On rainy days, hugot lines and a bottle of Neosep

The rainy season is here again.

Along with it, we should start to prepare for the health and well-being of our family because everyone is prone to illness brought about by sudden rainfall, floods and other weather-related hassles.

Expect people to start to talk about their headaches, flu, cough and cold posts in their social media accounts and soon you might even find yourself joining the band wagon.

But what’s good about us Pinoy is that we find a way to inject fun in things we share online despite experiencing sore throats, clogged nose and a body temperature enough to use your armpits to re-heat those cold pizzas in the ref. Here are some hugot lines I created while bed resting in the house with fever and cold.

 

Got to share these hugots in the hope that some of you who are under the weather will be cheered up. After all, laughter is the best medicine, right? But of course, let’s be realistic, we need to at least intake some medicines to help our body recover fast especially when we need to finish our tasks, like this pending blog post.

Personally, one brand that I trust when it comes to fighting colds is Neosep. I’m sure you’ll agree. I’ve been a fan of this wonder tablet since high school because it never fails to help in bringing back my body and senses in tip-top shape. Of course, there were times that I also used other brands but always comes back to Neosep because “hiyang ako.”

How much do I trust the Neosep? Well, it’s the same brand I give to my 6-year old son whenever he has colds. We never have a hard time giving it to him because of its child-friendly taste compared to other syrup which we commonly describe as “lasang gamot.” I won’t be surprised if he’ll share the our family’s trusted brand to his future kids.

Know more about Neosep and other trusted products via www.unilab.com.ph.

Bonus hugot lines, you like?    

Tatay Momoy and his Good Old Hammer

I’ve met people who consider their nice-looking cars or thoroughbred horses as their prized possessions. Not my Tatay Momoy. For a simple man like him, his old but reliable hammer is his well-kept treasure. I want to share a story why I consider him as my unsung hero.

Tatay came here in Manila from Agoo, La Union in the late ‘60s as an innocent just-got-20-years-old man armed only with the tool he purchased using the money he have saved for years.

Good thing he easily got a job as a carpenter in Paco, Manila where he also met our future Nanay Conchit. To make the story short, they got married and had six children. I am the eldest and have witnessed how Tatay have raised this family for more three decades and counting, though thick and thin.

I still remember when time I got high grades when I was in third grade; he made me a wooden scooter that was the “in” thing during those times. When I was second honor in 2nd year high school, he built me a pigeon house for my pets.

Tatay Momoy: My Unsusng Hero with Nanay Conchit, son Charles and my wife Leah

Today, Tatay no longer works as a carpenter because he claims that he already lost his “carpentry skills.” I think that is just his way of denying rheumatism and arthritis.

But of all the great things Tatay has given me. The one that he did a few years ago, a month before my wedding, was the most memorable and touching of all. I just came home from work when Tatay approached me. He asked me to come with him and check something he made for the house I was building for my future family.

He led me to the kitchen and showed me a pink (favorite color of my wife) cabinet that he made under the kitchen sink. His voice sounded apologetic, “Pasensiya na anak ha? ‘Yan lang ang nakayanan ng Tatay. Wala pa kasi akong perang pambili ng wedding gift e.”

I know I wiped tears from my eyes that time but I did not show it to him because I felt it was kinda corny. Tatay Momoy, my unsung hero, personifies what we Filipinos call "husay at malasakit." I can’t help but smile when I saw a familiar fellow near the just finished cabinet --- the hammer that was used to build our home 30 years ago.

P.S. For the curious souls, below is a snapshot (almost) of the pink cabinet :-)

Do you have husay and malasakit to serve others?

Another Manic Monday to face today. As I was doing a laundry list of my things to do this week, an email from a colleague came in. He is one of our volunteers for an initiative that the NGO I am connected with is promoting.

This volunteer is actually an accomplished lawyer who shares his knowledge on labor law and other related topics for the monthly publication of our organization. He sounded apologetic in the email he sent, saying that he won’t be able to send a contribution this month because he needs to supervise the repairs on his retirement home in Visayas after it was damaged by a recent typhoon.

Every time I talk to this man, two words always come to mind: excellence and compassion (husay at malasakit). In many occasions, he has proven how brilliant his mind is and at the same time he has a heart to help people in need.

Incidentally, I saw this new TV commercial from Unilab showing their husay at malasakit thrust and hopes to influence as much as they can to the nation. This is a nice tribute to the people who have use their talent and skills in nation-building without waiting for anything in return.

CLICK THIS IMAGE TO SEE THE VIDEO

We have proven many times how resilient Filipinos are especially during various calamities that, if anything, have only strengthened our solidarity as a nation. Some event risked their lives to save others.

Unilab, being the biggest pharmaceutical company in the Philippines, believes in the power of husay at malasakit and has geared their company’s belief in this With all the many innovations they have created, the health and safety of the Filipino people are always at the core. 

If anything, Unilab believes in the spirit of genuine concern to make the lives of other people better. The company has been a trusted name from one generation to another across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. I can attest to this since I grew up using Unilab products from cough syrup to paracetamol to personal hygiene products and food supplements.

If only husay and malasakit are like vitamins that one can intake every day, our world could have been a better place to live in.

The Art of Pampering Your Mouth

Image credit: youbeauty.com

If you don’t notice it, the mouth is arguably one of the busiest parts of your body.

You eat at least three times a day (time spent munching depends on your appetite); talk to your family, friends, clients and people you encounter every day; kiss your partner or spouses (where? It’s up to you); and even in your sleep you snore (you can’t say no since how would you know you’re not making such noise while your sleeping?)

Now, how do you pamper such a busy “worker” aside from brushing your teeth three times a day (others might even miss a session or two). Well, I am not a dentist to share a list on oral care. Let’s just say I have been on the dentist chair that much that I have somewhat learned some stuff on how to have a healthy mouth.

Brushing, flossing, and rinsing are the 1-2-3 of oral health, but they're only the beginning. But there is more to squeezing a toothbrush tube and rubbing a hairy stick on your wisdom tooth. Here are some tips which I combined with some ideas I got from WebMD.com.

Visit your dentist at least twice a year. Here’s an #AstigTip: Look for a nice looking dentist or a dentist’s assistant that will make you comeback to the clinic. Of course, if you are married already, don’t tell your spouse that you got the idea from me.

Lessen your intake of softdrinks or soda. The two sure thing you’ll get from every can of soda aside from a burp: phosphoric acid and citric acid which are not so friendly for the surface of your teeth. Astig Tip: Every time you’ll open a bottle or can of soda, place a piece of Mentos gum inside it before you drink it. Whatever will be left inside your container is the right dose  for you.

Avoid sugar if you can. Sugar causes tooth decay big time. It fuels bacteria and acidity in your mouth, causing plaque to form and eat away at your enamel and gums.  Astig Tip: The next time you’ll make a coffee, don’t put sugar. Ask your crush or loved one to whisper sweet nothings to the cup. You’ll never know, after a while he/ she might even ask you, “Coffee, tea or me?”

Quit smoking. Nicotine and tar in cigarettes not only turn your teeth an unsightly shade of yellow, they eat away at your gums.  Even worse, tobacco chemicals can lead to oral cancer. Astig Tip: Keep the money you’ll save in every stick of cigarette you’ll avoid. After two years, you can now buy that hot and smokin’ motorcycle you’ve been eyeing for.

Rinse after brushing. Sometimes, brushing doesn’t get every germs and bacteria from your mouth. Astig Tip: If you hate that sting-like feeling using mouthwash, you can always try Swish Mangosteen Mint. It’s like minty meets fruity in this sparkling blend of mint and Mangosteen! The unique mint taste will give your mouth a refreshingly cool mint flavor.

Our friends from United Laboratories Inc. were kind enough to let us try Swish Mouthwash and definitely it is the Sure Way to Long Lasting Fresh Breath. it is an alcohol free mouthwash that helps kill bad breath causing bacteria and prevents plaque build-up, gum disease and tooth decay.  Powered by SureFresh Technology, Swish doesn't just cover up bad breath because it kills bad bacteria, prevents plaque and gingivitis for long-lasting fresh breath.

You can gargle 20 mL of Swish Mouthwash twice a day for 30 seconds for best result. Suggested Retail Price for it’s different sizes:  35 mL – P35; 60 mL – P46.75; 120 mL – P75; and 250 mL – P137.50. The product is easy to find because it is available in supermarkets, drugstores and convenience stores nationwide.

Another product of Unilab is Swish Breath Spray – instant fresh breath in 10 seconds.  With Swish, you are assured of long lasting fresh breath anytime, anywhere!

Protect yourself against bad breath this summer

School time is over and my son Charles is now egging me for an out-of-town trip. He wants to go to the beach or book in a hotel anywhere as long as there is a bath tub and/ or a swimming pool. He really loves water and summer.

We’re planning to go to Tagaytay next month and we have to plan it fast or we might not be able to book a good hotel room since it’s the peak season.  I think I better make a checklist or I might forget some important items.

You know what the first thing that came in my mind since we’ll be traveling around 5:00 am in the morning for our family trip? Deodorant and mouthwash!!!

You might catch me with my pants unzipped or wearing a pair of unmatched slippers but rarely with a body odor or a stinky breath.   I just think being an olfactory offender should be punished by law (opps, a lawmaker might read this and propose this as a bill). We only have one nose and when we smell something awful, we can’t even confront the person causing it because because.

I was talking to one of our security guards in our office this morning about his summer planes and he mentioned that he and his family will spend the Holy week in Laguna. Manong Fred Basa just had his breakfast when we chatted. I assumed that he’ll go grab a toothbrush after our conversation so I offered him a small bottle of Swish Mouthwash that I keep in my locker.

I asked him how was the experience and here is what he said: “May anghang siya sa bibig pero tama lang. Hindi nakakapaso tulad ng nagamit kong ibang brand dati.”

I also gave him a bigger bottle of Swish after the taste test/ review. He's very and said said he'll definitely use it since it's more convenient for his job that has limits for bathroom breaks. He can have a fresh and clean mouth anytime of the day inside his post. He'll also buy another bottle of Swish for family use and for their planned travel soon.    

Again, Swish Mouthwash has never failed me whenever I recommend it to friends, relatives and office mates. With Swish, they have assured fresh breath all day! Swish Mouthwash is available in compact sizes so you can use it at home, inside the bathroom or on the go.  There’s also Swish Breath Spray available in leading drugstore and supermarket. It is powered by Surefresh Technology that kills bad breath causing bacteria, plaque and gingivitis. This quality product of Unilab is guaranteed alcohol Free (safe to use every day) and assures an enjoyable gargling experience. Like https://www.facebook.com/SwishPhilippines for updates and great info about the product.

Swish Love with Fresh Breath

Valentine’s Day is a little different this year.

Yup, my wife and I had our traditional dinner date and exchanging of gifts and greeting cards. Only this time, we have five other pairs to share the table with. Let’s call it a group date.  We were joined by my wife’s siblings and their spouses in a pizza parlor in Gateway mall in Quezon City. The night was filled with laughter and my tummy with slices of thin crust goodies.

When we got home, I can still recall all the amusing stories we shared. I can still taste the spaghetti sauce in my mouth. Worse, I can still smell the scent of the onion toppings of the pizzas that I ate. Well, it only took me 30 seconds to solve the problem.

Good thing we have Swish Mouthwash, a quality product of Unilab, in our bathroom. It’s a alcohol-free oral care brand.  One unique thing about it is that it has SureFresh that helps fight bad breath, plaque and gingivitis for long-lasting fresh breath.  You can even have a different flavor of mouthwash per day since Swish has five great-tasting variants: Peppermint Fresh, Arctic Chill, Cinnamon Blast, Mangosteen Mint and Icy Choco Mint.

My personal favorite is Arctic Chill because of the exciting coolness it brings inside my mouth. I actually have a post about the minty level that every Swish flavor gives. Check HERE if you want to learn what variant will suit your need.

The following day, I was talking to my officemates about how they spent Heart’s day. Kuya Toto and Edward were excitedly sharing their story when I noticed something, smelled something to be precise. I can tell what they had over lunch based on the scent in the room. There’s definitely something fishy entering my nostrils so I offered them a couple of pocket size Swiss

I told them that since it’s alcohol free, it is safe to use every day and assures an enjoyable gargling experience. With Swish, they’ll definitely have fresh breath all day. It’s an essential product in every home and office. It’s a must inside the bathroom.

Here’s what my officemate has to say about Swish Mouthwash: 

Edward: “Swish taste good. It really tastes mangosteen. The taste and smell of the fish I ate for lunch was totally gone. My mouth feels very fresh now.”

Kuya Toto: “I like it. I can now kiss my wife even after eating as long I use Swish.”

Well, I am just happy that I was able to share love, or Swish love to be exact. As I always say to my friend, nothing can go bad if you have fresh breath.

Anti-Sakit, Anti-Liit syrup for kids: Let's drink to that!

It's always a music to my ears when people say that my son Charles is growing up just like me. Specially if it comes from people who basically know me since I was a kid.

But honestly, I do have some fears on my child following my footsteps. You see, I grow up to be prone to different illnesses. I had measles, chicken fox, polio and asthma. The last one is what my little Charles has been experiencing in the last four years. That's why we have a standby nebulizer at home.

The other thing I don't want him to inherit from me is my height. I want him to grew way way taller than my 5'3 length . Well, I can be 5'6 if I want to but I can't really move that fast with those elevator shoes.

During my younger years, my mom put her faith of improving my height on a margarine which she mixes in my rice every meal or as a sandwich spread inside a monay. Obviously, it was not enough and thus I just have to be contended with 160 centimeters.

Thank God for wonder vitamins these days, my son has better chances of avoiding sickness and being under height. Well, one product known today in the Philippines as the Anti-sakit, Anti-liit syrup is Ceelin Plus which uses the unique ZincPlusTM technology that combines Vitamin C and Zinc in a liquid format. Such combination results in a dual immunity boosting action and a stronger immune system.
  

 
Another nice thing about Ceelin Plus from Unilab is its fruity flavor, Apple to be exact, which means no more chase scene at home every time my toddler needs to take his dose of vitamins. My son absolutely loves its taste.

Less stress at home means quality time between parents and kids. Let's drink to that!