Positive – either this is a good thing today or not, that I am not sure. Earlier this year, sad news hit the world, the existence of COVID-19. And what more shocking was, the first positive case was where I currently live. Everything suddenly changed. The usual is no longer a thing.

I thought the situation got better. I thought. But. It was mid of March when my son and I went to Cebu for an entrance exam at a school where he’s supposed to enroll for the school year 2020-2021, and a closed border between Cebu and Negros island was imposed. We had to hurry back to Negros since all of our belongings are still here. I don’t know it would take long or even longer before we can move back to Cebu. What’s more difficult is that we only have ourselves. Yes, just me and my six-year-old son. This also means that accessing our essentials is even harder. I have to tag him along all the time.

Today’s uncertainty made me realize so many things. One is that I wasn’t scared for my life. I wasn’t scared of death. I am just VERY scared that it would hurt so much. What if I’ll get sick and my son would be left here alone? Who to ask help? My son was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease two years ago and had to stay in the hospital for ten days. I remember how it felt looking at him very sick. It wasn’t a pandemic but it definitely turned my life upside down.

The quarantine basically changed the way we live our lives. Routines have changed as if we’re living in a parallel world. This challenged me as a mother. Everything has to be done by me. The cooking – because most of the karenderyas are closed. This made me an instant chef, which of course I’m proud to say I’ve cooked different recipes in less than a year. Lol. The teaching – because my son said I’m his mom and not his teacher. The learning – because instead of binge-watching KDramas on Netflix (which I did for the whole month of April and a bit of May), I resorted to enrolling myself in online classes, paid and mostly free. Because what better way to help a depression fighter than to feed the mind with the knowledge that might actually contribute to future success.

Life has taught me so much, much more when I became a mother. Don’t procrastinate. Something I need to put in mind always. Never ever put off until tomorrow what we can do today. Later might be never. Make time. No one is really busy. We always have time for anything. Strive for patience. We all have our boiling point but losing patience can mean regretting it later. Breathe deeply. Be positive. Feed your mind with positive thoughts. Positive thinking always means a positive life. Wear a smile. It’s contagious. As simple as that. Gratitude. Be thankful for every blessing. Be thankful for life’s ups and downs. Pray. For me, God is real. And by clinging to him makes my life even more wonderful.

What keeps me moving forward? Life is beautiful. Motherhood is beautiful. By just looking at my son made me think I must have made something good in my life to deserve a blessing like this. I am indeed very lucky. And nothing can’t take that away from me.

Love, love!

This story is an entry to ComCo Southeast Asia’s “Write to Ignite Blogging Project”. The initiative is a response to the need of our times, as every story comes a long way during this period of crisis. Igniting and championing the human spirit, “Write to Ignite Blog Project” aims to pull and collate powerful stories from the Philippine blogging communities to inspire the nation to rise and move forward amidst the difficult situation. This project is made possible by ComCo Southeast Asia, co-presented by Eastern Communications and sponsored by Electrolux, Jobstreet, and Teleperformance.

Life is always on a roller coaster ride. Bad things. Good things. It happened. The important thing here is you get to enjoy every ride no matter how bumpy it can be. Earlier this year, I had struggles updating my blog because I hardly had enough time sitting in front of the laptop, typing everything I’d like to share. And whenever I had one, some important personal matters will get in between. And I, as a blogger has had inner conflicts, losing the passion to blog, is one. Do I need validation to continue doing what I started six years ago? Maybe!

Some time summer of this year, I lost Goddess In Disguise. To those of you who do not know, Goddess In Disguise is my blog’s first name. It breaks my heart because how can I took for granted something that has been a part of me for long.  I, unfortunately, forgot to renew the domain even with the grace period given to me. I had a little to no chance of connecting to the internet for roughly three months. I was probably reminded but I could not trace the email. Worst, the redemption is too much for me already. I might need more years to earn such big amount. And believe me, I tried the best I can to haggle. Literally. I spent most of my nights regretting, blaming myself and crying. Maybe I should just forget about blogging and move on! But then, why should I? I am strong, right? That’s how I see myself. And because when you love doing something, you’ll do it no matter the odds. Everything must go on.

Then, there’s Che Goes On. Though I moved the contents of Goddess In Disguise, I know I will have to start from scratch. But that won’t hinder this passion to blog. So much of that story anyway! Last year, I was one of the finalists of Best Cebu Blogs Awards under Personal category. And this year, I am (again) shortlisted as one of the finalists for . . . drum roll, please, Style category! Unbelievable, I know. To be honest, fashion/style is really one of the reasons I started blogging. I used to have a Multiply account where I shared all the fashion stuff and shoots I had back then. And when I had the chance to finally start having my own blog, I grabbed the opportunity.

I was teary-eyed when I received an e-mail from the team. And puzzled at the same time because I can’t imagine having me lined-up with those fashion bloggers who posted their OOTD’s almost every day across the internet. I love dressing up. I love glamming myself. I love trying out different outfit styles. And I love experimenting every trend today. And I thought after giving birth that I may not have the chance to do what I love, because I do not know. Maybe because I am more into becoming a full-time and hands-on mother. Or maybe I’m just hesitant because of the physical change during and after pregnancy. Having said that, I ventured into women’s apparel business last year to indulge style cravings. If I can’t do it to myself, maybe I can share it with others, I thought. Small but it’s kinda satisfying.

Anyway, the Best Cebu Blogs Awards (BCBA), founded by Mark Monta on December of 2008, is a yearly awarding ceremony of Cebu-based bloggers. It is the only and pioneering award-giving body that recognizes the existence of blogs and bloggers in Cebu’s blogosphere. It acknowledges the existence and importance of Cebu bloggers in the Visayas and in the Philippines. BCBA aims to recognize the finest blogs of Cebuanos and Cebu-based bloggers which are at par even with their foreign counterparts.

This year’s 11th Best Cebu Blog Awards won’t be possible without the help of the following awesome sponsors and partners:

BCBA 2018 is Co-presented by:

Official Host Partner:

Being part of the list of finalists is already a huge honor for me and my blog. I must have done something good and right to deserve this recognition. Win or lose, being recognized and being able to keep this blog up is already winning. Congratulations to all the finalists. I hope to see you all at the awarding night. xo

It’s often hard to imagine something as primitive as sending marketing letters via mail still continues to be effective. In fact, everyone from local retails stores to large multinational brands utilizes this time-tested marketing strategy to get more eyes on their products and offers. Even new age marketing gurus complement their online marketing efforts with a solid direct mail campaign. This begs the simple question, why are direct postcard campaigns still relevant? Following are 5 reasons why.

People Still Check Their Letterboxes: You have heard people saying, “Emails are going to make direct mails obsolete one day.” The thing is people have been saying that ever since Email services first came into being. Decades have passed, and we are still using letters and letterboxes. As long as people continue to check their mailboxes, there is no reason for direct postcard campaigns to lose their effectiveness.

They Create an Equal Playing Field: When a recipient receives a marketing postcard, it really doesn’t matter who is it from. As long as the offer is good, and the design is attractive, it can create a positive impact. In this age where marketing space is increasingly becoming more and more expensive, big-box retailers and large multinationals dominate the billboards, online banners, and TV spots. Postcard campaigns manage to create an equal playing field. It gives local businesses a chance to compete with chain stores without having to spend thousands of dollars on
marketing.

Cheaper Than Other Marketing Strategies: The cost of a postcard marketing campaign is far less than any other marketing strategy. The major expenses being buying die cut plastic postcards and postal charges. Barring these, businesses might need to spend some money buying mailing lists from non-competing local businesses. The overall cost is so low, that even small local businesses routinely use postcard marketing strategy to great effect.

Postcard Campaigns Can Be Personalised: Unlike mass Emails and generic banner ads, postcards can be personalised for each and every recipient. Businesses do this all the time. They often attach personalised messages for all customers to get better conversion. A simple friendly message like “Hey Dave, thanks for your business last Sunday, here’s something you might be interested in” can really encourage customers to make a positive move.

People Growing Tired of Spam Emails: When was the last time you visited the spam section of your Email? Never, right? Thanks to the growing number of spam marketing mails, even great Email campaigns fail to get the proper mileage. Tired of intrusive pop-ups and an endless barrage of Emails, people have started to appreciate direct mail campaigns.

You don’t feel any older. You’re still youthful and filled with vitality on the inside. You have dedicated your life to taking care of yourself because you know that your body is your temple. That means staying active and making wise choices about what kind of fuel you put into your system. Your skin has been a priority as well as you protect yourself from exposure to the sun every day. In spite of doing everything the way that you should, the years have continued to march on. They’re making their mark on your face, the most noticeable part of you. Those fine lines and webbing of wrinkles can’t be ignored. Your skin has lost its firmness and elasticity. It’s starting to droop, making you look tired all the time. Worse yet, it’s making you feel old every time you catch your reflection. You’re ready for a change. A plastic surgeon can help you with facelift surgery. There’s only one problem. You want it to look natural.

Avoid the Windswept Look

 While a facelift is an effective and popular approach to combat the visible effects of aging, you want it to look like it is natural. The procedure is meant to tighten up that loose skin just enough that it no longer sags and you smooth away those wrinkles. When facelift surgery is performed by a master surgeon, the end result will be a face that looks like someone has turned back the hands on the clock of time to reclaim his or her youth. However, there are times when the results are too extreme. making a patient look like he or she has been caught in a windstorm that has made the face look overdone. The right plastic surgeon can help you to avoid this problem.

Taking a Different Approach is the Best Place to Start

 The key to a successful facelift is to avoid severe changes that result in an unappealing, unnatural outcome. The skin should not look like someone has yanked it back, forcing the eyes to be wide open, the brows to be raised as if in surprise, and the mouth stuck in a strange smile that looks forced. While your plastic surgeon can help you to soften the effects of aging with cosmetic surgery, no one can actually take you back to your younger years. No one should tighten the skin to such a degree that the face looks like a mask. One of the mistakes that many patients make is in asking a surgeon to go overboard when it comes to how tight the skin will be. Another issue that can cause a problem is using general anesthesia during a facelift. This causes the face to relax completely to the point that the face relaxes completely. This lack of muscle tone can make it difficult to judge how tight the skin should be drawn back in order to have the desired effect. If your plastic surgeon uses intravenous sedation combined with local anesthetic in targeted areas, you are more likely to get an unforgettable lift that restores the natural contours of your face without going to extremes.

How Can Intravenous Sedation and Local Anesthesia Help You

 Your surgeon can use intravenous sedation to ensure that you are relaxed without putting you completely under the power of general anesthesia. Local anesthesia will be administered in the areas where incisions are necessary. If you are having a mini facelift that is focusing on the skin around your jaw, your surgeon will focus on the area around your ears to make small incisions. At that point, your muscles and skin will be shifted in order to tighten up the skin. Any excess skin can be trimmed away. However, your surgeon should never take too much or your face will not look natural. If you are having a facelift that focuses on the middle region of your face, including the cheekbones and the jaw, your incisions will be in the same area as with a mini facelift, but the shift of your skin and muscle will vary in order to eliminate excess folds of skin that are drooping around your mouth. If you have a brow lift, this will focus on the forehead and your incisions will be made at your hairline. For a full facelift that focuses on all areas of your face, Incisions will be made at the hairline and around the ears as your surgeon works on sculpting the tissues in your face to freshen up your appearance. Your surgeon may address removal of excess fat with liposuction or add more volume to your face by performing a fat transfer. By using a local anesthetic for all incisions made during your procedure, it will be possible to make changes that are not too extreme because your muscle tone will still be responsive during your procedure.

Is a Facelift Right for You?

Typical candidates for facelift surgery are in their forties to their seventies. If you are seriously considering a cosmetic procedure for your face, your surgeon will evaluate several factors to determine if it will work for you. Your skin must still have enough elasticity to respond well to surgery. You will also need to have a good bone structure that will enhance the definition of your face after surgery. If you have sagging skin, a facelift is likely to be right for you. Your health will be considered as well as your surgeon ensures that surgery is a safe alternative for you.

Learn More About Getting the Best Results from a Facelift

 Turn to the professionals at the Glasgold Group Plastic Surgery for your facelift consultation. The practice has been ranked as one of the best that New Jersey has to offer. Through careful evaluation, you can find out if a facelift is ideal for you and how to get the kind of results you want to see.

When you see your face in the mirror, there is one area that makes you unhappy. It’s a common trouble spot when it comes to facial features. It’s something you can’t alter on your own or enhance with cosmetics. It’s your nose. Whether you feel like your nose is too narrow, too wide, too steep, too big, or you have a hump on the bridge of your nose, rhinoplasty is the one way that you can alter this noticeable feature. You need to put a great deal of thought into plastic surgery. It’s going to alter your appearance permanently. You’re sure to have questions before you move forward with a surgical procedure. One of the most pressing matters that concern many patients is the worry that your skin will become thin on your nose after rhinoplasty.

Will Rhinoplasty Thin the Skin on Your Nose?

Rhinoplasty will not thin out the skin on your nose. If anything, it will add more thickness to your skin. If you have extremely thick skin, your plastic surgeon will most likely advise that you do not have rhinoplasty surgery performed, especially if you are focusing on the tip of your nose. Otherwise, your nose could look fuller than it did before your procedure. On the flip side, if you have extremely thin skin, to begin with before surgery, your surgeon is going to need to take great care in smoothing out the bone structure and cartilage of your nose beneath the skin. Otherwise, everything will stand out after you have healed.

What to Keep in Mind with Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is delicate work that takes the skill of a master surgeon in order to make sure you get the results that you want to see. You should not choose your surgeon hastily. Considering this procedure should never be taken lightly. You also need to understand that it will take time to achieve your final results. You may need to have your procedure performed in two stages. The first stage is generally performed under general anesthesia. If you do require another procedure, your surgeon is more likely to use a local anesthetic. It will take up to a year for all swelling to go down in order to appreciate the results of your procedure. If your surgeon is going to augment or build up an area on your nose, this should take place in the first stage of surgery. If any trimming is necessary, this can be performed in the second procedure. If your surgeon says no to your procedure, that it is too complex or your surgeon does not feel confident about giving you the outcome that you want to see, don’t be offended. Appreciate your surgeon’s honesty and move on to another surgeon. Choosing a surgeon who specializes in rhinoplasty and has a great deal of experience with these complicated procedures can give you the best chance of a successful experience.

Why be Cautious with Rhinoplasty?

You want to take every opportunity you can to make sure you get what you want out of your procedure the first time around. Otherwise, revision rhinoplasty may be necessary. Many patients will return to their plastic surgeons when they have an implant that is visible, forming a ridge on the nose. Implants can shift. If your nose becomes red after surgery, you will want to find a solution for the problem. If you are not happy with the length of your nose or you feel like your results look unnatural, your surgeon can address your issues. The best way to have the desired results from your procedure is to do your homework. Seek out a plastic surgeon who has a reputation for excellence. Sit down with your surgeon to be clear about what you want. Look at photos from your surgeon’s galleries to help you to pinpoint what you want to get out of your procedure. Your surgeon can also do sketches to help you picture how effective your surgery can be. Your plastic surgeon will be thorough in evaluating your nose, the quality of your skin, and any health issues you may have that could get in the way of your procedure.

Don’t Expect Results Overnight

When you have rhinoplasty, you are going to be dealing with a recovery period. There will be bruising and swelling. Your nose will continue to swell in the mornings for up to a year following your initial procedure. Once the swelling is down, you will be able to appreciate the new appearance of your nose.

Remember that Less May be More

When you sit down with your plastic surgeon, don’t ask for extreme results. The best thing you can do is be more subtle. You can always make additional changes down the line, rather than make an exaggerated change at the beginning that may be difficult to repair later on. If at all possible, you want to avoid revision rhinoplasty, a common occurrence when patients are not happy with the results of their original procedure.

Don’t be Afraid to Ask for a Second Opinion

If at any time you are not happy with your consultation or you want to compare your evaluation with another plastic surgeon, feel free to set up an appointment with another surgeon. You need to be satisfied and comfortable with your choice. This is your nose that you are about to transform. Your choice of surgeon is up to you.

Take a Step in a Positive Direction

As you review your options for a plastic surgeon to perform your rhinoplasty procedure, place Dr. Andrew Frankel at the top of your list. He specializes in plastic surgery, surgery focusing on the head and neck, and rhinoplasty. With his high level of expertise, you can rest assured that you are in the best of hands. You’ll sit down together to discuss your concerns with your nose and the best approach that Dr. Frankel should take.

When it comes to purchasing skincare and beauty products, I usually don’t do them online except for online shops I have trusted for long. Not to mention thousands of fake products you can find online, that’s a bit scary to think. But of course, there are local online shops that are worth trying. One of them is Beautymnl. Exclusively dedicated to the Filipinas, Beautymnl is a go-to beauty destination based here in the Philippines. It has a wide range of products from international to local brands. It also has a section of all organic products.

I have seen photos of friends online sharing their beauty hauls and it always tempts me to shop as well. Finally, after several months, I got to try shopping at Beauty Mnl too. And now I’m sharing my experience in this post, please read on.

To be honest, there are so many good products from the site that I want to try. However, most if not all of my favorite local brand’s products are sold out. I literally don’t have any idea when they’ll restock but I can’t wait for that so I had to choose another. I am not really into makeup but so intrigued with the local celebrities cosmetic brands such as Vice Cosmetics by Vice Ganda and BLK Cosmetics by Anne Curtis. This is not a fan based haul, that’s not my main reason for buying their products. The reviews I have read from their customers are so tempting. Vice and Anne advertised their babies so well that I wanted to try every variant of them.

Beauty Mnl offers free shipping on every first order of every customer. That’s one thing a new customer will surely look forward to. There are also lots of sales on different products regardless if it’s skincare or makeup, from time to time. So better subscribe to get the latest news from them. I placed my order last April 28 and received an update about the delivery on May 2. Weekend and a holiday, that’s expected! Hahaha. Anyway, I received my order after 3 days. That’s actually fast enough knowing I live far from the city.

What I got:

• Stylista Hair Essentials Jetset Travel Brush
• Vice Cosmetics Original Phenomenal Liquid Lipstick in Showtime
• Vice Cosmetics Good Vibes Lipstick in Bet na Bet
• BLK Cosmetics All-Day Matte Lipstick in Honey

Skincare, hair care, makeup, wellness. Guaranteed you will find good products at Beauty Mnl. You may follow them on their social media accounts for updates on sales. Also, grab the chance while they’re having a Mother’s Day sales.

When we talk about travel, we tend to cover rather specific attractions and getaways – the places you don’t necessarily see highlighted on any old lists of the top places to see or things to do. An intimate exploration of Dau Falls fits the bill, or instance, as just one example. Here, however, we’re looking more broadly not at particular destinations, but about how technology is poised to allow us to simulate travel anywhere in the world. Specifically, we’re talking about virtual reality and its potential regarding travel apps.

First, it’s important to understand how VR has already evolved if you don’t pay regular attention to the industry. What at first were limited, experimental games and apps have become far more impressive, to the point that we now see highly detailed, beautiful game settings. These are largely fictional, still, but they still give players the impression they’ve stepped into whole new worlds packed with beautiful and unexpected sights.

From this point, it’s expected that VR will begin to focus more on bringing real-life environments to people’s headsets. The prevailing example of how this is done comes from the simple format of online poker or blackjack play. “Live” casinos online already recreate the thrill of playing in brick-and-mortar establishments, and can even make it look as if players are playing in actual, famous casinos around the world. This, in VR, will be even more realistic. Virtual reality will likely accomplish the same feat in sports in due time, allowing gamers to take part in matches as if they’re actually inside famous stadiums and arenas. You can see how the concept might evolve and expand.

Now imagine the same effort – to simulate versions of real places, rather than just create virtual worlds of fiction – applied to travel. VR has true potential to allow us to “visit” interesting places all around the world from the comfort of our own homes, and while it’s not a concept that has been perfected just yet, there are several apps and programs that are diving into the idea. These are just a few of them.

Google Earth VR – Google Earth is a rather extraordinary tool for exploring the world even without VR. If you’ve used it before, you might imagine how it works. You can essentially pinpoint a location anywhere around the world, and instead of looking at it on your computer screen, you can look around in the first person as if you’re there hovering above the scene, or even walking through it.

YouVisit VR – YouVisit VR has implications beyond just tourism, which are probably worth noting here. It brings brands and businesses to virtual reality by inviting users to experience not just places but specific events and destinations via VR. For instance, you can look around a restaurant in a foreign country, or visit a music festival remotely. It’s a sort of combination of a fun travel experience and a useful advertising tool.

Boulevard – Boulevard is a little more limited, but it may also be a more comprehensive tourism mechanism in some respects. Basically, it allows users to visit specific museums and cultural exhibitions, and learn about the different displays they’re looking at. So it’s sort of like a travel experience that comes with its own guide. The only issue is that its reach isn’t very expansive (mostly dealing with England and San Francisco sites).

Sites in VR – This one actually works a little bit like Boulevard, only with a broader focus on large attractions in more countries. For instance, you can take a close-up look at famous tombs or religious sites with this app. Its real calling card, however, is that it also helps you to virtually visit outer space!

Again, no one of these programs is perfect or all-encompassing. But they do address a lot of the top desires of people who love to travel. In a sense, they already let you travel anywhere in the world.