Ponder points

"What they don't know, they can't destroy." - Sanegeal Farmhear

 Brave Girls and Brave Sound

If you happened to be a Korean pop fan way back when, chances are you have already heard of this "Brave Sound" on some of the famous girl groups hits like Sistar's Ma Boy and AOA's Like a Cat and Heart Attack. Hearing Brave Sound means that it was produced by Brave Brothers which I first thought was a group of 2 or more brothers but it turns out that he was just alone! I absolutely adore how he manage to produce bop and pop songs and even think that he's a genius!

Brave Girls is one rising group under Brave Entertainment which was founded by (that's right.) Brave Brothers. They debuted a long time ago but was not marketed well. They were technically are going to disband and ready to leave when a miracle happened. Thanks to a fan who posted on YouTube a compilation of their performances for those still serving in the military, and the military men's funny reactions, their song Rollin' catapulted into the limelight and even managed to bagged several wins despite the song being produced 4 years ago.

I wasn't aware of Rollin' back then but I already heard of Brave Girls 'We Ride'. I thought that it was a cool song. It has this retro cool and chill vibe which I like. I hope Brave Brothers can produce more quality bop songs for the Brave Girls as I believe that Minyoung has vocal talent along with Yujeong who has a unique vocal color. Compared to other idol groups, I think that they need to polish more on their dancing skills. I'll be rooting for them. They have Brave Brothers as a producer after all.

If you're curious, here's the songs I recommend you check out:

 

Rollin'

Dancing in that chair with high heels on is not an easy feat!

We Ride

I'm going  to learn their dance choreo! :-D

High Heels

Will it ever end?

 Will it ever end?

These past few days, I found myself easily angered even at miniscule things. I tried contemplating on things and realized that maybe these past few years was wasted and I feel that my life has been a waste. Struggle has been my constant since we moved back when I was still in grade school and finishing studies has been my focused goal. Now that I'm working, I feel that what I do has no meaning. Books has somewhat saved me back then, but now.. I don't know. I feel so unmotivated and useless.

The Astrazeneca jab: Will you take it or not? My experience

Healthcare workers were considered as one of the most vulnerable population given that they are highly at risk and more likely to be exposed to a COVID positive patient. And so we were given priority and with which I'm duly grateful. After contemplating for a while, I've decided to get the Astrazeneca vaccine from the current two available vaccines in the country. I'm more comfortable in getting this one and I have a better gut feel on this. The vaccination process in our hospital was organized and kudos to the vaccination team it was a breeze. I was already expecting some side effects. Let me tell you what I've experienced after vaccination:

0958H > Got the Astrazeneca vaccine

• less than 15 minutes post vaccination - No complaints. I'm feeling fine.
• probably 30 minutes post vaccination - Feeling of lightheadedness; I took my lunch and the symptom lessened
• 2-3pm - Starting to feel muscle ache from the lower extremities but probably at around 1/10; 
• 5:30 pm - During transportation on my way home; felt joint pains and muscle ache from the lower extremities more prominent now; Feeling of fatigue, slightly
• 6 pm - Got home; Fully felt tired. I wanted to be done with bathing so I could already go to bed. Took a warm bath and felt chills. Felt cold after a bath. Don another layer of clothing and a blanket. I ate some fish soup.
• 6:30pm - Took my temperature 37.1C; after some time took again at 37.7C
• 7:30pm - Temperature spiked at 37.9C so I took a 500mg Paracetamol; Headache with a pain scale of 6/10 in which it feels like there is clawing in your eyes.
• 8:00pm - Decided to go to bed; Already exhausted and fatigued. It's like the flu twice the strength. Hands and feet feels cold. Did not use the electric fan. But after some time it felt hot so I turned it on.
• Woke up at 5am the next day - Feeling that you have sufficient sleep but your body is still fatigued.
• 5:30am - Head feels cool but upon checking my temperature it was at 38.2C. Took another Paracetamol. Headache lessened to 2-3/10. Still with a bit of muscle aches on the lower extremities.
• Was able to go to work again; Temperature was at 38.4C. Took another Paracetamol by lunch time. Checked temperature by 4 pm and it was at 37.4C
• Checked temperature the next day and it was at 36.4C which was my usual temperature. Yay! But felt soreness on the injection site.

Why You Should Stan, Subscribed to and Support Asian Boss

Why You Should Stan, Subscribe to and Support Asian Boss

Due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic and still ongoing battle to end it, people were highly encouraged to stay at home as possible with the lockdown lifted. The quarantine life has been a struggle for all of us especially those who'd been used to be around people. Thank God for the technology that we have today, a lot of us had turned to the internet to be able to connect with everyone and we get to see what's going on around the world.

Being a YouTube subscriber and a documentary series lover, I happened to come across the Asian Boss on YouTube. Their channel focuses on different issues around the world and takes on the personal opinions of the masses. It is amazing that they were able to produce highly profound videos and I'm glad that they were able to pull through the recent crisis because of the pandemic.

I'm sure that the people behind it must be proud of themselves as this kind of thing that they do takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Most of all, what they do could make a huge impact on someone's life.

Astron Omni Industrial Fan 18" Metal Blade review

A tip that I got from my mother is that if I'm going to buy an electric fan it is better to purchase one with the metal blade because it would provide stronger air pressure and so I did. At first, I was picking between known brands such as Hanabishi but I can't find an industrial fan that fitted my budget. I was a bit skeptical about purchasing brands that I do not know. However, I came across this brand Astron accidentally when we were doing grocery shopping in Hypermarket. Some of the parts were a bit thinner but it was okay so after months of contemplation if I needed to buy an electric fan, I ordered Astron Omni Industrial Fan 18" Metal Blade on an online shopping website. It cost me around 1099 pesos but a total of 1286 pesos if we were to include the shipping fee.

If you want to know how to assemble the Astron Omni Industrial Fan 18" Metal Blade electric fan, you can watch below:

HOW TO ASSEMBLE ASTRON OMNI ELECTRIC FAN

It was pretty much easy to assemble. I could say that Astron Omni Industrial Fan 18" Metal Blade was worth its price as it can cover a big space area. You just have to be very careful the way you handle it as some of the parts are thin. I do its weekly cleaning as it tends to accumulate our pet's fur.

 Happy Lunar Year!

Care for some sticky rice cakes?

A Toilet Trip

 A Toilet Trip

Did you know that you have to close the lid after using the toilet bowl so that after you flush the contents would not disperse in the air?

 Maxglow Detergent Powder review

Washing clothes is part of our weekly routine. We used to have the type of twin tub washing machine but then due to years of usage, it naturally wore out that we have no choice but to replace it because the spare parts were too expensive that it is better just to buy a new one. We now have an automatic type of washing machine which made our lives easier since it is less work. If conserving time and effort is more on your priority list, an automatic washing machine is your guy. However, you should expect that your electricity and water consumption might increase. 

I used to buy from the supermarket well-known brands. One day, I decided to try and made the switch since I expected that I'll be using more detergent powder in an automatic washing machine. I searched and stumbled across Maxglow detergent powder. The feedback from customers were good and so I had it delivered to my house so I could try it first. 

At first glance, you wouldn't think that 1 package is 1 kilogram as it looked a bit small but if you try to weigh it, you will feel that it is heavy. Inside the 1 kilogram pack, the detergent powder smells okay. I could say that when using this detergent powder it cleans nice but you have to also use a fabric conditioner if you want your clothes to smell good.

I would say that the branded ones in the market are more concentrated but I am contented and am definitely not complaining about this detergent powder as we have been using this product for a while now. For only 31 pesos (to 42 pesos if you were to include the shipping fee), it saved us almost 50 percent or more of our spending just for laundry detergent.

In my perspective, handwashing your clothes is still the best because it preserves the fabric of clothes and is gentler on them.

South Korean Beauty and Fitness Shows

Being a fan for years of South Korean technology know-how on skincare, makeup, and fitness, these are the shows/channels that I used to watch on YouTube:

• Get It Beauty - most of the episodes I found on https://www.youtube.com/c/ibuybeauti/videos
• Jung Saem Mool - admired her for her superb makeup skills!

 Premortem

If you are in the business or management industry, I think you might have encountered this terminology already. I'm currently reading When by Daniel Pink and it piqued my curiosity. Postmortem, I am definitely aware of. Upon encountering the word "premortem", I was intrigued.

Premortem is a type of strategic management analysis where you think backward. You foresee that the outcome or goal has already failed. And then from there, you'll determine what might have contributed to its failure.

Premortem lets you oversee the factors that might have a say in the failure or success of a goal outcome and lets you develop ways how to negate or provide countermeasures in order to avoid failure. It enables you to have an upper hand so that it won't happen in real life.

Ray Bradbury quotation

But you can’t make people listen. They have to come round in their own time, wondering what happened and why the world blew up around them.

—Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

Viktor Frankl quotation

"Life asks of every individual a contribution and it is up to that individual to discover what it should be." -Viktor Frankl

Theme Hospital Stage Password

 Theme Hospital

I grew up playing Theme Hospital when I was still in high school and I haven't remembered if I'd finished the game. It was back when Playstation 1 was still the trend game console.

If you want to go to a specific stage, here are the password:

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 5

Stage 6

Stage 7

LEVEL GOAL: Here, be sure that you're making a lot of cash, and that your reputation is high. We can't afford deaths - they're bad for business. Make sure your staff are in tip-top form, and you've got all the equipment you need. Get a reputation of 600, plus $140,000 in the bank.

 

How To: Assemble the Tower Version Shelf bought from an Online Shopping Site

Because I am interested in making my room a bit more on the aesthetic side and more on mainly keeping my books on a shelf, I finally got a Tower Shelf from an online shopping site after delaying purchase for a couple of months. Originally, I was aiming for a Milton type of bookshelf which I thought would be nice to have but it would not cater to other things except books. I also thought about a floating type of shelf which was a lot cheaper but it would mean that you'd have to drill the concrete wall. So I did not. The tower shelf is priced at 855 PHP excluding the shipping fee. I got excited when it was delivered. But that feeling subsided when I realized that I had to assemble the tower shelf by myself.

One tip that I could give you is that you must use a good type of screwdriver. Though it comes with a free screwdriver, using a tool with more quality and a long handle makes the shelf assembling easier. 

After a couple of mishaps and a couple of days since I work on it little by little after I got home from work, the tower shelf has been completed. Finally.

I tried to search it online on Google or YouTube but perhaps there was no online tutorial on how to. There is a one-page manual along with the package but it is in Chinese characters. What's good about that thing is that the pictures are easy to understand.

 Reading books

Reading has been my favorite hobby ever since I was little. It was something that wasn't forced for me to do. Every time my mother would buy our new books from school for the incoming school year use, I remember that I was ecstatic when she arrived at the house with the books. Quickly, I would grab the books that were suppose to be mine and would scan and read the contents of the books.

I can vividly remember when I was in my elementary years that I enjoyed going to the library because of the ambiance and the books. I personally like the story books that were in pictures and the characters were in clay form.

From story books, I then tried out reading magazines but those of related to religion as they were the ones available and probably because the school that I attended to was a Catholic school. And afterwards, books that were too short to read.

And then came high school. I had a good time in the library because I found precious pieces of books that were good reads. My preference would gear into stories that took a short time to read than long ones like novels. There was a time that I got consecutive failure test remarks in Algebra. I cried and tried to get help from the higher ups - 4th years (Yeah, I don't know them and I don't know where did I got my confidence to ask - maybe out of desperation perhaps XD) but unfortunately they forgot how to so I decided to go to the library to solve problems on my own. I was able to do better after solving a lot of problems and was amazed when I found out that those that I did is almost the same problems as with the succeeding tests.

And then came college. I was enthralled when I was able to discover the National Library of the Philippines. This library I tell you holds a minehole of gems. It was in this place that I was first able to read a personal finance book (Pera Mo Palaguin Mo by Francisco Colayco) for free as this book costs around 500 pesos. This started my interest in personal finance. In this library, I was able to read books from John Robert Powers, and self-help books. They cover Filipiniana section and Foreign books section. They discourage photocopying so the photocopying fee is quite expensive here per page.

After I graduated, I was able to shift from the physical to the electronic books. I'm very grateful as books were my savior. When I was unemployed for a couple of months, they were the ones that distracted me from unneccessary thoughts. I set a goal to finish a book though there were times I don't want to because I got lazy.

I started my own book challenge in the year 2012. I was able to finished reading 23 books and most of them were more on the young adult fiction type. Who would have thought that I was able to finish the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy?

BPI Cash Deposit Machines Currently Not Accepting Newly Issued Bills

BPI Cash Deposit Machines Currently Not Accepting Newly Issued Bills

Using cash deposit machines can be intimidating at first as you may think that something might go wrong. What if it won't go as you planned? It's your money that's at stake. But once you get past the first transaction successfully, you'll find it quite convenient. And let me tell you that this feature is surely time-efficient. I have been using their feature 6 years ago or more and would prefer it to use it more today as when I try to do over the counter transactions, there are a huge number of people. It always takes me at least 30 minutes to an hour before I can deposit my money into my bank account.

But I guess, for now, I'll have to resort again to their traditional mode as their CAMS (Cash Accept Machines) unfortunately does not detect newly issued bills like those 500 or 1000 pesos that have strips on the side.

Hopefully, they can update their system regarding the new bills.

Let's talk OPM!

 Let's talk OPM!

I know that I have been raving on Korean pop, ballad, folk, and indie music and the likes from my previous postings but it doesn't mean that I don't appreciate my own. For those who aren't familiar with Filipino music, OPM means original Pilipino Music. Usually, the songs here are penned in Tagalog or English. Sometimes the songs are incorporated with a language dialect. Filipino songs revolve around ballads and a music teacher told me that if you can master a ballad then you can master almost anything.

The music I've grown to is in the period where rock boy bands were a thing. Guitar, drums, and bass guitars were the basic instruments used. It was invigorating to say it at least but hearing it almost every day this kind of music was also stressful. Being a musically inclined country, our vocal prowess (ehem* ehem*) are unconsciously (or consciously) being practiced through our karaoke get-togethers and through joining music clubs or choirs. I'm glad that I could say today that the songs that we Filipinos are getting nowadays keep getting better and better each passing day. Maybe it was to keep up with the Korean culture trends? Competition, yeah baby!

What are you're favorite OPM songs?

Let me share you mine:

South border - Rainbow

Freestyle - Before I Let You Go

Shamrock - Alipin

Kung akin ang mundo - Erik Santos

Silent Sanctuary - Sa'Yo

7/11 Convenience Store Finds: Champorado

 7/11 Convenience Store Finds: Champorado

If you're craving for a quick fix Champorado, you can get it at 7/11 for less than 50php. 

Here is how it looks like inside.

Bon Appetit!

*The product above is not sponsored.

Albert Schweitzer quotation

"The only ones among you who will be truly happy will be those who have sought and found how to serve.” - Albert Schweitzer

Care for an Algamja-gorim, Anyone?

 Care for an Algamja-gorim, Anyone?

Algamja-gorim made by my sister

Korean pop culture has dominated the world. Along with it are the rising popularity of Korean dramas that are being watched all over the world. From music to television series, Korean food has also made its way to the heart of the foreigners who eventually crave them due to the constant watching of Korean dramas.

I am always a fan of eating french fries especially the ones that are made by McDonald's. It has always been my to-go comfort food. Then one day while we were doing our grocery shopping, I asked my sister if she wants to have french fries to which she replied why not do algamja-gorim or braised baby potatoes instead?

And I thought, why not? She was right when she said that it is healthier than the usual french fries as the recipe calls for a little bit of oil.

We used Maangchi's recipe for Algamja-gorim and it was delicious!

 My Gochujang Marinade

If you are craving for a different flavor of samgyupsal when you're having a samgyupsal party (well, it is common knowledge that when doing samgyupsal plain pork is used), why not you try out my gochujang marinade?

Gochujang marinade by Sanegeal Farmhear

In a small bowl mix well: 

• 2-3 tablespoons of Maeil Gochujang
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 and 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• a dash of fine black pepper
• 1 clove of crushed garlic

Adjust according to your preference. I used this mixture for 500 grams of bacon sliced pork. Leave the marinade with the meat for at least 30 minutes to an hour. Grill until cooked. Enjoy!

 Eye Republic Optical Clinic

I decided to get new glasses again because anytime soon, the old glasses that I currently have might break. Having a myopic grade of 675, I'm nearly blind without glasses. I even contemplated buying contact lenses for the meantime because I want to decrease my exposure to people due to the possibility that there might be someone where I'm at who is positive for coronavirus and in his infectious phase. Even though we are still in the current situation that we are in (COVID-19 pandemic), sadly a lot of people still go to Quiapo or Divisoria to shop because of the holiday season. I wanted something that is more convenient to use so I prepped myself so that I could have new glasses. The last time I went to Quiapo, I thought that I was in the right street but I became lazy to find the Eye Republic so tried out another optical shop. Unfortunately, the eyeglass frame broke after a week. I wasn't able to go back there again due to the announced lockdown.

Anyway, Eye Republic offers free eye consultation if you're going to purchase your eyeglasses with them. I've tried it myself and it was alright. During our annual physical examination. I was referred to an opthalmologist because they thought I might have a lazy eye. The opthalmologist told me that my glasses have the same grade alright but the astigmatism wasn't put into consideration. That it is why I think it's better that you first do a consultation with your trusted opthalmologist to do your eye consultation to be sure. 

For my second purchase with them, I handed out my prescription-grade. According to the lady attendant who catered to me upon my arrival at the shop, there are different types of ultra-thin lenses. Their ultra-thin costs around a minimum of 1800 PHP and at their thinnest, you have to shell out 3800 PHP. I opt for 1800 and went for a 1000 pesos eyeglasses frame which was the same frame from my first purchase with them but of a different color. She gave me a discount (Yay!) and I paid for my new glasses for only 2500 pesos. I inquired if the glasses is also multicoated and she said that it is. I was given an acknowledge/claim slip and was asked to come back for at least 1.5-2 hours. I came back after an hour and it's finished!

What's nice about my last visit is that they educate you about how to care for your eyeglasses and a bonus giveaway is that they've provided a free lens cleaner.

And so if you're looking for an optical shop in Quiapo, I would recommend that you try going to  Eye Republic Optical Clinic. As I may have mentioned in my last post, optical shops in Quiapo charged the cheapest for your eyeglasses. Aside from that, they have a huge selection of eyeglasses frames for a lesser price compared to those in the malls.

Happy New Year!

I wish that this year would be more kind to us as we could go and finally shed our masks soon. Keep safe and stay healthy everyone!

 Happy 2021!

 On Intermittent Fasting

Maybe you've already heard about intermittent fasting. You're trying to lose weight. You've read an article about its short term and long term health benefits.

I wanted you to know that it is not my first time to do an intermittent fast. It started out as a 12 hour fast then eventually I found myself very proud of my accomplishment for finishing a 24-hour fast. I tell you that it is definitely not easy as it is a test of willpower. But if you are occupied with something else to do, you can divert the hunger pangs and finish the 24-hour challenge successfully.

Okay. Why did I get interested in doing an intermittent fast in the first place specifically the 24 hours fast?

I was contented in doing 12-16 hours of fasting as I was adamant that if I do a 24 hour fast, I may elicit amenorrhea or absence of menstrual period because of not eating.

One day, I found myself gaining weight really fast. For a 166-centimeter medium-sized built female, I weighed 67 kilograms which by far is the highest weight that I had in my entire life. You may be wondering and might probably think "What the hell is wrong with her? She still in the normal range in the Body Mass Index!"

I know. But I hate having a heavier weight because my body tends to get lazier. And when I dance (yeah, I'm not a dancer but I enjoy dancing), I feel like my body tends to become sluggish.

Anyway, as I gained weight pretty fast (a kilogram a week), I was also having cystic pimples on my chin. I thought that it may be hormonal. There came a time that I haven't had my period for 3 months which bothered me by the way. PCOS, perhaps? And so I set my mind to do the longer fast which is the 24-hour fasting. 

Fast forward a couple of months of intermittent fasting, I could say that it was a success because I managed to lose weight and currently I'm at 62-63 kilograms. My weight doesn't yo-yo unlike before which is a good thing and I can eat anything that I want without compromising. Another bonus is that my weight keeps dropping down at least half a kilogram per week if I do it consistently. If you're asking how I did the fast, I do 24-hour fasting only once a week. I either drank coffee or water during my fasting period. Green tea? Sometimes. But I've experienced more hunger pangs when I consume it so I kept it to a bare minimum. But whatever works for you.

For those of you who have no medical background, you may wonder what is the relationship between fasting and hormones. I've read a couple of books like the Obesity Code and the Guide to Fasting by Jason Fung. It was interesting to know that certain foods can spike your insulin and how often you eat can trigger insulin release. Very high insulin can be a culprit that's why we're gaining weight. By fasting, you are helping your body restart and increase your sensitivity to insulin. Insulin is vital to our body because it is the key component in which glucose (a simple form of energy) can enter into the cells. Treatment for PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome may require an intake of Metformin which is an Oral Hypoglycemic Agent and Metformin is usually prescribed for diabetic patients specifically those who are considered type 2. And those with PCOS are usually recommended to lose weight.

If you have current medical conditions, it is better to consult your physician first as not to compromise your health. 

In everything that you do, always err with caution. Better to be safe than sorry.

Cheers!

All the best,

Sanegeal Farmhear

Nine essential amino acids

Nine essential amino acids

• histidine
• leucine
• lysine
• isoleucine
• methionine
• phenylalanine
• threonine
• valine
• tryptophan

Sweet Home

 Sweet Home

Merry Christmas to all of you!

And because I've finally registered a Netflix account after decades too late, recently I am binge watching Sweet Home which is a Korean thriller series. 

As I am still watching the sixth episode on which I am reminded of The Strain plus the Kingdom which I believe is still my most favorite horror/thriller Korean series as the writers had brilliantly mashed up a thriller, horror, historical and political series despite of it being a fictional work.

It also depicts the nature of man's potential to be good or bad when it comes to survival and how today's generation had been.

Let food be your medicine

 Let food be your medicine

As we progressed into a very fast-paced environment, in turn, we rely on the fastest and the most convenient there is when it comes to food hence the increasing number of fast-food chains. Most of the food products today are either canned or processed so as to prolong their shelf life. 

I believe in what the father of medicine, Hippocrates had famously said, ‘let food be your medicine, and medicine be your food’. But there's a catch: as long as it's unprocessed.

On Brewing Coffee and Cafe Amadeo: Pahimis Blend

On Brewing Coffee and Cafe Amadeo: Pahimis Blend

Hello to all of you!

We're still on the verge of battling the coronavirus COVID-19 and part of staying safe is staying at home, proper hand hygiene, and practicing social distancing. Wishing that you are all safe. 

If you are a coffee lover and are feeling more adventurous, you may like to venture into another coffee brand Cafe Amadeo which comes from Amadeo, Cavite. The Cafe Amadeo Pahimis blend is a combination of Arabica, Excelsa, and Robusta coffee and is a product of Amadeo's cooperative which aims to help out local coffee farmers. From the brands of coffee that I've tried so far, I would recommend the Pahimis blend as I keep coming back for more. In the past, we were used to drinking 3-in-1 coffee. But then I realized that brewing coffee is more healthier than its commercial parts. Aside from that, I found out that it provides more satisfaction in the drinking experience and you can adjust how the coffee will taste to your preference. It may look like that it costs a bit more which is somehow true if you look at it but if you have more members of the family at home who are drinking coffee, you might save a lot in the long run without compromising the quality. As of now, a kilogram of Cafe Amadeo Pahimis blend costs around 560 PHP online for a foil pack. If we add the shipping fee, it might go up to 650 PHP. In my computation, 650 divided by 30 days is 21.67 PHP/day and usually, I brew 6 cups of coffee each morning. We can consume a kilogram of coffee grounds in a month or more. 

Did you try out Cafe Amadeo's Pahimis Blend? Let me hear your thoughts.

Disclaimer: The product I mention in my blog posts are not sponsored.

7/11 Convenience Store Finds: Blue Drink at 50% off

7/11 Convenience Store Finds: Blue Drink at 50% off

If you are a fan of Blue and this brand is your favorite drink, then you're in luck! I happened to pass by the 7/11 convenience store near the Indonesian Embassy along Legaspi Street in Makati and these finds are at 50% off!

The Blue Pro is now at 19 PHP and the regular Blue is just 15 PHP!

Blue drink at 15 pesos

Blue Pro drink at 19 pesos

You're wondering why they are at 50% off. Maybe it's because these are nearing expiry date. However, surprisingly they are not. I checked the expiry date of the regular Blue drink and its expiry is September 2021.

On Lipid Profile - Trigylcerides, VLDL, LDL, HDL

If you are already working, you might have heard of the required examination conducted every year. Annual physical examination in any company would consist of a full medical examination by a physician and basic laboratory requests such as Chest-Xray, Urinalysis, Fecalysis, and a Complete Blood Count (CBC). If you are on the older adult age, the doctor may request for a lipid profile. Basically, if you are given a lipid profile you have to fast for at least 8-12 hours depending on the hospital/clinic protocol.

In the lipid profile, one might encounter the terms Triglycerides, VLDL, LDL, HDL, and many more. I will try to explain what these are from what I learned recently:

When the body cannot store any more carbohydrates specifically the liver, the liver converts these excess carbohydrates as triglycerides. Triglycerides are lipids or fats. If they get out of the liver, they roam around in the blood in the form of what is now called very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), which will then form into low density lipoprotein (LDL). High density lipoprotein (HDL) is what they call the good cholesterol.

7/11 Convenience Store Finds - Sanlo Nature's Brew Premium Instant Salabat (Ginger Brew) with Honey

 7/11 Convenience Store Finds - Sanlo Nature's Brew Premium Instant Salabat (Ginger Brew) with Honey

If you feel that your throat is starting to itch or is getting sore, you might want to remedy by drinking ginger brew (salabat). I came across Sanlo Nature's Brew Premium Instant Salabat (Ginger Brew) with Honey in an isle where you can find the 3 in 1 coffee sachets. According to the sachet, it is made from the finest harvest of Mt. Banahaw. Ingredients on it are ginger, honey and refined sugar. It has a net weight of 7.5 grams and exclusively distributed by Prominex Ventures, Inc. One sachet costs around 13 pesos. 

Directions are as follows: 

For a rich relaxing brew, pour 150 ml of hot water into cup.

Empty contents of sachet into cup.

Stir gently to dissolve mix fully.

How To: Transfer Funds to a 3rd party BPI account using your BPI Express Online

 How To: Transfer Funds to a 3rd party BPI account using your BPI Express Online

It's been more than 2 weeks now and I'm still waiting for how long it is for a third party account I've sent an application to be enrolled in BPI. I've decided to make use of their unenrolled 3rd party account fund transfer because you know... we've got to pay the bills. As you may already know, transferring of funds with your BPI account to an unenrolled 3rd party account in will cost you a fee of 10 pesos.

Surprisingly, they are currently waiving the fees due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

So, how will you transfer funds to a 3rd party BPI account using your BPI Express Online?

-Open your BPI Express Account in the https://online.bpi.com.ph/portalserver/onlinebanking/sign-in.

-Click the Transfer Money on the left side.

-Fill out the details: Transfer from, Transfer amount, and then tick the Transfer to 3rd party.

-Upon ticking the Transfer to 3rd party, Transfer to and Notes will appear. Fill them out.

-Upon filling out Transfer to with the Account Number you are going to do fund transfer, a drop-down will indicate "Transfer to unenrolled *Account Number here*". Tick that dropdown button.

-Transfer to will shows the account number with a check on its right side. Click Next.

-Step 2 will tell you to review the details. If you're sure, click Confirm. An OTP will be sent to your registered phone. Encode the sent OTP code.

-Step 3 will show that the transfer money was successful. It will show the details, the confirmation date and time, and the confirmation number of the transaction. If you had done a first-time fund transfer to that account, there would also be a message "Do you transfer to '*Account Number' account frequently" and below it is a link to add it to your favorites.

-You will receive a confirmation message in your registered email.

7/11 Convenience Store Finds - Breakfast Meal: Pork Tocino

 7/11 Convenience Store Finds - Breakfast Meal: Pork Tocino

Since we are still on quarantine - in fact, we were reverted back to a Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine since August 4, 2020 partly to address the heed of the medical professionals for a timeout due to the surge in the number of COVID-19 cases here in the Philippines, access to food has become inconvenient especially when you're working in a used to be a busy commercial district.

Good thing the 7/11 convenience store near my working place is still open. And when you're in a budget, I think the food here is a to-go-to. I'll be featuring foods that I'll find here and I'll start with a consistent favorite: Pork Tocino which can be bought for 60 pesos.

The Breakfast Meal Pork Tocino consists of Garlic rice, sunny-side up egg, and thinly sliced Pork Tenderloin. For the taste, it is the same as your usual tocilog meal that was a bit boiled then fried. It has a net weight of 236 grams. The label also states to heat and consume immediately upon purchase.

In Search For YouTube's Documentary Channels

Growing up, I've taken a liking to watching GMA 7's (a Philippine local network) documentary series since knowing it first hand that making documentaries takes a lot of hard work. I would stay up late in my high school/college days just to watch it every Monday or Tuesday.

With a massive shift of technology since then, I rarely watch television nowadays. Thanks to YouTube, more channels are producing documentaries not only in the Philippines. Here are some of the informative channels you might be interested:

• The Infographics Show
• SBS Dateline
• Al Jazeera English
• Journeyman Pictures

Let's Talk About:Korean Artists

How are you doing today? I hope you are all safe and sound despite COVID-19 still prevalent today.

I would like to share my favorite Korean artists and they are not in any particular order:

• J-rabbit - If You Love Me, Beautiful Life
• Damsonegongbang - Pretty Day
• Rheehab - 
• Martin Smith - Paint on Spring
• Rothy

Celeteque Sun Care Facial Moisturizer Review

Celeteque Sun Care Facial Moisturizer Review

If you're looking for a moisturizer that's light and budget friendly, I would suggest that you try out Celeteque Sun Care Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15.

This moisturizer has been in my stash and my go-to when it comes to hydration since a couple of years ago. What I like about its that when I apply it, it is light and non greasy in the face. It's hypoallergenic and it is also economical because it only costs 150 php and it takes me 1-2 months to consume a 50 ml tube. I limit washing my face twice a day.

Kitchen recipe: How To Make Pancit Canton Guisado

Hi guys! I'm back! How are you all holding up these days? The Philippines was put under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) last May 16, 2020.

My mother requested to make me cook pancit canton guisado. It is my first time to make one and it turned out good.

How to make Pancit Canton Guisado:

Ingredients:

• 6 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 1 medium sized red onion, diced
• 1/2 head of Cabbage, cut into horizontal strips
• 1/2 piece of Carrot
• Chicken bones with a bit of meat seasoned with salt and pepper and then boiled in 2/3 of water in a pan.
• Soy sauce
• Oyster sauce
• Crushed Black Pepper

How We Weep and Laugh at the Same Thing by Michel de Montaigne

How We Weep and Laugh at the Same Thing by Michel de Montaigne


Omnem crede diem tibi diluxisse supremum
Grata superviet, quae non sperabitur hora.
(Believe that each day wad the last to shine on you. If it comes, any unexpected hour will be welcome indeed.)

Jam furiet, nec post unquam revocare licebit
(The present will soon be the past, never to be recalled)

What I do to boost my immune system

What I do to boost my immune system

As we battle this COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) pandemic, what we need is an optimum level of our immune system. You may (or may not) know that viruses have no definite cure. They are self-limiting and what we can rely on is our immune system to fight them off.

As a healthcare worker, it is necessary that we do our utmost best to take care of ourselves. Even when performing CPR training, which is short for Cardio pulmonary Resuscitation, the first thing that we need to do is to see if the scene is safe. Likewise, it is the same with today's war with COVID-19. We have to be safe and healthy ourselves in order for us to help others. Aside from the proper donning out and removal of personal protective equipment, here are some of the precautions that I take:

1. Handwashing. This is first and foremost the most essential of all. Though it is usually said in the news that 20 seconds would suffice, I'd rather do the 40-60 seconds of handwashing with soap and water. Any soap will do whether it is an antibacterial soap or not. Handrub, on the other hand, which can be pretty self-explanatory is the use of 70% ethyl or isopropyl alcohol where you rub your hands together until they are dry. I noticed that when people use alcohol, they would just rub their hands for a mere 2-3 seconds. Hand rub should last for 20-30 seconds until dry. It is recommended to do a handrub when soap and water is not available. What alcohol do is to kill off the germs in your hands but it won't take away the dirt.

2. Proper cough etiquette. Sometimes, we can't help but sneeze or cough. So as not to spread it to others, we should use a handkerchief or better yet a disposable tissue when we sneeze or cough. If you have nothing on hand, your upper sleeve can be an option. Never use your hands and always remember to wash your hands after.

3. Get the proper amount of sleep. But of course, different strokes for different folks. An infant need a lot of sleep compared to an elderly. If it isn't necessary, please refrain from sleeping late at night. We need to get a sufficient amount of sleep because this is the time when our body recuperates. Avoid caffeinated foods or drinks. Make it a habit to set a consistent time for sleeping and waking up. I thought that it was our circadian rhythm that would be broken if we do not set a time for sleeping but in the book that I am currently reading, Why We Sleep by I learned that everytime we forego sleep, we are increasing the level of what we call sleep pressure. Circadian rhythm is consistent regardless. That is why we get jetlagged when we go another country with a different timezone. If the level of our sleep pressure is too much, that's when we feel sleepy.

4. Drink a lot of fluids preferably water. I would like to emphasize about 2 to 3 liters of water if it is not much for you. Water cleans and moistens your throat. Water also detoxifies your body.

5. Sip some hot soup/broth. If I am  feeling sick or feel that I might be sick, I consume hot beverages and soups. I avoid dairy

 products for the mean time.

6. Take 1000 mg of vitamin C. Let's face it: we can't consume a lot of Vitamin C through food. That is why supplements are there to help us fill up deficiencies and that's why they are only supplementary. Don't be frightened if you think that 1000 mg of Vitamin C is a huge amount. Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin. Any excess will go into your urine.

I would like to put on a disclaimer beforehand that the things I recommended is based on my own experience: on what I know and what worked for me. Everyone is different. I hope that if not all, some of these tips will work for you too. Take care and keep safe everyone!

Home Quarantine Newest Craze: Dalgona Coffee

Home Quarantine Newest Craze: Dalgona Coffee

Now that we are still waiting for the end of the quarantine period which will hopefully be after April 14, 2020, all of us can't wait for this COVID-19 pandemic to be over. I'm sure by now you might have heard of the newest trending craze: Dalgona Coffee. People had been video logging about this and I had joined the bandwagon because of my sister who had made it first. Her end product was very much tempting and I got envious so together with my brother, we each made one for ourselves!

If you want to do this and try it out for yourself, all you need to have is powdered coffee, sugar, ice cubes and fresh milk.

In a Dalgona Coffee basic recipe, you mix 2 tablespoons of coffee (but I put in mine 3! :-P) and 2 tablespoons of sugar with a bit of hot/room temperature of water. You mix it with a spoon, fork or mixer. You're lucky if you have a hand mixer 'cause it will take a short amount of time until it becomes frothy/foamy. I did it using a spoon while watching Netflix and the change in the mixture approximately took about 20-30 minutes.

Then you put ice cubes in a transparent mug or glass. Pour in the fresh milk until about 3/4 of your glass. Next, carefully put the mixture on top of the milk. Assemble to make it more a bit aesthetically appealing and then you can take your shot of your very own Dalgona Coffee!

To be honest, I was surprised that it was so good that I felt the coffee that I made was comparable those made in a cafe/coffee shop. It was exhausting to mix the coffee but let me tell you that it was all worth it.

Day 16

Day 16 of the Enhanced Community Quarantine

Philippines on Enhanced Community Quarantine

It has been four days since the Philippines' President Duterte had ordered an enhanced community quarantine because of the Coronavirus. Mass transportation are suspended and only private vehicles are allowed to pass through checkpoints provided the passengers are part of the exempted group like those working in the hospital, supermarkets, service industries (electricity, water, etc), media, etc. Everyone is expected to stay at home in order to reduce the number of infections.

How are you holding up people of the Philippines? I hope you're all safe and sound.

How to: Remove Induction Pan Stucked to an Induction Cooker

Hello there guys! How are you today?

I had another AHA! moment and so I thought of sharing what happened today.

We were boiling the oxtail tripe for Kare-kare when we ran out of gas. Fortunately, we were able to purchase an induction cooker before so we used it instead.

One thing that I've learned the hard way is to never leave your induction cooker if you're cooking something. It makes sense because an induction cooker cooks faster than your traditional gas stove. I delegated the cooking to my mom but she then left it in the lowest settings. What we didn't know was that the pot had overflown and when I checked it out, the pot was stuck in the induction cooker.

And so I thought: how can I remove the induction pan stuck in the induction cooker? I wasn't able to take a picture but imagine lifting the pan and you will also see that the induction cooker is also lifted. That's how it's very much stucked to each other.

I immediately thought of not using utensils to separate the pan because it could damage the induction cooker. Then I thought that the fluid from the boiled oxtail tripe was sticky and it burnt on the edges of the pan. Why not that I try to use water?

Of course you have to unplug first the appliance when you do this so that there won't be a possibility of being electrocuted.

After unplugging, put a bit of room temperature water around the area of the pot and try scrubbing it with your finger just to dilute the stickiness. Use a dry cloth and carefully wipe it off.

I did this and thought that the problem might be solved. However, it didn't.

Then I thought of something that made me a little nervous. I put some water around the area and plugged the appliance. I turned the induction cooker on and waited for about 2-3 seconds (the water that I added underneath the pan was bubbling) before trying to lift again the pan. Hopefully, it worked!