Meralco Once Again Opens The Maliwanag ang Pasko 2012 Campaign

Meralco once again opens its Liwanag Park to the public in time for the Christmas season. The park features light displays and attractions like Christmas figures made of scrap copper wire, a mini train ride for visitors, the Toy Town and a bazaar among others. In recent years, the park has been recognized as a must-see Christmas destination in the metro. The park will be open to the public every day, until January 6, from 6-10 PM.

                In a related development, the Department of Tourism (DOT) recently partnered with Meralco to help set up other Liwanag Parks in different cities and municipalities within Meralco’s franchise area. This partnership aims to brighten the country during the Christmas season and to put it on the map as one of the world’s best tourist destinations during the holidays. In helping decorate these Liwanag Parks, Meralco will provide each participating LGU with a Maliwanag ang Pasko starter kit composed of a giant parol and 500 boxes of Christmas lights. LGUs with the best Liwanag Parks will get prizes from Meralco.

The Liwanag Park and the partnership with the DOT are just part of the larger Maliwanag ang Pasko program of Meralco, though. Under the program, Filipino households, too, are enjoined to do their part in lighting up their homes this season. In return, they get the chance to win prizes. To join, they may take a photo of their lighted homes or of any of the Liwanag Parks and upload them on the Meralco Facebook page.  Every entry helps contribute to Meralco’s program of energizing public schools in Palawan, Bohol, Quezon and Dinagat Islands. By joining the program, customers, therefore, not only help brighten their communities, but they also get the opportunity to help uplift public schools in the country and provide a better future for underprivileged school children.

Started in 2006, the Maliwanag ang Pasko (MAP) seeks to encourage Meralco’s customers to light up and decorate their homes, establishments and cities to spread the beauty and joy of Christmas in their communities.

For more details on the Maliwanag ang Pasko program, contest mechanics and the list of Liwanag Parks, you may visit the Meralco Facebook page (facebook.com/meralco). 

Meralco Wins "Employer of the Year Award

The People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) opened its 49th Annual Conference with a showcase of Filipino talent, technical innovation and inspiring messages from respected leaders from both private and public organizations at Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City yesterday.

The 3-day event dubbed as the biggest gathering of HR professionals and people managers in the country is one of the many ways where PMAP helps in developing enlightened, competent, socially responsible and influential people managers who can actively participate in nation building.

With the theme, Revolutionizing People Management: Great Minds, Bold Changes, Unparalleled Results, this year’s Conference reflects the wave of revolutions on the political front and how businesses and organizations share the same challenge of not only changing leaders but also changing the way leaders manage people.

After the amazing opening program that features a flash mob, shadow dance, marching cadets and the grand entrance of PMAP Past Presidents, current officers and board of directors and Presidents of the twenty-two PMAP chapters nationwide, Meralco President and CEO Oscar S. Reyes delivered a rousing speech to the delegates.

He talked about how innovation and technology has helped in the growth and development of the country and sent a challenge to everyone that day, “Much can be done in a relatively short period of time. Others have done it and we too can do it. But we should work for it.”

Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro gave an equally motivating talk and even confessed that PMAP is one of the few organizations that has convinced him to wear a suit as he is used to delivering speech in barong. He talks about leadership and describe a good leader as someone who knows “what happens in the heart and mind of those we are leading.”

Later in the evening, Meralco was recognized as the 2012 Employer of the Year (EOY) during the 36th edition of the PMAP Awards. The company became only the third organization to receive the recognition more than one after 32 years since it got the first award. Unilab (1979 and 2001) and Del Monte Philippines (1998 and 2003) are the other companies who accomplished the feat. No less than Meralco Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan himself led the delegation of the company who received the prestigious award on stage.

The other awardee in last night’s festivities was the Bank of Philippine Island, 1990 EOY winner, which took this year’s People Program of the Year (PPY) award.

Day 2 starts with keynote address from Scott D. Anthony, President of Innosight and a Harvard Business Press author, followed by insights from Ranjay Gulati, Chair of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. To speak on innovative people strategies, PMAP tapped Chandramogan Anamirtham, General Manager of Hitachi Global Storage Philippines and Victorico P. Vargas, President and CEO of Maynilad Water Services. Plenary Session 3 features BPI President and CEO Aurelio R. Montinola III with Louis Allen Worldwide CEO J.P. Miller and Independent Consultant and Executive Coach Smriti Ahuja as reactors.

Plenary Session 4 highlights perspectives in accelerating talent development in Global Asia, featuring Executive Director, Conference Board-Asia Pacific Nick Sutcliffe; Global Learning Solutions CEO Roger Collantes; and BPAP President and CEO Benedict C. Hernandez. The theme weaver is Steven J. Dekrey, President of the Asian Institute of Management.

The third day of the Conference will feature breakout sessions and workshops with topics on Talent Acquisition; Organizational Change, People Productivity and People Engagement. There will also be a site best practice tour that will showcase best practices of four companies based in Cebu City. Delegates will also be able to actively participate in creating and managing their own agenda around the central theme of the Conference through Open Space technology

Meralco Launches Maliwanag Ang Pasko

Last November 25, 2011, invited some and media/bloggers to their unveiling of its LIWANAG PARK. Liwanag Park is an attraction within Meralco Compound where families can enjoy a light show, Christmas villag, night bazaar, electric rides and so much more.

The Maliwanag Ang Pasko started way back year 2006 as one of Meralco's channels for supporting their advocacy, charities that they support and encourage their customers as well to partivipate by lighting up homes every Christmas. 

According to Meralco Chief Corporate Social Responsibilty Officer and President of One Meralco Foundation Jeffrey Tarayao, This year's theme is is of love and light. In line with these, One Meralco Foundation will be able to support at least 1,000 children go to schooling the coming year.

Meralco cannot do this alone. With the help of consumers like us, we can support it as well. 

How? Steps are written below:

1. Send a photo of your homes decorated in holiday lights .
2. Put a caption  on how you the lights are making your Christmas brighter for your families.
3. Then email it together with their contact info until Dec.20, 2011 at maliwanagangpasko@meralco.com.ph

For more infos or updates, you may log on their Facebook page here.

My only regret attending this event is I didn't bring with me my kiddos.! But you may see some of the photos by scrolling  here.

The Meralco Building Flooded with lights.

Top executives with Ms. Shamcey Supsup as the Ambassador of Light for Meralco.

An attraction full of lights.

I'll schedule my visit here next week so My family could enjoy the park and possibly ride the train again here.

To know more about the Maliwanag ang Pasko program, log on to www.meralco.com.ph or like the Meralco fan page on Facebook here.