Ride to commemorate Bataan Death March heroes slated on Araw ng Kagitingan

Ride for Valor, a bike-for-a-cause to raise funds for the maintenance of the Bataan Death March markers and other World War 2 heritage sites is slated on April 9, 2023 or Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor), also known as the 81st Anniversary of the Fall of Bataan and the start of the Death March.

Mike Villa-Real, Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) first vice president for marketing and communications, said the event, in partnership with the Department of National Defense, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, Provincial Government of Bataan and Wartime Heritage Guild-Philippines, aims to preserve the legacy of Filipino and American soldiers who fought for freedom and democracy during World War 2.

"The Bataan Death March is a somber reminder of the bravery and selflessness of Filipino veterans during the Second World War. It is an essential part of Philippine history and culture, and the Ride for Valor is an important way of honoring the veterans and preserving their legacy. Plus rider get to learn more about this historic event as they will be be traversing the actual route of the Death March," he said.

The ride is open to fully vaccinated cyclists and all types of bikes with brakes. Villa-Real said the event will start at 2:30 a.m. from the Kilometer Zero in Mariveles, Bataan, to Capas National Shrine in Tarlac.

The non-competitive bike ride will have four pitstops: Mt. Samat, Balanga Provincial Capitol’s The Bunker, San Fernando Train Station, and Angeles Museum. Giveaways will be given in selected pitstops. Villa-Real said participants may ride at their own pace, adding there will be a 12-hour cut-off during the event.

He noted that the event will also implement a "No Helmet, No Ride" policy to ensure the safety of the participants. Villa-Real also said a mechanic will be available to help those who encounter mechanical difficulties, while roving marshals will be present to keep track of the riders' progress. Support vehicles are allowed, but riders should only ride in the vehicle if they choose to drop out of the event.

The Bataan Death March is one of the darkest chapters in Philippine history, where around 80,000 Filipino and American soldiers were forced to march more than 100 kilometers in grueling conditions by Japanese forces in 1942. Thousands of soldiers survived but many also died due to starvation, dehydration, diseases, and the brutality of Japanese captors. The markers serve as reminders of the tragedy and heroism that occurred during that period.

PVB is a private, commercial bank owned by World War 2 veterans and their families. With Its new Charter signed into law, the Bank's ownership now includes Post War Veterans and AFP Retirees.

Ride for Valor 2023 is supported by Without Limits PH, Traqs Philippines, OneLGC, AIR21, Panahon.TV, and the Integrated Waste Management Inc, Neo Zigma PH, Hotel Sogo, The Oriental Hotel-Bataan, AFAB, Booster C Energy Shot, and Fitbar.

For more information about the event, follow Ride for Valor on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RideForValorPH.

 

It’s a Fun Easter at Rizal Park Hotel

 

Prepare for a fun-filled easter as Rizal Park Hotel once again opens its ballroom doors on April 09 to celebrate a Feaster: A Fun Easter at Rizal Park Hotel. For only P800, kids and kids at heart can enjoy a day of exciting activities other than the usual easter egg hunt. The ticket covers 1 kid ages 0-12 and 1 adult companion, inclusive of a lootbag and access to the program, which starts at 2 PM until 6 PM. Expect an array of easter-themed games, a magic show, bubble show, ventriloquism, face painting, a photobooth, and child-safe inflatables. 

Of course, it would not be an easter event without the easter egg hunt and to make it more fun, attendees are given a chance to win an overnight stay with breakfast by joining the ‘Golden Easter Egg Hunt’.

In addition to the Feaster event, Rizal Park Hotel is also offering a hard to resist room promo. From April 06 to 10 and for only PHP 8,000, enjoy an overnight stay in a Deluxe Room (Queen, King, or Twin) with buffet breakfast for (2) two and a choice of buffet lunch or dinner for (2) two at Café Rizal plus one (1) pass to the Feaster event.

Rizal Park Hotel’s rooms and suites feature turn-of-the-century interior decors with modern amenities. Each room is colored in neutral tones of gray, beige, and off-white, with shades of yellow that give off warm feelings of home. Machuca tiles, classic woodwork, and crystal chandeliers provide a taste of style during the Army Navy Club’s heydays. 

Rooms and suites are available in both the Main and Club wings of the hotel, providing exceptional views of the city, the park, or the famed Manila Bay. The suites feature its own living areas and extensive bathroom amenities, including a bathtub. 

For Feaster tickets, text or call +639276687839 / +639091431591.

For hotel inquiries and reservations, text or call (+63) 9177013817 / (+63) 9176571334 or email at reservations@rizalparkhotel.com. Follow https://www.facebook.com/RizalParkHotel

and https://www.instagram.com/rizalparkhotel1911/

Dr. Nielsen Donato and His True Heart for Animals

“What makes you wake up early in the morning?” asks veterinarian Dr. Nielsen Donato while strolling through his animal sanctuary. “It’s not work. It’s something that you’re excited about.”

When people think of veterinarians, they usually think of them tending to household pets, like cats and dogs. But Doc Nielsen isn’t a regular vet. He’s the managing partner and chief surgeon at Vets In Practice (VIP), which caters to not-your-usual pets, and he also has a background in Avian and Exotic Medicine.

But what makes him so special is his unbridled care for virtually any kind of animal, be it crawling, flying, galloping, or slithering.

Doc Nielsen’s passion started when he was around three years old. One of his favorite childhood memories was being excited about going to church just so he could see the yellow chicks and ducklings being sold by vendors outside.

Today, Doc Nielsen helps run the Laguna Wildlife Park & Rescue Center, which sits within his family’s property in Pansol. This non-profit organization houses around 100 species of farm animals and wildlife, including domestic and neglected pets, as well as exotic animals that were rescued from illegal sellers and dangerous living conditions. The wildlife park has everything from chickens and goats to monkeys and a serval cat, which he tends to with the help of his staff. It’s also backed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which assists in acquiring and transporting animals to the park.

The veterinarian calls the park his “happy place,” which he visits as early as 5 am to see all of the animals and listen to the different sounds that envelope the whole park. “When I’m walking here in the morning or afternoon, it relaxes me. Nalilimutan ko yung mga stress, that’s why I call it my ‘haven,’” says Doc Nielsen.

Compassion project

“We support the animals with our own resources,” Doc Nielsen says as he shows the many enclosures in the park that the animals call home. He also provides them with nutritious food and medicine to keep them healthy while they’re living in the park.

He doesn’t do this alone. Apart from the staff he works with, Doc Nielsen’s family also helps. His kids, Cedric and Nina, are studying veterinary medicine, so they’re well on their way to following in their dad’s footsteps.

Giving animals a second chance

While giving a tour of the park, Doc Nielsen stops to feed and pet the animals he passes by. One of them is a bearcat (binturong), a nocturnal mammal with cat-like features that’s endemic to Palawan. Doc Nielsen explains that the bearcats were transported to the park with the help of DENR, and they are raised until they’re ready to be released back into the wild.

“I promised that if I ever breed any endemic wildlife animal in the park, my goal is to help repopulate their species and bring them back to their natural habitat,” he says. He also takes time to assess animals who might need medical attention and treat them right away to prevent infections.

It’s not always easy for Doc Nielsen to let go of animals, especially those that have been used to being around humans. Many of the monkeys, for example, lived in crowded areas and were treated as pets in their past lives. Releasing them back into the wild would be a safety risk for them because a troop of wild monkeys might hurt them.

This is why he and his staff ensure that animals like these get the care they need so they can live a long and healthy life. The wildlife sanctuary is their safe haven until they are ready to be released in a protected space.

Whether it’s at his clinic in the city or the wildlife park in Laguna, Doc Nielsen is always ready to offer his expertise and care to all types of species, no matter how scary they may seem.

“I always dreamed of being someone like [British veterinary surgeon] James Harriot. I’ve always wanted to treat dogs and cats, and farm animals as big as horses, goats, and sheep,” he said. “There weren’t exotic animals to treat yet [when I was just starting out.] Now, I’m lucky because I get to treat more exotic animals, as well as farm animals, in my clinic and the park.”

Doc Nielsen demonstrates how to bathe a Bayawak, with his resident monitor lizard, Bruce.

On full display: Drake the Peacock struts around his pen.

Zuma the Albino Burmese python and Doc Nielsen pose for the camera.

Best Friends Forever: Doc Nielsen and Kulit.

Feeding time: Violet, a rescued tortoise, snacks on papaya.

Dr. Nielsen Donato in his wildlife sanctuary in Laguna: “I’m lucky because I get to treat more exotic animals, as well as farm animals, in my clinic and the park.”

OVER 9500 RUNNERS JOIN SM2SM RUN 11 AT SM SEASIDE

 

 

After a 2-year hiatus, SM Supermalls in Cebu stages a successful comeback of the SM2SM Run last March 5 with over 9500 running enthusiasts from all over the country. Now on its 11th year, the SM2SM run is considered to be one of the biggest and cash-rich running events in the Visayas where runners, both local and foreign, look forward every first quarter of the year.

 

The run started in SM Seaside City Cebu passing the scenic view of the South Road Properties, the historic Plaza Independencia, S. Osmena Avenue, Brgy. Mabolo, SM City Cebu, TESDA, going to Banilad in Cebu City.

 

“We missed you in the last 2 years. Our last run was February 2020, and I hope you all enjoyed the SM2SM Run this year. We have over 50 raffle prizes, and we hope to give even more and bigger prizes on March next year. Cheers to SM2SM Run!”, said Marissa Fernan, Vice President of SM Prime Holdings, Inc.

 

The run featured 4K, 8K, 12K, and 21K categories. In addition to the race categories, SM added a category exclusive for persons with disabilities (PWD). The PWD category also had their own set of winners & prizes.

 

 

SM Supermalls tapped Philippine Red Cross, Emergency Rescue Unit

Foundation (ERUF), Radio Emergency Assistance Volunteer Organization (REAVO), Perpetual Succour Hospital, Talisay City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) to respond to the medical needs of the runners in case of

emergency.

This year's SM2SM Run gave over P650,000 worth of cash prizes, plus 11 Smart TV’s, 11 smartphones, 11 branded eyewear from Vision Express, 11 PHP5,000 worth of SM Gift Certificates, and a brand new Suzuki S-Presso during the raffle draw held during the awarding ceremony at the Mountain Wing Atrium

 

32-year-old Christy Zusette Bejona from Dalaguete, Cebu who ran the 12k category won the grand raffle prize, a Suzuki S-Presso. Bejona expressed her excitement as she received her prize. “Nakadaug na gyud in a lifetime” (I finally won something after a lifetime), said Bejona.

 

The SM2SM Run 11 is for the benefit of Cebu Newspaper Workers Foundation, Inc.

First Time : Glam and Fab and Dear Self Aesthetic and Wellness Center Give FREE Skin Treatment and Consultation

In partnership with Radyo Kalusugan, Glam and Fab and Dear Self Aesthetic and Wellness Center ‘s The Beauty Mission Dermatological Care, the clinic’s first-ever medical mission, was successfully conducted last February 8, 2023, in Payatas Bistekville 5 Covered Court.

With the objective to provide free basic skin treatment and consultation to those who are financially challenged, GNF and DS made sure to give top of the line services and skin and wellness guidance to everyone in attendance.

Caption: Registered nurses and professional aesthetician gives free consultation to residents of Payatas.

“We would like to provide aesthetic services to communities, with further focus on those who may not have access to these services due to financial difficulties,” Ms. Anne Garalde, Branch Owner and Medical Mission Project Manager, said.

This is also said to be a lot different from other medical missions being conducted in communities. “We know that there are a lot of agencies and companies who conduct medical missions already, we want ours to be different and to focus more on problems that are usually not addressed but definitely something to be discussed and cured,” Ms. Krystal Tecson- Garalde, founder of both brands, said in an interview.

Almost 500 individuals participated in the said medical mission. Each of them received free consultation and brought home free products based on the recommendation of the resident nurse and aestheticians to address specific concerns.

Moreover, participants also had sessions on proper skin care and nutrition-related topics to further promote health and wellness in their community.

“We are providing free skin consultation with the help of our professional aestheticians and registered nurses. We are also offering educational sessions on proper skin care and nutrition because we believe that these are critical components of skincare and wellness,” Ms. Anne Garalde added.

The first and definitely not the last

“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa Glam and Fab at Dear Self, sa pagpunta po nila sa lugar namin. Kakaibang medical mission po ito, so halos lahat kami dito gusto maexperience, sana po maulit po ulit,” Aling Pinky, one of the event participants, cheerfully responded when asked about  her reaction.

Caption: Residents of Payatas get professional advise from Glam and Fab x Dear Self

Overall, the event was well-received. Participants were very happy with the personalized attention and care provided by the professionals. Everyone left the medical mission feeling more confident and beautiful which is also one of the objectives of GNF and DS - to uplift everyone’s confidence in themselves through self-care.

“Their participation in this medical mission makes them one notch away from other boutiques and skin clinics,” Mr. Gil Aller, Host of Kalikasan at Kalusugan, Radyo Kalusugan, mentioned in their radio show last February 22, 2023.

Glam and Fab and Dear Self Aesthetic and Wellness Center's participation in medical missions stems from their belief in the importance of giving back to the community and helping those in need.

They plan to continue participating in medical missions and other community outreach programs in the future.

Glam and Fab and Dear Self Aesthetic and Wellness Center advocate for an affordable healthy skincare routine for all.

Call 0272543723 for a FREE Consultation.

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