Art Impact for Health: Celebrating 75,000 cleft surgeries in the Philippines

Smile Train executives, mural artist Jesse Camacho, WHO representative Isabelle Wachsmuth, and Smile Train ambassadors CJ Opiaza, Pia Wurtzbach and Angelique Manto, at Smile Train’s Art Imapct for Health held at the Philippine Band of Mercy

31 JULY 2023, QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES — Art has the power to heal and uplift the spirit. As it celebrates supporting more than 75,000 cleft surgeries in the Philippines, Smile Train – the world’s largest cleft-focused organization – is bringing the transformative power of art to the Philippine cleft community through Art Impact for Health.

A global initiative in partnership with the World Health Organization, Art Impact for Health aims to enable healing, communication, and improved psychosocial well-being for all patients. Cleft affected patients face continuing stigma and many are bullied or mistreated because of their condition. As a result, they struggle with negative self-image and low self-esteem. 

Developing sustainable cleft care in the Philippines

Smile Train knows that cleft care is not just surgical care, and patients with cleft often need ongoing speech, orthodontic, nutrition, and psychosocial care to survive and thrive. Beyond surgery, cleft patients need psychosocial care integrated into their cleft treatment. In celebration of the organization’s 75,000 surgery landmark, Smile Train, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Philippine Band of Mercy, held an art workshop today, bringing the cleft community closer together. The event was attended by patients and families affected by cleft, cleft community advocates, representatives of the World Health Organization, and Smile Train partners and ambassadors, including the winner and runners-up of Miss Universe Philippines 2023.

Ms. Universe 2015 and Smile Train Ambassador Pia Wurtzbach at Smile Train’s Art Impact for Health

The workshop aims to help cleft-affected patients discover healing through art by forging a connection between one’s mind and body, thereby enabling self-expression and empowerment. 

“Healing and health go beyond procedures and treatments. Psychosocial well-being plays a big role in healing and recovery, as well as in building resilience to overcome challenges,” said Mamta Carroll, Senior Vice President and Regional Director for Smile Train Asia.

“As such, we at Smile Train are proud to work alongside the World Health Organization in the Art Impact for Health initiative, as it engages not just patients but those helping in their care by supporting culture and art activities that promote well-being and health for all.”

Ms. Universe Philippines 2023 First Runner-Up CJ Opiaza at Smile Train’s Art Impact for Health

The Art Impact for Health workshop also spreads awareness and deters stigma regarding cleft, which affects children around the world – including the Philippines, where around 5,000 children are born with a cleft every year. 

It also mirrors Smile Train’s enduring commitment to serve the Filipino cleft community through free cleft care and treatment services that can bring transformative change to thousands of Filipinos born with a cleft.  

Ms. Universe Philippines 2023 2nd Runner-Up Angelique Manto at Smile Train’s Art Impact for Health

Over the years, Smile Train has brought to life its vision of a sustainable and local model of supporting surgery and other forms of essential care. It supports 100%-free cleft repair surgery and end-to-end cleft care for children, including through innovations such as telehealth, the establishment of comprehensive cleft care centers nationwide, and activities such as Art Impact for Health. Smile Train treats the whole patient through programs that provide access to comprehensive cleft care services, helping build their confidence to interact with others in school, community, workplace, and ultimately allowing them to fully thrive.

For more information about Smile Train’s global efforts and to donate, please visit smiletrain.org. To learn more about Smile Train’s local programs in the Philippines, please visit smiletrain.ph, follow Smile Train Philippines on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and like us on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines. 

 Metro Pacific Investments Corporation’s (MPIC) mWell, the Philippines’ healthcare mega app, answers the needs of 21^st century physicians for a more efficient, organized, and less paper-driven means to manage their practice and deliver better patient care by introducing mWellMD Advanced. Created by doctors for fellow doctors, the fully integrated, fully digital platform enables comprehensive patient information and clinic management, anytime, from anywhere.

Administrative tasks associated with running a practice can take up a significant amount of time, leaving less time for doctors to focus on patient care. mWellMD Advanced is designed to aid doctors by digitizing many of the administrative tasks associated with running a practice.          It helps optimize efficiency, enhance patient safety, improve patient communications, and streamline patient billing. Recognizing that paper-based patient charting is a major pain point, mWellMD Advanced reduces the effort spent on paperwork and file keeping. By simply using their mobile phone, doctors get unlimited access to patients and storage, as well as digitized patient medical records and history. With the tap of a button, they can conveniently monitor daily schedules and manage appointment bookings for office clinics. They may use the digital tool for clinical documentation, advanced clinical forms, electronic prescriptions, orders, and referrals.

mWell Chairman and MPIC Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan says, “The doctors enrolled in the system are growing.  We are proud of our partner- doctors who are an important part in providing healthcare services to a greater number of Filipinos, making healthcare services accessible, available, and affordable to our people. mWellMD Advanced will empower them to help more people through an innovative, future-proof platform.”

mWell CEO and President and MPIC Chief Finance, Risk, and Sustainability Officer Chaye Cabal-Revilla underscores the importance of responding to the needs of doctors and enabling them to grow their practice using the most advanced tools. “We care for our partner-doctors as much as we care for our app users. As we bring global healthcare to Filipinos, equipping our doctors with a fully integrated and fully digital Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and clinic management system will allow them to serve more patients in the most convenient and efficient way possible.  Created by doctors for doctors, mWellMD Advanced is at par with the best doctor platforms in the world,” Cabal-Revilla said.

The biggest benefit of mWell Advanced is that it is built within the context of an ecosystem of other Health IT products for patients, hospitals, and other health organizations. It is not just a stand-alone software. It is designed to integrate with patient portals, hospital information systems and other clinical IT applications.

Free 60-day trial available

Doctors may try the features of mWellMD Advanced EMR and Clinic Management System for free for 60-days by signing up via https://platform.mwell.com.ph/onboard/signup . They only need to submit their PRC license, profile photo and signature. Subscription fee of P1900 per month is waived.

Round-the-clock operations and tech support

mWell is committed to providing partner-doctors the assistance they need to grow their practice. Tech experts are on-call 24/7 to assist doctors and respond to their questions at the soonest possible time. Doctors can also depend on a reliable operations team for regular training sessions and updates to ensure that they will always have a smooth experience on the mWellMD platform.

With its holistic cybersecurity strategy and end to end cybersecurity operational framework to Predict, Prevent, Detect and Respond to all cyber threats, backed by sophisticated technologies and highly skilled cybersecurity professionals, mWellMD is following global security standards to ensure the security and protection of all Personal Information that are stored, processed, and transmitted in its system belonging to both the doctors and patients.  Angel Redoble, mWell Chief Cybersecurity Officer and PLDT Group and Smart Communications FVP and Group CISO said “mWellMD went through rigorous vulnerability tests and security audits. It completed and passed all requirements to bring down all cyber related risks to the lowest level.”

Easy sign-up

Family doctors, specialists and mind health experts can reach more patients by signing up as an mWell partner-doctor via mwell.com.ph.

Doctors may register in as fast as 30 minutes via mwell.com.ph. No joining fees. Only PRC ID is required. They get 100% of their professional fee without any commission from mWell—no deductions. 

To ensure smooth virtual practice, mWell is also offering partner doctors with an exclusive high-speed internet plan from PLDT Home Fibr: 100mbps for only P1499.

Once they have signed-up, doctors may access the features of the basic mWellMD app to conveniently do online consultation with patients who are using the mWell app. Recognizing their fast-paced lifestyle, mWellMD allows doctors to attend to patients on their mobile phone, 24/7. The mWellMD app for doctors is now available on Google Play Store and Apple App store.

mWell was recently named the winner of two Gold Stevie® Awards in the Innovation in Health & Wellness and Most Innovative Startup of the Year- Business Service Industries categories in the 10th annual Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards. It is the only Philippine entry to bring home the Gold Award in these two categories. Bronze winners include Vietnam, Taiwan, and Australia.

The two Gold Stevie® Awards come at the heels of being chosen as the Best Mobile Innovation for Digital Life in the 2023 Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards, held during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

As part of the MPIC Group, mWell is committed to working towards the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. It also supports the MVP Group’s Gabay Kalusugan advocacy focusing on quality and affordable healthcare.

AdvocatingSocial Progress with Victory Multipurpose Cooperative

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be part of a network that spans industries, from the fertile fields of agribusiness to the bustling skies of aviation? Picture a community where teamwork reigns, where talents converge, and where meaningful connections create ripples of change. Step into the world of Victory, where dreams take flight and aspirations find their purpose.

Victory, a cooperative based in Cebu and founded in 1999, provides marginalized members of our community in the Visayas region with access to job opportunities. It operates in a diverse range of industries, including Agribusiness, Aviation, Construction, Field Sales and Marketing, Independent Sales Service Provider, Toll Manufacturing, Retail Merchandising, and more. Victory takes pride in being a member of the tipón Federation, where Asiapro, the largest and pioneering worker cooperative, has 23 years of experience in handling both small and large engagements.

As of 2023, Victory has expanded its operations to Bacolod and other parts of Visayas. Together with other member cooperatives, it now has over 50,000 members nationwide. With specialists possessing a variety of talents and specialties, Victory has successfully completed significant and complicated engagements for domestic and multinational clients over the past 20 years.

Victory, along with other cooperatives under the TipohFederation, provides D.O 174 Government Compliant labor services, Toll Manufacturing-Operate-Manage and Maintain Agreements, and Field Sales Force Deployment and Demand Generation Activities for mainstream industries nationwide.

To date, Victory continues to cater to the manpower needs of valued clients nationwide. Recognizing that finding the right people is crucial for business success, Victory understands the challenges and time-consuming nature of the recruitment process. That's where Victory can help. By finding the right people for your projects, Victory allows you to focus on your core business priorities. The cooperative takes pride in working with clients to promote social progress.

At Victory, we inspire meaningful and fulfilled lives for our members. "Kada usa, nato importante." To partner with Victory Multipurpose Cooperative, you can contact us at marketing@asiapro.coop.

Smile Train and Lifebox Distribute Pulse Oximeters to Partner Hospitals, Organizations

Under the global Smile Train-Lifebox Safe Surgery and Anesthesia Initiative, 24 treatment centers in the Philippines receive pulse oximeters for safer surgeries

7 JUNE 2023, MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, and Lifebox, a global nonprofit that saves lives through safer surgery and anesthesia, are distributing 40 pulse oximeters to 24 healthcare facilities in the Philippines, ultimately contributing to 52,000 safer surgeries in the Philippines over the next year.

“Smile Train has worked with Lifebox for over a decade to equip hospitals with essential monitoring tools that are not only necessary for cleft surgery but can be used for other medical procedures and in treating COVID-19. While Smile Train is working toward expanding our reach in more communities, we are also looking for more ways to support and invest in our local healthcare partners,” says Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Smile Train’s Vice President, South East Asia.

In 2020, Smile Train and Lifebox launched the global Smile Train-Lifebox Safe Surgery and Anesthesia Initiative and together provided 8,800 pulse oximeters to support healthcare providers worldwide in responding to COVID-19. In 2022, the two organizations launched the Lifebox-Smile Train Pulse Oximeter to scale up access to anesthesia monitoring - to make 14 million surgeries safer. Pulse oximeters are needed to measure the blood's oxygen level and are essential for patient monitoring during anesthesia and in intensive care.

A recent report released by Smile Train and Lifebox, “A Critical Gap: Pulse Oximetry in Low- and Middle-Income Countries,” highlighted that 15% of operating beds in low- and lower-middle-income countries lack a pulse oximeter, with 42% of recovery beds unable to provide vital monitoring after surgery.

In the Philippines, Lifebox-Smile Train Pulse Oximeters have been distributed to Marikina St. Vincent General Hospital, San Fernando Hospital in Pampanga, Allegiant Regional Care Hospital in Lapu-Lapu City, and Tebow CURE Hospital in Davao City. More partner hospitals and organizations are expected to receive the pulse oximeters in the coming months. This work is part of 1,000 pulse oximeters currently being distributed to Smile Train partner hospitals worldwide for safer anesthesia care as part of the global Smile Train-Lifebox Safe Surgery and Anesthesia Initiative.

This 2023, Smile Train Philippines celebrates a landmark of more than 75,000 cleft surgeries performed. This remarkable feat is made possible by its dedicated network of partners including Lifebox, helping improve children’s access to surgery and providing comprehensive care to cleft-affected patients nationwide.

“By partnering with Lifebox to support the medical communities that our local partners operate in, Smile Train is ensuring safer surgery for every child with a cleft across the globe,” said Flaviano. Aside from the Philippines, countries including Kenya, Somalia, and Honduras have also received these pulse oximeters.

About Smile Train

Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. We advance a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children’s lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive. To learn more about how Smile Train's sustainable approach means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit smiletrain.ph. For more information about Smile Train’s work in the Philippines, please contact philippines@smiletrain.org.

About Lifebox

Lifebox is a global nonprofit that saves lives through safer surgery and anesthesia. Through tools, training, and partnerships, Lifebox strengthens surgical systems in low- and middle-income countries. Co-founded by Dr. Atul Gawande, Lifebox has worked in over 116 countries and trained more than 12,000 healthcare providers. To learn more about Lifebox, visit www.lifebox.org.

Cebu City, Philippines - On May 30, 2023, Advaux Publishing+Creatives proudly presents the launch of Cebu State Magazine, a groundbreaking publication aimed at providing insights into the economic state of Cebu and its neighboring provinces. With its maiden issue entitled "Cebu's 2023 Development Roadmap," Cebu State Magazine delves into the current economic landscape and explores the potential for growth and recovery. 

Cebu State Magazine recognizes the increasing interest from investors, travelers, and consumers in Cebu's economic activities. As the city opens up and the economy shows signs of revival, this publication aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the situation, addressing whether these activities are based on a false sense of liberation from the lockdown or indicative of genuine economic recovery. 

The magazine's printed publication features a compelling lineup of articles and original content that shed light on various aspects of Cebu's economic landscape, including: 

1) Economic Indicators: An overview of the key economic indicators showcasing the current state of Cebu's economy. 

2) Investment Opportunities: A comprehensive guide to potential investment opportunities in Cebu and its neighboring provinces, highlighting key sectors and industries.

3) Tourism and Travel: Exploring the resurgence of travel and tourism in Cebu, providing insights into the visitor experience, attractions, and the sector's contribution to the local economy. 

4) Consumer Trends: An examination of the phenomenon of revenge spending and its impact on local businesses, as well as an analysis of consumer behavior post-lockdown. 

In addition to the printed publication, Cebu State Magazine has a digital presence on its website, www.cebustate.com, and its official Facebook account, Cebu State Magazine. The online platform serves as a hub for sharing articles and engaging with readers. We are excited to announce our partnership with Cebu Development Media, which will amplify our content by sharing our articles with their 200k+ followers on social media.

To obtain a copy of the maiden issue or for any media inquiries, please contact: Nikki Oguis Managing Editor Cebu State Magazine Email: nikki@advaux.com Phone: +63 917 555 4988

About Advaux Publishing+Creatives: Cebu State Magazine is a publication of Advaux Publishing+Creatives. Advaux, a brand under the Mac Gordon Group Consulting, is a publishing company based in Cebu City, Philippines. Established in 2017, Advaux was founded by Atty. Manuel Gordon and Adonis Durado to address the needs of writers who wished to self-publish but faced challenges due to the lack of government permits and required documents, such as the ISBN. 

Services: 

Advaux specializes in providing comprehensive publishing services to both aspiring and experienced writers. The company aims to support authors in their journey to bring their literary works to the public. With a focus on publishing works in English and Bisaya languages, Advaux collaborates with talented writers from various genres. 

Vanity Books: Advaux understands the aspirations of writers who dream of publishing their biographies. To fulfill this dream, the company has introduced a new service line called "vanity books." Through this service, Advaux connects skilled writers with aspiring authors, enabling them to complete their book projects efficiently. The vanity books service line allows individuals to share their life stories and experiences with the world.

Print-on-Demand: Recognizing that printing costs often pose a significant barrier to publishing, Advaux has implemented a print-on-demand scheme. This approach helps reduce costs by ensuring that books are printed only when there is demand for them. By adopting this strategy, Advaux empowers authors to focus on their manuscripts, knowing that the printing process will be efficiently managed.

Marketing and Distribution: In addition to assisting authors in the publishing process, Advaux offers marketing and distribution services. Leveraging its social media platform and online distribution channels, the company ensures that the target readership can conveniently access and purchase copies of the published works. Advaux takes care of the marketing and distribution aspects, allowing authors to concentrate on their writing.

Future Goals: With a vision to expand its publishing efforts, Advaux welcomed new team members in 2022. This move was aimed at increasing the frequency of book publications. By growing its team and collaborating with more talented writers, Advaux aims to contribute to the literary landscape and provide a platform for diverse voices to be heard.

Conclusion: Advaux, a dynamic publishing company, is committed to helping writers achieve their publishing goals. With a strong emphasis on supporting writers in English and Bisaya languages, Advaux offers a range of services, including vanity books, print-on-demand, and marketing and distribution. By alleviating the challenges associated with publishing, Advaux enables authors to focus on their creative process while reaching a wider audience with their literary work.

Photos taken at the launching

Here’s why The XL750 Transalp checks all the boxes when it comes to adventure bikes

Among all motorcycle style variants, the adventure bike is one of the best choices for all-around riding mainly due to its unique design that puts handling control and riding at the top of the list. To best serve the needs of Filipino riders looking for abike that promises unrivaled adventure and excitement, Honda introduces The All-New XL750 Transalp.

Recently unveiled at the 2023 Makina Moto Show, The All-New XL750 Transalpwith a very enticingUSRP: PHP 598,000 features the familiar upright “adventure-style” riding positionas well as a 755cc, Liquid-Cooled, 4-Stroke, 8-Valve, SOHC (Single-Overhead Cam) Parallel-Twin cylinder with a 6-Speed Manual Transmission. This engine iscapable of 67.5kW of max power @9,500rpm, and 74.6Nm of max. torque @7,250rpm.

The All-New XL750Transalpalso comes with Selectable Riding modes innovatively engineered to give the rider exceptional control. These riding modes, namely STANDARD, SPORT, RAIN, GRAVEL, and USER let the rider customize the bike’s ride characteristics when riding over different types of riding conditions.

Travelling to your next staycation? Select the STANDARD mode and get to your destination in comfort, luggage and all.

Want to enjoy a cool riding experience whether you are in the city or riding cross country?Go for the SPORT mode with its for higher power and control.

Got stuck riding out in a sudden downpour?Then the RAIN mode lets you ride safelyeven on those wet, slippery roads.

Enjoy going for a spin on rough, loose country dirt roads? Try engaging the GRAVEL mode and feel like you are riding just like a pro while staying safe at the same time.

Or if you simply want to be in total control of your ride, then you can opt for the USER mode to let you set the ride that you exactly want by customizing everything. And just enjoy the ride from there!

These features  when combined with the upright riding position delivers an outstanding balance of handling, performance, and comfort whether you are just enjoying a leisure ride in and around the city or taking a long cross-country adventure trip, and every other trip in between.

And because safety is Honda’s priority, The All-NewXL750 Transalphas thefront and rear “Wave” disc brakes. Specifically, this system includes a dual-disc front configuration with 2-Channel Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) withswitchable rear ABS. This system gives you safe and responsive braking performance underany riding condition. Meanwhile, the Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) with wheelie control, and theEmergency Stop Signal (ESS). A safety feature to avoid collision. It provides a warning signal to someone behind when sudden hard brake engine.

Further boosting this bike’s versatility is a 5-inch TFT Full Color LCD Multi-Functional  display with the Honda Smartphone Voice Control System (HSVCS) that allows riders to control their Bluetooth-enabled smartphone hands-free when using the Honda Road Sync App. This system permits access to a number of smartphone functions like calls, text messaging, music playback, and navigation.