When Start Hope Begins A Spark in Our Hearts

My mom would always be lucky to be invited to whatever she wished in her heart and one of this is the be one of the 10 bloggers would were very fortunate to be in partner with Start Hope last December  3, 2016
at Shangrila, Mandaluyong City Manila showcasing StART Hope's first ever art exhibit by their very own home-schooled students ranging from seven to 15 years old from their Homeschool@Alabang and Homeschool@Valle Verde for the main purpose of pursuing HOPE for the HOPELESS.

As the prepare for their first exhibit's launch on January 7, 2017 at Kanto Art-Run Space, @nd Floor, Makati Cinema Square, Makati, they have partner with us for better promotion of the event and we are very glad to be part of this very hopeful event for every child like me.

The Cause

In partnership with the Rotary Club District, they aim to spark hope for the children of Wishes of Aid and Limbs for Kids (WALK), Inc which the main beneficiary is Nice So.

The Artists

Nice So  is a very talented young artist who was diagnosed with Lupus when she was in grade school. even though she has this incurable disease, still she would extend anything to other kids who also have lupus and other incurable disease. Together with her is Nino Hernandez, an international and local contemporary artist and Ginger de Guia, a professional calligraphist, who colors for a purpose. There would also be Waby Liberia, a fellow artist who make her art debut.

My mom saw a spark of hope for my cousin who has been suffering for Steve Johnson Syndrome for a year now. Such good start for him as she hopes to make him interested in such home schooling full of hope and fun recognizing talents from anywhere and from anyone especially for like him. My mom is also asking me if i would prepare home school because inspite of  me being always on top of the grade school level I would always encounter problems with my teachers because of my hair which I use to cover my head scar from a freak accident that they never understand. When they can't do anything about my hair, they would go indirectly bully me. StART Hope is not only for those who have incurable disease. It is for everyone who are having such problem in regular schooling. I am thinking a lot if I would say yes for this but for now I would like to see my cousin smiling as he becomes a part of StART Hope

Here are some pictures of the StART Hope Event.

Such amazing thing to start with is color our world with peace in the most artistic chaotic way.

My mom and other fellow bloggers as we wanted for the program to start

You would love to see and hear them speak as these young Masters of Ceremony gave us the warmest details of what we are in partner with.

The candid picture of the three masters you should have as mentors.

We got our chance to make our own art in our own tote bag.

- Justin

My Mom's First Very Merry UBP Christmas

These are the lovely people of United Bloggers Ph

Events made my mom live her life that she forgot - A Happy Life. There she met good people. I was just 8 years old when she began to attend events... Her first friend was Ate Bea. It took my mom a very long time to be opened for friendship but Ate Bea never gave up befriending her... Ate Bea taught my mom that it is ok... Then she got more friends... Then she began blogging this year and blogging made her gain confidence and more of friends that she could feel belonged.

Left to Right: Tita Bette, Tita Yvonne, my mom and Tita Adae

My mom as she posed with these prizes Tita Adae and the generous people prepared for us 

An event would never be an event for my mom without a selfie.

Tita Bette got her invited to attend the United Bloggers Ph. It was her first Christmas Party out of her work. before hand, she was like oh so excited to figure out what she was going to wear. Tita Adae was very kind of have me attend the party too. It was last November 30, 2016 at Y2 Hotel in Makati City. The hotel was so nice. I like going to hotel. I like the elevator. And when we got to our room, the place was so spaciously clean and nice with the Ying Yang theme and Anime character painted on the wall. Thanks alot Herbalife Ph for giving us the awesome experience in this hotel. I and my  mom got to pick up water from AquaBest. Tita Adae got car covered. It was fun to help in preparing for the party like of having those balloons puff one by one. I had fun sharing my time with Abby too.

She won this goodies from La Chica Manila... and she is loving it now...

As she won a Gift Certificate worth 1k  she was jumping for joy!

We had over whelming food! Thank you Lord for these soulful comfort food!

This perfect shot is courtesy of Tita Bette. She is really a pro of capturing such moment of happiness.

One by one bloggers from different kind of genre came and they were really fun to be with. They were all in Hawaiian theme costumed except for my mom... my mom's costume was an epic failed for her but I said it was fine. My mom got a glimpse of Facebook live but sadly our Wi-Fi connection failed in this hotel. Tita Adae asked everyone to join the online contest of posting everything under the sun here in our party. The internet sucks in the hotel and so the Facebook Live of my mom was an epic failed. Hahahahah! But we all have a good laugh! There were lots of people who helped us to make my mom's first Very Merry Christmas came true. Herbalife, La Chica Manila, Intiende Salon, AquaBest, PhilCare, TanduayRhum and more... Tita Adae and her whole family really made everything so cool and awesome for everyone of us.... My mom loved the Johari's Window's activity where people would write something on the paper posted on their back. They didn't know who were writing and that was freaking annoying! After it was done, each shared what words they have received from the others... both positive and negative. They had fun sharing their true selves and explaining too why they were like this and that. a lot of raffle prizes were given. My mom had La Chica goodies and Intiende Salon Gift Ceritificate. She was jumping for joy every time she was called. She was also asked to performed with Tita cherry as she sang "Prize Tag." She got a chocolate bar for and exchange gift which she generously shared with others. A lot of food were also served. Tita Lani's Yema Cake was a winner to me!

She was the happiest here. She was dancing and singing and jumping... Who cares! hahahha!Another best picture from Tita Bette

After the party, we were allowed to go for a swim. The sky was bright and the pool was cool. overlooking the tall skyscrapers and busy streets of Makati. It was really a good time to have a dip together with all the kindest Titas and Titos I have met.

Nighty night... sleepy heads on this comfy bed. :)

I never seen my mom so happy to be herself. Believe it or not when she got into blogging world, she never thought that she would find good people who would not only help her to find true self but also accept her with no questions asked... And this was really a Very Merry Christmas to Us! Thank you for making my mom the happiest!

-Justin

Herbalife Philippines' 22nd Anniversary at BGC

A good friend once told me when he discovered what I have now, "IF I HAVE WHAT YOU HAVE, I WILL DO  EVERYTHING WHILE I CAN." Listing up things that I can still do while I have time is very nerve thrilling and one of these things is A TRUE FUN RUN. Got lucky to be invited by Ms. Charmaine Pahate to make this a reality. Oh my! I have nothing to wear... hahahaha! I never been in a fitting room looking at myself in a sporty clothing and for the first time I had myself my own! Ooooooowwwwwwwww!!! I look very unhealthy! It hit me hard! I really need to go in HERBALIFE PHILIPPINES' FUN RUN... 

As early as 4:30 am every Herbalife enthusiast were at BGC to have an healthy jump start in life. There were almost 3, 000 attendees who  positively look for a better lifestyle here. 

Warming up before the run! 

1136 - My number! I am now 36 and my birthday is 11. Great!

The confetti were lovely to look at as it started our fun run

Starting point would be... wait! I need to take picture!

I was not running at all! I was just walking and having fun! I had fun looking at the sky as it changed its color... The unfammiliar places in BGC makes you wonder how on earth these trees and plants survive the unforgiving life of pollution is giving them... you would really love to come over here and appreciate things we left unnoticed...

WATER!!!!! exhausted... burning feeling... A GOOD burning feeling!

Finish Line would like a  GERONIMO to me! emotionally stricken by the simple achievement!

Rewarding Indeed!

Life is sweeter and healthier with HERBALIFEph!

More of the Event...
Herbalife Philippines has reached another milestone as it celebrates its 22nd year of providing good nutrition in the Philippines.To mark this event, the company held an Anniversary Fun Run at the Bonifacio Global City last December 4, Sunday. 
There were about 3,000 people composed of Herbalife Independent Distributors, professional athletes, running enthusiasts, media, bloggers and company employees of the multinational brand here in the country. The event, according to Herbalife Philippines General Manager Bong Valenzuela, coincided with the Herbalife Nutrition Day celebration across the Asia Pacific Region.
"This is a free fun run. We have mounted this activity to thank everyone for the continued support they have given Herbalife for the past 22 years," said Valenzuela. 
The event was attended by some of the country's top athletes such as First Norseman Xtreme Challenge Finisher Omar Paredes and his wife Laarni, who has been drafted recently to compete for the Norseman Challenge next year. 
Herbalife is a global nutrition company that has been changing people's lives with great products since 1980. Our nutrition, weight-management, energy and fitness and personal care products are available exclusively to and through dedicated Independent Herbalife Members in more than 90 countries. We are committed to fighting the worldwide problems of poor nutrition and obesity by offering high-quality products, one-on-one coaching with a Herbalife member and a community that inspires customers to live a healthy, active life.
We support the Herbalife Family Foundation (HFF) and its Casa Herbalife programs to help bring good nutrition to children in need. We also sponsor more than 190 world-class athletes, teams and events around the globe, including Cristiano Ronaldo, the LA Galaxy, Western Sydney Wanderers FC and champions in many other sports.
The company has over 7,800 employees worldwide, and its shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HLF) with net sales of US$4.5 billion in 2015. To learn more visit Herbalife.com.

This is one of the achievements that I would say somewhat rewarding and fulfilling to me and at the same time pretty much fun for me... I am really looking forward for another healthy worthwhile activities with Herbalife Philippines. - rissa

Explore Magazine In Its Second Anniversary

This 2nd Year Anniversary November 2016-January 2017 Edition is going to give you lots of
summer in the supposed to cold weather of December... It is going to be tempting indeed...

November 15, 2016
I was very fortunate to be one of the bloggers to there for the launching of Explore Philippines Magazine Second Anniversary Presentation at Mango Tree, BGC, Taguig, Manila. There, I was catered well as I opened to door of Mango Tree, they all greeted me with such sweet smile and led me to my table. As I waited for the talks to start, they nicely talked to me about everything under the sun, which of course, made me feel at home with a glass of iced tea. Each talks and speakers were presented in their most easy ways. I had learned a lot,  especially that part that my kid could travel and go in to places he could never be in such rewarding ways like volunteering for a camp in the provinces. It is  like helping them in helping them to help others and himself too as he enjoys serving others. There were in between raffles I didn't win anything. We were served with such mouth watering food from Mango Tree and my favorite was the Mango Cheesecake. I got the chance to ask a question about where did a 12 year old boy got his traveling supports and for that question I got a Halo pouch product... and to wrapped up the event, we were given  a cute brown bag with everything on it including the invite for the Second Anniversary Party.

The product of their pure labor of love showing us a lot to explore within our country...

Mango Tree Restaurant showcases Thai cuisine that will guarantee to melt your hearts out... 

When you get a little bit of everything!

November 24, 2016
The Second Anniversary Party was held at 4th Level Events Center, Century City Mall, Makati City Philippines. Everything in the event place was so nice! The Photo Booth got me this  picture compilation of my dance routine. The 60 page picture of my moves in every flip of pages I make. I got to try shooting arrows and throwing shurikens too. Flat screen TVs were all set in line featuring such lovely things, places and faces you shouldn't miss in Explore Magazine. There were food stalls which gave us an awesome way to travel through there food! I got to try everything and my favorite is the pink dragon fruit ice cream. That thick creamy smooth but with light luscious milky sweetness in every spoonful in my mouth is now making me drool and want go and get another round from where it came from... and I will definitely go there just to get a cup of it! We were all warmly welcomed... and there were famous artists who graced the cover of Explore Philippine Magazine like Janine Gutierrez and the 2nd anniversary cover feature, Rhian Ramos. She is so amazing with that face and even greater with her beautiful personality as she mingled with us. The people who worked at their best were all presented to us... We have so much to thank them for everything we have on this pure work of love magazine

Loving summer in this cold weather we have... The stage before the show.

This photo booth will make you dance!

I just tried my luck to have that target locked... 1...2...3... I missed!

I and my son while waiting for the program to start...

The magazines and the TVs ready for a show off of what to expect in Explore Philippines Magazine.

As time goes by the crowd got bigger...

Deep Fried Pizzas and Creamy Custard Macaroons

My bet that event - The Best Local Ice Cream I ever had - The Dragon Fruit Ice Cream.

I and Janine...

And we got altogether a great cheer as the programs got its warm welcome to everyone...

Explore Philippines Magazine opened to us their 2nd Year Anniversary as they presented to the public "Travel Spread - Travelling The Philippines One Page At a Time (A Digital and Video Gallery." Don't you ever love to travel at the expense of your own backyard when all you have to do is to open you gadgets and directly go to Explore online or have a a copy and flip one page at a time and have that great sights; delightful imagination of savoring food; blasting back to our awesome history and be amused of our different culture from one island? Our country has one unique archipelago and Explore is here to help you indulge to its greatness that you never been.
Explore Philippines copies are made of high quality 160-page collectible issues. They are really for keeps with the nicest paperback you' will ever find. Their quarterly issues will help you plan every destination you may want to visit giving you that much time to accomplish everything within the time frame... and there you go grab a new one after three months as you start another adventure with their help where each copy are crafted in its finest with such beautiful and mesmerizing photos and attempting to experienced at the moment articles where they pour their work with pure labor of love from their very heart and soul.  
Your eyes will be feasting in every page of this magazine and your mind will be overly fed as you finished the whole 160 page issue with lots of segments you can choose from First Class, Main Course, Now Boarding, Checklist, Pulse and more...and so dear readers grab your own copies and have that dream like travelling in every page you flip at the comfort of your own home as you sip you own pina colada top with slices of pineapple and cherry with a little bit of dried basil... :) this will worth all the leisure and pleasure you desire in you life...

A Very Merry Selfie Christmas - The #PaskuhansaLRT1 Selfie Contest

Photo by Vonj Tingson Mba . This is what inside LRT1... It is so Christmas in here!

Most of us are very much into the hype of taking good selfies almost everyday of every moment of our lives... Living at the moment... Catching that smile... laughter... crazy antics via mobile camera... Don't you feel lucky that we live in a moment where you don't have to worry if you spoil the film before it gets develop in a photo shop? To make you feel luckier, how about joining this awesome selfie contest  LRT1 currently having now... Check out the details below. 

The spirit of Christmas can definitely be felt at LRT1, as it rolls out its Filipino Christmas themed train to bring joy to commuters, which is expected to run until December 31, 2016. Decked out with traditional Filipino Christmas decorations that feature capiz parols, garlands, and a three-dimensional belen – or nativity scene, among other, the #PaskuhansaLRT1 train became an instant hit among LRT1 riders as it made their commute more enjoyable.

Alongside the roll out of its #PaskuhansaLRT1 train, LRT1 is also giving its commuters a chance to chance to win PhP 5,000.00 worth of Beep Cards every week, from November 29 to December 31, 2016. All you have to do is to snap a selfie on board LRT1’s special Christmas train and post it on Facebook, with the hashtag: #PaskuhansaLRT1.

Commuters with the best selfies on board the train will be selected every Sunday noontime, during the contest period. Winners will be announced on the PAGEONE Official Facebook Page, and will be notified via their social media account.

Image courtesy of PAGEONE

The minute you finished reading this... don't forget to out grab your cellphones whenever you are in LRT 1 and snap a shot. :) Remember to use the hashtag #PaskuhansaLRT1... A Very Merry Selfie Christmas to Us!

7 Men and Women -- 7 Stories -- 7 Detours -- One Soul Searching

My mom was one of the fortunate people to be invited to reinvent one' s being. Yes! She always says she is fortunate... lucky... blessed because if you know who my mother is in real life form you would say "Oooowwww!!!!! how  is she  still alive as of now for both of us... Whatever she had shared in the boot camp is only 1/4 because as she says not all deserves to know who is the real Rissa. That 1/4 was just the dark side of her and the darker side and the darkest side are well kept even if Kuya David Ferro asked her "No more hiding... It is time..."  As a child she said she had followed everything my lola said. My mom said she wanted to be an engineer but my lola asked her to be a teacher. As an obedient first daughter, she did so. The only thing she had against my lola's will was when she married Jade... And that was the start of her unfortunate detours in her life... What she ever wanted before marriage were to become a professor, finished her doctorate degree and have a kid... NO HUSBAND INCLUDED. But then she had a drastic detour... her wants became having a house, a healthy family, a loving husband... be the coolest mom to me... but these things never came true as she waited for 12 years to come... All she had was just an apology for all the nightmares we had... Aimlessly, she just sat down a blank screen on most of the time... wasting what is left in her life. She said the only right thing that ever happened in her life since she got married is having me as her son. She never failed me as a mom even though most of the time she apologies for not being the best one...
My mom was invited to reinvent herself in Detour Boot Camp by Kuya David courtesy of Propel Mentoring Partnership Co. which leads people out of the box. She had herself absent for a day to be there for the first day and had me sent to Tita Joy's place to enjoy my Lola Viring's birthday. Yes! She had sacrificed a family gathering which happens only once in a year for the boot camp. She had sacrificed 3 days without seeing me for the first time in her life. Was it worth??? "Definitely", she said and here she shared to me what she had in the boot Camp.


Getting into places is her major goal nowadays. She never traveled alone  and this was her first time in an unfamiliar place like Boso Boso Hotel and Resort in Antipolo, Rizal last November 18, 19 and 20 of 2016. She brought lots of things and so I asked her "MAMA UUWI KA PA BA?". She brought too much and less too... she forgot her toothpaste, sanitary napkins, essential vitamins etc. She said that she waited for hours to wished she had come to school first. She hates absenteeism. She hates late. She hates sarcasm. She hates herself. She had hefty meals together with the other campers. There she met good people. She mentioned a lot like Tita Arlyn, Tita Bette, Tita Cherry, Tita Sol, Tita Mich, and more. Day 1 was the start of her new detour and that was giving life a chance. The first speaker, Andrew Cua, shared how he had his backlogs... sacrifices... swallowing his pride... He started as his classmates' servant in returning empty bottles in exchange of few peso coins from them to now a growing internet business tycoon. Don't be afraid to start up...  Then second one, which was Rochelle De Villa, talked about identifying the problems in far most in our society and how to help them solve these problems. And so she had the first farmer friendly association where farmers can have their start up. Overcome her own disability of being born that way, that never hindered her to help others as she help herself in helping others. My mom likes to help others and so she bets on the second one but I said to her "How can you help others if you don't know how to help yourself first?... You need to help yourself first before you can be in service to others." and so both speakers were valued to her on her first day in the boot camp... (by the way we constantly talked through texting and messenger. ) The third speaker was Rachel Harrison, a mom of Julian, who never gives up for her son. She had given so much hope to my mom as for my Tita Roselle, who have autism, who never had such special training to bring out the best in her for her 28 years of just sitting around. She is planning to have Tita Roselle go to Zambawood. It is not  too late for her to live her life even with autism. The fourth speaker was Dave Lim. The cool Dave Lim got sick of building dreams for the foreign brands and so he founded My|Phone Cellular Company. Patriotism is a form of loving yourself... believing that we are all created equal in a form good sense of leadership. Everyone should have a heart of not giving up. He promised my mom to REPLACED her phone, which she had own only last April and broke it last May, through Miss Sheryl. Anthony Pangilinan was the 5th one. He talked about the advantages and disadvantages of life and how to claim it. Taking a good look on the positive things in the detours... support comes own its way... open arms embrace those you add value to you... looking a deep thought of 1... 2... 3...  to accept the brutal fact... then to the new ways of moving forward but at the end don't ever forget to understand that at the end of the goal, it isn't always the destination you ever planned to have... FOCUS... the need of focus is a must in seeking for the real purpose in life... and the most important of all  is to LOVE YOURSELF... The sixth speaker was Mary Jane Vega. A fighter... a warrior... she is a great example that her faith... her God is bigger than cancer. She never let that dreadful disease controlled her life. She made sure giving up is not an option because she have a son to raise... and she knows no matter what his age he would always need her as his mom. ( I hope my mom realize that I need her for the rest of my life... I am very hopeful she WON'T quit living her life ). The last one was Flip Ruby of Zalora. He talked about when life gives you lemons you should squeeze them in your eyes... hahahahaha!!! It is very easy for some to talk negatively but is very hard to many to take the talk positively... Life is short... Life is hard... but it is up to you to live a life to the fullest in spite of tons of detours...

My mom believes in angels...I have to thank Kuya David and Ate Shirley for this... and for her, she was then thanking God for giving her such good opportunity to think deeper that in every breath she takes their is hope... all she needs is to ask what she really needs... and she will receive...

Here are some pictures she had taken in her hostile self. :)

Andrew Cua

Rochelle De Villa

The Reflection Time together with her team.

Ms. Rachel Harrison as she speaks with full of heart and soul...

Mr. Lim as he promised my mom to replaced her phone. :)

The ever handsome no matter what Mr. Anthony Pangilinan

From the campers photos. Ms. Shirley and Ms. Jane

Mr Flip of Zalora

The peaceful over viewing the activity  area

She said she swam here...

The view in her assigned room

Her assigned room with her roommates... 

Her sleep deprived selfie outside the room...

Her first day selfie ( They thought she owed the place... hahahaha)

Morning selfie for her be like... I NEED TO LOVE MYSELF

The afternoon look ANGAS mode...

Her last day selfie

Thank you Propel Mentoring Group for Taking Good Care of My Mom...

--Justin