Piolo and Crizal® get into life’s moments

What would you do if in the middle of your routine eye check-up, you ended up face-to- face with Philippine leading man Piolo Pascual?

Watch and share the surprised reactions of patients during a vision screening set up by Essilor’s flagship brand Crizal®:

This new video is part of the brand’s campaign to encourage patients and customers alike to stay present in every experience of your life – or, better yet, to create your own precious moments with the clear vision that only Crizal® can provide!

Crizal® lenses are available at leading optical shops and through eye care professionals nationwide. For more information, visit Essilor’s website at www.essilor.com.ph.

Fertility Awareness Month 2016 Aims to Give Life to Dreams

In celebration 2016 Fertility Awareness Month, Merck Philippines, the local arm of the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company, joined forces with St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global City for a public information project that promotes awareness on infertility, as well as the different medical solutions that can give life to the dreams of Filipino couples. 

For some Filipino couples, dreams of having and raising a baby together are dashed by fertility issues, which, unknown to many, is actually a disease recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). The organization describes infertility as “a disease of the reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.”

This project coincides with the fifth year of St. Luke’s flagship Center for Advanced Reproductive Medicine and Infertility (CARMI).

“As of a Synovate survey we conducted in 2011, one out of ten Filipinos are suffering from infertility,” said CARMI head Dr. Virgilio M. Novero, Jr. “This condition is related to our socio-cultural practices, including the marrying age, educational status, and professional goals.”

Aside from socio-cultural factors mentioned by Dr. Novero, a couple’s fertility can also be affected by issues in the female and male reproductive systems, as well as various medical conditions that can affect the quality of the egg and sperm cells. 

“Instead of just giving up their dreams of having a child, there are modern and effective ways to address infertility,” explained Dr. Novero. “A couple can come in for a series of basic and ancillary tests to determine the root cause of their fertility issues, and we can help develop a treatment plan that will deliver their desired result: pregnancy.”

The science of ART

One of the medical solutions that childless Filipino couples can explore is Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), which is an umbrella term that refers to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and its variants. This special fertility treatment procedure stimulates multiple ovarian follicles and facilitates egg cell retrieval. During the course of treatment, embryos will be formed outside of the female patient’s body—and once the “cultures” have formed successfully, they will be transferred to the patient’s uterus.

ART is recommended for patients suffering from blocked fallopian tubes, severe sperm deficits, unexplained infertility, mild endometriosis, and ovulation disorders, among others. 

Though not unheard of for Filipinos, IVF is often seen as risky, needlessly expensive, exclusive to those who can get the procedure done abroad, and worse, ineffective. Dr. Novero explained that ART has made significant improvement in efficiency over the years.

“In the past, doctors can only recommend IVF to a select few,” said D, r. Novero. “But in the recent years, technological advances, including new knowledge in hormonal treatment, improvement in video technology and other medical equipment, has boosted IVF’s efficiency.” 

Dr. Novero mentioned that the success rate of the procedure has also recently seen a significant rise—today, over six million children are born all over the world after their parents have undergone an IVF procedure.

“Our success rates are now at 35 to 50 percent for pregnancy, and 20 to 25 percent for live births,” Dr. Novero said proudly. “The success rates depend on the patient’s profile, the competence of the medical staff, the quality and standards of the IVF lab, and of course the use of cutting-edge technology. At CARMI, our patients can be assured that we have a team of highly trained and experienced medical staff, a state-of- the-art IVF lab, and modern technology that can increase the success rate of pregnancy and live birth.”

“With the help of Filipino doctors and specialty groups, Merck has been able to propagate more information on infertility,” said Dess Cartaño, Senior Product Manager for Fertility, Merck Philippines. “At this point, we want to provide fertility-challenged couples with actual, effective, and efficient solutions that will give life to their dreams of a family once more.”

To know more about infertility and IVF in the Philippines, Merck Philippines will be holding a seminar on the science and possibilities of IVF on September 24 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ortigas.

#BodyoftheCentury is Nobody else but James Reid

James Reid recently joined the ranks of Anne Curtis and Derek Ramsey as endorser of Century Tuna, the country’s number one tuna. He headlines Century Tuna's latest campaign, where he appears in a series of sizzling television commercials: the first, a TV spot focusing on metamorphosis that sent his fans in a frenzy and created a sensation; the second, which is presently airing, revolves around the idea of commitment and loyalty. 

There’s no denying that James Reid is one of the hottest young actors today. He’s a social media phenomenon—with millions of followers online, not counting the various fan accounts that his devoted followers set up. The highly bankable love team JaDine, in which he is paired with his reel and real life partner Nadine Lustre, has sent their legions of fans in a frenzy, whether in mall tours, concerts, meet and greets, and even online where they are constant trending topics.

There are his chart-topping albums including Reid Alert which hit certified platinum level status last May. Then there are his box-office film successes—the 2014 romantic comedy and his launch movie Diary ng Panget; and Talk Back and You’re Dead, the teen romance flick that followed a year later. No doubt, his biggest hit to date is On the Wings of Love, the top-rating primetime series with Nadine that kept viewers glued to their TV sets until its sensational finale. 

Clearly, James Reid is on a winning streak and his steady career path is one that is marked by a succession of winning moves.

Presently at his fittest—sculpted abs, toned muscles, firm biceps—which can be attributed to a rigorous fitness regimen and a proper diet consisting of good protein that Century Tuna can provide. Becoming part of the Century Tuna family has certainly paid off for the young hunk. 

And last September 6, 2016 at Makati Shangri-La, Century Tuna presented James Reid to the media. James shared his winning moves in his newest television commercial for country's number one tuna.

 Century Tuna couldn’t be happier for having James in its roster of celebrity endorsers. From the very beginning, they already saw a champion in him.

 “His story is truly inspiring. It speaks of transformation, the relentless desire to improve oneself. It’s a winning formula that brings many positive lessons for everyone: perseverance, keeping the faith, while staying humble and true to yourself—qualities that make James a true role model.” said Greg Banzon, Century Tuna General Manager. 

Meanwhile, for James, it’s really all about trust. 

“I liken it to a championship game. If you want to win, you naturally want to surround yourself with a teammate you can put your total faith into. That to me is Century Tuna, and I can’t think of any other name that I’d trust to keep my body fit.” he revealed.

I didn't get the chance to have my photo taken with him so his standee will do. lol Please spare me from bashes haha. 

With bated breath, we all watch as James continues to transform—from a teen heartthrob to a more mature actor with the determination, the attitude and the body to conquer and win in the challenging world of show business.

Supro Thunderbolt Plus for a Luxurious Guitar Experience

One of the must have instruments of a guitarist is an amplifier for a superb sound especially during performance. If you are in need of one you should check out Supro Thunderbolt amplifier. It has super simple control but has plenty of versatility. It has a three-way selector switch on the front panel which allows you to switch from the original 35-Watt “Class A” Cathode bias sound as well as beefy 45-Watt and 60-Watt Grid bias modes for additional headroom and tonal variation. Supro thunderbolt will surely give you a luxurious guitar experience!

Guitar Center: World's Largest Musical Instrument Retailer

When I hear the word guitar my older brother pops in my mind. He loves playing the guitar and is good with it. Actually my whole family loves music, each of us can play at least one instrument except me. That’s a sad reality. 

Well if you’re also a music lover and passionate with playing musical instruments then you should check out guitar center 14 street. They are the home to the world’s largest selection of popular musical instrument offering great deals. They have over 250 stores across United States, where they offer same day pick up. Don’t worry because they also ship worldwide. Make sure to check them out!