Gift Giving at Bacoor Municipal Plaza

We were deadly tired but it was a memorable event for me.  I was with my brother JR on this event.  We joined thru KIDS Foundation, where we are a volunteer member.

As early as 4pm in the afternoon, the plaza was full.  It has a huge crowd that night.

With the join force of the Mayor's Office of Municipality of Bacoor and the KIDS Foundation volunteers, gifts were distributed to the less fortunate residents of Bacoor, Diether Ocampo's hometown, one of the Director of KIDS Foundation.  

Also on that event were the Sanguniang Bayan Members.

Diether was with Kris Aquino and Vice Ganda on the said event.  Baby James also participated on the gift giving.  And they were welcome by our beloved Mayor, Mayor Strike Revilla.

With the KIDS Foundation Volunteers, they distributed grocery items in Puregold shopping bags & SM Shopping Green bag. School supplies also given to the kids courtesy of Baby James "Bimby".

 

To participate in any of Outreach activity like these is a blessing for me for it always gave me the feeling of fulfillment.  I really wanted to help but I can not afford to give money nor in kinds.  And I believe that to share or to help doesn't need to contribute financially.  You may share your time & talent also.  And all I can share is my time and effort.

I feel blessed because I was given a chance to help in my own little way.  Not only that. I also gain more friends and meet different people.

Until next event with Bacoor kids on the 29th.  

Photo Credits: Ago Orcilla & TJ Dequilla

Simbang Gabi at the Sto Niño de Molino Parish

The traditional Novena to Nuestra Señora de Belen, or what we known as SIMBANG GABI had started.  My day one (day 1) I ma y say, was the most memorable and most fulfilling day.

I started my day by attending the 1st Simbang Gabi this year (2010).

Outside the church of Sto Niño de Molino, was decorated with Christmas lanterns and Christmas lights.

I was able to went home at around 5am and woke up at 7am to join KIDS Foundation for the Gift Giving Event at the Bacoor Municipal Hall.  It was a joint event by the office of Mayor Strike, KIDS Foundation with the participation of Ms. Kris Aquino, Baby James, Diether Ocampo & Vice Ganda.

With the said event, I met a lot of people and make friends with them. My brother JR, join us also and we were able to went home around 10pm.

Gaudete Sunday at the Sto Niño de Molino Parish

Pink candle will be lighted on Gaudete Sunday, 3rd Sunday of the Advent.
Here are some photos of our Sto Niño de Molino at Bahayang Pag-asa, Bacoor.

Simbang gabi schedule are as follows:

• Anticipated  - 8:00pm (starts on the 15th)
• Dawn mass  - 4:00am (starts on the 16th)

The church were decorated with Belen at the altar, color red and green curtains and Parol outside the church.


































vendors outside assisting their customers

And Manong selling small Christmas lanterns.

1st GA with Homeowners Association after more than 10 years

General assembly of Homeowners Association was set on November 21, 2010 at 2pm.  This will be my 1st attendance after more than 10 years. 

I was there exactly 2pm but only less than 10 people were present by then.
Good thing, officers decided to start at 2:30pm.  Though 30 minutes late, it's a good gestures for them in favor of early birds.

I am still on the observation stage.  I need to know what had happened and what should I need to know.
Though I wanted to ask further questions about the data they had given to all attendees, no one from the resident owner reacted so I decided not to and will just ask the officers themselves if given a chance.

aiming to be Cavite's pride

Sample chocolates have been delivered to few prospect buyers.  Though it's to early for Christmas gifts, others were sent to friends.  One crucial thing to do and needed for any Homemade products is on How to market and find your clients or customers.  I started mine with sending advisory thru emailing the photos.  

Few of prospective clients asked for samples.  For me, this was a good opportunity to start.  To let them test it's taste and quality.  I am open for feedback for me to improve it's quality and I want this to be Cavite's pride.

Choco Prep Day3: to make my chocolate candies

I was so excited to do my very first chocolate candies.  I prepared my materials at around 7am, Ice chest, trays, weighing scale  etc.

I was able to start the doing the actual chocolate molding at around 2:30 pm.

I started with the plain white chocolates.  I do not know what have I done wrong, my chocolates got wet and with moist after few minutes taken out from the fridge.  

I also did cookies and cream, brown chocolates, chocolate crunch, nutty chocolates & rocky road.
Thanks to PCLEDO for the training and to Sir Eric Jacob of Candilicious.  I was able to do these:

And for the finish product?  Here they are:

Now, I need to do the costing of each to know how much should I charge per box which would depend on how many pieces per box.

And for the next step, delivery of samples to prospect buyers and customers.
Other sets would be given as my Christmas gifts to friends.
Hope they gonna like it.

Choco Prep Day2: to buy molds at Chocolate Lovers

My route is to Chocolate Lovers Cubao to get more molds and other filings.

My friend Joyce texted me and since she lives in Cubao, I asked her if she wanted to go with me.
We decided to meet up at around 12 noon at the Farmers Mall.  She knows the place that's why we have no difficulty in going there.  And it's not hard to find since the building itself is color chocolates and a castle like top.

The store can be found on the ground floor where a lot of different supplies and materials can be found.

I was amazed because they have a lot of different designs of molds to choose from and I got 3 pcs of 3 different designs.

And it seems that they have lower price than Chocolate Magic.


Chocolate Lovers would be the best place to suggest for beginners also since they have smaller packs for their try out.

We finished at 1pm and we decided to take out lunch back to Farmers Mall.

I was able to went home in Cavite at 6pm and excited to start my chocolate making.

For now, I would be preparing ice to use tomorrow for my chocolate making.

Choco Prep Day1: Buy materials and supplies

I need to make my Chocolate product samples to give.
I need to move faster since I was asked to bring one.

After few internet search of stores that offer the supplies and materials I need last night, I made my plan, to visit them today.
Thanks to other Chocolatiers who shared information via internet.

I started at Quiapo:
1) New Sin Kian Heng store at Carlos Palanca where I bought my very first double boiler, measuring cups with pouring tip.  Everything was two times (2x) lower the price of those stores in Cubao.  It took me 3 hours to wait before I got my order but it's worth it since I save half of the regular price.
2) Nuts Store located at Orosco, street at the back of New Sin Kian.  I saw their chocolate displays but a lot of people are waiting to be assisted.  Molds are P70 each but I didn't like their designs.   They do not have much. Their Premium Chocolate per kilo is Php 165 and Regular Milk is Php 150.
3) Killion at Orosco Street also, located on the same street and almost fronting Nuts Store.  They have better system of assisting their customer.  They posted instruction on how to place your order and for you to be assisted.  They have claiming area too.  Unfortunately, I didn't found anything I need from them.

After Quiapo, I went to Sta Cruz to take a bus going towards Alabang Zapote to visit Chocolate Magic.  I bought the rest of my supplies like: Premium & White Chocolate, CBS, Rice Crispy, Mallows and Mini Tray.  I bought 3 molds with the same kind only since I didn't see other interesting molds. 

It's late afternoon already and I feel tired.  With the routes I had, I need to rest so I decided to went home.

I know their are public vehicles from Marcos Alvarez Avenue at Moonwalk going to Molino so I tried to look for it and finally found it.

I haven't bought all supplies I need specially the molds I will be using so I need to visit Chocolate Lovers at P. Tuazon tomorrow to check their molds or else I do not have a choice other than to buy molds from Nuts store.  Hope I can find better designs so I could start making my chocolates to give.

Homemade Chocolates as Christmas giveaways

For the past few days after the training I attended under Mr. Eric Jacob of Candilicious Sweet Shop, I found myself searching for different Chocolate designs and preparations.  I was indulge by the idea of having Chocolates as my Christmas gift.  I even think of different kinds to put per box. And guess what, I had 7 different ideas.  However, I can not afford to have more than 6 kinds since this will be my first time to do Chocolate candies.

I was chatting with a friend when she asked for a suggestion on Christmas giveaways and I jokingly offered my Homemade Chocolate candies.   She then asked me to give them samples.

Wahhh, now, am forced to make the 7 ideas I have in mind.  But it was good.  Who knows, they might have it as their giveaways right?

Hope I can do it, even not perfectly, at least presentably.

I think I need to have a good packaging ideas now.  Hope to find one on the lower cost.

Wish me luck.

Cavite's PCLEDO Livelihood Team at Soldiers Hill

With the information Ms. Sheryll gave me, I didn't find it hard to reach the venue where they will be running their FREE livelihood training organized by Kababaihan ng Molino Cooperative (KMC).  I attended the scheduled training last Noevember 12th at the Soldiers Hill, Molino VI, Bacoor, Cavite.

Though the tricycle driver brought me to a different venue at first, we were able to reach the place earlier than the schedule.

I met Ms Ann Rose of KMC at the registration table and introduced myself since I was not part of their community.

While waiting, I was trying to observed and were able to chat with the other attendees.
Chairs were clustered by group of 10 with 1 table each. I saw banners of PCLEDO where I learned more about their programs.

And when few of the facilitators arrived, I felt excited and started to ask on what training are they going to held.
I was looking for a "Fresh Fruit Juice Preparation" since that was the field I wanted to focus on, unfortunately, they only have Fruit preparation.  But they have 10 training to choose from and most of the topics were on my list of interest.

At last, I met Ms. Sheryl and we talked about a little more of their programs.  I shared my intention why I joined the seminar and tentative plans and was so happy to know that PCLEDO have different assistance to extend to all Caviteños who would like to start doing business.  She ask me to drop by in their office at Trese Martires to know more about their programs and bring my sample product in case I decided to bring it out to the market.

The event started with a short program, from a short prayer leaded by Ms Chit, Chairman of KMC.  Each facilitators were introduced and their background.  It was inspiring because most of them are Entrepreneur who were sharing their knowledge.

I attended Chocolate Molding with Mr. Eric Jacob Aguinaldo as the facilitator.  He started by introducing himself before going to the topic.  A little of Chocolate history and it's different kind.


Mr. Eric Jacob is an Entrepreneur.  He owns Candilicious Sweet Shop at Kawit Cavite where you can find different kinds of yummy Chocolates.  His shop is located at 168 Doña Amparo St., Josephine Subdivision, Kawit Cavite.

As he was discussing and doing his demo, I didn't noticed that I was into it already.  I started asking questions and had the urge to learn.  The program ended with the raffle and luckily, I was one of the attendees who received a gift.

It was so amazing to learn because everything was free, even the brochures, it was provided by PCLEDO.  The whole PCLEDO team and KMC was great and kind.  Cool isn't it?

So for all Caviteños who haven't heard about the program of the Province of Cavite, try to coordinate with your Baranggay.  They may have program to help you.

Livelihood Program for Caviteños

Unemployment, one issue that the government should focus on, not only the Top Administrators but most of all, the Local Government Units.

One big problem PNoy is looking up to solve is the increasing number of unemployed Filipinos.  They said there are lots of Job opportunities nowadays.

But the question is, "Does these Job opportunities suits everyone's abilities and qualification?" Call Center? BPOs? What about those people who don't even got a College education? There are many factors that they still need to look into.  And we don't have to depend on their plans and moves, we need to do something.

Luckily, Caviteños are currently receiving such help from it's local government administrators, not specifically in Bacoor but in any municipalities of the province of Cavite.

As I was searching for business opportunities within the community, I learned that the Province of Cavite is giving assistance thru livelihood trainings and seminars for free to help Caviteños augment their income.

I courageously sent an email of inquiry then to Dr. Emmanuel M. Santiaguel, the Provincial Government Department Head of PCLEDO.  PCLEDO stands for Provincial Cooperative, Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development Office and I was refer to the Head of Livelihood Division, Ms Sheryl Loyola.

I was so gratefull because Ms. Sheryll patiently assisted me with all my inquiry and even gave me the schedule of training they will be running near our area.  She was so kind enough to give full details and information that I need to know and I was invited to join one of their Livelihood Caravan in cooperation with Kababaihan ng Molino Cooperatives in Soldiers Hill IV Subdivision at Molino VI that was held last November 12th year of 2010.

No wonder why Cavite is now booming. They help their people not only to have extra income but most of all, to be an Entrepreneur, for us to sustain economic growth.

Transportation, more convenient

When we say Cavite, City people often imagine of a provincial setting.
Though YES, it is a province, I am glad that we are staying now in the province of Cavite.

I use to dislike working in Makati because of the difficulty with regards to transportation from where I lived before, in Quezon City.  With the availability of Public transportation from Molino, things changed.

Just right across of our place, public transportation are available going to MRT, EDSA, the very first MRT station from South.  Crowded but not too difficult to catch the train, unlike if you would start from Quezon City.  Rides going to Lawton are also available.  Terminal of public transportation nearby going to Makati is very much convenient for people working near Pasong Tamo in Makati.  You can find it right infront of Camella Homes, beside Celestino Market.  And if you are going to Alabang, no need to go via Zapote because there are available rides also beside Celestino market via Daang Hari and Filinvest Alabang.  Less traffic, less time of travel and the best thing is less fare.  Isn't it great for people of Molino?

Along Molino Road, public transportation also are available going to and from Imus (via Pag-asa) and Dasmariñas (via Molino Boulevard going towards Aguinaldo highway.  Not only Molino residents are benefiting on these but also the other neighboring town of Cavite.

Because of these, I accepted a project in Makati from a friend.  For more than a week, I have no complain on getting to Makati except for the traffic, but acceptable.  It's the price the Caviteños gain in exchange of many developments we are experiencing.
Though I didn't finish the project due to some concerns, I had a good time.  Maybe, it's not meant to be.

Moving back to Cavite

13 years past, before we decided to stay back in Cavite.
Too many changes, so much development, except our house.

New Roads, new establishments, new Barangay Hall and a lot of New people.
Indeed, Molino had developed much.