adidas drops the next generation of running greatness with UltraBOOST Uncaged

 PRESS RELEASE:

The wait is over. adidas embraces the future of running with the introduction of UltraBOOST Uncaged, a shoe inspired by fans and perfected by the innovation experts of adidas Running. Featuring a new adidas Primeknit upper, an internal support system and unique tiered lacing system, UltraBOOST Uncaged is engineered for maximum performance.

Originally created as an evolution of the greatest running shoe ever, UltraBOOST Uncaged continues the performance legacy of its predecessor with each element designed to collectively deliver an unparalleled running experience. To transform the Uncaged look into a performance vehicle, adidas adapted an internal midfoot skeleton using technology developed for the world’s top track athletes, delivering highly technical support and comfort with a rebellious look. A re-engineered adidas Primeknit upper provides flexible breathability and natural movement through each stride to complement an adaptive knit collar. A new multi-tiered lacing system allows runners to personalize style and fit, while specially-designed flat laces offer enhanced comfort and stability.

Alongside its new innovations, UltraBOOST Uncaged also maintains its signature UltraBOOST features. A supportive heel counter showcases the iconic embossed UltraBOOST name and keeps the foot locked in place for additional stability; a full length BOOST midsole provides industry leading Energy Return and a Stretchweb Continental Rubber™ outsole flexes naturally for superior traction with every step.

In addition to providing running greatness, UltraBOOST Uncaged represents the commitment adidas has to its fans and athletes. After global trendsetters first modified UltraBOOST by cutting off its cage, adidas embraced the movement and invited partners to create their own stylized versions of the shoe. Following this collaborative approach and in line with its dedication to delivering only the best for the athlete, adidas created its latest running innovation - a sleek new silhouette with the performance benefits that separate UltraBOOST from every other running shoe.

“UltraBOOST Uncaged combines the performance and innovation standard of UltraBOOST with the unique flair of our passionately creative fan base,” says Ben Herath, Vice President of Design for adidas Running. “adidas is committed to making athletes better through innovation and UltraBOOST Uncaged is another prime example of that pledge being met with the input of runners from around the world.”

 adidas UltraBOOST Uncaged drops in adidas stores on June 29 for Php8995.

 Join the adidas Energy Running movement by following @adidasrunning on Twitter and Instagram using #UltraBOOST.

Robinson’s Fit&Fun Wellness Buddy Run on its 9th year!

Among the good things that were brought out after I started running six years ago, is the good influence I was able to bring to my family. Years ago, my wife, Ruth couldn’t even have the courage to run a three kilometer distance in any fun run, much so, trading up extended hours of sleep on a Sunday morning. My son, Gab could not take a break from playing video games and would instantly decline my encouragement to run a few kilometers within our village. But I just do what I do, and allow the people around me to see the good results I make whenever I run. After years of persuasions, lo and behold! From a sole running man six years ago, now to a running family!  

From NonoyRuns to #FlorescaRuns...

I started to join Robinsons Fit&Fun Wellness Buddy Run five years ago when the followers were still in a couple thousands. Year after year, as the growth of the running community are increasing exponentially, so does the new followers of the Fit&Fun Wellness Buddy Run. Soon after, my running buddies also grew in numbers from wife to now with the whole family. 

Robinson's Fit&Fun Wellness Buddy Run 2014, with my son Gab

This year, it was our first time to bring our third son, James who is a special child. Even though he can not run with us because of his disability, we made sure that he is part of the family that advocates wellness. My son, Gab and I ran for the 10k category and my wife, Ruth and my other son, Gene ran for 5k while James enjoyed being push by his mom and brother on his wheelchair along the 5k route. 

Robinson's Fit&Fun Wellness Buddy Run 2015 with Gab, this time a barefoot runner... 

 

Robinson's Fit&Fun Wellness Buddy Run 2016...

 This activity of Robinson’s is part of the wellness campaign of the Robinson’s Supermarket which highlights brands that are recognized to contribute health and wellness to the consumers. Last week was the kick-off of the campaign that was held at the Robinson’s Magnolia in New Manila district. The event was a show case of brands that supports health and wellness such as, Nestle, Johnson and Johnson, Nivea and Fontera among others. 

Photo from last year's Wellness Campaign event... 

Coincidentally, my wife and I recently visited several agricultural farms that advocates and practices organic produce. From vegetables, coconuts, herbs to livestock including pigs and cattle, these farms, as much as they are still few in numbers, refuse to use harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides even it will give them a much faster growth rate for a quick profit. It uses only natural concocted agents that are good to the plants and animals and to the consumer as well. 

Organic Coconut seedlings of Buhain Diversified Farm, Initao, Misamis Oriental...

Our visits in the organic farms indeed reinforces our lifestyle to live fit and healthy. So for those who wish to clean up and detox unwanted toxins in their bodies, one may consider buying foods that supports wellness and engage in one of the cheapest form but very effective exercises and that is running. Visit Robinson’s Supermarket and look for the brands with yellow tags. These products are guaranteed to offer no less than healthy results if you wish to live fit and fun, and there is nothing more exciting to pursue running than doing it with your love ones.

Buhian Diversified Farm: Coconuts Trees and more…

After an early flight to Misamis Oriental, a team of bloggers and staff of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) visited one of the learning site farms of ATI that advocates and practices Organic Agriculture in Initao, Misamis Oriental. The Organic farm is situated at the inner part of Initao that covers a 1.2 hectares of farm land owned by the husband and wife team Ms. Nemia Penita and Engr. Edgar Buhian. 

Buhian Diversified Farm is located at Initao, Misamis Oriental

Engr. Edgar and Municipal Councilor Penita Buhian

Last 2015, Engr. Edgar Buhian was awarded as Outstanding Coconut Farmer of the Gawad Saka Awards. According to him, he was so surprised at the same time humbled with the award despite the small size of his farm compared to other farmer’s. The size of the farm maybe small but one thing that sets Buhain Daversified Farm apart from others are the various coconut byproducts it can produce out of them. Among the coconut products they make are Cocconut Sweet Tuba, Coconut Spicy and Regular Vinegar, Coconut sugar, Coconut Jam, Coconut bocayo, Coconut Bocarillo and Virgin Coconut oil. 

The farm offers various coconut-based products and is certified by the Department of Agriculture

Coconut trees are covered with coconut husks for moisture retention. A technology that protects the trees from El Nino

Last year, I had the opportunity to serve SaveCoconut Foundation as consultant and I was immersed on how valuable coconuts can be and the potential revenue a farmer can earn from it. In my conversation with Engr. Edgar and Mam Penita, I shared some of what I learned in the foundation. I shared to them another potential revenue from the coconut juice they can gather in processing copra, in which they can also make “toyo” or soysauce out of it by simply boiling it. They were surprised because it was a technology they never knew before, and were very excited to try it. That is why in my next visit to the farm, I’m also excited to see if the tip I shared paid off. 

The Buhian Farm integrates other vegetation with coconuts...

Lunch...Fresh from the farm

After a refreshing lunch, the group toured the farm. It was a short tour but there were a lot of interesting stuff we saw and one can learn. Apart from coconuts, the Buhain farm also grows other organic vegetables like lettuce, Chilly pepper, Eggplant, different kinds of herbs, okra, tomatoes and mushrooms. A little further back are the nursery of coconut seedlings where the farm also sells. The farm also grows, various types of poultry such as ducks, chicken and turkey where all of them a freely roaming around the farm. Yes, they are all free range and also organically grown. 

One of the different variety of chili peppers...

Taragon, Peppermint and Stevia are just among the many herbs scattered in the farm free from chmicals

Eggplant are being harvested on a regular basis...

Camote Tops...fresh and blooming

Fresh Mushrooms...

So what is an Organic Farm? It is a farm where everything that is grown there, both plants and animals are free from chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticide that also harm the people who eats them. The Buhain farm, through the assistance of ATI’s various training in organic agriculture, were able to apply technologies where they can make their own natural pesticide by mixing Effective Micro-organism (EM1) and other aggregates such as molasses to combat pests which are harmful to plants. Combining them will make EMAS or the Effective Micro Organism Agri-Solution that also serves many uses in the farm. 

Ducks, chicken and turkey are all free-range...

Turkey and other poultry animals co-exist in the farm...

Another interesting part of the farm is the organic piggery. What makes this so amazing is the absence of foul odor and with lesser flies roaming around. This is because of another technology where the flooring of the coral is filled with rice-haul, salt and EMAS. The combination of these makes the pigs grow healthy, with very minimal foul odor. 

Organic piggery emits less foul smell and lesser flies...

And the pig looks happy and healthy too...

The pigs are not grain fed but eat only vegetables harvested in the farm but are rejected for commercial consumption. These are either fed to the pigs or use it to feed the African Night Crawler (Earth worms) in their Vermiculture area. The poop of the worm is called Vermicast and is the best source of natural fertilizers for the plants. 

Honey Bee Production...

Duck-weed culture for fish food (Tilapia)

Buhian Diversified Farm is an ATI learning site where Agricultural Students from different schools and universities in Northern Mindanao, engage in experiential learning about the beauty of organic agriculture. With this training approach, ATI and its partners envision to inspire these students to become effective and successful future generations of farmers. 

#OABloggers, ATI Staff from Central Office and Region 10 office with Mam Penita and Sir. Edgar Buhian

Alviera Go Play features world’s first game show inspired playground…

A few years ago, the SandBox at Alviera, Porac, Pampanga have launched some of the very first adventure parks that allows guests to experience fun yet relatively challenging outdoor activities within a state of the art facilities. My family and I have experienced fist hand some of these awesome activities as it evolved through the years.

Explorac. One Alviera's adventure offerings to the thrill seekers

I considered myself lucky to be part of its historic beginnings where it was still in a raw state. Runners and bikers from all over the place took part of the very first Explorac Adventure race where I ran a 21k route within the whole 1,225 hectare township development being constructed by Ayala land. The experience was awesome because it was also my first time to run along the river bed of lahar sand dunes left by the Mount Pinatubo Eruption in 1991.

 

Alviera's raw landscape. Ideal for trail running and mountain biking...

A few years later, as the SandBox is coming into form, Alviera put in another "first" outdoor facilities in the development.Some of which is the Aerial Walk. It a nerve racking high from the ground rope and cables facility where a person can cross from one pole-station to another on intricate rope connection and wood planks and is protected by a safety harness. Of course, many people are also raving about the Giant Swing and the vertical wall climbing. 

SandBox's first attractions...

 And recently, Alviera introduced another one that brings exciting and fun to another level. In partnership with Runtertainment, the group that introduced Slidefest Philippines, Escape Room Game and of course the zombie fun runs like Breakout Manila and Breakout Philippines, is now bringing you Go Play. 

Go Play. Bringing out the kid in everyone's heart

Go Play is the very first Game Show styled playground in the world, where one can experienced a TV inspired wacky games and outdoor fun like the Takeshi’s Castle, Wipe Out and the Gladiators. The Alviera Go Play kicked off last June 11, 2016 at the SandBox for a full day of lively games that challenges not just the physical but also your mental wit as well. 

A TV game show inspired adventure...

Some of Go Play features that challenges one’s craziness are the Human Foosball, the Wacky Karaoke, Run in Sumo Suits in Sumo Relay and play Agawan-based dressed in Zorb ball. For a free and easy fun, you can also do the Foamy Frolic and the bouncy inflatables. 

Agawan-base in Zorb suit...

Guests can enjoy these fun activities with a minimum registrations of P800 for A Regular Go Player and P1,200 for the Extreme Go Player. And for the kids, it’s only P400. The Go Play ran one day only, but may extend its operations throughout the whole month of June.  

Outcast: The newest Horror Series from FOX

After the phenomenal record breaking hit of the Walking Dead is another horror TV series from FOX that surely made an initial nail-biting impact to the tele-viewers out there with their first three episodes shown in the last three Saturdays, every 8:55pm. It has been almost three weeks after its premier global showing last June 4 that is keeping fans at the edge of their seats, while this heart pumping story is slowly being revealed. 

Outcast from the award winning director of The Walking Dead Adam Wingard

For those who have followed the Waking Dead throughout its nine seasons, the Outcast with its award winning director Adam Wingard brings another riveting horror TV series, that will give everyone a different kind of scariness and suspense. It’s like watching Exorcist movie every Saturday. But this show is not the ordinary poltergeist phenomenon, because the hero behind the story possesses some kind of special power that is being revealed every episode.

A beautiful mural art work that can be found at BGC by Team Manila

Personally, I hold a special interest in this type of horror stories because of a personal experience when I was young. My mother was a in the military at that time where she and a handful of supernatural believers often times bring people under “possession” in to our house where they were exorcised repeatedly for several days. I remember my mother would bring me and my sister to our neighbor’s house for the time being, while they do the rituals. 

Mr. Jude Torquato, Executive Director of FOX Philippines

Often times, my sister and I sneaked out and peek from our window to see a possessed person in action. Me, as a young and innocent boy, I never felt scared while witnessing those stuff, it was more of curiosity seeing a young woman in her 20’s and who was just like over five feet tall would easily beat the crap of three abled military men, including my dad with a single blow when they tried to hold her down.    

Bloggers seated comfortably while waiting for the premier telecast...

Seeing people levitate on bed, projecting different kinds of deep-creepy voices with sharp and burning eyes were the typical manifestations normally see. But after they were “released”, these people had no single recollection on what happened to them. Much like what the boy experienced in the first episode where the hero Kyle Barnes, played by Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous) and Reverend Anderson played by Philip Glenister had tough encounters with a different kind demon.

Can’t wait to see the next episode tonight while our outcast heroes encounter and battle an “old” evil that follows and haunts Kyle Barnes and Reverend Anderson.

RX International: An Events and Marketing Company

Last year, my wife and I started toying on the idea of professionalizing and putting the principle of standard practice in the industry of media relations among media practitioners which revolves both traditional and online media, the brands handlers and Public Relations practitioners of brands. It was an idea which we wanted to organize among friends in the media relation industry.

Ms. Xialemar Valdeavilla and Dr. Robert Sy

Events management on the other hand, is a close related industry which has been a major player in the sphere of marketing and promotion of brands. The work of the events management is equally very challenging, most especially in a competitive world where more and more brands are competing to capture a significant share of the market.

These industries has become more complex as the market becomes more intricate in their taste, preference and choice. And in order to catch up with the changing times, events management must equally adapt with these changes. RX International, the newest player in the industry of brand marketing and events management, acknowledges these changes and is committed to deliver events management work with the principle of professionalism and market impact among its valued clients.

Ms. Valdeavilla presenting RX International's prgrams

Last May 28, 2016, RX International was launched at the Sage Bar, Shangrila, Makati. It was witnessed by members of the media and some selected people who have been significant in the company’s formation. These people represents academic institutions and government agencies which have expressed their support to the company’s endeavor in professionalizing the events management industry.

RX International Events and Marketing Consultancy was formed with a mission to integrate global standards in the implementation of vents and marketing programs. At the helm of the company are two professionals who share the passion for community service. Although they come from different fields, they both have a common goal to increase the number of Filipino professionals to uplift the industry and the lives of the stake holders.

Dr. Robert C. Sy, a surgeon by profession is philanthropist and international organization leader. He is known if the medical community for not charging professional fees since he became a surgeon more than 40 years ago. He is currently the Vice-President of Chinese General Hospital, Chairman of UST Alumni Association, A trustee of the Philippines College of Surgeon and the Director of the Philippines Red Cross, Manila Chapter. 

Working a long side with Dr. Sy is a dynamic visionary and scholar Xialemar “Xiameer” Valdeavilla PhD MBA. She has spent more than a decade in the events marketing industry and has created several local and international acclaimed projects geared toward the promotion of leadership, community service and education development. She holds an MBA degree at London School of Marketing, Associate College of Anglia Ruskin University, UK, and a post graduate of diploma in event management and Public Relation from the Fitzwilliam Institute Group, London.

Dr. Sy and Ms. Valdeavilla in vision RX International as company that fuses art with the science of real event and marketer expert.  

GSK Celebrates World Asthma Day with Asthmalaya Campaign…

My father decided to retire from military service at an earlier age because of asthma. And partly because of genetics, his illness worsened from the stress of all the combat duties he experienced from the Korean War, Vietnam War, and from our own domestic insurgencies during the 70s and 80s. 

ASTHMAlaya ka ba Talaga? Campaign is an initiative of PSAAI, PCCP and GSK...

Thankfully, after he retired, his condition got a lot better. He had some minor attacks here and there, which were very manageable, but he was in much better shape than before, most especially when the grand kids started to sprout up one by one, which got him preoccupied and entertained. It was a stress-free life for him. 

Philippine College of Chest Physicians - PCCP and Philippine Society of Allergy Asthma and Immunology - PSAAI

Unfortunately, his stress-free life did not last. Due to some domestic land disputes with his relatives in the province plus the constant travels to and from Manila and Bicol for the court hearings took so much toll in his 72-year-old battle-scared body. With some other personal problems mounting up, his asthma went back with a vengeance and eventually gave so much fatigue to his heart that lead to a massive and fatal heart attack. My dad was 73 years old when he passed away.

Panel of Medical experts from PSAAI and PCCP...

My dad’s passing due to asthma was a wake-up call to me and to all of my siblings. Vices were toned down and diet was also watched but, sometimes, when emotional stress comes, just like my dad, asthma attack follows.

ALL ABOUT ASTHMA

According to Dr. Melvin Pasay, Pulmonologist and Glaxo Smithkline Philippines Medical Affairs Manager, asthma is a recurring inflammatory disorder in the airways of breathing which undergoes expiratory flow and reversible broncho-constrictions. In people with asthma, airways are chronically inflamed. Another expert, PSAAI President, Dr. Carmela Kasala, says that asthma has predisposing factors such as family history, allergic rhinitis, excema, weight and smoking history. It has no known cure but it can be controlled. 

Dr. Melvin Pasay, GSK Medical Affairs Manager

The World Asthma Day is an annual event organized by the “Global Initiative for Asthma” (GINA) to improve public and patient awareness and care about asthma around the world. Among its partners, Glaxo Smithkiline Philippines unveils ASTHMAlaya ka ba Talaga? Campaign which focuses on the disease awareness on patients to be more proactive and consult their doctors on how they can achieve asthma control.

ASTHMAlaya ka ba talaga? Campaign

The launch also covered some myths in curing asthma such as eating Geckos (Tuko), which are very popular in the province. The experts also debunked the misconception that asthma can be outgrown, which is also far from the truth. They emphasized that there is no known cure for asthma but this illness can be controlled and can be managed properly to allow a patient perform his normal activities, even physical exercises. 

PCCP, PSAAI and GSK culminates the launch by a signature of commitment...

Last May 2, 2016, was the kick-off of the ASTHMAlaya ka ba talaga? Campaign that was held at Shangrila Makati City. Experts from various medical specialization gathered together and presented to the media how the medical community and its partners, such as GSK, can effectively help asthma patients manage the illness and live normal lives.

Medical Experts from PSAAI and PCCP with Glaxo Smithkline executives...

I’ve been running marathons for almost six years now and I have asthma. I think the first step anyone with asthma should take is accepting the fact that one is asthmatic. But despite my condition, I’m not bounded by it, and I can live my life to the fullest by being sensitive on what my body can and cannot do and with the help of the medical community that guides me to continue what I love to do and that is running. In my state, I can safely say that I’m already ASTHMAlaya.