DULDULAO DOT NET This Day & Beyond

Category: Advocacy

  • Be a wise spender during the holidays

    You just got your much-awaited 13th month pay. You’re happy and very much eager to spend it on some things you’ve been longing to do—or buy—a couple of months earlier.

    But hold your horses! As with any other things in this world, money will also disappear and will simply go to waste if you don’t spend it wisely. Temptations abound during the holidays so it’s best to think of ways on how to use your precious 13th month pay efficiently and wisely. You don’t want to end up with an empty wallet right after receiving your bonus, don’t you?

    The Philippine Association of Legitimate Service Contractors (PALSCON), the country’s biggest group of service contractors that have provided decent and quality work to many Filipinos, said many fall to their impulses, especially those who will get their 13th month pay the first time. “It’s all about a bit of planning, knowing priorities when it comes to spending. I’ve seen many of our employees who go excited of becoming a ‘one-day millionaire’ once they lay their hands on their money, then feel sad once all of it are gone and they’ll ask themselves ‘what happened there?’” explains Rhoda Caliwara, President of PALSCON.

    So it’s really best to sit down and think of what to do first with your bonus while it’s not yet with you, says Caliwara. That way, you’ll have a clear mind of what to do and how to do it when it comes to spending your hard-earned money. In short, plan.

    The first thing to do is save, using part of the bounty as part of a savings fund that can hopefully earn enough via time deposits or special investment funds. These funds can help through times when spending on things such as tuition fee payments for the kids or even for a possible business venture.

    You can also minimize your debt profile by paying them off, Caliwara said, though not really paying all of it in one go. It’s best to pay it a bit so as not to accrue on interest. It works for those with credit cards who pare down their expenses and at the same time pay their interest on time.

    Aside from a possible business venture for those who may have an entrepreneurial mindset, allocating part of the bonus for use in special investment instruments, real-estate or even a family or personal car can be options, but first check if going into these investment choices is feasible given your financial capabilities. Evaluate. Assess. Rethink.

    You can even save some of your bonus to build up emergency funds for unforeseen circumstances such as medical emergencies, whether your own or a family member, house repairs after a storm or disaster, or even for fixing your car after a sudden breakdown. There can be lots of other things you can put your saved money to good use. As they say, you can never tell if and when an emergency happens so it’s best to be ready.

    But most of all, don’t forget about yourself. You can save some as a personal treat after being hard at work for a year and spending countless hours toiling in labor. You can never be accused of being a spendthrift if you want to enjoy on some things and be pampered. Treat it as a reward so you won’t feel deprived, more of a “me” time when it comes to your hard-earned money. You definitely deserve it.

    “At PALSCON, we encourage our members to teach their employees the basics of financial literacy. It’s hard to get a job these days and even harder to earn decent pay so teaching their employees about spending wisely, especially during the holidays, is a good way of showing we care for our employees’ welfare. They should learn to preserve their riches for anything that can happen in the future. It’s all about being prepared—and being wise,” explains Caliwara. For more about PALSCON, visit www.palscon.org or go to their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/palscon.ph or Twitter, twitter.com/palscon1987.

  • Acer Lowers Digital Classroom Entry Barrier with Homegrown Management Service

    Acer Lowers Digital Classroom Entry Barrier with Homegrown Management Service

    Schools in remote areas have typically struggled with managing classroom devices with little or no dedicated IT staff. To help bring down the digital divide, Acer Taiwan has worked with local system integrators to deploy Android Tablets to five remotely-located schools across the island through the Acer DADA (Device Agent & Deployment Assistant) management service.

    The DADA system allows for provisioning based on device serial number, and automatically pushes predefined apps to batches of Acer tablets. In the case that students have accidentally deleted learning software or if the devices is infected with malware, a factory reset will restore the system and reload designated apps, streamlining the management process and dramatically lowering the entry barrier for schools with limited resources to deploy digital classrooms.

    REFERENCE:

    Irish Santos-Lorenzo

  • “Philippine Society of Sleep Medicine celebrates World Sleep Day 2016 with Uratex”

    “Philippine Society of Sleep Medicine celebrates World Sleep Day 2016 with Uratex”

    The Philippine Society of Sleep Medicine (PSSM), the primary organization that aims to promote sleep medicine healthcare in the Philippines, again led in the celebration of World Sleep Day 2016.

    The World Sleep Day 2016 slogan is “Good Sleep is a Reachable Dream” and this year, Multiflex RNC Philippines, Inc., makers of Uratex foam and mattress products, lent its wholehearted support to the PSSM in its efforts to help promote good, healthful and restful sleep.

    During the celebration of World Sleep Day 2016, the PSSM held its 10th annual symposium entitled “Sleep Matters: Discovering the Importance of Sleep” recently at the EMG Auditorium of the Lung Center of the Philippines. There were various workshops and lectures on many sleep-related concerns for adults—and even in children—that elicited interests from symposium guests.

    The PSSM is just one of the many organizations around the world that advocates the importance and educates people about the value of good sleep, which many people lack or perhaps do not pay attention to due to today’s fast-paced lifestyle and blinding-speed technology. Various studies have already shown that lack of restful sleep because of irregular work and lifestyle may lead to health problems in the future. Or even having an incorrect mattress may harm the body rather than provide the restful sleep it needs after a long and hard day at work.

    This is why the PSSM reiterates the important elements of good sleep, which are “Duration” or the sufficiency of sleep to become well rested and alert the following day; “Continuity,” which means sleep time should be continuous and unbroken; and “Depth,” that sleep should be deep enough to be restorative or invigorating. Quality sleep, the PSSM said, is very crucial to one’s good health and quality of life. It said that good quality and invigorating sleep is important for people’s day-to-day functioning, even in children for their overall wellness and development.

    The PSSM also cited the 10 Commandments of Sleep Hygiene, according to the World Association of Sleep Medicine or WASM, such as having a fixed bedtime and waking up time, no daytime sleeping in excess of 45 minutes, avoiding excessive alcohol intake 4 hours before bedtime or smoking, avoiding intake of caffeine such as those in coffee, tea, most sodas, including chocolate 6 hours before bedtime; avoiding heavy, spicy or sweets 4 hours before bedtime, but a light snack is acceptable, exercising regularly but not before bedtime, using comfortable bedding, finding comfortable temperature when sleeping inside a well-ventilated room, blocking out distracting noise and less light as possible, and limiting the use of the bed to just sleeping.

    For its part, Uratex supports the PSSM through its own advocacies in promoting good sleep in the Philippines.

    “Uratex has always been humbly supporting efforts to promote good sleep, a much-needed bodily activity that unfortunately many people do not pay attention to or perhaps, do not know how to achieve it because of various reasons. Simply put, it all boils down to adapting to a more healthy and less-stressed lifestyle, a positive mindset toward life, and choosing the correct mattress depending on the body’s shape and contours, and this is where Uratex can help,” explains Dindo Medina, Corporate Sales Director of Multiflex RNC Philippines.

    As the country’s sleep specialist, Medina said Uratex will continue to help Filipinos achieve helathy and superior sleep by continuously developing and bringing innovative mattresses and other sleep solutions.

    The PSSM is a group composed of several specialists involved in the practice of sleep medicine in the country and are highly trained to address sleep disorders among Filipinos. Pulmonologists, Neurologists, Ear, Nose and Throat specialists, Psychiatrists and Pediatricians are among those that comprise the group and have expressed interest in the process and study of sleep.

    Here in the Philippines, the practice of sleep medicine is still relatively young compared to other countries so it is no surprise that even other doctors do not know that such practice exists here. But the practice is, indeed, growing, even in Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) member countries. In fact, the Philippines will serve as host of the 4th ASEAN Sleep Medicine Congress in 2017 where it will share vital knowledge with other countries about sleep. Together, this collaborative meeting will also help determine how the different cultures of these countries can impact on their actions with regard to sleep concerns.

    For more information about the value of good sleep to one’s health, visit the PSSM website, thepssmi.org. To find out more about the Uratex mattress and other sleep solutions, call the Uratex Consumer Hotline, 888-6800 or visit www.uratex.com.ph.

    REFERENCE:

    Jerome Samson-09178961568

    AMPR Publicity & Communications Inc.

  • Tutuban Center holds bomb explosion and simulation exercise

    Tutuban Center holds bomb explosion and simulation exercise

    To maintain the safety and security of shoppers, Tutuban Center recently conducted an bomb explosion and simulation exercise to test the capability of its emergency response team.

    The simulated exercise was also meant to determine the strength and weaknesses of its Disaster Emergency Response Team (DERT) in responding to emergency situations and enhance its response procedures when dealing with delicate situations.

    Tutuban’s Assistant Vice President-Safety and Compliance, Ted Mosquito, led the activity in close coordination and collaboration with PNP Police Station 2 to comply with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management and Council (NDRRMC) manual and its implementing rules. The station, located at Nolasco corner Morga Streets in Tondo, Manila, has jurisdiction over Tutuban, and is headed by P/Supt. Nick Pinion.

    “We have conducted this activity on a yearly basis in our efforts to serve our customers better, and maintain a safe and secure shopping center. By doing so, we also train and equip with enough knowledge and awareness our DERT staff, our tenants, employees and contracted service providers on how to respond and react properly in this kind of emergency,” explains Mosquito.

    The activity was conducted in two phases: preparation and actual. Preparation involved coordination, collaboration and meetings with concerned offices/units and careful planning in terms of personnel and logistics, and the actual, where there were lectures, briefings and rehearsals of Tutuban’s DERT and other participants to ensure success.

    Bottom line, the participants were proven effective and efficient in performing their individual roles and assigned tasks when responding to this type of emergency.

    There were a total of 168 registered participants, comprised mostly of Tutuban personnel and police officers from Precincts 6 and 7 both under Police Station 2. Other units that participated include the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit (EOD), the Special Reaction Unit (SRU), Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) and the Manila Traffic Bureau, plus other Manila Police Department (MPD) units headed by no less than P/Senior Superintendent Carlito Felicano. Tutuban Center is located along C.M. Recto Avenue in Manila and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 12 midnight. Visit our Facebook page Fb.com/TutubanCenter, follow us at Twitter and Instagram accounts, @TutubanCenter.

    REFERENCE:

    Contact: Jerome Samson
    Telephone: (02) 7061971/ 09178961568
    E-mail: jsamson@amprpublicity.com

  • Tips to Fireproof Your Home

    Tips to Fireproof Your Home

    Fire incidents are considered as common as the perennial hot summer season in the Philippines. Every year, fire cases all around the country destroy resources and displace families. March once again marks the observance of Fire Prevention Month to alleviate this country-wide problem.

    In 2015, The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) recorded a total of 1,727 fire incidents in March alone. March is considered the hottest month of the year, with the elevated temperature attributed for some of the incidents that occur during its period.

    Homes are very prone to fires and the kitchen, specifically, is among the areas that are very susceptible to such accidents. In January and February last year, 70 fires came from unattended cooking stoves while 162 incidents were caused by problems with electrical lines.

    With the kitchen being one of the most important areas of a household, making it a safer place should be a top priority for homemakers. Below are some tips to make your kitchen a fireproof place.

    1. Keep your focus

    One of the leading reasons behind kitchen fires is neglect. Often, it is easy to get distracted and leave a dish cooking. This kind of neglect causes the most injuries, deaths, and property damage than other roots of home fires.

    2. Keep a fire extinguisher close

    A fire extinguisher is necessary in any home. Keep one ready in the kitchen and store it in a place 10 feet away from the stove, in a spot where it is easy to grab. All members of the household should know how to use it in case of emergencies. Note also that all fire extinguishers should always be refilled every six to seven years to function properly.

    3. Keep from storing items on top of the stove

    It is easy to be less mindful of your actions while caught in a cooking mood. Refrain from placing things on top of a stovetop since this kind of surface can easily start a flame when it gets in contact with anything flammable. Instead, keep things orderly in cabinets and cupboards.

    4. Make sure your cooking appliances are free from crumbs and scraps

    Leftover pieces of food from stovetops, ovens, and toasters can catch fire so make sure to clean these cooking appliances after use. Unplug them from their sockets before cleaning and keep the cables away from water.

    5. Go fireproof

    It is nearly impossible to entirely fireproof a kitchen with all the flammable materials in the area. However, while it doesn’t entirely cancel out the probability of a fire, using cooking appliances that are designed for safety can add a layer of protection to this part of the home.

    Induction cookers, for example, lessen the risk of fire accidents. The Induction Cooker from Midea, one of world’s largest manufacturers of domestic appliances, is a good example of a household partner that values safety as much as efficiency.

    The induction cooker removes the risk for burns with its flameless technology. It also protects your home from possible gas leakages.

    In addition, this kitchen essential also works faster than an average electric stove as it heats up 25% faster than the latter. It also has an energy-saving Piso Meal feature which uses up 1Php worth of electricity for every 4 minutes of cooking or heating.

    Make your kitchen safe the whole year round with these nifty tips. A little precaution and awareness can go a long way when it comes to preserving the harmony in the household.

    To learn more about Midea’s Induction Cookers and other home solutions, visit www.midea.com.ph and like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MideaPhilippines for updates.

    REFERENCE:

    Contact: Jerome Samson
    Telephone: (02) 7061971/ 09178961568
    E-mail: jsamson@amprpublicity.com

  • Tutuban Center launches Tutuban Center Home Club

    Tutuban Center launches Tutuban Center Home Club

    Tutuban Center, Manila’s bargain shopping destination, recently established the Tutuban Center Home Club (TC Home Club) as part of its community development activities.

    TC Home Club seeks to empower women of today, especially the underprivileged ones living within the Tutuban Center community and nearby cities with little or no education, to gain the confidence of facing challenges in life when raising a family. The club will seek these mothers and reach out to them by providing a venue for trainings and seminars to help them develop and discover specific skills they may have to become a possible source of livelihood.

    The 3-hour training sessions started last February 5, 2016 and will run every Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. until March 11, 2016 at the Tutuban Center Food Court located at the 3rd floor of Tutuban Center Centermall and at Tutuban Center TMX exhibition center.

    During the initial session, the mothers underwent training sessions to learn how to become a massage therapist, barista, manicurist/pedicurist, haircutter, or even how to make sweet treats like “pastillas.” Training was provided by representatives from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or TESDA.  Attendees were also handed out TC Home Club shirts, ID cards, and other peripherals, including eco-bags.

    Next training sessions will teach women from different backgrounds how to become entrepreneurs, cosmetics/make-up application, even vital tips on parenting and other important topics.

    To join TC Home Club, participants must show a Barangay Clearance, ID and duly accomplished TC Home Club registration form at the Tutuban Center Marketing Office located near the Tutuban Center Food Court.  Also, this event would not be possible without Smart Communications, Inc., DKT Health, Inc., Torque Philippines, Robinsons Supermarket, Department of Health – Commission on Population, TESDA, Kalye Negosyo and HBC.

    “We hope more women will join our training sessions because it will definitely help them be more self-reliant as they face life’s challenges. We invite them to attend because they will definitely learn here. And if these initial sessions prove successful, we can hopefully extend this program for the whole year,” says Ms. Sylvia Tecson, Vice President for Sales and Marketing of Tutuban Properties, Inc. (TPI).

    Tutuban Center is located along C.M. Recto Avenue in Manila and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 12 midnight. Visit our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/TutubanCenter, follow our Twitter and Instagram accounts @TutubanCenter for more details.

    REFERENCE:

    Contact: Jerome Samson
    Telephone: (02) 7061971/ 09178961568
    E-mail: jsamson@amprpublicity.com

  • Keep the chills away this sweater weather

    Keep the chills away this sweater weather

    The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has forecasted the blowing of the northeast monsoon or hanging amihan, to peak from mid-January to mid-February. The monsoon, which originates from Siberia, brings cool, light weather —a welcome change for a tropical country like ours.

    For most parts of the country, this favorable forecast means that we still have time left to revel in this chilly weather.

    However, this implies another thing: More days of shivering under cold showers!

    Or not. If there is a time when water heaters become handy the most, it is during these cold mornings when the least you want to do is shiver during a bath. Water heaters prove to be a necessary investment to your home. But what exactly should you look for in one?

    1. Efficiency

    Water heaters are meant to provide instant comfort during those cold days.  Midea’s Water Heaters deliver this by providing warm water in just a few seconds. One of the largest appliance manufacturers of the world, Midea ensures that their water heaters deliver better heating efficiency via its advanced stainless steel heating element (this is for the 6500W model only; the material of the heating element of all the other models is copper). Additionally, a Midea Water Heater is equipped with seven power steps for selection and advanced water flow techniques for better control (this is for the 6500W model only; the two 4500W models have a “stepless” power adjustment while the 3500W model  has only three – low, mid, high).

    2. Safety

    Water heaters, when not installed or used properly, can be a source of hazard in your home.  A dedicated electrical circuit is required to ensure that the appliance will work reliably. Additional safety technology like Midea’s safety sensors are a huge plus, too.

    The multiple safety protection of these water heaters ensure that there will be no scalding, electric shocks, and overheating from the unit. The anti-overheat protection, particularly, prevents the water temperature from rising above 55 degrees Celsius, in case of any abnormality that might remotely occur. Moreover, its built-in electric shock protection assures that even if the unit gets wet, the user is protected from any possibility of electrocution.

    3. Affordability

    With power rates fluctuating, energy efficiency is a very important factor that should be considered before getting any appliance. Midea’s Water Heaters provide an energy-friendly way of enjoying hot showers without worrying about the cost.  A 10-minute shower only costs Php8.00. of power usage

    4. Durability

    Water heaters are long term investments so go out and find one that is built to last for years. Midea does not only provide durable appliances but is also backed-up by a concrete after-sales service network. Midea’s Water Heaters also come with a 5-year warranty, to assure its longevity and performance quality.

    Regardless if you are fighting the chills or just craving a hot shower after a long tiring day, a water heater is definitely a significant addition to any home. For more information on Midea Philippines’ products, visit their website http://midea.com.ph/ or Facebook page https://www/facebook.com/MideaPhilippines.

    REFERENCE:

    Contact: Jerome Samson
    Telephone: (632) 393 4028
    (632) 706 1971
    E-mail: jsamson@amprpublicity.com

  • Tutuban Center honors Gat Andres Bonifacio on his 152nd birthday.

    Tutuban Center honors Gat Andres Bonifacio on his 152nd birthday.

    Tutuban Center honored one of the country’s most recognized heroes, Gat Andres Bonifacio, via a solemn wreath-laying ceremony held today at the Bonifacio marker site fronting Tutuban’s main building to commemorate the celebrated hero.

    (From L-R) Engr. Ted Mosquito, AVP for Safety & Compliance, Tutuban Properties, Inc.; Sylvia Tecson, VP for Leasing & Marketing, Tutuban Properties, Inc.; Carminda Arevalo, Deputy Executive Director for Administration, National Historical Commission of the Philippines and Obet Asilo, Councilor of 1st District of Manila.

    Reference:         

    Jerome Samson

    09178961568

    AMPR Publicity & Communications, Inc.