With the opening of Cebu and the rest of the Philippines, Anjo World Theme Park projects growth as more and more people are now coming to the theme park.

“We are very positive of the prospects for Anjo World, which is now a known brand,” says Chester Lim, president of the Anjo World Theme Park.

Mr. Lim also sees the need to increase tourism confidence to enable the industry to recover from the adverse impact of the pandemic.

(L-R) CCLEC Assistant Marketing Manager Kendall Roa; CCLEX Communication and Stakeholder Management Manager Jasmin Suma-oy; CCLEC Senior Legal Manager Atty. Rosemarie Versoza; CCLEC President and General Manager Mr. Allan Alfon; Anjo World Theme Park President Mr. Chester Lim; Ms. Josiefe Lim, Chairman and CEO of CBI Group of Companies; Mr. Cedric Reyes, Head of Sales and Marketing for Anjo World Theme Park; and CCLEC Corporate Communication Specialist Princess Dawn Felicitas

He expressed hope that the government will continue with its efforts to promote tourism since the sector has been a major contributor to the economy as well as help create thousands of jobs and promote small businesses.

Anjo World’s is now experiencing increasing number of guests as more and more people are going to the park, Lim added.

Cedric Reyes, head of sales and marketing for Anjo World, said they are now looking at going into collaboration with other industry stakeholders such as resorts in Mactan and Cordova.

In fact, Anjo World will be signing a memorandum of agreement with the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corp. (CCLEC) to establish a Sales Promotion Partnership entitled “BRIDGING THE FUN IN CEBU.”

Under this MOA, Anjo World will give Cebu Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) motorists a discount of P100 for every purchase of one Day Adventure Pass upon the presentation of a CCLEX toll receipt. However, each motorist can avail of the discount for a maximum of four tickets per receipt in per day.

The MOA will be in effect until November 29, 2022.

“We partnered with Anjo World as part of our vision of connecting communities and people. Through CCLEX, families from Mactan Island will now have a more accessible route to enjoying destinations and sights in the south, including Anjo World, truly bridging the fun that largely benefits Cebuanos,” says Allan G. Alfon, Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation president and general manager.

CCLEX, an engineering marvel and being the longest and tallest bridgeway structure in in the country, has been a tourist attraction in itself, providing added value to the tourism industry in Cebu, Mr. Alfon pointed out.

“The 8.9-kilometer modern toll expressway is also seen to spur tourism activities in the southern part of Cebu Province as it provides direct access from Mactan Island to Cebu City's South Road Properties,” he added.

Anjo World Theme Park signs a memorandum of agreement with the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corp. (CCLEC) to establish a Sales Promotion Partnership entitled “BRIDGING THE FUN IN CEBU.”

With this MOA, Mr. Reyes says they are expecting a good number of guests from Mactan and Cordova.

Also, he disclosed that they will revive talks with Mactan resorts to tie up with them by giving discounts to their guests.

Even foreign guests are slowly coming back. “We are excited. Lately, we are getting Korean (guests) and a few Americans,” according to Mr. Reyes.

Anjo World is Cebu’s first outdoor theme park, featuring more than 12 world-class rides and attractions for the Filipino family to enjoy. The rides include the 200-foot-high Ferris wheel, the tallest in the Visayas; the “Anjo Eye” and a spinning roller coaster “The Pharoah.”

Family-oriented rides such as Golden Carousel, London Taxi bumper cars, Space shuttle, among others are also available.

Also located inside the park is Snow World, a winter-themed attraction that features the sights of different larger than life ice sculptures in a negative 10 degrees temperature indoor facility setting.

Guests of all ages are welcome, whether vaxxed or not.

The Anjo World Theme Park is open from 12 noon to 8 pm Wednesdays to Fridays and from 10 am to 8 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Schools teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) in Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas and support service providers are currently preparing for the return of more long-staying students pushed by the pandemic to return to their home countries. Cebu welcomed last week its first post-pandemic batch of foreign learners, a group of over 50 high school students from Nagoya, Japan.

The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) Osaka and its other foreign offices in partnership with the Philippine Consulate in Nagoya are now facilitating the arrival of more students for English studies in the country. Another group of over a hundred students from Japan are expected in Cebu within this month. 

The DOT- Central Visayas (DOT7), in collaboration with the DOT Office of Product and Market Development, has beefed up support for the education tourism sector. 

A Master Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Certification Course will be facilitated for 200 teachers from June to July this year. The 120-hour online course equips teachers for global competitiveness with current and appropriate teaching methodologies. Graduates will be registered with the American Licensing Authority of International English Language Teaching. 

The development of a framework for ESL will be started by the Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the DOT this year paving the way for further growth of ESL as an education tourism product.

The Online Education Fair to be staged in December will bring education agents from all over the world and Philippine-based service providers onto a common platform.  The event will provide the latter with updated and relevant information to guide promotions initiatives while allowing schools, colleges and universities offering ESL courses to showcase programs, campus facilities and out-of-classroom cultural and social immersion.

The Philippines is a global leader in English language teaching. It holds 10th place worldwide in the Test of English for International Communication, the highest in Asia.

Cebu is the preferred destination for English language learning and holds the distinction of being the ESL capital of the country. Students and their parents are attracted to the island’s quality lifestyle, reliable infrastructure and a wide array of choices for rest and relaxation.

Cebu’s 110 ESL schools and other similar institutions in the country, however, had to suspend operations in the midst of a phenomenal industry boom in 2020 as pandemic-induced lockdowns were ordered. Over 6,000 employees lost their jobs.

Central Visayas picks up where it left off with the strengthening of education tourism through industry enhancement and promotions efforts.

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Cebu and nearby provinces can now easily get the Pinoy OFW Insurance from the PAMICO Management and Insurance Agency, Inc. with the opening of its office in Cebu.

PAMICO provides migrant workers with maximum insurance protection with its lead insurers – COCOLIFE Insurance Company and COCOGEN Insurance Company Inc.

PAMICO Staff assisted the OFW

The two companies, which are among the biggest in life and non-life insurance, have appointed PAMICO as their common management company to administer the compulsory insurance coverage for OFWs.

PAMICO’s appointment as an independent management company provided more focused attention on insurance matters for OFWs, starting with the issuance of the policies and ends with the satisfactory settlement of claims.

(L-R) PAMI Director Angela Atayde; Cebu Branch Head Jodee Tan; PAMI Chairwoman Amy Atayde; Cocogen Visayas Regional Head Junie Cimafranca; PAMI President Rizza Atayde; and PAMI Operations Head Sarah Cruz.

PAMICO provides personal accident coverage for OFWs who are hired and rehired by agency as well as the direct hired migrant workers.

The insurance provides migrant workers hired or rehired by placement agencies and direct hires $15,000 benefit for accidental death; $10,000 for natural death and $7,500 for permanent disablement.

For the agency-hired OFWs, the insurance will also cover the actual cost for repatriation due to termination of employment as well as repatriation of mortal remains. If terminated, they can also get a monthly subsistence allowance of $100, not exceeding six months; money claims of P1,000 each month also not exceeding six months. The insurance will also cover the actual cost for compassionate visit, medical evacuation and medical repatriation of the insured OFW.

The Management & Staff of PAMICO Management and Insurance Agency, Inc.

For the re-hired or direct hire OFWs, the insurance will cover the actual cost of repatriation due to termination of employment, repatriation of mortal remains, compassionate visit, medical evacuation and medical repatriation. If terminated, they are also entitled to $100 monthly subsistence allowance but not exceeding six months.

“We always view our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) as our modern heroes. Leaving behind their lives, friends, and families for months to years to work in another country and be of service to other people who are complete strangers,” Atty. Darren M. De Jesus, Cocogen President, expressed.

(L-R) PAMI VisMin Regional Head Mr. Danny Atayde; Henjie Bedra, PAMI Finance Head; Cebu Branch Head Jodee Tan; PAMI Operations Head Sarah Cruz; PAMI President Rizza Atayde; PAMI Chairwoman Amy Atayde; PAMI Director Angela Atayde; Janice Diaz, Cocogen Cebu Branch Manager; and Junie Cimafranca, Cocogen Visayas Regional Head

He noted that PAMICO’s Pinoy OFW Insurance not only provides for the expenses of the OFW, but for their family as well should there be a need to fly out and be with said OFW.

“It’s a huge sacrifice for our Pinoy OFWs to make for a shot at a better life. It’s not just the physical toll of being exhausted from work, it’s coming home to a place that’s half a world away from the people who matter the most,” Rizza T. Atayde, PAMICO President, noted.

“With PAMICO’s Pinoy OFW Insurance, our modern-day heroes and their loved ones are never alone and are sure to be well taken care of,” Atayde said.

PAMICO’s office is located at the Door 6, JSP Mango Plaza, Gen. Maxilom corner Gen. Echavez St., Cebu City.

1800 Eastwood Avenue and 1880 Eastwood Avenue are awarded prestigious certifications for leading the way in PH as ‘healthy buildings of the future’

MANILA, Philippines, June 20, 2022 — Two out of the 14 buildings under the portfolio of MREIT, Inc., the REIT company of the country’s largest office landlord, Megaworld, etched a historic milestone after each receiving a Powerful (4 stars) IMMUNE™ certification from Healthy by Design Building Institute (HDBI) – the first-ever recognition of its kind in entire Asia.

Both located in Eastwood City, Megaworld’s first-ever township development, 1800 Eastwood Avenue and 1880 Eastwood Avenue office towers were given the certifications during a virtual awarding ceremony attended by key executives from HDBI, MREIT, Inc., and Megaworld.

“We take great pride in becoming the first-ever recipient of the IMMUNE Building Standard™ certifications in Asia. We hope to make this a benchmark across all the properties in our portfolio, and we look forward to accrediting all our assets in the future. As you know, we are into township development, and creating safe working environments not only benefits the office population but also the greater community that surrounds our developments. That’s why it’s a very important step for MREIT to be taking. We are truly honored to be given this recognition,” Kevin L. Tan, president and CEO, MREIT, Inc.

The IMMUNE™ Shell & Core certification awarded by Healthy by Design Building Institute (HDBI) was achieved by the two properties after the implementation, in the shared areas of the building, of a large majority of measures included in the IMMUNE™ Assessment Scoring Index. This is an evaluation tool developed at the initiative of Genesis Property, a leading member of the European Property Federation and renowned Class-A office developer.

1880 Eastwood Avenue

Designed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and launched in 2020 by Genesis Property, the IMMUNE Building Standard™ aims to help mitigate the effects of pandemics and other bacteriological and toxicological health threats by creating and promoting healthy buildings of the future.

“The first IMMUNE™ building in Asia is another major step for the standard, and we are happy to contribute with our know-how in creating healthier workplaces for people all around the world. Megaworld has truly become trailblazers within this particular field and a beacon within Asia,” said Dr. Darren Allen, Director at the Healthy by Design Building Institute.

IMMUNE™ is based on a practical investment in a Healthy by Design System (HbDS), which incorporates a network of specialized sensors measuring the indoor environment parameters such as air, humidity, temperature, or CO2 levels, devices and available technologies, specialized equipment, dedicated personnel such as the IMMUNE™ Steward, and new amenities, promoting operational and health rules. An authorized building assessor performs the evaluation and recommends a property to become IMMUNE™-certified with one of the three labels: Strong (3 stars), Powerful (4 stars), or Resilient (5 stars). 

MREIT recently announced the acquisition of an additional four prime properties worth

P5.3-billion. Once this is completed, MREIT's portfolio will cover 18 office properties from four (4) Megaworld premier townships: 1800 Eastwood Avenue, 1880 Eastwood Avenue, and ECommerce Plaza in Eastwood City; One World Square, Two World Square, Three World Square, 8/10 Upper McKinley, 18/20 Upper McKinley, and World Finance Plaza in McKinley Hill; One Techno Place, Two Techno Place, Three Techno Place, One Global Center, Two Global Center, Festive Walk 1B, and Richmonde Tower in Iloilo Business Park; and One West Campus and Five West Campus in McKinley West.

Fill your home with popular and stylish items when you checkout #ShopeeFinds this June 23 to July 6! 

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Upgrade your usual cup of coffee into an IG-worthy one with this Nordic-inspired ceramic bamboo mug, which comes in different earth colors, a wooden cover, and a free teaspoon. This unique espresso measuring cup is designed with an eye-catching wooden handle that helps you craft the perfect espresso cup with ease. Been wanting to try your hand at latte art? This milk frothing pitcher should be your next buy as it allows you to hone your microfoaming skills at home before you share your work to the world on social media.

To make you even more excited to enhance your home, you can watch out for the #ShopeeFinds Home & Living Takeover this June 23 to July 6 to know the trending items to add in your home aesthetic. For the takeover, you can scroll through a collection of trending items and home inspirations where you can discover home upgrades and essentials that best fit your needs! 

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