Doctors warn: Christmas is happiest but deadliest time of the year

MANILA - More people suffer from heart attack and stroke during the Christmas season, and sufferers are more likely to die during this period than at any other time of year. The phenomenon is called Merry Christmas Coronary, Happy New Year Heart Attack.

This was the warning issued by the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) Foundation as the holidays brings more traffic, overcrowding, and stress.

“Cold weather is not the only cause of the spiking of cardiovascular cases. Study after study shows the culprits to be holiday stress, pollution, and most of all, food and alcohol binging. Eating and drinking sprees send them to emergency rooms for palpitations and light-headedness - symptoms of ‘holiday heart,’” said Dr. Anthony Leachon, President of PCP Foundation.

“For lucky ones the abnormal heart rhythm, usually atrial fibrillation, fixes itself within 24 hours. But others would require admission for monitoring and in extreme cases, electric shock to normalize heart rates. It’s certainly not a fun way to spend the holidays,” he added.

Deadliest days

A 26-year (1973-2001) charting of 53 million deaths in the US reveals a 5-percent jump in natural-cause demise during the holidays.

Christmas Day was the deadliest, followed by December 26, then January 1, according to the study.

Research by sociologist Dr. David Phillips also noted increases in hospital admissions for cardiac and non-cardiac causes. Published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in December 2004, Phillips study excludes suicides, homicides, and accidents.

Could many of the deaths have been caused by lack of specialist attention, as doctors are on holiday too? No, according to a study of 127,959 patients hospitalized for heart attack in 1994-1996 by cardiologist James Jollis at Duke University.

Treatment was basically the same for all patients during the holidays and off-season. Still, according to Jollis, the 30-day mortality of patients in December is higher, with over-indulgence singled out as the culprit.

Cardiologist Robert Kloner’s 1999 report further discounted mere cold weather and pointed to the “holiday effect.”

Focusing on hospitals in Los Angeles, where winters are milder, he noted that change of diet rather than temperature leads to more heart attacks and strokes.

Merrymakers of all ages tend to eat fatty stuff, with adults drinking more alcohol in parties. Pollutants from wood-burning fireplaces further trigger cardiovascular irregularities.

All three studies by Phillips, Jollis, and Kloner exhibit annual 5-percent rises in heart attacks and strokes -- and deaths – during Christmas.

But the situation in the Philippines seems to be worse.

Leachon, who is a cardiologist in the Manila Doctors Hospital, recalled a 2004-2008 survey of Metro Manila hospitals to show a tripling of emergencies and admissions in Christmastime.

Patients were taken in for heart attack, stroke, and diabetes due to overeating and overdrinking.

Usually about 30-50 cases occur from January to November. But this rose to 153 in December 2004, 163 in 2005, 172 in 2006, 170 in 2007, and 170 in 2008.

Half of the holiday patients died.

So for the coming holidays, Leachon gave these health tips to remind the people on how to prevent life-threatening medical condition:

    Stop smoking.
    Eat low-fat low-salt diet. Stick to healthy habits and help your family too.
    Exercise daily for 30 minutes.
    Observe moderate alcohol drinking.
    Don’t skip regular appointments with the doctor.
    Have enough of your usual medications to allow for holiday business or pharmacy breaks and travel.
    Check out the medical facilities where you will be traveling; ask your physician who you could see if you 
    need a doctor away from home.
    If you have symptoms, don’t ignore them.

source: interaksyon.com

Boracay named top 'hookie' destination for Chrismas

MANILA, Philippines - Aside from the clear waters and white sand that Boracay has to offer, the island is also famous for its vibrant nightlife, which is why travel dating site MissTravel.com has ranked it as the top destination for people who want to skip family gatherings during the holidays.

A recent study showed that many youngsters are opting for romantic getaways, rather than dealing with the stress and anxiety brought on by the awkward family encounters during Christmas season.

“Family get togethers can be a source of anxiety for many people, especially those who have a hard time answering questions about their personal lives,” said Brandon Wade, founder and
CEO of MissTravel.com.

According to a recent poll conducted by the Las Vegas-based site, out of the 6,036 trips planned by its users between December 20 and 27, most are going to Boracay.

Top December Hookie Destinations (6,036 Trips Planned Between December 20 and 27)

1. Boracay Island, Philippines ­ 689
2. New York, NY ­ 488
3. Las Vegas, NV ­ 187


"The Philippines is famous for its festive celebration of Christmas, making Boracay Island a traveler favorite," the website said.

Boracay has consistently been part of the list of the best beaches in the world. Early this year, it has been declared as the "Favorite Beach Destination 2015" by the Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents for its annual MATTA Fair. Moreover, TripAdvisor listed Boracay as seventh best beach in the world for 2015.

source: philstar.com

A simple recipe for a sensational party food

Bacon-wrapped scallops are one of the most luxurious appetizers you can serve, not to mention one of the easiest to prepare. And for me, that's a great combination.

I like using big, plump Alaskan sea scallops and apple wood smoked bacon. Because there are only two main ingredients in this dish, you need to make sure you use the best quality — the biggest, freshest sea scallops you can find, and the most flavorful bacon. After that, they are so easy to grill that you hardly need a recipe.

There are two types of scallops, but only one of them is appropriate for the grill. Tiny bay scallops are so sweet, you can eat them raw or just lightly sauteed. But they also are more expensive and not suited for grilling. What you want are the larger, less expensive sea scallops.

This all-protein finger food appetizer is perfect for holiday entertaining. It's simple to prep and quick to cook. You even could prepare them in advance. I pre-cook the bacon to render some of the fat and make it soft and pliable for wrapping around the scallops. Then just refrigerate until your guests arrive and pop them on the grill when you want them.

We've also paired these with a simple maple-mustard sauce that is delicious dolloped on top of the scallops just before serving. But feel free to leave that off.



GRILLED BACON-WRAPPED SCALLOPS

Everything tastes better with bacon! And it doesn't get any better than fresh-from-the-ocean sea scallops wrapped with bacon. The scallops take very little time to cook, so I cook the bacon in the oven or microwave for a couple of minutes before I wrap it around the scallops. That way, I am guaranteed to get crispy bacon and tender scallops. The best sea scallops I've ever had are from Alaska, so ask your fishmonger for them.

Start to finish: 20 minutes

Makes 12 to 14 scallops

2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1 pound jumbo sea scallops

1/2 pound center-cut bacon

Salt and ground black pepper

Round wooden toothpicks, soaked in water for 30 minutes

Heat the oven to 400 F. Set a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet. Heat the grill to medium-high.

In a small bowl, mix together the mustard and maple syrup. Set aside.

Use paper towels to blot dry the scallops. Arrange them on a plate, then set aside.

Arrange the bacon in a single layer on the rack over the baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until just starting to cook. Do not fully cook the bacon. Remove the bacon from the oven. If too hot to handle, let cool for several minutes. Once the bacon can be handled, wrap one slice of bacon around each scallop. Secure in place by threading one of the toothpicks through the bacon and scallop.

Use a pastry brush to lightly brush the tops and bottoms of the scallops with bacon fat from the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side. Serve with the sauce for dolloping a bit onto each.

Nutrition information per scallop: 120 calories; 70 calories from fat (58 percent of total calories); 8 g fat (2.5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 25 mg cholesterol;3 g carbohydrate; 0 g fiber; 2 g sugar; 8 g protein; 320 mg sodium.

source: philstar.com

Double the Christmas fun with Globe

MANILA, Philippines -Celebrate the upcoming Christmas season and double the fun with the latest double deals from Globe Telecom, the no. 1 in postpaid and preferred partner of the world’s leading device manufacturers, with its double device-tablet bundles, a postpaid plan with double the value of prepaid load, and double plan freebies, giving you the biggest double treats this time of the year.

“As part of our wonderful Christmas gifts, we offer subscribers the Globe Double Deals with our full-range of device and tablet bundles, a next-generation postpaid plan where they get double the value of their chosen plan, and freebies for double the fun and double the excitement, something that only Globe can give,” said Raul Macatangay, Head of Globe Postpaid Business and Devices.

Looking for a gift for yourself and a loved one? This Christmas, you know you don’t have to wait for Santa for your present as you can check out the latest device-tablet bundles from Globe with its affordable offers. The Samsung Galaxy S Duos and Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 bundle is yours at only P1,099 a month at Plan 999 with P100 monthly cashout for a 24-month contract period. You can also avail of the Lenovo A516 and Lenovo IdeaTab A1000 bundle free at P999 a month for a 24-month contract period.

Already have a device but you still want to get a postpaid line? You can get the mySuoerplan line-only Plan 499 with P900 worth of monthly consumable amount for calls, texts and surfing combos. You get the postpaid line – contract-free, hassle-free as you only need an ID to be Globe-connected.

And speaking of a postpaid line, pair up your brand-new device or tablet with the Globe mySUPERPLAN, a fully-customizable postpaid plan that gives you double the value of what you pay for in a plan and lets you create and customize your call, text and surfing combos, unlimited services, gadget of choice, and a range of contract periods from six to 24 months — giving you the full flexibility in a postpaid plan.

Get free subscription to Globe Gadget Care for one month. With Globe Gadget Care, your devices are protected against accidental damage and theft or robbery. It also guarantees hassle-free handset replacement, easy claims processing, and worldwide protection coverage. For as low as P89 per month, subscribers can continue reaping the benefits of Globe Gadget Care after the free  one-month coverage.

source: philstar.com

It’s a season of hope and celebration with Ocampo’s Fine Jewellery

MANILA, Philippines - We’ve all gone through so much these past few months. This Christmas season is a time for hope and celebration. Ocampo’s Fine Jewellery ushers in the season with a diverse collection of accessories that revives vintage glam, ignites sparkly modern designs and romance.

Ocampo’s Fine Jewellery’s collection of diamonds and pearls in gold will bring you back to the days of gangster movies and jazz.  This December is also the month when most weddings happen. December brides and brides-to-be can check out Ocampo’s  array of engagement rings and wedding bands and get started on that journey to forever.

Ocampo’s Fine Jewellery stores are located at Robinsons Galleria (634-78-32); SM Mall of Asia (556-03-96); SM North Edsa Annex (441-12-30); Ocampo’s Olongapo (0920-903-1134); Ocampo’s Bataan (0920-903-1071); Ocampos Ayala in Harbor Point Mall (0920-918-4657).

source: philstar.com

Bargain hunters to flock to Divisoria, Baclaran as Christmas Season fast approaches

MANILA, Sept. 15—With the “ber” months now at hand and the Yuletide Season just a few knocks away, Filipino bargain hunters are expected to make an exodus at the various malls in Divisoria and Baclaran that are known to sell cheap but quality goods such as clothes, shoes and even Christmas fares.

Long-time patrons are convinced that items sold in these establishments are cheaper by as much as 40 to 50 percent compared to the other well known malls in Metro Manila.

“Polo shirts (in Divisoria and Baclaran) that are normally sold for P500 in well known malls can be bought for as low as P200 or P150 depending on your ability to bargain with the sales staff,” Eva Alejo, 47, a resident of Barangay Muzon, Malabon said in Filipino.

Aside from shirts, leather and rubber shoes are also for the picking, provided that one is patient enough to walk through the maze of stalls where they are located.

Alejo said that she is now saving money so that she can buy Christmas clothing for her grandchildren.

She added that she will drop by these malls within November or the early weeks of December.

Another bargain hunter, Catherine Encarnacion, also of Malabon City, said that what she likes about these malls is the preponderance of cheap electronic appliances like DVDs and cellphones which are usually sold at very fair prices.

“Prices are usually 50 percent lower than those being sold in high-end malls and the quality is not that bad either,” she stressed.

And for someone working overtime to make both ends meet, Encarnacion said that this is godsend.

Some stalls in Divisoria and Baclaran are also known to sell copies of “designer or signature clothes” 70 to 50 percent lower than the actual cost of the legitimate product.

And since some Filipinos are very brand conscious, the trade in these items are usually brisk despite the risk to the stall owners caught selling such items.

Violators are usually charged with trademark Infringement under the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines or Republic Act 8293.

Recently, P20-million worth of fake “Lee” pants were seized by operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation-Intellectual Property Rights Division (NBI-IPRD) during operations in Pasay City last September 6.

This is equivalent to around 13,759 pairs of fake “Lee” pants. These items were seized from the two stockrooms of Willie Ang located at One Shopping Center and Khatar Region, Kapitan Ambo, Pasay City and showroom and two stockrooms of Willie Cheng located at New Galleria Baclaran Shopping Mall and at Park Avenue Shoe Plaza (HSP2), Park Avenue, also in Pasay City.

The government is expected to crack down hard on stall owners selling “counterfeit goods” in the coming Yuletide Season due to complaints raised by manufacturers who are claiming that the distribution and selling of such items are detrimental to their product.

source: interaksyon.com

Enjoy Christmas

Christmas! What is there to say that I have not said? This will be my 68th Christmas. All the spirit, joy, sorrow, shopping, fun, rituals, kisses, bites, everything that a person must go through, I have gone through. What is there to say about this Christmas that will make it different from years past?

I am not really ready for this season. Instead I’ve been working on getting jewelry done for delivery and am not sure I will finish but — so what? Nobody will die. My Christmas presents, such as they are, are piled on my dining room table, which, at any rate, is too long for the single person who eats there every day at least twice. So one end is reserved for my eating space. The rest is clutter space. And that space is full.

I don’t even have a Christmas list, very inefficient of me. But I don’t have the spirit and even that doesn’t bother me. I know I will get things together. If we live through today, I will have time to get the gifts done and delivered maybe on time for Christmas or maybe the day after Christmas. So what if I’m late? I can deliver gifts until the feast of the Epiphany, which is the Sunday after New Year, which strangely next year is January 6, as it was traditionally.

When I was small the feast of the Three Kings was one I really looked forward to. My mother would tell me to take three pairs of my favorite shoes and put them on the window sill. I would shine them to make sure they were clean and pretty. In the morning I would wake up delighted to find them filled with candy, plastic balloon, all sorts of little delightful things.

Maybe I should have kept my childhood beliefs — Santa Claus, the Three Kings, Ratoncito Perez, my mom’s version of the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny. They gave me the holiday spirit. Christmas was always something I genuinely looked forward to because of Santa, who would always bring me the gifts I desired most. He would write on a card in his odd large penmanship and wrap his gifts differently from my mommy’s gifts. He was quite a guy. He and the Three Kings filled my little life with Christmas spirit. But when you’re old and the grandmother of adults — where is the joy?

I remember when my eldest daughter dashed my dreams of perpetuating the Easter Bunny with her son, my oldest grandson. She had turned Christian when he was small. I was so excited about making Easter eggs when she stopped me and said it was not allowed in their church. Huh? Why not? It’s a very charming ritual and I love painting the eggs. No, Mom, I’m sorry, she said, but my son can’t believe in the Easter Bunny. That son is 28 now.


Ah, but there is the joy! This year for the first time the four children of my eldest daughter will be home for Christmas. They will join us for lunch at my youngest daughter’s house. We will roast a turkey. I will teach my daughter how to roast a turkey. That thought excites me. I have made a mental list of the things I will need. I will get them on December 23 and bring them on the 24th.

Once upon a time I was the roaster of turkeys. I have made them every way imaginable because once upon a time I was a very good cook. I would make them traditionally stuffed with a mixture of pork and beef bound with rice, raisins, chestnuts, celery and carrots. Once in the States I decided to stuff the turkey with fruit and to baste it with hoisin sauce. That was quite delicious. Now the children have grown and flown and so have some grandchildren. I think the last time I roasted a turkey for Christmas was 17 years ago, the year my grandson Julian was born. That was the last happy Christmas I remember us having.

Until this year, I hope, when we will mostly be together again. Now I have gotten myself excited not over the holidays but over seeing my grandchildren again. They are tall, handsome and the girl is lovely. I will take her shopping after Christmas and buy her things she might want to take back. I will love all of them and shower them with whatever goodies I can think of starting but not ending with the turkey, which their aunt will roast. I will simply teach.

That is the wonder of Christmas this year that I had somehow managed to forget until I had to write this article. My three grandchildren, who are usually not here, will be here. I will see them for a while but I love them dearly whether they are near or far.

source: philstar.com

‘Simbang Gabi’ ushers in Pinoy Christmas

MANILA, Philippines - The traditional Simbang Gabi, which kicks off the country’s Christmas season, starts today as the Filipino faithful flock to churches for the dawn Mass.

Simbang Gabi, which ironically is celebrated at dawn, is a nine-day event that runs from Dec. 16 to 24. It marks the country’s unique Christmas celebration described as the longest in the world.

From high-end communities to the remotest barrio, church bells ring at exactly four every morning to call on the faithful to join a tradition that dates back to 1587 in Mexico.

It was initiated by Fray Diego de Soria, prior of the convent of San Agustin Acolman, who petitioned the Pope to allow the holding of Christmas Mass outdoors to accommodate the huge number of people who crowded the church.

In 17th century, the Spanish conquistadores introduced the Christmas Mass in the Philippines and this was quickly adapted by the Filipinos. The tradition has hardly changed over the centuries.

Just like during the Spanish era, the Simbang Gabi is held in pre-dawn hours to symbolize the actual time of the birth of Christ.


The dawn Masses were soon termed as Misa de Gallo, referring to the crowing of the roosters.

In the early times, parish priests would even go around town and knock on the doors of the faithful to wake them up for the Misa de Gallo.

The dawn Mass was said to be most convenient for the rural folk who need to plow the fields or to catch fish before sunup.

source: philstar.com

This Christmas, it’s cool to be kind at Ayala Malls

MANILA, Philippines - Christmas, the season of love, kindness and generosity, is also the busiest time of the year. With a lot of Christmas parties to attend, and work to wrap up before the holiday break, maintaining good cheer can be a challenge.

Ayala Malls officially welcomes the Christmas season with a campaign called “Wrapped in Love.” Figuring that it’s easier to stay in touch with our own kind, loving and generous nature when we are surrounded by expressions of such virtues, Ayala Malls has declared their space “kindness zones,” where otherwise exhausted shoppers and visitors are shown the love — and lots of it, in numerous ways.

Popcorn for all moviegoers. Candy bags for the kids on the playground. Concerts featuring artists such as The Blake, Piolo Pascual, Zia Quizon, Nikki Gil and Lea Salonga. An original Christmas ballet with Steps Dance Project. Goodies from a vendo machine that promotes good cheer. A designer charm bracelet that spreads the warmth of the season. All for free. From the surprising to the inspiring, expressions of giving abound at Ayala Malls.

So, too, do opportunities to give back. What better way to show some love than to include support for any or all of Ayala Malls’ partner foundations and their causes in your Christmas checklist?

Children’s Hour is an organization that invites individuals, employees, organizations and corporations to donate at least one hour’s worth of salaries or earnings once a year. Its mission is to promote education, health and nutrition and protection for disadvantaged Filipino children.





Hero Foundation, Inc. (Help Educated and Rear Orphans Foundation) provides educational assistance in the form of stipends to children of Filipino soldiers killed in action (KIA) or totally incapacitated while in the line of duty. HERO aims to help these children obtain a college or university degree, or a certificate in a vocational course, in order to give them a competitive chance in finding good and decent jobs or profession.

Ayala Foundation aims to improve the quality of life of the Filipino through social development. Since 1989, the foundation has been helping the Iraya-Mangyan, an indigenous ethnic group in Puerto Galera, become sustainably self-sufficient especially in the areas of education, livelihood, housing and health.

WWF-Philippines (World Wildlife Fund) is an organization whose mission is to stop and eventually reverse the accelerating degradation of the Philippine environment and to build a future in which Filipinos live in harmony with nature.

Concerts, fundraisers, weekly surprises, simple gifts — these are some of the big and small gestures of kindness visitors can expect this season at the Ayala Malls, a commitment that is perhaps best explained and underscored by the new Greenbelt Tunnel artwork by Jaime Zobel de Ayala. Various scenes capturing moments from the malls, the walkways and the gardens are shown in full-color, larger-than-life still photographs and, at the center, the words “relate, create, serve.”

Because at the heart of these efforts is the desire to create an atmosphere where visitors can leave their worries and stress behind. Unburdened, they are free to spread the love and the holiday cheer at Ayala Malls.

source: philstar.com