Saturday, May 28, 2016

51Talk: BEST ONLINE ENGLISH EDUCATION COMPANY

51Talk, a leading multinational English-education company, received the “Best Online English Education Company” Award given by the Global Excellence Awards (GEA) and “Best Online English Learning Platform” by the Global Brand Awards (GBA) recently.


The GEA and the GBA, now on its 29th year, are two prestigious international citations recognizing corporate standards of excellence. Aside from the two awards, 51Talk was also declared “Best Online English Teaching Platform” (National Awards) by the Golden Globe Excellence Awards for Business Excellence (GGAABE) in recognition of 51Talk’s industry-leading innovation, professionalism, and overall excellence early this year. 

51Talk is the leading online English education company in China and the Philippines, with more than 6,100 teachers in the Philippines and the highest number of online students in China. 51Talk helps Chinese students learn English through affordable lessons on its own platform, which enables students to select the best possible teacher for them in the Philippines for interactive one-on-one online teaching.

With several major offices and training centers across the country, 51Talk is certain to remain the largest, most stable, and most employee-friendly online English company in the country today. To support its growth, 51Talk is actively seeking to hire individuals who are passionate about teaching, intelligent, dynamic, enthusiastic, and innovative; regardless of experience or age, any applicant who meets these criteria has a place in the 51Talk family. 

For those interested in teaching, regardless of their location in the Philippines, 51Talk’s unique teaching platform allows e-educators to work from their homes, choose their own schedules, participate in regular and continuous training, and have full access to the company’s online support and mentoring officers. These create positive lifestyle changes for 51Talk’s online English teachers. They have more time to spend with their family and enjoy a flexible work schedule and earn more.

For those who are interested to join the growing 51 Talk family, visit www.51Talk.com/ph for more information and details of how to apply.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

SIMPLE, HEALTHY SNACK – Peanuts

Do you know that eating peanut is a good way to eat enough protein, stay fit, and protect yourself from chronic diseases. Actually, according to the study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health, eating a handful of peanuts daily may lower your risk of developing heart disease.


My favorite way to enjoy peanuts is dry roasted with or without the shell with no added salt or oil. Roasting enhances its taste and actually improves the antioxidant content of peanuts. In fact, boiling and dry roasting tends to reduce the calorie count of peanuts.

Peanuts are great as snack food, they’re inexpensive, easy to store pack when you’re on the go. They have been shown to keep you satisfied so you naturally reduce eating extra calories throughout the day and do not crave empty calories. When you eat a handful of peanuts each day, you are feeding your body a rich source of plant protein, fiber and nutrients that are thought to contribute to keeping you satisfied, helping to keep calories in check and manage weight.


Peanuts are high in vitamin E and folate, other vitamins in peanuts include thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, choline and betaine. Minerals in peanuts include manganese, magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, copper, selenium and zinc. Raw peanuts only contain 5 milligrams of sodium, but this level can be significantly higher in peanuts cooked with salt.

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Care Goes Beyond Boundaries, Filipino child receives free heart surgery in India

Dr. Moopen’s Foundation (DM Foundation), the organization set up by Aster DM Healthcare Chairman Dr. Azad Moopen, has once again proven that saving lives has no boundaries. In a unique multi-country charity initiative, a rare cardiac corrective surgery was successfully performed on Joneil Dasain, a 5-year-old boy from the Philippines at the Aster Medcity, Kochi. Conducted under the aegis of DM Foundation’s ‘Save the Little Hearts’ initiative, the surgery was carried out by a team of Indian specialists led by Dr. Sajan Koshy, Senior Consultant, Paediatric Cardiac Surgery, Center of Excellence in Cardiac Sciences, Aster Medcity, Kochi. 






Indeed, the world becomes small when we reach out to care. The ‘Save the Little Hearts’ program has been helping indigent Filipino children with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) by providing free surgical treatment within the Aster DM Healthcare network. For the first time, a child coming straight from the Philippines is able to be flown to India for this much needed heart surgery at the world-class Aster Medcity. 

“Joneil presented with bluish coloration of fingertips and lips and problems in breathing, all resulting from the congenital heart defect known as Tetralogy of Fallot. This should ideally have been corrected in the first year after birth. The procedure was not free from risk due to his age. But we decided to take up the challenge. The child was evaluated by our expert team of specialists and a five hour long surgery was successfully undertaken,” commented Dr. Sajan Koshy, Senior Consultant, Paediatric Cardiac Surgery, CoE Cardiac Sciences. 

In Tetralogy of Fallot, abnormalities in the structure of the heart result in blood with insufficient oxygen circulating through the body causing the various symptoms like cyanosis (bluish discoloration) of nails, lips and skin, tiredness and breathlessness. If left untreated, the defect has a 50% mortality rate in the first three years of life in addition to causing delay in growth and development.


Since the program was started, the DM Foundation has helped 26 Filipino children from disadvantaged families, who cannot afford to have their children treated for congenital heart disease to undergo corrective cardiac surgery. In addition, about 750 children have benefited from the ‘Save the Little Hearts’ program across various geographies. These children, primarily from India, but also from Afghanistan and Africa have received free or subsidized treatment from Aster DM Healthcare facilities channelized through the DM Foundation and its associates including MIMS Charitable Trust and other support associations.

Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman & Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare and Founder of DM Foundation, is a physician turned entrepreneur and philanthropist. During his early career, he had witnessed many families struggling to afford specialised treatment for many complex and critical health conditions. He founded the DM Foundation to help such patients and it is under this foundation that the not-for-profit initiatives of Aster DM Healthcare and Dr Azad Moopen’s family are being carried out. 

Commenting on this unique initiative, Dr. Azad Moopen, said, “There are many children who are not able to reach their full potential because of congenital heart disease. Coming from poor backgrounds, the parents also cannot afford to have their children treated. The philosophy of our foundation is to provide quality healthcare to the deserving and make a difference in their lives. We are happy that DM Foundation has enabled Joneil to get the treatment to put him back on the path to a bright future. We look forward to helping more such children in the future through our efforts.”


Aster DM Healthcare-Philippines Country Head Joyce Alumno emphasized, “Five children are diagnosed with CHD for every 1,000 live births. Reports show that every nine minutes, a child below 15 years old dies of heart disease. We are grateful that through the selfless heart of Dr. Moopen and the expertise of our doctors in India, children like Joneil are given a chance to enjoy a quality of life like any normal child.” 

“We want to do more. In fact, we have a line of possible beneficiaries needing urgent attention. However, we are unable to do so because of the long queue in the hospitals. With the success of Joneil’s case, we can now say, we can make this happen,” Alumno said. 

Lance Masters, a Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Manila supported the DM Foundation and has accompanied the patient and his mother to India. He has documented Jolien’s journey to health on his Facebook page. He said, “Jolien’s free cardiac surgery has been possible thanks to a truly remarkable philanthropist, Dr Azad Moopen, who has designated 20% of his wealth to his charitable foundation dedicated to assisting poor people with catastrophic medical issues. In the Philippines, Dr. Moopen has committed to helping 50 indigent children with congenital heart defects through the DM Foundation’s ‘Save the Little Hearts’ program. I am honoured to work with the Foundation in this noble mission." 

Dr. Harish Pillai, Cluster Head for Kerala & CEO Aster Medcity said, “The successful procedure is yet another testament of the exemplary skills of Aster Medcity’s talented team of doctors at our advanced world class quaternary healthcare facility. We are happy that the child is now recovering well and can look forward to lead a normal life.” 


About DM Foundation 
DM Foundation is the broad umbrella under which the CSR and social activities of Aster DM Healthcare and Dr. Moopen’s Family Foundation are being carried out. DM Foundation works in tandem with associate organizations such as MIMS Charitable Trust. The activities of Dr. Moopen’s Foundation are focussed in India, Middle East, Africa, Philippines, Afghanistan etc. Various programmes of the Foundations are categorized under Free Paediatric Cardiac Surgery Programme (Save The Little Heart), Early Diseases Detection & Cancer Screening Centres (EDDCs), Community Dialysis Centres (CDCs), Radiation Oncology Centres, Doctor on Calls “Mobile Clinics”, Health & Safety Awareness Programme, Free or Subsidized Treatments, MILES Village Adoption – Socio Economic Intervention etc.

About Aster DM Healthcare 
Established in 1987, Aster DM Healthcare currently owns and operates a network of more than 290 institutions across the Middle East and India, covering an array of healthcare verticals including clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, and a modern medical city. These network units are consolidated under the brand names ASTER, MEDCARE, ACCESS, ASTER Medcity and ASTER MIMS. The health facilities include 14 hospitals that offer primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary care in order to meet the requirements of people from a cross section of the society. In 2015, Aster opened its first ambulatory care center in the Philippines.

Friday, May 20, 2016

Modern Living TV, features glamorous trends and unmatchable living spaces

Don’t miss the latest episode of PhilSTAR TV’s “Modern Living TV,” as celebrity hosts and lifestyle columnists Bianca Gonzalez and Stephanie Zubiri scout for the most beautiful living spaces and try out the latest metro trends and hobbies.

MLTV celebrity hosts and lifestyle columnists, Bianca Gonzalez and Stephanie Zubiri.

Join Steph as she meets up with Mia Borromeo of Philippine Tatler Homes for a quick  tour around the lavish Hermès Maison store. Exclusively carrying luxury French home’s furniture, Hermès Maison has the latest luxe styling trends in store as seen in the most grandiose homes here and abroad.

However, living glamorously does not have to be confined to one’s home. The MLTV team explores ‘glamping,’ (a portmanteau on glamour and camping) the newest trend among those who wish to experience the great outdoors without sacrificing luxury.

After the break, Bianca discovers the secrets of everyday make-up from the experts at MAC Cosmetics. Learn how to sport a more polished and beautiful visage everyday in just five minutes.

For this week’s featured living space, Avida’s One Antonio is a condo-city tucked in the quiet side of San Antonio Village, a private, sensible, and rejuvenating enclave in close proximity to Makati’s Central Business District.

The fifth season of Modern Living TV has 13 episodes, running every Saturday since March 5 until May 28 on ANC at 6 p.m., with replays on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Modern Living TV is the first lifestyle TV show by a news media organization.

Every 30-minute episode of Modern Living TV features the latest eye candy in the form of breathtaking living spaces and other elements of modern living. The show will also present informative and entertaining segments that feature the hottest lifestyle trends.


For more updates, like and follow https://www.facebook.com/ModernLivingTV and @ModernLiving_TV on Instagram and Twitter.  To watch past episodes, log on to philstartv.com.

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Pizza Hut 18" Blowout Pizza presents X-Men: Apocalypse and Xtreme Las Vegas Adventure

Pizza Hut Blowout Pizza invites fans of X-Men: Apocalypse to collect specially-designed boxes, and to join the Xtreme Las Vegas Adventure promo for a chance win a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, USA!



Pizza Hut, the Philippines’ well-loved pizza brand, serves not only a flavorful extra large pizza and the hottest blockbuster movie promotion of the summer, but also the chance to win an exciting trip to Las Vegas, Nevada! 

Dubbed Xtreme Las Vegas Adventure, Pizza Hut's newest promotion was launched during an event presided by its Chief Operating Officer TH Lim.


Pizza Hut, Chief Operating Officer Mr. TH Lim

Mr. TH Lim with the Binibining Pilipinas 2016 Winners

“Given that Filipinos enjoy eating together, we have recently introduced the Blowout Pizza, our biggest pizza ever that gives families, colleagues and barkadas more reasons to bond over this extra-large, extraordinary pizza,” he said. “But with the upcoming screening of one of the most awaited blockbuster movie franchises, we've kicked things up further with an exciting series of X-Men: Apocalypse branded offerings."


Pizza Hut has partnered with one of the biggest entertainment companies in the country, 20th Century Fox, for the nationwide release of X-Men: Apocalypse. With the tie-up, each order of Pizza Hut Blowout Pizza is packaged in one of four limited-edition collectible boxes for fans of the X-Men film saga to enjoy.



On top of all this excitement, Pizza Hut is set to reward lucky patrons with the Xtreme Las Vegas Adventure promo. Grand prize winners of this raffle promo will go on a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada where they can live like an Egyptian God for four days and three nights in a deluxe room with private VIP poolside cabana access at the Luxor Hotel. Winners will also ride on a private helicopter above Las Vegas’ iconic pyramid featuring an incredible view of the strip, become horsemen on a guided 2-hour horseback trek into the Grand Canyon, and explore Las Vegas’ iconic Neon Graveyard after dark.

Tony Rulloda, Marketing Director of 20th Century Fox, shared during the event, “This is going to be the most thrilling X-Men installment, and we thought to make it even more exciting by tying up with a brand that has always been a favorite of moviegoers, a brand that never fails to amaze and thrill its loyal customers.” 

Tony Rulloda, Marketing Director of 20th Century Fox

Raymund Nobleza, Marketing Officer-in-Charge for Pizza Hut, presented details of the promotion to guests. Pizza Hut customers can join by ordering a Blowout Pizza in any Pizza Hut restaurant, filling out the receipt’s back with their contact details and signature, then dropping it at designated boxes. “You can choose to enjoy the Blowout Pizza through Hut Feast promos on site or a la carte, or if you want to enjoy your a la carte order by delivery you can get an upgrade with add-ons like Cream Of Mushroom Soup, Fried Chicken, Spaghetti Bolognese or Slingers for just P99,” he said.


Aside from a limited-edition Magneto Helmet as seen on X-Men: Apocalypse, other prizes in the promo include ten 18” Blowout Pizzas, which combines the Hawaiian, Supreme, Roast Beef and Veggies, and Sausage and Bacon flavors into one pizza, as consolation prizes.




Pizza Hut Blowout Pizza’s X-Men Apocalypse and Xtreme Las Vegas Adventure promos are valid until June 6, 2016. For more information about Pizza Hut’s Blowout Pizza, the X-Men Apocalypse promotion and the Xtreme Las Vegas Adventure raffle, visit www.pizzahut.com.ph or “like” www.facebook.com/pizzahutphilippines. You can also follow @PizzaHutPhils on Twitter and Instagram, or simply call 911-1111 (Metro Manila) today! 


About X-Men Apocalypse
Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshiped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel's X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto, to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven with the help of Professor X must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.




Monday, May 9, 2016

Aster Medical and Diagnostic Clinic, Now Open 24/7

Aster Medical and Diagnostic Clinic recently held a Health Talk Bloggers Day  and I was one of those who were invited to visit them and see for ourselves the modern facilities  they have at the Center.  They are located at the 2nd Floor of St. Francis Square Bldg., Dona Julia Vargas St., Ortigas Avenue, right at the back of Megamall Bldg. A.



Upon arrival I was asked to fill-out a form to get my details.  With ASTER you will have to do this only once as they will encode your details in their computer system and have it on file, plus your index finger print.


They have a paperless system through Electronic Media Records (EMR).  All transactions are paperless.  Everytime you wil visit or have a consultation with their doctors, all you will need is your index finger print and your data will be accessible to the doctor, yes, only the doctors have access to the patient’s health files/history.

This was further explained to us by Aster Clinic Operations Manager Mr. Emerson  Conducto, he said “there are no other clinics in the Philippines with an EMR system, except ASTER.  We are passionate about patient protection and privacy"  In other hospitals / clinics, we may see computers around, but it doesn’t mean that their computers have connectivity and functionality and they have a system.  Only Aster Medical has this capability at the moment.

Mr. Emerson  Conducto

Btw, after they have my input my info into their system, I received a text confirmation of the registration indicating my unique I.D. No. I can use it in all future communications with Aster Medical, plus I can access my own health record online, anytime I need it.  I just need to log on to the Aster Medical website at http://www.asterphilippines.com/


Dr. Nicco Alegro gave a very enlightening talk about Hypertension and Diabetes, I will do a separate post about it (so watch for it guys).

Dr. Nicco Alegro

Ms. Joyce Alumno, President and Country Manager of Aster DM Healthcare gave us further insights about Aster Medical, and said that "Aster Dm Healthcare is one of the largest health conglomerates in he Gulf Region, Middle East and India. Founded by Dr. Azad Moopen, the Dubai-based healthcare conglomerate is committed in delivering quality and affordable healthcare in the country where it is present. 


Ms. Joyce Alumno

At Aster Medical & Diagnostic Clinic, they have state-of-the-art facilities here in the Philippines and abroad.  These are photos I have taken during our tour of the clinic.










For more information about ASTER, please visit 


Thursday, May 5, 2016

Ilocos is captured in drone and it's breathtaking!


A Philippine region that fuses the beauty of nature and our history together, Ilocos is given a fresh and exciting perspective by awesome videographer Christer Isulat. With his drone and hand-held camera, he went to shoot the key destinations in Vigan, Laoag, and Pagudpud.

The preserved architecture of Calle Crisologo, Bantay Tower, Quirino Bridge, and the dancing lights fountain are some of the spectacles documented for Vigan. The sand dunes in Laoag lets you have an exciting time aboard a monster 4x4 and unlimited sandboarding time. Laoag is also the home of Malacanang of the North as well as Paoay Church. Pagudpud is famous for its windmills, Patapat Viaduct, Dos Hermanos Islands, Saud Beach, Blue Lagoon, Burgos Lighthouse, and Bantay Abot Cave.

These destinations are an easy visit with the three main provinces easily accessible from one another.


This video was in collaboration with Biyaheroes and Partas Transport Company with hopes of encouraging tourists to visit these commute-friendly destinations and to take public transport when visiting. Instead of a very long drive, Biyaheroes lets commuters book and even choose their bus seats online, saving everyone from the hassle and the stress of planning their trips. They are in partnership with Partas that offers direct and roundtrip Manila to Vigan, Laoag, and Pagudpud buses with terminals in Pasay, Sampaloc, and Cubao.

With the blazing heat of the sun and the longing to see provinces that offer everything from history, adventure, and food trips, why not escape and book your Ilocos bus tickets now? Laoag na magdalawang isip pa! :)




Bonbon Festival - Celebrate Art, Environment and Community!

Now on it's second year, Bonbon Festival is back to celebrate Arts, Environment and Community in a one of a kind one-day event which will be participated by young professionals, students, different artists in Batangas Province, and invited guests from other places.

 
Bonbon Festival is the first eco-green festival in the province which aims to support and sustain the environment by using arts and culture as one of the tools for preservation and development. The festival will be at Sitio Tagbakin, Brgy. Halang Lipa City, Batangas this coming May 21, 2016 from 6am onwards!

What to expect:

Gala at Pasyal sa Lawa/ Knowledge Tour
Know the story of the lake region and eruption history of Taal Volcano via boat ride from Sitio Tagbakin, Lipa City to San Nicolas to Volcano Island and back. Enjoy the horse ride and trek with local tour guide and the rest of the team.

Mananghalian/Lunch
Savor a sumptuous lunch of Batangas fusion cuisine and local refreshments.

Huntahan sa Lawa/ Talkback
Join a series of meaningful talkback and discussions about Art and Environment with interactive community workshops that culminates the afternoon activities.

Hapunan/ Dinner by the Lake, Art Installations and Performance Art
Experience Batangas Art and Culture through performances. Listen to the old time Kundiman music plus musical performances dedicated to Taal led by independent Batangueno musicians including LAC Music Department. Cocktails are available with a party capping the night with all-out-fun and dancing.

Participants may choose from 2 packages:



For inquiries and ticket purchase you may contact:

Mr. Carlo Aguila at 043-740-7112 or 09178779144

Let's end this summer season with a purpose. See you there!

Give your Mom this Villa Del Conte Dark Chocolates this Mother's Day


There will always be that one caring and supportive woman who will always have your back no matter what—your mom. She’s the one who brings out the best in you, holds your hand when you fall and helps you stand on your feet again. Give back the love and appreciation she deserves with Villa Del Conte Thank You Dark Chocolates. These sumptuous delights from Padova, Italy contain 50% cacao. Make this Mother’s Day the best yet by giving her these Italian artisanal chocolates. Visit Villa del Conte stores at Greenbelt 5, Century City Mall, Shangri-la Mall, SM Megamall, Resorts World, Alabang Town Center, and Robinsons Magnolia. 

For bulk orders, please contact 893-2575 or 621-6101. 
Go to http://www.villadelcontecioccolato.com/ to know more about Villa del Conte, or follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VillaDelContePh
Instagram: http://instagram.com/villadelconte and 


Monday, May 2, 2016

Go Green and Practical with California EcoBike

Fuel prices continues to soar every week, add that to the burden of motorists and commuters alike as horrendous traffic in the metro persist. When it seems that we need to contend ourselves with these condition, why not try other alternative?

Electronic Bikes
One such alternative we can take are E-bikes which can either charge on an electrical outlet or completely off-grid through solar charging. These should lower fumes on the road caused by petroleum type fuel and considerably cheaper if not free.

With the steady growth of e-bike followers, California Ecobike is gearing towards its mission to improve transportation in an eco-friendly way, one e-bike at a time. With their continuous effort in offering various alternative, here are two of their newest model:



California EcoBike promo

CD-R King and California Ecobike are holding a promo, Libreng E-bike that will run from April 15 to May 15, 2016, interested participants can refer to mechanics below:

Promo Mechanics:
1. Participants must purchase one (1) unit of E-bike worth P10,000 or more to qualify for this promo.
2. Participant must sign an application form and submit 2 valid IDs to join. Approved participants will be given a referral ID card.
3. Participant must accompany each of their referred buyers during the purchase.
4. A successful referral can only be approved if the following conditions are met:

    a.  Each of the referred buyer bought an E-bike worth 10,000 or            higher.
        b.  The transaction was made within the promo period.
        c.  The transaction was made on the same branch where the                  participant enlisted in.

5. After completing 10 successful transactions, the participant can avail 1 free Reedley2 E-bike.
6. To claim the free Reedley2 E-bike, participant must present his/her Referral ID card along with 2 valid IDs. After 3 working days, store will call up the participant for claiming.
7. Redemption period is up to 60 days from the end of promo.


News for Two wheels enthusiasts on the North 


To further up the ante, CD-R King and California E-bike are testing the market as it initially offer the iRover and Malibu for rent for mall-goers of Star Mall, San Jose. With a minimal fee of as low as Php30, Mall goers can rent these gadgets to be used within the mall vicinity. Renter should have a valid ID for processing.

For further inquiries visit www.ebike.cdrking.com or their FB page https://www.facebook.com/EcoBikePH/.