Freeway Launches NACS featuring Botong Francisco

For two months, I was on hiatus from attending events. But I just couldn't say no to our friends from Freeway - and so I went to the launch of the Freeway National Artist Collection featuring Botong Francisco which happened two weeks ago. (This was actually my first event after more than two months!)

The Freeway National Artist Collection launch is always like an educational trip for me. I get the chance to know more about our National Artists, their contribution and where to see their work.

I was there during the launch of Freeway National Artist Collection featuring F.Sionil Jose, Vicente Manansala, and Levi Celerio.

The FreewayxBotongFrancisco collection is the 8th installment for the Freeway NACS and Freeway's Holiday Collection for 2012.

Click Read More to see the collection and get to know more of Botong Francisco..

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Unboxing the BDJ Box: There's More to Planner for Bellas

When I received the invitation for the launch of BDJ Box, I immediately went to the site and checked what it is all about. I thought that my favorite planner - Belle De Jour has a namesake brand in the US which is launching a new and exciting community. I thought I was routed to a US site because it mentions a big beauty brand, plus the project itself is totally something new.

Subscription?! I only subscribe to magazines, newsletters and blogs.. do I need to subscribe to a beauty box?

Excited and curious, I confirmed my attendance to the event; and so last Wednesday, after the Project Headshot Unite shoot (which I will blog about soon), I received my first BDJ Box! And I was one of the firsts to receive the BDJ Box! Yey!

I know questions are floating in your head.. What's inside the BDJ Box? What is a BDJ Box?

BDJ Box is a monthly beauty subscription service. Simply put - you subscribe to it, you get a box of beauty products to try, be part of the community, review the products and even get rewards for doing so.

Click Read More to know more about the BDJ Box.. and what's inside!

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One Cap of Coke to Treat the Whole Barangay This Christmas!

It was timely that when the Coca Cola Christmas Promo TVC was launched last Sunday, I was at home - and our neighbors were gathered outside, celebrating a big birthday. As expected, the streets were closed.

This is a typical scenario in the streets of Manila. I have witnessed how people celebrate birthdays, baptism, weddings, fiesta, New Year and of course, Christmas! From the terrace where my mom and I usually watch the scenes and people, we have seen alot of great celebrations that is truly Filipino. We are very reserved family and rarely join these types of feasts. We find joy by watching the people enjoy the celebrations - and enjoy means, tables set-up in the streets, banana leaves are used as plates, everyone share their food, and eat with their hands (the barangay does it every feast of the patron which happens sometime in January)! Sometimes we share and exchange food specialties with neighbors to share the happiness. Fried chicken, lechon, spaghetti, pancit, fruit salad, and kakanins. On different occasions, the menu will change, but there is just one thing that is common on these celebrations.

When I was younger, it used to be in 500.. then a litro.. now, 1.5. It just gets bigger and larger as it brings more happiness to the larger group - and I am not just talking about families, but the whole barangay!

It seems that Coca Cola does hear my story - and knows very well how each barangay in the country does celebrations! We have seen how Coca Cola treats families with gastronomic meals with refreshing Coca Cola (thank you to our favorite noontime show!). This time around, Coca Cola will treat the whole barangay! And it only takes one winner to treat Kapitan, Kagawad and all the members and household of barangay from where the winner came from.

Too good to be true? Watch this COCA-COLA MILYUN-MILYONG PAMASKONG PA-BLOW OUT promo TVC!



I am sure you already know the drill, but check out the simple mechanics!

1. Grab a Coke and Open Happiness!
2. Look under the cap...
3. You will find a code!
4. Text in the format and send to 2653.

 Enjoy your Coke and wait to win Php100,000 cash!

But wait, there is more - Coca-Cola will also treat the barangay of the winner to PHP 100,000 worth of food blow out! This means when you win, the barangay also wins!! (what do you call it?) That's happiness!

See how Coca Cola has become part of my daily celebrations (yes, I celebrate life everday!). In, and outside the office.. and even across the globe!

Sleep over with friends at work!

 

In the popular Quanjude Restaurant in Beijing!

 

Potluck Lunch in the office!

I am sure you want to share the happiness too, and not just the glass of Coca Cola!

Don't forget to like Coca Cola President for Happiness in Facebook, and follow @Coke_HappyPrez on Twitter for more updates!

For more info on the contest, visit the Coca Cola Site 

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If you are reading this post somewhere, it is originally written by Ruth and published in www.ruthilicious.blogspot.com.

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The Body Shop Born Lippy Sticks

I am not certain if this Body Shop product has already landed in Manila. I know the Dragon Fruit Lip Butter has been introduced. But I want to share these really cute Body Shop Born Lippy Sticks which I bought as gifts for my girl friends.

They are the same Body Shop Born Lippy gloss in pots, or maybe not? I found them in the Body Shop Store in Lundy's Lane Outlet Shop in Niagara Falls.

Click Read More for the review..

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Italian Buffet at Frankie Tomatto's

A few blocks away from our hotel, I found a leaning tower of Pisa in the quiet road of Woodbine, Ontario. I see it everyday on my way to the office. My heart jumped when I saw the name - Frankie Tomatto's, and I know it equates to Italian. I got even more excited when my colleague told me it offers Italian buffet!

So for our last Monday in Toronto, we went Italian for dinner. It was freezing cold outside. The few meters walk seemed like hundreds of kilometers as the wind blows cold air that I felt my fingers getting numb. It was that cold, and I surely miss that.

The warm ambiance of Frankie's Tomatto served like a warp zone that transfer us from Canada to Italy.

My eyes were feasting (and now I am craving!). PIZZA. PASTA. ROASTS and GELATTOs! I wanted to dive straight to the buffet table and live the moment, but being the "blogger" that I am, I found myself feeding my camera lenses first.

AMBIANCE

I have never been to Italy but the design, walkway details, and as simple as the table cloth speak Italy. I love how the owner carefully considered the design.

Click Read More to know more about Frankie Tomatto's!
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High Five for 5th Global Hand-Washing Day!

Taking a break from my Canada posts.. and let me ask you this question, what is the first thing you do when you get home? Kiss your mom? Turn on the TV? Tweet?

I wash my hands.

Pollution, and germs are everywhere - especially when you are a commuter. Even the most fancy things, like a diamond would have germs. So it pays to act and do the simplest thing to save your life - wash your hands.

October 15th marks the 5th year of celebrating Global Handwashing Day in the Philippines. The message is simple, clean hands save lives.


How will you save lives and the lives of kids? Click read more..
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My Three-Week Stay in Holiday Inn Hotels & Suites

It's been two weeks since we landed back in Manila, but I am still feeling lazy and hesitant to get back to reality. Do you also feel that after a vacation? In our case, we didn't go on a holiday. We traveled more than 17 hours, crossed timezones and got all frozen in Toronto, Canada - and we worked, and worked harder. We were lucky that we came on a summer time and just when leaves are turning red and spell Fall.

We found our home in Toronto in Holiday Inn Hotels and Suites. When we were preparing for the trip, we were pushing for Marriott Hotel, however, the one in Canada is not company accredited. We were also hopeful to book Hilton Hotel, however, since it was Toronto International Film Festival, we were not able to book 6 rooms as the hotel was fully booked on the first two days of our itinerary. Our next goal is to book a hotel with kitchen so we can also cook. But the one that we found got bad reviews. So we confirmed the reservation in Holiday Inn Hotels and Suites which is a good 5-minute drive from our office. I am all okay staying in Holiday Inn, as my first stay in the hotel chain was pleasant.

Judging from the pictures from the internet, I know we would be staying in a business hotel. So I forgot about grand entrance doors, fancy chandeliers and nice staircases. The image in my mind was true as soon as we arrived. I do not know if I should say that the pictures are far better than what it is in actual, but I know for sure, I am missing that time when we arrived in our hotel. It is one of the best days (or nights) in our stay in Toronto - because it signals the start of our adventure. I missed that time that we were just getting our luggage from the cab service, and checking in.

Anyways, let me share more stories..

Hotel Location

I have to say, Holiday Inn Hotels and Suites is not near any mall or supermarket - but we thought it is the perfect hotel for us because it is just less than 5-minute drive from our office. We were always teased by our colleagues that we were staying in a "province" - a rural place - probably  because most of them got to stay in downtown areas during their business travels in USA.

It is funny that the businesses near the hotels are mostly industrial businesses - like wood carving stores, carpet stores, printing press, etc. Nothing for shopaholic like me. The nearest grocery store would be Food Basic (cab fare around $10CAD) but there are Esso Stores (two of them!) in Steeles Ave (like 5-minute walk from hotel), and there is a good Italian Restaurant that offers buffet - Frankie's Tomattos! (also 5- minute walk from the hotel).

Restaurants like Swiss Chalet and Starbucks are 15-minute walk from the hotel. You have to be covered though when walking because it is TOO CHILLY outside.

Seriously, talking and writing about these places makes me sad and miss the place. I will write about these restaurants SOON. Promise.

The hotel is near the hi-way, and bus stops. But to get to the nearest subway station, you have to take a bus first (Bus 53 Steeles Avenue).

The Room

It was Janine who welcomed us that morning (we arrived past 2AM). We already had reservation, so she patiently logged our records in the system and provided us the Vhing Card (that hotel key card! My colleagues were so amazed to know what it is called..)

As usual, we presented our cards and she asked us to sign an agreement - something like, the room is not smoking room and we need to pay $10,000CAD for any room damage. Then, she provided us with our keys, and breakfast vouchers (our room has free breakfast included). We were surprised to know that each of us would have two queen-sized beds!

Since we are a big group, the reservation officer tried to keep everyone in the same floor - and we stayed in the 8th floor which is a Priority Club Level.

 

Click Read More to see more pictures of my room...

 

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10 Travel Tips for First-Time Travelers and Jet Sets

Before you grab your luggage and head to the airport, please take time to read these travel tips I learned from travel buddies, online sources and from my previous travels, experiences and mistakes.

I was supposed to write this list last month, especially that we had new travelers on board.. BUT, crazy schedule didn't permit me.. I hope one or two of my tips would be helpful for first time travelers and jet sets too!

1. Keep your Passport Handy and Keep Copies of It.

This is the single most important thing that you need to bring when traveling abroad. Make sure that it is valid for more than 6 months (at the time that you will go back to your home country). I have read a story when a business traveler's passport was less than 6 months valid at the time of his departure from the host country, and he was denied departure. He had to call the Philippine Embassy to expedite renewal of passport and he had to stay in the airport until the new passport had arrived. Of course, we don't want that to happen.

I also make copies of my passport (and visa), and keep copies in my hand carried bag, check in luggage, and all other bags I bring. It would be helpful to keep a copy just incase you lose your passport. This would help to expedite securing of new passport.

When traveling, I usually keep my passport in the safety box and just bring a copy of it wherever I go.


2. List Your Credit Card/Bank Accounts in a Document and Store Online

It would be helpful just incase you lose your wallet with all your cards/credit cards in it. What I do is I keep a document with a list of all my credit cards, numbers, toll free numbers and expiration dates, and password protect it, and store in my email account. This way, it would be accessible anywhere. I can easily call my bank and have the credit cards blocked before anyone else has access to them.

Click Read More for more travel tips..


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10 Things I Learned from Shopping in Toronto

My room is overflowing with shopping bags and good finds! Now my worry is if my baggage allowance can accommodate the shopping bags, and whatever are inside the shopping bags! Before I start sharing my good finds, let me just share the 10 things I learned from shopping in Toronto.

1.  Sales Staff Just Love Their Jobs!

It is amazing how everyone in the stores (be it in malls, specialty shops, or even cafes) just warmly greet you and try to connect with you. To be honest, I find it tiring at times. After the usual, "I am good, how are you?" line.. all I wanted to do is just check the racks and get to the cashier. But what I learned from them, is that they do love what they are doing. They are consitent. They do their job with passion as seen by the way they handle the stuff, carefully wrap the items, ensure you get the right change, and send you off with a smile. I wish we were more like that in Manila.

2. Check Out the Discount Coupons

They are everywhere - newspaper, magazines, stands. In the lobby of our hotel, we found a board with little discount coupons for different brands. You can save a few dollars, or even in offsetting the taxes by using these coupons!

 To read more tips and learnings, click Read More...


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