No Contender too young or old for the Spartan Race

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The fiercest challengers of the world’s toughest race prove that age is just a number

Age may play a role in good health and fitness, but the number alone doesn’t define athletic performance. In the spirit of International Women’s Day this March, three female contenders of the recent Spartan Race in Pampanga, show that conquering the world’s most grueling obstacle course isn’t about seniority or youthfulness—it’s about having a passion for health and the right attitude towards adversity that matter most to overcome any challenge.

Only a number

International Wellness Coach Edna Hearsey Cross testifies to the importance of nutrition, exercise, and mindset to achieving great health and overcoming the Spartan Race. About 33 years ago, Cross suffered a major car accident that left her with mobility issues and pain. Before her ordeal, she had struggled with weight gain during two pregnancies, and had been going to a community gym to get back in shape. The incident only made the struggle more difficult as she depended heavily on medication to lead a normal life.

Fortunately, a fellow mom at the gym introduced her to a nutrition program that helped her get back on track. Soon she healed and regained her strength. It was then that she began developing a taste for adventure: “After recovering and feeling great with no pain I thought I should put myself to the test. I became confident to give it a go and see how far I can go.”

Now at 63, Cross continues to dare herself by competing in marathons and going around the world to climb mountains. Her secret lies in doing regular exercises such as running, yoga, and Pilates, powered by a daily dietary regimen that keeps her energized. To ready herself for more demanding activities like the recent Spartan Race Age Category, she joins a fitness community for bootcamp and obstacle training. She also makes sure to do lots of burpees in case she’s unable to do an obstacle.

Starting it young

On the other end of the age spectrum, four-year-old Skylar Legayada simply lets her natural curiosity and eagerness to drive her enthusiasm for sporty activities. Along with other young participants, she signed up for the Kids Category in the recent Spartan Race for a chance to do what kids do best: play and make friends.

With dreams of becoming like her favorite superhero, Wonder Woman, Legayada gets plenty of encouragement from her family to live an active lifestyle. Some of the exercises she likes doing with her parents include running and climbing the monkey bars or the A-frame at the playground. She also enjoys training with her aunt, who also joined the Spartan Race.

Challenging the self

The recent Spartan Race Sprint in Pampanga proved daunting with more than 25 obstacles across a stretch of 13 kilometers. For first runner-up Melba Vergara, getting through the mud, barbwire, and fire required more than physical conditioning and skill, but also iron mettle.

A seasoned runner in her 40s, Vergara knows that it’s the self that ultimately stands between the athlete and the finish line: “It is true that ‘age is just a number’, but it depends on every individual’s mindset. When competing, I don’t think that I’m older than my peers. Some of my elite competitors are only half my age, but to me that is not the barrier against the young ones. The only thing I know is that I have the heart and determination for it.”

With several Trifectas under her belt, Vergara prepares for tough events such as the Spartan Race by doing freerunning and bouldering. She also strives for moderation when it comes to her diet, listening to her body for what she needs and treating herself to dessert once in a while. Most importantly, during competitions, Vergara tells herself that she isn’t racing with anyone else but herself to keep her nerves calm and ready for the challenge ahead.

All about willpower

Like the three tough ladies above, every Spartan knows that strength of spirit on top of months of hard training is what pushes athletes to beat the odds—no matter their background, competitive experience, or physical limitation. This same tenacity is what every contender must learn to muster in Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge, an American television show featuring a one-mile obstacle course inspired by the Spartan Race.

The Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge gathers together some of the most hardened athletes in teams of five—two women, two men, and one Spartan elite—all of whom understand that age or training isn’t enough to win against obstacles designed to test mind and heart, as much as body. Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge airs Mondays to Fridays at 5:15PM, first and exclusive on Blue Ant Extreme. Blue Ant Extreme is available on SkyCable HD channel 209 and Destiny Cable Digital channel 104.

Blue Ant Extreme

The destination for extreme and action-packed content with a thrilling combination of popular series Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge, Hawaii Five-0 and NCIS: Los Angeles; adrenaline-pumping stunts on The Xtreme CollXtion; non-stop laughter with Fail Army and World’s Funniest, mind-boggling illusions on Criss Angel: BeLIEve, and Penn and Teller: Fool Us; and adventure-reality series Speed with Guy Martin.

Warehouse unveils Spring Summer 2018 collection

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This Spring Summer 2018, Warehouse elevates key British summer staples with a modern twist, curating a wearable collection for the stylish woman who lives the city.

Each story within the collection embodies a contemporary approach to urban summer dressing, reimagining casual fabrics, softening structured silhouettes and modernising traditional prints.

City-smart tailoring is given an informal edge with an oversized fit and relaxed pastel colour palette, featuring blue with highlights of pink.

Fringing, drapery and wrap shapes make day and jersey dresses feel directional for summer, while classic indigo denim is modernised for urban living with structured silhouettes.

Bold, graphic block panels and stripes look fresh in shades of aubergine, navy and green. Featuring layers of contemporary fan floral designs and layered scarf prints.

Contrasting against wild conservatory-inspired plant prints sit on a backdrop of tangerine and forest green. An urban, multi-shaded granite print completes the colour palette.

Texture is explored through smart indigo and white denim, juxtaposed against soft jacquard dresses returning to natural fabrications such as cotton and linen. Inclusive of soft fluid tailoring, compact knit midi skirts and slinky jersey.

About Warehouse

Autumn Winter 2016 sees the re-launch of the brand under the direction of Brand Consultant Alasdhair Willis. The new Warehouse proposition, identity, and product handwriting alongside new store concepts and brand digital experience. Warehouse Fashions Limited was established in 1976, and has since been a staple of the British high street. Warehouse designs clothes for modern women who truly live the city. Creating for women who seek reward in their every moment both at work and at play. Warehouse is an urban spirit and attitude that could only be British now.

In the Philippines, Warehouse is owned and operated by Robinsons Specialty Stores Inc., a subsidiary of Robinsons Retail

Holdings, Inc. Warehouse stores are located at Robinsons Magnolia, Greenbelt 5, SM Aura Premier, SM Mall of Asia, and www.facebook.com/WarehousePhilippines.

Who Is Afraid Of Tin Catacutan?

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Tin Catacutan probably comes across as a strong and liberated woman who is confident to bare some skin either on her social media accounts or on the small screen. She played a beach babe, the vivacious local surfer Vivoree in the afternoon series Hanggang Saan where she donned two-piece swimsuit. ​“I’m at my happiest in a bikini. Or any beach-inspired outfit,” when asked about her favorite get up. People may find Tin intimidating but is there anybody who is afraid of Tin? 

There’s more to Tin than meets the eye.

Tin describes herself as a “nature-loving, good vibe-sharing hippie firecracker.” She is full of zest and she saunters through life. This kind of personality makes her an exciting artist, event host, and model. 

Tin is no stranger to the entertainment scene. The DLSU Communication Arts graduate started honing her hosting talent in high school but it became a full-blown passion and career in college when she was a radio DJ for DLSU’s radio station.​ With her wit and gift of gab, Tin has already hosted several events and is now getting many hosting offers. “I make sure to prepare ahead of time. I get to know the clients, the audience, and the program thoroughly to make sure I know how to handle that particular event.”

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She never frets whenever she encounters problems during an event. “I work with what I have. If there are technical issues and I am asked to stall, a trick I always do is to roam around and talk to the audience. I don’t have to keep talking nonsense on stage just to avoid dead air.​ The most common problems are technical issues and late speakers. When those inevitable things happen, I do my trick or shuffle the schedule around a bit (with permission from the organizers of course).”

She has recently expanded her resume to include actress in her job description. Tin always dreamed of being a part of a fantaserye. Her dream role is to be a warrior princess or anything that will involve action. 

Tin shares, “I like my job because it’s FUN and every project allows me to grow as a performer and an individual. I’ve met a lot of interesting people and travelled to beautiful places because of my job. I stay motivated by keeping in mind that each circumstance is a chance for me to learn something and that everything happens for a reason. It also helps to maintain a grateful heart. That way, you can look at everything in a more positive light.”

“What I like most about the entertainment industry is the ability to make people happy. But even more than that, I love how being in this industry allows me to have a platform to affect people’s lives. My mission is to educate, inspire, and spread good vibes,” Tin adds. 

Tin says that God, her family, nature, and the desire to become a positive force in this world are what inspired her. So who’s afraid of Tin Catacutan? With all the positive vibes she is spreading to those around her, definitely there are no reasons why people should be afraid of Tin. 

Tin Catacutan is a talent of Asian Artists Agency. For inquiries, please call (02) 855-4765 or (02) 405-4423, email info@asianartistsagency.com, and visit fb.com/asianartistsagency

How LG is helping create a cleaner, greener environment for females

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In modern societies, it is important to consider how we connect and preserve with nature. Pollution (air, noise and waste) is on the rise, biodiversity is lost, and, all over the world, people are suffering the consequences of climate change due to constant development. 

Women, in particular, are more vulnerable to the detrimental effects caused by pollution and toxic substances compared to men. Women have a different relationship with the environment given their needs and responsibilities as household stewards, economic providers, and their role in reproduction. (The reproductive system of a pregnant women is especially susceptible to health problems and hazards—every step in the reproductive process can be altered by toxins and contaminants in the environment.) 

Women living in rural or marginal suburban areas in developing countries, who have no access to natural resources, a proper diet and adequate health care, are also more susceptible to the impacts of climate change.

Until recently, women had very few opportunities to change unsatisfactory domestic or work conditions caused by environmental degradation, and to improve their families’ and their own health. But with the advent of ecofeminism, the continuing rise of female solidarity, and the growing recognition of the critical roles women play in our communities, the world is slowly realizing that even seemingly minor decisions such choosing what to eat and how we clean our homes—decisions usually made by women—can also have significant impacts on global warming, greenhouse gas emissions, and overall environmental healthy and sustainability.

Women are now becoming more empowered to take part in making key environmental decisions at all levels, and to contribute their perspectives in creating policies and programs that affect a woman’s relationship with the environment.

LG is making a stand with women across the globe to offer forward-thinking solutions that will benefit both women as a group and society as a whole. 

The electronics company has an established track record of creating innovative and forward-thinking home appliances that are eco-friendly and intuitive enough to change the lives of its consumers for the better. 

Their line-up of Energy Star-winning products, which includes washing machines, refrigerators, airconditioners and TVs, slashes electricity expenses for its users while decreasing their environmental impact. Through these innovative solutions, LG is honoring the roles of women in society and valuing their domestic practices, within the home and within the larger environment.

For more details on how LG products improve your life and help the environment, visit lg.com/ph, like @LGElectronicsPH/@LGTVPhilippines/@LGMobilePhilippines on Facebook, and follow @LGPhilippines on Instagram.

The Medical City Clark’s Cardiovascular Center Offers World Class Services for Open Heart Surgery

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The Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass is a faster, safer, and less costly surgical procedure for heart patients

Internationally-acclaimed surgeons of The Medical City Clark performing the Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass (OPCAB) surgery

The Medical City Clark’s (TMC-Clark) Cardiovascular Center continues to provide residents of Central Luzon with world-class and advanced services for open heart surgery as it offers all the benefits of the Off-Pump Coronary Bypass (OPCAB).

Here are 5 facts about OPCAB to shed some light on what it is all about, shared by the experts from The Medical City Clark’s Cardiovascular Center.

It is performed by expert doctors from TMC-Clark’s Cardiovascular team.

TMC-Clark houses a team of Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgeons who are locally and internationally accredited on their sub-specialties, a cardiovascular anesthesiologist and an in-house cardiac critical care intensivist who perform OPCAB surgeries. These doctors were trained in the Philippine Heart Center and are internationally recognized fellows from the American College of Surgeons, Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the Asian Society of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery.

It is accessible to North and Central Luzon residents.

Heart diseases has remained one of the top causes of mortality in North and Central Luzon. These trained doctors with the same level of expertise as Metro Manila doctors cater to North and Central Luzon residents due to this rising need in heart surgeons in the area. High quality medical services are not only found in Metro Manila. The Medical City Clark offers the same high quality surgery with less cost for the patient. People in Central Luzon now have easier access to world-class medical services especially when there is increased connectivity through nearby airports as well as expressways such as NLEX and SCTEX.

High-risk patients are eligible for this operation.

High-risk cardiac operations are now managed with expertise. The heart-lung machine used in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgeries could be harmful since it increases the risk of a heart attack, more commonly in high-risk patients, as it needs to arrest the heart. OPCAB performs the procedure while the heart is still beating, overruling the need to use a heart-lung machine.

It results to a faster recovery time.

Due to the previous fact, it reduces recovery time for patients. Not using the heart-lung machine in most of the procedure will now remove its bad effects resulting to the patient’s early recovery and early return to work. Those who undergo the OPCAB surgery usually recover within 5-7 days after the surgery. In addition to that, OPCAB surgeries has the same success rate as CABG surgeries at 99%.

It costs less

OPCAB requires fewer anesthesia and without the added cost of the heart-lung machine, it lessens the expenses of the patient. Since the recovery time is also shorter, there is less hospital room costs. The Medical City Clark also offers the best package for catastrophic illnesses including coronary bypass graft with the PhilHealth Z Benefit, which lowers the cost to ₱650,000 and PhilHealth shouldering ₱550,000. The patient only needs to pay a total of ₱100,000 for the operation.

OPCAB is a proven surgical procedure that has successfully treated many patients with coronary heart diseases. With its well-trained doctors and world-class facilities and equipment, patients of The Medical City Clark are sure to receive the best treatment possible closer to home.