Hot Wheels is Epic and other things you might not know about it

If there is something I am avoiding these days, it’s anything hot.

I hate going out in the afternoon because the sun is just unforgiving these days. Sizzling plates will be my final option when ordering in a restaurant because the last time I had it, I accidentally burned by right arm while taking a call. And lastly, I can’t bear looking at hot chicks walking by the beach… when my wife is around, of course.

However, there’s always an exception. For a daddy like me, bonding moments and great memories with my son can start in great looking cars that we can put in our pockets. These cute yet astig die-cast toys is our favorite especially the ones bearing the brand Hot Wheels.

Last April 9, my wife and I accompanied our son Charles to the first of six qualifying races of the Hot Wheels Epic Race held in SM Megamall. The succeeding races are scheduled next day on the same venue and on April 16 and 17 at SM BF Paranaque and at SM San Lazaro on April 23 and 24. The Semi-Finals and Finals Round will be on May 14 and 15 respectively.

My son Charles was like walking in Hot Wheels paradise with the great set-up created by the organizers. Children were very busy that day. Well, I did had a chance to play a little because that day, everyone in the venue are kids of all ages. Let's say I was also busy that day.

Charles was the last participant among 64 registrants and he did not mind waiting because he never had a dull moment because of the fun play area and displays at the activity center. 

My son’s entry was not able to finish the whole orange race track and only registered 155 inches of length covered. I just hope it makes the Top 20 cut. But whether he make it to the next rounds or not, Charles is a winner that day because we bought him new Hot Wheels, met new friends and experienced the Epic Race.

For fellow Hot Wheels fans, here are some trivia you might want to know about our favorite car brand. Did you know that...

... Since 1968, more than 1,000 models and over 20,000 variations of Hot Wheels cars have been created.

....Hot Wheels make 8.9 million cars every week. That's more than five times the worldwide production of life-size cars.

... 10.5 Hot Wheels cars are sold every second worldwide.

.... 6,000 miles of orange track are produced and sold each year enough to go from Los Angeles, USA to Rome, Italy.

....1.1 million die-cast were sold in the Philippines in 2015.

...  HW is the no. 1 Selling store's product at Toy Kingdom and Toy Kingdom Express for 2015 based on units sold

... and lastly, it is the no. 2 brand of Toy kingdom and Toys R Us for Boys last 2015, next to Star Wars Movie tie-in toys.

You still have a chance to bring your kids in the next Epic Races. It's an experience you and your child will truly remember for a long time.

  

Batman v Superman v Me and my Pop Corn

When I was young, I had this crazy fantasy that I will be a superhero someday.

I would often draw in my notebook my possible costumes and even had a list of my superheroes name that I will use in case a beautiful female reporter asks me during the post-battle-with-a-sinister-villain interview.

My weekends are spent watching Super Friends, the DC animated TV series featuring Superman, Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and the Wonder Twins with their pet monkey Gleek.

I’m already in my thirties but the illusion of being able to wear a cape, fly high and run as fast as a bullet train still tickle my imagination.  Now, if the Gods from Planet Krypton can read this, I hope they can lend me the powers of Clark Kent even for a limited time only. Or if only I am rich as Bruce Wayne, I will build my very own Batmobile that has special features like traffic-detection alarm, videoke machine and a donut holder. I also welcome a ride in Wonder Woman’s invisible jet if I will be offered.

Simply nostalgic.

That’s why when it was announced that the live action flick Batman v Superman was announced several months ago, the DC fanboy in me just went berserk (in a good way) and followed every updates I can find online.

Last March 29,  I was fortunate to be invited by Devant, makers of the most technologically advanced and smart TVs in the country today, for the special block screening of “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” at Greenbelt 3 Cinema 5 in Makati City.

With fellow bloggers, Devant’s corporate partners, and other VIPs, I experienced all an exciting evening to be among the first to watch the thrilling and most anticipated movie event of the year, where Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) clash in an epic collision for supremacy and power between two of the world’s greatest super heroes, a monumental collision to gain the trust and confidence of the people of the world as to who will be their ultimate savior.

For more than two hours, I was that young boy again munching a bag of popcorn while watching with awe the Dark Knight slugging it out with the Man of Steel. Not to mention the amazing moments of the eye-catching stunning beauty of Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot).

And that’s not all as premium loot bags and exciting raffles prizes were given away by Devant for lucky moviegoers prior to the screening, much to their delight.

Ms. Aileen Chan President  of 1st Megasaver

Devant also reminded their guests that the “Battle for Supremacy” promo is still ongoing. For every purchase of Devant’s big-screen TVs like the 65-inch UHD200 Ultra HD TV, the 55 and 50-inch UHV200 Ultra HD TVs, the 58 and 50-inch DTV700 Smart TVs, customers can enjoy quality home entertainment by pairing them with equally impressive home entertainment accessories, all offered at special add-on prices.

Enjoy clear and distinct audio of your favorite movies, concerts or sporting events with the DV-5270 Devant 5.1 Channel multimedia speaker (270W), DV-280 Devant 2.1 Channel multimedia speaker (80W), and DV-5160 Devant 5.1 Channel multimedia speaker (160W).

Be Secured, Be Insured: Take the ER Vantage

If there is one thing I dread to hear at any given time, it’s an emergency call from someone dear to me. Well, who does not?

Merriam-Webster.com defines emergency as a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action. As you can see, even the dictionary sounds a bit nervous describing it. 

Kidding aside, emergency situation is something I take seriously. That’s why I see to it that I am secured, or should I say, insured at all times. Just to make sure that I am covered if in case accidents come. This will also take away any burden from my family financially if I’ll be required to be hospitalized.

In both my personal and professional journey, Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) has been dependable partners to me, my family, loved ones, friends and colleagues. HMO Philippines are life savers that we can lean on for basic medical expenses and outpatient care, medical treatment and hospitalization. This is something that employees should be thankful for if their organization gives such benefit because not all employers provide this to their workers, aside from the government health insurance plan provided by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

I just hope that companies would realize that HMO Philippines insurance plans are not mere expenses but instead, they’ll look at it as a good investment. A healthy and happy employee will work hard for organizations that take care of them and their families.

I am sharing my personal experience about our company’s health insurance provider Philcare. I underwent a medical procedure last December. Since the clinic I went to was not accredited by Philcare, I just paid in cash. After the holiday season, I filled out some documents and reimbursement claim form from Philcare and in a month’s time, I got my money back sent as a check straight to my office without me needing to call for follow-up. Bottom line is, Philcare has been my dependable ally for years now.    

That’s why I want my family to enjoy the same experience I get from this trusted company which I just found out is a pioneer and a recognized leader in the HMO industry in the country for more than three decades now.

PhilCare sets the pace for the HMO industry not only with the reliable in-patient and out-patient health care it provides, but also with the total wellness and healthy living it actively promotes.  One of their product innovations that I discovered are the ER Vantage prepaid cards for one-time use emergency care leading to admission health card for individuals 6 months to 64 years old.  It can use one-time for a private room. The card covers the patient’s emergency room care such as expenses for room and board, and necessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

I would like to believe that the ER Vantage card is PhilCare’s contribution to meet the healthy Filipino’s changing needs. PhilCare understands that being healthy means more than not getting sick; it also means getting you and your family prepared for any emergency.

The prices of the insurance packages are reasonable with prices. For a one-time payment of P900, P1,100, or P1,300, users can avail of P40,000.00 up to P80,000.00 worth of emergency hospitalization expenses.  Upon text registration, the card will be activated within a 7-day period. The benefit of the card runs for an entire year where the registered can avail of the emergency hospitalization at any of PhilCare’s affiliate hospitals and clinics nationwide.

Emergency cases covered by ER Vantage health cards are sudden, unexpected onset of illness or injury which at the time of availment reasonably appeared as having the potential of causing immediate disability or death or requiring immediate alleviation of severe pain or discomfort. Examples of these are dengue, typhoid fever, leptospirosis, pneumonia, acute gastroenteritis.

The bestseller among the packages is ER Vantage 80 which offers the following benefits:

a.   P80,000 coverage for emergency room care and hospitalization inclusive of doctors’ fees, laboratory and diagnostic procedures, room and board, and medicines (except vaccines) as medically necessary during confinement except for cases declared as non-coverable.

b.  Covers special modalities of treatment  as medically necessary during ER and confinement and subject to Php 5,000 inner limit.

c.  Inclusive of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as medically necessary during ER and confinement.

d.  Covers hospital emergency care for animal bites except vaccines.

e.  Room and board: Private room.

f.  No hospital deposit required.

g.   Access to 400+ accredited hospitals nationwide (www.philcare.com.ph/erhospitals)

h.  No medical examination required to apply.

i.  Hassle-free SMS registration.


Here's a step-by-step direction on how to order a card online via www.philcare.com.ph.

Step 1: On the Philcare website, click the SHOP NOW tab.

Step 2: Browse to to the products available and click on the image of the one you would like to purchase online.

Step 3: Indicate the quantity of your order then click "Add to Cart"

Step 4. Click "Check Out" to finalize your order.

Step 5: Accomplished the online form for your delivery details.

Step 6: Choose your preferred payment option then click the "PURCHASE" button.

That easy! Now you will receive two notifications for a successful order. One will immediately appear on your screen and the other one will be emailed to you. Please see the screen shots below.

Delivery rates starts at P65 per order depending on your location. Please click HERE to see the full details of delivery fee and time frame. 

When is the best time to avail of the product? The answer is NOW! Don’t wait for any emergency to come and be sorry to find out that you are not prepared for it. 

Daddy, you have a tummy like Kung Fu Panda

I was minding my own business watching basketball on TV last Sunday night when my 6-year old son butted in, "Daddy, you have a tummy like Kung Fu Panda."

Charles must have been watching me caressing my just-had-dinner stomach while lying in bed.  I just smiled at my little boy and asked him to play outside the room with his cousins instead of staring at my belly.

How could this boy be that insensitive after bringing him to the special advance screening of Kung Fu Panda 3 at SM Megamall Imax Theater courtesy of the generous people from 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, Dreamworks, Dream Play and WWF Philippines (I just have to thank them this way because we really had a great time last weekend).

That's my son (nope, not the Panda) with his newly-met friends during the advance screening of Kung Fu Panda 3 in 3D.

Just in case you don't know, Kung Fu Panda is one of the most successful animated film of all-time featuring the voice of ace comedian Jack Black as the clumsy yet heroic Panda named Po. For the third installment of the series, other Hollywood heavyweights were included in the cast namely Dustin Hoffman as Shifu; Angelina Jolie as Tigress; Jackie Chan as Monkey; Seth Rogen  as Mantis; Lucy Liu as Viper; Kate Hudson as Mei Mei; and a lot more.

Now, I'm starting to think the what my son said s actually a compliment. Imagine how many big stars were assembled just for a Panda film. Now here's one trivia you might want to know (no matter how useless it may sound): In the movie, Po is known as the Dragon Warrior. But did you know that Panda's has a list of aliases?  The Chinese call giant pandas daxiongmao or “large bear cat.” Pandas have also been known as “beast of prey,” “white leopard,” “iron eating beast,” and “bamboo bear.

Now, if you still have a few minute to spend reading, here are three more interesting Panda trivia that you can pass on to your child:

1. A panda mother is 900 times bigger than her newborn cub, which weighs less than 5 oz. In comparison, an 8-pound human baby would have a mother that weighed 7,200 pounds.

2. On average, a panda eats 25-30 pounds of bamboo in one day. In the spring, a panda may eat 100 pounds in a day.

3. Under its fur, the skin of a giant panda is black where its fur is black, and pink where its fur is white.

Coo, right? Anyways, just in case you want to catch Kung Fu Panda 3 in your favorite movie house, regular screening nationwide starts on March 9.

Panda trivia source: facts.randomhistory.com.