Everything is being digital so the need to learn skills such as navigating things on the cloud has become a must. This is why programs such as AWS' Siklab Pilipinas matters.

For the second consecutive year, Amazon Web Services (AWS), an Amazon.com company, is hosting AWS Siklab Pilipinas 2019, a large-scale cloud technology training event for higher education institutions.  Responding to demand, this year’s event is expanding from Manila to other major cities including Cebu, Davao, and other parts of Luzon, to reach more graduating students and educators.  The week-long training events will be conducted monthly from May to December 2019 in cities across the country, with the first session commencing on May 20 in Manila.


According to World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2018, 72 percent of the companies in the Philippines are expected to adopt cloud computing technology across a wide range of industries, and 84 percent of the companies surveyed are likely to hire new permanent staff with skills relevant to new technologies.   In January 2019, IDC Philippines report stated that at least 30% of local organizations will be digitally determined by 2020.  

Edukasyon.ph, an AWS Customer and a social enterprise that connects students to education opportunities through an online platform, is a co-organizer of this event.  Henry Motte-Muñoz, CEO and Founder of Edukasyon.ph, said “In the Philippines, we face a significant challenge of ensuring students are equipped with the right technical skills that will lead to successful employment.  We are fortunate to work with a global technology leader like AWS that understands the needs of industry, and provides the resources to help elevate our future workforce.”



AWS Siklab Pilipinas 2019 will provide more technical learning sessions, with practical advice from AWS customers and members of the AWS Partner Network (APN), as part of the intensive training curriculum.  Participants will complete learning pathways on AWS Educate program such as Cloud Computing 101 and Solutions Architect, as well as AWS Security, as part of the Cloud Practitioner Essentials workshop.  Students will also undergo specialized training in learning how to deploy applications on AWS, one of the important skills that is highly demanded by large enterprises and unicorn start-ups around the world.  Additionally, students will have the opportunity to immediately apply their new cloud technology skills by participating in AWS GameDay – a half-day gamified hackathon competition for participants to solve a set of challenges related to real life scenarios.

On the last day of the event, participants who completed the training will be invited to the job fair, where AWS customers and members of the AWS Partner Network (APN) such as Globe, Cebu Pacific, Stratpoint, and Aboitiz, will meet with participants to discuss employment and internship opportunities.

The global AWS programs that support the AWS Siklab Pilipinas 2019 event include:

AWS Educate, a global program that provides a robust set of learning content, resources and AWS Promotional Credits for students and educators to acquire cloud computing skills.  Currently, over 2,400 education institutions and hundreds of thousands of students across the world have enrolled in the program.

AWS Training & Certification provides trainers for the instructor-led training to prepare the students for AWS Certification, which students can undertake at their own pace after the event.

The AWS Siklab Pilipinas events in Cebu, Davao and parts of Luzon will be rolled out in the coming months.  To find out more, please refer to this link. 

Everything is being digital so the need to learn skills such as navigating things on the cloud has become a must. This is why programs such ...

We had lunch here today. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Xtremely Xpresso co-owns the place. I had high hopes for the place because I loved Xtremely Xpresso.


I love the interiors of the place. It's blue and white, really cool to the eyes.


The Nachos are big, super cheesy, and filled with ground beef. For cheese lovers, these nachos would be heaven.


The Big Ben pizza though was a disappointment for me. I guess I had too high of an expectation because Xtremely Xpresso's pizza was so good so I though it would be the same. IT WASN'T.


The clam chowder is definitely the best bang for buck soup. It was creamy, filled with a lot of ingredients, and big. For Php140, this one serves 2-3 people.


The lamb chop was okay. It wasn't the best lamb chop and for the price of almost 400, I felt that this could have been cooked better. It felt lacking in taste for me. 


The steak on the other hand was a totally different thing. It looked burnt but when I cut the meat, it was surprisingly soft. It was cooked perfectly and the mashed potato was also really great. This one, though a bit pricier than the others, is definitely worth every peso.


The ribs which is their best seller was also very soft. I get why this is the one thing that everyone orders. It costs only Php220 but the taste is definitely worth more. 


I also got to try the Peppermint Mocha which was really good. I finished the entire cup, that kind of good.

Would I recommend this place? I'd say yes but make sure to not order the pizza so you won't be disappointed. 

Ben's Kitchen is located inside Harbor Point Mall, Subic.

We had lunch here today. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Xtremely Xpresso co-owns the place. I had high hopes for the place b...

It seems that The Alley is ready to conquer Manila. Less than a month after opening inside SM Mall of Asia, The Alley has opened another branch and this time it's located at Coral Way corner Diosdado Macapagal, Pasay City.

This branch though is more of a cafe rather than just a milk tea place. It has really pretty interiors and you can stay for hours (just make sure to order more than 1 milk tea if you plan to) because the seats are really comfortable.



You can also have your photo taken with the iconic logo.



Now, let's talk about the milk tea. M and I tried the Brown Sugar Deerioca Milk Tea and the Brown Sugar Deerioca Fresh Milk. We liked both and the sugar sweetness was right for us. M had the Fresh Milk version though because that one didn't have any sugar on it.

I have to make a special mention about the pearls though. WINNER! The pearls were tasty and chewy. If I could order one with two extra set of pearls, I would!


M and I will definitely go back here soon.

It seems that The Alley is ready to conquer Manila. Less than a month after opening inside SM Mall of Asia, The Alley has opened another bra...

Martell Cognac comes from the oldest of the great cognac houses. It is one of the most respected and a true unique cognac for connoisseurs. The Martell Chanteloup allows anyone who drinks it to open up new perspectives of wisdom from the house of Martell.


The Martell Chanteloup Perspective is an invitation into the secret of the Chanteloup estate, the historic home of the Martell family. It is a magnificent tribute to a site steeped in history. Martell Chanteloup Perspective is produced by assembling the four main growth areas, or 'crus', of the Cognac region: Grande and Petite Champagne, Fins Bois, and above all, Borderies.

Here are the 3 main characteristics of the Martell Chanteloup

Aspect
A beautiful amber colour flecked with shimmering glints of light.

Nose
Generous notes of honey and fresh fruit: Vineyard peach and apricot.
Aromas of candied fruit: Fig.
Notes of dried fruit: Raisins, almonds and walnuts.

Mouthfeel
A rare and particularly fruity sensorial experience. Ampleness and balance combine with force and elegance, with a lovely lingering finish.


Martell Chanteloup is an ULTRA PRESTIGE cognac and has limited stocks in the Philippines. Retail price is at Php22000 per bottle. Recommended way of drinking this is neat or on the rocks.

Martell Cognac comes from the oldest of the great cognac houses. It is one of the most respected and a true unique cognac for connoisseurs. ...

There's a new fried chicken player in the house and this one is more crunchy and affordable than most. It comes with 4 new flavors too!


Before you say anything about the fried chicken, let me tell you that even after 2 microwave reheats, the chicken was still crunchy. Seriously.

It's also tasty. It's not the best fried chicken in the world but it can definitely give some famous fast food fried chicken a run for their money.


Kick things up as notch and make it Hot and Spicy or get indulgent with Creamy Cheese for only P10. My personal fave is the creamy cheese and then the soy garlic.

Don’t wait any longer! Their new Flavorites are available at selected stores nationwide so go and head over to your nearest 7-Eleven to satisfy your fried chicken craving!

Watch our video below to see how to properly use the new Flavorites.

There's a new fried chicken player in the house and this one is more crunchy and affordable than most. It comes with 4 new flavors too! ...

If someone had told me that there was a place along Alabang Zapote road that sells crab dishes for less than 1000 and it tasted good, I wouldn't believe them.

Luckily, I was able to actually try out this place called Southside Grill.


The buttered chicken is just right. It's not the best buttered chicken but it definitely hits the Top 10.


The street food platter is presented really well and it tastes clean. I don't know about you guys but I'm really picky when it comes to choosing my street food. I'm glad that they have this option available for those who want to eat street food but are iffy if it literally comes from the streets.


The salmon was fresh and good.


The sisig was okay but not as good as I hoped it would be. I felt like it lacked something but that's just me. 


Now off to the best part, the seafood.

They offer unlimited crab for less than Php800 on Fridays and Saturday but this is just steamed crab. They also have ala carte which is my favorite.

The Chili Crab is really good but it was the one they called HEART ATTACK that stole my palette. Dang but this is delicious crab.

The shrimp was my favorite simply because it was fat and fresh. It was really juicy and I could definitely have eaten at least 20 pieces of it.

 The place may not be as fancy as what some people are used to but if you just wanna chill, enjoy great seafood with a live band, and not break the bank, Southside Grill is the place for you. To know more about this place and see a very candid and cute interview with the chef, watch the clip below.

If someone had told me that there was a place along Alabang Zapote road that sells crab dishes for less than 1000 and it tasted good, I w...

Last Friday night found me lounging in purple chairs inside Get Polished located along Aguirre Avenue, BF Paranaque.


Bandi was treating us to some pampering and a manicure was exactly what I needed. They were launching their newest line and it looked really colorful.

Bandi is committed to the environment with a safe eco-friendly formula and vivid color offering. The BANDI color line is high gloss, long-lasting, and quick dry. The formula is toulene/DBP free and is not tested on animals. Safe for use even for pregnant or expecting mothers. 


The colors that got my attention was N5, N7, and N3. The one I truly wanted to try though was the millennium pink one though. However, I promised myself that I would don on the one that would be requested so I ended up with N5 because that's what the model wore.


It's a match right?


For the full review, make sure to watch the video below.

Last Friday night found me lounging in purple chairs inside Get Polished located along Aguirre Avenue, BF Paranaque. Bandi was treat...

A new restaurant popped up inside our village and it got my attention. Affordable Gourmet sounds like an oxymoron since gourmet normally means expensive. I was curious if they lived up to their name, that being affordable and if the dishes are actually gourmet.


I like the exterior of the place. It has a good branding. A lot of restaurants that are new forget to brand their place which is really a big mistake.



The inside is very cozy and gives a high end vibe. I loved that even though it' a 24 seater area, it didn't feel too cramped.


We had the mozarella croquette and I have to say that the melted cheese inside paired with the crunchiness of the fried part and then dipped on parmesan cheese and salsa was just right.


The Genovese or pesto pasta was REALLY creamy and cooked just right. It was so good that we actually took home another order for B and he finished it in 5 minutes flat.


The herb roasted chicken was perfect for me but may have too much herb for some people. I like the thyme and the rosemary bit and the smell is really, really fragrant.


The smoked ribs for me had too much sauce. I think it would be better if they put the sauce on the side for people like me who may not fancy sauce that much. For M, he loved it.


VERDICT: I'd recommend this place. It's not that cheap but it's definitely not out of this world expensive. The price is just right and the serving is good enough for two people who have average appetite.

The service was also really impressive. The staff, pretty knowledgeable about the menu.

Affordable Gourmet is located along Capitoline Hills inside BFRV, Las Pinas.

No Facebook Page yet for this one though.

A new restaurant popped up inside our village and it got my attention. Affordable Gourmet sounds like an oxymoron since gourmet normally mea...

So it seems that McDonald's is joining the bandwagon and has come out with their own version of milk tea.

They have the classic and the wintermelon version. This is the good part.


I got the small one in wintermelon because that has always been my baseline for milk tea.


Verdict: Blehhhh.

It feels like cheap milk tea. I don't like it. I don't see myself ordering it again. 

So it seems that McDonald's is joining the bandwagon and has come out with their own version of milk tea. They have the classic and th...

If you are like me, you have definitely wondered how Koreans are able to achieve their tuktuk skin. You know what I'm talking about.

Korean's have this glass like look on their faces that makes you wonder how they seem poreless and smooth while glowing at the same time. Everyone wants that. I mean, who wouldn't?

The funny thing is, the technology to achieve this has been in our backyard for quite some time now but our Korean friends have been keeping it a secret which is quite understandable. After all, once word is out, people will end up flocking to the skin care clinic and they might lose their slot.

Finally though, the secret is out and O2 Skin Lab has opened a new spot in BGC.


I love the color motiff because it is so relaxing. It reminds you of the beach and for most people, the beach is a very relaxing place.


I also like that they have their own set of cleansing materials and for those that they don't have under their branding, they use Korean skin care brands. It adds to the authenticity.



They also offer a room for friends which is perfect for a spa party.


A solo room if you feel that you just want to have some much needed me time.


Even a couples area if you want to pamper with your significant other.


O2 offers a wide array of services geared towards building a consistent and tailored beauty practice. Their services include facial care packages, minimally-invasive procedures, contouring services, and laser treatments, all of which aim to elevate the Filipino beauty experience and give access to those who want the true Korean beauty philosophy within their practice.

“Koreans have a saying ‘A beautiful rice cake is a delicious rice cake,’ which means that a visually appealing aesthetic entails work that not only polishes the surface, but also ensures that it has been nurtured from within,” notes co-founder and CEO of O2 Skin Lab Phillip Cho.

“Everyone in Korea has a beauty regimen because we believe in investing in self-care so we can present our best face forward in our every interaction. It shows we respect that person because we want to present our best to them,” he adds

The new space located in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, reflects the same experience it aims to offer its clients: clean, refreshing, subdued yet elegant. It also reflects the qualities of an inssa, a Korean term that means “insider” who knows the coveted secrets of Korean beauty.

With O2 Skin Lab, clients can expect to become inssas—or beauty insiders—when it comes to the best, authentic Korean treatments to give them the best beauty experience.

O2 Skin Lab’s new space is located at Unit 1218, High Street South Corporate Plaza Tower 1, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

If you are like me, you have definitely wondered how Koreans are able to achieve their tuktuk skin. You know what I'm talking about. K...