Chikungunya virus on the move

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DOH:  cases of dengue-like mosquito-borne disease now rising

Little did we know that aside from dengue, there are many other life-threatening mosquito-borne diseases that have hounded Filipinos for decades.  Though there is no vaccine available in the country to cure these illnesses, preventive measures are available to assure safety of adults and children alike.

Last October, the Department of Health (DOH) warned the public to take extra precautions against the chikungunya virus.  The DOH confirmed that there were 150 recorded cases of this dengue-like disease last month.  And last year, more than 1,000 cases of chikungunya were recorded in the country.

The origin

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne virus first reported in Africa in 1952 and has spread in Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Europe and United States, infecting millions. Believed to be derived from an East African dialect that means “to be contorted,” chikungunya describes the curved posture of patients experiencing severe joint pain.

Just like dengue, chikungunya virus was caused primarily by Aedes aegypti, the daytime biting mosquito and by Aedes albopictus, a species of mosquito that bites most actively at night.

DON'T take mosquito bites for granted. Mosquitoes carry several potentially deadly viruses, including the dreaded Chikungunya virus. A Chikungunya infection may be fatal if left untreated--so it's best to prevent the infection by keeping away those pesky mosquitoes. Use Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion and level-up your kids' protection against mosquito-borne diseases.

The warning signs

Chikungunya shares some clinical signs with dengue as both manifest skin rashes and a high fever.  Its most distinctive characteristic though is severe joint pain which usually ends within a few days or weeks. Although a number of patients fully recover after a few days or weeks, there are some cases that joint pain or arthritis may persist for several months, or even years. Another distinct factor between dengue and chikungunya is that the former affects mostly children, while the later affects adults.

The transmission

DOH expressed fear that the virus might spread more widely because it survives in temperate climates, the Philippines included.    Increases in global travel and climate change might have encouraged its spread.

Though no vaccine or specific treatment for the disease has been discovered yet and treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms only, there are preventive measures against the virus.

Level-up protection

Prevention and control rely heavily on getting rid of the natural and artificial water-filled breeding grounds of the mosquitoes.  Unattended bottles, cans and tires with water inside are the usual breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and if left unchecked, a single pool of water can produce hundreds of chikungunya virus-carrying mosquitoes.

CHILDREN need to be protected from the Chikungunya virus, a potentially fatal dengue-like infection transmitted by day-biting and night-biting mosquitoes. Level up their protection with Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion.

Though clothing which minimizes skin exposure to these vectors is advisable; it is more prudent to use insect repellent lotions that can be applied anytime. And the most ideal insect repellent lotion is one that is effective not only against daytime-biting mosquitoes, but also mosquitoes that bite at night.

The new Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion is proven effective against both day and night mosquitoes, known carriers of both the dengue and chikungunya virus. It is ideal for families because it has long-lasting protection of up to10 hours, is hypoallergenic, and provides anti-bacterial protection that the Green Cross brand has always been known for.

The breakthrough discovery on day and night dengue-lamok teaches us to level up our anti-dengue measures. Now, with an additional threat on the move – chikungunya virus – this further teaches us to act on an urgent threat:  we need to change our mindsets and recognize the fact that insect repellent lotion may effectively protect us against these disease-carrying mosquitoes. 

A single mosquito bite may be deadly.  Do not let these pesky bugs come near you or your loved ones.  Use Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion as it may not only save your body from big red marks but also from serious illnesses like the chikungunya virus.

Inspirational New Year Quotes 2013!

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Always inspired by reading quotes - especially now,  New Year Quotes , New Year Wishes and Greetings. This activity gets a great head-start for New Year, being a time for new beginnings.  We think of what we have learn and experiences. This is the start of a new adventure with motivations, along with things to ponder upon.

Here are some  quotes I hope to leave you with a special significance in your mind to kick-start 2013 for you and your love ones.

- Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you   a better man. - Benjamin Franklin

- For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning. - T.S. Eliot

- Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. -Hal Borland

One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things. -John Burroughs

- May the New Year bring you courage to break your resolutions early. My own plan is to swear off every kind of virtue, so that I triumph even when I fall. - Aleister Crowley

- Let the new year be an entirely fresh start towards achieving all our goals. Lets kick start and era of excellence! - Pearl Aman

- It's the year of cakes and candles, new songs, celebration and decoration, laughter and love. Wishing you a lovely 2013 that brings with it great love and luck for you. Happy new year! - Pearl Aman

- No one ever regarded the First of January with indifference. It is that from which all date their time, and count upon what is left. It is the nativity of our common Adam. -Charles Lamb

- Begin another new chapter and remember that you have 365 days to make every page of the chapter worth remembering when you finish the year. - Pearl Aman

- Let the new year be an entirely fresh start towards achieving all our goals. Lets kick start and era of excellence! - Pearl Aman

- The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for - Ankit Aggarwal

- If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people." -  Confucius 

- Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.-Oprah Winfrey

Here is my favorite New Year’s quote from one famous and inspirational person:

Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties. - Helen Keller

Hope you enjoy reading these quotes . . hope these quotes to convert your dream into reality in this New Year 2013! 

Enjoy our wonderful world!

Wishing you all Blessed , Meaningul, Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Ayala Triangle Gardens Lights & Sounds Show 2012

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Enjoying the wonderful world of the Ayala Triangle Gardens! 

The Ayala Triangle Gardens spectacular holiday display dancing lights and sounds from Nov. 16 - Dec. 30, 2012,  and the lights come to life every 30 minutes from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.

The Lights and Sounds Show is very enchanting and million joyous twinkling lights in 15-minute glittering dance in popular lively  Christmas tunes. Some of the Christmas songs played were Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Santa Clause is coming to Town, Joy to the World , We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Twelve Days of Christmas, Angels We Have Heard On High, The Chipmunk Song and others.

 The show is a collaboration of acclaimed lighting designer Voltaire de Jesus and Liquid Post’s Mikey Amistoso and Jazz Nicholas, according to the Make It Happen website.

We enjoyed Symphony of Lights and Sounds Show at the Ayala Triangle Gardens  last year. The lights display were giant stars. This year are spherical Christmas lanterns adorn the trees, synchronously dancing to Christmas tunes.

Ayala Triangle’s spot is the center of Makati’s business district. The place is the ideal spot for people who want to distance themselves from the everyday hustle bustle to relax, unwind and get in touch with nature. It's really a wonderful place to spend with your family every Christmas season.

I still shot this picture while leaving the place ! 

Enjoy the Holidays! May this Christmas and a New Year fill your life with happiness, peace of mind, good health and prosperity. ^_^

Ayala Triangle Gardens Lights and Sounds Show 

(Personal Videos, I uploaded at my Youtube Account)

“Life of Pi" , The Journey of a Lifetime

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 “Life of Pi,” is a great movie by Oscar winning filmmaker Ang Lee and  based on a screenplay by David Magee. “Life of Pi's” newbie thespian Suraj Sharma nominated in 18th  CRITICS’ CHOICE MOVIE AWARDS.

“Life of Pi,” a breathtakingly beautiful story of a boy named Pi played by newcomer Suraj Sharma who is lost at sea with a Bengal tiger, following the loss of his family in a shipwreck. 

Suraj Sharma who hails from India never expected a “Life of Pi” when he accompanied his brother to the movie’s casting call.  Born and raised in Delhi, India and raised by mathematician parents, it seemed that from more than 3,000 hopefuls who auditioned for the role, Suraj was destined to play the role of Pi, a mathematical constant transcendental number.

He has recently been nominated in the upcoming Critics’ Choice Movie Awards for Best Young Actor for his role in “Life of Pi” along with other actors/actresses such as Elle Fanning (“Ginger & Rosa”) and Logan Lerman (“Perks of Being a Wallflower”).

The story revolves around Pi, a delightfully enthusiastic teenager who lives with his zoo-keeping family in Pondicherry, India. Inquisitive and intelligent, he explores different cultures and spiritual traditions. Pi has open-minded parents who allow him to become a free thinker, finding his own path. Due to a worsening economic climate, Pi’s parents decide to emigrate to start a new life in Canada. But the ship sinks.  Eventually only Pi and the tiger are left alive on the lifeboat and the unlikely pair embarks on an Odyssey that is fraught with danger.  On the precarious lifeboat he shares with the tiger, Pi finds inner strength and becomes aware that some kind of higher power is in charge of his destiny.

The heightened emotional connections presented in the movie required exceptional performances from its cast, none more so than the neophyte thespian who would take on the titular hero.   

“We searched for a young man who had the innocence to capture our attention, the depth of character to break our hearts, and the physicality needed to embody Pi on his journey,” says director Ang Lee. "During his audition, Suraj filled the room with emotion, much of which he conveyed simply through his eyes. His natural ability to believe and stay in the world of the story is a rare treasure.

“Suraj’s investment in the story made us really believe that whatever challenges we faced, the film was really going to happen,” adds the director.  “When we saw Suraj, we saw the movie.  Mr. Lee marvels at Suraj’s innocence and efforts, noting, “We are all experienced and perhaps a little jaded.  Suraj reminded us why we want to make movies. Every day was a miracle.”

For Suraj Sharma, the experience of landing the starring role was surreal. “It was all so new for me,” says Suraj. “I had never been out of India. I didn’t know how to act or swim. I learned how to swim and now it’s my favorite thing to do.  Shooting the film in Taiwan and meeting people from all over the world in the crew was fantastic. You get an idea of how diverse the world is. I was really inspired by everything I saw and everyone I got to know.  I wanted to give it everything I had.”

Sharma also went through rigorous workouts to increase his stamina, which gave him an inner discipline and strength that enabled him to empathize with the character. 

“What defines Pi is his never-ending will to survive, he has a belief in the world and I think that’s what sets him apart from everyone else. He survives by instinct. But he also possessed a strong sprit from the beginning, right from being a child. But Pi kept that innocence inside him and with innocence comes belief.”

“Life of Pi” opens January 9 in 3D and 2D theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox thru Warner Bros.

Happy Connections : Pinoy Entrepreneurs Can Do More with Globe Business Tools

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Entrepreneur and Globe Business ambassador Happy Ongpauco-Tiu is passionate about business--but is still happiest as a wife and mother. 

It’s not so easy to fulfil her various roles, however, because of her many responsibilities.  Happy says that she always tries her best to live a balanced life as an entrepreneur, wife, and mother.

“I am a housewife, a mother and an entrepreneur. I wake up in the morning to tend to Renzo before he goes to school.  Soon, I take care of my baby Franchesco too! Then I check paper works for the office.  By lunch time, I try my best to visit my restaurants when I’m not busy at home. 

“After lunch, I meet with my Management team for daily updates, do calls... calls.., calls, and emails to delegate responsibilities to my staff especially for my out-of-town branches. 

“Then in the afternoon I tend to my family and prepare dinner for them.  After dinner, I spend quality time with my Hubby and kids – the highlight of the day that I enjoy the most!” she said.

Restaurateur

Her family founded the iconic Barrio Fiesta restaurant way back in 1958 made Filipinos fall in love with their kare-kare, crispy pata and other dishes. It’s no wonder that when Happy grew up, she naturally went into the food business herself.

She’s helping run their family business, as Corporate Secretary of the Barrio Fiesta Group Middle East operations.

Happy also runs her own food company now—the Happy Concept Group of Companies—after establishing several restaurants including World Topps; Bento Box (American-inspired Japanese food); Hawaiian Bar-B-Que Restaurant (Boracay & Tagaytay); I Luv Backyard BBQ joint in Boracay; and Pamana Restaurant in Tagaytay.

She also has My Happy carts (themed food carts for kiddie parties) and her own Catering Kitchen which features Chef Happy’s homemade specialties.

Happy has even gone into the hotel business with her Boutique Bed & Breakfast in Tagaytay (a 7-bedroom boutique hotel with themed rooms) and the wellness business as well: Slim at Home, a mobile slimming clinic complete with doctors and medical assistants.

But wait. With all of these taking her time and attention, how does she every find time for her family and herself?

HAPPILY HIGH-TECH. Being tech-savvy makes entrepreneur and Globe Business Ambassador Happy Ongpauco-Tiu an effective businesswoman as well as a much beloved wife and mother. According to Happy, her use of telecoms solutions from Globe Business helps her have a balanced life: she can effectively run her business even when she's on-the-go, and she has more free time to be there for her husband and kids

Telecoms technology

In her efforts to balance her many roles, Happy is thankful that she uses modern telecoms technology provided by Globe Business solutions.

“I got my first mobile phone more than 20 years ago,” she says.  “When my Dad got me one, on the very first year Globe offered mobile phones. It felt really great having to be able to communicate with other people just with a gadget.”

Through Globe Business solutions, Happy can instantly reach her employees through call, SMS, landline and vice versa. 

“As an entrepreneur, I am able to fulfil my responsibilities with the efficient assistance of Globe’s product lines,” she said.

Especially since most of her businesses are out of town or abroad, her needs for mobile phone, land line, and the Internet is crucial to running and troubleshooting the day-to-day needs of an enterprise.

While no business will ever succeed without the owner’s hands-on presence, a reliable Internet connection and a clear line on a phone can enable Happy to delegate, manage and connect instantly when the need arises.

Filipino entrepreneurs like Happy, who adopt the newest communications services and technology available to get in touch instantly with personnel on the ground for business, are finding it easier to manage their operations even from afar.

“Especially in the kind of business that I am in, it’s a 24-hour monitoring thing,” she explains. ”You can get calls in the middle of the night to solve or answer queries. I have to say that modern telecoms technology is indispensible in this time & age. To be able to monitor your business from wherever you are at any time of the day is of utmost importance to ensure good service and finished products.” 

More powerful texting

Globe Business Unlitext and Call is the solution to making affordable calls within a given team or staff of associates. It provides discounted rates on Globe Prepaid, Globe Postpaid, and Globe Landline.

Happy also uses Globe Business TxtConnect to maximize the reach of the SMS that she sends. TxtConnect is ideal for high-volume text campaigns and SMS blasts to employees and customers—with just one send, the SMS is broadcast to a large group of recipients. The service is Web-based, so it’s much easier to send compared to regular text messaging or making phone calls.

TxtConnect is charges lower text message rates. Subscribing to TxtConnect can save an entrepreneur as much as 35% in cost compared to a regular text messaging service. TxtConnect subscription plans start at as low as P1500 per month.

As the kind of entrepreneur who takes advantage of the current tech services, Happy has had to learn to use both mobile phones and the Internet to keep track of her many professional commitment.

“Whichever is needed,” she agrees. “I do surf the Internet a lot especially nowadays that it’s almost impossible to transact business without it.”

In a time when modern telecom technology is developing at an exponential rate, each year offers more and more advantages for the Pinoy entrepreneur on the go. Its benefits are essential to bringing forward the success of any activity at a level where things are communicated clearer; problems are solved easier, at a pace that you dictate and doesn’t need to slow down.

Get business done quicker and, like Happy, enjoy time with your family free of the pressures of always having to be there.  

“Globe products and services is my connection not only to my employees but to my clients as well,” smiles Happy. “Globe is definitely a reliable partner in my day-to-day living”

Globe Business is the corporate arm of Globe Telecom, the leading telecommunications company in the Philippines. Globe Business provides wireless and wireline solutions for a diverse set of industries, businesses, and commercial enterprises.

Globe Business assures SMEs of affordable, reliable, and dependable services for all communication needs, both wireless and wireline solutions, to generate the highest possible profit at the lowest possible cost. For more information, call +632 730-1010 or log on to http://www.globe.com.ph/business.