Be Tulala: the Mind Needs Sufficient Rest Too

Have you ever caught yourself with a "nakatulala look"?

Me, countless times already. It's my relaxation technique. All of us are so pressed for time, pressured with deadlines, stuck with commitments, that our minds go on overdrive. When that happens, our body feels the stress, and that's when we start feeling sick, and really getting sick.

When I look at my kids eyes, all I see is innocence and contentment. No pressures, no problems, no stress. Childhood is a bliss.  And you know, letting go of everything that's bugging my mind really helps, and I do that with my "tulala" look (sometimes with mouth hanging wide).  Oh, sleep is a better alternative. But when you are in the office, and you're swamped with work, a few minutes of being "tulala" can help. A few minutes or so of that, and my mind feels refreshed.  Don't ask me the scientific reason behind it, because I don't know. I'm just saying it works for me.

Try it and let me know.

Baby Names

This is a short one.

My Mama assisted our Parish yesterday for the Baptism of many, many babies (since it was the Feast Day of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception).  She went home with this funny (funny weird, not funny ha-ha) anecdote. 

A child was going to be baptized with the name of Cellphone.  According to the mother, it's a combination of the kid's parents' names. The mom is Cel, and the dad is Ponciano; hence the name Cellphone.

Another child was baptized Charger. Again, another combination of the names of the kid's parents.  This time, it's the dad's name first: Charlie, and the mom: Gertrude.

The priest wanted to get angry, but in order to preserve the solemnity of the Sacrament of Baptism, he just shook his head and moved on with the rites.

I get the name combination thing, but can't they think of  a better name than that? Surely, there are a gazillion names out there. These names could have been used as pet names/ nicknames, but not the names in their Birth Certificates, and worse, their Baptismal Certificates.

Tsk...tsk...tsk...
 

An Open Letter to Tupperware Brands Philippines

Photo credit: www.tupperwarebrands.ph

Dear Tupperware Brands Philippines,

I would like to thank you for the rare opportunity for being chosen as one of this year's Tupperware Women of Confidence. This is not only a great privilege, but the status is a humbling experience for me - humbling in the sense that I have neglected to appreciate how people have looked up to me because of my confidence story.

Thank you for making sure that Nanay Remie, Dollu and I were well-fed all the time. Thank you for the beautiful flowers. It was my first time to receive flowers like those (Swear!).  Thank you for the nice hotel accommodation. Thank you for making sure that we got home safely by ensuring that we have transportation fare. Thank you for the massage.  It was my first time to have a massage in a hotel since it's more expensive that the usual spas or salons. Thank you for the plaque, it's so beautiful. Thank you for the bag. This may seem over-reacting to you, but honest, I don't buy Aranaz bags because they're expensive. And you gave me one!!! It's a dream come true!

Thank you for the Tupperware products that I have already distributed among my family and friends since they ransacked my bag as soon as I got home. (They were more excited than me for my stories about the two-day stay). Of course, I left some for my personal use. Thank you for having a great staff who made me (us) feel so welcome and appreciated. Much thanks to Ms. Rina, who even ensured that we were "busog" in the evening until she left for home. I thank Kit and Ms. May (and the guys who brought our bags down) who accompanied us downstairs to get us a taxi. It was a simple thought, but very meaningful. Thank you, Ms. Patty, for always reminding me how to smile during the video shoot.

 

Thank you for the photo shoot and the video shoot. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience (and another dream-come-true. I felt so sosyal and so artista. My kid was so surprised and happy (giddy too) when he saw me all made-up. He said I looked like a princess. Now isn't that something to be really happy for!?

 

Thank you for the Confidence Building Workshop. I learned a lot from it. I would have wished it were longer, but I don't think I would remember everything taught to us anyway, if the workshop were longer. It was, indeed, very helpful. (See, I'm trying to sit down properly, while I'm typing this: one leg sort of crossed/behind the other leg, and I'm having cramps already). 

 

You have made me realize that I can reach out to more women (and hopefully, men) out there who need a little boost in their confidence, and this will be my personal agenda in the days to come. I am just an ordinary person doing what I usually do with my life, but you made me feel like this big inspiration to others.

 

It has been a great privilege to be part of your life-changin activity of aiming to help more women to achieve confidence. God bless you all.

Sincerely,


 me


P.S.

Thank you for the GCs.  The people of Leyte benefited from them.

 

Win a Gift for Someone you Love Contest (from Sample Room)

Without batting an eyelash, I will give this to my Mama.

That's my Mama and her signature "tawa".

My Mama grew up in the province with very little in life - she didn't even know who her real mother was, until she was a teenager. She has no dad.  Life for her was working for other people (some were relatives) in their homes, washing clothes, cleaning houses, and scrubbing away pots and pans until kingdom come. She is naturally beautiful and sexy, but having very little in life meant that she had to forego all those beauty regimen to maintain her beauty.

 

While I was growing up, she would always tell me to take care of my skin, which I stubbornly neglected until recently. I remember, when I was still a kid, I shameless asked my Mama this question, "Ma, bakit puro butas-butas and mukha niyo?" Imagine, such a tactless question from a child! I am so ashamed to recall this, yet I have to share this. (Well, I actually thought they were scars. It turned out, it was called open pores!)  She answered patiently and with understanding (for my blunt question) that she was not able to care well for her skin when she was growing up. Heck, getting enough food and nutrition was even hard to come by, what more for the skin! So, her skin turned that way, she said.

 

It is only when my siblings and I have grown up that she had paid attention to her own skin. She only recently discovered that moisturizers and toners are different and that foot spas are great. Because of Sample Room, she gets a taste of products that we normally do not attempt to buy, either because we are unfamiliar with the bran, or it's too expensive to try.  She would give comments such as, "This is one is nice, pero mabantot." Or, "Wow, my skin looks good after this? Ay, kaya pala, ang mahal!" Here's another one, "Ano ba yan, senior na ako, pwede pa ba akong mag mask?"

 

Now at 69, my Mama looks like she's still in her early 50s. She may not have had the luxury of scrubs, toners, moisturizers, diamond peeel, lotions, etc., during her youth, but she grew old with love from her husband and kids. And that is enough to keep her beautiful inside and out, forever..

 

What would she do with those Sample Room products if she wins it? I know, she'll examine them, try them, and give them all away later to those she feels would need them most (But I would stop her from giving all away; I'll make sure she has more than enough for her personal use).

That's my Mama, beautiful and generous.

Lunch at Secret Recipe

My bestfriend and I had lunch one time at Secret Recipe (Fourth Floor, Robinsons Manila- or was it Fifth Floor? I am not sure, I sort of got lost!) since she was craving for a very spicy soup. She claims that Secret Recipe has one of the spiciest soups she had ever tasted.

Since the serving is too big for one person, she shared the bowl with me, while I opted to avail of their promo: For P99.00, one can order any hot beverage of my choice and a slice of their featured cakes.

 

Bestest ordered the Noodle in Tom Yum Kung: flat noodles in very spicy sauce with king prawns "daw".  It was spicy, not super spicy, but it also was sour. There were a two cauliflower florettes and two pieces of shrimps - not prawns. It was okay while it was hot, but once the temperature went down, I could no longer finish my soup. It wasn't yummy anymore.  It's a bit pricey for P280 though.

Noodle in Tom Yum Kung



My order - Chocolate Idulgence Cake
 and White Caramel Mocha

The one with the check marks
are the ones included in their P99 promo

My yet-to-be-used bowl. The spoon is not so sparkling clean.
I find it hard to use this spoon for my soup.
I prefer the good ole 'kutsara'

My coffee was really creamy and really good! The temperature was perfect! Like like like!!! As for the cake, well, it's not so yummy. Imagine those cakes that sort of get stuck down the throat? That's what it was. It wasn't moist. But the design was really cute!

Will I go back here? I don't think so (unless the Bestest will 'make libre' moi!).

More on Introverts at Work: Tips for Job-Seeking Introverts

 

I've been in a lot of interviews before. When I first got interviewed for my first real job, I thought I babbled a lot. I was not just nervous, but I also felt that my energy was being drained out of me while the interview was going on. I couldn't explain it, but that's how I felt. Over the years, I felt more confident with my interview. I envy people who exude confidence (but hate it when it's over-the-top).

 

For some people, an interview could be really stressful. Imagine how an introvert must feel with an interview. So Best Masters Programs came up with the following tips for an introvert who is looking for work:

 

1. Don't apologize for being shy. Soft-spoken people are generally considered more trustworthy and showing a timid side won't put off an interviewer.  
2. Focus on successes during an interview, in your head and out loud. This will help boost your self-confidence.
3. Make sure to rehearse before an interview, in a mirror or a webcam. You won't be able to know exactly what the interviewer will ask, but it's perfectly acceptable to search for common interview questions and practice your answers.
4. Practice meditative techniques that will calm you. These can be particularly helpful while you're waiting to be called in for an interview. It doesn't benefit you to sit in the waiting room anxious and thinking negative thoughts.
5. Always follow up an interview with a thank-you note to your interviewer. Not only is this polite, but it allows you to add any extra information you may have forgotten. Shy, anxious people generally forget certain facts they wanted to get across in an interview.
6. If you're shy, chances are you've mastered digital communication. If you feel better speaking from a computer keyboard, send your thank you note or any other necessary comments via email. This will show the interviewer that even if you're not particularly eloquent in person, you truly can express yourself in text.  

According to the infographics prepared by Best Masters Programs, many introverts view their shyness as a serious roadblock to success. IT IS NOT A HANDICAP. Nothing can convince a person of their potential like hard evidence. Below is a list, historical and current, of insanely successful introverts who found a way to use their shyness to their advantage.

• Bill Gates
• Abraham Lincoln
• Albert Einstein
• Mahatma Gandhi
• Rosa Parks
• Warren Buffett
• J.K. Rowling

So for all introverts (like me!) out there, let's conquer our fears and show the world what we got!

Best Masters Programs credits the following sources:

1. http://www.myersbriggs.org
2. http://www.scientificamerican.com
3. http://www.livescience.com
4. http://www.thoughtful-self-improvement.com
5. http://sierratucson.crchealth.com
6. http://healthland.time.com
7. http://www.shyness.com
8. http://www.fastcompany.com
9. http://www.bls.gov
10. http://education.yahoo.net"
11. http://www.indeed.com
12. http://www.psychologytoday.com
13. http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Special thanks to Cara Delany for sharing Best Masters Programs' infographics on introverts.

To view my previous posts on introversion, please check them out here:

Introverts at work
Are you an Introvert? Check here


 

Introverts at Work

Each of us is different: loud, quiet, aggressive, passive, short, tall, and each of us have a space in this tiny planet. And just because one is an introvert doesn't mean that that person wouldn't succeed in life.

 

I once posted a blog about introverts. It was from an article from Huffington Post that I chanced by online.  Because of that article, I realized that I am an introvert.

Cara Delany then saw my post and suggested her infographic page to understand more about introverts. So I'm sharing this with you.

 

Take a look at this infographics prepared by Best Masters Programs:

QUIET: INTROVERTS AT WORK

Not everyone is cut out to be an aggressive sales person or advertising executive. Certain jobs require certain personalities, often people who don't mind being in the limelight and speaking up. But introverts shouldn't be discouraged, as there are plenty of careers suited for them. Let's take a look at some interesting facts regarding introverts and the jobs in which they can thrive.

What is Introversion?

First popularized by psychologist Carl Jung, introversion and extraversion are key personality traits that can help explain behavior. Introverts tend to prefer solo activities, while extraverts prefer interacting with other people. This trait is not always constant--even introverts can behave in extraverted ways at times. Even so, most people fit in one category or the other.

 

Introverts ...

... feel drained when around large groups of people for too long.
... focus on detail and take time to make judgments due to a difference in information processing.
... prefer quiet, calm working spaces.
... make better one-on-one connections.
... sometimes experience anxiety when speaking to large groups of people.
... are prone to social anxiety disorder.

About 50% - Percentage of introverts in the U.S.

7%-8% - The percentage of people in the U.S. who are estimated to have social anxiety disorder.
It can start when you're young:

1 in 8 - The number of shy teens who are estimated to have social phobia.

The symptoms of severe introversion vary, but these symptoms can lead to difficulty during the job-hunting process. The symptoms can include:

• Aversion to eye contact
• Low speaking voice
• Nervous behaviors or ticks
• Trembling or shaking
• Sweating
• Feelings of nausea and dizziness

What Introverts Need

What's it like to be an introvert in an office or at a job site? What do introverts require to thrive and be successful?

• Quiet, solitary workspaces
• Minimal necessary human interaction
• Few group projects/meetings
• The allowance of headphones for privacy
• A guarantee that most work can be completed alone

Personal Comment: May I just say that I gave a check for all the above!

 

95.3% - Percentage of workers who say they'd like a quiet, private environment for concentrated work.

Where They Can Flourish

Not many introverts feel up to doing interview after interview for an indeterminate amount of time. And many might settle for unsatisfying jobs or jobs that they're overqualified for just so they can stay away from working with people.
Being in the right field and having the right credentials can make all the difference. Here are some jobs where introverts may find they will thrive:

Accountant

Average annual salary: $57,000

Perks: Much of an accountant's work these days requires the use of a computer and nothing else. Though intermittent human interaction is involved, it is minimal. Accountants typically work alone in offices.

Job growth, 2010-2020: 16%

Graphic designer

Average annual salary: $60,000

Perks: Another computer job, though this one offers more creative freedom and flexibility. Many companies hire graphic designers just for logo and pamphlet design. Many graphic designers work freelance or from home.

Job growth, 2010-2020: 13%

Computer programmer

Average annual salary: $74,000

Perks: Writing computer code for pretty much any company in the world doesn't require much human interaction and can sometimes even be done from home. It is a behind-the-scenes kind of job, especially when it is telecommute work.

Job growth, 2010-2020: 12%

Technical writer

Average annual salary: $57,000

Perks: Though many technical writers work in teams, much communication is done through the computer. As work goes through an editing process, most comments and feedback are given electronically. It also requires a lot of research, which one can do alone.

Job growth, 2010-2020: 17%

Medical records technician

Average annual salary: $38,000

Perks: Being any kind of record keeper allows an individual to work by themselves. Medical records technician positions require little to not human interaction at all.

Job growth, 2010-2020: 21%

Dental technician

Average annual salary: $68,960

Perks: Dental technicians can make high salaries while remaining out of the limelight. Though minimal interaction with patients and dentists is a requirement, it is a small part of the job. Plus, they often wear surgical masks, and some introverts find this eases some of their anxieties.

Job growth, 2010-2020: 1%

Personal Comment:  Hmmm, see, there are work people with different types of personality out there. I think it's a misconception that just because someone is shy and prefers to be alone, would not be successful in life. I've been told that many times by people who love me and who wanted me to mingle and make many friends. But, I can say that I am quite happy with how I'm living my life and how my career had turned out.

Best Masters Programs credits the following sources for this infographic:

SOURCES

1. http://www.myersbriggs.org
2. http://www.scientificamerican.com
3. http://www.livescience.com
4. http://www.thoughtful-self-improvement.com
5. http://sierratucson.crchealth.com
6. http://healthland.time.com
7. http://www.shyness.com
8. http://www.fastcompany.com
9. http://www.bls.gov
10. http://education.yahoo.net"
11. http://www.indeed.com
12. http://www.psychologytoday.com
13. http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Thank you, Cara, for sharing this info with me. I'll make another post on introverts soon.

Full credits for this post are given to Best Masters Programs.

 

Sndwch Cke?????

The text craze has invaded the food manufacturing industry!

The other day, hubby and I were in the grocery. I was browsing one shelf for my little one's baon and I saw the yummy-looking picture of a Regent product. It looked Sandwich Cake from afar. It says, "with Chocolate Cream Filling". Hmmmm... So I bought a pack (P60+, me thinks).

I took one with me this morning for my breakfast in the office and I laughed aloud when I saw this:

Yep, it's spelled Sndwch Cke

No wonder kids these days have trouble in Spelling.  The way people text influence how they spell outside the cellphone and the food they bring with them are spelled "text-wise" too.

Arrgggghhhh!!!!

I'm reconsidering giving this to my little boy. Good thing, I just opened the pack this morning.

 

Oh by the way, about the taste: imagine toasted mamon? Put a filling in the middle and that's what this tastes like. Not too sweet, not too crumbly.  It's good, actually, save for the spelling of its name.

Kinder Zoo Part II

My sister, Momi G., bought vouchers from Metrodeal for another trip to Kinder Zoo. Since she and Kuya weren't able to come with us, it was just hubby, the little boy and I who went there last Sunday.

We didn't visit Manila Zoo anymore but went straight to Kinder Zoo. At first, the kid got scared again because maraming nakakalat na Kalaw birds. They aren't friendly-looking birds - they've got big beaks and big eyes that seem to say, "Try staring at me again of I'll bite you". But once they start hopping and trying to untie your shoelaces, you'd find them really funny.

But the little kid had fun in the Wall Climbing Section (Voucher is P99 pesos, plus two activities which a guest can choose from any of the following: Zipline, Wall Climbing, Swimming, Butterfly Catching, Bird Feeding, Animal Feeding and Horse Back Riding) There was no Fish Spa at the time we visited and I forgot to ask why, but it should have been part of the activities that one can choose from.

Parents, don't be scared. The zipline is just about a meter and a half from the ground.

There's a bell at the top to ring
if one is able to do it

 The Crocky and the Python happily sleeping together on the table.


That's me and the kid, feeding the parrots.

We brought rice and ulam with us. There are tables near the end part of Kinder Zoo that guests can use. Just don't mind the smell of birds, since this is near some bird cages.  Cowboy style lang!

There are no huts, or shaded benches or tables. So be ready if it rains. We were about to leave when there was a sudden heavy downpour. The only shade there was the umbrella/shade on the table where the crocodile and the python were sleeping, and the umbrella on the entrance.  The kid and I chose to stay with the reptiles since there were two seats there and hubby and the caretakers tried to fit themselves in the other umbrella.

Still, it was fun!

Thanks for the vouchers Momi G!

More pics to follow soon...

Halloween Lunch at Tong Yang

Hubby, the kid, and my bestest, Caru, went to have lunch at Tong Yang after the kid went trick-or-treating in the office. It's my second time there, the first time, when Caru and I celebrated her birthday in advance.

Tong Yang Shabu-Shabu and Barbecue Restaurant offers eat-all-you-can for P399 (all-in), no service charge.  It already includes drink-all-you-can (beer included).  (As if it is possible to eat as much and drink as much in a span of a couple of hours! I'd be immediately dead if I do that) Kids rate is P200.



Soup on the left, grill on the right

Here are my observations:

Smiley Faces:

1. The place looks clean.



The raw section. On the far corner are the cooked dishes.

2. We were welcomed by a friendly receptionist.
3. There was a good variety of choices to cook over the grill.
4. The price was reasonable.
5. The raw food are fresh.



The fresh seafoods available for grillin'.
I didn't take photos of three more sides of the area.



6. There are different fresh green leafy vegetables available.
7. Love the soup (Chicken Satay, which is Spicy, and Sinigang)



One gets two choose two kinds of soups out of three choices:
Chicken Satay, Nilaga, and Sinigang



During our first visit, we chose Chicken Satay Soup
and Bulalo/Nilaga

8. Their coffee is good!! And you brew it yourself! Love their coffee/espresso maker - high tech for my taste!
9. Drinks include four seasons, pineapple, mango, coffee, tea, beer.
10. Ice cream choices are chocolate, melon and strawberry.
11. There were cake slices (saw the box where the cakes where taken out from, they're from Goldilocks).
12. The beef strips are gooooood! (They can be added to the soup, or grilled)

Fruits and Desserts Section

12. No Service Charge!
13. The crew replaced our griller after cooking our first batch of food since it's coated with burnt food already.

Smokin' Hot!

Sad faces:

1. The servers were not friendly in the two times I've been there (except the guy who gave us soups at the start, and who would help us with the grill).  I asked one server near the beef strips section (near the ice cream) for help to scoop the ice cream since it was too frozen, and he just gave me a cup for the ice cream. And he immediately turned his back on me. When I asked the guy in the beef strips section where I can get beef, he got something from one of the counters and gave me a plate of beef strips - without even acknowledging my question. Seemed a bit rude no?

 

2. The ice creams are rock-hard, literally! I could only get about a tablespoon of ice cream, total because it was THAT hard! And even if I asked for help from the servers, the guys did not even acknolwedge me. I don't know, I asked two guys if there were any ice cream that weren't too frozen it and both didn't seem to hear me.

 

3. They only bring out several shrimps for grilling. Considering that I went there for the shrimps, I was disappointed.  You would have to wait many many many minutes (about 15 minutes) before they refill it. And since only few are brought out, you cannot really grab as much as you can as there are still others who would want to have shrimps too.  I asked a server to refill the shrimp platter and he also didn't seem to hear me. Maybe working there can cause deafness.

 

4. During my second visit, there were fewer cooked food available. About five dishes only, I guess.

 

5. There was no plain rice. The little boy didn't like the Yang Chow Fried Rice, so we asked if there was plain rice. The server said there was, but it was inside. (What??? They don't display it?) Anyways, he got a cup of rice for my little one.

6. Very few fruit selections. Though I loved the rambutan.


I give it three smiley faces. I would have been satisfied with the grilling choices, but because in the two times I've been there, they seem to scrimp on the shrimps, then I gave them a lower rating than what I would have given them which should have been four smiley faces.  Also, I don't enjoy having an eat-all-you-can feast with unfriendly servers. It sort of pops the fun in it.

Will I come back? Maybe. Only if Caru convinces me.

Pahabol:  (Tongue twister again. Say ten times as fast as you can: scrimp on the shrimps, scrimps on the shrimps, scrimp on the shrimps, scrimp on the shrimps...)
 

My First Pair(s) of My Own Skechers

I never bought any pair of Skechers since it's too expensive for my taste. Last year, Tita Lena, my former officemate,  saw me dragging my foot and she asked why. I told her my shoe just disintegrated and I had no extra pair. She said, come to my office, and I'll give you a pair. And she gave me one of her favorite pair of Skechers. Yey!!!!  Though it's a little tight, I love it and I wear it as much as I can. (Thanks Tita Lena!)

Last Sunday, while strolling in the mall, I saw a sign outside Skechers' Shop: "Sale up to 70% off".  Sucker as I am to sales and bargains, I told my sister-in-law, Donna, to check it out. And we were so flabbergasted because some shoes were on sale and get this, at a marked down price of 795 pesos (P795)! Weee!!

So we were off to find a pair that would fit us and I am so proud to tell you that I bought two pairs (both at P795 each)! Har Har Har!!! 

Here they are. Drum roll please... Tadaaaaaa!!!

Original Price was P5998

Original Price was P4995

Yep, I've got giant feet

It is the shape-up model that was released in 2010 I guess... These pairs are supposed to improve posture and aids in more weight loss when used during exercise. There's a CD in each pair purchased. (Tongue twister, say ten times in 10 seconds, "pair purchased, pair purchased, pair purchased, pair purchased, pair purchased)

 

I'm kuripot. I want value for my money so I bought these two. I don't care if they're out of season. I like Skechers because its shoes are sturdy and trendy.

 

Ooooohhh, me so happy!!!

 

Hobbies - Accessories

I like to keep my hands busy. One of my passions is making accessories (and source of income too- albeit, very, very, very small income). It's also a stress-reliever for me.

And yep, baking, though I am not too keen in making frostings/ icings, since nobody in the house eats them anyway...

If there is one thing I am very thankful for (aside from my family and friends), it is the ability to create things from scratch with my hands.  

What are your hobbies?

NU Cheerdance Champs

Last Saturday, I was so lucky to be given a chance to attend Foton's Big Show 2013 at the World Trade Center, which I blogged about here.

Thank you Nuffnang and Foton, for choosing me as one of the 11 winners of GC's from Foton (Sayang, I didn't win the Ipad Mini) but still, I'm blessed.

Anyways, when the doors were opened officially declaring the start of the event, who would welcome the guests but the NU Cheerdancers who were the recent champions in the recent UAAP Cheerdance Competition.  And some of them were my former students!!  And what's nice is that they performed at a very close distance!!! It's such a visual treat to watch them! And I'm so proud too!

So, I made sure I took a video of them and I had a picture with them (Kahit blurred!).

With the cheerdance stars!

Ang lapit diba?

                                     

I would have wanted to upload the other video - their complete performance, but Blogger won't allow me to upload it. Hayyy...

We Will Swap Our Beloved Kit for a Foton

Kit has been with us since 1996.  She's our family car: a red and silver Lancer GXL then. She's fully automatic and she looks super cool. 

When my siblings and I started to have our own families, Kit no longer functioned properly.  She gulps gas like a camel gulps water from an oasis in the dessert. Her windows no longer open, and her airconditioning goes haywire when you start driving.  The aircon works properly only when Kit is in neutral gear.  Imagine the torture when you ride her, without any windows opening, and with no airconditioning: yep, slow death.

 

We've been looking for a good family car since Kit started showing signs of old age in the middle of 2000.  Sadly, we have been unsuccessful because we were looking for the following in our future family car:

   1. Affordability

It should not be prized like a luxury vehicle, because we have to take into consideration the needs of the family first (the child is the number one priority, and mind you, that could be costly), before spending on a car.

 

   2. Fuel Efficiency

 

We don't want to spend too much on gas for obvious reasons.  We don't have money all the time for fuel, since we have to really follow our budget.  I've had my share of being broke when I drove Kit, which was nearly empty at that time, and I only had P150 pesos in my wallet. Imagine my embarrassment of gassing up for just P100.00! Arggghhhh!!!

 

We also don't want to add to the load of Mother Nature, so we would like a vehicle that would assure us of fuel economy.

 

   3. Size

 

In the Philippines, family could include someone from the next barangay since he/she is related to your aunt's nephew's cousin, or something.  So our future car should not only be spacious for our own family, but should also have ample space for extended family (not the entire barangay though).  Outings are more fun when more family members join them, right?  And besides, in the Philippines, when we see someone we know walking in the street (with a companion/s), we call them and say, "Lika, sakay na!", even if there is only space for one, that someone would tell his/her companions, "Tara, kasya pa."  So, you know what I mean about size.

 

   4. Cargo Capacity

 

I am a "Jack of all Trades", the female version. I bake, I sell stuff, I do catering on the side, I teach, I join bazaars, I go everywhere. So the cargo capacity of the vehicle is one criteria that was solely given by moi, not the hubby.  I need a place to put my stuff in. Example: There are times when I have to deliver at least 5 dozens of cupcakes. Imagine how I would have to fit that in a car... Or I have to cater food somewhere and I need to bring with me chafing dishes, plates, what-have-yous. It's so hard to fit them all in a car, that sometimes, I have to make several trips to complete my delivery. 

 

Oh, I remember, there was one time that when my kid was still small, and we have to go grocery-shopping and after loading all the groceries into Kit, upon closing the trunk, we discovered that we forgot to load his stroller.  I could not describe how we managed to put his stroller inside. Suffice it to say that, my dad squeezed the stroller onto his lap, with his head at a strange angle, just so the little boy would be safely tucked in his baby carrier, and would not be bothered by the stroller.

 

   5. Make

We would also like to have a car that is "pogi".  Period.

And you know what, we found all of that in Foton's newest models.




http://foton.com.ph

The Thunder and Blizzard Pick-ups best meets our criteria for purchasing a new family vehicle. It is, indeed, value for money!

 

To see what Foton has to offer, attend Foton's Big Show 2013's Grand Launch at the World Trade Center on October 25.  

And you can test-drive a Foton during the Big Show. Just register here so you would get a chance to experience easy-breezy driving with a Foton. You will be convinced that Foton would meet your requirements for your next vehicle purchase.

Please come, because hubby and I are going, and we hope to see you there.

Kit has been with us for decades and the sentimental value we have for her cannot be replaced. But we really need a new car.  So, even if we love Kit dearly, we would let her rest and would gladly swap her with a Foton Thunder Pick-up (or Blizzard Pick-up), because we know that the Foton brand offers quality vehicles at affordable prices.  I think it would not offend Kit at all if we replace her with something much, much better.  Anyway, she had served us for a long time already. 

We also feel that Foton's pick-up trucks have both met all our requirements.  I have also heard that Foton offers great after-sales service.  Now, isn't that what everybody is looking for in a vehicle? Quality + Affordability + Pogi Points = FOTON.

Here's a message from Foton: Join Foton's Big Show 2013's Grand Launch at the World Trade Center on October 25 and witness the launching of the new FOTON View, the 1st dancing wheel loader in the Philippines. Get a chance to trade-in your old vehicles from October 26 to 27. Avail of BIG DISCOUNTS and BIG REWARDS when purchasing FOTON vehicles at the event. Receive amazing giveaways just for coming and you get even more when you test drive our passenger vehicles or attend our forums and trainings. No entrace fee!

 

 

My kid was bitten by a dog

My kid was bitten by a neighbor's dog yesterday.  He was bitten on the left thigh and he had scratch marks on his right leg. He said that he and his playmate were outside the house, playing, when the dog suddenly bit him.   Hubby and I were so p*ssed when we saw the wounds on our little boy. He immediately looked for the owner of the dog.   After a few minutes, we were ready to go to the hospital. We looked for an Animal Bite Center nearby where the little boy was given anti-rabies and anti-tetanus shots (for a whooping price of P2,400 for the two shots).

 

I learned a few lessons from this incident:

 

1. Do not panic.  While I pacified the little boy, hubby was the one who "hunted" for the dog's owner.

I brought the little boy to our room, dressed the wounds, changed his clothes, and told him to wait for me while I take a quick bath and get ready to go to the hospital.

 

2. The City Hall has an Animal Bite Center. They charge a minimal fee for the injections but I was not able to learn how much because it was a holiday. So, it was closed. Darn!

3. One has to clean the wound right away, even if it hurts a lot.

4. It is best to find the owner of the animal right away, to discuss the responsibilities of the animal owner, such as payment for the shots, medicines, if any, transportation costs, and to be reminded that he/she should ensure that his/her pet remains inside his/her property to avoid a repetition of the incident, and to observe the pet too for any changes in the behavior.                  

5. A friend told me that the little boy should not be eating eggs, fish, energy drinks, chocolates within the period of vaccination. That is within thirty (30) days from the day he was bitten.

6. There are Animal Bite Centers that offer cheaper shots (P600 for the first shot, P300 for the succeding shots= four more visits to the clinic). But we only learned of this after the little boy had his shots.  The succeding shots in the Animal Bite Center we visited was P1,800 for both the anti-rabies and anti-tetanus shots.

Still, I have a lot to be grateful for. 

1. It was a holiday so both hubby and I were home.

2. Hubby and I didn't panic.

3. There were construction workers on the lot in front of our home who saw what happened and immediately pointed out the dog who bit my little boy. It was a neighbor's dog, which escaped their home.

4. A neighbor was able to identify the owner of the dog.

5. We had money to advance the payment for the injections.  Good thing, the neighbor immediately reimbursed the payment for the injections.

6. Despite the ordeal, my little boy is still A-Okay.

Let me just add that the darn dog also bit my little boy's playmate. We belatedly learned this, because the playmate didn't say anything when my little boy was crying.  We learned this after we got back to the clinic and after we gave the receipt to the dog owner.   The dog owner wasn't at home, according to her daughter, because she accompanied a little boy, who was also bitten that time by their dog, to an Animal Bite Center, aka, my little boy's playmate.  Later in the evening, when I asked the little boy, he said narrated that his playmate was bitten first by the dog, then he was bitten next.
 

Grrr...

 

I still love pets: dogs, cats, hamsters, birds... But I hate it when they bite people. 

Pardon the typos, my emotions are running high as I write this.

“Real UnliCHAT Experience with Globe’s GoUnli30”

I love chatting.  It's a perfect venue to meet new friends and to connect with family and friends whom you don't see or talk with very often. 

 

I remember in the early 2000s, when I would have to buy internet cards with a P30.00-value, which is good for an hour, and the connection would be erratic. Sometimes, I am in the middle of having an engaging conversation and the card would run out, so I would have to log in again, and sometimes, I won't be able to log in anymore, notwithstanding that I'm using a new card, with a brand-new load.  By the time I've logged in, my "kausap" has already logged out.

So, it used to be that chatting or connecting with the internet really cost a lot, but with the advent of technology, and the awareness of the networks to the people's need to communicate with family and friends, this had been made cheaper and a lot more affordable.   Also, with the advent of smartphones, chatting is made much easier and more convenient. Imagine chatting without hooking up to your computer.  And now, with Globe GoUNLI30, it's not only more than affordable, it's a lot more "SULIT"!

How does  Globe GoUNLI30 give you the REAL UNLI chat experience?

With GoUNLI30, subscribers get unlimited texts to all networks, unlimited calls to Globe/TM, and unlimited chat with the best messaging apps like Viber, Kakao Talk, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, WeChat, Line and the telco’s very own messaging app GMessage without the need for Wi-Fi or additional data charges. Available for only P30 valid for 1 day, GoUNLI30 gives you no excuse to stay out of the loop and connect with more than 1 billion users around the world regardless of mobile network or location.

Againt, through this, subscribers get the following:

      1. Unlimited texts to all networks
      2. Unlimited calls to Globe/TM

     3. Unlimited access to messaging apps - Viber, Kakao Talk, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, WeChat, Line and GMessage without the need for Wi-Fi or additional data charges

 

Chat fanatics- this is perfect for you!

 

Imagine, for only P30.00 per day, that's real value for money! See, that's why Globe's GoUNLI30 is more than "sulit"!

Now, there's no more excuse for people not to connect online.

 

Go all-out unlimited with GoUNLI30 and UNLICHAT25 now. Register by dialing *143# and then choosing GoSAKTO on your Globe mobile phone or texting GOUNLI30 or UNLICHAT25 to 8888

 

The Right Way to Fly is with AirAsia

Around this time last year, I was looking for promo tickets to Boracay since I got a free accommodation there for three days. My kid hasn't been there yet and hubby and I were so sure that he would enjoy the sea and the sand.  

So for our trip next year, hubby and I came up with a wishlist of  our top three (3) domestic destinations from Manila:

     1.Puerto Princesa
     2. Davao
     3. Kalibo (Boracay)
          
Why?

1. Puerto Princesa

Hubby and I both hadn't been there, and so is the little boy.  I had a few friends from Palawan who regaled me with stories about its beauty, pristine beaches and amazing people.  I have tried many times to go to Palawan during my unmarried days, but the budget did not always seem to fit in my pockets!  It's also where the Underground River is, designated as a World Heritage Site right here in the Philippines, so who wouldn't want to visit that?  I can't wait to tell my kid how amazing it is, being home to a diversity of ecosystems, unspoiled caves, and the perfect home for: BATS. I can't wait to see the look in his eyes when I explain that to him.

Photo credit:  http://www.puerto-undergroundriver.com/    

2. Davao

Hmmm... Why? Because hubby and I are not sure what can be found in Davao... I know there's Samal Island.  Other than that, I don't have any close friends (even family/relatives) who've gone on vacation in Davao so I have no idea what beauty awaits us there.  Hubby and I love being surprised and sometimes, it is nice to travel to some place without any expectation so the surprise would be really amazing!

Photo Credit: www.davaotourism.com

3. Kalibo (Boracay)

Okay, so we've been there last January already and why am I thinking of going there again? Because, there's nothing like Boracay! I know it's overcrowded and all, but lying on the sands of Boracay reminds me of how lucky we are as Filipinos to have such a beautiful place like this within our midst. 

Boracay Father and Dad moment

My friends always ask me why I seemed not to have any plans to visit places abroad.  I always tell them that there are still a lot of places in the Philippines that I haven't visited, so that's my priority for now. Travelling abroad would just have to wait for awhile, until I've had my fill of the beauty of the Philippines (unless it's an office-related travel abroad which would probably happen in three hundred twenty seven years).

It's a good thing that AirAsia and Zest Air have now partnered to bring every Pinoy more choices, more affordable flights and better service with the now rebranded AirAsia Zest. The Civil Aeronautics Board (“CAB”) approved “AirAsia Zest” as the new brand name of Zest Airways, Inc. Now my "dream vacations" can now be achievable because of cheaper air fares and better service.  I won't suffer from high blood pressure anymore because of the hassles of travel that are usually caused by delayed flights, expensive fares and inefficient staff.  

I think you should try AirAsia Zest too.

If you think that AirAsia Zest flies from Clark, you are now mistaken. Honey, the lucky stars are on us now. AirAsia flies from Manila! It's no longer AirAsia in Clark, but it's now, AirAsia Zest, NAIA Terminal 4. 

AirAsia Zest Chairman Mikee Romero said, “We are excited to introduce AirAsia Zest, and what it represents. With our alliance, we are well positioned to offer our guests the strength of our combined network of domestic and international routes and unrivalled daily low fares, proving a world class travel experience that every Filipino deserves."

Just an anecdote on the side: during our Boracay trip last January, the flight was delayed for 9 hours or so. The airline (I won't say which one) couldn't give us any reason for the delay. Instead of leaving at around 3 pm, we left at 11 in the evening. Imagine travelling at midnight in Kalibo, with your backpacks, and with a tired four-year old in tow and with no boat available to bring you to Caticlan.  And you know what, I sent at least two complaints on the airline's website as soon as we got back a week after, and up to now, I have yet to receive any reply. 

But with the partnership of AirAsia Zest, this airline is committed to ensure quality service to its customers.

"We hope this brand new look is the first of many steps towards making AirAsia Zest an airline that continues to revolutionize air travel in the Philippines. We are geared up and committed to ensuring that AirAsia Zest lives up to the same incredibly high standards of AirAsia,” Romero said.

AirAsia Zest likewise boasts of its new logo: 

You can see that the "Zest" name 

has been incorporated in the red hot logo of AirAsia.

You might also think that AirAsia Zest is only for flying in the Philippines. Nopes! While it offers flights to Cebu, Davao, Kalibo (Boracay), Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran, Cagayan De Oro, AirAsia Zest also offers trips to Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu  Shanghai, Incheon, so Asia is now within your reach. 

While my goal for now is to travel in the Philippines, my goal in the next few years would be to travel in Asia with AirAsia. Surely, it's the Right Way to Fly!

Now, who says it's too expensive and too much of a hassle to fly?