The convenience of quick and delicious meals

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Purefoods Heat and Eat line comes with its two flagship products, and Filipino family favourites, Crispy Pata and Lechon Kawali.

Purefoods Heat and Eat

Christmas meals and all the trimmings get to be a burden more than a celebration for the cook. I am sure you know the feeling as well. It’s Christmas day lunch, but rather than catching up with family, you’re cutting up the lettuce, preparing the salad dressing or chopping the ingredients for the Paella. Christmas Day should be relaxed and fun, for the cook as well as everyone else. I take pride in cooking meals for my family and guests but I learned to let go through the years. I pre-cook or cut ingredients of recipes ahead of time and freeze them thus reducing tasks in the immediate run-up to Christmas Day. I learned that having prepared meals in the freezer like pre-cooked food or even “Purefoods Heat and Eat” Crispy Pata and Lechon Kawali, are convenient.  That’s the trick for a stress-free Christmas. Plan your meals ahead of time.

Purefoods Heat and Eat

I stocked on these Filipino favorites in preparation for sudden arrival of Christmas guests or simply because I don’t want to run out of food.  There are days when there are many chores to do at home that there is no more time to prepare meals.  Having fully cooked, ready to eat meals, that can be reheated either via Turbo or Pan Fry is very convenient. Not only should it be convenient, but the meals should taste delicious.

Purefoods Heat and Eat

I wanted to make sure both variants lived up to the taste of these Pinoy food classics so I cooked them ahead of time and followed the directions of the package.

  1. Just remove from the freezer.
  2. Then turbo broil or pan fry.

The preparation time is pretty fast at 10-20 minutes. I used the pan frying method for the Crispy Pata. It took a total of 20 minutes to attain the right crispiness of the skin.

Crispy Pata

The Crispy Pata is a popular Pinoy dish where a whole pork leg is simmered in spices until tender, refrigerated overnight to dry, and then deep-fried until the meat is moist and the skin golden and crisp. That’s a lot of preparation time but thankfully, one has the option of storing the “Purefoods Heat and Eat” Crispy Pata in the freezer.

Purefoods Heat and Eat

I was at first skeptical that the Crispy Pata would not meet my expectations but I was in for a pleasant surprise.

Promise,…the Crispy Pata was delicious. It   was crunchy on the outside and moist and succulent on the inside. Even my husband and daughter loved it. Remember, Crispy Pata can be served as a main course but it also goes well as an appetizer dipped in mustard or served as beer food or “pulutan”.  You can also serve Crispy Pata with Atchara or vinegar and soy sauce dip.

Purefoods Heat and Eat

Lechon Kawali

Lechon Kawali is a popular Pinoy dish prepared with the pork belly simmered until tender and then deep-fried until golden and crisp. But this Lechon Kawali has been prepared ahead of time so I love the convenience. Then again, will it live up to my expectation?

Purefoods Heat and Eat

Just like the Crispy Pata, the directions are straightforward. Just remove from the freezer then turbo broil or pan fry. Using the pan fry method, the Lechon Kawali was done in 15 minutes.

Purefoods Heat and Eat

Take a look at those little air bubbles in the skin. The skin had the right amount of saltiness and was extra crispy, while the juicy meat was so moist and tender. Every bite was flavorful. I am very satisfied with the taste of both Filipino family favorites. In as fast as 10 – 20 minutes  I  get to enjoy the family’s restaurant favorites at the convenience of my own home.  It is just a matter of removing the meat from the freezer and frying the already tender meat! I am also assured of crispiness along with scrumptious succulent meat on the inside. The “Purefoods Heat and Eat” will now be a mainstay in my freezer even after the holidays over. You never know when guests arrive.

 

The Purefoods Heat & Eat line, has two variants: Lechon Kawali with a serving size of 425g per bag good for 3-4 persons and Crispy Pata at 900g per bag for 5-6 persons. These are available in major supermarkets in GMA (Robinsons, Landmark, Puregold, Hi Top, and South Supermarket) and Monterey Meatshops in Luzon.

 

Visit their Facebook page and Instagram

BioBalance: it begins with the science of measured wellness

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BioBalance, a leading health and wellness institute in the Philippines, has been addressing optimised health for its discerning clientele of health advocates, green living enthusiasts, athletes, and Manila’s cream of the crop, among many others.

I believe you know by now that the first thing  about extending youth and preventing illnesses is the fact that it begins from inside then out.

100% me is loving myself first by having my “ me time “ every week.

Each one of us has a unique nutrient profile and gut health, two major factors that affect longevity and overall health.  My body’s needs are different from yours especially when I  need to perform at its optimum and in tiptop shape. This emphasizes that when it comes to treatments for the skin and body, supplements, and diet recommendations, one size doesn’t fit all.

It is great that advancements in science and medicine allow more people to optimize their health, making it possible for us to not just live longer but look younger, and extending the look and feel of being at their prime.


Optimized health results to many things, from slowing down aging and addressing the effects of aging to boosting immunity.

This is where BioBalance comes in. They are a leading health and wellness institute in the Philippines,  addressing for its discerning clientele of health advocates, green living enthusiasts, athletes, and Manila’s cream of the crop, among many others.

Clients like  prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, entrepreneur and TV host Stephanie Zubiri-Crespi, photographer Sara Black, sports and fitness coach Andy Leuterio, and actor and businessman Albert Martinez have been reaping the benefits of a renewed lifestyle through the help of BioBalance and its Health Optimization Medicine (HOMe) specialists. These doctors help manage their nutrients and gut health, making disease prevention and health optimization a top priority. All of BioBalance’s health solutions are anchored on nutritional science, since it is proven that many chronic symptoms and serious diseases are caused by nutrient deficiencies.

European Double-Board Certified in Nutritional Medicine and Anti-Aging Medicine, Dr. Ted Achacoso is the founder of Health Optimization Medicine (HOMe) which is all about diagnosing and optimizing health rather than disease.

It begins with the science of measured wellness 

What BioBalance offers is the option to know and understand your body, from its cells to all the elements that drive its cycles, and from there determine and give you what you need to optimize your health and to prevent illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, psoriasis, gout, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, impotency, allergies, hypertension, and other illnesses.

BioBalance uses advanced tests like nutrient and metabolic profiles, gut health tests, and toxic metals profiles, to allow BioBalance HOMe doctors to personalize the recommendations for you.

 

BioBalance tested solutions

Among BioBalance’s signature programs is Nutrient Optimization, which measures nutritional deficiencies in your body and provides a personalized nutritional prescription including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and toxic elements. After measuring over 50 unique nutrients and metabolic markers, the program recommends supplements that would help restore nutritional balance in your body, resulting to improved performance, immunity, and optimal health.

Its Gut C.A.R.E program, on the other hand, uses advanced diagnostics to treat gastrointestinal imbalance and bring back a good amount of healthy gut bacteria into what’s now considered one of the most important organs of the body.

And finally, its newest program Weight Loss & Longevity, anchors on one of the oldest but most effective human habits—periodic fasting. With its breakthrough program, your body goes through regenerating and rejuvenating mode, resulting in sustainable weight and fat loss, and improvement of body’s health markers including blood sugar, lipid profile, and inflammation markers.

Age gracefully and prevent illnesses today and start from the inside then out.

From its first location, BioBalance finds its new home at the lower ground level of Shangri-La East Wing Mall in Mandaluyong. This location houses the institute’s health and wellness facilities, doctor’s clinics and client consultation rooms, as well as guest lounge for walk-in customers, where clients may also purchase BioBalance’s signature supplements.

For more information, call  +632 650 4858 or visit www.biobalanceinstitute.com.

4 ways to prepare for a stress-free Christmas

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Inviting you all to join the Starry Bright Christmas Promo of Sanicare’s Liwanag Box Series.  Check the mechanics at the end of my blog post.

Christmas brings out warm fuzzy feeling that glows inside for the entire season. Childhood memories of twinkling lights along with Christmas carols are enough to lift my mood. I am so excited my daughters are coming home for Christmas and I have been preparing for weeks now. Christmas planning is all part of the Christmas preparation so I will have a stress-free holiday season. These are some of the preparations I have been doing around the house and the kitchen.

Tips for a stress free Christmas

  1. Create your Noche Buena, Christmas day menu and grocery list

List down your menu and the ingredients needed for each meal and slowly collect the ingredients needed. I pre-cook or cut ingredients of recipes ahead of time and freeze them thus reducing tasks in the immediate run-up to Christmas Day. Divide your pantry in zones to keep your food organized and to reduce your meal-preparation time.
Have specific areas for baking, snacks and breakfast items. Baking condiments, spices, cereals, pasta, canned items are some of my zones. I also created a kid zone where the kids could just grab cookies, and other snacks from easy-to-reach spots.

Menu planning is a must before the holiday rush. The supermarkets are usually full so I take this opportunity to already shop for the ingredients which cannot be found in one supermarket.  You might want to check out my Recipe Ideas for Noche Buena at my Food Blog.

Clean and go is a motto in my kitchen so I make sure I have paper towels nearby for a quick wipe of any spills or simply wiping the splashes off a serving plate, just before serving. Of course , a festive looking Kitchen towels is a nice touch to my red-green holiday theme . I am happy that Sanicare released their special Christmas prints for their Kitchen Towels. The Sanicare Kitchen Towels have moisture locking technology, making it very absorbent.

2. Organize the pantry

Christmas day will be celebrated with my sister’s family so I will be hosting 20 guests. Before Christmas day, I expect a few guests coming in so I need to prepare for such occasion.

Divide your pantry in zones to keep your food organized and to reduce your meal-preparation time. Have specific areas for baking, snacks and breakfast items. Baking condiments, spices, cereals, pasta, canned items are some of my zones. I also created a kid zone where the kids could just grab cookies, and other snacks from easy-to-reach spots.

This is the opportunity to take stock of my inventory: spoons, forks, dishes, glasses, table napkins. Christmas planning involves the table setting aside from the menu so I envision the look for Christmas day. Nothing fancy. I make use of my Christmas decor as a festive accent to my informal table setting.

The table napkins are placed in a holder so anyone can easily get hold of it. I use Sanicare Mood Dinner Napkins . They come in two colors, white and black which has a very luxurious strong but soft feel.

3. Get something new for your Christmas decor

The traditional red-and-green always works for me as it allows me to collect decors through the years. Repeating the color scheme or pattern is essential for that unified look I want in my home.

I always buy something new each year to get me excited of the Holidays. This year, I bought Laser lights instead of a string of Christmas lights. It is less hassle and I don’t need to wire around the fence. Stress-free lighting is what I need and it looks so pretty and magical at night.

The lights make my heart grow tender with warm childhood memories and love of my family. Anything to lift your spirits will relieve you of stress.

4.Take some time for yourself.

On my extra busy mornings, I chill at my working area and just enjoy the view from my chair. I feel it is a waste of time to stress out when stress can be minimized. Stress will also add wrinkles to my face which I want to avoid.

Take a moment to just sit still and enjoy the moment. Dab the sweat away from your forehead. Take frequent breaks.

The Liwanag Series boxes

Speaking of the red Christmas themed box of tissues on my table, take a look at how it adds a new look and holiday touch to my red-green theme. The box comes in white, blue , red and green so it can fit any color scheme of your home.

These specially designed boxes from Sanicare is called Liwanag Christmas Boxes which is centered on parols (lanterns) and stars. The boxes were designed by the artist Alex Eduque, the founder of MovEd.

Alex chose to utilize parols in her design. She believes parols are a symbolic representation that evoke a notion of promise and unification.  It also transcends social classes and lights up all Filipino homes. Alex chose to integrate the stars in her design because it is a constant reminder that we share the same sky and despite the stark differences and circumstances in all corners of the world, that each one of us has a star shining brightly within.

Starry Bright Christmas Promo for the Liwanag Series boxes

Christmas is usually a time of joy, not stress. Doing a little planning now will help you relax and enjoy your friends and family during Christmas. To all my readers, I also want to give you the opportunity to enjoy even after the Christmas is over by inviting you to join the Starry Bright Christmas Promo.

Here are the mechanics

1. Post a creative photo on your Facebook account featuring the Sanicare Facial Tissue Liwanag Series Box.

2. The caption should start with the phrase, “My Christmas
is extra bright this year because ____!” and please tag three (3) other friends.

3. Entries also should include the mandatory hashtags #SanicareLiwanagSeries #Sanicare #SCPA

4. Once posted, the participant must go back to the Sanicare PH Facebook promo post and click the link provided in order to submit the entry.

5. The promo will run from November 22 to January 01, 2018. Deadline of submission is on January 01 at 6pm.

6. Winners will be announced on January 15, 2018 on the Sanicare PH
Facebook Page.

Prizes

1. The grand prize winner will be given four (4) all day passes to
Dream Play and Lunch buffet for four (4) at The Café at the Hyatt
City of Dreams Manila.

2. 10 consolation prize winners will also be chosen to each receive a 2,000 peso Sodexo Gift Certificate from Sanicare.

 


Visit the Sanicare PH Facebook Page for more details about the
promo. DTI Permit No. 18311 Series of 2017

Dove Self-Esteem project: 9 ways parents help build a girls’ body confidence

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The mission of the Dove Self-Esteem Project is helping young people all around the world build positive body confidence and self-esteem. Download “A parent’s guide to building girls’ body confidence“

I used to have beauty anxiety when I was a young child up to my early teens. My uncles would often tease how dark I looked. Perhaps the teasing came about because my mother was fair-skinned. I grew up feeling ugly until I reached 14 years old . Looking at the mirror, I smiled at my image said to myself, “I am beautiful” . Well, I looked more beautiful if I smiled because my non-smiling face makes me look angry. The facts and figures surrounding beauty anxiety in young girls and the pressure to squeeze into rigid definitions is a cause of concern. It affects their self-esteem . I should know. During my elementary years, my grades were below average even failing Filipino or Sewing class. It was only in High School that I realized I was smart after all.

My mother didn’t know better and allowed her brothers to tease me.  As a parent, it’s natural to want the best for your child – for them to be happy, healthy and confident individuals. I also failed in this aspect as I didn’t know any better. Thankfully, there are so many resources for parents to consider.

How do you help your daughter or son maintain a positive body image and find their sense of self when their world is filled with unrealistic images of physical ideals; one dimensional, ‘flawless’ beauty, and narrow messages about the ‘perfect’ lifestyle?

How do you help her deal with the pitfalls of teenage life such as appearance related bullying or keep them eating healthily and enjoying exercise (without getting hang-ups about food and body shape)?

Sometimes all these tip are easier said than done, especially during the teen and pre-teen years when their bodies are changing, their self-confidence is fragile and they are trying to make that tricky transition out of childhood.

Because daughters often mirror their mothers’ actions, moms wield the power to mold their children into confident, empowered women. I asked myself if I had somehow mirrored some of my actions to my daughters. Only my daughters can affirm this because I know I made mistakes that I have passed on to them.

But young parents can learn from all the resources available out there and from stories of other parents.

The Dove Self-Esteem Project created Uniquely Me and the expert articles available on our parent’s online hub,  to create a resource for parents that is focused on advice and action. (Download “A parent’s guide to building girls’ body confidence“)

There are nine modules. You need to download the guide since each module details action points. Here is a summary of each module.

1. Learning to love yourself
Lead by example – techniques to cut out the self-criticism and feel better about yourself. This is the most important lesson to pass on.

Self-criticism is common among teenage girls – how often have you urged your daughter not to put herself down? But sometimes we have low self-esteem, too, and it’s possible that you could be teaching her bad habits through the example you set by criticising yourself. Have you ever found yourself looking in the mirror and frowning, or moaning about how you look? You may not even realise you’re doing it, but your daughter probably will.

2. Body Talk: Use the power of your words to feel great
Do away with ‘fat talk’ and start a more positive conversation

Talking about our bodies is like an unwritten rule in female friendship – we do it constantly and automatically. You know how it goes: “I feel fat in these jeans”, “I’ve put on so much weight” or “Gosh, my skin looks awful today”. I say this a lot and I am guilty of passing this insecurity to my girls.

3. Is your daughter’s perception of beauty distorted by the media?
Show your daughter the truth behind magazine images

In the world of Instagram, images of women are manipulated so dramatically these days that it can feel like ‘beauty’ is less and less attainable. Help your daughter resist media influence and see the real picture.

4. The Real Me: An activity to celebrate your daughter’s inner beauty
Get creative with this great confidence-boosting activity

I encouraged my girls to hone their talents like singing and writing. Negative body talk can make it feel like it’s not polite to accept a compliment, or that talking about what we’re good at will be seen as boasting or vanity. But recognising your talents and allowing yourself to value these characteristics is important to developing positive self-esteem.

5. Bullying: Is your daughter being teased about her looks?
Help your daughter deal with hurtful teasing and bullying from peers

Bullies are rarely original when it comes to their insults. What were the most common teases or taunts when you were young? Mine was from my crush “thick lips” .

First, we need to understand what we mean by bullying. Girls and boys disagree, fight, tease and banter with their friends.  Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.”

If the bullying gets worse, know there is an  Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 (Republic Act 10627) especially if the bullying is inside the school premises. This law states that all elementary and high school principals and administrators must craft and adopt policies against bullying and must ensure that they are implemented.

6. Teasing at Home: When does family banter become family bullying?
Watch out for well-meant teasing within the family – it can still hurt

As your daughter becomes a teenager, she will naturally become more sensitive to comments about the way she looks and family members may not realise the impact of their words. Of course, robust discussions and gentle teasing are a part of being a family and can help girls develop and explore their opinions and build resilience to the criticisms that are a part of everyday life. However, it’s worth thinking twice about what builds character – and what diminishes confidence.

7. The Parent Translator: How to improve communication between
parents and daughters
This mini guide will help your teen decode your next communication breakdown

Do you and your daughter seem to argue over the smallest thing? Communicating should be easy. But miscommunication is even easier. You make a simple comment about what your daughter’s wearing and she storms off, slamming the door. You ask what she had for lunch and she assumes it’s an attack about her diet.

8. Attitude to Food: How to encourage your daughter to enjoy
a healthy balanced diet
Foster a healthy relationship with food

The most crucial thing when it comes to our diet is eating a balance of all foods,” explains eating disorder expert and leading UK psychotherapist Dr Susie Orbach. “Getting hung up on labelling certain foods as ‘good’ and others as ‘bad’ isn’t helpful – it creates too many rules that dictate your relationship with food and encourage disordered eating. It’s also usually wrong. Low-fat foods can be loaded with sugar and fillers to give taste when a normal fat version would be nutritionally better.”

9. Show your daughter the benefits of physical activity
Encourage your daughter to move her body and discover the feel-good factor

She doesn’t have to be the sports captain or prima ballerina to feel the benefits of being active; she just needs to find an activity she enjoys that gets her body moving. If she’s physically active regularly, she’s likely to feel better about herself and her body, regardless of whether the physical activity is dramatically changing her shape. The link between physical activity .

The nine tips are useful to any parent. As Lee Haney said “Parents must lead by example. Don’t use the cliche; do as I say and not as I do. We are our children’s first and most important role models.” If there is a beauty legacy I want to impart, it is that I want my daughters to love themselves first. To love yourself, you first need to know yourself, to realize and appreciate your unique, individual ways. A discovery late in life taught me that a loving relationship with myself works because it leads to a loving relationship with others . Loving yourself will eventually show in every action one takes. When we believe in ourselves, we shine with the confidence and vibe we exude.

#SeeTheWorld: Celebrate the season of giving

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AirAsia in partnership with World Vision celebrates the season of giving through a joint Christmas initiative called “See the World,” an awareness building and fundraising effort for the benefit of Filipino children.

The Christmas season will always remind me of my childhood. There is always this warm feeling in my heart when I think of Christmas day. A child always lives in my heart. As a little girl, my parents could not afford to buy expensive gifts but I was always happy with whatever they gave me. Any gift always gave me a giddy feeling as well as a big smile. I can just imagine the children when they receive their gifts. But not children are blessed any time of the year.

This is why I want to be able to touch the lives of these children when we reach out to them. There are many groups that help children and World Vision Philippines is one to remember. I recall my trip to Zambales during their World Vision’s Noche Buena Campaign.

AirAsia and World Vision “See the World”

This time around, World Vision partnered with AirAsia.

AirAsia in partnership with World Vision celebrates the season of giving through a joint Christmas initiative called “See the World,” an awareness building and fundraising effort for the benefit of Filipino children.

“See the World” aims to raise at least one million pesos to provide sponsorship program for many children as direct recipients across the country.  For every AirAsia seats booked or sold in the Philippines from 1 to 31 December 2017, five pesos will be automatically donated to World Vision’s child sponsorship program.

AirAsia World Vision

AirAsia and World Vision partnership.

With the wonderful ‘See the World’ collaboration of AirAsia and World Vision, each one can have that chance to touch each other’s hearts and celebrate Christmas in a different way.

AirAsia World Vision

Aside from fundraising efforts, “See the World” will feature inspiring stories of children from impoverished communities around the country whose lives have changed and caused other children and communities to aspire for better living conditions.

Mechanics 

How does this work? Read the mechanics of the AirAsia World Vision partnership and how you can be part of the “See the World” Christmas initiative.

    1. Promo is open to all Philippines AirAsia passengers at least 18 years of age
    2. For every AirAsia ticket booked in the Philippines, PHP 5.00 goes to World Vision child sponsorship program.
    3. Promo will run from December 1, 2017 to December 31 , 2017 for all Z2 flights.
    4. Booking must be made within December 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017 regardless of travel dates.
    5. By booking a flight, traveller signifies acceptance on the standard terms and conditions of AirAsia flights.
    6. For further questions, you may call 742-2742 (Promo hotline or customer support number). See more at Philippines AirAsia Facebook page.

I believe in the saying that when “something good happens to us, let’s make something good to others. The more we share our blessings, the more that we are blessed.”

Sharing our blessings feels good because we’ve made someone else feel good. Let’s give a chance to touch each other’s hearts and celebrate Christmas in a different way.”

AirAsia Philippines will run a web series online and available in AirAsiaPhilippines facebook starting November 20. Keep updated and find out more about “See the World” through #AirAsiaWorldVision and #SeeTheWorld hashtags.

Best kept secrets: What synthetic detergents don’t want you to know

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perla laundry soap

Each Perla laundry soap is 50% Coconut Oil (CNO), while the synthetic counterparts are petroleum-based. CNO contains lauric which is an excellent natural cleaning agent. Lauric traps oil and dirt and makes it easy to wash away.

While covering a Perla event a few weeks ago, I posed a question on my facebook wall.

Did you know each Perla bar is around 50% coconut oil ? Who uses Perla laundry bar ?

The feedback and engagement was amazing . I have been using Perla soap for delicate fabrics but I was not aware that the soap can be used for the face and body. It is that good. No matter what a brand  says about its products, it is the testimonials of friends and relatives that make it more believable. Let the comments of my friends and relative speak for itself.

1. It is what I have been using to wash my face, the past 40yrs or so. It is the secret of my clear, smooth skin. (an auntie)

– It was my mom’s secret to her beautiful skin. It was also recommended by my OB for washing my delicates. Love it.
– Back in High School, i even used that to wash my face ???? I was going thru a bad skin phase
– My face bestfriend 🙂 mura na maganda pa
– I like Perla because my skin doesn’t react badly to it. Wish they’d come up with a powder or flake version for washing machines, though.

2. Last time I went to an Ecowaste presscon. They said we shouldn’t be using “antibacterial” soap because of the chemicals. Off cam they said Perla is a good alternative (not just for the laundry). (A journalist)

– Oh, awesome. Coconut based, so friendlier to the ecosystem…

3. We dermas recommend Perla for the laundry of patients with irritant contact dermatitis to other laundry detergents. We know it to be the mildest detergent bar:) more Eco friendly too:) (My sister, a dermatologist)

4. Me, for my delicates that needs hand washing. (My sister-in-law)

– I use it for hand washed delicate items!
– I use Perla for delicate clothes and white
– Use it for my son’s clothes
– For baby clothes, sya!
– Kaya nga maliban sa ginagamit for delicate fabrics at baby clothes, diba ang iba ginagamit yan sa katawan .

5. I use it as my white floof dog’s pre-shampoo soap to get his coat super clean!

– We initially use Perla to bathe our dogs before applying anti flea soap/shampoo.
– I use it on my dog every time I bathe him…nawawala ang amoy ng aso
– Used it before to bathe our then maltese; made his coat really clean and shiny.

6. I love Perla, too! Gentle on the hands saka mabula.

– I do. Different from other detergent. It doesn’t dry my hands when I hand wash.

7. We do. And I wash my greasy mechanic hands with Perla.

8. I use it to pre-wash whites.

– We use it before perla and papaya leaves effective whitening soap
– Me! Still use it to wash white clothes and undies

9. Bath soap ko iyan dati. Buhay pa pala.

– Sometimes, I use it as body soap. An uncle prescribed it to my sister who had pimples.
– I’m using Perla as bath and laundry soap
– My dad uses it as bath soap though haha
– Actually, in my mom’s province, I remember women using Perla as bath soap.
– Perla pampaligo ko paminsan-minsan

11. We do. I use it to wash my swim gears.

Some didn’t know Perla is made from 50% coconut oil “Oh wow didn’t know that Perla is 50% coconut oil! Will buy it now instead of Perwoll for our delicate clothes” and one asked “Why don’t they just create powder for machine wash use?” I found out you can grate Perla laundry bar (60 grams or 1/2 bar for a 2-2.5 kgs load ) for washing machines.

perla laundry soap

Here are Perla 5 care signs

Now you have read the comments from my facebook post. Indeed, Perla laundry bar soap is made from coconut oil and other natural ingredients that are excellent in cleaning clothes without the harmful chemicals. I didn’t even know Perla is composed of 50% coconut oil. Now you know, Perla is the premium laundry soap that cares for your clothes and skin. There are five good reasons on why Perla is such a premium brand

1. Perla is made from PURE COCONUT OIL

Each Perla bar is 50% Coconut Oil (CNO), while the synthetic counterparts are petroleum-based. CNO contains lauric which is an excellent natural cleaning agent. Lauric traps oil and dirt and makes it easy to wash away.

Recent studies also show that coconut oil has strong antibacterial properties. Studies have also shown that coconut oil has potent antifungal capabilities

2. Perla is made from natural ingredients and has NO harmful ingredients, which are found in its synthetic counterparts

Laundry soaps have a much higher PH, and are less acidic and therefore gentler. Synthetic detergents (syndets) contain substances designed for cost effective cleaning that can be harsh to the skin. Syndet bars are made rougher and more abrasive, while Perla is soft and smooth to the hands.

3. Perla cares for your skin too!

Each bar contains glycerins – natural moisturizers! Perla makes clothes much softer. The perfume in Perla, made from essential oils like Lavender, is very minimal compared with much more fragrant syndets. Syndets have anti-redeposition agents which can be harmful to
the skin. Perla does not.

Did you know that Dermatologists actually recommend Perla?

4.  Perla is a brand built on decades of trust.

The caring Perla experience has been passed on from our grandmothers to mothers to us. Perla is the first and oldest laundry brand in the country. It has helped our grandmothers and mothers take care of our clothes.

5.  Perla supports Filipino farmers! Proudly Pinoy!

Perla supports the Philippine Coconut Oil industry (The Philippines is second-largest coconut-producing country, next to Indonesia). Every bar of Perla sold helps provide livelihood to Filipino farmers. There are no plans to alter the unique Perla formulation It is ONLY AVAILABLE IN THE PHILIPPINES.

Would you believe, I am now using Perla soap to wash my face?

How to join the Save the Children #LahatSanta campaign

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Be a hero, wear a Santa sombrero. #LahatSanta is  giving everyone an exciting opportunity to become Santa to poor kids.

Santa Claus is so much a part of my childhood memories as it reminds me so much of my father who played the role of Santa Claus. Dad is not around now. He died 14 years ago on a Holiday season of all months. Perhaps he wanted to remind me about the spirit of Santa Claus. I don’t know if you believe in Santa Claus but I believe Santa Claus lives in each one of us to make a difference.

Santa Claus is anyone who loves another and seeks to make them happy;
who gives himself by thought or word or deed in every gift
that he bestows;
who shares his joys with those who are sad;
whose hand is never closed against the needy;
whose arm is ever outstretched to aid the week; whose sympathy is quick and genuine
in time of trouble;
who recognizes a comrade and brother in every man he meets upon life’s common road;
who lives his life throughout
the entire year in the Christmas spirit. –

EDWIN OSGOOD GROVER, Vicki Howard’s The Book of Santa Claus

We can all be a Santa Claus through the Save the Children new Christmas campaign #LahatSanta giving everyone an exciting opportunity to become Santa to poor kids.

What is the #LahatSanta campaign?

Be a hero, wear a Santa sombrero

Lahat Santa is a new fun way to celebrate Christmas. Save the Children encourages individuals , schools and companies to wear their Santa hats, raise funds in their own creative way and make the holidays much more meaningful by donating to Save the Children programs.

Upon signing up on www.lahatsanta.ph, participants get a free fundraising kit , which includes a coin bank, Christmas poster and a Santa hat. The Kit includes ways you can fundraise, from bake sale to the good old Christmas caroling– it is up to the participants how they’ll spread the cheer.

With every Lahat Santa hat comes great responsibility. A commitment to Lahat Santa campaign could mean life-saving support for a child. A donation can provide treatment to babies suffering from malnutrition  and help expand their programs that could impact their lives in the long run.

Steps to join #LahatSanta campaign

  1. Sign up on www.lahatsanta.ph to receive a FREE fundraising pack which includes your coin bank, Christmas poster and your Santa hat for December 15. Tips and ideas are included there too.

2. Plan your fundraising activity and gather your family and friends from work and school to help you out. Whether this is through a garage sake, good old caroling, selling artwork and doing Christmas dares, Because you are the Santa, be as creative as possible.

 

3. SEND your donations to Save the Children, The sooner they receive it, the sooner they can put it to good use.

4. Wear your Santa hat on December 14 and have a shout out post or selfie, using the hashtag #LahatSanta selfie to show us how you are fundraising for children.

Save the Children believes that all children have the right to fair and equal access to nutritious food. We know that the rate of stunting of 33% is largely due to inequality of access to nutritious food, long periods of hunger and a lack of nutrition during the first 1,000 days.

60 things I wish I could tell my 19 year old self

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My mother died when I was 19 years old.  I wished she were around to give me nuggets of wisdom. I ended up praying to my mom asking for guidance whenever I stumbled along the way. Most of the time, I was on my own with the help of my siblings. We often talked among ourselves and try to resolve our challenges. Most importantly, I learned to nurture my inner child. I learned the art of loving my inner child after I realized that there were many aspects of my life that were left unresolved. Now, that I am older and wiser, I look back and talk to my 19 year old self because it was the year before I met my husband. I guess I would have been a better me, if I knew all this then.

19 year old

1. Build your skills. Don’t rely on your college education.

2. Your ‘re beautiful

3. They didn’t know any better.

4. You ‘re smart

5. Keep dreaming

6. When you are caught in a gossip, it is possible they gossip behind your back

7. Prayers are helpful.

8. Envision your future.

9. Love yourself more.

10. Don’t be trapped in labels.

11. In recovery , it’s usually two steps forward , one step (or giant step) backward.

12. Love never dies .

13. Life gives you a second chance .

14. Cats are stress busters.

15. One is never too old to start a new career or change paths

16. Have an interest in people. Learn small talk.

17. Get involved with a community project

18. Volunteer . It’s a wonderful feeling to get involved on something higher than yourself.

19. Intern . Work at the bakeshop, the family business

20. Watch your diet.

21. Exercise daily. Join a sport like volleyball

22. Read more

23. Write more.

24. Build communication skills.

25. Study a foreign language.

26. Feelings are never wrong. Know how to transform it to something positive .

27. There is always a choice. Sad or glad?

28. Though Love is unconditional , there is a time for tough love.

29. Practice as if

30. Communicate with your parents and reach a compromise.

31. A crush is fleeting. Hormones are responsible

32. Nurture your inner child.

33. Value your time with your family of origin. They won’t be with you forever.

34. Save more. Spend money on experiences and education, not material things.

35. Stop smoking

36. Keep in touch with your best friends.

37. Reach out to your first cousins on your mother side.

38. Your life does not revolve around your boyfriend. Socialize more.

39. Drop your course in BS Food Technology and take that Business course you have always wanted.

40. Grades are a good start in getting a job, but it is not an assurance you’ll be successful in real life. However, your biggest assets in the real world will not be your grades but the fact that you’re personable and you know a lot of people.

41. Everything is going to be okay.

42. Don’t worry too much about what other people think about you

43. Explore the islands around the Philippines.

44. Be more adventurous. Go past your curfew.

45. Sit alone in silence for at least ten minutes every day.

46. Don’t wait all day for your boyfriend to visit.

47. Take more pictures.

48. You are not going to marry your first boyfriend.

49. Time will heal the loss and pain of a broken heart.

50.  If you fall, pick yourself up, and keep moving forward.

51. Unresolved hurts tend to haunt you back in future relationships. Learn to forgive and let go.

52. Don’t be afraid to fail because you will always learn something.

53. Spend more time with dad. This is one thing I wished I did more. I chose to live away from him after college graduation because he was a strict dad. But now looking bad, I miss him a lot.

54. Take care of your teeth.

55. Wear sunscreen.

56.You will not end up  going to work in the field you studied, and that’s okay.

57. You do not need a relationship to feel complete. Love yourself first.

58. Invest in quality wardrobe pieces.

59. Be open to trying new things.

60. Mom was right. Your siblings are your best friends for life.

Want to add to this list? What is one thing you would tell your nineteen-year-old self?

Digital Transformation: Your brand is defined by those who experience it.

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The Second Digital Congress is so relevant to me as a blogger and my brand “momblogger”. The Congress focused on the culture envisioned to aid marketers in adapting to digitalization as reflected in the theme, “DX: The Culture of Digital Transformation” but I looked at how it  continues to transform me as a blogger.

The best part of the Digital Congress was meeting Brian Solis  who I have been following for the past seven years.   He is a principal analyst studying disruptive technology and its impact on business at Altimeter Group.

The question I had was is blogging still relevant? Brian says he still blogs.  His advice is blogging more and publishing more to stay relevant.

Genuine useful content.

Utility is the new viral.

I have been blogging for close to twelve years and my objectives in 2006 (grief recovery) is not the same as today which is to use technology for social good. I find myself blogging less especially in the long form content. My main platform is Twitter.  I guess I want to give immediate feedback on twitter.

As a blogger, am I headed in the right direction of digital transformation? Let’s look at part of the presentation given by Brian Solis.

Digital Transformation

Brian Solis defines digital transformation in six stages:

  • Business as Usual
  • Present and Active
  • Formalized
  • Strategic
  • Converged
  • Innovative and Adaptive

The future of work is all about digital transformation that will require careful collaboration, and thoughtful planning. The sixth stage, “Innovate and Adaptive” is when a culture of innovation becomes top priority.

As a blogger, I know I constantly need to innovate my strategy. How?

Your brand is defined by those who experience it.

This reminds me of a course I took on Content Strategy where four audience experiences are best summarized as follows:

The first one, is it makes me smarter
about things that I care about.

The second is that it looks out for
my interests.

The third is that it’s convenient.
By that I mean that it’s easy to access.
It’s readily available.
I don’t have to work hard to get it.

And the fourth one is,
it gives me something to talk about and
share with others.
What we call the social

I believe I give all four audience experiences but it can still be improved by publishing more.

Brian Solis gives a tip:

Close your eyes for a moment and think about the last time you had a truly great experience…an experience that moved you…that captured your heart, mind and spirit. What about it was so special? Now, bring it to life for someone else.

Experience is something you feel, something you sense and interpret…it’s measured by how you react.

Life is about experiences,

Technology brigs to life new experiences

Relationships are made through shared experiences.

Great brands are the assemblage of great experiences.

As I think about how it relates to my “MomBlogger” brand, I remember my goals a year ago.

My focus as a citizen advocate allows me to bring out underplayed stories, fight for women and family issues which are close to my heart. That is who I am. It makes me happy to be of help to others and at the same time it allows me to leave my digital footprints behind.

Are my goals still relevant? What digital transformation is needed?

The first I need to do continue the form of narrative storytelling in the ways that my audience wants to successfully build a relationship with me.

Look: RCBC’s EMV upgrade extended to November 15, 2017

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RCBC is now in the final stages of upgrading its clients’ cards with EMV chip-enabled cards. Visit your branch of account during the recarding period which has been extended to November 15, 2017. Starting November 16, 2017, all remaining RCBC magstripe cards will be automatically deactivated 

RCBC EMV card

The announcement for the availability of the new design for the RCBC MyDebit MasterCard will be at their Official Facebook Fan Page.

Nobody likes to think that their card is being secretly used by someone else.  I remember the time my other debit card still had this magnetic strip. Around 3,000 pesos was siphoned by someone buying software online. I only found out about the loss the following day. It is not easy recovering the money. It took over a month for the money to be redeposited back to my account. The skimming and cloning needs to stop.

It makes sense to upgrade to Europay Mastercard Visa (EMV) chip enabled card.  BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) mandated all banks to make the shift to Europay Mastercard Visa (EMV) chip enabled cards. EMV is a global standard for cards equipped with computer chips and the technology used to authenticate chip-card transactions whether debit, prepaid and credit card. It’s that small, metallic gold square you’ll see on new cards. It’s a computer chip, and it’s what sets it apart the new generation of cards.

Who doesn’t want to feel secure in their  transactions? It’s great to know  that shifting to EMV cards is part of RCBC’s thrust to ensure safe and secure transactions for its clients. Did you know magnetic stripes on cards contain unchanging data, which makes it easy for anyone to replicate the data?

It is one reason the old magnetic strip cards are prime targets for counterfeiters, who use stolen card data to withdraw or purchase. There is a level of comfort knowing it is difficult to counterfeit EMV cards. Unlike the magstripe technology, every time an EMV card is used for payment, the EMV chip creates a unique transaction code that cannot be used again. It ensures safer transactions by authenticating each card and generating one-time codes for each payment. This makes it difficult for anyone to steal the cardholder’s account information.

To enjoy the new EMV technology and its enhanced security features, RCBC clients can easily upgrade by going to their branch of account during the recarding period which has been extended to November 15, 2017. The upgrade to the EMV chip enabled card is free. All you need to do is present only one (1) valid photo-bearing Government ID to upgrade their ATM Debit or their MyWallet cards completely, for free. Upon receipt of their new EMV card, RCBC clients can proceed to the nearest RCBC or RCBC Savings Bank ATM to activate their card.

Starting November 16, 2017, all remaining RCBC magstripe cards will be automatically deactivated and can no longer be used in any transactions.

Drop by soon so you can make the shift before the deadline to enjoy more secure card transactions.