Would you be kind enough to Lend a Paw to shelter pets?

Pet lovers are invited to join and support the "Lend A Paw" campaign of Purina and Alpo for the benefit of the shelter cats and dogs of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS.) You do not need to worry about having to shell out any cash as a donation but A picture of you and your pet can help change the lives of these shelter pets.

All you need to do is post a photo on Instagram of you and your pet/s holding hands, using the hashtag #PurinaLendAPaw2 and tagging 3 friends to do the same. Every valid post will then be matched by Purina with a bowl of ALPO or FRISKIES that will be donated to PAWS.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/nestlepurina.ph

This is open to all pet lovers in the Philippines,18 years old and above. 

 We just have to make sure that the following criteria should be followed when posting photos:

• All photo/video entries must be originally taken by the pet owner.
• Photos/videos must be clear and contain wholesome images. Offensive/obscene photos/videos are not allowed and will be disqualified.
• Captions must contain wholesome messages. Offensive captions are not allowed and will be disqualified.

The promotion is from August 15- October 15, 2015.  So, please, please, please support this campaign. I know that we all love to post the pictures of our furbabies online. 

I am not in any way connected with Alpo/Purina or PAWS but I support this advocacy. I would really appreciate if you can support this too.

For more details you may also visit their facebook page. 

Let me know in the comments section below  if you have posted your picture already in instagram.  

Xilaimen Seafood Restaurant is NOW OPEN! + Giveaway

Xilaimen Seafood Restaurant has finally opened in Robinsons Magnolia. They are famous for serving authentic seafood and Chinese cuisine for those craving for an authentic taste. My family is actually very particular whenever we visit a Chinese restaurant because there is really a difference when you get your Chinese food from "so-called chinese restos." 

According to Andrea Joyce Ng-Wen,  “Xilaimen means happiness in Chinese and that is what they want their customers to experience." Their goal is to create an ambiance of joy while serving good food because she believes that a beautiful ambiance is the key for loyal customers to have an exquisite dining experience.  

Here are some of the dishes that you can enjoy at the restaurant.

• Mixed Seafood with Polonchay Soup
• Pan Fried Prawns with Salted Egg
• Lapu-Lapu in Egg White
• Sauteed Fried Crabs with Sotanghon
• Elephant Shell with Broccoli Flower in XO sauce
• Spicy Frog Legs
• Lechon Macau

• Yangchow Fried Rice
• Cold cuts
• Mixed Fruits 

And a whole lot more. So, go ahead and visit them at the Upper Ground Floor, Al Fresco, Robinsons Magnolia. 
And here's your chance to win GCs from Xilaimen! 

Check out Kwento Ni Toto and Mommy’s MAG Life’s Xilaimen Seafood Restaurant Giveaway on Instagram just follow their account @yashirokuru and @satnomangie and read the details on how to join.

4 signs that the Philippines is hooked to #Aldub

The latest craze involving Eat Bulaga's Kalyeserye entitled "Aldub" is a superb hit. It involved an onscreen love affair between Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza or known as Yaya Dub who never met personally. It gives us "kilig" moments and super funny antics from Wally as Lola Nidora, Paolo as Tinidora and Jose as Frankie. 

It is no surprise that people whether #TeamBahay or #TeamOffice has changed the way how they spend their lunch break. The TV ratings in terms of audience share has gone really high exceeding historical records. However, there are other signs that they are really taking the nation by storm. 

1. Prof. Randy David's review about #Aldub. 

Prof. Randy David is a known journalist and sociologist has talked about #Aldub. With his regular column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Prof. Randy David talked about Dubsmash, its uses and Yaya Dub. I have always believed that if Prof. David talks about it then there must be a sociological importance. You may read the full text here. 

2. Twitter 

Everyday, the #Aldub phenomenon never fails to become the top trending post in twitter for the Philippines and today, it ranks second worldwide. (as of writing) With millions of tweets, it is enough proof to say people are really talking about it online. 

3. The Church approves it. 

The Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines lauds and 100% approves the #AlDub kalyeserye for upholding marriage moral standards. They have shown their approval via sending a number of posts in twitter. 

4. Lastly, Cebu Pacific creates a seat sale entitled "AlduBest Seat Sale"

This actually made me smile knowing that private corporations are also taken by the #AlDub phenomenon. This promotion will start midnight of August 29. All Domestic Destinations are available for as low as Php 500 ALL IN. and all international destinations for as low as Php 888 ALL IN. 

www.facebook.com/cebupacificair

How about you? Are you also part of the #Aldub phenomenon? Share your thoughts. 

Finding our perfect home involved different emotions INSIDE OUT!

Relocating to a new place and finding our perfect home in Bacolod brought Val and me different emotions. 

Source: Disney Pixar

There was JOY and excitement for a new adventure. I was thrilled about getting our perfect home and ecstatic to start decorating.  A new neighborhood to meet new friends and a lot of places to explore. 

Though we were able to visit this city a couple of times, there are so much things we are looking forward to. 

Source: Disney Pixar

However, moving away also brought us SADNESS. It means that we're going to miss our old house, our friends and family. I am going to miss the events in Metro Manila, our favorite restaurants, food and stores. 

Source: Disney Pixar

There was also FEAR that what if we can't find our perfect home.  We were also scared that maybe it was not a right decision to relocate. What if life is going to be difficult and opportunities would be so few. There was FEAR of the unknown and the possibilities that might happen. 

Source: Disney Pixar

Regardless of the mixed emotions, we are bound to make the decision. First, we need to look for a house where we could stay. Initially, we relied on buy and sell groups in facebook. Unfortunately, this brought me DISGUST. Some sellers are so unprofessional, they don't reply  nor provide information about the property. We kept on waiting and realized we were just wasting our time. 

Source: Disney Pixar 

I was so angry that I realized that we need more options. We need to get in touch with different sellers and check out their properties as soon as possible because we are just left a few weeks before the move. 

And Thank God, I found about Property24. It is the fastest growing property portal in the Philippines and it was very helpful in finding our #PerfectHome. Now, let me share to you some of the properties we saw. 

1. 4 Bedroom House and Lot in Brgy. Tangub - It was a foreclosed property priced at Php1,130,000 with a lot area of 350 sq. meters and 165 sq meter floor area. I love that is really near my husband's workplace and price is within our budget. More details here: http://bit.ly/1LzoHKK 

2.  Lot at Glenwood Park Subdivision - It is a 200 sq meter property for only Php 601,000. This is not our primary option but we were thinking just renting out first during house construction. We are interested with Glenwood Park because this is one of the most secured subdivisions in the city. More details here: http://bit.ly/1MS4z8r 

3. Lot at Brgy. Alijis - It is a 300 sq meter property which is near to my dad's place but would take some time to have our home built. We like that this place is not yet to crowded plus price is way below the market value so, it's a big discount. More details here: http://bit.ly/1JBhcUd 

4. 4 Bedroom House and Lot in Brgy. Mandalagan - This is such a beautiful and big property featuring a 2-storey house with a fascinating design. Its location is just perfect but price is way above our budget. The house is so beautiful and aircon is centralized. It also has its own filtration system which is important because of the water condition in the city.  More details here: http://bit.ly/1NKSVNo 

5. Lot at Ayala North Point - I really love this location since it's near to malls and the airport. They have several options here in terms of area from 350-1000 sq meters. More details here: http://bit.ly/1JBhivb

Other things I like about Property 24 is capability to filter minimum and maximum prices. This makes the search faster because you can directly work with your budget and you can also Apply for Home Finance where they can assist you in home financing and you can just send out an inquiry through the website. 

So, can you guess which property we got? Are you also looking for your perfect home?

Visit http://www.property24.com.ph/ because finding your perfect home just got easier  and possible without going crazy with your emotions inside and out. #PerfectHome  #Property24  #Property24PH 

Vikings Bags Awards at WOFEX 2015 and Guess Where is Their Next Branch?

I have always believed that behind every delicious dish is an excellent cook. With my favorite buffet restaurant that offers widest selection of sumptuous cuisine then there must more an just an excellent cook. 

Vikings Group Chefs Jonathan Jota, Anton Abad, Mark Wilhelm Ragudos, Jennifer Gumboc, Don Aries Jerome Duenas, Joel Mondelo, Mark Reyes, Charles Andrei Santos and Raphael De Jesus won top honors for the country and their restaurants Vikings, Niu by Vikings and Four Seasons Hotpot City. 

Yes, award winning chefs are behind the incredible feast we enjoy whenever we visit. The chefs spent four days battling the best of the best at the Philippine Culinary Cup (PCC) of the World Food Expo 2015 (WOFEX) which is the only World Association of Chef’s Society (WACS) endorsed competition in the country. This competition is an avenue for Filipino chefs to gauge their skills against chefs from other countries, and gain international recognition for their culinary expertise. 

They received a total of 13 medals across different categories. Chef Jonathan Jota won a gold medal for the Quick Fire Salad Category, winning Silver Medal is Chef Anton Abad for the US Beef category, Chef Mark Wilhelm Ragudos for the US Poultry category and Chef Don Aries Jerome Duenas for the Creative Breakfast Challenge category.

According to Over-all Coach Chef Jonathan Jota, "The Vikings Team placed 3^rd on overall performance for the Professional Category at the PCC 2015, beating international competitors from Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong and other Local Hotels and De Luxe Restaurants." 

With over 1,200 competitors from more than 15 countries, we couldn't be more proud for our awesome Filipino Chefs and all-time favorite Vikings who took home the  “People’s Choice Award for Favorite Buffet” 

Vikings is one of the places I truly miss in Metro Manila because they have always been a part of our special occasions. But can you guess where is their next branch? 

Yes, they will be opening a branch here in SM Bacolod. Yipee! Tentative opening date is sometime in September. I am just so excited and definitely, we know where to celebrate the coming birthday of Val. 

Bacolod Blog Series: You've never been to Bacolod if you've never been here!

I have always believed that every place has one iconic spot that almost all tourists visit. One where you should take the "mandatory" shots. Places such as Merlion Monument in Singapore, Chocolate Hills in Bohol, Magellan's Cross in Cebu and The Ruins for Bacolod.

The Ruins in Bacolod was a mansion built in the early 1900s by the Lacson family, one of the famous clans in the sugar industry here in Negros Occidental. The largest structure in the area that has a beautifully landscaped garden and a 4-tier fountain that added to its majestic view.

Photo by Jeric Tancontian

For more than 100 years, this structure in a 900+ sq meter property still stands firm and provides a picture perfect background to all visitors. They are also one of the favorite venues for a prenuptial shoots. Aside from taking pictures and enjoying its rich history, one can also relax and have coffee in their Mediterranean cafe. 

TIP: The best time to visit is actually around 5pm or early in the evening when the lights have been lit up. 

So, whenever you visit Bacolod, make sure to drop by at The Ruins. The roads are already cemented and it is very accessible even if you don't have private transportation. There are tricycles at Brgy. Bata that can bring you there. Entrance starts at Php 40 for students and senior citizens and it Php 95 for adults.

5 Things Why You Need to Experience Subic Bay Yacht Club

Subic is one of the easy escapes from the busy and crowded Metro Manila. It approximately takes a 3 hour drive via NLEX. Whenever we hear about Subic, we immediately think of Ocean Adventure and Zoobic Safari as our primary destinations. Definitely, those two should be part of your itinerary however, I would highly suggest that you also experience the Subic Bay Yacht Club. 

Subic Bay Yacht Club is all about experiencing the good life. A luxurious and elite experience that even if we don't get to do it everyday, it would definitely be a memorable once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

For years, this place was a membership only facility which means that it was exclusive to those who have the 6 digits for the fee. The luxury and exceptional experience were only limited to those with fortunes. However, today, the premiere marina is extending their membership to non members to feel, enjoy, eat and have the a great experience at the club. 

It is located North West of Manila and is set with Zambales Mountain range on the Eastern part and the tranquil Subic Bay that opens to the South China Sea on the west. A perfect paradise with safe harbors and pristine flat waters. A vacation destination with elegant design. An exquisite service and warm hospitality.

Now, let me give you 5 reasons why you should visit the Subic Bay Yacht Club:

1. It's a paradise

In the hustle and bustle of city life, whether you're from Manila or in any parts of the world, Subic Bay Yacht Club offers the million dollar view of the bay and surrounded by mountains. We love to escape stress and just to look at the pristine and relaxing view gave us that moment that we all need, the feeling of rejuvenation.

2. Accommodation

The different choices of rooms with the options based on your budget and need. They have rooms for as Php 6,000 per night. They also have a variety of accommodation at Subic Bay Yacht Club. All are spacious and elegantly designed to satisfy the discriminating taste of every member and guest. Each room and suite offers a balcony, with selected suites having a marina vista.

3. Food

Breakfast is always grand at Subic Bay Yacht Club. The variety of dishes in a buffet set up makes one likes to go back and to start the morning right. (This is my top reason to visit them) 

4. Pool and Jacuzzi

The elegantly designed swimming pools are just part of the complete package. Everyone who checked in can use this facility. You can just relax in this place while checking out the different yachts over the bay which is just 20 feet or less away from the pool.

All rooms are equipped with a jacuzzi in case you want complete privacy relaxing in our own room.

5. Hospitality

The Subic Bay Yacht Club take pride on superb customer service. You can feel how friendly, professionally trained and naturally accommodating all the personnel from the bell boy to the managers on duty.

For more information:

Subic Bay Yacht Club

Rizal Highway corner Burgos Street

Subic Bay Freeport Zone

047 252 5211- 047 252 6586

marketing@subicbayyachtclub.ph

www.subicbayyachtclub.ph

Bacolod Blog Series: Calea Pastries and Cakes

Bacolod City is now officially our home! After our "epic journey" traveling by land, we have finally settled down. (Hooray!) More details on the road trip, here. 

Now, our next stop is to explore this place since Masskara Festival will be celebrated in a few months specifically in October. I have decided to create a blog series featuring our latest discoveries in this beloved city. 

I love sweets and I'm really crazy about desserts. So, my first featured post is all about Calea Pastries and Cakes. 

Whenever you mention where's the best place to have cakes, locals would immediately mention this place. Known as "the home of the country's best cheesecakes", Calea Pastries and Cakes should be on top of your itinerary whenever you visit Bacolod.  

They offer a wide selection of cheesecakes, imported chocolate cakes, refrigerator cakes, and muffins which will make you go gaga on what to choose. 

Here are some of our favorites.

Strawberry Cheesecake

Blueberry Cheesecake

Oreo Cheesecake

Chocolate Mousse

I won't go over a detailed review of how they taste but I'll tell you. Everything is so good.

But can you guess what's the best thing about their cakes? They are super affordable. Each slice is around Php 95 only. They also offer coffee and blended drinks just like your typical coffee shop.

Calea has several branches in the city: Robinson's Place Bacolod, The District/ Ayala Northpoint, and the main one at Lacson Street. 

So, next time you're in Bacolod, consider dropping by here. Just a heads up. This place is really popular among tourists so, it gets pretty crowded sometimes. 

Rainy Day: What to Wear?

Today is my dad's 67th birthday. We were supposed to go out to celebrate but it was raining really bad due to Typhoon Ineng. The roads are flooded and since we stay at our farm, it's actually very muddy. Despite all of that, I love the rain. I love wearing jackets, sweatshirts and boots to keep me warm. Working in a call center also made me consider jackets, coats and sweatshirts a staple in fashion.

There are actually different kinds of coats/jackets ranging from wool to waterproof depending on your preference but I highly suggest that we choose the ones that can be worn on rainy days and even mild weather. We should never forget to bundle up especially during the BER months since our immune system drops when it's too cold. Being sick is not cool.

Online shopping communities like eBay, Kaymu, and among others have a wide range of cozy items like coats, jackets, hoodies, boots, thermal leggings, and more. You can also trade in or sell your pre-loved items in these online stores either by their web or mobile platforms.

We should keep in mind that even if the weather might not be very good, it's not an excuse to look crappy. So, bring out the fashionista in you and let's start singing in the rain. 

Tree Top Adventure presents "Asia Leaders Forum: Social Media Marketing"

The ""Asia Leaders Forum: Social Media Marketing" is happening on August 23, 2015 at Subic Bay Yacht Club and will feature power speakers to discuss: 

1. Personal Branding

2. How to choose Bloggers for campaigns? 

3. Social Media Responsibility 

4. How do marketing managers become the brand ambassadors of their own company.

5. How to sustain and maintain the relationship with bloggers? . 

6. How to effectively convert likes into sales?

We believe that social media marketing is very important and leaders should consider its relevance in business growth. Participants would be able to understand what social media marketing is really all about and the ins and outs of social media for businesses.

This event is organized by TAG Media and Public Relations. For more information you may contact 09166299381 or email your inquiry to maria@asiaecommerce.ph. Don't forge to visit their website, http://www.asiaecommerce.ph for other events in pursuing excellence.

Online Game Alert: JustRollit --- Play and Win Real Money

Are you a fan of "The Millionaire's Game" or the "Monopoly"? 

Did you have fun playing board games when you were younger? 

Have you been worried that you lost the dice because someone threw it really hard and the game can't continue? 

Do you dislike cleaning up or sorting the paper money after playing the game? 

If you said yes to it, then, you will love the newest online game, Just Roll it brought to you by the Game Club Philippines. 

Be a character of your choice, travel the world and build a real estate empire by purchasing properties. Collect rent from other players who get to land or visit your property and #justrollit. 

The main objective of the game is to grow your empire, get all the money of the other players until they go "BANKRUPT." 

Technically, the game is somewhat familiar like the similar board games I have mentioned earlier however, what makes it unique are character's special abilities to manipulate the dice, by being equipped with lucky charms and using the special dice. It's an online game which means that you can play with your friends and distance wouldn't be an issue. No need to be worried about missing the dice or even cleaning up after the game. 

Cool right? The game is not all about luck by #JustRollit but it involves strategy and a great deal of decision making. I am pretty sure you'll get hooked to it once you start playing but you don't even have to worry that you'll be wasting your time. Players have the opportunity to win real money. 

For a limited time offer, there are actually daily, weekly and monthly draws.

To join the daily raffle, players should get a DAILY CASH PRIZE TICKET by simply playing the PLAY MORE, WIN MORE SYSTEM and get the chance to win Php 1,000. 

To join the weekly raffle, players can gain one entry per day for every 3 games played. They can also gain raffle entries via the PLAY MORE, WIN MORE SYSTEM and winning a match and be the lucky winner of Php 5,000

To join the monthly raffle, players can gain one entry per day for every 5 games played. They can also gain raffle entries via the PLAY MORE, WIN MORE SYSTEM and winning a match.and get the chance to win Php 200,000 cash or the latest Samsung Galaxy S6. 

You may visit their website at http://justrollit.ph/ for more details. 

Be part of the community by joining the forums.

So, what are you waiting for? Download the app now and start playing. 

Enervon Prime “Seniors on Tour” Travel Promo: No One is Too Old for An Adventure

My dad is turning 67 tomorrow and who says 67 is too old for a new adventure? Definitely, Not Enervon Prime! 

Unilab's adult nutritional drink that has protein and other essential nutrients, Enervon Prime has a very exciting promo for all adults age 50 and up to have the chance to travel with two friends or family members to a domestic or international destination—for free!

Joining is easy: you only need to buy P500 worth of Unilab’s Enervon Prime adult milk variants, upload the proof of purchase, choose from the list of destinations, and share a video why you like to travel to your chosen destination. You can log on to www.enervonprime.com to register and send your entry. You can also find in the website the list of supermarkets where the Enervon Prime Seniors on Tour video booths are set up so you can submit your entry.

A family member may send an entry on behalf of the senior. Two seniors will be chosen to win any of the tour packages in Cebu, Bohol, Ilocos, Palawan, and Davao, while another two seniors will be chosen to win any of the international tour packages in Cambodia, Hongkong, Macau, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand. (This is great for my parents since they are both seniors already)

According to says Enervon Prime product manager Barry Barrientos. “The Enervon Prime Seniors on Tour travel promo is a way of paying tribute to seniors—our parents and grandparents--who make the most out of their lives by keeping their bodies healthy and their muscles strong so that they can take on new adventures,” What better way to have an exciting adventure than an all-expense-paid travel escapade?”

Promo runs from August 15 to October 15, 2015. For more information, visit www.enervonprime.com.

 

Top 5 reasons why you should visit Mrs. Graham's

Val and I were in Tomas Morato area and decided to look for a place to hangout while waiting for our dinner appointment. Since traffic was bad, we decided to just find a place near the vicinity. A cozy place caught my attention and we decided to check out Mrs. Graham's. 

And guess what? I immediately fell in love with it.

Here are top five (5) reasons why you should visit Mrs. Graham's: 

1. They offer the best french macaron in town. Not to mention they have a lot of flavors to choose from. My faves are the salted caramel and ensaymada. 

2. Aside from macarons, they also offer cakes and coffee. 

3. They offer board games that you can enjoy for free. Val and I spent the afternoon playing "Snakes and Ladders" which I believe is a great change. 

4. They have free wifi. I guess all establishments should offer that now. 

5. Lastly, they have awesome decorations. They provide the perfect ambiance for hanging out with friends. The place is not crowded which I really love. 

I highly suggest that you plan your next hangout session with the girls at Mrs. Graham. 

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Mrs. Graham

51C Scout Rallos, Quezon City 

https://www.facebook.com/MrsGrahamsCafe