Make your MOVE

Doctors MOVE to fight against pneumonia

By: Bettina

 

Did you know that pneumonia has become the top killer of Filipino children today?

There are 36 children who die because of pneumonia every day, or almost 13,500 Filipino children dying every year.

“People don’t think that pneumonia is a major threat anymore,” says Dr. Lulu Bravo, executive director of the National Institutes of Health. And if this was not true, then there wouldn’t be this much number of children affected by this ‘old’ disease up until now. Not because it’s already curable and preventable, it’s already good enough to ignore.

Together with hundreds of pediatricians from all over the country, Bravo dances with her fellow doctors to raise pneumonia awareness. Steering away from the usual schemes like holding seminars or distributing flyers, these dancing doctors took a different step towards reaching out.

Doctors warm up for the dance routine

“We wanted to do something different… we want to be able to move people,” Bravo shares, emphasizing on what the name of the event signifies. According to Bravo, she is hopeful that showcasing a dance spectacle would be more engaging for other people “to stand up, take notice and most especially move against pneumonia.”

Moving against pneumonia
“Pneumonia is the #1 vaccine-preventable cause of death not only in the Philippines but in the whole world,” says Bravo. Through the MOVE! event, every dancing doctor who participated will be able to protect a child from this disease. Each doctor will receive one pneumococcal disease vaccine given in their behalf to the National Institutes of Health, all from GlaxoSmithKline. This vaccine will be given to children from the poorest of the poor who cannot afford to get the vaccine, and who just can’t afford to get sick.

Pinoy Big Brother Housemate and the events’ dancing coach Mickey Perz also joined the event. “I’m really committed to this thrust of preventing this killer disease; and dancing is one of the main contributions that I can do.” He led the doctors in dancing as he taught them his “fight against pneumonia” dance steps.

Mickey Perz joins the advocacy

Moving for better health care
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), in coordination with the National Institutes of Health, organized this event as one of their initiatives. In line with their commitment to improving the quality of life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer, MOVE! has become a venue to do just that.

But other than providing the vaccines for MOVE!, GSK is taking a step further in their efforts to fight against pneumonia as they offer their pneumococcal vaccine 40 percentlower than its usual price. This idea stemmed out from GSK’s ValueHealth Philosophy, putting prime importance in offering significant price reductions from GSK’s original branded medicines as a response to the Filipinos’ need for improved access to high quality and affordable vaccines and medicines.

With the help of all these doctors, fight against pneumonia now while you still can. As Mickey Perz said, “With no lung problems, everyone’s happy!”

For more information about pneumonia and pneumococcal disease vaccination, please visit your physician.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideLifestyle.htm?f=2010/december/9/lifestyle3.isx&d=2010/december/9

Can't say no to a good thing

Chili’s Too simply irresistible

By: Bettina

 

Few people in the world can resist a full rack of tender ribs triple-coated in savory barbeque sauce and grilled to the utmost level of perfection. I know I can’t.

Baby back ribs!

It would take a strict vegetarian to refuse a really hefty beef burger with a good amount of melted cheese, mustard, onions and tomatoes to add more exciting flavors in your mouth, and a bunch of home-style fries on the side.

It's not called Big Mouth Burger for nothing!

And saying no to a plate of warm chocolate cake with chocolate fudge filling, topped with vanilla ice cream under a crunchy chocolate shell? That’s downright crazy. Really, who can resist such a wicked dessert?

Death by Chocolate? Let me die now.

Yes, Chili’s menu in all its other branches can make you go crazy for all things fun, exciting and flavorful, and there is no doubt that its newest branch—Chili’s Too at the Power Plant mall in Rockwell, Makati—will do the same for you.

You could come in early to get the best seats at the cozy Chili’s Too, which only has 110 seats for foodies to fill, but the option of having a to-go menu is also available for you to relish the same big portions and the same big flavor of Big Mouth Burgers, Sizzling Fajitas, Guiltless Grill favorites, and sinful Desserts ready for you to take home or to take with you to the office for an instant celebration of good food, friends and family.

The new Chili's Too at Rockwell

There is no chance of making a mistake when you visit Chili’s —and with the same great flavors and the same big portions, you’d definitely want it all at Chili’s Too.

For more information, call 659-6527, or visit Facebook and “like” Chili’s Philippines for new promos and new eats!

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideLifestyle.htm?f=/2010/december/1/lifestyle1.isx&d=2010/december/1

Misunderstood wood

It's a woody experience with Matimco

By: Bettina

Whether it’s deciding on what materials to use for your home or on taking a stand on caring for the environment, it’s all about making informed choices. And when we talk about the use of wood for either of these two purposes, Matimco Incorporated definitely knows best.

A Cebu-based wood processing operations company, Matimco has been around for almost 50 years and counting. They started off with making wooden cases for beer and soft drinks then eventually expanded to a wider range of wood products for construction purposes. Their perfect combination of constant innovation and a great sense of corporate citizenship is what makes Matimco the leader in the wood processing industry today. With brands like Matwood, PCW, Weatherwood and their latest brand Trusswood, Matimco takes the genuine and novice wood users alike to a whole new level of appreciation for wood.

Why wood SHOULD be used

With the height of severe global weather changes and the effects of global warming daunting us, we’ve come up with so many ways to help out and be an eco-friendly individual. We are told to save trees, but we usually leave out the fact that we still have to continuously replant more. We get the misconception that if we use more wooden products, we’re wasting trees and we’re not helping the environment –but this is not exactly the case.

“Wood is the most misunderstood construction material,” says Mr. Charlie Liu, Chief Executive Officer of Matimco Incorporated. As the head of the country’s largest wood processing operations company, Mr. Liu has more than just the knowledge about wood to back up his statement.

Mr. Liu says that a tree can only absorb carbon dioxide for up to its 50^th year of existence. Mother Earth gave us that great big tree to last for only a certain period of time to help give us cleaner air –oxygen for us, carbon dioxide for them. Beyond that period, it does not function in that way anymore. To prolong the functionality of trees, they should be used up in many other different ways as wood, and then replaced by a new set of trees. This is how the cycle should work.

Yes, a cycle. Working with wood is a cycle because wood is a renewable resource that many other construction materials are not.

Wood is the only renewable construction material and the greenest product that anyone can use for their home. According to Mr. Liu, the production of wood uses the least amount of energy, making it the construction material with the least amount of carbon dioxide emission or footprint. That is why Matimco wants to promote the use of wood.

Going green is not that difficult. It’s all about making informed decisions. And at this point, this is what Matimco wants to put more emphasis on as it launches its various wooden product lines for the tree and wood lover in you.

Constant wood innovation and flawless expertise

Matimco’s premium product brand Matwood was created for those who give immense value to gracious living and refined elegance. Celebrating its 10^th Anniversary, the brand recently launched its newest line of pre-stained door designs, classic floor boards and cabinets. Its new and improved line is pre-stained in a rose color making it a more sophisticated choice.

Matwood flooring

PCW is Matimco’s more affordable, durable yet still superior line of engineered wood. Their products range from frames, mouldings, doors, handrails, cabinet doors and fascia boards. These are already pre-coated, making PCW a more convenient, time & cost-efficient alternative for those who still want to use wood for their homes but are on a fairly good budget.

PCW for your doors, doorways, cieling, etc.

If you’re into the outdoor lifestyle and still want to feel like you’re on vacation even when you’re just at home, then you can make a wise investment in extending your living space with Matimco’s WeatherWood. The premium outdoor wood, WeatherWood is real timber designed for outdoor exposure with product lines for in-ground or above-ground designs. Whether it’s a deck, gazebo or trellis you want made for your own home, WeatherWood is the 100% authentic architectural timber you’d want to use. All three of these brands use the double vacuum technology Osmos, a safe timber preservation treatment to ensure the quality of the wood for the longest possible time.

WeatherWood for your patio

WeatherWood for your pool area

As for the latest addition to Matimco’s branded wood products, Trusswood, is the tropic-friendly alternative to design structures that’s another inspiring innovation that only Matimco can establish. First of its kind here in the Philippines, Trusswood combines the versatility of wood and the strength of steel in its prefabricated lines of roof, floor and wall frame truss systems.

Trusswood: Strong, Easy, Fast building technology

Trusswood is backed up by the best wood treatments for prolonged safety and preservation using high quality Light Organic Solvent Preservative (LOSP). But the best thing about it is that it is also run by the most advanced software system as a design tool for builders provided by Matimco’s building partner, MiTek Asia. Its prefabrication technology as a building system solution produces just the most reliable layouts for builders, assuring any client that every detail of what is to be built will be cost-effective and material-efficient all through-out, beginning from Day 1.

Launching the very first Trusswood model house as a showroom in Frontera Verde, Pasig, Matimco shows off the strength of design and structure which Trusswood is able to offer.

It took the builders of Matimco less than 50 days to build the 160 sq. meter Trusswood model house, beginning the construction in August 1, 2010 and finishing it last September 9, 2010. The model house made the best use of wooden trusses and steel for its roof, floor and wall frames, as well as a design for the top of its staircase. It will be used not only as a showroom but also as a venue for meeting with clients, designers, architects and engineers for the months to come.

According to Mr. Billie Arrienda, Matimco’s Marketing Director, the whole concept of Trusswood has only been in the Philippines for almost a year and Matimco is still in the process of market education about the efficiency and versatility of using the truss technology. Amidst competition in this level of innovation, if there may be any, Billie said, “We want to approach it from the technology side,” putting emphasis on the difference in quality and originality that can only be found in a brand like Matimco.

And when it comes to talks about sustainable development, Matimco is never last to commit too. “It’s all about responsible forest management,” Mr. Liu said, when asked about Matimco’s sustainability efforts. Other than the fact that the timber that Matimco uses for their products are imported from countries with excellent reforestation programs like New Zealand, Brazil and Australia to preserve what’s left of what we have here in the country right now, they also support and initiate a number of plantation projects in the different parts of the Philippines.

The TrussWood Showroom House

With enduring strength in its constant sense of ingenuity for all things wood, it is true. “Matimco is wood. Wood is Matimco.”

FEAST for the EYES
By: Bettina

Come one, come all and satisfy your hunger for a major Spanish and Latin American cultural boost with films that will make you “see drama, taste fear, hear joy, feel love and breathe pelicula.”

The cultural arm of the Spanish Embassy, Instituto Cervantes, brings back the biggest and most anticipated film festival in Asia and the Pacific to in Manila, heralding the 9th year of Pelicula, the Spanish and Latin American Film Festival.

“We want to make Manila the number one cultural capital in Asia,” says Jose Rodriguez, director of Instituto Cervantes.

The institute hopes to bring the films outside of Manila in the years to come and make the films available for more people. But for now, having another Spanish Film Festival this year is enough reason to celebrate.

“This is the jewel of our cultural affairs,” says Rodriguez. And, truth be told, this years’ festival (ongoing until Oct. 10) is more than a feast for the eyes.

The film festival showcases 23 of the most awarded and extensively well-selected line-up of films including Bolivia; Cachimba; Garbo, El hombre que salvo el mundo (Garbo, the Spy); and Celda 221 (Cell 221) at the Greenbelt 3 cinemas.

To further reinforce the bond between the Filipino and Spanish culture that continues to thrive here in the country through the festival, the premiere of Filipino movie directed by Jim Libiran entitled Happyland is also featured. The film is about a Spanish priest starting a football tournament for children amidst the impoverished state of Tondo, Manila.

For more information, please call 526-1482 or visit http://manila.cervantes.es or www.pelicula.ph. Instituto Cervantes de Manila is located at 855 T.M. Kalaw St. Ermita, Manila.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideLifestyle.htm?f=2010/october/9/lifestyle3.isx&d=2010/october/9

Conquering the local market
By: Bettina

Oprah has her own green-colored, four-piece chair set displayed at her California tea house. Celine Dion has the famous Malabar chair in her living room. Ralph Lauren boasts of owning an exclusively-designed Palembang urn (a huge egg-shaped metal frame with wicker weave) and trays with leather tags.

In its own quiet way, Pampanga-based furniture manufacturer Calfurn has been creating waves in the global arena, cementing the Philippines’ reputation as a source of world-class furniture.

For more than three decades, Calfurn has been creating furniture featured in foreign department stores like Bloomingdales, Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Harrods. Now Calfurn is all set to take the local market by storm.

“It’s time to show our fellow Filipinos what Calfurn has to offer,” says Eredito ‘Erdy’ Feliciano, chairman of the board of Calfurn Manufacturing Philippines, Inc.

The roots

It took all of P30,500 for Erdy Feliciano and his business partner Angelo Baltazar, to get the fledging company off the ground in 1976.

‘‘At the time, we had a lot of competitors,’’ Feliciano recalls. “We managed to outlast them all.’’

Feliciano attributes the company’s success to “a lot of good luck and good timing.’’ Of course, it also helped that the company’s leaders stayed focused and on target, determined to succeed at all cost. It was determination born out of true grit.

As a man who worked to pay his way through college, Feliciano is not a stranger to hard work. Orphaned by his father at an early age, Feliciano took up the burden of breadwinner to his mother and eight siblings, working several jobs (including that of jeepney driver) to put food on the table. At the same time he studied hard to earn his accountancy degree and eventually became a certified public accountant. Keenly aware of whence he came, he instills the philosophy of Calfurn in his employees, treating them as his partners instead of workers.

On the other hand, it is up to Baltazar, the company’s president, to keep creativity flowing in the company. A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Commerce-Major in Accounting at the Holy Angel College in Angeles City, takes care of research and development. With such an innate inventive streak, Baltazar is the man behind the imaginative and inventive designs that can be seen in the products that Calfurn is able to produce.

The rollercoaster ride to success

The beginning of their success in exporting started with colored woven baskets back in 1983. At that time, there were only a few color choices being offered. But Calfurn opted to experiment and offer something new to the market—colored baskets. “We played with different colors that were eventually accepted by the market. Tinanggap talaga yun during those times,” Erdy shares.

Then in 1986, they got their big break with the creation of their Abacca Blue Rose furniture collection. With this, they were able to offer something entirely new to furniture, ranging from end tables, coffee chairs and rockers. This collection was first bought by Bloomingdales and Macy’s then eventually, all else followed.

The company, however, suffered a setback in 1991, when the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo damaged their factory. “Marami ang nawala sa amin noon, but it only took us around a month to do all the necessary repairs. In about three month’s time, we were back in business.”

More recently, another dilemma hit the company due to the economic recession. From having almost 8,000 workers at its peak, “we had to break it down and lay off more than half of the original number of workers we had,” says Feliciano.

Feliciano believes that Filipinos have always had the potential to go global. “Magaling ang mga Pinoy. Our strength is in weaving. When it comes to craftsmanship—what Italy is to Europe, while Philippines is to Asia,” he stresses. He says that with every Calfurn product, the customer is certain to get nothing less than world-class quality and style that’s definitely worth its tag price.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideLifestyle.htm?f=2010/september/28/lifestyle1.isx&d=2010/september/28

San Marino Tuna Paella: The healthier companion
By: Bettina

After setting the trend with their corned tuna, San Marino has done it again with their latest product, the San Marino Tuna Paella. Packed with rice, vegetables, and Omega 3 rich tuna all in an easy-open can, San Marino Tuna Paella is definitely a healthier, more convenient, and affordable companion for those who are always up and about.

True enough, many busy workers are discovering the convenience of having an instant but healthy meal that can easily be enjoyed with just the flick of a finger.

Kathlin, an account executive at an ad agency, often has to do overtime work especially when they’re rushing to meet a project deadline. During the times like these, there's hardly time for Kathlin and her colleagues out to have dinner. So Kathlin would bring cans of San Marino Tuna Paella to share with her workmates while working.

“Grabe ang pressure sa work namin, especially when it comes to meeting deadlines. Buti nalang may San Marino Tuna Paella. Mas mabilis i-prepare, mas malasa kaysa noodles. No need for hot water na,” Kathlin said.

As an event organizer, Marlon constantly has to travel. Since he spends most of his time on the road, he makes it a point to buy San Marino Tuna Paella before he leaves for an assignment.

“I always bring packs of tuna paella in my bag wherever I go. I share it with my staff and we have paella parties in the middle of the road in times of traffic. It’s very convenient to eat,” he said.

Jeniffer, a call center agent, doesn’t have the luxury of time to grab dinner since she is assigned to the graveyard shift. So she brings take San Marino Tuna Paella to work and simply opens the can during her break.

“We only have a 15-minute break at night,” she said. Jeniffer only has few food choices she can make and with the San Marino Tuna Paella, she’s able to opt for the healthier alternative. “Mas nakakabusog siya kesa sa crackers of chitchirya.”

Whether you’re too tired or too busy to prepare a meal, the San Marino Tuna Paella is readily available to make your life easier anytime, anywhere, at a very reasonable price. With San Marino Tuna Paella, you are sure to get the benefits of healthy eating even when you’re always on the go.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideLifestyle.htm?f=2010/september/15/lifestyle4.isx&d=2010/september/15

A gastronomic affair at the Ayala Malls
By: Bettina

The Ayala Malls has always been recognized for the excellent restaurants and dining outlets it has to offer. Each mall represents a certain quality that shows the variety of food that can suit anyone’s palette and lifestyle—and from August to September, the Ayala Malls will let you experience a sensational food trip as you discover for yourself the top food picks that you can try, as chosen by the country’s top food authorities.

The Ayala Malls Top Food Picks or A.M. Top has put together local culinary authorities composed of renowned chefs, restaurateurs, and food media to be a part of their Food Council. Such distinguished personalities include Lorraine Timbol, Nana Ozaeta, Chef Rosebud Benitez, Chef Ernest Gala, Issa Litton, China Cojuangco, Margaux Salcedo, Tina Pamintuan and Chef Heny Sison. The council is created to share with the customers’ their personal dining choices, considering the perfect balance between taste, service and ambience which sets an Ayala Mall apart when it comes to having a superb dining experience.

The Food Journey

The journey of the Food Council began as they brought their foodie instincts to the next level as they judged a wide array of signature dishes submitted by different restaurants in the Ayala Malls. The Food Council determined their personal preferences under categories like appetizer, soup, salad, fish or seafood, main course (red or white meat), dessert and coffee or cocktail based on three qualities: taste, presentation and originality.

                                          Paella from Trellis

Golden Fish Fillet stuffed with melted cheese from Super Bowl

Baked Oysters from Marina

                                                         Death by Chocolate from Gelatissimo

Customers were given the chance to be food judges in the Ayala Malls’ Top Food Picks by voting online at www.ayalamall-top.com. Voting ended last Aug. 15, and five lucky voters have the chance to win P5,000 worth of gift certificates to a restaurant of their choice and an invite to the visual food journey exhibit opening.

In partnership with Metrobank, the food journey exhibit will be launched in Greenbelt on Sept. 10, 2010 showcasing the most delectable dishes that can be found in the Ayala Malls. There will be a photo exhibit and food sampling where local foodies can experience not only a visual of the good food Ayala Malls has to offer, but they can also have an actual taste of these dishes. There will also be a touring visual buffet exhibit in select Ayala Malls from Sept. 11-17, 2010.

Other than these, there will also be a food market which will feature specialty dishes of different participating restaurants in all Ayala Malls. On the last weekend of August there will be a Sun Down Food Market to be held in Glorietta, Greenbelt, Alabang Town Center, TriNoma and Marquee Mall, and October in Market! Market.

The ultimate Food Guide

As a culminating event the Ayala Malls’ food journey, the Ayala Malls Food Book will be launched and will be available for free to valuable mall regulars late this September. This book is a compilation of the chosen dishes that are part of the Top Food Picks by the A.M. Top’s Food Council. It will showcase a lot of interesting articles on food and a directory of Ayala Malls’ restaurants.

Maricris Bernardino, division manager of the Marketing and Events Management Division of the Ayala Malls, says that this food guide will serve as a starter for customers as they venture out in the various restaurant havens of the Ayala Malls.

Timbol, editor-in-chief of Appetite magazine shares, “There are times that we just go to the mall and don’t know where to go to eat. It’s either we feel like we have too many choices, or no choice at all.” This is one of the reasons why the Ayala Malls are creating a Food Guide for each of their malls so that the foodie in you wouldn’t have to worry about where to go, when your stomach’s calling out for some really good food after a lot of shopping, or simply for an awesome dining escapade.

With the food guide book, the customers’ dining experience will be more fulfilling because they already have an initial idea on what kind of food it is that they may want to try and where they can go for it. Another great thing about this food guide book is that the customers would know the place to go to that would fit their budget. “We really want to make the customers’ dining experience worth their every peso,” Ms. Maricris says.

TOP-ping it all off

The landscape of dining in the Metro has drastically changed since the mall habits of shoppers have evolved and it’s a great surprise to find that in spite of the changing times, the Filipino diner has still become more daring when it comes to getting familiar with new cuisines and in venturing out for good food.

After the entire judging experience, chef and L’Incontro restaurant owner Tina Pamintuan beamingly shared, “I didn’t realize that there are so many cuisines that the general public likes, right now.” And with the help of the A.M. Top’s ultimate gastronomic adventure, in every dish you get to taste, you’re just sure to love ‘em more, and eventually love ‘em all at the Ayala Malls.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideLifestyle.htm?f=2010/august/18/lifestyle1.isx&d=2010/august/18