Michi Photostory

Among the ASEAN countries, Brunei is not so popular tourist destination, maybe because of the limited flights from the Philippines and Brunei Dollar is a strong currency so everything seems expensive. We were supposed to visit Brunei when we went to Kota Kinabalu Malaysia but because of the limited time, we did to push it anymore.

Read: 3 Days in Kota Kinabalu Malaysia

I haven’t been to Brunei but my husband is a frequent traveler and whenever he visits Brunei, he usually stayed at Radisson Blu Hotel or Badi’ah Hotel. My husband had a business trip last week in Brunei and he reserved a room at Badi’ah Hotel. If you are looking for a budget hotel in Brunei, you can check this one. It is just 10 minutes away from Brunei International Airport and also near to some tourist spots in Bandar Seri Begawan. And the best thing about this hotel is the FREE Airport Shuttle so don’t forget to inform them that you want to avail this service.


This is the room and bathroom.




Badi’ah Hotel has 2 restaurants which serve local and international cuisines, Badi’ah Hotel Restaurant and Bristodeli Cafe. My husband ate his complimentary breakfast at Badi’ah Hotel Restaurant, he prefers the buffet spread here compared to Radisson Blu because they have more options and according to him, masarap food.




They also have a swimming pool but he hasn’t tried it yet.

Read: Royal Brunei Yacht Club
Pasalubong from Brunei

Badi’ah Hotel
Badi'ah Complex Mile 1 1/4,
Jalan Tutong, Jalan Laksamana Abdul Razak,
Bandar Seri Begawan BA1712, Brunei

Weight loss or maintaining a healthy weight is no easy task. It can be a real struggle mainly because weight loss does not follow any specific principles. What many people do not understand is that there is no “one size fits all” weight loss plan. There are so many things to take into account and it is very easy to get things wrong. Many misconceptions surround weight loss, and therefore, it becomes important to properly understand what it truly entails.

It is safe to say that alongside other elements, weight loss is mainly founded on the calories that you ingest through food, and the calories you lose through exercise. However, it involves more than this. It is also significantly influenced by factors such as age, environment, fitness, genetics, and underlying health issues. Having a proper grasp of this will enable you to select a weight loss plan that you can stick to, and one that will give you the best results based on your personal needs and objectives. With all the information and advice available online concerning weight loss, you should be selective on what you choose to follow. Below are some of the things you may have missed about weight loss:


1. Your Lifestyle Matters

For any changes you make, it is important for you to make corresponding changes to your lifestyle. This is because it helps you understand what improvements or reductions you can accommodate. For example, creating a diet or regular meal plan will not be very effective if you indulge in alcohol and substance abuse. The reason is that alcohol and weight loss do not go well together. Therefore, you should consider your lifestyle and any changes possible before adopting a weight loss plan.

2. Comparison Is Dangerous 

One of your biggest downfalls will be comparing yourself to others. Constantly checking your progress against the achievement of others will downgrade your efforts. The best thing to do is to gauge your own progress by checking how close you are in achieving your weight loss objectives. Focus on yourself and what you do and you will find yourself slowly gaining momentum.

3. Weight Loss Plateaus 

The weight loss journey is full of ups and downs, as well as points of stagnation. It is important to note that physiologically, your body will shield you more from weight loss than form weight gain. This means that there will be periods of varied weight loss. It would not be possible to lose the same amount of weight every week because no two weeks are ever the same. Keenly evaluating these differences, you will be more prepared for the coming weeks.

4. Sleeping Habits 

You might be working hard trying to stick to your diet and regularly exercising, but still, struggle with weight loss. Not getting enough sleep creates hormonal changes within your body, causing increased appetite and higher stress levels. Therefore, try as much as possible to get more sleep. Improve your sleep patterns and create time in your busy schedule for yourself. It will help lower your stress levels and contribute to the fulfillment of your weight loss goals.

5. Not Always About The Scales 

When working on your weight loss goals, it is important to understand that this is not the only benefit. Improving your dieting and workout habits will also create benefits such as better sleep, more energy, less stress, and better general wellbeing. Although the numbers you see on the scales may frustrate you, you should remember that losing a lot of weight is not the only sign that you are making progress.

6. It Does Not Happen Immediately 

The weight that you are trying to lose was accumulated over a period of time. Therefore, expecting immediate results will dishearten you. This is a long-term undertaking to maintain a healthy weight and to improve your overall health. Therefore, working at it with this understanding will help keep off the weight for good.

I started limiting my carb and sugar intake last year + exercise and I was so happy that slowly, I’m losing weight. But when summer vacation came, I totally forgot about my diet and exercise. Just this month, I bought clothes online and when my order came, one blouse did not fit me well, kasya naman huwag nga lang ko hihinga. My mom even asked me kung nagdadiet pa ko, kasi mukha na daw ko mataba ulit. So I checked my photos and weight. Reality bites, I’m almost back to my old weight.

“My life is a constant battle between my love for food and not wanting to get fat” 

Anyare! Napasarap ko ng kain ulit. Hahaha! In addition, may branch na ng Cafe Mary Grace na malapit sa amin so I’m starting to try their cakes and pastries. Yes, sugar overload. Take note, I’m just buying the mini cake pero ang calories hindi nawawala.

“Calories, tiny creatures that live in your wardrobe and sew your clothes a little bit tighter every night” 

Anyway, I don’t know when I will start my diet and exercise again but for now, let me share the cakes and pastries that we have tried in Cafe Mary Grace.

Read: Cafe Mary Grace Southwoods Mall

Ensaymada 

Cafe Mary Grace is very popular with their ensaymada because their cafe started with ensaymada. It was the year 1994 when Mary Grace started selling ensaymada and cheese rolls in the bazaar. After several years, she opened her first kiosk in Glorietta, then her first cafe in Serendra, and the rest is now history.

So when we first dined at Cafe Mary Grace, we ordered their famous ensaymada. The classic ensaymada is made of butter, eggs and topped with Edam Cheese. The bread is soft, whether grilled or not. It is best paired with their chocolate drink daw but I haven’t tried it yet, maybe next time. You can buy their ensayamada per piece for P85 but if you want to save money, buy 6, 8 or 12 pieces so you can get discount. They also offer ensaymada with a twist too.

I remember, when I attended a baking class, while we’re making ensaymada, nashare din nung chef yung story ng Cafe Mary Grace.


Cheese Roll 


Aside from ensaymada, Cafe Mary Grace is also famous for their classic or grilled cheese roll. You can buy this at P55 per piece or buy 6 or 12 pieces for a discount. I always buy this, since mas mura siya kaysa sa ensaymada. Hehehe! The cheese roll is still soft kahit galing fridge pa siya, so I can eat it kahit hindi ko na initin pa.

Tiramisu 


When my husband celebrated his birthday at Sambokojin, I bought a Mini Tiramisu before going home. It is a simple coffee-brandy sponge cake with cream filling. We also enjoyed this cake.

PHP1125 - Whole

Chocolate Cake 


My son likes chocolate cake so every birthday celebration niya, yun ang gusto niya. So I bought Mini Chocolate Cake P320. It is made of premium Belgian Chocolate with a creamy custard filling. So if you are a chocolate lover, you will love this. It is not overly sweet too, mas matamis pa yung Contis Chocolate Cake.

Classic Cheesecake 


I also bought Mini Classic Cheesecake P390. It is simple cream cheese with graham cracker crust. The taste is good but I still prefer the cheesecake of Calea in Bacolod, ang layo lang. Hehehe!

Mango Bene


Mango Bene is a frozen layer of meringue, custard cream, and mangoes. It is not overly sweet but I prefer Mango Bravo of Contis, nangingilo kasi ko sa frozen mango.

Toasted Almond Sansrival


This Sansrival is adorned with toasted almonds, hindi tinipid sa almonds. The price of this mini sansrival is P595, isang kainan lang namin 3. It is more or less PHP200 for a dessert per person. Mas sulit siguro pag whole na lang bibilhin PHP1,595.

Update: August 2020

When community quarantine became less strict, my husband was able to visit the mall and buy cakes and pastries. He either visits Red Ribbon or Cafe Mary Grace. He bought Ensaymada PHP658 (6pcs), Cheese roll PHP404 (6pcs), Chocolate cake PHP1,129 for Mother's Day, Toasted Almond Sanrival, Tiramisu PHP1,125 for my birthday, and Cafe Mary Grace Cheesecake P1,238 for my his birthday. I was surprised when I saw the receipts parang masakit na sa bulsa ang presyo. hehehe!

Several months ago, I posted “How to View Meralco Bill Online” and since then, they send my Meralco bill on my email address. I was very happy because I can immediately pay my bill without waiting for the Meralco Delivery Guy. Aside from the email, I still receive a paper bill. But last week, I received an email and I was advised starting December 1, 2018, they will stop sending my bill via email.

Dear Valued Customer, 

Thank you for your continued patronage of our e-Meralco bill facility. We’d like to inform you that starting December 1, 2018, we will stop sending your bill via email through this facility. We would like to share the good news that we have migrated to a new system, Meralco Online beta. Meralco Online beta will give you the power to access your Meralco account 24/7, from any device.

Aside from viewing your bills online, with Meralco Online you can:

Pay Bills
Report an Outage
Inquire and Give Feedback
Apply for Electric Service
Get Notified

Please note that you will need to create a new account, which is different from your e-Meralco bill account. For further assistance, please email us at customercare@meralco.com.ph or call our 24/7 hotline 16211

I remember last March, there was a note

“e-Meralco Bill will be moving to a new home. To continue having easy and convenient access to your bill, register on Meralco Online, available soon, or just update your e-bill profile details on or before March 31, 2018 to be pre-enrolled in Meralco Online” 

So kaya pala hanggang March 31, 2018 lang yung pang-enroll dati sa e-Meralco Bill Facility, ito na pala yung bago nila. May Meralco App na. So I immediately download the Meralco Mobile App and register.


How to Register to Meralco Mobile Beta App 

1. Download the Meralco Mobile beta app on App Store or Google Play or visit www.meralco.com.ph and click on the Meralco Online beta button.
2. After you downloaded the app, click the Meralco Mobile Beta app. You will see Log-in, Register and other buttons. Click Register.
3. To register you need the following details such as Bill Date, Total Kwh, and Service ID Number These details are all available on your current Meralco Bill.

Enter Your Personal Details

Email
First Name
Middle Name
Last Name
Mobile Number

Choose from the following 

I already have a Meralco Bill  (I chose this one)
I haven’t received my first Meralco Bill

Then enter the following details

Service ID No.
Total Kwh:
Bill Date 4.

Click I have read and agree to the Meralco Online Terms and Conditions. 

5. Click Register. Then you will see a note

“We’ve sent you a confirmation email. Please click on the link to proceed with your registration. If you can’t find the validation email in your inbox, please check your spam folder.”

6. Check your email. On your inbox, look for Meralco Online Email Verification then click the link to confirm your email address and create a password. (link will expire in 30 days)
7. Set your password
8. To Log in, you can use your Mobile Phone or Desktop.

For Desktop, go to https://www.meralco.com.ph/ and click Meralco Online Beta. Enter the email and password.
For the mobile app, click the app, login and enter your email and password.

That’s it!

Update November 2018: I received a billing statement on my email too, two days after the billing cut-off. So I received two emails, one from my eMeralco Bill Online Account and one from Meralco Beta Online.

Read: How to Refund Meralco Bill Deposit

How did ten years go by that fast? 119 months and 364 days had passed and I can’t believe that my son is now a decade old. I feel that it was only yesterday when I was pregnant and now I have a TEN-ager. His age is now double-digit and this is the last year that he can count his age using his fingers.


He is now 10 years old and how I wish that he won’t be in a hurry to grow up because his mom is not ready yet. He may not be a baby anymore but he's not too old for our hugs and kisses.

Happy 10th birthday to my favorite son. Always dream big, believe in yourself and make it happen. We love you so much.

Birthday Celebration 

A few weeks before my son’s birthday, I asked my son what he wanted for his birthday.

Ethan: Ayaw ko party, sa bahay lang.
Me: How about staycation?
Ethan: Ayaw.
Me: Why?
Ethan: Expensive yan.

I felt happy because my son knows that staycation is not cheap. I thought makakatipid ako sa birthday niya since ayaw niya magparty and magstaycation. He just wanted to receive gifts so my husband was planning to buy Playstation para daw hindi puro cellphone anak ko pag weekend, at least may bonding sila mag-ama. Pero feeling ko, mas gusto ng ama niya ang Playstation. Hehehe!

A week before his birthday, my son changed his mind.

Ethan: Mommy, for my birthday, I want to go to my favorite hotel.
Me: Hmm, what is your favorite hotel?
Ethan: Sofitel

Waah! I was shookt! Hindi ko ineexpect na may favorite hotel na pala siya. We just went to Sofitel last February for our wedding anniversary so naging favorite na pala niya. So I immediately inquired to Sofitel and Shangri-la Fort for their room packages. We’ve been to EDSA Shangri-la and Makati Shangri-la and hindi pa namin na try yung Fort branch. They have Adventure Zone kasi so I feel that my son will like it so I inquired. We compared the price and inclusions and we chose the Sofitel package.


Since my son’s birthday fell on a weekday, we celebrated it in advance. Ayaw ko din naman siya mag-absent sa school para lang magcelebrate. I will share our Birthday Staycation at Sofitel Club Millesime on a separate post.

On the day of his birthday, we bought small gifts, mini cake and I printed Pokemon Birthday Banner. I planned to have a small Pokemon Party sana for his birthday kaso nagbago isip niya so hindi ko na tinuloy preparation ko. lol

At the risk of sounding a little dramatic, we all know that a single cup of coffee in the morning can determine the outcome of your entire day. If you wake up feeling groggy and out of it, you probably leave your bed looking for that extra boost of energy from your morning cup o’ joe. Every coffee lover knows that this black gold can only be enjoyed if it is perfectly brewed. It is not every time that you will want to go to a coffee shop and rely on your barista to get your fix. Sometimes, you want to take your time and brew yourself a great cup of coffee so that you get everything just right.


Brewing coffee is a very simple and straightforward task. You need to note that every single detail needs to be just to ensure that the result is perfect. The best part about this is perfecting your coffee-making skills won’t be too difficult. You also need to remember that making and drinking coffee is a personal experience. You need to know what works for you so that you enjoy your coffee every single time. That being said, here are a few basic rules to follow when making your cup of coffee at home:

1. Go for the Best Coffee Beans 

Always keep in mind that the best coffee always starts with great beans. While the brewing process is also a huge factor, the type of coffee beans that you intend to use will determine the outcome of your coffee. As https://coffeeorbust.com/  states, you need to look at the roast date to determine the freshness of the beans. This will help you to ensure that your coffee’s flavor will not be affected or degraded by oxygen and other elements.

2. The Water 

The type of water used is also integral to the quality of your home-brewed coffee. If you are a coffee fan, you know that coffee tastes best when the water used is bottled or filtered. If you use tap water, your coffee will have a strong taste and odor that will just put you off. Tap water already has other flavors that don’t complement the coffee.

3. Measure Everything 

Let’s be honest: we all tend to eyeball it when measuring the ingredients for making our cup of coffee. However, the best results are achieved if you use some measuring equipment that ensures everything is balanced out to a tee. You can use the normal kitchen scale to measure the beans before grinding. Ensure that the ratio of ground coffee to water is just right.

4. Use Clean Equipment 

You will also need to ensure that your tools of the trade are extremely clean before use. Anything else will compromise the taste of your coffee. Rinse your filters, grinders and the removable parts of your coffee maker with hot water. You can also wipe down and then dry with an absorbent towel. Any traces of leftover coffee oil or dirt will make the coffee taste rancid and very bitter.

5. Observe Your Coffee-to-Water Ratio 

The rule of thumb when brewing a cup of coffee is to use one or two tablespoons of ground coffee for five ounces of water. Remember, coffee is very personal. Therefore, you can adjust the measurements to suit your preferences. Every brewer has a measurement indicator to guide you. Lastly, some of the water can be lost to evaporation depending on the brewing method used.

I can’t believe that we’re down to the last quarter of the year, ang bilis talaga ng panahon. Ber months are here and life would be busy again. I only have few posts starting last month because I’m preoccupied with my son’s exams, birthday celebration and lastly, tinatamaan ko ng katamaran. Hehehe! Thanks to my guest posts at may napopost pa ako.

Starbucks Tagaytay 




Anyway, last week out of the blue, niyaya ko ni hubby magTagaytay.

Hubby: Punta tayo Tagaytay.
Me: Why?
Hubby: Libre kita ng kape.


I find it funny because I’m not fond of drinking coffee but it's a date so off we went to Starbucks Tagaytay. We always see this Starbucks branch but it was only last week that we were able to pay a visit. It has a nice view of Taal Volcano but at that moment, may construction sa likod nila so you won’t appreciate the view.



This Starbucks is just beside the Discovery Country Suites where we ate Christmas breakfast last 2016 and 2017. And I guess, that was the last time that we went to Tagaytay so ang tagal din naman bago nakabalik. Since I’m not fond of coffee, I just told my husband to buy me Banoffee Pie. This was my all-time favorite whenever we visit Starbucks but now, sa dami ng pagpipilian, marami na rin kong ibang gusto.

Santis Deli-Cafe 





We did not stay long and we drop by at Santis Deli-Cafe at Silang, Cavite. It’s been five years since our last visit. We dined here after my son’s moving up and we had a good meal here. I knew that they sell imported products so we checked the store. I bought Hungarian Sausage because I’m craving for the sausage that we ate at Cafe Breton. I was glad that the taste is quite similar. I also bought Balocco Cubes which is similar to Loacker but much cheaper.

Read: Food Trip in Tagaytay
Staycation in Tagaytay

Jollibee Epic Fail 



Since we went to Tagaytay, I was not able to cook ulam for our lunch so we went to Jollibee Drive-Thru. We got our order and off we went home. I was disappointed when I opened my order because I ordered chicken palabok but they gave me chicken spaghetti. Hay, nakakainis! Lesson learned, always check your order. Di na kami nadala, last time naman yung ice cream sundae ang hindi nila nailagay sa take-out namin. Sayang money.

Looking Back

I remember when I had my son, never na kami nakalabas ni hubby na kami lang. Wala na kami date and alis na kami lang dalawa, it is always package deal. I’m not complaining because we have no yaya or helper and ayaw din magpaiwan ng anak ko sa iba so wherever we go, he goes. But now that my son is in grade school, we now have time for quick dates. We just make sure that we’re home before my son arrives from school.

P.S. Acienda Designer Outlet will be open on October 26, 2018. Malapit na siya matapos so we have another reason to go back to Tagaytay. 

Traveling is something that lots of people dream about throughout their lives. When the time finally comes for them to embark on a big travel trip, the excitement can be overwhelming. However, while it is great to embrace your delight, you should also remember that there are some key things to consider before you travel. Such things can affect the overall enjoyment of your trip if they are not tackled before you depart. This can mean that preparing for travel can be a chore. To ensure your excitement remains high and that you are fully prepared, you should take note of some important steps.


Combat any health problems 

Sometimes, it is easy to become blinded by your plans when it comes to your general health. Yet, you don’t want underlying health problems to catch up with you when you are trying to immerse yourself in a new destination. Ideally, you should visit your doctor before you leave to make sure you are in the clear, and to pick up any medication you may need. When it comes to your mental health, you want to be able to enjoy your time away to the fullest without it getting in the way. If you have developed a drug addiction in bad times, try a rapid drug detox programme to speed up the process.

Save enough money 

The biggest mistake many travelers make is assuming they can travel on a shoestring budget. While in rare cases this can bring a more rewarding experience to the table, it mostly leads to copious amounts of stress that you must encounter when traveling. The trick here is to save all the money you need for accommodation, flights, and estimated daily expenses. You should then add on an extra amount to make sure you have enough saved for surprise experiences and emergencies.

Learn about your location 

It could be that your travel trip takes you to the other side of the world. When this is the case, it means you could be encountering a whole new culture and way of life. Learning about local customs and laws will help you avoid getting into any trouble when you are away. You should also take the time to learn some basic phrases in the native language using specialized apps so that you can show your respect to the local people. This will also enable you to unlock some hidden locations that are off the beaten track, and which only locals are usually able to enjoy.

Book accommodation and flights 

There is a big misconception when it comes to traveling that you must book everything as far in advance as possible. In fact, there is a sweet spot for booking flights which means you may pay much less than you expect. With short-haul flights, you can easily book them up to two months in advance, and even last minute. If you are traveling further afield, you should book up to half a year before you depart to lock in the best price. Then, you can go about searching for hotel booking sites for the best deals.

Traveling is already costly so buying pasalubong for families and friends is an additional expense. My husband is a frequent traveler but we don’t expect him to buy pasalubong every time he has business trip. But of course, we’re happy if he has pasalubong especially those foods or things that are not available in the Philippines.


Thailand is not only known for temples, delicious foods, or shopping malls. They are also famous for being one of the affordable countries that you can visit. We had a chance to visit Bangkok Thailand last summer and I agree that Bangkok is not that expensive compared to other countries that we have visited in South East Asia so you can stretch your budget and buy some pasalubong.

Read: 6 Days in Bangkok with Kids

Bangkok is a popular shopping haven so I’m pretty sure even you don’t like to shop, you will visit at least one mall. You can buy souvenirs or pasalubong from malls, markets and even at the airport if you have no time. If you love giving pasalubong or if you just want to buy souvenirs from Thailand, here are some of the best things to buy in Thailand.

1. Tamarind  

We have tamarind here in the Philippines but tamarind in Thailand has more flavors. Yes, you can buy sweet, savory or even spicy tamarind. It is really a popular pasalubong, parang pag may pupunta sa Bangkok, expect na may tamarind na bitbit.

2. Dried Squid 

Just like tamarind, you can also buy dried squid and they also have different variants. We were able to try some of the delicacies because this was the pasalubong of my sister-in-law when she went to Bangkok few years ago.

3. Durian Chips 

When I was buying pasalubong in Bangkok, I always see Durian products but I did not mind it because I dislike durian. Naku, amoy pa lang niyan hindi ko na gusto. I even told my husband na wag na bibili ng durian candy pag galing sa Davao. Kasi nasasayang talaga at wala kumakain sa bahay and even sa family and friends namin, wala may gusto. hehehe!


Then few months ago, my friend said that she likes the Durian Chips in Thailand, masarap daw siya. So out of curiosity, I asked my husband to buy Durian Chips when he went back to Thailand last August. Since he has no time to go to the mall, he bought the chips at the airport. One pack is THB195 and to be honest I find it expensive for chips, parang Irvin Salted Egg Chips na ang mahal. So I was really hoping that I did not waste my money.

While my son was reviewing for his exams, I opened the Durian Chips and surprisingly, there is no bad smell and when I tried it, it tastes good. My son said, “I don’t like durian” but when he tried it, halos siya na umubos. The packaging said "No Cholesterol" and "Salty" but it is not salty and not oily so you will feel less guilty in eating chips. Now I know, why people like this so if you are going to Thailand, buy Durian Chips and you will be amazed because you won’t think that you are eating Durian.

4. Mango Sticky Rice 

They say that people will travel anywhere for good food, which is true because Mango Sticky Rice is one reason why I wanted to go back to Thailand. We have mango and sticky rice here in the Philippines but I love the mango sticky rice that I’ve eaten in Bangkok. I have tried the mango sticky rice in The Terrace Restaurant and from Robinsons Supermarket and both taste good.



And because it became my favorite, my husband buys me mango sticky rice if ever he had a chance like a layover or business trip in Thailand. He always buys at the Suvarnabhumi Airport so the price is a little bit higher, I think it ranges from THB180 to THB200. He only buys two packs because there is expiration so you cannot hoard. I eat it right away.

5. SIANG Oil 


Oil is one of the trends now so I’m pretty sure that your family or friends will appreciate SIANG pure oil. Honestly, I’m not familiar with this brand but I saw this when we went to the supermarket and when I was in the airport so I bought it. SIANG pure oil is used for pain, inflammation and insect bites. This is available in different packaging and I chose this one so you can bring it anywhere.

6. Lounge Pants and Silk Scarves 

As I’ve said before, Thailand is known as a shopping haven so you can’t help but visit malls and market. During our trip, we visited MBK Center where you can find affordable stuff so if you have time, visit this mall. You can see a lot of lounge pants with elephants print and silk scarves which is a good pasalubong. Jim Thompson House & Museum has a souvenir shop where you can buy silk scarves but expect the price is steep.

7. Namu Life SnailWhite Products 

While I was looking for souvenirs at Suvarnabhumi airport, I checked different stores and I even visited the pharmacy and I was surprised when I saw foreigners who are buying Namu Life SnailWhite products. I got curious kasi basket of SnailWhite talaga ang binibili nila, kung makahoard sila ganun na lang. I thought mura siya na pwede pampasalubong but when I checked the price and it is not cheap, pangmaharlika. lol

Then I just learned that Namu Life is a famous brand in Thailand and Snailwhite is a popular beauty product in their country. This beauty product is good for repairing and renovating aging skin. They have different products such as facial cream, sunscreen, body wash, facial mask, mist, and the whipp soap.

Just this month, Snail White Whipp Soap is already here in the Philippines. Yes, you can already buy this soap in Watson or online shop but dahil sikat pa siya, lagi sold out. I’m also curious about trying the soap, maybe next time. I will ask my husband to buy this for me baka mas mura sa Bangkok. :)

That’s my list, care to share your favorite pasalubong from Thailand.

Read: Where to Stay in Bangkok Thailand

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know for sure that I love IKEA. Even though there is no IKEA yet here in our country, I love browsing their website for home ideas that is perfect for our small house. Whenever we travel, I make sure that IKEA is included on our itinerary, so far I was able to visit their branch in Japan, Singapore and Thailand.

There are so many things that I want to buy but of course, our baggage limit is limited so I can only buy stuff that will fit our luggage. There is no IKEA in the Philippines but there are online stores where you can purchase IKEA products though price is a little bit higher. I discovered Furniture Source Philippines in the year 2016 and last year, we finally visited their store. If you’ve read my post before, we purchased 2x4 Kallax Cabinet and 2x2 Kallax Cabinet.


We did not have any problem when we bought our furniture last year so last August 21, 2018, off we went to Santolan Town Plaza. It was our first time in their store kasi yung last visit namin sa Granada St., QC pa yung showroom nila. Good thing they changed their location kasi mahirap magpark dun sa lumang store and maliit lang.


They have a website so you can place your order online but we prefer to see the items so even we live outside Metro Manila, dinayo namin. We checked their store and some of the items that we want are not available so we just bought the following.

1 Hemnes Daybed Frame with 3 Drawers P25,500
2 Uratex Mattress for Hemnes Daybed P5,900
1 Malekby Sofabed Right Arm Rest (Black/Leatherette) P21,900
1 Norris Gateleg Table (Birch) P12,990
Assembly Fee P500 (per furniture)
Delivery Fee P1500

Norris Gateleg Table

Hemnes Daybed Frame with 3 Drawers

Since we bought bulky items we chose delivery this time, they charged one delivery fee for all items. My husband can assemble the furniture but I told him to pay na lang para hindi sayang sa oras at baka abutin pa siya ng buong araw sa pag-assemble. My husband requested for weekend delivery so he doesn’t need to file a vacation leave. The staff said “I-note ko na lang po, after 4 days po makakareceive kayo ng message kung kelan idedeliver”.

We were surprised when we heard that, because in other Furniture or Appliance store, right there and then alam mo kung kelan nila pwede ideliver. Anyway, we waited for their text.

Aug 21, 2018 - went to Santolan Town Plaza to buy furniture
Aug 25, 2018 - received text regarding delivery schedule

Last August 25, 2018, we received a text regarding the delivery schedule and they informed us about September 5, 2018 schedule. We’re not happy about it, imagine 15 days of waiting from the time that we ordered the furniture. Even if you call their number, they will just cancel the call. So kahit anong tawag ni hubby to request for an early schedule, bigla na lang napuputol ang call so it seems that they are not entertaining any call, “Canceled Call”, alert. They said, earliest date na daw yun, so whether we like or not we just agreed with the date. My husband fixed his schedule so he will be home on the day of the delivery.

September 5 - delivery schedule

Fast forward to September 5, we are waiting for the delivery of the furniture and we are not receiving any text from them. Come lunchtime, my husband texted the number to follow up and he was shookt in their reply "they cannot deliver and will text for reschedule". WHAT?!? So we are just waiting for nothing pala.

We’re not happy about it because.

1. They are the one who scheduled it. We waited for 15 days and hoping that they will deliver our furniture.
2. We are waiting for the delivery and they did not inform us that they will not deliver, kung hindi pa kami nagfollow up, hindi namin malalaman na wala naman darating. They just told us that they will reschedule. Hmmm, kelan na naman?

Since this is not acceptable, my husband called the office to inform them about the situation and after a series of conversations, they finally told us that they will deliver the items the following day.

September 6, 2018 

We felt relieved when they texted that they're on the way to our house. They arrived past 10AM, tatlong tao ang nag-assemble, two persons assembled the bed and one person assembled the table and sofa. It took them 2 hours to assemble the sofa, bed, and table but it is not yet finished because one sofa stand was defective. I thought the stress is already over but since one stand of the sofa is defective, the staff said “Sir, balik na lang po kami, sira kasi yung isa”. When we asked them, kung kelan balik, they could not answer us.

Walang legs yung isang sofa so hindi pantay.

September 10, 2018 

After 4 days, we did not hear anything from them so my husband called to follow-up. We’re afraid na abutin na naman ng 2 weeks bago ideliver so my husband volunteered na ipick-up na lang niya but the manager told him that they already shipped the replacement and side table via Sea Cargo last Friday, September 7, 2018. 

They did not inform us that they will ship the item because as far as we know, the staff said, babalik na lang. We paid for the assembly fee so we’re expecting na ikakabit nila ulit yun. We just let it go since my husband can do it. I just told my husband to ask for the tracking number so at least I know kung kelan darating sa bahay.

September 11, 2018 - My husband asked for tracking number but they cannot provide, sabi lang “We’ll check on this”.
September 12, 2018 - Follow -up for tracking number but still no tracking number.
September 13, 2018 - They could not provide us the tracking number so my husband has this feeling na hindi pa nila naship yung items. So he told them, kung hindi pa naship, pick-up na niya. Finally, the manager told him that they already pulled out the item and will inform us once the item is ready for pick-up.
September 14, 2018 - I received a text that our item is ready for pick up, they provided an address where we could get the item, hindi siya sa showroom kukunin. At last, the stress is over. But because of Typhoon Ompong, we decided to stay in our house, hindi muna kami pumunta agad.
September 16, 2018 - off we went to the warehouse.

From August 21 - September 14, it took them 24 days to fulfill our order. This is the first time that we’ve experienced this, it never happened to us sa ibang Furniture Store or Appliance Store. Like I mentioned, we already ordered furniture from them last year and okay naman. But with our recent experience, we’re not satisfied. I’m just thankful that my husband was here and no business trip.


So I guess, if you want to buy furniture at Furniture Source Philippines, pick-up is the best option. With all the stress, delays and hassles, they gave us Complimentary Brimnes Side table. I just hope they will improve their delivery system, okay naman service nila sa Showroom and Warehouse.

“First impressions are important but the last impression we leave with the customer will leave the most lasting impression - Shep Hyken” 

Furniture Source Philippines 
Santolan Town Plaza by Rockwell
276 Col. Bonny Serrano, San Juan City,
Metro Manila Philippines

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