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Monday, July 18, 2011

Color your plate


Color your plate

by Ana Valenzuela

published June 14, 2011

Some may think that eating low-calorie or low-cholesterol food, and refraining from eating meat would automatically make them fit and healthy. But, what they don’t know is that doing so will keep them from getting enough nutrients into their body.

‘‘If you want to think of health as low- fat, or low salt, it is not all that. Wellness is about MoVaBa or moderation, variety and balance. That means you can enjoy food within the context of moderation, variety and balance. This is all part of a balanced diet,” says Aleli Elizabeth Magtibay, corporate nutritionist of Nestlé during the recent Nestlé “I Choose Wellness” expo.

Eating whatever you want can make you healthy. Sounds a little off yet true, but then the inevitable question really is how? Aleli elaborates.

“I can eat sisig, kaldereta, crispy pata, but it is how much I should eat. That’s moderation, meaning portion control. Variety, on the hand, means there’s no one food that can give you everything that you need. Different sorts of food has to be enjoyed everyday. There has to be fruits, vegetable and meat. It is not just I’m going to eat guyabano, there is no wonder food. We don’t single out that you should eat this and only this for the rest of the day. Meanwhile balance, take for example the amount of rice does not necessarily equate the amount of chocolate that you should eat. In the food pyramid, or even in our plates, half of it should go to fruits and vegetables or to rice. It is not all about eating equal shares”

Moderation, variety and balance are the keys to wellness, she says. Aleli also stresses that, “you have to put color on your plate, and it should represent everything. Your plate should have carbo-rich food, protein-rich food, regulating rich food, which are the fruits and vegetables, and you ought to have milk.”

Supermodel Tweetie de Leon-Gonzales could attest to this as she maintains her svelte figure by eating a variety of food at the same time doing a series of workouts. “I don’t stay away from anything at all, not even sweets. But, I have to remember my limits. If I want a cookie, I’ll have a cookie, if I want a cupcake, I’ll have a cupcake. If I want steak, I’ll eat my steak, but only a portion that would commensurate to how much activity I do,” she shares. “I really try my best to lead a balanced lifestyle. I make time for exercise. I have this need to be active. I try my best to eat well, there are times that I indulge in food, but that’s okay, for as long as I know my limits.”

To keep up with the MoVaBa diet, Nestlé makes sure that they have a variety of products, but these are also furnish with the right nutrients . “We want to make sure that our consumers meet what we described as a nutritional foundation. We are introducing micronutrients into our products to make sure that we are delivering the nutrients to address the relevant deficiencies that people have. For example, there’s a deficiency in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, or Zinc, so in different brands we incorporate different benefits that can meet the needs of the dietary Filipino consumer,” says John Miller chairman and chief executive officer of Nestlé Philippines.

“Different consumers have different needs,” John explains further on Nestlé’s stand on nutritional foundation. Apparently, it hopes to address the malnutrition here in the country. “For example, we are very keen to make our sugar level low as we know that diabetes is on the increase. Our products are reducing people’s sugar intake. Take for example Bear Brand, the incidence of underheight and underweight of Filipino consumers is on the rise; therefore we enrich Bear Brand with Zinc, to help children grow to their full potential. “

Nestlé products are enjoyed although out the day—Nescafé, Milo, Nestea, Nido. With what Nestle has presented, we can enjoy all cups of coffee in the idea of moderation, variety and balance, at the same time, be ensured that we get the nutrients we need.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Go green, Cool Green

by Ana Valenzuela

Published Manila Standard Today July 7, 2011

Did you know you are threatening the environment by forgetting to turn off the lights, overcharging your phone or using a high-powered air conditioner?

Our planet uses up 15 terawatts (1.504×1013 W) of energy per year. Wasting electricity contributes to the intimidating greenhouse effect, as fossil fuels, the main source of electricity gives off carbon dioxide.

What a number of organizations are proposing is that we go green, not only in terms of ecological conservation but also with the buildings as 40 percent of energy consumption is eaten up by these structures. There are now green buildings which have been designed with cost-effective and ecologically-aware resources, thus making a positive effect on the environment.

One of the means utilized by these green buildings is energy efficient cooling systems like those presented by Concepcion-Carrier in the market today. Concepcion Carrier calls these the green cooling solutions, the Carrier XPower Inverter, the Carrier Evergreen 23XRV chiller, and the Toshiba-Carrier SMMSi. These products effectively lower electricity consumption.

“We know that air-conditioning and refrigerating systems require energy. We offer an industry leading energy-sufficient-solution products and services to our customers. Solutions that our customers could bring help in the environment as well as reduce electrical expenses,” says Raul Joseph Concepcion, chief executive officer of Concepcion Carrier Air Conditioning.

The Carrier XPower Inverter, uses an non-ozone depleting, chlorine-free R-410a refrigerant and saves up to 53 percent more electricity versus other leading inverters. The Carrier Evergreen 23XRV is the world’s first integrated variable-speed, water-cooled screw chiller. Compared to other typical chillers, the Carrier 23XRV has 15-30 percent better part load efficiency. The Toshiba-Carrier SMMSi is a first class air-conditioning technology and the most advanced inverter or variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system for large buildings that is 30 percent more energy efficient than conventional VRF inverters.

“Carrier has consistently led all over the world in pioneering the most efficient, most practical and most sustainable solutions for residential and commercial establishments. For them and for us, going green makes perfect sense. Today, we at Concepcion-Carrier continue to pioneer in providing these solutions to our country, in ensuring that the country is in touch with the Carrier vision of providing a better and more comfortable place to live, work and play for future generations,” adds Concepcion.

In case you didn’t know, there are green buildings here in the country; in fact there is even a council which presides over them. The Philippine Green Building Council corporate communications manager, Chester dela Cruz, shares, ‘the Philippines being a developing country is vulnerable to the effects in climate change. That is why we are promoting buildings as a solution to the climate change crisis.”

“Why buildings as a solution,” dela Cruz asks. “We see the environmental and economical impact of building and construction industry globally. Thirty to 40 per cent of the green house emissions are coming from this sector and about 40 percent of energy use worldwide. Green buildings are structures which are designed, built, renovated, or operated in an ecologically-resourced efficient manner.”

“Concepcion-Carrier is together with Philippine Green Building Council in promoting and coordinating efforts in sustaining green practices in the local building and developers. Our support to the PGBC shows commitment in providing to all kind of solutions whether residential or commercial establishments,” says Jojo Concepcion, Concepcion-Carrier Air Conditioning Company’ vice president for sales and marketing.

So, let us all do our share in our conserving energy and protecting the environment for a much greener and better tomorrow.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

The Pinoy Shopping Experience

The Pinoy Shopping Experience

by Ana Valenzuela

Published Manila Standard Today

July 1, 2011

When it comes to shopping for wholesale and retail products, some people prefer going to Bangkok, Hong Kong or Beijing. But is there really a need to go abroad to shop for good deals?

Right here in the Philippines is the popular go-to place of many shoppers, retailers and wholesellers. Divisoria with its main crowd-drawer—the Tutuban Malls. Tutuban, located at the southern part of Recto Avenue, offers the best buys on clothes, shoes, bags and accessories. One can haggle with sellers and get items at low cost within the two-cluster buildings, Prime Block and the Center Mall of Tutuban.What more, bargain-hunters are sure to get loads of good deals at even when on a limited budget.

Tutuban, currently handled by Philippine Orion Properties, Inc. (POPI) and First Lepanto Corporation’s merger company GuocoHoldings (Phil.), Inc. (GHPI) aims for a wider market and aims to expand Tutuban's shopping block before it renews its 25 year old lease with the Philippine National Railways (PNR) in 2014.

"Tutuban has been the country's center of commerce since the 1800's and is continuing to be so. What we envision for Tutuban is to be a hub of employees, students, for bargain hunters and missionary shopping," says Ernie Hilario, Business Development Head of POPI.

Aside from the usual wholesale and retail commercial centers, Tutuban will also push for a hotel component as to provide lodging for local and foreign bargain hunters. Apart from accommodating tourists, the hotel will also be intended for local residents. Tutuban Mall currently has two parking lots and will be expanding for motorists and commuters though a transportation terminal.

"We have the train operations of the PNR, which no other mall has," says Hilario proudly. "We also plant to put a terminal for buses, vans, jeepneys. (Whatmore) there are also plans of the LRT recto extending towards Tutuban."

Tutuban also plans boost its automotive and food service industry. According to Hilario, these new facilities will be modeled on existing and successful establishments.

"We will be having the autocity--– similar to the motor centers of Alabang and Banawe. It will have a motor depot for motorcycles, car parts and accessories,” Hilario adds.

"We also plan to add restaurant strip mall, similar to Bonifacio High Street. This will complement the market of the auto city," Hilario added. Aside from the restos, a fresh produce market is also in the works to service many of the nearby residences and Chinese.

Also, Tutuban gets a facelift as it converts its current night market into a 24/7 mall. This would be unlike many malls in the country which close at night.

“We want to launch Tutuban as the only 24/7 mall here in the Philippines,” says Hilario. "The project is set to start within the year if not next year.