My Packing List: Why I Love the Envirosax

My Packing List: Why I Love the Envirosax

The envirosax is an essential item in any traveler's list. I strongly recommend that you have this item in your handbag or backpack at all times, especially if you're a mom traveling with kids.

WHAT IS THE ENVIROSAX?

The envirosax is a reuseable bag. But it's not your ordinary reuseable bag. I love it for it's special qualities that I'll discuss below.

WHY I LOVE THE ENVIROSAX

1. It's a large foldable bag that can accommodate so many items. It's measured 19.7"x 16.5 " in size. From my experience, I'm able to pack a lot of groceries in it. 

Just to give you an idea, how large it is, these are example of items I was able to carry in an envirosax bag:

a. a 19 inch lcd computer monitor weighing 2 kilos.

b. 4 regular sized shoe boxes

c. 4 2-liter bottles of softdrinks.

2. According to their website, the bag has been tested to hold at least 44 lbs of weight without the straps and the bag itself giving in. 

I have not carried that much weight in a bag. But I have carried 4 pcs 2-liter bottles of softdrinks in it and the straps didn't give in. Since the bag has been actually tested to carry this much weight, you are reassured the straps or the bag itself won't give in 

3. It's foldable into a small piece as shown below, the size of a sushi as stated in its website.

Instructions on how to fold it is sewn in the inner portion of the bag

It is shown below how easy it is to fold it:

Fold it in two

Fold the left side...

Fold the right side

Fold the top/ strap

Fold the one below

Then roll into a sushi

4. Its lightweight and not bulky like other cheaper foldable bags so it doesn't take up much space in the bag.

5. It's stylish.

Since it's stylish, there's greater probability that you will use it in any occasion.

I make it a point to buy one that suits a female holding it, and another one with a male in mind just in case my son or husband happens to carry it.

WHERE TO BUY
At all Fully Booked branches. Check out the branches here

You can see it in these containers at all Fully Booked stores.

6. It's waterproof.

It's made of waterproof polyester so the items you carry will surely be protected in case it rains. At one time, I even used it to protect myself from getting wet when it unexpectedly rained. In that sense, it served an additional and unexpected purpose.

PRICE:

375 pesos. It's worth the price considering it's durability and usefulness.

Groupon Voucher Review: House of Obagi Signature Facial Treatment

Groupon Voucher Review:

House of Obagi Signature Facial Treatment

Price: 1750 pesos (regular price is 3500 pesos)

Procedure:

The facial treatment lasts for 70 minutes, and administered as follows:

1. Cleansing of the face with Obagi cleanser.

2. Washing off the cleanser with a sponge.

3. Pressure point massage of the face. 

4. Application of an exfoliating scrub. 

5. Washing off the exfoliating scrub with a sponge.

6. Facial steam with eye patch.

7. Head, shoulder massage during facial steam.

8. Vacuum the face to remove the dirt surfacing after facial steam.

9. Extraction of white heads and blackheads.

10. Use of a machine roller to close pores on face.

11. Application of facial mask

12. Washing of facial mask.

13. Application of Profession-C serum (Vitamin C) on the eye and face.

14. Use of Galvanic machine to push the serum onto the face to make sure it penetrates.

15. Application of Obagi Clear.

16. Application of Sunblock

My opinion:

Highly recommended.  Obagi products are known to be very good but very expensive. If you cannot afford the daily use of Obagi products, you can enjoy it's full benefits through the occasional Obagi Signature Facial treatment. At 1,700 pesos, this is definitely value for money. Even if it's 50% off the regular price, you are not shortchanged during the treatment. You get the full value and service of a regular-priced treatment.

Location:

I had my signature facial at House of Obagi, Trinoma. The service was great.

Groupon Voucher Review: Ninyo Fusion Cuisine Fine Dining Set Menu for Two

Groupon Voucher Review: 

Ninyo Fusion Cuisine 

Fine Dining Set Menu for Two

Price: 

1660 pesos (3220 pesos value) for 2 persons, inclusive of taxes, not including 10% service charge, which is 166 pesos.

Menu for 2 persons: 

Nasu Miso

Japanese eggplant, pan-fried dressed with a sweet and savory miso glaze - 2 orders

Nori Pumpkin Soup

Creamy pumpkin soup served with pumpkin flower tempura - 2 orders

Shiitaki Confit Salad

with honey ponzu dressing sprinkled with crispy julliened tofu,
 seasonal fruits and assorted mixed greens - 2 orders

Yuzu Sorbet
This simple sorbet is refreshing and filled with 
the complex citrusy-floral flavor of yuzu fruit - 2 orders

Entrée – Beef or Fish | 2 orders 

(choice of either: 2 Beef / 2 Fish / 1 Beef & 1 Fish)

Fish: Salmon confit in wasabi caviar cream sauce

Beef: Grilled U.S. clod tender in garlic soy marinade served with 
grilled japanese sweet corn and seasonal vegetables

Green Tea Panna Cotta
a cool custard with green tea infusion - 2 orders

2 glasses of Wine Sangria

made of cabernet red wine mixed with cranberry extract, 
apple and pineapple bits - 2 orders

My opinion:

This meal is good value for the price of 840 pesos per set menu/per head, but not for the regular price of 1660 per set menu/per head. If you see another groupon offer from Ninyo with this price, it's value for money.

Comment on the service: 

1. Fast service. The food was served to us immediately.

2. Good but not fine dining quality. The waiters didn't notice we didn't have cloth napkins until we asked for it half-way through the meal.

Comment on the food:

I liked the pumpkin soup. The salmon dish was good. The panna cotta was soft and refreshing. The salad and appetizer was just ordinary but tasted fine.

Comment on the ambience:

It's being advertised as a romantic dinner for 2. But the small place of the restaurant does not afford too much privacy for couples. Make sure to request to be seated downstairs. The ambience is better downstairs than the second floor where we were seated.

Ninyo Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge

66 Esteban Abada Street, Loyola Heights, Q.C.

Tel. 4260301

Facebook page: 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/NINYO-Fusion-Cuisine-Wine-Lounge/212177541624

MY JOSE RIZAL TOUR SERIES: Rizal in HONG KONG (November 1891- June 1892)

MY JOSE RIZAL TOUR SERIES: 
Rizal in HONG KONG (November 1891- June 1892)

Jose Rizal, is the national hero of the Philippines. He was born on June 19, 1861 at Calamba, Laguna and died by firing squad on December 30, 1896 at Rizal Park at the age of 35. He was charged and convicted of rebellion by the Spanish court and sentenced to death.

HIGHLIGHTS OF RIZAL'S LIFE IN HONG KONG

1. This is where Rizal planned a new organization which was later to be named, La Liga Filipina. 

The source of this information was a letter from Graciano Lopez Jaena written to Jose Rizal in February 1892 while Rizal was in Hong Kong which mentioned Rizal founding an association named Liga in Hong Kong. (See page 331, of "The First Filipino" by Leon Ma. Guerrero.)

Also, when the revolution started, statements were made to authorities that the Liga statutes were sent by Rizal from Hong Kong.  (See page 332, of "The First Filipino" by Leon Ma. Guerrero.)

2. This is where Rizal formed the idea of establishing a Filipino colony in North Borneo (Sabah). And from Hong Kong, he went to North Borneo (Sabah) and successfully negotiated the terms of the settlement with W.B Pryor, the administrator of North Borneo.(See page 336-337, of "The First Filipino" by Leon Ma. Guerrero.)

His intention was to relocate his family there and around 300 families from Calamba who were evicted and being persecuted by the Dominican friars for failure to pay the rent on the land they are tilling.

3. Rizal started writing in Tagalog the 3rd volume of his novel (the first is the "Noli Me Tangere", and the second is the "El Filibusterismo.")

OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT RIZAL'S LIFE IN HONG KONG:

1. He was practicing his profession and was a successful opthalmic surgeon.

2. Almost a month after he arrived in Hong Kong, he was able to bring his father, brother and brother-in-law, and later, his mother and some sisters to stay with him in Hong Kong to escape the persecution of the friars. For a few months, they were happy together, before Rizal returned to the Philippines to be arrested by the Spaniards.

GREAT SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON RIZAL'S LIFE IN HONG KONG:

1. The book, "The First Filipino", by Leon Ma. Guerrero.

See Chapter XV: A Choice of Islands (pp. 319-343)

2. The website Life and Writings of Dr. Jose Rizal by Dr. Robert L. Yoder

See Chapter 12: Hong Kong at http://joserizal.info/Biography/man_and_martyr/chapter12.htm

The ownership of the website Rizal's Life and Writings at joserizal.info was formally turned over by Dr. Yoder to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines on February 28, 2013. See more details of the news here.

3.  The website of the Jose Rizal University

Timeline of Rizal's life in Hong Kong at http://www.joserizal.ph/tr48.html

THE VIDEO BELOW IS A BRIEF SUMMARY OF RIZAL'S LIFE IN HONG KONG (courtesy of Gadnat)

TO FOLLOW THE FOOTSTEPS OF RIZAL IN HONG KONG, WE VISITED TWO PLACES:

1. The Clinic of Dr. Jose Rizal at D' Aguilar Street

2. The residence of Dr. Jose Rizal at Rednaxela Terrace


Map of the tour is shown below:

View Hong Kong in a larger map 

The red dots are the location of both places

THE CLINIC AT D' AGUILAR STREET

How to get there:


1. Exit the Central MTR station at Queen's Road.

This is what you will see when you exit the Central MTR station at Queen's Road

2. D'Aguilar Street is perpendicular to Queen's Road.

3. Jose Rizal's clinic near the corner of D'Aguilar Street and Stanley Street, beside Hublot store. Hublot store is at the corner of D' Aguilar Street and Stanley Street

This is D' Aguilar street.
The clinic is the one with the red gate

What you will see:

The clinic is used to be located where the Century Square building stands.

THE RESIDENCE AT REDNAXELA TERRACE

How to get there:

1. From D'Aguilar Street, walk back to Queen's Road

2. Walk along Queen's Road going toward Cochrane Street.

3. Ride the Central Mid-level escalator at Cochrane Street.

4. Follow the Central Mid-level escalator till Caine Street.

This is Caine street. You cannot cross the street so you need to go up the walkway.

Rednaxela terrace is near Jamia Masjid.

5. Cross Caine Street through the pedestrian walkway.

7. Rednaxela Terrace is to your right.

Dr. Jose Rizal's unit is no. 2 so it's further at the back.

What you will see:

'

Although the marker is posted here, Dr. Jose Rizal's residence is still further at the back of this path up the stairs.

The path beyond the stairs

Dr. Jose Rizal's residence is around this area.

He paid thirty-five pesos (P35.00) to D. Mallunko for the rent on the premises of A-2 Rednaxela from January 1st to 31st. (http://www.joserizal.ph/tr48.html)

Shows the steep route that Dr. Jose Rizal takes to go to his clinic at D' Aguilar Street

Lang Leav in Manila: Artist's Talk and Book Signing at the Ateneo

Lang Leav in Manila: 
Artist's Talk and Book Signing at the Ateneo

It was by accident that I attended Lang Leav's book signing. The real fan of Love and Misadventure and Lang Leav is my daughter, Marge. She was so excited to get a slot at the online pre-registration for the artist's talk at Ateneo. Then, her school scheduled a retreat so dismissal time went beyond the usual time. 

Hoping she will able to catch up after the retreat, I volunteered to hold her slot at the talk and book signing. But the retreat went overtime. So she missed it.

For the multitudes of fans who wanted to attend this talk and book signing but couldn't for some reason or another, I'm making this post to share with you the wonderful experience I had during this event.

At the entrance of the venue
At the 5th floor of the Rizal Library of the Ateneo de Manila University, Q,C.

Registration for the talk and the book signing
Fully booked personnel checks if your book has a Fully Booked sticker or receipt.
Then you are given a numbered stub for the book signing.

In case you don't have a Fully Booked sticker or receipt, 
or if you bought Love and Misadventures at a different bookstore, 
you can buy books at the venue.

HIGHLIGHT OF EVENTS DURING THE ARTIST'S TALK

FIRST PART: Lang Leav talks about her life and how she stumbled upon her talent writing poetry. Below is a partial video of her talking about her life.

SECOND PART: Question and Answer portion. The audience were allowed to request Lang Leav to read their favorite poems from Love and Misadventures. 

Below are videos of some of the poems she read:

Listen to Lang Leav read "The Wanderer", "Souls" and "All or Nothing"

Listen to Lang Leav read "Angels"

Listen to Lang Leav read her favorite poem "Sea of Strangers"

THIRD PART: Book Signing and Photo Opportunity

People are requested to line up  for the book signing based on their numbered stubs.

After book signing, you can have your photo taken with Lang Leav.
Fully Booked assigned someone to stand at the front of the line to take your photo using your camera or smartphone.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FULLY BOOKED STAFF FOR ALL THE CONSIDERATION THEY EXTENDED TO ME. THEY TRIED TO WAIT FOR MY DAUGHTER TO CATCH UP FROM THE RETREAT SO SHE CAN MEET HER FAVORITE AUTHOR, WHICH CAN BE A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EVENT. THEY WERE SO CONSIDERATE AS TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT IS TO BE A FAN OF AN AUTHOR WHOSE BOOK YOU LOVE SO MUCH.

I NOW UNDERSTAND WHY FULLY BOOKED IS NOT JUST YOUR ORDINARY BOOKSTORE. IT IS MANAGED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE BOOK LOVERS THEMSELVES AND COULD UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION THEIR CLIENTS CAN HAVE WITH THE AUTHORS OF THE BOOKS THEY READ.

Lang Leav gave this special message to my daughter, Marge, who would've been truly disappointed at not meeting her. 

This video definitely compensated for it.

Thank you, Ms. Lang Leav, for being so generous with your time!

Then she signed Marge's copy of the book "Love and Misadventure"

Lang Leav and I

IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE FULL COVERAGE OF THE ARTIST'S TALK,

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO BELOW COURTESY OF FULLYBOOKEDVIDEO: