Combi World's Biggest POPulation Song; Combi hits all the right notes!

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Combi World's Biggest POPulation Song was launched last September 10, 2015 and presents the winners of the weekly themes and media friends trooped to the well-known URBN Bar & Kitchen in Bonifacio Global City.  The fun party was hosted by costplayer and model Alodia Gosiengfiao.

Alodia Gosiengfiao 

Made utilizing the multitude of video sound clips submitted, was matched with a video that fully highlighted how unusual combinations can give an amazing result.

We enjoyed as we witnessed that unrelated things be combined into something really big and fun for an amazing result. The many fans of Rebisco's Combi crackers found out when they participated in the Combi World's Biggest POPulation Song!

People were encouraged to send in video sound clips that matched the weekly themes. These clips were intended to be used in an extraordinary song in which all clips would be combined. Held from June 5 to July 25, 2015, for each time period, the best clips were selected and rewarded with cool Humlan headphones from notable audio specialist Urbanears.

Overwhelming with the result, in just over a month, more than 500 video sound clips had been received, comprising a wide range of interesting and creative sound bites from sources ranging from household items to animals and even body parts! The best, however, was yet to come.

The song was revealed amid much fanfare in an event filled with fun games and music by the Buganda Drumbeaters and popular electronica maven Kat DJ. The charming and lively host for that evening was Alodia Gosengfiao, a fixture in the local cosplay scene who is also known to effortlessly create quirky and eye-catching combinations of her own.

The lively host closed the event by asking everyone to tune in for more Combi surprises, leaving attendees eagerly awaiting this. The fun continued after as Kat DJ's beats brought people to the dance floor to groove to her unique musical creations.

During this event, all guests and media just goes to show how unusual things can be combined for an amazing result. In that way, it was just like Combi, in which crackers, wafers and filling or cookies, wafers and filling are combined for a snack that is truly amazing and definitely delicious!

To stay updated with all the Combi fun, Like the Combi Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/thegreatcombi.nation) and follow the Combi Instagram account (instagram.com/combi_nation)

The Ups and Downs of a Diabetic’s Life

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Managing type 2 diabetes can be a tall order for anyone — but help has arrived

With the various risks and complications associated with the condition, a type 2diabetes diagnosis imposes a heavy burden on patients and their families. Itmeans that many things about the patient’s way of lifewill have to change, and that the host of challenges brought on by the disease will have to be handled head on.

Patients will first have to deal with the various symptoms of type 2 diabetes such as increased thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger, weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, slow healing sores or frequent infections, and patches of darkened skin known as acanthosis nigricans.

Thehealth complications that may be caused by the disease are another source of worry. Among these are a number of life-threatening illnesses frequently associated with diabetes such as kidney disease and various cardiovascular diseases that can lead to heart attack and stroke.

“Between managing the condition each day, the sometimes overwhelming symptoms, and worrying about cardiovascular complications, patients with type 2 diabetes have a lot to deal with,”saysDr. Mary Anne Lim Abrahan, Professor at the Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. “It’s important for patients to be as positive and as disciplined as possible.”

The big challenge

Many physicians recommendthat patients commit to a number of lifestyle-related changes to manage the disease. These include maintaining a healthy body weight; avoiding fatty, non-nutrient dense foods; replacing refined carbohydrates with fiber-rich wholegrain foods; and exercising at least 150 minutes each week.

These adjustments are meant to address certain treatment goals for patients with type 2 diabetes – achieving near-normal blood sugar levels; attaining healthy lipid levels in the heart; preventing complications such as heart and kidney disease; achieving healthy weight; and promoting overall good health.

And of course, there is the need to take any possible medication prescribed by doctors. 

TECOS – a source of comfort and reassurance 

There however has been some concern on the part of doctors about any additional risk that might be posed on the cardiovascular system of type 2 diabetics by anti-diabetes drugs. This is understandable, as the disease itself already increases a patient’s risk for cardiovascular events. For this reason, the United States Food and Drug Administration, in 2008, started requiring new anti-diabetic medications to conduct studies on cardiovascular safety.

The University of Oxford Diabetes Trials Unit and the Duke University Clinical Research Institute recently released the results from one of such studies. Known as TECOS (Trial Evaluating Cardiovascular Outcomes with Sitagliptin) to its proponents, it assessed the long-term cardiovascular safety of Sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor. 

DPP-4 inhibitors work by prolonging the activity of the hormones called incretins, which are released in the gut in response to a meal. These incretin hormones help control blood sugar by signaling the pancreas to release appropriate amounts of insulin that are needed by the patient. At the same time, incretins also direct the liver to regulate sugar production. These actions help patients control blood glucose with a lower risk for hypoglycemia (very low blood sugar level), which itself could be harmful.

For TECOS, 14,671 type 2 diabetic patients with documented cardiovascular disease from 38 countries were given either Sitagliptin or a placebo on top of their usual anti-diabetic medications. After an observation period of about 3 years, results showed that sitagliptin did not increase the combined occurrence of cardiovascular events (death, heart attack, stroke, hospitalization due to angina) versus the placebo. Moreover, rates of hospitalization due to heart failure, an increasing concern among diabetic patients, did not increase compared to the placebo group.

“The results of TECOS reassures us that Sitagliptin can be safely used by patients with type 2 diabetes to lower blood glucose,”says Dr. Leni Iboleon, chair of the Philippine Heart Association Council on Women’s Cardiovascular Health. “Because these patients already face great risk for cardiovascular complications, a good understanding of the safety of these medicines is very important.”

“These findings are a great boon for patients with type 2 diabetes,” adds Dr. Abrahan. “To rest easy with the knowledge that their medicines are effective and safe makes the disease much more manageable. This is a very important thing, as it directly affects the quality of life of patients.”

Allen Dizon, Toni Gonzaga lead 2015 FAMAS winners

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Allen Dizon won Best Actor for the movie “Magkakabaung” while Toni Gonzaga won Best Actress for “Starting Over Again" as the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences held its 2015 awards night on Sunday held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila. 

“Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo” won Best Picture.

Here is the full list of the 2015 FAMAS awards winners:

Best Picture: Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo

Best Director: Enzo Williams for “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo”

Best Actor: Allen Dizon for “Magkakabaung”

Best Actress: Toni Gonzaga for “Starting Over Again”

Best Supporting Actor: Gabby Eigenmann for “Asintado”

Best Supporting Actress: Sylvia Sanchez for “The Trial”

Best Child Performer: Miggs Cuaderno for “Asintado”

Best Cinematography: Carlo Mendoza for “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo”

Best Editing: Carlo Francisco Manatad for “Feng Shui”

Best Production Design: Roy Lachica and Joel Bilbao for “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo”

Best Screenplay: Ricardo Lee, Enrico Santos and Kriz G. Guzman for “The Trial”

Best Story: Ricardo Lee, Enrico Santos, and Kriz Gazmen for “The Trial”

Best Sound: Addiss Tabong for “Feng Shui”

Best Musical Score: Cesar Francis Concio for “She’s Dating the Gangster”

Best Original Theme Song: “Hindi Pa Tapos” for “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo”

Best Visual Effects: Erick Torrente for “Magnum Muslim .357”

Special awards were also given.

Named Iconic Movie Queens of Philippine Cinema were Gloria Romero, Susan Roces, Nora Aunor, Maricel Soriano, Dawn Zulueta, Sarah Geronimo.

The German Moreno Youth Achievement Award was given to Bianca Umali, Diego Loyzaga, Jasmine Curtis Smith, Kiko Estrada, Kim Rodriguez, Mark Neumann, Miguel Tanfelix, Nadine Lustre, Robi Domingo, Sofia Andres

Aura Face of the Night prize given to Richard Gutierrez and Toni Gonzaga 

And the Fernando Poe, Jr. Memorial Award was given to Coco Martin.

The FAMAS Lifetime Achievement Award for this year was given to “Eat Bulaga” hosts Joey De Leon, Tito Sotto and Vic Sotto.

EPSON Establishes Corporate Governance Policy

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Seiko Epson Corporation recently announced it had established a Corporate Governance Policy summarizing its philosophy and policies relating to governance. The Policy was approved by a meeting of Epson's board of directors held on September 2.

To achieve the goals declared in its Management Philosophy, promote sustainable growth, and increase corporate value over the mid- to long-term, Epson believes in continuously enhancing and strengthening corporate governance that realizes transparent, fair, timely, and decisive decision-making. For effective corporate governance in light of prevailing social imperatives and the operating environment, Epson will review this policy, and amend it as necessary, on an annual basis.

“Epson pursues continuous improvement not only through its products, but also in how it operates. Our goal is to provide better value to our customers and enhance their quality of life,” said Toshimitsu Tanaka, Managing Director of Epson Singapore Pte. Ltd.

Epson’s Corporate Governance Policy here:

http://global.epson.com/SR/organizational_governance/index.html

DepEd sets out career guidance campaign and early registration guidelines for incoming SHS students

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The Department of Education (DepEd) has rolled out a Career Guidance Program (CGP) for incoming Senior High School (SHS) students to guide them on their career path in time for the National Early Registration Day for Grade 10 completers in October.

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said the CGP will assist Grade 10 students make informed choices regarding their preferred SHS track. “We want our students to be aware of the importance of choosing a track that suits their interest while at the same time matches the available resources as well as job opportunities that await them,” he added.

The four major tracks in the SHS Program are Academic, Technical-Vocational Livelihood, Sports, and Arts and Design. 

As specified in Department Order 41 series of 2015, one of the activities of the CGP is the discussion of the Career Guidance Manual containing three modules to be conducted by the class adviser during their Homeroom Guidance class.

Module 1 “Embarking on a Journey of Self-Discovery” is about the learner’s discovery of who they are in terms of likes, values, skills, and interests. 

Module 2 “Examining the Destinations” informs the learner of the possible resources they may use in realizing their dreams through the different SHS tracks. 

Module 3 “Charting Your Own Course” focuses on improving the decision-making skills of the learner and integrates his/her self-awareness in choosing the SHS track that suits him/her. 

The activities under CGP will culminate in the Career Guidance Week set on October 12 to 16, 2015 during which schools are directed to intensify the awareness campaign through career fairs and orientation seminars on the SHS program. DepEd will also discuss with the parents the SHS program through the Parent Teacher Conference scheduled on October 17, 2015.

Upon culmination of the CGP, the National Early Registration Day will be conducted on October 19 to 23, 2015 to ensure that SHS students are enrolled when the SHS is implemented starting school year 2016-2017.

Luistro explained that the DepEd Division Offices will also conduct a division-wide career guidance activities to cater to Grade 10 students enrolled in private schools and to high school graduates prior to the full implementation of the of K to 12 Program.

The career guidance is also open to the passers of the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) and the Accreditation & Equivalency (A&E) Test for the junior high school level.