Maybank Foundation is the implementing Group for Maybank Group's Corporate Sustainability Programme in Southeast Asia. Its flagship program, R.I.S.E. or Reach Independence & Sustainable Entrepreneurship is designed to create economic independence and financial inclusion. In the Philippines, R.I.S.E. is being implemented through Maybank Foundation’s partner organizations, People Systems Consultancy and the Philippines’ Department of Social Welfare and Development.

In Metro Cebu, they are targeting to build capabilities of 200 people with disabilities (PWDs) via a structured training and mentoring program. 50 selected PWDs are immersed a 3-day Entrepreneurship and Financial Training session at Dohera Hotel in Mandaue City and attended by no other than Shahril Azuar Jimin, Maybank Foundation CEO and Pollie Sim, Maybank International CEO. The 3 day training will be followed by a six-month mentoring period where participants will be trained, coached and mentored to develop their entrepreneurial skills in order to help them achieve higher income levels and improve their overall standard of living. Earlier this year, 117 PWDs has gone through similar training in Metro Manila which form part as the first phase of the program.

This year marks Maybank’s 20th year of operations in the Philippines and timely enough to celebrate their significant milestone with the roll out R.I.S.E. in the Philippines. It presently has 80 branches nationwide where 4 branches are in Cebu.


Their commitment to support and empower the disadvantaged, especially PWDs, is very much in line with Maybank’s mission of humanizing financial services according to Mr. Shahril. They believe that in helping all segments of the community to gain financial independence can contribute to the overall prosperity and sustainability of the society at large. The encouraging outcome of the initial run inspired Maybank Foundation to scale up the R.I.S.E. program to benefit a bigger number of disadvantaged people.


Financial inclusion is still at a relatively low level in ASEAN, especially among the disabled and marginalized, and taking on this advocacy is Maybank’s way of supporting the bigger regional agenda of furthering financial inclusion across ASEAN according to Pollie.

Lunched in January 2017, R.I.S.E has now completed 3 batches of training  in Makati City, Las Piñas and San Juan, after Mandaue City, 2 more training sessions will be conducted in the coming weeks in Cebu City and one in Talisay City. Maybank Foundation is pouring a significant investment in Corporate Social Responsibility, an initial 6 million pesos for the R.I.S.E. entrepreneurship-mentor-ship programme in the Philippines.


On its second phase, R.I.S.E has already trained and impacted a total of 1,900 participants regionally in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. It's aim is to have at least 40 percent of its participants gain an income increase of 100% within three months. R.I.S.E. is presently being run in three countries: Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines.

Maybank Foundation RISE Program for PWDs posted at Cebu Events Blog

Starbucks is delighted to introduce Starbucks NEW espresso beverages with unique and sophisticated treats for coffee lovers. The redefined beverages vary in flavor, texture and experience but espresso is always at the core. Starbucks Baristas craft carefully selected ingredients with espresso to produce stunning combinations of flavors and layers.


Craving for a unique floral aroma and mild sweetness on your Coffee? The Tahitian Vanilla Macchiato offers a twist on the classic pairing of vanilla and coffee. Tahitian Vanilla has a unique floral aroma and mild sweetness which pairs the roasty coffee, complemented by a layer of velvety steamed milk. This beverage is then topped with Starbucks signature espresso and finished with vanilla bean specks and vanilla drizzle in Starbucks classic double crosshatch pattern.

Need sweet flavory beverage? Starbucks Valencia Orange Cocoa Cappuccino suits the taste of those who need the reinvigorating sweet flavor, a combination of Valencia Orange Mocha Sauce with milk, topped with dense and creamy foam and then layered with affogato-style signature espresso shots. To append more flavor, sweet cocoa powder and tartly-sweet bits of orange peel is added.

Want to find out the goodness with Matcha & Espresso Fusion? A Starbucks Teavana handcrafted beverage where Starbucks Matcha powder layered with milk and Espresso Roast creates a beautiful layer of coffee and tea, best enjoyed hot or iced.

A good pairing to your favorite cup of coffee is Starbucks New Lunch Choices to satisfy your Lunch out either solo or with friends, especially on busy days. Starbucks Sandwiches such as the Clubhouse on Sourdough Bread, Salmon Dill on Multi-Grain Bread and Cheese Steak on Ciabatta Bread are perfect for quick lunch. New Starbucks Bistro Bowls will also add to your choices: The Cold Soba with Chicken and Sweet Potato Salad are best paired with Iced shaken Tea. These pairings are available from 10 am to 2 pm with special bundle price, a Starbucks Signature Lunch pairing menu which is also available with favorite Pasta dishes and Sandwiches.

Starbucks is also offering New guilt free snacks can be consumed in-store or on-the-go, the Harvest Box Snack Packs are available in three variants: Power Mix, We Love Nuts and Yo Cherry.

 The Starbucks Tribute Blend is also available for a limited time created in 2011 to celebrate the Stabucks’s 40th Anniversary. It combines the all-time favorite coffees: Ethiopian, Aged Sumatra, Papua New Guinea; and Colombia coffee. Even on the go, you can also enjoy this coffee with the Starbucks VIA Tribute Blend.

Another addition to your Starbucks My Rewards Card collection is the special Edition Siren Card, available for an initial consumable load amount of 300 pesos. A limit of two cards per day per customer.

Now also available in all Starbucks stores nationwide, the Starbucks Cold Brew, the slow-steeped and brewed without heat coffee which was previously available only to Starbucks Reserve stores.

Starbucks NEW Espresso Coffee Beverage & Signature Lunch Pairing posted at Cebu Events Blog

Fall in Laughter if not in Love with country's reigning comedians Pokwang, Pooh, Chokoleit and K Brosas as it presents A Funny Valentines Concert this love month. Facedown Production and Events brings A Funny Valentine Concert over the Love weekend with first show on February 11 7:30PM at the Hoops Dome Lapu Lapu City and the 2nd show by February 12 6:30 PM at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel.


It's the first time that the Funny Valentine Concert will stage in Cebu, but been abroad to entertain Filipinos and for the record, all shows are sold out. Aside from laughter, there will be music as we know these bankable artists can also sing their hearts away.


At the Funny Valentine Concert Presscon: Chirley Grace Ong of FaceDown Production and Events (Center); Ricky Monterona, the Production Head (2nd from Left) and Barbie Burchards (Righmost) of Marco Polo Plaza Hotel Cebu City.



It will not be your usual Valentines coming with A Funny Valentines Concert but will be a memorable funny one. Tickets are sold at The Retail Therapy store in Capitol, Cebu; One Events, Eden Place, Lapu-Lapu City Hall and in all Rico's Lechon Cebu branches.

A Funny Valentine Concert Pokwang, Pooh, Chokoleit and K Brosas posted at Cebu Events Blog