AD/HD Society of the in cooperation with:

• Los Banos Camera Club

• Canon Marketing (Philippines), Inc.

• SM Supermalls

• SM Cares

• SM Program on Disability Affairs

Invites everyone at the opening of the “ALL FOR ONE, ALL FOR FUN! EXHIBIT”  on March 14, 2012, Wednesday, 1:00 pm at the Cyberzone, SM Calamba, National  Road Calamba City Triangle, Brgy. Real Calamba City, Laguna

Photographs taken at the Photography with A Difference Workshop
and Team Building Event will be on Exhibit from March 14-20, 2012

From: Joanna Carla Meneses-Saquilayan (PR Officer of SM City Calamba)

The scholarship program is open to all graduating students of public high schools with a weighted average of at least 88 percent by the second or third grading period in their senior year and with a household income of 150,00 pesos or less per year.

Those who will come for interview should wear complete uniform and should bring the following:

a.       Photocopy of their 4^th year report card

b.      Photocopy of the BIR Income Tax Return or Certificate of Non-Filing of Income Tax

c.       Ballpen

Applicants who will pass the interview will take the examination in the afternoon of the same day.

SM Scholars may apply for the following courses:

-          BS in Computer Science

-          BS in Information Technology

-          BS in Information Management

-          BS in Electronics and Communications Engineering

-           BS in Computer Engineering

-          BS in Civil Engineering

-          BS in Electrical Engineering

-          BS in Mechanical Engineering

-          BS in Elementary Education

-          BS in Secondary Education major in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, English

-          BS in Accountancy BSC/BSBA major in Accountancy

-          BS in Pharmacy

Partner Schools for Calamba are University of Perpetual Help (Binan & Calamba), St. Michael’s College of Laguna, La Consolacion College – Binan and Laguna College of Business and Arts – Calamba.

Aside from matriculation fees, SM Foundation also provides for the scholars’ monthly allowance.

The activities of the scholars are closely monitored by the foundation providing them with year-long activities like training programs, value-formation seminars, holy retreat, Christmas parties and educational tours.

Scholars are also given summer/Christmas break jobs to enable them to earn and augment their allowances.

From: Joanna Carla Meneses-Saquilayan (PR Officer of SM City Calamba)

We felt that we have to go back and experience the same movie excitement again.  So this coming March, our family will be anticipating to watch special advanced screening of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax at IMAX Southmall. This will be open in public starting this March 16.

Synopsis of the Story:

The Lorax is a 3D musical yet a comedy and a drama film based on Dr.  Seuss’ children book. 

It is about the adventure of Ted Wiggins who lived in a walled artificial city.  To win the affection of the girl of his dreams, Audrey wished to see a real tree.   Then the adventure of journey begins.  Ted met the Lorax, a grumpy yet charming creature who shares enduring power of hope. 

Produced by Illumination Entertainment and was released by Universal Pictures who gave the successful film  “Despicable Me”.  

The release of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax has been digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX 3D Experience^® with proprietary IMAX DMR^® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. 

The crystal-clear images coupled and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are really part of the movie. 

Starring: Danny DeVito as the iconic title character of the Lorax, Ed Helms as Once-ler, Zac Efron as Ted, Taylor Swift as Audrey, Betty White as the Granny, and Rob Riggle plays financial kin O’Hare

Directed By: Ken Daurio, Cinco Paul, Chris Renaud

Website: www.theloraxmovie.com

Hope you can join us as we watch “The Lorax” experiencing IMAX 3D at SM Southmall.  

Located at: 

3^rd Level SM Southmall Alabang-Zapote Road, Las Piñas City 

For information on tickets and show times, call  telephone No: (632) 806-6782/ 806-6888

For more information, visit SM Southmall:

Website: www.IMAX SM Southmall.com

Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/smsouthmall

This is also my way in sharing my  advocacy in promoting fun, fun living adventure. But fun must have to start in our very own province, Laguna.

Cheers to more collection of explorations!

This is a pre-qualifying entry to the Intramuros Bloggers Challenge 2012 by IntramurosManila.Asia. This campaign is fully supported by the Intramuros Administration, Barbara’s Restaurant, Celdran Tours, Mabuhay Guides, Pilgrimage Pilipinas, Castillan Tours, Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation, Inc., Starbucks Philippines, Starbucks Facebook Fanpage, Payless Pancit Shanghai, Ruthilicious and Ruthilicious @ FB.

Actually, come to think of it, we were also in a tight budget. Salaries and checks will be due next week. Still, we crave for more!

What we did was to give a try a pizza house here at the subdivision – Olarte’s pizza. We ordered Olarte’s Special The taste is not bad at all. It can definitely compete with the leading pizza chain here in Calamba.

Even if the crust is so thick, the combination of the red sauce complimented the whole taste. Really gracious with the toppings – from lot of cheese, bell pepper, mushroom, salami, onion and I think bits of meats. Price is only P 185.00.

Verdict, family love it!

I am trying to look some contact information at the internet, only a facebook page. Anyway, here it is:

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Olartes-Pizza/227908550555033

I will update this post as soon I got other contact information and other pizza combinations to taste.

What I did this morning was to headed my way to the mall, SM Calamba. With me were my laptop, camera , planner and my notebook where I can still work.  When my son knew I will be going to Starbucks, he joined me and got breakfast.  We were there at Starbucks before they opened at 9am and even the mall was still closed.

To those of you who didn’t know, here is the Starbucks’ store operation hours every week:

• Sunday to Thursday – 9:00 am to 10:00 pm
• Friday and Saturday – 9:00 am to 11:00 pm

What caught me in the eye at Starbucks’ pastry bar was the Guilt Free Indulgence and for Raf, the huge Chicken Empanada.

The crew even recommended me the Guilt-Free Indulgence. It is sugar-free chocolate cake layered with three different types of chocolate mousse – white, dark and mocha. The crust below was coated with dark chocolate. Very sinful, I may say – smooth and light! Great for those people who are diabetic. Price is P 140.00.

While the Chicken Empanada, which is great when eaten heated got this puffy pastry and mixture of carrots, peas, potatoes, bell peppers and chicken strips. Quite huge as you can see but not that heavy breakfast for Raf. According to Raf, he will settle for their sandwiches like Tuna Waldorf on Raisin Walnut Bread Roasted Chicken Pesto and Shiitake Mushroom on Flat Bread which for him are really breakfast con lunch in one which he tried when we were in Alabang Town Center. Price is P 70.00.

After Raf finished his breakfast, he left me and went to school while me, still working inside and hooked up to mall’s wifi. 

Great to went here at Starbucks this early where one can see the ambiance of doing and planning silently alone.   Even I still love to do these stuffs to my home office, sometimes we need some sort of changing our work environment.  

Effective for me as I was productive for two to three hours while ideas keep on coming especially now that I am planning for greater blast for Calamba-Online like blog make-over as in new look, contests, giveaways but most especially posts with lot of meaty information…So let’s get it on for 2012!

Anyway, stay tuned for that…You will be hearing a lot for me here…

During my tavel from south to north starting from Sucat Road up to Timog area, I caught myself staring with Gretchen Barreto’s billboards around where two men were there cleaning up her face.  But when you had those second look, those men were only dummies.

An eye-catcher billboard indeed, I may say! For me, it creates curiosity. I got the chance to took pictures along Sucat Road but those were too blurred. Anyway, I have asked a friend to have another one just to take a more closer look.

I got so interested and check the net about Potion IVI.  The product is a beauty powdered drink mix that can intake and added to any of beverages like juice, millk or coffee. Potion IVI is new to the market made in Japan and promise to be more effective compare to traditional astringents, moisturizers, creams or lotions. 

Most collagen are found in our skin that said to provide strength in tissues and organs. Through aging, our collagen level drops down due to factors like stress, pollution, sun exposure or alcohol drinking. 

Once you intake IVI powder drink, collagen will restore the nourishment of the skin inside.  Eventually, this will transform the outside getting back  skin youthful glow and promise to be noticeable that would take effect in 14 days.   

The billboard ad campaign of Ivi Premium Collagen simply sending the message that the dummy men are Ivi Premium Collagen that erase face impurities like spots, freckles or blemishes and light it more. 

To know more about the product, I would like to share to you this simple presentation.

I got to check  Potion IVI at the nearest Watsons which cost P 1,595/box/14 sachets and can also purchase  per sachet for P 115.

Aside also from the 500mg of pure collagen in each sachet, the powdered mix drink is packed with vitamins and antioxidants. 

If that is the case, I am more interested to bring back those collagen provided by IVI Premium Collagen Powder Drink rejuvenating yet revitalizing skin nutrition and to be healthy at the same time.    Definitely, I like to be younger looking with my age!

For more information, check this link:

Website:  http://www.ivi.com.ph
Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/iviryo

One can leave their shoes or slippers before they go down to the dining area.  Water was flowing under the tables and bench while you were eating and going to the table and having a slippers might slip you out.

Sharing with you some food we feasted out.  We started with veggie salad with peanut sauce on the side. This was what I enjoyed most! Rice was individually wrapped in banana leaves. In between we munched out from grilled pork and fish, with ginataang vegetables and kadereta at the side. For desserts, we ate banana cue desserts and tapioca balls. Whow, we just realized we missed this kind of food!

To really feel the Filipino style of eating, they use those coconut bowl for the soup and dessert. Even the whole table set-up was traditionally sooo Filipino. Over-all I love the taste of the food.  Actually, I think we were the last family who leave the place not actually for the food but to enjoy the bakdraft of the waterfalls even it was man made.

Anyway,  we got already our swimming attire as we will be playing around the waterfalls after we ate even we already enjoyed the cold water touching our feet while eating.  Jam also got this glass with her to get fish around the water area.  The water is really that clean where fish is just around.

The exciting part, our swimming with the waterfalls! We love the refreshing water even it was cold.

Overall, our family got a blast of Filipino culture offered by Villa Escudero. For one whole day, we experience the richness and authenticity of country life that leave a marked to our heart – from carabao rides, delectable cuisine, rafting, swimming and most especially friendly people around.

After I posted our pictures to Facebook, there were lot of inquiries from relatives/friends here and abroad. It is just ok. I am use with it when I started to do this blog, I become some sort of an agent already. If the only reason is for me to promote more our beautiful places especially here in the south, I am very, very willing to assist as long that I can be of help.

Anyway, that ends my three part series. More to come for 2012!  Here are my list of links for this Villa Escudero posts:

• http://calamba-online.com/2012/01/03/family-get-away-at-villa-escudero-part-1/
• http://calamba-online.com/2012/01/03/family-get-away-at-villa-escudero-part-2/
• http://calamba-online.com/2012/01/03/family-get-away-at-villa-escudero-part-3/

For more information, visit their:

Website: http://www.villaescudero.com/
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Villa-Escudero-Plantations-and-Resort/337893889538?ref=t

After our museum and park visit, now it is time for us to go to the swimming pool and the water falls thru a carabao ride.  We were accompanied by folks singing Kundiman songs which I think my kids only hear during their Linggo ng Wika school activities.

First stop were the swimming pool and lake water rafting.  We were instructed that the lunch and the man-made water falls will be opened by 11:00 am. There were three pools available – two adult pool and a kiddie pool.  The bench and tables were already available.  Unlike with other resorts, you have to pay additional amount.

Did I say that my kids enjoyed their swimming escapade as they jumped and even got these stunts?  Actually, these were  not allowed.  They were instructed not to do it again.

I know this is a vacation. But I cannot help myself to be online. As I told you in my first post, still have work to do. I just escape actually.

Well anyway, bringing my netnote with me, beside the pool and the lake, I just found Cafe Indigo. You know me, I love coffee! Especially if you will take your coffee beside the scenery lake like this, I can resist to have one. Cost of coffee I think is P 55.00. Really huge serving in a big mug.

For me, this is some sort of breather. If they will allow me, I can go here just to have a coffee. With this kind of back draft, i will really come. Just also a reminder, my sun broad band did not work and sun signal was weak. Still, my globe and smart signal were working great!   That’s ok, now I can concentrate to our family vacation!

We were heading now to row at the lake. First, I was bit scared. Funny feeling, what if I will be drowned even they got this life vest with me?

But when hubby and kids were already in the middle of the lake rowing and enjoying, I was encourage to join them.   Hubby was very accommodating to be with us – an exercise rather than sitting nor watching us.  My family must have this kind of activity for them to enjoy the whole vacation or else it would be very boring for them.

There you have it.  Now we are reallyready for lunch as were all starving.  This is my two-part series blog post.  Next,, i will be sharing our escapade with the food and the man-made waterfalls.

Here are some related links:

• http://calamba-online.com/2012/01/03/family-get-away-at-villa-escudero-part-1/
• http://calamba-online.com/2012/01/03/family-get-away-at-villa-escudero-part-2/
• http://calamba-online.com/2012/01/03/family-get-away-at-villa-escudero-part-3/

For more information, visit their:

Website: http://www.villaescudero.com/
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Villa-Escudero-Plantations-and-Resort/337893889538?ref=ts

What we did was to still push thru with our get-away even for one whole day and very near in Laguna so that we can come back again and work. That was when we decided to go to Villa Escudero last Dec. 26, 2011.

Villa Escudero is almost one-hour drive coming from Calamba – border of San Pablo, Laguna and Tiaong Quezon. Once you see the Quezon arch, turn left immediately and you will see their sign.

You will found a huge vast scenic view of rice field and coconut plantation just transcending along the entrance going inside Villa Escudero that let us be excited on what still this resort has to offer.

During the reception, the staffs were very accommodating to assist us what we can expect during the day tour and offered us gulaman drinks. Ticket price is P 1, 250.00 for regular days and P 1,400 for weekends/holidays. These include the drink, carabao cart rides, swimming, fishing, rafting and buffet lunch at the waterfalls.

We opted to go first to the museum. The museum is painted in pink designed like a Franciscan church found in Intramuros Manila during World War 2. Taking pictures inside the museum was prohibited. These were what we seen as far as I remembered:

• huge collection of religious stuffs -  monuments, silver altars,  carrozas, embroidered dresses
• coin and bills collections from different countries
• doll collections dressed in different costumes from different countries
• antique clothes and furniture from Escudero family
• Chinese oriental ceramics

It would definitely be more great if you will personally see for yourself all those great collections which served as a treasure for the Escuderos.

Beside the museum was the house of the Escudero where the family stays until now.    Tourists were not allowed to enter but can take pictures infront of the gate.

I thought we will be going out already for a swim, but still my kids even grown-ups play around the whole park running and taking pictures.

Anyway, we were still early.  No need for us to rush up since we were the first visitors to arrive here before it opened at 8:00 am.  Still more more time to explore the hacienda.

I will be giving three-part series of posts with this get-away.  Here are the related links:

• http://calamba-online.com/2012/01/03/family-get-away-at-villa-escudero-part-1/
• http://calamba-online.com/2012/01/03/family-get-away-at-villa-escudero-part-2/
• http://calamba-online.com/2012/01/03/family-get-away-at-villa-escudero-part-3/

For more information, visit their:

Website: http://www.villaescudero.com/
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Villa-Escudero-Plantations-and-Resort/337893889538?ref=ts