CLEENE CLIO MAKES CLEAN TEETH POSSIBLE FOR FAMILIES THIS WORLD ORAL HEALTH DAY 2002

Manila, Philippines - On World Oral Health Day, Cleene CLIO invites everyone to celebrate by practicing proper oral healthcare with their families.

A product of proudly Filipino company PHILUSA Corporation, Cleene CLIO has been an ardent supporter of this global oral health initiative, especially with oral care given less priority during the pandemic when accessibility to dentists and visits to oral health facilities were challenging at the height of the lockdowns.

To emphasize the importance of good oral health practices at home, Cleene CLIO has partnered with Manila Water Foundation and Philippine Dental Association to provide oral health kits to various barangays and schools as part of this year’s World Oral Health Day activities. Over 2,000 health kits containing Cleene CLIO toothbrushes and Dental Floss Premium from Cleene CLIO and PHILUSA were distributed to 12 barangays and to the chosen hygiene facility in Dinalaonan Elementary School in Pangasinan.

And as a special treat for World Oral Health Day, selected Cleene CLIO products will be sold at 20% off exclusively in Mercury Drug stores nationwide until April 15, 2022.

Cleene CLIO continues to be the partner of every Filipino family in promoting good oral hygiene by offering a wide range of affordable and quality toothbrushes.

Cleene CLIO toothbrushes are made with MicroFine Soft Bristles that help penetrate and clean hard to reach areas for better interdental cleaning and a gentle brushing experience. The tapered bristles penetrate between teeth and gums for thorough cleaning, while the rounded shape of the bristles remove plaque and prevent teeth and gum damage.

There is a Cleene CLIO toothbrush for every member of the family that is affordable and has world-class quality. For those wanting extra care and protection for your teeth, Cleene CLIO offers its Refreshing Green Tea and Ultimax Charcoal under their Special care line. While for those needing specialized care, Cleene CLIO has its Kiddie and Junior as well as 40+ for sensitive gum and teeth. It also has its economy toothbrushes for general oral health care for any age.

As a hands on mom, a writer and a blogger, #MrsWise is part of Mommy Bloggers Philippines community. And with other mommies, I advocate oral health care amidst the pandemic. We should not take for granted the oral health of our family, to reduce oral health emergencies in the future.

About Philusa Corporation

Established in 1957, Philusa Corporation remains as one of the country’s leading marketers of high quality and competitively priced personal care, household care, baby care and selected pharmaceutical products, making it the source of pride for its customers, business partners, employees and shareholders.

Now with 10 branches in key cities nationwide, Philusa Corporation is a market leader or major player in different categories like cotton (Cleene), cotton buds (Babyflo Gentle Buds), wound care management (MEDIPLAST), bathroom deodorizer and air care (ALBATROSS), home care and muriatic acid (Gleam and Apollo), home remedies (RHEA Alcohol, RHEA Aceite de Manzanilla and RHEA Hydrogen Peroxide), and uni-branded generic medicines (RHEA Generics).

genuine concern for its customers, employees, and the company itself though taking initiatives in helping one another.

Philusa Corporation continues its operations, guided by the core values it lives by — championing sustainability; placing its customers’ needs first; achieving the best possible results through innovation, continuous quality improvement, and teamwork; taking proactive steps in delivering its commitments on time; acting with integrity by doing what is right; and having

Cleene CLIO is available at Mercury Drug, leading supermarkets, drugstores and other retail stores nationwide as well as on all leading ecommerce websites: Shopee, Lazada, and the PHILUSA Online Store.

Guess the Price and WIN P5K GCs!

Click link to try this simple and fun quiz https://gosm.link/ShoppingQuizFB Who knows, you might be one of the 3 lucky winners of P5K SM Gift Certificates!!!

You have the whole Women's Month to play. Make sure to join every day for more chances of winning! Queens, share your results on social media and use the hashtag #WomensWorldAtSMQuiz20200

Sustainable living for everyone

 

Today, living an eco-friendlier life has become much more manageable. With many simple yet effective ways to make our everyday lives more sustainable, and with many groups ready to help us take that first step toward a greener future, there is every reason to start today. Living a personal sustainable lifestyle can be impactful only if we do it together to preserve our planet for generations to come.

 

One of the best things to live sustainably is to reduce your carbon footprint. Many seemingly harmless daily activities can contribute to a higher carbon footprint or other greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere, leading to dramatic climate changes. An increased carbon footprint includes high electric consumption, driving our cars over short distances, and the excessive use of aerosols and air conditioners, to name a few. Try to identify and minimize these activities if you can, or look for more eco-friendly alternatives, if available.

 

You can also lower your carbon footprint by using energy efficiently. Use energy-efficient appliances, replace your old lighting fixtures with LED lights, and turn off energy-consuming items when not in use. Doing these eliminates energy waste in your home and helps you save more on utility expenses.

 

The 2020 Climate Transparency Report disclosed that the Philippines generated 1.18 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per capita in 2017. The country will need to reduce its emissions to below 132 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030 and below -198 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050. It is to meet the 1.5°C-compliant climate change mitigation goals of the Paris Agreement, of which the country is a signatory. 

 

Together with the Plastic Credit Exchange, SM Cares helps gather empty, clean, and dry plastic waste at select 

SM Supermalls nationwide. Plastic waste may be dropped off every day from 10AM to 5PM.

Another way to make your lifestyle more sustainable is to correctly manage and segregate your garbage. Sort and separate your waste by type (e.g., paper/carton, plastic, glass, metal, electronics, etc.). It helps to find out more about your community's waste collection and management policies. You can even make extra cash if you dispose of your non-organic waste through the proper channels.

 

You can also minimize the waste you generate at home. There are many simple ways to do this. It includes reusing plastic bags, opting for eco-bags when shopping, and avoiding single-use items. By being mindful of our food consumption, we can also significantly reduce food waste and packaging. 

The 2020 Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey Center for Business and Environment report that the Philippines ranked third among the world contributors to plastic pollution, with 2.7 million metric tons of plastic waste each year.

 

SM's Trash to Cash recycling market happens every first Friday and Saturday of the month 

from 10 AM to 2 PM across all SM Malls and select SDMC Malls nationwide.

As a responsible member of the community, SM has consistently implemented programs to inspire Filipinos to be more sustainable, educating them on the importance of sustainability and how to help protect the environment. It includes the long-running Green Film Festival, which features the free screening of environmental documentaries for students and other program partnerships that promote alternative options to plastic. 

 

SM also has projects that directly engage its mall-goers, focusing on solid waste management. These are the monthly Trash to Cash recycling market and the collection of used lead-acid batteries (ULABs), the Electronic Waste Collection program, and the Plastic Waste Collection program held in partnership with the Plastic Credit Exchange. To date, SM Supermalls have collected more than 11,600 kg. of plastic waste, 2,000 kg. of electronic waste and 908,000 kg. of assorted recyclable waste. 

Customers can drop off their electronic waste at bins in the Cyberzone and selected locations 

of SM Supermalls nationwide.

In addition, SM has been exploring renewable alternatives as its malls' energy source. For instance, in 2020, the company generated 9,620 MWh of energy from solar roof panels installed in ten different malls nationwide. The company has also completed solar panel retrofits in other malls. SM hopes to achieve its goal of having 50% of the energy it consumes being sourced from renewable sources by the end of this year.

 

"We have always been an advocate of sustainable living. Proof of this is the numerous environmental initiatives that the company has implemented. We build our malls with the environment and community in mind, and we make sure that our developments contribute to environmental protection," said Engr. Liza B. Silerio, SM Supermalls' Corporate Compliance Head. "More importantly, we know that personal sustainability is key to achieving the green future that we want. We will continue to implement programs that encourage positive change within our community partners."

 

SM Cares is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, with programs to support communities, promote social inclusion and care for the environment. Its CSR advocacies include the Environment, Persons with Disabilities, Women & Breastfeeding Mothers, Children & Youth, Senior Citizens, and the Bike-Friendly SM Program. 

 

SM Prime: Building strong foundations of responsible development

The topic of sustainability in property development has surged since the world experienced Covid-19. Having to redefine the use of spaces, people soon realized how instrumental real estate is in the journey towards a more sustainable way of life. With the threat of climate change looming in the horizon and a growing population to sustain, the need to build more sustainable and resilient cities only continue to rise. 

SM Prime traces its journey on sustainable design and development way before the concept has gone main stream. At the heart of SM is its commitment to serve its customers – designing its malls to bring better comfort and an enjoyable experience in every visit to SM Supermalls. 

Sustainable Comfort 

Built through several phases of development, SM Megamall, among SM’s 78 malls across the country, has grown into the complex it is today with 800 shops including 250 dining outlets and 16 anchor tenants. Customers explore the expanse of the 10-hectare development from its convenient parking grounds, relaxed atmosphere and beautiful façade. Behind this is sophisticated engineering anchored on sustainable design and technology. 

•  SM Megamall is energy and water efficient. The building is enveloped with EIFS or Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems board which helps boosts wall insulation, making it more resistant to heat. It only uses LED lighting system allowing a 50% energy saving. The mall also tracks a lighting operating schedule following the supply requirement of our mall activity and does not contribute to environmental lighting pollution so as not disturb nocturnal animals. It also uses sensor activated escalators that contribute to about 30% energy savings. It’s air handling system uses high-efficiency air-conditioning system that has greater environmental stewardship. Lastly, it uses efficient water fixture for water savings and recycles water.

SM Megamall

• SM Megamall works with the natural environment. The mall utilizes green walls, skylights and clerestory or a high section wall that contains windows above eye level to increase the flow of natural light. It is surrounded with plants of local varieties and selection of trees and shrubs.

SM Megamall Bicycle Racks

• SM Megamall promotes mobility. Situated in the middle of EDSA, SM Megamall brings 550 buses into one integrated system to promote easier mobility. Green hybrid transports provide options for the more environmentally conscious passengers. All public transports are required to meet mandated emission levels in support of the Clean Air Act. The mall is pedestrian-friendly with about 1,595 square meters of covered walk ways. Throughout the mall, designated bike lanes and parking spaces are provided. Lastly, parking sensors not only make parking easier but has also reduced emissions in the parking areas.

SM MEGATOWER

• SM Megamall practices responsible materials management. The mall uses Echostop ceiling finish for noise absorption which is made from gypsum and paper liner made from 100% reclaimed and recycled paper. The Mega Tower uses insulated glass units which keeps heat out during summer months and Low E-glass to minimize the amount of ultraviolet light that comes through the windows, with both features maximizing energy savings. It also has a Material Recovery Facility dividing recyclables, biodegradable waste, residual waste and hazardous waste.

Environmental Strategy

All these initiatives are aligned with SM Prime's environmental strategy of developing, designing, and building integrated lifestyle cities with sustainability and resiliency considerations in mind. 

Echoing these efforts, SM Prime continues on its transition to clean energy. Aside from investing in energy efficient programs, the company is broadening its renewable energy investments. SM Prime targets to increase its demand for electricity sourced from renewables by more than 50% across all of its business segments by end of 2022 in support of the Department of Energy's goal of moving the country's renewable energy supply component up to 35% by the end of the decade. 

Moreover, as part of a growing movement of responsible and sustainability-centered enterprises, SM Prime has joined the 2,500 organizations worldwide in supporting the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and its goal of creating a more resilient financial system through better climate risk disclosures. Through this, it hopes to continue to drive its business to adopt more sustainability initiatives related to climate change.

At Hamilo Coast, SM property in Nasugbu, Batangas, it continues to uphold its commitment to sustainability and conservation as it planted 50,000 more mangroves which covers 100,000 square meters of the estate. This is also touted as one of the largest mangrove areas in Nasugbu.  Hamilo Coast continues to protect its mangrove ecosystem together with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines—a partnership it has nurtured since 2007.

Hamilo Coast also undertook the initiative to declare three of its coves, namely Pico de Loro, Etayo, and Santelmo as Marine Protected Areas in 2009.

SM is regreening the country sides through its tree planting program led by SM City Baguio. This is in partnership with the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Cordillera Administrative Region (DENR-CAR), Baguio Water District, the local government of Baguio City and 25 media organizations in Baguio. 

As of January 2022, over 600,000 trees have already been planted in Baguio City and neighboring towns in Benguet.

SM further promotes sustainable practices through water recycling and the adoption of technologies that promote smart water use. In 2020, it was able to recycle 28.9 million cubic meters of water.

In terms of solid waste management, SM Prime has intensified its campaign by requiring all contractors to implement proper waste management procedures during construction.   A long-running program through SM Cares, the monthly Trash to Cash (TTC) provides an avenue for the community, including properties’ tenants, to participate in solid waste management. This initiative ran for nine months in 74 malls and five SM Development Corporation properties in 2020, saving 134,067 seven-year-old trees to date.

It also undertakes paper recycling in partnership with the Trust International Paper Corporation and the responsible transport, treatment, storage and disposal or processing of the properties’ generated hazardous waste, compliant to the government’s implementing rules and regulations. 

Resiliency as a Necessity

While SM serves millions of customers every day, its impact goes beyond its businesses – touching the lives of millions more in the communities wherever it is present. For a country like the Philippines, the impact of climate change can already be felt with typhoons getting stronger and more frequent. 

Hans T. Sy, chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime has served in leadership roles in both national and international organizations focused on disaster resiliency and its impact to business and society. Leading by example, SM integrates disaster resiliency in its business strategy as well as its city and mall designs and developments. This, not only allows SM businesses to operate during calamities, instead, also helps communities become more resilient to typhoons. 

“I believe in an age-old adage; an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. SM Prime has taken deliberate steps to reinforce resiliency across its properties and provide a focused approach on sustainability in order to preserve communities and save lives,” said Mr. Sy.

Such is the impact created by SM Masinag.

Vermont Park Phase 1 is located near SM Masinag. For years, it would undergo flooding during typhoons. However, the story has changed. Since SM Masinag opened to serve the community, it has been equipped with a water catchment facility that can detain 17,681 cubic meters of water, which is equivalent to 7 Olympic size swimming pools. This helped control the flooding of nearby villages during typhoons.

Meanwhile, SM Marikina, which is also in a high-flood rate zone, is able to serve as first responder and a safe haven to affected families during times of calamities. This is because it is standing on 246 stilts with an elevation higher than the highest recorded water level rise in Marikina City. 

Sustainability and Resiliency as Strong Foundations for Responsible Development

SM Prime anchors its development on both sustainability and disaster resiliency. For SM, both serve as strong foundations for responsible development – to address the increasing demand for urban areas and to address the threat of climate change. 

From the onset of concept design, SM Prime allocates around 10% of capital expenditure to incorporate sustainability features and disaster resilience when building malls, offices and even integrated lifestyle cities. 

"The safety of the communities, employees, customers, and the facility structure remains top priorities in all SM Prime developments. As I tell my design teams ever so frequently, ensuring safety is the only way I can sleep well,” Mr Sy said.”     

For SM, this means the hard infrastructure capacities as well as how spaces are designed to facilitate mobility, green transport options, greener buildings and even green technology such as being powered by solar energy. As such, wherever SM operates, SM Prime makes every effort to help create the spaces and cities we need in order to sustain ourselves into the future. 

SM reinvents ‘Building on Stilts’ as a Climate Resilient Design for the Future

Floods and rising water levels brought about by typhoons are perennial problems in Marikina city, which is considered as one of the low-lying areas of Metro Manila. During typhoons, Marikina River’s water can rise up to 23 meters compared to its normal average level of 13 meters. While this causes the communities surrounding the Marikina Watershed to be underwater, SM Marikina stands tall, serving as a safe haven to its neighboring communities.

The secret?  It is sitting on 246 stilts. 

SM City Marikina is uniquely designed. The 6-hectare mall property which is located within the Marikina River Watershed is an elevated mall built on top of 246 stilts. 

“A critical part of building climate resilient structures is to understand weather patterns and how it affects the environment where your city or building will be,” explained Architect Fides Garcia-Hsu, Vice President of SM Engineering Design and Development (SM EDD). “During the design phase of SM City Marikina, we considered the long-term flood cycles of the Marikina Watershed, which was identified to be a high-risk area by the World Bank in 1977.”

Building on stilts traces back to ancient civilization from different parts of the world. The answer lies in its powerful functionality. Elevated construction had been the way earliest people groups would protect themselves from flooding, moisture and surface organisms. It also gives them provision for open space storage or cultural activities. Lastly, it reduces cost in modifying natural terrain. While building on stilts have been adopted by modern architects through the years, people had lost interest in it during the rise of urbanization.

SM revisited the functionality of ‘building on stilts’ and reinvented the concept as a climate resilient feature. This design was complemented with other disaster preparedness considerations to help reduce the risk of damages during extreme flooding. As such, SM City Marikina was built an additional 20 meters farther than the suggested 90-meter distance from the Marikina River centerline. Moreover, the ground floor parking was purposely laid out as an open-design, without walls to allow water to flow, while the second floor was elevated at 20.5 meters, which is higher than the maximum recorded flood levels.

During super typhoons, SM Marikina’s resiliency saves an average of Php1 billion in terms of losses from business sales alone. This means that it is able to help its tenants, especially the micro, small and medium enterprises that depend on the mall for their business continuity and growth. 

For its neighboring communities, SM Marikina also serves as a safe haven and a first responder to families who are affected during calamities. It also provides free parking spaces for those who are stranded and need a safe place to wait for flood water to recede. 

“Our ultimate goal is to help build the resilience of our stakeholders. This begins by building our own resilience to serve as a good foundation they could rely on especially during calamities,” Garcia-Hsu said.

Beyond the city of Marikina, building on stilts may be experiencing a revival in other parts of the world as urbanization begin to rise along with a greater demand for greener spaces. This would allow for high rise developments while keeping ground levels reserved for much needed green open spaces. 

While it took SM an additional 15% in its capital investments to make SM City Marikina a disaster resilient mall, the group sees it as an essential investment in its commitment to create shared value for its stakeholders. This, complemented with a science-based approach on climate scenario risk analysis, allows SM City Marikina to defy odds and prove that integrating resiliency is the way to a climate resilient future.

UNFPA PH LAUNCHED "HERE FOR HER" FLAGSHIP CAMPAIGN

No man is an island. Thus hearing the words "I am here for you"  gives you that feeling of support and assurance we need from the people around us.

This exact feeling of trust and camaraderie propelled the UNFPA PH to establish the "HERE FOR HER" initiative in time for the International Women's Day Celebration.

The "Here for Her" campaign, is a call to action engaging all stakeholders to accelerate the pace in empowering women and girls to realize their rights and full potential. This flagship campaign is launched to promote commitment to end preventable maternal deaths, end unintended pregnancies, and prevent gender-based violence and other harmful practices.

The launch of "Here for Her" campaign is on the day of the United Nations' International Women's Day with the theme of "Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow." Achieving gender equality is further challenged by climate change.

"Women and girls are effective and powerful leaders and change-makers for climate adaptation and mitigation." shared Dr. Leila Sajii Joudane, UNFPA Country Representative to the Philippines. "Climate change is not gender-neutral. It is a multiplier of existing inequalities and vulnerabilities.

During humanitarian crises, UNFPA leads in upholding the health and dignity of women and girls by preventing and responding to gender-based violence, addressing the delivery of emergency reproductive health kits and ensuring safe childbirths. These efforts are seen in previous calamities, including super typhoon Odette (Raf).

 

 

 

CEBUANA LHUILLIER PET INSURANCE PROTECTS THE HEALTH OF YOUR PETS

I am a proud fur-parent for 10 years now. Our eldest is Milo, the choco labrador retriever, our bunso is a rescued Aspin named Katniss. We also rescued years ago our first puspin, Parker, that gave us dozens of cute kittens through the years.

Parker, the mother cat and Katniss, the rescued aspin, 2015

Katniss and Milo accompanying the husband

in their daily walk, 2021

JOYS AND PAIN OF BEING A PET PARENT

We've encountered countless visits to the vet as we took care of our dogs and cats. From deworming, to vaccination, to emergency pet illnesses. Together with monthly supply of dog and cat food, these cause a huge dent in our pockets. 

But as pet parents, we realized that the joys definitely outweigh the pains. The bond is remarkable. Our dogs encourage us to live an active life. Playing with them lowers down our anxiety level, especially during the height of the pandemic. They are definitely part of our family.

HOW TO DEAL WITH THE FINACES OF HAVING PETS

Cebuana Lhuillier, one of the Philippines ‘ leading and largest micro-financial service providers and a champion in financial inclusivity and mobility, launched its new insurance product for dogs.

The Philippines has one of the highest dog populations in the world with 11.6 million as of 2020. Furthermore, the Philippines have the highest rate of pet ownership among the Southeast Asian countries at 83%, led by dogs at 67%. In the course of the pandemic alone, Filipinos’ interest in owning pets grew 88% compared to 2019. With the continuous growth of the pet industry, a big chunk of this is limited to grooming, nutrition, and the like. With limited option for health care, pet owners are constantly challenged financially in order to provide for the medical needs of their fur babies.

This is the inspiration behind Cebuana Lhuiller's pet insurace basic, a microinsurace product especially made for fur babies which is expected to serve as a welcome respite for dog owners saddled with large veterinary bills for checkups, procedures, and medical emetgencies.

“Dogs have always been loyal life companions, so it is only right that we take care of them, especially during their health emergencies. With responsible pet ownership in mind, Cebuana Lhuillier is proud to introduce a product that’s both accessible and affordable for many of our kababayans who would like to provide their pet dogs with the best care possible, regardless of breed. This highlights our company’s commitment to providing the most relevant and reasonable-priced financial products that respond according to their needs,” Cebuana Lhuillier and CEO, Jean Henri Lhuillier said.

We can’t deny that dogs provide much-needed companionship, comfort, and happiness in the everyday lives of their owners. This unmistakable bond between pet and owner was further amplified by the more than two years of isolation among Pinoys, especially in the midst of the pandemic. In turn, pet owners are known to only provide the utmost love and care to these pets, whether in the form of pet food and accessories, veterinary consultation, and medicine.

CEBUANA LHUILLIER'S PET INSURANCE BASIC COVERAGE

Pet Insurance provides the ff.:

• Medical reimbursement from any veterinary treatment or confinement in a vet hospital in the event of an accident or disease
• Burial assistance
• Owner’s liability coverage feature for when the insured dog causes damage outside the owner’s home
• Owner’s personal accident insurance for the owner for up to Php 25,000.00.

For as low as P1,100.00 or P3.00/day, you can get all of these insurance benefits and features for one-year coverage with Pet Insurance Basic.

HOW TO APPLY FOR CEBUANA LHUILLIER'S PET INSURANCE

You can avail Cebuana Lhuillier’s Pet Insurance Basic from the ff. links from Shopee (Basic –https://shp.ee/k7hhc3j, Prime – https://shp.ee/f6qi4yj) and Lazada. From there, you can start enrolling your pet by providing their details and uploading required documents such as your pet’s photo, vaccine records, etc. You can read more information about claims and contact details from these links as well. Note:  All dogs (with breed/mix-breeds) are eligible for insurance.

“Being a responsible pet owner is a commitment to provide for their needs and it consists of more than simply feeding and playing with them. Part of responsible pet ownership is addressing their physical, social, emotional, and mental well-being for the remainder of the pet’s life. Our pet insurance aims to cover the risks that involved in owning dogs, not just to protect them but to protect pet owners as well.” Jonathan Batangan, First Vide President and Group Head Cebuana Lhullier Insurance Brokers, Inc. added.

The introduction of Pet Insurance Basic is a part of Cebuana Lhuillier’s push on producing innovative products that answer to the needs of the general public, especially in their protection requirements. I am also excited because Cebuana Lhuillier is also planning to come up with an insurance package for my cats too!