BEAR BRAND reinforces TIBAY through “Ang Alamat ng Matibay” Children’s Book

As part of its continuing efforts to help nourish generations of Filipino families to good health, BEAR BRAND Powdered Milk Drink has added a new dimension to its TIBAY campaign with the launch of its 1st children’s book entitled Ang Alamat ng Matibay, which highlights the importance of tibay ng kalooban.

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 A simple and beautifully illustrated story that teaches children how tibay ng loob can help them overcome obstacles in order to achieve their goals, Ang Alamat ng Matibay revolves around the kind and loving Mina, a child beset with fears. When her teddy bear, which she regards as her best friend, was stolen, the ever respectful Mina goes on a search mission in an enchanted world where she was forced to conquer all her fears and thus develop tibay ng loob. As she embarks on her adventure, she not only finds her lost best friend, she also develops a friendship with the toy thief Anino.

This is part of BEAR BRAND Powdered Milk Drink’s long-running Tibay campaign, which espouses Tibay ng Katawan, Kalooban, at Isipan.  

“Today’s parents regard tibay ng loob as an important factor to help their kids succeed in life.  But honing tibay ng loob among children must start when they are still young in order to prepare them for the challenges that life brings,” explained Willy de Ocampo, Nestlé Philippines Team Lead for BEAR BRAND.

BEAR BRAND, in partnership with The Storytelling Project, Klasrum ng Pag-asa, Art Attack, and National Bookstore will donate 10,000 copies of the book to select public schools and partner organizations.  The book will also be available in selected branches of National Bookstore starting December 15, 2014. 

“We would like to promote tibay ng loob to as many Filipino school children as possible and our partner-organizations will help us reach out to them,” Jojo dela Cruz, Nestlé Philippines Business Executive Manager for Dairy, Health and Nutrition Solution, explained.  “By providing schools and communities with copies of the book, we hope to foster among school children the importance of strength of character and strength of will, values that they can bring with them as they journey through life.  We hope that through Ang Alamat ng Matibay, we can help mold the future leaders of our country.”

Nestle Bear Brand launches the ALAMAT NG MATIBAY BOOK in partnership with DepEd, The Storytelling Project, Klasrum ng Pag-asa, and National Bookstore. 

*Press Release

Back to Black

The last time I had my hair colored was waaaay back in June. That was when I had it done in Fringe Salon and really went for a lighter shade (the lightest my hair has ever been actually). Here's the pics from that salon trip:

Applying for my baby's passport at DFA Alabang

I was so happy when I found out that there was already a DFA branch in Alabang Town Center because it would be so much more convenient for us to go there. Plus, it's inside the mall which makes it even better! ;p

I realized that I needed to get my passport renewed already, and figured I'll just get Skyler one as well para sabay na. Although it says in their website (http://alabang.passport.com.ph) that children below 1 year old do not need appointments, I still went ahead and made one for both of us (using the family appointment option).

We were scheduled on a Tuesday at 4pm. We arrived a little bit earlier (like around past 3pm), and normally you will not be entertained until 30 minutes before your appointment. But since we were with Skyler (who was 9 months old at that time), they let us in at once. Oh, and hubby was also with us. I think they usually only let one parent/companion in (unless all of you will be getting passports) but since I also had an appointment, hubby became Skyler's chaperone.

Here were the other requirements I brought:

- Printed Application Form (on long bond paper)
- Skyler's Original Birth Certificate from the NSO (plus a photocopy)
- Our Marriage Certificate from the NSO (plus a photocopy)
- Original and photocopy of valid passport of the person traveling with the minor (in our case, I brought mine and hubby's as well)
- I also photocopied our IDs (driver's license) just in case they ask for it

In the general requirements list though, there is an item requiring a Notarized Affidavit of Support and Consent to travel from either parent (if minor is a legitimate child) / from mother (if minor is an illegitimate child).

I was really confused about this and didn't know if I had to make one since Skyler was going to be traveling with me anyway. I tried to research and some said you still had to submit one regardless, while others said there was no need. In the end, I didn't make it since I remember not having one when I applied for Miley and Sabe's passports a couple of years ago. And I was right, since they didn't ask us for it. You only need to submit this if the child will NOT be traveling with the parents:

Affidavit of Support and Consent (ASC) executed by either parent indicating the name of the traveling companion and relationship to the minor. If minor will be traveling alone, ASC must be executed by either parent, stating that his/her child will be traveling alone. If minor is illegitimate, mother should execute the ASC.

There are other more specific requirements for minors with different cases (parents abroad, illegitimate, orphaned, adopted, etc). So just check the website for those.

It was all smooth-sailing once we got inside. First, we presented our application forms at the Appointment Counter. Then, we were given a queue number and then waited a bit for our number to be called (maybe about 5 minutes). We then went to the processing window where all our documents were checked. I remember having to photocopy something again but the xerox machine was just a few steps away so no problem. You'll also be asked if you prefer rush (7 working days) or regular (15 working days) processing.

We then proceeded to the Passport Enrollment Section where we paid the processing fees: P950 for regular and P1,200 for rush. We just got the regular since we weren't in a hurry anyway. After, we headed to the Encoding Section where all the data from our application form was entered in the computer system. They also make you double check all information and then when your're ok with it, your photo is finally taken.

Skyler wore a white collared shirt btw. But I think it can even be just a regular collar since it's not even noticeable in the final pic. It was also so funny because Skyler had a scratch near his eye so I had to apply concealer to make sure it didn't show in the pics. They were able to take his picture quickly but then the computer hanged so we had to do it again! Which is a shame coz I think his first photo was cuter hehe. ;p

such a good boy!

Anyway, you can choose to have your passport delivered to you for an extra fee of P120 per passport. But we just chose to pick it up when it was released since it was another excuse to go back to the mall. ;p

There were still a lot of people in line waiting and I don't really know the average time one normally spends if not on the priority lane. But I swear, having a baby is the way to go hehe! Ang bilis! 

Anyway, passport of a minor applicant shall be released to parents only or to an authorized representative. Our release time was from 1:00-3:00 pm, 15 working days later, and it was also a breeze getting it.

And finally, here's Skyler's passport pic! Open-mouth pa talaga e haha! Ang cute! As for me, I'm not happy with my pic as usual hehe. I really can't carry the no-smile look hehe. ;p

Anyway, DFA Alabang is located at the 4th floor of Metro Department Store, Alabang Town Center (near the toy section). They're open from 10AM to 7PM, Mondays to Saturdays. Go to http://alabang.passport.com.ph to set an appointment and for other details.

Taiwan Excellence's Made to Enjoy Christmas Contest

Taiwan Excellence is currently having an on-going Christmas promo. If you read my previous post, Taiwan Excellence is a campaign that recognizes high-quality Taiwanese brands, guaranteeing their superior quality and value. Taiwan Excellence was established in 1992 by the Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) to encourage Taiwan industries to upgrade and incorporate innovalue into their products. TAITRA is a non-profit, semi-governmental trade promotion organization in Taiwan, and is one of the organizers that launched the campaign in the Philippines. The Award of Taiwan Excellence today is the highest accolade awarded to Taiwan products that encapsulate innovalue. The symbol of Taiwan Excellence heralds Taiwan’s ascent to world-class quality in product innovation, design and manufacturing, representing the highest standards which Taiwan products must meet to maintain its competitive edge in the global markets.

Since this is the season for sharing and giving, Taiwan Excellence is letting Filipinos wish for high-quality gifts through their Made to Enjoy Christmas Contest.

Joining is so easy:

1. Go to http://www.MadeToEnjoyTheLife.ph 

2. Select a Taiwan Excellence gift for your loved one

3. Register all the necessary information

4. Share why you want to give your Taiwan Excellence gift to your selected recipient

It's that simple! No purchase is necessary to enter and/or win the contest.

Ten (10) lucky winners will be receiving their chosen Taiwan Excellence gift this Christmas. And what's more, one lucky winner will have the gift delivered to their loved one by no less than Taiwan Excellence Celebrity Endorser for the Philippines Iya Villania-Arellano! 

So what are you waiting for? Join now and share the Christmas spirit to your family and friends! :)

Our new Panasonic Inverter refrigerator

I'm not much of a cook so our kitchen is probably the one area in our house we spent the least amount of money on when we moved in 3 years ago. All the appliances are hand-me-downs from my mom, like our oven, water dispenser, and refrigerator. We also got our microwave as a freebie when we bought our plasma TV haha! Everything looks ok and works fine anyways, so we were happy to get these for free.

Don't get me wrong, I still dream of having a gorgeous kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances someday. Maybe then I'll get motivated to cook noh? haha! ;p Anyway, like I said, our refrigerator is still in perfect condition but it is quite small. We noticed that we were having a hard time fitting everything inside the freezer after doing the grocery, especially now since I'm also storing my breastmilk there.

our old ref (with a few of our magnet collection)

So we finally decided to buy a new one when SM had a recent sale. After scoping around, we settled on the Panasonic Inverter 16 cu.ft. size. The original cost was about P39k but after all the promos and discounts, we got it for P31k.

First off, I just love the silver color which makes it look so sleek compared to our old white one. Makes our kitchen look so sosyal na hehe! And look at all that space to stick our magnets on!

We were really sold when we found out this had an Intelligent Inverter Technology which has up to 40% less energy consumption. Hopefully our electricity bill really goes down. ;p

I was a bit skeptical at first with the bottom freezer though. I was thinking the drawer type compartment might get broken easily (hopefully not). But since frozen foods are used less, the refrigerator at the top part means that  you'd have easier access to the food and beverages consumed more often.

Having the ref at the top part is really such a big difference! It's so easy to have everything at eye level and no more bending over or kneeling down to check out what's in the bottom part like before!

I also like how it has separate vegetable and chilled case, which provides indirect cooling to prevent drying and damage.

It also has anti-bacteria and deodorizing features which are a plus! Hopefully this ref will last a long time and perform like it promises. :)

MMC’s Pregnancy & Beyond 2014

Before you pack your bag for the hospital, be sure you are acquainted with this new and important job of being parents!

Discover the basics of nursing and caring for your baby in MakatiMed’s Pregnancy & Beyond 2014 lecture series. Be a breastfeeding pro and learn proper infant care techniques and child development. All these on November 22, 2014 (Saturday) at 10:00AM to 1:00PM at the Auditorium, 8^th Floor Tower 2, Makati Medical Center.

For inquiries, contact 8888.999 local 3756.

Hong Kong Disneyland, here we come!

One of my dreams is about to come true, and that is going to Disneyland with my kids! Well, we're actually in Hong Kong already and it's just Miley and Sabre with me and hubby. We decided to leave Skyler with our parents for now since we feel he's too young and probably won't appreciate / remember the trip anyway. We can just come back again next time in a couple of years, maybe when he's about 3 years old. :)

I'm super excited too since we'll be staying in Disneyland Hotel! I did a lot of research if we should stay here or in Hollywood Hotel (which is cheaper), but then hubby and I decided to go all out and just book here! :)

photo from HK Disneyland's website

One thing that sucked though is when I booked online, I found out later that they charged me twice! I was just randomly checking the current balance of my credit card bill when I noticed there were two line items from Hong Kong Disneyland, with slightly different amounts. I emailed them to inquire and got this reply a few days later:

This was the first time this ever happened to me while paying online and with such a large amount pa. Anyway, I was hoping they would offer me some kind of freebie for the hassle pero wala e, hehe! ;p The good news is the refund was indeed included in my latest credit card statement so I can rest easy na. The bad news is that due to currency conversion, the amount they refunded was P500 less than what was charged. Nalugi pa ako bwisit! But I don't want to dwell on that na, I just want to enjoy this trip and make magical memories!

I'm sure I'll be posting a lot of photos on Instagram (@mrsmommyholic) so follow me if you want to be updated on our trip. Anyway, I'm so excited and can't wait to see all the Disney characters! :)

Dusadee Thai (BF Homes)

Dusadee Thai has been around BF Homes Paranaque since early last year. What's great about this place is they serve authentic Thai food at super cheap prices, plus they're open 24 hours daily.

Their actual resto is quite small but nicely set up. But there's no air-conditioning so it could get pretty hot especially if you're eating here for lunch. I wasn't able to take photos when I went there so I just went to their FB page and grabbed some pics.

photo from Dusadee Thai's FB page

Here's a closer look at their interesting story which is displayed on the wall of the resto. Now you know why the food is really good and authentic!

from Dusadee Thai's FB page

And check out their very affordable menu. Amazing right? Although I believe this isn't updated yet since they now have more items on the menu like Tom Yum, Pork Noodle Soup, Fried Spring Rolls, and Mango Salad.

from Dusadee Thai's FB page

Anyway, I love that they have delivery (807-7777) which was perfect a couple of nights ago when we were craving for Thai food but didn't want to go out. I believe they have a minimum order of P300 though.

We ordered the Chicken and Pork Bagoong Rice Meals, which came with a generous 2 cups of rice. For those who aren't fans of bagoong rice, you can order plain rice instead. For some reason, the pork and chicken looked so similar we couldn't tell them apart when we opened the boxes. We had to cut into the meat and taste it first haha! ;p

We also ordered their Pork Noodle Soup, which was packed separately then we just mixed it when it was delivered. I just loved all the mix of flavors in this soup!

Oh, and here's the Tom Yum soup which hubby ordered on a different day (obviously different ang lighting, lunch kasi e hehe). Super love all the flavors with just the right amount of spiciness. He's addicted to this!

Anyway, I also ordered their Fried Spring Rolls which had noodles inside...

We also had their Special Thai Iced Tea for our drinks...

And finally, Mango Sticky Rice for dessert! Perfect ending for that "tanggal umay" taste.

We really enjoyed every bite of our meal! So for authentic Thai food for less, definitely check out Dusadee Thai in the BF area. :)


DUSADEE THAI
40 Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes Paranaque
807-7777
FB page: www.facebook.com/pages/Dusadee-Thai/541809072508695

Movies that made me cry

I just watched The Fault in Our Stars the other day (yes, now lang!). When it was showing in the cinemas a couple of months ago, I remember seeing so many posts on my feed about how people were bawling their eyes out and were so depressed after watching it. Obviously I haven’t read the book, so I had no idea what the story was about except that the girl was sick. But I sorta had a feeling of what was going to happen based on all the feedback I was getting (and I guessed right btw!).

Anyway, I was expecting to get all emotional while watching the movie... but it never happened for me. As in no tears. Zero. Nada. Zilch. Hubby was joking that I had a stone-cold heart, but hey, he didn’t cry either so I guess we’re perfect for each other lol! But thinking about it, maybe I just didn’t connect with the movie or wasn’t feeling the actors (I’m not such a fan of Shailene Woodley btw). Or I guess I was already anticipating too much, so in the back of my mind I was already prepared for all the sadness, gets?

But I guess I really don’t cry easily. Like I didn’t cry at my wedding or when my babies were born hehe. Those moments were filled with so much love, joy and excitement but the whole tears of happiness thing just never happens for me!

But anyway, back to the point. It got me thinking of the movies that have really struck a chord in me and made me cry (and still gets me choked up whenever I watch it again). Because believe it or not, there have been a few. So before you think I really am a heartless person, here’s the list in no particular order, with the scenes that have really stood out. ;p

*SPOILERS below, but these are all old movies anyway, which I hope almost everyone have seen ;p

The Little Mermaid

My favourite Disney movie EVER! Even when I watch it today, the last scene where Ariel says goodbye to her father King Triton and all her family and friends in the ocean gets me crying every single time. And I just love all the songs!

Tangled

My next favourite Disney movie. The part with the lanterns is just magical. And when Rapunzel is finally reunited with her real parents and they don’t even say anything and just hug. Cryfest!

A Walk to Remember

My favourite Nicholas Sparks movie. I remember hubby and I watched this back in college and he also shed a few tears here haha! So many moments got me emotional, especially their wedding. I also read the book after and ended up crying even more!

The Land Before Time

I think everyone I know has cried at this movie! Ang bigat! Just hearing the song “If We Hold On Together” gets me emotional! I also love the character Cera (the triceratop) and how she acts so tough. But then there’s this part I can’t forget where she keeps distancing herself from the others but then when nightfall came, she eventually went to Littlefoot’s side to snuggle and keep warm. That moment just got me!

Monsters Inc.

The last part when Mike reveals he has rebuilt Boo’s door and then Sulley uses the piece he has to complete it. Then he enters the door and finally reunites with Boo. Awww...

Legends of the Fall

One of my favourite movies of ALL time. It doesn’t hurt that Brad Pitt stars in this too. This is such a heavy drama so there’s definitely lot of emotional scenes. A part that always gets me choked up is when Brad Pitt finally goes home after so many years and his dad Anthony Hopkins already had a stroke and can’t speak. So he writes “AM HAPPY” on his blackboard around his neck. Huhuhu! Also the part where Brad Pitt’s wife is accidentally killed. So depressing!

Jerry Maquire

One of my absolute favourite Tom Cruise movies! The best part for me was when Cuba Gooding Jr. gets injured but then recovers and dances on the football field. And I love the part when everyone is trying to interview him after, and then he spots Jerry and they hug each other crying. Another fave part is the end when Cuba appears on a talk show then he gets surprised when he finds out Jerry has secured him a multi-million dollar contract. Such a feel good movie!

Rudy

I love this movie which was based on a true story. Underdog Rudy (Sean Astin) beat the odds and won the football game for his school. And the best part for me was when his teammates carried him on their shoulders chanting “Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!” Such an inspirational film.

Scent of a Woman

The part where Chris O’Donnell (Charlie) stops Al Pacino from committing suicide and when Al Pacino arrives to defend Charlie in the disciplinary hearing. I developed a major crush on Chris O’Donnell here and idolized Al Pacino for his acting skills (I believe he won the Oscar for Best Actor).

Toy Story 3

This is actually my least favourite out of all the Toy Story movies since I feel the story is a bit darker compared to the first two. But the last part when Andy finally lets go and passes the toys to their new owner, Bonnie, and then they play together with all the toys is so touching. I think we can all relate with outgrowing our childhood toys that we’ve loved so much throughout the years.

Deep Impact

I remember Armageddon and Deep Impact where shown almost at the same time. A lot of people loved Armageddon especially that scene where Bruce Willis sacrifices himself for Ben Affleck (nope, didn’t cry there). Personally, I preferred Deep Impact, where I got all emotional with the tsunami scene and when the rescue crew decides to undertake a suicide mission and says goodbye to their families on video call.

City Of Angels

This movie got me really depressed after! I just could not accept how Nicolas Cage finally becomes human and then Meg Ryan dies the next day! And this line: “I would rather have had one breath of her hair, one kiss of her mouth, one touch of her hand, than eternity without it.. Just one.” Haaaaay my heart just breaks! Lesson of the story, don’t ride a bike with your eyes closed and hands in the air diba???

My Girl

When Macaulay Culkin dies and Anna Chlumsky attends the funeral. Nuff said. 

Other honorable mentions at the top of my head: Forrest Gump, War Horse, Steel Magnolias, Beaches, Little Women, The Last of the Mohicans, Dying Young...

So what do you think of my list? I noticed almost half are cartoons though haha! What about you, what movies have made you cry?

Seoul, Korea: Insadong & Bukchon Hanok Village

We were starving after exploring Gyeongbokgung Palace, so we had lunch first at Insadong. We wanted to eat Korean BBQ so we just tried the first restaurant we saw which was this one:

bbq time!

side dishes

happy tummy

After we had our fill, we then decided to go to Bukchon Hanok Village. Based on what I read online, it was just walking distance from Insadong. Well, we had a map but we were still pretty confused where to go. And again with the steep streets! Anyway, I guess I really wasn't sure what to expect from the village. Like I didn't know if there was an admission fee or anything so at first we were looking for like the main entrance.

But the thing was, Bukchon Hanok Village is a residential neighborhood where people actually live. So we were walking around not realizing that we were already there gets? To be honest, I didn't really find it that interesting. We took a couple of pics but all the streets with hanoks, or traditional Korean houses, pretty much looked the same anyway... I read some reviews where people were raving about the place saying they spent hours exploring the village. But I guess this just isn't my cup of tea. 

We started to walk back to Insadong and passed by this beautiful church in the neighborhood. We went inside to pray and decided to check out the top floor which had a beautiful view of the village.

We got back to Insadong where we went souvenir shopping... The main street is Insadong-gil which has alleys on each side filled with art galleries, shops, cafes, and restaurants. We actually went inside some art galleries which was pretty interesting. Anyway, this is where we bought our pasalubongs, like t-shirts, magnets, and other trinkets.

the main road, Insadong-gil

some guy doing a bubble show on the corner of the street

the super popular ice cream snack in a tube cone

lots of street food everywhere

a free concert around the area

Anyway. this is the last of my Korean travel diary and I have to say, I'm missing Seoul so much! I definitely have to plan another trip here during the spring or autumn season so I can experience another side to this beautiful country. :)