Impressions will be in Rockwell, Global Pinoy Rock Bazaar (Nov 6-7)

Impressions Jewelry Collection to be sold in
Global Pinoy Rock, Rockwell - NOV 6-7

I'm nervous and I'm excited.  I'll be doing my first bazaar this NOVEMBER 6 and 7 at Rockwell.  Please come and visit me guys.  As you all know, I've been enslaving myself with designs these past few months. I will be displaying my recent ones in Rockwell this November.  

Each piece will range from a thousand or so up.  For those who wants to reserve, please pm me in facebook ^.^ Big ass Bib like the ones posted above will range from Php3,000 and up.  Materials are unique and hard to find handmade cut Mother of Pearl and Capiz Shells with beads and Gemstones.  

All designs are one of a kind ^.^

View more designs here.

Find me in BOOTH 29.

See you all there!

Other Bazaar Schedules that I will be in -- 

• November 17-21, World Trade 
• November 19-21, Rockwell Grove

Google Adwords Free Advertising Voucher

After a great week at GenSan in their Tuna Festival, I arrived home yesterday.  Still euphoric about my great experience in the Tuna City, Long long handed me an envelope.  It said google.  I raised my eyebrow...scam? 

So I opened it and found a free advertising voucher! yey!  Did anyone get one also? it's so cool.

The voucher is worth Php1,500 but after the 30th, its value drops to Php1,000.  So i must use it now or tom ^.^ The gift is valid till October 15.

what's the catch? you have to have a credit card.

AUCTION CLOSE!

To All who bid and sent their inquiries, thank you.
See you all soon ^.^

Panama!

I want to go to Panama!

With this in mind, I started my research for an ideal trip.  

First thing that came to my mind when the word rolled in my tongue is the book, The Panama Hat trail and then Pierce Brosnan follows.  I think it was made into a movie and he starred it. Or I may have been confusing his 007 Series with this idea in my head.  

But I, nonetheless, want to see for myself how skillfully the Artisans from the Village of Montecristi, Ecuador make their hats...with or without Pierce Brosnan =P

Why the hats?  well, I was intrigued because in the book, The Panama Hat trail, the novel starts in the hat trade and discusses the intricate but speculative details of how this trade might have shaped Ecuador's history.  The hats, were primarily bought by American prospectors during the 19th century while en-route to the gold fields of California. Simply put, it's the country's icon. One has just to see it. 

Panama is also close to the Pacific Ocean and Carribean Sea, and thus, Panama Fishing (in both freshwater and saltwater), is the next thing to do.  Panama is an Indian word for abundance of fish.  I read that you can catch a fish ranging from 2 lbs to a 100 lbs.

Another meaning of Panama is "many butterflies".  Being the largest rainforest that is outside the Amazon Basin in the Western Hemisphere, it's forest is abundant in tropical plants and birds.  

So I can just imagine, white sand beaches, a fishing cruise, and a fantastic photoshoot while staying at a Panama Hotel.   

Now if only I can find the right client to hire me and pay for the hotel's room package ^.^

Sponsored Post

running in circles

Where does one go if one finds oneself running in circles?
The redundancy of it all adds to the exhaustion...You think what you are...must you have to? think what you already are? A case of no solution but will always be a display of repetition.   Repetition of what? of almost everything in tow by being you.  But what does it mean to be you?  Ahh and the mind thinks again...and again...and again...until it reaches a conclusion of something you can never be sure of.

The self, the ever evolving self, shifts even before you can wholly understand it, adding confusion to the already tired mind. 

 The soul, the tireless soul, wanders around, shaking the body to the core.

The heart, bleeding even when it's not.

And the mind... sometimes aimless with its goal.

Why do we think of things we want to do and why do we not think when we do things?  

Must we always run amok, blind and naked?

Vulnerable to pain.

Susceptible to deceit.

Hopeful to the impossible.

Grateful to lapses.

How do you pacify and silent but hurting soul?

How do you embrace a frightened child?

Angry at inconsistencies.

Paranoid towards the unknown.

How do you part the lessons needed to be learned?

How do you say silence without uttering a word.

The drama of life.

The chapters of living.

Always tracing a spiral staircase that sometimes go haywire...entangling the reasons and bending them out of shape.  You think you are and then discovers you are not...and then you don't think at all.

Cute little observations

While in Bangkok, Greg and I were talking about the things that we usually notice in the Philippines.  And we both agreed on one thing.  Do you notice it? How taxi drivers, cashiers, etc. ask for the exact change?  If the bill is Php102 and you hand a crisp Php500 bill, what do they automatically say? "Do you have two pesos?".

Am I right? Or am I right?

So in the spirit of fun, we decided to do a little test.  Will our driver in Bangkok ask for the same? Will the Cashier at the department store will ask for exact change?  

Test Case One:  Our taxi ride cost our 87Bhat.  We handed a hundred. We waited for him to ask for 7Bhat.  Nope. He handed us the change without saying anything.

Test Case Two: We bought food at the gluttonous food center of Siam Center. Same thing.

Test Case Three: We went to buy chicken and beer at Big C. The Cashier gave us the total. 128Bhat. Greg and I looked at eachother.  Greg took the money out gave her 150Bhat. And offered her 8Bhat. She took it. But she was kinda struggling.  She calculated...then she got some help with her on scren calculator.  Took her some time to figure it out.  I was silently tapping my feet, silently blaming Greg for this delay...Soon she gave us our change...

Greg laughed...She was struggling coz she doesn't care about exact change! When in the Philippines, counting backwards at cash registrars is a second nature.

After this discovery, we started noticing little trivial stuff. 

1. We noticed that in Thailand, no matter what you are drinking, they give you a straw.  Try it, buy a small bottle of mineral water and it will come with a straw.
2. Also, unlike here in the Philippines, they don't tie their plastics, they seal it by tying a rubber band around the opening. 
3. Thailand is also a land of Bangs...Women everywhere have bangs.

It's funny how these little things define a country.  Small silly stuff make up big fun things...that might turn out stupid realities...but in this case, it's just little cute things that defines a country's culture.  Things we normally take for granted but is deep rooted in our behavior that we do them without thinking.

A country is defined by its people...people are defined by their characters.  Characters are shaped by one's perspective...By looking at this things, you understand how differently we all are...but how similar. How varied "enthusiasm" or " greatness" is defined in many cultures but how they often thread in one similar line.

We are having too much fun in this little game we concocted.

Vietnam, Land of Wetnaps...here we come!

Bangkok Wok Escapade

On my way to Bangkok last Aug 7, in the few hours left before our flight, I squeezed myself in between schedules to have dinner with fellow bloggers at Bangkok Wok-- A pretaste of the delectable dishes I will soon relish in the Land of Smiles and conniving tuk-tuk drivers... I only managed to taste three dishes...and they were superb.

Thai Milk Ice Tea
I love this!

 I tasted Yam Pak Boong, crispy kangkong salad in a sweet lime dressing with shrimps and crunchy shallots... Kai Luk Koei, the "son-in-law" eggs -- nope not those eggs...it's the Thai version of devilled eggs - deep fried hard-boiled eggs with tamarind sauce and fried chili...and Laarb Gai, minced chicken salad with cilantro.

Below are photos of the three dishes that I was able to eat that I stole from Chatee.  And description of taste was helped articulated by Greg Roberts who accompanied me to the dinner.

Yam Pak Boong - Php225

It is crispy, lightly fried, the batter was light and crispy and wasn't greasy at all.  The flavor is distinct and sharp and an excellent combination of ingredients.  It is mainly an appetizer but is also good enough to be eaten as a main course.

Kai Luk Koei - Php95

The son-in-law eggs...eggs were boiled first, then deep fried  and served with a light sauce.  The main flavor mainly came from the deep fried chilis.  The texture of the chili peppers were crispy and the spice of the chili were muted enough by the cooking process so it complements the delicate egg without overpowering it.

Laarb Gai - Php195

Not yet on the menu when it was served to us but will definitely hit the resto as a blockbuster.  Marinated Chicken with a taste of a slight vinegrette. Best eaten as a wrap in lettuce.  Flavorful but not spicy. A perfect to begin a meal before the heavier and more complex dishes.

Chatee, Davao Blogger

Ambiance of the Retaurant was execptionally impressive.  Elegant but not intimidating and tastefully done...A hole in the Mall place *wink...Not your run in the mill, find-it-in-the-mall restaurant.  It is classy and has character...and doesn't use plastic chairs!

Find Bangkok Wok in Robinson's Commercial Complex. 
I will be home at the end of August and the first stop when I hit Davao is Bangkok Wok to officially end my Bangkok trip!

find the one

Bangkok Wok Chef/Owner

kainin mo ha.

The Philippine Six Sigma Conference 2010

Mr. Amante Araneta Aguilar, Consultant, Supply Chain Management

Builiding a Culture of Continuous Improvement and
Quality excellence in Organizations

Many thanks to Digital Filipino for my delegate pass to The Philippine Six Sigma Conference 2010 held last Aug 4-5 at the Intercontinental Manila.  The conference ran a full two days of talking about strategic management.  It was two days of packed information on how to run your company strategically – and they already started showing the charts the first day…It made me dizzy…that was one of the early clues that they were really serious about what they are talking about…sheeesh.  


I applaud the Speakers in their brilliance of defining Six Sigma by pointing to what Six Sigma is not, and thus unconsciously breaking down the prejudices that I have.  A brilliant strategy, I think, for they clearly defined what Six Sigma is by pointing out the factors that aren’t.  In return, it swept my head of early pre-conceptions of what it is that would have misguided me in understanding fully the inputs of the conference. 

So let me start by saying, if you are steering a people-oriented organization, then Six Sigma may not be for you.  It circles around forming great leaders to make the great decisions.  I don’t think it can transform a bureaucratic organization to an open or learning system.  If you aim to improve your active-adaptive org, the managing consultants would say, other methodology might be more apt for you to achieve your goal.  So unless you find a way to effectively integrate Six Sigma in it, don’t even think about it.  Six Sigma is a top-down level management where all crucial decisions come the executive level. 

Before attending the conference, I did my little research and what I found raised my bar of curiosity.  As far as I know, Six Sigma never existed in my life until now. 

Six Sigma initially is a business system management strategy that effects change.  One of the things it makes you do is that it forces you to prioritize and makes you tap the best people and makes you recognize the best things they are doing.  According to the speakers, as a data driven management strat, you have to know your level of improvement before you can implement improvement itself.  


It is critical that you were able to diagnose your organization’s problem correctly, otherwise, you would be likened to a doctor giving his patients the wrong medicine.  No matter how good the solution is, if it is not the right solution, it will do your organization no good.  


A Six Sigma project fails because it is being implemented on projects that don’t need it. 

I remember a friend teaching me this and my four years in college earning that philosophy degree kicked right in…we call it, in not so layman’s term, Critical Thinking.  

The right answers don’t matter, what is critical, is that, you ask the right questions.

 Something the Speakers in the first day kept reiterating by talking about the problematic factors in corporations or organizations.  


They gave examples of where problems might initially lie and they mentioned corruption, inefficiency, and the unsophisticated production process amongst other things.  These factors, for example, often lead to over or under supply, errors in financial analysis, wrong investment decisions, communication glitches, even to the incomplete procurement of needed materials.  Some factors may not be quantitative, and that is, as they said, the tricky part. 

Things can be found when you start to look for them, but you will never find them in places they are not in...and how about you finding something you are not looking for?  It sometimes bump you in the forehead unexpectedly and makes you crash on your feet.  Sometimes, it’s sweet when that happens, it usually does during anniversaries, but anniversaries only happen once a year.  Enough said.


Statistics is also an integral part of Six Sigma...but not necessarily in its brutal raw appearance of calculated graphs.  Because Six Sigma pushes one to do data-driven decisions, one needs to understand and know the variables involved and their interpretations.  Believe me, looking at the graph and understanding its legends is easier and less time consuming than reading a 100-page report.

Mr. Jeff Meija made a good point in saying, If it’s something your common sense cannot solve, then you need Six Sigma. And mind you,  common sense can solve a lot of things. 

The structured methodology will require you to test your common sense first.  Stupidity is the primary error it will ask you to eliminate even before you consider implementing it.  There lies the biggest challenge; we humans are commonly stupid…

Ahh, that’s where the consultants come in.  *wink.

Mr. Dan Lachica, President, CEO of First Philec Solar Corporation
"Creating a Culture of Operational Excellence - The Six Sigma Way"

The Philippine Six Sigma Conference delegates

View the Philippine Six Sigma Speakers 

View full Album

The Digital Ripple: 4th Internet and Mobile Marketing Summit 2010

 Guess what?  The Digital Ripple: 4th Internet and Mobile Marketing Summit 2010 is happening on August 19-20 at SMX Convention Center , Mall of Asia. 

Why am I excited about this?

When my I started blogging years before, I started it as a part of my life...now, it's become my life.
I wake up and I always find myself logging in to my sites to check and update
I am on the net even when I'm taking my meals.
I check my accounts in my phone in between rides...
what does it tell you? I'm a facebook addict.  My life is integrated with my online work.

I'm not only a mom, I'm a photographer, blogger, businesswoman, artist, and an ever curious cat. I've become all these and more with the aid of the net and of my online efforts.  Gone are the days that I have to quit a project because my partner will be traveling and nobody is home to attend to the kids =P

The meals I eat are sometimes being chosen from the digital page displayed on my monitor, I read the reviews online first before I shed off my money to watch movies in the theater, my choice of clothing is guided on the trend that fashion blogs post, I review my favorite literature online and would look for reccommended books to aid my research before heading out to get my printed copy at the nearest bookstore, even calls from net to update people...

For us bloggers and budding entrepreneurs, digital marketing has been a helpful tool to promote not only ourselves but also our businesses...and as time passed, also of others' businesses and services that is of interest to us.

But let me correct the misconception, Online marketing is not to replace the traditional marketing strat, it is to enhance it...Efficiency of online marketing strat starts on the fact that it should be backed up by your offline efforts just as credibility can only be built by backing up your words with actions.

example, online stores should have real "offline" deliveries...Am I making sense?

Let me expand it.

I tried to make my partner understand the essentials of using the net in his business as he primarily sees it send letters (*rolls eyes).  He has an import-export business in the states where he showcases Asian products and most of his customers have never heard of Asia.  In a way to connect with them, I suggested that he make a blog not only of his products but of his travels and of his experiences of the places he visted in Asia so that his customers can better appreciate the containers of ceramics, textiles, and pieces of jewelry they are ordering...You cannot appreciate things you do not know...The blog is to help him have a tie with his customers.  They do not order deliveries only, they order to have a experience delivered.  They order to receive not a container of ceramic pots, but they order to get a handmade garden ornament made by women in Batrang, Vietnam. 

So don't wonder why I jump up and down when I found out that 4th Internet and Mobile Marketing Summit 2010 is being offered to help us enterpreneurs and bloggers improve in what we do...because it means improvement not only in our skills but also in businessess and everything that comes along with it.

You don't have to be a net genius to know this.  If you can set up email, then you can be a online superwoman (or supeman) too.  You have questions? Follow IMMAP on Facebook 
and post your questions on their fanpage wall before registering for the conference.  Or if you are too shy monitor Internet and Mobile Marketing Summit Discussions via Twitter , someone is bound to ask your questions... oh and don't forget to like this post while crossing your fingers...

"Accessories maketh the outfit"

Sponsored by Cree & Terrie's

Ours is a fashion generation.  In the flood of ideas, there is no shortage of style and signature. We achieve our choice of identity. 

‘Vestis Virum Facit’.
clothes maketh the man...
but "accessories maketh the outfit".

IN accessorizing, follow the golden rule. LESS is MORE.  Better to be under-accessorized than a walking christmas tree... 

Learning how dress is one thing. Learning how to dress well is another. The differences are subtle but the difference is drastic. A little tweak to your hair, or  maybe a tinge of color to your cheek. Whether a slim belt or a large round onyx pendant around your neck, the little accents you don must complement you.  Most of all, only wear what looks good on you—start with your preferences and style.

wishing to be on the beach

on my way to Samal Island

Vote for this post

"Official" Summer months may be over but being in the tropics, summer never really ends.  A beach escapade will always be one of the choices in most Filipino lists of fun and destination. Who could say no to the sparkling blue water, breathtaking sunsets, and night parties along the sand dunes?

And even if you say no...I won't believe you.  

I fell in love with beach, with its water, sand, sunset, and palm treeswhen I was young and even at 26, I still am a beach bum.  But what i love the most is the wind and how it blows my hair and dries my face.  The city just can't give me that.

 So please, please SEAIR, send me a ticket to be part of the beach tour in Boracay. 

 I have visited SEAIR Facebook Fanpage and clicked the like button without any hesitation.  

I held my breath and didn't even blink, uttering my silent prayer to the Saint of the Impossible.  

Put me in Microtel Philippines and let me be the happiest chick in the island. 

Let me take hundreds and hundreds of photos and give me a reason to write something exciting in my blog.  Sigh.

I will be waiting...

Silent Ode translated -- by Rene Caparas

RIA - Ballet @ Brent

I received a mail from a friend, Rene Caparas who beautifully translated my poem in Tagalog. He is also a poet and is currently taking a Ph. D course in NCPAG.  

14-Day Mystery Shampoo Challenge

The month of July must be a contest month! A lot of cool stuff going online! If yesterday, I posted something for the gadget freaks to win, now it's time for the Kikays to shine.

Register, order your sample, and refer your friends.

and win exciting prizes like Blackberry Bold!

FiFA Fever -- the night of the yellow cards

Bayani getting his flag painted on his face

Don't be impressed. I slept halfway during the game. ehehe! Blame it on the party I attended the night before. Maaan, everybody was cheering at the rooftop, and there I was, at the back on long wood chair, near the food table, sleeping like a dead person **blush blush.

VavaVrooom Party by Colt 45

It's nice to be back in Davao again and hang out. Last night was Colt 45's Vavavroom Party...0f course, moi decided to go to take a peek at the beautiful Christine Reyes. I didn't really know that Colt 45 rebranded and did some reformulation. The new taste is actually very nice. I like it. The only brand I've been into for years is red horse...guess I have two favorite drinks now ^.^

The night started with a press conference with Christine Reyes in Damosa's "A taste of Malaysia" Restaurant. Even if I was late, I was seated in front, ok i stole the seat and ended up chatting with the KBP President...coolness.

and I won a cup...wahahhaah! **ang babaw ng kaligayahan...nyahahah! scroll down for some fun shots below ^.^

I was with Doc Charles of Why Not Coconut and Kevin of Pinoy Teens  Richard, and Mark.

One of the best photographers of Davao, Rene Lumawag (or tatay as we call him) caught my attention when he dropped his lens...good thing it did not broke =)...the usual ABS-CBN and GMA people are there also.

But what really surprised me was to find out that a friend of mine, LILY, was one of the organizers and is the one handling the COLT 45 Event. *double weeeh! Okay imagine me in my truck rushing, a.k.a. driving carelessly, towards the last spot in front of the restaurant... all disheveled, clutching my camera and trying to fix my hair only to shriek because I unexpectedly saw a friend...and to double shriek after she told me that she is part of the organizing committee....*laughs.

I am sooo stupid sometimes.I thought she was only doing gourmet ice cream! Didn't know she is into advertising! Oh and her ice cream is superb! She came from the family who started the "dirty ice cream" business in the Philippines. Will have to feature it in my blog soon ^.^

W were given VIP Passes after the conference weeeeh! Ate Neng was super glad to know Raimund Marasigan of Sandwich will be there as well as the one year old band, Hilera.  I was tasked to ask for his shirt...hehe. I did not dare ask...but i coordinated with certain people to steal it for me...told them to send it to me via parcel...**crossing fingers. Hope it arrives soon! hahaha!

Nice to see old friends and familiar faces. 

Nice to be back in Davao ^.^

Needless to say, I had a great night!

worshiping the beer tower with lily

Ms. Christine Reyes, Presscon

Lily with Colt 45 Brand Manager and fellow organizers

Colt 45 Girls

Colt45 Girls

Hilera

kawat ang food

with maritini

with manong brando, bodyguard of the night ^.^

with colt 45 brand manager joseph consul

waaaaah! eeeeh! hahahaha!

negra with the mestiza ahaha!

we love you beer tower!

we love you beer cases! haha!

the curls

me and my officially curly hair ^.^

child photography

i love taking photos of children and women. this is my favorite so far for this month. hope u all like it ^.^

Valentines and such

I've never been a big fan of Valentines and the cooing and wooing that comes with it.  I don't like going out because it's happy hearts day, the horizontal extravagance that comes with the celebration is almost always too much to bear.  Roses and other flowers' prices are way beyond reason and chocolates and cakes have suddenly become too special for normal prices when in fact, all they added was a heart and card.  The marketing scheme happening is making my head pound... but logically speaking -- not because of Valentines, but becuase of what happens when its Valentines.  

Do you notice how ceilings are flocked with paper hearts in red sprinkled with gold glitters and stitched with ribbons on the side? I mean can we not make something new?!!!!! is Valentine's officially that corny???!!!!

May I suggest another way of celebrating Valentines? 

like flocking all single ladies and single men together for a dating game ---- NO COUPLES ALLOWED! oooohhh!  

A mixer party for single men and women.  Ohhh...If something like this happens next year... it would be fun...Maybe I'll do one like this next year... no couples allowed...a LOVAPALOOZA of single men and women, mixing to find a partner to kiss at midnight! oh yeah... perfect. An Outdoor party with crazy lights, funky music and free glitters to put on the body to indicate you've been on to this party. 

With a team of make up artists and hair stylists to pretty you up before we gush you to the dancefloor... the main statement is : NOBODY is allowed to be ugly tonight... 

Either u come beautiful or we force beauty on you hahaha!

Anyways, we kinda sorta partied with some friends at Felis last 14.  The band, NOMANCAN, is great. A three-man-band of different nationalites.  The drummer is Filipino, The Bass is American, and the Lead and Vocals is German...

Imagine my amusement when the German Lead sang Bamboo's "Pinoy Ako" -- And he did a very good rendition, if I may add -- but  the irony of having to hear someone foreign sing that song to an almost perfection is just giving me goosebumps.  I couldn't help but laugh at the thought of it... I used to hear  my old neighbors trying to sing that song... the Filipino Blood in them is not helping hahaha!

See more photos in Flickr but mugshots of Lovers are available in our photoblog.