“We have to create a stronger middle class. Our per capita income must increase by at least three-fold. It means that by 2040, there’s gonna be that substantial jump such that there will be more middle class,” said Nora K. Terrado (Global FWN100™ '14 and '16), Undersecretary, Trade and Investments Promotion Group (TIPG) of the DTI. Terrado added that “behind this call for a matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay are economic activities where the 10-point agenda of President Duterte comes in.”
The developers of Via Verde in Batangas reduced the electricity demand and improved the energy efficiency of their low-cost homes by following the standards under Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies. By installing solar panels on the roofs of their homes, residents of these villages said their electricity bills went down by 20 to 25 percent. " Our sales went up by 300 percent," said Emma Imperial, CEO of Imperial Homes which developed Via Verde.
Nikki Tang (Global FWN100™ '17) gave an inspiring and informative talk at the Philippine Association of Primary Skin Health Physicians, Inc. (PAPSHPI) annual convention called Beautypreneur: The Total Package of Beauty and Personality as an Entrepreneur. She also added another feather to her cap with the new title Fellow of Royal Institute of BeautyCare (FRIBC), bestowed upon her by the Royal Institute of Beauty Care, a constituent of the Royal Institution, Singapore (RI).
Geri Alumit Zeldes (Global FWN100™ '17) attended the 14th Filipina Leadership Global Summit in Toronto, Canada this October and she did not return to the U.S. empty-handed. The Journalism professor received a “100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World Award” in the category of Innovator and Thought Leader.
In 2017, Singapore was identified as the world's second-largest trader of shark fins after Hong Kong. Between 2012 and 2013, Singapore exported $40 million worth of shark fins and imported $51.4 million worth of fins. In February, 89 Singapore-based establishments committed to phasing out shark fin in 2018. These include brands such as Crystal Jade, Pan Pacific Hotels, AccorHotels and Foodpanda, whose policy applies across its 3,800 partner restaurants
Manila’s Walled City is expected to attract a share of wine enthusiasts, brought by the opening of a distillery museum. Olivia Limpe-Aw (Global FWN100™ '16), a fifth generation master brewer and President of Destileria Limtuaco & Co. Inc. said the museum would show the feats and challenges the 165-year old company faced, from times of war up to the present.
