Gary believes that there are DiabetaMillion ways to enjoy life

Diabetes, just like the big "C" or cancer is a dreaded disease. If not properly taken care of, you could die of many complications. I knew someone who suffered from type 2 diabetes mellitus and died of complications a year after her diagnosis. She should have undergone AV shunting, a medical term which means inserting some foreign object to her arms for dialysis preparation,  but refused the procedure, and abused her body by indulging to all kinds of "sweet" food. She told her relatives that she could die anyway, soon   she surrendered her dear life, without thinking that there is still hope and changing her lifestyle is one of them.

DiabetaMil was launched together with its brand ambassador Gary Valenciano last June 18 at Victorino's Restaurant in Timog, QC. Gary was showed with his Diabetamil  TVC indulging him in skydiving. He told bloggers that being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes wont prevent him from doing what he likes best  and he was proud that he fulfilled "skydiving" as it was in his bucketlist.  He advised that being on the go and maintaining a healthy diet helps control his sugar spike, that's why Diabetamil is on his everyday meal.

A diet that includes DiabetaMil is one that he lives by. This reduced calorie, sugar-free Cereal and Non-Cereal drink contain vitamins, minerals and protein specially formulated for people with diabetes. It is enriched with Chromium Picolinate and Dietary Fiber, is high in Calcium and has a Low Glycemic (GI) Value.

Gary was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was just fourteen years old and was told by his doctors that he would not live past the age of forty. Thirty-seven years after his diagnosis and more than 90,000 insulin injections later, Gary has never been more active in both his personal and e professional life.  The artist, performer, athlete and family man’s strong resolve to constantly defeat the disease comes after his worst hypoglycemic attack in 2005, which almost claimed his life.  Ten years after that fateful event, he is now complication free and has been called a living miracle by many doctors.

The International Diabetes Foundation has reported that the Philippines has been named as one the world’s emerging diabetes hotspot having treated 3.2 million cases in 2014 alone.

In its simplest terms, diabetes is a lifelong chronic condition that affects the body’s ability to use the energy found in food. For non-diabetics, the sugar and carbohydrates in the food are transformed into glucose, which the cells absorb in the bloodstream with the help of a hormone called insulin.

Diabetics do not produce or do not have enough insulin in the body and therefore cannot absorb the glucose, which creates a build-up in the blood and often leads to more serious illnesses.

As this is seen as a very serious disease, there is a mindset that people living with diabetes lead very restricted lives. This is a misconception that Gary Valenciano is very familiar with, but this has not discouraged him from becoming the success that he is.

How does he do it? His outlook is one of great resolve. “I’m living a life with diabetes but I won’t let it stop me”, he has said in a 2009 interview with Ces Drilon.  He believes that with proper management of the disease, it allows him to live a rich, dynamic life. This multi-awarded performer shares that religiously doing exercise, careful observation of his blood sugar, taking the right medication and having a proper diet helps him in his miraculous journey in dealing with diabetes. 

 The mineral Chromium Picolinate found in the drink can aid in both glucose and insulin metabolism by breaking down the fats, protein and cholesterol.  Dr. Lanny Lestiani, a Medical Nutritionist at the University of Indonesia, testifies that ‘chromium showed its potential in improving insulin sensitivity; DiabetaMil enriched with chromium (250 mcg per serving) may be beneficial for diabetics to improve their glycemic control’. In addition, this nutritional drink also fulfills the Codex requirement as source of calcium, which can be beneficial in optimizing glucose metabolism.

The high fiber oat content in DiabetaMil Chocolate & Vanilla drinks, help lower bad cholesterol. It also contains a glycemic index (GI) value level of 30.5 which helps reduce overall blood glucose level.

Several nutritionists have confirmed the benefits of including DiabetaMil to a diabetic’s daily balanced diet. “The usage of non-sugar sweetening agents (sucralose and acesulfame K) to DiabetaMil may help diabetics reduce their blood glucose level”, attests Dr. Widjaja Lukito, an associate professor of the Nutrition Department at the University of Indonesia. Because DiabetaMil is a reduced calorie meal substitute, it ‘can help diabetics control their body weight’, endorses Ayu Dwi Irianti, a Nutrition Coordinator at one of Jakarta’s premier hospitals.

Aside from the multi-flavored nutritional drinks, DiabetaMil also offers low-calorie and sugar-free cookies suitable for diabetics. Snacks have an important role in the daily diet as they help keep blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible.

DiabetaMil has a delicious lineup of cereal (Vanilla and Chocolate flavors) & non-cereal drinks (Moccachinno flavor) and cookies (Nutty Chocolate and Vanilla Dried Fruit flavors) that allows one a healthy and nutritious meal without sacrificing its taste. Just like Gary, DiabetaMil believes that there are DiabetaMillion ways to enjoy life.  So don’t let diabetes stop you from enjoying life!
DiabetaMil is available in all leading supermarkets, groceries and drugstores.


https://www.facebook.com/DiabetaMilPhilippines

#BondOverMusic with Soundfreaq speakers

Why You Should Gather Your Friends and #BondOverMusic
Join the Instagram contest to win Soundfreaq speakers

A lot of us love listening to music all by ourselves. However, did you know that music might just be better enjoyed with friends, over your favorite Soundfreaq speakers? According to research*, listening to music can increase positive emotions and strengthen ties among groups. Here are four reasons why you and your friends should #BondOverMusic starting today:

1. Music can make us like another person more.
Have you ever felt closer to people after a night of karaoke? According to research, the cooperation required to sing together, harmonize, and keep the beat tends to increase the release of endorphins (pleasure chemicals) in our brain. This makes us like the people we are singing with all the more.

2. Music can make us trust others more.
In addition to releasing endorphins, listening to music also releases oxytocin, the hormone that makes us trust others. So not only do we end up liking the people we are singing with, we also end up believing in them.

3. Music builds up our empathy.
Listening to music has also been shown to activate areas of the brain that helps us understand what another person is thinking and feeling. This makes it easier for us to predict how they will act, and then adjust our own behavior accordingly.

4. Music deepens our connection with others.
Have you ever felt an instant connection with a person, just because he or she shares your taste in music? You are not alone. Studies have shown that sharing the same taste in music with others tends to make us think that they share the same values as us. This in turn makes us more open to them being part of our lives.

Looking for a speaker for your great bonding moments? Soundfreaq is launching its #BondOverMusic campaign, where you can get a chance to win a Soundfreaq Pocket Kick, a Sound Spot, a Double Spot, or a Sound Rise.


Clockwise: Pocket Kick, Sound Spot, Double Spot, and Sound Rise

Simply post an Instagram photo of someone with whom you love bonding over music. In the caption, complete this statement, “Using #Soundfreaq speakers, I want to #bondovermusic with (tag your friend) because he/she ________.” Remember to tag @DigitsTradingPH and @Soundfreaq. Post as many entries as possible until June 30, 2015. These photos might just give you the chance to win a speaker not just for you, but for your friend as well. Interested to learn more? Check out @DigitsTradingPH on Instagram!

Watch Kung Fu Panda 3's First Trailer here!

                In DreamWorks Animation’s “Kung Fu Panda 3” first trailer, Po and the gang is back with three times the force and adventure! Po (voiced by Jack Black) is now considered as the legendary Dragon Warrior who has already saved the world a few times but has remained a humble panda despite wide and wild adulation.

                Along with his best buddies, Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Crane (David Cross),  Viper (Lucy Liu) and Mantis (Seth Rogen), Po continues kung-fu training under the tutelage of Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman).  The trailer shows that Po has finally met his father (Byran Cranston) in a very heartwarming and hilarious scene wherein the whole village sighed in frustration when the two didn’t immediately realize they’re both the father and son they’ve long been searching for.

                Prepare for “Kung Fu Panda 3” when it opens this 2016 in cinemas nationwide!  Trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcbZFnkvcZI&list=PLcZs6n5iZPx-3gqskDwaQrIBpJeJ5dWOw




                Check out Philippines’ own “Kung Fu Panda 3” website here: http://www.kungfupandamovie-ph.com/  to keep up with awesomeness!

Philam Life presents National Artist Vicente Manansala's paintings at the National Museum

Philam Life CEO Axel Bromley

The last time I made a visit to the National Museum was in high school and it was a school field trip. I had a vague memory of the museum, until I saw the movie "Night at the Museum". Now that I am older and wiser, I suddenly had an urge to visit our own National Museum,  to see what's iconic artifacts are inside and if its in mint condition, to ghost haunt, see the Spoliarium painting by the National Artist Juan Luna, and what the museum offers now that Im two and a half decade older. Until I got an invite from a PR friend.

Spoliarium 

Philam Life offers an exclusive tour of the Philam Life Gallery by National Museum Assistant Director Dr. Ana Labrador last June 16 together with Philam Life CEO Axel Bromley to the media guests. The building itself is newly renovated and painted, the hallways are clean, the exhibition room is well- lit and organized. We first passed by the "Spoliarium" painting by National Artist Juan Luna. Spoliarium is a Latin word for coliseum's morgue which refers to the basement of the Roman Colosseum where the fallen and dying gladiators are dumped and devoid of their worldly possessions.

 Philamlife brings the Vicente Manansala collection , another illustrious National Artist,  the late Vincent Manansala, had his work exhibited at the National Museum. Vicente Manansala was a cubist painter and illustrator of no small renown. He was commissioned by Philam Life to create murals for the Philam Life Head Office. Following his passing in 1981, he was posthumously proclaimed a National Artist in Painting on the same year.

The gallery houses Manansala's  art collection that depict Filipino life, rendered in the artist signature style of “transparent cubism”.

Philam Life donated Php 1 million to the Museum through the Philam Foundation. The sum will be
used for the further upkeep of the paintings at the Philam Life Gallery, and was received by Dr. Ana Labrador on behalf of the National Museum.

The Philam Foundation has also been cooperating with the National Museum in building classrooms in typhoon-affected areas under the “Philam Paaralan” program. They jointly built four new classrooms - two in Loon South Central Elementary School, in Loon, Bohol soon after the earthquake and two in Salug Elementary School in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, which was among the schools devastated by Typhoon Yolanda.

Philam Life’s new CEO takes pride in its Manansala collection. “As an art connoisseur myself, it is a privilege to be part of an institution that strongly supports the arts,” said Mr. Axel Bromley. He believes in the importance of developing education and promoting the advancement of Philippine arts and culture. “We hope that through this partnership with the National Museum, more Filipinos can appreciate our collection and have access to these precious artworks of National Artist Vicente Manansala.”

Visit The National Museum, the Manansala paintings are now available for public viewing. The best part is, admission is free.

Mister Donut keeps you on the go with their Energy Bav and Energy Shots donuts!

Mister Donut partners with 7-Eleven in launching the Energy Donuts by combining the kick-start of a caffeinated drink and the indulgent coffee--these two variants are the Energy-Bav,  a delicious Shell donuts filled with Coffee Fudge Bavarian  that’s been infused with just the right amount of sugar and Nescafe Premium Roast to keep you going if you are working the night shift and the Energy-Shots miniature round donuts that let you recharge on-the-go, just the turbo boost you need to continue your day. These specialty donuts are only available at 7-Eleven stores near you.

The Energy Donuts were launched last June 18 at Sarsa Kitchen in Makati, and we were able to sample these two delicious energy donuts filled with bavarian and has the right kick of premium Nescafe roast coffee. If you are working the night shift and needed the energy to stay up late, these donuts will keep you awake until your shift ends. While the Energy shots are the right snack for students who are on the go.

Working extra hours is for many Filipinos the rule, and ot the exception. According to the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES), as of April 2015, 20M out of 37.5M working Filipinos sacrifice their free time for overtime. This statistic does not even include the large number of students burning the midnight oil to complete assignments and school projects.  It is during these crucial hours that people feel the need for a pick-me-up, in the way of caffeine or sugar, and many choose to reach for a coffee or a chocolate bar. For the average Filipino—whose life is becoming increasingly busy, when every second counts in the rush to beat deadlines, warming up with a cup of coffee or packing a milk chocolate may not be the best option.

So whether you’re headed to the office, school, or just simply a spot to hang out with your friends, stop into a 7-Eleven nearest you and grab Mister Donut’s new Energy Donuts today. The Energy Donuts are exclusively available in 7-Eleven stores.  For more information on these quick and tasty caffeinated treats, or to check out videos and pictures of Mister Donut surprising offices with their new energy enhancing products,  please visit www.facebook.com/MrDonutPH

Start your journey to wellness at Robinsons Supermarket

Back in the late 90s,  I used to weigh  143lbs for my 5'2 frame. Yes, I was overweight and had a hard time walking and doing errands. I experienced shortness of breath just by walking 250 meters away from home to work. My kneecaps hurt like there's a "pin and needles" sensation to it. I decided to visit my physician/endocrinologist and she suggested that I should lose weight, eat more vegetables, fruits, avoid nuts and eat only lean meat if I crave.  Drink more water for hydration, avoid softdrinks, sugar juices concentrate, iced teas and drink a cup of hot green tea before sleeping.  Exercise, walk and join a fun run if I have the time. I followed most of her advice and it paid off after 5 years,  until I reached my desired weight of 115lbs. I now breathe normally, my skin cleared up, my hair becomes shiny and stops from hairfall, lesser doctor visits, and the best part is I got to buy small sizes tops and dresses.

I always shopped at Robinsons Supermarket for my fruits and drinks when Im in Manila. I discovered their "wellness" campaign last year when I dropped by at Robinsons Magnolia and stopped at Healthy Selections,  there I bought almonds and 5 bottles of squeezed orange juice. Since Robinsons Supermarket is encouraging everyone to take the step to a journey of wellness through the Wellness Festival. 

Robinsons Supermarket kicked off the month-long celebration at Robinsons Magnolia with a "Wizard of Oz" theme park as the "yellow brick road"  gears to getting fit and healthy last June 16. The event was hosted by the triathlete herself, Ms. Iya Villania-Arellano.  Booths from known health and wellness brands Nestle, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, Del Monte, Abbott, Fonterra and Unilab  offers exciting activations and freebies for shoppers to enjoy and learn more about wellness.

 Robinsons Supermarket is encouraging everyone to take the step to a journey of wellness through the Wellness Festival. It is a month-long festivity filled with promos and activities, all geared towards helping people actively choose the healthy lifestyle.

The wellness month that will last the whole month of July gets a head start with a race to wellness fronted by active lifestyle advocates Daniel and Vanessa Matsunaga at Robinsons Magnolia.

Robinsons Supermarket fortifies its commitment to wellness by helping more Filipinos make healthier choices by easing access to healthier alternatives and making it as convenient as possible. It invites everyone to embark on a wellness journey as soon as they set foot inside a Robinsons Supermarket, with its unique health and wellness section. This destination area aims to address varied nutrition needs to fit every lifestyle and to help consumers make learned purchases.

Robinsons Supermarket continues to employ the “Shop Smart” tag label that color codes items based on their health benefits, nutritional content, and price discounts. Achieve everyday wellness and choose healthy items in green tags. These are products that meet at least three (3) of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute’s eight (8) nutritional attributes, namely: low salt, low calorie, low fat, low in saturated fat, sugar free, low cholesterol, low sodium, source of protein and source of dietary fiber.

Customers are also spoilt for choice as Robinsons Supermarket has its own exclusive line of healthy products called Healthy You, which ranges from nuts, oats, juice, olive oils and many more. Or, they can also check out the supermarket’s ready-to-eat station called Healthy Selections where pre-packed healthy meals called Fit Cuisine or the make-your-own salad station can be found.

“We, at Robinsons Supermarket, believe that health and wellness is not a destination but a continuous journey. And we want to be part of that journey in people’s lives by being a trusted partner that they can always rely on for all their health and wellness needs,” said Robinsons Supermarket General Manager Jody Gadia.

Being healthy and fit is the "in" thing nowadays,  and the wellness journey is made more fun with the 8th Wellness Fit & Fun Buddy Run set on July 8 at the BGC where 4,500 runners are expected to join in the 5km an 10km categories.


The wellness journey is made more fun with the 8th Wellness Fit & Fun Buddy Run set on July 8 at Bonifacio Global City where 4,500 runners are expected to join in the 5km and 10km categories. This is the only buddy run in the country that seeks to encourage participants to get their partners, friends or relatives into an active lifestyle.

For Robinsons Supermarket, wellness is not only about advocating fresh and nutritious food, but also of encouraging its patrons to adopt a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise and taking care of one’s personal being.

One’s wellness journey will truly be rewarding especially this July with the supermarket’s Wellness Festival where exciting activities and freebies will be offered throughout the month. For instance, given a minimum purchase of Php3,000 with Php500 worth of purchase of participating wellness products, customers can enjoy free nutritious items like Healthy You Mixed Nuts. This is just some of the activities or offers in-store for Robinsons Supermarket customers nationwide.

The Wellness Festival is a reminder that choosing the healthy lifestyle starts with you taking the first step. Join the celebration and learn how healthier days can start at Robinsons Supermarket.

Let Robinsons Supermarket be your guide in this journey to wellness and be part of the #ILoveWellness campaign. Like it on Facebook www.facebook.com/RobinsonsSupermarketOfficial or visit its official website at www.robinsons-supermarket.com.ph to learn more about the “I Love Wellness” campaign and for latest updates.