What a way to start the New Year!
Our condolences go first to the family of little Stephanie, whose frail body was felled by bullets fired from the gun of a stupid drunk cop who probably is still too drunk up to now to know the misery he

has caused. I too have my own story to tell which happened as we welcomed the New year. We were standing on the veranda video-ing the lights across the sky when I heard my son shout “Ouch.

Something hit me in the head, mom!” We all look down to find traces of what hit him. There it was what looked like an exploded shell made of some hard substance, similar to a bamboo node with a hole in the middle. Can’t anyone be safe anymore even within the confines of your own property? If only for this, I support plans to just have a designated place in the barangay where local officials can do all the fireworks display and people can just watch. This is the practice in the USA and in other parts of the country. I strongly believe we should start practicing it here now. Seriously!
 
DTI revives HallONE to showcase world class products
Not much attention was given to the reopening of a permanent showroom for our exporters. This is a revival of Philcite days when 9 halls were provided for the different exporting sectors of the country circa ‘80s.

HallONE is located at the International Trade Center, Roxas Boulevard corner Gil Puyat Avenue in Pasay City. As perceived and constructed 25 years ago along with five other product halls, HallONE keeps on its original objective of serving as a permanent display area for the country’s exports. In reviving this abandoned and neglected hall, it will not just be a passive showroom but an actively engaged business center.

 It will also offer year-round services like business matching and appointment scheduling, shipping, factory visits, export order-taking and shipping assistance, controlled and retail selling design clinics, seminars and workshops.

The revived HallONE was exquisitely designed by international designer Budji Layug and architect Royal Pineda.

This is one of the projects outgoing Undersecretary Cristino Panlilio will be leaving behind. He said that this hall will be leased for two straight months to the different exporter associations of sectors like garments, housewares, furniture, jewelleries, and electronics.

“The idea is for them to get their invited domestic and foreign buyer. I also commit that I will use the Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC) and the Philippine Embassies abroad to advertise what are exhibited in these halls during those two months,” Panlilio said.

For its first two-months of operation, HallONE will showcase furniture and home decors. It will also be a fashion gallery of the country’s tropical wear. Likewise, it will display the iconic masterpieces of outstanding Philippine designers.

The exporter associations have been given a free hand to manage HallONE and that means they will have to shoulder operating costs for maintenance of the venue such as electricity costs and janitorial services.

The PhilTrade Center which consists of nine pavilions was used as a venue for export promotions in the 1980s. Of the nine pavilions, two are owned by the DTI, five are sitting on the property of the Philippine National Bank, while the rest are held by the Social Security System. Through the years, the PhilTrade Center became a neglected exhibition venue though.

Ten million pesos was allocated for the renovation and improvements of the two pavilions. Another P3 million has also been allocated to cover the costs for air conditioning and other fixtures.
 
New Year, new you
A healthy body never goes out of style…. So goes their slogan! I quite agree. I remember my mama used to say, when it comes to health, you should always have a blank check. Meaning, one should not scrimp if you talk about your well-being. And why not? How can you enjoy even if you had all the money in the world if you don’t feel well, huh. And so for the new year, why don’t you go organic?

They’ve been written about and talked about. Herb’s Best International, Inc. (HBII) is a Filipino lifestyle company that manufactures and markets all-natural food and beverage, food supplements, bath & body and skincare products. Their mission: Bring to the market products of exceptional quality, artisanal craftsmanship and high efficacy. Herb’s Best aims to innovate, incubate and produce uncompromising, world class, organically certified brands & products from the Philippines for the local and global markets.

The company was founded in 2004 by Ms. Fannie Guanzon, it started out by partnering with a poor farming community in Nueva Vizcaya (a province North of Manila) producing noodles. The raw materials used in making the noodles were primarily indigenous ingredients, Moringa taking the lead.

The founder’s developing passion for Moringa led to extensive research, product development and innovation and thereafter, the manufacture of Moringa pure powder and tea and Moringa and other herbs-infused products.

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