The Philippine Beat

It's not every day that I get to be treated to coffee tasting of a premier kind. I was very lucky to have been invited to this special coffee-tasting experience at one of the existing two Starbucks Reserve branches in the Metro.

At a blogger gathering at the Tomas Morato Starbucks Reserve store, we listened to the Starbucks team, headed by Keith Cole, tell us about these rare coffee beans.

In the Philippines, there are only 4 Starbucks Reserve blends and the coffee beans are extremely rare, limited, and hand-picked for the Reserve brand specifically for their distinctive flavors as well as unusual locales around the world.

Lucky us....we got to try each one of these four rare coffee blends together with special food items that can be found only at the Starbucks Reserve stores and go very well with each cup of Reserve coffee.

The Coffee Masters

Walk into a Starbucks Reserve store, order a cup of Reserve coffee and you'll notice that the barista who will prepare it wears a black apron, unlike the other baristas who don green aprons. They are Starbucks' Coffee Masters. Not all baristas of Starbucks are Coffee Masters. In order to carry the Coffee Master title and wear the black apron, I learned that they had to undergo special training and had to master knowledge of ALL things coffee -- their history, types of beans, locations, varieties, taste, preparation, etc. Whew!

In order to get the most sensory experience from the Reserve blends, the Coffee Masters prepare each cup carefully only upon order. I watched them first place a #2 coffee filter on top of a ceramic brewer and mug set. The beans are ground only when about to be used so that they are fresh all the time. Even before pouring in the ground beans, the Coffee Master preps the filter by pouring hot water over it. I suppose it's a good way to bring out the initial aroma of the coffee beans as these touch the hot, wet filter. Once the filter is wet, coffee beans good enough to make one cup of coffee are poured into the filter and once again, hot water is poured on the ground beans, allowing the liquid coffee to run down a tiny hole in the brewer and into the ceramic mug.

Here's a quick tour of the 4 different Reserve blends and food items so you'd have some idea.

First, the Reserve Coffees

Globally, there are different Starbucks Reserve coffee blends but four of these were specifically chosen for the Philippine coffee lovers.

Starbucks Reserve Sumatra Blue Batak

My first sample came from Sumatra's prized coffee-growing region on the southern shores of Lake Toba. This region is about 3,900-5200 feet high. The variety that the Batak tribe grow there is smooth and earthy with sweet herbal notes, a full body and low acidity. Tasting this one gives you a hint of cacao or dark chocolate.

Starbucks Reserve Zambia Peaberry Terranova Estate

The beans were grown on the rich soil of the Terranova Estate 4,000 feet above the sea. This medium‐bodied coffee with notes of apple and vanilla consists of smaller, handpicked peaberry beans, which are roasted to provide a medium body and acidity that pairs well with citrus, apples, and chocolate. For me, the Zambia Reserve coffee blend was the mildest of all the four blends so if you are looking for great coffee that is not too strong, this is it.

And...better try the Zambia blend soon. I also found out that it will be available for a very limited time only since the beans are now in limited supply. No worries though because another Reserve blend will be taking its place when that happens.

Starbucks Reserve Finca Nuevo Mexico

High in Mexico’s Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountain range sits the El Triunfo Biosphere and Finca Nuevo Mexico family‐owned farm. While much of the lush area is a refuge for rare wildlife, the remaining area produces a bright, complex, uniquely flavored coffee bean.

Of the four blends, I found this blend to be the most acidic. There is a citric taste to it with a hint of the sweetness of brown sugar.

Starbucks Reserve Sun-Dried Ethiopia Yirgacheffe

The district of Yirgacheffe is located 6,000 feet above sea level, a perfect mix of sun, air and soil. We were told that coffee beans here were placed in between berries. No wonder when we tasted the coffee, there was indeed a hint of berries in it. This is my favorite of the four!!!

The Starbucks Reserve coffee blends are not only available within the Reserve stores. They are sold in packs so you can continue to enjoy the coffee experience of these rare coffee beans in the comfort of your own home if you have a coffee press.

What is Reserve Coffee without matching Reserve Food?

To pair off Starbucks Reserve coffee blends with equally great food, Starbucks created six (6) Reserve Exclusive Food to go with the four Reserve Coffee blends.

1. Carrot Muffin - Muffin loaded with carrots, walnuts, and crushed pineapples and topped with cream cheese.

2. Double Chocolate Muffin - Muffin with creamy chocolate truffle and topped with chocolate chunks

3. Granola Cheese Muffin - a muffin packed with crunchy granola and cream cheese filling

4. Blueberry Scone - a light, buttery and moist scone loaded with blueberries

5. Apple Cinnamon Scone - a delicious, moist and buttery scone packed with cinnamon apples

6. Black Pepper and Cheese Scone - a sweet and savory moist scone flavored with cheese and pepper to give it a spice touch.

Just my two cents: The scones are very dense and filling. Order them if you want something that will make you feel very full. Otherwise, if you want something light only, go for the muffins.

There are currently two Starbucks Reserve stores:
* Starbucks Reserve Tomas Morato
* Starbucks Reserve 8 Forbes Town

And more Starbucks Reserve stores are coming soon:
* Starbucks Reserve Keyland Centre
* Starbucks Reserve Central Square
* Starbucks Reserve Signa

Concepcion Industrial Corporation, known for its Carrier product line, has tied up this time with global brand Midea's Consumer Appliances line and has formed Concepcion-Midea Inc. Philippines under the mother brand.

At a recent blogger event, we were introduced to some of the appliances in their product line. If you are one of many busybodies who have to multitask household tasks and juggle work with housework, you'll want to check out these Midea appliances that promise ease, convenience and even savings.

MIDEA REFRIGERATORS

I gravitated immediately towards the Midea refrigerators, ahead of the rest. The innovations in refs of all brands continue to fascinate me and Midea did not disappoint. Both models run on a Turbo Inverter Compressor which lead to cost savings as temperatures are maintained at even levels instead of costly warm-up times.

French Door (Party Ref)

If I had to choose between the two refs on exhibit, this would be my ref of choice. The 20.1 cu. ft. ref is aptly called a party ref because it can store enough food for a party. The two ref doors open outward (just like French doors) to reveal space that is wide enough for a lechon (roasted pig) to fit.

The freezer section is found in 2 lower pull-out drawers. On the left side when you pull out the first freezer drawer, you will find the ice maker. The water that is used to fill the tray is found in the French doors section, a separate container you fill with water. It empties into the ice tray below and forms ice in just a few hours. Without taking the ice tray out, a knob is simply rotated to release the ice cubes into the tray below.

The ice maker is the round object on upper right and it dispenses directly into the tray below.

A very spacious second freezer level

The water container (found in the middle of the ref) that feeds into the ice maker

This model also has what Midea calls a "Keep Fresh" technology to keep fruits and vegetables fresh much longer. It irradiates natural light that keeps fresh items in their natural state longer; a UV light breaks down pesticides normally found in fruits and vegetables.

See those bright lights in the middle? They blink and mimic natural light to keep items fresh longer.

How much can you put into this ref? 20 grocery baskets full.

This French door ref retails for PhP 99,995.

Side by Side Ref (with water dispenser and beverage bar)

This is a 19.2 cu.ft ref that comes with a water dispenser on the left side and a touch-to-open beverage bar on the right side.

The right side of ref, when opened up, has high shelving to allow even a 3-tiered cake to fit inside. Space saving idea? Wine racks conveniently located so they need not take up space in the ref door.

Wine bottles can be put in a rack above the cake instead of in ref door

The beverage bar revealed

This Side by Side ref retails at PhP 72,995 (down from PhP 77,995 effective June 10, 2014).

MIDEA WASHING MACHINES

Midea offers fully automatic models featuring a One Touch feature where all cycles are done with just one touch, leaving you to do other work while the washing machine does everything from wash to rinse to dry cycles. More than that, Midea washing machines have smart sensors which detect the weight of the laundry you put in and automatically fills in just the right amount of water.

Its Quick Wash function also lets you clean a drumful of clothes in as fast as 19 minutes. Midea computed the cost of this feature and they say it translates to just ONE PESO PER LOAD - that is a real cost savings!

Midea also carries semi-automatic washing machines.

SRP Prices:

Fully Automatic:
7kg - PhP 10,995
8kg - PhP 14,995
10kg - PhP 17,995
12kg - PhP 21,995

Semi Automatic:
8kg - PhP 7,995
10kg - PhP 10,195

MIDEA MICROWAVE OVENS

Midea carries both manual and digital microwave ovens.

SRP Prices for Midea microwave ovens:

Digital:
20L - PhP 3,695
25L - PhP 5,495
30L - PhP 5,995

Manual, 20L - PhP 2,995

MIDEA AIRCONDITIONERS

Inverter technology is also used for all Midea airconditioners. I'll update my post once I get the prices for the aircons.

My girl who has lived for some time in China confirms that Midea is a popular and well-respected brand in China. That's good enough for me!

Who says lighting is boring????? Philips Philippines' Lighting Division recently showed me just how exciting their lighting products have become.

By shifting to LEDs, Philips has already moved consumers away from inefficient and more costly lighting into more energy-efficient lighting in offices and homes. And at a recent fun, fun blogger event where they introduced six innovation concepts in lighting, I realized that Philips has crossed from functional, hardware store basics into interior and exterior design that incorporates Flexibility, Controllability, Alternative Energy, Connectivity, Dynamism and Materials Integration elements.

Landmarks here and abroad that are lighted up by Philips LEDs

The whole presentation, featuring the entertaining and funny Gabe Mercado, was seamlessly integrated into a moving diorama that drew us into the mini stories while holding us spellbound as each concept was presented experientially.

Alternative Energy

Wouldn't you love the idea of lights on streets, parks, stadiums brightening up as cars and people move closer to them and dim as you move away? By detecting motion, these kind of lights only go to maximum brightness when they are needed and dim when idle.

Solar-powered LED lighting is what Philips is experimenting with now. Solar panels convert solar energy to electrical energy and store it in the battery. At night, the battery is discharged and electrical energy is released. Philips solar-powered LED lights are easy to install and maintain. In fact their local application which is close to our hearts is in Yolanda-hit areas. With electricity posts down, Philips was able to provide light for Yolanda survivors by harnessing the power of the sun.

Sample of the solar light that Philips used in Yolanda-hit areas

Connectivity

Imagine controlling your lights at home remotely. With Philips Hue, it is already possible to do that using one's smartphone and Android devices. Not only that. You can choose the mood color you want and when you want it turned on.

I can already think of some uses for Philips Hue:
* Mood lighting - red for a party or romantic ambiance, blue to relax and calm you down after a long day, green to rest the eyes, and white for general purposes
* Keep intruders away - turn lights in different rooms on and off even if you are at the office or on a trip so it looks like there are people at home.

Controllability

Who has not fumbled in the dark for a light switch? I have. Not just at home but in the restrooms of restaurants and other public places. Now, how would you like a light switch with presence, light and temperature sensors that detect the body's magnetic field and automatically open with a striking wall-wash lighting effect. Perfect for commercial establishments and high-end residential units, the Antumbra comes in three types of panels -- Antumbra Button, Antumbra Touch, and Antumbra Display -- that allows the user to perform different functions.

Watch this video.

Dynamism

Baguio City Hall. People Power Monument. Transformation Sculpture (BGC). Starbucks on 32nd Ave. (BGC). NLEX. What do they have in common? They are all lighted up by Philips Color Kinetics.

Historical and modern landmarks all over the world are now enhanced with lights that can be changed depending on the occasion. Check out below how the Empire State Building can change.

And right after Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda, locally) hit the Philippines, the Empire State Building lit up with our flag colors in support of all those affected. Here is a screenshot from its Twitter account.

More and more landmarks are starting to use Philips' powerful LED lights and advanced digital control technology to create breathtaking imagery. Used for interiors and exteriors, Color Kinetics transform spaces and trigger the imagination.

Materials Integration

Can you imagine cloth panels that move and come alive with lights? That is now possible with Philips Materials Integration using Kvadrat Soft Cells. In Philips' website, these luminous panels are described as follows:

Luminous textile is a revolutionary new way to enhance interiors with light, texture and dynamic visual content. A totally unique ambient lighting system, it integrates multi-coloured LEDs seamlessly within beautiful white or coloured textile panels. The result is a “mood wall” that can integrate lighting into a building’s architecture and emphasise the concept of any room. And because of the range of fabrics and the sheer flexibility of the content, its creative potential is phenomenal.

Can't imagine it yet? Watch this video and be amazed.

These acoustic textile panels have superior sound absorption, reducing unwanted sounds and limiting sound propagation that causes disturbances from unnecessary noise.

Can you imagine a house of the future where you did not need to paint your walls anymore because the panels can just change color depending on your mood? I sure can!

Flexibility

Organic LEDs (OLEDs) are used by Philips to create an interactive display of lights.

Its Living Shapes mirror, for example, contains OLEDs that sense when someone moves closer to it. When it detects the outline of the person, it shuts off the OLEDs that are in the person's field of vision. It then becomes a mirror with warm lights all around the person's reflection.

Philips also demonstrated its Living Sculpture concept which will be perfect in homes, offices, buildings, clubs, restaurants and just about anywhere where it serves as ever moving brightly lit chandeliers. The design, arrangement, setup and operation of Living Sculpture is totally up to the consumer who can control light in so many different ways. To create the unevenness of each light diode, rods of different lengths are attached to the baseplates with a Lumiblade OLED on top.

With lights moving, changing colors, and transforming shapes, Philips has made lighting not just functional but interactive, mood-changing and fashionable. Designers can arrange three-dimensional arrays of OLEDs in open spaces like ceilings and walls, add movement to any surface, or make panels throb rhythmically or illuminate interactive displays.

The world of infrastructure will totally change in coming years as colorful, moving lights are integrated into art, design and lifestyle.

I'm excited to see the many ways how...

I just got a whole box of Krispy Kreme's new Baked Creations!

I've always loved their Baked Creations because many times when I am running to different places and need to skip breakfast but do not want to be feeling hunger pangs before lunch comes around, it is what sustains me. I remember they had 4 variants before: Cheese, Sausage and Cheese, Bacon and Cheese and Cinnamon.

Now they have 6 new flavors. Let's meet them.

1. Klassic Brioche - A light, classic French bread with a slightly sweet taste

2. Klassic Brioche with Ham - Klassic Brioche but topped with bellpepper, farmers ham, and cheddar cheese

3. Honey Camembert - Sweet dough bread with camembert cheese and honey, topped with roasted walnuts (the honey is contained in a separate dropper so you can squeeze it into the bread yourself)

4. Cube Bread - A light, slightly sweet bread filled with chocolate ganache

5. Heart Danish - A danish pastry sprinkled with sugar coating

6. Custard Kreme - Sweet dough bread topped with creamy custard

Baked Creations are open at all Krispy Kreme branches until 2pm for a minimum price of PhP 50.

Thank you, Krispy Kreme. My family is enjoying the treat.

This is one you would not want to miss at all!

Mark the date - July 29, 2014!

In celebration of the Starbucks card's 1st anniversary, the Philippines is issuing its FIRST EDITION Philippine Starbucks card! Yup, this is our very own country Starbucks card which you won't be able to get anywhere else in the world but HERE! It's a real collectible especially for people like me who have began collecting the cards. In a way, it's also historical, being the first ever Philippine-issued card.

Inspired by our very own Filipino culture and designed just for us, the card features our very own Philippine eagle against a background that looks like our banig (native mat).

In addition, there is an available customized Starbucks tumbler with the very same matching design.

There are limited days to avail of special promos when you buy the Philippine Starbucks card, 1st edition or its matching tumbler, or both. Here goes:

* From July 29-31, 2014 (3 DAYS ONLY!), customers who activate a Philippine Starbucks card with at least PhP 1,500 will get an ADDITIONAL PhP 300 load.

* From July 29-Aug. 31, 2014, every purchase of a Philippine Starbucks Card tumbler (PhP 565) using a Philippine Starbucks card gets one free tall handcrafted beverage.

And here's one more promo, just because it's Starbucks Card's 1st anniversary. On Aug. 7, 2014, all handcrafted beverages purchased using ANY Starbucks card get a complimentary UPSIZE!

Electrolux just launched two (2) fun contests and up for grabs are their popular washing machines.

Simple to Save Contest (Aug. 11 - Sept. 15, 2014)

Electrolux understands that for busy Moms, Dads and even singles living by themselves, doing the laundry can be a daunting task, especially if time is precious for you and saving money is up there in your priority list. . “Electrolux understands that every peso and second counts,” said Andrea Pionilla, Marketing Manager of Electrolux Philippines. “This is the reason behind Delightful-E Simple. We want to help moms save not just money but also their precious time by making their everyday tasks delightfully simple and easy.”

On their Facebook page, Electrolux has a Savings Calculator app. They created this to show us that even small amounts of savings add up. This easy-to-use Facebook app actually helps you track laundry expenses and savings.

Four (4) Electrolux washing machines will be given away to four lucky users. Here's all you need to do.

1. Like the Electrolux Facebook page facebook.com/thelittlewhitebook

2. Calculate your laundry savings using the Savings Calculator

3. Hit the Share button found in the result page

4. In the caption, type in what you plan to buy using your laundry savings and include the hashtags #DelightfulE and #SimpleToSave and post it on your Facebook page.

Simple to Share Contest (Aug. 1 - Sept. 30, 2014)

If you did not know about it, Electrolux has an annual clothes donation drive. But this time, they have brought it to a new level. Instead of just collecting clothes for calamity-stricken survivors, Electrolux has now teamed up with Gawad Kalinga to turn unusable donated clothing into baby quilts! We call that retazo, di ba? That's such a brilliant idea because I know I would have nowhere to donate old prom dresses or party gowns. Why not indeed turn these and other unusable items like torn pants or dresses, save the good parts of the cloth and convert them into usable quilts for babies in orphanages and other communities. Imagine, behind each quilt piece is its own little story. That is really something.

Now, here is how you can not only join the Electrolux contest but also share your own story.

Four Electrolux twin tub washing machines will be given away to four lucky winners who will join the Simple to Share Instagram and Twitter contest. Here are the mechanics:

1. Take a photo of a special piece of clothing you are willing to donate

2. Write down why it's special to you and why you are donating it

3. Use the hashtags #Delightful# and #SimpleToShare and tag @ElectroluxPH when you post the photo on Instagram and/or Twitter

Starting July 29, 2014, Starbucks is introducing a new set of food items, lunch sandwiches and beverages.

For starters, lets check out the lunch sandwiches.

Roasted Chicken Pesto and Shiitake Mushroom on Ciabatta Bread (PhP 165)

This warm sandwich is made of juicy chicken breast fillet tossed with pesto mayo sauce, Shiitake mushroom and melted Emmenthal and cheddar cheese in between Ciabatta bread.

Ratatouille on Cheese Semolina Bread (PhP 160)

Vegetarians, this is for you!

This warm, crusty multigrain bread is stuffed with cheese, spinach, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, Shiitake, and portobello mushrooms, garlic and onions.

Tuna Melt on Dark Multi-Grain Bread (PhP 175)

My personal favorite! I would really recommend that you try this one. Inside the toasted dark wheat bread is healthy classic tuna dill salad (tuna is also called "brain food"), slices of hard-boiled egg, and creamy melted cheese.

Sausage and Peppers Caserole on Cornmeal Bread (PhP 170)

Sliced sausages and bell peppers cooked in tomato Italian sauce is topped with cheddar cheese and spread inside cornmeal bread.

Ham and Egg Salad on Challah Bread (PhP 175)

Inside this Challah bread topped with sesame seeds are juicy slices of ham, tomatoes and creamy, tangy egg salad. I love egg salad so next to the Tuna Melt, this is my sandwich of choice.

Grilled Ham and Three Cheese on Whole Wheat Bread (PhP 175)

A returning favorite, those who missed this will welcome back this grilled cheese sandwich containing 3 different kinds of cheeses: Emmenthal, Mozzarella and Cheddar Cheese) and juicy sliced ham. Italian herbed butter subtly seasons the whole wheat bread.

Now, let's see the new dessert concoctions and food items…

Mango Coconut Sans Rival Cake (Slice - PhP 125; Whole - PhP 1,150)

The combination of sweet and smooth mango butter cream icing is combined with toasted coconut shards and three layers of crunchy and chewy meringue wafer.

Double Chocolate Salted Caramel Cookie (PhP 60)

A must try as far as I'm concerned, this dessert is made of chewy chocolate cookie liberally studded with roasted walnuts, chunks of dark and milk chocolate, gooey caramel squares and finished with a dash of sea salt. This is a perfect snack any time of the day.

Bacon Parmesan Stromboli (PhP 120)

This is a golden brown, crispy, flaky and buttery pastry crust filled with bacon, tomato, parmesan and mozzarella cheese and topped with chopped parsley.

Chicken Tex-Mex Wrap (PhP 170)

Enjoy a warm, soft tortilla filled with chicken breast fillet, roasted squash, corn, red beans, and finished with pimiento dressing and freshly chopped cilantro.

And of course, there are the new beverages (till September 15, 2014 only!)…

Tiramisu Frappuccino

Tall - PhP 180; Grande - PhP 190; Venti - PhP 200

This frappe features blended coffee flavored with Tiramisu sauce then topped with bits of biscuits, cheesecake-inspired whipped cream, Tiramisu sauce drizzle and a dusting of cocoa powder.

Banana Raspberry Frappuccino

Grande - PhP 170; Venti - PhP 180

This got me at "FRUITS!!!" The Banana Raspberry frappe Raspberry Blackcurrant juice with milk and a freshly peeled banana. Just the right beverage for one like me who chooses healthy.

Mobility, accessibility and flexibility now dominate working conditions. Employers and employees alike now have access to digital technology that allow them to work while on the go. With office space also at an all-time high, it does not make sense for micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), single proprietorships, or even bloggers like myself to plunk in a large chunk of money for permanent office space when my work requires me to be mobile.

This has given birth to the concept of co-working spaces, also known as virtual offices. Everything is shared: office space, secretarial services, meeting rooms, conference rooms, internet connection, phone/email/fax services, and even a pantry. You get all the benefits of a real office and you need not even worry about human resources, property management or medical/dental benefits, among others, because these are taken care of by flexible, reasonably priced plans that suit even the smallest budgets.

Bonifacio Global City (BGC) and Makati are two business districts where co-working spaces are flourishing but I won't be surprised to see these in all business districts eventually. It is a logical step and a must in townships where commercial spaces are expensive but where people need to converge.

Recently I discovered vOffice, a fairly new virtual office in the Philippines with its first 2 co-working spaces located at prestigious buildings in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), and another vOffice co-working space that just opened in the Makati Avenue area near J. P. Rizal St.

While new in the Philippines, vOffice isn't new in the virtual office concept. They've been around since 2003 and have virtual office spaces in other countries like Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, UK and Vietnam.

There is nothing like visuals so let me give you a quick grand tour of vOffice at One Global Place along 25th Street and 5th Avenue, BGC.

Professional reception and secretarial services are provided behind this modern desk

vOffice has 24/7 secretarial services to serve clients who may need to work round-the-clock or who may be expecting calls from overseas at all hours of the day or night. When I signed up for a Platinum plan, I got my own personal local telephone and fax numbers. I even got to customize how they would answer when someone calls me on my personal number. Right after someone calls my number, they also notify me via SMS or email (I specify which) about the call. Calls can also be forwarded to my own mobile number for free.

Cubby holes for our mail

They accept parcels for us as well!

I can also receive faxes through vOffice. Concerned about the privacy of fax content? No worries because my incoming fax is processed by their secure fax server and instantly sent to my email. No one in vOffice has access to, or gets copies of, my faxes.

This lobby is so inviting, comfy and great even for meetings and mobile work

A plan holder is free to use the lobby to meet clients if the meeting rooms or conference rooms are fully booked. This happened to me once. I was in the area and needed a work space but because I did not reserve in advance, the rooms were all booked. No problem. I sat on one of these high-backed upholstered chairs and still got to work. The chair's design was well thought out because each one had its own electrical outlet. No low batt problems!

This modern work chair even has an upholstered back for more working comfort!

And guess what….the chair even has phone jacks and an electrical outlet for charging on the fly!

These chairs are perfect for curling up in! haha….

Awesome state-of-the-art conference room where teleconferencing & important meetings can take place

For seminars and large meetings, this conference is perfect. Those high-backed executive chairs are just like those I used to sit on in executive meetings when I was still in the corporate world. This room comes with a large glass board for writing on, with a sliding panel that reveals a Smart TV for presentations and Skype videoconferencing. The use of a projector is also free for conferences.

Co-working office spaces like these provide privacy as well as complete communications access

Office space for longer-term tenants

This is me, working inside one of the meeting rooms. And so nice to be served coffee by a secretary, hehe...

I found out that some companies are here for the long haul. Some of the office spaces like the picture below are reserved long-term. It really makes perfect sense for small companies that want to use most of their capital and people for operations rather than bother with admin work and incur expensive rental overhead for exclusive office space. vOffice even offers business concierge services such as company formation, tax advisory, accounting & auditing, patent & trademark and more.

Microwave oven, coffee maker, stand ref, hot and cold water are among the pantry's amenities

View of Bonifacio Global City from the pantry window

Another cost-saver that I truly appreciate is the free-flowing coffee and water as well as free use of pantry space. I still enjoy going to a coffee shop once in a while but when I want to do real work, the noise levels in a coffee shop are not exactly conducive to concentration. In vOffice, I can even work in the pantry undisturbed, with unlimited FREE coffee to boot.

Reserving conference rooms or meeting rooms is easy because all those with plans get access to a web portal where you can easily check available dates. Indicate the date/time you want and it is reserved for you. That easy.

And one thing more. My use of vOffice work space is not limited to the Philippines. If I am abroad and happen to be in a country where vOffice is located, I can also use my plan's hours to work there.

Want to guess how much this prestigious office address, with all its office amenities and secretarial services cost?

You can choose to get a Silver, Gold or Platinum plan. Rates can go for as low as PhP 1,200 a month to a reasonable PhP 3,320 a month. They also have longer term packages for 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months which bring down the monthly cost even more. Tell me, where can you find such ridiculously low prices if you were to get your own brick-and-mortar space?

I'll tell you more about my co-working space experience in future posts. But right now, I am just glad that the concept of an office has expanded to accommodate people like me who need mobility and a professional working/meeting space.

vOffice
One Global Place
Level 10-1, 25th Street & 5th Avenue
Bonifacio Global City
Telephone (63-2) 224-2000
Email: cs@voffice.com.ph
Website: www.vOffice.com.ph
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/voffice.com.ph
Twitter: twitter.com/vofficeph

I've had dengue. Two of my kids have had dengue. And one of them (and me) had to have blood plasma transfusions. I can still remember the feeling of having absolutely no energy and no appetite. And when my kids had it, it was doubly difficult for me to watch them, praying that the virus would just run its course without anything worse happening to them. I actually had friends who lost their child to dengue.

Although known to be a tropical country disease, dengue is surprisingly making its way into colder countries. Japan, just recently, was reported to have found cases of dengue among their citizens. Climate change is now spreading the risk of this mosquito-borne disease far and wide, beyond tropical boundaries. At the moment there is no dengue vaccine that is commercially available although recent news talk about one that is being developed.

Dengue is the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne disease in the world and is more rampant in tropical countries such as the Philippines. The Aedes Aegypti mosquito, usually seen in the early hours of the morning and early evening, and has white stripes on its legs, affects more children than adults. Those at higher risk are children aged one to nine years old.

Dengue can present itself with symptoms similar to other diseases -- high fever that comes and goes, headaches, nausea and vomiting, appetite loss, abdominal pain, muscle and joint aches, rashes, and even bleeding so oftentimes it can be difficult to diagnose at the onset because sometimes it can even look like flu at first.

The alarming number of cases diagnosed in the Philippines, as well as the number of deaths, is really of concern to parents like me. I was shocked to learn that in 2013, a total of 204,906 dengue cases were diagnosed, with 660 deaths while in 2014, 24,800 dengue cases have already been reported with 100 deaths. (Source: ToDOH Laban sa Dengue brochure)

(L-R): Jeofrey Yulo (GM of GSK), DOH rep, and Dr. Sally Gatchalian

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has partnered with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Pediatric Society in spearheading a campaign, "Aksyon Laban sa Dengue: A Dengue Fever Awareness and Education Program". They've also set up a Barangay Caravan which will bring these efforts down to the grassroots level. I think this campaign is laudable because it is those in the grassroots level most exposed to breeding grounds of the dengue mosquito. They are also the ones least likely to immediately bring their kids to the hospital because of cost considerations.

Dr. Sally Gatchalian

Dr. Sally Gatchalian, secretary of the Philippine Pediatric Society, gave tips on how to take care of a patient who is already diagnosed with dengue:

1. Professional help is required for severe cases of dengue.
2. Supportive care should be given to patients to complement hospital treatment - While the patient is letting dengue run its course, the only thing that can help, aside from proper hydration, is managing the fever.
3. Do not give steroids - The WHO has recommended paracetamol as the recommended analgesic treatment for dengue fever. Aspirin and ibuprofen are NOT recommended since they may aggravate bleeding.
4. Regularly monitor platelets.
5. Keep detailed records of fluid intake and outputs.

Dr. Sally also enumerated the 4S of Dengue Prevention, according to the DOH:

1. Search and destroy source of stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed - Mosquitoes breed in clear water. Some things you can do - change water in vases once a week, clean your roof's drain pipes, clean the inside and outside of pails and other receptacles, ensure that no water is left in dish holders of refrigerators, cover all water reservoirs, and overturn all receptacles used for storing water.
2. Seek immediate consultation if child has fever lasting more than 2 days. - Remember…give paracetamol, not aspirin or ibuprofen!
3. Say yes to discriminate fogging only when there is an epidemic. - If done properly, fogging can also kill mosquitoes aside from driving them away. But they are only recommended in cases of outbreak and during peak biting time.
4. Self protection measures. - Use mosquito nets, apply insect repellant, and where possible, wear long-sleeved shirts.

Calpol, GSK's paracetamol product, is specially designed to provide relief from the discomfort of high fever, chills and pain that plagues mostly children. Since paracetamol is widely suited to most people, it is considered safe even for children, if used as directed.

Calpol is available in three different formulations:
* 100mg/mL infant drops 10mL (for 0-2 yrs old, PhP 49.25)
* 120mg/5mL suspension for 2-6 yrs old, 60ml (PhP 80.50) & 120mL (PhP 133.75)
* 250mg/mL suspension 60mL (for 6-12 yrs old, PhP 123.75).
It is also available in two (2) flavors: orange and strawberry.

Watch out for the “Aksyon Laban sa Dengue” caravan which is set to visit barangays within Metro Manila identified with high cases of dengue incidence. The DOH will initially facilitate the training of health practitioners to discuss new incidences and trends as well as prevention and treatment of dengue. The Philippine Pediatric Society health committee will then cascade the dengue modules to the selected barangays. GSK, on the other hand, will be bringing doctors to the areas to lead the dengue information campaign so that Filipinos can protect their loved ones from this deadly disease.

My SoMoms friends and I had a chance to dine at the recently opened Akira restaurant at the ground floor of Robinsons Magnolia mall.

Akira's facade

With my SoMoms mommy friends

Named after a fictional story on the legendary Japanese teppanyaki chef Akira who fought the fire god Kagutsuchi to save his beloved Sayuri, Akira likewise does not just provide great Japanese food but does so with savoir faire and art as its teppanyaki chefs deftly handle the cooking utensils. Teppan means iron plate; yaki means grilled, broiled, or pan-fried (source: Wikipedia).

All 4 branches of Akira have different themes, unlike many restos that look almost the same wherever you go. This Robinsons Magnolia branch was made to look more traditional with authentic Japanese picture frames, curtains and other decor.

Our lunch began with Akira rolls which contain real softshell crab meat, kani, grated cheese, spicy mayo, tobiko, and topped with tempura bits. I so wanted to try this but was afraid since I'm allergic to crab meat.

Akira rolls

Next we were shown the authentic Wagyu beef imported directly from Japan which Akira serves to all its customers.

No scrimping. That's Wagyu beef direct from Japan.

What followed next was a fascinating demonstration of teppanyaki demonstration. We had one of the more skilled teppanyaki chefs of Akira give us a demonstration. Check this video out.

This was what my share of lunch looked like. Trust me, the Wagyu beef was extraordinarily tender and tasty. That's why the picture didn't show much of it left. Hahaha...

For dessert, we also had tempura ice cream (3 scoops of ice cream topped with whipped cream and maraschino cherry, with banana tempura on the sides). My photo did not look so nice so I am grabbing an official photo from Akira's Facebook page.

Tempura ice cream (photo courtesy of Akira's Facebook page)

And as a lovely end to a gastronomic feast, we were lucky that a musician trained in the Koto, one of Japan's traditional musical instruments, was around. He was practicing for the following Sunday's show at Akira but I felt so lucky hearing it playing while we were having lunch. It made my experience all the more authentically Japanese.

Akira
Ground Floor, Robinsons Magnolia
Aurora Blvd. cor. Dona Hemady St.
Quezon City
Tel (02) 809-1234
Other branches: Shangri-la Plaza (654-3920), Alphaland Makati Place (0917-706-7328), Burgos Circle (550-2164)
Also visit their Facebook page

I was luckier than most growing up. I had oily skin. But at my age now, reality is setting in. I'm losing my oily skin and finding that many parts of my body are more dry. Once, I went to church without putting lotion on my upper arms and to my horror, I found my skin was dry in some places. Ewwww!

The first thing that people notice when they meet you is usually your eyes and your skin. The skin is an organ and... the largest one in our body!!! Your state of health and well-being is shown not only in your eyes but also in the skin. Smooth and supple skin is a sign of health and youth.

While there is nothing we can do about aging, there are a lot of things we can do to keep our skin from premature aging and even postpone the symptoms of aging like dry skin, brown spots, wrinkles and the like. With dry skin comes not only ugly scales but oftentimes, the discomfort of itchy and sensitive skin.

Lotions and moisturizers are a-plenty in the market. There are all kinds of brands and types to choose from. Many lotions moisturize skin on the surface but only for short while. They also do not really address what is going on UNDER the skin.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), makers of Physiogel, recently launched the Free In My Skin Movement that aims to free women like me who are now starting to experience the onset of dry, sensitive skin. Physiogel variants all have the patented advanced BioMimic Technology which mimics our skin's matrix-like natural lipid layers of skin that help lock in moisture. This allows Physiogel to repair dehydrated skin, rehydrate the essential barriers and revitalize the skin.

Physiogel incorporates lipids from plant sources that are similar to those found in our skin

Present at the launch of the Free In My Skin Movement was model, TV host and entrepreneur Patti Grandidge, who was just the right person to lead this movement, having been a woman who also experienced sensitive, itchy, red and dry skin.

Patti Grandidge

Have you ever experienced applying moisturizing cream or lotion on your skin only for the effect to wear off before your day is over?

Just check these shots I took of my hand when a Physiogel lady gave me the Moisture Check.

Before doing anything, she told me that I had to score above 40 if I had well-moisturized skin. I thought I'd be okay. After all, before coming to the event, I had applied lotion on my skin after my bath. Well, well, well, this was my initial score after she tested me with the Moisture Checker…

…and the verdict is…

…an embarrassing 26!!! Aarrgh!

So from the time I applied the lotion, to the time I got to the event, given the strong airconditioning inside the hotel's function room, my skin dried up again!

Next, the lady applied Physiogel cleanser on my hand. What's fascinating about this cleanser is that it can be washed off with water or simply wiped off with cotton so it acts as a leave-on skin moisturizer! I didn't know THAT!

Immediately after applying the cream, I was checked again. My Moisture Check score jumped.

10-pt improvement right away!

Next, she applied the Physiogel cream over the area just cleaned. The cream is good for overnight applications or on days when you have nowhere to go and you just want your skin to bask in moisturizing goodness. It feels a bit oily because it is meant to keep your skin bathed.

Not as big a leap but still, an improvement!

Lastly, she applied Physiogel lotion on my forearm. The lotion variant is greaseless so it is best when you need to go out and do not want to feel gooey or oily. But the effect on the skin is powerful.

43.1 -- fully moisturized!!!

This is what GSK has to say about the Free in My Skin Movement:

The Free in My Skin Movement aims to empower women to fully embrace and participate in life by freeing them from dry and sensitive skin, because having dry and sensitive skin can serve as a hindrance for women to fully function to their best abilities. This movement also aims to honor smart, strong, sensitive women who have faced their insecurities (physically and emotionally) and are now embracing and living life to the fullest.

I cannot name all the smart, strong and sensitive women who have been, and still are, a part of my life. But I honor them. Their circumstances are all different but what binds them together is the determination to rise above their circumstances.

I join all the women who have experienced dry and sensitive skin at one time or another. Feel ko kayo! But now that I am using Physiogel daily, on my face, neck, and arms, I really feel the difference. You should try it also and see how it empowers you and raises your confidence level knowing that your skin is constantly nourished, repaired and kept from premature aging.

Visit Physiogel's website and social media accounts
Website: www.physiogel.ph
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/PhysiogelPH
Twitter: @PhysiogelPH

Do you know anyone who is a math wizard? Then give them and their school a heads-up to join the recently lauched search for the Top Outstanding Young Mathematicians 2015 (TOYM).

In the latest World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Competitiveness Report for 2013-14, the Philippines was ranked 96th out of 142 countries in perceived quality of Math and Science education. While that is a considerable improvement from 115th in a similar report for 2011-12, it is no comfort to know we lag far behind Hongkong (10th), Taiwan (11th), Malaysia (27th), Japan (34th) and even Indonesia (35th). Singapore, as usual, continues to top this list. We can, and should, do more to inspire more young people to excel in Math and the sciences.

My youngest son loved Math. In fact, for a few years, he participated in the Mathematics Trainers Guild (MTG) Philippines and Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines (MTAP) programs. On his second year in high school, the school shifted to Singapore Math. It was a huge leap…and a great one at that, on hindsight.

The importance of Math cannot be overemphasized. Beyond just being a subject that many consider challenging, Math is present in our daily lives. Wherever we turn, whatever we do, there is always an element of Math in life. But for the Philippines to be more competitive in this field, we need to provide an environment that nurtures smart minds and makes them strive for excellence in Math.

Sharp Calculators, through Collins International Trading Corporation, had launched a SHARP Minds program 6 years ago in partnership with MTG and MTAP, to uplift the standard of education, particularly in the teaching of Math subjects.

Mr. Lucero Ong, AVP-Collins International Trading Corp.

This year, Sharp Calculators goes one step further by partnering with several organizations to launch the search for the TOYM in the National Capital Region (NCR): Department of Education-NCR, Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), Mathematics Trainers' Guild Philippines (MTG), Mathematical Society of the Philippines (MSP), and the Philippine Council of Mathematics Educators, Inc. (MathTEd).

What are the mechanics of the nomination?

1. High school students from public and private schools in NCR who have completed at least 2 years of high school can be nominated. They must be Filipino citizens, natural-born or naturalized.
2. The nominee must be among the Top 3 students in Math as certified by the school principal.
3. The award will be based primarily on the nominee's performace in national and international competitions recognized by the Department of Education or Department of Science and Technology.
4. Presentations or publications of original work in mathematics are desirable.
5. Students who contribute to the promotion of Mathematics and show leadership skills are desirable. Good moral character will be considered.

What criteria will judges use?

The judging criteria is as follows:

What is the screening process?

The Deliberation/Final interview of finalists will be conducted by representatives from DepEd NCR, DOST-SEI, MTG Philippines, MSP and MathTEd.

The deadline for nominations will be on January 5, 2015 with awarding ceremonies scheduled on February 2015. Nomination period is November 3, 2014 to January 10, 2015. Nomination kits are now available at select National Book Store branches in NCR. You can also download these from www.sharpminds.ph.

The people behind the search pose with emcee Atom Araullo

For me, this is the start of recognizing young math minds and inspire them to achieve even more. I hope that future search tilts will also include a search for underprivileged, but math smart, kids so they can also be recognized and given a chance at a better life. Imagine, we have poor Pinoys who can be somebody someday if given a unique chance, just like this kid I saw featured on TV Patrol and whose video I found on YouTube. Impressive!

Hepatitis B is a silent killer. Many Filipinos may be carriers of this virus without manifesting any symptoms. In the Philippines, Hepatitis B affects about 16.7% of adult Filipinos. That translates to approximately 8 million people! If not treated, the hepatitis B virus (HBV) can develop into chronic liver disease leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer. In more than two-thirds of all liver cancer cases in the Philippines, the cause is Hepatitis B, making it the second leading cancer killer here.

Young mothers should be especially vigilant against HBV because the most common way of being infected is through the passing of the virus from mother to child. This is not something many mothers know because HBV is more known for being contracted via blood transfusion.

For this reason, the Hepatology Society of the Philippines launched the B Aware Campaign which aims "to inform and holistically educate Filipinos about the disease so they can gain sufficient knowledge regarding this very common infection, and take action" says Dr. Eternity Labio, President of the Hepatology Society of the Philippines.

What are the steps that should be taken to protect one's self and one's children against Hepatitis B?

1. Be Tested - The most important first step is to go for testing

2. Be Vaccinated - Someone who tests negative can receive vaccination to prevent themselves from getting the infection. Parents are reminded to have their infants vaccinated within 24 hours of birth (this is different from when my own kids were still babies. We had to wait several months before giving the 3 HBV shots to them). This vaccine is mandatory under R.A. 10152 and is free for all infants. Vaccination at birth is the most effective way to prevent lifelong infection and liver cancer.

3. Be Treated - If you test positive, steps must be taken to prevent transmission of the infection as well as to prevent its complications to the liver. Ask your doctor if you need treatment. There are effective medications available to treat HBV.

World Health Organization and Hepatology Society of the Philippines members

Another concern over HBV is the seeming discrimination against those who have contracted it. According to Dr. Labio, one of the medical tests administered to those applying for employment here and abroad is a test for HBV. While the HIV test is still optional, the one for HBV is mandatory. It then puts those who test positive at a disadvantage in relation to other applicants. She says that there is still a lot that needs to be done to make people change this negative perception against HBV

The Hepatology Society of the Philippines invites Filipinos to join them in their B Aware Campaign. First, to educate the public on what it is all about, its symptoms, vaccines and treatments. Second, to get people to actually be tested, vaccinated and treated. And third, to change negative perception towards those who have contracted it.

Before anything else, new seasonal lattes are here again! Hot or cold, these 2 lattes are sure to be enjoyable so I'm trying them next time I go to Starbucks.

French Vanilla Latte

The French Vanilla Latte is the first one I want to try because vanilla has always been a favorite flavor of mine. Just imagine the Espresso Roast complemented by steamed milk and creamy French Vanilla sauce with mild custard notes. The beverage is topped with whipped cream, vanilla bean specks and dark chocolate curls.

Dark Caramel Latte

The Dark Caramel Latte is espresso, steamed milk, and creamy dark caramel sauce topped with whipped cream and a custardy caramel flan drizzle.

And there's more! How would you like a chance to win 30 days of Starbucks Mmm-oments?

How to join: Just purchase a pack of Starbucks VIA® Latte with your registered Starbucks Card and earn a chance to win a one month treat of your favorite handcrafted beverage. You have 3 flavor options:

Mechanics:

The Starbucks VIA® Latte Raffle Promo will run from October 15 to 31, 2014.
To join the promo, customers must purchase any 4-pack Starbucks VIA® Latte using a registered Starbucks Card within the promo period.
Every valid purchase of a 4-pack Starbucks VIA® Latte will automatically earn one (1) raffle entry.
There is no limit to the number of raffle entries a customer can earn.
There will be ten (10) winners in the raffle draw. Each winner will receive thirty (30) Tall beverage coupons applicable on any handcrafted beverage.
Customers can only win once in the raffle draw.
The raffle draw will be done electronically through a random generator program. The raffle draw will be held on November 3, 2014 in the Rustan Coffee Corporation’s Head Office in Makati City at 5pm.
The winners will be notified through registered mail declaring him/her as a winner. Name of winners will be announced in the Starbucks Philippine Facebook fanpage at https://www.facebook.com/StarbucksPhilippines.
All employees of Rustan Coffee Corporation and Rustan Group of Companies including their relatives up to second degree of consanguinity or affinity are disqualified from joining the promotion.

How winners claim prize:

Mega-Manila winners

Winners must visit Rustan Coffee Corporation (G/F Urban Bldg. 405 Sen.Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City) and look for Ms. Jamie Silva to claim their prize.

Provincial winners

Prizes of provincial winners will be sent through courier.

Important reminders for claiming

To claim the prize, the winner must present a valid ID and the verification letter. Claiming period is within 60 days from receipt of registered notice.
Unclaimed Tall beverage coupons after the claiming period will be forfeited.
Redemption period of Tall beverage coupon is valid in all Starbucks stores nationwide from November 4, 2014 to December 31, 2015.

Per DTI-FTEB SPD Permit #3224, Series of 2014.

Are you in between jobs? Were you forced by circumstance to leave your job to take care of your family? Are you looking for something to augment your income? Are you retired or semi-retired and looking for something meaningful to fill up some of your time?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, then this post is for you.

At one blogger event in the past with a BPO, I raised a question with them. I told them that there was an untapped labor force in this country - the thousands of well-educated, English-speaking, degree holders who have opted for different reasons to quite their office jobs and take care of the family. While a majority of these are married women with small kids, there are a good number of single people who have elderly parents and even husbands who have reversed roles with their working wives. While the BPO's executives agreed with me, they said their present constraint was the kind of communications security required of their business which working from home would not be able to fulfill. Understandable. Still, the fact remains that there is a growing untapped labor force in the home.

Now comes a chance to tap that untapped market. And bring job opportunities back to this labor force.

51Talk (pronounced FiveOneTalk) is based in China. A premier online English school, it was founded in 2011 by Huang Jia-Jia and Shu Ting. Formerly called Talk China, 51Talk is now found in Beijing and Shanghai in China, and in Metro Manila and Baguio in the Philippines. As a major economic power, China is realizing the importance of being able to communicate in English and is strongly encouraging its citizens to learn the language.

I know of several teachers who left the Philippines and now teach English in China. But why leave the country to teach English if one can do it from here? That is the edge that 51Talk gives. Their presence here definitely brings job opportunities to our homes. And why not? We are blessed with many well-educated, English-speaking Filipinos. And…the requirement for connectivity is not as stringent as those required by BPOs.

51Talk calls this Make the Choice, the company's movement that signifies a jump to a more digital approach. Now, Filipinos are given an alternative career to office work and allowing them a chance for a more balanced family life. People can now opt to work from home -- a huge relief for those who have long had to bear with hours of commute and traffic. Because the classrooms are online, educators can schedule their teaching time around their daily routine and family tasks. By cutting down commute time, online educators have more time with the family and can experience flexible working hours.

Three well-known names in their own fields were chosen to represent 51Talk as its brand ambassadors.

(L-R): DJ Delamar Arias, 51Talk COO Shu Ting, Jim Paredes, Michele Gumabao

Jim Paredes is one of them. Jim, not many people may know, is not just one of the APO Hiking Society trio, but is a teacher as well (I've attended one of his classes out of curiosity, actually). He is very effective in engaging his students through his classes and workshops on life and is very active on social media. Jim was very positive about 51Talk. He kept emphasizing that the Philippines is rich in English-speaking people. He considers this a source of pride for us that we are able to teach English to another country. It is also great, he says, that there are opportunities to work from home, just as you would in an office, without the commute and without the time difference (because China is in the same time zone as the Philippines).

For Michele Gumabao, an athlete, a health and wellness advocate, she was inspired to see Chinese people wanting to learn English and believes that 51Talk will allow the convergence and exchange of cultural ideas. She says that working from home gives a big opportunity to those who want to do so while taking care of their families.

And for Delamar Arias, an award-winning DJ, and a mother, she sees 51Talk as a wonderful way for mothers to earn. She says it's important that even a stay-at-home mom can keep her self-esteem intact by earning for herself and for the family as well.

Teach -- Learn -- Earn

This is a great opportunity for all those who have a lot of spare time at home and meet the minimum required internet speed connectivity.

Basically what is expected of the online educators? You will be a teacher to interested Chinese students who want to learn the English language. You will be asked to evaluate your students' performance based on established guidelines. If you have wired DSL access to the internet with a minimum speed of 1.5MBPS and a Skype ID, you're qualified to apply.

It's so easy. As an applicant, you just have to pass these 4 steps in order to become an online educator.

Just to give you an idea of 51Talk, here are some trivia:

* Online educators come from different educational backgrounds. 51Talk even has educators from the nursing field!

* The teaching is geared towards American English.

* There are different packages, the shortest of which is 6 months, then 1 year and 3 years. An adviser will provide a student with advice on which package is best suited for his learning goals.

* 51Talk programs are divided into General English - reading, speaking, writing; programs for exams like TOEFL; and, programs for Business. The programs are geared towards improving communication skills rather than a certificate program.

* Curriculum development team is based in both Beijing and Manila

* Training programs for educators - new applicants begin with several days of teacher training (orientation, Chinese culture, how to teach, communication/teaching skills). Months after there are other kinds of training for the educators.

* 51Talk now has over 2,000 online educators in the Philippines.

Find 51Talk online on their social media accounts:

Website: www.51talk.com/ph/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/51Talk
YouTube: www.youtube.com/51Talk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/51TalkPH
Instagram: www.instagram.com/51TalkPH
Tumblr: www.51talk.tumblr.com

It's that time of the year again when Starbucks goes all out for the Christmas season and the new year!!! (Note: This will be a looooong post with lots of Starbucks goodness inside.)

The much awaited 2015 Starbucks Planners

It's here!!! I know you are all waiting with bated breath to find out what the 2015 Starbucks planners look like. This is the 12th edition of the planners since it began. You're getting first dibs before it comes out next week. Take your first glimpse!

Presenting the 2015 Starbucks planners with matching Starbucks double-sided pens!

Each planner is wrapped in a water-resistant apron cloth cover (green, black, red and brown). Just imagine that each planner cover has the exact same apron cloth that Starbucks baristas actually use. The planner also comes with a name tag bookmark, a coffee pin bookmark and a chalk pen with highlighter. One end of the pen has a chalk nib so you can write your name on the name tag bookmark to personalize it. The other end is a thick highlighter nib which smells like coffee. Really nice touch!

My favorite of the 4 - an embroidered version of the Starbucks siren

World Map of the Coffee Belt

A page spread for memories, complete with stickers

Monthly summary page

15 coupons to make you enjoy even more Starbucks goodness

How to get your 2015 Starbucks planner:

1. Get your Starbucks Christmas Traditions promo card from Nov. 3, 2014 to Jan. 8, 2015.
2. 18 stickers (9 Christmas beverages, 9 core handcrafted beverages) are needed to redeem one 2015 Starbucks planner.
3. A shortcut way to redeem it without filling up the promo card with stickers is through a single-purchase receipt worth PhP 7,000 of Starbucks merchandise, whole beans or VIA latte. (Note: This is a change from last year. Starting this year, you can't get the planner via bulk purchases of gift certificates or Starbucks card load/reload.)
4. Redemption of the 2015 Starbucks planner is from Nov. 3, 2014 to March 8, 2015 at Starbucks stores within the Philippines only.

The first Starbucks Mini Card and 2 Christmas Starbucks cards

The Starbucks Mini Card (center) beside the two 2014 Starbucks cards

A first in the Philippines is a Starbucks mini card that has all the features of the regular-sized cards. This is a true collectible because only a limited number of such cards are going to be available. It comes with a tiny strap allowing many ways of carrying it, including as a mobile phone hanging decor. The mini card is available at a slightly higher consumable load of PhP 500 because of limited supply and the expected demand for it as a collectible. I'm sure this isn't a problem for regular Starbucks lovers.

Available at an initial consumable load of PhP 500

The two regular-sized Christmas Starbucks cards feature a holiday tree and a snowman. These are similar to last year's Christmas themed Starbucks card but redrawn in a different way.

The two Christmas 2014 Starbucks cards, available at initial consumable load of PhP 300

Starbucks Card Activation Promo (Nov. 3-5, 2014)

Here are the mechanics from Starbucks:

1. NOTE: This promo runs only from November 3 to 5, 2014 in all Starbucks stores in the Philippines.

2. Customers who activate a new Starbucks Card within this promo period with at least PhP 1,500 gets an additional PhP 300 load.

3. This promo applies only to newly activated Starbucks Cards (any design, including mini card). Reloaded Starbucks Cards are NOT included.

4. Customers cannot use a Starbucks Card or Gift Certificate to activate a Starbucks Card.

5. There is no limit to the number of Starbucks Cards a customer can activate.

6. The additional PhP 300 load must be loaded on the same Starbucks Card activated.

7. If a customer would like to activate a Starbucks Card with PhP 10,000, the customer should only shoulder the cost of PhP 9,700; the PhP 300 balance will be complimentary.

8. This promo cannot be availed in conjunction with other promotions.

Per DTI-FTEB SPD Permit No. 3670 Series of 2014

Starbucks Card Gift Pack (Dec. 1-3, 2014)

Do your Christmas shopping from December 1 to 3, 2014 in all Starbucks stores in the Philippines!

Starbucks cards now come in gift packs of six (6), each loaded with PhP 300 and selling at a special price of PhP 1,500 within the promo period. Each pack of 6 includes the following designs:

Holiday Tree Card
Snowman Card
Philippine Eagle Card
Cold Cups Card
Coffee Cups Card (2 pcs)

Starbucks Cards within a gift pack cannot be sold individually or interchanged with other designs. A Starbucks Card or Gift Certificate also cannot be used to purchase a gift pack.

To load a higher amount on each Starbucks Card, the gift pack must be purchased first, then reloaded in a separate transaction. This promo cannot be availed of with other promotions or discounts. (Per DTI-FTEB SPD Permit No. 3668 Series of 2014)

Starbucks Christmas Merchandise

From November 10 to December 7, 2014, select Christmas merchandise will be featured with different offers each week. Time your Christmas shopping to take advantage of the promos and discounts.

See the table below for the different weekly promos:

Note that this promo can't be combined with other offers or discounts and are only valid in Starbucks stores in the Philippines. (Per DTI-FTEB SPD Permit No. 3672 Series of 2014)

The sari-sari stores that we know have been a part of Philippine life for decades. It's everywhere -- those houses in our neighborhood that use whatever little frontage they have to sell canned goods, bread, chichirya (chips), softdrinks, cigarettes, and whatever else. We even have a sari-sari just two houses away from my home!

The physical sari-sari stores are what I call the earliest form of the 7-11 convenience stores. They are the run-to places when you find yourself craving for something to eat when stores are closed. Or the place you buy eggs from when you suddenly run out and it's just not worth a trip to the grocery. Or even the saving grace when a holiday shuts down all stores and you need to buy a few things.

This was what SimpleSoft CEO Ernell DyLim had in mind when he named his online site, SariSariStore.com after our iconic Filipino one-stop-shop. DyLim realized that there are consumers looking for certain products and merchants selling these products but there was no central place where they could meet. And oftentimes, cost was a big factor for the merchants to bring their goods to market. Thus, his site was born out of this need.

But even as this online platform grew in popularity, DyLim felt that there were still areas where it could make a sizeable impact -- small-time business enterprises and undiscovered gems around the country from microentrepreneurs. With this in mind, a new project was born -- 1780 by SariSari.

1780 by SariSari is now a sub-portal within SariSariStore.com that showcases Philippine heritage products that have not yet broken into mainstream urban commercial areas. The sub-portal highlights the wide variety of regional delicacies and crafts from different regions and makes us realize just how much more creativity there can be in local ingredients and indigenous crafts.

Why 1780? 1780 refers to the 17 regions and 80 provinces of the Philippines combined in 1 website.

Beautiful closeup photos of the products make up a slideshow on the 1780 home page

Each product has a thumbnail with the price, a Buy button and links to its details

The product details have an interesting write-up on the entrepreneur & a short story on the product

At the launch of the 1780 sub-portal, I got to see for myself some of the products that can be bought via the site . Here are some.

A beautiful banig spread of products one can find at the 1780 by SariSari sub-portal

Fashionable Paniya clutches -- made from buntal (palm tree) straw and acacia wood

Pili products like this Corioso and Hopia de Pili by Charito's Delights are indeed a delight to eat

My first time to see…..mango ketchup!!!

One-of-a-kind pieces from Josephine's Jewelry use silver and gold metals
with jewels such as topaz, opal or even diamonds

Dark chocolate and spicy dark chocolate -- made from cacao and sold by Kablon Farms

CT South Tropic now makes wine out of fruits: mangosteen, passion fruit,
durian, jackfruit, pineapple and dragon fruit, among others

Really beautiful and vibrant colors in these banigs made by the Badjaos of Zamboanga.
Some are so intricate that they take 1-3 months sometimes just for a single mat!

For me, what makes 1780 by SariSari a wonderful idea brought to life are these:

* It recognizes the creativity of the Pinoy microentrepreneur & inspires more such entrepreneurs to look around their own locale to see how they can use what they have to produce world-class products.

* It cuts out the problems and additional cost of middlemen and allows the entrepreneur to connect directly with consumers.

* For consumers, we get access to products that we ordinarily would not see yet in metro cities and which are often found in the local areas of each of the entrepreneurs

You can find 1780 by SariSari at the e-commerce site of SariSariStore.com. Also check the Facebook page of 1780 at www.facebook.com/1780bySariSari.

It's been a while (uhhh…no…a long, long time) since I've changed nappies. And although I ended up using disposable diapers, I actually started with cloth diapers for my kids, complete with those pins that pricked me if I was not careful changing my babies.

But guess what came recently for me to try….Huggies Dry Pants -- the latest in diapers that even do away with those resealable side stickers. This time, Huggies Dry Pants look exactly like underwear that you just slip on left, slip on right, pull up, and you're done!

To make me experience it for myself, the creative people behind Huggies sent me a baby-sized doll that just wouldn't stop crying! But watch what happens when I change her nappies to the Huggies Dry Pants.

I took a few more closeup pics of the Huggies Dry Pants so that you can really see how much more superior it is to ordinary diapers. And the cost is not that much more. Each Huggies Dry Pants piece (Large, 36s) only costs PhP 8.52 as of this writing.

Front view

Side view. I am really impressed by the all-around stretchable waistband!

Back view

The inside look - a blue layer pulls liquid away from baby's skin, reducing diaper rash incidents

Check out this infographic to see all the features of Huggies Dry Pants.

It was really quite easy to change diapers, based on my experience with the doll. The waistband easily stretched and there was actually a lot of leeway (meaning, it's comfortable even for a really chubby baby!). I'm just truly amazed at all the innovations done to make diaper changing so easy on Mommy and so comfy for baby.

HAPPY BABY!!! She poses here with Huggies Dry Pants (large). It comes in 36 pieces for babies 9-14kg.

More Mommy Goodies

Huggies is giving away FREE SAMPLES. Mommies, just visit the Huggies PH Facebook page, select supermarkets and various baby fairs to get your free sample.

If you've already tried, and loved, the Huggies Dry Pants experience, register via www.pants.huggies.com.ph, talk about your experience and get a chance to win up to a 1-year supply of Huggies Dry Pants.

And…here's another chance, Mommies, to show just how cute and happy your kids are using the new Huggies Dry Pants. Let them join the Huggies Dry Pants Step Up Dance Showdown (www.bit.ly/HDPDanceShowdown). Winning entries get a 1-year supply of Huggies Dry Pants AND will be featured in the Huggies Step Step Up music video.

In times of disasters, there is often no end to news of destruction and loss of lives. Oftentimes it is so hard to find the positive in the face of utter despair. This was what so many went through when Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) struck the Philippines exactly one year ago on Nov. 8, 2013. It is estimated that damage to the areas affected reached over 35 billion pesos.

But there is HOPE.

And over lunch with some people from Procter & Gamble (P&G), I heard some of these stories and how P&G, together with other partners, are some of the private sector organizations that are bringing hope back to people and places

Next to the devastating loss of loved ones, one thing that greatly affected those in Yolanda's destructive path was the loss of a source of livelihood for thousands. Looting became rampant in the aftermath of the super typhoon and store owners stood helpless as looters took their goods and food items even in their presence. It is actually a tribute to many store owners who later said that they allowed the looters to get everything as they understood the desperate situation they were all in.

Dranix East, P&G's distributor in the area, was also badly hit by Yolanda. But it quickly sprung into action together with P&G to start the rebuilding of lives. Calling their effort "Hope Stores", P&G had prefab sari-sari store stands, painted orange (Tide color, I immediately thought), made. The only requirement in the selection process was that the recipients of the Hope stores should have been previous store owners. This was because sustainability could only happen if the beneficiary already had previous store experience. For each orange Hope Store, P&G stocked it with PhP 1,000 worth of their popular, fast-moving products (Safeguard, Whisper, Joy, etc) to jumpstart the livelihood of the recipients.

Eventually, with additional partners like USAID, Rebuild and Coca-Cola coming in to join P&G's efforts, the Hope Stores expanded. As USAID builds houses, a section of the ground floor is also converted into a sari-sari store. Then P&G donates PhP 3,000 worth of their products as initial capital for the recipients.

We got to ask P&G several questions and it was but natural that one question would crop up. Did P&G put any conditions like lockouts on the recipients? Amazingly, there were none. P&G said that had they imposed conditions like exclusivity, it would be restrictive on the recipients and would prevent them from selling other items that they could make a profit on. The company believed in open competition and said that as long as they helped unconditionally, they knew that the goodwill would come back in some other way to them in the future. I think all donor companies should emulate this kind of thinking.

Watch this video about 3 people (Noemi, Annalyn and Reden) whose lives are now being slowly brought back to a new normal through the efforts of P&G and its partners.

About Procter & Gamble

Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Pringles®, Folgers®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Actonel®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, and Braun®. The P&G community consists of over 135,000 employees working in over 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

Living in Metro Manila and other metro cities in the Philippines, with poor transport system and horrendous traffic, can make the average commuter go through hours of just being on the road. And commuters do not just mean employees who sometimes have to commute from one end of Manila to another. It also includes students whose places of residence are often far from their schools.

In the United States, decades ago, I already appreciated the concept of suburbs. They were self-contained communities that included small businesses, entertainment places, restaurants, schools and even churches and hospitals. But suburbs were located outside the city proper. Employees who lived in the suburbs still commuted to the business district (of course, their transport systems were often very good so there was no great inconvenience).

In recent years, we have seen the concept of suburbs taken to a higher level in the form of urban townships. And this time, the townships are located within city proper.

Concept of Township

A township revolves around several key components: Live, Work, Play, Learn, Eat (and should I add, Pray?). Designed by master urban planners, townships' vision usually revolve around self-contained living and working environments where residents would not have to go far. This concept has been supported also by the mushrooming growth of IT-BPOs which locate within such townships. In addition, accreditation by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) of such cyberparks make the business of townships not just good business but convenient for residents.

One of the earliest townships I have seen is Eastwood City which is roughly 18.5 hectares. Located in Libis, it continues to evolve and expand as new buildings and shopping areas sprout.

Eastwood City Vicinity Map (taken from Eastwood City website)

In its beginnings, sometime in the early 2000s, I remember Citywalk (the part of the vicinity map above showing red roofed buildings) as comprising most of Eastwood City. It was the place where restaurants were found right beside each other with lots of inner walkways away from cars and traffic. The high-rise buildings there were mostly BPOs. Citibank was also one of the first high-rise corporate buildings in that area.

Walking around Citywalk was reminiscent of some places I loved abroad -- quaint haunts where people could just walk around cobbled streets, surrounded by restaurants and trees that provided shade. It was a family place. The mall nearby provided the shopping convenience of a one-stop place.

Then as years went by, other high-rise condominiums began sprouting around. They became mixed-use condos -- fancy restaurants, shops and convenience stores on the ground floor and upscale residences or offices on the upper floors. A new, more modern Eastwood mall was built on the other side of the road. The plaza facing the mall features fountains, bridges and lots of seating places where people (and their pets, too, because Eastwood City is pet friendly) can hang out and socialize. This is one place where I can go into a mall and not be surprised to see dog breeds of all sorts walking alongside their humans.

Living in a township is the best of all worlds -- for professionals who work in companies located within the township area; young married couples who are raising kids and want to have enough family time rather than fighting traffic commuting from home to work and back; and are even ideal places for retired folks who want everything they need within walking distance. When most everything you need is self-contained in a township, life really does get so much easier and more relaxed. Work no longer becomes such a burden because the stress of the commute is eliminated. Play and Eat become so much more pleasant when one starts out already in a relaxed mood.

Eastwood City high-rise units (photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

Up to this date, Eastwood City is not yet totally developed, which is good urban planning. I like slow development. It gives residents and workers time to get used to the changing landscape as people and vehicle traffic implications are studied, tweaked and improved.

That reminds me. It's nearing Christmas and I just love Christmas in the air! I should find some time to pay a visit again to Eastwood City and other townships in the metro and see what the Christmas atmosphere is like there now.

Starbucks Reserve Coffee - my unique coffee experience

The Midea appliance line - enhanced productivity and money-saving solutions

Philips Lighting Innovation Concepts gives us a glimpse of the future, now!

Krispy Kreme's New Baked Creations

Get this Starbucks Collectible - The First Edition Philippine Starbucks Card

Contests: Save, Share and get a chance to Win an Electrolux Washing Machine

Starbucks Food and Beverages beginning July 29, 2014

Loving my virtual office at vOffice, One Global Place

GSK takes up the fight against dengue with Calpol's fever management

Akira at Robinsons Magnolia and the Art of Teppanyaki

An empowering moment -- being free in one's skin -- with Physiogel

Sharp Calculators launches the Search for the Ten Outstanding Young Mathematicians 2015 (TOYM)

Protect your liver against Hepatitis B

Enjoy Starbucks Latte Mmm-oments (with a raffle!)

Earn from home with 51Talk

The 2015 Starbucks planners, Christmas Starbucks cards and Christmas merchandise are here!

1780 by SariSari: heritage Philippine products in one site

Huggies Dry Pants: the easiest way to change baby

Stories of Hope in the time of Typhoon Yolanda

Townships: Cities within Cities