B marketplace 6 MARKETING ● THE ORACLE HOTEL & RESIDENCES Quezon City’s newest landmark


THE Oracle Hotel and Residences, the newest brainchild of entrepre- neur/hotelier Sheila Bermudez- Romero, is a 70-room boutique ho- tel strategically located along the busy commercial strip of Katipunan Road in Quezon City. Set to be the city’s latest land- mark, The Oracle, located on Katipunan Avenue, right across the Ateneo de Manila University, is ac- cessible from the Ortigas and Makati Central Business districts via EDSA or C-5, and enjoys close proximity to universities, key government in- stitutions and entertainment and commercial centers in the Quezon City area.


A hotel with a


personal touch The Oracle Hotel and Residences is the first and only boutique hotel of its kind in Quezon City’s capital of higher learning, where the country’s premier educational institutions are located. The entrepreneurial Bermudez-


Romero delved into the project after seeing the need for comfortable and convenient accommodations for the area’s visiting population: Parents who come to visit their children in enrolled in schools peppering Quezon City, foreign and regional guests of the universities and other government establishments headquartered in the area, as well as companies who do live-in trainings and seminars.


The idea bulb burned even brighter as she discovered the grow- ing popularity and the increasing charm of boutique hotels during her travels across Europe and Asia. She adds, “These relatively small, mostly stylish and tightly run affairs with an obvious personal touch is something new in Quezon City. From the be- ginning, I imagined it to be very com- fortable and convenient to those who live, work and study in the area as well as those who visit them,” said Sheila. These were the guiding in- spirations for The Oracle Hotel. Bermudez-Romero spent close to


a year in training with her consult- ant in running the hotel and in de- veloping the concept from the draw- ing board. She personally hand- picked her team of veterans in the hotel industry down to conceptual-


A meeting place with distinction


■ Entrepreneur/hotelier Sheila Bermudez (second from left), with her family Freddie Bermudez (first from left) Bubbles Aguilar and Marlyn Bermudez during the launching of the Oracle Hotel and Residences.


izing the hotel’s interiors. Her vision of a modern and chic hotel was ex- ecuted by her sister, Tricia Calma of Casa Calma Designs.


The details


of a fine home To a large extent, the ho- tel derives its character from one of Bermudez- Romero’s personal pas- sions: Art. Sheila, to- gether with her husband, is a long-time art collec- tor. All around the hotel, you will find thoughtful and fine details that will either pique your interest or make you feel cozy. “All the rooms have fun and abstract artworks on the walls. Even the key card sports a print of an artwork that I plan to change every quarter,” said Sheila. “The RFID [Ra- dio-frequency identification] cards will soon feature some of our art col- lection. Attention to detail is very im- portant in running this business,” as further relayed by Romero. The interiors were designed to effi- ciently maximize the rooms and pro- vide enough living space. Dark wood was used on the doors and built-in cabinets for warmth, and neutral colors were dominant on the soft fur- nishings to promote a relaxed atmos- phere, and the same fine linen you’ll


The Oracle’s Hotel and director for sales and marketing, Angie Vicencio, a long time veteran in the hotel industry heads the team. She recognizes the strength of the hotel’s proximity to a number of high-traffic locations in Quezon City that makes it a strategic and convenient point of convergence. “The Oracle Hotel has been de- signed to step up to its plate. There are aspects of the hotel that address the need for a venue for different kinds of gatherings,” she says. Small to medium-sized function rooms for meetings come equipped with audio-visual equipment such as pro- jectors and screens, as well as on- demand technical support courtesy of the hotel staff. The versatile ballroom, which can comfortably seat a total of 150 per- sons, and which is also outfitted with high-tech audio and video equipment, fine furniture, and ban- quet services, is perfect for large- group corporate functions or cel- ebrations of personal milestones such as birthday parties, anniversa- ries and even weddings. For everyday meet-ups, the ho-


tel’s O Bistro and Café, an inti- mate venue that showcases fine contemporary art put leading Fili- pino artists on its walls, stays open to guests for breakfast to af- ter-dinner drinks. It also serves as a venue for smaller functions. “And like a true convergence


■ Sheila Bermudez leads the ceremonial ribbon cutting with Ben Chan and Tessa Prieto- Valdez.


find in most five-star hotels for that extra level of comfort. The hotel rooms, which range from single occupancy to family-sized suites, are equipped with advanced electronic lock systems for added security, 24- hour broadband internet, phones with local and international direct dial serv- ices, and flat-screen TVs from Samsung with 24-hour cable channels, on top of the standard amenities such as air- conditioners and refrigerators. For long-staying guests, the bigger rooms come with their own living areas and modern kitchens.


zone, the hotel is home to a host of other services, from a day spa, to a hair and nail salon, to dining out- lets on the ground floor,” adds Vicencio. “We’d like to be a step ahead of our guests, so that they find that everything they need in a hotel is already here.”


A home away from home But what makes the Oracle Hotel


■ Superior room of Oracle Hotel and Residences


Four big stars, Real Leaf’s new ambassadors


REAL Leaf Green Tea has once again opened a new chapter in the tea beverage industry by let- ting us experience its unique de- liciously reviving fusion of real tea and real honey that comes in three exciting flavors—lemon, lychee and apple To make it more memorable,


Real Leaf also revealed to the public on Tuesday its four new product ambassadors—Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, KC Concepcion and Piolo Pascual. Who knew such history-mak- ing coming together could hap- pen? As this great year ends, our most loved stars are standing up as one to shake things up and make a big shout out for us to level up our typical green tea. They’re all making the big switch to the one that is expertly brewed, made only of the high- est standards and packs the wholesome benefits of refresh- ing real tea and the natural good- ness of real honey. Real Leaf Green Tea. Real Tea.


Real Honey. Available in three delicious flavors: Honey Apple, Honey Lemon and Honey Ly- chee. Anytime, anywhere - Real Leaf makes its irresistible real tea and real honey goodness very ac- cessible for Pinoys as it is also available in 8-oz. bottle in Honey Apple Flavor for only P10 in your favorite sari-sari (variety) stores! Real Leaf is on Facebook! Go to www.facebook.com/realleaf to know about its latest promos and other exciting treats.


■ Ballroom area of the 70-room boutique hotel in Quezon City


Pan de Manila offers ‘Paskong Pinoy’


PAN de Manila offers ‘Paskong Pinoy’ Pan de Manila joins the Fili- pino family in celebrating noche buena by unveiling its packaging, paper bag, tin can, and bread box with the design theme “Paskong Pinoy,” created by noted illustrator Joel Chua. Now, the freshly baked pan de sal and specialty breads of Pan de Manila can also be given as a gift in this season of giving. The design highlights a typical Fili-


pino Christmas—a scene that can be seen and experienced in almost all Filipino houses during noche buena. Even in these modern times, with fast-paced technology and high-tech gadgets, Christmas in the Philippines is a time to bring back traditional values and practices such as show- ing respect for the elders (through “pagmamano”), attending the simbang gabi, sharing of gifts to the less fortunate, displaying of the parol


(Christmas lanter), belen, and more. Pan de Manila is open 24/7 in con-


venient locations outside shopping malls. Their newest branches are lo- cated in Bridges Town Square in Cebu, Mandaue City; Ebloc Ayala Asiatown I.T. Park, Lahug; SM Cebu, Mabolo, and Banilad Town Center. Pan de Ma- nila will be baking soon at RCBC Plaza, Makati and Cybermall, Eastwood. For inquiries, call 636-0468 or e- mail pandemanila_jlg@yahoo.com.


Honda Cars Philippines renews contract with Healthway HONDA Cars Philippines Inc.


(HCPI) recently renewed its contract with healthway Corporate Clinic Serv- ices (CCS) as its in-house care pro- vider during its first wellness fair held recently. HCPI has been a healthway CCS partner for the last seven years. Honda Cars has been here in the Philippines for 20 years, and is among the makers of high quality vehicles. As a company, it believes that its people are its company’s big-


gest asset. “Our associates’ health is very important to us,” says Hiroshi Shimizu, Honda Cars Philippines Inc.’s president and general manager. Healthway CCs allows employees of HCPI’s to take advantage of their health care benefits by, among other things, providing an onsite medical specialist for consults, as well as tend to their medical needs. This ensures safety in the worksite and promotes greater health awareness.


and Residence sparkle as a real gem is the personalized service that makes a boutique hotel dif- ferent from a big hotel. “We try to have a deeper understanding of what the guests really want to have a comfortable stay. We would like to address them by their first name when they come back. It makes the guests remem- ber us when we know how they want their coffee especially for long staying guests. We like them to think it’s their second home when they visit their child in uni- versity every weekend. That makes a difference,“ says Romero. Ora- cle Hotel and Residences aims to provide stylish comfort and unpar- alleled convenience. For bookings and inquiries, you may contact Angie Vicencio of The Oracle Hotel and Residences at vicencio.angie @oracleresidences.com or call 926- 7777. For more information, visit www.oracleresidences.com


IN a fast-paced and ever-changing world of commerce, Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) recognized the power of Internet by fully utilizing its corporate website, smart.com.ph, to promote business and to create linkages with its clients. DigitalFilipino.Com Club, a community of e-commerce advocates and practitioners, and Search Profile Index (SPI), recognized smart.com.ph for its excellence in successfully harnessing Internet for online marketing, social engagement and e-commerce. Hence, smart.com.ph received the Digital Filipino Award-Search Profile Index Top 100 Web—Telecommunication Category. Smart’s corporate website is a product of close collaboration among the stakeholder units in Smart. smart.com.ph is aimed at effectively creating a strong Smart corporate brand, delivering corporate information to educate its clients and at providing its clients with efficient sales and after-sales services. In the photo, Smart Online Services Manager Nick Wilwayco ( second left) and Smart Software Development Supervisor Francis Nepomuceno (second right) receive SPI 100 Web Award trophy from DigitalFilino.Com Club founder Janette Total and SPI founder Bernardo Mitra.


“We have to partner with compa- nies and people who think like us— those who believe in giving the best to their people,” says Dr. Eleonor Tan, Healthway president At the wellness fair, employees availed themselves of cholesterol screening, body analysis, eye check-up, posture analysis and other health services. For more information, log on to http://www.healthway.com.ph, or call 751-HWAY.


The ‘heart’ of Meralco beats stronger MEFCI in action


“GIVING back to the community” is becoming a very important slogan among a lot of companies nowadays. Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR is not only a temporary task but has now evolved as a powerful tool to enhance a company’s value and standing in society. Most of the time, it is the company itself that heads the “giving back” aspect and usually re- quires its workforce to implement it. However, it is very different in Meralco. For the employees of the major utility firm, giving back is not only a byword and they don’t have to wait for the company to do its share for the com-


munity. In fact, they complement the company’s CSR programs by conduct- ing their own projects funded from their own pockets. “The Meralco [Manila Electric Co.]


Employees Fund for Charity Inc. [MEFCI] was conceived because of the Meralco employees’ desire to share their blessings to our less fortunate brothers and sisters. Even before other companies have their CSR programs, we were al- ready doing our own CSR initiative since 1978, when MEFCI was organized,” said Rener Musngi, chairman of MEFCI. MEFCI conducts regular dental and medical missions in depressed com-


munities within Meralco’s franchise area, donates various medical equip- ments to charity institutions and gov- ernment hospitals and provides assist- ance in relief efforts during calamities. “MEFCI provides the venue for the Meralco workforce to volunteer assist- ance to individuals, institutions or organization in need of help. All the funds we use in various MEFCI projects come from the regular monthly contributions of Meralco employees,” said Mr. Musngi. For more information on Meralco’s


CSR projects, visit the website at www.meralco.com.ph.


PUBLIC-PRIVATE partnerships (PPP) took center stage as government officials and corporate leaders unite to promote social responsibility in a corporate citizenship forum at the City Hall of Malabon. Last week, PPP efforts were highlighted in the Camanava area, as the local government of Malabon and the National Housing Authority united with private sector partners in launching a multipurpose center and turning over drainage system and road projects to residents in the formerly flood-prone Maysilo estate. Aiming to reduce urban poverty in the area, the local government got a boost from the business sector initiatives of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT)- Smart, Ramcar-Motolite, and the corporate-led foundation Phil. Business for Social Progress (PBSP), through its Strategic Partnership for Urban Poverty Reduction program. Manuel Pangilinan, PLDT-Smart chairman, delivered the inspirational message at the Malabon City Hall penthouse as chairman of PBSP Board of Trustees. Pangilinan urged business leaders to be more strategic in their corporate philanthropy. “First, corporations can funnel their contributions to a social intermediary with clear goals. A proven organization and a 40-year track record: that is PBSP.” Second, he pointed to a “context-focused” model of corporate philanthropy. “Each of your companies must find its own focus, its chosen area of responsibility, [and] that focus or area will be defined by the particular needs and strengths of your communities,” Pangilinan said. He added: “Government alone cannot solve the many, many issues of poverty. The communities must help, the private sector must help. So the business of poverty is also the business of business.”


CCA Manila unveils short


course on culinary nutrition THE country’s top culinary school, the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA), Ma- nila, now offers Culinary Arts in Spe- cial Diets (CASD) course that aims to enhance the culinary arts skills of the participants, especially those requir- ing relevant and updated knowledge that they can translate in creating spe- cial dietary requirements. Potential students include nutritionist-dieti- tians, who play a major role in taking care of the public’s health through nu- trition counseling. CASD is a 16-day, six-hour a ses- sion course that combines one-hour lecture with seatwork, recipe param- eters with each special diet, recipe discussion, five hours of laboratory, modifications and plating and cal- culations. The course will help stu- dents prepare meals highlighting various international cuisines, cre-


ate meals for individuals with spe- cial dietary needs, plate dishes to in- crease the visual value and accept- ability without altering its nutri- tional and therapeutic value and learn ways to improve cycle menu of their respective institutions. After completing the course, nutri- tionist-dietitians can apply their knowl- edge in many realm of their practice, Dr. Luna noted. These include public healthcare in grassroots level, health care delivery in hospitals and healthcare in- stitutions, research and education, as well as the food service industry. With enhanced cooking skills, nu- tritionist-dietitians can likewise im- prove the reputation of hospital food. For inquiries, call CCA, Manila at 994- 2520/ 30/ 40 or e-mail marketing@cca- manila.com or visit the website at www.cca-manila.com


CLARK Development Corp. (CDC) Chairman Rizalino Navarro and CDC President Benigno Ricafort turn over the more than P159-million dividends to National Treasurer Roberto Tan (middle) in support to national government’s fiscal consolidation efforts on revenues. Also present are (from left) CDC Vice President for Finance Noel Manankil, CDC Directors Adrian Chingcuangco, Armand Madamba and Francisco Villanueva.


FOR sharing its message of hope, the Nationwide Search for the Happiest Pinoy won an Award of Excellence at the recent Philippine Quill Awards. The campaign by Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions (CLIS) paid tribute to those who best exemplified Filipinos’ optimism and resilience. Corporate executive, balloon artist, and magician Winston Maxino, who has been diagnosed with a degenerative bone disease, won the search among more than 220 contestants. The Philippine Quill Award is the most celebrated award for business communications. It is organized by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) to recognize the most outstanding communications initiatives by local organizations. This year, out of 330 entries, only 17 were given Awards of Excellence, including CLIS, ABS-CBN and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. In photo, receiving the award from IABC- Philippines President Chit Arce and IABC-Philippines Director Jeffrey Tarayao, are PJ Lhuillier Inc. President Jean Henri Lhuillier, group head for corporate planning Marissa Ancog, and CLIS General Manager Jonathan Batangan.


The Manila Times AD VER TISING ● THURSDAY E VENT S ●


D e cember 9, 2010 PRODUCT S ●


ANNOUNCEMENT S


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