LUIS MANZANO for Santé's Sweet Via

The Philippines sweetest host Luis Manzano just became the face for Sante's Sweet Via. For those who don't know, Santé has been known to manufacture products made from pure Barley grass and has diversified in supplements like Vitamin C, healthy beverage and snacks, bath and intimate care products, oral cleaning and skin care products. People have been raving about the quality of their goods and SWEET VIA is a welcome addition to the roster of their health products.

Luis has been in the industry since his Mom and Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos introduced him on her show decades ago. Shining in his own right, he's noted for his good work in hosting several game shows, entertainment programs and his amiable knack for comedy. His personality outshines stars of his generation, he's very likeable and is the perfect man for the job when you talk about health too. He works out almost everyday and keeps it a point to eat right especially these days when food is just a button away. He knows the value of keeping his body in check and balances it with fun and activity. Luis says "I've got a sweet tooth and it proved nearly impossible at times to enjoy things at home that are sweet and healthy. Now I prepare my own drinks and make desserts with Sweet Via. I also use this because it's all natural, and contains Stevia which is a natural sweetener and Inulin which is a soluble type of fiber. This boosts the immune system and also takes care of my digestive health as it's got probiotics too."

I loved how Luis also talked about his own experiences and shared details of his lifestyle during the event hosted by FTsukie Gomez  on Zoom a few days ago. His attitude towards health and how to make working out a fun experience was awesome as he shared little moments of his life with us online. He also taught us how he incorporates Sweet Via in drinks and food he consumes, to ultimately, make it part of his healthy lifestyle. He did a lot of small jokes in between, but never forget to inspire us, that's why Santé believes in Luis in the first place.

Sweet Via by Santé is available in leading drug stores, groceries, supermarkets, and online via Lazada and Shopee. I have personally used this for my coffee and tea. It has made me enjoy the things I have been loving even before I had diabetes. It's also a nice to know I could have food prepared with this in lieu of sugar which means I'd have options to go and have a healthier alternative than table sugar. It's also low in calories which makes it perfect for those who are maintaining their weight and watching their calorie count. It doesn't hurt to try something this good.

Milk Tea Fix at Sugar Panda Abreeza Mall

It's so hot outside that you just wanna stay indoors and let the hours pass in Davao City. That's exactly why we are here in Sugar Panda, at Abreeza Mall's third floor for our own sanity, and our Milk Tea fix.

There are tons of brands out there but this one seems special because they are serving Taiwan's #1 drink, so we indulged in having some of their best sellers. First off, I like their containers because they seem to be reusable, perhaps you can just wash this off and prepare something hot later on, but since we are a little at the end of summer, and it's very humid in the Philippines, we might as well try this joint out.

Lychee Boba Milk Tea is fruity and more on the sweet side. If you love cold lychees, this would be a nice substitute.

I ordered this Brown Sugar Boba Milk with Cream Mousse. It's not that sweet (although you can ask for sugar levels), and you'll taste more of their products on the milky side rather than tea. They barely have lines in the mid afternoon so you should prolly go there around that time.

This is their Taro Boba Milk Tea. I actually like Taro but again they made this on the milky creamy side and you'll feel a little hint of earthy taro flavor with this one. Don't be afraid to try new stuff, this one is easy.

This is their Wintermelon Boba Milk Tea, which had a more caramely flavor profile. If you don't know what to order, play safe and order this one.

So if you're looking for your Milktea fix and you're trapped in Davao, try Sugar Panda out. It's not overly sweet and VERY affordable. 

You can't go wrong with good Milktea, if you want it on the milky side rather than the tea, they got you covered.

Diabetes in the Philippines

 I live in a household where the word DIABETES is a norm. Sad but true. My lineage seemed to have all concentrated on this vicious chronic and lifestyle ailment; and it has claimed the lives of a lot of my relatives, I could count more than 10 just in my lifetime. It's scary and with my Dad and Mom's genes passed on to me, I could likely be a candidate if I don't take care of what I eat, my activities, and perhaps what I do everyday. There are various reasons on what causes this, but it is primarily a chronic disease. As some say, it is also a lifestyle disease. Just a few days ago, they announced quite disturbing data about it, which seems to confirm that it is happening in the Philippines. Just hearing that made me realize it's much closer than home, because I feel too that it is at an alarming rate. 

According to a study by the International Diabetes Federation, the Philippines is one of the world's emerging diabetes hotspots. Imagine, 4 Million Filipinos are suffering from Diabetes as we speak. That already puts us at the world stage with even a couple of million more that are unreported, or perhaps people that are unaware. IDF also reported 3.51 Filipinos at the age of 20-79 have it, and 51,127 have passed away because of it. Again, that's scary.

This chronic disease occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. So if it can't properly control the amount of sugar in the blood, you're in big trouble. It doesn't matter if you're male or female, rich or poor, everyone can be a candidate and it all boils down to one thing, you need prevention rather than cure. Data from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute from the Department of Science and Technology's 8th National Nutrition Survey indicates diabetes prevalence has risen from 3.4 percent in 2003 to 5.4 percent in 2013. You can just imagine how much that would be this 2017 if we had current data. 

What's also alarming is that a great number of Filipinos who suffer from it are ages 50 to 69. Most of which are wealthy and also living in urban communities. The Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on the other hand is both a genetic and a lifestyle disease. It is also linked to old age, unhealthy diets, lack of physical activity, obesity (oh yeah you sit too much on the couch and in front of the computer!) and urbanization, all of which contribute to this disease. To control this, Doctors would recommend insulin to take care of the blood glucose levels. If you take care of that, you can get to have a normal and healthy life. Today, there are available syringes, insulin pens and insulin pumps so people who suffer from it could do what normal people would do. Of course, it all has to be monitored regularly so you and doctors would know if you have risks of developing hypo/hyperglycemia. Make sure you ask your doctor regularly if you are at risk, and do the annual/regular checkup if you can. As they say, knowing is half the battle. Try to live healthy as much as you can, and please trust your body.

Think about it.


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