Ms. Philippines-Earth Candidates visit STI

Summer is a time when beauty pageants from all over the country take center stage. The Philippines is the home of so many pageants that almost every city has a miss like this or miss like that who in turn will help promote their place as the ambassador or ambassadress of their city. One pageant that continues to put significance and deeper meaning to beauty pageants is the Ms. Philippines –Earth beauty pageant.

This pageant is different for it uses the search for Ms. Philippines-Earth as a vehicle to help spread awareness about relevant environmental issues in the country and abroad. This pageant has become a very much anticipated event that a lot of people call the candidates “Beauties for a cause!”

As the pageant goes on its tenth year the Ms. Philippines-Earth organizers has invited STI as the provider of computers and tabulations systems for the pageant. Aside from that, the five title holders will each receive a gift of knowledge worth P 100,000 each that can help them get quality education from the only school that has an enrolment to employment system – STI.

At the forefront of putting STI back as computer providers is Ms. Philippines-Earth 2007 Jeanne Harn who herself is a former Ms. STI title holder. The coronation night of Miss Philippines Earth 2010 is on April 25, 2010 telecast live on ABS-CBN and The Filipino Channel which is the most-watched Filipino channel for Philippine news, entertainment and advocacies in the Filipino communities worldwide. The candidates will work hand-in-hand with the Miss Earth Foundation in worthwhile projects such as the “I Love My Planet Earth” School and Community Tours, watershed rehabilitation programs and coastal management initiatives.

As sponsors, STI invited the candidates of Ms. Philippines -Earth to the STI Academic Center. The girls were given a tour of the building by yours truly and judging from the many smiles and laughs of the candidates we can conclude that they enjoyed the tour. Good luck girls and hope some of you who visited will win the crown.

Olympians and Beauty Queens do mix

The STI College Olympians were all excited to entertain visitors to their practice - candidates of Ms. Philippines - Earth 2010. Everyone took time to wait for the beauties and the candidates were worth the wait as when they arrived they were greeted by the Olympians with a welcome streamer. Picture taking and a little introductions came after that. Here are highlights of the visit.

A lovely welcome to Henri

Ms. Cagayan de Oro pose

with the CDO Boys

Norman is wall smiles!

Who wouldn't

Ivan and Raffy pose with the beauties

My Boracay Vacation

Time alone is very important, it makes you reflect on your life and plan your next few months. I went to Boracay to help a friend in an event and wound up working and having fun at the same time. Remember the old cliche that goes like this - Look for a job that you enjoy and you won't have to work for the rest of your life. That's why I enjoy doing things like this which I call my "this is the life" moments. I am just so happy to have chances and opportunities to work and be in vacation at the same time.

First day was a Thursday, April 9 and I was part of the 20 people together with the Hernandez clan. We were quite lucky since our flight was on time and was just late in taking off because of the tarmac traffic. We took the Sea Air 8:15 flight and was in Caticlan a little over 9 am. The flight was quite scary because the engine of the airplane took quite a while to settle down. During the time before we took off the engines were sounding weak which made me think of not so good things. Luckily we took off and landed a little over 9 am at Caticlan.

Our group was then brought to the shores of Microtel Inn and Suites. We were quite lucky since we did not take the usual route which was dock at the Boracay wharf and ride an L300 mini van to the hotel which usually takes another 45 minutes with all the waiting and transporting of bags. We arrived at Boracay a little before 10 am and I met up with my good friend Dennis Evangelista for some briefing.

Dennis and I talked until lunch and it was then when I met up with the rest of the team. After lunch I took a little nap and woke up at around 3:00 pm to prepare for the afternoon brieifing. Lo and behold the other team members were still stuck in the airport which made Dennis cancel the afternoon activities and utter my favorite words - Free time! Well, it was nice going to the main island, buy a few things and explore the island alone. The quiet time was well deserved.

The next two days was work from 9am to 11 am and 4pm to 5:30 pm with lots of free time in between. The free time made me rest and explore the place, take pictures and just enjoy the scenery. The evenings were filled with sumptuous dinners and enjoyable entertainment which was emceed by yours truly.By the time sunday came I was quite hesitant to go back to Manila because I really had a nice stay and is looking forward to go back to the Island Paradise. So who wants to go with me?

Hernandez Team Building Day 2 Video

Second Day of

the Hernandez Family

Team Building Activities!
All they wanted to do

was just have some fun!

Hernandez Boracay Team Building Day 1

Is your family this big and this happy?
The Hernandez Family is so big
that they needed a Team Building
event so that all family members,
young and not so young anymore

would be able to bond with each other.

Just see for yourself!

Hernandez Team Building

In the corporate world, a lot of big companies shell out a big sum of money to create a team building seminar or even workshop for their employees. These companies believe that a good relationship between employees should be established so that all of them would be comfortable working with each other thus the company mission and vision is met, more sales are done and the company earns a lot.

Well, not only companies have team building sessions. For the past three years I have been helping out in a Team Building session to further improve the family ties of the Hernandez clan. This family is so big that most of the cousins, the uncles and the other 3rd to fourth generation kids do not bond well with each other thus the team building. This year it was back to Boracay in the very secluded area where Microtel hotel is located. Here are some highlights from the Hernandez Team Building in Boracay.

Here are the gurls

climbing up the pole

to take off a tire

The Yellow team

Show everyone how

coffee is poured to a can

This time

its the Blue Team's

turn to show them how

This is how they have fun

Bagtas - Sandal Maker

Everytime I visit Boracay I make it a point to bring my favorite souvenir item and that is the genuine Boracay sandals. There is this sandal maker in Boracay whose craft is so unique and good that they have added other lines of products through the years. The name of the store is BAGTAS.

They used to occupy a place in the market place of Boracay and since the market has been torn apart for many years now, they have found a place inside D'Mall, Boracay's version of a mall with no airconditioning but quite a number of good establishments and Bagtas is one of them.

One thing that I liked when I ordered my favorite simple design of my sandals is that the guys who make the sandals will do the merchandise in front of you. The people behind the store took 30 minutes to do my sandals and it gave me time to look at other stores and go back to get what I bought for P 200 only. A great souvenir item. I must say I have around 8 pairs already.

Besides the sandals I bought there are a lot of customizable sandals or slippers that you can order and buy just then and there. In this picture are the designs that you can look at to give you and idea how creative these guys can be. So when in Boracay do not think twice of getting a pair at Bagtas.

Microtel Hotel Boracay

There are lots of hotels that people frequent in Boracay and one of my favorites is the Microtel Hotel which is located on the southernmost part of the Island. Microtel Inn and Suites in Boracay is just one of the Hotels that Microtel has made with other branches in Baguio, Cavite and Puerto Princesa just to mention a few.

The place is nice and the price is affordable for upper class c onwards who want to have a great hotel in a secluded place. Three years ago when I first visited this hotel I was quite disappointed knowing that it was far from stations 1 to 3 and that a one way tricycle ride will to the busiest part of the island would make me pay P 100. But the people of Microtel have vision, the clients that they have are people who simply want a quite place to rest, enjoy and just do their usual things without much fanfare.

After visiting the main part of the Island which was crowded by so many people it made me understand why being at that part of the island is a blessing. The serene look at the beach and the ethereal bliss that goes with it when you want some quiet time is something that cannot be found in the main beach.

To address the transportation concern, the hotel has shuttle schedules for their clients which really helps a lot. I remember going to D'Mall and shuttling back just to get a glimpse of the wonderful sun that sets beautifully on this part of the island. Truly seclusion is a nice conclusion.

Above is a sample of the room that awaits to be slept in or used. As you can see each bed has three big pillows so you don't need to call housekeeping to ask for additional pillows. What made me happy was the fact that free WiFi can be accessed in any part of the hotel. Truly it is a great experience to be in this hotel.

My Favorite Boracay Destinations

Boracay is a place that I enjoy frequenting and I believe that a lot of people who has visited the place are one in saying that they too would like to make it a yearly thing. Its so nice to note that the past four years I have been in Boracay at least once a year and have tried out the nice and good hotels and also the cheap ones. Since I love frequenting the place let me just share some places that I visit when I am there.

Ever since I was a frequent visitor of Boracay I made it a point to go to Bagtas. Bagtas is a store that specializes in foot wear and has also added other products to their line of things to sell. Because of this I make it a point to buy at least one sandal for every visit.



If I were to think how many times I have been to Boracay, the answer would definitely be near the number of shirts I bought at Island Souvenirs. Ever since 2002 I have made it a point to buy at least an Island Souvenir shirt every time I visit popular destinations like Davao, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Boracay is no exception. The best shirts are always found at Island Souvenirs! Is that correct Jay!

In Manila I have always been a fan of the Pancake house. It is a place that I go to eat because I really love their Tacos. Just like what I have always said and will say again, the Pancake House makes the best Tacos in the country. Shame on the Mexican Restaurants, Tacos at the Pancake house are very juicy and delicious and because of that the other remaining food on the menu becomes delicious also.

Mang Inasal I think originated in Iloilo and just like that spread all over the country. This restaurant is another favorite because of the way Ilonggos make chicken. What's more enticing is the fact that they have a rice all you can policy which is very much very enticing to rice eaters like me. This restaurant is not a secret anymore for a lot of people from Metro Manila enjoy their food and so are the visitors of BOracay.

Just recently we ate at this restaurant and the barbecue is so much very juicy and very delicious. Their wide array of food is just like eating in an American restaurant. The servings are also great and the side dishes very much welcome.


For first timers, the place in Boracay that is "mall-like" is D'mall. Located at the heart of station 2 it is the place where people look for good cheap food despite the other good restaurants along the Boracay strip. Here there is also a wall for wall climbing, a place to play shoot out basketball and also lots of establishments to buy almost everything under the sun.

Lastly, another hit food outlet in Boracay is Crazy Crepes. While I was at the Block in SM North Edsa I saw a branch of this wonderful store that sells almost more than 50 different kinds of crepes. Their crepes is something that will definitely help out ease the summer sun and its presentation makes it easy to eat on the run.

STI Television Commercial 2010

The STI Television Commercial for 2010

Launched during the

easter shows on channels 2 and 7.

Education for Real Life

Garrido Family Outing

The family that has fun together

stays happy together

Every since we were kids we always look forward to summer since our parents would bring us to one of the beaches in Cavite for a summer swim. Back then, Boracay was still not a byword and Cavite beaches were in however gray their sands are. Yes, back then when we were kids we never really complained since it was the only place where we went. After a few more years when things were going pretty well my father would share expenses with his friends for a private pool in Los Baños Laguna.

That's me with Josh, Bujoy,

Janis, Janiza and Mikko

Fast forward to the 90's which was right around the time when I was working at Toyota and my brothers and sisters got married and conceived children. I continued on with the tradition by having a Black Saturday outing at Splash Island. Now the tradition has been passed and my nephews and nieces always look forward to our little out of town and picnic.

Josh, Janiza, Manang Beth, Ate Timmy,

Bujoy, Kuya Arnel and Mikko

The swimming is actually just part of it since I myself look forward to the sumptuous meal prepared by my sisters. This time around it was my eldest sister who treated us since her birthday is just a week away. This year the place she picked is the Villa Cristina in Antipolo. The place is just right for a one day affair.

Bujoy and Marc having fun

This is a great time to bond with my nephews and nieces, my brothers and sisters and my mom. The thing that excites me the most is the lunch prepared by my sisters. In this trip, we were around twenty, yours truly, Mama, Ate Beth and Matthew, Kuya Arnel, Wife Timmy and Kids, Louie, Ton with gf Shiela, Mikko with gf Janiza, Janis, Bujoy and Shobe. Elaiza was with Josh and Marc. Then our other guests Gaga and her husband and daughter. It was another fun vacation and now we are planning next year's outing.

Kuya Arnel showing the way

to a sumptuous meal

Cristina Villas in Antipolo

Lying just in the heart of Antipolo City is a place called Cristina Villa Mountain Resorts. Here are some snap shots of the Hotel and Resort that amazed me considering the bigness of the place and its somehow still a big secret to the people in Metro Manila.

THere are so many pools but we stayed on this side of the pool. Here it is shown being cleaned by the crew.

It is a perfect place for a picnic since you can bring anything you like and there are places where you can grill. As shown here there are a lot of people preparing and grilling their food.

Plans for expansion are also underway as this pool as shown here is on the finalization stage. Well if we plan to go back then there will be more pools to go to. The trip was quite okay considering the entrance fee is just P 150 per head. Value for money.

My Facebook account was disabled

For no apparent reason at all, I really don't know why facebook disabled my account. Probably they want me to pray this Holy Week and not just spend so much time on the computer. I hope facebook can still give back my account since I hook up with a lot of friends there. I just pray its an April Fool's day hoax!