Reflections of 2012

The year will end with 50k++ site views, 4k++ FB page likes, 2k++ twitter followers and alexa ranks of 318k.  More than those statistics which I've tried hard to work on as accordingly, it may mean nothing to others but I knew having those figures still yields some results.

This year 2012, I had been more active in the blogging sphere. I got to connect with more bloggers and eventually became friends with them. Joining blog syndication had been a lot of help to increase my site's traffic and to get to know more bloggers, meeting them in person in events were more than exciting (thanks to the FBW bloggers event).

Ok, so more than those statistics that I was able to get this year, the following year I would like to remain as a blogger, just loving this job and hobby. Still a newbie here and I know I still have lots of things to learn and to learn from fellow bloggers.  Educating oneself is a challenging task especially for someone like me with my life just around the four corners of our home and my dailies built around my little boy Ivan and hubby who will soon be coming home for good.

Thank you all my dear readers and I would like to see you again by tomorrow for a fresh start and a NEW YEAR for all of us.  May the good Lord guide us always and keep us healthy and bounty. May He continue to shower us with all his blessings and strengthen us amidst all the trials that may come in our life. May we be free from sickness and dangers. 

Let us not forget to pray for our fellow men in other parts of the world who are suffering and may not be enjoying what we have right now, that they might be able to find solace as well.

Peace for all.

** mommygiay**

PRC Holiday XXX (Xciting Xmas Xtravaganza): Santa’s Treat for the Naughty or Nice

Who is nicer this holiday season?How about some treat for you!!!

Santa got a little help this yuletide season, as he got the troops of PRC Inc. to give out exhilarating gifts that will make your holidays not just special but a XXX level! Yes, you heard it right! It’s time for PRC HOLIDAY XXX (Xciting Xmas Xtravaganza)!

The season couldn’t be any more exciting as loads of prizes are waiting for the whole family to enjoy. There’s plenty for dads, there’s tons for mommies and there’s a truckload for the kids and even to the extended families. And what’s more thrilling about this promo is that it doesn’t really mind if you got a little naughty or been a perfect angel, everyone is welcome to join the fun! All you have to do is LIKE any of PRC INC’s HOLIDAY THEMED PHOTOS and PRC Inc Facebook Page and get ready for the ride that will smother you with gifts, after gifts!

The rule of the game is to LIKE and share the great news with your friends to activate the raffle draw. Raffle draw activation rules comes with every holiday-themed photos, it means that if you don’t get to win on the first raffle draw, you still have a great chance of winning in the next couple of draws. 

More than anything else, the PRC HOLIDAY XXX (eXciting Xmas eXtravanganza) is more than giving away prizes, it is also about giving back to the community as selected holiday-themed photos also activate outreach activities. In fact, for every thousand LIKES until reaching the 5000 LIKES target, chosen beneficiaries like Precious Heritage (Target of 1000 LIKES activates feeding program), Kanlungan ni Maria (Target of 2000 LIKES activates medicine distribution), ABS-CBN Foundation (Target of 3000 LIKES activates cash donation), among others will receive a little helping hand from PRC INC in the form of medicines, feeding programs and cash support. 

Just to keep you even more ecstatic, prizes to be given away includes gift certificates from Julie’s Bakeshop, Toby’s Sports, RUNNR, PRC merchandise and the most anticipated, Noche Buena Gift Baskets for you to enjoy! Yes, more than Php10,000.00 worth of prizes are waiting for you, and all you have to do is click the LIKE button! 

This is just team PRC’s way of thanking everyone for the great year they had this 2012. Their simple way of giving back to their supporters and to the community for the many successes they were able to enjoy!

For more info, you may visit http://www.facebook.com/PRCInc

PRC Inc. is an integrated marketing communications company with PR as its core competency. Our services include brand and corporate PR, mounting of media related events, tactical monitoring and crisis management. 

Coachlicious Giveaway

How would you like to look fashionable at the beginning of the New Year 2013? Would you like either a Duffle Handbag or a very nice Zippy Wallet by Coach Legacy? Well you can join this giveaway and try your luck.

Mom Powered Media, connecting companies to consumers the super mom way!

Coach Legacy Signature Duffle Handbag in Silver {RV$298}

The beloved 1973 Duffle Sac is updated with a slimmer profile, decorative tassels and an adjustable crossbody strap. Crafted in our iconic signature jacquard, and richly trimmed with glove-tanned leather, it has the look and feel of classic Coach.

• Signature fabric with leather trim
• Inside zip, cell phone and multifunction pockets
• Outside zip pocket
• Zip-top closure, fabric lining
• Strap with 18 3/4" drop for crossbody wear converts to double strap for shoulder wear
• 9 3/4" (L) x 13" (H) x 5 1/2" (W)

Coach Legacy Signature Zippy Wallet in Silver {RV$98}

Tonal and textured in iconic signature jacquard, our popular, soft-sided design is framed with hand-finished leather trim and updated with an elegant enameled Legacy plaque.

• Signature fabric with leather trim
• Credit card and multifunction pockets
• Full-length billfold compartments
• Zip-top closure
• Wrist strap attached
• 7 3/4" (L) x 4 1/4" (H) x 3/4" (W)
• A coach.com exclusive

Big thank you to Mom Powered Media partners: Mom to Bed by 8, Powered By Mom, Real Mom Reviews and Baby Costcutters for organizing this Coachlicious fashion event.

As well as our fantastic co-hosting blogs Mom Knows It All, What's Up Giveaways, Monica's Rants, Raves & Reviews, Keeping Your Cents, Mommy and Me Giveaways and Just Me and Davey.

One lucky winner will receive the Coachlicious Prize Package including Legacy Signature Duffle and Zippy Wallet.

Giveaway ends January 3rd, open to US and Canadian residents, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

Manny O Wines: The Inspiration

Manny Osmena never had a liking for liquor or spirits; in fact, he is allergic to alcohol.  The businessman, however, developed the interest, which eventually led him to become a blender of inexpensive but award-winning wines.

His fascination for wine began in the late 1970s when he was into the furniture industry.  Then, he just used to collect wines.  These wines were important part of his business meetings that are usually served to foreign clients or business partners especially at meals. Despite him being a mere collector and a non-drinker (due to his allergy) he was able to educate people about wine as he read volumes of literature about drinks.  Soon the passion became a business. 

Initially the vintage blends that come out in 2004 and 2005 were not satisfying.  The first Manny O Wine that came to the market was vintage 2006 and that was Discipulus Syrah.  Though still a disciple, he was however satisfied with this blend because it was the fruit of a novice wine blender's experimentation.

Blending of wines is an art as it involves mixing single types of grapes aged or fermented in various ways.

Sumiller, the most famous Manny O Wine with 11 international accolades, is blended from pressed Monastrell grapes that are grown in the Spanish region of Yecla. A percentage of grapes that go into Sumiller are aged in oak barrels from different countries.  Others are fermented in year-old oak.

Now, Manny O Wines has seven blends that have garnered 49 awards in wine competitions in France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, the United States, and Hongkong.  In these events, consumers rated different wine vintages or brands through blind tasting.

The wines Osmena imports from Europe and blends locally are called Bibulus, Discipulus Syrah, Discipulus Blanc, Sumiller, Agapitos Branco, Agapitos Rose, and Celebrus.

"I am the wine blender, there is a winemaker. So when I am blending or proferring a blend for a formulation, the wine maker basically just records what I do until I decide this is the blend that I want them to produce."

Working with the winemaker. The development of these wines was concentrated on achieving a very well integrated juice, layered and complex, yet bound and banded seamlessly. 

In the Philippines, total wine consumption as of 2009 was less than 20 million bottles, but is growing from a smaller base, according to Osmena.  The Cebuano blender is doing his share to sustain that growth.

"I am democratizing wine.  Good wine doesn't have to be expensive.  I want people to know that.  I want to take the snub out of wine," he says. 

Singapore Airlines Excellence in Catering Award 2011 Awarded to MacroAsia Catering Services

MacroAsia Catering Services (MACS) recently won the much coveted and prestigious “Singapore Airlines Excellence in Catering Award 2011”.  This recognition was a result of a 12-month rating period conducted by Singapore Airlines (SQ) for all its catering service providers worldwide.  MACS has outperformed 15 catering stations in Group 1 (stations handling 15 or more weekly flight frequency) within the SQ network.  It simply means that MACS has delivered excellent catering products and services and has consistently met the quality standards of SQ during the past year.  

 
Last 04 December 2012, an awarding ceremony was held at the MACS catering facility. The trophy was awarded by SQ General Manager Mr. Ranjan Jha and Station Manager Mr. Kelvin Kwan and witnessed by SQ airport officers, MacroAsia Corporation executives and MACS Management team & staff.  
 



MACS General Manager, Rhodel Esteban, expressed his sincere appreciation to all MACS staff; officers as well as the members of SQ MNL team who collectively persevered to achieve and sustain an outstanding performance. He added that this prestigious award and recognition rightfully belongs to both MACS and SQ-MNL, as they jointly remained focused in achieving the high quality standards set by SQ.
 
As a gesture of goodwill, a token of appreciation from SQ shall be distributed to all MACS staff in recognition of their efforts and hard work.
 
Singapore Airlines operates twenty-eight flights a week between Manila and Singapore using their modern B777.

Dusit Thani's Christmas Tree contest with Esquire Financing

Esquire Financing, recently partnered with Dusit Thani Hotel for this year's Christmas Tree Contest.

Dusit Thani welcomes the holidays with a display of eight dazzling Christmas trees developed by invited educational institutions, represented by their grade school students, for the hotel’s third annual Christmas Tree Contest.

With the theme “A Hundred Voices, Ten Hopes, One Christmas Story”, the project highlighted the talent, creativity and resourcefulness of youngsters from De La Salle Zobel, Everest Academy Manila, German European School Manila, Mahatma Gandhi International School, MGC New Life Christian Academy, Miriam College Grade School, Paref Southridge, Singapore School Manila and Divine Healer Academy from Cabid-an, Sorsogon. Each Christmas tree modeled from recycled materials into things of beauty was also built in behalf of the participating schools’ chosen beneficiaries.

For this event, Dusit Thani Manila partnered with ESQUIRE Financing Inc., a financing institution that specializes in SME financing. “We believe in financing the future of the Philippines. One of the pillars of development is education, so we are committed to supporting foundations or projects that work with street children and alleviate poverty,” says President & CEO Rajan Uttamchandani. In keeping with this, ESQUIRE will be donating Php 200,000.00 to the winning tree’s charity.



You may also participate by voting for your favorite Christmas Tree until December 28, 2012. Do so by clicking LIKE on Dusit Thani Manila’s Facebook Fan Page, then clicking LIKE on your Christmas tree of choice. Hotel guests may also cast their votes with every P500 spend. Cash prizes await the three best Christmas trees.

For more information about Esquire Financing, visit www.esquire.com.ph, email david@esquire.com.ph or call (02) 903-0159

Naturally, Charlie and a Political Affair Tour Giveaway

A Political Affair

A Political Affair isn’t Fifty Shades of Red, White, and Blue, but it is a love story with spice and political intrigue. Stephen McEvoy never expected to fill his father’s U.S. Senate seat at such a young age—or to fight to keep it. When clever Anne Norwood interns in his office, Stephen dismisses her as another pretty face—until her independent streak catches his attention. They’re both too smart to fall for one another, yet they do. During a tough election, their relationship is an impossible political gamble. Campaigns—like love—are either won or lost.

Follow Mary

Goodreads / Website / Twitter / Facebook

Purchase on Amazon / Paperback from Publisher


Even before she graduated from law school, Mary knew she wasn’t cut out to be a real lawyer. Drawn to politics, she’s spent her career as an organizer, lobbyist, and nonprofit executive. Nothing piques her interest more than a good political scandal or romance, and when she stumbled upon writing, she put the two together. A born Midwesterner, naturalized Texan, and transient resident of Washington, D.C., Mary now lives in Northern California

Naturally, Charlie

Twenty-five year old Charlotte “Charlie” Barrow is caught between her old life, and the one she is beginning to build, when she crosses paths with a handsome stranger on the subway. Not looking for romance, she closes her heart off to the possibilities of love. With a knack for mishaps, Charlie maintains her sense of humor while befriending the kind stranger who seems to be there at all the right times.

New York freelance writer, Charlie Adams, is forging his own path beyond the expectations of the society circles of his childhood. Rejecting family money, and fast-lane friends, he is snubbed by his family as he follows his own compass to a life more extraordinary.

Through a coincidence of events, they come to rely on each other for comfort. This is the tale of two Charlies learning to trust again while fighting their fates to create their own destiny.

Follow S.L. Scott Facebook / Twitter / Blog /

Purchase Kindle / Nook / Paperback / itunes / Paperback from Publisher

S.L. Scott is a former high-tech account manager with a journalism degree pursuing her passion for telling stories. She spends her days escaping into her characters and letting them lead her on their adventures.
Live music shows, harvesting jalapenos and eating homemade guacamole are her obsessions she calls hobbies.
Scott lives in the beautiful Texas Hill Country of Austin with her husband, two young sons, two Papillons and a bowl full of Sea Monkeys.
www.slscottauthor.com

These wonderful authors are giving away a Kindle ($75 GC) for their BLAST!

It starts December 4th and ends December 16th

a Rafflecopter giveaway


http://www.takingtimeformommy.com
http://ereadingonthecheap.com
http://time4mommy.com
http://mommyreadstoomuch.com
http://literaryaddicts.com

A Merry iPad Giveaway

I wanted to be merry and I want to have this on Christmas.



Win a 16 GB 4th Generation iPad in this awesome giveaway! Simple Rafflecopter entries are required.The giveaway will run from December 2 until Sunday, December 30 – so you have a whole month to complete the entries and earn points with daily entries too. It’s open to everyone - worldwide - one winner will receive an iPad with retina display, or the cash equivalent of $499 via Paypal whichever is preferred! To join click HERE

Eatables, Explorations, Expeditions | Healthy Vain | Fancy Expeditions | Papers, Bills and Coins  | Che Wanders | My Kids… Their Journey  | My Online Journeys | Fashion Is My Passion | Late Bloomer Blog | Simplelize Tech Blog | Tech Crash | Online Gaming | Complete Personal Finance | Our Travels | Pets and Us | Vienna and Beyond |

Disclosure: Apple is not a sponsor to this giveaway. I received no compensation for this publication. Opinion – my own and may differ from those of yours. Tune up your budget and all the sponsors are not responsible for prize shipment and taxes incurred. 

Stocking Stuffer Giveaway

~ Toe Juice Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hosted by Coupon Crazy Sisters and Rude Mom Blog ~

Toe Juice is such a wonderful, versatile product! It was originally intended to heal dry cracked feet, hence the name!, but it has so many uses!

Rude Mom and I both had the opportunity to review this great product and would like to share our opinions with you! To read what we thought please read our reviews HERE and HERE. You can also see the many uses and reviews from real people on Toejuice.com. This product is all natural, fast-drying, and above all EFFECTIVE!

Toe Juice is so sure their product will work for you they are sponsoring this giveaway to give 2 readers the chance to win their very own Toe Juice stocking stuffer kits! The kits include 1 4.6oz bottle, 1 1oz travel size bottle, and a coupon! For those of you who are interested in purchasing your own Toe Juice is offering a FREE bottle on their website just pay s&h!

Now on to the GIVEAWAY!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received a free product in exchange for my review but the opinions expressed are 100% mine and may differ from yours. Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment.

Marciano's at SM Southmall FoodStreet

Would you like to know where is the BEST STEAK in town? Well you need to head at the newly opened Marciano's Pizza Pasta Steaks located at the SM Southmall Food Street.  

Its first ever franchise store at the south of Metro Manila had its Grand Opening yesterday with the presence of the big bosses and partners of the SumoSam Resto Group.

Marciano's derived its name and inspired by the great Italian boxer by the name of Rocky Mariano (sounds familiar huh!).  Well, he was a heavyweight champion of the world from 1952 until 1956.  He has a record of 43 knock outs with 87.8% knockout rate. Also he remains to be the sole heavyweight champion in boxing history to retire having won every fight in his professional career.

Marcianos' also feature the great city of New York where early Italian immigrant settled. The result therefore is a fusion of inspired Italian New York dishes that surely everyone will enjoy even the most discriminating taste buds.

The Marciano's menu offers a wide assortment of appetizers, pizzas, pasta, steaks, burgers and seafood named after some famous celebrities or icons.

The restaurant interior has a more dramatic style with cream brick walls.  Hanging on the walls are photos from classical films such as "Casablanca", "La Dolce Vita", "Venice Lido", among others. There's also a very nice wine rack located just above the condiment counter, full with wine assortment. Yeah! most of their dishes are best enjoyed with your favorite wines. Be sure to order one.

I was there yesterday with some other blogger friends and was lucky enough to sample some of their dishes. The following were served to us.

Seinfeld Pepperoni Pizza

Bacon Pizza

Insalata Caprese - a combination of organic tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella
and pine nuts.  This one is really mouth-watering.

Madison Avenue Puttanesca - I loved its creaminess,
its spaghetti with anchovies, capers , green and black olives in pomodoro sauce.

We were also lucky enough to have met the hardworking couple behind Marciano's Southmall, Sir Don and Ms. Marilyn Adao.

And thank you to all the accommodating staff, and to sir Miguel de la Rosa.

For more information visit and like Marciano's on Facebook. 

Marciano's Pizza Pasta Steak
SM Southmall Food Street
Alabang-Zapote Road, Las Pinas City
Metro Manila, Philippines

A Healthy and Dust-Free Home this Christmas

What's on your wishlist this Christmas? a new gadget, chic clothes, a cute pet, a cute toy for the toddler, or perhaps even a new home for Christmas. Almost same here.  But on top of it all, I would like a healthy well-being for my whole family. I think every material thing will be senseless unless I have a healthy family who will be able to enjoy all of these.

So it’s best to keep healthy and worry-free, and start by keeping the home clean and rid it of other threats, in particular the dreaded “dust mites,” those dangerous micro-organisms that can bring harm health-wise to anyone regardless of age or gender. And the best way to get rid of dust mites this Christmas in the home of a relative or a friend—or perhaps even your own home—is by giving them the Raycop UVC Anti-Allergy Cleaner.

Why dust mites? The most perilous part there is by having direct contact with their “droppings” or “feces.” Depending on the level of allergic reaction of an individual to certain allergens such as dust mites, it can cause various respiratory problems like asthma for children and also adults, colds, cough, or even allergic rhinitis and skin rashes to some.

Usual suspect places are our beds and mattresses, carpets, pillows, curtains, blankets and linens. Laying on these places, particularly on mattresses which would normally have around 100,000 to more than 10 million dust mites, would surely have unpleasant effects on your health. Shaking mattresses or bringing them out under direct sunlight will not get rid of them. In one of their studies, the Tokyo Allergy Research Center indicated that even direct exposure to the sun’s rays for up to 6 hours will not be enough to kill the dust mites.

With these in mind, there’s no other way but to kill those dust mites, and Raycop UVC Anti-Allergy Cleaner is so far the most effective way. It kills 99% of bacteria and almost 94% of dust mites, and also even the fearsome H1N1 Influenza A virus based on studies done by the Tokyo Allergy Research Center and the Japan Food Research Laboratories, through the use of its patented 3-step allergy care system: vibrating, sterilizing and double-filtering.

Aside from using “UVC” (ultra-violet “C” rays, which is less harmful to humans) rays, this new home companion has a Vibrating Pad that shakes particles and dust mites away from mattresses, pillows and other fabrics and linens at a speed of 3,600 times per minute, making sure that even the most stubborn dust mites are removed.

Its UVC Sterilization lamp, using lamp technology from Philips and Sankyo that contains a highly efficient and effective 253.7 nanometer wavelength, the same germicidal ultraviolet wavelength used in hospitals, clinics and laboratories, exterminates bacteria to leave target surfaces germ-free. And the Raycop cartridge filter captures the larger particles and traps them so they cannot go back to the room and helps extend the life of the Micro Allergy Filter, which is the one that traps the smaller particles to make sure they do not escape as well.

It’s Christmas so naturally, you wouldn’t want to be sick while everyone’s celebrating. So enjoy your wonderful gifts this Christmas and remain healthy as well by keeping your home dust mite and allergen-free—all through the power of the Raycop UVC Anti-Allergy Cleaner.

The Raycop UVC Anti-Allergy Cleaner is available at Rustan’s Department Stores, S & R, Landmark, Wilcon Builder’s Libis and soon at Abensons. For more information about the Raycop product line and its outstanding features, visit www.raycop.com. 

Filipino Bloggers Worldwide: The 1st Grand Eyeball

Finally! After over a year of inception, Filipino Bloggers Worldwide (FBW), in partnership with Ex-Links Events, present Filipino Bloggers Worldwide: The 1st Grand Eyeball.

Get to meet your favorite Filipino bloggers and mingle with like-minded individuals this December 7, 2012 at SM Megamall's Megatrade Hall 2 from 6pm to 10pm, and enjoy a night packed with fun learning, interactive games, menaingful conversations and special surprises.

Brand partners on the other hand, can expect not just additional exposure to blogger attendees, but a long-term, fruitful relationship and support from Filipino Bloggers Worldwide.

About Filipino Bloggers Worldwide:

Filipino Bloggers Worldwide (FBW) started as a Facebook group on November 1, 2011.  As the name implies, the group's purpose is to unite all Filipino bloggers around the world.  The group was easily recognized in the blogosphere in just less than a month.  Since then, Filipino Bloggers Worldwide became the number one Facebook Filipino bloggers group.  Furthermore, FBW was recently awarded as  one of the Top Emerging Influential Blogs for 2012.  The creators of FBW expressed that every blogger may have different reasons when it comes to blogging, but each and everyone in the community strives to make FBW an active and supportive group for Filipino bloggers worldwide.

So come join us in this momentous event, and be a proud Filipino blogger worldwide.

Filipino Bloggers Worldwide: The 1^st Grand Eyeball is brought to you by Filipino Bloggers Worldwide, Ex-Link Events, Bo’s Coffee, ShareTea Philippines, B’s Cupcakes, Water For Less Purifying System, Breakfast Magazine, Azta Urban Salon, Ystilo Salon, Beauty by Ria, Bagellia Filipinas, Tough Brat Bags, VESTI, Always 10 List, Frank & Carol’s, Pinky Toes PH, Jana Kathryn,Kikay Konek, Astigirl by Tweet Sering, Blogger Manila, Gadget Gambit, Towercamp Phils., Inc., Say It Nessie, Budget Biyahera, The Purple Doll, Shopping with Juan, and Smart Mommy Online.

Getting Ready when Calamity Strikes

Geographically, the Philippines is located at the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire", thus the tendency to experience more natural calamities like typhoons and earthquakes.  However, accordingly there's an even  larger context of climate change whose impacts are felt all the way around the world.

Climate change or global warming has become evident in recent years as regions experience extreme climates, from warm seasons hitting record-high temperatures to wet seasons exhibiting massive precipitation. This is precisely the reason why organizations from both the public and private sectors call for extra vigilance.

As an advocate of safety and awareness, Eveready Philippines is taking an active stance in educating the public about being always ready when disaster strikes. “Now that we are at the height of what we can rightfully call ‘typhoon season’, Filipinos are again reminded to ensure that their family is always ready,” says Energizer representative Johanna V. Emata “This, of course, starts with awareness of certain situations and proper knowledge of which equipment and supplies are needed to be ready for any type of calamity.”

Keep up with the latest

The first thing to do at the onset of any calamity is to keep watch over the situation regardless of whether you are located near disaster-prone areas or not. This means keeping constantly updated with breaking news about the progress of the storm and related developments over television or radio.

It also helps to be oriented on PAGASA’s Public Storm Warning Signals (PSWS) as well as their recently released color-coded rainfall advisory, which would help people be ready for any possible situations. While PSWS corresponds to increasing storm intensity from PSWS#1 to PSWS#4, the rainfall advisory tracks the level of rainfall that determines rising water levels.

Code Yellow means heavy rain that will deposit about 7.5 to 15mm of water—a situation that requires constant monitoring of the weather condition because of the possibility of flooding. Code Orange, on the other hand, means intense rain that will deposit about 15 to 30mm of water. This code requires people to be alert for possible evacuation due to threat of floods. Code Red, like any other red-alert status, means danger. With more that 30mm of rainfall, low-lying areas are to expect serious flooding that would require residents to immediately evacuate.

Knowing these facts offer foresight and provide a chance to be always ready for possible disaster. Being ready means having ample time to strategize on which areas to avoid, how to safeguard property, or, at worst, evacuate the premises.

Basic Needs

If you and your family do get caught in a situation that leaves little or no margin for error, it helps to be prepared and armed with the right equipment and supplies. “Faced with an emergency disaster situation, what you have inside your home, or ultimately inside your bag, may spell the difference between life and death,” says Emata. “Being prepared with the right tools will definitely ensure you and your family’s survival.”

Securing the basic necessities of food, shelter, and clothing is of utmost importance. Making sure that the household is secure and waterways are free of debris are essential, as is stocking up on provision like bottled water and food that have a long shelf life.

An emergency kit that includes a multitool knife, First Aid materials, transistor radios, and flashlights should be accessible at all times. Cell phones should be charged in case of power interruption and emergency numbers must be on hand.

Help is on the way

It’s also important to stock up on long-lasting batteries. Aside from powering radios for information and flashlights for navigating through the dark, a good set of batteries powers signaling devices that can spell the difference between getting rescued and being left behind.

Eveready, the country’s leading battery brand, took the initiative to equip emergency response units like the Philippine Red Cross and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council with hands-free Energizer Headlights and Batteries needed to conduct rescue and relief operations.

Through partner organizations GMA Kapuso Foundation and ABS-CBN Foundation’s Sagip Kapamilya, Eveready also provided emergency lights and battery energy to families affected by massive flooding during the recent southwest monsoon (habagat) rains in most of Metro Manila and  large parts of Luzon.

As a brand that has empowered Filipino lives for decades, Eveready reiterates the importance of being vigilant and ready at all times. “Given that our country is very much prone to natural calamities, we should all take time to prepare and invest on the safety of our families and homes,” says Emata. “It is a small price to pay considering the value of the things and the lives that you can save.”

note: Press Release

Guinness World Records Recognized a Filipina: Largest Collection of Jigsaw Puzzles

Today the Guinness World Records recognized Ms. Gina Gil Lacuna as the record holder for "The World's Largest Collection of Jigsaw Puzzles in any Size, Shape or Form". The awarding was held at the very prestigious The Puzzle Mansion located in Tagaytay City.

The award was handed by no other than Guinness World Records Adjudicator and Representative of Turkey, Seyda Subasi Gemici, with the official Guinness Certificate attesting to the new record she has set in this category. Ms. Gina Lacuna's collection boasts 1,030 jigsaw puzzles.  All the puzzles in the collection were completed by ma'am Gina herself and are all housed at the Puzzle Mansion Bed & Breakfast in Tagaytay City.  The previous record for jigsaw puzzles was 238, collected by Luiza Figuereido of Brazil on May 21, 2010.

The puzzles in Ms. Lacuna's collection were adjudicated this morning in the presence of two official witnesses, Sister Angeline Ilagan and Professor Monette Narciso of the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts.  The puzzle collection includes mural-sized puzzles that are 14 feet long and 5 feet tall and smaller pieces of various shapes and sizes, some in 3D and 4D.

Ms. Lacuna is currently working on one jigsaw puzzle that is acknowledged also by Guinness to be the biggest jigsaw puzzle in existence in the world : Keith Haring’s Double Retrospect with 32,000 puzzle pieces – 17 feet long and 6 feet tall.

According to ma'am Gina she began doing jigsaw puzzles 27 years ago, says she is able to finish two 500-piece puzzles a day and a 1000-pieces puzzle overnight. “If the puzzles have only 300 pieces, I am able to finish five of them in one day,” she said.

The awarding ceremony was also witnessed by local and foreign dignitaries, like Tagaytay Mayor Abraham Tolentino and Director Luella Jurilla of the Calabarzon Region who represented Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez. Friends from local and international media were also present during the occasion.

Mayor Tolentino said, “We are very proud to have this awesome puzzle collection in our City and this recognition from Guinness World Records, the ultimate authority on record-breaking achievements, will place Tagaytay on the world map. The Puzzle Mansion will now be included in their local package travel offerings such as the Lakbay Aral. We congratulate Ms. Lacuna on her singular feat and salute her for the role that her puzzles will play in boosting tourism in this part of the country,” 

For her part, Ms. Lacuna said she wants to turn more people – especially the youth – into solving jigsaw puzzles. “They are very rewarding to do because they are educational and have many psychological and health benefits as well. They relax you even as they make you think. According to doctors, working on difficult jigsaw puzzles exercises your brain. The more you work your brain, the better off your mind will be. Solving jigsaw puzzles can help stave off memory loss and brain aging.”

The event ended with a very beautiful fireworks display brightening the Tagaytay skyline.

The puzzle collection is on view daily at The Puzzle Mansion from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Sunday with minimal entrance fee of P100.00.  For more information about the puzzle collection and The Puzzle Mansion, visit www.Facebook.com/puzzlemansion

Coachlicious Giveaway: FREE Blogger Sign-up

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IFE Elevators: Moving and Serving the Philippines

IFE Elevators Philippines officially announced today its partnership with IFE Elevators Co. Ltd. of China, manufacturer of IFE Elevators, one of the largest elevator brands in China. IFE Elevators Philippines will be the official exclusive distributor of the IFE Elevator brand here in the Philippines.

According to Mr. Francis Ondoy, General Manager of IFE Elevator Philippines, they will handle the Sales, Marketing, Installation, Maintenance and After-Sales service elements. He also said, "we already have the necessary resources and competent technical personnel that will take care of all concerns regarding the business." Manufacturing aspect will remain in China since demand isn't that much yet but according to IFE China executive Mr. Jason Bai, they are hopeful that in the years to come, possibly they can put-up a manufacturing plant in the Philippines as well.

IFE elevator brand is known not only in China but also in major countries such as Hongkong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia (in the ASEAN region); India, Bangladesh and Pakistan (in South Asia); United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Bahrain and Iran (in Middle East); Nigeria, Congo and Rwanda (in Africa); Venezuela, Chile and Bolivia (in South America); and in Australia.

What will make the IFE brand competitive in the Philippine market?

• the flexibility of its designs which can ably suit the needs of clients or builders
• excellent technical support and after-sales services which are very essential in elevator business however often neglected by existing big brands.
• competitive pricing scheme, a much reduced cost but without compromising the quality of its products and services

IFE Elevators will assure clients of utmost quality. The brand is classified as a triple "A" elevator manufacturer in China, certified ISO-compliant (ISO9001:2008, ISO4001), and supported by a dynamic and innovative research and development team of engineers and technical personnel to help continuously improve and provide users with reliable and intelligent vertical transport solution designs.

For the Philippine market, IFE Elevator Philippines will offer several products such as Vertical Lifts, elevator types such as Passenger and Freight, Hospital Bed, Scenic or Panoramic, "Dumbwaiter", and Home Lifts. For now they are targetting mid-rise building constructions as clients.

Lastly, Mr. Ondoy emphasized that the Philippine company is confident about the elevator technology that IFE elevators will provide to the local market since they have been in elevator design and installation for more than 20 years already. Proudly saying that, IFE elevators also possess the same level of accuracy, safety and quality that our more established counterparts have.

To know more about IFE Elevators and its products, visit http://www.ifelift.com or http://www.ife.cn.

I - Innovative, F - Faithful, E - Efficient.