Conversations About LONG COVID

The pandemic really got the nation crippled. I'm sure you're absolutely glad it's over, but for a percentage of the population.. the nightmare of debilitating conditions continue. Over coffee and tea this morning at One World Deli in Timog Avenue, we got to talk amongst those involved with the case of people living with LONG COVID. 

According to Dr. Camilo Road.Jr "Long Covid happens after the actual Covid itself. It's liberation day compared a few years ago where almost everyone was afraid of it. It's effects at the time of illness can be seen not just in the respiratory system, but also the immune system, therefore damaging other parts of the body. It caused death for a lot of people, and normalizing the body takes a lot of time after the cure. The fight may have subsided, but we do see mortality in 1%. The scare is still there, even in other illnesses that have higher mortality rate, some of which still suffer from it. Whether by scarring, virus fragments, while no longer contagious, still suffer from it. Long COVID happens 10-20 percent of those who had it, much higher in females and those who had it multiple times including the unvaccinated. Manifestation includes Fatigue, Headache, Attention Disorder, Hair Loss, Dyspnea. If you got it after being Covid, then that is Long Covid. Patients are taught to breathe more actively, avoid triggers, identify new limits and follow accordingly."

Roel Balingasay who's had Long COVID for 4 years told us "The chronic pains and silent battles just changed a bit of me being a man of action. In April, I thought I had flu, but was coughing intensely and felt I ran a marathon. I spent a total of 30 days in the hospital and couldn't eat because my throat was in pain, I also had muscle dystrophy so I couldn't walk, had widespread body pain, got so confused and had brain fog. I had palpitations, but it was a health crisis. I also had diabetes, kidney stones, 2 blockages in my heart and 2 percent calcified. I also had bronchial asthma, gerd, laryngitis, partial tearing of ligament, lung fibrosis which is a scar. I understood that's where the difficulty in breathing was coming from. It was Long Covid according to my pulmonologist, and told to check my BP, it was high when I was just sitting. Before I could work 12 hours, but now even talking was hard. I resigned from work, resorted to health supplements and machine, you may want to ask me about that. It has affected me, I couldn't sing anymore, work is strainous, I look healthy but it was that, stigma, I had to change homes. Recently I joined communities, and tell people about it. It's a public health issue, and research needs to be done for it. I hope people listen with intent, the challenges had happen to me and some of my friends would tell me there's no Covid anymore. I stopped talking to people because of it and had depression."

Author of My Long Covid Journey: The Saga Behind the Smile Ms. Becks Galvez Tan told us a bit about her life as she says "I am a diagnosed Long COVID patient, fighting for my life 4 years ago where lungs were damaged, had hair loss, difficulty swallowing, sensory overload and the symptoms came and went, like a rollercoaster. The COVID-19 damaged not the lungs, but other organs as well. I felt better when I read other patients had 147 symptoms, but now I am tied to a oxygen concentrator because of a paralysis in my right diaphragm. From being able to walk easily before, I can only do it 2 minutes now. Every 3 minutes I had to rest going up the stairs, I had to rest for 40 minutes here before I could talk. It's just hard to believe that now I couldn't lift a finger. The fatigue is real, and the pain is excruciating. Now I recover faster compared before, but it is like dying in so many ways. I don't see my old self, I am in disbelief but I have moved on and focus on what I can do. In between crashes, I wrote all of it in The Saga Behind the Smile. It is available on digital for free, you can read it, I am living testament that you can still live despite suffering in silence. I don't want to spend my life in misery, I now learned to pace myself, I rest and do something on other days. It's just hard for people to understand. It's different everyday so I can't tell if symptoms are going to happen or not."

It's an E-Book, which you can download via bit.ly/MyLongCovidJourney.

Right now they are creating support groups and want to reach other Long COVID patients to they can help in not just advocacy but find government help. Get in touch with them, it's not okay to suffer in silence, you CAN get help today. If you need more information about it, please refer to World Health Organization channels.and the Department of Health.

SANTÉ Celebrates 18th Anniversary: New Products, Filipino and Proud!

The folks from SANTÉ International recently celebrated their 18th anniversary, a feat that has been lauded with not just local fans, but worldwide. That's almost 2 decades of innovation, efforts to train people to be better versions of themselves, equipped with transformative leadership and proud to be Filipino, there's more reasons to celebrate!

Their natural health products especially barley has been very successful, and they continue to also become advocates for health and wellness across the world.

Chief Executive Officer Joey Marcelo says "This organization has been in the business of finding the right business partners and owners. They are the ones actively building the business not just here but globally. From day 1 we tried to find the right people, not just the ones who are best when it comes to products, but it's the leaders that make the products move. 18 years after, we are known around the world. When you say Barley, it immediately means Sante. This inspires us, and makes us happy."

They add "This is our debut, we have more experience now. We found the right business partners and have seen their wonderful dreams happen. Changes? A lot, it's taken as a challenge and we are very flexible. We're very fast in pivoting, and it has propelled us in success."

18 years is unbelievable. A Filipino company now has its own manufacturing facility in New Zealand, and it caters to not just Filipino but a global market. Now there are Italians, Americans, those in the Middle East who use their products. Here's a little talk we had with some of their business leaders who exemplify how it is to succeed with SANTÉ

Barley Grass has been in their business for a long time. Previously, it was marketed incorrectly and they did their research to make sure it gets to the intended market. When they got their research team on it, they only said why did they only see this now. It's has everything one needs nutritionally, vitamins, minerals too. It was just recommended to him and they realized how powerful it is. There's no major player, and they are the barley champion. It's now a household brand, and they believe it's the number 1 food supplement brand in the country. They will continue to innovate, starting with NEXTAI for the world market. Evolving in infrastructure, compensation plans, build the business globally. They know this new infrastructure will benefit their organization, and they are focusing on this right now as part of their future plans.

To this day, SANTÉ International has been changing and transforming lives. Through their channels and small networks, they've got ordinary employees, ordinary folks who initially didn't believe it, now have their lives and future secured. This is what they want to happen to their future business owners, their partners who also want to take part in introducing not just the Sante Barley but the new products they plan to release this year. If you would like to be part of that, visit their website or their social channels because they've been looking for you!

Congratulations SANTÉ International! Here's to more years of what is, and what could be!

Taking Care of The Ones Keeping Us Safe: PSMBFI and Medicare Plus Inc.

More protection will now be possible for those who protect us in the country as PSMBFI (Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund Inc.) signed with Medicare Plus Inc. this morning at Discovery Suites in Manila. 

It was officiated by PNP Chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil, Jayjay Viray CEO of Medicare Plus Inc., Jason Jalandoni the Chief Business Development Officer, Benjamin Santos the Chairman of PSMBFI, and Emmanuel Peralta the President and CEO of PSMBFI.

Ms. Jayjay Viray says "When we proposed to take on the PNP, a lot of people discouraged us because they are high risk. Yet, here we are. Our commitment is solid, we are here to support you."

General Marbil says "Great morning everyone. I just want to say, there are two problems in the PNP. They are not protected. We are doing good but not protected. We can't put advances in funds, but have to reimburse things. Big time people, who have money, they have the best lawyers but we have in house ones for legal assistance. Our good lawyers can compete, but we also have those who get sick. So many policemen get in danger, but don't get great medical attention they deserve. It costs us a lot, and it comes out of our pockets unless from our hospital. We pay first, then reimburse, that's the system. It's debt that can be paid after six months. Aside from that, those who get sick can only get 300k, so getting sick is again expensive. More or less 420k per police men per year. A lot resort to borrowing money, also to loan sharks, but that's how the law works. We have to protect them in legal and health. I'm so happy that Medicare Plus took in the PNP. In the new Philippines, the PNP only wants you to be safe."

General Benjamin Santos adds "Our PNP Chief has been advocating this and those who are PSMBFI members are those we only could help. We were prudent in spending, we earned a lot but we want to give it back to PNP. During one of our sessions, we talked about hospitalization for our men and women, and the expansion of HMO was decided. From Legal and Travel assistance, 300 Million will be given in the next 5 years. The HMO, we allotted 601 Million for 1 year. Lastly, the IT system need to get our processes streamlined. We accomplished 2 things with the legal and this HMO, so Medicare Plus, thank you for being our partners. We want this to be a proof of concept, we don't know but we allocated a lot for this. If this is successful, we will expand this to other members. Soon, we can have the whole PNP. When we started this, we wanted to give the protection they deserve while they serve and protect us. With this, I hope those who are not PSMBFI members become members now. It'll be for the best and peace of mind."

This is a milestone for both the government and the new Medicare Plus members that this will entail. PNP members are highly encouraged to join PSMBFI as they continue to expand more benefits especially for those who protect us in and outside the country.