Sun Life Financial Philippines Presents: LEGACY - The Sun Life Story

Sun Life has been in the Philippines for 120 years. I've only known them for quite a while because of the research that I've personally done when choosing investments. They've gone way beyond the form of an insurance company and with the recent celebration of their anniversary, they wanted to show everyone who has been part of their success what they have done to the country. A mark that may last here for generations to see, feel and hear. This is what they call their LEGACY, a musical to celebrate their 120th year in the country.

When they arrived in Manila a century and some years ago, they had high hopes, they had dreams, so they started to educate Filipinos about life insurance. They had some resistance because Pinoys never found any sense in getting money after they're dead. They wanted to change that mindset and let them see the benefits that it'll give to those who are left on this earth. I can even hear some of the ladies ridicule these Canadians and how they see no sense on having life insurance at that day and age, but when the wars started. that's where tons of Pinoys lost their lives, their families left in distraught and tried to rebuild their lives.

Sun Life even had tons of their records lost during that time and it was very hard to keep most of it. They had to resort to putting them underground and had hundreds of them burned by the Japanese. Commerce was put to a halt and lives were lost. After the war, people were clamoring for the Life Insurance they had with the corporation. They had the choice to just stick to those who still had their records but Sun Life understood they had the responsibility. They honored each and every person that went to them to claim what was rightfully theirs. They got to help all those who need it. Sun Life stood by them after all those years.

They did it because it was the right thing to do. They did it because at the time they needed the business, the Filipinos believed in them. The Canadian based company made their lives better. When they needed to rebuild and start over, the money went to the families of the plan holders. Even if some of them lost their papers during the war, Sun Life did not leave them hanging and honored all of it. A noble thing indeed.

Years after, they made the profession even greater than what it is. They started not only selling plans, but giving professional financial advice to people of all classes. They wanted to provide the quality of life that their plan holders to a larger population and they stuck to what they know best, making an impression that they are serious in what they are doing. The professionalism they implemented made so much sense even in the 60's when everyone else were in the discos, bars, the changes were absolutely working for them even more.

Their current President and CEO Riza Mantaring,  Chairman of the Board Jose Isidro N. "Lito" Camacho, and Kevin Strain who is President of Sun Life Financial Asia were also there to award former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos who has been instrumental to how Sun Life is in the Philippines. When they were distraught during the financial crisis, then a political one during Edsa, he encouraged them to stay and believe in the Filipino. They also championed the lives of Filipinas who have been part of Sun Life's workforce and they showed how it has improved their way of living. Filipinas believed in themselves, they professionalized and made them more independent. They helped more families in the process and shown how they valued them too. This is something noble. This is Sun Life's Legacy.

Executives, performers sang too in the end of the show. This is Sun Life's Legacy.

Inigo Pascual was also there. As one of Sun Life's endorsers, he believes in the value of saving for a rainy day. He also believes in investing for the future of his own family and to take an early step to financial freedom. His future lies on how he manages his finances and a Sun Life's advisor could help make that dream come true.

It's not just the personalities that prove Sun Life's the best in the industry. They are the number one insurance provider in the Philippines and if these people can do it, so can you. It is possible. They have their own legacy to prove what they've done to improve the lives of Filipinos. If you haven't had the chance to talk to anyone yet about your finances, investing of life insurance, visit http://www.sunlife.com.ph and make that leap to make your plans better, one that would benefit your family and community. You can also visit http://brighterlife.com.ph and see how it works. It's easy, talk to one of their Sun Life Financial advisors today!

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Breakfast All Day at MoCAFE in San Juan

We had a great time walking the streets of San Juan a few days ago. The goal was to find little known restaurants and see what great food this city has to offer. We've done Quezon City in the past and that has been pretty successful. I haven't been here that much because San Juan usually is just a place to pass by when you're going to and from QC, Mandaluyong, Manila and Makati. We started with a new joint over at F. Blumentritt Street in San Juan City. It's in the same building as MOTECH which is a service center for cars. While waiting to get their cars fixed, people used to just sit and watch in the perimeter while mechanics do their work. Sometimes it takes hours, so putting up MoCAFE was definitely something smart to begin with.

The place is small and cozy. It can probably sit around 15 people but can perhaps accommodate more because there were still some space in the front where they didn't put any seats yet. It's air conditioned, they can cater to small events. They've also got cable and very strong wifi. The place has very low foot traffic so you won't see that much people to bug you when you're relaxing or reading a book with your cup of joe. People who go here usually have cars and stuff that need to be serviced by MOTECH next door, but of course there are perks off of that. You get to be comfortable and relaxed in this place while lounging, having coffee, a bottle of beer or breakfast all day!

I had this Strawberry Basil Milkshake. It's a little different from the normal ones I love which is more on the creamy side. It presents a more adventurous taste by getting you a not so common combination. It worked for me, I think it got the drink a bit more interesting. It cuts the things you eat if you had something too oily. I think it has it's own charm and it's not that expensive. The owner Chef Julia Enriquez wanted something that would not really break the bank as most of the items on the menu are not over 350. If you're just looking for something comforting and easy, MoCAFE is the place for you.

This is MoCAFE's Sirloin Tapa. It's soft, savory, sweet and salty, then it's paired with intensely garlicky rice so you kinda would love having this for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Their all day breakfast menu is planned quite good as they also got Spammin Jammin, Hashed Corned Beef, Garlic Longganisa and Pampanga Style Tocino. Although, this one is the best seller and I'm not surprised because it's really good.

Aside from the Sirloin Tapa, might I suggest you get this Bangus Belly which is more on the healthy side. They marinate the fish with Garlic, Vinegar, salt and pepper so you don't get a fishy smell. You can also ask them how your egg would be done. These plates range from 85-120 pesos so it's pretty cheap especially if you count the ambiance, the amenities of this place.

This is my Pancake Tower. The Chef made it from scratch and had this layered with cream cheese and blueberry sauce in between. I loved how they got my favorite things in one plate and if you think you can't finish this you can have it shared. Although I know you'll probably end up finishing this plate because it's quite good. The cream cheese is also addicting. The Chef wanted to make everything from scratch including the maple syrup so there's going to be remarkable improvement coming to an already good dish. I would suggest you let your friends order this so you can grab some from their plates, a pretty smart idea haha!

This one is MoCAFE's Red Velvet Pancakes. If you love Red Velvet cakes, this might be a good thing to have when you're in the joint. It's got the same taste although a bit on the floury side. I was looking for something tangy but it seems to have disappeared into the mix. Maybe a little Apple Cider Vinegar could fix it but overall it's fine. It's 2 stacks of pancakes also is mixed with a hint of chocolate with powdered sugar, a dollop of butter and syrup on top. Pretty good for a light breakfast.

This is MoCAFE's Waffle Sandwich. It's got all the things in breakfast that you'll love! Although I prefer a more browned, crunchy waffle, they made this a little softer so it would mimic a real sandwich. I think it would be better though if it were more crunchy, but of course it's a preference. It's sweet and savory in one plate, a pretty filling one at that. You'll be full in no time.

This is MoCAFE's Chunky Monkey Milkshake. It's got all the nice chocolatey things inside wallowed in Vanilla Ice Cream and Bananas. It's sweet and chocolatey, pretty good for something very affordable at 110 pesos. It could easily beat those coffee shops where you need to shell out 200 bucks to get something this big. They use Mason Jars so it's already big. I bet ladies won't even share this, it's quite good.

It doesn't look that appealing now because it was left in the air during this time but it's really good. It's a cross between coffee and soda, then a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream so it bubbles up like a float. They call this Coffee Soda Float, and I think I like it a lot!

Do not leave this place without ordering this. This is their Carbonara ala Hulya. One of the best Carbonaras I've ever had. They know how to cook it and it's VERY creamy. It's an improved recipe because the Chef wanted a better version of her mother's carbonara. It's got all the bacon, the creamy sauce you would want in a dish like this and I think this is the second best Carbonara I had in my entire life. I've had a lot of course and if it's up there in my list, it's VERY GOOD. The price point is also something to think about because this is very cheap (in a good way) compared to the expensive ones I had in other restaurants. She definitely knows what she's doing. Oh no, I'm not even hyping this thing. Trust me on the Carbonara.

Chef Julia Enriquez says  "I wanted everything home made. The next time you're here maybe I'd be able to make the maple syrup, even the butter home made. The serving here is big and we've done that to satisfy the budget conscious. I'm into volume and I hope there are more people who would be able to enjoy this in San Juan."

MoCAFE is located at 212 F. Blumentritt St., San Juan City Metro Manila, Philippines. You can call them at 09159240684. They are open everyday from 8:30am - 8:00pm so if you're in the area and looking for some place to hang out without getting bothered by the usual Starbucks crowd, try one of the coziest space in San Juan. It's worth every penny, and has got BIG servings. Again, trust me on the Carbonara. 

We'll have more of this San Juan Food Crawl on next articles so stay tuned!

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Huawei Honor 6: Affordable Mid Range Android Phone Done Better

Let's get one thing out in the open first. I'm admittedly and Apple fan boy. Yes you can call me names and still, I would probably go to phones that are still in the same line when asked to switch by others. I've gone through countless Android phones and sometimes I use it for a long time and just switch back to either iPhone 5 or 5S when I get totally dazed with it. When I got the chance to experience this new phone, I was a skeptic. I totally was still lugging around my other phones because I was worried it wasn't going to be capable of  doing my daily tasks being very engulfed in social media, plus countless emails to reply and send all throughout the day (as I know I'd end up using separate apps, and it might become a nightmare).

 I can tell you right now, the Huawei Honor 6 totally changed my mind.

I totally despised Android because of the manner you purchase apps and how each of them useless ones looked on same OS'd phones. The plastic ones had terrible reaction times too in each normal swipe; when in fact you can actually get a lot done in iPhones in a couple of mili-seconds.

Now, don't get me wrong, I usually am impressed with the wonderful specs, video and image capabilities of some phones out there in the market, who'll say they're all this and that. But really, I'm just after a phone that works as promised, delivers the quality I need and if it does exceed my expectations. It's a bonus when I do find something that at least works as advertised. Before I had this one, I was still looking for something that could at least be at par with all the nicest things that the iPhone has - but wouldn't make me need to lose an arm and a leg/kidney to have it. The Honor 6 at first glance would have made me furious since I know it's Android but I gave it a shot and used it to even cover some of the events I go to.

Oh, and oh boy I'm so totally thankful I did that!

I always try to get a feel of the interface and with the tons of Android units I've held in  my hand, this is the only one that got me hooked as far as the display, interface and environment goes. It felt pretty much like a huge phone (at 5.5 x 2.74 x 0.3 inches) that I'd love and I haven't even used the whole thing. This would be perfect for guys especially those with huge hands and women too if they fancy something that's almost a phablet. The look of the phone? Well, let's just say when I do carry it around with me, people do mistake it to be an iPhone6. When I tell them what it is, I'm surprised most of them already knew it and say they've been looking for it in online stores as it seems to have been sold out already.

The Honor 6 is crisp and clear at 5 inches, 1080 x 1920 resolution using an IPS LCD capacitive screen. I was so glad about the usual menu, back and cascade options were in screen too and not part of the phone's exterior body (as other manufacturers do). It wasn't so obvious looking as well and turns its lights off when hibernating to lock.  

Organizing is a cinch as well because it's got Android Kitkat v4.4.2 OS right off the bat. I can even say that I've been journeying around Manila taking photos from the 13 MP camera and I'm very impressed with the quality of shots I'm getting from it even in low light situations. It's got a 5 MP front cam though so you can still take decent selfies if that's going to be a problem. The thing also has got 4128 x 3096 pixels, auto-focus and dual LED flash so it can still take you and you're friends photos if you're always out and painting the town red. The 1080p video capability would be all so good if you have video interviews and just plainly capturing the moment and planning to upload it online. I'd be happy to do so even if this phone has got 16GB internal storage, I still feel it's a steal at new price points I've been hearing recently. The build of the outer metal frame, the front Gorilla Glass 3 screen and faux plastic glass in the back still makes it look and feel pretty expensive (even if this is mid range priced to start with).  

Without a network in the first few days I had this, I only used wifi to get to the Internet and I think the phone lasted me like 3 days, plus more juice later on for my podcasts. I can say this is a pretty good phone with a very impressive battery life. The speaker in the back though is meant to probably bounce off flat surfaces so you can get at least optimum volume off of it. You've also got the usual 3.5mm jack and an added IR on this side of the phone. Although from tests I've seen there's not much IR remote apps intended specifically for it yet. We might need to get Huawei's help on that. Though still, at this very clear screen, the money you would have probably shelled out for one iPhone can get you three of these with an even better screen display.

It also has the usual USB ports on it so charging, even if they're from other phones may conveniently work with it. You can even use the ones you can connect to laptops and still, get it charged without a hassle.

The Micro SD and Sim slots are all tucked away in this flap that you can put back once everything's in place. You can use a 64GB card with ease. You already have 16GB internally for the phone so if you're planning to have more photos and videos on it, then just pop in a card and you're good to go.

The Huawei Honor 6 has given me hope for Android phones. I'm no hater but my standards for ease of use is just like the rest of the people who don't want the complexities of Android itself. The Honor 6 is definitely For The Brave, it's got tons of RAM, built with a stronger CPU, a faster GPU, higher screen resolution plus an even greater battery capacity as with other ones in its category. It's a worthy phone that I could compare with my Apple OS based ones, but for the price, you get the best hardware and performance all in one device. It's stylish, fast in its element, it looks good, very light weight plus takes genuinely good sharp photos. The camera quality and very good gaming experience I've had with this phone outweighs all the cons I've had with previous Android phones I've handled so far and if that isn't reason enough to have it, I don't know what will. In a scale of 1-10, I'd rate this a 9 and leave you to decide what would be the best feature you would love when you get on in stores in the Philippines. Try Lazada if they still have them in stock of course!

You can check my shots at my instagram account @kumagcow or simply click the hashtag #Honor6 #ForTheBrave and see what a difference it would make if you had the Huawei Honor 6 in your hands!

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Live Blog: Bon Chon Launches New Crunchy Garlic Chicken

It's been a while since I've eaten in Bon Chon Chicken. The reason being because my favorite store in Eastwood is now kinda far from where I live. I used to have lunch there almost everyday and I pace myself so I could take in a couple of wings, thigh and drumsticks before I go back to work. Aside from that, I also love the Japchae but I am trying to refrain from carbs so I'm always concentrating on chicken when in Bon Chon. There's more reason now to do that because they've just launched a brand new flavor today, they're calling it Crunchy Garlic!

I still love my Soy Garlic, the Spicy one and also the Honey Citrus flavors. Filipinos love the thought of having something intensely flavorful. This one's got a sweet, salty and zesty exterior, sprinkled with golden garlic bits and super crunchy outside so you'll still hear that perfect crunch each time you take a bite off of it. I love how it doesn't hold back on the garlic flavor. The smell actually radiates across the room so even as they're cooking it in the kitchen you can feel how good it is right off the bat. You now have another choice to love Bon Chon as they add a new thing on their menu. They continue reinventing what they already have so patrons wouldn't be bored and have something to look forward to each time they go to a Bon Chon branch.

Oh and there's Crunchy Garlic Cream Dory too for those fish lovers out there!

I've already seen a couple of people in my timeline wanting to go to Bon Chon and get one of these new Korean Fried Chicken flavors that only Bon Chon has. There's a lot of brands out there, but it seems that Bon Chon has been able to take the lead since they opened shop 2010 in the Philippines. I remember being there when their first store opened, and honestly the Bon Chon Chicken then still tastes the same as today... and that is a lot to be thankful for!

But really, trust me when I say Bon Chon Chicken is darn good! Call 6331818 now and ask it to be delivered right at your doorstep!

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