Lifestyle

My Son On KZone (Philippines)

My son was featured at August edition of KZone (Philippines), sports column. KZone is a magazine for children and teens and we used to buy monthly issues few years back. The interview and pictorial took place a day before he joined Men's Health All Terrain Race which he won 3rd place for his age category. Take note that this was his first contest.

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I Won In Singing Bee TXT Promo!

Honestly, I don’t think that I’m lucky in any contests because I never won in any text promo contests before. That night last weekend, that was my first time to join and nakatuwaan ko lang talaga. I can’t find any interesting movies in cable that time, my kids are using the computer so I can’t blog.

I won! Actually, I always enjoy watching it but I’m not familiar with the TXT promo. Last Sunday, I didn’t expected that my name flashed on TV. I didn’t saw it because I am busy listening to my kids about the recent Men’s Health All Terrain Race, a classmate of my son asked him through SMS if I joined the promo. I quickly told my son, I did not join. And then, I remembered that I did sent a single SMS. Hehe… My son’s classmate wasn’t sure of the prize and if its me. If its true, my son was asking for a new bike jersey. Lambing lang nya yun.

Its not confirmed not until I received the call… and they did call this morning.  I won php 300 prepaid load (will be received within the week) and PHP 5,000. According to The Singing Bee staff, he will call again when the check is ready for pick up. The check can be claim within 45 working days. So, its true that I won in The Singing Bee TXT promo.

God moves in mysterious ways.

Wedding In Time Of Global Recession

Many issues happened in the past few weeks, I almost forgot that the month of June is also the favorite wedding month in the Philippines. Since we are also terribly affected by global recession, many pinoys are having a second thought to get married or not this year or wait until recession is over.

My only brother who lives in Bicol with my mom, works as a waiter in luxury cruise company will be getting married on June 25, a Thursday. Their love story will surely touch your heart. To make story short, they are childhood sweethearts, a relationship started as best friends. They already have a 4 year old daughter and living together when she got pregnant. They want to get married years ago, I guess it will not be postponed again because everything was prepared already. They were my house guests last week. That’s why I seldom blog.

Their entourage consists of their daughter as the flower girl, a nephew as ring bearer, a maid of honor and best man (that are also for the cord, candle and veil).

There’s no invitation because guests only godparents, immediate families and close friends. The reception is for 50 persons only, the number of estimated guests. Printing jobs mostly accept a minimum of 100 invitations and since we don’t have that 100 guests, they decided not to make one.

Souvenir is for godparents only bought at regalong pambahay, wind chime in a see through sinamay/abaka box. We bought 16 pieces only, php 120 per piece and 30% discount on the 2nd item. Wind chime is also a unique giveaway, a lucky gift to the receiver and the giver.

The wedding will be held in a small chapel baroque style. According to my brother, the ambiance is like Ilocos (php 3,000). The souvenir box is also perfect for the occasion. The reception place is also Ilocos inspired although they are in Bicol, they will serve food at php 300 per head buffet style.

They were supposed to hire a wedding gown maker (mananahi) for php 10,000. Its cheap already and I suggested to try on ready made wedding gowns for as low as 2,500. They’re beautiful naman, I know there also cheaper for as low as php 1,000 in Divisoria. We end up for custom made wedding gown, also from my suki for only php 4,000 including veil, pillow, tiara, aras etc. Its cheap and she can choose the design she want, the gown will be ready in one week. We will be picking it up within the week.

My brother tried looking for a barong tagalog in a known shop in SM MOA, he was shocked when he was told that it costs php 14,000. To my suki, he got his piña barong (combined with other thread) for only 1,200, they normally offer it for 1,500-2,000.

The supposed to be budget of php 10,000 for the wedding gown only went to a complete set of wedding gown, groom’s barong, another 2 barong tagalog, kamisa tsino (barong tagalog’s undershirt), gown for flower girl and a dress for my mom.

We canvassed for wedding ring at known shops in SM MOA, a pair of wedding ring is php 10,000-15,000. That’s okay but when I asked the carat, its only 14K so I told my brother to go to mom’s suki. They choose 18K standard and costs 4,000, I made tawad and we get it for php 2,500 only, free engraving. Its a two tone white gold with 3 small stones. They use other money for the complete set of gold and pearl jewelries for the bride 1,000 from the original price of 2,500. 2 necklaces were also bought for php 1,000 each which they offer for php 2,000 each. FYI, when buying gold jewelries ask if its standard or commercial. If its commercial, the 18k is actually 16k only.

All of these can be found in Baclaran and my suki except for bride’s wedding shoes. I recommend Landmark, they have hard to find wedding shoes for the June brides and all of the pinay brides.

Barat ba ako? I’m just being reasonable for the worth of the items we bought. You can do that also. Best wishes.

Brigada Balik Eskwela

Last night, we went to see Angels and Demons, guaranteed seat movie starts with a Philippines national anthem Lupang Hinirang. It was familiar because there was a time that ABS CBN was airing that featuring their contract artists singing Lupang Hinirang. After that, a warning about movie piracy. And followed by schedule of Brigada Balik Eskwela or Oplan Balik Eskwela. I can’t remember if it will start two weeks before school opening. Sorry, I can’t post the date here, you could contact your local officials for schedules. (It starts today on most schools.)

Most of the public and private school will start on June 1. Parents and other concerned citizens flock to public schools to help repair the tables, chairs, shelves, fans etc. If they received paint donation, they will also paint classrooms. Bayanihan is still alive these days, usually this was held in behalf of public schools for the benefit of the students in the community. I’m sure they will also handle stagnant waters within the campus, rainy season means possible dengue.

I never participated in this kind of activity since I didn’t know if it exist in our community, I could say our barangay is big for having 3 public schools. Bayanihan for a cause, it doesn’t matter if my children doesn’t study there, we could help by donating small things that could help the students of the community. A support for students in our community.

Parañaque's New Liquor Ordinance

“This regulatory measure is also necessary to lessen criminality, preserve peace and order in the community, and to compel strict compliance with the prohibitions against selling and serving liquor or any intoxicating beverages especially to minors or those below 18 years of age,” Bernabe said.

Parañaque City Mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr already signed the City Ordinance that requires all businesses that manufacture, distribute, sell and serve alcoholic drinks to secure another license and a corresponding permit so that they can operate their business. In layman’s terms, another tax for entrepreneurs in this kind of business.

Under the ordinance, the licensee must see to it that only legal aged persons should be sold or served liquor. Proof of age should be demanded, in case of doubt. (Correct me if I’m wrong, I think we have national law about this.)

Businesses were categorized based on their declared capital in financial statement issued by a Certified Public Accountant.
Micro – capital investment of not more than 3 million pesos
Small – capital investment of 3 million to 15 million
Medium – capital investment of 15 million to 100 million
Large – capital investment of more than 100 million
Is this real? Paranaque City maybe a big city but in my opinion, I don’t think it is as progressive compared to other nearby cities with this figures. We may have business with these investments and can be found mostly along SLEX (South Luzon Expressway) or Roxas Boulevard but most businesses here are considered as micro and small.

The ordinance aims to regulate the establishment and operation of the liquor businesses in Paranaque. Bars, cocktail lounges, pub houses, beer gardens, night clubs, karaoke bars and other amusement places have liquor permit could sell alcoholic drinks from 10 am – 12 midnight and those who have special permit can operate from 12 midnight to 5 am. Selling and serving is strictly prohibited from 5am – 10am.

Applications for liquor licenses and special Mayor’s permits can be filed at the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) for a filing fee ranging from P10 to P100, depending on the category and classification of the business establishment. Liquor license and special permit fees depends on the business’ category. A friend of mine who recently opened a small KTV bar with Php 400,000 capital investment in Baclaran told me that BPLO billed her for 15,000 for liquor tax and special permit. If this is true, there could be another revisions of the ordinance after the last hearing in January and before it was signed by Mayor Bernabe recently.

2nd District Councilor Enrico T. Golez is the author or proponent of the said ordinance. For the record, during the last session, we have 16 councilors in 2 districts, there were 2-4 vacant seats (for absent councilors). After a short recess, there were only 5-8 councilors left in the session hall. The only Councilor who voted against the ordinance was Councilor Eric Olivarez.