NET25 appoints new president; ASPN turns one

It’s been exactly a year since I began co-hosting the TV-radio show Ano Sa Palagay Nyo (ASPN) with Ali Sotto on NET25. ASPN is the brainchild of Wilma Galvante, the network’s creative consultant, who decided that it was worth the risk to have two women anchor the 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. timeslot that was previously dominated by males.

Ali and I don’t mind having to wake up every weekday at 4 a.m., meet at least twice daily with the production staff to line up topics and guests, and suggest interesting features. What matters most is that we can inform and educate our viewers and listeners in a light and fun manner.

As part of ASPN’s first anniversary presentation, we visited last week a garments factory in Dasmariñas, Cavite, which is under Unified Livelihood and Advocacy for Development (UNLAD) International, Inc., the non-stock and non-profit organization of Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC). UNLAD’s mission is simple: to fight poverty by providing education, livelihood, and entrepreneurship opportunities to Filipinos.

Caesar Vallejos is the newlyappointed NET25 network president. CRV, as he is fondly called, also hosts Open For Business on NET25, Sunday nights at 9

During our visit, we met the head of UNLAD, True Matias, who outlined the departments under UNLAD and the scope of its programs. These include garments, merchandise, food, education, and haircut services.

She immediately dispelled rumors that the factory only employs INC members. In fact, she stated that when they started, only 50 percent of their workers were Iglesia ni Cristo members. After all, UNLAD promotes inclusivity as part of its mission to alleviate poverty. What was more surprising to me was that there is no age discrimination in their hiring. As long as you’re an adult and willing to work, UNLAD will train and equip you with the right tools to succeed. In fact, most of its factory workers are already senior citizens, the oldest being 80 years old!

The garments factory itself is huge, impressively clean, and well-ventilated. It can accommodate 700 mananahis who sew barongs, t-shirts, blouses and handkerchiefs. I even saw the uniforms of the employees of a popular fast-food chain in the production line. Like most factories, it experienced a slump during the pandemic. But instead of shutting down, it found ways to stay afloat and adapted by sewing masks and producing PPE’s. Fortunately, operation is picking up and it will soon open another factory in Iloilo City to add to the existing ones in Nueva Ecija and Cavite.

True Matias, head of UNLAD International, Inc., the nonstock, non-profi t organization of Iglesia Ni Cristo.

I was amazed to learn that UNLAD also has a garments factory all the way in Qwaqwa, which is in the central eastern part of South Africa. Because I had never heard of the place, I had to ask True about it. She replied that Qwaqwa is such an impoverished country that INC opened the garments factory there simply to help the locals.

I was also in awe when True talked about Embrace Café, a restaurant that employs persons who are differently abled. Since I started working in NET25, I’ve eaten their food on several occasions and found them to be very tasty. As one who especially enjoys their freshly-baked breads, pizzas and sandwiches, it makes me doubly happy to know that these are prepared by differently abled persons. To date, Embrace Café has nine branches nationwide, including restaurants in Tagaytay and San Miguel, Bulacan.

Although these are business-like operations, the monetary gains they generate enrich the lives of the people they employ. Most of their workers enjoy free housing from the church’s numerous housing projects, which give them a sense of security and dignity.

NET25’s new network president

Congratulations to NET25’s newly-appointed network president, Caesa Vallejos! CRV, as we fondly call him, graduated Magna Cum Laude from New Era University (NEU), majoring in Journalism. He was a triple scholar at NEU: a full scholar under the Erano G. Manalo Scholarship Program, a scholar as editor-in-chief of NEU’s school organ Hudyat, and a university scholar. He also took units in Media Studies from the UP Diliman College of Mass Communication.

Prior to joining NET25, CRV held many important positions in various companies. He was senior strategic marketing manager of ADEC Innovations, a multinational ESG company. He was associate director and corporate communications manager for Strategic Marketing, Industry Relations and Special Projects at St. Luke’s Medical Center’s BGC and QC hospitals. He also served as Publications and Creative Services officer for the USAID-funded projects of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce.

CRV is one of the pioneers of NET25 who rose from the ranks beginning as marketing manager and Business beat reporter and then concurrent chief marketing officer, director for Sales and Marketing, and executive producer of Open for Business, UNLAD and other NET25 shows.

Congratulations once again CRV and rest assured you have my utmost support in your new endeavor.