Have you ever experienced wanting to wear a favorite shirt only to be overwhelmed by that nauseating kulob smell? With those occasional rainy days suddenly coming up, many people think that kulob smell is caused by indoor drying. In truth, kulob is caused by invisible stains on clothes.

With more Filipinos relying on the internet for many of their daily activities and with information easily spread from one platform to another, practicing caution in the consumption and sharing of data becomes even more crucial.

The majority of Filipino internet users believe that “fake news” is a serious problem on the internet, based on a survey released by local research institution Social Weather Station (SWS) in June 2018.
As the generation with the biggest online presence, millennials play a significant role in making sure that the truth prevails amid the rampant spread of false information.





But how exactly can one tell fake news from factual ones? Here are some tips on how millennials can help discern between fake news and real news, and promote truth in this age of disinformation:

1. Go only to reliable sites.

Do not rely on social media for news. Both local and international publications have their own websites from which to get the daily dose of news. For research requirements, there are specific sites on the web for different topics.

2. Be critical of content. Do not take everything at face value.

Practice critical thinking when reading and sharing articles, especially on the internet. Don’t presume that an article, tweet or post is true simply because it has been liked, commented on or shared many times.

If a piece of information sounds suspicious or ridiculous, research about it. If the article makes extraordinary or outrageous claims such as having found the cure for an illness or discovered the fountain of youth, take that as a sign to evaluate the content or message.

Don’t fall for clickbait titles. Be wary as well of provocative headlines or those that emphasize emotionality. If, however, you do end up reading the article, read beyond the title and examine the article as a whole.

3. Remember that truth is non-partisan.

Be objective in consuming content, whether or not it validates a political position. Do not depend on political parties for your news consumption, as they tend to present data favorable only to their positions on causes.

Check for biases. Evaluate the tone or words used. These should be neutral and objective and not be used to present the topic, person, event or issue as bad or good. A news article, professionally written following the tenets of journalism, in particular, should be unbiased and present the different, if not all, sides of a story.

There's nothing more important than the life and health of a family member. That's why when we started to have enough funds to spare, my husband made it a point to get the three of us life insurance plans.  My husband is also covered by his company's HMO so he only pays extra for mine and my boy's health insurance.

Insurance Plan Addicts

We signed our first life insurance plans in 2013.  After two years, a family friend introduced us to another insurance company and I signed up for a long-term health and mutual fund insurance plan combo. Then just recently, my husband signed another life-accident-mutual fund insurance plan for himself.

You can call us insurance plan addicts. But if there's one thing I learned from other friends and family members, it's that insurance plans can save you from financial troubles should sickness, accidents, and death happen in the future. At least, with our insurance policies, we can sleep with peace of mind that our son would not be left empty-handed should anything happen to me or my husband.

How To Know If You Got The Best Health Insurance Plan for The Family

Here are a few things that will tell you if you have the best health insurance plan for the family:

1. Affordable monthly payment 
2. Coverage is per sickness per year
3. Wide doctor and hospital network
4.  Easy to contact for claims or inquiries
5. Recommended by friends and family members

YGC Corporate Services Inc. Health Protection Plans

YGC Corporate Services Inc., a member company of the Yuchengco Group of Companies, offers various Health Protection Plans such as YGC Family Protect and Malayan Family Protect that caters to the needs of different families. Cash benefits are provided for hospital confinement, ICU confinement, and death and disability.

Also included in the company's Health Protection Plans are:

• Hospital Cash Plan
• Family Shield
• Family Protect Plus
• Card For Life
• Family Protect Elite
• Family Protect Max

Customer Testimonial - Noemi Seminiano

The company's Customer Service Team is always helpful and friendly so you can always get in touch with them should you need anything related to your purchased insurance package.

Here's a personal testimonial from a very satisfied client, Ms. Noemi Seminiano:

Just want to share with you my friend’s real-life experience with regards to a subject that most of us tends to ignore or worse, avoid – INSURANCE. In fact, there are some who gets irritated whenever they receive insurance offers, specially since it is also being offered thru phone nowadays.

My friend’s name is Noemi Seminiano, and her father was hospitalized August of last year due to a very serious illness. It was at that time that they learned that he availed of a Card for Life policy from Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC) as his father was able to claim from it which helped them a lot in paying his hospital bills.

Unfortunately, his father succumbed to his illness and passed away last November. They were so confused at that time due to his untimely passing. They also didn’t know that there is a life insurance benefit tied up to his YGC’s Card for Life policy.
Months after his death, they sorted out his father’s office boxes, and stumbled on the insurance policy. Upon reading it thoroughly, they found out that Card for Life is a YGC product made possible by combining two (2) insurance companies under the YGC group: Malayan Insurance and Sunlife Grepa. Based on the policy, aside from hospital income benefits which his father already claimed from Malayan Insurance, the plan also provides accidental death benefit and life insurance from Sunlife Grepa.

They immediately notified YGC Customer Service and their personnel quickly assisted Noemi and her mother in filing the claim. Claims submission was fast and efficient as it was done on-line. The claim was approved, and they were able to get a check amounting to P500,000.00.



Through this experience, my friend realized two very important things: firstly, that their father really loved them so much as he made sure that they will be taken cared of even after he’s gone, and secondly, she realized how important it is to get an insurance.

She and her mother were also very thankful to YGC Customer Service specially Ms. Amy who assisted them in filing the claims online, and to their personnel at YGC Center namely Romy and Aubrey who always attend to them warmly. She shared me this picture taken at the YGC Center when they picked up the check for P500,000.

Personally, It was also an eye-opener. Hearing this story first hand from a friend really made me a believer in insurance, and removed all my lingering doubts. Will definitely get one, and as Noemi highly recommends, it has to be from YGC  (I heard they have a great new product called YGC Family Protect Elite). Will also encourage my family and friends to get an insurance. Life is uncertain, and we really cannot tell what tomorrow will bring. We all need to be prepared and ensure that our loved ones will not be burdened if the unexpected happens.

If you want more information about YGC Corporate Services Inc.'s Health Protection Plans and other insurance products, you can visit http://www.ygccsi.com/.


Did you like my post? CLICK THIS to have my posts delivered straight to your email inbox.

SuperStar Virgo, the flagship of Star Cruises will return to her well-loved Manila homeport in December with consecutive holiday concept cruises that cater to a wide spectrum of holidaymakers.


A press event had been hosted recently at the Hippodrome Bar and Lounge in Winford Hotel, one of the leading 5-starred hotels located in the heart of Manila, where members of the press got the news first-hand from senior executives of Star Cruises. Among the guests in attendance were celebrity chef Sandy Daza and world-renowned Manila Symphony Orchestra, who will both make their cruise debuts with SuperStar Virgo in the month of December.

Mr. Michael Goh, SVP for International Sales of Star Cruises

Ms. Andrea Manzano,  AVP for Sales of Star Cruises

Mr. Goh and Ms. Manzana makes a toast with celebrity chef, Mr. Sandy Daza

With exclusive sales promotions of Cruise One, Take One or 3rd/4th Guest Free offers, holidaymakers will have more reasons to take their vacations aboard this December, thanks to the spectacular line-up of theme cruises on SuperStar Virgo, with 5-night journeys to the sandy beaches in Southern China, as well as idyllic destinations in Vietnam.

Concert Cruise Series with The CompanY

Departure date: December 4 to 9, 2018
Destinations: Halong Bay, Vietnam and Sanya, China


The deployment kicks off will feature the much-anticipated holiday concert at sea by The CompanY, a vocal harmony group that excels in performing a wide range of music genres, from classical choral music to alternative pop. Formed in 1985, The CompanY has now released 24 studio albums and garnered 54 music industry awards, making them the most awarded recording vocal group in the land. Guests of all ages will be swooned and crooned on the high seas with this versatile quintet.

Concert Cruise Series with the Manila PhilHarmonic Orchestra

Departure date: December 9 to 14, 2018
Destinations: Halong Bay, Vietnam and Sanya, China


Imbibe the holiday spirit through a concerto at sea, as the widely-acclaimed Manila PhilHarmonic Orchestra will make her cruise debut aboard SuperStar Virgo. With over more than a decade of showcasing a solid passion for music through well-applauded live performances, records, tours, innovative programs of bringing the orchestra closer to the communities, guests of SuperStar Virgo will be presented the musical masterpieces by one of the leading orchestras in the country.

Festive Cooking Cruise with Celebrity Chef Sandy Daza

Departure date: December 14 to 19, 2018
Destinations: Ho Chi Minh and Nha Trang, Vietnam


Celebrity Chef Sandy Daza, also known as host of TV shows FootPrints and Casa Daza, will host cooking demonstrations on how to perfect his signature dishes specific for the holiday family festivities with guests onboard SuperStar Virgo. As a toting dad of four young adults, Chef Daza will also share personal tips on how to bond with children over the love of food and cooking, as cruises also sail through the wondrous country of Vietnam.

Vacation at Sea with Bro. Bo Sanchez

Departure date: December 19 to 24, 2018
Destinations: Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang, Vietnam


Presented in partnership with Executive Resources, Inc., world-renowned best-selling author, entrepreneur, and preacher, Bo Sanchez will bring a unique flavor to this holiday sailing to Vietnam with inspirational sessions aimed to bring out the best you during the most wonderful time of the year. Guests onboard will also be treated to special daily masses mirroring the Filipino Simbang Gabi tradition scheduled throughout the cruise.

Celebrations at Sea

Departure dates: December 24 to 29, 2018 and December 29, 2018 to January 3, 2019
Destinations: Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang, Vietnam



Treat yourself and your family the ultimate gift of a magical Christmas and New Year’s festive cruises with SuperStar Virgo. Make merry and memorable your family celebrations on the high seas, as the ship will not just be decked out in full-on festive designs, but also be providing once-in-a-year onboard activities fit for the biggest holiday celebration at sea!

Vacationers can also choose to embark from Manila to explore amazing tropical destinations with SuperStar Virgo, with the special 5-Night Coron / Puerto Princesa / Kota Kinabalu grand finale cruise with a single departure on 3 January 2019 to commemorate the completion of her seasonal deployment in the Philippines early next year.

About SuperStar Virgo

The 13-storey SuperStar Virgo is equipped with 935 cabins, including sea-view cabins and balcony suites. Offering a variety of dining, shopping, and entertainment choices, her facilities embrace Chinese, international and Japanese restaurants, an al fresco bar, foot reflexology salon and spa, gym, steam and sauna rooms, hairdressing salon, 2-level theater, duty-free shops, a 100-meter mega wide slide, outdoor swimming pool, mini-golf course, karaoke room, children's activity center, and more. A calendar themed entertainment constantly refreshes the onboard fun and excitement, ensuring every voyage is a brand new enjoyable experience.

About Star Cruises

Star Cruises is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Genting Hong Kong, a leading global leisure entertainment and hospitality corporation. A pioneer in the Asia Pacific cruise industry, Star Cruises has been operating its fleet since 1993, taking on the bold initiative to grow the region as an international cruise destination with a fleet of five vessels: SuperStar Virgo, SuperStar Gemini, SuperStar Aquarius, Star Pisces, and The Taipan.

For more information on the holiday cruise packages posted above, you may visit the Star Cruises Philippines Facebook page.

Did you like my post? CLICK THIS to have my posts delivered straight to your email inbox.

Being a mom is awesome, isn’t it? There’s nothing that fills us with joy like watching our little bundle of joy take their first steps, laugh for the first time, and especially the first time they (finally) figure out how to say momma! It’s the absolute best, and there’s nothing else in the world that makes us feel as good as being a mom.



But it’s definitely not without its share of challenges. We don’t sleep much, do we ladies? We also don’t have a lot of spare time to ourselves, especially for you single moms who have to keep it all together by yourselves. It’s especially hard when it comes to balancing our workload and spending time with our babies, and there’s very little time to develop our hobbies and skills so that they benefit us in the rest of our lives.

Yeah, there’s no doubt that being a mom is tough, especially for single and stay-at-home moms. That’s why I’ve put together the following five ways that you can develop your skills, make some extra cash, and still spend plenty of time with your bundle of joy!

1. Make Arts and Crafts to Sell

There are plenty of moms out there who love to sew, knit, sketch, felt, and many other creative endeavors! Besides passing the time and helping us relax, it’s a great way to make clothes for our babies or decorate their rooms without spending a lot of cash. What you may not have thought of, though, is that those handcrafted creations can make you a pretty good chunk of change!

Depending on the type of crafts you pursue, your crafts can make a healthy profit, and aren’t necessarily that expensive to make. Dependent on how much time you have to pursue your craft, you can either sell them locally to your closest friends and family, or consider starting your own business! It really depends on what you want to do, how much time you want to devote to your handmade wares, and how good you are (or know you can become)!

2. Start a Blog

Blogging is a great outlet for moms in so many ways! Aside from allowing us to chronicle our mommy life online, so that we can always preserve the memories, we can share ideas with others, get advice for ourselves, make a lot of online friends, and potentially make some money for our families.

If your blog starts generating enough followers, you may start receiving invitations (or you can ask on your own) to host ads on your blog, accept guest posts from other blogs or businesses, or potentially even start an online store, if you do crafts too!

Starting a blog is very easy to do as well. First, need to decide your focus area for writing. This can include things like raising a parent, balancing mommy life and work, education and development for babies, etc. The point is, start with a specific focus first, so you can establish credibility and expertise early on. You can branch out more as your blog grows. Then, you just have to register a domain name, set up your blog with a basic template, and voila! You’re ready to blog!

3. Give Music Lessons From Home

If you’re a mom who’s blessed with the gift of music, you should consider giving music lessons to students in your off hours. There are plenty of young people, and even some older folks, who are desperate to learn an instrument or to sing.

You don’t have to be a music ‘expert’ to teach, especially if you cater to brand new, untrained students. Understanding basic music theory, being able to play an instrument decently, or even being able to sing well, are all you need to start teaching. And aside from making you some decent money, you’ll be developing your own musical skills, so that you improve along with your students!

Just be careful not to wake the baby!

4. Teach English as a Second Language

In the same vein as teaching an instrument, you could consider teaching English in your spare time to those who want to pick up a second language. There’s definitely a growing demand for it: a study by the Center for Immigration Studies showed that, in 2015, more than 21.5 million people in the U.S. reported that they spoke English less than very well.

With the influx of immigrants across the world, now is the perfect time to start offering something that you do in your everyday life as a tool that others can use to better their own lives, and adapt better to their new environments, while you make some extra money and learn a second language of your own.

5. Babysit in Your Spare Time

At times, being a mom can be overwhelming. We mentioned the lack of sleep already, but there’s also the stress of listening to a baby crying, who just won’t stop, the fatigue of never being able to truly relax while you’re watching your baby, and the lack of free time. With all of that, bringing yet another child into the mix might sound sound like utter insanity! But hear me out.

Babysitting is a method for making money that works no matter your age, and there’s always a demand for it. Depending on your conditions for watching the kids, including the number of children, whether you’ll provide diapers, formula, and the like, or leave that for the parents to provide, you can expect to make anywhere from $12 to $20 an hour. Even if you’re only watching for two to three hours, that’s around $50 extra for you, which is none too shabby.

Aside from the monetary benefits, babysitting allows you the opportunity to develop your own parenting skills. Other children will behave differently than your own, and require different types and levels of attention and care. By adapting your parenting to match what these kids need, you’re adding to your own repertoire of mommy skills that you can apply in your own life. Additionally, you can grow your list of friends with the moms and couples who bring their children to you, and potentially babysit for you when it’s your turn for mom time!

Better Every Day

As we’ve discussed, there’s plenty of ways that you can make money for yourself, develop the skills you already have, and stay close to your little angel. It all depends on what you want to do in life, and how much time you have to devote to it. But you’re a mom: you’re not going to find a tougher job, so you might as well dive in and explore a new role that’s perfect for you!


Did you like my post? CLICK THIS to have my posts delivered straight to your email inbox.