NutriAsia and Del Monte team up to donate upcycled school chairs under Share-A-Chair initiative

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Keeping with its advocacies of helping Filipino communities in need and minimizing the impact of plastic waste, NutriAsia, Inc. and Del Monte Philippines, Inc. partnered together to donate upcycled plastic school chairs to several public elementary schools.

This was done through the Share-a-Chair initiative, a program started by NutriAsia and Del Monte in which the companies collect single-use plastic waste from their different offices and plant sites to turn them into school chairs and other needed furniture for the underprivileged public schools and communities. It is the culmination of the two companies’ partnership forged to help the Department of Education address the perennial shortage of school chairs.

NutriAsia and Del Monte Philippines, Inc. have partnered for Share-a-Chair, an advocacy program wherein plastic waste materials from their offices and plants are collected and upcycled into school furnishings. Each school received 50 pieces of armchairs and a teacher’s table with chair.

Jose Bastida Elementary School in Brgy. 

NutriAsia and Del Monte collected 19.3 metric tons of plastic waste from their offices and plants for a period of six months. Part of this collection went to the Share-a-Chair donation of 600 school chairs and teachers’ tables distributed to 12 different partner schools in Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, and Davao that NutriAsia and Del Monte have chosen for the program.

Puerto Elementary, Cagayan de Oro City 

Share a Chair and Table 

NutriAsia and Del Monte then partnered with Envirotech Waste Recycling, Inc., a local company with ground-breaking technology to upcycle the collected plastic waste into the furnishings. Upcycling is the process of transforming waste and discarded materials into useable items which is Envirotech’s field of expertise.

Through the Share-a-Chair program and their spirit of resourcefulness, NutriAsia and Del Monte aim to continue upcycling plastic waste and creating more school chairs to be donated to various partner schools across the country. This way, the companies can fulfill their goals of assisting underprivileged Filipino communities and reducing the negative environmental impact of plastic.

Cholesterol incidence in PH on the rise, Del Monte Heart Smart and PATACSI address and raise awareness on the rising incidence of high cholesterol in the country

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Photo : https://www.instagram.com/p/BHlqVqZgGDC/

Del Monte Philippines, Inc. (DMPI), a leading producer of pineapple and other food products with Del Monte Heart Smart and PATACSI partner to help address and raise awareness on the rising incidence of high cholesterol in the country held a conference held last July 8, 2016 in Crowne Plaza Galleria.

The number of Filipinos with high levels of cholesterol has greatly increased, results from the 8th National Nutrition Survey show. In 2008, 31.3% or 1 in 3 Filipino adults had borderline to high cholesterol. The latest survey in 2013 by the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), however, shows that the prevalence has alarmingly spiked to 1 in 2 Filipino adults. The FNRI’s latest data reveals that 46.9% of Filipinos aged 20 and up today have borderline to high cholesterol. 

“The rising prevalence of high total cholesterol today is alarming. We need to make people more aware of the situation and do something about it” said Dr. Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa, Assistant Scientist from the FNRI. “Having high cholesterol levels means being subject to greater risk of heart disease and other illnesses. A switch to a healthier lifestyle is a major step in keeping these diseases at bay.”

Some top factors likely leading to the increase in cholesterol levels include poor dietary choices, stress, and physical inactivity. Experts also link high levels of cholesterol to the top non-communicable disease (NCD) killers in the Philippines which include diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular diseases alone account for 170,000 deaths in the Philippines each year, making it the leading cause of mortality among Filipinos.

Curbing cholesterol levels

As a response to this major health issue on high cholesterol in the country, Del Monte launched Heart Smart 100% Pineapple Juice and Orange Juice Drink with Reducol, which is an ingredient that is clinically proven to help lower cholesterol. Studies have shown that plant sterols and stanols, the main components of Reducol, significantly lowered bad cholesterol levels among clinical trial participants. The Philippine Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons (PATACSI), the specialty organization of all certified thoracic and cardiovascular surgeons in the Philippines, is partnering and supporting Del Monte in this advocacy to increase awareness and help prevent the continuous rise of cholesterol in the country.

According to Mr. David Peele, President of Avoca Inc. and makers of Reducol, “based on various clinical studies conducted, Reducol has been proven to be safe and effective in lowering cholesterol levels.” 

In the Philippines, Del Monte Heart Smart is the only Reducol-fortified food product or drink, containing 1 g of US-FDA approved Reducol per serving. Based on the results of clinical studies, two servings of Del Monte Heart Smart per day may help reduce cholesterol levels in eight weeks.

Healthy lifestyle still the key

Benedict Ong, Assistant Product Manager for Del Monte 100% pineapple juice

Though Del Monte Heart Smart with Reducol reduces cholesterol levels, a healthy lifestyle remains vital to optimize benefits. 

“To best manage cholesterol, it is still important to have a healthy regimen which includes a healthy diet and constant exercise” said PATACSI President Dr. Michael Baccay. A diet consisting of fruits and vegetables, whole grain, fat-free and low-fat milk products, fish, legumes (beans), and lean skinless meats can help prevent spikes in cholesterol. 

JOINT EFFORTS AGAINST BAD CHOLESTEROL 

Del Monte Philippines Inc hosted on July 8 a symposium on the management of rising bad cholesterol levels among Filipinos. The symposium took place during the 56th Foundation Day of Del Monte’s partner, the Philippine Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons’ (PATACSI). Among the symposium’s speakers and panelists are (from left) Dr. Michael Baccay, PATACSI President; Dr. Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa, Assistant Scientist from the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI); Clars Guerrero, Marketing Director for Del Monte Beverages and Fruits; Paula Ceña, Product Manager for Del Monte 100% Pineapple Juice; Benedict Ong, Assistant Product Manager for Del Monte 100% pineapple juice; Sheryl Sanchez-Mallo, Regulatory Affairs Scientist of Del Monte Research & Development Team; and David Peele, Avoca Inc. President. 

The 56th PATACSI Foundation Day held last July 8, 2016 in Crowne Plaza Galleria serves as the official kick off for the partnership between Del Monte Heart Smart and PATACSI in addressing and creating awareness on cholesterol management in the country.

Del Monte Heart Smart is available in all leading supermarkets and groceries nationwide at Php 26.00 SRP for 240mL cans and Php 82.00 SRP for Orange 1 Liter Resealable Tetra Pack.

For more information about Del Monte Heart Smart, log on to http://www.delmonte.ph/ www.delmonte.ph.

Don’t let sickness ruin your child’s summer

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When the raining days ends, parents everywhere could rest a little easier knowing their children will now be safe from the bouts of colds and coughing that seem to go with the cold and rainy weather. With the lowered risk of rainy day sniffles, what else is there to watch out for?

It's summer, but this isn't a reason to completely let one's guard down. The warmest parts of the year also have their fair share of communicable diseases. According to the Department of Health, flu-like symptoms such as colds and cough could manifest in the summer because of erratic weather patterns and sudden downpour. 

With weak immunity, your child can easily contract these diseases and more; an unfortunate possibility that places the damper on any summer plans. Summer vacation is an important part of any child’s life, but they run the risk of missing out on the season when they get sick.

Diseases are easily preventable and thankfully, it's fairly easy to start strengthening your child's immune system. By incorporating fruits, especially pineapples, into their daily diets, children can develop the bodily immunity needed to fearlessly take on the coming summer months.

Dr. Leonora Panlasigui, Dean of the Philippine Women’s University’s School of Nutrition, found that adding 2 servings of Del Monte Pineapples to a child's daily diet may help improve overall immunity. The study showed a 27% increase in the production of granulocytes, a type of white blood cell vital to combating diseases, in children who ate 2 servings of pineapple a day, resulting in reduced recovery time for bacterial and viral infections.

“Even a single serving of fruit a day could make all the difference with your child’s health,” says Dr. Panlasigui. 

“One serving is good, but the general consensus recommends two servings a day. It’s pretty easy to build a fun, tasty habit with the kids that will benefit them in the long run.”

Let your kids enjoy their summer vacation. Keep them safe and healthy as they play with others and experience what it is like to be a kid. 

Two pineapple servings a day can make a difference.

The power of coming home : A Filipino company encourages employees to go home early to be with their families

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Family bonding is always fun and the best of life.. Family dinners play an important part of parents' and children's conversations about daily activities. From the small side streets to the country’s major highways, it’s almost a given nowadays for people to experience traffic—with a 30-minute ride turning into a nightmarish 2 hours, especially during the dreaded rush hours.

Because of this, hardworking employees lose precious time. They get home too late for dinner. Worse, they would inevitably have less energy for family bonding. Consequently, family members seem to have less time to catch up on each other’s lives.

Such is unfortunate because according to a study conducted by Debra Manchester MacMannis, the author of the renowned “How’s Your Family Really Doing?”, family dinners play an important part in the development of both children and teenagers because the presence of a parent is pivotal in building them up to be better individuals. The study showed that sharing meals as a family has been found to give kids a boost in the classroom, improve language skills, increase communication, and overall promote better adjustment of kids.

With a keen understanding of its employees and their needs outside of work, Del Monte Philippines launched an important corporate initiative--COME HOME TO FAMILY WEDNESDATES-- through which the company encouraged its Manila-based employees to leave the office no later than 6:00 PM at least once a week so they can have ample time to travel and make it home in time for family dinners. 

A testament to its success

With the program in place for over a year now, Del Monte employees have consistently shared pleasant experiences resulting from the initiative.

“At first there was a bit of hesitation from the employees. It was weird being asked to go home early for Wednesdates,” Gladys Chua, Accounts Payable Supervisor, shared, “but when we complied, we realized it had very positive results. By going home earlier, I realized I can avoid the traffic a bit, so I can get home in time to cook food for my son. Cooking for him and sharing our Wednesdates dinner has become some sort of mini- tradition for us now.”

Walter Conti, Del Monte’s Customers Activation Manager, along with his wife and kid, has religiously spent Wednesdate with the family since the initiative was first launched. “We bond better now, and all of uslook forward to it. Along with encouraging us to go home early at least once a week, we also get proposed recipes from Del Monte Kitchenomics that we can prepare and share during our Family Wednesdates. We also enjoy taking pictures of our dinners together and posting them online.”

Ryanne Villanueva, Del Monte’s Demand Management Head, is also a mother to a five year old. Having always relied on her nanny to prepare dinner for them, she shares that she’s able to personally prepare dinner for her child at least once a week. Sometimes, he even helps her out in the preparation. “It increases our bonding moments from the time we prepare to the time he goes to sleep,” she says. “It’s the type of policy that I think every other company should have. From the workforce perspective, work hours are deliberately maximized so employees can get out before 6:00 pm. In fact, I wish it wouldn’t be just Wednesdays, but everyday if possible. If we can do it on Wednesdays, we should be able to do it on other days.”

“The advocacy may have started as a Del Monte Tomato Sauce campaign, but we at Del Monte Philippines are very deliberate about walking our talk.” Eileen Manuel-Asuncion, Group Head for Marketing explains. “When the campaign launched, we knew we cannot advocate once-a-week family date nights for Filipino families without deliberately espousing the same among our employees. Soon after, we implemented the 6:00 pm lights out at the Del Monte Manila offices. By 6:00 pm every Wednesday, everyone has to be out of the office so they can get home in time to be with their families.”

As Del Monte employees can attest to, coming home to have dinner with the family—despite the challenges nowadays--is possible. Down the line, Del Monte hopes to do its part in helping strengthen family bonds over good meals across a broader scale--one Filipino home, one Filipino family at a time.

About Del Monte Philippines

Del Monte Philippines, Inc. (DMPI) is a leading producer of pineapple and other food products.

The company markets over 100 processed food and beverage variants, where it is the leader in almost all the major categories, including packaged pineapple (slices, tidbits, chunks), tropical mixes, 100% pineapple juice and juice drinks and tomato-based sauces (tomato sauce, catsup, spaghetti sauce).

Today, Del Monte Philippines operates the largest integrated pineapple operation in the world. The company grows pineapple across 20,000 hectares that span from Bukidnon to Misamis Oriental, supplying one-tenth of the canned pineapple products worldwide. 

The Dangers of Sick Days ? Here's the children’s new disease-fighting sidekicks!

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When kids are on their sick days, parents always think what they can give their suffering child to make them better faster.

Despite the limited forms of cure of diseases, they can be extremely uncomfortable nuisances, resulting in a staggering number of missed days from work and school. It is not surprising that many people are willing to try and pay for almost anything to relieve the annoying symptoms of the common cold. 

When kids skip school due to illness, they miss more than just a class – they miss opportunities for growth

More and more Filipino children are contracting viral and bacterial disease because of weak immune systems, a recent clinical study published in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism reveals. This growing prevalence of infection in school-age populations is particularly urgent because a single sick day may affect many different facets of your child’s life, including time-sensitive activities like going to school to attend classes.

Multiple sick days are likely to set back your children’s education, as well as their overall development and growth. Classes are typically dependent on very specific timelines, and whenever schoolchildren get sick, they miss valuable lessons that may prove to be crucial later on in the school year. This compromises the pacing for their growth as individuals. It can be very hard for students who are often absent to get back on track.

With school in full swing, it’s important to make sure that your children are kept safe from infection.

Here are some best defense, new disease-fighting sidekicks!

- Stay clean and clear of people who are coughing and sneezing. 

- Good hand washing will help your family avoid most infections. 

- Clean toys and teach older kids to wash their hands and to cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze, or tell them to bend their arm and sneeze into the crook of their elbow. 

- Let them get some air. Breathing fresh can do wonders for a croupy cough. 

- Drinking fluids can also loosen congestion and prevent dehydration. If your child refuses water, offer juice, the age-old remedy - chicken soup and of course, the best defence - fruits! 

 - A serving of pineapple a day helps strengthen immunity

Thus, there is a strong need for better ways to give children the nutrients they need to stay healthy.

Thankfully, parents have an easy, enjoyable way to help protect kids from infection and keep them in school – pineapples.

Gelli Victor hosted the round table discussions regarding the children's immunity and the importance of fruit consumption in a child's diet, held at the Loft 2 Museum Cafe, Ayala, Makati City, August 18, 2015.

Just what do canned pineapples have that make them our children’s new disease-fighting sidekicks? 

As studies show, a lot actually!

The said clinical study checked the possible effects of canned pineapples as a practical immunity booster. A nine-week randomized, controlled trial was conducted on 98 elementary school students in Paco, Manila. The students were divided into three groups. Two of the three groups of children were regularly served Del Monte Pineapple Tidbits. The third group served as the control group and was not given any canned pineapples.

Only the groups who took regular servings of Del Monte Pineapple Tidbits had an increased resistance to disease and infection, with those taking two servings (140g per serving) demonstrating higher granulocyte production.

Granulocytes are key components of white blood cells and are important players of the immune system. They are the fighter cells that detect and kill disease-causing viruses and bacteria. Finally, a healthy solution that’s tastier than most!

The results show that adding 2 servings of canned pineapples to your children’s daily diet goes a long way towards protecting them from sickness. Giving children #DMPineappleADay is a quick, easy, and delicious way of strengthening their immunity, while supplying much-needed nutrients like Vitamin C, Vitamin B2, fiber, and manganese. 

A stronger immune system can help prevent children from missing out on many opportunities.

With this, children will be able to fight off infection, keep attending classes, and make the most of their precious time in school.

#DMPineappleADay keeps the doctors away... #DMPineappleADay is the best disease-fighting sidekick! 

Some Photos: c/o Arts & Travel Magazine