Screening results will be released on the same day and will be reviewed and explained by partner doctors.

The Bone and Blood Caravan was rolled out because studies show that women, compared to men, are at higher risk for osteoporosis and anemia.

Also for this reason, Dr. John Earl Conese was invited during the recent launch event at Mercury Drug’s Trinoma branch in Quezon City to discuss how good nutrition and proper supplementation can help women maintain strong bones and ensure healthy blood. He also shared what nutrients are essential for a safe and healthy pregnancy.

Through the launch event and the caravan, Unilab and Mercury Drug aim to help Filipino women make informed choices about their health across different life stages, so they could build a foundation for lifelong strength, vitality, and well-being.

Underscoring the importance of empowering women to address their unique health needs, Mercury Drug Corp. Vice President for Merchandising Cora Lim said, “When women take charge of their health, they strengthen not only themselves but also their families and communities.”

Unilab Field Operations Manager Lhea Ancheta said the longstanding partnership between Mercury Drug and Unilab has enabled the two organizations to help uplift women’s wellness.

“Because of this partnership, we can bring effective, science-backed solutions to more women,” she said.

The free services and helpful information provided at the Bone and Blood Caravan are made possible by Unilab brands Calciumade and Hemarate.

Calciumade helps women strengthen their bones and prevent osteoporosis by combining calcium with Vitamin D, which enables the body to maximize calcium absorption.

Hemarate prevents and treats iron-deficiency anemia. Meanwhile, Hemarate FA contains folic acid to address both anemia and folate deficiency.

Unilab Customer Team Head Marlon Carpizo said that with Unilab, Filipino women can be sure that they get only the highest-quality products which will empower them to have healthier lives so they could continue to rise and inspire others.

Bone and Blood Caravan Schedule

March 25 – Q-Plaza in Cainta, Rizal

March 25 – Malagasang II-A in Imus, Cavite

March 25 – Maharlika N.S. Amoranto, Quezon City

March 25 – Tayuman LRT in Sta. Cruz, Manila

March 25 – Gen. Luna in San Mateo, Rizal

March 26 – Puregold Anabu in Imus, Cavite

March 26 – Oroquieta San Lazaro in Sta. Cruz, Manila

March 26 – Fernandez in Nagcarlan, Laguna

March 26 – Matalino in Diliman, Quezon City

March 26 – Guitnang Bayan I in San Mateo, Rizal

March 27 – Nueno Ave. in Imus, Cavite

March 27 – Araneta Center Farmers Plaza, Quezon City

March 27 – V. Luna Ext. in Sikatuna Village, Quezon City

March 27 – 32nd Street, BGC Taguig

March 28 – V. Luna East Ave., Quezon City

March 28 – Market Market, BGC Taguig

March 29 – Rockwell Center, Makati City            

Held under the theme “Building Career Pathways, Shaping the Workforce Together,” the launch gathered over 200 leaders from government, academe, and industry, emphasizing the urgent need to equip graduates with skills that match market demand, particularly in high-growth sectors such as healthcare and STEM.

“UniEd is built as a collaborative ecosystem—bringing together industry leaders, educational institutions, and regulators to co-create curricula aligned with real-world demands,” said Clinton Andrew Campos Hess, Group CEO and Chairman of the Unilab Group. “By building clear, intentional pathways from education to employment, we are helping shape a skilled workforce that uplifts families, drives innovation, and powers inclusive economic growth.”

UniEd’s demand-driven, skills-focused approach will support partner schools and organizations in offering industry-relevant programs. These include microcredentials, reskilling and upskilling initiatives, new academic offerings with hands-on training and workplace immersion, as well as mentoring opportunities—all designed to ensure graduates are not just qualified, but job-ready and adaptable to employers’ needs.

The launch featured a keynote address by Dr. Cielito Habito, former NEDA Secretary and Chairman of Brain Trust Inc., who underscored the magnitude of the challenge. In his presentation, “Towards a People-Powered Philippine Future: Finding Our Way Out of Our Jobs-Skills Mismatch,” Habito noted that college graduates now account for 38.2% of the unemployed, making them the single largest segment. He stressed the need for integrated workforce planning, tighter coordination in curriculum design, and anticipation of future skills demand.

Leaders of key education agencies also expressed their support for bridging the education-employment divide. DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez, and CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley Agrupis highlighted ongoing efforts to create clearer learning pathways, strengthen industry alignment, and implement policies that improve graduate employability.

In a video message, UniEd President Jose Maria A. Ochave outlined the initiative’s five areas of focus: industry certifications, microcredentialing, apprenticeship and on-the-job training, senior high school immersion, and skills-based continuing professional development courses.

The event was attended by some of the country’s most respected leaders from business and education. With the launch of UniEd, Unilab is reinforcing its role not only as a healthcare leader but also as a nation-building partner committed to shaping a future-ready workforce for the Philippines.

In addition to the usual wear-and-tear, joint pains can also be caused by repetitive use, in sports or certain tasks at work; structural problems, like osteoarthritis; or inflammatory conditions like gout or rheumatoid arthritis. LifeFood, the natural food supplement brand of UNILAB, lists down some of the common conditions that could be making our joints creak and ache.  

Osteoarthritis. Getting older is one of the factors that causes joint discomfort, especially in the areas that bear the brunt of our weight like the hips and knees. This is because the gel-like protective cartilage that helps support and cushion the joints and bones can break down over time due to constant wear and tear. This condition is called osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease and affects millions of Filipinos. 

Gout. Gout is another cause of joint pain: uric acid crystals accumulate in the joint space causing damage and inflammation. This condition is greatly affected by one’s lifestyle: eating too much protein like red meat, drinking alcohol or sugar-loaded drinks especially those with high-fructose corn syrup, dehydration, and being overweight are among some of the factors that lead to increased uric acid levels. Certain types of medications can also increase one’s chances of getting gout and experiencing joint pain. Considered as one of the most painful types of arthritis, gout symptoms include pain, swelling, redness of the involved joint or joints; typically the first attack happens in the big toe.

Rheumatoid arthritis. Another type of inflammatory arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder wherein the immune system attacks membranes around the joints. It’s characterized by tender, swollen joints and feeling stiff in the morning. It can also be accompanied by fever, tiredness, or unexplainable weight loss or loss of appetite. In addition to affecting the joints, rheumatoid arthritis can also affect the skin, lungs, and heart. 

Old injuries. Old injuries especially in the tendons, ligaments, or bones, can also cause joint pain which can sometimes become chronic. Trauma to a joint can change its biomechanics and structure in ways that make it more prone to increased wear and tear compared to a non-injured joint. 

Whatever the root cause, problems in the joints can be debilitating: the limitation of movements keeps us from doing our jobs or tasks, and the pain impacts our quality of life. Internal medicine specialist and functional medicine practitioner Eca Lorenzo, MD, FPCP shares that there are different ways to address joint pain depending on its cause, but managing inflammation is definitely an important part of treatment. 

“Whatever the cause of joint pain there is usually inflammation involved, that’s what causes the pain. Inflammation is our body’s natural response to injury or infection, it’s part of the healing process. Unfortunately, it can become chronic and when that happens it starts to cause damage instead,” Dr. Lorenzo explains. “We can curb chronic inflammation by living a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, and following a diet that’s loaded with colorful fruits, vegetables, and whole grains that are rich in nutrients and antioxidants.” 

She adds that one of the foods that people with achy joints can turn to is turmeric, also known as luyang dilaw. “Turmeric contains curcumin, a chemical that’s well-researched for its anti-inflammatory properties and known for reducing joint pain and swelling. Various studies have shown that it benefits those with diseases that are caused by some sort of inflammation like arthritis,” the doctor points out. 

One of the products offered by LifeFood is LifeFood Curcumin which has a concentrated dose of curcuminoids extracted from turmeric. Considered as a natural pain reliever, it comes in a capsule form that can be taken 2-3 times a day, or as directed by a health professional. Unlike the usual luyang dilaw offerings in the market, LifeFood delivers 29x better absorption through a technology that ensures the body gets the optimal effects in every capsule.

Joint problems, in some cases, may be inevitable, but the pain that comes with it is highly manageable. With a healthy lifestyle and solutions like LifeFood Curcumin, we can get relief from pain so we can move more, and live life to the fullest!

Follow @LifeFoodPH on Facebook and Instagram for health info and life-enriching tips. Get to know more about LifeFood at lifefood.com.ph. 

There are many factors that influence our health and well-being. Some of these can be controlled or modified such as diet and lifestyle, while other factors are caused by age, gender, and genes. And these affect how we perform every day, which may result in a prolonged impact and prevent us from living life to the fullest. The National Nutrition Council has pointed out that Filipinos are following diets high in fat and simple sugars and less of fruits and vegetables, which may have harmful effects to our heart. It added that typical Pinoys lack physical activity, which may have been worsened by common conditions like joint pain or rayuma.

LifeFood, a line of food supplements with natural ingredients derived from plants or marine life, can help. It offers products that have been carefully curated to support the specific health needs of Filipinos like maintaining cholesterol levels for a healthier heart and helping with inflammation and pain so we can move more. Here are some LifeFood-approved natural ingredients that can help with health issues that affect many Filipinos: 

Curcumin. Primarily found in turmeric or luyang dilaw that’s commonly added to adobong dilaw and ginataang manok, curcumin can be used for managing general inflammation to help address osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis that both cause joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. It also helps provide pain relief from these conditions as well as muscle aches and back pains. LifeFood’s Curcumin contains Meriva®, a branded ingredient that provides 29x better absorption compared to other curcumin supplements.

Astaxanthin. Astaxanthin, which gives seafood like salmon and certain algae its red color, is said to be one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants, which are substances that can help prevent or slow down cell damage. It contains strong anti-aging molecules that are 500 times stronger than Vitamin E and 6,000 times stronger than Vitamin C. LifeFood’s Astaxanthin contains AstaReal®, naturally derived from the algae Haematococcus pluvialis, and has the highest dosage available in the Philippines at 12mg.

Citrus peels. It’s been known that citrus fruits have multiple beneficial nutrients. In fact, citrus peel can help in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. LifeFood offers Sytrinol®, a proprietary blend of citrus peel (Citrus sinensis L.) and palm fruit (Elaeis guineensis) extracts, that helps manage cholesterol levels without the adverse side effects of commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs—and also backed by 12 years of research. 

A brand of Synnovate Pharma Corporation, the naturals division of Unilab, LifeFood goes through a meticulous process of choosing the best ingredients that are supported by clinical research to prove their efficacy and to ensure that consumers get all the value and benefits each of these products provide. They are also standardized and undergo stringent product testing following pharma standards, making these supplements extra safe for every consumer. 

Living our life to the fullest starts by taking good care of all aspects of our health. With supplements that are proven safe and effective and help with our specific health issues, talagang mas magiging buhay na buhay ang buhay! 

LifeFood Curcumin and Astaxanthin are available at leading Mercury Drug stores nationwide.

Follow @LifeFoodPH on Facebook and Instagram for health info and life-enriching tips. Get to know more about LifeFood at lifefood.com.ph.       

By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios

As the Christmas rush approaches, many ran out of holiday gift ideas and are trapped in this situation. But the best gift one can give this Christmas is by choosing something that also gives back to nature.

You can choose from any of the 3 gift ideas from the limited edition Sekaya gift packs, that will also help reforest Cordillera. Get a health and nature fix with the Prescribing Nature Gift Packs from Sekaya.

Experience and share these high-quality plant-based products that are backed by science and tested by tradition and at the same time, help the Cordillera Conservation Trust, an organization committed to providing sustainable solutions to environmental problems. For every purchase of any of the Sekaya Prescribing Nature Gift Packs, one Philippine endemic tree seedling (either Benguet Pine, Dipterocarp, or Mangrove) will be planted to contribute to the organization’s reforestation campaign. The trees are also reflected in the packaging, wonderfully illustrated by Cynthia Bauzon-Arre, a botanical artist and conservation advocate. 

Shop for these available limited editions Prescribing Nature Gift Packs at @sekayaph on Facebook and Instagram, SMS or Viber at 0917-5SEKAYA (735292), or at the S Sentials store on Lazada for Christmas presents that not only encourage you and your loved ones to take better care of yourselves but the environment too.

Give your health a boost with the Raw Actives Starter Pack. Sekaya Raw Actives is the brand’s curated line of nutrient-dense superfoods served in ready-to-mix powder format so they’re easy to incorporate in drinks and meals. The gift pack includes 2 single-serve sachets each of Sekaya Raw Actives Vegan Protein, Maca Factor, and Barley Green and 1 single-serve sachet each of Daily Greens and Powerbeet. It also has a 500ml stainless steel shaker bottle with a metal ball. The Sekaya Raw Actives Starter Pack starts at PHP900.

Get clearer skin and more with the Cleanse & Detox Pack. Enjoy a cup of medicinal botanic infusions that can support the body in clearing the skin of impurities and aid in strengthening the body’s daily detoxification actions with this special gift pack featuring both Sekaya Botanic Infusions Skin Cleanse blend and Gentle Detox blend. The gift pack also includes a 3-piece 600ml teapot with infuser and wooden cover and 4 teacups. The Cleanse & Detox Pack can be yours for PHP 1,750.

Stay healthy with the Immune Travel Pack. Boost the immune system to keep the flu and simple infections at bay with this pack that contains the Sekaya Botanic Infusion Immune Brew in convenient and compostable teabags stored in a can. The gift comes with a 4-piece borosilicate glass travel tea infuser for 2 with a case. Get the Immune Travel Pack for PHP 1,000, available in December.

A brand under Synnovate Pharma Corporation, the natural products company of Unilab, Sekaya offers ideal and functional plant-based solutions that are scientifically studied and meticulously processed within pharma-grade facilities to ensure safety and purity.

Get more science-based health tips and information by following @sekayaph on Facebook and Instagram. To know more about Sekaya, visit https://www.sekaya.com.ph/.

Since ancient times, the utilization of plants when the laboratory-made medicines were still not available in order to improve one’s health is done in many parts of the world, and that includes the Philippines.  While there were some reservations from many medical doctors in this kind of practice due to the non-scientific foundation of some plant-based quick-fix solutions offered by the “herbolarios” (quack doctors using various plants found in the garden or forest).

As time progresses, research becomes empirical, and thus, going natural is having a renaissance as many consumers are becoming more conscious about the products they use. This growing interest in everything natural has led to the influx of products that claim to be so. But is it safe to assume that everything labeled natural is safe and effective for consumption?

Health and wellness have been a buzzword in the early 90s and this would be true not just today, but also in the future.

A sound mind in a sound body

The axiom “Mens sana in corpore sano” (A sound mind in a sound body) by the Latin satirist and poet Juvenal remains relevant to date, given the stressful working environment, noise and air pollution, and the whole gamut of the daily grind inevitably develop some disease which we may not know.

Hence, prioritizing our health and wellness must be our top priority not just to be healthy but also to be productive and fully functional.

Thanks to our Filipino scientists and doctors who painstakingly researched on how they can capitalize on the richness of our botanical resources in the Philippines.

While nature has given mankind everything it needs to survive, it’s the exacting measures of science that have validated and harnessed its full potential. It’s through science that the medical industry learned how to process plants for efficacy and safety. Not all-natural solutions in the market, however, are backed by science, producing sub-standard products that are ineffective and may be harmful to consumers.

The birth of Sekaya

After a meticulous process of research, the Filipino plant-based brand Sekaya came into being.

Proudly produced by the Philippines’ largest drug-manufacturing company, Unilab under its natural products company Synnovate Pharma Corporation, the only way to create best-in-class natural products is through the convergence of nature and science.

With a mission to help educate consumers and further explain the importance of science in creating high-quality natural solutions, the brand hosted the Sekaya Prescribing Nature Virtual Conference: Revealing the Science behind Nature in Promoting Overall Well-being, featuring two respected names in both the medical and wellness fields.

During the virtual conference held yesterday, May 27, Dr. Rolando “Oyie” Balburias, a General Internal Medicine and IFM Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, and one of the country’s pioneering doctors for functional medicine, discussed The Science of Natural Products. He underscored the importance of applying science in the development of natural health solutions.

Rolando “Oyie” Balburias, M.D., FPCP, IFMCP

Furthermore, Dr. Balburias also presented some of the indicators that make natural products effective and safe and taught participants how to read and understand product labels and verify claims made by natural brands.

“When choosing natural products, people should look into the source of the ingredients and the processes they went through,” Dr. Balburias said.

“High-quality natural products that are effective consider the therapeutic benefits of the raw ingredients based on their science-backed capability to restore homeostasis and balance of the body systems. These products also go through a tedious process that considers the ingredients’ biochemical compatibility with our body’s physiologic and biologic systems design,” Dr. Balburias explained.

Meanwhile, Internationally-recognized teacher, author, scientist, speaker, and artist Deanna Minich, PhD., FACN, CNS, IFMCP followed with a talk on why Healthy Food is Happy Food.

Deanna Minich, PhD
Internationally-recognized teacher, author, scientist, speaker, and artist 

She explained that most people often associate happy food or comfort food with high caloric choices that are perceived to taste better and are more effective mood boosters. Dr. Minich tapped into her over 20 years of experience as a nutrition educator and mind-body medicine health expert to share insights on how eating healthy positively impacts our mental and physical wellness, and have long-term benefits to our health.

“Stress can get in our way of eating healthy as increased cortisol and changes in hormones can alter our cravings. Most of the time, stress eating often leads to eating low-nutrient foods,” Dr. Minich said.

“We know this will only lead to unhealthy eating habits that will result in adverse effects on your body in the future but various studies have shown that healthier foods can actually affect our mood,” Dr. Minich added.

The virtual conference underlined Sekaya’s Prescribing Nature advocacy that focuses on promoting the healing benefits of nature as validated by science. As an emerging player in the industry, Sekaya has been providing high-quality plant-based products that go through rigorous testing in pharma-grade facilities to ensure their efficacy, safety, and purity.

For her part, Ms. Abigail D. Nepomuceno, the Director and Business Unit Head of Synnovate said, “Sekaya’s mission is to provide high-quality plant-based products that nourish the lives of our consumers, community, and country. As such, our products use evidence-based ingredients that undergo several laboratory tests before they reach our consumers. We follow strict standards in every step of the process: from the sourcing of our ingredients up to the creation of the final product.”

“Prescribing Nature” Sekaya takes pride in its advocacy 

The ingredients that Sekaya use are not only carefully sourced from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or European Union (EU)-certified and Quality Assurance International (QAI) certified organic farms all over the world, these are also tested against microbial contamination, pesticide residues, heavy metals, and molds.

Sekaya Botanic Infusion

While there are many herbal products commercially available in the online market, the Sekaya Botanic Infusions spells a big difference from the rest.  The Sekaya Botanic Infusions is a product of a curated line of medicinal, loose-leaf botanic infusions for specific health conditions, the company is set to introduce more natural solutions of the same caliber and sets apart from the rest.

Also, the Sekaya Raw Actives are powdered green superfoods, plant proteins, and energy optimizers aimed toward athletes and active individuals who want to up their game and improve their performance naturally. Sekaya Botanicare is a line of premium natural skincare products that are aimed to keep even the most sensitive skin healthy and smooth all over.

Sekaya brandishes its earth’s natural ingredients all backed by scientific research 

Aside from these three product lines, Sekaya will also be coming up with natural solutions that will highlight Philippine herbs. Staying true to its name as Sentro ng Katutubong Yaman, Sekaya’s mission is to put our local herbs and rich tradition in the spotlight, starting with Sekaya Food Supplements. These are premium, pharma-grade supplements that are 100% sourced and manufactured in the Philippines, and provide concentrated nutrients from local herbs that are designed to address the needs of Filipinos. One of the products under this line is the Sekaya Organic Moringa, the only European Union (EU)-certified 100% organic 500mg capsule in the market.

With the influx of natural brands to address demand, and at times overwhelming, even contradictory information on these, Nepomuceno added, “Aside from products that offer functional wellness, Sekaya wants to help educate consumers to be more discerning and make well-informed decisions as these impact their health and wellbeing.” 

The current times present a wake-up call and a strong reminder of the utmost importance of keeping our health in check, and nothing perhaps can be more reassuring than being able to turn to natural solutions that are not only tested by tradition but also proven by science.

Get more science-based health tips and information by following @SekayaPH on Facebook and Instagram. To know more about Sekaya, visit https://www.sekaya.com.ph/.