Skin Care Talk with Celeteque Dermoscience’s Brand Ambassador, Dr. Eric Schweiger

Posted on by jane

Celeteque is a household name in my home. I use it. My girls use it. I’ve been with the brand since they were first introduced in the market years ago. Back then, I attended a blogger event for this still unknown brand that was supposed to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. I tried the product sample and since then was hooked.

Recently, I was invited to meet Celeteque’s brand ambassador. The surprise we all got was finding out that their brand ambassador was not a local showbiz celebrity at all. In fact, the ambassador was not a she but a HE! And a US-based dermatologist at that!

Meet Dr. Eric Schweiger, a Certified Board Dermatologist and owner of Schweiger Dermatology NYC (as in New York City)! Dr. Eric has a private practice in Manhattan and take note, he has celebrity clients (which he could not name, of course). Dr. Eric said that he was very careful about product endorsements and has actually turned away many offers. According to him, there are things he looks for in a product. The ingredients should be dermo-grade (medically active derma ingredients) and the label should specifically say that the product was tested and proven through a clinical study because for him, it is the gold standard.
When Celeteque contacted him, he had them send over to him the entire product line to test. It took a while for him to try the products but in the end, he was satisfied with the dermoscience claims of the product and agreed to be its brand ambassador. That says a lot about Celeteque and actually makes the product lines very credible because it’s a real-life dermatologist talking, not just some pretty face.
Dr. Eric differentiated cosmetic skincare products from Dermo-Cosmetics, which started as a specialized skin care category in Europe. Dermo-Cosmetic products combine the efficacy of derma-grade ingredients with dermatologists’ expertise in skin care. Many cosmetic products simply conceal cosmetically while products incorporating dermoscience actually work on rejuvenating, repairing and restoring skin.
Celeteque had set up an area where skin analysis could be done. Bloggers could peer into a device with very bright lights so that the skin and pores were magnified and could be properly analyzed by skin consultants. I did not bother to have my skin analyzed as I knew already that I badly needed restorative and anti-aging treatment so instead, I decided to take a look-see where the product lines were all displayed.Wow, I did not know that Celeteque already had 6 different product lines: Hydration, Sun Care, Acne Solutions, Brightening, Advanced Anti-aging and Restorative. 

A nice take-off from Dr. Eric’s interview with Angel Jacob was a demonstration of how dermoscience instantly works on skin. The skin consultants came over to our tables and asked volunteers for a before-and-after skin analysis.


I volunteered to have my skin analyzed. They had this device which they pressed on my skin to determine its moisture level.
Here’s my hand being analyzed by the device

My face was tested too!
Before applying Celeteque moisturizer, my moisture level was 43.7

After applying Celeteque moisturizer, it read 57.2

In the coming months, I will be trying out the Restorative and Anti-aging product lines of Celeteque because these are the most appropriate at my age. Exciting to see what it will do to my skin, fine lines and wrinkles!
Advanced Anti-aging

Advanced Anti-aging

Restorative

Restorative

Have you ever tried Celeteque? Which one did you love the most?

Ipanema’s Urban Jungle Collection

Posted on by jane

The launch of Ipanema’s new line of flipflops was like no other they had ever presented before. Not that their other launches were blah. In fact, Ipanema is known for its creative presentations of its new collections. I’ve been to several but I must say that this one was quite the original and creative one.

The theme of the new Ipanema collection is the Urban Jungle. Aptly, the stage at Bonifacio High Street was transformed into a jungle, with screens showing the Brazilian forests and various animals roaming them.

The whole runway show was done through a mystical storytelling – a play of dance, drama and music that kept the dancers moving constantly. I actually had a difficult time trying to get still shots of the performers or the flipflops they wore because they were constantly moving around the stage. So I decided to take videos instead.

Each of the new flipflops bore an imprint of an animal. The collection features a mix of bright colors and bold prints as well as unique patterns that remind you of the animals they were named after.

In this collection, my favorite is the Lioness series because I prefer wearing sandals with straps all the way around the back of my feet. Watch this short video showing the Ipanema dancers in the segment that shows off the Lioness flipflops.

I have several pairs of Ipanema flipflops already. They’re so light and flexible that walking in them even for hours is no problem. The texture of Ipanema flipflops is something I truly love because they don’t feel rubbery at all, unlike some other brands I’ve tried. Want to know how soft and pliable they are? Try pointing your toes like a ballet dancer does and the soles just fold up. That’s how I tested them.

You can find Ipanema in shoe boutiques all over the Metro as well as in Bambu.

Check out Ipanema’s official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/IpanemaPhilippines

Starbucks: New Food and Beverage Items for 2012

Posted on by jane

Starbucks is known for constantly innovating on old favorites and coming up with new food and beverage items and here they are again with their 2012 lineup:

Cookie Crumble Cheesecake with Chips Ahoy (PhP 130)

This Cookie Crumble Cheesecake with Chips Ahoy comes loaded with chunky, moist and chewy Chips Ahoy cookies and chocolate chips baked on Chips Ahoy cookie crumbs.

Sausage Pizza Roll (PhP 95)

How the Sausage Pizza Roll looks on the inside

The Sausage Pizza Roll is a nice twist to the hotdog sandwich. The smoked frankfurter is enclosed in a golden brown, flaky and buttery pastry crust instead of the hotdog bun. That alone was a winner for me. Biting into it, you also taste the creamy cheese pizza sauce drizzled over the frankfurter. This one is best when served warm.

Fish and Chips Wrap (PhP 150)

My favorite of the lot – the Fish and Chips Wrap. I guess it’s because I loved the idea of a tortilla wrap. The surprise though was when I bit into it. Not only did I encounter a moist and juicy fish fillet but with it came herbed potato wedges. That is something you should try. Fish and Chips normally have you eating the chips separately while here, you eat the fish and chips TOGETHER! It’s quite a gustatory experience. This is best eaten warm too.

Chicken Grape Almond Salad on Classic Ciabatta Bread (PhP 150)

The Chicken Grape Almond Salad on Classic Ciabatta Bread is a lot of things – crunchy, tart, sweet and tangy. Chicken, grapes, celery, roasted chopped almonds, and sliced sundried tomatoes are held together with lemon mayo sauce. You can taste hints of tarragon and sliced Emmenthal cheese on crusty Ciabatta bread.

Whoopie Pie (PhP 75)

Giving a new twist to an old favorite – the Whoopie Pie now has two googly eyes! This dessert is made of two soft, large, fudgy dark chocolate cookie cakes filled with fluffy, roasted marshmallow cream icing with chocolate chips.

And now for the beverages!

Starbucks’ featured new beverage is the Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Blended Beverage – a combination of chocolate cookie bits with their signature Frappuccino Roast coffee – a twist on the classic Mocha Frappuccino Blended Coffee. It’s made with mocha sauce, vanilla syrup, milk and ice, and finished off with whipped cream, chocolate drizzle and a cookie crumble topping.

Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino
Tall – PhP 165; Grande – PhP 175; Venti – PhP 185
Another favorite blended beverage is the Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino. This one, made with strawberry sauce, milk, blended with ice and topped with whipped cream can actually be ordered without whipped cream and can be made with a choice of whole milk, non-fat milk or soy milk.
Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino
Tall – PhP 155; Grande – PhP 165; Venti – PhP 175

Yummy Eats 2012

Posted on by jane

Guys, it’s that yummy time of the year again when you can sample all sorts of yummy food items in just one place!

Last year, I attended Yummy Eats 2011 with my sons and we thoroughly enjoyed the gastronomic experience of walking from stall to stall sampling everything from beverages to pica pica to main dishes to desserts. I was especially amazed that there were so many more food stalls that were moving into healthy and organic dishes then. Maybe there will be more now as I hear there will be around 50 food concessionaires.

Throughout the day, there will be cooking demos too so that would be fun to watch for.

My post on that Yummy Eats experience in 2011 is HERE.

Brought to us by Yummy Magazine, Yummy Eats 2012 will be at The Rockwell Tent on May 26, 2012 from 10AM to 9PM. That is a LOT of hours walking around and taste testing.

Watch this TVC.

Beginnings: All-white baby clothes

Posted on by jane

Did you know that while department stores visibly display baby clothes in different colors, most Moms actually go for the whites?

This was the observation of Beginnings COO Govind Daswani as he recounted to a group of us how he and another person from their company spent days hanging around department stores, watching and observing Moms buy items from the baby section. He said that whites were often relegated to a corner of shelves and yet Moms filled their baskets with all-white baby clothes.

Curious, he got to interview some Moms and their answers were practical and made sense. Here are some reasons why Moms prefer all-white baby wear:

1. It’s easier to spot stains and dirt.
2. It’s easier to detect insects (dengue mosquitoes, most of all!)
3. It’s clean and cool to baby skin (nice in summer and on hot days, like nowadays!)
4. And, if I may add my own reason, white is unisex — easier on the budget, unlike the blues and pinks that can only look nice on a boy or girl, respectively.

Realizing that there was a nitch they could get into, Mr. Daswani quickly commissioned the designing of a complete line of baby wear – ALL IN WHITE!

Beginnings’ product line

All-white tops and bottoms

Nice white baby shoes!

Some samples we opened to touch and examine more closely

As a Mom, I know how other moms are very discriminating when it comes to their babies’ stuff. I know. Because I used to be OC about that. And anything that is worn by baby or applied on baby has to be free from any kind of harm or health risk. So I was glad that Mr. Daswani expounded on the meticulous care they gave to the production of their all-white baby line.

Take this baby shirt, for example.

Beginnings strictly follows US standards for baby clothes:
* They use only premium Shiny Cotton Thread to guarantee the durability of their products.
* To avoid loose or too-tightly sewn stitches, they follow a specific stitching distance so stitching is never twisted or wrinkled.
* Attachments on shoulders and sides are more durable for long-term use due to double stitching done by overlock machines.
* Cotton ties are easily adjustable and are used in place of buttons which are choking hazards for children 0-12 months.
* Special needles are used to avoid puckering that can cause unsightly needle holes and other defects such as open seams, raw edges and broken stitches. Regular needles create holes that make garments more prone to breakage and tear.
* They use special cotton garters with carefully studied, standard measurements required for maximum stretch so your baby does not get waistline marks and other irritations.
We were allowed to open a few of the items. I took time to touch the cloth of a tie-shirt and noticed how soft and smooth it was to the touch. True to their claim, the double stitching looked really well done. I have to say, Beginnings really pays attention to detail and quality.
I thought these were 100% cotton but Mr. Daswani said it was actually 65% cotton, 35% polyester. The rationale? Because 100% cotton loses its shape while the 65:35 ratio retains the shape while still keeping baby cool.
I just love their tagline: “Made with love and cotton”. Don’t you?
Beginnings is made for babies from 0-12 months only. Why not for older babies? Because he says that by that age, the babies are ready to move on to a more colorful wardrobe. Yes, we mommies like to dress our kids up, right?
Bloggers in white with COO Govind Daswani and CEO Kishu Daswani
Another surprising bit of information was that Beginnings is already present in the Visayas and it’s only now that they are bringing their product to Metro Manila. They wanted to grow in a less competitive environment till they were ready to join in. I guess this is their time to penetrate Metro Manila.
Like Beginnings on their Facebook Page: facebook.com/beginningsbaby. The About page gives a list of outlets where you can find Beginnings baby wear.

The “Live, Love, Firande! Electrolux Photo Contest” lets you share your moments of celebration

Posted on by jane

Life is always a celebration. The fact we are able to wake up every day is already cause for celebration. That’s why the theme of one of my blogs is: Live, Love, Laugh.

I’m sure you have tons of digital photos in your computer or digital media of memorable moments in your life that are causes for celebration, right? After all, we Pinoys really love to celebrate everything – a birth, birthday, baptism, marriage, anniversary, barkadahan days, graduations. You name it, we Pinoys have probably celebrated it in some way. Even vacations are filled with tons of photos.

Why not share those photos with the world so they can see how the Filipino celebrates life? There’s a way to do that now. And it gives you a chance as well to win something from Electrolux which is celebrating its 10th anniversary presence in the Philippines.

Electrolux is a Swedish brand and in Sweden, the term for Celebration is Firande. They’re launching a photo contest where you can share all sorts of photos – from remarkable achievements and important personal milestones to fun, family vacations and exciting getaways with friends.

How me and my girl friends celebrate and bond

Photo Contest Mechanics

Here’s how to join the “Live, Love, Firande! Electrolux Photo Contest”:

1. Visit the “Live, Love, Firande! Photo Contest” tab of the Little White Book Facebook page from April 1, 2012 to May 20, 2012 and fill out the required participant details.

2. Submit your Firande photo along with your answer to the question, “What’s worth celebrating to you?” in 50 words or less.

3. All qualified photo entries will be uploaded in the Live, Love, Firande! photo album of the Little White Book Facebook page and will be featured in a commemorative 10th anniversary advertisement in leading newspapers, magazines and TV seen nationwide.

4. Get a chance to vote for your favorite among the Top Ten Firande photos from May 28 to June 10, 2012.

5. The top 3 Firande photos will get a chance to win exciting prizes from Electrolux Philippines including Electrolux appliances and a luxury and travel package.

Updated May 5, 2012:

Prizes at Stake 

1st Prize – 3D/2N stay at Makati Shangri-la Hotel with P35,000 worth PAL Travel Certificates
2nd Prize – Electrolux Kitchen Showcase: EGG7422S Built in Hob, EFT9510X Hood, ETB 2603SC No Frost Refrigerator, and EMM2007X Microwave Oven
3rd Prize – Electrolux ESV112CRC-A4 Inverter Split Type Air Conditioner

Follow Electrolux at www.electrolux.com.ph. 
Like them on Facebook at facebook.com/thelittlewhitebook
Follow them on Twitter at twitter.com/ElectroluxPH

Starbucks Happy Hour and Customizable Tumblers

Posted on by jane

The sign says it all HALF-PRICE FRAPPUCCINO BLENDED BEVERAGES. Yay! 
I was told that in some Starbucks branches last year when they had Happy Hour from 12noon to 2pm, lines would be snaking around way past the 2pm cutoff and people would sometimes get served past 3pm.  So this time, Starbucks decided to make Happy Hour from 2-6 pm every Monday from April 30 to May 28, 2012. (Tip: Get in line before 2pm’s cutoff and you will be able to avail of the promo even beyond the cutoff time)
Make your own However-You-Want-It-Frappuccino blended beverages. Decaf or not. Extra shot or two or three of coffee. Want your whipped cream regular, light or none at all? What about your milk – full cream, nonfat? Do you want your syrup flavored with vanilla, hazelnut, mocha or any of the others? And so many more options. I was told that it could go up to about 87,000 different beverage blends if you count the number of combinations you can make with all the available options. Whew!
Times like these, I’m glad the Starbucks branch near me is not near any large office buildings but rather near schools. And school’s out!!! Hopefully, no long lines!
Customizable Tumblers Too!
If you really want to enjoy your blended beverages plus have your order processed quickly, get any of their two new customizable 16-oz. tumblers. The tumblers come with an extra barrel body that you twist off. Mark the inner barrel’s boxes with your beverage preferences using a marker, reassemble, hand the tumbler to your barista, and watch him/her process your order without having to say a word!
Customizable tumblers
Left: Stainless Steel Tumbler (PhP 1,095)
Right – Cold Cup Tumbler (PhP 550)

The Cold Cup Tumbler taken apart
(see the boxes on left where you can write your choices for blended beverage)
Love Fernandez writes his favorite blended beverage options
on the Cold Cup Tumbler
The Stainless Steel Tumblers taken apart
(it comes with a free dry erase marker)
Love draws Whoppie Pie on tumbler
Starting Monday, April 30, enjoy your customized blended frappuccino beverage at half price between 2-6pm and drink it from your very own customizable tumbler. You’re protecting Mother Earth as well by using the tumbler again and again and again (just be sure to use erasable markers instead of the permanent ones).

Johnson’s Innovates Baby Care for New Gen Moms

Posted on by jane

Even if all my kids are all grown up, I love attending baby events because I get to see all kinds of stuff I never had available when I was having my children. So many new items are making it more convenient for mothers these days.

When Johnson’s invited me to their Baby Innovations, I arranged my schedule to attend. After all, my kids grew up on No Tears Johnson’s Baby Shampoo and Baby Oil. I was very curious what innovations they would introduce this time.
BBDO Philippines General Manager Francine Khan-Gonzales first described to us what the New Gen Moms are all about. She’s one who is technology-enabled, most likely holds a job out of the home, takes a proactive role in the rearing of her kids, and does not hesitate to do her own internet research about a wide range of topics including healthy tips for her children and parenting approaches. Wait, that sounds like me, except that my kids are all grown already. Hahaha…

Well I wish I still had very young kids because the new Johnson’s products that were introduced really come a long way from the No Tears shampoo they used to have in my kids’ time.

Two new Johnson’s products were being launched but I had a chance to also check out the others they had.

Daily Sun Protection Lotion

This one I didn’t know till I heard it at this event: a baby’s skin is not fully developed yet to protect it from environmental stresses including the harsh rays of the sun. Their skin does not have enough melanin to fully protect them against UV rays. A baby’s skin will not show skin damage but the cumulative effect of that can result to wrinkles and sunspots down the road as well as possible melanoma, a type of skin cancer.

The Daily Sun Protection Lotion comes in 2 variants: SPF 15 100ml (SRP PhP 230) and SPF 30 50ml (SRP PhP 215). Its ingredients provide protection against UVA/UVB rays. It’s also light and non-greasy to keep your baby feeling comfortable.

Top-to-Toe Self Foaming Wash

This is my familiar Johnson’s No Tears Baby Shampoo that went through a major overhaul not just on the outside (packaging) but also on the inside. It’s one product you can use just like its older version but wait till you pump it out. It doesn’t come out as thick, heavy liquid like the shampoo I knew but rather in a light, frothy, fine and delicate foam. Rubbing it on baby gives a cushiony and silky feeling and because it’s foamy light, it’s that much easier to wash off. Putting it in a pump is a great idea too because unlike before when I had to snap open the top lid with one hand while holding the bottle with the other, this design allows mommy to pump with one hand and hold baby with the other.

Top-to-Toe Self Foaming Wash comes in a 400ml bottle (SRP PhP 407). This June, Johnson’s will come up with a 350ml bottle (SRP PhP 323.40).

Top-to-Toe also comes in a regular wash version in 2 different sizes: 200m and 500ml.

Now here are a few more products that I decided to use myself. Why? I just love the powdery scent. It beats perfume, at least for me.

Baby Skincare Wipes

I use wipes all the time — traveling, freshening up before and after yoga, and in this heat, just about any time of the day. This Baby Skincare Wipes smells of baby powder and is not alcohol-based. It’s just so perfect for me. I’m hoping they create  a more portable version I can drop into my yoga bags, not something this heavy.

The NATURALCALM line

For the longest time when I was growing up, Johnson’s Baby Powder was just one kind. The ordinary powdery kind. When I was having kids, they already had the Cornstarch Powder variant which I preferred on my kids who were prone to asthma. Imagine seeing now their NATURALCALM line —  bedtime powder, bedtime lotion and bedtime bath products — that are infused with a naturally calming scent so that baby falls asleep easily and better. Who says only baby can use it? I intend to use these myself alternately with lavender (relaxing aromatherapy) scents sprayed on my pillows and sheets.

Johnson’s & Johnson’s has not stopped innovating, as shown by their constantly evolving products to suit today’s baby and Mom. Makes you wonder what more they can come up with for the discriminating parent….

Mother’s Day Flowery Doughnuts from Krispy Kreme

Posted on by jane

What do you give your Mom on Mother’s Day? Flowers? Chocolates? Perfume? Whatever it is, do something different this year.

Krispy Kreme is offering, for the first time, flower-shaped doughnuts that come in yellow, pink and white. in celebration of its 75th birthday.

This promo is only available from April 13 to May 31, 2012.

Make this Mother’s Day a special one for the Mom in your life.  These flowers won’t just wilt away. She’ll be able to look at it – and taste it as well.

HCG Diet, Juju Cleanse, Cohen Diet, CrossFit at HSBC’s Coffee Talk

Posted on by jane

HSBC recently invited me to one of their Coffee Talk series with Starbucks. I’ve always enjoyed dialogues over coffee. I’m a coffee drinker and intellectual discussions are stimulating as well. The topic this time? Weight loss programs.

At the Shangri-la Plaza Hotel function room where the coffee talk was hosted, a Starbucks barista gave me a diluted cup of Starbucks brewed coffee since I get palpitations with too much brewed coffee. Later, during the lunch break, I found it amusing to find two different buffet tables laid out outside the function room labeled “Healthy” and “Happy”. Hmmm. Can’t healthy be happy too? Or vice versa? Hahaha. But I am so thankful to HSBC for thinking of providing lunch for someone like me who was dreading being faced with all-meat dishes options.
Well, I started with the “Healthy” table, picked up some salads and delicious salmon over there then headed for the “Happy” table to add some rice pilaf and fish. Dessert for me consisted of a fruit platter only.

The guest panelists were known people in the weight loss industry (either as clients or founders) who gave their testimonies as to how a certain diet or fitness program made them lose weight. 
CrossFit Program
A bootcamp-style workout used by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and lasts a hellish, intense, explosive 6-15 minutes only, I hear CrossFit is guaranteed to squeeze every last ounce of effort from you. But look at its effects! 
Art Mendoza – BEFORE (at 360 lbs)
Art Mendoza – AFTER
Art Mendoza whose face everyone recognizes from The Biggest Loser does CrossFit as part of his maintenance. Art says that maintaining your figure once you’ve lost the weight is more difficult because it has to become a lifestyle. He does not avoid the foods he loves but the secret is taking them in very much reduced portions. He said that sedentary people should avoid carbs but take them only in forms like sweet potato (kamote). Protein should be the size of your palm. Vegetables are the size of 2 fists.

Lala Agregado – BEFORE

Lala Agregado – AFTER
Lala Agregado is a stunner up close. I was sitting very close to her and kept looking at her, not believing that she was the one in the BEFORE picture. No way! But there it was. Her Mom had been egging her to go on a diet because at 55, her Mom still had abs. Well, Lala tried all diets – Bangkok pills, Xenical etc. According to her, you name it, she’s tried it. But it was CrossFit that brought this figure back. Wow!
Rescina Bagwani – BEFORE

Rescina Bagwani – AFTER

I first read about the Cohen Diet when I got an email some time back certain food being good or not good depending on your blood type. I read that email but was pretty skeptical about it. Now, hearing how Rescina is going through the Cohen Diet, I may have to give this a second look. The Cohen Diet is quite expensive at P55,000 but Rescina said that compared to continuous diagnostic tests as well as the effects of being obese, paying 55k was worth it for her after she lost 67 pounds. She happily told us her husband was in love with her all over again and has been buying tickets for them to travel all over. I guess that’s worth a lot more than 55k, right?

JL Martinez – BEFORE

JL Martinex – AFTER
JL Martinez took a route which is quite different. He went with the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) diet and lost 120 pounds. This involves injecting of a hormone or use of hormone drops to suppress hunger combined with a daily diet totaling 500 calories only. I can’t imagine what kind of meals add up to only 500 calories but JL said that it’s only for 40 days. He also did not stop eating what he wanted. He’d take at most, 2 mouthfuls of any food because as he explained, the first mouthful signals to the brain that what you’re eating is good, the second mouthful is to validate it and satisfy the craving for it. And succeeding mouthfuls are just piled calories. One tip he gave to help keep weight down is never to eat what you want till you work off the expected calories. So if you want that piece of cake? Work out first. Never eat first and promise to work it off later.

Kat Azanza, co-owner of Juju Cleanse also described the process. I had been hearing of Juju Cleanse from friends in social media but did not really know what it entailed. She uses pure juices consumed over several days to help the body detox and get rid of the toxins.

Kat Azanza of Juju Cleanse

A special guest at the coffee talk was none other than Jessica Zafra. She added spice and humor throughout the coffee talk and I was just happy to have had the chance to see her in person and have a pic with her. 

With iconic Jessica Zafra
Personally, I am lucky to have no need to do any serious dieting. With the yoga practice that I have come to love, my personal belief is that slimming down should be as natural as possible. While some of the programs I heard of in this coffee talk were done without requiring exercise, I still believe that some form of exercise is important since toxins also come out through our sweat. But obviously, different people seem to have found THE one thing that has caused them to lose weight and I hope they continue to keep them off.

I’m sure this won’t be the last time we will hear of different weight loss programs so I will continue to keep an open mind about them.

The HSBC Starbucks Rewards Program

One last thing. HSBC allows its cardholders to continue enjoying Starbucks coffee through its HSBC Starbucks Rewards Program. Between March 22 and May 31, 2012, HSBC credit cardholders can just present a charge slip (within the promo period) with a minimum purchase of PhP 2,500 at any Starbucks outlet nationwide and exchange it for a tall handcrafted beverage of your choice or a 3-pack Starbucks VIA. Redemption period is from April 1 to July 31, 2012.

Thanks to HSBC and Starbucks for a very entertaining and informative afternoon with the “losers”. They’re all winners in their own right.