A Christmas Tip for Your Business

Time does fly…..it only seems like it just the beginning of the year a few months back and now were on the BER months already.

Here in the Philippines, Christmas observance starts really early. There are already a number of times that I’ve heard Christmas songs being played over the radio and at the mall’s sound system, and I’ve seen shops selling Christmas decors this early.

If you have your own business, wouldn’t it be a smart move now to think of promotional gift items you can give away for Christmas to your loyal clients and shop around for companies that will do these printing within your budget. And once you’ve found your choice promotional printing company, why not order those pens, mugs, calendars, key chains, etc., from that company this early.

Why not try amsterdamprinting personalized pens as a Christmas give-away? 

Amsterdam printing is one of the most trusted and reliable promotional printing companies; they have been in the business of printing for 110 years. Their staffs are capable to work on your set budget and deliver quality printing on your promotional items that will convey your company’s logo and message to your clients.

When you are pressed for time which usually happens at the end of the year, you might not have enough time to look for an affordable with quality promotional printing company; worst scenario is these promotional items may not be printed on time. So work on those promotional gift items now and avoid the Christmas rush.

KFC's Streetwise Spoonfuls

Have you tried KFC’s Streetwise Spoonfuls?

Streetwise Spoonfuls are KFC’s latest desert offerings at only P29.00. There new deserts are: Chocolate Mousse Spoonful, Tiramisu Spoonful, Mango Cheesecake Spoonful, and ChocoBananapie Spoonful.

Last Saturday, I had lunch at KFC, and I ordered my favorite Chicken ala King Super bowl and the Mango Cheesecake Spoonful.

I was surprised when they put the desert on my tray because the Mango Cheesecake is in a teeny-weeny cup; I did not expect that it would be that small. Because of my disappointment, I just slid the desert inside my bag and planned on eating it at home; I was not excited anymore to satisfy my cravings for it.

So when I tried it home, it tasted okay, nothing special. I could taste the very scant sweet mango bits on it, and the whipped cream is the predominating taste.

I guess it’s called the spoonfuls because you can finish the entire desert in two to three spoonfuls. This desert is not good to share with someone because one cup may not be enough for one person. I'll probably recommend this to those who are trying to lose weight because I don't think a cup of this desert will do a lot of damage to your diet.

A Generous Heart

The father of a good friend of mine from high school died last week due to pneumonia. Her father had a liver transplantation about a year ago and because of the anti-rejection drugs he had taken his immune system weakened and he became susceptible to infections like pneumonia.

My dad too is a kidney transplantation recipient. I remembered that last year, we swapped emails about our anxieties about our fathers' condition and I found relief that I can share my apprehension with someone whose going through the same thing that I was.

I visited her father's wake at Filinvest 1 last Saturday and it was the first time we saw each other again after almost sixteen years. It was a sad occasion to see each other  and to catch up on each others lives. 

But what amazed me is that even if I haven't seen my friend for that long, the bond I have formed  with her years ago is still there. It feels like we've grown so much over the years but our friendship remained even if  we haven't communicated as regularly as possible.

Last Wednesday, I received an email from her asking me about my father's medication. She told me that her father had left many medicines that could be of used to my father. I know that both our father were taking Certican. Certican is anti-rejection drug that cost P200.00 per piece, so if she would give me the medicines her father did not use it would mean that we will be able to save a lot from my father's medication. So I texted her all my father's med including the dosage, it turned out that Certican is the only drug that both our fathers used but her father's dosage is higher than that of my father's. If I will take the drug and cut it in half, the dosage will be lower than what my father usually take, so I have to refuse her offer.

Even if she wasn't able to share her father's medication with my father, I am still grateful because of her generous offer. The thought of having a friend who is going through a lot yet still have time to think of other people's need is something admirable.

She informed me that she would donate the drugs to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute to a patient who may be of need of it. It was a good thing though that my father is a member of  the Kidney Transplant Association of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, I was able to give her the secretary's number. She could just coordinate  with the secretary and hopefully, the secretary will be able to give her a member of the association who might be in dire need of those medicines.

I am blessed  that I have a very kind and generous  friend like her.

Worthy To Worship Concert

My friends from office - Ate Kat and Arnie, Ate Kat's boyfriend, my brother Paul and I attended the "Worthy To Worship Concert" of the Quezon City Feast at the GT Toyota Center in Katipunan last Saturday.

Quezon City Feast is a weekly prayer meeting of the Light of Jesus Community in Quezon City. At the Feast, we celebrate the Holy Mass, followed by worship and then an inspirational talk by our feast builder - Bro. Eng Si.

At the "Worthy To Worship Concert," the music and dance ministry performed songs by my favorite band Planetshakers,  Hillsongs, Tommy Walker and by other Christian artists. As the music and dance ministry did their numbers, our worship leaders led the community to pray and sing with the performers. Father Peter who regularly celebrates mass at the Feast sang Casting Crown's "Who Am I" and "I Won't Last A Day Without You."

Every one who attended the event had a great time singing their hearts out and dancing with much gusto. Everyone is on their feet to worship the Lord for almost two hours. When the show ended at around 7:30 pm, a lot of people were clamoring for more songs and were not yet ready to go home.

I forgot to bring my digital camera to the event, so I just bought a souvenir program of the event. 

It was truly a concert to remember.

The Quezon City Feast is held every Sunday from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management at the corner of Elliptical Road and Visayas Avenue, and every Saturday from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm at the GT Toyata Center at the corner of Katipunan Avenue and Magsaysay Street. Please come and be at one of the happiest places on Earth.

Helping Substance Abuse Victims

Drug Addiction is a problem that is prevalent now a day. This menace to the society has destroyed countless lives and families.

What started as just being curious as what drugs is may lead to dying at a very young age, losing jobs and properties and seriously hurting oneself or other people.

Most people who get into drugs usually have an underlying problem that they try to escape by getting high on drugs, like having a problem in the family or having self-esteem issue. 

Other people become addicted to drugs because of pressure from peers to try it and later on find themselves having problem quitting the vice.

Whatever reason someone has for getting into drugs, it is important that they quit their drug addiction the soonest time possible.

The first step in solving a drug addiction is the realization from the drug addict that he has a problem. The problem is most of the time a substance abuse victim is in denial that he has a problem; if that is the case, the family or close relatives or friends should intervene to save their loved ones by getting them into drug abuse rehabilitation center.

There are many Drug Addiction Treatment Centers staffed with professionals ready to help the victims get over their drug addiction, and hopefully quit the vice for life. If you are looking for inpatient drug rehabilitation center in California or for Drug Rehabs in Oklahoma, addictionwatch.com can help you. 

Addictionwatch.com can provide you all the information you need about the different rehabilitation centers and detoxification programs suited for the drug abuse victim.

If the drug addict has satisfactorily completed his rehabilitation program, starting a new life may be a challenged at first. It is important that he stay away from friends, alcohol or environment that triggered them before to try drugs. It is beneficial too for the newly sober individual to get into hobbies or go back to school so as to preoccupy his mind with productive things.

Loot From Subic

My father went to Bataan last week for a vacation. Before he went home, my aunt brought him and my grandfather to Subic in Olongapo City.

These are some of the things he brought home for me and my siblings:

Bonding Time With Papa

My dad loves ice cream!  I believe that I can bribe my dad with anything with just a pint of ice cream. :)

I was at the ice cream parlor a few Sundays ago with my boyfriend and I just realized that I can bring my father at the ice cream parlor for our weekly dates.

Yes, date my dad and bond over ice cream which he really loves. I know this simple act is something that will show him that I love him and that I really appreciate everything he has done for our family.

So a few Wednesdays ago, my dad and I have our first date and we had a banana split. We ate ice cream while chatting about many things. I told him afterwards that we'll  have ice cream dates every week and try all the ice cream offering at the ice cream shop.

Haunting Paco Park

Haunting Paco Park

Paco Park is one of the favorite locations for pre-nuptial shoots, wedding receptions, and the St.Pancratius Chapel inside the Park as a wedding venue. But it was only last May that I get to visit this place together with my siblings and my brother's girlfriend; I wonder why no one from my friends or relatives choose this place for their event:)

Paco Park used to be a cemetery for the elite during the Spanish Colonization Period in the Philippines and was converted into a Public Municipal Cemetery during the cholera outbreak in Manila in 1820.

This used to be the old gate of the Park, on top of the arc the following words are inscribed, "beati mortui qui in domino moriuntur;" which means, "blessed are they who died in the Lord."

The cemetery is circular in shape and most of the remains of those who were once interred here were already transferred to other cemeteries. At the center of the cemetery is a chapel dedicated to St. Pancratius.

The Chapel was closed at the time of our visit, so we were not able to go inside and see the repositories of the remains of the former governors and bishops of Manila found at the sides of the altar.

This marker commemorate the martyrdom of the GOMBURZA (Fr.Mariano Gomez, Fr.Jose Burgos and Fr.Jacinto Zamora); the three Filipino secular priests wrongly accused of starting and organizing the Cavity Mutiny. The priests were buried in a shallow ground here at Paco Cemetery right after their execution through guillotine on February 17,1872; their deaths inspired the Filipinos to fight the Spanish Colonizers.

Jose Rizal, our National Hero, was also interred here right after his execution in Luneta in December 30,1896. The Guardia Civil guarded his grave for fifteen days and in order to conceal the identity of the person buried in this spot, they put the acronym RPG on the cross which is the initials of Jose Protacio Rizal backward. Jose Rizal's remain was transferred from Paco Cemetery to Rizal Park in 1912.

This place is not only rich in history but is also a quiet place where one can relax and unwind. I find the Paco Park beautiful in its old charming way:)