The Apple Awards

Every year Robinsons Supermarket Corp. recognizes its most valuable trade partners with the Apple Awards. Robinsons Retail Group SVP and group GM and Star columnist Robina Gokongwei-Pe took part in the presentation of awards together with first VP for operations Ronnie Ong, assistant VP for Non-food Division Bobby Mabanta, assistant VP for Food Division Daisy Lyn Sy and VP for procurement Mark Tansiongkun.

Excellent service level, account service and trade support garnered the following companies their respective awards: Food Division — Monde Nissin, Gold Apple Award and RFM Corp., Silver Apple; Non-food Division — Procter and Gamble Philippines, Gold Apple and Sanitary Care Products Asia, Silver Apple; Fresh Division — Foodsphere Inc., Gold Apple and Mekeni Food Corp., Silver Apple. Unilever Philippines-Home and Personal Care Division again bagged the Platinum Apple, a recognition given to the trade partner who contributes to the achievement of Robinsons Supermarket’s business objectives.

The Apple Award for Fresh Category in Visayas and Mindanao went to Cabral Seafoods and Baker Bob; Apple Award Unique Selling Proposition to South Star Drugstore; and Apple Award Concessionaire of the Year to San Miguel Foods Inc. Gold and Silver Apple Awards for Non-Trade Partners went to Linear Dynamics Graphics Inc. and VMC Designs Center, respectively.

The Apple Award for The Most Outstanding Key Accounts Manager was received by Analyn Tiu of Bristol-Myers Squibb Philippines Inc. and Rosafe Cuay of RFM Corp. for Food Division; Luis Yanga of Procter and Gamble Philippines for Non-food; and Anna Dunca of San Miguel Corp. for Fresh Division. Robinsons Supermarket awarded the Apple Award Entrepreneur of the Year to Ya Yammy Ace Marketing and Atlas Home Products; Apple Award Best Robinsons Supermarket Exclusive Campaign/Promotion/In-Store Activation to Nestle Philippines and Procter and Gamble Philippines; Apple Award Wellness Advocacy to Nestle Philippines Inc.; Apple Award Service Level to J.S. Unitrade Merchandise Inc.; and Apple Special Citation for Distribution Center Pioneer to Alaska Milk Corp. and Absolute Sales Corp.

The show was hosted by Luis Manzano and Priscilla Mereilles with performances from Christian Bautista, Hazel Ann Mendoza and the Drag-ons. Some guests took home their winnings from the slot machines provided by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) while gift certificates and a trip to Macau were also raffled off.

Affordable good life

Globe Asiatique Realty and Holdings Corp., a leading real estate developer in the country, has once again given every Filipino family a chance to live the good life.

Following the successful Xevera Bacolor housing project is Xevera Mabalacat, which features a school, church, town hall, wet and dry market, a clubhouse, commercial areas and an amusement park. Residents get to enjoy the convenience of a transportation terminal, with the additional perk of a soon-to-be completed road to Clark. Now anyone can own a unit at a fixed monthly amortization rate of only P4,927.71 with a loanable amount of P700,000 at the already reduced interest rate of seven percent and payable in 30 years with PAG-IBIG.

The whole-day launch of Xevera Mabalacat was a memorable celebration. Gates opened in the morning to the town plaza which was transformed into one giant theme park, with caricature, henna and glitter artists catering to children while jugglers, stilt walkers, magicians, flower vendors and accordionists entertained the crowd. Host Menchu Antigua acknowledged guests including Vice President Noli de Castro, Mabalacat Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales and PAG-IBIG Fund president lawyer Romero Quimbo. The church, school and model houses were blessed and turned over to the town of Mabalacat following the ribbon-cutting ceremony. ABS-CBN Foundation managing director Gina Lopez and Zen Dimalanta of E-Media led the turnover of the school. A brass marker for each facility was also unveiled commemorating the donation of Globe Asiatique.

The launch staged Sunday variety show ASAP at noon. A grand parade followed, featuring marching bands, roller skaters, dancers, street magicians and colorful floats. The motorcade was graced by ABS-CBN stars Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson, Matt Evans, Melissa Ricks, John Lloyd Cruz, Anne Curtis, John Prats, Iya Villania, Billy Crawford and Maja Salvador.

An evening party hosted by Tim Yap featured performances by the Coverboys’ Zanjoe Marudo, Jake Cuenca, Victor Basa, Rafael Rosell and Jon Avila. Sarah Geronimo and Piolo Pascual serenaded the crowd. A grand fireworks display capped the launch.

Stitcher’s camp

Threads, needles, cloths and patterns filled Camp Explore in Calawis, Antipolo City as DMC made its way to have the first Stitcher’s Camp. Expert craftsman Lex Reyes was there to share to participants the basic and different styles of cross stitching. The two-day camp covered five sessions — proper cross stitch (do’s and don’ts and tips to create neat work of arts); fabric art (stitching on fabric with the use of a special cloth called waste canvass which can be removed after stitching); friendship wear (creating bracelet by knotting threads together); dreamcatcher (an ornament associated with trapping bad dreams from Native American lore); and bargello (creating of patterns by varying the group, size and color of stitches).

DMC assistant brand manager Joanne Mercado says, “DMC wants to place stitching in a positive light in that it can relieve stress, provide personal fulfillment, impart inspiration to others through finished works and be a bonding activity.”

DMC is in partnership with Focus Global which has sole distributorship of DMC products in the Philippines. The company operates two exclusive stores — DMC Creative World in SM Megamall and SM Southmall.

(To know more about DMC, you can visit www.focusglobalinc.com or call (632) 634-8587.)