Saturday, September 30, 2017

Ramen Nagi Manila Opens at Solenad 2, Nuvali


I am a big fan of noodles and Japanese noodles in particular because of its unique taste and flavor which suits the picky eater me. But since I live in the province, at times just to satisfy my cravings I have to travel all the way to the Metro and endure the long queues at Japanese restos.

Well I am so glad now because recently Ramen Nagi Manila opened its 16th restaurant at Nuvali. Oh! What a relief, I no longer need to travel for hours and their new place is somewhat more convenient for me to go. I can be there anytime to satiate my appetite more often.


What I like most with Ramen Nagi is that you can customized your ramen, any which way you want. On your table there is a ready check-list with boxes and description that you can just tick. And they will have your ramen prepared the way you want it. But if you’re a first-timer and not sure about anything, just check the “Chef Recommendation” box to go for the standard way, their chef will take care of it and next time, you’ll know which taste to adjust.


They have four standard ramen – Butao King, Black King (garlic, squid ink), Red King (Spicy) and the Green King (basil,cheese).


When we went there with some friends on the soft-opening day, I go for the basic which is my usual preference, nothing more nothing less because I can’t endure spicy taste and I’m also not fond of food with so-rich flavors. I just made sure, the shoulder pork belly cut was there.


Along with your ramen, there are also available side dishes like the Pork Katsu Roll, Chicken Karaage, and the Aurora Shrimp which we ordered. YOu may also opt for additional tamago (egg) and the nori (seaweed sheet).



You need not go in hurry to consume your ramen because the delicious taste and flavor will always be there up to the very bottom of your bowl, even when the broth cooled down a bit. Because they have big serving (yah! Its already too big for me), I am just always slowly enjoying everything.

Like and follow Ramen Nagi Manila on Facebook and Instagram for more of your favorite Japanese ramen.

Their Nuvali store is located at Solenad 2 Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna (just near the newly built Ayala Mall, facing the national road going to Tagaytay).

Thursday, September 28, 2017

PSBank wins back-to-back for excellence in Customer Experience



Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank), the thrift bank arm of the Metrobank Group, is the only Philippine bank recognized at the recently held Customer Experience Asia Excellence Awards for its exceptional customer experience strategy. The Awards ceremony, organized by the International Quality and Productivity Center, was held in Marina Bay Sands in Singapore last Sept. 12, 2017.
The Bank bagged third place (Bronze Award) for both the Customer Experience and Best Customer Experience Team categories for the second straight year. It also received an Honorable Mention for the Best Social Media Strategy category. 

It is the only Philippine bank that joins the big boys league composed of DBS Bank Ltd., Maybank, CIMB Niaga, Singtel, Dell, Mumbai International Airport, Ping An Group, Orchard Turn Developments Pte Ltd. , Central Provident Fund Board and Mobitel—companies that were recognized for delivering exceptional customer service in the Asian region.

“As the banking industry’s landscape continues to transform at an unprecedented pace due to technology and different customer demands, the one thing that remains constant is customers continue to value exceptional service. At PSBank, providing the best customer experience has been at the forefront our business. The Bank recognizes that understanding the customers, their needs, and providing a unique experience that puts them at the center of what we do is vital to sustain our existence,” said SVP and Marketing Group Head Emmanuel Tuazon.

“These awards are testament that we are in the right path of our journey in providing exceptional customer experience to our clients. And for that, we are simply grateful,” he added.

The Best Customer Experience Award category honors and recognizes organizations that promote an exceptional end-to-end customer experience by putting their customers at the heart of every process, people and technology. Meanwhile, the Best Customer Experience Team category recognizes the group of individuals who have provided interactive and friendly customer service through face-to-face and different touch points to create excellent customer experience for their organization. The Best Social Media Strategy category acknowledges companies that use social media as a strategic channel for excellent customer interaction, engagement, service support, marketing and sales promotion leading to a seamless end-to-end omnichannel customer experience.

About PSBank
PSBank is a key player in the Philippine consumer banking industry. The Bank emerged as the 2nd strongest bank in the Asian Banker's AB500 annual ranking 2016-2017 edition. PSBank is the only savings bank that has consistently cornered a spot in the list of the top 10 strongest banks in the country for six consecutive years. We have expanded our network to 250 branches and more than 600 ATMs nationwide.


About Customer Experience Awards
Customer Experience Awards is born out of a simple vision; to create an event which will honor the highest level of achievement in customer experience across the Asian community. Presented at our flagship Customer Experience Asia Summit, the Awards pay tribute to organizations and inspiring role models that lead the way. These Awards form the industry’s benchmark and provide an opportunity for CX professionals to gain recognition for their achievements and initiative. Judged by an Executive Panel of experts, each Award will celebrate the success of pioneers in the space of Customer Experience.

This year, the award-giving body received 148 entries across 12 awards categories.

Saturday, September 16, 2017

THE DANGERS OF SIDE EFFECTS PRESENTED AS MAIN EFFECTS


In the medical world, proper use of words is highly called for because a simple mistake could complicate things usually unwanted for the patients. Because this field has full of jargons that mostly are too technical to not easily be sifted and digested by the general public, putting them in a layman’s term is indeed helpful.

A good example of which are the words “side effect” and “main effect”. These, are more often than not, interchanged or used instead of the other. Doing so is not just wrong but also dangerous to the people’s health. 

A side effect of any substance pertains to the result beyond the main or primary action that is intended by the physician giving drug prescription. The doctor, likewise, foresees this extra consequence. 

For instance, the patient might not be conscious of the side effect of unwanted hair growth elsewhere on the body while using vasodilator drug called Minoxidil to treat hypertension. The physician, nevertheless, is very well aware about it, as well as other implications, such as burning or irritation of the eye, itching, and redness or irritation at the treated area. By and large, doctors suggest that patients should ignore the side effects unless serious and often alert the sick persons about their likelihood. 

But not all the side effects are boon. They are bane, too, hence, they are often used as a therapeutic benefit in the pharmaceutical industry. Like the Minoxidil which, initially was developed to treat high blood pressure. People taking it reported an unusual side effect: Hair began to grow on various parts of their bodies. In this case, the downside of the drug is controlled and employed for a beneficial and therapeutic effect judiciously. It is noted that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved prescription of two percent (2%) Minoxidil topical solution for hair loss in men in 1988 and for women in 1992.

An adverse effect, on the other hand, is identified as an outcome wherein the reaction occurs over and beyond the main and wanted action of a medicine. Both the physician and the patient don’t know about it as a consequence of taking such treatment. It can happen simply due to incorrect dosage. Undesirably, this is very harmful as it can exacerbate the prognosis of the disease. Occasionally, if the adverse effect is too serious, there might be a need for hospitalization.

Just like the Sildenafil Citrate— a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Its most common adverse reactions (≥ 2%) include headache, flushing, dyspepsia, abnormal vision, nasal congestion, back pain, myalgia, nausea, dizziness and rash. Patients should seek emergency treatment if an erection lasts over four hours. Patients should stop Sildenafil Citrate and seek medical care if a sudden decrease or loss of hearing and also that of vision in one or both eyes.

Since side effects paired with adverse effects can be fatal and need to be reversed or given antidote immediately, a very extra cautious effort not to interchange them with the main effects in the prescription process must be always observed. After all, it’s the lives of patients at stake here. 

It’s ironic to note that people who seek treatments for their ailments or to prolong their lives become sicker or morbidly end up six feet underground simply because of such medical error. So, it’s still best to deal with health conditions like hair loss the natural way, especially with NOVUHAIR that offers the safe and natural effects. 


With 19 natural ingredients—mostly standardized herbal extracts, essential oils and co-factor nutrients—it does not only help prevent the hair loss malady, but also aid in stimulating growth of the “crowning glory.” Set aside those chemical-based topical scalp solutions out there. Choose natural, choose NOVUHAR!

Join NOVUHAIR’s survey and win tickets to the musical SOUND OF MUSIC staging at The Theatre Solaire from September 27 to October 22. For more information, visit Novuhair’s Facebook page: Novuhair Official.

                
NOVUHAIR is available at Mercury Drug and other leading drugstores nationwide. For more information visit www.novuhair.com, like the brand’s official Facebook Page, Novuhair Official, and follow on Twitter at @NovuhairNatural. You may also call NOVUHAIR hotlines at 4136570 and 09228830575 and order online through lazada.com.ph and regaloservice.com.

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Award-winning Marvel Creative Day Out to stage its second year in the Philippines Opens entries for Marvel-inspired creative art, fashion, and product designs



MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The award-winning Marvel Creative Day Out is back! In partnership with the National Commission of Culture and the Arts, this one-day Marvel creative and inspirational event, planned for September 25 at De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde, will take you closer to your favorite epic stories of Marvel Super Heroes. This year’s event will not only showcase the world of Marvel comics but also fashion and other product designs for the first time.


Marvel Creative Day Out will continue to showcase local talents with acclaimed Filipino Marvel artists. Back for the second year, Leinil Francis Yu, penciller for comic books “Secret Invasion” and “The Avengers” and Harvey Francis Tolibao, penciller for comic books “Iron Man” and “X-men” will once again share the stage with Marvel Asia’s VP of Brand Development C.B. Cebulski to share the dynamic Marvel Universe that has evolved from a comic-book brand to the global entertainment brand that it is now. Allen Au-Yeung, VP of Creative for Disney China, will also visit here for the first time to share how Marvel stories and characters come to life in fashion and product design. 


Whether you’re a fan, an artist, or a designer (fashion/product), Marvel invites you to be a part of this ultimate celebration by expressing your love for the brand in the form of your creative work, which will be showcased in the event’s exhibition. Get creative with your Marvel submissions - anything from sketches, paintings, sculpture, installation, digital art, fashion designs in clothing and accessories or products designs. Submissions are open until September 15. To submit, you can go to: http://bit.ly/2wekNoU

Stay tuned for more details on the inspiring talks and workshops at Marvel Creative Day Out 2017. See you on September 25 for yet another celebration of Marvel creativity!

Unilever and PCIEERD explore possible partnership



A team of research and development specialists from Unilever Philippines visited the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) explore areas for possible research collaboration particularly for the production of new products or improvement of existing with S&T innovations.

The team was led to facilities that they can access for their R&D activities, namely:

• Advanced Device and Materials Testing (ADMATEL)

• Nanotechnology Laboratory (NANOLAB)

• Food Innovation Center (FICs)

• Packaging Technology Division in ITDI

• Electronics Product Development Center (EPDC)

• Innovation Center for Yarns and Textiles (ICYT)

• Modular Innovation Center for Oils, Blends, and Sauces

PCIEERD Executive Director Carlos Primo David facilitated the discussion on possible partnership, stating that the Council is now geared to having more interaction with the industry to make sure that government resources will be put in good use.

In general, collaboration with DOST could start in addressing Unilever's current challenges in the food and personal care sections, that is in nutrition content and use of local flavors and ingredients.

DOST-PCIEERD and Unilever Philippines are yet to set another meeting to further discuss the possible collaboration.


Also on August 1, a facility tour was conducted for exchange students from Tokyo Tech High School of Science and Technology and De La Salle University-Integrated School to explore the current trends in research areas related to energy production and its impacts to the environment.


Wednesday, September 6, 2017

When Sharing Isn’t Caring


PSBank reminds everyone to keep your personal information close!!!




Filipinos comprise one of the largest digital communities in the world. We thrive on increased connectivity and communication, primarily via social media. It has never been easier to share content online as it is today, from articles from our favorite sites to moments from our everyday lives. 

With increased sharing, however, comes a bigger target on your back, which cybercriminals will be happy to hit. They are always on the lookout for any bit of personal information that they could abuse. Your identity might get stolen, huge loans might get credited to your name without your knowledge, and your whereabouts can be traced, leaving you vulnerable to all sorts of crimes.

As such, PSBank reminds everyone that it is important to review the information that we share and post online. Moreover, the Bank says that it is also equally crucial to safe keep personal and financial records properly. 

Here are some tips on what you can and cannot share in a public domain: 

● Never post photos of valid Identification Cards online. Once scammers and cybercriminals get hold of a photo of any of your valid IDs (e.g. PRC, TIN, SSS), they can use your personal information in these IDs to apply for big loans. Keeping photos of your IDs in your phone is also discouraged.

● Do not fill up your profiles. While it becomes more convenient from your friends and relatives to know your whereabouts if you post your address and contact details, you also leave yourself vulnerable to hackers and criminals. Also avoid posting your complete birthdays, your exhaustive employment history, and your complete family lineage in social media.

● Refrain from posting all of your travel plans or photos, particularly while you are still in the middle of your trip. Not only do you let potential cybercriminals know your current location, you also indirectly tell them that your home residence is currently unattended and vulnerable. Just share some (not all) of your photos after you have arrived back home. 

● Do not post photos of extravagant or expensive purchases. Yes, buying that dream car or watch may be a fulfilling experience that makes you happy, but don’t get so excited that you act carelessly. Posting indicators of wealth attract scammers and criminals. 

● Protect your medical records and information. Cybercriminals may use your personal medical details to gain benefits for themselves—drug purchases, false insurance claims—and you may end up paying for all of these. Do not post any medical details online, and properly dispose medical records, prescriptions, and other similar documents. 

● Properly dispose receipts, pay slips, bank statements, and other similar documents. Shred or dampen these documents, or do anything that could make the details unreadable. 

● When going out, bring only the necessary cards, IDs, and/or official documents. It is unwise to stuff all your cards in one wallet. Bring only what you need for the day. 

We live in an increasingly connected world where information is created and shared at a fast pace,” says PSBank First Vice President for Information Security Dan Jose D. Duplito. “We must be wary of information we carry with us and post online, because even one small personal detail could become the last missing piece that fraudsters need to compromise your identity or online accounts," he added.

About PSBank

PSBank is a key player in the Philippine consumer banking industry. The Bank emerged as the 2nd strongest bank in the Asian Banker's AB500 annual ranking 2016-2017 edition. PSBank is the only savings bank that has consistently cornered a spot in the list of the top 10 strongest banks in the country for six consecutive years. We have expanded our network to more than 250 branches and more than 600 ATMs nationwide.

Together Again: Scholar-Graduates ng Unang Dekada ng DOST-SEI


In connection with the celebration of the 30th SEI Anniversary, we are pleased to invite the DOST-SEI scholar-graduates, to a get-together activity entitled, "Together Again: Scholar-Graduates ng Unang Dekada ng DOST-SEI" on 27 September 2017, 3:00PM to 8:00PM at the Reception Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Pasay City.


This get-together activity will feature special guest-artists Ms. Arnee Hidalgo and Mr. Noel Cabangon, under the direction of Engr. Jeffrey Hidalgo, a DOST-SEI scholar himself.

It’s time to get-together, scholar-graduates! RSVP to togetheragainsei@gmail.com with your name, birthday, contact number, school, course, and year graduated. Then wait for your e-ticket. Registration is extended up to 31 August 2017.

Hurry, only limited slots left! On a first to register-first served basis.

We hope you can join and celebrate with us on this important milestone of SEI.