MILO invites kids to build an active world at home with the new Champions League Poster Adventure

Being at home has allowed families to share more bonding moments together. As parents and kids look out for new hobbies to stay busy, excited, productive, and active, MILO has introduced the MILO Champions League Poster Adventure. With every pack of the MILO 24g Champions League sachet, families have a chance to create their own active worlds at home and win exciting prizes such as laptops, tablets, and a year-long supply of MILO.

There are only 3 simple steps to join: Collect, Create, and WIN!

1. Collect.

Collect the MILO Champions League characters at the back of specifically marked MILO 24g sachets.

2. Create.
   Unleash your creativity and create your very own MILO Champions League poster, placing at least three (3) Champion character cut-outs in one (1) poster. Upload a photo of your finished poster by visiting the MILO Champions League website, or by scanning the QR code at the back of the sachet. 

3. Win!

Get a chance to win amazing prizes with each poster submission! The more posters, the more entries, and the more chances to win!

Each successfully approved poster qualifies as a single entry to weekly raffle draws, happening from November 1 to December 19, where participants can win:

• one (1) electronic tablet,
• one (1) MILO basketball, or
• one (1) month’s worth of MILO products with an estimated worth of Php250. 

Plus, all entries submitted during the promo period will also qualify participants to win the grand prize of:

• one (1) laptop,
• one (1) MILO mug,
• one (1) MILO basketball, and 
• one (1) year’s worth of MILO products with an estimated worth of Php 2,500. 

The grand draw for the MILO Champions League posters will be judged based on message/overall theme and story, use of characters and creativity of background in the poster, and the embodiment of the MILO brand in the poster. 

“MILO continues to be a constant partner for both parents and kids especially during this global health crisis. With the MILO Champions League Poster Adventure, we wanted to offer a creative, champion opportunity to get kids active, productive, and excited at home. While there are only a limited number of things we can do within four walls, our imagination and creativity are in fact limitless,” said Veronica Cruz, MILO Business Executive Officer, Senior Vice President, Nestle Philippines, Inc.

The MILO Champions League Poster Adventure also reminds parents that kids still need energy at home as they learn to balance online schooling with their chores and hobbies. When pairing their breakfasts with the country’s favorite powdered chocomalt milk drink MILO, parents are able to nourish their children with the nutritious energy they need to power through the day like a Champion.

Visit www.milo.com/ph/champions-league to learn more about the MILO Champions League Poster Adventure.

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About MILO® 

MILO has been in the Philippines for over 50 years and is the country’s favorite chocolate malt powdered milk drink that can be prepared with hot or cold milk or water.  The brand’s purpose is to nourish kids’ journey to success with nutritious energy and inspiration to grow with sports. 

Every mug of MILO contains the goodness of Milk, Cocoa, Malt, and Activ-Go® – a special blend of Protomalt®, Vitamins, and Minerals. It is high in Vitamins B2, B3, B6, B12, C, and Iron that helps in energy release from food. It is also a source of calcium, phosphorus, and Vitamin D that supports child growth and bone health. 

About Nestlé Philippines 

Over a hundred years after it first started operations in the country, Nestlé Philippines, Inc. (NPI) today is a robust and stable organization, proud of its role in bringing high-quality food and beverage throughout the stages of the Filipino consumers’ lives. The Company employs more than 3,200 men and women nationwide and is among the country’s Top 10 Corporations.  

Driven by its purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future, Nestlé today produces and markets products under some of the country’s trusted brands such as NESCAFE, NIDO, MILO, NESTEA, MAGGI, BEAR BRAND, NESTLÉ, and PURINA, among others. Its product range has expanded to include coffee, milk, beverages, non-dairy creamer, food, infant nutrition, ice cream and chilled dairy, breakfast cereals, confectionery, and pet care. 

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Stay Healthy, Stay Informed:Protecting Yourself from Prostate Cancer

Compared to the staggering numbers of COVID-19 cases over the past year, over 8,000 newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients in 2020 hardly made any statistical buzz. However, it is possible that the actual number is over 8,000 but patients exhibiting symptoms have not sought professional help and were not counted. According to medical experts, more proactive disease awareness and education is key.

As part of its advocacy to make Filipinos more aware of their healthcare needs, Johnson & Johnson (Philippines), Inc. continually and strongly supports activities that would better spread the right information about prostate cancer across the country. Activities such as the recent Usapang Prostate Cancer lay forum and Libreng Patingin teleconsultations spearheaded by the Philippine Urological Association, in partnership with the Department of Health, Philippine Society of Uro-Oncologists, and Cancer Warriors Foundation, Inc. Both events were held on Prostate Cancer Awareness Month last September. 

Led by the country’s top urologists, the Usapang Prostate Cancer webinar discussed how prostate cancer can be tricky to detect, as its more worrying symptoms only present themselves when it is already in its late stages, which makes it, ultimately, harder to treat. This characteristic is also why prostate cancer is responsible for the ninth highest number of cancer-related fatalities in the country, as reported by GLOBOCAN. 

“Prostate cancer tends to affect older men, particularly those 50 years old and above,” shared Dr. Erwin Benedicto, head of Medical Affairs of Johnson & Johnson’s (Philippines), Inc. “There are cases of younger males getting diagnosed with prostate cancer, but it is extremely rare. Another problem with prostate cancer is that its symptoms are largely invisible, easily mistaken by many as signs of aging.”

According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, there are usually no early warning signs for prostate cancer. However, in rare cases, these warning signs can include a need to urinate frequently and sometimes urgently, difficulty starting or holding back urination, weak or interrupted flow of urine, painful or burning urination, difficulty having an erection or painful ejaculation, and pressure or pain in the rectum.

It is also important to remember that urinary symptoms do not necessarily mean a person has cancer. Prostatitis and Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy, described as enlargement of the prostate, are diseases that can cause similar symptoms and are just as common as prostate cancer.

“The level of knowledge and awareness about prostate cancer in the Philippines is low despite the statistics,” said Raghu Krishnan, president of Johnson & Johnson (Philippines), Inc. “As a company in the business of caring, we have made it our mission to make information about the disease, including treatments and support, available to every Filipino family. Information alone can save many lives.” 

“While there is no known cure yet for prostate cancer, Johnson & Johnson Philippines is making great strides in fighting the disease. Our team of medical experts are continuously finding new ways to improve overall survival rate, prevent progression, and enhance the quality of life of patients. We are hopeful that one day, we can cure prostate cancer completely.”

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About Johnson & Johnson (Philippines), Inc.

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe good health is the foundation of vibrant lives, thriving communities and forward progress. That’s why for more than 130 years, we have aimed to keep people well at every age and every stage of life. Today, as the world’s largest and most broadly-based healthcare company, we are committed to using our reach and size for good. We strive to improve access and affordability, create healthier communities, and put a healthy mind, body and environment within reach of everyone, everywhere. We are blending our heart, science, and ingenuity to profoundly change the trajectory of health for humanity. Learn more at http://www.jnj.com. Follow us at @JNJNews.

Make Easy and Mouthwatering Dishes with USA Blueberries + USA Blueberries Recipes

Invitation to join A Blue Christmas – a Recipe Contest 

My kids love blueberries! Blueberry pancakes. Blueberry smoothies. Blueberry cupcakes. The list goes on. I simply put some blueberries in a bowl and they enjoy them as is, too. I love how I can easily include these berries in their meals. So, yeah, blueberries are always in my grocery list!

Blueberries are definitely a healthy food. They provide essential nutrients with a wide range of health benefits. Blueberries are low in sodium with virtually no fat. It is an excellent source of immunity enhancing-vitamin C, plus vitamin K and manganese for bone health, and dietary fiber for improved digestion. You get all that healthy goodness in just a handful of blueberries!

For quality blueberries, I always go for blueberries from the USA. During the summer season in the U.S., fresh blueberries are abundant. But year-round, frozen or canned blueberries are available in leading supermarkets and grocery stores here in the Philippines. 

Here are some ideas on how you can make easy and delectable dishes using blueberries:

1. Breakfast and Snacks

Use it in pancakes, waffles, and yogurt bowls. You can also make blueberry smoothies, trail mix, ice cream, and popsicles. 

2. Sauces and Jams

I recently discovered you can also make blueberry barbecue sauce! I have yet to try this and will share it with you once I do. You can also include blueberries in recipes for pork tenderloin, meatballs, chicken, pizzas, burgers, and sandwiches. It’s so versatile and nutritious! Blueberry jams, on the other hand, can be paired with your favorite bread or as a dip for your biscuits or crackers.

3. Pastries and Baked Goodies

You can never go wrong with blueberries mixed in with your favorite pastry and cake recipes. You can also use it to add flavor to your frosting or glaze. I’m not a pro in baking so I usually rely on cake mixes sold in grocery stores. I just follow the package instructions and add in blueberries to give it a twist and make it my own version.

I always have loads of fun in the kitchen when I’m prepping blueberries. So I’m sharing with you two easy recipes using pre-made mixes and USA Blueberries. Try it at home and enjoy!

USA Blueberries Butterscotch Loaf Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup USA Blueberries, canned
• 400 grams butterscotch cake mix 
• 2 pcs eggs, large
• ½ cup softened butter, unsalted

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 175°C/350°F.
2. Cream the softened butter. Add beaten eggs slowly while mixing.
3. Mix in butterscotch cake mix until well blended.
4. Fold in blueberries.
5. Pour batter into a greased baking loaf. Top with nuts or more blueberries (optional).
6. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted at the center comes out clean.

photo from USABLUEBERRIESPHL Facebook page

USA Blueberries Pancake

Ingredients:

• ½ cup USA Blueberries, frozen
• 200 grams complete pancake mix
• 1 cup water

Preparation:

1. Mix water and hotcake mix in a bowl until slightly lumpy.
2. Toss in blueberries.
3. Pour pancake batter onto a pre-heated, lightly greased pan.
4. Cook until bubbly then turn to cook the other side.
5. Top with more blueberries, syrup and butter.

Care to share your blueberry recipe? Join “A Blue Christmas – USA Blueberry Recipe Contest” and get a chance to win P5,000 worth of gift certificates. Click here for the mechanics: https://bit.ly/3FsPGsi. Deadline for submission of entries is on December 15, 2021. 

This post is a partnership with USA Blueberries in the Philippines. For more information on U.S. Blueberries, visit www.blueberrycouncil.org. Like & Follow USA Blueberries-Philippines on Facebook and Instagram for more blueberry fun, cooking tips, recipes, videos, and trivia.

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A Blue Christmas – USA Blueberry Recipe Contest

Get a chance to win P5,000 worth of gift certificates by sharing your unique and delectable dishes using USA Blueberries.

Mechanics:

• The contest is open to all Filipino citizens in the Philippines;  participants  must be at least  21 years of age. No purchase is required  to  enter  the  contest.             

• Post the photo/s of your USA Blueberry holiday dish using frozen and/or canned USA Blueberries on Facebook and Instagram.

• Post must include the full recipe and must mention and show the brand of USA blueberries used. 

USA Blueberries frozen brands: Farmer’s Best, Essential Everyday, and Earthbound

USA Blueberries canned brands: Duncan Hines (Comstock, Wilderness), and Michigan Made (Pie Filling, Heavy Syrup)

• Use the hashtags: #ABlueChristmas #USABlueberryRecipeContest  #USABlueberries #USBlueberriesPHL #MommyBloggersPH

• Tag @usblueberriesphl @mommybloggersph and @theprudentmama

• Participants may send multiple entries but can only win once.

• Deadline for submission of entries is on  December 15, 2021.  

• There will  be  ten  winners.  Entries  will  be  judged  based  on  the  following: 
  • USA Blueberry as main ingredient – 50  points
  • Originality – 25  points
  • Visual  Impact – 25  points

• Winners  will  be  informed  via  private  messages  and  announced  on  USHBC-Philippines’  social  media.

• Each winner  will  receive  gift  certificates  worth  P5,000. 

• The decision  of  the  judges  is  final.  All  entries  will  be  considered  property  of  USHBC-Philippines. 

Summit SuperSHEroes Come in Pink! 100+ Leaders of Breast Cancer Patient Groups Band Together

Last September 11, 2021, Olympic Gold Medalist Hidilyn Diaz surprised a group of Breast Cancer patient advocate leaders on the last day of the 2-day Patient Power Summit led and organized by the ICanServe Foundation Inc.

Olympic Gold Medalist Hidilyn Diaz with ICanServe Foundation Spokesperson Bibeth Orteza

A SuperSHEro herself, Diaz related her humble beginnings,  how she hurdled the  battles that got in the way of her dreams with the grace and determination of a champion’s heart.  Diaz emphasized, “Hindi ako sumuko. (I didn’t give up).” She said, the formula was simple “level up your game to reach your goal.” As a sports icon and an authentic leader in her field, she said  the goal should always be to become a  survivor and a victor.

In a gathering of cancer advocate leaders that represented 34 breast cancer patient groups from all over the country, the mission was beyond helping navigate a patient through wellness. “We continue to believe that early detection saves lives and we need to continue to make strides. But we also see the need to reach out and help each other, to share cancer resources, to work together to make an even bigger difference, to possibly come up with sustainable solutions for the breast cancer community,” Crisann Celdran, co-founder and Chairman of the ICanServe Foundation. She opened the summit with a call to the forerunners of the community to work closely together, elevate the advocacy and work towards speaking as one.

Crisann Celdran, co-founder and chairman of ICanServe Foundation

Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, founding Chairman of the ICANSERVE Foundation, pointed out this is a unique time in the health space where one witnesses the most number of  founders of cancer patient groups carving a new path. “It’s a historical moment in the cancer space, as we witness the evolution of a new frontier we call the patient movement. We’re all founders, pioneers, and first or second generation volunteers. We have to be navigators for each other, as we shape a future, free of cancer,” Alikpala said.

Cancer patient leaders in attendance belonged to organizations that were independently created, hospital based, or founded with the help of a cancer doctor or a socio civic group. Yet they all  shared the same concerns from psycho social, the drastic interruption in family life,  to financial, to lack of access to quality care and affordable or free cancer diagnostics, treatments, palliative and survivorship care. ICANSERVE President Nikoy de Guzman also observed they shared the same burning desire to serve, “walang survivor na hindi lumaban.” 

The patient leaders vowed they will not rest nor be complacent till breast cancer is diagnosed in its early stage cancer when it’s most curable, till every patient with cancer, no matter the stage, age, income bracket, religion, ethnicity, are given quality care and a chance to be with family for longer. Till seeing the end to breast cancer.

The Patient Power Summit was made possible and successful through the help of partner brands and organizations such as Bio-ONCO, AIA Summit, In the Pink, Pfizer Philippines Foundation, Nestle, Mondelez Philippines and Skincare for Hope.

To find out more information about how you can support breast cancer advocacy, like and follow the official ICanServe Foundation Facebook Page, www.icanservefoundation.org, and ICANSERVE on Instagram and Twitter.

U.S. Potato Kitchen opens fabulous food to delivery

Your U.S. potato cravings are about to be satisfied in the best way this season. Potatoes USA-Philippines has lined up some of the country’s finest chefs and their most sought-after dishes in a virtual kitchen of delights.

These Filipino master chefs are presenting a selection of their best potato dishes, using everything from U.S. fresh potatoes, frozen potatoes and dehydrated potatoes. If you aren’t among these chefs’ numerous followers, it’s time to get clicking and order your favorites for delivery.

Chef Kalel Chan, Corporate Chef of The Raintree Restaurant Group, presents Asian-inspired dishes Kimchi Potato Leeks Gyoza with Cheese, and Mapo Tofu Potato Cheese Fries. Whether appetizers or entrees, Chef Kalel will have these sumptuous innovations ready for your table.

Chef Victor Barangan, Executive Chef of Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, offers Potato Bibimbap for an elevated Korean dining experience; and Sushi Aburi. The renowned chef gets creative with his Korean Bibimbap, and delectable flame-seared sushi. Both dishes are made extra special with U.S. potatoes.

Better be hungry before ordering as Chef Noel Mauricio of the Tasteless Food Group, in turn, has created Korokke and Crunchy Potato Shreds Donburi and Hayashi Beef Casserole. These filling and beautiful Japanese dishes raise the notch in flavor and pleasurable dining.

Searching for desserts? Look no further than Chef Sonny Mariano’s sweetly balanced creations. Chef Sonny is the Pastry Chef of the Tasteless Food Group and has been serving up baked goodness for years. Take your pick from his Potato Bombolini (delicious Italian-style donuts), Potato Carrot Cake, and Vegan Choco Lava.

Ready to get ordering? Simply follow these U.S. Potato Kitchen-appointed culinary masters and Potatoes USA-Philippines on social media, click on the order links or scan the codes, and voila, prepare for an unforgettable meal.

Chef Victor: https://bit.ly/3BITi7Q or +639178210333
Chef Noel: https://bit.ly/3n2ZGCV or +639177077495
Chef Sonny: https://bit.ly/3ti7pxS or +639177005346
Chef Kalel: https://bit.ly/3jOUBfw or +639178826655

U.S. Potato Kitchen runs throughout the holiday season from October 1 to December 31, 2021. Let’s get ordering!

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U.S. Potato products are available in supermarkets and groceries nationwide. For more information on U.S. Potatoes, visit http://www.potatogoodness.ph or like and follow Potatoes USA-Philippines on Facebook and Instagram.

Live Safe with Defensil Isopropyl Alcohol

Now that kids are allowed to go out, extra precautions and safety should still be practiced. Did you also braved to go outside last weekend? We did! And of course we were extra careful with the help of Defensil Isopropyl Alcohol!

Defensil Isopropyl Alcohol encourages Filipinos to live safe with many establishments slowly re-opening and allowing people to resume their pre-pandemic lifestyles.

With the nationwide vaccination program in full force, Filipinos can slowly enjoy various activities such as more dining options as well as doing physical activities by going to the gym. However, health experts continue to remind everyone to not let their guards down even as we gradually go back to normal. 

As there are reports of new and potentially more contagious variants, everyone must remain vigilant through following established health protocols and getting vaccinated so we can all continue to live safe and prevent the cases from surging again.

That’s why when we do essential errands such as buying groceries, exercising outdoors, or simply going outside, disinfecting your hands and any surface you interact with goes a long way to ensure living safely for you and your family.

One way to prevent the spread of the virus is by always carrying a trusted rubbing alcohol brand that contains at least 70% alcohol solution whenever you go outdoors. 

Defensil 70% Solution Isopropyl Alcohol, the alcohol recommended by the Philippine Society for Microbiology (PSM), can kill 99.9% of common germs and bacteria starts to kill them on contact so that you can safely do the activities you love wherever you are. Defensil also provides up to 12 hours of protection upon constant use so that you are protected and do activities with ease.

Skin dryness from too frequent sanitizing will also not be a worry as Defensil has moisturizing properties and is hypoallergenic, giving you one less thing to worry about when going indoors. 

“We are 100% behind the government in their efforts to prevent further spread of the virus. Defensil encourages everyone to remain vigilant now more than ever and do our part in this fight towards eventually resuming our normal way of life by adhering to social Distancing and sanitation protocols, especially when doing essential errands outdoors,” shared Nikko Cruz, Brand Manager of Defensil Isopropyl Alcohol.

For more information on how to stay protected, you may visit the Defensil Isopropyl Alcohol’s Facebook page at facebook.com/defensil.philippines.

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*Defensil 70% Isopropyl Alcohol was tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli or E. coli and Candida albicans

Grab PH, theAsianparent Philippines to enrich parents’ shopping experience on everyday essentials

• Grab PH and theAsianparent Philippines teams up to offer exclusive GrabMart vouchers via theAsianparent app

• The exclusive vouchers are applicable for shopping on GrabMart from October 29 to December 31, 2021

• theAsianparent app users can redeem 5 different types of GrabMart vouchers including free delivery and discounts of up to P400 off per minimum purchase of P1000

Grab, the Philippines’ leading superapp, teams up with theAsianparent, the largest content and community platform for parents in Southeast Asia, to offer Filipino parents exclusive GrabMart shopping vouchers via theAsianparent app. 

From October 29 to December 31, 2021, all users of theAsianparent app in the Philippines can enjoy as much as P300 off at GrabMart, while members of theAsianparent VIP Community can get as much as P400 off. By using the points they accumulated on theAsianparent app, Philippine-based users can redeem the following GrabMart vouchers:

• Welcome Promo: Free delivery, no minimum purchase, open to new users of theAsianparent app (until 2 weeks from signup)
• Silver Voucher: P100 off, minimum purchase of P500, open to all theAsianparent app users
• Gold Voucher: P200 off, minimum purchase of P500, open to all theAsianparent app users
• Platinum Voucher: P300 off, minimum purchase of P1000, open to all theAsianparent app users
• VIP Voucher: P400 off, minimum purchase of P1000, open to theAsianparent VIP Community members

Download theAsianParent Philippines app now and score these amazing deals.

“We launched GrabMart out of our deep desire to help Filipinos cope through the toughest periods of the pandemic by providing them with an online platform where they can shop for their everyday essentials from the safety and comfort of their homes, and have it delivered to them within an hour. Since then, we continue to innovate and enhance the service to provide everyday value to our consumers and partners,” says Grab Philippines Head of Deliveries Anton Bautista.

“We have teamed up with theAsianparent Philippines to empower more Filipino households in their everyday grocery shopping journey, and we believe that more parents will truly benefit from our offerings – allowing them more time and energy for their families and loved ones,” adds Bautista.

Frances Ang, General Manager of theAsianparent Philippines, adds, “In this time of pandemic, Filipino parents have so much to worry about, from keeping their kids healthy and safe to making sure they have income to put food on the table and a roof over their heads. At theAsianparent, we do our best to provide Pinoy parents and parents-to-be with the means and know-how to have a healthy pregnancy and raise a healthy family, through well-researched parenting content, a supportive, non-judgmental community whom they can get advice from and share pregnancy and parenting experiences with, and even income opportunities through our VIP Community platform. Our partnership with Grab is another way for us to give Pinoy moms and dads one less worry, in the form of some savings to lighten the load on their household expenses.”

Residents in the Philippines can avail these exclusive GrabMart vouchers on theAsianparent app by following these three steps: 

1. Download theAsianparent app. 
2. Collect points by using the various app features and interacting with the community.
3. Redeem points to claim the vouchers by visiting the app’s Rewards section and selecting the GrabMart vouchers under the New User Promos and Groceries categories.

Available in both Filipino and English, theAsianparent reaches over 3 million unique users monthly via its website, while the app boasts a 4.9 star rating on Android and iOS and has over 1 million downloads in the Philippines. Download theAsianparent app on Android or iOS for free now and enjoy exclusive parent perks and shopping discounts.

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About theAsianparent Group

theAsianparent is the largest parenting community in Southeast Asia with a community of over 35 million mothers. Available in 11 languages across 13 countries, theAsianparent aims to help parents have healthy pregnancies and raise healthy, happy, confident children. theAsianparent investors include: Fosun International, JD.com, Mirae Asset-Naver New Growth Fund, Vertex Ventures, and SCBx10.

For more information, please visit: corporate.theAsianparent.com

About Grab

Grab is a leading superapp in Southeast Asia, based on GMV in 2020 in each of food deliveries, mobility and the e-wallets segment of financial services, according to Euromonitor. Grab operates across the deliveries, mobility and digital financial services sectors in over 400 cities in eight countries in the Southeast Asia region – Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Grab enables millions of people each day to access its driver- and merchant-partners to order food or groceries, send packages, hail a ride or taxi, pay for online purchases or access services such as lending, insurance, wealth management and telemedicine, all through a single “everyday everything” app. Grab was founded in 2012 with the mission to drive Southeast Asia forward by creating economic empowerment for everyone, and since then, the Grab app has been downloaded onto millions of mobile devices. Grab strives to serve a double bottom line: to simultaneously deliver financial performance for its shareholders and a positive social impact in Southeast Asia.

(www.grab.com) 

Mind Your Back: What may seem like your usual back pain can be Axial Spondyloarthritis

A mysterious backache could mean a lot of things. It could simply be from overuse or a small injury, or it could also be a telltale sign of Axial Spondyloarthritis.

Axial Spondyloarthritis is an inflammatory disease of the axial skeleton and it can cause significant pain and, possibly, complete disability if not treated. It is also a highly heritable disease, so families with a history of arthritis are at higher risk.

Axial Spondyloarthritis typically starts in early adulthood, even referred to by some as the “disease of the young.” Global studies reveal that there is an average diagnostic delay of 7 years for most patients, primarily because Axial Spondyloarthritis presents itself only as persistent pain in the lower back during the first few years. During this time, however, the disease would have already progressed, leading to irreversible damage.

It is for this reason that Johnson & Johnson (Philippines), Inc. (J&J) has partnered with the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Rheumatology Association (PRA), and Axial Spondyloarthritis Association of the Philippines (ASAPh) to create greater awareness for Axial Spondyloarthritis, and encourage suspect patients to seek medical help.

The importance of catching the disease early

The lack of awareness among the public and the lack of familiarity with the disease among primary care providers have resulted in fewer referrals to specialists and delay in diagnosis of patients.

“Axial Spondyloarthritis is fairly common and so are its symptoms,” said Dr. Bernadette Manapat-Reyes, chair of the Philippine Rheumatology Association for Spondyloarthritis. “The most common symptom is prolonged pain in the lower back. Some people also experience pain in the hips, swelling of joints, episodes of eye inflammation, and even weight loss.”

“While there is no permanent cure for Axial Spondyloarthritis, its symptoms can be managed and the speed of its progression can be reduced with early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.”

At best, Axial Spondyloarthritis can be managed with regular exercise and physical therapy. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, and injectable biologics can also be used to help stop inflammation in patients.

“Together with DOH, PRA, ASAPh, and J&J, we conducted a lay forum last July 22 entitled Inflammatory Back Pain: Ating Suriin, Ating Alamin! to educate more Filipinos about chronic and debilitating conditions such as Axial Spondyloarthritis. We frequently distribute reference materials too, so that more people would become aware of the complications that follow this chronic, inflammatory rheumatic disease if not acted upon immediately. It is also PRA and ASAPh’s plea to make medications more accessible to patients in need,” added Dr. Reyes.

“We know Axial Spondyloarthritis has an early onset, but life doesn’t have to stop when it happens,” said Dr. Erwin Benedicto, head of Medical Affairs at Johnson & Johnson (Philippines), Inc. “If you have been experiencing symptoms of Axial Spondyloarthritis, it is very important that you see a specialist immediately. You shouldn’t delay this because the disease can be crippling if left unchecked.”

“Axial Spondyloarthritis is a lifelong condition that may affect you differently at different times. Creating a treatment plan with your rheumatologist can greatly help in dealing with the challenges that come with living with Axial Spondyloarthritis.”

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About Johnson & Johnson (Philippines), Inc.

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe good health is the foundation of vibrant lives, thriving communities and forward progress. That’s why for more than 130 years, we have aimed to keep people well at every age and every stage of life. Today, as the world’s largest and most broadly-based healthcare company, we are committed to using our reach and size for good. We strive to improve access and affordability, create healthier communities, and put a healthy mind, body and environment within reach of everyone, everywhere. We are blending our heart, science, and ingenuity to profoundly change the trajectory of health for humanity. Learn more at http://www.jnj.com. Follow us at @JNJNews.