14th Segunda Mana Charity Shop Opens

The Donation-in-Kind Program of Caritas Manila, Segunda Mana opened its 14th last May 9, 2014 at the 5th Rev. Fr. Roberto dela Cruz, the Archdiocesan Minister for Restorative Justice, graced and lead the blessing and ribbon-cutting of the newest branch.

Pre-loved items such as clothes, shoes, bags, toys, home and fashion accessories are donated by generous companies, organizations and individuals which are offered at friendly prices in Segunda Mana stalls.

It’s the mission of Caritas Manila to instil the value of giving as a way of life. Through its pro-poor programs and efforts, they help sustain and uphold the organization’s mission to develop and empower the disadvantaged and the vulnerable. Caritas Manila’s flagship program focuses on education for the underprivileged youth under its Youth Servant

Leadership and Education Program (YSLEP) which currently supports 4,000 students. YSLEP is an integrated youth development program that develops the youth’s potential in terms of knowledge, skills and attitude and trains them to become leaders. It utilizes training and formation that emphasize not just academic excellence but leadership while cultivating moral integrity and social commitment to the poor.

This is the 14th branch and the 12th mall-based store for Segunda Mana. Other branches are located at Makati Cinema Square, Isetann Cinerama Complex, Harrison Plaza , StarMall- Edsa, StarMall-Alabang, Victory Central Mall, Victory Shopping Center, Victory Pasay Mall, Farmer’s Plaza, Sta. Lucia Mall, Riverbank Center-Marikina, San Roque Cathedral and in Caritas Manila Head Office.

Metro Point Mall’s owners and management granted free space and stall for this program of Caritas Manila.

As Rev. Fr. Anton Pascual, Caritas Manila’s Executive Director puts it, “Buying is the new way of giving.” Level of Metro Point Mall, EDSA Rotonda, Pasay City.

FREE CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING - Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are half a million new cases of cervical cancer each year and 250,000 of them lead to mortality. It is also the second most common cancer in women worldwide, including the Philippines, where an estimated 6,000 Filipino women get diagnosed every year.  Sadly, more than half of these cases die within five years.

Cervical cancer is cancer that starts in the cervix. The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus. It connects the vagina to the upper part of the uterus.

Early on, cervical cancer may not cause signs and symptoms but advanced cervical cancer may cause bleeding or discharge from the vagina that is not normal, such as bleeding after sex. All women are at risk of getting cervical cancer, especially those over 30 years old.

While genetics still play a major role in all types of cancers, WHO says other factors contribute to women having cervical cancer. For instance, cigarette smoking is consistently linked with an increased risk of developing cervical cancer. Women who have had a greater number of full-term pregnancies or have used oral contraceptive pills for a long period of time also have higher risk of having cervical cancer.

Other possible causes of cervical cancer also include those who have had multiple sexual partners, who have had sexual partners (regular or casual) who themselves had several sexual partners, and  those who had their first sexual intercourse at a very early age, possibly 15 or 16 years old.

But in almost all cervical cancer cases (99%), Human Papillomavirus (HPV) appears to be the main cause.  HPV a very common viral infection of the reproductive tract that is sexually-transmitted.

Fortunately, cervical cancer is avoidable and if detected early, curable.

Here are some prevention tips by leading health care provider PhilCare:

Get vaccinated against HPV. It is given in a series of three shots;
See a doctor regularly for a Pap Smear;
One-partner sexual relationship between partners should be observed;
A delay on the first sexual intercourse;
Use condom
Stop smoking

Take advantage of the Free Cervical Cancer Screening with the schedules below:

METRO MANILA Hospitals (Screenings are held Every Wednesday)
* Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center
*Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital
*Tondo Medical Center
*Quirino Memorial Medical Center
*Amang Rodriguez Medical Center
*Rizal Medical Center
*Las Pinas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center
*Valenzuela General Hospital
*San Lorenzo Ruiz Memorial Hospital
*Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital

LUZON (Screenings are held Every Friday):
*Region 1 Medical Center
*Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center
*Mariano Marcos Memorial Medical Center
*Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center
*Luis Hora Memorial Hospital
*Conner District Hospital
*Veterans Regional Hospital
*Far North General Hospital and Training Center
*Cagayan Valley Medical Center
*Southern Isabela General Hospital
*Batanes General Hospital
*Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center
*Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital
*Talavera Extension Hospital
*Bataan General Hospital
*Batangas Regional Hospital
*Culion Sanitarium
*Ospital ng Palawan
*Bicol Medical Center
*Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital
*Bicol Sanitarium


VISAYAS: ( Screenings are held every Tuesday)
*Western Visayas Medical Center
*Don Jose Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital
*Corazon Locsin Montelibano Regional Hospital
*Western Visayas Sanitarium
*Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center
*Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center
*St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital
*Eversely Child Sanitarium
*Talisay District Hospital
*Eastern Visayas Memorial Medical Center
*Schistosomiasis Control and Research Hospital

MINDANAO (Screenings are held every Thursday)

*Zamboanga City Medical Center
*Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Hospital
*Mindanao Central Sanitarium
*Basilan General Hospital
*Margosa Tubig Regional Hospital
*Labuan Public Hospital
*Northern Mindanao Medical Center
*Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Regional and Teaching Hospital
*Davao Regional Hospital
*Davao Medical Center
*Cotabato Regional Medical Center
*Cotabato Sanitarium
*AMAI Pakpak Medical Center
*CARAGA Regional Hospital
*Adela Serna Ty Memorial Medical Center

12th Philippine Food Expo 2014 - Raising the Bar!

Having solidified its reputation as the number one sourcing venue for Filipino food products, the PHILIPPINE FOOD EXPO is a must-visit event for everyone, from the everyday Filipino consumer to international traders and importers of food products. The 3-day event will be composed of other activities such as the Food Summit, a series of technical seminars, business matching and culinary competitions, etc.

In the competitive world of global trade, a forward and outward-looking approach to the free movement of goods is what keeps the food exports business strong and afloat. This outlook, which became one of the foundations from which the ASEAN leaders resolved to establish the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015, has served to inspire the creation of a single market and production base philosophy. This private and public-led integration pushed business leaders to fast track their actions and mount the AEC 2015 summit in the Philippines.

• Occupied 9,000 square meters of exhibition space • Generated 43% increase in total onsite sales amounting to Php 88,774,056.50 • Clustered four major pavilions : Exporters Zone, Retailers Zone, Technology Hub and Cottage Industry Pavilion • Participated in and supported by the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade & Industry – EDC and BETP, Phil. Exporters Confederation, MEGMA, DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research, National Food Authority, PCARRD, USAID's Growth in Equity in Mindanao Program, Go Negosyo • Supported by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Philippine Okra Producers and Exporters Association and Philippine Mango Exporters Foundation • Culinary competitions made possible by the Hotels and Restaurants Chefs Association of the Philippines, Philippine Women's University, St. Paul's University Quezon City, Philippine Bartending, CATFABS, Elba, Fujidenzo, Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines, See's International, Hilas Marketing Corporation and Gomeco Group of Companies