First published at Sunday Business & IT, December 1, 2019

A year ago, I wrote about “12 online shopping sites for your Christmas shopping.” I patronize budding Filipino entrepreneurs or social enterprises because I want to shop for gifts that keep on giving. These 12 online sites are still around and you could still purchase from them. But for Christmas presents this year, I am watching out for food-focused social enterprises that integrate community programs into their missions and address issues such as food poverty, sustainable farming or fair trade.

Food merchants from the BPI Sinag ng Pasko, a Christmas bazaar, will feature products from Filipino social enterprises at the Palm Drive Activity Center, Glorietta 2 on Dec. 11, 2019. You could order on their websites, Facebook pages or visit their booths at the Christmas bazaar.

Amazing Food Corp. (amazingfoodscorp.com)

Health is wealth. L’amor coco-ginger soothing herbal tea, made from coco sugar and ginger have many health benefits. Sometimes, I add coco-ginger to my coffee. Coco sugar is the sweetener I use because of its low glycemic index. Those in keto diet would prefer the coco flour as a substitute for wheat flour.  You could find more coconut-based and other organic products with brand names L’Amor or Santa Maria at Amazing Foods, a natural and organic producer and distributor of Coconut based products. Part of its mission is to educate and assist its farmers and communities on the latest organic practices.

Auro Chocolate (aurochocolate.com)

Philippine chocolates are the most requested souvenir items and a well-loved gift item. Auro Chocolate won four awards for the International Chocolate Awards, World Edition. It is time to get a taste of these award-winning chocolates: 70 percent Dark – Tupi Origin; Dalandan Tarragon Bonbon; 32 percent Moringa (Malunggay) White Chocolate with Pinipig and 32 percent Moringa (Malunggay) White Chocolate with Pinipig. One could order Auro chocolates online through karton.ph, but they are also sold in some stores like Kultura. Auro goes beyond “bean-to-bar” by working with over 10 cacao producing cooperatives and 80 individual farmers representing over 1,000 families and 2,000 hectares of farm land.

Balangay’s Best (balangaysbest.com)

Balangay’s Best is the brand of natural processed and wild-caught sustainable seafood products made by artisan Filipino fishers through Fishers and Changemakers Inc. It is heart-warming to know that the company started at Bantayan Island during the rehabilitation efforts of Typhoon “Yolanda,” to journey with the fishers as they recovered from the typhoon’s aftermath. They have since partnered with some municipalities in Occidental Mindoro, Negros Oriental, and Surigao del Sur. Darling Danggit, Papa Pusit, Mommy Dilis, Baby Bangsi and Seafood Halo-halo are gift items that would support this social enterprise helping Filipino fisherfolk communities.

Kayumanggi Organic (kayumanggiorganic.com)

As a partner of Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan, Kayumanggi Organic encourages and trains their farmers and partners to use only practices that are sustainable. While it also sells coconut-based products, other food items worth buying are Raw Coconut Nectar, Cacao Reál Pouch, or Golden Mango Gelato. You could also order their Homeland Coffee, a blend of Arabica from Benguet, Robusta from Batangas, and Excelsa from the coffee capital, Amadeo.

Saret Organic Farmville (saretorganics.com)

With the help of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Science and Technology, Saret Organic Farmville gives support to over eight farmer groups including a farmers’ association it helped establish called Kaanib ng Kalikasan. Try out the Bee Well Raw, Wild Honey made by the bees from the wild forest of Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan.

The Make Peace Bakery (facebook.com/makepeacebakery)

Natural and healthy pieces of bread by The Make Peace Bakery, a social enterprise empowering the disadvantaged youth through learning baking and business skills.

Natural and healthy bread are must-have items for Christmas parties. The Make Peace Bakery, Bakers of Change Inc. teaches baking to out-of-school youth as a source of livelihood and serving natural and healthier breads to community. Check out the Biscotso, Raisin-nuts cookie, Ube oats, Banana Choco chip Loaf, or the Banana Blueberry Loaf which you could order online at thegoodstore.ph

While you could shop for these food items online, they are also available at the Sinag ng Pasko. Other than these food merchants, the Sinag ng Pasko is a perfect venue to shop for other Christmas gifts, whether one is a zero-waste advocate encouraging your loved ones to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle or a proud champion of Filipino craftsmanship.

With merchants presenting gift ideas ranging from arts, fashion, food to home essentials, I am sure you would discover stylish and contemporary creations that offer a glimpse of Filipino culture, reusable everyday items built from sustainable materials, upcycled pieces, and food assortments made from locally sourced ingredients.

Having social enterprises in one place would be a faster way to shop, too.

READ : Sustainable and proudly Filipino products for your Christmas shopping needs

Are you looking for Christmas gift ideas? Check out the BPI Sinag ng Pasko, a Christmas bazaar featuring products from Filipino social enterprises, on December 11, 2019, at the Palm Drive Activity Center, Glorietta 2.

With merchants presenting options ranging from arts, fashion, food to home essentials, Sinag ng Pasko will help you find stylish and contemporary creations that offer a glimpse of Filipino culture, reusable everyday items built from sustainable materials, upcycled pieces, and food assortments made from locally-sourced ingredients.

Natural and healthy pieces of bread by The Make Peace Bakery, a social enterprise empowering the disadvantaged youth through learning baking and business skills.


Auro Chocolate is a proudly Filipino, bean-to-bar, and an internationally-awarded chocolate company that sustainably sources our cocoa beans directly from local farming communities in Dava o

White button-down shirt by Candid Clothing, a sustainable clothing enterprise which uses fabric surplus and upcycled materials for cloth and accessory making

Nito Vine bag by Rolyolikha, producer and manufacturer of wall art decor, divider, lampshade, mats, baskets that are made of indigenous materials

Insulated lunch bag by Mori Notes, a social enterprise that employs stay-at-home mothers through creation of innovative journal notebooks, wallets, bags, and purse


Handmade soaps by Squeaky Clean Kids, a social enterprise that provides hygiene and environmental education, livelihood programs and services to kids and communities in need
 

Home-cleaning solutions by Happy Helpers, a home-cleaning service provider by mothers from an underserved community in Taguig under-served

Sinag ng Pasko is a spin-off event of BPI Sinag, an initiative by BPI Foundation to support Filipino businesses with the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit. With many social enterprises lacking access to the wider market, the bazaar allows them to reach more people in time for holiday shopping.

“We offer Sinag ng Pasko as an ideal venue to look for Christmas gifts, whether you are a zero-waste advocate encouraging your loved ones to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle, a proud champion of Filipino craftsmanship, or simply a shopper looking for unique and beautiful items,” said Maricris San Diego, Executive Director of BPI Foundation. “By bridging social enterprises and conscious consumers, Sinag ng Pasko aims to shine the light on a more meaningful celebration of the Christmas season.  .”

BPI Sinag ng Pasko Christmas bazaar accepts cash and BPI QR code payments.

List of merchants

Assorted offerings Ekolife OFW Marketing CooperativeGot Heart ShopProject Bangkal   Food Amazing Food Corp.Auro ChocolateBalangay’s BestCheche DelicaciesHiraya ChocolatesJulyan’s FarmKayumanggi OrganicSaret Organic FarmvilleThe Make Peace Bakery Novelty Bags and Beads for LifeBudget Squad ManilaCustomMade Crafts Center, Inc.Haven for Women  Jacinto & LirioMori Creations  
Home essentials Accents & PetalsBalaiKamayHappy HelpersSqueaky Clean Kids   Ecotourism SubidaZambawood   Toys Karaw Craftventures  
Fashion and accessory Angie’s YakanCandid Clothing Cooperative of Women in Health and DevelopmentDA BuenasEverything is PineGAD LivelihoodHabi Footwear & LifestyleHera BeatriceINDIMalingkat WeavesRisque Designs/Stride CollectiveRolyolikha at iba pa handicraftsXabukid Trading   Urban farming EARTHFLORA/ Down to Earth  

I  have been a member of Young Living since 2018 after I discovered the primary benefits of essential oils in a healthy lifestyle. After the long anticipated wait, I am delighted to know that Young Living essential oils have finally made a home in the Philippines. I knew they arrived last November but I never got to visit The Young Living Experience Center in Bonifacio Global City until the media and bloggers meetup last week.

The Young Living Experience Center is a haven for all essential oil enthusiasts and a place where even the biggest essential oil skeptic could see for themselves what the big deal about these oils are all about. Here, all are welcome to experience the beloved oils first-hand, as well as be immersed with the wellness world of Young Living in its 25th anniversary.

I got my starter kit (11 oils that support every body system plus extras) as an introduction to everyday essential oils. My friend Jane Uymatiao introduced me on how to use essential oils the proper way. Our group is the Southern Blends and it helps that we have a chat group that share the benefits and challenges of using essential oils.

There are two things to remember before starting to use these essential oils.

  1. Always skin test an essential oil before using it because each body is different, so apply in a small area first. Apply one oil or blend at a time. Wait 2-3 minutes before applying another oil to allow the body enough time to respond before applying another oil.
  2. Sometimes minor skin irritation may appear when applying essential oils to skin that has been exposed to cosmetics, personal care products, soaps, and cleansers containing chemicals. Some of them contain petroleum chemicals and may cause detox reactions like , rashes, headaches, light headedness and some discomfort. Should this occur temporarily discontinue use. You may need to do a cleansing program first.

In a world that is on a constant state of rush and movement, using essential oils is a call to slow down, take deep breaths, rest, and be energized. For people who use Young Living, the brand calls to mind the calming and balancing atmosphere that its essential oils bring whenever they are used. Some of the most loved Young Living essential oils are the sweet-smelling and relaxing Lavender, stimulating Peppermint and grounding Frankincense – all regarded for their purity and high quality.

Be it applied topically or used aromatically, product users are passionate with how Young Living products not only benefitted their overall self-wellness, but how it has impacted and transformed the lives of so many people through the discovery of wellness and a life full of purpose and abundance. 

I have tested many essential oils and Young Living is one of two brands I like. The other brand is available in the USA.

The rigorous standards and sourcing discipline that Young Living has lived by for 25 years is what sets them apart from other brands. It sets the industry standards for quality and purity with its proprietary Seed to Seal commitment, which consists of 3 pillars – Sourcing, Science and Standards.

  • Sourcing
    • Sourcing the highest quality materials only from corporate-owned farms, partner farms and Seed to Seal-certified suppliers to empower the company to be a steward of the earth by sourcing conscientiously with sensitivity to community impact.
  • Science
    • With 180 years of combined research and R&D experience, Young Living’s laboratory team tests samples internally as well as through 3rd party accredited laboratories. This is all to ensure that the company only creates pure and effective products that contain the cleanest and most innovative ingredients available.
  • Standards
    • Young Living upholds its commitment to do business responsibly – from sustainability sourcing, uplifting local communities to respecting and complying domestic and international legal rules, providing top-tier standards for sustainability.

With these essential oils, I am able to do my Do-it-Yourself foot scrub or Linen spray.

During the bloggers event, I got to make my own simple “Do It Yourself Soothing Foot Scrub” using organic raw sugar, V6 oil and essential oils.

My choice was PanAway and peppermint. I love these two oils. PanAway is good for soothing muscle pain while peppermint is an added treat for soothing tired feet.

During the sumner, one can beat the heat by using the summer spritz. Try this recipe out.

I love the additional oils I got from Young Living Philippines. These will surely come in handy when I prepare my own DIY Linen spray or just use it for my diffuser or applied topically.

The Young Living Experience Center is located on the Ground Floor, Twenty-five Seven McKinley Building, 25th Street corner 7th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City (BGC) but you can also contact me for more information on how to be a member of Young Living Philippines. Or just ask me any question on how to use essential oils .

This was first published at the Sunday Business & IT , December 9, 2018

Are you done with your Christmas shopping? Many of my friends dread the rush to the high street to buy their last-minute Christmas presents. I don’t mind shopping at the mall. The Christmas carols and the holiday decors bring out that warm fuzzy feeling that glows inside me during the entire season. What’s challenging is the traffic and parking. Online shopping sites make holiday shopping convenient. I find it even more meaningful when I buy from budding Filipino entrepreneurs or social enterprises. I curated 12 online shopping sites with the help of my friends.

  1. Abubot (Abubot. ph)

If you are looking to buy gift items for your geeky friend, then head off to Abubot.ph. Check out the board games, role-playing games, and accessories.  I appreciate Abubot.ph’s mission to help small business owners and retailers have an online storefront to sell their products.

  1. Barapido (facebook.com/barapido/)

This start-up online platform showcases a variety of goods from local delicacies, home items, to clothing with intricate designs. Check out Balangay’s Best high quality, naturally processed and wild-caught sustainable seafood products from Artisan Filipino Fishers.

  1. BeautyMNL (beautymnl.com)

My daughter introduced me to BeautyMNL‘s curated assortment of beauty and wellness products. My favorite is Venus and Mars (V&M) Naturals, who first started out in Multiply.  Try out their fragrances, carrier oils, extracts, soaps, skin care, hair care products, spa and wellness products, and even aroma-therapeutic oils. BeautyMNL is also available at the Apple App store and Google Playstore.

  1. Domesticity (mydomesticity.com)

Domesticity, a social enterprise, is proud of their products because Filipinos make them, using materials indigenous to the Philippines.  For a limited time, check out Tilia, hand-loomed by a community of women in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental.

  1. ECHO Store (echostore.ph)

ECHO is the acronym for Environment & Community Hope Organization Store. I love ECHO‘s social enterprise. Aside from the convenience of online shopping, they have many retail stores that carry green, fair trade products created by marginalized community groups from the provinces of the Philippines. Buy the Malagos Premium Unsweetened Chocolate for your hot chocolate drink when celebrating Noche Buena.

  1. Kalsada (kalsada.com)

Kalsada champions Philippine specialty coffee. Their top priority is to support Filipino coffee producers and their dedicated efforts to bring quality coffee to market. My daughter’s gift this year was a 250g subscription of roasted Benguet Arabica coffee beans for six months.

  1. Karton (karton.ph)

Looking for gift baskets? Karton carries a varied selection for different personalities filled with unique local products such as the Christmas Warmth Basket, Stress Away Basket, Pamper Basket, Coffee Bundle.

  1. Marketa (marketa.ph)

Marketa Philippines is the country’s first lifestyle-managed marketplace platform. They champion local micro, small and medium enterprises to strengthen their online brand. Check out the goodies at Kim’s Pastry Haven, Village Breadhouse, and Sugar Babies Desserts Unlimited.

  1. Rags 2 Riches (rags2riches.ph)

Rags 2 Riches (R2R), a social enterprise, partners with local artisans across the Philippines to create eco-ethical fashion and home accessories out of upcycled, overstock cloth and indigenous fabrics. Community artisans weave their signature R2R products. Since most of them are mothers, they have created a unique system that allows them to work from their homes. You can also buy at their joyful marketplace (thingsthatmatter.ph) for advocates of beautiful, meaningful and impactful things.

  1. ToyTinkr (facebook.com/toytinkr)

The kids will love Toytinkr. They offer tools that challenge intelligence and creativity through educational toys. Kids will enjoy the puzzle toys, play kitchens, easels, Yogi Game Kit, stamp sets, and more.

  1. Winsome box (winsomebox.com)

Winsome Box is the first gift curating studio in Manila that offers specialized gifting services for personal, social, and corporate gifting. They partner with Filipino brands, local makers and artisans, and offer a unique channel for them to showcase their craft. Their holiday gift boxes offer the gift of tranquility, the gift of joy, the gift of peace, and the gift of wonder. 

  1. Xabukid (facebook.com/xabukid/)

Xabukid is an initiative of women social entrepreneurs with a passion for helping local communities. Check out their catalog of handwoven cloth made of abaca fibers made by Bagobo-Tagabawa women weavers of Bitaug, Bansalan, Davao del Sur.

Use caution when shopping online. Good shopping starts with good security. I usually choose cash on delivery or bank deposit for online shopping. Contact the shop owner for managed expectations of the product and the estimated delivery of your purchase.

Can you recommend other online shopping sites that promote social enterprises?  Please let me know at [email protected] so I can feature them.

Kaspersky Lab’s latest report on the online activities of children – based on statistics received from its solutions and modules with child protection features – highlights children’s online activities and the importance of protecting them when online. The top three most googled items by kids worldwide are video, text translation and communication 

I have never tried Kapersky but I am intrigued with their latest report on online activities of children. Twenty year ago, there were not many websites so it was easy to track the online activities of my children. With so much multimedia today , it is impossible to monitor all the sites.  There are many security solutions like McAfee, Symantec Norton, Bitdefender , Kapersky and Avast . I personally use Avast but you can also check this Kaspersky report before trying it out.


what kids search online

The report shows anonymized statistics from Kaspersky Lab’s flagship consumer solutions for Windows PCs and Macs that have the Parental Control module switched on and from Kaspersky Safe Kids, a standalone service for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices.

For example, the report presents search results on the ten most-popular languages* for the last 6 months. The data shows that the video & audio category – including requests related to any video content, streaming services, video bloggers, series and movies – are the most regularly ‘googled’ by children (17% of the total requests). The second and third places go to translation (14%) and communication (10%) websites respectively. Interestingly, games websites sit in fourth place, generating only 9% of the total search requests.

We can also see a clear language difference for search requests: for example, video and music websites are typically searched for in English, which can be explained by the fact that the majority of movies, TV series and musical groups have English names.

Spanish-speaking kids carry out more requests for translation sites, while communication services are mostly searched for in Russian. More than any other nationality, Chinese-speaking children look for education services, while French-speaking kids are more interested in sport and games websites. In turn, German-speaking requests dominate in the “shopping” category. The leading number of search requests for porn are in Arabic, and for anime are in Japanese.

“Kids in different countries have different interests and online behaviors, but what links them all is their need to be protected online from potentially harmful content. Children looking for animated content could accidentally open a porn video. Or they could start searching for innocent videos and unintentionally end up on websites containing violent content, both of which could have a long-term impact on their impressionable and vulnerable minds,” says Anna Larkina, Web-content Analysis Expert at Kaspersky Lab.

As well as analyzing searches, the report also looks into which websites children visit or attempt to visit that contain potentially harmful content which falls under one of the 14 preset categories** for the last 12 months.

The data shows that communication sites (such as social media, messengers, or emails) were the most popular pages visited by computers with parental controls switched on – with users visiting these sites in 60% of cases over the previous 12 months. However, the percentage for this category is dropping every year as mobile devices continue to play a bigger role in children’s online activities.

The second most popular category of websites visited by these users is “software, audio, and video” (22%). Websites with this content have become significantly more popular since last year, when it was only the fifth most popular category at 6%. The top three is rounded off by alcohol, tobacco, and websites about narcotics (6%), which is a new addition compared to this time last year.

The mobile trend is again highlighted in the figures for gaming websites, which are now only in fourth place on the list at 5%. As kids continue to show a preference for mobile games rather than computer games, this category will only continue to decrease in popularity on computers over the coming months and years.

“No matter what they are doing online, it is important for parents not to leave their children’s digital activities unattended, because there’s a big difference between care and obtrusiveness. While it is important to trust your children and educate them about how to behave safely online, even your good advice cannot protect them from something unexpectedly showing up on the screen. That’s why advanced security solutions are key to ensuring children have positive online experiences, rather than harmful ones”, adds Anna Larkina.

The Kaspersky Total Security and Kaspersky Internet Security consumer solutions include a Parental Control module to help adults protect their children against online threats and block sites or apps containing inappropriate content. In turn, the Kaspersky Safe Kids solution allows parents to monitor what their children do, see or search for online across all devices, including mobile devices, and offers useful advice on how to help children behave safely online.

Check out the whole report, at https://securelist.com/kids-report-2018/85912/.

* These languages in Kaspersky Safe Kids are: English, German, Russian, Portuguese, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, French, Italian, Spanish. Search engines include different categorizations, covering: Pornography, eroticism; Abortion; Religious movements and sects; Weapons; Drugs; Alcohol; Tobacco; Violence; Extremism, racism; Self-harm, suicide and Gambling.

** The 14 categories of websites that can be blocked by the Parental Control module in Kaspersky Lab’s solutions are: Adult content; Alcohol, tobacco, narcotics; Computer games; E-commerce; Explicit language; Gambling, lotteries, sweepstakes; HTTP query redirection; Internet communication media; Job searches; News media; Religions, religious associations; Software, audio, video; Violence and Weapons, explosives, pyrotechnic.

 

It is not vanity that makes me show off my photos. Okay fine, I am proud of where I am today and I want to share these moments to my friends and relatives through my blog or social media posts. I want to offer hope for those who think a healthy lifestyle is not attainable beyond 40 years old. It is never too late.

Not too long ago, I was unhealthy and borderline obese.

The photo below shows me some 15 years ago. Don't you just love before and after pics? Overweight at 165 pounds then, my blood sugar was pretty high at 180 mg/dl. Perhaps it was because of my deep sadness over my son’s death that I had no desire to take care of myself.

No glow. I hated having my photos taken back then. I didn't even know how to smile.   I struggled with my overweight body until there came a time that my blood pressure shot up to 160/90 which seemed so scary. My stress test showed distressing results that the doctor thought I needed Angioplasty. An angiogram revealed no major arteries were blocked. Phew what a relief. I had to make a choice: Healthy or unhealthy lifestyle?

I know most of you will ask: Is it possible to lead a healthy lifestyle even at past 40?

I’m not too proud of the fact that I became borderline obese but if you’re struggling with health issues and overweight problems at past 40 years old, there is hope. I enrolled at Fitness First in May 2005 and embarked on a healthy diet as planned by nutritionist. I will talk more on the diet in another post.

Let me tell you how frustrating it was to lose weight during the first few weeks. Inspite of the strict diet and exercise, I lost only a measly 3 pounds for the first two weeks. The fat cells just refused to burn. But I thought eventually these fat cells would start burning. My concentration was focused on having a healthy body. I also decided not to weigh myself until someone would say:

oy, you lost weight.

And that didn’t happen until 3 months later. I was excited. I squealed with delight. Finally someone outside the family (your family won’t notice because they see you everyday) noticed. When I weighed myself, I saw that I had lost 20 pounds. Finally…

You can check out my weight loss story here. Even if I lost over 40 pounds, it was hard keeping the weight. I know my metabolism is not that fast anymore and one needs to continue with a consistent fitness and healthy lifestyle program. It is important to have fitness goals and they don't need to be complicated or expensive. My fitness goal is not weight loss anymore but health maintenance.

Here they are:

  1. Get a fitness tracker

A step count goal can motivate you to increase your activity and exercise. If you walk or run 10,000 steps a day — about 8 kilometers, depending on your stride — you’re all good.

It is good to own a fitness tracker, a device or application for monitoring and tracking fitness-related metrics such as distance walked or run, calorie consumption, and in some cases heartbeat and quality of sleep. I use fitbit but there are many other brands out there like Garmin or Samsung fit gear.

I started out with a goal of 7,500 steps but slowly increased to 15,000 steps a day.

"The Mayo Clinic recommends adding 1000 daily steps each week, so if your baseline is 4000 steps per day, set your goal at 5000 steps each day. Meeting your goal may be as simple as an extra five-minute walk, or even parking a few cars further away at the supermarket, depending on your speed and stride."

2. Of course, get good walking shoes that fits you best

The best shoe should give you proper support, flexibility, and cushioning, and compensate for any stride problems.

"You must be able to bend and twist the shoes. When you take a walking step, your foot will flex as you roll through a step from heel to toe. If the shoe is too stiff, your foot will fight it with each step. "

3. Weights for strengthening my triceps

The excess fats will always be my flabby arms so I use weights for strengthening my triceps.

I continue on at home with my five pound weights to get those leaner arms

4.  Burn calories using aerobics like walking on a treadmill or  under the trees

There is the treadmill at the gym but I get bored after 30 minutes. There is nothing like walking with nature.

The UP Academic oval is such a beautiful place to walk. I can imagine the oxygen I breathe in. All these lovely trees bring so much positive vibes. I can only go here during the weekends because there is just so much traffic during the weekdays.  During rainy weather, I walk inside huge malls.

Walking gives me a happy feeling that I look forward to. When I need additional steps and can’t walk outside for some reason , I turn on the video, Jane Fonda: Walking Cardio Workout : Level 1. I know some of you will laugh “JANE FONDA”. She is a role model for prime time women like myself. When I was 23 years old , I followed her exercises and lost 20 pounds back then.

5. Intermittent fasting , my pattern of eating

NOTE: You have to consult your doctor or monitor your blood sugar (for diabetics) before you start on your intermittent fasting.

"Intermittent fasting is not a diet, it's a pattern of eating. It's a way of scheduling your meals so that you get the most out of them. Intermittent fasting doesn’t change what you eat, it changes when you eat."

 

I have been on intermittent fasting since 2010.  I skip dinner each day and eat two meals, the first around 7:00 AM and the second around 11:00 PM. I take a light snack at 3:00 PM. Then, I fast for 16 hours until I start eating again the next day at 6:00 AM. It is dangerous for diabetics to do intermittent fasting but I have monitored my blood sugar and I am still within the normal levels.

Intermittent fasting is one of the simplest strategies  for taking bad weight off while keeping good weight on because it requires very little behavior change.

So now that you know my fitness essentials and tips, the next question is

"Which OPPO #SelfieExpert smartphone will help you show those good looks?"

 

It is none other than the  OPPO F3 #SelfieExpert Dual Selfie Camera.  To see and experience is to believem so I dropped at the nearest OPPO outlet to check it the Oppo F3.

Imagine the possibilities.

1. The dual 16 megapixels f/2.0 + 8 megapixels f/2.4 secondary camera allows you to fit your friends and you into the frame and get that perfect selfie.

2.  Selfie lovers will love the other options Oppo offer such as the live filters, a gif mode, and double exposure and even panorama selfies. I love the bokeh feature. Take a look at my selfie.

3. The Oppo F3 allows you to capture sharp selfies and 120-degree wide-angle view which is great for groupfie shot especially at the gym.

4. The OPPO F3 has an internal storage of 64 gigabytes with 4 gigabytes RAM which means lots of storage space for all your photos, selfies without affecting the performance of your phone.

5. The 3,200mAh battery is good enough to last an entire day with moderate use. And you don’t have to worry about charging. The Oppo F3  comes bundled with fast charging (2A output current) to quickly charge the phone in about an-hour-and-a-half.

6.  Even if not taking selfies, the  rear camera has 13-megapixel sensor  phase detection autofocus  which is handy.

I can imagine taking more selfie moments at the gym  with the Oppo F3 , the #SelfieExpert and mind you, I just want to share you the joys and trials of my fitness journey.

Te  Amo Floristeria prides itself in being the pioneer luxury floral boutique in the Philippines. They have a flagship store in Bonifacio Global City (G/F Active Fun Bldg, 9th Ave, Bonifacio Global City) 

Running out of ideas on what to give a special someone? I got a wreath for my mother-in-law because I thought it would look good in her nice, cozy country home up in the mountains.

te-amo-floristeria-wreath

Handmade from scratch , this beautiful and festive wreath is made with traditional pinecones and snowy fragrant wax flowers . The wreath base is made from real and aromatic Evergreens. It’s going to remain  as charming even when dried. I love the idea of keeping the dried wreath , serving as a home decor for the rest of the year or just keeping it for the next Christmas season.

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If you are in the lookout of charming gift ideas, I recommend flowers  that will surely touch the heart of  your loved one. Sending a delightful arrangement to complete a Christmas table or holiday display of your loved one’s home will surely warm their hearts.

The Te Amo Floristeria’s Holiday Collection is a good place to start.

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Dear Santa Naughty or nice, everybody deserves to be in the festive mood. Let Santa’s traditional outfit take you on a nostalgic path with this scarlet and white fresh arrangement. For an extra seasonal touch, we’ve also added some berries to go with the roses & calla lilies. You can opt to have this bouquet in a glass vase for a yuletide display in your home.

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Toast to the Holidays It’s the season to spoil those we love. Delight them with this lavish fresh flower box along with a fine bottle Grande Cuvée Sparkling Champagne. You may also customize your box with preserved blooms guaranteed to last up to three to five years. Now that’s an impressive gift

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Send your warm greetings with this bottle Grande Cuvée adorned with Te Amo’s signature luxe blooms- perfect to give for those yearly gatherings with family and friends. You can also bring in your bottle of choice and let us customize your blooms and send it out with a thoughtful message from you.

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All I Want Make your personal gifts exceptionally stand out. Let us spruce up your present by adorning it with fresh or preserved blooms of your choice. Simply bring your gift and leave it up to us to create an enchanting display that is sure to make a lasting impression.

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December to Remember This festive arrangement is the epitome of chic. Sumptuous reds, rich burgundy and deep green tones make this fresh bouquet a sophisticated gift for someone special.You may also opt to have this arrangement in a box, in a vase, or hand-tied with a ribbon for maximum simplicity

Give them the gift of elegance & simplicity of a dreamy white Christmas with this fresh ox of white Ecuadorian Roses, Carnations, and Berries accented with pinecones in your box of choice. Let this classic box add that holiday charm to their home.

Give them the gift of elegance & simplicity of a dreamy white Christmas with this fresh ox of white Ecuadorian Roses, Carnations, and Berries accented with pinecones in your box of choice. Let this classic box add that holiday charm to their home.

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Scarlet Snow: Handmade from scratch, impress your visitors with this beautiful and festive wreath of scarlet red Ecuadorian roses with traditional pinecones and snowy fragrant wax flowers. The wreath’s base is made from real and aromatic Evergreens and remains as charming even when dried. It’s the perfect way to extend a warm wel come this season.

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Our Christmas arrangements are lovingly created by our team of florists and personally delivered with your hand-written Christmas notes. Thank you for letting us be a part of your holidays.

So yeah, have a Blooming Christmas from Te Amo Floristeria with these flowers.

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Contact details:

Address: Ground Floor, Active Fun Building, 28th Avenue Corner 9th Avenue., Taguig, Global city, 1634 Metro Manila, Philippines
Phone: +63 2 886 6888

“Sleep is the best meditation.” Dalai Lama

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Sleep. Who does not need sleep? Sleep is the key for renewing and rebalancing the body and mind. I cannot live with less than 7 hours of sleep. I get cranky and less productive with work. The problem with me is sometimes I get caught up with work that I forget the time. If you’re a working mom, I can only imagine your day. The lack of rest at night has effects “that spill over to the day, making it tough to fulfill your personal and business responsibilities.” There are many ways to get the best sleep ever but first things first. One needs a comfortable bed. A quality bed is a necessity, not a luxury.

Didn’t you know that you will spend 20,000 hours on your bed over a seven year lifespan ? It’s worth taking some time and effort to make sure you make the right choice

uratex healthy sleeping habits

In celebration of Mother’s day, Uratex held a special party for mom bloggers at the Ronac Lifestyle Center, Magallanes. I am glad that I got to visit Uratex once again. Thirty something years ago, I used to buy their foam mattress for our customized beds. Oh my, they have grown and evolved to so many product lines like their premium mattress that combines the latest Sleep Science innovations and luxurious fabric for an elegant, superior sleep comfort. It was amazing to try these mattresses. I got to lie down on three mattresses (Premium Touch Sublime , Premium Touch Cozy Latex and Premium Touch Viscoluxe) . With the help of the XSensor machine, an image-pressuring device that helps sleepers detect which mattress fits my needs, I will know which mattress is the most comfortable.

senor technology in uratex

The results of XSensor test showed that the highest comfort index came from the Viscoluxe mattress. The Premium Touch Viscoluxe is specially crafted with advanced individually pocket coil springs and memory foam, that contours to body movement and alleviates pressure points. It also features quilted knitted fabric made from Tencel, that leaves a cool effect as you lie down. Treated with Sanitized® that effectively protects against growth of bacteria, odour, mildew, and dust mites.

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Among the there mattresses I tried out, the Viscoluxe mattress had a softer cushion and it was the most affordable mattress , too. At P 28,799.75 for the queen sized bed, it is easy on the budget. A bed that’s supportive and comfortable is a key factor but it is important to remember that your requirement for support will differ depending on their weight and build. At least when you shop for a mattress, you will know exactly which bed suits you.

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I was pleasantly surprised to see that Uratex has pillows now. Their senso memory pillows are just so huggable. It is made up of premium memory foam that gently conforms to the shape of your head. I love the soft feel yet gives good support.

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In addition to mattresses, Uratex  has colorful  Lifestyle Collection Chairs that can provide accent in any room . Its sleek, bold form complements any space at home.

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The rest of the afternoon was spent just bonding with mom blogger friends through the fun-filled pampering sessions. I was so thrilled to get a manicure and pedicure just in time for Mother’s day. What a relaxing afternoon.

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If you want to see the wide selection of Uratex mattress,  just visit uratex.com.ph

expo mom

Now on its ninth year, Mommy Mundo brings you Expo Mom 2016, on April 29 and 30, Friday and Saturday, at the Glorietta Activity Center, Makati. Expo Mom 2016 is a celebration, not of motherhood but the journey of motherhood and the unique experience we go through on every stage. With this year’s theme, The Motherhood Journey, you’ll find both enlightenment and encouragement whether you’re an expectant mom or a new mom, a mom taking care of a toddler or a mom raising a child at Expo Mom.

Expo Mom: The Motherhood Journey is co-presented by Caltrate Plus, Pampers, and Belo Baby and supported by Sun Life, Clearascar, Mott’s 100% Apple Juice, Downy Baby Gentle, Fuji/Instax, Waters Philippines, and Stanley Ong Photography with Celebrity Mom, Working Mom, Diva Universal and Crossover as media sponsors, Glorietta and Ayala Malls as venue sponsor, and Creative Juice Communications as logistics partner.

Expo Mom is also the most mom and baby friendly event with a mom lounge for breastfeeding and diaper changing area sponsored by Pampers and a play area for kids sponsored by Mott’s 100% Apple Juice. Entrance at Expo Mom is free of charge but a donation of any amount will be accepted for the Mommy Mundo MOMSHARE fund. Proceeds of the fund goes to literacy projects for the street children of Childhope Asia and public School kids under the Alpabasa programs. MomShare also supports needs of underprivileged moms and kids. Mommy Mundo Passport holders get an Expo Mom tote bag.

Expo Mom, running since 2008, is the banner event of Mommy Mundo, an organization dedicated to educating, inspiring, and empowering moms with useful, relevant, and up-to- date information.

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At Expo Mom 2016, moms will find answers and solutions to challenges and concerns of her particular stage of motherhood as we feature mom groups and influencers who will share their experiences and learning’s during the onstage talks. Expert resource persons will also be present to impart tips and tools that moms and dads can use to be better in their parenting. Finally, Expo Mom 2016 will also showcase practical and effective products and services for every stage of motherhood. The event hopes to be a sharing of stories, a coming together of moms and dads who strive to be active in their babies and children’s lives.

Expo Mom The Journey: We are reaching out to moms all over the Philippines!

June 18 Expo Mom Cebu

June 25 Expo Mom Negros

July 2 Expo Mom South (Alabang)

July 16-17 Expo Mom North Quezon City

August 27 Expo Mom Davao

October 15 Expo Mom CDO

November 4-6 Expo Mom Holiday (Glorietta Makati)

The quote ‘health is wealth’ is common to us. I realized this when I was 46 years old and raring to get back to the corporate world. During the course of a pre-employment checkup , the cardiologist discovered some abnormal findings in my heart. Fortunately, I had a health maintenance organization (HMO) card that covered the diagnostics required to see if my heart had a blockage or not. This discovery would not have happened if I had bothered at to use my HMO for preventive health care. The good news was there was no blockage in my main arteries. I decided to live a healthy life by making it a choice.

The greatest wealth is health. Virgil How many Filipinos even have preventive health care? For overseas Filipinos, is there a way to ensure their family’s well being despite being far from them? Let me share  iRegalo.ph, a start-up that targets the health care of overseas Filipinos. I am quite excited about this new e-commerce player because of the value it provides to health care aside from other online products and services.

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iRegalo assembles a comprehensive health care lineup that assures our kababayans their earnings are really spent on their family’s specific medical needs.

iRegalo introduces a new way of sending gifts, something that was not easy to do, nor even available online before. For the first time , there is a gift service offers healthcare choices for the overseas Filipino.

iRegalo’s health care

Health care packages cover dental, optical and general medical care.

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One package helps keep their teeth and gums healthy for a whole year. Another provides a consultation with a licensed optometrist plus a new pair of glasses perfectly fitting the requirements of the patient.

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With iRegalo General Medical Exam (GME) packages, she could have her regular check-up done at any of the 350+ iRegalo partner clinics nationwide.

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Though there are three areas that are covered for now, iRegalo will continue to add services, ensuring that their families in the Philippines get the healthcare coverage they need.

Security built-in

When I first shared iRegalo a few weeks back, the main question was “is online payment secure?” iRegalo took the necessary steps to secure the entire process, using encryption that has been rated A+ by Qualys SSL Labs, an independent testing service.

“We made sure that not only are our packages compelling, but that the entire process is worry-free,” said Gilbert Paras, iRegalo CFO.

iRegalo also accepts the following secure payment options namely: PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, UnionPay, and Discover Network.

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With just a few clicks at their website at iregalo.ph, Filipinos can send healthcare packages to family and friends anywhere in the Philippines. These packages are honored at hundreds of medical, dental and optical clinics nationwide.
We must always keep our health in good condition because no matter how wealthy we are, if we are not in good physical condition, then all our wealth will only be in vain. Aside from health care packages, you can also send flowers and the latest smartphones and laptops, too.

iRegalo users will be able to send gifts from participating supermarkets and other merchant types all over the country. The various categories in iRegalo is a big step in providing choice and convenience, compared to what is currently available in the market.