Be Derek's New Anna!

I’m sure you’ve already seen Derek’s Anna Banana Song via PLDT myDSL TVC and youtube. It’s actually cute that he’s brave enough to show his affection for Anna to the public. Watch it here.

After several months, Anna replied with a video dumping Derek! Poor boy! Watch Anna’s rejection video here.

Good thing Derek has a strong support system, his family. His little sister is so sweet, trying to help Derek find his new “Anna” just to cheer him up. 

You too, can help Derek. If you or you know a girl aged 12-16, upload a video of yourself showing how much you like Derek and why you should be his new Anna at  www.dereksnewanna.com. You may also upload your videos at the following on-ground uploading stations:

Robinson’s Ermita – September 1 & 2

SM Megamall – September 8 & 9

Lucky winner will be part of the next PLDT myDSL commercial and will take home a new Samsung Ultrabook!

I’m excited to see how this turns out. So what are you waiting for? Join now.

Mang Larry's Isawan at UP Diliman

While driving home from Bulacan to Makati, my husband suddenly craved for Mang Larry's famous UP Isaw. Having enjoyed the first isaw date we had years before. I willingly obliged. :)

We reached UP Diliman around 5pm and got lucky that we easily located one of Mang Larry's isaw carts. Yes, you read it right. He already had several carts deployed. As a matter of fact, what we found was cart # 11. By the time we were there, several cars are already parked. Parking is free of course, but remember to give a tip to the parking attendant.

There are 2 or 3 isaw carts in that empty lot but Mang Larry's cart stands out because of the number of customers buying plus the fact that it has a banner and LED signage so you don't have to wonder if you are indeed buying from Mang Larry.

Mang Larry's Famous Isaw at UP Diliman

They offer several kinds of "barbecues", I think around 7 (liver, isaw, tenga, etc). Each stick costs only P6. My husband usually orders 2 pcs of each kind in order to taste all. It's really hard to pick a favorite because everything is yummy!

Another bonus is the several ice cream carts parked in the area. Isaw and ice cream goes well together! I swear the dirty ice cream in UP are flavorful. My baby Mikeila likes it too.




Mikeila and I eating ice cream at UP


We'll definitely go back!

Saltimbanco by Cirque Du Soleil

I had a chance to watch Cirque Du Soleil's Saltimbanco for free. Thanks to my boss who got complimentary tickets and shared it with us. :) I was so excited because I've always wanted to see them perform.

Saltimbanco came from the Italian word "saltare in banco" which literally means to jump on a bench. According to the show's website, "Saltimbanco is a Cirque du Soleil signature show inspired by the urban fabric of the metropolis and its colorful inhabitants. Decidedly baroque in its visual vocabulary, the show's eclectic cast of characters draws spectators into a fanciful, dreamlike world, an imaginary city where diversity is a cause for hope."

The show is a delight indeed. The stunts are jaw dropping. You can hear a lot of "whoa" reactions from the audience because of the heart stopping yet beautiful acrobats. The music is excellent. I especially like the fact that they used live band and singers during the entire show. The stage and costumes are colorful and fun. Too bad we couldn't understand their dialogues because they spoke French instead of english. But nevertheless, the acts compensated for it. It's hard to pick a favorite because each performance has something special to offer.

Here are some of the acts performed in Saltimbanco:

Adagio





Chinese Poles





Hand to Hand





Boleadoras

Other amazing acts include juggling, russian swing, duo trapeze and bungees.

The show lasts for 2 hours plus a 20min break after the first hour. Be sure not to use your phones, cameras or other gadgets during the show as the organizers are very strict about it which I understand because the performers need to focus on their acts and flash coming from your cameras may destruct them.

Saltimbanco runs from August 9 to 19, 2012 at SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Kim N' Chi

My husband has a new favorite fast food joint at Glorietta called Kim N' Chi. He raved about it a few months back so I got curious and tried it during one of our movie dates.

Kim N' Chi offers great korean dishes at an affordable price. The servings are huge and that spells the difference. My husband's favorite is the Beef Bulgogi Omu-Rice (P119). It is a heavy meal with its big serving of rice covered in egg plus a hefty serving of beef with noodles. It can actually be shared by two people with small appetite.

My favorite is Chicken Combo which includes a delicious grilled chicken, noodles, vegetables, spicy sweet dilis and egg rolls. And it only costs P119! How sulit is that?

Other great selections are the following:

Try these next time you stop by Glorietta Food Choices. :)

My First IMAX Experience

I've always been curious on the difference of watching a movie thru IMAX but I guess its high ticket price stops me from trying as I'm not sure if it's gonna be worth it. But just recently, my husband and I wanted to try something different on our movie night and so we head over to SM Mall of Asia and purchased two IMAX tickets with our eyes closed  - a single ticket costs P450 each! OUCH! Good thing the movie is The Dark Knight Rises.We have high hopes for this last Batman offering and to watch it in IMAX format just increases the pressure.

If you're planning to try IMAX, make sure to choose the farthest center seat since the screen is HUGE. It takes a few minutes to get used to that big screen. The moment the movie started, I already felt the difference of IMAX from a regular theater. I felt like I'm part of the movie and the size of the screen contributes a lot to it. The surround system is better too. But what I like the most are the aerial shots. I felt like I'm flying or that I'm in a helicopter overlooking Gotham, really cool.

Too bad the movie is just in 2D because I think the experience would be way better had it been in 3D format.

So, is watching in IMAX worth the P450 you're gonna shell out? For this one time, yes. Will I watch another IMAX movie again? Maybe one last time, just to try the 3D format. But it's not practical to watch here regularly. My P450 will already include food and drinks if I watch in a regular cinema.

Coming Home to Mandaue Foam

Mandaue Foam is one of the leading foam manufacturers in the country. It has come along way from its humble start as foam manufacturer in Cebu in 1971 to offering diversified product lines like sofas, dining tables and bed frames among others.

I recently visited its website and found many irresistable items for my wish list. I've rounded it up to top 3:


Veronica - I love its classical and elegant design. I'm sure you will feel regal sitting on it

329 Double Deck - This is ideal especially when my baby Mikeila and her future sibling grows up :)

MG152RB Rectangular Mirror - I've always wanted to have this on our wall to make the room bigger

There you go. Hope this wishlist will soon turn to reality. Mandaue Foam indeed has a lot of great products to offer. Just follow the inner "interior designer" in you and doll up your home. Take it from Mandaue Foam's tag line "Your home, your imagination".

Check out their latest TV commercial here.

My Skincare Regimen

Like most girls, I've encountered skin problems like oily skin, blackheads and pimples. It got worse when I was pregnant with my first baby until almost a year after giving birth. I admit it was frustrating and it affected my self esteem.

I searched high and lows for products that will help me lessen the oiliness and remove my pimples without shelling out a lot of cash. I know derma or facial clinics have helped a lot of people with the same condition but I can't afford it. I'd rather invest my money than spend a lot for my face.

After much research and several trials and errors, I finally found what I needed:

• Wash - Cyleina Black Pearl Soap - It is an organic soap that lightens dark spots caused by sun exposure and pimple scars
. It has Arbutin that gently exfoliates dead skin cells and inhibit melanin production for softer and glowing skin and Licorice that is anti-bacterial and helps lighten complex for clean and fairer skin.  

• Tone - Dickinson's Witch Hazel Toner - 100% natural, Witch Hazel gently removes oils and impurities leaving your skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated without harsh or confusing ingredients contained in other toners. I love this toner. This helped me remove my pimples. It also gives you a feeling that your skin tightens after each use.

• Moisturize - Skinfood Omija Whitening Serum - Yes, I still moisturize even though I already have oily skin. It's a misconception that people with oily skin doesn't need to do so. According to research, one of the reasons why we have oily skin is because our skin lacks moisture. When our skin is dry, oil glands tend to work overtime to produce more oil in order to hydrate our skin, hence the oily face. That's why it is important to drink lots of water and use a good moisturizer after toning. Skinfood Omija Whitening Serum is not heavy on the face and it doesn't add to the oiliness of my skin.

After a few months of doing this regimen, plus a few facial, I noticed that my oiliness were kept at bay and my pimples are beginning to fade away. I'm so happy I found products suitable for my skin type. Although my skin now is still not perfect, it has dramatically improved and I'm happy about it. No need to hide from the camera or spend countless hours editing my pictures before uploading in facebook. :) Here's a pic showing how my skin looks like before and right now. Again, it still needs a lot to improve at but I'm not complaining right now. ;)