The Life of a Breadwinner

Listerine Total Care Challenge: My Post-Challenge Dental Checkup (Week 6)

2011-07-06T14:53:00.014+08:00

This is it! My Listerine Total Care Challenge has ended and I'm proud to say that I have survived it. Six long weeks of doing the brush, floss and rinse (BFR) habit. Six long weeks of using Listerine Total Care mouthwash on a regular basis. All this in my quest to achieve optimum oral health.

So, what can I say? I guess let's try to review first the six essential benefits one may get by using the no. 1 mouthwash brand in the Philippines and the world:

To prove that I have seen and felt a big difference in my mouth during the six-week period of using Listerine Total Care, let me show you my pre- and post- challenge dental check-up results so we could compare the improvements in my mouth, if any.

BEFORE (click image to enlarge)

To guide us on the numerical ratings, here's a chart provided by Listerine:

0 for good, 4-5 for worst

AFTER (click image to enlarge)

1. Breaks through plaque. As what I had shared in my Week 1 report, I noticed a thin film of protection that enveloped my mouth only after first use of the mouthwash. I think it was the one responsible for eliminating the plaque on my teeth. As you can see in the AFTER results, my plaque index dropped to an all-out 0 from having several 1's in the BEFORE results. I find it really amazing!

2. Keeps teeth white. My teeth are a bit on the yellow side (read: strong) so upon accepting the Listerine Total Care challenge, I became a bit curious on how Listerine could make my teeth white. To tell you honestly, it didn't make my teeth white but I noticed that it made my teeth look clear and bright. And for me that's a good thing. Now I can always show my best smile (as evidenced by the photos I shared in Week 3) whenever and wherever I want to.

3. Kills 99% of germs. Gargling the mouthwash for 30 seconds every single time was hard for me at first because of its strong and spicy flavor but eventually I got used to it. I found out the strong and spicy flavor wasn't there for nothing. It had a purpose and that was to kill the germs in my mouth to make it fresh and clean and healthy. This reason alone was enough to make me write my own oral care pledge in Week 2.

4. Gives 24-hour fresh breath. Having used the mouthwash twice a day (after my morning bath and before I go to bed) for six weeks has definitely improved my confidence. How far did my fresh breath take me? Check out my Week 5 report here to find out.

As for the mal-odor and calculus score categories in my BEFORE and AFTER results, nothing has changed. According to Dr. Sarah, the "barely noticeable odor" is normal so there's really nothing to worry about. I'd like to think of that as an assurance that I don't have bad breath that needs immediate dental attention. Haha. As for the calculus deposits on some of my teeth, she said I can only get rid of them thru prophylaxis. I guess I better set an appointment with my dentist for that soon. Perhaps, that's what causing my mouth to have that "barely noticeable odor."

5. Helps keep teeth strong. The jawbreaker challenge I did in Week 4 proved that I cannot break a jawbreaker in one minute (it's not really possible as I broke one only after 24 minutes!) but I can always try to break it without injuring my teeth and my jaw. Listerine has definitely made my teeth stronger than ever.

6. Maintains healthy gums. Bleeding gums are one of the signs of an unhealthy mouth. With Listerine Total Care mouthwash, one of my teeth that bled after the dentist's probing in the gingival bleeding index of the BEFORE results (the one with the rating of 1), is now okay (see the gingival bleeding index AFTER results with an all-out 0 rating). I am very pleased! Actually, as early as Week 2, I had already noticed that my teeth didn't bleed anymore even if I would accidentally or intentionally hit it with my toothbrush. Haha. Dr. Sarah, reminded me, though (during my post-challenge dental check-up this morning) that I should avoid hitting my teeth with my toothbrush because the mere act could irritate the gums and lead to gingivitis. Ouch. Okay, noted that.

Hmmm, what do you think? I'd like to think that I fared quite well. Haha. I am definitely doing my best to continue with using Listerine and embracing the BFR habit. All this in the name of good oral health!

Thank you very much to Listerine Philippines for this challenge and to Listerine Total Care mouthwash for making my mouth healthier. Thank you also for the good service extended to me by Villareal Dental Clinic-Head Office in Pasay City through Dr. Sarah Salita. I took note of all the dental information and oral care tips you shared with me.

my dental chair moment

with the very accommodating, friendly and smart Dr. Salita

my dental clinic of choice

GIVEAWAY WINNERS!!!

For the Week 5 giveaway, I decided to make it very easy by asking you to share your fresh breath story. I chose the two lucky winners of Listerine gift packs containing two (2) 50ml Listerine Total Care, a pen and a notepad through Random.org. And here is the result I got:

Congratulations to crumpilicious blog and nice! I just emailed you both on how you could claim your prizes.

To all who joined, thank you so much. I know the contest period was short but still, you took the time to join. 'Till my next giveaway! :)

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Mystery Lotion that Repairs 8 Signs of Dry Skin?

2011-06-29T13:25:00.002+08:00

There's this new lotion I got in the mail a few days ago that claims to repair not just one but a total of eight (8) signs of dry skin namely: dry, red, rough, tight, flaky, dull, itchy and peeling. Wow, that was a lot, huh! Can you guess which brand this lotion represents?

Since I saw and held the bottle in the flesh, I knew the answer already. But I am not telling. So yeah, better make a wild guess. One thing is sure, though. It's from one of the world's leading skin care brand. :)

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Listerine Total Care Challenge: My Fresh Breath Took Me As Far As... (Week 5)

2011-06-25T23:11:00.012+08:00

...a job interview. Yes, I had my job interview with some financial institution recently. I am proud to say that during that time, I was armed with substantial research about the company and the position I was being considered for, self-confidence and a fresh breath made possible by the no.1 mouthwash in the Philippines and the world.

It was a Wednesday afternoon and the interview took place in a mini-conference room. It was a panel interview and I sat in front of four people who were about to judge me as an applicant. I have to admit I was a little nervous but my determination to succeed won me over. I answered their questions as clearly and intelligently as possible. I threw some questions to them, too. The distance between me and them were so short, like just a little more than two feet, I could hear their every word and I was sure they could hear my breathing as well. I just enjoyed the situation as if I was just having a casual talk with a group of strangers. High-caliber strangers at that. Haha.

yours truly in my interview attire

I was so happy after the interview. Somehow I knew I left a good impression on them. I hoped so. I also thought that my fresh breath that day had contributed in no small way in my having been so relax and confident during those critical moments. I secretly thanked Listerine for it. I knew it didn't let me down, not even for a single moment. I loved how a mouthwash could make such a big difference at that important point in my life. And for that I was really grateful.

Did you know that continued use of Listerine Total Care mouthwash guarantees stronger and fresher breath 24/7? Yes, that's right. And if you go all the way in caring for your teeth, like starting the Brush, Floss and Rinse (BFR) habit for instance, then the results may be greater than you could ever imagine.

As for the results of my job interview, I'm still waiting for it. Hopefully, I get the job. But there's really no high expectations. I believe that if it's for me, it'll be for me. If it's not, then I'll try harder next time.

GIVEAWAY ALERT!!!

How far did your fresh breath take you? Any interesting story you would like to share? Use the comment section and you might just be the two lucky winners of Listerine gift packs! Each bag contains two 80 ml. bottles of Listerine Total Care, a notepad and a pen. This contest is on until 11:59 p.m. of July 2, 2011 (Sunday). Winners will be announced as part of my culminating Listerine post (Week 6 of the Listerine Total Care Challenge) so stay tuned.

Good luck, guys! :)

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Running My Way to Good Health

2011-06-24T14:44:00.004+08:00

It's been more than a month since the fiancee and I started running. By that, I mean the occasional fun runs that we join in, our weekly jog at the Quirino Grandstand and Rizal Park grounds and the regular jogging that we do almost nightly at the comfort and security of our neighborhood. Our goal is to run our way back to good health since we both gained so much weight last year.

We have a love-hate relationship with running. At this point, we can say we are loving it so much because little by little, we're seeing improvements in our body and in our health. And we're proud to say that aside from getting physical benefits from running, we are also able to help other people by joining fun runs that promote important causes. Just like when we joined the United Nations - World Food Programme's End Hunger: Walk the World running event that benefited the children of Mindanao.

Actually, our ultimate running dream is to join a marathon. We're getting there. We just have to do a lot of preparations first. I remember that to get us started in running, we got ourselves new running shoes. I have always believed that investing in a pair of good running shoes is a must if one is to make running a part of his lifestyle. There are many brands of shoes in the market today that choosing your pair becomes quite difficult. For so long, we have been loyal to this brand of running shoes because of their continued innovation on the style, design and high-tech features of their shoes. We don't mind spending more if it would mean we'd get high quality running shoes. After all, a good pair of shoes could last us a long time.

Speaking of running shoes, did you know that there is a new brand of running shoes coming to the Philippines soon? The name is On Running. Hmm, I wonder if they have my size (US 7.5, UK 6). I always have a hard time finding the perfect running shoes because most of the time, the style I want doesn't carry my size. Or they just run out of it easily. Haha.

My running experience with the fiancee has been good. I like it that my body is getting stronger and my muscles, leaner. I can feel that we're getting healthier each day. I just hope we are able to sustain our interest in running because it is a great way to achieve optimum health.

How about you, are you also into running? How's it been so far?

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Listerine Total Care Challenge: Battle with the Jawbreakers (Week 4)

2011-06-21T21:24:00.002+08:00

For the Week 4 of Listerine's Dare to Get Total Care Challenge, I was tasked to break as many jawbreakers as I could in one minute. To do this, I started my Sunday early. I looked for jawbreakers at Mall of Asia and found some at Candy Corner. Wow, I didn't know jawbreakers were really hard to break, like it could literally break one's jaw!

According to Wikipedia, jawbreakers (sometimes called gabstoppers) are hard confectionaries. They are usually consist of a number of layers. Each layer dissolves to reveal a differently-colored (and sometimes differently-flavoured!) layer, before dissolving completely. They are either sucked or licked, being too hard to bite, without risking dental damage."

It took me 24 minutes before breaking a regular size of jawbreaker from Candy Corner. Yes, it was true that each sweet layer was differently-colored and when I finally broke it, a sour-sweet flavor came off. Here's the video of my attempt to break a jawbreaker:

While my teeth were naturally strong and made stronger by Listerine, it took them some time before winning the battle against the jawbreakers. I'm glad, though, that in the end my teeth reigned supreme over the hard candies. With continued use of Listerine that strengthens teeth against tooth decay, I'm confident that I could enjoy a worry-free snacking.

P.S. Please watch out for my Week 5 with Listerine Total Care Challenge as I'll be giving two more Listerine gift packs to two lucky commenters! :)

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Tunog Natin: An OPM Concert Series

2011-06-19T10:03:00.001+08:00

Last week, I watched a free concert by up and coming Pinoy performers held at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati. Dubbed as "Tunog Natin: An OPM Concert Series," it aims to revive the Filipino audience's interest for homegrown talents and locally-composed songs. The first in the series, the June 15 concert was presented by real estate developer Avida Land Corporation and coincided the launch date of the second tower of Avida Towers San Lorenzo, their latest condominium offering in Makati.

My superfriend and fellow blogger Nice and I arrived at the venue tad early. We were surprised at the volume of people who showed up to watch the concert. They all looked so excited and having fun. When we found out the line-up of performers that night, we easily got hyped up as well.

Here is the list of Pinoy performers who serenaded the crowd that night:

1. Apo HIking Society stalwart Jim Paredes
2. True Faith
3. Sitti
4. Callalily
5. 6CycleMind
6. Pedicab
7. Princess Velasco
8. Sabrina
9. Myrus (project head of the Tunog Natin concert series)
10. 1:43
11. Aries Sales

What can I say? They were all world-class artists, something that we as Pinoys should be proud of. I particularly liked the performance of 6CycleMind and Mr. Jim Paredes because not only did they sing well, but they also knew how to connect with the audience and sustain their interest.

Tunog Natin is also sponsored by Ayala Land, Banapple and Freego. Stay tuned for more free OPM concerts to be announced in the coming days. :)

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Domain Shopping and Free Online Coupons

2011-06-14T16:54:00.002+08:00

It’s that time of the year again when I have to renew the registration of my domains. If you’re like me who own some domains and make money online, this becomes a part of your blogging life and you somehow get used to it. While others renew the registration of their domains automatically, I only renew mine manually as I still have to make sure I have money in my Paypal account (my mode of payment).

Renewing the registration of my domains is fairly easy. What I do is I keep track of the last time I registered them. I don’t rely on reminders sent to my email by the domain registrar. I have been used to this system and so far, it has been quite effective in my management of my domains. To save on precious dollars, I look for promo codes or discount coupons online. Recently, I have noticed that I’m relying on these promo codes to get the best value for my money.

I also look for discount coupons when shopping online. Did you know that there are thousands of shopping coupons given out to consumers every day. A GoToMeeting Promo Code, for instance, not only gives you access to a wide variety of merchandise online, but it also allows you to buy them at discounted prices.

May it be a new domain, a new dress or a new gadget, make sure you look for some free online coupons before purchasing to save up some bucks. Before you know it, the combined discounts you got from them could just give you more shopping money.

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Listerine Total Care Challenge: My Best Smile Courtesy of the No. 1 Mouthwash (Week 3)

2011-06-12T15:57:00.002+08:00

For Week 3, lemme show you some photos of myself (past and current) showing my best smile. My goal to achieve total oral health with the help of the no.1 mouthwash in the Philippines is slowly (but surely) getting tangible results. My Listerine experience, on the other hand, has been very good. I have been used to the the initial strong flavor that ends on a clean, mint-y note leaving my mouth with a thin layer of protection against cavity-forming and bad breath-causing bacteria.

My teeth aren't pearly white but are a bit on yellow side (guess this is the reason why they're strong and do not decay easily, haha). Did you know that Listerine Total Care prevents tartar to help teeth retain their natural color? My set of yellowish teeth has never been a problem to me. So long as they're strong and in perfect shape, I'll continue to show off my best smile at any given chance.

As promised, I now would like to announce the two winners of Listerine gift packs who shared their oral care pledges to me in my Week 2 post. And they are none other than (drum rolls please...) Niarbie and Irishell.

I chose them personally and I have my reasons with me. Niarbie, for being the early bird and for having a very straightforward oral care pledge.

As with Irishell, her oral care pledge was simple yet it showed how a good oral care regimen could be passed on from one generation to the next. In her case, it was his Dad who introduced Listerine to their family and since then, it has become an indispensable part of their oral care practices.

Congratulations, ladies! Please wait for my email on how you could claim your prize.

My sincerest thanks to all who joined our little contest! I hope to see you all again on Week 5 where I will be giving away two more Listerine gift packs to two lucky winners. :)

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Updates from the Breadwinner

2011-06-11T10:38:00.002+08:00

Ever since I made the shift for this blog from being personal to lifestyle-ish, I have never updated it as often as I'd like. I have no regrets, though, because my physical absence here has translated to a lot of developments over at my other blogs. Another thing is, I have been really swamped with work the past ~~weeks~~ months. Not really much time for blogging about lifestyle topics except for the Listerine Dare to Get Oral Care Challenge 2011 where yours truly got selected as one of the blogger challengers. Most of my blog posts these days are mainly about food and the occasional blog events I had the privilege and the pleasure of attending.

If you really wanna know what has been happening in my breadwinner life lately, you might wanna check out this interesting blog posts (mostly food trips!) I've published in my other blogs in the last 30 days:

1. I had my first IPL laser underarm hair removal treatment.

2. I was given another chance at something. I have lessened my expectations but still, I'm hoping for the best.

3. My brother has bought a new desktop from Gilmore and I bought a Belkin home router which made our house a wifi zone now.

4. I got my first payout from Nuffnang after three long years. I'm proud of my passive income! Haha.

5. We tried these awesome restaurants for the first time: World Class Persian Kebab, MakanMakan Asian Food Village, Chelsea Market & Cafe, Mr. Jones, Richmonde Cafe at Richmonde Hotel, Blackbeard's Seafood Island and Brothers Burger.

6. The fiancee and I bought new Adidas running shoes and started to run as part of our efforts to have a healthier lifestyle. We were glad to have participated in our first fun run for a cause dubbed as "End Hunger: Walk the World" organized by the UN-World Food Programme.

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Listerine Total Care Challenge: My Oral Care Pledge (Week 2)

2011-06-03T06:03:00.005+08:00

I'm now on Day 12 of the Listerine Dare to Get Total Care Challenge. So far, so good. My experience with the no. 1 mouthwash brand has been pleasant and effective. I can still remember the first time I used Listerine Total Care. I almost cried while gargling. It felt really strong and spicy in my mouth at first. It even came to a point where I thought of swallowing the liquid in my mouth just to give it instant relief.

As I was starting the 30-second count in my head, I felt like spitting out the mouthwash. I mustered enough courage not to. Sayang naman. Suddenly, I noticed that as I was nearing the final 30th second, the spiciness had been lessened. I felt the mouthwash coating my entire mouth with a thin film of protection. When I finally spit out the mouthwash and rinsed, my mouth felt brand new. It felt cool and clean.

Keeping the oral care habit of brush, floss and rinse (BFR) may be hard at first but once you see and feel the benefits, you'll surely get motivated to embrace it for life. Actually, that's what I'm feeling right now. I feel like keeping this habit to achieve optimum oral health. To show you that I'm serious about this, here is my Total Care Pledge:

Using Listerine Total Care has been an eye opener,
Brushing and flossing are never enough
If I want total oral health,
Rinsing should be a part
That's why from this day onwards,
I'm keeping the BFR habit that I have started
And I'm keeping Listerine Total Care as my partner
In caring not just for my mouth
But for my overall health and well-being as well.

You, too, can start a life committed to total oral care! Share your oral care pledge with me through the comment section. Two oral care pledges will get gift packs from me courtesy of Listerine.I'm choosing the winner and if you want to increase your chances of winning, do so by sharing my post on Twitter using this format:

"Time to Make your Oral Care Pledge! http://tinyurl.com/6av9zhj #totalcare @edelweiss_19"

The two winners will be announced next week. Join now! :)

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Nivea Visage Skin Care Products That I Use and Like

2011-05-31T11:46:00.005+08:00

I've said this over and again, I'm a very low-maintenance girl. I dress up occasionally, wear make up only when required (by people or by the event I am attending) and indulge on luxurious stuff only when I feel like rewarding myself for a job well done. When it comes to skin care, I have always depended on just three products: Cetaphil Facial Cleanser, St. Yves Facial Scrub and Myra 300E Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15.

Having said that, you must have known by now that I don't use toner and I apply sun block only when I'd hit the beach. Recently, the girl in-charge of the digital marketing of Nivea Visage Philippines has been sending me Nivea skin care products to try and I'm more than grateful for her generosity. And since I've recently realized the fact that my skin has growing needs and how lazy I have become through the years when it came to taking care of my skin, I decided to give Nivea products a try.

First off, Nivea's sun block products.

I brought Nivea's sun block pocket size (the one in the middle) during our beach trip in Infanta, Quezon and I didn't get sun burned at all. Amazing, to think I just applied the sun block once. Thanks to its SPF 50! I liked that it had mild fragrance, light texture and absorbed easily. It says on the label that it's great for children's skin, and that it can be used for both face and body. I used it and found out it was great for young adult's skin, too. No need to use two different sun blocks for the face and for the body! Haha.

Second are Nivea's pure and natural underarm care products (and a pack of baby wipes).

I have been using the small deodorant in glass bottle for days now and I like that it has a nice smell. I let it dry after applying onto my underarm and it does not feel wet all throughout the day. Love it! I just don't really like the glass bottle because it could easily slip through my hand as I can be very careless at times.

Lastly, Nivea's skin whitening products.

I use the whitening lotion (Extra Whitening Inner Cell Repair Body Milk, fourth from left in the photo) but only when I wear skirt to work and at night. I dunno but I have yet to embrace the habit of applying lotion onto my skin on a daily basis, like after every bath. Okay, I think I'm just lazy doing it. Anyway, the lotion was light and good-smelling. It absorbs easily, too. I noticed that after applying, my arms and legs instantly got moisturized and looked more neat and supple and younger-looking. Cool. As with the inner cell repair thing, I hope it helps my skin get firmer because my skin on the legs are a bit sagging already due to inconsistent weight loss and the long walks I made when I was younger back in the province where I came from.

I'll post my experience with the other products once I have tried them. Watch out for that! :)

Nivea Visage skin care products are available in all leading groceries and supermarkets nationwide.

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Listerine Total Care Challenge: The Pre-Challenge Dental Check-Up (Week 1)

2011-05-25T09:17:00.006+08:00

Part of the challenge to get total care from Listerine is to have pre- and post- challenge dental check up. I had mine last Friday afternoon at the Villareal Dental Clinic (Pasay City Branch). I asked for an appointment prior to my visit and was checked by a dentist there.

Dr. Sarah, the dentist who checked my teeth, was very nice and accommodating. We had a little chitchat and before I knew it, she was already finished with me. She said she checked my teeth for signs of plaque, tooth decay, bleeding and other dental impurities. At first, I felt uncomfortable but later on I set aside any discomfort I had in mind and just enjoyed the experience.

Since I wear braces on my teeth, I get to see my dentist on a monthly basis for adjustment. Now I just realized how hard it'll be for me to take the Listerine Total Care Challenge. From brushing to flossing and rinsing, it will never be as easy as with those who don't wear braces. But I have said yes already to this challenge and so I'm doing it. And by that, I mean doing it my way.

I wish I had photos to show you to serve as proof of my Villareal Dental Clinic pre-challenge dental check up. Unfortunately for me, my phone's battery suddenly got empty. I had limited time and was rushing then because I still had a blog event to attend and an out-of-town trip that same night. Oh well, I guess I will just make up for it by taking as much photos as I could when the time comes that I have my post-challenge dental check up. I am also showing you the pre- and post-challenge dental check up results so watch out for that.

For now, allow me to continue with my Brush, Floss and Rinse (BFR) habit with the help of my Oral-B toothbrush, my dental floss and the new Listerine Total Care mouthwash. And to keep things more exciting, watch out for my Week 2 blog as I'll be giving you a simple contest which could win you Listerine gift packs! :)

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Xenical and Zumba Want a New You!

2011-05-23T11:43:00.012+08:00

Xenical, the leader in weight loss pills and marketed by Roche Philippines, Inc. here in Manila, has recently partnered with Zumba, a dance fitness program, to bring out the new you. The new you, I have found out, is the sexier, healthier and more passionate you. In this age of obesity and failed workouts and diet plans, knowing what's best to take for you to unleash your new and vibrant self is a must.

The bloggers launch I attended last week held at The Residences Makati was an eye opener. I have learned a lot of good things about Xenical, particularly the weight loss benefits it could give me and all of you ladies (and gentlemen, too!) out there who would like to have a new you. Don't just buy Orlistats, get the true and effective Orlistat which is Xenical.

I have also been introduced to Zumba, a dance fitness program that "combines Latin and international music with a fun and effective workout system." Zumba is sure to aid you in losing all your excesses and get your ideal shape. I say try it to believe it.

To be more inspired and motivated to lose weight, check out the Club New You website. You can do a lot here, from getting access to healthy recipes and fitness advice straight from the fitness experts to meeting people who are passionate about keeping their body fit and healthy through the help of Xenical, Zumba, a balanced diet and an active lifestyle.

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Dole's My Superfruit Day: A Celebration of Wellness, Freshness and Fun

2011-05-21T09:22:00.038+08:00

Not all fruits are created equal. The pineapple is one of the most nutritious fruits we have today. It's no wonder people has started calling it the superfruit. Dole, the world's largest producer and marketer of fresh fruits and vegetables, has shown its advocacy for healthy living during its My Superfruit Day held at the Music Hall of Mall of Asia in Pasay City on May 7. This celebration of wellnes, freshness and fun was attended by hundreds of people.

There were fruit costume contest for kids and adults, parade that showcased different local festivals (Higantes, Maskara and Panagbenga, among others), dance numbers from various local dance groups and a program hosted by celebrities Tuesday Vargas and Jon Avila. The launch was a whole day activity but was cut short during the night by the coming typhoon Bebeng. Still, it was a success and is bound to be an annual event according to Dole Philippines.

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I'm Taking the Listerine Total Care Challenge 2011!

2011-05-19T10:55:00.011+08:00

UPDATE:
Week 1: The Pre-Challenge Dental Check-Up
Week 2: My Oral Care Pledge
Week 3: My Best Smile Courtesy of the No.1 Mouthwash
Week 4: Battle with the Jawbreakers
Week 5: My Fresh Breath Took Me as Far As...
Week 6: My Post-Challenge Dental Check-Up

I know most of you are familiar with the brand but just to give you a brief background, Listerine is the no.1 mouthwash in the Philippines and the world. It is also the most recommended mouthwash by most dental associations. Created by Dr. Joseph Lawrence in 1879, Listerine has gone as far as being the most trusted brand in mouthwash today. Their latest product, the new Listerine Total Care is "the most advance and complete Listerine to help you achieve the six essential signs of a totally healthy mouth."

Other Listerine Total Care challengers include a group of dentists and celebrity challenger Drew Arellano.

L-R Karen Co, Senior Brand Manager for Listerine, Bloggers Vince Golangco, Hannah Villasis, yours truly, Earth Rullan, Drew Arellano, Phoebe Ann Ramos, Calvin Lo, Azrael Coladilla and Ria Gatmaitan, Management Trainee for Listerine (not in photo is the other blogger challenger Glenn Ong)

Friends, I ask you to follow my personal journey to total oral health on this blog and on my Twitter (@edelweiss_19) and my Facebook (Edelweiza Mabalay). You may also follow our adventure (me and the rest of the challengers) on the Listerine Philippines FB page.

Our Week 1 starts next week. I will also give away 4 Listerine gift packs to four lucky readers/commenters so watch out for that!

Actually, you may start commenting now to show your support for me or say what you wanna say about Listerine, or your experience using it. Come on, voice out your thoughts! :)

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Join WFP's End Hunger: Walk the World 2011 on May 29!

2011-05-14T14:34:00.013+08:00

Advocacies are as much a part of life as the food that we eat, the air that we breathe, the career that we pursue, the family that we belong to or even the person we choose to spend our life with. The fight against hunger is one advocacy that's worthy of undertaking and promoting. Hunger is such a pressing issue in today's world. We can never deny the fact that every day, more and more people are experiencing hunger, some of them even die because of it. When I got invited by my blogger friend Flow Galindez (who happens to be a WFP advocate) to the World Food Programme's (WFP) End Hunger: Walk the World 2011 blogger's launch last May 11, all I wanted was to go and be part of it.

The bloggers' launch was held at Pizza Hut-Park Square. This is where we got briefed about what's happening on May 29. There was also an open forum that allowed us bloggers to ask questions.

The WFP End Hunger: Walk the World 2011, I have found out, is a walking event for a cause which will be held at the Mall of Asia on May 29, 2011. This is in partnership with TNT (a leading international shipping company), Unilever Philippines, Pizza Hut Philippines and many other sponsors.

posing by the commitment wall (they had us write our own pledges to end hunger)

For this event, WFP aims to make more people aware of the critical issue called child hunger and malnutrition and at the same time, raise funds for WFP's school feeding activities. The beneficiaries of this notable event (which will be held simultaneously in several countries around the world) are very close to our hearts -- the children of Mindanao. WFP has an Emergency School Feeding program in conflict-affected areas of Central Mindanao that has been established for years now.

WFP's Emergency School Feeding activity in Piagapo, Lanao del Sur

Join Kapamilya star KC Concepcion (WFP Ambassador Against Hunger) in showing the world that we are determined in the fight against hunger and that we care deeply for our children.There are three categories to participate in:

For the 2k walk, registration fee is P250 (event shirt only). Assembly time is 5:45am and gun start is 6:00a.m.

For the 5k run, registration fee is P500 (singlet, baller ID, race kit). Assembly time is 5:30am and gun start is 5:45 a.m.

For the 10k run, registration fee is P10,000 ((singlet, baller ID, race kit). The amount to be paid is for a group of 10 already. Assembly time is 5:15am and gun start is 5:30am.

You can register online or choose from one of the following stores nearest you:

ROX, Bonifacio High Street, Taguig
BratPack, Robinson’s Place, Manila
BratPack, Greenbelt 5, Makati
Columbia,SM North Edsa, QC
Columbia, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay
Res Toe Run, Robinson’s Galleria, Ortigas
Res Toe Run, Trinoma, QC
The Travel Club, Gateway Mall, Cubao
The Travel Club, Newport Mall- Resorts World, Pasay
The North Face, Building A SM Megamall, Ortigas
The North Face, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay
The North Face, Alabang
Sanuk, The Block, SM North Edsa, QC

For more information on this event, check out the Walk the World-Pilipinas website or the WFP Walk the World Philippines FB Page.

Are you joining? I am. If you can't due to conflict in schedule, you can still show your support by spreading the word about the event.

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It’s not all About Price When Shopping

2011-05-13T12:58:00.000+08:00

Even retailers know that consumers aren’t just interested in getting the lowest price. When shopping for discount diamond rings, for instance, a consumer wants a good price, but they also want a quality diamond. In fact, some places that do offer the lowest price are often not the best place to shop. You have to balance the quality of the goods you are buying with the price before you can be content that you got the best deal for your money.

Quality

Quality is sometimes obvious when something you purchase lasts a long time or is made of much better materials than a different brand. However, for some store purchases quality can either be subjective or hard to determine. When shopping for diamond jewelry, for instance, an untrained eye would not know what the real value of any one diamond is versus another, even when they can tell which they like better. In order to ascertain quality of a good, you should be as educated as possible on what determines value for your purchase or get the value estimated by an appraiser before buying.

Discounts

Discounts should be given on top quality merchandise, not items that aren’t worth the high price to begin with. If you see that a discounter is just moving merchandise on price alone, it’s time to look elsewhere. Genuine discount retailers will want you to know the most you can about the merchandise to prove to you that it is of higher quality, but with a lower price. A discount is only worthwhile if the purchase you make isn’t going to be disappointing later.

Compare Prices and Quality

When comparing offers at two different retailers, it’s important to compare the price as well as the quality. If you are dealing with items like diamonds, you can use the industry standards of the 4C’s to determine diamond quality and compare that with a similar stone offered elsewhere.

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My Penchant for Necklaces

2011-05-12T15:19:00.000+08:00

While I don't invest in gold jewelries, I have to admit I have a penchant for necklaces. I particularly love collecting unique but stylish necklaces. My necklace collection isn’t big. I just have several pieces that cannot be easily seen on the neck of strangers and I think that makes them special in their own right.

It’s quite funny because despite my penchant for necklaces, I don’t wear a necklace often. Most of the time, I get satisfied just by staring at them lying neatly in my necklace box or hanging proudly from one of my clothes hangers. Whenever I shop for necklaces, I derive joy just by playing in my head the many possibilities in which I could wear the particular necklace I’m eyeing.

The necklaces in my collection are made of different materials such as metals, beads, wood, fabric, porcelain/resin type, clay, plastic, murano glass and the likes.

necklace in murano glass

Right now, my favorite shopping place for necklaces is Landmark and Rustan’s in Makati. This is where I get to chance upon necklaces whose style and design simply fascinate me. Like yesterday when I was there with my sister J, I saw this murano glass necklace hanging in one corner of Rustan’s Dept. Store. I loved its simple but elegant design. When I looked further, I saw this line of murano glass necklaces in different shapes and colors. I wanted to buy at least two but when I checked the prices, I almost cried in disbelief. Each necklace cost a little over P2,000! Good thing I didn't have my credit card with me. And I guess even if I had the money then, I wouldn’t have bought it. It’s just so against my shopping principles. Haha.

But, I’m going to look for these murano glass babies in other accessory stores. Quiapo or Divisoria, perhaps? Wherever. So long as I get the cheaper ones to add to my growing necklace collection.

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Judy Ann Santos for Del Monte Pineapples

2011-05-05T08:54:00.003+08:00

Judy Ann Santos is back, and she has lost 12 pounds from her post-pregnancy weight to boot! She's currently endorsing Del Monte's pineapple products: the tidbits, slices, chunks and crushed. Last April 29, I had the pleasure of attending her press con for the brand at 55 Events Place, Timog Avenue, Q.C.

I have seen Judy Ann in the flesh a couple times before and during the press con, she still had those genuine smiles and bubbly personality. She's very down to earth and accommodating, no wonder the press people love her. They asked her a lot of questions ranging from her married life and her being mom to Yohan (adopted child) and Lucho to her showbiz comeback and of course, the Del Monte products she's endorsing.

kids love pineapples!

PRESS RELEASE

JUDY ANN SANTOS LEVELS-UP HER ADOBO WITH DEL MONTE PINEAPPLES!

Every mom’s topmost concern is to serve her family, specially her kids, delicious dishes that will whet their appetite to eat more. However, moms also want to provide their family the proper nutrition they need for overall health. Judy Ann Santos, known as one of local showbiz’ young superstars, wife and mom with a solid background in culinary, shares with us how Del Monte Pineapples can turn regular dishes to more delicious and nutritious dishes.

In most cases, to be assured that their kids eat, moms prepare food their kids like. However, kids like things that are not necessarily nutritious for them. Dealing with this reality, moms have to find ways on how to excite and delight their kids with delicious cooking without compromising nutrition as they would want to give their kids the best of both worlds.

Del Monte Pineapple helps moms prepare dishes that kids will surely like such as Adobo with Del Monte Pineapple which is preferred by 9 out of 10 kids versus the one without Del Monte Pineapples based on a blind taste test conducted. Judy Ann tested it herself by cooking for judges that are very hard to please – kids! She tried the Chicken Adobo with Del Monte Pineapple recipe that is “piña-level up sasarap at sustansiya”. As a avid cook and as a mom, she was very happy with the results because kids were excited to eat, asked for seconds and cleaned up their plates. She considers this a major achievement to see kids eating heartily. Judy Ann says that she finds it more challenging to cook for kids than for her instructors in her culinary school because despite all the techniques you learn, “Kahit pa chef ka, hindi madaling mahuli ang taste ng mga bata.”

Aside from the delicious taste, nutrient analysis shows that Adobo with Del Monte Pineapples has 5x more fiber that kids’ daily diet typically does not have enough of. This is because Del Monte Pineapples are NATURE’S MULTIVITAMINS. Aside from Fiber it also contains Vitamin C, Manganese and Phytonutrients from nature that help increase the body’s overall health and immunity. Del Monte Pineapples are picked and packed on the same day to lock in important nutrients. The good news is, there are a lot of favorite dishes that can be “Piña-Level Up!”. There are recipes for Pork Humba, Pancit, Guisado and a lot more where you can add Del Monte Pineapple to add zest and nutrients to your favorite dishes. Just visit www.kitchenomics.com for recipes.

Judy Ann Santos knows her food and the ingredients that go well with it. She is very health conscious, which is why according to her, “ As a mother and an avid cook, it is very important for me to give my family, most specially my kids, the proper nutrition by serving them delicious and nutritious meals. Therefore, I’m always looking for new delicious and healthy recipes that will surely whet my family’s appetite.”

So like Judy Ann Santos, add Del Monte Pineapples to your everyday dishes like Adobo to make it “piña-level up sasarap at sustansiya”.

During the event, Del Monte let us sample their piña level-up dishes that were cooked with Del Monte pineapples in various shapes and sizes. While I found the chicken adobo a bit bland, I liked the Pork Humba a lot. Adding pineapples to your dishes is indeed a great way to make them more delicious, nutritious and appealing to kids.

Thank you to Del Monte Philippines and to my blogger friend Janese Halabaso for the invite. :)

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Why People Need Business Cards

2011-04-28T13:25:00.003+08:00

I had my first set of business cards during my first job. I remember I only had two dozens then. My business cards were in standard paper stock, white in color and plain-looking. It only had our company’s logo, my name and position, a contact number and an email address. It looked boring, yes, but I didn’t care. What mattered to me then was that I had business cards to show or give to people when the need would arise.

Since I only had a few cards, I used it wisely. I only wanted to give it to people whom I thought were important, or could be of use to me in the future. I didn’t want it to be in the hands of people who would just toss it away at the first opportunity. I wanted it to be valued just as how I valued it.

Photo from http://www.nextdayflyers.com

Why do people need business cards? I can only think of a few answers: to identify or distinguish yourself from others, to make yourself known and remembered, and of course, to establish connection with other people. It could be about forging a partnership, building a professional relationship, expanding one’s social network or just trying to make friends.

When the time came that my business cards run out, I didn’t know what happened, but I didn’t get them replenished. Perhaps, I was just too busy with work then. Or maybe, I just woke up one day and forgot about the importance of it. I wasn’t able to meet a lot of people during those times, anyway.

When I started blogging and eventually getting invited to blogger events, I began receiving business cards from fellow bloggers. I appreciated the gesture but when it was my turn to return the favor, I couldn’t show them anything. I realized I didn’t have any business cards to give. Did I become worried? Nope, not at all. I just told them I didn’t have any. Plain and simple.

Now that I’m thinking about it, is it really time for me to get some business cards? Or should I just continue blogging and making friends thru blogging without it? To be honest, at this point, I still can’t get myself to having my own, personalized business cards. But who knows, I might change my mind in the future.

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Bloggers Fest 2011 and My Thunderbird Resorts Rizal Experience

2011-04-28T09:25:00.005+08:00

Last April 16, I joined around 200 bloggers in a bloggers fest organized by everyone's blogger friend Azrael Coladilla in partnership with Thunderbird Resorts (Binangonan, Rizal Branch) and a handful of sponsors. The event, which also highlighted the awarding ceremony for the winners of Thunderbird's Extraordinary Online Video Contest, was held at the enormous Event Center of the said resort. It was my first time to attend such a big gathering of bloggers and I was so glad I did.

PHOTOS TO FOLLOW...

A big part of the event went to the talks given by fellow bloggers who are more experienced in their respective niches. Azrael talked about "Blogging 101," Micaela Rodriguez of Micamyx.com shared her story on "Personal Blogging," Jonel Uy of NomNomClub.com discussed "Blogging and Writing with SEO in Mind," Fitz Villafuerte of FitzVillafuerte.com expounded on "How To Write Awesome Blog Posts," Antonio Carranza, Jr. of PusangKalye.net explained about photo blogging and enumerated the many "Photo Blogging Essentials," Arvin Ello of Vintersections.com taught us on "Beating Writer’s Block and The Importance of Revision," JP De Leon of KampeonNgPagibig.co shared his knowledge on "Domain and DNS Management for your Blogs," and Marlon Guzman of SolidHosting.ph gave useful tips on "How to Secure your Blog from Hacking."

I have to give it to all the resource speakers for sharing their knowledge and expertise with us. They were all good in their talks. I liked it that they allowed the audience to ask questions because it made understanding each topic more effective. I'm sure all of us, particularly the newbie bloggers, learned a lot of things.

Aside from the informative talks and the workshops on blog coverage, music blogging and photography that followed it, we bloggers were also given an opportunity to interact and socialize with one another. The hearty lunch and after noon snacks courtesy of Thunderbird Resorts made the social networking more fun and enjoyable.

As for me, I think I made a new friend or two. Haha. Sorry but despite my more than five years in the blogosphere, my social skills still haven't improved much. Those who know me very well will agree on that. Haha.

Thank you very much to Azrael for the invite and to Thunderbird Resorts Rizal for serving as a gracious host. And of course to the rest of the sponsors that made this event awesome and memorable for all of us who attended.

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A Day of Broom Misery in the Office

2011-04-27T09:25:00.006+08:00

If there's one household chore I hate to do, it would be sweeping the floor. It's a li'l funny because I like mopping a lot. Don't sweeping and mopping go hand in hand? I remember when I was a kiddo, I'd ask my mom to just let me wash the dishes and the clothes instead of sweeping the floor and our backyard. You bet, I hated brooms (I still do!) and how no matter how hard I swept away the trash, I still didn't get content with my cleaning because I could still see small dust and dirt getting left behind in the corners of our house.

When I started working in the office, I felt glad I am spared from cleaning my work station because there are cleaners assigned to our office. They do the cleaning every day, just before we start working at 8:00 a.m. They would sweep and mop and clean our work tables, chairs, PCs, shelves and cabinet. They do it so well that I often wonder, have they not experienced a cleaning misery in their youth?

Just when I thought I won't experience cleaning my work station, there's this one fateful day that I was forced to do a lot of cleaning. As in a lot, and it involved a lot of sweeping. Gosh. It was the first day of the week after typhoon Ondoy hit Manila. Remember the flood, the destruction and the mess in our homes? I still do.

Our office wasn't spared, it being on the ground floor of the building. And so that morning, I swept away until my hips ached. It was a day of broom misery in the office. It didn't help that I was pretty meticulous when it comes to cleaning my work station. I didn't want to see any dirt or even just traces of it.

Sad to say, but the broom let me down. I had to pick up the dirt left on the floor using a rug and my own hands just to get my workstation back to its squeaky clean state.

the office girl that the broom let down

That, my friend is my one whole day of broom misery in the office. Yes, in the office of all places!

I need change. I want to start the doom of the broom. I need help!

Note: This is my official entry to the Electrolux Doom of the Broom Bloggers Contest.

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Revisiting Manila Ocean Park + the New Sandbar Grill

2011-04-26T10:11:00.030+08:00

I was free the night of April 14 so I went to the Bloggers Night event hosted by the Manila Ocean Park through the invitation of a blogger friend. There I learned about the developments undertaken by the marine theme park which, by the way, is now an integrated resort.

PHOTOS TO FOLLOW

Have you experienced riding on a tranvia yet? I have. We had a ride all the way to Rizal Park before we checked out the Manila Ocean Park attractions. It was fun. I heard the ride costs P50 per person on normal days. It's one way of appreciating the beauty and uniqueness of Manila. I think it's a must to try it even just once.

Manila Ocean Park during our visit was very much alive with its many marine attractions. We took photos and enjoyed every moment inside the place. The organizers had us listen to a short presentation where they discussed the newest additions to the park such as . The Executive Director of the National Park Committee also gave a short talk about the developments at Rizal Park through the years as well as their future plans for it. I can't wait for their projects to get started, completed and unveiled to the public. I liked the layouts they showed us.

The New SandBar Grill

Sandbar Grill is the newest happening place operated by the Liquid Pool and Lounge, the same company that operates the H20 Hotel inside the Manila Ocean Park Complex. The restaurant has a cozy yet romantic ambience. There is a pool in the middle that draws the attention of the customers upon entering the place. As for the food, I only got to taste the grilled pork and the calamares (they're both good!) so I can't say a lot. I can imagine a relaxing night there because of the cool breeze and the fact that Manila bay is just nearby.

Thank you to my friend Alex for the invite and of course, to the Manila Ocean Park management for letting us experience first-hand what your establishments had to offer. :)

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My Surprise Gift and Nivea's New Immediate Sun Protection Formula

2011-04-20T18:44:00.001+08:00

There was a package waiting for me when I got home. It was shipped thru Air21 and contained Nivea sun protection products. What's special about them is their immediate protection formula which translates to no waiting time when it comes to protecting your skin from the sun. The moment you use them, you instantly get protected from the harmful UV rays.

I love it that these skin essentials from Nivea came just in time for summer. I opened each product and they all smelled nice. I plan to use them when I hit the beach soon. I believe these products are now out in the market which makes them readily available for us girls.

I will post a review of these products in my beauty and fashion blog so please watch out for that.

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Medical Tourism and the Scarcity of Nursing Jobs in the Philippines

2011-04-08T08:16:00.001+08:00

I was having a little chitchat with a male co-worker in the restaurant last night (while waiting for the guests) and at one point, our conversation went to his wife having a hard time finding a nursing job. I learned she's been doing volunteer work for this public hospital in Manila for a year now. My co-worker said her wife wants to work abroad just like her sister who's a successful nurse in London. But to be able to do so, she needs to earn the requisite work experience first.

I admire his wife for being so patient in doing volunteer work that pays zero salary. I mean, he buys nursing scrubs every now and then to look presentable and yet he gets nothing. Sometimes my co-worker would suggest to her that she just gets one of those cheap scrubs so they could save on money.

The scarcity of nursing jobs in the Philippines is most felt by the families of nurses. Instead of making money, these nurses do volunteer work and buy nursing uniforms at their own expense. Sad, but that's the reality of life for them. But I believe the government is working on this one by promoting medical tourism in the country. Medical tourism is a way of attracting foreigners to seek medical help in a particular country that offers inexpensive but quality health care. This way, more nursing jobs would be created and more nurses would get employed.

I can only hope for the success of medical tourism in the Philippines, and of course for those nurses who, like my co-worker's wife, are still hoping that one day they'll find their dream job, too.

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