Comic Cons are coming up left and right, and with the recent Avengers Infinity War movie that just came out, I'm pretty sure that movie and comic nerds alike are hyped up and are looking forward to try and dress up like their dream character. Me personally I've always wanted to dress up as a female version of Iron Man and as of late, for some reason I want to do Elektra.



My first foray into cosplaying, I got most of my things from Shopee. It really is a great app that has pretty much (almost) everything you will need. With that, I present to you your possible basic needs that will definitely be on your wishlist for COSPLAY 101.

• WIG

Most characters have crazy hairstyles- especially if you're tackling an anime character, or an alien species like Gamora. Or even just a simple blonde, and you don't want to bleach and color your hair because that would take up too much time. Wigs are the perfect go-to when it comes to changing your style, and the hair is always the cherry on top when you want to look like a certain character.

Shopee has a lot of wig sellers, most of which are High Quallity. What's best is while quality wigs may cost a bit of fortune, the shopee app goes on sale so if you're getting it an affordable price you're sure to find another that is on sale for sometimes up to 50% off!

• CONTACT LENS

This is another detail that you should definitely not skip, especially if your character has an out of this world eye color. It can really bring out the intended character that you're pursuing. It can also help you get more in character, like say... You're up for cosplaying Hela, the bad ass sister of Thor who has this mesmerizing green eyes that feels like it can look into your soul...

• COSTUME

Cosplaying doesn't have to be super complex, especially if you're just starting out. Characters like Scarlet Witch, Black Widow or Nick Fury only needs a bit of creativity in selecting clothes. Scarlet Witch for example usually dons a red leather jacket, black dress (or black shirt and skirt combo) and some combat boots. Paired with a smokey eye and scarlet lips and some accessories and you're done.



Black Widow's Shield costume is also a no-brainer, as all you need is a black long sleeve bodysuit (which you can later get to have some repairs and details done if you can't sew it yourself), boots, guns and the belt.



Personally, the boots I used here as well as the craft foam for the skirt of my Iron Man costume I got from shopee as well. What's nice with buying these is aside from a great costume you can also use these for everyday wear too!

• MAKE UP

Shaping your face with contouring, blush and changing skintone to look more your character is also essential in cosplaying, to help you look more like the character you're portraying. There are tons of makeup in shopee so no fret! And if you're thinking how the hell you can do Nebula or Gamora, there's also face paint to help you out!

BONUS

Visit Shopee's social media accounts:
https://www.facebook.com/ShopeePH
https://www.instagram.com/Shopee_PH/

Traveling is fun but you would always need to consider a couple of things before selecting a place to stay or you can have a pretty bad experience. After a long day of exploring or a long day of flight, you would want to have a comfortable and relaxing place to rest. A place that is good value for your money would definitely have these three things that you need to consider before checking in:

• Prime Location

You would need a location that is accessible and yet quite affordable. For example, locally, if you want to check out Entertainment City in Manila (where City of Dreams, Okada and Solaire is located) and its splendor but you don't want to spend too much, you can check out hotels around the neighboring cities.

In Dubai, the best place to get a proper accomodation is in Barsha Heights, as it is relatively cheaper than staying at the Marina or JMR. It is situated in one of the most accessible areas in Dubai which has business and leisure spots found within the neighborhood.  The Mall of Emirates and Marina are nearby for those who are up to shop till they drop or wanting to go for a stroll, and the beach is only a few minutes away if you’re craving for some sea breeze. 

• Room

The room itself is a big deal, as to what I have said earlier because when you're out either for a business trip or for relaxation, you will want a place that has clean sheets and a luxurious feel while staying affordable as well. When in Dubai, First Central Hotel Suites is perfect because their rooms are not just equipped with the basics like hot and cold showers, their suites are also quite lux to the eyes and to the feel of it.

You will definitely feel pampered upon first sight and your exhaustion while traveling will disappear when you set foot in the room and lie on the bed complete with the necessities of wifi and cable tv.. :D Each suite is equipped with a kitchen that has utensils and appliances for your cooking needs, and a bathroom that is stocked with toiletries and towels.  Their rooms are spacious enough for a solo traveler or a small group as well.

• Services and Ammenities

A great way to get around the area is through the use of the hotel’s shuttle service. There is a pool and gym available if guests would rather stay in, and a restaurant that is ready to serve you a continental meal. The staff is courteous as you are greeted when you enter and leave the building and they always try to fulfill the guest’s requests. 

I'll end this with summarizing the three points I mentioned, which is to be somewhere that is in a prime location, is complete with amenities and facilities you will need, has hospitable staff and a room that is clean and well-maintained. First Central Hotel Suites checks all of those boxes.  

This place is a complete package and you will not regret staying here.  

The event was graced by Robi Domingo, Julia Barretto, Joshua Garcia and Janella Salvador. The latter 3 are part of OPPO's newest endorsers.

Last night was a pretty special night as we finally saw what powers the latest in smartphone technology with the OPPO F7. OPPO has been known as the selfie powerhouse for the past years, and this latest addition to the F Series has delivered beyond expectations from its predecessors. While the F1 is focused on the beautification, OPPO has made it clear with the F3 Plus and their dual cameras dedicated to groufies that they are here to change the selfie game.

And with the OPPO F7, I think things are heating up real good.



I have here a short video of the phone, with the specs and prices summarized.







The event was pretty fun with booths showcasing not just what OPPO can do but what OPPO IS, to the millenials of today. Said booths was dressed to reflect the cutting-edge technology that powers the OPPO F7 while catering to trendy interests such as art, photography, fashion, travel, and music.

With AI Platform, as you use your phone more, it gets smarter and gets better in assisting you.

1. AI Battery Management and the AI Album

And by cutting edge I mean it. OPPO Philippines’ Public Relations Manager Eason de Guzman talked about the F7’s powerful performance, which revolves on maximizing the AI Platform with different collaborations, one of which is with Google Assistant, and how said software has managed to care for our batteries and memories better with the AI Battery Management and the AI Album.

You must be wondering though, what the heck is all this talk of AI Paltform mean?!

AI Platform or Artificial Intelligence Platform's principle, especially with smartphones is that as you use your phone more, it gets smarter and better in assisting you. Weather it is with storing your photos by occasion, date or friend's face, setting your battery consumption properly, depending on the time you are most likely to play games or sleep and charge, or by taking photos and not making your boyfriend look like a girl even with the beauty mode on.

2. Clearer and Better Captured Moments with 25 Megapixels!

The camera itself has also changed. OPPO F7 is the first smartphone to have a 25 megapixel selfie camera in the world. Partnered with the Sony IMX576 Sensor, which is for live exposure adjustments, you are sure to capture beautiful smiles, heartfelt memories and moments.

With this and the AI Platform, I think OPPO has cracked the code on taking better artful photos worthy of your albums, with their beauty mode making sure to make you look better but not filtered. There are also different modes that can be used either for the selfie cam or the rear cam. There's Vivid Mode, Food mode, Video Beauty and more!

3. Get Cute with AR Stickers!

4. BIG CHIPS!

The basic F7 has a 4GB RAM that deliver hardware performance of up to 80% faster than its predecessor, and upgraded storage of 64GB with option to expand with a MicroSD card.


But for the bigshot gamer or those who need more space, OPPO F7 also comes in a 6GB Processor with 128GB worth of storage for your games... Or your travel photos that you just can't seem to want to transfer to your computer anytime soon. Plus that 3400 mAh battery is sure to set us up for the whole day.

5. Split Screen, Multitasking and Fingerprint + Face Detect unlock Feature

6. FULL HD for a more Immersive Experience

7. Expect the UNEXPECTED with Diamond Black.

All in all, I think the OPPO F7 definitely packs a punch with it's new features!

As of April 19 at 6PM, the number of pre-orders has reached a total of 25,133 units. “We are pleased with how well the public is receiving the OPPO F7,” said de Guzman. “The number of pre-orders has surpassed our expectations and shows that the OPPO F7 is able to capture not just real beauty, but also the hearts of our fellow Filipino selfie enthusiasts.”

The new OPPO F7 retails for PhP 17,990.00 and is available in solar red and moonlight silver. The 128GB, 6GB RAM variant meantime retails for PhP 21,990.00 and is available in diamond black and solar red. All stocks will be available starting April 21, 2018. If you have already pre-ordered, there's more surprises waiting for you!

For those interested in purchasing the F7 under a service plan, OPPO’s partners include Home Credit at nine months with 0% Interest, Globe (Plan 1499), and Smart (Plan 1499).

I definitely had fun with the launch, not just meeting with old and new friends but also meeting with my idols! And if you've made it this far, I suggest you go now, try out and buy the OPPO F7 for yourself as I feel that it will not just be your phone but the OPPO F7 will be a part of your lifestyle.

With Joshua Garcia of The Good Son

For more information on the OPPO F7 and upcoming promos and roadshow events, like OPPO Philippines’ official Facebook page or follow @OPPOPhilippines on Twitter and Instagram.

My kiddos have always been in love with Jollibee. Personally, this love for their food is something that we share because my husband and I are also Jollikids when we were their age. Who can forget that feeling of happiness when our parents give us Spaghetti with Chickenjoy for pasalubong after a long day that they were at work? Add in the fries and it's a winner!





What's nice about this combo is the fact that for something so simple and affordable, I can make my kiddos smile like there's the sun. Also, as Jenae is allergic to chicken, I hit two birds with one stone with their favorites by ordering said Chicken Spaghetti Value Meal



And when she finally saw the whole TVC that they made for Jollibee Sweet Spaghetti, she cried. Because “The storyboard is so touching and very personal. It shows my different roles as Regine, but it also shows that my greatest one is being a mom, which is the most difficult yet most fulfilling role I have to play,” Regine shared.

While this is not the first time Regine and Nate worked on an endorsement together, she believes that this one with Jollibee is the most special. "I've never done anything like this, a commercial that celebrates my being a career woman and a mom.” Asia’s Songbird also shared that this Jollibee ad is inspired by her real life and her thoughts about being a mom. “In the ad, there’s a line where I say “sa lahat ng kinantahan ko, ikaw lang ‘ang nakatulog.” That’s true talaga! He really sleeps whenever I sing to him. It’s like they captured our real lives!” she said.

Another scene in the commercial that made Regine emotional is when she sings the lines “Pangako magmula ngayon, tayong dalawa ang magkasama,” which is lifted from one of her platinum hits “Pangako.” This song holds special meaning to the songstress as it was composed by her husband Ogie Alcasid. Which is also what she and Nate sang in the launch.

(From L-R) Jollibee Brand Engagement Manager Cat Triviño, Brand Manager Kat Silvoza, Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid and her son Nate Alcasid, Marketing Director for Flagship products Cathleen Capati, Brand Engagement Officer Celina Tan.

 Regine’s realization is not lost on Nate, who—despite his parents’ celebrity status—prefers simple bonding activities like going on picnics and playing with Regine and Ogie. To make these bonding moments even sweeter and more fun, there’s always the sweet-sarap Jolly Spaghetti to bring more flavor to the Alcasid family’s special time together.

“When it’s time for merienda, he would say “I want one Jolly Spaghetti, two Chickenjoy legs, and two fries.” When I’m not at home, he would ask to order Jollibee and pay for it with his own money! Hindi niya ako hihintayin!” Regine candidly shared.

“The Jolly Spaghetti is so yummy!” the six-year-old exclaimed. “It’s sweet, cheesy and soft and I can eat a lot of it!” It’s no wonder why Nate—and other Pinoy kids—love Jolly Spaghetti. The al dente noodles are topped with Jollibee’s unique sweet-sarap sauce, meaty hotdog slices, and a generous sprinkling of grated cheese.

The Jolly Spaghetti Solo retails for only P50.00* and the Jolly Spaghetti Family Pan (good for four to five persons) for P199.00*. Both are available in all Jollibee stores nationwide for dine-in, take-out, delivery, and drive-thru. 

I usually get the pan alongside a bucket of chickenjoy if Jenae and Rafael have been really good. It's also what they asked for after their graduation day. Moments like that accompanied with "Mommy, Daddy, I got a medal, can we have some chickenjoy with spaghetti please?" really make our family moments sweeter and more special.

Bare Essentials simplifies your journey to the 10-step korean skincare routine!

Contour Cleanser - Php 300 for 150g

Primer Water - Php 550.00 for 200ml

Fixer Cream - Php 640 for 50g

• It's affordable for a Korean Line, the whole set costing a little below Php 1,500

• It is not confusing and time consuming unlike the actual 10-step skin care routine

Art nowadays is something that is much needed in the world. Especially to our children who are web-centric or more focused on their tablets and ipads, and us adults who need a break from the world and work. Art lets our imagination run free, and relaxes the mind and soul. This love for arts is becoming one of the most-sought activities for kids and kids-at-heart.

Therefore, Eco Hotel Philippines, together with Iris Alonzo, came up with an art workshop called “Paint and Sip.”

Paint and Sip is an instructional painting lesson usually consists of groups and accompanied by wine or other beverages. 

This event has increased rapidly since 2007. Furthermore, Iris started Paint and Sip in Yangon in July 2017 as a way to raise funds to run a primary school in an isolated village in Mon State. Her event lives on in the Philippines to fund art scholarships and to encourage people to explore their artistic capacities with the help of wine and friends.

We’ve invited talented and accomplished artists to share their expertise and journey to make it even more effective and incredible event for YOU!

1.    Jessica Herrera
Jessica will be the main artist of the operation. She has worked in he has worked in AIESEC for 6 years as well, then served as a Partnership Manager for Asian Development Bank, and is currently a consultant for NGOs in the Philippines. She is a licensed Zumba instructor and certified Spanish teacher, but her true passion is painting. She started at the tender age of 6 and is happy to finally have found a relevant cause for her talent.

2.    Iris Alonso
Iris is not an artist but an art enthusiast, with 6 years of development work experience in AIESEC, an international NGO. Through that, she became a Country Manager and Global Expansions Coach in Myanmar.

The proceeds of this event will go to Iris’ chosen charity which in honor of her father Chinggoy Alonso, who once showcased his talent in the artistic industry as Stage and TV Actor in the Philippines.

Eco Hotel Philippines is a company that is passionate about conservation, preservation, and protection of our environment. As a green service hotel, Eco Hotels ensures that Eco-friendly processes are implemented from construction to day-to-day operations. This is aligned with its advocacy of minimizing its impact on the environment while imparting practices of sustainability to their staff and guests.

This art workshop aims to impart valuable tips to unleashing your love for arts like Iris and Jessica.
Don’t miss the chance to attend this greatly anticipated event. Mark your calendars now: 21st of April 2018, at Containers by Eco Hotel, located along SVD Road, Brgy. San Jose, Tagaytay City, 6 pm to 9 pm.
For more information, you may sign-up here https://goo.gl/forms/FTJDyumsJj7oSK5p2, email info@ecohotel.com.ph  or message us on Facebook (@ecohotelph). See you there!

OPPO Philippines’ recently announced flagship smartphone OPPO F7, with the highest 25MP front camera and A.I. Beauty Technology 2.0, is now available for pre-order. Customers who will avail of the pre-order will get a free Olike Magic Music Lamp bluetooth speaker.

Pre-orders for the OPPO F7 are available from April 12 to April 20, 2018 in more than 5,000 OPPO stores nationwide. Claiming will start on April 21, 2018 where they can claim from the store they availed the pre-order.

Easiest part of this is all you have to do is to point to what dish you want, and they have it ready made to satiate your hunger for homecooked meals outside of home. Hence another word for Carinderya is Turo Turo.

Buhay Carinderya Redefined aims to improve the carinderia’s image while helping the entrepreneurs and cooks behind them, presenting their unique style of cooking to a wider audience.

SUMMER NA!https://www.chicmix.net/2017/05/travel-journal-life-is-a-beach-anguib-cagayan-photoblog.html

Sun is shining, it is sweltering hot, everybody wants to go to the beach and finally, PAG-ASA has announced it- SUMMER IS HERE! And with summer comes the outings, because we all wanna cool off and go to a paradise- be it beach, mountains or the countryside. Here's a checklist on what summer essentials should not leave your Beach travel bag for summer 2018. And you don't really have to go that far off to buy if you don't have these in your stash- all you need is your phone, the internet and the Shopee App!

Shopee is the leading online shopping platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan that offers convenient and seamless shopping to users that are looking to shop anytime, anywhere. With strong payment and logistical support, Shopee provides all users with an easy, secure and fast online shopping experience

1. Sunblock



SUN PROTECTION FIRST before anything else. There are a lot of sunblock in the market. I personally like the one that is non-tacky, because I know I'll be sweating in the beach, I don't want to feel sticky before that anyways... My top picks for sunblock would be the Belo Sun Expert Travel pack because it's so tiny, cute and travel friendly plus it does the job. Another would be Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50 PA+++ as this is much like water and is easily absorbed by the skin- no tacky feeling! The one I have tested thoroughly which I recommend is the Dewytree Brightox Sun Cream with SPF50 PA+++ (review here) for the face and body if you're willing to splurge, as this one I didn't have to change my foundation color after using this while on the beach.

ok lang todo painit kasi may sunblock naman :D

2. Water Aqua Skin Slippers



This one is perfect for walking on beaches that have corals and you don't want your slippers slipping off your feet! (Laiya has a beach full of stones and Matabungkay has quite a lot of jagged corals- this is just perfect!) And the nice thing about this is that you can also find a size for the kiddos. Plus ang mura lang niya oh!

This beach is more on the rocky and coral-ly side. Shot in Laiya, Batangas

3. Suits and summer outfits



Lately I'm opting for one piece suits, because I find that I can hide my stretchmarks better, and suits like this one is like a live action photoshop wherein it can slim you up. And when that zipper is down, showing a bit of your swim bra inside...less is more teasing and tempting.:D

But Shopee also has cute pieces like this mermaid inspired swimsuit to bring out the inner princess in you.. Or your bagets!

me hiding stretchmarks from pregnancy :p

The best thing about shopping online via Shopee is that it saves you a lot of time and the items are affordable and of high quality too. Happy shopping and hope you have an awesome summer ahead!

Visit Shopee's social media accounts:
https://www.facebook.com/ShopeePH
https://www.instagram.com/Shopee_PH/

Before, women are often underestimated and the men are the usual breadwinners of a home. But L'Oreal's Beauty For a Better Life aims to change that stigma, and they have placed beauty in the heart of building identities and lives, and is created to ignite a long-term social impact. One of the Foundation’s key programs is to empower women in situations of social and economic instability via training them for careers in the beauty sector.

L'Oreal's Beauty For a Better Life aims to empower women in situations of social and economic instability via training them for careers in the beauty sector. 

Led by the L’Oréal Foundation, Beauty For a Better Life is deployed in 27 countries globally. For its first run, L’Oréal Philippines, along with its partner organization Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), decided to focus on training women within one barangay to allow for growth within the community and co-empowerment among themselves.

Launched last April 2017, L’Oréal’s Beauty For a Better Life has since completed one full year of training for three batches of beneficiaries. Placing beauty at the heart of re-building identities and lives, and created to ignite long-term social impact, many of those who benefit from L’Oréal’s Beauty For a Better Life are women in vulnerable social or economic situations. Since its launch, 62 beneficiaries from the Philippines has been given an opportunity to go into jobs and even own businesses in the field of hairdressing.

The program was first brought to Brgy. Sto. Niño in Marikina as one of the priority areas for unemployment. "We believe in the power of beauty to change lives, and Beauty For a Better Life expands the definition of beauty by using it a way to provide skills and livelihood opportunities to those most in need. A renewed sense of self-confidence, diginity and motivation are fundamental changes that we see in our graduates and it is our hope and vision that Beauty For a Better Life empowers these women to gain a better quality of life through increased access to livelihood opportunities, and thereby becoming socially and economically empowered to also serve as beacons of hope for their own families and communities”, shares Carmel Valencia, L’Oréal Philippines Corporate Communication Manager.

To date, 62 individuals have completed the program, 22 of which come from the third batch graduating this April 2018. Each batch of beneficiaries underwent daily classroom sessions in the Barangay Hall for three months wherein they were taught different hairdressing skills such as blowdrying, hair coloring, hair cutting, and application of hair treatments – under the tutelage of L’Oréal Philippines trainers. They were also exposed to a one-week internship in L’Oréal’s partner salons across Metro Manila to expose them to actual hairdressing jobs and potentially further their career options.

April 3 signals a new chapter for the program as it celebrates all the beneficiaries from Brgy. Sto. Niño including the latest set of graduates and also gives way for the turning over of the program to a new barangay in Marikina. “It is truly heartwarming to see the hope that the program has brought about to the lives of the women (and men) of Brgy. Sto. Niño. For the next cycle of Beauty For a Better Life, we are hoping that we will also open opportunities to individuals from Brgy. Dela Peña and continue our advocacy of changing lives through beauty,” concludes Ms. Valencia.

The first batch of beneficiaries from Brgy. Dela Peña will begin training under the program on April 4.