Sunnies FACE Razz Airblush Review

Its been a while since my last review of skincare and makeup. Ill make it a point to squeeze in a skincare/makeup story every month, please bear with me.

I have been hearing a lot about Sunnies face products from friends and relatives abroad. Some of my relatives would want to order it online or pasabuy from the Phil. I dont know what the buzz is all about. Until, I get to try their Girl Crush lipstick.

That was the only thing I bought since I have been using 3 lipsticks alternately (from MAC, Sephora and Estee Lauder) . When I got home, I forgot about the lipstick and stashed it inside the car compartment. I chanced upon it after 3 days. I've tested it and it looked good on me, I am morena but the color suits me.  It's creamy and buttery.  It glides on smoothly, even if it has matte finish. The color is reddish brown.  Girl Crush is a keeper. Just remember to put on your favorite lipbalm first so as to prevent lip cracks, if you are just a first timer. 

may pagka reddish pink or berry sya 

Last year of April before flying to Singapore, I passed by Sunnies Face in Glorietta. I heard that they have a new blush on product. 

I saw Martine Ho's IG post about the airblush takbo na agad ako to Glorietta to try it. Dahil atat ako I picked the Razz. Kse maganda naman sya when I tried it on sa store. Pero when I saw na merun naman palang coral pigment, sbi ko Ill be back to get one. 

The Razz look on my cheeks 

The airblush has a cream to powder formulation. So madali lang syang iblend sa cheek. 

The ultimate guide to achieving the perfect work-from-home makeup

Looking your best every day is definitely a must and the enhanced community quarantine is definitely not an excuse to skip your beauty routine.   For those who are working from home and frequently need to attend online meetings, remember that you can skip the fancy skirts and opt for comfy PJs but you definitely can’t put in less effort on your face.  

Below are some useful makeup tips to appear smart and crisp for your next Zoom or Facetime meeting: 

Look fresh. You are no longer beating the rush of everyday traffic so the most important tip is to make your skin look healthy and glowing. To achieve this, apply a small amount of Ever Bilena Pro Flawless Finish Foundation starting from the middle of your face, outwards blending properly using your fingertips or Ever Bilena Blend Me Sponge. This liquid foundation provides full coverage that will give you a flawless finish.

Conceal. The last thing you would want to look like on your online meeting is tired and sleepless. Cover your dark circles from working overtime or binge-watching your favorite show on Netflix with an ample amount of concealer. On top of your foundation, apply Ever Bilena Liquid Concealer on the darkest shadows of your eye bags to even out the color of your under eye. You may also use it to spot conceal your unwanted skin imperfections.

Don’t overdo your eyeshadow.  Look more natural and presentable by going for light or neutral shades. The Ever Bilena Eyeshadow Pink Palette can come in handy as it features six neutral and classic shades that perfectly match your everyday makeup. It is pigmented and blendable for easier application.

Define your eyes. As much as a perfect shade of eyeshadow does the trick, a gentle swoosh of mascara can also make your eyes look more alive. Swipe on some EB Advance Lash Define Mascara to visibly define and lengthen your top and bottom lashes with its dual sided wand and waterproof jet black ink that will definitely make you look awake and more alert. 

Add color to your cheeks. Video calls can make you look pale. Blend a generous amount of Ever Bilena Matte Color Stick over the apples of your cheeks all the way through your cheekbones for a natural-looking flush. The Ever Bilena Matte Color Stick is a multipurpose cream stick that works for the eyes, cheeks and lips.

Go easy on your lippie. Be as simple as you can be with your overall makeup including your lippie. Go for neutral shades to make you look more formal. You may use the Ever Bilena Matte Nude Lipsticks that come in six colors to complement your choice of eyeshadow.

After following all these, make sure you sit where there is ample lighting so your workmates can see you clearly. Then, try checking yourself out on your phone or laptop’s camera to see if your makeup appears as desired. If yes, then it’s time to slay that online meeting and impress everyone! 

Be work-ready at home with these make-up products and other Ever Bilena, EB Advance and Kris Life Kit products all available on Ever Bilena’s official Lazada store. Visit www.lazada.com.ph or to know more about Ever Bilena, visit everbilena.com.ph and follow its social media pages Facebook (@everbilenacosmetics) and Instagram (@everbilenaofficial). 

Araneta City security guard commended for returning lost wallet containing P60K

Rex Alloro, a roving security guard assigned on Center Avenue, Araneta City, is being acclaimed in social media for his honesty in returning a lost wallet containing more than P60,000 in cash.

While making his usual rounds in the morning of April 12, Alloro found a wallet in front of Julie’s Bakeshop at the Center Avenue Arcade. Upon opening the wallet, Alorro noted it contained several bank cards, ID cards and a thick wad of cash.   

Without hesitation, Alorro went to the Farmers Market administration office and surrendered the wallet to his superiors. The wallet turned out to contain P60,180 and belongs to a certain Eugenio Michael O. Plana.

With the help of the other security guards on duty, they were able to locate Plana, who was still in Farmers Market after reporting his missing wallet. Upon getting back his wallet, Plana was overjoyed and offered to reward Alloro with some cash. But Alorro refused, saying he was only doing his duty.

Alloro has been working for Araneta City for the past 10 years. Details of his honest deed were posted on the official Facebook page of Araneta City on April 13, after which thousands of netizens have been continuously commending and saluting Alloro for his integrity.

For Araneta City, Alloro has set an example of exemplary honesty which the company wishes to see not just among its employees but among every Filipino, especially during these troubled times.  

“Alloro is a perfect example of the kind of honest individuals who we truly need right now. We hope his incredible honesty will inspire others to do the same,” said Morriel Abogado, Vice President and Zone Manager of Araneta City said. “To be honest with everyone is the right thing to do. Together, let us emulate the example of Alorro. In a way, this will help overcome the Covid-19 crisis.”   

Ano ang namiss nyo sa Starbucks?

Bigla ko namiss mag Starbucks event. Usually every December and April ang mga event nila to bring in their new merchandise and coffee drinks sa mga Starbucks customers and hobbyists/collectors. 

I miss going in to their events. Tapos magpi picture ng what's new and join din sa games nila to win some Starbucks premium items. 

Sa Starbucks ko lang na discover by chance yung mga gusto kong sandwich, cinnamon, corned beef pandesal and chocolate donut na di nakakaumay.  And sa kanila din ako natuto mag collect ng Starbucks cards. Ang cute ng collection ko. . When I am travelling, I tried to as much to avail ng kahit ano merchandise or taste/sip kung ano latte bestseller nila like when I was in China and Dubai recently. It never dissapoints. Iba iba ang lasa pero mas masarap yung coffee jelly dito sa tin. 

Dito ko lang din nakikita yung mga #ootd ko before. Namiss ko tong bagelya ko. 

Dito ko din minahal yung cold brew series nila, aside of course from Teavana and coffee jelly.  Ang sarap!! Promise. After the lockdown , ktakitz mga ka Starbucks. =) 

Huawei EMUI 10.1 update improves upon the Seamless AI Life experience

During the HUAWEI P40 Series Global Launch, Huawei unveiled EMUI 10.1, introducing more capabilities enabled by Huawei’s distributed technology to enrich the user experience. 

First introduced in EMUI10, Huawei’s distributed technology is the cornerstone of Huawei’s all-scenario ecosystem. Hardware capabilities are virtualised and shared among all connected devices, breaking down the barriers between individual products to enable seamless collaboration. Devices such as smartphones and notebooks no longer work in silos, and instead function together in a connected and collaborative manner. With the latest development in Huawei’s distributed technology, EMUI 10.1 builds upon the foundation of its predecessor, introducing new features such as HUAWEI MeeTime and more Multi-screen Collaboration capabilities to let users take better advantage of multiple devices at once. Huawei is also working with a range of partners to expand the connected ecosystem, so as to allow more devices to work seamlessly together and benefit consumers in more scenarios.

UI Improvements

Scrolling now reacts to user inputs with a new physics-inspired friction-slide effect. Similar to how objects in motion gradually decelerate as they lose their momentum to friction, the scrolling animations now also slow down before coming to a natural stop. The acceleration model is developed based on human factors research, ensuring that the animations behave just as users would expect.

Swiping inwards from either side and pausing bring out the sidebar. Apps inside the sidebar can be dragged across the screen to initiate Multi-Window. Images, text and even files can be dragged from one app to another. Floating Window allows users to perform basic tasks such as responding to text messages without exiting the active full-screen app, so users can stay focused on their tasks at hand.

Multi-Device Control Panel 

Multi-Device Control Panel provides a unified platform that lets users see every connected device in their proximity at a glance. Connecting one device to another is as easy as tapping on the corresponding button on the menu. Available by swiping up from either corner, the panel can be used to turn IoT devices on or off, set up smartphone screen projection, initiate Multi-screen Collaboration and more. The Multi-Device Control Centre also intelligently recommends nearby devices that can be used to improve the current user experience. For instance, when a user is listening to music on HUAWEI Music with a HUAWEI Sound X nearby, Multi-Device Control Panel will suggest switching audio output to the smart speaker to get better sound quality. 

HUAWEI MeeTime

EMUI 10.1 introduces HUAWEI MeeTime, the world’s first all-scenario video calling app. Supporting up to 1080p Full HD video calls between Huawei devices, HUAWEI MeeTime takes full advantage of the integration between Huawei’s software and hardware to deliver a high-quality video call experience. Brightness enhancements and beautification algorithms are built into HUAWEI MeeTime to optimise video quality in low-light conditions. Optimisations are also made to enable HUAWEI MeeTime to deliver a smooth video call experience even in less optimal network conditions. Users may also share their screen during a call with the other party and simultaneously mark-up the screen to collaborate with each other. Thanks to Huawei’s distributed technology, third party cameras such as Drift action camera can be wirelessly connected with a Huawei smartphone running EMUI 10.1 and be used as an external HUAWEI MeeTime camera to bring new experiences to video calls. 

 Multi-Screen Collaboration

New capabilities have been added to Multi-Screen Collaboration with distributed technology,

allowing users to leverage more HUAWEI MateBook peripherals to better use Huawei smartphone applications. After a quick setup process that involves just a simple tap, users can now make or pick up video or audio calls through the Huawei PC.  Huawei’s distributed technology enables users to use the PC’s camera and microphone as though it was connected to the smartphone. Users can also use native PC applications to directly open files or hyperlinks on the smartphone and take advantage of better hardware and the converged app ecosystem for improved productivity.  

Huawei Share

Huawei Share on EMUI 10.1 supports high speed file transfer between two Huawei devices. In addition to Huawei smartphones, tablets and PC, Huawei Share now also supports third-party products. For example, renowned European photo printing company Cewe has implemented Huawei Share in their photo printing kiosks, enabling users to easily print their photos wirelessly. 

Celia

Huawei’s voice assistant Celia is arriving with EMUI 10.1 for international markets. Simply wake up the voice assistant by holding down the power button for one second or saying “Hey Celia”. Celia has a range of abilities to help users get things done. The deep integration grants Celia access to the device’s hardware and AI, enabling the voice assistant to support object identification, media playback control, text messaging, face-to-face translation, calorie scanning and more. Celia speaks English, French and Spanish at launch, and will be rolling out to the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Mexico, Chile and Columbia in the first phase, with more countries to come in the future.

Cross Device Photo Gallery

With the distributed file system, Gallery now aggregates all media saved across Huawei smartphones and tablets running EMUI 10.1 that are connected to the same Wi-Fi AP network and logged in under the same HUAWEI ID. The search feature covers all aggregated media for users to easily find the photo or video that they are looking for, no matter on which device it is saved.

Availability

EMUI 10.1 will roll out to over 30 Huawei smartphone models, including the HUAWEI Mate 30 Series, HUAWEI Mate X, HUAWEI P30 Series and more. Stay tuned to your local Huawei channels for more information regarding your local update schedule and details on supported devices. 

Download Apps on Huawei P40 Series via Huawei AppGallery 

The Huawei AppGallery is more than just the default app store on their newest smartphones -- it is currently the third-biggest app distribution platform globally, with 180 billion downloads and 390 million monthly active users worldwide. Every day the AppGallery grows bigger, adding more apps and games to its repertoire for users to enjoy.

The Huawei AppGallery is filled with various useful and fun apps like Facebook, Viber, TikTok, GCash, BDO, PSBank Mobile, Booky, OWTO, Lazada, Asphalt 9, Wordscapes and so much more, all available for download through AppGallery. As Huawei prides itself for being a customer-centric brand, apps such as these would not only give users a vast variety of choices but would also ensure users’ safety and security while doing so. To find out more about the Huawei AppGallery, visit: https://huaweimobileservices.com/appgallery/

Starbucks commits $10 Million in COVID-19 relief for partners around the world

Starbucks announced the new Starbucks Global Partner Emergency Relief Program as part of its $10 million (USD) commitment to support partners (employees) around the world impacted by COVID-19. The program marks the first time both company-operated and international licensed market store partners across Starbucks may access hardship grants. These one-time, direct relief grants will be made available to partners facing extreme hardship as a result of COVID-19 and help ensure that partners around the world have access to emergency support during this difficult time.

In every community Starbucks serves, partners are the foundation of the company’s fundamental Mission to inspire and nurture the human spirit. Support from the Starbucks Global Partner Emergency Relief Program will be made available to retail partners in licensed store markets through the Emergency Assistance Foundation, to partners in company-operated markets through the established Caring Unites Partners (CUP) Fund, and to partners in Europe through the Starbucks EMEA Partner Relief Fund, a new fund established for European company-operated markets including the U.K., Austria, Switzerland, as well as the company’s Roastery in Italy and roasting plant in the Netherlands. 

“As we navigate this global crisis, we never lose sight of the wellbeing of our partners, who are the heartbeat of this company,” said Lucy Helm, chief partner officer, Starbucks Coffee Company. “During this very difficult time, we believe it is our responsibility to create additional support for partners facing unexpected financial hardship wherever they are. We are proud to be a catalyst for a first-of-its-kind global funding initiative to further demonstrate to our Starbucks partners that we are in this together.”

Starbucks has a long history of supporting partners. In 1998, the CUP Fund was started in the U.S. by partners, for partners facing unexpected financial hardship. Since then, the CUP Fund has supported more than 28,000 individuals. To date, the program has been extended to Starbucks company-operated markets in Canada, China and Japan.

Starbucks $10 million commitment to the Global Partner Emergency Relief Program will support the existing CUP Fund as well as the new Starbucks EMEA Partner Relief Fund and create a pathway for international licensed markets to set up their own funds with Starbucks contributing an initial investment, a first for the company. 

As each community faces unique response and recovery challenges, the new funds will be processed through the Emergency Assistance Foundation and enable licensed store operators in international markets to join Starbucks in providing support for partners in disaster designated areas, who are immediately eligible to apply for assistance.Qualified categories for fund grants include, but are not limited to, housing and utilities, sudden loss of home, death of a family member or partner, and related funeral expenses.

“Our goal at the Emergency Assistance Foundation (EAF) is to help individuals financially during times of disaster and hardship,” said Doug Stockham, President, EAF. “People around the globe are affected by COVID-19, and we pride ourselves on being the financial first responders. We are pleased to partner with Starbucks and look forward to making an impact together.” 

To learn more about how Starbucks is managing through COVID-19 please visit Starbucks.com/covid-19.

To learn about the countless ways that Starbucks partners are uplifting their communities in times of need, visit The Good Things Are Happening blog.

Frozen Jollibee Chickenjoy now available in Alfamart stores

Everyone’s favorite Jollibee Chickenjoy just got closer to home!

  

Jollibee’s Marinated Frozen Chicken Cut-Ups is now available in select Alfamart stores. 

The pre-marinated Chickenjoy cut-ups are seasoned with Jollibee’s signature spices, so all you need to do is thaw, coat in egg and flour, and deep fry.  

Alfamart is the first and only Super Minimart chain in the Philippines with over 800 branches throughout north, central, and south Luzon. 

Now you won't have to worry about travel restrictions or facing long lines at the check-out counter to get your Chickenjoy fix. Just waltz over to the nearest Alfamart in your neighborhood to know more. 

Jollibee’s Marinated Frozen Chicken Cut-Ups are available while supplies last.

Solane gives back to Cebu frontliners

Solane, the country’s leading LPG brand, recently showed appreciation and gratitude to frontliners in Cebu who have been selflessly serving the community during provincial lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Solane employees in Cebu prepared and distributed meal packs, grocery items, and other essentials to police officers, security guards, food vendors, barangay officials, and other frontliners in Mandaue City, Liloan, and Consolacion, Cebu. 

Previously, Solane, together with Solane Kitchen Hero winner Chef Coke Semblante and his team from Cebu City, also worked together in providing free food to health workers and other frontliners in different areas of the province who are actively fighting the spread of COVID-19.

For more information, visit https://www.solane.com.ph/ or https://web.facebook.com/solane.ph/.

Life lessons from the pandemic

The COVID-19 outbreak has been putting a large amount of stress on everyone. However, we must also remember that this is not going to last forever and that if we are open to it, we can learn many life lessons that can help us live better lives.

Here are some valuable lessons we can take from the health scare and enhanced community quarantine. 

Be prepared for any scenario. The best defense we can have against life’s uncertainties is to be ready for anything. Have an emergency fund and insurance for chaotic times like these. If you haven’t yet, build up a savings plan or take out health insurance— these are a couple of the best ways to deal with financial setbacks that may be caused by unforeseen events. 

Make adjustments to your lifestyle. Since restaurants and gyms have been either limited or closed, this pandemic has been teaching us to eat better, get enough sleep, and make time to exercise even at home. Remember, what you do every day essentially affects how long and how well you’ll live. It’s always better to establish good habits sooner rather than later.  

Be a friend of the environment. COVID-19 has been a wake-up call to how badly we’ve been treating the environment. With the enhanced community quarantine in place and limited cars on the road, nature has been healing, as evident in the smog-free skies. Taking even small steps like carpooling, recycling, and planting more trees can help further restore the balance of nature. 

Take time for yourself. Participating in the rat race entails multitasking and promotes staying busy as a measure of success. Taking breaks to unplug and recharge is usually seen as weakness. However, overexerting yourself is unhealthy so it’s best to listen to your body. You are not required to stay busy. One of the silver linings of the pandemic is the gift of time. Use it wisely to honor your needs, whether that is reading a book or simply having more time for family.

Share your blessings with others. We should try helping those who find it hard to get by. In addition to the numerous deaths and cases, the pandemic has brought on negative economic implications: small businesses are closing, many people are losing their jobs and are finding it hard to take care of themselves and their families. We must strive to be empathic and give what we can – no amount or donation is too small. In the same vein, now is also a good time to show Pinoy pride and support local businesses.

For more information on AXA Philippines insurance products, visit www.axa.com.ph.

BDO Leasing ends 1Q 2020 with P83 million Profit

BDO Leasing and Finance, Inc. (BDO Leasing) recorded a net income of P83 million in 1Q 2020 vs. the P24 million loss in the comparative period last year. The results reflect successful measures undertaken to address margin compression, which dragged down its financial results in 2019. 

For the 1Q 2020, gross revenues amounted to P696 million, while total expenses dropped by 30 per cent to P569 million, largely due to the 52 per cent drop in interest and financing charges as funding costs normalized.

Earlier this year, BDO Leasing’s Parent Company, BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) announced that it entered into an agreement to sell a controlling stake in BDO Leasing to a third party as part of the Bank’s restructuring of its leasing business. The sale transaction is subject to closing conditions and approval by regulatory authorities. 

More Pinoys enroll in ATI’s free online courses as community quarantine continues

With the extension of the enhanced community quarantine, now is as good a time as any to expand one’s knowledge and try other ventures such as farming. Through the “e-Learning for Agriculture and Fisheries” of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), this is possible for thousands of Filipinos without having to leave their own homes.

Launched in 2007, e-Learning is a component of the e-Extension Program of ATI, the training and extension arm of the Department of Agriculture (DA). The program offers alternative means of gaining new knowledge about farming for free.

With the need to increase food production efforts amid the fight against a global pandemic, e-Learning is seen to boost the DA’s nationwide promotion of urban agriculture and community farming under the “Plant, Plant, Plant” Program.

Over 92,700 Filipinos are currently registered in the e-Learning site—a huge increase from the 87,200 enrollees recorded before the quarantine measures were in place. At present, there are more than 60 online courses offered for free, which cover crops, livestock and poultry, fisheries, social technology, and sustainable agriculture.

“The main reason I tried e-Learning is that I wanted to learn more about agriculture as well as develop some skills necessary for my professional development as an agriculturist and a teacher,” Ronel De Guzman, an instructor at President Ramon Magsaysay State University in Zambales shared. He added how much he is enjoying learning through this platform and thinks that this is a more productive use of his internet connection and electronic gadgets.

Some of the e-Learning courses are on basic urban gardening, Good Agricultural Practices for vegetable production, and production technologies for straw mushroom, tomato, banana, citrus fruits, and yam, among others. Basic beekeeping, goat-raising, and quail production courses are also available through the portal.

Under the social technology category, courses on product costing, marketing, food safety, and even effective human communication and community organizing may be accessed. Sustainable agriculture practices such as the production of organic fertilizers, vermicompost, and mokusaku (wood vinegar) are also open to interested users.

Depending on one’s pace, most of the courses can be completed within a day. After which, the e-Learner receives an electronic certificate that can be downloaded from the site.

“The e-Learning courses being offered are really wonderful. [I like that] these are short but concise courses depending on the topic. Also, if you want, you get to apply the planting techniques right away, whether you have a small or big space, and especially now that almost everyone is staying home,” 56- year-old Alberto Ang from Caloocan City said.

Ang has finished around five courses so far, most of which are on sustainable agriculture technologies. He proudly shares his love for farming in his backyard by recycling plastic containers to grow vegetables like okra, tomato, and even chili pepper.

Interested individuals may visit www.e-extension.gov.ph/elearning to create an account and enroll in any chosen course. For questions and concerns, chat with the ATI e-Learning team through facebook.com/atiinteractive or text the Farmers’ Contact Center at 0920-9462474. (Erika Vizcarra, ATI- Information Services Division)