What Kind of Disease is HFMD?

A child infected with HFMD

Several weeks ago, HFMD (Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease) has been the talk of the town when actress and TV host, Ms. Kris Aquino admitted that her children have had HFMD. Many people have been wondering what this disease is and some have been alarmed and confused.

While watching Pinoy MD, I’ve learned that intestinal viruses of which, the most common are Coxsackie A and Enterovirus 71 cause HFMD. The disease usually affects infants and children and is moderately contagious. It spreads through direct contact with the saliva of feces of the infected patient. Although, it occurs mostly in children, older persons with weak immune system may also acquire the disease.

It is also important to stress that HFMD is different from the Hoof and Mouth Disease that plague swine and cattle.  

A child infected with HFMD would begin to have fever and sore throat. Normally, the child loses appetite and becomes melancholic. After two days, lesions or sores would appear on the hands, feet and mouth particularly inside the cheeks. The child may become irritable because of these painful sores. Occasionally, diarrhea may also follow.

Doctors treat patients with HFMD with the usual medical treatment for fever. It doesn’t require hospitalization. However, we have to be careful also because patients are susceptible to acquire infections, which may result in severe complications like viral meningitis or even encephalitis, which can be fatal. It can also result in paralysis and pulmonary hemorrhage.

I guess, cleanliness can prevent diseases like this. Wash hands thoroughly before eating and don’t experiment on medicines or self-medicate. Seek professional help when necessary. 

Image above courtesy of:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hand_Foot_Mouth_Disease.png

Don’t Take Breast Discomfort for Granted

Image from ABCNews Blogs

Brassiere provides support for the breast in women, to enhance the size of the breasts, restrict movement during physical activity, push the breasts up to augment the cleavage or lift sagging breasts from the chest wall. Manufacturers continually work on designs that would provide both functional and visual appeal.

Brassiere is essential not only for aesthetic purposes but also for good body posture. It is especially helpful for those who have relatively large breasts because women with large breasts tend to lean forward and that put a big strain on the backbone.

However, there are instances that women feel discomfort on their breasts because of tight brassieres. These minor discomforts can lead to dermatological infections if left unchecked.

Thus, it is particularly essential that women wear the right size of bra to avoid discomfort. Experts say that in order to know the right bra size, a woman should get the measurement of her breasts (apex), and her measurement below the breasts. Example: A woman measures 36 inches (apex), and the measurement below her breasts is 34 inches. Subtract 34 from 36 and the difference is equivalent to her cup size. So, her bra size is 36B.

Apex:     36 in.

Below:   34in.

              _____

                   2in.

1 inch = cup A

2 inches = cup B

3 inches = cup C

4 inches = cup D

Minor skin irritation can cause serious infections that pose a hazard to a woman’s health. It is essential that women wear the bra that fits their size right.

Can Breast Cancer be Avoided?

Like any other disease, breast cancer has a number of risk factors that we can try to manage in an attempt to avoid it. Yes, we can avoid breast cancer if we will be conscious about our individual lifestyle and the risk factors that may be affecting us.

The hormone estrogen acts like food for breast cancer cells so breast feeding helps reduce the risk of breast cancer since breast feeding lowers estrogen level. Pregnancy reduces the number of menstrual cycle in a woman’s lifetime so it practically lowers the risk of developing the disease.

Obesity could be a factor too. Women with large breasts also have a higher risk since more fats in the breast cause increase in estrogen level. Fat tissues become the main source of estrogen especially after menopause since the ovary has stopped producing the hormone.

Unhealthy diet is also a suspected contributing factor to develop cancer in the long run. Too much fat and cholesterol in the food can increase the risk in developing cancer cells. Even alcohol intake is a potential risk since it hampers the liver’s ability to check estrogen in women.

Medical practitioners also say that taking artificial birth control pills may be a potential risk factor. The risk of breast cancer is related to a woman’s natural hormones and the fact that pills manipulate these natural hormones may elevate the risk considering that not having children alone is already a potential risk in women. However, recent study reveals that such risk is only for a limited period of time.

Early detection is still crucial to an effective treatment. Doctors encourage women to self examine. Example, raise the left arm to examine the left breast. Gently massage the breast in circular motion from the nipple to the outer section and try to feel if there is any lump or cyst. Do the same on the right side. They should do it one week after menstruation. If you feel a lump regardless of size, see a doctor for proper diagnosis.

Together as a human society, we can help each other avoid breast cancer.

Image: (top)

http://www.topnews.in/files/Breast-Cancer103.jpg

Image: (below)

http://breast-cancer-treatments.net/breast-cancer-prevention-still-needs-more-attention/

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I have an aunt who lost both of her breasts due to breast tumors. It’s a good thing that on those two incidents, both have been benign. However, I have heard about cases of women who have not survived malignancy.

Breastcancer.org. explains that:

“Breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells...

Cancer occurs as a result of abnormal changes in the genes responsible for regulating the growth of cells and keeping them healthy. The genes are in each cell’s nucleus, which acts as the “control room” of each cell. Normally, the cells in our bodies replace themselves through an orderly process of cell growth: healthy new cells take over as old ones die out. But over time, mutations can “turn on” certain genes and “turn off” others in a cell. That changed cell gains the ability to keep dividing without control or order, producing more cells just like it and forming a tumor.

A tumor can be benign (not dangerous to health) or malignant (has the potential to be dangerous). Benign tumors are not considered cancerous: their cells are close to normal in appearance, they grow slowly, and they do not invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors are cancerous. Left unchecked, malignant cells eventually can spread beyond the original tumor to other parts of the body.

The term “breast cancer” refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast.”

Millions of women around the world have been diagnosed with breast cancer and are suffering from it and around 1 out of 8 cases, the patient dies. Present medical studies have done great technological advances in the cure of the killer disease but still early detection is crucial for a complete cure.

The Pink Ribbon is symbol of Breast Cancer Awareness campaigns

Disease Prevention and Dietary Supplement: What Benefits Would I Get from taking Food Supplements?

Several weeks ago, I heard two radio program hosts discuss food supplements in their program. They insisted that people should be careful about taking food supplements because these products do not have “approved therapeutic claims”.

I understand their word of caution. I cannot discount the fact that there are unscrupulous people who make unclean profit by selling adulterated food supplements. However, while we need to avoid cheats, we should not refuse food supplements altogether because the health benefits of these supplements are true and backed by thorough research and study.

Sadly, it seems that many people are doubtful over the promised effects of food or diet supplements because they have not fully appreciated the principle behind them.

Image from www.cs.iusb.edu

We always hear the phrase “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” and I can safely conclude that we all believe that statement. Let’s look at an apple: it is a powerful antioxidant. 100 grams of apple is equivalent to about 1, 500 mg of Vitamin C. It is rich in fiber and other minerals that strengthen the blood. Daily consumption lowers cholesterol and improves the skin. Indeed, an apple can help ward off many diseases. The question: Is Apple a medicine? NO, but adding an apple to our daily meals can help strengthen the body against diseases. Along that principle, apple is a good form of dietary supplement.

All the energy that the body needs to function normally comes from the food that we eat and our bodies need a lot of other nutrients aside from what an apple can give. However, we cannot eat all the nutritious foods at the same time in one meal or even within the three meals we normally have in a day. We cannot stuff our stomachs too much too!

Since, we cannot eat all the beneficial foods that we need (in fact, we even eat unhealthy food most of the time that introduces toxins inside the body), it would be wise to take dietary supplements to provide the necessary vitamins and minerals that our bodies need to sustain good cellular activity and fight toxic substances in the body.

Food supplements provide the body with the necessary nutrients that it needs to build a strong immune system and prevent a lot of diseases from setting. Everyone needs it and that includes YOU. Prevent disease now and avoid spending a fortune for cure.

If you’re not taking any food supplement yet, you can try any of our products. Please click the link below:

GREEN WORLD PRODUCTS

Make Your Blog Carbon-Neutral

Healthy living doesn’t involve merely our own bodies. It radiates in the way we care for our environment. A dirty surrounding becomes a breeding ground for disease causing microorganisms so it’s incongruous that we take a bath everyday and follow a healthy diet yet we scatter our garbage around.

In recent years, we have taken into focus global warming and its adverse effect on climate. Scientists project that at the rate it is going, we may experience about 3°to 5° C temperature increase by the year 2100. They also calculate a 25-meter rise of sea level by the same year. Primarily, atmospheric gases cause global warming. These gases absorb the heat energy that should have been normally released into space; thus, generating a greenhouse effect causing temperature increases on the earth’s surface.

These gases are naturally present in our atmosphere; however, studies show that human activity has largely increased the concentration of these gases in recent years. The largest contributing factor to the greenhouse effect is the burning of fossil fuels, which leads to CO₂ emission. CO₂ is responsible for about 9–26 % of the greenhouse effect.

Do you know that “According to a study by Alexander Wissner-Gross, PhD, physicist at Harvard University and environmental activist, an average website causes about 0.02g of CO₂ for each visit? Assuming an average blog gets 15,000 visits a month, it has yearly CO₂ emissions of 3.6kg. This can mainly be tracked back to the immense energy usage from (mainframe) computers, servers, and their cooling systems.” (www.kaufda.de)

CO₂ emissions will continue to increase unless we do something about it. What can we do? The “My Blog is Carbon-Neutral” is a web-based initiative that aims to make every blog carbon-neutral by planting a tree for each blog that will join. The initiative aims to reforest 5,500 acres of Plumas National Forest in Northern California, which has been severely devastated by forest fire a couple of years ago. The “Arbor Day Foundation,” a non-profit conservation and education organization, will undertake this project. The foundation intends to plant 792,000 trees. 

Join the initiative and Make your blog Carbon-Neutral.

(http://www.kaufda.de/umwelt/carbon-neutral/how-you-can-join/).

Which Weight Loss Program is the Most Effective?

Image from: Brothersoft.com

For the past years, I noticed that while people begin to expand in size not only in terms of population but also in body measurement, different weight loss diet plans and programs came out. Each promised a pleasurable yield that it became so hard to choose which one would be most effective.

One important factor that determines a weight loss program’s effectiveness is discipline. The effect of a particular weight loss program is largely commensurate on the person’s determination to achieve his goal. Even if he signs up with an expensive health club or diet plan, but if he wouldn’t stick to it, he won’t see any effect.

Another would be the practicality of the diet plan. If you would need to follow strict measurement in terms of grams per meal, it could tire you out after a while. However, if you can do it, that’s good for you.

Image from: ifitandhealthy.com

Manuel Uribe, the world’s heaviest person has found the Zone Diet effective for his own personal weight loss program. By following the Zone, he has lost about 570 lbs, almost half of his original weight. Celebrity news says that Jennifer Aniston is on the Zone too.  The diet plan is a low carb diet plan with equal proportions of protein and fat (40% carbohydrates, 30% protein and 30% fat). The person on diet must maintain a meal that will not go over 500 calories, and a snack that will not exceed 100 calories.

Image from: zonedietprogram.net

According to Zone Diet Info, excessive carbohydrates produce too much insulin in the body, which triggers the body to convert carbohydrates into fat and stores them around the body. On the other hand, the protein stimulates the hormone glucagon, which stimulates the body to release the carbohydrates around the liver. That signifies that energy supply is full, therefore the body stops to crave for food. Zone aims to control hunger by keeping the body chemicals, insulin and glucagon in balance. The process would cause fat and weight loss.

Watch what you eat and keep your body moving. That is the only way weight loss programs can become effective.

The Problem of a Bulging Belly

Image from: pharmacyescrow.com

Whenever I’m dressing up, I’m having a hard time wearing my pants. Well, aside from having to wear it at a sitting position, I’m having a hard time closing the waist button! It really sucks! If only I can slice up this big lump of fat around my stomach! However, I can’t opt for a lypo ‘because it would slice up my wallet extremely bad and I can’t afford it.

Being overweight doesn't necessarily mean being obese. Fat is not the only factor that determines excess in the normal body weight. It could be muscle, bone or body fluid. Obesity is having too much fat build up in the body. The tolerable amount of fat is 30% of the body weight. If you’re 40 years old, weighing 242 lbs and with a waistline of 136 cm, it is likely that you have around 49% fat in ratio with your body weight. Then, you are obese.

Needless to say, obesity does not look very nice on the belly. People will tag you with those stereotypes: big eater, lazy lifestyle, etc. In addition, it is a sure health hazard. As we all know, it contributes to cardiovascular diseases, gall bladder problems, musculoskeletal problems, skin problems, certain types of cancer and even infertility.

Most of the time, people like to eat but doesn’t move too much. They wouldn’t notice that they’re beginning to grow, perhaps, if they aren’t that conscious about their personal health. They’ll just begin to feel heavy and tire out easily; sleepy most of the time and dresses would no longer fit. The normal reaction is to repair the dress and adjust the measurement instead of controlling the food intake or adjusting in terms of lifestyle. The result: obesity.

There are arguments about whether to label obesity as a disease or just a risk factor that contributes to a variety of diseases. Unarguably, obesity is an unhealthy condition however; it doesn’t seem to fit in the general definition of disease. Being obese doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re sick but you’ll surely get sick unless you resolve to reverse that condition.

PINOY MD hosted by Ms. Connie Sison

I’ve wanted to watch the GMA-7 program Pinoy MD since the start of the show last June but I could not wake up early enough to watch it until last Sunday, September 5. I’ve gone up early that morning. The program is very informative regarding health and wellness and entertaining at the same time. The program also has doctors, who welcome calls from viewers who have questions about their health. The episode features a diet and exercise tips from actress Sheryl Cruz.

It has been the pilot episode for its extended slot every Sunday morning. Two doctors have reinforced its team of doctors. They are Dra. Marijean Marquez or “Doc Jean” and Dr. Rolando Balburias or “Doc Oyie”.

Doc Jean has been in the field of clinical and cosmetic dermatology since 1999. She has earned her degree in Medicine from De La Salle University in 1993 and has passed the Philippine Physician Licensure Examination in 1995. She graduated Chief Resident of the Department of Dermatology at the East Avenue Medical Center and has acquired observership training in clinical, cosmetic and laser dermatology in Mid Valley Dermatology in Sherman Oaks, California, USA. She trained in Advanced Laser and Cosmetic Dermatology in Houston , Texas as well. I just don't have any information if she's single.

Doc Oyie is the medical director of The Center for Wellness and Aesthetic Medicine at the Medical City. He is a Diplomat with the College of Physicians and Head of the Emergency Medical Department. He specializes in Internal Medicine. He has been a part of the show RXMEN on QTV Channel 11 which has featured young doctors who caters to the medical needs of Filipinos living below poverty line. He's married.

The other doctors on the show are Dr. Isaac David Ampil II or “Doc Dave” and Dr. Raul Quillamor or “Dr. Q". Doc Dave is a cancer surgeon who is currently an Examiner for the Philippine Board of Surgery. He is also a Fellow at the Philippine College of Surgeons since 1993.  Dr. Q is an obstetrician gynecologist. He is the current President of the Prenatal Association of the Philippines and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society.

Ms. Connie Sison hosts the morning show, which airs every Saturday at 6am and every Sunday at 7am on GMA-7 Kapuso  station. Please watch it.

These are Pinoy MD’s nationwide toll-free 1800 numbers: 1-800-63-7777-7 to 9 for their health questions and concerns. Metro Manila viewers may call 981-1977-79. Volunteer doctors and health professionals will answer the calls.

Source:

GMA Life TV

The Official Medical City Website

http://www.drjeanskinspecialist.com/drjean.html

Getting Rid of Excess Fats in People With Disabilities

Bulging Belly Image from dailymail.co.uk

I remember when I was in a physical therapy clinic for my rehab training; the therapist noticed that my belly was starting to bulge. He asked me, “Is that because of beer?” It was a little embarrassing for me because I don’t drink beer. I just said, “No, I don’t drink beer.”

I’ve realized that a bulging belly doesn’t really look very good. It doesn’t seem to show a sound lifestyle. It seems to give an impression of being undisciplined especially when it comes to eating. At least, I have an excuse: I can’t do enough physical activity that would be enough to make my body get rid of the excess fats. You see, paralysis has affected not only my lower extremities but also my upper body. It’s a bit frustrating.

mini bike image from amazon

However, I believe that physical activity doesn’t necessarily entail gym work out for people with disability like me. We just have to be creative enough to improvise some muscle building exercises that can help us get rid of excess fats. Like for example; I work out with mini exercise cycle and dumb bells. Maybe, those are not enough if you want to build huge muscles but those are enough to make the body less sedentary.

In an article I’ve read before, the writer recommends starting exercise early in the morning before eating breakfast. It helps burn fats three times more than in any other time of the day. He explains that when we’re asleep, the body uses the carbohydrates in our body as energy source. By the time we wake up, our body has used up all our carbohydrates so it starts using our fats as energy source. I guess, that explains why we get thin when we fast. Doing exercises at this time will burn fats easily. In addition, morning work out elevates metabolism for the whole day, which means we’re likely to burn more calories and lose more fats in the process.

If it works for able-bodied people, it will also work for *PWD’s. It isn’t easy in many respects but the benefits far outweigh the hardship.

*PWD: People With Disabilities

Obesity, Fats and Calories!

Image from Tru-Strength.com

I used to be skinny but now I’m stuck with a bulging belly and double chin. I probably weigh close to 180 lbs. I don’t know when and how I started to grow laterally but the added weight has affected me negatively. Perhaps, my sedentary lifestyle has largely contributed to my condition but it is not because I don’t exercise, I couldn’t exercise enough. I have been on a wheel chair for more than twenty years now and since I’m a paralytic, my movements are limited. Before, I could still lift my body up but now, I could not get up without help. I’d need to ask someone to carry me so I could ride a vehicle (that's primarily because of my paralysis).

Manuel Uribe, the fattest man in the world suffered from almost the same experience. He was not a paralytic but his lifestyle had been sedentary. He was in his twenty’s when he began to grow. He used to drive from home to work and his job required him to sit down on his table for his entire working time. Too much eating and no exercise brought him to his undesirable situation.

Apparently, the factors that contribute to obesity are too much calories in the food that we eat and a sedentary lifestyle. So, how do we manage these factors? The idea is eat less and burn more.

Normally, the body needs 1,200 calories of food daily as body fuel. If there are unused calories, the body will store those as fats. Once you’ve gained for example, a pound of fat, you’ll need to burn 3,500 calories to lose that. On the average, we burn 50 calories per hour but if you do stationary jogging for 15 minutes straight, you can burn around 141 calories. If you’ll do that 3 times a day, you can burn 423 calories a day. If you’ll do it continuously, you can shed off a pound of fat in 8 ½ days, if you won’t add more fats to that 1 extra lb.

By keeping a healthy lifestyle, you can avoid many health problems. Live healthy to enjoy life.

Related Articles: 

Manuel Uribe: The World’s Fattest Man, He Used to be 

The Problem Of Obesity

 

Increasing Incidence of Juvenile Diabetes

Each year more than 15,000 children and young adults are diagnosed with diabetes in the United States. That's more than 40 adolescents each day, according to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International.

Photo Courtesy of: www.drugs-health.com

Does your child urine frequently? Does he have a wound that takes a long time to heal? Does he feel extreme weakness or fatigue and unexplained weight loss? It’s probable that your child has juvenile diabetes.

It’s all natural for little children to crave for chocolate bars, cotton candies, cakes and ice cream. It’s their joy aside from playing games. However, once they acquire the disease, they can no longer give in to their craving.

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder, which causes high glucose level in the blood. This is due to deficient amount of insulin in the pancreas. If untreated, high glucose level in the blood can cause acidosis or diabetic coma and death. It also causes irritability or behavioral changes in children.

Many say that kids in this generation are susceptible to acquire the disease because of their sedentary lifestyle. Children today consume most of their time with computer games and eating unhealthy food, which makes them obese. However, clinical studies point at auto-immune disorder as the culprit for diabetes incidence in children and not directly obesity or the overeating of sweets. It means that the body’s own anti-bodies destroy its pancreas, which causes the organ’s inability to create insulin.

Early detection is still crucial in the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes among children. Treatment includes insulin shots twice a day and a regulated diet, which is 1,000 calories per day. Doctors do not totally prohibit sweets to children with diabetes, as long as they constantly monitor their blood sugar level and calorie intake. 

According to statistics, 1 out of every 5 adult Filipinos has diabetes and about 3 out of 5 are likely to develop the disease if they don’t change their lifestyle. Among children, statistics are scarce but according to a US study, one in every seven thousand children in America has insulin-dependent diabetes.

If your child shows any indication that he has the disease like, frequent urination, extreme thirst or hunger, extreme fatigue, unexplained weight loss, chronic wounds, numbness in the hands or feet or blurred vision, it would be best to seek medical attention immediately.

The Imminent Menace of NDM-1 Superbug: an Anti-biotic Resistant Gene

Connie Sison
Photo from QTV-11

I was watching “24 Oras” (GMA 7-TV news) last night. Connie Sison reported about a new strain of gene that turns bacteria like E. Coli into a super bug: the gene NDM-1 or New Delhi Metallo Beta Lactamase enzyme.

Enlarged E.Coli Bacteria/Photo from wikicommons

British scientists announced the medical news yesterday. They said that the new super bug gene can enter bacteria and move from one specie of bacteria to another and makes it resistant to any form of anti biotic medicine available in the market. They reported 37 confirmed cases in UK. According to their study, these 37 people returned to UK from India after undergoing medical procedures, which makes them conclude that they got the gene infection from India. There were also reports that the gene had been detected in Australia and the US, in Canada, the Netherlands and Sweden. Around 50 cases had been recorded.

India had been a top medical tourism destination in recent years. Since, many medical tourists around the world had been going in and out of India, experts fear for a worldwide infection. However, India rejected the claim of the British scientists’ that the NDM-1 came from them. The Indian health ministry said that the claim was unfair and called it a “malicious propaganda”. They further said that the “plasmid” (DNA molecule) related to antibiotic resistance is found in the environment and in animal or human intestines generally.

The super bug infection can transfer from one person to another through physical contact like a simple hand shake. It can enter the body through the openings of the mouth, eyes, nose and open wounds. The Department of Health believes that it may take time before antibiotics for this new strain of gene will become available. As of today, there is no NDM-1 infection on record here in the Philippines but we must keep watch. The best remedy for any bacterial infection is still cleanliness.

Perhaps, the origin no longer matter now. The health ministries around the world must work hand in hand so that the imminent menace of this NDM-1 super bug may be eliminated before it starts.

Gene Testing: The Future of Clinical Diagnosis

Photo courtesy of www.dna-worldwide.com

 

According to comedian, Arnel Ignacio, her friend Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez used to have this fear about getting cancer. Whenever she would hear about someone else’s cancer story, “I felt like this”, “It felt like that”, it would affect her extremely. She would start thinking about it and would start feeling the same symptoms. Fortunately, she has overcome the fear.  

The possibility of developing diseases haunts many people especially if they know about occurrences of those diseases within their family line. Recently, a medical procedure, which they call “gene testing”, shows the possibility of detecting diseases like cancer, diabetes or Parkinson’s disease before they could even develop. The procedure tests a person’s DNA for possible genetic abnormality, which may develop into a disease later in his life.

With modern medicine, diseases like cancer are already curable if it has been detected in the early stages. We all have heard this, “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure”. If prevention is that important, medical practitioners say that early detection is crucial to disease prevention.

However, most of the time, patients don’t feel the symptoms until the latter stages when cure is medically improbable. This is where gene testing can help.

The most common type of gene testing is the “newborn screening”. Experts test newborn infants’ blood samples for possible genetic anomalies, which causes diseases like mental retardation.

Even adults can benefit from gene testing. Through it, a person can determine if he’s a carrier of a particular genetic abnormality, which he can pass on to his children, if he has a predisposition to develop a particular disease and his inherent genetic reaction to particular medicines.

Modern medicine may offer intervention to reduce the risk or reverse the condition through gene therapy (the deactivation of the defective gene) or by replacing it.

In the US, gene testing kits are available over the counter, which cost from $20 to $50. However, the result is not automatic like a pregnancy test kit. The user must send the saliva sample to a research lab for evaluation. The user can get the result via internet through packages ranging from $79 - $179.

Gene testing is now available in the Philippines for P60,000. The saliva sample will be evaluated in a laboratory in Shanghai, China.

Gene testing may be costly but it’s a scientific breakthrough that could help people fight disease in the future.

Franchise 2010

The Philippine Franchise Association organizes the 18^th Philippine International Franchise Conference and Expo. It will be on July 14-18, 2010 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City beside the SM Mall of Asia.

The conference is open to potential and present franchisors and franchisees, and those who are interested in the prospective business opportunities franchising enterprises offer.

Interested parties may register online at www.franchise2010.com. Hurry!

PLDT Business Solutions and PLDT SME Nation are co-presenters of this conference and expo with:

Gold Sponsors:

·          The Generics Pharmacy

·          Monterey

·          Caltex with Techron

·          Bodega Site: We Do It For You

·          Quali Plus International Flora

Silver Sponsors:

·          Max’s Restaurant

·          Goldilocks’

·          7-Eleven

·          Seaoil

·          PR Gaz

·          Mister Donut

·          Francorp: The Franchising Leader

·          BPI Ka-Negosyo

·          Manels

Bronze Sponsors:

·          Jollibee

·          Red Ribbon

·          Chowking

·          Greenwich

·          Selecta

·          Coca Cola

·          Pepsi

·          Blue Water

·          Banco De Oro

·          IBM

·          Montanara: Quality Never Ends

·          Ur Van, Ur Business

·          Media

·          Outbound Asia Inc

Media Partners:

·          The Philippines Star

·          The Manila Bulletin

·          Business World

·          Panay News

·          Entrepreneur Philippines

·          Philstar.com

·          NU107

·          Mellow 94.7 FM

·          RJ 100 FM

·          Franchise Asia

·          Global Integrated Media Ltd.

·          Asian Journal Publication

Mall Partners:

SM Supermalls

Araneta Center

Ayala Malls

Robinsons Malls

Trinoma

Shangri-la Plaza

Walter Mart

Cebu Pacific air.com

Mindgate

AM Cleofe Prints