Door Shopping On A Weekend For Our Tiny Home Project

The walls are up in our tiny home project, and it’s time that we went shopping for our doors jambs and doors. Join us as we look for this week’s updates on our tiny home and go on a search for our main door. Why don't you leave me a comment below about what kind of main door would you like for your own home? I'll be responding there as well. If you liked this video, don’t forget to like and subscribe! For inquiries and collaborations, please message raisa513@yahoo.com with the subject: Vlog Collab Facebook Page: https://web.facebook.com/scribblesbyr... #tinyhome #tinyhomeliving #tinyhomevlog #thetinyhomeproject #tinyhouse #tinyhomeinzamboanga #zamboangacity #homeprogress #homeplans #homeupdates #minimalism #downsizing #weeklyprogress #searchingforfrontdoor #allaboutdoors #doorways #doors *This is not a sponsored video

Building our Tiny Home Project in Zamboanga

The secret is out, we are building our tiny home in the west coast of Zamboanga City! We love to travel but 2020 put a damper on our plans, so we're staying home-to build a tiny home. Here are our plans and updates! If you liked this video, don't forget to like and subscribe! For inquiries and collaborations, please message raisa513@yahoo.com with the subject: Vlog Collab Facebook Page: https://web.facebook.com/scribblesbyr... #tinyhome #tinyhomeliving #tinyhomevlog #thetinyhomeproject #tinyhouse #zamboangacity #homeprogress #homeplans #homeupdates #minimalism #downsizing *This is not a sponsored video

Unboxing and Review Daiy Essentials Set with Desert Mist Diffuser by Young Living

 

I long wanted a Young Living diffuser and promised myself that I’ll save up for it when P offered a set initially. Since our trip from Subic, I have appreciated what an impact a diffuser has on a good afternoon nap especially during the weekends. Thanks to C, I was gifted the Daily Essentials set, just because. And I’m really grateful for the sweet surprise.

Even before my set arrived, I have been searching for various aromatherapy blends and have done my research on essential oils. So far, I haven’t used any of the oils topically, and I like to keep it at that. Let’s just say that I’m limiting my use of these oils to diffusing and I know what I’m getting myself into (another rabbit hole, I know).

The Desert Mist Diffuser

I have a huge crush on the Desert Mist Diffuser- I still really do and assure myself that it’s a nice choice after the Lantern Design (Orb Diffuser I’m looking at you next). It has Moroccan-inspired patterns but I love that it’s muted in white and features gold accents, perfect for my bedroom. Operating it is easy.

The left button regulates the diffusing capacity- first press is for all-out diffusing (about five to six hours), second press is for medium diffusing (about six to eight hours) and third press is for intermittent diffusing (which is great for about ten to twelve hours).

The right button sets lighting options. First is high white, second is low white, the third is my favorite- which is an alluring candle-flicker, followed by color settings such as red, orange, yellow, green, purple, blue and pink. 

Daily Essentials Oils

The set comes with five oils. In 5ml, I have lemon and lavender. Lemon has a clean, energizing scent that makes it a favorite for cleansing applications or for adding an uplifting element. Lavender has a floral aroma with a refreshing minty undertone. It is widely regarded as one of the most versatile essential oils.

In 15ml bottles, I have RC or Respiratory Congestion is a blend of spruce, cypress, and three types of eucalyptus oils (globulus, radiata and citriodora). Thieves, a powerful blend that contains clove, cinnamon bark, rosemary, lemon and eucalyptus radiata. This blend is one of Young Living’s most popular and is present in its line of cleaning products. This is what I diffuse during my afternoon yoga, and it’s a good warming oil to use.

Peppermint is my most favorite of all, which has a cooling aroma. It’s an all-around oil and is very versatile which can be diffused alone or in a blend, and it just reminds me of Christmas season.

My Favorite Diffuser Blends

My favorite diffuser blends are: peppermint and lavender for a calming evening; peppermint and lemon for a wake-me-up, energizing morning; RC for those stuffy nose moments and Thieves, for my yoga practice in the afternoons.

I have also turned to my Pinterest and created a board title Aromatherapy where I have pinned diffuser blend “recipes” so that I can mix oils for any mood that I fancy. Which brings me to a crazy ride when it comes to buying oils.

What's Next

As of now, I’ve used up my lavender and lemon. 5ml only, c’mon!

So I put in a refill order of these two, plus a bottle of Grapefruit- a sweet, zesty scent that uplifts and revitalizes, and a bottle of Citrus Fresh- a refreshing blend of citrus oils combined with the subtle, minty character of spearmint. It is a blend consisting of orange, grapefruit, mandarin, tangerine, lemon and spearmint. For these, I’m pretty much excited just like when I was waiting for my enrolment set to arrive, I could hardly wait!

I also started receiving orders from people who wanted to try out the oils, so I’m waiting for those to arrive. Not to mention, I took it upon myself to order a 15ml bottle of Lavender, plus Ginger- for a warm, spicy fragrance that is energizing and uplifting, perfect for mixing in fall season-blends. And I added a bottle of Cypress- for a fresh, herbaceous, slightly evergreen aroma for an invigorating session, this should be useful in the holidays.

Perhaps you can say that I’m already hooked with my oils and blends. Next in my wishlist is a list of Geranium- a wonderfully uplifting, calming, flowery scent; Elemi- same family as that of Frankincense and Myrrh; Lime- a refreshing, citrusy scent; and Patchouli- a sweet and rich aroma, with an earthy complex which makes it easy to rave about.

Thoughts

I have a couple of observations regarding Young Living’s oils though. Even if the Philippines has an abundance of Sampaguita and Ylang-Ylang, these oils are not available for sale in the country, but they are available in the United States. I just wonder why these are not for purchase here. However, according to their farm directory, the Finca Botanica Farm and Distillery in Ecuador produces the Ylang-Ylang oil, and as of writing, I am tracking down the farm that is responsible for producing Jasmin essential oil.  

Cash Agad Agents Help Ensure Resilient Growth in Far-Flung VisMin Communities

 

For decades, residents in far-flung areas in Visayas and Mindanao have been burdened by minimal, if not outright lack of access to banks.

It’s not unusual for residents to travel many kilometers just to get cash from a bank or ATM. They need to spend half a day, or even an entire day in some cases, to transact with banks in distant urban areas. Some of them may need to travel by land and even by boat, spending hundreds of pesos in the process.

That situation has been slowly changing for distant communities that now have the Cash Agad service.  Cash Agad, which has been operating in both far-flung and semi-urban communities for the past several years, is allowing residents to make cash withdrawals, receive remittances and government cash subsidies, make balance inquiries, and get access to calamity funds and loan releases.

Essentially, Cash Agad is a service that turns community-based shops and similar establishments into  a neighborhood ATM.  It was BDO Unibank Inc. that first originated the idea for such a service and has been expanding the Cash Agad network in the countryside ever since.

Cash Agad is one example of a bank’s faith in the resilience and resourcefulness of Filipinos in the countryside; it’s a vision realized into a service that has become crucial to the survival of communities during this pandemic.

Cash Agad and LGUs

The Cash Agad service transforms communities for the better when entrepreneurs and local government work together for the common good. The service accepts ATM cards, whether debit or prepaid cards from all banks in the Philippines.

According to Cash Agad partner agent Elsa Pardo of Lantapan, a municipality in Bukidnon Province, Mindanao, until today there’s just one single bank operating in their community.

When the bank’s ATM runs out of cash or is in need of repair, people will have to wait and endure a few days without cash. Those who can’t afford to wait would have to go to the nearest urban area which is some 14 kilometers away. Transport fares can get quite expensive.

According to Elsa, sometimes even these other ATMs also run out of cash or go offline. In such cases, people would have to return home and go back the following day. This situation got even worse when quarantines were imposed due to COVID-19.

Elsa Pardo, owner of ECY Store and a Cash Agad Partner Agent in Lantapan, Bukidnon facilitating a withdrawal transaction for a pensioer

“Mahirap dito noong nagka-quarantine.  Hindi makalabas yung mga tao.  Kaya sabi nila, it’s a good thing there’s Cash Agad.  Kasi mas madali na sa kanila mag-withdraw ng pera.  Kung pupunta pa sila sa malayo, madami pang aasikasuhing requirements.  Kailangan pa ng quarantine pass. Travel pass. Very inconvenient. Pag dito sa Cash Agad, malapit lang tapos makukuha pa agad yung pera. Sandali lang ang queueing time,” Elsa explained.

Elsa runs her Cash Agad service at her store in their municipality’s public market. When the pandemic hit and community quarantine was declared, she worked with the local government so that Cash Agad transactions could be done safely and in compliance with physical distancing regulations.

“Kaming mga nasa public market, nag-meeting kami with DSWD, the municipal health office, and the mayor. We discussed and set how to process transactions so that we could still provide our services to the people during quarantine,” she said.

With the help of the LGU, protocols were set on how Cash Agad could provide services to its customers. Elsa’s customers include not only workers but also beneficiaries of 4Ps program (who receive monthly cash assistance from the government), and members of indigenous peoples (IPs) sector who also get cash assistance.

“Yung LGU po, they already set a schedule for withdrawals for 4Ps and assistance to IPs. So, these people already have set days and times when they can queue for withdrawals. They are also informed on how much money they are set to receive. Kaya hindi na nila kailangan mag-balance inquiry. Withdraw na agad using their ATMs,” Elsa explained.

The LGU with the help of policemen also established a protocol for those queueing to use Cash Agad. Since Elsa’s Cash Agad kiosk is in the public market, measures were taken to avoid crowding.

“May (outdoor) gym po malapit sa public market. So that was the holding area for those waiting for their turn. Tumulong po yung mga pulis para mag-maintain ng physical distancing.  May mga traffic enforcers. May thermal scanning.

“People were glad that we had this system because they felt safer and they were able to inquire about their balance, withdraw their salaries and remittances, and even get their loans and calamity assistance from the SSS and Pag-Ibig. Marami kasing nag-apply ng calamity loan during quarantine,” she said. 

Spark for growth

Another Cash Agad partner agent, Roselyn Abela of Pitogo municipality (now renamed officially as President Carlos P. Garcia municipality, although residents still use the old name informally), said that her Cash Agad kiosk has been contributing to the local economy.

“Before I started the Cash Agad service in Pitogo, people had to go to the nearest city to transact with a bank or use and ATM. But the nearest city is so far; it’s at another island.  People have to ride the habal-habal (passenger motorcycles) and then cross the sea on a pump boat. After getting to the island, they have to ride another habal-habal.  A two-way trip costs 550 pesos. And each trip takes two hours to the island, and then two hours again for the ride back to Pitogo,” said Roselyn.

Roselyn Abela, owner of FBA Merchandise and a Cash Agad Partner Agent in Pitogo, Bohol facilitating a withdrawal transaction for a local security guard

According to Roselyn, residents in Pitogo were used to spending half a day or even the entire day on a trip to the city. Due to the high cost of transport and the travel time consumed, people would maximize their city jaunts. They go the bank, transact at the ATM, and then buy essential goods but they also make it a leisure trip as well: they eat at fast food restaurants and bond over some shopping and other activities.

When the pandemic hit and with community quarantine imposed in March, however, Pitogo residents were forced to stay put.  It was then that Roselyn got more customers for her Cash Agad service. As a result, people were spending their cash right there in Pitogo instead of at the city.

“People had no choice but to buy goods here.  I noticed that during the months in quarantine, more small businesses were set up.  A lot of new eateries and stores cropped up,” she said.

Roselyn’s experience is not unique. Other Cash Agad partners in other localities report the same thing. This shows that by giving more people in more communities ready access to cash, the local economy benefits from the increased spending and capital flow.

“Financial inclusion in far-flung communities is a driver for economic growth. Some places are too far away or located in terrain that make it difficult, logistically, to build a bank branch. Take for example some islands or mountainous regions. That’s why innovative services like Cash Agad are a way to bridge the gap. As more spending occurs in a community, the better for residents and businesses,” said Jim Nasol, Head of Agency Banking, BDO.

As we face a public health and economic crisis, it’s evident how crucial Cash Agad is for people’s survival. They would otherwise not be able to get money for their essential needs. Cash Agad provides convenience but it can be a literal lifeline to those who depend on it. We’ve seen that during quarantine but the truth is, Cash Agad has become essential to communities whether there’s a pandemic or not.

For more information about Cash Agad and how it benefits Cash Agad partner agents and their communities, visit www.bdo.com.ph/cash-agad  or email cashagad@bdo.com.ph.  

Currently 7.21.2020

The measures implemented by the government to lately to control the pandemic has allowed me to shift my attention to other aspects of my life, and to help re-evaluate my priorities.

For a time, life was all about getting things done, being in optimum performance at work, staying on top of matters regarding school, being present in family events, my relationship with C and all while trying to find time for myself and being responsible for my pet and chores. In other words, my plate was full. 

Then all of a sudden, everything slowed down. For a month, I realized that I was already under a lot of stress-and the stress trauma kicked in. I was happy with having time for myself being able to recharge and do things around the house. 

Then we went back to GCQ, and once again, I was faced with the adjustment of having to do things and catch up again with work. 

During these troubling times, I realized my therapy was writing and painting and also using whatever crafts I had on hand. Add into the mix our gardening routine, indulging in entertainment- hello Netflix, and practicing my baking skills- hello weight gain. 

It all made me realize that it's about time I did things that made me happy and inspired. 

During this time, C made sure I had vitamins and essentials to help fight off possible contact with the virus. He gave me black cumin seed capsules and face masks, as well as a steady supply of delicious calamansi puree. 

We even started a business online with high quality, Filipino-made products ranging from Natureal juices, Charles and Charlie Kalamansi Puree and offered my brother's Instapack. Also, our stocks of a new line of touch-free alcohol dispensers have just arrived. 

That, plus my disappointment in being unable to travel abroad this year to South Korea for my birthday week with my family to experience the cherry blossoms and the thought of experiencing food and places and a new culture sort of added to my yearning. But I've come to terms with knowing that it's better to be safe than sorry. 

But right now there are things that I find helpful and aides in keeping me distracted right now. 

Pentel Fude Touch Brush Pens

Here's my happy, happy brush pen set that's finally made me content with my calligraphy skills. Now I know what the fuss is all about when it comes to brush pens. The nylon tip is firm, unlike the other brands that I use, and the size is perfect for my hand. I am enjoying the original set with the classic colors, now if it only weren't for the delays in shipping goods because of health protocols due to the pandemic, I would have ordered the new colors that were just launched this year.

Veco Ziplock Pouches 

My ziplock pouches just arrived and I started labeling them for various purposes, mostly for business. I gave one to my Mom and shared the other with Q to use for their collections as well. I now want to buy a few more and then sell them as a set. 

Veco Sketchbook 

This is my excuse for a sketchbook, I thought of having this for my thesis because I used up the grid Veco notebook for the business and even noted our first [board] meeting on it with agreements. But let's see if I can really use it for my project paper this semester. If things become worse in the city, I will have to enjoy using it for watercolor and acrylic painting. 

Rainy Day Stickers 

I now enjoy printable stickers because they're easier to make with my printer at home and I still have my matte sticker supply. I've discovered that deliveries via Shopee is easy, should I order more matte sticker paper, and that I can cut them manually with my sharp scissors. I am kind of enjoying stickers on my planner, but of course, the ones I want can be pricey. I can still save for them though. 

Desert Mist Humidifier by Young Living 

I have a huge crush on a humidifier that P introduced to me last month. I was so intent on saving up for it because I knew it was rather pricey and even after a month, I had to save up for the other half. All of a sudden, I receive a surprise from C that he already paid it for me and all I have to do is wait for it to arrive. Shipping nationwide has slowed down due to limited flights. I honestly can't wait but it will take about three weeks more. I've been watching videos on the scents, how to operate it and what other things to do with it. Maybe an unboxing is in order once it arrives? 

Right now I'm enjoying time at home, having the time to complete my projects such as print photos, complete my traveler's notebooks, use up my stickers and washi and pamper myself by doing spa days where I put on charcoal masks and indulge in hair treatments. It also means there will be more content for here pretty soon.