Vibrant living at Citadines Millenium Ortigas

by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 12, 2017 | Lifestyle

Towering in the Ortigas Center, Pasig cityscape is a new international serviced residence, Citadines Millennium Ortigas Manila.

Managed by the world-renowned international serviced residence owner-operator, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), this milestone property marks Ascott’s entry into the Northern part of Manila located right in the heart of the bustling business and commercial district of Ortigas Center. The serviced residence is the 7th property in the fast-growing Ascott Philippine cluster.

Vibrant Living at the Center of it All

Offering vibrant living, the new serviced residence is an ideal home for business and leisure travellers who want to be at the center of it all.

It is just a few steps away from Ortigas’ corporate row, which includes the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Philippine Stock Exchange; and lifestyle options such as malls, dining & entertainment enclaves, golf courses and fitness & wellness establishments.

The location also allows easy access to key areas like Makati City, Wack Wack in Greenhills, San Juan and Quezon City.

Artsy Vibe with Nature-inspired Elements

lobby of Citadines Millenium Ortigas Manila

photo courtesy of ABS-CBN News

Residents and guests will truly feel at home at Citadines Millennium Ortigas Manila with its well-thought-of interiors and tasteful & vibrant design that magnify the property’s distinctive artsy vibe where you’d see splashes of lively colors, unique paintings, themed pictures, geometric accents and other works of art. The artsy vibe is uniquely mixed with bio mimicry that showcases designs bearing elements of nature such as stones, grass, leaves and chartreuse colors. For a cohesive look, design pieces, including the hallway carpets and other accents are nature-inspired.

All throughout the building, greenery is incorporated as part of the building features. Citadines Millennium Ortigas Manila has incorporated energy-and water-saving features throughout the property to help reduce carbon footprint. The building was built to conform to global environmental specifications by using energy-efficient lighting, which makes use of LED lights that burn less energy.

Apartment toilets feature water-saving fittings like the dual flush toilet cisterns to cut down on water consumption. Citadines Millennium Ortigas Manila make good use of natural lighting and ventilation to minimize environmental impact. More importantly, the apartments have double-glazed windows that prevent unwanted heat from coming in and help reduce medium to high frequency noise from outside.

The property also features pockets of green with its garden deck found at the building’s 4th floor, providing the serenity and beauty of nature amidst the bustling city.

Vibrant Living in Spacious Serviced Residences

Citadines Millenium Ortigas Manila serviced residences

photo credit to https://www.hospitalitynet.org

The 293 contemporary apartments cater to young business executives and couples on holiday exploring the city, offering various choices of spacious units ranging from studio to one-, two- and three-bedroom serviced units. Each apartment has touches of art and reminiscent of home with separate living and dining areas, a fully-equipped kitchen, and wireless internet.

For work-life balance, the service residence has a Residents’ Lounge overlooking the expanse of nearby cities, swimming pool and a fitness centre, ensuring an enjoyable stay.

Citadines Millennium Ortigas Manila also has function rooms, which could accommodate up to 250pax. It could also be divided into four conference rooms to cater to smaller functions. The ground floor will house two celebrated restaurants, Relish Luxe Café and Aburi Japanese restaurant.

The Ascott Limited

Citadines Millennium Ortigas Manila is managed by The Ascott Limited, a member of CapitaLand. The Ascott Limited has grown to be one of the leading international serviced residence owner-operators.

It has over 30,000 operating serviced residence units in key cities of the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East, as well as over 22,000 units which are under development, making a total of more than 52,000 units in over 300 properties.

The company operates three award-winning brands – Ascott, Citadines and Somerset, along with The Crest Collection and lyf. Ascott’s portfolio spans more than 100 cities across 29 countries.

In the Philippines, Ascott is the largest international serviced residence owner-operator with 14 properties (7 are under development) with over 2,900 units in Metro Manila and Cebu.

For inquiries and bookings, send an email to en************@********tt.com or contact (632) 550 3200.

Beauty starts with good skin care

by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 8, 2017 | Beauty

Good skin is something we all dream of and, for most people, seem unable to achieve. Pock marks, wrinkles, discoloration, scars – most have just given up on achieving that youthful skin. This is often caused by a combination of many things: bad eating habits, lack of sleep, and little or no skin regimen. Some say they wash their face everyday, while others say they only get to wash their face when they bathe.

Now, anyone can achieve the skin they desire by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and following a good skin regimen with the help of the new Ever Bilena Advance White Purity Cleansers and Toner.

If you’re just starting out with a skin care routine, your first step is the Ever Bilena Advance White Purity Cleanser, which comes in three variants – the Lightening Milk Cleanser, White Radiance Dual Phase Cleanser, and the Acne Solution Dual Phase Cleanser. Each variant addresses different skin care needs.

For those looking for something mild on the skin, the Ever Bilena Advance White Purity Lightening Milk Cleanser works best.

A lightweight cream-based cleanser, it removes impurities on the skin without stripping off moisture. It’s a gentle, non-foamy formula that leaves skin smooth and supple after every wash.

Alternately, for people who want to lighten their skin, the Ever Bilena Advance White Purity White Radiance Dual Phase Cleanser is the solution.

It’s packed with Vitamin B3 that lightens and moisturizes the skin. It can also be used to remove traces of make-up and deep-seated dirt on the face, leaving skin softer and smoother after use.

Lastly, if you are prone to acne, the Ever Bilena Advance Acne Solution Dual Phase Cleanser is the perfect cleanser for you.

It is infused with Salicylic Acid that helps fight acne, and the formula tightens pores to make skin clearer.

After cleaning the face with cleanser, apply the Ever Bilena Advance White Purity Lightening Toner. It is infused with Vitamin B3 to lighten and moisturize the skin, remove impurities and clarify complexion making your skin look young and healthy.

While best paired with the Ever Bilena Advance White Purity Lightening Milk Cleanser, it can be used well with any of the other Ever Bilena Advance cleansers.

Ever Bilena Advance is the premium product line under Ever Bilena Cosmetics Inc that takes your look to a whole new level. It provides a full range of make-up essentials, including eye make-up kits, CC and BB cream, foundation and concealer, cheek and lip tint, lipsticks, eye make-up remover, and paddle brushes.

To learn more about Ever Bilena Advance and its products, visit Ever Bilena’s website, www.everbilena.com.ph, and follow www.facebook.com/EBAdvance.

The herbal solution to good health in capsule form

by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 7, 2017 | Health and Wellness

Growing up my dad has introduced us to all sorts of herbal remedies and preparations – all of which were supposed to make us healthier and stronger.

I remember him putting brewer’s yeast with milk in a blender and giving it to me and my sisters to drink every night. It made the milk extra frothy and creamy. At the moment I can’t quite recall what it was supposed to do for us but I trust my dad. 🙂

And then there is the ampalaya plant. Most people know of the medicinal features of the ampalaya fruit but my parents introduced us to the healing power of the leaves which we use as a poultice for wounds and infection.

Malunggay, the wonder gulay

About 15 years ago years ago my dad read something about the healing power of the “lowly” malunggay plant.

When I gave birth to my daughter in 1992 I remember my mom making me soup made mussels and malunggay leaves. She gave me to drink the soup with the leaves specifically because malunggay is known to help nursing mothers lactate.

With my dad’s penchant for research he discovered that there is more to the malunggay plant than meets the eye. According to Trees for Life, the malunggay, also known as moringga oleifera, contains:

more Vitamin A than carrots
more calcium than milk
more iron than spinach
more Vitamin C than oranges, and
more potassium than bananas

That is amazing! All that from those tiny leaves!

Later my dad met someone from whom he purchased dried and powdered malunggay leaves. From another person he purchased some capsules made of vegetable extract. This, hypothetically, would have made it easier for us to consume our daily dose of malunggay.

Spooning malunggay powder into a tiny funnel and pouring it into the capsules is not difficult but is tedious work! I was better off just sprinkling it on my food. Take it from me, it wasn’t fun. Eventually I ended up not taking my daily malunggay dose.

Thankfully, this amazing product – malunggay, the wonder gulay, capsules are now readily available commercially at all Mercury Drugstores and other leading drugstores nationwide.

The Wonders of Malunggay in a capsule!

Full product name: Atienza Naturale Malunggay Capsule
Product base: malunggay (moringa oleifera)
Tagline: the wonder gulay

Atienza Naturale Malunggay

Malunggay leaves are great sources of Vitamin A, B-Vitamins, and minerals such as calcium and iron. What’s more, the leaves are also rich in sulfur-containing amino acids methionine and cysteine.

Due to its high content of potent antioxidants Vitamins A, C, and E, malunggay is an outstanding neutralizer of unstable free radicals that can react with and damage other molecules. Antioxidants diminish wrinkles and fine lines associated with aging. They may also prevent the onset of various chronic disorders like arthritis, cancer and heart and kidney diseases.

Malunggay is widely considered a “wonder vegetable” because of its immense nutritional value. It helps promote good eyesight and digestion. It may also provide help in cases of scurvy, asthma, earache, and headaches.

And due to its exceptional calcium content, it is consumed by lactating mothers to produce more milk to feed their babies. That’s why malunggay is also referred to as “Mother’s Best Friend”.

Now you can get all the health-giving benefits of Malunggay without the hassle of gathering leaves and preparing dishes. EACH CAPSULE OF ATIENZA NATURALE CONTAINS 500mg OF PURE AND FRESH MALUNGGAY so you get only the nutrients and minerals that will give your body the health boost and protection it needs.

THE POWER OF MALUNGGAY IN A CAPSULE!

Each capsule of Atienza Naturale Malunggay Capsule contains Vitamins, Iron, Calcium, and Antioxidants.

WHAT MAKES MALUNGGAY THE WONDER GULAY?

Its leaves are good sources of iron, calcium, ascorbic acid, and phosphorus.
Malunggay can help lower blood pressure, aid in relieving pain caused by rheumatism, headache and migraines.
Malunggay is an anti-tumor plant rich in very potent antioxidants, which may help prevent the onset of various chronic diseases like arthritis, cancer and heart and kidney diseases.
Internal organs are said to benefit from malunggay, good for treating liver and spleen problems and for joint pains.
Malunggay is a proven “Galactogogue”, valuable for lactating women as it helps stimulate milk production for feeding babies.
Malunggay has been extensively studied by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology with a stamp of approval and recommendation.

Dr. Rainier Neri Mozo speaks on the benefits of malunggay to the body #atienzanaturale #wondergulay

A post shared by Penny Tan (@slvrdlphn) on Jul 1, 2017 at 12:54am PDT

In 2014, physicians at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) – Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center (OMMC)’s Department of Internal Medicine and Intensive Care Unit embarked on a landmark study presenting the potential use of malunggay as a natural alternative to standard preparations used for lowering and regulating blood sugar.

To ensure that the malunggay in the study was administered in standardized doses, the research team opted to use Atienza Naturale Malunggay Capsules, as it featured the purest form of the herb in a medium that could be taken conveniently.

According to Doctors Rainier Nery Mozo and Imelda Caole-Ang, an extract derived from malunggay was instrumental in reducing Hemoglobin A1c, a key indicator in the level of blood glucose, in a control group of 60 patients at the OMMC.

The study showed a mean reduction of 0.6% in the blood glucose of involved patients after regular dosage of malunggay

OTHER INFORMATION:

A post shared by atienzanaturale (@atienzanaturale) on Jul 11, 2014 at 6:51pm PDT

VCAPS – Atienza Naturale Malunggay Capsule is encapsulated in vegetable capsules not in animal based substances.
Each capsule contains 500mg. of pure and fresh Malunggay leaves.
US FDA Facility Reg. No.: 17069452532
FDA LTO No.: RDI-MM-FW-5253
Available at all Mercury Drugstores and other leading drugstores nationwide.

Turmeric is not just for curry

For most people turmeric is easily associated with curry – not only for its smell and taste, but also for its color. Very few people know of its benefits to our health. Because my dad does a lot of research on these things we are some of the few people who have been privy to this information. 🙂

Just like with the malunggay, my dad purchased this in powder form but unlike the malunggay, it was easier for us to think about how to consume this since most of us at home enjoy spicy food.

But, you know how they say when you add heat to vegetables it lowers the amount of nutrients to be found in it? That’s true. 🙂 So we thought of encapsulating them, too. But just like with the malunggay powder, this was tedious and, in addition, messy! The yellow/orange powder clings to your skin and stains clothes! There has to be a better solution to this, right?

Feel terrific with turmeric!

Atienza Naturale Turmeric Capsule

Full product name: Atienza Naturale Turmeric capsule
Product base: luyang dilaw (curcuma longa)
Tagline: Feel terrific with turmeric!

What makes Turmeric so Terrific?

Turmeric, also known as curcuma longa, is a very common herb. Often referred to as the “Queen of Spices,” its main characteristics are a pepper-like aroma, sharp taste and golden color.

According to the Journal of the American Chemical Society, turmeric contains a wide range of antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic and anti-inflammatory properties.

It is also loaded with many healthy nutrients such as protein, dietary fiber, niacin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, potassium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and zinc. Due to all these factors, turmeric is often used to treat a wide variety of health problems.

Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant with Bioactive Compounds!

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals that damages the cells causing health problems while Bioactive Compounds have medicinal properties that may help in the treatment of some conditions such as:

Inflammation	Turmeric contains a natural anti-inflammatory compound called curcumin that can be beneficial for people suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
Cardiovascular conditions	Compounds in turmeric help to lower low-density lipoprotein, or “bad,” cholesterol levels and prevent cholesterol from building plaque on blood vessel walls. Turmeric can also prevent platelets from clumping together, which may reduce the risk of blood clots.
Cancer prevention	Turmeric’s preventive effects may relate to its antioxidant properties which protect cells from damage to help prevent or aid in the treatment of several types of cancers, including prostate, breast, ski and colon cancer. Intensive research is still ongoing for Turmeric’s anti-cancer properties.
Prevention of diabetes	Studies have shown that curcumin may provide ideal intervention for Type 2 diabetes capable of mitigating characteristic pathophysiological hallmarks of the disease such as elevated blood sugar and insulin resistance. According to clinical research, curcumin has glucose lowering effect and improves fatty acid oxidation and utilization.
Neurodegenerative conditions	Turmeric has also been studied to prevent or slow down the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease which is a leading cause of dementia. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of curcumin is generally believed to be cause various improvements in the pathological process of Alzheimer’s disease.

OTHER INFORMATION:

VCAPS – Atienza Naturale Turmeric Capsule is encapsulated in vegetable capsules not in animal based substances.
Each capsule contains 500mg. of pure and fresh Curcuma longa powder
FDA Registration. No.: FR-142046
FDA LTO No.: CFRR-NCR-FT-144
DOSAGE: 1-2 Capsules daily
Available at all Mercury Drugstores and other leading drugstores nationwide.

For even more information, follow Atienza Naturale on their website, Instagram, and on their Facebook page.

Super Brands for Super Deals

by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 5, 2017 | Discounts, Sales, and Giveaways

Attention all shoppers! From July 11-16, Lazada will be celebrating its Super Brands Week. That means you can get your favorite local and international super brands for super deal prices!

Enjoy up to 80% off on best-selling names such as Olay, Maybelline, L’Oreal, Samsung, Canon, Imarflex, Bosch, and MamyPoko.

Browse through the selection of newly onboarded brands, such as Fila, Speedo, Pedigree and Purina, EQ, Canadian, NYX, and Ever Bilena. And stay logged onto the Lazada site for some special promos, flash deals, and raffle prizes to be won throughout the 6-day event!

To make the most out of your Super Brands Week experience, make sure to keep an eye out for these show-stopping super deals in 4 Lazada categories:

Electronics

For those looking for a new laptop, there’s the Lenovo Ideapad 310 Intel Skylake. At the sale price of Php 29,899.00, this deal is 19% cheaper than regular store price.

For those more inclined towards tablets rather than laptops, there’s the Acer Iconia Talk 7, a wifi-ready cellular tablet for only Php 4,499.00

Fashion

Get a whole new wardrobe with some storewide sales for the following Lazada fashion brands: Sebago, Bobson, and Wrangler, all at up to 30% off. Freego at up to 50% off, and Peneshoppe at up to 55% off!

Home & Living

For those with a knack for tinkering in the kitchen, there’s the Pyrex 8” easy grab baking dish for only Php 599.00. Pair this up with the Imarflex over toaster for only Php 700.00 and you’re sure to cook up a storm!

Sports & Travel

Travel in style with Delsey! Get an iconic Helium Hard Case luggage trolley for only Php 7,250.00 – up to 55% off from the standard retail price. For short-term business trips, keep your laptop safe and sound in a Delsey Spacieux Laptop Backpack for only Php 2,400.00.

Baby & Toys

For new parents, get a classic Fisher-Price rocker for only Php 1,709, up to 57% lower than standard retail price. And don’t forget to stock up on your Huggies Dry Pants diaper supply, with prices as low as Php 576 for 60 pieces.

Last but not least, stay tuned to Lazada’s Facebook page at 12 noon from July 11-16. At noontime throughout all days of Super Brands Week, Lazada’s Facebook Live sessions will bring you celebrity guests, mystery Lazada boxes up for grabs, and special games to be played with Lazada Facebook fans.

Follow Lazada Philippines on Facebook to get the latest updates. See you at Super Brands Week!

About Lazada Group

Lazada is the number one online shopping & selling destination in Southeast Asia – present in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Lazada helps more than 80,000 local and international sellers, as well as 2,500 brands, serve the 560 million consumers in the region through its marketplace platform, supported by a wide range of tailored marketing, data, and service solutions.

Lazada offers an excellent customer experience through a wide network of logistics partners and its own first- and last-mile delivery arm.

Brook Lopez graces AXA PH-NBA partnership launch

by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 5, 2017 | Business

NBA star Brook Lopez, the Brookyln Nets’ all-time scoring leader, was the guest of honor during the official launch of the partnership between AXA Philippines, the number one global insurance firm for eight consecutive years now, and the National Basketball Association (NBA), the world’s most popular league, held at the Hard Rock Café in Makati last May 2017 as I posted recently.

Shown in photo are (L-R) Carlo Singson, NBA Philippines Managing Director, Brook Lopez, and Rahul Hora, AXA Philippines President and CEO

As part of the partnership, AXA Philippines will serve as the Presenting Partner of NBA 3X Philippines, a 3-on-3 tournament featuring men’s and women’s teams from all over the country and authentic NBA entertainment.

AXA Philippines will also support the Jr. NBA Philippines, the league’s youth basketball program for boys and girls, by providing travel insurance for participants embarking on an overseas NBA experience trip later this year.

Ridesharing promo codes for July 2017

by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 1, 2017 | Discounts, Sales, and Giveaways

Why ride a broom when you can ride in comfort this rainy month of July by taking Angkas, Grab, and Uber rides instead.

Can’t decide which ridesharing app to use? Let Google maps help you decide. Below are some promo codes to make our commute more affordable.

Uber promo codes

Good things come to those who wait. Here are the promo codes currently available for Uber riders.

Promo code: 280JULYWEEKEND

P70 discount
valid for four (4) rides from July 29 to 30, 2017 only
use with all types of UBER rides: UBERPOOL, UBER-X, UBERXL, and UBER BLACK
valid for both cash and credit/debit card transactions

Promo code: STAYDRYCEB

This promo code is for new Uber users located in Cebu only

P100 discount
valid for first four (4) rides from July 10 to 16, 2017 only
use with all types of UBER rides: UBERPOOL, UBER-X, UBERXL, and UBER BLACK
valid for both cash and credit/debit card transactions

Promo code: RIDEJULY200

P40 discount
valid for four (4) rides from July 03 to 09, 2017 only
use with all types of UBER rides: UBERPOOL, UBER-X, UBERXL, and UBER BLACK
valid for both cash and credit/debit card transactions

Angkas promo codes

Haven’t tried Angkas yet? If motorcycle rides don’t scare you then it is the perfect time to try this ridesharing service.

Promo code: AK450

P45 off 10 rides valid from July 31 to August 3, 2017 only

Promo code: ANGKASCEBU

Angkas is now in Cebu! I-level up ang habal habal with Angkas.

P20 off 1st ride valid from July 24 to August 4, 2017 only
for first time users in Cebu

Promo code: MANILA

For pickups and drop-offs within Manila City

P35 off five (5) rides
valid from July 24 to 30, 2017 from 4pm to 12 midnight only

Promo code: UNLI35

ALL DAY unlirides valid for the first 10,000 rides per day

P35 off ALL rides valid from July 20 to 23, 2017 only

Promo code: ANGKAS450

P45 off 10 rides valid from July 17 to 19, 2017 only
P30 off 15 rides valid from July 5 to 9, 2017 only

Promo code: WEEKEND400

P40 off 10 rides valid from July 15 to 16, 2017 only

Promo code: UNLIANGKAS

Unlirides within the 10am to 4pm window for the first 3,000 rides of the day.

P30 on first 3,000 rides of the day from 10am to 4pm
- valid from July 12 to 16, 2017 only
- valid from July 4 to 9, 2017 only

Promo code: MIDNIGHT

Book a ride from 12am (midnight) to 5am

P30 discount on three (3) rides valid from June 27 to July 2, 2017 only

Promo code: ANGKAS70

P70 discount on two (2) rides valid from June 27 to July 2, 2017 only

Promo code: ANGKAS

Free up to P80 off for first time users.

Grab promo codes

Did you know that you get double GrabRewards points when you pay using GRABPAY instead of cash? It’s true!

Level up faster when you use your Debit or Credit card or Grab Credits to pay for your booking. I am just a few rides away from GOLD myself which means:

priority access to new features
preferential pricing for ride rewards
access to exclusive rewards from partners

Whether you need a private car or are willing to share your ride, Grab has promo codes guaranteed to perk you up.

Promo code: GCPAMPANGA

Grab is now servicing Pampanga as well! That makes 4 areas – Metro Manila, Cebu, Bacolod, and Pampanga. Here’s a promo for FIRST TIME USERS in PAMPANGA

P50 discount on first five (5) GRABCAR rides
valid for new users for the first 6,000 rides only from July 30 to August 31, 2017
available in Angeles City, San Fernando, Clark, and Mabalacat

Promo code: 40SHARE

Use this promo code between 4am to 4pm only. Limited daily redemptions!

P40 discount
valid for two (2) rides from July 24 to 28, 2017 only
use with GRABCAR, GRABCAR PREMIUM, and GRABCAR 6-SEATER rides
valid for credit card, debit card, and Grabpay credits transactions only

Promo code: MIDDAY

P40 discount
valid for one (1) ride ON July 17, 2017 up to 5pm only
use with GRABCAR, GRABCAR PREMIUM, and GRABCAR 6-SEATER rides
valid for credit card, debit card, and Grabpay credits transactions only

Promo code: WALTERMARTGC

Use this promo code when going to Waltermart North EDSA, Makati, Bicutan, and Sucat

P50 discount
valid for one (1) ride from July 14 to 16, 2017 only
use with GRABCAR, GRABCAR PREMIUM, and GRABCAR 6-SEATER rides
valid for credit card, debit card, and Grabpay credits transactions only

Promo code: LEGALLYGRAB

This promo is limited to the first 10,000 redemptions per day.

P50 discount
valid for one (1) ride from July 13 to 14, 2017 only
use with GRABSHARE, GRABCAR, GRABCAR PREMIUM, and GRABCAR 6-SEATER rides
valid for credit card, debit card, and Grabpay credits transactions only

Promo code: GRABTRAVELOKA

A post shared by Grab Philippines (@grab_ph) on Jun 29, 2017 at 4:18am PDT

Get the chance to win P100,000 Traveloka credits with this promo code

50% discount up to P100
promo runs from June 7 to July 7, 2017 only
promo is available at the following areas: Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo and Pampanga area
use with GRABSHARE, GRABCAR, GRABCAR PREMIUM, and GRABCAR 6-SEATER rides
valid for credit card, debit card, and Grabpay credits transactions only

Citi Global Community Day 2017

by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 18, 2017 | Business

Citi celebrated its 12^th annual Global Community Day on June 10, with more than 4,600 Citi volunteers in the Philippines joining the efforts of nearly 100,000 of their colleagues, family and friends in 500 cities in 91 countries and territories to engage in service activities in their local communities.

In the days leading up to and including Global Community Day, Citi volunteers participated in more than 1,500 service projects ranging from urban revitalization to mentorship and job skills training, literacy and education, environmental conservation and disaster relief.

Global Community Day offers a wide range of opportunities to work alongside community and non-profit partners to help improve our cities and neighborhoods.

Michael Corbat, Citi CEO

“Citi’s annual Global Community Day is an important event for our firm and one I always look forward to,” said Citi CEO Michael Corbat.

“It provides an opportunity to deepen our relationships with communities we serve, which is absolutely vital to our business success. And it shows the impact we can have when our people show up in force — nearly 100,000 strong this year.”

Aftad Ahmed, Citi Philippines CEO

Leading by example, CEO for Citi Philippines Aftab Ahmed volunteered on back-to-back weekends starting June 3. Together with hundreds of volunteers, they helped Upper Bicutan National High School get ready for opening of classes by cleaning classrooms, painting chairs, and covering textbooks with plastic to be good as new.

On June 10, he showed support for persons with disabilities by joining their Freedom Walk in Quezon City Circle with nearly 300 volunteers.

“I am heartened to see the strong interest and enthusiasm among our employees, allowing us to set record participation year after year. I know that Citi employees make a difference every day in the communities where we live and work. However, with Global Community Day, we are able to unite across businesses and across the world and really demonstrate the difference a global bank can make,” said Ahmed.

Since the inaugural Global Community Day in 2006, Citi volunteers have contributed more than three million hours of service to Global Community Day projects in hundreds of cities. This year, Citi volunteers led hundreds of community projects across the world, some of which included:

Asia Pacific

Across Asia Pacific, there were more than 250 volunteer activities including:

In Australia, volunteers led workshops for young people from the Brotherhood of St. Laurence’s “Creating Futures for Youth” program to help improve their employability.
In China, Citi participated in events that delivered financial education through fun games to children and senior citizens.
In Japan, volunteers were participating in events to improve the environment, brighten the lives of children with serious illnesses and raise awareness to promote diversity and workplace equality.

Latin America and Mexico

Across Latin America and Mexico, there are more than 100 volunteer activities including:

In Mexico, volunteers engaged in a range of activities from donating, packing and serving meals to delivering financial education. Citi’s CEO Mike Corbat volunteered at the Emiliano Zapata primary school helping to revitalize learning spaces and joined volunteers at the Food Bank Association to help distribute nutritional food to families in need.
Citi Venezuela is celebrating 100 years in the country, and as part of Global Community Day, volunteers revitalized the green spaces of the Universidad Central de Venezuela, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Together with the Red Cross and the J/P Haitian Relief Organization, Citi volunteers in Haiti were contributing to the reforestation of Canaan in Croix-des-Bouquets by planting 3,000 trees and facilitating an environmental awareness session at a local school on the importance of preserving the environment and

Europe, Middle East and Africa

Across Europe, Middle East and Africa, there were nearly 500 volunteer activities including:

Across the United Kingdom, Citi volunteers participated in sustainability-related efforts, helping deliver career ready programming for young people, and redecorated a primary school to improve the learning environment.
In Greece, volunteers revitalized a children’s summer camp to ensure children have a safe and clean place to play.
Volunteers in Romania beautified the green area of Fundeni Hospital by clearing trash and putting up a playground, a small greenhouse and a picnic area for hospitalized children.

North America

Across the United States and Canada, there were nearly 700 volunteer activities including:

At Citi’s global headquarters in New York City, Citi teamed up with Feeding Children Everywhere to assemble over 200,000 healthy meals to help combat hunger, beautified and cleaned up green spaces along the Hudson River, assembled and distributed bicycles for low-income youth, and wrote ‘Thank You’ letters and packing hygiene kits for veterans.
In New Jersey, Citi volunteers created costumes for children in local hospitals, made a difference for young people and veterans by conducting mock interviews for professional IT jobs, and planted at the Wagner Farm Arboretum, a farm that helps increase environmental awareness.
In Canada, Citi volunteers hosted mock interviews to help youth increase their employability, cleaned the parkland behind Hershey Centre, built a home with Habitat for Humanity and prepared and served meals for those in need.

To learn more about Citi’s citizenship efforts across the globe and to review the 2016 Global Citizenship Report, visit http://citizenship.citigroup.com.

Novuhair honors our father, dad, papa, ama, tatay

by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 18, 2017 | Health and Wellness

In a traditional family the father is the head of the family, the pillars of our home. He works hard all day to provide for us and

Imagine working in a world where time seems to just past by and where almost everything changes instantly. Think of having to keep up with an environment where it costs a lot to stop or even slow down for a while. Sound taxing, right? What more of prioritizing the welfare of everybody in the household on top of it all.

But every head of the family doesn’t mind about it. Fathers are said to be the pillars of our homes. They toil sun up to sun down to give our needs and desires.

Some of them go abroad with tears in their eyes because they will be physically separated from their families. However, there is a certain joy in their hearts knowing that they will be able to provide for their loved ones back home.

To honor these gallant paternal men and let them feel how extraordinary they are and important their sacrifices are for their families, Father’s Day has been a yearly universal event. As we mark again this special occasion on Sunday, June 18, 2017, our applause and recognition will never be enough to show them how grateful we are to have them in our lives.

Our dads, together with our moms, take good care of us the moment we’re born. They are the ones who provide everything we need for our everyday lives. From infancy up to adulthood, they feed and clothe us.

As we take our initial baby steps, our patriarchs guide and lead us in the right direction. When we stumble and fall, they assist us to rise and move on. In times of danger or any threat, they shield us from any harm.

All of these, they do out of unconditional love. Their selflessness, though, has its own toll. Working tirelessly could lead to high levels of stress constantly and problems not only mentally, but physically, too. So better watch out for the signs.

Has tatay been constantly complaining about losing strands and strands of his hair every day? Or maybe has he been searching for a way on how to get them to grow back?

According to the hair loss statistics conducted by Statistic Brain in the year 2016, 40 percent of men experience noticeable mane vanishing as early as age 35. And as per the American Hair Loss Association, there are a couple of different factors that cause excessive hair fall, one being extreme degree of stress.

Nutramedica Inc. introduced a revolutionary product that aims to address this problem: NOVUHAIR, nature’s answer to hair loss. Being the only topical scalp lotion in the country that is made from 19 natural herbs, essential oils and co-factor nutrients all working synergistically, it’s perfect for all the heads of the family out there, be they biological or not.

NOVUHAIR is proven effective and safe to help prevent and stop the progression of hair loss and, at the same time, help promote locks’ growth. Simply spray a liberal amount of NOVUHAIR topical scalp lotion onto the scalp and massage for 5-10 minutes. Voila, it penetrates deeply into the roots, which helps rejuvenate, nourish, and maintain the natural moisture of the hair.

Still have no idea on what to give him on his big day? Well, NOVUHAIR might not be the most expensive gift to impress him, but the most valuable present he could ever have. This nature’s answer to hair loss provides him the chance to be ahead already in preventing his “crowning glory” from receding in the near future.

So, head on to all leading stores nationwide and get a dose of this breakthrough product. NOVUHAIR is also available in shampoo and conditioner formats to further complement the benefits of NOVUHAIR topical scalp lotion. NOVUHAIR is available at Mercury Drug and other leading drugstores nationwide. You may also order NOVUHAIR online at www.lazada.com.ph. For inquiries, you may call 413-6570 or 0922-8830575, and visit www.novuhair.com.

Lazada: Turning Sellers into Super Sellers

by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 16, 2017 | Lifestyle

Super Seller image credit to http://www.energysuccessteam.com

While the dawn of e-commerce has opened up a world of opportunity for entrepreneurs and business owners, it has also raised the bar in terms of competition. In many ways, sellers face large challenges when it comes to gaining attention, attracting customers, and most importantly, closing sales.

From June 19 to 22, Lazada will be launching a sale campaign that features top sellers that have made it big on the online platform.

By providing smaller overhead costs, nationwide capacity for logistics, and thousands of potential customers a day, Lazada has turned these sellers into Super Sellers.

Here are some of the deals that you will find during the Super Sellers Sale:

Neo Shift N81 8.9″ Intel Quad Core 2GB Dual OS Windows 10 Laptop, from the standard retail price of Php 11,999 down to Php 6,599.
Vertigo Hyperion Men’s Sneakers from Php 1,950 to Php 975
Portable Bluetooth Dual Speakers with Ultra Bass. Original price at Php 1,100 to the sale price of Php 390.
Six Pack ABS Builder, a slimming machine at the sale price of Php 1,799 from SRP Php 4,200.
Cardinal Compact Nebulizer with complete accessories, for only Php 512.

The Super Sellers Sale paves the way for Lazada’s July campaign, called the Super Brands Sale. With a focus on international brands, the Super Brands Sale will take place from July 11 – 16, 2017.

About Lazada

Lazada (www.lazada.com.ph) is Philippines’ largest online shopping mall and is pioneering e-commerce by providing a fast, convenient and secure online shopping experience combined with an extensive product offering in categories ranging from mobiles & tablets and consumer electronics to household goods, toys, fashion and sports equipment.

Lazada is continuously striving to offer its customers the best possible shopping experience with multiple payment methods including cash on delivery, extensive warranty commitments and free returns.

Lazada mobile applications for Android, iPhone and iPad provide additional convenience to its consumers’ allowing them to shop anywhere, anytime.

For more information, please visit http://www.lazada.com.ph. For updates on Lazada’s latest innovations, as well as activities, contests and promotions, connect with us via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/LazadaPhilippines).

Ever Bilena’s Makeup Mania

by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jun 15, 2017 | Awards and Competitions, Beauty

Buy more and win big as Ever Bilena, the country’s leading cosmetics brand, invites you to join Makeup Mania – a raffle contest open to all Ever Bilena customers and ongoing exclusively at all Watsons Stores nationwide.

How to join

Ever Bilena makeup

Joining is easy! Simply purchase two items or more from any of the following participating Ever Bilena products:

Ever Bilena Matte Two Way Cake
Ever Bilena Liquid Concealer
Ever Bilena Eyebrow Palette Pink and Brown
Ever Bilena Matic Brow and Eyeliner
Ever Bilena Matte Lipsticks
Ever Bilena Lip and Cheek Stain in Splash Red
EB Kleopatra Magic Lipstick
Evera Face Powder
Ever Bilena Luxe Lipstick, and
EB Blend Me Sponge.

Be sure to place all purchases in a single receipt.

Make sure to “like” Ever Bilena’s official Facebook page, www.facebook.com/everbilenacosmetics, and send them a personal message with a photo of your proof of purchase. Include your name, address, contact number, and Facebook account with the photo. Proof of purchase should be readable and clear.

Once sent, you will receive a notification from an Ever Bilena representative indicating that your entry is valid. The more entries you submit, the more chances you have of winning.