of our Mother’s Day Room Package and treat mom to an amazing staycation she truly deserves, starting at Php 8,250++ for Deluxe Room inclusive of accommodation for two adults and two kids aged 6 years old and below, buffet breakfast for 2 at Pacific Lounge, and Mother's Day Brunch on May 8 for one (1) adult. Room promo is valid only on May 5 to 10, 2022.






On May 8, invite the whole family and surprise mom to a Sunday Brunch Buffet at the Pacific Lounge where our culinary team prepare a delectable array of local and international cuisine for only Php 1,300++ per adult and Php 650++ per child. Mothers enjoy a complimentary buffet when dining with 3 adults.

Pacific Lounge is located at the 21st floor, Sheraton Manila Bay, M. Adriatico cor. Gen Malvar Sts. Malate, Manila. For reservation please call +632 5318 0788 or email reservations.manilabay@sheraton.com. Like us on Facebook and Instagram @sheratonmanilabay and Twitter at @sheratonmnlbay. For more information, please visit our website at www.sheratonmanilabay.com.