Farm to Fork: The 6 highlights of my visit at the Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. facilities

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uling roasters liston manok 1

When I eat lechon manok, I ponder… how was this roasted? What seasonings went into this chicken? Why does it taste so yummy? It never occured to me that a Lechon Manok went through a long chain of process from the farm to the table until I visited my hometown  Cebu for a Familiarization (fam) Tour of the Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc (BAVI) facilities.  BAVI is the second largest broiler integrator “in the Philippines and the dominant market leader for roasted chicken.  It operates close to 1,200 company-owned rotisserie stores under 3 brands: Chooks to Go, Uling Roasters and Reyal.” I am sure you are familiar with these brands. I use Bounty Fresh Chicken for my cooking needs at home.

bounty fresh chicken

If you are familiar with Bounty Fresh Chicken, then you will be interested to know more about their integrated operations. BAVI is a poultry integrator company and a member of the Bounty Fresh Group of Companies. The company is fully supported by hundreds of broiler contract farms, dozens of hatcheries, feed mills, poultry processing plants and processed meat plants.
BAVI tour in cebu safety first

Being a food technologist graduate, I worked in manufacturing plants but never in  chicken processing . It felt like the good old days, wearing a white gown, boots , mask and cap at BAVI facilities. Let me give you the top 6 highlights of  the BAVI fam tour.

I think it’s  important for all of you to get a good grasp of where our chicken originates and of the processes involved in getting it from Farm to Fork.

  1. The company-owned Hatchery located in Sitio Pilapilan, Dawis Norte, Carmen, North Cebu

It was a beautiful sunny day when we reached the hatchery . I  did not expect so much biosecurity procedure  before entering the premises and even the blue colored office.  Our van got sprayed with some liquid disinfectant. To help prevent the introduction of infection to the hatchery  or transfer from one building to another,  biosecurity procedures are put into place and adhered to at all times.

BAVI HATCHERY 1

Slippers were provided but I still had to wade in the disinfectant footdip, containing a broad spectrum virucidal disinfectant solution.

hatchery BAVI

I wasn’t ready to take a shower which was needed to observe the hatchery itself but  I got an overview . The hatchery has 16 machine units and at full utilization, it  can produce Day Old Chick (DOC) at the output of up to 392,112 weekly (24,507 each units) and/or 1,568,464 monthly (98,029 each units). Wow, that’s a lot.

BAVI HATCHERY

2. Over 400 contract growers

I did not get to visit the contract growers due to limited time but I want to put this here to complete the chain. There is a combination of conventional open sided houses and modern closed  or controlled environment farms.
BAVI Contract growers

3. Inoza Feed Mill Plant at North Cebu

Located in Sitio Bali-Bali, Brgy Cogon, Compostela, North Cebu, the feed mill is owned by INOZA a sister company of BAVI, and  operated by Mr. Jerome G. Cinco referred to as Feed Mill Toll Operator .

bounty fresh tour

I didn’t need to take a shower to check out the feed mill but for biosecurity reasons, I had to wear a white lab gown, hard hat and mask.

BAVI Trip feedmill

The feed mill has a capacity of 3,200 bags of feeds daily production, expandable up to 6,400 bags .

BAVI Trip feedmill

I often wondered why the taste of eggs differ among the suppliers. I discovered that the taste of the egg is affected by the quality of the feed. Feed is carefully formulated by BAVI for the optimal protein levels for various chicken ages.

BAVI Trip feedmill 2JPG

4.  Daily Fresh Foods, Inc. at South Cebu

This Toll Poultry Processing Plant (or Dressing Plant), located in Brgy Inayagan, Naga City, South Cebu is owned and operated by Ms. Herminia Dayon.  The capacity of the plant is a line speed of 2,100 birds or broilers per hour or 16,800 birds for 8-hours dressing, expandable up to 24,000 birds dressing a day .

BAVI chickens

This is the first stop when the chickens are stunned before they are killed and dressed.  The chickens are hung and de-feathered by an automative process.

chicken processing

“Safety first” is plastered all over the plant.

white boots at the BAVI processing

I had to wear white boots this time with hair net, mask and white gown.

BAVI tour safety first 1

Before entering the processing plant, I went through the handwashing and wading through the footdip.

handwashing area at BAVI

This is where I observed how the chickens are segregated as to size and weight.

BAVI processing

Some are marinated and most of these are  used for the Chooks-to-go brand which is marketed as the only roast chicken that can be enjoyed without sauce (masarap kahit walang sauce).

BAVI Trip processing 1

Chooks-to-Go offers oven-roasted chicken in sweet and pepper roast flavors. Fried Chooks is chicken that is fried after roasting, creating a deep flavoured taste.

marinate BAVI chicken

Fresh Chicken, Chicken Cut-Ups and Marinado are available under the Chooksie’s brand.

chooks to go

5. Uling Roasters in Mandaue City

After visiting the hatchery, the feed mill and the dressing plant, it is now time to taste the final product.  The catchy tagline ‘Di ‘raw’ masyadong masarap pero pwede na.’ amused me.

uling roasters litson manok

Mr. Ronald Mascariñas, President and General Manager of Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. explains:

That tagline started as a joke but that joke stuck. Every time we shared the joke with various groups people are always amused. We eventually saw that as an opportunity to differentiate given that all other brands have various claims that they are the best or # 1 for so and so reasons. Nobody is making a claim that they are second best…The sloppy tagline encouraged trial, boosted name recall of the brand Uling Roasters and more importantly same store sales went up significantly with the wild re-branding. This tagline may be here for long.

uling roasters store

I love the inasal flavor. I wished there are more stalls in Metro Manila.

uling roasters

BAVI is extremely lucky to create a niche in  the oven roasted chicken . I can see they will soon become a dominant market leader in the roasted chicken industry.

uling roasters chicken

6. Giving the people the best so they can be the best 

What I love best about the Cebu Fam tour is knowing that they value the people behind BAVI . Mr. Ronald Mascariñas,  ” saw the wisdom and benefit in the Toastmasters system of developing leaders through mentoring in writing and speaking.”

BAVI president

He said, “I want to develop their potentials, so they can be of help to one another. I will not allow my employees to miss this opportunity.”  I can see it aligns with their company values by giving professional and personal development.

BAVI vision

The BAVI fam tour enlightened me on the journey of the chicken adobo, roasted chicken, tinolang manok on the table, from the farm to my fork.

21 things to do during the golden years

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lake at the sound of music

I have been reflecting about our empty nest situation and golden years with my husband.  There are times we reflect on our being parents …that we were not the best parents. We wish we could have done this and that. Though we  talk about regrets, we talk  also about the gains . If only we knew this…if we only knew that . I told my husband, we cannot wallow in the past but instead move forward and make a better life for ourselves whether with our children or not.   So I cannot help but agree on this list of 21 Rules For a Good Old Age . I especially like number 21 “there’s still much to be written, so get busy writing and don’t waste time thinking about what others might think.” I am grateful, blogging gave me this opportunity to share lessons learned to all of you.  I am grateful, blogging opened doors for me to meet new friend, rekindle old friendships and have a new life that is more meaningful.

In the meantime, check out this list .

butch and I

1. It’s time to use the money you saved up. Use it and enjoy it.  Don’t just keep it for those who may have no notion of the sacrifices you made to get it. Remember there is nothing more dangerous than a son or daughter-in-law with big ideas for your hard-earned capital. Warning: This is also a bad time for investments, even if it seems wonderful or fool-proof. They only bring problems and worries. This is a time for you to enjoy some peace and quiet.

2. Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren, and don’t feel bad spending your money on yourself. You’ve taken care of them for many years, and you’ve taught them what you could. You gave them an education, food, shelter and support. The responsibility is now theirs to earn their own money.

me and butch at charles bridge

3. Keep a healthy life, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise (like walking every day), eat well and get your sleep. It’s easy to become sick, and it gets harder to remain healthy. That is why you need to keep yourself in good shape and be aware of your medical and physical needs. Keep in touch with your doctor, do tests even when you’re feeling well. Stay informed.

4. Always buy the best, most beautiful items for your significant other. The key goal is to enjoy your money with your partner. One day one of you will miss the other, and the money will not provide any comfort then, enjoy it together.

butch-and-me-in-marlboro-country

5. Don’t stress over the little things. You’ve already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don’t let the past drag you down and don’t let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now. Small issues will soon be forgotten.

6. Regardless of age, always keep love alive. Love your partner, love life, love your family, love your neighbor and remember: “A man is not old as long as he has intelligence and affection.”

me and butch

7. Be proud, both inside and out. Don’t stop going to your hair salon or barber, do your nails, go to the dermatologist and the dentist, keep your perfumes and creams well stocked. When you are well-maintained on the outside, it seeps in, making you feel proud and strong.

8. Don’t lose sight of fashion trends for your age, but keep your own sense of style. There’s nothing worse than an older person trying to wear the current fashion among youngsters. You’ve developed your own sense of what looks good on you – keep it and be proud of it. It’s part of who you are.

me-and-butch

9. ALWAYS stay up-to-date. Read newspapers, watch the news. Go online and read what people are saying. Make sure you have an active email account and try to use some of those social networks. You’ll be surprised what old friends you’ll meet. Keeping in touch with what is going on and with the people you know is important at any age.

10. Respect the younger generation and their opinions. They may not have the same ideals as you, but they are the future, and will take the world in their direction. Give advice, not criticism, and try to remind them that yesterday’s wisdom still applies today.

my husband and I

11. Never use the phrase: “In my time.” Your time is now. As long as you’re alive, you are part of this time. You may have been younger, but you are still you now, having fun and enjoying life.

12. Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly. Life is too short to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people, it’ll rub off on you and your days will seem that much better. Spending your time with bitter people will make you older and harder to be around.

vienna couple

13. Do not surrender to the temptation of living with your children or grandchildren (if you have a financial choice, that is). Sure, being surrounded by family sounds great, but we all need our privacy. They need theirs and you need yours. If you’ve lost your partner (our deepest condolences), then find a person to move in with you and help out. Even then, do so only if you feel you really need the help or do not want to live alone.

14. Don’t abandon your hobbies. If you don’t have any, make new ones. You can travel, hike, cook, read, dance. You can adopt a cat or a dog, grow a garden, play cards, checkers, chess, dominoes, golf. You can paint, volunteer or just collect certain items. Find something you like and spend some real time having fun with it.

me-and-butch-at-acacia-hotel

15. Even if you don’t feel like it, try to accept invitations. Baptisms, graduations, birthdays, weddings, conferences. Try to go. Get out of the house, meet people you haven’t seen in a while, experience something new (or something old). But don’t get upset when you’re not invited. Some events are limited by resources, and not everyone can be hosted. The important thing is to leave the house from time to time. Go to museums, go walk through a field. Get out there.

16. Be a conversationalist. Talk less and listen more. Some people go on and on about the past, not caring if their listeners are really interested. That’s a great way of reducing their desire to speak with you. Listen first and answer questions, but don’t go off into long stories unless asked to. Speak in courteous tones and try not to complain or criticize too much unless you really need to. Try to accept situations as they are. Everyone is going through the same things, and people have a low tolerance for hearing complaints. Always find some good things to say as well.

weekend-at-kota-kinabalu

17. Pain and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Try not to dwell on them but accept them as a part of the cycle of life we’re all going through. Try to minimize them in your mind. They are not who you are, they are something that life added to you. If they become your entire focus, you lose sight of the person you used to be.

18. If you’ve been offended by someone – forgive them. If you’ve offended someone – apologize. Don’t drag around resentment with you. It only serves to make you sad and bitter. It doesn’t matter who was right. Someone once said: “Holding a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die.” Don’t take that poison. Forgive, forget and move on with your life.

macau-san-malo-4

19. If you have a strong belief, savor it. But don’t waste your time trying to convince others. They will make their own choices no matter what you tell them, and it will only bring you frustration. Live your faith and set an example. Live true to your beliefs and let that memory sway them.

20. Laugh. Laugh A LOT. Laugh at everything. Remember, you are one of the lucky ones. You managed to have a life, a long one. Many never get to this age, never get to experience a full life. But you did. So what’s not to laugh about? Find the humor in your situation.

new year 2016

21. Take no notice of what others say about you and even less notice of what they might be thinking. They’ll do it anyway and you should have pride in yourself and what you’ve achieved. Let them talk and don’t worry. They have no idea about your history, your memories and the life you’ve lived so far. There’s still much to be written, so get busy writing and don’t waste time thinking about what others might think. Now is the time to be at rest, at peace and as happy as you can be.

And of course remember the five simple lessons in life to be happy:

 

1. Free your heart from hatred – Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries – Most never happens.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less from people but more from yourself.

airbnb

Remember the 5 simple lessons in life to be happy

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I am resurrecting this blog post because I failed to apply it recently .  I continue to remind myself.

This post is short and sweet so the words speak for itself.

Everyday, we face a gamut of emotions but just remember three simple tips

1. Don’t promise when you’re happy
2. Don’t reply when you’re angry, and
3. Don’t decide when you’re sad

Finally remember the five simple lessons in life to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred – Forgive.

2. Free your mind from worries – Most never happens.

3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less from people but more from yourself.

You have two choices… smile and close this page, or pass this along to someone else to share the lesson

Dont-promise-when-youre-happy

Explore the charm of the islands #MyMarianasPH #Blogapalooza

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I love to travel and explore places that I have never been to. I want to get wonderfully lost in the Northern Mariana Islands which has three principal islands : Saipan , Tinian , and Rota.

Coast near Forbidden Island, Saipan. Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Saipan by David Burdick. Some rights reserved.

Coast near Forbidden Island, Saipan. Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Saipan by David Burdick via Flickr  . Some rights reserved.

Yes, I want to  “Explore the Charm of the Islands” with my sister and two good friends.

Saipan, Northern Marianas by flickr.com/photos/ctsnow/ . Some rights reserved

Bird Island, Saipan, Northern Marianas by flickr.com/photos/ctsnow/ via flickr. Some rights reserved

The tropical climate is similar to my beloved country but there is something to do in the Northern Mariana Islands that I want to strike out on my bucket list .Actually I have two things in my bucket list that I will meet when I visit the Marianas.  And what is that?

Bring my sister and two good friends to  “explore the charm of the islands” and to visit the  latte sites .

House of Taga, Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands. by Kevin Dooley. Some rights reserved.

House of Taga, Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands. by Kevin Dooley via Flickr. Some rights reserved.

The Mariana Islands are home to “the only known latte stone historical sites in the world. Tinian’s House of Taga and the As Nieves Taga Quarry at Rota, as well as other latte sites on Saipan..” These are priceless symbols of Chamorro culture.

Now that is unique to Northern Mariana Islands .

Cap Taga Stone The island of Rota, CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) by Michael Lusk. Some rights reserved.

Cap Taga Stone
The island of Rota, CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) by Michael Lusk via flickr. Some rights reserved.

Wikipedia says “Latte stones have been made of limestone, basalt, or sandstone.” The largest standing latte is the House of Taga in Tinian, where capstones measure between 2.7 – 2.48 meters in diameter and shafts are 3.87 – 4.23 meters long. The Chamorros never completed what would have been the largest latte in the Marianas. Those latte elements remain in the quarry at the As Nieves in Rota. The northern most latte sets or structures are located on the island of Pagan.”

House of Taga, Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands by Kevin Dooley. Some rights reserved.

House of Taga, Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands by Kevin Dooley via flickr Some rights reserved.

What is the story behind this latte architecture? I would love to visit these historical sites and know more about this significant icon of the Chamorro people.

Even if I have crossed out the visit to the Latte sites, I will continue to “Explore the charm of the islands”.

There are other charming places to explore in Saipan, Tinian and Rota islands. One charm is the variety of birds.  Did you know that the Northern Mariana Islands have a total of 104 bird species, of which one is endemic, one has been introduced by humans and three are rare or accidental? Five species are globally threatened. Next on my list is bird-watching .

The island of Rota, CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). June 2010. Provides breeding for red-footed boobies, brown boobies and brown noddies. by Michael Lusk. Some rights reserved.

The island of Rota, CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). June 2010.
Provides breeding for red-footed boobies, brown boobies and brown noddies. by Michael Lusk via Flickr. Some rights reserved.

Maybe I can spot the  Micronesian megapode , a “stocky medium-sized bird that is mostly dark brownish-black in appearance. Its head is paler than its body, and it has a pale grey crest, a yellow bill, and large dull-yellow legs and feet.” I wouldn’t mind  hearing its “keek-keer-keet” cackle.

Micronesian megapode (Megapodius laperouse) by Michael Lusk. Some rights reserved.

Micronesian megapode (Megapodius laperouse) taken in the Sariguan , Northern Mariana Islands,  by Michael Lusk via flickr. Some rights reserved.

Another charm is the Grotto in Saipan as a unique diving spot with “a collapsed limestone cavern and a pool of cobalt-blue seawater filled by three underwater passageways.” I don’t dive though but I hope to just go near the cave just so I can catch a glimpse of the whitetip sharks,turtles, titan triggerfish, parrotfish, and  corals.

The Grotto, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. by Kevin Dooley . Some rights reserved.

The Grotto, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. by Kevin Dooley  via flickr. Some rights reserved.

Or explore the charming beaches through a road trip and island hopping adventure. It would be great to explore the Managaha, a white sand beach-fringed island which is just a short boat ride away from Saipan. Or explore other beaches in Tinian Island.

Kammer Beach, SW Tinian,

Kammer Beach, SW Tinian,by Stefan Krasowski

While the Marianas is known for its sun and sand, the islands are also known for its history.  “The island is now a US territory in the Pacific, as the Americans won it from the Japanese during World War II.”  Perhaps we can take a submarine tour and see if we can spot the  sunken Japanese warships at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

Micro Beach, Saipan, Northern Marianas

Micro Beach, Saipan, Northern Marianas by tata_aka_T in flickr. Some rights reserved.

I can envision it now. As the day ends, my friends and I will lie on the sand and watch the dazzling sunset at the Micro Beach. Perhaps, we will be sipping red wine, laughing and telling stories of our silly past. Maybe, we will just be…meditating for being blessed and witnessing this spectacular and colorful sunsets.

The four of us will surely love the adventure as we explore the charm of the islands…. the Northern Mariana Islands.

 

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Blogapalooza in partnership with the Marianas Visitors Authority is celebrating its 5th year anniversary by holding a contest for a free, all-expense paid adventure to the Northern Mariana Islands.

“Ready to Parent” app helps first-time parents

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I remember the first time I found out I was having a baby. Oh the joy and the uncertainty. It was also difficult not having a mother to guide me or even a big sister to give advice.  Communication even by telephone was not convenient in the mid-80s.  Not many owned landlines then.  I turned to books. There was also a library at my workplace so I did my research there. Will I have a safe delivery? What do I need to know about pregnancy and raising a child?

FWD path to life

These days, there are many ways to get information from companies, parents , organizations and even the government. FWD Life Philippines (FWD) , has taken up as it leads a consortium of thought leaders and industry experts in advocating empowered parenthood for Filipino families. The consortium—spearheaded by FWD in partnership with the Department of Health (DoH) and the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), among others—is seen to become instrumental in building a community that actively helps first-time parents prepare for the wide range of health and financial risks tied to pregnancy. This is good news to a lot of parents.

Complementing the consortium is FWD’s community parenting app for expectant parents, “Ready to Parent”.

ready to parent app from FWD

The highlight of the consortium, dubbed as “PATH TO LIFE,” will be the partnership with DoH spokesperson and long-standing public health champion Dr. Eric Tayag, and obstetrics and gynecology expert, Dr. Blanca de Guia.

The idea of “safer birth”

I know most first time parents want to ensure they are empowered with the right information about parenting. They need to have access to or can communicate with third parties that can provide them with correct information, which will lessen their anxiety and improve their disposition about pregnancy.

Establishing a community that understands what constitutes the idea of safer birth—that is, instances of pregnancy and delivery with minimal to no complications—is paramount in spreading the word, according to Tayag.

 

FWD Life Philippines President and CEO Peter Grimes believes that combined efforts by a consortium of like-minded advocates will only help make safer births more achievable for Filipino families. “We felt that efficiently addressing this mounting challenge will become a lot more feasible with the support and participation of both the government and private sectors, particularly with experts like Dr. Tayag and the DoH,” he said.

That’s comforting to parents, right?

Fostering a community of advocates via technology

FWD recently introduced its mobile-first community parenting app—“Ready to Parent” —designed as a companion for first-time parents. Tied to DoH’s vision of creating a community of empowered and informed Filipino parents, FWD’s “Ready to Parent” app, can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play. This is such a helpful app as it  will serve as one of the channels through which first-time parents can share their journey to parenthood, as well as exchange useful tips and advice on better maternal and infant health, all done in real time. This is not just for mommies but daddies too.

ready to parent 2

Expectant parents can chat with fellow community members, learn from a host of shareable parenting- and pregnancy-related articles, and journal their pregnancy journey.  I talked to FWD regarding the concerns of providing accurate information.  The parent advocates and moderators have been trained and continue to be trained in handling parenting issues.

ready to parent app

I wish I had a community of parents back in the late eighties. I know I made so many mistakes which I cannot undo. I know parents who will be using the mobile app can also help build a more well-informed community of expectant mothers by sharing the information they access online. They can even meet offline for real life interaction.

About FWD Philippines

FWD Life Insurance Corporation (“FWD Life”) is the first life insurance company licensed by the Insurance Commission of the Philippines under the new Insurance Code. FWD launched its commercial operations in September 2014. After its first full year of operations in 2015, FWD Life now ranks #13 in terms of total premium income according to the Insurance Commission’s end-2015 report.

 

FWD Group spans Hong Kong & Macau, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam, offering life and medical insurance, general insurance, and employee benefits across a number of its markets. Established in Asia in 2013, FWD is the insurance business arm of investment group, Pacific Century Group.

 

FWD is focused on creating fresh customer experiences, with easy-to-understand products, supported by leading digital technologies. Through this customer-led approach, FWD will achieve its vision to become the leading pan-Asian insurer that changes the way people feel about insurance.

For more information please visit WWW.FWD.COM.PH.

 

What is something that I want to end in order to begin? #StartYourStory

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I am no stranger to death and dying. Let me count the ways:

  • 1976– My mother, succumbed to breast cancer
  • 1990– My 28 year old brother, Reuben died from Fulminant, Hepatitis A
  • 1999–Oscar, my 40 year old brother died of leukemia (AML- 6)
  • 2000– My beloved son, Luijoe died
  • 2003– Dad died of diabetes complications, after being bedridden for 4 years.

Two of the above deaths were quite sudden without grief preparation of inevitable death unlike an illness where there is time to weep. Every death is not an ending . It offers new beginnings, an opportunity, to seek the meaning and purpose of the death.

family photo in the seventies

We all must face death. Perhaps we can even find grace in it. If it is our time to move on , we need not fear death. If it is nearing the time to say goodbye to a loved one, then pray that their transition be graceful and peaceful.

The ones left behind are those that feel this tremendous loss. I always pray that God gives me a long and healthy life so I can still be around for my family. Sure it  is everyone’s dream to live a full life specially with our loved ones but  I never know for sure what the future holds for me.

family photo

What is something that I want to end in order to begin?

With so many deaths in my family, it took time to struggle with my new normal. I could not help but reflect on the losses in my life.  The five deaths in my family  left me so devastated that I often found myself saying “Bahala na” to my future.

No to “Bahala na”. Bahala na (come what may), is something that may not  END to most of us. Yes, it is okay to pray and lift our burdens to God. I know God is with me all the time and when HE is with me , HE wants me to help myself. All I think is an increase and abundance in my life. It is time to create a meaningful yet comfortable life and live purposefully.

This is the advice I learned from a good friend:

Let go of the pain. Do something different today and welcome happiness back into your life.

racuh-a-payaman-

Questions to ask “Who will take care of my family if , something unfortunate happens to me?” “How will I meet my basic needs when I can no longer work?”

My preparations include health maintenance program , life insurance and mutual fund investment. I even have a notebook that lists all the things that need to be done in the event of my death.   Preparing my family is the least I can do to minimize the pain of losing a loved one.  I talked to my children that I may not be around forever but I can at least prepare them for life without a parent. Though they are done with school, they dream of a comfortable life too. Leaving life insurance is one way that sufficient money is left behind to meet basic living needs or prepare them for future goals. I believe that a life Insurance plan ensures that my family is financially secure even if tomorrow I am no longer around to care for them. It is one legacy that will live forever in those I leave behind.

Another plan is having enough to tide me over during my golden years of over 50 and above. I do not expect my children to be burdened. I often remind myself that health is wealth and  I need to prepare for accidents, complications, if ever, on my diabetes.

I can’t leave my fate to a “Bahala na” attitude.  Taking responsibility for my finances enable me to take focus off money. It frees me to do my work and live the life I want. I have choices. We have choices, more choices than we let ourselves see. I learned through my painful experiences . It takes courage to let go of the past , things and people that hinder my growth. What I can control is doing something today and achieving a new normal.

As Mahatma Gandhi tell us, “learn to live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

mahatma ghandi

 

Life is short. Make art and let it be seen.

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Time And health are two precious assets that we don’t recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted. – Denis Waitley

Riding a train on our way to Abbottsford five years ago, I pondered over my vacation to Melbourne. All I could think of at first was how expensive this vacation is. Everything cost more than back home and that is partly because I am staying in a hotel in the central business district. Once I started converting Australian dollars to pesos, I feel like I am splurging when that is not really the case. The standard of living is just high here. But see, life is short fretting on material things that it is actually the time spent with my daughter that is most precious. There is a tendency for human beings to have this infinite capacity for taking things for granted. I don’t want to make that mistake.

I loved spending time with my daughter. She is like me in so many ways. We enjoy the arts, having lazy brunches and just chilling and enjoying the scenery. My daughter wanted to show me graffiti art in Hosier Lane where graffiti is not considered vandalism. Graffiti has long been a part of human history, but it wasn’t until the emergence of hip hop culture that graf began gaining recognition as an art form around the globe.

I like how supportive the City of Melbourne is towards their artists. The artwork decorating the walls near number 1 Hosier Lane and near Misty Place at number 3-5 Hosier Lane have been approved as registered street artwork. There is symbolisms out there for every artwork.

I get into the mind of Banksy , a prolific graffiti artist from Bristol, UK, whose artwork has appeared throughout Bristol, London and other locations around the world to understand graffiti art.

Is graffiti art or vandalism? That word has a lot of negative connotations and it alienates people, so no, I don’t like to use the word ‘art’ at all.

“Graffiti is one of the few tools you have if you have almost nothing. And even if you don’t come up with a picture to cure world poverty you can make someone smile while they’re having a piss.”

“People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish. But that’s only if it’s done properly.”

” I never use sketchbooks in the way you imagine a “real” artist does – perched in a terrace cafe with a pencil capturing the essence of their muse. I tried that once when I was on holiday with a girl, but her nose came out so big in the drawing that she never let me touch her again.”

“Bus stops are far more interesting and useful places to have art than in museums. Graffiti has more chance of meaning something or changing stuff than anything indoors. Graffiti has been used to start revolutions, stop wars, and generally is the voice of people who aren’t listened to. Graffiti is one of those few tools you have if you have almost nothing. And even if you don’t come up with a picture to cure world poverty you can make somebody smile while they’re having a piss.”

“A lot of people never use their initiative because nobody told them to”.

“Art is not like other culture because its success is not made by its audience. The public fill concert halls and cinemas every day, we read novels by the millions, and buy records by the billions. ‘We the people’ affect the making and quality of most of our culture, but not our art.”

“I like to think I have the guts to stand up anonymously in a western democracy and call for things no-one else believes in – like peace and justice and freedom.”

“Writing graffiti is about the most honest way you can be an artist. It takes no money to do it, you don’t need an education to understand it and there’s no admission fee.”

“A lot of people think that scuttling around stencilling images onto buildings in the middle of the night is the action of a sad, frustrated individual who can’t get attention or recognition any other way. They might be right, but I’ve done gallery shows and, if you’ve been hitting on people with all sorts of images in all sorts of places, they’re a real step backwards, painting the streets means becoming an actual part of the city. It’s not a spectator sport.”

“Remember crime against property is not real crime. People look at an oil painting and admire the use of brushstrokes to convey meaning. People look at a graffiti painting and admire the use of a drainpipe to gain access.”

“T.V. has made going to the theatre seem pointless, photography has pretty much killed painting but graffiti has remained gloriously unspoilt by progress.”


I can discern the political nature behind the art. These artists definitely think outside the box. I know I have limitations in my visual literacy but I allowed an open mind to appreciate their work. I believe that to truly appreciate a work of art, we must bring with us nothing from life, no knowledge of its affairs and ideas, no familiarity with its emotions.

Most of the photos attributed to my daughter M, using a Nikon D7000. Some are from my iPhone

The future of sleep experience

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Did 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 . I have written about how Moms need the gift of sleep . Sleep is the key for renewing and rebalancing the body and mind.

sleep specialist uratex

A sleep that is clean, rejuvenating , refreshing and seductive is something to consider.  I got introduced to Uratex latest innovation that revolutionizes a sleeping experience with the introduction of four new mattresses:  Perfect Serenity Aura Fresh, Orthocare Biorytmic, Senso Memory Ultima Plus and Premium Touch Romance.

uratex sleep specialist 1

Let’s take a look at these four innovative mattresses and think what mattress will be right for you (and your partner too).

Perfect Serenity Aura Fresh

Worried about odors in your bed? The Perfect Serenity Aura Fresh may be the answer to your problem. This mattress has odor-repelling qualities that offer a fresh, clean sleeping environment. Its cover is formulated with complex compounds that effectively eliminate all unwanted odors from the body so your body smells fresh while you sleep. it also features a convoluted high-resilient foam with an egg crate design that allows air to flow freely.

uratex perfect serenity

Orthocare Biorytmic

This mattress uses advanced sleep technology using rejuvenating minerals responsible for restoring energy and regulating the body’s biorhythm. As you sleep, it helps reduce stress and provides better balance and concentration. Honestly, I don’t know how that is possible but a fellow media who was with us swears he felt so good after lying down on the Orthocare Biorytmic mattress.

orthocare biorytmic uratex

For  pressure relief and back support, the Orthofirm foam gives  firm comfort feel all night long.

Premium Touch Romance

The Premium Touch Romance is my favorite.  It is perfect for my romantic husband and myself.  Keeping the love (and sex) alive doesn’t have to end with the day, right? Seriously, this mattress is all about inspiring passion and desire for your significant other.

uratex premium romance

So what makes this different? The secret lies in the mattress which is infused with the essences of ginseng, ylang-ylang and cinnamon, giving it a sweet and spiced romantic ambiance.

uratex premium touch romance
When I tested it out, I didn’t smell a thing . I only noticed the fragrance when I caressed and rubbed the pillow . Very seductive.

Senso Memory Ultima Plus

If you often feel warm and need a refreshingly cool sleep, then this mattress is for you. The Senso Memory Ultima Plus is specially designed with a cooling technology that helps you fall asleep faster. What makes it different from others is that its memory foam is blended with Hydragel beads that absorbs heat.

uratex premium mattress

Wrapped with a Cooler knit fabric, it provides an enhanced cooling effect and has been proven to lower body temperature by up to 2 degrees Celsius. Its plush comfort layers delicately adjust to your body’s movements while you are asleep, relieving you from painful pressure points.

senso memory ultima plus uratex

There are also traditional pillows that offer the same sleep technologies to complement these innovative mattresses. Both mattresses and pillows are treated with Sanitized that protect against growth of bacteria, odor , mildew and dust mites.

So, what do you think? Aside from comfort, which sleeping experience would you add ? Clean, rejuvenating , refreshing or seductive? I already know what I want.

Visit the Uratex area at Our Home , SM Megamall A if you want to test out these four mattresses.

Unleash Yourself: Achieve your fitness goals

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The greatest wealth is health. After all , “it is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver”. The entire Step Diet premise is simple: Walk 10,000 steps a day and trim your portions by a quarter and you will lose weight, simple as that. Move more, eat a little less.

I met those goals so I was excited that Samsung Gear offers a better and more affordable wearable for you to start a fitness regimen.

samsung gear fit 2

I am sure some of you may have tried working out and you can say it’s easier said than done. I know because I have been there. It’s already hard enough to set aside ample time and reserve so much energy into staying fit, but it gets even harder when things are holding you back from giving it their best.

unleash yourself

It takes a lot of motivation and inspiration. I love walking with sounds because it moves me to walk faster. Any fitness animal knows the struggle is real when they need to switch songs through their smartphone just to get the right song that keeps them pumped up for their workout, all on top of having limited movement because of earphone cords that always get in the way. Not only that, but anyone who’s tried keeping track of their progress know that looking through their smartphone risk tripping, especially when running.

Samsung all-new Gear Fit2 and Gear IconX can help you reach your fitness goals, and  keep pushing for greater performance, too.

comparing fitbit and samsung gear

See the all-new Samsung Gear Fit2 beside my Fitbit Surge? Not that I am ditching my FitBit, but you might want to compare wearables.  The Gear Fit2 is a GPS sports band that promises a bulk-free and advanced fitness experience. There lies the difference. The Gear Fit2 looks elegant on my wrist unlike the bulky Fitbit Surge. There’s no need to bring around a heavy smartphone for progress tracking because the Gear Fit2 will help keep you motivated to outdo your last fitness record – may it be in terms of length of time, number of reps, or calories burned.

samsung gear iconx

With its stand-alone GPS tracking capabilities, the Gear Fit2 can help fitness animals easily monitor not only location, but also their burned calories, distance, speed, route, time, hours of sleep, and stress levels to keep them fit and healthy.
With its Social Challenge capabilities, the Gear Fit2 also allows fitness animals to challenge one other into doing fitness routines that can help create motivational friendly competition amongst friends, pushing themselves more and outdo their best records.

samsung gear watch

Worried about water or sweat breaking your device? Don’t be. The Gear Fit2, with its IP68 rating, is water and dust resistant, all wrapped into a sleek and lightweight band-type design compatible with any style.

samsung gear fit2
Thanks to other features available on the Gear Fit2 like a 2GB storage capacity to store up to 500 songs, and a curved Super AMOLED Display for easy viewing of their fitness data, the Gear Fit2 is truly an essential companion for fitness animals.
However, being able to track one’s workout progress is not enough for fitness animals to achieve their goals. Movement and focus are equally important. Imagine doing a 10km run with wires hitting the face. That would immediately distract a fitness animal from truly focusing on his or her full goals.

I like that the Gear Fit2 has exercise options. When I did the squat in the right position, it would register the count. I did 29 squats in one minute.

squats using samsung gear

The all-new Samsung Gear IconX helps with just that. Having a truly wireless design, these cord-free fitness earbuds and help motivate fitness animals to push themselves more with its in-ear fitness tracker, something the market hasn’t seen or any other earphone device can do, with real time updates on time, distance, speed, heart rate, calories burned, etc. Equipped with audio feedback, the cord-free earbuds provide fitness animals with a coach’s voice in their head – literally – to push them further into achieving their goals and the most effective training they long for.

samsung Wearables
But it doesn’t stop there: The Gear Icon X allows fitness animals to listen to up to 1,000 songs on its 4GB storage. Now if you use Spotify, you can connect your smartphone’s bluetooth to the ear pods. Controlling the music player is done much easier, too, thanks to its Smart Touch function: users will be able to control the volume, or select play, pause, and skip with just a few simple taps on a Gear IconX earbud.

Gear IconX_Product

Samsung has also taken into consideration the safety of its Gear IconX users. The cord-free earbuds have an ambient noise feature that allows fitness animals to still hear their surroundings and be aware of their environment without sacrificing the need for a seamless music experience.

One of the best things about Gear Fit2 and Gear IconX is their compatibility beyond Samsung, working with Android 4.4 or above and 1.5GB RAM devices. Both fitness devices have the ability to function without the other. Too bad for iOS users like me but I have a second Android phone.

Anyway, I should stop writing now and work my way to 15,000 steps to wealth. Health is wealth after all. Do you agree? Join me.

The Samsung Gear Fit2 and Gear IconX are now available at Samsung Experience Stores and authorized dealers nationwide for only P8,490 and P7,990, respectively.

AlDub’s Phenomenal Romance Celebrates 1st Anniversary With Special Twitter Heart Emoji #ALDUB1stAnniversary

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Wow, the kilig factor is still alive a year after. The AlDub phenomena is a year old. Two factors strike me on why ALDUB, this “Kilig Pa More” KalyeSerye is a hit : the kilig factor, of course and the timeout experience. I am not surprised ALDub phenomenal romance is celebrating its first year anniversary.

Starting 12:00PM today, July 16, AlDub fans can join the conversation on Twitter to mark the first year anniversary of supercouple Alden Richards @aldenrichards02 and Maine Mendoza @mainedcm by Tweeting with #AlDub1stAnniversary hashtag to unlock a special heart emoji. This Twitter emoji pays tribute to the global AlDub phenomenon and celebrates the romance that has taken the Philippines and the world like a perfect storm.

emoji heart

By including #AlDub1stAnniversary hashtag when composing a Tweet, a special Twitter heart emoji will appear after the hashtag in the sent Tweet. This is the first time that Twitter has created a customized emoji for a TV show in Southeast Asia.

“As a partner of Eat Bulaga, Twitter has witnessed the rise of AlDub from a local sensation on Philippine television to a global social TV phenomenon. It is powered by the love of fans all over the world, and the creativity of the show producers. The recent launch of the emoji for AlDub’s first year anniversary celebrates the show, the AlDub love story, and most importantly the fans who have flocked to Twitter to express their love and support over the past year,” said Pratiksha Rao, Twitter’s Head of Media Partnerships in Southeast Asia.

Looking back, the AlDub love team debuted on July 2015 in the ‘Kalyeserye’ segment of the popular noon-time TV show Eat Bulaga before they became one of the most well-known personalities on Twitter. Eat Bulaga’s Twitter account (@EatBulaga), which constantly keeps fans updated on the show by live-Tweeting each telecast and sharing behind-the-scenes images and videos, has added over 1.8 million followers in the past 12 months (over 200% growth) from 880,000 to 2.72 million followers today.

The record breaking 41M Tweets for #AlDubEBTamangPanahon concert on October 24, 2015 placed the Philippines in the Guinness World Records, making #AlDubEBTamangPanahon the most used hashtag in a 24-hour period.

On October 25, 2015, Maine’s Tweet thanked the Dabarkads and AlDub nation for their love and support, accumulating over 76,000 ReTweets and 133,000 Likes, which made it the 2015 Golden Tweet for the Philippines.

The love team’s road to stardom continued as AlDub’s Valentine’s day campaign #AlDubIsLove amassed over 4.1 million Tweets from February 12 to 14, 2016. This marked an iconic moment for AlDub fans as they received personalized autographed posters from Alden and Maine on Twitter.

The recent release of the first movie starring the AlDub couple, Imagine You and Me, on 13th July also generated mass conversation on Twitter with over 7.9 Million Tweets about the movie in the one week leading up to its release. Set in Italy, the movie was discussed on Twitter by fans globally with the top five countries that generated the most conversation about the movie being the Philippines, United States, Canada, UAE and Australia.

Finally, Eat Bulaga and the AlDub couple have used Twitter to innovate and create special moments for their fans globally. Recently, they surprised a few lucky fans by Tweeting personal video answers to their questions.

Fans should follow @EatBulaga (Eat Bulaga), @mainedcm (Maine Mendoza), and @aldenrichards02 (Alden Richards) on Twitter to get real-time updates on the AlDub love story, participate in the conversation, and get behind-the-scene moments first on Twitter.