Buckle up for Sunrise Buckets

Every weekend, my family and I
pass by The Grove by Rockwell,
a residential and commercial space along C5 Road amidst the Ortigas cityscape, as we trek our way to my in-laws’ home in Proj. 4, Quezon City.

My wife and I would usually talk about how cool it might be to live in such a well-maintained area.  I told her that we can visit the place one of these days for at least a lunch or dinner since there are a few restaurants already opened there.  After all, it would just be a 30-minute drive from our place.

Well, I have a little confession to make.  I actually went to The Grove and did not bring my wife with me one rainy night.  I just wanted to try one restaurant who’s been making waves or should I say soaring in foodies radars with their tasty buffalo wings (no pun intended).

I am a chicken person. No I am not yellow.  What I mean is that I just love anything chicken --- arrozcaldo, fried, tinola, grilled, barbeque and whatever chicken dish my wife can dig from her favorite cook book, I’ll eat it.

That’s why it’s just a must for me to try a bucket of buffalo wings (yes, they come in tin containers) from Sunrise Buckets.  Among the fifteen flavors in the menu, I chose the entry Juan, not only because it was made to suit Pinoy taste but more for the reason that I need a reminder that I should be home not later than 1 o’clock or else.

Now here's what a bucket meal is all about

Here are the words that I uttered in every bite of the chicken-flavored Juan:

Juan-derful!  Juan-tastic! Number Juan!

How I wish that it was Juan-to-sawa but I have to leave some more space in my stomach for other Sunrise Buckets treats... and for a couple of bottle of beers, of course.

I don't dread this bone collector

The next weekend we visit my in-laws, ur route might be a little different than the usual. Well, we will still pass by The Grove since C5 is the most convenient way for us.  But this time, I would ask my wife and son for a family lunch date at Sunrise Buckets first before we head on to our destination.

So here’s my advice to my friends who are looking for that one great chicken experience (yes, there is such a thing)--- check out www.sunrisebuckets.com or call 477-7636 and buckle up for Sunrise Buckets!

Being Suplado the Second Time Around

Because of the record-breaking performance of The Hunger Games movie in the box-office, the sales of the book where it was based from also soared (again) worldwide.  However, the book will have a hard time getting the top spot of the best seller list in the Philippines.

This was after multi-media demigod Ramon Bautista made a big announcement at National Book Store – Shangri-La Mall.  

“Ang librong ito ay mas okay pa sa The Hungry Games!,” Bautista said while holding his complimentary copy of Suplado Tips 2 by Stanley Chi.

He explained that if you save the money intended for The Hunger Game book and instead use it to purchase a copy of Suplado Tips book, you’ll still have enough money for a value meal that will spell out your hunger. What a clever suggestion, indeed.

Actually, it was also Ramon Bautista who convinced me to get a copy of the first book via his moving testimonial, “Simula ng tinuruan ako ni Stanley Chi na maging suplado, nawala ang ubo ko!” Perfect for someone like me who has asthma.

The first book includes the 10 Suplado Commandments to remind grumpy people how to behave against people accordingly, the Suplado Meter to measure the level of angst in you and comic strips in case you lost interest in reading text entries.  

I became an instant fan of Stanley Chi after reading the book while attending a business lecture.  Thanks to this book, I had fun during the workshop and got my certificate at the end of the day. I thought this was never possible. 

And so, I am one of those who waited for Stanley to come out with a second book.  Alas, I think he heard my prayers (which I posted on his Facebook wall). And what a great way to get the Suplado Tips 2--- via an ultra kewl book launch!

DJs Ramon Bautista and Tado Jimenez with Stanley Chi

The “second coming” offers plenty more funny yet useful banter for moments you like to make a statement. There are more comic skits, laughs and other surprises (parang noontime show lang, no?).  I wish I would be given a chance to share my suplado story in the third book like the contributors whom Stanley invited in book 2.  It just proves that being a snub can get plenty of attention after all. 

Tado Jimenez, my idol from the wacky cult TV series Strangebrew, also attested to the "power" of the said book.  He confessed, "Yung binigay mong kopya ng libro tinanggap sa gas station nung magpakarga ako kanina. Fan mo (Stanley) kasi yung gasoline boy."

Anyone can relate to the many tips of Stanley Chi since (I hope it’s safe to say this) that there is a suplado side in each of every one of us.  For the non-suplados (Che! Umamin na kayo), you’ll learn great advices like “Kung nagpapa-picture ka, siguraduhin mong yung ngiti mo sa picture at sa toong buhay ay pareho!” (Now that's a direct hit on many FB profile pics that we say everyday) 

Suplado Tips 2, Chi’s newest book, shall be available online through www.psicompublishing.com and may be found in Fully Booked and National Bookstore outlets all over the country (unless his fanatic followers beat you to it).

For more updates on Stanley Chi’s Suplado Tips 2 and to join the Suplado Society of the Philippines, feel free to contact and stalk him at www.stanleychi.net. Catch more updates on the Suplado Tips Facebook page.

How do you make foam: The Uratex Experience

Sing this line with me to the tune of Eraserhead's Huwag Mo Nang Itanong sa Akin:

Field trip sa may pagawaan... ng mattress.   
Ay katulad ng buhay natin. 
Isang mahabang pila...
May bed sheets at kay daming unan!

These are the lines that kept playing on my head while I join a group of fellow bloggers in a very interesting and fun-filled plant tour at the Uratex facilities in Muntinlupa recently.  It was cool!  The last time I had a field trip was during high school where we trek Mt. Makiling in Laguna.  It felt like I was sweet 16 again (Naks!)

As they say, every field trip is like a learning journey.  So I would like to share some new stuff I learned during the said tour.  Did I say it felt like I was 16 again?

 
Foam-making in the past may have been a tedious, manual labor-intensive job but the process was made even better, thanks to modern technology. By using state-of-the-art equipment, Multiflex RNC Philippines of the RGC Foam Group, makers of the popular Uratex foam, totally revolutionized foam-making not only in the Philippines but also in South East Asia.

Being one of the largest foam-makers in the region and with advanced foam manufacturing equipment, let us see how a Uratex foam product is made:

The Research & Development laboratory.  Just like cooking, a good foam starts with the perfect recipe, and in foam-making, the R&D facility of the RGC Foam Group, one of the country’s most advanced, is where it all starts. There, Uratex laboratory personnel develop formulations that result to certain types of foam and also conduct tests to ensure that the formulation will meet final product specifications that customers look for. Over the years, this department has developed thousands of formulations that benefited the Philippine industrial history, from the car development program of the 1970s to the footwear, garments and electronics boom in the 1980s and 1990s.

Foaming. Once the formulation is finalized, it is entered into the foaming machine’s computer system. There, up to 26 streams of different chemicals are doused using computer-controlled metering pumps for precision.  The liquid will turn into cream within seconds and then into solid state within 1.5-2 minutes, and where the solid foam block may be cut between 1 to 60 meters in length.  At the Muntinlupa plant, the foam is cut in 30-meter lengths. This high-tech machinery is complimented by a quality management system and ran by highly-trained personnel.

Curing area. The 30-meter long blocks are then picked up by an overhead crane and transferred to the curing area. Foam is produced via an exothermic reaction where the center may reach up to 145-165 degrees Celsius within 20-30 minutes. It will not start to cool for another 3-4 hours but will reach room temperature within 24 hours and is “cured”.

Foam block warehouse.  This is the storage area for the foam blocks. From there, the plant’s production department will request for a specific type of block with different sizes as per orders coming from customers. These blocks are then moved to the production area where they will be cut according to the desired sizes.

Production area. It is from this area where the Uratex products that we all see come from. The foam blocks are cut into the requested size and then “contoured” based on the type of product to be produced, whether a pillow, a mattress, or even a car seat foam. Once cut and contoured, the product goes straight to packaging under strict quality control standards, ready for delivery to the customer.

The RGC Group of Companies revolutionized foam making back in 1987 when they set up the first continuous foaming machine in the country called the “Vertifoam” process. This involves computerized metering of materials to form perfectly-shaped foam with lesser scrap that benefited both the market and the environment because of less wastage.

In 2001, the group further blazed the trail in foam-making when it installed new foaming equipment called “Hennecke.” Tagged as the “Mercedes Benz” of the foam-making industry, this German-manufactured equipment is regarded as the best in the world. On December 2009, the RGC Group invested on another Hennecke machine with the latest technological improvements to serve as back-up to the year 2001 version. For more details about Uratex, visit www.uratex.com.ph.

The day ended with a big hurray and I think I need not explain why.  Just look at our last group picture and you can tell that everyone just had a great time and are excited to go home and try the gifts given by our friends from Uratex.

Special thanks to Ms. Jenny Roxas of www.joyfullifeofjen.blogspot.com for the photos.

Saving for your Child's Education

"The future belongs to those who prepare for it."

Ralph Waldo Emerson, a prolific American writer, says it best why good education is important.  That's why as early as today, I have already inquired about tuition fees from different pre-schools in our area.

Well, my son Charles is just 3 years old and he'll be very for school by next year. Am I a little excited? This is the first time I'll be sending a child in school just to explain the year-long preparation.   

I also asked other parents about this and in the process I found out that school expenses are increasing every year.  Makes me wonder if my savings is enough to cover college tuition fees and other expenses. A friend suggested that sside from regularly saving money, one can also prepare by getting profitable investments that offer better returns. Invest in companies which have made a mark and have a proven track record in the industry, like Insular Life.

Celebrating 101 years of unparalleled and continuous service to old and new generation of Filipinos, Insular Life remains to be the largest Filipino life insurance company. With its Direct Marketing plans College Provider and Sure Cash for Kids, you are assured of a secure future for your child.

College Provider is a 5-pay educational plan that provides a college cash fund for your child at age 17. It also provides a life insurance benefit for your child equivalent to the college fund until he reaches age 21. On top of this, College Provider has a built-in waiver of premium payments, wherein the policy will be considered fully paid should the parents or the payor meet an untimely death or suffers from total and permanent disability. The policy will then provide a pre-college cash allowance equivalent to 10% of the face amount until age 16 to finance for your child’s elementary and high school education.

On the other hand, Sure Cash for Kids is a 5-pay, 15-year savings and investment plan for your child that offers guaranteed yearly cash payouts and lump sum cash benefit with built-in life insurance protection. Yearly cash payouts equivalent to 10% of the maturity value will be given from the end of the 5th policy year to the end of the 14th policy year amounting to 100% of the maturity value. A lump sum cash benefit equivalent to 100% of the maturity value will also be given at the end of the 15th policy year. Your child is also covered with a life insurance protection for 15 years with the face amount increasing to 200% on the 4th policy year up to the 15th policy year.

Saving for your child’s education is a top priority, so preparing for it now can save you from possible financial troubles in the future.  Address your child’s needs today. Call Insular Direct at 878-1818 local 5403 or 892-3171 or email us at idirect@insular.com.ph for more details on College Provider and Sure Cash for Kids.