Osmeña Boulevard will erupt in colors and festivities once again as Cebu’s magnificent ‘Festival of Festivals’ makes its much-awaited comeback this year on August 28. A total of fifty festivals are joining this year’s Pasigarbo sa Sugbo — making it the biggest and grandest to date!
If you’re going to the Queen City of the South to witness the jaw-dropping talent and creativity of the Cebuanos, why not book an equally stunning Airbnb Stay hosted by Cebu’s top Airbnb Superhosts? They may even fill you in on the newest hole-in-the-wall gems and intriguing side-trips to explore after all the merriment and street dancing!
Luxurious pool villas in the heart of Cebu
If you’re bringing the entire family or the whole barkada, you might want to check out Superhost Chad’s modern luxury villa. With seven bedrooms spanned across three floors, a home theater, a kitchen stocked full with delicious supplies for breakfast, and an infinity pool with spectacular ocean and city views — this villa will definitely not disappoint.
For a secluded yet luxurious experience, Luxury Villa in Busay may be your go-to. Nestled in the mountain town of Busay, this villa boasts top-notch amenities and in-house staff ready to accommodate any needs, including delectable meals prepared by your personal chef. The guest favorite? Definitely the infinity pool with panoramic views of the city.
Nature sanctuaries in the outskirts for longer Cebu getaways
If you crave peace and quiet after the festivities, Nala’s Farm lies within just an hour’s drive from the city. Perched on a hill, the stay provides incredible views of the surrounding mountains and resplendent sunsets. Guests can opt to dip in the pool for a quiet afternoon, or sweat it out with a game of volleyball, basketball, or table tennis in the recreational area.
Get closer to the water and stay at Sam Xander’s Stone Beach Villa located just by the beach. Enjoy dinners and picnics al fresco on the patio, a crisply manicured lawn, and a bonfire area for late-night smores roasts. The villa also sits close to great diving spots if you and your loved ones are up for an underwater adventure after Pasigarbo.
Another seaside Cebu gem is Playa Norte located in Danao City. This expansive designer beach home can comfortably accommodate up to ten guests, and features rustic wood furnishings and multiple seaview rooms. Guests can soak up the sunshine in an outdoor tub, swim, and kayak at the beach, or curl up with a book or two on the sofa. For an enjoyable and hassle-free Pasigarbo sa Sugbo experience, all Airbnb Stays now come with AirCover — the most comprehensive protection in travel and included for free in every stay. To discover more incredible places to stay in Cebu, visit airbnb.com or download the Airbnb app.
About Airbnb
Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home and has since grown to 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer unique stays and one-of-a-kind activities that make it possible for guests to experience the world in a more authentic, connected way.
Details and images provided in a recent press release.
Now that the world is opening up again, it’s about time you take a break from constantly limiting yourself to the barest of essentials.
Hopefully, those days of deprivation and ultra-cautious spending are behind you, and you can now reward yourself with some simple treats.
Fortunately, doing so is a cinch at SM Markets. Whether it involves helping yourself to good food to nourish your body or give in to your special cravings, indulging yourself with pampering self-care products or equipping your household with nifty and “nice-to-haave” items, SM Supermarket and Savemore have got it all for you.
Want to know what exciting treats await you at SM Markets? Check out these offers:
Mall Activation Promos. On August 20, 2022 (Saturday), SM Markets holds its Treat Yourself Day where attendees can enjoy exclusive bundles, win exciting prizes as well as meet and greet SM Market’s ambassadors. On this day, the first 100 customers with P500 purchase gets a chance to win a 10,000 shopping spree for him/herself and someone he/she wants to treat. Other mall activity offers include a Prize catcher (buy P300 worth of Treat Yourself items and get 1 minute to catch as many prizes as you can in the game module) and a Treat booth (buy P500 worth of Treat Yourself items and get 30 seconds to catch as much “money” as you can inside the money blower machine. Each paper corresponds to a prize).
Discounts on selected Treat Yourself items using your SM Advantage Card at all SM Supermarket and Savemore outlets. Participating items include: Ensure Gold Vanilla 850g (P50 off), Alaska Fortified UHT Milk UHT 1L (P8 off), Promil Gold Four 2.4kg (P50 off), Creamsilk Keratin Rebond Straight 650mL (P10 off), Head & Shoulders Cool Menthol 170 mL (P5 off), Nido 5+ Growing Up Milk 2kg (P30 off) and Jack ‘n Jill Nova Country Cheddar Party Pack 160g (P5 off).
Shopsm freebies. Shop at SM Supermarket and Savemore stores at shopsm.com to enjoy free delivery when you buy P2,000 worth of Treat Yourself items using the promo code TYFREEDEL from August 1 – 31, and get a free SM Bonus soda water 330ml when you buy P1,000 worth of Treat Yourself items using thepromo code TYFREEBIE on shopsm.com from September 1 – 30.
Bundles. Save up to P200 when you buy the Treat Yourself exclusive bundles using your SM Advantage Card. Grab these exclusive bundles during mall activations at SM Fairview on September 3 and 4 and at SM San Lazaro on September 17 and 18, as well as in roadshow stores at SM Supermarket Sta. Rosa, Lipa, Calamba, Dasmarinas and Savemore Alapan from August 12 to 25 and at SM Supermarket Sta. Mesa, Manila, Southmall, Novaliches, and Savemore Angono from September 9 5o 23.
#TreatYourselfInSM is brought to you in partnership with the following brands:
Personal Care: Head & Shoulders, Colgate, Creamsilk
Milk: Nido 3+, Ensure Gold, Alaska, Promil Gold 4
Snacks: Jack & Jill, Jolly
Pantry Items: Argentina, San Marino, Century Tuna, 555, Angel, Purefoods, Knorr Cubes, Knorr Soups, Barilla, Lucky Me!, Mega, Baguio Oil, Amigo Segurado, Golden Fiesta
So don’t hesitate to treat yourself. Drop by your nearest SM Supermarket and Savemore branches to give yourself that little bit of indulgence. #Dasurv na dasurv ‘yan for sure!
Snacks company Mondelēz International in the Philippines is continuing its partnership with social enterprise The Plastic Flamingo (PLAF) for plastic waste collection and recycling. Started in 2020, the growth of the partnership shows the potential of the recycling industry in the Philippines and how it can support waste management to avoid marine litter. This 2022, Mondelēz International and PLAF are working with Megaworld Corporation for plastic collection initiatives in five of its malls to provide avenues for communities to practice proper waste collection and disposal.
Not many people know what happens to plastic waste after it is thrown in the waste bin. Ideally, when you throw it in the bin, plastic waste should end up in the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) of your barangayfor segregation – if not already segregated at home or by your waste collectors. After segregation, the plastic is recycled depending on its type, whether it is a bottle or sachet. In the Philippines, plastic recycling companies and organizations already exist and are growing; providing ways for waste to be reused. However, not all waste follows this ideal journey, plastic or not. The unfortunate reality is that waste whether plastic, metal, or paper ends up as litter when it is not disposed of properly in bins, or if they are collected but illegally dumped in open land or in bodies of water.
L to R: Erica Reyes, The Plastic Flamingo Chief Operating Officer, Atty. Joseph Fabul, Mondelēz International Country Manager for Corporate and Government Affairs, Aleli Arcilla, Mondelēz International, VP and Managing Director and Denisse Malong, General Manager for Eastwood City
Providing Ways for Plastic to be Recycled
Contrary to the misconception that plastic is waste, the PLAF is demonstrating that it can be reused to make new things that we need. “We want to become part of the solution, and not the pollution,” shares PLAF Chief Operating Officer Erica Reyes. “Our work at PLAF consists of collecting, segregating, transforming and designing plastic for reuse. We make practical construction materials out of plastic, like eco-lumber and eco-boards. This ensures that we are able to recycle plastic and at the same time help reduce the use of precious resources like wood or minerals to make furniture or even shelters.” Currently, the PLAF can make and sell eco-lumber and eco-boards which can be used to make outdoor furniture, bike racks, benches, tables and others.
Strengthening the Circular Economy
“We support circular economy organizations like the PLAF,” explains Mondelēz International Country Manager for Corporate and Government Affairs, Atty. Joseph Fabul. “The Circular Economy is one where plastic remains in the economy by being reused and recycled; and stays out of the environment. Our goal is to make snacks with better packaging, to make it easier to recycle; to use less packaging by optimizing our pack sizes; and supporting improved systems through the collection of as much plastic as we put into the environment. We call this focus sustainable snacking, where people and planet thrive.”
He continues, “We have worked with the PLAF since 2020 to collect post-consumer plastic for reuse and recycling. Since then, the plastic we have collected has been turned into outdoor furniture which were donated to the City of Paranaque and into eco-boards which are sold by the PLAF to fund further collection activities.”
From 2020 to 2021, Mondelez International and PLAF have collected 43,000 kilos of post-consumer plastic which were repurposed into upcycled products. For this year, the company continues to strengthen its partnership with the social enterprise to collect and recycle another 20,000 kilos and turn it into usable eco-boards.
This year, Mondelēz International is also supporting PLAF’s partnership for a year-long waste collection drive in five Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, namely Eastwood Mall, Lucky Chinatown Mall, McKinley Hill, Uptown Bonifacio and Arcovia City. The collection drive begins on August 15 in Eastwood Mall, and for three launch days in each mall, consumers who bring in their plastic waste can get Mondelēz International treats as thanks for helping support proper waste management.
“Sustainability is in one of our core thrusts as a company, we are always open to collaborating with organizations which promote the same values. I want to thank Mondelēz International and PLAF for working with us in this milestone project,” says Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Head, Graham Coates. “We are glad that our malls have become avenues where people can practice a greener lifestyle. At Megaworld, we are committed to a culture of environmental consciousness and we continuously look for ways to practice and incorporate it in our township and lifestyle properties.”
For more details about this program, click here or click to learn more about the PLAF.
About Mondelēz International
Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world. With 2021 net revenues of approximately $29 billion, MDLZ is leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as Oreo, belVita and LU biscuits; Cadbury DairyMilk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate; SourPatchKids candy and Trident gum. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor’s 500, Nasdaq 100 and Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Visit www.mondelezinternational.com or follow the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDLZ.
About Mondelez Philippines
Mondelēz Philippines Inc. has been providing consumers with delicious snack products for the past 59 years – since 1963. Its product portfolio includes Tang powdered beverages, Eden cheese, mayonnaise and sandwich spread, Cheez Whiz spread, Oreo cookies, Tiger energy biscuits, as well as Toblerone and Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolates. The company employs about 450 people in the Philippines, with a manufacturing facility in Parañaque City. Visit https://ph.mondelezinternational.com/home.
About The Plastic Flamingo
The Plastic Flamingo, also known as The Plaf, is a social enterprise with a pilot project in the Philippines (Manila). Its core mission is to tackle marine plastic pollution by collecting and recycling ocean-bound plastic waste in emerging countries with maximum social impact. The Plaf collects all types of plastic, compensate for plastic footprint, educate communities and individuals, and transform plastics into upcycled products such as eco-lumbers, eco-boards, furniture and recycled pellets!
Details and images provided in a recent press release.
The first-ever Drag Race Philippines, from the Emmy-award® winning production company World of Wonder, premieres this August 17, 2022 on HBO GO via SKY featuring the fiercest, most fabulous Filipino drag artists from all over the world.
Watch the drama unfold as 12 Filipino drag queens – Brigiding, Corazon, Eva Le Queen, Gigi Era, Lady Morgana, Marina Summers, Minty Fresh, Precious Paula Nicole, Prince, Turing, Viñas DeLuxe, and Xilhouete show off their fiercest attitudes as they go head to head to compete for the crown.
The competing queens are given different challenges each week where they can showcase their own charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent. At the end of each episode, be ready to witness two queens battle it out and lip-sync for their lives. Aside from the breathtaking costumes and powerful performances, Drag Race Philippines will pay homage to the rich Filipino culture adding a fancy twist to iconic Pinoy elements, traditions and festivities.
The local franchise will be hosted by actor, model, and drag artist Paolo Ballesteros. Jervi Li, also known as “Kaladkaren,” best known for their impersonations of Kapamilya journalist Karen Davila, and Jiggly Caliente, a fellow Filipina and contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race season 4 and All Stars season 6, will serve as judges.
Drag Race Philippines is produced in the Philippines by Fullhouse Asia Production Studios, Inc in conjunction with World of Wonder Productions, Inc. Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, and RuPaul Charles serve as executive producers on the series.
All roads lead to Drag Race Philippines and SKY subscribers can stream or download Drag Race Philippines from August 17, Thursday, on HBO GO through mobile, desktop, smart TV, and via the SKY Evo box.
To subscribe, visit mysky.com.ph/hbogo. HBO GO can also be enjoyed by SKYcable subscribers with existing HBO PAK subscription at no additional cost. Follow SKY on Facebook (fb.com/myskyupdates), Twitter (@myskyupdates), and Instagram (@myskyupdates) for further news and promotional updates.
Let’s face it: when you’ve reached the “wrong” side of forty, you have to step up on your skin care routine.
When you get to this stage, the sins of your past tend to catch up with you: the times when you stayed up at all hours, slept with your makeup on, or spent all day in the sun with no sunscreen on will start to leave their marks on your face and skin.
Hopefully, these sins of your youth against your present self are few and far between, and you still have so many years left in which to enjoy the skin that reflects how young and radiant you actually feel.
Personally, having grown up thinking that skincare simply involves washing my face with soap and water right before bedtime, I was dumbfounded to discover that it is actually comprised of several steps (which can be as many as ten!) and involves so many products. I could hardly tell where to start or how to go about my skincare regimen.
Fortunately, there are ways to pare down the complex skin care rituals to the most basic – yet essential – steps that still help to achieve to goal of minimizing pores and maintaining a youthful freshness despite the advancing years.
Honestly, I find a simplified routine a lot easier to do – and definitely a lot more sustainable to maintain in the long run.
This routine includes:
Step 1: Cleansing.
My busy days (and the hot and dusty city environment) tend to layer on dirt, oils and makeup residue on my face which may clog my pores, increasing the chances of unsightly breakouts. A skin cleanser should be able to remove the day’s accumulation of dirt while still maintaining my skin’s pH balance.
Step 2: Toning.
A thoroughly, but gently, cleansed skin should also be prepped to absorb moisturizers and other treatments you want to apply.
That’s the job of the skin toner. It also restores the skin’s pH balance and improves the overall skin tone.
Step 3: Treating
Despite a meticulous approach to skin care – or because of our past transgressions towards taking care of our skin during our youth – we may have some problem areas that we would like to address. These may include dull looking skin, fine lines and wrinkles, acne breakouts, among others.
Using serums, ampoules, acids or sheet masks with a higher concentration of ingredients to treat these problem areas will help in maintaining your skin’s health.
Step 4: Moisturizing.
Since we are not young as we used to be, moisturizing our skin is the order of the day – any day! How else can we keep our skin from drying out, keeping them nice, supple and young-looking.
To equip our skin care arsenal with the appropriate products to support our skin care goals, we can look to Korean skin care brand Celimax.
This line of beauty and skin care products is focused on transparency: it designs honest, user-friendly products with clean ingredients (allergen-free fragrance and no harsh chemicals) to bring about better skin for people with various skin types and skincare needs.
Among its products are the The Real Cica Calming Ampoule and The Real Cica Soothing Cream. As their names imply, both contain extracts from the cica (Centella Asiatica) plant, well-known for its healing, soothing, antibacterial and inflammatory properties, naturally derived within forty-eight hours of harvest to ensure maximum concentration of active compounds.
The Real Cica Calming Ampoule
This product contains 75% cica extract and an oil-free ultra-concentrated hydration complex to hydrate and soothe irritated skin.
To use, apply two to three drops from the automatic dropper and apply evenly across your face using your fingertips, avoiding the eye area. Use gentle pats to facilitate absorption of the formula.
This light-weighted hydrating gel cream is infused with 73% cica extract along with Dermatic AC3 (to manage sebum production and acne care for oily skin) and Niacinamide + Adenosine (to brighten skin and manage the effects of aging).
To apply, squeeze out a pea-sized amount of face cream then apply evenly throughout the face, gently massaging into the skin with small, upward circular motions.
I love their light, refreshing and non-sticky feel on my face and the way they work together to quickly and effectively soothe away facial redness and swelling from irritation.
They are also easy and simple to apply, so including them as part of my nightly skin care routine would be no hassle at all.
Want to try these cica-based skincare products from Celimax?
While cica extract is usually safe for all skin types, it may aggravate or irritate the skin in certain cases. Also, results may vary from person to person. Be sure to scan the full ingredient list of these products before purchase and conducting a small patch test before the application to ensure your safety.
To know more about honest skincare products, follow Celimax on Facebook and Instagram.
Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature.
SKY continues its commitment to provide top-notch and hassle-free service to its valued subscribers by making it more convenient for them to raise their concern with just a few clicks through their 24/7 customer support KYLA.
By expanding KYLA’s accessibility to more parts of Luzon (Baguio, Batac, Dagupan, Laoag, Urdaneta, Bulacan, Batangas) and in Mindanao (Davao, General Santos, Zamboanga) starting August 15, SKY ensures that SKY subscribers from different parts of the country can experience the same fast and convenient customer service.
Since its launch in 2021, more SKY subscribers expressed their satisfaction with KYLA in addressing their simplest to more complex matters when it comes to their cable and internet service. Here are some common concerns that KYLA can help manage to assist each subscriber in real-time:
Matters on monthly billings and payment
Got questions with your SKY bill? Do you plan on enrolling in digital payment methods for ease of transactions? Want to know the status of your monthly bill and so on?
KYLA’s got you covered on matters regarding your SKY billing and monthly payment. With KYLA, you can easily access your monthly statement and address any concerns from inquiries, status updates, information on SKY’s payment channels to transferring your billing details in an instant.
For more complicated billing matters, KYLA can also endorse you right away to a live agent to discuss other queries. A subscriber shared “I got the answer that I needed to check my account immediately. Good thing that my KYLA inquiry was answered quickly.”
Service concerns and real-time advisories
Got a technical concern with your cable TV or internet connection? KYLA is here to help solve the issue to restore services as soon as possible. KYLA can also notify SKY users of the latest advisories in real-time to keep them updated on SKY’s maintenance efforts, among others.
As shared by another SKY subscriber “Salamat kasi meron kayong ganitong customer service. Hindi ko na kailangan tumawag sa landline at maghintay nang matagal para malaman kung may ongoing maintenance sa area namin.”
Subscribers can also do their part in reporting anomalous incidents like cable cutting affecting their services by submitting their reports directly to KYLA.
Instant troubleshooting and account reconnection
For troubleshooting and reconnection confirmation, KYLA’s updated feature now accepts video and photo attachments so that subscribers can directly send proofs of payment for account reconnection or a video of their modem for internet connection diagnostics and troubleshooting with a live agent.
“KYLA is interactive and it guides you on what you need to do, for complicated matters it becomes personalized as soon as an agent takes over the conversation, everything is easy too,” a happy SKY subscriber commented.
These are among the concerns that SKY’s KYLA can help you with. Plus, it’s even easier to raise concerns through KYLA as all the subscriber needs to do is type a simple query in English to start a conversation. KYLA will be able to recognize the concern and direct the subscriber to the proper resources or journey to address the issue. To ensure a seamless conversation, subscribers are advised to keep their account number ready for transactions that will require it.
Now that the world is opening up again after being put on an extended pause due to the pandemic, we can expect our days to be a lot busier. Already, Zoom meetings take up quite a sizeable chunk of my workday, along with other tasks needed to churn out the outputs need to support my company’s goals. Soon, I might have to return to the harrowing commute from my home to the office and back again. Sigh!
At the same time, the kiddos will also be returning to some form of classroom learning, which means that they will depart from the relatively less-regulated learning environment to a more structured one in school. For the young ‘uns who have grown used to learning from home, going back to school (literally!) will be quite an adjustment.
The reshaping of our lives that this shift to the New Normal requires should not hinder us from taking care of the family’s mental health, though. Now, more than ever, we need to factor in activities in our day that give us a respite from our run-of-the-mill tasks as well as some enjoyable moments that add up to happy memories for ourselves and the family.
Fortunately, these kinds of activities are easy to find at Plays.org!
Who would have thought that, as a Gen X’er who grew up hearing a near-constant admonishment from my folks about playing computer games back in the day, I would be advocating for online games as a form of self-care?
However, we really shouldn’t discount the various benefits that online games bring to the table. Check out these Plays.org games that are big hits with my fam:
Welcome breaks from the daily drudge.
During my well-deserved coffee break, I like to indulge myself in a bit of low-stakes fun with Space Adventure: Pinball while my little ones can let off some steam after school with an exciting beat ‘em game like Adventure Time: Break the Worm.
We discovered the joys of casting our games from our laptop to our large-screen TV so that the family members can all take part in trying to best each other at the Tetris-inspired Tetra Blocks. On the other hand, educational games such as Garfield Sentences provide a fun way to supplement the kiddo’s school learning.
For minds that are too wound up to doze off, playing Neon Invaders, a throwback to Space Invaders, or a few rounds of Classic Solitaire would provide a sense of accomplishment that serves to round up the day and get us in the mood to sleep.
Plays.org is a website that houses thousands of free online games. These highly enjoyable pastimes can be accessed any time of the day using our desktop or mobile devices. Plays.org users are not required to register to be able to play, eliminating the need to keep track of yet another set of login credentials. Plus, since the games are web-based, downloading an app is also not required, thereby saving us some more of that precious storage space in our devices.
Another plus factor of Plays.org is that the site does not serve online ads so you won’t have to deal with irritating commercial interruptions nor the risk of exposing the little ones to advertising.
Ready to engage in some fun family playtime at Plays.org? Be sure to check out its newest games. You can also browse through its entire game catalog posted in the site’s footers.
When the five-month-old son of Marissa Santos had recovered from measles, more commonly known as “tigdas,” Santos thought that that would be her son’s last encounter with the measles virus. Six years later, Santos’ son started to show symptoms of a rare and serious complication caused by measles—subacute sclerosing panencephalitis or SSPE. Santos says she hopes parents can take advantage of vaccination to help prevent measles and SSPE among their children.
Measles is a serious and highly contagious viral respiratory disease. The symptoms of measles include high-grade fever, rashes, and the three C’s—namely cough, conjunctivitis, and coryza. Measles can result in serious complications even among previously healthy children. The virus that causes measles can mutate and cause fatal complications.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that in 2018, more than 140,000 people—most of them children under five years old—died of measles. This was despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine against the disease. According to the WHO, before the measles vaccine became widely used, major measles epidemics happened around every two to three years. Measles led to an estimated 2.6 million deaths per year.
In the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) reported in 2020 that about 2.4 million children under the age of five are susceptible to measles. The DOH also reported from 2008 to 2017, that there had been a decline from above 80 percent to below 70 percent in the first dose of measles vaccine in the Philippines. The DOH had declared measles outbreaks in 2014 and 2019. As with the cases of some countries, outbreaks happened despite attempts at wider immunization coverage.
A complication of measles
(L-F) Dr. Anleyn Reyes, Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist; Dr. Marissa Lukban, Pediatric Neurologist; Ms. Marissa Santos, Mother & SSPE Advocate and Ms. Diane Medina, Celebrity Mom & Host during the “Baby Come Vax: Mga Bakunang Nalaktawan, Panahon nang Balikan” online forum.
Sharing her story in an online forum, Marissa Santos said that at five months old, her son, Jan, was hospitalized because of severe fever and convulsion following his measles infection. Because Jan was exposed to measles at an early age, Santos received advice from a pediatrician that Jan no longer needed to be vaccinated against measles.
Santos said that Jan had recovered from his episode of measles infection and spent the next five years living a normal life. But at six years old, Jan began having twitches and seizures. At times, Jan would suddenly drop things that he was holding in his hands. His head would suddenly drop or he would be in a daze. Both Jan’s mother and teacher noticed, too, a decline in Jan’s performance in school.
Worried, Marissa brought her son to an expert in pediatric neurology in the country, Dr. Marissa Lukban. In 2002, 7 year-old Jan was diagnosed with stage 2 subacute sclerosing panencephalitis or SSPE, a rare but progressive, disabling, and fatal brain disease.
According to Dr. Lukban, SSPE occurs in 0.5 to five cases per million population worldwide, although these figures depend on vaccination rates.
SSPE may occur when the measles virus mutates, Dr. Lukban said. Unrecognized by the body’s immune system, the virus enters the nerves, reaches the brain of a patient, and remains dormant until several years later when it reactivates.
Symptoms of SSPE include involuntary muscle movements, seizures, and behavioral changes including diminished performance in school. With less than five percent of cases having remission, SSPE patients often eventually become unable to swallow, speak, see, hear, and interact with others. The last stage of SSPE is characterized by coma or long coma.
“’Yung nightmare sa akin no’n, sinasabi ni Dr Lukban, was that there was no cure [The nightmare for me then was when Dr. Lukban said that there was no cure for SSPE],” Santos said.
Marissa and Jan had joined a support group in the hope of finding a cure for the disease. However, after ten years of enduring SSPE, Jan died in 2014 at 25 years old.
Measles vaccine as form of protection against SSPE
While a cure for SSPE has yet to be discovered, the best protection against this disease remains to be vaccination against measles.
Based on the Philippine General Hospital’s experience and citing Dr. Aida Salonga’s (2002) work, Dr. Lukban reported that from 1999 to 2001, there were roughly 18 to 20 Filipino children admitted in PGH with SSPE each year. But increased vaccination efforts since 1998 led to significantly lower measles cases. In 2002 to 2006, Dr. Lukban noted that the number of admitted cases decreased to 10-15 new cases per year and more recently down to 1-2 cases per year.
“Vaccination is a protection against getting measles at ‘pag hindi ka nagka-tigdas, hindi na magkaka-SSPE. Kumpletuhin lang po ang MMR vaccine at dapat po may booster [Vaccination is a protection against getting measles and if you haven’t had measles, you will not have SSPE. Complete the MMR vaccine and there should be a booster],” said Dr. Lukban.
Dr. Lukban also warned that high vaccine coverage needs to be sustained to prevent future measles outbreaks and SSPE cases. In the Philippines, there have been reports of measles outbreaks in 2014 and 2019. There is a likelihood that SSPE cases may increase in the following years.
“Nagkaroon tayo ng campaign in 2004 pero bigla nating napansin na umaakyat na naman at nagkaroon ng ilang outbreaks, which only shows na talagang dapat kapag may programa, dire-diretso [We have had a campaign in 2004 but we also noticed that the cases increased and there were outbreaks, which only shows that if there is a program to vaccinate against measles, the program should be consistent and steady,” said Dr. Lukban.
The importance of continuing vaccination amid Covid-19
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, parents have been fearful of bringing their children outside their homes and have opted to postpone their children’s vaccination. Manpower and resources in public health have also been focused on the COVID-19 vaccination.
Dr. Anelyn Reyes, an infectious disease specialist, estimated that one in two children is not being vaccinated. According to DOH, the national vaccination rate in 2021 was at
48.5 percent. Dr. Reyes also cited a study that indicates three to four Filipino families are hesitant to have their children vaccinated due to misinformation on social media and lack of knowledge about vaccine safety. The online forum entitled Baby Come Vax: Mga Bakunang Nalaktawan, Panahon nang Balikan is an activity under the Vax My Baby campaign–a vaccine mobilization campaign aimed at improving routine immunization amid the COVID-19 pandemic under the partnership of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, Metro Manila Development Authority, and GlaxoSmithKline Philippines, Inc.
Ever dreamt of a long leisurely getaway to live and work from anywhere, or simply enjoy the vacation of a lifetime? For the first time ever, Airbnb and AirAsia Philippines are teaming up to offer one Filipino (and up to 3 companions) the ultimate dream adventure to Fly & Live Anywhere in the Philippines for 30 consecutive days.
From remote workers to creatives, families, empty nesters, vacationers and more; Airbnb and AirAsia are seeking one special winner who will fly and live anywhere in the Philippines for one month between September to October 2022.
The winner will win an incredible Php 200,000 worth of Airbnb travel credits and 12 round-trip domestic flights with AirAsia, and can bring up to three companions on the trip.
During their month-long adventure, the winner and their guests will get to live in some of the most unique Airbnb Stays in the country, and travel with AirAsia to their bucket list destinations. Get ready to discover home in a new light while exploring new cities and hidden gems with your loved ones like never before.
“As more Filipinos enjoy greater flexibility to work from anywhere, the blurring lines between travel and living have led many to embrace remote work and more spontaneous getaways with their loved ones. As travel rebounds, we are thrilled to partner with AirAsia to offer this amazing once-in-a-lifetime adventure. We know travel connects people and brings significant economic opportunities for local communities, and we hope this contest ignites greater excitement and appetite to rediscover home,” shares Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s General Manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Steve Dailisan, AirAsia Philippines’ Head of Communications and Public Affairs, notes, “The tourism industry of the Philippines boasts diversity and richness across many facets – culture and heritage, scenic spots, exclusive adventures, and culinary delights. These drivers position the Philippines as a viable destination for travelers living a nomadic lifestyle away from the usual metros. Digital nomads, barkadas, or families who have the liberty to travel while keeping their grind must know that the Philippines is ready to welcome them. We are glad to partner with Airbnb to underscore this very message.”
How to apply for your dream adventure
Starting today, August 11, through August 21, 11:59 p.m. PHT, eligible applicants may apply by visiting airbnb.com/flyandliveanywhere and completing the application form.
Participants must be over 18, have an Airbnb account and available to travel within the Philippines from September to October. The successful participant will be contacted directly by Airbnb on August 29. For more information, see the Contest Rules.
Traveling more and venturing further
For the first time since the pandemic, travelers can now fly and live anywhere and Airbnb and AirAsia are making this possible in the Philippines.
Recent Airbnb data revealed that more than a third of local Airbnb guests polled stayed with Airbnb in the Philippines to travel and work remotely1, and that travelers are now venturing further with Filipino Hosts in over 60 new Philippines cities and towns welcoming their very first guests since the start of the pandemic2.
Searching for travel inspiration for your Fly & Live Anywhere application? Check out Airbnb’s first-ever Travel Guide to the Philippines. Travellers are also encouraged to check the travel requirements of each destination, which can be found on AirAsia’s Fly Safe Page.
Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.
Philippines AirAsia, Inc. (PAA), doing business as AirAsia Philippines (with flight code Z2), is one of the country’s top low-cost airlines. It flies to a total of 16 domestic destinations and 15 international destinations as of June 2022. It was officially launched as the fourth Airline Operations Center (AOC) of the AirAsia group in 2012. Under the AirAsia Aviation Group Limited, it offers all its flight and ancillary products on the fully-integrated platform airasia Super App. Through this, guests can enjoy seamless booking of flights and hotels, and other features such as delivery, ride hailing, and online shopping.
While Airbnb Hosts span the age spectrum, Airbnb is celebrating International Youth Day (12 August) this year by shining a light on its most successful, innovative and tenacious Airbnb Hosts in Asia Pacific under 30.
Airbnb is recognizing twelve outstanding young Airbnb Hosts across the APAC region* with an average rating of 4.9 and over 4,300 guest check-ins collectively, including two Hosts from the Philippines – Dwyane Yra Dinglasan, 23, and Deo Dia, 26.
“A new world of opportunities has been unlocked for the younger generation through their access to and adeptness with modern technology. We are seeing more young Filipinos discovering Airbnb and sharing about it with their families and friends. They are not only traveling with us domestically and overseas but also becoming tourism entrepreneurs by helping their families generate new streams of income through hosting,” shared Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s General Manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
More Hosts under 30 like Dwayne and Deo are now helping their families unlock new economic opportunities while spreading the Philippines’ tuloy ka hospitality with their guests and contributing to the tourism economy. As these two Hosts show, age is truly just a number.
A standout Spanish-style summer home in Batangas
Image from Airbnb
Image from Airbnb
Image from Airbnb
Dwayne, host of Tali Vacation Home
At the young age of 23, Host Dwyane has been hosting her family’s vacation home in Nasugbu Tali Vacation Home on Airbnb for nearly four years.
“I realized there was an interest in beach home vacations, and in 2018, my family and I decided to open up our vacation home on Airbnb for extra income,” Dwayne said. The property, a Spanish colonial summer home, sits in Batangas and is well loved by guests for its amenities and seaside and sunset views. Dwayne found their home’s unique architecture to be a compelling reason to entice guests to book a stay. “There weren’t many homes in the area with the same architectural style and I figured it would be a great way to stand out,” she shared.
When asked what tips she would provide aspiring Hosts, Dwayne shared, “Have a niche! It’s important to research the other properties in the same market so you can stand out. Do not be afraid to be different in your taste and style.”
A home away from home in Tagaytay
Image from Airbnb
Image from Airbnb
Image from Airbnb
Deo, host of Spacious house near Breakfast at Antonio’s
Also situated in South Luzon is a home away from home that has welcomed many travellers, hosted by another young Pinoy. Deo Dia, 26, is the owner of Spacious house near Breakfast at Antonio’s guest house in Tagaytay that boasts a 4.93 overall rating.
Deo, a businessman, shared that through his local and international travels, he learned about Airbnb and the opportunity it provided for economic empowerment and guests who seek alternative accommodation. This led to him listing his vacation home on the platform.
“When my dad passed away, he left me with a vacation house which I barely got to use. To help me financially with its recurring maintenance costs, I decided to share this special place with others through the help of Airbnb,” shared Deo. “Today, I continue to host because of the joy and fulfillment it brings. I didn’t expect to enjoy hosting as I actually do — connecting with others, doing the little things to ensure a relaxing stay, and most of all, being a part of their precious moments.”
To learn more about hosting on Airbnb, visit airbnb.com/host.
* According to internal Airbnb data of Hosts under 30 in APAC with the best percentage of five-star reviews for Cleanliness, Communication and Check-in.
About Airbnb
Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer one-of-a-kind stays and unique Experiences that make it possible for guests to experience the world in a more authentic, connected way.
Jellybeans in the City 