TIS THE SEASON TO REBUILD LIVES: CLEAN YOUR YARDS, DRY YOUR
TEARS, SMILE!
[PHOTO
AT LEFT - Rustan’s president Nedy Tantoco and her son, executive vice president
Anton Huang, gather their salespersons, all dressed as Santa’s little helpers
around Santa Claus. The store’s theme, ‘One World, One Christmas,’ is a tribute
to the generosity of suppliers from 12 countries who are coming to the aid of
Filipino flood victims. Jun Mendoza |MANILA,
Philippines]
MANILA, NOVEMBER 6, 2009 (STAR) By Millet M. Mananquil - Clean your backyard after yesterday’s storms, dry your tears, get your shopping bags and wear a smile.
Rustan’s, the country’s premier luxury retail chain, has officially declared the start of the Christmas shopping season. And despite the ravages from storm “Ondoy,” there are many reasons to smile.
Most stores are now decked in holiday fashion. In Rustan’s there are 12 trees, each one representing a country. There is a story behind that. Changing lives --not changing décor --is the main agenda of Rustan’s this season.
Rustan’s president Nedy Tantoco recently called on the stores’ foreign suppliers to come to the aid of flood victims in the Philippines. In a touching response, these suppliers quickly sent in cash or goods which are now being repacked by the store for distribution to places like Marikina, Laguna and Northern Luzon this holiday season.
“Christmas is for children, so this year, we are focusing on making sure that we bring happiness to children,” explains Tantoco. Rustan’s is working with Children’s Hour, Operation Smile, St. Anthony’s Boys Village and CRIBS. “We want the poorest of the poor children to experience the joy of opening a Christmas gift which includes Noche Buena food for the family to share this Christmas.”
This project, however, is not just about dole-outs. “We also aim to provide shelter for abandoned and abused children, medical aid and education scholarships,” says Anton Huang, Rustan’s EVP.
Huang said help came in from suppliers of 12 countries, inspiring Rustan’s to make its theme “One World, One Christmas.” These countries and suppliers include Spain (Zara, Massimo Dutti, Lladro, Nao); France (Cartier, Christian Dior, Agatha, Le Sportsac, Jacques Farel; Italy (Roberto Coin, Salvatore Ferragamo, Magnani); United Kingdom (Marks & Spencer); Switzerland (Charriol); Canada (Lush); Brazil (Tamara Comolli); Portugal (Hermar, Monaco Misaki); Japan (Kose); Hong Kong (Princess, Gamma); Singapore (Raoul); and United States (Jones New York, Baby Phat, Jack Nicklaus, Ecco, Nine West, Steve Madden, Anne Klein, Aerosoles, OKAk, Brown, Estee Lauder, OPI, Murad, Mario Badescu, OXO, Palmer’s, Monet).
One supplier, Rowena Bird of Lush, gave a response that particularly made spirits soar. “I will immediately go parachute jumping to raise an amount for Filipino typhoon victims,” she said, as she asked for pledges from business associates and friends.
Décor and bags with a message
Aside from the Christmas trees representing these countries, there are green hedges and natural decor all around Rustan’s selling floors. There is a story behind that, as well.
“We hope that these green hedges will help remind shoppers to be more environment-conscious,” says Tantoco, “that we can all help minimize erosions, floods and global warming, and prevent future calamities.”
By next week, all Rustan’s shopping bags will no longer be in plastic. Instead, they will be in biodegradable paper. And if you bring your own shopping bag at Rustan’s Supermarket, you get extra points for your FSP (Frequent Shopping Points) Card.
Shopping for gifts will be easier on the budget this season as the Tantocos offer clothes, accessories, beauty products and home furnishings with specially marked-down prices.
“Despite world recession, the year was really looking good for us retailers, and spending was still strong--until Ondoy happened.” Huang adds. “But the blessing is, next year is an election year, which is always a good year for the retailing industry. Another blessing is that certain suppliers are lowering their prices, realizing that the worldwide recession has cut down the spending power of consumers. Their prices were way too high, and now, they’ve gone back down to earth.”
Yes, ’tis the season for rediscounting, rebuilding and recovering.
PAGASA WARNS OF BIG WAVES IN
LUZON SEABOARDS
(STAR) NOVEMBER 5, 2009 - The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration (Pagasa) yesterday reiterated its warning against big
waves in the seaboards of Luzon due to the surge of the northeast monsoon.
Pagasa senior weather forecaster Robert Sawi also warned the public against possible landslides and flashfloods as the northeast monsoon (hanging amihan) would continue to bring rains over the country in the next two to three days.
“The whole country will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming widespread rains over the eastern sections which may trigger flashfloods and landslides,” Sawi said.
He said moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast would prevail over Luzon and Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas would be moderate to rough.
Light to moderate winds coming from the east and northeast would prevail over Mindanao with slight to moderate seas except during thunderstorms, he added.
“Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out to sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” Sawi said. - Helen Flores
2,070 floodway families to be evicted By Evelyn Macairan (The Philippine Star) Updated November 05, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said yesterday 2,070 illegal settler families living along Napindan Channel and Manggahan Floodway in Pasig City would be evicted as part of measures to improve flood control in Metro Manila.
DPWH Undersecretary for Luzon Romeo Momo said the two waterways overflowed during typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng,” endangering the lives of people.
Momo said the order to evict families along the two floodways came from Malacañang.
“This is the marching order given to us by President Arroyo so we have to remove all the obstructions, if necessary, to maximize the utilization of our river banks… so the dredging may eventually take place anytime.”
Momo said they have requested affected local government units to help in the removal of the illegal structures that have hampered the flow of the floodwaters.
He said the move is also in preparation for future heavy rains and flooding in the metropolis, adding that the success of the project would greatly rely on the support of local officials.
The floodway of the Napindan Channel acts as a catch basin where accumulated rainwater from Metro Manila streams down, while the Manggahan waterway reduces flooding along Pasig River as it flushes water out of the Marikina River to Laguna de Bay.
At the height of Ondoy last Sept. 26, water in both channels overflowed, flooding Metro Manila.