Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Working Moms and Call Centers



I know a lot of fellow working moms who works in a call center.
Most of them are satisfied with the salary and work experience.  One common complain that I hear from them is their schedule.  Often times, they would get night shift which would mean a great adjustment in their body clock and of course, activities with their family especially with the kids.

But year after year, more mothers are also trying their luck in entering the BPO industry.  For those looking for a career in call centers, you might want to try Stellar Philippines.

Stellar Philippines, one of the country’s fastest-rising and progressive business process outsourcing (BPO) companies, opened its newest facility located in Quezon City.

The formal opening of the new Stellar Philippines facility at the 24th Floor, MDC 100 Building, E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue, Bagumbayan, Libis, Quezon City, one of the newest and most modern buildings in the area, is part of the company’s commitment to expand further its presence in the country and also serves as a strong testament to its successful operations for the past several years.

“Being in a new location has its challenges but we are confident that with Stellar’s management and operational philosophy, we can overcome these challenges and will help us push forward to more fruitful years for the company,” declares Mr. Edmundo Macaso, Chief Executive Officer of Stellar Philippines during the opening.

The decision to open its newest facility in one of the country’s most strategic BPO sites, the Eastwood City CyberPark, was very significant, Mr. Macaso said, since the location boasts of state-of-the-art power and telecommunications facilities, the two most important factors BPO locators look for to ensure seamless operations.

“Our former location in Cubao served us well in terms of awareness among those looking for a career in the BPO industry. Now, with this new location, we are convinced that we would be able to attract even more quality talents who are willing to be part of this burgeoning industry,” adds Mr. Macaso.

Aside from power and telecommunications, the new facility in Libis is also at the center of an area that provides all amenities and necessities of life like food, recreation, nature, fitness, entertainment, and other exciting features to provide the facility an even more conducive work environment.

In the Philippines, Stellar employs more than close to 2,000 agents in its  two facilities. For next year, Mr. Macaso said they plan to hire an additional  1,000 agents as part of its expansion.

“We value our people’s work that is why we made sure that with this new facility, the quality of work by our agents, their level of expertise and of course, the overall work culture of fun and excitement, remain intact. We pride ourselves for being the global experts in customer relationship and interaction management and in delivering excellent results, and we intend to keep it that way.”

The opening of the new Stellar Philippines facility saw the company’s top executives and management personnel in full attendance, and was even made more significant with the presence of its special guest, Undersecretary Cristino Panlilio of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other government officials.

Stellar is a leading global provider of call center and BPO solutions. It operates outsourcing centers around the world manned by more than 5,000 employees that collectively manage over 300 million customer interactions and 100 million transaction processes annually.

Monday, November 14, 2011

K-O-A-L-A stands for...

Learn about the cute and playful Koala with five interesting attributes that describe just what kind of creature it is!

K-Kind
Though it may seem a bit odd to some, describing an animal, especially a Koala, with a human attribute such as kindness is totally justified.  Koalas are kind animals simply because they are herbivores. Big word, right? Being herbivores mean Koalas eat nothing but plants or leaves—Eucalyptus leaves to be precise. This means Koalas don't harm other animals or hurt them in any way for food. They are calm and harmless and their only weapon against aggressors is to growl. Though sometimes fierce in their own way when their safety is threatened, Koalas never hurt humans or fellow animals and pretty much keep to themselves (they prefer to live alone!) in their natural habitat.

O-Offbeat
The Koala is like no other animal in the animal kingdom. Though its slow movements are similar to the Sloth's, there is no other animal that resembles the Koala!  Koalas have pear-shaped bodies that help them maintain their balance while perching on tree limbs. Despite their plump bodies, they are excellent climbers so they can climb smooth tree trunks easily and quickly, and are also good swimmers who cross rivers to get away from floods and predators. What is even more offbeat about the Koala is that despite its climbing and swimming prowess, they move quite awkwardly on the ground.

A-Aromatic
To be aromatic means to have “a strong distinctive fragrance” and our little furry friends are extremely aromatic! No, they don't smell unpleasant. In fact, they have a very comforting smell which is the aroma of the Eucalyptus leaves they eat all day so they smell a bit on the “minty” side.

L-Languid
A word that may not be common to one's vocabulary, “languid” is to be “lacking in vigor and vitality.” Koalas are so languid that some people think they're lazy because they sleep so much or because they seem to move in slow motion. They certainly don’t ever seem to be in a hurry. But, there is a very good reason for such behavior: Eucalyptus leaves are low in nutrients. Even though Koalas eat a lot of them, the leaves don’t provide them with much energy. So koalas conserve their energy by moving slowly and getting plenty of sleep. Lucky Koala!

A-Amazing
One attribute that makes this animal so amazing is its thick gray fur, which is so thick that it’s almost waterproof. Their fur changes to adapt to the different temperatures in their environment. Their woolly waterproof coats keep them warm in cold weather and dry when it rains or when seasons change and the weather warms up, they shed some of their fur to stay cool. It’s like the Koala has its own multi-purpose clothing collection, ready for any type of weather!

Given these characteristics of Koalas, it is no wonder that many people get hooked on another interesting Koala—Koala’s March biscuit snacks, that is.

Koala’s March, with all its flavor and goodness packed into small biscuit sizes, is best when shared with friends and family—and all those you love.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Tokyo Cafe: Experience the best in Japanese and Western cuisine fusion

 
Tokyo Café, one of the fastest-rising Japanese coffee shops in the land, held a bloggers event at their SM Megamall branch yesterday.  And boy, what a great weekend tummy treat it was!

Tokyo Café let the bloggers experienced their renowned cozy ambience, unique Japanese drinks and of course, delicious first-class "fusion" food of Japanese and Western cuisine, all under the direction of a native Japanese consultant.

And since the SM Megamall is widely known as the mall that caters to the "family" in general, I observed that almost all tables in Tokyo Cafe that day where occupied by couples with their children along with relatives who all looks satisfied with Tokyo Café’s delectable gastronomic fare that has delighted many loyal customers and entice even the first-timers, like me, that they keep coming back for more.

I tried the Ten-Ju, a big serving of fried shrimp tempura with signature tempura sauce on steamed rice.  It cost only a little over Php 200 but its taste like double its price.

But what separates Tokyo Café from its competitors is that it is totally family-friendly where they can simply relax, have a good conversation, or just chill around amid the company of family, friends and love ones for great servings of food and drinks. Expect on great food and service in this first-class establishment, with its laid-back environment that is sure to cater to those who seek only the best and delightful dining experience.

This is a good dining place I recommend to fellow mommies like me. So go ask your husband for a date in one of Tokyo Cafe branches and experience the best in Japanese and Western cuisine fusion brought to you by Tokyo Café, one of the most sought after Japanese coffee shops in Metro Manila with branches in SM Mall of Asia, SM North Edsa the Block, Mckinley Piazza, Go Hotel, SM Megamall and NAIA 3 Terminal.

For more updates on their new promos, products and events, please their official website www.tokyocafe.com.ph and like the Tokyo Cafe Facebook fan page.  Below are their latest promo posters where some of their great offerings are featured.




Friday, November 11, 2011

Moms and Kids Spooky Treat

Mad Scientist event host Josh talks about We Luv Moms 

WeLuvMoms, a group that helps first-time, expecting or mommies of infants cope with the rigors, joys and travails of motherhood through avant-garde approaches, was at the “Sky Fun Club Spooky Science Halloween Party” held at the Rockwell Tent in Makati. As one of the sponsors, WeLuvMoms shared the gifts and values of being a mother, including information on the latest baby care products like Dr. Brown’s feeding bottles, Simplisse for breastfeeding mothers, Evenflo budget-friendly baby products, and Boon’s baby gear.

Mommy Leslie and R-Jay Javier with best Halloween costume winners daughter and son

Moms and Dads present were also pampered through a massage area and gave out more than P40,000 worth of prizes to costume contest winners like the Most Colorful Costume, Best Superhero Costume, among others, plus Dr. Brown’s bottle sets, Boon Frog pods and groovy plates, and Evenflo Funsip straw cups and Funsip Spill-Proof cups.

Mommies learning about the products that  We Luv Moms proudly promotes

For more information about WeLuvMoms, like their Facebook page and be a member to get access to private events and other freebies just by logging in at www.weluvmoms.com.  Products featured at the WeLuvMoms website and Facebook page are proud sponsors of WeLuvMoms activities, and are available at Rustan’s SM Department Stores and Babyland, and www.weemall.com, the Philippine Online Shopping Mall.

Friday, October 28, 2011

A Gift Idea for your Suplado Husbands


Is you husband a snub? Are you still thinking of a fool-proof gift for him this coming Christmas? Are you looking for something unique for a present?
If you answered positively in at least one of the three questions, a Suplado Watch is for you!
Suplado Watch is Stanley Chi’s exclusive timepiece from UniSilver Time.  This cool watch is what you get when you cross a funny writer/ cartoonist/ TV host/ stand-up comic and more with a trusted brand in timepieces and accessories.
Suplado Tips, Stanley Chi’s most recent book, is a certified best-seller that has sold thousands of copies in less than three months. Corporate giant UniSilver Time knew better than to shrug it off as a mere fad that they came out with a watch that just might become as iconic as the book that inspired it: the Suplado Watch by Stanley Chi.  It bears the very cool slogan, Suplado is the New Sexy on it's strap.

You might have notice a cute poster of Stanley in the malls that features him with the very pretty actress/ host Iya Villania chasing him in a cute way, apparently made irresistible by his Suplado Watch.
The Suplado Watch by Stanley Chi is now available at www.unisilvertime.com and Unisilver stores nationwide.  You can catch more suplado stuff at www.stanleychi.net.

Friday, September 9, 2011

JOHNSON's My Kid's Growing Up so Fast contest

I was amused to hear someone has just invented a double-headed broom to collect large debris and fine dust simultaneously.  I was floored (no pun intended) when I found out from BBC that a 5-year old boy from UK named Sam Houghton invented it to help his father sweep leaves in their front yard.

Then, I told my self, “Why should I be surprised?”   Justin Bieber conquered the imagination of music fans worldwide at the age of 14.  Then, Filipino Steven Purugganan was hailed as the World Speed Stacking champion when he was just 10.  These stories only prove that age doesn’t matter when it comes to reaching one’s dreams.

Being a mother to my 2-year old son Charles, I am just amazed how fast my little one learned things like playing games in our iPad, turning on and off the TV, answering the phone, and other things I just thought he should not know yet.  Makes me wonder what kids today have been eating that we don’t have when we were young.


My kid's growing fast that one time he actually serenaded me during a videoke session in our living room. I don't mind if he ate all the lyrics, just murmured all throughout the song and just got a rating of 60 from the machine.  It made me shed tears in happiness because I felt his love every time he look at me while singing and made his voice even louder when he saw me clapping and taking a photo of him. With the little gesture, he made me one proud Mama and I know someday he will make me even prouder with whatever dream he wish to pursue. I'll be with him no matter what as he sings his way to the top. He is changing before my eyes but his skin is still like a baby’s. We still need the gentle care of JOHNSON’s Baby Milk Bath, with Vitamins A&E and 100% more milk proteins to nourish developing skin.

Everything about kids seems to be in a hurry to grow up! I found out that the baby's skin is often one of the last part of his body to develop. That is why their skin needs to maintain a certain degree of pH balance.  Thus, adult soaps is a no-no for now for Charles since they have higher pH levels can might be a little too harsh for his skin.

Good thing, there is a dependable product that has been trusted by many moms like me. I should know because I've been using the brand for my baby for more than two years now.  Johnsons Baby Milk Bath is perfect for my baby because it offers the kind of gentle and thorough care without harming his skin, leaving its natural protective layer intact.

With Johnson Baby Milk Bath, there is no singing the blues!

Charles just love the water and never gets tired making some splash.  I'm glad I have Johnson Baby Milk Bath to join us with our never ending bath adventures.


To know more about the product and get updates and tips on perfect baby bath time, visit Joshnson's Baby World of Firsts Facebook page.     

I am also inviting readers of this blog to comment on this post by giving a caption suggestion for my photo entry. The most creative and relevant caption will win a Johnson’s Baby Milk Bath gift pack!

Caption/ entries will be accepted from October 8 - 21, 2011 (11:59 pm).  Winners will be announced two weeks after the deadline.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

LG Optimus: Phones as genius as my husband!

 When I was just in my early 20’s, I remember completing a 9-day Novena to St. Therese praying for me to finally meet the man who I’ll spend my life with forever.  I specifically requested, if possible, he should be LG or Lalakeng Guwapo.

After a few years, my prayers were answered and I did find the man who would eventually be my husband.  He’s responsible, kind, thoughtful and most important of all, he is LG (but not really as what I “ordered’).  He may not be a Prince William look-a-like or Brad Pitt type of guy but he is one LG for me as in Lalakeng Genius (my second choice for an ideal man).

How genius is my husband? Hmm… let me compare him to other geniuses to which other people, from geeks to jocks to tweens and working individuals, can relate easily.  How about I describe him the same way how I see the latest buzz in the world of tech and gadgets: LG Optimus 2X and Optimus Black phones.


1. My husband is bright and a fast thinker.  If only my husband will be given a chance to be in “Who Wants to be a Millionaire, I’m sure he’ll go along way.  He loves trivia and problem solving situations.  He told me that the hardest puzzle he has ever solved was me.


LG Optimus 2X is the first and only dual-core phone in the world making it the fastest of them all in the market today.  LG Optimus Black on the other hand is the only phone in the world that has a NOVA display with 700 nits of brightness.  I would love to play my favorite games using an Optimus which would definitely bring gaming into another level.

2. He has a good memory.  He never forgets dates from our monthsary as BF-GF to the cut-off dates of our credit cards payments.  He also knows my shoe size and my favorite brand for bags which became his foolproof gifts to me for special occasion or cold war moments.


Optimus 2X and Optimus Black comes with just enough memory that I need to store my family photos and other files.  Both phones are compatible to different audio formats (mp3, wav, wma, eAAC+) and video formats (mp4, H.264, H.263, wmv) which means I have fun fun fun on the go.

3. He finds joy in sharing. I remember in 2009 when typhoon Ondoy badly hit our place in Pasig.  He launched a donation drive by sending emails to friends and clients. He personally handed out to typhoon victims (btw, we're also victims) what he was able to collect, not minding standing in the middle of waist-deep dirty flood waters.


Almost all major establishments in the country offers free wi-fi access and this means that having Optimus 2X and Optimus Black makes me stay connected to my friends and love ones wherever I go.  I can also share the photos from my trips through the many options that these phones offer.

4. He is focused on everything he does.  You can’t disturb my husband when he’s watching a basketball game the same thing when he is in the middle of take home office work.  But he’s at his best when he spends play time with our son as if they are the only people in the world.


A digital camera is a must-have to parents like us who has a toddler who will be experiencing his many first in life soon.  I want to capture such moments and good thing there’s genius phones like Optimus which provide high quality photos and full HD videos making it unnecessary to bring a digicam in our trips and activities.

5. My husband is heaven sent. What I love about him is that he is full of surprises. Just when I thought that my day is complete, he’ll still come out with things that would amaze me. He is definitely LG as in Galing Langit.


You can consider something as heaven sent when you feel like everything seems right and you can’t ask for anything more.  LG Optimus 2X and Optimus Black are my dream handsets that basically features all I want and all I need in a phone--- lightweight, fast and reliable, high quality with extra features and has a name trusted worldwide.

I can therefore conclude that just like my husband, Optimus is more than just smart.  It’s genius. Visit lgoptimus.ph for more details.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

A Super Summer with Soda Stream

Photo taken from amazon.com
I plan to have a super summer during the school break.  Well, I think everyone of us deserve one since this is the perfect time to go out with your family because of the very inviting season.  

No kids going to school... no traffic... bosses seems on a vacation mode. Ahhh! The joy of summer.

Now, the only dilemma I'm facing is how and what will make this year's vacation a truly super one!  Hmmm... as usual, go online for ideas and suggestions.  I was site hopping from one local resort to another and was still undecided.  

Then, I got a news feed from Earthlingorgeous.com via facebook that she'll be giving away a Soda Stream starter kit.  For people who haven't heard of this amazing gadget, it is actually a non-electronic portable machine that lets you to make your own soda.  All you need is clean water and the flavoring (included in the kit).  You can also try using your fave juice drink and mix it with whatever your heart desires. 

Now, here's the super answer I'm looking for.  I bet my husband haven't heard about this since the only time he checks the kitchen is to get some food or look for a missing piece from his toy collection.  With the Soda Stream, I plan to surprise him with a new cocktail or two.  He's a heavy drinker--- of iced tea, that is.  So I will let him try my home-made soda filled with love and flying kisses that I will call "Tea-mptation of Wife soda"

If I got two thumbs up from him, I will bring the Soda Stream to our family outing so my parents, brothers and sisters can also get a taste of such great "foodiescovery"

Just seeing my love ones enjoy the goodness of what I will offer to them will be the best reason for me to have a super summer this year!    

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

La Virgina, you rock!

Last week, I did one courageous thing that I never imagined I can do--- hang myself in a zipline more than 30 feet high from the ground.

And yes, I did it during our company trip at La Virginia Hotel and Resort.  Set in 6 hectares of secluded grounds yet only 2 hours from downtown Metro Manila, La Virginia offers one of the largest privately-owned natural getaways in Batangas, with the clean elegance of Philippine and modern architecture. A getaway from life's pressures in the healing tranquility of an environment that truly feels "away from it all". If you have ever spent time at a tropical plantation, you know what we mean. If not, come and discover a refreshingly different experience.

I am recommending this to all my friends especially those who want to have a different summer getaway without going too far.  You can swim, trek and have a picnic with your family in this budget-friendly destination.