Best Elevator Reminder (for freaks like moi)

In 2004, as I stepped inside a shoulder to shoulder, jam packed elevator with friends only to experience that the minute it closed, it stopped and we got trapped.  The guard outside swore that we were only down by 2 inches and yet he can hear us screaming for help inside. I remember my team mate Clarisse saying, in the middle of panic:

"Guys, it's airtight!"

After 5 minutes, help came and the guard was right. We were only down by two inches from the floor we left but it felt that we're hanging on to dear life inside the elevator the whole time.

I also remember, some of my colleagues who got in the lift after after taking their 15 minute cigarette break, got trapped, this time, in the middle of the floor opening. They had to literally climb up using the handle bars inside and the security team had to pull them up.

It didn't help that years later, I was riding the same elevator alone at the 19th floor going down the ground floor. I must really be sleepy that I forgot to press any buttons that it the elevator climbed up to 30+ floor and I heard my ears actually popped! When it opened, there was strong wind and I ended up at the entrance of the helipad. I sort of panicked, then grabbed the controls and pressed the button to the ground floor.

So I think I have a little fear of heights but I have strong fears of suspension that even flying scares me.

Yesterday, while I was on a business trip, we had the chance to visit one of the biggest mall chain's head office. We were already on our way down when I saw this reminder that I just had to whip my camera out and take a photo:

In the event of an elevator emergency:
* Be calm and help others stay calm.
> The elevator car will not fall.
> You will not run out of oxygen. Even if the air feels warm, there is plenty of air circulation in the elevator and its shaft way.
 > Emergency lighting will activate for you safety.
* Do not try to extract yourself from the elevator.
> In most cases, the elevator will return to pre-destined floor and the door will open automatically.
> If the door does not open, you are still safe.
> Use the "Emergency call" button located above the floor buttons or any available communication system. Wait for the trained emergency personnel to respond.
     1. Press the "Emergency call" button. This will place a call to a party that is trained to take action.
     2. Wait for someone to answer your call.
     3. Give the operator the following information:
         - Full Name of Passenger/s
         - Approximate floor where the elevator car stalled
         - Whether someone needs medical attention
     4. Wait until the operator advises you to disconnect.

It's like, it was written for me! :)

Career and Financial Lessons I learned in my 20s

When you're young and in your twenties, having financial freedom and purchasing power is really tempting! I was able to declare total independence by the time I was 24. But then, nobody warned me about quarter-life crisis so my world turned around (save that for another story). I'm proud of myself for my year 2013 for I have watched my life and finances diligently. But somehow, it made me reflect on my money mistakes and financial lessons that I learned in my twenties.

In random order, here are the top Career and Financial lessons that I remember and learned in my 20s and what I did about it:


Getting lured into Promos and Sale

I admit that I am such a huge fan of sale and buy-one-take-one promos that I ended up hoarding. Be it make up, books, etc. But no matter how cheap, if you don't get to use it, it is still considered a waste.

What I did:
I stayed away from Sales and Promos. I was actually tempted once, when I found myself at the make up counter with all these fabulous make up at 50% off. But then, I knew deep within me that I will not be using this everyday so I let it go. Also I shied myself  from my biggest indulgence, Booksales, and sometimes when you want something bad and desperate enough, the universe helps you. I cannot find my favorite authors anymore. Haha!

Read the rest of my career and financial shoulda-woulda-coulda after the jump!

Remembering the first leap

I remember the story of my mother that when I was young, I was singing using the microphone and I stumbled and got knocked down. I got up crying and my mom asked:

"Sinong maganda? (Who's pretty) she asked, trying to distract me from the pain of an earned bump on my head.

"Kitin" (My childhood nickname) I answered in between sobs.

When I was in third grade, I auditioned for the school choir. I think I was the 10th person to sing Disney's A whole new world, because of the then recent Alladin movie ( Imagine, recent?! ).The choir teacher said she's now sleepy because I am the 10th among the many others who sang the same exact song.

I still continued to sing: "... A whole new world, a new fantastic point of viewww....."

I got in.

Beware of the hidden ingredient at the Old Spaghetti House

Last Tuesday, we found ourselves in Paseo Sta Rosa and had dinner at The Old Spaghetti House. I'm not really a fan of the restaurant after having tried it several years ago, but my sister and her boyfriend wanted to have pasta. I let them do the ordering and we ordered their Pinoy style, Mylene's pasta.

I'm a fan of pesto and carbonara, and since this is in white sauce, I figured out there's no surprises since the menu says: contains garlic longganisa.

Read more about this WTF experience after the jump:

Consuelo de Bobo Coupons

In 2010, my professor in graduate school saw me handing out coupons to my Manila-based classmates.

Professor: What is that? 

Me: Coupons sir. 

Professor: What for? 

Me: Discounts in boutiques, coffee shops, spa, department stores. I won't be using them since I rarely frequent Manila anymore. 

Professor: Do you know that you are not actually saving money with those coupons? Those coupons are actually consuelo de bobo.

I know exactly what he meant. In US, there's this blog about the Krazy Coupon lady and a TV show about Extreme Couponing, where people are into collecting coupons and using them to save money.

Last year, I went to the Belle de Jour fair and got my self a new BDJ Planner. I went for another Viviamo planner in 2013 but I figured out, that since I am no longer in graduate school and have guiltless time to meet up friends in Manila, I might use most of them. I love BDJ because it comes with over 40,000 worth of discount coupons. I was able to enjoy mine in White hat and Ace Water Spa among the others. So I used the Revlon coupon from BDJ and went to SM Calamba and tried to use the coupon. I was declined. I was told that they've never seen it before and it's not discussed in the memo.

I figured out, maybe because SM Calamba is not as updated as SM Makati. I tried my luck the other week.

I went to SM Makati last week and was told of the same thing but with an add-on.

"We are SM Department store, these coupons are valid at Watsons."she said. 

"Aren't you Watsons too?"I asked.

"Maám Watsons store is a separate boutique aside from the one in SM Department store. We are the department store." 

"Okay. I said. Where is the nearest Watson's store?" 

"Greenbelt 1 Maám"

So all for the sake of availing this coupon, I walked. I walked for like a good 30 minutes, dragging my friend Karen with me.

When I finally reached that hidden Watsons store in Greenbelt 1, I was told:

"Maám we don't have a memo about this coupon. Another lady also tried to use this coupon but there's no memo about this. Try SM Makati."

"But I already went there!"I said. 

To make the story short, I was not able to purchase via coupon. The long walk from SM Makati to Greenbelt 1 flashed before my very eyes and remembered my Professor in 2010: Consuelo de bobo.

I am not actually going to save money from it. In fact I was encouraged/pursued/invited/hypnotized to shell out a good Php 1500 just to avail of the discount. A few days later, I found myself back in a department store and found a cheaper version of what I was trying to purchase at Revlon.

Hello! I'm finally on Facebook!

Good Morning! I'm finally on Facebook!

After years of internal debating and prodding from others, I finally have a page for my blog! No, I'm not a celebrity of any sort, but I would love to have a you as my Facebook friend.

Please click on the photo or link below to access the page:

Official Facebook URL: Facebook.com/keamistryblog

P.S.

Thank you to my friends and friends of friends who already liked my page. I promise I won't spam you with nonsense posts. Hihi!

Package for the Philippines #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014

With the recent events that happened in the country, like the Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), I couldn't imagine anyone not doing their part to at least give or share. My friends and I chipped in and donated last year and even donated clothes and those in kind but it seems like it isn't enough. We can do more, make it big, and go beyond just donation.

“If there is one thing you can give to the Philippines, what is that gift?”

I dream big and would like to give a customized gift to the Philippines called the "Empowerment Package".

The Empowerment Package is a series of program plans designed and customized for every individual in a target community for its long-term survival and sustainability. Every community is composed of basic, important unit: The Family. The package consists of specific programs designed for each family members and since the composition and dynamics of a Filipino family has evolved through the years, the assignments are definitely not gender-specific. Below is the list of the identified typical Filipino family member and the customized empowerment program for their role in the family:

The Family leader. The Family leader is usually the one who makes the decisions/breadwinner. As the leader of the house, he/she will be the main source or one of the sources of the family income. The family leader will be given resources, materials and will be trained for livelihood projects that can make way for future income. This include, but not limited to, house building constructions, restoration, training for public service administration, production of native products, business management training, and other employment training programs, etc.

The Home maker. The Home maker is  the one in charge of the household as the one who usually makes the decision in the house. The home makers will be given basic tools to start up. For example, for the house makers, they will be given kitchen appliances, and other tools to help the family. They will also undergo seminars and training which very much useful for families like budgeting, making use of available resources, first aid, and other activities to complement the Family leaders' program.

The Contributor/Believer - The Contributors are usually family members that may have graduated from school or have reached that age where they can now help out their families. The Believers are usually our grand parent/s whose wisdom have guided the family. Family members that fall under this category may have the option to join the Homemakers and Family Leader so that the roles, responsibilities and contribution of a member does not fall on one shoulder alone. The contributor/believer's role is to keep the ball rolling.

The Learner -The Learners are the youth who would like start or continue their education beyond the limitations of the physical walls of a classroom. Telecom giant, Globe Telecoms, did a great job with Bangon Pinoy movement and recently with Globe's projectwonderful where they made early Christmas happen for the children in Leyte. Globe can set up virtual classrooms with facilities and internet connections for free to be used for communication with relatives in other parts of the country or abroad, and establish distance learning programs in cooperation with Globe's project wonderful volunteers.

The Wonderer - The wonderers are infants to children in pre-school (those who are too young to go to formal schooling yet). They will be assigned together in a make shift day care center or pre-school (built by project wonderful volunteers and donors)to undergo counseling or debriefing by volunteers and participate in enjoyable learning activities for them to make the most of their childhood. They also get to mingle with other children their age, while their parents/relatives are at the same time involved in their respective programs in the Empowerment Package.

Recognizing the important roles and efforts of volunteers and donors, all the resources gathered would be categorized according to need and would be distributed according to the program for the members of the family. For example, donated money may be used to buy materials for house building projects, restoration and other materials. Donations in kind like clothes, food, medical kits, among the many others would be carefully segregated and distributed by Globe Project wonderful volunteers and would be endorsed to the Homemakers and the Believers. The books and toys would both be enjoyed by the Learners and the Wonderers.

It is called the Empowerment package because every family is a "package" to be empowered. Every member of the family is included in the rehabilitation project, everyone is involved from infants to senior citizens! Absolutely no one is left out! 

The Empowerment Package is designed for long-term sustainability of each families in a community and at the same time provide support, boost self-esteem and confidence for each individual affected. The best thing about the Empowerment Package is it is not only it is implementable to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), it is also applicable and may also be adopted by other communities in our country, including those who are residing in the city but happened to be living in depressed areas. In short it does not cater only to one affected area alone, it is implementable in the entire Philippines!

The Empowerment Package is by Filipinos, for every Filipino.


How about you? What would you like to give to the Philippines?  #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014 

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Get a chance to win an iPad mini 2 simply by sharing what you would like to give to the Philippines. Please use the comment form below and one lucky reader's gift to the Philippines comment will be chosen by Globe and Nuffnang Philippines!

I'm excited to read your thoughts below!

[Project FeeTrail January 2014]: Making it in Marikina

January 11, 2014 is the day I traveled South to North (and vice versa) on all kinds of land

 transportation in the Philippines except riding the pedicab and railroad trolley.

I left at 8:30 am at our house and took the tricycle to take me to the nearest bus stop.

I got off at Magallanes to take the MRT (train) to go and meet Karen in Glorietta.

We took the MRT again to go to Cubao to go to reach Marikina.

We took the FX to reach the main city.

Then took the jeep to get to  the Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish Church, in San Roque Marikina City. 

Just in time for Karen and me to perform our ceremonial "cross across the baby's forehead"as god mothers of our friends' first born daughter, Madison Brigh.

We were able to sneak in a little time for this documentation, because I told Karen I really want to have a feet shot at that "walk of fame-ish"park that they have and since it's my first time in Marikina.

After the ceremony, we hitched a ride at Mike's car to get to the reception.

Took the jeepney again back to Cubao - Edsa.

And finally reached (actually brisked walked like crazy) to get to the bus station.

At 10pm, I was home.

It was my first time going commute to this bus stop in Cubao. Karen was giving me directions about which way to go, which is Aurora, which is Edsa, and I just stared at her dumbly. Maybe because, it's already evening and I am in the middle of Cubao at night and still have a long way to go. I lived in the city for a decade and still a little que horror with directions.

I was almost tempted to hail a cab, like I used to, but then I just decided to suck it up and do the best that I can with Karen's instructions. I did it, yey!