ASIA: THE WORLD’S SKYSCRAPER CAPITAL Global property portal looks at region's sky-high towers

Tweet

MANILA, JANUARY 12, 2015: Home to the bulk of the tallest towers on the planet, Asia is without a doubt the world’s skyscraper capital. From Dubai to Shanghai, the region dominates the list of the world’s supertall buildings.

Of the top 10 tallest towers around the world, just two - the recently completed One World Trade Centre in New York City and the Willis Tower in Chicago - are located outside Asia and the Middle East.

Stacked one on top of the other, the 10 tallest towers in Asia would measure more than five km into the sky. These top 10 tallest towers are shown on a new infographic, released by global property portal Lamudi.

With its towering commercial centres and tendency towards high-density living, China leads the world in skyscraper construction. Of the record-breaking 97 buildings measuring 200 meters high or taller that were completed around the world in 2014, 58 of these were located in China. This represents roughly 60 percent of the global total, according to figures recently released by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. 

The city of Dubai currently holds the title for the world’s tallest skyscraper. Reaching 829.8m high, the Burj Khalifa is the tallest artificial structure on earth. For those without a serious fear of heights, the super tower is also home to the world’s highest observation deck, located on the 148th floor.

The Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is the region’s second tallest tower. Located close to the world’s largest mosque, Masjid al-Haram, the five-star hotel is designed to cater for Muslim pilgrims visiting the holy city. The structure has 76 state-of-the-art elevators offering easy access to the mosque for prayers.

In third place is Taipei 101 in Taiwan, which stands at 508m and was once the tallest building in the world. The skyscraper’s unique design is based on the number eight, which is considered lucky in Chinese culture. The design was chosen to withstand the earthquakes and typhoons that are common in the country. 

Elsewhere in Asia, the Shanghai World Financial Center, the International Commerce Centre in Hong Kong and the Petronas Towers in Malaysia also make the top 10 list. 

Currently under construction in China is the 632m Shanghai Tower which, once completed later this year, will be the world’s second tallest building. However, at 660m, the Ping An Finance Centre in Shenzhen will overtake the Shanghai Tower in 2016.

Set to reach 1km into the sky, the Kingdom Tower in Saudi Arabia will take the title of the world’s tallest building once it is completed in 2019.

ABOUT LAMUDI

Launched in 2013, Lamudi is a global property portal focusing exclusively on emerging markets. The fast-growing platform is currently available in 28 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, with more than 800,000 real estate listings across its global network. The leading real estate marketplace offers sellers, buyers, landlords and renters a secure and easy-to-use platform to find or list properties online. For more information, please visit http://www.lamudi.com.ph

Visit Lamudi Philippines on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.

Maintaining a healthy relationship, Happy Wife, Happy Life

Tweet

Maintaining a good and healthy relationships require care and work to maintain closeness. Common components found in successful relationships include - communication, respect, trust, love, sharing, individuality and self-care.

Do your best to treat your partner in a way that says, "I love you and trust you, and I want to work this out."

Express wants and needs. A clear message involves a respectful but direct expression of your wants and needs.

Always I believe, to be aware of what you and your partner want for yourselves and what you want from the relationship.

Realize that your partner will not be able to meet all your needs. Some of these needs will have to be met outside of the relationship. Be willing to negotiate and compromise on the things you want from one another.  You don't have to demand that a partner change to meet all your expectations. Work to accept the differences between your ideal mate and the real person you are with.

Try to see things from the other's point of view. This doesn't mean that you must agree with one another all the time, but rather that both of you can understand and respect each other's differences, points of view, and separate needs. Where critical differences do exist in your expectations, needs, or opinions, try to work honestly and sincerely to negotiate. Seek professional help early rather than waiting until the situation becomes critical.

Emotional support involves accepting your partner's differences and not insisting that he or she meet your needs only in the precise way that you want them met.

Respect your partner's rights. In healthy relationships, there is respect for each partner's right to have her/his own feelings. Resolving conflicts requires honesty, a willingness to consider your partner's perspective even if you don't fully understand it, and lots of communication.

Healthy communication is critical, especially when there are important decisions regarding sex, career, marriage, and family you made.

Now, let's talk about sexual intimacy

Intimacy is always important, always a key factor in a partnership. 

When it comes to sexual intimacy, couples need to be more open with their partners about what satisfies them.

Given that the two of you share a special bond, there's no reason for you to not be comfortable about discussing what you like - and don't like about sex. After all, an activity that is meant to be enjoyed, should provide fulfillment for both parties.

Last Saturday, January 10, I was invited, and attended an interesting event for wives, and husbands, a launch of an advocacy campaign regaring sexual intimacy. Menarini Philippines who continues to promote its Community to Control PE advocacy campaign this 2015 with its Happy Wife, Happy Life event.

Menarini Philippines together with the Philippine Urological Association, boldly launched its Commit to Control PE Advocacy campaign last year to address one of the more pressing issues regarding sexual intimacy - premature ejaculation.

The campaign is meant to make couples more comfortable about discussing their intimacy concerns with each other, without it being a cause of insecurity or dissatisfaction.

This is because premature ejaculation can gravely affect one's relationship when left undiscussed - and untreated.

In relation to this, Menarini Philippines held a talk, aptly called Happy Wife, Happy Life, which was held last January 10 at the Satin Room of the Seda Hotels in BGC, hosted by popular celebrity columnist RJ Ledesma and was attended by local bloggers. It aimed to shed better insight about what premature ejaculation is all about, and that it is not something to be embarrassed about because it can be controlled.

And this advocacy campaign event featured a very insightful talk from sex and relationship guru, Dr. Margarita Holmes. It was the first time I met in person, Dr. Margie Holmes, with a very lively insightful talk - "Love and lust that last." I have watched and admire her in many TV guestings she had. 

Dr. Dennis Serrano

Also present at the event was Dr. Dennis Serrano, who talked about the “basics” of premature ejaculation to help the guests have a better understanding of this condition. 

Menarini Philippines strongly believes in this advocacy which is often left untreated because it is a topic that is usually considered taboo even in these modern times.

The pharmaceutical giant hopes to make a stronger impact among Filipino couples on their campaign this year with more events like this.

Really, intimacy is always important. It doesn't matter if you're 18 or 88, intimacy is always a key factor in a partnership. Couples stay intimate long into their 80s and 90s. In fact, many couples have increased satisfaction the older they get, because they are more and more skilled! Keep learning and experimenting - the best is yet to come.

About the Menarini Group

Menarini is the world’s largest Italian biopharmaceutical company with a heritage of over 128 years and over 16,000 employees in over 100 countries. Here in Asia-Pacific, Menarini’s vision is to be a leading provider of important healthcare brands to improve the lives of people in the region. Menarini Asia-Pacific operates across the entire commercial value chain, from regulatory approval and product launch to lifecycle management with a diverse portfolio of proprietary and partnered brands in key therapeutic fields, including Dermatology, Primary Care, Allergy/Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Select Specialty Care, Men’s Health and Consumer Health.

For further information, please visit: www.menariniapac.com.

Papal Coverage in Smart Araneta Coliseum

Tweet

The much-awaited event in the Christendom is set to happen this January, as Pope Francis conducts his first-ever apostolic visit to the country.

It is a chance to keep abreast of Pope Francis’ Papal visit to the country, LIVE on big screen.

To celebrate this global event, The Araneta Center, together with official media partner TV5, invites everyone to an exclusive coverage of the papal visit at The Smart Araneta Coliseum from January 16 to January 18, 2015. The event starts at 9 am until 1 pm, but gates will open as early as 7 in the morning. 

The papal streaming gives viewers the opportunity to vicariously share in Pope Francis’ meaningful journey through the Philippines, which will become the 3rd Asian country the Pope visits this year as head of the Catholic Church, after Sri Lanka and South Korea.

Also featured in the event is the “Tu Es Petrus Tour of Papal Relics”. Petrus is a Latin derivation of the name Peter that refers to all the Pope successors in the Catholic Church.

These relics include not only the mortal remains of the Popes who previously visited the country, bearing the title of “Saint” or “Blessed”, but also some of the things they touched or used. These were all authenticated and recognized by the Church, thus highly esteemed and valued for their sacredness.

Present in the exhibit are first and second class relics, from major to minor kinds, including blood stains, hair strands, and skull cap of Pope John Paul II, as well as the sacred zucchetto of Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI.

This once-in-a-lifetime experience is in line with The Araneta Center’s public service efforts and genuine desire to fulfill its corporate social responsibility.

Admission is absolutely free! Tickets are now available in Gateway, Ali Mall and Farmers Plaza concierge. T-shirts will also be given away to participants for free to serve as memento of the said event.

The relics are also available for viewing at the Gateway Activity Center from January 19 to January 31, 2015.

For more information on the Papal coverage at The Big Dome, visit www.aranetacenter.netand www.dearpopefrancis.ph

Visit Bohol 2015 : Visit Bohol Tourism Campaign for 2015 Launched

Tweet

Bohol, the friendly heart of the Visayas and one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the Philippines.

Bohol is known for its awe-inspiring “Chocolate Hills,” rustic and centuries-old churches in Baclayon and Loboc, the ever-lovable “tarsier,” and of course, the never-ending smiles and hospitable culture of its people. Aside from that, Bohol boasts of having some of the best white-sand beaches in the world like those in Panglao and Anda, and is fast gaining ground as a top eco-cultural tourism spot because of its numerous mystical cave sites, serene rivers, enchanting waterfalls and mangroves, spellbinding marine sanctuaries and diving sites, and adventure-oriented attractions.

The province of Bohol shows how it defiantly rose from the rubble as it introduces “Visit Bohol 2015,” a year-round tourism campaign that aims to revitalize its image and entice more visitors to come to Bohol. 

“Visit Bohol 2015”, launched under the leadership of Gov. Edgar Chatto, seeks to position the province as a top-notch tourist destination with its amazing natural attractions and its friendly and honest people.

The tourism campaign kicked off via a three-day Bohol Travel Fair at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City, starting today until January 11, 2015. Organized by the Bohol Provincial Tourism Council Inc. under Atty. Lucas Nunag, the travel fair gathered together all major players in the Bohol tourism sector with a single-minded objective of providing a strong boost to Bohol’s tourism industry.

“For years, Bohol has always been in the hearts of every Filipino, not only as an eco-cultural tourism landmark but as a home to a number of our country’s pride. As we felt how our kababayans share our grief during the devastating catastrophe that hit our province, we now feel the surge of support as we pave the road to recovery and come back in the tourism map.

With Visit Bohol 2015, expect a much better and bolder Bohol – ready to welcome all of you to our beautiful province. We invite you to visit and be awed not just by the wonderful sites Bohol has to offer, but also by the endearing graciousness, hospitality and trustworthiness of Boholanos,” says Governor Chatto during the opening ceremonies of the Bohol Travel Fair.

DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr.

The launch event, which was supposed to be held on December 8 to 10, 2014, was rescheduled due to super typhoon Ruby that slammed parts of the country. Now the campaign is going full blast and ready to entice residents and tourists to visit Bohol.

“Our dream is to make Bohol a tourism superpower and top holiday destination. With the help of our partners and other significant stakeholders from the public and private sectors, we believe this is

achievable,” adds Governor Chatto. 

Other partners for “Visit Bohol 2015” include the United States Agency for International Development through its Advancing Philippine Competitiveness Project (USAID-COMPETE), the Department of Tourism (DOT), the United Nations-World Tourism Organization (UN-WTO) and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), plus local tourism businesses, Ms. Gloria Steele, USAID Mission Director for the Philippines, and DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., who is also one of the keynote speakers, are among the many dignitaries at the event.

For the Bohol Travel Fair, Bohol also partnered with AirAsia, the leading budget airline in the region, as its exclusive airline partner. AirAsia, awarded by Skytrax, the world’s most prestigious airline and airport review and ranking site, as the world’s Best Low-Cost Carrier for six consecutive years, offers unbelievable, year-round low fares for its Manila-Tagbilaran and Manila-Cebu flights

to attract more visitors to the province.

Aside from the low seat prices, also up for grabs at the “Visit Bohol 2015” travel fair are at least 60 percent discount in accommodations, tour packages and other travel essentials, plus various indigenous Boholano products. 

To provide entertainment, travel fair visitors will be serenaded by the heavenly voices of the world-famous Loboc Children’s Choir, who will sing popular and classic music via a mini concert every night for the duration of the three-day event.

More photos here.

“10 Kumainments” pushed in 17 regions to combat unhealthy diet, lifestyle

Tweet

After its successful launch in Metro Manila, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) pushes its“"10 Kumainments” campaign to all 17 regions of the country, through the local government units (LGUs) as its drivers.

The campaign, which provides “the recommended guide” for Filipinos to obtain a healthy diet by following simple guidelines, has been translated into local dialects, including Cebuano and Ivatan. The NNC-ARMM(Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) has even made a transliteration of the nutritional guidelines in Arabic and called it the Nutritional Guidelines for Muslim Filipinos, which cites teachings in the Qur’an, showing support for each of the guidelines.

The 10 Kumainments was launched last 23 October 2014 by the National Nutrition Council and has been widely publicized through well-placed TV and radio commercials in leading radio and television networks and local radio stations nationwide. Regional launch events were led by the NNC regional offices in key cities nationwide.

The program was launched to address the growing concern for the nutritional status of Filipinos, which has been compromised by either a lack or excess of food, unhealthy eating habits and the trend towards a sedentary lifestyle. These have, in turn, led to the rise of non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases and diabetes.

“Filipinos love to eat, especially during the holiday season. That is why it is very important to remind Filipinos that they should not compromise their health while celebrating in countless office parties, family reunions and dining out opportunities this season,” said Assistant Secretary of Health Maria-Bernardita T. Flores, Executive Director of the NNC.

The NNC’s “10 Kumainments” were derived from the 10 Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF)developed by aninter-agency Technical Working Group through the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology, and have been popularized this year with an easy-to-remember format and a more relatable approach. These are the primary recommendations for nutrition and healthy lifestyle in order to attain good health,” she continued.

The 10 Kumainments are simple, easy to follow and easy to remember. For example:

 Kumainment No. 1 states: “Kumain ng iba’t ibang pagkain” while Kumainment No. 3 states: “Kumain ng gulay at prutas araw-araw”.

The 10 Kumainments are like the Biblical 10 Commandments. Thus, a character was developed in the person of Moises Dalisay or “Mang Moi” who was molded after the Biblical Moses—who now promotes the 10 Kumainments in media and in communities.

The NNC plans to further push its nutritional awareness campaign by working together with various government agencies in 2015 for issuance of department circulars and memos to encourage the use of the nutritional guidelines. Restaurants, groceries, supermarkets, dining places and other public places will be included in the campaign since this is where people need to be reminded of pursuing healthy eating and an active lifestyle. Since a lot of Filipinos also live abroad, a more aggressive and extensive dissemination of the 10 “Kumainments” will be done through Philippine embassies and consulates and the Internet for wider reach.

“We encourage all Filipinos to follow the 10 Kumainments so that they can influence proper nutrition behaviours and to also be able to help reduce the risk to malnutrition and non-communicable diseases,” Flores said.

For more information, write or call the NATIONAL NUTRITION COUNCIL,
Address: 2332 Chino Roces Ave. Extension, Taguig City.
Tel. Nos. 843.0142; 843.1337; 843.5824; Fax No. 843.5818;
Email: info@nnc.gov.ph or
Visit http://www.nnc.gov.ph
www.facebook.com/nncofficial.
Twitter @NNC_official.