Friday, August 26, 2016

The Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU) is Now Home!

What do former House Speaker Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte, Blas Ople, Wigberto Tanada, and Alberto Romulo have in common? All of them are alumni of Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU)! These men, and countless others, are just a few of the Filipinos who helped forge the Philippines' political foundation and the government on which this country now stands. 

MLQU's list of notable alumni
MLQU was founded in 1947 as a law school by Dr. Leoncio Monzon and eighteen other lawyers and justices. Formerly known as Manuel L. Quezon Institute, the establishment later received university status in 1958 and started offering several other undergraduate courses such as Architecture, Engineering, Education, Arts and Sciences, and Criminology

former House Speaker Sonny Belmonte

Thursday, August 25, 2016

5 Things to Consider When Finding a Financial Advisor

Let's admit it. Very few of us know how to do proper financial planning. On our own, it will take a lot of time to self-educate ourselves on how best to manage our personal finances along with planning for a secure future. Sure, there are self-help books, seminars, and courses we can enroll in to learn more about handling our finances but it will greatly benefit us to get help from an expert we can directly talk to about budgeting, investing, etc.

personal finance planning can be tricky if you don't know how to go about it properly
That's what a Financial Advisor (FA) is for -- to properly guide you in choosing the best ways to grow your money towards financial freedom for yourself and for your family. According to Registered Financial Planner (RFP) Aya Laraya, "Planning ahead with specific goals and getting the help of a licensed financial professional will help you make smarter financial moves and help you take more control of your future."

Last Saturday, my husband and I attended Sun Life's #Money4LifeChallenge seminar where Aya helped us understand the importance of finding a financial advisor who is a perfect fit for our needs.

Aya advised that before beginning this business relationship, one should clearly state expectations by letting the potential FA know the financial goals you'd like to achieve and what you would like him/her to help you with.    

a Financial Advisor is someone you can trust and be comfortable with 

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Find Everything for Your Kitchen in Just One Mall

It is exciting to shop for kitchen needs especially when you have a lot of dishes in mind that you’d like to prepare for your family or your food business. However, it can be frustrating when you find yourself at the kitchen tools aisle in a supermarket or department store but couldn’t find exactly what you are looking for. 

sample of an elegant buffet setup 
The solution to this problem can be found at Mall of Kitchens (MOK), a one-stop-shop for kitchen needs for both commercial/industrial and residential use. It is known as the first foodservice mall in the Philippines that’s fully stocked with quality kitchen equipment, utensils, foodservice furniture, as well as laundry equipment.

MOK is a one-stop-shop for homes and the foodservice industry
MOK is a 2,500sqm. facility featuring set-ups (or business models) for a Café/Bar, Bakery, Hot Kitchen, Gelateria, Wine Room, and Show Kitchen. Each module features all equipment, small wares, and furniture needed to set up a business. For instance, anyone putting up a professional hot kitchen could easily find a combi steamer oven, fryer, grill/griddle, wash water commercial kitchen hood with UV light, and a conveyor pizza oven in just one place.

gelato maker

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. -- Proving Success Comes From Investing in People

"People leave managers, not companies." 

"Employees don't leave organizations, they leave bad bosses."

"Workers resign from their jobs because of their leaders."

However one wants to say it, the idea in these statements is the same. Majority of dissatisfied workers resign from their jobs because they couldn't stand their superiors anymore. That happened to me in the past; several times, in fact. This is one of the reasons why I totally love being a freelancer -- because I can choose who to work with.

touring INOZA Feed Mill Plant - a BAVI sister company
more about our BAVI facilities tour in another post
 
No matter how much we like our jobs, sometimes, we end up leaving a company due to supervisors and managers who don't treat us well. The funny thing is, only a handful of bosses still seem to recognize this truth! 

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting Sir Ronald Mascariñas, President and General Manager of Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. (BAVI) during my trip to Cebu and I learned so many things from him about running a business, the huge benefits of treating employees well, and other interesting stuff about the Philippine economy. 

with Sir Ronald who is now in my list of
most-admired Filipino leaders 

Friday, August 19, 2016

See Baguio in a New Light via Azalea Hotels & Residences' Fun Family Tour Package

When in Baguio City, where do you frequently go? For many tourists, the regular stomping grounds usually include Burnham Park, Mines View Park, ukay stores, and several popular dining places that you must have seen over and over on your Facebook feed or were recommended by family and friends.

#TeamFloresca at Camp John Hay

The next time you and your family go to Baguio, consider booking a room at Azalea Hotels & Residences (read my hotel review, here) and asking their travel concierge to help plan your Baguio holiday. Azalea can point you to new and not-so-well known destinations in the city as well as suggest activities that you and your loved ones would enjoy doing together.

pine trees and clouds on a beautiful day in Baguio

Recently, my family and I, together with several friends' families stayed in Azalea and had a great time seeing other parts of Baguio that we would most likely overlook if we were the ones who planned the trip. On our first day, after checking in at the hotel and having lunch, we went to Tam-awan Village, Baguio's Garden in the Sky, in Pinsao Proper.

entrance to Tam-awan Village

There, we feasted our eyes on indigenous works of art that feature beautiful Cordilleran craftsmanship. The village is a venue for art exhibits and workshops that aim to foster a deeper appreciation of the Cordillera people's cultural heritage. We were even fortunate to catch a group of dancers who were being filmed for a TV documentary.

a glimpse of Cordilleran culture

It was quite rainy that afternoon so we didn't get to catch the sunset that they say can be magnificent when viewed from Tam-awan (which aptly means vantage point). Our group had individual portraits done, though, by three artists. I honestly couldn't see my resemblance in the drawing made for me, but I am happy how my sons' portraits turned out.

nice portraits of my sons done by artist Ponso Dato

The next morning, we went to go horseback riding. Many of us thought we'd be going to Mines View Park where horses for photo-ops usually are. We didn't know that Camp John Hay has horses (without the ridiculous colors) for rent and trails to explore.

my friends' son, Ben, confidently handling his horse

I also mistakenly assumed (minus points for not asking questions!) that getting on a horse would be just a few minutes, enough for taking some pictures with it. So I had my hubby hold my phone to take a few shots before my horse's handler led me towards a trail followed by the horses of my other companions. It was minutes later when we were told we'll be riding for about an hour along the Yellow Trail!

mother and son on horseback

Despite feeling quite bummed that I left my phone with hubby, I felt really proud of my son, Gab, who rode his horse without the aid of any handler! I, on the other hand, was worried that my skittish horse might suddenly bolt so I insisted my guide to hold the ropes all throughout the ride. I knew my butt and thighs would hurt the next day but the experience of passing through underneath pine trees and feeling the cold gentle wind on my face was worth the impending pain.

Mommy Emma and Maki

Thankfully, we met the San Juan family at a clearing so I got to ask my friend Ryan to take some photos of us while his lovely wife Emma and pretty daughter Maki rode a horse nearby. Their son, Ben, looks very comfortable on top of his own horse and went ahead with us back to the starting point.

 a lovely "prenup" shot by our son, Gab :)

Before leaving the area, we found a lot of pretty spots as backgrounds for more photo. Needless to say, we grabbed the opportunity to take as many as we could and I am very happy with the results. The mommies and daddies even got some great "prenup" shots! :p

a picnic under the pine trees

After the horseback riding sessions, we went to the picnic grounds where Azalea staff prepared a picnic for us. The small kids had fun running around the spacious area while the adults enjoyed the peaceful ambiance that you can only feel outdoors away from the bustling city.

hot and rich chocolate drink that's perfect for a rainy afternoon

Thankfully, we were already replete with good food by the time it started to drizzle as it happens during the afternoons during our trip. We went back to the vans and were brought to Choco-Late de Batirol, a charming place that serves hot chocolate and Filipino delicacies like bibingka and suman. There, I got to chat longer with fellow mom, Nike, who had a lot of good and funny stories to tell.

waiting for the hot choco and local delicacies

We got back to Azalea around 4PM, the ideal time when hubby and I normally go out for practice runs. So we did and roamed the roads of Camp John Hay to clock in 5.4 kilometers in less than an hour. 

one of the best places for a practice run!

After a lovely dinner at Tradisyon, Nike, hubby, our son Gab, and I made a quick trip to the Night Market at Harrison Road where I searched for a bigger jacket for James (scored two at very low prices!) while hubby happily bought a pair of Converse shoes.

parents' night out

We would have liked to stay longer but I was afraid we'd be tempted to shop until midnight and we had to get back to the videoke night bonding with our fellow moms and dads. I had fun chatting with new friends Jana and Amanda and learning that we have a lot of things in common.

bursts of colors as seen from the highway

Early the next morning, we headed out to La Trinidad to go strawberry picking. Before we reached it, we stopped by Sitio Botiwtiw along the highway to take photos of the recently painted houses that look like a huge mural on a hill. It was hard to find a good shot though because of numerous electric cables. We heard the view would be best from the top the hill across where the houses are but we didn't have enough time, nor the permission, to do so. Maybe in a future trip? :)

kids and strawberries make great combinations

Upon reaching the Strawberry Fields though, we found out that strawberries are no longer in season (they were, in fact, being sold at P100 per styrofoam pack!) so we just bought bundles of lettuce, strawberries, strawberry ice cream, and strawberry taho, which delighted the young ones and young-once.

my boys enjoying strawberry ice cream

I admired several beautiful paintings displayed on the side of the parking lot and the artist tried to sell me one but I ran out of enough cash and the ATMs were located in the city center. Too bad, I would really like to have one of those hanging in one wall of our house. Someday, I hope I could come back and help that talented artist earn extra funds for his family.

paintings for sale displayed on a sidewalk

Before going back to Azalea, we dropped by Arca's Yard along Ambuklao Road. It is a charming place filled with beautiful art pieces as well as lots of nooks and crannies for photo shoots. Aside from this nice family photo we got, check the other one included in my Azalea hotel review, here.

#WeAreTeamFloresca at Arca's Yard

We got to try the camote pie and cloud tea at Arca's yard and they are both good! I recommend having those as an afternoon or mid-morning snack (like we did) while enjoying the beautiful views the place has to offer. 

mid-morning snack at Arca's Yard

Pretty soon, we had to go back to Azalea to pack our stuff and get ready to check out after lunch. It was such a lovely three-day trip that my family and I would definitely remember forever. I pray that my sons would cherish the memories we made together and allow those to become inspirations to also take time and be with their loved ones when they already have families of their own :)


Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Lady's Choice Launches Roast Beef and Chicken BBQ Spreads for More Delicious Sandwiches

The members of my family are fond of sandwiches. We enjoy eating basic sandwiches (that are simply made up of two slices of bread and a yummy spread) as well as sandwiches loaded with lots of other ingredients for breakfast, snacks, and even at midnight. 

making midnight snacks with Son #4
On most mornings, when everyone needs to rush to go to school or work, we are already content to bite into a sandwich made yummy with Lady's Choice Ham or Chicken Spread. Those two are staples inside our refrigerator along with Lady's Choice Mayonnaise that's not only great for Macaroni Salad, but also complements slices of ham and cheese when making sandwiches.   

Recently, our regular spreads got some competition! We discovered two new flavors that could definitely rival our old favorites. Now, there's Lady's Choice Roast Beef Spread and Lady's Choice Chicken BBQ Spread that are also both delicious and are each made with real beef and chicken.

two new Lady's Choice Sandwich Spread variants

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Mountain Dew Launches DEWmocracy Plus a Chance to Win a New Mitsubishi Strada!

Drinking Mountain Dew was part of my childhood. I remember being fascinated by the green bottle and its yellow green liquid that's very different from the dark-colored sodas many of my friends would usually buy. 

Mountain Dew's green color is now in neon!
Now, the iconic green color is joined by two new ones as Mountain Dew makes another historic mark by launching #DEWmocracy, a campaign where Dew lovers are invited to take a stand and let our voices be heard.

Choose your favorite between two new and exciting limited-edition flavors. Blue Shock is charged with raspberry citrus and is known to be cool and stunning. The distinct raspberry-like flavor lets action do the talking and leaves you, well, in shock! Conversely, Live Wire with a blast of orange is loud and electrifying. It is said to be the Dew that hypes the crowd before they start jumping.

What's your Dew flavor? Vote now!

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Mighty Mom Dishwashing Liquid: Tough on Germs But Gentle on Skin

Any mom who does household chores knows that washing dishes is made harder when you use the wrong kind of dishwashing product. There are those that don't remove grease very well while others may cause skin irritation, or even leave the taste of soap on our dishes.

keeping a home in tiptop shape is already challenging
so an inefficient dishwashing product should not be added to the equation
Having these kind of problems add more challenges that we don't need because we lose more time in keeping our home in tiptop shape, spending time with our families, and taking care of ourselves. Thus, I am glad to have discovered Might Mom Dishwashing Liquid, a line of de-greasing, anti-bacterial, and deodorizing household products developed by KOHL Industries.

Mighty Mom provides value for money, time efficiency, and
a hassle-free, cleaning experience 

Friday, August 12, 2016

Beauty Elements Ventures Inc. Celebrates a Decade of #UnbeaTEN Years

Ten years ago, Jazz Burila left her job at a multinational firm to pursue a dream. She founded Beauty Elements Ventures Inc. (BEVI) with the certainty that the Philippine market needs a skin lightening product that works. 

Jazz Burila with her Kojie San team and partners
Through extensive research, Burila and her collaborators were able to develop a whitening soap that do not contain harmful ingredients. Soon, BEVI was able to launch the original kojic acid soap formulated the traditional Japanese way but added with high-grade virgin coconut oil to make it even better.

Kojie San's Classic Line

Anne Curtis Once More Runs for Children to Commemorate UNICEF's 70th Anniversary

It's amazing how one whole year has already passed since UNICEF and its Celebrity Advocate for Children Anne Curtis initiated the Heroes for Children Run. I was there when Anne jubilantly crossed the finish line for her first 21k run and admired her determination to conquer her goals (read that story, here).

with fellow runner, Anne :)
This year, she is once more calling on runners to support UNICEF and Heroes for Children Run 2016. happening on September 4, 2016 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds. During the press conference held in F1 Hotel the other day, Anne was asked how she survived her first half marathon and she admitted that however hard it was to push herself, "Best effort talaga but I knew what I was running for and that kept me going."

Her motivation is UNICEF's First 1,000 Days campaign for children's health and nutrition needs. "I was deeply inspired by the support we received during last year's run. From children with disabilities to serious runners, the public came together for a great cause. This year, I'm inviting everyone once again to be a hero for children," implored Anne.

Anne Curtis, Lotta Sylwander, and Coach Rio Dela Cruz

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Robinsons Supermarket Launches "Celebrate" Promo to Sustain Health and Wellness Festivities

One of the things I am sure we all want for our families is good health, right? The question is, what are you doing to make sure you have it? For us, steps to wellness mean paying attention to what we eat, engaging in fitness activities, focusing on the positive sides of life, getting enough rest, and avoiding stressful situations as much as possible.

smiling ladies at the registration booth 
Early this year, Robinsons Supermarket (RSC) launched its Route to Wellness campaign, which is a series of promos that give customers rewards for making wiser choices for their wellbeing. March's theme was Explore, May's was Learn, while a Wellness Festival was staged last July. 

TV personality Kuya Tonipet hosted the program
This month, Robinsons Supermarket highlighted its Celebrate theme by organizing a Wellness Theme Park at Eastwood Mall last August 6. There, families gathered for a fun and learning-filled day via booths featuring a bubble station, popcorn maker, and photo booth with a roller-coaster background, among others.

this made me miss the walls of Power Up!
I participated in some of the activities and got to do a bit of wall climbing, shooting basketballs, and even spinning a huge wheel to win some prizes. If I were many, many years younger, I'd probably be envious of the little girls having a great time in the beauty spa section :D

fairies welcomed little girls to the J&J booth
Don't be disappointed if you were not able to make it to the Eastwood event though. The journey to wellness continues in all Robinsons Supermarket stores this August until September! 

P&G's booth gave freebies when you spin the wheel
Throughout the promo period, you can get a FREE portable picnic mat for a minimum of P3,000 single receipt purchase that includes P500 worth of participating products from Unilever, P&G, Colgate-Palmolive, J&J, Coca-Cola, Selecta, Belo, CDO, and KojieSan, to name a few. Choose among blue, green, and purple picnic mats and bring it along the next time you literally "eat out" with the family :) 

the very educational Nestle booth
The Route to Wellness will culminate with Give in December where more wellness rewards await customers. Don't forget to collect at least 5 stamps at every promo period to get a P100 Robinsons gift certificate.

booths like this one helped kids to learn more about health and nutrition
Find out more about RSC's year-long Route to Wellness series of promos and activities by liking RobinsonsSupermarketOfficial on Facebook and visiting www.robinsons-supermarket.com.ph. If you haven't started yet, join this #ILoveWellness campaign and aim for a healthier lifestyle by beginning your own fitness journey, today! 


Nanbantei of Tokyo Opens in Alabang Town Center

I've always loved eating Japanese dishes, especially miso soup, shrimp/prawn tempura, and sushi. I haven't really paid attention to grilled dishes though … until I got to try Nanbantei of Tokyo's yakitori items for the first time. In Japan, the term yakitori means grilled chicken. But while there are chicken items on Nanbantei's menu, diners can also choose from an extensive array of grilled beef, pork, seafood, and vegetables.

Nanbantei is now in Alabang!
Thankfully, there's now a Nanbantei branch in Alabang Town Center, which made the restaurant accessible for me, my family, and everybody living in South Metro Manila who love food grilled the Japanese way. I am excited to bring the boys there, soon, because I am positive they would love many of the dishes on the menu.

lovely ambiance!
As a little backgrounder, Nanban means foreigner while Tei means rest house or teahouse. Combined, Nanbantei means a place where guests can unwind and have something to eat or drink after a long day of work.

Namayasai

Monday, August 08, 2016

Azalea Hotels & Residences: 10 Reasons Why It's a Great Family Destination in Baguio City, Philippines

I've always wanted to come back to Baguio City with my family. The last time we were there together was more than 10 years ago. We unwisely planned the trip for Holy Week and had a difficult time finding good accommodations as well as got stuck in a horrible 9-hour traffic going back to Manila. That was when we decided to come back someday when the city won't be too crowded with tourists.

#TeamFloresca at Azalea
Finally, we had a chance to return to Baguio after the summer rush of visitors is over -- and we had an awesome time! :) Together with a few friends and their families, we excitedly went North one fine Wednesday morning last July. I was so happy that our eldest son was able to get away from work for a few days but quite sad that our youngest had to stay behind with my mom because he had to go to school.

the beauty that is Azalea Baguio
It was quite surprising how faster it is to travel to Baguio nowadays thanks to the SCTex and TPLex routes. We arrived at Azalea Hotels & Residences Baguio just in time for a delicious lunch at Tradisyon Coffee Shop. But first, we checked in our rooms and were delighted to find out how lovely and spacious our well-appointed two-bedroom suite was which had complete living, dining, and kitchen facilities!

the dining and living room area of an Azalea suite 
Indeed Azalea Baguio is a very ideal destination for families and friends who travel together in big groups. It has 99 well-equipped and multi-occupant apartment suite rooms: 46 Deluxe, 17 One-Bedroom, 33 Two-Bedroom, and 3 Three-Bedroom that provide guests a great venue to bond over home-cooked meals and fun conversations.

Rey claiming first dibs on the Swiss Miss sachet he found in the kitchen
We didn't get to use the kitchen facilities much though because we got busy going around Baguio to quaint and charming places as well as areas that got our creative juices flowing (read more about those in another blog post).

at one of the charming places we went to
(find out where in my other blog post :D)
For now, here's listing down the top things #TeamFloresca loves about Azalea:

1. The rooms are lovely! Nothing beats a hotel room that has all the amenities we need for a home away from home. The beds (including the sofa bed!) are so comfortable to sleep in. For two nights, all of us, especially our son with special needs, were able to get long and very restful sleep to fuel us for another day of exciting activities. 

our James sleeping well through the night
simply means the bed is definitely a comfortable one
2. The food in Tradisyon is really good. We ate several meals in the hotel's restaurant, which always ended with filled tummies and smiles on our faces. On two mornings, I zeroed in on mushroom omelettes and the danggit (dried and fried fish) during breakfast because they were some of the best I've had in months! I also love this dining place's interior!

enjoying our yummy pizza and pasta dinner
3. There's fast WiFi! More than just posting on social media, for me, good communication lines are a must when traveling so I can keep in touch with members of my family left behind (like my youngest son and mom, in this case). Aside from landline calls or text messages via mobile phone, it's easier to chat via Facebook, post photos, and keep updated about each other from both ends.      

Tradisyon's accent wall is something you'd love to post online, too!
4. Transportation (with a good driver!) can be arranged to and from Manila. There are not many hotels who provide this kind of service so we are very thankful that Azalea took care of this part of our trip as well. The hotel likewise provided us a van we could use to go around Baguio with. Talk about convenience! :)

PWD access ramps made it easier to get James in and out of Azalea
5. Handicap accessibility and 24-hour medical assistance. Traveling with a child who has special needs is challenging. Thankfully, we have a foldable wheelchair that was easy to push going in and out of the hotel via gently sloping PWD ramps and spacious elevators. In addition, one of the nicest things Azalea's management did was to insist for one of their nurses to join us during our tours around Baguio! We didn't ask nor expected it but we are deeply grateful for having Nurse Meg Ferrer who helped watch over James while the rest of the family explored areas nearby that were no longer wheelchair-accessible. Thank you sooooo much, Meg and Azalea! :)

James with Nurse Meg who is super, super nice
and really great to talk to
6. Thoughtful acts of kindness. Opening the door to one's room and finding a big basket filled with fruits as well as little boxes of cookies, chocolates, and chocolate-dipped strawberries was already very much appreciated. But when my oldest son (who works on night shift) decided to forgo dinner twice to catch up on sleep, Azalea staff offered to bring up food on a big plate to our room so Rey can eat when he wakes up around midnight. Again, that kind of service was unexpected and this mom sincerely says thank you from the bottom of my heart :)

fresh flowers, fruits, and sweet treats
7. Proximity to nearby attractions. Azalea Baguio is just a few minutes away from Session Road and walking distance to Teacher's Camp and some food establishments like a Korean resto just outside the driveway. We planned to go running at the track oval but were, unfortunately, refused entry because my barefoot runner husband was not wearing any shoes. And so we headed towards Camp John Hay instead where we had a great time running all the way to Choco-late de Batirol (located around 2.5km from the hotel). It drizzled a bit so we got wet but the cold feeling was quickly washed away by a hot shower the moment we got back to our room.

photo op in between a practice run around Camp John Hay :D 
8. Choices of themed rooms. We were able to take a peek into other rooms aside from ours and were delighted to find various offerings that are ideal for families with young kids as well as couples who would like to have a romantic getaway. I could imagine ladies saying "Awww!" when they get surprised by their special someone with a room filled with rose petals and creatively-folded towels! On our last night, the moms and dads did videoke while the kids watched movies in separate function rooms.  

excuse us but this room calls for some cheesiness hahaha! 
9. Quiet location. Azalea is tucked in a secluded hill, promising both the peace and gentleness of country living. It is so great to wake up in the morning and stay for a while on the balcony to gaze at the surroundings and watch the sun bathe the trees while the fog and dew melt away. 

one of my best morning shots ever was taken from
our room's balcony on Azalea Baguio's 5th floor
10. It is, overall, a beautiful place. Azalea's structure resembles that of a ski-resort which, I've read is a clever inspiration for the Summer Capital's first vacation residence that brings thoughts of family vacations and friendly holidays. The facade as well as everything inside the establishment are definitely world-class and would delight both local and foreign tourists.

our big and happy group before heading back to Manila
If you're planning to go up to Baguio any time soon, be it with just one special person or your whole gang of loved ones, book your stay at Azalea Hotels & Residences located at Leonard Wood Loop. For bookings and inquiries, log on to www.azaleabaguio.com, email reservations@azalea.com.ph, or call the following numbers: (+632) 4501151 / 4501584 / 4508753 / 5794890 / 5794894 [Manila office] and (+6374) 4248710 / 4248711 / 4248716 [Baguio office]. 

a top view of Azalea's driveway, playground (left side),
and separate building (green roof) with function rooms and clinic
Be updated about the hotel's promos and good deals by following @azaleabaguio on Instagram, @AzaleaResidence on Twitter, and Azalea Residences Baguio on Facebook