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Shop Online And Get Cash Back | ShopBack

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By now, my loyal readers would know that online shopping is a passion of mine. I'm all for the benefits of what purchasing merchandise online can give us. The beauty of shopping without leaving the comforts of home, being the main factor, is what sealed the deal for me. I never dreamed of coming across something else that could top that, but I did, fairly recently. How does getting cash back when you shop online sound? Absolutely awesome, right?!

I couldn't quite believe it myself when I stumbled upon ShopBack, it lets us get cash back when we purchase from online stores like Lazada, Zalora, eBay, AliExpress, Old Navy, Forever 21, just to name a few. So how does it work?

  • Go to Shopback.ph (Sign up for an account, if you haven't already)
  • Click on any of the stores you want to buy items from and get redirected to their website
  • Shop as usual
  • Get CashBack on your Shopback account within 48 hours
  • Your CashBack will be redeemable once the store you bought from validates your order
  • You can request for Payout once you've reached the 300 pesos threshold




Yes, it's that easy! I purchased an item from Lazada just to try it out and now I'm only less than 96 pesos away from requesting for Payout! I am definitely set on doing all of my online shopping through ShopBack from now on, who doesn't want to get cash back, right? 


Traveling on a budget? Then you should definitely book activities, hotel accommodations, flights and tour packages online through ShopBack to help you find the best deals and discounts, and of course get cash back! Booking a hotel from the trusty website Agoda is already great but getting up to 400 pesos cash back is even better, don't you think? I've made hassle-free bookings a couple of times through Expedia before, and now I can't wait to do it again and get up to 8% cash back this time around with ShopBack! You can also purchase flights on Philippine Airlines with ease on TravelBook and now earn cash back on top of discounts!




Traveling as a whole is already made easy by booking accommodations, flights and activities online, ShopBack just made it even more spectacular by letting us get a portion of our money back after each transaction. Think about the money you can save when you turn to ShopBack for the online prearrangement you'll need for your trips, which you can use for your next adventure! It's like you're getting paid to travel, doesn't it?

I never thought I could spend money on trips and get some cash back in the end. This is definitely good news for me, since I started to have thoughts that getting out of the house might not be such a bad idea after all. Yes, I am planning to leave my momcave to go on adventures with Dave and the kids. You already know that I'm a sucker for discounts and deals, getting cash back just gave me the extra push I needed to go through with it, traveling. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to travel and stretch my peso with ShopBack! Stay tuned for my family's adventures!

Calling all Philippine bloggers! Contest alert from the generous fairy godparents over at ShopBack!

https://www.shopback.ph/blog/post/win-a-wish-from-shopback

10 lucky bloggers will get a chance to have one of their wishes (for products below PHP 10,000) come true! So if you’ve got a wishlist filled with items from one or more of ShopBack’s extensive list of stores, just write about it in your blog! You can include as many items as you want in your wishlist, explain why you want them, and how you can save on these items if you get it through ShopBack. Convince those fairy godparents at ShopBack and they might just grant you your wish!

More details about the contest here.

Guess who's joining? Me, of course! Keeping my fingers crossed on this one! Watch out for my entry!




https://plus.google.com/+AnneVallega/about

Where To Buy Diatomaceous Earth In Manila

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Looking for Diatomaceous Earth or DE? Dave and I bought some (food grade) last March and totally forgot to write about it, but before I reveal to you where I got our stock from, let's talk about what DE is exactly, first.

DE goes by many names other than diatomaceous earth, it is also known as dinosaur dust, miracle mineral, fossil shell and ancient treasure. Generally considered safe, diatomaceous earth comes from the remains of diatoms, or oceanic unicellular algae. Diatoms are hard-shelled algae that come from bodies of water, a type of fossilized phytoplankton, typically sold in powder form and used for a wide variety of needs. DE has a high silica content which makes it good for our skin and hair. Studies also show that DE has a negative charge which proves to be useful when it comes to health considerations.



Some of the most popular diatomaceous earth uses include:
  • foods and beverages, such as in beer and wine
  • water filters
  • skin care products
  • supplements and medicines
  • toothpastes
  • pet nutrition products
  • products used on dogs and cats to kill flees
  • bed bug-killing treatments
  • sprays and products used to get rid of bugs, including cockroaches, crickets, fleas, ticks, spiders
  • anti-caking and clarifying ingredients used in food manufacturing
  • rubbers and paints used in construction
  • abrasive products used as defoliators and for cleaning
  • rodent sprays

Here are some of the benefits one can expect from using DE:
  • a cleaner home, free from parasites, bed bugs and viruses
  • healthier-looking skin, hair and nails
  • improved digestion and promotes regular bowel movements
  • improved liver and colon functioning
  • better joint and ligament health
  • detoxification and removal of heavy metals in the body
  • stronger immune system and prevention from contracting illnesses
  • stronger bones and protection from fractures or osteoporosis
  • increased energy
  • for dogs and cats, cleaner skin and protection from flees/ticks

We had pests to get rid of and also small children and pets to protect. Going the usual route of using chemical-based products just wasn't in the cards. The risk was too high and we were never fans of those household brands anyway. Dave told me about DE as a natural alternative and I was dead set on acquiring some for our household to safely get rid of pesky bugs without endangering the kids and our cats. My search was successful, stumbling upon Happy Healthy Pet Soap House - Madre de Cacao Products on Facebook got me the food grade DE that we were aiming to get.

100% Natural Organic Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth from the store is priced at Php350/kg for Premium and Php150/kg for Regular. I ordered 2kgs of their Premium food grade DE, paid for it the next day and got it the day after through Xend. It was a smooth and hassle-free transaction all in all. So happy I found a shop to purchase DE from.

Our pest problem was solved using this safe and natural powder. More about this wonderful product that definitely stretched our peso, soon.

Happy Healthy Pet Soap House - Madre de Cacao Products' Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/happyhealthypetsoaphouse/


https://plus.google.com/+AnneVallega/about

My 2016 Wishlist | ShopBack Win A Wish Entry

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Win A Wish Blogging Contest Entry

Shopping is a passion of mine. I don't know a person in the metro who doesn't like shopping. And I definitely don't know anyone who doesn't want to get items at a discounted price or better yet absolutely free! Thanks to ShopBack for giving us bloggers a chance to get one of our wishes from any products (under P10,000) from their vast list of merchants granted. So here goes!

  1. I have been hiding in my mom cave long enough to know that I badly need some Vitamin Sea and a whole lot of Sun. So the first on my wishlist would be an overnight vacation by the beach on the weekend of my birthday this year which is on Nov 19-20. Accommodations at the Pico Sands Hotel through Agoda.com to be exact, a  room for 2 adults and 4 kids below 12 years old would be lovely. When using ShopBack to book through Agoda, we get 400 pesos cash back for bookings above 2400 pesos and 5% for bookings below 2400 pesos! How cool is that? I hope those generous fairy godparents at ShopBack would grant this for me, it'll be our first family vacation for 2016 and will definitely be a more memorable one if we get the accommodations for free haha!



  2. Lazada has been our online shopping go-to website since we discovered it a couple of years back. From our trusty power banks, emergency lights, USB chargers down to our Brother 3in1 printer, Lazada let us purchase each one with ease. It shouldn't be a wonder why everything else on my wish list will be from their shopping website. Lazada is already great on its own but with ShopBack, we can get cash back of 2.50% for electronics (existing customers), 5.00% for electronics (for new customers), 10.00% for fashion items and 8.00% for non-electronics which makes it even better!


    Asus Zenfone 2 Laser is one cool smartphone that I think every blogger should have. This gadget will definitely help me in taking stunning photos and uploading them in an instant on my social media accounts for the blog. You have to admit that taking pictures with a bulky SLR could be a challenge when you're a mom of 4, so having a smartphone that does the job of an SLR but can readily post the photos on social media can help me a lot with my work.



  3. Asus Zenpad 16GB is another trusty gadget that can help me a lot when it comes to blogging and my writing commitments. As a lifestyle content writer, I get a lot of assignments where I need to be in front of the PC for hours, which isn't possible since I share our desktop with the kids and they get to use it more than I do, to keep the peace. Having the Asus Zenpad could help me write more and accept more jobs since I plan to only use it for work. Yup, it'll be a kid-free gadget, no games are going to be installed here for sure!

  4. A Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB Portable External Hard Drive to save my blog files, photos, my image library and Photoshop files of graphic designs I was commissioned to make. 2TB capacity since 1TB is nothing to me, yes, I have a lot to backup as it is.

  5. A Russell Hobbs Coffee Maker to help keep us up when there are things that still need to be done but we've run out of juice already haha. I've been a fan of the Russell Hobbs brand since 2009, it was popular in Africa, which is where I lived with Miss Artsy for a time. A coffee maker would help us heaps for those late nights, which happens quite a lot when you're a young family. Having an infant to take care of, says it all.


Any of the items on my wishlist available at Lazada could help me a great deal with juggling parenting and blogging. I really do hope ShopBack grants one of the items on this mom blogger's list! Keeping my fingers crossed!

Are you a blogger? Have you joined ShopBack.ph's Win A Wish Blogging Contest yet? I'd love to see what's on your wishlist, who knows, they might just grant it!

More details about the contest here.


https://plus.google.com/+AnneVallega/about

Students Off To Leave A Mark: Lazada Launches 1st Intercollegiate Marketing Seminar & Competition

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Press Release
 
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Lazada Philippines (www.lazada.com.ph), the country’s one stop online shopping and selling destination, launched its first intercollegiate marketing seminar and competition they called “The Laz Mark” just last July 30 at the Lazada Head Quarters in BGC, Taguig.

The Laz Mark brought together 30 highly talented students who stood out among almost a hundred applicants all of which were aspiring to take an active role in marketing Lazada’s biggest sale of the year in Q4. The students come from the top universities in the Philippines, namely Far Eastern University, Ateneo De Manila University, University of Asia and the Pacific, De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde, University of Santo Tomas, Polytechnic University of the Philippines and the University of the Philippines.

(L to R) The Laz Mark student delegates together with Sydney Dondon (Head of Lazada Affiliate Marketing), Jio Zorrilla (Senior Analyst for Lazada Branding and Communications), Trisha Cuason (President of Vintage Restore Manila), Piccina Alvarez (President and CEO of PurpleClick Philippines) and Mila Jimenez (Lazada Vice President for Offline Marketing).

Lazada invited experts in the fields of marketing to give talks to the student delegates. Althea Utzurrum, Lazada’s VP for Online Marketing tackled competitive strategies and metrics used to measure success in e-Commerce marketing. Piccina Alvarez, President and CEO of PurpleClick Philippines, discussed how Facebook can be used as an end-to-end solution to drive awareness and conversion for brands. Finally, Trisha Cuason, President of Vintage Restore Manila, gave a talk on brand management, focusing on brand building and positioning. The participants were broken down into different groups to encourage everyone to collaborate outside their comfortzones, and were given the task to create a campaign for this year’s Online Revolution sale. The groups will then present their initial pitch to Lazada’s management team this coming August 27, 2016.

“Lazada wants to share the startup culture that grew the company into what it is today, through the spirit of entrepreneurship, accountability, innovation and integrity. We hope that through this activity, students will be inspired to create their own legacy as early as now and build entrepreneurial communities that will be part of Philippine pop culture.” - Inanc Balci, Co-Founder and CEO of Lazada Philippines.  


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The 37th Manila International Book Fair

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Celebrate the Biggest Book Fair in the Philippines!

WHAT: THE 37TH MANILA INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR

WHEN: September 14-18, 2016

TIME: 10am - 8pm

WHERE: SMX Convention Center, MOA


SCHEDULE OF SPECIAL EVENTS (As of August 5, 2016)

DAY 1 - Wednesday, September 14, 2016
9:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M. / Stage Area
Eucharistic Celebration
8:30 A.M. – 10:30 A.M. / Meeting Rooms 5 & 6
PLAI’s 10 Point Agenda for Change: A Call to Action
Speaker: Ms. Elizabeth Peralejo
Fees: Members – P250.00, Non-members – P300.00, Students – P150.00
Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. (PLAI)
10:30 A.m. – 12:30 P.M. / Stage Area
Gintong Aklat Awards
Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP)
1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. / Meeting Room 4
Classhub
Speaker: Mr. Jaden Cheng
Data Science and Technology Corp.
1:00 P.M. – 2:30 P.M. / Meeting Room 5
Holistic Living: Pathways to Enhancing Productivity in Your Work
Medical and Health Librarians Association of the Philippines (MAHLAP)
4:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. / Stage Area
The 2016 Cardinal Sin Book Awards
Asian Catholic Communicators, Inc. (ACCI)

DAY 2 - Thursday, September 15, 2016
9:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. / Meeting Rooms 5 & 6
Rights Trading Forum
National Book Development Board (NBDB)
10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. / Meeting Rooms 2 & 3
Portal of Reference Service: Assimilating the Cross-Cultural Reference Platforms
Speaker: Prof. John Hickok
Fees: Members - P300.00, Non-Members - P400.00, Undergraduate Students - P150.00 (with valid school I.D.)
Philippine Normal University Library and Information Science Alumni Association (PNULISAA), Inc.
1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. / Meeting Rooms 2 & 3
Passionate Advocates of Knowledge: Bringing the Library to the Community: A Catalyst for Literacy
Speakers: Troy Lacsamana (Heneral Basa) and Hernando Guanlao (Reading Club 2000)
Fees: Regular – P400.00, Students – P300.00
University of the Philippines Library Science Alumni Association (UPLSAA)
6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. / Stage Area
Book Launching
Touchlife Global Foundation, Inc.

DAY 3 - Friday, September 16, 2016
9:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. / Meeting Rooms 4 & 5
Collection Assessment for Academic Libraries: Case Studies
Philippine Association of Academic/Research Librarians, Inc. (PAARL)
9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. / Meeting Room 6
Book Development Association of the Philppines
10:00 A.M. – 12:00 NN / Stage Area
Storytelling
Vibal Group
1:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. / Stage Area
Annual Lampara Children’s Storytelling Competition
Precious Pages Corp. / Lampara Publishing House, Inc.
1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. / Meeting Room 4
PEPA Forum
Philippine Educational Publishers Association, Inc. (PEPA)
5:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. / Stage Area
CSM’s Grand Unveiling of New Resources
Church Strengthening Ministry, Inc.

DAY 4 - Saturday, September 17, 2016
8:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M. / Meeting Room 6
Teacher’s Month Seminar
Anvil Publishing, Inc. & National Book Store, Inc.
11:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. / Meeting Room 2
Public Talk about Holistic Health by Swami Medsahananda, an Indian Monk of the Ramakrishna Order (Free Admission)
The Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of the Philippines, Inc.
10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. / Stage Area
7th St Pauls Bible Quiz Championship
St Pauls and Manila International Book Fair
11:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. / Meeting Room 5
Moymoy Lulumboy
Precious Pages Corp. / Lampara Publishing House, Inc.
1:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. / Meeting Room 4
Lampara Story Writing Workshop
Precious Pages Corp. / Lampara Publishing House, Inc.
2:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. / Meeting Room 5
PHR Workshopper Get Together
Precious Pages Corp. / Lampara Publishing House, Inc.
3:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. / Meeting Room 2
Session of Guided Meditation by Swami Medsahananda, an Indian Monk of the Ramakrishna Order (Free Admission)
The Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of the Philippines, Inc.
3:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. / Meeting Room 6
Black Ink Filipino Comics Festival
Precious Pages Corp. / Lampara Publishing House, Inc.
5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. / Stage Area
Eucharistic Celebration
6:00 P.M. - 7:30 P.M. / Meeting Room 5
Practical Wisdom to be Happy at Work
Speaker: Boris Joaquin
Lighthouse Inspirational Books & Gifts, Inc.
7:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. / Stage Area
Kerygma Books Book Launch
Speaker: Bo Sanchez, Kerygma Preacher
Shepherd’s Voice Publications, Inc.

DAY 5 - Sunday, September 18, 2016
1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. / Function Room 2
Annual Wattpad MeetUp
Wattpad
1:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. / Stage Area
PHR Cocktail Party 2016
Precious Pages Corp. / Lampara Publishing House, Inc.
1:30 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. / Meeting Room 4
Forum
Readercon
6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. / Stage Area
Book Launch
Summit Media

LIST OF EXHIBITORS
  • Abiva Publishing House, Inc.
  • Academic Book Sales, Inc.
  • Accu-Map, Inc.
  • Adarna House, Inc.
  • Airbooks Corporation/Britannica Online
  • Alexan Commercial
  • Alpha Stream Marketing
  • Anvil Publishing, Inc.
  • Asia/Pacific Circulation Exponents, Inc.
  • Ateneo University Press
  • Bantay OCW Foundation, Inc.
  • Bayard Assumption Media Foundation
  • Belview Co., Inc.
  • Book Trends Enterprises
  • Bookmark, Inc.
  • Bookware Publishing Corp.
  • Bridge Publications, Inc.
  • Brilliant Creations Publishing, Inc.
  • Business Mirror
  • C & E Publishing, Inc.
  • Catholic Book Center
  • CD Books International, Inc.
  • Cengage Learning
  • Central Book Supply, Inc.
  • Christian Growth Ministries, Inc.
  • Christian Literature Crusade
  • Church Strengthening Ministry, Inc.
  • Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.
  • Conrey Specialty Foods Inc.
  • Cosmos Bazar/Pilot Pen
  • Creative Mind Books Center
  • Cunanan Map House
  • Data Science and Technology Corp.
  • Domdane Publishers and Made Easy Bookstore
  • EDCA Publishing & Distributing Corp.
  • Edcrisch International, Inc.
  • Embassy of the Czech Republic
  • Emerald Headway Distributors, Inc.
  • F & J de Jesus, Inc.
  • Far Eastern University Publications
  • Fastbooks Educational Supply, Inc.
  • Felta Multi-Media, Inc.
  • Filway Marketing Inc.
  • Forefront Book Co., Inc.
  • Fully Booked (Sketch Books, Inc.)
  • Gentle Star Trading Corp.
  • Global International Education Link Enterprises Col.
  • Golden Books Services, Inc.
  • Goodwill Bookstore
  • Great Books Trading
  • Grolier International - Cyclophil Division
  • Heartshaper/Lighthouse Educational Corp.
  • High Access Line Phils. Corp.
  • IBC Book Consolidators, Inc.
  • IBON Foundation
  • Ilaw ng Tahanan Publishing, Inc.
  • Instituto Cervantes
  • IRH Press Co., Inc.
  • Jesuit Communications Foundation, Inc.
  • Jevzam's Enterprise
  • Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino
  • Lampara Publishing House, Inc.
  • Learningway Enterprises
  • Lighthouse Inspirational Books & Gifts, Inc./Lighthouse Bookstore
  • Linar Educational Materials, Inc.
  • Lyric Piano & Organ Corp.
  • Meganon Comics Publishing House
  • Megatexts Phil., Inc.
  • Megaviz Publishing Co.
  • Merr-C Society of the Word Foundation, Inc.
  • Mind Mover Publishing House, Inc.
  • Mindwerks Toy Shoppe
  • MSA Publishing House
  • National Book Store, Inc.
  • National Historical Commission of the Philippines
  • Navigator Ministries, Inc.
  • New Century Books
  • New Day Publishers
  • OMF Literature
  • Paulines
  • Philippine Bible Society
  • Philippine Christian Book Store
  • Philippine Daily Inquirer
  • Phoenix Educational Systems, Inc.
  • Precious Pages Corp.
  • PSICOM Publishing Inc.
  • Reader's Knowledge Bookstore
  • Rex Book Store, Inc.
  • Shepherd House Publishers, Inc.
  • Shepherd's Voice Publications, Inc.
  • Sinag-Tala Publishers
  • St. Paul's
  • Summit Publishing Co., Inc.
  • SVD Logos Publications, Inc.
  • The Brain Audiovisual
  • The Ramakrishna Vedanta Society of the Phils., Inc.
  • Touchlife Global Foundation, Inc.
  • Tradewinds Books
  • University of Santo Tomas Publishing House
  • University of the Philippines Press
  • Vibal Group
  • Wiseman's Books Trading, Inc.
  • Word & Life Publications
  • WS Pacific Publications, Inc.

Save the dates!

http://www.manilabookfair.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/manilaintbookfair/

https://plus.google.com/+AnneVallega/about

Heavenly Creations By Zen | Review

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Las Pinas isn't a place I frequent that much, since it's so far from where we reside and the well-known constant traffic just kept me veering away from the idea of gracing said city with my presence. It's where Dave lived with his parents and siblings, before we got married. It's my in-laws who does the visiting as far as I can remember, maybe because Dave and I prefer to stay at home and also due to the fact that our kids weren't that travel friendly at the time. But I swear, if I knew about the culinary extraordinaire living in Las Pinas, I would've visited my in-laws pretty often ages ago haha. Yep, that's the foodie taking over.


It all started with a bottle that held the perfect blend of chili and garlic that my brother-in-law brought with him for us to sample. I'm not a huge fan of spicy food, but I can take a certain amount of heat, and Heavenly Creations by Zen's chili garlic sauce has got me hooked for the long haul. Now my meals will never be complete without having a bit of the delectable spicy garlicky sauce on the side, to complement any dish served at the table, except for dessert, of course. The divine sauce tends to make me ask for extra helpings of rice, more than once, to Dave's delight haha. Check out some of Heavenly Creations by Zen's savory offerings:

  • Dried Fish in Oil
  • Chili Garlic Sauce
  • Gourmet Tuyo in Olive Oil
  • Spanish Sardines in Canola Oil
  • Beef Tacos Empanadas
  • Herbed Focaccia Bread
  • and more!



These macaroons that we ordered taste absolutely scrumptious that we actually finished the entire box in a matter of minutes. It doesn't taste like your ordinary macaroon though, since it isn't too sugary sweet like what we're used to, making the other ingredients like the coconut's flavor to come out. Gourmet macaroons best describes 'em. These aren't even in the menu, but true to what my brother-in-law's wife said, Ms. Zennie can indeed bake/cook just about anything, you name it and she'll bake it. Try some of her mouthwatering sweet treats:

  • Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Carrot-Pineapple Cupcakes
  • Double Chocolate Muffins
  • Cookies and Cream Cupcakes
  • Fudgy Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Banana Crumble Mini Loaves
  • Special Soft Ensaymada
  • Braso De Mercedes Cupcakes
  • New York Cheesecake Cupcakes with Blueberry Topping
  • Christmas Fruitcake
  • Banana Cake with Belgian Chocolate Chips
  • Food for the Gods
  • Yema Cake
  • Brownies
  • Mocha Chiffon Cake
  • Choco Meringue Bars
  • Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Banana Walnut Crumble Cake
  • Carrot Cake with Walnuts
  • Dark Chocolate Cake with Dulce De Leche Filling
  • Black Forest Cupcakes
  • and more!



Check out Ms. Zennie's latest creation, Chocolate Chili Cupcakes with a combination of whipped cream and cream cheese for the frosting, dusted with Cayenne Pepper. Pairing chilies and chocolate isn't something new to yours truly, being a self-confessed Food Network and Top Chef fanatic, but it's a first for me to try it out in the local scene. It was a delicious combination of flavors in my mouth, even Miss Artsy gobbled up 2 of the cupcakes in one sitting. The amount of spice from the Chili powder added to the cupcake and Cayenne just gave a subtle heat that won't burn your palate but enough to make its presence felt. Again, it wasn't too sweet and the chocolate flavor was showcased at its finest. The frosting was sublime! The amount of sugar was just right and the consistency was superb, it held up great and complemented the chocolate chili flavor to a T. Kudos to Ms. Zennie for these excellent cupcakes!

We've only tasted her Chili Garlic Sauce (now a staple at our dinner table), Macaroons and Chocolate Chili Cupcakes (ordering again) and now we're huge fans! I can't wait to sample more!

Are you a Las Pinas resident or lives near the area? Then be sure to check out Heavenly Creations by Zen's amazing savory and sweet goodies! Talk about value for your money, we definitely satisfied our palates and still stretched our peso!

For prices and inquiries kindly visit Heavenly Creations by Zen on:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/heavenlycreationsbz
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/heavenlycreationsbzen/


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Certified Positive's 3rd Anniversary | Kids Olympics

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It's Certified Positive's 3rd ANNIVERSARY this year and they're inviting EVERYONE to join them in celebrating it with the Orphans of Gentle Hands. ❤


WHAT: Kids Olympics 2016: Larong Pinoy

WHEN: August 21, 2016 Sunday, 


TIME: 10am-1pm

WHERE: 27 F, Castillo Street, Cubao QC, Waze Gentle Hands
 
This is an OPEN EVENT so come and invite your family and friends!!! Let's make this day memorable! #BlessedToBless

Praise God for His faithfulness and all His wonderful works through Certified Positive during these 3 wonderful years and counting. ❤

FREE CERTIFIED POSITIVE NOTEPADS for all attendees!
 
U! Happy Events - organizer, event and NGO partner

For inquiries you may contact: 09162665658

God bless everyone! :)

Reference:
http://www.facebook.com/events/1145891568767052/
http://www.facebook.com/certifiedpositive/
https://www.facebook.com/uhappyevents/
http://www.facebook.com/gentlehandsinc/


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Philippine Holidays 2017 | Plan Ahead

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Here's the list of nationwide regular and special non-working holidays released by Malacanang for 2017. You guys, like us, should definitely take note of this important dates, there's a total of seventeen holidays. It'll help us all with planning ahead. I've written them down on one of my planners already!

Under Proclamation 50, Malacanang said the following are declared regular holidays:

  • New Year's Day- January 1 (Sunday)
     
  • Araw ng Kagitingan - April 9 (Sunday)
     
  • Maundy Thursday - April 13
     
  • Good Friday - April 14
     
  • Labor Day- May 1 (Monday)
     
  • Independence Day- June 12 (Monday)
     
  • National Heroes Day- August 28 (Monday)
     
  • Bonifacio Day- November 30 (Thursday)
     
  • Christmas Day- December 25 (Monday)
     
  • Rizal Day- December 30 (Saturday)
     
The following are meanwhile special (Non-working) days:

  • Chinese New Year - January 28 (Saturday)
     
  • EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary- February 25 (Saturday)
     
  • Black Saturday - April 15
     
  • Ninoy Aquino Day- August 21 (Monday)
     
  • All Saints Day- November 1 (Wednesday)
     
  • Last Day of the Year- December 31 (Sunday)

Additional special (non-working day) - October 31 (Tuesday)

The proclamation said the holidays for the observance of Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha will be issued later in accordance with the Islamic calendar.

It added that the Department of Labor and Employment will promulgate the implementing guidelines of the proclamation.

Employees who work on holidays are paid  more than the overtime rate on regular days (regular hourly rate + 25 percent of regular hourly rate).

However, the difference in the categories' definitions is reflected in their separate pay rates. Those who work on regular holidays are paid at least 200 percent of the sum of their daily rate and cost of living allowance.

On the other hand, employees who work on special non-working days are paid at least 130 percent of the sum of their daily rate and cost of living allowance.

Plan away!

Reference:

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/18/16/regular-non-working-holidays-in-2017-revealed

https://plus.google.com/+AnneVallega/about

The 3rd Annual Chilli Festival | CHILLIHEADS PHILIPPINES

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WHAT:CHILLIHEADS PHILIPPINES: The 3rd Annual Chilli Festival
 
WHEN: October 22-23, 2016 (Saturday-Sunday)

WHERE: GREEN DAISY, 20 Maginhawa st., UP Village, Q.C.
 
TIME: 8am - 8pm

FEE:
Php 50 - entrance

HIGHLIGHTS:
Chilli Pods Arrangement Competition (Saturday 22 October 2016)

Chilli Plant Competition (Saturday 22 October 2016)
Must have pods

Cook Off (Saturday 22 October 2016)

Hot Sauce Competition (Sunday 23 october 2016)

Chilli Eating Contest and Labuyo 100 initiation (Sunday 23 October 2016) hosted by the Labuyo 100 members

And more!!!!!
 Table exhibits and sale
 Raffle of seeds and other chilli paraphernalia
 Lectures
 Daily Music entertainment
 May drinking siyempre!! all night yan!!!!
 
For inquiries, you may call Sir Ponchit at 09173001054.
 
Reference:

Baeby Baste Turns 4 | Honey Glaze Cakes

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Sebastian Benedict, more famously known as "Baeby Baste" was just one of the audience of The Ryzza Mae Show when Ryzza first took a selfie with him. Now he's a co-host of the longest running noontime variety show in the Philippines, Eat Bulaga! Alongside Ryzza and their other Dabarkads, let the smart and talented Baste entertain you with his funny antics that will surely make you smile, really wide and laugh till your heart is content.

In 2015, Baste was featured in the GMA news magazine television show Kapuso Mo, Jesica Soho, and on Ang Pinaka for their Top 10 Sikat Na Online Sensation episode. He starred as Luke for Eat Bulaga's Lenten Special titled Panata and had a chance to sing-along with the International Star Dawin for the song Dessert just February this year.


The future looks bright for one of the cutest child sensations in the Philippine local scene today. Baste definitely has a lot to be grateful for this year, not only did he become an endorser for Bench Baby Colonia and bagged the Child Star of the Year award at the recently held PEP List Awards of 2016, but he also just celebrated his 4th birthday, in style. Let's check out this cutie's birthday bash!








Baeby Baste's big day was attended by some of his Eat Bulaga family, like Vic Sotto, Pauline Luna-Sotto, Ryzza, Ruby Rodriguez, Alden Richards and Pia Guanio.






His party had an Aviation theme decked out with 3D decorations and props by Party Station, which did an amazing job with the overall look of the venue, from the balloons, the styling of the ceiling, down to the table centerpieces. This was perfectly complemented by the wonderful 5-tiered birthday cake specially designed for Baste by Honey Glaze Cakes.



(Photo Credits to Nice Print Photography & Exige Weddings)

"Eat Bulaga's baby Baste's 4th birthday party. Glad they loved the cake we designed for him. With Baste's dad.😀" - a post from Ms. Aileen's Facebook profile after the party


"Baby Baste of Eat Bulaga loves our belgian chocolate cake. Finally got to meet this wonder kid. Will be making his birthday cake soon.😀" - a post from Ms. Aileen's Facebook profile last July 16


So Baste loved their signature Belgian Chocolate cake flavor, but who doesn't? And I know everyone will agree with me on this, that the cake was a spectacular centerpiece at the reception and definitely came up to par with how it tasted. I'm sure the guests enjoyed each bite of the delectable dessert offering from the talented team of Honey Glaze Cakes.

Celebrating your child's birthday? Do check out Honey Glaze Cakes' office and cake studio for a FREE cake tasting and see actual samples of their handcrafted cake decor personally. I am confident that you will be impressed at the level of detail & quality of each of their designs as I was and still am. Try out their wonderful selection of premium cake flavors that will keep you coming back for more. They only use the best quality ingredients to make sure that each of their clients will get their money's worth. Book Honey Glaze Cakes for you event today!

Official website: http://honeyglazecakes.com.ph/
Email: honeyglazecakes@yahoo.com
Viber: (63)920 9525166 (Don’t have Viber? Download here)
Skype: honeyglazecakes
Telephone: 632 703-2414 | 632 346-7336
Mobile: (63)922 8279848 | (63)920 9525166 | (63)917 5214883
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/HoneyGlazeCakes
Instagram: http://instagram.com/honeyglazecakes

https://plus.google.com/+AnneVallega/about

Sofia Andres Turns 18 | Honey Glaze Cakes

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Sofia Andres, real name, Sofia Louise Alejandre Andres, began as a commercial model for brands such as KFC and Angel Evaporada. The gorgeous young teen was then discovered by her current manager and bagged the role of  Dindi Maghirang in the hit television series, the Princess and I, which starred Kathryn Bernardo. She has starred in Wansapanataym, a number of Maalaala Mo Kaya episodes, and teleseryes, like the hit Forevermore, as Kate and Luv U as Bea.

Sofia portrayed the role of Claire in the 2013 hit movie, She's the One, together with Dingdong Dantes and Bea Alonzo. Her breakthrough role came a year later when she played the role of Athena Abigail Tizon in the blockbuster movie, She's Dating the Gangster, with teen stars Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla. In the same year, she was cast in her first lead role in the movie Relaks, It's Just Pag-Ibig together with rising star Iñigo Pascual. Sofia's performance in the said film was given nothing but good reviews by critics, citing her as one of the actresses to look forward to. It is also rumored that she has been considered as one of the actresses to play the upcoming Darna movie.

The undeniably stunning Sofia, who in my opinion has one of the most beautiful faces in Philippine showbiz industry, turned 18 yesterday and celebrated the start of a new chapter in her life with a classy black and white party. A couple of weeks back I saw these photos:



"Excited to make ABS CBN Teen Star SOFIA ANDRES' debut cake soon. She absolutely loved our Belgian Chocolate Cake.❤️❤️ "-  post from Ms. Aileen's Facebook profile

I was certainly excited about the outcome of the cake, I had no idea what the theme of the design was going to be based on, so I just kept tabs on the upcoming event and patiently waited. Last night, Sofia's fans and I were rewarded by some stills from her party:











(Photo Credits to Nice Print Photography & Exige Weddings)


Sofia Andres turns 18. Thankful that ABS CBN teen star Sofia loved the debut cake we made for her.❤️❤️❤️
Photo & Video: Nice Print photography
One sweet Day
Arteegram manila
Honey Glaze Cakes - a post from Ms. Aileen's Facebook profile

Sofia looked divine in her custom scarlet JOT LOSA tux dress, which isn't exactly a normal ensemble that you would expect from a debutante, her choice exuded class. Yes, classy, is the word that best describes the actress and her whole party last night. A black and white soiree with accents of gold definitely fits the celebrant who is also known for her unique sense of style when it comes to fashion. The cake was a wonderful Gatsby cake, the celebrant said so on her Instagram account. It looked elegant and just too good to eat, wouldn't you agree? Sofia loved their signature Belgian Chocolate cake after having a sample and I'm sure she loved how the design came out in the end. The lovely cake was a definite show-stopper just like the celebrity birthday girl! Kudos to Ms. Aileen and her talented team for another satisfied celebrity client!

Celebrating your debut? How about a cake just like the one Sofia Andres had? Grab your parents and check out Honey Glaze Cakes' office and cake studio for a FREE cake tasting and see actual samples of their handcrafted cake decor personally. Be amazed at the detail & quality of each of their designs. Sample their wonderful selection of premium cake flavors that will keep you coming back for more. They only use the best quality ingredients to make sure that each of their clients will get their money's worth. Book Honey Glaze Cakes for you event now!

Official website: http://honeyglazecakes.com.ph/
Email: honeyglazecakes@yahoo.com
Viber: (63)920 9525166 (Don’t have Viber? Download here)
Skype: honeyglazecakes
Telephone: 632 703-2414 | 632 346-7336
Mobile: (63)922 8279848 | (63)920 9525166 | (63)917 5214883
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/HoneyGlazeCakes
Instagram: http://instagram.com/honeyglazecakes


https://plus.google.com/+AnneVallega/about

Where To Buy Superhots in Manila | Chilliheads Philippines

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Asians are known for their love of spicy food, Filipinos being one of them. Maybe not all, but most of us do enjoy our savory dishes with a kick. When Dave traveled the Mediterranean, he was given the chance to taste a variety of superhots used in international dishes, chillies that would pull our native Labuyo off its pedestal. So when he came back to the Philippines, eating the same old local chilli just didn't cut it anymore. I guess it's safe to say that once you've gone superhot you can never go back. 

Although I don't share Dave's passion for eating spicy food of that level, I also enjoy a bit of heat when it comes to food and had the opportunity to try out some fresh yellow Habaneros while I was in California. Watching a lot of Top Chef and other cooking shows made me familiar with a lot of not so common ingredients in the country, like the superhot variety of chillies. So when I saw some at a Chinese supermarket we frequent near our place in Sacramento, of course I just had to purchase some to check it out for myself. I could already tell how spicy the Habaneros were just by the smell permiating through the sealed plastic container and decided to just add a tiny slice of one pod to a small batch of fresh pico de gallo, to be on the safe side. The addition of the Habanero to my salsa changed the aroma all together and the heat, well let's just say I glugged a whole lot of milk after haha.

Coming back to live in the Philippines, I wanted Dave to have fresh pods of these superhots at his disposal. So I went in search for these not-so-common chili variety in the metro. Here's where my search led me to, so far:

  • Salcedo Market 
  • Market Market
  • Farmer's Market Cubao
  • Rustan's Supermarket
  • Landmark

    The places above are known for having imported produce, so it wasn't surprising to find some Habaneros and Jalapenos sometimes. I wasn't that keen on making any one of them the go to place for when we'll be needing superhots though since I prefer to do online shopping anyway.
  • Chilliheads Philippines on Facebook

    I stumbled upon this wonderful society of local chilli enthusiasts and agri-people purely by accident and was truly blessed that my request to join the group was accepted. Here I found actual local growers of the chillies that belong on the list of hottest chillies in the world. Before joining the group, I thought that the Bhut Jolokia or Ghost Chili still held the top spot, but I discovered from these Pinoy Chilliheads that the Carolina Reaper was the new chilli to beat. I bought an assorted mix of chillies from one of the talented growers who had a batch of newly harvested pods on hand, all the way from Bukidnon. Ms. Charry sent me my pods thru JRS Express, and you can see how well that went from the photo below. Aren't they just lovely? But don't let their looks fool you though, they pack quite a punch when it comes to heat.

An added bonus in being a member of Chilliheads PH other than finding local growers of superhots is gaining access to products such as chilli garlic sauce and hot sauce made from these seriously spicy chillies, that aren't available in the supermarkets. Check out Tita Ludy's Chilli Sauce and Garlic Chilli Oil from Sir Rex of Isabela. It took a while before Dave was able to try them (around 2 weeks after we received them thru mail), and when he did, they didn't disappoint. Passed with flying colors both in flavor and amount of spiciness. The heat kept building up the more you ate it, and in his honest opinion they both go well with any savory dish you can think of.


I love the story behind these two bottled goodness by Sir Rex. How they were originally made purely for personal consumption, but then friends who came over and dined at their house were able to taste it and suggested that they make some more so that they could purchase and enjoy them in their on homes as well. Now both of this wonderful spicy products are available at Sir Rex's wife's restaurant, Tita Ludy's Garden Cafe, in Isabela, or you can order some and have it delivered just like we did. Another reason why we love Tita Ludy's chilli products is the fact that only natural ingredients were used in making them. Yes, no chemicals, additives whatsoever. They are simply all-natural products that satisfies a chilli head's taste buds. Order na!

Do you want to know more about superhots or Chilliheads Philippines? Then you're in for a treat this coming October, how does a Chilli Festival sound to you? More details about this event here.


https://plus.google.com/+AnneVallega/about

BPI | Update Client Information For Electronic Access

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Heads up! Do you have a BPI account? If you aren't that keen on doing all of your banking transactions with said bank the old school way which is over-the-counter, then you'd better read this:

Aug. 26, 2016: Branch Advisory

Previously, pursuant to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Circular 706 which required financial institutions to regularly update its customer information records, BPI requested all clients to update their account information.

In this connection, please update your account information with BPI on or before August 31, 2016 by doing the following:

STEP 1: Fill out and sign the Customer Information Sheet (CIS) and Foreign Account Tax ComplianceAct (FATCA) Form.

STEP 2: Present the original copy and submit a photocopy of one (1) valid, recent, and photo-bearing ID.

STEP 3: Submit these documents to any branch nearest you. You may also send original filled out and signed forms via courier or mail to your branch of account.

NOTE: If you are unable to update your account information on or before August 31, 2016, your transactions can only be serviced over-the-counter of our branches. You will not be able to access your account via any of BPI’s 24/7 electronic channels (i.e. ATM , Online and Mobile) until you have submitted your CIS and ID.

Please update your client information NOW.

----

I am currently printing the forms right now, I can't imagine not having access to their mobile app for my online transactions! You should do the same.

Reference:
http://www.bpiexpressonline.com/cms/page/8244/aug-26-2016-branch-advisory


https://plus.google.com/+AnneVallega/about

National Library's Entrance Now Free

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I was the resident bookworm of the family up to this day and the National Library was a favorite hangout of mine back in college. When I majored in Computer Science, the course was pretty new in the country and was only on its second year. You couldn't Google a question, Yahoo reigned and the iPad wasn't invented yet. Students still had to rely on good old trusty books, yes, not eBooks, for reading and research materials. If you're a millennial then a library card wouldn't ring a bell to you, but it was essential to students back my day.

August indeed is a great month for book lovers, as if the annual Books For Less warehouse sale isn't enough, an announcement from the National Library of the Philippines through their official Facebook page just made it even better! As of August 16, the public can now have access to their favorite books and reading materials available at the National Library of the Philippines for free.
Photo Credits to the owner

No Library Card? No Problem!

The National Library of the Philippines now opens its doors to everyone who needs a place to read and conduct their research. You no longer need an NLP library card to access thousands upon thousands of library materials at the library. Simply present a valid ID upon your visit and you're ready to go!


Thinking about visiting the library soon? Please be reminded that:

  1. They are open from Mondays to Fridays, 8am to 5pm.
  2. To avoid inconveniences, please feel free to browse their collections first through our Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) here: koha.nlp.gov.ph
  3. Smoking is strictly prohibited within the compound while food and beverages are not allowed inside the reading rooms.

Forms for copyright and ISBN can be found here: https://goo.gl/19Aela

The library has retained a few ground rules, though, like the books being strictly for room-use only and photocopying is allowed only for certain pages. The public is not allowed to take photos of some materials, such as theses. Smoking, eating, and drinking are prohibited for obvious reasons.

One cool addition to my favorite reading spot, that I recently found out as well, is that the east wing of the library's second floor has free Wi-Fi.

The National Library of the Philippines is still undergoing construction, which only means that we are in for more changes in the future. By the way, for those of you who don't know, the library is located at T.M Kalaw St. Ermita, Manila. It's near the university Anne and I went to, that's why I frequently visited and did most of my homework that needed research there.

I don't know about you guys, but a trip to the National Library sounds great right now. Can't wait to bring my kids there as well and show them how research was done without the internet.

Reference:

https://plus.google.com/+StretchYourPesoBlogSpotDotCom/

Odd-Even Traffic Scheme Takes Effect In Pasig Today

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Heads up motorists! Today, September 1, the odd-even traffic scheme will take effect in some streets in Pasig City.
 
The affected streets include:
  • Elisco Road westbound
  • R. Jabson St. nortbound
  • Intersection of Elisco Road, M. Concepcion St., and R. Jabson St.
  • San Guillermo St. eastbound
  • Sandoval Avenue eastbound

Under this scheme, all vehicles with plate numbers ending in 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 are barred from passing through the affected streets during Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Meanwhile, vehicles with plate numbers that end in 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 are prohibited from passing through those roads on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Affected motorists are advised to take alternate routes.

Prior to this, Pasig City has been implementing the MMDA’s Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) also known as the ‘number coding’ scheme, with window hours from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The UVVRP is a traffic decongestion measure which bans both private and public utility vehicles from plying Metro Manila’s roads on weekday peak hours.
 
Reference:

Top 10 Richest People In The Philippines | Forbes 2016

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We should all take a leaf out of Henry Sy's book, the man who tops the Forbes Philippines' rich list for nine years in a row. Not just him, but those who are among the top 10 richest in the country. Here's the list released by Forbes Philippines just last month:

  1. Henry Sy and family
    $13.7B
    The richest person in the Philippines until this day who owns retailers and real estate throughout the country. Mostly known for SM malls and their partnership with Singaporean e-commerce company Lazada that was announced this year.

  2. John Gokongwei, Jr.
    $6.8B
    The founder of JG Summit, one of the biggest conglomerates in the country with interests in banking, food, hotel, air transportation, real estate, chemicals and telecommunications. When you hear the name Gokongwei, Robinson's and Universal Robina Corp isn't far behind.

  3. Aboitiz family
    $5B
    The Aboitiz family controls the Aboitiz Equity Ventures and has major stakes in operations of LaFarge in the Philippines.

  4. Lucio Tan and family
    $4.9B
    Lucio Tan's LT Group is in banking, tobacco, property development and spirits.

  5. George Ty and family
    $4.6B
    George Ty of GT Capital Holdings is more famous for Metrobank, Grand Hyatt and the Marco Polo hotels.

  6. Tony Tan Caktiong and family
    $4.3B
    Tony Tan Caktiong and his family own the empire that is Jollibee.

  7. Jaime Zobel de Ayala and family
    $4.1B
    Ayala Corp

  8. Enrique Razon, Jr.
    $3.5B
    Chairs the International Container Terminal Services, the Philippines' largest port operator.

  9. David Consunji
    $3.1B
    The founder of the construction company DMCI.

  10. Andrew Tan
    $3B
    Alliance Global, McDonald's and Emperador Brandy

These men and their family's accomplishments are truly admirable, when we're talking finance, that is. You know you want to be any of them, I'm no hypocrite, so I admit that I do as well! When you dream, dream big is what they say! So be inspired by them, these rich Pinoys! Who knows, you might just be one to top the Forbes list in the future!

Reference:
http://www.forbes.com/philippines-billionaires/list/#tab:overall


https://plus.google.com/+AnneVallega/about

Top 7 Emergency Kit Essentials | Survival Guide

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The Philippines is visited by an average of 24 typhoons on an annual basis, one super typhoon and sometimes the August monsoon brings too much rain that raging floods devastate us locals. It pays to be ready for these disasters before they come down on us. Dave and I love to plan, but being parents made us realize that preparedness for calamities or even just power outages that might last for hours in a household with an infant and toddlers is of great importance. Hence, the reason for having an emergency kit that can help us get through such ordeals. It consists of items which allow you to navigate your house and begin acting on further protocols, depending on the situation. Here's our top 7 essential items that should be in a Filipino family's emergency or survival kit:


Powerbanks. Staying connected through our mobile phones or other gadgets is important when disasters strike or even when it's just a power outage. You'll never know when you'll need to call for help or assistance, so powerbanks can be quite handy in keeping our gadgets alive and ready when needed. This one is a Romoss Sense 6, which can charge an iPad mini full, up to 4 times or an iPhone up to 8 times. We also have a small Romoss Solo, which charges an iPhone 6 times and they both work great.

bit.ly/2ci48tu


Rechargeable LED lights with fan. Gone are the days when we need to look blindly for candles and matches when the power suddenly goes out. These rechargeable LED lights are brighter, more convenient, economical and far safer to use during brownouts especially if like us, there are kids in the house. I can't count the number of times my parents would tell us not to play with lit candles, the obvious risk of the house catching fire was always drilled in our heads but the temptation was always there at the back of our heads. I personally hate getting sweaty, so I love the fact that this model has its own fan. I purchased 3 for us.
bit.ly/2c5kj9C



Hand press crank flashlight. This flashlight is small, light weight and doesn't need batteries at all. Making it easy to carry around and always ready when needed, perfect for emergencies.

or

bit.ly/2cqNJjG
LED flashlight or torch. It's the first thing one thinks of once the power goes out is to grab a flashlight, so make sure you have more than one in your house and that you are keeping it in an easy to remember and access place. We have 2 of these, I think we need to get more.



bit.ly/2c8Nprh


Glow stick bracelets. You might think that these are just for parties, but when you have kids and it's dark, these will be pretty convenient to have around for us parents to know where each child is, your pets or even keep track of each other.

bit.ly/2cz5luh

Electronic lighters. Cooking in general involves flames, so having this around (or matches) the house to start a fire can help you get started in making meals even when there is no power or stove on hand.

bit.ly/2c5Cuws
Headlamp. This can come pretty handy in difficult situations. Like when you get a flat tire on the road, in the middle of the night or need to check the something outside while it's dark and raining. This is a must have in an emergency kit, especially the one placed in the car. 

bit.ly/2cexMRB
Batteries. You have to stock up on batteries for flashlights and other devices that aren't rechargeable that you might need in case of emergencies.

Also, here are 2 items that I would love to have for my own survival kit (at home, since I rarely leave the house):


bit.ly/2cECiti

12" Rechargeable Desk Fan. This one is perfect for when it's time to sleep and the power still hasn't come back. I remember those times when I thought my arms would fall out from fanning the kids, all the while I was sweating like a pig. You're arms can only take so much, 8 hours of none stop fanning can really take its toll on you. A 12" desk fan can help a great deal in those kinds of situations, thinking of getting one for each of our kids so Dave and I only need to fan ourselves haha.

bit.ly/2cEG7hQ

Rechargeable stand fan. Do I have to express how much I hate sweating? Having this stand fan during brownouts would be a dream! I am so saving up for this!

We only have one Emergency Kit right now but ideally we would have to set up 6 more and place them in strategic positions all around the house. Keeping in mind that we’ll most likely not know when the power is going to go out and will need quick access to a kit, I recommend these suggestions when deciding where to place them:

  • Have an Emergency Kit on each level of your house
  • Have a Emergency Kit in each bedroom
  • Have a Emergency Kit in each room that is regularly used

With these guidelines in mind, Emergency Kits should be in the following locations:

  • Our Bedroom
  • The Kids’ Bedroom
  • Under the sink in the Kitchen
  • In the entertainment center in the Living Room
  • Upstairs
  • In our Helper's room
  • In the Garage

Note: A Medical Kit is different, and that's going to be for a separate article

So that's it! How about you, what's in your emergency kit? Are you ready for when disaster strikes?


https://plus.google.com/+AnneVallega/about

NBI Clearance Renewal Guide 2016

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So I just got my NBI Clearance renewed the other day and of course I wanted to share the whole experience with you guys. The NBI Clearance is a clearance issued by the National Bureau of Investigation, which is a staple requirement for employment in the Philippines. Here's how easy it went:

Simply go to www.nbi-clearance.com and sign up for an account by filling out a form, for those who haven't yet. For people who have already registered online, just enter your previously registered email address and password. Only one valid email account per user/applicant is allowed.




After saving your information, click on the Apply For Clearance button for the next step.


Indicate application type, whether if it's a new application, or renewal for those with 2014 NBI clearance certificates.  For new applicants, just provide a valid government ID. For renewal, enter your unique NBI ID number which you can find on your old NBI clearance certificate.


Mine was for renewal. After clicking the Apply For Clearance button, a small window asking for confirmation that I was to present my driver's license for verification popped out. I double checked if the driver's license number on the screen matched mine before I clicked on the I Agree button.



I chose Pick Up (they're still working on the Delivery option in the future, which I think would be amazing once implemented), the nearest NBI branch, clicked on an afternoon slot for the day (yes, you have to schedule an appointment to make a personal appearance at one of their centers), chose local for purpose, local employment for purpose detail, after which the amount that I needed to pay appeared. I then clicked Bank Over The Counter as my chosen mode of payment and took a photo of the reference number that was provided once I finalized the online renewal application.

Methods of Payment include:

  • Bank Over-The-Counter (BDO, BPI, Union Bank, please check the NBI website for updates)
  • Online Banking
  • Mobile Payment
  • Bayad Center
  • MultiPay

By the way, the status of clearance applications can be verfied by clicking on the Transaction button found at the left side of the pane. 

I went to the bank and paid the amount of 115 pesos using the reference number of course, then straight to the NBI branch that I chose with receipt in hand. I arrived at the branch at around 1:30pm and there was like 300 applicants in front of me, waiting in line. Once it was my turn, I gave them the receipt which had the reference number I got from the NBI website and my driver's license. I had my picture and finger print biometrics taken next and got my clearance in a matter of seconds. The whole process just took less than 5 minutes.



The NBI branch (Robinson's Metro East) that I went to only had 2 windows to serve applicants, so even though the process was fast there is always a long line all throughout the day. I think more windows would do the trick. Other than that, getting an NBI clearance is pretty easy.

Reminders & Tips:
  • Scheduling of appointments for clearance applications are done online 
  • Walk-in applicants without scheduled appointments will not be entertained
  • You ONLY need a government ID and proof of payment as requirements (local employment - purpose)
  • Make sure to write down the Reference Number for payment, you don't have to print the whole transaction statement.
  • Settle payment before going to the NBI center.
  • Don't leave the line except for a toilet break. Even if you ask the person next to you to save your space, you might just find it gone if you leave it to have a meal.
  • Eat before you go to the NBI center, bring some snacks and water too. I was in line for 3 hours...

Did you just apply for an NBI clearance too? How was your experience? Shoot us a message by leaving a comment below.

References:
http://nbi.gov.ph/
http://www.nbi-clearance.com/

https://plus.google.com/+StretchYourPesoBlogSpotDotCom/

No More Window Hours Takes Effect On October 17 | Traffic Scheme

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Heads up! The MMDA announced that the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic or IACT has decided to enforce the removal of the “window hours” rule of the number coding scheme on October 17, two weeks earlier than the set October 31 schedule.

Tim Orbos, the MMDA General Manager, said that the dry run to test the no “window hours” rule from 10 am to 3 pm will be implemented today until Friday this week.

During the three-day dry run, Highway Patrol Group and MMDA traffic enforcers manning roads will be conducting an information campaign. They will not be issuing any traffic violation tickets on violators but will only be reminding them of the rule.

Aside from Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) and C5, the rule will be expanded to other areas, including Alabang-Zapote Road, Roxas Boulevard and whole Mandaluyong City. Cities of the Makati and Las Pinas do not implement window hours.

“The earlier enforcement of the rule was based on the request of the IACT to reduce vehicular traffic as Christmas nears. This is for the immediate effect of the reduction as traffic is foreseen to worsen toward Christmas,” said Orbos.

The IACT shall assess the impact of this specific measure and determine whether it created a positive impact in alleviating traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

The assessment will then be submitted to the Metro Manila Council, composed of Metro Manila mayors, who can finally decide if the measure will be implemented permanently.

“If it’s effective, it will be decided by the council,” said Orbos.

Under the current number coding scheme, vehicles are banned from major roads from 7 AM to 7 PM except during the 10 AM to 3 PM window hours.

Under this traffic system, vehicles with plate numbers ending in 1 and 2 are not allowed outside on Mondays, 3 and 4 on Tuesdays, 5 and 6 on Wednesdays, 7 and 8 on Thursdays and 9 and 0 on Fridays respectively.

Let's all hope for the best and that the heavy traffic plaguing the metro will at least lessen if not totally eradicated.

Reference:
http://www.facebook.com/MMDAPH/


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FREE Burgers on October 15 | H.I.D.

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Heads up burger fanatics! Tomorrow's October 15, Saturday! I know it basically means pay day to a lot but here's more good news to add to that! H.I.D. Burgers is giving away Free Burgers to the first 100 customers to drop by their branch in City Golf starting 2PM. The lucky 100 will get to take home a stub each, which entitles them to claim a FREE deluxe burger on their next visit. But that's not all H.I.D. has in store for us! All order of deluxe burgers will be upgraded to premium, again FREE of charge, so make sure to make room for double patties from Saturday until Monday, October 17, 2016! 

Promo is exclusive to H.I.D. City Golf Plaza Ortigas branch located at Julia Vargas Avenue, Ugong, Pasig City. For more details, call them at (02) 5019380 or visit their official Facebook page here.

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