SLEEK IN THE CITY.com

Help Victims of Bagyong Sendong: Blog Links

2011-12-19T12:06:00.000+08:00

Folks, click here to see how you can help victims of Bagyong Sendog.

A nice pair of shoes and how I reached the Golden Age of Consumerism

2011-12-04T23:03:00.001+08:00

Above is a photo of a simple-looking but extremely stylish shoes I bought for as low as PhP199.75 at a huge mall in Metro Manila. Never in my imagination I will be able to put into use a PhP199.75 in my pocket to purchase such a lovely merchandise like this. This is pure bliss- especially during times that I'm really looking closely at how I spend my money without necessarily depriving myself.

It's perfect how Ms. Kris Aquino put it in her latest milk commercial. Sulit (a Filipino word), according to her, is getting more than we pay for.

Today I had just reached the Golden Age of Consumerism!

Bow.

David's Teahouse with Jie Jie and Lis Pengyou

2011-12-04T03:39:00.002+08:00

You heard people say, sometimes spontaneous get-togethers are better than the planned ones. It shows the people who will show up during moments of “impulsive needs”. Thanks to Jie Jie* Argee and Lis Pengyou** for being my good company tonight – topped with a delicious Chinese dinner at David’s Teahouse and some “Bad Boy” cocktail mix at Central Boy BBQ in Makati.

Note for single-and-ready-to-mingle guys: These girls, aside from being pretty, are also on a lookout for some dates (as what had transpired after a few shots of the cocktail). So if you’re interested or if you can refer somebody, better be shooting me a message right now at markjosephdelgado (at) ymail (dot). LOL.

Lemme show what delighted our taste buds that night.

I thought I will be forever loyal to Yang Chow Fried Rice until I met this beauty. Salteed Fish Fried Rice. It’s so good, it can be eaten as it is.

Lis Pengyou never touched any of these Chicken Feet confessing she thought it looked like something that belonged to humans. Good for me! Haha! Chicken Feet were one of my favorite dimsum’s of all time.

Siomai forever! Oh yeah!

These Steamed Chicken Wings with Mushroom dish is actually not so bad!

Beancurd Tofu. I didn’t see this on the menu but Jie Jie asked for this specifically from the waiter. It tastes amazing! Must not forget the name.

David's Teahouse is a favorite Chinese restaurant. Serves good house tea (free) and one of the best-tasting chili sauce (yes, even this matters) on the table. I think we only spent around two hundred bucks per head that night.

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*Jie Jie - Mandarin for big sister
**Pengyou - Mandarin for friend

The Happiness Project

2011-12-04T02:24:00.001+08:00

A few days back, I declared myself officially having my quarter life crisis. I asked God for some help with what to do with my life. Today I stumbled upon a book called The Happiness Project and seeping through its first few pages – I thought I wanna shout to God for joy in the middle of the bookstore for giving me straight answers to my burning questions.

The author was having her midlife crisis. Mine was quarter. The author realized she had always wanted to be a writer (while stuck with another job). Just yesterday, I thought I wanted to go back to writing again. The author wanted to study Photoshop. I had always wanted to create my own designs for my blog. The Happiness Project started out as a blog. And the author was a blogger. I also am.

There’s just too many similarities with me and the author that I saw on the first few pages of the book. I wanted to know what The Happiness Project is all about and I am determined that I may be able to create my own “happiness project” too just like what the author did.

Sometimes, God gives straight answers to our prayers.

Talahib People's Music: Album Launch

2011-11-28T11:02:00.003+08:00

TALAHIB band was formed in the event of the Payatas Tragedy Benefit Concert in 2001. It started as an acoustic folk group of tour whose artistic comfort is to promote peoples music. Those early days of Talahib has brought them to various region of the archipelago, and later exposed to traditional rhythms and harmonies of the different Philippine indigenous tribes. With such immersion, the band shaped its music by absorbing the sound of the mountains- the chants, the drumbeats and the enthralling melodies of our native instruments.

At present, Talahib has 26 compositions for almost a decade of performing people’s music.

Spooky Halloween Treat: A Cooking Demo with Chef Hasset Go

2011-10-31T09:46:00.000+08:00

What: A Cooking Demo and Kiddie Workshop with Chef Hasset Go; All bloggers are invited

When: Today, October 31, 2011, 2:00pm

Where: SM Megamall Foodcourt

Who to Contact: Chef Hasset Go at 0915-487-1332

Why do I want to become a Blog and Social Media Entrepreneur?

2011-10-30T19:03:00.001+08:00

Source: http://janettetoral.tumblr.com/

As a young professional who would like to pursue a career in Marketing, I believe that being a Blog & Social Media Entrepreneur shall help me immensely in becoming a successful Marketing practitioner someday. I believe that blogs and other social media platforms will be the mainstream marketing channel of the future- and there is just no excuse for me not to get familiar with these new forms of media.

It is great to know that through non-traditional forms of media more and more people are given the opportunity to be heard and become influential in their own respect. Every day, we see statements, pictures and videos that move our hearts and change our thinking. More often than not, these statements, pictures and videos are just shared to us by ordinary people like us- our friends.

In a world where power and influence seems to be limited to just a chosen few, I believe that giving more and more people the chance to become an opinion leader or a “change maker” can already be called a big step forward towards creating social progress. Looking ahead, being a Blog & Social Media Entrepreneur will not just give me the opportunity to take the “front seat” as I watch more of those positive changes unfold- brought about by this social progress.

As a Blog & Social Media Entrepreneur, it will also allow me to actively partake in bringing forth those positive changes.

My Roomorama Experience

2011-10-19T19:04:00.001+08:00

Lucky. A few months ago, I received a lucky Email from Roomarama.com asking me to write a review about the website in exchange of a $100-worth of GC that I can use anytime, anywhere. I was a fan of the service even before I got that lucky Email. Basically Roomarama.com is an online portal for travelers who are looking for more affordable apartments and condominium units to stay in during their travels. Indeed, gone are the days when we are just limited to very expensive hotels for our short-term stays abroad. Now, we have a list of apartments and condominium units (in a more affordable price and a more convenient online booking via Roomarama.com) that is being offered by locals from anywhere in the world.

The Selling Point. The Selling Point of this service- that’s why I’m such a fan- is it’s goal to make the travelers from all over the world to live like a local. Living like a local most probably means staying in a unit along with the locals- and not in fancy hotels with fellow foreigners.

The Brainchild. Roomarama.com is the brainchild of two young executives, Jia En Teo and Federico Folcia, who thought of an idea of putting up a website that shall handle short-term rental transactions quickly, easily and securely for people like them who love to travel and not just travel- but live like locals.

My Roomarama Experience at A. Venue Suites. Below are some of the pictures we’ve taken during our Roomarama Experience at A. Venue Suits in Makati Avenue in Makati City. I’d say that this unit is perfect for the locals and foreigners alike who are in the Philippines either for business or for vacation. Being in Makati, as the Philippines’ business district, nothing beats a place that is within the city itself. Staying within the city may save you from a lot stress brought about by the heavy traffic going to this place- something that is usual in the whole Metro Manila. Plus, the building is located beside a mall and surrounded by a lot of restaurants. Everything is within reach. For vacation, Makati is also a gateway to a lot of destination within the Philippines as it is near the airport.

So when booking your next vacation and then you’re looking for a place to stay, let Roomarama.com show you the way! Happy traveling!

Nothing beats looking at Makati City from the top with the bright lights at night! Amazing!

The very inviting living room.

My dream kitchen- I saw it here.

A. Venue Suites' Infinity Pool.
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Special thanks to Ms. Manda Foo for arranging this accommodation for me. And to Mr. Michael McDonald for letting us stay in his unit for rent for a night!

BAGA Manila's First BBQ + BOOZE FOR BLOGGER'S Night

2011-10-19T15:37:00.000+08:00

What: BAGA (Barbecuers and Grillers Association) Manila invites 100 Foodie Bloggers to their First BBQ + BOOZE FOR BLOGGER'S Night.

Theme: Cowboy and Cowgirl Beerbequers Costume Party

When: October 28, 2011 | Friday | 7:00pm onwards

Where: Salamanca Food Hawkers at A. Venue Open Parking, Makati Avenue, Makati City

What to Expect: A night of barbecues and booze. Fun and camaraderie. Longest Barbecue/Isaw Eating Contest.

Media Partner/Sponsor: This is event is to be covered by GMA 7's Hanep Buhay. Boozes are sponsored by San Miguel.

Who to Contact: Ms. Dawn Mawis at 0916-512-8022

BAGA Manila Launch at Salamanca Food Hawkers: All Barbecue-lovin' Bloggers Invited

2011-10-12T16:19:00.000+08:00

[Photo Credits: http://portraithouse.net/]

What: Launching of BAGA (Barbecuers and Grillers Association) Manila

When: October 13, 2011 | Thursday | 7:00pm onwards

Where: Salamanca Food Hawkers at A. Venue Open Parking, Makati Avenue, Makati City

What to Do: Taste the best-kept barbecue secrets of the members of the association and hear their inspiring stories of success, FREE Entrance, FREE Barbecue

Media Partner: GMA 7 Hanep Buhay hosts, Love Aneuver and Chris Tiu, will be there to cover the event

Who to Contact: Ms. Dawn Mawis at 0916-512-8022

Ms. Universe 2011 Best Livestream (Brazilian Channel)

2011-09-13T10:32:00.000+08:00

Live video by Ustream

5 Great Lessons I Learned from The Shack

2011-08-30T23:08:00.000+08:00

[Photo Credits: http://www.ucobserver.org]

God loves us. We have heard this statement many times since we were kids. But how many of us had really realized this truth? Reading The Shack helped me a lot in getting closer to living this simple truth. I truly enjoyed every page of it. I recommend this to anyone who would like to know more about God and His great love for us.

Note: The Shack is not a book about religion nor any institution. It's a book about having a personal relationship with God and how an ordinary guy named Mack was able re-tell his true-to-life encounter with God in a place beyond his imagination. For more information about the book, visit their website. Click here.

[Photo Credits: http://oceanofgrace.org]

1. You are loved. "We tend to live either in the past or the future; dwelling on the pain and the regret of the past, instead of a quick visit to learn something from it. Or fearing the future, letting our imagination run wild with worry, and forgetting to see the future with Jesus. This happens when: a. we don’t really know we’re loved and b. we don’t believe that God is good."

[Photo Credits: http://rhythmontherock.com]

2. Forgiveness. "Ask for forgiveness and let the forgiveness heal you. Take the risk of honesty. Faith does not grow in the house of uncertainty."

[Photo Credits: http://citynoise.org]

3. Evil was never a plan of God's. "Evil was never a plan of God’s. We must return from our independence, give up being his judge, and know God for who he is."

[Photo Credits: http://www.about-jesus.zoomshare.com]

4. God's healing. "Sin is its own punishment, devouring from the inside. It’s not God’s purpose to punish it; it’s God’s joy to cure it."

[Photo Credits: http://cornishevangelist.wordpress.com]

5. God's light. "The darkness hides the true size of fears and lies and regrets. The truth is that they are more shadow than reality, so they seem bigger in the dark. When the light shines into the places where they live inside you, you start to see them for what they are."

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Thank you, Gian, for the special gift.

SLEEK IN THE CITY.com Bags 2011 Official Blogger Apprentice Title

2011-08-28T14:41:00.000+08:00

Top 3 Blogger Apprentices. It was a sheer moment of happiness to be declared as one of the 2011 Official Blogger Apprentices of Blogger Manila for 2011. The Blogger Apprentice is a program created by Jonel Uy of Blogger Manila that chooses newbie bloggers to be a part of the core group of the Blogger Manila network. Part of the perks of being a Blogger Apprentice is to get exclusive invites to some blogging events and to receive mentorship from none other than Mr. Blogger Manila himself, Mr. Jonel Uy.

The Top 3 Blogger Apprentices is composed of Shekinah Armenta, Noria Adam-Lim and yours truly, Mark Joseph Delgado. Aside from the distinction, we were also able to receive freebies from Mr. Blogger Manila.

Top 6 Blogger Apprentices. The other equally competitive bloggers who were part of the Top 6 include Krystle Pingol, Ria Haxel Lumanog and Lariza Garcia.

The Adjudicators. The two adjudicators include Mr. Jonel Uy of Blogger Manila and Mr. Jeman Villanueva of Orange TV Magazine. Mr. Jeman Villanueva represented Gran Prix Econotel as a major sponsor during the announcement of the winners.

The final challenge was to blog about one’s experience in the Grand Prix Econotel in Cubao which story angle must be aligned with the chosen blogs under the Blogger Manila group of blogs. SLEEK IN THE CITY.com blogged under the Roam Manila Blog and was able to bag the Client’s Choice Award ! Click here to view the winning entry. The prize is an overnight stay in Grand Prix Econotel in Manila.

To know more about the Blogger Apprentice program of Blogger Manila, click here.

Victory!

Sleek Toiletry Bag (Traveler's Edition)

2011-08-28T13:33:00.003+08:00

So what are you gonna do this long weekend huh? I’m sure some of you will go on a travel- either solo backpacking or excursion with family or friends. Whenever we travel, of course, aside from our clothes our toiletry bag is another thing we can’t afford to forget. It sucks sometimes when we discover that some of the stuffs that should be inside our toiletry bags were missing. We will be forced to buy in a nearby store or worse- borrow from someone else!

Here’s a sleek peek to my own personal toiletry bag whenever I travel. Hope you can share your own “What’s inside my toiletry bag?” blog too.

1. Adidas Toiletry Bag. I have found this old Adidas toiletry bag around 3 years ago and until now, I haven’t bought a new one. I like the fact that I can hang it anywhere (it has a hook inside) and that it is very durable. My advice is that invest on your toiletry bags. Put a high price on quality and durability. Believe me, having a good one will save you from future worries and hassles. Not to mention that you can save money too, as you don’t have to change for a new one from time to time.

2. Vick’s Vapor Rub. I use Vick’s Vapor Rub whenever I’m feeling dizzy, sneezy or if somewhere feels itchy. It has been a good friend to me whenever I’m at home or in a trip. Include it on your first aid kits.

3. Pill Box with some capsules and tablets. I bring my own pill box filled with my own capsules and tablets- especially my antihistamine since I’m prone to allergic rhinitis.

4. Artistry Skin Refinishing Lotion. Guys need to moisturize too. And I highly recommend Artistry Skin Refinishing Lotion for men and women alike. True to its name, it leaves my skin feeling matte-finish after every application. Artistry is a brand exclusively distributed by Amway Philippines, LLC.

5. Gillette Mach 3 Turbo. Of course, try as much as you can to shave before you go on a trip. But for guys like me whose facial hairs grow quickly, I need to bring a shaver with me even though I’ll only be away for a couple of days.

6. Trim Large Nail Cutter. Before going on a trip, I try as much as I can to trim my nails too. But I also bring along my favorite nail cutter every time as I’ve found it very useful in cutting stuffs aside from my nails such as stray threads in a shirt, sachets and etc. It’s a perfect substitute to a Swiss army knife somehow.

7. Perfume in a Small Spray Bottle. Since I can’t bring along my whole perfume bottle I make sure I bring at least a small spray bottle containing it.

8. Earpicker. I bought this earpicker at Watson’s a long time ago and I haven’t used any earpicker yet aside from it. Cotton buds are quite dangerous to my ears as well as the other earpickers made of wood so I was very glad to find this one- made of plastic. Hope it stays with me forever. It’s quite hard to find.

9. Dentiste Toothbrush and Toothpaste Set. I really like this toothbrush and toothpaste set by Dentiste. First, the toothbrush’s bristle is really soft. Perfect for folks like me who have sensitive teeth. Plus, the toothpaste contains Vitamin C and Xylitol that both helps strengthen the teeth. And lastly, I like that they are both contained in a zip-lockable pouch that even though I mix them with other toiletries during travels I can be sure that my toothbrush (and my toothpaste) stays clean.

10. Artistry Pure White Cleanser. Oh yes, another Artistry product. I have learned to love my own. (I work for Amway.) I say that this one is the most effective whitening cleanser there is in the market. It’s gentle yet very effective.

11. Johnson’s Body Wash. I’m not really choosy with body wash. I got this body wash during my family’s “RORO-road trip” to Boracay last April. After gassing up, a box full of freebies was given to us containing this body wash- among other things. It was so cool!

12. Protique Shampoo-and-Conditioner in a Container. I don’t like bringing along the whole shampoo container. My family used to buy the big one’s so I learned how to place shampoos and conditioners inside small bottles like this one. By the way, Protique is another brand exclusively distributed by Amway Philippines, LLC.

13. Hair Wax. Undoubtedly, the best hair wax there is in the market. This has been my hair’s bestfriend for almost 3 years now. I’d say, I have never been happy with other hair waxes. So after losing sight of it for quite some time, I was so glad to have found it again lying gloriously in one of the gondolas in Watson’s in SM City Sta. Mesa. Click here to view my blog post about it.

Happy long weekend, folks!

The Big Little Store at Gilmore

2011-08-25T10:00:00.000+08:00

The Big Little Store. Whenever I am looking for something that has to do with computers, it’s always “Gilmore” that comes into mind first. It was just a quick LRT ride away from home- to my convenience. One day, I went there to have my old laptop checked-up and fixed. It was the laptop that became my bestfriend when I was studying in China. All of my files and pictures during my stay there were all stored in that laptop. And so it was to my great horror that, one day, the old laptop just suddenly failed to work.

I never hesitated to take that one quick LRT ride to Gilmore Station to know what’s going on with my “China buddy”. While waiting for it to be fixed, I saw and got suddenly intrigued with the small entrance on the ground floor of what seemed to be a small grocery store. When I went inside, I felt something very familiar that occurred to me just recently.

I felt that I was in China again.

A Little Experience of the Big China. I know how much I missed the Land of the Sleeping Giant. It was enough for me to squeeze it in my very busy schedule to visit Gilmore and have the old laptop checked-up. Those files and pictures meant so much. There were many unforgettable experiences and lasting friendships created in China. I’ll do anything just to get the photos back.

But I was also glad to see the store. It was like a temporary relief from the growing frustration and longing for the things that I missed about my China experience. I stayed there, by the way, for almost half a year to study Mandarin Chinese. I went to Fudan University in Shanghai. It was almost a year ago since I went back to Manila but until today I still miss taking the short strolls in the evenings while taking a sip of our favorite warm milk tea, the 9:00pm dinner eating the super delicious street-cooked Chinese-style fried rice, the cheap versions of internationally bestselling books sold by hawkers and so and so forth.

I went around inside the Big Little Store and heaved a deep sigh. “Alas! China again. Just a train away.”

Familiar Chinese Brands. I was very glad that I was able to bring with me “Vinci” a.k.a. the DSLR Camera of my friend, Gian. And practically in the next few minutes, I found myself gleefully hopping from one gondola to another looking at the familiar brands which I knew I saw somewhere during my entire stay in Shanghai.

All-Time Favorite Chinese Dim Sum. Oh yeah! All-Time Favorite Chinese Dim Sum filled the store! There were kikiams, siomais, chicken feet, barbecues, empanadas, tofu and etc. all sold in different servings and sizes. There was a section for some Vegetarian goodies too. I suddenly remembered Tiff and her self-declared specialty called Chicken ala King using only vegetables and veggie meats, of course. It was very tasty. I forgot that I wasn’t really fond of eating vegetables.

The Power of Choice. Literally, a stroll inside the Big Little Store can be a good exercise of one’s power of choice. There was just too many items to choose from!

The Chunkiest Siopao. And so I chose my favorite Chinese Dim Sum of all time. Siopao. Asado for that matter. Nothing was chunkier than this one I’ve tasted in the Big Little Store. What’s good about this siopao is that aside from having a very chunky filling, it’s also moist on the inside so there’s no much need for the sauce anymore (though I won’t be able to eat siopao without the sauce). I also like the softness of the white bread. The only downside that I think this siopao has was that it can be very addictive. So, if you’re a siopao-lover like me, take this one easy.

The Meaty Ma Chang. Ma Chang is like the Filipino suman- only that the latter is a dessert while the former is almost a full-course meal. Ma Chang is made from sticky rice with some mushroom and pork or chicken chunks. A lot of people say it goes well with catsup. I never tried though.

What’s good about this Ma Chang at the Big Little Store is that it can fill your whole hungry stomach in just one sitting. It’s indeed a full course meal. You can even eat it on the go. The only downside about it is that, personally, I don’t like Ma Chang’s that much. Maybe I wasn’t just really used to eating sticky rice as a full meal. I was raised eating sticky rice being dipped in some sweet sauce during All Soul’s Day. We call it the “Sumang Yakap” in Batangas as it is composed of a pair of suman held together and being dipped in some sweet sauce made of Muscovado sugar and coconut milk. I love that suman that much- that while eating Ma Chang it was the one running on my mind.

The Bestseller. When I asked which is the store’s bestseller, the waiter told me it’s the Beef Noodle Soup. And so I got one. The beef was firm, the broth was tasty and the noodle was delicious. Everything was perfect except that I think, like for Ma Chang, I wasn’t a big fan of noodles really. But I honestly believe that noodle-lovers will appreciate this Big Little Store’s bestseller despite my opinion.

Another Bestseller. Lumpiang Sariwa is another besteller. In fact, so much was written about this dish from the Big Little Store. People who likes Lumpiang Sariwa to the max should try this one.

Rolling and the Dip. I watched how the Lumpiang Sariwa’s were made. It was a whole gamut of spices, vegetables, meats and other ingredients rolled in the white wrapper. To eat it, it is to be dipped on its special sauce like that of the Asado Siopao. And I think that the sauce was one of the reasons why the Big Little Store’s Lumpiang Sariwa is famous.

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The Big Little Store is located at G/F Gilmore I.T. Center, 1st St. cor. Gilmore Ave., New Manila, Quezon City. You may also reach them at 723-6881.

SLEEK IN THE CITY.com wins inWrite Blogging Contest

2011-08-24T14:46:00.003+08:00

The Happiness. It's like experiencing Algarve Holidays for free! Early this morning, Mr. Joel Baluyot of inWrite messaged me via Facebook to declare me as the winner of the BlogReading contest they organized very recently. Yehey! SLEEK IN THE CITY.com’s entry competed with other blogs for a chance to win a cash prize via PayPal. To see the list of other entries, please visit inWrite's Facebook Fanpage.

The criteria for judging included Creativity (40%), Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation (30%) and lastly Facebook Likes (30%). This is pure bliss considering how competitive the other bloggers are who joined the contest. And for barely-a-year old blog just like SLEEK IN THE CITY.com, this is truly a BIG honor. Thank you, inWrite Team!

The Perks. Part of the perks of winning is to be featured in the homepage of their website! Yehey! Hope to get more hits starting today!

The Perfect Post. And of course, as they promised, they shall be giving us free blog proofreading (or simply blogreading). And here is the result! I just had my very first blog post be proofread-to-perfection by none other than the inWrite Team! Victory! Click on the image above to read the now error-free "The Lady of the Fans" blog post.

To know more about inWrite and how can they help bloggers and writers like us, please visit their website and Facebook Fanpage.

My Perfect Hair Wax: A Panic-Buying Story

2011-07-22T12:39:00.002+08:00

Many guys will agree with me on this. Finding the perfect hair wax for our hair is not easy.

Our hairs- though made of dead skin cells- have proven to be one of the “vainest” parts of the human body and a source of a gazillion of ideas and inspirations for the creation of the gazillion of hair products such as shampoos, conditioners, hair styling aids, accessories and etc.

Pardon the vanity.

I can’t imagine life without hair. Not yet. Literally, we’ll be able to dissolve half of the products being sold in the hair or beauty gondolas of supermarkets and groceries when that happens. And then the hundreds and hundreds of beauty parlors sprouting here and everywhere in Manila...

As I was saying. It’s not easy to find the perfect hair wax. It took me years, literally, after finding the “perfect” hair wax that I want for my hair. Here’s how it looks.

Tadaa! The perfect hair wax.

I found it when I was on my first job. It was introduced to me by a hairstylist working for a hair salon I only visited once or twice in my entire life. That time, I was on a lookout for the “right” hair salon for me. And though the salon didn’t become the “right one" for it’s too far from home,among other reasons, but the hair wax?!

If only that hair wax and my hair were humans, I can let them marry!

After some time, I lost contact with the hairstylist. And I know that even though I decide to see him, he won't let me buy in bulk since he's just selling the wax discreetly. And then one fateful day-

I found the magical hair wax lying beautifully in one of the gondolas in Watson’s in SM City Sta. Mesa!

As if panic-buying, I bought three instantly.

The magic three.

Till’ now I still don’t know the exact brand name of the hair wax. (Though from that picture above, you can say it's "Lightness" but believe me... It's plainly labeled as "hair wax" in the gondola.) The keeper from Watson’s said it’s manufactured by Shine Moist. (Anyone familiar with this brand?) Unlike other hair waxes, this one’s not sticky and very easy to rinse. It makes the hair easier to style and gives it a little shine boost.

It looks like gel but the packaging says it's hair wax. So, hair wax.

One jar just costs around PhP54.75. It’s the perfect hair wax for me!

MedChef Turns 1

2011-07-20T22:42:00.002+08:00

[Author's Note: Click here to visit our previous post about MedChef.]

What: MedChef by Chef Hasset Go’s 1st Year Anniversary

When: July 26, 2011, Tuesday, 7:00pm

Where: 139 Mo. Ignacia Ave., Diliman, Quezon City (Right in front of ELJ Bldg.)

What to expect: Cake Fashion Show, Celebrity Pastry Tower Eating Contest, TV Show Coverage, Fun Games & Freebies

Who will be there: Media Personalities, Chef Hasset Go’s Celebrity Friends, VIPs and Bloggers

How to join: Registration is now officially closed.

How will the Bloggers be notified: They will be sent a message via Facebook.

See you there! Mmmm…It’s MedChef.

Effective Measure: WIIFB? (What’s In It For Bloggers)

2011-07-20T22:09:00.005+08:00

What is Effective Measure?

Effective Measure is a world leading online Audience Measurement solution, head-quartered in Melbourne, Australia with additional offices in Dubai, New York, Sydney and Bangkok.

Tasked with solving many of the internet industries existing audience measurement problems, and with a world leading focus on user privacy and market requirements, Effective Measure is quickly becoming the preferred choice of responsible advertisers, publishers and government bodies.

[Source: http://www.effectivemeasure.com/]

Sorry, what’s that again?

As an online Audience Measurement solution, it means Effective Measure generates data and information about a website’s-

a. Market Size (No. of Unique Browsers, No. of Unique Visitors, No. of Page Views, Ave. Page Duration, Ave. User Session Duration, Ave. Page Views Per Session and etc.)

b. Audience Report (Decisions, Lifestyles, Age, Gender, Education Level, Occupation, Primary Language, Residential Location, Segmentation and etc.)

c. Audience Reach

d. Trending

But what made it different from other online Audience Measurement solution?

Unlike just any other online Audience Measurent solution, Effective Measure seeks to answer the more in-depth questions about a website’s audience. For example, through the generation of the Audience Report one can have an idea of how many among the audience are Health Conscious, Free Spenders, Connectors, Mavens, Salespersons, Fashion Consciousness and etc.

Really, Effective Measure can do that?

Yes. Effective Measure uses a unique demographic technology that gives websites more representative, continually evolving demographic profiles. The data is collected through small interactive, non-intrusive demographic surveys that provides for standard demographic questions (e.g. age, gender and profession) as well as publication category specific question.

So, What’s In It For Bloggers (WIIFB) like me?

Effective Measure can help you a lot in many ways. It can help you-

a. Know more about the kind of people that you attract to your blog.

b. Have a partial understanding of their needs and wants based on their demographic and psychographic profile.

c. Write better blog posts based on the interests of your target audience.

d. Convince businesses who target specific market segments to advertise on your blog.

e. Create powerful presentations about your blog with claims backed up by reliable data generated from research.

How can I sign up for Effective Measure?

Become one of the 10 bloggers to register for a 90-Day Free Trial with Effective Measure. Aside from this you may also have the chance to undergo an intensive training about Effective Measure and how to use the Effective Measure Dashboard. Just follow these 2 easy steps.

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To know more about Effective Measure, you may visit their website by clicking here.

12 Magical Lessons from Harry Potter Worth Storing in the Pensieve

2011-07-20T16:40:00.003+08:00

The last Harry Potter book and the last Harry Potter movie had finally been released. After more than a decade filled with magical readings, ecstatic anticipation for every book and movie that were released, endless predictions of what’s going to happen in the end and memorizing how to say the charms (and curses) properly during spare times- indeed- the Harry Potter saga had come to an end.

But with the saga ending, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s lost forever. Harry Potter shall live in the hearts and minds of everyone whose lives he had made extra-magical. Being a self-confessed Potterite I am-and will always be- I’d like to dedicate a space on this blog to the boy who, in so many ways, had also taught me how to “live”. These magical lines from the book had practically taught me a lot of valuable lessons about life as I was growing up. And I bet I’ll be stuck with them until the very end.

Thank you Harry. Thank you Jo. May the magic you taught us stay with us forever!

It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.

~Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

It is important to fight, and fight again, and keeps fighting, for only then can evil be kept at bay, though never quite eradicated.

~Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well.

~Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.

~Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Do not pity the dead. Pity the living, and above all, those who live without love.

~Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

If you want to know what a man is like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.

~Sirius Black, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Indeed, your failure to understand that there are things much worse than death has always been your greatest weakness.

~Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry, suffering like this proves you are still a man! This pain is part of being human … the fact that you can feel pain like this is your greatest strength.

~Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

You place too much importance... on the so-called purity of blood! You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!

~Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.

~Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.

~Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban movie (Screenplay by Steven Kloves)

"A Patronus is a kind of positive force, and for the wizard who can conjure one, it works something like a shield, with the Dementor feeding on it, rather than him. In order for it to work, you need to think of a memory. Not just any memory, a very happy memory, a very powerful memory… Allow it to fill you up... lose yourself in it... then speak the incantation "Expecto Patronum".”

~Remus Lupin, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Splize: A Big Idea

2011-07-19T11:39:00.005+08:00

The Big Idea

Splize is an online marketplace and a social networking site rolled into one. As an online marketplace, it is an avenue for sellers and buyers to meet and transact with each other. What makes Splize different from other online marketplaces is that it is also a social networking site. Like Facebook, it allows visitors to build their profile and establish connections with each other.

The Targets

The Strategy

Building a business is not just about selling products or services. It is also about building relationships with your customers. Business doesn’t just end after every transaction. The quality of the connection that you establish with your buyers, aside from the quality of the products or services you offer, shall be the basis as to whether or not your buyers will come back to transact with you again. In the Philippines, we call the local buyers “suki”.

[Photo Credits: http://www.biznhoney.com]

This is what Splize’s strategy is all about- to encourage buyers and sellers build loyal relationships with each other.

The Support Mechanisms

By harnessing the power of social networking sites in bringing people together and the ability of online marketplaces to provide people with support mechanisms to buy and to sell products and services, Splize offers only the best “Social Marketplace” experience for everyone through the following features:

• Intelligent Matching. When looking for a car, all you need to do is just type the word “car” in the Need tab and then results matching “car”, “automobile” and even specific brands shall be displayed.

• Immediate Notification. You’ll be able to receive updates from your connections once they have new offers or needs.

• User-Friendly Interface. Free from unwanted features and other technical clutters, Splize is very easy and fun to use.
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This is an entry to inWrite’s “Choose and Review” Blog Review Contest.
www.splize.com
www.blog-proofreading.com
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Special thanks to Jonel Uy for the invitation.

5 Serious Reasons Why Bloggers Should Proofread

2011-07-18T19:32:00.006+08:00

“My blog is not my college thesis!”

-Bryanboy

I used to think Bryanboy was right. I admit. As a blogger, I also have my own share of grammatical errors, subject-verb disagreements and wrong schmellings. I think I can only count in my head the number of times I have diligently checked on my grammar, spelling and word-choice before I hit the “Publish” button. I used to think proofreading is not worth the time.

Until one day.

I was lucky to have been invited in an event organized by inWrite, a professional organization offering proofreading, copy-reading and rewriting services for serious bloggers.

Me (fourth from the left) with the inWrite Team and my fellow "serious" bloggers

During the discussion, I have formed some insights on my mind that convinced me that proofreading is, indeed, important in blogging.

1. If content is “king” as what blog experts say, then what do you call a blog full of errors?

2. Misspelled keywords won't be crawled by search engines.

3. Readers can only stay in your blog for a few minutes. Make every second count by striving to deliver an error-free blog .

4. A good idea written with bad grammar is still bad.

5. Wrong spelling is just simply wrong.

What sets inWrite apart from the competition (shall there be any competition) is their brand promise. “Blogreading,” as they say, “is done without changing the blogger’s style or tone of voice, which we consider the heart of every blog.”

If you need some professional help with your blog, visit inWrite now and see how they can help you come up with your next killer blog post.

To view their site, just click on the image below.

But wait, there’s more! inWrite knows we love freebies so they're offering a Quality Blog Review for FREE! Just click on the image below and input your Blog URL.

Happy blogging!
-
This is an entry to inWrite’s “Choose and Review” Blog Review Contest.
www.splize.com
www.blog-proofreading.com
-
Special thanks to Jonel Uy for the invitation.

Cave Man & Yeti + The Art of Shaving Ice

2011-07-18T12:42:00.000+08:00

Remember what they told us in History about the ancient civilizations that used to gather snow from the mountains and turn‘em into desserts especially during hot summer days?

The Persian Empire actually poured grape juice over the snow and then eat it! And then there’s the infamous Roman Emperor Nero who used to send slaves to Apennine Mountains to collect snow and then top it with fuits, nuts and honey.

Well, we’re going back old school again as we visited Cave Man & Yeti- a small shop near Eastwood City and St. Pio Center. They serve a curious dessert called “shaved flavored ice”.

Ready? Here we go!

This design on their wall got me thinking if there has been any possibility that our pre-historic folks actually munched ice during their times.

At first, they’ll place a big block of flavored ice on the shaving machine. This block reminded me a lot of my favorite “ice candy” when I was a kid. In the Philippines, it is normally sold in the neighborhoods for around PhP1.00 to PhP2.00 during my time. I wonder if there are still homemade ice candies around in the Philippines.

Anyhoo, it’s shaving time! The shaving machine shall make the flavored ice rotate on its place at a great speed while the shaved ice is collected from below. Oh by the way, I asked for the Ube flavor, one of their bestsellers. That’s why it’s violet. That means the ice actually tastes like Ube. Pretty cool, huh?

Toppings! Some sweet beans soaked in Ube-flavored syrup. Yum!

Tadaa! The ice was so soft and yummy. I really liked the Ube flavor! Reminds me perfectly of my favorite pearl shake drink too!

I only ordered the Regular size which as around PhP68.00. But you can also choose the Sharing size (PhP78.00) or All-U-Can size (PhP108.00). Click on the image above to see the other flavors more clearly.

You can try their Mochi Buns too. It’s PhP28.00 per piece.

Cave Man & Yeti is located inside Petron station C5 Libis, Quezon City. It’s very near Eastwood City and the Citibank Tower. It’s a perfect spot during the weekend- before or after visiting the St. Pio Center to hear the mass.

Contact them at 622-9344 or 0917-568-8765. Click here to visit their website.

My Top 5 Picks from Pixics Online Store

2011-07-17T12:37:00.004+08:00

Tired of the run-of-the-mill online stores selling run-of-the-mill stuffs? Try Pixics!

I have recently stumbled upon this sleek online store selling stuffs that can be described as indie, retro, vintage or hipster. It’s perfect for people who are looking for rare stuffs that sometimes we can only find in flea markets or maybe Etsy. Pixics offers a wide variety of merchandises for both male and female- accessories, wallets, bags, shirts, blouses, toys and even handmade products!

Take a look at their website and products by clicking on the photo below.

I think that the design of the online store is pretty impressive. It’s different from the other online stores I have visited. There’s a box at the left sidebar that shows the items you have already seen. And then there are two boxes on the right sidebar featuring their new products and top selling items. Pretty sleek, huh?

Aside from that, I personally think that the Pixics stuffs are competitively priced- given the fact that they’re selling hard-to-find stuffs. For as low as $11.99 you can get a regularly-priced shirt. And if you buy to as much as $85- shipping is free!

I’m sharing you guys my personal picks at Pixics- coming mostly from the men’s section. Please feel free to visit their site anytime to see the other cool items. Enjoy!

Top Pick #5: Panda Leaf Charm. I like pandas a lot. And I got an instant liking to this round-eyed cute panda resting on a leaf the moment I saw it. I think it’s going to be a perfect gift for trinket-loving friends this coming Yuletide Season.

Top Pick #4: Thor Marvel Capsule. The mighty Thor! A cute collectible for everybody who had loved this Marvel superhero. Aside from the Thor Marvel Capsule, Pixics also has the Spider Man, Wolverine, The Hulk, Iron Man and Captain America.

Top Pick #3: Hangover Baby Carrier T-Shirt. Remember the baby during the first Hangover movie? I think this shirt is perfect for the guys out there who loved the movie and maybe, just maybe, to all the would-be dads out there who are trying to get the feel of how it would be like once the 9-month wait is over! Hahaha! What do you think?

Top Pick #2: Soft Drink Card Wallet. I am so curious. So curious how this stuff came to be a card wallet. I’d like to see it personally. I think it’s perfect for guys like me who likes to have all my stuffs- including cards- organized.

Top Pick #1: Panda Rock T-Shirt. The one that stole my heart the most! I like its simple but sleek design. Did I say I like pandas? Thanks to Pixics for making this shirt available for online shoppers like me who loved pandas a lot!

Currently Pixics is shipping to the United Sates, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Poland and even to the Philippines. But I’m sure the store remains open to clamors from customers coming from the other parts of the world.

Try Pixics today! Click here to view their website. Enjoy!

Gigantic Siopao for Gigantic Cravings + PVL Siopao

2011-07-05T17:11:00.006+08:00

My friend Keng Keng told me one day about the existence of this giant siopao that she swore I should find and blog about when I get the chance. Being a sucker for siopao I was, I thanked God that Keng Keng was my friend and then started to daydream about that giant siopao- its pure white and heavenly fluffy outer bun, its savory -meaty inner core and its delightfully sweet and sinfully tasty sauce that can melt the sadness of the world away!

Look at that!

So when I got the chance, one day after leaving the office earlier than the usual, I marked down my map and told the cab driver to take me at once to that PVL Restaurant. After a series of wrong turns, wrong streets and wrong people to ask directions from about the giant siopao's where-about's, I finally saw the gigantic signage saying "P-V-L". (Read: Finding where PVL Restaurant is may require a lot of patience and some spatial talents, but you'll get there.)

Victory!

I saw the giant siopao along with its other giant friends inside a steaming glass cabinet. The next second, I was in love. I bought one Asado for me and Gian and received it from the waitress with both hands like a newborn baby. A big, bouncy and white siopao ball it was.

The cross section of the giant Asado siopao looked like this. A half serving is enough to fill my dinner-hungry tummy that night. Although I'm expecting a bit of what like the other restaurants serve- ground pork meat wet with Asado sauce, I wasn't disappointed at all with PVL's version of Asado siopao. It was ~~good.~~ great!

I can never eat a siopao without this magical ingredient. The Asado sauce.

On this picture, I was still the half-happy and half-shocked earthling devoured by the idea of a humongous siopao existing somewhere on earth. Right after taking this picture, I devoured both the idea and the siopao.

The PVL Jumbo Siopao is located at 84-I I. Lopez St. corner F. Ortigas Ave. in Mandaluyong. You may give them a ring at 534-3815. A siopao costs around 140 bucks.

Enjoy! And tell us how it goes when you visit there.