6 Reasons Why We Need to Have a Travel Insurance?

Filipinos love to travel. You can actually see our kababayans practically everywhere. But by doing so we are leaving ourselves open to a range of risks that could be mitigated simply by spending a few pesos on a travel insurance policy.

Here, I have rounded up 5 reasons why every traveler should invest in a reliable and trusted travel insurance. Read on...

You'll avoid hefty medical bills

Of course, we do not wan to anticipate anything bad to happen to us while we were supposed to enjoy on our travels. But should you require any healthcare overseas, you can end up paying out for huge medical bills, even if you use your international HMO cards as they manage to take advantage of reciprocal arrangements from concerned companies. When you find out the costs it’s possible to incur, it’s easy to see why some Pinoys say medical fees are their main reason for taking out cover before a holiday.

Trusted insurance company Malayan Insurance has Travel Master which you can purchase conveniently online can be your passport towards worry-free travels both here and abroad. I could  recall the time when my mom and I went through a vehicular accident in the summer of 2014 in an adventure theme park in Porac, Pampanga where my mom has suffered from fractured femur which eventually caused her to undergo partial hip prosthesis, thereby leaving her with a limp and a cane (and made her a certified PWD) for the rest of her life. 

If only I could turn back time, I wished I had gotten us a travel insurance so that it would not have been so difficult for me and my mom. I remember at the time I didn't know exactly what to do since it was the very first time I had encountered an accident and we were out of town. What supposed to be a day of fun and excitement at the said adventure theme park ended up into something as tragic as an accident on an ATV. If we had a travel insurance then, perhaps, things would have been better. I'm sure it would have been easier for me to transport and travel my mom back to Manila and I would've been able to save more money if we had a travel insurance to rely on. But since we didn't had any at the time, we spent a really huge amount of money. I keep thanking God and all the love I had received from kind-hearted friends of ours who helped us in such difficult ordeal in our lives. 

The number one reason why people take travel insurance, however the key is to make sure you are adequately insured. Medical bills nowadays can be colossal and in some countries public hospitals can be in poor condition (like in ours, unfortunately). Ideally you want a full medical travel cover so that you are covered in a private hospital and for air ambulance, should you not be able to come home on a commercial flight. 

Buying a travel insurance policy with sufficient medical coverage will protect you from those bills, ensuring you can get treatment as and when you need it. 

You'll be covered if you lose your belongings/theft

Many of us travel away with a range of goods from clothes to electrical items, toiletries to jewellery. Yet if you lose these items or they are stolen and you don’t have travel insurance, you could be left to cover the cost of replacements.

You could, of course, claim on your home insurance policy, but this will only work if it covers you for taking your items overseas. And even if it does, claiming on your home insurance will put your premiums up for the next year.

As a result, it makes much more sense to buy a travel insurance policy for peace of mind. Make sure it also includes cover for your travel money so that you’re protected for loss or theft of your cash.

Every holiday destination has it’s tourist trap. Pickpockets and robberies are not uncommon in large cities and holiday resorts, particularly during the peak season. Although expensive items need to covered on your house policy, travel insurance will cover you for loss of money and even replacement passports. Amounts covered vary depending on the policy you choose so make sure you read your policy document to see how much you are covered for.

Top tip: If you are unlucky to have items stolen on you, make sure you call the police. Travel Insurance companies rarely refund expenses without an official police report.

Guide: Spring Film Festival 2018 at the Shangri-La Cineplex

One thing I had always looked forward to during the month of February isn't exactly Valentine's Day (I actually dread that day, sorry), but the annual Spring Film Festival. Now on their 12th year, the Spring Film Festival is one of the much-anticipated film festivals happening at the Shang Cineplex. It is participated by many Chinese-Filipino communities. Organized and hosted by the Ateneo de Manila University’s Ricardo Leong Center for Chinese Studies, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, as well as Ateneo de Manila’s own CHinese student organization, the Ateneo Celadon. The said film festival aims to bring forth the joys and share the rich Chinese culture and traditions as well as a venue to showcase the artistry of the Chinese films.

With an awesome line up of feature films, the annual free film screenings will surely be something not to be missed. The said festival has also extended its reach as it will now be held simultaneously in five other cities such as Baguio City, Cebu City, Davao City, Iloilo City and Cagayan de Oro City.

They will be featuring six full-length films covering different exciting genres such as comedy, romance, suspense and horror, an eclectic mix that will sure to delight audiences from all walks of life. The Spring Chinese Film Festival will be OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, FREE ADMISSION on a first come, first served basis.

AMMUNITION IN BATTLING HAIR LOSS – CHOOSE NATURAL!

Press release:

Day-to-day, you rise up and there are tons of things to do like go to the office, finish paperwork, and go back home. This might be what you call your lonely and humdrum life. Everyday is a struggle for you. Your only defense against pollution, sleep deprivation and daily grind is to look best. With this, you can’t go to the battle ground unarmed. Tragically, your ammunition of beauty products is mostly made of hazardous chemicals; you win some, you lose some. Sooner or later, they shall take a toll on you.

Don’t just go with the flow. Change your direction. NOVUHAIR can show you the way, hence, it is dubbed as nature’s answer to hair loss. All its natural ingredients are scientifically proven to help promote hair growth. This way, you have no reason to go back to your old ways. Alter your regimen now if you can’t change the routine and finally admit that it’s time to part ways with chemically-laced products you keep in your vanity kit and say hello to NOVUHAIR. You can never go wrong with nature. Choose natural!

       Now, you can optimize your NOVUHAIR experience with NOVUHAIR 3-in-1 pack (topical scalp lotion, herbal shampoo and conditioner) and enjoy an extra 200ml. bottle of NOVUHAIR Herbal Shampoo for FREE exclusive at participating Watsons stores nationwide! 

 DOH-FDA CCRR No. 1040 s. 2017

          Avail NOVUHAIR 3-IN-1 NEW YEAR PROMO PACK exclusive at the following participating WATSONS stores nationwide:

·         SM Mall of Asia 1, SM Megamall A, SM Megamall A3 Daimaru

·         SM North Edsa Main 2, Fisher Mall, SM City Fairview Mall 1

·         SM Makati Mall 3, SM Makati Hypermarket, Oriental Gardens Makati, Market! Market!

·         Robinsons Place Manila, SM San Lazaro Supermarket, SM San Lazaro Mall 1, Savemore Laong Laan 2, SM Sta. Mesa Mall 3, SM Sta. Mesa Centerpoint 3

·         SM Masinag, Savemore Rempson Marikina, SM Taytay Rizal

·         SM Marilao Hypermarket, SM Pampanga Annex, SM Pampanga Mall 1, SM Clark Mall, Savemore Dinalupihan, Waltermart San Fernando Pampanga

·         SM Southmall 5, SM Bicutan Mall B-2 Hypermarket, Festival Mall, Orofino Bldg. Dona Soledad

·         SM Sta. Rosa Mall, SM Sta. Rosa Supermarket, Waltermart Sta. Rosa, SM Calamba, Waltermart Cabuyao

·         SM Bacoor Mall 2, SM Dasmarinas Mall 3, Premier Plaza Mall Silang Cavite, Waltermart Trece Martires, Kadiwa Cavite Hypermarket, Lumina Point Cavite

·         SM Lipa Mall, SM Lipa Supermarket, Waltermart Tanaunan, SM Batangas Mall 1, Waltermart Nasugbu

·         SM Lucena, SM Naga Mall, J.S Arcilla Bldg. Tabaco

·         Ayala Center Cebu

·         SM Davao Mall 1

For inquiries, call 413-6570 or 0922-8830575, visit NOVUHAIR Facebook Page (Novuhair Official) or website at www.novuhair.com.  

What Chiropractic Adjustment Can Do for Your Overall Health?

Spinal Care Clinic at BGC is the only clinic in the country that offers Gonstead chiropractic method

Chiropractic is a health care profession dedicated to the non-surgical treatment of disorders of the nervous system and/or musculoskeletal system. Generally, chiropractors maintain a unique focus on spinal manipulation and treatment of surrounding structures. For a totally clueless Filipino like me, I used to associate chiropractic treatment with back aches alone, little did I know it could do so much more for our overall health and optimum wellness. I considered myself privileged for being able to get the facts straight from Gonstead chiropractic doctor himself, Dr. Daniel Su of Spinal Care Clinic at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. 

Resident Gonstead Chiropractor Doctor Dr. Daniel Su of Spinal Care Clinic

Who would have thought that apart from back aches and spinal problems, chiropractic adjustment can also help a lot of other health conditions such as diabetes, ADHD, mood swings and depression, diarrhea, pregnancy, etc. because it's supposed to target the spine which in reality affects everything. I guess the most common misconception that most Filipinos have for chiropractic adjustment would be something like the common "hilot." But it's actually far from the truth. 


It's also nice to note that just like I've mentioned earlier, even pregnant women under chiropractic care can benefit from less back pain, reduced pelvic and round ligament discomfort, reduction in pre-eclampsia, detection, prevention and correction of fetal malposition, shorter labor times, less back labor, reduced need for pain medication, more comfort while breastfeeding, greater production of breast milk and less incidence of post partum depression. And yes, even your skin will greatly improved. 

Dr. Daniel Su and his wife Ms. April Grace Olores, Spinal Care's Practice Manager

During my visit, I also learned that "Sitting is the new smoking." Yes, there are numerous harmful effects of sitting all day. There are modern day hazards brought about by prolonged sitting (especially with the kind of work we all have nowadays like those working for BPO companies). It has become a global problem because unknown to many, prolonged sitting decreases life expectancy, leads to chronic disease and further injury, causes muscular imbalances and affects every major system in the body. Why is that so? That's because our body was not designed to properly support such position long-term. Prolonged sitting is synonymous to physical inactivity which had a lot of adverse health effects. 

Free Mass Wedding for Pag-Ibig Fund Active Members this Valentine's Day

 Marriage for some people may just be a piece of paper, especially in this day and age where couples would either choose to live together under one roof (without the sanctity of marriage) or couples would end up in splitsville after things wouldn't work out between them. But for the hopeless romantic and conventional ones out there, they'd still want to get married because marriage somehow makes the said union official. I bet women in general would want to see themselves walk down the aisle too as they hold on their bouquet of flower and in their bridal gowns. 

Next month, February is going to be the month of hearts--yup, the dreaded Valentine's Day is fast approaching. People around would start to get cheesy and singles like me would be dreading that day simply because we had no one to share it with (of course, spending the commercialized V-day with the family is different when you share it with a significant other). So much for my drama, this blog post isn't about my own experience as a single. This is about a free mass wedding announcement for Pag-ibig Fund active members.

Natural Looking Wigs at Black Hairspray

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are mine.

There were really times when I just wanted to have a hair makeover in order to achieve a different look. I'd sometimes feel so frustrated that my hair doesn't have that bounce and shine, instead it was limp and lifeless. The only time it looks good and cooperates with me was after coming out fresh from the salon, after having my hair done by a professional stylist. I wanted to have my hair styled in a different way but I'm too afraid to try a new hairstyle that might not look good on me. So when I stumbled upon Black Hairspray, I realized I need not actually do something as drastic as cutting my hair off. One quick browse from the site and you'll see why so many people are blown away by lovely and natural-looking half wigs. 

Look at the photos below, they speak for themselves, they look and feel so real: 

Those wigs looked so real and others who have tried them on would swear that they also feel real. One can try on different hairstyles and experiment on colors too. I'd like to gift my dear friend in high school a Black Hairspray wig. She had just finished her chemotherapy treatment and I wanted to give her this because I know it will make her feel amazing. 

FamilyMart’s easy, tasty ways stick to your healthy eating New Year resolutions

Kani Salad

Press release:

The new year signals a fresh start for everyone. This is the perfect time to achieve that better version of yourself -  wiser, braver, and fitter. Always at the top of our resolutions list is to shed off a few pounds or to eat healthier. But sticking to that “become healthier” resolution could be quite the challenge when you’re always tempted to indulge and put off making a trip to the gym.

So, to ring in the new year and help you realistically commit to being healthy, FamilyMart offers you nutritious dishes made specially by the students of Enderun.

Caesar Salad

Get your dose of protein, fiber, and calcium from a classic Caesar Salad with crisp romaine lettuce, croutons, chicken, and parmesan. You can also opt for something a little bit richer but still filled with vitamins and minerals like Kani Salad composed of crab meat, mayonnaise, and greens. For something more filling, go for the Cobb Salad with all that good stuff like cheese and bacon but heavy on the greens to make it guilt-free. Healthy eating can also be easy on the pockets because these salads are only for P89 each. 

Cobb Salad

FamilyMart is also helping you get fit and fab with special offers from Yoga+. With a minimum purchase worth P150 on Live Light, and Live Right participating items, you can avail of a Trial Drop-In class for only P100. You can also upgrade the offer to an unlimited 2-week package by adding P899. Just visit www.yogaplus.ph to find a Yoga+ branch near you and for more details on their rates.

Converge ICT lends support to “My Dream in a Shoebox”

Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. recently lent its support to the “My Dream in a Shoebox” Gift-Giving Day activity for the benefit of the Payatas Orione Foundation. The event was held at the Mother of Divine Providence church grounds located in Payatas, Quezon City.

“My Dream in a Shoebox” is a long-running project that collects and distributes shoeboxes filled withschool supplies to poor and underprivileged Filipino children  around the country. It is spearheaded by TeamAsia together with the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines, Inc. (IBPAP).

It was the first time that Converge ICT participated in such an inspiring event in Metro Manila that was held in one of the most poverty-stricken areas in the metropolis. According to Ms. Mari-Au Acuesta, HR Director of Converge ICT, most of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) events were focused in Pampanga where Converge ICT traces its roots.

Converge ICT served as food sponsor for the more than 700 people, composed mostly of kids, their parents and volunteers. They also put up a photo booth and a face-painting area at the venue, the first time these were included in the gift-giving event. The photo booth and face painting truly delighted not

just the kids but also the kids-at- heart, who all patiently waited for their turn. The long lines were a testament to the fun-filled activities’ success.

Even Converge ICT personnel, particularly their graphics design team, did the face-painting themselves long after the professional face painters have left. This further elicited laughter among the kids who nonetheless remained wide-eyed with excitement.

“We were delighted to see the response of kids. They were all awed by the Photo Booth setup and of course, the face-painting. They marvelled at the kiddie-friendly images drawn on either hands or face,

and clearly they had fun, even if the Converge ICT personnel took over the face-painting chores. It was an inspiring sight,” Acuesta said.

Mr. Jesus Romero, COO of Converge ICT, bared that this initial CSR venture of Converge ICT will definitely see a repeat next year, and hinted that perhaps will even be bigger in scope.

For her part, Monette Iturralde-Hamlin, President of Team Asia and the project’s main proponent, said she can’t believe that “My Dream in a Shoebox,” which started through a dream, is in its 9 th year already.

“We thank our many sponsors who supported the project throughout the years and still continue to support us until today, including other new sponsors.”

Hamlin was delighted that Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. joined this year’s edition of “My Dream in a Shoebox.” She thanked Converge ICT for participating as a Platinum sponsor and helped feed the throng of kids who came in droves.

Converge ICT, Inc. started its business in 1992 and was already granted a congressional franchise. The company has many Tier 1 international peering partners to ensure fast and reliable connectivity. It also partnered with top domestic peering partners currently has the 3 rd largest Internet backbone in the country to help further improve the Internet experience of Filipinos.

For more details about Converge ICT, Inc. and its Internet offerings, visit www.convergeict.com.

Slick Tight Pomade Product Review: Organic Hair Styling Product

Every man wants to look his best, and part of that look is his hair. Hair products for men have been around for a very long time, and pomade is just one of many choices out there. It is important to note that it is not necessarily sold by that name specifically. The consumer must look at the ingredient list to know if he has a paste, wax, cream, or oil based product. 

My nephew, Kyle Madrid likes his hair sleek and shiny without the grease

My teenage nephew Kyle would always say in the vernacular, "Galawin mo na lahat, 'wag lang ang buhok ko." He abhors when someone tries to pick on his hair because he has spent time "perfecting his hair style" according to his preferred looks. Now, here's the sad part, since he's been using hair styling products since he was 8 years old, he's gotten dandruff because those products he's been using has dried up his scalp. And as his guardian, I had been searching for the right product that would make Kyle do whatever it is that he wanted to do with his hair sans the fall of dandruff and flaky scalp. 

Purple Plum Fairy and her mom sandwiched her nephew Kyle Madrid

The first thing that came to my mind upon hearing the word pomade was something that most Lolo (grandfathers) would often use on their hair. But that misconception got easily debunk after I reached for a tub of Slick Tight Pomade. It’s a hair product that has been created to form that greased up look. 

Slick Tight Pomade variants in Bubblegum, Cool Mint, Strawberries and Cola scents