GOLDEN HAVEN Holds Golden Stars Annual Awards 2024

Folks from Golden Haven just recently held the annual Golden Stars Annual Awards for 2024 to recognize top sales performers for the past year. This is their way of making sure they know how valued they are in building the company's success. Golden Haven has been steadily growing these past few years and thanks to their dedication, they were able to attain this status in memorial care, something that sets them apart from others according to Estrellita Tan the COO of Golden Haven Memorial Parks in the Philippines. 

She dubs this as a testament of their hard work and passion and attributes it to Golden Haven's success. They held ceremonies over at Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation in Davao for the Visayas and Mindanao agents while the other was held in scenic Camp Netanya in Mabini, Batangas. They also did networking sessions and shared best practices so they could learn from each other, in hopes to further their careers too in the long run.

Awards were given to Top Sales Directors, Sales Managers, Sales Agents. Some of them are OFW's, part timers, home makers who chose to do this on the side and help in this industry.

Congratulations to all the winners, I'm sure you all deserve it!

5th PROPAK PHILIPPINES Slated February at the World Trade Center

Another day, another year for PROPAK PHILIPPINES. This is the largest processing, packaging and trade event in the country. They are celebrating their 5th year this 2025 and is slated to run on February 12 to 14 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City. 

Their secretariat expects over 250 exhibitors not only from the Philippines but also other countries. Foot traffic this time is around 12,000 composed of trade visitors, buyers, and business owners especially in the MSME sectors. This is the place to see the latest developments in packaging, designs and innovation. They also are gearing towards sustainability, and more tech that follows food safety standards.

Ms. Apple from Informa Markets says "We have been so grateful for DTI's support, and for their unending help on ProPak, we will make sure all tech will be available on the show store not just locally but also for international clientele. We have a platform for educating which will also coincide with the event."

Commissioner Joseph Jocson of Asian Packaging Federation says "In the past, we often go to Thailand for Propak and now it's here on their 5th, and we support the regional ProPak events in other ASEAN countries. This is the platform for knowledge sharing, and we continue to promote it with sustainability. By actively engaging with this, we contribute to the growth, knowledge and business development which will be beneficial for the industry. MSME's are an integral part of our economy and we can showcase the world of what we have here. New trends are coming out, and it is very crucial, and we have to embrace different solutions in the region. We have to localize packaging design, adapt, foster innovation and align global standards since we export them to other countries. Digitalization is a big help especially for those who couldn't do big inventories."

Ms. Grace from DTI says "For our MSME's, we have different activities and we are excited not just for them but our partner agencies, so they could see and provide information for their respective regions. They purchase machines, ask what they will do next and monitor, it doesn't end at just attending but know what interventions we need to do for stakeholders. They just need to go to the facility and pay for the packaging through these shared facilities. We also are checking how much job they generate. We partner with PROPAK and Informa Markets Philippines to bring more MSME's to help them when they are scaling. We are your partners for growth."

Lucky Lopez from Design Center of the Philippines says "We often present our packaging solutions including agriculturally sourced like Piñaper (made with Pineapple leaves) and increase the use of it in packaging. We need industrial grade manufacturing because it will lessen the price. It's one of the things we want to do to make it sustainable and replace plastic since we have so much of that. We also do trend forecasting seminars in packaging to develop not just your product but your packaging. We have MSME's and businesses approach us, and enable companies for market penetration to other countries."

Dr. Angel from the DOST says "We recognize the fast evolution of packaging so we are upgrading our facility and establish testing and R&D for materials and research ways to make it sustainable. In our division, we simulate it and do green packaging efforts to be at par with other partners and scientists in the packaging technology. For every project we do, we include local manufactures and know the source of the materials and check alternatives. We also collaborate with international organizations to make sure we follow industry standards."

The press conference was attended by Ms. Grace Baluyan of ROG DTI, Commissioner Joseph Jocson of Asian Packaging Federation, Dr. Angel Basbasan Jr. of the ITDI DOST, Mr. Lucky Lopez of the Design Center of the Philippines, and Ms. Apple Limbo - Salisa of Informa Markets - Philippines.

Companies such as Wolf, Middleby, Multivac, Heat and Control plus participants from Japan, Germany, China, Singapore, Taiwan and Italy will be bringing their top tier packaging and processing tech so lots of people could learn about it and what we could benefit from the IPACK IMA Italy and Informa Markets partnership. They will also showcase the recent winners of Packaging Innovation and Design Awards and the Asia Star Packaging Awards at the venue courtesy of the Australasian Institute of Packaging and the Asian Packing Federation. 

They are heavily supported by government sectors such as the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Science and Technology and organizations such as the Philippine Association of Food Technologists, Philippine Printing Technical Foundation, the Production and Operations Management Association of the Philippines and the Philippine Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association among others.

There will be over 50 conference sessions with over 60 speakers in the lineup for this event. You may pre register via https://bit.ly/PKP25prereg now to get information about this big event.

Elmer Lapeña Named Executive Managing Director of SAGA

Events and production company SAGA just recently announced the designation of Executive Managing Director to Elmer Lapeña. Aside from being a director and producer of different shows, he has been in the company for 20+ years taking on lead posts in different capacities, it is now his time.

This coincides with the announcement of the renaming of SAGA from its previous Saga Events Incorporated to now being a full fledged experiential company. For those who don't know, I've watched several Philippine Fashion Week Shows and International brand launches that have been handled and executed by their group. SAGA was founded by Robby Carmona in 1995 and this expansion means they'll be taking on not just production of shows and events but physical and virtual ones, experiential marketing, digital solutions and production of content following business plans and branding ideas accordingly.

Currently, they have clients including Shell, Xiaomi, Century Tuna, Under Armour, Spotify and a whole lot more availing their services. This includes online, hybrid or physical events, website and digital campaigns for them just to name a few. Albeit challenging these days, Lapeña says "Times have been challenging for us in the industry and the recent easement of restrictions bring us hope, to hopefully brighter days for SAGA and our clients. We are bigger, better, happy about taking on this leadership role. Cheers to all of us in the industry!"

Congratulations and hope to see you in your upcoming shows!