Best Places to Shop for School Materials + My Recommended Brands

Mommies, are you still planning to do your last minute school materials shopping? I have here a list of best places to shop and my recommended brands for your kiddos.

Divisoria

If you live in the northern or southern part of Metro Manila where public transportation is accessible and you have three  kids and above to shop for, I recommend Divisoria. Many people find the stuff on the streets of C.M. Recto and nearby malls very cheap but when you go to the heart of Divisoria, you'll find more stalls that offer cheaper supplies.

Here are the streets where you can find producers, wholesalers, and retailers of different local and imported brands offering factory prices.

--- umbrellas, shoes, bags, socks, uniforms, underwear, handkerchiefs, towels, rain coats, boots, clothes: Juan Luna Street

 

--- fabrics, uniforms, and clothes: Ylaya Street

--- wrappers, microwaveable plastic containers, boxes, lunch boxes, paper bags, plastic wares, packaging supplies, home wares: Juan Luna and Sta. Elena Streets

--- ribbons, native products, costumes, sewing and crafting materials: Tabora Street

      Note: There is a small "eskinita" or "pasilyo" on Tabora Street near Wellmanson where you can find good quality school uniforms and scrub suits. 

--- baking supplies, fruits, hair and fashion accessories: Carmen Planas Street

--- wholesaler of school supplies: Sto. Cristo Street  

  

Here's the map for your reference courtesy of www.smartparenting.com.ph.

If you are not familiar with Divisoria, you may also download the DIVISORIA GUIDE APP on iTunes to have an access to offline map that covers all the streets of Divisoria and where and how to score the best deals. 

 

Website: www.divisoriaguide.com

Photo and Info Credits: http://www.nognoginthecity.com

 

Pros: When you go to these streets, you'll save so much compared to the malls, stalls, and street vendors along C. M. Recto Avenue. The vendors selling on the streets or "bangketa" get their goods from the wholesalers whose stores are located on the above-mentioned streets. Be patient. It will be a long walk but you'll save more. The best part is you can haggle. You can purchase the items almost half the price compared to shopping malls and other bookstores. There are more shops to choose from. If you wish to buy shoes and bags from a reputable brand, there are nearby malls like Lucky Chinatown, Tutuban Center, or Robinsons. Food stalls and restaurants are accessible too.

Cons:  It's very difficult to shop during weekends and holidays. Go there very early. Shops open starting 8:00 AM. Please don't bring very young children. Kawawa sila kasi mainit at maraming tao. I don't recommend bringing your own car due to lack of parking spaces. If you still want to bring your own car, there's a parking area behind Tutuban Center Mall.

 SM Savemore , SM Malls, Robinsons Malls, National Bookstore

Pros and Cons: If you have one or two kids, you don't have to go to Divisoria kasi sayang ang pagod. They offer "Best Buy" or set items which you can save more too. It's a little pricey compared to Divisoria but here you can bring your kids along because it's much convenient to shop and air conditioned. 

All the things you need are placed under one roof. The prices are higher compared to Divisoria but there are many reputable brands to choose from. All you need to do is to be a wise and practical spender. Avail of their promos and special offers to save more.

Some of My Recommended Brands:

Bags

HAWK

It's expensive to be very honest but it's durable. My son will  use his 3 year old Hawk bag this school year. When washed, it looks like brand new again.

Shoes
GIBI, WORLD BALANCE

Uniforms

Pants and Skirts: Colours, Canadian Club, Campus

Blouse and Polo: Campus  

These brands are long lasting at hindi naghihimulmol.

Pencil and Coloring Materials 

FABER CASTELL, MONGOL, and CRAYOLA

The quality is very good, lasts longer, and produces nice outputs. For preschoolers, make sure to purchase jumbo pencils and crayons since their fine motor skills are not that developed yet.

Ballpens and Markers 

PILOT, STABILO, ARTLINE, FASTER, & PANDA

Paper 

HARD COPY, ADVANCE, BEST BUY @ National Bookstore, LOW PRICE STATIONERY @ SM

Notebooks

SPRING LEAF, STRADMORE, AVANTI, ADVANCE, STERLING, GREEN APPLE, CORONA 

Clearbooks

SM School Supplies Sections offers cheaper clearbooks starting at Php49.75.  When you buy them from Divisoria, they're cheaper.


Do the following to be safe and avoid overspending:

- Eat a heavy meal.
- Bring big eco-bags.
- Bring a small toiletries kit.
- Bring your own drink and snack.
- Carry a list of what you need to buy.
- When going to Divisoria, don't bring expensive valuables and gadgets or wear jewelry.

 

Hope this list helps, Mommies! If you have your own ideas and recommendations, feel free to comment under this post. Thanks!

 

 

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Starmobile Scores Big Win at 2014 Intel Solutions Summit

Local brand Starmobile was recognized for Outstanding Leadership in Vertical Design Win with the launch of the first Intel® Atom™ processor-powered Full HD tablet in the Philippines, the ENGAGE 9i, in early 2014.   

Intel aims to continue driving growth in the Philippine mobile space by developing the profile of locally made tablets. 

Courtesy: bydetails.blogspot.com

 

MANILA, May 29, 2014 – Local mobile brand Starmobile recently received the Outstanding Leadership in Vertical Design Win award at the 2014 Intel Solutions Summit (ISS) in Singapore. The award acknowledges Starmobile’s recent collaboration with Intel to launch the ENGAGE 9i, the country’s first Intel® Atom™ processor-powered full high definition tablet, early this year. The win signifies the country’s growing presence in designing mobile devices with Intel architecture.

The Starmobile ENGAGE 9i runs on a 2GHz dual core Intel® Atom™ Z2580 processor and 2GB of RAM that offers low power consumption while delivering amazing performance for productivity. The tablet also sports the Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology, which uses processor resources more efficiently, enabling multiple threads to run on each core.

“Starmobile is proud to be Intel’s partner in Asia in delivering the best mobile technologies at prices within reach. We are grateful for Intel’s trust and support and we’re certain that this award for the ENGAGE 9i is just the start of one of the greatest partnerships in the mobile industry,” said Starmobile President Michael Chen.

According to Intel, the nominees for the category were selected based on the innovative nature of the design win, influence in the industry, and long-term impact in the mobile space, among others.

“Intel is proud to be in partnership with a local game changer who shares its vision of raising the profile of the country in tablet design. Intel and Starmobile are working together to make technology more accessible to Filipinos,” said Intel Philippines Country Manager Calum Chisholm.

The Intel Solutions Summit is an annual conference that pools the computing leader’s channel and ecosystem partners. The event provides access to programs and information about products, key business and leadership strategies, and customer solutions.

For more information, visit the official Intel Philippines website (http://www.intel.ph) or follow Intel Philippines on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/IntelPhilippines) and Twitter (@IntelPilipinas). Also check out www.starmobile.com.ph, Happy Man by Starmobile on Facebook, and @happymanPH on Twitter and Instagram for more exciting news from Starmobile.

********************************

About Intel

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world’s computing devices. As a leader in corporate responsibility and sustainability, Intel also manufactures the world’s first commercially available “conflict-free” microprocessors. Additional information about Intel is available at newsroom.intel.com and blogs.intel.com, and about Intel’s conflict-free efforts at conflictfree.intel.com.

Intel and Intel Atom are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries.

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

Acknowledgement 
Jinny Jacaria / Thea Geronimo 
Strategic Edge, Inc.

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My Fancy Carrot Cupcakes Using Maya Think Heart Whole Wheat Carrot Cake Mix

This is my cupcake version of

My Special Carrot Cake Using Maya Think Heart Whole Wheat Carrot Cake Mix

I decided to make cupcakes instead of the usual carrot cake due to less cooking time. They can be eaten without using fork or plate which means less dishes to wash! Lol!

 

Ingredients 

(as seen on the packaging)

1 pack of Maya Whole Wheat Carrot Cake Mix 400g

1/3 cup vegetable oil (I prefer canola oil.)

1/2 cup water

2 eggs

1 3/4 cups grated carrots (loosely packed) approximately 17g

If you prefer baking...

1. Preheat oven to 350 F or 177 C.

2. Line 24 holes (2 ounces) muffin tin with baking cups.

3. Blend all ingredients.

4. Fill up muffin tins with 2 tablespoons of batter mixture.

5. Bake for 15-18 minutes until done.

6. Remove cupcakes from oven and cool. Decorate as desired.

For Oven Toaster: Line 2-ounce muffin tins with baking cups. Follow steps 3. Fill up muffin tins with two tablespoons of batter mixture. Cover muffin tins loosely with aluminum foil. Bake first batch in toaster oven for 10 minutes. Remove foil cover and bake for 2 more minutes to brown top. Cupcakes are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from muffin tins and cool. Bake the remaining batches as above.

If you prefer steaming like I usually do in preparing cakes...

1. Boil water in steamer.

2. Follow step 2.

 

 3. Follow step 3.

 4. Follow step 4.

5. Line top of steamer with cheesecloth. Cover steamer.

 

6. Steam cupcakes for 8-10 minutes or until done. Remove cupcakes from molders and cool. Steam the remaining batches as above.   

  

 

LOW FAT CREAM CHEESE FROSTING 

Ingredients

1 cup low fat cream cheese (I used the whole bar of Philadelphia Cream Cheese.)

1/2 cup sugar substitute (I used 1/4 cup refined white sugar instead.)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 2 tablespoons Starbucks Hazelnut Flavoured Syrup

Procedure

1. Beat cream cheese until soft.

2. Mix in sugar and vanilla extract or Starbucks Hazelnut Flavoured Syrup and continue beating until smooth.

 3. Swirl on top of carrot cupcakes using the back of spoon.

 

 Best served when chilled! Serve plain or topped with candy sprinkles!

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How to Teach Kids the Love of Reading

I started collecting story books for kids when I was still a preschool teacher. I incorporated them in my lessons and it helped my students understand different concepts and learn values in all subjects. When I had my first born, my collection did an integral part in making him love reading. 

Here are some ways on how we can teach our kids the love of reading:

 

Starting Early

I remember reading a story aloud when my children were still on my womb. It continues from the time my children are born and while they are growing up. It becomes a habit and part of their everyday living. 

Picking the Right Books

I choose books that are developmentally appropriate, maximize my kids' learning potential, and teach them good values. 

Babies may be exposed to books made of cloth. But make sure they are not easily dettached nor destroyed to avoid chocking hazards.

The younger the children are, the bigger the fonts they should be exposed to. They are more attracted to colorful picture books and become interested to books with less pictures as they know more words and understand different concepts. A book with videobook is highly recommended to kids that are just starting to talk so that they can read the words while listening to the voice recording. That is diving into learning. 

Knowing Your Child's Interests 

Some kids like comic books, others like books with more pictures or more words. As moms, we have to be observant and see what our kid's interests are when it comes to books. They are the ones to read and learn from the books that we give them. What we can do is to expose them to different titles and genre. Let's give them the power to choose what to read first and suggest our own choice after. It teaches them decision-making.

Looking for Resources

We are blessed due to the advent of worldwide web. We can browse books and their reviews through the internet. Goodreads is the best site for this. Free e-books are also available at Google Play and other learning wesbsites.

Encouraging your kids to borrow books from the school library is also a good way to have them exposed to more titles. We, parents, can borrow from our local library too. This way, we can save a lot of money.  

Story Telling 

Telling the story aloud is one of the fastest way kids learn. Changing of the tone of your voice when you tell the story tickles their imagination. Happy endings are more encouraged for kids. It makes them realize that books can give them a happy feeling and it makes them want to read more. 
 

Letting Him Understand What He Reads Patiently

We should be patient in waiting and adjusting to our kids' pace. Not all kids understand a particular word or story at the same time. Some kids are fast readers and learners, some need to be warmed-up. We have to understand that not all kids are alike.

Like for instance, I exposed my 2nd child early to books like I did to my eldest. Unlike his brother, he is more interested in flipping the pages of picture books rather than listening to stories. I let it be. I think it's good, at least he is interested. I am taking it slowly, I don't want him to rush.

We should always be around to answer our kids if they have questions about the plot or words that they don't understand.  

Encouraging our kids read the story aloud and silently over and over can help them to spell more words, increase their vocabulary, improve pronunciation, gain more confidence in public speaking, understand the plot, and know different characters.

 

Asking Questions to Check His Reading Comprehension

After you and your child read the book, ask him about his insights like his favorite character and part of the story and why; what he thinks about the ending; if he is the author how will he end the story; his feelings about the story. These types of questions will develop your child's higher order thinking skills.

Keeping Books Within Your Child's Reach

Make books strategically placed at home. Put children's books on the lowest part of the shelf so that your child can get and return them easily whenever he wants to read anytime, any day.

 

Talking About Books with Your Kids

Your latest reads can be a nice topic for family conversations. This encourages kids to express themselves more intellectually than the other way around. 

Setting a Good Example

Kids should see their parents holding and reading a book or magazine so that they know that they love to read.

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My Classic Putong Puti Using White King (Puto) Steamed White Cake Mix

Putong Puti (Steamed White Cake) is a popular dessert here in the Philippines. It can be eaten on its own, with your favorite cup of hot coffee, tea, or chocolate, or paired with Dinuguan or Pancit. It's versatile!   

Now I can make my own at home anytime despite my very busy schedule. White King (Puto) Steamed White Cake Mix made it all possible. In less than an hour, my family can enjoy a scrumptious puto that tastes like or even much better than the ones being bought in Filipino restaurants and bakeshops.

Ingredients and Procedure

(as seen at the back of the box and my own version)

STEP 1

 

Boil water in a steamer first to save time. I apologize for the integrity of my steamer. It's 20 years old. :)

STEP 2

Mix all ingredients. NOTE: I used two packs instead of one pack of Puto Mix (equivalent to 400 grams) so other ingredients were doubled. I preferred using butter instead of oil.

Make sure that all ingredients are well-blended.

Pour into puto molds about 3/4 full (about two tablespoons).

STEP 3

 

Steam for about 15-25 minutes. Don't forget to place cheese cloth before putting the cover to avoid water droplets from dripping on your puto mixture. Puto is cooked when it's shiny and bounces back when pressed. Just to be sure, you may insert a toothpick or fork. When it comes out clean, that means your puto is cooked.

No need to brush the surface with butter. Makes 24 medium-sized puto per 400 gram pack

Serve plain or with grated cheese on top. For me, it tastes like Goldilocks Butter Puto. So delicious!

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