I've always been hooked by Watsons' tagline: "Look Good, Feel Great!"  But behind this famous line is DO GOOD, which they've been doing for quite some time now as part of its Sustainability Program. Recently. Watsons Philippines has entered a collaboration with Plastic Bank to help reduce plastic pollution and alleviate poverty by creating livelihood.

During the Watsons media event I attended, my eyes were opened more to the pressing environmental issues around the globe and having learned that Philippines is sadly one of the top 3 contributors of plastic waste in the ocean, my heart broke to pieces.

Personally, I've been doing what I can to help mother earth heal by bringing my own bag when shopping, by doing the 3 Rs (recycling, repurposing, reducing), and segregating garbage to name a few.  If many would do the same, we would live in a healthier world right?  Thanks to Watsons, their programs indeed would help the environment especially the ocean.  Here are some more ideas:

Sustainability has always been part of the Watsons DNA. Recognizing that the ocean stores a quarter of CO2 from the atmosphere and up to 93.4% of heat caused by the greenhouse effect, Watsons is committed to reducing the overall impact of its own brand plastic packaging so that it may contribute to ocean protection.

The A.S. Watsons Group has banned the use of microplastics in its own brand of rinse-off cosmetics or personal care products since 2014. By the end of 2019, this ban has been extended to all brands so no rinse-off cosmetics or personal care products from any brand are sold at any Watsons stores.

Watsons Philippines offers its customers four Sustainable Choices: Clean Beauty (mindfully created products without “unwanted” ingredients), Refill and Reduce (refilling bottles and reusing containers), Better Ingredients and Better Packaging.

Through its Impact Program Collaboration with Plastic Bank, the health, wellness, and beauty retailer will continue to Do Good for the Oceans by committing to the prevention of 50,000 kg of plastic bottles from entering the world’s oceans - the equivalent of 2.5 million bottles over the first 12 months.  

"At the heart of Look Good, Feel Great is Do Good. Watsons has always been at the forefront of sustainability and this collaboration with Plastic Bank only further reinforces our commitment to helping make this world a better place,” said Viki Encarnacion, Watsons PR and Sustainability Director.

“We are happy to team up with Watsons Philippines - a company that shares our vision on creating a regenerative economy. This collaboration showcases our unified goal of stopping ocean plastic while creating more opportunities for people living in vulnerable coastal communities,” said David Katz, Founder, and CEO of Plastic Bank.

More and more brands are helping each other to make the world a better place. Thanks to Watsons for all their sustainability projects that contribute greatly to saving our planet, by doing good for the ocean! Here's how we could also do our parts through Watsons:

I've been a constant Shopee shopper to be honest, that even my youngest only knows Shopee as my go to online shopping site. From home improvement items, plantita haven, mom & baby stuff, to beauty items, you can find it on Shopee!

Now let me tell you about Shopee Beauty! Oh my, it's like a section in an actual shopping mall where I could spend the whole day looking products to help me achieve my beauty goals. From hair care to makeup, Shopee Beauty has all your makeup and skincare needs! Enjoy the most exclusive deals up to 90% off, new launches, and exciting offers fit from various brands for every makeup & skincare haul--only from Shopee Beauty!

AVEENO® partners with leading health professionals and scientists in the discovery of ACTIVE NATURALS® ingredients. Derived from nature, uniquely formulated, and scientifically proven to soothe compromised skin, these exclusive formulas are trusted and recommended by professionals as effective wellness solutions.

I'm so excited for Christmas and I just can't hide it!  Best of all, Shopee is also excited with me at it starts the holiday countdown with special bundle deals and irresistible discounts from top brands including Kleenfant! 

Kleenfant is my newest discovery of baby products particularly WIPES!   It is a brand that aims to provide quality consumable baby products that are affordable yet the safest it could be not just babies and toddlers, but also for adults.  I confess to using wipes a lot for many purposes: to remove make-up, clean surfaces, and help me sanitize many things.  

When I discovered Kleenfant and how it's so safe, it's strong, and very versatile, I knew I've found a new favorite brand of wipes!

Kleenfant's Wipes Variants:

Baby Wipes (Baby Scent/Unscented)

Kleenfant uses safe ingredients for your little one. Switch to Kleenfant Baby Wipes, the safest Wipes and 100% Made for Babies. Moist, Soft, Stretchable, Bigger, and Thicker! Our babies' skin is sensitive and I've also experienced irritations due to other wipes which weren't safe.  Kleenfant Baby Wipes will give any mom some peace of mind knowing that:

• It has No Harmful Chemicals
• No Paraben
• No Phenoxyethanol & Citric Acid
• Clinically Tested and Approved
• Enriched with Aloe Vera, Vitamin E & Fruit Extract
• Made with 99% Water
• It's Hypoallergenic

Purchase on Shopee here:

Anti-bacterial Wipes

I'm so happy too that as a meticulous mom who wants to put her family's health and safety first, Kleenfant has an Antibacterial Wipes.  It is the best partner for moms to ensure our beloved babies are always safe and clean. Antibac Wipes kills 99.9% of germs. Can be used in any surfaces, hands, travelling, office and many more. Not Advisable to be used on Babies' bum area.

• Kleenfant Antibacterial Disinfecting Wipes 95 Sheets

Icy Cool Menthol Cleansing Wipes

Like what I mentioned earlier, I use wipes to clean my face and I'm glad Kleenfant Menthol Fresh Icy Cool Cleansing Wipes can provide instant freshness with power cooling effect on skin. Revitalizes and cleanses skin during humid days and other activities such as sports which helps to give the skin the sensation of cooling. Formulated to be 100% safe on skin. Effective for make up removal. Not Advisable to be used on Babies' bum area.

Purchase from Shopee here: 

• Kleenfant Menthol Fresh Icy Cool Cleansing Wipes 95 Sheets
• Kleenfant Menthol Fresh Icy Cool Cleansing Wipes 21 Sheets

Cherry Blossom Cleansing Wipes

Cherry Blossom extract provides antioxidants and promotes moisture on skin. These Cleansing Wipes gently and conveniently removes dirt while maintaining skin's natural moisture and give your skin feeling clean and fresh without causing irritation. Alcohol free and no harmful ingredients. Effective for make up removal. It cleanses, it's enriched with Aloe Vera, Vitamin E and it is also antibacterial.Not Advisable to be used on Babies' bum area.

Purchase from Shopee here:

• Kleenfant Cherry Blossom Scent Cleansing Wipes 95 Sheets
• Kleenfant Cherry Blossom Scent Cleansing Wipes 21 Sheets

Shopee's Christmas in our Carts

Look out for these Kleenfant must-haves  at 40% off and discounts from your favorite brands and shops at 90% off at Christmas in our Carts running from September 16 to December 25. This could really be a perfect  and practical gift to almost everyone in the family.  

What are you waiting for?  Go to Shopee and add to cart these Safest, Gentlest, and Value-For-Money Kleenfant Wipes!  Wishing your carts a Merry Christmas! 

Everything is now is accessible with the tip of our fingers.  Online shopping, online groceries, food deliveries, booking of deliveries, paying bills, and so much more.  In fact, even the way people work and kids go to school have changed a lot since the start of the pandemic.  This worries me as a mom because this also means, my kids spend more time online than before.  Being online, out there in the vast world wide web may result to unforeseen and unexpected situations which may pose dangers to them. 

While the internet is a wonderful place for information, entertainment, and social networking for kids and adults alike, it may also be a source of fake news, explicit content, and cyber bullying, making it a not a very safe space, even for adults. 

The web is an even more dangerous place for children in low-income countries like the Philippines where access to low-cost internet and mobile devices is widespread and parental control and adult supervision is lax due to various socio-economic factors.

In fact, the country is considered one of the world’s top hot spots for online child sexual exploitation among 10-14 year-olds. 

This is the situation that has prompted Terre de Hommes-Netherlands, an international non-governmental organization advocating and working for the prevention of child exploitation in 17 countries including the Philippines, to develop a revolutionary new digital app that’s totally safe and secure for young users including children.

Called Voice for Change, the app was co-created with victims of child sexual exploitation and those vulnerable to abuse together with children advocates. Research and development took over one year, from March 2020 to June 2021, to ensure that the platform is truly responsive to the needs of children for support and assistance as well as to carry out the advocacy against sexual exploitation.

The main difference is in the app’s strict security and privacy provisions. Sign up requires approval by the Voice for Change administration and goes through a screening process. 

Logging in requires a mobile number and a one-time password sent via SMS. To provide further protection, no personally identifiable information including photos is shared among users. 

In VFC, users can find relevant and verified information about different issues relevant to children advocacies. They can also genuinely voice opinions and engage in healthy discussions without fear of toxic perspectives and language. 

It is a truly safe space that comes with a directory of organizations and agencies that users can contact to report concerns and even actual cases of child exploitation and abuse.

Here’s a closer look at the Voice for Change features.

Share your thoughts

Got a high grade in school or achieved a personal goal? Freely share your thoughts in a private and secure way.

Engage in discussions

Start a conversation with like-minded people about concerns relevant to protection of children and similar issues. Or chime in on other topics that interest you.

Get Help

Feeling down, need guidance or just want to talk to someone? Reach out to individuals and organizations that can offer professional help.

Verified information

No one wants to read or share fake news. Get only verified information on relevant topics.

Report an Incident

Have you or someone you know experienced child abuse and similar issues? Report the incident safely.

Secure and Private

Sign up requests go through a screening process. Log in with a mobile number and a one-time password will be sent to you by SMS. No personally identifiable information is shared

The Voice for Change app may be downloaded in the Google Play store HERE while iPhone and Google Chrome users can use the web-based app instead, click HERE.

More information about Voice for Change can be viewed at www.wearevoiceforchange.org.

While I love to clean around the house as my expression of love for my family, I have difficulty in finding time to do it.  With multiple innovative home appliances available that promise to make chores easier, more convenient, and even faster, the never-ending choices can also be a source of stress.  Stress is the last thing I want to feel to be honest.  So I rely on recommendation of friends and reviews online to help me find a solution to my mom challenges.  One of the most recommended to me is to get a Deerma DX700 or Deerma DX700S Ultra Quiet Vacuum Cleaner.

I took a look at Deerma DX700 and was impressed to know that it's a 2-in-1 Vertical Hand-held Vacuum Cleaner! This type of vacuum is designed for cleaning the house more efficiently. Multi-angle engineering handle makes it possible to clean the entire house.

• 2-in-1 use: hand-held and vertical
• With ergonomic handle, comfortable for holding and operating.
• Hand washing filter cotton - Durable and useful, can be repeatedly cleaned.
• Large capacity dust box - Can meet the needs of super-large area cleaning, convenient for daily use.
• Suitable for cleaning on hardwood, carpet, tile floors, car, bed and so on.
• It's affordable!

Even if we stay home most of the time, we shouldn't be neglecting ourselves. Let's start with the largest organ of our body, our skin. I'm sure like me you're always on the lookout for skincare brands and products that truly work for your skin condition or needs, right?

Our skin is a serious business because it's the first thing most people see in another person. Having a good skin leaves a good impression about you. This is why, when we search for skincare products, we rely on reviews, on products people trust, and most especially, we check if it's backed by science. Otherwise, we may do more harm than good to ourselves.

Here are some of the skincare products that will be available on Shopee's Super Beauty Day!

Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Foaming Cleanser- they have a new look and improved formula as well! It removes 99% impurities, retains 99% skin moisture (according to clinical tests). With regular use it can result to clearer and smoother skin with regular use. It has amino micellar technology, deeply and gently cleanses, without disrupting skin barrier. It comes in 5 different variants with skin-loving active ingredients to best achieve your #skingoals.

Aveeno Skin Relief Lotion - I am an Aveeno Skin Relief Lotion user for years and I can attest to the effectiveness of this product in soothing my irritated skin due to itch. It significantly decreases itching in 2 minues. One will see significant improvement in the 4 symptoms of sensitive skin dryness (dryness, itchiness, scaling and roughness) after 2 weeks. It contains colloidal oatmeal and shea butter extract both proven to effectively moisturize dry skin. If you have very dry and itchy or sensitive skin, this is for you.

Johnson's Bath Milk+Rice - With 100% more milk proteins that nourish plus rice extracts that protect (vs previous formulation and with regular use). It's now creamier compared to previous formulation. It's so gentle yet it washes away 99.9% of germs (tested on e.coli). It's definitely backed by science as it's triple-tested by pediatrician, dermatologist, ophthalmologist. Power up protection against skin microdamage (characterized as dryness causing redness & irritation).

Listerine Total Care Zero 500ml - This is probably one of the most use oral care in the house because we are all conscious in making sure our mouths (one of the bacteria/virus gateways) are healthy and clean! Literine indeed helps us achieve healthier mouths with its 6-benefits-in-1 bottle: (1) Strengthens teeth and helps prevent cavities (2) Helps maintain healthy gums (3) Helps reduce plaque formation (4) Helps keep teeth naturally white by preventing tartar build-up (5) Kills 99.9% of germs that cause bad breath, plaque, and gum problems (6) Freshens breath I lovw that it's zero alcohol for that less intense taste, so that many could enjoy cleaning their mouths. It gives up to 24-hour complete mouth defense against germs that cause bad breath, plaque, and gingivities with twice daily use. Did you know that brushing reaches 25% of your mouth, Listerine cleans nearly 100%. So make sure that after every brush, you also gargle with Listerine.

Here's what to note:

• Over 160 government agencies are participating in the Virtual Career Fair, offering various specializations such as Security/Armed Forces/Protective Services, Education Clerical/Administrative Support, General Work (Housekeeper, Driver, Dispatch, Messenger, etc), Healthcare (Nurse, Medical Support, Assistant), among others.
• Central Visayas​, CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) and MIMAROPA​ (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), Eastern Visayas​, Zamboanga​, and Cordillera Administrative Region are the top locations for the said government jobs.
• According to The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), around 90,000 workers were affected by the recent Enhanced Community Quarantine. They have either permanently lost their jobs or are under flexible work arrangements.​
• Based on JobStreet’s Global Talent Survey, many jobseekers are now prioritizing job security over financial compensation due to the unpredictability of the COVID-19 crisis. Furthermore, the government sector is one of the top employers in JobStreet, hence viewed as a more secure career option by Filipino workers at this time.

With this, JobStreet and CSC offer employment opportunities in the public sector by bringing jobseekers and hiring government agencies together in the virtual career fair.

The joint initiative is also in commemoration of the CSC’s 121st Philippine Civil Service Anniversary, wherein they committed to holding an enjoyable, productive, and helpful virtual job fair this 2021.​

“It has always been JobStreet’s advocacy to provide every Filipino with jobs that matter, and it’s an honor that the Civil Service Commission trusted us again to be a part of this initiative to help candidates rebuild themselves and find an opportunity to be of service to our nation,” shared JobStreet Philippines Country Manager Philip Gioca.

Applicants during the Virtual Career Fair in partnership with CSC can explore the platform’s live chat feature and Facebook Live events, with the chance to be interviewed on-the-spot.

To register for the Virtual Career Fair, visit http://jobstreet.com.ph/vcf-9.

Talent empowerment with the right tools

On top of this event, JobStreet has also amplified its valuable support for jobseekers with its newest feature in the platform⁠—Career Tools.

Dedicated to uplift and empower candidates in their professional journey, JobStreet’s Career Tools is a convenient, one-stop-shop feature with helpful tools and information to guide jobseekers in making the right career decisions. It includes an Interview Practice Tool, Resume Templates, Cover Letter Templates, a Career Development Planner, and a Salary Calculator.

The Interview Practice Tool contains the most commonly asked interview questions with actionable tips to help candidates prepare and respond positively for their next interview. Candidates can also utilize the downloadable Resume and Cover Letter Templates as a starting point to their online job hunting. The Career Tool also offers a Career Development Planner to help guide jobseekers towards their next step and a Salary Calculator for a quick way to find out their estimated take-home pay.

For easy access, Jobstreet created a landing page meant as a one stop destination for retrieving all career tools.

“We’re very excited to introduce the Career Tool to our candidates and be of great help with their online job hunting. JobStreet is doing its best to support jobseekers more than ever and we hope that through this simple initiative, we can make their career journey a little bit more manageable and productive,” said JobStreet Senior Sales Manager Mr. Ryan Tordesillas.

Check out the Career Tools via https://bit.ly/JobStreetCareerTools.

 “BTS is here once again!”

Not your favorite KPop group though, just our annual Back-To-School routine.

Since the saga of online and remote classes continues, so is the search for items and devices that will help you pass your classes with flying colors. So, get your shopping list ready because the country’s leading provider of in-store financing and digital financial services Home Credit will be your shopping partner for your back-to-school essentials. 

The tech-savvy
For students who are always on the lookout for the latest gadgets to use for their online classes, these promos will let you get them with discounts and freebies from brands like Samsung, Asus, Oppo, RealMe, Vivo and Huawei.

A smartphone, laptop or tablet is probably at the top of the list to get by with remote learning. By visiting and shopping at My Home Credit App’s Marketplace, you can have them for as low as P1,200/month. 

C Cellzone also has enticing offers for you. For every purchase of a smartphone, accessories like Bluetooth speakers, smart watches or wireless neckbands are bundled for free. And the super affordable monthly installment of at least P800 will surely make you want to avail without thinking twice.

The accessory-loving
The right mobile accessories will truly improve any study-from-home experience. Invest on the best ones by shopping at Rulls and score exclusive discounts from leading brands when you avail through Home Credit.

Choose the perfect pair for your mobile device from a wide variety of accessories like protective cases and covers, stands and holders, hubs and ports and so much more.

The DIY enthusiast
Are you a DIY type of person?  Then create a DIY online class space - find the right spot then fill it in with a table, lampshade, clock and some decorations or tools from home improvement and hardware store, Handyman. If the combined purchase is P3000 or more using a Home Credit loan, an umbrella is yours for free (which is another must-have this rainy season!)

The setup-obsessed

If you have enough budget and want to complete your online class setup then this promo has got you covered. You can have a Home Credit loan of up to P16,000 or more from Robinsons Appliances*. Add in some other BTS essentials – a printer, projector or speaker system so you can take on any task and achieve the ultimate online class experience.

Plus, you’ll receive either a free lunch kit or a 3-fold umbrella, whichever you choose. Robinsons Appliances has a wide selection of devices ranging from mobile phones, tablets, laptops, equipment and accessories. 

Not only were you able to purchase some online school devices, but you also have a freebie to go with it. 

Avail these exciting promos available to all Home Credit customers at any nearest partner retail store nationwide, with simple requirements and fast one-minute approval. If you want to shop at the comfort of your home, you can also check the My Home Credit App for more details. Promo runs from August 29 to September 19, 2021 so hurry and shop now!

As an additional special treat, SM Store Cubao branch is also offering discounts on furniture for online schooling.

To get the complete list of items and offers for these promos, go to www.homecredit.ph or follow them on www.facebook.com/homecreditph.

*Handyman - DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-126183 Series of 2021.

Time flies by so fast and my youngest is now 5!  I can't believe just how smarter, talkative, more creative, and more observant he has become!  It still feels as if I just gave birth to him last month.  Wow!  It's been 5 years since this boy made a huge impact in our family life.  I call him my game-changer.  

He made me breastfeed him exclusively until 4 years of age.  He made me resign from my almost 20 year corporate life.  He made me a teacher momma when we opted to indie homeschool him last year.   Oh my heart!  He's our family's bundle of joy indeed!

Here's how we decorated the house and achieved the theme!

No good party ends without gifts!  Of course, still Cocomelon toys for our cutie!  I bought the Cocomelon coloring and activity books from National Book Store.  JJ plushie that has a face bigger than my son was bought from Facebook Marketplace.  The original Cocomelon School Bus toy was also bought online.  All these were delivered same day COD.  How awesome is that right?

His birthday celebration ended with full tummies and happy hearts!   Life is worth celebrating even if present circumstances aren't ideal.  Let's always be grateful for each day and the blessing of being with our loved ones.

Happy 5th birthday our dearest Damien!  Thank you for making our family a little crazier and happier each day!