Inspiring talk by world renowned humanitarian Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on secrets to inner strength and happiness

He travels to nearly 40 countries a year and has started programs and organizations that have touched the lives of over 300 million people in over 150 countries and on the 8th of April 2015, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, one of the world’s icons for human values and peace, will be visiting the Philippines, to inspire the public for one night only with his globally recognized wisdom.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar believes that a peaceful society starts with the peaceful mind of every individual. He started organizations such as “The Art of Living Foundation” to share best practice techniques and ancient Wisdom to help people from all over the world manage their mind and negative emotions - thereby helping them lead healthier and happier lives.

The Art of Living's programs include breathing techniques, Yoga, Meditation and simple yet profound life guiding principles. The core technique known as the Sudarshan Kriya, is a powerful and revitalizing breathing technique scientifically proven to be beneficial for the mind and body. Art of Living’s global website, http://www.artofliving.org, states that “Sudarshan Kriya incorporates specific natural rhythms of the breath which harmonize the body, mind and emotions,” It has been proven to be very effective in managing stress, fatigue and negative emotions such as anger, frustration and depression.

Founded in 1981, Art of Living Foundation – is now one of the largest international volunteer-based, non-profit, educational, charitable and humanitarian organizations having a special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

In the Philippines, the Art of Living has conducted numerous courses and workshops. In 2009, Bienvenido “Donnie” Tantoco, President of Rustan’s Supercenters Inc., was quoted saying, “Once you know proper breathing, it is effortless to be in the present moment. I’m calmer, my mind is more lucid. Basically, I don’t feel so stressed and I have been sleeping better now than I have in years.”

The Art of Living  programs benefit all sectors of society – people from all backgrounds and all walks of life have enjoyed the various courses and techniques offered by the foundation. Apart from addressing the stress and negative emotions of the general public, Art of Living also includes

poverty alleviation, women empowerment, environmental sustainability and conflict resolution in their mission.

In the Philippines, the service arm of the Art of Living deploys volunteers and teachers to conduct workshops free of charge to various sectors of society. One such workshop, BeST (Breath & Sound Therapy) is for marginalized, depressed or traumatized people and communities including victims of calamities in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda and Ondoy. The BeST program is effective regardless of the number of participants, making it recognized by other NGO’s as an effective psychosocial remedy to address deep trauma in large communities where one-on-one sessions are impractical and costly.

BeST has been conducted throughout the Philippines from Metro Manila, through Visayas and Mindanao working occasionally with other NGO’s such as the Red Cross and Save the Children. The Service arm has also conducted regular workshops for prisoner rehabilitation in Bilibid Prison, Muntinlupa City as well as Makati City Jail – over 1000 inmates have been through the program till date.

In light of the recent violence and tragedies that have befallen the nation, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s visit complements the national and global call for peace and harmony. “Difficult and unpleasant times come in everyone’s life,” he says, “What is important is to keep the faith intact. On a completely dark night, even a flickering lamp can help you find the way.”

Sri Sri’s visit to Manila marks the end of his Asian Tour where he is expected to inspire thousands of people across Cambodia, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand and Indonesia.

In Manila on April 8, the public speaking engagement of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.

Tickets are available at Php 300 and P100 for Students, seniors, teachers, NGO workers, Gov. Employees. Group rates are also available. For more information about this event as well as courses offered, contact the Art of Living Foundation at 09178400049 09178484898 or (632) 6222-566/63, info@artofliving.org. To learn more or register online visit www.artofliving.org

Meet Century Tuna’s newest faces who are ABS-olutely ready for summer!

Century Tuna, the country’s number 1 tuna, once again welcomes the hottest season of the year as it presents the country’s hottest and most promising stars as its newest batch of brand ambassadors.

Four of the country's hottest and most promising stars 

headline the country's number 1 tuna's newest campaign 

where they show off their fit and healthy bosied and share secrets

to an ABS-olutely delicious summer

The sun is at its peak and the beaches look more inviting than ever, but can you say that you’re ready for summer? Century Tuna, the country’s number 1 tuna, once again welcomes the hottest season of the year as it presents the country’s hottest and most promising stars as its newest batch of brand ambassadors.

Making the road to fitness more inspiring and more exciting, the company proudly presents not just one, but four stunning endorsers who represent some of the biggest names in the industry – Paulo Avelino, James Reid, Elmo Magalona and Jessy Mendiola.

“Century Tuna has been known not only for our line of products, but also for our vision of helping our consumers achieve a healthier and happier lifestyle,” says Greg Banzon, general manager of Century Pacific Food Corporation. “We believe that this powerful advocacy requires only the most influential ambassadors who can inspire others through their sexy bodies and healthy lifestyle. And so this year, we strengthen our campaign through with newest batch of endorsers who have also undergone stunning body transformations,” he added.

Known for his enviable bod, striking features and acting prowess is the Gawad Urian awardee Paulo Avelino. Paulo has been living an active lifestyle for years now to maintain his figure. In fact, the actor is engaged in numerous sports activities like badminton, rock climbing and jogging. “Being tapped as a Century Tuna endorser is overwhelming. Now that I am part of the body transformation campaign, I hope to become an inspiration to those who have often expressed admiration of my physique,” Paulo shared.

Meanwhile, Filipino-Australian heartthrob James Reid finds this opportunity to be a sweet reward to his hard work to achieve his now toned figure: “I used to be thin and weak years ago – I even had asthma. But through swimming and gymnastics, and a healthy diet, I’ve become more buffed. I’m definitely proud of the new me.”

Raring to make a name for himself in showbiz, Elmo Magalona ventured into acting, rapping, singing, and hosting. Over time, people also noticed his body’s remarkable transformation. At 20 years old, Elmo has already developed chiseled abs and very muscular arms through a customized workout and disciplined diet. “As the youngest in the bunch, I’d like to let people know that they can – and should – start early in their journey to a healthy body,” he shared.

The only lady in the batch is the beautiful actress who has captured the hearts of many with her angelic face and sexy body: Jessy Mendiola. Jessy has graced a lot of magazine covers and TV commercials, yet she finds something uniquely exciting about her Century Tuna experience: “I’m excited to show a different side of me: a grown-up Jessy who consciously takes care of her body through proper diet and exercise. Plus it’s always nice to endorse a product I truly love!”

Through the inspiring stories of Century Tuna’s newest faces Paulo, James, Elmo and Jessy, the country’s leading tuna brand aims to help more and more people understand that anybody can bring out the better versions of themselves and be ABS-solutely ready for summer.

The four new endorsers join long-time endorser Anne Curtis in promoting the ABS-solutely delicious Century Tuna as a brand that motivates people to aspire for a healthy body.” For all of them, there’s no other tuna!

For more information and fitness tips, visit www.centurytuna.ph.

Colorectal Cancer: What we need to know about it.

Early diagnosis is the first step to prevention. :-)

Do you experience diarrhea or constipation that lasts for days, abdominal pain and rectal bleeding? Get yourself screened for bowel cancer. Also known as colorectal cancer, it is a malignant tumor that develops in the lining of the large intestine and can spread to nearby organs or to glands called lymph nodes.

"Bowel cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the Philippines but it is highly preventable and treatable when diagnosed early. Filipinos should have sufficient information of the disease to know how it can be prevented or managed," says Dr. Nicky Montoya, president of Medicard Philippines.

Here are the essential facts about bowel cancer:

It can be colon cancer or rectal cancer.

Bowel cancer can start in the colon (colon cancer) or in the rectum, which is the last 12 centimeters of the large intestine (rectal cancer). The difference in location requires different methids of treatments.

It usally starts as polyps.

Most bowel cancer cells start as polyps, which are abnormal growths in the inner lining of the colon and rectum. Polyps are not malignant except for one type called adenoma, which becomes cancerous over time and multiplies to form a tumor.

Its risk increases with age.

Polyps normally appear as people get older and adenoma develops into cancerous cells in about 10 years. This explains why majority of those who are diagnosed with bowel cancer are 50 years old and above. The disease can also develop in younger people although it occurs much less frequently.

It can be triggered by poor diet and an unhealthy lifestyle.

"Bad food" and lack of exercise can build up toxins in the colon. Studies link bowel cancer a diet that's low in fiber and high in fat and calories. Cigarette smokers, heavy alcohol drinkers, obese people, and those who have sedentary lifestyles are also prone to developing the disease.

Its crucial symptoms are changes in the bowel habit.

Sings of bowel cancer include prolonged diarrhea or constipation, abdominal pain, vomiting, rectal bleeding, bloating, and a relentless feeling of moving your bowels even when you've just finished doing so. You may aslo see blood in your stool. Physically, you may experience weakness, fatigue and rapid weight loss.

It is 90 percent curable when diagnosed early.

Bowel cancer may not cause any symptoms during its early stage, which underlies the importance of regular colorectal cancer screenings and tests including colonoscopy, CT colonography, flexible sigmoidoscopy, double-contrast barium enema (DCBE), Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test, fecal immunochemical test (FIT), stool DNA test.

Treatments include surgery (removal of polyps before they become cancerous), chemotherapy, radiation theraphy, and targeted dryg therapy. While no alternative treatment has been proven to cure bowel cancer, certain techniques can help relieve distreess from the disease, including yoga, music therapy and relaxation exercises.

The Medicard Lifestyle Center offers endoscopy and other quality medical services. Visit its website at http://medicardphils.com for more information.

TMA Homeschool’s 2015 Parents Conference – Set Them Up For Success

Whether you are thinking of  homeschooling your child or not, considering TMA or other homeschool providers, choosing a school for your kids or you simply have a vacant calendar on March 12, head on to TMA Homeschool's 2015 Parents Conference. I'm sure you will benefit from this conference because all parents are hoping for the success of our kids. Right?! :-) Read on to know more.

TMAHomeschool, in coordination with Manila Workshops and TheLearning Basket, is proud to present its Parents Conference for 2015, entitled Set Them Up For Success. It will be held at the Bayanihan Arts and Events Center from 8AM for registration (program starts at 9:00) to 5:00PM.

If you are a parent wondering what the best kind of education for your child is and where he will learn and be successful someday, then don’t miss the upcoming Parents Conference of TMA Homeschool at the Bayanihan Center, Unilab on March 12.

This event, entitled “Set Them Up for Success”, is set to enlighten and inspire you  to raise your children to become happy, responsible, productive  adults and leaders “wherever they are planted”.  It will run for a whole day and will consist of keynote topics like “Set Them Up for Success” and “Catching your Child’s God-given Bents for Success”. Keynote speakers are Edric Mendoza and Jayson Lo. 

Mr. Mendoza is a homeschooling father of five, the president of the Homeschoolers Association of the Philippine Islands and lead anchor of ANC’s On the Money. Mr. Jayson Lo is a known inspirational speaker in the country and is the author of Younique:Understanding Others by Understanding You, a book about how personality styles help identify one's strengths and weaknesses.

Aside from keynote talks, the conference will also feature workshops on character education, multi-level homeschooling, homeschooling through high school, adjusting teaching strategies for effecting learning, and celebrating dads who homeschool. Participants may also opt to attend a Q&A forum where TMA Homeschool will answer questions about homeschooling in the Philippines. Speakers for these sessions are seasoned homeschoolers Donna Simpao, Millona Barraca, Bles de Guzman, Joy Mendoza, and Dennis Sy. Participants may choose one track for each talk happening simultaneously. Expect a day filled with doses of homeschool inspiration and information about parenting and homeschooling.

2015 Parents Conference

Set Them Up For Success

March 12, 2015, Bayanihan Center, Mandaluyong City

06:00-08:00	Ingress of exhibitors, team members
08:00-09:00	Registration
09:00-09:10	Welcome
09:10-09:20	Dep-Ed Opening Remarks
09:30-10:20	Keynote 1: Set Them Up for Success
10:20-12:00	TMA Homeschool Updates
12:00-01:00	Lunch break
01:00-02:00	Workshops (A)
	Track 1: How to do a Character-focused Education
	Track 2: How to Do Multi-Level Homeschooling
	Track 3: How to Homeschool through High School
02:15-03:15	Workshops (B)
	Track 4: How to Adjust Your Teaching Strategies for Effective Learning
	Track 5: Hooray for Dads Who Homeschool
	Track 6: Q and A Forum
03:45-04:45	Keynote 2: Catching the God-given Bents for Success
04:45-05:00	Last Announcements, Major raffle prizes

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. 

Dyson Philippines Launch

This is open to public... please register / RSVP.

See you there mommies. :-)

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.