March 28, 2016

Renewing My Non-Professional Driver’s License


A week before the Lenten Holidays, I need to renew my diver’s license in order to avoid the penalty for late renewal. Ang bilis ng panahon, naka-three years na pala since my last renewal.

I had my previous transaction in LTO-Sta. Maria, Bulacan Branch. Unfortunately, they are encountering “fatal disk error” as posted on the window of the first step of processing where transactions for driver’s license (student permit and renewal) is not available. So I had to proceed to the nearest branch, Guiguinto, Bulacan.


LTO-Guiguinto Bulacan, Driver's License renewal, LTO,

As early as 9 am, there is already a long line for both renewals of driver’s license and application of student permit. Kahit mahaba ang pila, there are enough seats to accommodate drivers.

Driver's License renewal, LTO,


Upon entering the compound, a man already assisted me to have a medical test inside the compound as one of the main requirements (no drug test already). There are two  clinics for inside the compound.


Driver's License renewal, LTO,

Then, the same procedure is followed – submission of the application for evaluation, photo and signature capture, payment, and releasing of license.

According to the information sheets posted inside the compound, the renewal of a non-professional license will take about 120 minutes while professional driver’s license will be longer by 60 minutes due to the a driver's seminar.

But, there is already a disclaimer that renewal could take more or less 5 hour due to huge numbers of drivers and may take even longer depending on the performance of the computer system.


Driver's License renewal, LTO,

This means that from the supposed to be 2 hours, an additional 3 more hours to finish the entire process!

I finished the first three (3) steps for 2 hours and waited for the releasing station for about 4 hours. I was in the LTO for more or less six hours 

After 6 hours of waiting, I haven’t got the driver’s license card. The OR is stamped indicating that it can be used as temporary driver’s license for at most 1 year. I was also advised to go back to the branch after 6 months to get the new card.

With my recent experience in my driver's license renewal, here are some things I noticed and I think the agency needs to focus for improvement.

Medical



It is good that there is already medical clinics in the compound to give more convenience on the drivers. However, upon entering the clinic, no examination has been conducted to me. There are already forms properly filled-up and just put my name on the certificate and paid 250 pesos. No checking on my eyesight, weight, and hearing was conducted.

Lunch breaks
It is good that most government offices, like LTO, observe NO NOONTIME BREAK to continue the transaction and serve better. However, they lack the manpower to sustain the said policy.

I observed that one by one, the person in each station is missing and taking lunch breaks, understandable because they are also humans. But to properly fulfill the said policy, there should be at least two persons handling each terminal so there will be an alternate turn in taking their lunch breaks. I noticed that during the break, the person in charge of releasing is doing the photo and signature capture and payment.

Audio system
Though there are audio systems used to call the names of the drivers one of the station, the releasing, is not clear. I don’t know if the voice of the LTO officer or the audio itself has the problem. I can't hear my name when I was called to get my temporary driver’s license.

Ventilation
One thing that is good in this is that there are wall fans and air coolers installed all over the place which gives comfort to the drivers especially that day, the weather is very hot.



Aside from the ventilation, there are also TV screens to watch to reduce boredom while waiting for your turn.

I hope these observations will be used as tool for continual improvement to serve better.


Have you renewed your license lately?

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March 21, 2016

My Birthday 2016


March is one of the special months for me because it is my birthday month. Here’s how I celebrated my special day last Saturday.

Instead of having a celebration at home, I had it in our office since we still have works on Saturdays.

Mommy and I get up from the bed as early as 3:30 am to cook tuna-carbonara, buko pandan, and fish fillet. I chose these para maiba naman from pancit and spaghetti.

Tuna Carbonara (Source: Momaye's Diary)

After working in the kitchen, time to prepare for work naman. We also asked Matthew to get up early because we brought him at work and planned to drop by the mall afterwards.

After working in the kitchen, time to prepare for work naman.

As I got upstairs, the door is closed and locked. Matthew used to lock the door every time he is upstairs so I asked him to open. And to my Surprise, a box of shoes, a simple card and small cake with lit candle awaits for me. With matching acapella of the birthday song na parang accompanied by a woodwind instruments.

Source: Instagram
Though I know that I will be having a new pair of shoes, I was still surprised because I thought that it will not be on that day. Wala naman kasi akong nakitang kahit anong trace of Zalora or Lazada delivery.

Shoes and Greeting Card (Source: Instagram)
How did I know that Mommy and Matthew are cooking for some surprise?

First, Mommy kept on asking me what shoes is better. She sends me different photos but claims to use in on her post about Zalora. She also asked me what is my size. From there, I already had a hint.

Second, Matthew keeps on having slips of his tongue mentioning my shoes and cakes where Mommy trying stops him.

Though I already sense something, I just ignored it para hindi masira ang trip. LOL.

At work, my QA Inspectors gave me this cake with dedication.

Source: Momaye's Diary
Source: Momaye's Diary
Since our weekly meeting ends earlier, Mommy, Matthew, and I had our lunch at Chowking. No pictures this time.

That's how I simply celebrate my birthday.

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March 19, 2016

Red Ribbon Makes Their Ensaimadas Bigger and Cheesier


As much as possible, we avoid buying junk foods for Matthew's snack. Good thing that even we have some packs of chips at home, Matthew prefer having bread with homemade spreads and baked goodies.

He often requested us to buy hopia, spanish roll, or ensaimada. For ensaimadas, bigger and cheesier is definitely better.

ensaimada

Here is a press release of Red Ribbon introducing their bigger and cheesier ensaimada:
Displaying Ensai - PARIS 2016.png

Displaying Ensai - PARIS 2016.png
Red Ribbon Introduces Its Bigger Ensaimada That Boosts in Cheesy Goodness

Pasig City - March 14, 2016 - We Filipinos love to snack.  Whether it’s before lunch or after, we always make it a point to make time to indulge in our need and love for snacks.  While most snackers will say that they give in to the munchies because of real hunger, many admit that snack time is the perfect moment to take a break from work or school, and just socialize over a favorite pastry or bread. 

And no one can argue that of all the many snack options kids and adults love, the classic ensaimada is still a popular choice today.  However, not all ensaimadas are created equal.

There’s the usual ensaimada and then, there’s the Red Ribbon Ensaimada.  Red Ribbon’s staple pastry has long been a mainstay in our lunchboxes for the young and the young-at-heart.  Whether it’s enjoyed as a snack or as a dessert, people cannot resist this all-time pastry favorite.

Now, Red Ribbon has just succeeded in making something already so good, so much better.  The new Red Ribbon Ensaimada is now bigger and bursts with cheesy goodness that no one can resist.

Red Ribbon

Red Ribbon’s Ensaimada still packs the same goodness Pinoys have always expected and come to love. It still has that same soft, melt-in-your-mouth pastry, well-balanced sweetness and the right cheesy goodness that is so affordably priced at P25.00 only. 

“We are always thinking of ways to improve our offerings in response to what our customers want,” said Ned Bandojo, Head of Marketing of Red Ribbon. “The cheesy ensaimada promises to deliver what our customers have long come to expect from us and more.  We want to give them more reasons to enjoy the company of family and friends and to make everyday moments more special through our quality products.”

With Red Ribbon’s bigger ensaimada, snack time is sure to be more enjoyable, memorable and delicious.

Red Ribbon’s Ensaimadas are available in all Red Ribbon stores nationwide.

Does your kid/s love breads too?
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March 17, 2016

Cellphone Clip Lens


I got a new set of accessories for my phone – The Clip Lens.


The package contains fisheye, wide angle and macro lenses. It also includes small pouch for storage and lens covers.


The lens is easy to assemble, just screw and clip on your phone and you are on your way to taking shots.

In using the wide angle lens, it will not directly fit the clip and needs to attach the macro lens first and screw the wide angle lens. The wide angle lens makes the coverage of the ordinary camera wider.

Take without clip lens

Taken with wide angle lens

The fisheye lens adds a much wider angle that resulted in a visual distortion making the image either wide panoramic or hemispherical.

Taken using fisheye lens

The Macro lenses can actually capture small things. However, you need to place the camera the closer to the subject to have a nice focus. You also need to have a steady hand, needs a tripod if you want, because the focus easily disturbed with a slight move of the camera.

Taken without clip lens
With clip lens
Here are two more photos taken using macro lens.

Center of Euphorbia flower
A fly on a rose leaf
Though the resolution stays the same, you can still see the differences between using the clip lens and built-in camera.

If you want to have the same gadget, don’t hesitate to send a message or visit Momaye’s Shoppe.
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March 16, 2016

McDonald's 4th National Breakfast Day


Last Monday, McDonalds Celebrates the 4th National Breakfast Day wherein 1000 free McMuffins were given away by each branch (400 branches) around the Philippines. Unfortunately, we haven’t got the chance to get our free McMuffin. Malelate na kasi kami sa trabaho due to traffic.

Anyways, here are some highlights of the said event thru McDonald’s Press Release.

For the fourth year in a row, McDonald's National Breakfast Day delighted Filipinos across the country with free McMuffin sandwiches.


This year, the spotlight is still on the McMuffin – an iconic breakfast product that is loved all over the world.


McDonald’s Philippines gave Filipinos across the country its ‘best Monday ever’ during National Breakfast Day, when free McMuffin sandwiches were given from 6AM-7AM. 


At 6AM, customers flock to participating McDonald’s stores, ready to receive their delicious breakfast treat.


Different celebrity endorsers and National Breakfast Day Ambassadors joined the McDonald’s Crew in giving away free McMuffins. Spotted in different branches were Alden Richards, Maine Mendoza, Xian Lim, Enrique Gil, and others.

(From L-R) McDonald’s President and Chief Executive Officer Kenneth S. Yang, McDonald’s endorsers Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards, and McDonald’s Chief Happiness Officer, Ronald McDonald

McDonald’s ambassador Xian Lim with the crew of McDonald’s ABS-CBN

McDonald’s endorser Enrique Gil with Ronald McDonald at McDonald’s Almanza in Las Pinas

Janine Gutierrez with the crew of McDonald’s Granada in Quezon City 

TV5 talents Alwyn Uytingco, Vin Abrenica, and Shaira Mae Dela Cruz with the McDonald’s Reliance crew

Bianca Umali and Miguel Tanfelix at McDonald’s Quezon Avenue, Quezon City

McDonald’s President and Chief Executive Officer Kenneth S. Yang (center) distributed free McMuffin sandwiches to customers.  Together with him are McDonald’s endorsers Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza.

Bianca Gonzales-Intal 

Last year, McDonald’s spread the morning cheer to some individuals who are cannot enjoy the free McMuffin. These are the ones that need to be in their work as early as 4 am like MRT tellers and crews, street vendors, teachers and drivers.

McDonald’s do the same thing. 100 free McMuffins were given to groups or organization that are unable to have a good breakfast because of their work. This year, they surprise a group of fishermen while sailing and waiting for their catch. Unknowingly, McDonald’s crews sail earlier than they are to give them with a good breakfast. See the video below on how the group of fishermen enjoyed the National Breakfast Day.


Did you join this year’s National Breakfast Day?
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March 14, 2016

5 Reasons Why You Should Shop at Lazada


As early as this week, there are many schools closes its year and preparing for their graduation. I know most of us will be looking some gifts for those who will receive their diploma.

Though there are many sale items at the mall and a wide variety of gift ideas, going to such place this season seems to be stressful because of like long lines in the counter, crowded areas, and full parking spaces. With such scenarios, an online shopping is a great alternative.

One online shopping site I used to shop is Lazada Philippines.



Why do I suggest Lazada Philippines as one of the best online shopping sites?

Here are the top five (5) reasons that might tickle other’s mind and make their first online purchase at Lazada Philippines.

Wide variety of products
Like malls and supermarkets, Lazada Philippines offers different products like household needs, electronic gadgets, appliances, sports equipment, apparel, accessories, and many more.


Fashion and accessories with huge discounts

These items are coming from known and trusted brands.This means that what you can see in the malls and supermarkets are already available in Lazada Philippines.


Known and Trusted Brands
Easy tracking and fast delivery
After placing your order/s, the customer will be given a time-to-time feedbacks on the status from processing until the customer receives the item/s. This can be also checked in a customer’s account if he/she registers online.

Aside from email confirmation, the buyer will also get notifications thru text messaging.


Text information on my items
After the orders have been processed, a tentative date of arrival will be given to the customer. But based on my experiences, all reaches our doorstep EARLIER.


The next day, it is already for delivery
Easy mode of payments
One thing that most shoppers are afraid and hesitate to do online shopping are scammers where you will pay the amount of the items before the seller sends the items. In Lazada Philippines, aside from buyer protection, “cash on delivery” payment is offered. This means that you will not pay the items until the courier knocks on your door and handed you the items.

Aside from COD, Lazada Philippines also accepts Paypal or credit card payments. They also offer installment basis on some items.

Offers refund and replace policy
All of my transactions in Lazada Philippines are smooth except one time that the item went out of stock but I already paid for it through Paypal. Upon knowing that the item cannot be delivered, they immediately refunded the said amount to my Paypal in less than 24 hours.

In the case of defective or wrong items, you can return it. Just visit any LBC branch together with the items with undamaged packaging. Once Lazada Philippines receives the items, they will send the replacement immediately.

Discount vouchers
Shopping with discount is one of the great things in buying which can be added to your savings. If malls and other establishments offer discounted items, Lazada Philippines also offers discount vouchers that can be used upon cashout.

These vouchers are being sent to your emails if you have a customer account and subscribed to their newsletter.

Though there are other reasons why you should shop at Lazada Philippines, the above are my the top five.

Why do you love shopping at Lazada?

This post is an entry for the ShopCoupons X Lazada PH Blogger contest. Being hosted by ShopCoupons. Lazada voucher sponsored by Lazada Philippines.
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March 7, 2016

Cardiac Arrest, Heart Attack, and Stroke


cardiac arrest
Photo Source: Brainlogger
Last week the entertainment industry was shocked by the death of one of the best directors Wenn Deramas. According to news, he had a heart attack which resulted in cardiac arrest.

Earlier I heard from the news that another famous director, Xavier Passion, was found in his room dead. He was the director of different top-rating teleseryes like “On the Wings of Love”, “Princess and I”, “Nathaniel”, and others. Based on the report, he died of cardiac arrest too.

But what is a cardiac arrest? How is it related to a heart attack?

Most used these two medical terms as the same. Actually, it is not. A heart attack happens when an artery for the oxygen-rich blood was blocked preventing the flow towards the heart.If the blockage was not removed immediately, the part of the heart with blocked artery will start to degenerate.


Cardiac arrest, on the other hand, is actually the “electrical” malfunction of the heart caused by arrhythmia or the irregular heartbeat. If this happens, blood going to the brain, lungs and other internal organs may be affected which resulted in a loss of consciousness and worst, death.

With the definitions above, this means that heart attack is more of blood circulation problem while a cardiac arrest is of the beating or pumping.

Cardiac arrest can happen after or during recovery from heart attack. A heart attack is not usually the cause but it increases the possibility of having a cardiac arrest. Other heart conditions that may lead to a cardiac arrest are thickening of heart muscle, heart failure, ventricular fibrillation and long Q-T syndrome.

Another health condition that is used to interchange with a heart attack is a stroke. Again, this two conditions is different.
Stroke is an attack in the brain. It happens when the blood vessel carrying oxygen and other nutrients to the brain gets clogged or bursts.

Though heart attack and stroke are different, the factors that can increase the occurrence of the said conditions are common. Smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, sedentary lifestyle, genes and abnormal heart beat are just a few.

Here is a simple illustration to differentiate the three health conditions:

Photo source: Eye Opening
Knowing what to do in case of signs and symptoms of heart attack, cardiac arrest and stroke are important to save one’s life.

But keeping a healthy lifestyle is the best prevention from any health problems.

Read More »

March 5, 2016

Movie Sharing: The Little Prince


“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

This quotation has been one of the most famous lines that you can get from the novel The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Actually, this novel became the topic of our entire Values Education Class in my senior year in high school. 
Source
I got excited to have a copy of the film when I knew that there is a movie with the same title. At first I thought it was a direct adaptation of the novel but it was not. It was about the girl who befriended an old aviator who wrote the story The Little Prince.

Here is the plot of the story:
The mother of the girl wanted her to enroll in one of the prestigious school, Werth Academy. With so much determination to let her daughter pass the examination, she made a very tight schedule on summer break making small time for leisure.

The daughter started to get distraction when the propeller of the old man’s plane hit their house and creates damages.

One day, while having a study, a paper plane landed on her table. It was the first part of the story about the “little prince”. At first, she had no interest in reading the story until she saw a drawing of a box with three holes where the sheep of the “little prince” is sleeping.
Screenshot: The Aviator and The Little Prince

She gains interest in knowing the complete story. She secretly peeked into the old man’s house and asked the old man to continue telling the story of the aviator who had a plane accident in a desert and encountered a boy who came from a distant asteroid.

The story continues about the boy who encountered different planets with different residents like a king, a businessman, a conceited man and lastly the earth where he met the aviator, the fox, the snake and lots of roses. The little prince is searching about what he believes to be the only rose in the universe – his rose, where he left in his planet under a glass globe to protect it from wind and cold.
Screenshot: The Little Prince and The Fox

On the girl’s birthday, together with the aviator, had a near car accident. When her mother knew about the friendship of the two, she was grounded and was instructed to focus on her studies again. But the girl was very eager to determine the ending of the story and she secretly return to the aviators home. She learned that the little prince sacrificed himself to a venomous snake in order to return to his planet and reunites with his rose. The girl went upset of the ending and regrets meeting the old man.
The girl and the old man

As the summer ends, the old man gets hospitalized. The girl wanted to make an apology by finding the little prince using the aviator’s plane. She landed on an asteroid exclusively for adults who all works for the star-collecting businessman. She found the prince who became an adult and works as a janitor under the name Mr. Prince. The prince forgets all about his past.

The girl then forced the prince to return to his asteroid that us now grown with baobab trees. His rose is still under the glass globe but already died. They saw a rising sun with an image of a rose. From there, the prince went back to a young boy again. The girl flew back to earth with the help of a flock of birds.

The girl and her mother visited the aviator in the hospital where the little girl gave a compilation of the aviator’s complete story of The Little Prince.

The summer ends and the little girl started her school at Werth Academy. She also had a better relationship with her mother and they gaze thru the stars where they heard the laughter of the aviator and the little prince.

The last part of the movie is not derived from the original novel. It is also not stated nor shown if the little girl’s journey to the asteroid of adults is a reality or just a dream. Nevertheless, the movie is great.

Have you watched this animated film or read the novel too?

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March 3, 2016

McDonald's 4th National Breakfast Day


Since 2013, every year, McDonalds treats their customers with free McMuffins through their National Breakfast Day.


This year, over 400 McDonald’s branches nationwide will be giving another great morning to the customers.

Just visit any participating branches on March 14, 2016, between 6-7am.

McMuffins to be given is either Sausage McMuffin or Sausage McMuffin with Egg. These are both great and you will never regret whether of the two will be available on the time of your visit.

Sausage McMuffin with Egg
Freshly toasted English muffin, savory sausage hot of the griddle and a slice of creamy, real American cheese and a freshly cooked Grade A egg.

Sausage McMuffin
Freshly toasted English muffin, savory sausage hot of the griddle and a slice of creamy, real American cheese.

Only one coupon will be given to each customer and only 1 McMuffin can be claimed per coupon.
Only one coupon can be redeemed per transaction.
Coupons will be given to first 1000 customers per branch on a first-come, first serve basis.
This promo is valid for dine-in, take-out and drive-thru transactions. 

You can also try other McDonald's Breakfast Meals serve between 4-10am daily. 

Visit McDonald’s Facebook Fan Page  or Twiter Account (@McDo_PH) and join the thread using the hashtag #NationalBreakfastDay.

Have you experienced the McDonal's National Breakfast Day before?
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