Jessa Herbal Beauty Soap (Bicol)

     It was September 2013 when my father suffered a major stroke. As the family was coping, my good friend Kevin sent some herbal medicines for my dad along with some bars of a certain herbal beauty soap. That’s how I was introduced to Jessa, an all natural carrot-papaya herbal beauty soap manufactured by REJANE Marketing and exclusively distributed in Luzon and Visayas by Living Way Projects Mercantile Corporation. More than a year later, when things are starting to be normal for my family, I inquired about the soap and have learned from Kevin that there’s more to Jessa than meets the eye.

Thanks Marflin for sharing your Jessa Herbal Beauty Soap experience with us. ☺

Jessa?

     First, let me tell you how Jessa is not just a beauty soap but also a health soap that’s good for the entire family. Here's the official content of our flyer:

Zip Line Adventure at Embarcadero

     Hey guys, what's up?! I updated this blog 6 months ago? Whattt?

     Anyways, two weekends back, my friend Kevin and I tried Embarcadero de Legazpi's Zipline adventure and guess what? IT. WAS. AWESOME. There are other zipline facilities in Albay but what makes this one unique is the water below the zip-line making it a bit more challenging. The 350-meter Embarcader zipline begins from the lighthouse of Embarcadero Mall (30 meters above ground) and descends down the breakwater across Legazpi Port basin. The water will make you a bit apprehensive but when you're down the cable to get to the other side, there's nothing but at least 55 seconds of amazing Mayon Volcano view and a cool new perspective of the city of Legazpi. It's quite fortunate that I was able to capture the whole thing on video. Watch:

     We wanted to do more but there's just so little time. We'll also try the zip-line at Lignon Hill, heard that one's quite good too. Anyway, sorry the vid's a bit jerky 'cause I was too excited. Thanks Kev for editing the vid and making it a bit more bearable to watch.

     Some photos:

#OOTD Update

     It's fun to have a blog that nobody reads. I know this for a fact because my recent posts have very few pageviews -- and if they do have pageviews, most of them are mine, hah! Now I can write about anything and not be embarrassed at all. And since nobody reads my blog anymore, no fear posting some more of my photos now. ☺

     I've been busy with stuff and one of the things I do to avoid burn out is eat out with family. But with my dad's stroke last year, even dining out has lessened because now we're being careful of what we eat. Anyway, because I've become less occupied,  I've decided to visit restaurants in Legazpi City and the province of Albay (maybe in the future, Albay's neighboring places too) and feature them on my The Pinoy Wanderer blog. This is my way of helping out create awareness on the culinary destinations in my region. I ask recommendations from friends and see for myself if the restaurant deserves a spot on the list that I'm creating. At the moment, I'm starting to put up this list of worth-recommending restaurants in Legazpi City that offer eat-all-you-can dining option because buffets are the best way to indulge in food. How is that related with this blog? Simple, I'm no fashion icon but I will update you guys with how I look every time I go out on food trips. Oops, I meant to say, I will update myself (since nobody reads my blog anymore), haha! We can learn from each other, even from the mistakes we've committed, style included.

     With my brother in tow, we've already visited two restaurants in Legazpi City. If last year I was a bit fond of formal shirts (I pair it with jeans for a casual, care-free look), now I've returned to comfortable cotton tees, probably because of the weather. Here's what I had on when we visited Mr. Crab & Seafood Diner approximately 12 days ago. Click this LINK to read my review of that buffet experience at Mr. Crab.

Shirt by Hollister, vintage pants by Levi's, and shoes by New Balance.

     Then 6 days ago, my brother and I tried out Cosina de' Marina's buffet. Follow this LINK to read my review of our buffet experience at Cosina de' Marina.  And yep, here's a photo of me that day.

White shirt by Gap, polo shirt by H&M, pants by H&M, and my favorite shoes right now by New Balance.

     There you go, I'm done updating myself. If you happen to drop by this blog and you're not ME, I'm grateful. LOL! Have a great day!

Brands, Nordstrom, and Online Shopping

What Sort of Brand Do We Wear?

     Choosing a brand to wear is a tricky thing. Most of us go for the more expensive brands because they’re the ones that oftentimes meet our expectations. As we develop our style, we also learn to have refined taste on quality -- eventually, this will either make us respect (or disapprove) a particular name or brand, regardless of the price tag or popularity.

Nordstrom Inc.?

     Nordstrom is a perfect avenue for this ideal, helping people to “possess style — not just buy fashion” for more than 100 years since 1901. Nordstrom is, truth be told, one of my brother’s favorite stores when he was in the US, having visited several of Nordstrom’s stores including their first shop in Seattle. Carrying majority of the sensible brands (which my brother and I like) and offering customers special deals and discounts, Nordstrom has now reached a far wider audience through their online shops and partners. Perfect for many of us that have no access to a physical Nordstrom store. Besides, who doesn't realize the convenience of shopping online? And don’t forget Nordstrom coupons that can be used to avail of special discounts and deals on selected items -- awesome!

A Few Of My New Favorite Things

For lack of anything to write, I am writing this post. LOL!

     Anyway, let me introduce you guys to my new favorite pair of pants. It’s an H&M skinny jeans that my brother bought from an H&M store in Seattle. Goes well with cotton tees and formal shirts but still looking very casual.

H&M pants, $29.95

A few things when wearing skinny jeans:

Happy Independence Day Philippines!

     As we celebrate the country's independence and remember with pride how our heroes fought for this freedom, may we not forget to also celebrate and continue fighting for our own freedom and redemption.

       Let's all be free from the tyranny of other people's expectations, fight off loneliness and pessimism, and rebel against low self-esteem, insecurity and self-obsession. Let's rise up from poverty and helplessness, defend ourselves from vices and unhealthy lifestyle, take a stand against hate and manipulation. Let's not be slaves of money, power, and fame; break free from selfishness, greed, and envy; and to triumph over too much self-preservation and pride. We need to be free from these chains that are pulling us down so we can reach our fullest potential.

     As we march on to find our purpose and worth, may all our struggles give us wisdom, hope, and love -- because all of life is futile without them. I believe that we can truly stand up for something if we are strong from the core.

     Happy Independence Day Philippines!

*Thanks Google Philippines for the image!

All About #Selfie - Part 2

This post is the conclusion of All About Selfie - Part 1.

One of the best entries I've seen in the ongoing "Selfie Olympics" on Twitter.

I had it edited to show my face instead. LOL! Original image from HERE.

     Hey guys, what have you been up to since my last post? Let me guess, taking more selfies? Haha, cool. Anyway, hope you're not bothering your friends will all those selfies. Though we are well within our rights to take selfie photos as much as we want, this does not mean that we also have the right to annoy our friends. We should not irritate our friends with photos that look the same, on the same setting, wearing the same clothes, and shot at the same angle. That's annoying. An article from The Huffington Post reported a study conducted in the UK which found out that excessive photo sharing makes almost everyone like you less. There should be at least some ground rules when posting #selfie photos in our social media accounts.

     Here are some guidelines that I adhere to when posting my selfies and perhaps you can use them too:

All About #Selfie - Part 1

In my opinion, this is my best #selfie so far. LOL!

     #Selfie have been around for ages before we even know what to call it. Wikipedia mentions a certain Robert Cornelius, an American pioneer in photography, who took a photo of himself in 1839, thus producing the first known selfie in history.^[1] Selfie photos just became more apparent with the advent of digital cameras and camera phones. The word selfie was first used in an Australian Internet forum (ABC Online) back in 2002 but it was in 2012 when the term truly became popular.^[1]

In 1839, Robert Cornelius took the first known selfie in history.^[1]

     Selfie, 2013's word of the year, have been defined by Oxford as "a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media site.^[2]" What qualifies as a selfie are photos of yourself (by yourself or with others in it) that you took on your own by holding the camera to take a direct photograph or a photograph of your reflection in the mirror.

     Here are some of my favorite and most memorable selfie photos that I retrieved from old media cards and from the hard drive of my old desktop. Don't worry folks, I've chosen the best ones and they're not a lot too, haha!

My first acceptable selfie back in 2004 taken by my first camera phone, a Nokia 3650.

This photo became my favorite Friendster profile pic. LOL!

Why I've Been Away From Blogging For Most Of 2013

     Hey readers, what's up? Sorry, been away from blogging for sooo long. Here are some good reasons why I wasn't able to post any update since April this year:

Behind me on the photo is Daraga Church, one of the churches we've visited before my brother left for the US.

Daraga Church, an 18th century Baroque church, is located on top of a hill above the busy town of Daraga, Albay.

     First, I got busy with this little business that my brother and I started late last year. I wrote about it on a POST published January 21, 2013. Thanks a bunch to all our friends who appreciated the board shorts and recommended it to their friends. You guys are awesome!

Friend, Fashion, Photoshoot, and Intramuros

A New Friend

     Kevin Jeffrey Dorongon called me up a few weeks ago for a favor -- if I can publish photos from a shoot which he directed. Of course I said yes. Kev is a new friend and I say that my blogs will always have space for friends who are both nice and talented. ☺

No, that's not Kevin. LOL! That's Jho Ann Sotelo, one of the models for this
Classic-Gothic inspired photoshoot. Scroll down for more of the photos...

Fashion Concept

     Kev's tag line for his shoot was "Lost in Manila." When he was telling me about the concept, I imagined movement, outdoors and street style fashion. When I finally saw the output a few days ago, it was not what I expected but I was impressed nonetheless. The photos look great and the classic-gothic inspired theme in an old setting like Intramuros presented quite a statement. Kev further explained that he took inspiration from the Secret Garden ad of Dior in Versailles with intent to promote the rich history and heritage of Manila. Looking at the photos, I can say that Kev's work is a reflection of good taste and potential.

The Photoshoot

     Here are several of my personal picks from the shoot (click the image to view a larger version):

We Got Bored, We Started Designing Our Own Boardshorts

     That's it -- everything you need to know about this post is on the title, LOL!  And yes, the photos that you see on here are just some of our work. We have been designing and making board shorts for myself, my brother, and for some of our friends. If you're interested to get our services, read on.

One of our latest design which is part of the Summer 2013 Collection.

     I grew up with a mother who knows how to make her own clothes and a father, though carefree as he was, still looked good with his style. I'd like to think that their legacy, apart from genes and values in life, is the right judgment when it comes to what looks good and what doesn't.

A close up of one of our designs.  Our board shorts use the usual microfiber polyester fabric

that's quick drying, lightweight, soft to touch, and most importantly, comfortable to wear.

Why Choose the Right Shoes?

     Part of getting your look right is having the right shoes.  You can ruin a seriously fly style by wearing a beaten up pair of shoes.  You might be surprised at how many people will judge you on what you have on your feet.  Not that you mind what they say, but shouldn't you be mindful of what you wear?

Hip, Not Hipster

       Geek chic and scruffy look, revisited...

     Hipster can sometimes be a bit much, right?  It is a mish-mash of so many things that the eyes may not even know where to look at.  Hipster wear is cool though because it is all about geek chic, which many of us love.  Here are some tips on how to be hip with this kind of look.

David Beckham is known to constantly sport the geek chic look

►TIP:  The right way to accessorize any hipster outfit is with a pair of chunky glasses and a vintage laptop bag or satchel.  These things are perfect for the office but perhaps it’s best to tone down the clothes if you’re going to an important meeting! Yeah, it is possible to be hipster but still look professional.  All you gotta do is create a blend of smart and street that you can wear anywhere.

Accessorize!  That's the key  to the geek chic look

►TIP:  Slim jeans work very well with a fitted shirt or slogan t-shirt.  This kind of outfit will be perfect for any occasion, as you can make it look fashionably scruffy when you go out in the evening by adding some cool layers and accessories like a scarf, waistcoat or pair of trainers.

The Right Hairstyle To Hide Your Flaws (For Men)

     Here's another "GUY STUFF" feature dedicated to all my awesome male readers.  This is in fact just a continuation of "The Right Hairstyle For Your Face Shape" article which I wrote almost five months ago.  There were some important issues which weren't covered by that post that will be discussed on this one.

     And so gentlemen, better pay attention.  Here are some tips on what hair style to get that will minimize your flaws so you can look better -- or at least tone down your weak areas so they won't overpower your other great features.  I've put together some common problem categories (hair cut for receding hairline, big forehead, etc) and the most popular solutions I've learned from the experts all over the Internet and from magazines.  The post also contains some hair style to avoid so you can always look your best.

Floods, Heroes, Memories

The Floods

     It was September 26, 2009 when a flood of this magnitude has visited Manila and people blamed typhoon Ondoy for the properties and lives that were lost.  Almost three years later and several days of non-stop raining, Metro Manila is once again submerged in dirty, garbage-infested flood water.

This is the street right outside our apartment in Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City
Second day of southwest monsoon flood / August 8, 2012, 8AM

My brother Jeb and our dog Yassu on the neighbor's roof  in our old address
in Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City / 3rd day after typhoon Ondoy, September 28, 2009

All About Health, Fitness and Weight Loss

     Health and fitness is a recurring struggle for many of us and at times, it is also a major frustration.  What we need to understand, before engaging in a full-time health and fitness plan, is that there are no short term solutions.  And to succeed, we need to focus, be committed, and stay motivated -- and we need to keep all those in check even after we've reached our goals so we can enjoy being healthy and fit permanently.  

     Getting the body we want is a tough task (I think this is an understatement).  But to put it simply, the keys to getting that hot bod we always wanted are just these two:

A.  Decide to eat right and healthy

     Eating right means feeding ourselves with the required nutrients so we accomplish the day's tasks as well as fuel ourselves to do exercises.  Eating right further means getting rid of food that our body don't need such as sodas and junk food.  Specially if we have weight issues, we should not eat more than what our body needs for the day and more importantly, we should incorporate food in our diet that has nutrients which can help us with our weight loss goals.  Some of Hollywood's weight loss success is attributed to some dieting programs that's been proven to produce results.

The Sweetest Thing

     Hello beautiful people, what's up?  Sorry for not updating this blog lately but don't think even for a minute that I've forgotten about you, my awesome and most loyal readers.  Anyway, I've talked about friendship on this blog several times in the past, particularly on these posts:  (Go ahead, read them if you haven't yet).

• A Piece of My Thoughts
• Some Thoughts on Friendship

[L-R]: Bespren Kent, bestest JayB, MPC Yvette, Me, best friend Tokzzz and sexy AJ

       And so, please allow me to write about the topic once more...

8 Ways To Lose Beer Belly

     Hey guys, I'm back!  How are you all doing today?  Anyway, here's another post dedicated once again to all my awesome male readers.  This time, I'll help you find out how to lose that bulging beer belly and keep it off for sure.

     Just to clarify, beer bellies aren't always caused  by swigging too much beer.  Beer is around 140 calories per 12 ounce bottle and contains a lot of calories thus frequent indulging can indeed extend your waistline.  But fat in all areas of the body develops when calories that are taken in are not burned through regular exercise or physical activities.  The body won't know the difference whether the calories are from beer or from the food you eat.  So yeah, beer belly is caused by having too much beer or just having too much unburned calories.

     So, what are the things you can do to get rid of your beer belly?  Go ahead, read on!

Phillip Phillips, American Idol Season 11

     Folks, America have decided and their new American Idol is -- (dim the lights, here we go!) -- Phillip Phillips!  It's absolutely and without a doubt official:  American Idol Season 11 winner is Phillip Phillips.  And while Phillip Phillips fans from around the world are still celebrating this victory, the rest of us are on the edge of our seats anticipating what's gonna be next for this 21 year old laid-back cool dude from Leesburg, Georgia.

Phillip Phillips takes home American Idol crown for Season 11.

American Idol Season 11 Top 2

     Oh yes, it's down to these two amazing voices.  America have reached a decision and they have voted for Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez.  Phillip and Jessica are officially the TOP 2 American Idols for Season 11.  And next week, the whole world shall find out who will be the 11th American Idol.  I'm actually pretty cool with whoever wins this thing.

Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips for the Finale Night of American Idol Season 11.

     I have not closely followed the show since it premiered on June 11, 2002 but I do remember having favorites like Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry, Elliott Yamin, Fantasia Barrino, and David Cook.  Season 11, however, is of particular interest so I made extra effort to get updates on Twitter and if I fail to catch the performance night on TV, I watch re-runs or I visit American Idol's official YouTube channel.