Avengers... COminG Very SOON!

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Banners even start to fill the malls!

Cheesy Treat!

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And finally, I got the momentum and material necessary to launch one of the dream blog articles I want to publish.  The topic?  ALL ABOUT CHEESE.  Nope, not the actual cheese but good great food made out of this God-given gift.

I have been wanting to write about this topic and have had my photos ready since last year.  The only problem was that I was hoping to score a sponsored trip to one of the many good hotels in Pampanga to allow me access to their cheese collections and/or interview their chefs. Yep, I am no expert in cheese so I thought I needed some heavy material first to have a good post.  But it remained elusive (although I am not closing my doors ehe)up until this writing.

Much to my delight however when I saw on TV, KFC's latest treat for cheese lovers like me.  Their Cheezy Bacon Fest.  Although I am not much of a Bacon fan, anything with cheese I usually do not pass-up.  I am such a lover of cheese that any opportunity to taste food with it I indulge.  I even did pass-up tasting the more exotic and weird tasting ones from parties such as the famous 'blue cheese'.  I did not particularly liked the taste but hey, it's cheese.

I even have these episodes of really going to the mall just to eat something with cheese.  Yes, I even eat cheese with rice when the food flavors or ulam (viand) do not seem to fit well in my taste buds.

So I immediately scheduled this KFC trip and had a nice experience at the counter.

Me:  Ms. are your line-up for the Cheezy fest available?

KFC Lady:  yes sir, which one of them would you like?

Me: All three variants please.

KFC Lady:  Sir? As in all three?

Me: Yes, ala carte please and just a pair of drinks for me and my friend.

KFC Lady: ok sir wait for  a while.  (Calls our manager to relay order).

Manager:  Ok got it.  (leaves and then goes back)  Wait, all three variants in one order? (Smiles)

KFC Lady: (Returning a smile).  Yes sir all three in one. (Then returns to attending to me) Got your order sir

Me: By the way miss, it's for dine in.

KFC Lady: (jaw dropped for two seconds).... Ah, ok sir. You love cheese po no? (then smiles)

So, with the important interview not yet on hand, please content yourself for the meantime with these delectable photos I have collected through my cheesy adventure years.  Promise however that I will find that special feature and do a part 2 of this article.

Spinach and cheese filling

KFC's double down is not only a heart attack but a cheese attack

pizza and cheese meant to be

Cheese inside green hot peppers fried? heaven

All cheese pizza... ulalalala

panizza...

quesadilla

nope, not the coffee, but the cheese cake

mozzarella cheese

cheddar on a bun..ehe

mexican treat made extra perfecto

My Earth Hour 2012

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If ever I was given enough resources to really push for an advocacy, it will be on things that relate to taking care of the environment.  The thing is, I dread the day that our 'home' will no longer be able to support life as we know it.  And with the continuous ways of how we treat Earth nowadays, amplified that by how many humans there is now, the impact is amplified many times.

So I am equally proud to be working for a truly GLOBAL company which is said to focus some of its resources and efforts to an ORIGINAL and EXCITING PROGRAM dubbed as 'Go Green'.  In the Philippines, I am proud to have been part of the group who was part of its baby steps when it was relaunched in our company.  For almost two (2) years, I was the lead in organizing and planning for yearly activities and even did the budgeting (ehe, so it was a gazillion effort from my part including those numbers and all). Now on to the present.  I may not be the current lead now as I have handed it down to another good team in our group, but as long as my time permits, I lend my ideas to them (sometimes even force it ehe) on what activities can we launch to sustain the program.  And this year, I had this longing to make it good for Earth Hour 2012.

After many showers (yes, I do my thinking in the shower), I came up with plenty of line-up.  And after a few more brainstorming, we gave birth to a 'week-long' celebration of everything environmental which culminates with the Earth Hour last March 31.  Below was our calendar:

So what did we have for this year?  The general theme was 'actively participating' and we even tied it up with the concept that there are rewards for choosing the 'greener' options.

For Day 1, we had a Garbage Out Day where all departments were invited to take out their trash and segregate them.  We sent out judges to look into them and decide who is the winner.  The criteria focused on volume, segregation quality and housekeeping of the actual work area.  Guess what, I was a judge.

For Day 2, we dared something not DONE before.  We declared a NO SMOKING DAY in our facility.  With our workplace being a no-smoking zone, what else was done?  Well, launched a signature campaign to ask smokers to quit for a day for the environment and even cancelled access to all smoking areas for the day.  I'd say we were successful for majority as we had people who really signed up and even helped in campaigning for it.  Glad we did not have any 'confrontational issues' with any disgruntled smoker, ehe.  People who signed up were given token of appreciations.

Day 3 and 4 marked our 'Photo Campaign' initiative in support of the 'I Will, If You Will' campaign of the WWF (Earth Hour.org).  We invited people to change their social media avatar and even made a make-shift sign board for people to write down their commitments. Automatic tokens were given to those who participated and as of this writing, we are awaiting for the 'best pledge' award.

Day 5 was declared 'No Plastic Day' and we managed to engaged our canteen concessionaire to participate in our advocacy by removing all plastics such as bags, straws and cups for that day.  And we even asked them to change the menu by offering the Filipino traditional 'binalot'.  And to push it further, people who bought the meal were given tokens as well as those who went to buy their beverage and brought with them their own cups.

Day 6 was the highlight as we helped in disseminating the information to turn-off lights at the strike of 8:30 pm.  Our facility has been participating in this for almost 3 years now.

Here are some of photos I took had related to the event.  My family also participated and it has become a yearly thing for us too!

A sample of the Pinoy 'Binalot' meal wrapped in leaves and paper

Our HR Lunch buddies in full support --- NO PLASTIC for the day

I never had a 'good shot' of myself so I cropped my photo and focused on my pledge, ehe

And how was Earth Hour celebrated in the rest of the world?  Here are some photos from http://www.earthhour.org/media-centre/images click on the link for more of the photos. And yes, you will see great images and not just plain black boxes, teheee. (credits to the owners)

Singapore

Madagascar --- cooking using the sun

Germany, i think.  I was too mesmerized with this great shot

Brazil, I think ehe...

 

Now that the 2012 Earth Hour is over, let us not go back to our wrong ways and really start doing something for the environment.  Earth Hour Australia is now even asking for us to commit what we will do beyond Earth Hour.  So, what's your take on this and what are you willing to commit for our planet?

Leibster Award.. .

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There are plenty of reasons why I blog. Some may find it petty, but since a huge part of my current work involves writing, I think I owe it to myself to be able to write something FOR MY own SELF FULFILLMENT.  Thus, the nostalgia is many times amplified if I receive good comments from fellow bloggers and readers who commend an article or the whole blog concept of my site.  Not to be overly boastful of what (as there are tons of better blogs out there), my day was made extra special when I read a message from my gmail account from a fellow blogger that I was part of her top five for LEIBSTER AWARD.

So with all my heart, thanks a lot to Chucha Delfin for taking the time to include me and recognize my blogging efforts.  I think I owe it up to her to share her link: http://reviewsofabookmaniac.blogspot.com and may start looking and organizing my own list and eventually 'pay it forward' too in the future.

So what is a Blog award or to be more specific, what is the Leibster Award about?  Quoting from Wikipedia, A Blog award is an award for the best blog in a given category. Some blog awards are based on a public vote and others are based on a fixed set of criteria applied by a panel of judges.  Some of the major blogging awards mentioned included The Weblog Awards and the Best of Blogs (BOB).  In the Philippines, there are also a few groups who give out blogs on various specialty categories.

The Leibster Award, however remains to be one topic that is very difficult to research.  With so many related hits, it's very difficult to filter and really find out where it originated but many refer to it as the award which showcases blogs with less than 200 followers and can be categorized under the 'best kept secret' league.  Many refer to its origin coming from Germany (sans the name) and upon accepting it, the 'awardee' must then pass it on to five more blogs.  I've seen some of the many blogs with this award and the some even highlighted these specific rules:

1- Choose FIVE up and coming blogs to which you award the Liebster. Blogs must have less than 200 followers.

2- Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

3-Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you gave the award to with links to their sites

So there you have it.  Once again, I extend my many thanks to those who have come to include visiting the OFFICE NINJA BLOG in their daily/regular internet routine.  Do continue to read, don't hesitate to comment on how this blog can be of service to you (I even do it for free at times, ehe), and more specially, to IMPROVE.  The latest hits counter as of this writing is that I am nearing my 10k mark and I am very much looking forward to reaching more people.

TONB Supports Earth Hour 2012

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Bamboo Bike, Why not?

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The ‘eco-series’ write-up features of my blog continues with an article I saw very recently on the launch of the indigenous “PHILIPPINE BAMBOO BIKES” in the market.  Yes, this innovative ‘invention’ is finally made available to the consumers.  Now the question shifts to determining if society is ready for such.

This initiative is made possible thanks to KawayanTech (for my foreigner readers, Kawayan is the Filipino word for bamboo) whose main goal is to introduce to the mainstream market alternative means of transport and these include the bamboo bikes and even bamboo skateboards.  The company was founded by members of the famous University of the Philippines Mountaineers Club in 2009.  Original members who founded KawayanTech were the following:

Eric Cadiz – a motorcycle dealer and an electrical engineer

John Climaco – an educator who is US-based

Hecky Villanueva – an urban anthropologist

Eng Chan – a visual artist

Boy Siojo – a resort operator and dive instructor

THE CHALLENGE

Just like any innovative product in its baby steps, the main challenge the Bamboo bikes will face will be how the consumes will learn about the product and dispel decades or even a century worth of information that the ‘metallic bicycles’ are more durable and sturdier than these new offerings.

THE ADVANTAGES

• Supports local livelihood programs and bamboo farmers or sellers.
• KawayanTech gets from various bamboo suppliers thus promoting more employment and business opportunities.
• Highly durable as only the sturdy variety used for construction and furniture.
• Alternative means of transportation minus the toxic fumes.
• It is a work of Art; every bike frame is handcrafted, thus, every frame may be said as something that is highly unique in the world.
• Bamboo is said to have the natural property of absorbing shocks from movement.
• The company only manufactures the main bicycle frame so you can customize the other components to suit your personality. 

According to the article reference from Manila Bulletin KawayanTech has sold more than 80 different units including a bike tailored-fit for kids and toddlers (more popularly known as 'Push Bikes')which currently has a market value of PhP5,000.  The bike frames for mountain bikes fetch as high as PhP20,000 while commuter bikes costs PhP10,000. Additional trivia, the same company also made the first ever electric bamboo bike.  What's next?  Skateboards and even Wheelchairs! Hmm.. wonder how it will look?

So there you have it, a cool new feature of an up and coming business venture that I do hope we all support.  Still to the theme of Earth Hour on Saturday, I hope their idea sells well.

Something Sweet and 'ECO-Friendly'

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This week marks the annual observance of the Earth Hour (March 31, 8:30pm - visit their website here) and what better way to show my support than by featuring some of my favorite products who have been advocates of the environment as well.  And yes, they are nothing short of being fancy and delightfully tasting as well.

There are quite a number of businesses who have gone 'GREEN' and with majority of consumers now looking into socially responsible organizations to get their products or engage with, the quest to find innovative and high impact Eco-friendly and sustainable business actions have become a staple.

Yesterday's sweet cravings brought me to my favorite popcorn stand and it so happened that my 'other' favorite donut shop was also right next to the popcorn kiosk.  It was then that the idea for a blogpost came....  The people from Chef Tony's Gourmet Popcorns handed me out my purchase in a fancy brown bag.  Since I am a frequent customer, I asked the sales people how come they do not have their famous plastic bags anymore.  The lady immediately answered me, 'Ah, you want plastic sir, don't worry we can replace it if you want.'  I gave her my hearty smile and said it's ok, I prefer their new paper bags and IT IS ACTUALLY BETTER.  I was told that every week-ends, Chef Tony's use their brown bags for every purchase.  Hope they push this a little more and increase the number of days they go 'Green'.  Below are snap shots of my latest purchase.

Now, the ever famous donuts!!!! Yes, I think this merits a lot of exclamation points primarily because fancy donuts have been around and it has become (in my opinion) difficult to find a really good one that is worth the price.  So, lo and behold, I summoned my inner strength and got myself a dozen (thanks to the ever delightful sales talk which convinced me to 'upgrade' from a box of 6 to a dozen) of the most deliciously looking sweet treats.  


I was given an added treat upon finding out that ALL of their packaging options are made of carton and they bear the 'recycling' seal.  I am one with the growing number of yuppies out there who makes it a point that they engage with businesses who are Eco-warriors, especially those that do SUSTAINABLE business.  Below are some shots I made from my recent purchase!