Spend a hassle-free birthday with kids

This post is three months late, but there is a voice in my head that’s telling me to share this.

Every year since I graduated from college, I always planned on spending my birthday doing an outreach. Every year, I also find excuses on why I’m not able to push through (I was abroad, I was unemployed, I’m broke, etc.). 2019 has been a good year for me and I decided to push through with my wish of celebrating my birthday with kids.

Having a day job, it’s hard to plan an event on my own. I decided to get help from U! Happy Events – an organization made up by volunteers who connect people to marginalized children. All you have to do is pick a schedule and location, indicate the number of kids you want to celebrate with, select 3 out of their 71 offered games, and choose from their available add-ons.

A representative from U! Happy Events will call to confirm your event. I live in BGC so I chose Gawad Kalinga Pinagsamahan, but it was unavailable on my preferred date. They recommended Gawad Kalinga Laura instead (fair warning: it’s in Taguig but still far from BGC).

I still wanted to give a personal touch to the event, so I bought the school supplies on my own (note: please don’t forget to ask the kids’ age group and if they actually go to school). If you want to save time going to Divisoria, Shopee is your best friend (but to save money on shipping fee, I bought the notebooks from Market! Market!). A good friend sponsored payment for face paint so I contacted Syntax's Party Needs (I contacted him on the same day and he agreed to go!). Some of my friends also offered to bring snacks (baon) for the kids. I bought a cake from Goldilocks since their birthday cake is simple but big enough for a lot of kids to enjoy.

Some tips:

• If possible, bring friends instead of family. You’ll be celebrating with marginalized children; please have empathy.
• Gifts are optional, so just bring what you’re willing to give. Kids are easy to please and your time for them is enough to make them happy.
• Dress modestly, prepare to sweat, join the games and have fun yourself!

Get affordable luxury at Nail It!

This is going to be a no-fuss review because my experience in Nail It! was super fuss-free!

I went to Fisher Mall Malabon on a Saturday and it was crazy noisy. Nail It! opened just last month and it’s a welcoming sight away from the hustle of the city. Going here was such a good idea because you will feel relaxed and at peace right as you enter the nail spa. You actually won't feel like you're in Malabon anymore.

The place is very spacey and I got that instant feeling that this place embodies the cleanliness-is-next-to-godliness rule. The minimalist white and purple interior just adds to its charm.

The staff is nice, and they make sure that all the tools that will be used on you are sterilized (this specific branch is owned by a lawyer so ya know she's serious about avoiding any mistakes lol). You can choose from a variety of imported nail polish--they have ORLY, L.A. Colors, Ruby Wing, Kiara Sky, and Zoya (I would have loved to try the Zoya Pixie Dust in Waverly but I didn’t see it right away huhu). I had the foot spa and manicure, and I went with a pink shade of ORLY.

No cheapaz products!

Can ya feel all the tension leave my body? That's what it felt like!

Getting rid of all the stress in my life one toe at a time

Nail It! has an extensive list of choices on their menu. You can get pampered for as low as PHP 100! Check out their Facebook page for all the services they offer.

TL;DR: This place gives you affordable luxury in the heart of the city. Head on over to Nail It! for your much needed me time!

Nail It! is located at 4th Floor, Mezzanine Level, Fisher Mall Malabon. For reservations, please call +639452286955.

Save the planet with Justin Bieber and Lil Dicky

Hi! I'm a baboon, and I’m truly embracing the weird with this post.

A friend sent me a link to a song by Lil Dicky (yes, that guy from Freaky Friday) and I didn’t listen to it at first because I’m not a huge fan of this weird bearded dude. When I saw the video on the trending tab on YouTube a few days later, curiosity kicked in and damn son, it’s entertaining and relevant.

I’m making an effort to write about this song not just because it’s catchy and has an all-star ensemble (with a surprise cameo at the end), but because like my other posts, this video can help save the Earth!

To make this possible, Lil Dicky collaborate with 28 famous artists and one award-winning actor (you have to listen to the song ang guess who’s who). The number of streams and views that the song will get will help earn donations for nonprofits like the Quick Response Fund for Nature, the Shark Conservation Fund, the Solutions Project, the Global Greengrants Fund and the Carbon Cycle Institute. Of course, help spread awareness about climate change by sharing this video to your friends. It’s a bit PG-13 so if you want a clean version, click here.

For more information and to prove that I’m not making this up, visit https://welovetheearth.org/

Enjoy the video!

Spoiler alert: Check out this article after you watch the video.

Plant a million trees with a single like!

Shoutout to everyone who has an account on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!

I’m not exactly proud of this but there are days when I spend hours on social media, which means hours of zero productivity. A few nights ago, I stumbled upon one of my friends’ stories on Instagram where she shared a post that said “double tap to plant a tree.” My first thought was finally, another way to use social media for good!

Olá, Alegria!

There are a lot of hangout places in BGC but if you’re looking for a restaurant that’s less crowded but still has the vibe of a good chill party, check out Alegria Cozinha Moderna & Sangria Bar.

Tortuga x HOGWings' Hot Wings Challenge

It was a chill Friday night in Poblacion brought to us by Tortuga, HOGWings by House of Griddle, and Jimlong’s Chili. I gotta say, it was a very collaborative effort – the relaxing vibe from Tortuga and DJ Ryle Alcantara, the superb food by HOGWings, and the wild excitement brought by Jimlong’s Chili and Dee Jae Pa’este made it a night worthy of celebration.

Help plant trees while you stay online!

Ok, so, there are so many things I want to write about; I just never have enough energy or enthusiasm to put words onto paper (or laptop or whatever) BUT I stumbled upon something really cool—we can help plant trees while searching the web!

I’m always looking for ways on how to help save the planet (how very superhero of me) but constant laziness (when it comes joining outreach programs, recycling, etc.) keeps getting in the way. I try to be as Earth-friendly as possible (btw, I sell glass straws! Hit me up for orders lol) but being in the office nine hours a day can limit my options. While browsing through Facebook, I saw a post about Ecosia. Basically, it’s a search engine (like Google) where if you make around 45 searches, you help plant one tree!

Party and Play at Versus Barcade

Like I said in my previous blog post, I prefer eating in a place I haven’t been to when there’s a chance. There are very few restaurants that I’m willing to go back to when we eat out. Just recently, there’s a new addition to my go-to list—Versus Barcade in Uptown Parade, BGC.

Game face on (Pinball lang naman nilalaro lol)

Versus Barcade is—from what you can gather from the name itself—a bar and arcade where you can drink, order food, and play arcade games. The thing I love most about Versus Barcade is that there’s no minimum purchase (just don’t be kapal and not order anything) and no maximum number of hours of stay which means you can pretty much play the whole night and bring out your competitive self without worrying about losing all your money on games and being kicked out—think unlimited Timezone (or Quantum for probinsyanos like me lol).

Taste the hottest pepper in the world at HOGwings

Saying that living in BGC can be expensive is an understatement. I am always on a quest to look for food that is affordable and near my place. What better way to find good affordable food in BGC but by going to Mercato?

A food park is not complete without chicken wings. HOGWings by House of Griddle is a chicken wing haven brought to us by the same people behind, yes, House of Griddle formerly located at The Yard. HOGwings first started as a pop-up at Mercato Centrale McKinley West and just this August, they’re also now located at Mercato Centrale BGC. You might think that they’re just a typical business selling chicken wings, but fam. They sell the spiciest chicken wings in the world (ok maybe that’s an overstatement) in collaboration with the Philippine Hot Sauce Club (which means they help support local farmers from Bukidnon!).

More with Noor

Living in BGC is like living in a different planet compared to the other parts of Metro Manila. I’ve been staying in BGC for a total of 10 months now. Seeing that I don’t know how to cook and I can’t really eat at Jollibee everyday [even if I really want to], I always eat out. I love trying different restaurants around the [Bonifacio Global] city and I make it a point to not eat at the same place more than once, unless the food is really really good like Frankie’s, Sushi Nori, Marugame Udon, and Ooma (and Go! Bento because #afford).

A new restaurant recently opened in BGC and it’s the first of its kind. Noor Manila offers Mediterranean cuisine made with fresh ingredients. When I think of Mediterranean food, I imagine dishes with very rich flavors and a whole lot of spices. That’s exactly what you can expect from Noor.

One of the owners, Tair, said they named the restaurant Noor because it translates to light, and she mentioned that her name and the name of her husband (the chef) both mean light when translated to English (uyyy destiny). Tair was a food critic back in Israel and her husband was also a chef there, so you know the food is supposed to be good.

So You Had a Bad Day

Hey, fam! It’s been awhile since I posted here and so much has changed. From being part of my dream company to losing my dream job and now finding my way again, it’s been a roller coaster ride and there are days when I really doubt myself and struggle with a lot of questions. Why me? Why now? What’s next? I know this is very common especially for people my age and sometimes, it takes a lot of effort just to make yourself feel better. I listed below some things that can help you cope everyday.

Feed a kid for 25 pesos a day!

How much do you spend on food for one day? PhP 100? PhP 150 for just one drink? PhP 200?

Through the ShareTheMeal app created by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), you can feed one child for a day for only US$ 0.50. That’s a whole day for just around PhP 25. The amount you spend on food for one day can feed a child for a week already!

25 pesos to feed a child for one day??? How is that enough?

Save More with ShopBack

For Labor Day, I wanted a quick overnight getaway with my parents. I am an only child and a proud cheapskate. Like I said on my previous post, I like to save as much as I can so I can spend on more stuff, so I looked (and looked and looked) for cheap accommodations.

After days of scouring the world wide web, I decided to treat my parents to The Oriental Bataan (maybe I'll do a hotel feature next time...). I compared prices among the hotel website, Agoda, Expedia, Booking, and Hotels. I chose Expedia because it has the cheapest listing - PhP5488 overnight in an executive twin room for 3 pax with free breakfast. It's still a bit expensive but I think it was fine to spend just a bit more for the people who brought me into this world :)

Before paying, I remembered stumbling upon ShopBack.ph - a site that literally lets you get your cash back when you shop online. You can buy from ZALORA, Lazada, Expedia, foodpanda, Sephora, and many more and you get a portion of your purchase back. In my case, I got 6% less on my booking on Expedia plus an additional PhP100 bonus -- that's PhP429.11 I earned back just by signing up on ShopBack!

(It says pending since it has not yet been 60 days since my purchase)

So, how exactly can you use ShopBack?

And All These Little Things

For so long now, I have been thinking about what this blog would be all about. I try my very best to write about the matters of the heart but dang it, this is a very difficult, heartbreaking task when I have no inspiration (i.e. single with no prospects LOL). I also wanted to post about all my travels but it can get a bit tedious trying to explain how and why I frequently get lost. :P

I have always had a bad reaction to coffee, tea, and soda. Just last year, I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse which basically means my heartbeat is literally faster than that of normal people (imagine what’s going to happen when I finally find the love of my life!!!). Earlier this week while wandering around Marketplace by Rustan's, I found out that you can buy caffeine-free Coke for only PhP 39.75. MY HEART WAS ON CAFFEINE-FREE CLOUD NINE. Goodbye, palpitations! Hello, instagrammable soda!

#GirlsCount!

There are 130 million girls around the world who do not have access to education. ONE is aiming to make the world’s longest video that will be presented to people who have the power to change these women’s futures. A video that will take as long as eight years will sure be hard to ignore! Be part of this movement by picking your own number and uploading a photo or video that will be included in the film. Think about it—what’s there to lose when you help these women out? Claim a number now!

ONE is a campaigning and advocacy organization of nearly eight million people around the world taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. Know more about ONE here.

We’re All Riding the Same Different Trains

I am suspended in the middle of depression and ecstasy.

It's one of those days. It's always just one of those days when you are on your usual commute, thinking, "How did my life become so ordinary?"

Bet on Your Baby's OOTDs

I have always been amazed by how men can have such great fashion sense by just using a few key pieces in their wardrobe. However, do you know who are the most fashionable people I know? Babies! I think anything would look adorable on babies, but the pieces below surely offer cuteness overload that would make you say they are so fluffy you're going to cry (because dying is too morbid):

How You Can Help Change the World with Just a Few Clicks

Did you know that two months ago, the oh-so-lovable father Ashton Kutcher started a petition to put diaper changing stations inside the men’s comfort rooms in Target and Costco? The two retailers responded after 104,391 supporters signed Ashton's petition.

Have you heard that Jamie Oliver is asking for support to include food education on the school curriculum of 19 countries to inform students about the consequences of obesity?

Did you also know that celebrities like Nikki Reed, Joaquin Phoenix, Kellan Lutz, and Paul Wesley signed the Tiger Manifesto to ensure that the products that we use are tiger- and forest-friendly?

Petitions about everything under the sun including freedom, animal welfare, and people welfare are being made by ordinary and extraordinary citizens all around the world. When there is not enough money or manpower, it is our voice that can help make a difference.

Uncertainty Reduction Theory: The Cure for the Common Man

For our Speech 197 (Research Methods) class in 2011, I had to do a report about Uncertainty Reduction Theory (URT). I stumbled upon a paper written by Marcia Dawkins wherein she explained the theory using the romantic comedy film Hitch. I decided to make a video about the study. It has been four years since I posted the video in YouTube and I am still getting feedback from students who research about URT.

How to Sleep Like a Totes Adorbs Baby

Once upon a time while I was still struggling to find a job and had nothing to do to pass time, a friend of a friend who works as a researcher in GMA asked if I could act as a talent in Good News, a television show hosted by Vicky Morales which airs in GMA News TV. The feature is about why people have trouble sleeping and what we can do to solve this dilemma. I have a bit of a theater background because of my major in college so being able to be part of this shoot was very exhilarating. There were only six of us during the shoot: the driver, two cameramen, one researcher, and the producer/director. I am not going to teach you how to act in front of the camera because I am still definitely an amateur. Fast facts, though: there will be a lot of takes for just a few scenes, you have to manage your own makeup, the pay (i.e. food and transportation allowance) is very low, but being a talent is certainly an experience you will never forget (especially because other people will never let you live it down). Have fun watching the video because I certainly enjoyed being part of it! :)