lifeoil digest

VOLUME 1 , ISSUE 1 NOVEMBER 2015

M A I D E N I S S U E

Moringa:SecretS revealed

Malunggay 101 | Moringaling

vegetable veggie oil exchange

EXPERIENCING

Vince Soberano World Muay Thai Champion

Looking every bit like a quintessential alpha male, it’s hard to imagine that

8-time Muay Thai World Champion Vince Soberano could ever have been bad

at sports. However, he admits that sports wasn’t really his strong suit as a kid.

Vincent explains that he was born with a lot of health problems, which made

it difficult for him to engage in high intensity sports. “I had a sinus problem,

slight asthma, and some rheumatic problems,” he says.

Despite being deficient in sports when he was younger, Vincent developed

a passion for martial arts because he saw it not so much as a sport, but as an

activity that he could practice and develop on his own.

Vincent says he is stronger,

faster, and generally a better

fighter now that he’s 50, as

compared to his heyday as a

professional fighter in the 90s.

Although he owes much of his

success to hard work, discipline,

and a lot of determination,

Vincent says that taking LifeOil

has helped him live a healthier

lifestyle, which in turn, has made

him a better athlete.

According to Vincent, he

is very selective about the

products he chooses to endorse.

After using Lie Oil for six months,

however, he found the results

amazing, and he was immediately sold.

For anyone who wants to get into martial arts, Vincent gives this piece of

advice, “Martial arts is my world, and it became my world because I’m passion-

ate about it. Anything that you do, if you put your heart into it, if you find a way

to love what you do, you will not only excel in it, but you will be able to do it for

a very, very long time.”

“Fast recovery times,high testosterone levels, muscular and bone density, 11% body fat, healthy skin and hair, and sustained high energy levels... not bad for 50. LifeOil is a big factor of my health and fitness. It is a part of my daily life.”

Life Oil Digest | November2

The LifeOil® Digest is a serious advocate of healthy living.

Loaded with interesting feature articles, the magazine aims to

give its readers easy access to a wealth of information regarding

health and wellness. With LifeOil Digest as a guide, it is possible

for anybody to be happy and fit.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

p.4 LifeOil HistoryLifeOil founder, Andy Lugtu, recalls how a seemingly far-fetched idea turned into a suc-cessful and game changing business venture.

p.8 Malunggay SecretsNot your ordinary vegetable. The malunggay plant’s health benefits are revelaed.

p.10 MoringalingFilipinos may not be aware of it yet, but the unassuming malunggay plant may be the key to a healthier and wealthier Philippines.

p.14 Malunggay 101Moringa oleifera or malunggay in Filipino is one of the most cultivated varieties of moringa.

p.16 VVOX Know more about Vegetable Veggie Oil Exchange or VVOX. It is the only producer and distributor of combined moringa leaves and seeds oil here and abroad.

p.18 Kasuso FoundationFind out how a non-profit organization is helping ordinary Filipinos take a more proactive stand against breast cancer.

Now is a very exciting time to be part of the malunggay industry. With

all the groundbreaking discoveries that have been made in recent years, there

is no telling what else we are capable of approaching in the near future.

Through this magazine, we aim to educate the public about the Moringa Oleifera’s many health and economic benefits. And hopefully, we can finally

put the spotlight on the often-overlooked wonder plant.

On the CoverMoringa Oleifera leaves, often called “the miracle tree”, is one of the most

nutritious plant food.

If you have comments, reactions or suggestions, please email [email protected]

Manila Nature’s Link was founded with a unique alliance of key resources including a biotechnology company that utilizes on traditional and indigenous medical systems, plant-pharmaceutical labs and oil extraction facilities. Through the years, it has developed a strong partnership with agriculturists, plant growers and farmers all over the country guaranteeing a steady supply of raw materials to meet its various production needs.

As a result, Manila Nature’s Link was able to provide the excellent and highly effective products to people who want to attain and enjoy the best of health. We have a proprietary line of nature-based products formulated to suit a wide range of health and nutritional

concerns of every individual striving to attain total wellness. The company has a marketing team committed to effectively communicate the message of good health as well as build a stable network of distribution to make our products accessible to the consuming public.

Excellent service is the underlying principle of our existence as a company and the bedrock of our effort to nurture exponential customer loyalty and patronage. Our commitment is to help shape a new model of Health and Wellness in the Philippines and the world. It is our clear vision to attain and deliver optimal health and improved quality of life to all people…naturally.

CORPORATEPROFILE

P. 10

P. 16

P. 18

VOLUME 1 , ISSUE 1 NOVEMBER 2015

M A I D E N I S S U E

Moringa:SecretS revealed

Malunggay 101 | Moringaling

Kasuso Foundation


Malungai LifeOilA By-Product of Faith and Innovation

The healthy farm. Moringa farms are gaining popularity all over the Philippines.

FEATURE STORY

5

Not too many businessmen would be willing to seek the Bible for inspiration, but then again, Filipino entrepreneur, Armando “Andy” Lugtu, isn’t like most people. With a business sense like no other, Andy has made a name for himself in the international business community by creating enterprises that are not only original, but successful as well.

nspired by the bible verse, Ezekiel 47:12, which goes, “Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the

river, their leaves will not wither and their fruits will not fail; the fruits will serve for food and their lives for healing,” Andy sought to develop the humble malunggay plant into a health supplement.

Created by Manila Nature’s Link, Malungai LifeOil is the world’s first and only product developed from pure Moringa Oleifera seeds and leaves. Each soft gel capsule contains 500 mg of combined oil extract, which is equivalent to half a kilogram of malunggay leaves and seeds.

First launched in 2010, LifeOil soft gel capsules provide all the health benefits

the malunggay plant has to offer, such as increased energy, a stronger immune system, lower sugar and cholesterol levels, and lower blood pressure.

LIFEOIL’S DEVELOPMENT Although many people assume that the

development of LifeOil happened overnight, the reality is, it took years and a lot of hard work before Andy and his team deemed the product ready for public consumption.

“We thought of finding a cheaper alternative source of fuel. That’s how we stumbled upon the malunggay tree’s abundant uses and surprisingly rich nutrient content,” Andy says. But when this didn’t materialize, Andy decided to develop a supplement instead, so as not to waste the plant’s health benefits.

At first, the scientists he was working

“It started as a simple experiment. Little did I know it will make a significant difference in the lives of countless Filipinos.”

Andy LugtuChairman, President & CEOManila Nature’s Link

More than a garnish, Malunggay leaves have a wealth of health benefits that rival the world’s leading natural supplements.

I


with didn’t want to believe that it was possible to extract oil from malunggay. But by simply wrapping a kernel inside a malunggay leaf and rubbing the two together, Andy was able to prove them wrong.

From identifying the best variety of malunggay or Moringa Oleifera (which happens to grow in the Philippines), to developing customized machines to optimize the extract yield of leaves and seeds, it took close to four years to perfect the product. Moreover, Andy consulted renowned drug development company, Caovance, in order to conduct safety and quality tests on the product.

Among the first people who tried the supplement were the families and friends of the company’s core investors. After which, it was formally introduced to different religious organizations and ministries. And in less than a year, LifeOil was made available nationwide through Mercury Drug.

“At first, the public couldn’t believe that this oil extract could move mountains and save lives. But when they tried it, they started believing in what LifeOil could do and even recommended it to others,” Andy discloses. “I’m not claiming that it’s my discovery. It’s God’s discovery. I believe that even the genetic [makeup] is His,” he adds.

At present, LifeOil has grown leaps and bounds, which is why the company is in the process of developing products that will cater to children, mothers, and athletes.

THE MAN BEHIND LIFEOILEven as a kid, he was already

enterprising. At the age of 15, he started running a service center for Trinitron products. And by the time he turned 17, he had already made his first million.

“Anything na nakakahiligan ko, ginagawa kong business (Anything I find interesting, I turn it into a business),” shares Andy. “If you love what you are doing, it becomes a hobby. And if you treat

your daily chores as a hobby, then work becomes a lot lighter,” he adds.

Despite having dabbled in a wide variety of businesses, Andy shares that his greatest breakthrough was figuring out how to extract the essence of malunggay, so the body could absorb all of the plant’s vitamins, minerals, amino acids, phytochemicals, and even its chlorophyll. He says the process wasn’t easy, but his “passion for excellence” attitude and great work ethic were the two things that helped him push forward during the times he felt like giving up.

As a management graduate, Andy is well oriented with all the basic principles of running a successful business. However, when asked about what his secret to success is, Andy says that it is

not something you learn in school. He attests that the formula to

achieving success is simple and goes a little something like this: First, you need to seek the Kingdom of God. Once you do this, God will grant you wisdom, which in turn, will lead to blessings. And when you make the most out of these blessings, you become prosperous.

“You need to seek the Kingdom of God first and everything else will follow,”

he says. At present, Andy is considered

one of the best businessmen in the Philippines, but he says he prefers to be called “the fittest.”

“Being here only means that I survived a lot of challenges, which made me stronger and wiser,” he says.

THE TRUTH ABOUT LIFEOILMore and more people are

looking for alternatives to the expensive pharmaceutical

medicines that are being marketed in drugstores.

Proudly Philippine-made, LifeOil is an all-natural food supplement that helps nourish the body’s immune system for optimum function.

The Manila Nature’s Link team emphasizes that the product they are marketing is a food supplement and not a drug. They clarify that they cannot claim that it is a medicine intended for specific illnesses.

The team adds, “It is important to note that sickness is not acquired; we get sick because we lack vitamins, making our resistance weak. That’s why our immune system is our frontline of defense.”

The main vision of Manila Nature’s Link is to shape a new model of health and wellness through excellent products. That is why more than a business, Andy considers the propagation of LifeOil as an advocacy. “It started out as a simple experiment, little did I know, it would make a significant difference in the lives of countless Filipinos,” he says. n

Small, but terrible. Don’t let their size fool you. These tiny seeds are some of the healthiest in the planet.

Green gold. Malungai LifeOil is currently the world’s most potent Moringa Oleifera supplement.

FEATURE STORY


ong known as an ideal source of essential nutrients, the Malung-gay plant is currenlty making a resurgence in the market via an

all-natural food supplement called Malungai LifeOil.

LifeOil is made from 100% oil extracted from selected leaves and seeds of Malunggay Oleifera. Packed with a rare combination of nutrients, amino acids, anti-oxidants, anti-ag-ing and anti-inflammatory properties, the malunggay’s potency as a natural supplement is unmatched. And because of this, it is referred to as a powerhouse of health and nutritional value in the plant kingdom.

Different Essential VitaminsVitamin A helps form and maintain healthy

teeth, bones, soft tissue, mucous membranes and skin. It helps maintain good vision, resis-tance to infections, supports growth and repair of body tissues, maintains integrity of white and red blood cells, and epithelial lining.

MineralsCalcium MagnesiumSodium PotassiumCopper ZincIron ChromiumPhosphorous MolybdenumSelenium SiliconBoron VanadiumTin Nickel

PhytochemicalsMalunggay is unusually rich in gluco-

sinolates and isothiocyanates. These unique compounds have been found to have hypo-tensive, antiviral, anticancer, and antibacterial properties. Benzyl Isothiocyanate, in particular, helps strengthen the body’s cells, thereby mak-ing chemotherapy more tolerable for cancer patients.

While it is true that the function, structure, and composition of most green plants are similar, malunggay is exceptionally rich in chlorophyll, which is the secret behind its

L

MalunggaySECRETS REVEALED

CONTENTS:Moisture: 75.9 g (75.9%)Fat: 1.7 gMinerals: 2.3 gFiber: 0.9 gCarbohydrates: 12.5 gEnergy: 92 KcalPhosphorous: 70 mgIron: 0.85 mgThiamin (B1): 0.06 mgRiboflavin (B2): 0.05 mgNiacin (B3): 0.8 mgCopper: 0.07 mgMagnesium: 42 mgZinc: 0.16 mg

4x more than Vitamin Athan in carrots

than oranges

than in bananas

than almonds

yogurt

GRAM FOR GRAM:

Malunggay contains

FEATURE STORY

9

potency. By distilling both oil and leaves into a pure, cold-pressed oil, Malungai LifeOil max-imizes the benefits of the plant’s chlorophyll and renders in “preserved, conserved, and available.”

LifeOil And ChlorophyllChlorophyll to plants, is like blood to hu-

mans. Chemically, it is similar in composition to human blood, except that the central atom in chlorophyll is magnesium, while iron is the central atom in human blood.

Chlorophyll enhances insulin function and balances blood sugar.

Here are some of the known chlorophyll benefits:1. Helps in the growth and repair of tissues. 2. Along with vitamins A, C & E, chlorophyll has been found to help neutralize free radicals that do damage to healthy cells.

3. It possesses some anti-atherogenic activity, which prevents fatty plaque build-up in the arteries. 4. Chlorophyll helps neutralize the amount of pollution we breathe in everyday. It is also an ideal supplement for smokers. 5. Chlorophyll is also an effective deodorizer that reduces bad breath and body odor.6. It can be used to treat infected wounds naturally.7. It efficiently delivers magnesium and helps the blood carry oxygen to the body’s different cells and tissues.8. It may reduce the ability of carcinogens to bind with the DNA of the body’s major organs.9. Regular intake of chlorophyll allows you to beat the ill effects of abnormal blood sugar levels. It strengthens the body’s immune sys-tem, allowing you to you to enjoy the benefits of a naturally healthy body. n

The nutritional contents of Malunggay leaves compare very well to common foods:

(Values below are per 100 g edible portion. Malunggay values are for fresh

leaves.)

coMparison with

coMMon Food

VITAMIN A (carotene)Malunggay: 6780 mcg

Carrots: 1890 mcg

VITAMIN C Malunggay: 220 mg

Oranges: 30 mg

CALCIUM Malunggay: 440 mg

POTASSIUM Malunggay: 259 mg

Bananas: 88 mg

PROTEINMalunggay: 6.7 g


lthough many studies have proven that it is one of the most nutritious plants in the world, its reputation as a common backyard

vegetable has made it difficult for moringa products to infiltrate the market.

And with many people preferring to buy supposedly fancier supplements like wheatgrass and kale, the healthy moringa plant has unfortunately been relegated to merely being used as a garnish in Filipino dishes.

The good news is, not all hope is lost. There is a group in the Philippines whose main purpose is to champion the humble plant’s health and economic benefits. Through various information campaigns, the Moringaling Philippines Foundation Inc. (MPFI) aims to encourage the production and consumption of innovative moringa products. The orga-nization is composed of businessmen, medical practitioners, public servants, and other moringa enthusiasts.

Founding Chair Dr. Bernadette Estrella-Arellano speaks in one of the workshops.

AChampioning the Potential of the Little Plant That CouldLet’s be honest, in the world of natural supplements, moringa or malunggay, as it is popularly known locally, isn’t king.

FEATURE STORY

11

THE FOUNDATION’S ORIGINSIn an interview with Moringaling’s founder, Bernadette Es-

trella-Arellano, she shares that it took several years and a major setback, before the idea of putting up a moringa foundation finally came to fruition.

Down-to-earth, yet incredibly clever and enterprising, Bernadette is the ideal moringa plant advocate, as she perfectly personifies the moringa plant’s unassuming quality.

Although farming is now a huge part of her life, entering the field of agriculture wasn’t exactly one of Bernadette’s goals in life. A banker by profession, it was only after she was tasked to manage her family’s business, the Rural Bank, where she steadily developed an interest in farming.

Since the bank catered primarily to farmers, Bernadette became well acquainted with their needs, as well as their prob-lems, and as a result of this emotional investment, she left her financially lucrative profession in order to dabble in agriculture.

DISCOVERING THE MORINGA PLANTDuring a visit to the Florida Suncoast Ecofarm in the United

States, Bernadette learned about the moringa plant’s different health advantages, particularly its ability to coagulate dirt

particles in water. Inspired by the tiny plant’s immense abilities, Bernadette immediately rallied a group of her friends to start the Moringa Green Gold Corporation. The organization’s main product was moringa powder, which was used by culinary expert, Heny Sison, to make moringa pan de sal.

Wanting to test the plant’s efficacy as a supplement, the cor-poration supplied four moringa buns a day to about 200 fourth grade students in Porac, Pampanga for a period of three months. Through this experiment, they found that the students gained weight, had more energy, and healthier teeth.

Although the findings were good news for Bernadette’s team, whose main objective was to create health programs for less fortunate children, Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland was less than impressed with their experiment, saying it wasn’t conclusive because of the limited number of respondents and the short amount of time they conducted it. Because the group did not have sufficient finances to comply with the revisions requested by the hospital, the Moringa Green Gold Corporation eventually died a natural death.

PAYING IT FORWARDFollowing her group’s failed venture, Bernadette went back


Paying it forward. Representatives from the foundation educate the public about the many health and wealth benefits of malunngay.

FEATURE STORY

13

to her hometown of Acop, Rosales, Pangasinan, where she decided to con-tinue cultivating moringa plants. Having learned from past mistakes, Bernadette carefully studied the soil of her grandfa-ther’s property first in order to make sure that it was conducive to growing moringa plants. Her persistence paid off, and she eventually managed to grow 30,000 trees on her grandfather’s one-hectare property. Wanting to impart her farming knowledge with her town’s local farmers, Bernadette encouraged them to grow moringa plants for commercial purposes.

MPFI IS FINALLY ESTABLISHEDTogether with Fr. Restituto A. Luman-

lan, S.V.D., Deo Lopez, Fannie Yuchengco, Zonito Torrevillas-Tamase, Ted Salonga, Arlene Parreno, and Reynaldo Kangleon, Bernadette officially established the MPFI in 2009.

According to the foundation’s website, its vision is to be the moringa umbrella organization in the Philippines in order to create a united and globally competitive industry. Moreover, its mission is to pro-mote the health and economic benefits of moringa, thereby providing a platform for the people’s fight against malnutrition and poverty, especially in agricultural areas.

Bernadette stresses that MPFI wants to promote moringa for two main purposes. First, they want everyone to know, most especially farmers, about the many health benefits of the moringa plant. “I cannot encourage people to plant, without re-minding them that they should be aware of the plant’s health benefits first,” she says. Second, they also want to educate people about the various socio-economic benefits of producing innovative moringa products. And through free workshops they are able to share these information to farmers and encourage them to use whatever vacant space they may have to

plant moringa crops. The foundation’s current chairman

is Manila Nature’s Link CEO, Armando “Andy” C. Lugtu. According to Berna-dette, her partnership with Mr. Lugtu works because they meet halfway. “Andy is good at marketing products, while I’m more adept at working with farmers,” she says.

THE POWER OFMORINGA

On a more personal note, Bernadette believes that the moringa plant is one of

the reasons why she and her family are blessed with good health. She shares that even though only half of her pancreas is working, she’s still in tiptop shape, and she believes this is because she takes fifteen moringa capsules everyday. She adds that although her late father died of cancer last year, his regu-lar consumption of moringa sup-plements most probably helped him live up to 96 years old.

THE FUTURE OF THE MORINGA INDUSTRY

According to Bernadette, if there is one legacy she hopes

to leave behind, it would be to officially make the moringa plant the Philippines’ national vegetable. “Pag naging law na ‘yon, puwede na ako mamatay (After the bill is approved, I can die happy).” The bill, which was co-authored by Pangasinan Fourth District Rep. Gina de Venecia, had already been passed by the House of Rep-resentatives and is now awaiting approval from the Senate.

Thanks to Bernadette and the rest of her team at MPFI, the moringa industry is slowly gaining prominence. It might take a while before the moringa plant gets the respect it deserves, but if history has proven one thing, slow and steady always wins the race. n

I cannot encourage people to plant, without

reminding them that they should be aware of the

plant’s health benefits first

““

BELOW: Moringaling Founding Chair, Dr. Bernadette E. Arellano, with Manila Nature’s Link President and CEO and current Moringaling Chairman Andy C. Lugtu.


IMalunggay 101 Slender Tree

Moringa oleifera or malunggay in Filipino is one of the most cultivated varieties of moringa.

ts English common names depend on its use. It is called drumstick tree for its long, slender, triangular

pods that are used by drummers; horseradish tree for the flavor of its roots, which resembles horseradish; miracle tree for the impressive list of its health benefits; and ben oil or benzoil tree for the oil produced from its seeds. THE SPECIES OF MORINGA

Including moringa oleifera, there are 13 identified species of moringa that can be classified into three broad categories according to life form and origin.

SLENDER TREESThese are trees with tuberous

juvenile stage. They grow tall and thin in size. These trees produce cream to pink and slightly zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical) flowers. Moringa Concanensis (mostly India), Moringa Oleifera (India), Moringa Peregrina (Red Sea,

Arabia, Horn of Africa).

BOTTLE TREES These moringa species are massive

trees with bottle shaped, bloated

SCIENTIFIC NAME:Moringa Oleifera Lam

ENGLISH COMMON NAME:Drumstick tree

Horseradish treeMiracle tree

Ben oil or Benzoil tree

LOCAL NAME:Malunggay (Tagalog) Kalunggay (Bicolano)

Kamalongan, Malunggay (Bisaya)

Kalamunge (Pampango)Aruggay, Marunggay

(Iluko & Pangasinense)

FEATURE STORY

15

water-storing trunks. They have small actinomorphic (radially symmetrical) flowers. Moringa Drouhardii (Madagascar), Moringa Hildebrandtii (Madagascar), Moringa Ovalifolia (Namibia and extreme SW Angola), Moringa Stenopetala (Kenya and

Ethiopia). TREES, SHRUBS, AND HERBS

These moringa trees are tuberous adults or

tuberous juveniles maturing to fleshy-rooted adults. They grow short with thin or no leaves. Their flowers are colorful and zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical).Moringa Arborea

(NE Kenya), Moringa Borziana (Kenya and Somalia), Moringa Longituba (Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia), Moringa Pygmaea

(N Somalia), Moringa Rivae (Kenya and Ethiopia), Moringa Ruspoliana (Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia).

USES AND IMPORTANCEMalunggay is a versatile tree native to

northwestern India, and is now widely cultivated in many tropical regions for different purposes.

Here in the Philippines, malunggay is a national favorite. Its leaves are usually added in various native dishes such as chicken tinola, while its pods are mixed with other vegetables to make pinakbet, an indigenous Filipino dish from the northern part of Luzon.

The malunggay leaves, bark, roots, flowers, and seeds are used as natural medicine in many countries. The leaves may be dried and crushed into powder that can be used as a food additive, food supplement, or herbal tea. Its bark and seedpods are good source of dyes and

tannins. Its stems produce gum used in calico printing. Its seeds are used as water purifying agent because of its coagulating and anti-bacterial properties. Ben oil, edible oil from the seeds, is used for illumination, cosmetics and lubrication.

FARMING METHODA malunggay tree is a fast-growing

deciduous tree that can be propagated from cuttings or seedlings with the following soil and climate conditions:

In preparing the cuttings, cut clean 1-1.5 m long, 3-10 cm in diameter mature branches and plant at least one third of the cutting directly in the field/ground. In places where it is planted for fencing purposes not only for food, cuttings are planted one meter apart or an ideal distance of 5 m to give room for the expansion of the tree top.

In preparing the seedlings, collect healthy mature seeds from parent trees. Soak the seeds overnight and plant an

inch deep in plastic bags. Neatly mulch each plastic bag with coir dust or paper to keep the moisture of the soil. The seeds need to be watered daily, until seedlings emerge from the soil. Seeds germinate within 15 days. Seedlings are ready for

transplanting when they are about 60-90 cm tall or at 4-6 months after emergence.

Because malunggay trees grow rapidly, pruning is recommended to keep the trees at a manageable height of about 8-12 feet maximum. This will also promote branching, increase pod production, control pests, and make harvesting easier.

HARVESTING AND POSTHARVEST HANDLING

Harvesting time differs with the planting materials used. Leaves can be harvested 3-4 months after transplanting cuttings. From seeds, harvest within a month from transplanting of seedling. Harvest

interval is 3-4 weeks under good management.

Malunggay has a short storage life. Leaflets fall off within 24 hours from harvesting due to water loss. Wrap malunggay leaves in banana or taro leaves to keep them fresh. n

NUTRITIONAL VALUEPer 100 grams (g) edible portion,

malunggay leaves and fruits contain:

Water (g) 87 75 Energy (kcal) 109 385 Protein (g) 2.5 6.7 Fat (g) 0.1 1.7 Carbohydrates (g) 3.7 13.4 Fiber (g) 4.8 0.9 Ash (g) 2.0 2.3 Calcium (mg) 30 440 Phosphorous (mg) 110 70 Iron (mg) 5.3 7 Vitamin A (IU) 184 11,300 Thiamine (mg) 0.05 0.06 Niacin (mg) 0.2 0.8 Ascorbic Acid (mg) 120 220 Riboflavin (mg) 0.07 0.05

Parameter RequirementRainfall 250-1500mmTemperature 25-35°CAltitude 600m above sea levelSoil pH pH 5.0-6.5Soil type Loamy, sandy, or sandy-loam soilClimate Grows best in tropical or subtropical

References: The Philippine Food Composition Ta-bles, 1997. Food and Nutrition Research Institute-Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST)

Malunggay Production Guide, 2009. Phiippine Council for Agriculture, For-estry and Natural Resources Research and Development-Department of Sci-ence and Technology (PCARRD-DOST)

Malunggay, 2013. Cagayan De Oro Department of Agriculture (DA-CDO). Retrieved June 1, 2015, from http://cagayandeoro.da.gov.ph The Species of Moringa: Life Forms. Retrieved June 1, 2015, from www.mobot.org


FEATURE STORY

Vegetable Veggie Oil exchange (VVOx) the UntOld StOryMost people probably would not know about Vegetable Veggie Oil Exchange (VVOX). It is perhaps the first time you hear such company exists. It is because VVOX has been taking the back seat all these years and let its clients (local and international) take the limelight.

17

VOX is a plant-based oil extraction company, founded by Mr. Armando Lugtu. After years of oil extraction research

for a renewable energy company, Mr. Lugtu becomes well-acquainted with the different plant oils. Equipped with such experience, he uses his research-based knowledge to do his own experiments and comes up with something that’s never been available in the market before – pure oil extract from combined moringa seeds and leaves. This oil becomes the company’s flagship product. As a result of hard work and undying faith his brainchild is now a tangible reality.

Headquartered in Southern Luzon, VVOX offers a wide range of quality edible vegetable oils and oil extracts from organic sources. The company is founded with a clear vision to produce sustainable bio-based products – pure and unaltered oil for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries.

Today, VVOX is the only producer and distributor of combined moringa leaves and seeds oil here and abroad. Among its growing list of clients are Flare Inc., Manila Nature’s Link Corporation, the makers of Malungai LifeOil®, and American Firebrand, distributor of The Moringa Farm PureExtract dietary supplement in the United States of America.

THE COLD-PRESSED EXTRACTION PROCESS

The process of extraction begins with the freshly harvested vegetables being transport-ed over a short distance to be processed in small-scale oil mills. The leaves and/or seeds are then thoroughly washed before pressing out the fiber without heating. This process is called cold-pressed extraction. Such process ensures that all the health properties of the veggie oil are enjoyed and consumed for a healthy mind and body.

VVOX PRACTICES RESPONSIBLE OIL PRODUCTION

The company’s vision helps shape its future strategies for creating new and better

products while helping local farming com-munities.

VVOX believes that sustainable bio-based products can be achieved and should start from sustainable crops. That is why they strictly practice ethical sourcing and support small-scale farmers who grow crops under responsible farming practices. They work closely with the farming community and through this, they can be assured that all veg-etables/plants being extracted are free from harmful chemicals and pesticides.

These farmers are trained on health, safety, conservation, and environment management. Through environment-friendly farming practices, farmers can maximize the use of their lands and increase their yields. By doing these, the company not only contributes in strengthening the farming community but also helps in building a sustainable supply of high-quality crops.

A win-win for all - farmers, VVOX, and mother earth. n Live healthy.

Strengthen your DNA by taking Moringa Suppliments.

V

Members of the local farming community.


t doesn’t care if you’re a doting mother, a loving wife, or an innocent child. Heck, it doesn’t even care if you’re male or female. It will attack who it wants, when it wants.

The bad news for Filipinos is, we are more susceptible to developing this disease. It had been found recently that the Philippines has the highest incidence of breast cancer in Asia, where an estimated 3 out of 100 women contract the disease before the age of 75. Making matters worse, we also have the lowest rate of survival, making it a double whammy.

Although the Philippine Government has yet to come up with an effective national breast care program, there are a number of non-profit organizations that are dedicated to catering to the specific breast care needs of Filipinas, the Philippine Foundation for Breast Cancer, Inc. (PFBBCI), being one of them.

The PFBCI is the only advocate and support group in the country that operates and manages a breast care center in a

public hospital, the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC), to be more precise.

Although its official name is the Philippine Foundation for Breast Center, Inc., it is more commonly known as the Kasuso Foundation.

The foundation’s current president, Malou Cortez, explains that when the name was first coined, it was difficult for some people to swallow because society has put so much malice in the word suso. However, they decided to stick with it in order to dismiss any negative connotations attached to the word. By doing so, the foundation hopes that people will start thinking of the word suso not so much as a joke, but more of a symbol of womanhood and health.

I

Empowering Women Through Education And EmpathyOne of the worst things about breast cancer is it doesn’t discriminate.

Iconic Makati landmark, the Manila Peninsula, joins forces with the BPCI in their fight

against breast cancer.

FEATURE STORY


HOW THE FOUNDATION CAME ABOUTThrough the efforts of Dr. Florentino Noble,

the EAMC decided to put up the Breast Cancer Center in order to accommodate the hospital’s growing number of breast cancer patients. But because the center needed more volunteers and financial help, Dr. Noble, together with Pearl Imperial, a nurse and cancer survivor, and a group of dedicated medical practitioners, established the PFBCI.

In 2001, the PFBCI was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. And through the leadership of Dr. Cristina Santos, the organization was finally charted.

THE FOUNDATION’S SERVICES

The goal of the PFBCI is to help women from all walks of life confront all the issues surrounding breast cancer, head on. It was envisioned as a “one-stop shop,” where women could go to for assistance and education.

Because cancer can be a very debilitating illness, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well, the Breast Cancer Center also offers women psychological counseling to help them deal with their diagnosis in a healthy and optimistic manner.

For more than a decade now, the foundation has proven to be a dependable fixture in the fight against breast cancer. That being said, it still has a lot of goals it wants to accomplish, particularly the complete implementation of its 12 “Boobie Programs,” which aims to help those diagnosed with breast cancer live a more dignified and comfortable life.

FIGHTING THE CULTURE OF COMPLACENCY

Every October, which happens to be Breast Cancer Awareness month, there always seems to be a collective effort from women to finally take a stand against breast cancer. From joining benefit runs to wearing pink items of clothing, women across the country enthusiastically participate in various activities aimed at raising awareness about the dreaded disease.

Unfortunately, come November, this overwhelming display of enthusiasm is replaced by an even more overwhelming display of complacency. As a result, whatever gains were made are all eventually thrown out the window. In other words, there is no consistency. And if the battle against breast cancer is to be won, constant vigilance is necessary.

The PFBCI says early detection is one of the keys to surviving breast cancer. That is why they encourage all women to take a proactive stand against the disease. By getting regular check-ups and attending seminars sponsored

by different health groups.

SPREADING AWARE-NESS ALL OVER THE PHILIPPINES

Through their “Barangay Caravan Laban sa Breast Cancer” advocacy campaign,

the foundation aims to educate all Filipinas, especially those who live in rural areas, about breast cancer treatment, cure, and prevention.

According to them, one of the main reasons why Filipinas don’t get tested is many of them still believe in using homemade herbal remedies. Although sometimes effective in relieving minor pains, she says that homemade medical concoctions aren’t ideal for treating or diagnosing breast cancer.

Moreover, the foundation understands that before a woman comes to a decision to undergo testing, a lot of factors need to be considered. That is why it is here to remind them that it’s perfectly normal to be scared, but through proper guidance and information, breast cancer doesn’t have to be as scary as it is perceived to be. And through early detection, it can be beaten.

PFBCI is a non-stock, non-profit grassroots volunteer-based organization, committed to fighting breast cancer and saving lives. It was established in the year 2000. For inquiries, you can visit their website, http://www.kpwi.net/kasuso-foundation.html, or you can call their office number, 9273492. n

THE 12 BOOBIE PROGRAMSIn its effort to ease the plight of Filipinas battling breast cancer, the PFBCI hopes to realize these following programs:

BOOBS BALITA – an information and education campaign program

BANTAY BUKOL – a program which offers affordable mammography service, free breast screening, and extensive breast self-exam training

BUKOL BIOPSY – a program designed to facilitate diagnostic services

BIGAY BUHAY – a program which aims to facilitate surgical, medical, and radiological services

BUKAS BINTANA – a program designed to offer emotional healing and support and spiritual counseling to women diagnosed with breast cancer

BALIK BCC – a program which aims to improve resolution rates and maintain a long-term surveillance service for those diagnosed with breast cancer

BAHAY BISITA – a supportive home for women with terminal breast cancer

BUHAY BAHAY – a halfway house for women who are in the process of recovery

BOOBIE BOLONTIR – a leadership program which aims to effectively train volunteers on how to properly deal with breast cancer patients

BOOBIE BARKADA – a support group / fellowship designed to help women deal with issues related to breast cancer

BOOBIE BISNESS – a program designed for resource generation and management

BOOBIE BOTIKA – a program which aims to grant access to affordable chemo drugs and other prescription medication

FEATURE STORY


12-15 yo Dengue 1 capsule Every three hours

16-18 yo Dengue 2 capsules Every four hours

20-34 Diabetes 3 capsules After every meal

35 yo and up Diabetes 4 capsules Take 2 capsules in the morning; 2

capsules in the eve-ning. Must be taken

before meals.

Common colds 2 capsules Everyday

For all ages

Cough 2 capsules Everyday

Constipation 2 capsules Everyday Must be taken along with a diet

that is high in fiber (oats, veg-etables, wheat,

etc.)

For people who want to gain

weight

Every after meal 3 capsules

For people who want to maintain

their normalweight

3 capsules An hour before every meal

DOSAGE GUIDE

AGE BRACKET

SPECIFIC CONDITION

NUMBER OF LIFEOIL CAPSULES

TO BE TAKEN

SPECIFIC TIME AND DURATION OF

LIFEOIL INTAKE

NOTES

KIDS Although LifeOil would be very

beneficial to the growing stages

of children, unsu-pervised intake is not recom-

mended as it may cause choking.

1 capsule Everyday If supervised, it can be taken once a day for

kids’ mental and physical

development.

12-20 Can be taken to reduce acne.

1-2 capsules; 6 capsules max

Everyday Taking more than 2 capsules gives a boost in

Vitamin A.

21-40 1-2 capsules; 6 capsules max


Vitamin A.

41 yo and up 1-2 capsules; 6 capsules max


Vitamin A.FOR SPECIFIC CASES

AS SUPPLEMENT

Notes:

disease condition. LifeOil is pure malunggay extract that is considered as a nutrient-dense food and there is no threat of overdosing.

individual’s age, weight and general health condition.

function of immune system. What LifeOil does is to supply the necessary cellular nutrition, which supports and strengthens the immune system so it can adequately do its job of combating illnesses. Hence, it is a common place to hear people directly attributing their healing to LifeOil. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

23

AGE BRACKET

SPECIFIC CONDITION

NUMBER OF LIFEOIL CAPSULES

TO BE TAKEN

SPECIFIC TIME AND DURATION OF

LIFEOIL INTAKE

NOTES

FOR SPECIFIC CASES

For adults

Eye problems, sore eyes, eyes with cataracts and other eye

infections

2 capsules Everyday However, dissolving cataracts will de-

pend on severity of the eye condition.

Hyperacidity 3 capsules Everyday Patient must ob-serve proper eating

habits (no over-eating, no skipping

meals, eating on time, eating small

portions on regular intervals)

Pregnant women and lactating

mothers

1-2 capsules Everyday Since LifeOil is oil extract of

malunggay it is still considered

as food. However, no extensive research has

been conducted on reactions with

other drugs.

Fever 2 capsules Everyday or until fever lasts

Must be taken with a 500 mg paracetamol.

High BloodPressure

2 capsules Everyday

Breast Cancer 6 capsules Everyday

Hemmorhoids 2 capsules Everyday Oil from one capsule must be

extracted and applied directly

Common ulcers 2 capsules Everyday It is best to bite capsule so that

oil can cover the lining of the gut.

Kidney problems (except for those

with kidney stones as this might be aggravated by

high ascorbic acid content.

1 capsule Everyday

Gall stones 1 capsule Everyday Patients with gall stones or had

their gall stones removed are

highy discour-aged to take any substance in oil

form. Can LifeOil be exemption?

The “oil” in LifeOil is extracted from pure malunggay leaves and seeds and is not similar to the cholesterol.

EXPERIENCING

Gwendolyn PangSecretary General, Philippine National Red Cross

The color red is usually associated with passion and extreme dedication,

which is why it is only fitting that it is the signature color of Gwendolyn

Pang. The youngest person to ever be appointed Philippine Red Cross

(PRC) Secretary General, Ms. Pang has been tirelessly advancing the organi-

zation’s humanitarian programs for the past 15 years.

Because of her impressive track record and her innovative ideas, the PRC

Board of Governors unanimously elected her as the organization’s Secretary

General. Now, she works assidu-

ously in order to make sure that

the PRC maintains its repu-

tation as the country’s prime

humanitarian organization.

Although many people think

it is impossible to accomplish

so much at such a young age,

Ms. Pang attests that it is

possible to achieve great things

just as long as one’s heart is set

aflame with passion.

In order to keep up with the

demands of her job, Ms. Pang

says she tries her best to main-

tain a healthy lifestyle through

proper diet, exercise, and taking

LifeOil daily.

Dedication, passion, and

a healthy body should

go hand in hand. It is for

this reason that I rely on

the power of LifeOil. As

the willingness to serve

comes innately, complete

nutrients should also

come naturally.

lifeoil digest

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