Share The Love this Christmas Season with exclusive treats from PayMaya

It’s a great time to be a PayMaya account holder this Christmas season with lots of discounts, rebates, and freebies coming your way. Use your PayMaya to shop and complete your holiday gift list so you can share the love to family and friends during this season of giving.

“Christmas is a season of giving, and we’re happy to help our customers share the love over the holidays with PayMaya. This is our way of thanking our customers in helping us achieve a very fruitful year as the leader in digital payments in the Philippines,” said Paolo Azzola, PayMaya Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director.

Spreading the Christmas cheer to all is also made easier with exclusive discounts to PayMaya account holders when they shop at Lazada and Zalora. Users can enjoy an additional 20% discount when they shop at Lazada until December 15 by using the code PYMYDEC.

Meanwhile, fashionistas looking to complete their holiday outfits can look forward to a 20% discount this month when they shop at ZALORA, simply by entering the code PAYMAYAHOLIDAY upon checkout. The discount rises to as much as 25% during Zalora’s Online Fever sale event on December 12 to 15 with the code PAYMAYAFEVER25.

These discounts are on top of the already deep discounts being offered by Lazada and Zalora this December.

Get as much as P1,250 on referrals with PayMaya in Facebok Messenger 

With PayMaya, it’s easy to let your friends and loved ones know that you care about them. And with PayMaya in Facebook Messenger, both of you can feel the love as well!

Simply sign up or link your existing PayMaya account in Facebook Messenger and refer friends to sign up too and you will both get P50 in your PayMaya accounts.

To do this, all you have to do is share the promo link that you will receive from PayMaya in Messenger to up to 25 friends with Android devices to start earning the referral bonus. Subscribers of all mobile network in the Philippines may sign up until December 19 and get the bonus amount, which will be credited to their accounts in 2 to 3 business days.

“All of these privileges highlight that paying with your PayMaya is now better than simply paying with cash. Using their PayMaya accounts, shopping online and in-store, sending money to others, and purchasing load or paying bills is easier than ever. We can’t wait to share even more exciting things and experiences exclusive to PayMaya account holders that we have in store for the coming months,” shared Raymund Villanueva, Issuing Head at PayMaya.

Getting a PayMaya account is easy and instant. Just download the PayMaya app via iOS or Android and register.

A million ways to #ShareTheLove

With PayMaya, there are a million ways to share the love to your friends and family because all PayMaya app registrations, physical card activations, and purchases worth at least P1,000 from today until December 23 will earn raffle entries for PayMaya’s #MerryMillionaire promo.

Users stand a chance to win P10,000 in the weekly draw and a whopping P1 million tax-free in the grand draw, which will give them even more reasons to spread the love to others this holiday season.

And to make it even more convenient to load your account, PayMaya has further expanded its long list of loading partners to include all branches of Cebuana Lhuillier and ExpressPay, as well as the online banking platforms of RCBC and Metrobank.

This is on top of the more than 15,000 top-up facilities already available nationwide such as Robinsons Department Store Business Centers, SM Business Services, TouchPay kiosks, 7-Eleven, Palawan Pawnshops, Shopwise, Wellcome, 2Go outlets, Petron stations along NLEX, and Smart Padala centers down to sari-sari stores in grassroots communities, and Unionbank ATMs.

PayMaya Philippines, the country’s pioneer and leader in cashless payments, is the digital financial services arm of PLDT’s Voyager Innovations. To know more about its products and services, visit www.paymaya.com.

Hey Sugar! Shares Insider Waxing Tips to Kagay-anons as it Opens its Newest Branch in Centrio Mall

Get set for your smoothest skin ever as Hey Sugar's expert aestheticians share important waxing tips as it opens its newest branch in Centrio Mall, Cagayan de Oro.

You've taken the time to make sure you only go to experts, made sure they only use the best, highest quality, all-organic natural ingredients, might as well take the time to learn about what it takes to care for our post-waxed skin.

Here are a few insider secrets straight from the aestheticians of the go-to destination for all-natural, sugar waxing - Hey Sugar!

• Skip the lotion on the day of your appointment. For best results, we'll need clean, dry skin.
• Stop shaving at least two weeks before your appointment. Hair needs to be long enough to lie flat on your skin. Those who shave typically have hair grow back uneven, which makes removing hair using wax difficult.
• Give your skin some breathing time after you wax. Your skin will be exposed and sensitive.
• Avoid the sun after a wax. So don't schedule your appointment on the day before you leave for the beach.
• In general, avoid exposure to extreme heat, including saunas, steam rooms and hot showers. Go for old water post waxing.
• Don't wear tight clothing after an appointment, particularly synthetic lycra you usually wear as workout clothes, which also means this is your best excuse to skip the gym.
• Begin exfoliating a couple of days after waxing to make sure that you prevent ingrown hairs.

If you have any questions, just ask your Hey Sugar! aesthetician. They'll be mor than happy to answer any concerns that you may have.

You can trust that Hey Sugar will make your waxing experience healthier and more comfortable because they only use 100% naturally hypoallergenic sugar wax that minimizes side effects such as allergic reactions and chemical irritations caused by traditional wax. With this, you'll get a gentler but no less effective way to keep your skin smooth and hair-free.

Drop by Hey Sugar! located at the 2nd level of Centrio Mall and expect a clean and inviting waxing haven and leave it all to the hand of expert aestheticians trained to deliver the best sugar waxing services.

Happy Brows Opens Its Doors in the 'City of Golden Friendship'

In case you haven't heard the latest in 'brow news', the newest brow salon which seems to be the answer to every girl's beauty dilemma is finally here in Cagayan de Oro! Happy Brows brightens up everyone's day with the opening of its second branch in Centrio Mall this November 15, 2017.

If you think you've watched enough YouTube video on how to do your brows but still feel unsatisfied, now is the time to raise the matter and leave it to the brow experts. It's time to get in shape-your perfect eyebrow shape! Warm smiles will greet you as you enter and in no time, 'Happy Brows' friendly team of expert brow technicians will walk you through the path to your soon perfect brows. They offer professional consultation to determine the best and most ideal brow shape according to your unique facial features. After this enlightening step, brow shaping takes place skillfully and meticulously. Prepare to get coz in a brow salon because Happy Brow's interiors will definitely make you giddy inside.

What sets Happy Brows apart from all other brow salons in the country is that they are the only one who delivers professionally done, perfect brows every time and on top of that, you get a free eyebrow make-up to complete your look. For those with trust issues, their Money-back Guarantee would sit well with you.

With Happy Brows, you're confident to walk out looking extra and ready to win the compliments from your family and friends. Close friends will ask about how your day was and how your brows went from zero to hero and you would enthusiastically share because Happy Brows is something that you don't keep as a a secret; Happy Brows is something you can't wait to burst out to every friend because real friends look out for each other's brows.

Aside from excellent brow services, Happy Brows also offers lash perming, lash extensions and hair removal services for a total beauty treat!

Ready for a brow-makeover? Visit Happy Brows at the 2nd level of Centrio Mall now and be the first to tell your friends about it! Follow them on Facebook at /HappyBrowsPH for the latest updates and exciting promotions.

Jeon Jungkook Portrait

(This is a work in progress artwork. Finished copy is already with the owner.)

A friend asked me to draw a portrait of Jeon Jungkook of BTS and this the closest I could make. I hope I didn't disappoint her (and K-pop fans as well) but she seems happy with it.This is one of the things I've been busy doing during our semestral break. I still have pending drawings, though, but hope I could find time to finish them. Oh well.

It’s National Pampering Day at Nailaholics on October 17! (PR)

The long wait will finally be over tomorrow as Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa welcomes you once again tomorrow, October 17, 2017, for another real pampering treat at the celebration of the National Pampering Day. 

Relieve your stress and make sure to drop by at any Nailaholics branch nearest you from 10 AM to 1 PM to get a free pampering service of your choice. You may choose to get a soothing manicure, relaxing foot massage or a calming foot spa. 

And best of all, by simply participating in this year’s National Pampering Day, you will be able to support the cause of your chosen organization. You can extend your help in the rehabilitation of Marawi City by supporting World Vision, help protect our country’s rich but threatened marine and coastal resources when you support Save Philippine Seas or support The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in preventing animal cruelty. 

“With all the preparations we’ve made, we are very excited to welcome everyone tomorrow and make them feel that they deserve real pampering” said Arvin Amaro, Marketing Head of Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa. 

This is a once a year treat only from the number one pampering destination in the Philippines – Nailaholics. See you all tomorrow and Happy National Pampering Day! 

Visit www.nailaholics.com to check their services and find the branch nearest you. Get updates through their Facebook Page Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa, Twitter @_nailaholics and Instagram @_nailaholics.

Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa Celebrates the 2nd Year of National Pampering Day

When it comes to pampering on a national scale, Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa holds the only spot. After introducing the celebration of the National Pampering Day last year, Nailaholics is back at it again this 2017 with an amplified nationwide celebration of relaxation that everyone is looking forward to this October 17.

The National Pampering Day got off to a good start last year where Nailaholics offered free manicure service and a stress relieving hand massage from 10 AM to 12 NN on all their branches nationwide. This year, everyone will be treated to a free service of their choice: a soothing manicure, calming foot spa or a relaxing foot massage.

“We Filipinos are very hardworking in any given aspect of our lives and a nation of energetic and industrious people best deserves real pampering once in a while. This year, as Nailaholics celebrates the 2nd National Pampering Day, we go deeper and dedicate this to everyone and remind them to take it slow, take it easy, zone out and relax for a while.” said Arvin Amaro, Marketing Head of Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa.

“With last year’s success of the National Pampering Day, we are back this year with a bigger and much more enjoyable day of pampering. In partnership with the number one salon brand and most beloved nail lacquer brand in the world, O.P.I., National Pampering Day 2017 will accommodate more guests with the extension of pampering time until 1PM. Also, the best thing about this year’s National Pampering Day is that it will be in support to World Vision, The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), and Save Philippine Seas” added Amaro.

So save the date and get ready to park away any thoughts of work because the only responsibility you have is to loosen up. Wind down and head down to any Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa branch on October 17, 2017 (Tuesday) from 10 AM to 1 PM and get yourself a free relaxing manicure, foot spa or foot massage. 

Let Nailaholics’ skilled nail technicians take care of you for a little while and walk out of this Hamptons-inspired nail salon feeling refreshed and ready to bring it on again. Grab this once a year treat only at the country’s top destination for relaxation and real pampering. 

Visit www.nailaholics.com to check their services and find the branch nearest you. Get updates through their Facebook Page Nailaholics Nail Salon and Spa, Twitter @_nailaholics and Instagram @_nailaholics.

Another Krispy Kreme Store Opens at SM CDO Downtown Premier

Krispy Kreme welcomes another addition to its growing outlets as it unveils its newest store in SM CDO Downtown Premiere. This is the 4th store in Cagayan de Oro, following Centrio Mall, CDO Uptown and the Hot Light store in Limketkai. Krispy Kreme SM CDO Downtown Premier is set to delight their fans beginning on August 21. 

With the opening of its new store, Krispy Kreme brings a monthlong celebration of everyday moments as it offers a lineup of delightful treats. Krispy Kreme combined forces with the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company to create the deliciously satisfying Ultimate Chocolate Chiller. This cool quencher is made with unique premium, Ghirardelli chocolate doused with milk and whipped cream, sprinkled lightly with Ghirardelli chocolate chips and drizzled in rich caramel. It’s definitely a crave-worthy flavor experience that chocolate enthusiasts wouldn’t want to miss. Krispy Kreme also highlights a well-loved doughnut flavor when it released the Kit Kat Green Tea doughnut. Their newest doughnut flavor has already made waves for its doughnut fans, now making it a mainstay offering. 

Apart from these sweet treats, August is a special month for Cagayan de Oro as it celebrates the annual Higalaay Festival. Krispy Kreme joins the CDO community in celebration of the feast day of St. Augustine as it throws another delicious treat alongside opening its new store. Krispy Kreme is offering 3 Original Glazed doughnuts and any 3 Cake doughnuts for only P150 in all stores in Cagayan De Oro from August 25 to 28. Doughnut lovers are sure to get excited for more craveable melt-in-your-mouth moments with Krispy Kreme. 

These are just some of the many things to look forward to as Krispy Kreme opens its newest store in SM CDO Downtown Premier. The brand continues to bring a delightful experience to its customers through its indulgent doughnuts, great-tasting beverages and exciting creations. Discover your own #KrispyKremeMoment and visit their newest store at the Ground Floor, SM CDO Downtown Premier.

One Oasis Blogger Meeting Experience.

Good morning, people. Guess who's back from the dead.

I was given this opportunity to write down about the blogger meeting which took place in none other than One Oasis. To be frank, I was just there for the blogger sign-up, food and pool. And the view...oh, yes. The view, if only it wasn't a gloomy day, but overall, it was a great get-to-know you experience within the blogger community.

Let's get down to business, to write down the many wonders of this particular inland paradise!
 

One Oasis, CDO, is located at Rosario Limketkai Avenue, Brgy. Camaman-an, along the perimeter fence of Limketkai Complex and J.R. Borja Extension. It is a haven for those who enjoy urban resorts in the form of an Asian-Balinese inspired community of high-rise buildings set within a sprawling 2.7 hectare property  at the heart of downtown CDO. In One Oasis, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the convenience of Oasis living, be close to neighboring prime commercial centers in the city, and to enjoy how the comfort and style seamlessly blend to create well-appointed 1-BR and 2-BR units.

As an urban oasis of lush proportions, One Oasis CDO strikes a delightful balance between stylish seven-story residential buildings and rejuvenating lush greenery. This open space is over 50% of the development which includes nature-based landscapes, wide open spaces, resort-themed amenities, and wide road networks.

Enough with the advertising, I'll just give a run-through with the pictures below.

That's pretty much it for the selected pictures, thanks for reading! Chloe Orteza signing out~☺

SM CDO DOWNTOWN PREMIER EXPERIENCE

As much as I love Centrio, SM City and all the other malls in Cagayan de Oro, I guess it's time make way for the newest urban mall in town, otherwise known as SM CDO Downtown Premier!

Your argument is invalid. 😎

Photo URL: http://www.smprime.com/

It's easy to imagine what the opening of SM CDO Downtown Premier looks like, if you're used to bustling crowds. Have you seen Tokyo, Times Square and other metropolitan places in reality or even in the movies? Their crowds must have been pretty messed-up, right? Ever saw a bird's-eye view of Metallica's concert audience? Not even close. So, good luck on your first trip! But if you haven't been at SM Premier yet, at least let me help you give a tour around Cagayan de Oro's newest urban development based on my experience or what you see in the pictures.

 Stage one of shopping apocalypse...(photo by Mindanao Daily)

http://www.cdodev.com/2017/05/12/random-shots-day-1-of-sm-cdo-downtown-premier/

 OH MY GOD...!!!! 

Photo credit:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFI871ZaREE

Residents in the City of Golden Friendship have more to smile about when SM CDO Downtown Premier opened its doors last Friday, May 12, 2017. SM CDO Downtown Premier brings an uptown vibe to the downtown area with its eclectic mix of shopping, relaxation and entertainment. It is a vibrant retail intersection where one can find global brands like Forever 21, Uniqlo (to open on June), Miniso, The Body Shop, Watsons, Ace Hardware, Crocs, Giordano and Oakley, as well as well-loved Filipino brands like National Bookstore, Bench (to open soon) and Penshoppe.

Now, skipping the formal advertising, I shall blog about my experience.

To be fair, I didn't expect much of SM CDO Downtown Premier at first. I thought of it as another small-town mall, like its uptown twin. It was at first of tiny significance to me, until, of course, she told me that my Tito Cyril was coming along.

The sight of the glowing yellow lights, the subtle yet vibrant color, the sheer size and its beautiful glass assets felt like an insulting smack to my face, as if the whole building told me, Look who's talking! Nonetheless, I was amazed. It is basically the mall of my dreams...erm, sans the bustling crowd and the fact that I forgot my jacket. The first thing that caught my eye was not a fancy boutique, or a toy store. It wasn't even a resturant in all of its scrumptious glory. It was the cosplayers of the main cast from Guardians of the Galaxy: Mary Poppi--erm, Yondu, Peter Quill, Drax, a still-an-adult Groot and Gamora (don't ask about Baby Groot and Rocket Racoon). 

  ...seems legit...right?

But of course, time doesn't pass by without me being hungry. Terribly hungry. Thankfully, mum was kind enough to let Tito Cyril and I hang around in Starbucks for a bit. Change of plans, though--Starbucks was crowded and we had nowhere else to go except Coffee Bean. For the whole time we basically killed time through a famous ritual called Getting-To-Know-You. I can't talk about it, it's irrelevant to this topic.

Anyways, back to the story! Our next target was Greenwich, and oh, man...I did not expect the lechon to be served.There was also chicken, lasagna, carbonara, caramel bars, it was the perfect paradise for a big eater, like me. There was even a colossal pizza, but sad to say that was not meant for customers. What a waste of perfectly good food.

 You, sir, are a delicious ray of sunshine.

 

Also the both of you.

Let me tell you a fact: I barely able finished my meal in just a few seconds before going to Forever 21, and sad to say, their giveaway snacks were consumed. Never mind that--the products were great and, along with a large discount. All of them were just twenty-one percent off. They had my type of clothes. They were the whole package, and what made it better was that I had an accidental run-in with my closest friend from our old school. I would've bought everything else I liked but well, what we had was enough.

   

  Forever 21 products (21% off only during the soft opening, sorry!)

Here are a few bonus pics of my SM Premier experience:

 Bow to the First Order!

 Spread the  news, fellow bronies!

 Miniso products ^_^

BOW TO THE POWER OF KAWAII!

Killing time before wasting some more :P

Welcome to Downtown SM CDO , the whole package of a a rich and upscale shopping paradise. And if any of you are complaining...well, you don't know what you've missed.

MY YOLO EXPERIENCE: PARAGLIDING

Chloe again, back to writing after several weeks of absence and a vacation in my way (sorry, not sorry). As I've said, I'm going to narrate an utterly unforgettable experience, which, if you were in it, will have you either regretting it, enjoying it or...like me, craving for some more.

Curious? Very well, I hope you can learn something from this sky-high experience.

It started off as a normal day for me, with the summer art classes and whatnot, going home and expecting a home-alone break time for me. Surprise! Dad informed me that Mom cancelled my tutorial appointment in Ready Minds Learning Center, so I got to go on the free trip with her. Yay! Being in a blogger meeting for the first time, I expected there to be boring talk, then food. But Poseidon's underpants, I was wrong.

Dabmaster is back XD

Instead of personal private transportation, we got to ride in a giant van cramped up with bloggers everywhere, but it was fun. If you define fun as not-knowing-anyone-and-not-talking-to-them-with-earphones-on, yeah. Things got a whole lot interesting as we arrived on an elevated area, only to see nothing but a barren fountain and an attractive glass terrace. Who cares--the skyline view was glorious. The day was hot, yes, but none of that mattered. Being that nature-loving kid over there, I stayed on the top floor longer than others, besides my mom.

What made my day better was the cafe and diner at the lower floor, with its soothing, homey feel and meals, and the scenic view of the horizon. There, the pilots welcomed us, inviting us to a paragliding adventure--but what's an adventure without the rules? Well, first of all, you have to make sure there's a lot of wind blowing in. Second, you've gotta have a licensed pilot with you, even if you're already good at paragliding. Third, (no offense) they will prioritize those who are approximately 50 kilograms or a few more. Me being me, I don't take track of my weight, but, oh well!

Waiting for my turn didn't bore me out--in fact, it it entertained me, watching the reactions of the other bloggers--some screaming, some gleeful, some utterly nervous up to the point they signed out. I wasn't really nervous, or excited--in fact, it felt like a normal day. Mom, being mom, gave me a tight hug once it was my turn, and I asked her to owe me a chocolate frappe once I go back (during that time, I was assuming I'd return. Oops).

Paragliding was not how I expected it to be. I was so stupid to think we'd jump off the roof, go Peter Pan, weeee...! You had to take minutes to prepare, and wait for the wind to come across. I was given instructions to keep running in mid-air, and was told that jumping may be the worst option. Oh, and I forgot to mention, Sir Titoy was my assigned pilot that time. He was a nice guy, actually. I'd thank him for the experience I am now about to tell you.

What is it like above the air, you ask? Some people require extra guts and glory to enjoy it, but me being me, I walked off the roof without any qualms, nor a negative thought on what may happen next. And WHOOSH! A brightly decorated parachute flies off not far from the horizon, caught by the updraft of winds, Was it scary? Not even zero percent. It was, and is, and always will be gloriously amazing (with a slight nausea on the side). I felt weightless, and by following the instructions I felt like I was god ol' Jason Grace, soaring above like a bird. It wasn't scary, even. It was the best feeling ever...despite the fact that the ride will only last three minutes. The landing was soft, even. But just staring straight ahead felt as if time stopped--and I loved it.

I got my frappe after all, anyways. It was delicious...although a little too sweet, but tasty nonetheless. Dinner didn't really help my post-aerial stress, but the spicy chicken wings were enough to satisfy my partially empty stomach.I may have drunken all the water back there,I'm sorry, but how else was I supposed to relieve my headache?

Chillin'...literally.

Woops, I forgot to mention that they have the best sunsets, right? No words could describe it. Heck, it was beyond description, and it was enchanting, timeless and it gave me a nostalgic feeling. I don't know how many photos I took, but if the camera's out of memory, I don't regret it.

Thank me for this fabulous photo, fellow hombres :)

Welcome to Sierra del Oro, folks. The upscale and sky-high soon-to-be paradise of your dreams.

TOURISM IN THE SKIES

Welcome to the newly-opened adventure at Hugo Sky Lounge, Sierra del Oro at Indahag, Cagayan de Oro City. It's the place of your frappe-filled, sky-high and scenic dreams! Buckle up your seatbelts, mates, because you're about to hear a whole lot of awesome in this blog. And you're going to wish you were there, too.

If you're the type of person who likes a good view of the sunset and a starry night, then I'll hand you some information. If you enjoy easygoing cafe bossa nova jazz and sipping on either a cool iced venti or a cappucino, the place I just told you about might be for you. If you're that person who likes to go on crazy and risky (literally) sky-high adventures and go pet dangerous wild animals, what can I say except, you're welcome!

The CDOBloggers (whoa, I wasn't aware that I am one, already!) and their kids were invited for the soft opening and an exclusive Paragliding experience at Sierra del Oro on April 26 and April 28, 2017. At the site you can find the Hugo Skye Lounge cafe which offers good food and your probably your favorite pastries and shakes (if you have an extremely sweet tooth), a jazz restaurant, and soon-to-be-opened Noah's Ark zoo (watch out for the animatronics), and possibly a pool. 

I've got a lot more to say but it's currently up my bedtime so the Sierra del Oro Paragliding Adventure, the main attraction for the day, will be discussed more in my next blog...so cross your fingers, viewers!

(Sigh...) I really need to get some rest now. Chloe Orteza, signing out for. ☺

 

Movie Reviews: GHOST IN THE SHELL (2017)

We all heard of sci-fi stories, and especially the ones with cyborgs in it. Originally, movies like these were perceived as quite cliche when it comes to cyborgs--mindless humans under the control of a machine, and dangerous ones. We also heard of whitewashed films, and with the last Dragon Ball Z mayhem, I wasn't so sure at first with this, seeing as this film was adapted from its respective manga and anime series, and the leading character is a white.

But guess what? This film broke barriers. It defied cliches, followed the true plot and despite its violence, roused the audience. I was no exception. It is a truly amazing movie, even giving us a moral lesson on the virtue of humanity.

If you never heard of the anime series, I don't think you spoiler-haters aren't fit to read this.

Ghost in the Shell is a 2017 American science fiction and action directed by Rupert Sanders and written by Jamie Moss, William Wheeler and Eren Kruger, based on the Japanese manga and anime of the same name by Masamune Shirow. It film stars Scarlett Johansson, Takeshi Kitano, Michael Pitt, Pilou Asbæk, Chin Han and Juliette Binoche. Set in a near future when the line between humans and robots is blurring, the plot follows the Major (Johansson), a cyborg supersoldier who yearns to learn her past.

If you're looking for whitewashed versions, here ya go. It's got 10/10 accuracy and...whatever's on the plate. Don't go looking for Avatar or Attack on Titan or Dragon Ball Z (just no), go for the Ghost in the Shell.

Trust me, you're gonna wish you got a cyberkinetic body just to watch this repeatedly, without any health effects.