The worldwide financial crisis has got a lot of people thinking on what other businesses they can come up with to augment their current source of income. Others opted going into the food industry, something I’m not very keen on. Anyway, another low start-up business you can engage in would be the digital printing business. Why you ask me?

1.) You can start up small – if you have a computer at home and a colored printer then you’re all set. You can opt to convert your printers to continuous ink, they said its more ink efficient.

2.) With almost everyone owning a cellphone with built in camera, you have a lot of potential customers.

3.) Other potential customers would be people needing a calling card, those who want to avail of poster printing services and well the regular picture printing.

4.) The things you need do not spoil easily, unlike when you are in the food business.

Ultra Mega Supermarket is a wholesale and retail store that is frequented for its low pricing. The said store has several outlets, one of which is located in Sangandaan, Caloocan. I went there this afternoon to purchase milk for my son. It was a no-brainer, I went to the milk area and asked their staff for the milk brand. The milk section is apparently enclosed and separated from the other grocery items. It also has its own counter, pretty much like that of Puregold supermarket. Anyway, since the counter at the milk section is closed, I lined up on queue to the regular counters. It was roughly 4 or 5 o’clock I think and the cashiers are changing shifts, so I waited patiently for the leaving cashier to fully turn over everything to the next girl. It didn’t take them long to finish.

I only have one item to buy and when it was my turn, the cashier turned to me. She first read the brand name of the milk, to ensure I got the right one. When I nodded in agreement, she smiled and read the expiration date to me, something I actually failed to pay attention to. Lastly, when she handed me my change which is supposed to be something like PhP446.85, she gave me the full PhP447.00, while other cashiers from other supermarkets could have opted to just hand me over PhP446.75. It was the first time I’ve had this kind of customer service from a grocery cashier in my entire human existence, no exaggeration! I’m thrilled that the company trains them to be that pleasant, if they are not doing so they have to duly recognize this girl – MARICAR FUENTES. I hope she get’s a bonus or something for doing a good job. And I hope you recognize her so that she can serve as a great example.

Next time I drop by my dad’s place, I’m stopping by Ultra Mega Supermarket again.

Quite a few eons ago, when I was still 5, I remember riding a horse in Baguio – then branded as the summer capital of the Philippines. I proudly rode my horse without anyone riding with me. I think I rode a young mare. Too bad the pictures were all lost due to the flooding brought about by Typhoon Ketsana. I wish someday my son could try out the experience. Perhaps when he turns 3 or 4 it would be nice to have try riding a miniature horse. It would have been a pretty site to see my little man ride, with the miniature complete with a riding ensemble like a horse tack, a saddle of course and other things you need to put on them before riding them. Well, if you are planning to give your little ones the same experience, make sure you put on safety gears on them, like a head gear and if you can riding boots.

Last Saturday – May 29, 2010, Johnson & Johnson’s held the third part of its Mommy bloggers meet up. It was my first time to attend as I was able to agree to attend other events during the first two scheduled meet ups. But I’m all set for the rest. I met other mom’s, soon-to-be mom’s, and would-be mom’s in the future (the single ladies). Anyway, we met at Dulcinea in Eastwood. Mee-i and I thought there was no one at the venue just yet so off we ate at McDonald’s for breakfast. When we came back after, it was only then that we found out that the event will be taking place at the second floor of Dulcinea and it’s already started. So yeah, we were fashionably late.

The main topics we’ve discussed are: 1.) Creating a Safe Environment for your Baby  2.) Touch Therapy and how it improves your child’s development Read more…

Sometimes I just feel like packing my bags and running away to somewhere really far, to start anew. Somehow, part of the reason I now found myself in my father’s house is because of the need to do just that – to runaway. All by my lonesome, I braved the streets of Metro Manila with my little boy in tow and with two huge bags with me. Thank God I managed and thank God for angels and kind strangers.

Right now, I so wanted to apply for a job overseas, if only there is a way some employers will be kind enough to let me bring my family with me, or perhaps hire me and my husband and let us bring our little munchkin and a carer for the little guy. But the problem is I do not have skills that are highly in demand in other countries. I do not know how to bake, nor am I a professional cook, I do not even know what POS systems are, let alone use it. I guess I need to try to acquire some of the skills highly needed in the first world countries in order to be able to apply for an immigrant status later on.

If most Filipinos were asked to describe what a healthy five-month old baby looks like, chances are they would depict an infant that was chubby, rosy-cheeked, glowing, and slightly bigger or taller than other infants. Simply put, it’s a pleasantly plump baby that looks like a character in a Fernando Botero painting.

Although slightly plump babies may look cuter or more robust than “slimmer” infants, the truth is they are over-nourished or overfed than they should be. They are also more prone to diseases and ailments later in life.
Read more…