Bench defines Forever



This writing was sent to Asia CEO Awards 2011 presented by American Express who recognizes most accomplished business individuals in South east Asia. The author, James Penalosa nominated Ben Chan under the Global Filipino Executive category. Bench a global brand from the Philippines is celebrating its 25 years in 2012. Photo courtesy of Rogue Magazine, September 2011 issue by Steve Tirona.



Who doesn’t want to have a gigantic billboard in EDSA? Every time that I would pass by in major Metro Manila thoroughfares, I always get amazed to these huge billboards that are seen everywhere, dreaming that someday I’ll have one wearing only my underwear. Just kidding, it is just astonishing to know that advertising has gone a long way in developing modern ways to sell products and because of that, Philippine fashion is now becoming more recognized by many. Who would have thought that almost 25 years ago, a small store selling t-shirts is now an iconic name that everybody looks up to.

Bench is a registered trademark of Suyen Corporation, one of the largest retailing conglomerates in the country who have put us in the map of world fashion. As everybody knows the brand is derived from the name of its founder and innovator, Ben Chan who is the son of Lib Chan, the man behind Liwayway Marketing Corporation that is known for its coffee, candles and starch trading and now renowned for their snack brand “Oishi” that is widely popular here and in China. Ben has a background of interior designing and has great passion for creativity and innovation. He has inherited the values of dedication, perseverance and hard work from her mother, See Ying who continued their family business after his father’s death. These values positively shape the foundation of the Chan’s partnerships also instilled by his siblings Nenita Chan Lim and Carlos Chan.

Today, Bench is a complete global brand that has brought phenomenal cross over from fashion to lifestyle that is a first to the Philippine market offering local and foreign apparel, footwear, accessories, home wares, snacks, fragrances, beauty salons, cosmetics, infant items and more including its newest venture in skin care through the Bench Dermatology Center in St. Luke’s Hospital dedicated in memory of his beloved parents. The group also pioneered in the use of top celebrity endorsers, celebrated fashion shows, television and giant billboards to promote its products and services at reasonable prices with unparallel quality available anywhere that even reaches as far as United States, Middle East and Asia. On top of that, Ben Chan has been publishing reading materials on Pinoy pop culture, nurturing talents through collaborations with local fashion designers and sponsoring projects that boost education, fashion, sports, environmental care and charity such as support to Philippine Volcanoes Ruby team, Earth Hour and Philippine fashion week.

Truly, this powerful brand is synonymous to Filipino ingenuity and the country owes it to Ben Chan who bravely envisioned that his imaginations are worth living for. As they always practice in Bench that, “When we create – we inspire, When we make – we innovate and When we lead – we serve”…There’s no more words to add in his visions, I’ll just have to say that Bench is Forever.

References:

www.benchtm.com

www.philstar.com;Sunday Life by Millet Mananquil October 9, 2011

Only Belo touches my soul, who touches yours?




This writing was sent to Asia CEO Awards 2011 presented by American Express who recognizes most accomplished business individuals in South east Asia. The author, James Penalosa nominated Dr. Belo under the Global Filipino Executive category. Same writing was also submitted to My lcon, My Hero Journalism contest a recognition to the most admired Filipinos in 2010 presented by The Philippine Star.


Every time that we speak about beauty there is only one name that always stands out. “I want everyone in the Philippines to look beautiful, one person at a time.” That’s the famous line from Dr. Victoria “Vicki” Belo, whose ambition is to make our country to be touted as “The Beauty Capital of Asia”. I bet you know her because she’s a prominent media and social personality that might be as popular next to Manny Pacquiao and Kris Aquino who started her beauty empire 20 years ago as an ordinary dermatologist in her humble clinic before becoming a “fairy godmother” to celebrities, top political and social personalities today.

Educated with a degree of Psychology at University of the Philippines, Medicine at University of Santo Tomas and Dermatology in Thailand, Dr. Belo pioneered in introducing medical procedures of liposuction and Aptos thread seamless facelift to the Philippine market. Belo Medical Group founded the 1^st ambulatory surgical center outside of hospitals recognized by the Department of Health, created a medical magazine program on television via The Filipino Channel called as “Belo 101” that imparts trends in beauty and wellness and promotion of Belo Essentials, a complete skin care collection for men and women. Truly the Belo brand has grown successfully reaching all markets here and abroad after Reader’s Digest named them as the most trusted brand in 2010. At present, Dr. Belo has 10 medical clinics including a branch in California, USA. Recently, she ventured in a complete body wellness clinic called Body Solutions which defines your body into a new level of sexiness managed by daughter, Cristalle Belo Henares.

These achievements are part of her professional career but what made me think that she is fit for this recognition is not primarily because of these accomplishments but more of her undying love and respect for her parents which is very Filipino. She is known to be an adopted child, but her Ike and Nena Belo Foundation speaks of her unparalleled gratitude to her parents who have molded her in every inch of what she is today.  The organization’s core advocacy is geared towards physical, mental and social welfare of its beneficiaries. They are active in community outreach programs, public service assistance, medical missions, surgical assistance and environmental drives. This action of hers naming a foundation under the legacy of her parents is undeniably significant that no other genuine child could match.

Frankly speaking I’m not a Belo fan or friend but her works made me say that she is fit for a credit. Her name maybe synonymous to controversies and other negative issues but as for me, no human being live a perfect life. People think in various perspectives and it doesn’t really matter what they think about us, for as long as we know who we really are, we have goals set for ourselves, for our loved ones and for the betterment our fellow men, I think that these are the most important things we have to treasure in our lives than knowing what others would say. Dr. Belo is like that. Only Belo touches my soul, who touches yours?

I'm not Superman but I save lives

Photo courtesy of Blood Bank

Part of my usual morning routine is reading the newspaper everyday but sad to say, that I’ve been reading so many bad news on it lately. It came to a reality that I have asked myself, how do I love back my country despite of what it is happening around? That question has stuck on my mind for so long, so I decided to take a walk and think. It was a gloomy Saturday morning when I reached one of my favorite hangout places, the Washington Sycip Park in Legaspi Village, Makati to unwind and think about life. I found myself sitting on one of its benches and read a famous line of Washington Sycip on it. It says there “Our country can be criticized for so many things, but in the end, we must give back what we can.” After reading that line I thought immensely on how I can love and be proud of my country especially these times that our country needs it most.  While lying on the bench in the park catching a glimpse of the warm blue skies and the heat of the sun, it came to cross on my mind that I became a blood donor late last year for my grandmother’s blood transfusion. And that thought became a perfect answer to the question that has stuck on my mind. It was not easy for me to say yes when I was asked to do it for the first time. My initial reaction was blood donation is painful because of the huge needles that will suck your blood for long minutes and honestly I said to myself that I couldn’t stand that long. But after realizing that the process would help my grandmother who was sick and in need of blood that time, I said yes and even joked by saying, let the blood sucking begin. I did it because of love. The next day, I went to a blood donation activity organized by the Philippine National Redcross and for the second time around I faced my fear and donated my blood.

Sharing your blood means your giving your own life to others. And with this fact, I could say that this is the best way I can love my country. I am not a super hero who can save anyone from harm, solve the economic problems of our state or even provide insufficiencies of our government to our people but I know in my heart that in own little way of sharing my blood, I believed that I can make a difference more than superman could do. My love for my country flows down through my vein that’s why my blood is the greatest expression of love, I can give back to my country. My blood can save and extend the lives of many. I wish that someday that people would realize the importance of blood giving. Blood giving does not only benefit the person receiving the blood but also the donor. Some studies show that it may prevent heart diseases as well as it helps your blood circulation in good condition. But the most important benefit of all would be the feeling of greatness, especially when you understand that one hour of your time and one pint of blood can save so many people.

I would not regret the day; I shared my blood for the very first time. If I did not do it then I would assume that I would never understand the essence of love in my daily living. I love my family as much as I love my country. In these times that our country is being condemned for so many things, I think this is the best time to make our motherland feel that she is loved.

I got these words from an anonymous quote saying that, “ Love is the way, love has always been the way and Love will be forever the way. Love is experienced at many levels. As we grow in awareness and we can see and embrace more, we judge less and love more completely”. My blood is a symbol of my love and I would share it to my country for as long as it’s needed.

One Woman Man



Chito and James Penalosa were featured on the Philippine Star's Father's Day issue on June 2011 supported by Robinson's Mall. Cover photos were shot at Bench, Robinson's Galleria



It is saddening to know that more and more children are becoming products of a broken family and I’m so privilege that I’m not a part of it. Failure of marriage is one of the causes of a broken home and I must say that it is hard to experience such kind of a situation because you don’t get to enjoy too much the company of your parents.

Thank heavens that my dad made right decisions and envisioned a happy life. I remember my grandmother used to tell me that during my dad’s adolescence life, he used to have so many girlfriends around him and I think that it was indeed pretty normal while growing up, which most of us experienced too but when a person decides to enter into a much deeper relationship such as marriage leading to formation of a family, then that’s the time that you can only choose one. The chosen one is the person that you will be spending the rest of your life with. I may not agree with my dad in many situations but I totally agree with him when he said that he loves my mom more than his life.

This year, my parents are celebrating their 30th year as a married couple and my dad has been very loyal, loving and caring to my mom from the day they met. Be it in good times or challenging times, they have remained to be a power couple. That’s how superman and wonder woman work together right? I love you and I’m so proud of you dad even if you’re no longer giving me any allowance and you party more than I do. Just promise us that you’ll always be loyal to mom just like our dog or else if you break it then next time you’ll go home, get ready to sleep in our dog’s cage! J

Mothers are like flowers..better than girlfriends

Son and Mom bond: James Penalosa talks about mom Gay..." My mom is a Korean telenovela addict!!!"

Every flower has its own distinction, has its own color and has its own beauty. Like any of God's creation on earth, flowers bring so much of essence into our lives. It has been long used to beautify our environment and also a great source of our food. They give meanings in so many occasions and fill our hearts with so much of emotions. Truly flowers are created for a special purpose and that is to make us feel that everyone of us is important and loved.

My Mom in so many ways is like a flower too. It's petals signify how she is protective of me from danger and harm; I could still remember the nights when she used to cover me with a mosquito net to ensure that I'm protected from mosquito bites. Isn't it so cheesy to hear? It's Floral stalk shows her eternal support and guidance that I need; Her prayers and advices for me boosts my confidence in every endeavor that I take and that makes me feel assured that whether my fight would be a win or lose, she's always at my back standing proud of me. It's filament keeps me burping with every meal that she cooks, shouting to everyone that she is the best chef on this side of the planet and its anthers always remind me that a mother's love is incomparable to any other love that could be felt on earth.

Mothers have many cranky identities too and I'm pretty sure that most of you are all familiar with these traits, as some as strict asking countless of times on the time will be at home, most of them are hard headed when the house is like a garbage dump site and plenty of them are naggers whenever we get low grades in school or even get worst and they transform like monsters, when you get a red mark in class cards. These identities may be true in reality but no matter how they act like, I can guarantee that every action that they do has something to do with their untiring love and concern for us.

I'm proud to say that my mom has those traits of a flower and has also the same irritable qualities of a common mother like yours. I just think that every mom deserves to be getting flowers more than any other woman in this world. My Mom may not have the face of a beauty queen, a body of a supermodel or has super powers of Darna but her love for me and for my family makes us feel blessed every single day of our lives more than Mother Teresa did to the people of India. Girlfriends may junked you after a lover's quarrel just in a snap but a Mother will be there for you until the world's end. People who will be able to read this may say “This sounds corny” but for me “This is ultimately genuine” that if I would be given a chance to be born again hundred of times, without a blink of my eyes I'd say “Hey Mom, I would still pick you to be my mom.” I truly love you Mom! And you will be my forever special woman even if new girlfriends come along.