SuperdryStore Opens in Central Square BGC

One of my favorite stores in the world, SUPERDRY!

I was one fortunate guy to have been able to work beside a Superdry store when I was still in the corporate world. If you only knew how much I held back on buying everything from that store, you would think I'm crazy. It's like when they thought of building this, they already knew what I want in my wardrobe, not to mention the bags... oh don't get me started!

Okay, so I cried myself to sleep not getting all the bags and shirts from this store. The good news is, they've built another SuperdryStore at the 2nd Floor of Central Square in Bonifacio Global City. I was like a kid in a candy store when they released their  Autumn-Winter 2014 collection. They concentrated on a more biker look for the female form and came out with paneled Biker Super Skinny Jeans and the Super Long Biker Jacket to go with it. For the men, they came out with their more classic yet edgy designs of SD Gym Equipment, Copper Label Goods, Copper Label Selvedge and the new OrangeDry Denim which had really good cuts.

Really good rubber printed shirts, glittered for the girls, plus that gym bag, bonnet and socks. See what I mean when I said want the bags?

I love the white reverse printed shirt and the usual embossed printed one on the bottom right. The knitted sweaters with different designs looks so cool.

These shirts, I wanted to take them all home. I like how they put in hard work in printing shirts like these, none of those cheap looking ones that have half meant rubberized prints on them.

The color choices are a plenty too!

Ladies, you won't run out of choices in Superdry because these shirts can go to the galaxies, pick up stars and glitters all over and put it on you with these pieces.

See the messenger bag on the back? The white one?  I want that T_T

The jeans they have are also something that I would regularly have in my closet. The weathered, rugged look just fits me well. I often even do that to my non rugged pants and adapt them style wise.

The rain won't be a problem with these jackets, it's even going to keep you sweating because of the material they used but they never sacrifice style if you see this!

They're great bag makers. Somehow, I felt they really take time choosing the bags they have on the store, like pre selecting them. It's a bit pricey but totally worth it.

I don't think these are the new ones on their collection, I think I've seen these on the other stores, but still they are classics. I want those moccasin looking boots on the bottom right. It looks comfy! 

If you see that Gray and Green colored bag on the back, there's a Black and Orange version of that. I obsessed with it in the Eastwood branch and had them keep it for me for a few months. It's a whole set, then when I couldn't find it on the display anymore, I panicked and rushed inside the store. I only bought one and left the two other bags and saved for it. It made me crazy haha!

There were a few men and women trying to secure this faux leather gym bag because it just looks so awesome. I wanted this myself but decided to pass on it. I still want it though, I day dream about it together with the other bags I want from their store.

DJ Callum David provided music for the venue. The store is really nice especially the small touches like this lighting fixtures made of mason jars. I wanted this for my own room but they didn't sell it ha!

The women's footwear that's got mettallic components and the men's boots in military style is also part of this collection but I didn't see them that evening. Even if that's the case, I dig this new A/W collection because of their attention to texture, detail and quality that's always present in any SUPERDRY product that's displayed on their store. I wish SSI and SUPERDRY all the best in this new store and wish they cater to more Filipinos that would love all their new designs, awesome colors and Japanese aestheticism for the upper class street wear loving people. The quality is legit, and I won't be leaving this brand for years. SUPERDRY is me. They can quote me on that. 

For more information about their stores:

Superdry Philippines

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Visit their official website

http://www.superdry.com/

Annasandra's Secret (Ang Lihim ni Annasandra)

Rochelle Pangilinan and Andrea Torres for Annasandra

You've probably seen the show by now and figured what happens when young girl Annasandra transforms into a warthog/boar/wild pig every time the sun sets. The beginning of the story was well explained and I lauded the director about the great job they did on the camera angles because for me, it was cinematic. They're proud to say, they've made their best effort to present the story clearly, precise so that when the time comes that the character grows up, everybody knows where they are coming from.

"Awok" is what they're called, and in normal terms it's also some form of "Aswang" but they coined the term from it's Cebuano equivalent. They did this so it stays away from the latter which has been somehow overused in Philippine cinema. When asked if there would be bloody or gory scenes, the Director Albert Langitan immediately replied the negative and said "love scenes". Hunky Mikael Daez and Pancho Magno is here so their presence alone makes it really conducive to showing some skin. It's intended not to be a horror flick but more of a drama which has been proven effective in the past projects of GMA like "Alakdana", "Kokak", "Pyra" and the likes. They are just making something along the lines type of drama and they've been researching about it for quite some time now. 

Rochelle Pangilinan

Rochelle isn't totally closing doors on the things that she's used to like dancing on GMA shows. She's been doing it for quite a number of years now and the thought of retiring from that is something that she's thinking about. You'll see a very good performance from her as Esmeralda in the series. Even on the first day, she has shown how she's been able to do justice on the mother "Awok" role. When her baby girl dies, she almost mimics a howling wolf if you've seen her on the first day. She was intense. Getting that feedback from us was something like a confirmation that she can do this and felt glad during the advanced screening of their show. She's also coming back to see Anassandra played by Andrea Torres when she's become of age. I feel there's going to be more things to look forward to aside from the story plot that we have seen especially the love angles that the guys are also going to be part of. 

Andrea Torres on the other hand looks stunning. She got really thinner than the last time I saw her. It's one of the preparations she did for the role. We didn't see her that much but we figured how she'll fit in on the story, also her role was done by a kid and she'll probably appear after a few days. Based on some of the clips in the series, she's really going to be a bit daring but nothing that people won't be appreciating for the afternoon prime slot it's in. I'm watching it now as I'm writing and it looks like we're going to be in an epic journey as she finds true love, or is it?

The show also stars Mikael Daez, Pancho Magno, Cris Villonco, Glydel Mercado, Emilio Garcia, Maria Isabel Lopez, Joyce Ann Burton, Arthur Solinap, Gabriel De Leon, Erika Padilla, and Mercedes Cabral. Be sure to watch it everyday right after Dading on GMA Afternoon Primetime.

For more information about their artists:

Official GMA Artist Center

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Visit their official website

http://gmanetwork.com/artistcenter

FoodPanda Philippines and their new Managing Director Mauro Cocchieri

Mauro Cocchieri of FoodPanda Philippines

FoodPanda Philippines has a new man on the helm as their new Managing Director, he is Mauro Cocchieri. He also was Managing Director for popular shopping site Lazada Philippines and he's really excited to join the company. They launched last June 2014 and under Rocket Internet and they're just starting. They've been able to accomplish much in the last few months and are eager to expand into different cities. We got to sit down and talk to him in Paris Delice, a quaint French shack in Juno corner Makati Avenue in Makati City.

Mauro says "This is quite fun, I am younger than what I look. I'm only 27 years old. I was born May of 1997 in Perugia, a small town between Rome and Florence in Italy. It's very close to Assisi. I grew up there until I was 20, I appreciated the nice life but later on, it felt boring. I grew up middle class and went to a public university. I convinced my parents to invest in me and went to Milan so I could study more. Education there is okay, but I felt I had to go out. I got my business degree there, did 6 months in Netherlands and it was very European. I had my internship in GE and kind of quit a corporate environment. I felt I could do something more, three years ago I decided to join Rocket Internet. I was one of the few German speakers in the company. They were already successful but nobody knew Rocket Internet that much back then. I also founded an online design and furniture company. I stayed there a year and joined Rocket Internet Global Team then got to visit Asia, Europe and Africa because I was with Global Venture Development Manager for Rocket Internet, then Lazada after a few. I stayed with Lazada as Managing Director and handled  Operations and Delivery, Customer Experience and Satisfaction. When I joined Lazada it wasn't as popular as this right now. When they opened the post of FoodPanda Philippines, I wanted to grow professionally and joined them. 

The main value of FoodPanda Philippines this year is city expansion, hopefully to get 10 cities before the year ends. We wish to establish 4 offices in Metro Manila and 6 outside. Food delivery in the Philippines is the hottest business in the moment. We are already in 40 countries and have around 1000 employees or more everywhere in the world. We have a separate office in Jupiter. We are faster than other ventures because this market is really booming now and we've gotten a lot of interest from restaurants, brands and customers. We are to provide the best customer experience because our customers are always hungry. It's not much different with what we do with products, but food is an emotional product. They are either very happy or have very bad emotions because it is food. 

When we deliver, we are more the ambassadors of the customer experience - and not just delivery. We have a restaurant acquisition team and we are here to partner with them if they want to do delivery. We have targeted most on Google and they're surprised that our service work. It's easy to get hundreds of restaurants even in the last 3 months because we have an amazing sales team. The change in strategy with me joining is trying to understand Filipino customers. We don't need so much listings but we'll provide what the customer wants. We tell them what time it gets delivered. If we say the food will arrive in 45 minutes, we will do as is. We've even got requests to deliver in a specific time which we had some OFW's send their families in the Philippines food too by purchasing it off with their credit cards from other countries. We try to do the project and it's completion but it will take some time, we also make the restaurant aware of the importance of delivering on time and what is important for customers and have them satisfied each time they deal with them. That's our goal."  

The Service

FoodPandaPH has an app both available in the Google Play and App Store. You can install this on iOS and Android devices. There are some features though like the review links that don't work most probably because this is still in Beta. I have friends who have tried the web based ordering system at http://www.foodpanda.ph/. So I'll try the using the one for iOS. The app is easy to navigate and understand. It basically just needs your location since it scans for the restaurants near your area. It also has the menu and price listed conveniently plus the minimum order for every restaurant. You can put everything in the basket and pay for it on checkout. Their credit card, paypal (oh yes bloggers your prayers have been answered!) and cash on delivery payments is very convenient especially for either those who are in the office or at home. 

You'll get a breakdown of your order too sent to your email after all the transactions.

One you place your order and proceed on checkout, you would need to fill up your details if you choose to not login. If you don't have an account yet, the app will ask you to enter a password later on if you've finalized the orders. Once you submit it, you'll receive a verification code on your mobile number and FoodPandaPH will call you. They will confirm your order and tell you the estimated time of arrival for your order, more like a rundown. You know the good thing about it? Delivery for the restaurant I chose was FREE. Actually, almost everything I saw there had free delivery. That's neat because it doesn't cost an arm, leg or kidney unlike some delivery services I know.

The food arrived earlier than expected, fresh, hot and fast!

FoodPandaPH is the best thing since sliced bread. It's convenient, it's going to have more restaurants on it's list pretty soon and you'll get great deals without leaving your humble abode. So the next thing you should do, is hurry and download the application on the App Store and Google play. It's like my go to thing now if I'm hungry, it's pretty popular in other countries too. Don't take my word for it, use it when you plan that next meeting or if you just feel like ordering take out in Metro Manila, soon the whole Philippines I hope! 

For more information about their services:

Food Panda Philippines

Like them on Facebook


Visit their official website

http://www.foodpanda.ph/

Today is World Habitat Day!

Trooped down Bistekville 1 in Payatas, Quezon City with Habitat for Humanity Online Champions and the Habitat for Humanity people so we could lend a hand fixing up houses for the beneficiaries of Barangay Silangan in Quezon City. It was a morning to afternoon affair but the weather was very kind to us, and the project was on its way to be done by some of Manila's awesomest (if there's such a word) digital influencers. 

Today is a day of action. October 6 is the WORLD HABITAT DAY where people dedicate themselves again for the cause, because they believe that everybody deserves a decent place to live in. They also believe that getting adequate housing will bring profound changes to the lives of individuals and communities. It's also true that if these people have a decent place to live in they would also be able to break the cycle of poverty, promote better health and school performance, create wealth and savings, and increase safety and stability. Imagine how much lives you can save just by giving them decent shelter, they would be productive members of the community together with their families. Isn't that enough reason to volunteer with Habitat For Humanity Philippines?

  During the build, good looking endorser Chris Tiu also prepared a basketball clinic together with the his crew so the kids of the community get involved in worthwhile activities even at a young age. I've seen quite a number of them thinking to be basketball players already because they get inspired playing ball this early. He did some shooting, dribbling and passing exercises which will be beneficial in teaching them the scientific way of playing ball.

We also visited a couple of houses and their beneficiaries to take a look at how their lives have improved after getting their own house from Habitat For Humanity Philippines and their projects. They also teach each one of them something that would be able to make them earn a living even when they're inside the community. Indeed, they are thriving.

If you haven't been a volunteer yet, this is the right time to do it. Please visit http://www.habitat.org.ph to know more about the ways you can help. A large part of your donation will go to the materials in building houses for our less fortunate countrymen who are in dire need of our help. You can also call them directly if you want to volunteer, they'll schedule you and provide materials for the build much like how we did it. It's not impossible, you can help!

For more information about their organization:

Habitat For Humanity Philippines

Like them on Facebook


Visit their official website

http://www.habitat.org.ph/