Hans Sy named one of 'People of the Year'For advocating sustainable green business practices in the company's operations, SM Prime Holdings and SM Investment Corp. first executive vice president Hans Sy earned the nod as one of the 14 People of the Year awardees given annually by Stargate's People Asia magazine.
Sy received the accolade from PeopleAsia publisher Babe Romualdez and Sen. Grace Poe during ceremonies held at the New World Hotel in Makati City. Being the first Filipino representative for the Private Sector Advisory Group of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, he was recognized for advocating the "importance of disaster resilience and in providing opportunities and assistance to disaster-stricken areas."
Philippine design excellence recognized
The country's top product designs were given due recognition in the recently concluded Katha Awards in the 60th show edition of Manila FAME, the country's premiere design and lifestyle event staged by Citem (CITEM). In celebration of Design Week Philippines, Katha Awards gives distinction to ingenious designs and encourages exporters to raise their design standards for Philippine export products and pursue a skillful exploration of new materials/processes. Design Week Philippines is a multi-faceted platform that brings together creative visionaries from diverse backgrounds and disciplines in a series of programs and events that celebrate design and artistry.
The Katha Awardees for October 2014 are B-Luxe Chair by Ito Kish of Ito Kish (Best Product Design for Furniture); Flutty Candy Light by Jude Tiotuico of Industria (Best Product Design for Home Décor); Calli-Ideal Design by Tessa Nepomuceno of Tixxi Handbags Mfg. (Best Product Design for Fashion); Paper Finials by Arlene Gaddi-Maceda and Arthur Gaddi of Paper Capers (Best Product Design for Holiday Décor and Gifts); Schema (Best Booth Display); and the Crystal Clock by Wataru Sakuma of MASAECO (Special Citation, Eco-Design Award).
A hospitality superstar
Acacia Hotel Manila general manager Bobby Horrigan bags another title this year by being hailed as one of the country's "Hospitality Superstars." The book with the same title, written by hospitality and tourism expert Vic Alcuaz, features 10 of the country's leading hoteliers who have made a mark in the industry not only locally but also globally.
Horrigan is well-known in the industry for his passion for Filipino Hospitality. He was awarded the 17th Mabuhay Gold Award an honor which is annually given to the Best Hotelier as chosen by the Association of Human Resources Managers. His hotel and restaurant education began at 19 when he studied at Les Roches in Switzerland. After his studies, he became part of the opening team of the first six-star hotel, Grand Hyatt Hotel in Hongkong. Job opportunities called him back to the Philippines wherein he worked for Pan Pacific, Olympia Suites and HSAI Raintree (first as general manager of Discovery Suites and then as vice president of HSAI Raintree). He is known for his works for small luxury hotels wherein he successfully elevated the levels of personalized service. After years of leading different hotels, he with good friend Jack Tuason, took the leap and successfully opened their very own management company, Enderun Hospitality. To date, they are working with nine properties, Acacia Hotel Manila being their very first property to manage.
In the book, Horrigan shares his colorful journey including the challenges he encountered and the people who have inspired and helped him on the way up. He gives 10 tips on becoming a successful hotelier emphasizing the importance of passion — "Love what you do and work will be like entertainment. At the start and end of the day, don't forget to thank God. Let him be the center of everything. "
Young designers awarded
Two students with storm-centric designs won gold prizes at the country's first Nippon Paint Young Designer Award 2014, a prestigious competition for interior design and architecture students that recognizes green factors, efficient use of space and purpose.
Kristine Caballes from University of San Carlos Cebu and Jason Labacanacruz from the Technological University of the Philippines Manila are both flying to Osaka, Japan in Mar. 2015 to attend the cross-country learning program with other NPYDA winners from Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Pakistan, China, Japan and Hong Kong.
Winning the top prize in the interior design category is Caballes whose "The Green House: A Proposed Organic Residence located in Opra, Cebu City," promotes green design, where residents can use rainwater as their source of energy and water supply. The organic design residence also uses shades of brown and other earth tone colors which come from natural things around us: brown soil, brown trees, green leaf, cloudy sky, as well as the red sun. These palettes can create a warm, nature-friendly atmosphere.
With the theme "Re:Think. Re:Create. Our Community, Our Home," the first Philippine edition of the competition was supported by reputable professional societies such as Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID), Council of Interior Design Educators (CIDE), United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), United Architects of the Philippines Student Auxiliary (UAPSA) and Council of Deans and Heads in Architecture Schools in the Philippines (CODHASP).
2015 Agency A-List
Weber Shandwick has been included in Advertising Age's Agency A-List, the annual ranking of the nation's best advertising and marketing firms. For the second year in a row, Weber Shandwick is the only public relations firm to be recognized on the Agency A-List. Advertising Age pointed to Weber Shandwick's leadership in driving the transformation of the industry, highlighting the firm's award-winning content publishing offering, Mediaco, as a strong digital growth driver, as well as successful investments in data and analytics and the debut of the firm's full-service advertising boutique, Sawmill.
The A-List recognition comes on the heels of several industry honors earned by Weber Shandwick, including being named The Holmes Report's 2014 Global Agency of the Year, as well as being named a Best Place to Work by Ad Age in 2014 and PRWeek in 2013 and 2014.
The Advertising Age Agency A-List has been celebrating the best agencies in the advertising and marketing business since the mid-1970s. Ad Age editors make their selections based on elements including creativity, financial performance, innovation and the ability to build clients' businesses. The franchise expanded in recent years to honor a broader range of shops and reflect changes in the marketing and media business.
