FREE EYE SCREENING ON WORLD GLAUCOMA AWARENESS WEEK MARCH 11- 17, 2012

"That no Filipino shall ever go blind from glaucoma"
Vision of The Philippine Glaucoma Society

 

WHAT IS GLAUCOMA?

It is a complicated disease that causes gradual and progressive damage to the optic nerve, specifically the "cable" that transmits images to the brain. This ultimately leads to irreversible vision loss and even BLINDNESS when left untreated.

FACT: Glaucoma is the #1 cause of bilateral permanent blindness in the Philippines and at least half of them do not know they have the disease.

WHAT CAUSES GLAUCOMA? 

Elevated pressure in the eye (commonly known as the intraocular pressure or IOP)  is generally, but not always, the main factor leading to Glaucoma or damage to the eye's (optic) nerve. 

Other factors such as previous eye trauma may also lead to glaucoma.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF GLAUCOMA?

Generally, NONE in the early stages.

But for Acute Angle Closure Type of Glaucoma, do watch out for:

• Blurry vision
• Eye pain 
• Headache 
• Nausea and vomiting 
• Rainbow colored halos around lights

WHO GETS GLAUCOMA?

Glaucoma affects people of ALL AGES - even children. But in most cases those who are:

• AGE: Over 45
• Family history of Glaucoma
• High degree of Myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness)
• Asian descent.
• History of eye trauma, surgery
• Steroid/Cortisone use
• Diabetes
• History of elevated intraocular pressure

Please keep in mind that Glaucoma does not see age or reason. It can afflict any person regardless of age, health, or race. Patients who are most likely to contract glaucoma usually have family history of the disease, high eye pressure, a previous eye injury, chronic steroid use and/or diabetes mellitus.

HOW IS GLAUCOMA DIAGNOSED?

An ophthalmologist or eye doctor can usually detect people who are at risk of having glaucoma. A series of test is needed to confirm if a person has glaucoma. All of these tests need to be repeated at intervals to assess the progress of the disease and the effect of the treatment - which sometimes takes years even.

Regular eye exams would still be the best thing to do and if your vision is getting blurry or with eye pain, go see an ophthalmologist right away.

• Tonometry - measures the eye pressure 
• Pachymetry - determines the thickness of the cornea
• Gonioscopy - examines the drainage angle and drainage area of the eye
• Ophthalmoscopy - optic nerve assessment
• Visual Field Testing - measures an individual's entire scope of vision - central and peripheral (side) vision.

 

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR GLAUCOMA?

There is NO CURE for GLAUCOMA yet, and visual loss is irreversible. However, glaucoma is a disease that can generally be controlled when detected early - to prevent or slow-down further nerve damage and vision loss. 

•  Eye drops
•  Laser treatment
•  Eye surgery

Early detection is the key to limit visual impairment and preventing the progression towards visual loss or blindness. 

Patients with glaucoma need to be aware that it is a lifelong disease. Compliance with scheduled visits to the eye doctor and with prescribed medication regimens offers the best chance for maintaining vision.

HOW MUCH DOES GLAUCOMA TREATMENT COST?

• Eye surgery (operation) - around Php 4,000 to Php 8,000 (for charity cases). Not all glaucoma patients need surgery. Most patients are prescribed with eye-drops or laser treatment.
• Regular eye check up - Php 500 - Php 1,000 per patient for a comprehensive eye exam.
• Glaucoma Screening (batch of tests) - Php 6,000 - Php 10,000 but not all patients need to undergo this screening. Your eye doctor will tell you if you need this.
  

To help address this critical situation, The Philippine Glaucoma Society, in partnership with multi-specialty health care company, Allergan, has organized Glaucoma Awareness activities for World Glaucoma Awareness Week from March 11 to 17, 2012. Both the Philippine Glaucoma Society and Allergan believe that blindness from the disease can still be prevented through early diagnosis and treatment.

 

(L-R) Dr. Norman Aquino (Past President of The Philippine Glaucoma Society) | Dr. Manolito Reyes (Immediate Past President of The Philippine Glaucoma Society) | Dra. Hannah Pia De Guzman | Dra. Ma. Zita Meriales | Dr. Mario V. Aquino (Founding President of PGS) | Dr. Rainier Covar | Dra. Imelda Yap-Veloso (Current President of PGS) | Dr. Jose Ma. Martinez (Current Vice-President of PGS) | Dr. Nilo Vincent Florcruz

WORLDWIDE GOAL FOR GLAUCOMA:  "Don't Let Glaucoma Darken Your Life"

• Increase awareness
• Early detection
• Early treatment
• Prevent BLINDNESS
• Improve quality of life

There will be a FREE EYE screening next week in celebration of  the WORLD GLAUCOMA WEEK on March 11-17, 2012 . Please watch out for the schedule announcements or consult your eye doctor now so they can refer you for next week's Free eye examination.

Charice blonde short hair and a tattoo

Filipino diva Charice, who had a concert last March 9, 2012 at the Araneta Coliseum, shocks her Filipino fans when she arrived sporting a new look: blonde short hair and a tattoo on her left forearm. The 20-year-old explains why she changes her good girl image into a more edgy look.

“Yung ibang people sa management, gusto nila yung look ko parang Selena Gomez. (Some people in management want me have the Selena Gomez-look) The other one, they want me to be more like Avril Lavigne, which is what I like. Or more like Rihanna. That’s what I like. That’s what we’re trying to do. I think everybody’s shocked. This is such a huge step for me and I love it. This is me. This is who I am. I just don’t want to stay a person that I don’t like… I’ve been thinking about it for years and years. This is a dream come true for me,”

The tattoo which she got in Singapore says “Love Eternally” with an infinity sign in the middle.

“The tattoo that I have has a meaning. The tattoo says ‘love eternally’ and it has an infinity sign. It’s for my love for people, for my fans and for my family, for everybody. So, every time I do something I always have reason.”

With her boyish hair and tattoo, her critics are out once again saying that she looks like a lesbian and even compared her new look to Aiza Seguerra, a Filipina singer who is openly a lesbian.

“Are you kidding me? I’ve read tons of negative comments and I don’t care. Whatever they think maybe if I look somebody or whoever I don’t mind. I mean this is the look that I want. So, the only thing you can do is to move on”

Other articles/ videos about Charice Pempengco:

Video - Charice Pempengco sings Lighthouse

Video - Charice Pempengco sings Kisapmata

Video - Charice Pempengco impersonates the Chipmunks

Charice Pempengco's latest look

Charice Pempengco's controversial status

Charice Pempengco - lesbian new look

Charice Pempengco vs DJ Mo in twitter

DJ Mo Twister trended hashtag Charice

Charice Pempengco on Preview Magazine's cover

Charice is nominated as favorite Asian Act in Kids Choice Awards 2012

Californiaberry health-tea

The Milk Tea craze has hit the Manila beverage scene quite hard. Everyone is going gaga over this milk tea. How about trying something from the makers of the biggest froyo chain in the country? Now, that’s something new for sure.

Californiaberry milk tea makes tea drinking a health-tea and fun experience with its black boba balls bigger, tastier, and softer with the fun texture of gummy bear. Made from the finest tea leaves of Taiwan with the perfect blend of milk and right amount of sugar.

Both medium (P75) or large (P85) sizes offer a wide choice of flavors such as the following:

• jasmine
• taro
• almond
• yogurt
• coffee
• honey milk green
• honey milk
• iced coffee. 

And if milk tea is not your cup of tea, try the juices 

•  green tea
•  black tea
•  passion fruit green tea
•  or yogurt green tea.

Horum Slow Juicer

We love tradeshows! Tradeshows provide unparalleled opportunities to discover new products, companies, ideas and innovations.

Armed with my bayong a.k.a. bag and umbrella, I went to the recently concluded 5th edition of PIFBEX 2012 also known as Philippine International Food & Beverage Expo, which was held in PICC, CCP Complex in Manila, Philippines last March 1 to 4, 2012. 

One booth that catches my attention is the Hurom Slow Juicer.

Hurom Slow Juicer does not grind or blend using high-speed but rather Hurom Slow Juicer squeezes to retrieve juice using the world’s first patented technology LSTS that allows juice to maintain it’s natural flavor, original color, vitamins, enzymes, and nutrients.

Look at the difference between the two juices. Why such different results from the same tomato? High speed from a traditional juicer builds up friction that creates heat which, in turn, damages the fruit and causes the separation from the juice. Rather than using a blade or grinder like the traditional juicers, Hurom uses it’s auger-like screw to gently press and squeeze in retrieving juice from fruits and vegetables. This allows the juicer to maintain the all natural flavor, original color, vitamins, enzymes and nutrients of the fruits or vegetables.

Due to LSTS, Hurom is able to retrieve fresh juice without any heat damage or friction damage. This is fantastic!

The juice is definitely worth the squeeze with this juicer. You just need to learn how to work it right. The juice is very very high quality stuff!

From what I observed from the demonstration of Hurom Slowjuicer, it has Eight (8) Advantages. They are the following:

1. Economical. Tipid sa kuryente 150 watts lang ang electric consumption.
2. Easy to use.Yes, siree, no need mag pwersa para itulak ang fruits para ma juice. Shoot ka lang ng shoot ng sliced fruits. Even a 3-year old kid could operate this juicer. It's a fairly user-friendly juicer.
3. Easy to clean. Yes. Hassle-free cleaning. Buhusan mo lang ng tubig sa pinag sho shootan ng fruits, ayos na!
4. Low Speed for Maximum Nutrition and Taste.
5. Very Nutritious Juice. 5x more Vitamin C.
6. Low Noise Operation.
7. Continuous Extraction System. Not only Hurom can make the perfect juice, it can also be used in making organic tofu, soup, porridge, ice cream, sorbet, cake, chips, cookie, and many more baked goods.
8. Efficiency with style. Hurom is designed in such ways that it does not have any sharp edges which allows a safe usage for anybody.

Note: If you stick too much stuff in the juicer too fast and you don't add something to lube it out after, the juicer may get clogged. So, make sure to only gradually add fruits, so that the juicer won't clog.

VSO-Bahaginan Second Volunteering Expo 2012

Be the change you always hope for. Start by actively participating in VSO-Bahaginan Second Volunteering Expo on March 13, 2012 at Hotel Intercontinental Manila in Makati City. Yes, everyone is invited! Please spread the word! Share this news to all of your friends. Now na!

Entitled "Active Communities, Sustainable Future".

The VSO-Bahaginan Second Volunteering Expo will serve as a platform for celebrating and inspiring volunteerism in government, non-government, corporate, and academic sectors.

For more details, please click the e-poster above.

To read the pre-event press release, please click here.

Cebu Pacific 90% OFF Seat Sale up to March 9, 2012

Cebu Pacific

Sale Period: March 8 to 9, 2012

Details

• Quoted fares are one-way and have limited availability.
• Fare are exclusive of government fees and taxes.
• International fares are exclusive of fuel surcharges.
• Fares are non-refundable.
• Flight changes must be made more than 24 hours before scheduled time of departure.
• CAB approved terms and conditions of carriage apply.

Domestic Flights	Go Lite Fare
ALL Domestic Destinations	90% OFF
Travel Period: August 1, 2012 to Mar. 31, 2013
International Flights	Go Lite Fare
ALL International Destinations	90% OFF!
Travel Period: August 1, 2012 to Mar. 31, 2013

Click here to book Cebu Pacific now!

The Amazing Race Philippines

Hear ye, Hear Ye, Boys and Girls! Luzon, Vizayas and Mindanao! May I have your attention please!

The world’s most prestigious adventure race is now accepting applicants for its first Philippine edition! The twelve-time Emmy Award winner for “Outstanding Reality-Competition Program” arrives on local shores with an open call for contestants of The Amazing Race Philippines.

The show’s producers consider the Philippines as one of their favorite places to shoot, and now you can take part in this grand event too. 

There are three ways to audition: 

1. online
2. mail-in
3. on-ground.

For online auditions: visit www.theamazingrace.ph for the link where you can fill up the online registration form and upload your audition video in AVI, MOV or MPG4 format. The audition video’s running time should be a minimum of 1 minute and maximum of 3 minutes.

For mail-in auditions: download the application forms at www.theamazingrace.ph and send the completed forms together with a DVD of your audition video to the TV5 office (21st floor Marajo Tower, 26th corner 4th sts. Bonifacio Global City, Taguig).

For on-ground auditions: watch out for announcements of audition dates on different venues. Both team members must be present and come prepared with the completed application package.

Note: Carefully review the Terms & Conditions and Application Procedure. Applications must be received by April 2, 2012 (Monday) 6:00 pm Manila time.

BAGUIO CITY'S PANAGBENGA GRAND FLOAT PARADE 2012

Angry Bird float at Baguio City's Panagbenga Festival. Millions of tourists visited Baguio City and celebrated the Panagbenga Festival 2012

The event makes locals and visitors feel and see the celebrations of a mountain city.

Today, the Panagbenga Festival has become bigger and better, making Baguio city a hub for culture and tourism during the month of February and March.

The Panagbenga Grand float parade is considered one of the highlights of Baguio City’s annual month-long flower festival.

Crowds gathered at Session Road in Baguio City.

 The Panagbenga Festival. started as a small community event, 16 years ago.

The floats tower over everyone. Giant versions of colorful flowers adorned floats.

Parade organizers required each float to use 90 percent fresh flowers.

 A floral Star Wars universe guarded by a small contingent of Stormtroopers.

 Each float presented their own theme.

One of the major purposes of the flower festival is to sustain the community spirit of Baguio regardless of tribes and to include the people of the region.

Today, the Panagbenga Festival has become bigger and better, making Baguio city a hub for culture and tourism during the month of February.

 You'll feel the energy of participating floats with their spectacular grand float parade.

 Beautiful flowers adorned floats.

 A giant red and yellow floral dragon led the parade.

 A candy-colored island come to life, with a pink dolphin jumping out of yellow and blue waves.

This float recreated the sights of Batangas, with a pint-sized, floral recreation of Taal Volcano.

The DOT float is so flamboyant!

 

Special Thanks to Collins Yap for the wonderful photos!