Five financial fitness tips to get your accounts in shape

Everyone has been there – we pledge to lose weight, eat less, exercise more, gain muscle, and get enough rest. But it’s not just physical fitness that we need to mind. Financial fitness is just as important if we want to secure our well-being, quality of life, and of course, our future. Think it’s hard to get financially fit? Here are five easy steps from UTrade you can take to get started on this road.

Measure yourself. Just as you need to measure your vital statistics before any fitness regimen, it’s equally important to know where you stand on the financial scale. Take stock of your earnings, spending, debt, and investment and create a series of goals.

Save more. Weight gain happens when calories taken in are more than calories burned; conversely, savings decrease when money spent overtakes money set aside. Give up a daily or weekly item – it can be as simple as a daily coffee at a designer coffee house or a lunch out at work and replace them with homemade snacks. The savings can then be used for future goals, whether it’s for a trip or for your future.

Start investing. Gym memberships, workout outfits, even time off to get fit have their financial fitness equivalents. Start looking into investment products that can give more bang for your buck compared with a bank. UTrade is an online stock brokerage that allows you to invest in a variety of products depending on your budget and your goals.

Sunscreen and the City: Daylong’s Advocacy Towards Every Day Sun Protection Living Protected From the Urban Sun

It’s summer time and when there’s fun, there’s sun. It’s better to be prepared than sorry after all, we should love our skin. Exposure to the sun is not only when we are in beaches, but we experience it all day long.

It has been almost a year since Daylong first introduced its campaign for daily, cellular sun protection, advocating that sunscreen should be part of everyday skincare regimen. The trusted makers of Cetaphil launched Daylong to provide clinically-proven protection against the sun, all the way to the cellular and DNA level. With a state-of-the-art formula that has a uniquely light texture and a smooth finish, this Swiss brand successfully conveys its message for daily, deep, and complete solar defense.

While the whole city bustles in preparation for summertime, and for days of basking under the beautiful sun on some of the most exquisite local beaches, Daylong has been working quietly – preparing for something bigger. 

Staying true to its commitment of caring for the skin, whether the sun is out or not, Daylong conducted a study to reveal that the sun exposure in the city has the same intensity as at the beach. Using sun sensors that can detect UV radiation, Daylong has shown that the UV radiation in the city of Manila reaches the same level as on the beaches of Boracay.

“The concept of the study was to support our advocacy for daily sunscreen wear. Daylong is new in the game, but this is how we want to make an impact  – by undertaking a responsibility to provide daily sun care and protection that works even on a cellular level.” explains Jon Lee, Brand Manager of Daylong.

A Kitchen You’ll Love: Tips and Know-how

Whether it is a minor update or a total overhaul, you’ve got to put some love into your kitchen. The country’s favorite cooking gas, Solane, will walk you through on how you can add flair, style and function to the heart of your home.

“The kitchen is where homemakers spend most of the time preparing food for their families so it is important that we all improve its appearance—keeping it clean, organized, and safe for everyone,” said Ruben Domingo, Isla LPG chief executive officer.

Make a small kitchen feel larger

Do away with upper cabinets and install open shelves instead to make a cozy kitchen spacious. You can also make every inch of storage count with door-mounted shelves.

Add texture and a pop of color

Update ceiling tiles, ceilings, countertops, and cabinets with matching or complementing color schemes and textures. For example, ceiling tiles that mimic the look of antique tin tiles combine well with laminate floor surfaces. When it comes to kitchens, shades of red, yellow, white, and gray help create a warm and welcoming space. Blue, purple and green are not popular choices for these curb appetite.

Personalize

Have fun remodeling your kitchen by adding decorative adhesive-back labels to canisters and jars for sugar, spices and other ingredients. You can also paint a chalkboard on the inside of the pantry door for recipes or inspiring words.

Meet a Healthy New You This February

Avail free doctor consultations from The Medical City Hospital, The Medical City Clinics and Watsons Philippines at your favorite SM Malls

The Medical City CEO and President Alfredo R.A. Bengzon(right) joins Watsons Philippines Business Development Controller Jay Soliman (left) at the first run of the Healthy New You exhibit in SM Megamall.

The Medical City Health Network partners with Watsons to provide accessible healthcare to Filipino families with the Healthy New You mall events.

These mobile clinics provide needed medical consultations such as Cardiovascular Health, Adult Wellness, Women’s Health, and Pediatric Care.

Business venture turned philanthropic crusade to help, educate the poor: That's AITE

Helping people, the less fortunate, is natural for Filipinos, particularly those who have achieved their success from humble beginnings. Nilo S. Gret, a former Bank Executive and native of Tiaong, Quezon province, is one of those Filipinos. He pioneered the first technical school in Tiaong, Quezon, where it is helping local students pursue paying careers with TESDA backed certified training.

It started in 2008, when Nilo was approached during a social gathering by a closed business colleague from Tiaong, Quezon, who openly suggested to him the opportunity to be part of running this technical training school based in their hometown province. Nilo was hesitant at first, but with his educational background and working experience, he agreed to be a business partner of that school.

Nilo invested in what is now The Asian Institute of Technology and Education (AITE). "I decided to be part of that school (AITE) in the hope that it would be a vehicle for myself to help other young people get a better education locally, where most people would normally travel to Metro Manila to pursue a college degree," recalled  Nilo Gret.

Starting a healthy year

The year is still young and perfect for a fresh start. Have you made a resolution yet? If not, it might be a good idea to work on improving your health and well-being.

“The beginning of the year is a time for resolutions for many Pinoys. Usually at the top of our resolution list is the pledge to become healthier and fit. That is why many are keen on dropping bad habits and starting a new diet or fitness regimen,” says Dr. Nicky Montoya, president of MediCard Philippines.

Here are some tips to stay healthy throughout the year:

Stop smoking

Most Pinoys are aware of the bad effects of smoking, but the addictive nature of nicotine in tobacco makes it difficult to quit through willpower alone. Smokers can achieve a lasting abstinence from cigarettes through the help of clinical experts in smoking cessation clinics. These treatment centers are specialized to help smokers drop the habit and avoid subsequent relapse by using different techniques, like counseling, telephone and online support and safe pharmaceutical aids.

Ready, Set, Go! Spin to Greatness with the Infinity Nado

Do you remember the bey blade, the toy that was a hit to us when we  are younger. Now, a new toy similar to bey was recently launch and this toy is not just for our kids but for the whole family as well. It was exciting to feel that excitement again playing against younger generation and yet when it comes to this high tech toy, everyone is equal. The thing with this toy, it has RFID, you can compete to anyone in this world just as long as your toy has been scan. I had mine scan by the coaches when I got it so that I could compete to anyone and had my score registered as well every time I play. Well if you’re wondering what I am talking about, it's the Infinity Nado

So for the toy freaks out there, let's unite because the newest game that has been making waves all over Asia and the rest of the world is finally here in the Philippines. Prepare to spin your way to greatness with the all new Infinity Nado.

 

LATEST CRAZE. Infinity Nado tops are all set to be the newest toy craze in the country.  Meet your lovely Nado coaches: Coach Jessica, Coach Gem and Coach Angel and as they show you how to be a top Infinity Nado player. 

Infinity Nado takes gaming to a whole new level with its precision fighting tops that feature the latest in battle technology. Made by popular toy-maker Auldey, Infinity Nado tops are designed using advanced physics that revolutionizes and increases game play and competition.

How to keep your liver healthy

The liver is the biggest and one of the vital internal organs in the body. It performs numerous important functions, including the filtration of blood from the digestive tract, detoxification of chemicals that enter the body, metabolization of fats, and regulation of hormones and blood sugar levels.

But despite its important role, the liver is also one of the most abused body organs. “Throughout a person’s lifetime, the liver is constantly engaged in a cycle of damage, inflammation and cell death. Under normal conditions, it can repair and renew itself. But if it is injured faster than it is repairing, the damage can be irreversible and may lead to organ failure,” explains Dr. Nicky Montoya, president of MediCard Philippines.