Power Over Cervical Cancer: The Power Wives

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Cervical cancer is a major problem for Filipino women: it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among Filipinas, with seven dying of the dreaded disease every single day. What’s more worrying is that 2 in 3 Filipinas diagnosed with cervical cancer may die within five years, or up to 2,832 women dying in a year. In its early stage, it may have no signs or symptoms. 

The power to protect yourself from cervical cancer is in your hands. Every woman, regardless of race, age, lifestyle or socio-economic status---is at risk. But it can be prevented. The World Health Organization recommends screening and vaccination as a form of preventive healthcare.

GSK is one of the world’s leading, research-based pharmaceutical companies with the mission to improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. Recently, an advocacy event dubbed as 'Power Over Cervical Cancer: The Power Wives.'

Dr. Leah Manio during the Power Over Cervical Cancer Power Wives event.

Power Over Cervical Cancer

Our culture celebrates our women as selfless and who always put their families’ interest ahead of their own. While selflessness is naturally an asset, we also want to imbibe to our beloved women the values of resilience, self-confidence and self-appreciation as we envision them to realize the fullness of their womanhood.

In this regard, leading research-based pharmaceutical company GSK continues to ramp up its cervical cancer awareness efforts with the patient—the woman—always a priority. In the Philippines, the Power Over Cervical Cancer campaign urges Filipinas to realize that they are empowered—that they can do something to prevent the disease from happening to them, so they can have the wonderful, meaningful and joyful life that they deserve. 

The Power Wives 

The key thrust of GSK’s 2015 cervical cancer awareness campaign, Power Over Cervical Cancer, revolves around empowering women when it comes to preventing cervical cancer. 

To further advance this advocacy to embrace more women across all demographics, the pioneering Power Wives will be the Seafarers’ Wives, who will undergo a program that will include sessions on personality development, image building, personal resilience, financial management and self-care.

To date, there are about 400,000 Filipino seafarers deployed who render themselves and their families at greater risk for several diseases and infections due to their working conditions. While they are striving for financial stability as their idea of a bright future, GSK wants to bring into their consciousness the value of preventive healthcare. 

Chiqui Barretto helping Suzi Entrata to gift wrap

Make Up Artist Mica Tuaño during  her demo with Host Suzi Entrata at the Power Over Cervical  Cancer, Power Wives Event

Secure the Future

On a national scale, Filipino seafarers onboard international fleets have greatly contributed to our social economic progress. Their foreign exchange remittances grow annually, notwithstanding that our seafarers comprise only 5 percent of the total OFWs working abroad. In 2014, their contributions amounted to USD5.6billion out of the USD24.3 billion dollars aggregate OFW remittances or more than 20 percent thereof. Currently, we are also ranked number 4 among the biggest shipbuilders in the world. 

Shipping clearly moves the world. The underlying truth is that Filipino seafarers play a major role in the shipping industry as a whole, with 1 out of 4 seafarers onboard international vessels being Filipinos. This means they comprise 25 percent of the total global maritime professionals in the world.

“The significance of the Philippine maritime industry transcends both the global and national arena. Undeniably, 90 percent of world trade is still reliant on international shipping. This means that almost all the food we eat, clothes we wear, the things we buy, use, own, in one way or another, were shipped onboard vessels before they got to us,” stated Capt. Ronald SJ Enrile, Senior Vice-President Maritime Management of Philippine Transmarine Corporation, the country’s biggest shipping-employment agency.

Securing the OFW families’ future is important. The future should not only mean financial stability but also health and wellness among the family members. Therefore, the need for health checkups and vaccination becomes more imperative.

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Importance of early protection

Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells develop and spread in the cervix, the entrance between the vagina and the uterus. The human papillomavirus (HPV), a very common virus, is the necessary cause of cervical cancer. It has been shown that 99.7 percent of cervical cancer patients are positive for HPV infection. It is also estimated that up to 80 percent of women will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives. 

While HPV is primarily transmitted via sexual intercourse, skin-to-skin genital contact is also a recognized mode of transmission. Beyond regular consultations and pap smears by your doctor, vaccines that protect against cancer-causing HPV are also now readily available.

The incidence of cancer-causing HPV infection is actually highest at the young ages of 15-19. This is why the World Health Organization Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (WHO-SAGE) on Immunization reiterates the importance of getting young girls protected through HPV immunization before their first exposure to HPV (i.e. before sexual contact), as young as 9 years old.

Older women are just as susceptible. The risk of persistent infection with cancer-causing HPV (which is necessary for cervical cancer to develop) increases with age, and is highest when a woman is over 66 years old. Vaccination remains to be recommended for older women who did not receive it at an earlier age. However, screening continues to be encouraged among older women as a matter of precaution. 

To know more about cervical cancer, visit the Pangarap Mo, Protektado page on Youtube containing various short filmes conveying how protecting oneself against vaccine-preventable diseases is one important step in the achievement of one’s dreams.

For further information, please visit www.gsk.com.

Goldilocks Cebu Plant to Bring More Tasty Treats to Visayas

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Sweet and more tasty treats for all in Visayas Region! 

Goldilocks, the country’s number one bakeshop, has undoubtedly established itself as a true Filipino icon through its passion to serve quality products all throughout the Philippines.

Despite having 454 branches nationwide, Goldilocks has always maintained an inimitable level of freshness when it comes to its all-time favorites. Aside from applying the most advances baking and packaging techniques to preserve this attribute, the transport time from Goldilocks plants to retail outlets are likewise kept to a minimum.

With the growth of demand in the Visayas market – where Goldilocks has 83 branches – the company recently opened a new cake plant at the Cebu Light Industrial Park in Lapu-Lapu City. The new cake plant is meant to serve the areas of Cebu, Bohol, Eastern Visayas, and Negros Oriental more efficiently.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza joined Goldilocks Bakeshop President Richard Yee and Supply Chain and Technical Director Lawrence Chin for the official blessing of the plant. 

Together with almost a hundred guests, it was once again affirmed how Goldilocks is committed to bring the most delicious and iconic Goldilocks treats to the entire Visayas region.

To learn more about Goldilocks Bakeshop, please visit their official Facebook page, or their website at www.goldilocks.com

Meet and Greet with #AldenAtSMCityFairview

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This is another phenomenal event with the most sought after young celebrity today Alden Richards, as part of album tour , and also preparation for his birthday. 

The young actor who is known as 'Pambansang Bae' and as the other half of the AlDub love team, visited SM City Fairview and and meet and greet Aldenation fans, who really goes wild when he's on the stage and sang God Gave Me You.

SM City Fairview prepared a short program for all the fans held inside Cinema 9. Thirty lucky fans who bought his Wish I May debut album had a chance to meet and greet him on stage.

Alden, simple, humble and good hearted actor and host, shows how he is very grateful with his career right now. His album is titled Wish I May for GMA Records. He didicated the afternoon to his fans, and sang Wish I May, Thinking Out Loud and God Gave Me You, the songs that helped propel the AlDub phenomenon to dizzying heights.

This is Alden’s way of saying, “Thank you God, for all the blessings.” Alden showed his love and care for his fans. 

Congrats to Alden and more power! This is just a half of Aldubnation - Aldub is about love, our Filipino culture and traditions. Watch out for more coming surprises from AlDub!

This Alden's album tour/ meet and greet also kicked off the start of Grand Faiview Sale that offers 70% off on selected items. Experience the grand fairview sale and offerings from SM City Fairview.

Visit SM City Fairview! Enjoy big discounts and savings! 

To know more about Sm City Fairview's Grand Fairview Sale, like them on Facebook: SM City Fairview and follow them on Instagram: @smcityfairview

PLDT HOME widens market leadership, adds 3x more subscribers in Q3

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PLDT VP and Home Marketing Director Gary Dujali talks about the new age of PLDT's connected home vision with the launch of Fibr's 1Gbps broadband.

Leading home digital services provider PLDT HOME has fortified its leadership in fixed broadband, commanding a market share of over 70% at the end of the third quarter of 2015, with record breaking subscriber gains that is three times more than its nearest competitor.

PLDT HOME, a unit of leading telco and digital services provide PLDT, has remained the preferred broadband provider in the country as it registered double-digit growth in digital services such as the PLDT HOME Telpad, the all-in-one tablet, landline and broadband, the triple-play service where broadband and landline services are bundled with Cignal digital TV, as well as the home monitoring system FamCam.

“PLDT HOME continues to strengthen its leadership with more digital services via the Connected Home,” said PLDT and Smart EVP and Head of Consumer Business Ariel P. Fermin. “The fixed line subscriber base reached about 2.3 million at the end of the third quarter of 2015, 54% of whom have fixed broadband subscriptions.”

“PLDT HOME’s fixed broadband has continuously reinforced its industry leadership with its significant array of new digital services and compelling content, providing entertainment to customers everywhere, whether they are at home or away from home. Beyond telecommunications, we are delivering entertainment, peace of mind, and urban comfort to our subscribers,” he said.

At the start of the third quarter, PLDT HOME announced its roster of content bundled with broadband subscription from South East Asia’s number one video-on-demand provider iflix and the region’s leading broadcaster Fox International Channels to live HD channels from Cignal. These services exacerbated the growth of broadband subscription supported by a strong and aggressive activations program.

PLDT HOME has also launched the first and only Quadplay, the innovative bundling offer where mobile services are packaged with voice, data, and cable television, providing customers with connectivity everywhere. It is the mobile service that contains PLDT HOME DSL broadband, PLDT landline, Cignal Digital TV and Smart mobile. 

According to PLDT HOME Marketing Head Gary Dujali, “With Quadplay, we are solidifying our leadership in the broadband market. The service will reinforce the trusted benefits of PLDT HOME brands as we offer our customers a one-stop shop for all their communications and multimedia needs to enable them to experience a richer digital lifestyle in a connected home.”

"Following a strong Q3 performance, PLDT HOME introduced the TVolution stick—a device that turns any HDMI-capable TV to a fully functional Windows computer, and more recently, PLDT HOME Fibr rolled out speed boosts for all subscribers and broke new ground with the unveiling of the country’s first 1 Gbps broadband connection, further enriching PLDT's product portfolio for a digitally connected home," Dujali said.

The PLDT Group’s robust and resilient fixed and wireless networks, with its most extensive fiber optic footprint that spans over100,000 kilometers, enables it to offer reliable broadband services that can simultaneously deliver voice, video, and data at faster speeds and larger capacities through various devices – from computers, tablet, and cellphones, to television sets.

DepEd, IP groups strengthen commitment to Indigenous Peoples education

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Baguio City—The Department of Education (DepEd) and indigenous peoples (IP) groups nationwide gathered together today, November 12, to strengthen partnership for IP education (IPEd) through the symbolic signing of affirmation of commitment.

Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said, “Ang ating ipinagdiriwang ngayon ay isang lakbayin na hindi pa tapos. Hindi ito madali dahil kailangan nating umakyat, at sa ating pag-akyat, walang maiiwan. Kailangan sabay-sabay, tulung-tulong at walang bibitiw para masigurado natin na ang ating inumpisahan ay matatapos.”

Inauguration of a pakedlan at the Baguio Teachers Camp with Indigenous elders and other community representatives. 

“Kailangan nating siguraduhin na buhay ang katutubong kaalaman sa loob ng sistema ng edukasyon,” he added.

Part of the affirmation of commitment to IPEd is the inauguration of a pakedlan, an indigenous space for coming together among the Kankanaey peoples of Benguet, at the Baguio Teachers Camp, where a ritual was conducted together with the IP community representatives from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to culminate the gains of IPEd. The inauguration of a pakedlan symbolizes the recognition of indigenous learning systems within the education system.

Luistro also said that the gains of IPEd are not DepEd’s milestones alone, adding, “Ang tatlong DepEd Orders ukol sa IP education ay galing sa inyo [IP]. Ang sumulat niyan ay kayo. Ang IP education guidelines at curriculum framework ay galing sa sama-samang mungkahi at karanasan [ninyo] sa mga nakalipas na taon ng pagsusulong ng IP education.”

Andres Ngao-i, chairperson of IPEd council of elders in the Cordillera Administration Region, said that DepEd’s commitment to IPEd is evident in the agency’s efforts to make education culture-sensitive, culture-responsive, and learner-centered.

“We are all happy that we are true to our IP curriculum; but we did not do it alone. We did this in partnership with DepEd and the local government units, too,” Ngao-i said. He also added, “Our job is not yet done. Let us continue the implementation of this historic Indigenous Peoples education. This is historical in our regions and our country.”

Luistro said that it is vital for the country to strengthen its IP education, especially with the 2015 ASEAN integration, adding:

“Mahalaga na naka-angkla ang ating kurikulum sa ating kulturanng Pilipino dahil may papasok na ibang kultura. Kapag wala ang katutubong kaalaman na nakapasok sa ating kurikulum, mawawalan tayo ng kaluluwa.”