Davao celebrates Financial Freedom

As a fitting start to the new year, the “#LiveFreePH Freedom Tour” made a stop in Davao City to continue its financial freedom rally. From January 24 to 30, Davaoenos were treated to educational booths, exciting promos, and a free concert featuring Sun Life father-son ambassadors Piolo and Inigo Pascual.

A string of activities guided participants to begin their own #LiveFreePH journey. In a bold move, they declared their vision of financial freedom with the “Live Free Freedom Wall.” Then they looked at their current situation, shared their outlook about the future, and pledged support to a community in need through BLISS or “Brighter Life Index: Social Sentiment.” And by joining the “Sun CeleBright” promo, they won free trips to their chosen destinations!

But what made the #LiveFreePH Tour brighter were the Sun Life advisors ready to help those who want to jumpstart their financial freedom journey. Some were so inspired that they chose to become financial advisors themselves.

In front of a jubilant and captivated crowd, the “Freedom Celebration” concert headlined by Piolo and Inigo amplified the mission of financial independence for everyone. Aside from belting his signature hits, Piolo serenaded the winners of the hugely popular “Selfie with Papa P” – where longtime fans get to meet their idol and take home a photo souvenir. Inigo also showed off his dance moves and energized the night with today’s popular hits.

“We want Filipinos to believe that a brighter future is possible. We want them to be inspired to take on their own path towards financial freedom. And that they can start this meaningful journey with the help of our financial advisors,” said Sun Life Chief Marketing Officer Mylene Lopa. The #LiveFreePH Freedom Tour kicked off last year with stops in Pampanga and Iloilo.

Sun Life Philippines is a member of the Sun Life Financial group of companies, a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Sun Life Financial and its partners have operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of September 30, 2015, the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of $846 billion. For more information please visit http://www.sunlife.com.
Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

More on Hoverboard and CD-R king’s iRover

Have you ever tried gliding without touching the ground? Uncanny as it seemed to be Super Saiyans of Dragon Ball Z & Magneto of the X-Men amongst others have perfected that kind of ability. Picture yourself doing so, isn’t it exciting? Cd-R king your one-stop media provider once again spices up an extraordinary treat, iRover. A high-tech yet affordable gadget in-line with CD-R King’s effort to bring technology to the general public.

 

iRover lets you experience superiority in balance. It makes you gain control and progress at your own pace liberating your feet off the ground. An exhilarating thrill that makes one experience the same. CD-R King provided the hoveroard utilized by eleven Housemates in one of their weekly task at Pinoy Big Brothers, were Miyo emerged as the Pinoy Big Brother 2015 winner.
iRover is the newest hovercraft unit released by CD-R King, designed not just for comfort but also tone your leg and foot muscles, contrary to the concern of some parent on cutting the walking strides of their kids whenever they utlize the board. iRover uses the smart balance technology that uses leg muscle in moving around thus it can help strengthen your lower body.
iRover can climb up to 15degrees with speed of 10 kilometers per hour and can go as far as 20 kilometer on a single full charge. It uses a Tubeless tire and Brush DC Motor with 36V, 4.4 Lithuim-ion battery hat charges on 300watt power. This variant comes in colors of Red, Blue or White.
Considered as the “IT” Toy in 2016, iRover of CD-R King makes it easier for you to acquire this gadget through 6 months credit card payment for east west and Metrobank credit card holders and comes with a 3-month warranty for a worry –free purchase. Visit CD-R King near you. For more details visit CD-R King’s website at HYPERLINK “http://www.cdrking.com” http://www.cdrking.com.

Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge Year 7

The 7th year of the Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge (UCC) proves to be even more exciting as it gathers 55 schools and universities from NCR, Ilocos, Bicol, Central and Southern Luzon and regional winners from Visayas and Mindanao. The nation’s best culinary teams will showcase their culinary prowess on Saturday, January 30, 2016 from 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM at the Philippine Trade and Training Center, Manila.

The Ajinomoto® UCC is an inter-school culinary competition where foodies and culinary enthusiasts meet with a common dedication to unite taste and health in food preparations. UCC is part of Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation’s advocacy to promote the benefit of umami taste in preparing deliciously nourishing recipes. Through its food brand slogan “Eat Well, Live Well.®”, Ajinomoto hopes that future chefs and nutrition professionals will create more deliciously nourishing food for Filipino families to enjoy and live life to the fullest.

The panel of judges is composed of Food and Nutrition luminaries: Chef Gene Gonzales, Chef Sau del Rosario, Chef James Antolin, Chef Colin McKay, Chef Eugene Raymundo, Dr. Celeste Tanchoco, Dr. Imelda Agdeppa, and Dr. Adela Ruiz to name a few. They were invited to provide valuable insights to student-competitors on how to apply culinary skills and nutrition knowledge in the creation of nourishing umami dishes.

Over 300 aspiring chefs will compete in three (3) culinary competition categories: Best Filipino Umami Dish, My Own Umami Creation and Umami Master and other non-culinary categories: the “Aminomazing Showdown” beverage concoction contest and the “My Umami Coach and I” food-styling competition. Finalists from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will compete in the National Cooking Showdown.

Ajinomoto® Umami Culinary Challenge (UCC) is presented by AJINOMOTO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION in partnership with La Germania, Solane, Fujidenso and Masflex.

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Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) is an affiliate of Tokyo-based Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Established in 1958, APC lives by its promise to provide consumers products that will always give the delicious taste to healthy and nutritious meals as embodied in APC’s slogan Ajinomoto® “Eat Well, Live Well.®” APC’s complete line of quality food and seasoning products are produced by international affiliates and local toll manufacturers using Ajinomoto’s license, quality standards and technological expertise. APC’s products include AJINO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, Ajinomoto® Brand Ginisa Flavor Seasoning Mix, Ajinomoto® Brand Chicken Powder, PORKSAVOR® All-in-One Seasoning Mix, CRISPY FRY® Breading Mix, CRISPY FRY® Seasoned Crumbs, TASTY BOY® All Purpose Breading Mix, AJI-SHIO® Seasoning Mix, Ajinomoto® Brand Sinigang and FRES-C® Concentrated Powdered Drink Mix.

Lazada Welcomes 2016 with Chinese New Year Sale

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Lazada Philippines (www.lazada.com.ph), the country’s One Stop Shopping and Selling Destination, kicks off its first big sale of the year, the Chinese New Year Sale. A wide assortment of unique finds for the year of the fire monkey and discounts as high as 88% across 15 categories will be up for grabs from January 26 to February 8.

About Lazada
Lazada (www.lazada.com.ph) is Philippines’ largest online shopping mall and is pioneering e-commerce by providing a fast, convenient and secure online shopping experience combined with an extensive product offering in categories ranging from mobiles & tablets and consumer electronics to household goods, toys, fashion and sports equipment. Lazada is continuously striving to offer its customers the best possible shopping experience with multiple payment methods including cash on delivery, extensive warranty commitments and free returns. Lazada mobile applications for Android, iPhone and iPad provide additional convenience to its consumers’ allowing them to shop anywhere, anytime.

For more information, please visit http://www.lazada.com.ph. For updates on Lazada’s latest innovations, as well as activities, contests and promotions, connect with us via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/LazadaPhilippines).

Manila Pavilion Hotel’s Chinese New Year

Hang tight 2016, Chinese New Year at Manila Pavilion Hotel
Let the Lunar New Year pace in gracefully at acclaimed dining outlets of Manila Pavilion Hotel as you celebrate new beginnings and round off the successful year behind. Reward your loved ones with Manila Pavilion’s well known Oriental dinner buffet feast as our newly appointed Executive Chef Giovanni Sias redefines buffet focusing on quality and freshness. A decadent Chinese New Year and Spring Dinner temptations await.

 

A spread of luxurious dim sum stunners, noodles representing long life and have an exchange of Nian gao (tikoy) would certainly entice your family get-together for Php 1200 nett, Friday and Saturday, 6PM-10:30pm and Sunday Brunch from 10am to 2PM.

Throw a memorable family reunion and mark your 2015 achievements with a feast of sumptuous buffet spread. Treat your friends and family to auspicious dishes presented with a signature contemporary twist for a season of luck and prosperity.

The dinner buffet spread offer a true splendor of oriental favorites for Php 1200 nett on February 8, 2016 at 6PM and be welcomed with a the traditional Lion and Dragon Dance, Coin Shower and enjoy delectable goodies.
For further information or to make a reservation, please call Manila Pavilion Hotel on (632) 5261212 or message via Facebook. Alternatively, bookings can be made online atwww.waterfrontpavilionmanila.com Like or Follow @WaterfrontMNL for regular updates.

3 Tips in Buying your Dream Car

What’s the next big thing that you want to achieve, now that you’re starting your career, and earning your own money?

Do you have a plan on how you are going to spend your hard-earned cash? Are you thinking of buying a new phone, a laptop, or a new wardrobe? While these may be tempting, for sure you are also dreaming of having your own car in the future.

The biggest question you might have is, “Kaya ko na kayang magkaroon ng sariling kotse?” Now don’t you worry because we have an answer for you! As you are earning your own money now, this could be your way to start saving up for your dream car.

And since New Year just ushered in, it would be best to add this on your bucket list this 2016! Always remember that it’s never too early to reach your dreams. So better start saving up!

“Looking for a car that matches your need and budget is an exciting experience, especially for a first-timer. Before deciding to bring home that dream car, a number of things have to be considered. Below are a few tips that may guide you, young dreamers, in making wise use of your hard-earned money to help make that dream come true,” says Pepe Carlos, VP and head of BPI Family Auto Loan Division.

Yes, at this point in your life, it may seem intimidating just thinking about how to get your own car, but with proper guidance and advice from the experts, you can make your dream come true!

Here are three tips that can help you in planning, saving up and finally bringing home that dream car.

1. Know which car is right for you. Determine what kind of car you really need. It is quite challenging, so you need to carefully study your options. Whether you’re a businessman, an architect, an engineer, a call center employee, a social media specialist, a sales and marketing executive, etc., choose the car that is best suited for your daily use.
When choosing your car, several things such as car brand, model, price, and your budget should be well thought off. You may visit http://www.bpiloans.com, a virtual car showroom, where people looking for a brand new car can view and compare the vehicles that are available in the market today. It has a comprehensive car buyer’s guide, a user-friendly auto loan calculator, an easy to use self-assessment test and a simple online application form.

2. Plan your budget well. In getting a brand new car, your budget may be the most important concern that you have to think about. You need to ask yourself, “What can I really afford?”

Before you decide on making that purchase, list down your expenses. Check out how much you spend for your daily commute; see which part of your daily/monthly budget you can cut down or save.

There are other incidental expenses related to the purchase of a car that you also need to take care of like car insurance, chattel mortgage, and registration fees, among others. Some banks offer FREE insurance for the first year, so it’s important to check what offers are out there too. You can take a portion of your mid-year bonus and other monetary incentives you’ll get to add to your savings so you can allot it for the down payment of your dream car. It is typically at least 20% of the car price.

With these penned down, you can now calculate how much your monthly amortization will be, given a certain down payment via http://www.bpiloans.com. You can take the 60-Second Online Loan Pre-Qualification tool found in the website to see if you’re already qualified to apply for BPI Family Auto Loan. It’s easy, convenient and hassle-free!

3. Ask the experts. Reach out to the experts who know about bank financing for your Auto Loan. Seek a conversation with a BPI Family Bank representative to help you make the right decision and get the best deal. You may visit any BPI branch or drop by 102 Paseo in Makati to have a chat and learn more about your options.

So what are you waiting for? Getting your dream car is possible!

Pepe Carlos concludes, “A lot of people think that the process of buying a car can be a challenging one. But as long as you are informed and prepared, it doesn’t have to be.”

With BPI Family Auto Loan, let’s make your dream happen!

Real Simplicity. Life on the Fast Lane or Life in Slow Motion?

 

Everyday has now become a blur of fast-paced activities and need to complete to-do-lists. With technology all around us, they all encourage us to multi-task – read while watching news on TV, while waiting for dinner to simmer, while sitting with the kids doing homework, all while your mind gives you a list of what you might have missed to do today.

I know it wasn’t chance when I got my hand on the book Real Simplicity written by Rozanne and Randy Frazee. The similarities with this author is just uncanny. Author had four kids, juggling parenting, work, home and everything in between. Don’t get me wrong. I am not in any way complaining. If I were to have a chance to relive my life, I am definitely sure I would have made the same decision to have chosen the life I am living now. What with four differently gifted, brilliant kids, a loving husband, the best spiritual family and the best and yet most mom-friendly job I can have, there is nothing else to ask for. Today’s cherry on top came with good news that my eldest passed the exams for a Science High School.

So I went on asking God : what do I believe Him for, for 2016? For today’s post, we will look at just one word Simplify.

Real Simplicity. Get Creative. Memories need not be Expensive.
One does not need to step out of the house to have utmost fun. I always write that the best moments I have in my memory bank are those that I have spent at home. So on weekends where I get to have full days with the kids, we get the drawing materials out and build dreams. Kyle dreams of taking a Science course (it is a mix of Industrial Pharmacy and Marine Biology). It is fun to watch him weave and draw fictional stories with made up characters, away from Science which he usually tackles most parts of the day in school. It is the talking over coloring/drawing part that I enjoy the most. It takes me to a level of familiarity and comfortability that I get just enjoying how my kids are so different from each other.

 

Real Simplicity. Get Moving. Memories need not be Noisy.
With gadgets and electronics keeping our kids attention away from meaningful conversations, we can always opt to do activities that do not require any sound. Yep. Like biking around the village while enjoying everything around you. David who has recently learned how to play bike and now never fails to be out of the house keeps me encouraged. Just the other day, he has learned to get one of his (bigger) playmates on his bike while he drives.

 

Real Simplicity. Get Playing. Memories are not always with Toys.
Last Christmas, we found ourselves with family games we can play right at the comfort of our homes. Games where we can introduce sportsmanship, values that say It is okay to lose or we can’t always win at everything, we gather around Uno cards, Stacko, Skribbage and even loombands!

 

It is our prayer for this year that no matter how busy our life gets, we will never miss to pause and enjoy family and relationships around us. After all, Jesus did not just move in yesterday, He has always been in our homes and all it takes is to introduce Him and His peace/comfort to everyone.

IS COWORKING FOR YOU?

Nowadays, work is no longer as straightforward as the typical 9-to-5 at an office. Owing to the global connectivity of the internet, entrepreneurs, independent freelancers, digital nomads, and remote workers can now operate self-autonomously. More and more, location independence is becoming the norm for these millennial career persons. There are currently over 160,000 members worldwide spanning over 3,000 different co-working spaces around the world. Consequently, the international popularity of these shared working spaces—like WeWork in New York, Warner Yard in London, Impact Hub in Manila and Hubud in Bali—is booming. Whether it’s at a surf camp in Indonesia, a traveling bus (Startup Bus), or a catamaran out at sea (Coboat), our modern age has allowed us to tailor almost every aspect of our lives to our very liking.

In Manila, places such as Impact Hub are leading the local vanguard, providing members a large, bright space surrounded by cheerful murals and populated with individuals that are not just professionally driven, but aspire for purposeful social change.

But how can you tell if co-working is really for you? The best and easiest option is to try it out! Impact Hub extends a free co-working day pass to all social entrepreneurs, creative freelancers, techpreneurs and the whole start-up community in their Makati Office, which is one of 77 globally!
To help with the decision process further, we’ve compiled a list of three things to consider below.

1 – BUDGET
Co-working spaces usually come with leases or membership fees. Especially for small businesses and early stage enterprises that are bootstrapping their operations, financial limitations are a significant reality. Even for telecommuters, it defeats the purpose if you are spending more for a space than your company or business is earning. When calculating costs, remember to factor in things such as living expenses, commute, internet and associated leisure and utility bills. That said, co-working spaces are often more affordable alternatives to office spaces, coffee shops, or even your own apartment. Plus, the multiple potential benefits are well worth the investment.

2 – PRODUCTIVITY
The many benefits of co-working have been well-documented. A hotbed for entrepreneurial ventures, data suggests that start-ups working out of co-working spaces are four times more successful. Several companies have made their workforce largely remote—including Github, Mozilla, Buzzfeed, Etsy, and WordPress—increasing employee satisfaction and thus improving overall productivity. Compared to working from home, co-working offers less pesky distractions and, in fact, more helpful and supportive opportunities. At the end of the day, the right co-working space should inspire you to get the job done.

3 – NETWORKING
Across the board, experts agree that the main advantage of co-working spaces is the access one gains to a wide network of peers and like-minded professionals. The chances of you hurdling that obstacle, or unlocking that next breakthrough idea drastically increases with the presence of collaborators around you. Looking for a co-founder, teammate, or just some honest feedback? What better way than to ask a co-worker? With the wide variety of co-working spaces available, so too will you have a diverse pool of talents to connect with and learn from.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your laptop and work today from a coworking space, such as Impact Hub and try it out for free. They are located at 5th Floor Green Sun, 2285 Chino Roces Avenue Extension, Makati City, Manila, Philippines. They are an incubator, coworking and events space for a membership community of entrepreneurs, activists, creatives, and professionals taking action to drive positive social and environmental change. With 11,000+ members in 77+ Impact Hubs across the world, the Impact Hub Network has become the center of gravity for people innovating a new kind of economy.

 

Watched Disney Magical on Ice Festival

Today was extra special because it is the day when Sofia will finally see Frozen’s princesses joining Disney on Ice. This year’s Disney on Ice Magical Ice Festival is different because the growing boys (my other three kids) no longer joined us this year. But Sofia has become more excited than ever after watching Disney on Ice year after year. This year has been made more special by Mommy Bloggers Philippines treating us to frontrow seats to this year’s show. As soon as we got to the venue, you can see all imaginable Disney items. There were necklaces, hats (that come with popcorns), kids purses and even toys for the boys (saber, books, stuffed toys).

The front row seats were filled with small girls wearing their Disney princesses costumes. Let me take you to the highlights of the show. The entire gang from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse was there and played hosts for the entire show. But all kids gave a collective ‘wow’ when the first princess showed up on ice, Ariel. It was utmost fun to hear from Sofia singing the Little Mermaid songs she knew from the heart. Princess Ariel also gracefully danced while doing her acrobatics on a rope. It was truly magical to see her transform with feet.

Next up was Rapunzel with her long, braided hair. The lantern part gave us goosebumps with lanterns coming from ice dancers on the ground and flying low from the ceiling! We were too close to the dancers that Sofia kept on waving back at anyone who shows up on ice. Then came Belle, her love for books kept Sofia oohing and aahing for the stage filled with books! But the highlight of all is of course, Elsa and Anna. The house was filled with kids’ voices singing along with the princesses, Olaf and Kristoff, oh and Hans, too. But everytime the scene would require snow, front row seats are really filled with snow! This had kids getting up from their seats while singing, dancing and waving.
After the show, I wouldn’t miss the usual ‘what-did-you-learn-from-it-session’ with Sofia. So off we went to nearby Mcdo for it. It was encouraging to hear from Sofia the lessons she learned from this year’s Disney on Ice. She especially liked that Elsa and Anna had this special sisterly bond and love for each other, that Anna’s true love’s kiss that saved her life came from Elsa. She also believed with Ariel when Ariel started dreaming about having feet. It was also building up faith when Sofia had to say that Ariel must have prayed for feet that’s why she got them.
I do not think we will ever get tired of watching Disney on Ice. The fun it brings plus the life lessons we get to take home are memories that Sofia and I will share year after year.

write from your own heart, hear from your conversations with God, and it will quiet your fears and it will grant you 200% peace to be joyful at all times.

 

 

Let us thank God for 2015!

In the coming weeks, we will see a wave of year-enders from all around, your TV shows’ episodes in a capsule, 2015 lists of top sellers, box-office hits, and even breakthrough news. Looking back, 2015 has been a year that has given all of us more than enough reasons to thank God for. If you share the same set of blessings, feel free to share 2015 blessings in pictures. As 2016 approaches, it is time again to believe God for what He has planned for the year. Dare to believe for 2016.

Answered Prayer #1: Opportunities to spend time with my husband and kids. I always say that the best time spent this year were the ones we spent at home, but, it was also fun to explore new places with the entire fam! It is when you oohh and aahhh at the same time for the beauty that God has created all around us. Most, if not all, of our best travel time weren’t the most expensive, they were as frugal as going with a long drive to somewhere we have not visited. Remember that it is the experience and lasting memories you are trying to build, in the same way, the most fun activities we have done as a family were the ones that didn’t cost us much (e.g. climbing the biggest tree in Asia, looking at the windmills in Bangui, trying halo halo in Vigan).

Answered Prayer #2: Celebrations, milestones, and breakthroughs were shared over food for 2015! Remembering thanking God with the team over food for my son’s first mission trip, our traditional midnight birthday greetings are usually capped with a simple celebration breakfast the day after, and of course, opportunities to spend time with the best people for our Christmas traditions. It was also fun to take on food projects that took me to enjoying food to a different level. It brought the blessing of upping my taste for flavor and valuable conversation over food!

Answered Prayer #3: Thanking God for being part of a spiritual family that encourages, equips and empowers you. It is also a spiritual family that never go blind with the communities around it. The same love we are getting from Victory Nova has stretched to houses, families and campuses in San Jose. It has taught us how to be a better parent, a better husband/wife, reminding us that everyone is a work in progress, teaching us to respond as how God responds to us in love and generosity.

Answered Prayer #4: Going thirteen years in marriage, it has opened our eyes to regard each other in love, forgiveness and acceptance. It has allowed us to choose which values we want our kids to have, to prioritize or limit the influences we want our kids to be exposed to, all while enjoying each other, discovering each other and not getting tired of each other. Moments when my husband would ask me to close my eyes and dream before God are priceless moments in marriage I will never trade with anything else.

Answered Prayer #5: Just as I thank God for what my husband does as a calling, I also thank God for granting us the best mommy-friendly job I can have. I thank God for the blessings of being part of the best team at work, I thank God for allowing me to learn everyday at work, and to always be on the lookout to push for better things whether for our customers, our employees or for my colleagues. It is my prayer that we can continue to steward the best jobs we have been given whether it is work we need to do at home for our kids or duties we need to perform from our workplaces.