I’ll be honest enough to say that this ECQ has not been easy for me and many other moms. In a previous blog post, I shared tips on how to stay positive during quarantine. It is not easy and we struggled a lot. We still are struggling but with the end goal of keeping our immunity strong and our family healthy, the challenges seem to be worth it. Our new normal is one that will probably determine the way we will live forever and I don’t really mind. As we make wellness a new way of life, you can count on Watsons to be with you every step of the way.
Here are a few recommendations from Watsons on keeping your immunity strong and your family healthy.

Tea - great source of antioxidants
We need to make sure our immunity is boosted during these times.  Exercise should be part of your activities as a family.  I've done that a few times and admittedly I should be doing it more often. Exercising literally shakes up things. It makes us happy, it strengthens our immunity and improves the body’s flexibility. If we lose some weight along the way, then that’s a bonus, right?

Healthy foods like vegetables and fruits are the best sources of nutrients.  But, with very limited movements and resources, these aren't always accessible.  But drinking tea could help also as source of antioxidants our bodies need.  I get Nutrabliss by Watsons and drink a cup or two every day.
Multivitamins, Vitamin C, and Supplements 
As a busy mom who sleeps the latest and wakes up early in the morning, sometimes I feel weak and overworked.  Again mommies, sleep is very important in healing our bodies, keeping us alert, and improving our moods.  But for times I lack some sleeping hours, I feel as if I'm going to have flu.  That's why I make sure apart from eating well, my husband and I take multi-vitamins to supplement the amount of nutrients we need each day, which we don't get from food sometimes.  Here are some from Watsons that you may want to also try:

• Watsons Generics Ascorbic Acid which we take every day.  
• Conzace Soft Gel, which is rich in Zinc, Vit. A, C and E to help boost immunity and promotes healthy hair and skin. 
• Myra E 400IU is also rich in Vitamin E that helps fight cell damage. 
• Growee Syrup and Cherifer PGM with Zinc capsules to support height growth and help the body become stronger.
• MET Tathione, NU Essence Collagen and Organique Acai Juice and those that harness the power of natural ingredients such as MX3 capsules and Watsons Generics Malunggay + Mangosteen.  These protect our skin and body from the harmful environmental factors that may cause damage.

Watsons continues to provide your family's health essentials in any of its stores nationwide. You can also order online at watsons.com.ph or call selected branches to have your orders delivered. For contact details of branches near you, you can check out this list: https://bit.ly/2W9oVWi.

When you shop, use your Watsons Card to earn points and get a chance to win a UV Care Deluxe Germ Terminator, Super Power UV Vacuum or Smart Robot UV Vacuum with a minimum purchase of Php500 on select health items. Promo runs until June 24, 2020.

For more updates, you can also follow us on our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram at @watsonsph. Stay safe and healthy!

So mommies, the most important thing is to really just stay home during these days.  Only go out when absolutely needed like replenishing food, groceries, and medicines.  Good thing Watsons products may be ordered online.  Remember to always keep safe and to prioritize your family's health with the help from Watsons.

I am sure you’ve heard about “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.”  We hope that we won’t say this in the future with regards to our WATER supply.  One of the easiest solutions to our water situation is – CONSERVE.

Source

Metro Manila and nearby provinces experienced water shortage beginning last year due to El Nino.  Personally, our barangay experienced daily water interruptions (which I shared in my previous post) beginning 4pm.  This experience taught me and my kids a lot about appreciating water and conserving it. 

I’m sharing some tips which you could also do at home and teach your kids.

1. Check for leaks and have it repaired.  Every drop counts.  Make sure you check your pipes or loose faucets that may contribute to water wastage.  This will also save you heaps of pesos on your water bill.
2. Use dipper when bathing instead of shower.  Using a dipper or “tabo” is a sure way you use just enough water you need.  The sprinkling water coming from shower sometimes isn’t aimed at you, so you end up showering longer, hence wasting more water.  Just in case you have a bathtub at home, it’s best not to use it at the moment.
3. Catch the water you used for rinsing and repurpose it for flushing toilet or cleaning garage.
4. Turn off faucet when not in use (especially in between washing plates, brushing teeth, washing hands, etc.)
• Toothbrushing – Use water for gargling in a glass instead of running water from the faucet.
• Washing hands – Rinse with water in a basin or dipper instead of running water.  Especially during this season when handwashing is very important and should be done more frequently than ever.
• Dishwashing - Instead of using running water to rinse soaped plates and utensils, rinse them in a basin filled with clean water.  You may still repurpose the used water in the basin afterwards for cleaning outdoor surfaces.
5. Schedule your laundry day.  It’s more practical to wash clothes by schedule than daily.

These are some of the basic water conservation tips we usually do at home.  But actually, there are many other ways you could do to repurpose used water in order to conserve it.  This way, we don’t contribute to the continual depletion of clean water supplied by Maynilad which all come from the main source, Angat Dam. 

Always look at the bright side.

The water interruptions we are experiencing may be an inconvenience to many, but personally, it has taught me and my family important things. 

I’ve already shared it in my previous post, I am sharing it again:

• We learned to appreciate our water supply. Thus, we make extra efforts to conserve it. 
• It created good water usage habits - working on a schedule or routine teaches discipline.  Kids ensure their used lunch kits are washed before the water supply gets cut off.  People in the household ensure they do their major water-dependent activities on time. 
• It taught us thoughtfulness and compassion.  Everyone in the family is now more mindful in making sure bins or pails are always filled so there may be clean water for others not yet at home to use even when water supply is already cut.

As I always say, always start and end the day with gratitude.  I am thankful that I was able to join the educational trip to Maynilad’s water facilities and treatment plant.  It made me appreciate our nature, our water supply, and it made me become more mindful in its usage. 

Water conservation starts at home.  Let’s not always put the blame on others.  May we all do our parts as concerned citizens to love, appreciate, and conserve water. 

For more tips, check out Maynilad Water Services on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MayniladWater/

I didn't pass this chance when I was invited by Maynilad to join a whole day adult field trip to Angat and Ipo Dams and their La Mesa water treatment facilities. I felt like I have to know the reason myself why we have water shortages in Metro Manila.  I know many of you also experience the same.  Our water supply used to get cut off daily beginning 4pm until 5am the following day.
First stop was the Angat Dam, which is being managed by the Angat Hydropower Corporation, where we had a short discussion on Metro Manila’s Raw Water Source.  I learned that 91% of Maynilad’s raw water supply comes from Angat Dam which is located in Norzagaray Bulacan.  The remaining 9% comes from Laguna Lake.  The Angat Dam serves these main purposes: Power Generation, Irrigation, and Domestic Water Supply through the MWSS.  I also learned that the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) is the government agency responsible for allocation of water supply for consumption and irrigation.  The normal allocation for MWSS is 48 cubic meters per second (cms) and is shared among residents of Metro Manila and the nearby provinces of Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan.


Visting Angat Dam and Ipo Dam
We visited Angat Dam following the discussion to see for ourselves the water level as reported in the news.  It’s TRUE, it’s lower than ideal.  I saw that it’s still below expected levels to meet demands of Metro Manila. This is due to scarce rainfall last year, thus NWRB reduced the raw water allocation to 42 cms, from 48cms, for the water concessionaires in Metro Manila, including Maynilad. This is the reason why we experienced daily water service interruptions.  Maynilad was forced to rotate the limited supply allocated by NWRB so that all of its customers will have water, even for just a few hours, daily.
The reduced raw water allocation which was implemented by NWRB is a temporary solution to ensure that there will still be enough water by the time the summer months are here! Basically, they’re trying to preserve the remaining water in the dam until the rains come to replenish it.
We also went to Ipo Dam, which is where the raw water flows downward from Angat Dam and eventually to the Novaliches Portal where the water is divided between Maynilad (West Zone concession) and Manila Water (East Zone concession). 

Ipo Dam played a big role in augmenting the supply shortfall from Angat, allowing Maynilad to suspend the daily water interruptions sometime in August and September 2019.  Although much smaller than Angat Dam and not intended for water storage, the Ipo Dam also receives runoffs from the watersheds. So as long as it is kept full, it can help augment the reduced allocation from Angat Dam.
La Mesa Water Treatment Plant
Maynilad’s water treatment facilities follow very strict standards and continue to operate optimally and efficiently to ensure that we are supplied with clean water every single day.  I appreciated this all the more when we visited the La Mesa Water Treatment Plant 2.
It was discussed to us that the raw water from Angat Dam goes through a multi-stage treatment process that includes the following:

• Screening – water passes through screens to remove foreign objects (leaves, grass for example)
• Rapid Mixing – Chemicals such as chlorine are added to further remove other tiny particles/solids.
• Flocculation – Raw water is stirred so the small clusters of suspended solids will collide and form into large particles called “flocs”
• Sedimentation – Flocs when they get heavier settle at the bottom of the basin.
• Filtration- Water from sedimentation basins is filtered through dual-media filters that trap the flocs as water flows down through them.
• Post Treatment – Chlorine and lime may be added to disinfect water making it safe for consumers and also correcting the pH or acidity levels of the water.

Daily Water Service Interruptions
To look at the brighter side of it, the water service interruptions taught me these things:

• Appreciation of water, thus making efforts to conserve it. 
• Habit-forming for us in the household – working on a schedule or routine teaches discipline.  Kids ensure their used lunch kits are washed before the water supply gets cut off.  People in the household ensure they do their major water-dependent activities on time. 
• Thoughtful gestures – family members now are mindful in making sure bins or pails are always filled so there may be water for others not yet at home when water supply is already cut.  

True it may be not convenient not to have water at certain hours of the day, but limiting usage if it’s for the greater good is better for me – than to totally lose it.  Summer is coming which means water demand and consumption will be greater.


As per Maynilad, as long as the raw water allocation from Angat Dam is below normal, daily service interruptions will be in effect.  In fact, just recently, the NWRB increased allocation to 46 cms—still less than the normal 48 cms, but higher than the previous 42 cms. Maynilad was consequently been able to lift the daily supply interruptions, or isolate it to off-peak hours for some areas. This will be the case until end of March, then the water allocation for succeeding months might be reduced again, depending on how fast the water level in Angat Dam goes down.

Thankfully, Maynilad is doing something to help alleviate the impact of another possible reduced raw water supply allocation:

• Optimizing its Putatan Water Treatment Plant 1 and Commissioning Plant 2, which both get raw water from Laguna Lake
• Reactivating deep wells.
• Sustaining reduction of water losses.
• Purchasing of modular treatment plants that will tap rivers in Cavite.
• Deploying mobile water tankers and stationary water tanks.
• Conducting cloud-seeding operations.

Maynilad also shared that MWSS is currently working on the development of an alternative raw water source to Angat Dam. This is the long-term solution to our water situation.  While this is not yet materializing, as consumers, we are encouraged to use water responsibly.  Simple measures in responsible usage go a long way.
Thank you so much Maynilad for inviting us to visit your water treatment facilities, for bringing us to Angat and Ipo Dams, for patiently educating us about the process of bringing water to our households from its raw sources, and for the solutions you come up in ensuring we will have water to drink, bathe with, and wash and clean things.  The enriching trip definitely made me appreciate water and sparked me to become a lot more mindful than I already am in using and conserving it.  As a responsible mom and citizen, I really will do my part in using water responsibly.

The future of skincare is here!

Say hello to SkinWhite’s newest revolutionary product, the MoistureWhite body lotion. Unlike ordinary whitening lotions in the market, SkinWhite MoistureWhite lotion takes a massive leap towards beautiful skin because it combines a time-proven whitening formula with the breakthrough ingredient Hyaluronic Acid (HA), a moisture booster popularly found in Korean skincare products.
Don’t miss out on the following benefits your skin can gain by using SkinWhite MoistureWhite Lotion!

1. It will help you achieve whiter skin by lavishing it with much-needed moisturization through HA.  SkinWhite MoistureWhite is enriched with Hyaluronic Acid (HA)—a natural ingredient that’s clinically proven to deliver deep moisturization immediately, being able to retain its weight in water up to 1000x. So that when light hits moisturized skin, it will appear even and whiter. HA acts as a magnet that attracts and locks in moisture for a fair and glowing complexion. With HA in every bottle of MoistureWhite Lotion, you’re sure to get moisturized-white skin! 
2. It has the sun protection you need.  SkinWhite MoistureWhite is also equipped with SPF 16. This means aside from shielding your skin from the sun’s harmful rays, it also keeps your skin fairer as it successfully blocks out the darkening effects of sun exposure.
3. SkinWhite Moisture White doesn’t feel sticky on the skin. SkinWhite MoistureWhite lotion is made with a non-sticky formula so you can now have moisturized white skin every day without the sticky feeling you hate! 
4. Comes in soap format, too!  Your skin will feel and look even better when you also use SkinWhite MoistureWhite soap. That’s because HA will not dry out your skin every time you bathe. By using MoistureWhite soap and MoistureWhite lotion daily, your skin will be moisturized-white all day!

SkinWhite combines whitening with the power of HA so you can achieve the skin you so rightfully deserve. SkinWhite MoistureWhite—locks moisture in to get your best white out. Try it now!

They say illness or death makes you change your perspective of things in life.  If you put the thought of death in the equation, the way you behave, the manner you speak, the intentionality to take care of your relationships with your loved ones - ALL change.  I believe this then urges a person to become better, kinder, more forgiving, and more honest. 

I always have that "what-if-I-have-24-hrs-to-live" mentality when making decisions.  If you do, believe me, you'll make wiser and more practical decisions - such as getting yourself and your family a gift of protection. 

FWD Philippines takes care of your family’s future needs so you “KanDuu” all the things you want to do, now!


My very reason for getting myself insured is because I don't want to obligate my kids to take care of me and spend for my hospitalization, medicines, and even memorial services should I arrive there. I want to be financially independent and instill the same values to my kids.  Insuring myself gave me a peace of mind knowing that whatever happens, I am protected. 

So just imagine all the things you can do when you’re confident and secured enough to accomplish them—when you don’t have to worry over your family’s needs should anything happen. As impossible as it seems, you can really, truly, have it all! All it takes is a decision to make it happen and being open to the idea of financial planning.

FWD Life Philippines (FWD PH) KanDuu
Giving Filipinos the confidence to live life to the fullest, FWD Life Philippines (FWD PH), part of pan-Asian insurer FWD Group, recently launched KanDuu, a set of insurance products that covers you from death, critical illness, or accidents so you "Can Do" and pursue all the things you love.

Go ahead and do it!

Whether you’re an avid family traveler, a fitness buff, or a lover of life, there’s a variant that’ll suit you—KanMend, KanLive, and KanGuard. And did we mention that aside from securing you and your family, each comes with really awesome rewards? 


As a mom/parent, we each have different needs or priorities we want an insurance product to meet.  Let me tell you more about what FWD PH KanDuu Can Do for you!

• For Critical Illness - Get KanMend!  Designed with wellness warriors and health buffs in mind, KanMend gives you a cash benefit of Php100,000 once you get diagnosed with any of the 42 covered critical illnesses. Its welcome reward: Six months’ unlimited access to KonsultaMD’s 24/7 telemedicine service. No need to leave the house to consult with licensed Filipino doctors. All you need is to call.  

• For Essential Funds and Protection -  Get KanLive!  It has a cash benefit of Php200,000, in case of death and this reward: One-year unlimited medical consultations at any Aventus Medical clinics, nationwide.

• For Accidental Death or Disability Coverage - Get KanGuard!  Love to travel? Have a thirst for adventure? Want to live life on the edge? KanGuard gives a Php500,000 cash benefit in case of accidental death or disability due to terror attacks, anywhere in the world. Its reward? One-year global emergency services by Assist America for travels. 

Insurance marketplace
Who knew you’d someday shop for insurance online the way you’d shop for gadgets or limited edition bike parts? Who knew getting insured is as fast as picking that shade of red lipstick you don’t already have? True to its vision to change the way people feel about insurance, FWD has now made insurance more accessible, affordable, and covetable to more Filipinos via shop.fwd.com.ph.

If you’re 18 to 50 years old, you can purchase KanDuu online for AS LOW AS PhP1,799/year at shop.fwd.com.ph, FWD PH’s new online insurance marketplace.

HOW TO PURCHASE:

1. Step 1: Visit www.shop.fwd.com.ph
2. Step 2: Choose one Kanduu plan you want to purchase

• KanMend - Protection against 42 critical illnesses | Reward: 6 months’ unli KonsultaMD telemedicine
• KanLive - Essential funds and protection for your family | Reward: 1 year unli medical consults at Aventus clinics
• KanGuard - Payout for accidents or terror attacks, worldwide | Reward: 1 year global emergency services
1. Step 3: Click “Buy Now”
2. Step 4: Fill out the application form and upload one valid ID
3. Step 5: Review application form summary and product summary
4. Step 6: Pay online via debit or credit card
5. Step 7: Expect a welcome email and SMS

And with FWD’s insurance app, Tapp, you can access and manage your insurance and rewards, anytime, anywhere!  I never thought protection for our families could now be this accessible, convenient, and easy to purchase!  This is also a perfect choice for individuals or groups who are quite shy when meeting people.  Online is the newest way to get products and even services! 

Go to bit.ly/MetroManilaLovesShopFWD to purchase your KanDuu insurance now!
Want to know more about FWD Life Philippines, part of the pan-Asian insurer FWD Group? Visit: https://www.fwd.com.ph/en/

If you're a mom like me, you know how worrisome I could be with the spread of different viruses in the air that cause sickness.  The recent natural disaster our country is facing also had many of us worry about the hazardous effects of ashfall in the air.  This is why we've been on the search for technologies that will purify and deodorize the air we breathe to ensure our family's wellness.

One of the best news I've received at the start of the year is the announcement of Panasonic Philippines' new company - Panasonic Air Conditioning Philippines. It promises to provide #CompleteAirSolutions with innovative professional technologies in air conditioners.

Panasonic reiterates its commitment to create “A Better Life, A Better World” as it aims to contribute to the progress and development of society and to the happiness of people around the globe, highlighting its expertise in the Air Conditioning business in over 120 countries globally. 

With this development, PACPH promises to provide the best comfort and #CompleteAirSolutions with innovative professional technologies and services to suffice every Filipino’s need from home to business.
Air conditioning nowadays does not only settle on cooling alone. As the name implies, air conditioners’ main purpose is to condition your indoor air, thus, Panasonic developed nanoe™ Technology that deodorizes, inhibits the growth of bacteria and viruses, and is effective in dust removal to create a fresher and cleaner living environment.  This new technology certainly gives any parent some peace of mind knowing that the air their children breathes is cleaner and safer.
Through better air conditioning solutions, Panasonic aims to provide care for every Filipino family - that’s #AlagangPanasonic.

Learn more about Panasonic Air Conditioners: https://bit.ly/2NC5h0u
Get the latest updates and promos or learn more about the #AlagangPanasonic campaign on the Panasonic Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PanasonicPhilippines/