HEALTH

Health tips for a happier, healthier you

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By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

WHILE aware that health is wealth, in pursuit of worldly wealth we sacrifice our wellness, thinking that perhaps money can buy anything including fitness. But it can’t. Not really.

www.nurturewellnessvillage.com

With the goal of helping one become a better, healthier, and happier you, the Global Wellness Day organization celebrates Wellness Day annually on June 11.

The movement started in Turkey in 2012, and the campaign has now reached 73 countries including the Philippines. It has a seven-step manifesto: walk for an hour, drink more water, do not use plastic bottles, eat organic food, have a family dinner, do a good deed, and sleep at 10 p.m.

Rest and recreation, like visiting a wellness center, also help, especially these days where everything is fast-paced and we are connected all day long.

“Massage is not just about beauty. It is a traditional therapeutic treatment used for centuries as a method of preventing sickness and promoting health in the world’s oldest medical systems, the traditional Chinese medicine and India’s Ayurvedic system,” health advocate Cathy Turvill told BusinessWorld in an e-mail.

She said massage lowers the level of cortisol, a stress hormone, “which is very deadly for the body when left unchecked.” Massage also increases the release of endorphins — the so-called happy hormones — “which promotes a positive outlook in life.”

www.nurturewellnessvillage.com

Ms. Turvill walks her talks. She eats healthy, exercises, and follows Global Wellness Day’s seven rules. When asked for health tips, she only had one word: CHOICES.

“It’s an acronym I developed, which stand for the pillars of health,” she said.

C: CHOOSE TO BE POSITIVE
She urges everyone to squeeze a 10-minute breathing exercise into their busy schedules which will help you “feel better and ready to take on the day’s challenges.” Think happy thoughts, she said. While doing this, take 10 deep and slow breaths.

H: HYDRATE AND HEALTHY EATING
She reiterates the global manifesto and adds a few more points: refrain from sugary and caffeinated drinks. “Consciously choose nutrient-rich foods like dark colored green vegetables and fresh fruits. Choose to eat fresh, boiled, steamed or baked foods. Avoid deep-fried, high salt, and sugary foods.”

O: OXYGENATE
While she encourages a weekly visit to the gym for yoga, pilates, and cardio exercises, simple movements like taking the stairs and walking are enough to oxygenate the body. Good blood and oxygen circulation in the body promote the metabolism and boost brain function, among many others.

www.nurturewellnessvillage.com

I: IMMUNE BOOST
Health advocates cannot overemphasize the importance of prevention over cure. Take your vitamins and minerals, she says, but it’s better to use natural health supplements like wheatgrass, which, according to studies, contains vitamins A, B, C, E, I, and K, minerals, and protein.

C: CLEANSE
If toxic environments — a smoke-filled room or polluted surroundings — are unavoidable, do deep breathing exercises, and do steam and sauna treatments to detoxify the body. Consume fresh fruits and vegetables to cleanse the body of toxins.

E: EMBRACE NATURAL HEALING
“Massage, acupuncture, charcoal wraps, juicing, and nutritional healing,” Ms. Turvill said, “are examples of therapies that do not use chemicals, but are proven effective.”

S: SLEEP AND SOCIALIZE
Contrary to the popular adage, sleep isn’t for the weak. Getting at least seven hours of sleep each night repairs, rejuvenates, and recharges the body. It also helps to “maintain a healthy circle of friends and family. And always pray to a higher being,” said Ms. Turvill.

Ms. Turvill is the owner of Nurture Wellness Village in Cavite, which was one of the local establishments which celebrated Global Wellness Day. Voted in 2010 as one of the 28 Most Relaxing Spas in Asia by CNN Go, the wellness destination offers weekends of peace, quiet, and health whole year round.

The wellness village promotes “ecotherapy,” or healing by and through nature with activities like “glamping”, outdoor tai qi gong (energy healing) exercise, and organic farm tours with opportunities for picking your own fresh herbs, among others.

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Challenge: Solar panels on your roof

By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman, Reporter

Solar energy is expensive, unreliable, impractical, and uneconomic. These are some of the myths on solar power that Greenpeace wants to bust with its Solar Rooftop Challenge campaign, launched on June 15, which aims to educate and encourage society to ditch coal and switch to harnessing the power of the sun.

The campaign strategy includes a series of online videos starring TV personality Yam Concepcion as “Juana Solar” who debunks common misconceptions on solar power. Other celebrity advocates include Dingdong Dantes, Saab Magalona, Jasmine Curtis, Illac Diaz, and Jun Sabayton.

The video campaign also features successful stories of households, offices, and establishments that have installed rooftop solar panels, including a solar powered church in Atimonan, Quezon. All the videos are on view on Greenpeace social media accounts.

“The stories will show energy independence through solar energy. We will break the myths surrounding renewable energy and create a powerful testament on its practicality, cost effectiveness, and reliability to propel the Philippines to a future powered by clean and sustainable energy,” said Reuben Andrew A. Muni, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Philippines climate and energy campaigner. 

Some say that solar energy is expensive. It used to. But like cellphones and other gadgets, the sky-high prices at the market fall eventually.

“[the] price drops year after year, more so in the coming years,” said Obet Verzola, the executive director of the Center for Renewable Electricity Strategies, an institution on renewable energy based in the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Mr. Verzola, an engineer, said a household can buy solar panels and have them installed at starting price of P115,000. This is enough to power lights, a television, and other appliance, except an airconditioner, which needs more power. They will get a return on investment in three to five years. The Pag-ibig Fund offers loans for solar panels, which have a life span of 20 to 25 years.

And when there is an increase in demand, the price will go down, said Mr. Verzola.

It started to rain hard during the event at Bonifacio High Street, and this served as a chance to clear up one of the misconceptions about solar power — that solar energy does not work at all when it rains. It does, albeit with an 80% drop in output. This means households and offices can still use their lights or TV, but not air conditioners.

Greanpeace is aiming for 100% renewable energy use in the Philippines by 2050.

Is solar energy practical? Here’s another story you may read: Here comes the sun

FOCUS

When age does matter: On IVF, surrogacy, and Obando

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By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman, Reporter

People’s eyes are now on Scarlet Snow. Her every move is documented and shared, whether her adventures at a baby play center or when she is simply just being cute. At the tender age of one year, the baby superstar has amassed hearts, followers, and likes on her very own Instagram account — @scarletsnowbelo — which currently has 121,000 fans (and counting).

Just in case you have been living under a rock, the cute little baby’s parents are beauty-doctor-to-the-stars Vicki Belo, 63, and cosmetic doctor/model/businessman Hayden Kho, 36. According to reports, baby Scarlet was conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF) with a surrogate mother based in the United States.

“IVF is a test of potential to get good eggs,” Dr. Anthony Ancheta, an OB-GYN at the Medical City, Ortigas, told BusinessWorld in a phone interview. He does his IVF procedures at Victory IVF Lab in Makati.

A woman produces one egg in a month, which has a 10-15% chance of meeting with a sperm via intercourse, he said, resulting in a natural pregnancy. IVF, on the other hand, is a medical procedure wherein an egg cell is retrieved from the mother’s ovaries to be fertilized with the sperm cell of the father in a laboratory dish. The resulting embryo is implanted in either the mother’s uterus or that of a surrogate.

IVF AND SURROGACY IN PHL
Baby Scarlet Snow has not only captured hearts but also opened doors for discussing IVF and surrogacy issues in the Philippines.

“Thank you Belo for increasing the awareness about IVF,” said Dr. Ancheta. He sounded happy on the phone. He said that not many Filipino couples are aware that IVF procedures can be done locally, and with “apparatus that are at par abroad.”

There are six accredited IVF centers in the Philippines: one each in Cebu and Davao and four in Metro Manila (St. Luke’s Bonifacio Global City, Victory Lab Makati, the Kato Repro Biotech Center in Makati, and the Center for Reproductive Medicine Inc. in Pasig).

Yet, despite the free publicity for IVF, Dr. Ancheta sees a problem with Ms. Belo’s statement that “Scarlet Snow is 100% our daughter.”

“The claim is misleading. It gives false hopes to couples,” said Dr. Ancheta. “How old is Belo?” he asked.

At 63, the celebrity doctor is already in menopause, Dr. Ancheta implies.

“The magic number for women [to get pregnant easily] is 35 years old,” he pointed out.

Ms. Belo made the statement that Scarlet Snow is “100%” her biological daughter with Mr. Kho on ABS-CBN’s Bandila on May 18. An earlierPhilippine Star report had said that only Kho was the biological parent.

The quality of a woman’s egg cells diminishes once  she hits 42, said Dr. Ancheta, and getting pregnant becomes more difficult. On average, Filipinas start to experience menopause — the end of menstrual cycle — in their late 40s, at around 47 or 48.

Dr. Ancheta doesn’t want couples to get the wrong message, he said. An IVF procedure can only do so much, and miracles are “next to impossible.”

He said the success rate of IVF depends on the age of the patients and on how healthy their egg cells and sperm cells are.

NOT A MAGIC BULLET
But being young doesn’t necessarily mean IVF will be a guaranteed success.

Camille Perez (not her real name) had IVF at St. Luke’s BGC last year. She was married two years ago and had a hard time conceiving a baby the natural way. Aged 24, her menstrual cycle is irregular. Her husband, who is 58, has a low sperm count.

As part of the IVF treatment, she had to go to the fertility clinic daily to have hormone injections in order to induce egg production.

“Ang hirap, lagi akong bloated tapos hindi pa din pala, parang ‘Honeyano ba ’yan!’ Hindi biro ang gastos kasi every time I visit, I have at least P20,000 with me, eh every day ’yun,” she told BusinessWorld. (It’s hard because I feel bloated all the time and I thought that I was pregnant — but I was not. I’m like, ‘Honey, what’s happening?’ And it’s not a joke to bring at least P20,000 every time I visit [the clinic], which is every day.)

The price for the procedure depends on the hospital and patient’s age. According to Dr. Ancheta, at Medical City, it may start at P300,000.

Ms. Perez’s IVF failed. But she said they’re willing to try again after a year or two. Or maybe adopt. But surrogacy is definitely out of the picture, she said.

BLAUSEN.COM STAFF. “BLAUSEN GALLERY 2014”. WIKIVERSITY JOURNAL OF MEDICINE.

Surrogacy, according to the Web site IVF Australia, “is a form of assisted reproductive technology where a woman (the surrogate) offers to carry a baby through pregnancy on behalf of another person or couple, and then return the baby to the intended parent(s) once it is born.”

It’s a procedure that is accepted in some countries like the United States. Belo and Kho’s baby was carried to term through a surrogate in the USA. Other countries like Denmark, Ireland, Belgium, and United Kingdom, allow surrogacy is allowed but the surrogate should not be paid or just have pregnancy-related expenses covered.

But surrogacy is not accepted in the Philippines.

According to Dr. Ancheta, the Philippine Society of Reproductive Medicine (PSRM) has decided that it’s unethical.

“PSRM is a governing body among medical experts. There are no legal rules about IVF in the Philippines, but under our ethical guideline, which is a consensus among our members, we prohibit surrogacy and IVF with donation, or using donor eggs or sperm,” he said.

There are no legal or commercial surrogacy treatments in the country he said, attributing it to culture and religion.

“Plus it’s open to abuse of both parties,” he said.

For instance, the surrogate mother may overcharge the biological parents or decide to keep the baby. Or, conversely, the parents may suddenly decide not to accept the baby, especially if it has birth defects. In a highly publicized case in Thailand, an Australian couple allegedly left a newborn baby with Down Syndrome with his poverty stricken Thai surrogate mother, while they took the healthy twin sister back to Australia with them. This prompted the Thai government to ban surrogacy in 2014, according to a story in The Jakarta Post.

Dr. Ancheta doesn’t see the legalization of IVF using donors or surrogacy in the Philippines any time soon. “In the future? There may be attempts, but there will be blockings [sic] because of our culture.”

OPTION: OBANDO
For those with faith, there’s another (cheaper) option for Filipino couples desperate to start a family: the Sayaw sa Obando.

The Obando fertility dance happens in May. Childless women, often with husbands in tow, flock to Obando, Bulacan to fervently pray and dance to the patron saints of fertility Paschal, Claire, and Our Lady of Salambao, in the hopes of bearing a child.

This tradition is deeply rooted in our culture and religion. Dr. Jose Rizal mentioned Sayaw sa Obando in his novel Noli Me Tangere, where his character Doña Pia Alba danced in Obando to conceive a Maria Clara.

One of the many hopeful women was Luzviminda Laluon, 53, from Laguna. She was 42 years old when she decided to pray for a miracle. “We thought of going to Obando. Wala namang mawawala (We’d lose nothing) if we try.” She said she had been trying to conceive a baby with his husband, Miguel, to no avail. A few months after a visit to Obando, she learned she was finally pregnant. The Laluons had a baby boy, Lemuel, now nine years old.

There is no science to explain Sayaw sa Obando, with couples believing subsequent conceptions are miracles.

Dr. Ancheta sees no problem with dancing at Obando. “Whatever works for you,” he said.

Starting a family takes a lot of preparation, he said.

“The money can be earned or borrowed,” he said, “but the mind-set and a good state of health are more important,” he said, especially of couples who want to try IVF. “They should be ready for a rollercoaster ride.”

Also, do not forget to pray, he advised.

#CervicalCancer

HEALTH

Sexually active? Read this.

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By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman, Reporter

Cervical cancer can happen to any woman who is sexually active, and women are becoming sexually active at a younger age. The good news is that it is easily preventable.

Cervical cancer is most often the consequence of an infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Cervical cancer happens when “abnormal cells in the cervix — the entrance between the vagina and uterus — grow big. It is caused by the persistent infection with HPV,” said Dr. Leah Manio, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Medical Affairs Manager, and a specialist in high-risk pregnancy. She was speaking at a press conference about a cervical cancer awareness campaign on May 23.

Cervical cancer is not hereditary. “Unlike breast cancer that is, in some cases, caused by genes, cervical cancer is caused by exposure, meaning, the transmission of the virus by penetration or skin-to-skin genital contact,” she said.

There are two kinds of HPV: low grade (this causes warts) and the high grade (this causes cancer). But then, it doesn’t necessarily mean that if a women gets HPV she’ll automatically get cancer, “It depends if her immune system is strong,” said Dr. Manio.

Unfortunately cervical cancer has no signs and symptoms in its early stages. At later stages there are symptoms including irregular bleeding between periods; abnormal bleeding after sex; pain in the back, legs, and pelvis; weight loss; vaginal discomfort or odorous discharge; and a single swollen leg.

Cervical cancer is no respecter of age. “You can still get cervical cancer at 55 years old and beyond,” said Dr. Manio. And sexually active Filipinas are getting younger: they often start having sex at 15 — this means infection with cervical cancer-causing HPV happens at an equally younger age. Studies say the incidence of HPV infection is highest at ages 15 to 19.

Engaging at sexual activity at a young age is one of the risk factors in getting cervical cancer. The other factors are: having multiple births; having a weak immune system; smoking; having or having had a sexually transmitted disease; and having rarely taken, or not yet had, a Pap smear test, a screening procedure for cervical cancer.

MISCONCEPTIONS
Many women are reluctant to have a Pap smear because they think it is painful.

Dr. Maria Julieta Germar of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of the Philippines said that only 9% of the 28 million Filipinas at risk of getting cervical cancer have had a Pap smear.

“It’s a small number,” she said, disappointed.

She attributes this to two major factors: there is no national program for Pap smear testing, and the misconceptions about the test. She said Pap smear does not hurt (“if the head of a baby can get through [the vagina], why not a smaller device?”) and besides, one can ask for a smaller sized speculum, a device used to widen the vagina, to be used during the test.

Some people believe that cervical cancer is a result of poor hygiene. It is not. Swimming in public pool or using a public toilet also do not cause cervical cancer said Dr. Germar.

While condom use may prevent pregnancy, it only “partially protects against HPV transmission,” she added.

Cervical cancer also isn’t necessarily synonymous with promiscuity because doctors said women can get the disease even if they have just one steady partner.

VACCINATION AND SCREENING
The doctors couldn’t overemphasized that prevention is better than cure. The best way to prevent cervical cancer is through screening and vaccination.

While the cost of HPV vaccination depends on the doctor or hospital, a shot is at least P2,500 — full coverage comes with three shots, the second taken a month after the first, and a third six months later. No booster is needed. Girls aged nine to 14 should get two shots before they become sexually active. Women over 21 are required to get three shots and should also have an annual Pap smear.

The risk of persistent infection with cancer-causing HPV increases with age, and is highest when a woman is over 66 years old.  Thus, screening is recommended starting age 21 to detect cervical abnormalities that lead to cervical cancer. Vaccination, studies say, remains beneficial for older women to prevent HPV infections.

IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE
One reason why women do not get Pap smears and don’t get vaccinated, said the doctors, is because they do not believe it can happen to them.

One of these women was Rose Manzano, the mother of celebrity Andi Manzano-Reyes.

Ms. Manzano said she exercises and eats right, “so the Big C came as a surprise. My world crashed.” She was diagnosed with stage one cervical cancer in 2013. She did chemotherapy every day for two and a half months. “It was draining,” she recalled.

Now that she’s cured, she urged all her four daughters to get vaccinated.

Also present on the press conference was Abbygale Arenas-de Leon, a member of the Brave Heart Coalition of the Philippines, which aims to have a cervical cancer-free Philippines. Ms. De Leon had her vaccinations in 2007, and, through word of mouth and her organization, helps in disseminating information on the importance of the treatment.

“We should remember three letters and three words: 2-80-7 and A,S,V,” she said.

• 2 — because cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death among women in the world.

• 80 — because 80% of the Filipinas are susceptible to getting cervical cancer

• 7 — because seven out of 10 women who get cervical cancer will die from it.

She encourages ASV: awareness, screening, and vaccination.

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'Go Play' before classes start

GOING OUT

‘Go Play’ before classes start and the rainy season sets in

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By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

A day before Independence Day and two days ahead the official opening of classes, go out and enjoy the freedom to unwind. Have some clean fun on June 11, a Saturday, with silly sports, swinging balls, mysteries, and selfie opportunities.

Inflatable Play Area

“Think of it as one giant arcade,” said Runtertainment’s Judy Malabanan at the press launch of Alviera Go Play on May 27.

The event is a joint project between SandBox and Runtertainment, Inc., the company that conceptualized such unusual mass entertainment as Outbreak Manila, a fun run with zombies; Breakout Philippines, a problem solving game for adults; and SlideFest Philippines, the country’s biggest water slide festival.

Go Play takes its inspiration from hit TV game shows like Wipeout,Takeshi’s Castle, and Gladiators — with a twist. There are 15 activities to join ranging from Sumo relay and binocular basketball, to wacky karaoke and human foosball.

To beat the heat, there’s a water obstacle game where players must avoid giant balls to get to the end. Aside from the physical challenges, there are also mental games like a mini version of Breakout Philippines. To add to the fun, a foam party will be held every hour with DJs spinning the latest anthems.

Visitors enjoying the Foam Bash

“We are all about memorable moments, big laughs, and teamwork. Go Play offers [the] young and old a fun-filled festival atmosphere of games, music, food, drinks, foam pits, and lots of selfie opportunities,” said Angelo Cruz, Runtertainment managing director in a statement.

Go Play will be held inside SandBox, a two-hectare outdoor playground for kids and kids-at-heart in Porac, Pampanga. Its most famous attraction is the country’s tallest swing, the Giant Swing, which is 10 meters above the ground. Go Play attendees are entitled to discounted tickets to SandBox attractions like the Giant Swing, the Aerial Walk, the Adventure Tower free fall, wall climbing, and the Avatar One roller coaster zip line.

SandBox is one of the features found within Alviera, an Ayala Land development in partnership with Leonio Land. The 1,125-hectare mixed-use development is envisioned to become “a regional growth center of Central Luzon,” with residential communities, commercial establishments, academic institutions, and offices.

“Think of it as the Nuvali of the north,” Jomi de Guzman, Alviera project development manager told BusinessWorld.

Agawan base — Zorb Edition

Nuvali in Sta. Rosa, Laguna is also a project of Ayala Land.

The 200-hectare Alviera Phase 1 is set to be completed in 2018 said Mr. De Guzman. Upcoming developments include the country club and the industrial park, which will open next year. Holy Angel University and Miriam College meanwhile are set to start operations within the next five years.

Porac, Pampanga, thanks to North Luzon Expressway and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway integration, is now an hour away from Metro Manila, two hours away from La Union, two and a half hours away from Baguio, 40 minutes away from Subic, 20 minutes away from Angeles and San Fernando, Pampanga, and five minutes away from Clark.

For tickets and information to Alviera Go Play, visit www.goplayph.com.

MARKETING

Tryvertising: The beauty of trying before buying

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By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

BEAUTY PRODUCTS COME with a price, but not with a warranty. Unlike gadgets and gizmos or appliances and clothes, vanity items, once bought, are considered sold, regardless of whether the lipstick suits your skin tone or the toner causes breakouts.

But thanks to the beauty of technology and social media — plus a good marketing strategy — a makeup fiend’s nightmare can turn into a pretty reality, thanks to “tryvertising.”

“Tryvertising” is simply trying before buying. According to The Guardian, the practice started with those free little bottles of shampoo in hotels or on cruise ships, in the manufacturer’s hopes that guests will try them and associating the product with a good holiday feeling.

“Tryvertising” may be a better marketing strategy than getting celebrity ambassadors because power and communication are given directly to the consumers. In the Philippines, “tryvertising” works well with online communities because people like sharing their reviews or rants on social media or blogs. And whether they’re shopping for the latest and best shampoo or a hotel room in Cebu, many consumers today always consult the Internet.

Google calls this deliberate, online decision making the “Zero Moment of Truth” (ZMOT). The old mental model of marketing assumes three stages: a stimulus (e.g., a commercial), the first moment of truth (when the consumer sees the product at the point of sale), and the second moment of truth (when the consumer actually experiences the product). In 2011, Google said its research showed there was a zero moment — the point at which shoppers today do research, read reviews, look for deals, and learn about alternatives, all before they even get to a store.

Tapping into the ZMOT is how Sample Room (www.sampleroom.ph) was born.

“We risk purchases. We gamble on full-size products and then don’t like them the next day. It’s thousands of pesos down the drain,” said Sophie Uy, one of Sample Room’s founders, at a gathering of social media and beauty influencers on May 19.

“We want to be part of the decision-making,” she said.

Established in 2012, Sample Room is the first sampling site in the Philippines. Besides Ms. Uy, the founders are Katherine Sy, Nathalie Toh, and Diana Ong, who said that like many girls, they get frustrated when their beauty purchases do not meet their expectations.

With 390 (and growing) beauty and health products to choose from and almost 50,000 users to write reviews, it’s almost an assurance that the ratings come from honest and unpaid user-consumers, who seek products that suit their needs.

HOW IT WORKS
Once you register, you automatically get 100 points, which you can use to score three sample products. The prices range from 15 to 1,000 points, depending on the item and brand. For instance, bar soaps cost 15 points while moisturizers are 50.

Everyone is required to give a review — good or bad — so they can grab three other sample products again. Rate and review the items and re-earn points.

The system is a cycle. But, if you want to fast-track gaining points, VIP membership is at P649 for an instant purchase of 1,000 points.

The goodies are free, but the shipping fee is P100 (Metro Manila) or P150 (outside Metro Manila). The freebies may come in sachets or sometimes in full-size packages, like for BB creams, lipsticks, and mascaras.

“I read each comment one by one,” said Ms. Ong, the group’s review moderator. She said the site accepts reviews, both good and bad, but she has to check them for foul language.

“Even if the review is negative, we approve of it, as long as it’s not bashing,” she said.

Majority of the bad reviews entail allergic reactions to chemicals, which is case-to-case — but after all, finding this out for yourself is the benefit of getting to try before you buy.