Two years ago, my husband and I discovered a quaint restaurant in Marikina called Beeffalo by Hotrocks that serves one of the best beef steaks I've had (and have craved for, since) among other dishes.  Back then, the dynamic team behind Beeffalo shared with us about opening a second branch in Antipolo. Finally, hubby and I got to visit their new place last Saturday. 

Despite the distance from our house, we excitedly visited the restaurant to see and chat with owners, Mr. and Mrs. Louie and Girlie Abad and their business partner Ms. Caren Diaz, again. Our reunion, as expected, was fun-filled and once more lasted for hours :)

Here's sharing some of the new and also well-loved items on the menu that we had for our extended lunch: The Broccoli Cheese Soup is thick and savory. Just perfect to start off a meal and whet the appetite.

Every year, our country experiences an average of 10 to 20 typhoons and spends around 9 to 10 billion pesos on recovery initiatives. Sadly, around 958 fathers, mothers, and children lose their lives every time a deadly typhoon enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). 

According to WeatherPhilippines, the numbers should be enough to mobilize us to change our approach to disasters by switching from costly disaster-recovery methods to, instead, a more cost-effective disaster preparedness model that invests in early warning systems. How? 

For many Filipinos, extreme weather conditions means higher possibility of deaths and economic damages. But, if we study and know more about the actual impact of weather in our lives, we can make better decisions that will not only benefit ourselves and our families, but our communities, as well!

It's been more than a year now since hubby and I first discovered Wingstop and we continue to love visiting its stores because the wings seriously taste good! This month until August 31, 2016, flavor enthusiasts are invited to experience all 14 flavors via the Wingstop Flavor Invasion promo. 

Let Wingstop invade your senses and entice your tastebuds while also giving you freebies using the Flavor Pass! Come back week after week and satisfy every craving for different mouth-watering flavors that range from the sweet and spicy to the smooth and savory. 

The Flavor Pass is redeemable with any single receipt purchase at any Wingstop store. Simply collect stamps for every flavor that you try and get to be rewarded with a P1,000 gift certificate when you complete all 14 stamps! 

A lot of medical conditions cause extreme discomfort, which make us wish they can be cured as soon as possible. One health issue I'm sure we all want to avoid is having Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). This is an infection that affects parts of the body's urinary system: kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

don't ignore the urge to pee!

According to medical practitioners, women are at a greater risk of developing UTI than men. It's the reason why we're always being told to wipe from "front to back" after using the toilet. Pregnant women, most especially, are often advised to take extra care not to develop UTI because it can cause premature birth and preeclampsia (a condition characterized by high blood pressure).

Did you know? UTI is one of the top reasons why people go to the doctor every year. One out of five women will experience UTI at some point in their lives and 80% will have repeat infections. Other individuals prone to UTI are those diagnosed with diabetes, have weak immune systems, have kidney stones, children born with abnormal urinary tracts, and patients who use catheters.

I support several advocacies because I genuinely believe in the big difference they make in people's lives. On top of my list is advocating for individuals with special needs because my third son is one and I would like to see them all treated with respect and dignity like any normal member of society.

This year, I am joining SM Cares, UNICEF, Tanghalang Pilipino, and the Camera Club of the Philippines in celebrating the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week, which started last July 18. 

I believe in their objective of raising awareness and helping create an inclusive environment for Children with Disabilities (CWDs) by highlighting their abilities instead of their disabilities. The campaign, called #ThisAbilityPH, features informative and educational activities for mall-goers through Tanghalang Pilipino's Sandosenang Sapatos stage play and an exhibit entitled See What I Can Do by the Camera Club where photos depict the everyday lives of CWDs.

I like Korean personal care products. They are effective and many come in pretty packaging. Most of them are also very affordable. However, their popularity has also led unscrupulous people to manufacture fake products, which can be dangerous to consumers.

Althea always delivers items inside a cute pink box

Of course, I want to make sure I only buy authentic Korean products and the best place to find them is through the Althea Korea website. There, beauty enthusiasts can easily browse dozens of Korean brands and hundreds of items that include skincare, cosmetics, and hair and body products. Tabs dedicated to the latest trends as well as bestsellers and new arrivals can also be found for a smooth online shopping experience.

my first purchases from Althea Korea in January 2016

I've been invited last year to Oishi Snacktacular 2015 but wasn't able to go. This year, I almost didn't make it again. Fortunately, my out-of-town trip has been rescheduled to later this month so I made time to join and experience how it is to have fun the Oishi O, Wow! way.

Oishi Snacktacular 2016, held at the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia, is an exciting event filled with innovative booths where walk-in guests can experience fun activities, taste Oishi goodies, and bring home lots of Oishi snacks. Celebrity sightings are also in store as members of Team O appear to the delight of their fans.

My son and I were at the event opening yesterday (read his blog post about it, here) and enthusiastically joined all the activities. First, we went to the Make Your Own Snack booth where I chose potato chips and fries shaken with nori and wasabi powder. Yum!

Information is power! By knowing what we are up against, we can be more proactive in helping our families avoid or manage preventable diseases like dengue. Yesterday, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Philippines, Inc. (GSKCH) announced that it has joined forces with organizations such as the Department of Health (DOH), Philippines Pharmacists Association (PPHA), Mercury Drug Corporation, SmartParenting.com.ph, and CNN Philippines, in a concerted effort to defeat dengue in the country.

Allied Against Dengue (AAD), a non-profit open platform, aims to empower healthcare providers, organizations, and communities; and holistically reduce the impact of dengue in the Philippines from prevention and control to management.  

Did you know? Southeast Asia is the epicenter of dengue mosquito breeding because of our tropical climate. In the Philippines, the outbreak is spreading to more areas and affecting more lives such that cases rose significantly by 60 percent from 121,000 in 2014 to 200,415 in 2015. This year, the numbers went up 33 percent in the first quarter versus the same time frame last year.

According to GSK's Heather Pelier, dengue is rife in the Philippines and, unless we join forces, the disease will become the fastest spreading health threat in the country. "GSK was motivated to initiate Allied Against Dengue as we were concerned of the escalating hazard and effects of dengue on the nation including our employees and their families who have experienced the dreaded disease," she explained. 

One of the top things that make me happy is doing activities with the people I care most about in this world -- my family. Thus, it gives me joy when I get to bond with my husband and second son during practice runs and actual races. 

Most times, though, we leave our special child with one of his brothers at home when we have to join races. When we found out that there'll be another Robinsons Buddy Run this July, I told my husband that I'd love to push James' wheelchair while I team up with our youngest son as my running partner for the 5k category. Thankfully, Daniel has also took up running every now and then with his friends. (Read his blog entry about it, here.)

Whitening products are among the best-selling items in Philippine supermarkets because a lot of Filipino women prefer to have fairer, more radiant, and flawless skin. The question remains, though, which ingredient is best for skin lightening?

Kojie San's Skin Lightening Soap contains two powerful natural-based ingredients: Kojic Acid and high-grade virgin coconut oil. Originating from Japan, Kojic Acid is a chemical compound made from organic materials. It can also be extracted as a by-product of fermentation when making Japanese rice wine and Sake.

Inspired by the luminous, flawless skin of Japanese women, Beauty Elements Ventures, Inc. (BEVI) developed its flagship product, the Kojie San Lightening Soap, the way the Japanese traditionally formulated theirs.

Since 2007, Kojie San's lightening soap has been consistently produced by blending high-grade Kojic Acid and virgin coconut oil with effective lightening ingredients that prevent the formation of dark pigmentation and tyrosinase, the enzyme that produces melanin pigments, which are responsible for skin darkening.

no fear to be under the sun because Kojie San helps even out my skin tone!

I love watching movies but, at my age, I don't think I could dance for 24 hours straight! What's the connection, you ask?

Last June 27, Star Movies kept moviegoers on their feet all day and all night for a movie marathon that required non-stop dancing. They could only rest a bit while there's no singing and dancing on screen but should start moving and grooving once more when the music starts.

I arrived at the venue around 12NN that day to check out the amazing contenders. By that time, they were already on their third movie since the competition started at 5AM. The groups of avid film viewers were expected to shimmy and shake their "groove thang" while watching famous movie musicals such as Annie, Magic Mike XXL, Dirty Dancing, Frozen, Pitch Perfect 2, Happy Feet 2, and Mamma Mia for the chance to win the grand prize of P200,000.

Finding Nemo remains one of my favorite Disney Pixar movies because it has a beautiful story and unforgettable characters. I can't believe it's been thirteen years since the film came out but I am so glad the producers heeded the clamor to come up with another one that features the friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish voiced by Ellen Degeneres! Finding Dory, the much-anticipated movie follow-up, highlights the lovable character as she embarks on an exciting journey to reunite with her family.  

Following the success of movie tie-up campaigns like Monsters University and Inside Out, Giordano Philippines launches a new collection featuring the sequel, which gives importance to the value of family. Rochelle Tan, VP for Merchandising, shared, "Finding Dory brings out the significance of family [and] the movie represents the values that Giordano wants to push forward this year."