Living a Sugar Free Sweet Life

When I go malling at SM Megamall, I dare not walk the corridors of 5th floor Bldg. B. It's because I don't want to pass by the area of Family First. They have agents there who lure the unaware to sign up for a "raffle" and go to their office for a "seminar". Club Astoria agents employ the same scheming tactic.

My aunt-in-law and wedding godmother was tricked into signing up for a Club Astoria timeshare membership program. She and my mother-in-law attended a "buffet dinner" cum seminar where they were told about the perks of having a Club Astoria membership. My Tita Ops is a retiree, you see. She can travel anytime she wants to. So she thought that having a timeshare program with a hotel would be a wise investment.

So, after the dinner, the details of the timeshare program was explained to them. She was enticed by their tricky agents and became interested in signing up for a 30-year membership. However, she wasn't that decided yet as she was just interested in knowing more about the program.

After being explained to, one of the agents asked for her credit card and told her that they will just check on her credit status. She vehemently instructed them not to charge anything to her card but the Club Astoria people immediately charged 65 thousand pesos to her credit card. My tita's fault was that she signed the receipt. While we were talking to each other on the phone the following day after the incident, she related how she felt like being hypnotized by the agents. It was like "Budol-Budol" so she said. Thank goodness that her credit limit is worth 65 thousand pesos only or else these monsters could have charged the whole 100 thousand peso deposit on her card. My Tita is a senior citizen and is single. She was made confused by the agents who kept on talking non-stop.

The following day, when she called us up, we instructed her to go to her bank and change her credit card number. She also cancelled the contract she apparently signed. The bad news is, Club Astoria will only refund 45 thousand pesos and keep the 20 thousand peso "reservation fee". My tita's charging it to experience. Damn these scheming demons for taking advantage of an old innocent lady. That's part of her hard-earned retirement money so I bet they'll go to hell.

I have nothing negative about time share programs. My mom is a member of Pearl of the Pacific in Boracay and we have been using our privileges ever since. It's like staying in myrtle beach condos except that Pearl of the Pacific Boracay is not a condo. In fairness, Club Astoria is a legal business. The hotel is located in Ortigas, Pasig, and they have resorts in Boracay, Bohol, and Subic. I see nothing ugly about their accommodations and rates. What bugs me, on the other hand, is the manner of recruiting these Club Astoria agents are using. Try Googling "club astoria scam" and you'll see what I mean. So beware people, don't tell me I didn't warn you.

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Laptops are out, netbooks are in. I saw this line from one online seller. Netbooks have become so popular this year that every computer brand his its own line of netbook series.

Before we bought my Lenovo Y330 in March this year, I was thinking of buying a netbook. First, my budget was only within the price range of netboooks. Second, I wanted a laptop that's light to carry when I'm mobile. My husband rejected the idea and offered to buy the laptop for me. He insisted that I needed a laptop more since my work is online. He said that a netbook will not be able to handle the bulk of my online work and that my computing activities will be too limited.

Now that I think about it, I thank him for proving his point. I got to realize what he meant more when I won a netbook in a blogging contest last August. Yes, netbooks have limited features. That's why we ended up giving the netbook to our son. I get to use it only when I'm away from home and I need to be online. Still, when I need to bring work with me to a coffee shop while doing mommy errands, I still bring my Lenovo.

Take this from me: netbooks are smaller, lighter, and more inexpensive but they are more suited for Internet surfing and light computing activities. It's good for a second laptop or if you already have a PC at home. Go for the laptop if you need to have bigger hard disk space, bigger memory capacity, and a DVD drive.

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You have seen her already but I haven't properly introduced her yet. Ms. D is our new Nikon D5000. My boys have thought of a lot of names before we finally settled on calling her as such. Yes, it's a she. Short of saying that I'm more of the owner than my husband, hahaha!

I'm still a newbie in DSLR photography but I started to read some tips on DSLR photography sites. Up to now, my shots are still amateurish but I now have quite a few that can be considered good. I'll attend my first photography class next weekend while my boy's on a school camping activity. Hopefully, my photography skills will be better after that.

A photographer friend once said, "It's the Indian, not the arrow." Meaning to say that it's the skill and not the gadget. Still, DSLR cameras have advantages compared to point and shoot digital cameras. With DSLR cameras, the photographer has the free hand on setting the right shutter speed, aperture, and exposure to come up with the effect that he or she wants.

I'm going to update you on how my lessons will go next weekend. For now, I'm leaving you with one of my few good shots. I'd be glad to read your thoughts about it.

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It's just five months and a couple of days away from the May 2010 elections here in the country. Have you already made up your mind on the candidate that you will support? Honestly, I've been fickle-minded lately especially now that there are more debates being televised. This is my first election-related post and I am not writing about my candidate yet. I will still need more time to think about who to root for this coming elections.

In the process of discernment, I discovered a site that helped me know the candidates more. This site is Politicalarena.com. Together with PPCRV, COMELEC, and Youth Vote Philippines, it aims to promote voter education through online social interaction. Politicalarena.com operates under the network of 88db.com, the Philippines’ first rich media service portal.

In this site, members can browse through each candidate's profile and scrutinize their platform of governance. They can also post questions regarding political issues and other concerns. They can also interact with other users in the political forum. In fact, I got too engaged in an infrastructure thread that I immediately wrote what I felt about the issue.


I think I'll be frequenting the site more as election day gets nearer. I already have a candidate in mind and I already pledged my support for him by clicking the I SUPPORT YOU BUTTON. Should I change my mind as the days go by, I can always click the WITHDRAW SUPPORT button. Voting for our next leader is a big responsibility so it is always helpful to have an open-mind and a listening ear to what others have to offer.

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I am joining Maver's Starbucks Planner Palooza! Isn't it obvious that I'm addicted to Starbucks? I decided that I better join this one since I am still seven stickers to away from my first ever Starbucks Planner for 2010. Wish me luck! I hope I get the Espresso planner.

If I were a Starbucks drink, I would be a hot Peppermint Mocha. Why? I've been coughing and sneezing for weeks now and this drink always gives me comfort. It's like I'm having coffee and a mint pastille all at the same time. I'd like to believe that I give the same comfort to my boys whenever they're not feeling well. You know how moms are, we tend to take care of others all the time and it's most likely that there's no one to take care of us when we're sick.

Do you want to join Maver's Starbucks Planner Palooza? Click here to read the mechanics. You have until December 12, 2009 to submit your entries!

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Ang Pinoy nga naman. Saan ka pa makakakita ng ganitong sign kundi dito lang. Nakakatawang nakakaloko! Ito ang bumulaga sa amin sa aming pagdating galing sa Subic. Palibahasa'y hindi naman kami madalas magbiyahe pa-Norte kaya first time ko lang talaga makita ito. Mas madali nga namang matatak sa isipin ang mensahe ng isang hudyat kung may dating ito. Sa pagkakataong ito, maliwanag na ginamit nila ang humor. Natawa ka ba? Sana ay mabisita mo rin ang ibang hudyat na kasali ngayong Hwebes sa Litratong Pinoy.

Filipinos are known to be happy people. Probably this is why we can come up with funny signs like this one. We saw this along EDSA on our way home from Subic. I think that for signs to be really effective, the message has to be written with something that can attract attention. In this case, they used humor. Do you find it funny? I hope you can also view the other Litratong Pinoy entries.

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Nicely Rom, of I am Nicely, is holding a birthday blog contest and I am joining. Please read on to see the mechanics on how you can join, too. Up for grabs is a Vintage Stylish Cellphone Mobile Design Watch Necklace!

Hi, guys! I would like to invite you to participate in another blog contest that I am holding in celebration of my birthday on December 7. It is so easy to join!

Here's the mechanics:

1. Copy and paste this entire post (including the necklace photo below) in your websites, blogs or facebook notes.
2. Kindly fill in the blank: All I wish for Nicely is _____.
3. The title of your post must exactly be "I Am Nicely! is Giving Away a Vintage Stylish Cellphone Mobile Design Watch Necklace on Her Birthday"
4. To validate your entry, please leave a comment and your entry's link on this post so that I can check and get back to you as soon as possible. Please don't forget to include your full name and e-mail address, too ☺

Deadline for submission of entries will be at 11:59PM of December 6, 2009. The winner will be drawn by an online raffle device and will be announced on my birthday.


The lucky one will then receive a Vintage Stylish Cellphone Mobile Design Watch Necklace, courtesy of my eBay.ph sponsor, Tinatindera. The winner will be informed of his/her winning through e-mail and the item will be sent to his/her preferred mailing address not later than December 14, 2009. The prize is not refundable for cash.

Good luck and thank you for your continued support to I Am Nicely! ♥lots!

All I wish for Nicely is health and happiness in all the days to come.

Happy Birthday, Nicely! May you have more nice days to come. Hope I win this contest! :)

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Here's what my houseboy's been busy at for the past few days. Aint it nice? Guess what, everything's made from scrap material. The nipa hut was made with scrap aluminum metal that he picked up from a neighboring construction project and dried grass from the vacant lots here in our village. As you can see, he's still making the other paper maché characters that will complete our Nativity scene. My husband will do the painting of the figures once they're complete. We still have some bottles of poster paint from my son's past projects. The only thing that we bought from the store was the big bottle of white glue that the helper used for the paper maché figures.

Who say's we can't make a humble Belen without buying new materials. Well, we were not planning to make a grand one in the first place so there's no need to spend for expensive industrial supplies. This one's A-OK, don't you think?

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A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about my plans of changing my SSS status from employed to a non-employed spouse. I still haven't found time to visit the SSS office which is just nearby because I'm swamped with work. I'm planning to do this during my son's Christmas break.

To make the Christmas break more productive, I am also thinking of enrolling myself under the PhilHealth program. I have never been a member of this health program since we use my husband's PhilHealth coverage when one of us gets admitted in the hospital. I believe that I should also get one for myself. My sister-in-law, who is a food caterer, enrolled in one. I just need to register as an individual payer. I confirmed it after doing a little research.

Here are the steps on how to enroll under PhilHealth's Individually Paying Program: (Source: www.philhealth.gov.ph)

WHO CAN ENROLL:

1. Self-employed individuals;
2. Those who are separated from employment;
3. Employees of international organizations and foreign governments based in the Philippines without agreement with PhilHealth for the coverage of their Filipino employees in the program; and,
4. All other individuals not covered under the previous categories mentioned.

REGISTRATION PROCEDURES:

1. Fill out M1b Form (in duplicate copies)
2. Attach clear copy of supporting documents for qualified dependents to be declared
3. Registrant will be issued his/her PhilHealth Identification Number or PIN and the Member Data Record or MDR and shall be asked to pay the required premiums to the PhilHealth Cashier or at any of PhilHealth's accredited collecting banks.

PREMIUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Health insurance premium for Individually Paying Members is fixed at Php 100/month payable in quarterly, semi-annually or annually.
• Schedule of payment: Quarterly, Semi-Annual, and Annual.

One hundred pesos a month is just a small amount to pay for being under the program. At least, I can enjoy a discount for hospitalization bills. I am not planning of availing for a health insurance coverage anymore aside from what my husband's company is providing for us. I think having that, PhilHealth, and SSS is already okay.

Winnie Monsod, during one morning when I was able to watch Unang Hirit, said that PhilHealth is one of the few good things that we Filipinos can thank Mr. Macapagal-Arroyo for. I agree, PhilHealth is really a good and affordable program. I am not sure if it is at par with what other countries have to offer to their citizens but it's still better than none at all.

What do you think about PhilHealth and its programs? If you are living in the US, can you give me an idea on how your government's health insurance is like? Is it as good as bcbsnc's health coverage? Let me know what you think.

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I think we've all read and heard it before: Cleaning up is a dirty job but somebody's got to do it. But I dread the thought that it's general cleaning time once again. Believe me, you can count on me to do every household task including those that include fixing appliances but it will take me weeks before I do a general cleaning. Don't get me wrong. I love a clean house but it's the dust that's turning me off. Expect me to have a wheezing cough after doing a general cleaning. That's what I don't want to happen. Once I get the cough, it will take months before my system totally gets rid it even with medicine and all.

My sister-in-law and her kids are coming over for the holidays from the UK so doing a general cleaning is inevitable. I have a male househelper who does almost everything in the house even the cleaning. But you know, and I know the ladies will agree with me on this, that it is totally different when girls do the cleaning. We ladies can really CLEAN! Besides, I rarely ask the houseboy to clean my stuff and that's the reason why my work area is the most cluttered place in the house and my husband can't do anything about it, haha!

During the occasional times when I do the general cleaning, I use a damp rag to wipe away the dust and mop away the floor. I don't have a vacuum cleaner yet but I think I will have to buy one. Probably, I can get a steam cleaner that is compact and lightweight but it's pricey and I still have to save up for that. The other day, I saw a gel-like cleaning tool in the hardware that worked like a blob sucking the dust from surfaces. The printed text on its cover says that the dust will stay inside the blob and it will not touch the cleaner's hand unlike when you use a regular rag. The name escapes my mind at this moment but it's a good option for me. I just hope that it's not that expensive.

Do you have cleaning tips to share for dust-allergic people like me?

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