by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 17, 2021 | Health and Wellness
The sweltering summer days are over as the country’s weather bureau declared the start of the wet season. During this season, we need to keep our guards up because many illnesses emerge. These include diarrhea, caused by viral or bacterial infection; waterborne illnesses like typhoid fever, cholera, and leptospirosis; and vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue.
To avoid contracting these diseases, Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI) — the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country — reminds the public to keep hydrated, especially that we are in the middle of a global pandemic.
“It is important that we keep our immune system strong. One of the easiest ways to do this is to stay hydrated,” said PCPPI president and chief executive officer Frederick D. Ong.
To stay fit and protect yourself from diseases, here are some healthy habits you may do.
Eat healthily
What you consume today will have a huge impact on your health in the future. A good eating habit is one of the most basic practices to have a robust immune system.
Making a well-balanced meal is simple – just add more fruits and vegetables, choose whole grain food, switch to low or zero fat options, and cut back on sugar.
Exercise regularly
Exercising remains one of the most effective methods to strengthen your body during the rainy season. You do not have to buy expensive machines or pay for gym subscriptions. You only need at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. To safely exercise at home, you may check various workout videos online. If you opt to do an outdoor walk or run, follow social distancing and other safety protocols.
As part of your workout routine, replenish what you lose in sweat with sports drinks like Gatorade. It contains electrolytes that rehydrate your body to avoid dehydration.
Get enough sleep
Getting enough sleep is as important as eating healthy and exercising. A study from the Carnegie Mellon University found that people with poor, short sleep have a greater chance of getting sick.
Quality sleep helps uplift your immune system. To get quality sleep, reduce your blue light exposure at night, avoid caffeinated drinks before bedtime, and reduce daytime naps, among others.
Hydrate
Proper hydration is vital in having a strong immune system. It detoxifies and flushes out waste materials from your body. It also helps transport nutrients to our organ systems.
Taking in safe water is a must to avoid infection from water-borne diseases. To have clean drinking water, you need to boil water for at least three minutes or do water chlorination. Or you can drink purified bottled water, like Aquafina and Premiere.
If you’re moving all day and feel sluggish or tired, that’s because you lose more than just water when you sweat. You lose fluids and electrolytes. With this, it’s important for us to stay healthy and hydrated with an Electrolyte Drink like Gatorade Ion.
“Even during the rainy season, we need to hydrate to arm our body from diseases and keep our immunity in top shape. Over the years, PCPPI has been helping Filipinos achieve that with our hydration drinks,” Ong said.
PCPPI is the exclusive manufacturer of well-known beverage brands in the Philippines: Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Tropicana, Lipton, Sting, Premier, Milkis, and Aquafina.
About Pepsi Philippines
Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI) is the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the Philippines, with a relationship spanning 70 years. PCPPI’s principal stockholders are Lotte Corporation, Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co. Ltd., and Quaker Global Investments B.V. PCPPI manufactures and sells well-known beverage brands: Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Tropicana, Lipton, Sting, Premier, Milkis, and Aquafina. It has established 14 operations across the country, serving more than 700,000 outlets and providing employment through its extensive distribution network. PCPPI is committed to creating a positive impact on society with programs focused on environmental sustainability, nutrition, education, and livelihood. For more information, visit www.pepsiphilippines.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 10, 2021 | Real Estate
Brentville International Community recently celebrated another milestone with the groundbreaking of the second phase of its newest cluster, The Arborage. Developed by Prestige by Filinvest, Brentville International Community is a premium residential enclave that consists of different clusters and diverse living options. Highly accessible from the Mamplasan Exit in Southern Luzon Expressway (SLEX), this village offers unique community living like no other with its generous open spaces and well-curated amenities benefitting your family’s lifestyle- all while being secured and safe.
With this recent milestone, Brentville International Community further establishes its commitment to providing its residents and future residents thoughtful Southern living. Gracing the ceremony were Filinvest executives and partners. (L-R) Master planner H1 Architecture principals Arch. Raymond Hernandez and Arch. Juan Seriña, Filinvest Alabang, Inc. (FAI) First Vice President and Prestige Brand Head Mr. Eduardo Gonzalez, Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC) Vice President, Mr. Michael Edward Gotianun, FAI President and COO Ms. Catherine Ilagan, Contractor REBCOR President Rafael Estanislao, and Construction Manager JERCC Managing Director Jaime Florido.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 9, 2021 | Business
To rebuild public trust and attract hotel guests worried about hygiene, social distancing, and safety at the top of their concerns, Hotel Sogo pioneered anti-covid technologies based on research and benchmarking from best practices around the world.
The worldwide pandemic the country is continuously experiencing resulted in millions of lives lost and massive unemployment. The crisis has likewise destroyed the public’s trust whenever their health safety is at stake.
As quarantine policies restricting movements of the population were lifted, the majority of the people, as well as businesses, started to go back to a sense of normalcy, the people’s continuing distrust, affects various businesses, including the hospitality industry.
Contactless Features
no contact key
To regain the public’s trust, at the top of Hotel Sogo’s priority is reducing touch points and intensifying no-contact fixtures. Based on pre-pandemic research carried out by Hotel Sogo, data shows that guests had a minimum of 59 Touch Points (TPs) during a typical hotel stay. Due to new protocols that include contact-less fixtures, TPs have been reduced by 40.7% to achieve a reduction of 66.1% with more advanced technology centered on cellphone use.
At the onset of the pandemic on March 202, Sogo was the first hotel to use UVC (254nm) to fight Covid-19. Taking the cue from hospitals abroad, remote-controlled carts have been deployed for room disinfection. Compartments for utensils, key cards, and cash were also fitted with UVC LEDs but kept away from personnel since 254 nm UVCs, while great for killing viruses that may harm the skin and eyes.
Airconditioners with automatic UVC disinfection
UVC disinfection in all the rooms
Hotel Sogo also expanded UVC disinfection for its room air conditioning units. All room ACs are fitted with specially manufactured UVC LEDs. The UVC light attacks the DNA/DNR of micro-organisms through germicidal irradiation, killing bacteria and viruses and preventing their spread. As it is turned on with the aircon, room air is always sterilized each time it passes through the unit, ensuring the best possible room air quality for our guests.
FAR UVC disinfection was also extended at elevator lobbies. After extensive research, Sogo has acquired and tested the FAR UVC 222 nm lamps that effectively kill viruses while being harmless to humans. Just recently (2020 Q4) produced commercially, it is quite expensive and is sold by only a few manufacturers abroad. Sogo is the first hotel to install these revolutionary excimer lamps in all its elevator lobbies.
In its lobbies and hallways, ventilation ACR Air Change Rate is doubled. The ACR or the number of times the air is replaced for all general spaces is set at ≥ 4 per hour by ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air-Conditioning Engineers). Sogo is doubling its current ACRs for intensified inflow of covid-free fresh air to accelerate indoor air replacement.
Automatic doors with temperature screening
Automatic thermal scan controlled entry doors were installed in most branches. Guests on their own, get scanned before entry, and if within the safe temperature limit, main doors will open automatically without the need for any contact.
Each branch has an Anti-Covid Team that regularly swabs high touch point surfaces that pass through ATP Fluorescence Detectors to verify microbial presence and effectivity of the new protocols. Anti-microbial coatings were applied on furnishings, fixtures, and touchpoints. Widely used in hospitals and mass transports in China, Hong Kong, and Japan, these Polymer coatings are formed after spraying millions of nano-capsules with contact killing and anti-adhesion features that last for weeks. It effectively kills bacteria and viruses, including H1N1 and Covid. Sogo applies these overall furnishings and touchpoints.
To further sanitize indoor air, Sogo installed air-purifying equipment having several levels of filters: Pre-filter, Activated Carbon, HEPA (H11), with built-in Cold Catalysts, Ion Generators and UVC lights that eliminate allergens and pollutants such as dust, pollen, odor, bacteria, viruses, and even reduces carbon dioxide levels.
K9 Covid Crew
Covid sniffer dogs are being utilized for regular covid screening of employees. Patterned after Dubai and Helsinki Airports where sniffer dogs screen passengers and report a > 94% accuracy rate with dogs detecting the virus days before symptoms even start. Sogo has tied up with a leading K9 company, to have specially-trained Covid sniffer dogs regularly screen its personnel for Covid.
To date, Hotel Sogo continues to invest and rely heavily on research-proven technologies that alter the spread of Covid-19 to assure the safety of its guests. The hotel also continues to accept frontliners and essential workers across all Hotel Sogo branches, and can also accommodate those who prefer a long-term stay for work purposes.
Hotel Sogo is also ramping up its effort in helping the country’s indigent communities through Sogo Cares, the hotel’s Corporate Social Responsibility program. Continuously, Sogo provides basic necessities, such as food and water to indigent communities. Recently, it donated food packs with linens and towels to some fire victims in Manila; essential needs such as bottled waters, linens, pillows, surgical masks, pillowcases, and mattresses to the Philippine General Hospital with the help of AFP and donated in different community-pantries in Bulacan and Quezon City.
For more information about Hotel Sogo, check out https://www.hotelsogo.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 6, 2021 | Food & Beverage
Going out on solo trips, dates, or gimmicks may be rare because of community quarantine restrictions. But if there is a chance, why not indulge in some “me time” or spend time with friends over a delicious meal and private tour at Palacio de Memoria, the beautiful, fully restored pre-war mansion located right at the heart of Metro Manila? Now is the perfect time to visit as Palacio de Memoria is offering a special “Tour & Dine” promo.
Chef Margarita Fores
Through the promo, guests will get to enjoy a taste of appetizing Italian cuisine at The Loggia, the new restaurant by Asia’s Best Female Chef by Margarita Forés, after which you can enjoy a tour of The Palacio where you also get to appreciate the arts, religion, and rich history.
Camille Lhuillier-Albani
“While spending time at home has become the new normal for many, we encourage them to try our tour and food at The Loggia. They can dine al fresco and safely and immerse themselves in our rich culture with a private tour of the grounds,” said Camille Lhuillier-Albani, Palacio de Memoria general manager.
Promo packages start at ₱750 and include The Palacio tour, as well as refreshing iced tea and Tramezzini prosciutto with tomato and basil. There are also packages priced at ₱1,000, and ₱1,500 which includes additional dishes from The Loggia. If you’re going with family, friends, or out-of-towners, Palacio is also offering a package for a group of 10 people at ₱10,000.
Located along Roxas Boulevard in Parañaque City, Palacio de Memoria has stood the test of time. The picturesque mansion was restored by the Lhuillier family, who is committed to showcasing the Filipino culture, arts, and history.
The Museum at Palacio de Memoria
Visitors will also get a chance to capture Instagram-worthy moments in amenities such as the Red Room, the Front and Back Garden, and the Mosphil Lounge, a retrofitted plane for events.
If you’re looking for some respite from the pandemic, visit Palacio de Memoria and avail yourself of the “Tour & Dine” promo.
To help ensure the health and safety of everyone, Palacio de Memoria strictly implements safety protocols. For more information, visit https://www.palaciodememoria.com or follow @thepalaciodememoria on Facebook and @palacio.de.memoria on Instagram.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 6, 2021 | Business
With the current safety precautions, many Filipinos take in their everyday lives, it’s no surprise that many looks for less direct ways to interact with sellers especially in a pharmacy space. Drugstores may be the best source to purchase all your health needs, but safety is also an aspect many consider before they step out of the comforts of their homes.
Because of this growth habit, GCash, the country’s leading mobile wallet, has now made over-the-counter Cash In and “Scan to Pay” options available at Southstar Drug, one of the largest drugstore chains in the Philippines with over 559 stores — offering customers convenient and safe payment options when they buy medicine, personal care, and other essential items amid the pandemic.
“With this strategic partnership with Southstar, which has so many branches across the Philippines, now in place, Filipinos have a more convenient and safer way to infuse funds to their GCash accounts,” said Martha Sazon, President and CEO of GCash. “Making over-the-counter Cash In options available in all Southstar branches is proof that GCash is aggressively pursuing our commitment to make innovative financial services accessible to Filipinos from all walks of life, especially amid the pandemic.”
“Our customers rely on us now more than ever for their health and wellness needs; hence we continue to further innovate and offer services that will support access to these needs. This partnership with GCash will surely help us serve our customers with more ease and confidence. At a time when we need assurance, Southstar Drug will remain to be a partner for a healthy and safe lifestyle that Filipinos can trust,” said Christine Tueres, General Manager of Southstar Drug.
Southstar Drug carries a wide range of prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products, and a variety of food, personal care, and health and wellness items. The health retailer operates stand-alone dedicated pharmacies to stores inside supermarkets and pharmacies with self-service convenience sections.
Customers just need to go to any Southstar Drug outlet and simply inform the cashier that they would like to Cash-In to their GCash wallet. Then, they just need to launch the GCash app, then tap “Cash In” and choose “Southstar Drug.” Next, just tap on the “Generate Barcode” button and show the generated barcode to the cashier. The cashier will then process and confirm the transaction, collect a payment, and print the receipt. A text confirmation will be then sent to the customer’s mobile number upon successful Cash In.
GCash has also made payments via QR Codes available at Southstar. For customers who also wish to buy items using GCash QR Codes, they simply need to log in to their GCash account, choose “Scan to Pay” as the mode of payment, and click on “Pay QR,” then tap “Scan QR Code.” Alternatively, they can also simply tap on the QR button on the navigation bar found at the bottom of the homepage, align their phone’s camera over the cashier’s GCash QR code to scan it, input the amount in the payment screen, tap “Next” and choose whether to pay with GCash or GCredit. After selecting the payment option, an SMS confirmation message will be sent to the customer’s mobile number as the receipt and proof of purchase.
With the availability of the GCash Cash In and QR Code feature at participating Southstar Drug branches, customers can easily load funds in their GCash accounts or pay without the need to carry cash or a credit/ATM card to avail of cashless payment.
“This is the next level of safety, convenience, and security in cashless payments because, with the GCash Cash-In and QR Code, they don’t need to type in the numbers or share their mobile numbers with others. And it’s available to anyone with the GCash app – that’s real financial inclusion for all Filipinos across the country,” said GCash GM for Business Center and Financial Products Gina Salgado.
For more information, visit www.gcash.com.
About GCash
GCash is the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines. Through the GCash app, customers can easily buy load; pay bills at over 600 partner billers in the app; pay at more than 7,000 online partners; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines; pay using QR codes at over 130,000 partner merchants nationwide; save money while earning interest, and invest money at local and global funds — all through the convenience of their smartphones.
GCash is part of the portfolio companies of 917Ventures, the largest corporate incubator in the Philippines wholly owned by Globe Telecom, Inc. GCash was recognized by The Asian Banker (TAB) in 2021 for its outstanding digital financial inclusion programs impacting more than 40 million Filipinos in the country today.
Proper hydration is vital in having a strong immune system. It detoxifies and flushes out waste materials from your body. It also helps transport nutrients to our organ systems.
“With this strategic partnership with Southstar, which has so many branches across the Philippines, now in place, Filipinos have a more convenient and safer way to infuse funds to their GCash accounts,” said Martha Sazon, President and CEO of GCash. “Making over-the-counter Cash In options available in all Southstar branches is proof that GCash is aggressively pursuing our commitment to make innovative financial services accessible to Filipinos from all walks of life, especially amid the pandemic.”
Southstar Drug carries a wide range of prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products, and a variety of food, personal care, and health and wellness items. The health retailer operates stand-alone dedicated pharmacies to stores inside supermarkets and pharmacies with self-service convenience sections.
GCash is the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines. Through the GCash app, customers can easily buy load; pay bills at over 600 partner billers in the app; pay at more than 7,000 online partners; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines; pay using QR codes at over 130,000 partner merchants nationwide; save money while earning interest, and invest money at local and global funds — all through the convenience of their smartphones.
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