The Jollibee in Us

When it comes to Filipinos, there is only one kind of fast food chain that can provide just the right kind of taste that Filipinos are looking for, and that is the Jollibee Philippine. Jollibee Philippine is the top fast food chain in the Philippines to date, serving their unique menu from their delectable choices of Yumburger to their joyous Chickenjoys for Filipinos all over the world to enjoy.

Jollibee Philippine has been serving us with their delectable collection of fast food such as the Chickenjoy and Yumburger, but have you ever asked where and when and how the Jollibee Philippine has started?

As far as we can remember, the Jollibee Philippine provides us with the most delectable fast-food foods, but did you know that the Jollibee Philippine did not start on selling hamburgers or chickens, it started as an ice cream parlor at Cubao in 1975 with Jolibe as the original name.

But after sometime, they decided on getting the services of a management consultant in the person of Manuel C. Lumba. Lumba suggested that to shift their business of ice cream parlor to hamburgers after his studies showed that a much larger market was waiting to get tapped.

And sure enough, their hamburgers became a hit for a lot of Filipinos. After this success, Lumba next reformed the name Jolibe to Jolly Bee and made the two words form a single name Jollibee. Then Lumba next created the product name "Yumburger" as well as the name "Chickenjoy".

The stores were re-designed, the service transformed into a full self-service, fast food operation with drive thrus. Not long after, Tony Tan and Manny Lumba went on an observation tour in the United States, attended food service and equipment conventions. Tony Tan put Manny Lumba on center stage by putting him in charge of franchise development.

The Jollibee Philippine have gotten so big that they have decided on incorporating some expansions and acquisitions on other fast-food restaurants. On 2000, the Jollibee Philippine acquired Chowking, allowing Jollibee to be part of the oriental quick service restaurant segment.

Similarly, Jollibee Philippine also acquired Red Ribbon Bakeshop on 2005, another popular fast-food restaurant in the Philippines. In 2006, Jollibee Philippine acquired the Délifrance which further expanded its penetration in the food service industry particularly in the French cafe-bakery, a growing segment of the Philippine food market.

Now, the Jollibee Philippine has become the biggest fast-food chains in the world with an overall count of 1,466 stores in the Philippines namely Jollibee (627), Chowking (377), Greenwich Pizza (236), Red Ribbon Bakeshop (194), Délifrance (28) and Mang Pepe (4). It had 191 stores overseas.

That’s all about the history and present state of Jollibee Philippine. But if you are ever wondering about sending some Jollibee food products your loved ones back home with the stress of going through all that calling and waiting, then visit Express Regalo at www.expressregalo.com to learn how.

 

Traveling for business and the Christmas gifts you can buy along the way

You’re in London and you have two hours before the shops close, and you’ve got four people to buy for. What do you do?! Travelling for business and trying to Christmas shop along the way presents a some difficulties, but also many opportunities to get a unique Christmas gift or stocking stuffer for your loved ones. The most important thing to remember is that you need to put some thought into your gifts – a little thought will take you a long, long way. Don’t cave in and buy something last-minute before your plane takes boards if you can help it!

Your business partners and the hotel staff might have some good suggestions as to where to go for interesting gifts. Are there local markets or night markets you could prowl? Are some shopping streets open later than others? Look for local shops instead of chains, and local artisans with goods that reflect their culture. A stylish beret from Paris, blown glass from Venice, silver jewellery from Mexico, or pretty chopsticks from Hong Kong are some suggestions. Try to find something that you can’t buy at home, and that carries a whiff of the exotic.

Everyone likes candy, and travelling is a good way to load up on foreign treats. Check out local supermarkets and grab anything you don’t recognize for a cheap stocking stuffer that promises an adventure with every bite. Will it be chocolate? Does it have nougat inside? Keep in mind that this might not be the best gift for people with food allergies.

Kids like to know where you’re going, so a good gift might be a map of the world or a globe so that they can follow you with a pin or a finger. Are there any special toys from the area that you’re going to? A marionette from Italy that’s just like Pinocchio, or a yo-yo from their point of origin in Philippines would be happily received. Kids don’t mind a little kitsch as much as adults, so a pencil sharpener shaped like the Statue of Liberty or a piggy bank that looks like a red London phone booth would go over well. Just remember to check the quality of the toys you’re buying, and not to buy any snowglobes or tee-shirts with silly animals on them.

Although there’s less time to do it in, a business travellers’ gifts can be just as magnificent as those bought while travelling for leisure. The same rules apply: can the recipient use the gift? Will it fit in with their lifestyle and wardrobe? And am I buying this gift for them because I think that they will like it, or because it is convenient for me? A little thought can make that Christmas stocking seem a lot more global, and your loved ones will be reminded that no matter how far from home you are, you haven’t forgotten them.

Travel On A Bargain!

Travel is one of many working people’s ultimate getaway. Imagine a few days of luxury & comfort on some exotic beach resort, waking to the lulling sound of waves & the feel of soft breeze gently caressing your face. Imagine looking out of your cabin window & seeing a vast expanse of endless white sand, dotted with seashells & the occasional seaweed. Imagine having breakfast of the freshest fruits right at your bed & being as far away from the noise of urban living as you can be. Imagine being thousands of miles away from your annoying boss & away from the incessant beeping & ringing of the little contraptions that have kept you on a short leash for how long now.

Now, doesn’t that sound absolutely delicious?! You have just pictured yourself having a yummy bite of a slice of heaven!

So what’s stopping you from just packing up your things & flying away to any of the many exotic destinations around the world?! Oh, right — the expensive cost that you just cannot afford to pay for right now especially with the new car & house mortgage already on your belt is keeping you from having your dream vacation.

Well, stop worrying about it because there are plenty cheap air travel fares around that will surely solve the first problem in achieving your dream vacation. Travel agencies & airline companies are aware that many people would love to travel but they just cannot afford the expenses that come along with it. For a few years now, cheap air travel fare has been promoted as the #1 solution to travel problems.

Cheap air travel fare can be found in many online sites booking special tours on tourist destinations all over the world. With cheap air travel fare, you need not worry about spending way above your budget!

As if cheap air travel fare was not the best news you’ve heard so far, you will also be surprised to find that cheap air travel fare often comes with a vacation package that also lets you stay in a good hotel along with the usual accommodations at surprisingly low prices! These vacation packages can include anything from a chauffeured ride from the airport to the hotel & from the hotel to all the tourist stops; to a complete tour package that includes an effective tour guide.

Just think of all the beautiful places you can visit with cheap air travel fare! You can go to the sunny Caribbean this year, then off to classy France next year, maybe exotic Boracay, Philippines after that and then go on a cool tour of Alaska. Or maybe you want to try an Asian tour package & be swept off to an entirely different experience with the exotic East! The possibilities are endless with cheap air travel fare!

How would you like to take a look at the European countryside but you have always been told that Europe is very, very expensive. Well, it IS true. Europe really is expensive. But not if you get cheap air travel fare! The money you save on cheap air travel fare is money that you can use for shopping in Italy, on a chocolate binge in Switzerland, vodka tasting in Russia or beer hogging in Germany!

FUN! FUN! FUN! That & more is what’s waiting for you with cheap air travel fare!

A Day In The City Of Puerto Princesa Philippines

Known as the capital of Palawan, Puerto Princesa serves as Palawans center for tourism and trade. Puerto Princesa is located at the middle of the long strip of Palawan Island. Its eastern coastline is surrounded by the South China Sea and on its west is the Sulu Sea. Puerto Princesa is bestowed by deep waters that can accommodate huge sizes of shipping, thus the city is virtually a princess of ports.

As it is situated on the tropical region, Puerto Princesa experiences two types of climates, which is the dry and wet season. The dry season occurs from November to April, while the wet season occurs from May to October.

As ecotourism has become the buzz among todays travelers, Puerto Princesa welcomes the arrival of tourists who want to immerse themselves with the natural beauty of Palawan. Because of this, Puerto Princesa has become the center of many tourist activities, from shopping to dining, from hiking to swimming or diving to the depths of its magnificent seas.

What to do in Puerto Princesa
Bestowed with a diverse and rich cultural heritage along with a natural beauty, Puerto Princesa is home to many activities in line with the tourists desire for cultural and ecological immersion.

City Tour
Puerto Princesa accommodates city tours for guests. The city tour is ideal for tourists who want to experience Palawans rich cultural heritage. Tourists are to assemble at seven oclock in the morning and head towards Iwahig penal Colony, a wall-less prison colony that functions as a rehabilitation group for convicts. They are also to visit the Crocodile Farm, Butterfly Garden and Mitras Ranch. Lunch is to be served in Vietnamese Village, a community that has served as a settlement for Vietnamese refugees. After lunch, guests are taken to the Palawan Museum and for some shopping at the Public Market, after which they will head towards the Eulalia Park, Rizal Park and the Plaza Cuartel. The tour ends at five oclock pm right after they have visited the Immaculate Concepcion Church.

Island Hopping
The Sta. Lourdes wharf serves as a port for tourists who want to go island hopping around the islands of Palawan. Guests take their pick among the rented boats to take them for a fixed tour or anywhere they like. Almost all islands contain pristine white beaches perfect for swimming and snorkeling. At around five oclock pm, guests are to return to Puerto Princesa to rest in their respective hotels.

Underground River
Guests can also opt to travel to on of Palawans most esteemed wondersthe Underground River. From Puerto Princesa, guests are to travel by land to Sabang Wharf where they are met with boats that are ready to take them first to a Mangrove Boat Paddle Tour and then to the Underground River. The tour ends at around 2 oclock pm as they return to Sabang Wharf to head back to Puerto Princesa.

White Sand Beaches
The islands nearby Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa serve as a haven for beach lovers as dozens of crystalline, white sand beaches stretch on their coastlines. Travelers may choose to dive towards the wonders beneath the seas, snorkel on the surface of the emerald waters or just relax and enjoy the tropical sun. The most popular islands off Honda Bay are the Snake Island, a long sand bar that stretches towards the sea, and the Bat Island, where a thick group of bats are seen at sundown.

There are also white sand beaches that can be accessible by land, such as the Nagtabon beach and the Napsan Beach. The Nagtabon Beach is forty-five kilometers from Puerto Princesa, and can be accessed by jeep or buses departing from the city terminal. The Nagtabon Beach is a lovely stretch of white sand beach ideal from swimming, snorkeling and many other water sports. The Napsan beach is two hours from the city proper and is perfect for those who prefer a vacation with a more rustic setting.

How to Get to Puerto Princesa
Puerto Princesa can be reached through air travel from the Manila Domestic Airport via each one three major airlines. For sea travel, it takes between eighteen to twenty-two hours from the Manila harbor to Puerto Princesa via two major shipping lines.

Best Asian destinations for the US dollar – Part 1

With the American recessions underway, it seems that going on a holiday should be put off. But the good news is, Asian destinations are the perfect option for cheap holidays. With a much cheaper rates and expenses compared to other places in Europe, Asia is the best place to relax and enjoy even during an economic slow-down.

Hong Kong

Once part of the British Empire, this small city is boosting with tall skycrapers and upscale boutiques. Shopping is the most common activity in Hong Kong with designer boutiques like Loius Vitton, Ferragamo and Chanel for a cheaper price. Hong Kong also has its own Disneyland and have great services and facilities.

Singapore

For a small nation- state, Singapore is a highly developed country and famous for its cleanliness. Though it is more expensive compared to other Asian destinations, Singapore is still a cheaper choice for the dollar. Gum is illegal in this country and shopping for electronic gadgets is one of the best thing to do while in Singapore. Visit the wonderful Santosa for children and adults and take a picture of the Merlion.

Malaysia

Singapore’s neighbor is also gaining popularity among tourists; most tourists who visit Singapore will proceed to Malaysia which is linked with a bridge. Unlike Singapore, there are many places in Malaysia that are still secluded and unexploited by modernity and also very cheap. Kuala Lumpur has its Petronas Twin Towers which is the most famous landmark in this country. Visit tea plantations or savor its world famous chocolates.

Bangkok, Thailand

You have seen Bangkok in various Hollywood movies. Now is the time to experience what this country can really offer. Shopping is very cheap, go for clothes and interior decorations that are totally unique and great finds. Visit temples, ride the elephants or have the best massage to soothe those aching muscles. Locals can understand and speak a little English and the prices are cheaper.

Maldives

Further south of Sri Lanka and India is a small nation consist of atolls. Maldives is the place for those honeymooners or holiday seekers who want a more peaceful and quite get away. Small huts are situated on the waters and linked with small platforms for that unique and rejuvenating ambiance. Once can see marine creatures like fish and coral reefs from your huts, fishing and scuba diving are also great activities in Maldives. The whole nation is not as commercialized compared to other destinations and the beach and the waters are definitely marvelous.

Macau

Politically part of China, Macau is a mixture of Asian and European cultures. Chinese temples go side by side with Christian churches. This small island was colonized with the Portuguese and at present some residents are descendants of the Portuguese. Macau is also the gambling capital of Asia and can compete with Las Vegas.

Philippines

As an English speaking country and culture close to the Americans, Philippines is the best place to relax on the beach or go for scuba diving. Hospitality in this country is also known world-wide, hence tourists fell at home and well pampered. Skip the capital city of Manila and choose other cities like Cebu, Mactan and Davao.

To end up, there are still wonderful places in Asia like Vietnam, Cambodia and India. But the places mentioned above can kick off your ultimate Asian tour.

Students Embrace Vibrant Learning in Toronto

One of the world’s most ethnically diverse cities and home to some of the most inspired attractions, a trip to Toronto, Ontario, provides endless learning possibilities in student group travel.

Leading with a very clear mission, the Ontario Science Center was created to open the minds of visitors to science, and to produce excitement and curiosity in science and technology. Opened in 1969, the museum was one of the first interactive science museums in the world. Rather than presenting exhibits with static displays, the center created exhibits from various elements of science that allow visitors to experience those scientific fundamentals. Here, you become a part of the science process. For instance, visitors can discover an urban wetland, create a personalized light show, or play a watery musical instrument that’s part water, part piano. More than 800 exhibits are showcased in 13 exhibit halls covering topics such as technology, the environment, space, the human body, and sports. Daily demonstrations illustrate scientific principles of nature, and student groups can also take in a film at the Omnimax Theater.

Another student favorite, Canada’s National Tower, commonly referred to as the CN Tower, is one of the city’s most recognized landmarks. Construction on the CN Tower began in 1973 and it stands at a total height of more than 1,815 feet. Visitors to the tower begin their tour with a ride up a high-speed elevator to the indoor/outdoor observation decks. Here, they can take in views of Toronto and the surrounding area, as well as gain a unique perspective of how high they actually are by looking down through the glass floor to the ground hundreds of feet below. A 20-minute “The Height of Excellence” documentary provides a look at the engineering marvel that is the CN Tower. The attraction is located on the north shore of the Lake Ontario in the heart of the Entertainment District.

Overlooking downtown Toronto, Casa Loma is a majestic castle, built in the style of European medieval castles. Here, visitors step back in time as they tour the 98-room castle. In addition to the home, Casa Loma includes stables, connected to the castle by an 800-foot underground tunnel, and six acres of gardens. Constructed by a prominent Toronto businessman and industrialist, more than 300 men worked on the home at cost of $3.5 million. On guided tours, visitors explore elegantly decorated rooms, climb the towers, and enjoy a walk through the extensive gardens. Other highlights include a full-body shower and the grandiose Great Hall.

Opened in 1914, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) features various galleries which include the Canadian Heritage Floor Galleries, the East-Asia Gallery, Hands-on Biodiversity, Inco Limited Gallery of Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, and Paleontology Galleries, and more. Some of the most popular exhibits include a bat cave, Egyptian mummy, and the newly opened “Age of Dinosaurs,” presenting one of Canada’s largest permanent collections of dinosaurs. On-site educational programs are available at the ROM to provide a more theme-focused visit for student groups.

For those student groups with an interest in sports, SkyDome is home to the Toronto Blue Jay and one of Toronto’s proudest architectural achievements. As the world’s largest stadium with a retractable roof, the SkyDome serves as symbol of the city. During tours of SkyDome, student tours can marvel at the structure’s innovative roof design. Operated by a computer, the roof panels move to stack up on top of each other along one end of the stadium, leaving all playing surfaces and nearly all of the seats under open sky when the roof is retracted. In addition to Blue Jays baseball games, SkyDome also hosts football games, tennis matches, basketball games, and concerts.

Eaton Centre is one of Toronto’s most popular tourist attractions. Located along Younge Street, the longest street in the world, Eaton Centre features more than 285 shops, restaurants, and services. The three-level mall encompasses a four-block area, providing plenty of diversions for student tours. Two trademarks of the Eaton Centre are “Flight Stop,” a sculpture by Michael Snow, and rendition of Canadian geese in their migratory patterns, suspended from Eaton’s vaulted glass ceiling. The other is the famous “shooting” fountain located in the Centre Court. On average, the water shoots 85 feet into the air but can reach heights of 120 feet.

Known as one of the most ethnically diverse cities, Toronto is made up of a variety of ethnic neighborhoods, each with their own unique sights and sounds. Two of the city’s most distinctive areas are Chinatown and Kensington Market.

Chinatown is one of the largest Asian communities in North America, made up of people from areas such as Hong Kong, Sinapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, China, and more. Chinatown offers student group travelers a number of authentic indoor and outdoor food markets, clothing stores, herb and medicinal shops, and restaurants. A few blocks from Chinatown, Kensington Market showcases Portuguese, West Indian, and Caribbean culture. Students enjoy the eclectic mix of outdoor food stands and produce shops, unique restaurants and café, and vintage clothing boutiques.

Best cities in the world

Baguio is a city of style, culture and sophistication. Created by the Americans in 1901 on the site of the Ibaloi tribal village of Kafagway, it is a testament to town planning which defies convention.

Also known as the City of Pines and situated amidst the mountainous Cordillera region, it is regarded as the summer capital of the Philippines. At over 5000 ft above sea level and 155 miles north of Manila, it basks from November to May in a temperate climate, eight degrees cooler than the lowlands which comparably stew in the stifling heat below.

Bestowed with a variety of cultural, historical and scenic attractions it is a destination to satisfy and equally challenge the most demanding traveller.

Baguio City is the best source of highland vegetables more normally associated from countries in the northern hemisphere of the globe. Lettuce and broccoli, cauliflower and carrots, potatoes, cabbages and asparagus are all produced locally from the different Cordillera provinces, and sold at the huge and very popular city market.

The wide variety of produce on offer together with the sounds, smells and colours of this vibrant shopping extravaganza makes the rather arduous task of getting there pale into insignificance. Combine this with a stroll around some of the world’s finest and highest strawberry fields and you’ll know what having your head in the clouds really means.

The serpentine and infamous Kennon Road which leads there is not for the feint hearted. Built between 1903 and 1905 it is not the only choice, but is by far the most scenic and hair-raising.

So if you enjoy roller-coaster rides this is the one for you. Presuming there’s a breath left in your body when you reach the top, prepare for it to be taken away when you see the vibrancy, confidence and excitement of this remarkable city in the sky.

Recently an American tourist complained to the Baguio City Government remarking how offended she was due to certain artifacts being sold throughout their hundreds of market stalls. It produced an extraordinary general assembly. What, they asked, should be done about the proliferation of carved wooden phallic symbols blighting the visitor perceptions of their town?

For many years and more, a certain curio has been a most popular souvenir in the Philippines. Found in any gift shop, even at the airports, the diminutive wood carving of a Cordilleran tribesman attracts utmost interest. He stands upright and proud in a barrel, which the unsuspecting shopper

Mortgaging Lending: Are Promises Meant To Be Broken?

I shall return. This, arguably, is one of the most famous promises in world history. American General Douglas MacArthur made it after his fortress in the Philippines became the target of Japanese air attacks during World War II. MacArthur was then forced to flee to Australia. On March 20, 1942, MacArthur made his famous promise to return to the Philippines to continue helping to defend the islands. About two and a half years later, MacArthur proved that he did not just talk the talk. He walked the walk – literally! On October 20, 1944, about two and a half years after making his famous promise, MacArthur waded through the waters near Leyte Island in the Philippines.

Like MacArthur, you, too, made a promise when you borrowed from your mortgage lender. While this promise is not as historic, it is no less binding or serious. In fact, your home backs up the vow you make to your mortgage lender.

I Shall

In modern times, we rarely hear people use the word “shall” when they make a promise. Today, the word could make its user seem a little old-fashioned or even arrogant. But the word certainly makes one’s vow to keep a promise, seem absolute. Promising with the word “shall” is equivalent to someone saying “mark my words,” “my word is my bond,” or “my word is as good as gold.” The “shall” in mortgage lending is the collateral you put up to secure your loan. When you use the services of a mortgage lender, your collateral fortifies your promise to repay.

From Hens to Houses

What is collateral? Collateral can be as informal as holding onto our friends’ Michael Jordan rookie card or tissue box cover collection until they pay back money that is due. In a nutshell, collateral is a type of security to the lender, such as a mortgage lender. This is reserved for situations wherein the borrower neglects to pay back the loan taken out. Four forms of formal collateral are used in secured lending:

* business proceeds (in cash)

* intangibles (of which contract rights and accounts are two examples)

* paper (such as documents)

* trade goods (products)

What is special about the home mortgage that a mortgage lender provides is that the collateral and the asset being financed are the same object!.

Lending Without Collateral

What happens when borrowers of loans have no collateral? Instances like these sometimes arise when one does business with a mortgage lender.

In developing countries where many people lack collateral, microfinance and microlending have become a fad. Dr. Muhammad Yunus won a Nobel Prize in 2006 for his work in the field. He discovered in the 1970s that giving out small loans not only improved the lives of poor businesspeople, these loans were also returned with interest, and promptly! Microfinance is not a new concept. In fact, microlending may have existed since currency was invented. For example, Jonathan Swift, Irish author of “Gulliver’s Travels” in 1726 – on which a Disney cartoon was based – created his own microlending system. The amount and term of the loan was limited, and the interest rate was low. In the case of Swift’s system, the rate was 8%. While microlending is practical in developing countries, the higher cost of living in industrialized nations makes it necessary for a mortgage lender to require collateral.

Today, we rarely use the term “shall” when making verbal promises to our bosses, teachers, or friends. Still the saying that a person is as good as his or her word holds as true now as when MacArthur made his famous vow in 1942. So when we take out a mortgage from a mortgage lender, collaterals such as houses help ensure we strive to keep our end of the bargain.

Reflections: Memories

In Memoriam – The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis

On this 63rd Memorial Day since the sinking of the USS Indianapolis on 30 July 1945 we should remember the sacrifice and horror endured by the men who died. It was only two weeks before the end of WWII that the Japanese torpedoed the USS Indianapolis around midnight in shark infested waters off the Philippine Island of Leyte. The ship was on the way to deliver components of the Atomic Bomb when they were hit.

The first torpedo knocked men and officers out of their bunks and cut lights and all communications on the ship. One radioman stayed at his post putting out a SOS, but no record has ever been turned up that it was heard. It happened at midnight after moonset, and most of the power on the ship was knocked outby the blast. It took only 12 minutes for the ship to roll over and sink. Those who ran back to their bunk area to get flashlights or clothes never made it.

No one knows for sure how many men died of the explosion or were sucked down with the ship, but one account that appeared in the Saturday Evening Post on 6 Aug. 1955 has the title, “We Prayed While 883 Died”.

Some lucky ones, including the commanding officer, Captain McVey, found debris, and later ship’s life rafts, to cling to that, saved their lives for the more than four-day ordeal. But the majority of the initial survivors had only life vests to them keep afloat. They were fortunate that a new, improved kapok life vest had been rushed to the Indianapolis only 48 hours before she sailed. But these were guaranteed for only 48 hours, and after that they became waterlogged so that the wearer had a hard time keeping his head out of the water. When he became too tired, his head fell forward, and he drowned.

After a day or two in the oily water, many men began to hallucinate, and thought they saw their ship – the Indianapolis – not sunk, but standing just a little distance away with water and food and everything they needed. They would break free of the circles of men who had lashed themselves together, and swim away. One Marine, Captain Edward L. Parke, tried so hard to rescue these men that he died of exhaustion. Others were picked off by the ever-present sharks. There is an account written many years later that appeared in the Washington Post on 5 Aug. 1975. The title of the article is “Remembering the Hunger, Thirst, the Sharks and the Screams”. Not much appeared in print about the loss of the USS Indianapolis immediately after

The Sad Truth About Silicone Injection-affordable Cosmetic Surgery in the Philippines

Silicone is derived from silicon, a semi-metallic or metal-like element that in nature combines with oxygen to form silicon dioxide, or silica. Beach sand, crystals, and quartz are silica; in fact, silica is the most common substance on earth. Heating silica with carbon at a high temperature can produce silicon. Further processing can convert the silicon into a long chemical chain, or polymer, called silicone – which can be a liquid, gel, or rubbery substance.

Various silicones are used in lubricants and oils, as well as in silicone rubber. Silicone can be found in many common household items, such as polishes, suntan and hand lotion, antiperspirants, soaps, processed foods, waterproof coatings, and chewing gum. The FDA has approved many medical devices made of silicone, including replacement heart valves, and now the re-entry of silicone gel-filled breast implants. Solid silicone implants are commonly used for chin and malar augmentation, and have been used in nasal, chest, and calf augmentation, as well as in joint replacement and tendon reconstruction

Liquid silicone was developed in 1963 and used for augmentation of the breast and face prior to the development of a purer grade of injectable silicone, which was available for   investigational purposes. This new formulation was in the process of being considered as an investigational new drug by Dow-Corning in 1976, when the accumulation of reported adverse effects, including inflammation, induration, discoloration, ulceration, migration, and silicone granuloma formation led Dow-Corning to withdraw its application. Liquid silicone is not Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and its use should be condemned.

The FDA warns that they have not approved “the marketing of liquid silicone for injection for any cosmetic purpose, including the treatment of facial defects or wrinkles, or enlarging the breasts.”

In the Philippines, sad to say, liquid silicone injection is still rampant. It can be found in the black market, as well as salons using non-medical and medical grade silicone intended for lubrication of surgical instruments. Medical grade silicone does not mean that it is intended for human injection. Horror stories are abound with the injection of silicone oils. Most of the people who inject it will say that it is a form of collagen. Beware. Collagen injections are very expensive as compared to silicone injections which will cost under USD200 for a noselift. Some patients even fall victim to silicone injections as alternatives to breast augmentation with implants.

Effects of silicone injection are well-documented. Displacement due to gravity, inflammation, and discoloration of surrounding tissues, and granuloma formation, and infection of the recipient area are the most common complications reported.  Foreign-body-type silicoma can even occur up to 11 years after implantation, even with highly refined, medicalgrade silicone and microdroplets.

 

There is difficulty of conducting long-term follow-up with patients who present with these complications, because of the underground nature of the practice. It is the author’s wish that by making the public and the medical community aware of the symptoms and severe consequences of illegal silicone use, mortality risks and patient outcomes from this clandestine practice will improve. The safety and well-being of the patient should be the plastic surgeon’s primary concern. Illicit practices such as these has no room in the field of plastic surgery.  Always ask for the qualifications of your chosen surgeon.

Article by Joel Unson MD, a fully trained Filipino Plastic Surgeon. For more information on Plastic Surgery in the Philippines, you may visit his website at http://plasticsurgery.unson.com

Other  related articles:  Affordable  Cosmetic Surgery

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