Supermarket chain leader WalterMart eyes UNLI-Fresh expansion with agri firm Mayani, rolls out Palengke Day

SUPERMARKET chain leader WalterMart is strengthening its shopper relevance and casting a bigger community reach through its various shopping formats this 2023, particularly its flagship innovation UNLI-Fresh 399 with fast-growing agrifisheries firm Mayani.

With a retail network of 45 stores spanning the entire Luzon, WalterMart has already institutionalized this anticipated weekend shopping bonanza, which now moves metric tons of harvest per day, by unveiling its provincial and Metro Manila caravans for the first quarter of this year: Cavite, Batangas, and Bulacan for February, then Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Muntinlupa, and Calabarzon region this March.

Building on this shopping energy was also the roll-out of the first ever “Palengke Day” in WalterMart Muntinlupa this February 17 to 19 which seeks to put a modern take on the concept of “bagsakan” and enable even the nearby “palengke” vendors to avail of freshly-sourced everyday local products such as onions and eggs, two of the most in-demand staples now given the recent supply challenges.

“We will provide value to our customers and to our community through: FRESH – commodities of utmost quality, reasonably priced, sourced from our local farmers and cooperatives with our alagang WM personalized service; SAVINGS –everyday savings with competitivelypriced merchandise and options for private labels and house brands; and CONVENIENCE – provide complete assortment in a clean, safe, and comfortable one-stop shop with fast transactions both offline and online,” says Rose Caalam, General Manager of WalterMart Supermarket.

“Sharing the same vision with Mayani, we always aim to bring good value products to our customers and provide a better life to our partner farmers.”

Tracing its beginnings as a small community supermarket in 1992, WalterMart now boasts of over 20,000 competitively-priced items and key consumer-oriented milestones including the mounting of Palengke Fresh with Mayani during the height of the lockdown, its 5S Safe Shopping Program, and its CallMeWally samedelivery grocery delivery service – all under the aegis of its service campaign of “More to Love at WalterMart.”

“We will continue to innovate our joint offerings with WalterMart while being steadfast in our missionfirst approach of strengthening those institutional market linkages for our smallholder growers and producers,” said Robert Esquillo, Partnerships Manager of Mayani.

“Agriculture is a foundational and priority sector for the country, and we are optimistic that with the ecosystem of partners we developed over the years, Mayani can drive more value for shoppers while creating positive social good across our agri-value chain.”

MAKE-A-Wish Philippines is thrilled to present the first ever Wish Ball in the country on April 29, 2023 at The Peninsula Manila. The charity gala aims to raise funds to make wishes come true for children with critical illnesses nationwide.

Make-A-Wish Philippines is the first and only non-profit wish granting organization in the country. It is an affiliate of Make-AWish International, the world’s largest and most respected wish-granting organization. The foundation grants wishes of children with critical illnesses to transform their lives with hope, strength and joy.

Titled “Where Stars Align,” the foundation’s maiden ball will be a gathering of supporters coming together to serve as bright, uplifting stars for wish kids bravely battling their medical conditions. Wish Balls are highly anticipated annual fundraising events by Make-A-Wish affiliates in the US,

Europe and other parts of Asia. Event highlights include a four-course dinner, special performances by world-class Filipino artists and inspiring presentations from wish kids and families. To book tickets and learn about sponsorship opportunities, please visit bit.ly/2023WishBallTickets, contact info@ wishes.ph, or scan the QR codes.

Bayanihan performs at Royal Opera House in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman to sold out audience

BAYANIHAN kicks off 2023 with performances at the prestigious Royal Opera House Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman. Together with top dance companies from Brazil, Romania and hosts Oman, Bayanihan performed last January 26 and 28, 2023 to a sold-out audience.

Sentro Rizal Muscat, under the auspices of the Philippine Embassy in Oman led by Ambassador Imelda M. Panolong, likewise presented a special performance of the Bayanihan for the Filipino and diplomatic communities.

A first for the Philippines and a milestone for the Bayanihan as the first

Philippine dance company to perform at the Royal Opera House Muscat, Bayanihan continues to bring the best of the Philippine culture and the artistry of the Filipinos to the rest of the world after their historical performance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last year. This engagement was made possible through the generous support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, in cooperation with the International Folklore Development Association and the Philippine Embassy in Oman. Bilateral relations between the Philippines and Oman formally stared on October 6, 1980.

Philippines Finest Business Awards Set to Honor Outstanding Achievers and Business Excellence

THE Philippines Finest Business Awards, organized by La Visual Corporation and SIRBISU Channel, is set to recognize and reward exceptional individuals, companies, products, and services that promote and exemplify best business practices, consumer welfare and protection, product quality, and consumer services. The prestigious event will be held on September 8, 2023, at the Hexagon Events Place.

The Philippines Finest Business Awards were established to acknowledge and reward businesses that consistently deliver excellent services and outstanding performance. Winning the award will enhance the company's reputation, raise its profile, and instill that vital ingredient for success—trust.

This year's awards ceremony will also feature the Philippine Business Finest Awards for Outstanding Achievers. The award will be conferred to individuals who have excelled in their respective lines of business, field or industry, and have contributed to the continued pursuit of excellence and noteworthy achievement.

“We are excited to bring the Philippines Finest Business Awards to the business community and honor those who have demonstrated exceptional performance and achievement,” said the event organizers. “The awards ceremony aims to recognize the best of the best in the business industry and inspire others to strive for excellence.”

Nominations for the Philippines Finest Business Awards and Philippine Business Finest Awards for Outstanding Achievers are now open. To participate or learn more about the event, visit the official website at http://philippinefinestbusinessaward.com

REIMAGINING THE PAST Instituto Cervantes de Manila will hold an exhibit by Spanish artist Teresa Esteban: “Manila, Born from the Waters” in its center in Calle Real, Plaza San Luis, Intramuros, Manila. Based on historical documents and maps, Esteban attempts to make a graphic and aesthetic analysis of the urban evolution of Manila, then tell the story of the Philippine capital from its beginnings in Intramuros to the current city. The exhibit, which consists of 27 works, aims to show the city’s evolution, the different worlds, and the history that led it to be the mega metropolis of today. The exhibit is open daily until April 16, 2023, except for Holy Thursday until Easter Sunday.

BIG IN JAPAN Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa (third from left) and Tourism Secretary Cristina Frasco (third from right) led the ribbon-cutting ceremonies of the Japan Fiesta 2023-the biggest flagship event in Manila that promoted friendship between Japan and the Philippines, which recently returned to a physical celebration this year to showcase the charms of the East Asian country. According to Frasco, more than 600,000 Japanese nationals and just about the same number of Filipinos have traveled to and from both countries in 2019, and that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved of the Philippines’s participation in the 2025 World Expo in Osaka. MIKE POLICARPIO