by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 26, 2021 | Lifestyle
Leveraging the available digital tools and platforms to bridge their services to more Filipinos, mostly those that are in the far-flung areas, PCSO, in partnership with Minedomain, Inc., is set to launch ‘Birthday Panalo,’ a free and easy-to-use application with an entertaining game which will allow Filipinos to celebrate important dates in their lives, like anniversaries and birthdays, with exciting cash prizes.
Made for Filipinos, by Filipinos
Designed with Filipinos in mind, the Birthday Panalo app banks on the deep-rooted culture of Pinoys in putting value in commemorating special dates like birthdays and anniversaries.
Seavor Choy
While millennials are the main audience targeted with the launch of the app, Seaver Choy, Minedomain Inc. IT officer shared that ease of use is one of the main factors their team considered in developing Birthday Panalo to make it enjoyable for users across various age groups.
“We want the millennials to love this game so we went for what millennials want most — ease of use. We only put in the necessary elements for users to be able to do what they need to do fast and immediately,” he said.
“We focused on the user experience when we were developing by having iterating designs that had constant user feedback. Birthday Panalo has gone through multiple design changes based on different user feedback across different groups,” Choy added.
The core group which made and designed the Birthday Panalo app was an all-Filipino team composed of professionals from the country’s top universities including De La Salle University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and the University of the East.
“Birthday Panalo app was built with resilience and celebrations in mind. We made it fun and easy to bet but still overly secure,” Choy furthered, assuring users that the personal data and information they input within the Birthday Panalo app are protected according to industry standards.
Choy noted that the Birthday Panalo app has been tested by local and international cybersecurity companies like GLI, Bolton Labs, and Mantua, among others, to ensure that the app has the needed safety measures in place to avoid leakage of user data.
“Internally, we are also certified when it comes to how we operate and how we maintain the application,” Choy said.
Celebrations made even more rewarding
Within the app which carries design elements signifying Filipinos, ‘Kapanalo’ or users of the app can place a bet on a three-part number combination consisting of a month, a day, and a year. If the same combination gets to be picked during daily draws, a user can win as much as P100,000 as a cash prize.
After downloading the app, users can easily sign up using either their mobile phone or email address verified through a one-time password (OTP) sent by the app. Once done with the registration process, users can proceed to participate in draws for as low as 10 pesos which they can pay via mobile wallets like GCash and PayMaya. Winners of lucky date combinations which will be notified via the Birthday Panalo app may claim their prizes at the PCSO main branch in Mandaluyong City, or have them credited on their respective mobile wallets.
The Birthday Panalo app will soon be available for free download via the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Kapanalo from all over the Philippines can also look forward to playing the Birthday Panalo game in select PCSO outlets nationwide in the coming months.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 5, 2020 | Lifestyle
Now, your baby can make a fashion statement too with the cutest baby accessory brand in town: Bibs Manila, a new online business that offers bespoke and eye-catching bibs.
The homegrown brand was started by Kit and Kate Joaquin, who are also proud parents to now 6-year-old Kiel. With Bibs Manila, parents can get one-of-a-kind statement bibs for their babies while adding their own personal touches. What’s more, the bibs are made of high-quality fabric, durable enough for everyday meals.
Check out Bibs Manila’s website and simply search for “STATEMENT BIB” and you’ll be directed to a page where you can select your design in just a few clicks. You can even personalize the bib with your baby’s name, your favorite quote, or standout word choices, such as “Awesome” or “Mommy’s Fave,” to name a few. Choose from a variety of colors and fonts, and you’re all set!
Likewise, if you have artistic leanings, you can also opt to send in your own designs that Bibs Manila can turn into bibs just for you. Bibs Manila can also help you create a unique design of your choosing. To make it even easier, Bibs Manila also offers special pre-made bibs in hundreds of designs, featuring fun and colorful patterns, laugh-out-loud catchphrases, and charming characters.
If you happen to know a couple who is expecting a new addition to their family, these baby bibs make great gifts, too. Consider giving them the gift of 7 bibs – one for every day of the week – and you can get an adorable gift box to go with it.
To view and shop Bibs Manila’s collection, visit their website, www.bibsmanila.com, or follow @bibs_manila on Instagram. Bibs Manila ships nationwide in the Philippines and internationally in select countries.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 26, 2020 | Lifestyle
This a year everyone will remember. As we’ve been locked in our homes, everyday balancing fear and anxiety over the uncertainties brought about by a global pandemic, we hear a quiet rebellion, with some of us saying — oh this year doesn’t count, this year is canceled, my planner is a waste. Yet in this time of great pause, we really cannot deny we are also given the choice to simply be, to get to know ourselves again, to journey deep in that space within where all is well.
Though many of our plans seem to have turned upside down, does that mean we should stop going after our goals and passions? What if we are given this pause to recalibrate, to course-correct, to redesign ourselves? And to help Filipinos continue to journey through life courageously, Viviamo, maker of the Belle de Jour (BDJ) Power Planner, launches its 2021 planner and journal collection on September 19-20, at the First Planning and Journaling Online Summit: #YouGotThis.
#YouGotThis was created because now more than ever, this message needs to be felt, and heard, and passed around. At a time when we must distance ourselves from each other to survive, we can’t ignore the human yearning to still connect–and isn’t it that the most important connection we can make, is with our Inner Selves? When we are forced to strip down to the barest of essentials, we journey deeper within, and with the help of pen and paper, we begin to acknowledge our emotions, start to power through anxiety, again remember our dreams, then recommit to our goals, and in the process, rediscover the strength and power of our innermost Selves.
It is our hope that with #YouGotThis, we can help every Filipino strengthen that spark of hope within, so we can all journey on, past this pandemic, as stronger and better persons. Our hope for each Filipino is to feel and to believe that #YouGotThis. For this is the year we choose courage over fear. This is the year we choose to trust that we are still worthy of our dreams and that with an open mind, open heart, and open will–we are limitless.
And whatever your space, whatever your psyche, whatever your journaling or planning style, you want a journal or planner that can be a witness to your life. Viviamo promises a 2021 collection like no other; thoughtfully, intuitively, and beautifully designed products to help you achieve whatever you desire and journey courageously through life.
Balance dreams and responsibilities with the 2021 Belle de Jour Power Planner
Viviamo’s flagship offering, the Belle de Jour Power Planner, inspires you to “Grow with the Earth”. As we experience change and chaos in the present, and even when things aren’t going to plan, there is always a silver lining—that all will eventually be well, and we are in the process of becoming whole again. Now on its 15th year, BDJ recommits to growth with a logo refresh.
The 2021 BDJ Planner features monthly narratives and worksheets to help you stay focused and connected to yourself and motivated on your goals. Meanwhile, the weekly spreads provide enough space for your priorities, schedules, and self-care mantras.
With four beautifully designed covers, the 2021 BDJ planner is the perfect companion for whatever life phase you are going through. Whether you are in for a pause or you are slowing down, remember to journey on with your dreams, and keep planning to live a meaningful life!
Live in the now with 2021 Navi Planner
Amid very trying times, we hold on to our moral compass, and we search for light. What if that light is already within? NAVI: Your Life Navigator 2021 is inspired by the steadfast beacon of light from the world’s most beautiful Lighthouses.
Significant to seafarers who spend the darkest nights at sea, the lighthouse is an icon of safety, a glorious sight, as though affirming this is the way; trust that wherever you are is where you need to be.
With travel plans on pause globally, NAVI 2021 makes it possible for travel lovers with a virtual “around the world” edition page. When wanderlust strikes, just flip through the pages of NAVI 2021 that feature lighthouses from 12 different countries and the stories behind them. This will include checklists and writing prompts related to traveling.
Let NAVI 2021 inspire you to celebrate how far you’ve come and shone the light on how much farther you want to go.
Trust and Allow life’s possibilities with 2021 Everything is Possible Planner
Feeling stuck? It happens to the best of us. The 2021 Everything is Possible Planner is the perfect reminder that right when we feel we can’t handle any more of the mess and the madness of life when we truly commit to the journey, we will experience the breakthrough we’ve all been yearning for. And that is when we realize: each one of us is in the middle of becoming who we are meant to be.
The shards of broken glass on the cover of the 2021 Everything is Possible Planner shows us the beauty of breakthroughs. Transformation only happens when you embrace vulnerability and allow yourself to first be broken.
The life you’ve always wanted is just waiting for you outside of the glass walls you built yourself. All you need is to trust and to be open to possibilities.
Find your center with 2021 Focus Journal
The Focus 2021 Journal is all about creating positive changes within yourself. These changes are meant to prepare you for life’s inevitable challenges. Quite significantly, each page of the journal is decorated with the icosahedron, a three-dimensional figure that is made of 20 triangle-shaped sides.
This structure is believed to represent change and the movement and flow it creates. Said to be connected to the water — an element that adapts to the shape of the container and is both destructive and life-giving — the icosahedron channels your life force or chakra to help balance your emotions, allowing you to generate and heal.
The 2021 Focus dividers highlight powerful words that are significant to change.
Start anew with the 2021 Essentials Planner
The great thing about a new year is that you are given the chance to start with a clean slate. With the 2021 Essentials Planner, you can do just that with its clean and unstructured pages specifically designated for bullet journaling or creative journaling.
This year, the cover designs are influenced by Art Deco which is popular in the field of architecture. The intention of the design is to have a sleek and elegant feel.
Plan anywhere with the 2021 Petit Planner
For the on-the-go, the 2021 Petit Planner is just the perfect companion. Portable and handy, this planner allows you to give a quick overview of your plans and schedules. The neon minimalist typography on the cover is modern and unisex.
This year, Viviamo also journeys toward sustainability. All 2021 Viviamo Planners are all Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified which means that products are made with sustainably sourced paper that was produced with responsible forestry in mind.
The Viviamo 2021 Planner Collection is here. Our circumstances may have changed, but the future belongs to all of us who journey on. Continue your courageous journey by journaling with the new collection of Viviamo available at https://go.crazyaboutpaper.com/viviamoplanners and in all major bookstores nationwide.
About Viviamo! Inc.
15 years ago, Viviamo! Inc. which means “WE LIVE” started out as Belle de Jour Power Planner” and has since expanded products and services beyond planners.
Today, Viviamo! Inc. is a growing custom publishing, marketing, and e-commerce company, with an active community of 100,000+ fans, a purpose-driven line of paper products available in retail and online, and collaborations between the country’s top brands and creative talents. Through it all, we seek to empower people to dream, plan, and dare to live their best lives.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 25, 2020 | Lifestyle
Casa de Memoria is all set to usher in Tercero, its third major auction for the year featuring unique pieces that can complement the design and look of every living space.
To be held on September 26, 2020 (Saturday) at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, Tercero will feature more than 200 curated Euro-Filipino art pieces that can lend a timeless touch to your home.
Must-see masterpieces at Tercero are those of revered Filipino artists, such as the pair of 20th century fine prints by Spanish-Filipino artist, museum founder, and philanthropist Fernando Zobel de Ayala y Montojo titled “La Piedra del Caballo” and “Fragmento del Altar Mayor de la Catedral de Santiago” which are both initially priced at Php 30,000. Another masterpiece by renowned Filipino sculptor Isabelo Tampinco will also be featured at the auction. A statement piece for any household, Tampinco’s sculpture – a gladiator soldier in marble cast – bears a comparable likeness to the piece in the collection of the National Museum of the Philippines and is up for sale with a starting bid of Php 90,000.
Other specially curated Tercero lots that can instantly add splendor to any living space are artworks by celebrated artists from different parts of Europe. These include an original lithograph by 20th-century Spanish artist Joan Miró with a starting bid of only Php 18,000, a lithograph depicting “The Creation of Eve” by Salvador Dali with a starting bid of P60,000, and an oil painting of Saint Dorothy of Caesarea by Antonio Rivas priced at Php 20,000 to start.
In addition, Tercero will offer more of history’s most beautiful antiquities, heirlooms, and objets d’art ranging from paintings, furniture pieces, sculptures, memorabilia, centerpieces, and religious iconographies, among many others. These include a 19th century French Napoleon III style credenza in lacquered wood, a 17thcentury Flemish school oil on a copper painting depicting the Pericope Adulterae, a pair of ivory sculptures of ethical provenance depicting Greek goddesses Ceres and Chloris, and a 19th century French Art Nouveau Galle vase.
Explore the auction pieces and register for the auction at http://bit.ly/CasaDeMemoriaOnline. Registered members will have access to a console. If you won’t be able to join, absentee bids can be placed before the auction. Interested parties may also opt for telephone bidding.
For more details, call (02) 8253-3994 or e-mail he***@***********ia.com. For more information, visit https://www.casadememoria.com/ or follow @thecasadememoria on Facebook and @casadememoria on Instagram.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | May 18, 2020 | Lifestyle
The saying “so much to do, so little time” was once a cliché we could all relate to. But these days, such seems to be inapplicable, for most of us are at home due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). With more time on our hands now, we ask, what more can we do to stay productive?
If there’s anything we are learning from our current reality during this time, it is that we can now do what we’ve always wanted to accomplish in the comforts of our home — be it baking, cooking, gardening, and other hobbies we had no time to learn before.
Interested? Here are some activities you may want to try to make the most out of the ECQ period.
Cooking
garlic butter shrimp
Why don’t you try whipping up something in the kitchen using ingredients you never thought would work before — like the famous, easy 7-up chicken marinade or challenge yourself to cook a perfectly seared steak or experimenting on preparing the Dalgona in various versions — from coffee to fruity flavors — that are making the rounds on the internet?
Now is the best time to sharpen your culinary skills; then by the time the quarantine is over, you may gather your friends for a dinner at home and serve them your best recipe discoveries yet.
Baking
While you’re at it, why don’t you try baking sweet treats to brighten someone’s day, too?
You can start with the basic ones — from baking cookies, then banana bread, to probably advancing to cakes; that is when you’re confident enough with your weighing and measuring skills. Yes, bake it ’til you make it.
Arts & Crafts
While garbage collection may be a problem these days, recycling and upcycling wastes at home are highly recommended. Turn them into something useful such as the tissue roll carton as a cable wire organizer, PET bottles as a case for your pencil or art tools, cans as flower vases, etc.
You can make pencil cases for your kids, new jars for your room, and even toys for your kids, among other creative ways to reuse them. There are even free online classes that you may join to unleash your artistic side, as well as free music lessons, to boot.
Reading
Want an escape but can’t go out because of the virus? Let must-read fiction and non-fiction — be it hard copies or eBooks — take you to places and settings you’ve never seen before. Books help your brain withdraw from anxiety-inducing news on your social media feeds.
You can do some light reading with food books or to feel some love while on quarantine, there are romance novels. Do read up on travel and create that itinerary of your biggest adventure yet once this quarantine is over.
Work it out
In these uncertain times, it is best to sweat the stress out, not only to stay healthy but to also keep the happy hormones going. No gym equipment? No problem. There are still a lot of exercises you may do using ordinary items or fixtures at home.
Need weights? Use PET bottles as DIY dumbbell; need elevation for your cardio exercise, use the stairs; or if you need to run but has no space, do high-knee, stationary run or jog. For Zumba or Yoga classes, there’s always YouTube.
Gardening
We’ve also seen more people trying to grow their own urban garden at home in their effort to be more sustainable these days. You might have come across Facebook and Instagram posts by your friends showing off the progress of their mini farm and hydroponic techniques using recyclable bottles.
A lot of beverage companies are receiving requests from non-government organizations for donations of PET and other plastic bottles, too, as they will use them as pots for their plants to create sustainable farms for the communities they are serving.
Frederick Ong, President & CEO of Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc.
“We have received several requests for plastic bottle donations from various groups for urban farming projects. And as a company that champions sustainable practices, we are more than willing to help them create a greener world,” said Frederick Ong, President & CEO of Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc.
“Other than our frontliners, our environmental advocates are to be considered heroes also, because what they are doing is for the long-term. And we are here to support their causes,” he added.
And if there’s something we are realizing during the quarantine period, it is that the earth seems to be healing, because of less human activities outside our homes. Most of us are realizing the grim effects of not taking care of the environment. And this pandemic is teaching us to nourish Mother Nature more for us to enjoy healthier years.
More than ever, it is high time to learn how to remain productive, while taking care of the environment. It is clear that we are breathing cleaner air and seeing clearer skies these days. And let’s all do our job to keep it this way to save more lives and for the benefit of generations to come.
But if you opt to do nothing during this quarantine period, there’s no problem with that, too. Remember: The most productive people also make time doing nothing for self-care and balanced life.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 23, 2020 | Lifestyle
March 10 is an important day because it is the day “the world stood still” – when everyone around the world acknowledged COVID-19 as a pandemic and nations went on different levels of quarantine/lockdown.
Artwork thanks to Carlo Vergara. It depicts the frontliners’ fight against the COVID-19 virus.
Covid-19 has caused fear to humanity and made the whole world to a standstill. Two-thirds of the country is mostly affected due to its abrupt spread. The government deemed it necessary to enact an Enhanced Community Quarantine to help contain the spread of the virus which left people wondering what to do at home for 30 days.
For myself, there hasn’t been much change since I usually work from home, but there is a difference between choosing to stay home and being forced to stay home. But it still left me with a need to do something different, something more active. Aside from the usual household chores, I started noticing the little things all over the house that I could fix myself that I have been putting off for some time.
From the time I was a little girl, I have always been handy around the house and my dad’s tools always fascinated me. I grew up having a close familiarity with screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, hammers, and saws. Being the eldest child I became Ms. Fix-it and oftentimes I would be tasked to fix things like a leaky faucet, a squeaky door, etc.
The KYK Tool Kit is the perfect toolkit for me. It is compact and easy to carry but when you open it you will find it packed with so many tools … 42 pieces in fact!
I also like how everything has a specified slot so that you know exactly where each tool is supposed to go. The OC in me is super happy. 😀
What does the KYK Tool Kit contain?
The kit contains:
- 1/4DR sockets (9 pieces) ranging from 5 to 13mm.
- hex key wrenches (12 pieces) ranging from 0.9 to 6mm.
- 6-inch long nose pliers
- 6-inch diagonal pliers
- precision screwdrivers (2 pieces) – Philips (+) and flathead (-)
- 18mm cutter
- 9-inch level
- 8-inch scissors
- 6-inch adjustable wrench
- claw hammer
- 25mm bits (10 pieces)
- bit driver
- 3-meter measuring tape
The only things missing here are a saw, a drill, a paint roller, paint brushes, and a pan. 🙂 And, yes, I know how to use all of them. 🙂
The tools to get the job done
KYK Tools brings the right tools to get the job done and is very affordable. If you have a DIY need, KYK probably has the tool you need.
With over 4 decades of track record and an extensive line that meets our budget. KYK is available in every All Home branch nationwide. Visit the KYK website at https://kyk.com.ph to know more details. For updates, follow their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/kyktools.
#KYKBuiltToLast #DIYwithKYK #KYKHomeImprovement
Within the app which carries design elements signifying Filipinos, ‘Kapanalo’ or users of the app can place a bet on a three-part number combination consisting of a month, a day, and a year. If the same combination gets to be picked during daily draws, a user can win as much as P100,000 as a cash prize.
Now, your baby can make a fashion statement too with the cutest baby accessory brand in town: Bibs Manila, a new online business that offers bespoke and eye-catching bibs.
Check out Bibs Manila’s website and simply search for “STATEMENT BIB” and you’ll be directed to a page where you can select your design in just a few clicks. You can even personalize the bib with your baby’s name, your favorite quote, or standout word choices, such as “Awesome” or “Mommy’s Fave,” to name a few. Choose from a variety of colors and fonts, and you’re all set!
Amid very trying times, we hold on to our moral compass, and we search for light. What if that light is already within? NAVI: Your Life Navigator 2021 is inspired by the steadfast beacon of light from the world’s most beautiful Lighthouses.
Feeling stuck? It happens to the best of us. The 2021 Everything is Possible Planner is the perfect reminder that right when we feel we can’t handle any more of the mess and the madness of life when we truly commit to the journey, we will experience the breakthrough we’ve all been yearning for. And that is when we realize: each one of us is in the middle of becoming who we are meant to be.
The Focus 2021 Journal is all about creating positive changes within yourself. These changes are meant to prepare you for life’s inevitable challenges. Quite significantly, each page of the journal is decorated with the icosahedron, a three-dimensional figure that is made of 20 triangle-shaped sides.
The great thing about a new year is that you are given the chance to start with a clean slate. With the 2021 Essentials Planner, you can do just that with its clean and unstructured pages specifically designated for bullet journaling or creative journaling.
For the on-the-go, the 2021 Petit Planner is just the perfect companion. Portable and handy, this planner allows you to give a quick overview of your plans and schedules. The neon minimalist typography on the cover is modern and unisex.
15 years ago, Viviamo! Inc. which means “WE LIVE” started out as Belle de Jour Power Planner” and has since expanded products and services beyond planners.
While you’re at it, why don’t you try baking sweet treats to brighten someone’s day, too?
While garbage collection may be a problem these days, recycling and upcycling wastes at home are highly recommended. Turn them into something useful such as the tissue roll carton as a cable wire organizer, PET bottles as a case for your pencil or art tools, cans as flower vases, etc.
KYK Tools brings the right tools to get the job done and is very affordable. If you have a DIY need, KYK probably has the tool you need.
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