Essilor Launches Campaign for Healthy Vision

Piolo Pascual is Essilor's brand ambassador for its Seeing The World Better campaign.

In response to reports that over 20 million Filipinos are in need of visual correction, top global ophthalmic lenses manufacturer Essilor has launched a public awareness campaign on the importance of good vision, with top celebrity Piolo Pascual as brand ambassador.

Essilor is the world leader for corrective lenses.  The success of the company, which is present in more than 100 countries, is the result of a strategy that has been driven by innovation for more than 160 years.  It has been awarded by Forbes magazine as “The World’s Most Innovative Companies” for four consecutive years.

From design to manufacture, Essilor develops a wide range of lenses to protect and correct eyesight.  Its mission is to enable everyone in the world to see well using lenses tailored to their needs.  The company devotes 150 million euros a year on research and development to offer increasingly efficient products.   

 “Across the globe, 4 billion people need visual correction, and in the Philippines, over 20 million individuals need visual correction. As a leader, we feel it is our responsibility to do something to alleviate the situation and this is the reason we are doing this campaign,” said Dr. Emelita Roleda, Essilor general manager.

“Essilor's ‘Seeing the World Better’ campaign is our company's way of helping the world see better by raising awareness about the importance of healthy vision and address the alarming number of visual impairment cases in the country. We also hope that through this campaign, Filipinos will start paying more attention to their eyes so they can see the world in a clearer and brighter view,” Dr. Roleda added.

Headlining the campaign is top actor Piolo Pascual who will appear in Essilor’s latest TVC and educational materials. A sportsman and a known health buff, Piolo believes prevention is the first step towards healthy vision.  “Good eye health is a serious matter because it is essential to performing practically all our daily tasks. Without good vision, we can only do so much and this limitation can stand in the way of achieving our goals.”

To effectively raise awareness, Essilor launched its latest infomercial featuring brand ambassador Piolo Pascual performing various activities – swimming, reading, driving – and how good vision helps him accomplish these tasks effectively. The newest TV ad will air on March 1, at primetime slots on select cable channels.

The campaign will drive three important messages: Prevention: Essilor lenses help prevent age-related eye diseases, 2) Protection: It also helps provide everyday protection from ultraviolet (UV) rays and harmful blue light 3) Correction: promote the initial purpose of Essilor which is to help correct eyesight.

Dr. Roleda cites the plethora of electronic devices that we are exposed to everyday, which emits harmful blue lights that damage the retina. “Repetitive exposure to blue light posts threat to our eyes. It may cause oxidative damage, and may be responsible for causing age-related macular degeneration, which can result to blindness.”   Wearing protective lenses like Crizal Prevencia, she adds, can do a lot in preventing the detrimental effects of harmful blue light. Crizal Prevencia is the only clear lens that selectively filters harmful blue light from gadgets, LED and UV light while letting through the healthy blue light.

Ultraviolet (UV) rays, on the other hand, contribute to the development of cataracts. Wearing Crizal Forte UV lenses can protect our eyes from these harmful rays.

For those starting around age 40, our eyes can gradually lose the ability to focus on nearby objects; this is an unavoidable condition but it can be corrected, says Dr Roleda. “Essilor Varilux progressive lenses offer a smooth transition from distance vision through intermediate vision to near vision.  This means that instead of having just two different viewing zones (near and distant), like with bifocals, Varilux provides the most natural vision correction,” said Dr. Roleda.

Founded in 1972, Essilor is a worldwide leader in developing and manufacturing ophthalmic lenses, lens coatings and dispensary technologies. Premium eyeglass lenses from Essilor are the result of more than 150 years of advanced research, innovation and technology. A true leader in innovation, Essilor revolutionized the vision correction industry in 1959 with the invention of the world’s first progressive lens. The brand provides consumers and the eye care professionals with quality spectacle lenses, diagnostic tools, services and support in business. 

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UP Dental Alumni Association, Oral-B launch Smile Pilipinas

This is a prgram that we all should support and take an active part of as a mother, so we can give our kids a BIG SMILE in the future. :-)

A program that aims to bring back the healthy smiles of Filipinos has been launched by the UP Dental Alumni Association (UPDAA) in partnership with global oral care brand Oral-B. The program, called Smile Pilipinas and launched in time for the 100^th year of the UP College of Dentistry, aims to uplift the deteriorating state of oral health in the country through an extensive campaign that enjoins the support of each and every Filipino.

According to UPDAA President Dr. Jocelyn L. Tan of the UPCD, the program was conceptualized in response to alarming results of a study that revealed 9 out of ten Filipinos suffer from dental caries and worse, the Philippines has the  2^nd worst rate of decayed, missing and filled teeth in all of Asia. “We cannot let this happen to our citizens and our children,” added Dr. Tan. “We need to do something but we, the oral care professionals, cannot do it alone. We need the support and cooperation of everyone – the parents, the educators and ordinary citizens. And that’s the reason we launched Smile Pilipinas.”

The movement has found a strong supporter in Oral-B, the brand known worldwide for its commitment to promoting healthy smiles. “When the opportunity to be a key partner for Smile Pilipinas was offered to us, we knew we had to be a part of it.This is a great opportunity for Oral-B to do something concrete about improving the quality of oral health in the Philippines, kick-starting a movement that will involve both the professional body as well as regular consumers.’ said Suranjan Magesvaran, Procter & Gamble Vice President, Home Products, Power and Oral Care, Asia.

During the launch which coincided with the centennial celebration of UP College of Dentistry (UPCD) and spearheaded by UPDAA, the three focus areas of the program were presented, namely, Advocacy, Public Good and Fund Raising.

Under communication, Smile Pilipinas will call upon Filipinos – inside and outside of the Philippines -- to get onboard and help spread inspiration for better oral health. The program has  five fundamental messages: 1) Our smiles are fundamental to our identity, 2) Let’s bring oral health within reach of all Filipinos, 3) Everyone can easily help improve oral health in the country, 4) We need to take care of our children’s teeth, and 5) We should all practice better oral health care habits.  

 

Its Public Good initiatives include Unang Ngipin Patibayin and SuperSmileCon2015. Unang Ngipin Patibayin is a public health initiative organized in partnership with Pateros and Pasig to provide oral health education and preventive measures for children and parents.   SuperSmileCon2015, on the other hand, is an oral wellness fair for kids with free dental consultations, dental varnish application, games, stage shows, and dental health education.

To sustain its activities, the program will be accepting public and corporate generosity of time, talent, treasure, through donations, sponsorships and sale of Smile Pilipinas merchandise sales via retail partners.

Top actress and Oral-B brand ambassador Iza Calzado, who graced the launch of Smile Pilipinas, likewise thanks both partners and echoed the concern over the country’s deteriorating oral health condition. “Let’s not take this important aspect of our health for granted. As our oral health professionals have repeatedly said, oral health is a vital part of over-all health. It’s part of our personality, our heritage as a Filipino. Let’s maintain the warmth and beauty of our smiles by learning how to care for our mouth, gums and teeth.”

With the country’s top oral health professionals joined by the world’s leading oral care brand in launching the Smile Pilipinas, there may yet be hope for the state of oral health in the country. But, as Magesvaran stressed, there’s a lot of work to be done. “It’s very important that Filipinos across the country understand the importance of good oral health that leads to a beautiful, healthy smile. That’s why we enjoin everyone to support this project so it can attain its mission of “100% Healthy Smiles for every Filipino.”

Adds Dr. Tan: “Oral health cannot be seen as separate from our total health and hygiene. If we all work together, we can bring oral health within reach of all Filipinos. “

*P&G Calculation based on Nielsen sales information from July 2012 to June 2013

About Procter & Gamble

Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Pringles®, Folgers®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Actonel®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, and Braun®.  The P&G community consists of over 135,000 employees working in over 80 countries worldwide.  Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

Filipino Canadians visiting the Philippines will help raise funds for worthy cause

Filipino Canadians visiting the Philippines will help raise funds for worthy cause

Western Union announces fundraising project during the ‘Winter Escapade 2’ tour to support and uplift livelihood communities in the Philippines.

Manila, Philippines, January 30, 2015 – More than 200 Filipino Canadians are looking forward to experiencing the warm welcome of our fellowmen, the warm hugs of their family and friends and the warm sunshine in the Philippines as they visit the country for their Winter Escapade 2 – It’s More Fun in the Philippines tour this coming January 30 to February 6, 2015, The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU), a leader in global payment services, announced today.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines and the Philippine Embassy to Canada has again organized a heritage tour for Filipino Canadians in Canada to visit the Philippines to deepen their connection with the country’s beautiful and rich history, heritage and culture. It is also an opportunity to attract investment into tourism projects in the country.

Western Union has been an active supporter of the tour since 2008 and this year, they will show support for the Winter Escapade 2 tour through the launching of the Western Union Sunshine Adventure promotion for its delegates. Participants will simply take “selfies” in different historical tourist spots during the tour and upload their entries in their respective Facebook accounts using the hashtag #WUSunshineWE2 for a chance to win special prizes during the tour’s farewell dinner.

Participants are encouraged to request their friends to ‘Like’ and share their photos with the end view of gathering more Likes for the project. For every Like, Western Union will match an equivalent amount of one hundred pesos (1 Like = P100) (to a maximum contribution of PHP500,000). The amount raised by the collective Likes will go to a special cause supported by the Philippine posts comprising Team Philippines in Canada.

“Western Union recognizes that many Filipino migrants feel a sense of responsibility to help out fellow countrymen and as a company we are giving them opportunities to build these connections,” said Patricia Riingen, Senior Vice President, Southeast Asia & Oceania, Western Union. “The activity aims to gather ‘Likes’ and shares from friends and families of our Filipino Canadian delegates, in a collective effort to raise funds for our Like for a Cause project,” Added Riingen.

Through the Western Union Sunshine Adventure promotion, support will be given to help boost the livelihood of different communities in the Philippines. Both the Winter Escapade 2 tour delegates can participate in Like for a Cause project.

For more information, you may visit this website www.WUSunshineAdventure.com to like the Sunshine Adventure selfies of the delegates. Promo runs from January 30 until February 15, 2014. Terms and conditions apply.

About Western Union
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil and Western Union Business Solutions branded payment services, Western Union provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, to send payments and to purchase money orders. As of September 30, 2014, the Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network of over 500,000 Agent locations in 200 countries and territories and over 100,000 ATMs and kiosks. In 2013, The Western Union Company completed 242 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $82 billion of principal between consumers, and 459 million business payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.