Singapore’s AFX fashion event 2012 kicks-off this May

Fashionistas, upcoming designers and the latest trends abound this summer
as Singapore welcomes the Asian Fashion Exchange (AFX) 2012.
From May 14 to 20, AFX 2012 continues the tradition of showcasing a stellar
lineup of events with Audi Fashion Festival Singapore, BLUEPRINT, Audi Star
Creation and Asia Fashion Summit.

More than 100 emerging fashion designers, 10,000 fashion professionals and
40% of designer brands and labels from all over the world will join this weeklong
event.

“The AFX 2012 will be an exciting event because it will feature international
big names in the fashion industry as well as the budding designers from all
over Asia. We know that talent for fashion design is big in the Philippines and
we want Filipinos to take advantage of this opportunity which is global in
reach,” said Ms Sherina Chan, Singapore Tourism Board area director for the
Philippines and Brunei.

Get ready for the latest world-class collections from top emerging designers
and labels from the international and Asian fashion scene in the Audi Festival
Singapore, which will run from May 16 to 20.

For its third year, the Audi Star Creation has received 255 entries from Asia’s
budding designer superstars, 12 of which will face off on the runway at
TheTent@Orchard on May 14. In 2011, Mike Yapching, a Filipino, was one of
the finalists in Star Creation. He was in fact offered a job in Singapore but he
chose to finish his studies first in the Philippines. This recognition of talent is
a testament to the Filipinos’ ingenuity in fashion design.

BLUEPRINT will feature the Pre-Spring 2013 collections of more than 100
international and Asian emerging designer labels for its tradeshow on May 17
and 18 where fashion’s next trend setters – London’s Ostwald Helgason,
Berlin’s Esther Perbandt, Melbourne’s Yeojin Bae and New York’s Timo
Weiland – will participate.

Then on May 19 and 20, you can enjoy the BLUEPRINT’s weekend shopping
event, the Emporium, where 150 emerging designer labels of womenswear,
menswear and accessories will be on sale. The Brandery Asia, the extension
of the established Brandery show from Barcelona, Spain, will also make an
appearance at BLUEPRINT.

For the fashion industry’s movers and shakers, catch more than 30 speakers
and panelists and more than 300 fashion professionals from Singapore to talk
about strategies on engaging the Asian fashion consumer at the three-day
Asia Fashion Summit. Get tips and advice from the best in the industry on
May 15 and 16 and a full day of hands-on workshops on building a strong
brand online on May 17.

AFX 2012 is partnered with private and public sectors including STB, the
Textile and Fashion Federation of Singapore (TaFf), Mercury Marketing and
Communications, International Enterprise Singapore and SPRING Singapore.
“This year’s AFX will surely be better than last year’s. We have more fashion
professionals, budding designers and top-of-the-line labels and brands all
merging in one ultimate fashion event,” said Chan.

Manage cold sores in 4 easy ways

Summer is a time to enjoy vacation with family and friends. However, if you have been exposed to fatigue, stress or sunlight, you may be triggering an outbreak of cold sores.

A cold sore is a small fluid-filled, itchy and painful mouth blister that appears on or near the lips and can be contracted by kissing or sharing utensils with someone who has cold sores.

Cold sores can also be triggered by hormonal changes, poor immune function, fatigue and illnesses such as colds and flu. In most cases, cold sores are caused by Herpes simplex virus types I and II.

The bad news with cold sores is that once you are infected, it cannot be cured. You need to manage and prevent the spread of cold sore within your household and workplace by following these four simple steps.

Make sure it’s a cold sore
There are two types of mouth sores that you can get. Cold sores can be passed on to others. Canker sores or mouth ulcers, on the other hand, are not contagious. Check with your doctor to determine which problem you are dealing with.

Eat a balanced diet
For cold sore prevention, proper eating means loading your diet with food rich in iron, zinc and vitamins A, C and E to keep your immune system strong and able to fight off simple colds or the flu—the top causes of cold sores.

Have good hygienic habits
Good hygiene is one of the best ways to manage and prevent cold sores. Keep your hands clean by washing them regularly to avoid getting colds, flu or infection.

When you start feeling symptoms like tingling sensation, avoid infecting anyone else in your home by washing your hands so you can nip a cold sore outbreak in the bud.

Use a soothing gel
While there is no cure for cold sores, one can reduce the frequency and severity of cold sore outbreaks. A good way to do this is to take an antiviral medication, which has been an approved treatment for these outbreaks. 

You can use a soothing gel that contains carbenoxolone Na which provides symptomatic relief. Carbenoxolone Na is proven to have antiviral activity against a spectrum of viruses that include herpes and adenovirus.

Carbenoxolone Na is also an anti-inflammatory solution that relieves pain and shortens the healing time of open and aggravated lesions caused by cold sores and canker sores.

For more information about Carbenoxolone Na, consult with your doctor or call New Marketlink Pharmaceutical Corporation at (02) 480-4207.

Treating ED

Men are prone to bragging when talking about their sexual prowess, but there are those who shy away from the topic because of embarrassing experiences. Most of these men suffer quietly from erectile dysfunction or ED.

Due to the Filipino’s ‘macho’ culture that spurns anything that exhibits weakness, men suffering from ED do not reveal their condition. But they should realize their relationship with their partner also suffers because they lack sexual energy.

ED is the inability of a man to initiate or maintain an adequate erection to complete sexual intercourse. Majority of ED cases are caused by psychological factors and lifestyle factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, lack of exercise and poor sleep.

Certain drugs and diseases such as diabetes and hypertension can also lead to ED. However, the most common cause of ED is the constriction or narrowing of arteries in the penis.

Constricted arteries prevent pressurized blood from entering the penis’ corpora cavernosa, making the penis limp. The corpora cavernosa are two sponge-like regions in the penis that becomes rigid when filled by blood.

Arteries are made of smooth muscles that allow blood flow only when relaxed. To loosen up these muscles, one of the most common treatments urologists prescribe is sildenafil citrate.

Sildenafil citrate is an ethical drug that allows the build up of cyclic guanosine monophosphate or cGMP, a chemical that relaxes the arteries in the penis when aroused.

This allows the patient to have a full erection during sexual intercourse for 4 hours. 

Middle aged men who cannot maintain or sustain an erection because of reasons other than illness also use sildenafil nitrate to enhance their capabilities to consummate sexual intercourse.

To help Filipino men deal with ED, New Marketlink Pharmaceutical Corporation (NMPC), one of the country’s leading healthcare solutions providers, is now offering effective and affordable sildenafil citrate products.

For ED prevention and treatment, ask your doctor about NMPC products.

NGC Earth Day Run 2012

Calling on all running enthusiasts, athletes, and anyone physically fit. Run for Mother Nature and help raise awareness about caring for the environment!

Join the 3rd Earth Day Run on April 22 at the Bonifacio Global City. 3K, 5K, 10K and 21K races are available. Registration fees start at 650 pesos inclusive of a limited edition Earth Day Run shirt.

Register now at the left wing ground floor of Greenbelt 3 or at www.natgeorun.com. Major credit cards are accepted.

Registration is extended until April 20/Friday. For more info, log on to www.natgeorun.com.