Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a unique event to feature a #MomCar (at least that's what I call it!) in the body of the All-New Mercedes Benz B-Class.  I was in awe during the exclusive preview of the B-Class.  It was a lovely afternoon of gathering with other mom bloggers as well as media people, where we learned a lot about traveling and even shared hacks on traveling with kids.  Great food, happy conversations, and impressive subject or star of that afternoon - that's how I would describe the Mercedes Benz B-Class event.

Here are the first impressions that took my breath away instantly and why I say it's definitely a mom car for this exact generation:

It's compact outside but roomy inside.  Indeed perfect for families and moms bringing kids to and from school or usual weekend bonding.  Unbelievably, there's so much space inside to put a sturdy car seat, diaper bags, individual bags of kids, toys, hygiene kit, and many more!  The new B-Class offers increased interior dimensions from its predecessor, and also offers more headroom, elbowroom in both the front and the rear. The seat is also more elevated to a more level position making it more comfortable to sit in the vehicle.  It also has a huge back loading capability for longer luggage, thanks to its 40-40-20 lay-fold rear seats capability. Whether its dad’s golf bags, mom’s luggage, or the baby stroller, the new B-Class offers no compromise on space.Mercedes Benz gave a new meaning to real comfort and space, making it the ideal starter family vehicle.

Impressive Digital User Experience For The Driver. It has a state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) like which elevates to a whole new level the driving experience of moms and even non-moms other human forms and kinds.  It has a wide digital panel that connects the car and the driver to a personal level which definitely is an awesome digital driving experience!  I am highly impressed with this feature!  This is their highly intelligent virtual assistant, which is activated by pressing a button in the steering wheel or by simply saying, “Hey Mercedes”. It caters to voice commands to attend to infotainment functions such as destination input, phone call, music selection, climate control, and ambient lighting. MBUX comes with a natural speech recognition program that helps it to recognize and understand nearly all sentences from the fields of multimedia and vehicle operation.  I only see this kind of intelligence in Marvel movies (Ironman's Jarvis VA!) and it's real with the MBUX!
Safety is its top priority.  Being Mercedes Benz alone, a German luxury car brand, speaks quality, high-technology, and unparalleled safety.  It's over-all functionality and well-thought space for the driver and passengers make it comfortably safe.  You won't find a seat without seat belts.  The space at the back passenger make durable car seats such as what was demonstrated during the event, very fitting.   It also improved the all-around visibility, minimizing the risk of overlooking vehicles and pedestrians.  It also has an extended Active Brake Assist as a standard.  Depending on the situation, it can effectively help to mitigate the consequences of rear-end collisions by applying braking when the vehicle detects slower-moving, stopping or stationary vehicles ahead - even with crossing pedestrians and cyclists.  If the driver fails to respond, Active Brake Assist can go one step further and brake
autonomously if the danger of collision persists, so as to mitigate the severity of the accident or in the best case even prevent it. Attention Assist with adjustable sensitivity, which can warn the driver in a timely manner of inattentiveness and drowsiness, is also included as standard. To add to one’s peace of mind, the vehicle comes equipped with airbags for driver and front passenger, including windowbags and kneebag for the driver, and ISOFIX child-seat mounts and TopTether attachment points in the rear backrest, plus a host of other safety features.
Sleek yet Practical.  A Mercedes is a Mercedes, and it will remain classy and top of the line when it comes to vehicles.  The B-Class holds the brand's class yet with its features, makes it a practical car for the family, especially moms like us.  The new B-Class has redefined its relaxed and practical look with a sportier profile without sacrificing space or user value. Dubbed as a small multi-purpose vehicle, one of the main highlights of the new B-Class is its spacious interior and cabin.  Its Artico-leather-made seat offers excellent ergonomics and a high degree of comfort even on longer journeys.

The new Mercedes-Benz B-Class is priced at PHP 2.690 Million Pesos.  If a family has a budget for buying a car with its highest-safety in mind and one that would really be worth every peso they worked for, the Mercedes Benz B-Class should be a consideration.

Auto Nation Group hosted the event and welcomed moms to their showroom last week.  According to Joseph Ayllon, Asst. VP,  "The new B-Class is the perfect mom-mobile for today’s modern mom. It is easy and comfortable to drive, offers a huge amount of space for passengers and their load, and comes with class-leading safety features and world-class technology. It has everything every starter family would want in a reliable vehicle.” 
We were also treated to a learning session during the talk by Jeanette Ipapo-Tuason, entrepreneur and
mother of five, who shared her ideas on how to make family road trips safe and enjoyable.  Some of us, including me, shared some family travel hacks.  Sharers won a gift pack from L'Oreal.  Yey for mommies! 

Some of the sponsors of the event who were too generous to gift us with something to take home and make mommy self-care possible were The Farm at San Benito, Belo, Chicco, Mighty Mom, Oh so Healthy!, Sarah’s Home Sprays, Sharp Philippines,and Wenya Bags.
For more information, details or inquiries, you visit any Mercedes-Benz showroom nationwide ((EDSA Greenhills, Alabang, BGC and Cebu) or call ahead to schedule a test drive. You may also visit https://www.mercedes-benz.ph or follow them on Instargram @mercedesbenzph.

Weekends are precious for our family that's why we make the most out of those two days doing two things:  relax and look for recreational activities.  Recently, we decided to indulge in an opportunity to experience The Garage VR Zone and Food Park plus some Dreamplay time at City of Dreams Manila (will write a separate blog post about this fun experience too!)
It was our first time at The Garage and we were greeted with families enjoying their meals or at least going around the huge food park and kids excitedly playing at the VR Zone. The Garage has a wide range of casual dining choices of food and beverages for the whole family presented in nice-looking trucks and trailers. 
Set in a 2,714-square meter cool and comfortable space located at the upper ground floor, The Garage stands out with its modern industrial interiors catering to a 563-seating capacity. Designed by award-winning Paris-based creative design agency, Malherbe Design in collaboration with Westar Architectural Interior Design, a group known for its strong sensitivity to contemporary design aesthetics, The Garage is further given life and vibrancy with graffiti works of two prominent names in the street art scene: Kookoo Ramos and DeeJae Paste. 
For me, it's a must-experience latest entertainment and dining attraction. The Garage is offering a selection of more than 10 food and beverage trucks and trailers: Chip Shoppe, Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, Katsu Sora, Pink’s Hotdog, Little Flour, El Chupacabra, Pizza Grigliata, Farmacy, Chocol8, The Roaster and Juiced. I also love that The Garage is also enhanced with the sustainability drive of City of Dreams Manila, where they used only eco-friendly, biodegradable and compostable plates, utensils and take-out bags.

Let me share with you what we had during our family's visit:
We were served food from the Chip Shoppe and we enjoyed the COD Save the Queen (battered COD fish), Calamari, Coco Prawn Fritters, Corn Dog, Spam Fritters and Fries.  For dessert, we tried their Banana Fritters with chocolate ice cream on top.

Calamari, COD Save The Queen, Coco Prawn Fritters, Smap Fritters, Corn Dog, and Fries from Chip Shoppe

Pizza Grigliata Manila

Four Cheese Pizza

Pizza No. Two surprised us with a little kick of spiciness and tanginess with every bite.

Lots of cheese, basil leaves and alfalfa sprouts - THIS is my kind of pizza!

Real deal Carbonara and Tomat0-based

Jasmine Iced Tea

A cup of my favorite Cafe Mocha or was this Capuccino?

The Chip Shoppe

Beverage Bar offers a wide selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages

The Roaster's giant roasting machine which they actually use but is in a glass case making it look like an exhibit or an artifact.  This is so cool!

The Roaster is the go-to outlet for an array of gourmet coffee creations made from freshly roasted Philippine beans. In keeping with the resort’s sustainability campaign, the beans are sourced from coffee growers and farmers in various communities supported by the Philippine Coffee Board, Inc.

Chocol8 is an award-winning chocolate shop which can be found in The Garage at City Of Dreams Manila

Chocol8 features handcrafted chocolates in a number of shapes and forms, and are enhanced with special ingredients such as fruits, nuts, and spices.

These chocolates were featured in a number of TV shows, I bet their chocolates are one of the bests in the country!

Farmacy Food Truck

Care for some Soccer game?

The VR zone is not for the faint heart and super full stomach.  It's recommended that you play either before eating or an hour or so after because if it's your first time, chances are you may get nauseated.  How do I know?  I can message it to you privately!  Hahaha!  It was an awesome experience overall especially for first-timers like my husband and me.

After having an awesome experience hanging out at The Garage VR Zone and Food Park, here are some of the reasons why we recommend this to families looking for a new place to comfortably hangout:
1.  It's spacious.  Spend time with the family at ease.  Having a spacious area means kids could run around, you don't worry much that you're disturbing another family, hahaha!  Honestly, this happens to every family with little kids in tow.  I love the high ceiling, and really the big space of The Garage.
2.  It has a wide selection of food choices.  There's literally something for everybody!  If you want finger foods that are easy to eat yet filling and satisfying there's The Chip Shoppe or Pink Hotdogs.  For Japanese or Mexican dish lovers like me, you'll be happy to try Katsu Sora, Hokkaido Ramen Santouka or El Chupacabra. Pizza and Pasta Day?  Then Pizza Grigliata Manila is the right truck destination.
3.  It's well-ventilated.  Space is big yet very cool.. I love the air-conditioning system because it adds up to the total happy customer experience for the whole family.  Indeed, anyone's stay or hangout experience is a comfortable one.
4.  It's clean.  Who wants to dine in with the family in an unkempt place right?  They've got you covered, from the dining areas to each of the food stalls, and especially their comfort rooms, totally clean.
5.  It's child-friendly.  I say this because the couches are perfect for sitting small children safely and comfortably.  Having a spacious area to hangout also is a plus point for being a child-friendly venue.  The selection of food even for our little picky eaters is friendly, so you're assured your little man or little girl will also be filled with food he/she will enjoy.
6.  It's pro-environment.  They use both reusable and biodegradable materials for serving food, from bowls, plates, wooden utensils, they are all impressively sustainable, making love for our planet and the future generation felt as well!  Good job City of Dreams! :)
7.  It's casual.  Lastly, no need to dress to impress!  This casual hangout place for the family makes the experience a lot more carefree, not restricting, and comfortable while making great family memories last a lifetime.  No social pressure, no venue pressure, just come as you are and be REALLY HAPPY with the family!  I love this about The Garage VR Zone/Food Park!

WHAT TO TRY NEXT:
What we want to try the next time we come here are the following:
1. Hokkaido Ramen Santouka’s well-loved ramen.
2. Katsu Sora's tonkatsu with rice and other side dishes.
3. Pink Hotdogs' intriguing "The Hollywood Legend" hotdogs and their burgers too.
4. Little Flour Café by the highly successful Wildflour Café + Bakery's rice bowls, delicacies, and grilled items.
5.  El Chupacabra's delectable array of Mexican-influenced dishes such as street tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and grilled chicken sticks.
6.  Farmacy Ice Cream - all flavors! :)

Operating Hours:
On Sundays to Thursdays, the VR Zone is open from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m., food outlets at 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and The Roaster at 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and on Fridays to Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., the food outlets at 10 a.m. to 12 a.m., and The Roaster at 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Rates:
Single VR activity ticket is at Php 380; while packages are available for those playing in pairs or groups: Php 700 for two persons playing Ski Rodeo or Galaga Fever; and Php 1,300 for a group of four playing Mario Kart Arcade GP VR, Hospital Escape Terror or Winged Bicycle. For those who want to avail of three or five activities, the ticket prices are Php 1, 300 and Php 1, 650 respectively.

For more information, call (+63 2) 800-8080 or email guestservices@cod-manila.com or visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com.

Recently, I attended one of the most joyous, most festive, and grandest events when I went to the #BestEverLife salu-salo at Plaza Ibarra with some of your favorite mom bloggers too.  With the launch of its new and best-ever formulation, Joy, the leading dishwashing liquid in the Philippines, doubled its famous old record of number of plates washed with a single bottle. From 8,000 plates 20 years ago, 17,500 plates were cleaned with just one single 495 ml bottle of the new Best Ever Joy - covering the entire length of the San Juanico bridge and back.

2007 JOY TV Commercial with Michael V.  Also my first-ever ad done!

Then in 2013, I was again cast to be one of the three lead mom roles of Joy's Barangay TVC (na I don't have a copy of huhuhu!)  Hello friends from JOY, maybe you have, please send me a copy of this TVC loves! :)
The event was hosted by Jolina Magdangal-Escueta. We were filled with scrumptious Filipino dishes and delicacies and festive song and dance performances.  During the program, a short discussion with celebrity mom Ruffa Mae Quinto and my blogger friend Momi Berlin took place where they shared their own stories of how the new best-ever Joy has helped them lead the best ever life.  Joy's superior dishwashing ability was proven through experiment videos shown during the program.
Personally, as shared on my social media channels, dishwashing is one of my favorite household chores because of the relaxing sound and feel of water.  And though I've tried other brands, I still come back to Joy because it's the most effective for me, most practical with a lot of savings because one drop of Joy on the sponge really goes a long way.  Mas nakakatipid talaga ako, plus it cuts the time of washing or even repeating the dishwashing process (just because hindi agad natatanggal ang sebo) so that means, more time for family lalo na with the kids.  That for me is how I live the best-ever life with Joy.
Another highglight of the event was when Joy commemorated SOS Children’s Village Alabang as Joy’s beneficiary in bringing the best ever life to Filipino household by supporting the children’s daily meals.  Kaya mas love ko pa lalo ang Joy!
Kayo?  How do you live your best-ever life by using Joy?  Share niyo naman sa comments momsh!

For more information about Joy, visit the Joy Philippines Facebook page.

Who among you grew up knowing Ever Malls as a family hangout or a place to go to after school?   When I was in college and studying in one of the schools in the University Belt, I frequented an Ever Mall near the campus with my classmates to eat or find something unique to buy like accessories or gift items or buy something we needed for school.  It had been always a happy hangout experience.  After all, it's known as the pioneer shopping destination and a neighborhood "second home" that offers variety of food, fashion, and fun shops for over 23 years!

Today, with the revamped Ever Malls, they bring genuine value, leveled up shopping satisfaction with ‘EVERday is a Happy Day’!  Ever Malls is transforming to become the ultimate destination for retail shopping, entertainment, and leisurely enjoyment.

Fun shopping ‘community’ within reach
With so many big malls in the metro, Ever Malls offers something that reaches out to the community.  We all know those small communities like where I live always look for fun and fuller shopping experience, happier and better customer service, and an engaging retail environment.  This is what the new Ever Malls' campaign is all about.

Chie Arao-Santos, Head of Corporate Marketing of Ever Malls, says "EVERday" aims to instill every day positivity in life as shopping should be one of life's delightful experiences.  I agree to this because not just a mom sho finds leisure in grocery shopping, I like going on window or actual shopping as my me-time, right?

“We want Ever Malls to continue to be known not only as a retail haven but also as a happy place that’s worth coming back as customers would love to be here, to discover something new and exciting any time of the day. We want them to fully enjoy whatever is it that they need to do, whether it is shopping for daily essentials, hanging out with friends for food trips, or strolling leisurely with their family for relaxation,” says Arao-Santos.

She adds: “Our malls are strategically located. For example, our Commonwealth branch is within the vicinity of subdivisions and villages thus, accessibility and convenience are a strong point and this makes it possible for Pinoys to visit Ever Malls every day.”

Their campaign was made more exciting with positive "community-feel" and happy images and colors when you experience shopping at an Ever Mall.  They even have catchy jingle and giveaway during their launch held last March 24.

Customers both old and new will also experience better shopping convenience courtesy of the newly renovated Ever Supermarket, including an assortment of casual dining foodie hubs via the new lifestyle strip Calle Bistro.

Genuine customer satisfaction

As the campaign is designed to offer shoppers real value and satisfaction-guaranteed experiences, Ever Malls also infuses entertainment and amusement elements in its retail spaces by hosting interactive social events like live band performances, food pop-ups, celebrity bazaars, and many more.  And because customers love a good deal, incentives like promos and prizes, special discounts, as well as freebies and giveaways will be regular treats for loyal mall goers.

“Everyday visit to Ever Malls is an EVERday happy shopping experience because customers will have a grand time exploring a vast array of offerings from upcoming new tenants with products ranging from branded items to affordable novelty products. Alongside a more diversified retail lineup is the enhanced in-store customer experience and engaging social activities that will delight people of all ages”, concluded Arao-Santos.

Experience the new shopping pleasures and exciting thrills that await at these Ever Malls locations: Ever Commonwealth and Ever Manila Plaza. For updates, like and visit Ever Malls FB page and use the hashtag:#EVERdayHappyDay.

Some may think sometimes that being a mom of boys don't require a careful or meticulous selection for what we use for their skin.  Others may say, pwede na yan or lalaki naman.  Actually, it's not the gender but the sensitivity of baby's skin that is always at stake whenever we choose skin care products for our kids.
I learned a lot about baby's skin and why it really needs skincare that's gentle but thorough in cleaning without stripping off the natural moisture or by locking the moisture in.  This was explained by a renowned dermatologist and blooming mom-to-be Dr. Mara Padilla Evangelista-Huber during the recent launch of Cetaphil Baby Gentle Cleansing Bar.  Here were some of the other learnings I took with me on truths about baby's skin:

• Cleansing can be the most damaging step in baby's skincare routine.  That's why we should be discerning in choosing the right brand of cleanser.
• Skincare in babies should focus on supporting the barrier function meaning it should thorough in cleaning yet not strip off moisture plus should even lock it in.
• A good baby cleanser should reduce the risk of irritation and infections.

The cleansing bar is Cetaphil's extended baby line of products which is targeted to toddlers. The program was hosted by Patty Laurel-Filart and graced by mom celebrities as well such as Mariel Padilla and Andi Manzano-Reyes who both shared challenges of raising toddlers and how they've used Cetaphil since they were born.
Also in attendance were editors Bianca Santiago-Reinoso and Georgia del Rosario, actress Helga Krapf, author Joy Tan-Chi Mendoza, designer Nicole Hernandez de los Angeles, entrepreneur Rene Rose Rodrigo, photographer Sheila Catilo, and many of society’s career moms and their babies.

“Cetaphil Baby Gentle Cleansing Bar is our way of growing with the babies who started with our signature brand of gentle cleansing,” says Abe Mationg, Brand Manager of Cetaphil Baby. “We want to give every toddler the right foundation for healthy skin to ensure that it is protected, now and in the future.” 

After all the skin talk, the moms, together with their kids, enjoyed the rest of their night and treated themselves to sumptuous food and delightful conversations with other mothers. The moms also bonded over their common stories, exchanging mommy tips throughout the night’s affair.

The event also became an impromptu playdate for all the youngsters present for the launch, hanging out by the play areas with the new set of friends they made by the end of the night.  The night ended on a high for the mommies and their kids, taking home with them the new Cetaphil Baby Gentle Cleansing Bar and a lot of new knowledge about taking care of their toddler’s skin.

For information, visit www.cetaphil.com.ph