by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 22, 2016 | Advocacy
Alopecia was a foreign word to me until a few years ago. Then I noticed that some people had bald spots in the weirdest parts of their head (off-center) and that some have gone partially or completely bald and seemed too young to be going bald at all.
Then celebrities started coming out to raise awareness about hair loss and how Novuhair was a natural way to address hair loss — celebrities like Fanny Serrano and Gary V.
September marks the month-long commemoration of Alopecia Areata awareness worldwide. Alopecia areata is a condition when hair loss occur due to faults in the immune system attacking the hair follicles which results in partial or total loss of hair on the head and other parts of the body.
Leading this year’s celebration in the country is Alopecia Philippines, a group founded by singer and songwriter Abby Asistio in 2012. She has been championing the cause of empowering citizens with this condition.
Abby is no stranger to alopecia, having been diagnosed with alopecia areata since she was four years old. Abby’s decision to come out in public with her condition was a major turning point in her life.
On September 2012, Abby decided to start an online campaign in time with Alopecia Awareness Month by inviting family and friends to pose with the double “A” (inverted “V”) sign using their fingers on the photo sharing site, Instagram. It quickly caught on and Abby was overwhelmed by the response from netizens, with over a thousand photo contributions to date.
This paved the way for the beginnings of Alopecia Philippines. It aims to raise awareness about alopecia and correct common misconceptions and perceptions about it, provide encouragement to people afflicted with it, and create an online support community for them.
Inspired by Abby’s honesty and courage, men and women, kids and teens from different walks of life began sharing their own stories and struggles living with alopecia. What started out as a group of ten is now more than 300 members strong and its Facebook page – Alopecia Areata Awareness, draws followers from all over the world.
Abby Asistio endorses Novuhair
Novuhair has been supporting the cause for Alopecia Philippines through Abby Asistio. Abby have been using the brand continuously since March 2013 and she has only praises to share using the product.
Nature has provided a safe and effective answer to hair loss and scalp disorders. Novuhair is the only topical scalp lotion in the market that has the highest concentration of natural ingredients, FDA-certified and ACD-compliant. Novuhair is a homegrown, proudly Philippine-made product that is globally competitive.
In this video Abby explains what alopecia is and how Novuhair can help people with alopecia. Gain confidence with Novuhair.
Novuhair Topical Scalp Lotion, Shampoo and Conditioner are available in all Mercury Drug Stores and other leading drug stores nationwide.
For more information visit www.novuhair.com, like the brand’s official Facebook Page at Novuhair Official, Instagram: @NovuhairOfficial and follow it on Twitter at @NovuhairNatural.
You may also call the Novuhair hotlines at 4136570 and 09228830575 and order online at Lazada and regaloservice.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 20, 2016 | Health Tips
A healthy mind is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. It affects how you perceive the world and how you react to your environment and the people around you. In order to function normally and accomplish your daily tasks and goals in life, it’s important to keep your brain and mental well-being healthy.
“Healthy brain and mental functioning can be cultivated. In the same way that eating nutritious food and exercising can make your body stronger and more fit, certain habits and activities can also boost your brain power and mental well-being,” says Dr. Nicky Montoya, president and CEO of MediCard Philippines.
To improve brain and mental health, Dr. Montoya offers some tips:
Get enough sleep.
Sleep helps your brain and body work properly. While you’re sleeping, your brain is forming new pathways to help you learn and remember information.
Deep sleep also promotes normal growth in children and teens. It also boosts muscle mass and helps repair cells and tissues in children, teens and adults.
Drink plenty of water.
It is important for the brain to be adequately hydrated to function properly. Your brain cells require a delicate balance of water and various elements to operate efficiently. When you’re dehydrated, your brain has to work a lot harder to perform at the same level.
Drinking water also helps you feel refreshed, which may improve your state of mind. It can also prevent headaches and hangovers.
Get moving.
Exercise releases endorphins, which are essential for producing good moods. Working out also keeps your brain and vital organs healthy. It also improves your body image and keeps you motivated to conquer challenges and pursue your goals.
Learn a new skill and play brainteasers.
Learning a new skill and playing brainteasers can keep your brain sharp. When you learn a new skill, your brain creates new neural pathways that help you process and remember information better. Meanwhile, brainteasers and games that require you to decipher codes and pattern series, remember events and rationalize your answers can also enhance your problem-solving skills, logical reasoning, creativity, and imagination.
Communicate with other people.
Regularly talking and socializing with other people can boost your communication skills and improve your decision-making and problem-solving abilities. It is also a way to avoid depression and negative thoughts, which can interfere with your daily activities.
Practice meditation.
Meditation, which involves focusing your thoughts on the present moment, provides cognitive and psychological benefits. Aside from giving a sense of peacefulness and physical relaxation, it can also improve memory, empathy and sense of self. Harvard researchers discovered that practicing mindfulness increases the amount of grey matter in the hippocampus, which helps with self-awareness, compassion, and introspection, and lowers grey matter density in the amygdala, which helps manage anxiety and stress.
Since meditation is a big component of Ashtanga yoga, attending yoga classes can also be good for your mental well-being.
Dr. Nicky Montoya
President of Medicard Philippines
“The best thing about the human brain is that it adapts and re-wires itself as a result of behavioral changes. There are a lot of ways you can do to get the best out of your brain cells. One of the most effective ways is, of course, letting go of unhealthy habits and embracing a healthy lifestyle,” says Dr. Montoya.
The MediCard Lifestyle Center in Makati offers quality medical and specialty services, including nutrition counseling, diet management, and yoga classes. For more information, call (02) 878-5101or visit http://mlc.medicardphils.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 17, 2016 | Events
The first ever STYLECON, held last September 10 where bloggers, influencers, and industry insiders were treated to informative and inspiring talks.
Lazada Stylecon Panelists: Sassa Jimenez, Patty Ang, Kelsey Merritt, Bea Constantino, and Angela Yeo
The event brought together today’s brightest young names in the different fields of style, such as makeup, couture, styling, and modeling. Talks revolved around style and beauty in the age of social media and digital shopping.
Quotes for Stylecon panelists
Bea Constantino
Bea Constantino, one of the most celebrated fashion stylists in the country, shares how sometimes the most unexpected things turn out for the best, “Fashion was never my thing when I was young. But through the years, I fell in love with it. Inspiration comes from all over – from people to places and experiences. Surviving this industry is all about respecting those who came before you, learning relentlessly and finding your best self in the process.”
Patty Ang
Seeing fashion accessories as an investment was also a highlight in the discussion. Patty Ang,designer for Andi Eigenmann’s Cannes scene-stealer dress, said; “Invest in good jewelry. It’s a great investment because it stands the test of time. You can even pass it on to your children. Quality pieces, be it jewelry or leather bags, are great ways to add a sense of class to your wardrobe without feeling the need to update constantly.”
Sassa Jimenez
As for online shopping? Haute Couture designer Sassa Jimenez gave the most practical tip: “Online shopping is great because you don’t have to decide (and spend) on the spot if you want to purchase an item. In fact, you can make a wish list when shopping online. Add the items in your cart. Sleep on it. Come back the following day and assess if you still want to push through with the purchase.”
An interesting topic during the discussion was the effect of social media on fashion trends and individual style. Most of the audience, comprised of bloggers and online influencers, realized that even the experts in individual fields were always on the lookout for inspiration from other people. In a truly social world, we inspire each other with our own unique style.
Kelsey Merritt
Nowadays social media is an avenue for people to express their passion for fashion through images, and maybe even live their passions as well. “I have to thank the internet because social media gave me my big break as a model,” was Kelsey Merritt’s sentiment on how her fame sky-rocketed due to Instagram. From her stylish clothes to gorgeous make-up, Kelsey’s Instagram account garnered enough traction that an NYC-based agency signed her as one of their models.
Angelo Yeo
The roundtable discussion was followed by a makeup tutorial sponsored by L’Oréal. Angela Yeo,celebrity make-up artist and owner of beautylista.com, showed the audience how to achieve an easy “office chic” look – an everyday dilemma faced by majority of working women. The tutorial was broadcasted through Facebook LIVE via Lazada’s account. As a vlogger, Angela stressed the importance of product reviews when shopping online.
The most important learning from STYLECON was best summed up by Bea Constantino, “Find your passion, always update yourself, and build your brand.”
With more and more people passionate about fashion, Lazada has continually increased inventory with a wide assortment of fashion and health & beauty products. Lazada believes in empowering people to find their passion from the comfort of their homes, be it in fashion, photography, make-up, or the arts. Check out new and exciting finds by visiting www.lazada.com.ph.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 17, 2016 | Food & Beverage
Papa John’s Pizza University Mall branch. Photo credit to www.vozzog.com.
The first time I heard about Papa John’s was when they opened a branch at the University Mall (U-Mall) on Taft near my place of work and I treated my daughter there for lunch. Sadly, that branch is no longer around but then … good news! There are more branches of Papa John’s Pizza now, and even more are opening soon!
Papa John’s current branches
All over the world there are 4,700 branches. Wow! That’s a lot of branches. In the Philippines alone there are currently 16 branches with more to open very soon. So where are these branches in the Philippines, you may ask? Here’s a map and a list for your convenience.
Some of the pizza markers may not appear at first glance as they are in areas outside of the immediate scope of the map. However, rest assured they are there. You just need to either zoom out or drag the map up and down. 😀
Check out the BLUE pizzas.
- Antipolo
- Emraud Square Plaza
- Shell Marcos Highway
- Quezon City
- Banawe (corner NS Amoranto)
- Cubao (20th Avenue)
- Tandang Sora (Berkeley Square, Commonwealth Avenue)
- Tomas Morato (corner Scout Rallos)
- Visayas Avenue
- Xavierville (Nueve Uno)
- Las Pinas (Dona Nena Business Center Building, Alabang Zapote)
- Makati (Jupiter Street)
- Mandaluyong (SM Megamall Building A)
- Marikina (PACLEB Building, Bayan-Bayanan Avenue)
- Paranaque (Don Bosco, Dona Soledad, Better Living Subdivision)
- Pasig (Julia Vargas corner Shell C5 Road)
- Rizal (Ortigas Extension, Taytay)
- San Juan (Wilson Street)
And more branches opening locally are opening soon!
Check out the RED pizzas.
- Baclaran (September 21, 2016)
- Kalaw (September 21, 2016)
- Nangka (September 21, 2016) – 2 branches
- Caloocan (October 2016)
Whew! That’s a lot of branches! You’re sure to stumble into 1 or 2 branches as you traverse through traffic in Metro Manila. 😀 My favorite branch, though, is the one on Tomas Morato. Probably because they have more space (multiple floors, people!) but basically, because it’s near where I live, hehe.
Papa John’s at Tomas Morato corner Scout Rallos Street in Quezon City
Now that you know where to go it’s time to know what you can enjoy while you’re there.
House Specialties
Pizza, pizza, pizza! That’s what Papa John’s is all about. But there are 6 flavors which they proudly say are their specialties: All The Meats, Cheesy Bacon Melt, Chicken BBQ, Chicken Bacon Ranch, Super Papa, and Texas Heat.
The last one I tried was the Chicken Bacon Ranch and I really enjoyed it! Call me weird but I think salad dressing on a pizza is just plain yummy. 😀
Chicken Bacon Ranch … Papa John’s Specialty Pizza
I could be deluding myself when I say this but … one other reason I like it is because it seems the healthiest choice of the 6. 😀
Sides
Pepperoncini
All Papa John’s Pizzas are served with a side of pepperoncini and garlic butter sauce. When I first encountered this I was surprised. That isn’t something that happens in other pizza restaurants. And these are big peppers, similar to the one used in sinigang. I love spicy food but even I approached it with caution.
The first time I took a knife and sliced a small piece and bit into it … and it was good! Spicy yes, but also tart, and crunchy! Then I tried cutting it up and putting it on my pizza and dribbled some hot sauce … even better! In the end I just picked up the next one and munched on it like chips. 😀
Now, if you (like I) can munch on a pepperoncini then you are sure to enjoy this.
Pepperoncini Dynamite
The pepperoncini dynamite! Ta-daaah!!! You’ve likely eaten many pepperoncini in your life whether you’ve realized it or not. But I assure you, they’re nothing compared to Papa John’s Pepperoncini Dynamite. This goodness is bacon wrapped pepperoncini stuffed with cheese sauce for a melt-in-your-mouth surprise.
Personally, I think everything’s good with bacon. 😀
What’s new at Papa John’s?
A lot! Let’s see now… There’s
- chicken popper pizza
- mexican ole – for those who REALLY like it spicy!
- pepperoni buffalo
- fried chicken goodness – which is currently only available at the Jupiter branch
- vegetable stromboli
Not included in the pics above is the pineapple caramel stromboli, which, incidentally, is not yet available in stores but will be soon.
Does seeing all that food make you hungry? But at the same time does it make you worry about your wallet? Not to worry! Papa John’s loves the fact that Filipinos love to eat together and so they have a bunch of promos made especially for groups.
The Promos
I confess, I LOVE promos! Especially when the whole family comes together at home and everyone wants pizza … promos are there to save the day! 😀 Here are Papa John’s super duper awesome promos.
Grab 2 side items for free
Two is better than one! Buy any 14-inch pizza and get 2 sides for free from Friday to Sunday only. Choices for free side items are: 4 glasses of iced tea (dine in only), pepperoncini dynamite, cheese sticks, herbed parmesan breadsticks, single served featured pasta and season wedges.
This promo can only be enjoyed in the store and not for delivery.
Super Duos
Double deal! Get 2 Party Featured Pizzas for only P695.
SINGLE FLAVORS: Cheese Trio, Mexican Ole, Island Spice, Papa’s Deluxe, BBQ Bacon Lovers, Crabmeat Marinara, Pepperoni Buffalo, Bacon Cheeseburger Surprise, Honey Chicken Poppers Pizza.
HALF & HALF: Mexican Ole & Papa’s Deluxe are not available for Dine-In.
Pizza Holiday Mondays
Start your Monday with a bang! Grab our selected regular sized pizza for only P129 every Monday only.
Variants included are Bacon and Cheese, Simply Cheese, Italian Sausage and Cheese Trio. Not available for delivery.
P299 Pizza Party Tuesday
Come to our Happy Tuesdays. Experience our freshest pizza ingredients. Selected party sized pizza for only P299 every Tuesday only.
Variants included are: Chicken Bacon Ranch, Texas Heat, Simply Cheese, Garden Special, The Hawaiian, Pepperoni, Cheese Trio, Cheesy Bacon Melt and Cheesy Margherita.
Available for dine-in, take out, and delivery.
At the end of the day, though, I must confess, these are my favorites.
Creamy crab meat pasta
Pepperoni Pizza
Somedays, I just don’t want to think about what I will eat and these two are no brainers. Guaranteed happiness in every bite. 😀
But the best way to enjoy Papa John’s is with fellow foodies. 🙂
Papa John’s Pizza. Better Ingredients. Better Pizza.
I think I’m going to hop on over to Papa John’s now. Doo dee doo …
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 16, 2016 | Health and Wellness
What if, in the middle of your routine eye check-up, you ended up face-to-face with Philippine leading man Piolo Pascual?
I would be speechless and I may even forget to breathe for a few seconds there. And then at some point I may just go all fangirl on him and hug him (to get a feel of those beautiful abs :P) and then ask for a selfie, hopefully with his arms around me. 😀
But that’s me. What would be your reaction? Watch the video below and share the surprised reactions of patients during a vision screening set up by Essilor’s flagship brand Crizal®.
The new video is part of the brand’s campaign to encourage patients and customers alike to stay present in every experience of your life – or, better yet, to create your own precious moments with the clear vision that only Crizal® can provide!
So many people nowadays suffer from poor eyesight which means that many have need for glasses. Instead of getting ordinary lenses opt to spend a little more and get clearer vision with Crizal® lenses.
Crizal® lenses are available at leading optical shops and through eye care professionals nationwide. For more information, visit Essilor’s website at www.essilor.com.ph.
September marks the month-long commemoration of Alopecia Areata awareness worldwide. Alopecia areata is a condition when hair loss occur due to faults in the immune system attacking the hair follicles which results in partial or total loss of hair on the head and other parts of the body.
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