Monday, June 28, 2010

Want to Win an iPad?


Manila, Philippines -- Get yourself the coolest and ultimate digital gadget in town -- the iPad! Flip through websites seamlessly, write emails conveniently and watch movies all you want on a revolutionary 9.7-inch, multi-touch screen!

How? Simply join Kaspersky Lab’s “Virus-Free Digital Experience” promo by purchasing any of these Kaspersky Lab products: Kaspersky Internet Security 2010, Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2010 or Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Mac.

For every purchase of any of the Kaspersky products from participating authorized IT retail shops in all major malls entitles one to a raffle coupon.

One Apple iPad 32GB awaits the lucky customer. Other exciting prizes include three (3) iPod Touch 32GB and 25 Burger King gift cheques worth PhP 1,000 each.

Promo runs from June 15 to July 31, 2010.

Deadline of submission of entries will be on July 31, 2010 at 10:00 pm (close of store hours). Winners will be drawn out on August 10, 2010 at the office of Kaspersky Lab’s Philippine distributor, iSecure Networks Inc., in Quezon City. Winners will be notified through registered mail for the claiming of prizes.

Hurry! Grab the chance to win and start experiencing a virus-free lifestyle with Kaspersky Lab Internet security products.

Learn more about the promo and Kaspersky Lab products at www.kaspersky.com.ph.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

A Nostalgic Post on UP Los Banos

I have always loved UP Los Banos. I have so many fond memories of that place back when I was still in high school, during my college days, and even the two years hubby and I spent living there when we still had only two kids.


Funny how many of our activities always end up at the UPLB field. Yesterday, my sister and I went to visit our aunt who just had surgery at the UP Infirmary. Before we left the campus, we brought the kids (my son and my niece) to the field. They had fun climbing the sloping Carillon tower walls.

Here's a photo of the famous Fertility tree (just ask anybody from UPLB to find out why this particular Acacia became known by that name). The trunk has gotten so big, it would probably take around ten kids to surround it completely.



We'll probably try that next time when more members of the family are with us :p


Thursday, June 24, 2010

Promo Alert: Max's Chicken All You Can

Saw this on Max' Restaurant's Facebook page. I'd guess my hubby and sons would be trooping to Max's very soon :p


Terms and conditions:

1. Chicken will be served in quarter pieces, and parts will be based on availability.
2. Add P39.00 for bottomless Pepsi Softdrink.
3. Promo period is from June 17 - July 17, 2010 and from 6 PM to 10 PM only.
4. Promo valid for dine in only. Not available for take-out, delivery and bulk orders.
5. Cannot be combined with other offers. No sharing. No Leftover. (My hubby wondered if the bones should be eaten as well, har, har!) Chicken will be served after each piece has been consumed.

Quick Trip to Batangas

This blog is already a bit late but I decided to post it anyway in case some of you who live in or near Batangas City might be looking for a place to unwind with your families :)

Last June 9, a couple of friends and I went to Batangas City to pay our respects to a common friend's mom who passed away. The funny thing is, we stayed in their private resort longer than at the funeral home :p

See, our friend had to get food for the wake's guests which was being cooked at their resort. Since the three of us haven't seen Doon Po Sa Amin yet, we decided to tag along. The place is awesome! It sits on top of a hill with a breathtaking 360 degree view of Batangas City!

For more photos and info about the place,

While we waited for the cook to finish all the dishes, the guys went for a dip. Much as I was tempted to jump in and join them, I decided to just surf the net using one of my friend's laptop. I was even able to write half the draft of one article due that week.

Before we went back to the funeral home, we ate a wonderful home-cooked meal at the mess hall with cool breezes billowing around us. Much later that night, we also stopped by a restaurant that serves the famous Batangas Lomi.



The three of us went home with full tummies and a revived sense of the camaraderie we used to have many years ago when we still had time to hang out together more often.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Disappointed

It was our first time to try out the burgers that some of our friends have been raving about. Hubby and I decided to check out Brothers Burgers' 50% off promo at Westgate, Alabang last night.

Upon entering the store, I immediately wondered why nobody was eating. All the people there seem to be waiting for something. When we lined up at the counter, we heard someone say, "Ang tagal naman!" To which his friend replied, "Two hours?! Grabe!"

I was alarmed. It was already past 7 pm and we promised the kids to come back with yummy burgers for our dinner. Turned out that the wait was, yes, 2 HOURS per order! Ngar!

Since we were already there, hubby placed an order for five burgers. Right after, we went to Festival Mall where I headed straight to Sbarro and ordered spaghetti and pizza. We called the kids to be a little more patient and eat some snacks while waiting for us.

I was almost finished buying groceries when hubby went back to Westgate to claim the burgers. I waited for him so we can go home together. By then, it was almost 10 pm. One of the kids was already asleep while hubby and two kids ate their burgers.

I was still full from the Sbarro dinner and opted to eat my burger today. Well, I didn't find it spectacular. Maybe if I got to eat it freshly cooked, I might have had a different opinion.

As it was, the next time I crave for a burger, I'm going back to my favorite: Wendy's Bacon Mushroom Melt. I have never waited 2 hours for that, ever.

For such a bad first time experience, I don't think I'm ever going back to Brothers Burger anytime soon.

Knight and Day is Entertaining!

Hubby and I caught the press screening of Knight and Day at Trinoma last night. It is a fun movie splashed with comedy and romance along with the nicely-executed action scenes.



Please watch out for my full-length review due to come out in HerWord.com within this week. It may help you decide what movie to watch this coming weekend :)

Edited on 6/25/2010: Review of the movie is now up! Please click this link to read Mission Impossible meets Charlie’s Angels. Thanks!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

MAFBEX at the WTC

A good friend and I planned to drop by the Manila Food and Beverage Expo (MAFBEX) yesterday and we were glad we did! Aside from the yummy taste tests and discovery of new food and food-related products, we also tried out the free 20-minute sessions on heavenly massage chairs at the Markes of Canada booth. I felt all the aches and pains of the past week melt away from my whole body. I so wished that I could afford one of those chairs . Alas, I may have to wait for several years (or a lotto win? LOL) before I can and bring one home with me.

What caught my fancy the most though was a Taiwanese artist who painted letters and names with such flair and speed. I got curious enough to also have one made of my family's surname. The details are exquisite!

See this video that my friend Reby took when the guy painted FLORESCA. It took him less than 3 minutes to finish everything down to framing it. Awesome!



Aside from the precious frame, I went home lugging a bottle of sparkling juice, a big tetra pack of soya milk in mango and peach flavor, and a pack of tasty prawn crackers. I would have bought more if I could but I don't think my arms would be able to carry other extras.

Got home tired but very happy :)

Fun Day for the Ladies


Yesterday, I was invited to Sun Life’s Sun Maiden Wellness Fair. Entitled Good to Go From Head to Toe, the event aimed to provide women a day of pampering and relaxation. It was held at The Enterprise Center in Makati from 9am to 7pm.

More than a dozen wellness partners participated in the fair and provided guests with free beauty and health consultations as well as giveaways and other services. I got a free diet and nutrition consultation, a fitness regimen consultation, and taste tested some yummy drinks.

Sun Life recognizes that women do so many things, day in and day out, and that we need time to also rejuvenate both our body and spirit to keep going.

Along with good health, Sun Life Financial Philippines (SLFP) also advocates for financial wellness and launched a health protection plan specifically designed for women. Sun Maiden and Sun Maiden Plus were made to cushion the financial impact of common female specific illnesses and surgeries.

For as low as P700, Sun Maiden can be customized to include add-on benefits like accident benefit, critical illness benefit, or waiver of payment upon disability benefit. Ideal for women 18 to 55 years old, SLFP’s unique offering also has life insurance coverage to guarantee security against the unforeseen.

According to SLFP Marketing Services Head Mylene Lopa, “One is as beautiful outside as she is inside. This is the message that we want to impart through Sun Maiden. Through the Good to Go from Head to Toe fair, we are encouraging women to take time off to take care of themselves, most especially their health and well-being.”

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Catch a good movie this weekend! :)

I got to watch the premier screenings of two really cool movies recently. Both are still showing nationwide. This Father's Day weekend, have some bonding moments with the head of your family and catch one or both "The Karate Kid" and "The A-Team".

To help you decide which movie to choose, you can read my review of the A-Team at the HerWord website and also watch out for my son's review of The Karate Kid out in tomorrow's Funpage section of the Manila Bulletin. I'll post the link to the online version within this post if the Funpage webmaster would upload it next week :)


Friday, June 11, 2010

Shop, Cook & Win P100,000!


Cook your way to a P100,000 Dream Kitchen Showcase with an all-expense-paid trip to Singapore. Or win P50,000, P25,000, P15,000 or P10,000 SM Gift Certificates. Meet well-known chefs and celebrities and display your cooking skills on the Asian Food Channel.

SUPER CHEF CONTEST MECHANICS:

1. Contest is open to all cooking enthusiasts.

2.To join, just present a P500.00 single or accumulated purchase from SM Hypermarket, inclusive of at least one product from the following sponsors: Cheez Whiz, San Remo, McCormick, CDO, Clara Ole, Knorr, Kraft Miracle Whip, Eden, Lee Kum Kee, San Miguel Beer, Kikkoman, Maggi, Purefoods, Nestle, Ladies Choice, and Unilever Food Solutions.

3.Contest is composed of 3 stages: audition, elimination and finals.

4.Criteria for judging:
50% Taste
25% Originality
15% Plating/Presentation
10% Affordability

AUDITION STAGE

•Create your own version of Adobo, Kaldereta or Menudo and submit the finished product with proof of purchase at the appointed Hypermarket branch (see schedule below). You may submit as many dishes and join in any branch. Submissions will be accepted from 2 pm to 4 pm.

LOCATION                                   DATE           DISH TO SUBMIT
Centris Station, Valenzuela               June 15          ADOBO
Marilao Molino, Sucat, MOA,            June 18          ADOBO
Bicutan, Pasig, Clark                       June 16         KALDERETA
Novaliches, Mandaluyong                 June 19          KALDERETA
Makati, North Harbour                      June 30          KALDERETA
North Edsa, Las Piñas, Taytay          June 17          MENUDO
Muntinlupa, Rosales, Baliwag            June 23          MENUDO
Fairview                                           June 25          MENUDO

•Three (3) winners from each branch will be chosen (or a total of 60 winners) who will qualify to the next round.

For more details on the Elimination Round and Finals, please log on to http://www.smhypermarket.com/hypermarket/index.php?p=381

The search is on. Be the 2010 Cooking Idol!

Contest runs from May to July 2010.

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Paalam nAPO Jim, Danny & Boboy ...

Eveready Event in MOA on June 12

WHAT : Launching of Eveready’s Isang Laging Handang Pilipinas Campaign

WHEN : June 12, 2010, Saturday, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

WHERE : SM Mall of Asia Concert Hall, Pasay City


Official Press Release:

Timed with the coming out of election results, Eveready Philippines will stage a dual celebration of new governance and its 110th anniversary at the launching of its year-long nationwide campaign dubbed “Eveready: Kasama sa Pagbuo ng Isang Laging Handang Pilipinas.”

Anticipated to be a weekend family affair, the event will pay tribute to the Filipino families who have welcomed and patronized Eveready's flashlights and batteries for decades. To delight the families is a showcase of Filipino talents to be participated in by different schools, government agencies, NGOs and Eveready employees, and over 400 people will take part in a huge flag formation and flashlight exhibition. Capping off the event is a grand fireworks display and Sugarfree's performance of their popular songs and the Eveready jingle. The event will also highlight its partnerships with government agencies and other organizations that are always ready to respond to the needs of Filpinos through a symbolic product donation.

For more details, please call Blaire Tria (Agatep Associates Inc.) at 635-9355 local 161 or 09228244994 and/or fax at 635-0516

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

CSM's Pre Inventory Sale!

Church Strengthening Ministry is holding a pre-inventory sale. Their bookstore is located at CSM Bldg. Pascor Drive, Sto. Niño, Paranaque City.


For more info call 851.0521 & 25 or email direct@csm-publishing.com

Monday, June 07, 2010

Free Jollibee Workshops for Kids on June 12

Saturday, June 05, 2010

Bedtime Activities for Baby


I enjoy attending Johnson's Baby events because I get to meet other moms and swap stories on motherhood. Yesterday, another event was organized by Nuffnang at the Dome Cafe in Makati. The topic was on bedtime activities for babies.

Caren Bayhon-Yrastorza, the speaker, was very engaging. She involved all the moms in the discussions and we all got to share our own experiences about putting our own kids to sleep. Here are some mommy-proven tips:

1. Sing lullabies - It doesn't matter, really, if you sing in tune or not. What's important is being able to lull your baby to sleep with songs that soothe him/her. My firstborn's most requested songs when he was around two years old were "London by Night" by Singers Unlimited and "A Nightingale in Berkeley Square" by Manhattan Transfer. My other sons were more exposed to Jim Chappell's album "Nightsongs and Lullabies" (I mostly hummed along) and a 4-piece cassette tapes set I bought called "Music for Babies".

2. Promote downtime - This can range from simply making sure that baby will be comfortable the whole night (diaper changed / fed / burped) and turning down the lights to praying together and listening to soft music.  The key is to avoid engaging baby in active play so he/she can wind down for bedtime.

3. Read a bedtime story - Most kids enjoy listening to a parent's voice while mom or dad reads a story. You can use big, board books with colorful pictures that really young children would enjoy looking at. As they grow bigger, progress to books with more words and smaller illustrations. I remember my kids loving books with rhyming words such as Dr. Seuss' "The B Book" and Mother Goose's "Nursery Rhymes". I am not surprised that they grew up to love reading because, like me (thanks to my mom), they have been exposed to books at an early age.

Some preschoolers actually prefer being told "invented" stories that they can really relate to. My husband and I have spun dozens of tales about the adventures of two brothers which our boys would listen to with wide eyes because, at the time, they were amazed to discover that they were also experiencing the things happening to the boys in the stories. On the other hand, Some kids love sharing a recap of how their day went before going to sleep.

 Download and print the pdf file of this nice story 

4. Do the three-step bedtime routine of warm bath, massage/touch therapy, and quiet time (see #2 above). Use products that are gentle to babies' skin and which has ingredients that releases calming essences.

5. Do other things that works for you - Every baby is different. And only his/her parents would know best how to make him/her get to sleep faster. If you are a new parent, I assure you, you'll discover your own techniques sooner or later.

For more tips and tricks on bedtime discoveries, visit www.bedtime.com.ph

Class and Burn

With school starting in two weeks’ time, aren’t kids taking enrichment programs all summer just too tired?

Find out how academic enrichment programs can help, not hinder, your child's learning. Read my article in today's issue of Manila Bulletin (Moms&Babies section) or click here.

Introduce Your Kids to CYOA books

I used to read different kinds of children's books while I was growing up. I could finish one volume of Nancy Drew, Bobbsey Twins, Hardy Boys, or the Dana Girls in one day. Good thing my school's library was amply stocked with those.

When a friend lent me a tome called The Kingdom of Frome, I became instantly hooked. The book was unusual because it has different endings! Soon after, I started borrowing books like it from other friends and discovered the Choose Your Own Adventure series which has more volumes.

Now, I am glad that my youngest son has also taken a liking to the CYOA books. So much so that he wrote an article about his favorite volume. You can read One Book, Different Endings here. Have your child read it too. He/She may also find it interesting :)

 My son's CYOA collection (so far)

Thursday, June 03, 2010

Check Out Museo Pambata!

Discover a hands-on Philippine museum that you and your kids will enjoy exploring while learning our country's history.


Please read my review about it at the HerWord.com website.

Funny APO Video

Finally found some time to upload this video on youtube. Sharing this video I took last May 27 for fellow APO fans who were not able to watch any of the group's very last concerts.

This is APO's hilarious rendition of two songs as "played" on an old long-playing album. Super funny but will only be probably understood by people born in the '80s and below :) Enjoy!

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Knight and Day Trailer

I am looking forward to watching this! One month to go!



Official Press Release:

20th Century Fox releases the latest trailer of “Knight and Day” that tracks Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz in a superlative of stunts as they play a fugitive couple racing across the globe.

“Knight and Day” was briefly introduced to the movie viewing public months back when its first trailer played in theaters and on the blogosphere depicting Tom Cruise as a mysterious man clad in jeans, shirt and a jacket stalking the panic-stricken Cameron Diaz who had been thrown in a cycle of cutthroat events that threaten her life.

An action-comedy that begins when a small-town woman (diaz) has a chance encounter with a mysterious man (cruise). He is either the man of her dreams or perhaps, her nightmares. Also starring in “Knight and Day” are Peter Sarsgaard (“An Education”) as a federal agent relentlessly pursuing the couple; Viola Davis (“Doubt”) as a CIA director trying to decipher the true purpose of their high-wire activities; Paul Dano (“There Will Be Blood”) as an eccentric genius behind a revolutionary technology; and Olivier Martinez (“Unfaithful”) as a ruthless arms manufacturer. Co-starring are Maggie Grace (“Taken”) and Marc Blucas (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”).

The movie is directed by James Mangold (“3:10 to Yuma,” “Walk the Line”) from a screenplay he co-wrote with Scott Frank (“Minority Report,” “Out of Sight”). The film’s executive producers include blockbuster makers Joe Roth (“The Great Debaters”), E. Bennett Walsh (“Kill Bill”) and Arnon Milchan (“Mr. and Mrs. Smith”).

“Knight and Day” opens in the Philippines on July 7 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Another Ultimate Booksale from OMFLit!


Come to OMF Lit's most outrageous
2-in-1 sale of the year!
R.O.B. Us! Raid Our Bookshop: The Ultimate Sale
4-26 June 2010 at all OMF Lit Bookshops

Bulk buying bargains!

Pick from the sale pile:
FIVEorites. Any 5 books for P200
Reader's Dozen. Any 12 books for P400
Thrifty FIFTY. Any 50 books for P1,500
Imported titles included!

Big Ukay BOOKay Bonus!

20% off on all OMF Lit local and imported titles

30% off for Kaibigan and Pastors' Exclusives cardholders on June 4-5
Click here to know more about Kaibigan and Pastors' Exclusives.
Including new arrivals!

Crazy Price Drop! Selected titles now at P10, P20, and P50! Powermark now at P2! Click here for a list of books.

Bargain Bundles! Complete your Joel Rosenberg collection and more at marked down bundle prices! Click here for a list of books.

For more details, click here.

Yay! Pizza Hut Treats from BPI!



After the Chowking promo, BPI has new treats for its credit and debit card users. This time in partnership with Pizza Hut. Just saw the announcement at the BPI website.

Tsk, I think I already threw a couple of valid  grocery charge slips within the last two weeks :S

MECHANICS

The promo is open exclusively to the following:
* All existing BPI Express Credit cardholders (Classic, Blue MasterCard, Gold MasterCard, Petron-BPI MasterCard, Edge MasterCard, and BPI-WorldPerks MasterCard) of good credit standing.
* All existing BPI, BPI Family Savings Bank, BPI Direct cardholders (Express Teller, Jumpstart, BPinoy).

(Note: BPI Express Credit Corporate Classic and MasterCard cards are NOT qualified to join the promo.)

Promo period is from May 18 to July 15, 2010.

To qualify, cardholder should use his BPI Express Credit card or BPI Express Teller via Express Payment System (EPS) to purchase at any merchant during the promo period. Transaction should be approved via Point-of-Sale card terminal. BPI Express Credit Cash Advance transactions are also qualified. For purchases made abroad, cardholder must also present the statement of account to verify the Peso value equivalent of the specific transaction.

The following transactions, however, are not qualified to redeem the FREE Pizza Hut dish:
1. online purchases and internet payments;
2. mail and telephone order purchases; and
3. BPI Express Teller withdrawals.

To redeem the free Pizza Hut dish, cardholder must submit for verification the original charge slip or transaction receipt and present the BPI card used for the transaction to any authorized Pizza Hut personnel before release of the free dish.

Cardholder can redeem the featured Pizza Hut dish at any Pizza Hut Restaurant and Pizza Hut Bistro nationwide. Redemption is not valid in Pizza Hut delivery stores and slice counters.

The redemption is valid for dine-in only. Take-out and delivery orders will not be allowed.

Cardholder can choose to redeem any one (1) of the following food items for every qualified transaction:
-- Choice of any Supreme Buddy Pan Pizza or Caesar Salad for a minimum single transaction of P1,500
-- Choice of Fettuccini Ala King or Spaghetti Bolognese for a minimum single transaction of P3,000
-- Choice of any Family Supreme Pan Pizza for a minimum single transaction of P7,000

Only one (1) free dish can be redeemed per charge slip or transaction receipt. A customer is allowed up to three (3) redemptions per day per store only.

A single purchase transaction requires only one approval. Splitting into smaller transaction sizes and, consequently, requiring multiple transaction approvals will not be allowed.

The free Pizza Hut dish cannot be exchanged for cash, other products, or discounts.

Redemption period is until September 15, 2010.