Saturday, March 26, 2011

March 26, 2011 is EARTH HOUR !

EARTH HOUR ~ March 26, 2011 at 8:30 PM


 Earth Hour 2011 will take place on March 26, 2011. Let us support by turning off our lights at 8:30 PM. The participating channels in the Philippines, ABS-CBN will cease transmission during lights out and Cartoon Network will halt transmissions during lights out.

At 8:30 PM on Saturday 26th March 2011, lights will switch off around the globe for Earth Hour and people will commit to actions that go beyond the hour.

Earth Hour is a global event organized by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for nature and is held every year on the last Saturday of March asking households and businesses to switch off their non-essential lights and other electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change. Earth Hour was conceived by WWF and The Sydney Morning Herald in 2007, when 2.2 million residents of Sydney participated by turning off all non-essential lights.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

My Boss, Greg Reichow Joins "Pinoy Henyo" (Filipino Genius) Game

Here we are with my boss, Gregory Reichow, the Vice President for Sunpower Operations (3rd from left in white shirt) during the Cell Fab 1 Anniversary

SunPower Philippines Mfg. Ltd. Cell Fab 1 located in Laguna Technopark, Binan, Laguna celebrated its 7th Year Anniversary last March 18, 2011.  It was a week of fun-filled activities :

March 14, 2011 : Seven Core Values Photo Contest
March 15, 2011 : Fab 1 Dance Contest
March 16, 2011 : Bike Run, Fab 1 Got Talent and Photo Booth
March 17, 2011 : Videoke King and Queen
March 18, 2011 : Fun Run, Fab 1 Extra Challenge and Thanksgiving Mass
March 14 - 18, 2011 : Fab 1 Henyo

Greg joins "Pinoy Henyo" (Filipino Genius) Game

My Boss, Greg with Fab 1 Site Director, Rey Mella during the "Pinoy Henyo" Game.  Greg had to guess the mystery word that is placed in front of his hard hat by asking Sir Rey some questions.  Rey will only answer Yes or No.

Greg is having a hard time guessing the word.  The word is "CORREGIDOR",  a famous historical place in Luzon during the World War II and where the Eternal Flame monument  is located.  The lighting of the  Eternal Flame is powered by three (3) 200 watts Sunpower solar panels donated by our company during the 60th Anniversary of Corregidor's liberation from Japanese forces  in World War II in March 3, 2005.

Eternal Flame Monument in Corregidor Island

The lighting of the Eternal Flame Monument in Corregidor island is a memorable event for Greg Reichow as the solar arrays at the memorial site marks the beginning of Sunpower's presence in the Philippines.  Sunpower  was just a young one-year old company at that time. Our company, Sunpower Philippines Mfg. Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sunpower Corporation U.S.A., a NASDAQ listed company which manufactures high efficiency solar cells.

Greg during the "Pinoy Henyo" Game

 "Pinoy Henyo" is a famous Local game that became widely recognized because of the TV game show segment of "Pinoy Henyo", a general information quiz in Eat-Bulaga GMA7.

Mechanics:

A mystery word is given to each team. The answer is in a piece of paper posted in the forehead of the player.The player then asks series of questions or clues to his/her members for him to guess what is written in the piece of paper in his/her forehead. The members will answer either yes or no to the questions.If the player guessed the correct answer before the time laps then they won the round.You can actually do a variation of the game as to categories on what the answers will be based.
 

HAPPY 7TH ANNIVERSARY FAB 1 !
More Watts, Looks Great ! ~ Greg's favorite slogan that we will always remember in our hearts

Saturday, March 12, 2011

A Heavy, Heavy Heart !

HEAVY HEART !

March 10, 2011 is an unforgettable day !
~ The saddest day for me ~

The news I received
was an unexpected one
It struck me so hard
it brought a deep sadness to my heart
It made me cry like a child
wanting to hold on to his father
never letting him out
to carry his tasks for the day.

As he tries to speak to us his children
for us to understand why
I started to feel gloomy
and my eyes became watery
Tears dropped from my eyes
I tried to hold my tears back
But I cannot keep it from falling
It is painful to hear he is leaving us.

His seven long years with us had been remarkable
driving and motivating all of us towards excellence.
He showed great concern for his children.
His leadership is truly amazing !
Everyone loves him and will surely miss him.

Today, I woke-up with a heavy heart
The thought and  pain of losing
a great father has not left me
Tears started falling again on my cheeks
Like rain that never stops
No matter how hard I try
I can't stop it from falling.

My eyes are already sore and puffy.
The tears in my eyes
showed the heavy heart I have inside
I asked God to take away the pain
and wipe the tears from my eyes
I know his touch will make me
feel better as days go by.




My Gift of Mobility "Alay Ko Ang Lakad Mo"....SunPower, McDaniels Family Foundation and the Free Wheel Chair Mission

This is me  (2nd from left) with the top executives of Sunpower Corporation U.S.A., Sunpower Philippines Mfg. Ltd and Thomas McDaniel, Sunpower Board Member (2nd from right)

SunPower has a Corporate Social Responsiblity (CSR) Program that is solely focused on social responsiveness to community.


Free Wheelchair for the poor and disabled

Last week, March 3, 2011 SunPower Foundation in its continuous effort to reach out to the community held the "Alay Ko Ang Lakad Mo" (My Gift of Mobility) at Sunpower Philippines Mfg. Ltd., in Batangas City. The joined forces of Sunpower Foundation,  McDaniel Family Foundation and the Free Wheelchair Mission donated a number of wheelchairs to the poor and disabled.

Thomas McDaniel (SunPower Board Member) - Checking the wheelchairs that were being assembled by SunPower employees

In February, 2009, Sunpower Corporation, a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of high efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems with two manufacturing facilities in the Philippines appointed electric power industry veteran Thomas R. McDaniel to its board of directors.  McDaniel retired from Edison International after 37 years of service.

Tom McDaniel is actively involved in several philanthropic and charitable organizations. He serves as a director of the Senior Care Action Network (SCAN), a Medicare Advantaged HMO which provides healthcare to senior citizens. McDaniel is also a director of the $200 million SCAN Foundation whose mission is to support initiatives to improve the cost effectiveness and quality of healthcare for the elderly. Through the McDaniel Family Foundation, he works with the Boys and Girls Club of Huntington Beach, the Adult Day Care Center and the Free Wheelchair Mission. He and his family have distributed approximately 2,500 wheelchairs to the poor and disabled in Chile, Cambodia and Vietnam.


Free Wheelchair Mission is an international faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing wheelchairs for the impoverished disabled in developing nations. Working in creative partnership with a network of like-minded humanitarian groups, FWM has sent over 430,000 wheelchairs to over 70 countries around the world, delivering not only the gift of mobility, but one of dignity, independence and hope.  This organization was founded in 2001 by Don Schoendorfer, who has a PhD in biomechanical engineering from MIT. Headquartered in Irvine, California, FWM has over 675 volunteers worldwide. Funding for the wheelchairs are provided by private and public donations including individuals, groups, corporations, churches, universities and foundations. To save on costs and ensure quality control, the wheelchairs are assembled by a pre-approved distribution partner in the country which they will be distributed and given to recipients for free. Right now, the total cost of producing the parts for a wheelchair and shipping them to the place they will be used is under $60.00. As of October 2009, FWM has shipped over 430,000 wheelchairs. Their goal is to deliver 20 million wheelchairs to developing countries all over the world. Free Wheelchair Mission Founder and President, Donald Schoendorfer, received Above and Beyond Award during Medal of Honor Day on March 25, 2008, at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Specially designed for use in rugged terrain, the FWM wheelchair combines the durability of a resin lawn chair and the strength of a custom steel frame, all tucked into a sturdy pair of mountain bike tires - and costs less only $59.20 each.

An opening speech from my boss, Gregory Reichow - Vice President for Sunpower Phils. Operations

Children from the Barangay Ulango Elementary School sang the Philippine National Anthem

"ASSEMBLE THAT WHEELCHAIR CONTEST"

One of the highlights of the "Alay Ko Ang Lakad Mo" (My Gift of Mobility) CSR event is the "Assemble That Wheelchair Contest"  participated by Sunpower Philippines Employees and top executives from Sunpower Corporation U.S.A., our mother company. Participants were grouped into teams.

With some of our SunPower top executives during the CSR activity "Alay Ko Ang Lakad Mo" (My Gift of Mobility). From left, Thomas Werner - CEO, SunPower Corp. U.S.A., Linda Perry Lynch - EHS Director, Sunpower Corp. U.S.A., Marty Neese - COO, SunPower Corp. U.S.A., Loree Farrar - VP for Human Resources, SunPower Corp. U.S.A., my boss Gregory Reichow - VP for SunPower Phils. Operations, Alyssa Newman - Manager for Corporate Sustainability and SunPower Foundation, Ralph Robinett - Site Director for Modco, Thomas McDaniel - SunPower Board Member and Jean Myer - Construction EHS Director, SunPower Corp. U.S.A.

Some of the wheelchair parts and a partially assembled wheelchair

Me and some of the Sunpower Phils. employees participating in the contest

SunPower employees assembling the wheelchairs

My boss, Greg Reichow as always gives motivation to employees
Let's see..does this part goes here ?

Almost done !

Our Top Executives from SunPower Corp. U.S.A. in action

Hmmm...How does others do it ?... Marty Neese  (Chief Operating Officer) looking at somebody else's work

This is a brainteaser !

Did I do it right ? ... Loree Farrar (VP-Human Resources)

How are we doing guys ?

I think this part goes there ...Tom Werner, CEO (2nd from left) handing a part to Marty.

This is challenging !

We are almost finish with this one !

Dennis Arriola, Chief Financial Officer and Bruce Ledesma, General Counsel ~

Linda Perry Lynch, EHS Director and Jean Myer, Construction EHS Director

We finished two wheelchairs ! More to come !

ENTERTAINMENT DURING THE EVENT

A cultural presentation by Lahing Batangan dance group



Marty is hungry after assembling wheelchairs.  Filipino food and delicacies were served.

Tom Werner, CEO-SunPower Corporation U.S. with the other top executives giving a speech

Here we are with our CEO, Tom Werner and COO, Marty Neese


Sunday, March 6, 2011

The Three Musketeers !

Our Three Musketeers..."ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL" 

We were blessed to have three (3) beautiful and healthy puppies from one of our family pet dog named Nina.  I called them the Three Musketeers ~ ATHOS, PORTHOS and ARAMIS !!!

Handsome Cute Little "Athos"

Cuddly Cute Little "Porthos"

Playful Cute Little "Aramis"

I'm Chubby !

Do I look handsome !

We want to be your friends !

We want to play !

The Father ~ "Pom-Pom",  a Pomeranian spitz

The Mother ~ "Nina", a Pom spitz-terrier

The Offsprings ~ The cute Three Musketeers.  Born January 16, 2011