Let's Call it FASH!

Calling all ladies to watch the first locally produced fashion television program called F.A.S.H., which premieres this August 26, 2010 (Thursday), 10PM on the Lifestyle Network SkyCable Channel 52. Hosted by international model, stylist, and make-up artist Bianca Valerio, FASH stands for Fashion and Style Hub -- a show that will educate and help people to be better in terms of styling and dressing up.

Joining Bianca are four style experts in their respective fields. They are celebrity stylist John Lozano, purveyor of style Ferdi Salvador, personal shopper Ram De Vera, and hair stylist extraordinaire Borge Aloba.

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Ukokkei Ramen Ron: One of Manila's Best

Catching up with a friend one afternoon, we decided to visit Ukokkei Ramen Ron (URR) in the long stretch of Pasay Road to try out one of Manila's best restaurants. It is a cozy place serving gyoza, sake, Japanese beers, and of course different kinds of ramen.

The restaurant was empty when we arrived past 3:30 in the afternoon, which made us think they were closed. However, upon closer inspection, the lights were just turned off to save electricity.

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SereniTEA is a Celebrity

How sweet do you want your tea? What kind of texture do you want to feel when you sip through your favorite milk tea? Serenitea is like a celebrity that's been gaining popularity ever since it opened its doors to both tea and non-tea drinkers last year -- the former raving about it, while the latter discovers a new perspective of how different tea's taste can get.

Owned by Peter Chen (coincidentally my sister's batch mate back in high school) and Juliet Hererra, Serenitea is available in three of the most-visited places in the metro, namely Banawe, San Juan and Paranaque, and soon to open at Robinsons Place Malate and Alabang Town Center.

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Immuvit Run Against Time on August 21

Everyone is afraid of getting old. If at this point you are already feeling the effects of aging creeping on you, I'm sure you want to know how to sustain physical fitness past your prime. Learn how to defy aging by joining Immuvit's Run Against Time on August 21 (Saturday), 5:00PM at the Bonifacio High Street, Taguig.

The multivitamin supplement IMMUVIT calls their campaign Run Against Time, which aims to share knowledge and experiences on how to stay fit and healthy as we age. The afternoon will be packed with exciting and educational activities that will surely push us to have an active lifestyle in order to feel better and fight the effects of aging.

Run Against Time includes a two-part program on health and wellness.

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Experiencing Nokia Booklet 3G Firsthand

Third to fourth quarters of 2009 saw the introduction and formal launching of the Finnish company's first ever mini-laptop called the Nokia Booklet 3G. Though it has mostly the same capabilities as that of fellow rivals, Nokia has made use of its strength in creating mobile devices and translate them to fit a netbook. Their end product is gorgeous, portable, and user-friendly like their phones.

Here's the unboxing video of the netbook (forgive me for the shaky takes and some wrong grammar, coz this is my first time to video a gadget *lol*):

Aside from the common features such as a webcam, microphone, multiple USB slots, and Windows 7 Starter OS, here are the things that I've liked and the details that I think would need improvment.

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My Take on Freshman Masculine Wash

Out of curiosity and the repetitive advertisements I see and hear, I finally gave in and bought a 75mL bottle of Freshman Masculine Wash last August 1. The small bottle costs Php77.75 and the bigger one was around Php100+. It comes in two variants -- one being more "menthol-y" than the other.

When I was younger, I always see the feminine wash that my folks were using at home. It got me thinking why they have a special wash for their vajayjay, while men only use plain soap for the penis. After many years, a friend told me there's a Peni Soap that smells like Tutti Frutti... but I didn't try it out, mainly because I am not really fond of using hard soaps. I prefer using liquid soap for my body, and this time, for my private part.

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Practicing Work-Life Balance at HP

It was a Friday worth looking forward to this week. Since we value work-life balance here in HP, our team organized a work-play morning in our office's Game Room. The planned weekly recreational activity aims to have a discussion on team project updates while using Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, Magic Sing karaoke. Fun, isn't it?

Some were playing the racing game...

A number of folks were punching using the Wii...

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Get Freebies and Discounts with Ovi Store's gimMe Perks App

Enjoy more with Ovi Store from now until August 31. When you download the Ovi Store gimMe Perks application from store.ovi.com, you have the chance to get exclusive discounts and freebies from a wide array of partner establishments. Whether you are a fashionista, movie buff, music enthusiast, or just a lover of discounts and promotions, the gimMe Perks app will be your ticket to grab some really cool deals and thrills.

Enjoy the following promos for the entire August:

• 25 Free seats to the screening of Grownups, starring Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, and Chris Rock -- 7:00PM and 10:00PM on August 20 at the Greenbelt 3 MyCinema
• 25 Free seats to a great movie with the world's best action stars Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenneger, Sylvester Stallone, and Dolph Lundgrenof called The Expendables -- August 21, 4:00PM and 8:00PM at the Greenbelt 3 MyCinema
• Regular Schu bags and shoes at 15% off and 5% off on sale items; 20% off upon purchase of regular and sale items -- Participating branches include Glorietta, Shangri-La Plaza, Robinson’s Galleria, SM Mall of Asia, Trinoma, and Powerplant Mall

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7 Great iPhone Apps for Bloggers

Steve Jobs' Apple has influenced a lot of mobile users to switch to using iPhone. If you're both and iPhone user and a blogger, here are 7 great applications (some with minimal fee) you might want to try, as contributed by my guest writer Louise Baker:

1. iBlogger

Tired of blog-specific apps? iBlogger supports a myriad of blog apps. Unlike most apps that are created for a specific blog, iBlogger supports Blogspot, Xanga, WordPress, TypePad, and more. Have more than one blog? No problem, because iBlogger allows you to compose multiple blogs with just one app. With this app, users can blog with pictures and links! In addition, bloggers can compose their work offline and submit it later. Therefore, if you're in an area with no network coverage, you can still blog and publish it after. This application works with iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPod Touch. Check it out here.

2. ShoZu

ShoZu is another non blog-specific app that gives users access to Facebook, Photobucket, MySpace, WordPress, and more. This application allows bloggers to post pictures and videos to multiple websites. In addition, users can edit their photos and send blog entries by email. Therefore, this blog is great for users with multiple blogs who also desire to promote these blogs. Check it out here.

3. ShapeWriter

Want to type faster? This new application offers a new technology for quickly enteting text on a touch screen. Instead of slowly entering each letter, users can trace the shape of a word with their finger. For example, for the word "write," simply slide your finger across the keyboard to each letter in the word. ShapeWriter will automatically recognize the word! Current users have reported that the app is usually efficient at recognizing text; however, if you are typing obscure words or names, simply manually type in the word and ShapeWriter will remember it for next time! Check it out here.

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Thermal Clothing Wears by Damart

Coming from the online shopping post I had several days back, I once again got to see an online store that's convenient and user friendly to use for your thermal clothing wear needs. The site called Damart is for both for men and women alike.

People living in both tropical and non-tropical countries can enjoy the warmth and comfort of Damart's excellent range of thermal clothing. Their products are suitable for all seasons throughout the year. Their line of products extends from vests, tops, pants to footwear, underwear and household accessories as well.

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Shopping for Merrell Shoes

Online shopping has gotten growing popularity over the last decade due to the convenience it brings to shoppers. Since I started blogging a few years back, I have already bought several items online, which I think were all good purchases. From t-shirts and gift certificates to external hard drives and digital cameras, the experience of shopping online has paved way for online purchasing that goes beyond the items available in my local country.

I have always known Merrell Shoes to be a good brand, but haven't purchased a pair still. Merrell has been at the forefront of urban active and multi sport shoes for over 2 decades -- no wonder their designs mostly settle for the classic, sporty look. Now a globally trusted brand, Merrell makes footwear of the highest quality with style and performance in mind at every step.

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My Great Sale Finds at Robinsons Galleria

Make Robinsons Malls your shopping haven this August, as they throw in the All-Out Clearance Sale from August 1 to 31, 2010! It's a mallwide sale at all Robinsons Malls participated by tons of wonderful brands both for men and women.

Today, my being at Robinsons Galleria for the first day of the clearance sale just made me agree with my friends who call me the "shopping guy." Hello, who can resist shopping if you can get the items you like for as much as 50% off the regular price?

As a yuppie who's busy with work, socials, and trips, I was glad to be able to peek into great finds that are useful for me (and maybe for you as well). Take a glimpse of my great finds:

WORK? Check. Van Heusen is located at the middle section of the 2nd floor of Robinsons Galleria, as well as inside the Robinsons Department Store (RDS). Offering 50% discount, their polo shirts went down from Php1,290.00 to Php645.00 and long sleeves from Php3,290.00 to Php1,645.00. They also offer belts and ties at a smaller percentage discount, but are surely worth it as well.

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Two Big Brands with Poor Services

The past week gave me the reason to rant about two big brands with poor services. Don't get me wrong. I love both of these companies (really), but it just so happened that my experiences with their branches need to be told.

Firstly, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). The poorly serviced branch located across our office building at McKinley Hill the Fort has been open since November 2009. Here are my rants:

1. Their forecasting is still ain't right. Chicken is supposed to be their core product, but they always run out of it. You'd always hear them say, "Sir, is it okay to wait for 5-7 minutes?" in almost all the things you'd order.
2. Staffs are inefficient. There are lots of staffs, but service is still very slow. They should really checkout the service of McDonald's located right across them.
3. Staffs needed to be trained on how to properly put blush on. Seriously, the girls who'd welcome you in the counters are wearing too dark of a blush on. My teammate even joked, "'Teh, mabigat ba ang blush on mo kaya mabagal ang service?!" (translated to "Miss, is your blush on too heavy for your service to be that slow?!")

Secondly, Globe Telecom. This branch is located at SM Megamall. What can I say about them?

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