Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Dreaded Rotavirus

8:13:00 PM

Microscopic Image of Rotavirus
vaccinenewsdaily.com
This is not a bug nor a malware in a computer but it's something that children should not have during their first 2 years of life.  It's a rotavirus which is the leading cause of diarrhea or pagtatae. According to information, diarrhea is the second leading killer of children aged less than 5 years old.  Everyday, 1,500 children around the globe die because of rotavirus-related diarrhea.  Parents should be alarmed and educated about this.

That's what we learned when we attended an event held in Mango Tree Bistro in Trinoma Mall.  Since it's high time of the celebration of the Chinese New Year it is also high time to celebrate that the Department of Health has announced to the media that they'll be including the Rotavirus Vaccination as part of the Expanded Program for Immunization (EPI) 2012.  The Philippines will be the very first Asian Country to implement Rotavirus Vaccination in the EPI.

This is really great news for those who don't have much access to expensive vaccines for parents to protect their children.  Also and maybe it's about time that DOH will do some campaign with regards to this rotavirus.  For sure if you're going to ask a simple house-wife if they know about this rotavirus, only few would respond to this.

To educate us more about ROTAVIRUS, here are some more information about the indirect and direct effect of the virus.


Image form mydochub.com

  • Diarrhea leads to serious long term effects to a child's development in terms of height, energy levels and cognitive abilities.
  • Diarrhea affects nutrient absorption.
  • Growth shortfalls of up to 8.2 cm by age 7 years.
  • Hospitalization due to acute gastroenteritis/diarrhea.
  • Quality of life as well as their livelihood due to an income loss.

This disease is highly preventable through vaccination and with this there would be a better reduction of infant mortality rate.  ROTAVIRUS Vaccine is best given to babies from 6 weeks up to 8 months of age.  It is administered orally 2 to 3 doses depending on the brand of the vaccine.
Image from baby.families.com
Though Rotavirus vaccine have already been around for quite sometime there is still lack of proper campaign and education with regards to this vaccine.  Hopefully, the Rotavirus vaccine would be available soon on health centers and as part of the immunization programs.






Monday, January 23, 2012

Matteo, Xian and Maja sa Isang "Matinik" na Love Story!

7:49:00 PM


Last Saturday, it was one of the earliest blogger's conference I have ever attended.  It was the My Cactus Heart Blogger's Conference.  Thank God that it is Saturday, no work.  The only hassle is that it's not easy waking up and prepare early morning.

Of course the usual thing, bloggers get to ask questions about the movie and their off cam life most especially about the relationship that Maja and Matteo have right now.  Most of us, bloggers, laugh and giggles as they show and tell some of their experiences with their relationship.

With regards to the movie, My Cactus Heart and according to Enrico Santos, director of the movie, the chemistry of the stars were really great and did make the outcome of the movie a great romantic comedy.  The mixture of Maja's versatility, Xian's serious personality, and Matteo's innocent look make the movie something to watch out.

To give viewers, readers, and fans a tease, here's a portion of the blogger's conference that transpired in Max's Restaurant in Scout Tuazon, Quezon City.







Love is such a "thorny" issue! Nakakasakit, nakakasugat, nakakatinik.  Now if the one you love believes in that, can there still be a happy ending?

'Yan and kwento ng pinakabagong pelikula mula sa Star Cinema, ang "My Cactus Heart"!  It is top billed by the country's most exciting stars, Matteo Guidicelli, Xian Lim and Maja Salavador!  Tungkol ito sa isang babae  (Maja as Sandy) na mula sa magulong pamilya.  She doesn't believe in happily ever after.  Tanggap n'ya at naniniwqala s'ya na love only hurts kaya she is known to be a chronic mambabasted!  But what if someone comes along and will make her question what she believes in?  Ano ang gagawin n'ya?  Can that someone change her jaded heart?


"This is Maja at her best!" 'yan ang sabi ng mg anakapanoon na ng rushes ng "My Cactus Heart".  Not surprising at all since we all know that Maja is one of the most talented actresses we have around.  Maja is so versatile!  She can do drama, comedy, horror, romance.  Her teleseryes last 2011 were all top-raters ("Impostor", "Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin"), and she has another big teleserye for this year, "Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin".  Kung talent ang pag-uusapan, hindi madedehado si Maja d'yan!  As for Matteo, "My Cactus Heart" is his first starring role.  We have all seen him in his past teleseryes too and he has indeed proven that he is more than just a pretty face.  As Karlo, we can now all see why Matteo could just be the next important male lead star!  Introducing naman sa pelikula si Xian Lim, one of the most promising new male stars of today.  Xian's brooding stance made us all notice that he's got the "it" and he deserves a second look!  He plays the role of Bene, one of the two men who will try to win over Sandy's heart.  Now, Karlo or Bene?  Sino sa kanila ang makakapagpabago kay Sandy?  Who can make her believe that there is "happily ever after"?


Exciting love story, fresh casting combination!  'Yan ang "My Cactus Heart" na ipinagmamalaking handog ng Star Cinema.  Directed by Enrico Santos, the movie opens nationwide in over 100 theaters on January 25.  Eto na "ang pinaka-matinik na love story" ngayong 2012!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Enjoy Chinese Street Food At SM North Sky Garden

8:41:00 AM
As part of the celebration of the Chinese New Year, SM City North EDSA is showcasing the different Chinese Street Foods at their Sky Garden area.  Making every customers, passersby, and guests crave for those yummy and delicious foods.

The Chinese Street Food Festival has started last January 17 and it will end on 23.   So, if you're planning to have some food tripping this long weekend better get your friends or families and run to SM City North EDSA Sky Garden for that yummy and tasting experience.

To better get you more enthusiastic in getting there here's a sample of what you could expect at the Chinese Street Food Festival.  Below are some of the pics from the Chicken Deli stall participated in the said festival.  Aside from there are lots of other food stalls that offers tasty Chinese street foods.  Well, our correspondent Jefferson was lucky enough to experience that crave quenching and tummy filling event.


Chicken Deli is one of their stop over.  Chicken Deli provides a variety of chicken dishes for their consumers.  One of their best selling is the Chicken Inasal which was really known in Bacolod and was really a hit for the masses.  They also offers chicken barbeques and also they have this Special Batchoy.

Image courtesy of Aylin

Govby's Food Stall... not really familiar with this food stall but they are offering different tummy fillers.  Some of their hunger quenching foods are the Hong Kong Noodles which I think are fried noodles, mini siopaos, and some shabu-shabu.

Image courtesy of Aylin





Image courtesy of Aylin


My Red Basket offers a delightful list of pork and shrimp siomai, beef siomai and also marcon and siopao.  Some of the typical Chinese food that can be seen around in Chinese streets.

Image courtesy of Aylin

Siomai House is also one of those known siomai seller in the country and believe me their siomai is a hit.

Photo courtesy of Aylin

Photo courtesy of Azrael.

Better head on now to SM City North EDSA!

Saturday, January 21, 2012

SUNUGAN: Rap Battle

10:57:00 PM
During my teenage life I was really into raps. Thanks to Francis M. for the introduction of Philippine rap and later on with Andrew E. whom both I look onto with regards to that craft. I remember also that I did try to do some rap lyrics during my free time before. I think rap doesn't look into what age you are but how you love the style and the craft. So for now, since I really like different kind of music, I will take the chance of hearing a rap battle. Here's what it is all about...


“Whoever loses resigns from rap – for good.” That spells the inevitable doom of whoever loses in the rap battle aptly called SUNUGAN: Unfinished Business. This Filipino rap battle is the much-awaited conclusion to previous rap battles between Abra and Batas, Shehyee and Melvin the Devil, and many other masters of rap. Too many loose ends… but wait until January 28, 2011, when the SUNUGAN: Unfinished Business shall commence.

Mortal enemies in rap battle finally get to the conclusion of their rap drama as they put their careers on the line. The losing party shall never rap again! Loonie versus Zaito, Apekz versus Harlem, Shehyee versus Melvin the Devil, and Abra versus Batas. For this historic event, Guijo Street in Makati shall be closed off. SUNUGAN: Unfinished Business will be the event to go to this January as rap masters engage in a word fight that millions of rap fans from all over the world will want to witness. Live streaming shall be available via PinoyTuner. And if you want a preview of what’s to come, watch Shehyee and Abra as they engage in a battle rap with comedian-host Stanley Chi on Dig Radio’s Suplado Show. That’s this Monday, January 23, 2012, 9 to 11 p.m.


Also, get the chance to ask Shehyee and Abra any question by calling the Suplado Show during the preview rap battle. Winning caller wins gift certificates from UniSilver Time. Sunugan: Unfinished Business starts at 8 p.m. at Guijo Street, in front of Dig Radio Studios (7615 Guijo Street, San Antonio Village, Makati) and Saguijo. Come and witness the war. It has been brewing ever since – and we all hold our breaths for the finale.

You may also text JOIN (space) SUNUGAN and send to 2948 to get updates on Sunugan: Unfinished Business. Like the Suplado Show on Facebook for updates on the preview battle with Stanley Chi on January 23. Like Dig Radio to get real-time updates on the Sunugan: Unfinished Business rap battle on January 28. Visit LifeandFever for more blog updates.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Get Your Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens

8:01:00 AM

This post brought to you by Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

For the benefit of most of the readers, here’s an introduction about this specific brand in the US that caters to the needs of their patrons, consumers and buyers.  Walgreens is a premier pharmacy which was founded in 1901 and was started by Charles R. Walgreen, Sr.  They begin their neighborhood drugstore with just a measurement of 50 feet by 20 feet catering to their buyers and consumers.  Now, they are one of the known companies in pharmaceutical industry and as well as in retail service.

At present, Walgreens is taking their services beyond even to the online presence.  This is to further provide better services to their consumers, members and buyers.  They are offering a special discount on annual membership for its Prescription Savings Club.  For those who want to be a member consumers and buyers can avail and get the Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens

For $10 a year if you’re a member with family membership it covers everyone in your immediate family.  This includes your spouse, dependants who are 22 and younger and also your pets.   Aside from this individuals can also join for just low as $5.  So, get your Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens.

Here are some of the benefits members can get.

  • Saving on more than 8,000 brand-name and all generic medications
  • Discounts on flue shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizers and diabetic supplies
  • Bonuses when you purchase Walgreens brand products and photofinishing services

If you want to know more about what Walgreens offering check their website at www.walgreens.com. You can also follow Walgreens on Twitter and Walgreens on Facebook for more updates. 

Visit Sponsor's Site

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Parokya ni Edgar Scores a Gold & Spongecola Releases Stargazer

10:07:00 PM
Just an update on the music industry.


Parokya ni Edgar proved that they are one of the most successful bands of this generation when they added another Gold in their gallery of record awards. The recognition is for the Middle-Aged Juvenile Novelty Pop Rockers album, which includes the hits Pangarap Lang Kita, One Hit Combo, among others.


On the other hand, Sponge Cola just released their new music video Stargazer, lifted from the album Araw Oras Tagpuan. Stargazer is the fourth single from the album after Tambay, Regal, Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay. To request for the music video, please visit www.myxph.com.

Parokya ni Edgar and Sponge Cola are both Universal Records artists.

Marcel Antonio at Yuchengco Museum

11:57:00 AM
I'm an art lover and I would really want to see this and know more about this.

If you want to know more about Marcel Antonio read more below....


Press Release
In July of 2010, the poet V.I.S. de Veyra posted a blog essay on the art of Marcel Antonio titled “Blue Funk’d Stories: The Expanding Art of Marcel Antonio” (read at http://partycrashingangle.blogspot.com/2010/07/blue-funked-silent-stories-expanding_26.html) and coined the phrase-tag Blue Funk Erotica for Antonio’s art. De Veyra described Blue Funk Erotica as 1) unsmiling faces-derived figurative drama (primarily portraiture, then), 2) replete of appropriations or art-historical quotes, 3) suggestive (but only suggestive) of a narrative, 4) quasi-rebellious towards rigid allusions and painting titles’ guidance, 5) unpainterly expressionist, 6) of an in-a-trance mood as against a happy one, and 7) conscriptive of the painting viewer as peeper. “This erotica should stay around and keep us entranced,” the poet-critic wrote, “being not so much one that tickles the groin as a kind that promotes the understanding that every face, gesture, object, color, and shape is a secret sex object and clandestine true story waiting to be told.” But also debunking a previous simplistic tag on Antonio’s art as “narrative expressionist,” de Veyra wrote: “In Antonio’s case, his blue funkism's ‘de-expression’, or ‘dis-expression’ and narrative confusion through the mannerisms of narrative imagery and titling, seems to be a produce of a Russian Formalist narrative bent to ‘defamiliarize’ images and shapes towards a higher enigma. Thus his refusal to ‘express’.”


The abovementioned blog started a dialogue between Antonio’s art as well as intent (of unintent) and de Veyra’s reading, culminating in a late-2011 collection titled “Desire, Ennui, Anxiety” which shall be shown this coming Feb 6 to 25 at the Yuchengco Museum.


This title for Antonio’s new series does not so much signal a change in his art’s direction as clarify where de Veyra’s reading is right and where it needs to be tweaked. For instance, while de Veyra opts for a Barthesian “variety of narrative possibilities,” Antonio’s pragmatic knowledge of his audience allows/welcomes two basic approaches to his art.


The one approach favours rigid symbolist readings, especially as Antonio is himself attracted to the “monumental” (Antonio’s term) figure common among utopian-art compositions (of Wagnerian glorifications, classical idealism, Nazi art, Stalinist totalitarian art, socialist realism, etc.) as well as in advertising art or the idealizations of soft porn.




But, for the other approach, Antonio acknowledges that de Veyra is right about his—Antonio’s—own efforts to frustrate, so to speak, all symbolist and narrative approaches, via experimentations with juxtapositions/relations and eclectic allusions. These experimentations, appropriations, and art-history quotes result in a dehumanized atmosphere, involving such stuff as machine esthetics and the usual facial expressions of ennui and boredom, all moving towards Antonio’s intended postmodernist multiplicity of meanings. But the final result on each single canvas is an invite to a pseudo-narrative half-aware of this pseudo-ness, welcoming while parodying the various cultural and moral significations possible to professional and popular semiotics.

In this sense, Antonio’s art would be self-described as anxious about the unknown, desirous of knowledge as a matter of course but likewise celebrating the ennui of knowledge’s elusivity, even the charm of that ennui itself alone. Ennui as both springboard and object of desire, then, visually fulfilled or illustrated on an Antonio-esque drama field.


A final stamp to this anti-narrative effort to “recover the sensation of life” (Victor Shklovsky) is the artist’s devotion to the coloration of Diego Velázquez or Chagall as well as the latent abstract geometrics beneath all his pseudo-narrative stagings.




We would like to invite people or media to witnesses the Marcel Antonio art work this coming Feb 6 2012 6pm for the opening for lunching on cocktail.V.I.S. de Veyra joins Antonio in this exhibit with fourteen new poems printed in the exhibition catalogue.


For more information about the show, contact the Yuchengco Museum, 2/F RCBC Plaza, cor. Ayala and Sen. Gil J. Puyat Aves., Makati City, Philippines 1200 or Galleria Quattrocento, 3rd Floor Glorietta 4 Art Space, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Barangay San Lorenzo, Makati City (Telephone: [632] 818-5939 // [632] 519-7221; Mobile #: 0917-8911322; Email: galleria.quattrocento@gmail.com; Website: http://philpaintings.com/).

Kung Hei Fat Choi At SM City North EDSA

9:48:00 AM


This year, Chinese and Filipino-Chinese Community will be celebrating the coming of Chinese New Year.   It is said that the coming year is the year of the Water Dragon.  I have always seen and heard how Chinese celebrates their New Year, since some of my early years were spent with my father in the streets of Divisoria and Binondo.  Most of the traders and establishments owners are Chinese and some were my father's friends so I get a chance to somehow see some of their celebrations.


For this Chinese New Year I was very fortunate to get invited in SM North Edsa's celebration of the Chinese New Year.  They unveiled their theme for this years Chinese New Year.  Also and of course a much more up close with the dancing dragons and lions.


Chris Tiu was the emcee for that celebration and at the same time narrator of the Chinese New Year story. Aside from Chris Tiu, Richard Yap or commonly known now as Papa Chen was also their to play the role of a Chinese Emperor.  As Chris Tiu narrates part by part of the story there were Wushu Demonstration, Presentation from Chinese Symphony Orchestra, Dragon and Lion Dance, and there were other exhibits as part of the Chinese New Year Celebration.





Though I know and maybe most of the people know about how the Chinese New Year came about and why people use firecrackers during the celebration, I would still share a short brief about the story.

Just a brief, so story goes like this....


In early times in China, a certain little village was terrorize by a monster that came once each year. One day, just by luck, the villagers discovered that the monster got weaknesses and scared of color red and evenmore afraid of loud noises! So the villagers prepared for the coming of the monster. When the monster came everyone in the village ran for the red banners and noise makers they had made. They waved their banners and rattled their noise makers. This scared the monster so much that made it ran away and was never heard from again!

That's the short story about it and that's why there's always firecrackers and clanging sounds every year.  KUNG HEI FAT CHOI!


Photo courtesy of Azrael

2012 Jr. NBA Presented by Alaska Program Returns for the Fifth Year

7:55:00 AM


One of the most interesting sports in the world and of course the all time favorite sports of Filipinos, the Basketball.  Fortunately the sponsor for this event is also my all time favorite team in Philippine Basketball, the Alaska Aces.  Though most of the star players the team that I looked onto before were not there anymore, still, it's my favorite team.  I just wish sometime that they would reunite and try to have a friendly match with the other teams.

So much with reminiscing of the past but instead get into the details about this event for this year. 


The event was held inside of the Treston International School' basketball court.  It was really a shrinking feeling seeing those gigantic basketball players roaming around the basketball court.  This event was a Tip-off for the 2012 Jr. NBA presented by the Alaska Program and this year was their fifth consecutive year for the Philippines.

Kids will sure love to be part of the basketball program by Jr. NBA.


Here's what they say about this program...

The Jr. NBA presented by Alaska is back in the Philippines for the fifth consecutive year, with first-time stops in Puerto Princesa, Pampanga and Cagayan de Oro.  Alaska Powdered Milk Drink will serve as the presenting partner of the Jr. NBA program for the second consecutive year.


The Jr. NBA is the league's international youth development program that promotes basketball participation, sportsmanship and teamwork, and an active lifestyle among children.  In addition to the three new cities, the 2012 Philippines schedule will also include Metro Manila, where the Jr. NBA National Training Camp will take place.  The program is open to boys between 10 and 14 years old.


"We have a great partner in Alaska, which shares our dedication to youth sports development and has played a vital role in the growth of the Jr. NBA program," said Scott Levy, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, NBA Asia.  "With the involvement of all our partners, the Jr. NBA program continues to expand and touch the lives of more young players, coaches, educators, and parents."

"Alaska is committed to developing talent at the youth level and we are pleased to return as presenting partner," said Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, Jr., President and CEO, Alaska Milk Corporation.  "The Jr. NBA is a great fit with Alaska's mission to nurture talent and promote a healthy lifestyle through sports from a young age, and we look forward to another successful program this year."


This year's program will tip off with a coaching clinic in Manila on Jan. 14, and will then travel to Puerto Princesa in Palawan for a coaching clinic on Jan 15 and a school clinic on Jan. 16.  From Palawan, the Jr. NBA will return to Central LUzon on Jan. 18 for a school clinic and NBA Cares event in flood hit Pampanga.  The Jr. NBA will also hold an NBA Cares activity on Jan. 19 in Cagayan de Oro, which was recently devastated by Typhoon Sendong, followed by a schol clinic on Jan 20.

School clinics will continue during the months of February and March in Metro Manila in the lead up to the Regional Selection Camps which will be held in Puerto Princesa (Apr 10 - 11), Cagayan de Oro (Apr 14 - 15), Pampanga (Apr 17 - 18) and Manila (Apr 21 - 22).  Upon completion of the Regional Selection Camps, the top 50 players from all over the country will be slected to participate in the three-day Jr. NBA National Training Camp to be held in early May in Manila.  As part of Alaska Milk's support of the Jr. NBA, 10 of the 50 National Camp participants will be selected from this year's Alaska Basketball Power Camp.  The program will culminate with the selection of the Jr. NBA All-Star Team providing the 10 best campers a unique NBA experience and the opportunity to play against a Jr. NBA team from another country.

Similar to last year, the 2012 Jr. NBA Coach of the Year presented by Alaska will be announced at the Jr. NBA National Training Camp, where the top 10 finalists for the award will be invited to participate as assistant instructors.  The award winner will be announced on the last day of the national training camp.  Coaches interested in joining the search for Coach of the Year can log onto the Jr. NBA website for more details.

This year, Jr. NBA coach and former NBA player Martin "Marty" Conlon, who played for several NBA teams including the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics, will oversee the program along with local coaches selected by the NBA, as well as members of the Alaska Aces coaching staff. The coaches will assist in teaching the NBA skill stations as well as communicating the importance of the Jr. NBA core values of sportsmanship, teamwork, a positive attitude, and respect (S.T.A.R.).  An NBA legend will participate in the national training camp and community outreach programs through NBA Cares.

The Jr. NBA program, together with its partners, will reinforce key values such as the importance of sports participation for parents and children, and will educate children, parents and coaches on children's health and nutritional requirements.  In addition to Alaska Powdered Milk Drink, Gatorade returns as a partner this year and Spalding will once again act as the official supplier.  Jr. NBA official broadcast partners are Basketball TV, NBA Premium TV and Studio 23, with the Manila Bulletin serving as the official media print partner.  Jr. NBA is also supported by the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines (BCAP).  Provincial Host Cities include Puerto Princesa, Pampanga and Cagayan de Oro.

The Jr. NBA first visited the Philippines in early 2007 at 16 Metro Manila private and public schools.  The program expanded to 200 schools and 20,000 participants in 2008-09 and to 300 schools and 30,000 students in 2009-10.  In 2011, the program reached more than 400 schools and 40,000 students, parents, and coaches across the country.  Each year a new city benefits from the grassroots basketball program that involves not just young players but also their parents and coaches.  The program remains free in all its stages for local coaches and young Filipino boys who want to join the program.  Registration is now ongoing through the Jr. NBA event website www.jrnba.com.ph.  Fans can also follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jrnbaphilippines and our official Twitter Feed at http://twitter.com/NBA_Philippines



Monday, January 16, 2012

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Pinoy Big Brother Unlimited TOP 14

10:54:00 AM

Finally the INTENSITY 7 of Big Brother for the PBB Unlimited housemates has finally ended. Making Deniesse as the 14th PBB housemates that will complete the TOP 14. Since Paco is the one who easily win in the task given by Big Brother, he then get Deniesse as the 6th member of Wayuk.

Here's the original list of PBB Housemates who gets into the TOP 14 as per group.

TEAM WAYUK




Jessica
Paco
Kevin
Pamu
Seichang


TEAM HIGH VOLTAGE




Biggel
Divine
Tin
Slater
Carlo
Wendy
Eting
Joya
Deniesse
It seems that Big Brother still got lots of surprises. With the Deniesse put into Team Wayuk and there's going to be another member of the High Voltage that will be transferred to team Wayuk just to make both teams even. So who will it be?

TEAM WAYUK



Jessica
Paco
Kevin
Pamu
Seichang
Deniesse
?


TEAM HIGH VOLTAGE



Biggel
Divine
Tin
Slater
Wendy
Eting
Joya
Carlo


About Me

About me
Hi!, This is Marco a.k.a. Toto Blogger and Publisher. I created this blog to provide stories, personal experiences, entertainment, and insights on products I like. I'm here to share and inform you (readers) on things about music, movie, food, travel, and events.

You can also meet my wife on her blog www.mommysmaglife.com.


For project collaborations, product reviews, event invitations, or hotel and resort experience reviews, kindly email me at marcopolojdemo@yahoo.com.



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