Be a Watsons Switcher and Save up to 80% on your purchases

It was about two years ago, when I first started to become a regular at Watsons SM North. That was when I discovered that they have been selling their generics line.  I started to switch my branded glutathione to their generic. (I have been taking glutathione for wellness, not for whitening but I have noticed considerably evened smooth skin as side effect). It has the same efficacy and quality at an amazingly affordable price. I actually saved 80% of what I paid for compared to Japanese Gluta brand that I have been using for 4 years. That's a lot of savings.  Now,  I dont need to go to a different pharmacy for my multivitamins, medicines and antibiotics.

The savings I got I bought toiletries on their Buy One Take One promo.  Then I chanced upon Naturals Watsons Argan Oil Shampoo.

Aside from their Glutathione tablets, their Argan Oil Shampoo is the best and affordable Argan Oil shampoo in the market today. It is paraben free, detangles and made my hair thicker. Plus I love its relaxing floral smell. This helps a lot with my colored treated hair.

Watsons PH recently launched the Switch and Save TVC with its newest Celebrity Mom endorser Kylie Padilla on March 16 at Makati Shangri-la together with Watsons five celebrity endorsers Christian Bautista, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Iya Villana, Lorna Tolentino, and Edu Manzano. Watsons executives, Ms. Karen Fabres Group Marketing Manager Watsons, Ms. Viki Encarnacion Watsons Marketing Director and Krisel Macatangay Watsons Marketing Manager graced the launch.

Kylie Padilla

Tessa Prieto Valdes

Lorna Tolentino

Iya Villania

Edu Manzano

It was an afternoon full of fun with the Watsons Celebrity endorsers as they played Switcher's Feud with the selected bloggers/media while Watsons celebrity ambassador Edu Manzano hosted the game.

Everyone competed to name the most popular responses to survey questions on Watsons products posted on LED display screen.

Five years ago, the country’s economy was going through unstable times. Consumers were faced with tightening budgets, forced to choose where they would spend and where they would cut down. Watsons wanted help. So in 2012, they launched the “Switch & Save” campaign, an educational effort that showed smart shoppers how to save on their personal care essentials in order to afford more of the things they really wanted. All they had to do was shift from the leading brand to the Watsons brand.

Ms. Karen Fabres, Watsons Group Marketing Manager 

Krisel Macatangay Watsons Marketing Manager.

Ms. Viki Encarnacion Watsons Marketing Director

In those first years, the simple idea proved a smashing success. Watsons customers all across the country made the switch, changing out their toothbrushes, tissues, lotions and more for the affordable, high quality Watsons alternative. With such great momentum behind the movement, they decided to expand the campaign to the pharmacy. Launching Watsons Generics in 2014, Watsons was able to bring that same promise of affordable quality to Filipinos everywhere. Improving the state of nation’s healthcare was a huge win.

But even with so many switchers on board, not everyone seemed to be convinced. The notion that “cheaper means lower quality” had some shoppers resisting the change. Yet the Watsons team knew the truth- that with their products’ amazing quality, most people wouldn’t even feel the difference. That’s when a big idea was born- The Switch Test. The team would mount an in-store activity that asked shoppers to compare Watsons to the leading brands. The hitch- they’d have to do it blind. Without being able to see the brands, customers were asked to try out two products and choose the one they would rather buy.

From body scrubs to hair irons, shoppers felt their way through the Watsons selection, and the results were overwhelming.

8 out of 10 shoppers chose the Watsons Label product over the leading branded counterpart, an amazing testament to Watsons quality. But the surprises didn’t end there. When informed of the savings they could get with Watsons Label, the remaining shoppers who at first chose the leading brands were also convinced to make the switch. With results like these, the team knew that they were on to something big. The next challenge was to bring the same experience to more people.

Watsons Karen Fabres, Danilo Chiong, Jared De Guzman, Viki Encarnacion, Aida Lapez with Edu Manzano, Lorna Tolentino, Iya Villania, Kylie Padilla and Christian Bautista



Gathering together Watsons six celebrity endorsers (Christian Bautista, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Iya Villana, Kylie Padilla, Lorna Tolentino, and Edu Manzano), they put them all to the Switch Test. Running the same blind test used in stores, Watsons asked each of the celebs the simple question, “What’s the difference between these two products?” Their verdict- none! Not even our discerning endorsers could tell the difference between Watsons products quality and the leading brands’. There was, however, one big change they all noted. If you switch to Watsons, you can save up to 80%.

With so much more waiting to happen this 2017, Watsons will be kick starting the year through the launch of the new Switch and Save TV commercial. Catch it and see if you can tell the difference between a Watsons brand and your brand, or if you too will be convinced to Switch and Save!

Lose weight to gain health with Capsinesis

What do James Yap, girlfriend Michelle Cazzola, Ara Mina, Edu Manzano, Rita Avila, Roxanne Barcelo, Kitkat, Aubrey Miles,  Troy Montero, Maria Isabel Lopez, Evangeline Pascual and Nonie Buencamino have in common?

Answer:  They the value of good health and  exercise to stay fit. 

They’re also brand ambassadors of Capsinesis, a natural food supplement whose main ingredient, cayenne pepper, helps in losing weight and gaining health.

Rita says it promotes faster metabolism and weight  loss.  In his Instagram post, Edu describes Capsinesis as “your weight loss partner.” Roxanne takes two capsules when working out in the gym with boyfriend Will Devaughn.

That’s because the six to 10 chili peppers (equivalent to 500 mg)  in each capsule, along with green tea and wild berries join forces to burn fat faster than usual.

Coach Jim Saret, who heads FIT Filipino Movement, which aims to make one million Filipinos fit, says that Capsinesis, combined with healthy diet and exercise, works four ways.
• It boosts your metabolism (fat burner)
• It crashes food cravings (appetite suppressant)
• It cleanses your body (antioxidant)
• It helps you train better and longer

”You can take it before  working out,” he says. “This way, you induce sweating faster.  When you’re sweating, your metabolism moves up. You can even mix it with your favorite protein shake,” Saret adds.

It also fast tracks urine rate and bowel movement, thereby cleansing the body even further.
The brand ambassadors not only look good, because their skin glows and they have enviable figures.  Thanks to diet, exercise and regular intake of Capsinesis,  they feel good inside.
Here’s why:
• They have more serotonin, which keeps their spirits up and lets them sleep better
• Their blood circulation is better
• They’re less prone to heart attack
• They can ward off headache,  pain from migraine and arthritis, hemorrhoids, heartburn and peptic ulcer
• They can control their blood sugar level
• They can fight convulsions, epilepsy, and aging

For details, check out Capsinesis’ Be Hot Stay Hot FB page and the Capsinesis Healthy Transformation support group.

Capsinesis is available at Mercury and Watsons drug stores, SM department stores, South Star Drug, Rose Pharmacy and Three Sixty.

Ensure Gold helps you turn the tide on muscle and bone loss with strength work

I used to weigh 145 lbs in the early 2000s, yes I was overweight for my height of 5'2  if you do the BMI calculation.  I always experienced shortness of breath, my knees hurt each time  I climbed the stairs, and I would hear cracking and popping sounds from my knees. That was the time I consulted a doctor, he told that the Mitochondria in our cells, which are involved with oxygen consumption and muscle building and repair, lose capacity as we age, and our muscles become a little stiffer as we accumulate scar tissue and thickening in our connective tissue. I was in my late 20s during that time.


He asked me to watch my diet, eat protein food to build muscle mass like lean beef, skinless chicken, eggs, tuna, oatmeal, fruits and vegetables. I began exercising like crazy, I ran, I did aerobics and joined the aerobics marathon and from then on my weight dropped from 145 to 116 lbs.  It was hard at first because I had difficulty of breathing but as the years go by and with some discipline, I managed to maintain my weight and watched out my food intake.

I got an invite to the launch of  Ensure Stay Strong Grip Strength Challenge at 360 Fitness Club in SPARTA Sparta Gym Pioneer, Mandaluyong last July 23.  Mr. Edu Manzano, Ensure Gold Abbott Nutrition Ambassador graced the event together with the media and blogger friends who took the circuit training/cross fit.   I wasnt able to experience the cross fit training due to my monthly period but I was glad to have seen Mr. Edu Manzano again.

Who would have thought that  Edu Manzano is now a senior citizen?  He just turned 60 this year.  I have met him last year at a studio in Makati during the press interview, I thought he was in his early 50s then. But good for him, because he is healthy, fit and still good looking and know how to take care of his body.

After the event, I received a sample of Ensure Gold Vanilla flavor from Abbott Nutrition.

Mindful eating,  regular fitness routine and maintaining a positive outlook in life are just some of this year’s practical health trends both for the young and healthy aging population alike.

Edu Manzano, veteran actor, TV personality and businessman, believes that people should gear themselves well into retirement by maintaining a healthy lifestyle even at an early stage. “I maybe in my late 50s, but my body feels a lot younger. I observe a strict,balanced diet, a regular fitness routine and surround myself with a regular dose of green space. These habits help me keep up with the demands of my career and personal life”,says Manzano.

On the other hand, Manzano continued to explain how the loss of strength can be a challenge for aging Filipinos. He explains, “Change is usually difficult, especially when it comes to our bodies as we age. I realize that simple tasks such as lifting objects, walking up the stairs and doing other daily physical activities arenot as easy compared to doing these ten or fifteen years ago.”

LOSS OF STRENGTH A TOP HEALTH CONCERN IN THE PHILIPPINES

It is well-recognized that loss of strength is a reality for mostadults as they age.  Loss of strength may be an indication of a decrease in muscle mass or not getting the right level of nutrition, otherwise known as nutrition gaps.  In the Philippines, strength becomes even more important as one ages.2 In fact, a survey among Filipinos aged 40 and up shows that loss of strength is their top health concern.1In addition to the natural decrease in muscle mass as people get older, several factors such as poor food choices, decreased appetite or difficulty in digesting certain foods contribute to muscle loss.3

NUTRITIONAL STATUS HAS AN IMPACT ON MUSCLE HEALTH

Nutritional status has a great impact on muscle health and strength. In a clinical nutrition review, lower absolute hand grip strength values were found in malnourished patients when compared to well-nourished hospitalized patients.4

Among the measurements of voluntary muscle strength,hand grip strength is a validated and feasible bed side method, which makes it a frequently used tool for clinical purpose.4 Hand grip strength signifies the maximum strength resulting from the contraction of several hand muscles which lead to the bending of hand joints.5

Hand grip strength is a recognized marker of nutritional status and an indicator of muscle function. In a physical performance test, adults with nutrition gaps had almost twice lower hand grip strength, took almost twice longer to stand and five times slower to step up and down compared to age-matched norm.6-9

Furthermore, loss of strength may be an indication of nutrition gaps and of muscle mass loss. Not eating the right amount and the right kind of food can result in a decrease in muscle mass and function.4Muscle loss can affect a person’s energy and ability to perform daily activities, such as walking, rising out of a chair, and gripping or lifting objects. 10-11

THE ENSURE STAY STRONG GRIP STRENGTH CHALLENGE

Abbott is introducing the Ensure Stay Strong Grip Strength Challenge – a free assessment on strength and muscle mass that aims to reach over 200,000 aging adults nationwide.The activity aims to measure the individual’s grip strength and muscle mass levels with free handgrip strength and muscle mass tests.

Dr. Jose Rodolfo Dimaano Jr., Medical Director at Abbott Nutrition Philippines, explains, “The consequences of having nutrition gaps and decreased physical performance due to muscle mass loss in older adults can be debilitating. Being aware of your muscle mass levels and gaps in nutrition can prompt you to take charge of your health by maintaining a balanced diet and an active lifestyle. Resistance exercise along with a complete and balanced oral nutrition such as Ensure can help improve strength. Complete and balanced oral nutrition supplements are shown to improve hand grip strength within 8 weeks of intake.”12

The Ensure Stay Strong Grip Strength Challenge will have over 8,700 activation days at select drug stores and leading supermarkets nationwide.

Switch and Save to affordable Watsons Generics

Watsons a leading pharmacy retail brand in Asia recently launched its own line of multivitamins and medicines Watsons Generics last August 7, 2014 at Manila Peninsula together with its new ambassadors Lorna Tolentino and Edu Manzano.  They are admitted to switching from their branded multivitamins to Watsons generics before becoming its endorsers. Lorna Tolentino have tried Glutathione and Milk Thistle with Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamin B1+ B6 + B12 and among others. Edu Manzano on the other hand have tried the Vitamin B1, B6 and B12 as well. They told the guests and media that they are happy with the healthy switch and is living a healthy lifestyle.

 Watsons Generics also held a free medical consultation on that day, free blood sugar test, blood pressure monitoring and BMI test, and provided free medicines to those who have suffered from illnesses such as diabetes and mild hypertension.

Health literacy remains to be a key health challenge not only in the Philippines but around the world, even in developed countries. With literacy and health both recognized as fundamental components of pursuing health and well being of the society according to World Health Organization, medical and health industry leaders highlight a new collaborative framework to help address the low health literacy in the country.

At the launch of Watsons Generics, Dr. Anthony Leachon, President of the Philippine College of Physicians, emphasized that health literacy plays a critical role in addressing the dismal health situation of Filipinos including poor health and high risk of hospitalization.

“There still are many gaps that need to be addressed to improve health literacy in the country. Poverty and lack of education remain to be some of biggest contributors that prevent patients to communicate, understand health information, and subsequently make sound decisions about their health. What we need is a pragmatic approach toward health literacy—not only involving the doctor and patient but also the pharmacist and product,” shared Dr. Leachon.

He further explained that the best way to address these gaps is to use a practical framework that illustrates how the physician, patient, pharmacist and product can work together to create a more health literate community. “Ultimately, health literacy is achieved when patients and providers truly understand each other,” he added.

Watsons Generics prides itself for maintaining highly trained pharmacists in all of its branches nationwide. These pharmacists aim to support consumers with their medical decisions, particularly in purchasing medicines and adhering to the doctor’s prescription.

“Pharmacists must do their part in educating the public through conversations with customers. The well being of our customers is at the core of everything we do, and by entering the generics industry, we enable Filipinos to remain vigilant in their decision-making process when it comes to their health care,” Chiong added.

Aside from making health information accessible to the public through its pharmacists, Watsons also empowers consumers with the launch of its own generics medicine line. The Watsons Generics line will offer a wide array of medicines and supplements that are manufactured by trusted partners to ensure that all products are of high quality, safe and effective while maintaining its affordability. By providing quality generic medicines to the public, Watsons aims to build trust amongst its consumers and encourage them to be more proactive on maintaining their health.


“We believe that the public and private sectors can collaboratively develop solutions to mitigate this problem of low health literacy. The new product line of Watsons Generics is a testament of our commitment to give the public more options so they can take control of their health,” said Danilo Chiong, Health Business Director of Watsons.

In its initial launch, Watsons Generics will offer a wide variety of over-the-counter medicines, supplements, and maintenance drugs that addresses common ailments, illnesses, and lifestyle needs of Filipinos. Watsons was a pharmacy first with over 170 years of pharmacy experience, and continues to lead the industry as Asia’s no. 1 pharmacy retail brand for five consecutive years according to Campaign Asia.