World Vision continues to bring joy this Christmas to the most vulnerable children and their families

Year 2020 has been a very challenging year for a lot of Filipinos.  From the eruption of the Taal Volcano, to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and just recently, the consecutive typhoons that hit the country, children and families have struggled to get back on their feet. Now that Christmas is fast approaching, most are still unsure how they will celebrate this holiday season.

 

World Vision, an international Christian non-profit organization, is committed to making this a Christmas like no other most especially for the most vulnerable children and their families in the face of these difficult times.

 

Through their annual tradition of sharing Noche Buena meals to communities under their care, World Vision aims to spread hope and joy, making it possible for children and families to celebrate Christmas, such as eight-year-old Carla and her family.

 

Carla, a World Vision beneficiary

 

Carla shared with us that she looks forward to eating her favorite spaghetti and celebrating this season with her family. She lives in one of World Vision’s assisted communities in Batangas that was hardest hit by the eruption of Taal Volcano.

 

“Bilang isang nanay, sadyang mahirap ang pinagdaanan namin sa pagputok ng bulkan. Tsaka ho, hindi ko alam anong gagawin ko. Ang inisip ko agad, ang mga anak ko maligtas (As a mother, it was hard when the volcano erupted. I didn’t know what to do. My thoughts focused on ensuring my children’s safety),” shared Carla’s mother, Maricel.

 

Carla together with her parents

 

Carla’s father, Henry, earned a living through fishing. They used to celebrate Christmas with a small feast and a happy home. But due to the tragedies they experienced, there was a time when they felt they’ve already lost everything. What kept them going was the hope the Christmas celebration brings.

 

“Ang kahilingan ko ngayong darating na Pasko, sana po kami ay magsama-sama’ng buong pamilya (My wish this Christmas is for our whole family to celebrate together),” wished Henry.

 

Since they first launched it, World Vision's Noche Buena campaign has distributed more than 400,000 Noche Buena packs to Filipino families all over the country. World Vision aims to reach more than 24,000 families this year.

 

“The celebration of Christmas will always be meaningful because it is about the birth of Jesus that brought hope for all humanity. With everything that happened this year, I personally invite you to join us in spreading good tidings especially to the most vulnerable children and their communities. As you give the gift of Noche Buena, may you and your families feel the peace, joy and hope this Christmas season brings,” said Mr. Rommel Fuerte, World Vision’s National Director.

 

For every donation of P1000, two (2) children and their families will feel the joy of celebrating the true meaning of Christmas. More than the meal, these children will experience love through your generosity. To send your donation or know more about World Vision’s Noche Buena campaign, visit this link: https://bit.ly/WVNocheBuena.

 

To know more about World Vision and its other initiatives, you may visit www.worldvision.org.ph or follow World Vision’s official social media pages /worldvisionph on Facebook, @worldvisionphl on Instagram, and @worldvisionph on Twitter.

 

 

About World Vision

World Vision is a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, their families, and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by its Christian faith and values, it is dedicated to working with the world’s most vulnerable people. It serves and collaborates with all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. 

 

Herbalife Nutrition Leverages Digital Technology to Make Fitness an Achievable Goal During and Beyond the New Normal

 

As social distancing and other health protocols that prevent most people from going to the gym remain in place, premiere global nutrition company Herbalife Nutrition leveraged digital technology to bring fitness to people through videos, virtual events, and other interactive platforms. One such platform is its Fitness Portal, which features workout videos that range from beginner routines to advanced workouts – making fitness an achievable goal for everyone. All videos can be accessed for free.

 

“Three years ago, we started to work on our digital platform for fitness. It’s a free resource that’s for everybody,” said Samantha Clayton, Vice President, Worldwide Sports Performance and Fitness, and Chairwoman of the Fitness Advisory Board of Herbalife Nutrition.

 

Clayton spoke before members of the media and the blogging community during the Virtual Wellness Tour of Herbalife Nutrition Philippines. The forum was held in line with Herbalife Nutrition’s Get Moving with Good Nutrition, a campaign that aims at breaking health inertia and fostering communities to support one another on their healthy living journey. It was launched as part of Herbalife Nutrition’s 40th anniversary celebration.

 

“Digital has been driving fitness for a long time. It really amplified  the average everyday fitness professional’s voice. If you see a lot of the content that’s on YouTube, Twitter, or Instagram, the content that gets the most amounts of likes tend to be fitness-based content, so the digital transformation of the fitness world has been happening for a long time. It has always been supported hand in hand with going to a location to exercise, but as this year has gone on, the physical getting together piece has gone down a little, which has made the digital transformation of fitness move at a more rapid pace,” Clayton said.

 

She added that even when gyms start to open and people get back outside, people have realized the convenience of online workouts and that they could do it in their own time and in the comfort of their own home.

 

For companies that create content, the challenge lies in making it interesting enough for people to consumer.

 

“When the sports world kind of stopped this year, we really had a challenge to put out a really interesting and engaging  content with our athletes to meet our consumers in their homes, meet our distributors, and people in the community in a space that we know,” Clayton said.

 

To address this challenge, Clayton and her team came up with a 2020 Quarantine Sports and Fitness Content that comprised of athlete cook-off contests, social media workout videos, sports nutrition blog series, Facebook live workout series, and social media workout graphics.

 

A former Olympic athlete, Clayton added that the audience for fitness and sports nutrition has never been wider until today.

 

“For many years, the fitness industry and the sports nutrition industry, in particular, was all about the athlete. Everything was geared towards speaking to the athlete, a person that was really striving to be the best at their sport. What’s exciting for me today is to share with you that the audience not for fitness and sports nutrition has really expanded,” she said. “People are truly inspired and interested  in what good nutrition has to offer.”

 

Citing data gathered by Herbalife Nutrition between February 23 - March 25, 2020, Clayton shared that key categories of conversation in Sports Nutrition International Online listening are: health (37%), market growth (28%), food (15%), science (10%), and nutrition (10%).

 

When it comes to what gets people moving, running and endurance training ranked highest at 26%, followed by bodybuilding/weightlifting at 23%, cycling at 13%, and plyometrics at 12%.

 

“I believe that it’s important that people subscribe to a healthy active lifestyle, which is not necessarily striving to be the best athlete in the world. It’s not about reaching peak performance; it’s about having simple daily habits each and every day so that you could be at your best. So whether that’s having a healthy breakfast or getting your minimum amount of exercise, a healthy active lifestyle is about sustainable healthy habits that last a lifetime. Your body is your one vehicle that will last you for the rest of your days. A lot of how that vehicle operates relies on you,” Clayton said.

 

A mother of four, including a set of triplets, Clayton holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health with a concentration on Nutrition and Wellness. She has competed in the Sydney 2000 Olympics, and is an Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA)-certified personal trainer and group exercise specialist and International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)-certified personal trainer, group exercise specialist, and youth fitness specialist.

 

About Herbalife Nutrition

Herbalife Nutrition is a global company that has been changing people's lives with great nutrition products and a proven business opportunity for its independent distributors since 1980. The Company offers high-quality, science-backed products, sold in over 90 countries by entrepreneurial distributors who provide one-on-one coaching and a supportive community that inspires their customers to embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle. Through the Company’s global campaign to eradicate hunger, Herbalife Nutrition is also committed to bringing nutrition and education to communities around the world.

 

For more information, please visit IAmHerbalifeNutrition.com.

GOLDILOCKS On A Roll!

 

Say “Cheese Please!” to the new cheesy treat from the country’s number one bakeshop, Goldilocks! We are sure you’ll love their new Cheese Roll. Bite into delectable cheese enveloped by soft sweet bread. It’s the perfect merienda treat for the whole family!​

Enjoy these and other scrumptious snacks at Goldilocks stores Nationwide, and for more information, you may follow @GoldilocksPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or visit the official Goldilocks website at www.goldilocks.com.ph.

Allianz PNB Life Unveils the Philippines’ First Solar-Powered Bike Pit Stop in San Juan

 

In line with its commitment to sustainable mobility, Allianz PNB Life, through its Ride Safe Movement, unveiled the country’s first solar-powered bike pit stop in San Juan.

 

“We commend San Juan for taking the lead in establishing biker-friendly areas and it is only fitting that we put up the Philippines’ first solar-powered bike pit stop here. Biking is not just an alternative but an imperative transport solution during these times when we are facing challenges in mobility. Through this pit stop and other safety infrastructure we have put in place in partnership with the city, we hope that more people will be encouraged to use bikes,” said Allianz PNB Life President and CEO Alexander Grenz.

 

San Juan is known for its Bike Safety campaign. It has been awarded as one of the Most Bike-Friendly Cities in Metro Manila by the Mobility Awards. 

The city has designated bike lanes with corresponding safety infrastructure along its major thoroughfares. It has also deployed bike patrollers to ensure the safety of bikers and enforce the city’s strict quarantine protocols. In October, Allianz PNB Life became the exclusive Life Insurance Partner of its Bike Safety campaign.

 

“We’re very thankful that Allianz PNB Life has chosen the city of San Juan to be their partner for this very innovative, very progressive project,” San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora said during the unveiling ceremonies.

 

“Ang pagbibisikleta po, minsan iniisip ng iba, nakakatakot at delikado. Delikado, kung hindi tayo magbibigay ng proteksyon sa ating mga nagbibisikleta. Ngunit dito sa San Juan, bahagi na rin na bakit tayo nahirang na Gold Awardee ng Mobility Awards, ay dahil binibigyan natin ng proteksiyon ang mga nagbibisikleta. (Some people think that biking is scary and dangerous. It can be dangerous when there is no protection for our bikers. Here in San Juan, part of the reason why we are a Gold Awardee at the Mobility Awards, is that we give protection to bikers),” he added.

 

The design of the bike pit stop was patterned after the Allianz race car pit stops at Formula 1 races. It has bike parking, bikers’ resting area, and a small footprint bike repair station complete with hanger arms, repair tools, and an air pump.

 

San Juan City First Lady Keri Zamora, Vice Mayor Warren Villa, and city councilors were also present during the bike pit stop’s blessing and unveiling. The event also included the blessing of the 105 bicycles for San Juan’s Bike Sharing Program for its government employees.

 

After the ceremonial turnover of the pit stop to the local government of San Juan, Allianz PNB Life executives joined San Juan officials for a bike tour of the city. According to Mayor Zamora, the city government will be launching a historical bike trail of the city in January next year. The trail includes the historic Pinaglabanan Shrine, Museo ng Katipunan/El Deposito Museum/El Deposito Underground Tunnel, St. John the Baptist Parish, Ortigas Avenue, Santuario del Santo Kristo, Iglesia ni Cristo Property – F. Manalo (Gruet St.), Marcos House (P. Guevarra St.), Mini Park, Club Filipino, and the Greenhills Loop.

 

The bike pit stop is not the first project that Allianz PNB Life has worked on with the city of San Juan. Last month, one of the world’s leading sustainable insurers also put up signage and safety bollards in the city’s biking lanes.

 

“Sustainability is part of the Allianz DNA. Globally and locally, we have taken part in initiatives that promote environment-friendly solutions. We are looking forward to work with more local government units that share our ideals of providing a safer and healthier planet for our future generations,” Grenz concluded.

 

 

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About Allianz PNB Life

 

Allianz PNB Life began its operations in 2001 and is among the major life insurers in the Philippines. Worldwide, Allianz is also considered the most sustainable insurer from 2017 to 2019 according to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. We are a leading provider of Variable Life products, complemented by a full line of Life protection offerings for individuals and institutions. All our products and services are designed to meet the lifetime financial planning, wealth accumulation, and well-being aspirations of every Filipino Family.

 

Allianz PNB Life’s main headquarters is in Makati City, the country’s main business district, with eleven business centres strategically located in key cities across the archipelago. It has the support of over 220 employees and more than 1000 financial advisors to serve our dear policyholders and deliver great customer service experiences.

 

Allianz Banking on Young, Digital-Savvy, Finance Protégés

 

Allianz PNB Life is offering young, dynamic, talented, and digital-savvy Filipinos the opportunity to make a profitable income and be in control of their careers, while helping others secure their health and financial future without sacrificing the time to pursue their own passions.

The Digital Natives of Allianz, or DNAs, are the products of the company’s newest agency program.  The program attracts, trains, and develops self-starting young Filipinos who want to take charge of their lives.  DNAs from diverse backgrounds are welcome as long as they have an entrepreneurial mindset, want to be in control of their careers, and are disciplined in following the program. Young, curious, digitally-skilled, and proficient at multi-tasking, they are the new lifeblood of Allianz PNB Life and the future of the insurance industry.

 

According to Allianz PNB Life Distribution Training Supervisor Candice Elaine Veloso, the DNA program aims to reward  committed, and tech-savvy individuals who want to establish a lifelong career in the insurance industry.

“The DNAs undergo a bespoke four-week training program designed to prepare them to become knowledgeable, experienced, and valuable assets to the business,” Veloso said.

 

To be a DNA, means having to undergo a rigorous selection process, as Allianz PNB Life handpicks only the best. Close to 200 applicants from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao tried out during the first recruitment process held earlier this year. Thirty-five applicants were admitted to the training program and 31 successfully completed it.

True to the name – “Digital Natives” – the training program was conducted via digital tools meant to meet the demands of modern times. Each applicant went through a variety of learning interventions such as role-playing, case studies, and other assessments that are meant to enhance their skills and knowledge as well as raise their confidence and insight on how to best serve the needs of their life insurance clients.

 

Accepted DNAs are able to enjoy a set of exclusive benefits while in the 12-month full-time program, which includes a monthly financial allowance on top of commissions, access to rewards and special training classes, basic HMO coverage and a tablet ownership plan go be able to do paperless transactions when helping their clients secure their preferred life insurance program. The DNAs use Allianz PNB Life’s digital platform called AZ Journey to help their clients have a seamless life insurance application process. In this new normal, life insurance professionals have to do their business in a virtual environment, and Allianz’ Digital Natives are provided the support to do this with the right tools, motivation as well as the support of their mentors and leaders.

 

DNAs become not only a part of one of the country’s leading health and insurance providers, but also get the backing of the world’s number one insurance brand (according to the latest Interbrand Best Global Brand Rankings).

 

“This year, the entire industry is called to better serve the needs of Filipinos, of every age. To paint a future picture where, even as Covid-19 exists, digitalization and technology plays a crucial part in helping us reach out to out customers when they need us the most. I have so much hope for our young DNAs, because not only are they creative and enthusiastic about innovating the industry, they also collectively believe in the noble nature of our purpose – to secure the future. They do their work with a lot of heart. I have great hope in the next generation, especially when I see the Digital Natives of Allianz in action,” said Orange Galcim, Chief Agency Officer, Allianz PNB Life.

Allianz is currently in the process of assembling the second batch of DNAs. If you would like to become one, head on over to the Allianz PNB Life social media accounts to learn more.

 

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About Allianz PNB Life

 

Allianz PNB Life began its operations in 2001 and is among the major life insurers in the Philippines. Worldwide, Allianz is also considered the most sustainable insurer from 2017 to 2019 according to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. We are a leading provider of Variable Life products, complemented by a full line of Life protection offerings for individuals and institutions. All our products and services are designed to meet the lifetime financial planning, wealth accumulation, and well-being aspirations of every Filipino Family.

 

Allianz PNB Life’s main headquarters is in Makati City, the country’s main business district, with eleven business centres strategically located in key cities across the archipelago. It has the support of over 220 employees and more than 1000 financial advisors to serve our dear policyholders and deliver great customer service experiences.

 

 

 

Alagang Unilab: Healthier Ph Opens Dialogue on Steam Inhalation as a Health Treatment

The country’s leading pharmaceutical and healthcare company, Unilab Inc. (Unilab), through its “Alagang Unilab: HealthierPH Series,” launched a virtual symposium that talked about the pros and cons of steam inhalation recently.

 

Dubbed “To steam or not to steam: A discussion on Steam Inhalation as a Health Remedy,” pulmonologist and biochemist Dr. Earl Louis A. Sempio helped shed some light on the various misinformation surrounding the treatment modality.

 

Steam inhalation, tuob or suob in local parlance, is the process of inhaling water vapor to relieve stuffy nose brought by a cold or sinus infection. Some use it as a therapy for bronchitis or nasal allergies, while some resort to its effect when they have fever or flu.

 

The procedure involves lowering one’s head about eight to 12 inches away from hot water and inhaling slowly and deeply through the nose for at least two to five minutes.

 

Quick-relief but not a cure. “Steam inhalation is widely practiced, especially in homes, because of the relief that it gives a person who may be suffering from the common cold, nasal allergies, or sinus infections. These conditions bring nasal congestion that is very uncomfortable and makes it difficult for someone to breathe,” says Dr. Sempio.

 

While steam inhalation alleviates the symptoms of nasal congestion, Dr. Sempio stressed that it is not a cure as the steam does not address the virus that caused it. 

 

The problem is when people feel better they get a false sense of security that they no longer need a doctor’s advice to address their condition. People often associate relief with cure, which is a mistake that can potentially hurt in the long run.

 

“Steam can make you feel better and so can a warm bowl of chicken soup when you’re under the weather. When you’re done with your soup, you start feeling better because the vapor from the soup helped decongest your nasal pathways. 

 

“Water vapor or moisture does not necessarily need to be from a boiling pot of water. What’s important is to keep yourself hydrated; you need to drink plenty of fluids to replenish what is being lost.”

 

COVID 19 and other conditions. Amid the pandemic, Dr. Sempio strongly discourages steam inhalation for coronavirus patients. 

 

“Steam inhalation loosens secretions, that’s why a COVID patient shouldn’t do it. It poses a great threat to everyone around the patient especially if he starts coughing in the middle of treatment."

 

Various medical societies have already issued statements regarding steam inhalation for COVID 19 patients. One of them is the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC). 

 

Part of the statement reads: “Scientific studies suggest that steam inhalation is indeed effective against symptoms of colds and that it increases nasal patency… However, tuob/suob cannot be recommended as a standard care treatment for COVID-19 until it is proven by controlled clinical studies.”

 

The Philippine College of Physicians, Philippine Society of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, and the Philippine College of Chest Physicians have likewise issued a joint statement saying: “Steam inhalation does not kill the virus and may cause potential harm. We cannot in good conscience endorse its preventive or curative measure.”

 

Apart from COVID 19, Dr. Sempio also discourages the use of steam inhalation with patients suffering from an infectious condition like Tuberculosis where the possibility of generating infectious droplets is high.

 

Dr. Sempio reminds everyone to seek a health professional’s opinion when it comes to addressing medical concerns, especially cough and cold. He then enumerates tips on how to prevent an infection and stay healthy.

 

“Prevention is always better than cure. First is hygiene because that’s the primary way of us getting the infection. If we’re worried about a viral infection, we usually get it through the secretions or the airborne particles. 

“If you’re already sick, drink plenty of fluids, that’s number one. Second, you need to have rest, you have to have adequate sleep, adequate nutrition, and remove any form of abuse to the body.”

 

Lastly, Dr. Sempio acknowledges that many Filipinos are suffering from vitamin deficiency, which makes them susceptible to infection. Correcting malnutrition can greatly help in improving one’s immune system.

 

Alagang Unilab: HealthierPH Series is part of Unilab’s initiatives in reaching out to the public to provide relevant health information on primary healthcare and chronic conditions. For more information about Unilab, log on to their website at www.unilab.com.ph, or visit their Facebook or Instagram pages (@unilab). For inquiries and other concerns, you may contact the Unilab Consumer Care Center at +632-8-864522-1 (UNILAB-1) or info@unilab.com.ph.

 

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

                                     Earl Louis Sempio M.D., F.P.C.P, F.P.C.C.P.

 Oceana University                                                                                                       Associate Professor

 

University of Sto. Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery                 

Department of Medical Ethics                                                                              Course Supervisor

Educational Technology and e-Learning Applications                           E-Learning Specialist

Department of Biochemistry                                                                                Laboratory Supervisor

 

University of Sto. Tomas Hospital

Center for Respiratory Medicine

Media and Resource Creation Unit                                                                     Unit Head

 

Department of Medical Education and Research                                       Coordinator

Continuing Medical Education Unit

 

St. Jude General Hospital and Medical Center

Pulmonary Department                                                                                            Chairman

 

 

 

 

Gearing up for the new era of Telehealth Is your facility keeping up with the rising demands for Virtual Health?

 

The current global health crisis has highlighted the value of virtual health through telehealth, telemedicine, or remote patient monitoring. Due to lockdowns and community quarantines, healthcare organizations, ranging from large hospitals to small independent physicians, are now adopting telehealth systems to continue providing services to their patients.

 

Recognizing the advantages of virtual health, the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) released a set of “Guidelines on the Use of Telemedicine in COVID-19 Response” last April. This joint memorandum aims to enable patients to receive health services even while staying at home, except for emergencies or to avail of COVID-19-related health services as per standing protocols.

 

As the adoption rates continue to skyrocket among healthcare facilities, physicians, and patients, use case applications for telehealth are continuing to expand across the healthcare environment—from mental health providers and physical therapists to small physician offices and large health systems. Healthcare providers utilize virtual health for online video telehealth visits, remote patient monitoring, virtual education, and management of billing and online payments, to name a few.

 

For Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, the rise of virtual health, on the other hand, is straining the health IT infrastructure and creates new challenges among healthcare providers.

 

“Now that we currently face a pandemic, most healthcare systems struggle to support the volume of data generated by the virtual health approach. Healthcare providers, including hospitals, retail clinics, outpatient facilities, and physicians, must ensure that their IT infrastructures are built to support the range of virtual health services, being delivered today,” said Jason Lim, the country manager of Vertiv Philippines.

 

To ensure the seamless delivery of virtual health services, Lim listed three things that healthcare providers must consider in ensuring the successful implementation of virtual health technologies.

 

Build redundancy into the telehealth infrastructure

Healthcare organizations must ensure that they have dependable internet connection and bandwidth, suitable for the data volume and high-resolution imaging. They also need to establish backup power protection for computers and network apparatus, as well as to consider data sovereignty, data privacy, security, and regulations.

 

 

Modernize legacy infrastructure

To support the next generation of computational, storage, and communication capabilities, healthcare organizations may also need to modernize their infrastructures.

 

As healthcare facilities add hundreds of devices and thousands of sensors to their already overloaded network, it will be vital to assess their existing infrastructure for weak spots that could potentially bring their network down. Many healthcare systems were long overdue for technology updates even before the pandemic. There have also been some inadequacies in management, monitoring, security, and even back up power, which plague the health IT environments.

 

With the growth of telehealth, there is an opportunity to get the needed funding for upgrading critical infrastructure devices in support of next-generation digital healthcare that delivers increased bandwidth, added security, and added computational, storage, and communications capabilities.

 

Leverage the power of edge computing

Innovative digital healthcare technologies and the rapid growth of telehealth is generating large amounts of data, from a variety of sources, and at greater velocity than ever before. Leveraging this data can help healthcare providers gain deep insights that can ultimately improve patient outcomes, boost workforce productivity, and improve the revenue streams for healthcare providers.

 

By leveraging edge computing, an approach where health IT infrastructure or IT network services closer to where their customers are, healthcare providers will be more equipped to collect, analyze, and secure the influx of telehealth data for making faster, more informed decisions at the point of care. Deploying an edge architecture enables data processing close to the source promoting greater security and efficiency while reducing both cost and strain on bandwidth.

 

As IT becomes an integral part of today’s new era of telehealth, Vertiv aims to bring together cutting-edge Healthcare Solutions that can help healthcare providers to meet the growing demand for always-on connectivity, while managing security and costs, and do it with fewer resources and tightening budgets.

 

Vertiv’s Healthcare Solutions also help ensure uninterrupted operations, optimal performance, and scalability of data centers, communication networks, and other critical IT facilities. To learn more about how Vertiv supports the continuity of today’s vital business applications, visit Vertiv.com.