Olay Beauty Imaging System - Finally in the Philippines!!

At last, I can finally share with you an interesting piece of patented beauty imaging system that our company is introducing along with the launch of Olay. This week we launched Olay Total Effects to the trade and to the who's who of Philippines society. Baghag has the scoop on the Olay Launch in Shangrila last Thursday:

Socialclimbing hag Log: OLAY Total Effects + TRESOR (thebaghag.blogspot.com)
" After a few times of usage of Total Effects, we met up with the other women who were part of this group, and had a nice lunch at Shangrila Hotel, to discuss the after effects of the product. Our skin underwent this "age test" through this cool machine which basically mapped out pores, age spots, wrinkles, and fine lines. Let me say this first-- my skin, is actually pretty bad. I have a lot of age spots and fine lines. To top that, I have huge pores. So when I took that skin test, and the result was that my skin fell on the 21- year old age group, I laughed it all off. But hey, it felt great! :D So I religiously used this product to this day :) Olay is the same product that our mothers used back when we were just tiny tots, and now I guess it is really our turn to start using the product. Our moms have sworn by it, and now I am one of the moms who swear by it :) (Olay Total Effects is not yet available in the local market, but soon will be :D)"

This cool machine that baghag was talking about is what we call the Olay Total Effects Beauty Imaging System. You will love this! The system identifies your facial skin defects such as age spots, and wrinkles. It objectively quantifies the severity of those skin defects vs that of your peers (in terms of age and race). The system provides accurate analysis for the women because its database is mostly women. Furthermore, all the people who have been tested to date in the Philippines is included in the database. How cool is that? So for men, you can also try it but your skin will be compared to a higher standard of women's skin. The first versions were developed in Japan and made commercially available as early as June of 1999 in Kyoto, Japan. These imaging systems are used in our SK-II prestige counters.

Of course, I have to try it and I was alarmed that my wrinkles are similar to a 40 years old woman! My skin spots and textures are in line with my age group (at least). I need to live a stress-free life! I'm also starting to be convinced that I need to use a skin care product. I was going to use my free Olay total effects sample, but my wife gave me THE look. BTW, you can have your skin tested over time so that you can track skin improvements specially, if you use a skin care product. The consultation is for FREE but of course, you just have to listen to an Olay sales pitch (which is not bad at all).

Olay Total Effects Beauty Imaging System. This system will be available in Olay Total Effects Flagship store and other Olay counters. We are bringing in six (6) beauty imaging system in the Philippines -- woohoo! I'll give you the scoop on where you can find these Olay Beauty Imaging Systems... very very soon.

It was such a hit in all our Olay launches and among the test group of women as baghag could attest.

It takes a digital image of your face under controlled lighting conditions. So this is just like going to a photo me booth for your face only :)

The entire test is only for 5 minutes. After taking the picture, you need to specify your age and race. Race is important because an Asian skin is different from a caucasian, and so forth. You will instantly know how your texture, pores, wrinkles, and spots compare with your peers. My wife can't wait to have her skin tested...

Olay -- Love the Skin You're In! Very soon in the Philippines!

The men and women of Olay Philippines during the trade launch in Top of the Citi :)

a Fleur de Lys Discounted Experience

Who can resist a 10% discount coupon for a foodie person like me who have never been to Fleur de Lys? So, we headed to Tomas Morato to get our taste of Fleur de Lys. Thanks to Lori for offering this discount to all DCF readers this month of August. Hmmn.... I was wondering when could I ever give a discount like that through OAP (naks). (Mental note: I should try using that acronym some more...) I also have a lot of readers who continuously recommend Fleur de Lys.

Unfortunately, the famous strawberry pie was not available and we were not able to try out the meringue dessert, Pavlova Picasso. So we were left with the Jackie Ang-po's best sellers: Macademia pie, the Next Best Thing, and the latest, Dulce & Gabanna tart. The names were indeed interesting and the first time I realized that the names plus presentation could influence your taste buds. At the end of the meal, we did not find the desserts particularly special. Maybe it is just me. But I wouldn't drive to this place all the way from Makati. Certainly, it is the best dessert place so far in the Tomas Morato area since i don't frequent this area so often.

Manila, Philippines, Restaurants

Fleur De Lys is located beside the Belo medical clinic (what a good complement), and in front of Virgin Cafe. The counter is quite small and the desserts greet you with open arms as you enter. The pink menus are very engaging and you can see the entire place was designed to lure you and you will easily give in to the temptation.

Roasted Macadamia Nuts... Light Caramel Syrup... with my favorite, Pistachio Ice Cream -- who can resist that?

Nuts About You (Macadamia Nut Pie with Pistachio Ice Cream) -- P108 / slice. P98 net with a DCF coupon :)

We like this better than the other two. I really love the macadamia + pistachio taste! Although the thin crust was crunchy, we felt that it lack in taste.

When I look at this photo, there is an urge inside me to take the chocolate cake out of her loneliness. It tells you, hey I'm the last of my kind and I'm the best seller in the house.

The Next Best Thing (Warm Chocolate Cake with french vanilla ice cream) -- P108 / slice. P98 net with a DCF coupon :)

Nothing special. We were expecting that the warm cake together with the cold vanilla ice cream would be a good complement, but it failed to meet expectations. Well I must admit, maybe it is unfair to compare this with Lemuria's Valrohna chocolate souffle cake.

Dulce & Gabanna tart - P95/ slice. P85 net with a DCF coupon.

We only liked the banana inside.

Bonus! Behind the scenes shoot... Aidan is about to attack!

Overall, the experience was OK and I was hoping to taste the strawberry pie and meringue dessert next time.

Fleur de Lys
F.L.P Bldg.
305 Tomas Morato Ave., Q.C., beside Belo Medical Clinic.
+632-372-0631
Open: 10am-12 midnight, Mon-Thurs
10am-1:30am, Fri-Sat
2pm-10pm, Sunday

Please Save the Sheep!

Public Service Announcement: Please save the sheep!

Manila, Philippines

Tacsiyapo Wall @ Isdaan, Gerona Tarlac

Intrigera! Tsismosa! Taksil! Magnanakaw!

Tacsiyapo!! Shame on You!!

Aahh, what a way to release your anger... It depends on how angry you are, you can smash a P15 cup or P1,300 working TV (yeah, a big TV). I don't know who would be crazy enough to drive for 3 hours from Manila just to throw a TV into a wall... But I must admit, this is a great gimik and a good marketing publicity for Isdaan.

A lot of people are intimidated to stop by this place because of its cheesy childish design with stone giants. But here is a tip for you, this is the best place to stop over before driving back to Manila after that Baguio or Pagudpud trip. In the past, Hacienda Luisita was my favorite place for that last dinner stop before NLEX but now it is merely a Starbucks stop.

We love it here.

It is a good place for families with kids who can play around in this floating restaurant and be entertained by the giant structures. The food is as good as Barrio Fiesta food, so it is a good stop for Filipino food if you have Balikbayans with you. The tacsiyapo wall, frankly, is just a wall which you will realize after wasting your P15 for a mug. But if you are really raging mad at that time, this is a sure way to release your anger while shouting "Tacsiyapo" and throwing away the mug or whatever you have chosen to smash onto the wall! Lastly, they have a San Kilo Bridge, where they would give you a free 1 kilo of tilapia, if you are able to successfully cross the bridge back and forth. We tried this successfully and we got 4 pieces of free grilled tilapia :) Best time to go here is in the evening so that it is a little cooler and you'll be prepared for any eventualities with the San Kilo Bridge.

Let me show you around Isdaan, so that next time you don't miss the fun happening in this place.

Manila, Philippines, Restaurants

It is a floating restaurant with huts all around. The overall ambiance is exciting, charming, and unique. Once you arrive, they would give you free fish food so that you can feed the coi fishes. You'll be lucky if you can reserve a single detached huts as seen above.

This is actually a Barrio Fiesta sister company so expect the Filipino food to be great since it is already tried and tested through the years. They serve the sinigang soup in Bamboo containers. You can order refreshing coconuts which is very good after a long drive.

This would be a traditional Filipino feast with dishes served in Banana leaves and rice served in a small kaldero. If you are lucky with the San Kilo challenge, you can have one kilo of fish for free :)

Here is the Isdaan Menu:
>> Front Menu
>> Back Menu
>> Tacsiyapo Menu-on-the-wall

Here is a nice picture of the stone giants. I particularly like the dinosaur structure which is a good photo spot for kids.

There are also giant fishes which adds to the overall ambiance of the place. After all, this place is coined because of them.

This is the most disgusting part, seeing these poor sheep drag a chair for kids in a kalesa fashion. You'll feel sorry for these animals. Also, they are stationed in front of the tacsiyapo wall and they would pee around the area which makes the place unbearable due to the stinking smell. I thought it was not real because i can't believe that there would be such animal cruelty inside the place but when i saw it moved, I was surprised!
Calling the attention of Isdaan owners, please save the sheep from this cruelty!

This is the best part when you decide to cross the San Kilo bridge while bringing one pail of water. According to the waiters, there are people who literally fell into the shallow fish pond so if i were you, better bring your suits. It is just intimidating at first (but I must admit, I was scared too :)) but if you really are determined to have that one kilo of free fish, why not? I'm pretty sure if you are not a gym buff, your arms would be aching the next day.

Here is the view as you start to cross the bridge. The cement bridge is big enough for you to maintain your balance.

This was the most difficult part. You have to cross five consecutive shell hurdles while the crowd is watching you. It gets shaky when you pass the pail of water from your left hand and right hand. But it is all in the mind, and you just have to focus to complete crossing the bridge like our friends who made it.

>> More Photos of Isdaan @ Gerona, Tarlac.

Directions: You'll never miss this along the national road in Gerona, Tarlac area.

Have you been here? Let me know what you think and what we have missed trying.