I've been shopping at Watsons for years because it's usually where I could easily find some of the best beauty and health products along with really great deals. I love how I am able to try new items without worrying too much about the price because they are sometimes sold at discounted prices or buy-one-take-one bundles.

Earlier this week, Asia's leading health and beauty retailer launched its "Members Get More" campaign that makes visiting a Watsons store even more exciting. Now, cardholders of SM Advantage Card (SMAC), SM Prestige, and BDO Rewards can get more savings, more points, and more value when they buy products from more than 500 Watsons branches nationwide.

Many of us, I'm sure, would have more reasons to shop at Watsons given additional rewards and exclusive privileges for card-bearing customers. Be entitled to "members only" promotions by looking for the Green Member Tag on hundreds of products that indicate low prices. What's more, the rewards points you earn on your card can be used to pay for your next purchases!

Additionally, members also get exclusive freebies and join eRaffle promos exclusively for us! One good example is the recent Make Your Summer Promo where members get a chance to win a trip for four to any of five local summer destinations. Read more about that one, here. Plus, members will also be first to be notified of upcoming deals and offers as well as receive invites to exclusive events.

Viki Encarnacion, Watsons Marketing Director, affirmed how much they want to make their shoppers feel special. "So we make sure they enjoy perks of being a loyal customer every time they visit our stores. With the Members Get More program, they can get more savings, more points, and even get exclusive prices by using their SM Advantage, SM Prestige, and BDO Rewards card."

make sure to look for the green member tag to get the best deals

Not yet an SMAC holder? Simply sign up for membership at any Watsons store nationwide to start enjoying the benefits of the Members Get More program!

Hey, Moms and Dads! Did you know that baby’s skin is 20-30% thinner compared to adult skin? This means baby’s skin allows more substances through and it is not yet an efficient barrier to infections.

Knowing these, of course you’d want to use products on your baby that are:

• Free from synthetic chemicals

• Less likely to cause irritation because they are free from common allergens

• Generally gentler and safer than products with artificial ingredients

Right? 

Let me share with you some products that I trust would take care of my son’s skin. James is a special child who is non-verbal and can’t tell me directly when he feels any discomfort. So, I make it a point to ensure that whatever we feed him or apply on his body would not cause him any irritation. 

Last year, I discovered Belo Baby and gave its products a try because it guarantees moms that the products only use 100% certified natural ingredients and 0% harmful chemicals. 

In a nutshell, the natural ingredients of Belo Baby Hair and Body Wash, Belo Baby Bar Soap, and Belo Baby Face and Body Lotion include a known superfood for the skin; naturally heal common skin conditions of babies like eczema and rash; have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; strengthen and moisturize skin; have a natural emollient for softening skin; and lock in moisture into the skin.

Please read in detail the benefits of Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, and Sweet Almond Oil in my previous Belo Baby blog post, here: http://mommywrites.blogspot.com/2016/05/belo-baby-product-line-meticulously.html 

It is also important to note that Belo Baby products DO NOT contain chemicals like sulfates that strip the skin of its natural oils, as well as synthetic preservatives such as parabens, Tetrasodium EDTA, or phthalates that break down the skin’s protective barriers.

Thus, I am assured that every time I use Belo Baby on my son, I know that I am using products that have been “crafted with care for the most delicate skin, for the most meticulous moms.” Although my son couldn’t speak, he can definitely express joy with his eyes and his beautiful smile. I love how his lips would turn up when he sees things that make him happy, Belo Baby products included ☺.

For a year now, Belo Baby has been delighting moms and babies alike for making bath time a great bonding activity and we would like you and your baby to experience that, too! So, to celebrate Belo Baby’s 1st Birthday, we are giving away three (3) Belo Baby gift packs! Please join using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Giveaway is open to Philippine residents and ends at 11:59PM of March 23, 2017. Winners will be determined via digital raffle, announced on March 24, and will be sent emails to get their mailing addresses. Start earning entries, today! ☺ 

In the Philippines, sharing good food with family and friends is always something we all look forward to. I believe this is the same in many Asian countries where flavorful dishes are cooked every day. This past weekend, one of Asia's leading food brands, Good Life, held a two-day grand Chinese New Year festival for everyone who loves authentic Chinese cuisine and those who wish to bring in harmony, positive vibes, and prosperity in their lives this 2017.

Good Life's "Flavors of Fortune: Food Trip Down Chinatown," an auspicious celebration filled with colorful tradition and lavish festivities, was held at the Robinsons Place Manila Midtown Atrium. According to Ramon Daez, Fly Ace Corporation General Manager, "Good Life aims for a holistic festivity that promotes a fortune-filled life, which includes the fusion of good food, good relationships, and a good disposition in life. We want to joyfully share with the rest of the Filipinos the best of Chinese cuisine through our Asian food line."

The event opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony graced by Fly Ace executives and distinguished guests. Afterwards, event attendees were treated to a dragon and lion dance as well as a cultural performance from Chiang Kai Shek College. In addition, Master Hanz Cua and Naneth Guinto each conducted a much-awaited Feng Shui Talk during the first and second day, respectively.  

a dragon and lion dance to usher in a prosperous year

To commemorate this year’s Chinese Zodiac, Good Life held a Chinoy Dish Showdown highlighting modern Chinese-Filipino dishes. The culinary competition featured some of Manila’s finest hotels. Chefs from Hotel Kimberly, City Garden Hotel, Lotus Garden Hotel, Eurotel, Bayview Park Hotel, Amelie Hotel, and Best Western Hotel battled it out in a live cooking exposition to win the prize for the best Chinese dish.

featured dish by Hotel Kimberly

For a richer Year of the Fire Rooster experience, both days also featured the Good Life Chinoy Activity Strip, the Chinoy Food Strip, fortune telling, and other booths where guests got to learn Chinese arts and crafts like Chinese Calligraphy, Lantern-Making, and more. Of course, a Chinese New Year celebration will not be complete without generous gift-giving, surprise freebies and raffle prizes that were given away to lucky guests during several stage games. 

The Good Life Flavors of Fortune: Food Trip Down Chinatown 2017 was presented by Fly Ace Corporation, Good Life, City of Manila, and Robinsons Place Manila (official venue partner), with the support of event partners Cook magazine, Breakfast Magazine, Business Mirror, Malaya Business Insight, Manila Times, The Standard, Manila Bulletin, Mommy Blogger Philippines, ChinoyTV, Ermita-Malate Business Owners Association, Ateneo Confucius Institute, Fujidenzo, Whirlpool, Tecnogas, Whirlpool, Masflex, Franzia, and TaiChi Guyasteen.               

Kung Hei Fat Choi, everyone!

Fly Ace Corporation is one of the leading food and beverage consumer goods companies in the country today. Propelling limitless multiple-category growth by bringing the best of the world closer to Filipino consumers, Fly Ace Corporation’s portfolio of food and beverage products includes house brands and exclusively distributed brands. To learn more about Fly Ace, visit www.flyacecorp.com.

Good Life's Wall of Fame highlighted the brand's products

Good Life is a food brand that is exclusively distributed by Fly Ace Corporation in the Philippines. It offers a wide array of products that is perfect for Asian cuisine. For more information about Good Life, visit www.facebook.com/goodtastegoodlife.

Scents can give us a way to control how we feel whether we'd like to boost our mood or take away the stresses from a long day. JAC Tripon, a marketing practitioner turned scent crafter, is a firm believer in the power of aromas. It was her dream to provide the Philippine market with quality and long lasting scents at affordable prices.

This is why she decided to start FAVORI, a handcrafted home fragrances brand that allows customers to create a favorite feeling through their selected scents. FAVORI means favorite in the French language. It was chosen to express JAC's desire to capture every individual's preferred scent in each variant she designs.

"I want my customers to be able to identify with a scent that they can call their favorite," shared JAC who understands that scent preferences vary depending on a person's personality, mood, lifestyle, and specific needs. 

Channel some cool mediterranean inspiration with  the FAVORI Rain Dance and Olive Branch Aroma Oils

It's been more than a year now since hubby and I first discovered Wingstop and we continue to love visiting its stores because the wings seriously taste good! This month until August 31, 2016, flavor enthusiasts are invited to experience all 14 flavors via the Wingstop Flavor Invasion promo. 

Let Wingstop invade your senses and entice your tastebuds while also giving you freebies using the Flavor Pass! Come back week after week and satisfy every craving for different mouth-watering flavors that range from the sweet and spicy to the smooth and savory. 

The Flavor Pass is redeemable with any single receipt purchase at any Wingstop store. Simply collect stamps for every flavor that you try and get to be rewarded with a P1,000 gift certificate when you complete all 14 stamps! 

I like Korean personal care products. They are effective and many come in pretty packaging. Most of them are also very affordable. However, their popularity has also led unscrupulous people to manufacture fake products, which can be dangerous to consumers.

Althea always delivers items inside a cute pink box

Of course, I want to make sure I only buy authentic Korean products and the best place to find them is through the Althea Korea website. There, beauty enthusiasts can easily browse dozens of Korean brands and hundreds of items that include skincare, cosmetics, and hair and body products. Tabs dedicated to the latest trends as well as bestsellers and new arrivals can also be found for a smooth online shopping experience.

my first purchases from Althea Korea in January 2016

How often do you clean your bathroom? Did you know that every year, children around the world miss an estimated 443 million school days due to illnesses caused by poor sanitation and hygiene practices, including the use of dirty toilets? To better illustrate, those number of sick days is equivalent to all grade school and high school classrooms in the Philippines being empty for one month!

win this!

I find it really sad to know that many children don't get to learn as much as they should because of sanitation-related concerns. This November, be part of the 1 Million Clean Toilets program, an advocacy of Unilever through Domex that aims to empower and inspire Filipinos to properly clean our own toilets using the right product so we can prevent our families from acquiring diseases related to lack of proper toilet sanitation.

In celebration of World Toilet Day this November 13, Domex is leading a toilet clean-up in East Avenue Medical Center to symbolize its commitment in helping people, especially those who have been afflicted, to fight diseases through clean toilets.

post something like this!

Robinsons Supermarket, the Philippines' first supermarket chain to take on the wellness advocacy, is celebrating its 30th year of serving the Filipino family with a series of activities for the enjoyment of its loyal patrons. From the first branch at Cebu Fuente in 1985, Robinsons has grown to 116 stores nationwide with more stores expected to open within this year.

Kickstarting the "30 Fresh Years" milestone celebration was the recent launch of a new health and wellness section format for Robinsons Supermarket Pioneer in Mandaluyong, sponsored by one of its trusted partners, Nestle Philippines. I found it fascinating how they arranged the Wellness Section shaped like an apple -- so inspiringly healthy! :)

Around the store, sponsored booths with health-related themes offered various activities for shoppers. Some of my blogger friends and I joined in the fun and, after completing our stamp cards, got to take home a prize --- a container of Healthy You Mixed Nuts! My hubby and I love snacking on those!

Everybody loves winning prizes and if those are stuff that we really want to have, the more we'd make sure we get them, right? Great Taste White Coffee drinkers are in for a treat within the next two months as there are more than P27 million worth of prizes at stake in the Choose Great, Win Great raffle!

There will be four regional draws in five areas: Greater Manila Area, North Luzon, South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. For every regional draw, one winner will get P200,000 while another will have P100,000. Two winners will also get to bring home a white MacBook Air, four winners will receive a white iPhone 6 each, and six winners will get their own white iPad Mini. 

But wait! Aside from the already awesome prizes mentioned above, the Great Taste White: Choose Great, Win Great Promo will culminate in a Grand Draw where one lucky winner will take home P3 million in cash with eight others getting to own a white Toyota Vios 1.3 E M/T each!

Summer is still in full swing this middle of May. The temperature remains hot and the heat of the sun definitely can even cause sunburn. For my readers who have had too much sun and unwanted skin darkening, here's a giveaway to help lighten back your skin!

Win 1 of 2 GlutaMAX gift packs that each contains: Instant White Lotion with Glutathione (SPF 35), a bar of Instant Lightening Soap with Glutathione, and a bottle of Light and Tight Feminine Wash. All products have been awarded with the Superbrands Seal. 

Happy Valentine's Day dear readers! For many couples in love, celebrating Valentine's Day is not confined to February 14 only. I think that's why the Love Month was born. 

From February 12 until March 8, visit any Tokyo Bubble Tea branch and avail of their Yoshoku Valentine's Treat (YVT) with your significant other, a sibling, a parent, your child, or a friend. 

Many of us pizza lovers have our own preferences when it comes to pizza that gives that satisfying and delicious experience. Of course, quality toppings are important, but when it boils down to the crust, there are those who like it thick and soft while others like the thin crust better because it gives that perfect cracking sound.

Last 2013, Greenwich recognized that more and more pizza fans are growing to love thin crust pizzas and addressed it by creating its Pizza Thins line, which continues to elevate the standard for thin crust pizzas in the Philippine market.

I recently got to try a Greenwich Pizza Thin and liked how crispy the crust was! Since it was delivered to our house and I didn't get to eat some at once, I made sure to reheat a couple of slices in our oven toaster before having a bite of the tasty, cheesy, and meaty treat.

Take in all the sensations of the Greenwich Pizza Thins by savoring the aroma, taste, and flavor in every bite. These are perfect for sharing with friends and family during snack or meal times. 

If you haven't tried a Greenwich Pizza Thin yet, make sure to save the date -- July 16, 2014 -- and watch out for Greenwich's #CrackThat Day where the pizza and pasta chain will be giving away 10,000 boxes of Greenwich Pizza Thins! The first 100 customers in select Greenwich branches nationwide and in Greenwich pop-up booths around the Metro can get to enjoy this delicious treat!

Like www.facebook.com/greenwichpizza and stay updated for #CrackThat Day details and list of participating stores. Enjoy eating because I will! :)

I love brands that provide value for their customers! This July, BPI ties up with Chowking in a promo that allows BPI Credit Card clients to redeem freebies using our transaction slips. 

From July 1 to August 31, 2014, purchases amounting to single minimum receipt transactions of P2,500, P6,000, and P12,000 are equivalent to specific Chowking food items.

Cardholders can redeem the freebies at any Chowking branch nationwide. Just make sure your transaction date is within the promo period and that the amount spent is valid. Also check if your credit card is qualified for the promo.

Redemption is valid for both dine-in and take out and can be done until October 31, 2014. Happy food tripping! 

I was a teenager once so I know how it feels when there are people who really understand the emotions and challenges that this age group goes through. After all, being a teen is not always easy. 

A teen's life is filled with ups and downs, which is made lighter when you have barkada to share it with. However, other things can get in the way such as inevitable issues like pimples, blackheads, or oily skin. 

US #1 teen skincare brand Clean & Clear gets this, which is why it created products that are certified #madeforteens. Here are five teen-tastic reasons why:

It's #TeenSkinFriendly. Young people these days are very fortunate because there are now a lot of products in the market that are really made for them. I'm sure older women could relate to the story of getting pimples during their teens but had to use the facial wash of their moms, aunts, or older sisters. The problem is, products formulated for older skin may actually do more harm than good because they can cause dryness and irritation. 

Clean & Clear uses a unique gel formula that effectively fights teen skin problems such as pimples, blackheads, and oil without drying, even if used every day. These gel cleansers are also oil-free, which make them perfect for the Philippines' warm and humid weather!

It also keeps face #SoftnSmooth. The Foaming Facial Wash has unique anti-bacterial ingredients that effectively fight skincare problems like oiliness, blackheads, and pimples.

Clean & Clear Fruit Essentials is available in two variants both with bursting beads. Teens not only get to wash away oil and dirt that causes pimples and blackheads, you also get to add fun to your daily face washing routine with these new fruity gel cleansers, too!

The Energizing Berry gives tired skin a much-needed boost with its sweet scent and quirky #Skinergizing beads while Brightening Lemon pops to reveal a lemony scent and beads that make #SkinSoBright and improve overall skin tone.

And because Clean & Clear is #MadeForTeens, it is easily available in top supermarkets and drugstores at affordable prices that won't hurt your allowance. Remember though that being a teen should be about enjoying life as much as you can without sacrificing important areas in your life like school and relationships.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As a thank you to this blog's young readers, here's a giveaway just for you! I hope those who will join will really be able to use the products if they win. The gift pack contains all 3 variants of Clean & Clear facial wash, a Forever 21 headband, a Candy Cuties special edition magazine with Daniel Padilla on the cover, and a pretty orange net bag to contain everything. Please take note that I can only send the prize to a Metro Manila address. Get to earn 6 or more entries by entering through the Rafflecopter widget above. This blog giveaway ends on the midnight of June 22. 

Don't forget to log on to www.missunderstood.ph -- a certified #madeforteens website where you can rant, rave, and get to know about all things teen! 

Edit - June 23: Congratulations Darlene Urquia! Please check your email and send me back your Metro Manila mailing address where I can send you your prizes. 

Thank you dear readers for joining! If you are a parent who wants to win Pampers diapers for your baby, please check this blog's latest giveaway here.

It's always nice to know that you can earn freebies when you spend on stuff that you normally buy anyway. I've been using the happyplüs card for a few months now and am looking forward to redeeming food products from some of our favorite stores using my points soon.

Now, there's a new tie-up that will make over 1 million happyplüs card members even happier. Earn happypoints when you gas up from over 500 Caltex stations nationwide!

Every P100 fuel up at Caltex will earn you 1 happypoint which is equal to P1. The easy-to-accumulate happypoints can be redeemed for food products in any participating Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Red Ribbon outlets nationwide. For instance, your single or cumulative gas up worth P1000 earns 10 happypoints that can already be used to redeem for a free Vanilla Cone Twirl at Jollibee. 

I'm glad to know that even motorcycle riders, including the tricycle drivers who regularly gas up at the Caltex station right outside our village, can also join because fuel purchases below P100 will still earn a fraction of a happypoint! This means P80 worth of gas is equal to 0.80 happypoints -- no minimum purchase amount required.  

Likewise, whether you use cash, credit, debit, StarCar or StarCash to buy gasoline or diesel, you are qualified to earn happypoints. So, the more you gas up at Caltex, the more free products for you and your family! Cardholders of happyplüs can avail of this benefit up to P20,000 per month of fuel purchases.

Become a happyplüs member by simply buying a membership kit priced at P100 in Caltex stations, Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Red Ribbon stores nationwide. You also earn 1 happypoint for every P50 food purchase at participating stores. Fore more details, please visit http://happyplus.com/caltex.

The happyplüs rewards promo is a partnership between industry giants Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of Caltex fuel and lubricants, and Jollibee Food Corporation (JFC), owner of Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Red Ribbon brands, to provide customers with the most enticing fuel and food rewards.

In 2013, CPI already partnered with JFC in free Jollibee treats promo that became a huge success among motorists. Prior to that, CPI signed a MOA with JFC to build Jollibee stores in Caltex stations.

(Edit - July 1: FYI, new BPI and Chowking promo details can be found here)

Yey! Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is back with another promo for BPI Express Credit Classic and BPI MasterCard holders! 

Just surrender your qualified original charge slip or cash advance slip (minimum single receipt purchase of P2,000, P6,000 or P12,000) at any Greenwich branch nationwide. Also present your BPI Express Credit Classic or MasterCard used for the transaction.

Redeem the following featured food items / freebies depending on the required minimum single receipt transactions:

* Double and Barkada Thin Overload Pizza options: Ultimate Special Overload, 7 Cheese Overload and All-Meat & Cheese Overload

** Lasagna Supreme Feast includes one (1) Double Thin Hawaiian Classic, three (3) Snack Size Lasagna Supreme and three (3) regular soft drinks

Promo period is from March 28 to May 31, 2014. Redemption period is from April 7 to July 31, 2014 valid for dine-in or take-out only.

Please note that only one (1) free food item can be redeemed per qualified charge slip or cash advance transaction receipt.  A customer is allowed up to three (3) redemptions per day, per store only.

Here's another promo that BPI ATM card users would be happy to know about. I am! :) 

Get Chowking freebies using your transaction slips.The promo is open to all BPI, BPI Family Bank and BPI Direct ATM (E.P.S.) cardholders (Express Teller Blue, Express Teller Gold, Jumpstart, BPI Direct, BPInoy, BPI One Ayala and Ka-Negosyo).

To qualify, cardholder should use his/her BPI/BPI Family Bank/BPI Direct ATM card via Express Payment System (E.P.S.) within the promo period for a minimum single transaction of Php2,000, Php6,000 or Php12,000 at any merchant.  Transaction should be approved through a Point-of-Sale (POS) card terminal.  Cash withdrawals through ATMs are NOT qualified to join the promo.

Cardholder may redeem the featured Chowking food item(s) at any Chowking outlet nationwide.  Required minimum single transaction receipts and their corresponding instant reward food items are as follows:

To redeem, cardholder must:

1. Present his/her BPI/BPI Family Bank/BPI Direct ATM (E.P.S.) card used for the transaction.

2. Surrender a valid and original/untampered E.P.S. transaction receipt from any merchant. 

Promo period is from June 1 to August 31, 2013. Redemption period is from June 1 to October 31, 2013.

Redemption is valid for dine-in and take-out only. Only one (1) instant reward Chowking food item can be redeemed for every qualified E.P.S. transaction receipt. A cardholder is allowed up to three (3) redemptions per day per store only.