Posted in Promotions

Big Dreams Come To Life at KidZania Go! Roadshow in Alabang Town Center

Kids with big imaginations and even bigger dreams are all set for an exciting weekend as KidZania Manila brings its interactive and engaging role-playing experience to Alabang Town Center this May 7 and 8.

To register a slot for their kid, parents must visit the KidZania Go! booth at the Alabang Town Center Activity Center. Kids will be assembled into batches–each batch enjoying one hour of fun.

The Alabang Town Center Activity Center will serve as a venue for a pop up event of the play city. At this interactive area, misters and misses can take on various activities that aim to cultivate their innate talents and skills.

Kids can channel their inner geniuses and learn the right formula to make their very own lava lamps at the Science Lab. The Art Gallery is another must-visit, especially for Picassos-in-training. Here, they can paint on acrylic walls and tables, and bring home acrylic postcards that they turn into works of art.


The kids added life and color to the murals and displayed their paintings at the KidZania Go! Art Gallery.

At the Bakery, budding bakers can decorate sugar cookies and make them even more delicious so they can share them with their loved ones. Friends of Mother Nature can learn how to take better care of her at the Urban Garden, planting seedlings and watering plants. Kids can even take home seedlings that they can cultivate and nurture at home.

“The right to play, to know, to create, to share, to care and to be—we want to enable every child to experience and enjoy all these,” said KidZania Philippines State Governor Maricel Pangilinan Arenas. “With this in mind, we are bringing KidZania Go! to more venues all over Metro Manila, bringing hours of exciting and educational activities that every kid will surely enjoy.”

Learn while having fun and watch out for the next legs of KidZania Go! For more information, visit manila.kidzania.com and follow KidZania Manila on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About KidZania
KidZania is an interactive kids’ city combining inspiration, fun, and learning through realistic role play for kids four to 14. Kids can independently explore the kid-sized city with over 70 establishments and over 100 role-playing activities. Each experience is designed to empower kids, giving them the confidence to be their best selves, and inspiration to be great global citizens. One of the world’s most inventive, most awarded, and fastest-growing kid’s educational entertainment concepts, KidZania has 23 locations in 19 countries, including the Philippines.

KidZania, Inc., headquartered in Mexico, was founded in 1997, opened its first park in 1999, and is privately held. For more information about KidZania Manila, visit manila.kidzania.com.

KidZania is locally franchised by Play Innovations, Inc., whose majority stakeholder is ABS-CBN Corporation.

GSK Celebrates World Asthma Day With Asthmalaya Campaign

98 percent of Filipino asthma patients continue to lack proper treatment

According to the Global Asthma Report, an estimated 300 million people worldwide are affected by asthma.¹ In the Philippines, approximately 11 Million or 1 out 10 Filipinos are suffering from this debilitating disease.² This incurable disease burdens patients with a sense of imprisonment and constant restraint preventing them to live their lives to the fullest.

ALL ABOUT ASTHMA

“Asthma is a recurring inflammatory disorder in the airways of breathing, which undergoes variable expiratory flow and reversible bronchoconstrictions. In people with asthma, the airways are chronically inflamed. Certain triggers can make the inflammation worse and cause a narrowing of the airways”, shares Dr. Melvin Pasay, a pulmonologist and Medical Affairs Manager of GSK.

Common symptoms include constant wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing often late at night or early in the morning. Asthma can be triggered by dust, changes in weather (often cold), animals (pet hair in particular), exercise, tobacco smoke and stress.

The cause of asthma is unknown. However as shared by Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Inc. (PSAAI) President, Dr. Carmela Kasala, several predisposing factors to consider include genetic history (personal history or first degree relative) with asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema; weight and smoking history. “While there is also no known cure for asthma, this serious chronic disease can be controlled and effectively treated. By establishing a strong partnership between a patient and his doctor, results showed that asthma can be controlled” shares Dr. Kasala.

BURDEN OF HAVING ASTHMA

In the Asia Pacific, including the Philippines, a study showed that activity limitation caused by asthma has been quite prevalent. A mean of 44.7% of respondents reported that normal physical activity was compromised, and 37.9% believed that their choice of job or career was limited. A total of 52.7% of respondents said that sports and recreation were affected, and 37.6% believed their lifestyle was restricted while almost 50% reported sleep disturbances.³

“A lot of asthma patients have resigned and became ‘prisoners’ to their condition. Many seem to have created imaginary cages and locking themselves up with lifestyle restrictions. They are assuming that frequent symptoms, exacerbations and lifestyle limitations are inevitable

consequences of having asthma – unaware that their condition can be controlled,” observes Dr. Pasay.

ASTHMA CONTROL AWARENESS

What is alarming is that 98 percent of Filipino asthma patients remain uncontrolled or only partly controlled.⁴

“This means that asthma patients will only use medication when they have attacks believing that as long as there are no attacks they will be okay. As such, they believe that it is enough that they have available medicines to be taken on an as-needed basis,” shares Dr. Sylvia Yang, World Asthma Day committee chair of Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP).

Regular visits and consultations with doctors likewise became less as children grew up and had lesser asthma attacks. Most are relying on peers, family and even online resources to provide limited information and possibly, sub-optimal treatment for their condition.  This makes patients underestimate their condition leading to poor asthma control.

Cost of treatment is also a main consideration for compliance, but the truth is uncontrolled asthma can lead to higher odds of hospitalization and emergency room visits and become more expensive due to direct medical cost  like hospitalization or medications and indirect cost like time lost from work, overall productivity or even premature death.

WORLD ASTHMA DAY

In celebration of World Asthma Day, an annual event organized by the “Global Initiative for Asthma” (GINA) to improve asthma awareness and care around the world, GSK Philippines unveils “ASTHMAlaya Ka Ba Talaga? campaign, a disease awareness initiative that also seeks to encourage asthma patients, to be more proactive in consulting their doctors on how they can achieve asthma control.

So how do you know if you need asthma control? It’s easy, if you are an asthma patient who experiences daytime asthma symptoms (coughing or wheezing) more than twice a week, wakes up at night due to asthma, uses an asthma reliever more than twice a week or have any activity limitations due to asthma, you may have uncontrolled asthma and need to immediately consult your doctor.

The celebration was participated by advocates from Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP) and the Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Inc. (PSAAI) who are one with the advocacy of furthering awareness and urgency among patients to consult their doctors for proper asthma control.

As Dr. Pasay profoundly put it, “Our message is clear; “You don’t have to serve a life sentence of limitations because of Asthma, be in control and be ASTHMALAYA!”

For more updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/winagainstasthma/, or for more in-depth information, you can check out GSK’s website. https://health.gsk.ph

References:

  1. The Global Asthma Report 2014. Auckland, New Zealand: Global Asthma Network, 2014.
  2. Varona, LL., et. al. Prevalence of Asthma Among Filipino Adults Based on the Nutrition and Health Survey (NNHeS). PJIM Vol 52 Num 4, Oct-Dec 2014
  3. Lai, E. A. (2003). Asthma Control in the Asia Pacific Region: The Asthma Insights and Reality in Asia-Pacific Study. J Allergy Clin Immunol , 265.
  4. Wong, GWK, et. al. Pediatric asthma control in Asia: Phase 2 of the Asthma Insights and Reality in Asia-Pacific (AIRIAP 2) survey. Allergy 68 (2013) 524-530

Shop with your MasterCard and get a chance to Win Back your Tuition Fee

Shopping with your MasterCard just got more exciting. The leading global payments company that offers amazing deals and rewards on all your lifestyle pursuits partners with The SM Store to offer an unbelievable back-to-school promo. There are now more reasons to splurge because you could get a chance to win back tuition fees of up to P100,000.

Any single-receipt purchase of P3,000 or P5,000 installment transaction paid for with your Philippine-issued MasterCard credit, debit, or prepaid card at participating The SM Store branches could be your ticket to winning back a year’s worth of tuition.

Shoppers have from April 15 to June 30, 2016 to win. No need to sign up or send in entries. All you have to do is shop! Upon transaction, 100 lucky shoppers from different The SM Store branches nationwide will already get their receipts declaring their win. Winners have until August 29, 2016 to claim their prize.

Start shopping and enjoy fantastic rewards from MasterCard. Terms and conditions apply. See posters for details. Per DTI-FTEB SPD Permit No. 2600 Series of 2016.

About MasterCard
MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardAP and @MasterCardNews, join the discussion on the Beyond the Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.


Give thanks this Mother’s Day with Villa Del Conte

There will always be that one caring and supportive woman who will always have your back no matter what—your mom. She’s the one who brings out the best in you, holds your hand when you fall and helps you stand on your feet again.

 

Give back the love and appreciation she deserves with Villa Del Conte Thank You Dark Chocolates. These sumptuous delights from Padova, Italy contain 50% cacao. Make this Mother’s Day the best yet by giving her these Italian artisanal chocolates.

Visit Villa del Conte stores at Greenbelt 5, Century City Mall, Shangri-la Mall, SM Megamall, Resorts World, Alabang Town Center, and Robinsons Magnolia. For bulk orders, please contact 893-2575 or 621-6101.

Go to http://www.villadelcontecioccolato.com/ to know more about Villa del Conte, or follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VillaDelContePh, Instagram: http://instagram.com/villadelconte and Twitter: https://twitter.com/VilladelConte.

Globe expands network coverage, capacity in Cebu province

 Globe Telecom is currently expanding its network coverage and capacity in Cebu province across all technologies, including 3G & LTE,  as part of its commitment to continue building on its network infrastructure for a wider reach and faster internet experience of Filipinos nationwide.

The czmpany’s capacity enhancement initiative involves deployment of the dual-beam antenna solutions, ideal in densely populated areas such as Cebu, to deliver enhanced capacity and coverage, significantly improving user experience. The solution, which will increase existing capacity by as much as 70%, will be deployed in a significant number of sites within the province, said Manny Estrada, Globe Senior Vice President for Network Technologies Strategy.

According to Estrada, Globe plans to enhance customer experience in the province by expanding its 3G and LTE coverage and capacity. In addition to these upgrades, Globe also intends to build new sites within the province as part of its continuing coverage and capacity expansion.

However, the realization of the company’s plan to build more cell sites depends heavily on the permitting environment in each local government unit concerned, he emphasized. He noted that similar to other areas in the country, the permitting environment is the biggest detriment preventing telecommunication operators like Globe in improving cell site density, a necessary prerequisite in improving data connectivity of its customers in terms of speed and access.

“Cebu is one of the more problematic areas for Globe in terms of building cell sites. Globe endeavors to build a digital nation, but we cannot achieve our goal, of providing faster data service while enhancing accessibility, in an environment that hinders rather than enable telcos like Globe to build the necessary infrastructure as quickly and as cost efficiently as possible,” Estrada said.  He said that telcos need to secure an average of 25 permits at the local government level to build a single cell site and this process takes at least 8 months to complete even before the necessary infrastructure can be built.

Last month, Globe revealed its plan of embarking on a massive infrastructure build aimed at enhancing network coverage for a wider reach and faster data experience of Filipinos nationwide.  The initiative is aimed at creating a nationwide data network that will drive economic competitiveness and growth.  Globe is able to aggressively upgrade capacities following the successful completion of its network modernization program initiated in 2011.

The company aims to create an internet super highway by deploying fiber optics in 20,000 barangays all over the country by 2020 to provide ultra-fast internet access to around 2 million homes nationwide.  Globe will also pour significant investment in capacity enhancement for both mobile and wireline using different technologies that include 3G, LTE and even Wi-Fi. At the same time, Globe is heeding the call to address the ICT requirements of enterprises as they expand their respective operations to Visayas, Mindanao and the Calabarzon regions.