Easy Taxi partners with Belo, WeChat, Smart; unveils new cabs

Ross Del Rosario/Wazzup Pilipinas

Easy Taxi has partnered with four of Manila’s biggest brands as it aims to give Filipinos a unique, fast, and safe riding experience with the launch of the Easy Taxi Product Cars.

As the world’s biggest taxi booking application to date, Easy Taxi allows passengers to easily request for a taxi and track it in real time- all in just one click. Founded in Brazil last 2011, the startup has since expanded globally as it is made available in 4 continents, 34 countries, and in more than 170cities. Serving over 15 million users worldwide, with as much as 300 thousand drivers registered, Easy Taxi continues to grow globally at rate of three cities per month. Backed primarily by the largest e-Commerce incubator in the world, Rocket Internet, including other investors such as Millicon and iMENA, Easy Taxi is able to secure its foothold in emerging markets that it seeks to cater to. 

Beginning October 31 until December 31, Easy Taxi Product Cars will be roving around the streets of Manila, giving free rides to Easy Taxi users while offering a one-of-a-kind in-cab experience. The campaign was launched last Thursday evening at The Eastwood Open Park, with various celebrity endorsers of the different brands (Belo, Smart, and WeChat) gracing the event. Among the personalities spotted in the event were Crystal Belo, Phoemela Baranda, Chino Lui Pio, Luigi D' Avola, Vernice Enciso and other top executives from the business world. The night unveiled the four product cars, each with a distinctive offering for its passengers from freebies to free Wi-Fi in every vehicle. A short presentation, interview and ribbon-cutting ceremony was held, with a sky full of fireworks to cap off the evening.

Raven Resort: Paradise at the West Coast

I've never been to Bataan all my life, until someone offered a free spot at the Mastering Online Ranking Conference at the Raven Resort. Looking for means to put our news site into a good competition with the other standalone sports news portals, I grabbed the opportunity (What's up, my EIC's?). From LB, I made a 190-kilometer journey to the said resort in Abucay.

The entrance of Raven Resort

So we made it to the Raven Resort for the two-day symposium. The first thing I noticed in the resort were the cabins. The houses there are country-themed, making it unique compared to the rooms inside the Calamba resorts.

I like this cabin the most because of the staircase at the side.

This was where I and an SEO expert stayed.

(top and bottom) The interior of our room

Also, the swimming pools, particularly the kiddie pool, were specially designed to make it more enjoyable for the families and the "barkada".

There are five slides, three bound for the kiddie pool and the other two bound for the adult pool. We tried taking selfies of ourselves sliding to the adult pool. As of the moment, I'm waiting for my friend to upload them.

There are two conference rooms inside the resort, and the organizers utilized both of them for the summit. They are spacious enough to hold big events province-wise.

Some critiques, though, for Raven are the basketball court and the parking lot. Probably, it's just me since I got used to playing in standard-sized courts, but the basketball court is too short, probably three-fourths of the full size.

An obligatory "ballie" at the basketball court

Also, with the lack of parking spaces, car owners resort to using the basketball court to park their automobiles, making it a hindrance to those who want to play basketball.

If not for the cars which are parked at the other side of the court, we
would have played some 5-on-5 pickup games.

Overall, however, I had fun (and gained some SEO knowledge) at the Raven Resort.

Even by ball approves Raven Resort!

For inquiries, go to ravenresort.com.ph or through its Facebook page at facebook.com/ravenresort.

Easy Taxi to make big announcement on Thursday

Easy Taxi, one of the top taxi-queuing apps, will make a huge announcement on Thursday.

But according to a highly-placed source, the announcement will have something to do with Easy Taxi's partnerships.

The source, who expressed anonymity, said that the app will begin a collaboration with a top beauty expert.

"I could not disclose more information because I was not given the green light yet, but a well-known beauty expert will become part of the Easy Taxi family," said the source.

He added that the announcement will be done through an event at Eastwood City in Quezon City.

My first facial experience

Before an event later in the night, I decided to use a freebie I got at Blogapalooza, a free facial at Bioessence. Prior to that, I've never tried a facial because I thought it's only a girl thing. But I realized men need it more.

Since I was in Pasig that time, I was referred to the Greenhills branch inside Shoppesville.

What makes Bioessence unique is that you will feel like you are a royalty inside one of the rooms.

Now, the facial proper. First, a facial cream was spread to me.

Then, my face was "steamed". Despite my eyes being nearly blindfolded, I still did a selfie!

Afterward, it's time to take out all those pimples.

Because I hit the facial center for the first time, it was expected that a lot of pimples will be taken off my face, and the result did not disappoint me.

Now, my face is now clearer and younger looking. Thanks, Bioessence!

About Bioessence:

Started as a simple clinic in Davao City in 1994, Bioessence now has over 50 branches nationwide offering skin care and slimming services. For more inquiries, call Bioessence at 09188232889.

Top rock acts unite for charity concert

Former Sugarfree frontman Ebe Dancel, Wolfgang vocalist Basti Artadi, and top bands Sandwich and Radioactive Sago Project will perform in a charity concert entitled "Life Rocks" at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City.

The concert, organized by AVA Prime and PLIA, aims at providing the orphaned children scholarships through its proceeds.

"We intend to supply their education until college," said Yanna Acosta, the producer of the event.

Razorback, Tres Marias, Imago, Kjwan, and Maegan Aguilar will also perform in the charity event.

The Manila Symphony Orchestra will provide the music in the concert.

Acosta added that the concert will be the first of a series of musical events with the same purpose.

"We intend to have the next leg in December and another in March," she said, adding that the concert series will be done annually.

About the title, Acosta said, "We are trying to save the lives of the children incapacitated by calamities through this rock concert."

SEO experts to speak in Bataan online ranking conference

Online media practitioners will learn from different SEO experts as the Mastering Online Ranking Conference or MORCon will take place over the weekend at the Raven Resort in Bataan.

Benj Ariola will first speak in the two-day event as he will give an insight on what to expect in the conference.

Jason Acidre will then teach the participants on the advanced inbound marketing processes.

Up next, Glen Dimaandal will tell the ways on how to "marry" content marketing with a person's SEO strategy.

Later, Mike Lopez will teach how to become a successful content writer in WordPress-hosted websites.

Also, Apple Babasa will describe how customer value optimization works.

Then, Jayson Bagio will give a background of broken link building and will also share the tools someone needs.

Ed Pudol will also share why someone should be at a private blog network.

Finally, Jec Gonzales will teach how content promotion can lead to quality links.

Participants will also have a chance to build friendship and networking with each other.

Live well; leave well with Aeternum Garden

A panoramic view of the Aeternum Garden. From Aeternum's Facebook page

Aeternum is a Latin word which means Eternity. Located at the heart of Heritage Park Area 2 of Fort Bonifacio Taguig City, Aeternum Garden boasts its grandiose and inviting facilities such lush greenery, manmade lagoon and waterfalls, the viewing chapel where funeral services take place and the peaceful columbarium.

Jan Vincent Mercado, President of The Fort Park Estate Inc., who introduced the country's first True Garden Columbary, "Aeternum": The Park Estate Columbary discussed how they stumble upon the idea of putting up Aeternum Garden. He and his family received an offer before from the local city government to buy the property which then was just a piece of land. It was bought, developed and now became the country's first true garden columbary. "Living the life you want is very important but you need to live it well without harming other people." This is one of the inspiring lines from Vincent Mercado which people need to live by.

"Live well. Leave well" is the theme of the night where guests are encouraged to share something that they could not forget about their departed loved ones. Online media and VIP guests willingly participated in the "mini-sharing". 

Aeternum Garden has a viewing chapel inside the 5-hectare land of The Fort Park Estate Inc. Families, friends and other relatives may reminisce the happy memories they had with their loved ones inside the chapel peacefully and scenic praying areas of the park. The serenity inside and outside the chapel and the themed buildings will make you feel at ease for your treasured ones.

Back to the pre-historic times, people from Rome, Italy called Etruscans give honor to their loved ones by cremating them believing that fire would purify their loved ones for eternity. After the cremation service, the matriarch of the family would gather the ashes of her loved one and place them in an urn and was kept in a sacred place--the columbarium.

Aeternum Garden, which is a unique and floral-inspired structure, symbolizes the love of the family to the departed ones. The garden setting is a sanctuary of memories and a haven of comfort for those who were left behind. At night, you will an amazing view of the columbarium as the lighting is randomly changing its colors. Classy. Flexible, grandiose, majestic, serene--these are the words to describe Aeternum Garden. If you are wondering if the rates are too expensive, need not to worry as Aeternum offers its clients flexible payment options.

We all deserve a place on Earth like heaven. You live well. You leave well.

For more information, please take note on the details below.

Aeternum Garden Columbary Park, C.P. Garcia Ave. corner Bayani Road, Heritage Park Area 2, Taguig City

Tel: (02) 401 1303 Website: http://www.aeternumcolumbary.com

Facebook : Aeternum Columbary

Twitter: @AeternumGarden

Instagram: @AeternumGarden

Schicks extends trip to Hong Kong promo

Schick Philippines

Missed the Smooth Lee Adventure? You can still get the chance to win a trip to Hong Kong and Macau for four days and other exciting prizes as Schick Philippines extends its Smooth Lee Promo until November 30, 2014.

The #SMOOTHLEEADVENTURE promo invites participants to create their own Schick television commercial using the Smooth Lee Adventure mobile application.

Participants joining the promo will be asked to download the “Smooth Lee Adventure” mobile application in IOS Apple and Android. Those downloading and playing with the app can now star in their own Schick TV commercial.

“We wanted the consumers to experience Schick Exacta 2’s refreshing, liberating, and stress-free shaving as Exacta 2 offers one-push cleaning button that helps remove hair easily. Exacta 2 likewise aims to precisely target hair in hard to reach areas leaving a smooth shave. 

This kind of experience is what we want to make our Smooth Lee participants feel,” Claire Guevarra, Schick Senior Brand Manager said.

The videos created will then be converted and downloaded to YouTube and the contestants will be prompted to “share” and/or “join” the promo. Those who opted to join the promo will have to register and submit their entries at the Schick website (www.schick.com.ph).

Once entries are registered and approved by Schick Philippines, the videos will already be made public on YouTube. Qualified entries will be posted on Schick’s official Facebook page and will be raffled off to determine the winners.

A trip to Hong Kong and Macau for two awaits the grand prize winners while an Apple I-Pad Air will be given to second prize winner.  The third prize winner will receive Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4. There will also be 50 consolation prizes of Schick gift packs. 

From its original running date starting August 1 to September 30, 2014, the promo is now extended until November 30, 2014.

“We are happy with the initial results of our Smooth Lee Promo, that is why, we wanted to extend it so that many will still have more chances of joining and winning,” said MJ Tiquia, Schick’s product manager.

For more information on the latest promo from Schick Philipines, visit www.schick.com.ph, like www.facebook.com/schick.ph. Schick Philippines can also be followed through Twitter, Instagram, and youtube. Per DTI permit number, DTI-FTEN SPD Permit No. 0043 Series of 2014.

Affordable steaks available at Brickfire

First and foremost, Brickfire is a budget-friendly steakhouse. Its flagship dishes are The Duke and the Cowgirl Annie, which are generous cuts of tender local beef classically seasoned with salt and pepper.

That is where Brickfire stops being your typical budget steakhouse and becomes so much more.

One of the biggest differences with Brickfire is how the beef is cooked. Instead of the steaks being grilled, they are baked in a Brickfire oven, keeping the steaks tender and sealing in the flavorful juices, which is key to that irresistible beefy taste often found lacking in thinly cut, grilled steaks.

Brickfire does not just stop differentiating itself there. It takes further steps into the diverse art of preparing steaks by offering two additional playful flavors: Honey Mustard and Wasabi. The Honey Mustard Steaks are made with the famous Filipino sweet tooth in mind and are a nice alternative to the traditional salt and pepper flavor.

You can try them out at Brickfire Katipunan at the second floor of the Xavier Residence Bldg., R. Alvero corner E.Abada Sts., Loyola Heights or at Brickfire SM North EDSA at the ground floor of the annex building of the said mall, both restaurants in Quezon City.

Top bloggers speak their experience in first pro blogging summit

A blogger group having a discussion during Jeoff Salas' talk at the Professional
Bloggins Summit

About a hundred bloggers packed the A. Venue Mall Events Center for the first Professional Blogging Summit brought to you by DPop.

Top bloggers from different niches spoke about their experiences and shared how the participants can be successful too.

Az Coladilla, Ross Del Rosario, and Jay-L Aquino shared their experiences of being lifestyle bloggers and how they coped up against the issues that surrounded them.

Seph Cham also talked on how his fashion blog was converted into a lifestyle blog that even made him more successful.

Jeoff Salas taught about the advantage of building networks and how bloggers can be classified as journalists.

Finally, Sai Montes talked about how e-commerce made her successful today.

Pro online media practitioners converge for October 18 summit

Hundreds of online media practitioners will meet together for one day as DPop presents the Professional Blogging Summit on October 18 at the A. Venue Mall in Makati City.

Four different topics about online media will be tackled in the said event.

In the first talk, Jay-L Aquino, Ross Del Rosario, and Az Coladilla tackle on how to build and maintain a professional bloggers and social media specialists' network.

Later in the day, Jeoff Salas will lead in teaching professional blogging ethics and how to get clients.

In the third agenda, celebrity bloggers will share their story on how they gained such status.

Finally, online sellers will tell how they turned their websites or their social media accounts into e-commerce portals.