My Christmas Wish List ( a girl can dream)

Since dreaming and wishes are free I’ll go all out with my Christmas Wish List.

1. To go to Paris, France

2. Own a Jimmy Choo shoes

3. Own a Valentino Dress

4. Own a Herve Ledger Dress

5. Hermes Bag

6. Louis Vuitton Tech Suit case

7. MAC Brush Set

8. Urban Decay Eye Pencil Set

9. Go to Santo Rini

10. Go to New York

Kikay LOVES Mother Nature

Once in a while we have to unwind and leave the hassle bustle of the city life behind and go smell the fresh air and refreshing green scenery of our mother nature. The perfect timing came when our one year in the making trekking plan to Barangay Kinilis of Polomolok, South Cotabato Philippines finally push through to go see the Mindanao Civet Coffee plantation.

My blogger friend Sheng Dumalay coordinated with sir Fred Fredeluces the one who is responsible for the Kape Balos and coffee industry in the area. Sir Fred worked with the Mahinata Foundation before he educated the B’laan community of the importance of preserving the forest and the Civet. He further widen their outlook in life by providing them source of income by buying their coffee beans and selling it in the city in their behalf. He further taught them in the Civet Coffee industry which is more expensive than the normal arabica coffee bean. By doing so the Civet Cat locally known as “Musang” is now being protected by the community instead of hunting and captivating it. They now called it “KAPE BALOS” balos is the B’laan term for the Civet Cat.

The Civet Coffee or Kape Balos is an expensive coffee because of it’s very distinctive taste and the way it is processed. The Civet Cat is a nocturnal animal and loves to eat coffee bean and has an excellent palate that they are known to eat only the sweetest coffee bean. They leave their poop in the forest and the coffee farmers hand picks them early in the morning. After hand picking the Civet poop they carefully choose each bean for its quality control and they wash it and then sun dry. The process is not over yet they carefully roast it to perfection then grind pack and of to the coffee shops who offers it as high as P300 per cup.

The experience is an eye opener to me and makes my heart smile with gladness. As it could be done by the perfect example from this community together with sir Fred that we can do it: Preserve the forest, Protect the Civet Cat and earn a living at the same time. By the way the coffee beans are 100% organic NO fertilizers it is cross planted in the forest together with the giant hard wood trees.

My golden knowledge for the day the Civet Coffee or Kape Balos is decaffeinated coffee because the coffee beans went through a process inside the stomach of the Civet Cat therefore the acids inside the cats stomach rips aways the caffeine from the coffee bean. Freshly roasted Kape Balos has it’s milky taste with out any rough and sour flavor unlike the instant coffee we are having. It is very healthy and a great way to perk you up and start your day.

Travel Tips for Kikay

I’m not an expert in traveling. Yes, I travel but not that often. And with all my kikay stuff traveling light is very hard to do. I will share to you tips on traveling which I gathered from travel blogs, experience and friends. Like you I hope I can follow this tips the next time I travel. **wink**

• Travel Light this is the first tip I would also like to follow myself. It’s very hard to pack light with all my kikay stuffs that I need to bring like my kikay kit, make-up kit, accessories (jewelries and hair accessories) and my outfits.
• Plan what to WEAR Count the days you will be staying. Plan what to wear everyday shirt, pants or skirt, intimate apparel, hair accessories and jewelry accessories. But bring extra shirts you never know if all of a sudden your vacation will be extended.
• Organize your luggage. Their are a lot of travel organizer available in the market and online also which can help you maximize your luggage and organize your stuff well.
• Be prepared for anything Do not be complaisant if the weather in your place is sunny. Always prepare your jacket or sweater and a handy  umbrella.

• Colored Bag use a colored bag rather than a black one so that at the airport you can easily pinpoint your luggage. You can also personalize your bag by putting stickers for easily identification.
• Plan your Vacation/Travel at least two or three months prior so that you can book seat sales
• Reserve Accommodations if you happen to know someone at the place your going ask for their help in booking you a good place to stay in. Weigh in the pros and cons in choosing a hotel which is more convenient to you. For me, it’s better to stay at the heart of the city and pay a fair amount than stay  at a very cheap hotel but is really far from the City and the tourist spots. If you have relatives or close friends stay at their place so you have more money for shopping.
• Plan an Itinerary know what you want to explore in a certain place and what to do shopping, nature tripping, malling, tourist spots, bar hopping or restaurant hopping.
• Try new things try new food that are not at your place. Eat where the locals dine experience what the locals do. That’s how you enjoy a new place.
• Leave a space for souvenirs leave a space in your luggage for souvenirs and the things you bought. Take note of the airlines 15 kilos maximum check in baggage. 

Kikay is on SMILE

One of my ultimate dream came true this month and thanks to CEBU PACIFIC inflight magazine SMILE for making it come true. I’ve always found CEBU PACIFIC as my travel partner whenever I go around my country for vacation or business trips. And I’ve always read their inflight magazine SMILE.

And one of my favorite section is the places and the people who gives tips on where to dine, places to go, things to experience and local dialects which is very useful for tourist. During the flight you can browse to the place where you are about to go and read the tips that locals shared in order for you to have a great experience while staying in that place. It was one of my wildest dreams to be on that section and share a tip or two about my home town-GENSAN.

And to my surprise the opportunity came for me from a lovely friend, CATHY BOLODO who casually chatted with me and ask: hey, do you want to be on SMILE magazine? I instantly said: of course YES!. And that was five or six months ago I had a hard time answering the questionnaire because I really wanted to share tips that are useful so that in my own little way I can help my town be promoted. And what a perfect timing it is that the issue where I came out is this month October just in time for my birthday. And a lot of my blogger friends went to word camp last October 2, 2010 at Manila and they where the ones who spread the great news to me. My most influential blogger friend ganda ever so much, ORMAN MANANSALA broke the news he called me giggling and said hey you are on SMILE!, smile “sikat ka nanaman teh” hehehehehehehe

For me it’s not all for glam of course it’s part of it but not all (hehehehehehe) I’m just very honored, privilege and lucky to have this opportunity to share and help promote GENSAN. Thank you CEBU PACIFIC for the wonderful birthday gift. And thank you to the beautiful couple Gay and Ronald Velasquez for giving me a copy. Blessings do come from people and friends and I’m so blessed to be surrounded with great people.

Tips during FESTIVALS

Here in the Philippines there are a lot of festivals all year round. And this September it is time for the most delicious festival in the Philippines the TUNA FESTIVAL of General Santos City. So, how can you maximize and enjoy each day you have in visiting Festivities.

• RESEARCH know and research blogs and websites for the official schedule and line of activities one festival has to offer
• KNOW what you WANT to SEE among all the list of activities pin point the ones you are interested to see or participate in
• SUNBLOCK you will need this one when you want to watch street dancing which we here in the Philippines love to do during festivals
• HAT find a handy dandy hat that will protect you from the scourging heat of the sun
• WATER always have a bottle of water to hydrate yourself
• SUN GLASSES of course be fashionable with your sun glasses so that you will look good on photos
• CAMERA never forget your camera it is the only thing you can bring home with you to document all the fun you have. Take a lot of photos.
• VITAMINS arm yourselves with vitamins C to to make you feel good while enjoying the festivities
• BE OPEN TO NEW EXPERIENCES you go to festivals to other countries or places to see and experience new things and activities you haven’t done.
• HAVE FUN enjoy each moment
• EAT, EAT, EAT TUNA FESTIVAL is not known to be the most delicious festival in the Philippines for nothing…. a FRESH TUNA is very delicious and very HEALTHY!!!

Your  TUNA FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE will NOT be complete without attending the up coming

AL FRESCO SASHIMI NIGHT

this Saturday September 25, 2010

Dubbed as TUNA at TUNOG the organizer (yours truly) has prepared a jam-packed entertainment of

PURE GENSAN TALENTS with the

CENTERPOINT BAND,

KUERDAS BAND, BLACKDIZE, IZEK’s QUEST and TRAFFIC JAM and DJ JERI FUNK from Dubai, DJ JBUGS, and DJ YOUNG GENZ to give us the BEAT for the night.

for a very affordable priced ticket of P150 you will get one FREE San Mig LIGHTS and…..

SASHIMI ALL YOU CAN!!!!!! (while supply last)

PLUS: FOOD BOOTHS will also be there to SELL their one night SPECIAL TUNA MENU

Participating BOOTHS are: Grab-a-Crab, Bigby’s, JUNJI, Piyesta Ktv & Restobar, Giacominos, BigBen and Jam’s

and PACIFIC SEAS will also be there if you want to take home TUNA products and cook it yourself.

Don’t miss the FUN be there!!!!

Tickets are SOLD at PIYESTA KTV & RESTOBAR (083) 554-2139 , ENVY ME SALON & SPA (083) 554-2134 (Robinsons Place Gensan)

and HAIRS & NAILS SALON & SPA (083) 301-4822 (KCC Mall of GENSAN)

Here’s the official theme song “WHOA GENSAN” for TUNA FESTIVAL from the very talented and Gensan’s pride CENTERPOINT BAND and a superb video from RISP (Royale Iris Studio Productions)

Come and visit General Santos City “GENSAN” this TUNA FESTIVAL.

Nail Art for TUNA FESTIVAL

It’s the time of the year again the most delicious FESTIVAL in the Philippines- GENSAN’s TUNA FESTIVAL. Just in time for this festive season I got my NAIL ART at ENVY ME SALON & SPA at Robinsons Place Gensan. I told my staff to theme my NAIL ART in the up coming TUNA FESTIVAL so she made me cute fishes.

Well let’s talk about TUNA FESTIVAL this years festival was moved to September 18 to 26 to make it more grand and a one month long celebration. Their are a lot of events to look forward to spear headed by our very beautiful ganda ever so much festival director ORMAN MANANSALA.

For me I’m always looking forward to MISS GENSAN

And alas! this year it will be more interesting with the birth of MR. GENSAN (wohhhoooo)

I always look forward for the grand and hip production numbers directed by no less than DINO VELOSO. As a self proclaimed fassionista and  learning make up artist I’m excited to see make ups done by our local and very talented make up artists. They transform timid young girls to the beautiful, confident, beauty queens that they truly are. This is an event you shouldn’t miss.

There are a lot of other events to look forward too. Theirs the AL FRESCO SAHIMI NIGHT (my event), Cheer Dance Competition, Fish dance Hip Hop Competition, Gensan Pop Idol, Mardi Gras and more.

Here are the list of activities.

Tunafest Schedule as of September 9, 2010

So come and visit us here! WHOA! GENSAN!

Vanity Kit for Men “KIKOY KIT”

My boyfriend, Emmanuel is not vain but because of our constant travels (Gensan-Davao vice versa) he needed to have his  VANITY KIT or “KIKOY KIT” to carry his toiletries, perfumes, deodorant etc. Lets face it we all use beauty products men and women alike. As we age our skin and hair needs special attention and maintenance.

In this post I’m going to share whats inside a VANITY KIT for MEN or “KIKOY KIT.”

VANITY KIT for MEN or “KIKOY KIT”

• Nivea Active 3 - this is a great product because it’s 3 in 1 shampoo, shower gel and shaving cream. You can save a lot of space in your vanity kit if you have this. Plus according to Emman it does not irritate his skin while shaving.
• Rexona Deodorant- he uses the spray type & anti perspirant
• Penshoppe Cologne- he brings the plastic bottle for convinience
• Gillette Shaver Double blade- this is a wise buy unlike the disposable one because he can replace the blades
• Gillette after shave
• Colgate Toothpaste & Toothbrush- he uses the bending type toothbrush
• Astring-o-sol mouth wash
• Cotton buds
• RIZO Wax- this is for styling his hair, this leaves his hair up but it’s not sticky
• Enervon C MultiVitamins
• Imodium- for emergency purposes

Vain or not we all need our VANITY KIT. Their are a lot of cosmetic products available in the market that caters to MEN’s vanity needs. Their are lotions, deodorants, moisturizers, toners and a lot more.

TIP:

• VANITY KIT‘s always depends on the length of time you intent to stay in one place.
• Buy travel size products the smaller the products the lesser space it occupies.

So, you there, are you man enough to have a VANITY KIT of KIKOY KIT?

Beauty Tour with Mother Ricky

Last November 2008 I had the privilege to go to Guangzhou, China & Hongkong together with Ricky Reyes (which in our industry we all call Mother Ricky) as one of the Philippine delegates for the 12th APHCA Hair & Make-up International Competition.

(Philippine Delegates)

The delegates of the Philippines for the said international competition wearing “barong” and “filipiniana.” The ones wearing black are the competitors representing our country. The rest of us are assigned to judge specific categories that do not have Philippine competitors to avoid bias. I was amazed by the reaction of delegates from other country because they liked our “barong and filipiniana” and even pose for a picture with us.

(Dad, Mom and Me in our hotel room prior the event)

Mother Ricky is the current President of APHCA (Asia Pacific Hairdressers & Cosmetologists Association). As a filipino I’m very proud that from the rest of the participating Asian countries the President of the said Association is from the Philippines.

(Philippine delegates with APHCA officers)

The competition day a lot of competitors from different countries joined. Each category is only given 30 minutes to finish example evening make-up, the models are in their gowns already but the make-up is done right there in the stage.

Here are some of the photos of other competitors from different countries:

It was an eye opening experience for me because there I saw a lot of people from different countries and we were all connected on one thing the “beauty industry.” I met delegates from Australia, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Macau, China, Korea, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Taipei and Japan.

Our hair style and make-up are not far away from that of the other competing countries we have the trophies to prove that. But by attending that international event i gained new and interesting knowledge about our industry. I have learned new techniques in make-up, hair extension and eyelash extension that i brought back here in our home town General Santos City.

(hehehehe JUDEGE??)