by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 26, 2017 | Health and Wellness
Ramen lovers in North Metro can now enjoy Japanese culture in a bowl as Hokkaido Ramen Santouka brings its authentic, passionately-cooked ramen recipe to UP Town Center on Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka opens its 11th branch at the UP Town Center to give residents of the area and neighboring communities a taste of the unique family ramen recipe developed in 1988.
Santouka’s ramen offerings are masterfully made with imported ingredients — from the noodles down to the soup, which is cooked for 20 hours daily to keep it fresh and healthier but delicious to the last drop.
The opening of the new branch features special discounts available until October. Students can truly say TGIF (thank God it’s Friday) every Friday from September 22 to October 13 as they enjoy 20% discount on Santouka’s new offerings: fried chicken tsukemen and tonkatsu tsukemen upon presentation of a valid student ID.
They may also treat themselves with the buy one, get 30% off on second order of a regular takoyaki or cheese takoyaki promo.

Soft-Shell Crab Salad and Sushi
From September 23 to 30, diners at Hokkaido Ramen Santouka UP Town Center can avail of the soft-shell crab salad and sushi promo with free matcha ice cream with every order. Currently, the soft-shell crab salad and sushi, regular takoyaki, cheese takoyaki, fried chicken tsukemen and tonkatsu tsukemen are only available at the UP Town Center branch.

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka photo credit to thebaginvestigator.com
Visit Hokkaido Ramen Santouka at UP Town Center and experience the best, carefully prepared ramen.
Get to know more about Santouka. Visit its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RamenSantoukaPH and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SantoukaPh, or go to any Hokkaido Ramen Santouka branch near you.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 25, 2017 | Health and Wellness

Natural beauty takes center stage as Lazada holds its Naturals Beauty Fair from Sept. 27 to 30. The nature-based campaign led by Unilever will bring out your inner glow with your most-loved naturals beauty finds at a steal.
Give your hair the de-stressing it needs with TRESEMME’s Detox & Nourish Range for as low as P106. TRESEMME’s Detox & Nourish Shampoo 170ML will have a promo price of P106 while the conditioner will be available for P110 during the sale.

Enjoy up to 30% off on ST. IVES’ body wash. Both of ST. IVES’ Purifying Sea Saltand Smoothing Apricot Body Wash will be priced at P168 during the campaign period – a 30% discount from its SRP of P240.

St. Ives Natural Glow Kit
Also to launch first in Lazada is the Natural Glow Kit. For only P171, you’re getting not only the 170-gram ST. IVES Apricot Scrub but also a 28-gram travel-sized Apricot Scrub tube.
Other brands to participate in the Naturals Beauty Fair include DOVE which will have limited edition gift sets for only P99 and POND’S with its limited edition Washable Cold Cream gift sets.
SIMPLE will also have as much as 50% off on its products and VASELINE will offer as much as 15% off. To top it all, you will also get an extra 10% off with the voucher code NATURALBEAUTY with a minimum purchase of P700 on participating Unilever products.
So mark your calendars and visit http://www.lazada.com.ph/naturals-beauty-fair/ from Sept. 27 to 30 to take advantage of these beauty treats!

by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 24, 2017 | Health Tips, Public Service
You may have completed your vaccinations when you were a child, but do you know that vaccines are not only for kids but for adults, too? Vaccines are among the most cost-effective health interventions available. They help ensure optimum health.

Dr. Nicky Montoya, Medicard President
“Vaccines provide heightened protection against diseases, disabilities, and even death. They prepare the body to fight diseases without exposing the person to the symptoms. Many believe immunizations are for children only. But you are never too old to get vaccinated. Newer vaccines are being developed and booster shots may be necessary to maintain the efficacy of certain vaccines. Vaccination is important especially if you have a chronic disease, are pregnant, sexually active, or if your work requires you to travel to places where you can be exposed to different diseases,” says MediCard president and CEO Dr. Nicky Montoya.
MediCard, a leading HMO provider in the country, debunks some myths on vaccinations:
Myth: Vaccines are for children only.

Fact: Vaccines don’t offer lifetime immunity to diseases; they stimulate antibody production. Almost all vaccines wear off after 5-10 years. Getting vaccinated as an adult is just as important as getting it when you are young because you might be at risk for a new or different disease. The vaccinations you need are determined by factors such as age, lifestyle, health conditions, travel, and previous immunizations. To find out what vaccines you need, consult your doctor.
Myth: Vaccines are ineffective and harmful.
Fact: Vaccines are effective and safe. They go through comprehensive testing before they are approved for general use. They are also continuously monitored for safety and effectiveness. For those who worry that vaccines will cause serious side effects, Dr. Montoya says such cases are very rare. Normal reactions to vaccination include redness, pain, and swelling in the body part where the shot was given.
Myth: Vaccines weaken the immune system.
Fact: Vaccines actually strengthen the immune system and help fight diseases. Vaccines strengthen the immune system by safely introducing an antigen, a substance that triggers the production of antibodies needed to neutralize viruses and bacteria. Vaccines also stimulate defense mechanisms that provide protection against specific diseases. Fears that vaccines can overload the immune system are unfounded because a healthy person’s immune system can recognize and handle thousands of organisms at once.
Myth: Vaccinations are not needed if you live a healthy lifestyle.

Fact: Good hygiene, a balanced diet, and an active lifestyle can help prevent the spread of diseases, but you are still exposed to germs and viruses. This is why getting vaccinated is encouraged, even if you live a healthy lifestyle, as it provides a significant level of protection from diseases. Learn more about vaccinations. MediCard has several free-standing clinics located in key cities nationwide that offer consultations, tests, and vaccinations. Visit a MediCard clinic near you or check out their website at www.medicardphils.com for more information.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 23, 2017 | Events
They say that teaching is the only profession that creates other professions. I believe this to be true. Without a teacher there wouldn’t be doctors, engineers, mechanics, artists, etc., and yes, more teachers.
Most, if not all of us would agree that our first teacher was our parent (mom). She taught the difference between right from wrong. Then at age 3 or 4 (sometimes older) we are sent off to school everyday to learn from another person … our school teacher. Our teachers change from subject to subject, quarter to quarter, term to term, year to year. And in all that time and all those teachers there is often one or two that we remember fondly — the teacher/s that made a great impact in our life.
In a recent presscon, Director Anthony Hernandez and the cast of the movie introduce New Generation Heroes, their new movie that will be available for viewing starting October 4. New Generation Heroes is a World Teacher’s Day presentation.
The New Generation Heroes
Director Anthony Hernandez honors teachers in his upcoming film, New Generation Heroes. In this film he features four (4) teachers starting with a retired, well-respected and well-loved teacher of 40 years played by Anita Linda,
In comes a pushcart educator named Gener played by Jao Mapa. His character is most likely inspired by the story of Efren Peñaflorida, the pushcart educator who was named CNN Hero of the Year in 2009.
Efren Peñaflorida, CNN Hero of the Year in 2009

Third is an enterprising teacher named Lolita played by Mrs. Universe 2017 Joyce Peñas Pilarsky. She is a widow and the sole provider for her children.
Her need to raise her family has led to her finding all sorts of ways to make enough to make ends meet besides teaching – networking, buy and sell, selling home-cooked meals, etc.

And last is Cora played by Aiko Melendez, an OFW who is an English teacher in Korea.
She decided to work overseas in an effort to give her family in the Philippines a better life — tuition for her 2 children and the construction of their home. Little did she know that her husband was using the money she sent home on alcohol and gambling and her eldest child, Tony, was a drug addict.
Her son, Tony, was killed by the police as part of the government’s operation “tokhang” and this became her motivation to leave her job in Korea and decide to come back home to the Philippines.
Four stories of dedication, strength of character, love of family … these four are the new generation heroes.
New Generation Heroes can be viewed at SM Cinemas starting Oct. 4, 2017. Watch this film and think about those beloved teachers from our past and present.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 22, 2017 | Technology
The Internet of Things (IoT) has gone beyond being a buzzword and established a new world order wherein technology works to make people’s lives easier and more manageable.

The Jetsons by Hanna-Barbera
Suddenly, all the contraptions that we saw in the animated series “The Jetsons” do not seem that far from reality.

The Internet of Things. Image taken from electronicsofthings.com
When you think of IoT, you may think of wearables that track how much exercise and sleep you get or watches that allow you to send text messages. Then, of course, there are the many, many things you can now take control with the use of your smartphone.

LG Smart Thinq app available on Google Play and the Appstore
LG’s SmartThinQ is user-centric. It helps consumers better manage their lives through intuitive technology that fills the need for more convenient and more efficient home care.
SmartThinQ allows you to control the temperature settings of your LG InstaView Door-in-Door Refrigerator even when you’re not at home. That means you can decrease energy usage when you don’t have too many items in there and you can even turn on the Express Freeze function so that you have enough ice cubes when you get home for entertaining guests.
Smart Diagnosis helps troubleshoot simple problems with your refrigerator, even suggesting ways you can conserve energy based on your usage history.
On the LG TWINWash, SmartThinQ lets your phone function as a smart remote control so you can start your laundry even when you’re already far from home. You can also monitor how your load is coming along and push alerts are sent to your phone when the cycle is complete or an error occurs in the machine.
Smart Diagnosis also allows you to fix minor problems without having to call the service center. Taking the guesswork out of doing the laundry, the Energy Monitoring feature provides helpful data and LG’s HomeChat™ service allows you to check the status of the washing machine using everyday natural language.
More Innovative Ways on the LG InstaView Door-in-Door Refrigerator

The LG InstaView Door-in-Door Refrigerator only requires you to knock twice and the sleek mirrored glass panel will illuminate, revealing the contents of the easy access compartment.
That means you don’t have to keep opening the refrigerator door and peeking inside — that equates to energy savings and up to 41% less cold air loss, keeping your food and drinks fresher for a longer period of time.
Meanwhile, the Moist Balance Crisper keeps the moisture level for your fresh produce at the optimal level. That means crunchier vegetables and fruits. It also features the SpacePlus Ice System with an ice storage space that is 20% bigger than the conventional. The Inverter Linear Compressor gives you 32% energy savings.
More Innovative Ways on theLG TWINWash

The LG TWINWash cuts down time you spend doing the laundry because you can do two separate loads at the same time: the bigger TWINWash for your regular load and the TWINWash Mini for delicates.
It also features LG’s unique TurboWash 2.0 technology: a nozzle inside the drum of the main washer sprays a concentrated solution of detergent directly onto the clothes and another high-pressure nozzle sprays tiny water particles through the clothes during high spin cycles for more effective rinsing.
Meanwhile, the revolutionary Inverter Direct Drive motor is attached directly to the drum. This improves wash efficiency and enhances the machine’s durability.
“We have greatly involved ourselves in the smart ecosystem with IoT Technology to deliver our promise of bringing a better life through innovation.” LG Philippines Home Appliance VP Wooyoung Jeon said. “Through the SmartThinQ technology, LG has increased connectivity to help you take control of important, everyday tasks on your washing machine and refrigerator remotely–not only in terms of easy functions but also troubleshooting–all with a few taps on your smartphones”.
About LG Electronics, Inc.
LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing 82,000 people working in 119 locations around the world.
With 2013 global sales of USD 53.10 billion (KRW 58.14 trillion), LG comprises four business units ― Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance & Air Solution, and Vehicle Components ― and is one of the world’s leading producers of flat panel TVs, mobile devices, air conditioners, washing machines and refrigerators. LG Electronics is a 2014 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year.
For more news and information on LG Electronics, please visit www.LGnewsroom.com.
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