Saturday, November 16, 2019

Geek Invasion at the Tent at Solaire as ManiPopCon Opens

J.
We are all living in the golden age of the Geeks and the once niche interests and hobbies are now mainstream. As this year ends, so does the twin suns of Tatooine set on the Star Wars epicGame of Thrones, Marvel’s Avengers Saga and the Walking Dead will take their last curtain calls in 2019. 

These massively huge geekdoms have ventured into the collective consciousness of mostly everyone thanks to social media, so even if you don’t watch them, you still kinda know what’s going on and that’s just Film and TV. 



The Manila Pop Culture Convention, or ManiPopCon, will host different geekdoms under one convention. Producers Marco Aventajado and Freddie Tan are hoping that conventioneers can geek out for two days in the 2,400 square meter Tent at Solaire Resort and Casino, starting Saturday November 16, 2019 to Sunday, November 17, 2019. 

Thursday, November 14, 2019

3 Benefits of Apartment Redevelopment

J.

A large building sitting idle does little to nothing for the community. It generates no revenue, houses no one and looks dilapidated, simply evoking a sad, disappointment for residents. Apartment redevelopment, however, could make a difference, possibly invigorating the neighborhood both financially and psychologically. The following are three benefits for tackling that run-down, abandoned building.

Improve Atmosphere

Sometimes what surrounds people could influence their attitude; thus, growing up among overgrown yards and rundown buildings creates little for morale. 

Friday, November 8, 2019

Learn from Kitchen Legends at the International School for Culinary Arts & Hotel Management

J.

The Executive Director of the International School for Culinary Arts & Hotel Management (ISCAHM), Chef Norbert shared that there’s nothing more important in a school than the faculty and it has been always ISCAHM’s goal to work only with those that have industry experience. ISCAHM takes pride in its international faculty roster from Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Canada, Japan and the Philippines. 

ISCAHM's main faculty has more than 20 years of industry experience in their respective expertise and employment record in four or five-star hotel operations. “When it comes to cooking, you need industry experience. It is very easy to study lectures but you have to know the ins and outs. Not everything is as easy as what’s written in the book, you really need to know what to do, why you do things, and what do you do when things go wrong,” emphasized the former executive chef of Mandarin Oriental Manila and executive sous chef for the opening of Makati Shangri-La Hotel.


Originally from Austria, chef Norbert has worked in nine countries, he settled in the Philippines in 1989. “We have noticed that Filipinos are very talented, they have such a high interest in the food business so it has been a dream of ours to open a school,” he related. That dream came true in 2003. Since then, ISCAHM has had over 3,500 graduates for their Diploma courses and almost 9,000 have finished their short courses.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Caritas Margins Holds Buy & Give Trade Fair November 4-7 at Glorietta Mall

J.
Caritas Margins Church Social Enterprise invites everyone to do their early Christmas shopping and visit its Buy & Give Trade Fair 7 at the Glorietta Activity Center, Palm Drive, Ayala Center, Makati from November 4-7, Monday to Thursday. Entrance is free.


The Buy & Give Fair is now on its 7th year. There will be more than 3,000 products to be sold in the 3-day event. Included are food, home care, personal care, handicrafts, religious items plus artworks and paintings done by prison inmates.

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Teleperformance Philippines: Certified Great Place to Work®

J.

Together with other bloggers, I recently got to take a peek at the life and culture inside Teleperformance Philippines -Vertis North. TP Vertis North branch was launched in 2018, boasting of well-thought of interiors designed to create a vibrant environment for its employees.



The physical environment supports a culture that is focused on health and wellness, as well as ensuring fun and camaraderie in the workplace. The site features rest and relaxation areas such as themed lounges, sleeping quarters, and massage chairs where employees can relax. What’s more, the massage chairs are cash operated, and the money goes to the company’s corporate social responsibility program Citizen of the World (COTW) which supports the most vulnerable sectors such as chronically ill children.

Monday, October 7, 2019

10 Pushup Alternatives from Amateur to Intermediate

J.
The pushup exercise never gets old. For Many people, it is a source of disappointment and frustration because it is not a simple workout. Depending on an individual’s strength level, the pushup can challenge the bench-press with regards to strength gains. Merely including a resistance band in your pushup routine is just as challenging as performing a weighted barbell bench press. If you deem that pushups are an easy workout, it is safe to suggest that you may need a change in how you do them.
Pushups largely focus on your chest, triceps, and shoulder muscles. They also target the ab muscles, but may not be as impactful as the three other stated muscles. Think of pushups as performing a plank but with some movement involved. You need to be stiff in your abdomen and maintain a straight back to avoid harming your spine and messing up your body posture. Also, make sure you keep your chin raised and your chest towards the ground to get the complete range of motion.

1.      Knee Pushup
The knee pushup is a handy pushup alternative. This Variation works well for beginners who cannot complete one quality standard pushup. Use this as a means of progressing to other more advanced variations.

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Maine Mendoza leads the Shower Rangers as she #FightsWorldGermination with Hygienix

J.
The fight against world germination is not over – and Maine Mendoza is here to win it with Hygienix.

The Phenomenal Star is on it again with a playful TVC that showcases her alter ego and usual exuberant self, Maine Frame, as the leader of the Shower Rangers, a band of four superheroes which represent the power of Hygienix products.




Their weapon of choice is the Hygienix Germicidal Soap, a non-drying, refreshingly scented, super sulit germ-killer that helps protect users from disease-causing bacteria. With its powerful formula, it leaves skin feeling moisturized and energized.

Friday, July 26, 2019

I'm Running a Full Marathon at the 43rd MILO Marathon Eliminations

Jeff
Last year was my first time to join the MILO Marathon which, I believe, is the most prestigious and most popular running event in the Philippines and was on its 42nd year. This year, I am running again to try and finish under 6 hours to get a medal and a certificate.

The 43rd National MILO® Marathon 42k Race Route (Map)


43rd Milo Marathon 2019 - 42k route map



Jeffrey Aspacio at the 42nd MILO Marathon
This is me from last year's Manila elimination leg.
Photo credit : Running Photographers

National MILO® Marathon History

According to their official website, the National MILO® Marathon began in 1974 and is now known as the biggest, grandest and most prestigious running event in the country. It holds elimination events in Metro Manila and in the provinces to pick who would qualify for the  National Finals. The winners, who are crowned MILO® Marathon King and Queen, are granted the privilege to represent the country in top international marathon events. 

You might have heard of Mary Joy Tabal who gave the Philippines its first gold medal during the 29th Southeast Asian Games in 2017. She was crowned MILO® Marathon Queen for four consecutive years (2013 to 2016) and the first runner to complete this four-peat record in this marathon.

Why Join the MILO Marathon?

Many avid runners like Mary Joy join to try and qualify to join the finals, which, for this batch, will be held on January 19, 2020 in Tarlac City. Others join to at least secure a finisher's medal which one can acquire only by finishing under a particular cut-off time. 

Distances and Cut-off Times


42 km - 6 hours (6:00)
21 km - 2 hours and 30 minutes (2:30)
10 km - 1 hour and 30 minutes (1:30)

43rd National Milo Marathon Entitlements Distances and Cut-off times



My Reason for Joining the National MILO Marathon

Why am I joining this again? Since I started running back in 2017, I've finished 5 full marathons, the first was during the Nat Geo Run 2017 and I intend to maintain the gains in health and in fitness I've achieved by running at one or two full marathons a year - one of which is this running event.

How did I prepare for it? Below is my running record found in my Runtastic account. I am not a serious runner, and I run about two three times in a week, ideally. My goal for this 43rd MILO Marathon is to just finish under 6 hours, maybe beat my previous MILO Marathon record of  5:55:31. 

July 2019 Runs - 19.23 km per week


June 2019 Runs - 16.765 km per week


May 2019 Runs - 12.29 km per week


April 2019 Runs - 14.55 km per week


March 2019 Runs - 12.52 km per week


February 2019 Runs - 18.26 km per week



Now, I've finished faster during my last full marathon at the 2018 New York City Marathon (4:59:47) when I represented the company I work with and Ryan's Run but it's not my goal to better that record. Like I mentioned, my goal is just maintenance.

To all running the MILO Marathon, I wish you all the best. Let's take heart and finish! May God's favor be upon us all.

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Nippon Paint #AYDAPH2019: A Sustainable Future

J.

Nippon Paint recently launched this year's competition for Asia Young Designer Award.


AYDA 2019 is paving the way for young architects and interior designers to show their skills and represent their respective countries to a wide range of audiences.


This year's theme for AYDA is FORWARD: A Sustainable Future. It cannot be more apt as AYDA was founded with the precise intention to tap and groom young talents, boost their morale and cultivate their skills, and to further them in their chosen field

Monday, July 22, 2019

Dyson Launches Dyson Pure Cool Me Personal Purifying Fan

J.
Dyson unveiled its first personal air treatment machine – the Dyson Pure Cool Me personal
purifying fan in the Philippines last July 12 at the Grand Atrium of the Shangri-la Mall.
Featuring Dyson’s air filtration and air projection technologies, this compact machine is a
perfect fit for your personal space — whether beside your bed, on your desk, or in a nursery.

The new Dyson Core Flow™ technology transforms the way we deliver purified air to you.
This air control mechanism creates a steady stream of purified air and allows you to direct
the airflow precisely where you need it. Harnessing Dyson’s expertise in fluid dynamics, air
filtration, light sensing, and acoustic performance, the Dyson Pure Cool Me™ personal
purifying fan is engineered to support your wellbeing, delivering cleaner air and a more
comfortable cooling experience.



Jake Dyson, Chief Engineer, says ”Dyson invests in research to improve the way everyday
products work. By combining hardware and software, we develop intelligent machines that
solve problems and support your wellbeing.”

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

ExcellerateHR.PH: Elevating Filipino Management on the 56th PMAP Annual Conference

J.

The People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) recently conducted a Press Conference on the Security Tenure and End of Endo Act of 2018.



PMAP Board of Trustee Efren B. Alberto, Jr. spoke on controversial issues of this Bill with Vice-President Loi Echevarria, Sec. Leo Gellor, PMAP Legal Counsel Atty. Rey Destura, Committee Chair Ellen Fullido, and Moderator Past President Jesse Rebustillo.

Friday, May 3, 2019

How to Be Bigger Than Any Challenge Life Gives You

Jeff

Cobra PH brings a different light to true strength, and urges a challenge to take on new ones boldly – and with stronger resolve.


Manila, Philippines. May 3, 2019 – Enduring daily traffic and long hours at work, taking responsibility for the whole family even at a young age, constantly building and rebuilding whenever in the face of calamities – over and over again, Filipinos have proven themselves to be resilient and steadfast amidst challenges. We remain strong and persevering, and in return, even make inspirational success stories out of them.



These are stories that are motivated by Filipinos’ sheer will and determination; values that are ingrained to reveal the true definition of strength.

#AngatAngLakasMo with Cobra


Through its recently launched campaign, Cobra Energy Drink highlights the importance of finding one’s true strength and encourages more Filipinos to elevate themselves and be bigger than any of life’s challenges.

“As the country’s number one energy drink, we continuously make efforts to give you the value you deserve. We are in high hopes we exemplified and elevated the strength of every Filipino especially as we celebrate Labor Day through the Cobra #TitanChallenge that serves as an avenue to prove how we conquer life’s challenges,” Marketing Manager- CSD Dan Ong shares.



Cobra #TitanChallenge

With actor, director, film producer and brand ambassador Coco Martin, Cobra Energy Drink celebrates the launch of the Titan campaign this April – tapping on key personalities and influencers who shared their own larger than life experiences on social media and even as erected along Edsa-Balintawak – Coco Martin taking on the challenge.

Find out how Filipinos rise above and be bigger than their challenges – the Cobra way with our official hashtags #AngatAngLakasMo #TitanChallenge. Winning entries will be announced on May 3, 2019 on Cobra’s Facebook page.

Cobra Energy Drink is now available in 5 variants: Cobra Original; Cobra Berry for instant energy; Cobra Fit with ActivBurn technology plus L-Carinitine to burn calories; Cobra Smart with ginkgo biloba for instant brainergy; and the all-new Cobra +Plus Vitamin C Defense for stronger immunity.

For more information: check Facebook.com/cobraphilippines/ 

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Safe Spaces: Why Safety Isn't Just About Security in Schools

J.
What do we really talk about when we talk about safety in schools? This is a question that lingers year after year as we take part in ensuring that our children grow up as young learners equipped for the challenges of the 21st century. From the school grounds to the playground equipment and student
transportation vehicles, every detail of  school's environment must be well-planned and established with the student community's safety in mind. Open spaces that increase and ease how students go from one point to another must be planned out with everyone in mind, including those with special needs like ramps and elevators for those on wheelchairs.



Far too often, safety is associated with the physical aspects, such, at certain points, we tend to
forget that the modern age has brought about new dangers for our children that we might not
expect. Bullying among school age children, for instance, has been a problem in school
settings, given the imbalance in terms of power relationships between students, and even
among teachers.

Monday, March 25, 2019

Cebuana Lhuillier Event: A Lovely Laughternoon with Mr. Winston Maxino and Pinoy Laughter Yogini Paolo Martin Trinidad

J.

Laughternoon with Cebuana Lhuillier: An Inspiring Word from the Very First Happiest Pinoy Mr. Winston Maxino and the Benefits of Pinoy Laughter Yoga.

The Search for the Happiest Pinoy 2019  is on, and its intimate press conference I recently attended cannot be more inspiring and timely, as I have been doing a rather crazy amount of juggling lately. Work, chores, preparations for my son's upcoming a whole week of graduation rehearsals, the graduation itself, an awards banquet, and a very long checklist to tick off for his Philippine Science enrollment for Grade 7.



Cebuana Lhuillier's Happiest Pinoy Search will always be dear to my heart. It was in 2012 that The Grasyas was born. Coined from the room where I stayed with long time blogging mommy friends, Iris Acosta of PinayAds.com, Iris Pulga of Entrepremom.info and Mauie Flores of The24HourMommy.com stayed and where friendship beyond blogging was officially born! 

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

How to Clean Your System for a Urine Drug Test

Jeff

Hands, One, Medicinal Products, Medication, Drug


You might be searching the internet because you need to pass an upcoming drug test. Then, this article will guide you on what you can do especially if you are going to undergo a urine drug test.

How Do You Pass a Drug Test?


If you read the articles on the internet, you may have to do some things such as exercise regularly, eat fruits and vegetables, stop smoking weed, drink plenty of fluids, and a lot of other homemade solutions. These methods can detoxify your body if your drug test is 30 days away. However, if you are in a rush and want to know how to clean your system from drugs as soon as possible, then some of the methods will not work.

Flush Toxins in 24 Hours?

If you just have to live a healthy lifestyle for the next 24 hours, then the bad news is it’s not enough to flush out marijuana or cocaine from your system. You might have read tons of websites claiming that the drugs can leave your system in 24 hours if you drink their products.

Some of the Homemade Solutions That Can’t Flush Toxins in 24 Hours

1. Niacin
2. Diuretics
3. Gallons of Water
4. Creatine Pills
5. Certo Drugs
6. Vitamin B2 or B12 Only
7. Cranberry Juice
8. Vinegar
9. Zinc

A Word about Some of the Home Remedies

Food, Vinegar, Eat, Fruit, Healthy, Vitamins, Spicy


If you rely on cranberry juice to pass a drug test, then you are putting yourself at risk. Although cranberry has a lot of antioxidants and is a natural diuretic, it will still need at least one month for the entire THC to be flushed out from your system. Cranberry juice alone won’t make your entire system clean from drugs. You have to factor in daily exercise, a balanced diet, and quitting marijuana for at least a month. You can read more information about cranberry juice in this link here.

When it comes to vinegar, this homemade remedy can lower the pH levels of your urine. The test administrator might think that you have tampered with your urine and you might have to produce another sample under a watchful eye. In addition to this, drinking vinegar can give you unnecessary diarrhea if you are not careful.

Niacin has produced a lot of online buzzes because it is said to detoxify the liver from THC. However, there are not enough studies to support these claims. Therefore, relying on niacin to pass a drug test is a very risky business. Niacin does not necessarily break down the fat cells which contain THC metabolites. The primary job of niacin is to break down the fat that enters your body through the food that you eat.

The truth is that there’s no magic pill that can clean the toxins from your body in 24 hours. Marijuana contains a crystalline compound called Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC which is fat-soluble. This means the THC metabolites will combine with the fat from your body. You can remove the fats through excess sweating from exercise or through your urine. However, this is not advisable if you have a drug test coming up in 24 hours.

Your body will work at a certain rate and squeezing the toxins from your kidneys, cells, and liver is next to impossible. It is very possible to speed things up. However, if you have less than 7 days, you need something stronger. The detoxification process takes about 14 days. It can be longer if you are a heavy marijuana user.

You can also read a lot of online articles why zinc, Certo, a gallon of water, creatine pills, Vitamin B12 or B2, and diuretics alone won’t help you pass a drug test. What you need is an alternative that can give you a 100% guarantee that you will pass.

How Long Does Marijuana Stay in Your Body?

Generally, the cannabis’ detection time can be unpredictable and diverse. You can read more about cannabis on this website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_cannabis. There are certain factors that will determine how fast the THC levels are flushed from your system. These factors can include your overall health, your body type, weight, metabolism, the frequency of use, drug tolerance, and your diet.

The Following are the Detection Times Based on the Frequency of Your Weed Usage

    1 Time Use – Detectable for 5 to 8 Days
    2-4 Times a Month – Detectable for 11 to 18 Days
    2-4 Times a Week – Detectable for 23 to 35 Days
    5-6 Times a Week – Detectable for 33 to 48 Days
    7 Days a Week – Detectable for 49 to 63 Days

So, if you have taken weed in the past 24 hours, the great news is that there are stronger detox formulas that can help you pass your urine drug test. You can use a permanent detoxification program such as cleansing pills. These pills will enable you to remove weed from your system as fast as possible.

Other Alternatives

There are products in the market such as Toxin Rid and many other alternatives that can help you flush out THC metabolites from your system. You can also buy a detox kit to and make sample laboratory tests at home. This way, you will know if you will have a good idea of the results of the drug test after you take the detox formula. When it comes to Toxin Rid, you will get the benefits of three components such as the pre-rid capsules, detox liquid and dietary fiber that are very beneficial to your body. The capsules alone can contain herbs, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, and diuretics that are strong enough to dilute the THC metabolites from your system.

If you want to know more information about how you can get hold of effective products that will enable you to pass a drug test, you just have to go to the right website. You can read a lot of positive reviews about strong detoxifying products that can make you healthier in the long run. You won’t have to risk going to jail or losing the job of your dreams because you can pass your test through these alternatives.


Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Cebuana Lhuillier Launches Micro Savings Product

J.

Cebuana Lhuillier seeks financial inclusion through Micro Savings. 


Having worked in a financial institution for a few years, I know for a fact that it is not exactly easy to open a bank account for the regular Juan. Not only will you be asked for a minimum of two valid IDs, often times a minimum of P2,000 (for passbook account) is also asked for initial deposit and just about the same maintaining balance, for the most part. This truth makes it almost impossible for the masses to afford opening a savings account. Who would want to open an supposed savings account of which balance be eaten up by "below maintaining balance" charges?


And we know how it is when a person does not have a savings account, hand-to-mouth existence is just about the default. Truth be told, if a working person is able to save even just a minimum amount on a constant basis, it will be easier to be more prudent with one's resources, paving the way towards becoming wiser stewards of money.

Friday, March 1, 2019

The Reason Why Comfortable Helmets Are Safer

J.
In most countries, you are required to wear a motorcycle helmet when you are taking a ride on a motorcycle. Wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle increases your chance of survival in case there is an accident. Wearing a helmet can also greatly reduce the risk of fatal head injury that could lead to permanent injury to the brain or life threatening.

Accident statistics have shown that helmets do save lives. A large percent of motorists involved in fatal motorcycle accidents where those found not wearing helmets. Seasoned motorists know the importance of wearing a helmet whenever they are on their rides. It should be the responsibility of every motorist to wear a helmet whether it is mandatory or not in their country to protect their own lives. The helmets should meet the safety standards required by the Department of Transportation.



When a motorcyclist is involved in an accident, there is nothing to shield or protect his or her head from the impact of the fall or crash. Even a minor knock or blow on the head could cause concussion or a traumatic brain injury, resulting in permanent head injuries or even death. Wearing a helmet also helps to protect injuries to the eyes, teeth, and face. Helmets can protect you from flying particles such as dust particles, gravels, bugs, and other objects you could come in contact with while on your rides.