Posted in Advocacy

New Laundry Experts! Ariel Men Push for Gender Equality with #JuanWash

In Filipino households, doing the laundry is traditionally seen as a woman’s sole responsibility. Thanks to the shift in people’s mindsets, aided by Ariel’s progressive #JuanWash campaign, that backwards thinking will soon be a thing of the past.

Recognizing that chores can be done by anyone, Ariel rolled out the #JuanWash campaign which is targeted towards men. Its goal is straightforward and goes right into the heart of the matter – to get men to do their share of laundry duties, one wash at a time. For Ariel men, this goes beyond simply doing the laundry, as it also shows their support to their wives, and moulds their children into understanding the equal role of men and women in doing the household chores.

As the first detergent to invite men to do their part of the housework, Ariel assembled several celebrity #JuanWash ambassadors. Among them is professional basketball player JC Intal, supported by his wife Bianca Gonzalez-Intal, as well as actor John Prats, supported by his wife Isabel Oli-Prats.

“The new Ariel Man is more confident and more responsible when it comes to raising his family”, explains JC Intal. More and more Juan Washers all over the country are rising up to do their share of the laundry duties, and it’s a call to arms that expresses what it means to be the modern man of the house. “Ang Ariel Man ay makabago at progresibo. Ang totoong macho ay tumutulong sa mga gawaing bahay to serve as good male role models for the kids,” adds John Prats.

Local personalities Kean Cipriano, James Deakin, Ali Khatibi, Marco Alcaraz, Sam Ajdani, and Anton Del Rosario are also active #JuanWash supporters. These Juan Washers use Ariel Power Gel which makes superior cleaning effortless so they can easily help out at home.

Launched online last September 1, 2017, the #JuanWash campaign not only celebrated those men who have done their part of laundry duties, but also dedicated Fridays as #JuanWash days. Considering that most Filipino households do their laundry twice a week, getting men to do the laundry once a week means doing their equal share of the load. By getting men to do the laundry at least once a week, Ariel hopes to transform them into laundry experts with the help from Ariel Power Gel that’s especially formulated for better stain removal with just one wash.

In partnership with Eat Bulaga, Ariel also scoured through many different barangays in Metro Manila to find Juan Washers every Friday. This put the spotlight on individual Juan Washers, and showcased how valuable their role is in further pushing gender equality in the family and in the community. In so doing, Ariel Men all over the Philippines were able to collect 10,000 laundry hours in just one month, which represents the number of hours freed up for the women in their lives.

To celebrate this feat, Ariel handed over the 10,000 laundry hours to the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), represented by their Chief of Corporate Affairs and Information Resource Management Division, Ms. Honey Castro, as a symbolic gift to women, while emphasizing Ariel’s support for gender equality in the household. This aims to inspire and encourage more men to do their share of the load.

“The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), the lead agency that champions gender equality and women’s empowerment, welcomes this initiative of Ariel Philippines in breaking the gender stereotype that housework is only women’s work,” shares PCW Executive Director Emmeline L. Verzosa. She adds, “We are glad that the private sector and advertising agencies have now joined the campaign in promoting the value of shared household and parenting responsibilities among female and male family members. Through such male role models, companies are able to educate the public about more positive masculinities. Gender equality should begin at home.”

Ariel’s #JuanWash campaign comes at a crucial time for Filipino families, whose lifestyles continue to evolve, especially with the rise in dual-income homes and an increasingly progressive cultural landscape that puts equal value in the time of women and men. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), formerly known as the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), Filipino men are getting more involved in household work, with men allotting an average of 5 hours working on chores in the year 2000 compared to the average of 1.87 hours in 1979. The trend is expected to continue to increase as traditional gender roles shift.

“More than providing superior clean and better stain removal with our innovative liquid detergent, Ariel is a brand that prides itself in being a part of the progressive Filipino home. With Ariel #JuanWash, we want to shed light on the importance of gender equality in and out of home, as we all work together towards a more progressive country and a more equal world”, shares Louie Morante, Regional Brand Communications for P&G ASEAN Fabric and Home Care.


The #JuanWash campaign supports P&G’s #WeSeeEqual global advocacy, and forms part of Ariel Philippines’ #AhonPinay movement which continues to push the boundaries on gender equality and women empowerment. To date, Ariel has an ongoing partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to provide women with training in commonly male-dominated fields. These trainings are envisioned to give these women more equal job opportunities in these fields.

A lot is in store for Ariel’s #JuanWash initiative, and we hope you can also take part in spreading the word for this nationwide movement. Go ahead and be a part of the change by contributing to your share of the household chores with #JuanWash – one wash at a time.

In gratitude to the modern Juans, Ariel is also offering a unique promotion for men who would be availing of select services from various Metropole Laundromat branches. Every time men commit to the cause in this way, they’ll earn points for freebies granted by Ariel and Metropole as a gift to the efforts shared in supporting #JuanWash Fridays.

To learn more, visit Ariel’s website, Facebook, and Youtube page.

#ArielPhilippines #JuanWash #AhonPinay #WeSeeEqual

MediCard – Vaccination Myths and Facts

You may have completed your vaccinations when you were a child, but do you know that vaccines are not only for kids but for adults, too? Vaccines are among the most cost-effective health interventions available. They help ensure optimum health.

“Vaccines provide heightened protection against diseases, disabilities and even death. They prepare the body to fight diseases without exposing the person to the symptoms. Many believe immunizations are for children only. But you are never too old to get vaccinated. Newer vaccines are being developed and booster shots may be necessary to maintain the efficacy of certain vaccines. Vaccination is important especially if you have a chronic disease, are pregnant, sexually active, or if your work requires you to travel to places where you can be exposed to different diseases,” says MediCard president and CEO Dr. Nicky Montoya.

MediCard, a leading HMO provider in the country, debunks some myths on vaccinations:

Myth: Vaccines are for children only.

Fact: Vaccines don’t offer lifetime immunity to diseases; they stimulate antibody production. Almost all vaccines wear off after 5-10 years. Getting vaccinated as an adult is just as important as getting it when you are young because you might be at risk for a new or different disease. The vaccinations you need are determined by factors such as age, lifestyle, health conditions, travel, and previous immunizations. To find out what vaccines you need, consult your doctor.

Myth: Vaccines are ineffective and harmful.

Fact: Vaccines are effective and safe. They go through comprehensive testing before they are approved for general use. They are also continuously monitored for safety and effectiveness. For those who worry that vaccines will cause serious side effects, Dr. Montoya says such cases are very rare. Normal reactions to vaccination include redness, pain, and swelling in the body part where the shot was given.

Myth: Vaccines weaken the immune system.

Fact: Vaccines actually strengthen the immune system and help fight diseases. Vaccines

strengthen the immune system by safely introducing an antigen, a substance that triggers the production of antibodies needed to neutralize viruses and bacteria. Vaccines also stimulate defense mechanisms that provide protection against specific diseases. Fears that vaccines can overload the immune system are unfounded because a healthy person’s immune system can recognize and handle thousands of organisms at once.

                                                                                                                          

Myth: Vaccinations are not needed if you live a healthy lifestyle.

Fact: Good hygiene, a balanced diet and an active lifestyle can help prevent the spread of diseases, but you are still exposed to germs and viruses. This is why getting vaccinated is encouraged, even if you live a healthy lifestyle, as it provides a significant level of protection from diseases.

                                                  

Learn more about vaccinations. MediCard has several free-standing clinics located in key cities nationwide that offer consultations, tests and vaccinations. Visit a MediCard clinic near you or check out their website at www.medicardphils.com for more information.

#GRABMisiskolar: Wais sa Pamilya, Wais sa Pera

 In 2016, Grab launched Grab Wives Academy and reached 100 Grab drivers’ wives. This year, we aim to reach and empower 600 to 1000 drivers’ wives and inspire thousands more.

Nine out of every ten housewives are ill-equipped with managing the money remitted by their husbands, the Grab drivers. If the wives are not given the necessary skills and opportunities to manage or grow their husband’s income, the endless cycle of poor money management within the Filipino family will continue.

In recognition of the importance of the role of wives in achieving success for the community, GRAB Misiskolar was born. GRAB Misiskolar is an initiative with the goal of empowering and educating the drivers’ wives to be wiser about handling their husband’s hard-earned income and enabling them to start their own mini-gosyo.

This August 13 in Mega Tent Libis, Misiskolars from Metro Manila became part of a full-day entrepreneurial program which included finance management and family planning talks from as well as different livelihood workshops such as no-bake cake making, perfume-making, direct selling, starting up your own business, and getting the needed start-up capital.

As an extension of the campaign and with the help of partners – Unionbank, Lendr, Avon, Sunlife, Angat Pilipinas, and Generika Drugstore, Grab aims to give the wives the chance to start earning by putting up a business. With the help of digital partners and mommy bloggers, the program aims to reach out to more wives and inspire them to be more madiskarte about the family finances – so they can become wais sa pamilya and wais sa pera.

The Grab Misiskolar program will also be launched in Cebu, targeting 400 wives.

Witness the journey of the GRAB Misiskolars from misis to wais na misis through our Facebook page, GRAB Misiskolar. Share your thoughts, spread the word and join us in empowering more Filipino families – one #GRABMisiskolar at a time

Solane Community Service Initiatives.

Solane, the country’s leading LPG solutions provider, recently held its first basketball cup tournament at the Balabag basketball court in Boracay aptly named the Solane Boracay Cup.

The event aimed to promote camaraderie and sportsmanship in a competitive and friendly game while encouraging a healthy lifestyle among its employees. The basketball tournament is also part of Solane’s corporate social responsibility program which seeks to help provide educational materials and school equipment to public schools.

Winners in the tournament donated their prizes (which included audio visual equipment, school supplies package, and tables and chairs package) to schools within the community.

Present during the event were (from left) Isla LPG Corporation or ILC account manager Kyle Yulo, ILC general manager for sales Tonito Gonzalez, Marianing and Sons president Marlon Julius Lao, ILC CEO Ruben Domingo, Marianing and Sons operations manager Jose Joaquin Mayor, ILC marketing manager Valeri Villano, and ILC regional sales manager for Visayas and Mindanao Rene Gamba.

Effectively Protect Your Children Even When You’re Not Around

With Safeguard, there’s no need to worry, moms!

Now that the school year has officially started, mothers start to worry about their children—their performance in school, bullies, grades, conduct and of course, germs. Let’s face it—germs are everywhere. They are present in almost all places and your child’s school is not an exception. From pencils, desks, notebooks, lunch boxes – these surfaces can unknowingly cause germs to spread and infect children easily. Moreover, your child can bring these germs to your own home, infecting the rest of your family.

Since the weather has been unpredictable and rain has become more frequent, additional challenges for all mothers arise this season. Not only will you have to get your children used to the demands of school, you also need to worry about keeping them safe, dry, and free from many common illnesses especially when you are not with them. With your children exposed to more disease-causing germs, you have to know what you are up against. 

Schools can be a hotbed of all kinds of microorganisms. PAMET conducted an experiment to identify what kind and how many germs children came into contact with in a school. They found:

  • 3,240,000 Staphylococcus bacteria were detected on the school desk, and 94,000 Influenza germs on books and notebooks.
  • 100,000 Streptococcus bacteria were counted on the handrail of the stairs.
  • On the monkey bars, 250,000 Hepatitis bacteria may cause infection during playtime.
  • 2,000,000 E. Coli and 1,000,000 Shigella Bacteria were identified on the toilet

As mothers, you can protect your children from disease-causing germs this school and rainy season with a soap that can provide superior skin germ protection, only from the brand trusted by moms and health experts alike, Safeguard. With so many things on your plate and worrying about your child when he is in school, Safeguard helps in giving you one less thing to worry about—protection of your child from germs.

Safeguard has Germshield+ Technology, that removes three kinds of germs (gram positive, gram negative and fungi) which can cause skin infections, body odor and pimples. In contrast, other soaps can only remove gram positive germs, which mainly cause body odor.

Before heading to school, make sure your children bathe with Safeguard Pure White Body Wash which not only removes germs, but also prevents the regrowth of germs, all while maintaining the skin’s natural germ barrier so that germs do not stick easily. Also, the formula is as gentle as water and is dermatologically tested to ensure that it keeps the skin soft.

Wash your hands regularly with Safeguard, especially after using the toilet, before eating and, and after playing. Just remember STEP:

Have the peace of mind you deserve this school year and rainy season by making Safeguard your best partner in protecting your children.

Are you ready to protect your family this season? What do you promise to do to ensure your children enjoy and explore while keeping them safe and healthy?

Allow them to play in the rain, learn a new sport, join a school club and more, knowing that they are adequately safe against disease-causing germs. Worry less and let Safeguard give the best protection your children need.

Come share your back-to-school and rainy season resolutions with us!

Safeguard Pure White Body Wash is available in 720ml (PhP 219), 400ml (PhP 145) and 200ml (PhP 85)

Safeguard Pure White Bar Soap is available in 90g (P 25.75), 135g (P 38), and 180g ml (P 48.00)

Safeguard Pure White Liquid Hand Soap is available in 225ml (P 80.00)