Beyond the Vial: A Social Value Business Model For Sanofi Pasteur’s Dengue Vaccine

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Dengue is a serious and complex disease. Dengue is an infection caused by a virus. You can get it if an infected mosquito bites you. The mosquitos that transmit dengue indiscriminately pass the disease amongst people of all ages and socio-economic levels. Aedes aegypti has been identified as the main dengue-carrying culprit, biting between 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Another one is Aedes albopictus, has been discovered to have peak biting hours from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. In tandem, these mosquito strains now make dengue a round-the-clock concern.

Dengue is a major public health priority. Dengue vaccination is a critical addition to the integrated disease prevention efforts needed to more effectively manage dengue burden. The tide of dengue could be better controlled through enhanced international collaborations in public health, and an innovative social business model with a vaccine at its core.

What's the best line of defense against dengue? About half of the world’s population lives in areas where dengue is endemic, and millions suffer its seemingly bone-breaking pain and severe fevers, each year. 

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi,  is the largest company entirely dedicated to vaccines. Sanofi discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients’ needs.

Dr Su-Peing Ng, Global Medical Head Sanofi Pasteur and Professor Tikki Pang from Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (2012 ) and at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland as Director of its Research Policy & Cooperation department (1999-2012)

A media round table talks las September 20, 2016 held at The New World Hotel with with Dr Su-Peing Ng, Global Medical Head Sanofi Pasteur as she talks about Combatting Dengue with World's First Vaccine: From Innovation to Implementation and Professor Tikki Pang explains health Impact and value of dengue vaccination.

It was twenty years ago when the global healthcare leader, Sanofi Pasteur identified the potential scale of the dengue problem at its early stages, and began to put in place a set of innovative scientific and industrial solutions. In 2015, the dengue vaccine received its first market approvals. 

In July 2016, after more than two years of review processes and inputs from clinical trial data and from top global dengue and infectious diseases experts, the World Health Organization issued its recommendation that countries where the dengue burden is high should consider vaccine introduction as part of integrated dengue prevention and control measures.As of September 14th 2016, the vaccine was licensed in 9 endemic countries in Asia and Latin America and public immunization programs are underway in Brazil and the Philippines, while the vaccine is also available on the private markets in those countries as well as in Mexico and El Salvador. 

The story behind the vaccine is one of hard-earned research and development – but you’ve heard that story before. This story goes beyond the vial, as well: It’s about a new, social value business model that Sanofi Pasteur has built in collaboration with dengue-endemic countries and global health institutions. In time, it can help control dengue. But as importantly, it can help to support better healthcare outcomes in emerging markets by accelerating access to needed innovations. 

When Sanofi Pasteur first identified a viable dengue vaccine candidate, we saw the opportunity todevelop a health solution specifically for the countries where the dengue burden is highest. We wanted to make sure that people who lived in grip of dengue’s threat were the people for whom the vaccine is designed and delivered primarily. It sounds simple enough but in traditional pharmaceutical business models, this is often not the case. More often than not, travelers and other select groups of individuals from high-income countries have access to new preventive tools against tropical diseases first, at a premium, before these solutions are made available, often as many as 10 years later, in less rich economies, even if this is where the disease burden is heaviest. 

Our faith in this“flipping the model” approach was inspired by the scale of the dengue problem. Vaccines are widely considered among the most effective healthcare interventions against infectious diseases. They often confer protection against a disease that extends beyond the vaccinated to also the unvaccinated population. Given dengue’s massive spread, a vaccine could help national authorities in dengue-endemic countries achieve WHO 2020 objectives for dengue reductions in mortality (50%) and morbidity (25%) if it is implemented in large-scale public health programs1. 

We anticipated this, and began building robust public health collaborations and industrial resources essential to success. The global clinical development program of the vaccine included 40,000 participants in 15 countries across Asia and Latin America.  We invested in extensive skills training for healthcare personnel, upgraded healthcare facilities and increased prevention and education efforts. We captured new scientific insights into dengue epidemiology and transmission which is shared with host governments. In parallel, Sanofi Pasteur built a dedicated dengue-vaccine production facility that will allow large and cost-effective supply to support optimal uptake of the vaccine as needed around the world. 

Successful implementation of dengue vaccination programs can help governments in dengue-endemic countries to take control over the disease. Mathematical modeling of the vaccine’s impact indicate that if countries take up broad public vaccination programs in highly dengue-endemic countries like those that participated in the Phase III development of the vaccine, vaccination can help cut the burden of disease in half over five years. Healthcare systems’ loads can be lightened and they can attract further outside public health investment with demonstrated program results. Successful vaccination programs therefore have the potential to be catalysts for social and economic progress. Today, states like Paraná in Brazil are taking up the lead in this effort. Public program introduction of the dengue vaccine in Mexico has been recommended by CONAVA, that country’s National Vaccination Council. Countries like these that have participated in the clinical development of the vaccine can see the value in the entire process as well as in the potential future results. 

At Sanofi Pasteur, we welcome enhanced support and investment in the robust public-private collaborations that ensure broad reach for innovative health solutions like the dengue vaccine. Working together to establish balanced trust and long-term commitment to new ways of bringing innovation to people is critical to unlocking innovative business models’ fullest potential for improving public health worldwide.

Dengvaxia is the first vaccine licensed for the prevention of dengue in the world. The vaccine is produced in a dedicated production site in France with planned full-scale production capacity of 100 million vaccine doses annually. 

Additional information about Sanofi Pasteur’s dengue vaccine is available on the web at www.dengue.info. 

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.

National Geographic Channel presents "Breakthrough", an innovative science series premieres November 5

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National Geographic Channel (NGC) will be airing the highly anticipated science series Breakthrough this November.  Its Philippine premiere, the first in Asia, on November 5 at 9 PM, with all six one-hour episodes showing on Thursdays on NGC.

Breakthrough, a show that will bring to life the stories, people and technology behind the world’s most advanced scientific innovations that determine how our lives shall evolve. In one of the episodes, "breakthrough will uncover some of the most cutting edge new treatments and vaccines being developed to prevent deadly viral pandemics.

Executive produced by Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Steve Michaels, Jonathan Koch and Mark Dowley, this groundbreaking series will highlight the most important and fascinating innovations that are currently making waves in the scientific community and are set to affect how we live our lives in the immediate future and beyond.

Not only will Breakthrough outline the science behind these innovations, but it will also explore the courage, imagination, passion and self-sacrifice of the scientists who brought them to life. Their stories will be portrayed with compassion and yet instill a sense of wonder as each episode will be directed by a different Hollywood visionary including Ron Howard, Brett Ratner, Peter Berg, Angela Bassett, Akiva Goldsman, and Paul Giamatti.

Tackling diverse scientific realms ranging from brain science to cyborg technology, Breakthrough promises an exciting and thorough preview of the future, ably presented by Hollywood’s best talents. Howard undertakes human longevity and Giamatti expounds on innovations in technology, while Ratner explores the brain, Berg examines pandemics, and Bassett and Goldsman present on the necessary resources of water and energy, respectively.

Breakthrough is co-produced by NGC and GE, both long-time proponents of innovation, science and exploration. However, what makes their partnership for this project unique is that they not only financed the series but shared equally in its creative direction.

“Modern science and technology are the keys to addressing the challenges the world is facing today,” said Courteney Monroe, CEO, National Geographic Channels. 

“By partnering with GE — as dedicated to science and innovation as we are — and by working with top-tier directors at the helm, Breakthrough will celebrate the curiosity, innovation and exploration of our world, and spotlight the individuals and institutions at the center of these groundbreaking achievements.”

“GE’s involvement brings a certain poetic justice to this endeavor,” said producer Grazer. “Thomas Edison, GE’s founder, and Alexander Graham Bell, a founding member of the National Geographic Society, are two of our greatest inventors. Their breakthroughs laid the foundation for tremendous innovation and continue to inspire generations of scientists and engineers. That same spirit will, no doubt, be evident in every episode.”

NGC and GE have united to produce a series that will inspire and cultivate global interest in science and innovation, possibly spawning brilliant individuals who may one day become leading innovators in various scientific fields.Breakthrough is a remarkable television event that will leave its mark on young minds, especially in Asia, from which many of the world’s leading scientists have hailed.

“We take great pride in presenting Breakthrough to viewers in the Philippines as it is a celebration of the relentless efforts of the scientific community to better our lives and improve our environment,” said Jude Turcuato, Senior Vice President and General Manager of FOX International Channels Philippines, which carries NGC, said. “We hope that it helps viewers appreciate how science has shaped our existence and how it will continue to help us evolve into the future.”

Breakthrough premieres on NGC on November 5 at 9 PM, with succeeding episodes shown on Thursdays at the same time. The show’s premiere episode, a truly important milestone in Philippine television history, will also be simulcast on FOX, FOX Filipino Channel, Star Movies and Star World by FOX International Channels, which carries NGC in the country.

For more information, please visit www.natgeotv.com.

The Multiple Intelligence International School helps enhance kids' particular intelligences this summer

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Summer vacation is here. Summer activities for kids, crafts, sports, outdoor fun, travel ideas, cool-down treats and lots more! The only thing to remember is to make sure your kid will have fun while learning something new.

Finding a workshop or an activity for your kid during the school break should be fairly easy with the metropolis brimming with plenty of options to choose from.

Multiple Intelligence International School, an advocate of the Multiple Intelligence (MI) framework implemented in the United States and other countries, is offering summer enrichment activities to help kids enjoy summer while developing their leadership skills and particular intelligences: linguistic, logical-mathematical, body-kinesthetic, visual-spatial, musical, naturalist, interpersonal and intrapersonal, starting April 13 to May 8. 

For preschoolers, there is the Toddler Play Group, which is about learning how to interact and play with other kids between 1 to 3 years old. The Summer Activity Center is an introductory class for 3- to 5-year-olds to help prepare and give them an idea on how school is like. They learn about different themes that are explored through the eight intelligences. The Mind Explorers class focuses on observations of science, the environment and discovering how things work for those between ages 3 to 5. 

There is also Art Masters, which is basic art +classes for ages 3 to 5. Preschool SMART Leaders Camp teaches kids, aged 4 to 6, leadership and interpersonal skills outside the four walls of a classroom. Ballet, Spanish and Futsal for ages 3 to 7 are available as well. 

Those between 7 to 14 years old can enroll in Leadership Camp, MILO table tennis, Outbound Camp, which teaches pre-teens basic life skills and nature survival; and Magic for Beginners with instructor Jose Leonidas also known as Professor MagicAL. There are also Ballet and Taekwondo classes.

Workshops for teens aged 14 to 18 years old include Leadership Camp, International Relations Organization, which aims to develop teens' self confidence and public speaking in an environment of international school delegates; Outbound Camp, and College 101, which helps equip teens with practical and real life skills needed to succeed in college. They can also try Writer's Guild or MTAP or Math Guild.

Available for both pre-teens and teens are Piano, Voice and Beginners Violin; Master Fernando Sena Art Workshop, Fencing, and Chess. Other summer classes include Photography, Trumpets Playshop, and Functional Chinese. 

Lastly, Out of the Box is about exposing kids to situations that will give them an opportunity to apply the social skills necessary for interaction outside the classroom setting. Tech Revolution focuses on developing skills in graphic design, video editing, and PowerPoint presentation. Science Discoveries is about discovering the wonders of Science through practical application of scientific discoveries. 

For reservations and more information, call (02) 433 4948-49 for Preschool up to Middle School programs and (02) 929 1021 for Upper School programs. Email admin@mischool.edu.ph.

Learning never stops this summer in Exploreum with fun

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Summer is just around the corner! Discover how to make learning a fun part of your children everyday summer routine.

Learning never stops this summer in Exploreum at SM Mall of Asia. With all the in-season classes and activities that are available, parents are caught between the choice of educational or fun engagements for their children.

If you’re in a struggle between the two, worry no more because SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. has the perfect summer activity for you!

SM Lifestyle Entertainment’s (SMLEI) Exploreum is a family-centered facility that believes in parent-children bonding activities that engage and mould curious minds through edutainment (a term used for education through entertainment). Now, fully renovated and with additional summer programs, Exploreum offers 118 child-friendly all-new interactive exhibits and over 100 interesting nuggets of information situated in eight major interactive galleries namely the Natural World, Human Adventure, Zoom, Connect, Cyberville, Space Camp, the Living Earth, and Science Park.

The Exploreum’s Main Attractions

One of the main attractions in Exploreum is the Science on a Sphere or the SOS. First in the Philippines, the Science on a Sphere is a room-sized digital globe that projects real-time, dynamic images of planets, climate change, ocean temperature, and even air traffic. Developed by the US government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the SOS will be an interactive exhibit, allowing visitors to control the face of the sphere through a tablet.

If your kids are into movies, the Exploreum houses the country’s only full-sized Dome Theatre. Formerly known as the Planetarium, the Dome Theatre is the only theatre in the Philippines that could boast of its 180-degree digital screen and advanced audio-visual system. With the Digi-star 5, the world’s best-selling operating system and the latest installment for full dome theatres, the 158-seater Dome Theatre promises a photo-realistic experience through its clear-cut projections and remarkable surround sound that will make guests feel as if the cosmos are just within reach. This state-of-the-art facility will feature videos about the space, earth, and beyond.

Exploreum’s First Summer Camp

Involve your children in an entertaining and informative event this summer through the Exploreum Summer Camp 2015. Through this summer program, children will be exposed to practical science experiments that can help them appreciate how the world works. Designed for kids from 4-12 years old, this summer camp develops a learning experience for kids through fun and play. Filled with stimulating games and other exciting activities, the Summer Camp will run from May 8-10, 2015 in Exploreum at SM Mall of Asia. 

Science Quiz Bee

SMLEI will be hosting its first ever Science Quiz Bee: a nationwide inter-school competition that will focus on all branches of science. Running from July 2015 to February 2016, the winning school will take home a grand prize of 1 million pesos. Moreover, SMLEI will be giving away cash prices weekly, monthly, and quarterly in each of the qualifying competitions leading to the grand tournament. Students can also participate in the competition by setting up science exhibits in their respective schools.

With all the exhibits and events to look forward to, you can immerse your children in educational and engaging activities this summer at the Exploreum: where science becomes fun! The Exploreum is located at SM Mall of Asia and SM Lanang Premier. 

For more information, visit www.exploreum.ph

Children of Multiple Intelligence

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We are all familiar with the “intelligence quotient,” or “IQ,” the way that intelligence is measured on Gardner's test.

There are seven main areas in which all people have special skills, Howard Gardner calls them intelligences. 

Current research indicates that the only limit to one's intelligence is what the individual believes is possible and how his or her behaviors either foster or limit his or her intelligence.

The traditional theory of intelligence has helped create a mindset or paradigm as to what "smart" or "intelligent" is, who has potential or ability to be smart, and how we can or cannot become smart. This has clearly influenced current educational practices. It is still common educational practice to use the score from standardized intelligence tests to qualify children for various special programs. It is assumed these tests measure intelligence accurately and meaningfully.

Current research on the brain, learning and human intelligence from a variety of disciplines, including medicine, cognitive sciences, and education has provided information with profound implications to education. 

When speaking of “intelligence,” most people only think of academic aptitude, such as readiness towards schoolwork or getting high grades. Thus, parents say their child is “smart” when he or she lands the top of their class. But with the advent of ‘multiple intelligence’ – the simplistic definition of intelligence no longer holds. 

Now more people are realizing that true intelligence covers a broader spectrum of an individual’s capabilities.

A new context of ‘smart’

The concept of Multiple Intelligence was first introduced by Dr. Howard Gardner, an educational psychologist at Harvard University who explored the topic in his book Frames Of Mind. Dia Kagaoan, psychologist, licensed teacher, entrepreneur and SPED educator, trained under Dr. Gardner himself when the latter came to the Philippines in 1985. Dia explains that according to Gardner’s theory, there are multiple ways that a child can be smart, and to date has listed nine categories of intelligence. “From the standpoint of early childhood development, the most relevant types on this list can be narrowed down to three: Brain Smart, People Smart, Body Smart,” she says.

Dia says a child has the capacity to achieve holistic development if provided with suitable instruction, encouragement, and nutrition.

Not settling for one

Margaret Maraña 

From an early age, Margaret Maraña has exhibited a predisposition towards advanced development. She mastered the concept of numbers up to the thousands at the tender age of 3. In less than ten days, she was able to memorize the multiplication table at the rate of one table a day. She loved poetry and story books. By age 5, she could easily point out places like Pretoria or the tiny Pacific and Atlantic islands on the world map. She was also a competent dancer who responded well to choreography. Today, aged 6, she handles academic material two levels advanced.

But it turns out Margaret had another strength which will actually lead to further developing her other smarts. Early on, her mother Lila noticed that her daughter had the ability to hold people enthralled.

“She actually developed conversational speech late. What I didn’t get was how she was able to make friends so easily without saying a single word.” Everywhere they went, Margaret would always come away with two to four new friends. Once, at the beach, Lila was shocked to discover upon returning to their cottage after a brief errand, that everyone in the vicinity already knew Margaret by name. “I saw her playing in the sand with kids I hadn’t met. Some people were assisting her and buying a cone of ice cream for her. I don’t know how she does it.”

Lila observed that as Margaret became more sociable, she participated more actively in her dance classes showing more confidence with the way she moves. It was also mentioned to her that Margaret had become more participative in class. As a mother, Lila came to realize that developing one smart can help enhance other smarts and with this, she continuously makes an extra effort to further support her child’s growth.

As a motivated mom, Lila shares that she truly invests a lot in Margaret’s overall development – she gives her only the best. She enrolled her child in the one of the best schools in the metro and even got her child involved in different extra curricular activities during the weekends. “When I saw that Margaret showed interest in dancing, I enrolled her to one of the top dance class studio recommended by my mommy-friends.” 

To add, Lila admits that when it comes to purchasing products for her child, she is the type to always go for the superior quality products especially if recommended by credible personalities that she looks up to.

“I make decisions thinking that I have to make sure that my child becomes her best. And the way I see it, the more I invest in superior quality things, the more returns both my and my child get.”

A valuable player

Dia’s first son, Jiad Arroyo, showed a predisposition towards physical activities early on. “He was always running outdoors and moving around. At 5 or 6, he was already insisting on playing basketball with the adults.” Once when he was 4, Jiad jumped into the deep end of the pool and failed to surface that his aunt had to pull him out. “While most kids would be upset and crying, Jiad’s response was: ‘Why did you pull me out? I was already swimming my way up!’” 

To provide an outlet for this unlimited energy, Jiad’s parents bought him a bicycle. While other kids his age drove precariously on trainers, Jiad had his uncles remove the training wheels and rode his bike with such gusto that his mom had to cut socks into tubes to make him elbow and knee pads to protect him from the rough and tumble. As he got older Jiad qualified on a baseball team based in Alabang. Later he also tried Taekwondo, and won gold medals for his efforts. Eventually, Jiad got a scholarship as a basketball athlete.

With an athletic scholarship, Dia told her son that as she supports him in his journey as an athlete, he should not forget that he is a student first before an athlete thus he should put as much effort in his academics as he is honing his skills in different sports. “Jiad used the discipline he learned in sports to perform better academically.”

“His friendliness and easy going attitude got him a lot of influential friends. His coaches and sponsors were always opening new opportunities for him because they liked him. As a supportive mom, I would always remind him that opportunities and blessings will keep on coming as long as he values them and as long as he is consistently good in school as he is good inside and outside the court.”

Harness the power of multiple intelligence

According to the theory of Multiple Intelligence, genetics, culture, and how the child is raised influence intelligence. Dia says,

“Good nutrition is vital to the holistic development of the child.” 

Lila couldn’t agree more. “I don’t believe a person’s success is dependent on good grades. That’s just one part of it. All the other intelligences – like the way they respond to people or using their bodies to communicate competence are all equally important.” One of her commitments is making sure that her daughter limits junk food intake, eats more fruit, greens and protein, and drinks the right milk. “Our pediatrician only recommended Progress Preschool Gold. At first I had thought that all milk formulas were the same – I was wrong.”

The new Progress Preschool Gold now comes with its best ever Gold Biofactors System (vs previous formulations) that comprises higher DHA, Lutein and choline- to help build a child’s multiple intelligence. For Dia, whose kids, including Jiad, were also raised on Wyeth milk products, educating parents on the role good nutrition has in making a child ready for multiple intelligence is very important.

“We should train up a child in the way he should go,” Dia says. “And if you are a smart mom, you should know that with a competitive environment, it is best to support a child’s multiple intelligence because if your child excels in all smarts, then he will always be steps ahead from the rest.”

About Wyeth Nutrition

Wyeth Nutrition, formerly Pfizer Nutrition, is part of Nestlé S.A. Wyeth Nutrition develops premium-quality nutritional products scientifically-designed to meet the needs of infants and young children, as well as pregnant and lactating mothers. As pioneers in infant nutritional science, our mission is to provide the best nutritional support for future healthy outcomes. For nearly a century, Wyeth Nutrition has leveraged clinical rigor, scientific research, world class manufacturing and product safety standards to drive scientifically-sound solutions that offer parents confidence, help nourish children and support their healthy futures.

Penumbral lunar eclipse visible today

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The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the eclipse will begin at 12:53 p.m. (Philippine Standard Time) and end at 6:37 p.m.

A penumbral lunar eclipse will occur today, the moon will rise in Manila at 6:12 p.m (April 15 ) and set at 5:26 a.m. the following day.

Penumbra refers to a partially shaded outer region of a shadow that an object casts. The moon turns coppery red during the eclipse as it passes through the Earth’s shadow.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly behind the Earth into its shadow (umbra) . This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned exactly, or very closely so, with the Earth in the middle. Hence, a lunar eclipse can only occur the night of a full moon. The type and length of an eclipse depend upon the Moon's location relative to its orbital nodes.( From Wikipedia)

When the Moon approaches closely enough to the Earth's shadow to cause an appreciable diminution of light though it does not directly touch it. 

“A penumbral eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the faint penumbral portion of the earth’s shadow,” PAGASA said.

According to the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Penumbral eclipses are so subtle and vaguely visible they go greatly unnoticed.

A total lunar eclipse will be observed in western Africa, western Europe, the Americas, Australasia and eastern Asia.

People in North and South America will be able to see the entire eclipse, while sky watchers in the western Pacific can catch only the last half, NASA said.

“OMG” moments at 'Science of Stupid' with Internet and TV sensation Ramon Bautista

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“OMG” moments on the Internet! Here to explain why stunts go wrong and their videos go viral!

National Geographic Channel takes a funny look at the Internet’s most shocking viral videos in April 2014 when it premieres Science of Stupid, a show that explains why stunts go wrong when amateurs try to copy them. Each episode will examine stunt videos with disastrous endings and explain in scientific terms what factors caused the stunts to fail.

With the boom of Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, where people find it easy to post and share interesting information and content, it’s no wonder that some are foolhardy enough to try the crazy stunts that they see professionals do. Such attempts often have catastrophic results—which in turn are posted in the hopes of going viral! Science of Stupid makes sense of this nonsense by showing the necessary setup to make the stunt successful along with what the people in the video did wrong to make things go haywire. It uses visual diagrams to explain the scientific principles applied—or in these cases, not applied—during each attempt.

Each episode of Science of Stupid features a variety of stunts posted on the Internet, ranging from the dangerous to the silly. Thrill seekers collide with the invincible laws of physics as the show explains what happens when two women jump off the roof into a swimming pool, and how a potato canon can cause real damage to a man’s groin with a muzzle velocity of 300 kilometers per hour despite its innocuous name. Eating a spoonful of cinnamon may sound easy, along with other Internet myths that people might thoughtlessly want to try out for themselves, but Science of Stupid outlines the biological, physical and engineering mistakes behind each failed attempt.

Science of Stupid is a 14-part series hosted by Internet and TV sensation Ramon Bautista, whose likeable “everyman” humor will charm any viewer as he sets up each stunt and explains the science behind it. As the best example of one who has achieved Internet fame, he allows viewers to understand the skewed motivations of these wannabe daredevils while cracking jokes that will offset the intense pain and humiliation they’re about to witness on the screen. Bautista will be a witty, engaging guide through this wacky world of wipeouts, epic failure and painful realizations so viewers can learn the scientific principles that govern our physical world and see the humor in the unfortunate experiments these human “test dummies” so kindly staged for the rest of us.

Science of Stupid examines and explains the most cringe-worthy, “OMG” moments on the Internet so that we don’t have to figure them out for ourselves. As for the people who posted the videos of their failed stunts, getting the science wrong may have gotten them fame, but it also got them hurt!

WARNING: Please don’t try this at home! Now, you don’t have to because Science of Stupid explains it all for you. 

Catch Science of Stupid in April, only on National Geographic Channel!

Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey Redefines the Universe

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National Geographic Channel (NGC) and FOX will be featuring a fantastic new series in March 2014 that will change the way human beings think of astronomical events and our place in the universe. Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey is a long-awaited sequel to the landmark series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage, written and hosted by renowned space visionary Carl Sagan in the 1980s.

The new show will premiere simultaneously on NGC and FOX on March 12 at 10 PM.

Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey tells us how human beings developed their concept of the laws of nature and their place in the universe. It offers a grand view of the cosmos as it covers their pursuit of knowledge and the ever-expanding boundaries of astrophysics. 

Besides re-inventing elements of the original series, such as the Cosmic Calendar and the Ship of the Imagination, the show will use new modes of scientific storytelling to communicate the ideas that have helped build our identity within the vastness of space. Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey unfurls each scientific discovery in the fields of astrophysics and cosmology to reveal a bloom of knowledge that has allowed us to behold the grandeur of the universe.

This television event was spearheaded by Seth MacFarlane, creator of the animated series Family Guy, who may be considered by most an unlikely champion for such a project. An enthusiast of astronomy and astrophysics, MacFarlane proved he was dead serious about the project by teaming up with Sagan’s original collaborators on Cosmos: A Personal Voyage, Ann Druyan and Steven Soter. Fans of Sagan’s Cosmos can rest assured that his closest collaborators have made certain that the update stayed true to Sagan’s vision while revealing new insights about the universe in which we live.

Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey will be hosted by popular astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, author of New York Times bestsellers Death By Black Hole and Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier. Tyson has the power to make the most profound secrets of the universe understandable in the simplest terms while remaining a firm and credible authority over the subject matter.

Confident that Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey would become as celebrated as the Emmy Award and Peabody Award winning series from the ‘80s, both NGC and FOX in the US aired the show, and this rare occurrence will happen again in Asia on March 12. The Asian premiere of Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey will happen simultaneously on NGC and FOX, reaching a far wider audience and inspiring a whole new generation of astrophysicists.

Tune in to Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey on March 12, 2014 at 10 PM on National Geographic Channel and FOX to witness a groundbreaking television event!

Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey Redefines the Universe

 is brought to us by:

National Geographics Channel

http://www.natgeotv.com

Fox Internationals Channel (FIC)

http://www.foxinternationalschannels.com

DLSU’s Improved Sikat II to compete in 26th World Solar Challenge

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SIKAT II is a solar and battery-powered electric vehicle. It is specifically built and design to compete in the 2013 World Solar Challenge.

Sikat II, the latest solar-powered race car developed and bullt in the Philippines was launched together with the team who developed and will operate the car in the World Solar race was given a warm send-off as the country’s official participant to the 2013 World Solar Challenge.

Last September 18, a press conference held at De La Salle University (DLSU) Taft Avenue, Manila with a gathering of scientists, environmentalists, media, bloggers, students and members of the DLSU academe.

The team is comprised of 50 mechanical and electrical engineering students plus six faculty members from De La Salle University. Additional improvements, which took a grueling seven months to complete, were applied to Sikat II. The vehicle was subject to test runs at Basa Airbase and SCTEX to ensure optimum performance.

The famed solar car was reported to run with increased speeds at lower power consumption, making it the most efficient version of the vehicle to date. This will help further the team’s goal of landing in the top 3 of the competition.

The improved version of Sikat II runs at an average speed of 80 kph and a maximum speed of 110 kph. The solar car uses Sunpower Silicon with an estimated efficiency of 22%. It also uses a power output of 1300 W.

Mechanical and electrical engineering students from the De La Salle University pose with Sikat II, the solar-powered car they helped design and build for the World Solar Challenge in Australia in October 2013.

Sikat II also boasts of a new battery management system, improved telemetry, upgraded wiring, and cruise control. Its brakes are also newly designed and the solar car has a new suspension system. For aerodynamics, it has a lower coefficient of drag achieved through modifications in fairings. High performance Schwalbe Sleek tires were also used for the car.

First Phil Holdings, First Gen, Energy Development Corporation, Sunpower, Ufreight, Shell, and Motolite helped make the improved Sikat II possible.

The solar car team wishes to further the cause of promoting the use of renewable energy and clean technologies in the field of transportation. The World Solar Challenge, established in 1987, has been a strong platform for young engineers and scientists all over the world for the pursuing the ideals of sustainable transport. 47 teams from 26 countries will be competing this year.