I am honored to once again participate in the Baby Dove photo shoot with two of my kids.  Hindi ko na pwede isama syempre ang teenager, because hindi na "baby" yun, pang men's na nga ang gamit niya.  I wasn't able to share on the blog about these photos but nevertheless, here it is.
The photo shoots were for Baby Dove's Mother's Day #RealMoms 2018 and 2019 campaigns.  I am really grateful and proud to be part of this project the first time around and also the second time!  I am happy because my little ones are authentic Baby Dove users especially my youngest so these shoots were memorable!

Locations were shot in beautiful houses with huge windows which helped photographers get bright photos of their subjects.  The setups in the houses were done by INCY ROOMS (you could find their pages here, here and here). All photos were captured by Little Heartbeat Photography.

SHOOTING WITH A TODDLER - An AWESOME Experience with Little Heartbeat Photography
Every Baby Dove shoots I had with my toddler was a #RealMom story..eeerr struggle.  All the photos were real!  Little Heartbeat Photography's team was AWESOME!  Hands down to their talented team for still capturing the beauty of motherhood amidst the chaos, the tantrums, and little cranks of my toddler.

Beyond the skills, it's the eye for a magical moment, for the outburst of joy, for the realness of the connection of their subjects that sets them apart.

Little Heartbeat Photography is a young team with absolutely patient photographers.  They understand how short the attention span of little ones is.  They are quick to shoot.  They know what to capture.  They know how to make the subjects smile or laugh or be distracted.  They are also sensitive to the mommy subjects who may be feeling a bit frustrated with their kids who threw tantrums (that's me actually) and probably are a little bit embarrassed.  They make the moms feel comfortable (that's me again) and let them know that it's okay.
They have an eye for what's beautiful, in fact, all the moments captured even the not-so-beautiful scenarios were made beautiful in their lenses.  What magic is that?  Answer me Little Heartbeat Photography, please? :)
The crew was so friendly, always smiling (even if I know they're exhausted from whole day shoot and energies depleted from all the kids who also magically took the energies away from them), and warm.  A lot of help also came from the beauties from Bridges PR.
We had fun with the two shoots we did with Little Heartbeat Photography.  The photos were so wonderful! Thank you, guys! :)

#REALMOMS 
But that's what I love about the Baby Dove campaign.  The more real mom situations from not only me but other participating moms, the better.  Because their message is that there really aren't perfect moms, only real ones.  Social media photos with perfect smiles from kids and well-arranged houses could be deceiving or sometimes could put pressure on many moms like you and me.  It makes you think am I doing it right?  Am I doing enough?  Am I good enough?
YES MOMMY!  You are enough!  You do YOU!  You're the BEST MOM there is for your kids and no one could ever replace you.  Motherhood indeed has no manual, our kids are unique that's why our ways may not be compared with others.  Your children, your choice - how to parent them, how to discipline them, what and how to feed them.

THANK YOU!
Thanks Little Heartbeat Photography and Baby Dove PH for this campaign and for the wonderful gift you've given me as a mother - beautiful pictures capturing real moments of motherhood!  I hope to have more shoots with you!  I am grateful!

Hello to all my mom readers and supporters!  First of all, Mother's Day month isn't over, so let me greet everyone a belated HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!  For this, I owe you a quick peek into my sort of new life!

UPDATE ABOUT MY LIFE: FROM SAHM NOW A WAHM!!!
I have been a SAHM successfully for exactly a year and two months and I would have loved it if I'd extended that SAHM life (kahit nakakapagod) until Damien is schooling.  But I guess God has a different plan for me.  I never complained about being a SAHM even if it's the most exhausting job I've ever handled.  In fact, I did it dutifully, passionately, intentionally, and joyfully.  But a job offer came from a local multi-platform marketing and events agency focusing on mom and family (the community I LOVE), which I felt so fitting for my new life's focus and my working momma skills.  I thought to myself that I wasn't ready for accepting any job offers (I've turned down three wonderful job offers because their timings were bad.)  But my husband and I discussed and prayed about it, and all roads led to saying YES to the offer.  I'm now officially WAHM!

I'm pretty busy with the new work from home job that I quite recently accepted hence the not so updated blog which I usually do about twice a week.  But I know, it's not an excuse.  I have a lot to share to everyone like my practical shopping finds from the ExpoMom, new discovery of products, our Baguio vacation, review of the Graco car seat, summer lessons of my kids - Bert Lozada Swim School for Wes and Ready Steady Go Kids for Damien, and many many more actually. 

BUT, before all those blog posts happen, let me launch a MOTHER'S MONTH GIVEAWAY!!!

Giveaway Mechanics
1. FOLLOW Mommy Practicality on Facebook, Instagram, and subscribe to YouTube channel

• Facebook: https://facebook.com/mommypracticality
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/mommypracticality
• YouTube: https://youtube/com/ldfandino

2.  REPOST this photo publicly on ANY or ALL (for more entries and more chances of winning) of your social media accounts.

3.  COMMENT on your choice of prize Mommy Loot or Baby Loot.

4.  TAG 2 friends (real accounts and real friends only please)

5.  Include the hashtag #MPMothersMonthGiveaway

6. The giveaway shall run from May 20 until May 31.

7.  Announcement of winners will be made on June 2.

Prizes
Baby Loot includes the following items:

• 1 set of Pampers Baby Mat
• 1 Pampers Baby bag/changing mat
• 1 Baby Dove Soap
• 1 Baby Dove Shampoo
• 1 Baby Dove Lotion
• 1 Organic Baby Wipes
• 1 Tiny Buds Baby Wash
• 3 Vicks Baby Rub
• 1 Bite Block Insect Repellent
• 1 pack Huggies NB Baby Diaper
• 1 small bottle of 123 Baby Bottle washer
• 1 Holy Seat Pea bag

TERMS & CONDITIONS:

1. Must be WILLING TO PERSONALLY MEET UP WITH ME for LUNCH or COFFEE to claim prize.  Shipping, even on the account of winner, is not an option.
2. Prizes are non-transferable and not convertible to cash.
3. Prizes unclaimed within 30 days from announcement shall be forfeited and another winner shall be announced.

There you have it momshies!  If you're one of my long-time followers, you know so well that I really would LOVE to MEET my readers and get to know a bit of them.  This is why claiming personally is really a must for this giveaway and moving forward.  All prizes are from me and no sponsors were tapped this time, unlike in my previous giveaways.

THANK YOU so much to everyone who stuck around and still know me when they see me in events.  I owe you my presence in the bloggy world I'm in amidst the many newbies who are all so talented as well and even more consistent.  The more content, the better for many! :)

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY/MONTH TO ALL MOTHERS! :)

I've taken self-care more seriously since I turned my back from corporate life.  I realized that I have been working and stressing for years to meet deadlines, launch projects, to present marketing plans, deliver blog duties plus other passion projects, and the most important of all is fulfill my wife and mom duties at home.  I rarely take notice of caring for myself. Mindful self-care wasn't regular.

I neglected my skin.  Because of this, I get acne breakouts (hormonal and because of not having regular facials) and my skin started to show signs of aging like sagging, the appearance of fine lines and having a double chin.  Though I've been religiously following a skincare routine at night, topical skin care isn't enough to get my desired skin rejuvenation.  Though many have said I don't look my age, there are still some skin aging issues that I want to be addressed.

I was referred by a dear friend to the beautiful Dr. Yanee Vasquez, founder and Medical Director of Aesthetic Science Clinic.  Dr. Yanee and I met in their Makati branch (there's another in Alabang) to check the condition of my skin and recommend the best facial treatment to address whatever concerns I have.

But I don't want any surgery. I can't afford downtime.  Invasive treatment isn't my thing.  

Dr. Yanee said not to worry.  Aesthetic Science has what they call NEWTHERA an anti-aging treatment perfect for individuals whose faces have shown signs of aging especially on the face and neck area.

They say, usually sagging jaw or the neck areas are age giveaways.  For these there's Newthera.

WHAT IS NEWTHERA?

• Newthera is a non-invasive and non-ablative treatment for tightening and firming of the skin of the face and the neck. 
• It restores youthful look without dermal fillers or plastic surgery.
• Newthera can deliver instant results, visible lifting will be noticed over time.
• This uses safe ultrasound technology to regenerate collagen and give a visible but natural-looking lift to the jawline after a few weeks.
• A single session of Newthera can already tone and tighten mildly loose skin on the
• Makes you look younger than your real age
• It uses a High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound machine from South Korea
• One session could last you a year or depending on skin condition.

MY NEWTHERA TREATMENT EXPERIENCE
A week before having my treatment, I visited Aesthetic Science Clinic Makati for a consultation.  Since I kind of neglected my facial skin health, my face showed sun spots, acne marks, whiteheads, blackheads, and discoloration.  I had facial with diamond peel which will better prepare my skin for the Newthera treatment I was about to take a week after.

Now I know why Aesthetic Science Clinic offers THE. BEST. FACIAL. IN. MANILA!  The facial therapist had very gentle hands, thorough in cleaning, was pleasant yet professional, no pain at all, and my face was clean, fresh, and soft after!  I was glowing.

A week after, I came back for Newthera.  On a normal patient, the treatment includes topical anesthesia and a cool healing cream after the procedure. I would like to consider myself special because I still breastfeed my youngest.  The topical anesthesia which was supposed to stay on my face for a good 45 minutes could enter my bloodstream chances are, my son would take it in somehow.  I opted not to have any anesthesia nor the healing cream.

You may watch my treatment experience vlog below:
Yes especially if you have a low tolerance for pain or your skin is sensitive or you've never had a laser treatment before.  But during the talk with Dr. Van (Dr. Yanee wasn't available that time), she was able to manage my expectations and explained to me the risks, what I could possibly feel without the anesthesia.  I assessed and said I'd go for it.

What oral medication is recommended?
Patients who are not allergic to Paracetamol are advised to take one capsule before bedtime on the day before the procedure, one capsule after breakfast on the day of the procedure and one capsule one hour before the NT procedure.  This is to manage or relieve any pain that I may experience.

Is facial before Newthera treatment necessary?
A clean face is always better to begin with than one that's not.  I had facial with diamond peel a week before Newthera.

Other treatment protocols: Newthera may be done after a Diamond Peel procedure.  Botox may be done on the same day after Newthera procedure. However, for patients who have had Botox done, they should be advised to have the Botox treatment after 3 to 4 weeks of NT procedure/

How's the procedure?
1. My treatment started with cleaning my face
2. Dr. Van outlined my face with targeted areas for contouring and tightening and marked X the areas which cannot be touched.
3. A cool gel was applied on my face for repelling the heat coming from the machine upon impact on my face.
4. Start of treatment.

Was it painful?
To be honest, because I've had Revlite treatments in the past which gave me "gulat" factors every contact of the machine on my face, I didn't feel any pain on the face.  I felt the impact on boney areas which are my jaws and forehead.  But had I have anesthesia, I wouldn't feel anything on those areas too.

How long was the procedure?
After around 30 minutes, wow, we're done!  Yes, it was that quick!  Add the time for consulting, cleaning, it took me around one hour tops. They applied a collagen mask instead of the healing cream (which has steroids by the way) on me to calm my skin.  I went home after the treatment.

Was there a downtime?
Downtime means, if my regular work or routine is compromised or stopped temporarily due to the treatment.  There's none.  No Downtime. But the effects of the impact on my jaw areas were felt for about two weeks. Do you know the feeling of lightly bruised for hitting a surface?  It's something like that.  It made me feel that the treatment was still activated in the deep layers of my skin and that's how I know it's going to give me great results.

What are the other possible side effects of the treatment?
1.     Swelling
2.     Transient erythema or redness
3.     Temporary numbness
4.     Soreness of area treated
5.     Occasional pain and slight discomfort of the area treated
6.     Headache
7.     Urticaria/Linear Striations and Edema


VISIBLE EFFECTS AFTER NEWTHERA

2 months after the Newthera treatment at Aesthetic Science Clinic.  Face is younger-looking and tighter as well!

"Wow mare, your face is tighter, and the jaw ha, parang more pronounced?  What did you do?"

- Joy Yap, mom of two, professional make-up artist, beauty consultant, mompreneur

"Louise, parang lately lalo kang bumabata!  Ang liit din ng face mo lalo ngayon!" 

- Maricel Prado, Executive Assitant,, churchmate, appreciates beauty.

"Ate, napansin ko yung jaw areas mo para ngang nagcontour, and yung skin nag-tighten!"

- Ehm Santos, sister-in-law, mom of three, mompreneur.

"Kaya pala ang ganda ng skin mo momsh...Nakatitig ako sa yo last Saturday, kasi younger-looking skin."

- Shishi Cruz De Leon, mom of one, career woman, and vlogger.

These were just some of the comments I received after the treatment.  I didn't tell them about the treatment, but I was so happy to hear them say something good about the way my face looked younger.  They noticed the tightening and contouring on my face.  After receiving these wonderful and flattering comments, I told them about Newthera.

Indeed the treatment gives visible results as early as 2 weeks.  Up to this day, my face gets tighter and looks younger!  There was no hyperpigmentation, again no downtime.  I highly recommend this to friends who are intentional about skincare and would like to address some aging concerns.  As Doc Van said during the treatment, this is best recommended to ages 35 and up.  How often?  It actually depends on the condition of your skin.  It may be once or 2x a year.


According to Aesthetic Science Clinic, here are some indications for treatment:

1.     Tightening of the Skin in The Face and Neck Area
2.     Improvement of the Nasolabial Fold and Marionette Lines
3.     Contouring of the Face
4.     Lifting of the Jaw Line/ Improvement of Sagging of the Jowls
5.     Lifting of Sagging and Drooping of Eyelids
6.   Tightening of Double Chin
7.     Instant and Immediate Skin Rejuvenation of Face and Neck

OVERALL EXPERIENCE
On the treatment:

The Newthera treatment itself wasn't painful for me and it was fast.  Doc Van explained every step clearly and told me some skincare tips plus facts about collagen.  She made the treatment comfortable for me as well.  The slight discomfort or soreness post-treatment was bearable and not something that I would need to rest it out.  Post-treatment care instructions were given which I followed religiously.

On staff and physical clinic:

Doc Van was really kind, detailed, and informative.  She's so pleasant!  Ate Belle the one that assisted during the treatment (she's good din daw with body massage and body scrubs!  I will try that soon!), was always smiling and it shows that she enjoys what she's doing and she loves her job.  The reception staff in their Makati clinic are all professionals yet warm, they make sure their clients are comfortable and attended to right away.  The clinic's ambiance has the right mood lighting, not too bright, which makes their clients feel relaxed like how you are in a spa upon entry.
On results and effectiveness: 
To say that I am highly satisfied with the results of the Newthera treatment is an understatement.  I still get super positive comments about my skin!  I am happy it's really tighter, I look younger than my age of 40, and I can even go out confidently without makeup! The result started to be noticeable 2 weeks post-treatment.


I am a HAPPY Aesthetic Science Clinic patient/client!  I will definitely go back to try more services! Special thanks to Doc Yanee for allowing me experience the Newthera treatment!

To know more about the Newthera treatment, other available services, and promos, visit their website http://www.aestheticscienceclinic.com/ and follow them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/aestheticscienceclinic/ and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aestheticscienceclinic/.  You may also follow their stories with this hashtag: #bestfacialinmanila

BRANCHES: 

AESTHETIC SCIENCE ALABANG
G/F Kennedy Center Building Prime St. corner Venture St. Madrigal Business Park Alabang, Muntinlupa City
(632) 809-8021
(63917) 808-2921
Clinic Hours:
10AM to 7PM (Mon-Sat)
12PM-6PM (Sun)

AESTHETIC SCIENCE MAKATI
G/F Jupiter Place Building Jupiter Street,
Bel-Air, Makati City
(632) 899-3643
(63917) 808-2926
Clinic Hours:

11AM to 9PM (Mon-Sat)

All moms have the same prayers for their families, to have a family that’s complete, safe from harm, and a family that’s healthy.  To live a highly comfortable life is secondary for those who know better.  When we talk about health, the first thing we think about is usually food, then hygiene.  We can make our husband and kids eat healthy food by following the food pyramid.  On hygiene, washing hands before and after eating or using the restroom make us less susceptible to sickness.  Good hygiene also includes regular bathing, brushing teeth, and sanitizing some body parts and even our surroundings.  Why do we do that?  Because we all believe that having a tip-top hygiene will save us from getting ill such as getting worms.
When I was younger, panakot ng parents ko sa akin ang worms when she would tell me to take a bath.  I would be really scared and get disgusted at the thought of crawling worms inside my body.  But now that I know better, I don’t use the same panakot to my kids.  Because I now know better that it’s a misconception that worms can only be obtained by having poor hygiene.  Guess what?  WORMS ARE EVERYWHERE!  Now that would be scarier to my kids if I use that line right?  Walang pinipili ang worms, kasi napapasa siya!

When my second child was born, I already saw a flyer of Cordlife in the clinic of my OB-GYN.  Cordlife was fairly new in the market at that time.  I got so curious but I didn't get a chance to know more about it by asking.  Six years later, when I was pregnant with my youngest, I finally had the courage to ask about it, talk to a Cordlife agent and when the time came that I was about to meet her to sign up, I had pregnancy complications and had an emergency CS.  In short, I regret to this day that I wasn't able to avail of their cord banking service.
Now, Cordlife is celebrating its 10th year in the Philippines with its headquarters in Singapore.  I had the pleasure to attend their celebration with my other mom friends.  I learned more about their services and why it's one of the lifesaving investments a family could do.  Through testimonies of their clients, celebrities and regular parents, and discussions with a doctor panel, I fully understood how it's beneficial for the family.  If ever I'll have another child, I'll make sure to really go for it.
Our family has a history of cancer, diabetes, and high blood.  Having cord blood banked could have done so many miracles especially with the list of stem cell treatable diseases that continuously grows ar a rapid pace.  Through this development, many illnesses that were deemed incurable now have cures, and cord blood banks have started to be set up all over the world.
Cordlife is amongst the leading players for private cord blood banking services in most of the markets it operates in, namely Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, China, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and the Philippines.

It All Began with a Chance and a Choice
This year, Cordlife Philippines has reached a significant milestone of 10 years in the consumer healthcare industry. But the greatest breakthrough in their journey began with a decision they made a decade ago. A chance they took and a choice they made back then that proved to be right.

Their cord blood banking service was first introduced to the Philippine market in April 2009, and was headquartered in Antel Corporate Centre in Ortigas.

Their cord blood processing and storage facility in UP AyalaLand Technohub in Quezon City was established in 2010. It has a storage capacity for 30,000 cord blood and cord lining units and is built in accordance to global gold standards to give local families peace of mind.

It is the first and only stem cell bank to be registered with DOH and to be certified by ISO in the country since 2012. Cordlife is also the first in the Philippines to earn the prestigious AABB Accreditation in 2017.

A Decade of Quality Cord Blood Banking and Beyond
During the past 10 years, Cordlife Philippines has built a tradition of delivering the highest of quality standards in service and product offerings to every Filipino family. From less than ten, their team of highly talented and dedicated workforce grew to almost a hundred nationwide.
To provide families with more treatment options in the future, they launched their cord lining banking service in 2013. And to ensure that their clients’ health is well taken care of in the most holistic way possible, they introduced Cordlife Care360° Safeguard Program, Cordlife Shield, Cordblood Network, and Cordlife Transplant Care.

Now, more and more families are gaining access to cord blood and cord lining banking as the company extends their services in Visayas and Mindanao with the opening of their Cebu and Davao satellite offices.

Their prolific years of experience in umbilical cord blood banking pushed them further to offer more quality services. Hence, the introduction of their umbrella brand, Genscreen®. With Genscreen®, they launched genetic screening services such as: NICE and Prevue Non-Invasive Prenatal Tests and PlumCare DNA Advisor, the first and only family genetic testing in the Philippines.

More than just a Cord Blood Bank
With the power of cord blood stem cells in their care, Cordlife Philippines values great responsibility to their community as well. That is why in 2017, they pioneered a national advocacy called One Blood. The CSR program grants free cord blood banking to qualified pregnant moms with family history of diseases that can be treated by cord blood stem cells.

In celebrating the first ever World Cord Blood Day in the country, Cordlife Philippines joined hand-in-hand with healthcare professionals, celebrity brand ambassadors, and Cordlife moms to spread awareness about cord blood and cord blood banking through informative talks and lectures.

And as a gesture of gratitude to their clients, Cordlife introduced their Privilege Card that offers discounts and promos from their trusted partner brands.

Their journey in saving lives does not end here. The gift of giving chances and choices in securing precious stem cells will continue as they remain steadfast in providing reliable healthcare solutions and delivering excellence in cord blood banking and more.

With a firm belief that their services may offer life-changing and life-saving therapeutic options for families in the future, their commitment to continuously offer quality services will never be compromised. Because after all, Cordlife is really all about celebrating the gift of life!

Moms are the ultimate homemakers.  Moms are managers of the household.  Moms handle the budget.

Agree ba kayo dyan?  That being said, moms are the major decision makers when it comes to prioritizing and scheduling expenses, purchasing grocery items, and even buying from the wet market (because she also has the meal masterplan).

When we handle and manage the hard-earned money for the family, it's a no-brainer that we always choose products and services which are value-for-money but not sacrificing quality.  Personally, that's my definition of practicality.  Lahat ng ito, I saw in Super8 Funfest 2019: Bayan Ng Mga Bida, when I went there during the first day of the expo!
I've been doing groceries even before I became a mom.  I love doing groceries because it has become my me-time and it's a therapeutic activity for me.  So you could say that I am a well-versed grocery shopper.  And as a consumer myself, I can say that Super8 Grocery Warehouse is where you'll get big savings with all the bundles (like Buy1 Take1 deals) discounts and promos in their stores.
Just like last year, Super8's Funfest 2019 was a fun and eye-popping experience because of all the in-booth activities and jaw-dropping discounts of different participating brands that resellers and end-consumers or momshies like me would go crazy for!

Take a look at some of the booths I got to visit in the photos below.  Some of the awesome things I observed which were consistent with almost all the booths were the following:

• Participating companies or brands took booth set-ups to great heights.  They're not your normal square plain booths with their products on display.  There were moving mechanisms, colorful lights, light boxes, and were all distinctively noticeable.
• All the items featured were on huge discounts.  Super8 really means it when they said Discounted Na, Discounted Pa! :)
• Each booth has its own gimmicks like having its own show host managing their programs, celebrity appearances, dance contests, singing contests, variety shows, roleta, pick-a prize, sales professionals in costumes, free tastes, and many more!
• People really patiently lined up to get dibs on discounted products for sale.  It was inevitable that some of the offers became out of stock quickly!  It was a sure hit for personal or family consumption more especially for business owners.

• Attendees to Funfest 2019 don't have to worry about getting hungry for the shopping they did because there's a dining area where a number of good food stalls were located.
• It was spacious and the dining area was well-kept by maintenance personnel.

• Super8 do not only have sales in their minds but they have sincere customer service at heart.  They had designated booths for Help Desk, VIP Customer Relations, Customer Service, Rewards Cards Registration, and even for those using Debit or Credit Cards in their shopping transactions.

A Look At Super8 Great Buy
I'm not surprised that they have their own brand of goods and merchandise like how other supermarkets have.  What surprised me was the price points of the items available during that time.  I gave it a second look and a third visit (fist was for photo op, second was official tour, third for personal shopping time!) to fill my reusable bag for items on sale such as the following:

• Medium Eggs
• Raw Sugar
• Mushroom Pieces and Stems
• 2ply tissue rolls
• Cooking Palm Oil
• Distilled Water (their fast moving item)
• Macaroni/Spaghetti noodles
• Pancit Canton
• And many more!

SUPER8 NEGOSYO CARD LAUNCH
This year, the growing supermarket business has also grown its market with a healthy split of almost 50-50 resellers/business and end consumers.  This just means that more than reaching out to their main target market which are the sari-sari owners and mini-grocery owners, the emerging end-consumer - mostly tayo mga nanay, have now became a large part of the pie. 
This then was one of the reasons for the launch of their newest NEGOSYO CARD, an exciting program for their resellers that enables them to earn up to 2% Negosyo Rebates and avail exclusive reseller promos!

What's more, the Discounted Na, Discounted Pa Super8 Grocery Warehouse gave away a brand new Toyota Avanza car to one lucky bidang shopper!  They also showcased thrilling performances by the HEROES and HEROINES of Philippine Entertainment: the BIDAs like Jericho Rosales, Vhong Navarro and more. Indeed, led by the high-flying, resourceful and wise SUPER 8 BIDA herself, all the Bidas in the Suoer 8 Universe shopped and were entertained.
I was one of the selected guests to get a chance to interview Mr. Alvin Lim, CEO of Super8 and Mr. Armand Mendoza, Super8's Business Group Director to talk more about Super8's history, successes, what sets it apart from the competition, and where they intend to be a few years from now.

He shared that when they put their customers first, there will be returns inevitably.  When a company makes their customers happy, like in any relationship, they will stay loyal.  That's why Super8 keeps on expanding to serve more customers and spread their genuine customer service to both resellers and business owners.

A lot of these business successes stemmed from his experience as a young Alvin who grew up surrounded by their family grocery business (Suy Sing Corporation), took his vast experience in grocery distribution and trade, and bringing all these to Super8 and become the Philippines' leading supermarket and grocery operator.

He said,

“A local retailer, Uniwide, became insolvent and I rented out seven stores from them. That is how simply and quickly Super8 began. At the time there were not that many retailers around, but there was plenty of demand. Because I began by renting and only supplying the staff and goods, we broke even after 6 months.”

“From day one, we kept investing in the future,” he says. “I have never taken anything out of the company. This challenge was never about maximizing profits but more about doing the right thing from the onset and investing in our team and our infrastructure.”

He also shared that what makes Super8 reach its status today is because of these three Cs he inherited from his family- Character (keeping a good name and reputation), Culture (being fair and keeping a corporate discipline in the company), and Competence (employing highly competent people).

When we asked about what to expect from Super8 in the future:

• Faster and more direct delivery options through the help of a number of couriers to make it happen.
• Warehouse-to-customer business model
• Expect more automation in grocery services
• May possibly have a mobile app
• Yearly Funfest Trade Events
• More stores