Ice cream lovers in Makati are in for an exciting treat! The world’s favorite ice cream brand is Introducing “It’s BR Time!” Join this exciting activity by visiting the Baskin-Robbins store at the second floor of Glorietta 2 (2/F) at 3 p.m. on October 13, Friday and get a junior scoop of your favorite ice cream flavor for free! 

Due to insistent public demand, Rockford Productions has decided to move the concert Full Blast PinoySuper Bands from Octrober 19 to October 20. It's actually a better date for all the rock enthusiasts out there since it falls on a Friday weekend.

The recently concluded Philippine Junior Finance and Investment Summit at the SMX Convention Center-Manila was a treasure trove of valuable insights into current trends and future direction of the finance industry as a whole.

One of the more noteworthy insights came from speaker Andrew Stotz, President of CFA Society Thailand. His topic, “Ten Ways Ethics Adds Value to You” gave delegates tips into building one’s competitive edge by engaging in ethical practices.



In the CFA Program, there are financial areas covered where one can build competitive advantage like: Financial Accounting, Alternative Investment, Derivatives, Portfolio Management, Corporate Finance, Equity Evaluation, Fixed Income, Asset Allocation and Behavioral Finance. But above all these, according to Stotz, a financial professional must build a high level of competitive advantage in the area of ‘Ethics’. This is a major factor that distinguishes a financial professional from others. “Build this competitive advantage in Ethics, and you’ll be rare,” Stotz said.

Stotz, an award-winning stock market analyst, has twenty years of experience working for various investment banks. He is also the CEO of A. Stotz Investment Research, which helps individuals and institutions build wealth through stock selection and portfolio management.


“I was treated ethically and my family was treated ethically, and I have benefited from it for years; that’s why I wanted to communicate ethics in a simple and positive way,” Stotz said.
As financial professionals, according to Stotz, one must be diligent, loyal, independent, trustworthy, always striving for continuous improvement, must be fair, objective, has a high sense of confidentiality, thorough, and must be able to face and address conflicts head on.

“We are meant to be independent on our work. We serve our clients. As financial professionals, we should fill the gap of our clients’ financial interest. And you should care for your clients as you would your mother,” he said.
“Build your value through ethics. Spend more time building your ethical advantage than building your technical advantage,” Stotz added.


Ms. Rosalia de Leon, Treasurer of the Philippines (Bureau of Treasury Department of Finance) and also the summit’s keynote speaker shared, “Live a balanced-life. Try new things and develop hobbies. Make smart investments today apart from savings.”

She also stressed the importance of PJFIS and its advocacy. “This [PJFIS] is a very useful platform for the students and professionals who really want to pursue a career in finance. I would like to congratulate CFA for hosting this kind of conference that really educates students and young professionals about the finance and investment career and even the problems that may come up,” de Leon said.

PJFIS’ other speakers were Mr. Neil Govier, CFA–Head, Education Asia Pacific (CFA Institute); Ms. April Tan, CFA-Vice President and Head of Research (COL Financial Group, Inc.); Mr. Robert Stammers, CFA-Director of Investor Engagement on the Future of Finance (CFA Institute); Mr. Mark Yu, CFA-President (Retail) and CIO (SEAOIL Philippines Inc.); Mr. Mark Ilao, CFA-Business Development Officer (COL Financial Group Inc.); Mr. Ronilo Balbleran-Vice President for Operation (Research Education and Institutional Development (REID) Foundation); and Mr. Edmund Lee, CFA-President and CEO (Caylum Tracing Institute).


“Being part of the 3rd PJFIS is such a wonderful experience for me as a finance student, because it opened a door for me to know what my craft is all about and broad knowledge that will help me a lot in pursuing my dreams,” Jobelle Balasbas, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Banking and Finance student said. “Upon hearing the speakers, I was left with a question, rather a motivation of, ‘Instead of wasting my time on non-profitable things, why don’t I make my everyday life productive?”

PJFIS is a conference and exhibition catered for students and young professionals who want to advance their personal career and financial wellness. A brainchild of CFA Society Philippines, this project aims to deliver value to the Philippine investment community by providing future investment professionals a clear view of how to properly build a career in finance, an overview of various investment products and tools, and a venue to understand the significance of ethics and professional standards.

“We believe that financial education should be introduced to learners early on, especially key concepts including budgeting, investing, and setting financial goals. Innovative approach such as blending education and art are most welcome and can help the existing programs of the government. This is a tangible support from the private sector of the objectives of the NSFI, particularly the pillars on financial education and consumer protection,” says Pia.

People silently suffer from allergies and many have learned to accept that it has become a part of their daily lives and have somehow learned to live with it.

What many don't know is that allergies can be avoided by properly identifying them before they can wreak havoc on you and your family's health.

First, define the type of allergy you have. Many don't really know the types of allergies that afflict them and what really causes it.  Some common symptoms include sneezing in the morning or nighttime, runny nose, itchy and red eyes and itchy throat, incessant coughing, breathing difficulty, "wheezing" or that high-pitched whistling sound, irritated skin or tickly rashes after eating a certain kind of food or taking a form of medication.

Some allergies also come from airborne elements like dust, dust mites and even dust mite feces, pet dander, and even skin composition. Other sources include pollen from various weeds, grass, and trees, animal hair from dogs, cats, horses, rats and even non-vulcanized rubber used in making latex products like gloves. There are also the so-called 'seasonal" allergies like allergic rhinitis where sufferers undergo difficulty in cold weather.

Some allergies also come tend to be unpredictable, too, and different people regardless of age and sex have contrasting experiences ranging from mild to severe, even fatal to some. Aside from the usual inconvenient rashes and sneezes, allergies sometimes manifest in the form of bad or swollen lips, shortness of breath, vomiting or worst, a medical emergency like anaphylactic shock.

The symptoms really depend on what form you're allergic to and how you came in contact with it. Most of the time, people discover they're allergic to something when it has already caused a reaction in the body and not before.

But don't fret about allergies because there is hope. Prevention of troublesome physiological reactions caused by allergies can be achieved through Faber, the screening test for allergies.

Faber allows you to identify your allergens before they can cause an allergic reaction. It is the most up-to-date and complete tool today to diagnose an allergy. Made with the most advanced knowledge in the field of nanotechnology, Faber measures specific antibodies against bacteria, viruses and allergens. It uses molecular allergens and allergen extracts using only minimal blood samples from the patient.

The Faber test is recommended for those who have allergy with rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma, urticaria, eczema, food reactions including abdominal pain and diarrhea, or insect or latex-induced reactions. Faber is also used if there are other members of the family who suffer from these allergies, or when more than one symptom appears at the same time and have several triggers.

Puzzled and distressed about your allergic reactions? Going to your doctor and taking a more proactive and specific approach to your allergies can do the trick. Take the Faber test also if you have done the restriction diets but without success, and avoiding the things you are allergic to but failed. The test is also a good preparation when traveling to an unknown destination, when moving to a new home, or even when starting a new job. It is also used to perform a periodical screening to test for early diagnosis or simply for the prescription of an allergy vaccine.

Anybody is eligible to take the Faber test - from infants to the elderly. There is no need to fast or to stop therapies even for allergies.  It only takes a small amount of blood for the test and unlike skin tests, even patients with severe dermatitis such as urticaria or eczema can have it done.

You may request for the Faber test from your medical practitioner or molecular allergist, who can customize the individual test interpretation based on the role of individual molecules seen as "risk markers."

For more information on the FABER test or to book an appointment for a consult visit lifescience.ph or call 848-LIF (5433).