Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Blog Giveaway: Win 3 Tickets to Disney On Ice's January 4, 2015 Show! (Winners Announced)

I believe there will always be a child in all of us and that we will forever be fascinated by things that make children happy. Two years ago, my son and I got to watch the Disney on Ice Princesses and Heroes show and we loved it! You can find the photos I took and blog post link here


This 2014, Disney on Ice presents Dare to Dream, which combines the contemporary stories of two modern-day princesses, Rapunzel and Tiana, with the classic elegance of Cinderella and Snow White. The show is sure to whisk audiences away on exciting journeys where dreams really do come true.


Monday, December 22, 2014

Babymama: Helping Moms Give Babies the Best "Gift of Life"

Moms these days are very fortunate because there are so many resources available to them from informative parenting books and magazines to products that help make raising babies and kids much easier.


One of the things I deeply regret not having access to back in the late '90s was the availability and affordability of a good breast pump.  My milk dried up while my third son had to be incubated in the ICU for 10 days and fed via tube for another 30 days. The pump I had back then was no good. I knew that if I only had a good breast pump, I would have been able to maintain my milk supply until my son was discharged from the hospital.

For a lot of moms, a mother's milk symbolizes her lifelong commitment and unconditional love to her child. Nourishing baby with our own milk, we not only get to feed our little angel, we nurture a special bond while giving them the best health benefits that only breast milk can provide. Thanks to modern technology, adaptive products now help moms in providing safe breast milk for their babies even in the mother's absence while she goes back to work or performs other chores. 


Saturday, December 20, 2014

Festival Supermall's River Park Officially Opens with a Light and Sound Show & Celebrity Performances

My husband and I are often in Festival Supermall because it is where we regularly shop for groceries and most of the stuff we need at home. But it was my first time yesterday to cross the road behind the main mall to go to the recently opened River Park, the newest recreation and dining cluster in Filinvest City, and I was surprised to discover how beautiful it is!


Behind commercial establishments lies a flowing river and a wide expanse of grounds where people can enjoy the cool wind and admire the multicolored lights decorating trees and bushes around the area. A magical Christmas is certainly in the air at River Park because visitors get a visual and auditory treat from the Light and Sound Show featuring 200,000 twinkling lights blinking to the tempo of nostalgic Yuletide carols aside from the popular Let it Go from the movie Frozen.


Excited to Have a Baby? Make Sure to Wait Two Weeks to Find Out!

Women, by nature, have nurturing instincts and those who dream of becoming mothers for the first time  could become too excited and anxious when they start missing their period. Many will definitely take a pregnancy test to find out.

These days, there are now various ways to confirm if a woman is having a baby -- via an ultrasound, a blood test, or an hCG pregnancy test. Because it's the fastest way, most women will choose the hCG test to settle her doubts. But, did you know that if you take the test way too early, it could end up negative? 


Friday, December 19, 2014

Uniqlo Brings Back Its +J Collaboration This 2014 Christmas Season

Uniqlo Philippines is having an exclusive holiday offer of its luxury collaboration line +J in response to what it described as overwhelming customer demand. The +J Collection is loved for its timeless yet forward-looking style and affordable quality since it debuted in Fall Winter 2009.


Having grown to become one of the most successful fashion collaborations of all time, +J elevates basic garments for functional, minimalist elegance to suit any lifestyle. This season, Uniqlo's best of +J collection reissues carefully selected garments from past seasons that capture the +J philosophy.


Thursday, December 18, 2014

Tuscano Italian Kitchen Offers Unlimited Gourmet Pizza for Only P299 per Person!

I love pizza especially ones that have out-of-the-ordinary toppings. If you're also a fan of gourmet pizza, I'm sure you'd be as excited as my husband and I were about Tuscano Italian Kitchen's Unli-Pizza promo!


For only P299 per head, you'll get to have all the pizza (there will be 3 flavors offered per day) you can eat plus one round of iced tea. Win-win right? This promotion is ongoing from Saturdays to Wednesdays only, from 11AM to 11PM, until January 31, 2015.

Grilled Asparagus and Egg Pizza (P345 one whole)

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Share the Feast, Not the Fat with Fisher Farms' Gourmet Baked Rellenong Bangus

The Philippines is known for having the longest Christmas season in the world because many Filipinos start decorating for the Yuletide holidays as early as September. Parties and reunions are planned and held almost weekly leading up to Christmas until New Year's Day


What's for sure is that all these get-togethers could only mean one thing -- lots and lots of food! Thus, people look forward to this time of year when we can splurge on the menu and eat as many holiday delicacies as possible. However, those who have been trying to maintain a healthy diet all these months may succumb to indulging here and there. Before they know it, they've already eaten too much and are ending the year with the taste of guilt and a lot of extra pounds.



Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Share Your Blessings Through the SM Christmas Bears of Joy

It's that time of the year again when many of us get busy shopping for gifts and attending parties. Of course, aside from giving, it's always nice to receive gifts in return. 

And yet, a lot of kids all over the Philippines may spend Christmas without a single gift. Help change that! When you go shopping for stuffed toys to give your little loved ones, buy one or several of the SM Christmas Bears of Joy.



Friday, December 12, 2014

Introducing Lacoste.12.12 -- the Lacoste Polo Shirt in a Watch Collection

Anybody who loves fashion could immediately recognize the brand behind the iconic crocodile logo, a symbol which is as popular as the classic cotton petit pique polo shirt that was designed in 1927 by tennis legend Rene Lacoste


Lacoste was nicknamed "The Crocodile" for his tenacity on the court. He was the brain behind the sports uniform that allows for better sweat absorption and freedom of movement. It was interesting to find out that the shirt's name L.12.12 actually came from -- L for Lacoste, 1 for its one-of-a-kind fabric, 2 for its short sleeves, and 12 for the number of the final version of the design he selected for production. 


Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Tis’ the Season for IHOP Pancakes and Malagos Hot Chocolate!

Christmas in the Philippines will always be filled with traditions and good food. This Yuletide season, IHOP is having special limited edition offers by putting its stamp on popular Filipino holiday classics!


Archie Rodriguez, President and CEO of Global Restaurant Concepts Inc., which owns and operates IHOP in the country, shared that holidays are a big part of their campaigns. "We are proud to celebrate this joyous season with our diners with a Filipino touch.”

Visit IHOP and taste for yourself the following Christmas specials:

Savor the Bibingka Pancake, which is served with whole duck eggs, muscovado sugar, and garnished with shredded parmesan, cheddar cheese, and desiccated coconut. It is topped with a scoop of butter and served on a banana leaf.



Sunday, December 07, 2014

NailGanic Lounge: An Organic Nail Spa Opens at Eight Forbes Town Road in Bonifacio Global City

Krisha "Kerxa" Cadiente, owner of NailGanic Lounge, has always been into manicure and pedicure. "At least once a week I go to a nail spa and have my nails done. It’s a girl thing I guess, a way of pampering oneself and there’s a feeling of renewed confidence one you get your nails done," she expressed. 


Since she spends an hour or two in a nail spa every weekend, she had an urge to open one herself. "I thought about franchising but after a few conversations with friends, I decided that starting from scratch is a better path to take. At least I would have control over the products and the construction," recalls Kerxa who observed that since young people today are more health conscious, she found going organic   as the way to go and carried the brand SpaRitual


Saturday, December 06, 2014

Turn Up the Decibels with New Wireless Speaker Systems from Harman

In the past two years, Harman International Industries, Inc. won 116 awards for 70 unique products from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), producer of the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), for its wireless sound systems that use Bluetooth and Near Field Communications (NFC) technology.


Harman now brings its legacy of design and innovation to the Philippines with outstanding audio and entertainment solutions. According to Lauro Secreto, Representative from Harman International Singapore, the company recognizes the importance of providing stylish products that deliver not only high-quality technology, but also a sense of connectedness. 


Friday, December 05, 2014

Cherry Mobile Ambassadors Grace the Brand's Captain's Ball and Launch of the Infinix Pure Smartphone

Cherry Mobile recently held a Captain's Ball for its dealers and members of the media. It was a fashionable and entertaining night filled with musical numbers and a sumptuous dinner at Le Pavillion in Pasay City. 


Hosting the event were Victor Basa and Phoemela Baranda who introduced distinguished guests that included their fellow Cherry Mobile ambassadors.


We were treated to an opening number filled with curvy pole dancers that held every male's attention. Leading the production was TV personality Luningning who shared afterwards that she choreographed the number and is now the proud owner of her own pole dancing establishment.


Grant African Girls' Christmas Wishes! Purchase Etude House Limited Edition Pink Wish Tree Products

This coming Christmas, there are many children who will most likely get their wishes. Whether it's a simple book, a high-tech toy, or an expensive dress, if these kids come from families where parents have stable jobs, mom and dad could probably afford a lot of those reasonable requests. What's heartbreaking to know is that there remain children whose only wish is to be able to go to school.  


As the Yuletide holidays come in full swing, join Etude House in making a difference in the lives of less fortunate African girls. These are young women from  Sierra Leone, Liberia, the Republic of Cote d'lvire, and Uganda who cannot afford education because of domestic duties, early marriage, and poverty.

Through the School Me Campaign, Etude House partners with Save the Children to grant these girls ultimate wish -- to get an education. And WE can help!


Wednesday, December 03, 2014

Ballet Philippines Presents Alice Reyes' Delightful Cinderella at the CCP Main Theater

Many of us grew up reading the classic fairy tales although the younger generations are more familiar with the movie versions. This December, prepare to feast your eyes on the ballet version of Cinderella which is filled with delightful dancers, beautiful costumes, and a script that smoothly combines romance and laughter in one spectacular production.


Alice Reyes' Cinderella is the special pre-Christmas treat staged by Ballet Philippines at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, Cultural Center of the Philippines from November 28 to December 7, Fridays to Sundays. 

Cinderella and the dance instructor

Chef Boy Logro Judges the Best Pinoy Street Food 2014 Grand Finals at SM Hypermarket Cubao

Epic cook-offs and exciting carinderia visits … these comprised the journey of ten of the best street food cooks before they moved on to the Best Pinoy Street Food 2014 Grand Finals.  There, they were tested by food critics and Chef Boy Logro as well as a hundred people from the crowd who were present during the event held in SM Hypermarket Cubao last November 28.

the 10 finalists
The ten finalists mustered all their techniques, knowledge, and skills to win the country's first epic street food battle. Up for grabs for the champion is his/her own food stall at SM Hypermarket rent-free for a year plus 100,000 pesos worth of prizes including SM Prestige Card loaded with points, large food packs, ingredients, cooking equipment, etc. perfect for starting a business courtesy of SM Hypermarket's Food Service Center.

Chef Boy Logro

Monday, December 01, 2014

SM Executive Readies DLSU Business Students for Risks Associated with Climate Change

I like going to conventions that dwell on topics that interest me and add to my knowledge. The other day, I attended the 7th Business Management Students' Convention at De La Salle University (DLSU) in Manila and got to listen to the talk given by Liza Silerio, Vice President of SM Supermalls and Program Director of SM Cares Environment Committee.


The event aimed to instill awareness and commitment to corporate sustainability, environmentalism, and social responsibility by introducing attendees to business approaches, strategies, and programs that incorporate sustainability principles.

Silerio told the delegates that they, as future business leaders, need to be ready for the risks associated with climate change. In her talk, she stressed the importance of sustainable measures by future private sector leaders to safeguard local communities during calamities and cushion the impact of an increase in carbon emissions, population, and demand for basic needs.