INTERMEDIATE

GENERAL VOCABULARY  

Shabu Shabu is also served with cabbage, corn, carrots, mushrooms, and many more. You may also add noodles if you wish! But personally, I prefer it with rice (or both).

You'll never go wrong with Shabu Shabu since you will not just get a healthy meal but also a flavorful broth. Once your broth boils, you can start cooking by dipping your meat and vegetables in the broth in a back and forth motion. The term "Shabu Shabu" refers to the swishing sound of cooking the ingredients in the broth.

Photo By: JB Militar

That's not all! Aside from your meat and vegetables, you can also choose from different side dishes that #ShabuShabu101 has to offer! For only Php 1.00 per gram, you can go loco with this! They say that you first eat with your eyes, so the trick is to choose your side dish with different colors.


And since they just opened, they have a special promo for all of you! Experience this #ShabuShabu101 for only Php 101.00 per set order from December 8 to 15, 2018. They also have this PISO challenge. 

Photo By: Jessica Masangkay

What's not to love? Head on now at Shabu Shabu 101. They are at La Terraza Bldg. 1131 Palm St., Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Olongapo. In front of Royal Duty Free parking lot, beside Teppan 101.

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/iloveShabu101/

Searching for new skin care products could be a challenge for some of us, especially when you have sensitive skin! As I continue to look for good facial products, I came across with BeautyMNL (https://beautymnl.com/), for those who don't know, BeautyMNL sells the best makeups, hair care, skin care, etc. here in the Philippines. In their website, I found this Clarifying Witch Hazel Facial Mist and Witch Hazel Plus Tea Tree Antioxidant Facial Cream from the brand The Beauty Bakery.

Having problematic skin, I tend to easily breakout when a specific product is not compatible with my skin. With that said, I only choose products that are natural and doesn't have much alcohol and fragrance content. When I saw these Witch Hazel and Tea Tree products, I said to myself that I must give them a try. Why? Because plants like Witch Hazel is a natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, it’s able to battle free radicals to protect against DNA damage. Below I have listed some of the skin benefits that you can get when you use Witch Hazel:

I received the Witch Hazel Plus Tea Tree Antioxidant Facial Cream four (4) days after I ordered it. While the Clarifying Witch Hazel Facial Mist was a Christmas gift from my sister. The facial mist is made with water, witch hazel extract, tea tree extract, and lemon extract. The best thing about these products are they're ALL NATURAL, PROUDLY HOMEMADE AND HANDMADE, PARABEN, PRESERVATIVE, AND CRUELTY FREE! This brand is proudly made in the Philippines and I'm just happy to know that there are local products here that you'll totally love! 

Moreover, the Witch Hazel cream immediately became my holy grail. One tub comes with a 50 gram of product and has an SPF 35 in it. Fast facts about the Witch Hazel Plus Tea Tree Antioxidant Facial Cream from BeautyMNL's website are as follows:

• Heals pimple and acne wounds.
• Promotes skin lightening.
• Tightens and minimizes the pores.
• Combats dirt and pollution.
• Inhibits the growth of bacteria.
• Improves the overall health of the skin.
• Made with non-comedogenic ingredients.

I love how this cream makes my face looking hydrated and healthy. I use it twice a day, morning and evening after cleansing. My skin easily absorbs the product, it's not sticky, it smells good, and it can mattify your face. Personally, I also use it as a base whenever I would use foundation or concealer. So instead of primer, I just use this one. I started using this product January of 2018 and it will expire on November 2019. As of the writing, the price for the cream is Php 320.00 (here's the direct link if you want to order) while the price of the mist is Php 199.00 (direct link)

There are a lot of reasons why some of us have dull skin — either our diet is not that good, we don't drink enough water, or basically we don't have any skin care routine. Living in a tropical country like the Philippines also makes our skin looking dull especially if we don't put any sunscreens for protection. Dull skin tone is a result of excess dead skin cells that build up on the surface of the skin.

Good thing is that we can have facial services like Diamond Power Peel Treatment to give our face a radiant, flawless skin that glows with health. This means that a fresh, youthful complexion is unveiled every time the outer layer of dead skin cells is shed, which keeps the complexion young and glowing. 

As of the writing, Dermcare's Diamond Power Peel costs Php 950.00 per session, however, I got mine for only Php 199.00. What a steal, right? The secret is to buy a voucher on Metrodeal! I just purchased an add on Gold mask for Php 200.00 when I arrived in Dermcare. 

Photo Source: http://www.derma360.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/facial.png

So let me share my experience in this treatment:

Step One: Cleanse, Moisturize, and Steam

They will ask you to wash your face with their own facial cleanser. After that you will lay down on the recliner and your esthetician (mine is Ate Dorothy who is very friendly) will put some moisturizer onto your face. She also put pads on my eyes so that she can start the steaming process to open my pores. This takes for about 10 - 15 minutes. I must say that for the first few seconds, I felt like I want to cough because of the steam, I don't know if its just me though. Hehe. 

Step Two: Pricking

Pricking is getting rid of your blackheads, whiteheads, and sometimes pimples (but it depends on the pimple that you have if its ripe or not). This process may take from 15 - 30 minutes depending on how much they need to remove. 

Step Three: Suction and Laser

Your esthetician will use a small tube to suck out the remaining dirt from your face. After that,  she will use a glass wand-like that has laser and just massage it onto your face.

Step Four: Heat Hammer

This heat hammer is used to open up your pores again so it would be ready for the Diamond Peel. The difference between the steamer and this step is that the heat hammer is being massaged also to your face. It's warm and relaxing.

Step Five: Diamond Peel Scrubbing and Suction

Diamond Peel is a safe and effective method which takes out dirt and dead skin. It employs the use of special diamond-tipped hand piece which is run over by the dermatologist / esthetician over the surface of skin to vacuum away whiteheads, blackheads, dirt, and dead skin. Diamond Peel produces collagen, minimizes scars, removes blackheads, and improves skin conditions. It will also prevent skin from being oily, leaving it clear, smooth and young-looking. If you have low pain tolerance, it may hurt, but for most people it's tolerable. I would say I felt more pain during the pricking than this one.

Step Six: Mask (optional)

I got the Gold mask. The reason why they suggest you to have a mask is that its more easier for our skin to absorb the nutrients when our face is squeaky clean and our pores are open. They offer different masks like seaweeds, collagen, gold, oatmeal, cucumber, and so on.

Step Seven: Cold Hammer and Cream

In this last step, your esthetician will just use a cold hammer and massage it onto your face again to help close your pores. After that, she will put a Hydrocortisone cream to reduce some redness in the skin. And that's it! They will also give you a complimentary back massage to end the service.

Here are some things that you may want to know:

Things To Avoid

Is diamond peel available for men?

Is it good for teenagers and kids? 

How Many Times Should I have In A Week or Month?

• Diamond peel price in the Philippines usually range from P1000 to P3000 or $25 per session, depending on the clinic where you want to get the treatment from. You can also find good discounts and promo vouchers (like Metrodeal) online as many skin clinics offer this with great prices.

That's it. If you plan on getting a Diamond Peel, I suggest that you choose a well known clinic, has a good reputation, and is supported by licensed dermatologists. 

* I did video some procedure but I still don't have enough time to edit it. I may upload it on my YouTube channel and update this blog post whenever its ready. Thank you! :)

Metrodeal: http://www.metrodeal.com/catalog/?q=dermcare

The best way to reduce ear infections in dogs is prevention. I have a beagle who had ear infections 2 years ago. For people with beagles, watching for ear infections is an important concern. The drooping ears of hound dogs do not allow for air to circulate properly within the ear cavity. This lack of air flow, combined with the heat that stays trapped within the ear, causes moisture. And moist areas are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, yeast and fungal infections. 

Canine ear infections are most commonly caused by bacteria or yeast. Ear mites, excessive hair, moisture or wax, foreign bodies, allergies, and hypothyroidism can all be contributing factors in the development of an ear infection. Because the ear canal in dogs is mostly vertical (unlike a human ear canal that is horizontal), it is easy for debris and moisture to be retained in the ear canal. [source]

Her ears had a dark, smelly discharge  (like mud). She often scratches her ears and sometimes cry due to irritation. Here are some symptoms that your dog has an ear infection: (1) Scratching of the ear or area around the ear. (2) Brown, yellow, or bloody discharge. (3) Odor in the ear. (4) Redness. (5) Swelling. (6) Crusts or scabs on inside of the outer ear. (7) Hair loss around the ear. (8) Rubbing of the ear and surrounding area on the floor or furniture. (9) Head shaking or head tilt. (10) Loss of balance. (11) Unusual eye movements. (12) Walking in circles. (13) Hearing loss. [souce]

Thankfully, I have learned about Otiderm ear drops which helps in treating ear infection. It costs 400+ PHP if I'm not mistaken. Below I have listed what are the steps that I did to get rid of my dog's ear infection (please note that I am not a professional; I am just sharing our experience with regards to my dog's ear infection):

1. First step is to clean your dog's ears. I used a cotton ball and Hydrogen Peroxide (Agua Oxigenada) 3% Solution. Please be mindful in doing this because sometimes our dogs' ears are so infected that cleaning their ears would be painful for them. My dog sometimes cry while I clean her ears but I make sure that I take my time and just make her relax first. Massage her ears and make them feel that every thing will be okay. 

2. After cleaning with Hydrogen Peroxide, I then move on to putting 3-5 drops of Otiderm in each ear. Massage it in their ears for at least 5 seconds to prevent them for shaking the antibacterial drops off their ears.

3. Pat their head and give some treats so they would know they did a good job!

In our case, it only took us 2 days and her ears already turned infection free. I just clean her ears once a week with agua oxigenada for maintenance. And now, it's nice to know that whenever my dog sees my getting cotton balls, she will start getting excited and come to me quickly, lay down, and allow me to clean her ears. 🐶❤️ I hope this would help you in some ways. Let me know if you have other tips in cleaning your dogs' ears and comment below if you've tried Otiderm ear drops in your dog(s).

We landed in Hong Kong around 2:30 in the afternoon. We exchanged USD to HKD and bought their sim card with unlimited data for 5 days so you could have internet connection and use Google Maps and Google Translate whenever you need it (because maybe you will have a hard time understanding their accent.  Some of them are not too hospitable as well) Also, you need internet for posting your new HK selfies on Instagram and/or Facebook, am I right? Lol.

Photo from http://www.hongkong.net/

Going to Kowloon, we have ridden an express train. The Airport Express is the fastest way to get to downtown. The journey to Central takes 24 minutes and the trains run every 10 minutes from 5:50am to 1:15am. The fare to Kowloon station costs HK$90, to Hong Kong station (Central) costs HK$100. 

In addition, the Airport Express offers several benefits to its passengers, such as free in-town check-in service, a free return journey (same day), free MTR connections and free shuttle buses to major hotels in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island which we had because we stayed in GDH hotel in Prat Avenue, TST. I highly suggest that you book your room in Nathan Road since it's the main thoroughfare in Kowloon. You can literally go anywhere from there. 

During our first night, we opted to walk around and check near by places. We went to Victoria Harbor to watch the Symphony of Lights (the show starts at 8pm daily and lasts for about 13 minutes.) To be honest, I expected more in their show. Its not even close to what we see on the internet with so many bright and dancing lights considering it's named the 'World's Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show' by Guinness World Records. However, its still a nice tourist spot. Just looking at those majestic tall buildings while in the waterfront was just a great sight. 

Other tourist spots near Victoria Harbor includes the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Space Museum, Hong Kong Cultural Center, Clock Tower, Harbor City Mall, and many more.

To end our first night, we decided to check an authentic Chinese restaurant; too bad I threw their business card and only took one photo. But it's a basement restaurant around Tsim Sha Tsui and the restaurant's English name is Sik Lik something (I totally forgot) ***EDIT: The name of the restaurant is Sik Lik DimSum ChickenPot HotPot / Sik Lik DimSum Gaibow FoWo

Chili Oil Wonton

I highly recommend their Chili Oil Wonton! The taste is just divine and nothing beats an authentic Chinese cuisine. Wwhen you already tasted one, you can easily compare it with other Chinese food whether it's authentic or not.

On our second day, we headed to shopping malls to check some smart phones and other stuff. Did I mention that I was so surprised there are a lot of Indian sellers in HK? I mean, they would probably approach you in every single street or at least in Tsim Sha Tsui where we stayed.

We also went to the Victoria Peak by taxi. You could go there by bus but we just opted to go there by taxi because we didn't have much time left. We've ridden the peak tram which was a bit shocking for me but it's not as scary as you think.  It's a bit steep but it is slow, plenty of time for you to enjoy the spectacular view. The Peak Tower is located at an elevation of 396 m, 156 m below the summit of Victoria Peak. 

We went to the viewing terrace of the Peak Tower to enjoy a full view of the harbor. Needless to say, you would want to go there on a clear day.



There is a fee of HK$20 to get to the highest level where you can see the best view. Well worth it if you are a tourist, however if you are trying to save a little or perhaps you have a large group you might consider going to the roof of the Peak Galleria which is the shopping center on the opposite side of the peak. The view is similar and free!



Within the vicinity you can also go to Madame Tussaud's wax models museum. It features many local stars together with other international famous people. 





After our Victoria Peak trip, we were headed back to TST for our late lunch. Unfortunately, the Peak Tram was suspended because there was a storm signal 1. It wasn't raining that time tho, but we can't do anything if they already said its suspended. We rode a bus from the Peak to the Central Star Ferry Pier then from there we headed to Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier.

During our last night in HK, we just went to Ladies Market in Mongkok for souvenir shopping; it's just 3 stations away from TST. I believe every tourists go there because they offer many things be it bags, shoes, clothes, gadgets, food, entertainment, and everything else is just around the corner. All in all, Hong Kong gave us a nice weekend trip!




For more information, you may visit http://www.hongkong.net/

Have you been to Hong Kong? If not, are you interested in visiting HK? Share your answer with us in the comment section below. We'd love to hear from you!

Before we go to the product review, let me give you some background / history of my skin. I have sensitive skin and I was diagnosed with eczema last 2013 (though it is not contagious and I don't have it in my face) I needed to be more careful in putting creams, lotions, etc to my skin. I started having breakouts since last year due to stress and probably hormonal imbalance. I have used different soaps, cleansers, and toners to get rid of my pimples but none of them worked. I thought of treating my skin internally so I started taking Lactezin (anti-acne medicine). I also used Benzoyl Peroxide cream and I must say that those two products are effective; but as they say, patience is a virtue. It lessen my pimples and I didn't get flare ups that much. However, it leaves my skin with pimple marks. I used foundation and concealer every time I go out just to hide those discolorations.

Last August, I learned about Fairy Skin Derma Facial Set; it is making rounds on social media especially on Facebook and YouTube as one of the most promising facial set up to date. Fairy Skin Derma Facial Set is used for the treatment and prevention of severe cases of melasma, pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads by penetrating pores to reduce break outs, eliminate acne-causing bacteria, and remove dead skin cells. It whitens dark spots, blemishes, and other discoloration such as freckles, and age spots to achieve younger looking skin.

My schoolmate, Keizia Hernandez, is a city distributor of Fairy Skin so I asked her about the ingredients of the said product. The toner contains water, ethyl alcohol, alpha arbutin, vitamin C, and niacinamide. The cream contains sodium citrate, lactic acid, alpha arbutin, and niacinamide. She also said that both toner and cream contains rosehip oil, glycerine, retinol, and cetearil alcohol. Fortunately, these key ingredients are useful and so far the best and effective ingredients for my skin. Without any second thoughts, I bought one set and tried it out right away.  

Please take note of their disclaimer: 

My personal suggested tips on how to use Fairy Skin Derma Facial Set: (Please keep in mind that what worked for me may not work for you and vice versa)

• Wash your face with Fairy Skin Derma Soap (use in the morning and at night as your daily cleanser.) Do not leave the soap on your face for too long. I use it in less than 20 seconds. Be gentle and do not rub your face when washing.
• Pat dry your face using a clean face towel or a paper towel. Again, do not rub your face, you just have to pat it dry.
• Wet the small cotton ball with just 3-5 drops of Fairy Skin Derma Facial Toner. (I used 5 drops of toner on my first night and I saw a huge difference on my face after waking up. My cheeks were pinkish and my face has that beauty glow that you can easily tell. I felt a little sting after waking up but it was tolerable. My face also started the mild peeling. I just used 3 drops of toner on my 2nd night.) Use the toner twice daily for a month.
• Apply the toner with one gentle upward motion, 'wag pabalik balik. You don't have to over do it. Do not rub your face with the toner.
• After the toner, let it sit on your face and allow it to dry first. 
• Apply a pea-sized amount of Fairy Skin Brightening Cream on your whole face. Apply with an upward motion and apply it lightly. Use once a day preferably before bedtime for a month.
• I use the Fairy Skin Sunblock Cream SPF45 every morning. Same direction, apply a pea-sized amount on your face and apply it lightly. Apply 30 minutes before sun exposure.

No filter - No make up - Natural lighting

Miracle perfume for women is a sudden and marvelous revelation that life is extraordinary, that life is a miracle. Joyful, empowering, and inspiring, this eau de toilette and eau de parfum fragrance is a special blend of vetiver, intertwined with the sweet notes of a vanilla perfume. - Lancôme USA 

Miracle is modern, oriental fragrance with fruity opening (Litchi); slightly spiced flowert heart (Magnolia, Jasmine, Ginger, and Pepper); and powdery base of Musk and Amber. - Fragrantica

Lancôme Miracle is the epitome of fresh, clean, and purity. It is a total compliment magnet. Sweet and spicy with a floral backdrop balanced just right. Remarkable, very classy, and feminine.

I've only tried two perfumes from Lancôme (Hypnose Senses and Miracle) but I can say that by far, Lancôme is on my top list. 

*If you want to dupe of Miracle, try Just Me by Paris Hilton. I have used Just Me during my college days and just like Miracle, it will not disappoint you.

I finally had my first international trip this year and it's none other than the city of lights, Hong Kong! Since it was my first time to get out of the country, I expected that I will have a hard time in our immigration. I searched on Google for tips and all the blogs that I have visited have one thing in common in their posts, that is to BE HONEST. Immigration officers are trained to know if you are lying or not. You may find them intimidating but don't let that get the best out of you. Plus, you don't have to worry at all if you are going to tell the truth and nothing but the truth.

Before we proceed to my Do's and Don'ts, keep in mind that we will have or we all have different experiences in the immigration. You may experience a smooth or a not-so-smooth one. Just to give you a little background with myself, I work as an online English as a Secondary Tutor and we don't have a company ID (and as we all know, our occupation is one of the important things they will ask in the immigration. It gives them the proof that you have enough funds and you will go back in the Philippines and not stay illegally in other countries) So let's start the Do's and Don'ts:

DO's: 

DONT's:

• Don't show unnecessary documents / IDs to the immigration officer. Let me explain this one, when it was my turn, I was asked to show my passport, round trip airfare tickets, hotel accommodation, and ID. Unfortunately, we don't have our company ID in my current work as I work as an online ESL tutor. What I showed was my Certificate of Individual Contractor. Also, when I was about to show my ID, I was hesitant because the only valid ID I have at the moment is my Voter's ID (which is a laminated one). I just thought that maybe they would not accept that ID or maybe they would ask for another one so I decided to show my old company ID, too. The immigration officer then handed me a form and asked me to go to another immigration officer for a second screening. This part was terrifying for me, the IO asked a lot of questions about my personal life like the occupation of my parents, my educational attainment, and so on. (Madami pa sya ibang tinanong kaso too personal na.) After that, the IO put "allowed" in my form and asked me to go back to the first IO. I thought it was already good. Unfortunately, the first IO went to the bathroom so my waiting game became a little longer. And the ground attendant was giving me a warning already that I might be offloaded soon because I was the only one left. When the first IO finally came, she reviewed my form but she was really confused about my old ID and asked me to show a proof that I don't work for that company anymore. And to be honest, I don't have any proof. What I told the IO was that, "I'm sorry I cannot show any proof or resignation letter. But I can show you my ITRs with the other companies that I have already worked for." The ground attendant told me that I am already offloaded because the plane was leaving soon. I then asked them to give me another minute and give me a chance. The IO told me not to show that ID again because it brings total confusion. She then put a stamp on my passport and the other guards and IO shouted "TAKBO, MA'AM!" I said "I'm sorry, and thank you." After that, I was like running for my life. As in TAKBO, BES! Lol
• DON'T LIE. Opposite of my Do's which is to be honest. Of course, don't think even for a second to lie. As I've told you, immigration officers are well trained to know if you are lying or not.

Check out my Facebook account at www.facebook.com/cesspiano for more photos or wait for my Hong Kong blog post. :)

Get in touch with Ocean Adventure! 
Address: Camayan Wharf, West Ilanin Forest Area, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Philippines 
Phone: (047)252-9000 
Fax: (047)252-5883 
Official Website: http://www.oceanadventure.ph