Save for an emergency health fund

I have a friend whose son got sick and was taken to the hospital for dengue fever.  Although he was earning a lot, he did not save for his emergency health fund.  The hospital bill amounted to twice his monthly salary.  His wife was a stay at home mom.  There was no other source of income.  It's a good thing that there are lending companies who exists during times of emergency and release money fast.  Of course, a child's life is more important right?  No amount of cash could ever replace that.

If you don't want to be short of cash when an emergency comes.  Do you and your family a favor and try to build a stable emergency health fund.  Set aside a few amount month to month.  I understand this may be difficult for those who are used to a worry-free lifestyle.  But, this is a good way to secure your families health.

Don't worry if it takes a long time for you to build your emergency health fund.  It's just better that you have something to spare.  If in a point in time, you encounter an emergency and your emergency health fund is not enough, don't feel hopeless because you can seek lending companies to cover the rest.

Facial Treatment at Zen Institute Sofitel

Ever since I was a teenager, I would go to the dermatologist to have my face cleaned.  This year, I invited my little sisters to have our Facial Treatment at Zen Institute Sofitel.

Zen Institute Sofitel is located at the ground floor inside Le Spa.  Le Spa had a serene and cozy atmosphere.  We didn't mind hanging out there and waiting for our turn.

Soon, it was finally my turn. I was asked to change into their slippers and I was escorted to the second floor.

I was led into a large room with a single bed.  The room was probably good for something else too since there were machines, a shower room and a sink.

The staff then proceeded with my Facial Treatment.  She was very professional that she explain what she is doing to my face every step of the way from cleansing with the towel in the beginning up to the ending when she applied the moisturizer.

To assure you that they did their job, they will show you all the dirt they gathered from your face.  I thought "There goes my blackheads!" as soon as I saw the dirty piece of paper napkin.  I also observed that they sterilize their supplies too.

Overall, I was very satisfied with the Zen Institute's Facial Treatment.  I prefer the facial treatment at Zen Institute compared to those of a dermatologist.  Because of their modern and systematic procedure, the pain was minimized.  But, it does come with a price.   Zen Institute's Facial Treatment costs 2,000 php.

Zen Institute Sofitel
Sofitel Philippines Plaza Manila
CCP Complex,Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City 1300
Metro Manila, Philipinnes
Tel nos. 5515555 local numbers 1524 and 1542
Direct line: 8326957
EMAIL: drmj@thezeninstitute.com

My Landmarks Forum Experience

I've been hearing a lot about Landmarks Forums from my relatives.  In fact, all of them have taken the basic and advanced courses.  For quite some time, they have been persuading us to enroll too.  Last night, as promised, we visited our cousins home to attend the special type of Landmarks Forum Intro.  I brought Kurt along since I thought we could learn from it.  Not that I have any positive or negative impression about Landmarks specifically.  I just believe that we can learn from every experience and every opportunity.

We were asked to register in a card where we would place all our essential information so they can do a "follow up" after the introduction.  We were also given a catalogue.  Then the Introduction leader or speaker began his speech with illustrations which were made to emphasize simple concepts:
1.  We are currently limited by ourselves through our own "blind spots" and that the three days of a non-linear Landmarks Forum Education will teach us to identify our blind spots and make them disappear.
2.  By making our "blind spots" disappear, we are able to reach our goals at a shorter span in time and this will make us feel more complete.
3. Anything is possible i.e. Money, Dreams, Relationships can be achieved in a shorter span of time
4. The Landmarks Forum Education is not some sort of fixing or improvisational.

By the end of the night, they were very persistent in persuading us to commit ourselves and make the initial deposit of 5,000 php.  Everyone in my family could not commit to go.  They all had busy schedules.  Everyone knows that I was the easiest to convince.  I know that too.  Because, I have this endless enthusiasm for everything.  I promised I'd think about it so here are my thoughts.

Why weren't we convinced to enroll at Landmarks Forum
1. We had a speaker who is a reputable consultant or trainer so I have no doubt in my mind that he would be a good one.  The speaker gave us stories about the experience of Landmarks graduates.  The stories initially sounded exciting but the story shifts without a satisfying conclusion.
2.  My entire relatives shared their experience.  Problem is we couldn't relate to them since we never encountered those problems.  If we did we must have surpassed them some time ago through self-realization.
3.  They are selling a concept that is too vague to be priced 25,500 php and their selling point is that it is vague because it is something extremely wonderful.  Honestly, it sounds similar to all marketing speeches we've encountered before.
4. It is only effective if you pay for it.
5. You can never blame Landmarks because it is only responsible for unlocking your "blind spots".  So  there's no real guarantee for the money I will shell out.
6. The idea that my relatives and the speaker's family and friends are insistent in persuading us to enroll despite that their doing it for free with the thought of helping us and the whole nation is kinda creepy.  I don't ever want to see myself or Kurt doing that.  If the Landmarks Education is one big package with this tiny bonus where I have to persuade others to feel that I'm changing the world, I'd rather skip it.
7. I want to add meaning to my life through my own self-learning and realization.
8.  I know that we will learn something from the Landmarks Forum that may or may not change our lives.  But, I could not correlate the benefits to the enrollment fee of 25,500 php.
9. I don't believe that there is one ultimate technique that is applicable to everyone.
10. The Landmarks Forum is said to improve relationships and help you connect with others.  I grew up with my cousins and have known them my entire life.  There is nothing in our relationship that has changed.  So what if, what they feel within is not as great as what actually is?  Would that mean that while they are being sincere, they could be selling us something that is exaggerated.
11.  They can't give me a specific reason as to why I should enroll.

Why should I give Landmarks Forum a second thought
1. The speech was so long and my relatives shared their problems to us which was something difficult. I know they only did that because they cared for us and perhaps they are right.
2. I have the time.

If you know Landmarks Forum perhaps you can add some thoughts?

Coal Mines Insurance is a Neccessity

Coal is a black combustible sedimentary rock.  From the past until present, coal is an important source of energy.  It is burned as a fossil fuel to produce electricity and heat.  As technology progresses, we become more and more reliant on electricity.  Coal can also be used to refine metals.  Clearly, coal is an essential factor in our lives.

Unfortunately, coal is difficult to extract especially with deep coal mining extractions.  Coal mining requires the manual exploration.  This is one field wherein machinery cannot be fully relied upon.  Coal mining exposes coal mine workers into accidents which are almost impossible to prevent.  Throughout history there have been many coal mine accidents that have caused deaths to thousand of coal miners.  Just last April 25, 2006, the Tasmania's Beaconsfield Mine collapse trapped 3 mine workers wherein one worker died.  In China, an accident on November 2009 caused the death of at least 104 workers.

It's a good thing that Coal Mines Insurance is made available to the coal miners.  There are many benefits as to coal mine insurance:
1.  Coal miners will receive compensation benefits when they are injured or incur diseases in relation to their occupation.  Those injuries may be too costly to be shouldered by the employers alone.
2. Through Coal Mines Insurance, the coal miners are assured that they will be provided the best care possible and that their hard work is not taken lightly.
3. Coal mine worker's families need not worry about the dark uncertainties brought about by coal mining work.
4. Coal mine employers need to pay a fixed amount of premium for their workers so they need not expose themselves to expenses brought about by accidents which may be detrimental to their operational funds.
5. Coal mine employers can focus themselves in deciding their operations and not on labor matters.
6. More coal mine employers will be available since they are assured of a promising future even if they will be injured or incur diseases in the future.

Overall,  Coal Mines Insurance is a great product.  Surely, it will benefit coal mine workers and employers in many years to come.

Quality Latex or Memory Foam Mattresses for A Pleasurable Sleep

Kurt and I always argue about the different things we want in life.  However,  we share the same ideals when it comes to what we value the most.  We value our SLEEP.  We could live with the simplest things and eat bearable food but we always want our pleasurable SLEEP.  I'm sure you've experienced how lack of SLEEP has negatively influenced your day or even your entire lives.  It can affect your mood, you productivity and your relationships.

latex mattress

The key to having a goodnight sleep is to have a quality bed mattress.  We both agreed that we need quality latex or memory foam mattresses for a pleasurable SLEEP.  We currently SLEEP on beds with latex mattress.  However, if ever we have our own homes in the future, we want to upgrade our beds to have a memory foam mattress.  That way, we're sure to have the best SLEEPS we could ever have for the rest of our lives.

Lazer Xtreme at Alabang Town Center

I had so much fun from our last Lazer Xtreme Experience at Market! Market! (see previous entry) that I wanted to try the Lazer Xtreme at Alabang Town Center after hearing that it had a larger arena.

Upon entry, we observed that the Lazer Xtreme at Alabang Town Center is indeed bigger.  It even had a viewing deck that allows you to peek the players inside.  However, it was too dark to distinguish anyone.  Aside from that they have a large function rooms.

Hope the ladies here were more enthusiastic

Eager to play, we went to the counter to join the next batch of Lazer Xtreme players.  The game rates are the same as the ones at Market! Market!  The price is 170 php on weekdays and 190 php on weekends.  We deposited our belongings at the counter since they don't have lockers like those at the Market! Market! branch yet.

Once the schedule time arrived, we gave our game stubs and entered the preparatory room.

We found ourselves among teenagers.  The boys chose the blue color while the girls choose the red color.  There were around ten players for each team.  Kurt and I were clearly outnumbered because only the two of us represented the pink team.

The arena was bigger than that of Lazer Xtreme Market! Market!  We wanted to roam around the second floor but the blue team were guarding it.  Sad to say, our lasers from the ground are useful against them. The girls from the red team kept on charging the blue team upstairs.  We tried to penetrate the second level but we were always ambushed by both teams so we just tried our best to shoot at any player we see.  The knowledge and tips we learned during our games at Lazer Xtreme Market! Market! was pretty useful so Kurt and I were able to gain the top two ranking.  Although there was no sign, the kuya who gave out our scores told us that the free iced tea for the top one is also valid there so we claimed it at the snack bar.

The snack bar looks pretty much the same as the other branch except that it didn't have menu boards yet.

Overall, Lazer Xtreme is really a fun activity.  It's a game of both reflex and strategy.  Hope you guys try it!


LazerXtreme Alabang Town Center
Alabang-Zapote Road,
Muntinlupa City, Philippines
24039071
http://www.lazerxtreme.com.ph