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18Dec 2015

Beautiful Flowers from Te Amo Floristeria

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul. ” Luther Burbank

Imagine yourself surrounded by beautiful flowers. Visiting the Te Amo Floristeria last week brought me such a warm and fuzzy feeling. If I were an artist, I would have already painted these flowers into the canvas. In fact, Claude Monet once said, “I must have flowers, always, and always.” If you think about it, entering a room filled with flowers, bring me a feeling of contentment and comfort . The e presence of a beautiful floral arrangement can brighten your mood, relieve tension, and even change the course of your day. Let’s take a tour of Te Amo Floristeria to make your day bright and happy.

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

Tess Prieto Valdes along with Te Amo Floristeria’s founder Amy Peng cut the ribbon for the store blessing.

I liked how the priest included all the staff for the blessing.

Tess Valdes is lovely beside the pretty roses from Ecuador. Amy Peng told me that she traveled to the world’s prime horticultural countries to source flowers straight from the farmers.

The flowers are so beautifully arranged. There are many flower arrangements. One can get the elegant, lavish selection of classic flowers and an assortment of timeless floral staples that comprise their European flower bouquets. Thematically arranged and packaged elegantly to suit a wide variety of purposes, they offer the most diverse collection of bouquets and blooms appropriate for virtually any occasion, most especially grand displays of love, tokens of deep gratitude and appreciation, and congratulatory gifts.

I could not get enough of the flowers so I just snapped away.

Did you know beyond being beautiful and fragrant, these flowers deliver a health-promoting array of benefits?

Bright, fresh cut flowers instantly improve your mood.

These are cabbage roses.

Flowers bring positive emotional feelings to those who enter a room. Just try visiting Te Amo Floristeria and feel the difference. Hopefully, their store rep is bit friendlier now that the hassle of the store blessing is over.

Anyway, Te Amo Floristeria also provides preserved flowers that can last from three to five years

Here are other preserved flowers. They cost 12,000 pesos.

Check out the gallery of fresh flowers and be amazed at the beauty of their arrangements: (click to enlarge). The flower bouquet is deal for chic event giveaways, wedding entourage props, dainty centerpieces, and even thoughtful tokens of appreciation, our adorable mini bouquets are guaranteed to delight even the coldest of hearts. An assortment of fastidiously curated flowers arranged in vivid color schemes, our unique and versatile mini flower bouquets are excellent adorn- ments sure to brighten up any given space or event. There are also fresh boxed blooms for those looking for unusual yet extraordinary floral displays. Their boxed blooms provide a fresh, novel approach to the typical flower bouquet . Consisting of intricately selected and combined flowers packaged in charming boxes of various shapes, the fresh boxed blooms work perfectly as a floral display, and add an instant touch of class to your work or living space. Although these blooms come in several preset options, they are entirely customizable to fit your specific needs and desires.

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Here is the gallery of preserved followers. They are pricey but if you compute the cost spread over three to five years, it is worth it. (click to enlarge)

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Contact details:

Te Amo Floristeria Manila Premium Flower Shop Floral Design Studio
G/F Active Fun Bldg, 9th Ave, BGC
Telephone number 8695633/09166298122
Email info@teamoflowers.com

20Jul 2015

UNIQLO babies : safe, premium baby fashion

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

I miss my babies! I remember getting excited as I bought them those cute baby clothes and trying it on them right away. My husband used to tease me “they are your dolls”. Dressing up our kids is a guilty pleasure of most parents. Choosing baby clothing is not simply considering the style. Safety should always be priority in selecting these pieces. Parents are blessed these days because there are is a wide variety of brands to choose from.

Though my cute little girls are now adults, I still want to catch up with the latest trend in baby and children clothing. UNIQLO babies collection offered a wide variety of stylish and safe clothing essential for babies. Following the global Oeko-Tex Standard 100, UNIQLO ensured that every piece of clothing is free of harmful substances and meets the highest standards. I got to view the collection at the second floor of the UNIQLO branch at SM Aura. I kept thinking , “if only, I could bring back the time and have my little girls wear these…”.

I am told that UNIQGLO Baby Wear are categorized as Class 1— the safest classification under the Oeko-Tex Standard from the raw material used to the finished product. Also, the clothes have to be formalin-free to ensure the health and safety of the babies. Nine different baby clothing categories are available in 16 UNIQLO stores.

Now, Titos, Titas, Lolos, and Lolas will find it easier to shop for the little kiddo. They will feel assured that they are buying the clothing products that follow safety standards. The best quality control is applied to the smallest details of the baby range. While care labels are usually sewn inside clothes, UNIQLO places the label outside to prevent irritation. A special technique is als0 used to remove any unevenness on the cloth or thread to keep the skin of babies safe. Babies ‘s little fingers can get entangled with these threads . Lastly the clothes undergo tests for more than 200 chemical substances during the planning and production stages.

Now that is commitment of providing safe clothing for your babies. Who wouldn’t want to give the best to our babies?

Check it out mommies. Uniqlo’s BABIES collection are available at these Uniqlo branches: SM Megamall ; SM Aura ; SM North Edsa ; Powerplant Mall; SM Mall of Asia ; SM Makati ; Robinsons Magnolia and also in provincial outlets. SM Pampanga, SM Clark, Robinsons Manila, SM BF Paranaque, SM Southmall, Gateway, SM City San Lazaro.

14May 2015

EXPO MOM 2015: #MOMMANIFESTO happening on May 22-25 at the Glorietta 2

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

Hello mommies. Let me share some mom activities from my friend, Mommy Mundo Founder Janice Villanueva.

This mother’s month of May, Mommy Mundo encourages moms to go on a journey of mindfulness and self-discovery through EXPO MOM 2015: #MOMMANIFESTO happening on May 22-25 at the Glorietta 2, Palm Drive, Makati City.

I remember I was there with fellow mom bloggers in the 2009 Expo Mom and we even had our own “Mommy Bloggers” booth.

Now on its 8th year, Expo Mom is the biggest gathering of progressive, active moms showcasing the latest in family-oriented product innovations and parenting trends in a fun, fulfilling environment.

Mommy Mundo Founder Janice Villanueva observes, “Moms are so caught up in the little things or the busy-ness of life, we either end up losing sight of the big picture, or we fail to appreciate the joy that simple moments can bring.” She adds, “What will help us live meaningfully is to live mindfully. Through self-awareness, we realize what’s important in our lives, and we are able to direct our energies to create the kind of life we aspire for, for ourselves and our families. Thus, through Expo Mom, our biggest annual event, we engage moms through our Mom Manifesto campaign, a virtual journey to mindfulness and missioning.”

Expo Mom 2015, featuring over 50 booths alongside talks, demos and fun activities onstage, will be a celebration and culmination of this 5-week Mom Manifesto campaign. The Mom Manifesto journey begins on April 22 when it launches online at www.expomom.com/mommanifesto. Designed by Mommy Mundo founder Janice Villanueva and family life expert and certified psychologist Michele Alignay M.A., the workshop consists of a 6-step program to be fulfilled within a five week period, with each step just taking 15 minutes minimum from each mom participant. With self-awareness as a goal by the end of the program, moms will be able to come up with a guiding statement or her #MomManifesto. All participants are oms are invited to post their #MomManifesto statements on the wall that will be set up at Expo Mom 2015.

In addition to this key event highlight, moms can also look forward to Expo Mom 2015’s trademark fair of its top mom-approved and mom-tested products and services . The event is particularly proud of giving a home to aspiring and established mompreneurs who have developed products for their fellow moms through the years, exhibiting there goods alongside top mom and baby brands in the country. Expo Mom 2015: #MomManifesto is co-presented by Cordlife Philippines, supported by Huggies, Cycles Mid Detergent, Fern-C, Nurture Nook, Pioneer Insurance, JoomaJam, Wang Videography, ImagineNation Photography, and media partners Working Mom Magazine, Rappler, WheninManila.com, Crossover 105.1, Newlyweds@Work, and venue partner Glorietta and Ayala Center.
In lieu of entrance fees, donations in cash and kind (books, school supplies, clothes, shoes) will be accepted at the expo. All proceeds will go to MomShare’s partner beneficiary, Childhope Asia Philippines, to benefit literacy and health programs for street children under its care.

For more information on Expo Mom, go to www.expomom.com or follow Mommy Mundo on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. To know more about Expo Mom’s Mom Manifesto campaign, visit www.expomom.com/mommanifesto.

12May 2015

LEGO, the toy brand my kids love, at the 1st official LEGO® certified store in the Philippines

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ 2 Comments

I never realized the value my children placed on their toys until my daughter interviewed me for her research paper a few years ago on “Toys and Games I played with” for her Psychology course.

She said “Thank God mom for the girly and not so girly toys”.

In this day of digital toys and gadgets, I believe parents should never forget that the best toys for children are ‘open-ended’. Such toys encourage children to play using imagination, creativity and problem-solving skills such as blocks, balls, cardboard boxes, dress-ups and crafty bits and pieces

My three children loved LEGO blocks. They had lots and lots of LEGO blocks. They had the larger DUPLO blocks when they were toddlers. At that time. LEGO was sold in disassembled bricks, so they were free to create any figures their young minds could imagine. Even until the age of nine they spent all afternoon ignoring their Barbie dolls and instead built fortresses, houses, schools and whatnot. No wonder, I gave the Barbie Dolls away to my younger nieces. It was gathering dust.

During those days, LEGO blocks were sold at Gift Gate and were very expensive. I bought the LEGO blocks in Hongkong or the USA. Kids are blessed these days because the first official LEGO certified store just opened in the Philippines, today May 12, 2015.

When I periscoped the initial photos at the launch, many people were clamoring for the address. Well, it is located at the same building as Kidzania at the Park Triangle ( Along 11th avenue , 32nd street , Bonifacio Global City, Taguig ). Here is the map:

Everybody seems to be excited with this grand opening.

Did you know that seven LEGO sets are sold over the counter every second around the world? If today’s launch is any indication, I believe that is true.

There was a long queue waiting outside after the media launch.

Both young kids and young-at-heart LEGO fans ( Adult Fans of Lego or AFOLs ) will love the variety and the exclusive collectors sets and product lines unique to the LEGO certified Store only. What are these unique lines?

First of all, there is the Pick A Brick (PAB) where you can buy the LEGO elements you need individually. This great for your very own unique LEGO creations. Pick A Brick is sold for a minimum purchase of 100 grams at 679.79 pesos per 100 grams.

Second unique line is the Build a Mini (BAM) which allows you to build your very own customized mini figure by choosing a headwear, head, torso, legs and tools/accessories. Each BAM set includes three customizable mini figures which cost 499.75 pesos.

Third, you can now enjoy the Monthly Mini Build (MMB) program, a hands-on monthly event where kids ages 6-14 are invited to build seasonal and exclusive LEGO Store mini builds. The best part is no purchase is needed. Children below 6 years old will also be allowed to join , as long as an adult or guardian will be present during the activity.

I noticed LEGO now offers sets like the newly released Simpsons. Of course the old ones like Ninja Go and Star Wars, Minecraft are there. What caught my eye is LEGO friends which is more feminine than the usual LEGO sets.

Shelves are stocked with sets geared toward girls and boys based on ages and dexterity.

What I like the most about this new store is their mission to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow. LEGO and LAJ Marketing Philippines in partnership with World Vision will collaborate together for the “Rebuild Classrooms Project. The project aims to help children in target Area Development Programs to have access to learning facilities through the renovation and construction of classrooms and other school facilities.

Today, LEGO started selling 5,000 pieces of the 30302 Spider-Man Glider V29 for only 50.00 pesos in support of rebuilding classrooms in Malabon. I got five pieces which is the maximum purchase per person.

In addition to the Spiderman set sale, LEGO will also donate 100 pesos on your behalf for every 20pcs My Own Creation (MOC) entry you send in via Instagram which represents “EDUCATION”in order to help raise a total of 500,000 pesos for this project. In my instagram account, I assembled a book to symbolize education.

Visit the LEGO certified store at the Park Triangle ( 11th avenue corner Rizal Drive, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig )

08Apr 2015

How I Bought Car Insurance without Making a Single Phone Call

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

Every January, my phone reminds me to automatically renew my car’s insurance policy. This year was different. I told my husband that I want to see the different rates among the top car insurers in the country. And instead of making phone calls, I checked MoneyMax.ph, a website that lets you compare car insurance premiums from different companies. A friend introduced me to this innovative portal mid-January while we had coffee and talked about careers, personal finance and technology. What great timing.

On the MoneyMax website, I put in the details of my 5-year old SUV and gave my email address and phone number to receive a quote for comprehensive coverage.

It is so convenient and easy to use. The following day, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a call from a MoneyMaxPH Comparison Advisor who confirmed my inquiry and answered my questions. After a few minutes, I received a quotation listing five insurers, which allowed me to compare my options more easily.

There are three major factors when choosing an insurance company. “1. Reputation: Ask around and see what others are using and judge by their experiences. 2. Financial Capability: The bigger net worth, the better coverage and service you’ll receive. 3. Stability: Have they been around long enough and have weathered crises? Then chances are, they’re stable enough to lean on in troubled times.”

When faced with various quotes, it still pays to do your own research on the reputation, financial capability and stability of the insurance company. Choosing the lowest- priced car insurance company is easy, but I like to make sure the final choice is reputable enough and will cover you adequately after an accident or Acts of Nature. MoneyMax.ph partnered with some of the best insurers in the Philippines which makes it easier to find the right car insurance that fits your needs.

Among the quotes from my MoneyMax Comparison Advisor, Federal Phoenix seemed to be the most attractive. It has an affordable annual premium and a lower participation fee of 4,000 pesos. However, I don’t decide based on the premium cost alone. I’d rather pay a few extra pesos and be assured my car insurer is there to pay when I file a claim. In the end, I chose Mafpre Insurance, because I am familiar with this company and have filed claims before without problems. I also appreciate their after-sales service where they send gentle reminders that my car insurance policy needed to be renewed.

It’s good to see that the comparison quote shows the “Acts of Nature” cover. Back in 2009, I had no idea that the “Acts of Nature or Acts of God” was part of a comprehensive cover which led my husband to choose a low-cost policy because of the savings. I could not claim the “Acts of God” for one car when Typhoon Ondoy flood waters inundated our home. The Philippines has its share of natural calamities and even if one does not live in a flood-prone area, every car should get that protection.

I looked around for other users of moneymax.ph and arranged an interview with Jennifer Canoza, a wedding and events coordinator who drives her SUV from her home in Sta. Mesa to events in Metro Manila and as far as Batangas. Having bought her car in 2013, Jennifer relied on an insurance agent who recommended People’s General. She had no problems with People’s General except that she wanted to see if she can get a better deal from other car insurance companies.

On the second year, her insurance agent gave a quote of 20,000 pesos. She researched online to check reviews of other car insurance companies. Besides finding a low-cost policy, she also wanted to buy insurance from a reputable company that responds quickly to claims. A friend told her to visit MoneyMax.ph. To her surprise, she received a call immediately from a MoneyMax Comparison Advisor upon submitting her request online. She was reassured that their quotations comes from the top, reputable insurance companies with a good track record. The following day, she received an email with the quotation of five insurers in a tabular format. After more discussions with her MoneyMax Comparison Advisor , Jennifer chose Federal Phoenix for its easy installment payments and savings of four thousand pesos. Jennifer added that she liked the personal service of her MoneyMax Comparison Advisor who guided her every step of the way.

It’s good to have a resource that lets you compare different insurance premiums, and provides advisors who can answer any question you might have about the policies. Let’s see if MoneyMax has a better recommendation for me when I renew my car insurance in 2016.

03Feb 2015

Shopping for car insurance? Read the fine print.

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

Buying a new car is exciting. My ten year old red car was breaking down so often in the early 90s, that fixing it was not worth it anymore. While the law requires a basic level of car insurance called third party insurance, I wanted more coverage. Comprehensive insurance is the type of coverage I apply for, ever since the brand new car of a family member was forcibly taken away at the parking lot in Ortigas center. He had no choice but to surrender the car keys because a gun was aimed at him. Fortunately, the family member was not harmed. The sad part is the car was not insured for theft. Goodbye 800,000 pesos! One never imagines that a car will be forcibly taken away from us and I didn’t want that to happen to my brand new family car.

I only had two requirements that my car insurance policy:

1. The Market value of the car, in case of theft
2. Reputable insurance company

Shopping around for car insurance were limited to accredited companies of the car companies. The world wide web was not yet around so I had to rely on word of mouth or familiar names that I had seen on TV or the newspapers.

I picked up lessons on car insurance policy in the past 20 years. The car insurance can be very pricey especially in the first few years. The insurance expense was not a burden with just one car but I had to reconsider another insurance company when I got a second car. It pays to get three quotations. This second insurance company was more affordable than the previous one. This insurance company lists a table for each car model and the appropriate premium. Not content with the default premiums, I always requested for a discount and I got it. “Ask and you shall receive” is something I learned.

The most painful lesson of all is not reading the fine print. The relentless rains from typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) in October 2009 resulted to severe flooding in Luzon, particularly in Metro Manila. We were not spared , with waist deep brown waters inside our two-storey house. This included the three Honda cars in the garage: a seven year-old black CRV, a 10 year-old Silver CRV and a two month old white sedan. I did not worry about the damage because I was just grateful that everyone was safe.

The time came when I called the three insurance firms about their coverage. I discovered the comprehensive insurance of our 10 year-old SUV did not contain Acts of God (or Acts of Nature). Only our seven year-old SUV and the newly bought sedan got full coverage. I received 320,000 pesos, a percentage of the market value of a seven year-old Honda CRV, which was 600,000. It was not enough to buy a new car but together with the insurance claim of the white car, I was able to buy a brand new SUV. My husband was the one who junked my usual car insurer and got another one because it was very cheap. I never bothered to find out why it was cheaper by 3,000 pesos. The ten year old SUV was sold for scrap and I used it to make a downpayment for a second-hand car.

So now, my requirements for car insurance must have this criteria:

1. Acts of nature
2. Market value of the car, in case of theft
3. Reputable insurance company

I recently learned that 9 out of 10 Filipinos overpay for car insurance. I always compare insurance policies to ensure I get the best value for my money. I used to compare via the phone but now I can do it so much easier these days online! MoneyMax.ph compares all major insurance companies and policies to get you the best deal. It is totally free and independent.

My advice: when you plan to buy a car or renew your policy make sure you compare with www.MoneyMax.ph.

19Oct 2014

1780 by SariSariStore.Com, an iconic Filipino one-stop-shop

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ 1 Comment

I grew up in a bakeshop, smelling freshly baked bread every morning. You know how that aroma is, right? It’s heavenly. My mother thought of using her baking talent to augment her teacher’s salary by starting a small bakeshop. That small business grew and made enough income to finance seven of us to Manila for college. I am a great believer that entrepreneurship can bring most of us into financial independence. It was that belief that prompted me to work at the UP Institute for Small Scale Industries and provide consultancy services to small and medium enterprises.

Along with our bakery , my mom built a small sari-sari store for her baked goodies and some dry goods. The bake shop has long been gone but we, siblings hope to revive it one day. I wonder if we did open our bake shop in this technology-driven age, would we also use those online stores like SariSariStore.Com/1780? I recently attended the launch of this iconic Filipino one-stop-shop. Providing a free space where businesses can market their products and where consumers can find what they’re looking for is just so convenient for both the entrepreneur and the potential buyer.

1780 by SariSari brings focus and creates demand for Philippine heritage products that have yet to make an impact in the market, highlighting the sheer variety of regional delicacies and crafts available in the Philippines and making these products easily accessible for Filipino families across the country. In collaboration with a number of Philippine artisans, 1780 by SariSari puts a modern flair to a variety of traditional Filipino products.

Owner of hand-crafted cupcakes store Sweet Patti Cakes – Patti Grandidge, exhibits a taste of the Philippines by creating limited edition cupcakes which incorporate Kablon Farms’ chocolate using organically grown cacao. Local designer and fashion influencer Amina Aranaz works in collaboration with one of 1780 by SariSari’s merchants to craft a bag using native Philippine materials, which will be sold exclusively on the site. Aside from promoting food and craft products, 1780 by SariSari is joined by traveler and tourism influencer Ivan Henares who discusses his advocacy towards heritage products and sites around the country.

Visit their main portal at http://sarisaristore.com/, or check their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/1780bySariSari to see more of the featured products that are available online.

Paniya Clutches

Paniya Clutches uses local materials like buntal (palm tree) straw and acacia wood to make beautiful, one-of-a-kind clutches as part of their high-end fashionable products using native Philippine materials and proudly crafted by Filipinos

Jackfruit Marmalade

Using jackfruit, which is readily available year-round, FORWARD (the Federation of Rurban Women’s Association for Reform and Development) joined the Plant Now Pay Later program which allows them to plant the fruits with resources from the government, which they can pay back after the harvest season.

Marbell Bell Pepper Sauce

Marbell’s Bell Pepper Sauce uses ingredients that can be found locally, such as coconut sugar, brown sugar, onions, garlic, salt, powdered black pepper, and Native Philippine chili; it also includes vinegar that the company personally ferments for 2-6 months in their kitchen.

Mommy Juling’s Atchara

Mommy Juling’s atchara products are freshly made, with the production process leading up to packaging taking only 2 days, so that each package retains the crunchy flavor that Mommy Juling’s is known for.

CT South Tropic Fruit Wines

Using fruits fresh from the farms in Mindanao, South Tropic’s wines carries a variety of wine flavors including: mangosteen, passion fruit, durian, jackfruit, pineapple, and dragon fruit, among others.

Kablon Farms

Kablon Farms sells chocolates that are made with cacao grown under the canopy of fruits and flowers on the company’s plantation that gives one a taste of home-grown favorites such as dark chocolate and spicy dark chocolate.

Banigs by the Badjaos of Zamboanga

Banigs by the Badjaos of Zamboanga are not as simple as they appear: it can take anywhere from one to three months to produce a single mat, with more intricate and complicated designs and colors taking longer to make.

Josephine’s Jewelry

The designs of Josephine’s Jewelry are one-of-a-kind pieces from materials sourced from across the Philippines, using a variety of metals such as silver and gold, and jewels (such as topaz, opal, or even diamonds).

These products are simply amazing. By highlighting the best that the Philippines has to offer in terms of gastronomy and craftsmanship, 1780 by SariSari looks forward to contributing to the economic growth of the whole country.

26Feb 2013

Moms know best when it comes to kids’s safety

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

Sixteen years ago, on December 22, 1996, Lauren wrote her first journal entry. The word blog was non-existent then. These days, kids as young as 5 years old write on their own blogs. The world wide web entered the lives of my two young girls in 1995 when rules were just starting to be made. Oh they were fascinated with this new technology and making friends from all over the world. I knew I had to take a pro-active role and learn more about internet safety. I took the persona of Robotica for a kids internet site , enjoyed by young children around the world. The site had a mini tutorial on creating webpages while I was their internet safety head who listed down ““The 10 Golden Rules on Internet Safety ““ The rules were greatly inspired by my own parenting experience with my children. The guidelines are basically the same even in the age of connected technology (gaming centers, cellphones), digital devices and social media sites. It is still applicable 17 years later.

There were no hard and fast rules. Parents empower themselves and establish internet safety awareness in their homes. One thing was clear though: I am a parent first. In the real world, one aspect of responsible parenting is never having to allow children to wander aimlessly and alone into unknown territories. So, too, in the vast cyberspace called the Internet. Responsibility towards my child’s offline needs is the same responsibility for my child’s online activities.

My kids’ safety in the internet, the school , home and extra-curricular activities is indeed my number one priority. This goes true for the quality of the water at home. Every since my babies came into my life, I always had to boil the tap water to ensure they were drinking clean and safe water. Water shops were not around in the mid-eighties so I was quite obsessive-compulsive (OC) in the preparation of clean water.

Then Wilkins distilled water came into our lives. As a food technologist, I am aware of the distillation process that ““uses a heat source to vaporize water and separate it from contaminants and other undesirable elements commonly found in ground and surface water. Distillation heats raw (untreated) water until the water reaches its boiling point and begins to vaporize.” I am confident that the water is not just purified of residue but bacteria as well because boiling point is achieved in the process.

There is no exception to the rule of clean and safe water for my family. Being OC reminds me of how OC Wilkins is when it comes to drinking water. Do you have stories to share as uncompromising mothers?

Mommies, aged 18 and above , please share your stories in 400 words or less about how you give your family the best love and care. You may include the challenges you faced, the lengths you’ve gone to, or the sacrifices and difficult choices you needed to make. You may write in English, Tagalog, or Tag-lish.

Writers of the 5 selected stories for publication in magazine will each receive Php 5,000 cash and Php 5,000 gift certificates for Wilkins products. The Grand winner (story will be turned into a short film) will receive Php 10,000 cash and P5,000 gift certificates for Wilkins products

17Jan 2013

Making a difference today: Support the E.studyante program

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

My children mean the world to me.Ã‚Â I gave up a career to take care of them, teach them to be good and kind to others, and supplement their education at home. I loved watching my girls sing, laugh, and play together and eventually turn out to be beautiful, smart and compassionate persons. I will always be a mother in every stage of my children’s life. There is a quote that says ““a man’s work is from sun to sun, but a mother’s work is never done.’ Their needs change in every stage but they will always be my children. Even if my two girls are adults now, I still worry about their future. Like all mothers, I want to ensure my kids’ future is secure. That is one reason I turned my parenting blog to include the community that my children and their friends are in.

I cannot ignore the fact that today’s students are part of my children’s future community. Ã‚Â Our lives are intertwined with each other.Ã‚Â One’s help for others including other children will impact our family. Concerned citizensÃ‚Â who pitch in their expertise towards community activities also contribute greatly to their children’s future

Helping produce good students who grow up to be good citizens will do good for our country. Who knows, the students of today may be your child’s future teacher, doctor, leader, or even the future President! These students will serve as an integral part of your child’s future community.

Many groups are doing their part to help public school students including private corporations like Proctor and Gamble ( P&G). One of the programs that help students is the e.Studyante Program Just by continuing to use Safeguard and Downy products for my home, IÃ‚Â Ã‚Â actually help support it.

I will take a step further. By buying one pack of specially marked P&G products , Ã‚Â I give the gift of hope to those who need it this 2013.Ã‚Â By pledging to buy P&G products, you help send computers to public schools. One pack gives one child a brighter future. Imagine how your contribution can help these students. Computers in the classroom brings fun and excitement to learning, lessons are captivating and engaging, many abstract subjects become tangible for students . It can also cultivate mastery of lessons and shortened period of teaching. Public schools should have access to new technology.

Spread the New Year cheer by inviting family and friends to make a pledge to support the e.Studyante program by buying specially marked P&G products and to provide your home the best and laptops to less fortunate students in need.Ã‚Â Pledge to help your children’s future teacher, or doctor, or leader. Visit www.facebook.com/e.studyantePH.

Make a difference today and you help make a difference in your child’s future.

31May 2012

Shell FuelSave Mommy Savings Challenge

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

Video: Thee mommy bloggers savings challenge held last May 16 at the Fort.

I still recall my first car in 1980. It was a second hand red Mitsubishi Galant 1600 that my father sent over from Cebu to Manila . During those days, there was a fuel crisis. As a struggling employee, I needed to follow fuel saving tips. Some of the tips I learned about driving habits was: Drive smoothly ; Use higher gears and avoid over revving ; Conserve momentum and keep your distance ; Avoid excess idling ; Avoid high speeds ; Use air conditioning sparingly and keep windows closed.

I was pretty excited when Shell invited mom bloggers to participate in the Shell Fuel Save Mommy Savings challenge last May 16. Shell explained other tips to save on fuel such as vehicle maintenance and using the right fuel and lubricant. Fuel economy can be improved through a combination of good driving habits and using the right fuel. When combined with the Shell FuelSave Tips, Shell fuels with Fuel Economy Formula (such as Shell FuelSave) can help reduce consumption and fuel costs by helping you get more out of every tank.

Another fuel saving tip is planning the journey. As moms, we know this all too well. We are school buses to our kids. Shopping or grocery needs are mostly done by mothers. The Mommy Savings Challenge piqued my curiosity. Our task : Each team is tasked to prepare for a birthday party good for 10 kids aged 8 years old. Oh no, the last birthday party I did was over 18 years ago. The last party I did was Lauren’s debut party. I was in Team D together with Carrine Emata.

Each team drove a frugal 1.6L A/T Ford Fiesta Sport Hatchback known for its fuel efficiency. Ford recommends a fuel with 93 RON such as Shell FuelSave Unleaded for the Fiesta.

It is important to plan the journey because the winner will be judged on value for money (25%), creativity (25%) , fuel economy (40%) and time (10%). Our shopping list included : party favors and materials for the games decorations, food and birthday cake for a budget of 3,000 pesos. The items must be bought from three pre-identified areas : Bonifacio High Street, Rockwell and Greenbelt. The teams decided where each item will be bought as long as all three locations are covered. I misinterpreted the last instruction. I thought we had to buy all items in all three locations.

Carrine drove the car while I navigated the road and planned our birthday party. I kept calling my 26 year old daughter on what kind of party to hold. We decided on BFF party all in pink and purple. We also planned on the shortest route possible and places to buy affordable party items. With 3,000 pesos, it could be quite a challenge to buy in high end shopping areas. We bought the birthday cake at Fortune bakeshop at Greenbelt 1 for less than 500 pesos. In National Bookstore in Greenbelt 1, we bought games, and some party favors. For food, it was Jollibee while we bought party supplies at the Powerplant Rustans’ supermarket. For our last stop, I told Carrine to wait for me while I bought a game prize at fully booked. I think we spent 2,800 pesos for a birthday party of 10 kids.

Too bad, our Team D was the last to arrive. Yes, we thought we should buy our stuff in all three shopping areas. Oh well, I presented our party theme, “BFF forever”, a sit-down birthday party where the games are all done on the table. Our birthday party theme is pretty in pink and purple. I jokingly said ” This is the 8th birthday party of my menopausal baby” which drew laughs from the audience.

Chats and Cooky came in third.

Michelle and Rowena came in second.

And the young mom bloggers are the winner. Well that’s okay. For our effort, I got a full tank as our consolation prize.

Our team got the shortest route but not necessarily fuel efficient since we traversed traffic areas.

Lessons learned from the “Shell FuelSave Mommy Savings Challenge” is planning the journey:

Plan trips carefully and avoid the rush hour – Cutting down on the time spent in the car is the easiest way to conserve fuel. To reduce driving time, combine all your short trips and errands into a single journey. Plus, if you can travel outside of peak times, you’ll spend less time stuck in traffic and consume less fuel as a result.

Avoid carrying excess weight Ã¢â‚¬â€œ You may be surprised, but every extra pound or kilogram matters and affects your fuel efficiency. So keep your boot and back seat clear of unnecessary items that just add weight to your vehicle (e.g. golf clubs).

Take the roof rack off – If you’re not using your roof rack then remove it. They affect the aerodynamic efficiency of your vehicle and create drag, reducing fuel economy.

Shell launched the Target One Million, a Shell FuelSave campaign to help one million motorists across the globe learn how to save fuel. Please sign up and Target One Million website at www.shell.com.ph/targetonemillion.

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