After several trips to Bataan, I finally made it to Mount Samat! One of the country's highly historical sites, along with the fortified island of Corregidor,  Mt. Samat was the site of the most vicious battle against the Japanese Imperial Army in 1942 during the Battle of Bataan. The Mt. Samat Memorial Cross is a towering structure at the highest point of an extinct volcano with no history of eruption, Mt. Samat, which is 555 m (1,821 ft) above sea level. The PHA team ready to conquer Mt. Samat I made it along with the Philippine Heart Association peeps walking upwards relaxingly along the winding roads with stops for pictorial sessions in between. To get an amazing panoramic view of Bataan, there's an elevator inside the Mt. Samat cross, which would take you to the viewing gallery encased in its arms. However, due to old age of the edifice (58 years!) going up is no longer allowed. The Mt. Samat Memorial Cross has a height of 92 meters with arms of the cross that are 30 meters...

  File photo of local products on sale at Luxe Duty Free complex Duty Free Philippines successfully generated a total sales of USD 109.2 -M in 2023. DFP Chief Operating Officer Vicente Pelagio A. Angala said, “We struggled to rise to the occasion but demonstrated our strength and resilience as an organization that can adapt and improve,” as he presented DFP’s accomplishments before the media on February 23, 2024.  He said that the growth is an increase of 53 percent growth from its USD67.3 million sales in 2022. But he added that the agency need to double the efforts to sustain this momentum to reach its target of USD167-M by the end of 2024. It's a job well done for COO Vico Angala, here with DOT officers and media representatives. FB post photo Overseas Filipino workers remain as DFP’s top customers, contributing at least 63 percent in the total 2023 sales, followed by the Chinese (15%), Americans (8%), the Vietnamese (3%), and Malaysians (1%). Top products such as ...

  Do you know that consistently elevated BP readings (above 140/90 mmHg) put undue strain on the  heart and blood vessels? Worst, this can lead to a cascade of health problems, making it  crucial to identify and manage the condition effectively.   Uncontrolled high blood pressure (BP) or hypertension is a ticking time bomb and  a silent killer, damaging vital organs --the brain and heart that may lead to stroke or  heart attack; and take its toll on the kidneys too, said Dr. Louell9a Santos during the January 25 Philippine Heart Association (PHA) Usapang Puso sa Puso (UPP) webinar.   “The entire human body is also called the circulatory system that moves blood throughout the  body. This blood circulation keeps organs, muscles and tissues healthy and  working,” Santos, the host of UPP and PHA advocacy chair, explained.   Dr. Deborah Ona, associate professor from the UP-PGH and immediate past president of the Philippine Society of Hyperten...

PHA officers gather on stage at the end of the convention Even with hypertension – when the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated -- some people often have no symptoms. That’s why it is important to regularly check one’s blood pressure. Blood pressure is measured by two numbers: the systolic pressure, representing the pressure when the hearts beat; and the diastolic pressure, representing the pressure when the heart rests. One is hypertensive when his or her blood pressure reading is greater than 140 over 90 mm. Many hypertensive individuals are symptomless, others may experience severe headache, shortness of breath, nosebleed, severe anxiety, and/or feeling of pulsations in the neck or head. The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) has consistently advised the public to contact their health care provider especially if they are experiencing new, severe, or persistent symptoms.  That’s because after a prolonged period, untreated high blood pressure can cause heart...

  SOLÁ, which means “a woman standing on her own,” offers seamless shapewear manufactured with advanced knitting techniques and bonding technology that ensures a smooth, body-hugging, yet comfortable fit on every woman. Miss International 2016 and movie actress Kylie Versoza has always loved wearing shapewear underneath all her fashionable outfits and film costumes, so it was natural for her to envision making such clothing must-haves much more affordable and accessible to fellow Filipinas. “I’ve been in showbiz for eight years and, because of this, this has opened doors for me to experience multiple things. One of the things I realized is how brands are so aspirational yet unattainable due to their price. With SOLÁ, we want to turn your aspirational wants for high-quality items into attainable realities. We want you to have your dream products in your hands and on your body. SOLÁ is a brand for everyone and anyone who wants to own who they are and feel empowered,” Kylie shared wit...

PHA Midyear Convention 2024 in session CVDs are still the leading cause of death globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 17.9 million people died from CVDs in 2019, representing 32% of all global deaths. Of these deaths, 85% were due to heart attack and stroke.   CVD is acquired and passed-on by your parents. Knowing your risks and doing something about it will put CVD at bay. And with more and more people working or living a stressful life to make both ends meet, having unhealthy lifestyle (not adhering to the PHA lifestyle code 52100 – 5 servings of vegetables/fruits daily; not more than 2 grams of sodium daily; 1 hour of physical activity daily; 0 sugared beverages and 0 smoking); and compounding it with vices and prolonged sit-down lifestyle; becomes an ordinary thing or the norm, CVD is just lurking around nearby.   PHA harps on the message that CVD is preventable as long as you stick to 52100, avoiding too mu...

Despite the fact that diseases of the heart and blood vessels collectively known as cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the top cause of death in the country, and the population continues to soar (recorded at 115.56 million as of 2022), there are only over 2,000 practicing internist-cardiologists in the country.    Currently, there are 2,313 heart health experts who are members of the Philippine Heart Association (PHA), whose mandate is to stimulate cardiovascular research, teaching, and practice in the Far East since March 1952, as a collegiate group. However, the majority of the PHA member-doctors are based in Metro Manila, while the rest are disproportionately scattered in the 18 PHA Chapters in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.    Thus, time and again, the PHA pillars never tire themselves from constantly encouraging and swaying their newly-minted members to go back to their respective hometowns to serve their “kababayans” or “cabalens” and be a frontl...