Bank on Your Child's Future at Cordlife Philippines Newly-Upgraded Facility

For expectant and future parents, have you thought about storing your baby's cord blood for future use?
As parents, we want to secure our most valued investment in life - our children. And you can do that by making the right choice... and one way is through Cordlife Philippines.

Cordlife New Stem Cell Facility Opens for The Public

Cordlife Philippines, the leading cord blood and cord lining banking provider in the country, launches its newly upgraded stem cell and cryopreservation facility for Filipino families. This facility is located at UP-Ayalaland Technohub.

This expansion is driven by the growing number of parents who recognize the value of banking their baby’s stem cells in the country.

It’s the first and only facility in the Philippines that features separate isolated processing rooms for cord blood and cord lining.

The event launch was hosted by popular DJ Delamar Arias and graced by celebrity moms, actress and beauty queen Lara Quigaman and reporter/journalist Niña Corpuz. The 3 Mom Ambassadors all shared their personal experiences of being Cordlife moms themselves.

Also present at the launch were Cordlife Group CEO Jeremy Yee, Cordlife Philippines Medical Director Dr. Arvin Faundo, and Cordlife Philippines Director Michael Arnonobal.

The event highlighted the five essentials of mother and child that Cordlife addresses through services.

1. Sense of Security.The facility is designed with cryogenic storage capacity that can accommodate up to 30,000 cord blood and cord lining units. Parents who banked with Cordlife can have peace of mind knowing that their baby's stem cells are kept in a highly secure laboratory built to withstand earthquakes, ward off fire and are not dependent on electricity.
   
   
2. Expertise.Cordlife’s expertise in the stem cell banking arena, is proven not only by being the largest network of cord blood banks in Asia, but also the number of cord blood releases for stem cell transplant and their adherence to the stringent global standards of AABB (formerly known as American Association of Blood Banks). Cordlife Philippines is also the country’s first and only ISO 9001:2008 and Department of Health-registered cord blood and cord lining bank.
3. Value for life.
   Cordlife is committed to being a steadfast partner to parents who wish to bank their baby’s stem cells because of their proven ability to treat Leukemia, Thallasemia and other types of cancers.
   
   
4. Bond.
   Cordlife helps preserve this precious bond between the mother and the child. Partnerships are forged with trusted hospitals and research institutes like Duke Medicine research, adding more value to this special mother and child bond.
   
   
5.  Investment.
   All these essentials are available to parents as a practical investment for their child’s health.
   
   “To help the most number of Filipino families access this important service, Cordlife offers cord blood/cord lining banking for as low as P8,000 per year, and offers flexible payment schemes that are within reach of most families,” says Michael Arnonobal.
   

One Chance. One Choice. Together with Cordlife.

+Cord Blood Banking
Cord blood (or placenta blood) could offer hope for the child or members of the family. Why? Because stem cells can be used to treat a number of diseases.

+Umbilical Cord Lining
Baby's umbilical cord lining is a rich source of Mesenchymal (MSC) and Epithelial (EpSC) stem cells.

+MetaScreen
Comprehensive metabolic screening for newborns from one simple urine test. It is non-invasive yet more accurate and effective in detecting inborn errors of metabolism.

Cordlife Philippines
Event Launch Nov. 18, 2014
Crowne Plaza, Ortigas


ABOUT CORDLIFE MEDICAL PHILIPPINES INC

Cordlife Philippines was officially launched in February 2010 as Philippines’ first and only cord blood processing and cryopreservation facility to better serve the cord blood banking needs of the local market. Registered with the Department of Health, the ISO-certified facility was built in accordance to global gold standards such as the American Association of Blood Banks to give local families peace of mind. In 2013, the Company launched the country’s first and only cord lining banking service, using CellOptima™, a patented technology invented in Singapore that can isolate and expand two types of stem cells from the umbilical cord lining. Cordlife’s 365-day facility is equipped with the world’s most advanced fully automated cord blood processing system, SEPAX-2® and has a storage capacity for 30,000 cord blood units. Cordlife Philippines is a subsidiary of Cordlife Group Limited, a mainboard company listed on the Singapore Exchange.

For more information, you can email info@ph.cordlife.com
Or add them on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/CordLifePhilippines

All About Pasta as Doña Elena celebrates National Pasta Month

How do you like your pasta? I want my pasta Al Dente!

It means, "firm to the bite!"

I am a certified pasta lover! Glad to be invited (and I was able to attend) Doña Elena's World Pasta Day celebration at The Blackboard.

I love pasta!

It's great to know more about pasta during Doña Elena's event. Here are some tidbits and interesting infos I've learned:

1. October is a National Pasta Month and October 25th is National Pasta Day!
2. Pasta is healthy for it is a good source of protein, fiber and antioxidants. 
3. Pasta is not fattening for it is made of whole wheat (just eat moderately)
4. Pasta should be not too soggy or too hard. It should be tender and firm. Just right, Al Dente!
5. Avoid boiling pasta in a covered pot or rinse it after it's cooked.
6. Doña Elena Al Dente does not require oil when cooking because it doesn’t stick together.
7. Each pasta has its sauce-match. Thin pastas like spaghetti should be served with light, thin sauce (like tomato). Thicker ones like Fettuccine with heavier sauces. Pasta with holes or ridges, like Penne Rigate is best with chunkier sauces. 
8. Doña Elena Al Dente is the only artisan quality pasta, made from 100% durum wheat semolina (hard wheat). Unlike local pasta with only 6% protein content, Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta contains 13% protein.

[During the event]

Nutritionist, Professor Luchie Callanta shared the nutritional benefits of eating pasta.

"Carbohydrates are not responsible for obesity."

RJ Ledesma shared about how he started Mercato and his own pasta experience.

It's interesting when he shared that... most cuisines have their own origin, discovering the story behind it will make our experience enjoyable...

Chef Michel Cottabaren of The Blackboard whipped up pasta dishes using Dona Elena products, cooking it the Italian way.

cooking demo the Al Dente way

Everyone the privilege to taste these dishes too!

Penne Rigate

Fettucine with shrimp in olive oil

We got to enjoy the Fettuccine with Shrimp in olive oil, Penne Rigate with bacon and mushroom in tomato sauce, Spicy eggplant with pomodoro and paprika, and Panna Cotta.

Selected bloggers also took part in the Doña Elena Al Dente 10-minute cook-off contest.

 #aldentepasta #nationalpastamonth 

It's fulfilling to spend the day eating pasta, learning more about it and appreciating it even more!

with Chef Michel of The Blackboard

I love pasta and I want my pasta Al Dente!

Thank you Doña Elena Al Dente for inviting me to celebrate National Pasta Month with you!

with mommy blogger Josephine and bloggers all over :)

Let's always celebrate the goodness of pasta and the best way is to do it Al Dente!

Doña Elena Al Dente - Artisan Quality Pasta

Dona Elena Al Dente is made the Artisan way of making pasta – slow drying and not subjected to high heat.  It uses  bronze die which creates ridges on the pasta. It makes the sauce stick to the pasta better. It is also  GMO-free and certified all natural.

Dona Elena Al Dente  pasta is made using special bronze dies. Pasta prepared using the Bronze Die Cut is better. Why? Because its coarse texture allows the sauce to cling to the noodles better.

Doña Elena variants include Spaghetti (500g), Fettuccine (500g), Lasagna (500g), Penne Rigate (500g and 250g) and Fusilli (500g and 250g)

For more recipes, join Doña Elena Cuisinera Club and visit their website to learn more about Doña Elena.

[EVENT] 
Doña Elena Al Dente
World Pasta Day Celebration
The Blackboard, 5F Podium Mall

#FlyAceCorp #event #food

Kidzooona Robinsons Galleria PISO play soft opening promo

My sisters took our kids to Kidzooona - the newly opened kids play haven at Robinsons Galleria.

first Kidzooona branch in the Philippines

We got to enjoy Kidzooona's "1 PESO for 1 HOUR play" on its soft opening.

Play for 1 peso! Piso lang talaga :)

paid 3 pesos for 3 kids

The place looks so cute and inviting... perfect for the kids and kids at heart.

There are several role play areas for little ones to try and enjoy. They can try different careers like sushi maker, fireman, doctor, postman, florist, ice cream maker, etc.

at the burger shop

ready to mail the letters

checking out the wooden cake toys

sushi master... because my son love food :) 

cute play areas- Ice Cream shop and Flower shop

Every play area comes complete with costumes!

our little fireman in action :)

My nephew enjoying the hand print spindles, burger shop cash register and mails.

still wearing the fireman costume :)

My son enjoyed rolling in this inflatable giant ball zorb!

keep rolling!

Kids can enjoy the activity areas with all these educational toys - trains, doll houses, puzzles, etc. I love that the toys are of high-quality and educational.

lots of toys

There's a cubby hole for shoes, a locker for your belongings, and a stroller parking space. Plus a water station in the lounge area.

locker comes with keys

Outside is an amusement area for little and big kids. I got a reloadable prepaid card for Php 50 so the kids can play some arcade games. Looks like everything comes from Japan.

more time to play!

#KidzoonaManila #KidzoonaPhilippines

Kidzooona Rules and Regulations

Visit Kidzooona to enjoy their soft opening 1 peso promo until November 7. Guardian is free of charge (additional fee per succeeding guardian). Just bring your socks so you won't need to buy anymore.

It would be Php 200/hour once the whole place (including their  inflatable play area) formally opens on November 8.

This is a wonderful amusement play area where kids can learn while having fun!

Kidzooona
4/L Robinsons Galleria (Cinema level)
Near City Buffet and Pizza Hut

Sangobion Go Love Life! Shopping Event

I'm a Sangobion mom brand believer. With Sangobion, I can go ahead and love life!

Photo from Sangobion FB page

Sangobion has been taking care of my iron needs for years. I joined their #SangobionGoLoveLife 15-day challenge, and luckily I was part of the 40 winners. Yey!

My winning entry:

As a Sangobion woman, I promise to be a Woman of Value. I will embrace my Purpose, empower my Strength, keep a winning attitude and Nurture myself the best way I could. I will continuously fill my life with Love, Health and Happiness so my beautiful heart and grateful soul will shine through. I promise to appreciate my needs and take Sangobion everyday so I can go ahead and love life!

Sangobion Go Love Life! is a campaign that empowers women to take care of themselves inside and out. It reminds us that we should take care of ourselves in order for us to take care of others. So True! (... but most of the time this is something that I keep on neglecting.)

#GoLoveLife Shopping Event

Wow! It had been a fab and enjoyable afternoon! #GoLoveLife winners were treated to an afternoon of yummy food at Shine Bakery & Cafe and a Php 4,000 shopping spree. Love the sweet and savory dishes, plus the dainty interior of the cafe.

I love to shop, especially for my kids. Well, this time around, I have to shop for myself. :)

outfit #1

outfit #2

checking my shoe size (Photo from Sangobion FB page)

Thanks to Sugar for helping me pick the best outfit, and to SM staffs for assisting me and helping me pick my shoes.

My complete outfit - top and skirt from GTW :) and shoes from Parisian. Love it! I spent 1,700 for my outfit and kept the rest for my family.

love it!

We all got to showcase our new outfit after. See, Sangobion really helped women to empower and love themselves.

Another best thing is meeting online friends face to face and making new friends as well.

thanks to sis Josephine for this photo with Sugar :)

Ms. Debbie of Merck Consumer Healthcare and Mr. Jio of Sangobion also shared how we can be at our best despite our busy life and responsibilities. I really appreciate those important reminders.

lovely Ms. Ginger hosting the event

Thanks Sangobion for this campaign and for making me love my life even more!

Photo from Sangobion FB page

About Sangobion

Sangobion is an organic iron that helps fight the different signs of iron deficiency. Ferrous gloconate, its main component, is the most easily absorbed of all ferrous salts. Sangobion is also less irritating to the gastrointestinal system. Plus, it contains Folic Acid, Vitamin-B complex, Vitamin C and minerals.

Check out http://www.sangobion.ph to know more about it.
Follow Sangobion Go Love Life on Facebook

October 18, 2014
Shine Bakery & Cafe
3rd Floor SM Aura Premier, Taguig City

FREE flight ticket to Mars from NASA

My boarding pass to Mars :)

Here's your chance to take part in NASA's Journey to Mars. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is giving away FREE tickets to Mars via the Orion spacecraft.

You can now send your name to Mars!

Sign up HERE to get your free space tickets. Just enter your name, country, postal code, and email address.

You'll get a personalized "flight ticket" just like the one I have. Cool spacey idea!

#Orion #JourneyToMars

Get your "boarding pass" now! Deadline for submitting your name for the Orion mission is on October 31. The first flight of Orion spacecraft (which will eventually transport humans to the Red Planet) will launch on December 4.

Well, this is NASA's effort to create more public interest in its space exploration program. If we can't step foot on the Red Planet, at least our names can fly on future NASA exploration flights and missions to Mars.

Space fans, astronaut-wannabees and kids would surely love this!

Golden moments at Lisa Macuja's birthday concert

Ms. Lisa Macuja's A Truly Classical Concert special birthday concert is truly golden!

The show marks two important milestones in her life - her 50th birthday and her 30th anniversary as a professional ballerina. I'm grateful, and my daughter was more than grateful for seeing this one-night only special concert.

busy reading about the prima ballerina's journey

Such a great performance!

We saw her perform Juliet in Romeo and Juliet with Ballet Manila principal Rudy de Dios. Wow! She's still in her best form... and that's perfection at its finest!

Everything - from the guest artists from Ballet Manila, Philippine Madrigal Singers and ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Gerard Salonga - complements the classical theme beautifully.

Lisa Macuja then performed the role of Princess Aurora in Marius Petipa’s Sleeping Beauty Divertissement. Her partner, guest dancer Mikhail Martynyuk (as Prince Desire) of the Kremlim Ballet Theater was exceptional as well.

At the curtain call, the prima ballerina came out on stage in her glittery golden long gown. There, everyone joined in singing the Happy Birthday song.

Happy Birthday!

My daughter and I were in awe and admiration... a woman at her age can still dance with so much grace, passion and brilliance! She's a really treasure with a golden heart!

People who bought Lisa Macuja's pointe shoes get to meet and greet the prima ballerina after the show.So lucky!

my daughter wishes to have one of Lisa Macuja's signed pointe shoes

But then, we're grateful for this chance :)

And our brief yet golden moments with the prima ballerina!

happy to meet you Ms. Lisa... may you continue to dance, inspire and touch lives :)

Thank you so much Papa John's Pizza Philippines for the VIP tickets! We wouldn't be there without you. :)

GOLD: Lisa Macuja - A Truly Classical Concert
Aliw Theater, CCP Complex, Pasay City
October 4, 2014