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It is already March and I’m not yet done with my holiday post and my Scandinavian trip series but slowly I’m getting there. Hehehe! Last December, we didn’t have travel trips but life was still so busy because we had so many things to do and buy. Since we were on a holiday break, my son and I went with my husband to Makati.


Insurance Company 

My husband needs to go to his office and while he was working. My son and I went to my insurance company so I can submit my documents needed for my Living Cash Benefits. I bought my memorial plan when I started working and now I am claiming the benefits because I’m still alive and kicking.

Philcare 

My son and I went to Philcare clinic for a check-up, my son has colds and I have a dry cough. The doctor did not give me medicine, he just advised me to buy strepsils max and surprisingly, gumaling naman dry cough ko after few days.

Pag-ibig Office 

It’s more than a decade already since we bought our house but it is not fully-paid yet because we chose 30 years payment plan. We chose that because we know that it is the only amount that we can pay every month. At that time, I just resigned from my job and we were living in a single income but we took a risk and bought a house.

Then last year, I computed everything and I was so shocked sa total kasi lagpas na siya sa total ng housing loan namin so it means I’m just paying for the interest na lang. And because of that, we went to Pag-ibig office so we can apply for repricing so now, mas maliit na yung monthly amortization namin.

The Pag-ibig staff informed us “bawasan niyo po ang principal para mabilis kayo matapos.” so that is why we went back to Pag-ibig office para magbawas sa principal and hopefully we can finish our housing loan soon. How I wish, dati ko pa siya ginawa parang nasanay na kasi ko na kasama siya sa monthly bills namin. Dapat pala ang goal ko, mawala siya sa monthly expense namin. 

Yi Fang Tea 



On our way to Pag-ibig Office, we saw Yi Fang Tea store and wala tao so we took advantage of it. When I saw Yi Fang Tea Store in BGC, mahaba pila so tinamad ako pumila. Since this was our first time, I just ordered kung ano yung una sa menu, the Yi Fang Signature Fruit Tea PHP140. It is a blend of fresh fruits and mountain tea, hindi lang namin type is may buto ko na naiinom but the taste is good.

Read: Food Trip in Bonifacio High Street

Funny story, after ordering, the staff asked me about sugar level and ice level, napatulala ko ng slight kasi hindi ko alam ang choices. Napaghahalata na first-timer ako, hehehe! I chose 80% Sugar Level and Less Ice. If first timer ka rin, ito yung mga choices just in case hindi mo siya mahanap agad sa menu and para alam mo na agad issasagot mo sa staff. You also have the option to choose hot drink or add some jelly or pearl for an extra fee.

Add-ons: 

Aiyu Jelly: PHP25
Grass Jelly: PHP25
Pearl: P15

Sugar Level: 100 / 80 / 50 / 30 /0
Ice Level: Normal Ice/ Less Ice / No Ice
Hot Drink: add PHP15

Lunch at Kanin Club 


After our Pag-ibig office visit, we had an early lunch at Kanin Club. It’s been years since our last visit and I’m missing their crispy dinuguan. It was past 11AM so the restaurant was not crowded yet. We ordered Crispy Dinuguan, Bistek Tagalog and Rice. Kanin Club is one of our favorite restaurants if we want to eat Filipino dishes, check below my food review.

Read: Food Trip ay Kanin Club

Imarflex Outlet

I’ve been meaning to buy an air purifier at home but the price is too expensive for my budget. Hindi lang naman kasi siya one time buy lang, you have to maintain it pa because you need to buy a filter. There is a brand na napagtanungan namin and P10K ang filter niya so ang bigat sa bulsa kung every year di ba.


Fortunately, my husband found an affordable air purifier so we dropped by at Imarflex Outlet in Makati. We bought one big PHP6700 and one small air purifier PHP2500 for our home. This air purifier helped a lot lalo na nung hindi kami nagbubukas ng windows during Taal Volcano eruption.

Sesou 

Last year, while I was browsing my Instagram feeds I discovered Kurin Water and because of that nacurious ako at hinanap ko talaga siya. I bought one for me and for my siblings so they can try it too. As of this writing, I bought my second bottle of Kurin na and next time I will buy online na lang, wala kasi refill sa Sesou store.

After that, we went home na, sobrang nakakapagod na araw and I even checked my health app. Naka-16,456 steps ako and 11.75km lang naman ang nilakad ko. Waah!

Do you know that there is World Psoriasis Day? Yes, this is a worldwide event where people around the world celebrate the WPD to give voice to millions of people who have psoriasis and I’m one of those people who have psoriasis. 

In the Philippines, we have National Awareness Week from October 23-29 since 2011 via Presidential Proclamation. But before that, PsorPhil is already celebrating World Psoriasis Day every year. People who have psoriasis, doctors, family and other supporters gather together to spread awareness about this skin condition.

This year, it will be celebrated on October 29, 2017 at San Andres Sports Complex. I haven’t joined all the parade but I was able to attend 2010, 2012, 2014 and hopefully this year, I can attend WPD event. 

If you have psoriasis or if you know someone who has psoriasis, let them know that there is a PsorPhil group or different clubs around the Philippines where you can join so you won’t feel alone. I am a member of Asian Psorclub so if you live in Laguna, Cavite, Las Pinas, Muntinlupa, Paranaque or anywhere in South, you can join our group. 

Anyway, since this is National Awareness Week let me inform you about psoriasis. I saw this flyer while I was cleaning. This is the flyer that we’re giving away during our Word Psoriasis Day walk.



Psoriasis in Numbers

Psoriasis affects 1-3% of the world’s population. (Clin. Dermatol. 2006;24;438-47) 
1.8 million Filipinos may have psoriasis. Psoriasis affects adult males and females equally. 
Studies have shown that 36-71% of patients with psoriasis have one relative who is also affected by psoriasis. 
Up to 10-20% of patients with plaque psoriasis also experience psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis develops in persons aged 35-55 years old. 
Approximately 50% of psoriasis patients >65 years old have at least 3 comorbidities and -67% have 2 or more comorbities, -10% of patients have ocular signs (blepharitis, conjunctivitis) which is more common in men than in women. (R. Arffa, MD, emedicine.com 2009) 
On the average, people with severe psoriasis have shorter life span of 4 years than patients without psoriasis, 3.5% years for men and 4.4 years for women. (Arch Dermatol. 2007;143(12):1493-1499)

Facts about Psoriasis 

What is psoriasis? 

Psoriasis is a common, chronic, relapsing, inflammatory skin disorder with a strong genetic basis. It is characterized be red, raised, itchy patches, with silvery scales, which can occur on any part of the body. 

Psoriasis is not an infection and therefore is not contagious. 

What causes psoriasis? 

The exact cause of psoriasis is still undetermined. Psoriasis occurs when the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Again, psoriasis is not caused by an infection and not contagious. 

What triggers psoriasis? 

The development of psoriasis has undoubtedly a genetic component, but certain environmental factors may also trigger the disease. These factors may include physical trauma, infections, stress, drug, alcohol, and cold climate. 

Is there a cure for psoriasis? 

At present, doctors cannot cure the disease, or even modify the course illness. Current treatments do not affect disease activity. This means that if the disease is active, then relapse will occur as soon as treatment is discontinued whatever therapy is used. 

However, psoriasis can be cleared with treatment that is currently available. 

Other Important Information about Psoriasis 

Psoriasis, being a common, chronic, complex inflammatory disease shares immunological features with other serious health disorders. 

Recent studies suggest that moderate to severe psoriasis is associated with comorbidities like metabolic syndrome and its components (obesity, diabetes, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia), cardiovascular disease, Chron’s disease, chronic obstructive lung disease, depression, and inflammatory arthritis among others. 

Considering the link between psoriasis and comorbidities, it pertinent that a patient be aware of importance of regular follow-ups to their health care providers in order to be monitored for the said risk factors. It is also important for patients to adapt healthy lifestyle choices, including diet and exercise, to help prevent the development of comorbidities. 

Aside from these serious medical disorders, people with psoriasis are faced with a psychological and emotional burden aggravated by lack of awareness regarding the disease. Many of them face discrimination in public places like the hair salon, riding public transportation, workplace, swimming pools, and the like. It is important that people be made aware that psoriasis is not contagious and cannot be passed on by physically interacting with a person with psoriasis. Psychological and social support from family members, friends and support groups are very significant in decreasing the isolation of patient feels and increasing his/her confidence in living well with psoriasis.

This survey aims to collect data from Filipinos living with psoriasis above 18 years old to better understand experiences in diagnosis, management, and quality of life impact. This survey is developed for the Psoriasis Philippines in collaboration with Philippine Dermatological Society and Philippine Rheumatology Association supported by Novartis. 

Specifically, the survey aims to: 

1. Understand the rational, personal and emotional impact of psoriasis; 
2. Quantify patient perspectives on clear skin achievability; and 
3. Provide evidence for the significant impact of psoriasis on individuals. 

The data will be used to raise awareness on psoriasis in the Philippines and to develop a policy paper for psoriasis treatment and support.

If you have psoriasis, please answer the survey. If you know someone who has psoriasis, please share this post.

Click here to answer the survey.

I was in my fourth-year college when I was diagnosed that I have psoriasis and sad to say that it has no cure yet. At that time, I had a mild case of psoriasis so I can say that I have still a normal life because people cannot see my psoriasis yet. I can do anything and I can wear any clothes, but things change after I gave birth to my son. 

I have psoriasis all over my body and I can’t even count them. I experienced severe psoriasis last year, see the story here.  Having this skin condition really changed my life and I always wish that someday I would have normal skin again. So I can do anything and I can wear anything I want. 

I’m grateful that my family and friends accept and support my skin condition. I’m also a member of Asian PsorClub and PsorPhil group so I know that I’m not alone in this battle. 

Every year, PsorPhil celebrates World Psoriasis Day and I really try my best to be part of this event. So far I’ve attended three funwalk since 2010. I attended the funwalk in 2010 and 2012 and last Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014.

Just to give you an idea “World Psoriasis Day is a yearly event dedicated to people with psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis. This is a global event wherein people around the world perform activities to give an international voice to the 125 million people with psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis. 

IFPA ( International Federation of Psoriasis Associations) would like to raise awareness about psoriasis so people won’t be discriminated. It aims to improve access to treatments, increase understanding about the skin condition and unite different psoriasis groups so people with psoriasis will get the attention and consideration they deserve.” 

It was an overnight party but we did not stay long because my husband has a Christmas Run the following morning. Ilang hours na tulog for his first fun run.