Samui's revamped luxury private villa ‘Suralai’ is ready to welcome back visitors to Thailand

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

As Thailand reopens its borders to international travellers on November 1st with no quarantine – SHA-approved luxury villas like Suralai are well prepared to host visitors

Suralai, a luxury 6-bedroom villa on the idyllic Thai island of Koh Samui has undergone extensive renovation during the pandemic to retain its reputation as one of the island’s premier private villas. Suralai is also part of the Elite Havens - Asia’s most prestigious private villa rental collection.

From today November 1st 2021 Thailand welcomes foreign visitors from a list of 46 approved countries, with no quarantine requirements. Travellers need to have just 1 PCR test upon arrival and stay for one night in an SHA-approved hotel within 2 hours of the airport. For full details of all documentation and conditions of Thailand’s border reopening, see the official TAT website:

https://www.tatnews.org/thailand-reopening/

Meanwhile, Suralai is SHA-approved [Safety and Health Administration] and meets government safety measures with a fully vaccinated staff and hygiene protocols in place.

For a quick tour of Suralai, see: https://youtu.be/ncr5ejmo5_Q

Suralai Upgraded with a Fresh New Look

This stunning hilltop sanctuary combining distinctive Thai-inspired architectural features and a cool contemporary look, offers six spacious ensuite bedrooms and suites comfortably accommodating up to 12 guests in complete privacy. Each has a covered terrace or balcony overlooking the pool and panoramic view of the sea and Koh Phangan (Full Moon Island) in the near distance.

Recent renovations have seen all rooms refurbished with cool grey ceramic floors, new louvred blinds and drapes, as well as stylish new soft furnishing accents in rich Jim Thompson silk fabrics.

Enhancing the vast living and dining pavilion, new outdoor furniture has been added to the wide wrap-around terrace, and the open show-kitchen and long island-bar upgraded for a sharper and fresh new look.

At the poolside, comfortable, new loungers overlook the pool and view, and at one end, a Thai-style sala with wide, inviting daybeds has been refurbished to provide a truly special place to escape the sun and enjoy a book, a massage or pampering beauty treatment, or to gather for a casual poolside buffet lunch.



Unforgettable Holidays and Weddings

Suralai is a perfect fit for families and groups of friends, large and small, looking for a private vacation together, or for birthdays, weddings and other special celebrations for 80 or more guests. Professional wedding and party planners continue to create magic at this beautiful location with pool-side wedding pavilions and lavish decorations with flowers, lighting and even fireworks.

At Suralai, a highly experienced villa manager is there to organize a one-of-a-kind holiday for guests. The day might begin with a private yoga or a fun aqua-aerobics class in the pool, or a work-out at the villa’s private gym. After that, it’s a time to relax and connect over breakfast on the terrace, where your private chef is waiting to prepare whatever takes your fancy fresh from the kitchen.

If you want to stay close to home, spa lovers will relish the prospect of a morning or afternoon spent in the cool and peaceful sala, enjoying a massage or pampering beauty treatment from top class Thai therapists.

Meal times at Suralai are anything but ordinary - a light and delicious Thai or Western-style lunch can be served buffet-style in the shade of the poolside sala, and in the evening, chef and his team will create a deliciously authentic Thai dinner, your preferred Western-style cuisine or a fun and casual barbecue.

If you prefer to venture out from the villa for a day at the beach, or to explore some of what this beautiful tropical island has to offer, the villa manager Khun Tee will arrange it. Consider hiring a private sailing catamaran or speed boat to picnic, swim and snorkel at many stunning islands around Samui, perhaps a visit to one of Samui’s renowned elephant sanctuaries ‘Elephant Haven’ - just 5 minutes’ walk from the villa, or enjoy a private tour of Samui’s numerous cultural and natural highlights.

Although it’s unlikely you’ll want to leave this hilltop eyrie, Samui’s vibrant tourism scene is literally 15 minutes away. Fisherman’s Village and its vibrant Friday-night street-market are a must see, as are its many cool restaurants and chic fashion boutiques. Meanwhile, the palm fringed sandy beaches of Bophut, Big Buddha and Chaweng with their stylish resorts, fashionable new beach clubs, and numerous bars and restaurants are similarly less than 15 minutes’ drive from the villa.



Rates

Starting from USD1,000 per night for the low season. See Elite Havens website below for real-time availability. www.elite-havens.com



Booking Suralai



Read what Elite Havens has to say about Suralai:

https://mailchi.mp/elitehavens/saturday-shots-of-inspirations-suralai-2019?e=d00258b6d1



https://www.suralai.com

Filipino business tycoons champion sustainability programs, practices in PH Digicon 2021

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Filipino business tycoons who spoke before the delegates of the Philippine Digital Convention (PH Digicon) 2021 iterated their commitment to implementing sustainable programs and practices to achieve a triple bottom line.

In the second plenary session of this year’s PH Digicon, Al Panlilio, President and CEO, PLDT Group; Lance Gokongwei, President and CEO of JG Summit Holdings; Bernie Liu, Chairman and CEO of the Penshoppe Group; Christopher Po, Executive Chairman of Century Pacific Food, Inc.; Kevin Tan, CEO of Alliance Global Group Inc.; and Joseph Tanbuntiong, Chief Business Officer of Jollibee Group led the discussion on the revolutionary changes in the Philippine business landscape.

Panlilio said that sustainability is one of his fulcrums and has been a part of PLDT’s business model for years, incorporating sustainable development in their strategies to align their initiatives to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The PLDT Head said they launched the country’s first carbon fiber cell tower, which has reduced carbon dioxide emission by up to 70 percent compared to steel. He also mentioned the group’s aim to use renewable energy sources to bring down power consumption and boost energy efficiency for their data centers.

“What is core to business is what matters most in terms of sustainability, and hopefully, every employee in PLDT-Smart understands and appreciates their contribution to that effort. It’s a big task, big programs, but we have to do it,” said Panlilio.

For Jollibee, meanwhile, Tanbuntiong said they have been reducing waste by shifting from disposable to reusable wares and turning to biodegradable options such as paper for their packaging.

“We are also looking into the renewable energy sources for some of our stores and our manufacturing sites… Outside of the environment, we also look at the society and looking at segments that we can help, and can have an impact,” the Jollibee executive said.

Moreover, for Alliance Global Group CEO Kevin Tan, the business has been set up to not be a profit-centric company but also to aim for a triple bottom line which includes environmental sustainability and social impact.

“Our goal, our new guidance aside from our profits, is that we want to be carbon-neutral by 2035, which means that among other efforts, we need to shift to 100% renewable energy, and this has to start right away and be done in phases over the next 5 to 6 years… This is a very challenging feat, but we are committed to it,” Tan underscored.

Tan also shared that they are committed to generating over five million direct and indirect jobs in the next 15 years; thus, they heavily invest in industries that can produce the most jobs and multipliers in job creation, such as business process outsourcing and tourism sector.

Likewise, for the clothing brand Penshoppe, Liu shared that waste in the retail and the fashion business has been labeled as one of the biggest polluters. He said that excesses end up in dumpsites “because the consciousness of waste is not there among many brand owners and retailers.”

Liu highlighted that reducing waste is something they take seriously by adopting global standards on the number of stock keeping units and inventory.

“We believe strongly that we minimize waste not only in the consumption but in the way that unnecessary fabrics are produced, and unnecessary garments, and that whatever we do acquire ends up in the closets of our customers and not in the dumpsites,” Liu said.

Furthermore, for Century Pacific Food, Po said they integrate the sustainability mindset in their day-to-day business by following the Three P’s framework, which refers to Protein, People, and Planet.

“Protein is our product. Our food product is the way we touch the rest of the community; thus, we look at the type of nutrition and ingredients we put into our products to develop a healthier product portfolio… We’re also mindful of the number of jobs we create… and then finally, Planet is our manufacturing footprint as a food manufacturer,” Po noted.

Additionally, for JG Summit Holdings, Gokongwei said they acknowledge the significance of sustainability; thus, they integrate this in their management process.

“For us, the most important thing is to put sustainability first and foremost into the board’s agenda; we try to do this first by benchmarking and measuring what we have, second is to set targets,” Gokongwei said.

He also added that their sustainability practice follows the UN SDG, which centers on five objectives: shared success, resource secularity and resource efficiency, education and development, providing better choices, and climate action.

The Philippine Digital Convention is the most prestigious digital thought leadership event hosted by PLDT Enterprise. Titled “REVOLUTION”, this year’s PH Digicon which ran from October 6 to 8 featured over 120 industry leaders and experts, sharing their expertise on topics such as technology predictions, industry evolution, emerging technologies, among others.

Relive the three-day convention like no other via content on demand available exclusively on phdigicon2021.com.




COVER PHOTO: JG Summit Holdings Inc. President and CEO Lance Gokongwei, Penshoppe Group Chairman and CEO Bernie Liu, PLDT and Smart President and CEO Al Panlilio, Jollibee Group Chief Business Officer Joseph Tanbuntiong, Alliance Global Group Inc. CEO Kevin L. Tan and Century Pacific Food, Inc. Executive Chairman Chris Po

Can You Boost Your Fertility Naturally? Top 5 Tips to Improve Your Chances

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a perfect world, an individual or couple would decide to have a baby and the conception process would be simple and straightforward.

Regretfully, this isn’t always the case.

As a matter of fact, the CDC has determined that approximately 10% of American women between the ages of 15 and 44 will struggle with getting pregnant or staying pregnant.

While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to infertility, from in vitro fertilization (IVF) to using donor eggs from a reputable company, there are several different treatment options for conceiving. Further, many people undergoing fertility treatments are also able to use natural techniques to boost their chances of getting pregnant.

Whether you’re going through sperm donation, egg donation, or an IUI, here are five great ways to improve your likelihood of having a baby.

1.     Practice Stress Management Techniques

It’s often believed there’s a link between stress and infertility. In fact, during a 2016 California study, it was found that 76% of people undergoing infertility treatments reported significant symptoms of anxiety.

The connection between the two is believed to be the alpha-amylase enzymes produced when your body is experiencing stress. These molecules seem to have a negative effect on fertility. More specifically, they seem to reduce the chances of having a successful IVF cycle.

If you’re undergoing fertility treatments or are hoping to conceive naturally, lowering your stress levels could be beneficial.

Some trusted stress management techniques include:

·        Exercising

·        Meditation

·        Journaling

·        Acupuncture

·        Hobbies

·        Talking with a friend or partner

·        Taking a walk

2.     Reduce Your Cigarette, Alcohol, and Caffeine Consumption

Most of us realize that drinking too much and smoking cigarettes aren’t healthy habits. However, what many individuals aren’t aware of is that they can also inhibit fertility.

For example, excessive alcohol usage can cause poor sperm quality and an increased risk of miscarriage. Studies have also proven that smoking cigarettes causes erectile dysfunction and trouble conceiving, along with pregnancy complications.

Surprisingly, many people don’t realize that significant caffeine consumption also leads to fertility problems. It can raise the risk of having a miscarriage, along with causing low birth weights.

While you don’t necessarily have to cut these substances out completely when you’re trying to get pregnant, reducing them can be helpful.

3.     Monitor Your Body Mass Index

Whether you’re underweight or overweight, having an irregular body mass index (BMI) can lead to having a hard time getting pregnant. Whether you need to implement a weight loss routine or begin eating a high protein diet, it’s essential to find ways of maintaining a healthy weight range during your conception journey.

4.     Eat Fertility-Friendly Foods

Working on regulating your BMI provides the perfect opportunity to add some fertility-friendly foods to your diet. Depending on your body’s unique needs, there are many different foods that can be beneficial.

From sperm health to egg quality, here’s a short list of some of the most popular fertility-boosting options:

·        High fiber foods, such as beans, lentils, and whole grains

·        Citrus fruits

·        Pineapple

·        Avocado

·        Cheese

·        Asparagus

·        Salmon

·        Nuts

·        Greek yogurt

·        Lean proteins

5.     Start Taking the Right Vitamins

Did you know prenatal vitamins aren’t just for when you’re actually pregnant?

In fact, many health experts suggest taking them while you’re trying to conceive. Your body requires specific nutrients and vitamins, such as folic acid, to support a pregnancy and a baby’s development. By taking quality vitamins, you can ensure you’re getting what you need to boost your chances of conception.

Boost Your Fertility Naturally

While there aren’t often quick solutions to treating infertility, there are small steps you can take to improve your chances of getting pregnant. Even if you need to use a frozen egg donor or require IVF, implementing healthy habits can make a significant difference in the success of your treatment.

Just remember to speak with your doctor before making any decisions about your diet or health. They can help you determine which options are best for you and your specific circumstances.

Infertility is an overwhelming burden that can leave you feeling helpless and uncertain about the future. Many people find comfort in the fact that there are small steps they can take to increase their chances of starting a family.

Whether you’re struggling with low ovarian reserves, poor sperm quality, or unexplained infertility, don’t lose hope for the chance to start a family.