Author Archives: Ethel Merioles

About Ethel Merioles

Ethel Merioles would like to learn Mandarin, Italian and French someday, mostly because she dreams of ordering her favorite dishes straight from the source one day. Follow her inanities on Twitter and on Google+.

Should you consider getting screened for cancer?

An estimated 8.9 million people have died from various forms of cancer in 2016. From this number, tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer claimed the largest number of lives at more than 1.7 million. An estimated 42 million people across the world suffered from different forms of cancer in 2016, according to the World Health Organization.

Diagnostic Laboratory - Aster DM Healthcare

In the Philippines, cancer is the third leading cause of morbidity and mortality after heart and vascular diseases, according to the Department of Health.  About 189 in every 100,000 Filipinos are afflicted with cancer while four Filipinos die of cancer every hour or 96 cancer patients every day.

The DOH found that the most common cancers among Filipino men and women in 2010 were lung, liver, colon/rectum, prostate, stomach, leukemia, breast, cervix, and ovarian cancer. Each type of cancer has symptoms. For example, a cough that does not go away or coughing up blood may be a sign of lung cancer.

In the Philippines, the Hope From Within movement advocates early detection of cancerous cells before symptoms appear or when it is not yet too large and has not yet spread to give treatment a higher chance of success. It focuses on fighting lung cancer which is the top cause of cancer-related deaths among men, and the third for women.

For the other most common cancers such as colon cancer, the signs and symptoms include long-term constipation, diarrhea, and change in the size of the stool or blood in the stool.

Pain when urinating, blood in the urine, or needing to urinate more or less often than the usual can be related to prostate cancer. Abnormal vaginal bleeding could be due to cervical or endometrial (from the lining of the uterus) cancer. Alarmingly, bloody nipple discharge could be a sign of breast cancer.

Indigestion or swallowing problems that don’t go away and unexplained weight loss may be signs of cancer of the stomach.  Ovarian cancer symptoms are bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, trouble eating or feeling full quickly, feeling the need to urinate urgently or often, fatigue, upset stomach or heartburn, back pain, pain during sex and constipation or menstrual changes.

Symptoms of leukemia are weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath when doing basic everyday activities, fever, bone pain, unexplained weight loss, pain or a feeling of fullness below the ribs on the left side due to an enlarged spleen, and night sweats. For liver cancer, the symptoms are pain, especially at the top right of the abdominal area, near the right shoulder blade or in the back, unexplained weight loss, a hard lump under the ribs on the right side of the body, which could be the tumor or a sign that the liver has gotten bigger, and weakness or fatigue.

Early detection of cancer is done through screening or tests which include physical examination, laboratory tests on blood, urine or tissue samples, imaging such as x-ray exam, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography scans and gene tests.

Another method is biomarker testing. Biomarkers are molecules that appear in the body when a certain condition is present. A well-known example is the human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) hormone, which usually signals pregnancy and is often detected using home pregnancy test kits. Another is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which is used to diagnose prostate cancer. Biomarker screening is specifically important in the treatment of lung cancer because if a patient is found to have a certain biomarker called PDL-1, that patient becomes ideal for pembrolizumab immunotherapy, which has been proven in clinical trials to drastically reduce side effects, increase the number of patients who respond to treatment, and improve overall survival. Immunotherapy functions by eliminating the use of toxic chemicals to fight cancer cells. Instead, it helps the body’s own immune system recognize and combat cancer cells. Talk to a medical oncologist to know more about cancer testing, biomarker screening, and treatment options available.

 

What does a good campaign email look like?

I know a lot of friends who do marketing gigs and pay for marketing events to boost their knowledge on stuff like email marketing and search engine optimization. Sometimes it surprises me when they’re all willing to drop a lot of cash on self-professed marketing gurus even though most–if not all–of the really good marketing advice can easily be found online. Just by using the right keywords, you can easily find the right information you need to create a great campaign.

Take this super helpful infographic from My Emma’s marketing blog, for instance:

According to the article, an email they received from TaylorStitch.com was a good example of a great email, and it can be used as a guide for a marketer’s next campaign.

As takeaway, My Emma shares:

Key takeaways for your next campaign:

  • Holidays are perfect opportunities for festive, interactive designs, as well as coupons to inspire seasonal purchases.
  • When using titles within images, make sure you have proper use of alt text.
  • Give just the right amount of detail, making sure your CTA always stands out.
  • Think about your text and image sizes—along with the amount of whitespace—when laying out your email to make reading, navigation, and sharing easy.

Awesome tips for a marketer to follow right? Now I can’t wait to share this with other WAHMs! :)

 

Birthday Giveaway

Birthday Giveaway!

November is Lifestyle Manila’s birth month, and in celebration, we’re giving away some fantastic goodies one fantastic lady is bound to love!

Birthday Giveaway

#GiveawayAlert

We’re giving away php5,000+ worth of goodies to 1 lucky winner!

Pabongga sa pasko winner:

  • New York & Company Asymmetrical Cape Top in Fuschia worth USD49.99 (about php2,500+)
  • Ellie & Me Talia Ruffle Maxi Dress worth php1,399
  • 12 Caronia nail paints worth a total of php370+
    • 6 frosted shades: Sapphire Glow, Bourree, Emerald Shimmer, Sweet Surprise, Orange Pop and Silver Platinum
    • 6 regular shades: Brick Red, Glissade, Tangerine, Tea Rose, Simply Red, Chasse
  • Benefit They’re Real Double the Lip in Racy Raspberry travel size worth php450+
  • Schick Safety Razors worth php80+
  • Dermcare Gift Certificates worth php600
  • Waterproof resealable pouch worth php150+

TO JOIN:
1. Like @lifestyle.manila on IG and FB
2. Share or Repost any of the giveaway photos in this post and tag Lifestyle Manila (https://www.facebook.com/Manila.Lifestyle/ for example) and #LSMBirthday2018 (counts as 1 entry)
3. Tag 3 of your fashionista kikay friends in the comments below and add why this giveaway is perfect for the holidays. (counts as 1 entry)
4. Comment as many as you can!

Giveaway ends on December 3, 2018 at 9 p.m.
Winners will be announced on December 5, 2018.

Shipping will be shouldered by @lifestyle.manila.

Paperless Post: Send digital letters with ease

Nowadays it’s always better to lessen paper use. So how do we send special notes to our loved ones? Send simple messages via text or email? The warm, human element is stripped away when we do this, so how can we send sincere messages online?

Enter Paperless Post, an online platform which allows users to customize their own online invitations, flyers and special occasion cards! Just like what their slogan says–they help connect people in real life.

 photo paperless post front page.jpg

Getting started is easy–you can use either your Google or Facebook account to create an account. Once you’ve got an account, you can go ahead and design the digital product of your choice! Flyers are available for free, but other products such as holiday cards and invitations cost a few coins, depending on the degree of personalization (like envelope liners and logos).

Need to spread holiday cheer? There’s a card for that!

 photo card preview.jpeg

You can choose among the wide range of designer cards, too! For only $5, you can get 10 coins and send out 2-3 personalized cards.

 photo paperless post design your own card.jpg

The user dashboard features everything you need to manage your account.

 photo paperless post dashboard.png

Even if you’re not tech savvy, you won’t have a hard time going through the site features. The straightforward UI allows you to easily manage your contacts, design and send out cards, preview your designs and even buy more coins!

 photo paperless post postbox.png

On the Post Box panel, users can view all the sent and scheduled cards, and messages received through those cards! That’s convenience, since RSVPs become easier through Paperless Post. If you changed your mind about the design of your cards, you can go ahead and redesign them.

The Verdict

4 out of 5 stars! The card personalization feature may be a little too costly if you’re sending out invites in bulk–people might opt to send out analog invitations in real life because of this. Other than that cost issue, Paperless Post is a great online tool for going completely paperless!

The Benefits That Inpatient Drug Rehab Can Bring

Many people who are struggling with addictions may ask themselves “What do I do next?” They are caught in a cycle of despair that they feel hopeless. This is why it is such a big step when they decide to commit themselves to an inpatient drug rehabilitation program. It is really necessary for someone who is experiencing addiction to enroll themselves in a program? The answer is yes! Benefits of drug rehab may include many of the following:

The most immediate effect that you can feel from entering a drug rehab program is the physical effects. You will feel much better when receiving professional help than you would be trying to quit the drugs on your own. When an addict stops using whatever drug they are abusing, they will almost certainly go through some form of withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms will vary widely but can go from mild with some drugs such as marijuana all the way up to potentially fatal with other drugs such as opiates. This is why it is the best idea to have professional staff on hand to ensure that medical attention is available if required.

Another benefit to using an inpatient rehab center such as pinnacle recovery center is that the addict is removing themselves from the external stressors and triggers that are causing them to use in the first place. When it comes to addiction, there are many things that can set off a relapse. This being said, it is very important for the addict to educate themselves on how to remove themselves from these situations in a safe and helpful environment. One unsung benefit stemming from this is that the chance of a fatal overdose is greatly decreased while the chances of success are greatly increased.

There are usually many different psychotherapy programs that a rehab center can offer. These are great programs for transitioning the patient into their new life of abstinence and sobriety. No two people are ever the same and in that spirit, no two therapy programs will ever be the same for an individual. Some patients may respond well to one program while another does not. This is why there is a wide selection for medical experts to choose from in regards to treating the addicts under their care.

Depending on what philosophy the program adheres to, the rehab center may push a spiritual benefit to quit using drugs. If there is no spiritual bent to the program then there will still be positive mental benefits which are stressed. There should never be any minimalization of the emotional benefits the patient can hope to attain by enrolling themselves in an inpatient drug rehab treatment facility.

By enrolling in a treatment center, the addict is able to remove themselves from the “real world” temporarily until they can re-educate themselves on how to better deal with life’s obstacles. They are taught how to deal with stress in a way that does not involve abusing alcohol or drugs. But to do this, they need to separate themselves from the world and the everyday stressors that many people simply do not think about. Things such as paying bills, communicating with bosses or co-workers, or even dealing with personal relationships (or lack thereof) can set off the addict on a downward spiral of drug use and despair.

The longer an addict stays in their inpatient facility, the better their chances of success in staying off substances once they finally rejoin the rest of the world. While it may seem odd at first to be away from friends and family for a lengthy period of time, the addict will be a better person for it. Many studies have shown a direct link between the length of time the patient stays in the facility and their chances of relapse. While it may be inconvenient at first, in the long run, it will definitely be worth it.

As you can see, there are many great reasons why an alcohol or drug addict needs to enjoy the many benefits that an inpatient drug rehab facility has to offer. Not only will they enjoy better health, but they will be a better person in the long run.

Scentswatch Pink Sherbet 30ml

Scent Swatch Pink Sherbet: Young, Fun and Flirty

Local brand Scent Swatch offers designer perfume scents at an affordable price. With designer scents being sold for at least php3,500 in malls, of course a quality “scent-alike” is a good alternative. (Shout out to my Happy Days Club fam for sharing this brand with me! #sponsored)

Here’s Pink Sherbet, a youthful fragrance inspired by Ferragamo’s Incanto Shine. It has a lot of fun fruity and floral notes–Fresh top notes of pineapple, bergamot, and passion fruit; middle notes of pink peony, freesia and peach; and rich base notes of cedar, amber, and musk. I’ve had different musky scents in the past, and I seldom go for citrusy scents because they don’t usually suit my body chemistry (except the original Clinique Happy!), so I was a little hesitant to try Pink Sherbet at first…

Scentswatch Pink Sherbet 30ml

The scent is by no means overpowering–it’s nice to sniff every few minutes, and considering that I can be sensitive about strong scents, the Pink Sherbet is a real winner! If I spray at around 7 in the morning I find that by lunch time the scent has already faded a lot. On my skin, a faint fruity-musky scent remains.

Scentswatch Pink Sherbet Review

Of course, picking perfumes online can be tricky, since our skin’s chemistry is widely varied. Beautiful scents from designer perfumes tend to smell terrible on me, because my skin reacts too much with the alcohol content. So yay, I love that Pink Sherbet suits my weird skin!

Overall, the Scent Swatch Pink Sherbet Eau de Parfum is highly recommended! The bottle come in different sizes –the largest being 60ml, costs Php 390, while the medium sized one (the one that I got) is a 30 ml bottle priced at Php 220. If you are still on the fence on the scents, you can get the trial size– 12ml at Php 125.00. If you calculate the prices, the 60 ml bottle is the best deal–just php6.50 per ml!

Check out the other scents at the Scent Swatch website. Alternatively you can reach out via the official Scent Swatch FB page. They sure are nice stocking stuffers this Christmas, aren’t they?

Auroras Choice Choco Nutso

Aurora’s Choice: Delicious Treats When Craving Sweets

Period cravings are strange.

Anyone who’s ever had a period knows how cravings happen during the days leading up to their period. Cravings are so diverse, too, that they can range from hankerings for half-dozen Krispy Kremes to entire tubs of Carmen’s Best. In my case, my cravings vary on each and every period. But it’s usually fondness for savory-sweet snacks. Sometimes I go for junk like Payless XL pancit canton, sometimes I devour chocolate bars. Whatever it is, it guarantees an extra 3 pounds after a week!

The new guilty pleasure

Local find Aurora’s Choice Nutsos come in different flavors, but they all do the same thing: Satisfy your craving. Love that I got two packs of these Nutsos via my Happy Days Club package. (#sponsored!)

Auroras Choice Choco Nutso

I simply love this locally made treat! While the high-protein Choco Nutso variant has a somewhat bittersweet taste, the Honey & Sea Salt flavor offers the ideal sweet-salty balance that I crave. The crunchy-chewy texture of every peanut complements the crunchiness of the honey and sea salt coating, as well.

Auroras Choice Honey and Sea Salt Nutso

It’s recommended for surfers, perhaps because it’s a perfect snack when laying on the beach. But I highly recommend this snack anytime, anywhere! 

5 out of 5 stars for me!

Addicting on its own!

I have to be honest here–I tried Aurora’s Choice Salted Caramel Spread with Sky Flakes, and it was a nice afternoon snack. Considered using it to top vanilla ice cream, but I had to go to the store to get one. So I decided against it.

Auroras Choice Caramel Spread

I tried the spread on its own and I had to stop myself from eating another spoonful because it was so sinfully sweet! My older brother tasted it, and ended up finishing the entire jar.

It has the consistency of condensed milk, but it has the flavor and color of my childhood favorite yema. I can imagine my period-stricken self quietly enjoying this at home. It’s just ridiculously good on its own!

5 out of 5 stars from me as well!

Final Thoughts

I can’t stress this enough: Support Local. If you can’t find Aurora’s Choice snacks in the supermarket, contact the manufacturers directly on Facebook.

Skin Correct PH Emollient Cream

SkinCorrect PH: Hypoallergenic Skin Goodies

When it comes to skincare, it’s always better to err on the safe side and avoid unnecessary ingredients from touching your skin. I suspect that’s one of the reasons why constant hydration–drinking simple water as often as possible–is already a mantra when it comes to healthy and beautiful skin. The simpler, the better. And with the hot, humid weather and the dirt and pollution that we come in contact every day, don’t you think our skin deserves to recover too every night?

SkinCorrect PH offers just that–good stuff for the face (and you know how the skin on our faces tend to be more sensitive than the rest of our body!)
No perfume, just the basics plus nutrients to keep our facial skin clean and in tip top condition against the harsh elements in the Philippines.

Thanks, by the way, to my Happy Days Club family for sending this power duo! #sponsored

M Gentle Cleanse Emollient Cream

I got the M gentle cleanser and M emollient cream to test, and I found that this pair is an affordable option for ladies who are on a budget. Both products together help clean and moisturize. For background, I’ve got generally dry skin that tends to be sensitive to changing weather, hormones and harsh chemicals.

Here are my thoughts on the pair after twenty days of use:

M Gentle Cleanse – 125ml

I love the simple white pump bottle as packaging. It’s opaque to protect the ingredients, plus hygienic since it comes with a pump. I love that I can control the amount of product I use every day because of it!

Plus all the ingredients can easily be found on the label.

Skin Correct PH Gentle Cleanser

The cleanser has a somewhat oily scent, which I assume come from the sunflower oil. The consistency is smooth, and it doesn’t lather as I would expect from oil-stripping cleansers.

In my opinion, just a pea-sized (single pump) amount is enough to clean the entire face. Once rinsed, the cleanser leaves the scent on my skin, even on my hands after washing! It also feels like an oily film covers my skin afterwards.

Skin Correct Cleanser Drop

M Emollient Cream – 125ml

Compared with the gentle cleanser, the emollient cream features a slightly stronger scent and creamier consistency. Also, I found that two pumps are needed to get enough product to cover my face, from forehead to neck area.

Skin Correct PH Emollient Cream

There’s no sticky feeling after each application, and my skin feels more supple after three hours or so. I like that my skin never reacted to the ingredients, at all!

Even during days that have bee more stressful than normal, my skin remained moisturized. I’ve also forgotten to moisturize my face one day and seen the difference between skin that’s dry and flaky and skin that’s protected with SkinCorrect!

Skin Correct Cream Drop

Results Say It All

Ever since I got a baby I’ve been incredibly cautious when it comes to skincare, since I don’t want any chemical from affecting my baby, from fetus to newborn. Before SkinCorrect I usally only cleanse my face with water or expensive hypoallergenic products like Physiogel or Cetaphil.

As smooth as baby

At least now, based on these pictures, I can have good skin that’s almost like my baby’s, using products that are locally made and far less expensive than the heavily marketed brands.

Baby

My only issue would be the oily scent. Other than that, I’m happy I could still make selfies even though I’m losyang, because of how my skin remains looking good.

Party

No makeup necessary!