The purest and most thoughtful minds are those which love colour the most." - John Ruskin

With the love of colours and a thoughtful spirit in mind, SM Megamall delighted shoppers with dreamy and magical #ChristmasSMoments at the launch of its Dreamagination: A Magical Holiday Spectacle celebration last November 8, held at the Mega Fashion Hall. It was indeed a wonderful feeling to see a dreamy and magical ambience of unicorns, rainbows, and candy-colored displays.

Develop a childlike fascination with life and people." - Jim Rohn

"Every year we challenge ourselves to come up with a theme that surpasses the grandness of the previous year. We are very excited about this holiday season because we know our customers would love this year's colorful and magical theme," said Christian Mathay, SM Supermalls Assistant Vice President for Mall Operations. Indeed, people from all walks of life will have a chance to rekindle their wonderful Christmas moments as a child and shall delight their childlike fascination as they visit Dreamagination.

During the media launch hosted by Tim Yap and Karla Aguas, the mall unveiled its 45-foot Christmas centerpiece, adorned with candy-colored jewels, rainbows, and iconic unicorn and you soldiers dolls.


SM Megamall welcomed the holidays with whimsical performances by local and international acrobats, such as the Twin Ballerinas Annika and Tisha; Eric Aranas as Toy Soldier and parkour stunts by member of Ninja Academy as Elf Jumpers; the awe-inspiring acts of global Vertical and Trapeze Dancers; and spiral pole and rope dancer Kristel De Catalina of Pilipinas Got Talent season 6.

I invite you to watch snipets of the Dreamagination: A Holiday Spectacle launch (Video Credit: Miss Reylen Castro of Made It Through Mum blog):

I became an active blogger in 2013. My sole purpose then was to write as a diversionary activity to survive the ups and downs of motherhood and anything in between. Aside from coherence and grammar, I was also very particular with photos that I would use for every blog post.

As a visual learner, I always believe that photographs speak more than words can express. They justify what the writer wants to imply without the use of explicit words that's why picture books not only cater to very young kids and the young at heart but to adults as well.

As always, I want my readers to read my blog post like they are reading their old picture books when they were still young. I want every word that I write to go hand-in-hand with the photographs that I provide. With the limited time and no patience in reading thick manuals and tinkering the features of my mobile phone and digital camera, I always opt to use them as point and shoot cameras. I always use their default features. Obviously, I love photography, but honestly, I want to do the endeavor as easy as possible. I am so lazy, am I not?

Well, before I learned the basic food photography workshop from Miss Joy Gurtiza of Joy Bites Blog, I wasn't satisfied with how I took photographs and how the output turned out. My friends would say that I could be very good in executing flat-lays and right angles. However, I felt the need to learn from an expert that's why I joined the workshop. After attending Joy's workshop, I was able to improve my photography skills even just a little because I learned that "Good lighting is needed to have the best results when you do photography." In that workshop, we were also taught about making our own diffuser and reflector, and of course, food styling.  After that workshop, I learned how to appreciate photography more.

Photo Credit: Manila Workshops

The eye should learn to listen before it looks.” - Robert Frank

The best images are the ones that retain their strength and impact over the years,regardless of the number of times they are viewed.” - Anne Geddes

Wherever there is light, one can photograph." - Alfred Stieglitz

In photography, there are no shadows that cannot be illuminated." - August Sander

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Who says that #Nutralac Moringa Oleifera (Malunggay) Leaf Food Supplement is only good for lactating moms? It's one of the best food supplements for adults to boost their immune system. Each 350 mg capsule is made with 100% Moringa Oleifera leaves and seeds, a very nutrient-rich vegetable that has been traditionally used for its therapeutic and health benefits due to its Vitamin A, Calcium, Protein, Essential Amino Acid and Phytonutrients content that aids in boosting the immune system. Nutralac is a whole food vegetable powder with no additives and preservatives. 😍 . Nutralac is proudly processed here in Philippines, manufactured by Northfield Laboratories, Inc. in Malolos, Bulacan. . Thanks, @uberliciousph and @launch_verbatim of #TrendspottingPH for sending these over! This sickly mama needs them now! 😍 . You too can have a chance to get a box of Nutralac Food Supplement with 30 capsules inside. It's one of the items added in the curry gift pack that I will be giving away to one lucky #AAPMReaderoftheMonth of #March. Haven't you joined yet? You may go to this link and follow the simple mechanics to gain entries. Thank you! 💚💚💚 . http://www.allaroundpinaymama.com/2018/03/vermont-java-kokumaro-curry.html?m=1 . . #allaroundpinaymama #aapmrecommends #health #wellness #allnatural #momblogger #mommybloggersph

A post shared by Gng. SJ Valdez | AAPM (@allaroundpinaymama) on Mar 23, 2018 at 2:09am PDT

No matter how sophisticated the camera, the photographer is still the one that makes the picture." - Doug Bartlow

Courtesy: Manila Workshops

Former US First Lady Michelle Obama once said, "There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish." Yes, women can do so much. They are innately driven and passionate. The journey towards their goal may be difficult and challenging at times due to wearing so many hats at the same time but nobody can put good women down. As long as their spirits are high, their minds and hearts are inspired, no obstacles can get their way. 

I am one of those women who believe that learning is a lifelong process. There is no retirement in learning. The learning process itself leads to a better version of one's self. Learning, like goal-setting, should be definite, clear, and concise in such a way that a person does not find it confusing and difficult to achieve. Moreover, learning is definitely more worthwhile and exciting if it's being done with like-minded women. More so, it is always great to be with passion-driven women.

Learning and goal-setting may be two different words and have two different meanings but they go hand-in-hand. How can individuals set their goals if they don't have the knowledge to do it properly?

That notion made me motivated to join The Fulfilled Women's Dreamer's Unite: Sisterhood of Ambitious Women Pursuing Their Goals. It was held in the afternoon of October 13, 2018 at GreatWork Business Campus in Quezon Avenue, Quezon City. 

We watched the film, "Sing" (na may pa-popcorn pa ha?), which gave us a dose of inspiration to never give up against all odds at nadagdagan pa ang inspiration na 'yan by listening to Miss Ellie Tablada a.k.a. Practicallie Mom, when she shared the importance of being brave enough to pursue your dreams and looking for a support group like The Fulfilled Women that would motivate and believe in you while you're gearing towards your dreams and aspirations. 

Miss Karen Esmundo discussed insights about the importance and steps in making our very own mission and vision statements. With all honesty, I thought that it was very easy to compose my own mission and vision statements. But Miss Karen was able to guide us effectively and the mere fact that we were asked first to delve deeper into our own selves by doing the "Definition of You", mas naging clear ang process.

All that we are, the things that we can't live without, what gives our lives meaning, our core values, our strengths/skills, our past successes, and contributions make up our future. By listing down all these things, we can already define our mission statement (what you can do now to achieve your goals in the future or vision) and vision statement (what you ultimately want to become in the future).

Then Miss Viviene Bigornia facilitated the Visual Board Making where we used old magazines, cutting and pasting materials to put into something concrete and "visual" the things that we want to be or what we want to have. Tuwang-tuwa ako sa part na ito kasi dito lumabas lahat ng mga bagay na gusto kong mangyari sa buhay ko at ng buo kong family at ang sarap palang makita kapag sama-sama na sila sa iiisang board. This endeavor also helps us to become more motivated and inspired to fulfill our mission to achieve our vision. Ang galing! Naging swak ang talk ni Miss Ellie at Miss Karen sa vision board making!

Everyone's productive! Sa totoo lang sa sobrang saya ng workshop namin, bitin pa sa oras.

Simple lang naman ang pangarap ko sa family ko. I want us to spend more quality time together despite our very busy schedule. When my Bunso is matured enough (He is a child with autism.), I want our family to travel into different places both locally and abroad. I also want my kids to finish their studies in the best schools. I also dream of having our own vacation house na may malaking farm at magkaroon kami ng sarili naming sasakyan kasama ng brother ko at ng family niya sa USA.  Pangarap kasi ng Mommy ko na magkasama na kami ng brother ko in the future. Of course, health is wealth. As a family, we should never forget to practice good eating habits and maintain a regular exercise regimen to keep our body fit and healthy. 

Going back to school to finish a masteral degree in Special Education, learning martial arts na hindi ko nagawa noong dalaga pa ako, going back to baking, giving time to learn photography, magbasa ng marami pang books, more ways to earn and save for my family, being the best in what I do,  and spending more me time without feeling guilty ang aking personal dreams.

Siyempre, hindi mawawala ang raffling off ng goodies from the generous sponsors and showcasing of businesses of inspiring The Fulfilled Women Mompreneur community members.

The spirit of openness and camaraderie was evident na binagayan ng cozy atmosphere ng very functional na venue ng GreatWork.

I already told my female friends that this workshop could really bring out the best in a person. Kaya nanghihinayang sila na hindi sila nakapunta. I hope that The Fulfilled Women can have a re-run of this workshop. 

For more updates about The Fulfilled Women's workshops and to get a daily dose of inspiration, Mars, like its page or join its community on Facebook. Also follow @thefulfilledwomen on Instagram. Miss Viviene and the rest of the community members will embrace you wholeheartedly and will help you pursue your dreams and aspirations. Ang sayang makasama ang mga kababaihang hihilahin ka pataas. 

I know that you agree that there is some point in your life when you feel lost. You tend to ask yourself, "Am I on the right track? Am I doing the right things to achieve my goals? Do I really know what I want to be?" It is normal to feel that way sometimes because it shows that you are aware that you want to be successful and you want to be happier and fulfilled not just for yourself but for your loved ones as well. 

You are not alone in finding meaning and purpose in life. That's why after three successful runs of Game Plan for Success, The Fulfilled Women Community will be doing another inspiring workshop for all the ambitious, driven, and purposeful women like you to help you achieve your goals and aspirations! 

On October 13, 2018 from 1:00 to 6:00 PM, "Dreamers Unite: Sisterhood of Ambitious Women Pursuing their Goals" will be held in GreatWork Business Campus in 3rd Floor Main Building, Ben-Lor IT Center, 1184 Quezon Avenue to empower the other go-getter, driven, and passionate women in The Fulfilled Women Community. 

These are the things that you can expect from the workshop:

 

• Meet like-minded women who will support you with your dreams and goals 
• An opportunity to partner up or collaborate with other women in business 
• Be inspired to relive the dreams that you have buried in the ground long ago 

The following are the topics to be discussed:

 

• How to tap your inner giant and be empowered to reach your goals
• How to make a personal mission-vision statement and why you need one 
• How to create a VISION BOARD and why it works

The whole afternoon will be filled with fun learning experiences. Magiging sulit ang Php600 learning fee ninyo! Just a reminder that walk-in participants will not be accommodated anymore so please register before seats run out. 

You may register here: https://goo.gl/forms/mP6cjzUI5xDJns1J3

The learning includes materials, worksheet, snacks, and of course, siksik, liglig, at umaapaw na learning and inspiration! Wagi! 

By the way, all participants are required to bring old magazines and newspapers, a pair of scissors, and glue. 

The organizer will send further instructions once you are done with online registration and payment of the learning fee.

Kita-kits!

Our role as moms is not easy. We wear different hats one at a time but most of the time, all at once. We manage the house, tutor or assist our kids with their studies, help our husbands earn a living, nurse a sick family member, run errands, plan activities and parties, cook and bake, etcetera.

One of the main responsibilities that we have is to manage the family's finances. In my case, I do it with the help of Paps. With all honesty, we can do it but not effortlessly. We are not satisfied with how we perform as money managers. Paps and I are doing our very best to save despite the fact that we only live by the paycheck. We live by our means although there are times when we feel that what we have and what we do are not enough to achieve the financial freedom and stability that we dream of. That's why when I learned that Mamacademy.ph would be having a workshop that is perfect for moms, soon-to-be moms, or individuals who plainly want to feel empowered as MOMnagers/Stewards of their Family's Finances, I got really interested to join. What made me more motivated to attend the workshop was due to its speaker, Mommy Gracie Miranda-Maulion of Tipid Mommy Blog.

Mommy Gracie is one of my most favorite mommy bloggers because she is very open to her readers. She was never ashamed to admit that there were times in her married life that she and her husband made bad decisions, failed in their business, and got scammed. Despite it all, their family was able to get through those dark moments. Her family continued to live simply and frugally and realized that even though they don't have a definite monthly paycheck, they would always have a consistent God. Her award-winning blog, Tipid Mommy, inspires every mom and family to make practical choices and leads parents to be good examples of stewardship at home. It also won a prize from Sinag Awards - a financial literacy journalism writing contest. Ang galing, 'di ba? These prove that she is credible to talk about money management.

Furthermore, Mommy Gracie was featured at Chink Positive, a talk show hosted by Mr. Chinkee Tan, Kabuhayang Swak na Swak, and Money Wise. She is a full-time mom, freelance writer, and a businesswoman. She is a graduate of Enterprise Course at University of The Philippines (Distance Education).

Let's go back to the workshop details. The workshop that I have mentioned above is entitled Money MOMnagement.  It will be held on the 28th of July, 2018, Saturday, in Boardroom PH 31 Meralco Avenue Ortigas Center, Pasig, Kalakhang Maynila, Philippines from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. The workshop fee costs Php500 per participant inclusive of workshop registration and materials.

The following topics will be discussed in the workshop: 

Part I:

A. Family's Financial Status 

B. Determine the Home Budget

Part II: The Importance of Saving

A. Saving for the Rainy Days (Building your Family's Emergency Fund)

B. Practical Tips to Achieving your Family’s Financial Goals

C. Increasing the Family’s Cash Flow 

Part III: Grow your Money through Investment

A. Different investment options 

B. What investment suits your personality?

C. How to start investing

D. Do’s and Don’ts in investing

Part IV: Raising Kids with Money Values

A. Practical Tips in raising kids with Money Values (raising Wise Spenders, Savers and Future Investors)

This workshop is something that moms shouldn't miss kasi maraming aral about finances na matutuhan. There are only eight open slots as of July 24 so register HERE para makahabol pa.

For more details about it and other personal development courses and events for moms and aspiring moms,  you may visit and like Mamacademy PH on Facebook.

Whenever I visit Araneta Center-Cubao, I always drop by Shopwise. Why? Because there are products that I need that I can only find there. Like for instance, my mom would always ask me to to go there to buy her Aveeno Soap which I couldn't find in common supermarkets. Shopwise is the only supermarket that offers more stocks of that hard-to-find Aveeno Soap. When I go there, I usually buy in bulk because I am not sure when I can come back. There are also Human Nature products readily available in Shopwise that are normally available online or can be bought via the company's official distributors. It saves me additional fees intended for shipping. What a nice way to save money!

Aside from the different beauty and hygiene products, Shopwise is the best place to shop for its exclusive food, janitorial, and pet items because it offers a wide range of high quality local/homegrown and international brands available at low, low prices. 

That's why just recently, Shopwise The Big Cook-Off, an event to showcase its exclusive products through a cooking contest between bloggers and culinary students kicked-started last weekend.

I, together with my friends from BKS Moms, were blessed to witness its second leg that was held yesterday, July 20, 2018, through the initiative of Mommy Bloggers Philippines.

Heavy rains didn't stop Shopwise's 2nd leg of The Big Cook-Off to push through which had "Asian Fusion" as its theme. The competitors were composed of three culinary students from Apicius and three respectable Food Pinoy bloggers. The aim of this event was for us to witness the amazing showdown of cooking skills using world-class ingredients from Shopwise. It was hosted by the dynamic and good-looking chef, Steven Silva. The judges were headed by celebrity chef, JP Anglo.

Miss Meg of Shopwise was confident as she discussed that the company could offer "Best Value" products outsourced from different parts of the world. Those best quality products were made affordable for all. 

Moreover, we've learned that Shopwise has 30 exclusive brands that are reasonably priced, even up to 20 to 30% off. Shopwise also has weekly promos where we can get a lot of freebies and discounts. 

Now let's move to the contestants and contest proper.

The APICIUS CHEFS (SCHOOLERS) were composed of the following talented student chefs:

Jobert Diaz is s a 22-year-old guy who loves to eat and cook adobo.

Winning Dish: Stuffed Salmon and Prawns with Teriyaki Sauce

Arlujan Sansano is 19 years old. He joined this cooking contest for the very first time and promised to do his best to share his abilities.

Dish: Marinated Pork Tenderloin with Ginger Star Anise Sauce

Arvin Fernandez is a 21-year-old guy who idolizes the first chef who has taught him how to cook, Chef Calvin Ayagan.

Winning Dish: Pan Shred Honey Lemon Chicken Combination with Assorted Vegetables

Those three talented young gentlemen are from Mondragon, Northern Samar.

The Apicius Chefs' FOODIE BLOGGER contenders were the following:

40-year-old Lea Domingo a.k.a. Mommy Lelei specializes in Filipino dishes. She is not really a blogger but a constant user of Instagram and Facebook. It was her first time to join a cooking competition.

Dish: Tuna Meatball Sliders with Asian Jam

Nathaniel Uy a.k.a. Thehungrychef.ph is one of the famous food bloggers in the Philippines with 15,700 followers on Instagram. 

Winning Dish: Prawn Halang-Halang Ramen

Jinkee Umali is a lifestyle and IT consultant by profession who loves cooking to relieve her stress from work. She blogs to de-stress. She always thinks of her kids and husband when she cooks.

Winning Dish: Thai Bagoong Rice

The criteria for judging were the following:

25 %- Utilization of Shopwise products

25%-  Taste

25%-  Originality and Creativity

15%-  Presentation

10%-  Audience Impact

A total of 100%

Two winners came from the Apicius Group and another two winners from the Food Blogger Group. Winners will join The Grand Big Cook-Off on August.

Among the dishes, I only tasted the ones cooked by bloggers Jinkee Uy and Lea Domingo. Both tasted really, really good. I didn't have the chance to taste the other dishes but one thing's for sure--- all the contestants were able to utilize all Shopwise products efficiently. How creative!

In my opinion, all the dishes were cooked with love and utmost dedication. I saw clearly the difference between how culinary students and bloggers executed their cooking prowess. The students where more technical and strict with their standards while the bloggers were obviously cooked the "home" way.  Despite the difference in execution, all contestants cooked with their hearts' delight. Furthermore, the judges chose the winners not just for the foods' taste or "what's on the plate" alone as Chef JP mentioned but also based on the above-mentioned criteria and of course, following the theme "Asian Fusion". Indeed, following the rules and instructions was very, very important. The stories behind the winning dishes also added an impact on the judges' decision. Like for instance, Miss Jinkee Umali was thinking of her kids while cooking her Thai Bagoong Rice. Every component of her dish was tailored fit for each of her kid's favorite. It was prepared with love which coincided with one of the benefits of cooking- altruism.  She was filled with bliss while doing the endeavor, making it more fruitful and meaningful because of the fact that she was doing it for someone dear to her.

The cook-off was not only intended to know the best of the best but also it became the venue to commit mistakes and learn from them. This statement of Chef JP struck me the most while he was telling it to Arlujan Sansano, "Joining a contest like this is a venue for you to learn. You committed mistakes now but it should not be the reason for you to stop. As you go on, you'll commit so many mistakes. Like me, I committed a million mistakes in the past which made me worthy to sit here right in front of you. Keep it up and we expect to see more from you."

A world-class venue for a world-class learning event utilizing affordable world-class products, that is Shopwise! In Shopwise, you can have a good life that you can afford! In Shopwise The Big Cook-Off, practical life lessons can be learned!

To know more about the next Shopwise The Big Cook-Off and what Shopwise Supercenters offer, you may like Shopwise on Facebook.