Cease Smoking Successfully

Smoking is addictive. Cigarettes contain nicotine that is highly engaging that once your system gets used to it, it becomes tough to get your hands off the stick. Some people can even consume a pack a day. Imagine how large the amount of nicotine that is absorbed by their bodies. They may not experience the troubling and debilitating effects of smoking right now but they will surely regret not controlling themselves from puffing when their systems eventually give in and become weak in their later years.

Smoking is a really barbaric enemy to our health since it doesn't only affect one part of our body. As it usually targets the heart and the lungs, our other important systems will be endangered once the said two vital organs are damaged. Plus, it contributes to the development of hypertension and cancers.

Question is, how do you quit smoking? Of course, there are various ways on how to cease this vice as long as one is disciplined, dedicated, and motivated. Here they are.

Movie Review: One Day by Lone Scherfig

The movie, One Day, starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess was a really touching yet shocking film that tackles the fight for true love and true friendship. It shows how enduring real romance can be and how it can keep the people involved going in life despite the difficulties they face.

Anne is playing the role of Emma, a writer who fell in love with a college friend, Dexter ( portrayed by JimSturgess), a tv host who ended up doing working in a buddy's restaurant after his career slowed down. 

Their story started when the two slept together one night after their college graduation. Since then, they agreed to meet each other every 15th day of July to see their progress in their individual lives.

Sporting a Tribal Look

Clothes designed with ethnic patterns are now a trend in fashion. With people living in an urbanized setting, to be able to wear such dresses, shirts, or any wardrobe with Indian-inspired shapes and lines makes one feel calm and relaxed despite the busy lifestyle. The tribal prints etched on a clothing’s fabric also make the whole look chic and edgy.

This fad, however, isn’t only true to tops or pants. One can sport a plain shirt and just pair it with a feather necklace or bunch of indigenous bracelets. For my part, I have bags with tribal patterns. These bags can help you pull off a hippie ensemble even if you just have a simple get-up.

Seafood Cravings at Aling Mahsya

Hypertension. This is what you get from eating too much pork or beef. Constantly devouring such may shoot your cholesterol levels up without your knowing. As a result, you may find yourself complaining about an aching head or neck. For the health conscious, seafood is the best alternative for the fatty food. It is savory, meaty, and could be cooked in various delicious ways just like pork and beef.

So when having dinner or lunch dates with your family, why not try restaurants that offer scrumptious seafood delights. Your grandparents may not even have to worry about forgetting their anti-hypertensive drugs at home.

Our family tried Aling Mahsya, one of the seafood paluto restaurants located at the Seaside Boulevard of SM Mall of Asia. We just let the waiters order our seafood of choice for half a kilo each from the nearby wet market to avoid the hassle of haggling with the vendors. But if you want to purchase the lowest price possible, then you could personally have deals with the sellers. The resto would then take care of all the cooking in accordance to the menu that you have chosen.

The food was satisfying down to the very last bite. I couldn't stop myself from chewing, munching, and digesting. After all, I don't have to stress about my heart being clogged up by unwanted fats and all.

This buttered shrimp is so juicy!!!

I think I love baked tahong more than baked talaba.

Calamares is just perfect for pulutan.

Aling Mahsya's Halaan Soup is very soothing and relaxing in the throat.

Book Review: Hope for the Flowers by Trina Paulus

In today's competitive era, some people would try to purposely step on someone else's foot to be on top. They don't care if they have already crossed boundaries, degrading others' self-worth and dignity. They do not realize that crab mentality isn't the key to success but rather, it is through truly knowing one's self and reaching goals without hurting others are what it take to be the best that you can be.

This is what I've learned from the book , "Hope for the Flowers" by Trina Paulus. The book is so simple that even a gradeschooler can easily grasp it. Truth is, it really looks like a children's book but no, it is for people from all ages and walks of life.

The book, actually a tale, has characters composed of a male and a female worm. The two were curious to know what's hidden up in the clouds since many other worms outdo each other just to get there. The one that will excite you in the story was how the female worm found herself transform into a beautiful butterfly.

The story is an easy read, and a creative one at that, since each page is actually composed of a short narration and simple yet witty conversations of the characters. At times, you'll pause for a moment and ponder on a character's line that has a significant connection with real life.

It is a book that spells hope, peace, and love. I totally like the flavor of love incorporated in the story especially as shown between the male and female worm.

With this very relaxing book, one can really read this on bed before entering dreamland. You'll sleep with hope, peace, and love in your heart.

Movie Review: The Help by Tate Taylor

Racism. This is the main issue addressed by the film, The Help, as a whole. Directed by Tate Taylor, the movie tells a story about a fresh college graduate named Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan (played by Emma Stone) who is about to jumpstart her career as a writer by moving back to her hometown, determined to publish her own book. She chronicles about how the black women working as maids in their place were inhumanely treated by their white American households.

The movie gained a lot of recognition in the Academy Awards including Best Supporting Actress for Octavia Spencer and a nomination for Best Picture.

The film is witty in its interpretation of how some black Americans hesitantly fight for their rights and how some of them courageously face the insults of the white citizens. The serious but entertaining plot flows well and is easy to comprehend. The stories of the black maids who are being discriminated are presented in a way that you will empathize and feel for them.

I admire how the camera unpretentiously captures the sophisticated yet dramatic environment of the movie. The costumes are nicely tailored such that it realistically reflect the film’s era.

Almost all the characters have made an impact on me since each of them offers something unique and interesting on the table. Undeniably, the actors are effective in their performances as they honestly bring to life the qualities and actuations of their roles.

The Help is a must-see film since it helps us recall how big the problem of racism was at the past. It makes us realize how we must treat each other with love and respect regardless of our color, gender, or status in the society.

Sari-sari Store Frenzy

Putting up a sari-sari store is a good business idea when you are living in a barangay or a village. Residents would sometimes run out of basic supplies such as oil, gas, sugar, and condiments like soy sauce and vinegar. Filipinos also love to spend siesta time on tiangges, buying softdrinks with matching chips or bread.

However, maintaining a sari-sari store is no different in managing a huge business. The owner must make sure that credits are minimized or better yet discouraged because customers may take for granted their responsibility to pay. If your store doesn’t have the luxury to have a flowy supply of products, it is safe not to allow credits.

Owners must also properly account their capital and profit in order for them to ascertain that their store is really earning an income.

One problem of sari-sari stores is that its supplies are sometimes consumed by the owners’ relatives especially when they have kids who just take whatever they want out of the store such as chips, softdrinks, and candies. With this predicament, owners must account what their relatives have consumed for free or better yet just provide them with separate snacks that don’t belong to the store.

Set rules to be strictly followed by relatives and consumers so that your store can profit well and grow into a big one. Every peso counts here so purchase products that are proven to be in demand to the buyers. One can also maximize products in groceries that are sold in sale or those with freebies which you can actually sell as well.

Movie Review: Boy Pick-up

Nonsense pick-up lines. Gangster look. Pouty lips. Combine all these with the confident and gutsy attitude and what you get is the famous character in tv today – Boy Pick-up. Adding to his popularity is his new film, Boy Pick-up the Movie, which tells a bit of his life background.

The film showcases the improved acting chops of Solenn Heussaff who plays the love interest of Boy Pick-up ( played by actor and singer Ogie Alcasid). Betong and Maey of Survivor Philippines Celebrity Doubles Edition are also given supporting roles to reveal their comic antics on the big screen. Diego and Boy back-up (played by Eri Neeman) are two of my favorites as to making me laugh on my seat. They can actually pull off funny scenes effortlessly especially the act where they share a lollipop with one another. Yucks! Haha… LiliaCuntapay, the staple extra in horror films, is also given an important character as the mother of Boy Pick-up. She has delivered her short role truthfully.

The movie is entertaining and can tickle you with some of the intended senseless scenes but I can’t deny the fact that other parts are corny. I hope the film has emphasized or has given exposure to the pick-up battle scenes more since these parts are the ones the audience are looking forward to watching. The plot isn’t really strong or attributed with an in-depth twist but such weak point is concealed by good acting. Dennis Trillo is absorbed in his role as the angsty and revengeful Bagwis, the film’s antagonist . Pepe Smith is a natural as he plays “Master”, the trainor of Boy Pick-up. Of course, Ogie Alcasid has proven how talented he is as he brings to life the main character.

I like the cinematography of the film since it is packed with symbolisms which will make you think for a while with what they stand for. These symbolisms such as the toy duck blowing bubbles are incorporated to add weight to the personality of Boy Pick-up. Maybe, some scenes are intended to be senseless and exaggerated to reflect how idiosyncrasy can sometimes mean genius.

If you want a feel-good funny and entertaining film that would relieve your stress on a weekend, Boy Pick-up the Movie is the right choice. Take your chips with you, sit on a comfy chair, and enjoy Pinoy humor you sure will have a connection with. I know you can’t get Boy Pick-up but with his attitude and oomphy delivery, you’ll absolutely root for him.