Romulo Café in Makati’s bustling Jupiter Street was the venue of the launch of the third edition of “Project Inspire: 5 Minutes to Change the World,” and the awarding of an additional $25,000 grant to past grand winner Hapinoy, no less.

 

Co-organized with UN Women Singapore (an organization which functions as a National Committee of the United Nations Development Fund for Women or Unifem), “Project Inspire” is a digital and social media-driven program that encourages young people worldwide to empower disadvantaged women and girls in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa (Apmea).

 

This year’s winner will receive a $25,000 grant from MasterCard, dahlings.

 

Flying in from Singapore for the event was Georgette Tan, MasterCard Worldwide group head of communications, Apmea. She said, “This project is a tribute to the women who put the needs of their children, husbands, families and communities ahead of themselves.”

 

Also present was MasterCard Worldwide Philippine vice president for marketing and client relations Judith Dayrit. She welcomed the guests, including Hapinoy co-founder and president Mark Ruiz, natch, executive director TJ Agulto and managing director Erika Tatad, palanggas.

 

Ruiz told the story of how Hapinoy was founded in 2006, “out of the desire to tap the sari-sari store industry. Through the Project Inspire grant in 2011, his team was able to roll out a micro-entrepreneurship training program, which allowed them to reach out to more women sari-sari store owners. Today, Hapinoy has 1,300 listed beneficiaries, and there are now 7,000 stores under its network in the South Luzon area.

 

Très visible were Hapinoy “good mothers” (women beneficiaries) Maribel Tolentino, Joy Sallan and Marina Reyes, who shared the good business practices they learned through the micro-entrepreneurship program.

 

This year’s Project Inspire has MasterCard welcoming more of such transformative and sustainable ideas to support women empowerment.

 

Interested participants are encouraged to visit www.5minutestochangetheworld.org to know more about Project Inspire 2013. Deadline for submission of entries is June 30.

 

Marking a milestone at 90

 

Ninety years ago is a long time, palanggas. Some of the milestone events of that period include the launching of Reader’s Digest magazine; the establishment of the Soviet Union; and Canada being the first country to use insulin in treating diabetes.

 

In the Philippines, a lovely baby girl was born to José and Encarnacion Henson at Solana Street, Intramuros, Manila. She was named Cecilia, or Cely for short.

 

At age 20, Cely married the Father of Philippine Bonsai, the late Mario Basa.

 

To celebrate Cely’s 90th birthday, the invitation said to come dressed in animal prints. The venue was decorated in Safari mood to honor the cool mom of nine children, grandmother to 27 kids and 14 great grandchildren.

 

Looking queenly and elegant, Cely Henson Basa was all aglow as she welcomed her pals and famille.

 

She is still very active with the Ladies of Charity, with her community, and as president of the senior citizens of her village, dahlings.

 

But her favorite pastime is bonding with her sisters at Greenhills Shopping Center. It is therefore no wonder that her party giveaway was a huge animal-print shopping bag with a tag that said: “If you want to know more about Cely, go shopping with her.”

 

Entertainment for the evening, palanggas, was provided by her nephews Emil Henson, Rene Henson and sportswriter Quinito Henson, who dished out Cely’s favorite songs.

 

Mexx opens in Alabang

 

Mexx, one of the leading European apparel brands from one of my favorite cities abroad, Amsterdam, recently opened in Alabang Town Center.

 

Top fashion bloggers were among the chosen invitees for a day of indulgence with the Mexx Philippines team and Cinderella Marketing Corporation’s VIPs.

 

Après a yummy lunch in California Pizza Kitchen, the invitees were toured around the Mexx store on the first floor of ATC. “Mexx is inspired by life in the big city, influenced by its energy, style and trends. Mexx makes fashion for women and men who want something special,” explained Richard “Richie” Santos, Cinderella group manager for imported brands, dahlings.

 

At the store, everyone was challenged to style the Mexx team—infusing the Mexx Metropolitan Collection with Mexx’s Romance Collection.

 

At the end of the styling event, the bloggers were given a surprise from Mexx and the event sponsors, Mary Kay Philippines and Mercedes Benz, palanggas.

 

Mexx is exclusively distributed in the Philippines by Cinderella Marketing Corp. and available in Alabang Town Center, Shangri-La East Wing, and soon to open in SM Aura Premier.

 

Visit www.facebook.com/mexx.ph; follow on Twitter @MexxPhilippines.