Missing My Fluffy Friend

 The One Who Left Without Me Saying Goodbye

Nothing could be more painful than losing someone you love. Two years ago, we lost our beloved pet dog named Mimi. We loved her and took care of her for more than 5 years. We all consider her as part of the family. Whenever she gets sick, we drive her to the vet right away and made sure she had her vitamins and followed a certain diet. Then just like that, she was gone due to a car accident. It was really heartbreaking. Some of us were crying for weeks and just couldn't eat. It was just like losing a family member. 

My son and Mimi slept in the same bed.

We had her years before my son was born.

Now how did I overcome this? Frankly speaking, I did nothing, but time helped tremendously in easing the pain, just one day at a time. They say "Time heals all wounds" and I agree to that, but they forgot to say that even if the wound is healed, it still leaves a mark.  When I remember what happened, it doesn't hurt as much, but the burden of losing her is still there. I guess there is no way of erasing it because I love her so much that I don't want to forget her. I just keep her in my heart and learn to move on with my life, and continue loving the people I have with me now. 

I had my own share of regrets and one of them is not being with Mimi very much.  I also wished that I took a lot of pictures of us together. It was the time when smart phones were still quite expensive so I just used our old digital cameras when I have them with me. 

 They say adversities in life make you strong and lessons are learned. Well, I don't know about the first part because I didn't feel strong, but the latter is true. The experience indeed taught me something very important - LOVE YOUR LOVED ONES AS IF IT WERE THEIR LAST. If only I knew it was Mimi's last day, I could have walked her to the park or I could have stayed with her all day. But I guess that's what God wants us to learn and that is nothing in this world is permanent and we should love ourselves and everyone around us as if it were our last day on this Earth. 

If I were to have a good camera smart phone by that time, I would definitely choose the OPPO F1s #SelfieExpert so we could have wonderful shots together using its 16MP rear camera regardless of the time of day thanks to its easy-to-use features that make life simpler for amateur photographers like me.   Now that Mimi is gone, only her few pictures remain and an Oppo F1s could have given me beautiful memories of my fluffy friend. 

But with picture or not, Mimi will always remain in my heart and I will always cherish my memory of her. 

Foodstagram Tips

I have always been amazed by appetizing food pictures in social media accounts especially in Instagram. It’s commonly called “foodstagram.”  I think the rise of food Instagramming is awesome! It’s created an all-inclusive community focused on healthy living and it has made knowledge about healthy eating increasingly accessible. I am currently an amateur in food photography so I  am currently doing research on how to make great shots using a smartphone to improve my skills. 

Among all the tips I have read, here are some simple things to remember in doing foodstagram using a smartphone: 

1. Turn off the flash. Use natural light. If you would notice, beautiful food pictures do not use flash in their pictures. So whenever possible, find good light or use natural light for your photos. Unfortunately, turning off the flash decreases your light source, which complicates things. Try getting up close and personal to your kitchen window, or the window of a restaurant. If that isn’t an option, make use of any candlelight or lamp lighting available in the room. Ambient lighting will create a much better effect on your picture than a harsh flash will. 

2. Think about your subject. A lot of the time, the angle you are shooting from depends on the food you are shooting. Logic. Needless to say, there’s no point taking a side on view of your pizza. I generally find an aerial view shot is best when using a smartphone camera

3. Use the rule of 3’s.. I just read it somewhere that there’s a rule of 3’s where usually an odd number of items work best in photography. 3 muffins, 3 plates, etc. 

4. Lock your focus or make sure your hands don’t shake. You can also use mini tripods to prevent the camera from moving. You can also use the 2-second timer in your camera which surprisingly gives clear shots. 

5. Of course, invest on a great smartphone that offers wonderful camera features namely the OPPO smartphones.  They’re powered with huge RAM and offers cameras with high megapixels. You can never go wrong with this brand. 

I'm a simple person. I simply base the quality of the phone's camera by its output or its pictures. And after seeing some awesome foodstagram pictures, I personally select OPPO F3Plus #SelfieExpert as the best smartphone for foodies in taking great photos with their yummy meals as proven by current OPPO F3Plus users with their lovely food pictures below: 

So that's it! I hope you enjoyed my simple tips!

Head of the family: Not Just a Provider But a Father

Imagine working in a world where time seems to just past by and where almost everything changes instantly. Think of having to keep up with an environment where it costs a lot to stop or even slow down for a while. Sound taxing, right? What more of prioritizing the welfare of everybody in the household on top of it all. 

But every head of the family doesn’t mind about it. Fathers are said to be the pillars of our homes. They toil sun up to sun down to give our needs and desires.

Some of them go abroad with tears in their eyes because they will be physically separated from their families. However, there is a certain joy in their hearts knowing that they will be able to provide for their loved ones back home.

To honor these gallant paternal men and let them feel how extraordinary they are and important their sacrifices are for their families, Father’s Day has been a yearly universal event. As we mark again this special occasion on Sunday, June 18, 2017, our applause and recognition will never be enough to show them how grateful we are to have them in our lives. 

Our dads, together with our moms, take good care of us the moment we’re born. They are the ones who provide everything we need for our everyday lives. From infancy up to adulthood, they feed and clothe us. 

As we take our initial baby steps, our patriarchs guide and lead us in the right direction. When we stumble and fall, they assist us to rise and move on. In times of danger or any threat, they shield us from any harm.

All of these, they do out of unconditional love. Their selflessness, though, has its own toll. Working tirelessly could lead to high levels of stress constantly and problems not only mentally, but physically, too. So better watch out for the signs. 

Has tatay been constantly complaining about losing strands and strands of his hair every day? Or maybe has he been searching for a way on how to get them to grow back?

According to the hair loss statistics conducted by Statistic Brain in the year 2016, 40 percent of men experience noticeable mane vanishing as early as age 35. And as per the American Hair Loss Association, there are a couple of different factors that cause excessive hair fall, one being extreme degree of stress.

Nutramedica Inc. introduced a revolutionary product that aims to address this problem: NOVUHAIR, nature’s answer to hair loss. Being the only topical scalp lotion in the country that is made from 19 natural herbs, essential oils and co-factor nutrients all working synergistically, it’s perfect for all the heads of the family out there, be they biological or not.

NOVUHAIR is proven effective and safe to help prevent and stop the progression of hair loss and, at the same time, help promote locks’ growth. Simply spray a liberal amount of NOVUHAIR topical scalp lotion onto the scalp and massage for 5-10 minutes. Voila, it penetrates deeply into the roots, which helps rejuvenate, nourish and maintain the natural moisture of the hair. 

Still have no idea on what to give him on his big day? Well, NOVUHAIR might not be the most expensive gift to impress him, but the most valuable present he could ever have. This nature’s answer to hair loss provides him the chance to be ahead already in preventing his “crowning glory” from receding in the near future. 

So, head on to all leading stores nationwide and get a dose of this breakthrough product. NOVUHAIR is also available in shampoo and conditioner formats to further complement the benefits of NOVUHAIR topical scalp lotion. NOVUHAIR is available at Mercury Drug and other leading drugstores nationwide. You may also order NOVUHAIR online at www.lazada.com.ph. For inquiries, you may call 413-6570 or 0922-8830575, and visit www.novuhair.com.

Welcome to the Light gliders Gaming App One-year Membership Worldwide Giveaway!

Lightgliders is a cross-platform of games, videos, and activities which is perfect for or children ages 6-12. It is designed to encourage biblical faith, positive values and meaningful conversations among kids, families and faith communities.

Open Worldwide

Start Date: June 17        End Date: July 7

Get your own free one-year membership for a whole year of fun and learning! You can also read a review about the game on Pink Heart String. Join the giveaway below: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Travel and Tour Operators Meet 2017 by Zoomanity Group

On June 29, 2017 from 9AM to 2PM at Makati Sports Club, Makati. More than 300 Travel and Tour Operators will be in one roof for the yearly Zoomanity Group event.

Zoomanity Group is composed of different theme parks and Restaurants in the Philippines like Zoobic Safari, Zoocobia, Zoocolate Thrills, Paradizoo, Residence Inn, Misono Japanese Restaurant, Jinsei, Nanten, Midori and Yakitori Daitokyo.

Zoomanity group is the leading company in theme park industry under the Yupangco Group of Companies. Envisioning world class, innovative and enjoyable facilities from Northern to Southern Philippines by providing the best tourist destination and nature educational experiences with the facilities that is uniquely designed to provide enjoyment to visitors of all ages.

A tour operator typically combines tour and travel components to create a package holiday. They advertise and produce brochures to promote their products, holidays and itineraries.

The objective of the Travel and Tour Operators Meet is to acknowledge the contribution of these different companies in the tourism sector by the award-winning entrepreneur, Robert Laurel Yupangco, the CEO of Zoomanity Group. Tourism is an important sector for the Philippine economy. The country is known for having its rich biodiversity as its main tourist attraction. Its beaches, mountains, rainforests, islands and diving spots are among the country's most popular tourist destinations.

CONTACT US: 3rd Foor, Yupangco Building, 339 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue Makati City, Philippines

Mobile: 09166299381 (Zoolit Booklets Inquiries Only)

Microsoft PH Employees to Get Enhanced Leave Benefits

Multinational company rolls out new leave policies for parents and family caregivers

MANILA – Microsoft Philippines has introduced a new suite of enhanced leave benefits for its employees, including a minimum of 20-weeks paid leave for birth mothers and a minimum of six-weeks paid leave for new fathers.

“We believe in fostering a healthy work-life balance. And at times, your personal commitments and responsibilities outside the office deserve all your focus. This is something Microsoft fully understands and supports,” described Karrie Ilagan, Microsoft Philippines Managing Director.

The company’s enhanced leave benefits also cover adoptive parents and parents who choose to have a child via surrogacy.

Likewise, the Information Technology leader has leave policies for family caregivers—allowing employees to take a four-week full-paid leave to care for immediate family members with serious health conditions.

“Our employees bring their best to work every day to support our mission, strategy, and culture. In return, we want to bring the best to them as well by continually providing them world-class benefits to ensure they have the time they need to take care of those that matter the most in their lives,” concluded Ilagan.

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About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) is the leading platform and productivity company for the mobile-first, cloud-first world, and its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

Microsoft Philippines, the local subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation, has been constantly bringing innovation and making its technology available to Filipino businesses and individuals since 1995. As a committed and trusted partner in nation-building, Microsoft Philippines has made it its mission to fuel growth and healthy communities, as well as transform locally-based businesses and empower them to compete in the global economy.

More Hours Of Outdoor Fun With Johnson’s®!

Keep the fun this summer with these Johnson’s® products perfect for your active kids

Manila Philippines – Not even the heat these days can dampen kid’s excitement to play, especially as most of them try to make the most of the summer vacation. Kids usually look forward to summer breaks so they can spend more time to play with their friends and go outdoors to explore the world. As we further welcome the summer heat, make sure your kids remain fresh all-day with these Johnson’s products that can keep up with their active lifestyles! 

1. Johnson’s® Baby Shiny Drops Shampoo and Conditioner (P131.00 per 200ml)

The hair is every girl’s crowning glory, ad there’s nothing more close to feeling like a princess as they play with other girls than having a shiny and beautiful hair.

Johnson’s Baby Shiny Drops Shampoo has the unique No More Tears formula, and contains micro capsules of silk proteins and argan oil to help restore hair’s natural shine and luminosity. This year, the new Johnson’s Baby Shiny Drops Conditioner is also made available for every little girl to ensure her hair remains soft and healthy.

2.    Johnson’s® Active Fresh Shampoo (P131.00 per 200ml)

Meanwhile, JOHNSON’S^® ACTIVE FRESH™ SHAMPOO was designed for long lasting freshness. This mild, easy lather and non-irritating formula is infused with ACTIVE FRESH™ technology to help prevent sweat turning smelly while it deeply cleanses hair and scalp, so your kids can stay fresh and smells irresistible even after playtime.

  

3.    Johnson’s® Active Fresh Bath (P91.25 per 200ml)

 

JOHNSON’S^® Active Fresh Bath is best for the active kids as it keeps them smelling irresistibly fresh longer as they play longer. Its mild, easy lather and rinse formula is uniquely infused with ACTIVE FRESH™ technology to instantly eliminate smelly sweat on skin, leaving it clean and smelling irresistibly fresh.

Don’t keep play at bay this summer! Keep yourselves tuned to more updates at https://www.johnsonsbaby.com.ph/ to know more updates on Johnson’s® take on play.