Not so Jolli...Bee :(((

I haven't been watching a lot on TV lately that's why when these Valentine TVC (television commercial) series from Jollibee (one of the top fast food chains in the country) came out I was like "what the hell is going on???" Because everyone is talking about it on Facebook, Twitter, it's pretty much everywhere on the Internet I told myself I gotta see all three Jollibee TVCs or I'll be completely left out. 

Without further ado, lets watch Jollibee's Valentine TVC series first in case you haven't seen any of these yet.

"Date"

"Vow"

"Crush"

Now what? 

When I first saw "Date," (the first out of the three) I was hopeful that the dad will show up after his son because I was thinking that he has a bigger surprise but the ending came out totally unexpected it left me shattered and tearful. I was like, wtf?! It was a very sweet moment that for some reason ended tragically for me. Hello, William Shakespeare? or a date gone wrong it left a very heavy feeling to be honest. 

Here comes "Vow," the second among the three which was quite predictable for me although at the back of my head I was still thinking that maybe what I'm anticipating will not happen unfortunately, it did. The girl married somebody else and not his "bestfriend. Friend zone at its finest man! I told myself that maybe he courted her at one point just not shown on the tvc of course, but she turned him down that's why even if it was really difficult for him to accept that they're not meant for each other, he accepted his fate (sigh) with a heavy heart (I suppose). He's such a good friend but a real martyr I wanna strangle or slap him (I'm so affected, lol!). 

Last but not the least is "Crush." Thank God I last saw this one because it ended happily, yay! I like the 80s feel on this kinda like reminiscing the 1984 movie "Bagets." I didn't realize that the lead characters will end up together really, I thought it's another heartbreak and I wouldn't want to completely lose my wits so I better expect the worse. I guess it's best to not expect too much to avoid disappointments, teehee!   

To sum it up, Jollibee totally nailed it with their Valentine tvc series it was very, very effective. Thanks a whole LOT Jollibee for "toying" with our emotions it was a real good marketing strategy even foreigners who've seen these commercials are literally crying but left them curious at the same time some even mentioned about trying Jollibee's food when they visit the country. 

So what else to say but, thumbs up Jollibee. Well, what more can I say but love is can be bitter-sweet sometimes. IRL (in real life), there's no "perfect world."

#KwentongJollibee

H.V.D. + SHIFT Indie Film Review

Happy hearts day, yay! To be honest, there's really nothing special about this day although for some reason it's celebrated like a holiday in most parts of the globe. I bet flower shops and chocolate manufacturers are real happy. I greeted my niece Gab a happy V day by making her a Valentine inspired bento lunch box. I get my bento ideas from Pinterest, I'm a bento addict in case you didn't know, teehee! 

My Valentine's Day inspired
bento lunchbox

Since I'm not too busy for quite some time now, I signed up for Iflix, it's free anyway but for only for a month, no credit card required and there are tons of Tagalog movies compared to Netflix. I use to download movies a lot but my 1Tb external hard drive is running out of space I've already deleted a lot of movies believe it or not so I decided to just watch free movies online to take advantage of my 3mbps plan with PLDT. There's just so much to do on the Internet and the service is not cheap but my family only use it for basic stuff like emails, social media and downloading music and movies we thought we'd rather make the most out of it. We rarely use the phone but it's no biggie, you can't have Internet without a phone line with DSL so there's no way to drop it. 

Shift, Pinoy indie film 
by Siege Ledesma

I like watching local and foreign indie (independent) films when I have nothing to do since today is Valentine's day I think it is only fitting to review a love story. I've been scouring the Internet for a long time to find this Pinoy indie film entitled Shift, written and directed by Siege Ledesma starring Yeng Constantino but couldn't find it anywhere until recently my sister found a website where we're able to watch it (finally) for free. I know it's kinda late to review this film but who cares I liked it even more after watching it. Shift is an unconventional love story about Estela, a call center yuppie (young professional) portrayed by Yeng Constantino who fell in love with his co-worker Trevor played by Felix Roco, a gay colleague who became her mentor. Estela never had a boyfriend while Trevor is confused about his relationship with his boyfriend when he became her mentor to help pull her metrics up. The two became good friends so when Trevor broke up with his boyfriend Estela thought that they have a chance at love only to find out that he already met somebody else that left her heartbroken. Estela confronted Trevor about her feelings but realized that she can't change him so she decided to leave and pursue her application with another company. 

What I like about this film is that I can very much relate because I am working in the call center industry. I know how it feels to be working in shifts, to struggle with metrics and to try to find something to inspire me to come to work every day. I thought it's pretty interesting because it's definitely not a boy-meets-girl but gay-meets-girl love story as well as a realization about life, like finding one's purpose which happens to a lot of people who feel like working in a call center is just a temporary job while waiting for something better. I like the concept of rebellious-boyish girl meets a confused gay guy because I know that with love, anything is possible however, there are things that we cannot change but life goes on no matter what. I think I can watch this film over and over again, it's basically an emotional roller coaster no wonder it bagged the Grand Prix or Best Picture Award during the 2014 Osaka Asian Film Festival. 

On that note let me share this video of Cambio's song Call Center to end this writing. 

Kbye.

Feb-Ibig

Hello February! Love is in the air again. Today is the first day of February 2017 and I still could not believe that the most awaited 65th Miss Universe hosted by our country after 23 years is finally over. I was in sophomore high school when Sushmita Sen won the title in 1994, would you believe it? Can time slow down a little bit, please? How I wish. 

I know, it's only been 2 days since the Miss Universe pageant so I will completely understand why everyone is still talking about what happened, the excitement, disappointment and all the mixed emotions during the recently concluded event. To be honest, I am proud and disappointed at the same time just like everyone else but let's just face it that things happen for a reason. It is nerve-wracking to be on stage, believe me, I know for sure because I use to sing and compete as a kid. It's not easy not to get nervous in front of a large crowd, more so when the whole world is watching you. You can't please everybody, people will judge you no matter what. It's funny how some people are quick to express their disappointments over social media that our country's bet, Maxene Medina should have answered in the vernacular so it's easier for her to express her thoughts but let's just put it this way, what if she really cannot think straight because she got nervous or experienced mental block perhaps? Will that change anything? I don't think she deserves all the bashing and stuff because with all fairness to this lady, she gave her all it's just maybe the Q and A portion is her weakness. We all have our own weaknesses as human beings, right? No matter how beautiful or perfect you think you are. So let's just move on and get this over with, shall we?

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach passing the crown to
Miss France Iris Mittenaere. The 65th Miss Universe Pageant
was held last January 30, 2017, at the Mall of Asia, Philippines.

Miss Philippines was asked the question about what significant change she has seen in the last ten years. This was a tough question but let me try to answer it just for the heck of it:


"I believe that women empowerment is the significant change I have seen in the last ten years. Gone are the days when women have to stay at home and take care of the family. We've become more independent and assertive. I am proud to be a woman and proud of how far we've come."


If I joined Miss U and with this answer, will I make the cut??? Lol. Yeah, whatever hehe. That's all for now.

Welcome 2017!

Happy New Year!!! Welcome 2017, the year of the Fire Rooster. 

New year, new hopes and aspirations and of course, new year comes with New Year's Resolution, it's a tradition, but to be honest I would prefer to call it a game plan. 

Here's a list of what I'm looking to focus on this year:

1. Get back in shape.

- Holiday binge is over so there's no more excuse. I need to get back to healthy eating.

2. Travel at least once a year.

- I know that work can get in the way but I will still travel whenever I could.

3. Veer away from anything stressful.

- I want to live long. Stress is a killer.

4. Save up.

- This is perhaps the toughest one for me but I've done this before so I am pretty positive that I the key is to manage my expenses well.

5. Take time to learn new things.

- I'm up for anything new, bring it on. 

~ That's it for me. So what's yours? :p

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas y'all! I still have a little bit of a hangover from Noche Buena. I feel so bloated but I still can't stop eating because seriously, who doesn't love food right? I have this feeling that I'm being haunted by food spirits if they have one lol!

Noche Buena feast

Caffeine kept me awake from morning till midnight until it's time to open my presents and I'm really happy with what I got from my sissies I'm just a little disappointed that my twin was unable to make it for Noche Buena because she's at work. I'm just lucky that my rest days fall on weekends. Anyhow, I slept an hour past midnight then woke up again so my elder sister and I can attend today's mass. I'm still a little weary and sleepy from last night's food preppin' but I hate to spend my day in bed, it's Christmas right?!

My Christmas prezzies

I did not let Atari cat visit any garden yesterday so he spent all day sleeping which is better than fighting with other cats in the neighborhood, he's not very friendly.

Lazy Sunday it is.

44 Days

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... (one of my favorite classic Christmas songs) oh well because it's only 44 days to go before Christmas! It's no surprise the weather is getting kinda chilly these days. I thought about having a "kris kringle" at home for the sake of my eight-year-old niece so she'll feel the Christmas spirit a little and have something to look forward to, you know how kids get excited over gifts right? I promised her a bicycle if she gets good grades and I hope she's working on it. 

I'm still not over with my makeup shopping I thought this is the best time of the year to pamper myself so I recently got myself a makeup palette from Victoria Secret called the Mega Makeup Kit. It's actually my first time to own such a huge makeup kit, it's pretty hefty because it comes with tons of eyeshadows, blush and lip gloss to choose from for different occasions. The packaging is really nice although it doesn't come with the original box and brushes anymore. An officemate who sold this to me said that his aunt never used it and that it was just a gift so I got it at a discounted price from Php1,900 ($38) to 1,200 ($24) which is not bad because the new one cost anywhere from $500 - $240 (Php24k-11k+) in Amazon.com and the cheapest offer is around $99 (Php4k+). I guess the leather case made it so expensive? I really don't know but I think it's way too costly for a makeup kit. I haven't tried using this yet I just tried a few swatches of the eyeshadows and lip gloss I'm hoping that the price is all worth it. A friend of mine once gave me a VS Ultimate Shadow Trio and to be honest I don't use it that much because I noticed that VS eyeshadows are not pigmented enough it's kinda loose even if I use a primer compared to less expensive brands but like what said I still have to give this a shot and it's a good addition to my makeup collection.  

Victoria Secret Mega Makeup Kit

106 must-haves for eyes, cheeks, and lips

Aside from this makeup kit I also bought a Kylie Lip Kit True Brown K from an officemate for only Php200. I know, it's way cheaper for a KLK which cost around Php1,400+ (about $29 on the website) so you know for sure that it's fake and it's unfortunately sold everywhere. Just like any liquid lipstick, this is super matte once it dries up but the thing is we really don't know what it's made of so this kinda bothers me a lot, the health hazards and all.


I still don't encourage buying fake stuff although the quality may be just as good as the authentic ones, I still suggest going for dupes instead

Kylie Lip Kit True Brown K

So how do you spot a fake KLK? Watch this video.

MakeUp and More

Hello November, G'bye October!

Hey, I'm back! I've been busy with work, that's all. Hello November! This is it, we're getting close to the most awaited holiday of the year so better be done with your wishlist. I still prefer online shopping because I find it really convenient since I don't have time to go out and shop around  plus I'm not the type of person who has a lot of patience shopping especially during the "sale season" where everybody is heading to the mall I'd rather catch up on sleep and stay home. So, I bought some makeup and thought I'd share with you some feedback on these products which might help if you're a makeup addict like me.

Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lip Color's Touch of Spice and Clay Crush 

(Watsons, SM Department Store / Php199 each)

Maybelline's Creamy Matte "Touch of Spice" 
(top left) and "Clay Crush" (bottom right)

When I saw this article on my Facebook feeds about month ago that there are Kylie Lip Kit dupes on sale from Maybelline, my sister and I tagged along to check out these creamy matte lippies for just P199 from its original price of P299. In case you're wondering why it's called creamy matte since there's no such thing as matte and creamy lipstick in a lady's point of view,  it's simply because it looks matte yet it doesn't leave your lips feeling dry, it's creamy formula glides on smoothly. I have a thing for dark shade lippies but for a change, I bought the nude shade of pink called "Touch of Spice" whilst my sister got herself the even nude-er shade "Clay Crush" which is kind of like a pale shade of brown and orange to me. These nude shades are perfect to wear during the day or if you just want to sport a "no makeup look." I've only used this product twice and so far what I like about it is that I don't need to apply too much because it's visible enough. To be honest, I'm not a fan of tube lipsticks anymore when I started using liquid to matte because I find it long-wearing and requires little to no touch ups unless you eat something oily. I think Maybelline's Creamy Matte is a good addition to my lipstick collection and I recommend it especially to ladies who prefer a more natural look.

Dose of Colors in SAND 

(Php200)

Dose of Colors for only P200+? You gotta be kidding me right? My answer is nope. When my sister told me that she bought a DOC liquid lipstick from a makeup kiosk at a local mall I knew for sure that it's not the real thing because I bought mine online for P600+ about a year ago. I've been thinking of buying another DOC lippie and SAND is on my list so when my sister hands me her fake DOC I tried it on my lips immediately, I still get excited a lot when it comes to makeup, may it be the real thing or not. For comparison's sake, you can hardly tell the difference just by looking at the packaging but what I noticed is that there's quite a difference in the label font and the original bottle is heavier, unlike the fake one which is very lightweight. The US authentic DOC I own is Berry Me which has a thick finish compared to this but just as matte and long wearing so if you just want to join the liquid lipstick bandwagon thingy and just got curious of DOC you just might buy the fake one instead of the original.  

DOSE OF COLOR's Berry Me (top)
and SAND (bottom)

Can you tell which one is authentic?

Personally, I don't encourage buying inauthentic makeup primarily because it contains ingredients that may be harmful to the skin but because it's way cheaper compared to the real thing that's why it's becoming more and more popular. I don't want to come clean because in the past I bought fake stuff too but just out of curiosity. I remember buying an Urban Decay liquid eyeliner from an Instagram seller for only P150 who claim that her items are Singapore authentic but just as good as the US authentic ones. I was totally disappointed when I tried it on it's like water and ink mixed together it's not worth buying at all and it's also causing my eyes to water every time I use it, must be some allergic reaction or something. Another online purchase that caused a sudden breakout to my face was a fake Mac Professional Highlighting and Sculpting powder and I didn't realize that it was causing the breakout until I stopped using it. If you have sensitive skin I still suggest buying the real thing and always remember that quality makeup ain't cheap so deal with it or better yet go for original dupes.

NYX Matte Lipstick in Beauty Mark

(Php200+)

I think NYX is probably one of the most affordable makeup in the market that's why when it comes to tube lipsticks I would still prefer this brand compared to the more expensive ones. Before I fell in love with liquid lipsticks I've been collecting matte from NYX. When my sister bought "Beauty Mark" it reminded me of "Maison" just the lighter version. Just like other NYX lipstick, it has a certain smell and this one smells like chocolate, yummy!

   

NYX Matte lipstick 
in "Beauty Mark"

Colourpop Ultra Matte Lipstick - Trap

(Shopee, Php450)

Colourpop Ultra Matte's TRAP is love!

The next best thing after LA Splash "Ghoulish" is Colourpop's nude-ish pink shade called "Trap." I fell in love with this product instantly, it made me realize that nude is the new black. It's super matte but the texture is not too thick compared to the quality of LA Splash lippies so you barely feel it in your lips. Colourpop is a must have, it's definitely worth a penny.   

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil - MILK

(Shopee, Php220)

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil - Milk 
and LA Girl Pro Pressed Powder

LA Girl Pro Face HD Matte Pressed Powder 

(Shopee, Php299)

I find online shopping in Shopee such a breeze because you can shop and chat with the seller just by using one app. I also find it safer because the payment will not be released to the seller until you receive your item. I took advantage of the free shipping promo for orders over P250 last week that's why I decided to do my makeup shopping and I'm glad that I got all my orders the same week (yay!). 

I ran out of white eyeliner unfortunately that LOL brand in Watsons is out of stock so I decided to replace it with NYX jumbo eye pencil called Milk. I use a white eyeliner to line my waterline to make my eyes look bigger, it creates a more dramatic effect. This eyeliner can be used as an eyeshadow base or an eyeshadow too.

LA Girl is kind of new to me because I haven't tried any of their makeup yet but so far I'm liking the texture of this powder because it blends well with my skin tone. I usually apply the powder using a small brush when touching up but with this powder, I decided to use the sponge that came with it. I like the packaging a lot, it flips up easily, the compact mirror is nice too and there's a separate sponge keeper at the bottom of the powder with air holes so the sponge can breathe to avoid bacteria from thriving in it. I definitely recommend this powder since I like a more airbrushed look and great coverage too. 

Human Nature Perfect Finish Mineral Loose Powder - Soft Ivory

(Shopee, Php425)

Human Nature's Perfect Finish 
Mineral Loose Powder is 100% natural

I have oily skin so choosing a powder that will work for me is kind of tricky. To achieve a natural look is really important to me so I'm very picky when it comes to choosing a loose powder. It's my first time using a mineral loose powder from Human Nature so I have no clue if it will work for me but after a week of use, I think I'm loving it. This brand is locally made and 100% natural so I'm not worried about breakouts and all. This powder blends well with my makeup and Asian skin. I also like that it has a little bit of shimmer but it doesn't make my face look oily or cake too much.

W7 In the Nude Eye Color Palette

Dupe alert

This U.K. drugstore makeup will give Urban Decay a run for their money because it is a good dupe for Naked 3 Palette. My sister's officemate sold this to her for Php200 (about $4) which originally cost around $8.35 in Amazon.com. I haven't tried all the colors in this palette yet but so far, so good I like how pigmented it is I thought it's good to have and wearable for daytime makeup.

That pretty much wraps up my makeup review and before I go m.i.a. (missing in action) again, I just want to share my Halloween makeup.

Happy Halloween! 

Vamp it up! Boo... Happy trick or treat!

Hello Pout

Hashtag "Hello October", why can't time slow down a bit? I'm still trying to think what my Halloween makeup would be but definitely not Harley Quinn because every girl is going in that direction for sure so maybe something creepy enough to scare myself, lol. I guess I'm just terribly busy I noticed that I'm almost running out of makeup to use but no time to shop around so most likely I will end up shopping online again. Since I mentioned about makeup already I might as well do a quick review of this BYS lipstick I borrowed from my sister two days ago. 

I'm not a big fan of light colored lipsticks simply because I'm used to always accentuating my lips. Every time I wear a dark shade lipstick it makes my teeth look white, I just love contrast. I like liquid to matte lippies because it dries up easily and stays on longer. My sister bought this BYS Velvet lipstick called Mystical Rose from Watsons at SM Department store for almost Php400, which is not bad because other liquid lipstick costs a lot more so I decided to try this on for a day to see if it is long wearing just like La Splash or Dose of Colors. I thought the shade is a lot like mauve just by looking at the bottle so I was quite surprised that it is a pale shade of pink. The applicator is very easy to use which I like however, I'm not happy with the texture because it's not thick enough for me, I had to do multiple coats. Touch up is needed since it is not totally waterproof so, to be honest, I would rather go for a non-liquid lippie brands like Wet n Wild for this shade really. It's good to try something new but for now, I'll stick with brands that make me happy. 

So what do you have for me October? Bring it on.

My SSS UMID Application Experience

Hello September! Surprise me.

Hey, hey September! It's officially the start of "ber" months so before the year ends I decided to update all my membership records with Philhealth, Pag-Ibig (HDMF) and SSS (Social Security System). It's been over a decade since I got my SSS ID so I decided to keep my records up to date while I have some time to spare.

When I heard about the news five years ago that SSS will finally come up with a Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID) which can be used to conduct business with these agencies (mentioned above including GSIS) I was ecstatic because this will definitely make life easier. SSS is the first agency to utilize the UMID system. I've been thinking about getting a new ID card but was too busy (and lazy)  to do so until somebody from HR (Human Resources) for the company I worked for suggested that I get the SSS UMID instead of Pag-Ibig ID because I told her about my plan of getting one when I drop by at the Pag-Ibig Fund office. 

The SSS Unified Multi-Purpose ID

I went to SSS office earlier and had things done in less than an hour (I think) with some help from the Information desk. Rule of thumb, if you don't know what to do, just ask because that's what I always do but also do a little bit of research before going there so you know what requirements to bring to avoid wasting your precious time. 

I booked an appointment online simply by logging on to my SSS account. The earliest available date is highlighted then it will ask for the reason for your appointment as well as your preferred time. Make sure to print out a copy of your confirmed appointment so you can just show it to the person in charge at the Information desk where you will get your queue number. A photocopy of my passport and TIN ID came handy as well as the accomplished copy of UMID card application form that's why I got things done in no time.  The last name on my old ID doesn't have an "enye" but I've used it for so many years I was surprised when the lady at the e-Ticket department asked me to to fill out 2 copies of the E4 form  to request for a last name change. I also had my home address updated because that is where the new card will be delivered. After updating my information I was asked to get the R6 form from the Information desk again and accomplish all 5 copies before going to the teller and pay the Php300 replacement card fee. Yes, there is a charge! For those people saying that it is free and that you will only pay if you lose your old card, it is not true at all because I asked someone from there. I still have my old card but once you decided to have it replaced you will pay for it regardless if you have a name change or not. Once paid I had my information double checked then I went ahead and have my picture taken where I was asked to remove my earrings and nose stud (it's required, no questions asked). Last but not least, I had my biometrics taken and was shocked when told that I had to wait 3-6 months for my new ID card to be delivered. I guess to keep my hopes up I was advised to follow up on the third month. I was like, seriously? 3-6 months is just way too long I think and I didn't see it coming I guess I have no choice but to just wait for it anyway.

That wraps up my SSS UMID application and I hope that the information I provided will help others who are looking to get their SSS ID updated. Just a heads up though, don't rely everything on what you read on the Internet because the experience is still the best teacher so when in doubt, just visit any SSS office near you. 

So there.

Bento Lunchies

We're just counting the days of August and soon enough it's the start of the "ber" month... clock slays time, indeed. 

It's the start of the school year for my eight-year-old niece Gabby and so far so good. I think she's loving her new school she can't stop talking about it every day, she's ecstatic that she already met new friends. I don't think she misses her old school at all, she's excited to come to school every day. To make things get more exciting for her I started making her "Bento" lunch box. I'm a newbie at this Bento making stuff but I'm enjoying it very much because it's really fun to make. It's quite an effort to wake up as early as four in the morning so I can prepare for Gabby's Bento lunch box but at the end of the day it's all worth it especially when she tells me that her classmates envy her "Bento baon" every day they look forward to seeing what she will have the next day.  

Piggy

Cookie Monster

White Rabbit 

My interest in Bento making started when I saw pictures of Bento lunch boxes on Pinterest. I started checking out bento makers on Instagram too so I can collect ideas on how it's done. I bought a few of my Bento making kit from Japan Home Centre like deco cutters, silicone cups, and food picks. I always enjoy shopping at Japan Home because I can't get enough of Kawaii stuff and they're pretty much everywhere. Of course, bento making would not be complete if it's not colorful and enticing enough for kids so I also bought this UFC Color Crazee Banana Ketchup pack which comes in four colors: Bubbly Blue, Goofy Green, Yummy Yellow, and Radiant Red. I love the crayon tube packaging it's so cool it's really made for kids to enjoy mealtime.  

I guess I still have a lot to learn but when it comes to being creative, I'm never too old to try something new because mealtime is fun time!

Heya August

Just sharing