On CSR

Are you thinking of a good business that can also benefit people specially those that are less fortunate? That’s what richard willich believed and so with our Chairman Oscar Lopez when he started doing business in the country. I belong in a group of companies owned by the Lopez’s and I believe with our chairman’s vision on corporate social responsibility. I’m glad to be part of a company under this group that really pays importance to CSR. What is CSR?

Corporate social responsibility (CSR), also known as corporate responsibility, corporate citizenship, responsible business, sustainable responsible business (SRB), or corporate social performance,[1] is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model. Ideally, CSR policy would function as a built-in, self-regulating mechanism whereby business would monitor and ensure its adherence to law, ethical standards, and international norms. Business would embrace responsibility for the impact of their activities on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stakeholders and all other members of the public sphere. Furthermore, business would proactively promote the public interest by encouraging community growth and development, and voluntarily eliminating practices that harm the public sphere, regardless of legality. Essentially, CSR is the deliberate inclusion of public interest into corporate decision-making, and the honoring of a triple bottom line: People, Planet, Profit.

The practice of CSR is subject to much debate and criticism. Proponents argue that there is a strong business case for CSR, in that corporations benefit in multiple ways by operating with a perspective broader and longer than their own immediate, short-term profits. Critics argue that CSR distracts from the fundamental economic role of businesses; others argue that it is nothing more than superficial window-dressing; others yet argue that it is an attempt to pre-empt the role of governments as a watchdog over powerful multinational corporations. Corporate Social Responsibility has been redefined throughout the years. However, it essentially is titled to aid to an organization's mission as well as a guide to what the company stands for and will uphold to its consumers.

*from wikipedia.

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The Glamour Test

You Think That Confidence is Glamourous

You admire someone who can walk in to a room completely underprepared and wrongly dressed yet still own it. Glamour doesn't have anything to do with how much money you have or how fancy you look. It's all about what you've got going on with your attitude. The most enchanting people have taken a good look at themselves and accepted who they are. True confidence comes from high self esteem. You believe that you can't be truly loved and respected until you love and respect yourself.

The Glamour Test

Blogthings: We'll Tell You The Truth... Someone Has To!

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Free to multitask

Doing some online task, checking my café, reading and answering emails, replying to facebook messages, catching up with my fellow blogger thru google reader while reading mesothelioma treatments, I’m multi-tasking, lol! This is what I usually do on a Saturday afternoon while little girl is busy watching her DVDs and the helper is preparing dinner. It’s really a relief for me that we have someone with us now. I can do almost all the things I need to do without interruption.

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Word of the Day: Evince

Evince \ih-VIN(T)S\, transitive verb:

To show in a clear manner; to manifest; to make evident; to bring to light.

Examples:

The study showed that girls were better prepared for class, had better attendance records, and evinced more positive academic behavior overall.
-- Christina Hoff Sommers, The War Against Boys

Though his earliest tales are little more than quick, offhand sketches seasoned with slapstick humor, his mature stories evince the psychological complexity and atmospheric detail that distinguish his best-known plays.
-- "Quick Trips Through the Imagination", New York Times, July 12, 2000

Those who supported the war in Vietnam evinced no such fears and no reluctance about new adventures abroad.
-- William M. Leogrande, Our Own Backyard

At no time in her life did Tina evince religious faith, and, a few years later, she would declare outright that she had "[no] belief or religion."
-- Patricia Albers, Shadows, Fire, Snow: The Life of Tina Modotti

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Getting FIt

My sister is thinking of investing on a good fitness equipment. A thread mill maybe so she can lose weight even at home. It’s been her problem for a long time now; how to lose her post pregnancy fats, lol! She has given birth last 2008 and until now she hasn’t get back to her pre-pregnancy weight yet. She gave birth thru C-section that’s why it took her a while before she started returning to the gym. But now, her busy schedule keeps her to go to the gym on schedule. Her husband whose working abroad suggested for her to buy a thread mill so now, she’s on the look out for a good and quality thread mill.

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Meeting her grandpa.

My husband and his siblings are now in Laguna attending his brother’s wedding. Later in the afternoon my father in law will be visiting us and perhaps stay until tomorrow. I just hope that they will be able to be home before dinner and would not be stuck in traffic at the elliptical road. I’m sure the little girl, would be very happy to see her grandpa.

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Almost there....

I'm now on my 35th week of pregnancy and as of the moment, I can feel the anxiety, stress, and difficulty already....I wish it's already Feb. 22! Haaaaayyyy....23 more days to go...

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Are they really annoying?

The driver of the shuttle van that I was riding the other night doesn’t seem to see motorcycles on the road. Whenever he’s behind a motorcycle, he’s as if trying to scare the driver. He would honk his horn and continuously signaled his headlights. I can’t help but feel for the motorcycle driver. My husband also uses his motorcycle that’s why I can feel for these drivers when they are being bullied by big cars. I know some drivers are annoying but some are not, really! It’s just sad that motorcycle drivers here in our country aren’t as protected as in the other countries. Because in the US there’s even pleasanton motorcycle accident attorney to help protect motorcycle drivers. I hope we can also implement this here. Well, I’m just writing my thoughts…

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Friday Fill-Ins #161

1. Wouldn't it be easy to do all these with bare hands?
2. Fried chicken better than ever!
3. I love the taste of watermelon.
4. We always had wonderful time in the living room.
5. The first thing we're going to do is prepare my hospital bag and the baby's stuff.
6. The faucet goes drip, drip, drip; we need a plumber.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner with the family, tomorrow my plans include visit my mom and my siblings and Sunday, I want to go to the hospital after church for my OGCT test!

More fill-ins here.

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On Second Hand Smoke

Second hand smoke is bad for pregnant women, that’s why whenever I see someone puffing a cigar, I inched away. But sometimes when I’m in a publicly crowded place, it’s hard to just walk out so I just hold my breath until I’m able to get out. There’s one incident that I can’t forget. There’s this big man enjoying a Dutch Master on his mouth while my friend and I was on the line behind him. Whenever he blows out the smoke, it goes right to my face. My friend, so concerned about me, pat his back and told the man to please stop smoking since the place already displays a no-smoking sign and a pregnant woman is behind him. The man immediately put the cigar to the ground, stepped on it and apologized. Well, we’re just lucky that this man is kind enough to obey my friend’s request. Others aren’t like this. Instead of showing concern, they will even threw unkind words and continue to do what they’re doing. Tsk tsk...some people..

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My Gems

My precious gems at Pan De Amerikana....

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This is me as of the moment...:)

This picture was taken (by my husband) last Sunday afternoon. After having a sumptuous lunch over my parents house, we went to Pan de Amerikana to have some snacks. See how big I am now? That's me at 33 weeks! I got bigger arms and shoulders, bigger thighs and feet, and bigger face, plus the tummy... lol! With me is also the chubby, Ate Grace, our helper. We're almost the same size now, yaiks! lol! Count this to my big appetite. I've heard about Adipex (a drug that effectively suppresses appetite) and am now reading some adipex reviews and found out that it can't be bought without prescription...hmmm. I think I don't have to take drugs like this one to get back on shape. Well, I just hope that I'll get back to my pre-pregnancy weight without having to take some supplements.

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I’m ANXIOUS..…

...that’s my current YM status. I’m really anxious to give birth, to see my baby, to get back to my old self, and get back in shape. Right now that I’m on my third trimester, I feel a lot of aches and pain here and there. My walk is now a waddle. I’m so big, lol! I find it hard now to move around and most of the time, I bump into furniture. I’m also anxious to travel. Envy is a word that I really don’t like but somehow I feel this way toward those who can still carry them selves well and even travel from one place to another even at 34 weeks! I’m sure they have medical travel guide with them. But as for me, even going to the mall is quite a challenge. Haaaaay…maybe I’m not the only pregnant mom who feel this way at this stage. :)

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Look what I got from the mail.....

This was delivered last Wednesday by LBC. Aren't they cute? I was so excited to open the package when I got home after fetching my daughter from school and I was glad to see these cute lotions. I got them for free from Johnson and Johnson. I just received an email from a friend about this. I filled up the online form and also submit emails of my friends that I wish to received this cutie as well. Unfortunately, only one of my friends got her package and she got it one day ahead of me. I wonder why the rest did not received their own. Maybe they ignored the mail. :). They also reported to me that the promo already ended last week, they're quite disappointed. I hope there will be another promo like this, if there is, I'll be happy to share it with them again. Free gifts can really make a day, right? LOL!

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G.As

Time flies way too fast. I remember we just had our general assembly and first Friday mass a few weeks back and now, we’re approaching almost the end of January. Our HR people made our last general assembly fun and exciting. A cheer-dance contest was held. They asked each department to prepare a cheer or dance that will help boost the company’s vision and motivate the employees. Two departments won the first place. After the game, there were raffle items ( I think those are the gifts who came after our Christmas Party) like life insurance, bags, tents, and other goodies that made the employees stayed until the end of the program. It was really fun. I wonder what the HR is planning for the GA next month. Its, the love month so I know there will be something special for all the girl employees…

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Word of The Day: Lacuna

Lacuna \luh-KYOO-nuh\, noun;
plural lacunae \luh-KYOO-nee\ or lacunas | Lacuna is from the Latin lacuna, "a cavity, a hollow," from lacus, "a hollow.":

1. A blank space; a missing part; a gap.
2. (Biology) A small opening, depression, or cavity in an anatomical structure.

Example:

Like most other writers of his generation, he was a profoundly apolitical being, not from any lacuna in his education but as a matter of principle.
-- Walter Laqueur, "The Artist in Politics", New York Times, May 15, 1983

Between the time of my first memory . . . and my second and third memories, I remember nothing. The lacunae of these years I've been able to fill sketchily from the entries in my baby book, which notes such incidents as my first smile.
-- Jaime Manrique, Eminent Maricones

The exodus of wives, relatives, friends and hangers-on had left a big howling lacuna which wrapped the homestead in webs of glorious nostalgia.
-- Moses Isegawa, Abyssinian Chronicles

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Business Minded

My sister and I were talking the other day about putting up a small business. Actually she’s the one who’s really itching to get out from an eight to five job. She’s been conceiving this idea for a long time now but she can’t do the first step yet. I told her that it’s good that she’s really planning for a good future. It just that, until now she can’t make up her mind yet as to what type of business she’ll venture in. Putting up a business needs a lot of planning and exerting effort and risking some capital is there as well. Aside from that you have to make sure that you business insurance to protect your investments right? Well, I know that there is a business that will fit us, we just have to continue searching and doing our business plan. I just hope that this idea will be realized soon.

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We'll now get an AC.

We’re planning to purchase an AC. Hopefully it will be installed before the summer. I know we’ll need this so baby #2 will be more comfortable. I don’t want baby #2 to experience what my first child had before. We live then in an apartment with no proper ventilation and since we don’t have an air con, she always had prickly heat and rashes. Hubby said we have to purchase an air filter as well to make sure that the baby will be protected from any air pollutants. So that’s it..we just need to scout for an AC that will best suit us.

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Word of the Day: Nebbish

Nebbish \NEB-ish\, noun:

A weak-willed, timid, or ineffectual person.

Examples:

You used to be a nebbish, a noodle, a fool
And now you're Mr. Big Time with your own private pool.
-- Maira Kalman, Max in Hollywood, Baby

Poor Humphrey is a nebbish, a fellow whose private passivity is intended to contrast with the dramatic historic events that sweep around him.
-- Mason Buck, review of The Red Cabbage Café, by Jonathan Treitel, New York Times, February 3, 1997

He is a nebbish who might be played effectively by Woody Allen. He attracts the sympathy of lower-echelon mammals but finds it difficult to relate to dogs and human beings.
-- Evan Hunter, "American Mayhem, Soviet Intrigue", New York Times, October 9, 1983

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My Handyman.

Since hubby came home, he’s been my handyman. Everything in the house that needs to be fixed, he fixes. I think he’s enjoying it, lol! When the carpenter that we hired finished the repair works of the house, he decided to let him go even though there are a few more works to do. He said he can do it already. He learned to be the plumber, carpenter, and electrician all-in-one! So now, nails and hammer, bolt and screws, wires and switches and spring plungers are what makes him busy. But of course he still knows how to use his syringe, stethoscope and BP because after all he’s still a nurse, lol!

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Friday Fill-Ins #159

1. The lesson I learned yesterday was that family will always be the first to give you help when in need.
2. A place where friends and family meet will always be a wonderful place.
3. All these years my best friends and I still get in touch with each other.
4. Dinner is ready when I arrived.
5. The truth is I'm struggling but I know God is there to meet every need.
6. The joy of giving birth to my dughter is what I remember most from that day.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sleeping early, tomorrow my plans include finishing all my offline and online tasks and Sunday, I want to go some place relaxing with my husband and daughter!

More fill-ins here.

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Help Pray.

Have you noticed? Tragedies are happening around the world...and I believe God is telling us something...so let's be sensitive about God's message...

I saw the recent tragedy in Haiti and I was shocked. The damaged brought about by the earthquake is tremendous! Let's all pray for our brothers and sisters in Haiti. We may not helped them physically but our prayers would definitely go a long way.

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Thankful

My daughter has been gaining weight. She’s been eating a lot since the new helper came to us. I wonder why? But it helps that there’s already somebody to help me take care of her. When we sent her nanny away, she often had tantrums and becoming more and more a crybaby. There are even times that I feel I’m beginning to lose my temper, but then I am reminded that she’s still a baby….Now we’re really thankful that Ate Grace came. I don’t have to buy an anti wrinkle crème since our daughter has been behaving very well. Maybe it’s really different when there’s someone keeping an eye on her besides us. We’re thankful.

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I'd go for milk.

We ran out of mineral water and we noticed it just now. All the water stations are already closed at this time so we can’t buy yet. So hubby resorted to drinking sodas. This man is fond of drinking cold drinks. During the holidays I was tempted to drink soft drinks even though my OB already told me to refrain…that’s because of him, lol! He’s a nurse so I’m sure he knows what he’s doing. He’s also informed about colon cleanse and why we need it. So now while he’s drinking his soda, I’m not tempted. I opted to drink my milk. Hehe..

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A Lot Better.

When I got home just I rested for a few moments, ate my dinner and went to our room to lie down. I feel very tired and heavy. Baby #2 is moving a lot lately and reacting to every noise around. I also had Braxton Hicks contractions three to four times a day, all these make me uncomfortable. But now I feel a lot better. I remember I had a lot of online tasks to finish and my goal is to finish all of them tonight. So now, while watching the second to the last episode of one of my favorite TV program I’m doing a blog marathon, lol!

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Gray Hair Equals Wisdom.

I don’t understand why some people spent lots of money, time and energy just to stay and look young. Maybe they are in denial about getting old so whenever they see a line showing and gray hair popping, it freaks them out. And so, any anti aging product that would convince them of getting rid of aging fast and easy will be a good buy. Well, as for me, I believe that we can’t really avoid aging. I even admire those golden gray hairs because they say that it’s the evidence of wisdom and knowledge about life. We will all get old and that’s what life is.

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Levelled UP!

I noticed just now that my blog's PR increased. I didn't know when this happened but I'm thankful. This blog was PR 3 before but a problem occured (and it's a looong story..) it decreased to zero. I'm hoping that it will regain it's original PR... hopefully with continiuos updates and "good" posts..lol!

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Exercise is still the BEST.

I always believed that natural ways are still the best way to get a slim body. There are a lot of diet supplements that are being advertised nowadays and you wouldn't know what's really effective. Aside from that there are potential side effects of diet pills that sometimes the public is not aware of. Some of these side effects are uncomfortable cramps, gas and diarrhea and worst it can raise blood pressure which increases the risk of heart attacks. So, if you really want to get fit, you have to work hard for it and as much as possible do it the natural way. Exercise is still the best.

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Word of the Day: Torpor

Torpor \TAWR-per\, noun:

1. Lacking in vitality or interest.
2. A state of mental or physical inactivity or insensibility.
3. Lethargy; apathy.

Examples:

At 47, I'm starting to wonder which direction I'm headed. And with good reason because, according to my accountant, there is no way I'm going to be able to give in to torpor, fatigue or anything else that might take me out of the work force anytime soon.
-- Michelle Slatalla, "A Play Date With My Imagination ", New York Times, June 2, 2009

Silence crept down again over the wet country; the faint dripping resumed, and suddenly a great shower of drops tumbled upon Gloria stirring her out of the trance-like torpor which the passage of the train had wrought.
-- F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Beautiful and Damned

Crows often go into a kind of torpor and lie on the ground with their bills half-open when sunning themselves, looking to all the world as if they are about to succumb to some terrible malady.
-- Lyanda Lynn Haupt, Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness

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Can't wait...

I don’t want to sound vain but I was really affected when I saw the dark circles under my eyes. And since I can’t use any under eye cream for dark circles yet, I have to bear with it for the moment. Hubby and I will be using natural treatment for this, what else but the cold cucumber cuts, loll! The husband has been having sleepless nights when he was reviewing for his HAAD exam that’s why he also got the eye bags and dark circles. Anyway, I really can’t wait to give birth and finally do whatever I want to my hair, face and body, lol!

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Bonding

Taken a while ago while the husband is helping the little girl on her assignments. Sigh...I will surely miss this scene when hubby returns to working abroad...

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Natural Cure

I’ve read that pregnant women are prone to hemorrhoids. It’s because of the pressure that they endure due to their growing tummies. And since pregnant women aren’t advisable to take any medicines not prescribed by their OB Gynes, they have to know the natural cure for hemorrhoids. Some of them are sitz baths and cold compress. It’s hard when pregnant women have hemorrhoids so to avoid this, doctors recommend that pregnant women should drink plenty of water, eat fiber rich food, and not to sit or stand for long periods of hours.

Pregnancy really has it’s joys and pains.

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Wednesday Happy Thoughts

1. A Kiss from my husband and my little girl.
2. A ready breakfast
3. ...and lunch box of my "baon"
4. A quick ride to my office..
5. Came early for work.
6. Good friends that made my work day light and happy.
7. A good news from hubby. He passed the exam!
8. Various kicks and rolls inside my tummy.
9. The thought of having my maternity leave next month.
10. A productive day.

Thank you Lord for another wonderful day!

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On TIME.

Ok, I’m done for today…Was able to finished all my tasks both offline and online and was able to have fun as well playing with my fave facebook game, lol! It really helps that we now have a helper. My tasks were reduced since I have someone to depend on. We had a healthy breakfast (I cooked it), ate lunch on time, finished the laundry on time, and went to my OB’s clinic on time. Plus when we got home, there’s a ready dinner already waiting for us. So far our helper is OK. And if she continue to work this way, aside from her increase after 6 months, I might reward her some all inclusive cancun vacations, hehehe!

Kidding aside, I’m really glad we have her. God gave her to us just in time and we’re so thankful!

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Amazing LIFE!

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They're Moving.

Our neighbor in front of our house will be moving. We were surprised since we didn’t know that they are planning to move. We just learned about it this afternoon when we saw the truck in front of their house. If we only knew about it earlier, we could have gotten their house. Well, maybe this is really what the Lord wanted for us so we’ll just stay here. Maybe we’ll recommend the now vacant house to our former neighbor. She’s asking us to inform her when we find an available house or apartment near us where her family can transfer so we’ll inform her tonight. It’s a good thing that here in the Philippines, we don’t do cross country moving. It could be quite difficult.

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