May Rodriguez, President of Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) and Chief Operating Officer of BellaVita Land Corp., bagged the Personality of the Year award last September 27, 2022, at Shangri-La The Fort in BGC, Taguig. 

The award is given in recognition of an individual whose overall body of work in real estate is a positive force in the industry, whose voice and actions contribute to moving the industry forward, and whose influence will reverberate for years to come.

Rodriguez said the real estate industry is the noblest profession as it fulfills the Filipino dream of owning a home. 

“I will say that ours is the most noble profession as we help uplift the dignity of every person who fulfills the dream of owning a home,” she said. 

The Personality of the Year awardee is full of pride and joy to be an instrument in improving the lives of Filipinos through the provision of housing. 

The awarding ceremony also unveiled three new pandemic-related awards, namely Best Pandemic Pivot, Best Seller Support, and Best Property Seeker Support.  

The complete list of winners follows:

Luzon Winners

• Best Affordable Condo – Avida Towers Ardane (Avida Land)
• Best Premium Condo – The Lattice at Parklinks (Alveo Land Corp.)
• Best Affordable House – Suntrust Sentosa (Suntrust Properties Inc.)
• Best Premium House – Seafront Residences (AboitizLand Inc.)
• Best Mixed-Use Development – Kizuna Heights (Vista Residences)

Visayas and Mindanao Winners

• Best Affordable Condo – Avida Towers Riala (Avida Land)
• Best Premium Condo – AmiSa Private Residences (RLC Residences)
• Best Affordable House – Amoa (AboitizLand Inc.) 
• Best Premium House – The Gardens at South Ridge (UrbanEast Developments, Inc.)
• Best Mixed-Use Development – Legacy Leisure Residences (Crisron Holiday Builders, Inc.)

Special Awards

• Best Masterplanned Community – Pueblo de Panay Township (Pueblo de Panay Inc.)
• Best Smart Development – Woodsville Crest (RLC Residences)
• Best Pandemic Pivot – RLC Residences 
• Best Seller Support  – Avida Land
• Best Property Seeker Support  – Contempo Property Holdings, Inc.

KONE Special Awards

• People Flow Award – Worldwide Plaza (Megaworld Corporation)
• Lift to Rise Award – Casas + Architects, Inc.
• KONE DX Award – Rockwell Land Corporation

Grand Awards 

• Personality of the Year – May Rodriguez, President of Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) and Chief Operating Officer of BellaVita Land Corp.
• Boutique Developer of the Year – Luzon – Landco Pacific Corporation
• Boutique Developer of the Year– Visayas and Mindanao – Primeworld Land Holdings, Inc.
• Developer of the Year – Luzon – Alveo Land Corp.
• Developer of the Year – Visayas and Mindanao – AboitizLand Inc.

Lamudi’s Global Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Kian Moini said in his opening speech different real estate developers change people’s lives by making homes for Filipinos.

“As builders, all of you in this room actually change people’s lives. Every single house that you build – every condo, every unit that a Filipino family moves into – makes a happier Filipino family,” Moini said.

He added that despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the future of the Philippines is bright.

“Covid times have been tragic for all of us […] I have very strong beliefs in the future of the Philippines as a country and as an economy,” Moini said.

Anurag Verma, Lamudi Philippines’ country head, closed the event noting the company’s mission and vision, which are also shared by every attendee of The Outlook 2022: Philippine Real Estate Awards. 

“Lamudi exists because of all you […] We exist because of your continued trust. Your success is our success,” Verma said. “This awarding ceremony is also a day for us to say thank you for helping us in our vision.”

The Outlook 2022: Philippine Real Estate Awards is co-presented by KONE and in partnership with media organizations Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer Property, Manila Bulletin, Business Mirror, Manila Standard, The Manila Times, The Philippine Star, Malaya Business Insight, Sunstar Cebu, Real Estate Blog PH, Negosentro, Property Finds Asia, Village Connect PH, and World Executives Digest. 

The event’s silver sponsors are Maximus and Gorenje, while the bronze sponsors are Inventi, BDO, RCBC, BPI, Metromart, Shopee, Zalora, and CleanSource Solution.

Click the link to learn more about The Outlook 2022: Philippine Real Estate Awards.

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Chef Sheilla, also known as the Soulful Kitchen Diva, is a Cuisine and Pastry Chef, Chef Instructor, Chef Consultant, Food Stylist, Food Photographer, Recipe Developer, and Food Writer who wears many hats. The kitchen is her domain. Everything in her kitchen, from ingredients to kitchen tools, gadgets, utensils, and equipment, must be functional, durable, of the highest quality, and multifunctional.

She admits to having high expectations for the kitchen tools she uses, and she proudly declares that each piece for Chef Sheilla Kitchenwares is chosen by hand. She tested them for functionality and durability, as well as ensuring that the pastel colors are pleasing to the eye and that “they’re not going to be super expensive.” She also has standardized recipes on her website for people to make their own dishes using her kitchenware essentials.

Hand mixer (with stand), Silicone Cupcake/Muffin Pan, 5-piece Mixing Bowls with Lids, Silicone Oven Mittens, Stainless Steel Cake knife and Server Set with Ceramic Holder, Chopping board, and even a Waterproof Digital Kitchen Scale are among the items offered by Chef Sheilla Kitchwares. The Stainless Flour Sifter costs P230, while the durable Non-stick 12″ Wok Pan with Lid costs P1650.00 (5-layer coating, smart heat conduction and with silicone handle).

Chef Sheilla Kitchen wares are available on www.chefsheilla.com . The items are also on Lazada and Shoppee.

The post Pretty kitchen tools and gadgets, Chef Sheilla inspires you to cook & bake appeared first on Village Connection PH.

“When employees are compensated as much as what the company earns, they work towards a unified goal that results to increased productivity and success,” said Keller Williams Philippines Regional Director Marla V. Naňadiego. “This is the very reason why Keller Williams enjoys the distinction as the largest, fastest-growing real estate franchise globally.”

Keller Williams was borne out of a vision that if a company works on building the business of the agent to be big, the brokerage will grow just as big. In 1983, founder Gary Keller teamed up with Joe Williams to launch Keller Williams Realty in Austin, Texas with a handful of sales associates which they implemented this vision on. Keller Williams then went on to grow to become the largest single-office real estate company in the metropolitan area. 

Eventually, the brokerage conceptualized and adopted the new Keller Williams Business Model: an agent-centric approach where associates are given equal influence and opportunities in the company. The business model has not only spurred unprecedented growth, but consistently places KW as a top-performing brokerage firm in the United States. 

In 2017, KW expanded in Asia, including in the Philippines. As of this year, there are currently 9 sub-franchises operating under the Philippine master franchise. Backed by a team of leaders with more than 40 years’ experience in residential, commercial, and leisure real estate development, KW intends to change the way real estate is sold in the country. 

Continuous demand

The Philippines continues to enjoy growth in the real estate sector, giving new players like Keller Williams equal footing on the playing field, as noted by KW Ortigas – 27C Realty Team Leader Dianne Orillosa. “The residential market is booming. Property prices continue to increase, construction is non-stop, and demand for these properties is not slowing down at all,” she explains. 

KW Ortigas – 27C Realty Operating Principal and Owner Pauline Orillosa added that there is an extensive untapped local inventory owing to continuous construction and property transactions. This opportunity opens up more room for more passionate individuals who desire a flourishing career in real estate. “We need more brokers and sales agents to join our team to train, to handle our listings, and to grow with us,” Orillosa said. 

Happiest Place to Work

The interdependent business model of Keller Williams, where agents are treated as partners by franchise owners, has earned the company a reputation as one of the world’s largest real estate franchise with more than 1,000 offices and 182,000 associates across the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia.  

“This is their business as much as ours,” shared Pauline. “Agents have an active participatory role in the direction and policy-making of the company.”

The company’s valued agents also benefit from the distinctive system, innovative technology, and healthy work culture of the KW brand. High-quality training of best practices and personal techniques of market leaders are generously shared with all the company’s associates. Budding agents are also granted access to the company’s proprietary software that assists in tracking clients or listings with ease, streamlining the selling process, and providing a wider network reach for collaboration even with KW agents abroad. All these perks and more can be accessed within the tastefully-designed office space of family-operated franchise KW Ortigas – 27C Realty. 

“Agents don’t have to set meetings in fast food restaurant or coffee shops anymore,” Dianne added, talking of the presence of comfortable function rooms and meeting rooms within their office space.

Franchises such as KW Ortigas – 27 C Realty gives its brokers and agents wealth building opportunities through its CAP Management, profit share and growth share, commission and other company-initiated incentives.

Because of its game-changing value proposition, Keller Williams Philippines is touted to become a highly sought-after brokerage firm for real estate professionals looking for a truly rewarding career.  For those interested to join the KW Ortigas – 27C Realty Market Center, its office is located at Unit 00179 Lower Level, East Lane, Robinsons Galleria. You may also email at kwortigas@kwphilippines.com or visit www.kellerwilliamsortigas.com.

To know more about KW Philippines, log on to www. http://kwphilippines.com

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Roy Quejada is a BS Education graduate from the University of the Philippines. He himself didn’t really have a vision of entering the restaurant business until he became a crew of McDonald’s Philippines in his youth. Through perseverance, his hard work was recognized. He got promoted to management trainee, to restaurant manager, then area manager. And then in 2003, McDonald’s Philippines gave him the opportunity to become part of their Training Department.This experience made him realize the importance of training. If for without it, he too may not be where he is right now. Roy’s everyday life is fueled by his passion to continuously improve himself and the people around him. He knows where training could take a person’s career, so it has become his goal in life to bring the best out of people. “If I am not in the restaurant business, I would probably conduct seminars and training”, says Roy. He sees himself in that field, offering time to help other people gain the advantage to become more successful in life.

As a CEO, Roy lives by two important words: excellence and collaboration. Excellence is for giving his best effort in whatever he does. It’s his principle to give time and attention to the things he does, no matter how small it is. He, too, believes in collaboration, that not all information and ideas would come from himself. He believes that each one has their share of talents and opinions. In fact, from a previous interview by ExecutiveChronicles.com, he says he’s more participative rather than directive. “As a leader, I value the ideas and insights of the people around me. Even at times, I would encourage them to try something out. If you make a mistake, then let’s retract, do it again or do something better”, he adds.

If he was to leave the restaurant industry, Roy is sure on what he’s going to do after. He’ll probably put up his own business, and then train his people to become like him. By and large, it’s a legacy he wants to leave: to be known as the trainer of the people he’s working with and will work with in the days to come.

Here is a The Village Connect video interview of Roy Quejada:

The post Roy Quejada of CocoHut: On His Biggest Realization as a COO appeared first on Village Connection PH.

This is for the Lord, who became my strong tower during the times when I wanted to give up. For L., my family, my friends, and for everyone who prayed and always believed in me when I didn’t. You guys kept me sane during the actual medical board exams. I can’t thank you enough.

“When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you’ll be successful.”- Eric Thomas, The Secret to Success

Hi! I’m Karl, an average student from the College of Medicine of De La Salle Health Sciences Institute. I promised God and myself that I will write an article of some sort to help those who will be taking the next batch of the PLE right after I pass the boards because I was also searching for a guide during the preparation and the actual week of the exams.

This is for those who are about to sail into the journey we call “preparing for the boards”. Now, I’m sure that you guys will most likely be reviewing in a review center, and some will do self-study. We each have our own preferences and this guide, which I hope would be of great help, will be able to tone down your anxieties, worries and fears about the Physician Licensure Examination. I am formatting this article as an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) type. Let’s begin.

#1 WHAT should I do as of now?

Well the answer is obvious, you READ. Yes, you heard me right. READ. If you are in your undergrad years, well… There is nothing really to do except to read all you can. If you’ve been reading books from the start, just continue doing that because the boards will always be book-based especially on the basic subjects you took during your 1^st and 2^nd year.

If you’re currently in your internship days, or better yet if you’re still in your clerkship, you will want to read a case or two every duty status or so. I know you guys have time to check your news feed in Facebook for 30 mins to an hour. So, why not allot some time (20-30 minutes) to brush up on the cases that you handled or are handling during your duty time? If you’re in a specific department during this month, read up on cases that belong to under it and PUT THEM TO HEART. Not just for the time being or just to “get by” the morning census.

It will even help you if ever a resident or a consultant asks you out of nowhere, a specific question in that particular case. Trust me, you’d thank yourself in the future when you’re reviewing already. So, keep that in mind.

#2 WHAT should I read and HOW should I read OUTSIDE of the hospital?

First, I would like to recommend that you borrow/buy review books (BRS books! especially in physiology) since these have lectures and questions integrated in the topics as well. They also have rationales for the answers that are provided. Next, read those review books just like reading a novel or a short story. Again, don’t try to memorize stuff yet. Just read and try to understand. Leave the memorizing part in your actual review days.

Now this “reading” of yours is a way to prepare your mind for the actual review season because the reviewers that you will be reading are in bulk. And when I say BULK, I really mean B-U-L-K (I will be attaching a picture of my review materials that I used during the review at the bottom of the page). So, you’d ask me, “how will this help me for the review season?” Well, if you’re like me who enjoyed most of my days as an intern with no review at all during the off days, then this will really benefit you.

If you start reading halfway through internship, then you’d be reading your materials way faster at the start of the review season versus if you just started to read AT THE START of the review season (which I HIGHLY discourage). I personally started to “read” around March of 2017 (since my internship was from June 30, 2016 to June 30, 2017) and even if I barely had 3 months left before starting the review, it helped my mind to be trained once again in reading so many materials.

I can say that the load was a lot more during our time because we only had 2 WHOLE MONTHS to review, unlike in the past where they were usually given 3 months to prepare for the boards.

#3 WHAT SUBJECTS should I prioritize to read?

Again, if you’re in a specific department, read up on those cases because this will help you in your review days and allow you to give less attention to the clinical subjects. For the boards, the BASIC subjects will definitely help you in all the tests that you will be taking since it will integrate the basic knowledge you have from the basic subjects, if ever you are dumbfounded with a specific question.

The basic subjects I’m talking about are Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pathology, and Pharmacology. During your review days, I suggest that you pay attention to these 6 subjects because they will be your foundation in eliminating answers in the actual board exams.

#4 You mentioned BIOCHEMISTRY!!! HOW would I be able to review that?!

If you will be reviewing in a review center like me, the lecturers there will definitely be able to help you out especially with their handouts combined. This is actually one of the EASIEST subjects (yes, I am not kidding) that you can get a high grade in during the boards, in order to pull your grades up.

So during your review days as an intern, don’t worry about this yet.  If you will be doing self-study, you can borrow review materials from your friends, or better yet read on lippincotts biochemistry or BRS biochemistry. You can also ask other people who took the boards and did self-study.

#5 I’m starting my review in a week’s time or so, what now?

Set your mind straight. Say to yourself that you really want to do this. This is not a walk in the park. This will test your discipline, your mental toughness, your faith, and your determination. This is the first thing to do. You have to really WANT that LICENSE to serve others because if you enter this journey with a weak determination, you’d stumble somewhere along the way.

You will be giving this your all: countless nights of 4 to 5 hours of sleep, unlimited caffeine intakes just to stay awake, and doing nothing but just reading and studying. This will be a routine in the time period of your review season. It will mostly be allotted for lectures and study time.

Expect it to be something like this: Wake up – study – eat – study – go to lectures – eat while studying – go home – study – sleep – wake up 4-5 hours after then you will be repeating the process. So yes, it’s basically all STUDY and some off times just to get your mind right back on track.

#6 I’m currently reviewing and can’t help but fall asleep at times. HELP!

Napapagod din ang utak, hindi lang ang puso. Remember that. You can’t expect your mind to function if it’s dead tired so yes, you can take naps. Do not feel guilty about those quick naps. Usually, the recommended time for naps is around 15 minutes to an hour or so. DO NOT exceed 90 minutes as it would already be called “sleeping”. This was emphasized during our review days so I’m just passing it on to you guys. Do not be guilty because if you think of it in a logical way, it will be something like this: 30 minutes of sleep > 30 minutes of unproductive time (not absorbing anything at all while trying to stay awake). Which is better? You be the judge. Again, this is just based from my personal experience.

#7 Should I be resourceful?

This is a pretty subjective question since what I mean here is that if you CAN be resourceful, please do so. If your time permits you to be resourceful, go ahead (if you have no more backlogs on your readings or you have extra time to study other materials). So, what does being resourceful mean? Well it means that you can approach your friends, co-interns from other schools and see what review materials you will need from their shack. At most, you can borrow sample exams to help you prepare for the actual board questions and you can assess yourself at the same time on what your weak points are; let’s say in a specific subject, or a specific topic, or probably in eliminating choices as well.

But I will warn you. NOT EVERYTHING you hear from whoever will ever really appear in the actual board exam itself. You may be risking precious time in believing a specific “tip” from someone, so this will be your call. You can either choose to master the materials you have at your disposal, or you can decide to add more and pick out specific topics you want to master. Again, this is subjective.

#8 It’s my first set of exams tomorrow. What should I do?

Focus on your first subject and MAKE SURE you get a high grade. Biochemistry will be one of the easiest subjects (well this is for our time 2017) along with legal medicine. The first subject will always determine your outlook on the exams, and if you have an easy time answering the questions, then you will have a positive outlook on the rest of the subjects to come. The first day will be hard—anxiety sets in, what questions would appear, kaya ko ba ‘to?

KAYA MO. Tell that to yourself. Pray before the exam, pick up your pencil, and start dissecting the questions. After your first exam, the rest will follow and little by little, you will eventually calm down.

#9 I finished my first set of exams, what should I do in the upcoming week?

If you have unfinished readings, read them IF you can. This will be a difficult week especially if you’ve been discussing answers to a specific question and you dwell on it too much. This will really shatter your mood, so I cannot EMPHASIZE this more: DO NOT discuss the questions. DO NOT find for the answers online (well that was my mistake) because from personal experience, I had anxiety attacks during the 2^nd week of preparing for the next set of subjects. Trust me, you wouldn’t want to experience that.

Only the examiners really know what the answer to a specific question is. So, after each subject, go to a corner around the campus or anywhere away from those discussing the questions on the exam, and go study for the next subject (yes you can still study and cram the essentials for a specific subject). After studying, return to your room a few minutes before the start of the next subject.

#10 I’m done with the 2 weeks! What to do while waiting for the results of the Med Boards?

PRAY. Yes, pray and pray and pray. After praying, you can do whatever you want. Distract yourself from the long wait. Go to places, go play video games, eat out with your friends and loved ones. This is the time to do it. Reward yourself for a job well done! If you know you’ve done ALL that you could, then you just have to lift it all up to God. Let Him do the rest and let’s hope for the best. Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa.

**P.S. For the Catholics out there: Should you need spiritual guidance, here is a list of prayers that I prayed during the review. And yes, it helped me A LOT. Your faith will be tested during these times especially in the week after the boards. HAVE FAITH. You can search online for the prayers mentioned.

• Jude Thaddeus 9 day novena – of course, the patron saint of Hopeless cases and things despaired of. (I actually completed 2 cycles)
• Novena to Infant of Prague – a very powerful prayer (I did this during the few days before the results. This is a nine-hour novena, to be said every hour for 9 hours in one day. You can repeat it everyday.
• The Holy Rosary (I started this during my review each time I wake up every morning until the results came out)
• Novena to Mother of Perpetual Help (This was what I did during my Nursing Boards, and what my mom prayed during my medicine boards)
• Personal prayers in between will also help you.
• Worrying is an insult to God (Matthew 6:30). Continue to pray and trust in His mercy especially if you’ve already done your part in this journey.

For the whole 2 or 3 months of your review, you should be putting ALL of THESE inside your head and heart. Half the battle is won if you are confident with yourself as you’re seated in the exam room.

If you have more thoughts or questions, I’d be glad to answer them! You can send me a message on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karlnievera

God bless you and may you also be licensed to heal!

The post 10 Ways to Prepare for (and Pass!) the Physician Licensure Exam (Philippine Med Boards) appeared first on Village Connection PH.

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Nurses are our everyday heroes. From left: Nicole Gonzales, Millicent Llanes, Crelane Gregorio, Florence Cancio, Camille Joy Zapata and Diana Yee

What was supposed to be a relaxing and fun-filled day at a resort in Clark, Pampanga turned out to be a fateful one for a group of nurses from The Medical City (TMC) Clark Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

The incident happened on June 3, 2015. The six nurses – Florence Cancio, Nicole Gonzales, Maria Crelane Gregorio, Camille Joy Zapata, Millicent Llanes and Diane Yee – were having fun at the pool when they noticed a commotion and heard people shouting and asking for help.

“At first we did not know what was happening until the bystanders said that a toddler was found floating in the swimming pool, unresponsive,” Gonzales related.

“We rushed to see the child who was already bluish and cold to touch. She was no longer breathing and had a weak pulse. We assessed the child to verify her condition since we did not have a stethoscope or any medical paraphernalia at that time,” added Gregorio.

The toddler, two-year-old Joy, was with her family at the time of the incident.

Cancio initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and asked Joy’s older sister, who was nearest to the child, to do rescue breaths while she performed the chest compressions. Cancio was assisted by Zapata and Gregorio. While the three were attending to the child, Gonzales requested a van from the resort management that would bring the child to the nearest hospital. The other nurses stayed beside Joy’s family.

The nurses continued performing CPR on the child while on their way to the hospital.

“We and Joy’s parents agreed to proceed to TMC Clark because we believed the hospitals near the area would not be able to provide the care Joy needed at that time due to lack of facilities,” said Gregorio.

Joy was given immediate care upon arrival at the Emergency Department of TMC Clark. The hospital staff continued CPR, hooked the child to a cardiac monitor, suctioned and intubated her and then moved her to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). She was discharged from the hospital after 10 days.

Today, Joy is a picture of a bubbly, witty and charming little girl. Her parents even sent a thank you card to TMC Clark and the nurses on August 10, 2015.

It read: “To all the doctors, nurses, and staff of ER, ICU and NICU, who gave us a second chance to be with our precious Joy, we will never forget you and all your hard work…Thank you for giving Joy back to us, to see her grow, to see her go to school, and maybe become her own hero in the future.”

When asked if they see themselves as heroes, the NICU nurses just smiled, seemingly oblivious of their heroic deed.

“Being a nurse does not enclose you in the four corners of the hospital. Once you’re a nurse, you will always and forever be one. Even without your BP apparatus, stethoscope, etc, your presence of mind, knowledge, skills and resourcefulness will get you through,” added Cancio.

“We were given the choice to act or not to act. We chose to act,” said Llanes.

“I realized that Nursing is my true calling. Saving a child’s life or someone’s life inside or outside the hospital is something I want to be a part of,” shared Zapata.

In closing, Cancio said nurses should not be identified as persons who only follow orders from doctors but healthcare providers with a compassionate heart and always willing to help others.

“Being a nurse is a 24/7 thing. It does not end she leaves the hospital. A nurse grabs any chance to help save a precious life,” she said, matter of factly.

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“Be aware of what’s happening because your patients will ask you. Be aware, be responsible for what you advise them because they will also listen to you; and you can heal a nation just by being a good physician.” – Dra. Ma. Dominga ‘Minguita’ Padilla, 2017

In a sea of what ifs, Dra. Ma. Dominga Padilla, most commonly known as Dra. Minguita, is one of the few who braved the waters towards change and public service. Aside from being a remarkable ophthalmologist and being the founder of the Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines in 1995, Dra. Padilla’s strong love for the country led her to being an advocate of truth, anti-corruption, and good governance in the Philippines.

She grew up being capable to do a lot and wanted to be many things. As a child, Dra. Padilla aspired to be a concert pianist, a stage actress, a singer, a lawyer, and even a spy. But, a single retreat in Baguio way back in High School, revealed a profession that was at the bottom of her list – a doctor.

She recalls, “Then, so High School, 4th year, I went to the retreat, and I had one question I asked God. Again, you ask God. He answers eh basta (as long as) you listen. You have to know how to listen when you pray. ‘Where can I use all the talents you gave me the most in the best way you want me to?’ ‘Yun lang naman ang tanong ko, eh (that was my only question). Natulog ako (I slept). [Then] the next day, I said, ‘I will become a doctor.’ That’s how I decided, really.”

It is not every day that you think you can restore a bruised country like the Philippines. But for Dra. Padilla, she believes that one can always heal a nation through the simplest acts such as fighting for the truth and always prioritizing public service.

Dra. Padilla sat on the front seat of making history in the field of medicine in the Philippines. During trying times without the Eye Bank, she, as well as all other ophthalmologists in the country, would just have to tell her patients who needed corneal transplant to sign their names on the list and wait for corneas to be available.

She narrates, “We would tell them that but we knew the call would not come. So they’d go home, and there would be no hope. The corneas [that] we would get with the eyeballs [were] from Sri Lanka because Sri Lankan religion encourages donating the eyes. But when it would come to us, they were not in good shape. They were in Styrofoam boxes, tapos (then) when you open, yung mga mata naka-ganun (the eyes were just there), staring at you. Walang mga testing-testing (no tests were done). None of the studies that we have today. Or we would get rejected eyeballs from the States – the ones that the doctors there would not use. So we were beggars.”

Life in the field then was really hard for ophthalmologists. Dra. Padilla recalls how they had to steal eyes in the past from morgues. In her residency years, they had to look for ways on how to get eyeballs. They would get calls from lookouts in the morgue, telling them that there are possible donors whose bodies were unclaimed. Dra. Padilla, together with her team, would come with their Jollibee lunchboxes, apologize and say a little prayer as they removed eyeballs from the cadavers.

As Dra. Padilla continued to secretly slide into morgues for eyeballs, a ray of epiphany struck her. She saw how much the country needs a better system.

She describes, “I was about to go on a date, I was coming from duty. I was fixed up – perfume and all. Then my lookout man said, ‘May potential donor sa morgue. Puntahan ninyo. (Go here. There’s a potential donor in the morgue.)’

Eh ako naman (On my end), I wanted to prove myself to my senior because nobody thought I could be doing this because I was an advertising model. Pero (But) I wanted to prove myself, so I went with my lunchbox, ready to remove the eyeballs. And lo and behold, that particular day, there were so many cadavers in the morgue. They were patong-patong (piled on top of one another). Then the cadaver of interest was underneath, so I had to move the gurney. And when I moved the gurney, nahulog sila sa akin (they all fell on me). So I was like there, pinned down, perfumed, ready for a date… Pinned down under a couple of cadavers. And I said, “My God, there’s gotta be a better way to do this.” I said, “God, we have to have an eye bank.”

Together with that defining moment, one of Dra. Padilla’s mentors, Dr. Salvador Salceda, kept encouraging her to put up an Eye Bank.

“You were not meant to do the ordinary. You were meant to do the extraordinary”, Dra. Padilla quotes Dr. Salceda.

It was his words, plus all the suffering that she saw at PGH, that pushed Dra. Padilla enough towards her journey in making the Eye Bank a reality. Upon putting up the Eye Bank in 1995, she promised that it will be for the people, and not self-serving. As Founder and President, she told the board members that no one will use the tissues for themselves within the first six months. All will be for other surgeons around the country, and everyone agreed.

Dra. Padilla has inspired not just patients, but also students. In the course of her career, she strived to serve the people.

She would always tell her students that, “All of us, especially when you’re a doctor, if you’re a physician, you’re in a very very special place to heal a nation. Not just because of the physical ailment, but also spiritually, psychologically.”

She has always been positive in handling adversity, firm in implementing good governance, and faithful to her Creator. Dra. Padilla has been many things. She has been part of passing legislations to support the Eye Bank, has fought for rights of doctors against criminalizing malpractice, and is an active advocate of truth, anti-corruption, and good governance.

So aside from the ones who physically helped her, to whom does Dra. Padilla owe her successes? Her answer is God.

“I have so many stories. My life and my work is testimony to how God works, and He really works wonders. And if you want something and you have to make sure it’s not for you. It’s for as many people that’s really for the good of most, He will help you”, she says.

And when asked about her thoughts on her current professions, she answers, “So my path has been a very interesting path and if anyone still doubts that there is God, I can tell you so many stories that will prove that He’s there. Kasi ganun talaga eh (Because that’s how it works). It’s a life of answered prayer. That’s basically my path.  And I have fought many battles. Never for myself. My battles had been for the blind, for medicine, for injustice, for victims of corruption”, Dra. Padilla concludes.

Dra. Padilla has remained faithful to her calling as a doctor who heals the blind. Beyond being a physician, her other calling of healing a nation has remained steady as well. Her previous work in government and other current social actions put Dra. Minguita among distinguished public servants.

Watch Dra. Padilla in this one-on-one interview by WED content editor, Kyla Nievera (Part 1 of 2 segments):

Video Director: Kyla Camille Nievera
Editor/Videographer: Nikka Francheska Luis
Videographer: Paul Nicholas Bautista

The post Dra. Minguita Padilla: Healing the Blind, Healing the Nation appeared first on Village Connection PH.

In his new role, Laurent will be responsible for all hotel and resort operations comprising 192 rooms: one Presidential Suite, 22 Villas with private pools, 72 One-bedroom Suites, 97 Deluxe Rooms, Saffron all-day dining restaurant, Mosaic Latin American Steakhouse, Pool Bar, Grand Ballroom, Events Pavillion, Meeting Room, Crimzone Kids Entertainment, three swimming pools, a Fitness Center and the famed Azure Beach Club and Aum Spa.

Expertise in luxury hospitality

Laurent brings a wealth of experience having spent more than 20 years working in luxury hospitality. He gained considerable expertise during a distinguished international career working in Japan, China, Belgium, Singapore, Hong kong, India, Qatar, and UAE.

Prior to joining Crimson Hotels & Resorts, Laurent served as Resident Manager for Shangri-la Qatar, Shangri-la UAE and Shangri-la Manila. He was F&B Director in Shangri-la Hong Kong, where fine dining restaurant Petrus garnered a Michelin star on its first year, and two Michelin stars on the second year. He served as EAM during hotel opening, for the flagship of Ritz-Carlton in China.  He has also taken up management roles for Mandarin Oriental and Grand Hyatt. At that period, Grand Hyatt Tokyo obtained the highest F&B revenue for Hyatt worldwide.

A warm welcome from Chroma Hospitality

With Laurent’s extensive experience in operations, it is with great pride that Crimson Hotels & Resorts, Boracay, welcomes him. Crimson Resort & Spa Boracay is the third Crimson property under the management of Chroma Hospitality, Inc. following Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan and Crimson Hotel Filinvest City Manila.

Chroma Hospitality Country Manager James Montenegro says, “We are thrilled to have Laurent Bourgeois join the team. We are confident that with his extensive experience in hotel operations he will contribute significantly to the success of the much anticipated Crimson Resort and Spa in Boracay.”

STATION ZERO: Rediscovering paradise lost in Crimson Boracay

Laurent shares, “I am very happy about being back in the Philippines, having spent some of my childhood years here from when I was eight to 14 years old. I remember my first holiday in Boracay Island in 1981—it was the first time my father taught me how to fly a kite. The wind was fantastic! I also went fishing with a family and their son my age.”

He adds, “What excites me about Crimson Resort & Spa Boracay is how much it looks and feels like the Boracay I first experienced, way back in 1981—without the chaos, without the crowds, without the loud parties. Crimson Boracay is tucked away in the island’s most exclusive location called STATION ZERO—its secluded and pristine white sand beach and crystal clear waters really take me back to that memorable first holiday on the island with my family. It’s almost as if I went back in time and rediscovered the lost magic of Boracay. We can’t wait to share this piece of paradise with our guests when we open later this year.”

Chroma Hospitality, Inc. owned by Filinvest Hospitality Corporation, is the management company behind Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan, Crimson Hotel Filinvest City Manila, Quest Hotel & Conference Center Cebu City, and Quest Hotel & Conference Center Clark Pampanga. Its newest property is Crimson Resort & Spa Boracay set to open this 2017. To learn more about Crimson Resort & Spa Boracay, please call 0998-964-9672 or email nationalsales@chromahospitality.com. For more information about Chroma Hospitality, visit www.chromahospitality.com.

The post Chroma Hospitality appoints General Manager for Crimson Resort & Spa Boracay appeared first on Village Connection PH.

Topgrading, a group of hiring and interviewing methodology experts recently compiled a list of second in command executives at some of American’s most iconic companies. For each executive they looked at:

• The time spent with the company
• Time in current role
• Compensation for 2016
• Education
• Career history
• Current responsibilities at their company

Topgrading wanted to see the value that each of these second in command executives had within their respective organizations. They took this list and created a comprehensive infographic that can be seen below. Among the list you will see executives from major companies like Twitter, Facebook, Tesla, Salesforce, Zappos, Google, Amazon, AT&T, Whole Foods, Apple, and Starbucks among many other corporate giants.

The list of executives is impressive with people from varying backgrounds and experiences. They did profile a snapshot of the average number two executive.  Here’s what they found:

• They’ve been with the company for 21 years
• Been in the current role for roughly 5 years
• Earned roughly $17.5 million last year
• Has a Harvard degree

To see the full list from Topgrading, check out the infographic below.  You will learn more about the second in command at major companies than you ever wished to know.

The post Why The Number Two Exec at Major Firms May be More Important Than That of The CEO appeared first on Village Connection PH.