Category: Uncategorized

This Yogini is LOUD!

Posted on by jane

LOUD to me doesn’t mean that your voice is necessarily loud because that only reflects the physical aspect. I believe being LOUD also means that you are able to influence someone in some way — hopefully for the better.

In 2006, I got into yoga. At first, it was just all about me and my practice. But as I fell in love with it, I realized that yoga is not just for one’s self but is something to be shared with others. At first, I did not know where to begin. But I had the chance to organize a free yoga class for bloggers in 2007 for a group of blogger friends. Here’s our class pic below.

Bloggers pose after a yoga class with Teacher Pio

At around that time, I also decided to open my yoga blog, The Yogini from Manila, where I tried to be a resource point for those wanting to explore yoga by providing a list of studios in the Philippines. Through this yoga blog, I am able to shout out LOUD the benefits of yoga. Through it, I became friends with yoga teachers here and abroad. I’ve heard from readers looking for studios, asking how they can start yoga, seeking advice on anything from yoga styles to yoga wear, and many more.

Now, I have extended my being LOUD to Facebook by opening The Yogini from Manila Facebook page. Here, I can interact more with my contacts since I check Facebook often. It allows me to share LOUDly my love for yoga, even if I do not teach.
Several of my blogger friends now do yoga and continue to try it. This makes me so happy because I know yoga can make them healthier, maybe even slimmer. One thing’s for sure, they become more active since bloggers oftentimes lead sedentary lives in front of the computer. Isn’t that LOUD enough?

Osteoporosis: The “Silent Killer” of Women

Posted on by jane

I love milk, ice cream, cheese and other dairy products.

I used to be a ballet dancer in my younger days and am presently a yogini, doing weight-bearing exercises which are good for building body mass and bones.

And yet, I have been diagnosed to be osteopenic (at risk of osteoporosis).

Time and again, when there are bone density tests at malls or at blogger events, I go for a test (silently hoping that one of these scans will prove all the past ones wrong — that I have healthy bones). And yet, every test continues to show that I have osteopenia.

How could this happen?

First, my dairy intake slowed down when I started becoming lactose intolerant. I used to drink milk in the morning before going off to work but that was replaced by coffee when I dared not drink milk before commuting for fear of wanting to go to the bathroom before I got to my office. Of course, coffee as a replacement was really not a substitute because there is a connection between caffeine intake and osteopenia. Coffee is a diuretic and the caffeine in it increases the amount of calcium excreted with our urine for several hours after drinking it. So without appropriate replacement or intake of calcium, bone loss results over time.

Second, I have gone through five pregnancies (though one was a miscarriage) and every time a woman becomes pregnant, the demands placed on her body by a growing baby also affect her bone density. There is increasing demand for maternal bone before childbirth and after childbirth, the act of breastfeeding puts a mother in a hypoestrogenic (low estrogen) state.

Third, as one approaches the menopausal state, bone loss accelerates even more as the body produces less and less estrogen, the hormone that protects bones.

Fourth, just being a female places me at greater risk as studies show that women lose bone density faster than men.

At a recent Anlene event, I learned about the ideal daily calcium intake for women. Women between the ages of 25 and 50 years should aim for 750mg of calcium while those who are older, pregnant or lactating should aim for a higher calcium level daily. I also found that taking calcium alone is not a solution; one needs Vitamin D so that the calcium consumed will be absorbed by the body. So, the real answer to prevent osteoporosis is the right amount of calcium + Vit. D.

So, why is osteoporosis a “silent killer” of women?

It kills not just physically but more than that, it can also kill one’s spirit and lifestyle. Just imagine an active woman who is used to walking by herself and doing things she loves to do. Imagine the same woman suffering a hip fracture that confines her to a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Gone is her independence. She has to depend on others even for simple things like going to the bathroom or even just opening a door. Her lifestyle is crimped because there are limitations to what she can now do. Your whole life just makes a 180-degree turn once osteoporosis hits and your bones become brittle and at risk of breaking.

Anlene now has a new Ambasadress and I must say, she is the epitome of what a woman with great bones and muscles should be. She’s no other than Sec. Pia Cayetano, who is not only an amazing woman-senator but is also known as a triathlete.

Sen. Pia Cayetano with Anlene officers and Karen Davila (event emcee)

Sen. Pia told us that her favorite sport was the Ironman Triathlon. For many of you who don’t know what that entails, a triathlete participating in this event has to complete a 4k swim, a 108k bike, and a 42k marathon. Whew!!! May I now call her IRONWOMAN?

I now always have Anlene at home. Whenever I remember, I spike my morning coffee with Anlene as my dairy creamer. At the very least, even if I can’t do away with coffee yet, at least I am taking in some replacement calcium.

But you know what’s new in the Anlene product line and which is the perfect Anlene product for me? This…Anlene Concentrate…

Anlene Concentrate (front)
Anlene Concentrate (back)
This was what excited me. Look at the nutritional content of this tiny, 125ml tetrapak. It’s loaded with 650mg of calcium! In the past, although I’d take Anlene, I’d need several tablespoons of the powder to mix so I get my daily requirement. But I’d still be lactose intolerant for several hours afterwards. Now, this tiny pack gives me the same 650 mg of calcium MINUS the lactose intolerance. At the event, I was initially hesitant to try it (they were distributing the milk packs for us to try for free) but when I eventually did, guess what. My tummy did not do a revolution. Yay!
I know a lot of you out there are as lactose intolerant as I am. Now, we need not fret about it.

Let’s be more conscious about our calcium intake so we don’t become an unwilling victim of osteoporosis. Now that I know I’m osteopenic, I have resolved even more never to let go of my yoga, being more conscious of calcium-rich food, and of course, taking my Anlene.

The Green Iced Sting Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Posted on by jane
Limited edition Green Hornet doughnuts
A surprise was waiting for me today while I was having breakfast. A box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts was delivered to my home.
I did not get to try it immediately because I was already eating and had to leave soon after so it was only this afternoon that I got to sink my teeth into this green doughnut with white zigzags.
This line of Krispy Kreme doughnuts is inspired by the upcoming Green Hornet movie, which I also want to watch. When I bit into the doughnut, I realized that the green icing tasted exactly like bubblegum while the white zigzags gave the bubblegum a cool mint twist. Yummy!
This is a limited edition and will last only till February 13. Go try it and maybe buy some before you head out to watch the Green Hornet.

The UCC Beacons of Change Vision Logbook is Here

Posted on by jane

Isaac Asimov once said: “The only constant is change [emphasis is mine], continuing change, inevitable change, that is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be.”

Change is experienced by everyone. Sometimes it is pleasant, other times painful. Sometimes something to look forward to, other times scary.

I’ve had so many changes in my life, I’ve lost count. And they run the gamut of all emotions as well.

But, as motivational speaker Francis Kong says, “What we need to do is to learn how to let go of our fear of change. If we want to consciously bring about change for the good, then that change has to be envisioned and planned.”

Change, without direction, is just going with the flow wherever it takes you. Sometimes that works. But at other times, it just leads to a listless, unknown future.

Change, with a vision and goal, is what makes one’s life meaningful and purposeful. And this was why Hubert Young, owner of the UCC Coffee concept shops in the Philippines thought of creating — a vision logbook that can help people bring this change about in their lives.

Hubert Young, holding the Beacons of Change Vision Logbook

To help him develop this vision logbook, Hubert Young brought in beacons of change representing some of the country’s top business coaches:

Francis Kong, motivational speaker

Randell Tiongson, personal finance expert
Raju Mandhyan, mind mapping expert
Jay Bernardo, founder of Let’s Go Foundation

The Basic Vision Logbook

The basic vision logbook is good for 2 years (2011 and 2012). It contains various useful modules such as a travel vision logbook, conversion tables, notes, and Francis Kong stories, tips, and quotations. Promotional coupons for free dishes or drinks can also be found inside the logbook.

How to claim:

Present receipts issued within the promo period (Dec. 15, 2010 to Feb. 28, 2011) worth P5,000 from UCC Coffee Concept Stores to get the basic logbook. You will also be given a Beacons of Change card which gives you a chance to get a seat at a Group Collaboration Talk with Francis Kong (details below).

Add-on Modules

There are three (3) additional modules that you can get with every P1,500 single minimum receipt purchase at UCC Concept Stores within the promo period:

1. Randell Tiongson’s 12 Easy Steps to Financial Wellness

2. Raju Mandhyan’s Mind Mapping, and

3. Let’s Go Foundation’s “Entrepreneur’s Workbook for Change”

When you claim any of these add-on modules, your Beacons of Change card will be stamped and can help you get a chance to join the Coffee Collaboration talks.

Coffee Collaboration Talks

Meet 3 of the beacons of change and attend their collaboration talks where they can expound on the topics they are experts in.

How?

There will be 3 deadlines for dropping your stamped Beacons of Change card: January 8 is the deadline for Financial Wellness, January 15 for Mind Mapping and January 22 for Entrepreneur’s Workbook for Change). Cut-off time on these 3 dates is 11PM.

Ten (10) names will be drawn the Monday after each cut-off date to determine who get seats to the Coffee Collaboration Talks of each beacon. The actual schedules of the 3 collaboration talks will be posted at UCC branches by January 2, 2011.

Group Collaboration Talk with Francis Kong

There’s an added bonus. Those who are able to get all three add-on modules, with their Beacons of Change Card stamped and have the UCC Manager signatures for all three modules within their respective release weeks may drop their stub at UCC Podium’s tambiolo between January 23-29, 2011 (deadline is 11PM of January 29). Ten names drawn on January 31, 2011 will get to attend Francis Kong’s Group Coffee Collaboration Talk.

Beneficiary of the Program

Five percent of proceeds from the UCC Beacons of Change Vision Logbook program goes to Christ’s Commission Fellowship. This is a movement that has outreaches for ethics and values formation for government, outreaches for prisoners, street children, cancer and substance abuse patients and other sectors of society. This promo runs till February 28, 2011.

McDo is now on your mobile phone

Posted on by jane

It became such a big convenience when many fastfood outlets and restaurants allowed online ordering and payments. In this age when everyone seems to lead such hectic lives and Metro Manila traffic is horrendous, the advantages of being able to go online in your own home and order lunch, dinner or merienda delivered to your doorstep was obvious.

McDonald’s was one of those fastfood outlets known for online ordering. My kids have ordered online not just from McDo but from other outlets several times already and you know what? It beats having to place your order via phone because sometimes, the one taking down the order can make mistakes.

McDo has moved online ordering up one step. It has partnered with Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) to allow ordering via mobile phone to BPI, BPI Family Savings Bank and BPI Direct clients.

Here’s how to do it.

First, you need to register at www.bpiexpressonline.com. I got these screencaps from My BPI Magazine.

And here’s how to order and pay:

And to register, here are the requirements:

Shhhhhh! Don’t even tell my youngest son about this! He is such a McDo fan!

Meet M.A.C. – Your Friendly Meralco Appliance Calculator

Posted on by jane

Having friends in Meralco is a boon. For years now, these friends have given our family advice on many things, including the type of appliances to buy so we use electricity efficiently. My friend Alex would even hand out Meralco brochures that give friendly consumer advice on how to save on energy costs. And I remember instances in friends’ houses when Alex would spend time explaining to us the impact of how we use our appliances on our bills.

Being web-addicted connected, I long discovered M.A.C. (Meralco Appliance Calculator) on the Meralco website. In fact, the MAC (I’ve removed the periods just to make it easier as I type this post)  has been on their website since 2003. Unfortunately, not many consumers knew about the existence of MAC. And honestly, while I did tinker around with MAC a bit, trying to put in some info on our appliances and usage patterns, I never really got to use it as a real tool for electricity savings.

Till now.

Meralco is relaunching M.A.C. with new and improved features so that it can really become your electricity budget buddy. Let’s meet M.A.C. –

Fig. 1 Portal to MAC
The image you see in Fig. 1 is the first thing you see when you click the MAC link on the Meralco homepage. Before you can use MAC, you need to click on “Agreement” and clicking “I Agree” after reading the terms. The new feature on this portal is the “Formula” link. According to Meralco, they got a lot of feedback from the older MAC version as to how the energy costs were computed so they decided to add this link to the formulas.
When you choose My Appliance Calculator, you get this screen:
Fig. 2 Home screen of MAC

Tabs run across the top (General Appliances, Aircon, Ref, etc.) Clicking on those tabs bring dropdown menus to further narrow down your type of appliance. The average wattage of this appliance is filled out automatically. Put in the number of hours, days and weeks the appliance is used and MAC will calculate for you how much that appliance contributes to your bill per day/week/month. Of course, these are all rough estimates. Wattage can change depending on the brand and model of the appliance. But this gives you an initial feel already which are the energy guzzlers in your home.

Another innovation to MAC is My Bill Manager which allows you to estimate your monthly electric bill by filling up a table. You can even see which appliances consume more electricity. Just enter all the appliances and types of lights you have at home, your usage (hours, days, weeks used). You have the option to change the wattage although an estimate is automatically provided.
Fig. 3 My Bill Manager

Click on Fig. 3 to get a bigger image. I put in an example – one aircon, 1.0 horsepower, running 9 hours daily for a month. Imagine, that appliance alone costs you over P2,300 per month! Yikes!
Fill out as much as you can and you will see monthly estimates of your electric bill adding up. 
At the bottom of the spreadsheet are 3 other features. Consumption Manager gives you the top 6 appliances that contribute to your electric bill, in pesos and percentage and presents these in pie chart form.

Fig. 4 Consumption Manager



Energy Efficiency Adviser gives you handy tips to save energy consumption.

Fig. 5 Energy Efficiency Adviser

Target Bill Amount Estimator lets you set your desired target bill amount, then it tells you just how many kilowatt hours you should consume to stay within that target amount.

Fig. 6 Target Bill Amount Estimator

And when you’re done, you can even share your results via email, Facebook or Twitter or select the Print button (see Fig. 4). And the Feedback button allows you to email Meralco with suggestions as well.
Fig. 7

To begin using M.A.C., visit Meralco’s website at http://meralco.com.ph.



Make Miracles Happen with the Miracle Machine

Posted on by jane

Kraft, through Miracle Whip, wants to whip up miracles outside the kitchen for this Christmas. It is inspired by the collective efforts during Typhoon Ondoy last year when many people turned to social networking sites like Facebook to mobilize rescue, feeding and rehabilitation efforts.

Out of this inspiration, they created the Miracle Machine, a Facebook application whose objective is quite simple: to get people, their friends, and their friends’ friends working together to make miracles happen for the less fortunate.

11 beneficiary organizations were selected after a screening process. Each organization was asked what their Christmas wish was. Beginning December 1 and every day thereafter, an organization will be featured by the Miracle Machine with a list of tasks that volunteers like us can fulfill if it is within our capabilities.

The idea is that each of us is a working part of this machine. For every task that each of us can do for any or all of these beneficiaries, your name will be put on a cog and added to the Miracle Machine. If all tasks are fulfilled by the end of the 12 days, the Miracle Machine will work perfectly and all 11 beneficiary organizations would have their Christmas wishes fulfilled.
Will you help whip up miracles for these 11 beneficiaries? It’s very simple.


1. Join the Miracle Machine on Facebook and click ‘Like’ to be a follower.
2. Go to the Miracle Machine tab. To go to the Miracle Machine application, click the image of the machine (similar to the one above). When prompted, click ‘Allow’.
3. Check the tasks under each beneficiary’s page and see which is do-able for you. Most are not difficult at all. The task could be as simple as donating something needed which you have at home already. Or rallying friends to donate or support. 
(Note: When you volunteer to fulfill a task, someone from the beneficiary organization will contact you to verify the task you wish to fulfill and make arrangements if logistics are needed.)
If you get your friends on Facebook to join the Miracle Machine as well, we can collectively grant the wishes of these beneficiaries. The more people who join and become part of the Miracle Machine, the more amazing things can happen.
Below are the wishes of the 11 beneficiaries as well as the tasks needed to make them come true. Do look over the tasks and see which ones you can volunteer for or donate to. Or which ones you can get family and friends to pitch in for. I’m sure you can pick out several from the list that you yourself can fulfill.

Krispy Kreme’s Ho-Ho-Holiday Doughnuts Are Here

Posted on by jane
This was the surprise that arrived today. Krispy Kreme‘s holiday doughnuts are out!!!
Kids really love the way Krispy Kreme celebrates events and special occasions because they come up with the most creative, yummy-looking doughnuts. My own kids love Krispy Kreme a lot.
There are three variants this year. First is Mr. Snowman. He was around last year too with his red and green scarves but they gave him a slightly new look this year. Next is the vanilla-frosted square-shaped doughnuts decked with green and red icing ribbons. They almost look like tiny presents. And third is the round-shaped doughnuts with vanilla frosting and green and red sprinkles.
My Christmas doughnuts came in a very simple but elegant-looking metal Krispy Kreme can in Christmas-y colors. 
If you are still wondering what to give family and friends for Christmas, look no further. Your yummy present will look great packaged in a KK box like this one.
And yes, I had to hurriedly take pictures of the doughnuts before all my kids come home from school and devour them all. 🙂

Visit any of the following Krispy Kreme Branches: Bonifacio High Street, Greenhills Shopping Center Drive-Thru, SM Mall of Asia, Trinoma Cinema Level, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia Drive-Thru, Ayala Avenue, Robinsons Galleria, Gateway Mall, Glorietta 4, SM City Annex (North EDSA), Annex 2 SM Fairvew, Eastwood, Marquee Mall Pampanga, SM San Lazaro, SM Manila, Robinsons Place Manila, Paseo Center (Makati City) and Valero (Makati City) or call 0917-8053000. Also, be sure to log on to www.krispykreme.com.ph and be a Friend of Krispy Kreme to get updates.

One Day Only: Goodles Pasta for P100 Only

Posted on by jane

Some time back, several of us bloggers were treated to the soft launch of Goodles, a new concept in pasta-to-go. Gourmet pasta, the kind you normally have in sit-down fancy restaurants, are now available in to-go tubs that you can take with you into the moviehouse.

Goodles uses traditional imported Italian pastas and handcrafts its deliciously rich sauces using all natural farm fresh ingredients, pure dairy products, hormone-free meats, extra virgin olive oil and fresh herbs and spices.

My favorite of all the items is Grape Carbonara, carbonara with a twist — it had grapes!

On November 24, 2010 (take note, just this day and no other), Goodles will drop their prices on select popular Goodles pasta to only P100 in celebration of its 1st anniversary. Promo is good for dine-in and take-away (delivery not included).

(click to see enlarged photo)


From 11AM to 2PM, Pesto Cream al Funghi, which is a creamy mix of pesto, mushrooms and farfalle noodles, will be sold for only P100 (regularly at P175). Seven Layer Lasagna (regular, P140) will be sold at P100 from 3PM to 6PM and Grape Carbonara (regular, P165) will be sold at P100 from 6PM to 9PM.

Bulk orders for this promotion will be accepted and may be ordered in advance by calling the Goodles hotline at +63922.8737758 beginning November 22.

Those ordering via the Goodles delivery hotline 2121212 will not be able to avail of the P100 promo but instead will get 1 order of Free Iced Tea for a minimum P500 purchase.

Goodles has a website (www.ilovegoodles.com) and is on Facebook. Check them out for details of this promo as well as upcoming ones.

Live Curious, NatGeo and Regatta Say

Posted on by jane

When my kids were small, they’d pester me with so many quetions. Why is the sky blue? Is there really a man on the moon? How does Santa distribute the gifts all over the world in just one night? 

As they grew older, curiosity continued but this time the questions had to do with more mature topics. Why is my body changing? Why is breakfast important? Even the proverbial — Why do we have to have homework on weekends?

Studies have shown that curiosity is what leads to experimentation, discovery and more learning. When a child asks a lot of questions, it is because that child is thinking about things that don’t make sense to him at that age. This is the start of what will later become research – a longing to find the answer.

The National Geographic Channel (NGC) recognizes that living the curious life leads to myriad possibilities for adventure and knowledge so it wants to continue promoting this trait in the young people of today.

NatGeo, as it is called for short, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. It has produced beautiful magazines that take you on adventures as you turn the magazine pages, teaching you more and more about places you have never been to, making you aware of the environment, the wonder of archaeology, appreciation for natural science and better awareness of geography. With the advent of cable, NatGeo created its own channel, showing the beauty of our world and its creatures. Truly, NGC is one of my favorite TV channels.

NatGeo has tied up with Regatta, a leisure wear brand that offers high-quality casual wear, as both of them share similar values, i.e., promoting the love for a good life as well as love for adventure.

They’ve launched the “Live Curious” campaign which believes that no matter what country we live in and regardless of the language we speak, “Everything deserves a ‘Why'”. This slogan is now one of several statement shirts launched and available at all Regatta boutiques nationwide when you sign up for a National Geographic society membership.


National Geographic has also chosen Filipino personalities who, in their view, live curious and have excelled in their chosen professions and endeavors. These ambassadors are:

1. Joey Reyes (filmmaker and writer)
2. Francis Flores (marketing executive)
3. Daphne Osena-Paez (TV host/producer and advocate for children)
4. Norman Agatep (advertising executive)
5. Gang Badoy (RockEd Philippines founder)
6. Maribel Garcia (The Mind Museum curator)
7. Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan (WWF-Philippines CEO)
8. Mitzi Borromeo (educational media producer)
9. Bryan Benitez McClelland (social ecopreneur)

The “Live Curious” statement shirts are available at Alabang Town Center (ATC), Greenbelt 3, Glorietta 3, Ayala Trinoma, SM The Block and Gateway. 

Get yours now. Here’s mine.