MANILA PAVILION'S MID-AUTUMN MOONCAKE FESTIVAL

MID-AUTUMN MOONCAKE FESTIVAL

Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon season as Manila Pavilion’s Patisserie lays out a delectable spread of mooncakes from September 14 to October 18, 2015 at the Patisserie.

Occurring on the 15th day of the eight month of the Chinese lunar calendar when the moon is at its brightest, the Mid-Autumn Moon festival has become an occasion for family reunions all over the world, which like the ubiquitous moon cakes that abound during the season, symbolizes family solidity and union.  It is considered to be the time of year when children are happiest and traditional candle-lit lanterns shaped in various forms are visibly displayed.

To welcome the moon, purchase a hearty mooncake perfect for your tea party on the 27th of September. Revel in the delightful aroma of palatable moon cake variants available at the Patisserie. For the large mooncakes, there’s the lotus with macadamia, egg custard, mixed nuts, lotus with 1 or 2 eggs, lotus plain, mongo with 1 or 2 eggs and mongo plain. And for the mini mooncakes, available flavors are chocolate, ube, egg custard, mixed nuts, lotus plain and mongo plain. Prices start at Php1350 per box of four. Also comes in gift boxes perfect for giveaways starting at Php450 per box of four.

To make this occasion more festive, Manila Pavilion also offers Mid-Autumn Room Package starting at Php3,500nett for an overnight stay with buffet breakfast for two (2), one (1) limited Mommily Holiday Privilege Card, a box of mooncake, 20 percent discount voucher from all F&B outlets and complimentary use of the swimming pool and Wi-Fi.

For inquiries, please call the Manila Pavilion Hotel at (632) 526 1212 extension 2326 for the mooncakes and extension 2382 for room reservations. For regular updates log on to www.waterfronthotels.com.ph and follow us through social media @WaterfrontMNL.

PLDT, Microsoft to boost PH IT education, launches Digital Campus Suite

PLDT, Microsoft to boost PH IT education, launches Digital Campus Suite

Leading telecoms and multi-media service provider PLDT, through its business unit PLDT SME Nation, has launched together with global IT giant Microsoft Philippines a new service package called the Digital Campus Suite that will enable students and academes access to online learning programs and to earn IT (Information technology) certifications for critical IT skills that are now in-demand in today’s digitally driven industries.

“We at PLDT are confident that this partnership can significantly contribute to enriching the digital content of Philippine education. By enabling schools through these programs, we are helping them, both educator and student, to gain new critical skills and learn IT courses with globally competitive technology programs that have become essential in today’s digital work place,” said PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan.

Through the Digital Campus Suite, schools will have high-speed connectivity with PLDT myDSL Biz or iGate, and online access to training courses of the Microsoft IT Academy Program.

Educators and students will have access to Microsoft’s digital curriculum and earn IT certifications in the Microsoft IT Academy Program for fundamental technology skills as well as courses that enable students to become more competitive for employment.

Schools will also receive licenses to Microsoft Office 365 to help students and teachers interact and teach using Cloud tools and platforms.

The suite also includes laptops, tablets, and WiFi access points in the campus for the use of students for their over-all digital education experience.

A study conducted by International Data Corporation (IDC) also revealed that increased spending on IT cloud services will open up an estimated 14 million new jobs worldwide. The same report also noted that there is an apparent “widening ICT professional skills gap” and a “shortage of skills” in the Asia Pacific Region.

PLDT SME Nation has been very active in partnering with schools and learning institutions to build their technology and connectivity resources in support of the education sector’s need to improve ICT learning among the students and academe.

“This initiative fully aligns with PLDT SME Nation’s efforts to empower the future generation with an ICT-enabled education system. ICT skills are no longer just added value to employment but are now necessities in today’s business and entrepreneurial landscape.  This initiative will allow these students to become adept in basic ICT skills and IT programs to prepare them for their chosen careers,” said PLDT FVP and Head of SME Business Kat Luna-Abelarde.

This partnership is seen to bridge that widening skills and education gap by empowering Filipino students the tools and knowledge to be able to compete and gain advantage in today’s job market.

“An educated population is what we need to build a progressive Philippine economy, but we can’t educate tomorrow’s leaders with tools from the past,” said Microsoft Philippines General Manager Karrie Ilagan. “The increasingly competitive workplace is being driven by technology and digital literacy, and the Digital Campus Suite gives educators and students access to tools that will build their capability to excel in that environment. We always strive to effect a positive change in the lives of our customers, and our partnership with PLDT SME Nation helps us create a bigger impact on all aspects of education.”