Travel with M&Ms

Who doesn't love the chocolate that melts in your mouth? It used to come in just two varieties: Plain Milk Chocolate and Peanut. Now, M&Ms chocolates come in Crispy and Orange. And in some countries, in my favorite Dark Chocolate. M&Ms would like to go with you on you travels with premium items which you can redeem by buying and eating your favorite M&Ms and collecting the packages for redemption. Everytime you buy an M&Ms (listed on the poster above), you earn a number of points. The more M&Ms you enjoy, the more points you earn. You get to enjoy chocolate and you get better rewards. Can life be sweeter? For 7 points, you get a cute M&Ms Luggage Tag. It's cute and unique, a good way to spot your bag on airport carousel. I want the green one with the pink luggage. Quirky. By collecting 40 points, you get a Sling cum Messenger Bag which is convenient to carry and can fit all your travel essentials. I'm eye-ing the blue one. To keep you warm during land, air, or sea travel, collect 80 points to redeem an M&Ms Foldable Blanket. When it's folded it looks like your favorite M&M.…

Ria Jose at Lake Sebu

MFAT: Soccsksargen Summer Safari Day 2

This is a very late post. I know. I'm sorry. :P But better late than never, right? May 30 was Day 2 of the first ever Mindanao Food Appreciation Tour: Soccsksargen Summer Safari. The day began early for the participants as we woke up from our comfy beds at the Ice Castle Experience. Our gracious hosts Avel and Orman Manansala together with Donna Congson fetched us very early. Why? To have our breakfast at Dolores Farm Resort en route to Lake Sebu. Most of us lacked sleep, but nobody complained after seeing the very beautiful Dolores Farm Resort and the yummy breakfast they have prepared. Aside from the bangus, sinangag, and itlog combo meal, they served deep fried tilapia and hot native chocolate. I love Tilapia. Bow. And I was overly (AS IN OA!) excited to see the very pretty deep fried tilapia. And the hot native chocolate was a the perfect drink to complement the meal. Aside from breakfast, we toured the Dolores Farm Zoo. It freaked me out by most of the participants enjoyed it. Sorry na, I'm not an animal lover. Our next stop? The Seven Falls of Lake Sebu. It was breath-taking. Literally and figuratively. We…

Ateneo Human Knights Film Festival

I was invited to the press screening of the Ateneo de Davao Human Knights Film Festival. The Human Knights Film Fest is the public screening, competition, and awarding of the film projects of the Communications majors under AdDU Faculty member Ronald Gary Bengil Bautista. Gary Bautista is himself a multi-awarded indie filmmaker, having won numerous awards in the 5th Mindanao Film Festival for his film Sandugo. Bautista taught and mentored his students for a semester and the Human Knights Film Festival is the culmination of their class for the second semester of SY 2009 - 2010. First up was dramedy Tick Tock by JP Curay. Tick Tock is a Bisaya film by Cinesthesia Films, produced by Abby Araullo. It stars Jessa Mabasag as a girl with only 24 hours to live. The catch? She is young and a virgin. LOLS! The film is funny and a bit sexy peppered by of course, some drama. The second film was more serious and darker, Hatsu Tamo, a Japanese language film by Jap-Fil Hashiko Nagasaki. It is an emotional suspense movie. My favorite among the four films was Thy Will Be Done by Kristian Somera. It is produced by Carmelle Jumawan and stars…

Davao Noontime Toastmasters

Davao Noontime Toastmaters

My friend, Brendel, recently asked me if there is any humility left in me. And I told her, I admit to not knowing things when I do not know anything and I rarely do things I am not good at. The very next day, I attended a meeting of the Davao Noontime Toastmasters Club. I though I was a good public speaker. I though wrong. Attending the meeting was a very humbling experience. I was scared out of my wits and stammered and stuttered the entire time. FAIL! For about two months, my uncle, Rene Lizada has been inviting me to join their Toastmasters meeting. But due to different events, illnesses, and other reasons, I was only able to attend last Friday. According to their site, Toastmasters is "a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of meeting locations." Toastmasters clubs hold regular meetings in which the members are all tasked to speak in one way or another. There is a Toastmaster of the Day, Formal Speakers, a Table Topics Session, a Light Interlude, and Evaluation. When I attended last Friday, the featured Noonie (Noontime Toastmaster) was Advanced Toastmaster Rene Lizada. He's an…

So, You’re Not a Professional Eh?

I have often been asked why I consider myself as a professional blogger. They think I've become a millionaire from my blogs. Errr... SO NOT TRUE! My earnings are just enough to keep my blogs running. So why do I call myself a professional blogger? I consider myself a professional blogger because of the discipline, level of dedication and commitment I have for blogging. And yes, because I oblige myself to blog well and properly. I believe you do not become a professional blogger by virtue of the amount of money you earn from blogging. Professionalism is in the way you conduct yourself and the amount of work you put into whatever it is you are doing. There is nothing wrong with not being a professional blogger. If you don't want to be or to be known as a "professional blogger," then by all means do as you please, blog as you want. A blog is what you make of it. That's the beauty of blogging. You are free to express yourself, blog about whatever you want to blog. And yes, even blog as recklessly as you want. And you probably won't get punished for it. I don't have any…

Ria in Cebu

I’m Attending the Cebu Blog Camp 2010

I was in Cebu months ago but I was mostly confined to the hotel. Hence, the boring photo of me in the business attire. But I'm going back there next weekend and I am very, very, very much excited. Aside from the promise of good food and great company, I will be attending the Cebu Blog Camp 2010. The theme of the event is "Blogging, Expressions, and Opportunities." And not just that, I will be a speaker, too. My good friend, Winston Almendras is one of the organizers of the event and he has invited me to be part of the program. I will be talking about "Blogging in the Community, for the Community" with emphasis on the "essence of utilizing blogging for community building." Interesting. I will be speaking in behalf of and based on my experiences and insights with Davao Bloggers, Avatar Media, and as a Diyosa Blogger. LOL with me people! I expect to have a nerve-wracking but insightful good time as a speaker. I hope to impart my insights and gain inputs from the participants as well. Other speakers of the events are Mica Rodriguez, Aileen Apolo - de Jesus, Evanjohnn Mendoza, Janette Toral, Juned Sunido,…