All Sogo Staff Fully Vaccinated

So Clean… So Good… So Safe!

All 41 Hotel Sogo branches nationwide together with its five more upcoming branches had their employees from staff to management fully vaccinated! So good!

This tagline rings the ultimate truth as Hotel Sogo vaccinated all of their staff against the Covid-19. Their New Normal campaign with the theme “We are fully vaccinated, Para kayo ay ProtekTODO” promotes that all Hotel Sogo staff have completed two jabs of vaccine to secure the safety of its guests as early as July 2021.

“We have 41 branches nationwide and five more upcoming branches. There are thousands of employees working in all our hotels, and their safety is important to protect our guests. We are really grateful that our staff is fully vaccinated,” said Sue Geminiano, Hotel Sogo Marketing Manager. Hotel Sogo management is committed to their employees’ welfare. They also believe that getting the vaccine is a simple way to bring us closer to life, feeling normal again and worry-free. Hotel Sogo takes care of their staff as a family as well as their guests. “I can say that the 11 anti-Covid innovations that we installed in our hotels with hotel staff that is fully vaccinated, we are sure that our family and friends are safe to stay at Hotel Sogo”. She added Indeed, Hotel Sogo is So Clean…So Good…So Safe.#HotelSogo #GerifiedPH

Virtual Talk on Quarantine Fatigue with Thomson Reuters

Quarantine Fatigue has affected us and we need to adapt and learn to ease into the new normal by learning how to recognize this kind of Fatigue and how to deal with it.

First off, Quarantine Fatigue though it may look different from person to person, may be defined as an exhaustion associated with the new restrictive lifestyle brought upon by the pandemic. as Dr. Luana Marques, President of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America has defined it.

Quarantine Fatigue comes from Chronic Stress

We need to know how it has affected us, whether we are aware of it or not, to determine what we can do to prevent it, spot its effect and address them as quickly as possible, in addition to knowing how to handle relationships with the people we are stuck with, as well as people who are close to us but cannot be with.

The Virtual Talk was opened by Ms. Tes Veloso, Senior Director Vendor Strategy & Relationship Management and Site Officer, Thomson Reuters Manila.

Special Guests includes Husband and Wife tandem of Dr. Allan Dionisio and Maribel Dionisio. Dr. Allan is a family medicine practitioner and a clinical toxicologist. He is also the chairman of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Philippine General Hospital. Ms. Maribel on the other hand, has been a relationship and parenting consultant for over 25 years. For the last 5 years, she was a weekly relationship expert for Radyo Singko 92.3 FM’s Relasyon noontime program and was also a regular parenting expert at ABS-CBN’s Umagang Kay Ganda.

The Love Institute’s vision is to equip every individual with the knowledge and skills they need for their particular relationship stage – Single Life, Engagement, Married Life, Parenting and Family, and Marriage Enhancement.

Quarantine Fatigue Symptoms

* Physical fatigue, loss of energy

* Irritability

* Disturbed sleep (too much or too little)

* Eating too much or too little

* Anxiety (new or aggravated)

* Apathy, lethargy, lack of motivation

* Emotional Lability

* Loneliness and Disconnection

* Feelings of Hopelessness

* Sadness and Depression

* Persistent desire or actual attempts to break quarantine

There are different sources of chronic stress

-Worry about getting sick and dying and the stigma when you actually get the virus

-Worry about the loss of a loved one, loss of job and income

-Conflicts due to being physically together longer than usual

-Cabin fever

-Infodemic

-Loneliness and isolation from being cut off from friends and family

These sources of chronic stress when piled up for a long period of time can cause increase of risk for anxiety and depression, weakens the immune system, degrades our ability to cope with stress which is a vicious cycle. Due to long period of isolation, a person can feel lonely and can increase the risk of all cause mortality by 29%, cardiovascular disease by 50%, and for those with the highest levels of social isolation, it doubles the risk of death from heart attacks.

The good news is, we can deal with Quarantine Fatigue

1. Physical Activity – short but regular physical activity can reduce stress, improve mood and mental clarity, release happy hormones, sense of control over your well-being, increase motivation, focus and learning ability and lastly, can stimulate rest and relaxation.

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. – Viktor E. Frankl

1. Mindfulness – We can practice mindfulness through our mindful breathing. We need to fact check all the information we recieve, discern and digest it before we react. Our responses should be of reasonable assumption and to do it, we have to think of ways on handling our problems and of course, choose the better, if not best, way to do it.
2. Building Strong Relationships – in this quaratine, what we need to come through is simplified by having the 4 friends principle who would go through a roof for us. If you don’t have them yet, write who would you like them to be and make a plan to strengthen those friendships. If you have more than 4, then you are blessed. Treasure friends.

Three Factors for lasting friendship includes similar core values, emotional maturity and authentic love. These can be developed using the 3C’s of relationships.

C – Calendar daily friends chat or meet-up

C – show Caring behaviors

C – Communicate regularly and well

The Virtual Talk also held a Panel Discussion with Ms. Kay Emralino, Thomson Reuters Judicial Operations Group Leader, Mr. Bong Roa Yu, Thomson Reuters Operations Manager for Rules and Regulations Legal Content, and Ms. Lilibeth Repolidon, Thomas Reuters Collection Teams Leader.

My takeaways on this very timely talk, is that we need to connect regularly and we need to connect with people well. We can do fun activities even virtually and also observe friendly tone when speaking especially to our dear family members and friends.

Balance is the key when it comes to Quarantine Fatigue, we need to find time to sustain our spiritual, emotional, financial, intellectual, environmental, physical and social aspects of our lives, and who we choose to be friends/connected with can determine and bend our core values, too.

Lastly, we should practice to PAUSE.

Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you’re about to react harshly and you’ll avoid doing and saying things you’ll regret later.

3M Philippines’ Virtual Innovation Tour

Did you know? 3M celebrated their 118th Anniversary this year!

3M has been extending its hand during the pandemic and it has laid out its continuous effort to assist the Filipinos as they adapt to the new normal. It also promotes science in a distance learning set-up and last Thursday, 3M Philippines opened their virtual doors through their virtual innovation tour where they demonstrated how 3M applies its science to life.

The company strongly believed that Science can change the world as it continuously challenges itself to rethink ways to improve our daily lives through sustainable advancements.

What’s even amazing about 3M, is that if focuses on development so much that they spends approximately 6% of sales on research, very high for a typical manufacturing company.

3M for Cleaning and Protection: Scotchbrite

Cleaning is a dirty job, but someone has got to do it… typically, it’s us moms! Fortunately, 3M Science will back us up for even the toughest burned pots, to those big stains and messes!

Scothbrite Sponges – the scotchbrite sponges has many different colors. The colors actually indicate its capacity. Darker colors for tougher stains while light colors like yellow and pink for delicate glasses and melaware. The best part about these sponges is that aside from its ability to remove stains faster than ordinary pads, it also has anti-bacterial protection, just make sure you drain the excess water after use, stored in a dry place and sanitize with hot water. A gentle reminder: change your utensil sponges every 2 weeks.

Scothbrite Walis Tibay – designed to be lightweight, durable and sturdy, engineered to seep dust efficiently without straining your hands. Sanitize by shaking dust out of the broom and lightly spraying with sanitary solution. Store upright to keep shape.

3M for Personal Health Care

3M continually strives to bring new solutions to help heal minor wounds and protect from airborne particles.

Nexcare – from waterproof bandages to cooling fever patch, 3M’s Nexcare products is efficient in taking care of the patients, especially our little ones.

3M N95 masks and respirators – depending on the purpose, these masks are scientifically engineered to filter 95% of airborne particles from construction dusts to viruses. For the meantime, let’s reserve our N95 supplies to our frontliners. Let’s do our part and stay home as much as possible and observe social distancing, hand-washing, sanitizing and wearing of facial mask and shield.

3M for Home Improvement

Home improvement has been smoother and small renovations like a breeze with the help of 3M home improvement products.

Command – powered by 3M patented stretch release technology, Command is the preferred and trusted mounting product providing damage-free hanging solutions while providing strong hold but comes off clean without any wall surface damage!   

3M for Decorating, Organizing and Crafts, School and Office Supplies

Make your space and project picture perfect with 3M products.

Post-it – ranges from different colors and different purposes such as for vertical and horizontal use, Post-It is one of the extra-ordinary inventions of 3M that is now an ordinary residence to everyone’s craft table and office place.

3M for Sports and Recreation

Activities we do in our spare time are what we consider our passion in life, this includes outdoor activities such as biking or jogging. 3M will protect you while you enjoy your activities.

Reflective Apparel – drivers can only see from as far as 250m when driving at night and it takes at least a 500m distance for a fast moving car to fully stop, hence, it is important to wear reflective apparel when going out at night. 3M reflective apparel can be seen from as far as 1000m.

3M for Food Safety and Hygiene

After the virtual tour, 3M Philippines Food Microbiologist Angel Barnes Jr. showed to us that when it comes to food safety, there is more than what m-eats the eyes.

3m Clean- Trace Luminometer – used in industrial, healthcare facilities, and food industry as a reliable system that features improved ease of use, faster time to result and simple, onehanded operation. Its ergonomic design makes testing simple, minimizing training time and costs. It also has a higher degree of repeatability and lower variability with accurate results you can count on.

3M #ScienceAtHome

3M is committed to helping teachers and students as they adapt to a new way of learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The virtual event ended with a fun activity demonstrated by Engr. Joshua Kevin Uy. The Chromatography Experiment he showed us and many more safe experiments you can do with your kids at home can be found on https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/gives-us/education/science-at-home/.

Allegro Beverage Corp.’s Webinar Series 3 “Grow and Promote Your Business Through Social Media”

Allegro brew at home!

Allegro Beverage Corporation (ABC) is the exclusive distributor of the finest espresso machines, brewers, coffee beans, syrups, sauces, and teas from around the world. Our customers are hotels, casinos, chain accounts, restaurants, cafes, and offices.For the past 20 years, Allegro is known for touching base with the B2B market, as time progressed, we aimed to expand our reach and capture the B2C market (the home brewers) as well to cover a larger market share.Amidst this pandemic situation, we decided to re-launch our Social Media sites, Facebook, and Instagram. Sharing our Customers our top three goals – to reach the consumers and introduce our products and equipment to household home brewers, everyone can enjoy high graded coffee beans at reasonable prices, and brand awareness.

We can use Social Media as leverage to boost our business. Since the pandemic, the food service industry has a drastic dramatic changes, these includes the following:

Focus changed from Ambiance to Food Safety

Menu changed from Full/Buffet Style to Limited

Location changed from Mall to Central Commissary/Online/Homemade

Special Requirements changed from Dine-In/bar to Limited Indoor Seating, Al Fresco or Drive-Thru

Online Ordering changed from Optional to Critical

Payment changed from Cash/Credit to Contactless

Food Costs changed from 30-35% to 40-45%

Staffing changed from Waiters to Delivery Guys

Restrictions changed from No Smoking to Social Distancing and Health Clearance

The changes are happening right before our eyes, from Traditional marketing which has limited audience, global marketing, non-versatile(cannot be altered once published) and delayed means of communications to Digital Marketing that reach out to maximum people, can target a specific market or client, very versatile in changes and has the ability of immediate communication.

4 P’s of Marketing

Product – an article or substance that is manufactured or refined for sale.

Place – a portion of space available or designated for or being used by someone.

Promotion – the publicization of a product, organization, or venture so as to increase sales or public awareness.

Price – the amount of money that has to be paid to acquire a given product/service.

We can use Social Media to interact with others, share and create content through online communities. Social Media also presents great marketing opportunities for business of all sizes.

Today’s marketing goal is to promote business, reach new costumers, increase transaction sales ans create repeat business that can be done via Social Media by setting our smart goals, create a content calendar and set timelines.

Moving forward, as we aim to have our brand be recognized with boundless limits, we made Allegro available and make it connected to reach the multitude of people across various social media platforms; make them feel Allegro’s presence, and the need to avail of our products would be as easy as tapping a button on your Facebook or Instagram account.

MILO Launches Home Court Campaign, Inspiring Parents To Help Their Kids Pursue Their Champion Journey In Sports, Even At Home

As parents continue to learn how to adjust in the new normal, they are faced with an even bigger challenge and responsibility of finding ways to keep their kids active and healthy while at home. To assist moms and dads in this hour of need, MILO has launched its Home Court campaign, providing access for parents and their kids to the resources they need to jumpstart and continue their sporting ambitions, even in the comfort of their own home. Even in these uncertain times, MILO remains committed to fueling kids’ champion journeys in sports and in life. 

Being the Home Court for kids, MILO’s newest campaign encourages parents to support their kids as their champion journeys continue even at home through online training modules, remote coaching sessions, and  creative solutions to equip parents as the new coaches of their children. 

“More than taking part in amping up their skills with online trainings, Home Court inspires moms and dads to play a more active role as coaches to their little champs,” says Nestlé Philippines Vice President Veronica Cruz. “It’s all about being fun and imaginative with them to assist their learning and growth in their respective sports, as well as keep their champion spirit strong and nurture the lifelong character-forming values that come with it such as discipline, hard work, and self-confidence.” 

Over the past few months, MILO Home Court has already launched a series of initiatives equipping parents and kids to stay active, healthy, and train like a champ. MILO Champions IG Live, for instance, featured our most prized national athletes and brand ambassadors Keifer Ravena, Alyssa Valdez, Pauline Lopez, Juan and Javi Gomez De Liaño, and Coach Rio Dela Cruz leading free workout sessions for their fans. It also introduced MILO Sports Clinics Online, a newly-introduced digital platform where kids can learn the fundamentals of basketball, volleyball, taekwondo, and gymnastics under the tutelage of professional coaches from MILO’s partner organizations—all for FREE! 

After a successful first round, MILO is now gearing up to introduce new sports to its online clinics, giving more variety and room for kids to explore what they want to pursue with arnis, badminton, karate, tennis, and football. 

Suited for kids ages 7 to 12 years old, each 60-minute session will be made available on YouTube for kids to try out in their homes for as long as 4 weeks per sport and will be done in partnership with professional coaches of MILO’s partner organizations such as Department of Education Arnis Association of the Philippines (DEAAP), Asuncion Badminton Center, Association for the Advancement of Karatedo in the Philippines (AAK), Children’s Tennis & Sports Management Inc., and coaches from FC Barçelona Barça Academy; all supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). 

“After postponing MILO Summer Sports Clinics, we’re glad that there’s still a surge of interest from parents to let their kids participate in the online version,” says MILO Sports Executive Lester Castillo. “We know how important it is to keep the champion journeys going which is why we are providing ways for them to still pursue their sporting dreams at the safety and comfort of their homes. Together with our trusted partner sports organizations and our best efforts, all is made possible in equipping our future champions.” 

Access the MILO Sports Clinics Online through this playlist: 

Through MILO Home Court initiatives and with the new MILO Champion Formula that contains more milk, packed with more Champion Energy Nutrients na PROTOMALTÒ, Iron, at Vitamins B2, B3, B6, and B12, at mas sulit dahil mas pinarami na ang isang sachet at the same suggested retail price, parents and their children are given the right energy to be creative and continue their champion journeys, even at home. 

There’s still a lot to look forward to MILO Home Court, so stay tuned to the MILO Philippines Facebook page (@milophilippines) for exciting announcements and important updates: https://www.facebook.com/milo.ph/.  

WHAT MOMS LOOK FOR IN CHOOSING THE RIGHT GROWING-UP MILK FOR THEIR KIDS

Every mom’s goal is to support their kids with good health, proper growth, and mental development. It’s hard do it alone but with the right growing-up formula milk—the goal is attainable.

Wyeth Nutrition™, manufacturer of PROMIL® FOUR, partnered with the world’s biggest e-community of shoppers – the Home Tester Club (HTC) – to find out what moms look for in choosing the right growing-up milk for their kids.

Home Tester Club strongly advocates helping people make informed purchases by sharing real product experiences. It promotes responsible and sensible shopping through shared conversations and reviews among its members, which consists of shoppers across all ages and product categories.

Last November 2019 to January 2020, HTC conducted a survey among 335 moms (from 20-45 years old, with kids 3 to 7 years old located in Metro Manila) to compare PROMIL® FOUR with other milk brands in a ‘blind’ test and taste engagement. 

Results reveal that 9 out of 10 Home Tester Club moms would switch to PROMIL® FOUR after trial for its taste.

Rina, a mom from Makati City, shares that PROMIL® FOUR’s right amount of sweetness is what her kid loves the most. “As compared to other brands, it provides the exact amount of taste for my kid without needing to add sugar. I have tried other brands of growing-up milk and I didn’t like how they were very sweet”.

Melody, mom to Ava, echoes the concern of most moms about sugar content. “We’ve been looking for a milk formula with less sugar. From my observation, the used glass of [PROMIL® FOUR] milk didn’t attract ants. It also tastes healthier, so I decided that this is the milk that I will give my daughter.”

Maylene couldn’t be happier that Thea, her daughter, finds PROMIL® FOUR not too sweet and really has the milky taste that is just right for the taste buds of kids.

Aside from the taste, mommy respondents agree that another important factor for them in choosing the right milk is the nutrients found in the product.

Jenny shared that her daughter Sherra usually drinks a glass of milk when she gets home from school. At first, her daughter was not enthusiastic when she tasted PROMIL® FOUR. However, it changed after a few more tries, and now her daughter loves it. According to Jenny, “It’s a good transition for me because PROMIL® FOUR offers more nutrients than the other milk brand we’ve been using. We’re sticking with it from now on.”

Another mom named Carla was surprised upon discovery of the nutrient content of PROMIL® FOUR. ”Actually, it’s only now that I learned the kind of nutrients of this product. Wow, there’s a lot! I’m really going to give this milk to [my daughter] Crystal”.

PROMIL® FOUR is scientifically designed with important and essential nutrients to support a child’s proper growth and mental development to help nurture the gift.

In the PROMIL® FOURTest and Taste challenge, HTC validated the survey with actual reviews of moms who participated in the activity. The result: 9 out 10 Home Tester Club moms in Metro Manila would switch to PROMIL® FOUR after trial. 

What about you, moms? Test and taste your child’s milk to experience the difference yourself.

Hanabishi’s 2in1 Grinder and Coffeemaker Is a Product Worth Investing In

Enjoying freshly brewed coffee doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t have to invest in an expensive coffeemaker to have one every day. Neither do you have to travel far or get in line. Thanks to Hanabishi, you can have it right in your own home.

Recently, the company known for its affordable and quality appliances introduced the Hanabishi 2in1 Grinder and Coffeemaker. Available for just PhP3,750, it can make four cups of coffee in one brew. You can use it for both coffee beans and ground coffee.

“To say that Filipinos love coffee is an understatement. We are proud of our kapeng barako and we are fond of exploring different varieties of coffee. It was evident with the success of coffee shops from Starbucks, UCC Café, and Coffebean and Tea Leaf in the local market,” said Cherish Ong-Chua, Vice President, Finance and Marketing at Hanabishi.

According to Ong-Chua, Hanabishi’s new product offering, the 2in1 Grinder and Coffeemaker, is an innovation that aims to bring the coffee connoisseur experience right to every Filipino’s home. However, they have simplified the functions of the machine.

Operating it is easy. Just add your coffee beans or ground coffee, pour in some water, select the setting, and your coffee would be ready in minutes. Cleaning it is just as fuss-free.

The Hanabishi 2in1 Grinder and Coffeemaker is also a good product to invest in if you’re running or looking to put up a coffee shop. It’s less expensive than most coffee makers and functions just as efficiently.

For more information about Hanabishi’s 2in1 Grinder and Coffeemaker, visit myhanabishi.com.

Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo shares her secrets in keeping Luna healthy and happy!

Quarantine stories and parenting tips straight from Mommy Juday!

The health and safety of the whole family is every parent’s number one priority especially during these unprecedented times. For our super mom, Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo, adapting to the new normal was never easy but with the help of her friends and a few experts around her, adjusting has now become a challenging yet delightful learning experience for her and her family.

Knowing the difficulties and struggles of being a mom, Mommy Juday shared some of her latest discoveries in making sure that her kids can safely grow healthy and happy while staying at home.

1. Gawing mas happy ang bawat moment na kasama si Chikiting

“Ngayong araw-araw tayong magkakasama, ito yung time for us to nurture our kids more. I-enjoy natin yung bawat moment na kasama natin sila dahil our kids really look up to us, ginagaya nila tayo. Kaya kung ano yung sabihin natin, gawin natin, pano tayo magdamit, paano tayo mag-alaga sa kanila, ibinabalik nila sa atin yun.” shared mommy Juday as she explains the value of spending as much time with her kids during the quarantine period.

Given that we’re mostly staying at home, grab every opportunity to spend as much time with your chikitings by doing the things they enjoy, their passions, and the things they’re curious about. Immerse yourself in what they like to get to know them better and help them develop their skills along the way.

2. Spark the curiosity of your chikitings and learn with them

Being at home does not mean skipping on the chance to learn, children are naturally curious and this is the opportunity for you to explore and learn new things with them. Mommy Judy Ann values her children’s education and shares that she studies with her kids. She proudly admits that she even learns a lot from them!

“Nag-aaral ako with them dahil bilang nanay kailangan mo rin i-level up ang knowledge mo sa kung ano ang ginagawa ng mga anak mo. Kasama din nila ako magresearch tungkol sa mga bagay bagay dahil minsan mas alam pa nila kung ano yung mga bago at trending kaysa sa’kin at mas natututo ako from them and with them.”

3. Gawing family bonding ang gawaing bahay

Use this time to teach your kids about household chores by slowly introducing small tasks they can do around the house. In the case of Mommy Juday, Luna enjoys helping her cook, and they even started planting their own veggies together: “Recently nagtatanim kami nina Lucho at Luna ng mga veggies na pwede naming ulamin!”

She also knows the importance of teaching her kids the skills they need to be more independent as they grow up, “We need to equip our children with basic survival skills tulad ng pagluluto, paglilinis, paglalaba, at paghuhugas ng pinggan para paglaki nila, hindi sila nakadepende sa ibang tao dahil naturuan natin sila at this early age.”

4. Panatilihing malusog at masaya ang mga chikiting with the right nutrition partner

Choose the right nutrition partner which can always provide all the nutrients that your chikitings need for them to grow happy and healthy. Mommy Judy Ann also believes that boosting our kids’ immune system will be their very first line of defense against illnesses. By providing their tummies with complete nutrients, they can be strong enough to fight off germs and viruses.

“Sa panahon ngayon, we need to look for the right milk na makakatulong sa happy at tamang paglaki ng mga bagets natin. We want them to be ready and equipped with whatever they might face diba? Kaya ako I choose only NESTOGROW® 4 for Luna talaga.”  Mommy Juday also talked about how her trusted milk brand is enriched with L COMFORTIS® which improves the absorption of nutrients in children’s tummies and no added table sugar — ensuring that your kids get the #KumpletongNutriTIYAN they need to #GrowHappy and healthy!

Mommy Judy Ann’s NESTOGROW® journey

Judy Ann and her youngest daughter Luna officially joined the NESTOGROW® family this year as the brand’s newest endorsers alongside Mommy Melai Cantiveros-Francisco and Mela. “Malaki talaga ang pasalamat ko sa NESTOGROW® at sa tiwalang ibinigay nila sa amin ni Luna. Sa totoo lang, NESTOGROW® talaga yung produktong pinagkakatiwalaan ko, especially when it comes to my children.” Working with NESTOGROW® has been such a great blessing for Judy Ann this year. It was just a perfect match from the beginning as she automatically fell in love with the brand as it helped show great improvement for Luna.

To further shine light on the importance of gut health, the newest mom and daughter duo starred in NESTOGROW’s TV commercial where Judy Ann explains to Luna na ang health ng katawan ay nagsisimula sa tiyan! 

With the release of the TVC, Mommy Judy Ann lets us in on a secret that the whole production was done right in their home with just a camera and the help of a few friends. It was a different experience being used to having a full production set, but according to her, “It was really a collaborative effort since konti lang kami and wala din kaming masyadong gamit . But it was fun working with friends and seeing Luna really happy and energetic during the shoot!” For Judy Ann, the whole experience is really something she’ll be treasuring since they were able to create something despite the challenges brought by the new normal: “This is something that will remain very memorable for Luna, and for me as well kasi we were able to rise above the challenge and adapt to change. I’m just so happy to see Luna happily doing things and adjusting to change at a very young age.”

Learn and spend time with your kids during this quarantine period by checking out NESTGROW’s latest commercial through this LINK and find out why you should definitely not forget about the importance of the tiyan!

Visit NESTOGROW® Facebook page for more updates and you can also purchase NESTOGROW® 4 on their official stores at Lazada and Shopee!

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About NESTOGROW® 4

NESTOGROW® 4 is the only growing up milk brand that contains L. Comfortis®, a probiotic that may help in your child’s digestive health and now without added sucrose. NESTOGROW® 4 is not a breastmilk substitute and is suitable for healthy children above 3 years old.

4 Tips to Boost Your Immune System Through Nutrition David Heber, M.D, PhD, FACP, FASN – Chairman, Herbalife Nutrition Institute

When people think about their immune system, they usually consider its role in fighting a cold or infection. But there is a direct connection between the immune system and nutrition. Our immune system is one of the most effective forms of defense against viral infections.

There are two categories of immune functions in everyone’s body – the innate immunity which prevents diseases from entering the body and adaptive immunity which eliminates or prevents the growth of pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria, in our body. In a person who is malnourished, the immune system shuts down. In people who are overweight or obese, the immune system becomes hyperactive and causes inflammation.

How Nutrition Impacts the Body’s Immune System There is a tangible connection between the immune system and nutrition. What we eat, where we live, how much we sleep, how we exercise, and even who we live with, all causes chemical reactions that can alter our health status. Added to the mix is our microbiome, which are the microorganisms we depend on to protect us against germs, break down food for energy, produce vital vitamins and bolster our immune system. The largest part of the immune system ¬– approximately 70% of it – is located near the intestines, which monitors the intake of food and how the body uses it.

This makes it critical for us to consume a balanced diet with the right vitamins, minerals, and nutrients while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 4 Tips to Increase Nutrients That Help Strengthen the Immune System Eating a balanced diet requires ensuring that there is optimal nutrition intake at a cellular level.

Make sure you consume enough of the following nutrients:

1. Include protein in your daily nutrition. Also known as the basic building blocks of the body, protein allows the body to manufacture antibodies that it requires to defend against invading viruses and bacteria. To ensure that we have sufficient levels of protein in our diet, we can eat more healthy protein foods such as fish, poultry, lean meats, soy foods and low-fat dairy products.

2. Incorporate vitamins and phytonutrients. Vitamins A and C, as well as phytonutrients, are key players in immune system health. As one of the biggest immune system boosters, Vitamin C encourages our body to produce antibodies that fight diseases. It is essential to maintain a daily intake of vitamin C as the body does not produce or store it. Vitamin A supports the health of our skin, tissues of our digestive tract and respiratory system. Phytonutrients, which are found in vegetables and fruits reduce our body’s oxidative stress, which may weaken its ability to fight off illnesses. A number of phytonutrients have been shown to reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, fight inflammation, lowering blood pressure, and boost the overall health of our immunity system.

3. Focus on gut health with probiotics and prebiotics. The digestive system plays a central role in supporting immune function. The intestinal tract is the main route of contact with the external environment and is a pathway that contains microbiomes that aids digestion as well as the absorption of nutrients. Having the right gut bacteria has been associated with benefits such as weight loss, improved digestion, healthier skin, and most importantly enhanced immune function, although research in these areas is not conclusive or universally applicable. Studies have shown that probiotics, which are ‘good bacteria’, are useful in maintaining the digestive system, and prebiotics, types of fiber that the human body cannot digest, serve as food for these probiotics.

4. Increase omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids, such as DHA and EPA, are healthy and essential types of fat, which can be found in food such as chia seed and supplements such as fish oil. Omega-3 fatty acids may enhance the functions of immune cells, which plays a large role in both the innate and adaptive system that responds to infections.

Following general good-health guidelines ¬–balanced diet, regular exercise– is your first line of defense and the best way towards naturally keeping your immune system strong and healthy.

About Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.

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

Herbalife Nutrition also encourages investors to visit its investor relations website at ir.herbalife.com as financial and other information is updated and new information is posted.

Quarantine creativity: 19-year-old Cebu student uses soy sauce to make art

As the quarantine keeps everyone at home for their safety, many young Filipinos spend their time honing their skills and creativity, finding ways to express themselves. With all this free time on their hands, there are those who even go the extra mile when it comes to being creative.

This was certainly the case for 19-year-old communication student Thea Sophia Disabelle, from Bantayan Island, Cebu, who stirred buzz on the internet after creating art not just through traditional mediums, but also using a medium no one thinks could be used for art: soy sauce. Yes, the very same soy sauce you ordinarily see in kitchens at home.

“It all started when I poured a little amount of soy sauce into a saucer, since I needed it for my fried fish,” said Thea, who made her first soy sauce artwork back in March using Silver Swan Soy Sauce, a staple in their pantry. “After that, I paused for three seconds while staring at it—something was beautifully formed. After I had my breakfast that day, I asked myself, ‘Why not make art using soy sauce?’”

Working with soy sauce

While Thea always had access to Silver Swan Soy Sauce as it was the family’s preferred brand since her childhood, it would take her a few more months before trying to make another soy sauce artwork after her first one. This time, however, people took notice.

“I posted it on Facebook and didn’t expect to get many likes, comments and shares,” she said.
“Fortunately, it really went viral and I was so overwhelmed.”

Although Thea also creates art using more traditional mediums such as paint, pastels, and pencils, she likes the convenience that soy sauce allows, recommending it to artists who may have challenges getting art materials during the quarantine. Silver Swan Soy Sauce, made of high-quality soybeans, also provides artists a unique texture to work with, distinguishing it from the usual materials and providing a tamang-tamang timpla evento art.

“The texture looks so cool after a while,” she says. “Artists just need soy sauce, a large plate, and imagination. It’s tricky to do this kind of artwork because one wrong move, you’ll have to start all over again. It might be an ephemeral artwork but it’s worth the effort.”

Quarantine Creativity: 19-year-old Thea Sophia Disabelle only had a bottle of Silver Swan Soy Sauce, large plate, and a limitless imagination to create unique works of art.

Inspiring young Filipino creatives

As some artists find new ways to make breathtaking art during the quarantine using everyday items, Thea believes that there’s really no limit to what anyone can create as long as they keep trying. She herself wants to pursue a fine arts course and eventually turn her hobby into her life’s work.

“I encourage them to be creative and make use of their time through art,” she says. “You don’t need expensive art materials—you just have to go to your kitchen, get some stuff and make it your masterpiece. It’s just a matter of creativity, dedication and willingness to learn something new. You just have to be creative in making nothing into something. That’s how art works.”

As a token of recognition for Thea’s astounding creativity and resourcefulness, NutriAsia, makers of Silver Swan will be sending her and her family more of their products for their use—whether it’s for their food or for more of Thea’s art.