Learn More About the COVID-19 Vaccine in the Philippines Through #VaccineAlamin : TikTok partners with the Manila City Government on this important COVID-19 vaccine education campaign

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The COVID-19 vaccine is gradually becoming available around the world, and in the Philippines, preparations are underway for a vaccination program roll-out in the coming months. Vaccination plays a key role in ending the COVID-19 pandemic by preparing a person's immune system to fight the virus, should you be exposed. This potentially helps to reduce its spread within entire communities. 

At present, the majority of Filipinos are still unwilling to receive the vaccine due to concerns over its safety, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey. This poses a challenge to the implementation plans of both local and national government units. To address this, the City Government of Manila has partnered with TikTok for #VaccineAlamin, a COVID-19 vaccine education campaign. #VaccineAlamin aims to boost awareness on the health benefits of immunization, and spread accurate information about the COVID-19 vaccine to the public.

The #VaccineAlamin Campaign was launched via TikTok Live last February 22. During the event, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno provided an overview of what local government units are doing to support the nationwide vaccination program. According to him, their goal is not to force people to get vaccinated but instead encourage and help educate them, to enable more Filipinos to make informed decisions once the vaccination program is underway. 

Mayor Isko identified fear and misinformation as two of the biggest barriers that need to be broken down. He said,

"Kaya nagkaroon ng doubt ang ating mga kababayan, dahil dun sa nangyaring isang bakuna na medyo nagkaroon ng masamang impresyon ang mga mamamayan. Pangalawa, 'yung mga misinformation about existing vaccines all over the world."

The mayor also stressed the importance of communication, adding that the most effective strategy is to engage people, and make sure that they have access to factual information. He said,

"I think it's more on talking to the people, kaya kami nagpapasalamat sa TikTok, because this is a set of audience, because of its demographics, if we can use this type of outlet, malaking bagay kasi 'yung tao directly makatatanong samin."

He adds,

"Having TikTok nowadays, helps us. People are into it, so why not use it as a form of communication. Sa dami nang binabasa ng mga tao ngayon, sa dami ng pumapasok na impormasyon sa tao ngayon, kailangan maging catchy."

Manila City Health Officer, Dr. Arnold Pangan, also spoke at the launch event. He explained some important things that people need to know about the vaccine. Dr. Pangan clarified that, while the vaccine protects you from suffering from a serious form of COVID-19, it is still possible to get the disease after being vaccinated against it. This is why it is important to still take precautions such as physical distancing and mask-wearing. 

According to Dr. Pangan, "You may still be infected with the COVID-19 virus, tuloy-tuloy pa rin dapat ang ating pag-iingat kahit social distancing, kahit wearing of mask, kasi it's not a guarantee. Pag nabakunahan ka na, ang maganda doon, you will be protected from having a severe form of COVID-19 infection."

Members of the TikTok community can show their support for the #VaccineAlamin Campaign by using the hashtag, and sharing creative content filled with factual information about the virus and the vaccine to boost awareness. Whether it is a skit, a song, or a dance video, as long as it helps spread #VaccineAlamin's message, it is sure to make a difference. Mayor Isko himself issued a challenge to TikTok creators to join the hashtag challenge in order to amplify the campaign. He said, "Create a video that will help inform others about #VaccineAlamin Campaign, i will copy it and tag you!"

TikTok values the safety of the entire community, and the #VaccineAlamin campaign is a great example for how the platform can be used to do good. Through its dynamic features like TikTok Live and hashtags, information dissemination becomes easy, enjoyable, and relatable, while still being meaningful and impactful.

As CNN Philippines News Anchor, James Deakin, who hosted the launch event, said, "It's such a pleasure to use this platform in a way that I never foresaw, but it is very effective. We just want to be able to reach out to as many people as possible. We'd like to thank TikTok for making this possible, for inviting us over here to share this information. As we keep saying, I hope it doesn't sound cliché, we're all in this together."

Learn more about #VaccineAlamin on TikTok, and help spread the word about the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Download the app on your iOS and Android devices today to get started.

What makes a #MomApproved meal? Try these mom-approved tips to help your kids eat better

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Is your child a fussy eater?

You are not alone, mommy! Most of the time, moms feel that their efforts go unnoticed as their children turn away from the delicious and filling meals they serve. Even though it is considered normal for growing kids,^[1] this kind of behavior needs parental intervention because this may lead to skipping meals.

But no matter how picky they are, there are a lot of things you can do to help your kids eat better. Mekeni Food Corporation listed down mom-approved tips you should consider to make mealtime more enjoyable for your little ones.

Add a dash of creativity

We all eat with our eyes first and yes, even kids do that! Make mealtime exciting for your kids with the way you plate and present food to them. Infuse various tastes, vivid colors, and even texture to the dish you serve just like how a gourmet meal is served in a fancy restaurant. Surely, kids will want to eat their food right away!

You can also put a twist to their meals by adding different styles and layering different tastes to tickle their taste buds. Hotdog in a bun? Boring. Grilled cheese hotdog sandwich topped with shredded cheddar cheese, some pickle relish, and a dollop of mayo and mustard? Divine! Play with shapes too or their favorite cartoon characters by serving their meals bento-style.

Sprinkle consistency to daily meal

One of the factors that can influence kids’ eating habits is time. Make sure that you put consistency in their mealtime by setting up a routine especially on what time they should have their breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as snack times.

You can also make their everyday meals more nutritious by mixing veggies into their favorites and creating a totally different meal! How does roasted veggies with tiny pieces of hotdog and ham sound? 

Drizzle mealtimes with delightful memories

Who says you can only bond over mealtime? Involve your children in food preparation so they can learn at an early stage and feel the fulfillment in preparing and serving food to the family. Not only that you get to make memories with them while in the kitchen, but you can make them feel more invested in the meal.

By involving them in food preparation, you can also tickle their creativity. Allow them to experiment on shapes and flavors that will let them enjoy the food more!

Top off mealtimes with love

Sharing meals with the whole family is one of the best ways to help kids eat better and maintain a happy heart. This does not only allow you and your kids to talk, but this also enhances their health and well-being. Didn’t you notice? Kids are happier when everyone at home is at the table and happily eating together.

All these mom-approved tips are proven and tested to make mealtimes even more fun for kids, just like Mekeni Food Corporation’s PICNIC Hotdog! Available in Red and Cheesy Brown variants, moms can attest that kids and kids-at-heart love its juicy, delicious, and meaty flavor in every bite. #PicnicIsMomApproved as it makes eating time more fun and exciting!

Mekeni PICNIC Red Hotdog and Cheesy Brown Hotdog are available in 250g, 450g, 500g, and 1kg packages in all leading supermarkets, wet markets, online stores, and Mekeni’s Home2Home delivery service.

^[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6316224/

 

SITEL® PH opens MAXHUB in Bataan bringing job opportunities to more people in Luzon

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Sitel Group®, a global leader in end-to-end customer experience (CX) products and solutions recently launched a brand new Sitel® MAXhub in Balanga, Bataan bringing job opportunities to aspiring CX professionals in the community. The MAXhub, Sitel’s 11th in the Philippines brings the Sitel experience closer to Filipino talents who may be too far from the company’s headquarters in Baguio and Tarlac. To date, the MAXhub has already hired 114 associates with recruitment ongoing.

Sitel joins Balanga City Mayor in opening the latest MAXhub in Bataan

“Sitel has made bold steps to navigate the uncertainties of the global pandemic,” said Geoffrey Domigpe, Vice President of Operations, Sitel Tarlac. “We continue to broaden our work-from-home capabilities and expand avenues for training, development and employee engagement. These MAXhubs are Sitel’s continued commitment to bringing more jobs closer to where Filipinos live and promoting countryside development.”

The first Sitel MAXhubs were launched last June in response to the pandemic and to bring the Sitel opportunities closer to aspiring professions in the provinces. Through these satellite sites, job seekers in remote areas had a convenient location to facilitate recruitment, onboarding, and technology and equipment distribution for Sitel at Home arrangements.

“We look forward to working closely with Sitel and helping grow the MAXhub in Balanga,” expressed Mayor Francis Anthony S. Garcia, Mayor of Balanga City. “This partnership is will help bring job opportunities to Balanga and Bataan as a whole and boost the local economy.”

The Balanga Sitel MAXhub is located at One Magnolia Center, occupying the building’s fourth and fifth floors with facilities for training and production. To ensure safety, physical distancing and health and sanitation measures are fully implemented.

“Bataan is an ideal location for Sitel’s expansion,” shared Haidee Enriquez, Chief People Officer, Sitel PHANZ. “The region possesses a highly skilled and competent labor force, a business-friendly environment, strong infrastructure, and an engaged local government. Thanks to the strong support of the LGU we were able to safely hire over 100 associates in just under three weeks. We have high hopes for Balanga’s continued capability to support Sitel’s further growth.”

At present, Sitel has over 22,000 employees in The Philippines with sites located in Metro Manila, Baguio, Tarlac, Palawan and Sitel MAXhubs in Palawan, Cabanatuan City (Nueva Ecija), Angles City (Pampanga), Dagupan City (Pangasinan), San Fernando City (La Union).

 

FOOD INTOLERANCE: Why You Should Take A Test Now

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The year 2020 was quite the understatement of the decade. Fast forward to today, people have started to adapt to the new normal and have even taken things to a whole new level with health and wellness. It has become the buzzword and the ‘in’ thing. Wryly put, it has taken a pandemic for people to make time and focus on their own health and wellness as well as their family’s.

In fact, we’ve seen a surge of customers who have taken the Food Intolerance Test (FIT) from LifeScience Center. The FIT is famous among celebs, influencers and health buffs because it tests for the types of food your system is intolerant too. We list down reasons why YOU should take the Food Intolerance Test:

1. No, the Food Intolerance Test (FIT) is not the same as an allergy test. Intolerance symptoms may not be as life threatening as allergies, but it can affect your daily life by making you feel uncomfortable or irritated and can weaken your immune system. The FIT tests which types of food your body is intolerant or averse to.
2. But how exactly do you know if you’re already intolerant to food right? Is that even possible? Common symptoms of food intolerance include constant bloating, migraines, chronic tiredness and brain fog, and difficulty to lose weight may indicate that your body has reached its limit for certain food types. Awareness of food types your body is averse to makes it easier to eliminate them from your diet.
3. Why take the test at LifeScience Center you ask? Because LifeScience is the sister company of GMT Manila, the exclusive distributor of the Food Intolerance Test here in the country. So you’re assured that only the gold standard in tests and equipment are used to check up on you and assess your results.
4. Awesome care and support from your LifeScience Care Team! At LifeScience Center, you are assigned your very own personal Care Team who will assess you prior to your FIT and explain in detail your results and the next steps to get you started on your journey to better health.
5. The Food Intolerance Test is available at a super discounted price so you can take it with the whole family! Promo is extended this March so you might as well grab it while LifeScience Center still has slots.

LifeScience Center is also the only clinic in the country to have a full team of health practitioners trained in Functional Medicine. Each client will have their own wellness tribe consisting of a doctor, nutritionist-dietitian, health manager, health coach, fitness coach, and psychologist. No other consult will be as thorough and holistic as the ones offered in the center. If you or anyone you know is suffering from chronic conditions such as heart disease, hormonal imbalances, and gut problems, booking a consultation is your best bet in knowing how to resolve these issues for the long-term.

You can have online consults with their Functional Medicine-trained doctors

and Care Team or have it done in-clinic.

You can book your Food Intolerance Test online and have

your test done in LifeScience Center's clinic located in

High Street South Corporate Plaza.

Know which food items have been causing

inflammation and symptoms that can weaken your immune system.

Know more about their promos by sending their Care Team a message via Facebook Messenger, or emailing them at ask@lifescience.ph. You can also visit their website at https://lifescience.ph.

 

 

 

 

UNIQLO To Open Its First Store In Butuan

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Japanese global apparel retailer, UNIQLO, is set to open its first store in Butuan City on March 26, 2021. Situated at the ground floor of SM City Butuan, along JC Aquino Avenue, the opening of the store marks the brand’s commitment to provide affordable, stylish, and functional essentials to more locals in helping them with their everyday clothing lifestyle needs.

With 859 square meters shopping space, Butuanons can soon have access to the complete lineup of LifeWear clothing for women, men, kids, and babies, including UNIQLO shirts, pants, jeans, denims, dresses, the AIRism collection, and UV Protection pieces. On the opening week, customers can enjoy special offers on selected UNIQLO items perfect for the summer season.

For more updates, please visit UNIQLO Philippines’ website at www.uniqlo.com/ph and download the UNIQLO APP via Google Play Store or Apple Store. 

Follow UNIQLO Philippines’ social media accounts, Facebook (facebook.com/uniqlo.ph), Twitter (twitter.com/uniqloph) and Instagram (Instagram.com/uniqlophofficial).