ILOILO: HEART of the PHILIPPINES

Extraordinary deeds by ordinary people can make a positive difference in this world. It can be the retiree who trains the unemployed women in the community on livelihood crafts, or the group of athletes that holds sports clinics for street children. Wireless leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is giving these acts of kindness a further boost by way of payITfwd, a new social development initiative that aims to enable the spread of social good acts or ‘smart acts’ using technology.   “The goal is to support, promote, expand, enhance, reward and enable social good efforts that foster learning through technology.  With payITfwd, social good advocates can scale up and even encourage the public to support their cause,” said Ramon Isberto, head of Smart Public Affairs Group. payITfwd PayITfwd is a social development initiative that aims to enable nation building by increasing access to technology (device + connectivity). The goal is to support, promote, expand,...

They’re young, they’re hip and they bring a “fishpalaxing” experience to everyone from all walks of life. Meet Flord, Noel and Rex – still twenty-something yet these “Iskolars ng Bayan” already have success in the bag. As schoolmates from University of the Philippines Visayas in Miag-ao, they started a business venture in 2009 that is now a novel form of relaxation at the same time a tourist attraction. Despite the busy schedule in college, they pooled their talents, funds, and spare time to come up with the concept, technologies, and strategies for the successful operation of Tibiao Fish Spa . A form of ichthyotherapy, fish spas make use of small fish to clean and exfoliate the skin. The distinct sensation produced by the skin-nibbling fish adds to the cleansing benefits and relaxing ambiance of fish spas that made them popular in many Asian countries. FLORD:  The Aggressive Guy “Collecting fishes as pets was my hobby when I was younger,” says Flord Nicson Calawag. When he...