As part of its commitment of working with a conscience towards promoting environmental awareness, Thunderbird Resorts supported another endeavor benefitting Mother Earth.
Organized together with Miss Earth Foundation and Carousel Productions, in celebration of the “Year of the Forests” this 2011, two of the most awaited pre-pageant events of the Miss Philippines Earthtook center stage last Saturday, May 21, in Thunderbird Resorts-Binangonan Rizal’s newest Event Center. As an added twist to this year’s pageant, the announcement of the Top Ten Finalists serves as the climax of the night.
The ten ladies who are still vying for the prestigious titles were; Alicia Ariosa of Pagadian City, Muriel Orais of Cebu City, Edan Dafilmoto of Cotabato City, Michelle Gavagan of Las Pinas, Jonavi Quiray of Puerto Princesa City, Mary Denisse Toribio of the City of Malolos, Brenna Gamboa of Fil. East Coast, Athena Imperial of the Mun. of Casiguran-Aurora, Tarhata Rico of Makati City and Catrine Ocampo of General Santos City.
A special award cited as Ms Thunderbird Resorts was also given to Brenna Gamboa of Fil. East Coast. Present to award were Thunderbird Resorts VP-Impact Asia Angel Suiero and Chief Gaming Officer Shaun Thomsen.
Talent and Cultural Costume Competition Winner
Ms. Tanauan City- Diane Querrer
Miss Philippines Earth promotes beauty for cause, in the same way that Thunderbird Resorts strongly upholds the importance of the environment. Thunderbird Resorts is committed in encouraging green practices through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm, the Thunderbird Resorts Efforts on Environment Sustainability (TREES) program where it holds various activities such as tree planting, fun runs, beach and coastal clean-ups to name a few. Being a partner with Miss Philippines Earth and the Miss Earth Foundation reinforces the company’s thrust towards a green environment.
Hosts Miss Earth-Air 2009 Sandra Seifert & Miss Phils Earth 2010 Kris Psyche Resus
They were surrounded by swimming pools, stunning views of the ocean and of the Laguna bay, classy restaurants, and lavish accommodations. But the students were at Thunderbird Resorts for a different purpose: to write essays on the environment to win P100,000 pesos and P50,000 for their schools.
WHAT TO WRITE? La Union finalists write the essays that they hope would win them the P100,000 cash prize.
Last March 26, 50 third- and fourth-year high school students participated in the first ever Thunderbird Resorts Efforts on Environment Sustainability (TREES) On-the-Spot Essay Writing Contest. The contest was held simultaneously in Thunderbird Resorts in Binangonan, Rizal and in Poro Point, La Union.
After listening to lectures given by environment experts from Haribon Foundation, Earth Day Network, and ABS-CBN Foundation – Bantay Kalikasan, students were given two hours to write an essay on what they’ve learned that day, on how they will share their learnings with their fellow youth, and on the steps they will to help save the environment.
The finalists wrote furiously. Most didn’t eat their lunch until they had finished penning the essay they hope would win them the prize.
In the end, Exelle Anne Garrido, a senior from St. Rose of Lima Montessori School, and Jason Madrid, a junior from St. Louis College High School, bagged the grand prizes for Rizal and La Union, respectively. Both ran and hugged their teacher coaches upon hearing their names, and were teary-eyed as they received their mock checks onstage.
Rizal winner of the TREES On-the-Spot Essay Writing Contest Exelle Anne Garrido (3rd from left) from St. Rose of Lima Montessori School receives her P100,000 check. In the photo (L-R): Voltaire Alferez of Earth Day Network Philippines, teacher coach Lani Gamboa, Exelle, Angel Sueiro of Thunderbird Resorts, Rizal Schools Division Superintendent Aurea Sto. Domingo, Darryn Santiago of ABS-CBN Foundation Bantay Kalikasan,
Khrysta Rara of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication,
and Jenny Sumulong-Ledonio of the Rizal Tourism Office.
La Union winner Jason Madrid of St. Louis College High School (4th from left) receives his P100,000 check. In the photo (L-R): Christine Cenal of the Haribon Foundation, Mary Jane Ortega of CITYNET, Mike Walker of Thunderbird Resorts, Jason, teacher coach Jane Espiritu, Damian Ball of Thunderbird Resorts, Niña Terol-Zialcita of Writer's Block Philippines, and project head Jocelyn Henares.
The other finalists, though deflated, didn’t go home empty-handed: they received P5,000 while their schools were given P10,000 each.
This contest marked the culmination of the provincial essay writing contest that Thunderbird Resorts spearheaded with the help of the Department of Education Center for Student and Co-Curricular Affairs (DepED CSCA).
On-the-Spot Writing Contest
Prior to the contest, DepED CSCA required third and fourth year Rizal and La Union high school students to write an essay on the theme “My Community and the Environment”. Schools then selected one student to be their representative. From the representatives, organizers selected 25 finalists each from Rizal and La Union to participate in the on-the-spot writing contest.
Representatives from the environment and public sector, as well as writing experts, gave lectures and judged the students’ entries. For Rizal, speakers and judges were Thunderbird Resorts vice president for design and construction Angel Sueiro, Earth Day Network executive director Voltaire Alferez, ABS-CBN Foundation - Bantay Kalikasan senior mobilization officer Darryn Castillo, professor Maria Cristina Rara from the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication, and Rizal provincial tourism officer Generosa Sumulong-Ledonio. Also present were Thunderbird Resorts food and beverage manager Jean Paul Capitaine and former Binangonan mayor Russell Ynares, who gave a message in behalf of Gov. Jun Ynares.
In Poro Point, speakers and judges were CITYNET Secretary General and former San Fernando mayor Mary Jane Ortega, Haribon Foundation head of corporate partnership division Christine Cenal, and Niña Terol-Zialcita of Writer’s Block Philippines.Thunderbird Resorts gaming manager Mike Walker delivered the closing remarks.
TREES
TREES, which stands for Thunderbird Resorts Efforts on Environment Sustainability, encompasses the company’s global efforts to promote and use green technologies, minimize the ecological impact of its properties on the environment, and foster community relationships through employee volunteer programs and medical missions.
“We organized this contest to increase awareness of the environmental problems we face today, and to highlight the role of local communities in creating and implementing environmental initiatives,” said Damian Ball, hotel general manager of the Thunderbird Resorts – Poro Point. “Most of all, we wanted to spark a partnership with the youth, who are strong, dynamic excitement-seekers [and] agents of change. We see our company in them.”
In his closing remarks, Thunderbird Resorts vice president Angel Sueiro reminded students to be disciplined and to always do the right thing. “Discipline involves thousands of hours of hard work, betting on the long term instead of the short term, failures, trying again, and faith. But there are no shortcuts in life. Choose to do something that you can contribute to the world. Choose the right thing, and then be disciplined enough to excel in that.”
TREES On-the-Spot Essay Writing Contest finalists and their teacher coaches pose with the judges at the Thunderbird Resorts Event Center in Rizal.
TREES On-the-Spot Essay Writing Contest finalists and their teacher coaches pose with the judges at Thunderbird Resorts - Poro Point.
When the clock strikes 8:30 in the evening, turn off the lights and join one hour of celebration for the planet.
Our promise, in line with our "Thunderbird Resorts Efforts on Environment Sustainability" (TREES) program, is to help save the planet. As a global company we stand united in this commitment.
At the Rizal and Poro Point properties, we encourage guests to join Earth Hour. We take part in this celebration by turning the lights off and provide alternative entertainment with folk dance, acoustic band and candlelight dinner setting.
"It starts with lights out for Earth Hour , Now imagine what we could achieve." - http://www.earthhour.org
Today, 10-10-10 marks a significant event for Mother Earth as people from around the world joined together in the fight against climate change.
As part of Thunderbird Resorts Efforts on Environmental Sustainability (T.R.E.E.S) and in one with 350.0rg in a celebration for Mother Earth, two clean up drives were held in the communities of Binangonan, Rizal and Poro Point, La Union.
Thunderbird Resorts Rizal spearheaded the Laguna de Bay Clean Up Drive participated by the local government, Thunderbird Resorts executives and employees lead by Mr. Raul Sueiro, vice president for Asian & European operations.
In Poro Point, La Union, employees gathered seaweeds and cleaned the beach shores. The Coastal Clean Up was in partnership with DENR, NEDA, Philippine Navy, the local government units (Brgy Poro and Brgy San Agustin), Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University and Caritas Manila.
Still in the works and is part of a developing plan, the collected seaweeds are being eyed as a source for a livelihood project.
Last year, also as a way of taking part in the cause of 350.org in fighting climate change, Thunderbird Resorts held a simultaneous tree planting activity in both of its properties in Rizal and La Union.
With these projects, Thunderbird Resorts continues to live by its thrust of helping its communities and the environment.
Last year, 'Ondoy' wrecked havoc in the Philippines with the Rizal province badly hit by the typhoon.
In commemoration of the devastating event and in recognition of all the efforts that helped Thunderbird Resorts and the rest of the Rizal province rise above the calamity, we bring:
"ONDOY NO MORE"
Thunderbird Resorts Run for a Cause
Sept. 26, 2010
We invite everyone to join us in this shout out and run for the BENEFIT OF CARITAS Manila.
For only P500.00 registration fee for 3k/5k/10k,
you get a Singlet, RaceBib, Thunderbird Resorts discounts, and most importantly you give a donation to Caritas Manila and help the marginalized communities to prepare for calamities such as typhoons.
The United Nations Environmental Program’s (UNEP) World Environment Day (WED) 2010 is aimed to be the biggest, most widely celebrated, global day for positive, environmental action.
Commemorated on 5 June since 1972, WED is one of the principal vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action.
Through WED, environmental issues are given a human face and enable people to realize not only their responsibility, but also their power to become agents for change in support of sustainable and equitable development.
WED is also a day for advocating partnerships among all stakeholders or perhaps, even more correctly, among all species living on this one planet and sharing a common future.
Source: UNEP World Environment Day More info at http://www.unep.org/wed/2010/english/
What Can You Do?
Thunderbird Resorts Philippines joins thousands of people from different countries in celebrating the World Environment Day.
And we are inviting you as well to be part of this meaningful event.
On June 4 and on June 5, World Environment Day, visit Thunderbird Resorts Fan Page and POST Environmental TIPS or VIDEO LINKS, and PHOTOS of any activity or efforts you are conducting or have done for the environment.
More of a Twitter person? You can also TWEET it to us. Tag @tbrphilippines. Don’t forget to put hashtag #wed on your tweet. Let’s make World Environment Day a trending topic.
Share your post to your friends, let them read/view, comment and like it, retweet it.
Let other people become aware of what you’ve done and what they can do too for the environment.
The most influential post (with most likes or retweets) will get a special gift from us.
We hope you’ll see that your contribution counts big for the environment.
