Last summer my brother’s EJ and RJ joined Amigo Summer Art Workshop by Brushwand Workshops and Amigo Plaza Mall. And this October they will be learning about street magic! The Philippine Brotherhood of Magicians will be supervising a Street Magic Workshop for Young Magicians for Five (5) Saturdays of October at Amigo Plaza Mall. So if you are 18 years or younger you are eligible to join this “magical” workshop.
Registration will start on September 15, 2010 at Amigo Mall Activity Center. The registration fee is P2500 and it’s inclusive of StreetMagic shirt, starter magic kit, StreetMagic certificate and instructional materials. So the Street Magic Workshops will be for Five (5) Saturdays of October, 3 hours per session (total of 15hrs). For more information please feel free to contact me and I will address your queries to the organizers. Or you can also contact them at 09183290195 or 033 3297477. Just ask for Mark the magician.
By the way below are samples of my little brothers’ works and they are products of the art workshop. I’m so proud of them.
Hey Ilonggo fitness enthusiasts and also to those who care for their health and well-being – the 1st Iloilo Night Run is for you! SM City Iloilo is sponsoring this first ever night run here in Iloilo on August 28th, 7PM. This is for the benefit of Emmanuel Foundation for Children with Special Needs, Inc.
Registration fee is only P100. Registration forms are available at SM City Iloilo, Iloilo Supermart and Iloilo Society Commercial. Registrants will get a chance to win One (1) Scooter or One (1) Globe “Pangkabuhayan” Showcase. If you are the super fit running enthusiast who wins, the prizes for the Male and Female categories are: 1st Place – P3, 000, 2nd Place – P2, 000 and 3rd Place – P1, 000.
You can also download the registration form through this link.
Joining SM City Iloilo’s First Night Run will not only be good for your health, you will also help Emmanuel Foundation for Children with Special Needs, Inc. So I hope to see you there on Saturday!
Here are some tips so you will enjoy and finish the night run:
Keep yourself hydrated so bring your own water bottle.
Check your shoes and make sure that they are in good condition.
Check your outfit, make sure that you’re comfortable running in them.
Relax the day before the race.
Don’t overload yourself with carbs.
Pace yourself correctly because winning isn’t everything.
Set your mind, free your mind of things other than the race so you won’t get easily exhausted.
The Department of Education teamed up with Kraft Cheez Whiz to celebrate the nation’s observance of Nutrition Month by launching the Palamantasan ng Sarap, Sustansya at Saya – the largest inter-school competition among grade school students in the Philippines. The goal of the Palamantasan is to fight malnutrition in a fun and interactive way by teaching kids proper nutrition and healthy snacking.
I attended the regional eliminations today, August 15th at the Department of Education – Division of Iloilo City Social Hall. Students from chosen schools in Region 6 converged to find out who exactly are the best among the best. I had the honor to be one of the judges for the Sabayang Pagbigkas and Cheering Competition. While I was watching all the talented students of Western Visayas, I couldn’t help but reminisce my own grade school days. I can’t believe that I am on the other side of the fence now, I used to join contests like this but now I’m one of the judges! LOL! But some things don’t change, students from this region are still very talented and I know that the judges for the National eliminations are going to have a hard time in choosing the winners.
The Cheez Whiz Palamantasan is composed of 5 competitions and the schools that joined have representatives for each contest. The On-The-Spot Essay Writing Contest, Jarchitecture Contest, Mom & Kid Sandwich Recipe Contest, Sabayang Bigkas and the Cheez Whiz Cheering Competition. According to Mr. Alex Dan Tacderas, the Category Manager for Cheez Whiz – Kraft Foods Philippines, this is the first time that a national competition has been instigated to explore the multi-level talents of our children outside the classroom. Kraft wanted to have a meaningful impact in the community instead of spending a lot of money just focusing on advertising. Believe it or not, 3 out of 10 children are actually underweight and malnourished so Kraft partnered with the Department of Education to focus on the nutrition and health needs of Filipino adolescents and children by having this project to help children become healthier in more ways than one, it is due time to reinforce proper nutrition so if you want to support this campaign in your own little way – make a pledge.
“The Palamantasan is not only reminding us to obtain proper nutrition but it is also a reminder of what the students should try to learn in school,” says Councilor Jason Gonzales. “The academic culture of today is teaching the students that grades are the whole point which is actually not true. Children should engage in profitable and worthwhile activities outside the classroom to become better human beings and for them to have the love for learning as well.” I couldn’t agree more.
Sabayang Bigkas Region 6 Winner - Rizal Elementary School.
Unfortunately, I was not able to take photos of the sandwich art competition because we were judging the Sabayang Bigkas and Cheering Competition. Below are photos of the winners.
The winner of the Essay Writing Contest is from Iloilo Central Elementary School. The topic is about nutrition. The winner’s piece was chosen from among 6 entries.
The winner of the Jarchitecture contest is from Andres Bonifacio Elementary School, Bacolod City. This work of art was chosen from among 4 entries.
The winner of the Sabayang Pagbigkas is from Rizal Elementary School. They were the best among the 5 groups. These kids have a big chance in winning in the National competition!
The winner of the Cheering Competition is from Pres. Manuel Roxas Memorial School, Roxas City. These kids were the best among the 4 groups that joined. They were awesome!
The winner of the Sandwich Art Competition is from Filamer Christian University, Roxas City. They are the Mom and Kid tandem who cooked up the best and most nutritious sandwich recipe among the 6 contestants.
Here’s a video of the announcement of the winner in the Cheering Competition. Feel the energy! I had so much fun today and I really appreciate Kraft Cheez Whiz for designing competitions that create awareness in nutrition issues. Keep up the good work!
Do you guys still remember the heat last summer? How unbearable it was and all you can think about was to go to the beach and just stay in the water for hours just so you could escape the unbelievable heat? I’m so thankful all that is over! But before it ended the Iloilo Bloggers were invited to attend a party on May 29th at Bourbon St. which is located at Smallville Complex here in Iloilo City. It was the Havaianas Beach Bar Party with house music mixes by DJ Pav Parrotte and party goers were entertained by Brazilian models (yes the authentic ones), fire dance exhibitions and were also given Havaianas freebies. Free mixed drinks were also given to everyone at the party. Havaianas and SPYCO Marketing Productions Manila organized the event.
Iloilo Bloggers with Camille Labayen - Havaianas Operations Manager (photo by Manuel Yulo Barandiaran)
So do you own a pair of Havaianas flip-flops too? If you don’t well I guess you know someone who does right? These particular brand of flip-flops originated in Brazil and gained world recognition in 1998 after the company developed a style of the sandals that featured the Brazilian flag for the World Cup. The brand has actually been around since 1962 but it only became very popular in the last five years when many celebrities were seen wearing them in the United States. Havaianas footwears are well-known for their comfortable soles and straps. And did you know that the name Havaianas actually means Hawaiians in Portuguese?
The Book Latte is a new coffee shop that is creating quite a buzz here in Iloilo. It’s not the usual coffee shop – they would like to be known as a “revolutionary coffee shop” because it is the first of its kind in the nation to be perfectly complemented by a library! Not only that, they are also the first ones to serve the Ilonggos Krispy Kreme donuts (original glaze or assorted).
Krispy Kreme and cakes!
The Book Latte has an impressive collection of books. Some coffee shops have books but they don’t allow their customers to take them home. But in Book Latte, simply become a member and borrow a book to take home or curl up with your book of choice on one of their comfortable lounges while enjoying coffee made from the richest, organic beans. They have over 1,000 books, magazines, learning materials and periodicals to choose from in a wide range of categories like classics, popular fiction, motivational, romance, business, reference, young adult books and more.
The Library (photo from Book Latte's Facebook account).
Now let’s talk about their coffee. Book Latte provides premium coffee and drinks with more than 30 flavors to choose from. And they say that all their beans are ‘organic which means that they have no flavor enhancers or fertilizers.’ They like to think of themselves as an “eco-café” because they do not use plastic utensils or cutlery and they don’t like Styrofoam products; all of their appliances are energy savers and their taps are equipped with low flow water heads. Aside from the organic coffee they also offer healthy juices and shakes, coffee laced with liquor and alcoholic cakes! They also serve affordable daily breakfasts. And another great thing about this café is that everything on their menu is less than Php100!
My White Chocolate Latte & Pure Chocolate Cake
So here’s how to become a member at Book Latte. You need to fill out a membership form and show a valid student ID (if you’re a student) or employee’s ID (if you’re employed) or a passport/driver’s license for those who are not employed. If you’re less than 12 years old then your parent’s signature is needed to become a member. Only residents of Iloilo and Filipino citizens are allowed to become members. Annual membership rates for students is Php180 per annum while for non-students is Php220 per annum. Membership entitles you to a lot of perks!
The day's specials!
The perks for members are:
A 10% discount on everything on the menu (you must be over 18 to order cocktails or alcoholic cakes).
The chance to borrow books and magazines at the library.
Access to diverse range of learning materials perfect for research and school work.
Access to the lounge and study area.
Plus other exciting perks offered exclusively to members!
Free WIFI for 2 hours.
Book Latte's menu - well half of it actually. LOL!
Book Latte opens at 8am to 8pm on Monday to Saturday and 8am to 5pm on Sundays. You can contact them for inquiries – 333-2574. Located at Quezon Street, (from Robinsons Place Iloilo National Bookstore Exit, turn right and walk roughly 2 minutes until you see Condura Golden Appliance). So apply for membership at Book Latte now and I assure you that you will not regret it because I applied for membership myself the first time I went there! This is the place for us coffee lovers and bookworms!
Bluejay Coffee and Deli is offering three “Must Try Meals” this July that are big on taste and easy on the pocket. Bluejay’s delicious and budget conscious meals will surely be a hit to foodies, students as well as to the Bluejay loyalistas.
Chef Burger (only P49 and comes with iced tea)
This one is for the burger lovers. Thick and juicy meat patty made from local meat sandwiched in delicious burger buns then slathered with Bluejay’s special dressing and garnished with tomato sauce and fresh lettuce. This burger is really good up to the last bite and will surely fit the belly leaving you full but will not empty your wallet.
Checkered Toast (only P30 without coffee, P80 with coffee)
This is definitely not the usual toast. Covered with their homemade chocolate and caramel, it is perfect with a cup of Bluejay’s Café Americano or Capuccino. I especially loved the bittersweet taste of the chocolate and its unconventional presentation. What’s great also is that no preservative has been added to it. And it smells really good!
Baked Penne (only P88)
Pasta lovers will love the Baked Penne – perfectly baked pasta that’s so easy on the pocket. Penne pasta that is firm to the bite and baked in rich Bechamel sauce and topped with yummy creamy cheese sauce. Very generous serving that will satisfy your growling stomach. Enjoy the sweet and spicy sauce that will suit the Filipino taste.
So if you are looking for a chic café in Iloilo that offers your favorite comfort food and goes with a very relaxing ambiance then Bluejay’s Coffee and Deli is the place you should check out. Oh and as a blogger, I enjoy their wifi internet access! All these “Must Try Meals” are now available at Bluejay Coffee and Deli branches at Amigo Plaza Mall and along Gen. Luna Street.
The Visayas Blogging Summit & Blog Awards will be the very first event of its kind to be hosted here in Iloilo. These two events will gather bloggers from all over Visayas, invited guests from Luzon and expert speakers from different fields. The goal of the Visayas Blogging Summit (VBS) is to gather ideas and explore the potential impact of blogging on society, business and politics. The Visayas Blog Awards, on the other hand, aims to recognize notable Visayan-owned and Visayan-related blogs in their respective niches.
The Visayas Blogging Summit & Blog Awards will be hosted by the Iloilo Bloggers Organization, with the support and endorsement of Philippine Blog Awards Inc. The Iloilo Bloggers Organization is a diverse group of people who have gathered with the mission to promote blogging in Iloilo, because blogging is becoming more and more a socially relevant phenomenon.
The Visayas Blogging Summit will be held on November 27-28, 2010. We are inviting bloggers from all over Visayas to attend the summit. See you all in Iloilo! To RSVP please check out our Facebook event invite here.
Last Monday June 21st, I was invited by Jorry Palada of Flavours of Iloilo along with other members of the Iloilo Bloggers to guest at Cable Star Inc.’s The Morning Show. This is my first ever live TV interview so I was kinda jittery, good thing I was with three other bloggers! We shared our thoughts everything about blogging; how and when we started, who influenced us, what we get by blogging and we also shared some tips on how to make a good blog. We also announced our upcoming event – the Visayas Blogging Summit and Philippine Blog Awards 2010.
Below are behind the scene photos of the show. Special thanks to Ms. Joan Pijuan and Ma’am Regine Algecera for having us! The interview actually lasted for fifty-five minutes which is 15 minutes more than the regular run-time of the show. Cable Star’s The Morning Show airs on Channel 15 on Cablestar Inc. during Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays live around 10:30am with replays at the same and also on the next day around 8:30pm.
Cablestar Inc. is currently having this back-to-school promo until July 30, 2010. For only PhP 545/month, enjoy more than 70 channels with no installation charges and deposits required. For more details you can call 321-3413, 321-3415, 321-6133.
Iloilo Bloggers with Ms. Joan Pijuan, the host of Cable Star's The Morning Show.
Are you like Manny Pacquiao? Do you have the toughest job?
Okay guys I hope you are ready for this! I am having my very first blog contest! I am really excited about this and I hope you – yes YOU – my awesome blog reader will join! This contest is actually in line with Alaxan FR and DOLE’s Search for the Toughest Jobs in the Philippines. Alaxan FR and the Department of Labor and Employment are intent in looking for the Pinoy who has the toughest job here in the Philippines so I want to help them by having my very own blog contest and hopefully a lot of Ilonggos will join!
This contest is actually very simple. You just have to tell/share with me and my other blog readers your tough job. Yes it’s as simple as that. Below are the mechanics:
Answer this question: What is your toughest job?
Submit a photo of your job and explain or share with us why you have the toughest job. Please don’t forget to indicate your name and occupation in the entry. You can send your entries to me via email at maryjane@maryjanecabrera.comand alaxantoughjobs@gmail.com.
Deadline of submission of entries will be on July 15, 2010.
That’s it! That’s all you have to do to join this contest. I will be choosing 3 tough jobs. Winners will win tough job t-shirts, cellphone cleaners and Alaxan FR’s sample packs and you can claim these prizes from me. All your entries will also be automatically uploaded as entries to www.toughjobsphilippines.com so you will also have a chance to win in the national contest!
Invite your friends and relatives to join my contest too! And don’t worry, my friends and relatives are not allowed to join (I have warned them already! LOL). This is only for my loyal and beloved readers who don’t get tired of reading my posts. And this is also the DOLE and Alaxan FR’s way of thanking and honoring all Filipinos who are very hardworking, resilient and happy even though Pinoy’s have the toughest jobs.
More updates and information about this contest and Alaxan FR and DOLE’s Search for the Toughest Jobs in the Philippines will be posted here in my blog. I will be posting all entries here too so please drop by here again after submitting your entry alright?
For questions please feel free to leave me a comment! Join my contest now if you know in your heart, soul and “body pains” (LOL!) that you have the toughest job in the Philippines! Good luck!
My first trip to Manila last week was a very unforgettable one and it is a trip of many firsts. Junelle and I were invited to attend the launching of Alaxan FR and DOLE’s Search for the Toughest Jobs in the Philippines. I was wondering where we would stay because I have had some unfortunate experiences with hotels before and I was hoping that we would stay in a nice and cozy one this time. Well it turned out that we’ll be staying at Jupiter Suites Hotel in Makati City! So I knew then that it will not only be a nice and cozy hotel but an extraordinary one as well.
Our very spacious room.
Jupiter Suites is located at 102 Jupiter Street Bel-Air right in the center of Makati City’s Central Business District. What’s so great about this hotel is that it’s just a few-minute cab ride to malls (Glorietta and Greenbelt) and various business establishments as well as fast food joints to high-end restaurants. And now let me tell you about the rooms. Junelle and I shared a room on the third floor. I expected our room to have 2 narrow beds but I was wrong again because each of us had big beds! And our spacious room was cozily fitted with a cable TV, a telephone and a refrigerator. The private toilet and bath comes with a hot & cold shower and the usual standard amenities. There’s also a writing desk, bed extender and of course the most important of all – its a Makati hotel with free internet! Unfortunately because our room was on the third floor, wifi access was not available but it’s all good because the staff informed us that our room had an RJ45 outlet so we can still connect to the internet with a LAN cable.
The coffee table in our room.
We were also informed that we are entitled to a complimentary breakfast although I wasn’t able to enjoy it because I took a nap instead – I had to work during the night so it’s either sleep or eat for me and I chose to sleep. My blogger friends said the breakfast was really good so I kinda regret not having to enjoy it. Jupiter Suites prides itself of its efficient and courteous staff who made our stay their more worthwhile.I am definitely staying there again when I go back to Manila soon. So if any of you are planning a budget travel in Makati City then Jupiter Suites is where you should stay!
The view from our room - Makati City's buildings.
Here are their contact information:
Contact Numbers: (632) 890.5044 to 50
Fax Number: (632) 890.5019
