Buckle Up Baby Event at Mall of Asia

Republic Act 11229 is the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles act and it has been signed by the President last February 22 and Fathers, Mothers, just about anyone is in panic to make sure they are complying with the law and that means getting a really good and dependable child safety seat for their family car. This afternoon, I was invited to the Baby Company event called “Buckle Up Baby!” at SM Mall of Asia who wanted to showcase the best of their wares and educate more Filipinos about child car seats.

Tons of brands like Chicco, Aprica, MaxiCosi, Joie, Picolo and Gracon took to the stage and Ms Teresa Ponce of Baby Company says “The law is for infants and children, to lessen death and injuries. We aim to promote the use of child seats in motor vehicles. We want to educate consumers, the parents and the community. The Baby Company Buckle Up Baby will be at the Mall of Asia Atrium until Sunday and we will be here to explain child safety, for us this is a pledge to save the lives of children in the Philippines. Make sure you buckle them up before you drive!”

Cheryl Justiniano of Nursery Care Corporation says “Studies say that child car seats can save kids in sudden stops, opening of doors while moving. This is such an important change in child safety, this event also showcases the value of a child car seat. We brought experts here with us, and each car seat is accorded to the age, weight and size of babies. We are proud to also feature Hyundai who partnered with us to see how these car seats fit in real life. We will visit other malls in the country, we move forward with the thought of having travels all safe with a baby.”

Ann Espinosa of MMDA says “We are blessed to have seen an adapted law about child safety in motor vehicles. It is now mandatory for us to have a child restrain seat when transporting kids in a motor vehicle. It will diminish accidents, will be up to par with international standards, and people will learn to know how to choose the right kind of car seat for their children. Thank you Baby Company and Nursery Car Care Corporation.”

Again, the Buckle Up Baby event will be at the Mall of Asia Atrium until Sunday. Make sure you drop by and check out, learn from them if you are looking for car seats for your precious kid.

Keep them safe!

The 2019 GINEBRA Jersey Collection

Once you saw the headline, I knew you would read this. Now I don’t want to disappoint you, so we’ll show you what happened during the launch of new edition of the 2019 Jersey Collection to celebrate #40YearsofGinebraNSD. The letters NSD refers to the NEVER SAY DIE spirit of fans across the nation and Ginebra simply would just want to acknowledge it.

Drink up and keep the caps because you need it to redeem your new jerseys!

Ginebra Angels

Rizza Diaz and the Dean Quinito Henson hosted the event

This is worth 40 years of Barangay Ginebra, 1979-2019 of Never Say Die spirit so they will be getting that inspiration to the shirts.

Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand

Scottie Thompson

Justin Brownlee

The Living Legend Robert Jaworski Sr.

Senator Robert Jaworski says "Life gives you hardships, you need to be "Ganado" to face them and it is natural. I left my team mates working to win, when I met an accident, I wanted to get back and play a very good game. It was wanting to do something I started and wanting to do it well. For those who are starting, give it well but study if you are still studying. Make it a habit to do the right thing, the good habits, you can never be bigger than the word discipline. It's like a family, a basketball team, we all help each other, we share, we do what we do. In basketball, you only have one ball and we just do the fundamentals very well, listen and pick up the good ones and live doing your best for the game."

Ronald Molina the Marketing Manager of Ginebra says "This is our third year of the Ginebra Jersey launch, but this year marks the 40th year of Barangay Ginebra in the PBA. We won 11 championships, won and forced ties in some games, tons of stories, and Ginebra is still the most popular team in the game. I get strangers telling me and wishing us to win games every time we have a match, we have more to celebrate. It's that Never Say Die spirit of players and fans alike!"

Well first, let’s see the previous collection first!

Then here’s the memorabilia displayed at the event

Check out the whole new collection here!

Jaworski Sr. (7)

The Fast and the Furious duo Jayjay Helterbrand (13) and Mark Caguioa (47)

Well loved import Justin Brownlee (32)

Rising star Scottie Thompson (6)

You need 6 seals of Ginebra San Miguel or any 5 caps of GSM Blue, GSM Blue Flavors, Primera Light Brandy and Ginebra San Miguel Premium Gin. You then can get it for Php 100 only. Go rush to your favorite participating supermarket, convenience stores, outlets nationwide as it only will be available until June 30, 2019. Visit Ginebra.com.ph or BarangayGinebra on Facebook. It’s all there!

The new GINEBRA AKO NEVER SAY DIE LIMITED EDITION Jersey for 2019

This is for those who are "GANADO SA BUHAY"

Jerseys that will be given away are those like what they are wearing now and framed 🐮❤️

PS They are wearing these jerseys in the coming conference so make sure you have them before it's too late!

Progress in the Historic City of San Juan

I saw a funny, candid and very accommodating Mayor Guia Gomez this morning at the San Juan City Hall. It is one of the most progressive cities in the Philippines and it has lots of rich history, 200+ years worth of it. It is the birthplace of the Philippine Revolution in 1896. This is why they put so much value in the importance of the past and how it has made the City of San Juan a first class city that it is today. I felt her warmth receiving us in her grand space at the city hall.

Mayor Guia signing the coffee table book of San Juan

From slums, to cleaning it up and the new park in front of the Pinaglabanan Shrine

Hand made, hand woven outfits of these dolls, made by San Juan locals

Like a mother, she showed us around her office and took small talk; and made us learn a few things about where the San Juan City Hall stands now. The place was previously inhabited by illegal settlers and served as a dump/incinerator facility. But during JV Ejercito’s time, they got them relocated and made them owners of their own land and built them homes. They spruced up the place, took time to rebuild the grounds and now it stands as a gorgeous backdrop for the Pinaglabanan Shrine, inevitably showcasing the history and rich culture of the city. She also has published a coffee table book which contains historical facts and figures without room for personalities from the local government.

The new San Juan City Hall

Murals at the city hall's center hall depicting its rich history and the beginnings of KKK

Council hall where all local government laws are passed

CEDOC monitors the city center and major thoroughfares around San Juan

At the city hall, we visited the Central Emergency Disaster Operations Center (CEDOC) which monitors all major landmarks, thoroughfares in the city. It makes them fast, responsive, to any crime or emergency situation and can dispatch people within minutes if the need arises. This is important so they could address the safety of people. The previous municipal hall though was vacated and renovated. It is now part of the San Juan Medical Hospital so they could accommodate more patients under their care.

New park with the Pinaglabanan Shrine

Museo El Deposito de Aguas where all water for Manila once was sourced

Fire Hydrant during Spanish period with a lion head spout

They are currently excavating and repairing the water systems, pipelines so they can tell the story of how San Juan was founded. It is also the place where the revolution of 1898 started.

The Katipunan Museum where you can learn about the life of Andres Bonifacio and the KKK organization.

You will get to know the roles of Emilio Jacinto, Andres Bonifacio and various heroes in the Filipino - Spanish uprising.

In 1907, San Juan was just a poblacion, life was simple, buildings mostly comprise of housing for aged priests/friars, convents, churches like Sanctuario De San Jose and San Juan Bautista. We walked at the city grounds and looked at the Pinaglabanan Shrine. Parts of it are still being constructed and neighboring landmarks are building carparks so they were a little busy. We walked a bit further to the Museo de Katipunan and Museo El Deposito (former water deposit during Spanish colonial rule), the need for potable clean water was important and this was where it all started. It was seized by early revolutionists who took control in 1898. The reservoir was cleaned and made into a museum, El Deposito de Aguas. This is why there are fountains in Manila (particularly the one in front of Sta Cruz Church in Manila). They also have a VR facility detailing the Battle of San Juan del Monte where you and your kids could learn more from. It is also FREE to the public so go and visit it when you’re in the area.

We proceeded to the Museo ng Katipunan (right beside it) which is under the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Pinaglabanan was the first place where Katipunan fought Spaniards in 1896, they lost as they were generally laborers, farmers and fisherfolk - but when they came back 1898, it ignited the Philippine revolution. KKK means Kataastaasan Kagalanggalang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan, inside the museum they showed us the history of the organization and the persona of Andres Bonifacio, his family and how he lead the revolution. They also have artifacts, old weapons, paintings and memorabilia. We left and got ourselves a tour of San Juan National High School, Science High School, College centers and other educational institutions, all built during the time of former Joseph Estrada and continued during JV Ejercito. They also have a new Justice Hall beside the city police and fire station, plus the FilOil Flying V Center wherein all major UAAP, Volleyball and Basketball matches happen.

Santuario del Sto. Cristo Church

Interior of the Santuario del Sto. Cristo Church

We also visited the Santuario del Sto. Cristo Church which was put up by Dominican priests. It was where I learned St John the Baptist (who is still their patron saint) was originally housed here. Manila Cathedral had to put a relic of Sto. Cristo here in the past and so they put the St. John the Baptist at the separate Pinaglabanan Church which is a few kilometers away. People have passed on stories of miracles, so for the faithful, I suggest you make this a part of your San Juan experience.

Saw Edu Manzano who is running for Congress in San Juan, he obliged for photos. I think he had a presscon in the same restaurant we were in. There's tons of food in Green hills!

Last, we got ourselves immersed at the shopping mecca of Metro Manila, the Greenhills Shopping Center which is owned and operated by Ortigas and Co. Merchants and shoppers from across the country consider this the best place to get deals and regard it as a technological center for mobile phones and gadgets. There is a saying that “if people can’t fix it, bring it to Greenhills and they would”. Sure enough, I’ve spent quite a fortune buying clothes, shoes, bags and mobile phones here myself. I live nearby and this has been a center for commerce in the city, every tourist should visit the place and see why even locals would want to shop here!

It was so nice to see the city of San Juan in a different light. The Ejercitos (Sen JV and Mayor Guia) have done remarkable improvement and tons of infrastructure to service the people of San Juan and nearby cities. It was just a chance to see how they have cared for their constituents over the years... and still does until today. If I’m going to choose someone, I’d do it for their merits and I’ve seen they’ve done a lot of that in their city.

Honestly, it makes me wanna live there.