Do More With Less this Holiday season

2015 will be remembered by many Filipinos as the year when we witness how small things made big impacts to our lives.

Who can forget that simple kilig smile and pabebe wave that launched the phenomenal AlDub love team and spread good vibes all over the world (not to mention the dozens of TV ads that we will definitely see until next year or who knows until when). Or how about the struggling indie film outfit that defied the highly commercialized local showbiz industry and produced the bio pic Heneral Luna that made history in the box-office. Or how can you move on from the thousands of viral memes that we pass around online and even in our everyday conversations which were basically derived from just about any ordinary thing around us. I’m talking about the very clever and creative #hugot lines, of course (Kung hindi mo agad nakuha. What’s new? Kaya nga hanggang ngayon e umaasa ka pa rin).

Talking about hugot moments (which are even more relevant this Christmas season when most of us find this time perfect to reflect on the year that is about to bid goodbye), here are some tips, amusing they may seem, that may help you survive the holiday rush this year and beyond even if you only have less to do more.

CONSERVE ENERGY. Almost every home takes pride on how beautiful their Christmas trees are during this most wonderful time of the year.  We want our tree to be the brightest and most colorful it can possibly be. Just don’t sleep at night with those Christmas lights still turned on not only to conserve energy but also to avoid accidents in case a power outage or electrical wiring issue. Besides, true beauty comes out from simplicity.

SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY. We become more generous and thoughtful individuals during the Yuletide season. We spend more money during December than any month of the year (unless your a politician, of course). But have you ever thought of spending more time with your family and loved ones? You have filled your IG and FB wall with photos of your company and weekend getaway with friends, I hope you can “insert” in your loaded schedule a family “we time” before you realize your baby is already a lady.

MAKE A SHOPPING LIST... AND KEEP IT. How many times did you go home from the mall asking yourself why you bought something you don’t even need. We sometimes tend to purchase stuff when we see them marked as “SALE” which eventually will end up in the attic or under your bed for a looooooooonnnnngggg time. A wise shopper has a list of people whom he/ she will buy a present. A wiser shopper will keep that list until the gifts are all given to the recipients. For sure, you also have moments that a person visited your home and you can’t find his gift because you already gave it to someone else, accidentally or purposely. That small piece of paper called “the list” can help you avoid this from happening again.

Image credit: how-to-recycle.blogspot.com

RECYCLE. You received gifts, big and small in the most colorful papers, bags and boxes. What do you do with the gift wrappers? If you can be just that careful in unwrapping gifts, you can re-use the papers to wrap your own gifts or find other uses like ornaments for DIY Christmas decors and making lanterns. By doing this, you lessen the clutter in your house while saving some money. This would also be a good start to initiate recycling in your home. I’m sure you’re aware that plastic containers of mineral water, softdrinks, cooking oil and newspaper can be sold. Start this coming January and by December next year, you might be surprise of how much you have earned.

IT’S BETTER TO RE-HEAT FOOD THAN TO SPOIL IT. During Christmas and New Year’s eves, our dining tables will be turned like buffet platforms like those we see in restaurants. But yours has a much better deal because everyone can eat for FREE. It’s a sure thing that you’ll have bowls of leftovers from your feasts and more plate-full delicacy from your neighbors. If you have plastic containers, keep food that won’t easily spoil like lechon and adobo and just reheat them. You don’t have to cook for the next 2-3 days and you will stilll have a happy tummy. Trust me, our Electrolux microwave oven has been a great companion it situation like this in more than three years now.

Indeed, the holiday season brings the that one of a kind joy that we only experience during this time of the year. It’s up to us how we will make the moment more magical. One sure way is to do more with less. Wishing everyone a blessed and fruitful 2016!

This blog post is in support of the #DoMoreWithLess advocacy led by Electrolux Philippines.

Yes, Charles! There are 12 non-working days in August

Image credit: soundcloud.com

Every morning, it's always the same old drama between me and my 4-year old son Charles.

Two sure questions he will ask me the moment he opens his eyes and sees me: (1) "Daddy, why do I have to go to school?" and (2) "Daddy, why do you always go to work?"
Well, I don't baby talk him now so I tell him the truth that if Charles don't go to school, daddy will not to go to work. If I don't go to work, the boss will be angry and I will loose my job. If I don't have work, we will not have money to buy him milk, toys and chocolates.

This would make him pause for a while and then ask another silly question, "How many days before vacation time?"

What he means of "vacation time" time is the weekends where there are no school days.

Now, I'm sure that if you are reading this blog post, you are very interested to know what are 12 non-working days for August. To all the lazy people who are waiting for the next national holiday to come, here they go:

There will be three (3) national holidays for August 2013 in the Philippines as per Proclamation 459. They are the following:

August 8 or 9, 2013 – Eid’l Fitr or the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan for Muslims
August 21, 2013 – Ninoy Aquino Day
August 26, 2013 – National Heroes Day

Now for the nine (9) more days: that's five (5) Saturdays and four (4) Sundays.

We will talk December next time and that month surely offers more non-working days.

Happy weekend, guys!

It’s a no work day on June 21, 2013

It’s official! It’s a no work day on June 21, 2013.

Now, that’s a good news for working people who want to watch the Game 7 of the NBA finals between the defending champion Miami heat and the 4-time world titlist San Antonio Spurs for the 2013 Larry O’Brian trophy.

The two teams have alternately won three games each and it will be a battle of hearts, guts and wits this Friday. Will it be a celebration for the big 3 of the Eastern Conference top team: LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh or for their counterpart from the West: Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker?

With the way the series has been going, new basketball fans were born and more crazy hoop fans became crazier. And the chance to watch it live in the comfort of their home is possible since it’s Holiday on June 21.

Well, that is if you are working in Canada of course or you’re a BPO employee handling Canadian-based accounts.  Canada’s National Aboriginal Day is annually held on June 21 to celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures, and outstanding achievements of the nation’s Aboriginal peoples. National Aboriginal Day is a paid holiday for employees in the Northwest Territories, except those in the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association (NWTTA). It is not a statutory holiday in other parts of Canada. Traffic and parking conditions may be affected in areas where there are large celebrations to commemorate the day.

Now, if you’re from the Philippines like me. The only chance you can watch it at home is to file a sick leave (for diarrhea  or headaches, perhaps – it still sells), a big storm and flood go against your way going to work (which is something sick fans will probably wish) or just resign from work.

Disclaimer: I am not liable to what actions you will do on Friday just to catch the game live at home. Thanks for reading. At least you will now be motivated to file that Canadian immigration application that has been sitting in your desk for years.

Is there a mall open this Holy Week?

While half of the population of the country will be going on a long weekend getaway away from home, my family will be one of those who will spend the vacation in the pleasure of each other's company. I just hope my wife and son will enjoy the jokes and stories i compiled just in case the opportunity for me to talk comes.

And if in case, i can't do away the boredom from creeping into their senses, we can just go out maybe in the park, restaurant, or the mall. Mall? Is their any open mall this weekend?

Here is a complete schedule of the operating hours of some of the Philippines’ biggest shopping areas as compiled by abs-cbn.com

Ayala Malls

March 28 (Maundy Thursday) and 29 (Good Friday): All malls closed
March 30 (Black Saturday) and 31 (Easter Sunday): Regular operating hours

Centris Station

March 28 to 30: Closed
March 31: Mall open from 12 noon to 9 p.m.

Eastwood

March 28 and 29: Malls closed
March 30: Malls open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
March 31: Malls open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Gateway Mall

March 28 and 29: Mall closed
March 30: Mall open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
March 31: Mall open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Greenhills Shopping Center

March 28 and 29: Mall closed, except for some stores and restaurants.

March 30: Mall open from 12 noon to 9 p.m.
March 31: Mall open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Lucky Chinatown

March 28 and 29: Mall closed
March 30 and 31: Mall open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Newport Mall

March 28: Mall open from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.
March 29: Mall closed
March 30: Mall open from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.
March 31: Mall open from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Power Plant Mall

March 28 and 29: Mall closed
March 30: Mall open from 12 noon to 10 p.m.
March 31: Mall open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Robinsons Malls

March 28: All malls closed except Robinsons Luisita, Tagaytay, Pangasinan and Palawan
March 29: All malls closed except Robinsons Luisita and Tagaytay
March 30 and 31: Regular mall hours

Shangri-La Plaza

March 28 and 29: Mall closed
March 30: Mall open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
March 31: Mall open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

SM Supermalls

March 28 and 29: All malls closed except:

SM City Baguio (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
Select SM Mall of Asia Veranda tenants (regular operating hours)
SM By the Bay (regular operating hours)
SM Marketmall Dasmariñas wet and dry market and bagsakan (24 hours)
Mezza Savemore (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
March 30 and 31: Regular operating hours

Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall

March 28: Mall closed except Supermarket Building 1 (9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.)
March 29: Mall closed except Supermarket Building 1 (schedule subject to change)
March 30 and 31: Mall open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Venice Piazza

March 28 and 29: Mall closed
March 30 and 31: Mall open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Walter Mart

March 28: All malls open (up to 7 p.m., 8 p.m. or 9 p.m.)
March 29: All malls closed
March 30: All malls open (up to 8 p.m., 9 p.m. or 10 p.m.)
March 31: Regular operating hours