Today, I got my SM Supermalls special package.

Receiving my SM Supermalls special package

This morning, I received a call from the courier (LBC). The caller, the courier guy, said that he was on his way to deliver a package for me from SM Supermalls. The excited me rushed outside and waited for him at the gate. Upon his arrival, I could not contain my excitement. He was riding a tricycle when normally he would be riding his motorcycle. You see, I always get excited about receiving packages via courier. Thanks to Shopee and Lazada. This time, however, I was more excited because I would not be signing any cash on delivery receipt.

He handed to me a big box and said with a gleeful tone in his voice, “Sir, delivery from SM Supermalls”. It sounded almost rehearsed, the way he said it. But I guess he was also as excited as I was. So, I signed the delivery receipt and he went on his way.

I immediately took a selfie by the time I reached my doorstep and posted it on Facebook.

My “brothers” JR and Taw commented on my post and asked me to make an unboxing video. They, too, were curious. So, here it is!

Unboxing my SM Supermalls special package

Watch my latest vlog as I unbox my SM Supermalls special package.

Thank you, SM Supermalls for this early Christmas present! I truly appreciate it. May you continue to touch more lives and be a blessing to more Filipinos.

By the way, I got a personal message from the representative of SM Supermalls after publishing my vlog. She told me that they are sorry and will be sending me the missing Gift Certificates soon. Wow! I am truly grateful.

My first vlog in a while

It has been a while since I last published a content on my Youtube channel. My laptop is broken and parked in the repair shop. Apparently, they are having a hard time diagnosing the problem. I have yet to hear from them again.

Since I really wanted to make an unboxing video, I used my phone instead. To my surprise, I got the hang of it. Hence, I will be publishing more vlogs soon. There is no more reason why I should not.

I hope you get to check my Youtube channel here. Watch my travel vlogs and let me know what you think of them. If you like my content and would enjoy watching similar videos in the future, do subscribe to my channel. Hit the notification bell, too, so you are notified of new uploads.

We can also connect on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok.

Stay safe and healthy, guys!

Are you looking for a place to stay in Boracay for 2000 pesos and below per night? Click here.

The post MY SM SUPERMALLS SPECIAL PACKAGE appeared first on JOEL JAWS ANDRADA.

Let me share with you how I gained and lost weight during quarantine. Pre-COVID, I was juggling three jobs. To and from work, I would ride my bike and/or walk in between. Most of the time, I was out of bed and on my feet. Also, I followed a regular meal schedule. I had a routine. I was up early in the morning and was out late at night. Busy bee, as my friends would call me.

How I gained weight during quarantine

When the government declared lockdown in March to curb COVID-19, like most of us I guess, I succumbed to a sedentary lifestyle. The first week served as a breather – a long-over due vacation on one of the best island destinations in the country to boot. On my second week of forced vacation though, I started feeling anxious. I could not help but worry about the uncertain future amidst the pandemic. Often, I would find myself in the four corners of my room, in bed, just staring at the ceiling with nothing to do. With anxiety came a big appetite. I turned to food, bad food that is, to make me feel better. Who doesn’t? While devouring hours and hours of Netflix and K-drama series, I was busy munching on a lot of junk, too.

Watch great movies and TV series on your phone, laptop or Smart TV. You just need a stable internet connection. Subscribe to Netflix by clicking here.

My favorite Netflix partner food was (and still is) Lay’s Sour Cream and Onion Potato Chips. I could finish a big bag of chips in minutes. I had to have at least two bags in a movie marathon. And so, I had “fun” at the expense of my body. By the end of May, I had already gained an extra 20 lbs. Oh and by the way, I was already over and beyond my desired weight even before the lockdown started.

Turning Point

On June 1, the government eased restrictions. We were already allowed to swim in designated parts of the beach. It was when I began to “see” and feel the obvious changes. My pair of swimming shorts had already become too tight for comfort. Running from Station 2 to 1 suddenly became more laborious. There were more rest periods than the actual running. Further, because of my diet, I got gout. I was disabled for at least three days. I could not stand and walk and stayed in bed (again) watching Netflix (again).

It was time to make a choice. If I wanted to make the most of this “free” time, I must be fit. First things first. I needed to address my gout. I looked up home remedies for gout. My Mom shared to me about the wonders of apple cider vinegar. Thanks, Google! I learned that apple cider vinegar can help address gout and lose weight at the same time. And, that is how my apple cider vinegar obsession began.

How I lost weight during quarantine

• Apple cider vinegar. Regular intake of apple cider vinegar is probably one of the reasons why I lost weight. I take two tablespoons (15–30 ml) of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup (237 ml) of water once daily… sometimes twice- one in the morning and one before bedtime. Also, I read that taking too much of apple cider vinegar has side effects. I suggest you read more about it here before taking it.

My favorite brand of apple cider vinegar is the Bragg Organic (raw-unfiltered) Apple Cider Vinegar With The Mother. I tried Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar but I felt it did not give me the same heat- I was not perspiring as much.

• Active lifestyle. I resumed an active lifestyle by exercising daily at the beach and at home. Last June, I enrolled in a gym but I stopped after a month when they increased their fee by 50%.

• Drinking moderately. I minimized my alcoholic and soda beverage intake to once a week, sometimes every other week. Aside from less calories, it is also economical.

• Intermittent fasting. I eat everything during the eating window from 1 PM to 9 PM. No food intake outside this period.

• Eating slowly. I eat “rhythmically”. I intentionally enjoy munching my food and let my taste buds do their thing before swallowing. This is also one way of tricking your brain that your stomach is already full.

• Black coffee. I drink two cups of black coffee daily. I read that drinking coffee without cream and sugar can help you lose weight. Coffee also has antiaging effects.

• Water therapy. I drink water regularly. I bring a water tumbler with me all the time. Whenever I feel hungry, I gulp water. More often, we think we are hungry but actually we are just thirsty. So, drink up!

• Less white bread. I used to think white bread is better than rice. I read otherwise. Now, I eat rice, sometimes boiled camote.

• Less sugar. Admittedly, I am a sweet tooth. I love eating cakes, especially Contis’ Mango Bravo. So this one takes a lot of sacrifice on my part. Likewise, I love ice cream despite being lactose intolerant. I still eat my cake and ice cream but not so often. Besides, my family also has a history of diabetes. Avoiding sugar will certainly do me more good than harm.

• High fiber diet. I eat oatmeal with just hot water. No milk for me because, as I said, I am lactose intolerant. Likewise, I regularly eat fruits.

So that is how I gained and lost weight during quarantine. I hope I get to keep my eye on the ball and do not lose track.

Next fitness goal

My next fitness goal is to gain a little bit of muscle mass. Since I am lactose intolerant, I can not drink the regular whey protein. Hence, I resorted to hard boiled eggs. I consume at least two eggs per day for my protein intake.

My friend, Carla, who is also a fitness enthusiast, recommended Purely Inspired Organic Protein, a plant-based protein. We checked and found out that it was on sale. She ordered online for me. I tried it and it was good. I felt energetic without the upset stomach. It was a bit expensive though and hard to find. By the time I finished the jar, that is after a month, it was no longer on sale.

Fortunately, I discovered Athlene, a local brand. Athlene has a lot of variants. I bought the Athlene Active Pure Isolate Starter Pack for only P1,299.00. It comes in two flavors: chocolate and vanilla. Chocolate is my preference. The starter pack includes a free tumbler, too!

Athlene Active Pure Isolate is 100% Whey Protein Isolate.

• 25g of Protein per serving
• 0g of fat
• 0g of sugar

I am down to my last pack of Athlene. For my next purchase, I will try their strawberry variant. This is not sponsored. I just really love and believe in the product. For more product information, you may visit their website here. To check their ongoing promos, follow them on Facebook here.

Did you like my post about how I gained and lost weight during quarantine? How about you? What is your fitness goal?

The post HOW I GAINED AND LOST WEIGHT DURING QUARANTINE appeared first on JOEL JAWS ANDRADA.

In the morning of Christmas eve I woke up feeling cold and having chills. My body was telling me to rest. It has been weeks of continuous activities especially with the recently concluded MasKaraOK Challenge.

Aside from hosting events, I also manage an apartelle during the day and I tend a bar from five in the afternoon till midnight. Before, in between and after bedtime, I create videos. I am on a roll not to mention the parties and meetings that I needed to attend.

On December 24 at ten in the morning, after shaking for a good ten minutes, I was already running a high fever. I asked one of my staff to buy me Bioflu, bottled water and an apple. I do not know why apple. I guess it was force of habit. My mom would always feed me fruits when I was sick. I also called in sick. My mind could no longer take control and my body was saying it needed to rest and recover.

I slept the whole day and woke up in the evening realizing that it was Christmas eve and I should at least celebrate it with my staff. So, I asked them to buy anything they wanted to eat and they came home with a bucket of Chicken Joy, french fries, rice and soda. After dinner, I took another tablet of Bioflu and dozed off.

I slept through Christmas eve only to be awakened by the strong gusty winds of Typhoon Ursula in the morning.

I wanted to go out to witness Ursula’s might. I wanted to create a vlog similar to my vlog about Tisoy PH. I wanted to do an a la Atom Araullo during Yolanda… but I was too sick to even bother. Instead, I asked my staff to buy us our breakfast and two capsules of Bioflu. After breakfast, I dozed off.

I woke up in the afternoon to the sound of roofs clapping and rainwater splattering against my window pane. I went out to check and saw that my staff was still there. Power went off across the island. Globe’s signal and data connection shut down, too. I told myself “It is something you have no control over”. So, I decided to go back to bed.

Early evening, I woke up again to have dinner so I can take another capsule of Bioflu. Instead of asking my staff to buy us food, I decided to go out and explore. Lo and behold! D’Mall Palengke’s entrance was flooded. The street was full of people walking like zombies. We walked to McDonald’s and it was full of people in long queues. We walked further up to Andoks and it was also full. Even Ministop was full. We walked to Munchies and it was closed. I then decided to go back to McDonald’s and asked my staff to queue up after placing our orders.

I still had no idea about the extent of Ursula’s impact on Boracay Island until we got back home with one of my staff telling me that their boarding house’s roof, walls and ceiling were blown away. He could not message me because there was no telecommunication signal or whatsoever. I told my staff to stay with me first until things normalize.

My cellphone’s battery was dying already and I still had to message everyone in my family to inform them about what is going on. At 9 in the evening, I decided to go to a nearby bar, Frendz Bar, to juice up. My friends in Frendz told me that they, too, were affected by Ursula. Some of them lost their roofs while some got flooded. They said that Ursula was the strongest typhoon to ever hit Boracay in recent years. It was devastating to hear about it all especially so that I slept through it while my friends were trying to salvage their homes. I went home with 58% battery and zero spirit at 1 in the morning.

The next day, my fever was back. Hence, I took another capsule of Bioflu and slept most of the day. At 3 PM, I decided to get up and get dressed for work. By 4PM, I was on my way on the back of a motorcycle. We eased our way through uprooted electrical posts and trees in Angol, Station 3. By 5PM, I was already serving drinks at Coco Loco Boracay Bar.

By 930PM, I could feel my fever coming back and by 10PM, I was already walking home. I passed by the beach front and saw piles and piles of leaves and broken branches from Station 3 up to Station 2, in front of Epic Bar.

I hope tomorrow will be better.

The post SLEEPLESS IN BORACAY ON CHRISTMAS EVE (Typhoon Ursula Update- Dec. 24, 2019) appeared first on JOEL JAWS ANDRADA.

My room is pitch-dark. The only source of light is my mobile phone’s screen whose power I am trying to conserve. It has been more than 36 hours since power throughout the island has been shut down because of Typhoon Ursula. Bearing a storm signal number three, Ursula wreaked havoc on the beautiful island of Boracay leaving roofless houses and uprooted trees and electric poles in its track on Christmas Day. According to a friend who has been living on the island for five years, Ursula is the strongest yet to hit the island. Yes…. stronger than Yolanda.

The E-trikes plying the Boracay Main Road have lessened. Tricycles running on fuel are scarce and will soon cease to run once the island’s limited fuel supply becomes depleted. Some hotels have generator sets but their generator sets cannot run 24/7 to avoid overheating and would also have to be refilled. The queue in gasoline stations are long, too. Hence, hotel owners have to ration powersupply.

All communication lines have been cut off. No Smart. No Globe. No SMS. No data. No internet. No Facebook.

All ATMs are offline. My cash on hand will soon need replenishment. And, I have no idea how to produce the dough. There is also no way of receiving money via Palawan. Money transfers are offline, too.

While bar tending, a guest told me that she and her daughter have decided to cut short their vacation and leave the island first thing tomorrow because they have no means of paying for their accommodation. No credit card transactions. No Visa. No Mastercard. Further, she shared to me that she was trying to console another guest earlier in the morning who was so worried because he does not have enough cash to pay for his food in the coming days.

Some of my friends lost their houses to the raging winds of Ursula. To them, this Christmas is their saddest yet.

My room is still pitch dark. This time I am hearing one of my staff snore almost rhythmically to the beat of my neighbor’s generator set. I let my two staff stay with me since their boarding house was literally blown away.

According to rumors, power maybe restored in a week’s time. Communication lines? No one knows. ATMs going online? Nobody knows. We are, unfortunately, cut off from the rest of the world.

I reapplied a generous amount of off lotion. Only in my swimming trunks, I hope I get to sleep soundly tonight. I know that tomorrow will be better.

Merry Christmas, Boracay!

The post THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS IN BORACAY (Typhoon Ursula Update- Dec. 26, 2019) appeared first on JOEL JAWS ANDRADA.

I went to one of my favorite bars on the island the other day, Cocoloco Boracay Beach Resort.

While editing one of my video projects, I could not help but overhear the conversation of the bar staff, MJ, Chennie and Rechel. So, being the chismoso (inquisitive) me, I closed the lid of my laptop and went to the bar to check the commotion. Apparently, they were trying to figure out how to remove the water stains on the glasses. The water stains make the glass look slightly opaque, dirty and old. As a highly reputable beach front bar since 1979, it is imperative to keep everything spick and span. MJ, the bartender, shared his recommendation on how to remove water stains on glass.

Here is how to remove the whitish water stains on glass:

1. Mix baking soda and vinegar to a paste. Any kind of vinegar you can find in your kitchen will do.
2. Using a sponge, apply the paste on the glass as if you are using your usual dish washing paste. Make sure the interior and exterior surfaces are covered.
3. Let it stand for three to five minutes.
4. Rinse the glass with room temperature water.

And, voila! You have a brand new glass! It is that easy! It is so convenient and cost-effective. You can also use the paste in cleaning the glass door in your shower.

Thanks, MJ, for sharing!

Watch this vlog on how to remove water stains on glass.

For more travel and lifestyle updates, subscribe to this blog, my Facebook Page and Youtube channel. Let us also connect on Facebook for daily personal updates.

Remember to never stop exploring the world one story at a time. Signing out for now. Peace!

The post HOW TO REMOVE WATER STAINS ON GLASS appeared first on JOEL JAWS ANDRADA.

After more than three months, I have finally come to terms that moving to Boracay is, somehow, for good. Well, at least, for now.

Adulting…

This morning, when my shoot was rescheduled by a client, I passed by the grocery to buy some cleaning agents: walis tambo or broom, cleaning brush, some rags, floor wax and an insecticide. You see… I have always dodged the idea of permanence since I got here on April 6, 2019 and every time there is an opportunity that has any semblance of commitment, I veer away from it to recalibrate my gears.

My Mountain Bike – Phantom

RM, my best buddy on the island, lent me his mountain bike for my convenience. Phantom, the bike’s name, has been helpful to me as I shuttle to and fro the stretch of Boracay Main Road and its side streets daily, rain or shine.

Phantom has already undergone a number of repairs under my care. In fact, I have already spent so much on it that RM told me to buy it from him already. Up to now, I have not paid RM a cent. Lol. I guess it is time to pay him for good and take ownership.

Watch how I start my typical day on Boracay Island

My Dog – Dorito

I spend most of my days and nights by the beach and I frequent Cocoloco Boracay Beach Resort where they adopted a daschpin- a crossbreed of a daschund and a Pinoy dog.

Dorito, the daschpin, was rescued by one of the guests at the beach from a kid. From what I heard, the kid was trying to drown Dorito. Poor pup. The guest brought Dorito to the hotel, bought dog food and spent for a visit to the vet and medicines. But the guest had to check-out eventually to go back abroad and asked one of the hotel staff to take care of Dorito instead.

Dogs love me for as long as I can remember. I guess they can sense if someone is pure-spirited. Lol. And, Dorito is no exception. The dog adores me. She comes running towards me everytime I arrive and would persistently make me get her to stay on my lap as I work on my laptop for some quality time.

One day, one of the hotel staff asked me if I wanted to adopt Dorito since she is greatly enamored to me. As expected, the elusive me did not say ‘Yes’ and reasoned out that I will not be able to take good care of her since I am almost always out of the house less I tag her along everywhere and anywhere I go.Now, Dorito lives on the mainland. Sadly, Gie, the hotel staff, brought her to their family house for good. I miss Dorito badly. I missed my chance to be a dog’s best friend.

My Packed Luggage

Ever since I moved to Boracay, I have not really made any effort to unpack my stuff. Somehow, I have harbored this lingering feeling that anytime I would just quit and return to Manila. For the past three months, I have been living out of my suitcase. Everything is still intact inside my luggage so that, in case, I feel like leaving, I can instantly roll away and get on a boat back to the city.

My Living Quarters

With still packed luggage, I did not find any reason to clean my living quarters (eeew, right?) and make it more comfortable until last night when I had to unpack all my stuff while looking for a camera accessory for my supposed shoot this morning. I had to put my stuff on the floor. Only then did I realize that the floor needed some serious cleaning. I mean really. The dust (or sand) has found its new home on my floor apparently. Lol.

My Friends

In a span of more than three months, apart from RM, I think I have significantly made friends with some of the islanders: some here for work, some local residents.

My Visiting Friends

Since my non-Boracay friends learned that I already live here, I have become sort of a ‘tourist spot’ and they include me in their Boracay itinerary. Lol. I meet different visiting friends almost every week. It feels great to be missed. Heck, have I not moved here, I would not have had the chance to meet up with dear friends from way back. Guys, thank you for meeting up with me. I highly appreciate it.

End Of Contract

One of the projects where I devote half of my time just recently ended contract. Although the contact with the client was mostly online and by phone via Viber, it was also the only project that had got me anchored to Metro Manila since most transactions were done there. And, if it was required of me to attend a meeting, I planned to just get on board the next 2Go ship to Batangas and bus to Metro Manila. This project was the last thread that was keeping me tied to my city life. Now that it has been cut, the prospect of staying in Boracay longer became more probable.

Ongoing Projects On The Island

Currently, I am up to my neck with ongoing projects as an online content creator, videographer and a licensed drone pilot. Projects vary from audio visual presentations to social media management with Boracay-based clients. Likewise, I still have pending travel vlogs and videos and some low-key businesses on the side. There is no way that I am saying ‘No’ to these wonderful opportunities. I am thankful for the blessings that come my way. I am hoping to help more businesses on the island prosper through my online content.

Moving Forward

Today, I am taking that bold step of embracing the unknown and the uncertain and to inevitably start growing my roots on the island. And, I know that buying my first broom is just the first step of many.

I guess there is no turning back now. I hope that one day in the not so distant future, I will look back to this and smile and say I made it. I will make this work. I will keep the Faith and pray. So wish me luck!

Let us connect on Facebook for daily updates. Signing out for now. Peace!

The post BORACAY IS HOME appeared first on JOEL JAWS ANDRADA.

It has been more than two months since I moved to Boracay and has been about the same time since I had a decent blog post.

I moved to Boracay on April 6, 2019 to help out in staging the first ever Boracay Island Drone Film Festival and never left since then.

For the most part, it was just me and my business partner, Coach RM Lobaton, doing everything from top to bottom. It was both mentally and physically draining.

It was emotionally tough as well since I just anchored myself to a new environment not knowing what lies ahead. There were days when I would catch myself “crying” behind my shades out of exhaustion. Once, while dragging my bike on the beach carrying three roll up banners that I picked up from LBC D’Mall, I asked myself if I have done the right thing- moving to the island and all.

There were nights when I did not feel like sleeping anymore because I would have to wake up early the next day anyway. It was hard but I managed. We managed. Thanks for having a business partner who has the grit, is grounded and has a higher emotional quotient than me.

We were able to successfully stage the event. I will be posting a long delayed blog about it in the coming days.

https://www.facebook.com/boracayislanddroneacademy/videos/1814905831988909/?__xts__[0]=68.ARBNrHGKN20Coq3HzLyB0YEI52mn43cZhbiAjH9W7z37NBjypjOratr0fO6WFckTfHarxvzD5K5rjpkxM5S-oNpCJEmkwX-ZK1reAJyBR83LAkF4BdNWc2S2usQ_kXZ-GrjiEErvHZyrOIU5AwSZo0OQzfIFGlyMGwyvBxDYetbVRW9kCR7n1siW6y628W0HkiTIYHJNLA-z5ccoy9YB5Ie6FkUzqPY3vqBej3uTAtCXqaz_fMD80UcNtxTzmkMQKKqMd7dlrk4ZiU5t7_QC9-7zNgnxkzkGp4W76hSp_0s2IHRvqQtZ4rsvEkzz5FZFHkihDM2-FlrC5SDIDatXNkVFZ-rdX1GzToluApsgVFemL85KeKmIoxLCNiYt0LbNob4qd8w7AJMInc2mI4q_RZbZairsG5Atk8riSRG3rQ5eJr86iy8Tfyo&__tn__=-R

In May, almost simultaneously, I had the opportunity to assist in two television shows of mainstream television network ABS CBN. I was Magandang Buhay’s Official Drone Pilot during their #TresIsBest Third Anniversay Special shot entirely here on the island.

I also got to assist in one of Jeepney TV’s episodes with my good friends Tam, Anette, Jen, Allen and Jireh.

It was two weeks of bliss because I got to do what I like doing and what I think I am good at- flying and being part of production.

For the past few weeks, I have been waking up at the same time as if I were still living in the city. Whether I had a good night’s rest or not, I would wake up at 6:30 every morning just staring at the ceiling and counting my breaths… waiting… waiting for me to fall asleep yet again. By 8’ish, I would be up and about.

A friend who lives in New York once asked me via messenger how I plan to spend a vacation now that I am always at the beach. I guess one of the things that I miss is that feeling of looking forward to going to the beach and doing nothing. For the first few weeks, quite honestly, I just did what a normal vacationer would do, that is, swim, party, repeat. But, you see, leading a vacationer’s lifestyle on the island is not sustainable.

It took a while for me to imbibe the island vibe really and I am still unlearning stress and pressure. The heck, I still wear a wrist watch… I am one of the very few people on the island who actually wears one. Thanks to years of living in the metropolis slaving myself away to the daily grind of the corporate world.

Today, my business partner asked me to take a day off. When I got his message, I was already on my bike to work. I suddenly found myself lost for a good ten minutes on the beach not knowing where to go. He told me to go around the island and take a break. Rest.

I guess when someone asks you to take a break, it means you badly need one. So that’s what I just did. I thought of sleeping the whole day and night and wake up tomorrow but my neighbors (I think) just got a new set of speakers and plan to test how loud they play the whole day. So I decided to go to D’Mall instead and spend time with friends at Red Coconut. I left my bike and walked for a change.

I still have a long way of unlearning stress. Wish me luck! Signing out for now. Peace.

The post BEING AN ISLANDER FOR TWO MONTHS AND COUNTING HIGHLIGHTS appeared first on JOEL JAWS ANDRADA.

And so in an hour this 2Go ship will arrive in Caticlan Port. In about an hour, I will finally get to anchor myself yet again to a new place. Well… not really a new place that I am not familiar with rather a place I have fallen in love with the first time I saw it years ago. Boracay.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2466965099988915&id=100000263479267

Way back, mid 2000s, I saved enough money and got the opportunity to visit Boracay and see what was all the rave about. I told myself then that I will one day stay there, work and live the rest of my life as an islander.

Years passed, I have become so busy to even remember and that Boracay dream remained to be just a dream… a seemingly distant reality. The regular news about its degradation and alarming pollution made it less attractive for me to even reconsider reliving the dream. Its closure on April 26, 2018 was the ultimate sign for me to kill the dream.

Then came October 2018. While backpacking in Southern Leyte, my long time friend of 10 years, Jen, asked me to join her in Boracay on October 26, 2018, exactly 6 months after its closure for rehabilitation. She said that it would be a great subject for my vlog. I could not agree more. Featuring Boracay on my blog and vlog after six months of closure would certainly be a hit. I said I needed to be there. Jen told me that I just needed to pay for my airline tickets and she will shoulder the accommodations. How could I say no to that? Who would? So, without batting an eyelash and without checking my cash flow, I booked the cheapest flight to Caticlan. You see, keeping track of my expenses became vital since I left the corporate world in 2016 when I got a redundancy package. Working as a freelance digital nomad now requires a higher level of financial acumen and emotional quotient so to speak.

After seven years, alas, I was back on the island. Boracay is back… back to how it was… back to how it should be. I fell in love again and that dream of living on the island got resuscitated. But the odds were against me and chances were slim. How can I even do it when I have financial responsibilities in the city? There were a lot of questions that needed to be answered before I could even begin to entertain the idea of Boracay.

But as they say, be careful what you wish for because you might just get it… sooner than later.

After my 12-day stay on the island, I was back in Metro Manila in November to do my usual grind. Before leaving the island, Jen and I agreed to be back in February 2019 with meaner beach bodies. Funny. So I booked the cheapest ticket I could find and remained religious to my intermittent fasting cycle.

On February 21, 2019, with meaner bodies, Jen and I met at the Clark International Airport to board a flight to Caticlan. We were supposed to meet at Trinoma to catch the P2P bus to Clark together at 5 AM. But as expected, Jen did not make it on time.

I stayed on the island for 11 days. My stay surprisingly did not push through as planned. You see, I intended to stay on the beach more often which did not happen. I think I only got to swim twice. I planned to stay up late bar hopping which did not happen. I was mostly in the hotel room either doing a teleconference or editing videos. I planned to spend more alone time but instead I was busy arranging island activities for a group of 126. I planned to visit my friends on Carabao Island but I was busy meeting new friends on the island instead. And that was when things started to happen.

To be continued…

The post MY BORACAY TIMELINE BEGINS. WHY NOT? appeared first on JOEL JAWS ANDRADA.

Was the Coke Studio homecoming event last night a disaster? I was not invited to the event but most of my lifestyle blogger friends were. My newsfeed last night till this morning was all about it. Some were ranting about how they were inconvenienced about the event cancellation while most were thankful and fully understood why the event had to be cancelled.

I am just glad that my blogger friends like Lhyzie Bongon and Mommy Lars got out of it safe and sound. I saw a clip on Facebook how rowdy the crowd was.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2212218978801815&id=100000412042550

Here is my piece… I think that the organizers were actually preventing a potential disaster similar to the tragic Wowowee event that happened years ago in Ultra, Pasig. And nobody… I mean nobody wants the same thing happening again.

Let me refresh your memories by watching the video I found on youtube below:

Thanks to John Paulo Caparros of Strategic Works, Inc. for sharing what the management of Coca Cola Philippines has to say about the whole incident.

Below is Coca Cola Philippines’ official statement:

On December 07, 2018, the Coke Studio Concert organizers, Philippine National Police, the City of Pasay, and SM Mall of Asia decided to reschedule the Coke Studio Christmas Concert to early next year to prioritize the public’s safety.

The safety of everyone is of utmost importance to us. The unsafe behavior of portions of an estimated 15,000 spectators such as pushing, jumping on the barricades and throwing bottles, threatened the safety of the rest of the concert-goers, despite numerous reminders from authorities present.

There were some who sustained minor injuries and were immediately given medical attention. After careful assessment, and repeated requests for the public’s cooperation, Coca-Cola together with all the artists, PNP, the City of Pasay, and SM MOA, deemed it necessary to reschedule the concert to a later date.

We thank the PNP, the local government of Pasay, and SM MOA for their full support in helping ensure everyone’s protection, the artists for their passion and fully supporting the decision to prioritize their fans’ welfare, and lastly, to the concert goers for their understanding and support. We recognize that a lot of them have traveled far to see their favorite artists. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. Rest assured that we will continue to coordinate with the relevant parties to further tighten control measures in our next events.

Again, we thank everyone for their understanding and their continued support.

Coca-Cola PH

https://www.facebook.com/309290079117037/posts/2024752920904069/

I hope that we learn more about discipline as a people. We all can have fun and feast without having to act like wild animals. Better safe than sorry.

What do you think about the cancellation of the Coke Studio Homecoming last night? Let me know by putting your comments below.

Signing out for now. Peace.

The post WAS THE COKE STUDIO HOMECOMING EVENT LAST NIGHT A DISASTER? appeared first on JOEL JAWS ANDRADA.

https://www.facebook.com/joeljawsandrada/videos/1859039607510073/

For better definition, watch the video below posted on Youtube.

Hi there. I am Joel Jaws Andrada and I am a Travel Blogger and Videographer. Here is a sample of my work.

https://www.facebook.com/joeljawsandrada/videos/309869926229729/

For better definition, watch the video below posted on Youtube.

I lost my drone in Batanes, Philippines. I went to Batanes to cover the wonderful and amazing tourist spots in collaboration with a local travel agency. I went to Vayang Rolling Hills and took off. My first attempt failed as I chickened out and decided to land as soon as I felt the gustiness of the wind. I told myself, “next time, Jaws… next time.” And then in ten minutes, I took off for the second time. I struggled piloting my drone…. until I could no longer control it. I wanted it to return to me but the wind just won’t let it. I could feel my drone’s yearning to come home to me… I stared at the distance counter on my mobile go higher and higher as my drone went farther and farther away. I watched my drone as it grew smaller and smaller in the horizon until we lost contact.

https://www.facebook.com/joeljawsandrada/photos/a.1607497679306890/1956658697724118/?type=3&theater

To some, it was just a drone. To me, it was all the video projects and travel opportunities gone with the wind. One thing I learned in Batanes is to never give up especially when I went back to Vayang Hills on my last day. The wind was a little less gusty but still feisty as ever. Batanes taught me that life will always be tough and the only way to live is to be tougher and sway with the wind. I am not giving up. This is what I am good at.

I am asking help from you so I can replace my lost drone so I can start making travel videos again and fulfill my commitments. Click here to donate. I am a bit tight on resources but I will prevail.

If you are also in need of a video editor, I can work for you. Thank you for your time and for even reading this piece.

Source: Help me replace my lost drone

The post HELP ME REPLACE MY LOST DRONE appeared first on JOEL JAWS ANDRADA.

Here is how I lost my drone in Batanes.

https://www.facebook.com/joeljawsandrada/videos/1859039607510073/

For better definition, watch it on youtube here:

I went to Batanes to cover the wonderful and amazing tourist spots. I went to Vayang Rolling Hills and took off. My first attempt failed as I chickened out and decided to land as soon as I felt the gustiness of the wind. I told myself, “next time, Jaws… next time.”
And then in ten minutes, I took off for the second time. I struggled piloting my drone…. until I could no longer control it. I wanted it to return to me but the wind just won’t let it. I could feel my drone’s yearning to come home to me… I stared at the distance counter on my mobile go higher and higher as my drone went farther and farther away. I watched my drone as it grew smaller and smaller in the horizon until we lost contact.
Thanks to my fellow travel blogger Cai Dominguez of Travelosyo and Kuya Wilson for staying with me and helping me look for my drone. Special thanks, too, to Mark Lawrence B Lechuga of Safetravel Philippines and Mike Barcelona Acebes of Katuvang B&B for their concern.

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Sunset. Batanes conquered at last! #batanes #basco #itsmorefuninthephilippines #travelbloggers #travelblogger #travelblog #travelph #travelphotography #travelphotos #pinoywanderer #wanderer #wanderlust #globetrotter #asianwanderlust #Philippines #digitalnomads #diginomads #pinasmuna #online #content #creator #dronescapades #island

A post shared by JOEL JAWS ANDRADA | B/Vlogger (@joeljawsandrada) on Aug 21, 2018 at 2:56am PDT

I will never forget Batanes. Batanes will hold a special place in my heart not only because of this unfortunate experience but because of its sheer and mystical beauty. I am going down in history as the first person to lose his drone while in flight in Batanes.
I am not giving up. I am only on my second day in Batanes. I will come up with a beautiful travel video featuring Batanes with or without a drone. Not yet signing out… sorry. Peace!

The post MY DRONE FLEW AWAY IN BATANES appeared first on JOEL JAWS ANDRADA.

A good friend of mine from the Entertainment Industry is looking for talents preferably with acting skills for  a television commercial. Scheduled shoot is this August 2018.

Requirements:

• 1 male in his early 40’s to play as father
• 1 female in her early 40’s to play as mother
• 1 male teenager, to play as son
• 1 female teenager, to play as daughter

If you have got what it takes, please send composite cards to joynyu@yahoo.com and include corresponding talent fee/s. Deadline of submission is August 4, 2018.

Good luck! Signing out for now. Peace!

The post ENTERTAINMENT | TALENTS WITH ACTING SKILLS WANTED FOR A TVC appeared first on JOEL JAWS ANDRADA.

Since I sit for long hours as a video editor, I make it a point that I get to walk often as I continue this journey to fitness.

View this post on Instagram

When you gotta edit, you gotta edit… #content #vlogger #producer #adobepremiere

A post shared by JOEL JAWS ANDRADA | B/Vlogger (@joeljawsandrada) on Aug 21, 2017 at 12:50am PDT

The Philippine Heart Association declares that sitting is the new smoking. I have also mentioned this in one of my blog posts at the start of the year. Click here.

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Taking public transpo in Korea means a lot of walking…

A post shared by JOEL JAWS ANDRADA | B/Vlogger (@joeljawsandrada) on Sep 22, 2014 at 5:06pm PDT

Whenever I am abroad, I would walk long distances especially when looking for good bargains. I am sure my traveling friends would agree. Most of the time, I do it to save on fare money. LOL. So, why can’t I do it here? I guess there is less pollution in other countries and they are, more often than not, pedestrian-friendly.

To rise to the challenge, I bought a face mask, an umbrella, a rain coat and a pair of walking shoes. Instead of getting stuck in traffic and having to endure the long and frustrating commute, I walk. Of course, I put on sunblock to protect my skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. Click here for my post about the sun’s harmful rays and what it does to the skin.

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When you've got no choice but walk to beat #Metro #Manila #traffic & get from point A to pt B on time, wear a #mask.

A post shared by JOEL JAWS ANDRADA | B/Vlogger (@joeljawsandrada) on Apr 18, 2017 at 6:24am PDT

One time, I walked from Robinson’s Galeria to Cubao. Another, after picking up a special delivery, I walked from the Quezon City Post Office to my house near Camp Crame. Then, after attending a meeting somewhere in Tomas Morato, I decided to walk home, too.

View this post on Instagram

One fine day in Cubao.

A post shared by JOEL JAWS ANDRADA | B/Vlogger (@joeljawsandrada) on Apr 2, 2017 at 10:34pm PDT

Join me on this road to fitness. Let us walk!

Before I sign out, here is what the Philippine Heart Association has to say about “Sitting As The New Smoking”:

The simplest guideline for all of us would have to be, “Sit less and move more,” according to close to 2,000-member Philippine Heart Association (PHA) and the husband and wife tandem of fitness gurus, Jim and Toni Saret.

Yes, there’s a direct relationship between time spent sitting and your risk of early mortality of any cause. As your total sitting time increases, so does your risk of an early death.

Sitting for around eight hours a day at the workplace increases the risk of contracting heart disease, cancer and diabetes by 40 percent. Actually, it can cause killer legs, too.

Majority of the world population is in the working age-group. This group are always on the computer. Glued on their seats for eight hours, they lead sedentary lifestyles, while facing different kinds of stress which leads to unhealthy eating (stress eating) and lifestyle. Most of them are unable to engage in appropriate physical activities for their physical and mental well-being. And in worse cases, some do not have the means to cope with stress and maintain mental health.

Eating healthy, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding vices like alcohol and cigarettes are ways of preventing major lifestyle diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancers as well as other risk factors such as raise blood pressure, raise blood sugar level and obesity. However, awareness and practices of these healthy benefits are still low among the working population

The Philippine Heart Association (PHA), a non-stock, non-profit organization of 1,780 Filipino cardiologists is committed to foster exceptional cardiovascular education and primary care for everyone. Living up to its mission, the PHA aims to do its share on the awareness on preventive and management of heart diseases. The initiative encourages employees to improve their physical and mental well-being, and effectively address sedentary lifestyles by launching a campaign called “Sneakers Friday.”

“Sneakers Friday” capitalizes on promoting physical activity. It is meant to promote workplace health and wellness where personnel are encouraged to wear sneakers, casual top and pants every Friday as a “dress down day.”

The PHA’s “Sneakers Friday” campaign builds on the perspective that individuals have the ability to adopt healthy lifestyles when supported by a conducive workplace environment that promotes “healthy eating, healthy habits and physical and mental fitness.”

In order to obtain a healthy lifestyle, it is important to incorporate wellness in all aspects of one’s life, including the workplace. Corporate wellness generates many positive outcomes for their employees as well as the company itself. Even a simple activity such as walking (or brisk walking, with100 steps per minute) has so many powerful health benefits. When done correctly and regularly, it can be the key to losing weight, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, and boosting your memory as well as reducing your risk for developing heart disease, diabetes, cancer and more. Walking could be done effortlessly without interrupting corporate work. One can also choose to take the stairs rather than ride the elevator or when one parks the car, choose the farthest end so you’d have more time to walk.

The “Sneakers Friday” initial campaign got off the ground spearheaded by medical professionals and cardiovascular experts themselves in November of 2017 with the Makati Medical Center as its launching site, followed by The Medical City where every last weekday was officially declared as “Sneakers Friday.”

Last May 22, 2018, The “Sneakers Friday” campaign was officially launched. This ultimate goal of this campaign is to encourage the corporate sector to integrate more physical activity into their hectic pace and to make them aware that the corporate sector is the paragon of good health.” campaign was officially launched. This ultimate goal of this campaign is to encourage the corporate sector to integrate more physical activity into their hectic pace and to make them aware that the corporate sector is the paragon of good health.

The benefits of incorporating a wellness program like “Sneakers Friday” in your workplace:

Aside from promoting a healthy lifestyle, it relieves employee stress, and it also promotes employee camaraderie. Setting time aside for employees to exercise can help reduce stress and overall sitting time. It also releases endorphins (happy hormones) and in the process creating happier and more energized employees. With a better mood and more energy comes more productivity!

Incorporating the Sneakers Friday campaign is great for promoting employee fitness and health. Partaking in physical fitness activities is proven to lower one’s chances of getting sick, which in return will ultimately lower health care costs for employees and the company. In addition, there’s an increase productivity as employees take fewer sick days too.

Employees get to know fellow employees outside of work. With a great group activity that allows co-workers to get to know each other better, employees will get the benefits of physical activity and the socialization that comes along with the group exercise.

With the “Sneakers Friday” campaign, coupled with healthy habits and lifestyle, the PHA looks forward to seeing happier and heart healthier Filipinos.” campaign, coupled with healthy habits and lifestyle, the PHA looks forward to seeing happier and heart healthier Filipinos.

The opinions, representations and statements made within this press release are those of the author and not of http://www.joelandrada.com as a whole. Any copyright remains with the author and any liability with regard to infringement of intellectual property rights remain with them. This blog site accepts no liability for any errors, omissions or representations.

The post SITTING IS THE NEW SMOKING FILIPINO HEART EXPERTS SAY appeared first on JOEL JAWS ANDRADA.

After booking a budget ticket to Jakarta via Air Asia, I thought that the next best thing to do was to book a hotel that would be easy on the pocket as well. I was going to Jakarta to attend two meetings. The venue of the first meeting was located at the client’s office in South Jakarta. I opened Google maps and typed my client’s office address. After the location pin showed up, I typed “hotels nearby”. A number of hotels showed up in an instant with their corresponding room rates per night. I was easily intrigued by the room rates of ZEN Rooms SCBD at P 553.49 per night.

Wow! What a bargain! I clicked their icon and was directed to their website. At those budget-friendly rates, they offer the following amenities:

• 20 Sq m Room
• 24-hour Front Desk
• Common Kitchen
• Flat Screen TV
• Non Smoking Room
• Parking
• Smoking Room
• Study Desk

Their online customer service was also very helpful. I chatted with Dayne and she was accommodating with my inquiries. I did not book my stay immediately because I was a little bit wary quite frankly. How can a hotel charge so low and be able to provide the amenities that they claim? So, I gave it a thought for a week. Well, honestly, I did not really have time to think about it since I was too busy. A week before my date of departure, I finally decided to take the risk and booked my stay at ZEN Rooms SCBD anyway. I mean, what was there to lose? I am not picky. I just needed a place to sleep in.

Can you believe this? I only paid P 1,660.46 for a three-night stay in Jakarta, Indonesia!

Upon arrival at the CGK or Soekarno–Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, I grabbed my mobile, clicked the GRAB icon, inputted ZEN Rooms SCBD and requested for a GRAB driver. I paid IDR 128,000 or PHP 486 for GRAB and IDR 35,000 or PHP 133.00 for toll fees.

Here is ZEN Rooms SCBD on Google Maps:

[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3966.215046030436!2d106.80340631476919!3d-6.235359995486437!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x2e69f1432e9472d9%3A0xc3ce40bd70c024e3!2sZEN+Rooms+SCBD!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sid!4v1521734796771&w=600&h=450]

Arriving at the hotel, it almost felt like I was coming home to my former apartment in Project 8, Quezon City. It was homey and I was welcomed by Echo, the receptionist aka caretaker. I received a ZEN Rooms Toiletries Bag containing a bottle of shampoo, bath gel, soap and a dental kit.

The room was tidy and smelled clean. Of course, it was not a five-star hotel accommodation but it was decent and just right for my budget. It had good air-conditioning, LCD TV with basic cable channels, personal refrigerator, safety deposit box, closet and two bottles of complimentary mineral water.

The room had a wall clock but no battery. LOL.

Unfortunately, there was no hot shower. But who needs one anyway when in tropical Jakarta? There was also no adapter available. Good thing I brought my Air Asia Travel Adapter.

So if you are a smart traveler, you might want to choose ZEN Rooms in Jakarta, Indonesia.

ZEN Rooms operates in Southeast Asia’s top destinations offering quality and affordable accommodation. They have 5,000 rooms across 50 cities in 7 countries.

With ZEN Rooms, I was able to spend less on accommodation and got extra money to go around Jakarta and spend on good food.

DISCOUNT COUPON CODE

By the way, I have a discount coupon code  that you can use valid until June 27, 2018. Just click here. Avail of $20 discount* at ZEN Rooms Hotels when you travel to Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong.

*$50 Minimum booking value. 

Signing out for now. Peace!

The post SERIOUSLY? 3-NIGHT STAY IN JAKARTA AT ZENROOMS SCBD FOR LESS THAN P2000! appeared first on JOEL JAWS ANDRADA.

Yesterday, March 17, 2018, I had the most wonderful opportunity to attend and cover Air Asia’s Red Hub Convention at The Axon at Green Sun in Makati City, Philippines. Thank you Air Asia. As a BIG Member, it was a privilege and an honor to be covering this event.

AirAsia, the World’s Best Low Cost Carrier, held a digital convention for digital nomads and entrepreneurs at the The Axon at Green Sun. The convention focused on the culture of digital nomads and how AirAsia connects them across Asia.

Who or what are Digital Nomads? They can vary from self-employed freelancers or full-time employees, often of start-ups. Digital nomads are internet-savvy individuals who earn their living from a distance. They usually move from one place to another from co-working spaces to coffee shops to beaches, both in Manila and in other parts of the world.

Yes, I am a digital nomad.

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Walking to work. No holidays for #diginomad #online #content #producer #producerlife

A post shared by JOEL JAWS ANDRADA | B/Vlogger (@joeljawsandrada) on Aug 20, 2017 at 6:04pm PDT

You see, I have been self-employed after leaving the corporate environment in 2016. With the lack of a better term then, I would call myself an online nomad, working outside cubicles and the usual working hours as an online content producer/creator.

I first learned about the term digital nomad two years ago and how digital nomads, mostly foreigners, have crowded the internet cafes and coffee shops in Bali, Indonesia, sharing work spaces while waiting for the next wave to surf.

The term digital nomad or diginomad was all too foreign then.  It amazes me how fast it has become popular locally in just a span of two years. Now there are more virtual offices and co-work spaces and more jobs offering  flexible work schedules and work-from-home options.

AirAsia Philippines CEO Captain Dexter Comendador welcomed everyone by how AirAsia supports the growing needs of these digital nomads in the workplace.

AirAsia Philippines CEO Captain Dexter Comendador said “AirAsia aims to continuously provide better connection to our guests, not only through our massive network in Asia and beyond but also through innovative, digital, and mobile solutions so they can grow and expand their experiences and network on a regional scale. There is a lot of talent in the region which, to date, has lacked the access and opportunities that are readily available to budding entrepreneurs in the West. Through AirAsia Red Hub Convention, we aim to provide the platform and the environment to encourage, validate, and ultimately implement new exciting ideas.”

The prominent speakers who graced the event were:

• Pete Chareonwongsak – Regional Chief Operations Officer, AirAsia
• Norhizam Kadir – VP, Growth Ecosystems Development, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)
• Johannes Jaeger –Co-founder, Hack Horizon
• Shahab Shabibi – CEO & Co-founder, Machine Ventures
• Steve Munroe – CEO & Co-founder, Hubud
• Mikko Barranda – CEO & Co-founder, Acceler8
• Aarom Sarma – CEO, Touristly
• Trisha Velarmino – P.S. I’m On My Way, Travel Blogger

The Red Hub Convention Speakers focused on 3 topics:

• The Future of Work-  about the growth and expansion of the startup industry
• Venture Adventures- focused on how the way we work is changing with the emergence of new, innovative economic models and how mobility has evolved to bring new opportunities for the workforce of tomorrow
• Borderless Business- highlighted the opportunities and ease of doing business across borders, particularly for entrepreneurs in key startup economies such as Manila, Jakarta, Bali, Hong Kong, China

The Red Hub Convention came at a perfect time for Filipinos, especially with more people venturing into their own businesses. Manila is fast becoming one of Southeast Asia’s growing startup hubs.

Although the startup scene in the country may be young, it has a lot of potential for innovation and the recent convention encouraged our fellow Filipinos to step up and step out of their comfort zones.

Through AirAsia, Filipinos now have the opportunity to explore business beyond borders while continuing to thrive in entrepreneurial pursuits. With Air Asia’s low-cost and efficient flying options, digital nomads can now easily travel across different cities in Asia and look for business opportunities. The Red Hub Convention was perfect for whether you’re a digital nomad, industry expert or social entrepreneur.

The convention ended at four in the afternoon. I had a grand time connecting with other digital nomads from different segments of the online world. I believe I gained enough confidence after learning that there is indeed a bright future for me as an Online Content Creator and a Travel Blogger. I just need to be authentic, consistent and persevering in publishing relevant online content for the 3.6 billion people who are online. Got to go! Every minute counts. I need to finish stuff here in the Philippines before I board a plane to Jakarta (of course, via Air Asia) tomorrow morning. Signing out for now. Peace!

The post AIR ASIA’S THE RED HUB CONVENTION: CONNECTING DIGITAL NOMADS ACROSS ASIA & BEYOND appeared first on JOEL JAWS ANDRADA.