Orange Blush Salon’s Grand re-Launch at Franchise Asia Expo

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Orange Blush Salon (OBS), the fast-growing salon chain, gears up as it relaunches its brand at the upcoming Franchise Asia Expo set on July 21-23 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. 

The grand re-launch takes place at Booth 207 of this year’s franchise expo, touted as the biggest in the country. Hundreds of franchising businesses participate in this much-anticipated event, as OBS re-launches with revamped franchise packages that should make it easier to own an outlet of your own thru installment plans in partnership with BDO. 

“We are excited to announce that during the expo, we shall be holding a three-day sale with P50,000 off on our franchise fee,” said the brand’s maker Joby Linsangan-Moreno. 

“Our main objective is to find suitable and qualified franchisees who could be our partners in expanding Orange Blush.” 

OBS is eyeing to approve at least 10 franchisees at the Expo.

At present, there are eight franchised OBS branches, with one in Lipa, Batangas opening soon. The flagship branch and main office is located at Spark Place Mall in P.Tuazon corner 10th Avenue in Cubao, Quezon City. 

Best known as a rebonding center, OBS, which originated in Cabanatuan, is set to open 10 new branches within Metro Manila and in Metro South (Batangas and Antipolo). 

For interested franchisees, there will be pre-approved branches located inside community malls, in partnership with Waltermart, Citymall, Vista Malls, SM Savemore, SM City, and Robinsons Townville malls. 

Joby shared her valuable thoughts on franchising, stating, ‘Franchising is actually borrowing and sharing the owner’s operations standards with a fee. It is operating within the regulations of the franchisor with proven business system and standards.“

 “Franchising is for those who are willing to follow and adapt to the culture of the franchisor and for those who would want to invest and grow the business with the franchisor by sharing the same vision and beliefs,” she added.

OBS is fast-becoming a household brand, thanks to significant exposures it enjoys on shows like ABS-CBN’s Umagang Kay Ganda, Magandang Buhay, and ASAP. It is at present the main hair and make-up sponsor for Banana Sundae.

The process of rebond, a permanent hair straightening procedure is the OBS brand’s strength, backed by a warranty service wherein customers availing the rebonding treatments are given warranty cards. In this set-up, clients are asked to return after a week for their hairs to be checked. If touchups are needed, OBS staff will do them free of charge. 

A mild-mannered, hard worker who takes pride on her provincial roots, Joby further explained her vision for OBS: 

“Our goal is to become the top-of-mind hair salon in the country. We want people to think of Orange Blush Salon when they want to have their hair cut or rebonded. We want them to feel that at OBS, you are being cared for and that our customers are our highest priority. Our mission is to make our customers feel loved, happy, hopeful, and beautiful.”

Joby, a UST graduate who jumpstarted her salon business on a P30,000 shoestring budget, is now being handled by Asian Artist Agency.

“I have been attending workshops under the supervision of King of Talk Boy Abunda. I am truly honored for this golden opportunity to speak what’s on my mind and what’s in my heart, and to share my life and my stories to others.”

Those visiting the OBS booth at the Franchise Asia Expo SMX can expect some great vibes in the name of beauty and hope.

Visit www.orangeblushsalon.com for more info and updates.

Fresh Options : Celebrations made easy

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Celebrations, Parties, Reunions ....Whenever summer rolls in, families and friends always seem to find a reason to get together and rekindle old ties. Whether it’s a simple, impromptu family reunion, a visit to lolo and lola in the province, the town fiesta, a barkada summer outing, the neighborhood basketball league competition or celebrating your daughter’s Reyna Elena rank in the Santa Cruzan, Filipinos just love to gather around and celebrate both big and small milestones. 

Social gatherings or salo-salos are so common that they’re practically a way of life. That doesn’t mean that preparing for salo-salos are a breeze. Planning, organizing and setting up a party can be overwhelming especially if you’re pressed for time. 

Here are some tips on how you can make celebrations easy:

Let everyone in on the fun. 

Organizing a get-together can be quite overwhelming especially if the schedule is a bit tight. Ask your family and friends to help out in the preparations. Get their ideas on the theme, the type of party setting and their preferred entertainment for the big day. Let your loved ones know that you value their help and are counting on them to pitch in to make sure the celebration is a success. 

The more hands the merrier.

Celebrations that would draw a big crowd like family reunions, fiestas or the celebratory require a lot of hands on deck. Ask your loved ones to help out before, during and after the get-together. Group your friends and relatives into teams that will handle specific roles such as food, venue and entertainment. 

Eats matter. 

Of course, the highlight of every salo-salo is the food. Start your menu planning by keeping your family and guests’ food preferences and allergies in mind. To make your event preparations less challenging, choose delicious yet easy-to-prepare meals like Fresh Options’ Crispy Pata, Pork Humba, Beef Kare-Kare or Chicken Galantina De Manille. For outdoor or more casual celebrations, you can also try Fresh Options’ Garlic Chicken, Ilocos Bagnet, Pork Sisig, and Bopis. 

With the special activities that families have this summer, get-togethers can be fun as long as it is planned out step by step. It is made extra special with Fresh Options’ assorted value-added meat. Preparing for the celebration is now made easy! All you have to do is microwave or pan fry the Fresh Options’ value-added meat you want to enjoy. 

Fresh Options value-added product lines are yummy and easy to prepare. They're available at outlets and supermarkets nationwide.

Fresh Options Meat Shop is proudly Filipino owned and operated and is based in Pampanga, taking pride in providing customers with fresh and safe meats. Expert veterinarians and technical personnel develop farm feeds, take care of the animals’ health and nutrition, and is certified “AA” by the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS). Fresh Options Meat Shops can be found in Central Luzon and Metro Manila.

Coca-Cola plants a greener future in Hinatuan

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Along the rocky terrain of Mindanao’s eastern coast, in the town of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, is a lush 10-hectare community farm that has been cited as one of the model farms by various government agencies, including the Department of Agriculture (DA). Despite the unpredictable weather, which includes month-long monsoon rains and even longer dry spells, the farm has yielded fruits and vegetables beyond what the land and its surrounding areas has ever seen.

Arsocena Cabiling, farmer and mother, holds up harvested corn in their fields in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.

This verdant bounty and pockets of rain forests belies the fact that most of Hinatuan lies on limestone bedrock. The constant salty winds blowing from the Pacific Ocean, alongside the lack of access to fresh water has contributed to the less than ideal environment for agricultural cultivation and has restricted most farming activities to coconut and corn production. The lack of water source also discounts the possibility of livestock-raising.

“In 2012, we decided to farm better with the assistance from various stakeholders. We made sure that every help we received would be maximized,” said Arsolino Cabilin, chairman of the Tagasaka Coconut Farmers Association (TACOFA).

In that same year, TACOFA became a recipient of the Coca-Cola Agos Program in partnership with Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc. (AIDFI). Through this project, the community was able to effectively shift to a more sustainable farming system – organic farming.

The Coca-Cola Agos Program installed a modified version of a simple technology called ram pump that allows lowland water to be brought to elevated areas without the need for electricity.

Making barren landscapes lush with the Coca-Cola Agos Program

“The unpredictable weather made it difficult for us to veer away from planting only coconuts and corn. There were times when it would suddenly have three weeks of no rain, sometimes it would stretch for two and a half months. Vegetables could not hold it out that long without rain,” said Dina Bayarcal, a TACOFA member and former treasurer. “We would fetch water from the river and manually bring it to the farm and water the plants. That’s the only thing we would do the whole day during a dry spell,” Bayarcal added.

Dina Bayarcal shows off her soybeans in her portion of the 10-hectare TACOFA demo farm. With water easily accessible with the ram pump, Bayarcal and her group are rotating crops, from soybeans to cantaloupe to corn.

With the availability of water through the ram pumps, TACOFA was able to diversify its crops that now include cantaloupes, watermelons, soybeans, corn, coconuts, and other vegetables that are grown throughout the year. The association is even putting up a coco fiber rope and coir (coconut fiber) production facility.

Large tracts of land are now watered in more efficient ways with the help of the ram pumps that draw water from the river.

Today, TACOFA membership has grown to over 100 farmer members tilling and developing the 10-hectare land, tapping its water source from the Coca-Cola Agos Program. The organization even plans on leasing some of the neighboring farms in order for them to expand their production.

“With a secure source of water, through the Coca-Cola Agos ram pumps, we were able to think of ways on how to better improve the way we farm. Access to water opened us to an endless possibility of options on what we can plant and raise,” said Cabilin. “We are also looking at ways on how we can further add value to our products.”

This year, the association has completed its coco coir production facility that would enable them to produce ropes, fiber mats, and coir logs – natural and biodegradable ways of preventing soil erosion, and contour farming. Tagasaka’s coconut nurseries have even boosted its contribution to the Department of Agriculture’s continuing effort to rehabilitate the ageing coconut industry, with seedling mortality rates now reduced from 55 to 20 percent.

Colorful murals are painted on the exterior walls of the water reservoir of Coca-Cola Agos Program.

Coca-Cola Agos Program: A gift to the next generation

TACOFA serves as the association for managing the Coca-Cola Agos Program after the ram pumps were turned over to the community. As the recipient organization and on behalf of the whole community, they are responsible for the maintenance and assurance that the ram pumps will continue to serve its purpose. Prior to the turn-over, TACOFA underwent workshops and orientations conducted by AIDFI on how to maintain and manage the ram pump as well as their natural environment. Two members of the organization also underwent hands-on mechanical training and have been certified by AIDFI to maintain the ram pumps for the community.

The organization serves as the unifying body for all household and farm recipients of the Coca-Cola Agos Program. They work hand-in-hand in taking care of the gift of water brought about by the installation of ram pumps for their community. They envision the project to serve the water needs of now and preserved for the next generations of TACOFA members.

“The Coca-Cola Agos ram pump is a gift to us, and it will be our gift to the next generation. Today, we will show the people the many ways one can farm; we will show those who have given much to us that we are grateful for their gift,” said Cabilin. “And we will show the next generation that with hard work, perseverance, and unceasing faith, things can and will be better.” 

Long Weekend Staycation at Seda Vertis North

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Spend your long weekend holiday at Seda Vertis North, the largest and newest hotel in Quezon City. Enjoy the introductory rate of P3,888++ with buffet breakfast for two at Misto, complimentary Wi-fi, use of e-lounge, gym and pool. 

Booking period is until June 30, 2017. Stay date is until December 15,2017. For reservations, email reservations.vertis@sedahotels.com or call 739-8888. Seda Vertis North is located at Astra cor. Lux Drives, Vertis North, Quezon City.

Beat the traffic with ANGKAS ! Mobile Motorbike Hailing Platform provides access to Fast, safe and affordable motorbike transportation

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Picture this: you’re seated inside a cab, jeepney or bus – the clock is ticking and you’re going to be late for that office presentation, final exam, or anniversary date. Your heart is beating fast, your legs moving up and down, you’re shaking your head and clicking your tongue. You’re practically bartering with god to make the traffic move faster. 

If you’ve ever commuted around Manila, you’ve definitely experienced this. You’ve prayed, cried, sworn and wished for a way to teleport across the city that, according to the 2015 global survey conducted by a popular travel app, has the worst traffic in the world.

Now, imagine breezing through that traffic congestion, finding alternative streets that no 4-wheeled vehicle could pass through, and arriving at your destination in a fraction of time. With Angkas, you don’t need to stop at imagining! 

Available on both iOS and Android, Angkas is a mobile on-demand motorcycle hailing platform that connects riders to a rigorously-trained, professional motorcycle driver. Angkas provides convenient, safe, and affordable motorbike transportation that will get you to where you need to go faster! 

Simply download the app, add your destination, and, with the tap of a button, your biker will arrive shortly to bring you where you need to go.

Safety is the top priority for Angkas: all bikers go through rigorous background checks, skills assessment, and safety training. Rides come with a quality helmet and personal accident insurance. Raincoats are provided to passengers in case of rain, and face masks and hair caps are issued for hygiene.

Starting June 19, new users can book their first ride for FREE (up to PHP 80) with the promo code ANGKAS to make travel around the metro more convenient than ever. Say goodbye to the trains’ long queues, the hours of sitting in traffic in a packed jeepney, and the steep fare of cabs. Take back all the time you lose from the traffic with a tap on your phone, and conveniently hitch a ride with Angkas.

For more information and latest promos visit facebook.com/AngkasPH