They would like ask for your invaluable support for PDA Pilipinas Darating Ako. With your help,they  can further improve access to dental health, and contribute to our society.

Gone are the days when skincare, particularly whitening or spot and blemish removal, is exclusively for women.  Nowadays, men are also scouring the shops for skincare products; after all men’s skin is oilier, thicker, has larger pores and is more prone to breakouts compared to a woman’s skin. Moreover, men engage in more outdoor activities, making their skin more susceptible to damage from the harsh elements in the environment especially the sun. Therefore, men need products that will address their specific skin care needs and concerns. Men also have their dressing tables which are complete with skin care products.

Vaseline, one of the biggest skin care brand in the world understood this key difference between a man and a woman’s skin and has launched Vaseline Men Skin Care Range. Vaseline Men not only gives fast & instant cleansing effects but also provides visible whitening results. Vaseline Men is available in various skin care formats and products such as facial wash, moisturizer, body lotion and body wash. Its anti-spot whitening line provides instant UV protection and makes skin fairer in just two weeks.

For the face, there’s Vaseline Men Anti-Spot Whitening Face Wash and Anti-Spot Whitening Face Scrub, which offer instantly brighter, oil-free looking and fairer skin with reduced dark spots and blemishes in just two weeks.  It refreshes the skin by removing dirt, oil and the daily effects of pollution from deep within the pores while its vitamin B3 content helps reduce the appearance of dark spots to help skin become fairer.

Apart from just washing your face, it is also important that you moisturize to ensure that you stay protected from the sun especially when outdoors. After all, a good facial skin lies in having adequate moisture. With this, Vaseline Men recently introduced its line of non-sticky and fast-absorbing moisturizers.

The New Vaseline Men Anti Spot Whitening Face Moisturizer promises to give fairer skin with visibly reduced dark spots and blemishes in just two weeks along with other amazing skin benefits.

It is available in three variants – Oil Control, Hydrate & Soothe and SPF15. Vaseline Men Anti-Spot Whitening Oil Control Face Moisturizer gives long-lasting oil control while the Anti-Spot Whitening Hydrate and Soothe Face Moisturizer contains aloe vera extract that calms and nourishes skin.  In addition, the Vaseline Men Anti-Spot Whitening SPF 15 Face Moisturizer provides 93% protection from UVB rays, perfect for all your outdoor and sports activities.

Apart from taking care of your face, men also need to take care of their body as it is also exposed more to the sun during summer. That’s why when you’re taking a bath you need to make sure that you’re using Vaseline Men Active White Body Wash. It offers instantly brighter-looking skin that’s healthy and conditioned.  It contains an advanced formula with essential nutrients and skin nourishing vitamin E to remove daily impurities, revealing a skin that’s healthy and whiter.

Complete the entire skin care regimen for men by getting that healthy, whiter skin with Vaseline Men UV Whitening Body Lotion. This lotion provides instant protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays. And in two weeks, it also helps match your skin’s dark areas to the light areas. It can do all of this thanks to its non-sticky formula featuring a combination of micro-whitening agents, vitamin B3 factor and dual sunscreens.  These help skin become healthier by improving its resistance against dryness and making it more conditioned.

Vaseline Men’s skincare whitening products perfectly complement today’s modern man who leads a very active and adventurous lifestyle and values healthy, good-looking skin that’s visibly white, blemish-free and protected from the sun.  Never is this more important than summer, when there are plenty of exciting sports events and outdoor adventures to enjoy, like the Vaseline Men XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon Series happening this March in Liloan, Cebu.  So stop using your sister’s, mother’s, wife’s or girlfriend’s skin care product, use a product that is specifically designed to address a real man’s skin care problems. Use Vaseline Men Skin Care range to get instant effects, visible results.

The Vaseline Men XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon Series is comprised of three legs that will surely thrill sports enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike: The first event is the Pang Rave Run, a trail run set in San Mateo Rizal, on February 26. The second and the highlight event is the Vaseline Men XTERRA Main Weekend in Liloan Cebu from March 17 to 18. This will involve both a trail run and an off-road triathlon. The top age group finishers from these two activities will vie for 35 slots to the XTERRA World Championships in Hawaii. Lastly, the third event is Putik Pare, an exciting duathlon that challenges the participants to rough it out in mud. This is scheduled on Nov 18, 2012 in Clark, Pampanga.  Each activity promises to deliver a challenging yet enjoyable experience for all seasoned tri-athletes and thrill seekers.

With Vaseline Men’s anti-spot whitening skincare line, enjoying healthy, conditioned and visibly whiter skin is definitely a guy thing

If you’re worried you or your partner may be infertile or if you are seeking treatment for infertility, you may want to bone up on your knowledge of this condition by attending this forum.

The event will be held  is FREE and will be at 6:00 PM on February 15, 2012, at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City. If you plan to attend, just send an e-mail expressing your interest with your full name and contact numbers to  events@femalenetwork.com.

Three experts have been invited to speak on specific issues:

Dr. Edwin E. Dimayuga is a licensed OB-Gyn and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility specialist. Having trained in Australia as well as the Philippines, Dr. Dimayuga now has clinics in the Trinity Woman and Child Center, Makati Medical Center, Manila Doctors Hospital, and the Asian Hospital. He will be discussing infertility investigation, specifically what infertility is, what causes it, the tests that can be taken to determine infertility, and important parameters for the condition.

Dr. Debbie Guani Dy-Meguizo is also an OB-Gyn and a specialist in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility as well as Gynecologic Endoscopy. She consults with St. Luke’s Medical Center—in both their Global City and Quezon City branches—and with the DLS-STI Medical Center. She also teaches in St. Luke’s College of Medicine. Dr. Meguizo will be discussing infertility management, specifically discussing what patients can expect from the different treatment options available to them.

Dr. Anthony Marc. B. Ancheta is the third OB-Gyn who will be discussing infertility at the patients’ forum; he’s trained in minimally invasive surgery as well as advanced reproductive techniques and in vitro fertilization, or IVF. He currently serves as Section Chief of Reproductive Medicine, Infertility, and Gynecologic Endoscopy in The Medical City. During the forum, he’ll be talking about the emotional and psychological issues associated with infertility and how medical professionals can help the couple through their journey.

        Every time a new year begins, we are filled with new hope. As a result, we make promises to better ourselves. We need to take control of our lives and wear the pants so to speak. Here are a few of the most popular new year’s resolutions: lose more weight, eat intelligently, quit smoking, drink less alcohol, start biking, run more or love myself more. However you look at it, essentially most resolutions point toward living a healthier life today.

The fundamentals of a healthy life revolve around adopting a more active lifestyle through exercise or sports and sticking to a good balanced diet. A balanced diet refers to having the proper amounts of carbohydrate, protein, fat (also known as macronutrients), vitamins and minerals (also known as micronutrients). The modern Filipino diet, regrettably, is too sweet or salty, too rich in carbohydrates and saturated fat. Couple that with a lack of physical activity, and you become a candidate for any of today’s common medical conditions.

Now is the time to be true to your new year’s resolutions. To achieve that balanced diet, one of the things you can easily do is to make fish a big part of your new dietary plan. Fish is a good source of protein and contains many nutrients. Oily fish in particular is known to be high in Omega-3 fatty acids. According to the Omega-3 Academy Asia, omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated “good” fat, notably, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) that are important to our health, mainly in helping prevent heart disease and for proper brain function & development. It is also widely known to ensure proper blood circulation, keep the eyes healthy and aid in controlling inflammation due to arthritis, post-surgery, infection, and others. Getting enough amounts of Omega-3 is also correlated with enhancing one’s mood, preventing depression and anxiety. It has some evidence to show that it can help maintain good skin and provide protection against cancer.

As for me I really want to be a better and healthier version of me. Of course using the  old navy coupons that are expiring soon is also a great excuse to be healthy.

 The design and look of any room in your house depends on the furniture that you will place in the room. The furniture you will choose can either make or break the look that you are going for the room. This is why a lot of people prefer to get high end furniture to ensure elegance and sophistication.

Among the most popular type of high end furniture is mahogany furniture. Whether your mahogany furniture is formal dining room furniture or a more casual set of mahogany dining chairs, it is important to know how to care for them to make them last for many years. Below is a guide that can help you in taking care of your mahogany furniture.

•  Regular cleaning. Make sure that you clean your mahogany furniture regularly especially if it is a mahogany dining table. Use a soft dry cloth or duster to wipe away dust. For more stubborn dirt and stains, you can try wiping with a damp cloth.

• Polish. Use furniture polish at least once a week but make sure to apply only a light coating. Make sure that the furniture polish you will use is safe for mahogany wood. This will help repel light dust and dirt. After applying the furniture polish, wipe the furniture again with a lint-free cloth.
• Wax. Apply wood wax especially designed for mahogany wood at least once a month. This will help protect the wood of your mahogany furniture especially if a corrosive substance gets in contact with the wood. This will also help revive the condition of the wood of your furniture, giving it a shiny and glossy texture.
• Keep away from the sun. It is best to keep all the surface of your mahogany furniture away from sunlight. Choose a spot in the room where the furniture will not be subjected to sunlight. If it is inevitable for the furniture to be hit by sunlight at some point in the day, try to rotate the furniture every few weeks.
• Protect from extreme heat. Wood does not react well with heat so make sure that the surface of the furniture does not get in contact with extreme heat. For a mahogany dining table, place rubber mats or place mats before placing a hot dish on the table.
• Remove stains. If your mahogany furniture acquires any stain like water stains and other discolorations, you may use lemon oil to remove it. Simply rub lemon oil on the stain, leave it overnight, and then wipe it off in the morning.
• Disguise scratches. Unfortunately, if your furniture gets scratched, there is little you can do about it. But even if you cannot remove the scratch, you can do the next best thing – disguise it so that it is not noticeable. You may do this by dipping cotton into iodine, dabbing it onto the scratched area, and wiping it away with a clean cloth.

The foremost culinary competition for aspiring Filipino chefs dubbed as “The Ajinomoto 3^rd Umami Culinary Challenge (3^rd UCC): Battle for the Umami Bowl”, welcomed thousands of visitors at the SMX Convention Center last January 20, 2012. The annual event was a big success as it featured over 300 student-competitors from universities, colleges and culinary schools in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Giving credence to the affair are renowned culinary greats who graced the event as judges, speakers and cooking demonstrators lets not forget the kids dance music  of the winners.

Food journalist, television host, culinary researcher, and Filipino food promoter, Ms. Nancy Reyes-Lumen, served as the 3^rd UCC Competition Director for three (3) years. She said “The Umami Culinary Challenge continues to be the “first base” for HRA and culinary school students in the field of cooking competitions. The UCC gives them the confidence and added skills they need to be globally competitive. Thus, the trend continues for UCC to combine the elements of fun and competitiveness with education and knowledge in umami.  Win or lose, the participants walked away with a big smile and a healthy mind. All in all, the UCC was, is and will always be a big “malinamnam success!”

The highlight of the whole day event is the Awarding Ceremony hosted by Ms. Suzi Entrata-Abrera.  Ajinomoto Executives opened the program with a special recognition to Philippine Culinary Icon, Ms. Nora Daza, for her significant contributions in the Food Industry. Mr. Taro Fujie, President of AJINOMOTO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION, gave his welcome remarks to congratulate all participants. Wild cheers and applause met Ms. Sarah Geronimo’s memorable performance as the Popstar delivered a message of inspiration and motivation to all guests and participants.

Miriam College bagged the Umami Bowl Award for garnering the highest average score in major competition categories including the Umami Feature Writing Contest which also made them bag the Dr. Ikeda Award. The school brought home an Elba Kitchen Showcase on top of other prizes courtesy of AJINOMOTO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION. Mr. John Paul Ventura of Jose Rizal University was awarded the Umami Master title after delighting the judges with his umami masterpiece which he named “Pan-Seared Salmon w/ Veggie Rolls and Micro Green Salad in Spicy Coconut Sauce”.

Other big winners are Lyceum of the Philippines Manila as it topped the Umami Bento and Mystery Umami Ingredient categories. Centro Escolar University got the first place in the Amazing AJI-GINISA Race and the Umami Buzz Jeopardy Challenge. Trinity University of Asia came out first in the Prep, Shake and TakTakTak competition, De La Salle Araneta University won the Plate-My-Dish competition and Appetite Magazine’s Capture Umami Challenge (Food Photography Contest) while College of the Holy Spirit received the special award “Media’s Choice for Best Plated Umami Bento”. The top three (3) culinary schools that competed for the 5-Ingredient-Umami-Healthy Dish competition are: Global City Innovative College, American Hospitality Academy and MOST Institute Culinary School.

All winners in the Ajinomoto 3^rd Umami Culinary Challenge received cash prizes, medals and various cooking implements from Ajinomoto and valued event sponsors namely Elba, Whirlpool/Fujidenso, PR Gaz, Meat and Livestock Australia, Masflex and Appetite Magazine. Other event partners are GMA 7, Philippine Daily Inquirer and PR Moms Network.

“We jail people for killing one or two persons. How about institutions or people that ravage the environment and cause the death of hundreds or thousands? The floods of Palawan are absolutely due to mining – due to the denudation of forests.”

These were the words of Gerry Ortega, radio broadcaster and environmentalist. He was shot in cold blood on January 24, 2011, in a public market in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, just a few kilometers from his hometown of Aborlan. Doc Gerry Ortega was a passionate crusader for the environment. He understood the evils of mining. He railed against the greed and corruption that allowed mining to proliferate. He explained to people that if mining in Palawan were allowed to continue, there would be a real danger that the island could collapse and sink into the sea. If the Philippines were to lose Palawan, the country would lose a valuable and irreplaceable treasure.

He dedicated his life to protecting the environment. He died working for his cause.

Doc Gerry Ortega had a dream. That dream was to have a Palawan unspoiled by the devastation wrought by mining. It was his dream to put a stop to the destruction of forests, mangroves, and coral reefs. It was his dream for native Palaweños and for all Filipinos to take part in preserving the natural beauty that is Palawan. It was his dream for the preservation of Palawan to become our legacy to the next generation.

Now we could sit still and do nothing. Or we could take the time to understand and consider where we stand on the issue of mining in Palawan. Let us not throw away our children’s future for a couple of baubles like gemstone beads.

AJINOMOTO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION welcomes 2012 with a culinary competition to showcase the creativeness, innovativeness, culinary skill and mastery of over 300 aspiring Filipino chefs. The event is dubbed as the Ajinomoto 3^rd Umami Culinary Challenge (3^rd UCC): The Battle for the Umami Bowl and will be held on January 20, 2012 at the SMX Convention Center. “Ajinomoto is very excited because on its 3^rd year, UCC has more schools competing from Metro Manila and nearby provinces.” says Chef Russell Bautista, Project Head of the 3^rd UCC.

The much-awaited event is the first of its kind – an interschool, multi-category culinary competition that focuses on umami, the 5^th Basic Taste. The 3^rd UCC will feature participants from 27 Universities and colleges that offer HRM and Nutrition courses and five (5) prestigious culinary schools. Many think that joining such a competition is easy but it focuses more not just the food, the students are taught costing how to price their meals how to buy the best ingredients and in other countries how to use the free checking MA bank checking accounts wisely.

To allow participants to show off more of their repertoire of skills, this year’s challenge is even bigger and features new and exciting culinary and non-culinary categories. For the benefit of those who are eager to expand their horizons, seminars will be held on new trends and techniques that can complement one’s cooking abilities.

An impressive line up of judges from various fields related to food will pick out the best of the best. These renowned culinary luminaries include: Sandy Daza (Inquirer columnist and TV show host), Chef Babes Austria  (Executive Chef of Taal Vista Hotel  and former Executive Chef of Malacañang Palace),Chef James Antolin (Vice President of Pastry Alliance of the Philippines), Chef Day Salonga and Chef Mon Acosta (Chef Consultants for opening new restaurants), Nina Daza-Puyat (Editor in Chief, Appetite Magazine), Chef Seiji Kamura (Executive Chef and owner of Mogu Japanese Restaurant), Vicky Alejandrino, (Head of Quality Assurance and Commissary for the Pancake House Group), Chef Colin McKay (Executive Chef and owner of Sala Restaurant Group) and Tetta Arroyo (Travel and Food Writer) among others.

The Ajinomoto 3^rd Umami Culinary Challenge is a collaboration of organizations which strongly support the development of the Philippine culinary scene, among them are Glutamate Association of the Philippines (GAP),Elba, Whirlpool/Fujidenzo, Masflex, PR Gaz, Meat and Livestock Australia, and Anvil Publishing together with media partners GMA 7, Appetite Magazine, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer Libre and PR Moms Network.