Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Starbucks Philippines Launches New Personalized Frappuccino Drinks

Starbucks Philippines launches today the Black Sesame Green Tea Cream Frappuccino and the Soy Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino, two new Personalized Frappuccino Blended Beverages, promotional beverages from Starbucks. It will be available today at all Starbucks Philippines stores nationwide.

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Black Sesame Green Tea Cream Frappuccino Blended Beverage
- A delightful treat, this beverage is made with matcha powder and black sesame powder, blended with ice and topped with whipped cream and black sesame seeds.

Soy Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino blended beverage

Soy Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino Blended Beverage - This beverage is made with soy milk blended with ice, infused with strawberry sauce and topped with whipped cream.

Create your "However-You-Want-It Frappuccino Blended Beverage":
1. Request any milk - whole, non-fat or soy
2. Choose the coffee intensity - regular, double, triple or decaf
3. Or choose cream for a coffee-free beverage - Strawberries and Cream, Vanilla Cream, Caramel Cream, Chocolate Cream, Chai Cream, Green Tea Cream, or Chocolate Chip Cream
4. Select your syrup or blended-syrup - Mocha, White Mocha, Mint, Raspberry, Vanilla, Caramel, Hazelnut, Classic, or Sugar-free Vanilla
5. Choose whipped cream, light on the whip or no whip
6. Add a topping - Mocha drizzle or Caramel drizzle

Saturday, June 25, 2011

UK Visa Application Process in the Philippines

I am going to London for the Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 World Premiere with Hotmail and Windows Live. For the Philippines, and us Filipinos, one of the requirements to enter London, United Kingdon, is a valid UK Visa. This post will attempt to explain the processes, and share my experience in getting my UK Visa.

It is actually easy to get a UK Visa, at least in my experience. I got mine hassle-free in 3 days! :) The British Embassy, and the UK Border Agency, has an accredited company, VFS Global, in helping Filipinos apply for a visa to enter the UK. First of all, keep in mind that their websites are of utmost importance to you, so read through them thoroughly! The VFS Global website is where you will be doing your online UK Visa application process.


I applied for a UK Business Visa (see Visa Information for the Visa Class you are applying for - Visitor/Tourist, Business, Transit or Special Visitor). I filled out the ONLINE APPLICATION FORM (see Application form VAF1C - Business visitor and VAF Guidance notes for more details). Make sure that your passport, itinerary, and all pertinent information are ready before your start. After filling out the UK Visa Online Application Form, you will be asked to print it out. You will be asked to attach a passport-sized photo, sign the document, and submit this during your UK Visa Application Appointment.

You will then schedule an appointment with the VFS Global to submit and process your UK Visa Application. You may schedule online, or through their call center*.

*Call Center: You can contact the VFS call centre and make your appointment - for PLDT / Smart Subscribers 1-909-885-VISA (8472); for Bayantel 1-903-VISAUK or 1-903-847285. PHP 32.00 for each minute for landline calls (excluding VAT and applicable NDD charges for calls made outside Metro Manila).

In my case, I called their VIP Premium Service Appointment, which we used before for my Boss' UK Visa application processing. It was just a breeze! They asked for my email address, and asked which day and time I would like to go have my appointment. It can be as fast as the day after your called. You will be emailed instructions as to how you would go about requesting for an appointment, the VIP Appointment Booking, and you're on your final steps to getting your UK Visa.

Once you are confirmed for your appointment, then you should already be well on your way. You just need to prepare all your documents (passport and application form) and supporting documents for your UK Visa Application. In my case, I prepared a.) The letters proving that Microsoft and Performance Entertainment will be sponsoring my trip and paying for all my expenses, and that I am attending the Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows World Premiere. b.) Hotel Booking Confirmation c.) Certification from the Department of Tourism that I am employed with them d.) Contract with the British Council Philippines (that I am an Invigilator for the British Council Philippines) e.) Bank Statement and Bank Book f.) Birth Certificate - just in case.

UK Visa Appointment Day Steps and Reminders:
1. Print-out your appointment confirmation letter emailed to you.
2. Make sure you have already paid the Php 5,700* UK Visa Fee (VFS Global does not accept cash. It is advisable for you to purchase a managers check from either BPI, BDO, Union Bank or Standard Chartered Bank. Make it payable to the "British Embassy" and it should be the exact amount of your UK Visa Fee)
3. Have all your documents (passport, online application form printout, duly signed, with passport size photo) and supporting documents ready.
4. Make sure you've photocopied all your original documents. Or you may photocopy them while you wait in the VIP Premium Lounge.
5. Bring your VIP Premium Lounge Service Fee of Php 1,800 per applicant in cash or managers check payable to VFS Services Philippines Private Inc.
6. Submit all your documents and photocopy to the VIP Officer.
7. Have your biometrics (fingerprint scan and digital photo) taken.
8. Wait for your UK Visa to be delivered or if you want to pick it up, you may also do so. They will update you through SMS and E-mail of the status of your application. This is so cool!


*Check UK Visa Rates, as it may change and vary depending on the visa class, date, month, year you are applying. This is for the Business Visit Visa 6 months I applied for.

They said, I would receive my UK Visa after 10 days, but I was surprised that it arrived just after 3 days :)

NOTE: Your UK Visa will be decided upon by the British Embassy (UK Border Agency) staff and not by the VFS Global staff. They are merely the front-liners who accept and forward your documents/application to the UK Border Agency for appropriate action.

Have you tried applying for a UK Visa, tell me your story, how did it go? :)

Monday, June 20, 2011

Rizal's Dapitan and Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte

After the successful launch of Rizal @ 150 Heritage Trail at the Rizal Park in Manila, the Department of Tourism, in partnership with DOT Region 9 and the local governments of Zamboanga del Norte, brought another launch in the peaceful Mindanao city of Dapitan, where Jose Rizal was exiled.

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We arrived at Dipolog City Airport, had lunch, and proceeded to Dapitan City for the launch by the sea, at the Rizal landing site. After which, we toured all of the Lakbay Jose Rizal @ 150 sites in Zamboanga del Norte. Here are the following sites found in Dapitan City, Dipolog City, and Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte :)

1. Rizal Landing Site, Santa Cruz Beach, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte - Punto del Disembarko de Rizal en Dapitan, Sunset Boulevard. On July 17, 1892, Rizal landed here at 7pm with Captain Delgras and three artillery men. They walked through Sta. Cruz Street with a farol de combate to the Casa Real where he was presented to Don Ricardo Carnicero, the Spanish military governor of the area.

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2. Dapitan Plaza, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte - A National Historical Landmark. It was planned and beautified by Rizal during his exile. Acacia trees which he personally planted can still be found in the plaza.

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3. Map of Mindanao, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte - A National Cultural Treasure. Rizal created this map as an aid in teaching history and geography to the locals.

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4. Dapitan Church, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte - Built in 1883, St. James Church of Dapitan has a historical market which can be found in the exact spot where Rizal stood every Sunday during his exile from 1892 to 1896.

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5. Site of Casa Real, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte - The official residence and administration building of the politico-military governor of the district. Rizal lived there from July 17, 1892 to March 1893 when he was transferred to Talisay, now the Rizal Dapitan Shrine. The original building was demolished in the 1920s.

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6. Rizal Shrine and Waterworks, Baranggay Talisay, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte - Rizal's estate in Dapitan. It houses replicas of structures he built there for himself, his family, pupils, and patients including the Casa Residencia, Family Kitchen, Casa Redonda, Casa Quadrada, Casitas de Salud and Casa Redonda Pequena among many others. Jose Rizal purchased the property with his prize money from the Manila Lottery and his earnings as a farmer and merchant during his exile. He also built a waterworks system which can still be found within the city.

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7. Dipolog Cathedral, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte - Rizal is said to have designed the church altars of the Dipolog Cathedral. Although the facade has been extremely renovated, the interiors remain relatively intact.

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8. Rizal Farm, Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte - The farm was acquired by Rizal from Calixto Carreon, a blind patient who offered it for free out of gratitude for his successful treatment. Rizal refused and paid him Php 200 for the land. He cultivated it every weekend with his pupils. The Rizal monument was a gift by one of his students.

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Saturday, June 18, 2011

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 World Premiere in London

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 Red Carpet World Premiere will happen this July 7, 2011 at the Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square in London, United Kingdom. I am one of the few lucky people who got invited to the Harry Potter world premiere. I am as excited as SUPER, and I already applied for a UK VISA. Now, I want to share with you this opportunity through this Windows Live Contest below.
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2

HOW TO WIN THE HARRY POTTER MOVIE PREMIERE CONTEST:
1. "ENTER THE CONTEST NOW" - Fill out the details required in the Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 World Premiere in London contest page http://harrypotter.savesocialenergy.com/.

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2. "TAKE YOUR FIRST STEP" - The first step of your journey begins here. Check your Windows Live Hotmail account to start because the contest task has been sent to your account :)
3. "HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS™ - PART 2 MOVIE TRAILER" - Click on the link within the email to see the video, then follow the instructions on the page and you’ll truly be on your way to winning!
4. "WINDOWS LIVE MESSENGER" - Add hpmoviecontestmy@live.com into your Windows Live contacts list. And double click on the guy for your next instruction
5. "THE CONVERSATION" - It will ask you a question, which you can answer based on the movie trailer you just saw. When you get it right, then you can now proceed to the final step.
6. "THE FINAL STEP" - The final step is easy, he will ask you to send an email to hpmoviecontestmy@live.com telling them which Harry Potter character do you like in less than 20 words. And you're done! :) JOIN THE CONTEST NOW AT http://harrypotter.savesocialenergy.com/

It's as easy as that, so what are you waiting for? Join the Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 World Premiere Contest, and get a chance to win the slot in the red carpet premiere of the much awaited finale of the Harry Potter movie series. The grand prize winner will get to attend the Harry Potter World Premiere, inclusive of return flight tickets, 3D2N accommodation.

I will be waiting for the one lucky person who will win and get to attend the World Premiere in London with me :)

There will also be 10 finalists who will get 1 set of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS™ - PART 2 movie hampers each.

Watch the Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 trailer here:

Monday, June 13, 2011

Meeting Mechai Viravaidya, Condom King, in the Philippines

Mechai Viravaidya, former Thai Senator and activist, founder and chair of the Population and Community Development Association (PDA), more known as "Condom King" of Thailand, is successfully working on family planning and empowerment of the poor through education to eradicate poverty. He has been sharing his Village Development Partnership program not only throughout Thailand, but also to developing countries like the Philippines. Not everybody knows, Mechai is also a Trustee of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, Asia's Nobel-like award which aims to honor "greatness of spirit in selfless service to the peoples of Asia."

I was very lucky to have met him and heard him lecture weeks ago in his short stay in the Philippines for RMAF related activities.

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I want you to see this TED video of Mechai Viravaidya on "How Mr. Condom Made Thailand A Better Place". It's a video worth watching :)



Because of his efforts, which continues up to today, he's become a well known individual. His ideas are continuing to help the poor have dignity, uplift their lives, and change societies and their mindsets.

Dr. Helen Gayle wrote about Mechai Viravaidya in the TIME MAGAZINE's 60 Years of Asian Heroes, and let me quote a bit from the piece:

...he places a high value on action and impact, even if it means making some people uncomfortable. Never afraid to challenge the status quo, he's a refreshing change in arenas too often concerned about consensus and not rocking the boat.

If only our leaders try to open their minds on new ideas, and ideas that work...if only they are result-driven, hands-on, then probably, we'll also be better off. Just a thought ;)

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Sunrise Buckets Buffalo Wings

There's another Buffalo Wings place that won my taste buds and tummy. Sunrise Buckets located at Madison Square in Greenhills, San Juan has one of the best wings in town. I have heard of this from fellow food bloggers, but it was not until last month did I get to finally try it :)

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I have been a fan of Chicken Charlie, since it opened another branch near the office in Malate, Manila. One of the best wings I have had was that of Wings N' Things, the only problem is that it's down in Ortigas, really far away from both my house and work place.
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You may choose from a lot of different mouthwatering flavors from their buffalo chicken wings selection. But other than their buffalo wings, they have a menu which features a lot more from day starters, burgers, desserts, coffee, beers, and other refreshments.

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For first timers like me they suggest that I try either their Sunrise Original Wings (Award Winning Buffalo, New York-style wings tossed in their favorite Sunrise Original sauce) or their Real American Buffalo Wings (Buffalo wings with Sunrise Original sauce but served how hot you like 'em). I chose the latter, 1/2 pound, HOT. ;)

I enjoyed every piece of the wings with my hands (as they provide gloves for you to use while you eat). The taste was really juicy and the flavor bursting in every bite.

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