Bicol Bloggers Outreach 2017

All throughout the year we serve fellow Bicolanos online. Last December 23, 2017 (Saturday) and to start a tradition, we took the time to disconnect online to reach the ‘offline’ families of Patitinan and Consocep for Bicol Bloggers #BBChristmas Outreach Tour. Instead of going to usual charity houses, we drove to these two areas and looked for 50 homes and give out joy from the bloggers and most importantly our partners.

Together with one of our collaborator, JCI Naga Inc., we did an ocular visit prior to Saturday to identify remote families whom we can surprise for Christmas. As we draw close to Saturday, additional support came right after another. I was really overwhelmed with the response of my friends and brands who believe in what we are doing.

The trip was of dual purpose, to give out some joy and Christmas surprise and to feature the beauty of Patitinan and Consocep, thus the idea of having the activity as an outreach and a tour at the same time.

It’s diffucult to organize an outreach while having a day job, but with the right people to help you, everything will run smoothly and for this I’m really thankful. When we reached Sagñay, Camarines Sur, the rain was pouring hard, but when we started to deliver the goods, the sun came out until the end of our outreach. It was really a blessed day indeed.

All this is made possible with the help of our major sponsors:

• Bicol Bloggers Members for our basic grocery packs
• Chevrolet, Foton, Nissan, Honda and Subaru CamSur of JLo Auto Group - for our sliegh - The Nissan Urvan, Foton Toplander and Chevrolet Sail
• Atlantic Bakery - for the Chiffon Cakes and Nutri Slice
• Chef & Baker - for our thanksgiving cakes
• JCI Naga Inc. and JJC Naga - for the sacks of rice and the collaboration - more please! Doreen for the fruits and Charlton for the pancit canton.
• Golden Egg - for that ultimate noodles
• EMBallon Engineering Consultancy - for the financial assistance
• Naga Crushing Rock Dev't Corp - for the financial assistance
• Bicol Biomass Energy Corporation -for the financial assistance
• Julia Ads - for our tarpaulin 
• JLo Big Heart Foundation - for the vitamins and deworming meds for the kids

Photo by Frances and Flair

Photo by Frances and Flair

Thank you as well to Tita Dada Llaguno for accommodating us in their beautiful rest house.

Dios mabalos po sa gabos. Bicol Bloggers Family for your contribution. Sir Jojo of Chevrolet CamSur for paving the way of providing us not just one but three transpo, Ms Kim of Atlantic Bakery for the trust, Jobo of JCI Naga Inc. and new found friends, Kookai of Black and White Scribbles and Yvette Ducut for looking for other partners. Didi, Chia, Michael, Kira The Yorkie, Ivy of Handpanted Sky and Ms Kharen, JCI Naga Inc boys and the energetic Baby Jaycees, JLo Auto Group and JLo Big Heart Foundation reps for your presence and the rest of BB members who were there in spirit. We did it!

#BicolBloggers

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#IAmUrbanBrave

I live in a city with a "probinsya feels". My life has been revolving around my day job and my passion as a blogger. I have recently made it a point to do two things that I love at the same time. My online life as a blogger has contributed so much to my day job being in the academe. It took me quite some time to figure it out and living in this part of the world will mean gadgets and accessories that will fit my lifestyle.Work, leisure, travel, blog, teach and do office work, oh wait I forgot, I am still a member of my family. We all have different roles in our lives and we need the right accessories, gadgets, bags and other things that will make our lives easier and comfortable.

Photo taken during my Urban trip to Taguig this April.

 I see to it that when I purchase products, it should be something that can be useful in my line of work and my passion at the same time. Aside from the functions, it should be durable and long lasting that could withstand unwanted elements. There's always the option to get the affordable ones but quality is at stake. Patience and saving up can go a long way so to speak and it does save the environment too, like avoiding yourself to trash immediately low quality products. So I checked out this store, Urbanize which is a haven of "Supplies for the Urban Adventure" and found so many items that would complement my daily needs and lifestyle in general.

First would be something to deliver a primary need which is to stay hydrated using the Hydrapak Stash collapsible bottle. This is really a space saver when not in use, genius! This is perfect for my weekend getaways!

I bet that if you have a friend or a relative who is a teacher, going to and from work will always look like as if you are bringing school work to your home. Preparing lessons, checking papers etc. is always part of being a teacher. This Sherpani Camden Tote/Crossbody/Backpack (Birch) is really one way to still look fab despite all the things that a teacher needs to bring home. I'm almost a decade old in the academe and never a day passed by that I used a small bag lol.

My third must-have would be this Urbanize flattop backpack. There are days that I transform to a blogger after office hours. This means that I have to bring with me my camera and necessary blogging accessories whenever we have blogging duties in the city alongside my existing office things. Carrying my essentials is like function and fashion at the same time with this backpack.

Let's face it, urban jungles also breed bad elements. Being vigilant and wise are two important characteristics these days especially for professionals. The anti-theft features of this Lewis N. Clark Secura collection utilizes straps with embedded stainless steel cables, has flexible Magnaloft™ fabric panels provide slash protection in critical compartments, with superb Locking hardware and zippers and RFID blocking features for identity theft protection. This is definitely a must-have especially for our hard-earned investments. Exploring the world can definitely be this confident with the Secura collection. 

Working people move to places not only for leisure but for growth. Part of my work also brings me to Metro Manila for training, conferences, conventions and the like. I have always been a backpack person for my travels to the metro and this 27L rugged pack designed for comfort of transport and protection of digital essentials called the Thule Paramount will obviously do the job. A 2-3 days conference in Manila is definitely easy-peasy with this bag.

This is from our last work/leisure trip to the Metro a few weeks ago.

  

I hope the  next time I have this kind of photo, it's an Urbanize product on my back. :)

So there, if you want to check out their line of  brands and Urban Adventure supplies, head on to their Facebook page HERE or website http://www.urbanize.com.ph

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Be bold and beautiful! SM Woman Naga brings that latest styling tips to Bicolanas

SM WOMAN Naga brings to Bicolanas a free Summer Styling Event held last March 22, 2017 at the ground floor of The SM Store of SM City Naga. Levenson Rodriguez, a clothier partner and an educator  at the Institute of Creative Entrepreneurship Partner in House Manila, Creatur-in-chief of Fashion Designers Alliance Manila has brought the freshest summer styling tips that are also given to the stars. 

There were three batches of ladies who personally received tips and advises as to what are the available options that SM Woman has for every woman. Also shared, were confidence tips to further boost the self-esteem of the ladies who joined the event. True to the hashtag #FashionforEveryWoman, SM Woman has a variety of collection from the botanicals which houses the flowery and nature designs, the nauticals which come in stripes or lines, romantics which covers the beachwear or resort wear, the corporate attires, the go to wears and all the other accessories that we can mix and match for the outfits.   

The ladies were challenged to step out of their comfort zone to try something new. Summer is not only for the skinny and sexy bodies, SM aims to show the true form of women covering all figures when it comes to fashion. "Sexyness" is now beyond the figures, the styling event has definitely gave the audience the view women who should become bold and beautiful in their own little ways with the right outfit but without overdoing it. 

So for this summer, my dear fellow Nagueñas, try something new and I think in my own little way too I was able to challenge myself last February. It was my first time to buy a crop top summer wear from Coco Cabana and thankfully I was able to overcome that shyness little by little when I wore it at Stonehouse Gardens Resort. haha Remember that it's all in the mind guys! Comfort comes after the struggle during the first time you wore something new, we just have to overcome them, plus a little affirmation from our friends and family which can always do the trick in boosting our self-confidence. 

The new SM Woman delivers a new look for the modern woman and the everyday woman. 

Have you seen the collection already? Head on to the SM Store and have your outfits ready for your summer travels! 

  

For style updates, follow SM Woman at :
IG: @smwoman
Twitter: @_SMWoman
@gtwbysm

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Bicol Bloggers Turns 2!

Naga City - Here in the heart of Bicol as I write these random thoughts I came across our group (Bicol Bloggers) photos recollecting how far we've come not only as bloggers but as friends. We never see each other as a competitor. We see each other as a source of insight and inspiration for us to continue what we love to do. Our clicks just keep coming. Never a dull moment with my fellow bloggers. 

Writing is sometimes lonely. Bloggers demystify the where-to-gos, where-to-eats and just random thoughts that come across our thinking caps. While it is an extension of what we feel, see and touch, readers will always have the final say to whether the place is nice or not. Ain't it lonely when you and your readers don't meet half way? But, that's reality, and it helps us grow.

Getting a good grip and angle isn't an easy task. As we put it, the struggle is real when you do a flatlay just like in food blogging. Balance is important as you pose behind the camera, the behind the scenes are just hilarious and therapeutic just as it is. And oh the hands, hands and nails should be clean as it becomes the face and an ornament to the whole set up.

We love to make fun of ourselves. It's something that we cherish in every blogging duty that we have. We discover more of our own styles as we grow together as a blogging family. Blogging is not just about money, it's about the passion that we continue to harness each and every day and sharing it to others. There's nothing wrong in earning through your blog, but taking advantage of the invitations from businesses and personalities is something we dot not adhere to.

We spend and invest on the quality of what we post, but all these happen without any regret esp when you love what you're doing. Annual domain registration, gadgets to fuel our passion for a qualitative output and the list just keeps coming. While others see it as a business, we at Bicol Bloggers treasure our experiences together and the places we feature, because... Blogging as a passion is a lifelong commitment and not a monthly subscription. We put our very essence into what we post, like, and share.

 

It's just 2 years and yet we have shared good memories already and I'm very much excited to creating more memories with you guys in the future. Happy 2nd Anniversary to us Bicol Bloggers!

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10 Summer Essentials of a Blogger and an Office Girl

Summer is almost here. I just had my pre-summer getaway in Camarines Norte last Chinese Lunar New Year and boy it was freezing. Talk about cold summer nights literally. I and my officemates had no other schedule available wherein most of us are free plus more work is upon us when summer time officially starts. (A separate blog post will be dedicated to the Caringo Island 2016 visit)

Traveling has a subjective requirement when it comes to gears that we have to bring. Here are my summer essentials if you are someone like me who frequently go on long road trips, island hopping and a little bit of hiking / chasing waterfalls BUT you just can't let go of your office works. It doesn't matter if you are a blogger or not, again, your essentials would be dependent on your purpose of traveling.

1 -4 Camera, Power Bank, Netbook, Mobile Phone. Many of you already know that I'm just a part-time blogger. Whenever I go on trips, I usually bring with me office works especially when there are urgent matters. Thus, the netbook is almost always a requirement for me. But then again it depends on the kind of trips that I'm going to. Mum got this @acerph #AcerOne10 that I am actually loving because of its functionality and power, (obviously why I ended using it more than my mum does). Let's face it, iPads and stand alone tablets still has limits and typing on a keyboard makes me think better. This Acer One 10 is really for keeps! I do not own any DSLR yet, that's still part of my bucketlist for quite a time already. But thanks to my supportive friends like @iamrjb and Kuya Pao for always being my savior when I need good cameras. A power bank is a must for people like us who are always on the go. I usually carry two with me, enough for a day since I usually use the data connection a lot. I just re-contracted from Globe, I'm currently using an iPhone 6s for my daily updates. To be honest, it actually makes me lazy to bring bulky cameras. Taking photos, editing and posting them is much more easier right? Mobile phones and your travel apps come in handy when you get lost. Just make sure you have your data connection with you. 

5 - Sports Camera. Dashcam in my case. I'll have to invest still on a sports camera..(Update: March 2016, I was able to invest on a GoPro Hero 4 Session, yey!) Any watersports junkie like you might be into sports camera. You can check out my dascham videos on my Facebook Page and Instagram account. Bought this dashcam at Hypertech Computers at the ALDP Mall along Diversion Road. HERE's my review on the Transcend DrivePro 220 dashcam.

6 - Swim wear. Well of course, as an office girl I usually cover up myself whenever I go on beach trips and island hopping. Branded apparels like Speedo is a good investment too. When it's for swimming, Speedo is one of the trusted brands in the market. 

Speedo Swim Gears

7 - 8 Dry Bag and Dry Pouch for your Mobile Phone and other gadgets. This photo below was during our Colasi Falls adventure last year. After an hour of hiking, before you get to the falls you'll even submerge your self in waist-deep water. Thankfully I really brought my dry bag. This dry bag is from Ace Hardware for only P199.75 it can carry 5 liters of weight and it floats on water. Yes it does! Mine is already a year old and is still in good condition. Just have to clean it properly every after trip. It has a good quality too, thicker than most dry bags I have seen around here in Naga. 

9. Bag. I usually bring with me our North Face Bags. If it's an overnight stay, I usually bring the small one on the left but if it's a 2 to 3 days trip, I usually bring the orange one. I use these bags because it has a cushion at the back perfect for my netbook if I usually bring one. The straps make everything secure at your back and your torso.

This was last February 2015 during my Sorsogon escapade. Read about my trip HERE.

10. Sunblock. Beach bums be like, pour on your sunblock before going to the beach. Well for the most it, I think it only lessens the tans. But if you plan on getting tanned during summer, just put a little to achieve the color that you want. 

There you go, your essentials might be different from mine. Oh I forgot, bring along with you, prayers. It's always nice to start and end your trip with a prayer. I'm also looking forward to my Catanduanes trip this March. My first inter-island province to be featured on my blog. *excited*. Summer is here, can you also share your summer essentials on the comments below? Be sure you are Summer 2016 ready.

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