Caritas PH’s PaMEALyA Program brings relief to struggling scholars

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Caritas Philippines, a partner of Globe’s Hapag Movement, supports 430 families in Ilagan, Isabela

Gilbert Bulan, an eleventh grader from Ilagan, Isabela, used to go to school without a proper meal, at times eating only patis or fish sauce with rice for breakfast. On some days, there was nothing to eat at all.

The youngest of three siblings, Bulan, an 11th grader from the San Antonio National Agro-Industrial and Vocational High School (SANAIVHS) in Ilagan, Isabela, comes from a family who’s unfortunately had limited opportunities in life. His mother, widowed 10 years ago, works as a farm laborer to provide for the family's needs. Given their financial situation, Gilbert works part-time as a sound operator at events to support the family and his studies.

Pamealya1: Gilbert Bulan, an eleventh grader from Ilagan, Isabela, is among beneficiaries of Caritas Philippines’ Alay Kapwa Program on Alay para sa Kalusugan (PaMEALYA Program), which supports scholars facing food insecurity

With the help of Caritas Philippines’ Alay Kapwa Program on Alay para sa Kalusugan (PaMEALYA Program), Gilbert and other families with similar situations are able to enjoy nourishing meals before class so they can focus while learning.

PaMEALyA was launched by the Diocesan Social Action Center (DSAC) – Ilagan Inc., in partnership with the Hapag Movement, a program led by Globe and implemented by partners such as the Catholic humanitarian, development and advocacy organization Caritas Philippines. It aims to address the issue of food insecurity among 430 DSAC-Ilagan scholars from low-income families.

Through thorough evaluation and needs assessment, DSAC-Ilagan found that many of their scholars face food insecurity due to poverty. Hunger is a major obstacle to students’ ability to comprehend and retain lessons. PaMEALyA hopes to address this by providing supplemental feeding to scholars and their families to improve their overall well-being and support their education.

Pamealya2: Beneficiary families of Caritas Philippines' PaMEALYA program

The PaMEALyA program’s roll-out in Ilagan last December was attended by about 1,000 community members, including the scholars and their parents, parish social action team members, volunteers, clergy, recipients of the Hapag-Asa Feeding Program, seminarians, and Self-Help Group Members of the DSAC.

Tenth Grader Daren Dave Aquilana, another beneficiary of the program, shared how it is helping him realize his goal of completing his studies.

"As a scholar, I wish to finish my education. Seeing the reality of our life, my parents are challenged to provide for all my needs. It is with a grateful heart to know that the feeding program will become part of the program I am engaged in,” said Aquilana, whose father works in construction and whose mom is kept at home by poor health.

Caritas Philippines, as an implementing partner of the Hapag Movement, focuses on programs that render services to local communities, allowing people to effectively participate in fighting hunger through livelihood initiatives and social enterprise.

"At Globe, we are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of our communities. This program shows how collaboration and technology can help address pressing social issues such as hunger and food insecurity. We look forward to continuing to work together with Caritas Philippines and the DSAC-Ilagan Inc. to address involuntary hunger in the country," said Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer Yoly Crisanto.

"We are honored to serve our communities through the PaMEALyA program. We are grateful for the appreciation and support of our beneficiaries, and we will continue to work towards providing for their basic needs and improving their lives," said Caritas Philippines Alay Kapwa Program National Coordinator Sweet Cruz-Racho.

Help change the lives of underprivileged Filipinos by supporting the Hapag Movement. 

Visit https://www.globe.com.ph/about-us/sustainability/globe-of-good.html#gref to know more.

Pamealya1: Gilbert Bulan, an eleventh grader from Ilagan, Isabela, is among beneficiaries of Caritas Philippines’ Alay Kapwa Program on Alay para sa Kalusugan (PaMEALYA Program), which supports scholars facing food insecurity

Pamealya2: Beneficiary families of Caritas Philippines' PaMEALYA program

Cardinal Santos highlights latest innovation in treatment for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

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Cardinal Santos Medical Center, one of the Philippines’ leading hospitals, is highlighting the latest in prostate cancer treatment to its patients this Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. 

Prostate cancer is the third most frequent cancer among middle-aged men[1], and since Father’s Day is coming up, it is especially important for fathers to prioritize their prostate health to ensure they are able to spend more happy and healthy years with their families.

Cardinal Santos is one of only two hospitals in the country that offers Radionuclide Therapy, or Lutetium Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (Lutetium PSMA). Cardinal Santos also offers prostate cancer screening procedures and treatments for patients who have already been diagnosed, and other more conventional treatments such as hormonal therapy and chemotherapy.

“Essentially, Lutetium PSMA is a liquid radiation which is given intravenously to the patient,” said Dr. Andrew Dominic Kalaw, a Nuclear Medicine specialist at Cardinal Santos’ Radiology department. “If a prostate cancer patient has already been through more common treatments like hormonal therapy or chemotherapy, but the cancer is still metastasizing or progressing, they can be offered Lutetium PSMA as another form of treatment, which is what we’re already doing here in Cardinal Santos.”

Kalaw finished his medical residency training in Radiology at Cardinal Santos. He then pursued his fellowship in Positron emission tomography (PET) in Switzerland, and then in Singapore for theranostics, particularly in the use of advanced medicines and other radiopharmaceuticals that are very limited in the Philippines, like Lutetium PSMA.

“Lutetium PSMA is a new and rare treatment in the Philippines because it is very hard to procure logistically,” said Kalaw. “It is not produced locally, so we have to order the medicine from abroad, in Europe specifically. We outsource it, we order it through another company who synthesizes the Lutetium PSMA locally, and then it is delivered to us on the day we need to use it.”

While it is a fairly new treatment being offered at the hospital, Cardinal Santos already had its first Lutetium PSMA patient, which turned out to be a success. “The patient tolerated the procedure well,” Kalaw noted. “He was admitted overnight and was discharged the next day with no complications.”

According to Kalaw, the side effects of Lutetium PSMA are fairly benign. “Short-term side effects within the first 24 hours may include nausea, lightheadedness, and in some cases abdominal pain, but that is very rare,” he said.

Lutetium PSMA is also safe to use alongside oral or injectable hormonal therapies; the same cannot be said, however, for chemotherapy. “There is a synergistic effect when given in combination with hormonal therapies, meaning the effect may be more beneficial. But when it comes to chemotherapy, it is the opposite, so we require the patient to stop chemo treatments at least 4 weeks prior.” The reason for this, said Kalaw, is that they need certain parameters, such as blood count, creatinine count, platelet count, kidney and liver health to be on a normal level, and chemotherapy lowers these levels.

Regardless, Lutetium PSMA is a relatively safe treatment, which can be done in three to four sessions. “In my experience, I have seen patients admitted in wheelchairs for their first Lutetium PSMA treatment session,” Kalaw shared. “And then in succeeding sessions, they already felt well enough to go by themselves.”

Prostate cancer manifests itself through symptoms such as needing to urinate more frequently, having weak or erratic flow during urination, feeling the bladder has not been fully emptied after urination, and having blood show up in the urine or semen.[2] However, these symptoms do not necessarily mean the individual has cancer, as they are very common occurrences in men as they get older.

As there is such a fine line between non-cancerous developments in the prostate and prostate cancer symptoms, it is strongly recommended that men start screening procedures for the disease such as prostate-specific antigen testing (PSA) as early as 40 years old, especially those men with family history of prostate cancer.

The challenge now is to raise awareness for the treatment here in the Philippines. “Urologists might be aware of the treatment with regards to prostate cancer, but because of the limited practice and lack of experience, doctors might not know what to expect in terms of safety for their patients. This causes a barrier for referrals,” Kalaw stated. “So our next goal should be informing them that it is available at Cardinal Santos, and that it is safe to offer. I am very confident in saying this because of the favorable outcome of our first Lutetium PSMA patient.”

“I am very glad that Cardinal Santos gave 100 percent of its support and belief in this procedure, because now we are able to perform it here in the hospital. The potential of helping many patients through this is significant,” Kalaw concluded. “Sometimes people are afraid of what they do not understand, but with proper communication, we will be able to further this treatment in our institution.”

Radionuclide Therapy or Lutetium PSMA is available at the Nuclear Medicine department of Cardinal Santos’ Radiology unit. Worry less about prostate cancer in your golden years and spend it happily with your loved ones instead by booking a consultation with Cardinal Santos’ urologists today.

For more information about the programs and services that CSMC offers, please visit https://cardinalsantos.com.ph/. CSMC is also on Facebook, like and follow them at www.facebook.com/CardinalSantos.

[1] https://www.bworldonline.com/health/2022/06/15/454849/knowing-prostate-cancer/

[2] https://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/patient/prostate-treatment-pdq

Get the coolest gift for the best Dad at the Great Samsung Sale

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Celebrate Dad with a brand-new Galaxy device along with amazing freebies, discounts and trade in deals

This Father’s Day, celebrate the greatest man in your life with a brand-new Galaxy device at The Great Samsung Sale!

Happening from June 1 to 25, The Great Samsung Sale is your way to give Dad the premium gadget he most definitely deserves. You may enjoy exciting freebies such as a free Galaxy Buds2Pro or Galaxy Watch5 44mm, big discounts up to 25% and amazing trade-in deals of up to PHP 15,000 in this month-long sale to help you get Dad a fantastic gift at the best price!

For the Go-Getter Dad

If your Dad is a career driven professional who is always on the go, he needs an epic mobile phone experience that delivers: fast processing power, the best productivity tools and amazing camera capabilities. A mobile phone from the Samsung Galaxy S23 series is the best gift for this type of Dad, which also comes with a free Galaxy Buds2Pro with every purchase.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 series marks a new era for the Samsung Galaxy’s ultimate premium phone experience. It comes with the Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy, a revolutionary chip which is the most powerful and efficient platform ever in a Samsung Galaxy smartphone and the fastest12 Snapdragon available today. The Galaxy S23 Ultra also offers an embedded S Pen that many long-time Samsung Galaxy users know and love which offers more possibilities for productivity such as notetaking, and signing of documents. Many tasks are accomplished through its extended battery life and performance.

With the Galaxy S23 series, users can also enjoy an epic camera with improved Nightography to capture content from day to night. It is also Samsung’s most sustainable series yet with more components made using recycled materials than any other Samsung Galaxy smartphone. If you trade in your old device, you can also get freebies and savings worth up to PHP 49,000.

But if a big screen is what Dad loves, you can’t go wrong by giving him a Galaxy Z Fold4 – and you can even get a free Galaxy Watch5 44 mm worth PHP 18,990 with every purchase! With its 7.6-inch main screen and Samsung’s innovative Multi-Active Window, your Dad can run and switch between multiple applications simultaneously for productivity that can’t be beat. Its massive screen also enables dad to watch videos of his favorite shows, and tune in to his favorite sports program. It even comes with two batteries that total 4400mAh, which can definitely keep up with the busiest of work days. It also comes in classic hues – Graygreen, Phantom Black and Beige – that combines power and elegance to match a true professional.

For the Stylish Dad

Meanwhile, if your Dad is a certified sartorialist then a stylish pocket-friendly phone would make a great gift. Choose the Galaxy Z Flip4 to give Dad that perfect touch of elegance and get a free Buds2 Pro worth PHP 12,990. The Galaxy Z Flip4 offers fresh ways to get creative with the FlexCam, which uses the Galaxy Z Flip4’s hinge feature, to allow him to take photos and selfies, hands-free! Durability is no issue here too – Dad can take this phone anywhere as it’s splash resistant and constructed with Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus®+ and Samsung's toughest aluminum frame, the Armor Aluminum hinge frame. You can even get additional savings of up to PHP 15,000 when you trade in your old device!

If you are seeking a more budget-friendly yet still awesome mobile phone for Dad, the newly launched Galaxy A54 or A34 5G would make a great option. Every purchase even comes with a free Galaxy Buds Live worth PHP 7,990, a clear phone case and travel adapter, great for Dad to bring along with him on your family adventures.

The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G and A34 5G also makes awesome entertainment accessible, with a sleek design in trendy colors (Lime, Violet and Graphite). They also deliver stunning images and come with a variety of creative editing tools for awesome photos and videos, and feature immersive Super AMOLED displays with FHD+ resolution for realistic colors.

Both devices come with fast 5G connectivity for downloads, streaming and gaming possibilities, offer super-fast charging and guarantee up to four generations of OS upgrades and five years of security updates – definitely a gift that will last!

For the Dad who is always on an official business on location, get him the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series and get a free Galaxy Tab A7 Lite or Galaxy Tab A8 Wi-Fi and a free book cover keyboard. Find the perfect fit and choose from its 3 different screen sizes – 11-in. for the Galaxy Tab S8, 12.4-in. for the Galaxy Tab S8+ and 14.86-in. for the Galaxy S8 Ultra. It comes with the lightning-fast Snapdragon® 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform processor for on-the-go video conferences, virtual meetings, writing documents, and enjoying various action-packed games when unwinding. It also has a 45W Super Fast Charger so low-battery worries are a thing of the past!

For the Dad who loves to binge watch

For the Dad who is particular about his mancave, you can get him a brand new TV as The Great Samsung Sale is also Samsung’s biggest TV sale of the year! Enjoy up to 50% off on select Samsung TVs Sound Device, premium freebies worth up to P82,998, and exciting bundle offers. In addition, a purchase of ANY new Samsung TV or Sound Device during the sale period gives you a raffle entry to win one of 17 premium items, such as The Freestyle, MX-T70 Sound Tower, Q Soundbar, or an 85" Neo QLED 4K TV.

Samsung is the global #1 TV brand for 17 consecutive years, so if your Dad is a movie buff, hooked on TV series or an avid gamer, this is one gift that he’ll surely love! Promo runs until the end of June.

Catch The Great Samsung Sale from June 1 – 25 and don’t miss this chance to say thank you Dad and give him that amazing Samsung device that he truly deserves.

For more information on The Great Samsung Sale, follow @SamsungPH in Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or visit https://www.samsung.com/ph/

DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-164648 Series of 2023

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Potato program changes lives of Davao and Bukidnon farmers

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It is true that to plant a seed is to believe in a better tomorrow. 

Potato farmer Alan Regino of Sitio Gappang in Barangay Alegre, Davao Del Sur recounted that when he first received potato seeds from Universal Robina Corporation’s (URC) Sustainable Potato Program, he made P280,000 from his first harvest in 2019. The following year, he earned P170,000. The consistent stream of income allowed him to save up for his family’s needs.

URC and the Department of Agriculture provided 27 tonnes of potato seedlings

 to farmer beneficiaries in Davao.

“Dati, mababa lang ang produksyon ng patatas namin kaya hindi sya sapat sa amin. Malaki ang naitulong ng URC at DA dahil kumita ako at nakapagpagawa ng bahay (Before, the potato production was very low, so it wasn’t enough for our needs. URC and DA helped me a lot because I was able to earn money and build a house),” Alan said.

Alan is just one of many farmers who have reaped the benefits from URC’s Sustainable Potato Program. First initiated in 2018 to complement the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), the program provides farmers access to quality potato seeds, training, research, and development in order to aid them in enriching their livelihood.

Last March, URC and DA representatives visited various barangays in Davao Del Sur and Bukidnon to distribute 27 metric tons of granola table potatoes to over 200 farmer beneficiaries.

Previously, URC and DA provided assistance to potato farmers in Benguet and Lanao Del Norte.

A Davaoeño farmer happily takes home a sack of potato seedlings from URC’s Sustainable Potato Program to plant in their garden lot.

A bright future for potato farmers

Before the Sustainable Potato Program offered its assistance, the farmers from Davao and Bukidnon struggled to grow good quality potatoes and other crops. A lot of times, they said, the potato seeds were “prone to sickness,” which greatly affected their overall yield and earnings.

Ricky Monterde from the Cawayan Farmers Association in Bukidnon said that high-quality potato seedlings greatly improved their harvests. This sentiment was echoed by Rex Nawasca, a farmer and member of the Gappang Alegre Potato Farmers Association in Davao Del Sur, who said, “Nung dumating ang binhi ng URC, madaming nagbago sa aming buhay (When we received potato seeds from URC, a lot changed in our lives).”

Nawasca added that he was able to buy a motorcycle, and also saw his colleagues purchase their own vehicles from what they earned from potato farming.

Meanwhile, another farmer from the Imbayao Community Participatory Action Research Association (ICPARA) in Bukidnon shared, “Nakabili ako ng lupa, at nakapagawa ng bahay at garden para sa mga tanim namin.” (I was able to buy a lot, and build a house and a garden, where we can plant more crops.)

Members of Bukidnon’s farmers associations receive a truck full of potato seedlings from URC’s Sustainable Potato Program and the Department of Agriculture.

Former office employees like Noel Padrones of the Kapatagan Upland Farmers Association (KUFA) in Digos City also turned to potato farming to make ends meet. Apart from himself, he’s seen firsthand how fellow farmers achieved a better life and financial growth.

“We’re happy with the Sustainable Potato Program because we can really see how it improved the lives of farmers,” said Melani Provido, DA representative of Alegre Vegetables and Arabica Growers Association, Mt. Apo Potato Farmers Association (in Balutakay, Davao Del Sur) and Highlight Farmers Agriculture Cooperation (in Kapatagan, Lanao Del Norte).

“When the pandemic hit, the program gave them jobs and money to feed their families. Now, they have their own vehicles, houses, and school tuition for their children,” she added.

Aside from enabling farmers to harvest quality produce for consumers, URC’s Sustainable Potato Program continuously helps Filipino farmers provide for their families. The program is part of the company’s move towards becoming a global sustainable organization in accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

As the Philippines strives to improve the agricultural sector, this program, and others like it, is a step towards making food security and fruitful opportunities in farming more accessible to Filipinos.

Ebe Dancel to headline first major concert in Cebu City

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The highly anticipated show will feature a career-spanning set from the artist, as well as the big screen debut of ‘Sa Wakas’ documentary

Cebu City, Philippines – Filipino singer-songwriter Ebe Dancel will be staging his first major concert in Cebu on August 5, 2023 (Saturday), from 7pm onwards, at the Pacific Grand Ballroom in the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Presented by GNN Entertainment Productions and Artist Ko Multi-purpose Cooperative, in partnership with Balcony Entertainment, Ebe Dancel Live In Cebu will feature his career-spanning work as a solo artist and as the frontman of the iconic pop-rock band Sugarfree.

“Ebe Dancel's first major concert in Cebu is long overdue,” Artist Ko Multi-purpose Cooperative Vice Chairman Jude Gitamondoc shares in a press statement. “Ebe has a lot of solid fans in the Visayas, and we want them to experience Ebe's artistry closer to home. Cebuanos love Ebe because he is authentic. His songs have grit, intellect, and integrity, the stuff we expect and value in our own artists. We can't wait for Cebuanos to experience all that in the flesh come August 5.”

Best known as the proponent and organizer of Vispop, the songwriting campaign that brought Bisaya music into the mainstream, Artist Ko will be teaming up with concert promoter GNN Entertainment Productions to mark an auspicious start for a meaningful partnership in the live music scene and bring more engaging events to Cebu in the near future.

Gitamondoc adds, “Part of that success was our sensitivity to the Cebuano audience—what they like to hear, what they are drawn to. Cebu is not just a city. It is a community with a strong identity and a lot of shared values. So when GNN Entertainment Productions approached us to partner with them for this event, that signalled to us their commitment to be respectful to the community.”

Aside from Ebe Dancel’s headlining set, the highly anticipated show will also mark the big-screen debut of the Sa Wakas documentary, which was shot and produced early this year to mark the 20th anniversary of the landmark album. Its director, producer, and creator Cyrian Agujo, will be attending and presenting the film for the first time to the Cebu audience.

Guest performances from Manila and Cebu acts will also be revealed in the coming days/weeks, with the latter being specifically handpicked by Ebe Dancel himself.

With critically acclaimed albums, sold-out concerts, and chart-topping songs under his belt, Ebe Dancel has established himself as one of the biggest pop/rock crossovers of the last two decades.

His biggest hits include "Huwag Ka Nang Umiyak," "Hari Ng Sablay," "Mariposa," "Burn Out," "Tulog Na," "Prom," "Telepono," "Cuida," "Bawat Daan," and more!

Tickets to Ebe Dancel Live In Cebu are available for purchase starting June 14, 2023 (Wednesday) at 6pm via bit.ly/ebexcebu.