Uncategorized

The UTP national junior tennis team is composed of 24 tennis players—top four boys and girls from the U-14, U-16                                                                                         and U-18 categories.

Unified Tennis Philippines (UTP) announced that it has formed the first-ever national junior tennis team which will represent the country in several top tournaments sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the Asian Tennis Federation.

The UTP national junior tennis team is composed of 24 tennis players—top four boys and girls from the U-14, U-16 and U-18 categories which were selected based on UTP’s national ranking system and over 125 UTP-sanctioned tournaments all over the country.

The U14 players comprise of John David Velez, Brent Sigmond Cortez, Rainier Angelo Selmar, Rupert Ohrelle Tortal, Macie Carlos, Alexa Joy Milliam, Casey Padilla, and Alexandra Eala who bagged the top spot in the prestigious Les Petit 14 and Under European Championships in France.

Eala’s sibling Michael Francis, Stephen Zion Guia, John David Velez, Laurenz Quitara, Rovie Baulete, Anna Laura De Myer, Pherl Bless Cordero, and Denise Bernardo meanwhile headline the U16 category.

Manuel Balce III, Marc Nicole Suson, and Arthur Craig Pantino, who clinched an international doubles title in the Hong Kong ITF Juniors Tournament, on the other hand comprise the male representatives of the U18 Category.

The older Eala who made it to quarterfinal round at the China Junior in Chengdu, will also join this catgory.

Bea Francesca Acena, Elizabeth Abarquez, Melanie Faye Dizon, and Mary Aubrey Calma meanwhile make up the U18 female delegation.

Guia, Suson, Pherl Coderos, De Myer, and Bernardo will also be competing in the 10th ITF Malacca International Junior Championship in Malaysia.

“I am very thankful to UTP for the chance to play in the ITF International Junior Championship in Malaysia. This is my first time to compete abroad and I am very excited,” shared De Myer.

Herbalife Nutrition released findings from its Asia Pacific Healthy Breakfast Survey, conducted in February this year with more than 5,500 respondents in 11 markets – including 500 from the Philippines.

Aimed at uncovering insights into the attitudes and habits of eating breakfast among consumers in the region, the survey revealed that the majority of respondents understand the importance of a healthy breakfast in promoting their well-being and in managing their weight, however, many of them have encountered obstacles to eating it daily, and would be encouraged to eat it more regularly if it was more convenient and accessible.

Benefits of consuming breakfast

Based on the Herbalife Nutrition Asia Pacific Healthy Breakfast Survey, the majority (69 percent) of consumers in the Philippines consider breakfast extremely/very important, with 86 percent choosing it as the most important meal of the day. In comparison, only 11 percent opted for lunch and 2 percent for dinner.  When asked about the benefits of consuming a healthy breakfast, 99 percent said that eating breakfast “gives them energy in the morning” while 96 percent felt that “it contributes to their personal well-being”.

Looking at the breakfast habits of consumers in the Philippines, the survey found that 84 percent do indeed make it a priority to eat their first and most important meal of the day at home, with 67 percent doing so within one to two hours of waking. The rest would just grab their breakfast either at work (10 percent) or on the way to work (4 percent). Only 2 percent of the respondents do not eat breakfast.

What are the consumers in the Philippines eating for breakfast?
The survey also showed that although 41 percent of respondents consider protein as the predominant nutrient needed in their breakfast, carbohydrates in fact made up most of the actual breakfast nutrients in the consumption pattern of the respondents. Carbohydrates such as bread or toast and hot beverages top the list of breakfast foods regularly consumed.

Obstacles to a daily breakfast

While the survey indicated that a good majority are eating breakfast, it also found that many had encountered obstacles to eating it daily. The top three barriers are “lack of time” (44 percent), “don’t feel hungry in the morning” (30 percent) and “trying to maintain my weight” (18 percent).

To overcome these obstacles, 54 percent of the respondents said having “If my breakfast contributes to my health and well-being” and “If breakfast helps give me more energy” would help them eat breakfast daily, other motivation factors include making breakfast “readily accessible” (53 percent) or having something that is “more convenient and easy” (48 percent).

“It is heartening to see that most Asia Pacific consumers are aware of the importance of eating breakfast. At Herbalife Nutrition we believe that there are many benefits of  eating a healthy breakfast daily. A healthy breakfast with balanced nutrition not only provides the much-needed nutrients for the day, but also has wide-ranging benefits in the long run, including supporting healthy metabolism, better brain health and improved weight management,” said Mr. Rosalio Valenzuela, Country Manager of Herbalife Nutrition Philippines.

“However, the survey also revealed that many are still not consuming breakfast daily. One can easily overcome the obstacles by waking up 15 minutes earlier to prepare something fast such as a protein shake. Eating a healthy breakfast regularly can really set the stage for healthier eating all day long, and promote and maintain a lifetime of wellness,” added Mr. Valenzuela.

According to the Herbalife Nutrition Philosophy, every meal consumed should have a calorie intake breakdown of 40 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent protein and 30 percent fats. Carbohydrates should include, at the very least, some fruits or vegetables.

Herbalife Nutrition Asia Pacific Wellness Tour

To educate Asia Pacific consumers on how to adopt positive nutrition habits for a healthier and happier life, Herbalife Nutrition will be conducting its ninth Asia Pacific Wellness Tour from April 13 to April 29. The Herbalife Nutrition Asia Pacific Wellness Tour features a series of medical symposia and nutrition talks held in cities across Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.
During the Tour, Herbalife Nutrition fitness experts and members of the Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board (NAB) will share their expertise on a variety of health-related topics, with a focus on the importance of a healthy breakfast.

The famous Tanukikoji shopping arcade is just outside Karaksa Hotel in Sapporo, making it the perfect accommodation for travelers of any interest.

Hokkaido may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of traveling to Japan, but this dynamic, wide-open island has a unique charm—with its long winters,  lush forests and laid-back culture. For instance, its prefectural capital Sapporo, is home to the most delicious beer in the region, and it’s also the main setting of the blockbuster local film, Kita-Kita. That is why more travelers are becoming keen to unravel its beauty.

If you’re one of those travelers, good news: Karaksa Hotels, the official hotel partner of Go Hotels in Japan, has finally opened its doors in Sapporo! Opened last January, this newest branch aims to cater the growing numbers of Pinoy tourists in Japan.

“Japan is a timeless favorite among Pinoys when it comes to international travel,” said Go Hotels General Manager Elizabeth D. Gregorio. “We plan to open more branches in different cities in Japan with the emergence and increasing number of smart travellers—local and international.”

Karaksa Hotel has spacious, well-appointed rooms in stylish, modern and Japanese designs. Some of the rooms can be connected to accommodate families and large groups.

This newest Karaksa Hotel branch, like the four other branches in Kansai region, mostly has spacious twin rooms that can be connected to accommodate families or group of friends up to 6 people. There are double rooms and stylish modern Japanese designed rooms on the topmost floor, so guests can easily find a room based on their needs.

Since Hokkaido is a hot springs haven, this branch especially features a relaxing hot bath for all guests. Adjacent to it is the RoomⓇ, where you can further pamper yourself with a refreshing drink while on a massage chair after a long hot bath.

Have a beautiful morning with their buffet breakfast served with Hokkaido’s best ingredients ran by one of Sapporo’s restaurant chain. Their wide array of delectable local and Asian cuisines is a perfect way to start the day.

Their facilities and amenities cover the basic essentials of every traveler such as free high-speed internet service (Wi-Fi), safety deposit boxes, vending machines and fully air-conditioned rooms, complete with personal items. They also have a laundry area and.

The hotel is conveniently located at 5-24 Minami Sanjo-nishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo City. It is right smack in the central area of Sapporo, a 5-minute walk from Susukino station via Shiei Subway Namboku Line, and a 6-minute walk if you’re from Odori Station. It’s also a walking distance from—Susukino and the Odori Park, which are both famous for its Snow Festivals.

Outside the hotel is a wide stretch of famous shops and restaurants of the shopping arcade, Tanukikoji, making it the perfect accommodation for travelers of any interest.

Karaksa Hotel Sapporo has 112 rooms in total. Aside from this, Karaksa Hotels has four other branches in Osaka and Kyoto which are also located near the famous spots of the cities.

Manila, Philippines – The Philippine Ice Hockey team finished their first game of the year by taking home the bronze medal at the Challenge Cup of Asia (CCOA). The International Ice Hockey Foundation (IIHF)-sanctioned competition was held at the SM Mall of Asia Ice Skating Rink and marks the country’s first time to host the regional event. 

Team captain, Steven Fuglister, was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament with his split 14.5-second goal hit in the Philippines’ last game against Singapore.

“We want to thank everyone for their great show of support at this year’s Challenge Cup. Our families, friends, and fans gave us an incredible source of strength and motivation during this run, testament to our podium finish,” said Jonathan de Castro, the Philippine Ice Hockey Team’s new coach.

The national team will next play at the Philippine Ice Hockey Tournament in June. Although this will not have any direct impact to their IIHF standing, it will further promote the sport as some of the competing teams will come from neighboring countries.

The 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games will play a big role towards the team’s overall direction as they look to defend their gold title and advance to the IIHF World Championships. With the Philippines as SEA Games host, the team also looks forward to having the home crowd cheer them on.

“We are currently starting preparations for the men’s and potentially the women’s teams for next year. Riding on our motivation from CCOA, the coaching staff is currently breaking down film from our last game to move forward and create the roster for the upcoming 2019 SEA Games,” de Castro added. 

Future ice hockey games of the national team will be held at SM Skating Mall of Asia, which boasts an Olympic-sized ice skating rink that was unveiled last October 2017. SM Lifestyle Entertainment’s support for figure skating and speed skating alongside ice hockey goes hand-in-hand with SM Group’s vision to help and build homegrown talents.

For more updates and announcements on tournaments and events of the Philippine Ice Hockey team, visit SM Skating’s website at www.smskating.com or follow the official social media accounts at @smskating.