by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 22, 2016 | Stories
Traffic in the metro can easily take a toll on a person’s temper not to mention having to deal with the spiked fuel cost. People are trying not to lose hope for traffic to get better in the country but with the looks of it, we might have to cope with the situation until road repairs and construction gets done in a few more years.
The proposed shift to two-wheel vehicles is an open option to commuters who aims for faster travel time. For an even better option, go green and try Electronic Bikes as it also help care for our environment. California Ecobike stays true to its effort to improve transportation in an eco-friendly way, one e-bike at a time.
Electronic Bikes affordable prices makes it easier for commuters to own a unit. Maintaining one is even easier as there is no exhaust emissions, no need to change oil, neither does it require to replace clutch nor spark plugs which makes up the bulk of regular motorcycle maintenance expense. Best part of it, no need to fuel up!
Being environmental friendly and hip can go hand in hand as California Ecobike introduces its Premiere E-bike variants which promises to gives you the bang for bucks compared to their more expensive rivals.
Emory
Price: P29,900
Features and specifications:
- pure sinewave controller
- cruise control
- USB charging port
- digital panel board
- drum brake lock
- comes in chic matte colors
- 3 speed control (high /medium/low)
- 12v DC converter
- front hydraulic disc brake
- kill Switch / horn with alarm
Muller
Price: P28,800
Features and specifications:
- pure sinewave controller
- digital panel board
- drum brake lock
- comes in classic glossy colors
These new California Ecobike flagship models operate on 60v/20ah Lead-acid battery and has an 800watts power consumption.
Runs on maximum speed of 50kph up to 65 kilometer on full charge. Both also have essential upgrades such as remote alarm for the added protection.
Emory and Muller uses Pure Sinewave Controller which is more efficient in regulating the voltage resulting to lesser battery consumption. This upgrade also equates to lesser noise and smoother ride.
Cruise Control is an added feature on the Emory, this can be switched on to maintain a constant speed without the use of the accelerator. A USB port is also built-in to charge your gadgets.
California Ecobike units are available for purchase on either 3 or 6 months installments at zero interest on major credit cards and Aeon credit service.
Visit the nearest California Ecobike store and selected CD-R King branches. For further inquiries visit www.californiaecobike.com, follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EcoBikePH/ for updates.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 21, 2016 | Travel
I’m sure by now everyone is aware that Google invested in Waze and that ridesharing apps (such as Grab and Uber) use Waze to navigate around the city. But I bet majority of us didn’t know that Google maps is now integrated with these ridesharing apps, not just Waze. It’s true!
Let’s experiment
Google maps for mobile
Route mapped out by Google Maps
Let’s conduct an experiment. Open Google Maps on your phone. It should look something like what you see on the left whether you are on an android or iOS device.
If you have your GPS on it will automatically center on your current location. In the white box on top search for your destination.
For this example I chose SM Aura Premier as my current location and UP Town Center as my destination. Google Maps will now look like the image on the right.
As you can see Google maps shows us a recommended route on the map but did you notice the top part? You know, the part right after the location and destination. It displays 4 icons with text:
- travel by car
- travel by train
- travel by foot
- and then an icon of a guy hailing a ride … this is the icon for the ridesharing option.
Ridesharing apps integrates with Google Maps
Click on the ridesharing option and your screen will change, it will now look like this (see image on the right):
It not only displays the apps, it also shows the estimates for each type of ride, including the surge.
Side note: I don’t like the surge but I understand the need for it. I only wish it wouldn’t go up so high. But then, all it takes is patience. I just wait for it to go down to a reasonable amount and then I book a ride.
Click on any Uber link to open the Uber app
By default it will display the options for UberX and UberPool.
As you can see the rates are slightly different but close enough, really.
Side note: I often opted for UberPool when I am traveling alone or with just one other person unless I have several items with me, which means it will inconvenience other people when I have to load and unload which will take time. In that scenario I choose UberX.
I’ve never used UberHop … mostly because pickups and dropoffs are not to places I come from and go to.
Click on any Grab link to open the Grab app
By default it will display Grabcar sedan, but as you can see, we do have the option to still choose our ride option. The rate is slightly higher than the estimate.
Side note: Sometimes, Grab rates are cheaper … but it is really just sometimes. 🙁 More often than not they turn out more expensive but when Uber surges, BOY do they surge and at those times it is often wisest to choose Grab.
One other advantage to using Grab is they issue promo codes more often … from P50 discounts and up.
Conclusion
With the integration of Google maps and ridesharing apps choosing between Grab and Uber is now an easier decision to make.
Should I take Grab or Uber on my trip? I think I will let Google maps help me decide. How about you?
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 17, 2016 | Health and Wellness
Beautiful moments in life deserve the clearest vision and, sad to say, many Filipinos today suffer from poor eyesight. So let me ask you, have you had your eyes checked?
Top actor Piolo Pascual reminds everyone to go for an eye check up as part of the educational campaign of Crizal®, one of the flagship brands of Essilor, the world’s leading ophthalmic optics company.
Create Beautiful Moments
The campaign, Create beautiful moments, features Piolo actively encouraging the public to have their eyes checked as he believes that beautiful moments in life deserve the clearest vision.
The campaign was launched via an online video where it generated millions of reach. The video shows the actual patients’ eye check up with a visual image of the top actor comes alive standing in front of the patients’ clearest vision.
“Protecting healthy eyes is as important as correcting vision problems,” explains Essilor general manager, Dr. Emelita Roleda.
“Through the Create beautiful moments campaign, we can educate the public on the value of healthy eyesight, for everyone to realize that it need not take a missed moment to have a reason to visit your eye doctor. Everyone should have an eye check up at least once a year.”
It’s a viewpoint that Piolo agrees with. “Eye exams are important to create great moments,” he remarks. “Take care of your eyesight and enjoy each and every moment in your life.”
A visit to your optometrist will reveal more than just your current prescription. Your eye doctor can also determine what preventive actions you should take against permanent damage and can even provide great insights into your general well-being. Aside from checking how well your eye muscles work, the optometrist can also gauge if you are suffering from any ailment that can affect your eyesight and your overall health, including diabetes and glaucoma.
Your vision dictates both how you see life and how you live it. Regardless of age and physical health, routine eye check-ups are vital to keep your eyes healthy and stay focused on life’s moments.
On the left the ordinary lens, on the right Crizal
Crizal® allows Filipinos to live life more clearly with its line of Anti-reflective lenses. Whether prescription, for outdoor activity, indoor use or part of a digital lifestyle, these lenses filter and deflect harmful UV and blue light, lowering the risk of eye fatigue and preventing long-term vision damage. Crizal® lenses are available at leading optical shops and through eye care professionals nationwide. For more information, visit Essilor’s website at www.essilor.com.ph.
About Essilor
The world’s leading ophthalmic optics company, Essilor designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of lenses to improve and protect eyesight. Its corporate mission is to enable everyone around the world to access lenses that meet his or her unique visual requirements.
To support this vision, the Company allocates over €160 million to research and development every year, in a commitment to continuously bring new, more effective products to market. Essilor’s flagship brands are Varilux®, Crizal®, Xperio® and OptifogTM.
It also develops and markets equipment, instruments and services for eyecare professionals.
Essilor reported consolidated revenue of €4.9 billion in 2012 and employs around 50,700 people in some 100 countries. It operates 19 plants, a total of 390 prescription laboratories and edging facilities, as well as several research and development centers around the world.
Essilor was classified by Forbes magazine as being among the world’s 30 most innovative companies.
For more information about Essilor, please visit www.essilor.com.ph.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 11, 2016 | Events
The spirit of Christmas is palpable at Filinvest City, the bustling Central Business District south of Metro Manila, as it provides the best holiday experience with an array of festive activities for everyone to enjoy.
Home to landmarks such as the Festival Supermall, Crimson Hotel, and the Festival Mall River Park, the pedestrian-friendly CBD will have something for everyone to feel the holiday celebrations – from festive decorations to Christmas shopping and gustatory delights.
Spreading the holiday cheer at Filinvest City are the Christmas decorations adorning the city’s streets, as well as the much-awaited Christmas Light Show at the River Park in Festival Mall which will run all throughout the holiday season.
Aside from the Christmas Light Show, visitors will also be treated to concerts and other family entertainment like Repertory Philippines’ Hansel and Gretel which will be staged at Festival Mall, Ballet Philippines Pas De Deux, The Voice of the South Grand Finals, and Yuletide Melodies at Westgate featuring award-winning chamber choir, Kammerchor.
You can also frolic and play the Eskimo way at Crimson Hotel’s Crimson Wonderland showcasing a giant Christmas tree and other holiday attractions.
Of course, the season is not complete without food. Families and friends gathering together to celebrate Christmas can enjoy a wide selection of yuletide fares at Filinvest City’s hotels such as Crimson, Acacia, and Bellevue. Filinvest City’s premier clubhouse, Palm’s Country Club is also opening The Continental for guests looking for an ultimate dining experience.
With Christmas being the busiest shopping season, Festival Mall can serve as your shopping destination for presents, holiday fashion, and other Christmas items to help you feel the holiday spirit.
“Christmas is once again upon us, and through the various holiday shows and activities at Filinvest City, we hope to bring everyone together to make the yuletide season even more memorable,” said Filinvest Executive Vice President Catherine A. Ilagan.
Indeed, more than the colorful lights, blinking decors, and gift-giving, Christmas becomes more meaningful as it gathers friends and families together to bond and create wonderful memories. And all that is happening at Filinvest City!
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 10, 2016 | Business
High priced items could be appliances you need at home or gadgets you need for work or school. Or it may even be a gadget you’ve wanted for a long time. As Christmas fast approaches we find ourselves looking longingly at those high priced items at the store windows.
If you have the cash or if you have a credit card (with space, of course) then it isn’t a problem. For card holders most card companies even have schemes at this time of year where not only can they pay in installment but they also have something called deferred payment … this means that they are not required to pay anything for these purchases until 2 to 3 months from date of purchase.
However, studies have shown that less than 10% of the buying public in the Philippines own credit cards. So how will the remaining 90+% be able to afford these high priced items then?
Get those high priced items with Home Credit
I’m sure as you’ve walked around appliance and gadget stores like SM Department Store, Robinson’s Appliance Center, Samsung Store, etc. you would have seen signs saying “buy on credit without a credit card, 30 minute approval” or words to that effect. Chances are, this was Home Credit.
Home Credit allows you to purchase up to three (3) items in one transaction. What do they ask for? Just a government ID for starters. Then a down payment – in the bloggers conference held last November we were told that the minimum deposit is 20% of the cost of the items to purchase but when I went to two appliance stores they both told me that they require 30% down payment.
Example, assuming that the item is 10,000: P10,000 x 30% = P3,000 is your down payment.
How do we pay?
You get to choose your payment scheme. Usually it would be 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, or 24 months. Keep in mind that the shorter the payment period, the better. If nothing else, it means you can get a loan sooner if you choose a shorter number of terms. 🙂
Let’s say you decided to get the 6 month payment scheme. That means your payments will look like this:
- P3,300
- P1,400
- P1,400
- P1,400
- P1,400
- P1,400
Do they have a processing fee?
Home Credit shares a processing fee of 3% of the total purchase cost. I don’t think the store adds on more than that but do let me know if they do so I can update this post.
Cash is, of course, king, but sometimes we need a little help and Home Credit has our back. Bring home that high priced item you’ve always wanted for yourself and for your loved ones. Use Home Credit and make it a very Merry Christmas for one and all.
ZERO PERCENT INTEREST – that is their goal. And as you can see in the breakdown, P1,400 a month is no longer heavy on the budget … especially if it means you can finally get that TV for dad or that oven for mom or that phone you’ve always wanted.
Think about it. All you are paying for is the cost of the item divided into the number of payments you chose + 3% processing fee. That’s it! Next question would be … where d you make payments? Payments can be made at any Bayad Center branch. Easy peasy!
For more information about Home Credit you may visit the website at www.homecredit.ph or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/homecreditph.
Price: P29,900
Price: P28,800
Visit the nearest California Ecobike store and selected CD-R King branches. For further inquiries visit www.californiaecobike.com, follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EcoBikePH/ for updates.
I’m sure by now everyone is aware that Google invested in 
By default it will display the options for UberX and UberPool.
Top actor Piolo Pascual reminds everyone to go for an eye check up as part of the educational campaign of Crizal®, one of the flagship brands of Essilor, the world’s leading ophthalmic optics company.
“Protecting healthy eyes is as important as correcting vision problems,” explains Essilor general manager, Dr. Emelita Roleda.
A visit to your optometrist will reveal more than just your current prescription. Your eye doctor can also determine what preventive actions you should take against permanent damage and can even provide great insights into your general well-being. Aside from checking how well your eye muscles work, the optometrist can also gauge if you are suffering from any ailment that can affect your eyesight and your overall health, including diabetes and glaucoma.
The world’s leading ophthalmic optics company, Essilor designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of lenses to improve and protect eyesight. Its corporate mission is to enable everyone around the world to access lenses that meet his or her unique visual requirements.
Spreading the holiday cheer at Filinvest City are the Christmas decorations adorning the city’s streets, as well as the much-awaited Christmas Light Show at the River Park in Festival Mall which will run all throughout the holiday season.
With Christmas being the busiest shopping season, Festival Mall can serve as your shopping destination for presents, holiday fashion, and other Christmas items to help you feel the holiday spirit.
“Christmas is once again upon us, and through the various holiday shows and activities at Filinvest City, we hope to bring everyone together to make the yuletide season even more memorable,” said Filinvest Executive Vice President Catherine A. Ilagan.
You get to choose your payment scheme. Usually it would be 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, or 24 months. Keep in mind that the shorter the payment period, the better. If nothing else, it means you can get a loan sooner if you choose a shorter number of terms. 🙂
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