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

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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