After 3 days of "No Classes" because of three consecutive typhoons in the Philippines, we were all happy to get out of the house and attend Stevie and Toni's baby boy Luke's Baptism. We all trooped to the Christ the King Church in Libis. The venue for the reception was also within the church's grounds (very handy!).Family: Luke's Christening
12 July 2015
After 3 days of "No Classes" because of three consecutive typhoons in the Philippines, we were all happy to get out of the house and attend Stevie and Toni's baby boy Luke's Baptism. We all trooped to the Christ the King Church in Libis. The venue for the reception was also within the church's grounds (very handy!).
After 3 days of "No Classes" because of three consecutive typhoons in the Philippines, we were all happy to get out of the house and attend Stevie and Toni's baby boy Luke's Baptism. We all trooped to the Christ the King Church in Libis. The venue for the reception was also within the church's grounds (very handy!).
Cars: Full Throttle on the Road to History (press release)
Full Throttle on the road to History
Full Throttle is the pioneering local TV show to air on History Channel Philippines, bringing with it a fresh and vibrant
take on the motoring industry both here and abroad.
“Local motoring TV programs are
too formulaic and staid, with some retaining the same format they’ve had for
decades,” said Rommel Dizon, the
show’s program manager and one of the founders of the production company behind
the show, Beyond Wheels Production.
“Full Throttle promises to change all
that.”
DIY: How to clean your computer fan
09 July 2015
A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that our CPU was making a weird humming noise and noticed that the fan attached to the CPU case stopped working. Now, ever since our motherboard expired last year due to dust and dirt, I've been conscious about cleaning the CPU regularly. But I haven't had a chance to clean the actual fan unit. So, I searched Google (of course!) for an easy to follow DIY video on cleaning CPU fans and I found one here and I proceeded to try it out for myself.
DIY: Replacing a faulty bidet
28 April 2015
Yesterday, our bidet in the bathroom broke. There was a small crack in the bottom part of the bidet, the one which connects the hose to the handle, and of course over time, it eventually grew bigger until it snapped. I tried to fix it as soon as it happened but the truth was it really had to be replaced.
Yesterday, our bidet in the bathroom broke. There was a small crack in the bottom part of the bidet, the one which connects the hose to the handle, and of course over time, it eventually grew bigger until it snapped. I tried to fix it as soon as it happened but the truth was it really had to be replaced.Passport Renewal at the DFA Consular Office in Ali Mall, Cubao
Today, Patrick, Dylan and I went to the DFA Consular Office in Ali Mall Cubao to have Patrick's passport renewed. He's anticipating an out of the country trip in March and he needs a renewed passport just to be safe. So, he booked an appointment online through the DFA Ali Mall Consular office website and proceeded to his chosen branch (Ali Mall) on the day he was assigned.Received a Christmas Package from Del Monte Kitchenomics
February 11, 2015
Last December, I got an email from Del Monte Kitchenomics (I am subscribed to their newsletter) saying I have a chance to get a gift from them if I call the number in the email. Well, of course, I'm not one to pass up an opportunity to get a freebie so I did call as soon as I read the email. It took a while but I did get through.
They got my personal information and that was that. I forgot about it afterward. Then I got a call last week verifying the information I gave last Christmas. This time, they said I was one of the lucky participants and I will be receiving something via courier! I was excited to hear that and I couldn't wait to hear the doorbell ring!
Last December, I got an email from Del Monte Kitchenomics (I am subscribed to their newsletter) saying I have a chance to get a gift from them if I call the number in the email. Well, of course, I'm not one to pass up an opportunity to get a freebie so I did call as soon as I read the email. It took a while but I did get through.They got my personal information and that was that. I forgot about it afterward. Then I got a call last week verifying the information I gave last Christmas. This time, they said I was one of the lucky participants and I will be receiving something via courier! I was excited to hear that and I couldn't wait to hear the doorbell ring!
Mama's 7th Death Anniversary: 7 things that made Carmen R. Paypon an excellent teacher
February 08, 2015
Today is my Mom's 7th death anniversary. I was thinking about what to write and it came to me that she has been a teacher most of her life and, apart from being a Supermom, this is another part of her life that she totally owned.
So I thought that in celebration of this part of her, I'd write 7 things that made her an excellent teacher.
Today is my Mom's 7th death anniversary. I was thinking about what to write and it came to me that she has been a teacher most of her life and, apart from being a Supermom, this is another part of her life that she totally owned. So I thought that in celebration of this part of her, I'd write 7 things that made her an excellent teacher.
First time at CaliBurger Timog
February 02, 2015
We ended up eating at CaliBurger Timog when our earlier trip to St. Peter's Crematorium went bust. Patrick's Uncle Rolly died and was cremated at around 7PM but we were only able to leave the house at 7PM due to Stanley's color coding. By the time we got there, everyone was gone.
We decided to have dinner before going home and Patrick drove us to CaliBurger Timog.
We ended up eating at CaliBurger Timog when our earlier trip to St. Peter's Crematorium went bust. Patrick's Uncle Rolly died and was cremated at around 7PM but we were only able to leave the house at 7PM due to Stanley's color coding. By the time we got there, everyone was gone. We decided to have dinner before going home and Patrick drove us to CaliBurger Timog.
Yamaha Tricity Grand Launch at the MOA Concert Grounds
January 25, 2015
Patrick was invited to the Yamaha Tricity Grand Launch at the MOA Concert Grounds and we went along with him.
The Yamaha Tricity is built with a revolutionary design called the Leaning Multi Wheel or LMW. "This system allows two front wheels to deal with changes in different road surfaces while keeping both tires in contact with the road as it leans. It provides a unique experience during each ride that is felt in every turn; any angle; surpassing the standards of style, performance, and technological innovation. "
We saw it in motion at the Test Drive Area and it was exciting to behold on the road :)
We arrived around lunchtime and the test drive was underway. Since Patrick was part of the media, we were offered free lunch at the nearby Savory restaurant.
There wasn't much of a crowd by the time we returned probably because everyone was either still having lunch or avoiding the harsh sun. It was perfect for us as we went around and took pictures because we had the area to ourselves. At first, we simply took pictures with the bikes as the background because we weren't sure if we're allowed to ride them. The kids loved the London and the Louvre Museum backgrounds :)
Now, when we were sure that it's safe and okay to ride on the Yamaha Tricity motorcycles on display, we took a few more pictures :)
We stood and watched the on-going presentation they had on the revolutionary engineering and design of the Yamaha Tricity motorbikes.
To quote the presentation, "Its function is perfected because of the harmonious integration of 2 key systems:
*A PARALLELOGRAM LINK, a system that allows the parallel leaning of two front wheels and separate functioning of independent suspensions.
It also has a displacement of 125 cc and is available in all Yamaha 3s shops nationwide with the suggested retail price of PHP 146,000 and comes in matte red or white."
Patrick was invited to the Yamaha Tricity Grand Launch at the MOA Concert Grounds and we went along with him. The Yamaha Tricity is built with a revolutionary design called the Leaning Multi Wheel or LMW. "This system allows two front wheels to deal with changes in different road surfaces while keeping both tires in contact with the road as it leans. It provides a unique experience during each ride that is felt in every turn; any angle; surpassing the standards of style, performance, and technological innovation. "
We saw it in motion at the Test Drive Area and it was exciting to behold on the road :)
We arrived around lunchtime and the test drive was underway. Since Patrick was part of the media, we were offered free lunch at the nearby Savory restaurant.
There wasn't much of a crowd by the time we returned probably because everyone was either still having lunch or avoiding the harsh sun. It was perfect for us as we went around and took pictures because we had the area to ourselves. At first, we simply took pictures with the bikes as the background because we weren't sure if we're allowed to ride them. The kids loved the London and the Louvre Museum backgrounds :)
Now, when we were sure that it's safe and okay to ride on the Yamaha Tricity motorcycles on display, we took a few more pictures :)
We stood and watched the on-going presentation they had on the revolutionary engineering and design of the Yamaha Tricity motorbikes.
To quote the presentation, "Its function is perfected because of the harmonious integration of 2 key systems:*A PARALLELOGRAM LINK, a system that allows the parallel leaning of two front wheels and separate functioning of independent suspensions.
*A CANTILEVERED TELESCOPIC SUSPENSION for the two front wheels with unique machine dimensions and geometry.
How I wish I were able to test drive it but I don't have a driver's license hahaha But it really looked cool to drive. It looked especially balanced and comfortable too.
Disclosure: Though Patrick was entitled to the free lunch, we were also privileged to have been included. However, I would still have written the blog post regardless whether I was given free food or not. It was a unique event which we all attended and therefore, I felt that I should write about it. I do thank Yamaha and its organizers for the treat.
Disclosure: Though Patrick was entitled to the free lunch, we were also privileged to have been included. However, I would still have written the blog post regardless whether I was given free food or not. It was a unique event which we all attended and therefore, I felt that I should write about it. I do thank Yamaha and its organizers for the treat.
Trying out the Nail-a-holics Nail Salon & Spa
January 21, 2015
So today, I had a real itch to get out of the house (I don't know why). Since I had to get out anyway and pay some bills, I thought I'd make the most out of the day and do everything I need to do at once. So, Dylan and I made our way to SM City San Lazaro.
Our plan was to pay the bills first so I am sure that I won't be spending that part of the budget on frivolous things but when we got to the Bills Payment counter at the SM Department Store, we were only able to pay for the PLDT Bill because Maynilad was offline which meant we had time to kill and we went directly to the Nail-a-holics salon at the LGF of SM City San Lazaro. The only reason why we headed there was because I was aware of it from previous trips in the area. Also, the times when I passed by the salon I usually saw that it was full so I thought the next time I needed to go to a nail salon I would definitely try going there.
It was perfect timing that when Dylan and I went there, there were no other customers but us. Three foreigner guys were just paying their bill when we arrived so I felt good that the attendants wouldn't be in a hurry to finish their work since there's no line of customers. I asked how much the foot spa with pedicure was and the receptionist immediately replied P420 which when you look at their menu of services was for the "Water Drift Spa Pedicure". Quoting from them, the Water Drift Spa Pedicure was described like so:
"Fall in love with our indulgent all-natural treatment that helps bring life to sore, tired feet. Reveal beautiful skin with hard skin removal and thorough exfoliation using sea salt and virgin coconut oil. Finish off with a nail shape, cuticle tidy and nail color of your choice."
With this description in mind, let me tell you why I was disappointed with the service that I got.
* It wasn't as indulgent as I thought - Yes, the couch was comfortable. Yes, the decor in the salon was appealing. But I was surprised by the "palanggana" (huge plastic basin) that they brought out to soak my feet in. Now, in some salons they have built-in sinks or foot tubs but I wasn't prepared for the "palanggana". That was a turn off especially for a pricey salon.
* It wasn't as thorough as I expected - I have had my share of foot spa pedicures in other salons, from high-end ones to your friendly neighborhood salon. I got better treatment from them than at Nail-a-holics. The thorough exfoliation didn't happen. The attendant merely applied the sea salt on my feet and legs then rinsed it off. It wasn't used for scrubbing or exfoliation unless it wasn't meant to then that was my misinterpretation. I was also expecting a longer massage. In my previous experiences, massages usually took between 15-30 minutes. The massage I had was closer to 10. The whole service for me took between 30-40 minutes, including the waiting time. At the other salons, treatment time was usually an hour.
*minimal choice for nail polish - For P420 , you would expect to see Orly products like in other salons instead, they were offering regular nail polish, the brands I wasn't even familiar with. To get Orly or some other special nail polish you have to add P40. All the available regular nail polish was bright and neon, which I wasn't into. But I didn't want to spend any additional for special polish so I just picked out a "Rose" colored polish. Both my kids didn't like it (which I agree too because it made my feet and toes look darker)
On the PLUS side, I appreciated that the staff wasn't noisy. At one point, the receptionist/head attendant even had to call out one manicurist for reclining on the couch with customers present which to me meant they wanted to project a better and professional image.
Looking back at my experience, I can't say that the service applies to all other branches since I've only tried this one. I may have just been unlucky this time. But if you want value for your hard-earned money, it may be more worthwhile to find another salon, like Hot Nails in Hemady or California Nails and Day Spa. Even our neighborhood salon that charges P160 for Foot Spa Pedicure had better services in my honest opinion.
Oh well, that's how you learn from and distinguish among salons. You just have to try and experience them.
So today, I had a real itch to get out of the house (I don't know why). Since I had to get out anyway and pay some bills, I thought I'd make the most out of the day and do everything I need to do at once. So, Dylan and I made our way to SM City San Lazaro.Our plan was to pay the bills first so I am sure that I won't be spending that part of the budget on frivolous things but when we got to the Bills Payment counter at the SM Department Store, we were only able to pay for the PLDT Bill because Maynilad was offline which meant we had time to kill and we went directly to the Nail-a-holics salon at the LGF of SM City San Lazaro. The only reason why we headed there was because I was aware of it from previous trips in the area. Also, the times when I passed by the salon I usually saw that it was full so I thought the next time I needed to go to a nail salon I would definitely try going there.
It was perfect timing that when Dylan and I went there, there were no other customers but us. Three foreigner guys were just paying their bill when we arrived so I felt good that the attendants wouldn't be in a hurry to finish their work since there's no line of customers. I asked how much the foot spa with pedicure was and the receptionist immediately replied P420 which when you look at their menu of services was for the "Water Drift Spa Pedicure". Quoting from them, the Water Drift Spa Pedicure was described like so:
"Fall in love with our indulgent all-natural treatment that helps bring life to sore, tired feet. Reveal beautiful skin with hard skin removal and thorough exfoliation using sea salt and virgin coconut oil. Finish off with a nail shape, cuticle tidy and nail color of your choice."
With this description in mind, let me tell you why I was disappointed with the service that I got.
* It wasn't as indulgent as I thought - Yes, the couch was comfortable. Yes, the decor in the salon was appealing. But I was surprised by the "palanggana" (huge plastic basin) that they brought out to soak my feet in. Now, in some salons they have built-in sinks or foot tubs but I wasn't prepared for the "palanggana". That was a turn off especially for a pricey salon.
 |
| Liked the Lighting |
*minimal choice for nail polish - For P420 , you would expect to see Orly products like in other salons instead, they were offering regular nail polish, the brands I wasn't even familiar with. To get Orly or some other special nail polish you have to add P40. All the available regular nail polish was bright and neon, which I wasn't into. But I didn't want to spend any additional for special polish so I just picked out a "Rose" colored polish. Both my kids didn't like it (which I agree too because it made my feet and toes look darker)
 |
| Looks better in the light ;) |
On the PLUS side, I appreciated that the staff wasn't noisy. At one point, the receptionist/head attendant even had to call out one manicurist for reclining on the couch with customers present which to me meant they wanted to project a better and professional image.
Looking back at my experience, I can't say that the service applies to all other branches since I've only tried this one. I may have just been unlucky this time. But if you want value for your hard-earned money, it may be more worthwhile to find another salon, like Hot Nails in Hemady or California Nails and Day Spa. Even our neighborhood salon that charges P160 for Foot Spa Pedicure had better services in my honest opinion.
Oh well, that's how you learn from and distinguish among salons. You just have to try and experience them.
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