Quezon City, Philippines – The Philippine Pastafarian Church took center stage as various secular organizations in the Philippines convened for the #PhilippineSecularSummit2024, held under the banner of secularism and for the people. The summit served as a platform to address critical issues pertaining to secularism, freethinking, and humanism.

This year's event was a collaborative effort, with the Philippine Pastafarian Church playing a leading role alongside the following organizations:

- Humanist Alliance Philippines, International (HAPI)

- Philippine Atheism, Agnosticism, and Secularism Inc.

- Secular Filipinos for Better Governance

The keynote address was delivered by Atty. Luke Espiritu, a prominent labor leader and a staunch advocate for a better, secular Philippines.

The summit aimed to foster open discussions on the importance of secularism in the Philippines and its role in promoting a just and equitable society. Attendees engaged in thought-provoking discussions on various topics, including:

The #PhilippineSecularSummit2024 marks a significant event for the growing secular movement in the Philippines. It provided a platform for secular organizations to come together, share ideas, and strategize ways to promote secularism in the country.

Quezon City, Philippines – The Philippine Pastafarian Church took center stage as various secular organizations in the Philippines convened for the #PhilippineSecularSummit2024, held under the banner of secularism and for the people. The summit served as a platform to address critical issues pertaining to secularism, freethinking, and humanism.<img style="width: 100%;" src="https://vritimes-public.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/production/820588c1ba1701da59b276b11f501f720ec4ccd18bd99f993dbe8fd2e5bb4acf/428600377_708953134767366_5496136056283491264_n.jpg" alt="Representatives of major secular organizations in the Philippines" />This year's event was a collaborative effort, with the Philippine Pastafarian Church playing a leading role alongside the following organizations:- Humanist Alliance Philippines, International (HAPI)- Philippine Atheism, Agnosticism, and Secularism Inc.- Secular Filipinos for Better Governance- Filipino FreethinkersThe keynote address was delivered by Atty. Luke Espiritu, a prominent labor leader and a staunch advocate for a better, secular Philippines.The summit aimed to foster open discussions on the importance of secularism in the Philippines and its role in promoting a just and equitable society. Attendees engaged in thought-provoking discussions on various topics, including:- The role of secularism in a democracy- The separation of church and state- Freethought and critical thinking- Human rights and social justice- Mental healthThe #PhilippineSecularSummit2024 marks a significant event for the growing secular movement in the Philippines. It provided a platform for secular organizations to come together, share ideas, and strategize ways to promote secularism in the country.

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Philippine Secular Organizations Convene for Philippine Secular Summit 2024

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Almost 40% of the annual CO2 emissions comes from the building and construction world and, out of this, 70% comes from building operations.

As an architect, I worked for the past 18 years designing projects across the globe and very rarely I have encountered sustainable buildings that pursue sustainability beyond the building itself. I mean, you can have a theoretically net-zero building, but if the community that uses it doesn’t have a sustainable approach to living, part of your efforts as designer and builder will be wasted.

In 2007, in my early days as an architect, I visited the BedZed in the UK, one of the first and most successful sustainable communities ever developed. BedZed, acronym for Beddington - its location - and Zero Emission Development, is a residential project in the British countryside, not too far from London. I went there riding my Vespa with no GPS and surprisingly it took me quite some time to find it, as the site was not advertised despite its famous pioneeristic approach. Upon entering the development, I noticed how much the architecture of BedZed was inspired by its sustainable approach: wind chimneys to promote natural ventilation, PV panels, green roofs, big windows (that compromised privacy a bit), sustainable materials and appliances. While sneaking around the private development, I was lucky enough to be invited by James, one of the residents, to visit the inside of his unit. James was a BedZed enthusiast. He proudly showed me his planters full of vegetables that he cultivated together with his next door neighbors. James explained to me that the BedZed community had a direct and effective sustainable approach to its daily life. For example, the use of cars was highly discouraged among residents, and James was riding his bicycle to London. Each house displayed a clear metering system to help residents monitor their utilities. Residents could benchmark their own consumption against the rest of the community, and no one wanted to be the one consuming the most. James told me that this benchmarking approach was particularly effective as he really felt the pressure to be among the “good residents” and was also a good reason to compete and have fun in BedZed. When it came the time to leave BedZed and James saw me on my Vespa, he scolded me, saying that next time I should have used public transport, because the bus stop is just conveniently right next to BedZed.

Since we started Woke Coliving in 2018, we set our goals to play a role within the SDGs framework, to impact the environment and to help the local communities to improve their living standards. By managing coliving communities, we really have the opportunity to bring sustainability up from the building to the community level. Our locations and proximity to the CBDs (Central Business Districts) promote walk-to-office culture and reduce the dependency from vehicular transportation. This directly reduces the individual's carbon footprint. Our newly built project in Mandaluyong was designed to maximize natural light and ventilation in all living areas, thus reducing dependency from the energy providers that, similarly to BedZed, are metered individually and are paid per use. Finally, moving from a sustainable approach to a design perspective, in the end I am still an architect, our building almost triples the occupancy of a traditional residential building, reducing the square meter per person from 24 to 8. Less buildings, more room for green and public spaces.&nbsp;

Coliving delivers tangible benefits to the people and the way they live, work and play. As operators and community managers, we have the responsibility to create awareness about wellness and influence sustainable living. Stepping forward with simple choices and small sacrifices creates a positive impact on our lives and the world we live in.&nbsp;

Since we started Woke Coliving in 2018, we set our goals to play a role within the SDGs framework, to impact the environment and to help the local communities to improve their living standards. By managing coliving communities, we really have the opportunity to bring sustainability up from the building to the community level. 

Paradigm Shift: From Sustainable Buildings to Sustainable Communities

It is not every day we see a classroom turn into a tech startup hub.&nbsp;

But for FEU Institute of Technology, their FEU TECH Innovation Center (FTIC) is the next generation of university learning that goes beyond conventional classrooms, offering a transformative learning environment.

In 2019, FEU TECH took a more aggressive approach to support entrepreneurship and innovation through its output-based programs. The center provides a space where people can interact with fellow innovators and collaborate on game-changing solutions. FEU TECH aspiring entrepreneurs, whether they are students, faculty, or faculty researchers currently working on their startup ideas, can meet to connect and leverage on the center’s resources to help develop their ideas.&nbsp;

“FEU TECH Innovation Center’s design is a purposeful blend of aesthetics and functionality,” Gianina Napo, FEU TECH Innovation Center Director for Innovation Programs says. “Our goal is to inspire and support the next generation of changemakers who can shape the future of the Philippines and the world. To support this vision, FEU TECH is creating programs, resources, and support mechanisms to cultivate innovative ideas and facilitate the growth of entrepreneurial prospects from the FEU TECH community."&nbsp;

A first within the university belt, the 1,170 square meter hub is situated on the 5th floor of the FEU Engineering Building along Nicanor Reyes Street. It houses specialized function rooms, a shared lounge that doubles as an event space, and a Fabrication Laboratory. The whole center is designed to encourage interaction and idea exchange where students, faculty, and external ecosystem players such as entrepreneurs, researchers, and experts are invited&nbsp; for learning sessions and events organized and hosted by FEU TECH Innovation Center.&nbsp;

In 2020, FEU TECH Innovation Center introduced an innovative internship track for students who&nbsp; aspire to be startup founders. The FEU TECH Innovation Center Startup Academy was designed to equip them with the basics of innovation and building a startup through a structured program while receiving coaching and mentorship. Over 700 aspiring student startup founders were under the program which served as a sandbox for&nbsp; innovation ideas that still follow a structured, industry-standard manner.

"From the past six cohorts, we have seen a range of diverse startup ideas from our FEU Alabang, FEU Diliman, and FEU TECH students who went through the program. This begins with an application period where students with innovative business ideas apply. Once selected, the incubated student startups are exposed to specialized training sessions and workshops. These learning sessions are facilitated by mentors who provide guidance, share insights, and offer practical advice to help students refine their business ideas," Napo explains.

An upcoming enhanced incubation and acceleration program will be launched to support tech-enabled pre- and early- stage startups from market validation to commercial success. The program will also grant students access to co-working spaces, prototyping facilities, and collaboration tools for business development. Networking activities and industry meetups will expose them to more entrepreneurs and professionals, culminating in a demo day for potential funding and support.

FEU TECH actively partners with key innovation enablers from both the government and private sectors to expand their network. This provides FEU TECH access to resource persons, experts, and even funding for research projects and startups. These external collaborations enhance their ecosystem and offer students and associates valuable connections in the broader entrepreneurial landscape. Their notable collaborations include startup enablers like the Asian Institute of Management- Dado Banatao Incubator (AIM-DBI), QBO Innovation Hub, and PHILDEV Foundation.&nbsp;

Success beyond Classrooms with Student Startups&nbsp;

DWARM Technologies was tapped to develop their artificial intelligence (AI) powered drone to support the COVID response of the government during the initial days of the pandemic. Supported by a grant from the Philippine Department of Science and Technology and support funding from FEU TECH via the FEU TECH Innovation Center, the AI drone which was primarily developed to improve the government’s search and rescue efforts during calamities was redesigned and used to manage the COVID situation.

Espasyo is a team formed after FEU TECH Innovation Center called for student startups to apply for funding opportunities from the Accenture Innovation Grant. It is an all-in-one system for warehouse spaces for e-commerce businesses that helps users find vacant spaces, reserve, pay and rent them as their storage spaces. It will be using Internet of Things technology (IoT) in managing these warehouse spaces.&nbsp;

Vehic is another student startup team that went through the FEU TECH Innovation Center Startup Academy. Vehic is a 360 solution for the auto care industry that envisions making a one-stop solution for any services related to vehicles. With Vehic’s mobile application, you can order or schedule a car wash anytime, anywhere. Its founder, Mr. Amir Anan, was chosen to be part of the Manila Ventures Program, an accelerator program backed by Kaya Ventures.&nbsp;

WePyro Tech developed a small-scale incinerator that generates energy from the electricity and heat processed during the incineration resulting in waste to energy or energy from waste. It has been hailed as one of the top 10 teams of Ways4Waste Innovation Challenge organized by Villgro Philippines and The Incubation Network.

Embracing the challenges of Industry 4.0 and beyond is FEU TECH’s driving force.

The FEU TECH Innovation Center is simply the start of the institution’s efforts in creating future-ready and entrepreneurial lifelong learners.

As the FEU TECH Innovation Center continues to innovate its immersive spaces and startup incubation programs, it creates a legacy that extends beyond classrooms—a legacy of future leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs poised to navigate and thrive in the dynamic landscape of the digital era.

STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)

A Peek Inside FEU TECH's Dynamic Startup Hub for Student Technopreneurs

The workshop featured presentations from JG Worldwide co-founders Vinze Montero and Gian Eduard. Mr. Montero's "Brand Pop: Cultural Impact on Content Creation" session explored leveraging cultural trends for content strategy. Mr. Eduard followed with "Adsthetic: The Art of Creating Content," focusing on the visual aspects of impactful content.

Emerge's Director of Marketing and Client Services, Jim Merino, concluded the workshop with "The Ten Commandments of Content and Influencer Marketing," outlining a framework for successful content marketing campaigns.

“Part of the omnichannel marketing approach is getting to your customers’ heads wherever they are on the internet,” said Director Merino. “Leveraging and elevating content with different aspects like the aesthetic, the core message, and use of influential personalities can all contribute to achieving your business goals,” he added.

Participants actively engaged in the workshop, creating content based on the experts' insights. Each group presented their work, and participants received valuable feedback and advice for improvement.

Director Jim Merino added, “We hope the participants will go home, sleep on it, go to work, and finally think, “Oh, so this is why I joined that masterclass.” Because it was something they needed.”

Expanding the Reach of Unwrap Your Potential

This workshop marks the second event in Emerge's ongoing "Unwrap Your Potential" campaign, designed to empower businesses and individuals with the skills needed to thrive in the digital landscape.

“Building on the impactful results of the initial Unwrap Your Potential Masterclass series, Emerge is expanding the program to reach businesses across the country,” said Emerge Co-Founder Carissa Noromor. “This national expansion reflects our dedication to empowering a wider audience and fostering digital growth.”

For more information about Emerge and its award-winning digital marketing solutions, you may reach their Revenue Operations team at <a href="mailto:sales@emergelocal.com">sales@emergelocal.com</a>. Discover how Emerge can elevate your business’s digital presence.

Startups

SMEs

EmergeLocal Inc. (Emerge) empowered businesses and individuals to leverage content and influencer marketing strategies at its second “Unwrap Your Potential” masterclass event, held with JG Worldwide on April 19, 2024. The event, titled “From Blah to Bam! Content and Influencer Marketing Workshop,” provided attendees with hands-on experience in crafting impactful content and influencer marketing campaigns.

Emerge Empowers Businesses with Content and Influencer Marketing Masterclass

[Manila, Philippines] – April 8, 2024 – <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theelleraffeph">The ElleRaffe's</a> recent production of "<a href="https://theancientprodigal.com/">The Ancient Prodigal</a>" has captivated audiences and garnered widespread critical acclaim.&nbsp; Exploring themes of faith, redemption, and the internal conflicts of good and evil, this one-act play delivered a thought-provoking narrative and powerful performances.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Sponsors Key to the Production's Success

The ElleRaffe extends heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors:

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/artepinturagallery">Artepintura Gallery</a>: Their beautiful venue provided the perfect setting for this intimate and powerful play. Their mission as an art haven for music, painting, crafts, and Filipino culture enthusiasts aligns beautifully with our artistic vision.

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/icanadafsi">iCanada Future Solutions Inc.</a>: Their generous co-production support was integral to bringing this important work to the stage. Their commitment to connecting with broad audiences reflects the play's exploration of universal themes of education and religion.

Written and directed by the brilliant <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MRSpeaksOfficial">Manu Respall</a>, "The Ancient Prodigal" delves into profound questions about faith, identity, and the human condition. Set in an unspecified time and place, the play depicts a compelling encounter between a risen Jesus Christ and a disillusioned Lucifer. Their conversation exposes Lucifer’s vulnerabilities and frustrations while revealing Jesus’ unwavering grace and compassion. Jesus forgives Lucifer, calling him the "Ancient Prodigal Son."

Theater veteran <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jetboyboogie/">Jamie Wilson</a> delivered a critically acclaimed performance as Jesus Christ. Reviewers noted, "Wilson completely commanded the stage...in a voice so calming, compassionate, and authoritative, just as we would expect from the Son of God."&nbsp; This portrayal has been hailed as one of the year's best stage performances.

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/zach.pracale.12">Zach Pracale</a>'s debut as Lucifer was a stunning revelation. Matching Wilson's intensity, he flawlessly delivered complex dialogue with an otherworldly cadence befitting his character's unique perspective. The subtle yet powerful imagery of his severed wings was an unforgettable touch.

The ElleRaffe and iCanada Future Solutions Inc.

"The Ancient Prodigal" underscores the power of theater to explore complex themes relevant to a diverse audience. This aligns with iCanada Future Solutions’ desire to connect deeply with its audience. As a company, iCanada FSI values open dialogue and the exploration of diverse perspectives, including those concerning education and religion.

Empathy and understanding: Exploring personal struggles, dreams, family dynamics, and beliefs, the play allows us to step into the shoes of Alagang iCanada individuals, promoting a deeper connection with their experiences.

Reflects Real-Life Complexities: The subjective, personal themes explored in the play resonate with the wide range of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives found within iCanada's diverse audience.

Opens Important Conversations: By addressing topics like education and religion, the play encourages important dialogue and reflection on issues that shape our lives.

Connects with Our Inner 'Prodigal': The play's themes of redemption and self-discovery resonate with everyone, reminding us of our potential for understanding and acceptance, even when we feel lost.

"[...] the play is profoundly personal, aiming to connect with the prodigal within each of us - that hidden aspect of ourselves we often keep concealed from others."

"Jamie Wilson... As early as now, I am already considering this as one of the best acting performances in a one-act play this year."

"The big surprise was model Zach Pracale... truly amazing achievement for this theater neophyte..."

"This play is purposefully thought-provoking and faith-challenging..." – Fred Hawson, "Fred Said" blog.

The play's original theme song, "The Awakened Soul," written, composed, and beautifully sung by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/musichaven_ph/">Andrea Martin</a> (arranged by Kevin Pangilinan and Johnson Jaducana) underscores the central message of finding one's way back to grace.

We extend special thanks to Toots Tolentino for supporting our show and to the press for their thoughtful reviews.&nbsp; Your support for original Filipino concepts means the world to us.

The ElleRaffe is excited to announce its upcoming play, scheduled for late June, featuring the song by Wilfredo Manganop. Stay tuned for more details!

Art Culture

The ElleRaffe's production of "The Ancient Prodigal" has been met with critical and audience praise for its exploration of faith, redemption, and the complexities of good and evil. Playwright and director Manu Respall's work delves into a profound encounter between Jesus Christ and Lucifer.  The production was made possible with generous support from sponsors ArtePintura and iCanada Future Solutions Inc.

The ElleRaffe's "The Ancient Prodigal" Receives Critical Acclaim

Manila, 15-Feb-2024, OurDailyNewsOnline.com, a comprehensive source for the latest in technology, sports, lifestyle, entertainment, and global events, has announced a strategic partnership with VRITIMES, a Tokyo-based media technology company known for its advanced press release distribution platform. This collaboration aims to extend the reach and impact of press releases across a multitude of sectors, leveraging the dedicated VRITIMES page on OurDailyNewsOnline.com.

OurDailyNewsOnline.com, with its diverse content and up-to-date news coverage, provides an ideal platform for VRITIMES to showcase its press release services. The dedicated VRITIMES page, accessible at <a href="https://ourdailynewsonline.com/vri-times/">OurDailyNewsOnline.com/vri-times</a>, serves as a specialized hub for press releases distributed through VRITIMES, offering readers direct access to a wide range of news and announcements.

"This partnership with OurDailyNewsOnline.com marks a significant step forward in our mission to enhance the visibility and accessibility of press releases," said Ferry Bayu, Co-Founder / CEO of VRITIMES. "The dedicated VRITIMES page on OurDailyNewsOnline.com will serve as a vital resource for our clients, ensuring their press releases receive the attention they deserve."