Blogopolis 2013: #IntoTheWild

Hey you, Netizens! :)

Register for the much-anticipated event for the bloggers, social media influencers, students, digital marketing officers, and advertisers this year - the BLOGOPOLIS 2013: Into the Wild!

Key personalities in the digital world will share some of the most compelling talks and insights on Digital Marketing and Social Media. A blogger like me will surely learn a lot on how to be more effective in this field - may it be a hobby or a full-time work. :)

But, it is good to take note that anyone who is interested in the Digital World is welcome.

Don't dare miss it!

For more details, you may visit: http://www.blogopolis.ph/

Real UnliCHAT Experience with Globe’s GoUnli30”

Gone are the days when we are confined with call and text messaging as means of communication. Technology has evolved so much that it made things even easier for us. But, such innovations cannot be enjoyed without the help of the Telecommunications Companies.

In this connection, Globe Telecom now offers GoUNLI30 and UNLICHAT25 which I'm sure will be a hit among those who are active both in Social Media and in Text Messaging.

• With GoUNLI30, subscribers get unlimited texts to all networks, unlimited calls to Globe/TM, and unlimited chat with the best messaging apps like Viber, Kakao Talk, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, WeChat, Line and the telco’s very own messaging app GMessage without the need for Wi-Fi or additional data charges. Available for only P30 valid for 1 day, GoUNLI30 gives you no excuse to stay out of the loop and connect with more than 1 billion users around the world regardless of mobile network or location.
• Go all-out unlimited with GoUNLI30 and UNLICHAT25 now. Register by dialing *143# and then choosing GoSAKTO on your Globe mobile phone or texting GOUNLI30 or UNLICHAT25 to 8888

FLYING HIGH WITH AIR ASIA ZEST

The year 2013 has been a year of "Travel" at least on my part. So far, it has been the best year of my life because I was able to reach some of my greatest dreams when I was still a child - to play with snow, visit other countries and to ride on a plane. Yes! I've long been dreaming of riding on a plane and see the clouds and the stars closer; to have a glimpse of how the world looks like from a great height.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Everything happened on this wonderful and vibrant year!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As a Youth Ambassador and Student Leader, I applied for the different youth exchange programs and summits this year. Fortunately, I qualified for all of these programs that I applied for and because of this, I was able to explore Japan in March as a Peace Ambassador; visited Indonesia in June as a Google Student Ambassador; and had a glimpse of Cebu last August as a delegate to the 8th Aboitiz Future Leaders Business Summit.

Sadly, I really didn't have the time to roam around the cities I visited because I had to follow the rules and schedule that were given by the organizers. I'm really craving to spend much more time in those countries so I'm once again dreaming of visiting certain places in Asia.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Lovely Experience With Air Asia

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I came to know Air Asia during my connecting flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Jogjakarta, Indonesia for the Southeast Asia Outreach Summit with Google last June. When we landed to KL from Manila, I really made sure that I'll be able to take some photos of this airline because I really love the airline's official color -RED (the shade is perfect and is so eyecatching!)

The interior of the aircraft succumbs to the International Standards and the seats are relatively comfortable; these are good indication that the company do not sacrifice quality for the price. Furthermore, I was surprised that the cabin crews were also hospitable and nice like the Filipinos. Each of them possesses a pleasing personality which translates to their sincerity in dealing with the passengers.

Honestly, I really felt bad when I found out on the internet that Air Asia has no direct flight from and to Manila. I was really disappointed that I cannot enjoy such high quality service at an affordable price when I travel from Manila.

BUT, HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS!

Recently, Zest Air was rebranded as Air Asia Zest and upon hearing the news, I really know that Travel in the Philippines will be much more vibrant and exciting from now on! With Air Asia Zest's affordable rates and commitment to quality service, surely, Filipinos will now Travel Asia with Air Asia!

Filipino Travelers can now enjoy a safe and memorable flight from MANILA via NAIA Terminal 4 to the following destinations:

LOCAL DESTINATIONS:

Cebu

Davao

Kalibo (Boracay)

Puerto Princesa

Tagbilaran

Cagayan de Oro

INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS:

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Shanghai, China

Incheon, South Korea

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now, I wanna share with you the countdown to 

MY DESTINATION WISH LIST!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4th: Cebu City, Philippines

A photo taken at the Sto. Nino de Cebu Church, Cebu City

with my co-delegates to the 8th AFLBS

I went to Cebu as one of the delegates to the 8th AFLBS and like all the other summits I've attended, standard protocols when it comes to schedule and safety had to be followed during that time. Hence, I really did not have the time to roam around the city and have a better glimpse of the city's culture.

I really wanna visit Cebu's pristine beaches, its IT Park and visit some of its heritage sites. Also, I wanna experience their Street Parties which I heard are entertaining and will make everyone groove to the music. Plus, I would really love to come and visit Cebu for its famous Sinulog Festival and to indulge myself in its sweet mangoes and delicious crispy Lechon!

3rd: Kalibo (Boracay), Aklan

The famous white powder-like sands of Boracay

I've been into Boracay when I was 13 years old and I can vividly remember how I, due to excitement, jumped out of the boat  even if it's still a bit far from the shore. Hahahaah! :) I guess this incident gave you an idea of how mesmerizing Boracay is.

However, I didn't have the chance to explore the island and spent most of my time on the outskirts of this island. Well, now that I'm of legal age, I wanna experience the colorful and fiery nights in Boracay. I'm really fascinated by the fire performances held at night, the loud music and the warm people who adds up to the good vibe on this island paradise.

Having a Henna Tattoo, go on a Banana Boat Adventure and snorkeling are also some of the things I wanna do when I'm given the chance to visit this place in the future. I've heard for a thousand times that one of the main reasons that sets apart the island from the rest is the "ADVENTURE" that the travelers can experience from this island.

2nd: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The famous Petronas Tower and Kuala Lumpur's Skyline

"Malaysia, Truly Asia!"

I fell in love with this song used for Malaysia's Official Tourism Ad. The music, the voice of the singer and the video itself were perfectly blended to give its viewers a glimpse of how magical one's stay in Malaysia can be. Hence, I know that many travelers from all over the world have considered visiting Malaysia one of these days; and that includes ME! :)

At the Plaza Premium Lounge in LCCT Airport, Kuala Lumpur

By the way, I''ve been to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this year when the Philippine delegation to the Southeast Asia Outreach Summit with Google stayed in the said city for a layover to Jogjakarta, Indonesia. Literally, we stayed for quite some time in the airport to wait for our connecting flight. Good thing, I've had a nice view of KL's skyline when the plane from Manila hasn't landed yet - and it really added up to my admiration for the city.

Some of KL's Points of Interest that make we wanna come back as soon as possible are:

Petronas Towers: Very famous for its Height and Intricate Design

Legoland Malaysia: The first Legoland Theme Park in Asia

Kuala Lumpur Tower: The Tallest Tower in Sutheast Asia

1st: Incheon, South Korea

Incheon's famed Skyline

I have long been in love with South Korea since I first watched a Koreanovela on GMA 7 almost a decade ago. There are a lot of things in common between the Korean and Filipino culture: love of God and family, love for music, respect for the elderly and love for Dramas! Surely, Korean Wave has hit the Philippines massively that many Filipinos embraced the culture, music and arts of South Korea.

Korean Cuisine is also a must try for everyone! From its very flavorful Bulgogi, the vibrant and delicious Bibimbap and to their own favorite sidedish, Kimchi, everyone can surely experience Korea in an instant!

Furthermore, I've met a lot of Koreans in our campus and some have been my classmate during my Sophomore Year and I can safely say that they are nice and lovable; and VERY CUTE TOO! :)

Aside from this, there are still hundreds of reasons to visit South Korea and some of these are:

INCHEON BRIDGE: a reinforced concrete bridge in South Korea. 
At 12.3 km long with a main cable stayed span of 800m, 
the new Incheon Bridge will be one of the five longest of its type in the world.

AREX: A rail system and the fastest means of transportation
 that connects Incheon International Airport to Seoul. It covers a distance of 
58 kilometers and stops at only 10 stations.

JEONDEUNGSA TEMPLE: located on Ganghwa Island, which has been
a historically significant place from the time of 
ancient Joseon until the present day.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THANKS TO AIR ASIA ZEST and my dream of visiting these places someday has become more possible!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You may now book your flights here:

http://www.airasia.com/ph/en/home.page

AVON SKIN SO SOFT: SOFT AND WHITE GLUTATHIONE LOTION

PRIMER

Last March, Avon released its newest variant under its Skin So Soft Hand and Body Lotion line, the SOFT AND WHITE GLUTATHIONE LOTION. I only knew about this product when I accidentally walked inside an Avon Outlet along the Gov. E. Mangubat Avenue in Dasmarinas, Cavite.

When I already got inside the store, I was really surprised that this specific Avon Outlet has almost all of the Avon Products offered in the Brochure. Of course, the next thing I did is to look for a lotion because my bottle of Kojie San Lightening Lotion was almost empty that time. My search led me to a stand of lotions at the corner of the store and for the second time, I was stunned by what I saw - a complete collection of Skin So Soft Lotions. 

Then, I immediately asked the saleslady if they have the Soft and White Glutathione Lotion. Upon knowing that they still have a lot of these lotions, I grabbed one and purchased it for only P125.00(price on Brochure: P169.00).

REVIEW

According to Avon:

Glutathione, which is known to be a powerful antioxidant that effectively whitens skin is combined with Soft and White's Advanced Brightening Complex and Marula Oil for even faster results.

This product really promises a lot and I was challenged to know if this product will stay true to its promises. Join me as I make a review of Avon's Skin So Soft: Soft and White Glutathione Lotion.

This lotion comes in a simple yet elegantly designed 250ml bottle that is identical to the other variants of SOS Lotions. At the back of the bottle, you'll read a more comprehensive overview of what the product supposedly does.

The lotion is not too watery nor is it too thick.

What I actually like about its viscosity is that it's perfectly blended in such a way that it does not give a sticky after-feel upon application and that it scratches the idea of being a cheap and ineffective lotion due to its water content.

The photo below shows how the cream looks like when applied to the skin. As you can see, it can be easily spread on to the skin without leaving a powdery residue and for me it's the most disgusting after-effect a lotion can give. Thankfully, this lotion does not do that! :)

Finally, I like the scent of this lotion - a combination of floral and powdery aroma. However, its scent does not last long compared to my previous lotion, Kojie San Skin Lightening Lotion, whose scent can last up to 12 hours.

As for the product's effectivity, I can say that it truly lightens and gives the skin a glowing look. (PHOTOS WILL BE POSTED SOON)

AROME: My Top 5 Locally Available Fragrances

Are you one of those people out there who love perfumes? If you are, then you'll probably get to like this post since I'll share my TOP 5 Locally Available Fragrances!

As a student, I don't want to spend much on buying perfumes so I started to look for perfumes that are cheap yet smell great. We have a lot of cheap perfumes in the market, but most of the time, these perfumes lack the lasting power that most of us are looking for a perfume aside from its aroma.

Fortunately, I have found locally available perfumes which add a lot of value to your money! 

Are you ready for the

COUNTDOWN 

to my 

TOP 5 LOCALLY AVAILABLE FRAGRANCES?

TOP 5: Tangerine by Zen Zest

CITRUS!!! CITRUS!!!

Who among you loves fragrances that are rich in citrus flavor? HANDS UP PLEASE!

I, too, love the aroma that citrus fruits provide so when I went to Zen Zest's kiosk at SM Dasmarinas and get notice of the word TANGERINE in one of their fragrances, I immediately got hold of it. I then sprayed a little bit on my wrist and the burst of citrus flavors instantly danced in the air. Moreover, the infusion of some notes of melon blended well with that of the tangerine, creating a gentle smell right for a hot weather. The only downside of this Eau de Toilette is its short-lived fragrance which can only remedied by frequently spraying on your body. Nevertheless, this P220.00-eau de toilette adds value to your money and is worthy of being included in my list.

TOP 4: ELEMENTS: ICE by Penshoppe

Ice is one of the variants under Penshoppe's perfume line 'Elements.' What I like about this is that it has some notes of marine and some fresh spicy notes too which somehow reminds me of perfumes such as Cool Water by Davidoff. With its cold and aqua feel, this cologne is suited for use during summer or whenever it's hot outside. However, one of the cons about this is its overpowering or very strong fragrance that it sometimes seem synthetic - smells like alcohol. Despite that, it is still worth the money!

By the way, I'd like to thank my dear cousin, Eunice, for giving this to me during my birthday. :)

TOP 3: BOY in LOVE by Penshoppe

Are you a boy in love?
Penshoppe was right to name this scent that way because it really reminds me of how I've got a crush on a girl when I was still in Elementary School. The very neat and refreshing scent of Boy in Love entices anyone who smelled it. This fragrance suits anyone who wants to smell like a sweet young boy in love. :)

TOP 2: Outspoken by Avon

"An outrageously bold expression of iced berry shockingly contrasted with ultra-feminine tuberose absolute and racy black leather. "

The statement you've just read is the exact description Avon has given to its perfume line Outspoken, which is endorsed by Fergie. The scent of this Eau de Parfum is indeed bold and dark, but there is a meek and gentle note that is revealed after quite some time of wearing it.  This made me love to wear it whenever it's rainy or cold outside. I also wear this perfume whenever I feel sad and lonely - its scent gives me a feeling of being caressed and changes my mood to being okay. The best thing about this products is that I bought it online for only P500.00. It's a huge value for my money! 

Outspoken by Fergie will always be one of my all-time favorite perfumes and I'll definitely buy another when my first bottle is already empty.

TOP 1: New York by Playboy

Last week, I went to Watsons at SM Dasmarinas to look for a new perfume. I brought a classmate with me to help me decide on what to buy. We immediately went to the Men's Corner to try some of the perfumes and I ended up choosing New York by Playboy. Aside from the fact it only costs P525.00 compared to the other branded perfumes out in the market priced at P1,000.00 and up, this fragrance lasts longer compared to those within this price range. 

Moreover, Playboy was able to blend some notes of vanilla with that of fruity and citrus scents without making one overpower the other. This accord of my favorite scents feels like I'm eating two ice creams at once.

New York by Playboy definitely deserves to be on top of my list.How about yours?

My Life as a Student Ambassador: My 'Glad to be Globe' Story

I'm always on the go with my Blackberry 9320 under a Globe Postpaid Plan

My life as a student ambassador began when I applied and qualified for Kizuna(Bond) Project, a short-term youth exchange program in Fukushima, Japan, last March 2013. It was the first time that I'll go out-of-the-country and one of the greatest concerns I have prior to my departure is how to keep in touch with my family and friends. 

With my co-Student Ambassadors from the Philippines

Maybe you are expecting me to say that the Internet is what I needed most during my stay in Japan for 10 days but, honestly, I only had an access to the internet whenever we go back to the hotel after a very tiring day. For me, that is not enough because I always want to keep in touch with my loved ones whenever I go and a few hours of surfing the web before going to sleep seems so impractical that time.

At photo taken at a temple we visited in Tokyo

Good thing I brought my Blackberry 9320 with me. I never had a hassle roaming abroad since when I rebooted my phone right after arriving at Narita Airport, it automatically got roamed - it's one of the perks of having a Globe Postpaid plan!

Sky Tree Tower in the background

During my stay in Japan, I never had a problem checking on my loved ones in the Philippines and vice-versa. Whenever I am required to travel to different places in Fukushima, I always made sure that my mom knew about it so she did not have to worry about me. It's all made possible with Globe.

These are some of the things that I'm thankful for Globe and to add up to the euphoria, I'll be sharing the most unforgettable experience I had during my stay in Japan - definitely, it's a 'Glad to be Globe' story.

In our last day in Japan, my co-ambassadors and I went to Tokyo to stay for a night before going back to the Philippines. We were given the chance to roam around the city and we did the most out of it. We rode the subway and went to Akihabara to look for some gadgets. The night before we left for Tokyo, I did not have the chance to access the internet because I slept early and I wasn't able to ask my mom what gadget should I buy with the money she gave me. 

Here's where Globe came to my rescue! 

A photo taken at Akihabara, Tokyo.

I immediately sent a message to my mom in the Philippines using my Globe postpaid mobile phone and after a few minutes, I already got a reply from her. To cut the long story short, I was able to buy a 4th Generation Ipod Touch.

 

Last May, I also got chosen to be one of the 19 Google Student Ambassadors for the Philippines for this academic year. Two weeks ago, I once again had the opportunity to travel outside the country when we attended the 2013 SEARCH(Southeast Asia Outreach) Summit with Google in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. This has been another opportunity where Globe showed me the benefits it gives to its subscribers.

In every event that I attend as a Google Student Ambassador, I always make sure that I have my Globe Postpaid Phone with me. It does not only help me communicate with the people I work with but, it actually helps me create relationships that will last long.

Lastly, I would like everyone to know how proud I am to be a Globe Subscriber. Truly, Globe MAKES GREAT THINGS POSSIBLE. This has been MARK DAVID A. VALGUNA, and this is my 'GLAD TO BE GLOBE' story.

Enjoying the last days of summer vacation

Hello Blogosphere!
It's been quite a while since I last visited and posted an article here on my blog.
To my surprise, my blog is now ranked 483 - much better than the rank 900+ when I last visited my online diary.

Anyway, to make it up to all of you, I'll give you the highlights of the latter part of my summer vacation.

The first on the list is my commitment to a singing group called JamMix (https://www.facebook.com/OfficialjamMix). 
Originally, the group started with only three members, they are:

JamMix Members
Above L-R: Elizabeth, James, Dwight and Mae
Below L-R: Josh and Dave

Dwight Dominic Bendigo (https://www.facebook.com/DwightDominic)
Mae Latube (https://www.facebook.com/19.mAy.73) and
James Apdua (https://www.facebook.com/james.apdua)

But, after a series of rehearsal of songs with JamMix for my cousin's debut, the group has finally decided to include me and my two other cousins. Our facebook accounts are posted below:

Dave Valguna (https://www.facebook.com/davevalguna)
Josh Abin (https://www.facebook.com/joshuaabin794)
Elizabeth Abin (https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.abin)

Before I forget, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to ate Eunice Abin (https://www.facebook.com/eunice.abin) who gave us technical support during the recording of the vocals for the MV.

Of course! I still remember that I have to give you the link to the Music Video of our cover of Maroon 5 hit song, Payphone. To watch the MV, kindly click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRD-M2VgRkI

Moving on with the list, the second thing I enjoyed the most about this year's summer vacation is the frequent meeting up and bonding with friends - who are actually my co-JamMix members. Most of the time, we enjoy having kantahan, haranahan and kainan sessions which truly demonstrates Filipino culture. Hanep!

Picture perfect memory with the Teddy Bears

Pacute shot with the Teddy Bears on our back

Paseryoso shot naman

Our favorite shot: Jump Shot

Jump Shot na naman

Lastly, what really made the rest of this year's summer vacation so special is the fact that it has given me the chance to once again get a glimpse of what TRUE LOVE IS. If you wanna know more about it, watch out for my next entry, which I would probably be able to publish later this evening. Hahahaha! :))