U.S. Partial Scholarship Launch with University of North Carolina in Pembroke (UNCP)

Thames Admin April 26, 2022 Community 0

U.S. Partial Scholarship Launch with University of North Carolina in Pembroke (UNCP)

by Jethro Malimata, Marketing and Admissions Head

According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, 50% of all employees will need reskilling by 2025. This implies that by-large, our current education system has yet to develop the skills necessary to succeed in this Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous (VUCA) world. As per the same report, among the top 10 skills of 2025 are critical thinking and analysis, leadership and social influence, and resilience, stress tolerance, and flexibility. Given this, the need for experiential learning – the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience – is even more pressing. This is exactly what international education provides.

As students fly out to other countries to study, they are exposed to other cultures and experience living independently and away from home. They learn how to adapt, take initiative, and build resilience. This is what international education offers – an opportunity to hone the top skills of 2025 inside and outside the classroom. As one of Thames’ sayings goes, “The world is your classroom.” Despite this undeniable need for international education, this remains largely inaccessible due to the high investment necessary to avail it.

This opportunity is what Thames International School has been providing to Filipino undergraduate and graduate students for more than 20 years. Through Thames’ Twinning Program – where students study 2 years in the Philippines, finish their degrees in 1-2 years in the UK, Singapore, or Australia, and garner a foreign diploma – 150 students have been prepared for a VUCA world and have successfully finished foreign degrees in business, entrepreneurship, and the arts. As the pandemic comes to an end and borders reopen, Thames is excited to offer the Twinning Program to more students and expand its country coverage.

Welcoming the next academic year in just a few months, Thames has partnered with its first ever university in the United States – the University of North Carolina in Pembroke (UNCP). UNCP is a part of the University of North Carolina (UNC) System, a high-ranking public university system, which includes prominent universities like UNC Charlotte and UNC Chapel Hill. The latter is home to the basketball legend Michael Jordan who finished college there.

Owing to the similarities in the education system of the US and the Philippines, and the fervent desire of both institutions to provide accessible international education; they are offering partial scholarship to 41 undergraduate degree programs across STEM, business, music and the arts, and humanities and social sciences at 20% of the cost of a typical undergraduate program in the US. This will cost just as much as an SUV in the Philippines for a more worthwhile investment – our children’s future!

To know more about the scholarship, watch the video of our scholarship launch in Cebu above.

If you have any more questions or are interested to apply, please fill out the form here.

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E-Commerce Tool Kit: How To Grow Your Business Online

Thames Admin July 28, 2021 Community 0

E-Commerce Tool Kit: How To Grow Your Business Online

by Ivan Andrew C. Combalicer, Thames International Undergraduate Student

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the survival of businesses all over the world. After being in quarantine for over a year, it is important to think not just of ways for your business to survive, but also strategies to make it thrive. Last July 21, 2021, Thames International conducted the third episode of the “Setback to Comeback” webinar series entitled, “E-Commerce Tool Kit: How To Grow Your Business Online”. The panelists for this episode are Brett Doyle, Founder & CEO of Mosaic Solutions; Homer Nievera, Founder & Publisher of Nego Sentro; James Rumohr, Co-founder and Chief of Staff of Kumu; and Javier Villaruel, Owner of Bayongciaga. The four entrepreneurs shared the challenges and successes their organizations faced during the pandemic.

According to Doyle, when the pandemic started, he and his team were contemplating whether to bunker down and just hope for the best or go out and be helpful to the community and to their clients. They all agreed to pick the latter. They began by starting an initiative where they provided food for people in need. They helped their clients in the food industry to earn revenue by paying them with the funds raised from the initiative. The pandemic allowed them to onboard more clients compared to the past three years through the determination of his team to constantly improve their technology. He shared that “It’s important to take small steps, read the data, understand what it’s telling you and then take the next steps after that. Getting customers feedback and being able to react to it is really the key.”

Just like Doyle, Nievera found the pandemic to be a great opportunity to help the community while earning money at the same time. He reminded everyone to learn fast and fail fast since according to him, “Everything right now is a learning process… you have to have your own framework now.” He added, “We should have a mindset wherein we’re in a growth mode. We should be growing the business so whatever stage we are in, we have to look at growth because there’s no other way but up.”

Rumohr said that Kumu benefited from people staying at home. From four to five million users before the pandemic, they now have 11 million. Their team also grew from 75 to 350 regular employees. They were determined to build a community where users could join and keep using the app. They made sure to improve their features and updates to keep up with the number of users. He said “The best customers equals the best employees. Having employees and staff that know the products so well has been very beneficial.”

“If we want to thrive, we have to make sure to be ready for what lies ahead,” said Villaruel. His business had a hard time coping with the pandemic as the demand for bags decreased. They also struggled with logistics due to the lockdown and the fact that the products come from different points in the Philippines. He also said that he had to sacrifice his own salary and cut the salaries of his employees instead of letting them go. They created new products for plant lovers and offered gifting services for different occasions like Mother’s Day, Father’s day, Christmas, etc. He reminded everyone that “Bouncing back is always possible if you have the heart and passion for what you do.” Then he also added, “In this day and age, the market is also digital and it’s so easy to build a brand and it’s also easy to destroy it simply because you didn’t prepare well for it.”

Joel Santos, the President of Thames International and the moderator of the webinar, shared the three permanent behavior changes brought by the pandemic; online shopping, online learning, and work from home. He asked the panelists about the impact of the three behavior changes on business from an e-commerce perspective. Doyle said that being able to pay electronically provides comfort for consumers and can be one of the greatest drivers of consumer behavior. The rest of the panelists said that as business owners, this is the opportunity to look out for their staff. They all come up with ways to lessen the online fatigue and stress brought by the pandemic by organizing different virtual activities such as Friday nights out, virtual happy hours, virtual town hall meetings, etc.

When asked about their outlook for 2022, Nievera said that his company will be busy especially come election season. He advised small businesses to create their own niche especially since there are many competitors in the digital world. Rumohr said that he will optimize their staff by utilizing their strengths and recognizing their weaknesses. Villaruel is busy preparing for Christmas. He is also looking forward to doing on-ground events next year. He said that he has to remain hopeful and positive for those who rely on his business. He added that the business leaders have to lead the way for the bounce back from the pandemic.

Overall, the webinar received positive feedback from the participants. The panelists were well appreciated. One participant mentioned that they like how the positivity of Thames and the speakers gave them the courage to continue their business.

Having the right team and looking out for them in these difficult times is a great strategy for your business to thrive. Adapting your business with today’s situation won’t be easy, and Thames International is dedicated to providing guidance for businesses to not just survive but thrive.

Thames International is committed to building a new order for the world by giving talented students and entrepreneurs the tools to thrive and lead the way in a world beset by rapid change. If you’re interested in augmenting your skills and making connections with some of the brightest minds in business education today, please take a look at our future-proof undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

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Comeback for Food Entrepreneurship

Thames Admin July 26, 2021 Community 0

Comeback for Food Entrepreneurship

by: Dani Marcelino, Thames International Undergraduate Student

Quote Cards - Setback to Comeback Series

July 14, 2021 saw the start of the second installment of Thames International’s “Setback to Comeback” webinar series. With Thames International president Joel Santos as the moderator, the episode, “Food Entrepreneurship: Success Tips in the Pandemic,” went off without a hitch.

Joel Santos was joined by the individuals responsible for brands like the beloved Filipino classic “Lola Nena’s” and modern favourites like “Apéritif,” who reached acclaim and success within the industry.

The speakers went on to talk about their experiences amidst the lockdown and quarantine, and how budding entrepreneurs can thrive within the mid-pandemic business environment and cope with the new difficulties and challenges it presents.

Steffi Santana, the Chief Executive Officer of Lola Nena’s, had the following words to say: “Be innovative in terms of your product. Learn how to adjust to what’s now without losing focus so that it will not also confuse your customers”.

Despite Lola Nena’s long history, they’ve adapted to the new normal through the use of social media sites like Tiktok to show off their baked treats. From the drool-inducing Triple Cheese Donuts, to the classic Pichi-pichi, their product line really has reached the eyes – and stomachs – of many Filipinos.

Next was CSI FEELipinas’ President, Gabrielle Borromeo-Saładajczyk, who shared her thoughts about a certain business opportunity many Filipinos have been eyeing: “It’s hard to go into franchising because you have to make sure the systems are steady. You have to make sure that everything is the same quality. You cannot have one branch better than the other, it has to be the same quality for all, and it has to be the best quality.”

Being the “Culinary Scene Investigator” with the motto “We ONLY sell what we love”, Borromeo-Saładajczyk’s passion and experience certainly comes through on the CSI FEELipinas products: a curation of food from all over the Philippines, promoting the delicacies of various provinces one region at a time.

Following her was Rhea Sycip, the Executive Pastry Chef of “The Fatted Calf Farmhouse Kitchen”, a restaurant in Upland Silang, whose proximity to Tagaytay allows them to source their ingredients straight from the source: farmers.

“Brand authenticity is very important and you have to also recognize who you are and what your capability is. When you start something, your mindset is it should take you to success.” Sycip went on to say that “When you come up with a business concept, and if you believe in that concept you have to also think about where it will take you a few years from now, so you have to remain consistent and stick to that brand.”

Lastly, Karla Zulueta, the Founder and Co-founder of Apéritif and Pizzulu, shared her recipe for success: “First, branding is key. Second, a product line that is unique to the market. Seeing a gap in the market and filling that gap and making sure that the product line actually adds value to the market that you want to serve.”

This recipe has brought Zulueta great success, with Apéritif’s mouth-wateringly indulgent pastries and Pizzulu’s line of brick oven pizzas both having captured the attention of foodies everywhere.

The discussion that mixed teaching and storytelling, delivered with a casual vibe, was a hit among the participants. This allowed the participants to not only learn, but also chat, exchange business ideas and establish a network with the talented and successful entrepreneurs of this installment of Thames International’s “Setback to Comeback” webinar series.

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Thames for Nation Building: Philippine Skills Framework Project

Thames Admin July 16, 2021 Community 0

Thames for Nation Building: Philippine Skills Framework Project

by: Amidala Mallari, Thames International Undergraduate Student

An inclusive and innovative workforce strategy awaits multiple industries with the launch of the Philippines Skills Framework on June 25, 2021. With the goal of instilling mastery and lifelong learning among workers in the country, Thames International plays a major role in this project, showing its commitment to learning and nation-building. It is the Philippine private sector partner of the Department of Trade and Industry and Philippine Trade Training Center in developing the Philippine Skills Framework (PSF), and particularly, the PSF for Supply Chain and Logistics.

Several Thames personnel lent their expertise to the development of the Philippines Skills Framework for Supply Chain and Logistics. Their number includes Thames President Joel Santos as one of the consultants, Leah Macatangay as a champion, Norman Adriano as a contextualizer, Joedy Liza Cruel, Sheila Dingcong, Rechilda Ulili, and Carlo Rivera as facilitators, and Joannalyn Tolentino, Dian Crisostomo-Reyes, and Emmanuel Santos as scribes. In the span of six months, the teams have worked vigorously to ensure that the competencies included in the framework are held at the utmost standard for the improvement of work quality and productivity in the field. Thames’ contribution to this is a display of its adherence to building students who are prepared to excel in the real world, equipped with the essential skills to thrive amidst the competitive fourth industrial revolution.

Other industries to be prioritized in this project are Construction, IT-BPM, Tourism, Food, Health and Wellness, Manufacturing, and Creative Industries. According to DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, the learning framework is refreshed every two years to ensure that workers are equipped with the skills and knowledge demanded of the times. This development will respond to the need for improving technical and generic skills and competencies critical for work requirements and particular occupations.

Multiple government sectors have joined this initiative, including the Commission on Higher Education, Department of Labor and Employment, and Department of Science and Technology. There is institutional support from Singapore such as Accelebator, Singapore Institute of Materials Management, and several others.

The huge advantage that the PSF-Supply Chain and Logistics provides resulted in an overwhelming positive response from stakeholders. Ms. Nenette Dagondon, Chairperson of Professional Regulations Commission-Board for Custom Brokers, lauded the framework for being a guide for individuals who opt to upgrade their careers, and is a valuable resource for self-sustainability and better employability. Mr. Alfredo Yatco, President of Custom Bonded Warehouse Operators Confederation, Inc., shared his sincere gratitude to all individuals and organizations involved in the project, saying that this will initiate job-matching activities in the academic field and such output will be productive and felt in the years ahead.

Thames International envisions a society with leaders and professionals who excel no matter what the circumstance is. It is committed to a pedagogy that highlights the importance of real world practice and experience for the improvement of the future. If you want to get in touch with us for any collaboration, please message us through inquire@thames.edu.ph

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Hot Business Ideas: How to Make Money Despite the Pandemic

Thames Admin July 13, 2021 Community 0

Hot Business Ideas: How to Make Money Despite the Pandemic

by: Nico Belasco, Thames International Undergraduate Student

On July 7, 2021, Thames International officially kicked off the “Setback to Comeback” webinar series. The first episode was moderated by Joel Santos, President of Thames International, who was joined by Joshua Aragon, Founder & CEO of Zagana, Nicolo Luccini, Founder and Managing Director of Learn Talk, and Chryso Morales, Executive Chief and Owner of Slow Burn Manila. The episode was titled “Hot Business Ideas: How to Make Money Despite the Pandemic”.

The three budding entrepreneurs went into depth about their journeys in their respective ventures during the pandemic period. With the lockdown implemented, all of them had to pivot and find ways to adapt to the situation at hand.

“We had a month to pivot, so we regrouped, reprocessed, and decided to focus on how we will survive. We had to adapt, so we had to be adaptive leaders in a way that we were flexible if something happens. We had to make sure that our company survives and that people around us would benefit as well,” shared Joshua Aragon, whose company was originally a B2B business. Due to circumstances, he had to navigate through the challenges that came with his then business plan and adapt to one that would benefit better. After some rearranging, he pivoted to a B2C business. His company, Zagana, is a farm-to-kitchen platform that bridges the gap between food producers and customers. They now have the capacity to deliver fresh produce in as little as 30 minutes.

Joshua went on to mention, “Everytime you fall you have to get up. So you have to work your way up. It doesn’t matter how hard you fall but you have to make sure that you always get back up on your feet and work on your passion. You always need to have a support system, so you need to have mentors in place that will help you reach your goals.”

“We had to make some hard decisions, we cut like 90% of the team and went B2B,” shared Nicolo Luccini, whose company Learn Talk provides software tools to physical tutorial centers all over the world. In addition to this, he runs an effective free tutorial marketplace wherein he gives back to teachers. The pandemic has brought them a lot of attention to and has also shed light on the problem that he is currently trying to solve: the difficulty of finding good tutors.

Nicolo shared these lessons he learned during this pandemic, “It’s really about how good your product is. You’ve got to double down on making the absolute world’s best product in whatever you’re in. Make the world’s best platform and the distribution will follow. Also, just because you do not have 100 stores doesn’t mean you can’t be successful.”

Chef Chryso Morales, who runs Slow Burn Manila, went on to stress how being resourceful can help kickstart businesses in more ways than one. Only using his home kitchen supplies and equipment, he had no idea how far it would take him. Little did he know that his simple idea would become a hit.

“I thought I had nothing to lose, so why not try,” shared Chef Chryso. After less than a month of business, his sales skyrocketed and demand grew rapidly. Despite his inexperience as an entrepreneur, Chryso continued on and implemented his hotel expertise to ensure quality to his customers. He now has an avid fan base and continues to satisfy the stomachs of Filipinos on a daily basis.

Upon being asked what the greatest lessons learned during the pandemic was, Chef Chryso shared, “Believe in yourself. I wasn’t really entrepreneur minded before. But when I gave it a shot I was surprised that I could do it pala.” He also added: ““In online business, the number one important thing is the quality because that is how you can win your customers and that is how they will endorse your product to others. Your products must always have a good quality and most importantly you should know the basics of sanitation. Train your partners with the standards.”

The participants appreciated the casual vibe of the discussion which focused on the sharing of success stories in different fields, and they also liked how they were able to also exchange business ideas and contact info with the panelists and their fellow participants in order to help each other out.

Despite the hardships they all went through, these three game-changing entrepreneurs have proven that success can be found as long as you are able to adapt and pivot. With the right systems and business plans in motion, there is no limit to how far you can take your business. You simply have to start.

Join us for our third and final episode, E-Commerce Tool Kit: How To Grow Your Business Online on July 21, 10am-12nn. Register at bit.ly/Thames0721.

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Setback to Comeback Episode 2 focuses on Food Entrepreneurship

Thames Admin July 8, 2021 Community 0

SETBACK TO COMEBACK Episode 2 Focuses on Food Entrepreneurship

Thames International Business School presents a livecast webinar series entitled Setback to Comeback. Join us for its second episode, Food Entrepreneurship: Success Tips in the Pandemic on July 14, 10am-12nn.

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FLEX Programs: Reinventing Education

Thames Admin July 1, 2021 Community 0

FLEX Programs: Reinventing Education

by Ivan Andrew C. Combalicer, Thames International Undergraduate Student

The pandemic has proven that we are living in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) world. Many educational institutions are still struggling to cope and adjust with this “new normal”. Thames International has always been committed to create a new order of entrepreneurs and professionals by equipping them with the essential skills needed to survive in this VUCA world.

The official training arm of the Department of Education for public school teachers, the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP), has authorized Thames International to implement the FLEX programs. This includes three programs: FLEX2LEAD (for school leaders), FLEX2EDUCATE (for Master Teachers), and FLEX2LEARN (basic course for all educators). All of these programs are being conducted online to train and teach school leaders and teachers to adapt to 21st Century Education.

The first batch of FLEX2LEAD happened on May 24 to June 4 and gained 650 participants. The FLEX2LEARN Batch 1 gained 3,070 participants when it was implemented last June 16 up to June 18. On the other hand, the FLEX2LEARN for K-3 Rollout to the rest of NCR will happen this July, and is estimated to have 23,000 participants.

Although these programs are still on-going, it has received a lot of positive feedback from the participants. Many were thankful for the knowledge and experience they gained from the programs. Participants shared the following feedback:

“This course has greatly helped us to gain new learnings and meet optimistic people in the field. The platform used was great, I enjoyed doing the activities and was guided well in the accomplishment of outputs. It was a great learning experience! Kudos to the Thames team and God bless! Hope to be involved in more courses with you!”.

“Flex2Lead reminded school leaders the importance of being proactive with change. It encouraged us to revisit our current processes and to figure out how they may be improved. Ideas shared by the speakers and the participants allowed us to consider as well to be truly in touch with the realities of the schools we run and to start taking actions so we could respond to the challenges at hand.”

“A million thanks to Thames for this one of a kind training. In every activity you prepared for us, we really did a lot of self-reflection on the kind of leaders we are, and certainly, we are now more confident on the decisions that we will be making in the future considering all the takeaways from this FLEX2LEAD. With all the thoughts the experts shared during the live sessions, we will never go wrong. #ParaSaBata”

Other participants were also happy as the programs gave them the opportunity to reflect on how they can improve themselves as leaders and the education system as a whole for the benefit of our younger generations of learners.

In the end, DepEd NCR Regional Director Wilfredo Cabral mentioned in his message to the participants, “I am positive that whatever learning you can gain from this training will be put into a concrete plan of action for next school year and hopefully the mindset will be more proactive and sensitive to the needs of our learners, parents and other stakeholders.”

This pandemic is one of the toughest times every institution was put into. With the commitment and help of Thames International, we will all rise together from this difficult situation. If you are interested in making a positive impact on society, contact the school via inquire@thames.edu.ph.

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Exploring Global Possibilities: A Singapore-Philippines Entrepreneur Matching Event

Thames Admin June 24, 2021 Community 0

Exploring Global Possibilities: A Singapore-Philippines Entrepreneur Matching Event

by: Hannah Magdangal, Thames International Undergraduate Student

Thames International, in an effort to open more doors to business opportunities and further scale its entrepreneurship degree, took the initiative to provide business and networking opportunities with Singapore through an online Entrepreneur matching event. Last June 3, 2021, along with Temasek-Polytechnic, a post-secondary academic institution from Tampines, Singapore, Thames hosted this virtual event in which five start-ups from Temasek-Polytechnic exhibited their businesses in the hope of exploring business opportunities and gaining partners in the Philippines. The exhibitors hailed from various industries, namely Creative (livestreaming), Food and Beverage, Green Energy (fuel cells), and E-commerce:

ProdG

ProdG is a business put up by livestreamers whose experience goes far and wide, with a history in events planning and organization for the esports industry, and have a clear understanding of the struggle that comes with executing a quality live online event. To streamline the requirements and live-editing process that are part of live streaming, ProdG offers a consolidated production and optimization tool that automates the rigorous, time- and energy-consuming processes to get the job done with efficiency. ProdG looks to expand and offer their solutions to more businesses in need, and hopes to find resellers and partners in the Philippines and penetrate our growing esports and livestreaming industry.

To connect with and learn more about ProdG, their LinkedIn account is linked here.

Asmara

An award-winning beverage brand, Asmara is a Singapore-based company that uses science and food technology to incorporate traditional chinese, indonesian and indian medicine into natural beverages, tea blends, and powders, advocating for healthy and quality living. All their products are developed and tested by certified food scientists, and proven to be 100% natural. Asmara looks to connect with potential distributors, explore possible co-branding initiatives, and offer consulting services to businesses with aligned objectives in the Philippines.

To connect with and learn more about Asmara, their Facebook Page is linked here.

Bhai Tea

The owner of Bhai Tea has been making tea since 1965. He has been distributing his tea all around Singapore since the early 80s, and has since been grinding and mixing different blends in countries such as Africa, Sri Lanka, India, and Indonesia. From years of work and experience, he has been able to come up with an extravagant recipe for what is believed to be the perfect blend. Bhai Tea is currently looking for partners in the Philippines who may be looking to start their own tea business in the country.

To connect with and learn more about Bhai Tea, their Facebook Page is linked here.

ThriveLive

In an increasingly ‘digital’ era where technology has become a necessity when it comes to fulfilling everyday tasks, ThriveLive aims to contribute through providing the same convenience in the e-commerce scene. There is an upward trend in the utilization of livestreaming in e-commerce, and ThriveLive provides a platform, through an app, that allows business-to-business and business-to-consumer systems an augmented experience that conveniently aggregates all livestream sales, and they are working to branch out through increasing brand awareness, finding Philippines-based partners and offering their service to the country.

To connect with and learn more about ThriveLive, their Facebook Page is linked here.

Duralite Power

Addressing the growing demand for long-endurance clean energy, Duralite Power works to address this through the utilization of fuel cell and hydrogen power. Their core competency revolves around developing lightweight, compact and power dense air-cooled hydrogen fuel cells suitable for drones, light mobility and range extender application. Duralite Power is currently looking for places where they can do pilot testing as well as joint venture opportunities with Philippine companies that are of aligned interests with clean energy.

To connect with and learn more about Duralite Power, their website is linked here.

Temasek Polytechnic is an institute of higher learning in Singapore heavily focused on industry-related programs. Thames is widely recognized for its foreign degree options in the UK, Australia, and Singapore. With a similar objective of empowering startup entrepreneurs, Thames maximizes its resources to provide its students with such opportunities to discover opportunities both locally and abroad. Through events like these, doors are opened to various business and networking possibilities.

The panelists included Thames administrators and lecturers: Adolf Aran, who holds extensive experience in the food and beverage industry, Mark Meily in the creative side, Joedy Cruel in e-commerce, and Eduardo Silva in entrepreneurship. Their presence allowed pitchers to gain more insight into their businesses with regard to how they may improve and the overall efficacy of their models in the Philippine scene.

“It was a very exciting event where we got to witness start-ups from Temasek Polytechnic do their pitches. It’s useful for students like me because we got to learn from their business ideas and models, especially that I also want to start my own venture. It was also a unique idea wherein students from Thames had the opportunity to reach out to students from the said international community allowing us to expand our connections despite being in an online learning environment.”, said Amidala, a Thames undergraduate student. By and large, the event was one that provided a great deal of value, which Thames actively works to provide its community.

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Viva La Vida Lockdown!: Concert for Teachers

Thames Admin June 18, 2021 Community 0

Viva La Vida Lockdown!: Concert for Teachers

by: Amidala Mallari, Thames International Undergraduate Student

Viva La Vida Lockdown Poster Final Edit (2) (1)

The COVID-19 Pandemic has been the worst of times. Millions of people lost their jobs, lifestyles, and loved ones. For a while it was unsafe to even go out of the house. There were moments when many felt hopeless. Despite it all, there is still a silver lining in these hardships. One is the dedication of our modern-day heroes: our teachers.

The goal of Viva La Vida Lockdown was to celebrate the passion of our teachers. Last May 28, Thames International, Akadasia, and City Savings Bank hosted this free virtual concert to pay tribute to the hard work of educators in the country. Teachers were celebrated as determined and passionate frontliners who continuously exert their best effort to inspire students. Even before the pandemic, teachers have always been the solid ground that built leaders of the world, yet the pandemic challenged the passion of Filipino teachers when thousands of students were affected by the abrupt shift to online learning. Overall, the goal of the event was to relieve the educators’ stresses and congratulate them for a successful blended learning year.

Talented teachers graced the virtual stage, including Selina Macas, Ozamiz Region 10 Public School District Supervisor, who sang Go the Distance while showcasing some of the picturesque spots in the region, and Xerxes Culang, a Grade 7 MAPEH teacher from San Jose National High School Antipolo, with his live rendition of Kahit Isang Saglit. There were also performances by some renowned artists such as Comedian Jon Santos with his impersonation of “Ate Vi”, reminding the audience that teachers are the true stars for all seasons. Award-winning actress, singer, and beauty queen Isabella De Leon also serenaded the crowd with her rendition of You’ve Got a Friend in Me and original Bayanihan: Saludo Sa’yo.

Another cause for celebration was Thames Heroes 2021 reaching its 100,000 teacher milestone. Heroes 2021 is a three-step program started by Thames International using the institution’s experiential and technology-abled learning model that helps teachers thrive in the unfamiliarity of a complete online class set-up. Thames International President and Co-Founder Joel Santos mentioned the regions and local government units who have already joined the program thus reaching over 119,000 teachers since the start of the pandemic. The numbers do not stop here as they are looking into training more educators by the end of 2021.

Viva La Vida Lockdown was successful in relieving the stress of teachers. The audience had nothing but good vibes and positivity in the comments section during the livestream event. Teachers were filled with gratitude and appreciation for the organizers, and the acknowledgement of their hard work.

In today’s times, teachers are proof that one does not need a cape to be a hero. With passion, hard work, and drive, you can touch and transform the lives of the people you come across forever. That is what the essence of the profession is, and we owe our gratitude to these educators for turning us into valuable members of society.

Thames is committed to helping in nation-building through providing necessary training for schools and other organizations that need further help in adjusting to the new demands of the new normal. For any inquiries on this matter, feel free to contact the school via inquire@thames.edu.ph.

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Safety is Critical: A Safe Management Webinar for Community Pantry Organizers and Volunteers

Thames Admin May 17, 2021 Community 0

Safety is Critical: A Safe Management Webinar for Community Pantry Organizers and Volunteers

by Ivan Andrew C. Combalicer, Thames International Undergraduate Student

In every dispiriting situation, it is important to see the silver lining. In spite of the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Filipinos managed to share hope by organizing community pantries. Thames International, in accordance with its vision of helping to build a new order, conducted a free webinar last May 4, 2021, focused on teaching community pantry organizers, volunteers, and supporters the safe management that will ensure the sustainability of community pantries amidst this pandemic.

The president and co-founder of Thames International, Joel Santos, welcomed more than a hundred participants and gave an overview of the current situation of the Philippines in terms of hunger. The number of people who are experiencing severe hunger has tripled since the beginning of the pandemic. According to him, community pantries are solving a social and economic problem, and that is the reason why he is determined to help those people who are helping others.

After the welcome message, Adolf Aran, a food and restaurant business expert, explained the basic principles of proper food handling including the 3Ws (Wear mask, Watch distance, and Wash hands) and the areas of food safety.

He was followed by Norman Adriano, a supply chain management consultant and trainer, and the current program chair of the Business Administration Program at Thames International. He discussed effective crowd management, the importance of appointing a safe distancing officer, and an efficient logistics system.

Two community pantry organizers were called to share their experiences running a community pantry. Noel Adriano, the organizer in Bankers Village City in Caloocan, said that after hearing about the Maginhawa Community Pantry, he and his family took the initiative to organize one as well. The other organizer of the Eastwood Community Pantry, Mia Howell, had a hard time finding a place for their planned community pantry. Fortunately, Thames International opened its campus so they could have a venue to use.

The webinar received positive feedback from the participants. One of them commented, “Thank you for giving us a very meaningful and timely discussion that can help us to be a more effective Community Pantry Manager.” Overall, the webinar gained an almost 97% satisfaction rate from the participants.

Community pantries are solving major problems caused by the pandemic. Thames is grateful for the opportunity to guide those who are sharing hope in these challenging times.

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