These past days, I’ve been “dying” from the heat. So it’s a comfort to know that I can cool off at Starbucks with the latest frappuccinos (there are 4!) and a new selection of food items.
The summer beverages and food items, as well as other summer Starbucks merchandise including two new cards and a coffee blend, were introduced in a fun, island carnival event called the Siren’s Island. Set within the Music Hall of SM’s Mall of Asia, Siren’s Island treated bloggers and the public to the carnival feel.
2019 is the 12th year of Earth Hour but it is also the second year of its #Connect2Earth global theme which calls for an urgent need to care for the Earth’s biological diversity. Central to this theme is the continuing focus on the issue of single-use plastics.
What began in 2008 in Manila (Earth Hour first started in Sydney in 2007) as a campaign to create awareness of climate change has evolved into the world’s grassroots movement to raise awareness on the importance of biodiversity as a viable resource link that families, communities, nations, and future generations all depend upon.
(L-R) WWF-Philippines President and CEO Joel Palma, AIS Development Executive of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines Yasser Sarona, WWF-Philippines Climate and Energy Program Head and Earth Hour Pilipinas National Director Atty. Gia Ibay, WWF-Philippines National Ambassador Iza Calzado, WWF-Philippines National Youth Ambassador Janine Gutierrez, and WWF-Philippines National Ambassador Rovilson Fernandez. Photograph courtesy of Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines
I know….we are in tropical Philippines. There is no spring. But in many other countries with four seasons, the ground is suddenly coming out of its wintry sleep as plants and trees start to come alive. What a great time it would be in Japan as spring brings with it the sight of cherry trees all abloom with cherry blossoms.
Starbucks embraces the changing of the seasons with Sakura merchandise, beverages, a special card, and a special spring coffee blend.
If you are a bookworm, you have probably heard that Big Bad Wolf Books is back in Manila for a second time and it is bigger and better! Admission is FREE so anyone, any age can go. Discounts are even deeper now, from 50% to 90% across different genres.
February 5, 2019 will be Chinese New Year — the Year of the (Earth) Pig. To usher it in with abundance and prosperity, Starbucks Philippines has come up with Year of the Pig merchandise and an accompanying Year of the Pig Starbucks card.
I love the look of The Year of the Pig mug. It helps that the dominant background color is a vibrant red. A cute pig face with a prominent snout is embossed on the front. The handle is a stylized version of a pig tail and you realize, as you turn the mug, that the handle gives you a back view of the pig.
You saw it right. Starbucks has leveled up and for 2019, it is giving all Starbucks lovers two different items that can be obtained by collecting stickers.
Aside from the well-loved 2019 Starbucks Planners, Starbucks is introducing, for the first time, two variants of the Starbucks Travel Organizers. That’s four different items you can get from stickers you collect! Be sure to read all the way to the end to see how to collect these stickers and join the promo, Starbucks for a Year.
The 2019 Starbucks Planner comes in only one size this year – the regular size (in some years, they also offered a smaller notebook size). It comes in two colors: Espresso and Milk (I am partial to the Milk variant!). Each planner cover features a canvas finish with metallic gold and copper stamping as well as matching canvas pouch. The 2019 Starbucks Travel Organizers feature a leather-finish, zipped case with slots in the inside left side for cards, a mobile phone or powerbank, wires and a pen. A small notebook in matching color comes with pages that are a third grid, dot grid, and plain. Each planner/travel organizer comes with its own exclusive, limited edition Starbucks Card inspired by the mystery of the Siren and the magic of well-roasted beans.
It also does not help that plastics proliferate, especially here in the Philippines, due to the ‘tingi’ (sachet) concept where products are repackaged into one-time use plastic sachets for convenience, sanitation, and affordability by the less fortunate.
Recently, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, together with Ayala Malls and other partner corporations, officially launched #AyokoNgPlastik — a movement that hopes to address these alarming facts by bringing together companies, individuals, and other sectors to minimize and eventually eradicate single-use plastics such as straws, bags, bottles, and caps by refusing to use them.
WWF-Philippines National Ambassadors Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez with WWF Next Generation Council member, Stephanie Zubiri-Crespi
Watch out, Starbucks collectors, coffee lovers, and anyone who loves sea themes. On September 11, 2018, Starbucks will be releasing its limited edition Starbucks Anniversary Collection of tumblers, water bottles, mugs, and Starbucks card. Going by the theme “Celestial Beauty of the Undersea”, the artwork of the Starbucks merchandise has ethereal qualities featuring a siren swimming in a sea of stars.
Taken from a Norse woodcut from an old maritime book, the two-tailed siren pays homage to the seafaring history of Seattle (location of the first Starbucks store) as a port city and to the journey of coffee itself.
Are there clothes you would not entrust to your laundrywoman or to the care of your washing machine? I do! I have had woolen stuff come back to me deformed and misshapen or expensive blouses that get ripped at the seams or missing buttons. I have a lot of scarves, silk and cotton, and because I cannot always trust how my washing machine will handle it, I end up hand washing these.
Electrolux Philippines, in partnership with Mommy Mundo, one of the leading mom communities in the country, conducted a research among moms on their laundry woes. The research showed the following top laundry concerns:
When asked what fabrics they were afraid to machine wash, 67% of the mom respondents said they were afraid to machine wash their silk clothing. 52% answered delicate wear, 40% said cashmere clothing, and 39% said wool clothes.
When asked what made them hesitate to put clothes in washing machines, 58% or more than half said they thought it might ruin their clothes. 17% thought it would cause fabric shrinkage and 4% said they were afraid that colors would fade.
Other concerns the research brought out were himulmol (the fibrous fluff in fabrics that tend to stick out with frequent washing), stubborn stains, and misshapen clothes.
Filipinos who dream of studying, living, or working abroad have several requirements to hurdle. One of them is a language achievement test to prove they can speak the language of the country they are applying to. For English-speaking countries, one of these tests is the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Like other language proficiency tests, the IELTS requires preparation for takers to meet the desired scores. This is where the British Council is hoping to help. Being one of the co-owners of the IELTS (the others are IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English), the British Council provides support and guidance through learning centers where test candidates can avail of resources that will help prepare them to take the test.
Nicholas Thomas, Country Director, British Council
Last May 2018, the newest center was opened by the British Council – the Language Hub. Located at the British Council’s new office on the 7th floor of The Curve at Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. It is a new center for learning English and preparing for English tests, particularly IELTS, where individuals can avail of reliable resources and high-quality services that can help them better prepare for their test and achieve their best possible IELTS score.
Nick Thomas, Director for British Council, says of the Learning Hub — “The British Council Learning Hub is a testament to the British Council’s commitment to provide the assistance the test takers need to get their best possible score in IELTS. By delivering that, we help them realize their dreams and achieve their goals of studying at a university overseas, working for a multinational company or starting a new life abroad.”
The Learning Hub offers several programs:
IELTS Orientation – a free 2-hour talk for those planning to take the test. Attendees are provided an overview of the IELTS test, the different sections, and tips and techniques to achieve their desired scores.
IELTS One-Day Preparation Workshops – familiarizes test takers with the test format, test taking tips and techniques. The workshop takes a practical approach to learning and covers the IELTS’ test sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Both registered and non-registered test takers can sign up for these workshops for a fee of PhP 2,200.
IELTS Exceed Writing Workshops – assist test takers in preparing for the writing portion of the test. Workshop content is derived from an evidence-based research using the writing content of past test takers in the Philippines. A group of British Council IELTS experts developed this program to address common mistakes committed in the Writing section. Registered British Council IELTS-registered test takers can take this for free.
IELTS Pretests – organized in partnership with Cambridge Assessment English, this provides test takers with a simulation of the actual IELTS test. Test takers will be subjected to actual test conditions and will answer sample test questions which will be scored by IELTS examiners and markers. Through the raw scores, test takers will have an idea about the test sections they need to work more on and help them prepare more for the actual test.
IELTS Information Sessions – these sessions aims to provide potential IELTS test takers information about the different destinations where IELTS is recognized. Such information would include steps on how to secure a visa for work, study or immigration as well as how IELTS can help test takers get to their dream destinations.
IELTS Library – this is a resource area that holds IELTS books, practice test materials, audio CDs, and other resources made available for British Council test takers.
In addition to the programs, there are online resources available as follows:
Road to IELTS – an online preparation course which British Council-registered IELTS test takers can access for free up to 30 hours. It includes ebooks that help test takers practice different skills like listening, reading, writing and speaking. It also has teacher tutorials and timed practice tests.
IELTS Preparation app – this is a FREE mobile app that gives a comprehensive overview of the listening and speaking tests. Practice tests for both skills and grammar and vocabulary exercises can be found in the app.
Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) – this is a free limited time online IELTS course accessible to all those learning English, especially those reviewing for the IELTS test. The course includes videos from IELTS experts on tips and techniques in answering IELTS test questions and provides exercises to check your reading, listening, writing and speaking skills.
Ieltsasia.org/ph (website) – this site contains a lot of online resources including practice test downloads, preparation videos, tips and techniques through Doctor IELTS
To learn more about the Learning Hub, the IELTS test, and the British Council, visit their website. You can also connect to them on Facebook.
