Delicious chicken wings at half the price? Why not! At Buffalo Wild Wings, weekdays couldn't get any wilder because its Tuesday treats have been extended until the end of October 2016! 

take 50% off every Tuesday of October on the following wing servings'
regular prices: Snack (5 pcs) - P325, Small (10 pcs) - 625
Medium (15 pcs) - P925, and Large (20 pcs) P1145

Every week this month, diners will get the chance to enjoy our favorite wings at half the price every #WingTuesdays at the Estancia Mall branch.

BWW's Tablegating Sampler - P795
traditional wings spun in sauce or dry seasoning served with soft pretzels
and queso, warm pita chips with spinach artichoke dip,
and bacon, cheddar, and mozzarella stuffed jalapeño pepper bites

Choose from wings offered in 12 signature sauces and 5 dry seasonings including the house favorite Asian Zing, subtly sweet Honey BBQ, the buttery Buffalo, the tropical taste of Mango Habanero, and Asian flavors infused in Thai Curry. 

the "spice meter"

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One of things I regret not learning early in life is proper personal finance management. I wish I knew more about wise budgeting, saving, and investing when I started working and receiving salaries. I believe that would have effectively guided me and my husband in handling our finances better when we got married and started a family 23 years ago.

we all want the best for our families
the question is: what are we doing about it?
photo credit: www.woodcome.com

Still, it's never too late to learn anything as long as you're willing to do so and we've pursued financial literacy (read my related blog posts, here) with a passion when we were finally introduced to it several years ago. As a parent, I am thankful that I can now to help steer my children towards making good financial decisions while they are still young. The learnings never stop though and I always welcome new opportunities to know more about eventually achieving financial freedom someday.

This coming first week of October, the Philippine Life Insurance Association (PLIA) is marking "Life Insurance Consciousness Week"with a string of activities aimed to further boost financial literacy in the country and help Filipinos understand how life insurance can help us fulfill all our life goals.

PLIA President Gregorio Mercado acknowledges that financial literacy among Filipinos remains low thus the need to constantly address this concern. "PLIA strives to contribute to the Insurance Commission's efforts to propagate the importance of financial literacy," he explained. "Moreover, it's a building block for nation-building, because teaching Filipinos how to manage their finances better with the help of different instruments, such as life insurance, will certainly boost our economy."

representatives of FALIA with Commissioner Dooc (second from left)
and PLIA President Gregorio Mercado (third from left) 

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Filipinos love watching films and TV series and we have a wide variety of local ones. For many movie goers, seeing a light romantic comedy can already help take a day's stresses away. Others love screaming with friends and scaring each other over Pinoy horror films while some watch teleseryes with stories they can usually relate to. 

movie buffs

Whatever your reasons for watching are, I believe supporting Filipino talents and the local film and TV industry is a good thing. HOOQ successfully helped promote this with its second HOOQ Hangouts themed #LovePinoy last Friday night with a screening of Every Breath You Take starring Piolo Pascual and Angelica Panganiban at the Globe Iconic Store in Bonifacio Global City.

Jane Cruz-Walker, Country Manager of HOOQ Philippines, explained, "With the start of the -ber months, everyone is expecting the weather to be a bit colder, so we chose a romantic comedy that's guaranteed to rekindle that warm fuzzy feeling and make our subscribers feel some Pinoy love."

#LovePinoy at HOOQ Hangouts

With close to 1,200 Filipino movies spanning almost 50 years (1980's to 2016) and over 4,000 hours of local television (teleseryes, comedy, and reality shows), HOOQ definitely has a rich catalog of local content. It is the prime destination for Filipino entertainment compared to other video-on-demand services in the country.

"Pinoy films/TV shows are closest to our hearts because they tell the stories of our lives, that is why we have signed licensing deals with the top Philippines studios including ABS-CBN, Regal, Viva, and GMA," added Cruz-Walker.

Jane Cruz-Walker, HOOQ Philippines Country Manager

With HOOQ, users can stream or download romantic flicks featuring celebrity couples like James Reid and Nadine Lustre's Diary ng Panget and This Time; John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo's top-billed romantic blockbusters One More Chance, Close to You, and The Mistress; and the melodramatic A Secret Affair starring Derek Ramsay and Anne Curtis.

Craving for Pinoy Action Blockbusters? HOOQ also has you covered with On The Job, Muro Ami, FPJ's Ang Probinsyano, Deathrow, and Dugo ng Panday leading the list. For the horror film aficionados, you can scream your lungs out with classics such as Feng Shui, Sukob, Shake Rattle and Roll series, and The Healing. 

life-sized movie and celebrity standees for photo-ops at HOOQ Hangouts

If you prefer to laugh, choose to watch Sisterakas, Kimmy Dora, Wang Fam, My Amnesia Girl, and Girl Boy Bakla Tomboy with top comedians Vice Ganda, Eugene Domingo, and Toni Gonzaga as headliners. Want to go further back all the way to the '80s? You can also enjoy watching hard to find classics ranging from Bagets and Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas to Temptation Island, Rizal, and Ishmael Bernal's City After Dark.

In case you missed certain TV series episodes, open the HOOQ app and watch entire seasons of Imortal, Encantadia, Walang Hanggan or play catch-up with those currently airing like GMA's Singungaling Mong Puso and Someone to Watch Over Me.

Piolo Pascual at the HOOQ Hangouts event

Not to be left behind is the rich collection of independent titles such as Metro Manila, Sonata, Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay, Zombadings, Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros, and the works of top Filipino directors like Erik Matti, Peque Gallaga, Aureus Solito, Jade Castro, and Real Florido as well as award-winning writers Moira Lang, Antoinette Jadaone, and Michiko Yamamoto.

Last year, HOOQ also showed its support for the Metro Manila Film Festival and short film/animation category by making MMFF movies available on the app. You can find more information about that in my previous blog post.

hanging out at HOOQ Hangouts is fun!

I loved my first HOOQ Hangouts experience this past week because I got to hang out with some blogger friends and finally knew what's it's like to be in an outdoor cinema. Make sure you keep updated on the next schedules via the HOOQ Philippines page on Facebook or by following @hooq_ph on Twitter and Instagram.

In the coming months, HOOQ Hangouts will be featuring more blockbusters and all-time favorites through the massive Samsung LED screens at the Globe Iconic Entertainment Zone. This free outdoor cinema venue provides viewers with beanbags, pillows, and cushions for full enjoyment of the show. There, participants also get to enjoy on-ground entertainment and activities, munch on free popcorn, and win raffle prizes. 

stay tuned for the next installments of HOOQ Hangouts!

HOOQ is Asia's largest video-on-demand service with over 10,000 movies and TV shows. FYI, Globe customers can get free access to HOOQ with selected GoSURF mobile data plans as well as Broadband Plan 1299 and up. Get a 7-day free trial by visiting www.hooq.tv. Once the trial expires, continue enjoying HOOQ for a monthly P149 subscription fee charged to your Globe bill. Simply text HOOQ149 to 8888.   

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For coffee lovers, this widely consumed beverage is a must-have at least once a day. After all, that caffeine kick can help get us through a busy morning or a tough client presentation. For some, coffee can even serve as a way to ask someone on a date or as a great bonding moment with friends. 

City Blends: the third wheel in JaDine's dates 

However, famous couple James Reid and Nadine Lustre of the JaDine fame humorously admit that coffee is a constant third wheel when they get together on dates. They also drink it in between shooting TV shows and films. Their choice of coffee brand? 7-Eleven's City Blends.

"I prefer Brewed Coffee. It helps me focus on set where there are so many distractions," revealed James. Nadine, on the other hand prefers her coffee sweet so she loves French Vanilla because, "the creamy taste perks me up."   

these hugot lines are funny! :)

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A lot of studies have already proven the many benefits of educational play. These activities not only provide entertainment, but more so offer advantages for the many facets of a child's development. 

KidZania Manila mascots

Last year, KidZania Manila opened in Bonifacio Global City and it continues to delight thousands of children who loved role playing different "jobs" offered at the Interactive Kids' City. 

If your little one hasn't been there yet, here's your chance to win courtesy paZZes for you and your child ℅ Lady's Choice Philippines! 

First, you have to buy a Lady's Choice Roast Beef or Lady's Choice Chicken BBQ spread and keep the proof of purchase. TIP: Both flavors are really good! I suggest you try them both :)

choose your Lady's Choice flavor: #ChickenorBeef and join the promo!

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Our home should be a haven where the family feels safe. Unfortunately, there are household pests that still get to invade our privacy and, worse, bring unwanted diseases that bring us harm. Personally, I strongly hate mosquitoes because they are the reasons why I spent a couple of weeks in the hospital when I was still in college due to a bad bout with dengue. I don't want that to happen to my kids!

a bite from an infected mosquito can have deadly consequences!  

Thus, any sign of mosquito activity in our house means war! I feel no qualms about liberally spraying their hiding places with Pest Off! Complete Insect Killer. I like this aerosol spray brand because:

1. It is effective. Besides our bedrooms and the living room, I often spray around our laundry area before I start loading clothes in the washing machine. Since we do laundry outdoors, I make sure I don't get bitten by mosquitoes even while hanging clothes to dry.

2. It is versatile. Aside from mosquitoes, Pest Off!'s special formulation kills other flying and crawling insects like cockroaches, houseflies, fleas, and other insects that also cause many diseases. The spray drives pests out of their hiding places and eliminates them.

Pest Off! Complete Insect Killer
is available in two sizes

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I grew up in the province where adults would usually prohibit kids from playing outside under the sun because they believe we will get head lice if we do. I also heard warnings that kids who won't let their moms or grandmas remove lice from their heads will be flown off towards the mountains once the lice multiplied a thousand times.

the truth is, kids can get lice from direct contact with others who have infested heads 

It's funny to find out that celebrity mom, Love Añover, was also told the same things, and more, when she was growing up. Now that we're both mommies, I can totally relate to her story of having her child infected with head lice by their house helper. The same thing happened to my kids when they were still small.

One summer, my boys stayed with their cousin for a week and when they got home, their hair and scalps were crawling with lice! It turned out that my sister-in-law's helpers were infected and passed on the condition to all the kids they took care of. It took me days to diligently remove the nits (eggs) and lice by hand and by suyod from my boys' heads :(    

Licealiz brings the KKK campaign to public schools

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The rainy (and stormy) days are here again. And I am sure all of us have experienced, at one time or another, having our feet and shoes soaked in puddles and flash floods. Very inconvenient, right? Especially if you have to endure wet socks inside wet shoes while caught in heavy traffic or walking ankle deep in floodwaters just to get to your destination.

wearing my Converse CTAS II Shield Canvas sneakers

Last year, I fortunately discovered the benefits of wearing the stylish and waterproof Converse Rubber Chucks (read my review, here) and I continue to feel grateful when I have them on during rainy days. That pair has saved my feet (and my other shoes) countless times including one Friday night a couple of weeks ago when heavy rain caused so much traffic, the bus I was riding on got stuck on the Skyway for two hours! Because I was wearing my Rubber Chucks, I eventually got down and confidently walked the remaining 2km going to Magallanes, not minding the puddles and mud other people were studiously avoiding.

some of the pairs from the Counter Climate collection 

This 2016, Converse launches its Counter Climate line featuring more fashionable and waterproof sneakers that protect wearers' feet from the elements. I feel fortunate to be test driving the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star (CTAS) II Shield Canvas with a water-resistant upper and Nike Lunarlon cushioning that provides superior comfort.

Nike Lunarlon cushioning in middle shoe

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It can be hard to imagine how life is with a family member who has special needs -- until, perhaps, you spend some time to take a peek into our daily lives and see how we exactly face the challenges of parenting a special child.

our special needs family (minus our firstborn who was at the office) 

But why would you need to do that, you ask? The thing is, a lot of people still find it hard to accept others who are differently-abled and are resistant about including persons with special needs into the mainstream population. 

A compassionate society -- this is where the vision and mission of the Center for Possibilities Foundation (CPF) revolves. The organization was formed 10 years ago by Dolores Cheng, whose son Andreas (now 22) was diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay when he was three years old. "There were no support groups for his particular type of disability. I didn't know where to go, who to see, where to find what I needed to know," she recalls. 

Dolores with participants of a football game organized by the CFP

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Women power happens when ladies come together and unselfishly share what they know so they can help others. I am glad to have joined a recent workshop at La Creperie Makati conducted by Lysol and Whole Mom PH where guests were treated to talks on home care and self-care by Marilen Faustino Montenegro, Cheska Garcia-Kramer, and Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio.

the Lysol and Whole Mom teams with moms who blog

Here's some of the nuggets of wisdom shared by the three lovely ladies …

Marilen gave tips to Organizing One's Living Room. She gave three pointers that should be easy to remember:

1. Use trays to organize little objects like TV remote controls, small decor, and other living room essentials. Find attractive ones that can help tell a visual story.

2. Invest in decorative baskets that can help hide messy things like toys or keep essentials like living room blankets for those cold days when you just want to curl up on the sofa while reading a book or watching TV.

3. Clean as you go. Put things away as soon as you are done using them and remind family members to be tidy at all times.

learn more about home organizing from Marilenstyles.com

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These days, saying "I Do" has become lavish affairs that couples thoroughly plan for to create a truly memorable event. In the Philippines, Conrad Manila is the latest wedding urban destination to provide soon-to-be husbands and wives with their dream weddings.

Christian Bautista and Venus Raj wearing Francis Libiran

The idyllic venue brings to life dream nuptials with the help of its dedicated and inspired team of individuals who ensure that guests' needs are impeccably met and every detail immaculately executed. Conrad Manila further features pillar-less, high-ceilinged ballrooms and a spacious outdoor garden able to accommodate various kinds of affairs that range from intimate to big social celebrations.

a simple yet elegant wedding cake

But, aside from being conveniently located near the city's grandest churches, this hotel is also perfectly situated such that weddings and other important gatherings could have the romantic detail of the picturesque Manila Bay sunset vista as their breathtaking backdrop.

one of the gowns designed by Patricia Santos

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Nobody wants to get sick. Not only can illness be inconvenient when it causes a lot of physical pain and missed days from school or work, but more so because it can be very expensive as getting sick often involves expenses such as doctor's fees, costly medical procedures, and medicines.

based on personal experience, Generika has some of the friendliest
and most helpful pharmacists around

Personally, I am very thankful that the Philippines now has R.A. 9502 or the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008. Since it was passed, a lot of Filipinos, including my family, were finally able to have access to life-saving medicines because we are no longer forced to buy high-end brands that cost a lot of money.

Generika Drugstore is actually a pharmacy my family regularly buys medicine from. Thus, I am glad to learn more about it during a media event recently held at Fairmont Makati. According to its executives, the company is driven by an enduring social purpose: to help create a nation where every family can afford their basic healthcare needs.

Generika Drugstore executives

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