I've loved NUVALI ever since I first set foot on it several years ago. The area has a relaxing vibe that makes me want to be around nature as long as possible. I am glad that this part of Laguna continues to develop with eco-sustainability in mind. Every attraction they've added only enhanced the place's charm rather than detracting from it.

Last month, my husband and I spent a night at SEDA Nuvali and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay for several reasons:

1. Gorgeous views. We got a corner room that has huge windows on one side overlooking The Lake and two small ones on another side where we could see the hotel's pool area. The expansive view stretches out towards the far horizon which made me want to just sit on the couch for a long time to simply gaze at the beautiful sceneries outside.

2. Spacious bedrooms. I love the huge and soft bed with fluffy pillows! It was so comfortable, I found it hard to get up the next day to join my husband at the hotel's gym where he used the treadmill to clock in 5km. Yes, guilty as charged for not wanting to exercise that morning! Anyhow, our room had a nice sitting area overlooking the lake, a big desk, and a large bathroom with essential toiletries.  

3. Delicious food. The meals at Misto are not only appetizing to look at, they taste great, too! We had the very filling bento for lunch then ate dinner by the pool under pretty fairy lights. Two thumbs up to Steph Turiano and her team for arranging a nice feast of barbecued dishes and desserts along with an acoustic duo that provided soothing music while we were eating.

4. Refreshing pool. As I mentioned above, I felt lazy to get up for a treadmill run but when I peeked out the window and saw my husband having the pool to himself at 7AM, I immediately changed into my swimsuit and went down to join him. The water temperature was just right for a refreshing and relaxing dip! Plus, the whole pool area has several great spots for photo ops 😉

5. Friendly staff. In my opinion, among the things that make a hotel stay unforgettable is how members of the staff treat their guests. At SEDA Nuvali, we were always greeted with a smile and a ready reply in case we have questions. We also got sweet treats in our room along with handwritten welcome notes from general manager Mr. Jeffrey Enriquez and our room attendant, Bho.

6. Nice amenities. Apart from what I've already mentioned, I love the Club Lounge where guests can hang out and have snacks while admiring the spectacular views outside the floor-length glass windows. Families with young kids (and kids-at-heart) would also appreciate the gaming area and children's play area located in separate rooms. In addition, art aficionados would appreciate the beautiful paintings and furniture made by local artists prominently displayed in various areas of the hotel. Oh, and in case you're wondering, not only do they have complimentary WiFi and Internet access, they have iMacs guests can use!

7. Proximity to various attractions. Since we arrived mid-morning in Nuvali, our group went first to Camp N. I was there last November to cover the launch of the Bike Hub but didn't get to try the various activities. This time, I was able to and even got to conquer my fear of free falling! The next morning, we also visited Republic Wakepark, fed humongous koi fishes, and went on a fun boat ride. But, more on those adventures in another post. Stay tuned! If you love to shop, SEDA is just a stone's throw away from Solenad's dining and retail outlets.  

8. Great location. As an environment advocate, I was so happy to find out that SEDA Nuvali is the first LEED Silver-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) hotel in the Philippines. It is an integral part of the NUVALI eco-city development within the flourishing Calabarzon industrial area where visitors and residents alike get to enjoy stunning views and marvel at structures that were built to blend with natural landscapes. 

Did you know? Seda is the Filipino word for "silk," an impeccable fabric that represents the brand's commitment to provide seamless service, exceptional value, and a remarkable hospitality experience in an exciting destination.

So, if you are looking for a place to unwind away from the hustle and bustle of city life, SEDA Nuvali is one place you should consider going to. The serenity of the environment will definitely renew your energy just like it did mine.

For inquiries, please email nuv@sedahotels.com or call (6349) 255.8888.

Dengue remains one of the potentially deadly diseases in the Philippines. It is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus transmitted by the bite of a female Aedes sp. mosquito. This condition is diagnosed based on clinical signs and symptoms of a patient with consistent laboratory findings. 

Recently, mall-based chain of medical clinics Healthway Medical partnered with local biotechnology firm Philab Industries to give full attention to early screening of dengue infection and advocate for a better understanding of the disease towards a proactive health and lifestyle. 

Philab Holdings, through its brand LabIt DX will supply the Dengue NS1 Ag Self-Test Kit to Healthway clinics. Unlike expensive lab tests that take time to release results, the kit can rapidly detect dengue virus NS1 antigen from human blood directly from a pin-prick on the fingertip. The principle is like that of a pregnancy kit test. Only here, you use blood instead of urine to see if you'll test negative or positive for dengue within 15-20 minutes. And yes, you can even do this even at home!

Atty. Darlene Berberabe, Philab's president and CEO, affirms that they advocate for proactive health management. "This strategy complements the medical attention our doctors provide," she pointed out. "Achieving holistic wellness is a teamwork between individuals and the doctors who take care of us. We hope that through our early screening tools, all individuals become empowered towards wellness."  

"Healthway has been in the business for 20 years and we are happy that this partnership is sealed and finalized. We join hands with Philab in providing the public access to fast, convenient, preventive, and quality healthcare," added Carmie De Leon, Healthway's vice president for marketing and sales.

Aside from their existing medical offerings, Healthway is also set to offer first-rate specialty services in dental implantology, spine sports and rehabilitation, and integrative medicine. The partnership between Philab and Healthway is a testament to both companies' mission to provide excellent healthcare to the public by bringing innovative products and services to those who need medical attention. This also extends to Healthway's 100 corporate clinics that serve as a one-stop-shop for company employees who are always on the go.

Philab launched the self-test kits in March of this year and have also made them available online. Screening test is best used within 5 days of fever. For inquiries, call 89-LABIT (8952248), email labit@philab.com, or visit www.labit.global.

Time flies when you’re having fun and this is certainly true for one of my favorite dining places. It’s quite hard to believe that it has already been almost two years since Genki Sushi first opened its flagship branch in Bonifacio Stopover Global City! I can still clearly remember how impressed I was (and still am!) at the efficient and cool way dishes are served at this restaurant. You can read all about my first Genki Sushi experience, here.

This month, diners would be happy to know that the innovative Japanese dining experience is now also available at Genki Sushi’s 4th branch in SM Aura, Taguig City. My husband and I had lunch there yesterday and, as usual, I remain fascinated by the speedy and convenient service because dishes arrive at each table via the Kousoku Express Train System, which was inspired by the Shinkansen bullet train. 

Diners can simply choose dishes on the menu found in the tablet screen provided for each table and wait for only 5 to 10 minutes before getting their freshly made orders. As in previous visits, my very first order was my favorite Wakame, a seaweed salad with a refreshing dressing. 

Apart from all-time favorites like the famous Chirashi Don, Seared Salmon with Black Pepper, Chicken Teriyaki Don, River Eel Rice Bowl, and various sushi choices there are new menu items to try such as the tasty Kushi-Age made of five different kinds of deep fried skewered meat and vegetable in special Japanese batter; Coconut Shrimps, deep fried shrimps in panko bread crumbs rolled in coconut flakes; Deep Fried Salmon Skin; and four new selections of sumptuous sushi trios. 

If you’re having a get together or simply just want to have a filling snack at home or in the office, check out the six new Take-away Sushi Party Sets that are sure to be a hit in any group gathering. Additionally, a new batch of tasty desserts is available for those with a sweet tooth. Choose from the Caramel Mochi, the Maki Dessert, and the Vanilla and Strawberry Mille Crepes.

Other branches of Genki Sushi are located at UP Town Center in Quezon City and Ayala 30th in Ortigas Avenue. Soon, there will also be a branch in SM North EDSA. Keep updated with news and promos by liking Genki Sushi Philippines on Facebook and following @genkisushiph on Instagram.

I was there when FWD Life Philippines was launched in 2014 and I am glad to see how much this insurance company has grown since. Last year, I also wrote about their partnership with Wattpad when they launched stories about financial literacy via the creative use of digital media.

This 2017, FWD Life Philippines takes on championing health and fitness by supporting the Fit Filipino (FitFil) Movement's National Weight Loss Challenge. Spearheaded by Jim and Toni Saret, fitness coaches at Biggest Loser Philippines Season 2, FitFil aims to get Filipinos to collectively lose one million pounds during the campaign period of June 6 to December 5, 2017.

Rochelle Vandenberghe, FWD Life Philippines Head of Marketing, expressed, "As an insurance industry pioneer in the space of health and wellness, [we] are delighted to partner with the Fit Filipino Movement and coaches Jim and Toni to inspire Filipinos in leading healthier lives with a series of fitness-centered events." 

Through FWD's Live to Move fitness parties in collaboration with FitFil and the challenge's partners, Vandenberghe said they "hope to inspire a new wave of awareness for the health benefits of keeping fit. For us at FWD, living life to the fullest starts with being healthy." I totally agree!

According to Coach Jim, founder of the FitFil Movement, "We have been working with FWD for over two years and their #GetReadyToLive brand attitude serves as one of the strong pillars of the National Weight Loss Challenge. We are excited to bring to life the country's biggest health and wellness campaign as we challenge Filipinos to collectively lose one million pounds!"

Coach Jim added that through this advocacy and movement, the goal is to spread the message that being fit and well starts with a simple commitment. "We encourage everyone to take ownership of their health and join us in getting fit," he implored. 

To launch its Live to Move health and wellness program, FWD Life held an energy-packed fitness party this past weekend at Central Park, SM by the Bay, Mall of Asia. Coaches Jim and Toni were joined by some of the country's top coaches from various gyms and fitness centers. The workout program centered around FWD Motion, a metabolic fitness (metafit) routine that helps shed off pounds in just four minutes of exercise. 

Hundreds of participants, including members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), joined other fitness enthusiasts in doing zumba, hip-hop, TRX, kickboxing, and cardio workouts, among others under the glow of the beautiful Manila Bay sunset. 

The FitFil National Weight Loss Challenge is supported by the country's premier medical organizations led by the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), the country's umbrella organization for medical practitioners, as well as the Philippine Heart Association (PHA), Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), Nutritionist-Dietitians' Association of the Philippines (NDAP), and the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA). Additionally pledging their support to the challenge are the PNP, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), various universities, local government units (LGUs), fitness clubs, and numerous corporations. 

It is quite heartening to see more and more Filipinos taking their first steps towards a healthier lifestyle. If you are really serious about losing those unwanted pounds, make a pledge to lose them by December by signing up for free at www.fitfil.ph. FYI, there are rewards waiting for those who achieve their goals! :)

I've been trying to make positive lifestyle changes these past few years and admit I still have some ways to go. Although I now exercise more and opt for healthy food often, I continue to struggle when it comes to totally eliminating other unhealthy habits. But, having started is already a positive step and I look forward to the day when I can finally say I am a true-blue fitness enthusiast. 

Did you know? July is National Wellness Month and Robinsons Supermarket is once more celebrating this with a Wellness Festival, the third leg of its year-long Route to Wellness journey with Filipinos. 

The festival kick-off, hosted by Robi Domingo, started yesterday and will run until tomorrow at Eastwood Central Plaza - Citywalk. The park was transformed into an activity area where guests can try various games and visit booths of Robinsons Supermarket's wellness partners. 

Also present were celebrity fitness coaches Jim and Toni Saret who led event participants in a series of four-minute workouts called Metabeats to show that it only takes a few minutes to burn a lot of calories and get started on one's wellness journey. Robinsons Supermarket also took the opportunity to pledge pounds to the Fit Filipino 1 Million Pounds National Weight Loss Challenge and encouraged individuals and groups to visit selected branches on a Saturday to also sign up and have their starting weights measured.   

Experience the activities of the wellness caravan, which will also be held in Robinsons Supermarket Tagaytay from July 14 to 16 and at Robinsons Supermarket Antipolo City from July 28 to 30, if you live near these areas.

Love eating nuts? Get a Healthy You Snack Platter when you go grocery shopping for a minimum single-receipt purchase of P3,000 inclusive of P500 worth of participating products from Nestle, Johnson & Johnson, Unilab, Fonterra, Wyeth Nutrition, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, IPI, Abbott Nutrition, Getz Bros., Ecossential, Foodsphere, and Philusa. 

I regularly buy Healthy You coco sugar and trail mix. This is Robinsons Supermarket's exclusive healthy brand of nuts, juices, oats, brown rice, coffee, and many more that have been evaluated as good for the health by the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI). Customers will also get an extra 15 Robinsons Rewards Card points for every P500 purchase of Healthy You products. Promo Runs from July 1 to 31, 2017.

This coming July 2, Robinsons Supermarket will also be holding its annual and much anticipated 10th Fit and Fun Buddy Run at Camp Aguinaldo. Please read my past reviews here and here to see why it would be a great and fun venue to start your fitness journey with family and friends.

According to general manager Jody Gadia, "As a growing number of individuals and families lead busy and challenging lives, Robinsons Supermarket and its partners continue to uphold our commitment to lead them to the path of wellness by bringing them closer to more choices and opportunities to get fit and healthy."

Know more about RSC's year-long Route to Wellness series of promos and activities by liking facebook.com/RobinsonsSupermarketOfficial or visiting www.robinsons-supermarket.com.ph. Likewise, stay updated on social media by looking up the hashtags #ILoveWellness and #WeLoveWellness and consider starting your own fitness journey, today! 

My sister-in-law came home for a quick vacation this month to attend to various stuff and spend some time with us. Since we planned to do some shopping and dining out in SM Mall of Asia, we booked an overnight stay at Selah Garden Hotel which is very near the mall. 

I'm writing this post for other families who might be looking for a good place to unwind in the Pasay City area and I'd recommend checking out Selah Garden Hotel for the following reasons:

1. The hotel is PWD-friendly. I booked one of the family rooms and thought we'd be staying in one of those I've seen during the hotel launch last February (read that post, here). My husband and I were prepared to adjust accommodations for our wheelchair-bound son in case we get a room with stairs and beds on a loft. 

Selah's spacious TLC Room

So I was surprised when we checked in to find out they've assigned us to the TLC (Tender Loving Care) Room that one of the staff members said is spacious enough for a wheelchair. I think we weren't able to see this during our tour last time because it was occupied. So imagine our gratitude to get a room on the ground floor where it so easy for us to wheel James around! The bathroom is likewise big and accessible for a Person with Disability.

2. The beds are big enough with the TLC room having two queen beds and a sofa bed. They fit all of us comfortably. Our request for additional bedding for the sofa bed was also accommodated graciously. Across the two big beds is a flat screen TV mounted on the wall so James was still able to watch his favorite kiddie channel to keep him entertained.

3. The food items we ordered via room service were tasty. The night we stayed at Selah also happened to be the night of Britney Spears' concert in MOA Arena. To avoid the expected traffic going to the mall, we opted to eat dinner at the hotel. Having a dining table and chairs inside the TLC room was a big bonus for us because we got to enjoy our meal over lively conversation without having to drive anywhere and possibly get hungry while being stuck on the road longer than usual.

The various Filipino dishes we ordered have the lutong-bahay taste. I particularly loved the Binagoongan because I haven't tasted a really good one for a long time. Of course, our boys readily consumed many of the fried chicken! :) We also got to ask for a small bucket of ice cubes, for our drinking water, that they provided for free.

4. There's a pool, a spa, and installations that encourage physical activities. Whether you'd prefer a swim or a massage to relax, Selah is a good place to be. If you're into sports, try their wall climbing and cable traverse facilities that come with safety gear. With a lot of available rooms, this hotel is also being marketed as a great team building venue. Consider booking there in case you want some company bonding time or simply unwind with friends.

5. There are so many beautiful corners for photo ops! Any netizen who loves posting different kinds of pictures on social media would enjoy discovering Selah's Instagrammable spots. My favorite? The huge swing that could fit three to four people. Plus, they have free WiFi access for guests so being connected to the internet was not a problem.

For inquiries, rates, and more details about their other services and offerings, just visit www.selahgarden.com.

Many of us are audio-visual learners who absorb lessons better when we personally get to see and hear stories we can easily relate to. This June, join Sun Life of Canada (Philippines) as it marks the 4th Financial Independence Month by finding out how to break free from the cycle of financial shortage and security.

In 2012, I wrote an article for Rappler about how Sun Life uses the power of film to educate Filipinos on financial literacy. I enjoyed watching those clips, especially the one featuring Angel Aquino, because they depicted realities many Filipinos have gone, or are going through, and were able to creatively promote insurance and investment products without being pushy.

This month, Sun Life launched a new collection of Sun Shorts to once more inspire Filipinos to pursue financial freedom. Here are three reasons why all three short films are worth watching:

1) You will see yourself in one of the characters. Whether you are young or old, single, a parent, or a retiree, you'll find something in those films that would make you go, "Yes, that could be me!"

2) You will feel that push to explore why you need to invest and be insured. Each film will lead you to think about improving whatever financial situation you are in at the moment.

3) You could better visualize how to realize your dreams. We all have aspirations but, many times, we have vague ideas how to reach them. By having plans and knowing what steps to take, you'll get closer towards making your goals a reality.

According to Chief Marketing Officer Mylene Lopa, "Sun Life shines a spotlight on relationships to inspire every Filipino to keep chasing their dreams. Through Sun Shorts, we hope to show Filipinos how life insurance can help them ease their life's burdens and celebrate their lives' triumphs giving them the opportunity to show the people they love their commitment to a brighter future for them."

All three films were inspired by stories of Sun Life clients:

• Waves by Zig Marasigan gives a peek into the lives of millennials who are often criticized for adhering to the YOLO (you only live once) mindset and not preparing well enough for their future

• She Said, She Said by Nic Reyes highlights a mom's journey on juggling work and single parenting while trying to raise her daughter to the best of her abilities  

• Sayaw by Mihk Vergara delves into the reality of coping with a long-time marriage that has gone cold and seemingly way past redemption

Access the films at www.sunshorts2.com or through Sun Life's Facebook page. Each mini movie comes with a complementary video where Sun Life brand ambassadors Matteo Gudicelli, Judy Ann Santos, and Piolo Pascual share their thoughts and have discussions with friends to shed light on how insurance and investments enable us to protect the relationships that matter to us.

"The people we love make us a better version of ourselves. So it is important to nurture these relationships because they define us as a people," reminded Ms. Charo Santos-Concio during the Sun Shorts media launch. "We should be able to express our love by securing a bright future for our loved ones and Sun Life will help us make that happen."

Learn more about life insurance and mutual funds by also joining Sun Life's series of activities throughout the month to boost your financial journey. For more details, visit @sunlifeph on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Meanwhile, if you prefer to learn at your most convenient time, there are also basic financial planning courses online at the Brighter Life Institute. Just log in at www.brighterlife.com.ph.

Lastly, Sun Life is launching PA Armor, an affordable personal accident protection that can be easily bought through Sun Life's partnership with Voyager Innovations, Inc.'s online marketplace Takatack.com.

Ms. Mylene sums their advocacy by assuring Filipinos, "Life insurance is a gift of commitment, life, and hope. For as long as [you] have dreams to pursue and relationships to care for, Sun Life will be here as [your] partner in this journey."