Celebrate Your Child’s Firsts with Abbott

A Major Step in Childhood Nutrition Supports Better Immunity and Faster Learning Abbott is the first in the world to introduce human milk oligosaccharides (HMO*) in children’s growing-up milk, with 2’-FL HMO - a special ingredient that supports the development of a strong immune system now available in Similac GainSchool New Similac GainSchool is backed by clinically proven EyeQ Plus Nutrition System including DHA, Lutein and Natural Vitamin E as essential brain nutrientsWhen young children spend time in pre-school, they may be exposed not only to the wondersof   the   world   around them but   also   to   various   illnesses   that   could   interfere   with   theirdevelopment. Abbott launched the new Similac GainSchool with 2’-FL HMO, for childrenabove   3   years   –   the   first   growing   up   milk   in   the   Philippines   to   contain   the   immune-nourishing ingredient 2’- fucosyllactose (2’FL) human milk oligosaccharides (HMO*).1-4With more than 15 years of pioneering research in HMO* and more than 20 clinical and pre-clinical studies, Abbott has shown that HMO* can play an important role in helping to build astrong immune system, reduce infections, and improve a child’s digestive health.1,2,4,5In one of the biggest breakthroughs in childhood nutrition in the last decade, Abbott is thefirst company in the world to include 2’-FL HMO in its growing-up milk, for children abovethree years. 

In addition to supporting immunity development, Similac Gain School is also the only  growing-up   milk   in   the   Philippines   with   the   clinically   proven   EyeQ   Plus   NutritionSystem, which contains 10 essential brain nutrients with DHA, Lutein and Natural Vitamin E(NVE) that help support the development of brain connections for faster learning. 

At the launch event themed ‘Celebrating Firsts with Abbott’, Danica Sotto-Pingris, actress, TV host and mother of two children said, “Like any other mom out there, being on top of my children’s nutritional needs and overall health is a must for me. I want to ensure the things they consume help support both their growth and immune development. If they are strong and   well-equipped   against   sickness,   I   am   confident   they   will   learn   faster,   reach   their milestones and have a strong start in life.” 

“That’s why I am excited Abbott has introduced a new growing-up milk with nutrients to help strengthen a child’s immune system and support their cognitive development,” added Danica as she shared her experience of raising her children. 

*Not derived from human breast milk—more—Two medical and nutritional experts at the event, Dr. Jose Rodolfo Dimaano Jr., medical director   of   Abbott’s   nutrition   business   in   the   Philippines   and   Dr.   Ria   de   Guzman,   a developmental   and   behavioral pediatrician,   spoke   on  the  importance of nutrition   in   the overall development and growth of a child, as well as the science-based nutrition behind the new Similac GainSchool.The informative sessions expounded on the two vital nutritional factors that are incorporated in the new Similac GainSchool— 2’-FL HMO* for the support of gut health and the immune system, and the EyeQ Plus Nutrition System, for the support of brain development.  Dr Jose  Rodolfo  Dimaano Jr. explained, “HMO helps  strengthen the immune system  by nourishing the good bacteria in the gut, where 70% of the immune system exists. Keeping your child’s digestive system healthy also means strengthening their immunity.” 

In the Philippines, the most common cause of infections in young children is related to upper respiratory tract infections. 

HMO is associated with the reduction of up to 66% of these infections.

“Good nutrition provides a strong foundation for a child to grow and thrive. With Abbott’s breakthrough   science,   adding  nutrients such  as   2’-FL   HMO   and nucleotides   in the   new S imilac GainSchool growing up milk means a child now has more protection for stronger immunity," Dr Dimaano added. Similac GainSchool also contains nutrients that are essential in nourishing strong cognitive development. As per Dr. Ria de Guzman said, “One of the main pillars of pediatric health is cognition,   which   consists   of   learning,  acquiring   knowledge,   and   performing   executive functions. 

What I found interesting in Similac GainSchool with HMO is that it contains DHA,Lutein and Natural Vitamin E, all of which help support a child’s nutritional needs and can enable faster brain connections, for faster learning,” she said. 

About Abbott:

At Abbott, we're committed to helping people live their best possible life through the power of health. For more than 125 years, we've brought new products and technologies to the world –in nutrition, diagnostics, medical devices and branded generic pharmaceuticals – that create more possibilities for more people at all stages of life. Today, 99,000 of us are working to help people live not just longer, but better, in the more than 150 countries we serve.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews and @AbbottGlobal. 

Abbott Media:

For the Philippines: 

Foo Wen Dee, (65) 6914 8538 wendee.foo@abbott.com  

Patricia Malay, 0917 113 6974 Patricia.Malay@fleishman.com 

Soh Rosario, 0917 702 8402 Soichiro.rosario@fleishman.com  

On Choosing Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal injury attorney advertising is rising rapidly. Every time you turn on your TV or radio there are more personal injury attorney advertisements. Ironically, most personal injury attorneys and, in my opinion, most of the better personal injury attorneys, did not want to advertise and resisted for a long time.  

That is quickly changing. Many of the better personal injury attorneys are now advertising because like it or not, they realize that advertising is not going away. So how does a seriously injured person determine whether a given advertising attorney is one of the better attorneys? 

First, the problem: anyone can advertise. Legal experience, skill or expertise in a particular legal specialty is not required to advertise. Attorneys with little or no experience, skill or expertise can advertise heavily in local phone books, billboards, television and radio advertising. 

These attorneys can claim huge verdicts where you to live to entice you to call quickly. Unfortunately, such claims may be very misleading. There are too many examples of attorneys with limited or no experience trying cases locally or anywhere else advertising heavily and making such claims. Historically, some of the biggest advertisers did not try cases at all and simply farmed them out to other attorneys in exchange for generous referral fees.

So how do you get beyond the advertisements to find a highly experienced attorney with expertise in your type of case? Think about what you would do before hiring any professional to help you with a very serious matter affecting your life. You would not just respond to the first TV commercial or call the person with the most billboards. You would do some research. 

Fortunately there are several easily accessible research tools. You can check the attorneys’ credentials by visiting these personal injury attorney.

“The Best Lawyers in America” is a national organization that lists by specialty the attorneys [and firms] in each geographical who other attorneys rate among the best in their specialty. As you would expect these attorneys are highly experienced in their fields. Look for firms who have several attorneys listed in the personal injury section – attracting such attorneys says a lot about the quality of the firm.

The American Board of Trial Advocates is another excellent resource because it has rigorous admissions standards and only admits highly experienced trial attorneys. This is very important because the better personal injury attorneys are all highly experienced trial attorneys

In serious matters affecting your life you want to know if in addition to superior experience and legal skills, the attorneys and firms also practice at the highest ethical standards. “Martindale-Hubbell” is a highly respected national publication that uses peer reviews to rate attorneys and firms on both the quality of their legal work and their ethical standards. Look for attorneys and firms that receive both an “A,” their highest legal quality grade and a “V” their highest ethical grade. 

Additional potential sources are other attorneys or friends and family who are familiar with the legal community. This can be especially helpful if they have had a positive experience with the attorney or firm they are recommending. 

After you narrow your search through such inquires and the web sites suggested above, go to the firm's website to learn more about their experience in the specialty that you need. Then meet with the attorney. Ask whether they have taught Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses. Attorneys who teach these courses are teaching other attorneys and are usually the most experienced and highly respected in their field.

Also ask who will be in charge of your case and who will try it. While it is common for less experienced attorneys to work on your claim, a senior attorney should be involved from start to finish. Your relationship and comfort level with the attorney is important. Look for an attorney that is courteous and is considerate of your time and who is responsive to your calls and questions. Don’t ever feel pressured to make a decision on the spot.

Following the suggestions above should quickly and easily help you get beyond the advertisements and get to a highly experienced attorney with expertise in your type of case.

ITALIAN COOKING EXPERTISE AND TECHNOLOGY WITH TECNOGAS

Every food connoisseur will tell you that it’s not only the ingredients that make food simply delicious.  Cooking that perfect dish requires culinary creativity and skill, and not to mention the right kitchen equipment like Tecnogas Italian cooking appliances, to ensure that each meal is cooked with passion and perfection.

Founded more than 65 years ago, Tecnogas, the legendary Italian appliance brand has made its way to the Philippines and showcased its line of remarkable cooking appliances that led to its establishment as one of the top premium cooking appliance brands in the country.

Whether it’s cooking simple pasta dishes or preparing a complete four-course meal, Tecnogas integrates Italian expertise and technology with its quality cooking appliances built only with top of the line materials that are designed to deliver excellent cooking results. Available in all sizes, colors, and styles, Tecnogas’ widest selection of Italian cooking appliances varies from cooking ranges, built-in hobs, built-in ovens, range hoods, table top ovens, and Vortex stoves that are simply an advantage to have in any kitchen.

Tecnogas offers four lines of cooking appliances that are built with high grade materials such as Sabaf and Defendi burners. Each has their unique identity with consistent, strong and elegant design for professional cooking experience. The PRO line series was inspired by the top of the line cookers used by professionals in the cooking industry; it is available in various colours that seamlessly integrate with your kitchen space and style. The NEXT Line series was designed with the strength of the Italian technology and modern engineering for power and efficiency. Meanwhile, the CUISINE Line integrates the best technology to let you experience the art of cooking. Tecnogas also built The TECHNIK series that features all sizes of cooking ranges that deliver superior quality to satisfy your passion for cooking excellence.

Every Tecnogas Italian cooker exemplifies the elements of durability and safety carefully engineered to give you only the best cooking experience. Tecnogas products are exclusively distributed by Appstar Global Distributor Inc. It is available in all leading appliance stores nationwide and supported with over 200 service centers across the country. Tecnogas also offers the longest warranty in the business with 2 years on parts 1 year on service.

To know more about Tecnogas, you can drop by their showrooms located at #28 D. Tuazon St. Quezon City, or outside Metro Manila in Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Davao. You may also visit their website at www.tecnogas.com.ph or visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/TecnogasPhilippines 

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5 Ways to Protect the Future You’ve Built for Your Family Lay the foundation for their future, and go beyond it

The future is made of the small, everyday decisions that shape the kind of life you’ve envisioned for the people you love. 

Starting a family? Scrimp and save to build your dream home. Striving to send your children to the best schools? Work hard at your day job and… your “rakets.” Planning to leave a legacy to your children and grandchildren? Wisely invest your earnings. 

But don’t stop there because things don’t always go as planned. Jobs are lost. Unexpected expenses crop up. Not all investments pan out. It’s not enough to just build a future, you have to make sure that your loved ones get to enjoy it, too, in the future. 

How to do that? Here are five easy ways to ensure that all your  hard work will not go in vain, no matter what! 

Set up an emergency fund 

Don’t let life’s unwelcome surprises—a major home repair, a health emergency, or worse, unemployment—throw you off guard. Make sure you have an emergency fund saved up that is at least 3 to 6 months’ worth of your living expenses. How to compute? Add up your expenses for a month (Don’t forget to include the monthly equivalent of your annual expense like school tuition, insurance premiums, taxes, etc.) and multiply it to three months (or up to six months). That’s how much money you should have, kept, right now! This is your financial safety net when the need arises.  

Pay your debts

Avoid debt at all cost! But if you have to have debt, prioritize paying them. If you don’t, all your mortgage, car loans, and other debts will be your loved ones’ burden. Yup, there’s no escaping them. And remember, don’t just pay the minimum. Pay in full and on time. Don’t let money that could have gone to your retirement fund or your kid’s educational fund just go to interest payments. 

Protect what you built

Don’t let uncertainties take away the things you worked hard for. Whether it’s the house that you’ve taken a loan for or the college education that you’ve been saving up for, make sure your family will get to enjoy the fruits of your labor! Insurance plans like Set for Tomorrow protect what you have built so you don’t have to worry about your family losing what you’ve worked for. This new product from pan-Asian insurer FWD Life Insurance Philippines has three affordable variants: Short Term Cover for your loans and financial obligations; Income Protector for your family’s living expenses and your children’s education; and Estate Protector for smooth transfer of wealth to your heirs. Want to calculate how much it’ll take to ensure your family’s better tomorrow, no matter what? Visit FWD’s calculator, CALI at http://bit.ly/SetforTomorrow-Cali and get a quote! 

Develop new skills

From volunteering to manage a project to finding a mentor and attending seminars, developing new skills add value to your career and is crucial for your growth (and promotions)! Don’t be scared to veer away from your corporate comfort zone. Turning on and upgrading hobbies like baking, photography, blogging, etc. could mean new streams of income for you and your family. The possibilities are endless when you don’t stop learning!

Diversify your investments 

Remember the old adage “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”? That’s investment diversification in a nutshell. Diversification is investing in different funds from different companies and industries so you don’t run the risk of losing all your money when one of your investments suffers. That way, the money you intend to grow for your family’s future needs are secure.  

Want to make sure your tomorrow is made better today? Visit http://bit.ly/IwanttogetSetforTomorrow.

Oradian Takes their Toolset Closer to Rural Banks Via Information Roadshow

Ivan Matić, Oradian’s Business Development Manager, presenting their flagship core-banking product, Instafin. Making operations more secure and seamless for the country’s Rural Banks was the focal point of Oradian’s recent roadshow which made a sweep through the provinces of Davao, Cebu, Cavite and Pampanga. The four-city tour delved into the theme “Banking Efficiency and Security Through Cloud Technology” and was attended by officials and representatives from some of the top rural banks like Guagua Rural Bank, BPI Savings, China Bank Savings, Rural Bank of Digos, First Tagum Rural Bank and PNB Savings.

Yarden Bilovich, Business Development Manager

Sharing their expertise during the conference were Rey Lugtu, a noted Digital Transformation Thought and Action Leader who talked about “Digital Transformation in Rural Banking”; Kay Lugtu, who specializes in digital forensics and cybersecurity, who tackled “Data Privacy in the Age of Cloud”; and Christopher Tan, an Advocate for Best Practice for Data Security and Protection, who discussed the shift “From Disk to Cloud”.

Rey Lugtu, one of the keynote speakers, talked about the Digital Transformation in Rural Bank.

Kay Lugtu, one of the keynote speakers, addressing one of the main concerns of the financial institutions: Data Privacy in the Era of Cloud

Each session was capped by a discussion and demonstration of Oradian’s cloud toolset, which was designed not only for rural banks but also for microfinance institutions and cooperatives. Yarden Bilovich, Business Development Manager of Oradian says: “Our goal is to empower these entities, so they can keep up with the demands of digital transformation. By providing them with a secure and efficient toolset that combines big data and fast computing technology, Oradian hopes to ease the way these entities go about their day to day operations. In turn, we are confident that these organizations can take better care of the markets who rely heavily on them”.