by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 9, 2016 | Food & Beverage
Torn between two classic Taco Bell favorites? No need to choose as Taco Bell rolls out its newest item on its menu – the Quesarito.
What is a Quesarito?
The Quesarito, as the name suggests, is a mash-up between cheesy gooey quesadilla and beefy meaty burrito.
Imagine a Quesadilla made with Taco Bell’s signature three cheese blend and nacho cheese sauce wrapped around a burrito filled with seasoned beef, Mexican rice, cool sour cream and creamy jalapeno sauce. Its two delicious flavors coming together to create something truly extraordinary!
Taco Bell’s Quesarito meal. Beverage not in photo because I was drinking it at the time. 😀
Have I tried it?
I had the opportunity to try the Quesarito meal for myself when I went to Taco Bell at the Ground Floor of Gateway Mall in Cubao. I usually like to drop by there on my way home from work for a quick bite and I was checking to see if there was anything new.
As I perused the menu I noticed they had a new product out so I decided to give it a shot. I love quesadillas and I love burritos so I thought to myself … “I eat rice topped with Cheez Whiz sometimes so this must be similar.”
And to some extent it is! What makes it different? Why everything that makes a burrito and a quesadilla different from plain old rice and cheese, of course! All the filling. 🙂 Add to that the side order of chips and a drink just complete the meal perfectly.
If you don’t say anything they will automatically give you the barbeque flavored chips for your side order. I tried it the first time and didn’t like it. Not because it wasn’t good but because I found the combination of cheesy Quesarito and barbeque chips too salty for my taste. When I asked for plain chips they willingly obliged me. 🙂
As for the beverage that accompanies it, you get to choose … soda or iced tea. I opted for RED iced tea (my favorite!)
Try the Quesarito for yourself!
Try the new Quesarito exclusively available for a limited time only at Taco Bell branches in:
- Gateway Mall (Ground floor and at the food court)
- TriNoma
- Alabang Town Center
Priced at P129 ala carte and P169 with nachos and a drink, this is a mash-up you wouldn’t want to miss.
For more updates, visit Taco Bell’s official website at www.tacobell.com.ph or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 6, 2016 | Stories
Citi – the country’s largest foreign bank launches Voice Biometrics in the Philippines, the first bank to roll out this groundbreaking authentication across Asia.
Starting October, clients of Citi Philippines will no longer need to remember passwords, or personal identification numbers, or answer a series of questions to verify their identities. The country’s largest foreign bank is the first bank in Asia to introduce Voice Biometrics, which simply means your voice is now your password.
Voice biometrics – now a reality in Philippine banking
Citi Philippines CEO Aftad Ahmed and Consumer Banking Head Bea Tan announced to the media the introduction of this groundbreaking technology being introduced to the Philippines.
With this launch, Citi’s more than 1 million clients in the country can now enroll in Voice Biometrics and let their voices be the means for authentication of their phone banking transactions.
In the press briefing attended by representatives of traditional media and bloggers Citi’s voice biometrics system was explained and demonstrated in several ways to showcase the level of security voice biometrics can give Citi clients.
First we set up the voice authentication system for one of the audience volunteers. It was a painless experience which lasted only a few minutes.
Next we tried to have one of the female audience members pretend to be someone else and midway through the call the real Citi customer took the phone and continued the call. Here voice authentication was not enough. Given the circumstances the client will either have to do one of two things … hang up and call again or answer a series of 3 to 5 verification questions.
Lastly, we had an existing Citi customer who had already enrolled in voice authentication call the Citi call center.
Aftad Ahmed, Citi Philippines CEO
“We are proud of our strong track record in innovation, and we are delighted to once again take the lead in introducing a game changer in the banking industry,” said Ahmed.
“We are relentlessly focused on making it more convenient for our customers to bank with us. Voice Biometrics will deliver convenience and additional protection for their accounts.”
The voice biometrics authentication capability identifies customers through their voice print, which, similar to a fingerprint, is unique to each person. Citi clients can opt to enroll by recording their voices, which the bank will use to generate and store their voice prints for matching subsequent calls to Citibank. Each voice print will be uniquely tagged and cannot be reverse engineered once stored.
Once available, customers who call into the bank’s contact centers will have their identity automatically verified within 15 seconds or less as they explain their reason for calling. This is a reduction from an average time of around 45 seconds currently or 66% less time spent verifying their details currently.
Bea Tan, Citi Philippines Consumer Banking Head
“Voice biometrics is a great example of how we at Citi listen to our clients and leverage technology to address their concerns,” explained Tan.
“With our client’s agreement, we can digitize their voice print and with a successful registration, the next time they call, we will do away with the three to five questions to verify their identity, which can take between 45 and 60 seconds.”
To date, voice biometrics authentication has been implemented in the following countries in Asia:
- Australia
- Hong Kong
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Taiwan
It will be rolled out throughout the region in 2016 and 2017 to cover all 12 of Citi’s consumer banking markets in Asia Pacific that represent more than half of the bank’s 19 consumer markets globally.
Citi targets to be the first financial services firm to deploy voice biometrics authentication across Asia Pacific as the bank builds further on its successful innovation in retail banking in the region.
Citi has around 15 million Consumer Banking customers in the region and the bank expects to have at least 1,000,000 customers actively using voice biometrics authentication in the next 12 months. Within three years the bank expects the number of users to grow to 3,000,000.
Asia is an important region for innovation at Citi. Six years ago, the bank launched its new branch design – called Smart Banking – in Asia for the first time. The Smart Banking concept involves using technology, architecture and design and new retail channels to connect customers to their money and provide them with a better way of banking. Over 200 such branches have since been rolled out globally since the Asian launch.
About Citi
Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions.
Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.
For more information about Citi visit their website at www.citigroup.com or any of their social media accounts:
With Citi your voice is your password.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 5, 2016 | Stories
A total of 19 gorgeous married women and single moms successfully made it as finalists to the first-ever Mrs. Bacolod Globe 2016, a competition that encourages women in the City of Smiles to be movers of society and symbols of inspiration.
Nineteen gorgeous married women and single moms made it as finalists to the first-ever Mrs. Bacolod Globe 2016, a competition that encourages women in the City of Smiles to be movers of society and symbols of inspiration.
The Mrs. Bacolod Globe Competition
The pageant is a component of the national pageant Mrs. Philippines Globe 2016, a national competition established in 2012 under the auspices of Mrs. Globe, an international competition touted as one of the biggest international beauty pageants for married women and single mothers.
Carla Cabrera Quimpo, Mrs. Globe Philippines 2011.
According to Carla Cabrera Quimpo, National Pageant Director, franchise owner of Mrs. Philippines Globe, and Mrs. Globe Philippines herself in 2011, the turn out for the first Bacolod competition is very encouraging. “Each of the finalists embodies the positive traits of a true Bacolodnon woman. Their beauty, strength of character and achievements really shine through, making each a strong contender for the national title Mrs. Philippines Globe 2016.”
“Whoever advances to the national pageant will not only represent Bacolod well but will also serve as an inspiration to other married women in the province to become better versions of themselves,” added Ms. Quimpo.
The Finalists for 2016
This year’s Mrs. Bacolod Globe 2016 finalists are:
- Rosalia Jamaybay Fransz
- Janice Dinorog Makilan
- Michelle Christie De Castro Sayo
- Ma. Irene Altes
- Julie Kristie Martelino Mondia
- Analyn Marie Gayatin
- Mary Jean Medianero Basiano
- Mae Belen Gonzales Imperial.
Also included are:
- Monica Jeselle Pido Estrella
- Jean Eyre Lobaton Salazar
- Maria Theresa Tomayao Uhlmann
- Felamie Lopez Demegillo
- Stefannie Labis Montaner
- Jinky Dequina Girasol
- Kristoffersen Estrope Jison
- Michelle Duyungan Boyero
- Maria Althea Rose Mauricio
- Irish Menente Vale
- Rasha Mustafa Demonteverde.
The 19 finalists will compete in the Mrs. Bacolod Globe 2016 Finals Night on October 6, 2016, 7:00 PM at SMX Bacolod. Top actor Ian Veneracion will be gracing the event.
Candidates will be judged based on the following criteria:
- 50% beauty, personality and appeal, and
- 50% for physical physique.
The Awards and Prizes
The winner of the Mrs. Bacolod Globe 2016 title will win P40,000 cash while the first and second runners-up will each take home P20,000 and P10,000 cash respectively. Special awards will be given to 10 finalists including Darling of the Press, Best in Evening Wear, Most Beautiful Face, Mrs. Body Beautiful, Personality of the Year and Woman of Charity.
After the coronation, the Mrs. Bacolod Globe 2016 title holder will fly to Manila to compete in the Mrs. Philippines Globe 2016 National Competition on October 23, 2016 at the Samsung Hall, SM Aura, Taguig City.
The winner of the Mrs. Philippines Globe 2016 title will then fly to Beijing, China to compete in the prestigious Mrs. Globe international competition this December 11, 2016.
Founded in 1996, Mrs. Globe is recognized worldwide as a competition that celebrates not just beauty, goodwill, and tourism awareness through pageantry and competition; but more importantly, it promotes and supports the admirable strength of mothers by giving them a chance to reinvent and unleash the better versions of themselves, and to communicate the deeper strength of every woman.
For ticket sales updates, please like MrsBacolodGlobe on Facebook or visit www.smtickets.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 2, 2016 | Events
Bonifacio High Street is a favorite weekend fun spot for many residents of Metro Manila. Here we can find so many things that could cater to our whims. Spas, shops, parks, restaurants, cafes, dessert stores, kiosks, and many more.
New store opening at Bonifacio High Street
Baskin-Robbins Bonifacio High Street
Baskin-Robbins, the world’s most beloved ice cream brand, spreads more happiness as it opens its 14th branch at B8, Bonifacio High Street, Taguig, delighting ice cream lovers around the metro.
The newest branch of the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops features premium hard scoop ice cream, customized ice cream cakes and a full range of frozen beverages which will now be easily accessible to shoppers and residents within Bonifacio High Street and nearby areas in BGC.
President of IceDream Inc., exclusive licensee of Baskin-Robbins in the Philippines.
“There has been a lot of anticipation for the opening of this branch so we are looking forward to bringing our extensive flavor variety and fun factor to the lively Bonifacio High Street area. Guests can expect to enjoy their usual favorites plus a whole range of new and exciting flavors.” shares Michael Dargani, President of IceDream Inc., exclusive licensee of Baskin-Robbins in the Philippines.
To make the store opening more fun and memorable, Baskin-Robbins lined up a series of delicious treats for its guests and customers, including a special one time offer of their awesome range of ice cream flavors for just P31 all day on October 1.
Treats of the day
Apart from the sweet treats, guests enjoyed many freebies and various activities including a lively performance by the UP Dance Company, a friendly meet-and-greet with the Baskin-Robbins mascot, photo printing, face painting, a special booth called ‘Waffle Wonderland’ where guests could customize their waffles in various shapes and colors and ‘Fundae Sundae’ a booth designed for pure indulgence.
Waffle Wonderland
I felt some school loyalty so I opted for the green waffle cup. Animo La Salle! 😀 Cone or cup the choice is yours! For my ice cream flavor I chose Baskin-Robbins Double Chocolate. Yum!
Fundae Sundae
The fundae sundae is definitely a lot of fun … to watch them assemble and later, to eat.
- They take a cup and half fill it with toppings. I chose crumbled Oreos.
- Then they ask you for the flavor you want – here I chose Love Potion Dark.
- Then they take a sugar cone and push it down on the ice cream.
How to eat.
- Push the cone down a bit so that the ice cream picks up some toppings.
- Lift up and enjoy.
- Repeat as many times as you want until the toppings, ice cream, and cone are gone. 😀
Ice Cream Cakes
The brand’s delicious and mouth-watering ice cream cakes also attract dessert enthusiasts worldwide. Each delectable cake is made up of one’s choice of Baskin-Robbins ice cream flavors.
Available in a wide variety of designs and sizes, they are perfect to celebrate any occasion — birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, weddings, and graduations or just to satisfy ice cream cravings!
Baskin-Robbins was founded in 1945 by two ice cream enthusiasts whose passion led to the creation of more than 1,300 ice cream flavors and a wide variety of delicious treats.
Give in to your sweet cravings and join the fun with the opening of the newest Baskin-Robbins’ branch. Come visit the latest addition to Baskin-Robbins’ growing chain.
To avail of more exciting promos, visit a Baskin-Robbins store near you:
- Baskin-Robbins Uptown Place Mall, Central Square and SM Aura in Bonifacio Global City;
- Greenbelt 5 and Glorietta 2 and 5 in Makati;
- 2/F SM North, SM North The Block, Fairview Terraces and TriNoma Mall in Quezon City;
- SM Southmall in Las Pinas;
- SM Dasmariñas in Cavite and Solenad in Sta Rosa, Laguna.
For more updates, check out www.baskinrobbins.ph or its social media accounts:
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 30, 2016 | Discounts, Sales, and Giveaways
Baskin-Robbins, the world’s most beloved ice cream brand, spreads happiness to shoppers and promenaders as it opens its 14th store at B8, Bonifacio High Street, Taguig.
Baskin-Robbins BGC grand opening
To celebrate the opening of the newest Baskin-Robbins store, special treats await customers and ice cream enthusiasts. On October 1, the grand opening day of their Bonifacio High Street store, customers can have a taste of Baskin-Robbins’ iconic ice cream flavors for just P31 per junior scoop! There will also be fun activities and freebies for children and the young at heart during the grand opening celebrations from 4 to 7pm.
“There has been a lot of anticipation around the opening of this branch which is right in the heart of the action at BGC so we are looking forward to bringing Baskin Robbins’ fun and flavors to the neighborhood.” shares Michael Dargani, president of IceDream Inc., exclusive licensee of Baskin-Robbins in the Philippines.
As the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops, Baskin-Robbins creates and markets innovative, premium hard scoop ice cream, customized ice cream cakes and a full range of beverages, providing quality and value to consumers at over 7,600 retail shops in nearly 50 countries.
Baskin-Robbins was founded in 1945 by two ice cream enthusiasts whose passion led to the creation of more than 1,300 ice cream flavors and a wide variety of delicious treats.
Join in the fun and festivities of the launch of this brand new location and come visit the latest addition to Baskin-Robbins’ growing chain.
How to avail of this exciting promo
Come visit a Baskin-Robbins store near you:
- Baskin-Robbins Uptown Place Mall
- Central Square and SM Aura in Bonifacio Global City
- Greenbelt 5 and Glorietta 2 and 5 in Makati
- 2/F SM North, SM North The Block, Fairview Terraces and TriNoma Mall in Quezon City
- SM Southmall in Las Pinas
- SM Dasmariñas in Cavite
- Soledad in Sta Rosa, Laguna.
For more updates, check out www.baskinrobbins.ph or click on the links below to its social media accounts:
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 30, 2016 | Food & Beverage
Guevarra’s is rich in heritage splendor and reminiscent of a house built in the 1920’s. The picturesque garden surrounded with rich greeneries have so far been the foreground of several weddings, with each one of them forever etched together in history.
A wide staircase that leads to the veranda gives you the feel of aristocratic elegance of the forgone era. As you enter the dining area, get ready to be enthralled with art-deco pieces transforming your senses to a magnificent old-world charm.
Since its inception, Guevarra’s has shared its domicile to numerous occasions from Baptism, Birthdays and weddings to corporate gatherings and reunions. The interior of the establishment can comfortably accommodate 200 persons with each area of the entire establishment has a story to tell.
Art aficionados will get to enjoy the walls that houses several awe-inspiring paintings and hanged plates with praises and dedications of celebrities who visited the establishment. Complementing the art of food and visual arts. Go ahead and shoot those selfies on any of the picture worthy angles.
Born by fondness for food, Guevarra’s have continuously raised the bar of epicurean palate for buffet lovers with its unparalleled buffet line-up. Their passion for food and flavor inspires Seven Plates Inc. partners, Warren Sy, Patrick King, Felix Yu, Timothy Go, Victor Go, Raymond Co and Jeffrey Siy together with Chefs Roland and Jackie Laudico to produce a celebratory feast that will make this season more remarkable. From appetizer to dessert, each lovingly created with love and inspiration.
Guevarra’s Yuletide Menu
What better way to celebrate the yuletide season than sharing good food and great ambiance with your family and friends. This season the Celebrity chefs has prepared several dishes on top of their year-round favorites to enthrall your visuals and taste buds.
Whet your appetite as you munch on crostini with
Christmas Chicken Liver Parfait; flavorful and rich Liver pate with infusion of moscato to open up your taste buds.
You will definitely roll your tongue as you taste their
Beef Morcon with it melt-in-your mouth goodness of rolled Top round with Bacon, Spanish chorizo, carrots and hard-boiled eggs.
Fusion precision with
Embotido Lasagna Roll – Classic Filipino meat loaf covered with Lasagna sheet and baked to perfection.
Bask in the marriage of flavor and color of the
Fish Mayonesa – Baked whole fish with Tartar dressing topped diced red and green bell pepper, carrots and egg.
A western favorite that proved to be as sought after here in the country,
Roast Turkey with cornmeal stuffing paired with two kinds of sauces – Cranberry and Gravy.
Enjoy the creamy goodness of their
Christmas Macaroni Salad, a rich blend of macaroni, gelatin cubes, raisins and dressing.
Filipinos love their rice, hence the
Christmas Paella, Flavored rice dish with morsels of Liempo, Chicken and Chorizo.
Craving for dessert will never be the same as you sensitize your palate with these yummy sweets:
Classic Christmas pudding, baked bread cut-ups with generous spread of glazed fruit preserves.
Christmas Suman Fruitcake, Christmas twist on Filipino specialty suman served with fruit preserves
Now let’s move on to the obvious signs that we are in the Christmas season and welcome Puto Bumbong and Bibingka.
These 2 glutinous rice creations will surely make you feel the warmth of the season in a classic manner.
We give back to the community
In the spirit of the season, let’s give back to the community. Each buffet head will automatically contribute a portion of the proceeds to benefit the Children’s Joy Foundation, a center that houses disadvantaged children in the country which Guevarra’s have been supporting for the past four years.
Where is Guevarra’s?
Guevarra’s is located at 387 P. Guevarra cor. Argonnes St. Addition Hills, San Juan.
Buffet rates at Guevarra’s are as follows:
Weekday meals (Monday to Thursday)
- lunch (Monday to Friday) – P399 +12% VAT
- maagang salu-salo – P499+12% VAT
- dinner – P499+12% VAT
Weekend Meals (Friday to Sunday)
- lunch (Sat. and Sun.) – P599+12% VAT
- maagang salu-salo (weekends and holidays) – P549+12% VAT
- dinner – P599+12% VAT
What time should we be there?
- Lunch is from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Maagang Salu-Salo 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Dinner is from 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM.
For Inquiries and reservations you may contact: 705 1811; 705 1874; 0917 311 2222. Follow them on Facebook: Guevarra’s ; Instagram: @Guevarras_ ; Twitter: @Guevarras_ .
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 29, 2016 | Stories
Dapat lang may quality time. Enjoy cooking with all the reliable safety features of Solane’s LPG
Solane, the country’s leading LPG provider has launched a campaign that advocates positive Filipino values and emphasizes the importance of family.
As the country gears up for change, ISLA LPG Corporation (ILC), the leading LPG solutions company and owner of the brand Solane, launches an advocacy campaign that aims to remind consumers of the importance of family and positive Filipino values.
Dapat Lang …
Drawing inspiration from the popular Filipino expression, which in English means, “That’s how it should be… Rightly so,” ISLA LPG launches the “Dapat Lang” campaign — a program that emphasizes the importance of doing the right thing, for the family, for others and society as a whole.
The campaign also touches on the importance of bringing back traditional Filipino values which have somehow been misplaced in our high-technology, fast-paced, modern setting. These values include commitment to the family, honesty, hard work, respect for others, and integrity.
“As we prepare for the many changes happening in our environment, we at ISLA LPG would like to remind everyone of the Filipino values that define us as a people and to put importance on the family, being a good neighbor and a valuable member of society,” said ILC-CEO Ruben Domingo.
“Our new campaign reminds all of us — our consumers, employees, and business partners — to do the right thing in everything we do, all the time, wherever we are, in order to truly bring out positive change in all of us.”
How will this advocacy of Solane be promoted?
The advocacy campaign will be communicated with various mediums — print and radio ads, social media, and online videos, showcasing a mom cooking the best dishes for her family, an employee putting in ample time at work, a chef preparing high-quality ingredients for his customers, a manager catering to the needs of the client, the Solane Hatid Bahay rider ensuring that LPG delivery is safe and on time.
As part of the Dapat Lang campaign, ISLA LPG is also launching a new website, which outlines the various ways with which Solane stakeholders can live out the new campaign principle in their everyday lives. The newly revamped site also features a blog that will serve as a way for ISLA LPG to communicate directly with its consumers, especially moms. The blog will feature quick and easy recipes and helpful and time-saving tips on cooking for the family, keeping a safe environment at work and home, and more.
Dapat lang good for the environment. Our expertise goes beyond our products. We aim for a better, cleaner, and greener environment.
For its part, ISLA LPG lives out the Dapat Lang campaign by doing what it does best since the brand Solane was launched almost five years ago — provide consumers with high-quality, safe, reliable LPG products.
“We value our consumers’ safety and we ensure that it is our key priority,” said Mr. Domingo. “We also value our customers’ trust by providing excellent products and services that are well worth their family’s hard-earned money.”
Moreover, ISLA LPG offers Solane Hatid-Bahay Service, an exclusive service provided to Solane LPG residential customers. ISLA LPG’s well-trained riders conduct a Weight Check in front of customers using calibrated portable weighing scales, assuring households of value for their money.
The Solane Hatid-Bahay riders also perform the 7-Point Safety Check free of charge to help ensure the safety of consumers and their families. This includes checking the surroundings, o-ring, regulator, regulator and valve connection, hose, hose connection, and flame quality.
Furthermore, ISLA LPG holds regular safety seminars for its customers as well as to various communities nationwide. The company’s employees and contractors follow strict compliance of safe LPG handling and fire safety. Through this, ISLA LPG has achieved a significant milestone of 13 million man hours without lost time injury.
This commitment to provide the best and safe product and service is, needless to say, reinforced with the launch of the company’s new advocacy campaign because as they say, Kapag LPG, Dapat Lang Solane!
To know more about the Dapat Lang campaign, visit Solane’s new website, www.solane.com.ph, and Facebook page, www.facebook.com/solane.ph.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 28, 2016 | Travel
TravelBook.ph is a top online hotel booking site in the Philippines. With over 2000 hotel partners, it ensures that travelers have the best options for accommodations no matter where their destination is.
TravelBook Philippines latest endeavor is the Blogger Affiliate Program which aims to help bloggers earn more while giving them the opportunity to travel, relax, and learn from various campaigns such as Blogger Getaways, staycations, trainings, and seminars.
As an Affiliate, you can earn as much as 65% commission for every successful bookings by referring your readers to TravelBook.ph with the use of their various marketing tools like banners, widgets, and hotel ad links.
The Travelbook.ph Blogger Affiliate Program Held it’s First Blogger Getaway in Caramoan
Recently, TravelBook Philippines hosted a 3 days and 2 nights Blogger Getaway in one of the most majestic places in Bicol – Caramoan, Camarines Sur. The 15 lucky blog winners were treated to an all-inclusive vacation. With two days island hopping, free accommodation, transportation, and full board meals, we’re that TravelBook.ph’s blogger affiliates experienced fun and adventure, all-in-one!
Here are some words from Travelbook.ph Caramoan Blogger Affiliate Winners!
Big heaps of thanks to @travelbookph for this wonderful Caramoan vacay! – Allan Bobis of
thefilipinorambler.comWe’re now heading home from the Caramoan getaway. A million thanks to the TravelBookPH team for their care! – Christian Lizardo Aligo of
capturingweekends.comLong weekend well spent. It’s a wrap! Thank you TravelBook.ph and TravelBook Blogger Affiliate Program for the awesome trip! – Charm Gamboa of
myscatteredthoughts.comI am surrounded with the best and the nicest people ever. The rest of the bloggers are so nice. I am having such a good time here. Thank you TravelBookPH. Hooray to new found friends and to more adventure! – Izza Glino of
savingspinay.com.phIf you want to experience how it is to be one of TravelBook.ph’s Blogger Affiliates, sign up now and be part of our program. Register at http://affiliate.travelbook.ph or email us at tr********************@***il.com.
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.
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As part of the Dapat Lang campaign, ISLA LPG is also launching a new website, which outlines the various ways with which Solane stakeholders can live out the new campaign principle in their everyday lives. The newly revamped site also features a blog that will serve as a way for ISLA LPG to communicate directly with its consumers, especially moms. The blog will feature quick and easy recipes and helpful and time-saving tips on cooking for the family, keeping a safe environment at work and home, and more.
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