ProAge, a pioneering advocacy-based skincare and wellness brand in the Philippines, raised critical conversations about perimenopause and menopause at its recently held forum titled “Don’t Pause for Menopause.” Hosted by TV host Suzi Entrata-Abrera, the event gathered women’s wellness experts and advocates to celebrate women who refuse to pause for menopause and ultimately spark a change in the narrative.

Suzi Entrata-Abrera, news personality, wife, mother, and TV host, moderates the discussion at the ProAge #DontPauseForMenopause media event, which aims to break the stigma on menopause and encourage women to rewrite the narrative on this reproductive stage.

Menopause is becoming a rising topic on a global scale, with prominent personalities like Halle Berry, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, and Naomi Watts normalizing the conversation on their personal experiences using their wide platforms. ProAge is extending the normalization of these discussions in the Philippines by leading the advocacy and raising awareness on menopause.

“A lot of brands discuss women empowerment, but not a lot of them talk about empowering women during the perimenopausal and menopausal phases of their lives. This topic has been a taboo, but at ProAge, we aim to shatter the stigma surrounding such conversations and address the needs of women in this demographic,” said Ms. Claudine Viquiera “

Claudine Viquiera, founder of ProAge and advocate for menopause, talks about her vision, mission, and the products and support group she created for women going through Menopause.

Women usually experience uncomfortable symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and anxiety during perimenopause and menopause. It’s high time that we offer them solutions specifically catering to their experiences.”

Invited speakers busted myths and misconceptions about menopause and enlightened the attendees on other important truths about the topic. They also shone light on how it affects women’s overall health and how women can better handle their symptoms. Before the event ended, the speakers also answered common questions about menopause to encourage women to be more confident as they embrace the natural changes in their bodies during this stage.

Dr. Annebelle D. Aherrera, an OB-GYN and Women’s Wellness Advocate, discusses the importance, perils, and pain points women experience during their menopause journey.

Michelle Aventajado, Best Buddies Philippines Executive Director, shares her first-hand experience with menopause.

Present at the event were Dr. Annebelle D. Aherrera, OB gynecologist and a feminine wellness advocate; Michelle Aventajado, Executive Director of Best Buddies Philippines and a ProAge advocate; and Claudine Viquiera, Founder of ProAge and a menopause advocate.

By women for women: Glow naturally as you age

As a company founded by a woman in menopause herself, ProAge understands women’s pain, anxiety, and struggles at this stage. It has developed various lines of products that help with the management of their symptoms. Developed in Korea but made for Filipino skin, these offerings were specifically formulated to address menopause concerns like dryness, sensitivity, breakouts, dullness, and pigmentations.

One of its major products for instance, Meno Gummies, is a natural and non-hormonal solution designed to provide relief from brain fog, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and insomnia caused by menopause. 

ProAge also offers a wide array of skincare products, including its Be Gentle with Me Bakuchiol Serum, a milder and natural alternative to retinol derived from the leaves and seeds of the Babchi plant, which is often used in Chinese medicines. The serum brightens the skin and helps with reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

ProAge’s skincare range also has the hydrating facial cleanser No Dirty Secrets, eye cream Eye See Yah, and the Holy Grail Cica Toner. All these were made with natural, vegan, cruelty- and paraben-free ingredients, making it safe and gentle for women’s skin. With its patented ingredients, ProAge products were clinically tested and are safe for cancer patients, demonstrating the brand’s commitment to safe, efficient, and mild formulations.

“Women’s skin goes through a series of changes during menopause, therefore, they should use products that can change with them. They need skincare that is adaptive, potent, and mild, promoting resilience, self-love, and confidence during midlife and beyond,” said Claudine Viquiera

Join the movement

ProAge’s advocacy goes beyond products that address women’s needs. As a brand championing women empowerment, it has fostered a community that serves as a safe space for women to openly discuss and share their experiences as they navigate the unique challenges of perimenopause and menopause.

Attendees of the ProAge #DontPauseForMenopause media event who learned more about the health issues concerning perimenopause and menopause, the ProAge products and community which can help them throughout their journey.

Through its online community, engagement with healthcare professionals, and holding and participating in local women’s health events, ProAge is gradually breaking the taboo regarding menopause and promoting healthy discussions on women’s health and resilience.

“ProAge understands what women experience during menopause and we know that their experience with it can also affect their work, marriage, family, and even social life. Through this community, we want to empower women to embrace change naturally and live their life anew as they continue to glow naturally as they age, which we believe is a privilege,” said Claudine Viquiera

ProAge is a women-focused skincare and wellness brand that champions and addresses the needs of women in their perimenopausal and menopausal stages. By redefining beauty and wellness for this stage of life, ProAge continues to advocate for a growing but often overlooked demographic. To learn more about ProAge, visit proagebeauty.ph/.

foodpanda has launched its first-ever physical pop-up store in the country where consumers can physically experience the items sold in their online grocery arm, pandamart.

foodpanda activates its first grocery pop-up booth

Offering a one-stop shop for all food and essential needs, pandamart is foodpanda’s online grocery store which offers a wide assortment of fresh, frozen, snacks, drinks, pantry essentials, pharmaceuticals, and other household items to be delivered to your doorsteps in less than an hour. However, pandamart does not have a physical store open to the public but only serves consumers who buy from the foodpanda app.

 

To allow shoppers to fully immerse in the pandamart shopping experience, the new pandamart Pop-Up store, located in Trinoma Mall in Quezon City, will allow them to browse through the displayed products in the kiosk, order conveniently in the foodpanda app, and pick up the items on the same day.

 

 

“The online grocery space is ever-growing and ever-changing, so to keep up with the current times, we are stepping up our game in offering a wide selection of quality groceries to customers,” said Danielle Eleazar, Head of Marketing (New Verticals) of foodpanda Philippines.

Eleazer added that despite online grocery shopping becoming increasingly popular, grocery consumers, in general, still prefer to experience the quality of their items physically.“pandamart addresses this limitation by launching our first local physical pop-up store where consumers can physically experience the items sold in pandamart.”

Special treat for pandamart shoppers

Exciting activities and exclusive promos await our shoppers, including discount vouchers, item giveaways from brand partners and entertaining spin-the-wheel games with a chance to win prizes.

Additional vouchers and prizes of up to Php 10,000 will be given away to audiences who will tune in to the special Facebook live stream online selling event on May 27. This will also feature the pandamart pop-up store look, available products, amazing deals, and how to order.

Shop like a panda

As foodpanda offers a leveled-up experience to consumers with the first local pandamart pop-up store, the online food and grocery platform is also bridging the gap between the usage of online and offline channels when it comes to grocery shopping for its app users.

 

This also underscores the objective of the company’s brand philosophy, which encourages people to live like a panda and allows for more time to do more important things in their daily routines. “By having the convenience of picking up the items after looking at the items first hand and checking out the order in the app, they can have more time to roam around the area or run other errands while waiting for their order.”

“We want to bring even more awareness to our online grocery service so that new and existing foodpanda app users can try out the fast and convenient delivery of pandamart’s wide assortment of items and fresh quality products.”

Available until the end of May, pandamart’s pop-up store provides impressive features to give shoppers and consumers a first-hand experience of what pandamart has to offer. So head to Trinoma Mall to enjoy groceries done right, with exclusive deals and exciting prizes.

Want to try foodpanda’s pandamart for the first time? Use the voucher code NEWGROCER for Php 100 off on your first order and enjoy convenient online grocery shopping in the comfort of your home!

Trusted health and wellness partner Watsons Philippines continues to DO GOOD for the planet, the community, its customers and employees by presenting more sustainability options and programs that will help save the environment.

Doing Good is in Watsons DNA. Since working in partnership with Operation Smile eight years ago up to the present, Watsons has helped transform the lives of 2,036 children through cleft surgeries.

Watsons has also made available almost 1,200 Sustainable Choices products and continues to add more for consumers so they have better and more environment-friendly options.

Watsons stores have made a collective effort to be more conscious about energy consumption and this has helped reduce energy intensity by 17 percent from 2015. 

For its employees, Watsons has conducted 22 wellness seminars and counting to help its personnel to cope with the challenges brought about by the pandemic.

No to plastic waste

In collaboration with Plastic Bank, Watsons has been able to recycle 833,000 plastic bottles last 2021.

For 2022, Watsons held its first DO GOOD For Earth, Sa Watsons Ako webinar with “Smart Waste Management Towards A Sustainable Future,” where two resource persons shared valuable insights on how waste management and recycling affects global warming and climate change.

Commissioner Crispian Lao, Chair of the National Solid Waste Management Commission, and David Katz, President and CEO of Plastic Bank, talked about global warming and the benefits of recycling.

Anna Oposa of Save Philippine Seas, Ms. Viki Encarnacion of Watsons Philippines, Mr. David Katz of Plastic Bank, and Commissioner Crispian Lao of the National Solid Waste Management Commission.

The Watsons DO GOOD webinar, which was moderated by environment advocate Anna Oposa of Save Philippine Seas, tackled important topics such as how people can contribute in environment conservation thru 3Rs (Reuse, Recycle, Refill), the relationship of solid waste management and climate change, the impact of recycling on the environment, economy and community and future activities to be conducted jointly by Plastic Bank and Watsons Philippines.

Solid waste management

Lao is a strong advocate for the environment through proper waste management. During the webinar, he talked about the country’s Solid Waste Management programs and its practical aspects, such as what household items can be recycled.

Plastic Bank’s David Katz discussed what social plastic can do to help impoverished communities gain access to necessities such as food and water.

"The partnership with Watsons is an opportunity for the world to bear witness to great change, to witness great organizations that truly are standing on the right side of history. It takes the bold and the authentic to do something that hasn't been done before and we know that in partnership with Watsons, the world is going to witness the change in the communities and the lives of our collectors,” he said.

For Sustainable Choices, Sa Watsons Ako

“We rely on fossil fuels that give gas, heat and oil but they are exactly what bring about global warming and all these extreme weather occurrences. What are the DO GOOD acts we can do? One of these is to always choose sustainability in our health, wellness and beauty products. For Sustainable Choices, Sa Watsons Ako,” said Viki Encarnacion, Watsons Philippines PR and Sustainability Director.

Watsons will make you feel beautiful inside and out by providing sustainable products that are good for the community and the planet. Kaya, for Sustainable Choices, Sa Watsons Ako! 

Beko Philippines recently welcomed its new family member, who is none other than the actress, entrepreneur, celebrity cook and true pro mom Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo.

Judy Ann is the new face of global European brand Beko’s “live like a pro” campaign in the Philippines. This wife and mom to three kids said Beko makes it easy for people to live healthier lives, thanks to the advanced technologies in the brand’s appliances.

As one of the most trusted and credible names in show business, Judy Ann chooses a brand that’s trusted in over 140 countries and that’s Beko!

“Whenever I’m offered an endorsement or ambassadorship, I study it carefully. It has to be a product or brand that I use or I will use. At naniniwala ako na Beko is a perfect fit for me, not only because they have appliances like cookers, refrigerators and ovens but also because their values as a brand in providing healthier lifestyle to Filipino families align with mine,” said Judy Ann.

“This is the first time we have chosen a brand ambassador in the country and we’re very excited to have Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo on board. We chose Judy Ann because in all aspects, she lives like a true pro, she can personify the same values and aspirations we have for the company and  who does not only have an amazing rapport and impact on the lives of Filipinos, but is also a hands-on and hardworking mother and wife to her family, who can surely represent our drive and purpose, to inspire living a healthy and sustainable lifestyle said Gürhan Günal, Country Manager of Beko Pilipinas Corporation.

“Beko as the leading freestanding home appliances brand in Europe, make sure our global plan is focused on creating awareness on the importance and impact of healthy living and sustainability on our daily lives; thus we are committed to provide services and products that contribute to this for every family and individual.” said Arel Atakol, Beko APAC CEO.

Beko has been focusing on healthy living for years, raising awareness and developing products that make healthy living possible and convenient to empower the new generations to live healthier. Beko produces products that inspire a healthy lifestyle, from nutrient-saving kitchen appliances, to refrigerators that preserve food better for longer. Its products save both time and effort, allowing you to put that time into yourself and your family.

For more information about Beko in the Philippines, go to http://bekopromos.ph or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bekoph.

I've always been hooked by Watsons' tagline: "Look Good, Feel Great!"  But behind this famous line is DO GOOD, which they've been doing for quite some time now as part of its Sustainability Program. Recently. Watsons Philippines has entered a collaboration with Plastic Bank to help reduce plastic pollution and alleviate poverty by creating livelihood.

Personally, I've been doing what I can to help mother earth heal by bringing my own bag when shopping, by doing the 3 Rs (recycling, repurposing, reducing), and segregating garbage to name a few.  If many would do the same, we would live in a healthier world right?  Thanks to Watsons, their programs indeed would help the environment especially the ocean.  Here are some more ideas:

Sustainability has always been part of the Watsons DNA. Recognizing that the ocean stores a quarter of CO2 from the atmosphere and up to 93.4% of heat caused by the greenhouse effect, Watsons is committed to reducing the overall impact of its own brand plastic packaging so that it may contribute to ocean protection.

The A.S. Watsons Group has banned the use of microplastics in its own brand of rinse-off cosmetics or personal care products since 2014. By the end of 2019, this ban has been extended to all brands so no rinse-off cosmetics or personal care products from any brand are sold at any Watsons stores.

Watsons Philippines offers its customers four Sustainable Choices: Clean Beauty (mindfully created products without “unwanted” ingredients), Refill and Reduce (refilling bottles and reusing containers), Better Ingredients and Better Packaging.

Through its Impact Program Collaboration with Plastic Bank, the health, wellness, and beauty retailer will continue to Do Good for the Oceans by committing to the prevention of 50,000 kg of plastic bottles from entering the world’s oceans - the equivalent of 2.5 million bottles over the first 12 months.  

"At the heart of Look Good, Feel Great is Do Good. Watsons has always been at the forefront of sustainability and this collaboration with Plastic Bank only further reinforces our commitment to helping make this world a better place,” said Viki Encarnacion, Watsons PR and Sustainability Director.

“We are happy to team up with Watsons Philippines - a company that shares our vision on creating a regenerative economy. This collaboration showcases our unified goal of stopping ocean plastic while creating more opportunities for people living in vulnerable coastal communities,” said David Katz, Founder, and CEO of Plastic Bank.

More and more brands are helping each other to make the world a better place. Thanks to Watsons for all their sustainability projects that contribute greatly to saving our planet, by doing good for the ocean! Here's how we could also do our parts through Watsons:

For more information and for all your health, wellness, and beauty needs, check their website https://www.watsons.com.ph/ and social media accounts.

This is in line with the platform’s continued commitment to provide jobs that matter during these increasingly unpredictable times, empowering candidates that were affected by the pandemic and the recent strict implementation of community quarantine.

Here's what to note:

• Over 160 government agencies are participating in the Virtual Career Fair, offering various specializations such as Security/Armed Forces/Protective Services, Education Clerical/Administrative Support, General Work (Housekeeper, Driver, Dispatch, Messenger, etc), Healthcare (Nurse, Medical Support, Assistant), among others.
• Central Visayas​, CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) and MIMAROPA​ (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), Eastern Visayas​, Zamboanga​, and Cordillera Administrative Region are the top locations for the said government jobs.
• According to The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), around 90,000 workers were affected by the recent Enhanced Community Quarantine. They have either permanently lost their jobs or are under flexible work arrangements.​
• Based on JobStreet’s Global Talent Survey, many jobseekers are now prioritizing job security over financial compensation due to the unpredictability of the COVID-19 crisis. Furthermore, the government sector is one of the top employers in JobStreet, hence viewed as a more secure career option by Filipino workers at this time.

With this, JobStreet and CSC offer employment opportunities in the public sector by bringing jobseekers and hiring government agencies together in the virtual career fair.

The joint initiative is also in commemoration of the CSC’s 121st Philippine Civil Service Anniversary, wherein they committed to holding an enjoyable, productive, and helpful virtual job fair this 2021.​

“It has always been JobStreet’s advocacy to provide every Filipino with jobs that matter, and it’s an honor that the Civil Service Commission trusted us again to be a part of this initiative to help candidates rebuild themselves and find an opportunity to be of service to our nation,” shared JobStreet Philippines Country Manager Philip Gioca.

Applicants during the Virtual Career Fair in partnership with CSC can explore the platform’s live chat feature and Facebook Live events, with the chance to be interviewed on-the-spot.

To register for the Virtual Career Fair, visit http://jobstreet.com.ph/vcf-9.

Talent empowerment with the right tools

On top of this event, JobStreet has also amplified its valuable support for jobseekers with its newest feature in the platform⁠—Career Tools.

Dedicated to uplift and empower candidates in their professional journey, JobStreet’s Career Tools is a convenient, one-stop-shop feature with helpful tools and information to guide jobseekers in making the right career decisions. It includes an Interview Practice Tool, Resume Templates, Cover Letter Templates, a Career Development Planner, and a Salary Calculator.

The Interview Practice Tool contains the most commonly asked interview questions with actionable tips to help candidates prepare and respond positively for their next interview. Candidates can also utilize the downloadable Resume and Cover Letter Templates as a starting point to their online job hunting. The Career Tool also offers a Career Development Planner to help guide jobseekers towards their next step and a Salary Calculator for a quick way to find out their estimated take-home pay.

For easy access, Jobstreet created a landing page meant as a one stop destination for retrieving all career tools.

“We’re very excited to introduce the Career Tool to our candidates and be of great help with their online job hunting. JobStreet is doing its best to support jobseekers more than ever and we hope that through this simple initiative, we can make their career journey a little bit more manageable and productive,” said JobStreet Senior Sales Manager Mr. Ryan Tordesillas.

Check out the Career Tools via https://bit.ly/JobStreetCareerTools.

When you come across 3M, what comes to your minds?  For me, I think of Post-it Notes, Scotch, and Scotch-Brite.  I bet most of us do because these are just some of the most iconic brands that nearly everyone across the globe grew up with.  I started using post-its in high school and still use it to this day!  These all come from their mother company - 3M, which applies science in collaborative ways to improve our daily lives whether you're a mom, a career person, a student, and just about anything - we use 3M's innovative products.  3M is one of the strongest science advocates in the market.

We encounter 3M products every day, everywhere. In fact, the most recognizable products like the colorful Post-it® Notes we’ve come to rely on as great reminders, the supreme adhesive quality of Scotch® Magic Tape we often use for wrapping gifts, and the iconic yellow and green dishwashing sponges by Scotch-Brite Brand that is a staple at the kitchen sink. These are all so embedded in our daily lives as Filipinos. 

In a recent 3M Virtual Innovation Tour I attended, I was amazed to know how much 3M I've been using in my life and how it's truly embedded in our everyday lives.  I learned that our mobile phones and laptops likely have multiple 3M applications inside it. The tint in our car is also 3M and it's been there for 5 years but still looks new with almost no sign of wear!  Even the road signs are made possible with science and technology from 3M (called retro-reflective, by the way). The vast breadth of 3M’s products and technologies continue to grow and even as we transition to a changed reality due to the pandemic, the innovation company shows no sign of stopping.

There's science behind every 3M products.  While each product was produced to make our lives easier, safer and more convenient, all of 3M products were thoroughly studied to bring magic to our lives and ensure highest efficiency with every use.  For example, when washing dishes, abrasive minerals were embedded in their scouring pads to allow for superior cleaning of our pots and pans.  Their Command™ Hooks have the best adhesives that won’t damage walls yet still holds on strongly.  Seeing and understanding what makes the classic disposable N95 particulate respirator of 3M special was also eye-opening. It is their unique filter media technology that goes into their respirators that allows for greater passage of air, while keeping us safe from the nasty contaminants. This also offered better appreciation on why face masks are for general public and why the N95 respirators are better left for the healthcare workers. 

It was also refreshing to know that a big company like 3M still manages to be active in supporting the country through various charitable activities and also sharing their knowledge in science like their Science at Home program, ultimately staying true to their vision of improving lives. 

We were also given a taste of one Science at Home experiment by the 3M engineers, on chromatography which is definitely doable with kids at home with available materials. 3M is  actively advocating for continuing education with Science at Home, a series of science education modules that parents and kids can do together, to supplement science lessons in school. 

Financial grants have also been provided for Project Damayan of Caritas Manila and Philippine Business for Social Progress. On the other hand, personal protection equipment (PPE) donations have been made to Philippine National Red Cross and several private and public hospitals in the country aimed to support those affected by the pandemic. Earlier in the year during the height of the Taal Volcano eruption, 3M Philippines also provided PPE donations to World Vision Philippines, the Philippine National Red Cross and other first responders. 

To know more about 3M Philippines, its products, and advocacies head over to https://www.3mphilippines.com.ph/ for more information.

    Things can ask our teenagers:
    - What are their learning style or what method of learning helps them better?
    -  Do they work better when tasks are given daily or for projects do they want open deadlines?
    -  Do they feel more confident when they ask their classmates or teachers regarding their lessons or can they do self-study or work better alone?

    Things we can ask our teenagers:
    -  What are they uncertain of?  
    -  Do they sometimes feel alone or helpless?
    -  Can they identify themselves well when at home?  With peers?  

    How we can help as parents:
    - Teach them kindness and forgiveness not only of other but of themselves.
    - Teach them life skills by making them decide on certain matters at home to encourage critical thinking.
    - Show interest in what they do and asking how they are doing.
    - Train how to make daily or weekly plans and sticking to them.
    - Teach importance of complete sleep and teaching mindfulness in every thing they do.

We all didn't expect this pandemic to happen.  In the past four months, we've seen many shift from office work to work from home.  There were a lot who lost their jobs.  Businesses closed down.  Parents panicked and worried about their children's education.  Lastly, almost everyone fears both their health and financial conditions - and their family's future.

It's been more than two months since we've been on quarantine and gladly forced to stay home because of the pandemic.  It's normal for many moms to prepare and get worried for the future, the safety and health of her loved ones, and how to keep everyone busy and adapt to the situation.

Since then I noticed that all of us have heavily relied on online learning, online gaming, online entertainment, online teaching, and even I upgrade my skills and do meetings online.  I guess this is the new normal for many - to do a lot of things virtually.  And not to my surprise, it's doable!  But we've got to have a faster and reliable internet connection right mommies?

There are two things that's on top of my worry list: my kids' health (vaccines, what if they get sick or had an accident, etc) and education.  Since we now get many information. entertainment, and inspiration from resources online, I get some peace of mind  knowing there are doctors doing online consultations whether on social media and even through Viber.

For my personal welfare, I do self-caring and I always encourage other moms to do so.  I wrote 100 Things To Do At Home on my blog for moms who get anxious thinking "oh my, what am I going to do next?" I personally also refer to that list, it's like a personal list which I made into a blog post.  I'm also happy I'm part of Mommy Mundo's community that helps me keep my sanity with their weekly themed mindfulness activities and live talks.  They also invite experts to talk about what moms like me worry mostly about, kids and health.  They are coming up with another one which will be helpful in answering most of medical related questions from worried moms.

Mommy Mundo will have an e-health consultation series powered by PLDT Home.  Join the #StayHealthy Moms! Facebook Live on their Facebook Page www.facebook.com/mommymundo.  Here's the schedule:

May 26, Tuesday (11 am - 12nn)
Natural Nutrition vs. Supplements in Boosting a Child's Immune System
Dr. Gellina Maala with Mikaela Lagdameo 

May 28, Thursday (11am - 12nn)
Decoding the Germ Code: Understanding the Difference between viral and bacterial diseases.
Dr. Andrea Carag with Riki Flo

I'm thankful that a lot of organizations, brands, and communities such as Mommy Mundo are offering free webinars, consultations, and talks that make mom lives a little bit easier.  Thanks also to PLDT Home's #StayHomeSeries for understanding us moms and answering to the call for trusted resources that we could all listen to and believe.  Spread the word momma! :)