My Very First Press Release Published in Newspaper - July 2007

If there's any article that is very significant to me during my press release writing journey, it has to be this one. My very first PR published in Philippine Star, July 2007. 

I am getting nostalgic reading this one. Good thing, Philippine Star has article archive. :)  

First PAD Awareness Day marked

 Updated August 16, 2007 - 12:00am

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People across the country gathered in different hospitals and health centers to participate in the first-ever “Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Awareness Day” celebration last  July 20.

Recently, President Arroyo, in Proclamation No. 1321, declared July 20 as PAD Awareness Day. This is to emphasize the need to educate Filipinos about PAD, recognize its risk factors, and prevent the hazards it will bring to one’s health and well-being.

PAD is one of many complications of diabetes which is often under-diagnosed and under treated.

Dr. Araceli Panelo, executive director of Institute for the Studies on Diabetes Foundation Inc. (ISDFI) said, “In the Philippines alone, about 20 percent of the 87 million population is suffering from PAD. This is why we (ISDFI), together with Otsuka Philippines Pharmaceuticals Inc., are collaborating to expand our mission of preventing PAD through the PAD Awareness Day.”

The PAD Awareness Day is dedicated to patients with PAD or those who are at risk of PAD. Through this activity, patients received free ankle brachial index (ABI) screening, a patient-friendly, inexpensive technique that compares blood pressure between the patient’s arms and ankles. It is a very useful tool in detecting PAD.

Aside from free ABI screening, patients also got free sample medicine for PAD. There were lay forums conducted to educate them about PAD.

Several hospitals, health centers and diabetes centers participated in the event. Among were the Amang Rodriguez Medical Center in Marikina City, Pasig City Health Office, Antipolo City Health Office, Caloocan General Hospital, Mandaluyong City Health Office, and Pasay City General Hospital.

PAD is a problem with the blood flow in the arteries due to the build-up of fatty deposits. The most common symptom of PAD is claudication or leg pain. This happens when there is insufficient supply of blood in the muscles due to blockage.

Patients with diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol problems and even smokers are at risk of developing PAD. 

PAD is also associated with a higher risk of heart attack, stroke and even premature death. Thus, early detection is needed in order to prevent PAD.

The PAD Awareness Day aims to improve the ongoing information and public education campaign of ISDFI and Otsuka to further benefit PAD patients nationwide.

For more information about PAD, call the i-PAD connect hotline at 811-i-PAD (811-4-723) for Metro Manila or 1-800-1-888-i-PAD (1-800-1-888-4-723) for provincial areas.

http://www.philstar.com/science-and-technology/13158/first-pad-awareness-day-marked

A MESSAGE OF THANKS TO EHEADS

Re-posting my multiply blog. This was written a week after watching the FINAL SET concert in 2009.

This was my unforgettable concert event I had witnessed.

MARCH 7, 2009

MALL OF ASIA CONCERT GROUNDS

ERASERHEADS: THE FINAL SET

Dearest Ely, Raimund, Marcus and Buddy,

O mga PARE KO, gusto kong sabihin sa inyong umaapaw ang puso ko sa LIGAYA matapos kong mapanood ang una at huling sulyap ko sa concert ng pinakapaborito kong banda, ang ERASERHEADS!

Naisip ko noon KAILAN ko kaya masisilayan ang bandang nagpasimulang humubog ng pagkahilig ko sa musika. It was HARD TO BELIEVE but that very day finally came. I thought that the REUNION CONCERT was the final concert of the band. Ito ay isang MALING AKALA. THE FINAL SET CONCERT HAPPENED!

Thanks to MTV Philippines and SMART Communications that organized this historical musical event.

Hindi man sa MAGAZIN ko kayong unang nakita at nasilayan ngunit salamat sa simpleng song hits na pumukaw sa aking kamalayan. Sa mga awitin ninyong hindi matatawaran nang talino at galing. I was TOO YOUNG (TOYANG) then, but you SHAKE MY and other HEADS to your simple but rock tunes.

MINSAN naisip ko, ano nga bang meron kayo at napakarami ang humahanga sa inyo. Isa lang ang masasabi ko, ang mga simpleng salita sa awitin ninyo at sinabayan pa nang tugtog ng mga instrumentong kay sigla ang siyang nagbigay buhay sa bawat awit at nagdulot ng iba't ibang damdamin sa bawat isang tagahanga at kabilang ako roon.

Hindi ko na kailangan maghintay ng SEMBREAK at CHRISTMAS PARTY para masilayan ko kayo. Hindi isang MASELANG BAHAGHARI o ulan ang hahadlang para MAKAPILING KAYO (TUWING UMUULAN AT KAPILING KA). Dahil sa FINAL SET CONCERT, napa-EL BIMBO at napa-OVERDRIVE ako sa saya. Parang naTIKMAN ko na ang langit sa inyong masasayang awitin. Hindi matatakpan ng MASKARA ang ganda ng inyong mga awit dahil ito ay tulad ng isang HARANA minsang kong minahal. Para ding isang FRUITCAKE ang makukulay na himig na nagbibigay tamis sa minsang maasim at masalimuot kong buhay.

Ang sarap balik-balikan ng mga awitin ninyong nag-iwan ng isang magandang alaala. Tulad ng isang SPOLIARIUM, naging makasaysayan ang mga tugtugin pati na rin ang buong banda. Ang mga pangalang ELY, RAIMUND, MARCUS at BUDDY ay nakatatak na sa kasaysayan ng Philippine Music. Ang mapabilang sa libo-libong manonood ng FINAL SET CONCERT ay maihahalintulad din sa pakiramdam ng nasa ALAPAAP ngunit ang LIGAYAng dulot nito ay hindi masisira ng ALKOHOL kahit pa buhol-buhol ang buhay.

Hindi ako isang TORPEDO. Isang pasasalamat lamang ang inihahayag ko. HUWAG MO NANG ITANONG kung bakit kayo ang aking pinakapaborito.

Yes! WITH A SMILE, I will forever cherish the day I witnessed you perform on stage. It's a TRIP TO JERUSALEM journey bago ko kayo masilayan

PARA SA MASA kayo pa rin ang bida! You are still the ERASERHEADS!

LONG LIVE EHEADS! Thank you for sharing the greatest music of all times.

YOUR ONE OF THE BIGGEST FAN,

RIZ

Another published press release

One of the many press releases I've written for Otsuka Philippines Pharmaceuticals, Inc. during my stay in my previous work at FAME, Inc. 

This was one of the memorable articles I've done because I was the one who covered the event. Transcribing had been difficult just to come up with this kind of article. 

Drug proven safe in managing PAD 
Thursday, 05 June 2008 17:09 

A royal-inspired event gathered specialists in diabetes, cardiology and endocrinology in witnessing the recent grand unveiling of “CASTLE,” an acronym for Cilostazol: A Study in Long-Term Effects. 
The results of this latest study provided added data on cilostazol’s safety in the long-term management of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which has been reported to be prevalent among Filipinos with risk factors such as diabetes, cholesterol problems, hypertension and smoking. 

An estimated 20 percent of adult Filipinos suffer from PAD whose common symptoms include pain in the lower extremities when walking, relieved by rest. In more severe cases, it can lead to leg gangrene and amputation. 

The CASTLE results showed that in almost 1,500 patients with intermittent claudication secondary to PAD, there was no increased risk of all-cause or cardiovascular deaths and PAD-related disability. 

The study also demonstrated no increased risk of bleeding with cilostazol as compared to placebo, either alone or with concomitant antiplatelet therapy. 

Dr. Augusto Litonjua, acknowledged as the father of Philippine endocrinology, discussed the results of CASTLE during a recent presentation for the Philippine medical community held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Quezon City. 

“It (CASTLE) is a study that shows the durability, efficacy of cilostazol and its safety over a period of time,” he said. 

In terms of safety, the drug poses no serious adverse effects. “The CASTLE (study) reconfirms the safety of the long-term treatment of intermittent claudication patients with cilostazol,” he said. 

The CASTLE was conducted to investigate the long-term effect of cilostazol in patients with intermittent claudication secondary to PAD. Its primary aim was to evaluate the rate of deaths from all causes, while the secondary aims were to assess both the cardiovascular deaths and the tolerability to cilostazol over a three-year period of continuous drug intake. 

This phase 4, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel arm study involved almost 1,500 males and females with intermittent claudication secondary to PAD who were followed up for a period of three and a half years over a two-year enrollment period. 

It also included patients aged 17 and above who were already on aspirin, clopidogrel, pentoxifylline and other anticoagulants (blood thinning agents) in the management of PAD. 

In CASTLE, 37.8 percent of patients with diabetes took cilostazol, while 33.7 percent were placed on placebo. In patients with other conditions (heart attack, stroke and congestive heart failure), 44.3 percent took cilostazol while 44.4 percent took placebo. 

These patients underwent a 30-day single run-in phase before the start of the study. The study had a relatively big number of dropouts (lost to follow-up), but this did not stall the study. 

“So, what they did was anyone who was exposed to either placebo or the drug (cilostazol) was observed for an additional one month,” Litonjua said. 

Most of the specialists who attended the presentation agreed that the overall outcome of the CASTLE study strengthened the evidence of the use of cilostazol among patients with PAD. 

Diabetes mellitus is a disease with multi-systemic involvement particularly of the vascular system. It is highly prevalent with 500 new cases of diabetes diagnosed in the Philippines every day, according to Dr. Ricardo Fernando, founder of the Institute for Studies on Diabetes Foundation, Inc. 

With the prevalence of diabetes, it is alarming to note that there may be an impending increase of PAD incidence in the country for it is one of diabetes’ many deadly complications. 

Diabetes is only one of lifestyle-related diseases that contribute to PAD. Others are smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), collagen vascular disease (connective tissue disease) and heart disease. 

PAD is usually associated with significant long-term illness, disability and death, hence, it should be managed during the early stages of the disease. It can pose a serious threat to life and limb if left untreated. 

Despite the grim complications PAD is associated with, experts contend that it remains a manageable disease. The CASTLE study proves that cilostazol is an effective prescription medicine for improving the prognosis or outlook of patients with PAD. 

For more information on PAD and its treatment, call the i-PAD hotline at 811-4723 for Greater Manila Area or 1-800-1-888-4723 for outside GMA. 

source: Philippine Star 
http://philstar.com/index.php?Science%20and%20Technology&p=49&type=2&sec=36&aid=2008060439 

Press Release (Sunday Reminiscing)

Press release I wrote for Trianon International for ImmunoCAP in 2008. 

Allergic rhinitis prevalent among Pinoys 
Written by Philippine Star 
Friday, 20 June 2008 03:49 

Summer is over but allergic attacks remain a threat among Filipinos. 

Allergic rhinitis is prevalent in Filipinos. Frequent sneezing, runny, clogged or itchy nose, itchy, watery red eyes, and itchy throat are symptoms of allergic rhinitis that cause a lot of discomfort. 

Many Filipinos have perennial allergic rhinitis, caused by pollution, house dust mites, animal dander and molds. This occurs anytime during the year and may even occur with unpredictable degrees of severity. 

Since allergic rhinitis is considered a chronic disease, Dr. Ruby Pawankar of the Nippon Medical School in Japan emphasized the need for more training programs for doctors and public education on allergy prevention and treatment. 

According to allergy experts, one way of controlling rhinitis is to avoid the allergens that trigger rhinitis attacks. The latest approach is through early and accurate diagnosis of allergies. 

An allergy diagnostic procedure called ImmunoCAP IgE (Immunoglobulin E) blood-testing aids in ruling in and ruling out an allergy and in identifying allergic triggers. 

This information is needed to differentiate between infection and allergy as an underlying cause of any disease, and is vital to prevent over- and under-treatment of allergies with antihistamines and antibiotics. 

Local health experts note that many cases of colds and coughs are being treated with various types of antibiotics with no apparent response because they are allergic in nature. 

These cases can be easily detected by the ImmunoCAP test and the patient can be saved from unnecessary expense incurred due to improper treatment. These patients can also be saved from developing antibiotic tolerance due to indiscriminate use of antibiotics. 

ImmunoCAP is the first allergy diagnostic system to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a reliable quantitative test for identifying allergens. 

A recent study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology demonstrated that ImmunoCAP is the standard for accuracy and reliability for quantitative IgE testing. 

ImmunoCAP was developed by Phadia AB, in Uppsala, Sweden, the world leader in in-vitro IgE diagnostic research and product development. 

This advanced technology for allergy diagnosis is now available in Philippine hospitals and laboratories. In Metro Manila, this latest innovation is available in the following hospitals: Medical City, Makati Medical Center, Manila Doctors Hospital, National Kidney Institute, Philippine General Hospital, Fe del Mundo Medical Center, Victor R. Potenciano Medical Center and Clinica Manila. People living outside Metro Manila can visit these sites for the allergy test: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Medical Center (Pampanga), St. Patrick’s Hospital Medical Center (Batangas), Laguna Health Services Coop Lab (Laguna), Wellcare Clinics & Lab. Inc., (Cavite and Laguna), and Our Lady of Mercy Diagnostic Center (Davao City). 

The Philippines has the highest prevalence rates of common allergies such as rhinitis and asthma, topping other neighboring Asian countries like Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea. 

In the International Study of Allergy and Asthma in Children (ISAAC) involving 38 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific, it was reported that Filipino teens aged 13-14 had one of the highest incidence rates for allergic diseases. Allergic rhinitis was found in 32.5 percent of teens in this age bracket. 

These findings are contained in the latest report released to the Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (PSAAI) by the World Allergy Organization (WAO). 

Allergic rhinitis is serious and debilitating. According to Prof. Ralph Mösges of the Institute of Medical Statistics, Informatics and Epidemiology of the University of Cologne in Germany, allergic rhinitis is a major chronic respiratory disease due to its prevalence, impact on quality of life, impact on work/school performance and productivity, economic burden, and its links with asthma. 

A study published by Dr. Pawankar in the medical journal Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology concluded that patients with allergic rhinitis have three times greater chance of developing asthma in their later years and observed that the development of asthma is often preceded by rhinitis. 

For more information or other inquiries on allergy testing and ImmunoCAP, call the Trianon hotline at 815-3239 or visit www.phadia.com. 

source: Phuilippine Star 
http://philstar.com/index.php?Science%20and%20Technology&p=49&type=2&sec=36&aid=2008061853 

Baguio's Grand Festival of Flowers: Day 3 - February 22, 2014

Here comes the third and final chronicle of my Baguio vacation with my dearest High School friends. This is why we are here for: Witness Flower Festival.

This was my second time to witness the festivity. Actually, my first was in 2012 but I was not able to see in full the whole flower parade. This time, from start to end, we were able to view the whole flower parade program at Harrison Road, Baguio City. Most of the people were in Session Road because that was the starting point of the parade but we opted to stay at Harrison Road (near Burnham Park) to avoid ourselves from the maddening crowd and get a better view of the parade. 

Flower festival is a yearly event for the natives of Baguio because every February, the flowers in the City of Pines is in full bloom. These fresh, beautiful and colorful flowers were the main attraction to most visitors who were in Baguio every February. In this annual event, the artistic side of most Baguio townsmen were very much evident in the different floats highlighted in this grand festivity.

Here were some of the highlights including the participating floats in this year's event:

The three-day trip in Baguio enabled me to know the City of Pines more. Most importantly, those three-days spent with my High School friends gave me the opportunity to embrace the friendship we had through the years. 

I cannot wait to have another bonding moment with you, guys! 

Thank you Baguio for making our trip so wonderful. I will cherish this one of a kind experience. 

Baguio as Artist's Haven: Day 2 - February 22, 2014

If our first day in Baguio was well-spent in outdoor adventure, sight-seeing and food tripping, our second day was a mixture of appreciating arts and nature. 

Our first stop is at Monduiging's Woodcraft along Asin Road in Tuba,Benguet. We found out how artistic Baguio natives are. Woodcarving has been a business in Asin Road. You will see a lot of different woodcarving stores along the way but Monduiging is the most famous, if woodcarving is your thing. 

We were amazed how these people made different crafts out of wood, big or small. According to the caretaker, who I forgot his name (sorry for that), a small piece of woodcraft is made almost a day. Wow, such amount of time is needed for a decorative small piece. Time, dedication, patience and creativity are needed to create such a magnificent masterpiece. I wish I possess such kind of talent. 

Creating handicraft or such artistic craft is a bankable business which can help you make big in the industry at the same time help people earn a living. 

This is a tissue holder, believe it or not?

Many faces of Bulol, Ifugao Gods

After visiting Monduiging's Woodcraft, we went straight to BenCab's Museum which was owned by a Filipino National Artist, Benedicto Cabrera. As you visit the area, be ready to pay for P100.00 for adults while P80.00 for students and senior citizens as entrance fee. The fee, in my opinion, is worth it, for I believe viewing those paintings and other artworks are noteworthy. 

Enjoying my stay at BenCab Museum

Well, the place was indeed, exceptionally beautiful. The first three floors are dedicated to painting and other artwork exhibition. Meanwhile, the ground floor was a cozy cafe and restaurant known as Cafe Sabel, named after BenCab's favorite art muse, Sabel, whom Ben Cab met at Tondo. She was street grease lady (taong grasa) in Filipino. 

The many faces of Sabel

Across the museum is a beautiful landscape which Ben Cab bought. It was not only appreciating art at its finest but also experiencing the beauty of nature all at the same venue. 

such a relaxing sight to behold

After hours spent in BenCab Museum where we also had our hearty brunch, we continued traversing along Asin Road to check out other sceneries. What captured our attention is the bridgeway where the clean waters from the stream was flowing. We had a short photo shoot there with my high school friends.

Clear waters

the Ladies!

After checking out the places in Asin Road, we went back to the city to buy pasalubongs at Good Shepherd. The rest of the afternoon was well-spent at Mt. Sto. Tomas. We were not able to reach the peak due to fog, but making it almost on top of the mountain, we were privileged to see how beautiful the province of Benguet is. We also experienced the cool breeze of the winds and captured the many, tall, pine trees in area. If we had this first on the list, we might be able to get on top of the mountain and see its magnificent beauty.

With my beautiful and handsome friends! 

Overlooking Marcos Highway, Baguio City

The fog

An afternoon on top of the mountain

The second day in Baguio was tiring yet full of discoveries for we were able to learn the other side of Baguio, being the artist's haven.