Leap of faith

It started as  a common vision, a common dream - to  kick start a business and  "be my own boss."  And so, one day we - three of my college best friends and I - decided to meet the challenge head on and embrace the promise of new opportunities, of countless possibilities.  It was a leap of faith, launching a business amid the rising competition thinking, nay, believing we will make it out there.  We knew it wasn't easy  but  motivation and inspiration fired us to act and to  get on our feet, to take the plunge and to  be doers not just dreamers. 

Onemind is a reality. There's a long way to go but we have built the momentum, started to make baby steps and there's no turning back. This is it!

Onemind is a seminar and events company that aims to provide relevant and practical information and skills to organizations, would-be entrepreneur and individuals to maintain corporate  advantage, reach personal growth and increase their entrepreneurial skills, among others.

Very soon, we will get our feet wet with this FIRST SEMINAR! Aptly titled Writing an effective resume and acing a job interview, this one is for  new graduates or anyone who wants to learn more about writing an impressive resume.  Let our seasoned speaker, Mr. Sebastian Olaivar, Jr. guide you through writing a resume that will lead you to potential employers and to that dream job of yours. The early bird gets a special gift so register NOW!

Our website www.onemindsem.com is underway.  Meantime, you may visit our facebook page Onemind Seminars for more information/updates about this upcoming seminar on November 30, 2013.

Around the fun farm on a weekend

T'was a weekend well-spent. Along with hubby and two bosom buddies, I set to The Fun Farm at Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club Estate in Sta. Rosa, Laguna  to check it out and sample some of its organic produce.

Away from the bustling metro and into the countryside.

Well, hello fun farm!

Oh, to be a child again!

Balik Bukid! A call to experience life on the farm. 

Haven of peace.

Hello, sir!

Holy carabao! for a healthy and sustainable living 

My stash of organic fresh vegetables harvested

upon order: half kilo of basil, two pieces (kundol) white gourd or winter melon, half a kilo of camote tops and alugbati or Malabar spinach, two kilos of eggplants, three kilos of white corn on the cob all for a total P500. I planned to buy organic red rice but was told that such had to be pre-ordered(sigh!)

The Fun Farm at Sta. Elena hosts a Balik Bukid country fair twice a year ( it started last year) which gathers merchants selling local products. Spearheading the event is no less than the farm owner herself, Hindy Weber-.Tantoco. I missed the event early this year but glad to know there's one more coming up late this year.

Photo from Balik Bukid  FB page

Click here for directions to the farm.
Photos by DSanti and DSS

Peeking at Christmas

There was a tinge of sadness when I first saw my favorite Christmas decor shop opening earlier than usual last month.  I would normally get excited and think of the visual spectacle that await me inside the store ( the abundance of  wreaths and floral centerpieces, Christmas tree baubles, the selection of  garlands and much more) . This year is different though ... my shopping buddy, my dearest BFF Malou, is not around to share the excitement with me. But I know, I know. she's taking a peek, too, and could be telling me, " Hold it! Breathe in, breathe out! "

Tamilee, San Juan City

Sister love

Counting my blessings ...

Lifted from ilkietoquote.com

  And certainly ....

Author unknown

 

All abloom!

I  went back for a visit to Dangwa Flower Market one weekend admiring once more the sea of colors in this place that throbs with life  24/7. This time, I was able to talk to more vendors and luckily met one of the pioneers, Aling Agapita Pamulaklakin.  Kind and very accommodating, Aling Agapita took me back to the '80s when there were only a handful  of them selling fresh-cut flowers in a bus station that came to be known as Bulaklakan ng Maynila.  

Sunshin-y day!

Everyday, the flower vendors, including Aling Agapita, waited for the fresh produce that would come from the Mountain Trail delivered via bus to Dangwa Bus Station along Dos Castillas Street in Samplaoc, Manila. Back then, there were only a few selections the most common of which were roses, of course.

Velvety roses in a row.

Blooms on display.

Red ginger torch flowers lovely to put together into an arrangement. 

" Paper roses. Oh, how real those roses seem to be!"
... and they are!

Fresh eucalyptus

Simply stunning!

A climb in  demand for fresh-cut flowers opened another window of opportunity for the flower vendors. Some varieties are now sourced from Bangkok and Ecuador.

Fresh orchids imported from Bangkok.

Long-stemmed Ecuador roses.

Aling Agapaita tells me more about her life selling fresh flowers and how a bus station evolved into a flower market . Her story is featured  in the online magazine, Positively Filipino ( based in San Francisco, USA), May 29, 2013  issue. 
Read more...

Dangwa Flower Market: Oasis of colorful blooms

I've always wanted to visit Dangwa Flower Market and walk about its alleys at a leisurely pace to admire and enjoy the sight of colorful blooms: roses, gerberas, chrystantemums, tulips, etc. I've been  there a few times, always rushing and would drop by only to buy a bunch of white roses or  fresh poinsettias during the Christmas season. Over the weekend, I finally had the chance to see those pretty blooms up close, smell the scents and have a little chat with vendors selling diverse and exciting varieties of fresh-cut blooms all year-round. 

Potted orchids for orchid lovers:  Php 700

Roses rule in this market!

  

A bouquet of lovely roses can fetch up to Php 300 and Php 100-120 for a dozen (loose). Haggling is allowed.

Freshly-delivered floral produce.

.... more blooms

Asters and greens (above) to spruce up your flower arrangements.

Since this is the wholesale flower market resource for event planners, distributors and florists, the whole stretch of the market  gets very busy on special occasions and buying frenzy starts really early.

The market sits in  close proximity to the Dangwa Bus Terminal in Dos Castillas Street in  Sampaloc, Manila ( very near the University of Santo Tomas along Espana, Manila ).

Whooo but you!

 I went to Dapitan Arcade in Sampaloc, Manila early this week to work on an article for a new online magazine and guess what I found!

Owls to make my day!

Greenhills COD ... coming soon!

The animated Christmas On Display, a tradition that started more than half a century ago in COD Department Store in Cubao, Quezon City and which has found its new home in Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan City (since 2007) is now taking shape. Take a peek and together let's discover what's cooking for Christmas!

Something blue, something green... what could it be? Photo:DSS 

Is that a tower? Photo: DSS  

               

A closer look... Photo: DSS