April 5, 2018 – Dove announces a two-year global partnership with Cartoon Network's Steven Universe to educate young people on body confidence through the cartoon's themes of inclusivity and empowerment, world and characters - going directly to them in a medium they know and love, something that has never been done before.

Dove Announces Global Partnership With Cartoon Network's Steven Universe to Build Self-Esteem and Body Confidence in Young People Using Mainstream Entertainment for the First Time (PRNewsfoto/Dove)

This pioneering collaboration comes from the Dove Self-Esteem Project which has been helping young people build self-esteem and body confidence through educational programmes since 2004. The project is based on the knowledge that over half of girls do not have high body confidence, leading them to avoid spending time with friends and family, put their health at risk and opt-out of important life events. The Dove Self-Esteem Project exists in 140 countries around the world and is committed to reaching 40 million young people by 2020 through its existing educational programmes; and with the help of Steven Universe, will now reach 20 million more.

Using a public health intervention model, the Dove Self-Esteem Project will expand beyond structured workshops delivered by adults, to taking educational content direct to young people on a scale never-seen before. And in the case of the project's partnership with Cartoon Network, this will be Steven Universe's young viewers to positively impact their self-esteem and body confidence.

The partnership will come to life in a series of six short animated films directed by Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar, the first of which premieres today. Working with the Dove Self-Esteem Project, all content has been carefully co-created and grounded in scientific evidence by body image expert, Dr Phillippa Diedrichs at the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England in order to make a meaningful impact on a young person's self-esteem and body confidence.

Later this year, an original song featuring the cast of the show, an accompanying music video, and an educational eBook will also be launched adding to the Dove Self-Esteem Project's commitment to create a media landscape for young people that is inclusive by acknowledging every person's uniqueness and representing true diversity.

"Since 2004, through the Dove Self-Esteem Project, we have been providing young people with the tools and resources they need to develop body confidence and self-esteem so they can fully participate in life and reach their full potential," says Sophie Galvani, Dove Global Vice President. "We are passionate about evolving the types of messages the next generation arereceiving through media, which is why we are working side by side with partners to take the programme to the next level. We are introducing new tools to enable us to reach even more young people with content that not only educates but also entertains. By partnering with Cartoon Network and Rebecca Sugar we are able to create new ways to make a real impact towards our mission of helping young people build positive body confidence and self-esteem."

Research shows that children's media can be a powerful source of influence on young viewers' body image and emotional intelligence, with carefully designed inclusive content creating more positive attitudes and behaviours towards their own health and others.

"Appearance ideals and stereotypes are widespread in children's media. Studies show that this trend occurs more frequently on screen than in books. Therefore, it is vital to have new content that encourages children to have a positive relationship with the way they look and showcases a diverse and inclusive range of appearances," states Dr Phillippa Diedrichs, Body Image Expert. "The partnership creates content that tackles topics identified in scientific research as key influences on young people's body confidence, and delivers it in an engaging and fun way."

Critically acclaimed, Steven Universe is the first animated series on Cartoon Network to be created by a woman. A global pop culture phenomenon recognized for its overall themes of inclusivity, empathy and relatability, the show is inspired by Rebecca's friendship and close relationship with her younger brother Steven.

"It has always been important to us that our content resonates with our audience and empowers them," says Christina Miller, president of Cartoon Network. "This partnership is unprecedented in its scale, reach and ambition to make a difference in kids lives around the world."

"Cartoons are a powerful medium when it comes to empathy and understanding, which is why my team and I take great care with Steven Universe to reflect real issues that affect our audience," says Rebecca . "I'm grateful that I will have access to a plethora of research on body image and mental health thanks to this partnership with the Dove Self-Esteem Project. This is an issue I have struggled with personally and I hope this will be a chance to amplify positive messages about self-awareness and acceptance."

Tanduay president Lucio “Bong” Tan, Jr. has been actively supporting grassroots sports through aninitiative known as Tanduay Athletics. Tan is the backer of Batangas Tanduay Athletics that is now the team lording over the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) founded by Sen. Manuel Pacquioa. The league replaced a former regional basketball league that supports grassroots basketball. Beyond sports, Tan is also passionate about green initiatives.

 He himself was on top of the transformation to a zero-waste facility of Absolut Distillers, Tanduay’s alcohol distillery based in Lian, Batangas. The facility bagged numerous environmental awards, including the prestigious Green Apple Awards, an annual international campaign to recognize, reward and promote environmental best practices around the world. Absolut Distillers is the only local distillery to have received this award up to this day.

 The company likewise has since been a recipient of awards by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for their outstanding environment conservation practices. “We understand the need to lessen our impact by making our operations cleaner and greener. We do not just want to make the best rhum in the Philippines, bet we want everyone to know that our rhum is made with good intentions and we hope to improve our operations year after year,” Tan continued, adding that, they have started investing in solar energy as a cleaner alternative as well. “We want our consumers to know that every bottle of Tanduay that they drink is made from green intentions and green energy.” The Tanduay president further shared that the concern for the environment sprang from the knowledge that the distillery industry is considered as one of the dirtiest. “Before we took over Tanduay, there have been cases filed against its practices pertaining to pollution. We said, let us clean up first. We started investing in technologies that we are using in our Absolut distillery in Batangas in order to reduce our carbon footprint. It was a long process, and we did it.” Now, Tan would like to bring public attention to a project he started in 2011 to protect what little is left of the old Boracay.

The island has been noted as one of the world’s top destinations, but it has encountered controversy lately due to the amount of pollution that has been plaguing the once-pristine paradise. There are talks of a government shutdown to tourists in order to rehabilitate the natural landscape. Tan pioneered the project “Roots for Boracay” to save the last mangroves in the island.

 “When we first got there, we already saw the amount of solid waste that lay among the mangroves. Before we started reforesting the area, we needed to have it cleaned up,” Tan revealed. He noted that if the mangroves have not been cut down indiscriminately, the problems being faced by Boracay today would have been much lesser. There would be no need to set up expensive artificial waste treatment facilities for the island’s recovery, as the mangrove roots will naturally filter water waste. According to him, Boracay is far from any of his business interests, but the need to respond to an impending crisis was what drove him to act. “It took awhile to bring together the various people who will help us in our quest to get hold of the right to implement our project to clean up and re-plant in order to stop the continuous degradation of the mangroves in that area of Boracay,” Tan further related. But Tan had the right man on his side to make sure his visions will be realized.

Gerry Tee is the chief operating officer of Absolut Distillers. He is the same person with whom his father Lucio Tan Srr. entrusted the green transformation of the Batangas alcohol distillery. With the help of Tee, they engaged the Tan Yan Kee Foundation led by Philip Sing to gather a 200-strong workforce that began the clean up efforts in Barangay Manoc Manoc, where the mangroves are located.

 They have gathered four truckloads of garbage by the time they finish cleaning the mangroves area. “To protect Boracay, it is important to go down to its roots. In this case, we seek the last frontier of Boracay – the mangroves. It is where the fish and other sea creatures get nutrients, it is where life starts. Without the mangroves, the island would also cease to exist, as it protects the island from typhoons. The beautiful fine white sand will go back to the sea because their roots are the ones holding the island together,” Tee explained. He added that aside from building the infrastructures and replanting mangroves, the mission of the project is to showcase that part of Boracay that is often neglected, so people can know what it takes to protect the beaches that tourists love so much.

The project had partnered with the local government unit, the DENR and concerned non-government organizations to come up with a sustainable development in the area which involves the locals, educating them about the importance of the mangroves to their island. “So much has been cut down to make way for real estate, others cut them down for firewood. A portion is also dying out, because a road development cut off water supply. With Roots For Boracay, people have begun to understand what needs to be done,” said Tee.

 The Tanduay executives underscored that it is not about the company, which has also instituted other environmental campaigns in partnership with the Tan Yang Kee Foundation such as The Canopy Project, which replants trees in the denuded forests in the North. “Boracay is only part of the market for Tanduay, we are more concerned about our legacy. It is not about Tanduay, it is about the locals – their subsistence, their livelihood, and their existence. Tanduay is just there as a vehicle to raise awareness,” Tee said. They cautioned that if the lack of concern for the environment continues in the name of profit, Boracay will not be the only one.

“If Boracay is closed down, people will move on to Palawan. This has happened before, just look at how Matabungkay deteriorated,” Tee admonished. “The issue is lack of awareness, and we are trying to address that with our project.” They said that the plans of shutting down Boracay will hurt a lot, but from their perspective of what they have seen in the mangrove forest, it could be a one-step- backward, two-steps- forward situation.

“It is about moving forward, and we can all help in our own little way, by doing things like picking up a cigarette butt and not throwing your garbage just anywhere,” Tee said. “It was a directive from the Chairman, Mr. Lucio Tan to follow the concept of sustainable development, where we do not profit at the expense of the environment. We make sure that everything we do is about reducing our carbon footprint and become more independent from the environment where we do not use to dump our waste,“ Tee further shared.

JobStreet.com, the largest job site in the country, together with the Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) held the 3rd Philippine Engineering Student Congress at the Quezon City campus of the university.

The event brought together graduating engineering students from all over Luzon in a venue where they could explore potential careers and learn about the profession they would soon enter.

In attendance were 30 companies, including Coca-Cola FEMSA, Department of Energy (DOE), Filinvest Land Inc., Ginebra San Miguel, Meralco, Uratex Foam, AMMEX I-Support Corp, and Emerson Electric, among others.

Companies provided talks about the future that awaits engineering graduates, and showcased career paths that they could take.

The Congress was launched by opening remarks from TIP President Dr. Elizabeth Quirino-Lahoz. Speakers included JobStreet.com Country Manager Philip Gioca, Padilla Review Center President Engr. Perfecto Padilla, Jr., and representatives from various companies.

Aside from the talks, there was also a Personality Development Session for students, a motivational talk, a quiz bee, and a presentation of project papers by T.I.P. Career Center students.
According to Mr. Gioca, engineering-related professions are among the top 10 most advertised and most in-demand specializations year-on-year for both local and overseas jobs posted on JobStreet.com.

The Congress has been held annually since 2016 to inspire graduating students in preparing them for the career journey ahead, whether it be in the country or abroad.

When talks about relationship is brought up, it is always the woman that has a say on things. What is right, what should be done, what should not be done, and everything in between. But what if we ask a man what is his take about a relationship, specifically a male doctor, what would he say? Let's finds out Dr. Paolo Bellosillo's thoughts about finding true love.
Dr. Paolo Bellosillo thinks that finding true love is as easy as the quote: “by the fruits you shall and will know.
You can see. You can feel and you can discern.
It’s like you, telling your partner, your husband or wife, fiancée, boyfriend or girlfriend that you’re thirsty. Instead of coming back with water he or she gives you Halo Halo or perhaps red bean ice cream. When those kind acts pile up they go a long way.
But you see true love is also about acceptance when you have seen the worse in one another but continue to accept and admit ones mistakes, learn from it, desire not to repeat it… well it doesn’t end there, it is when you know you have got to say, convey and show you are “Sorry”.
Acceptance would show true love when you have begun seeing and saying you are sorry and when you expand it into practice and living it out with sincerity. Sincerity in a “Sorry” can actually help one another grow because words with action keep you on track to where you both should be, a happy couple fit for a happy family.
True Love is knowing we are not perfect but accepting that we should always make room for change and growth for the best of the relationship. It is when one begins to detach himself/herself from habits, attitudes and the like of the past where effort is much needed but because of love and its name one decides to open for change for the better.
True Love is love that is faithful, honest, sincere, kind and not a mere dash of perceived look at one for satisfying ones need or complying with a function. It is not pleasurable, for you will know In Your Eyes and in God’s eyes and her/his eyes, This Is It and You’ll Never Be The Same.
When two become one despite the differences because there, love had bridged a gap that time and space cannot separate, that’s true love.”
Any woman will definitely be lucky to marry a man who thinks about love this way. We hope that men all over see love and define love the same way.