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Thursday, December 9, 2021

Moms Overcome "Nutri-problems" for their Kids by Giving Them “Lakas at Talas”

Nutrition has always been a pressing issue, especially now when families are becoming more vulnerable to health and economic problems. During these trying times, the resiliency shown by moms has inspired the Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink team in conducting a survey to better understand their nutrition needs and issues encountered by their families during the pandemic.



The survey was conducted among members of the MOMs of Alaska (MOMAs) Facebook community, a group for moms who are dedicated to providing their children proper nutrition. And while providing nutrition remains one of their priorities, the survey has found that it has taken a back seat to more urgent concerns like supporting the family’s finances, budgeting limited earnings for food, health, and safety necessities, juggling family responsibilities, and the like.


The survey received responses from nearly 300 moms from different walks of life such as housewives, call center agents, online sellers, teachers, vendors, and many more. The majority of the respondents shared that budgeting concerns regarding groceries, health essentials, and bills have made it harder to provide nutrition for their families. Half of the respondents have struggled with losing their jobs and a fifth of them struggle with balancing their family responsibilities.


In these trying times, Jenevev, a street food vendor and mother of two described her priorities. “Kahit na sa panahon ng pandemya, dapat hindi kaligtaan ang kalusugan ng pamilya. Kaya sinisigurado ko po na palaging wasto ang sustansyang nakukuha ng mga anak ko” (“Even during the pandemic, we shouldn’t neglect our family’s health. That’s why I make sure that my children receive the nutrition they need”), Jenevev shared.


She isn't the only one from the MOMAs community that feels this way. In these exceptional circumstances, Jonalene, a housewife and mother of two struggles to provide sufficient nutrition for her children due to a lack of financial capability.


“Kahit mahirap i-budget ang PHP 100 a day, sinusubukan ko pa din bigyan ang mga anak ko ng masusustansyang pagkain tulad ng gulay. Simpleng ginisang gulay ay ayos na” (“Even though it’s difficult to budget PHP 100 a day, I still try to find ways to give my children healthy food like vegetables. A simple stir-fried vegetable dish is enough”), says Jonalene.


Most of the respondents agree with this sentiment. Out of the 94% of respondents who consider providing proper nutrition for their families a top priority, 66.3% don’t have the means to afford the nutritional meals they aspire for. On top of these problems, the pandemic continues to change the lifestyles and consumer habits of families everywhere. 81.3% of respondents prioritize pandemic essentials like face masks and alcohol in their spending over other products, making it even harder for moms to allocate time and budget for nutrition.


Regardless of these challenges, moms want their children to be healthy and grow properly, understanding how vital it is to take care of their health in today's world. As moms, they always want what’s best for their kids, giving their all to nurture and nourish them, and providing them with the proper guidance to live a healthy life. As a result, moms are finding ways to put their children's health and development first.



Moms from the MOMAs community try their best to create a healthy environment at home. More than half of the respondents (68.2%) have made it a habit to prepare nutritious meals within their budget, while others (66.3%) have started doing family exercises together. And luckily, more moms (79.8%) have found a way to solve their nutri-problems by buying affordable nutritional drinks like milk to help give their children the added nutrition they need on top of healthy meals.


Arlene, an online working mom of two from the MOMAs community, shared, “Bilang ina, lagi kong inuuna ang wastong nutrisyon para sa aking mga anak, kaya parte ng araw-araw naming pamumuhay ang pagbibigay ng masustansyang pagkain at pagpapainom ng mga bitamina na may iba’t-ibang benipisyo para sa nutrisyon. Kaya naman malaking tulong ang affordable na gatas tulad ng Alaska na may maraming nutrients at benefits para sa kalusugan ng mga anak ko” (“As a mom, I always prioritize providing proper nutrition to my children, so part of what I do for them is giving healthy food and vitamins with many nutritional benefits. This is why affordable milk like Alaska is a big help to me, as it is filled with nutrients and health benefits for my kids”).


Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink has been continuously nourishing Filipino families, and with the findings from this survey and the determination shown by moms all over the country to provide what’s best for their children, the brand aims to bring nutrition even closer to every Filipino.


The survey has made it clear that children’s health and nutrition is a concern that has become more pronounced with the pandemic. In line with its mission to make quality nutrition more affordable, Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink wants to continue providing “Alagang Alaska” and nourishing every Filipino family to help them through these trying times.


To assist moms in providing nutrition to their families, Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink is launching its most affordable pack to date, with “Lakas at Talas” benefits to help with body and brain development. The Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink “Super Sulit Pack” is available at 300g for PHP 70 and contains protein, calcium, and vitamin D for “lakas” which helps with healthy body development, and choline and iodine for “talas” which helps with brain development and growth. Paired with a healthy and well-balanced morning meal, Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink provides nourishment in a delicious drink that kids can enjoy during breakfast.



With the launch of the ‘Super Sulit Pack’, Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink shows its commitment to providing affordable yet quality nutrition to Filipino families. For just the price of PHP 70, Alaska continues to nourish our children through a tasty and nutritious drink in the morning.


Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink is available in Shopee, Lazada, leading supermarkets and grocery stores nationwide, and is even more affordable with the 300g “Super Sulit Pack” for only Php 70 SRP. For more information on Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk Drink, visit www.alaskamilk.com and www.facebook.com/alaskamilkph.

Saturday, December 4, 2021

Gadget Review: Samsung Galaxy AO3s

Are looking for a nice gift for your family or friends this Christmas?
Perhaps a user-friendly smartphone for your kids or grandparents?
Are you looking for a budget-friendly smartphone with a good camera and longer battery life?

Then, the new Samsung Galaxy AO3s is for you.



What are the features of this smartphone?
  • The Samsung Galaxy AO3s has a 6.5" Infinity-V Display on 720 x 1600 (HD+) 
  • It runs on the latest Android 11
  • This unit has 4GB RAM with 32/ 64GB Internal mass storage, expandable up to 1TB
  • It has a dual nano sim slot, the network connectivity is up to 4G LTE
  • It has a built-in 5000 mAh battery. This provides the user a longer battery life despite multiple active applications
But what makes it different from the older Samsung models?
  • The Samsung A03s now has a 13Mega Pixel rear TRIPLE cam which includes the additional 2MP Depth camera that lets you adjust the depth of field in your photos. This can help you easily fine-tune the background blur behind your subject allowing you to take better photos. 
  • It is has a fingerprint/ power button mounted on the side of the phone which I find more comfortable to use. 
  • It is also lighter compared with the other budget smartphones. The Samsung A02s weighs 196 grams only while Samsung M12 and Samsung A02 weigh 212g and 206g respectively. The difference in weight may seem small and insignificant but if you use your phone all the time then you can actually feel the difference. 
Should I buy the Samsung A03s?

Given this price point, having 4GB RAM makes the Samsung A03s a smart choice. This will ensure a smoother user experience with no lags or unresponsive apps. Though it's not for hardcore gaming, it ran smoothly when we tried playing games such as mobile legends and call of duty.

The triple camera with additional settings such as PRO, Food, Panoramic, and Hyperlapse mode will allow you to enjoy and capture precious moments using this phone. 

Here are some sample shots: 




As you can see even the small details and the texture are captured well. 

If you are thinking of getting this for your grandparents or for someone who is not so techie, the Samsung A03s is very user-friendly and it already comes with pre-installed apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Messenger, LinkedIn, Spotify, Netflix, YouTube, Internet browser, and many more. 

If you are planning to get a new phone for your kids, then you'll love the Parental Control feature. This helps you protect your kids from inappropriate content and excessive usage. 

By simply setting up the Parental Control through Google's Family Link, you can supervise your kid's phone remotely, set a screen time limit, and add restrictions to google services like apps approvals or content filters on Google Play.

So to answer your question - YES, the Samsung A03s is worth buying. :) 

Anyway, you can watch the full video review here

Friday, December 3, 2021

List of Stephen King, Rick Riordan, and George R.R. Martin's Books Available in Big Bad Wolf

We're happy that the Big Bad Wolf is finally back! Despite the unfortunate experience of delayed shipment and deliveries during their previous sale, we can't deny that they still have the best deals and offers when it comes to brand new books. 


A few days ago, I tried to order books from them and was so happy to receive my books in 3 days (including the weekend.) This is actually pretty impressive if you have a provincial address. The only con that we observed during the ordering process is that you can't easily search by author. 

But don't worry - we did the research for you, and here's the list of available books from our favorite authors in the Big Bad Wolf flagship store. 


Please note that availability may be subject to change without future notice. Just keep visiting this post and we will try to update this regularly. To order, just click the title of the book. 

Stephen King

George R.R. Martin

Hope this helps! Don't forget to share this post and help a fellow bookworm. 

Friday, November 26, 2021

How Samsung Protects Your Smartphones from Cyberattacks

The smartphone has become the center of how we work, live, and play. For many, it has even become the only thing that we bring out of the home, replacing our laptops, wallets, and even house keys.

While we are generally more mindful today of the dangers posed by hackers to our laptops and computers, we also need to recognize that smartphones are prone to cyberattacks as well. Hackers go where the crowds are and right now, that’s mobile devices.

This is why the scam messages and SMS from unknown senders these past few weeks are truly alarming and that’s why it’s never been more important to stay safe. The good news -- Samsung is constantly innovating to protect you and your data against emerging threats.



The billions of smartphones around the world are filled with sensitive personal and business data, providing infinite opportunities for hackers to steal and sell private information. In fact, cybersecurity firm IronNet reported that cyberattacks have increased 168% between May 2020 and May 2021, with attacks on smartphones becoming one of the biggest cybersecurity threats in the Asia Pacific region.

Samsung is committed to keeping users safe and secure, with Samsung Knox providing true end-to-end protection throughout the entire lifecycle of your device. In this article, we explore five potential cyberattack scenarios that could happen when the safety of your device is compromised – and explain how Samsung Knox protects you from these threats, in line with our ethos of placing security at the heart of every decision we make.


Cyberattack Scenario 1: Unauthorized backdoor access

Outside of Samsung, developers routinely create software ‘backdoors’ for apps and even mobile OSes so that they can gain easy access for troubleshooting purposes. However, hackers are able to discover these backdoors, which usually bypass any or all cybersecurity measures on the device in question.

To prevent unauthorized backdoor access, do not download unofficial or unauthorized apps. Downloading software other than what the manufacturer originally installed to gain full access to the device’s operating system could also introduce malware or spyware that leads to unauthorized backdoor access.

How Samsung protects you against this threat: At Samsung, we design, create, and validate every computer chip, every piece of wiring, and every hardware component before using them to manufacture our smart devices in highly secure factories around the world. This chip-up approach gives us control over design, manufacturing, and assembly, ensuring a secure supply chain that prevents unauthorized backdoor access in our devices – resulting in an end product that our users can trust completely.


Cyberattack Scenario 2: Compromised, weak, or re-used passwords

As users continue to create new accounts for digital services, ranging from telehealth services to new ride-hailing and e-commerce platforms, they provide more avenues for hackers to exploit.

An August 2021 survey from IBM found, 86% of consumers in the Asia Pacific admit that they re-use the same credentials across multiple online accounts. This is a poor data privacy habit – just one attack could leave a user’s entire internet footprint vulnerable to hackers.

How Samsung protects you against this threat: Samsung’s devices are equipped with innovative biometric authentication technology, such as Ultrasonic Fingerprint so that access to your data can be protected even if your device is lost or stolen. Known as Samsung Pass, this biometric authentication tool also lets users easily access log-in credentials without the need to remember countless usernames and passwords. To take data protection to the next level, we have also equipped our devices with Knox Vault, a secure processor that operates independently from the main CPU. Knox Vault securely isolates your biometrics data from the rest of your phone, so no one can get their hands on your data.


Cyberattack Scenario 3: Free Wi-Fi may not be so free after all

Free Wi-Fi hotspots are a boon for everyone who needs access to the Internet on their mobile devices for work or play. However, public Wi-Fi services provide an opportunity for hackers to steal data, as the data that you send across the web – such as credit card information for online purchases – might first pass through the hands of a hacker via a public Wi-Fi network.



How Samsung protects you against this threat: For everyday browsing and internet usage, Secure Wi-Fi encrypts outgoing internet traffic and disables tracking apps and websites. It allows you to browse the internet safely on public wireless connections without fear of security breaches.


Cyberattack Scenario 4: Phishing attacks compromising sensitive data

Phishing is a type of attack in which cybercriminals trick victims into handing over sensitive information or installing malware, disguised as links, attachments, or even legitimate apps, on their devices.

Once hackers have access to your sensitive information, they could use it to demand a ransom from you, steal your personal information, carry out other vices, or make purchases with your credit card information, for instance.

How Samsung protects you against this threat: Device Protection in Samsung Device Care continuously scans your device for malware or suspicious activity and alerts you when you mistakenly install malicious apps through detection via the McAfee protection.

Additionally, the Samsung Secure Folder keeps data secure and isolates problematic apps within the folder to keep apps away from users’ personal information.




Meanwhile, when you’re purchasing with Samsung Pay on your mobile device, your card information is encrypted and completely isolated to protect it at all times.



Cyberattack Scenario 5: Zero-day vulnerability

As hackers and cyber attackers are constantly trying to hack into devices, they are always on the lookout for zero-day vulnerabilities. A zero-day vulnerability is a vulnerability in a system or device that has been discovered but is not yet patched. This can be particularly dangerous as cybercriminals target the flaws in a system before developers or the public are aware it even exists.


How Samsung protects you against this threat: Samsung Knox offers real-time protection, always actively protecting your devices against data attacks or malware. This means that unauthorized attempts to access or modify your phone’s core is blocked in real-time.

When users reboot their Samsung smartphone, Secure Boot is activated to detect any unauthorized software and block attempts to compromise the device through multi-layered, defense-grade security. If the smartphone is booted in an unapproved state, Samsung Knox will automatically lock up apps containing sensitive data such as Samsung Pay, Samsung Pass, Secure Folder, or Samsung Health.


Looking ahead to a more secure future

The smartphone has become a key part of our digital lives, whether from home, in the classroom, or even in the office. With new cyber-threat vectors continuously putting us at risk, we need to stay vigilant and play an active role in keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe in this digital world.

Security does not just stop at smartphones for Samsung, as Knox protection also extends to the smart appliances in Samsung’s portfolio for an additional layer of protection. This means that your Samsung smart appliances are protected and secured, whether you are mirroring the video you are watching on your Galaxy device with the SmartView app to the screen on your Family Hub™ or using the AI function on your AI EcoBubble washing machine to calibrate optimal wash settings.

As a Samsung user, you can be assured that you have a digital partner committed to world-class security and privacy standards – keeping you safe while you work, study, and play.

To know more about how Samsung Knox protects your devices from cyberattacks, watch Samsung Knox: Collective Protection or read it at samsung.com/ph/news/local/how-samsung-protects-your-smartphones-from-cyberattacks/