We have recently heard a lot of inspiring stories of random individuals and groups that have come together to help Filipinos from all walks of life in times of great need. Indeed, it has touched our hearts to know that in these trying times, Filipinos can come together with one voice and with one spirit.

With so many winning acts that are done selflessly in the country this year, Medicol Advance would like to thank and pay tribute to these people who have gone out of their way to help other people and communities.
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Losing weight can improve one’s health in many ways. As little as 10% weight loss can make a lot of difference on how a person will feel on a daily basis. Which is why, when Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks embarked on a weight loss face off, two gentlemen readily accepted the challenge!

For eight weeks, two deejays from Magic 89.9, Joseph Paul Javier, aka Mojo Jojo, who co-hosts Goodtimes with Mo, and Eric Virata aka Slick Rick of Boys Night Out gamely got into the challenge on who can lose more weight. The challenge had a yummy twist to it and not just your usual rigorous workout and diet regimen. The yummy twist? To easily burn fats, both challengers were to have three servings of Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks daily!

Slick Rick’s Story

I have to say that I’m a happy- go-lucky guy, but of course there are times that I have insecurities about my weight and appearance. I envy the people that can lose weight really quick and I’m not part of that lucky group. With the Weight-Loss Face-Off Challenge, I don’t skip a day that I don’t have at least 2 or 3 servings a day of Fit ’n Right Fruit Snacks. It’s my guiltless way to have something sweet. I don’t want to be the fat guy anymore. I want to be confident and not worry about my weight. With 20 pounds lost for just 8 weeks because of Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks and regular exercise, I would keep the weight off even after the challenge has finished. I’d like to show off to the public that if I can do it, they can do it as well. I wouldn’t want to revert to the old me and I want to be a new person. Thanks to Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks for giving me back my confidence!

Mojo Jojo’s Story

When I was a teenager, I used to be quite athletic. However, when college came along, I found that my physical activities took a back seat to studying and hitting the books. Then when I started working, I really let myself go. And with my metabolism no longer that of a teenager, shedding the extra weight became more difficult. When they weighed me in at the beginning of the challenge, I was really shocked that I have ballooned to 183 pounds! It was a realization for me that I really had to change my lifestyle… more so than the reason of “just looking good”—it was time to think about my health. Healthy snacking played a big part in my weight loss. Instead of chowing down on fatty food, I really got into the habit of eating Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks whenever I felt that snacking urge. Whenever listeners would call into our radio show and make comments about how much weight I have been losing and that I looked better, it reaffirmed that all my hard work was paying off.

While Mojo came out with an impressive 17 lbs weight loss, Slick Rick lost a total of 20 lbs. making him the winner of the weight loss face off!

If the two deejays are happy, their family and friends are happier. Listeners of their station call in to say that they have been inspired by Mojo Jojo and Slick Rick. They are also saying that they would not mind undergoing the same regimen because of the healthy snacking alternative offered by the New Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks. Health experts agree and added that eating the right foods with regular exercise like brisk walking can definitely help lose or maintain one’s weight. Working out in a gym (thanks to Gold’s Gym for supporting our challengers!) is ideal but to those who do not have the time or resources, fitness need not be costly.

Snacking on Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks daily made the challenge easier. Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks is not just delicious but it is also healthy and helps you burn fat while you snack. Now, they admit that not only do they look good, but they definitely feel good, as well.

So, to everyone out there, there is no need to put off snacking because of the additional calories. Now you can snack all you can and still look good with the New Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks. It is the only low calorie snack with 300mg of L-Carnitine that is clinically proven to burn fat! Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks is made with real fruits and it has no added sugar. So why starve yourself when you can enjoy a delicious snack that helps you stay fit while on the go? Ask Mojo Jojo and Slick Rick, they will agree for sure that Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks is the “Snack to burn!”.

Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks are available in all leading supermarkets. Choose your variant – Mixed Fruit, Pineapple or Pine-Orange. Suggested retail prices are P 25.00 for Mixed Fruit and Pineapple and P28.50 for Pine-Orange. All variants are available in convenient single serve cups with spork.

The Department of Health announced that they will distributea total of P10-million worth of morphine for cancer patients in its 27 hospitals. According to them, government policies on the use of morphine for medical purposes should be relaxed to prevent ailing persons from suffering unnecessary pain. According to Dr. Ivanhoe Escartin, program manager of the DOH’s Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program, morphine will initially be given to cancer patients in 27 DOH hospitals for two months. This would be a great news for all the cancer patients who suffered too much pain from their chemotheraphy sessions and complications from their illness.

DOH chief epidemiologist Dr. Eric Tayag confirmed that the government has not stopped preparing for the second wave of Influenza A(H1N1) pandemic as the The World Health Organization urged people around the world not to let their guard down against the possible 2nd wave of this virus as autumn approaches. According to WHO director general Margaret Chan, the second and third waves in previous pandemics were even more deadlier than the first wave. For now, there were no reported A-H1N1 cases yet as the virus became mild in nature. It is also our responsibility to protect our selves from this dreaded disease by preventing it.

Singer and Actress Geneva Cruz shocked the media when she posed totally naked as part of her campaign for PETA ( People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ) and gladly let the media see just what she meant that the best way to show fellow animals respect is to go vegetarian. Geneva was just wearing only cut-out letters, resembling a butcher’s diagram normally displayed in a supermarket’s meat section. She also held a sign that read: “All Animals Have the Same Body Parts. Go Vegetarian”. Meanwhile, Jason Baker, director of PETA Asia Pacific explained the campaign and how they got Geneva to be a part of it. According to him, Vegetarianism is not just about being young and sexy, it’s for everyone and Geneva is one beautiful example.

Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez underscored the importance of breast milk to ensure the good health of babies. This was after he issued a strong call to all concerned parties to further intensify the campaign on breastfeeding for infants. According to him, study shows that only one in two mothers exclusively breastfed for two months or less. He also added that the government and various NGO’s must strengthen and deepen its efforts to promote breast milk for babies. Meanwhile, DOH is implementing Executive Order 51 or the Philippine Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes or Milk Code and Republic Act 7600 or the Rooming-in and Breastfeeding Act. Under this code, it helps in the safe and adequate nutrition of infants by protecting and promoting breastfeeding and also calling for the intensification of the dissemination of information on breastfeeding and proper nutrition.

Former President Corazon Cory Aquino passed away early today from a long battle against cancer. According to Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. “Our mother peacefully passed away at 3:18 am of cardio-respiratory arrest”.

Here are some personal information about the late Cory Aquino:

Born: January 25, 1933
Birthplace: Paniqui, Tarlac, Philippines
Party: United Nationalists Democratic Organizations
University: College of Mount Saint Vincent and Far Eastern University
Spouse: Benigno Servillano Aquino, Jr.
Fact 8: Four daughters and one son
President from February 25, 1986, to June 30, 1992
Died: August 1, 2009
Battled cancer that spread from her colon to her liver
Husband was assassinated
First female president of the Philippines
First female president in Asia
Time Magazine “Woman of the Year” in 1986

Conjoined Twins that was born last July 28 at the Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital was being monitored by doctors because of their condition. According to Dr. Melissa Juico, new born unit Chief, the babies were so weak and is now under strict observation at the neo-natal care unit. Their parents, Chaterin Arciaga, 29, and Salvador Arganda, Jr., 30, a tricycle driver, were really worried about their children’s condition. The babies had two heads and two hearts but with only one body. The doctors admitted that it is impossible for them to separate the twins as they doubted the baby’s chances of survival. Meanwhile, their parents were appealing to help them with their financial needs.

A new Executive Order that will impose the Maximum Drug Retail Price was signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday on the five drugs that does not comply with the recommendation of DOH and DTI. These drugs are the ones which did not voluntarily comply with the 50% percent price cut as recommended by the imposition of MDRP. It includes medicines for anti-hypertensive, anti-cholesterol, anti-biotic/anti-bacterial and anti-neoplastics/anti-cancer medicines. These rates will take effect this coming August 15, 2009.

A Filipina OFW who works in HongKong died from AH1N1 virus yesterday. According to Philippine Consul General to Hong Kong SAR Claro Cristobal, the 37-year-old female OFW from Tarlac was diagnosed with severe pneumonia on July 7 and confirmed by Hong Kong health authorities as a serious case four days later. She is survived by her husband and their six month-old son who reside in the Philippines. Meanwhile, the Consulate will be arranging the repatriation of the remains and ensure that the family receive all statutory and insurance benefits in due course.

As all milk products contains the famous Tagline; Breastmilk is still best for babies up to 2 years, some mothers does’nt know the real benefits of Mother’s milk. It happened specially for those 1st time moms or those who has early pregnancy. During pregnancy, a woman’s breast continues to produce colostrum, a yellowish substance that came outside the mother’s breast to be given to babies on his first feeding sessions. According to studies, colostrum consists of 50-percent T-cells (the ultimate soldiers of the immune system) where “transfer factor” is found. It also contains memory molecules that allows the immune system to recognize, respond and remember all foreign invaders of the body like viruses, bacteria, fungi and cancer cells. It is advisable to feed your babies with your own breastmilk on his few months of life before substituting it with a commercial milk to get the right nutrition he needs.

Another death toll was added to the number of patients who died from A-H1N1 as DOH reported the incident yesterday. DOH’s National Center for Disease Prevention and Control Dr. Yolanda Oliveros said that the two patients were a 74-year-old man and a 19-year-old man who had asthma who just died last week. According to Oliveroz, the older man had underlying illnesses like chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, emphyzema, hypertension, cardio-vascular disease and tuberculosis that caused his death. It was recalled that before the country’s first death from A-H1N1 was a 49-year-old woman who was working at the House of Representatives.

Did you know that researchers at the Medical College of Georgia found that 67 men and women with high levels of vitamin C in their blood had an average blood pressure reading of 104/65? . Even those with only 1/5 of vitamin C level showed a reading of 111/73. The higher the vitamin C dosage, the lower the blood pressure. You can take vitamin C in its natural form such as guava, kiwi, orange, papaya, strawberry, broccoli, grapefruit, green/red pepper, cantaloupe, sweet potato, lettuce, spinach and cabbage. It’s the best and natural way to stay healthy and live healthy.

A Pinay OFW is now on a critical condition because of swine flu according to a hospital spokesperson in Hong Kong. The 37-year-old OFW arrived in Hong Kong last June 28 to start her job as a domestic helper, but later on developed a sore throat and fever a day later. She was confined to United Christian Hospital last July 7 and is now in the ICU under critical condition. The maid’s pregnant employer underwent tests for the flu in the hospital and is now on a stable condition. According to the spokeswoman, It is the most severe swine flu case that Hong Kong has found.

Regine Velasquez recently admits that the reason why she’s not present in Charice Pempengco’s concert is because she had A-H1N1 virus. It was the first time that our local celebrity admitted of having the said virus. Meanwhile, she expressed her sincere apologies for Charice because of her condition that time. Regine took a two weeks rest and she recovered. She also advised that we must take good care of our immune system and take adequate rest and sleep to make ourself protected from virus.