Whiter and Brighter Teeth with PureSmile Teeth Whitening Trays.

It's been more than a year since this pandemic started and so many aspects of our daily lives have changed since then. Work from home became the norm for most companies and employees. Kids also learn at home via online classes, modules, or TV and radio-based instruction. Travel has stringent precautions, gyms and recreational venues remain closed, and mass gatherings are still a big no-no. 

Gone are the days when we could freely take the kids to the mall, sing and dance at concerts with fellow K-pop fans, enjoy the movies with the rest of the family (senior citizens included), or simply leave the house to run errands or do the groceries without fear of being infected with the coronavirus. My simple, occasional joys of getting a massage or getting my nails done have long been a thing of the past. Truth be told, I have not seen my dentist in over a year! And despite being fully vaccinated (I got my second dose of the COVID vaccine last weekend), I still have qualms about going to the dentist - with the coronavirus still on a rampage and the Delta variant being prevalent in neighboring countries.

This is exactly the reason why I now consider teeth whitening trays a blessing. I've recently discovered them through the PureSmile website, and they're exactly what Yue and I need right now since I don't have plans of seeing our family dentist just yet.

PureSmile Teeth Whitening Trays.

PureSmile is Australia's trusted one-stop shop for dental health, teeth whitening, and teeth straightening. They're currently based in New South Wales, but have clinic partners all over the country - from Perth all the way to Gold Coast. PureSmile offers an array of dental services, plus they have an online shop so you can enjoy superior teeth cleaning and teeth whitening right in the comforts of your own home.

The PureSmile Teeth Whitening Trays, for instance, is a take home kit that helps lighten teeth and remove stains caused by smoking or drinking beverages like coffee, cola, wine, or tea. Now I haven't smoked in over a decade, but as you all know, I'm a huge coffee drinker and caffeine sort-of runs through my veins. This is why I need one of 'em teeth whitening trays all the more - no dentists visits in over a year, plus the countless cups of coffee consumed throughout the pandemic... Imagine the state of discoloration my teeth are in right now!

Each box is good for a 7-day treatment in the comforts of your home.

Each box of the PureSmile Teeth Whitening Trays contains individually packed, pre-filed thermo-forming trays that mould to the shape of your teeth. The whitening trays are good for a 7-day treatment, and you only need to wear the trays for 45 minutes each day. Each tray is good for single use, and you don't need LED lights or messy syringes to make your teeth whiter and brighter. The best part? These trays are vegan and cruelty-free, meaning they have not been tested on animals. 

Just to give you an idea on how these teeth whitening trays work...

The PureSmile Teeth Whitening Trays retail for $79 AUD, but they're currently on sale now at $69 AUD! They also ship for free within Australia. I asked my friend in Melbourne to kindly buy me a few boxes of these teeth whitening trays, and I can't wait for the parcel to arrive here on my end and try these for myself! She said they worked well for her, so I have great confidence that these will work for me, too! Pearly whites, here we come!

Staying hydrated helps prevent illnesses during the rainy season.

The sweltering summer days are over as the country’s weather bureau declared the start of the wet season. During this season, we need to keep our guards up because many illnesses emerge.

These include diarrhea, caused by viral or bacterial infection; waterborne illnesses like typhoid fever, cholera, and leptospirosis; and vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue.

To avoid contracting these diseases, Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI)—the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country—reminds the public to keep hydrated, especially that we are in the middle of a global pandemic.

“It is important that we keep our immune system strong. One of the easiest ways to do this is to stay hydrated,” said PCPPI president and chief executive officer Frederick D. Ong.

To stay fit and protect yourself from diseases, here are some healthy habits you may do.

Eat healthy

Sung Dong Il and Lee Il Hwa in Reply 1988 (2015).

What you consume today will have a huge impact on your health in the future. A good eating habit is one of the most basic practices to have a robust immune system.

Making a well-balanced meal is simple - just add more fruits and vegetables, choose whole grain food, switch to low or zero fat options, and cut back on sugar.

Exercise regularly

Jung So Min in Soul Mechanic (2020).

Exercising remains one of the most effective methods to strengthen your body during the rainy season. You do not have to buy expensive machines or pay for gym subscriptions. You only need at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. To safely exercise at home, you may check various workout videos online. If you opt to do outdoor walk or run, follow social distancing and other safety protocols.

As part of your workout routine, replenish what you lose in sweat with sports drinks like Gatorade. It contains electrolytes that rehydrate your body to avoid dehydration.

Get enough sleep

Park Bo Young and Seo In Guk in Doom at your Service (2021).

Getting enough sleep is as important as eating healthy and exercising. A study from the Carnegie Mellon University found that people with poor, short sleep have greater chance of getting sick.

Quality sleep helps uplift your immune system. To get quality sleep, reduce your blue light exposure at night, avoid caffeinated drinks before bedtime, and reduce day time naps, among others.

Hydrate

Proper hydration is vital in having a strong immune system. It detoxifies and flushes out waste materials from your body. It also helps transport nutrients to our organ systems.

Aquafina.

Taking in safe water is a must to avoid infection from water-borne diseases. To have a clean drinking water, you need to boil water for at least three minutes or do water chlorination. Or you can drink purified bottled water, like Aquafina and Premiere.

Gatorade Ion.

If you’re moving all day and feel sluggish or tired, that’s because you lose more than just water when you sweat. You lose fluids and electrolytes. With this, it’s important for us to stay healthy and hydrated with an Electrolyte Drink like Gatorade Ion.

“Even during rainy season, we need to hydrate to arm our body from diseases and keep our immunity in top shape. Over the years, PCPPI has been helping Filipinos achieve that with our hydration drinks,” Ong said.

PCPPI is the exclusive manufacturer of well-known beverage brands in the Philippines: Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Tropicana, Lipton, Sting, Premier, Milkis, and Aquafina.

Award-Winning Philippines Inspired Book, Wing of the Locust, Named Finalist at Singapore Book Awards.

A moment of national pride as Filipino native, Joel Donato Ching Jacob was announced as a finalist at the prestigious Singapore Book Awards for his award-winning book, Wing of the Locust. Organized by the Singapore Book Publishers Association, the award recognizes the outstanding published works by various authors in the local publishing industry.

Wing of the Locust by Joel Donato Ching Jacob.

Jacob’s coming-of-age fantasy novel first burst into the literary scene after clinching the winning title of the 2018 Scholastic Asian Book Awards (SABA); a flagship initiative by Scholastic Asia that recognizes excellence in Asian literary talents and inspiring stories for children.

“At Scholastic, we believe that children’s literature is a vital starting point to enrich the literary world with a diverse representation of Asian voices. Especially at a time with limited social interactions, stories play a critical role in exposing children to the world and igniting their imagination. Through SABA, we are ensuring Asian authors and their inspiring stories are rightfully represented to give Asian children a glimpse into their own cultures and that of others,” shared Selina Lee, Vice President of Scholastic Asia.

She further added that authors like Joel Donato, whose literary work has seen success beyond SABA, embody the mission championed by Scholastic Asia in bringing Asian heritage to life, one published story at a time. SABA is now open for submission and authors with unpublished Asian-inspired manuscripts are encouraged to submit their work before August 31, 2021 via the following link - schl.asia/saba2022

The award-winning author, Joel Donato Ching Jacob.

Following the success at SABA in 2018, Wing of the Locust has also gained national recognition in the Philippines with the National Award of Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honour) in Literary Arts.

“Winning SABA 2018 only felt real when I finally saw my mother cheering me on as I received the trophy. Being awarded Ani ng Dangal for Literature is every one of my family and friends, peers and mentors, and even complete strangers, standing there with me, winning with me.”

Currently a finalist with four other nominees in the Best Literary Work category at the Singapore Book Awards, Wing of the Locust continues to inspire young readers’ creativity and imagination. The announcement of winners will be made on September 24, 2021 via a livestream on Singapore Book Publishers Association’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. For more details, visit https://www.facebook.com/sbpa.sg

Get a copy of Wing of the Locust, available on Lazada - http://schl.asia/wingofthelocust

"Cooked with Love" | Family, Food, and Nostalgia in Ajinomoto's web series.

Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC)’s latest web series entitled “Cooked with Love,” reveals a heartwarming take on cooking as a shared love language among Filipino families.

Have you watched "Cooked with Love"?

Cooked with Love features interwoven stories of three generations of women who show their love for each other through sharing recipes and dining together. Showcasing heart-warming stories of relationships and how cooking with love was made more memorable with AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning. The series feature Tessie, the grandmother; Jenny, the mother; and Therese, the daughter. Viewers can watch the first episode, “Slurp,” and second episode, “Squeeze,” on Ajinomoto’s Cookmunity® Facebook page and Youtube channel. Meanwhile, the last episode, “Sniff,” will premiere this Saturday, July 10.

“Cooking food and sharing mealtimes are powerful in shaping wonderful memories with our loved ones. With Ajinomoto being a part of the Filipino cooking and dining experiences for more than six decades now, we want to help them relive and celebrate those feel-good moments through Cooked With Love,” says Roann Co, APC General Manager of Marketing and Public Relations.

Passing it on

"Slurp" starring Mommy Jenny and Therese.

“Slurp” tells the story of Mommy Jenny who shares their Nilagang Baka family recipe with her teenage daughter, Therese. The parallel scenes of two mother-daughter generations making the family recipe ties the episode together well. The cute and kilig first installment captures how love can be passed down from one generation to the next.

Paying it forward

"Squeeze" starring Therese and Lola Tessie.

“Squeeze” features the relationship between Therese and her grandmother Tessie. Viewers will see how cooking Arroz Caldo becomes Lola Tessie’s way of saying “I love you, apo.” It shows that cooking traditions persist because of people who care for and love their family.

Putting the pieces together

The concluding episode “Sniff” showcases food as a source of comfort in tough times and more importantly, in dealing with the constant changes life has to bring. It recalls how Tessie comforts her daughter Jenny since she was a child until now that she's a mother who is about to face a life-changing situation. Through it all, the women share their love while cooking and eating their classic Adobo recipe.

With community quarantine protocols urging Filipinos to remain at home, stories of familial love are sure to encourage Filipinos to express their feelings through food. Cooked With Love lives up to APC’s Eat Well, Live Well promise in its pursuit to provide good food, better health, and wonderful dining memories to Filipino families with the help of umami, a nature-based ingredient that brings out the meaty, savory deliciousness, and deepens the flavor of food. For more information, visit www.ajinomoto.com.ph.

Lebron James and the Space Jam Tunes Squad have arrived at McDonald's!

The iconic Space Jam Tunes Squad is making a comeback this year, and this time with McDonald’s Philippines!

Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, and the rest of the crew are all returning as McDonald’s launches the new Space Jam Happy Meal! The new collection of toys is made even more exciting as King Lebron James joins in the toy character lineup. The new design collectibles are in honor of the much-awaited sequel to the beloved classic Space Jam movie which was released 25 years ago. Space Jam: A New Legacy is the standalone sequel that features another exciting adventure with our Looney Squad.

Slam and Jam with every Happy Meal!

As McDonald’s aims to bring families closer together, it teamed up with the iconic squad and has created an exciting lineup of must-have toys which would bring nostalgia to parents and young adults, and play time fun for kids. The Space Jam Happy Meal consists of 12 Tune Squad characters which include: Bugs Bunny, Lola Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Road Runner, Yosemite Sam, Wile E. Coyote, Taz, Elmer Fudd, Marvin the Martian, and of course, Lebron James.

Practice your shooting skills with LeBron and the Space Jam Tune Squad, and score as many points as you can with every Happy Meal! Collect all 12 toys starting July 9! Order via McDelivery, McDo Drive-Thru, Take-Out, or Dine-In and have a family bonding time that is loonier than ever.