Facts and fiction about wearing eyeglasses

Growing up we often encounter all kinds of misconceptions about wearing eyeglasses along with countless myths about vision problems.

How can we differentiate fact from fiction?

Wearers become dependent on their eye glasses, they will never take them off. FICTION

Prescription glasses correct your vision. Day-to-day tasks are easier because everything is clear. You constantly wear your glasses not out of dependence, but because all your visual difficulties disappear.

Wearing eye glasses will not aggravate your vision problems. FICTION

Eye glasses are aids to improve vision. They will not add to your sight problems. Our vision naturally deteriorates with age, so don’t fret because it is not the eye glasses’ fault. Regular eye check up will help identify the problem and the right prescription glasses can help you see clearly.

Wearing someone else’s glasses will ruin your eyes. FACT

This is so true. Wearing the wrong prescription glasses for a long period can cause headache and nausea. Go for an eye check-up and determine the right prescription for you.

Ready-made reading glasses may not address your vision problems. FICTION

Store bought reading glasses are not customized for the wearer mainly because the prescription grade is the same for both right and left lenses. Most people with vision problems have different prescription grades for each eye. Headache, eye strain and even nausea can result from wearing reading glasses that are not your actual prescription. Best to visit you eye doctor for a customized reading glasses prescription.

It is important that we take the necessary precautions in taking care of our eyes but we have to be aware of what’s true and what is not.

For the ultimate in eye care, Essilor, the world’s leading ophthalmic optics company recommends Varilux® the optimum solution to achieve natural, sharper vision at any distance.

Don’t let myths keep you from proper eye care. Be confident and wear glasses with Varilux®. For more information, visit Essilor’s website at www.essilor.com.ph, and follow @EssilorPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Stories from the hearts of (kitchen) stars

What are your food memories?

A lot us have precious memories about cooking, sharing, and eating meals with the people we love. Maybe it’s waking up on Sunday mornings knowing that lola is baking pan de sal and making breakfast. Maybe it’s coming home from a long day at school or work and being greeted by the smell of dinner cooking on the stove. Or maybe it’s when you’d be feeling down or sick and someone would make you that soup that you’ve been craving for.

Whatever it is, it is easy to see why the kitchen is the heart of every Filipino home. It holds our fondest memories and keeps the histories of our families—our triumphs and tragedies, our loves and losses.

The endurance of ages

Ann Puno raised her children on home cooking. Back then, she was just a simple housewife with an amazing talent for baked goods, and her children must have grown up relishing homemade meals, occasionally paired with her amazing desserts.

Ann Puno

However, she wanted to share more with her children than just her care and her cooking. She wanted to teach them to be independent. And this she did by example. “I wanted to teach them that they can do anything,” she says. “That all they needed was [some skill and hard work], and they can earn a living.” She began selling her cakes to her husband’s co-workers, and as expected, they were an instant hit. So she sold more. And even more.

Today Ann Puno is the entrepreneurial power behind Ann Puno’s Kitchen, and amazingly, the oven she used to bake that very first cake almost 30 years ago is still churning out perfectly cooked meals. It’s no wonder she swears by the longevity of her La Germania range.

The 30-year old oven, which she got from her mother when she moved to Manila, is now back in her hometown, after being with her in her own kitchen. “It was so old that there were knobs and parts that needed to be replaced, but there’s a service station right near [my mother’s home] and in the end, it was restored to be almost like new!” Ann beams, full of praises for the excellent service team, and explaining how it was easier to specify the required repairs because the team spoke the native dialect.

Partner for life

For some, finding the right partner is tricky. But when you do find The One, it can be magical.

Chef Rolando Laudico

Some cooking superstars, like caterer and restaurateur Chef Rolando Laudico, were lucky enough to have started out their love affairs early. “I have been cooking since I was seven years old and it has been La Germania all the way,” says Laudico. This partnership has seen him through the establishment of his catering service, enduring with him through the long hours of hard work, uncomplaining despite the heavy demands he had to make of it. “I have used the same oven since day one of my catering business,” says Laudico, “and it has served me really well. We use it for several hours a day, every day, and that’s really heavy use, for several years. That’s value for money.” So when it came time to choose a personal partner in raising their children in their own home, the chef and his wife chose a classic, a name they had grown to love and trust. “I’m sure the oven in my home will last even longer—I might even get to pass it on to my kids,” he jokes.

Making moments count

Few things can be more hectic than the life of a married pair of doctors raising two young children. But medical school sweethearts Andrew and Almira Vicencio, make it look effortless.

Almira and Andrew

Because they’re so busy, both admit that neither one spends much time in the kitchen, but meal times with the kids have become central to their schedule. “It’s important to us to eat meals together,” says Dr. Andrew, “we even try to minimize the use of gadgets at the table. It’s important time we spend together as a family and we want to give our kids these happy memories.”

When it came to their first range, they didn’t even consider anything other than a La Germania, which they had bought to replace the one that Almira’s mother had first given the newlyweds. It reminded them both of the happy Sundays where Almira would wake to the smell of the rich bean dish her mother often made on weekends.

Kitchen stories from all around

It's not unusual for both hobbyists and masters alike to love their La Germania ranges and have great memories of working in the kitchen or feeding their families.

These three homes are only a handful of those who own legacy La Germania stoves and have heartwarming stories of how their entire family grew up with them.

In the coming months, La Germania will be re-launching a new set of Kwentong La Germania, featuring all new faces and voices, but the same story of trustworthiness and reliability, of meals and memories made in the kitchen, and a legacy that spans generations.

Have the most memorable wedding with My Diamond

Have the most memoraTurn your dream wedding into a reality by availing of My Diamond's exclusive offers from some of the country's seasoned wedding suppliers. Buy your engagement ring and wedding bands from My Diamond by August 30, 2018 and get a 30 percent discount on all packages from Jake Olaso Wedding Films; and 20 percent discount on event coverage from Sunday Morning Studios Photography.

As an exciting bonus, My Diamond is also offering a 50 percent discount on engagement rings and wedding bands until June 30, 2018. Turn a once-in-a-lifetime event into a timeless memory with the help of trusted wedding experts and My Diamond.

Visit MyDiamond concept stores at Ayala Center Cebu, Festival Supermall, Gateway Mall, Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Robinsons Place Manila, SM Lanang Premier Davao, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, and SM Aura Premier. For more information, like and follow My Diamond on Facebook and Instagram: MyDiamondPH.

James Deakin on fatherhood, forgiveness, and having no time to wait

James Deakin is wearing TechnoMarine UF6 Swiss Chronograph

48mm Gold Stainless Steel Men’s Watch

James Deakin is a man who wears many hats. Who doesn’t recognize him? He’s a TV anchor, event host, motoring advocate, blogger, and social media personality. But with his multifaceted persona and the hectic schedule that he keeps, it’s his being a family man, a loving husband and father to three kids, two boys and a girl, that he values the most. It is no wonder then that Technomarine chose to honor James, a truly exemplary dad, this Father’s Day.

“Time, it’s the most precious commodity,” Deakin relates when asked about the biggest challenge of being a father. “The harder you work, the more successful you become, the more time becomes precious. So it gets very hard to find that balance.”

His daily schedule can become as erratic as the next, starting as early as 5 am. As someone who doesn’t keep a regular office job, making time for his family is indeed a challenge, one that he doesn’t back down from. But there are compromises, he admits, especially since he has to work to earn a living for his wife and his growing brood.

“It’s very hard to manage time, which is why I actually have someone else to do that for me,” Deakin says. “If you get too emotionally invested [in] your schedule, you tend to make the wrong decisions.”

Thus, James makes sure that his weekends are kept free and devoted solely to family time. He is grateful too that his wife Shelly is there to pick up the slack, to manage the day-to-day affairs of the household and take care of his kids while he is abroad. “She’s a wonderful mom and an extremely understanding wife.”

He also makes sure that they take off to the beach during the holiday season up until the New Year.  They have done so for the past 18 years, each time a priceless and memorable bonding experience.

Another memorable moment was being able to take his family abroad to Australia. “Going overseas with them was really nice,” Deakin says. “That’s the goal: to do family vacations overseas that’s not attached to work, like take 5 or 6 days off.  I really want to do a cruise.”

When asked about his parenting style, James is quick to admit that he’s hardly a strict father. “We give them a lot of leeway,” he says, “We don’t put a lot of pressure on them at all.” He would, therefore, like to be remembered as being a flexible, easygoing, and cool dad.

Still, he finds that being honest with his kids is very important, and he draws the line with alcohol and substance abuse. “We don’t sugarcoat. I want to equip them with the tools to make the proper decisions so they will know the consequences of their actions. “

And as for his advice to other dads, James turns sentimental.

“Don’t strive for perfection as we live in an imperfect world. Strive instead for honesty and love,” he says. “Be forgiving and teach them about forgiveness. Set an example.”

Indeed, as James shows us, time is truly valuable. And with TechnoMarine bringing meaning and joy to fatherhood, as you build wonderful memories with your loved ones, there’s simply no time to wait.

Blue Light and you: protecting your vision from unseen threats

Ever notice that you seem to be squinting at your phone screen more often than you used to? Do the hours in front of your laptop seem to be taking more of a toll these days? You rub your eyes and get a couple of eye drops in them, thinking, it’s nothing to worry about, right? You’re young -- barely in your mid-twenties, and you think that your eyes can stand a bit of strain.

Well, you aren’t wrong. When you’re young, your eyes still recover easily from the demands of a hyperactive lifestyle: the late night study sessions, the hours spent in front of a gaming console or television, or extended sessions of surfing the internet on your phone.

But you aren’t immune, either. Science has verified that younger people have their eye health under threat from something completely unique to their generation, an excessive exposure to blue light.

What is Blue Light?

Natural light, which we see as white, isn’t white at all, but a combination of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet light. Each one travels from the source along a different wavelength and carries different energy.
Blue light has more energy and a shorter wavelength than the other components, and while it is naturally found in large concentrations in sunlight, it is also present in fluorescent light, LED light, and most sources of artificial light such as computer monitors, smart phones, and tablet screens.

In small doses, blue light is beneficial. It stimulates our brain into becoming more active, and helps regulate your moods and body rhythms. However, with the rise of the amount people spend on their digital devices, the average person’s exposure to blue light has gone from healthy to worryingly dangerous.

Medical experts have ascertained that excessive exposure to blue light can leave long-term damage to your vision, prematurely aging a person’s eyes and leading to digital eye strain, damage to your retina, macular degeneration, and an eventual loss of vision quality.

Protect your eyes

Do you suspect you’re suffering from digital eye strain? If you spend more than 3 hours on any digital device, chances are, you are already feeling the its effects – difficulty focusing or changing your visual focus from one item to another, occasional blurry vision, and a dryness to your eyes that has nothing to do with how much sleep you got the night before. You could already have started the degenerative lutein nutrient depletion without you being aware of it.

Here’s the clincher: you can now actually get glasses that are specifically designed to protect your eyes from blue light. Revolutionary new lenses are now manufactured with a unique polymer that absorbs blue light easily, preventing most of it from hitting your retina

At this point, knowledge of the apt lenses for your eyes is paramount, to ensure the optimum benefits of your prescription lens. Age and lifestyle play an integral role in the selection process – fortunately, Vision Express carries a variable of lenses right for you! Blue coat lenses crafted with UV layers are your best bet in achieving your healthiest view to date.

Shamir introduces: Shamir Relax, a revolutionary eyewear experience that is designed to alleviate eye strains from extensive device use – a perfect fit for professionals in order for them to reach optimum level of performance in a digital-first environment. Shamir Relax lenses are best paired with blue zero coating to enhance visual relaxation – exhibits proper reduction and maintenance of blue hues contributes to a healthy cognitive receipt that promotes better sleep.

Exclusively available at Vision Express, this front liner in the battle for keeping your 20/20 vision is called Shamir Blue Zero. Adaptable to any frame you may prefer, completely clear, and comfortable in any and all light conditions, they’re the perfect excuse to grab that stylish pair of glasses you’ve been eyeing as the perfect accessory but have no actual need for. Think of it as an investment in your health.

And if ever you are wearing glasses and simply prefer to have them upgraded for that added amount of protection for your eyesight, Shamir Blue Zero technology can be easily adapted to graded corrective lenses, as well.

So make that trip to the nearest Vision Express branch and inquire about safeguarding your vision to ensure that you enjoy it during the best years of your life…especially if you happen to be reading this article on your phone.

Follow @VisionExpressPH on Facebook and Instagram to learn more.

All You Need is Bubble Man!

Ever since, washing dishes was my favorite part of doing household chores! I'm happy that I found diswashing liquid that's gentle on my skin! It's Bubble Man! It can removes dirt and oil from your dishes and rinses off easily. Bubble Man are Philippine-made Dishwashing Liquid that promises to make cleaning easier and more fun for the entire family. It is highly efficient, economical and environment friendly!

Bubble Man are multi-tasker! You can clean your kitchen sink with just a single drop of it mixed in water. A few drops in a water bucket, can clean the entire floor or the car! And oh, did I mention? It can also be used to clean toys and to your delicate make-up brushes because of it's gentle formula. It's amazing! Right?

It is also three times more affordable than the market’s leading brand, and cleans more items than the average dishwashing liquid.

Being biodegradable, Bubble Man prides itself in being very gentle on skin, preventing skin irritations and allergies! That's why I love using Bubble Man.

Bubbleman comes in three variants: Lemon, Antibac and Kalamansi scents. The 270 ml size retails for only Php 32.50, while the 880 ml bottle retails for only Php 70.00, with special promo pack 270ml for only 55.00 while promo pack 880ml is only 130.00

Try the power of Bubble Man now and save more! Aside from many uses, it's very affordable! Bubble Man are available at all leading supermarket such as Puregold, Mercury Drugs, Robinson, Waltermart, Landmark, Fishermall Supermarket, METRO  and other groceries nationwide and is a proud product of Mikewell Corporation.

About Mikewell Corporation

Mikewell Corporation is a 100% Filipino-owned company established by two Chemical Engineers in 2005, with the objective of creating house cleaning products that improve quality of life, through clean homes and a safe environment.

The Blulane Hotel

Binondo is known as the world's oldest Chinatown and, as such, is richly steeped in history and culture. Since it was established in 1594, it has always been a busy hub for commerce for the Filipino-Chinese community and has been a must-visit tourist spot for those who want to taste a mix of Old Manila and Fil-Chi culture. The area has undergone several phases of modernization through the years with the opening of progressive establishments, but the essence of its old-world charm has remained intact with the eateries at the esteros, to the mom-and-pop shops that offers products ranging from lucky trinkets to traditional Chinese medicines.

This old-world charm meets vibrant modern luxury at the newly-opened Blulane Hotel.

                               Blulane Hotel's Grand Staircase and Chandelier

A 17-storey building with 173 rooms, established primarily to cater to the needs of local guests, business travelers, international delegates and foreign guests. Designed and built with a high-class and sophisticated touch located at the center of Chinese business district, Binondo, The Blulane Hotel is surrounded by bustling tourist attractions, neighboring recreational hubs and Philippine historical landmarks, with both Chinese and Filipino cultures heavily influencing the surrounding community, an ideal location where business meets leisure. It is a destination for a rich, culturally diverse experience, with the luxuries of world-class hospitality and state-of-the-art facilities that will give its guests a work-life balance experience, accomplishing tasks in an instant while enjoying sumptuous meals and a dip of leisure at the same time. The intimate but inviting atmosphere will help you relax and unwind.

The Blulane envisioned itself to become the leading local brand hotel in the Metro and treat our place as guest second home wherein great memories created. The Blulane Hotel is also committed to deliver sincere service and serve wide selection, sumptuous and feast-like food that's made with passion and love.

Hotel consists of different amenities and features that makes more classy and sophisticated ambiance. 120 rooms are allocated for Superior room where a queen size bed are installed. 29 De Luxe, 9 Premier, 10 Executive and 4 VIP Rooms to sum up the 172 rooms capacity of the hotel. 16th Floor are exlusively designed to let our guest experience and customized VIP treatment.

The Blulane has 2 specialty restaurant that offers wide selection of authentic Cantonese and western menu. Located at the 3rd level, The Blu Dynasty, will let you feel the Cantonese experience magnificently structured in its interior, details and services. Our Lauriat menu is intricately handled by our Cantonese Chefs that gives a personal mix of experience and innovation on its dishes.

Blulane Hotel gives a wide selection of menu that suits to perfection for its diverse culture of hotel guests. Western cuisine is being offered at the Mezzanine Level where guests can relax at the Blu Cafe and Lounge. Coffee enthusiasts will enjoy the inviting atmosphere at The Coffee Club. Unwind, unplug and converge in this intimate part of the hotel, a perfect spot for your picture perfect experience with Blulane's signature frappe, smoothies and drinks partnered with sweet delicacies.

Through the passionate assistance of our hotel personnel, guests will surely create an unforgettable experience at The Blulane Hotel. Every individual has its own needs and The Blulane Hotel acknowledges that, hence they take that as a challenge.

Their call? To give the guests a personalized service that will keep them coming back. Whether it is business or leisure, The Blulane Hotel ensures that guests are given a delightful and unforgettable experience from start to end. Treating the guests as family and welcoming them to their new home, The Blulane Hotel.

Come and visit The Blulane Hotel, create memories and experience one-of-a-kind service that comes from the heart!

Location: The Blulane Hotel, 609 Tomas Mapua St., Binondo, Sta. Cruz, Manila.

For inquiries and reservations call The Blulane Hotel at (02) 777-2258

Email at reservations@theblulanehotel.com.

Visit Official Website: www.theblulanehotel.com