Made It Through Mum

The holidays are always such a big eating season for everyone. It’s that one time of the year when we feel extra carefree about what we eat because seriously, have you really enjoyed Christmas without jumping from one banquet to another?  But what if we tell you that you do not need to sacrifice healthy eating to enjoy the season? Even more, what if you find out that you can whip up your flavorful recipe in minutes in your own kitchen?  Breville’s Smart Oven Air Fryer should be on every Christmas wishlist of all home cooks out there. Versatile, easy to use, and very durable, this oven from the premium home brand can give you the best of both worlds in terms of flavor and ease of cooking as you cruise through the holidays.  One of the beauties of the Smart Oven Air Fryer is its ten cooking functions that can let you make to-die-for crispy treats and scrumptious slow-cooked meals. Toast, bake, roast, grill, and of course air fry without any fuss while shortening your c...

According to Dr. Lingao, the machines in the new EyeSite Mandaluyong operating room are more advanced. In particular, the one for removing cataract is more sensitive because of the parameters it requires medical professionals to follow. “Wow! Nakakakita na uli nang malinaw ang anak ko!”  Pilar Armina Bartolome was ecstatic after her son, Lucas, completed a surgery that removed cataracts in both his eyes.    The 14-year old was the first patient to undergo an eye surgery in the newly opened operating facility of EyeSite, a full-service eye care medical clinic in Greenfield District, Mandaluyong City.  A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye that causes the eye lens to turn to white or change color and the vision to blur. The condition usually affects people over the age of 60 but can also develop in children. Childhood cataracts could either be congenital or related to other medical conditions. During a cataract operation, the cataract is removed ...

BDO Unibank Inc. (BDO) was named Industry Champion of the Year and Top Sustainability Advocate in Asia, both for the second time at the 2022 Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability (ACES) Awards in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Industry Champion award is presented to companies that have a distinct competitive advantage, set industry trends, and have commendable best practices in place. Winners in this category have shown the ability to evolve the focus of their enterprises along with the dynamic changes of the industries they serve to sustain as market leaders. BDO is the country’s largest bank in terms of total assets, loans, deposits and trust funds under management. The Bank has the country’s largest distribution network, with over 1,600 consolidated operating branches and more than 4,500 ATMs nationwide. It also has 16 international offices in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East. The Bank also offers extensive digital banking solutions to make banking easier, f...

BDO Unibank welcomed the first batch of on-the-job trainees on cloud-related work as part of its support to the collaboration of YouthWorks PH and Philippine Business Education (PBEd) with Amazon Web Services (AWS), which aims to give free cloud computing skills training for 600 unemployed and out-of-school youths across the Philippines via AWS re/Start.  The Bank has committed the expertise of its experienced IT professionals to train 100 youths on cloud services, infrastructure and network monitoring, system administration, low-risk security operation activities, SIT/UAT testing, and automation scripting. This December, the first batch will undergo a three-month mentorship and afterward, be eligible for employment opportunities in BDO. But before starting their onsite training with the Bank, the trainees completed remote mentoring, and employability skills and technical-vocational training with AWS re/Start in Quezon City last month. “BDO is committed to delivering products and s...

More Filipinos this year caught the dengue virus than the same time last year. Based on the Department of Health’s (DOH) report, there have been 128,346 dengue cases in the Philippines from January 1 to August 20, 2022, 152% higher than the 50,982 cases recorded during the same period the previous year. More dengue fatalities were also registered this year with 422 from 179 in 2021. BDO Insure recently started to offer an affordable dengue insurance plan for their and their family’s financial protection. For a premium amounting to P300 per year, Plan A provides cash assistance worth P20,000 when diagnosed with dengue. Meanwhile, Plan B provides cash assistance worth P40,000 for an annual premium of P500. “As an insurance brokerage, we understand the medical insurance needs of our Filipino clients. Through the dengue insurance plans we offer in partnership with trustworthy insurance providers, we aim to protect our clients from potential financial losses due to dengue and be with them e...

The holidays mean indulging in good food to celebrate traditions with family and friends. However, having too many rich foods may take a toll on your health. Serving healthy alternatives at your get-togethers can ensure that you are providing nutritious and delicious options that everyone can enjoy without missing out on the festivities. The Goodwill Market shares this paella recipe by Chef Joel Tan Navarro that uses Duru Bulgur instead of rice. It packs more than twice the fiber and four times as much folate from bulgur, plus the umami goodness of mushrooms and the heart-healthy properties of olive oil. Mushroom Truffle Paella (Duru Bulgur’s Vegetarian Paella) Ingredients : ✓2 tbsp. Umbria Original Truffle Sauce ✓1 cup Duru Bulgur coarse ✓A drizzle of Umbria Tartufi White Truffle flavored oil ✓1/2 cup shitake mushrooms fresh ✓1/2 cup shitake mushrooms dried ✓1/2cup white button mushrooms ✓1/2 cup portobello mushrooms ✓1/2 cup arugula ✓1/2 cup olive oil ✓1/2 cup onions ✓2 cups vegetabl...

In Photo (From Right to Left): Sonny Marpuri, First Vice President of BDO Singapore branch accepts BDO Unibank’s award as Philippines’ Top Investment House and BDO Capital’s plaque as Top Arranger for Corporate Bonds at The Asset Benchmark Research Awards 2022 in Singapore. He is joined by Gail Pineda and Angelique Aquino from BDO Unibank’s Trust and Investments Group who have received the Most Astute Investor Awards. ABOUT BDO UNIBANK, INC. BDO is a full-service universal bank which provides a wide range of corporate and retail services such as traditional loan and deposit products, treasury, trust banking, investment banking, private banking, rural banking, cash management, leasing and finance, remittance, insurance, cash cards, credit cards, and online and non-online brokerage services.  BDO has the country’s largest distribution network, with over 1,500 consolidated operating branches and more than 4,500 ATMs nationwide. It also has 16 international offices (including full-...

Quality assurance and food safety are at the core of Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc.’s (PCPPI) operations. The organization recently reinforced their commitment to uphold excellence in line with PCPPI and PepsiCo’s observance of World Quality Month this November. “Customer satisfaction drives our commitment to excellence at PCPPI. We encourage employees to perform beyond expectations in line with our vision to be the country’s leading beverage company,” said PCCPI president and CEO Frederick D. Ong. Compliance to stringent safety regulations ensures quality at PCPPI. All facilities received the Safety Seal Certification from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), certifying all plants and offices practice public health standards and occupational safety and health standards set by the government. PCPPI was also recognized for its compliance and enforcement efforts of COVID-19 health standards. Accreditation and Certification The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is among ...

Leading e-commerce global delivery service J&T Express is giving away big discounts as an early Christmas gift to their customers nationwide. Get huge savings on shipping fees when you send your parcels via J&T Express this holiday season using its Unlisaya promo with a voucher discount, available on their mobile application. The promo is offered to all J&T Express customers—especially the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Customers may pay as low as 39 pesos when they ship via J&T Express using Unlisaya promo with a J&T Express voucher. To avail of the promo, customers, whether walk-in or pick-up, must choose the Unlisaya promo and claim the daily voucher on the J&T Express mobile app. “It is undeniable that most of us will purchase our Christmas gifts online. With the holiday craze coming, we are offering our lowest shipping fee yet as we hope to help lessen the shipping cost for consumers and to attract more businesses for the MSMEs. This is our ea...

President and CEO Frederick D. Ong honored with Master Entrepreneur Award Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI) wins at APEA 2022. The photo shows PCPPI president and chief executive officer Frederick D. Ong proudly showing the company’s Corporate Excellence Award and his Master Entrepreneur Award from the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards 2022. The annual recognition program honors the region’s best in business performance towards sustainable growth. Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI), the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country, was presented the Corporate Excellence Award at the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) 2022 for achieving operational and entrepreneurial excellence. Held last October 20, 2022 in Penang, Malaysia, the APEA ceremony also honored PCPPI President and Chief Executive Officer Frederick D. Ong with the Master Entrepreneur Award. This honor highlights industry trailblazers whose strong entrepreneurial characters inspire up-and-...

At its meeting held on December 3, 2022 , the Board of Directors of BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) approved the declaration of regular cash dividends on common shares in the amount of P0.30 per share for the 4th quarter of 2022 , payable on December 29, 2022 to all stockholders on record as of December 20, 2022 .  The Bank likewise received approval from the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) on Nov. 29, 2022 for its stock dividends equivalent to 20% of current outstanding. To recall, BDO’s Board of Directors approved on March 26, 2022 : the declaration of 20% stock dividends; an increase in its authorized capital stock (common shares) from 5.5 billion to 8.5 billion shares, and; the amendment to the Bank’s Articles of Incorporation to reflect the increase. These were subsequently approved by stockholders at the Bank’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting held on April 22, 2022 , and by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on September 15, 2022 . The record date for the stock dividen...

As poet and philosopher Rumi once eloquently said, “raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.” Parenting is a challenging journey, and the truth is that nobody has everything figured out. One parenting style might suit others best, and some might favor other methods.  However, children respond better to a calm demeanor, so it’s best to avoid dealing with them with anger. Gentle parenting is a transformative style that can help you raise confident, independent, and, most importantly, happy children. This method involves empathy, respect, understanding, and setting healthy boundaries.  How can you incorporate gentle parenting into your daily life? Here are helpful tips to create a healthy relationship with your kids:  Comment on the action, not the person. When speaking to your child, try to separate the action from the person. Instead of saying, “you’re being mean to your brother,” rephrase it and instead say, “I don’t think your brother...

“I believe that through knowledge and discipline, financial peace is possible for all of us.” – Dave Ramsey Last Nov 23 during the BSP FinEd Stakeholders Expo 2022 , I was fortunate to have witnessed the Queen as a panelist who gave tips and advice toward the financial goal during the Financial Self-Care 101: Boosting your financial health.  We usually get to watch Ms. Universe 2015, Pia Wurtzbach raises awareness on different important issues such as HIV and AIDS, mental health, and LGBTQ+ rights. But this time it is about financial health.  She shared insightful and inspiring stories. She grew up as their family's breadwinner but was challenged when it comes to spending during her younger years. She got her first credit card after she won Miss Universe. Pia learned that it takes a lot of hard work to earn money, but it can take seconds for you to spend or lose it all. And because of the people she talked with and her advisers along her journey and her trusted bank - BDO, she...

Scientific studies have shown that 90% of a child’s brain development happens before the age of five. From 1 to 2 years old, babies begin to explore and discover things. At 2.5 to 3 years old, toddlers start to develop their personalities and expand their vocabulary. When they turn 3.5 years old, they start to interact with other kids and adults. This underscores how vital early childhood education (ECE) is for every child’s lifelong learning development. In fact, a 2019 study published by Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) found that learners who were reported to perform early literacy and numeracy tasks very well scored over one standard deviation higher than their peers who could not do these tasks well. This is proof that the urgency of calling attention to ECE is not just a local conversation, but something that is being championed on the international scene. Mr. Don Timothy Buhain  Chief Executive Officer - REX Education  “As a lifelong lea...

Nagbabalik ang Pamaskong Handog events ng SM Supermalls at BDO upang maghatid ng saya at natatanging pagdiriwang ng Kapaskuhan para sa mga nagbalikbayang Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) at kanilang pamilya ngayong Disyembre. Naglalakihang pa-premyo, entertainment, at bonding moments kasama ang mga special guests ang dapat abangan sa 2022 Pamaskong Handog na may temang “Kita-kits na muli sa SM”.  Idaraos ito sa SM City Santa Rosa, Laguna sa December 3; SM City Iloilo sa December 10; at SM CDO Downtown Premiere sa December 17, sa ganap na 2PM. Huwag palagpasin ang espesyal na pagtatanghal ng BDO Remit endorser na si Piolo Pascual, maging ang mga komedyanteng sina MC & Lassy na  magbibigay-katatawanan bilang hosts sa tatlong events. Kasama rin sina Ate Gay at Regina sa SM City Sta. Rosa at SM City Iloilo, at Divine Tetay at Tonton Soriano sa SM CDO Downtown Premiere. Bilang espesyal na regalo, maraming ekslusibong deals at discounts ang inilaan ng SM affiliates para sa K...

Mommy Bloggers Philippines with Brand Department Head of Makuku Mr. Kyle Ye Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Alodia Cueno-Mercado  Last November 29, MAKUKU Philippines held their first intimate PR and Bloggers event in Seda Residences in Makati City together with friends from the media, bloggers influencers, and VIP Moms. The attendees learned about stress-free parenting tips shared by Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Alodia Cueno-Mercado.  (L-R) Princess Velasco,Ma. Margarita Villorente and baby Vinice (world's 8th billionth baby), Brand Department Head of Makuku Mr. Kyle Ye, Rita "Badjao Girl" Gaviola and Clinical Psychologist Maria Alodia Cueno - Mercado.  Mommy Maria Margarette Villorente, and Baby Vinice Mabansag ,the symbolic 8th billionth baby from the Philippines Kicking off the product launch, MAKUKU has gifted Maria Margarette Villorente, the mother of the world's 8 billionth baby a one-year supply of diapers. Baby Vinice Mabansag from Delpan Tondo, Manila is the symbo...