Mental Health Matters

With successive incidents of suicide among notable celebrities here and abroad, there is now a strong call to promote good mental health among people suffering from various mental health disorders. Now, it is not just enough to provide emotional support, belongingness, understanding and compassion. There is also a strong need to spread enough information, how to know if one is suffering from mental issues, especially those undergoing various amounts of physical and emotional stress that can be too hard to handle, much more ignore.

To stress further the need to spread more information about mental health issues, Mental Health Matters (MHM) recently celebrated its 1st anniversary through its “Mental Health Matters Fair.” The event, which was held at the Crown Spaces in Makati City and opened to the public, was organized by the group and Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa, herself an advocate of good mental health and who once underwent bouts with depression.

The fair featured several inspirational talks from guest speakers from the medical profession and the legislative sector, free psychiatric consultations, art exhibits, live performances, and interactive and imaginative booths and was open to the public. Priority access, however, was provided to the MHM Support Group and the Anxiety and Disorder Support Philippines (ADSP).

The whole-day affair started with psychiatrists from the Philippine Psychiatric Association (PPS) and Talang Dalisay, a nongovernmental organization, who jointly provided professional psychiatric advice for free to select attendees. Both are partners of MHM.

The afternoon started with a talk by Senator Risa Hontiveros, author and principal sponsor of the bill that became Republic Act 11036 or the Philippine Mental Health Law, which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte recently. She said mental health struggles among Filipinos are very complex. “Today and every day, you are not alone,” she assures those present.

She said the law’s Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) is now being developed under the Department of Health, particularly on seeking increase in access to services up to the community level, a progressive “referral” system, on-campus anti-discrimination and anti-stigma program, and inclusion of non-medical interventions to health and healing.

Verzosa, a strong advocate of mental health since her reign, said she organized the event for the benefit of everyone who has been struggling and who has survived. She also called on people undergoing depression to not be afraid to seek help. “Get help by talking to someone. Let’s speak up about mental health before it’s too late.” Dr. Gia Sison, a breast cancer survivor and a Youth for Mental Health Coalition national adviser, meanwhile, provided invaluable advice, particularly on developing mental strength to help overcome failures.

There were also other speakers who shared their mental health advocacies. UST student Reymark Simbulan, a member of the LGBTQ community who also suffered from depression, shared many important things about finding one’s anchors, not giving up because it will get better, and knowing that God will make us stronger. He also noted that “members of the LGBTQ community are almost three times likely to experience mental health problems like depression,” he said.

Diet coach Nadine Tengco, meanwhile, said food has a profound effect in addressing one’s mental health while Mariella Tung, a pastry chef, shared her story of resilience and recovery. “I finally came out to people about depression and became strong because of my son, my anchor. Every day, I remind myself of that one person.” Kates Ante, head of operations at ADSP, explained how “laughter yoga” works, and said the art pieces in the exhibit were masterpieces of people with mental health problems. Rachelle Jardin, a former media researcher, filmmaker and poet, meanwhile, said her team is working on an idea of a social enterprise for mental health.

Mental Health Matters is an online support group established for people experiencing various forms of mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety disorders. The group also offers seminars to spread awareness about mental health in many universities nationwide. For more information about the group, go to www.Facebook.com/mentalhealthmattersbykylieverzosa.

SAMSUNG Philippines officially launches the new super powerful Galaxy Note9

The new super powerful Samsung Galaxy Note 9 comes in 3 color variants: Ocean Blue (with Pearl Yellow S Pen), Metallic Copper, and Midnight Black

Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation officially launches the Samsung Galaxy Note9 in the Philippines. Held on August 14 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, the event gathers media personalities, together with Samsung dealers and partners for an evening of exciting talks and a closer look at the tech giant’s newest flagship smartphone.

Do more with the Connected Bluetooth S Pen

The well-loved feature of the Note series shows off its newfound capabilities in the launch. Now powered with Bluetooth, the Connected S Pen wirelessly controls the Galaxy Note9 within a 10-meter radius, allowing users to take group selfies, browse through photos and content, and activate other applications, all with just a few clicks.

The Connected S Pen pairs instantly with its Galaxy Note9 counterpart, eliminating the need to switch Bluetooth on and off. It lasts for around 200 clicks or 30 minutes of continued usage. It also automatically charges once placed inside the device, requiring only 40 seconds to reach full power.

Achieve more with ultimate performance

The event also boasts of the Galaxy Note9’s upgraded core performance features, which is perfect for those who relentlessly pursue excellence every day. The powerhouse device runs on a long-lasting 4,000 mAh battery, allowing one to accomplish more without worrying about energy consumption. Supporting fast and wireless charging, the smartphone goes back to full power with ease, ready to take on more tasks.

Running on a 10 nanometer Application Processor, the Galaxy Note9 offers seamless performance and speed. Multitaskers can send emails, edit presentations, and stream content on-the go, with faster loading and transition times within applications.

The Galaxy Note9 also sets a new standard with its pioneering 128GB base storage and a pre-order exclusive 512GB variant. Both units support expandable memory, allowing users to carry as much as 1TB of data in a single device. The Galaxy Note9 also utilizes Samsung Knox, the company’s mobile security platform, to keep important documents and large files secure anytime, anywhere.

See more with the intelligent dual camera

Samsung’s most advanced smartphone camera continues to impress with its ability to take gorgeous low-light photos, thanks to its F1.5 and F2.4 lens aperture. It outsmarts the human eye with Super-Slow Mo, which captures videos at 960 frames per second. That is four times slower than normal slow motion.

For the Galaxy Note9, the camera gains Real Time Intelligence, elevating the standout feature even further. With its Auto Scene Recognition, it detects up to 20 unique scenes and automatically optimizes the photo depending on the conditions or subjects being taken. It can also report flaws, allowing users to snap professional-looking shots.

Get more with standout, noteworthy features

With the biggest screen among all Samsung smartphones, the Galaxy Note9 provides the best viewing experience with its 6.4” Super AMOLED Infinity Display. The device also sports a sleek square design with diamond cuts at the edges. Available in Ocean Blue with a Pearl Yellow S Pen (128GB & 512GB), Metallic Copper (128GB), and Midnight Black (128GB), the Galaxy Note9 champions sophisticated and elegant design.

With stereo speakers tuned by AKG and powered by Dolby Atmos, the Galaxy Note9 provides superb and surround-sound experiences. Coupled with its immersive display, the smartphone delivers cinematic entertainment on-the-go.

“The Samsung Galaxy Note9 is perfect for someone who wants to do more and be more in life. It caters to those who demand only the best and continuously strive to become better versions of themselves,” shares Jerry Manus, Samsung Philippines’ Business Unit Head for IT & Mobile. “Delivering upgraded power, speed, storage, and performance, the Galaxy Note9 empowers users to get the most out of everything that they do.”

Pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Note9 until August 19, 2018 to enjoy exclusive freebies worth up to P17,800. Those interested in the pre-order exclusive of 512GB storage will receive a free 2018 Samsung 32” Smart HD TV with a 2-year warranty. Note enthusiasts may also choose from several Samsung products like the Gear Fit2 Pro, Gear IconX or Galaxy Tab A 7” when they pre-order the 128GB variant.

All pre-orders will come with NanoFixit Screen Protection with one-year insurance of up to P10,000*. Get an additional 10 percent discount on the total bundle upon purchase of special add-ons such as the new Samsung Galaxy Watch and/or Samsung Galaxy Tab S4. Visit samsung.com/ph/note9preorder for more information on the Galaxy Note9 pre-order promos.

The Galaxy Note9 will be available in-store on August 24 at a suggested retail price of PHP 55,990 (128GB). The 512GB variant, priced at Php 75,990, is exclusively for pre-order only. For more information, visit the Samsung Facebook page or log on to samsung.com/ph .

Game On, Southeast Asia: The Ultimate 3-On-3 Basketball Tournament Makes Its Return

Building on its success from last year, UA 3X3 came back to offer young passionate ballers the chance to compete while testing their team’s skills, teamwork, and their will to own the court. This year, the competition began in Malaysia, followed by Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. The last leg held in the Philippines happened last August 11 at the Xavier School Gym in San Juan, accommodating 68 teams which competed for the top spots in both under-18 girls and boys division.

Two-time NCAA Champion of the San Beda University Red Lions and UA ambassador Robert Bolick was present in the event to join a 3-point shoot out exhibition held during a quick afternoon break. “Play as a team, go hard and play your best,” was what Bolick said when asked for a quick tip he could give the players.

In the boys division, Dragon Den triumphed against 56 other teams. The team consisted of students from the Traill International School namely Kobe Francisco, John Peters, Cian Villaflor and Gershom Montes. Hijas Pilipinas’ roster of Caila Galamiton, Princess Fabruada, Karl Ann Pingol and Angel Surada, coming from the National University and Chiang Kai Shek College, bested 10 other competitors in the girls division. Each winning team received Php 35,000 Under Armour voucher and will represent the country in the regional final competition to be held at the Mall of Asia Arena in September 7.

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with FIBA and take the Under Armour 3×3 Southeast Asia Tournament to the next level,” said Michael Binger, CEO of Triple Pte Ltd, exclusive distributor of Under Armour in Southeast Asia.

Pfizer Philippines Foundation Inc. continues to save lives

Pfizer’s non-profit arm, Pfizer Philippines Foundation Inc., (PPFI) together with the Philippine Blood Center, recently conducted an intercompany blood drive as one of the organization’s volunteerism projects. Over 100 volunteers took part in the initiative, exceeding the foundation’s target number of blood bags for the day.

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“For over 20 years, PPFI has been working with different organizations to execute programs that help improve healthcare access for Filipinos,” Geoffrey Garcia, PPFI Manager, says.

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“Blood is a precious gift that we can give to patients suffering from life-threatening conditions. Through the blood donation of our generous volunteers, we are able to play a part in helping save lives,” he added.

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Pasig City Named Philippine Winner of WWF’s One Planet City Challenge 2018

Leading experts within the field of urban sustainability around the world have proclaimed Pasig City as the Philippine National Capital of the 2017-2017 edition of World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) One Planet City Challenge (OPCC), a biennial global challenge that recognizes cities for developing infrastructure, housing, transport and mobility solutions to power the global transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient future. This edition saw 133 cities representing 23 countries accepting the Challenge.

Pasig’s concrete and comprehensive actions to reduce its carbon emissions, particularly its plan to reduce traffic emissions and congestions as well as its targeted actions around renewable energy and energy efficiency, truly reflected the “sustainable transport and mobility” theme of this run of the OPCC and have made the city eligible for the Global OPCC Prize, which will be awarded in September. The jury also particularly appreciated the city’s strong community engagement and its adaptation actions, such as the cleaning of the Pasig River and its strong alignment of actions to emissions reduction and execution of said actions.

Seven other Philippine cities, namely Batangas, Catbalogan, Makati, Parañaque, San Carlos, Tagum, and Zamboanga have successfully qualified to join the 2017-2018 OPCC based on the criteria announced early in 2017. The cities of Makati, Pasig, and San Carlos went on to become national finalists and participated in the “We Love Cities” global campaign from May 7 until the end of June 2018.

The City of Jakarta bagged the top plum in the campaign, which is a social media contest that is aimed at inspiring and engaging the respective citizens of the national finalists across the globe for support, votes, and ideas for improvement while Pasig came in second.

Launched in 2011 as the Earth Hour City Challenge, the OPCC highlights the crucial role that cities play in the transition toward a low-carbon and sustainable future. Since then, over 400 countries from 5 continents have heeded the call to sustainably address fast and large transformations in population, consumption patterns, resource use, and waste management. The Philippines joined the Challenge in its 2015-2016 run.

The awarding ceremony for the OPCC national winner, finalists, and qualifiers of the Philippines was held at Marco Polo Ortigas as part of WWF-Philippines’ two-day workshop entitled One Planet Cities: Raising Climate Ambitions and Sustainability Actions for 1.5°C.

Said workshop brought together cities from all over the country to further discuss ways in which they can work together towards the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping global warming to 1.5°C. Updates on the progress of the Philippine government on its commitment to the Paris Agreement, as well as other framework plans addressing climate change and sustainable urban development.

Insights from panelists coming from various sectors steered the tackling of the status of the Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP) compliance of local government units, especially in the urban setting. Challenges being faced by both the national government and the cities in the implementation of their respective LCCAPs were also mapped out with the help of workshop facilitators from WWF-Philippines.

Visit www.panda.org/opcc and http://www.welovecities.org/ for further details on the One Planet City Challenge and We Love Cities.

Lulu group is all set to launch “May Exports Philippines Inc.

On behalf of the May Exports Philippines, a division of Lulu Group International based in the Middle East, the leading hypermarket chain would like to invite you to its Inauguration Day.

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May Exports Philippines is the exporter of products that originate from the Philippines including dry foods, bananas, seafood, fruits & vegetables, dry fish, textiles, electronics, households, furniture and other value added food & non-food products and other general merchandise.

It’s clientele includes United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Far East, U.S.A, U.K., Vietnam, Spain, South Africa and India. ​ May Exports Philippines is a fully export-oriented company with a focus on the Middle East markets, having a full consolidation service with a state of the art facility at Calamba Premier International Park for re-labeling, repackaging and consolidation.

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The state of the art facility has storage units and advanced machinery to process and handle dry food, non-food, frozen and perishable food products with a well-established system and forensic testing facility to exercise better control over the trace-ability of food contents.

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The system can check any food-related hazards and it initiates necessary value addition by date coding and labeling for different countries, translation of labels, halal and other relevant certifications and export label from the Philippines on a regular basis to supermarkets, hypermarkets and other food service companies of Middle East.

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All food and drink are dispatched on pallets, securely stacked and wrapped. This logistics facility has given a huge boost for the export of Filipino manufacturing and generated employment for the locals. May Exports’ global reach combined with a comprehensive understanding of every aspect of the industry, allows them to develop solutions for their partners; managing product procurement, sales and logistics.

For more details:

http://www.lulugroupinternational.com/
http://www.luluhypermarket.com
http://yusuffali.com/

SEAOIL Lifetime Free Gas promo is back

SEAOIL, the largest independent fuel provider in the Philippines, will award another four lucky motorists with a lifetime supply of free gas. The “Lifetime Free Gas, Oh My Gas!” promo, still the only one of its kind in the world, has kicked off for the second year in a row.

“Last year’s ‘Lifetime Free Gas’ promo was so successful, and was received so well that we decided to run it again this year. This is not just to thank our loyal customers, but also to celebrate the successes of SEAOIL over the past years,” said SEAOIL CEO Glenn Yu. SEAOIL is also celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

Aside from a lifetime supply of gas, SEAOIL customers can expect to win over 100,000 instant prizes through peel-off cards. Thirty (30) P10,000 worth of SEAOIL gift cards will also be raffled off in the monthly draws.

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To qualify, a customer must gas up at least P500 worth of Extreme 97, Extreme 95, Extreme U, Extreme Diesel fuels and/or SEAOIL Lubricants at any SEAOIL station nationwide. Customers can double their chances of winning if they register at www.lifetimefreegas.com.

This year, the company also announced new brand influencers, true SEAOIL believers who bring credibility and recall to the brand. They are international car racer Marlon Stockinger, TV host and radio DJ Joyce Pring, and Atoy Llave, founder and owner of A-Toy Customs, the leading car customizer in the Philippines.

SEAOIL has also forged a strategic partnership with independent fuel company, Caltex Australia (CAL). The partnership will support the company’s plans for growth in the next five years. CAL is a 100% publicly-owned company in Australia and does not share any ownership with the local Caltex.

The “Oh My Gas” promo runs from August 18 to November 18, 2018. Winners of this year’s promo will be determined via three monthly draws on September 19, October 19 and November 29.

On its 120th Year, Goodyear Unleashes Assurance TripleMax 2

The latest addition to Goodyear’s Assurance TripleMax Series is designed to significantly increase drivers’ safety and confidence

Designed to gear up and prepare mid-passenger car drivers especially for the rainy season, Goodyear launched the Assurance TripleMax 2 in the Philippines today. It is equipped with the new HydroTred Technology, which is optimized for excellent grip performance with short braking distance under wet road conditions. This allows drivers to stop faster and drive safer especially on wet roads.

As Goodyear celebrates its 120th year globally, they aim to empower drivers with the ability to confidently move free with the assurance of being in control, in any road and weather condition. Thus, the cutting-edge tire was crafted with the consumer needs in mind and the company’s pursuit for safety innovation. As the Philippines has its fair share of wet and slippery roads due to the rainy season, the Assurance TripleMax 2 promises to provide performance without sacrificing safety and control.

“To celebrate our 120th global anniversary, it is only fitting that we release a tire that perfectly captures what Goodyear has been passionate about throughout the years: innovation. With the Assurance TripleMax 2, Filipino drivers can rest assured that their travels would be safe, regardless of the weather conditions.”, Mr. Kenneth Sambajon, Market Director of Goodyear Philippines, said at the launch event in the Mess Hall, located at Chino Roces Ave., Makati City.

As pioneers in the tire technology, the successor of the highly successful Assurance TripleMax in 2013 was enhanced to deliver better performance, specifically in its wet braking, handling, comfort, and resistance.

Braking on wet roads has never been easier with the Assurance TripleMax 2’s Excellent Wet Braking Performance, giving drivers the maximum grip for shorter wet braking distance due to its state-of-the-art compound formulation and optimized footprint.

The new HydroTred technology, with its squarer and steadier footprint and more effective contact pressure capabilities, promised Enhanced Handling Performance. This delivers a more controlled driving experience because of better tire cornering stiffness and steering precision.

Both comfort and resistance are enhanced in the Assurance TripleMax 2. Its innovative tread pattern provides riders with their quietest, smoothest, and most comfortable ride yet, while being equipped with additional technical components that increase its resistance for all sidewall impacts.

The Goodyear Assurance TripleMax 2 is each driver’s partner in stopping faster and driving safer under any road conditions, even wet roads. It is available in 14” to 17” rim diameters and in various sizes.

For more updates on the Assurance TripleMax 2, Goodyear invites customers to visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GoodyearPhilippines or their website www.goodyear.com.ph.

An opportunity to hear

More than 1 billion people worldwide suffer from hearing loss and are badly in need of hearing aids. The Philippines is no different. Many suffer from various levels of hearing impairment and have poor to no access to hearing aids that are usually expensive. This results in emotional distress because they are unable to lead productive lives.

But now, there is a chance for Filipinos with hearing problems to finally afford hearing aids. The arrival in the country of earAccess, Inc., a Canadian company that offers the ACCESS® brand of quality yet affordable hearing aids signals a tremendous opportunity for more Filipinos to be able to hear. They now have the chance to get out of the doldrums of lack of hearing and more importantly, live quality lives.

The ACCESS® line of hearing aids combines quality and low price and targets the underserved communities who cannot afford hearing aids. These products include ACCESS® 1 BTE 13 and ACCESS® 2 BTE 13 POWER.

ACCESS® 1 BTE 13 and ACCESS® 2 BTE 13 POWER are both entry-level, quick-fit and programmable hearing aids packed with utmost quality and advanced digital sound processors for high-quality sound and outstanding feedback cancellation. The two products come with voice clarifier, fixed startup delay and a notification feature in case of low battery. The audio settings can also be adjusted through a simple pivot of the trimmer to either a flat, gentle slope, slope or ski slope position. The two products also come with a 2-mm inner diameter tube that’s cut to length, with size 13 zinc-air 1.4-volt battery.

The ACCESS® 1 BTE 13 is designed for users with Mild to Moderate hearing loss while the ACCESS® 2 BTE 13 POWER, though similar to ACCESS® 1 BTE 13 in terms of features, comes with a more powerful speaker intended to suit Filipinos with Severe to Profound hearing loss. These models are 100-percent digital and comes with usual parts such as Mic, Hook, Volume Control, Battery Door and Trimmer Door, and with approximately 14 days of battery life.

The ACCESS® hearing aids are also made tough to withstand harsh climates, with their triple barrier that provides protection from dust, sweat and extreme temperatures. The exposed metal connectors are gold plated, while the electronic circuits are coated with protective polymer, with nanocoating of that ultra-thin layer of liquid repellent applied to all surfaces. They are easy to maintain, with spare parts readily available, and are wireless compatible with a telecoil that can be used for Bluetooth wireless compatibility.

The impact of hearing aids on people’s lives can never be fully quantified, according to earAccess Inc. CEO Audra Renyi. She tells the story of 16-year-old Maher from Jordan. Maher is from a poor family and has hearing loss in both ears. “When I first met him, he was very shy and reserved. A year later, after we fitted him with hearing aids, he became a totally different person. He was outgoing, smiled and joked all the time. He learned to be a carpenter and sold his artworks and earned money to support his family. We even teased him about having a girlfriend. Access to hearing aids fundamentally transformed him.”

Renyi also related the story of Mahmoud, an 8-year-old boy also from Jordan. After being fitted him with a hearing aid for the first time, he smiled and started to laugh because he could now hear the voices of people around him. “Mahmoud’s father then walked into the room without the boy seeing him. When the father called out his name, Mahmoud turned around to hear his father’s voice. The boy burst into tears because it was the first time he heard his father. Thanks to the hearing aid, he now hears everyone. He is now connected to his world.”

“earAccess is not all about just hearing. It is about our company giving people access to equal opportunities and empowering them to reach their full potential,” Renyi explained.

She also said that soon, earAccess will launch an early childhood intervention program for children under 5 years old in the Philippines. “We will expand our community screening initiatives to include day-care centers and kindergarten facilities. We will target parents to help them identify signs of potential hearing loss and encourage them to get their child access to hearing care when needed.”

To know more about earAccess and its ACCESS® 1 and ACCESS® 2 hearing aids, like the earAccess Facebook page, www.facebook.com/earaccessph or visit https://earaccess.com

From July 30 to August 1 Free Shipping and Up to 80% Discounts on Premium Items like Denon Turntable, Nintendo Switch, Sharp TV and many more on Shopee’s Payday Sale!

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, is back to help loyal users stretch their salaries with its monthly Payday Sale. This month, we are going bigger and better with 72 hours of free shipping, all-day vouchers, and up to 80% discounts across a wide range of categories ranging from electronics to fashion.

To sweeten the Payday Sale, users can also look forward to lowest prices guaranteed on dozens of premium electronics at Shopee Gadget Zone, a dedicated in-app portal for all things tech, which was newly launched this month. With up to 80% off some of 2018’s hottest electronic products such as the Nintendo Switch, Canon Inkjet Printer, and Harman JBL Soundbar. Furthermore, users can also expect up to P4,000 off products from top brands including Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

Jane Lim, Director of Shopee Philippines said, “This month’s Payday Sale will be bigger and better with our new Shopee Gadget Zone featuring premium electronics at unbeatable prices for our users. Shopee Gadget Zone has been well-received by users in the short time since its launch and together with the Payday Sale, we want to build on this early momentum and continue our goal to deliver top electronic products at attractive prices for all our users in the Philippines. Moving forward, we will continue to diversify our product assortments and engage users with even more exciting deals tailored for their needs and preferences.

For more information on:
Shopee’s Payday Sale, visit https://shopee.ph/paydaysalejuly.
Shopee’s Gadget Zone, visit https://shopee.ph/m/gadgetzone.

For more information on Shopee, visit https://shopee.ph
Download the Shopee app for free on Apple App Store or Google Play Store.