The Making of the Christmas Tree out of Recycled Materials

Last year, we had our “Lantern Made of Recycled Materials Contest”, this year we were looking forward for another Christmas Decoration Making Contest out of recycled materials. This is one of the Environmental Enhancement activities/projects of our department. The decision to push through with the contest came in a little bit late because of budget issues. But it didn’t hinder us to create what we can make out of the used/recycled materials we can find at home or in the office.

The recycled soft drink bottles didn’t bring us to the final 4 entries last year, thus, this year we decided to make more use of papers, magazines, calendars found at the office.  But making the Christmas tree structure is really one tough job. As much as we want to pay and have it made, we opted not, and asked my husband’s help to make the tree structure out of the recycled rolled paper tube (used to roll floor mats/linoleum), a broken plastic hula-hoop, some wire insulators and wrap them with papers. Galvanized wires were used to hold the layers in place. For, there is a height requirement of 5ft to 6ft, ours stands 5ft with an allowance of 1 foot for the star.

Getting Ready for Our Christmas Presentation

How time flies, it’s December once again, the merry month of the year because we are celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. And when this season comes, parties and merrymakings are all over the place.

And when there are parties, group presentations are there vying for the crown as the year’s champion. Are group are also preparing for such entertainment and we are currently looking for the right music to fit our retro theme. Thus, microphones for recording are one of the equipment for us to record our Christmas caroling to mix with our retro dance.

Everyone is very busy and excited for our coming Christmas party. Hope we all have a great time. 

Exploring Davao City: The Philippine Eagle Center

I was supposed to write this post in continuation to my Davao series of adventures but my offline job is so demanding lately that I already had another trip to Davao City last week and this post is still on my draft. Huh!

Life has been very busy for me lately. Anyway, now that I got a chance to continue writing and eventually publish this post, I hope you’ll read and joined me and my colleagues in our day trip to the habitat of the mighty king of the sky the monkey-eating Philippine eagle.

The Philippine Eagle Center is located at Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City, the Conservation Breeding Facility of the Philippine Eagle Foundation about 300 meters from the Calinan Highway.

With an entrance fee of P150.00 you’ll get to explore the place and get up close with the Philippine eagle as well as other animals, in the conservatory.

Car Jewelry for the Holiday Season

Hello November! Just one month to go and it’s December! This is a pretty busy month for me, why? Well, aside from preparing for my kids double birthday celebration on the 16^th of November,  I am getting ready for the handmade jewelries that my husband and I are going to make. We have to create as many as possible before December for it to get sold.

Jewelries are one of the best material gift that we can give to our family and friends. It can be handmade or not, anything that is a jewelry is definitely something for our receivers. I myself really love jewelries that is the reason why I have started making them. 

And since Hoilday Season to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ is fast approaching, I am now thinking of giving my husband a car jewelry from joyjewelers.com.  My husband is a fan of cars, though we can’t afford to get one aside from our family SUV, but seeing them and appreciating the designs and functions is already enough for him. Therefore, a jewelry signifying these branded cars is definitely a good gift for him. 

First Trip to Land of the Vikings

The highlight of our 3-day travel in Davao City aside from the work related meeting we attended was the trip to the land of the Vikings, the Luxury Buffet Restaurant.

It all started, when the head of the group asked us where the best place to have our dinner when we arrive in Davao City. Of course, our response was VIKINGS! I have always wished to visit the place, but I don’t have a P799 to spend on one dinner yet. Kuripot pa eh, kulang pa nang push…Then the opportunity came, our Chief will be treating us for dinner. Yippee!

After we checked-in at the Park Inn Hotel located at the back of SM Lanang, we proceeded to Vikings, 10 minutes too early before they opened.

The first to be entertained are those guests who have reservations, while the walk-ins were given priority number and were asked to wait for our turn for the registration.

A few minutes later, our number was called and was assisted to our assigned table, but before that we had a pictorial at the huge signage for remembrance after all it was our first time in Vikings.

4 Short Stops Along Bukidnon - Davao City Road

I can’t remember the last time I travelled to Davao City using one of our service vehicles. Every time I am tasked to attend a meeting in Davao City, I always take the fastest means of transportation, the airplane.

But because my supervisor doesn’t want to take the ATR 72-500 Cebu Pacific aircraft, we requested for an available service vehicle to take us to Davao City on October 7, 2015. A Nissan pick-up was given to us, just enough for 3 passengers.

Some parts of the Bukidnon highway are undergoing repair, that means the traffic in the area is very unpredictable. Hence, we decided to start our journey from the home base Cagayan de Oro City to the “Durian Capital” of the Philippines as early as 7 in the morning.

Fortunately, the vehicle flow along the areas of Mangima, Bukidnon was very smooth, that is why by 10:30AM we already had our early lunch at Jollibee Valencia.

Since we were ahead of schedule, we have so much time for some side trips along the way. Our first stop was...

The Overview Park

Located at Kipolot, Palapacao, Quezon, Bukidnon. As the name of the park implied, it is the best area overlooking the beautiful landscape of Bukidnon. Enhanced with big statues of indigenous people plus the cool fresh air, the park indeed is a best place to relax and unwind.

The Over View Park is located along the national highway, thus if you are travelling from Cagayan de Oro - Quezon, Bukidnon to Davao City route, pulling-over and taking a few minutes in the area is very convenient.

Contemplating Ideas for a Christmas Tree Made from Recycled Materials

It was like yesterday I welcomed the beginning of ber months September, now I had said my goodbye and looking forward for October and the remaining months of the year. How time flies really fast and before we knew it is already Christmas.

One of the activities that we are looking forward in the office, is the Christmas décor making contest made from recycled materials. If last year the theme was “Christmas Parol”, this time it will be a Christmas Tree.

source

Our group lost the battle last year, this time we are determined to make it. As early as now I have to encourage the group, especially the young ones who recently joined our team to come up with ideas and start collecting items that we are going to recycle before it will be thrown to the pull out waste containers.

Anything from papers, cardboards, plastics, etc. found in our workplace that can be recycled are the some of the options we have. The challenge will be how to make it into a Christmas Tree. Let’s see, if our group can come with something unique and interesting.  Cross fingers…

12 Memorable Things I (We) Did During Our Hometown Vacation

The last time I went home to my hometown Zamboanga City was on July 2013. It was not a vacation, but a work related travel. I was pregnant then and had to stay most of the time at the checked-in hotel before and after our meeting.

This year, I have planned (which hubby agreed) and made use of the long weekend on August 28 – 31, 2015 to visit my brothers and their families in ZC, my parents grave and also attended for the first time the ZCHS Main 70^th Alumni Homecoming.

Sunset at the Highway of Zamboanga City

August 28, 2015  (A proclaimed holiday here in Cagayan de Oro City to celebrate the Feast of St. Augustine), together with hubby, the two kids and the two Yayas, we left as early as 5:30AM (the earliest we can), trying our best to arrive in Zamboanga City before 5PM so that I can catch up with the ZCHS Main Torch Parade. In spite of having only a few minute stopover in Iligan City and Pagadian City to buy our takeout meals from Jolibee, we still arrived at past 5PM. An approximately 12 hours travel defensively, running at 60-80kph, plus the road repairs and traffics along the way. 

I Heart OC (Orange Claw)

It was already noon time when I finished my regular appointment with the dentist in Iligan City, three weeks ago. Hubby and I were already hungry and still trying to figure out which of the so many food venues to try, thank goodness he bought something at Poprock while waiting for me.

I remembered, our Ninang posted a new restaurant to try in the city. The concept was the same as the Red Tail here in Cagayan de Oro City. Seafoods were served in plastic transparent bags and you eat with your hands with disposable gloves.

Hubby and I decided to try and went to search the place, thanks to my officemate for the impromptu SMS for the direction/location. 

The place is pretty much noticeable because of the “I Heart OC” in front (OC stands for Orange Claw). We can see from the outside that there were only a few diners inside. Thank goodness! Because I heard that they were jam-packed on their soft opening.

I Voted for Elha

I have seen the recently concluded The Vioice Kids Philippines Season 2  and I am really awed how these little children can actually sing like a pro. The Finale was a totally an exciting show, the music, the mixes the choreography, the lighting, the backdrafts, simply wonderful. It made me think where to get the best budget studio monitors for my niece recording project.  

Anyway, every Filipinos were looking forward who will emerge as the peoples’ choice, the grand champion. I myself voted for my favorite and turned out the grand champion herself Elha. 

GetGo the Lifestyle Rewards Program

After my trip to Iloilo on June 15, 2015, I received an email regarding the newest reward program called GetGo where we get points by choosing Cebu Pacific flights. Since, our work related travels requires us to fly from our based office to other places, I might as well get the card and see where the program will take me in the near future.

Becoming a member of GetGo is very easy. All I did was fill-in the details required on the website and paid the registration fee of P150 via credit card. After a week or two, my personalized GetGo membership card was delivered right on my doorstep.

I waited for almost 2 months before I made this post, as I need to check how it actually works. On July 29, 2015 I flew to Davao via Cebu Pacific I wasn’t able to supply my GetGo membership number when I booked the ticket. Instead, I have shown it to the Cebupac ground personnel when I check-in and was told that it will take two weeks at most before my points will be posted.

On Rock Band and Hardware Pack

Last night after watching The Voice Kids Philippines, I found myself watching a  tagalized (Tagalog dubbed) version Thai movie on Cinema One. It was a funny and entertaining story of high schoolers gay-boy band, called Rock Angels. The group had an exciting journey from joining the band competition and probably into the rock scene. It was so amusing seeing these youngsters play rock music and I assume they were using music equipment like mapex hardware pack.  

  

photo from internet

Mapex hardware pack usually consists of snare drum stand, cymbal stand, hi-hat stand, boom stand and single bass drum pedal. It has lightweight features yet very functional and  ideal for every drummer’s gig. If I am to buy these equipment for someone, I am sure to choose their line.

My Newest Passion: Fabrics and Sewing

Lately, every time I visit Gaisano City I always drop by at the clothsection. I really love looking at the colorful fabrics displayed, imagining what to do with them. Hah! I am really getting hooked with sewing, I wish to improve my zero skill to something like making my own clothes. However, relying only with Youtube is not enough. I need interaction where I can ask questions right away. I am currently looking for a weekend school that teaches sewing, I hope to get in if my schedule during the weekend is already free.

In the meantime, I’ll continue practicing on my own with the help of the video tutorials. So far I was able to make, simple curtains, shorts and pajamas for my kids, bed foam covers and will soon make table covers and skirts with full color printed table skirting. 

Sewing is indeed fun, I felt very happy and satisfied every time I finish a project and I amlooking forward for more sewing adventures in the future. J

My 24-Hour Visit in Davao City

My boss was invited to a meeting in Davao City on July 29, 2015, and since the agenda was something about our section’s tasks, he let me tag along.

On July 29, 2015 we flew to Davao City from Laguindingan Airport on an early morning flight, since the meeting is scheduled at 10AM we still have ample time to get there on time. It was a beautiful morning,  clear sky, the great weather. I can actually see what’s below, considering ATR-72-500 turboprop plane on flies at a maximum altitude of 7200m considerably lower than an airbus. 

We arrived, according to schedule, went directly to Seda Hotel, our booked hotel for this trip. Had a 30 minutes rest,then proceeded to the meeting venue at Café Tavera located along Pardo de Tavera corner Avancena Street.

Banana Strawberry Overnight Oats

I thought of making another flavor of overnight oats when I saw fresh strawberries on SM Savemore’s fresh fruits stalls one afternoon.  I took one pack more or less equivalent to ¼ kilograms @ P148.00 ($3.2), too pricey for a few pieces of strawberries. But since, I just got my bi-monthly pay, I just closed my eyes and paid it, after all I wanted to try something new for my overnight oat experiment.

Like last time, I don’t have the exact measurements for this recipe. I simply estimated the rolled oats that I can take and just few pieces of strawberries. I have saved the rest for the next day.

As usual, the process is very simple. Just mix everything, including the 120g Greek Style Yogurt, and half of the 250ml low-fat milk pack in a glass container with cover.

Leave the mixture overnight in the refrigerator, and in the morning viola! Your healthy and delicious meal is already set. Oh, don’t forget to add a few slices of banana.

Since, I was in a hurry that morning with only few minutes to take the photo above, I brought the Strawberry Banana Overnight Oat meal with me to the office. J

A Travel Backpack and My Shopback Experience

Have you heard about ShopBack.ph? If not, let me introduce you to what it is and why it is expanding with speed in Southeast Asia lately.

Shopback.ph is an online e-commerce platform that offers discount coupons from top of the line online merchants like Lazada, Zalora, ASOS, Romwe and a lot more then reward users in the form of cashback.

Shopback.ph is taking us to a new experience of online shopping, we shop like we always do from our favorite merchants and get cash back after.

Exploring Philippines: Visiting the Island Province of Guimaras

The main purpose of visiting the Province of Guimaras is the site visit of the newly installed Wind Farm.

We started off, by taking a pumpboat from Iloilo to Jordan Ferry Terminal. Since, we’re a group of 11 and with no time to wait for other passengers to fill-in the ferry, the bosses (because there were 5 managers with us) decided to pay the single trip with only the 11 of us on board at P500.00. 

Ten to Fifteen minutes later we arrived at Guimaras Island.

7-Eleven Now in Cagayan de Oro

Three weeks after the grand opening on June 5, 2015, I finally got to visit the 7-Eleven this morning. Located at Georgetown Cyber Mall, RN Pelaez Boulevard fronting Liceo de Cagayan University is way out of the way from my usual route to the office. 

I purposely passed by the area, to take a look at the new store, which I assumed to be like any other 7-Eleven in the country. 

 

 

Considering it is right across Liceo University, the store has been so crowded since the opening especially with college students. On a Saturday morning, 7-Eleven is surely peaceful with only few people taking their meals at the side table. I enjoyedscanning from one stand to another looking for something to be brought in the office.

And here’s what I got. These unhealthy snacks will surely energize me the whole day of overtime work.