Ocean Park Hong Kong Animal Discovery Fest and Conservation Day invite family explorers to uncover amazing hidden animal secrets

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Ocean Park Hong Kong invites families to enjoy an exciting holiday filled with edu-tainment and activities which will test their knowledge of a wide array of land, air and sea animals at Ocean Park Animal Discovery Fest 2018 that launched on March 24 and will run up to May 6, 2018.

Jam-packed with brain-stimulating quizzes and experiential activities, the event looks to help family explorers decode myths like how to tell apart shark eggs, why birds build nests and the different types of nest they build, how sloths eat, how to rescue sea turtles, and more. For observant visitors who notice the colorful wristbands around the flippers of the Park’s penguins, not only can they crack the secret behind the color coding, they can also customize a wristband to take home!

Even more exciting, families can get up-close with the capybara, the world’s largest rodent and red-handed tamarins, a group of small monkeys from the Amazon Rainforest with contrasting reddish-orange hair on their feet and hands, for the first time in a limited-time “Get Closer to the Animals” program. Besides helping prepare snacks for them, guests will be able to feed and observe them at a close distance, and get first-hand information from their keepers about their lifestyles, diets, day-to-day care, and other inside stories.

Leo Kung, Chairman of Ocean Park, said, “Animal Discovery Fest makes for the perfect family outing this summer. It uses Ocean Park’s interactive natural environment and offers many creative ways to inspire children to learn, respect and appreciate mother nature. We’re happy to make use of this as a learning tool for many visitors to appreciate animal life in this day and age.”

“Whiskers Express & the Miraculous Journey” featuring songs by Mark Lui

In addition to checking out limited-time animal programs and workshops, families can go on an exciting adventure with the Park’s new characters – Whiskers & Friends. The Whiskers Theatre will transform into a train station for the “Whiskers Express & the Miraculous Journey”, in which Whiskers & Friends will take everyone on a thrilling adventure. With a captivating story line, dances, juggling acts, interactive games, special stage effects and music, including songs written by famous composer Mark Lui, children can learn about how everyone has a role to play in protecting the environment for both humans and animals. Mark Lui is also working with Ocean Park on a new edu-taining 3D animation series on Whiskers & Friends’ exciting adventures.

Another activity not to be missed during Animal Discovery Fest is the Sea Life Digi-paint Workshop at Whiskers Harbour, where children can turn their creative paper paintings into 3D images on a gigantic digital panel. They will then be challenged to remove plastics and other rubbish from their digital paintings of the sea to make them beautiful again.

Discover more at the Ocean Park Adventure Camp

For children who would like to build upon the Animal Discovery Fest experience and take their exploration of animals and nature to the next level, the Ocean Park Spring Adventure programs combine science experiments, animal observation, personal and collaborative challenges, as well as take investigative tasks to all corners of Ocean Park for participants to learn cool things about science while developing their communication, interpersonal, logical thinking, problem-solving and cooperation skills.

Know Your Enemy: How to Protect Yourself from Heart Attacks, The Medical City Clark sheds some light on this silent killer

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Heart attacks, known as the “silent killer”, are a result of the build-up of fat, cholesterol, and other substances in the heart’s arteries, blocking the blood flow and therefore cutting the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the body. Most people who suffer from a heart attack have some form of coronary heart disease.

To this day, heart diseases still pose as a serious threat to millions of Filipinos. The Philippine Statistics Authority found that Coronary Heart and Artery Disease is the top cause of death in all regions in the Philippines, including North Luzon. A total of 14,658 deaths were recorded in the region in 2011 by the Department of Health. In a study they conducted in 2009, the number of lives claimed by cardiovascular diseases in the Philippines has doubled from 85,000 to 170,000 after 20 years.

Being informed about heart attacks has never been more important; you never know when a heart attack will strike you or someone close. As shared by Dr. Domicias Albacite, Head of the Cardiovascular Center in The Medical City Clark, here are some things you need to know about heart attacks:

Genetics versus Lifestyle

Which of these two is the real cause of heart attacks? According to Dr. Albacite, heart attacks are partly caused by genetics but most of the time, they are greatly influenced by a person’s lifestyle. People who are smokers, inactive, and unhealthy eaters are more likely to suffer from a heart attack.

However, he noted that genetics do play a role in heart attacks. Those that occur in people below the age of 50 are most likely caused by genetics, while those that occur later are more likely caused by lifestyle.

There is no first aid for heart attacks

With heart attacks, time is of utmost importance. Almost 30% of first time sufferers of heart attacks do not make it to the hospital. This is why Dr. Albacite strongly discourages first aid as it may complicate the person’s condition when going to professional help is delayed. The moment a person suffers a heart attack, immediately call a hospital to get an ambulance. If you are alone, quickly call the hospital or seek the help of neighbors. Make sure that you always have the phone number of the nearest and most competent hospital with you, like The Medical City Clark. For the residents of Central Luzon, The Medical City Clark is one of the most accessible hospitals that have world-class facilities and expert doctors that can expertly handle an emergency situation. 

Minor heart attacks are a big deal

Not all heart attacks are life-threatening, but this does not mean the minor ones do not require attention. On some occasions, a person does not even know that they experienced a heart attack. Once you feel its symptoms which include chest pain, cold sweats, and shortness of breath. Heart attacks can be triggered by physical or emotional stress. Ignoring these symptoms can result to worse and fatal conditions.

Regular check-ups are recommended as you get older

A semi-annual check-up is a good prevention for heart attacks. This is especially if you are a person at risk – if you smoke, live an inactive lifestyle, eat innutritious diet, and have other unhealthy lifestyle choices. It is also good to know your family history, as those that have history of premature heart attacks could also suffer the same fate. If your family has history of heart attacks, make sure you closely monitor your body to check for signs and symptoms of heart attacks, no matter the age.

Being aware of these misconceptions can help save a life, maybe even yours. Don’t wait for a heart attack to happen before you take action; maintaining your blood pressure, adopting a healthy lifestyle by being physically active and avoiding vices such as smoking and drinking alcohol all contribute to lowering the risk of having a heart attack. Make sure to consult right away if you experience any symptoms. The Medical City-Clark is an ideal hospital to visit as it is only located in Pampanga and has state-of-the-art medical facilities that can cover everything from screening to surgery and cardiac rehab. The accessibility to residents of Central Luzon will make it faster to get to in times of emergencies.

For more information, you may call The Medical City-Clark’s Cardiovascular Center at (045) 300-8888 loc. 80060 or 0916-448-8046.

Jollibee Kids Club Mini Managers Camp offers the best summer fun for kids

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Kids are in for one of the best fun and learning experiences this summer as Jollibee welcomes them to the best summer activity – the Jollibee Kids Club Mini Managers Camp, happening until May 31, 2018.

Through the six-day camp, kids aged 4-12 years old can learn the important values and key roles of a Jollibee Manager such as hard work, leadership, and responsibility through various fun and engaging learning activities.

Wearing their Jollibee Mini Managers uniform, complete with nameplates, the kid managers will greet customers as they enter the store, work behind the counter to take orders, and hand out take-out bags via the Drive-Thru window to discover and experience first-hand Jollibee’s values, the Alagang Jollibeeservice heritage, and learn the store’s best practices. They will also engage in arts and crafts, Yumburger making, ice-cream making, fun games, and dancing, all while interacting with other kids and meeting new friends.

“We at Jollibee believe that even at a young age, kids need to develop a sense of discipline, hard work, and responsibility in a fun learning environment, to become future leaders and managers. These are the values and lessons we want our Mini Managers to learn and experience as these will be pivotal in their growth, said Charisse Sumulong, Jollibee senior brand manager and head for Channels and Kids Marketing, “That is why the Jollibee Kids Club Mini Managers Camp is the best summer activity for Jolly Kids as it provides a fun and engaging atmosphere for kids to enjoy their vacation.”

For only P650, parents and guardians can enroll the kids to the Mini Managers Camp at any participating Jollibee store nationwide. Non-JKC members are also welcome to enroll. Participants will get a Mini Managers Camp workshop kit that includes a set of Mini Managers uniform and name plate, activity materials and a camp bag, snacks for the six days of the program.

The Jollibee Kids Club Mini Managers Camp is already accepting participants to the best summer workshop so, hurry, and sign up your aspiring Mini Managers today! 

Visit your nearest Jollibee store or follow /JollibeePhilippines on Facebook for more details.

Petron partners with Marvel Studios’ Avengers Infinity War

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In partnership with Marvel Studios’ Avengers Infinity War, market leader Petron Corporation is offering avid collectors the opportunity to start another collection with their Avengers Infinity War Desk Collectibles. Made from high-quality die-cast metal, these collectibles are also highly functional and very affordable.

There are six items included in the Desk Collectibles set: (1) an Iron Man lamp, (2) a Black Widow USB hub, (3) a Hulk mini organizer, (4) a Thor multi-charger, (5) a Doctor Strange glowing memo, and (6) a Captain America phone holder. 

Premium die-cast action toys usually command a high price online or at mall specialty shops. At participating Petron stations, from April 15 to May 15, 2018, every Php 500 single or accumulated purchase of Petron Blaze 100, Petron XCS, Petron Xtra Advance, Petron Turbo Diesel, Petron Diesel Max, Petron Blaze Racing, Petron HTP, Petron Rev X, or Petron Sprint 4T entitles the customer to buy one Marvel Studios’ Avengers Infinity War Desk Collectible for only Php 450. Every Php 500-worth of fuel or engine oil purchase corresponds to one desk collectible redemption at Php 450.

Eligible customers may present the receipt to the pump attendant to avail of the promo. Once the receipt has been “redeemed” for the promo, any excess amount on the receipt will be void and cannot be used for another redemption. Desk Collectibles can only be bought from the participating Petron station where the customer loaded fuel or bought engine oil. The promotion is valid for cash and credit transactions; bulk purchase orders and wholesale transactions are also qualified to participate in the promo. Only receipts from the promo period—April 15 to May 15, 2018—are eligible for redemption, which is will be allowed until 60 days from the end of the promo period. For the list of participating Petron stations, visit www.petron.com.

Marvel Studios’ Avengers Infinity War opens in Philippine theaters on April 25, 2018.

Team Agriviz from AIM bags East-West Seed’s Innovation Olympics Championship

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Asian Institute of Management ( AIM ) students presents E- magsasaka paltform, and won Championship at the grand finals at East-West Seed’s Innovation Olympics held at 8 Waves Waterpark and Hotel in Bulacan. 

An E-magsasaka platform converts farmers to agri-preneurs.

Team Agriviz

Team Agriviz, composed of Aiah Sarmiento, Gorby Dimalanta, Aaron David, and mentored by East-West Seed’s Downstream Marketing Manager Dexter Difuntorum, takes great pride in their e-magsasaka online platform which hopes to address two of the major problems of our farmers: lack of direct access and lack of market information between buyers and growers. 

The e-magsasaka online platform hopes to minimize the involvement of middlemen which would increase the farmers’ revenue by at least 20% and keep the prices of vegetables more affordable for the consumers. 

The platform would have a database where buyers could find the farmers that could provide the produce that they need. At the same time, the farmers could also use the database to find the market to sell their produce.

During the 6-month pilot stage, Team Agriviz worked with farmers’ cooperatives, local government units and vegetable buyers to ensure that the e-magsasaka platform would significantly benefit the entire ecosystem of vegetable production.

Team Agriviz bested two other student groups—Team Pocket Farm and Team i-Agri Ventures, both from University of the Philippines Los Banos. 

Team Pocket Farm composed of Vince Maningas and Arvin Garcia was mentored by East-West Seed’s Project Manager, Martin Hinlo, thought of using the cellphone as a tool to help the farmers in determining the moisture level of their farm lands and prompt them through text messages on when to water their vegetables and how much water their plants need. 

Intelligent sensors that assess the moisture content of the farms are linked to the farmers’ cellphone and triggers the prompt.

Claiming 80-90% accuracy in determining moisture content, the Pocket farm device hopes to address the oftentimes erratic system of farm irrigation, a major factor in vegetable production.

Team Pocket Farm 

Team Pocket Farm piloted their device in petchay farms in Los Banos and Calamba and are hopeful that their gadget could help increase farmers’ produce by as much as 40-50%.

Team Pocket Farm received the East-West Seed Employees’ Choice Special Award for their concept.

Team i- Agri Ventures

Team i- Agri Ventures, on the other hand, came up with a solar-powered multi-crop dryer that could significantly cuts post-harvest loss and create new markets for vegetable farmers. 

Zeroing in on the irony specific to tomato growing where there is an oversupply of fresh tomatoes during peak season and, as a result, price plummets down from P15 per kilo to P5 per kilo.

Team i-Agri Ventures, composed of Jonas Ruzgal, Jayson Fumera, and Mark Limbo from UP Los Banos, hopes to address this problem through their multi-crop dryer, effectively converting excess fresh tomatoes to sun-dried tomatoes and creating an alternative way for farmers to sell their produce.

Team i-Agri Ventures mentor Arthur Cabacungan said that most tomato growers do not have storage facility and are, thus, forced to sell their excess produce at more than 80% less its actual value. However, with their solar-operated dryer, farmers get to convert their excess produce to dried tomatoes catering a different market like hotels, restaurants and caterers who are keen to using sun-dried tomatoes as replacement for fresh tomatoes. 

Team i-Agri Ventures is optimistic that their multi-crop dryer could help hike farmers’ revenue by as much as 30%.

INNOVATION OLYMPICS

Innovation Olympics 2017 was launched as part of the East-West Seed’s 35th anniversary last year with the theme, “Growing Opportunities.” East-West Seed, founded in 1982 by Dutch seedsman Simon Groot and Filipino seed trader Benito Domingo, is the first integrated vegetable company in the Philippines and one of the 10 biggest tropical vegetable seed producers in the world. 

“One of the major pillars of East-West Seed is learning and innovation. And so far, we have trained and enabled close to 50,000 smallholder farmers on proper vegetable farming techniques,” Henk Hermans, East-West Seed Philippines General Manager, said. 

Innovation Olympics, he adds, is a manifestation of East-West Seed’s commitment to address the two biggest problems facing vegetable farmers in the Philippines.

“Farmers represent the 2nd poorest sector in the Philippines. This sad reality results in our our young people ‘s disenchantment of pursuing a career in agriculture. The average age of Filipino farmers is 57-59 years old that is why we have to inspire our youth to discover the beauty of farming. We at East-West Seed know that there is money in vegetable farming and it could be a solid route in improving the lives of our people. Another problem is that farming practices in the Philippines are outdated and majority of our farmers are reluctant to use technology in farming making their work labor intensive and unsustainable,” Hermans said.

Through the Innovation Olympics, East-West Seed hopes to harness the minds of the youth to come up with their own innovative technological intervention. Students from different multiple backgrounds come up with sustainable solutions to improve productivity in vegetable farming, effectively addressing two major farming concerns: integration of technological innovations to improve vegetable production and to inspire the youth to consider farming as a professional goal and be ambassadors of modern day agriculture. 

“East-West Seed will continue to pursue ways on how to better equip Filipino vegetable farmers, inspire the youth to use their passion for technology in coming up with more innovative ideas for the farming sector and hopefully influence them to become the new breed of Filipino farmers,” Hermans adds.