BAG electronics: Solutions for the light of tomorrow

Operational safety, quality, and high energy efficiency are the demands made of future-safe LED lighting solutions. When it comes to such objectives, the global lighting industry places its trust in solutions from BAG electronics. The corporate group develops, manufactures, and markets high quality electronic components for photometric products—with maximum quality and reliability. This makes BAG one of the top addresses worldwide for lighting electronics.

Ahead of time—since 1909

The roots of the company reach back to 1909, and BAG has been one of the leading electronics partners for OEMs with pioneering innovation since the mid-1960s. Corporate activities come together at the headquarters in Arnsberg, Germany and were focused on digital technology long before the onset of LED as the technology of the future. This advantage today comes to the fore in the form of intelligent concepts and platform strategies for LED lighting. Electronic control units enable individual requirements to be implemented with highly durable and energy-efficient LED solutions.

Strength of innovation and a global presence

The company with approximately 3,000 employees is renowned for its innovational strength. This fact is reflected in the locations of development facilities in Germany, China, and India. Production is also carried out in these three countries as well as in the Philippines. BAG solutions for lighting electronics are supplied to over 50 countries around the world.

**Unpublished write-up of Ludwig Ritchel A. Kalambacal for Archikonst.

The A-Team Concept

This 10-seconder video is produced for Archikonst's digital billboard along Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City. 

Ymaz Builders: Building Quality is a Must

Whether you require basic structures, residential houses, commercial establishments, special interior projects, or even renovation works, we, at Ymaz Builders, can build it especially for you. We take pride in the quality of our workmanship.

Ymaz Builders brings over more than 15 years of construction experience with solid industry reputation. Founded on October 14, 1998 by Engr. Ferdinand Ymaz, the company has come a long way, starting from building bungalows and townhouses to constructing multi-level subdivision houses and commercial establishments.

WHO WE ARE

At Ymaz Builders, we strive to find new ways to build upon quality. Our company is composed of highly-experienced management teams, result-oriented engineers, dedicated office staff, and very skillful workforce who are well-prepared to concretize your dream house or building plan requirements with utmost efficiency and distinction.

We recognize that the best solutions are derived from the combined output of our employees and experts to ensure a project’s efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This synergy enables us to meet even the most stringent requirement of a customer.

WHAT WE CAN DO

At Ymaz Builders, we strive to excel in every service we provide, adding value for our customers wherever possible and always aiming to exceed their expectations.

Construction Management

We are ready to work with your ideas or develop a tailor-fit plan for you in accordance to your budget requirement. By performing due diligence in the pre-construction phase, we are able to minimize your risks and ensure that your project will start off on its best footing. During the construction phase, we take care of coordinating all construction activities, freeing you from stress and worry.

Conceptual Budgeting

Conceptual budgeting involves assigning a monetary value to a construction project. One reason to complete a budget is to obtain full funding for the project and to provide a cost-control mechanism for the construction process. Our various experts can help you determine an optimal budget for a project.

General Construction

As general contractor, we are responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of trades and supplies, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project. We are there for you from start to finish.

HOW WE MAY HELP YOU

At Ymaz, we have gained our customers’ trust and confidence through outstanding performance and sheer competency, and by effectively managing the responsibilities with which we are being entrusted.

We build structures that last.

Ymaz Builders’ past and existing projects are a tangible testimony in our commitment to providing clients with state-of-the-art building that could withstand the test of time. As such, we constantly develop and utilize new construction technologies and alternative methodologies and refine our current system to be able to respond to the emerging trend in the market. 

We build lasting relationships with our customers.

We build more than buildings—we build relationships. The credibility, experience, and expertise in the field of construction of our founder, Engr. Ferdinand Ymaz, have developed and maintained an ongoing reputation for the company. He inculcated to us the value of professionalism and importance of taking very good care of customers. We provide our customers with personalized yet professional attention the Ymaz way. 

**Unpublished write-up of Ludwig Ritchel A. Kalambacal for Archikonst.
 

Product demo for Rehau sans script (Unofficial)

Rehau is a leading provider of polymer solutions worldwide, supplying products to the construction, automotive, and industry sectors. In this product demonstration, Archikonst, the Philippines' longest-running architecture and construction magazine, chief editor Ludwig Ritchel A. Kalambacal is showing to a select audience Rehau's top-of-the-line Ludewig-designed roller shutter, called Climber, for kitchen cabinet. Its motion-sensor and automatic features bring great convenience and comfort to its target end-users. Truly, a luxury to behold! 

This product demo was conducted inside Blum Showroom in Shangri-La Manila located along Ayala, Avenue, Makati City. The Rehau Ludewig Climber is being distributed and marketed by Deepe Marketing Corporation. 

Top-18 Philippine Female Architects (Survey)

Can you spare a few moments to take the survey?

Please take the survey titled "ARCHIKONST Top-18 Philippine Female Architects". Your feedback is important to us. 

Here is the link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/S5FPL6X

We are going to celebrate ARCHIKONST's 18th Anniversary in 2015. Since it would be our magazine's "debut", we have thought of honoring outstanding local female architects.

As a "debutant", of course, we need to have our "18 roses", but instead of giving the privilege to men, we have decided to give the accolade instead to Filipino female architects whom we are going to acknowledge as the "18 Roses of Philippine Architecture".

We have too many outstanding female talents in the build and design industry, and our aim is to choose our Top 18 as objective as possible. As such, we would like to enjoin you to help us determine those who are deserving to be called the title.

We are going to provide free copies of ARCHIKONST to those respondents who have named the most number of architects in the Top 18. So the more you name, the higher your chances of winning. Please go ahead and answer the survey the best way you can.

Thank you for your time!

Bright Boy Pillar going down?

During a meeting between Rui Karanba and Pillar's operations head, a disclosure was made by the latter that Pillar's publication  is "temporarily suspended" mainly due to funding issue. The operations head said that the magazine was affected by the current issue of graft and corruption being accused to its parent company. As such, there is a cessation of funding for the magazine. 

But, wait, based from the apology letter they've sent to affected parties (i.e., writers, editors, et al.), it is stated there that the management decided to temporarily suspend the production and release of Pillar magazine to give way for the planned development of the publication. 

Pressed further, the operations head said that they are planning to put up a new title "Decon", a portmanteau of "design" and "construction". So, which is which? Temporary suspension or repackaging? To make matters worst, how come the operations head is looking for a financier for Pillar magazine, proposing a 70-30 deal. Oh, well... come what may. 

It's hard to comprehend how come a publication with a multi-billion peso backer folded up so easily. They should have live up to their name. Pillars should be the strongest parts of any structures. As such, they should have shown some pillars of strength in the industry, so to speak. If they cannot meet that expectation, they will be remembered in the industry as a laughingstock.  

If they decided not to publish, they should have likewise settled their obligations before retiring lest their credibility would be affected and their integrity would go down the drain. If that happens, anything Pillar and its affiliates will do would no longer be taken seriously. They won't be able to get back on track and do honest-to-goodness business.  

Anyways, they have promised section editor/writer Rui Karanba that they will not renege on their obligation, that they are going to pay his professional fee in full "on the payment date" (no exact date). Mr. K does not subscribe to their promises and sweet talks, yet he is allocating an iota of hope to himself just the same. Hoping is free and not harmful, anyway. Mr. K will just let the law of "K" do wonders for him.

ANALOGY: The "pillar" is as weak as the materials used by most government contractors in building overpriced infrastructures.     

What makes Cocoon Boutique Hotel a truly 'green' hotel?

What better way to find out what it’s like to live as a caterpillar than actually to live like one? Cocoons are sheaths for caterpillars. They are the silky coverings with which caterpillars enclose themselves during their metamorphoses.

Imagine yourself snuggling between fresh cotton linens and goose down duvets in a very soft mattress inside a clean luxury chamber with soundproof walls, isn’t it adorable? It would, indeed, make you feel like a baby butterfly.

Cocoon Boutique Hotel tries to live up to its name of cocooning. At Cocoon Boutique Hotel, you can actually sleep all day and all night, cocooned in a pile of hygienic bedclothes with 400- to 600-thread count made of 10 percent Egyptian cotton linen and 90 percent goose down duvets. The beds are all top-of-the-line pocketed spring mattresses that follow the contour of your body for a more comfortable sleep.

Furthermore, the hotel resembles a cocoon in the way that it provides a sense of security and privacy to its occupants. Cocoon Boutique Hotel is following the LEED green guidelines to conserve energy and eschew harsh chemicals.

All rooms and suites are neat and tidy. The hotel’s antibacterial memory pillow and bed foam wards off dust mites that breed allergies. The canopied, double-glazed glass windows give protection against rain and the heat of the sun.

The elegant lobby is adorned with ornamental woodwork with geometrical patterns, beautiful contemporary paintings, a LED light-filled chandelier, and a genuine 1800 Steinway grand piano. It has a double-volume ceiling to provide better air circulation.

But not unlike a real cocoon which is made purely of silk, Cocoon Boutique Hotel, however, is built mostly with recycled materials that include architectural salvaged hardwoods, warm cast concrete, and woodstone accents.
 

The Leapfrog Project Team will start the "Living Ball" rolling in the Philippines this July

In the aftermath of super Typhoon Haiyan that devastated huge parts of Central Philippines, a post-disaster rehabilitation program is set to take on the enormous task of rebuilding. The Leapfrog Project, initiated by Filipino-American architect Lira Luis, is now organized to respond to the call of rebuilding. It rallies a number of Filipino and international professionals from various industries and sectors to collaborate and team up for the noble mission of helping Tacloban rebuild with resilience and serve as model of post-disaster reconstruction to the rest of the country and perhaps, the world. Through a Philippine-based online crowdfunding campaign, donors from around the world contributed to the core target of 10 randomly scattered Living Ball installations, enabling the Leapfrog Project to reach 100 percent of its first milestone goal. The installations will symbolize the vision for a future city development where each piece demonstrates resiliency in rebuilding (e.g., bio-mimicry, living skins, etc).

The Living Ball installations—a derivative from the Living Wall project of Archt. Luis, is intended to light up the city as it begins rebuilding. It’s inspired by the Japanese Marimo ball, a rare growth form of the species where the algae grow into large green balls. In collaboration with some professors from the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute, one installation would explore using a bioluminescent plankton native to the Philippines that likely ‘glow’ when disturbed, allowing for controlled lighting. Another installation would explore the use of photo luminescent paint that produces an eight-hour afterglow requiring only 10 minutes of solar irradiation even on a cloudy day. The paint is made from natural light-storing mineral crystals that are non-radioactive, toxic-free, and can be recharged an infinite number of times.

The ultimate objective of the Leapfrog Project is to transfer the attention received from this unique architecture installation into a fundraising effort to build and replace the 10 structures, a template for rebuilding the city of Tacloban. The final structures will be determined and built based on the needs of the selected recipient community. By doing so, we are enabling an effort to leapfrog into innovation for sustainable development that engages different schools of thought in design, science, business, and technology, and at the same time, contributing towards a more caring, charitable, and vitality-enhancing experience and cultivation of a generative space that allows them to flourish in their current and future endeavor.

Collaborators leapfrogging to action 

*A press release furnished by ALLL for immediate release.

Renditions Furniture and Accessories: Proudly Philippine-made

Sleek, classic lines, timeless designs . . . and the natural quality that only comes from wood

Check out a variety of classic and contemporary pieces of proudly Filipino-made wooden furniture at Renditions Furniture and Accessories

“Everything that we have here are proudly Philippine-made. We use to produce traditional wooden furniture for the export market, but we shifted towards the local market. Now, we are not anymore using forest species. We're using plantation species. These are the ones that they plant in tree farms. And they’re not harmful to the environment,” says Fritz de Lange, President and General Manager, Renditions Furniture and Accessories.

Let's talk about the quality and craftsmanship of the furniture

That is where Renditions Furniture and Accessories pride themselves. “We spend a lot of time in engineering our items. Before we start, we make detailed drawings. And we are also, probably, one of the companies here who actually checks moisture content for the local market,” says De Lange.

It is important to check the moisture content of each and every piece of furniture because it begins to crack if the moisture is not controlled. And this important process is in the craftsmanship that Renditions has been known for.

With homegrown pieces created with Philippine mahogany, Renditions' designs cater to the taste of a modern aesthetic or those keen for a more classic, timeless sensibility.

With showrooms in the LRI Design Plaza in Makati City and in Festival Supermall in Alabang, Renditions Furniture and Accessories provides quality engineered designs in which form follows function

“In the showroom, we can find modern and contemporary traditional and classic designs. And everybody can choose the direction that they want to take. If they don't find it in the store, we will design it for them. It's good to be able to say that these are truly investment piece . . . So, they grow in value overtime. And they are made of wood. Wood will never become outdated,” says Meredith Illenberger, Store Manager, Renditions Furniture and Accessories.

Let's first talk about the modern and contemporary designs of the furniture

“Our traditional pieces are very light where you have a little more detail. So, it's never boring. But the modern contemporary, we define by having very sleek clean lines. It’s typical of the tapering legs, very geometric,” says Illenberger.

For example, “This bed we call it the Japanesque. It's very simple and multi-functional. You can flaunt it. You can put it against the wall because it has designs all throughout. And we also have, for example, desks that work as console tables. It's defined by tapering lines. So when you fold it up, it's a console table. When you fold it down, it's a desk.”

“We have a curved buffet we call it a crescent style. We add value to the design by using a handmade stainless steel handles. As I’ve mentioned, modern is characterized by tapering. But since the arms of this chair have a curve, we wanted to echo that into the table. Hence, we decided to design something that is curved yet defined it as almost sculptural,” adds Illenberger.

How about the classic designs

“This is an example of a classic design. This is the fret work. This is also mahogany. This is wood. People think it is iron because it is black. This is from a solid piece, which is cut to form a fret work,” continues Illenberger.

“This is our Vienna dining set. It's more formal. As you’ve notice, the details are very rich. It's very Mediterranean. The carvings on the chairs, they're like a pole bamboo, and even the ones on the base . . . And yes, the chairs are high back, too. Precisely so, they look more elegant and more formal.”

Producing quality made wooden furniture, Renditions Furniture and Accessories provides a look and style that go back to basics with pieces that are proudly Philippine-made

[This article is based on Renditions appearance on Philippine Realty TV on ANC News Channel on Sept. 1, 2013.]

**Unpublished write-up of Ludwig Ritchel A. Kalambacal for Archikonst.
 

ARPA Blinds: A Global Winner with ArpaTech (A Roll Pattern Advanced Technology)

For over 20 years, ARPA has been providing high quality and customized blinds to bring style and sophistication to every home. Manufactured by Osung KFT, Korea’s largest manufacturer of blinds, ARPA blinds come in various types and styles to address customer needs and preferences.

Distributed by PFT Arpa Roll System Inc. in the Philippines, the ARPA brand blinds—most trusted and leading blinds from Korea—are now making history in the country. An extended factory in Rosario, Pasig City is in full operation to address the growing market demands.

ARPA blind fabrics are made of 100% polyester with thermal fusion that blocks and filters the heat of the sun.

• Composition: 100% Polyester
• Weight: 118-120g/m2 + 5%
• Fabric width: 245-250cm
• Color fastness to light: Up to 4 Grade
• Fabric thickness: 0.4-0.55mm + 5%

Because ARPA blinds have been uniquely designed to cater to all market sectors, commitment to quality, service, and customer satisfaction is always a paramount concern. It has acquired ISO 9001 certification for quality management system in February 2011.

Ideal for horizontal or vertical windows, ARPA sets the benchmark for blinds offering a wide selection of first-class and reasonably-priced products. Discounts are always available for bulk orders and installation costs vary according to a multitude of factors.

PRODUCTS

Triple Shade: A combination of the features of Venetian blinds and roll shades. Opaque fabric reduces heat and protects privacy. Soft shades express the dignified and cozy living space with soft and classy environment.

Combi Shade: Free light adjustment of the functional product is made available by mesh part and fabric part double crossing with each other. High-quality materials are used for the product to prevent deformation and discoloration.

Wood Blinds: Wood has been recognized as the most excellent natural insulator of all times. Wood has a high quality feature that goes well with both traditional and modern home interior. It is durable because it is solid, hardly discolored by solar light, and hardly bent in the moisture.

Roll Blinds: An elegant color and abundant style is not only an excellent interior design, but also an eco-friendly energy saver because the product blocks solar heat up to 80% in the summer and has heat insulation effect during cold weather. It is a DIY product that enables you to decorate the interior of your home in accordance to your personal preferences, using various colors and patterns.

Honey Combi: Sound proof and high insulation. The durable materials used for the product are strong against dust, wrinkles, and stains. With unique hexagonal honeycomb design, this product is so unique that no pull-cord can be seen from the outside.

Pleated: The product, having the shape of single fold pleats, is made of fiber materials for decorating windows and doors. It has the beauty of both curtain and Venetian blinds. This product is applicable for circle windows, triangle windows, arch windows, and slope windows.

Combi Twin: Made of 100% polyester, it has a seven-pleated natural color tone. The intact free light adjustment of the functional product is made possible by mesh part and fabric intertwining with each other. Various colors are available.

Open Benet: The product is made of 100% polyester and thick fabrics, and has a thermal fusion that blocks the heat of the sun while it creates a chic ambience in your large windows in the office or at home. It has a trendsetting designs, eye catching styles, lavish patterns, and lively colors. It gives absolute privacy when closed and maximum view-through when opened.

Open Roman: The product is a 100% polyester soft fabric blinds that combines classical and modern patterns which produces an aristocratic atmosphere. It accumulates into even pleats when pulled up; thus, it is referred to as roman window blinds. These are available in fascinating prints, innovative designs, and various sizes. Additionally, these blinds are also a good choice for protecting the windows against air, dust, pollution, and rain.

Bands: The product is made of 100% polyester. Its refined beauty comes from a symphony of deluxe, profound natural pattern; European style; and simple design. Made of high-grade materials produced in simple but delicate processed, it creates an elegant taste and offers the beauty of nature.

OTHER PRODUCTS

Curtains (also known as drapes) are pieces of cloths intended to block or obscure light, or drafts, or water in the case of a shower curtain. A curtain is also used as a movable screen or drape in a theater that separates the stage from the auditorium or that serves as a backdrop.

Wallpaper is a kind of material used to cover and decorate the interior walls of homes, offices, and other buildings; it is one aspect of interior decoration. It is usually sold in rolls and is put onto a wall using wallpaper paste. Wallpapers can come plain as 'lining paper' (so that it can be painted); textured (such as Anaglypta), with a regular repeating pattern design; or much less commonly today, with a single non-repeating large design carried over a set of sheets.

Wood Planks are blocks that are crafted by layers from wood. They have a variety of crafting and structural uses, and are a renewable resource. Wood is easy to obtain in any biome where trees can be found.

Linoleum (informally abbreviated to ‘lino’) is a floor covering made from renewable materials such as solidified linseed oil (linoxyn), pine rosin, ground cork dust, wood flour, and mineral fillers such as calcium carbonate, most commonly on aburlap or canvas backing; pigments are often added to the materials.

Folding Door is a type of door which opens by folding back in sections. They are usually found indoors. Folding doors were already known by the early Romans as excavations in Pompeii had revealed. Folding doors are also known as accordion door or accordion partitions. Accordion doors and partitions provide quick sight and sound division with a simple pull-and-latch operation. Curved track allows the partition to move around corners.

P.F.T APRA Roll System, Inc.

14A CTIP Compound Km.19,

Ortigas Ave. Ext., Rosario, Pasig City.

Tel Nos.: (02) 655-8097; (02) 954-6872

Telefax No.: (02) 655-1079

Email Add.: arparollsystem@gmail.com

Website: www.arparollblinds.com

**Unpublished write-up of Ludwig Ritchel A. Kalambacal for Archikonst.
  

Bravo Media International Corporation

As the current publisher of Archikonst—the country's longest-running architecture and construction magazine—Bravo Media International Corporation (BMIC) is fast gaining ground as a force to reckon with as far as trade publications are concerned.

Barely new in the industry, the company started publishing in 2011 after it acquired Archikonst. Yet in spite of its maverick status, BMIC has able to create a niche in the build-and-design profession in a very short period of time. 

Poise to take the southeast Asian markets by a storm, BMIC is actively making its presence felt by partnering with reputable international and local industry organizations and joining prestigious exhibits and events here and abroad.

BMIC aims to relentlessly pursue innovations in publishing to feature more stimulating contents for the readers, and provide more viable advertising platforms to industry practitioners and corporate advertisers.

The Apo View Hotel: Where home-grown hospitality meets first-class luxury

Discover the fascinating city of Davao while residing in the spacious comforts of elegant rooms. Be charmed by the signature touches that will surely make guests feel right at home the moment they step in through the door.

A familiar fixture in the downtown Davao skyline, The Apo View Hotel offers guests modern accommodations, superb dining experience, and cutting-edge amenities while basking in the rich history and old world charm of the Philippines’ second oldest hotel.

A veritable home away from home, The Apo View Hotel features living spaces that are conducive to both working and relaxation. Vibrant locales and excellent hospitality ensure that warmth and comfort are always at close quarters.

The Apo View Hotel is a comfortable walking distance from Gaisano South Citimall and the People’s Park. It is well connected to the city’s main thoroughfares and central business districts where many commercial establishments, restaurants, and entertainment centers are located. Moreover, the first class hotel is approximately 20 minutes away from Davao International Airport.

Rooms & Suites

All suites and rooms come with a welcome drink for two people at the Blue Room, complimentary buffet breakfast for two people at the Entrée Restaurant, free use of swimming pool, and unlimited internet access in the guest rooms and public areas.

Deluxe Room – available in single/double bed.

Executive Deluxe – newly renovated room located in the 4th and 6th floors; available in single/double bed.

Executive Suite – newly renovated room located in the 8th floor; features king-sized bed

Junior Suite – has a living room, bedroom, and bathroom with shower and bath tub.

Studio Room – fully renovated room located in the 3rd floor.

Bridal Suite – fully renovated room located in the 8th floor; it has a living room, dining area, separate bedroom, bathroom with separate shower, and bath tub.

Presidential Suite – comes with its own dining area, living area, pantry, study, master’s bedroom, and bathroom with Jacuzzi.

Banquets & Functions

The Apo View Hotel offers packages that can make a special day an event worth remembering. Its fully managed function rooms, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, are perfect settings for all kinds of occasions.

Grand Ballroom – is offering absolute flexibility in convention and banquet arrangements; the perfect venue for conventions, weddings, dinner-dance receptions, and other large-function occasions.

Top of the Apo – newly renovated function room that can accommodate up to 200 persons; a perfect venue for weddings, birthdays, debuts, and other medium-scale occasions.

Garden Pavilion – fully managed function room, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, which provides a perfect setting for all kinds of occasions.

Other Banquets & Functions – include the Orchid, Catleya, Vanda, and Silver rooms, and the Boardroom.

 

Dining & Leisure

The Apo View Hotel offers popular culinary favorites and refreshing beverages through its in-house restaurants and bar, while its casinos feature table games and slot machines which the guests will surely enjoy.

• Entrée
• Café Josefina
• The Blue Room
• Pacific Palm and PAGCOR Casinos
• Pool Deck and Garden

Amenities & Services

• 24-hour room service
• 24-hour business center
• Swimming pool
• Massage service
• Safety deposit box at the front desk
• Car rental
• Travel agency
• Gift shop
• Dress shop
• Airport transfers

Contact Details

150 J. Camus Street, Davao City, Philippines 8000.

Tel: +63 (82) 221-6430 to 40

Fax: +63 (82) 221-0748

Email: info@apoview.com

**Unpublished write-up of Ludwig Ritchel A. Kalambacal for Archikonst.

Korean singer and Playboy star Lee Pani shoots her MTV in the Philippines

Did you know that Korean sultry singer and Playboy girl Lee Pani shot her music video in the Philippines last year? Yes, it was shot in the Balinese-inspired Playa Tropical Resort Hotel in Currimao, Ilocos Norte in 2011.

Here, watch the video and see for yourself.

And here is the picture of Playa Tropical Resort Hotel which was just taken last year in 2012.

Watch out for ArkiConst summer issue which will be released by the 2nd or 3rd week of February 2013. The magazine will be featuring the world-class appeal of Playa Tropical Resort Hotel and its fabulous Balinese architectural style.

By the way, ArkiConst (formerly spelled as Archikonst) is the Philippines longest-running architecture and construction magazine.

United Laminates Industrial Corporation

United Laminates Industrial Corporation is a leading manufacturer of synthetic board products in the Philippines, specializing in melamine and particle boards. Guided by the principle of “quality first”, it aspires to become the premier manufacturer of melamine boards and synthetic tile products in the Philippines that offers the widest array of extremely fashionable eco-friendly design merchandises at very competitive prices. Adopting "zero defect, zero complaint" as its philosophy for quality assurance, it uses only state-of-the-art manufacturing tools and equipment in its design and production.

Visit the company's website at http://www.unitedlaminates.net. Website contents (Introduction and Mission-Vision Statements) are copywritten by Ludwig Ritchel A. Kalambacal through amCreative House Concepts Design.

The launching of SCG Elite Card

Leading Southeast Asian business conglomerate, Siam Cement Group (SCG), officially launches a pioneering product specifically for architects, interior designers, and contractors in the Philippines—the SCG Elite Card. 

The launching event dubs as "The Red Launch: A toast to convergence and unveiling of SCG Elite Card" is held at The Rockwell Tent in Makati City. Celebrity performers include Juris of MYMP, K Brosas, Rox Puno & Band, PYT, and Angel Jacob as host.

Graced with guests comprised of luminaries from the architect and interior design community, developers and contractors, and other distinguished guests from the industry, the launch of the SCG Elite Card also celebrates the partnerships of SCG in the Philippines.

The SCG Elite Card is an exclusive loyalty program that is open to all interested architects, designers, contractors, and companies who specify or purchase SCG products such as Mariwasa, CPAC Monier, and SCG Marketing. As they continue specifying or purchasing SCG products, more points are added to their card until such a time they will be able to redeem exciting and more valuable rewards ranging from the latest gadgets to foreign travels.

Online registration will start on January 1, 2013.  Specifiers are encouraged to sign-up at www.scgelitecard.com. An e-mail notification will be sent to all qualified applicants to confirm their membership to the SCG Elite Card.

Jakkrit Suwansilp, Vice President for Sales and Marketing of Mariwasa Siam Ceramics, and host Angel Jacob unveiled the SCG Elite Card.

Strategic ways of hiring architects for home construction

The Editor in Chief of Archikonst, Ludwig Ritchel A. Kalambacal, wrote an article to MyProperty.ph about some practical tips on how to snag the right architect for your home construction. Likewise, the chief editor of the Philippines' longest-running architectural magazine pointed out the advantages of hiring licensed architects.

Visit the premier online Philippine real estate classifieds, MyProperty.ph, to find out more about the advantages of hiring licensed architects for home projects. 

For further readings, please follow this link:   
 http://www.myproperty.ph/en/article.aspx?artid=364

The world's biggest McDonald's albeit temporarily

The world's biggest McDonald's will be built in the Olympic Park in London, expecting to serve some two million customers over the period of the games. Once the London 2012 Olympics has been concluded (on August 12, 2012), the two-storey chalet-style building will be dismantled and 75 percent of its furniture and fittings will be re-used or recycled in other McDonald's restaurants.