I HAVE MOVED!!!!

Hi! I have a new home! You can check me out at Shopaholic's Digest
Thanks!

PARA SA IYO, ANG LABAN NA ITO

Everyboby has been talking about Manny Pacquiao. He is everywhere ? TV, newspaper, radio etc. Practically all the household, offices, restaurants are talking about him. Discussing how he beat up Erik Morales.

Yesterday, the boys in our family went out to watch Manny Pacquiao?s game in a restaurant in one of the malls. They woke up really early in order for them to get the best seats. While the boys were watching, us girls, together with my nieces went around the mall to do some shopping.


Actually, a number of the restaurants and theaters showed the fight of Manny Pacquiao and Eric Morales live via stalellite. Although it will be also shown on a local channel,it will be on a delayed telecast. Of course everyone wants to get the news first. Many flocked to the malls and restaurants to be ahead.

I think almost every Filipino around the world watched the fight. This is one of the few times that we Filipinos get united and cheer for one person or one goal.


It was nice to see people watching together ? rich, poor, employees, clients, client, boys. People in the mall were cheering really loud. Manny Pacquiao won, the Filipinos won. If only we can all be united like today, I think no one can stop us.

BORN TO SHOP ...... FORCED TO WORK

A few days ago, i met up with an old friend. Its really been quite a while since we last saw each other. It was time to catch up. Although we text each other once in a while to somehow "update" each other, this seems not enough.

Before she left, she handed me a box - her birthday gift. I didn't show her how excited I am and did not open the gift yet until she left. Finally, I was all alone and opened the box. It was an eye make up - my favorite color! There was a card inside and when I opened it, I got a very touching gift!

You see the image on the left? Its a magnet decor. But its more than that to me. Its the first gift I have received that really, really describes me! It seemed that my friend took time in looking for a gift for me. Its personal, well thought of and really comes from the heart. She must really know me well!

Thanks LSR, thank you for always being a friend.

MANIC MONDAY

Its monday . . . and I'm singing . . . . .

Six o'clock already
I was just in the middle of a dream
I was kissin' Valentino
By a crystal blue Italian stream
But I can't be late
'Cause then I guess I just won't get paid
These are the days
When you wish your bed was already made

It's just another manic Monday
I wish it was Sunday
'Cause that's my funday
My I don't have to runday
It's just another manic Monday

Have to catch an early train
Got to be to work by nine
And if I had an air-o-plane
I still couldn't make it on time
'Cause it takes me so long
Just to figure out what I'm gonna wear
Blame it on the train
But the boss is already there

All of the nights
Why did my lover have to pick last night
To get down
Doesn't it matter
That I have to feed the both of us
Employment's down
He tells me in his bedroom voice
C'mon honey, let's go make some noise
Time it goes so fast
When you're having fun

Its just another manic monday . . . . .

THE ART OF PANIC BUYING

Panic buying by definition is the act of people buying unusually large amounts of a product in anticipation of a large price increase or shortage. Goods are bought in large amounts to offset a potential shortage or as an act of safety.

GUILTY! Yes, I am guilty of panic buying. The other day, I got 3 pairs of slacks same style, different colors. Then I got 3 lipsticks, same brand but different shades of Pink. I got crew neck shirts in all the colors available. I bought straps for my watch, in every color available. When i went to Davao, I bought almost 20 kilos of pomelo - and even paid excess baggage fee. I have flipflops in almost all colors, plain or with design. I got sunglasses - same brand in 4 colors (different styles though. Of course I did not buy all of them at the same time.

These are my reasons - justifications to others, a few may agree with me but I'm sure there are also those who would not. Hear me out!
1. Its hard to find something that fits well everytime you need it.
2. Its hard to look for clothes specially if you wear civilian clothes at work
3. Its nice of your clothes and accessories match.
4. Fear that there might be a shortage?
Well, everyone is entitled to his own opinion - specially for us girls! :-)

ZARA OR MANGO

Before ZARA, it was only MANGO. These of course are the 2 largest Spanish retail stores here in the Philippines. Is ZARA better than MANGO or is MANGO better than ZARA? Here are some points to consider:

LOCATION:

Zara and Mango both have branches in the major malls in Metro Manila - Rockwell, Glorietta, Shangrila Plaza Mall and Mall of Asia. (I'm not sure if both have in Alabang Town Center)

SELECTION:

Zara has wider selection - they have infants, kids, teens, women and men's clothes. They have shoes, belts, underwear, casual wear and formal wear.
Mango has a limited selection - they only cater wonen. They have belts, shoes, casual wear and formal wear.

NEW ARRIVALS/NEW STOCKS:

Everytime I go to Zara, there is always something new. Well, I'm in the mall twice or thrice a week. That means new stocks come in 3 times a week.
Mango, based on my experience have new stocks every week.

PRICES:

Both Mango and Zara have their low end and High end items. But I think Zara is more reasonably priced than Mango.

STYLE/FIT:

Both stores are up to date in fashion, almost similar stocks and designs, probably because they are both from Spain. But for me, I like the fit of Zara more than Mango.

SALE:

I think this is where Mango beats Zara. Twice a year, Mando has their sale where everything in the store is in sale. From 30% to 70% off the original price. Not bad at all! While Zara have their sale also, only selected items are on sale and the reduction of the prices are just a few hundreds.

CUSTOMER SERVICE/AMBIANCE:

Zara stores are bigger and brighter. I feel a different sensation when inside the stores. They have a lot of fitting rooms all customer friendly - chairs are inside the fitting rooms. There are more sales people happy to attend to you. More cashiers, good customer service. Probably because they are related to Rustans. In Mango - you have to know someone (a sales person) for you to be assisted properly.

So there you have it - the good and the bad side of both stores. Which store do I like best? Your guess is as good as mine! HAPPY SHOPPING!

WHAMazing Davao

Last October 21, 2006, me together with 3 other colleagues, were given a chance to go to Davao for free! Well actually, it was not really free . . . we had to do some work over there. We were part of a group tasked to spread out our bank's mission, vision and values - particularly what we call the WHAM values to our fellow employees. What in the world is WHAM? W - work is fullfing and fun, H - honest and high performing team, A - act now, M - mindset of no excuses.


Actually, each year, a new group (10 members actually) is formed and selected by the whole bank to do this "special work". Each group has to thing of new ways and means on how we can cascade these values and make the activities exciting and interesting instead of boring. Our group had several projects but our major activity is what we call the WHAMazing Race.



Obviously, this was picked up from the very popular Amazing Race. Basically the same idea, but we tweaked it a little and injected some team building, product knowledge and knowledge of the bank. Of course there is also the physically aspect.


Tiring as it can be (the preparation itself took us days and the preparation of the props took us eternity!), both to the players and the clue masters (thats us!) it was reallyh a successful one! Everybody was happy! Most specially the bosses!

It was truly a Whamazing experience!