Thursday, April 4, 2019

6th Annual Run in Honor of Bataan Death March Heroes, up this April!

April 9 of every year, we observe the Day of Valor, also known as Bataan Day to honor the Bataan Death March. 

The Death March, considered as one of the darkest days in Philippine History, is the forcible transfer of 60,000–80,000 Filipino and American prisoners of war (POW) from Saysain Point, Bagac, Bataan and Mariveles to Camp O'Donnell, Capas, Tarlac. The prisoners were loaded onto boxcars in San Fernando, Pampanga. The transfer began on April 9, 1942, and left thousands dead and seriously wounded after enduring torture under the hands of the Japanese Imperial Army.

The Death March route stretches from Mariveles in Bataan to Capas, Tarlac via San Fernando, Pampanga. The total distance covered was from 96 to 112 kms.

This year marks the 77th Year of Bataan Death March and The Philippine Veterans Bank will be holding the 6th installment of Bataan Freedom Run in Balanga, Bataan on April 14, 2019.


This year’s Bataan Freedom Run top bills a day of fun and surprises that features a 42km full marathon run up and down Mt. Samat, a 21km half marathon, and a non-competitive 10km and 5km fun run. A 1km run for kids and pets add up to the day’s fun and excitement. 

Winners will receive cash prizes and medals, while finishers of the 42km marathon will have a finisher’s medal and a Bataan Freedom Run Finisher’s shirt.

Proceeds from the Bataan Freedom Run will be used in putting up or restoration of Battle of Bataan markers, and other historical landmarks that serve as important reminders of our rich World War II history. The annual commemoration of Bataan Death March is now a month-long celebration in honor of the country’s World War II heroes. 


Since 2014, the Philippine Veterans Bank together with the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) and Bataan Provincial Government, gather in Bataan for various activities that encourage participation of the veterans’ descendants and families as well as civilians and the military. The month-long activities are held along the route of the infamous Bataan Death March.

Mike Villa-Real, Head of Veterans Bank’s Marketing Communications Division, shared, “Freedom Run is part of the month-long activities we do to reach out and share especially to the younger generation about our World War II veterans’ bravery and heroism during the war, particularly the Battle for Bataan. They were abandoned and yet against all odds held on and defended the country for 3 months, unlike our Southeast Asian neighbors. That’s why their captors let them go through what is now known as the Bataan Death March.”

This year’s commemoration activities also include Freedom Trail March, a two-day event that traces the 160 kilometers actual route of the Bataan Death March. The event aims to instill the values of Bravery, Sacrifice, and Love for Country. The Freedom Trail March gathered the US and Filipino military and police units who marched the entire Bataan Death March route alongside with other civilians. “Ride for Valor,” a competitive bike tour was also held in March, which started from Kilometer Zero in Bataan to Capas, Tarlac. 

To find out more about the activities held during the 77th Year commemoration of Bataan Death March, visit the Facebook pages of the Bataan Freedom Run and the Veterans Bank Freedom Trail.

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

What makes a woman?

Women's Month may be over, but we should celebrate the women that we are every day.



So if you were asked, "What makes a woman?"

"What's her true essence and her admirable characteristics? Is it just beauty or brains or perhaps her whistle-bait figure?" 

Or is it because of a woman’s natural beauty that a woman evokes, thus showing her innate grace and joy? 

Whatever and whoever a woman is—a housewife, professional career woman or student—she deserves a face and body that is totally cared for despite and whatever her busy lifestyle is.

Agree?

So ladies, especially to all mommies out there, who always put their families need above all, don't forget to take care of yourself too. There are so many ways to do that. Let me share you one. 

Give yourself the opportunity to properly care for yourself through face and body care products that are proven safe and effective and will bring a bit of peace, love, and joy to us every day.




Products from Good Virtues Co.™ (GVC), a brand of face and beauty products made in Malaysia, understand the need for women to be treated with love, dignity, and respect. They know that doing good to others begets a good deed in return so that love given is love returned to every woman there is.

The GVC product range involves caring for the hair, body, and face, but what’s best is the GVC products are made naturally, with no animal derivatives and without any chemical-based or synthetic ingredients.

For all GVC products, you cannot find any Parabens, artificial colorants, or even Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) and Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES), all cleansing and foaming agents that can harm the body. Though SLES and ALES are both palm oil and supposedly harmless, they undergo a chemical process when used by other brands, together with other additional compounds that thereby increases the risk of contamination and chances of contacting cancer for users.

GVC hair, body and skin care products also use synthetic fragrance for added care, compared to natural fragrance that may cause allergies among certain people. The synthetic fragrance compounds used by GVC all contain a “seal of approval” by the International Fragrance Association or IFRA to provide for that comforting, soothing yet safe and long-lasting scent that is safe for people who are allergic.

All Good Virtues Co.™ products contain Habbatus Sauda or “The Seed of Blessing,” called Black Seed Oil which is known as a purifying organic component known to be full of natural nutrients, minerals, and cancer-fighting antioxidants. And the products are certified “halal” by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), the only government body in the world that controls the implementation of Halal certification in products sold globally, which makes Good Virtues Co.™ products the only ones certified as “halal” in the market today.


Marvel at Good Virtues Co.™ and its face care line, which includes Day Cream, Night Cream, CC Cream, Facial Cleanser, Facial Scrub, Toner, and Makeup remover. They also have the Shower Cream, Hand and Body Lotion, Body Scrub, Feminine Wash, and Deodorant, for the body care range, and the Shampoo, Conditioner, and Hair Serum for hair care.

So what makes a woman? It starts by how she treats herself, how she makes herself beautiful inside and out to be able to exude confidence wherever she may be, whoever she’s with, whatever she does! 

Get to know more about Good Virtues Philippines, Follow them on Facebook (Good Virtues Co.) or Instagram (@goodvirtuesco_ph). Good Virtues Co.™ products are available online at Lazada.com, Shopee.com or www.beautymnl.com.

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Lamudi Housing Fair 2019 to Return to Trinoma

Are you an aspiring real estate investor or perhaps a real estate professional looking to up your game? Good news! Because, Lamudi, the country’s number one real estate platform, is once again holding a series of housing fairs which will kick off this April 6 to 7, 2019 at the Trinoma Activity Center. This year’s Trinoma Housing Fair is Lamudi’s first housing fair for 2019 and is set to offer an extensive selection of property offerings from some of the country’s biggest industry players such as SMDC, Amiya Raya, Taft Properties, Robinsons Communities, and more.

The real estate platform held its most recent housing fair in Cebu last year, where 23 exhibitors from real estate, banking and financial industries, and several key government agencies showcased their property offerings and auctions, services, exclusive discounts, as well as the Lamudi Academy Training sessions.

Trinoma as a gold mine of prospective property buyers

The mall sits on a strategic location within Quezon City where a ceaseless economic activity can be found. With an average of 200,000 of daily foot traffic, Trinoma is one of the busiest malls in the country, allowing for the two-day event to instantly capture a diverse pool of shoppers and potential buyers and investors.

Trinoma is also accessible from nearby business districts such as Caloocan, San Juan, and Mandaluyong, making it a viable location in capturing professionals from these cities. Similarly, its proximity to the North Luzon Expressway provides an easy gateway for potential buyers from provinces such as Bulacan, Pampanga, and Tarlac.

What to expect in Trinoma Housing Fair 2019




Attendees and exhibitors of the two-day event can enjoy a host of benefits. 

For one, speakers and industry experts will give interested property buyers various home buying seminars to guide them in the right direction. This is something first-time buyers will find most beneficial. 

On top of this, there will be exclusive property discounts from developers and freebies for attendees. Foreclosures are also available for aspiring real estate investors, as they can serve as good investment starters. Some of these properties will also be auctioned off at affordable price points.

For real estate professionals participating in the Trinoma Housing Fair, Lamudi is offering free online real estate marketing seminars to help brokers and agents grow their real estate business as conducted by the instructors of Lamudi Academy. 

These housing fairs are important since these are where property developers, brokers, and buyers converge and find immediate value from each other,” Lamudi CEO Bhavna Suresh said of the Lamudi Housing Fair. 

This year, we plan to make them bigger and better so as to deliver better results to all our partners, exhibitors, and the property buyers wherever the Lamudi Housing Fair will come next, specifically Glorietta, SM Cebu, and MOA. Trinoma will set us off to a great start.” 

For more information, please visit the official website.

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Do you fall into #MalnutritionTraps?

"Ang payat ng mga anak mo Pearl!" 

(Your kids are thin, Pearl!)

I get this comment a lot about my kids, especially from my relatives. But, then usually it is followed by "sabagay, payat ka rin noong bata ka" (anyway, you were also thin when you were little).

Yes, I have always been slender. I guess I only gained weight after giving birth, but even until now, I am on the lighter side and I am not worried at all since my BMI is normal.

So, I don't worry that much about my children's physique. Even if they are thin, my 2 girls, Athena and Brianna's weight are normal. Tristan, however, is underweight. It could probably be because of his hyperactivity; he was diagnosed with ADHD.

It could also be because of the food we eat. I do the cooking at home and It is really a challenge to prepare a healthy balanced meal. That is why, somehow, I am worried that I am not providing my children with all the essential nutrients they need. I am also guilty of feeding them with fast food and instant foods, which I believe is also one of the struggles of most Filipino families. 

In fact, did you know that our country has been facing a rise in the number of underweight and overweight Filipinos for more than 20 years? The World Health Organization (WHO) defined this phenomenon as the “Double Burden of Malnutrition” or the “prevalence of both undernutrition and overweight in the same community, nation, or region.”


To address this problem, our government launched the Pinggang Pinoy® campaign in 2014. Pinggang Pinoy® is an easy-to-understand food guide showing proper food group portioning on a per-meal basis. This reflects the principles of MOderation, VAriety, and BAlance (MOVABA) to promote healthier eating habits. 

Solving the Philippines’ Double Burden of Malnutrition should be a collaborative effort between the public and private sectors as it is not an easy feat. With this, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation partnered with government agencies to conduct education programs to raise awareness and promote the practice of Pinggang Pinoy® in malnutrition hotspots, where incidences of Double Burden Malnutrition are high. This training was given to homemakers/mothers who have malnourished (underweight, stunting, wasting, overweight and obese) school-aged children.

The pilot run resulted in improvements in the knowledge & attitudes of households related to the practice of Pinggang Pinoy® within target areas. However, behavior changes towards healthier eating habits remain to be a challenge. The program uncovered a number #MalnutritionTraps that some Pinoy households easily fall into. 

The following #MalnutritionTraps provide a picture of how unhealthy eating habits may lead to Double Burden of Malnutrition: 

1. Overconsumption of carbohydrates: 

Voracious rice eaters can easily fill half of their plates with rice. Others have pandesal & noodles as regular meal deprived of other nutrients derived from a well-balanced meal. 


2. Under consumption of vegetables and/fruits: 

It is common for some to be content with rice & meat to satisfy their hunger and skip/take the insufficient amount of vegetables/fruits. Fact is, the variety of colors found in Glow foods are important sources of vitamins & minerals to sustain our energy & keep us from getting sick. 

3. Overconsumption of protein: 

Typical Filipino “SILOG” meals include a double serving of proteins (e.g. Tapa+Itlog, Tocino+Itlog, Longanisa+Itlog, Bangus+Itlog). Eating different kinds of protein is fine for as long as they are taken in moderation. We must also avoid protein dishes served high in fat, cholesterol, and sodium. 

To help Filipinos break free from #MalnutritionTraps, Ajinomoto’s Culinary Nutrition Team prepared Healthy & Delicious Pinggang Pinoy® Recipes, downloadable through https://bit.ly/2HIsfkj. Busy and budget-restricted homemakers will also find these Pinggang Pinoy® recipes useful because all are easy-to-do and affordable (P250/day for a family of 5). 

For updates about Mag-Pinggang Pinoy® Tayo!, visit www.ajinomoto.com.ph and facebook.com/CookmunitybyAjinomotoPH.

Sunday, March 3, 2019

Veterans Bank’s Freedom Trail March starts countdown for 77th Year of Bataan Death March Commemoration

In partnership with the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), The Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) kicks off the 77th year commemoration of the Bataan Death March with the Freedom Trail March that runs from March 2 to 3, 2019. 


The Freedom Trail March is a two-day event that traces the 140 kilometers actual route of the Bataan Death March. The event aims to instill the values of Bravery, Sacrifice, and Love for Country. The Freedom Trail March is expected to gather around participants from the Philippines and other countries. US and Filipino military and police units along with other civilians are among this year’s marchers. 

Veterans Bank’s Freedom Trail March honors Filipino World War II heroes and survivors by traversing the trails while retracing the steps of our fallen heroes during the Bataan Death March.

“It is our generation’s responsibility to continue remembering and honoring the bravery and heroism of our veterans during the war. It is our commitment to making sure that the next generations will never forget and always remember what our heroes endured during the Bataan Death March,” said Mike Villa-Real, Head of Veterans Bank’s Marketing Communications Division.

The Death March, considered as one of the darkest days in Philippine History, is the forcible transfer of 60,000–80,000 Filipino and American prisoners of war (POW) from Saysain Point, Bagac, Bataan and Mariveles to Camp O'Donnell, Capas, Tarlac. The prisoners were loaded onto box cars in San Fernando, Pampanga. The transfer began on April 9, 1942, and left thousands dead and seriously wounded after enduring torture under the hands of the Japanese Imperial Army.

The Death March route stretches from Mariveles in Bataan to Capas, Tarlac via San Fernando, Pampanga. The total distance covered was from 96 to 112 kms.


The Freedom Trail March will commence midnight on March 1, 2019, at KM Zero in Mariveles Bataan and expected to end at 5:00 pm on March 3, 2019, at the Capas National Shrine in Capas Tarlac. There will be several stops along the route. Participants can join at any point of the trail. Special performances will be done by re-enactors at the San Fernando Train Station and Capas National Shrine on March 3.

This year’s event also includes a competitive bike tour dubbed as the“Ride for Valor,” which will be held on March 10 from Kilometer Zero in Bataan to Capas, Tarlac. The Bataan Freedom Fun is the final event that concludes the commemoration activities. 

Bataan Freedom Run will be held on April 14, 2019. Running enthusiasts are invited to register for the event. The route will start at the Balanga Capitol up to Mt. Samat. The event includes a 21-kilometer half-marathon, 10 kilometers, five kilometers, and 1-kilometer courses, for all types of sports enthusiasts and runners from all ages as well as pets.

Since 2014, the Philippine Veterans Bank, with PVAO, the Provincial Government of Bataan, along with other partners, have held the Bataan Freedom Run in honor of WWII veterans who endured the death march in 1942.

Proceeds from the activities will be used for the restoration and maintenance of historical markers along the route of the Bataan Death March.

To register and find out more, visit the Facebook pages of the Bataan Freedom Run and the Veterans Bank Freedom Trail.