- city girl diaries -

Lady's Bride Squad in Bali

2019-04-18T15:35:00.000+09:00

Bali has become the go-to place for bridal showers. Even our group chose this destination for the many good reviews about hen parties in Bali.

Last August 2018, almost two month's before Lady's wedding, we, some of the bridesmaids and the bride-to-be went to Bali for Lady's bachelorette party. There were supposed to be 10 of us, but two friends were not able to make it on the last minute.

Anyway, we had fun. It's definitely one hell of a weekend! We had a very nice villa (Bali Bliss) in Seminyak and we had nice photos because of Sweet Escape, which gave us a big discount. We also had a really cool and kind driver, who took us to many beautiful places, such as the Melasti Beach in Uluwatu and Uma Pakel in Ubud.

Check out the video of our trip:

The Greg Secker Foundation Village

2019-04-11T00:15:00.001+09:00

I feel really lucky to be able to spend time with these amazing people, most especially the forex guru and philanthropist, Greg Secker, on a weekend filled with a lot of interesting activities.

We flew to Iloilo and stayed at Richmonde Hotel, then we flew to Lemery via a helicopter. We visited the Greg Secker Foundation Village, and met a lot of nice people there.

After three days and two nights in Iloilo, we flew back to Manila. We were able to volunteer at the medical mission of Starkey Hearing Foundation, and I was able to meet Bill Austin, the founder of Starkey Technologies, the top manufacturer of hearing aids in the US and 6th globally.

Oh, we actually rode the chopper from BGC to QC and back. So while in QC, we also went toy and book shopping at Trinoma, which we donated to the children of the House of Refuge.

We really had a fun and productive weekend. :)

Titas of Manila in Singapore 2016

2019-04-11T00:06:00.001+09:00

So I found this post in my drafts, which I haven't published since 2016. Anyway, sharing with you our SG Trip, which was supposedly to watch Formula1, but we ended up drinking by the bay. haha.

This was a very "tita" trip 'cause we did a lot of grocery shopping haha!

US Holiday 2017-2018

2018-04-03T01:28:00.000+09:00

Haven't posted in a while. Sharing with you guys snippets of my US (West Coast) trip last December 2017 to January 2018. It was actually my first time in the US. More fun than the places I went to was the company of family and long-time friends I haven't seen for the longest time.

Taipei Trip (June 2017)

2017-10-19T12:14:00.000+09:00

I haven't posted for a while and I realized I haven't also posted about my 4-day trip in Taipei, Taiwan last June. That was actually one of my cheapest out of the country trips wherein I only spent around Php 25,000 inclusive of airfare, AirBnb accommodation, and pocket money.

To sum up our activities, they're basically about temples, shrines, and night markets. Taipei is nice and I love their food, but it is not one of the places I'll keep coming back to.

Anyway, here's a short video of our trip:

How I Spent Spring 2017 in JAPAN

2017-06-22T16:26:00.001+09:00

I'm back at my favorite country! Spent three weeks in Japan visiting multiple cities:

Yokohama, Tokyo, Suwa, Matsumoto

Highlights of my trip:
-Coldplay concert in Tokyo Dome City
-family time at Matsumoto Castle
-Ramen Museum and Red Brick Building in Yokohama
-Ichiran Ramen, Yakitori Alley, and more pigout sessions in Tokyo w/ friends
-exploring Yokohama w/ my Japan-based friend, Cheny
-pre-birthday celebration in Disneyland
-sakura aka cherry blossoms everywhere!!!

It's one of my most relaxing and rewarding trips in Japan. I love travelling alone and visiting family and friends. It's really therapeutic!

Anyway, here's a short video of my trip:

The Torque EGO Phab #G+ is Here!

2017-06-22T16:15:00.001+09:00

Torque Mobile has just released the EGO Phab 3G+, an entry-level tablet with a 7-inch screen, 1.2 GHz quad core processor, and 1 GB RAM.

The Torque EGO Phab 3G+ also features 8 GB of expandable storage, 2,500 mAh of battery, 5 MP main camera, 2 MP front facing camera, 3G connectivity, and dual SIM card slots.

Torque EGO Phab 3G+ Specs:

Display: 7 Inch 1280 x 800 resolution at 216 ppi

CPU: 1.3 GHz SC7731 quad core processor

GPU: Mali 400

RAM: 1 GB

ROM: 8 GB expandable via micro SD card slot

Back Camera: 5 MP

Selfie Camera: 2 MP

Battery: 2,500 mAh

OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Connectivity: WiFi, 3G, HSPA+, Bluetooth, GPS, A GPS, dual SIM

Price: PHP 3,099

Anyway, the Torque EGO Phab 3G+ is now available at all Torque Mobile concept stores and kiosks nationwide. It is also available via www.one2shop.com.

COLDPLAY in Tokyo 2017

2017-05-09T15:35:00.000+09:00

Sharing with you guys my Coldplay experience in Tokyo, Japan last April 19.

I'm fond of watching concerts, but I'm not the type who would really spend for it. I am used to getting free tickets during concerts but there's only one concert I promised to spend on, and that's a Coldplay concert.

A few years back, I planned about going to the Fuji Rock Music Festival in Japan 'cause they're headliner that time was Coldplay. Unfortunately, my visa expired so I had to go back to the Philippines even before the music festival.

So when I heard about Coldplay's announcement of their concert in the Philippines, I promised myself that I would go no matter how much it would cost me. Then came the day of ticket release. I kind of hesitated because I thought the tickets were overpriced so I didn't purchase anymore, but I prayed to get either free tickets or at least, cheaper tickets. But I found out about the ticket prices in their concerts in other Asian countries. I got really enticed by the prices in Singapore, Seoul, and Tokyo. Unfortunately, it was so hard to secure tickets for the Singapore leg; then flight tickets to Seoul (even on budget airlines) were really high. I was planning to watch the Japan leg but decided to skip the Coldplay concert for my Eurotrip on the same month.

It must be a sign that my Schengen visa processing got really delayed at the Greek Embassy, and my aunt offered to pay my airfare so I could visit her in Japan. So there, I booked a ticket to Japan, still without plans of watching Coldplay. I have a friends who recently moved to Japan and she's interested of watching the concert so she convinced me to go. I posted a Facebook status looking for tickets and I got a lot of replies. We were supposed to get S-Reserve tickets but a better offer came in. A Japan-based lady sold us 2 S-Reserve tickets which were priced 21,000 yen from 18,000 yen. It's more expensive but I understood why she put a markup on that. She was so nice so we got convinced to buy the tickets. We met up in Tokyo a week before the concert and my friend and I were so thankful that we found her!

A day before the concert, I had to travel to Yokohama from Nagano so I could stay at my friend's place. The next day, I travelled for 45mins from Yokohama to Tokyo Dome City to catch Coldplay's concert. Since my friend was coming from work, I spent time waiting for her with my other friends who were also there to watch the concert, but they got VIP tickets.

The concert started on time and it was the best concert I've ever experienced! Plus I was happy that I watched it in Japan because the Japanese were very particular in the quality of sound and lighting so I was sure that technical problems would be very minimal or would not even happen. And they were very organized! Even after the concert, the exit of the audience were done by row.

Anyway, my friend and I really enjoyed the concert. We were very thankful that we pushed for it. It was super worth it!

Innovative. Consistent. Very Woman: PAT SANTOS Describes his Creations

2017-01-28T23:32:00.000+09:00

We missed Pat Santos, who skipped the Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2016. But he's back in the runway to showcase his Spring/Summer 2017 collection.

On November 20, we went to Discovery Primea to see Pat Santos' new collection, which took him eight months to complete. Entitled, "Romancing with the Butterflies", Pat Santos' Spring/Summer 2017 collection was inspired by the butterflies and romance. He wanted his muses to feel that they truly are a woman. Pat is usually inspired by the elements of nature such as oceans, birds, butterflies, and flowers. His previous S/S collection was inspired by the oceans.

with my JCI Manileña sisters before the show

His clothes were worn on the runway by local and foreign models. Having foreign muses gives his collection a more global look, just the way he wanted it. Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong, whom we've seen wearing Pat Santos' dresses often was also part of his show. It seems like we'll be seeing more of Pat Santos creations on Angelia as she was described by her stylist, Janno Novenario, as someone who embodies a Pat Santos woman.

sorry, I didn't have much quality photos

how about black and white for summer?

Angelia Ong on Pat Santos (credits to the owner)

What exactly is a Pat Santos Woman? Innovative. Consistent. Very Woman. Pat Santos creations showcase simplicity and class, and are not too busy. Dresses that have too many things going on are so outdated that's why Pat chose to have simple yet modern and wearable designs. However, simplicity doesn't mean he would have less attention to detail. The dresses we saw on the runway may look simple but they're actually intricately put together as each dress would have 3 to 5 different fabrics and they are still light.

photo from PFW website

photo from SceneZone Mag

What's next for Pat Santos? He's planning to have a bridal gala wherein he would create something very modern, very "now", wearable, and affordable. And of course, we're all excited for that!

with Pat Santos after our quick coffee

with Angelia's Manager Farah Ramos, and her stylist, Janno Novenario

with the show director

My apologies to Pat for posting this super late.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis in Manila 2016

2017-01-28T21:39:00.000+09:00

Got a last minute invite to watch Macklemore and Ryan Lewis at the Palace Pool Club and of course, I didn't say no. I wasn't able to watch them on their first time in Manila in 2014 because I was supposed to watch them in Kuala Lumpur during the 3rd day of the Future Music Festival Asia (FMFA), which got cancelled. Then their performance in Manila was on the following day but we were still in KL.

Anyway, thanks to Solar Entertainment for the invite. It was a short yet fun concert. The best part was when they jumped into the pool beside us right after their performance. How cool was that? I had a perfect view to tape them. Watch this video to see.

PS. Ryan Lewis is a hottie!

SWV and TLC in Manila 2016

2017-01-28T21:32:00.000+09:00

Super late post but I just had to share this amazing concert of SWV and TLC in Manila.

Those of my age who don't know them must be living under a rock! This concert got all the 90s vibes back! Thanks to Vans PH for our tickets. We really had fun! :)

Boracay Trip 2016 with the Queens

2017-01-15T17:47:00.000+09:00

While we were in Davao, we talked about how much we missed Boracay. Dayanna has been wanting to go there as she kept hearing good stories about it. Therefore, we decided to fly to Boracay immediately the morning after we landed in Manila. Thanks to Lady for securing our free Skyjet tickets. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to join us. Gosh, imagine how tiring our Davao-Manila-Boracay-Manila 6-day trip was! But no regrets 'cause we had so much fun! Well, it would have been more fun if the weather cooperated.

Anyway, we would like to thank the following for the quick but fun trip:

-Skyjet
-Henann Lagoon Resort
-White Sand Aquasports
-Wave Bar
-The Pig Out Bistro
-JB Alonzo Law Firm
-Caticlan Airport Officials
-Manila, Cebu, and Boracay friends

Sharing with you our post-Boracay video.

Davao Trip 2016 with the Queens

2017-01-15T17:38:00.001+09:00

It's been a while since my last blog post. I've been really busy these days. Sharing with you one of my best trips with my girl friends, Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong, Miss Earth Air 2015 Dayanna Grageda, and Miss Casino Filipino 2013 Ladylyn Riva.

Special thanks to the following sponsors for making our trip a truly relaxing, fun, and memorable one:

-Pearl Farm Beach Resort (Samal Island)

-RC Hobbyshop and Aquasports

-Paradise Island Resort

-Department of Tourism

-House of Hope Foundation

-Pres Duterte's PSG

-JCI Davao Inc

Sharing with you our post-trip video:

New Show Coming Up: !T GIRLS on E!

2016-10-20T13:32:00.000+09:00

The other night, we were at House Manila as we got invited to the launch of #ITGirls, a reality show featuring real-life BFFs, Solenn Heussaff, Isabelle Daza, Gerogina Wilson, and Liz Uy. We were treated to great food, wine, live interview, and a viewing party of the show's pilot episode. Here are a few photos from my phone:

great wine and good company

live interview with the girls

love these girls to bits!

Raymond, SOS, Belle, Liza, and Scott

It was our group that closed the party :))

And we headed to Revel for our own GNO

Sharing with you the Press Release:

ASIA’S TOP CELEBRITY BFF SQUAD REVEAL THEIR LIVES ON THE BRAND NEW E! ORIGINAL SERIES, !T GIRLS

Georgina Wilson, Solenn Heussaff, Isabelle Daza and Liz Uy take #SquadGoals to the next level when !T GIRLS debuts on 24 October, Mondays at 8PM on E!

MANILA, 18 October – !T GIRLS, which critics are calling Sex and the City meets Keeping up with the Kardashians, follows four celebrity BFFs who are at the top of their game: Georgina Wilson (former Asia’s Next Top Model host), Solenn Heussaff (French-Filipina actress/artiste),
Isabelle Daza (daughter of Miss Universe 1969) and Liz Uy (celebrity stylist). For the first time, the fabulous four give fans an all-access look at their lives in the exclusive upper echelons of the Philippines’ sensational showbiz scene.

“Between them, the !T GIRLS have an outstanding 17 million social media followers. With this series, those fans will get to see what they are really like outside of their glamorous celebrity personas. This is a unique experience that only a pop culture powerhouse like E! can bring,” said Scott Mackenzie, Vice President, Channels, Asia, NBCUniversal International Networks and the series’ executive producer, “With the ratings success of It Takes GUTZ To Be A Gutierrez in markets like Singapore and Malaysia, we are confident that !T GIRLS will also fascinate viewers across the region.”

Georgina’s baby gender reveal, Solenn’s Snapchat scandal, Isabelle’s A-list wedding and Liz’s search for love are just some of the series’ sizzling stories. The !T GIRLS’ hunky husbands – Arthur Burnand, Nico Bolzico and Adrien Semblat; Isabelle’s mother Gloria Diaz (veteran actress and former beauty queen) and Solenn’s brother Erwan Heussaff (TV personality and food entrepreneur) will also be part of the series. Additionally, viewers can expect cameo appearances by friends from the !T GIRLS’ inner social circle: model Bea Soriano, actress Carla Humphries, creative director Martine Cajucom and blogger Nicole Andersson.

Directed by Raymond Gutierrez, E! News Asia host and star of E!’s It Takes GUTZ To Be A Gutierrez, each episode of !T GIRLS follows the crazy and colorful lives of the squad, rotating between their different roles as public personalities and switching modes into their more personal lives as wives, sisters and daughters. Drama abounds as the pressures of being a celebrity heighten and the ultimate question is – what will these !T GIRLS compromise between life changes and their showbiz life? Will each prioritize things at home or keep up with the ever-evolving demands of their careers? Can an !T GIRL truly have it all?

Catch the premiere of !T GIRLS on 24 October, Mondays at 8PM, only on E!

E! is seen on SkyCable and Destiny Digital Ch. 57, Cignal Ch. 25, Cablelink Ch. 33 and other cable operators Nationwide

Join the conversation on social media with #ItGirlsOnE

Cebu Will Always Have a Place in my Heart

2016-10-20T11:39:00.001+09:00

Last October 5-9, I was in Cebu for the JCI Philippines National Conference. It's probably the craziest trip I've had there so far. We were not able to do some nature or beach trips, but we had so much food trips and parties. Haha! Let me share with you this video of our Cebu NatCon experience. :)

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The Chainsmokers Live in Manila

2016-09-21T21:38:00.002+09:00

I was close to missing this concert because I had to wait for the free tickets. I was in a wedding in Cavite when I foud out that finally, our friend got us free passes to the concert from Globe. Thanks so much, Mr. Ernest Cu for giving us access to the Globe Premiere Suite! :)

the awesome pair

While some of our friends were partying near the stage, Lady and I were actually having fun at the suite because it's so comfy out there. We got some drinks and some seats when we get tired of dancing. I didn't need to get too close to the stage to get good photos because my camera's 24x zoom never fails to give me quality photos in every event.

concert buddies

The last time Chainsmokers was here was when they're only familiar single was the "Selfie Song". We made it to their concert at Republiq (Resorts World Manila) back then through the guest list. But now, they've become really famous and their songs topped the charts.

A good friend, a talented actor and model, Phytos Ramirez

I super love them! See my own version of a post-concert video below.

Looking forward to more awesome hits ahead! :)

7 Times Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong Has Proven that Statement Jewelries Are In

2016-08-19T11:29:00.002+09:00

Statement jewelries have become a trend that never gets old. This has been proven to us by Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong as she has recently traveled the world in style. Let's check out the 7 times she showed us that statement jewelries are in.

1. This necklace just levelled up her jumpsuit game

So proud to wear my all Filipino L👀K today by @jannostyles Im loving this Teal Green Fire Agate Statement from @flutterstatementjewelry - a line of crafted couture jewelries from the Philippines by @katongers which perfectly paired this exquisite jumpsuit by @bessiebesana #whatiwore #MissEarth2015 #MissEarthgoestoUSofA #AngeliaAdventures

A photo posted by Angelia Gabrena Ong (@missearth.angelia) on Jul 30, 2016 at 10:38am PDT

2. Who said you can't save the earth in style?

Ready to pick some trash up at the Lincoln Monument to help out the @nationalmallnps 👍🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 #nationalmall #MissEarthgoestoUSofA #MissEarth2015 #AngeliaAdventures #LincolnMemorial

A photo posted by Angelia Gabrena Ong (@missearth.angelia) on Jul 30, 2016 at 2:53pm PDT

3. If you think too much is bad, then think again.

Congratulations Miss New York! @missearthunitedstates 💄 and 📸 by @marc_artistry Necklace is from @flutterstatementjewelry go visit 'em at www.flutterstatementjewelry.com ❤️ #aboutlastnight #MissEarth2015 #MissEarthUS

A photo posted by Angelia Gabrena Ong (@missearth.angelia) on Aug 3, 2016 at 10:35am PDT

4. Making a statement with this necklace at the concrete jungle where dreams are made of

Say whuuuuuuuut?! Still can't believe I'm here 🙈 #StartSpreadingTheNews #AngeliaAdventures

A photo posted by Angelia Gabrena Ong (@missearth.angelia) on Aug 3, 2016 at 7:19pm PDT

5. Warning: Conquering Colombia requires a pretty neckpiece

This is Valle Del Cocora in Salento, Colombia. Those lines you see at the back is Palma de Cera, the world's tallest palm trees, and also Colombia's national tree. This kind of tree only grows in cold places like Salento. I am now on my way home and I can't help but reminisce and be thankful that my reign as Miss Earth brought me to beautiful places like Colombia. @brittanyannpayne , thank you for sharing this experience with me. Spending time with you and getting lost together has made me appreciate the friendship our crowns got us into. You are an amazing person and I'm so glad to have met you. I'll see you soon in a few days in Sri Lanka. @eliastobon , thank you for putting Miss Earth's advocacies not only by thoughts, but also through actions and by heart. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to know your amazing culture and meet your equally amazing people. Keep up the good work and congratulations to your organization and your new @missearthcolombia . Other than her, you have produced 8 more beautiful ladies that's now 8 different souls that will look at the world and our planet differently. You have produced stunning Earth Warriors! Gracias 🇨🇴 ! #MissEarthColombia #MissTierra2015 #AngeliaAdventures #MissEarth #MissEarth2015 #Colombia #latepost Shout out to my loving and supportive stylist all the way from the 🇵🇭, @jannostyles :) #ootd #styledbyjannostyles #jannostyles Crimson Jacket by @xernanorticio Black dress by @guessphilippines Necklace from @flutterstatementjewelry by @katongers Shoes from @vincecamuto X #jessicasimpson

A photo posted by Angelia Gabrena Ong (@missearth.angelia) on Aug 15, 2016 at 11:08am PDT

6. Apparently, the future is in (or wrapped around) her hands

Can't help but bring a little piece of Philippines in Colombia ❤️ This one is the old French Skinny Pearl wristband from @flutterstatementjewelry by @katongers! Love 'em? Check out www.flutterstatementjewelry.com 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

A photo posted by Angelia Gabrena Ong (@missearth.angelia) on Aug 11, 2016 at 7:49pm PDT

7. And there's no such thing as an easy decision

These @flutterstatementjewelry pieces are beautiful! I wonder which one should I wear tonight? So many pieces to choose from!❤️ You guys better follow them and check out www.flutterstatementjewelry.com to see the line of couture jewelries from the Philippines by @katongers that are in store for you! #ProudPinoy #PhilippineMade #MissEarth2015

A photo posted by Angelia Gabrena Ong (@missearth.angelia) on Aug 5, 2016 at 10:19pm PDT

And if you wanna make your own statement just like Angelia, you know where to go.

#MakeAFlutterStatement #FlutterTravelsTheWorld

The Search is On for The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) 2016

2016-08-17T11:08:00.000+09:00

The annual search for The Oustanding Young Men (TOYM) 2016 in the Philippines is on! Officially launched by JCI Philippines last August 5 at the Bayanihan Center, TOYM 2016 is now open for nominations.

Who do you think has created a concrete positive change and has made an impact to the community, or at his/her own field/industry? Who deserves to join the biggest names who have been awarded in the previous years of TOYM?

Please see mechanics below:

Who will be among the 2016 TOYM Awardees?

NOMINATE NOW!

The time has come to recognize those who exemplify service to community, outstanding leadership and excellence in their respective fields of discipline.

Please visit http://toym.jci.org.ph for more information about the search and to download the official TOYM nomination form.

Submit the accomplished nomination form, together with all the required supporting documents, on or before September 15, 2016 to TOYM Secretariat, 3F JCI Philippines Headquarters 14 Don A. Roces Avenue, 1103 Quezon City

For inquiries, please contact (+632) 3744138 or (+63) 9224524284 and look for Nancy; or email her at nancytoym@yahoo.com

‪#‎TOYM2016‬ ‪#‎TransformingCommunitiesCreatingPositiveChange‬‪#‎MyPositiveChange‬ ‪#‎TOYMforPositiveChange‬ ‪#‎BuildasOne‬

Here are a few photos from the launch last August 5:

The TOYM 2016 Committee, JCI Philippines President Steve Tycangco, and JCIP Batch 101 Presidents

TOYM Awardees through the years

For more photos, visit www.facebook.com/TheOutstandingYoungMenPH

Here are some of my photos:

The Outstanding Young Men 2016 National Launch #TOYM2016 #JCIPhilippines

A photo posted by Roycie S. (@royciepoisie) on Aug 5, 2016 at 6:13am PDT

It's a pleasure meeting the 2011 TOYM Awardee for Peace and Advocacy, and Senator of the Republic of the Philipines Risa Hontiveros #TOYM2016 #JCIPhilippines

A photo posted by Roycie S. (@royciepoisie) on Aug 5, 2016 at 8:02am PDT

Truly honored to have met the 1996 TOYM/TOYF Awardee for Entrepreneurship and Founder & President of French Baker, Mr. Johnlu Koa, and the 2001 TOYM and 2002 Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) for Business Education, the Chairman/Director of multiple market leading companies, the Marketing Mentor, Mr. Josiah Go. Thank you sirs! :) @josiahgo @johnlukoa @chennygalano83 If you know fellow Filipinos who have created positive change in the community, the country, and in the world just like them, you may nominate them at toym.jci.org.ph. The search is on! The next set of TOYM Awardees shall be awarded before the year ends. Send your nominations now!:) #TOYM2016 #JCIPhilippines #fangirling #inspirations

A photo posted by Roycie S. (@royciepoisie) on Aug 5, 2016 at 1:59pm PDT

Redfox Unveils New Logo and Promises Luxury Within Reach

2016-08-13T01:00:00.000+09:00

On the 8th of August, Redfox Technologies has gathered everyone at Vu's Sky Bar in Marco Polo Ortigas for a wonderful surprise. Redfox Technologies CEO, Mr. Andy Te has revealed their new logo, as a rebranding move of their company. There are also a lot of exciting products that are coming up in the next few months, and everyone should watch out for them.

Mr. Andy Te (CEO) with the new Redfox Logo

Mr. Andy Te (CEO) presenting their new products

The event was hosted by two of my good friends, Farah Ramos and Michael Uy. It was indeed a night of good food, great music, and chill vibe. And the best part, I won a Wizpad Scribe in the raffle! Shoutout to Ms. Bernadeth of Redfox for putting up such a successful event.

And we won a Wizpad Scribe!

goofing around with these two crazies haha

I dunno why I was doing that pose LOL!

Read the Press Release here:

The Red Transformation – Luxury within Reach

Manila, Philippines, August 8, 2016 – Redfox Technologies International Ltd., one of the country’s leading sources of innovative IT solutions, has officially changed its image to strengthen the brand locally and globally. With a new brand identity that supports the tagline, “Luxury within Reach,” the company is set to provide premium products that will cater to the higher-end market and millennials.

Moving Forward

From being a PC manufacturing company to becoming a provider of end-to-end solutions and globally-acclaimed products, Redfox has opted to widen its product portfolio, now providing a premium and luxurious selection of products that include its latest line of smartphones, laptops, gaming PCs, and other peripherals. This is in addition to its existing lineup of pioneering products. Redfox will also continue to offer products dealing with education and the government.

The company has a solid industry experience as an end-to-end solution provider. As it continued to develop, it formed new sub-companies to provide high-quality products, delivering all the hardware and software resources, and engaging from conceptualization, to production, and up to the distribution of the finish product.

Said sub-companies are Redfox Laboratory International Ltd., a company that puts effort on the Research and Development (R&D) of Redfox products, with offices in Shenzhen China, Hong Kong (hardware), and Philippines (software); A.L.e-Component Int’l. Inc., a company based in Cavite, Philippines, focusing on Redfox’s Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS); Asiantech, a company also based in the Philippines that focuses on the distribution, logistic and warehousing of Redfox; and Wiz Store, Redfox’s concept store, catering to retailers and kiosks, with two (2) branches located at SM North and SM Marikina.

Stepping Up the Game

As a company currently positioned in the market as an original equipment and design manufacturer, Redfox is determined to step up its game and position itself as an Original Brand Manufacturer (OBM), catering to the upper and middle class customers, as well as millennials, here and abroad.

The new brand identity, “Luxury within Reach,” will help promote products that strike quality and elegance at a reachable cost. Constantly committed to offer the best customer service and satisfaction, Redfox aims to provide the finest and luxurious commercial products that exude confidence and sophistication. In line with this, Redfox is building a global RMA and nationwide service center that will provide customer support 24/7.

Embracing Change

To support the new brand identity of Redfox, consumers will soon get to see the first UXperience Center in Southeast Asia that will offer interactive E-Sports and learning centers supported by E-Blue. This approach is expected to catapult the brand into the global stage.

Consumers will also get a treat, as Redfox plans to do mall road tours to promote its first ever luxurious smartphone called “Aurea.” The Redfox Aurea is set to position itself as the brand’s latest flagship smartphone.

Redfox is embracing change, continuously developing gaming ideas and cutting-edge technology for its smartphone, tablet, laptop, desktop, and gaming PC segments. Redfox is also securing more successful partnerships, not only here in the Philippines but also in the global scale, to attain more powerful principles in facilitating business opportunities.

For more info, please visit www.redfox.global.

Our Dining Experience at 7Flavors Buffet by Chef Boy Logro

2016-08-04T23:29:00.000+09:00

The infamous chef, Boy Logro co-owns 7 Flavors Buffet located at A. Mabini St., San Juan City. 7 Flavors features as artisan bakery, a gourmet cafe, and a world fusion buffet. They serve really good food for an affordable price.

Last Friday, my friend, Sam Dy and I had a chance to dine with Mr. Kenneth Hung, the CEO, and Mr. Albert Borja II, the COO. It was a great experience also to have met fellow bloggers/writers at the dinner. We dined at the ground floor, where the cozy cafe is. In fact, they're planning to do bossa nights there soon. I loved the place because of its ambience and food. The buffet was at the second floor; and at that time, there was a birthday party there.

happy diners :)

They have an interesting food selection at the buffet. There's also a teppanyaki corner, which I loved. My friend Sam enjoyed the tacos, and it's one of the best from the buffet. My personal favorite was the Kare-Kare.

we love the roast beef too!

dessert station

I love sushi :)

tacos!

yes I finished all of that haha

Anyway, they also offer event packages and catering services. For inquiries, you may contact them at 543-0325 / 542-1935 / 503-6750 / 0917-6700291 / 0933-4177387.

Here are their operating hours and rates:

Artisan Bakery - 6AM-8PM Daily

Gourmet Cafe - 6AM-12MN Daily

World Fusion Buffet - 1AM-2PM AND 6PM-10PM Daily

Monday-Thursday: Lunch - Php 400 / Dinner - Php 500

Friday-Sunday and Holiday: Lunch - Php 600

A Quick Boracay Summer

2016-05-25T23:53:00.000+09:00

So there I was again, without any plans of going to Boracay, I got dragged by a friend who wanted to celebrate her birthday at the island. I was only able to make up my mind on the last minute. And because we took Air Asia, it meant another delayed flight, so we waited for more than 2 hours.

We flew from Manila to Kalibo International Airport, where we met up with our friend who came from Dumaguete, but flew via Cebu. It was already midnight when we got to the boat from Caticlan to Boracay. The boat rates really inflate at those hours so it's better to take day flights. We got to the island at 1am and we just headed out for a quick meal before going to bed.

So basically we did a lot of eating, photo op, and partying (without even drinking much). But I would say that eating was the highlight of our trip haha! In fact, this was the only Boracay trip wherein I have completed all the daily hotel breakfasts. It's because we've been going to bed early because we're not drunk. Talk about change! haha

It's also great to find out that some other friends were there too, so I got to hangout with them. Anyway, here's how the trip went on:

Boracay Getaway from Roycie S. on Vimeo.

Day 1
Station 2 - Friend got a Henna Tattoo
Two Seasons - Oyster Sisig and Four Cheese Pizza (never fails!)
Station 1- Photo Op and a bit swimming by the beach until sunset
Olé - Late dinner
Summer Place - Friend met up with a guy from Tinder but ended up being with a better person we met by the bar
Epic - I met up with my friends from Manila and hung out 'til the break of dawn

summer girls :) #summer2016 #boracayhits #islandlife #citygirltravels #girlsquad

A photo posted by Roycie S. (@royciepoisie) on Mar 31, 2016 at 4:56am PDT

Day 2
Puka Beach - Swimming and chilling (super pretty beach but the drinks were overpriced)
Spider House - Dinner with new friends
Epic - Party (and some drinking)

Day 3
Real Coffee - Lunch
Don Churros - Churro and Lava Cake fix
Jonah's Fruit Shake - Of course, we won't miss this
Las Brisas - Swimming and bonding by the pool
Station 2 - Buffet Dinner (another must for every Boracay trip)
Epic - My friend's birthday celebration
Then while we're a bit tipsy 'coz of our drinks, we had to go back to the hotel to get our stuff; then we headed to the port then the Kalibo Airport to catch our red-eye flight. However, our flight was ultimately delayed for like 4 hours, so we wished we just stayed and rebooked our flight (it's free anyway).

A photo posted by Roycie S. (@royciepoisie) on Apr 2, 2016 at 5:19am PDT

And that's another quick but awesome summer trip! Where to next? Just wait for it! :)

How an Overnight Cebu Trip Turned 5 Days

2016-05-25T16:45:00.000+09:00

Even I can't believe it. I didn't even have plans of joining my friends but I ended up staying there for almost forever. I was dragged by a friend straight from a Saturday night party to the airport to catch the earliest flight to Cebu. Since the first flight was fully booked, we had to take the next one. We bought our plane ticket there and we didn't even get a ticket back home.

Instead of posting a lot of photos here, I just made a video of the trip. Feel free to comment below if you have any inquiries.

#CebuHits from Roycie S. on Vimeo.

Here's a rundown of all our activities in that 5-day trip:

Day 1

We left first thing on a Sunday morning, went straight to our friend's hotel, the Big Hotel to check-in and take a nap. Then we had breakfast at the hotel resto. Right after breakfast, we were informed that our JCI friends from JCI Mandaue have prepared a boat party so we joined them. We went on a food trip and we had crazy drinking games while on board.

We rushed back to the hotel to prepare for JCI Womandaue's induction and turnover ceremonies. After the event, we had drinks at the hotel bar. Then some of our JCI Cebu Inc. brothers invited us for a karaoke party at the KTV located next to the hotel. It was at around 1am when we moved to our friend's acoustic bar/KTV lounge, Open Mic, where we continued our craziness until 3am! That was a really crazy night.

Day 2

We all had lunch at a restaurant in SM Cebu. Then we chilled at Ibiza Beach Club at Movenpick Hotel and Resort in Mactan 'til after sunset. For dinner, we headed to a restaurant owned by our friend, Ampersand, wherein we had the best steak in Cebu, and all other sumptuous dishes and drinks.

A photo posted by Roycie S. (@royciepoisie) on Mar 18, 2016 at 12:34pm PDT

Day 3

We had our lechon fix at Rico's during lunch then we visited a new acquaintance's auto shop, Euro Technik for coffee. It was a lazy afternoon so while some of our friends headed to the airport to go back home, me and some of our Cebu-based friends indulged on a 1.5-hr foot and back massage at the Park Mall. It's my first time to try a massage conducted by blind people, and it felt so good. For dinner, we've gone to a local restaurant (like a big carinderia -- which I forgot the name of) that's known for their native chicken. After dinner, we had tea and dessert at Tinder Box. But just when we thought our night was over, we craved for wine and cheese so we headed to La Vie en Parisienne to satisfy our cravings.

Day 4

And out of our spontaneity, at 3am, after our wine sesh, we headed to the port to catch the first barge to Bantayan Island. That was a 2.5-hr drive, which can usually take 4-5 hours during the day. Anyway, we we're only able to catch the 2nd barge at 6:30am and it took us an hour and 15 mins to cross the water to Bantayan Island. In Bantayan, we had breakfast by the market, then we shopped for really cheap seafood. How cheap? Like Php 20/kilo of scallops. OMG! We headed to SantaFe Beach Club, where we checked in. We had the seafood we bought at the market cooked in the hotel and that's what we had for lunch. We were extremely full that we fell asleep after. We failed to wake up in time for our trip to the cove so we just headed out for dinner at Chef Panyang's. The food there were really cheap and yummy. If I come back to Bantayan, it would probably because of two things: the beach and the food. We got free dessert c/o the restaurant's manager. We were also able to have a JW Gold Label we just bought from a store nearby. We continued our drinking sesh at our hotel by the beach front while watching a movie on laptop.

Day 5

The next day, we woke up late again. We felt guilty for having the boatmen wait for 1.5 hrs for our island hopping. Our first stop was at Hilantagaan Island where we bought fish, rock lobsters, and crabs for our lunch. Next stop was at Virgin Island and I super loved it there. It's a lot better than Boracay. While we did some snorkelling, our boatman prepared our lunch. After lunch, we just rested for a bit and headed back to our hotel in Bantayan to catch the soonest flight we can get back to Manila as we still have a formal event to attend to in Taguig. At the airport, we bought our plane ticket and while waiting for boarding, we had our last dinner together.

A photo posted by Roycie S. (@royciepoisie) on Mar 16, 2016 at 11:25pm PDT

That Cebu trip was probably the best and most spontaneous trip I've ever done! It's so exciting to not have exact plans, not even a return flight because it gives you a lot of freedom. Just remember to overpack (while packing light -- to avoid paying for extra baggage) a bit. Be sure that you have extra clothes for any activity -- casual (shorts, tank tops, shirts, skirts), beachwear (maxi dress, short summer dress, cover up, swimsuit), smart casual (polo and pants), footwear (flats/sneakers, flipflops) -- so you won't have a problem.

Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Nagoya in 4 Days!

2016-05-25T01:44:00.000+09:00

Well the title actually sounds crazy. How were we able to visit 5 cities in 4 days and spend only less than Php 20,000? Here's how...

From Nagano, I took a night bus to Osaka. My friends were already there in the Airbnb apartment that we booked (I think that cost us around Php 1000/pax/night), so I went straight from the Umeda Bus Station to our apartment somewhere like a few stations away from Umeda. Had I contacted my Osaka-based aunt earlier, we could've stayed at her place and saved from spending on accommodation. Anyway, although a bit sleepless, we headed straight to the Universal Studios Japan. It was my second time there, but first time to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I had so much fun this time with friends 'cause it felt different the last time I was there with family.

Harry Potter!!!

Oh Christmas Tree!

feeling like a kid again with Elmo

the light parade

The next day, we went to Nara via train. We bought a discounted 2-day unlimited Kintetsu (line) pass for our Osaka-Nara-Kyoto-Osaka route. At the first day of its usage, we went to the Nara Deer Park and played with the shikas (shika = deer in Japanese), checked out the Todai-ji (temple) then headed back to Osaka for shopping at Shinshai Bashi.

autumn :)

Todai-ji

of course, food!!

Shinshai Bashi

sushi dinner

On the third day, we went to Kyoto and visited the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and the Fushimi Inari Taisha (temple). We tried our best to make it to the Kinkaku-ji (Golden Temple) but we got there at 6pm just after it closed. It's really not possible to explore Kyoto in 1 day. I promise to be back and do the temple hopping and geisha hunting. There are really a lot more tourist spots I want to visit there. We headed back to Osaka and just spent the night packing our stuff because we're about to go home the next day.

in the train

Kyoto Tower

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

souvenirs handcrafted by an old man

groufie!!!

tonkotsu ramen for late lunch

Fushimi Inari Taisha

it took me so long to get a shot without a photobomber (haha)

our cute apartment c/o AirBnb

On our last day in Japan, we woke up late. We failed to explore Osaka's tourist spots such as the Osaka Castle and the Rinku Outlet Stores (oh shopping...), but there will always be a next time. Anyway, I rushed my way to the Osaka station to meet up with my Osaka-based aunt and she brought me to Kobe, yeah the home of the famous Kobe beef. But besides, Kobe, what I was more eager to have was the Matsusaka Beef but we didn't have time to get ourselves to Matsusaka. Luckily, I was able to have a taste of this beef in Manila at Smith Butcher and Grill. Sorry, that's quite off-topic haha. Anyway, we've gone to the Kobe Harbour Park. We've gone window shopping, we've viewed the Kobe Tower, and we had sumptuous lunch buffet at The Canary Warf. Everything was sponsored by my generous aunt.

Kobe Tower

my aunt and her son

we're the first customers

this was only my first round and I had a second one haha

I am a certified matcha addict

shinkansen

off to Nagoya Airport from Osaka for our trip back to Manila

From Kobe, we headed back to Osaka to meet up with my friends and we all took the bullet train (shinkansen) to Nagoya International Airport. Too bad we didn't have time to explore Nagoya for a bit. The entire trip was tiring but truly fun and exciting. I've been to Japan 4 times already but there were still a lot of places for me to explore and activities to try. I would never really get tired of coming back to this country. On my next trip, I plan to explore Nagoya, Osaka, and Kyoto further plus include the historic city of Hiroshima. And on a winter trip, I must visit Sapporo in Hokkaido. I heard beer and food are extra yummy there! Oh, can't wait!

Nagano Quick Shopping and Food Trip

2016-05-25T00:08:00.001+09:00

On my trip to Japan last November 2015, I was lucky enough to squeeze in a 4-day trip to Nagano, where my relatives live. It is actually where I usually stay whenever I'm in Japan. But since I was only there for 4 days, I wasn't able to do much. In fact, I opted to stay home and prepare FIlipino dishes for my family because I knew they really missed them. But as a reward, I got treated like a real guest.

From Shinjuku, Tokyo, I had to take a 2.5-hour bus ride to Suwa Interchange in Nagano, where my family picked me up. They immediately brought me to my favorite kaiten sushi place, Sushiro for lunch. Of course, I had the grandest time eating all of the sushi I could.

The next day, we drove to Karuizawa to go outlet shopping at Prince Shopping Plaza, where the biggest brands of apparel are available at really cheap rates. I got to score a Levi's dress that only cost Php 500 (if converted into Php) and a Nike FlyKnit at only Y10,000 or around Php 3,700 (because exchange rate at that time was really low).

Before shopping, we had soba for lunch. It's located 30 mins away from the outlet shops. There, I was able to see how soba noodles were being made and I was able to taste the best soba I've had in my life. For dinner, we had "yakiniku" near our home in Suwa City. In Japan, the things I love to do are: shopping, taking photos, and of course, EATING! They have the best food in the world (at least for me).

the craft of soba making :) #soba #sobanoodles #lunch #foodporn #japanesefood #Japan2015 #NaganoDay2 #citygirltravels #citygirldiaries

A video posted by Roycie S. (@royciepoisie) on Nov 7, 2015 at 7:20pm PST

The next day, my cousin and I visited one of my favorite and most authentic ramen places in our city. I had miso ramen and I was truly satisfied.

I spent my last day in Nagano at home, cooking Filipino food for the family and packing for my trip to Osaka. I didn't spend anything while at Nagano, thanks to my family! Can't wait to be back! :)

Binondo's Not-so-Hidden Secrets

2016-03-26T18:07:00.001+09:00

(As published in the January 2016 issue of Hardware Zone PH Magazine)

Better known as “Chinatown” of Manila, Binondo has so many things to offer, which may not be known to many, most especially to non-Chinese people. What you might not know is the fact that Binondo is the oldest Chinatown in the world, as it was established in 1594. Since then, it has been the center of trade and commerce for the Filipino-Chinese community.

I must admit that I am not really a Binondo person. Although I’ve had a couple of Filipino-Chinese friends from this district, I haven’t really gone around it and I still consider myself a Chinatown-newbie. While I have visited Divisoria for a couple of times before, this is actually the first time I have explored Binondo. Let me share with you a couple of my discoveries in this quick tour.

1. Lucky Chinatown Mall is both a good and bad idea. It’s good to finally have an upscale mall and a secure parking space in Chinatown; however, getting out of the parking building from the topmost floor could take up to 2 hours most especially during rush hour. Sometimes, taking public transportation could be a better idea.

2. Chinatown Gold Center is like a gold mine! I’ve never seen that much authentic gold in my life, all in one place. There, they sell different karats of gold jewelries, which come from multiple countries – Saudi gold, Russian diamond, etc. – and they are selling it like a commodity. One can buy a simple 18K golden ring at around Php 3,500 or a small 18K golden pendant at Php 1,500. I have also learned that they have online sellers for those who cannot personally visit Chinatown; but I suggest you do because there are a lot of pretty items there to choose from.

3. Authentic yet cheap Chinese food are just within the streets of Binondo. I have tried the Original Chicken Mami from the famous Masuki Mami House in Benavidez Street and it’s probably not the best mami I’ve tasted but it’s equally good. I actually like their siomai more. Don’t be surprised if it’s priced at Php 35 per piece because it is actually big and tasty. To satisfy my xiao long bao and hakaw cravings, I headed to Ongbin Golden Dimsum in Dasmariñas Street, as advised by a Fil-Chi friend. And good news, their food did not disappoint! I also passed by the oldest standing restaurant in Binondo, the New Toho Food Center, established in 1888, which can be found along T. Pinpin Street. I was too full to give it a try so you better go try it yourself to know why it has been there for more than 100 years already.

xiao long bao at Ongbin Golden Dimsum

huge siomai at Masuki

yummy Mami at Masuki

4. Attract good luck with Binondo’s lucky charms. There are a couple of shops selling lucky charms, from small trinkets to huge Buddha statues. Their peak season is around January as people prepare for the Chinese New Year. They also share some forecasts for the incoming year so you would know which stuff to buy. 2016 is the Year of the Fire Monkey, and if you want to know which lucky charm would best fit you, visit these shops in Chinatown.

5. Whatever you could think of buying can be found in Binondo. From gift items to furniture to clothing, you can all find them there, and at a way cheaper price. You can also avail of wholesale prices, and this would benefit you most especially if you plan to resell these items because people would usually pay for convenience. There are a lot of good finds in 168 Mall, 11/88 Mall, and 999 Mall, or just by the side walks and other shops within the streets of Binondo such as the Ongpin Street. Just don’t forget to haggle and enjoy shopping!

Just a few tips for you to be more comfortable and safe while touring Binondo: wear simple clothing and flat shoes, and do away with jewelries and branded accessories. Better to have someone with you and refrain from using your mobile phone.

And those have been my discoveries. Now it’s time for you to discover these “not-so-hidden” secrets of Binondo I have shared, and go find out more!

wasn't able to take much photos during this trip so I just took a selfie instead haha