Friday, October 24, 2014

Young IP Advocates

Young IP Advocates Get Louder Voice; Pioneering Program Lauded by IP Stakeholders 

Manila, PHILIPPINES:  Twenty-one high school students who made the 2nd Batch of the country’s Young Intellectual Property (IP) Advocates were warmly received at the 4th Philippine Anti- Counterfeiting and Piracy Summit held last 20 October. Local and foreign guests and IP stakeholders who gracedthe Summit lauded the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) for introducing a program that directly involves young Filipinos in IP education and awareness. 
The 21 high school students came from the Philippine Science High School, Makati Science High School, Taguig Science High School, Muntinlupa Science High School, Manila Science High School, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Laboratory High School, and University of Sto. Tomas (UST) High School. The students attended the three-day IP Youth Camp last 24-26 September in Baras, Rizal. Each participating science high school sent three participants. 
In the camp, the students were introduced to the basics of IP and the value of creativity and innovation. They were encouraged to help in the IP awareness and IP protection and enforcement initiatives of the government by sharing the knowledge and values gathered from the camp to their friends, classmates and families. 

The 21 Grades 8 and 9 students from different public and private high schools
 composed the 2nd Batch of IP Young Advocates.
The 21 students were inducted as IP Young Advocates at the Summit.
“This is our way of investing in our youth and in our future. Today’s young IP advocates will be the future patent engineers, IP lawyers, legislators and government officials. The success of the program has encouraged us to reach out to more schools and students,” says Atty. Ricardo R. Blancaflor, IPOPHL Director General. 

The Young IP Advocate program of the IPOPHL seeks to plant the culture of creativity and innovation among young Filipinos. It is designed to help plug the gap in the country’s basic education program. Unlike in other countries, IP is not yet integrated in the primary education curricula. The Young IP Advocate initiativeis now part of the yearly program of the IPOPHL. 

Jose Pablo Castillo of the Makati Science High School delivering his speech
 on Mainstreaming IP in Education.
Jose Pablo Castillo, a Grade 9 participant from the Makati Science High School, delivered a speech on “Strategies for Mainstreaming IP in Education: Investing in the Youth” on behalf of the 2nd batch of the IPOPHL IP Young Advocates. In his speech, he shared the learnings from the IP Camp and offered insights on how the schools and students can help in propagating the value of respect for IP and the importance of creativity and innovation. 

“A Filipino student spends an average 7.5 hours a day in school or nearly one-fourth of a day. If we would be able to utilize this precious time to teach IP, integrate IP, and value IP, the results would definitely be better,” says Castillo. 
“Introducing IP to the students must be the first step in the process. Each student must know about IP rights and how every student’s IP is protected by it. Truly, awareness is the first step to change and transformation,” adds the young IP advocate. Castillo received a rousing applause for his presentation. 

The Young IP Advocate program was launched in 2013 with just three school participants. The first batch of Young IP Advocates came from the Ateneo High School, Manila Science High School, and the Philippine Science High School.

words:  Emmelina Masanque, IPOPHIL IDTD

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Pia Gladys Perey at World Fashion Week




18 September 2014, Manila, Philippines - Australian-launched luxury fashion label, Pia Gladys Perey (PGP), is set to conquer the world of fashion, this time in Paris, France, at the prestigious event World Fashion Week (WFW). WFW serves as the global voice of Fashion and is also dubbed as the “Olympic Style” global platform for the national fashion industries around the world. 


The PGP label first debuted at the Rosemount Australian Fashion Week in 2007 and is favored by Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie, Eva Longoria, Carrie Underwood, and Kim Kardashian among others. PGP has graced international runways such as Los Angeles Fashion Week, Miami Fashion week and Audi New York Fashion week. The label celebrates the natural beauty of the modern woman with glamorous pieces that highlights the female form. Sold in Australia, Singapore, Philippines, USA, UAE, and soon in Ireland, PGP is definitely conquering the fashion world with its signature draping and utter simplicity.


The WFW, is an internationally acclaimed event where leading and emerging fashion designers from 100+ nations participate in an elaborate showcase of world fashion and trade, celebrating cultural diversity, while promoting world tourism and lifestyle destinations. The fashion event will be held in Maison de l’Amérique Latine in Paris from 30 September to 4 October 2014.  PGP will also have a post-WFW showing on the 23rd of October 2014 in Manila.


PGP's participation is made possible by WJG Asia and supported by Beatriz Accessories, Clinique, Loudbasstard Speakers, and Manny O Wines. 


For more information, please visit piagladysperey.net or follow us on facebook.com/piagladyspereylabel. 

WORDS:  Aia dela Cruz