Why the Top Lawyers in PH Choose ACCESS MCLE

As the seventh Compliance Period for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) for members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines closes in April 2023, new and exciting programs start to line up for the opening of the eighth period. Most compliant lawyers now enjoy more options as online, traditional, and hybrid learning setups comprise the interesting mix that prioritizes their convenience and personal choices.

Like law practitioners across the globe, learners in the country consider four major factors when choosing MCLE programs to enroll in—topic or content, cost, reputation of MCLE facilitators, and the learning setup.

Always ahead of the times and leading its industry, ACCESS MCLE, a duly recognized learning institution facilitating MCLE courses for local attorneys, has started opening new programs that learners can sign up for the Eighth Compliance Period.

Currently, there are nine available courses, with 16 more to be uploaded.

It is the proponent of online MCLE as it presented the setup for virtual learning for lawyers to the Supreme Court even before the onset of the pandemic.

ACCESS MCLE has even introduced a new version of the online class or synchronous setup. The Flexi-Synch option makes MCLE program schedule identical all year round. Learners who miss a session can catch that same lesson on the same day and time on the following month.

Topics and carefully-selected facilitators

“We aim to make fellow lawyers realize that MCLE is worthwhile and necessary,” said ACCESS MCLE Co-Founder Atty. Ma. Louella M. Aranas. “It has always been our commitment to set the standard higher.”

Since Day 1, ACCESS MCLE has been prioritizing the requirements, needs, and interests of Filipino lawyers. It is continuously working with numerous law experts and legal luminaries to identify and develop programs that would further enrich local attorneys amid significant changes in the judicial landscape.

So far, ACCESS MCLE has offered numerous MCLE courses in seven different categories—updates on substantive and procedural laws, MCLE prescribed subjects, legal and judicial ethics, alternative dispute resolution, legal writing and oral advocacy, trial and pre-trial skills, and international laws.

“ACCESS is committed to delivering new curated topics for the Eighth Compliance Period on top of the courses for the Seventh Compliance Period that remain to be available. Some of our current popular topics are the laws of war; hunger and the right to adequate food, and even the right to die,” Atty. Aranas said.

The institution is equally proud of its roster of lecturers, which include legal luminaries and some of the most credible subject matter experts. ACCESS MCLE has a deliberate selection process for inviting the best lecturers who are real authorities in their respective legal practices. “We take most of our recommendations for lecturers from Dean Ada Abad of Adamson University College of Law,” Atty. Aranas disclosed.

Costs and learning setups

Being the first accredited online on-demand and synchronous MCLE provider in the Philippines, ACCESS MCLE has been instrumental in democratizing continuing legal education for lawyers. It was among the proponents of online MCLE as it had started introducing the virtual learning setup for lawyers even before the onset of the pandemic and before the Supreme Court formally endorsed online MCLE as an option for those meeting compliance.

ACCESS MCLE has even introduced a new version of the online class or synchronous setup. The Flexi-Synch option makes MCLE programs available all year round. Learners who miss a session can catch that same lesson on the same day and time on the following month.

Aside from the reasonable fees per course, online sessions logically help lower compliance expenses by eliminating the need to spend on transportation. Thus, learners from all local regions don’t need to fly to the metro just to attend sessions.

“A huge factor that makes lawyers enroll in an MCLE seminar is the program schedule. It can be hard for a working professional to find time to attend a lecture that directly conflicts with their schedule. Moreover, the lineup of lecturers, topics to be discussed, and rate or pricing are other points that lawyers factor in when making the decision to enroll in a program,” Atty. Aranas summed up.

To learn more about ACCESS MCLE and its programs, visit https://accessonline.ph/.

Sika Philippines builds a future with Everyday Heroes campaign for 2023

Sika Philippines, Inc. launches its latest campaign Everyday Heroes for 2023, refocusing the approach on recovery from pandemic by enhancing its innovation drive for sustainability, sharing a hopeful vision and honoring everyday heroes – the inspiring figures committed to excellence, with unmatched reliability and courage for innovation, just like what the Sika brand stands for.

Sika seeks to stand as the everyday hero, a reliable and flexible brand to look ahead and embrace the future with. Armed with ethical and effective plan of actions, the company maintains its commitment to excellence by contributing to the development of every significant sector of the society and cultivating a more sustainable environment to every enterprise, communities and families.

The new campaign stretches a year-long span of activations and events to provide opportunities for empowerment and recognition to everyday heroes. In line with its dedication to uplift and improve the technical expertise of builders, Sika launches an online series of knowledge session scheduled every month for the specifiers, applicators and relevant professionals. The webinars cover a range of specific topics on Basement Waterproofing, Façade Solutions, Passive Fire Protection, Building Solutions, Data Center Technology, Water Treatment, Industrial Solutions and Refurbishment and Retrofitting. Adding to the webinars are Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Trainings which is a set of collaborative technical forum in partnership with various design and build associations and agencies providing focused discussions and demos for the consultants, applicators and technical specialists.

Sika redefines its brand progressively with collaboration with the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines and partnerships with other industry partners worldwide. To directly cater the local market, Sika’s products and solutions will be showcased on industry exhibitions, trade shows and other on-ground events including UAP Conex in April and PICE NatCon in November. Sika also continues to sustain a beneficial relationship with its customers through the Sika Applicator Partners Club (APC) that comes with exclusive perks, training access and double earnings.

Also lined up for this year are competitions including National Tiler Competition, the first-ever nationwide technical contest dedicated to recognize the expertise of tilers, and Finding ‘Everyday Heroes’, a nationwide search for the ultimate ‘Everyday Heroes’ in the areas of design, engineering and construction, extending to other Sika industry markets such as automotive, transportation, marine, energy and manufacturing. A creative call ‘Everyday Heroes’ Music and Video Contest will also be launched for professionals, firms, associations, and independent agencies to create and produce a modern song and visual material in line with thematic campaign.

Special events are scheduled at the last quarter of the year. The first-ever exclusive Sika World Expo will highlight Sika innovation and quality products and solutions, and exhibit a series of activations to build awareness and bring the brand close to its end-users. Coinciding with the upcoming expo, announcements regarding the application and masonry competition and music and video contest shall be anticipated on the first quarters of 2023.

The new campaign stresses Sika’s role as a consistent leader in the construction and industrial specialty chemicals industry in the country. “We pride ourselves as a company that provide our core markets with strategic and effective route for innovative construction solutions to the Philippine market. We look forward to growing the brand through elevated awareness and build long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationships,” said Christophe Lejeune, General Manager, Sika Philippines Inc.

Fujifilm Philippines partners with Shinagawa to provide better healthcare to patients using modern tech

Fujifilm Philippines, a leading provider of digital imaging and healthcare solutions, will sign a memorandum of agreement today with Shinagawa Healthcare Solutions Corporation to bring advanced technology to patients.

Masahiro Uehara, Fujifilm Philippines President, said that through this partnership, the two companies aim to combine their strengths to deliver innovative and high-quality healthcare solutions to patients.

"We are thrilled to partner with Shinagawa Healthcare Solutions Corporation to provide better healthcare services to patients in the Philippines. Our advanced technology and expertise in the healthcare industry, combined with Shinagawa's commitment to providing personalized care, will enable us to deliver innovative and high-quality healthcare solutions to patients in the Philippines," he said.

Shinagawa Healthcare Solutions Corporation, a subsidiary of the country's top Lasik provider, Shinagawa Lasik & Aesthetics Center Corporation, is set to open a diagnostic and preventive care center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, next month. It will be the first Japanese standard health facility in the Philippines that focuses on preventive care.

Through the collaboration, Uehara said Fujifilm will bring its innovative equipment to Shinagawa Diagnostic and Preventive Care Center to offer quick and comfortable procedures to patients.

These include the Eluxeo Lite 6000, an endoscopy machine that features Multi-Light Technology to deliver high-quality imaging and superior visibility for enhanced patient comfort through flexible scope options.

Another key instrument is the Supria 128 Slice CT Scan Machine, which offers painless and low-dose scanning capabilities. It also produces high-speed and top-notch quality images with lower power consumption.

The Amulet Innovality is a mammogram machine designed with ergonomic armrests to ensure patient comfort and secure positioning, producing quick image intervals of just 15 seconds.

Fujifilm's FDR Smart X x-ray machine offers advanced functionality and compatibility with any X-ray system, delivering high image quality for precise and accurate results.

Meanwhile, the Arietta Series is an ultrasound machine renowned for its broad diagnostic capabilities and top-notch imaging quality, producing reliable results that help with immediate critical surgical decisions.

"Fujifilm Philippines' commitment to quality and innovation aligns with their vision to provide exceptional healthcare services. We are thrilled to partner with them to bring their state-of-the-art imaging technology to our patients in the Philippines. Together, we can make a significant impact on the healthcare industry, revolutionizing the way healthcare is delivered and experienced," he said.

Prevention is key

Masako Uemori, Shinagawa President, said the partnership will enable them to provide patients with the best possible care.

"We believe that investing in preventive care is not only a wise decision but also a responsible one. By breaking the social stigma of reactive care and shifting our mindset towards proactive prevention, we can help Filipinos achieve better health outcomes and ultimately lead more fulfilling lives," she said.

Aside from Japanese standard health checkups, Shinagawa Diagnostic and Preventive Care Center will offer brain exams (MRI/MRA), full body exams (CT scan), digestive exams (ultrasound/endoscopy), health exams for women (mammography/ultrasound), laboratory, and allergy tests.

Uemori said Shinagawa will partner with health maintenance organizations (HMOs) in the country to provide accessible, affordable, and comprehensive medical services to Filipinos.

She also said they plan to promote health and wellness through events and seminars to raise public awareness about their overall well-being.

"Our success in the field of eye care has enabled us to build a reputation as a leader in the industry. Our commitment to the latest technologies and Japanese standards for medical services has helped us to earn the trust of our patients, and we are proud to continue to deliver exceptional care that exceeds their expectations," Uemori added.

The future of healthcare

Uemori said Shinagawa's new Diagnostic & Preventive Care Center is committed to providing comprehensive and personalized healthcare plans that contribute to the early detection and prevention of disease.

She said the company's comprehensive medical examination process is designed to identify potential health issues before they become major problems, allowing for proactive intervention and treatment.

Combined with Fujifilm's cutting-edge and high-performance machines, Shinagawa's state-of-the-art facility will enable doctors and health professionals to perform procedures quickly, comfortably, and stress-free for patients. Diagnosis and analysis will also have double reading by their partner Japanese doctors who have extensive experience in the field of preventive care.

Shinagawa will also implement an efficient and streamlined operation using the Japanese Health Checkup Information System. With same-day results, patients can receive timely and accurate diagnoses and treatment plans without the added stress of waiting.

Innovative imaging technology

Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. (now FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation) was established in 1934 to produce high-quality photographic films. Within the first decade of its establishment, the company expanded its production to include motion pictures and X-ray films, in addition to its original focus on photographic films.

In 2012, Fujifilm Philippines was founded as a sales subsidiary of Fujifilm's regional headquarters in the Asia Pacific. The company primarily focuses on providing high-quality products and services to the Philippine market in areas such as electronics, photo imaging, industrial products, graphic design, and medical systems. To meet the increasing demand for its offerings and ensure consistent quality, the company opened its first branch in Cebu in 2019. This move also enabled Fujifilm Philippines to better serve customers in the Visayas and nearby Mindanao provinces by providing them with more localized support.

During the height of the pandemic in 2020, Fujifilm Philippines supported local hospitals by installing the FDR Go PLUS, a digital mobile X-ray system that aided in diagnosing COVID-19 patients. The company also received FDA approval for the FDR nano and the FUJIFILM COVID-19 Ag Test Kit, which are expected to help healthcare workers diagnose and screen for COVID-19.

The company is committed to supplying various products and services to support the medical frontline and promote human health.

CDO WELCOMES JOHNDORF VENTURES’ ORCHARD DISTRICT

Cagayan de Oro (CDO) City Council Committee on Landed Estate and Subdivision (CLES) Chairman Councilor Edgar Cabanlas (second from left) recently declared local government support for the Orchard District project of Johndorf Ventures Corporation (JVC) saying, “(CDO) Mayor Rolando A. Uy welcomes this blessing for the city, more jobs, more taxes, more opportunities for our people.” Orchard District is set to be launched within the year.

Representatives of the veteran real estate trailblazer and local government officials led by Cabanlas met last week for a comprehensive presentation of the estate's site development plan.  Designed to align plans for the 32-hectare mixed-use commercial-residential community in Upper Balulang-Lumbia with the city’s economic and development objectives, the activity included site appreciation and an executive consultation.

The consultation was attended by Legal Consultant Melanie Mae Cabanlas, representing the City Mayor’s Office, City Housing and Urban Development Department (CHUDD) Head Samuel Rollo, and Consultant Luisito Maagad, and representatives of the City Engineer's Office, Office of the Building Official, and City Planning and Development Office.

Orchard District is an integrated 32-hectare mixed-use township development strategically located at the quiet heart of Uptown, Cagayan de Oro City. Orchard District overlooks the Cagayan River at an elevation of about 100 meters. It offers sweeping vistas of the Cagayan Mountain Ranges and is easily accessible to the residential communities in the area.

“We are looking at partnering with several locators to expedite the development of the estate. Negotiations with these locators are ongoing, and we look forward to a lifetime partnership with them”, said Miss Frances Abigail Lim, the Managing Director of JVC.