Beware of _iibagshopper.ph

Its gift giving season. Most of us are so busy with our everday lives that we missed to buy our holiday presents in advance. Since there are a lot stores on the web, I opted to buy online. But, I never expected this will give me stress rather than convenience.

To summarize, below is the the timeline for our transaction:

Dec 12 - I paid for my order (including shipping fee) under the account name, Andrea Lea Navarette. She said she'll ship it that same day.

Dec 13 - I asked for an update. She told me she shipped it the other day. I asked for the tracking number. No response.

Dec 14 - I asked for the tracking number again. Still, no response.

Dec 15 - She told me my order ran out of stock. She was also confused with another order that she thought was mine. 

I asked for other items available. Most of them out of stock so I asked her what items are ready to be shipped. She said she'll check them.

Dec 16 - I asked for updates. I even told her that I would just like to refund my money. No response again.

Dec 17 - I followed her up. She said it was shipped last Dec 15. I asked for the tracking number again. No response.

Dec 18 - I messaged her again for the tracking number. No response.

Dec 19 - Still I did not received that tracking number even I followed her up again.

Finally around 7 in the evening, I received my order. I thought everything was covered until I noticed the following:

For the packaging:

- The LBC pouch was not sealed.

- The LBC pouch does not bear the details of the sender and the receiver.

- The pouch has a hole. Seems it has deteriorated over time.

- The tracking number attached to the pouch is not even searchable. When I tried to remove number's sticker, portion where it was sticked was ripped off.

- The pouch looks tampered. I don't think its the LBC courier who delivered the package. It must be some other delivery service.

For the item I bought:

- The paperbag was not included in the package. It was mentioned in her inclusions for the item I bought.

- There was a smudge on the bag's tag.

I messaged her all my concerns with some proof. She never replied back. After sales customer service was disgusting. I also tried calling her several times. Not even a single call was answered. I felt like I was cheated. I am now doubtful of the bag's authenticity. Should the item be legit, she could have handled the situation properly. I have being patient on her since she might really be busy considering the season.

I've made several transactions online. This is my first disappointment. Wishing this won't happen to you. Watch out for the red flags. These guys are just waiting for their next preys.

P.S.

Posting the pics and our convo tomorrow.

Deal Grocer Review

Loads of group buying sites continuously mushroomed in the over the years. They offer discounted prices of products and services not limited to gadgets, accommodations, restaurant vouchers and even wellness services. With all these sites considerably offering low prices, some forums are flocked with negative feedbacks leaving consumers, including me, hesitant to buy such deals.

Curious as how group buying sites work, I searched for top deal providers. Deal Grocer stands out from the rest simply because they offer premium line of products and services, trying to live up to their slogan of “Offering a Taste of Good Life”. Being a UI/UX designer myself, I commend them for their website, appealing and professional. Both made me decide to register and look out for deals. The deals are properly grouped, no cluttered areas and annoying ads. The process of buying is intuitive. 

To date, I have bought 15 deals from them. Four of which were gift vouchers I gave to my friends. Three were forfeited because the merchants closed before the redemption date ends. However, they gave refunds depending on the mode of payment. The first one was through Deal Grocer credits since I made a bank deposit for the payment. The second refund was processed through my credit card. They reverted my payment back. Two thumbs up for their after sales service. Given that my only communication with them was through e-mail, their responses were prompt. I haven't tried other deal providers as I am a bit doubtful on how they would handle scenarios like this.

Before buying vouchers on different sites, make sure to do your research on the providers. Be mindful of their policies, modes of payment and delivery concerns so that when anythings fails, you know what to do. These sites should provide convenience for consumers, not the other way around. 

Kettle Korn: Poppin’ Fun All The Time

Alei de Guzman, raised by her aunt since she was 45 days old, believed she was her real mother as what her aunt had told her. But, through her growing years, slowly, she realized, the person she had known as her mother, was her aunt and her aunt’s sister, her real mother. Not until she reached 16, was she able to live with her real family. Living them was a challenge. Her father is alcoholic and her mother, the breadwinner, was diagnosed with cancer, stage 4. All the roads will lead her to somewhere unexpected. A story of love, sacrifice, a little bit of comedy and pursuit of happiness.

If I were to star in my own movie, it would be my one life story. There may not be action packed scenes, mind blowing special effects and hair raising characters but surely, it will be the best movie I can be a star of. Just like Kettle Korn, the star of every movie, makes watching poppin’ fun all the time. Watching movies has always been good with Kettle Korn.

Sun Cellular, The Good Choice in Postpaid

Sun Cellular's Postpaid Plan 600 and Plan 999 is as hot as the summer heat! Having a plan is no longer a burden in the pocket. Sun Cellular Plan 600 and Plan 999 is the good choice in postpaid not only because of its affordability but also the reliable signal available wherever and whenever you go. With Sun's partnership with PLDT, you can save the bother of worrying.  Sun Cellular’s signal has wider coverage and  reliable connection that was made even more powerful with the network’s partnership with the PLDT Group. Plan 600 and Plan 900 is offered with sleek irresistable smartphones. You have the flexibility to choose which profile you would want to apply for. 

PLAN 600

Call & Text Unlimited
Get the following:

• Unlimited Calls & Texts*
• P250 Consumable** (except International/Domestic Operator-assisted calls)
• 350 FREE SMS to other networks

Text Unlimited 
Get the following:

• Unlimited Texts*
• P450 Consumable** (except International/Domestic Operator-assisted calls)
• 350 FREE SMS to other networks

Fully Consumable
Get the following:

• P600 Consumable** (except International/Domestic Operator-assisted calls)
• 350 FREE SMS to ALL networks

* Local Sun-to-Sun Calls and/or Texts only.
** Consumable may be used for the following:

• Sun Cellular calls to other networks – including NDD & IDD
• Sun - to - Sun MMS
• SMS2Email
•  

PLAN 999

You may choose from the following Profiles:

Text Unlimited

Get the following:

• Unlimited Mobile Internet
• Unlimited Texts to Sun
• 4 Hours Calls to Sun

Without any doubt, Sun Cellular is the good choice in Postpaid!

Domo Tomo in Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna

We had a day trip to Nuvali in celebration of our second anniversary. Once we had drove past the place when we went to Tagaytay last year. There are a variety of restaurants in Solenad. Most of which are also located in Manila so we did settle for something new and unheard of, Domo Tomo. It is a small Japanese restaurant. I bet it can only hold 50 diners, maximum. 

Sakura sushi, a combination of tamago sushi, crabmeat sushi, salmon sashimi, tuna sashimi and squid sashimi. (Php 325)

I barely remember this kind of ramen but it left me craving for more. It has generous serving of eggs and crab meat.

California Maki. The serving is crazy huge. Its your usual maki but in jumbo version. Delicious! I have always love california maki.

Pork Katsudon. I was overwhelmed with the serving. It left me full until dinner time. (Php 210)

It was a good choice trying something new. Price is so far reasonable. Servings are not the usual size. We ordered only for two and yet we were really full.The only thing that caught my attention was the ventilation.  I think there was something wrong with their aircon when we visited.  However, definitely, we are getting back. 

Bohol Getaway Part III: Bohol Countryside Tour

The island hopping and snorkeling was a compressed tour as we have to be back at our hotel by 10 for the countryside tour. We left be 11 am and arrived at Loboc just in time for our lunch. Loboc is famous for its Loboc River Floating Restaurant.

Our next stop was at the Tarsier Conservatory. We trekked along forest and see tarsiers up on the trees. They seem to be sleeping. Tarsiers are nocturnal animals, dormant by day.  They are said to be the smallest primate. It it were not because of the red markers, we would not be notified that a tarsier silently clings to a particular tree.

After resting at the end of the trek, we continued our tour to Chocolate Hills. It was one thing I was looking forward to see. The biggest hill has been made as the viewing deck for the famous hills. Its both exciting and exhilarating on our way up. 

The view is spectacular. It shows how gifted our country is with wonders of nature. 

The hills come in different sizes and shapes. Some are pointed, are round, while others are green or brown. On the way, we even saw hills planted with coconut trees. We thought they belong to the same group but they don't because they are owned privately not for tourism, instead, for agriculture.

On our way, we passed through the Shiphaus. It was a house inspired by a ship as it was owned by a ship captain. Originally, it was supposed to be the residence of their family. But then, their home was flocked by tourists and from then on, he decided to have it converted into a tourist spot.

It has a deck and a fountain that gives accent to the place.

From Carmen, we passed along Loboc-Bilar's 2 kilometer stretch of man made forest. It is densely planted with mahogany trees. Our tourist driver even recalls that when he was still in school, their teachers used to have tree planting as their project and this was the fruit of their effort.

The sun seldom sees the mountain area due to the thick canopy. 

The Butterfly Sanctuary was our next destination. It was interesting to know how moths differed from butterflies.

The "bulo" precaution among butterflies my parents told me when I was a child was wrong and has no scientific explanation according to our tour guide.

Our next stop was the Exotic Zoo where we had a picture taken with a python. Sounds scary and crazy. But , the python was tame. According to our tour guide, he consumes two live chickens a day.  

Oh well, I look pretty scared in here. The python is slowly moving during the shot.

To finally conclude the day, we went to visit the Baclayon Church. 

It is known to be one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. The facade of the church itself testifies its long existence. The original architecture has not been altered, only restored to preserve the historical landmark. 

This said to be Father Pio's image on the wall caused by a miracle.

Another one was this, said to be Mama Mary holding Jesus Christ as a baby.

. 

Bohol Getaway Part II: Balicasag and Virgin Island Hoppind

We woke up early at 4 am to gear up. We were told to be ready to be fetched by 5:30 am for the dolphin watching. Instead of a van taking us for the boat ride, 3 motorcycles surprised us. They call it locally as habal-habal. The ride to the beach was short but the fear of falling down the bumpy road made the trip long although it was not my first time to ride a motorcycle.

 The sun is brightly shining already around 6 am. It was low tide in the morning that we need to walk some meters to reach the boat.

The boat ride going to our destination is long and wavy. I admire our boat driver as he navigates us through without the use of high tech tools for directions.

 We stopped somewhere near an island. Boats of the same size as ours lingered at the nearby area. The place was supposed to be where dolphins would show up.

Our boatman explained that since the waves are big, it was unlikely that dolphins would come out. We waited for 10 minutes. Not a single dolphin came so we decided to continue our trip to Balicasag Island.

The sand is cream, shimmering because of the sun’s rays. The water is clear and inviting but not that good for swimming. The sloping is high and the water level is waist deep already some steps from the shore.

 Our tourist guide introduced us to another local for the snorkeling activity. We rode another boat, a rowboat that would take us to where the coral bed and fishes are. We left our things at the bigger boat, brought only our camera and biscuits to feed the fishes. Once geared with lifevest, we went to the sanctuary.

Along the way, we enjoyed the view of the clear ocean. We have seen several starfishes until we reached our destination. We dropped some biscuits were amazed on the volume of the fishes swam beside our boat. Snorkeling gears are for rent. We rented snorkeling mask and shoes since the corals might hurt our feet. Protective camera cases are also available for rent at PHP 300, pricey. Good thing I have my waterproof pouch with me. TIP: DO NOT FORGET TO BRING UNDERWATER CAMERA CASES AND BISCUITS.

 As I jump onto the water and tried snorkeling the first time, water came seeping through my mask. I swam back to the boat with panic. It was not easy at first getting used to breathing through the mouth. When I got the hang of it, I enjoyed feeding and watching the fishes. The view underwater is breathtaking.

I even got a handful of biscuits in the water. A lot fishes swam near my hand and ate up the food. When I momentarily move my fingers, they would shy away a bit but return to eating.

Life under the sea is truly dynamic and beautiful. The feeling is incomparable.

 We do not know how long we snorkeled. But it is one thing I would look forward to do again. We headed back to the shore to rest a bit. Once settled, we proceeded to the bigger boat for the next island, Virgin Island.We were hindered by some parts of the ocean that is too shallow for the boat. The boatman and his companion needed to manually navigate the boat using a long bamboo post.

The view is awesome. The sand is cold. Vendors sell fresh buco juice from the island, cooked sea urchins and even banana cue.

This was my favorite part of the Bohol Tour. Unfortunately, we still needed to catch up for the countryside tour. We weren't able to most part of the island. Maybe next time, we'll spend ample time island hoppind and snorkeling.

Now I have proved, there is more to Bohol than the Tarsiers and Chocolate Hills. I can wait to get back and step my foot on the sands and shores of the islands.

Wedding Preparations

It is every woman's dream to be married to that special man she has dedicated her life to. However, the wedding itself is easier said than done. Not only is the life after that day a challenging stage, more importantly, the preparation itself. For everything that it entails, from the planning process, canvassing and actualization, one has to be prepared not only of the excitement it brings, but including the stress and pressure it would inevitably cause. There is a long list of things to organize which are not limited to invitations, venue, maternity bridesmaid dresses, guest list and catering services. Even the smallest details are given attention to pull everything off. 

Weddings are way easier to organize today compare to those times when Internet is not yet accessible. With numerous businesses go online for marketing and advertisement, there is wide range of options are available to consider. Others even go beyond the traditional website and have conquered social networking sites including Facebook and Twitter. Updates are essential factors to advertising especially when promos are being offered. I saw a friend following WeddingtonWay updates. She is already preparing for her wedding early next year. It’s such an advantage given than she lives away from the city. There is really no limit when information is loaded online. Everyone can save the bother of calling or even going out for suppliers.

Food Dilemma

With the everyday hassle and bustle of work, we barely get to eat right and stay healthy. I can attest to this. Our breakfast is usually a canned good. We do not have a refrigerator at our boarding house. The market is near but it takes a lot of time to get down there and cook. I always have limited time in the morning since I would rather sleep some more. The only option to have a decent breakfast is to cook for something the night before and be sure that it won’t be spoiled the next morning. Living in the city without my family is like a chore, difficult to do but I should do something about it.

 Foods available at the grocery stores are usually genetically modified if not preserved with chemicals. Even vegetables are no longer as safe during the time when pesticides aren't out of the market yet. This leaves our body a lot of toxins none of which we can identify from our daily meal intake. Most of the time, I wonder if my body’s immune system is still just as good since I do not take vitamins. I rarely eat fruits and vegetables. My only good habit is I drink a lot of water.

 Good thing, without much effort, we can cleanse and detox , so perfect during these days that we are all in a rush. Should there be like this in the Philippine market, I would surely never miss to have this.

SkinWhite and Nuffnang bring you Snow White and the Huntsman

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