ATC Ginkgo Biloba for Increased Brain Power! Enhance your brain!

A person's mental wellness is primary to his development as a human being. A student's exams need the application of diligence and brain power. At work, an employee needs his brain in order to sort out and perform tasks. Truly the use of the brain is a far important thing compared to the beauty products being sold everywhere.What could be more appealing than the opportunity to improve oneself? 

With mental wellness, comes true and sustainable self-improvement. Train smarter, not longer. Acquire the will and knowledge to eat better and stay lean.  Take care of your brain. In order to achieve this, ATC, a leading manufacturer of herbal medicine in the Philippines, offers Ginkgo Biloba. It is a dietary supplement called the “Brain Enhancer”. The supplement contains an herb, Ginkgo Biloba, which protects the brain from nerve damage that might lead to Alzheimer’s disease. It can also help in managing symptoms of dementia. In sum, ATC's Ginkgo Biloba is at the forefront of providing consumers with a viable supplement to help them stay in top mental shape and fitness.

For those interested, ATC Ginkgo Biloba is available at Mercury Drug and all leading drugstores nationwide for P6.00 per capsule. Improve yourself with ATC Ginkgo Biloba.

Win Big with LG G4 at LG’s 3-Day Big Sale!

From August 14 until August 16, 2015 get the LG G4 with Php 4,000 discount PLUS Php 4,700 worth of FREEBIES.

MANILA, August 11, 2015 – LG Mobile has a treat for those wanting to have the chance to get their hands on their own LG G4 this weekend. For three days, consumers can enjoy a big Php 4,000 slash off LG G4’s original price!

This three-day-only promo lets consumers get the genuine vegetable-tanned leather-backed powerhouse smartphone in tan, black, and red from Php 32,990 down to Php 28,990 only. Or if they’re after the sleeker version of the most ambitious smartphone to date, they can get the metallic back with diamond-cut detailing in titan gray, shiny gold, or ceramic white from Php 31,990 down to Php 27,990 at this weekend’s sale.

The LG G4 is equipped with impressive camera features: 16-megapixel laser autofocus rear camera with f/1.8 aperture level perfect for low light photography, 8-megapixel front camera, RAW file format capability, and the Manual Mode which enables the user to adjust ISO levels, brightness, aperture level, shutter speed, and white balance similar to a professional DSLR camera. The mobile technology leader is letting users enjoy this by including a FREE 32 GB microSD Card valued at Php 1,000. If that’s not enough, LG is also including an additional 100 GB worth of Google Drive storage with a two-year period extension valued at Php, 2,200.

The LG G4 is one of the remaining smartphones to retain its removable back plate that exposes its removable battery and expandable memory with microSD Card slot. And for those who are anxious to know the feel of genuine leather on their hands, LG’s including one leather-back case for free valued at Php 1,500 in different limited edition colors—light blue, yellow, pink, and orange—when they purchase the leather back variant.

For those who will be purchasing the metallic LG G4, they can also get a Quick Circle Case free in gray, gold, and white, also valued at Php 1,500.

“We are happy that the LG G4 has been welcomed in the Philippines with positivity since we launched it here. Through this sale, we want to express our gratitude to our customers who have been loyal to our brand and our products,” Vice President for Mobile Communications, Jay Won said.

So on top of the Php 4,000 price slash off, consumers can enjoy up to a total of Php 4,700 worth of freebies when they get their LG G4 this weekend at a steal.

The big LG G4 sale will be running from August 14 to August 16, 2015 only. For more details about the “LG 3-Day Big Sale,” visithttp://www.lg.com/ph/inside-lg/3-day-big-sale.

To learn more about LG G4, visit www.lg.com/ph; like LG Philippines’ Facebook page; or follow @LGPhilippines on Twitter and Instagram.

Event Post: Aussie Fresh Fest: Australian citrus fruits at Rustan's and Shopwise this August

Last August 7, 2015, I was invited by Ms. Tina Sendin of the Australian embassy to witness the launch and promotion of imported Australian citrus fruits. The venue was in Shopwise Alabang at 3 pm. This event is part of an ongoing campaign called the Aussie Fresh Fest, in which a number of Australia's prime agricultural commodities are marketed in select supermarkets in the Philippines, particularly Rustan's and Shopwise.

During the press conference, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell was delighted to share with the media that Australia's citrus fruits are of a very high caliber in terms of quality, safety, and taste. He noted the similarities between Filipino and Australian culture when it comes to a highly discriminating preference for fresh and natural fruit produce. He also guaranteed that Australian standards in growing agricultural produce, coupled with its high grade food safety standards deliver nothing but the best oranges. He even mentioned that their government can trace the origins of these Australian fruit growers in order to achieve the aforementioned standards. Lastly, he stated that the Australian crop growing environment has been very favorable in cultivating these fruits.

Shopwise and Rustan's supermarkets have been well known with providing customers with produce that are of excellent quality. In line with this commitment, they have imported these citrus fruits to provide more variety to consumers and encourage people to make healthier choices when it comes to food consumption. Rustan’s Supercenters, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Pierre Deplanck recognizes that Australian oranges are some of the best in the world. He noted that the oranges serve to bolster the products offered by the supermarket giant and are perfect for families who want to spend a premium on their health and well-being.

What can one do with oranges? There are a variety of choices. It may be eaten as a healthy snack or used in salads or shakes. One can never go wrong with oranges. It is a good source of Vitamin C to protect one's immune system.

After the press conference, our contingent got to enjoy cooked and fresh agricultural Aussie products. The buffet had the signature baked Lamb Shank with Potato Cutlets smothered with Mint Sauce, grass-fed Aussie Roast beef sandwich bites, cheesecake made with New Zealand milk, and tomato salsa on French bread. Our drinks included fresh orange juice and lemon mojito. We even had Aussie wine to boot. The food was really tasty. It carried a very high level of distinction and taste from normal Filipino fare. For starters, the beef and the lamb shanks were cooked thoroughly. The meat was very tender even if the dish was well-done. The taste was top-notch. Apart from the normal meaty taste you get from beef, you can also notice that it wasn't too salty or sweet. The cheesecake was great too. It didn't taste like it had a lot of preservatives. As for their flagship drinks, I'd say that the citrus fruits were extracted thoroughly to provide us with a non-sugary and pulpy sweetness. Overall, I had no qualms about the food. I do hope to try something like that next time.

One can see that this event showcases another important landmark in the economic relations between the Philippines and Australia. Originally Australian and New Zealand beef has been the prime import commodity to the Philippines. The advent of citrus fruit importation from Australia is also a prime testament to growing economic activity between the two countries.

The month-long Aussie Fresh Fest also includes other Australian beef and lamb products and will run in all Rustan’s Supermarket, Marketplace by Rustan’s, and Shopwise branches until August 31.

Rustan’s Supermarket, Marketplace by Rustan’s, and Shopwise are all managed by Rustan Supercenters, Inc., a member of the Dairy Farm International Group.

Special thanks to:

Ms. Tina Sendin of the Australian Embassy

Event post: Cigarettes are Eating You Alive Campaign at Manila Diamond Hotel (August 6, 2015) #SmokeFreePh

I was again invited by Ms. Millet Liberato of DDB to the event launch of an anti-smoking campaign held at the Manila Diamond Hotel in Ermita, Manila, last August 6, 2015. Entitled "Cigarettes are Eating You Alive", this initiative aims to curb tobacco use and manufacture through widely-disseminated Public Service Announcements (PSA's) in national television. Apart from this objective, the campaign also encourages public support for anti-smoking legislation and graphic health warnings in cigarette packs. It also aims to encourage smokers to quit and protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke.

The generous hosts for the afternoon were the Department of Health (DOH), together with the World Lung Foundation and the New Vois Association of the Philippines (NVAP). These are three prominent organizations that have dedicated time, effort, and money to curbs the deleterious effects of tobacco use in the country.

To orient the media about this campaign, prominent officials of the three aforementioned organizations, as well as those of the World Health Organization, were present. The DOH was represented by Dr. Paulyn Jean Rosell Ubial, Assistant Secretary of Health, and Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, the Director III of the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control. On the other end, Engineer Emerito Rojas, founder of the New Vois Foundation of the Philippines, represented his foundation. The World Health Organization was adequately represented by Dr. Benjamin Lane, the Acting Country Representative of the Philippine Branch. The World Lung Foundation sent two emissaries, namely Sandra Mullin, Senior President of Policy and Communications, and Mego Lien, the Associate Director of Southeast Asia Programs -Policy, Advocacy, and Communications. Lastly, another government agency, the MMDA or Metro Manila Development Authority, was represented by Usec. Corazon T. Jimenez.

During the two hour talk, these prominent officials discussed the dangers of cigarette smoke and the progress on the anti-smoking campaign. To start off, Dr. Benjamin Lane read out the letter given by her colleague, Dr. Susan Pineda-Mercado. Dr. Mercado expressed the WHO support for the campaign and called on intensified efforts to promote it. She congratulated our very own DOH for accelerating the pace of the initiative.

Dr. Ubial, on the other hand, gave a progress report on the campaign. She noted that since the anti-smoking campaign was launched a few years back, there has been a significant decrease on the use of cigarettes. She noted that laws such as the Sin Tax legislation launched in 2012 has contributed centrally to this decline. She also conceded, however, that this measure is not enough. There has to be more punitive legislation on this matter. The world average for cigarette costs, according to her, is at $2 per pack. In the Philippines, a stick is only at about $1. Truly, there has to be an advocacy to increase taxes to diminish cigarette sales.

Dr. Suy presented the deleterious effects of smoking on a person's health. He educated us on the effects of second-hand and third-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke is the excretion of smoke from a cigarette that is inhaled by persons within proximity of the fumes. This kind of smoke is known to be even more dangerous than the smoke directly inhaled by the smoker. Third-hand smoke is the absorption of cigarette smoke into fabrics or other materials within the environment near the fumes. This is still pretty dangerous to one's health despite the fact that the smoker or the cigarette is already gone.

Engr. Rojas informed us of updates on the inclusion of graphic health warnings on cigarette packs. He noted that manufacturers of tobacco have used legal loopholes to sell cigarette packs with no graphic health warning. There was a gap in the law that provided for a grace period for compliance with the graphic warning requirement. However, he was still optimistic that the law will be strengthened to compel manufacturers to comply.

Usec Jimenez noted that the campaign to stop cigarette smoking in the Metro Manila area has been successfully implemented by the MMDA in coordination with local government units. She revealed that the local government units themselves were eager to increase and implement the no-smoking public spaces for the benefit of its constituents. Also, she notes that the MMDA has already caught about 265,000 violators of anti-smoking ordinances in public spaces.

The ad campaign, on the other hand, was launched by the representatives of the WLF, Sandra Mullin and Mego Lien. According to them, the money for creating this PSA was funded by prominent individuals and groups such as former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. They also noted that almost $300,000 has been spent to create the campaign. They also disclosed that a similar campaign has been successful before in other parts of the world. The previous success of these similar campaigns shows the strength of this advocacy.

Tobacco use in the Philippines has been highly recorded in statistical data. According to the Tobacco Atlas, more than 15 million Filipino adults use cigarettes every day. Also, more Filipino men and women smoke more than the average than other people in middle-income countries across the world. As to second-hand smoke, statistics from the 2009 Philippines Global Adult Tobacco Survey have shown that 32.9 million Filipinos are exposed to it every day. The overall ratings show that more than 50% of adults and teenagers are exposed to it in public places. With respect to tobacco use worldwide, the Tobacco Atlas has shown that it is the world's number one preventable cause of mortality. 71,000 people die in the Philippines every year from tobacco-related diseases. As for second-hand smoke, about 600,00 people die from it every year.

The PSA's, on another note, will be broadcast in 15 or 30 second durations on national TV. It will also be aired on LED billboards in Metro Manila. The PSA is projected to reach 40 million Filipinos. Together with the help of subsequent punitive tobacco legislation and graphic health warnings, the initiative is poised to become a powerful tool in disseminating knowledge about the health risks of tobacco.

Special thanks to:
Ms. Millet Liberato of DDB
cnnphilippines.com for the video