Teatox Made Fun with Bayani Brew!

Whenever I visit the Human Heart Nature store in my area, I make it a point to buy a bottle or two (sometimes even more) of our all-time favorite Bayani Brew. My son loves this tea drink just as much, even saying that he prefers this over the usual powdered tea mixes. And that's a good thing because Bayani Brew is brewed from all-natural, proudly homegrown, pesticide-free crops.

However, Yue and I are limited to just one flavor - the classic Lemongrass Pandan, which is the only flavor available at Human Heart Nature Laguna. Thankfully, the Brew Crew granted Yue's wish to try the 'pink and yellow Bayani Brew' by sending us this gift pack which contained all three flavors of their teatox line.

Bayani Brew is love!

Priced 60% less than popular cleansing juices, Bayani Brew's detox teas - otherwise known as 'teatox' - helps flush out the toxins that accumulate in the body without the laxative effect. Brewed from organically grown greens, these teas don't just cleanse but also nourish the body with vitamins and minerals.

Staying true to its local farming roots, the new Bayani Brew variants draw inspiration from the healthy 'tsaa' (tea) recipes found all over the country. The brand uses primarily climate-resilient and perennially-grown crops such as lemongrass (tanglad), sweet potato tops (talbos ng kamote) and pandan. 

One serving of the classic Lemongrass Pandan Tea is enough to fulfill one's daily Vitamin C requirement. Lemongrass and pandan are traditionally used to cleanse the kidneys.

Lemongrass Pandan.

Shelf life, 2.5 months.

Meanwhile, the Sweet Potato Leaf tea isn't just delicious, it also helps lower blood sugar levels. Brewed with lemongrass and calamansi, each bottle contains more than 1/3 of one's daily iron requirement.

Sweet Potato Leaf.

Shelf life, 2 months.

Finally, there's the Moringa Dalandan Tea, currently my new favorite flavor in Bayani Brew's teatox line. It contains high doses of Vitamin C, calcium, and iron, and can help flush out toxins that accumulate in the liver over time.

Moringa Dalandan.

Shelf life, 1 month.

Bayani Brew's farm fresh tea drinks are organically farmed, low in calories, accessible, and now have longer shelf-life. The brand also promises to be 'sustainable from farm to bottle'. No pesticides and chemical fertilizers are used in farms, and crops are sourced at above-market prices. In addition, the bottles are made with eco-friendly materials. And by advocating the use of local ingredients, Bayani Brew hopes to help lift Filipino farmers and agricultural workers out of poverty.

Bayani Brew can be purchased at all Bo's Coffee and Human Nature branches nationwide. You can also get your Bayani Brew fix at major supermarkets and convenience stores such as Robinson's, Rustan's, Landers, and FamilyMart.

For more information about Bayani Brew, visit their official website.

Globe MyBusiness and Gawad Kalinga | Building the Nation Together.

Several months ago, leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom and poverty-alleviation movement Gawad Kalinga joined hands to rehabilitate the typhoon-stricken areas in the Visayas. This time around, they come together to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities to residents of GK Villages. Not only will this initiative help the residents in making a living, but also make this underserved sector a significant partner in nation building.

“Globe continues to do its share in building a resilient Philippines with programs that move toward initiating sustainable efforts like providing livelihood opportunities. Together with our long-time partner Gawad Kalinga and their social enterprises, we are doing our best to create a wonderful world of possibilities by helping them discover and nurture their potentials,” said Martha Sazon, Sr. Vice President, Globe MyBusiness.

Globe myBusiness, which provides small and medium businesses with innovative, customizable products, services and solutions, helped leapfrog the implementation of the Gawad Kalinga Workers Association (GAWA), a program which aims to empower the underprivileged sector by helping them make a living. With GAWA, informal sector will be given a chance to earn a living either on their own or by serving the community through values formation and skills development programs. Founded in July 2013, GAWA has conducted 42 forums that produced 2,258 graduates, with more to follow.

Skilled workers of the GAWA Build Team.
Photo credit: GK GAWA.

One major accomplishment of the program was the formation of the GAWA Build Team.  These are GAWA graduates that help GK bring to completion projects that have demanding timelines or are in areas where support is much needed such as the housing projects in Zamboanga City; Tanay, Rizal; Rio Tuba, Palawan; and in different parts of Leyte.

Oscar Sibaya, GAWA graduate from Caloocan, busily sews uniforms for janitorial services.

Aside from training the GK residents, GAWA also assists in finding jobs for the graduates. A number of them are now employed as on-call housekeepers, drivers, sewers, spa/massage attendants, cable network installers, among others.

Teodoro Suaza of GAWA leads the Home Maintenance Team.

Globe actively supports social enterprises, micro-entrepreneurs, and local producers through its sustainable livelihood advocacy. By providing technology, training, and market access, the company hopes to promote inclusive growth in bottom-of-the-pyramid communities.

Globe and Gawad Kalinga Inaugurate Tattoo Village in Ormoc, Leyte.

One love, one heart... let's get together and feel all right! 
So goes Bob Marley's epic song 'One Love'. I can't help but hum this song to myself each time I hear or read of stories about people coming together to help even more people in need.

Case in point, Globe Tattoo's partnership with Gawad Kalinga and their continuous efforts to rehabilitate the typhoon-stricken areas in the Visayas. Just recently, Globe and GK formally inaugurated the Tattoo Village in Barangay Tambulilid in Ormoc, Leyte. The unveiling of the new village was formally instituted through the actual building of the first five houses in the village, with Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu, Gawad Kalinga Executive Director Luis Oquinena, and Ormoc Mayor Edward Codilla spearheading the event.

Globe unveiled the marker for the Tattoo Village led by the Globe Senior Leadership Team, Gawad Kalinga and Ormoc’s local government unit. (From L-R) Globe Chief Finance Officer Albert de Larrazabal; Gawad Kalinga Executive Director Luis Oquinena, Tattoo brand ambassador Georgina Wilson; Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu; Ormoc Mayor Edward Codilla and City Council; Globe Head of Human Resources Ato Jiao; Tattoo Brand Ambassador Mars Miranda; (Seated L-R) Globe Chief Operating Advisor Peter Bithos; Tattoo Brand Ambassador Liz Uy; Globe Senior Vice President for Broadband Business Gilbert Simpao and Globe Vice President for Tattoo Nomadic Broadband Business Dong Ronquillo

Joining Cu, Oquinena and Codilla were Globe Chief Finance Officer Albert de Larrazabal, Globe Head of Human Resources Ato Jiao, Globe Chief Operating Advisor Peter Bithos and Globe Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications Yoly Crisanto. The Tattoo team also came in full force with Senior Vice President for Broadband Business Gilbert Simpao, Globe Vice President for Tattoo Nomadic Broadband Business Dong Ronquillo and brand ambassadors Georgina Wilson, Liz Uy and Mars Miranda.

Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu painting the wall in one of the houses.

The Tattoo Village is part the company’s rehabilitation initiatives coming from the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda. Now holistically referred to as Project Wonderful, the rehabilitation initiative is part of a unified platform for the company’s brand, culture, and nation-building efforts.

Globe Chief Operating Advisor Peter Bithos preparing the cement for hollow block laying.

As Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu said, “The official unveiling of the Tattoo Village testifies to our dedication to spark hope and progress for the country. Globe is going beyond providing relief assistance to affected communities and instead move towards initiating sustainable efforts like building homes and providing livelihood opportunities, so we can help create a wonderful world for our fellow Filipinos in need.” 

Globe Chief Finance Officer Albert de Larrazabal and Senior Vice President for Broadband Business Gilbert Simpao do the prep work for hollow block molding.

As a response, Tattoo pooled its resources resulting to a P15M grant to Gawad Kalinga to aid in rebuilding homes for 100 families. Together with the initial donation, another P1.2M was raised through a charity dinner hosted by Cu, his wife Arlene, and Ronquillo, attended by Tattoo’s brand ambassadors, business partners and friends from the media. The broadband brand also brought its brand ambassador Bamboo to Brgy. Tambulilid last December led by Globe Vice President for Tattoo Home Broadband Business Jurist Gamban, bringing with them truckloads of toys for children in time for the Christmas season.

Dong Ronquillo and Georgina Wilson help lay the hollow blocks in one of the houses

Project Wonderful ambassador and long-distance advocacy runner Mac Milan also played his part at the event by bringing with him the toys he collected from his fundraiser runs. Milan is gearing up to add a toy library that will benefit the children of the Tattoo Village. The Toy Library aptly called ‘Aralaruan’ consists of educational materials suited for kids of different ages.

Project Wonderful ambassador Mac Milan mingles with the children of Brgy. Tambulilid.

Divided into different groups, Globe executives led groups of employees and friends from the media on various activities throughout the Gawad Kalinga build. Each one had a chance to experience hardworking tasks that included house painting, hollow block laying, hollow block making and sand sifting.

The whole Globe Team joined by Gawad Kalinga and some friends from the press geared up to volunteer for the GK build that also stands as the inauguration of the Tattoo Village.

Georgina Wilson spent some of her time playing with the kids.

After all the hard work, Brgy. Tambulilid residents gave the Globe team a heartwarming thanks through the GK Unity dance. They were joined by Dong Ronquillo, Liz Uy, Georgina Wilson and Mars Miranda.

For over 10 years, Globe Telecom has fortified a successful partnership with Gawad Kalinga. Fundamentally anchored on a common calling to uplift the lives of marginalized Filipinos, Globe and Gawad Kalinga have supported each other and banked on their respective strengths to be able to build and support communities, especially in times of great need or rehabilitation.

Rebuilding the Nation with Globe's Project Wonderful.

It's been three months since the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan), which barrelled through the country and caused great damage to the Visayas region. Although it's been said that it will take a long time before the region can fully recover from the devastation, efforts to rehabilitate the typhoon-hit areas are continuous and ongoing. This, of course, wouldn't have been possible without the help of the international community and the big businesses here in the Philippines.

Photo credit: News Flash

Globe Telecom, for instance, recently launched Project Wonderful which aims to provide support in rebuilding communities through sustainable development. The company’s corporate response to nation building, Project Wonderful endeavors to provide shelter to the homeless, bring education to the children, and generate livelihood opportunities for the jobless.

For the housing sector, Globe through a P15-million donation of its mobile and home broadband brand Tattoo, will build houses in the Gawad Kalinga Rotary Village in Brgy. Tambulilid, Ormoc, Leyte for the benefit of 100 families as well as provide livelihood projects for the residents. Repair kits for 500 homes will also be given to affected host communities in Culion, Palawan; Daanbantayan, Cebu; and Guiuan, Eastern Samar in partnership with Habitat for Humanity while another 940 shelter kits will be distributed in Malaya and Madalag, Aklan in partnership with Non-Timber Forest Products.

One with the nation.

For the education sector, Globe will establish 100 tent classrooms in totally damaged elementary and secondary high schools as well as distribute at least 5,000 learning kits for students and teachers in identified tent schools. Latest statistics showed that Typhoon Yolanda damaged over 1 million houses, more than 20,000 classrooms of public schools, and P17 billion worth of agricultural products in regions 4B, 6, 7, and 8.

Also, Globe Telecom’s network in the Visayas has normalized, and local enterprises may now avail of their broadband services in the region.

“We recognize the importance of communication services as a tool that could enhance business opportunities. We want to help the local economy in these typhoon-hit areas by making it our priority to restore network services that include not only voice and text services but also mobile data services, “ said Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu. He stressed that in support of the government’s rebuilding efforts, Globe has accelerated the restoration of telco services in the area to encourage local businesses to resume normal operations, provide livelihood for local residents and in turn spur the local economy.

Proud to be part of Globe Project Wonderful! :)

The road to recovery may be long and arduous, but in terms of fighting spirit, Filipinos are relentless, unyielding, tenacious. After all, we are a nation of heroes, and heroes never falter.