Everyday remedies

By Cory Quirino
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Date

Antidotes for constipation, blisters and insect bites

HERE ARE some special remedies to resort to in daily life that are better choices for health and wellness.

Help! I am constantly constipated.
Constipation is generally due to a poor diet—one lacking in fiber, combinations of foods that are incompatible, inadequate water intake or exercise, and avoiding or postponing going to the toilet. How simple can this be?

Solutions:

Increase vegetable intake. Try to eat more greens every meal time.

Drink two glasses of water upon waking up. This immediately has a cleansing effect on the body.

Take more laxative fruits/ foods—prunes, grains, cherries, pineapple.

Avoid harsh laxatives. They may even irritate your bowels.

Use natural oils like olive, wheat germ and castor oil as lubricating nutrients (1-2 tbsp daily)

Aloe vera (with the outer green bark, minus the spiny parts) is a good laxative. Take a piece, wash and blend with water or juice. Drink daily.

Figs also relax the bowels.

Lemon therapy: Each morning before breakfast, mix half a lemon in a cup of warm water. Drink 4 oz more every hour until 6 p.m. This stimulates more bowel movement.

Senna leaves: A strong laxative for chronic cases, to be used by adults only. It is a temporary remedy. Blend senna with ginger. Dilute with water.

Castor/olive oil: Warm the oil and rub on the abdomen. Castor oil will immediately break up old fecal matter. Place a hot towel or heating pad for 20 minutes. Best therapy is using castor oil for three nights and olive oil for three nights.

Every time I go ballroom dancing, I get blisters on my feet. What is the best treatment for this?

Blisters are caused by constant friction and irritation of the skin. Wash the affected area with a mild natural soap. Follow with a disinfectant (apple cider vinegar or native vinegar is good) and avoid any physical activity that will rub the area again. Cover with tape if possible.

Mix apple cider vinegar and honey as an antibacterial lotion. Spread over blister and bandage.

Rub olive/virgin coconut or wheat germ oil over the blister and bandage.

Mix cornstarch with a little water and apply on the area as a natural antiseptic.

Buy a decent pair of dancing shoes.

Rest your tired feet for a few days before resuming your ballroom dancing.

My skin is so sensitive to insect bites. How can I protect myself?

Unfortunately, unless you constantly spray yourself with natural insect repellant, those insects will still bite you.

There are natural products with andiroba, a plant-derived compound from Brazil that repels insects. Look for the Oilganics brand found in drugstores. It’s locally made but effective. Safe for babies, too.

Once bitten, here are remedies:

Garlic/onion—juice from these powerful antiseptics will promote healing. Add vegetable oil, as it can sting. It draws out the poison from insect bites.

Butter/salt—Apply butter on the area. Salt with a little water is good, too.

Lemon—Dilute ½ tsp juice in one cup water. Apply on the bite.

Mayonnaise—Mix a small portion with apple cider vinegar as a skin balm.

Aloe vera—Straight from the plant, cut a piece and use the sticky paste on your skin.

Its cooling, antiseptic effect is healing.

Cleansing drink

Mix two stalks aloe vera (without skin, unless you are constipated) and one cup fresh apple. Juice it in a blender and drink up. Also, it’s a good skin tonic!

Affirmation: “I claim life’s goodness today.”

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Love and light!

25 THINGS TO DO IN THE PHILIPPINES …

By Jill Lejano
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Date

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… before fantasizing about exploring other countries
1. Go white water rafting in Cagayan de Oro.

2. Visit Batanes.

3. See Mt. Mayon up close.

4. Swim with the whale sharks in Donsol.

5. Climb Mt. Pulag and be awed by its sea of clouds.

6. Dive, swim and explore Palawan’s underground river.

7. Hike and let the view of Mt. Pinatubo crater take your breath away.

8. Party in your bikini in Boracay.

9. Surf’s up! Choose your wave—La Union, Zambales or Real, Quezon.

10. Missed out on the pristine beauty of Boracay 15 years ago? Visit Malapascua, Cebu.

11. Dive and see the rich marine life of Anilao, Batangas.

12. Travel back in time—go to Vigan.

13. Let Bohol wow you with its many offerings—the Chocolate Hills, the tarsier, the Loboc River Cruise, old churches and the beach.

14. Go high! Drive to the Mountain Province of Sagada. Check out the caves, the hanging coffins and enjoy the laidback lifestyle.

15. Grab a Viaje del Sol map, visit Ugu Binyan’s pottery studio, eat at Kusina Salud and unwind at Casa San Pablo.

16. Spend an entire week up north. Take a road trip from Manila to Vigan, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Aparri and Isabela!

17. Try wakeboarding in Camsur.

18. Check out Malate, Old Manila and all their secret spots.

19. There are many reasons to love Davao. Kublai’s artworks, its proximity to the beach, the tasty pastil and juicy suha. And did I mention that it’s a smoke-free city?

20. Spend a weekend roughing it in Anawangin and Capones in Zambales.

21. Check out our colorful fiestas and document them with your camera. Ati-atihan, Dinagyang, Masskara, Sinulog, Higantes, Panagbenga and more.

22. Pick your own strawberries at the Strawberry Fields in La Trinidad, Benguet.

23. Go to Pampanga for sisig.

24. If it’s too hot in Manila, grab a few friends and take a quick trip to Tagaytay.

25. Enjoy a food trip in Iloilo. You’ll never go hungry in this city.

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Revisiting Rizal's first monument

By Bernard L. Supetran

December 29, 2010, 11:31am

The first Rizal Monument in Daet

Daet, Camarines Norte—While the whole Filipino nation pays homage to national hero Dr. Jose Rizal on his day of martyrdom, this quaint town of Daet, capital of Camarines Norte is abuzz with activities around its own Rizal monument.

This 15-foot stone pylon named after the hero is bereft of intricate design, but is in every way special because it is the first-ever Rizal memorial marker in the country.

Situated by a river park, construction began on Dec. 30, 1898 in compliance with the 1898 decree of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, then President of the Revolutionary Government, to observe Dec. 30 as a national holiday in the “Free Philippines.”

It was completed in February, 1899 shortly after the outbreak of the Filipino-American War, antedating by about 14 years the monument in Luneta, which was inaugurated only in 1912. By virtue of this act, Camarines Norte became the first province to celebrate Rizal Day.

The monument was built through the financial contributions of the townsfolk of Camarines Norte and the Bicol region, with Lt. Colonels Antonio Sanz and Ildefonso Alegre of the Republican Army leading its construction.

Designed by Sanz, the monument is composed of a three-tiered stone pylon, its square base surmounted by a two-level triangle, the last one tapering off to a point. The front face contains a black metal slab from the National Historical Commission when it was declared a historical landmark in 1961.

Inscribed on the square podium are Rizal’s popular novels—”Noli Me Tangere”, “El Filibusterismo”, and “Morga”, a tribute to Antonio de Morga, author of “Sucesos de las islas Filipinas” in 1609, an important book on the early history of Spanish colonization.

On both sides of the topmost triangle is a sun with eight rays, a  star and the phrase “A Jose Rizal” (To Jose Rizal). But unlike other monuments, it does not have any of his sculptured image.

The base reportedly contains the list of contributors to the construction of the monument and kept in a time capsule.
It is also a widely-accepted belief that Masons had an important role in putting up the pylon because of its pronounced Masonic elements. Add to this the fact that both Aguinaldo and Sanz were Masons.

Masonic historian Reynold Fajardo wrote in the bimonthly periodical Cabletow, “the monument is unquestionably Masonic, the base is a square and is surmounted by a triangle; on the sides of the triangle may be seen the five-pointed star and at the top used to be the all-seeing eye.”

“The First Rizal Monument is a source of pride, not only for the townsfolk but also for all Bicolanos. It also attests to the people’s reverence for Rizal and his ideals,” says Daet Mayor Tito Sarion.

He said that Daet and the Provincial Government of Camarines Norte hold colorful December 30 rites which include a street theater reenacting Rizal’s martyrdom which concludes at the Monument. There’s also a host of special events such as essay-writing and oratorical contests, socio-civic activities and wreath-laying.

Sarion added that Rizal’s life and ideals inspired Daet’s political leaders and citizenry in declaring the municipality as a “character town” in 2002 which upholds universal values as guiding principles in governance and public life.

In recognition of the landmark’s historic value, the National Historical Institute recently declared it a national monument by virtue of NHI Resolution No. 12.

“Today, the monument is not only a reminder of the greatness of the Great Malayan, but also the top tourist drawer of Camarines Norte. Failure to visit it when in Daet would be a tragedy of monumental proportions,” he concluded.

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Q & A on wellness

By Cory Quirino
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Date

A LITTLE INFORMATION can go a long way can go a long way to help enhance one’s well-being. Here are answers to some of your most asked questions relating to daily concerns.

Q: Is water really the most important of beverages?

In my opinion, water is not a beverage or a drink. It is the elixir of life. Therefore, I do not put it on the same level as regular drinks. It is beyond the category of a beverage.

Water is essential to life. Without it the human body will deteriorate and die. A person will not die in the absence of favorite carbonated drink. But without water, there is the promise of certain death. We all know that the human body requires at least six glasses of water a day. Recent studies show that the ideal 10-15 glasses are important to ensure optimum health.

More than the amount of water, it also good to know when is the best time to drink it. Here is the recommended schedule:

o Before breakfast/upon waking: 2 glasses to cleanse internal organs and to perk them up for the day.

o Before exercise: 2 glasses to fuel the muscles (note: muscles are composed of 50 percent water) and make them pliable for a workout.

o After exercise: 1 glass to prevent dehydration due to sweat and water loss.

o Before bath: 1 glass of water to prevent dehydration

o Before a meal: At least 30 minutes to an hour before mealtime in order to prevent thirst signals during meals (note: water when taken during meals may dilute stomach acids needed for digestion)

o After a meal: 45 minutes-1 hour after meals in order to keep body fluids at healthy levels.

o Before bedtime: Because, statistically, stroke and heart attack normally happen early morning, it is said that a glass of water before bedtime may avert this.

Q: No weight-loss diet works for me. Help!

You are absolutely right. No diet will ever work simply because:

a) It’s the wrong diet for your specific needs

b) You are not consistent and persistent.

Commitment is No. 1 when it comes to dieting. But my question is, why diet? Why not just simply change your lifestyle. If you can commit to the following, I guarantee weight loss the natural way:

1. Eat less of every animal meat/fat. This means you will cut down on lechon, steaks and burgers. Try eating more fish.

2. Always have 1-2 servings of vegetables with your lunch and dinner. If you can have salad for breakfast, that’s even better! Not appetizing for you? Ok, drink fresh vegetable juice. Mix turnips, spinach, romaine, carrots and sugar beets in a blender. Strain. And drink up. This is a detox drink.

3. Exercise (any kind that keeps you moving constantly) for 30-45 minutes daily.

4. It is crucial to either cut back on the protein or the carbohydrate. Your choice. By reducing, say, your carbo, you will see immediate results within days, but dramatic slimming down within 30 days.

Q: What is the best way to deal with depression?

Everyone at some point in life experiences depression. Deal with this condition immediately. Do not wait. Reach out for a new book by Margarita Go Singco Holmes “Down to 1—Depression Stories”. It is a down-to-earth honest account of depression from the mildest to the most suicidal. She calls depression a thief which robs one of the joys of life. Learning from real stories is the best advice.

If you feel that you are experiencing depression, see a doctor. There may be a need for lifestyle changes as well as a new perspective on how you see yourself and others. Oftentimes, a person with depression sees himself/herself as a victim. What if you do some role reversal? Now you are not a victim but the victor!

Natural remedies may include the following:

1. Laughter: be with happy people.

2. Music therapy: your choice of music can either perk you up or bring you down. Pick a happy tune.

3. Affirmation: speak positively to yourself. It works. Never utter a negative word towards yourself like “stupid” or “hopeless”. Instead, say “brilliant” or “hopeful.”

4. Nutrients: vitamin b1(thiamine) vitamin b6(pyridoxine), pantothenic acid, vitamin b12(cobalamin), choline, vitamin E, folic acid, zinc—all these alleviate symptoms like nervousness, stress, anxiety attacks. They directly feed the brain and nervous system. Additional: magnesium, manganese, niacin, calcium, tyrosine, tryptophan, phenylalanine. All these in combination will alter your mood from bad to good, sad to happy.

Affirm today: “I welcome miracles in my life today”

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Love and light!

Reference: “Vitamin Bible For The 21st Century” by Earl Mindell

Filipinos working abroad fuel real estate boom at home

By Mynardo Macaraig

Agence France-Presse

MANILA—The Philippines' famous diaspora of overseas workers is fuelling a boom in the real estate market back home as they snap up houses and apartments to safeguard their futures.

Property prices have recovered strongly since the global financial crisis of 2008, with investments from the nine million Filipinos toiling away in foreign lands a significant factor, industry figures say.

"Overseas workers are moving the market. Properties now are selling and when there is demand, prices go up,"

Emily Duterte, head of the Real Estate Brokers Association of the Philippines, told AFP.
Industry sales nationwide this year are estimated to hit 300 billion pesos (6.9 billion dollars) compared with about 100 billion each in 2009 and 2008, according to Claro Cordero from Jones Lang La Salle, a global real estate consultancy firm.

"Nobody thought there would be such a quick recovery from the slump that began in 2008," said Cordero, research head of the company's Philippines' branch.

Filipino workers abroad have a reputation for working as lower-paid employees, such as construction workers, maids, sailors, and janitors.

But their sheer magnitude—they account for about 10 percent of the Philippine population—mean they have long been a major force in the economy.

In 2009, they sent home 17.3 billion dollars, making up more than 10 percent of the nation's gross domestic product, according to government data.

And Filipinos are increasingly moving into higher-paid sectors, such as medicine, engineering, and the media.
Overseas workers usually opt for houses costing about two million pesos (45,000 dollars), humble by foreign standards but well in the middle-class bracket for Filipinos, according to Duterte from the brokers' association.
Fifty-year-old merchant seaman Rodolfo Oliverio has spent most of his working life outside of the Philippines but he is an active player in the domestic real estate market.

Oliverio has used his overseas earnings to buy two small houses in the heart of Manila for his wife and children to live in, and he is paying for a third he recently bought just outside the nation's capital.

"If you work here, nothing will happen. The salaries are too small. The only way to afford a house is to become an overseas worker," Oliverio told AFP while on his annual vacation in Manila.

"Naturally, among overseas workers, the most important thing is a house and lot."
Oliverio said that as a ship's bosun—the crew's foreman—for a foreign company, he earned about 82,800 pesos a month, roughly four times more than he could earn doing the same job with a local cargo line.

With his salary, he said he was confident he could afford the repayments on his third house, a middle-class 42-square-meter (452-square-feet) place south of Manila which cost a little over 1.5 million pesos.
Industry observers said Oliverio's real estate goals were typical of many overseas workers.

"Most have left families back home so they want to have a home for their families. Their children, their parents, these are the ones who stay in the houses they buy," said Duterte.

Filipinos have traditionally preferred living in houses, no matter how small, over apartments, but living overseas has started to change preferences.

Overseas workers have revitalized the condominium market, said Manuel Serrano, head of the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association.

"In the beginning, they were more interested in house and lots but in the last two years, the tempo has changed. The demand now is for condos," Serrano told AFP.

"Most of these people have gotten used to the lifestyle abroad and, in condos, they don't have to worry about doing a lot of cleaning, gardening, and watering of plants."

Even for the traditional housing market, living overseas has changed the tastes of many Filipinos.

"A lot of developments are incorporating designs that are inspired by architecture worldwide, with a Mediterranean or an American feel," said Jones Lang La Salle's Cordero

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

'This is the year for money to be made' —and other feng shui updates for 2011

December 26, 2010, 3:38pm

Will the upcoming Year of the Golden Rabbit be anything like its namesake? Gentle and timid and harmless?

Anything but, says Marites Allen, World of Feng Shui Philippines CEO and President. It’s more likely to take on the more nervous—and er, libidinous—aspects of the sign.

“2011 will be an energetic year,” Allen says. “The younger generation will make movements for change in politics or social establishments.”

It’s also a good year for romance for Boars and Tigers, adds Allen. Conversely, it may mean more sex scandals and sexual affairs for those very same signs.

Those in the entertainment business—filmmakers, directors, producers—will enjoy good business. “But focus on creating movies about family, love, and relationships—not violence,” says Allen.

Lucky colors are colors of the earth—light yellow and light brown and shades in between. Secondary lucky colors are black and blue.

General updates like these and for each sign of the Chinese zodiac were revealed recently by Allen in an event to kick off the 6th Annual Feng Shui Convention, slated for January 22, 2011 at the Imperial Suites in Quezon City.

The convention will host discussions regarding opportunities and challenges to be expected in the Year of the Golden Rabbit, which starts on February 3, 2011. Allen is also expected to give advice on how to attract good fortune and “redirect inauspicious elements that could block efforts to prosper in any given year.”

During the pre-event, she also gave a sneak preview of her WOFS’s new product: Auspicious Shawls designed with the Mystic Knot and Peonies and other lucky symbols. “So feng shui can be incorporated into our lifestyles and our daily life,” she says.

“But remember, feng shui is never magic, and it is not a religion,” she clarified during the press conference. “Feng shui experts are never psychics.” Their postulations go through a difficult process of formulation and analysis, she says.

According to their analyses: “Wood”-based industries such as “plantations, agriculture, flowers, plants, have a discouraging outlook.

“Metal industries like jewelry, wired goods like computers, TV, airplanes (aeronautics) will remain competitive.

“Fire industries like stock markets and entertainment hold bright outlooks. Water industries, like alcohol, fishing, baking and shipping are also good,” she continues.

The best business to enter in 2011 will be Earth industries. “Real estate, buildings, hotels, construction, properties—these are good to invest in. Excellent prospects.”

Generally, states Allen, “2011 is the year to think about wealth. Despite clashes, this is the year for money to be made.”—Gina Abuyuan

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Free horoscope updates and details on the Feng Shui Convention are available on www.maritesallen.com. You can also call +639209509390.

Balikbayan grows vegetables in sacks!

By RIC REYES

December 3, 2010, 6:21pm

 MANILA, Philippines – There’s an enterprising balikbayan in Brgy. San Pedro, Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija who grows vegetables in sacks instead of in plots in the ground. She is Thelma Villaroman Zara who used to work for an aviation company in Anaheim, California.

Her duplex house has been attracting a lot of visitors not only from the neighborhood but also from nearby towns. That’s because of the very impressive display of vegetables that are planted in used sacks around the house.

Thelma’s house stands on about 2,000 square meters of land. The big space around the house is mostly cemented and is used for drying palay during the dry season. When the area is not used for drying palay it is not really productive so she decided to do something unusual. She planted different kinds of vegetables in used fertilizer sacks.

It was Noel Lazaro, a technician of the Ease-West Seed Company, who convinced her to make the place productive by planting in containers ampalaya, eggplant, tomato, hot pepper, upo or bottle gourd, squash, okra and sitao or string beans.

Lazaro gave Thelma technical advice on how to go about her gardening project and introduced to her the ready-to-plant Farm Ready seedlings produced by East-West Seed. Farm Ready seedlings made it a lot easier for her to grow the vegetables because it eliminated the tedious process of sowing and growing the seedlings. If one is not proficient in germinating seedlings, it could result in total failure because the young seedlings are susceptible to fungal diseases if they are not protected from disease organisms.

Thelma planted the following seedlings: Two trays of Diamante Max (Dmax) tomato seedlings, two trays of Django and Red Hot pepper, two trays of Morena eggplant, 150 Galaxy ampalaya, and the rest were directly-seeded like the okra, string beans, squash and upo.

The growing medium consisted of garden soil, dried carabao manure and carbonized rice hull with the ratio of 60 parts garden soil, 20 parts carabao manure and 20 parts carbonized rice hull. All materials used were sourced locally. She bought 1,500 empty fertilizer sacks at P2.50 per sack which she says she can use for two crop cycles. She bought the “bugsok” trellis from Bocaue, Bulacan and the blue strings and GI wire from the local store.

Today, her vegetable plants are very productive, giving her substantial income She said she was able to sell to her neighbors and at the local market at very good prices. Her tomatoes sold for P40 per kilo, eggplant at P30 per kilo, chili hot pepper at P150 per kilo, squash at P15 per kilo and sitao at P40 per kilo.

Thelma says that planting vegetables right in her home gives her not just financial reward but also psychic income. Every day she and her family eat clean and healthy vegetables freshly picked from her backyard.

For her, tending the vegetable garden every morning is very therapeutic.

It gives her good exercise and a wonderful feeling of self-satisfaction. Her gardening, she says, is a far cry from her stressful job in the US where she used to work as a technician of Aviation Sundstrand, a company that manufactures airplane parts in Anaheim, California. She also loves entertaining guests and visitors who go to her house every day to see the vegetables, usually asking for some advice on home gardening.

Farming is such an enjoyable experience for her that she decided to stay in the country for good. She plans to develop a two-hectare land she inherited from her parents where she will grow vegetables from East-West Seed.

Punta Fuego: Paradise Redefined

By BRYAN B. GARCIA

December 13, 2010, 1:23pm

Hobie Sailboats at Terrazas de Punta Fuego beachfront

A paradise that offers the perfect union among man, nature and the contrasting landscapes, a mere three hours away from Manila.

Nestled along the jagged coastline of Nasugbu, Batangas, Peninsula de Punta Fuego is a community that hugs the steep cliffs and embraces the little coves that nature has formed.

The 88-hectare neighborhood is picture perfect with its lush mountains, thick blanket of greens and coastal areas showcasing clear waters and the fine sand. You enter the community and, from the initial laidback country charm, you are transported to luxurious dwellings with Mediterranean inspirations. The house designs will leave you in awe, ranging from impressive to utterly magnificent.

Right at the heart of Peninsula de Punta Fuego sits the Main Clubhouse which is the hub of activities and where people converge to bask in this paradise.

To maximize a day’s worth of stay at this fine recluse should involve careful planning as there are limitless activities available. At daybreak, a leisurely jog around the expanse of the premises is highly recommended. For those who are not much into running, mountain bikes are available at the clubhouse. Either way, you get the gentle morning breeze touching your face as your day begins.

Once on track, the entire space is at your disposal. Because of the orientation of the area, roads are mapped out to get close to the hidden beaches and coves accessible through long stairs and alleyways. Some of these channels are covered in dense foliage that keeps the spaces veiled except for the most inquisitive eyes.

At the farthest point of the site, where the land seems to stretch its hand to the glory of the open waters of the South China Sea, is the Fuego Point. The spot offers a breath-taking view of the sea and an excellent panoramic view of the Sunset Cove of the Main Club all the way to the opposite cliff where the Punta del Sol is situated.

If you’re looking for a much more relaxing time, then a round of golf at the site’s executive golf course would be up your alley. The nine-hole golf course would be an ideal way to bond with colleagues while taking in the sun and the awesome views that the land has to offer.

There are also various water sports available like jet skiing, kayaking, and banana boat rides, outdoor sports like tennis and beach volleyball while also offering indoor activities like billiards, darts and squash. After an eventful morning, next up is a hearty meal. At the club’s San Diego Restaurant, the kitchen cooks up scrumptious fusion cuisines perfect for a worked up appetite.

As the sun begins to wane, the club and the entire site start to reshape and slow down along with the warm ambiance. A dip in the club’s double infinity pool provides a suitable mood to just lay back and watch the sea and the cove embrace the radiance of the setting sun.

When the sun has completely disappeared and the glistening ripples of the pools have subsided, the club is engulfed in darkness illuminated by the supple glow of scattered light along the premises. With a complete day already in the bag, there is nothing left but to surrender to the gentle howl of the ocean breeze and melt with the landscape as it slowly quiets down and dozes off to sleep.

For 20 years now, Landco has been building exclusive residential communities such as the Peninsula de Punta Fuego, Terrazas de Punta Fueg, Amara En Terrazas, Hacienda Escudero and Ponderosa Leisure Farm. For more information call (02)751-4025 to 27 or visit www.clubpuntafuego.com.ph.

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Source: Manila Bulletin

DoT intensifies tourism promotions in India

By JACKY LYNNE A. OIGA

December 11, 2010, 5:43pm

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DoT) expects to capture a bigger market share of the fifteen million outbound tourists from India by yearend as it conducts a four-day sales mission in New Delhi and Mumbai.

The Philippine delegation will conduct its sales presentations in time for the production of tour packages for the April-June Indian travel season. 

Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim expressed optimism that the on-going sales mission will serve as the DoT’s major drive to showcase Manila and Cebu as ideal destinations for Indian tourists, given the high-spending capacity of the target segment.

“With more than fifty percent increase on target arrivals from India, the mission will help ensure that the Philippines will be in the 2011 tour offerings,” said Assistant Secretary for International Tourism Promotions Benito Bengzon, Jr.

“The program involves meetings with the presidents and CEOs of top Indian tour wholesalers, one-on-one business meetings between Indian tour operators and their Philippine counterparts, as well as presentation updates on connectivity and entry requirements to the Philippines,”  DoT Marketing Team India head Raymund Glen Agustin said.

The Philippines is vying for interest in shopping and entertainment in this market with Manila and Cebu as principal sites known for their large high-end shopping malls, entertainment and recreation centres.

In fact, a group composed of 254 top producers of Nerolac Paints in India chose the Philippines for their four-day incentive tour last December 2-5. The group, made up of chemists, engineers and other paint technology professionals visited Manila, Tagaytay, and Pagsanjan  for some sight-seeing, casino gaming, night-life entertainment, and shopping  activities .

“This is the largest incentive group from India this year which was made possible through Cutting Edge, an Indian-based tour operator in partnership with its local counterparts Shroff International Travel Care. Cutting Edge participated in the DoT initiated familiarization tour for Indian travel agents last year and has committed to send next year incentive groups covering more than a thousand individuals on a staggered basis,” Agustin said.

He added that the arrival of such a huge group is a direct result of the DoT’s marketing and promotional efforts for the Indian market.

Secretary Lim, on the other hand, said that aside from the incentive groups, Indian industry partners through local counterparts will send more tourists to the country, particularly when Philippine Airlines resumes in March next year its MLA-New Delhi flights thrice weekly and via Bangkok also thrice weekly.

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Source: Manila Bulletin

‘Sinigang’ is healthier than ‘lechon’

By Mitch Felipe-Mendoza
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Date

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Here’s a list of the best and worst common holiday food choices to help you avoid weight gain
IT’S THE time of year when everyone gets confused trying to eat healthy. More and more foods are becoming accessible this Christmas.

In reality, it’s difficult for us to follow the healthiest eating plan at this time.

Here’s a list of the worst, the better, and the best common holiday food choices to help you make smarter decisions, so you can still avoid weight gain.

Breakfast

Eat breakfast to avoid cravings and not overeat. Vary your breakfast, but stay away from oily meals.

Worst choices (600-800 calories/serving): fried rice with longganisa and egg, fried hash brown with fried egg, sausage and bacon

Better choices (400-500 calories/serving): two pieces pancake with less syrup and butter, three pieces puto bumbong with less butter

Best choices (300-400 calories/serving): oatmeal with fruit, whole grain cereals with low-fat milk, plain rice with smoked fish and poached egg

Breads

Choose plain breads to avoid extra calories from cheese, butter and oil. Avoid yellow and flavorful sweet breads. Practice portion control by choosing smaller sizes if you can’t eat wheat breads.

Worst choices (300-500 calories/piece): fried breads and donuts, ensaymada, croissant with sausage

Better choices (100-200 calories/piece): small bagels, large white bread and pandesal, light and baked donuts

Best choices (50-100 calories/piece): small wheat pandesal, small wheat bread, whole grain breads, wheat tortillas

Vegetables

A cup of fresh veggies have as few as 20-50 calories. Calories only differ because of additional sauces, oil, and butter. Choose the simplest and freshest vegetables all the time.

Worst choices (200-400 calories/serving): fried kangkong, ginataang gulay (laing), creamed spinach

Better choices (120-200 calories/serving): stir-fried veggies (chopsuey), sizzling leafy veggies with garlic

Best choices (80-150 calories/serving): salad greens with light dressing, steamed broccoli and carrots, boiled veggies from soup dishes

Seafood

One of the most common diet mistakes is choosing seafood regardless of how it is cooked. Avoid what’s been fried.

Worst choices (250-500 calories/serving): deep fried shrimp (tempura), sweet and sour fish, fish and chips, calamares

Better choices (100-200 calories/serving): sauteed seafoods with veggies, stir-fried veggies, tuna in can

Best choices (50-100 calories/serving): steamed fish, grilled tilapia or bangus, boiled fish with veggies

Chicken

Always avoid deep-fried, oily and battered chicken dishes and remove all or 50 percent of the chicken skin. Lessen the sauces even if you choose barbecue meals, since sauces also contain lots of sodium and oil.

Worst choices (300-500 calories/serving): deep-fried chicken with skin (fast-food type), kung pao chicken

Better choices (200-300 calories/serving): fried chicken without skin, chicken barbecue, stir-fried chicken

Best choices (120-200 calories/serving): steamed chicken, roasted chicken, boiled chicken (all without skin)

Pork and beef

Always remove the visible pork and beef fat, since these meats already contain hidden fats in between the lean parts. Choose boiled lean meats with lots of vegetables, like nilaga or sinigang dishes.

Worst choices (300-500 calories/serving): fried lechon with skin, crispy pata, sisig, sweet and sour pork, chicharon, processed meats (hotdog, luncheon meat), fried dumplings

Better choices (200-350 calories/serving): ham, pork barbecue, lechon without fat and skin, steamed dumplings

Best choices (180-300 calories/serving): roast pork and beef without fat, boiled lean beef and pork (nilaga or sinigang)

Sandwich and salad

Another common diet mistake is choosing a salad and sandwich meal regardless of mayonnaise content and how it was cooked. The most plain-looking sandwich or salad is still the best choice. For salads, limit dressings to one tablespoon per serving.

Worst choices (500-750 calories/serving): tuna sandwich with lots of mayonnaise, crispy chicken or fish sandwich, double-patty burger with cheese

Better choices (400-500 calories/serving): ham sandwich, roast beef sandwich

Best choices (300-400 calories/serving): roasted chicken breast sandwich, turkey sandwich, salmon sandwich, plain grilled hamburger sandwich

Fast-food

Inside a mall, you can still enter a pizza place, as long as you choose lighter versions. It can help you avoid half the calories of a regular fast-food meal. Always avoid the extras, like iced tea and French fries.

Worst choices (400-600 calories/serving): all-meat thick crust pizza, hamburger with mayo and cheese, fries, cream-based pasta

Better choices (150-350 calories/serving): thin crust veggie pizza, tomato-based seafood or chicken pasta

Best choices (80-200 calories/serving): corn on a cob, soft chicken taco with less cheese, side salad without dressing

Snacks and desserts

In effective weight-control programs, it’s not advisable to feel deprivation. Eat smaller portions of your high-calorie choices or go for the lower calorie treats that you really enjoy, but also in moderation.

Worst choices (200-500 calories/serving): potato chips, large cookie, cheesecake, brownies, regular ice cream with chocolates and nuts, milkshake

Better choices (150-200 calories/serving): baked chips, flavored popcorn, plain taho with less syrup, dark chocolate, low-fat ice cream

Best choices (50-150 calories/serving): fresh fruit (apple, banana, orange, etc.), plain popcorn, plain yogurt, plain gelatin, popsicle

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages

Alcoholic beverages will only increase your appetite. Drink in moderation and choose the lighter versions. You can even set a limit per week or per drinking occasion.

Worst choices (100-300 calories/glass): regular soft drinks, regular beer, hard liquor drinks, creamy flavored coffee drinks

Better choices (0-150 calories/glass): zero-calorie sodas and soft drinks, red wine, light beer, fruit shakes and coffee drinks with nonfat milk

Best choices (0-100 calories/glass): plain drinking water, plain brewed coffee, hot tea, freshly made fruit juice

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

E-mail the author at mitchfelipe@gmail.com.

Filinvest raises stake in Cebu

 

By Doris Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Most Read

MANILA, Philippines—Gotianum-led Filinvest Land Inc. has scaled up its residential property business in bustling Cebu City.

It recently broke ground on the first of its mid-rise building projects within the 50-hectare Citta de Mare project in the South Road Properties.

This is part of Amalfi Oasis, one of the mid-rise building communities that FLI is developing within the area, under a joint venture agreement with the Cebu City government.

The first building will have 150 units and should be ready for turnover to buyers by the end of 2011, FLI told the Philippine Stock Exchange on Monday.

Amalfi Oasis will have a total of 10 to 12 buildings.
By February 2011, FLI targets to break ground on its second project in Citta de Mare—San Remo Oasis—which will have a total of eight buildings, with the first having 130 units.

FLI has another mid-rise building project in Mabolo, Cebu, called One Oasis Cebu.
The first building is already being turned over to buyers, while the second will be ready for turnover starting the end of this month.

The first two buildings have a total of 220 units.
Construction of the third building under One Oasis Cebu is targeted to start within the first quarter of 2011.

FLI also announced that on Saturday, it will break ground on Sunrise Place Mactan, a four-hectare socialized housing project which shall bring to market 600 residential units.

Meanwhile, FLI reported that construction of the Grand Cenia Hotel and Residences is in full swing.
The civil and structural works are almost complete, while the architectural and interior works are about halfway through.
This project is on track for turnover to buyers of the condominium units and the condotel rooms for hotel/room preparation by June 2011.

This 25-story project has two floors earmarked for BPO (business process outsourcing) office space, 115 condominium units and 432 condotel rooms.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

This way to detox

By Cory Quirino
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Date

• ES

WE LIVE in a world ravaged by pollution and stress. One wonders just how much longer the average human life span can be stretched—and how much more punishment the human body can take.

Garbage collector

The body acts like a sponge. It absorbs everything we ingest, inhale, and imbibe. The result: free radical damage in the body, leading to advanced aging and disease. Considering there is no stopping modern technology, there appears to be only one option left—to take control of our lives today by putting up safeguards for prevention.

The Harvard School of Public Health, through their Environmental Science Engineering Program, attributed about 4 percent of deaths in the US to air pollution. We wonder just what the statistics are in the Philippines. Here’s an idea about what what’s in the air and in your food:

Sulfur oxides (from fuels as power sources), nitrogen oxides (from high-temperature combustion)

Carbon monoxide (from fuels and natural gas, coal and wood burning, and vehicular exhaust)

Carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas, though vital to living organisms)

Particulate matter (from natural sources such as volcanoes, dust storms, forest fires) and/or man-made from fossil fuels in power and industrial plants

Warning: An increase in levels of fine particles causes lung diseases, cancer and heart disease.

Toxic metals—lead, calcium, copper

Chlorofluoro carbons and other banned odors from sewage/garbage

Radioactive pollutants (from radioactive decay of radon, war explosives, nuclear explosions)

Lead (from contaminated marine life and paint used for industrial and home use)

Mercury (from contaminated fish)

Note: Heavy metal concentration in fish is believed to be a link to cancer of the blood, such as leukemia.

Flushing out toxins

Body cleansing through herbal plant-based, electrical and electromagnetic therapies may also include other alternative medicine treatments like colonics and colon flushing. But what can you do right now in your everyday life?

1. Sweat it out—That’s what perspiration is for: to expel the toxins.

2. Liver relief—Nurture your liver. Drinking fresh carrot and sugar beet juice twice weekly can help.

3. Water therapy—Drink one glass of water every waking hour. This is a must.

4. Go green—Include in your diet everything fresh, raw, and green. Wash carefully before eating. Buy organic or grow your favorite vegetables in your backyard. Call Harbest at tel. no. 6717411.

5. Glutathione—Potent antioxidant power via IV injections for liver cleansing.

Berry power

The Mapuche Indians from Chile (the Patagonia region) have been known for their hardiness as warriors. Much admired for their strength and endurance, they attribute their near invincibility to a humble purple berry called maqui. Now sweeping the world alongside its cousin, acai berry (from the Amazon forest), this fruit has mystified researchers and scientist because of its overwhelming antioxidant properties. Its fruit is laden with anthocyanins and flavonoids that make it impervious to outside threats—sun, air and chemicals. It was recently discovered that its defensive properties can be developed in human beings with regular consumption. It is an energy booster, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant immunity boosting properties, can expel toxins from the body, and facilitate cell rejuvenation and weight loss by boosting the metabolism.

While maqui and acai both have super free radical absorption abilities, the maqui carries the highest antioxidant values. Take the case of Susan, a 56-year-old housewife who suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome, a debilitating illness. After consuming maqui juice enhanced with acai, within three days, her normal energy levels had been restored. Moreover, her complexion began to clear . Her husband John put in long hours as a pilot, and has been able to fight off jet lag better after taking two tablespoons of maqui daily before breakfast. Maqui with acai is now available in the Philippines. Contact World of Wellness Direct Sales at tel. nos. 9289969 or 0922-8689753.

Beauty ritual: Mix one whole orange (peeled), one banana, and three tablespoons raw oatmeal for a high-fiber detox drink once weekly.

Affirmation: “I welcome only the good and the genuine in my life.” Love and light!

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

For free wellness consultations, call tel. no. 4128969.