Cebu City: From Hair Scare to Hair Care, Thanks to Bridges Salon

Ever felt like you need to have a haircut but just don’t know which style to sport? Or have your hair colored but not sure which shade to show off? These are some of my concerns every time I go to a salon. And all the time, I end up settling for just a safe haircut.

I’ve never had my hair colored. The smell of hair dye and my fear of damaging my hair always stop me from doing it. I also experience hair fall so I need to be extra careful as to what chemical treatments I get. But things have changed when my friends and I went to Cebu and tried BRIDGES SALON.

Shampoo and rinsing station

I first heard of Bridges from my friends who live in Cebu. They said the service is excellent and the rates are more pocket-friendly as compared to Manila's. When I mentioned to them that I am looking for a safe and good colorist, they instantly suggested that I try Bridges if ever I visit Cebu.

Finally, the opportunity to travel to Cebu knocked on my door. I was very excited to visit the wonderful city again and at the same time try the salon my friends rave about.

Where the magic happens

Arriving at Bridges Salon, the minimalist interiors impressed me. It’s very welcoming and pleasant to the eye. It has a homey feel to it and the place is really clean too.

One thing you’ll notice when you visit Bridges is that most, if not all, of their products are from L’Oreal.

That’s because the owner of the salon, Francis Lee, is one of the three appointed L’Oreal Ambassadors to the Philippines.

Francis Lee is a highly recommendable hairstylist. He has extensive background and experience in both hair cutting and styling. Training and practicing since he was 16, Francis has gone a long way from Singapore to London to the Philippines. It proves that he is a stylist who is serious at what he does. This has enabled him to make a name in the industry over the years.

On the day of our visit, we were lucky to chance upon him while he was attending to some of his loyal clients that include models, celebrities and politicians.

During my consultation, Francis explained to me the treatment suited for my hair condition. He also suggested that I trim my hair a bit in order to lessen the hair fall. I easily got convinced by his recommendations and immediately started my treatment. My only request was to have it close to my natural hair color so I wouldn’t be forced to maintain it every month as my hair grows.

Their wide selection of hair colors and solutions are displayed in an open area. The difference of Bridges Salon to many other salons is that they do the color mixing in front of you. This way, you are sure that they really use the product and do not add other chemicals to your hair.

My friends getting their treatments

Francis used L’Oreal INOA one me, the latest hair coloration technology that is oil-based. As such, it’s not too harmful to the hair and scalp. And since it is oil-based, it keeps the natural moisture of the hair to prevent dryness and damage. In addition, INOA is also ammonia-free so my hair is free of the stink other hair colors give.

Francis was hands-on and he supervised the entire process – from consultation, coloring, cleaning to blow drying and styling. He gave and recommended hairstyles for my face shape and suggested treatments and hair care for my hair condition. He also constantly checked up on me and my friends to make sure we had full color coverage. He made sure all residues were washed off after the treatment and he even prepared fruity teas for us. This made me confident that I was in good hands.

I’ve been sporting my new hair color for almost a week now and overall, I’m happy with my treatment. The mixture of, if I am not mistaken, dark gold and copper for my hair appears toned down and close to natural when I am indoors and flashy when the sunlight hits me. It looks and feels so fun! And what’s good about this is I got this treatment and mighty fine service at a reasonable price of Php2,600.

Photo after treatment. From L-R: Sabrina, Pamela, Bridges Owner Francis Lee, and Glenn

Bridges Salon has a wide range of services as well -- from haircuts, styling, grooming, make-up, nail care and a lot more. They are currently located at the 2nd floor of JY Square in Brgy. Lahug. However, they will be moving to a bigger and better location in October to accommodate their growing list of satisfied clients. They have already moved to a better and bigger location. Address is The Gallery, Juan Luna Street, Mabolo. Cab drivers would know where The Gallery is.

So if ever you happen to be in Cebu and are having some hair problems you cannot answer, I suggest you pay Bridges Salon a visit and look for Francis Lee. I am sure he will be more than happy to provide all the help you will need.

Editor's Note: This article was written by Sabrina Dar Santos, a special writer and contributor of Glich's Life. Revisions were done by yours truly prior to posting. You can follow her on Twitter (@mimsicle) - Glenn / Glich

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What to Expect from RIM's BlackBerry?

The future still shines bright for Research in Motion (RIM) as it continues to drive products and solutions that the consumers will benefit and enjoy.

Coming from a successful business in Indonesia and India, RIM is now looking into focusing its efforts in propagating their products in the Philippines to eventually get a significant portion of market share in the country's smartphone industry.

As they drive down the countryside, here are some of the things we can expect from RIM's BlackBerry:

New devices

Aside from the BlackBerry PlayBook which is totally a new product segment, RIM has announced several new devices such as the BlackBerry 9900 (an upgrade of BlackBerry 9700/9780, this time with a touch screen) as well as the BlackBerry Torch 9810 and 9860 (BlackBerry Torch 9800's successors). Of course it will be carrying the BB OS 7 and will have a sleeker body, faster processor plus bigger storage space. In addition, it will also have RIM's Liquid Graphics technology, which uses a dedicated graphics processor for smoother scrolling, zooming and panning.

Native BB PlayBook applications

The biggest frustrations people have about the PlayBook is the lack of native applications like e-mail, calendar, and contact list. RIM has announced that they are indeed working on a software upgrade that will have these functionalities. For the meantime, we can maximize the PlayBook's Bridge feature, which allows us to control our messages, appointments and contacts on the PlayBook after synchronization with a BlackBerry smartphone.

BlackBerry Expert Centers

Strategically located in Manila, Davao, and Cebu, RIM has opened 9 BlackBerry Expert Centers in the country to handle the after sales support of BlackBerry devices. As RIM sees the importance of communication with families and friends, a service unit will be provided when we have our devices upgraded or repaired. In addition to this, RIM has highlighted that once sales grow and there's a need for more centers, they will definitely be ready to provide additional services to consumers.

Not to mention, BlackBerry devices now come with an extended warranty of 24 months. New buyers will automatically get this, while previous owners who still have the official receipt and bought their units from official channels may extend the warranty for free.

Pinoy-centered applications

RIM believes in quality versus quantity. Although the number of apps available for BlackBerry devices may seem few, RIM is continuously opening opportunities for developers to come up with usable applications. Just recently, they have partnered with a local software developing company named Novare, which is seen to produce more customized applications catered us Filipinos.

BlackBerry on 4G

Coping up with its competitors, RIM has plans of coming up with a BlackBerry that runs on 4G. As such, the smartphones will be capable of speeds up to nearly four times the network speed capability of previous models, so we can send emails, chat, and surf even faster.

Some of us may find these expectations a bit late in the current mobile race, but RIM is confident that their innovations will bring BlackBerry a notch higher and be able to serve more consumers who are leaned towards social networking, connectivity, and ubiquity.

This article is my twenty-eighth contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on August 15, 2011 (Monday) in the TechNews Section. You can view the PDF version here.

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BlackBerry Pilipinas Fans Meet, Get Up Close with the BlackBerry PlayBook

BlackBerry Pilipinas, the official local Facebook fan page of Research in Motion's (RIM) BlackBerry, has over 80,000 fans today. With its fast-growing number, BlackBerry wanted to get feedback on what the fans like about the page and how they can make it even better.

As such, a select number of fans plus bloggers and celebrities had a simple meet up last August 25 at the Marriott Hotel. They were in fact shooting two birds with one event -- to engage the users, as well as to introduce and give a hands on with the BlackBerry PlayBook.

The event was spearheaded by Gerald Ang, RIM's Head of Digital Marketing and hosted by the very down to earth Rovilson Fernandez. A round of introduction by everyone kicked off the night and then followed by several rounds of games, where BlackBerry Leather Pouch, BlackBerry Torch, and BlackBerry PlayBook prizes were given away.

I was lucky enough to have won one of the two leather pouches that were given away. Pictured above are the winners of all prizes of the night.

   

I was also interviewed for BlackBerry Pilipinas on my thoughts about BlackBerry in general and the Facebook fan page specifically.

The event was a lot of fun!

The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is a powerful new tablet device that loves to work as hard as it plays. Neither a scaled-down computer nor a scaled-up mobile, it’s a completely new, ultra-light, professional-grade tablet built to offer you the performance you demand with the features you really want: uncompromised web, rich apps, and true multi-tasking.

Plus, with its flawless display, Flash readiness and blazing speed, it’s got entertainment, media and gaming covered. And though there’s far more to the BlackBerry PlayBook than meets the eye, it’s also a beautiful object to behold. Expect performance, intelligence and style.

   

The BlackBerry PlayBook is now available in three Wi-Fi models, featuring 16 GB, 32 GB or 64 GB of memory storage, from authorized retail stores and mobile operators with a 12-month warranty. Recommended retail prices are P23,990 for 16 GB, P28,990 for 32 GB and P33,990

There are also new accessories that you can purchase in order to make your BlackBerry more stylish. Prices range from P8,400 to P19,000.

List of Stockists:

• Brooklyn 
• Ettinger 
• Delvaux
• Ganzo in Tokyo
• Porter in Japan
• Valextra in Barneys, Case at Harrods, Le bon marché, Mr. Porter, Shilla Arcade Hotel, Lotte Department store in Korea, Valextra Milan and Rome boutiques
• Want Les Essentiels de la Vie

To know more about the BlackBerry PlayBook, do visit http://ph.blackberry.com/playbook

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My thoughts on Nivea for Men Multi-Effect 8 products

If you're a guy who has was gifted with nice, flawless skin, well then congratulations. But if you're a guy just like me who has very oily skin, enlarged and clogged pores, and often suffers from acne breakout, it's such a tedious job to always make sure we do preventive maintenance in order to stay good looking. Agree?

I started breaking out when I was in elementary. As a result, I became very conscious with my skin and would go to dermatologists to cure my acne and marks. There were no facial products for men yet at that time, so I had to use the ones that aren't really made for men. I bet you did too!

Thank God for this day and age, companies started to see the importance of manufacturing products that are suitable and targeted for the skin and lifestyle of men. Nivea is one of those who care for the men, especially when they launched Nivea for Men Multi-Effect 8, which comes in Facial Wash and Moisture Gel.

  

The Nivea for Men Multi-Effect 8 was specially developed for guys with oily skin. It has oil-free complex with active Carnitine, Salicylic Acid and Mineral Magnesium that effectively targets 8 main problems of oily skin while leaving the skin with a clean and refreshed feeling.

These common problems are the following:

1. Excessive Oiliness
2. Oily Shine on Face/Skin
3. Enlarged and Clogged Pores
4. Dry skin feeling after cleansing
5. Uneven and impure look
6. Formation of blackheads
7. Formation of whiteheads
8. Acne

Together with Nivea, I believe that being healthy should not only be seen on the skin, but by how we also take care of our body. To signify this principle, I joined several other media people who tried out 360 Fitness Club in Makati for the Circuit Training challenge.

After going through 8 intense exercises, I ended up feeling exhausted, not to mention having sweaty and oily skin. I quickly grabbed the opportunity to try the Multi-Effect 8 Facial Wash and Moisture Gel in order to prove what it claims. True enough, it worked!

Among its initial effects on my skin were the following:

1. It provided long-lasting control of skin oiliness throughout the night
2. It definitely removed the oily shine on my face
3. I felt that it unclogged and tightened my pores
4. It gave me a refreshing feeling
5. There's no more dry and taut skin feeling
6. My face felt smooth

The Facial Wash has beads that gently cleans the skin, removing dirt that causes blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples. As for the Moisture Gel, it did not leave a sticky feeling on my face. In addition, both products have manly scent.

After almost a week of continuous use, the Nivea products seem to suit my skin. It might be for you too, so give it a try. The Facial Wash costs Php139.00 for 100mL and the Moisture Gel costs Php199 for 50mL.

Don't forget to check out the Nivea for Men Philippines Facebook page for updates. They're also running a fun game there!

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Nokia announces Symbian Belle on 3 new smartphones

Nokia has just announced a new version of the Symbian operating system called the Symbian Belle. It is the improved Symbian Anna that offers fresh home screen, user interface, widgets, and simple software updates.

Getting the new Symbian Belle OS as are three smartphones, namely Nokia 600, Nokia 700, and Nokia 701. These devices carry the NFC technology that allows single-tap pairing and sharing of contents between NFC-capable devices.

This [NFC] allows contacts, videos and images to be shared with other NFC-enabled devices and smartphones, as well as pairing with NFC-enabled mobile accessories such as speakers and headsets. Gaming fans also benefit from the NFC capabilities of the new handsets with the ability to unlock additional levels in Angry Birds or find a hidden blade in Fruit Ninja just by touching two NFC-enabled devices together.

Nokia 600

Designed to provide an all-in-one entertainment hub, the Nokia 600 is Nokia's loudest smartphone to date. It has a super loud speaker inside, an FM transmitter to blast music from the nearest radio, and an FM receiver that has an internal antennae for an earphone-less listening.

Nokia 600 Specifications

• Size: 110 x 53 x 13mm
• Weight: 100 g
• Capacitive touchscreen, 360 x 640 pixels, 3.2 inches
• Nokia ClearBlack display, Gorilla Glass display
• 2GB internal memory storage, up to 32GB microSD card slot
• GPRS, EDGE, 3G, WLAN, Bluetooth
• 5 megapixels camera, 2592 x 1944 pixels, fixed focus, LED flash
• 1 GHz processor
• A-GPS support

Nokia 700

The Nokia 700 is Nokia's smallest smartphone. Aside from that, it is also the most compact touch monoblock smartphone in the world. It may be small in size, but packed with functionality.

Nokia 700 Specifications

• Size: 110 x 50.7 x 9.7mm
• Weight: 96 g
• AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 360 x 640 pixels, 3.2 inches
• Nokia ClearBlack display, Gorilla Glass display
• 2GB internal memory storage, up to 32GB microSD card slot
• GPRS, EDGE, 3G, WLAN, Bluetooth
• 5 megapixels camera, 2592 x 1944 pixels, fixed focus, LED flash
• 1 GHz processor
• A-GPS support

Nokia 701

Nokia is proud to introduce the Nokia 701 as their brightest smartphone ever. It is a sleek and slim smartphone sporting a 3.5 inch ClearBlack display that makes it perfect for indoor and outdoor use. It also has active noise cancellation for the clearest sound quality.

Nokia 701 Specifications

• Size: 117 x 56.8 x 11mm
• Weight: 131 g
• LED-backlit capacitive touchscreen, 360 x 640 pixels, 3.5 inches
• Nokia ClearBlack display
• 8GB internal memory storage, up to 32GB microSD card slot
• GPRS, EDGE, 3G, WLAN, Bluetooth
• 8 megapixels camera, 3264 x 2448 pixels, fixed focus, dual-LED flash
• 1 GHz processor
• A-GPS support

The Symbian Belle OS will also be available on newly shipping versions of the Nokia N8, Nokia E6, Nokia E7, Nokia X7, Nokia C7 and Nokia C6-01 as well as by download, which will be announced closer to availability.

New smartphones are expected to arrive September or October of this year.

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Globe releases Official Statement on Tonino Lamborghini issue - It is LEGAL

The realm of social media was rocked by a statement released by Tonino Lamborghini yesterday saying that Globe Telecom used its name without proper authorization.

However, Globe clarifies that they did get legal license to use the Tonino Lamborghini name and logo. Here's an official statement from them:

Globe Telecom obtained authorization to use the name and logo Tonino Lamborghini through an agreement with Primo Mobile, the master franchisor of mobile phone related products for the Italian brand Tonino Lamborghini.

Primo Mobile is a Singapore-based company that has a master license agreement with Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l. and is duly authorized to sub-license the use of the Tonino Lamborghini logo. The design of the Globe Tattoo Tonino Lamborghini 4G USB sticks was reviewed and approved by Primo Mobile.

Globe Telecom assures the public of its strong adherence and commitment to the highest ethical standards in business and good corporate governance. The company will not engage in any activity that will mislead the public in the course of doing business and serving its customers.

For a big corporation like Globe, I do think they won't be as successful as they are if they do not have the right ethics. Globe would never brand a product without the proper and necessary clearances, much less use a globally famous brand without permission.

This issue is simply a huge misunderstanding between Primo and the mother company Tonino Lamborghini, but has been used by the competitors to turn off consumers. Definitely, Globe has always upheld the highest standards for corporate governance, and in fact have been recognized both here and abroad for it.

For your reference, here's the statement released by Tonino Lamborghini that mislead many people:

Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l., an Italy-based company which is the sole lawful owner worldwide of the trademark "Tonino Lamborghini" hereunder wishes to inform its customers that unauthorized people are currently trading online and through Globe stores a "4G Tatto Tonino Lamborghini" broadband stick which is a counterfeited product.

Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l. has never manufactured or authorized anyone to manufacture such a product which constitutes therefore a serious trademark infringement.

Moreover the advertising campaign "Feed your need for speed" featuring Marlon Stockinger, first Filipino to win a formula race in Europe, is deceitful and unlawful since it leads to a serious likelihood of confusion between two different and separate brands and businesses that is to say

"Tonino Lamborghini" and "Automobili Lamborghini".

Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l. shall take any legal action to protect the brand.

Yours faithfully,

Dott. Gian Luca FilippiTonino Lamborghini s.r.l.

CEO

Case closed - Globe's 4G Tattoo Tonino Lamborghini broadband stick is definitely NOT fake and IS legal.

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Vote for Sid Guanio as Candy Cutie!

No, I'm not changing my sexual preference, folks! I'm just helping a friend campaign for her brother to be one of Candy Magazine's swoon-worthy Candy Cuties! C'mon, he deserves a chance, so please join us in this campaign too.

His name is Isidro Guanio or call him Sid for short. He's 16 years old and currently studies at La Salle Greenhills.

If you think he is worthy of a slot in the list of Candy Cuties for October, please do vote for him via SMS. To do so, please text either of the following:

CANDY CUTIES VOTE20 to 2640 (Php20=40 votes) or CANDY CUTIES VOTE50 to 2640 (Php50=100 votes)

Voting ends on August 31, so ready, set, vote! Thanks a lot in advance.

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[Giveaway] Best Deals on Sale

It's shopping time once again! Malibu Enterprise invites all of us shopaholics to the Best Deals on Sale event this coming September 2 to 4, 2011 (Friday to Sunday) from 10am to 9pm at The Megatent, 30 Meralco Ave., Ortigas.

The Best Deals on Sale shopping event is in cooperation with Banco De Oro (BDO), which promises to offer discounts of up to 90% on selected items. The participating brands are posted on the image above.

More details:

• FREE entrance to all BDO credit card holders (with a valid ID)
• First 3 hours of the Friday sale (10am-1pm) is exclusive to BDO cardholders only
• BDO cardholders get chances to win in the hourly raffle draw with a minimum Php500.00 charge slip from the event
• Php50.00 entrance fee for those who are non-BDO cardholders

Visit their Facebook page for more information and updates on future events.

Malibu Enterprise is also the group behind the successful Big Outlet Sale.

Giveaway Alert

I'm giving away FREE entrance tickets to 20 people! Ten winners will be able to tag along a friend by simply joining this giveaway via Facebook. Here's how:

1. 'Like' the Glich's Life and Best Deals on Sale Facebook Fanpage 
2. Post a shoutout on your own Facebook Wall and tag one relative or friend whom you would like to go with during the sale. Don't forget to tag Glich's Life and Best Deals on Sale, as well as post the link to this giveaway. Please make sure the privacy is set to 'Everyone.'
3. Post a link of your Facebook post on the comments section below.

Deadline to join is 12:00PM of September 1, 2011 (Thursday). Announcement of winners will be posted on the same day.

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RIM unveils new BlackBerry Curve series

Research in Motion (RIM) has just announced three additions to the BlackBerry Curve series, namely BlackBerry Curve 9350, BlackBerry Curve 9360 and BlackBerry Curve 9370.

The three models differ on network connectivity options and available RAM of each device. Here in the Philippines, we'll be able to get our hands on the BlackBerry Curve 9360, since this is the GSM variant.

RIM's new Curve line aims to build on the incredible success of the BlackBerry Curve 8520 and BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300, and further expand the BlackBerry market both globally and here in the Philippines.

The BlackBerry Curve 9360 is the previously rumored Curve Apollo. It runs on BlackBerry 7 OS and is slightly thinner than the old Curve series. In addition, it sports a bigger resolution and display size, as well has a higher storage capacity. It also has a built-in support for NFC (Near Field Communications), a new technology that is enabling many exciting capabilities, including the ability to pair accessories or read SmartPoster tags with a simple tap of the smartphone.

BlackBerry Curve 9360 specifications:

• Size: 109 x 60 x 11mm
• Weight: 99g
• Display: 480 x 360 pixels, 2.44 inches
• Internal Memory: 512MB storage, 512MB RAM
• Supports up to 32GB microSD
• Has GPRS, EDGE, 3G, WLAN, Bluetooth, and microUSB v2.0
• 5 megapixels camera, 2592x1944 pixels, LED flash

Target release of the BlackBerry Curve 9360 in the Philippines is this September.

Photo Credit: BlackBerry Newsroom

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California Pizza Kitchen brings 25 new, exciting dishes

California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) brings in twenty-five new, exciting dishes to their menu list, which span from their appetizers, small cravings, salads, soups to their pastas, pizzas, sandwiches, and desserts. These additions combine the diverse flavors of East and West that will surely tickle the taste buds of us foodies.

Aside from that, they have also made improvements on their menu by adding more mouth-watering food photos, offering personal-sized pizzas of 8-inches in diameter, as well as introducing menu items paired with wines. In addition, some of the prices of food items were lowered to attract more customers - young and old alike.

Last August 17, I was invited alongside online and print media to taste the new dishes that CPK is offering. From our discussions, I found out that California Pizza Kitchen undergoes a long process of research and development, taste tests and approvals from the Philippines to CPK Shanghai to CPK USA and back and forth whether the dish is new or the ingredients are just revised. This is to ensure food quality and taste are still  at its best.

Among the 25 new menu items, here are a some of the bestsellers I got to taste. Feast your eyes, dear foodies!

A good appetizer that California Pizza Kitchen offers is the Karaage Chicken. It can be described as Japanese-style fried chicken cubes served with a side of ponzu citrus-dipping sauce. Not only can it be an appetizer, but also a viand we can pair with rice.

The Dynamite Seafood dish may sound a bit scary to non-spicy foodies, but fret not, because it isn't as spicy as it seems. Especially made for Filipinos' taste, this appetizer has hints of spices only as compared to its counterpart in Shanghai or USA. It has shrimps, baby clams, mussels and calarami sauteed in marinara sauce, and served with toasted garlic baguette slices.

Disclaimer: the photo does not do justice on the food - you must try this! It's called the Roasted Duck Salad. It has shredded roasted duck breast, spring mix, julienne cucumber, edamame, celery, roasted peanuts tossed in a spring onion vinaigrette and topped with crispy wantons and tossed sesame seeds. The salad is garnished with hoisin sauce, which is a great combination to the roasted duck.

Spaghettini Vongole is a delicious pasta dish with mixed seafood containing clams, shrimp, calamari, and zucchini in white wine and broth, tossed with spaghettini and basil.

Roasted Duck Pizza is one of a kind. It's the first time I've encountered a restaurant offering such a pizza variant. It contains shredded duck, shiitake mushrooms, mozzarella and hoisin sauce. I love its garnishing of wontons, more hoisin sauce and slivered scallions.

Black Pepper Beef Linguini is another pasta dish that caught my taste buds. The beef is sauteed with onions and peppers in black pepper sauce and topped with slivered scallions.

California Pizza Kitchen offers both regular crush and thin-crust pizzas. This one is called Roasted Artichoke and Spinach Pizza cooked on thin crust. It has oven-roasted artichoke hearts, spinach, garlic, fontina, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses with spinach artichoke sauce. I love this pizza!

This homegrown Mudpie made with Oreo would really be a great dessert to top off your CPK experience. It contains ice cream that is especially made by CPK chefs, where it mixes the flavors and textures of chocolate-coated Oreo cookies, hot fudge, whipped cream and Oreo cookie. It's not very sweet nor bland, so it's really a must try.

With a wide array and better set of choices, diners at the California Pizza Kitchen can surely treat the palettes to a global adventure right on the table. We can be as adventurous as we want to mix and match orders according to what will satisfy us.

What I like about CPK is that they are customer-centered in such a way that they give in to customer's wants as much as they can. For example: if you want to order a dish no longer offered but previously available in their menu, you can request for it and they'll see if they still have the ingredients. Another example: if you don't want nuts, garlic, onions on your dish, you can inform them and they'll suggest if the dish will still taste delicious even without those ingredients.

For me, California Pizza Kitchen sets apart itself from all other pizza chains because of their menu offerings that you cannot find in other restaurants. From appetizers to desserts, you'd surely find something on their menu that will definitely make your tummy happy.

To date, CPK can be found in the following locations: Glorietta 3, Alabang Town Center, Shangri-la Plaza Mall, TriNoma, Greenhills Promenade Mall, Power Plant Mall, and Greenbelt 5.

New beverages are in CPK's funnel already. Watch out for it in September or October.

Check out their website or Facebook fan page for updates on promos, giveaways, and new menu offerings. Bon apetite!

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Go Negosyo Young Entrepreneurs Summit 2011

In this day and age, most young people strive to come up with great ideas in order to build their own businesses. However, this may be quite difficult especially for fresh graduates who are looking into going to the entrepreneurial path rather than working for some corporation.

Go Negosyo in partnership with Smart Communications and The Philippine Star invites everyone to attend the Young Entrepreneurs Summit 2011 on September 23, 2011 at the World Trade Center. There will be several outstanding speakers who will definitely inspire the young minds to bring out the best ideas there are.

Admission is FREE for students and teachers. Exhibitors and sponsors are also welcome to call Ideal Events at 384-8741, 492-3837, 861-2762, 861-2763, 431-3496(telefax).

Press Release follows:

Following the success of last year’s Youth Summit, which inspired more than 18,000 aspiring and existing small entrepreneurs, Go Negosyo is having its third Young Entrepreneurs Summit this September 23, 2011 at the World Trade Center. Themed Be Smart, Be Enterprising, the Summit will gather together the entrepreneurs of tomorrow, youth from different high schools and colleges, to reinforce an enterprising spirit and to empower them with the relevant entrepreneurship tools to help them move up in life.

The day will be filled with opportunities of listening and meeting the country’s best speakers such as Gibo Teodoro, Bo Sanchez, Mike Enriquez, Josiah Go, Henry Tenedero, Michael Angelo Lobrin and Roselle Ambubuyog whose insights will surely inspire the young to discover the best in themselves and work at succeeding in life. Young celebrities such as Cristalle Henares, Bam Aquino, RJ David, Kenneth Cobonpue and Iliac Diaz will also be present to share personal motivations in becoming the icons that they are today.

A hundred exciting business ideas await the participants in the expo and student bazaar.

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HiSense Mono Headset Mini HB200M

Several years ago when wireless Bluetooth headsets were still new to the techie scene, I've already wanted to get one for myself in order to aid me in taking calls. It looks so professional, not to mention cool, and has that “look Ma, no hands!” feel to it. But that never materialized, because it was too expensive at that time, so I did not bother.

Today, we are constantly bombarded with so much streams of communication that multi-tasking is key.

If you’re a mobile professional or if you’re just too busy to pick up your phone and hold it throughout the duration of the call with your hands, you might want to give the HiSense Mono Headset Mini HB200M a look.

At first glance, this Bluetooth headset doesn’t seem any different from the rest of the headsets out there. But looks can be deceiving! Look at its specifications:

• 150 hours standby time (6 days!)
• 5.5 hours talking time (Talk while on the road from Manila to Baguio!)
• 7.5 grams in weight (A 5 peso coin is heavier!)
• 10 meters operating range (Thirsty from all that talking? Leave your phone and get a drink!)

What I like about the Mini HB200M Bluetooth headset is its functionality. Aside from just the usual answering or ending a call, using the Multi-Function Button on the headset allows me to also reject a call, do voice dialing, last number redial, put a call on hold, call waiting, and pair with my device -- all using a single button.

Be warned though, it takes a bit of time to memorize the corresponding “button action” to get the right command. I myself accidentally dropped a call when I was only trying to put someone on hold. Good thing he didn't get mad at me.

The HiSense Mini HB200M headset comes with a lot of accessories. By understanding that all ears are not made equal in sizes and each one has his own preference, HiSense provided different ear bud sizes, including an in-ear bud.

What also sets them apart is the option to wear it around your neck as a pendant. When you’re not actually on a call, you don’t need to leave it on your ear and look like a douche anymore. That's really cool - a headset and a necklace in one.

In addition, don’t you just hate it when you have more than one phone and you have to go through the hassle of pairing it with one phone and then switching to the other? Well worry not, friends! The Mini HB200M lets you pair with two devices - it can be either two phones or one phone and a computer for your VoIP calls.

Pairing the headset with my iPhone 4 and old Sony Ericsson K800i, I can say that it was fast and seamless. In terms of sound quality, the HiSense Mono Headset Mini HB200M provides clear sounds even on environments with minor noises.

There are of course drawbacks to the headset. Due to the small size of the actual Bluetooth headset, there was no way to adjust the volume in itself. This means that you will have to use your phone to adjust the sound.

Also, some people might find the headset’s charger a turn off because of its size and weight. If you travel a lot, bringing the AC charger will be a small pain. However, you could opt to just bring the complementary cable that can be connected to a USB port.

Ultimately, the HiSense Mono Headset Mini HB200M combines style and functionality. It comes in five different colors - silver, champagne, red, green, white.

Suggested Retail Price: Php1,950.00 Php1,450.00

Available at the following stores:

• Digital Hub
• Digital Walker
• Beyond the Box
• ADI Gadget World - Park Square 1
• 5th Ave. - Shangri-la Mall
• ComCentre - Sta. Lucia
• Power Telecom Shop - SM North EDSA Annex
• Techno Mobile Hub - SM Marikina
• New Venice - Park Square 1
• Topnet - SM Megamall
• Sir Lance - Festival Mall
• Oxvor - Star Mall Alabang
• Cell Power Sales
• Unitech
• Jerry Solutions
• Eyo Sales
• Itelecom
• Mobile Care
• Bluelite
• Round Circle - Festival Mall
• Star Circle - Star Mall Alabang
• Celvitek
• Firt Choice Cellshoppe
• Mobile Experts - Park Square 1
• Owtel - Star Mall EDSA Shaw
• Cyber Widgets - SM Masinag
• BSD - Mall of Asia
• Techno Kid - SM San Lazaro
• Techtel - Robinson's Ermita
• Bionic HD

Editor's Note: This article was written by Jamie Que, a special writer and contributor of Glich's Life. Revisions were done by yours truly prior to posting. You can follow her on Twitter (@jamminjem) - Glenn / Glich

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Beware of Fitness First Robbers sponsored by Syndicate Groups

I've been a member of Fitness First for quite some time and have heard of several unfortunate incidents concerning lost items of members. Lucky enough, I haven't been a victim (and hoping will never be).

The robbing happens inside the locker rooms while the member is out on the floor working out. While some of the Fitness First branches have sensor locks, most still have the usual key locks. And all of the stories I've heard were all those that can be opened using keys.

If cars can be opened and car-napped using metal wires and forks, then lockers can surely be opened the same way. Unless, of course, it's an inside job, which I hope is not.

Today, I saw a post of a certain Carla Tan who faced a dreadful incident. Apparently, her dad's locker that contained everything including wallet was robbed with money and credit cards. Carla writes her story and I quote (with her permission):

July 22, 2011: At around 11:45am, my dad arrived at Fitness First North Edsa. As usual, he stored his bag inside the gym's locker. He keeps everything inside his bag, he has been doing this for the past 2-3 years.

At 1:37pm, Citibank called up my mom checking if my dad is currently using his card at Landmark Trinoma grocery. My parents got alarmed and my dad checked his wallet. He found out that his 2 citibank credit cards were missing (1 classic and 1 gold). He immediately told the agent to block this two credit cards. And then, we went to Landmark to check with the security office and to report the incident (kasi we were hoping that the suspect was still in the mall).

When we went to the grocery, we found that he placed all the grocery items in the package counter. We stayed there hoping he would come back for it. After 30mins of waiting, he came back for it and the landmark security went after him (the cashier was able to identify the suspect).

He was detained in the security office of landmark and he was acting innocent at first. At that time, he was carrying all items he purchased. Eventually, he admitted the crime to the commander of the security office. We found the two credit cards with him and my dad asked if he took some money as well. According to him, he took 1000php but syempre we don't believe him kasi my dad is also not sure how much money ang nawala.

This suspect is a fitness first platinum member in rcbc tower and he lives in cityland pasong tamo, makati ("daw"). So, i was wondering what was he doing in north edsa if he lives in makati! Modus operandi?! And how can he afford the monthly dues (mas mahal pa sa platinum!)?! He didn't have any ids with him at that time and so, we don't know if his name (Joselito Cruz) is real. The suspect was also insisting that my dad didn't close his locker and that was how he was able to get the cards and cash! But of course, we didn't believe him kasi you cannot get the key without closing the locker! Ginawa pa akong bobo! kainis! He then just said that he just tried to open my dad's locker using his key - hello?! is that even possible?! eh all keys are unique kaya! The locker was not damaged kaya baka inside job din! :(

The suspect spent 23,000 in grocery items (divided into 3 transactions - para di ma-obvious diba?), 34k nikon d3100 camera with tripod, 27k gold bracelet plus 6k worth of gym apparels. The whole ordeal lasted for 8 hours (6hours in landmark security office and 2 hours in the precint) but we were lucky since we were able to retrieve all the items he purchased. The suspect was even asking if we can just settle it. Hello?! Ano sya hilo?! He then ask how much will be the bail?! Exagg!

In the precint, the suspect admitted that the name "Joselito Cruz" is not his real name. His real name daw is "Acel Cortes" and he is gay (medyo obvious naman when i was talking to him medyo malamya magsalita)! He also admitted that this is a modus operandi aka sindicato - the sindicato pays for the dues and they have this people go around the fitness first branches to rob the lockers of the members.

I know hassle and time-consuming to pursue this case but we are determined to really pursue it. I believe that justice will be served!

So, to all FITNESS FIRST MEMBERS, PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!

The revelation of this robber Acel Cortes a.k.a. Joselito Cruz alarmed me the most. Robbers inside Fitness First clubs are being sponsored by syndicate groups to steal and rob the things of authentic members, and we can be the next victims!

Here are some of my questions:

1. Where are the guards of Fitness First when this happened? Shouldn't they increase the number of guards inside the locker room, since a lot of members are experiencing robbery?
2. How come Fitness First has not yet changed all their clubs' locks to sensors? I think it's safer than key locks.
3. How did it happen that Joselito Cruz got his ID with his fake name on it? Does Fitness First need to strengthen their verification process for new members?
4. Even if the club warns members not leave valuable things inside the lockers, can we really prevent that from happening? That would mean the member should only bring himself and nothing else!

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A Tough Nut to Crack

A BlackBerry smartphone isn’t our usual mobile device. Since the network providers started offering affordable BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) plans here in the Philippines, Pinoys started to appreciate its unique features and uses, and began flocking to the stores to get one.

What’s really in a BlackBerry that makes it sell? I recall an instance when a celebrity was telling me about how useful his BlackBerry was; especially that he has a lot of friends and family members outside the Philippines. Now that I personally own one, I understand what he’s talking about.

How about others? What do they think?

Just recently, we conducted a survey to a small group of BlackBerry users and asked them the following: (1) mobile brand they used prior to BlackBerry, (2) what they like most about BlackBerry, (3) what needs to be improved, (4) significant impact of BlackBerry in their lives, and (5) the reasons to ditch the BlackBerry.

While RIM has won a lot of customers into using a BlackBerry, it’s very unfortunate that most of the “switchers” are the previously loyal users of the Symbian platform.

Indeed, it is a true testament that quantity does not win over functionality. Even if RIM has only released quite a few models, its unique messaging and social networking functionalities have kept the company’s sales on track.

In retrospect, we know that Filipinos are naturally cheerful and hard working. We love to talk, to check up on friends, and to share even the small things we encounter every day. We try to juggle several things and still manage to be able to live up to all our day-to-day responsibilities.

This is why BlackBerry’s push email, Twitter and Facebook, instant messaging, and BlackBerry Messenger are key features that Filipinos have learned to love, not to mention its fun-to-use QWERTY keypad and cool trackpad.

With the BIS conveniently in our hands, BlackBerry has definitely given freedom and flexibility of communication to users.

Push email has enabled businessmen to leave the office without their laptops and still be able to answer emails anywhere and everywhere.

BlackBerry Messenger has provided families and friends overseas ways to be connected to their loved ones who were left behind. Also, meetings became very handy and light, since notes are automatically kept in the phones and conversations are recorded instantly.

Lastly, social networking applications have aided in improving social interaction, building positive relationships, and providing more awareness on critical matters of the society.

Even with its outstanding characteristics, the BlackBerry also has areas of improvement. Most users would like to see a higher resolution, to have a better camera, to get a bigger storage space, to use better applications, and to feel a faster data processor. All these would surely give users a better mobile experience, whether for business or for fun.

Survey respondents have also said that they will give up their BlackBerry if and when another brand has managed to come up with features close to what RIM offers today which is very unlikely as BlackBerry has features that other smartphones don’t have or have yet to master.

As other manufacturers strive to steal RIM’s market share, there’s surely a lot of work to be done in order to stay in the game. The challenges now lie on how fast RIM will catch up on current innovations and how they will use their present strengths in order to lessen the threats of upcoming phones.

This article is my twenty-seventh contribution to Manila Bulletin -- one of the Philippines' leading broadsheets -- published on August 10, 2011 (Wednesday) in the Tech101 Section. You can view the PDF version here.

Photo Source: Manila Bulletin

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People Magazine names Justin Bieber as Hollywood's Richest Teen

Justin Bieber's success in various entertainment platforms has landed him at the number one spot in People Magazine's list of richest teens in Hollywood.

Earning $53 million between May 2010 and May 2011, Bieber soared mainly in his 3D documentary concert film "Never Say Never," which got $100 million box office receipts. The said film is considered to be the top grossing concert film of all time, beating both the late Michael Jackson's documentary "This Is It" and Miley Cyrus' "Best of Both Worlds."

Aside from the blockbuster concert film, the sales of Bieber's new perfume called Someday also helped boost his earnings. Whether in music, movie, or perfumes, Justin Bieber has definitely captured the hearts of many - there's no question to that.

Young as he is, what will he do with that huge money?

Recently, he was reportedly known to have splashed out $25,000 for a necklace with the assistance of Beverly Hills jeweller Jason Arasheben. This new piece of jewelry is based on animated 'Family Guy' talking baby Stewie Griffin - voice by Seth McFarlane - and features 12 carats of rubies and diamonds.

Will he be able to maintain his spot on the next release of People Magazine's list?

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Thanks, Digicon!

They say, "no man is an island." Do you agree? I really, really do. I always look forward to spending time with friends, because it is when exchange of stories, chismax, and experiences happen. For me, being with them is where I can get out of my comfort zone and break free from all the stress of life and work.

It felt awesome to see my Digicon friends again last night, after missing them for almost a month. It was a work *slash* dinner meeting, but because of the dynamism of everyone, turned out to be a sharing session of some sort as well. I enjoyed every bit of it! I'm sure my friend Sabrina would agree with me.

I consider Digicon as my second family. It is with them that I feel comfortable showing whatever kind of emotion I have. It is often with them when I wish the night would not end, because that would mean we'll part ways again.

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares. ~Henri Nouwen

I'm overflowing with gratitude to friends who stick around through thick and thin, who makes me feel appreciated and important whether in small or big things, and who says things frankly even if it means to be hurting. 

Thanks for the wonderful memories, Digicon! *Group hug!*

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