A lot of people who can't get the Starbucks 2020 Planner are currently looking at the Mercury 2020 Daybook. They think that it will make for a better planner.

The question is, will it? Let's find out.


The Mercury 2020 Daybook comes in 4 colors: Gray, Purple, Orange, and Red.


This is how it is packaged.


This is how the actual Mercury 2020 Daybook looks like. The design is actually carved and gives a nice texture. All 4 colors come with the same front design.

Inside, it looks like this.




It's actually not a planner but more of an upscale notebook with lots of nice prompts to help you have a better 2020. It reminds you of how to be a better version of yourself.

There are no dates inside so if that's what you are looking for, then this is not the notebook for you. If you just need something to guide you through 2020, then at 40 Suki Points, this one is more than enough.

To know more and see all the pages, click on this video.

A lot of people who can't get the Starbucks 2020 Planner are currently looking at the Mercury 2020 Daybook. They think that it will mak...

After taking the party to 12 venues, SM Supermarket and Savemore Market put a fitting exclamation point to end this year’s awesome Kid City run. SM Supermarket and Savemore held the Kid City Grand Finale at SM Mall of Asia Music Hall filling the whole area with shops, rides, activities, food stalls, and more. The fun and excitement went on for two days from September 21 to 22 because a day for the huge finale just wasn’t enough. It’s definitely the biggest kiddie party anyone has ever seen!


Kid City Grand Finale didn’t fall short of fun games, exciting prizes, cool activities, cooking demos and surprise special guests. Kids went crazy over Lakbay Museo’s fun displays, Tom’s World’s rides, SM Sports & Leisure Center VR and hoops, The Nest’s five playhouses, SM Storyland, SM By the Bay Amusement Park, and SM Sky Ranch.




And it didn’t stop there. The launch was made even more spectacular with special guests like Celebrity Actress Kyline Alcantara, Social Media Star Jelai Andres and Super Mom Mariz Ricketts.  The event was filled with back-to-back mascot appearances of SM Markets’ CAssie, Pororo, Capt. Fresh, Princess Shine, Woody, Buzz, Koko, Chuckie, TJ, Spammie, Tom and Joy of Tom’s World, and more!



Everyone’s favorites in one huge party


SM Markets partnered with Huggies, Johnson’s Baby, Pampers, Enfagrow A+ 4, Jack & Jill, Nestle, Alaska, Maggi, Purefoods, Knorr, Argentina, 555, Century Tuna, Hunt’s Pork & Beans, Papa, Ajinomoto, Federated Distributors Inc., Barilla, Nextrade Philippines, Clara Ole, Delimondo, Lady’s Choice, American Garden, Alaska Crema, Marca Piña, and Young’s Town for Kid City 2019.


SM Supermarket gave Kid City goers event-exclusive deals that are perfect for moms, dads, and the kids. What’s more, shopping and going around booths meant access to play areas, exciting freebies, and chances to take home instant prizes. Talk about a major bargain! And with rides, games, activities, celebrities, and shopping taking over the Music Hall during the weekend, Kid City 2019 went out with a bang and a promise of even bigger things to come next year.

After taking the party to 12 venues, SM Supermarket and Savemore Market put a fitting exclamation point to end this year’s awesome Kid City ...

It’s a green light for the Orange Chicken—and more!

Panda Express, the largest American Chinese dining concept in the world, is giving Filipino foodies a first look at its celebrated menu items before it opens its first branch at SM Megamall in Ortigas, Pasig City.

Homegrown fast food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) revealed today that they are bringing the same Panda Express menu from abroad to the country.



Get ready for bold and savory flavors cooked fresh straight from the woks, with each dish thoughtfully prepared—from hand-cut vegetables to house-made sauces—making every dining experience even more satisfying.  


Among the Panda Express staples that are coming to Manila is the best-seller signature dish Original Orange Chicken, a wok-tossed crispy chicken in a sweet and tangy sauce.


The classic favorite Broccoli Beef made of tender beef and fresh broccoli in ginger soy sauce is also expected to satisfy local foodies.

Other American Chinese favorites to be served are:

Kung Pao Chicken
A Szechwan-inspired dish with chicken, peanuts, and vegetables, finished with chili peppers

String Bean Chicken
Chicken breast, string beans, and onions wok-tossed in a mild ginger soy sauce

Asian Grilled Chicken
Grilled chicken thigh hand-sliced to order and served with teriyaki sauce

Mushroom Chicken
A delicate combination of chicken, mushrooms, and zucchini wok-tossed with a light ginger soy sauce

Beijing Beef
Crispy beef, bell peppers, and onions in a sweet-tangy sauce

And if you’re on a plant-based diet, the sweet and spicy Eggplant Tofu packs some bold flavors minus the meat.

Eggplant Tofu
Lightly browned tofu, eggplant, and red bell peppers tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce

As the world’s go-to for American Chinese food, Panda Express has been known for creating a wide variety of industry-first cuisines using authentic Chinese recipes adapted to global taste and—soon—targeting the Filipino palate.

So Manila, ready your appetite for a Panda Express gastronomic ride.

It’s a green light for the Orange Chicken—and more! Panda Express, the largest American Chinese dining concept in the world, is giving Filip...

Fast Charging is a smartphone feature that will change your life.

In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, a smartphone is a must-have appendage to keep up with one’s daily grind. But one feature that rarely takes the spotlight, yet very much deserves it, is Fast Charging.


Go-getters would know that the last thing that they want is for their smartphone to slow them down. And the best smartphone of choice to date, that will be up and running as you are is the Vivo V17Pro.

Powered with a 4,100 mAh battery, the V17Pro guarantees long battery life despite multi-app use. In layman’s term, one can enjoy a reliable phone that is versatile enough for quick document work, incessant communications via messaging apps, constant browsing, and even games, without it dying on you just after a few hours.



The Fast charging feature is the life hack you need, especially if your mantra is Rest and Reset. It’s most important to have a phone that will only require as little time to reset as you are if you’re the image of up-and-about.

Fast Charging is a smartphone feature that will change your life. In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, a smartphone is a must-have appendage to...

I bought two items during the 11.11 Lazada Sale.

I was not marked safe.

BUT it was definitely a worthy buy because it's for our small business of event coverage and product photography so I'm really happy about it.

Original items we had on our cart for over 3 months totaled Php15,000 but when we bought it, our total was just at Php6,000+ and with the discount codes and vouchers we collected, we only paid Php2,400 total. 

Seeing all the memes posted by friends, I knew that the Lazada 11.11 Campaign was definitely a big success and the stats prove it.


Lazada 11.11 witnessed new record-high numbers in the Philippines, as Filipinos logged in by the millions to choose from over 11 Million deals available in the biggest 24-hour Shopping Festival.

Filipinos went online starting midnight of 11 November to catch the massive discounts on thousands of local and international brands. During the first hour, 1 Million shoppers have joined the occasion and 1 Million items have been immediately sold. By the end of the day, the Lazada Millionaires Club, where sellers past the P1 Million sale mark earn membership, rose to a new total of 1,141 sellers.

The new record time is linked with Lazada’s expanding offerings on the platform which includes new interactive and live streaming content such as GUESS IT!, LazGames, and new tech innovations that make online shopping more seamless and enjoyable experience for sellers and customers.



Filipinos proved to be shopping-savvy, collecting up P170Million-worth of vouchers for the 24-hour sale run. Big discounts were used by shoppers across categories, on top of the price mark-offs that reached as high as 95%.

Among the top performing brands during 11.11 include: Xiaomi, RealMe, and Huawei for Mobile; CooCaa, Philips, and TCL under Home Appliance; Pampers, Huggies, MamyPoko under Mother & Baby; Hydro Flask, Klean Kanteen, Mitsushi under General Merchandise; Maybelline, L'Oréal Paris, Olay for Health and Beauty; and American Tourister, Adidas, FitFlop under Fashion.

To learn more about Lazada 11.11, visit Lazada.com.ph, facebook.com/LazadaPhilippines and Instagram.com/lazadaPH.

I bought two items during the 11.11 Lazada Sale. I was not marked safe. BUT it was definitely a worthy buy because it's for our smal...

We chanced upon this place inside SM Southmall last week. It got my attention because it reminded me of Auntie Anne's and I love Auntie Anne'.


I loved that they have an open kitchen format because it gives me a guarantee that my food is made clean. I ordered the Toffee while M ordered the classic with caramel dip.


The Toffee Pretzel was definitely GOOD. It was crunchy, caramelly, and just oozing with flavor. Definitely a sure win.


M and I enjoyed this mini date with the Pretzels. In fact, we plan to bring B here next time because we're sure that he would love it.

PretzelMaker is located at the Food Street inside SM Southmall near Starbucks.

We chanced upon this place inside SM Southmall last week. It got my attention because it reminded me of Auntie Anne's and I love Au...

Art is definitely not dead.

People can say what they want but art is definitely not going away ever. After all, EARTH without ART is just EH.


The Philippine art scene welcomes new blood and talent as Pilipinas Shell awarded 12 student-artist winners at this year’s 52nd National Students Art Competition (NSAC). The twelve winners for oil/acrylic, watercolor, sculpture, and digital fine arts categories received their recognitions and showcased their artwork at the Glorietta Mall in Makati last November 11.

“Shell continues to invest in programs that promote social development, because we believe in the power of the Filipino youth. We believe that they can influence the country towards a better and brighter future,” said Pilipinas Shell president and CEO Cesar Romero.

Also gracing the event was Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, who praised the beauty of the students’ works and their contribution to the country’s rich art history

“Filipino contemporary artists have long been making a mark in the international art world, and many of them started their careers in this competition,” mused Romulo-Puyat. “Looking at the creations of the students here, I think your next art work could very well start a revolution!”

Imagining the nation’s future in different mediums

The Shell NSAC winners were handpicked by painters and master artists who served as the critics and judges for this year’s competition. From over 1,000 entries, three winners from each of the four categories were chosen. Their artworks represent their creative take on this year’s theme, “ImagineNation.

The following are the winners with the respective works and schools:

Oil/acrylic category:


1st Place: Rhichelle Kirk A. Tabanera of the Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, for his work “Still Standing”

2nd Place: Nemesis B. Manahan of the Bulacan State University, for his work “Let There Be Light”

3rd Place: Trinkher Q. Nogueras of the University of the East, for his work “Mag-aaral

Watercolor category:


1st Place: Nicolle T. Plamer of the Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, for her work “Gising Sanip”

2nd Place: Jarren V. Dahan of the University of Mindanao, for his work “May Layang Lumipad”

3rd Place: Paul John V. Galagar of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños, for his work “Pira-piraso”

Sculpture category:

1st Place: Justin Angelo D.G. Vital of the Bulacan State University, for his work “The Safe and Sound of Patong-Patong”

2nd Place: Wendi T. Patoc of the Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, for his work “Pagsibol”

3rd Place: Sherlyn A. Belga of Adventis University of the Philippines, for her work “Key Roots”

Digital fine arts category:


1st Place: Jemill B. Pangilinan of the Technological University of the Philippines, for his work “Rich Mind, Rich Land”

2nd Place: Keith Andrew M. Sescon of the University of the Philippines-Cebu, for his work “Transparency”

3rd Place: Andrei Timothy D. Barrantes of the University of the East, for his work “The Maker”

Each of the winners received a cash prize, a plaque, and art material supplies care so they can continue their journey in their craft. The first place, second place, and third place winners received P60,000, P40,000, and P30,000 respectively. Winning works are on display alongside the top 100 submissions at Glorietta 4 from November 12 to 23.

Continuing the legacy of supporting aspiring Filipino artists

Shell NSAC has built a legacy of developing the local art scene by creating an opportunity for young talent to showcase their hard work.  As the organizers of one of the longest-running art competitions in the Philippines, Pilipinas Shell has hoped to continue its legacy of recognizing and driving artists to excel, just like the many artists who started their careers with Shell NSAC.

For the last 105 years of its operations in the Philippines, Pilipinas Shell has remained committed to the industry and the consumers of its products. As a partner in nation-building, the company continues to envision the Philippines that is fueled by creativity and innovation.

Pilipinas Shell continues to make the future of Filipino art so that future generations continue to be inspired.

Art is definitely not dead. People can say what they want but art is definitely not going away ever. After all, EARTH without ART is just ...

I recently got hold of a pack of Ben's Cookies new cookie, the Speculoos Cookie. This is one of their limited-edition cookies and it reminds me of the Speculoos Butter Spread which was all the rage back in 2015 if I remember it correctly.


The Speculoos Cookies were pretty big and heavy. It means that they did not scrimp on the ingredients.


The cookies last only 4 days because it is baked fresh and does not contain preservatives. This was a good sign for a Mom like me because I still prefer to give my child things with little preservative.


Ben's Cookie uses chunks (not chips) of delicious chocolate, unsalted butter, wheat flour, cane sugar, and fresh eggs.

The cookies are crunchy, not chewy unless you get it fresh from the oven. Fans of Speculoos Butterspread  will definitely fall in love with this.

Ben's Cookie is available at Podium Mall.

I recently got hold of a pack of Ben's Cookies new cookie, the Speculoos Cookie. This is one of their limited-edition cookies and it rem...

It's the time for parties and get together once more. To add more flavour and excitement to the festivities, Jim Beam decided to bring the spectacle to Eastwood.

The iconic Jim Beam Highball Pop-Up Bar will return on November 12-16 at Eastwood Central Plaza offering an even fresher experience served through the signature highball draft machines from Japan.

Building up from its first introduction earlier this year, the second iteration of the Jim Beam Highball Pop-Up Bar will feature all-new highballs that were inspired by local flavors and designed specifically for the Filipino palate:

Mango Spice Highball
Calamansi and Pandan Highball
Pineapple and Basil Highball


You’ll also see the return of familiar flavors that were available during last year’s pop-up bar in BGC like the Lychee and of course, the Signature Classic Highball.

JIM BEAM HIGHBALL ON HIGH GEAR

The Jim Beam Highball Pop-Up Bar at Eastwood City will also feature even more live musical performances by some of the country’s iconic OPM artists such as Ebe Dancel, The Juans, Clara Benin, Better Days and The Vowels they Orbit.

In between listening to these sweet tunes and drinking the freshest highballs, you can also enjoy new games with your friends like the Highball Pong or the Jim Beam Highball Claw Machine! The sought after Make Your Jim Beam Highball booth will be there to give you more reason to enjoy the signature highball. With each purchase of a Highball, you’ll be granted a free chip to play these games and a chance to win some awesome Jim Beam Highball merch and other prizes!

See you at the Jim Beam Highball Pop-Up Bar at Eastwood Central Plaza from Tuesday to Saturday, November 12-16! The bar will be open from 6pm to 12mn.

It's the time for parties and get together once more. To add more flavour and excitement to the festivities, Jim Beam decided to bring t...

One of the things that I used to really love from Japan was this Nori rice topping mix. I thought back then that it was one of the world's best inventions. I kept hoping that Manila would have it.

20 years later, it finally happened to me.

Last Saturday, my nephew and sister attended the launch of the newest product from Ajinomoto called AJI SAVOR on RICE.


In a bid to be the pioneer in providing rice topping mix in the Philippines, AJINOMOTO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION (APC) launched AJI SAVOR™ on Rice in a press conference in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. AJI SAVOR™ ON RICE is a delicious and affordable way to add calcium to one’s diet. Inspired by Japanese Furikake, this product contains a blend of ready-to-eat dried umami food ingredients, like malunggay leaves, toasted sesame seeds and meaty beef or chicken flavored granules that is used to season rice. Each pack can be conveniently sprinkled and mixed in a cup of rice.


Kuya “Omurice” Sawa, a Japanese who went viral for selling omurice or fried rice omelette to help street children, was invited to co-host the event. Kuya san talked about the popularity of Furikake among Japanese children and his excitement about the launch of AJI SAVOR™ in the local market.


Since rice is a staple food in the Philippines, this product hopes to add more calcium to the diet of Filipinos. In its 8th National Nutrition Survey, the Food and Nutrition Research Institute recorded high inadequacies of calcium intake across all age groups. However, this is particularly alarming for the younger population since calcium is one of the key nutrients required for proper growth and development. AJI SAVOR™ contains 385mg of calcium, which is comparable to the calcium you get in drinking a glass of milk.


Young celebrity endorsers, Chunsa Jung, Sophia Reola and Marco Masa are present during the JPOP and Kyaraben (Character Bento) Party organized by Ajinomoto. They led everyone to dance to the beat of the new AJI SAVOR™ jingle featured in the product’s TV Commercial. The jingle made use of the catchy PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen) tune popularized by Japanese comedian Daimaou Kosaka. One of the event highlights is the Kyaraben boxed-lunch making activity where media guest and their children joined Ajinomoto’s Culinary Nutrition team in making delicious meals that are a feast to both the eyes and the tongue.

As a food company, Ajinomoto utilizes its technical expertise to enhance the quality of life of Filipinos by offering delicious, safe and quality food products and promoting proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle. 

For more information about AJI SAVOR™, please visit www.ajinomoto.com.ph and facebook.com/CookmunitybyAjinomotoPH.

One of the things that I used to really love from Japan was this Nori rice topping mix. I thought back then that it was one of the world'...