Better sight, better life with Piolo Pascual and Essilor Vision Foundation

Better sight, better life with Piolo Pascual and Essilor Vision Foundation

Piolo Pascual for Eye Can Succeed Advocacy Campaign of Essilor

Piolo Pascual for Eye Can Succeed Advocacy Campaign of Essilor

Top actor and eye health awareness advocate, Piolo Pascual, was recently appointed by the Essilor Vision Foundation (EVF) to personally lead the launch of its Eye Can Succeed advocacy campaign.

Eye Can Succeed aims to provide free eye check-ups and free prescription eyeglasses for 10,000 Filipino public high school students as they pursue higher education and achieve success.

The campaign supports EVF’s commitments to eliminate poor vision and its lifelong consequences, as well as to grant the underprivileged the opportunity to live a better life through better sight.

During the Eye Can Succeed kick-off at Rizal High School, Pascual gave a brief talk to inspire Filipino senior high school students to persevere more in their studies and never stop reaching for their dreams despite the challenges that come their way. He said, “I know how hard it is to study when faced with problems, especially poor eyesight. This campaign is set to alleviate this concern. So now, it’s up to you, students, to do your best and reach for your dreams.”

Four thousand students in grades 11 and 12 went through a series of eye exams conducted by volunteer eye care professionals. Those who showed signs of vision problems received free prescription glasses.

Lauren Wyper, Essilor Vision Foundation (EVF) associate director of communications remarked, “Launching the Eye Can Succeed campaign in the Philippines not only helps fulfill the foundation’s mission of enabling Filipinos to have better lives through better sight, but also helps spread awareness on the importance of proper eye care through an expanded network consisting of academic institutions, the media, and local campaign ambassador Piolo Pascual.”

For more information about EVF and the Eye Can Succeed advocacy, please visit Essilor’s website at www.essilor.com.ph, and follow @EssilorPH on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The dangers of side effects presented as main effects

The dangers of side effects presented as main effects

In the medical world. the proper use of words is important because a simple mistake could cause complications that are usually unwanted by both the doctor and the patient.  Medical jargon is too technical and complicated and difficult for the general public to understand so putting them in layman’s terms is helpful.

Side effect and main effect

Take for example the phrases “side effect” and “main effect”.  These terms are often interchanged in use.  Doing so is not just wrong it is also dangerous!

What is the main effect?

The main effect is the actual result expected by the physician when a prescribed drug is taken.  For example, you take paracetamol and your headache goes away.  And since paracetamol was designed as a pain reliever and fever reducer, then, mission accomplished!

Side effects of paracetamol appear usually when a patient overdoses on it.  Symptoms include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, sweating, and confusion or weakness. Later symptoms may include pain in your upper stomach, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes. (taken from https://www.drugs.com/paracetamol.html)

What is a side effect?

A side effect of any substance pertains to the result beyond the main or primary action that is intended by the physician giving drug prescription. The doctor, likewise, foresees this extra consequence.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil

For instance, the patient might not be conscious of the side effect of unwanted hair growth elsewhere on the body while using vasodilator drug called Minoxidil to treat hypertension.

The physician, nevertheless, is very well aware about it, as well as other implications, such as burning or irritation of the eye, itching, and redness or irritation at the treated area. By and large, doctors suggest that patients should ignore the side effects unless serious and often alert the sick persons about their likelihood.

Beneficial side effect

But not all side effects are bad, which is why some drugs which were initially developed for one illness have been repackaged and sold to address something else.  Let’s take Minoxidil, for example.  It was initially developed to treat high blood pressure but one side effect was hair growth in various parts of the body.

Hair growth products have since been developed containing 2% Minoxidil in a topical solution (since 1988 for men and 1992 for women) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) where the known side effects of the drug is controlled.

Adverse side effect

An adverse effect is a downside — it is an outcome wherein the reaction occurs over and beyond the main and wanted action of a medicine.  It happens when a prescribed drug is incorrectly used or the dosage is wrong.  In many cases, when the adverse effect is too serious, patients need to be hospitalized.

Sildenafil Citrate

Sildenafil Citrate

Let’s take the case of Sildenafil Citrate (first introduced into the market as Viagra) — a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Its most common adverse reactions (≥ 2%) include a headache, flushing, dyspepsia, abnormal vision, nasal congestion, back pain, myalgia, nausea, dizziness, and rash.

Patients should seek emergency treatment if an erection lasts over four hours. Patients should stop Sildenafil Citrate and seek medical care if a sudden decrease or loss of hearing and also that of vision in one or both eyes.

Since side effects paired with adverse effects can be fatal and need to be reversed or given antidote immediately, a very extra cautious effort not to interchange them with the main effects in the prescription process must be always observed. After all, it’s the lives of patients at stake here.

It is ironic that people who seek treatments for their ailments or to prolong their lives only become sicker because of improper use of the prescribed drug or confusing main and side effects.  In many cases, the best treatment is still to go natural.

Natural treatment for hair loss

Hair loss is not a permanent condition. It can be addressed the natural way with products like Novuhair, that provides safe and natural effects.

novuhair-ingredientsWith 19 natural ingredients—mostly standardized herbal extracts, essential oils and co-factor nutrients—it does not only help prevent the hair loss malady but also aid in stimulating the growth of the “crowning glory.” Set aside those chemical-based topical scalp solutions out there. Choose natural, choose NOVUHAIR!

NOVUHAIR is available at Mercury Drug and other leading drugstores nationwide. For more information visit www.novuhair.com, like the brand’s official Facebook Page, Novuhair Official, and follow on Twitter at @NovuhairNatural. You may also call NOVUHAIR hotlines at 4136570 and 09228830575 and order online through lazada.com.ph and regaloservice.com.

Experience Global Travel Cuisine at Epilogue

Experience Global Travel Cuisine at Epilogue

They say every great meal takes you on a journey to a new destination.  In many ways, this is true for the patrons of Epilogue, the newly opened Fine Bistro at S Maison. It takes every diner on a culinary experience that highlights the best of global travel cuisine.

Epilogue dining areaEpilogue is a concept rooted in kodawari, the Japanese dedication to craft and mastery.  The brand collaborated with several experienced chefs who all practice kodawari and have trained extensively in different parts of the world to become masters in their chosen culinary specialty.

The brand, which takes its name after the conclusive chapter of a book, stays true to the meaning of an epilogue. It is the platform where every one of the Japanese chefs showcases the culmination of his culinary journey.

Each chef is a master of his own craft, and they all work together to complete Epilogue’s thoughtfully curated menu.

Chef Tomohide Ono

Chef Tomohide Ono of Epilogue

Chef Tomohide Ono

Head baker Tomohide Ono, who has been a pastry chef for 20 years, is the brain behind the new bread and pastry recipes.  He has worked in famous bakeries in Japan, Indonesia, and Hong Kong.

With his new bread creations, Ono takes on the challenge of pleasing the Filipino palate.

Chef Hayato Mitsuhashi

Chef Hayato Mitsuhashi of Epilogue

Chef Hayato Mitsuhashi

Chef Hayato Mitsuhashi, on the other hand, specializes in Italian cuisine.  He has trained extensively in various Italian restaurants in Japan, Indonesia, and Italy for over 14 years.

His training in Umbria, Italy is what inspired him to create new gnocchi, risotto, and pasta dishes for Epilogue, using only the best and freshest ingredients.

Epilogue also has two outstanding Chef Directors, Chef Kenji Ishihara and Chef Minoru Sorimachi.

Chef Kenji Ishihara

Chef Kenji Ishihara of Epilogue

Chef Kenji Ishihara

Chef Ishihara is an award-winning pastry chef who has 30 years of experience in France, Japan, and Indonesia.

The beautiful cakes offered in the restaurant are the product of his creativity and constant experimentation.

Chef Minoru Sorimachi

Chef Minoru Sorimachi of Epilogue

Chef Minoru Sorimachi

Dubbed as the Steak Master at Epilogue, Chef Sorimachi has over 20 years of experience working in well-known teppanyaki steakhouses in Japan, and now runs his own steakhouse in Jakarta, Indonesia.

At Epilogue, customers can now have a taste of his excellent steaks and sides created to suit the Filipino palate.

Completing the impressive line up is Chef Hiroyuki Meno, whose expertise lies in French cuisine. He has honed and perfected his craft working in various Michelin-starred restaurants such as the Domaine Les Haut Roches in Loire, France, Le Pont de Ciel in Osaka, Japan, and L’Auberge De L’ill in Tokyo, Japan. He was also the executive chef of Brasserie Paul Bocuse and one-star Maison Paul Bocuse in Tokyo.


Every step of the way, these chefs have immersed themselves in the techniques and flavors of every new country they explore.  Each culinary master seamlessly combines Western flair with Eastern care, taking diners on an exceptional gastronomic adventure—to be experienced where their stories intersect—at Epilogue.

Epilogue is a homegrown brand under the Food Revolution Group. To know more about Epilogue, go to www.epilogue.ph or visit Epilogue at G/F S Maison, Conrad Manila, Ocean Drive, Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

Keep your hydration levels in check

Keep your hydration levels in check

Did you know that your skin can be moisturized but not properly hydrated?  Hydration and moisturization are actually two different things.

  • When you hydrate your skin, you ensure that your skin cells retain more water, resulting in healthier and younger-looking skin.
  • When you moisturize, you apply a protective layer on your skin that ensures that the moisture in your cells is not lost.
Moisturize. photo credit to http://www.iam-active.com

Moisturize. photo credit to http://www.iam-active.com

Dullness and tightness are telltale signs of dehydrated skin. When your skin is rough, dry or flaky—or all of the above, you need a moisturizer to retain your skin’s lipid barrier. The result is healthy skin that is soft and smooth.

If you only use a moisturizer, it may help ease your dry skin, but it does not address the cause of the problem and, chances are, you will need to reapply throughout the day. To make your skin truly healthy, you need to apply a hydrating lotion to plump up your cells.

Hydrators and moisturizers should be used in tandem for you to have healthy, hydrated, smooth and supple skin. Humectant ingredients in hydrators, like glycerin, can attract water from the surroundings by absorbing them, then binding them to the skin.

man drinking water

Sure, by drinking water, you keep yourself hydrated. But topical hydration registers more immediate results: younger-looking skin and well-functioning skin cells.

Cetaphil lotionFor your daily skin routine, first, apply a hydrating lotion like Cetaphil DailyAdvance Ultra Hydrating Lotion that is clinically proven to hydrate dry skin for 24 hours. It also contains Epidermal Replenishing Complex (ERC5), a unique combination of 5 ingredients, that helps maintain healthy skin.

Then, you can follow on with a moisturizer like Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion. They are non-greasy, non-comedogenic and fragrance free.

If you have oily skin, you still need a hydrator, though you may need to apply moisturizer less often.


Here are a few more tips:

Use fragrance free, non-comedogenic products that will hydrate and moisturize your skin, but neither irritate nor clog your pores.

natural exfoliants

natural exfoliants

Exfoliate before you hydrate and moisturize. This way, you remove the dead skin cells that may hamper your skin’s absorption. Using a loofah or bath glove when I bathe makes me feel squeaky clean!

no-to-hot-showers

no to hot showers

As much as possible, do not take hot showers or baths, because the heat reduces your skin’s moisture and protective oils. I am personally a big fan of hot baths so this little tidbit here is depressing news for me. 🙁  But I believe in compromises so I take warm showers instead and finish with a cold one. 😀

When the weather feels like it’s drying out your skin, have a water spritzer handy to keep your skin moist. My all-time favorite?  Evian!  Yey! 😀


Cetaphil DailyAdvance Ultra Hydrating Lotion and Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion are available in drugstores, department stores and supermarkets nationwide.

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion also now comes in a new 118ml size with an SRP of Php 300.

Natural is still best to de-stress your tresses

Natural is still best to de-stress your tresses

When we are stressed it shows up on our face, our skin, and yes, even our hair! One common symptom of stress is hairfall.  Striking a life balance is no easy task to do. It requires hard work and dedication which sometimes can be strenuous to achieve. Can you imagine how overtaxing it is to juggle between your career and providing for your loved ones?

stressStudies have shown that stress is commonly caused by interrelationships, such as having to deal with work issues and family-related complications. If left unresolved over time, it could lead to immune deficiency, which later on, might cause other parts of our body to show signs of disruption like hair loss.

Many of us could attest to that. It’s like always autumnal equinox whenever we experience chronic hair fall, most especially at the prime of stress. At its peak, our white blood cells attack no less than the follicles, thus causing alopecia. What’s more, anxiety could drive your mane into a prolonged resting phase, which is called telogen effluvium.

Novuhair restStress experienced by the body or beyond our coping resources could trigger hair loss symptoms, which, if not addressed properly, could result to early baldness. Worried about this? Fret no more. You can beat it simply by relaxing, eating or flexing some muscles.

Never underestimate the power of sleep. If you feel that you are over your head in dealing with anxieties, choose to rest it off for a while and recharge.

Let’s get physical to de-stress. It helps release endorphins, or what is known as the happy hormones, that can be beneficial in relieving the tension.

The West Side Story comes to Manila

Westside Story

Westside Story

How about rewarding yourself? Watch the timeless story of Tony and Maria and their fateful love affair as the electrifying classic WEST SIDE STORY musical premieres at The Theatre at Solaire on August 10. Click here for more information.

Eat more fruits and veggies. Having these as a staple in your diet will bolster your immunity from disease, which in turn, knock out stress. We can all benefit from the vitamins and minerals of the healthy food we consume.

It’s best to complement these simple regimens with a topical solution that’s safe to keep your crowning glory at its robust state. NOVUHAIR, nature’s answer to hair loss, is made up of 19 natural ingredients that work in synergy to help remedy stress-related hair loss and promote healthy tress and scalp.

The challenge in preventing these mane problems is to keep your locks healthy with proper care and let it grow naturally sans subjecting your hair to temporary relief with the use of harmful chemicals. Go natural.

NOVUHAIR contains natural extracts, herbal oils and essences, such as lavender that is also known to relieve stress. It also has a scent that leaves a calming effect.

novuhair-ingredientsNOVUHAIR is available at Mercury Drug and other leading drugstores nationwide. For more information visit www.novuhair.com, like the brand’s official Facebook Page, Novuhair Official, and follow on Twitter at @NovuhairNatural.

You may also call NOVUHAIR hotlines at 4136570 and 09228830575 and order online through lazada.com.ph and regaloservice.com.

The Fight Against World Germination becomes Fun

The Fight Against World Germination becomes Fun

Hygienix Germicidal Soap

Hygienix Germicidal Soap

Join #Hygienix in its #FightWorldGermination Campaign. Oh no! The #Germperor has sent the most vicious #Germdugo to terrorize humans by spreading germs, unpleasant odors and sickness. But fear not! The Hygienix Shower Rangers are here to the rescue!

Each Shower Ranger is armed with a special weapon to make bath time with Hygienix Germicidal Soap fun yet effective for the entire family!

  • Germ Killer kills 99% of disease-causing germs and bacteria
  • Non-Drying Formula keeps your skin soft and moisturized
  • Refreshing Scent gives you a cool, refreshing scent
  • Super Sulit makes it affordable, with a PhP 12 SRP
Hygienix Antibacterial products

Hygienix Antibacterial products

Hygienix is a complete system of antibacterial products so you can #FightWorldGermination wherever you are!

Hygienix Germicidal Soap kills 99.99% of germs and common disease-causing bacteria while moisturizing skin. Hygienix 65% Ethyl Alcohol effectively kills germs and disinfects but doesn’t dry skin.

Hygienix Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel and Hygienix Anti-Bacterial Hand Spray sanitize while keeping hands smooth and soft.

Hygienix Products

Hygienix Products

Get Hygienix antibacterial products from major supermarkets, drugstores and groceries nationwide including Puregold, Robinsons Supermarket, Mercury Drug, SM Supermarket, Super 8 and many more.

Follow the continuing Fight Against World Germination on:

Check out the battle between Germdugo and the Hygienix Shower Rangers here or on their Facebook page and Youtube Channel:

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