#BuhayOFW: Here’s the BEST way to surprise your loved ones from miles away!

It has been the habit of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) to surprise their families back home with food, whenever there is a special occasion such as birthdays, graduation, holidays, or sometimes, even just on a regular day. Bonding na kasi talaga ng pamilyang Pinoy ang pagkain.

Watch: Isang OFW, pina-iyak ang kanyang magulang sa kanyang sorpresa.

 

This is made possible now because of the internet – where OFWs can select the product they want to send to their families and pay for it as well, all done thru their mobile phones. Isa na d’yan ang BeamAndGo.

BeamAndGo does not only empower OFWs when it comes to taking control of their remittances dahil sagot na rin namin ang salu-salo ng pamilya mo with their most favorite jollylicious, juicylicious, only the best-tasting Langhap Sarap Meals thru Jollibee Padala!

Choose from six Langhap Sarap Meals na pwedeng i-deliver door-to-door sa iyong beneficiary o i-dine-in or i-pick-up sa pinakamalapit na Jollibee sa kanila! Alin man ang piliin mo, tiyak na swak ‘yan sa dami ng pamilya, busog na busog pa sila:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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WHAT OUR OFW BEAMERS SAY
This is Leonida Bayas, isang overseas Filipino sa Saudi Arabia. Dahil sa distansya mula sa pamilya, humanap siya ng paraan upang masorpresa ang kanyang minamahal sa Pasig City sa darating nitong kaarawan, until she stumbled upon Jollibee Padala thru BeamAndGo on Facebook.

From then on, hindi na naging hadlang ang distansya sa pag-papadama ng pagmamahal ni Leonida sa pamilya, ano mang okasyon, wala mang okasyon. Kaya naman very proud ang BeamAndGo to be a part of her family’s celebration dito sa Pinas. 🧡

Kabayan! Tulad ni Leonida, you won’t be able to miss your loved ones’ birthdays even you’re miles away dahil pwede mo ipalasap ang sarap ng paboritong Langhap Sarap Meals nila thru BeamAndGo!

HOW TO SEND JOLLIBEE PADALA THRU BEAM AND GO IN 4 EASY STEPS:

STEP 1. SIGN-UP FOR FREE.

Since BeamAndGo was born to help OFWs and your families, registration here is FOR FREE! Simply visit our website www.beamandgo.com and click the “SIGN UP FOR FREE” button. You only need to provide some of your details (full name, location overseas, valid email address and mobile number). Once you’re done, makakatanggap ka ng email from us na successful ang iyong registration. It will only take 2-3 minutes to register, less hassle lang ‘di ba?

2. LOG-IN YOUR ACCOUNT AND CHOOSE THE MEAL YOU WANT TO SEND.

Next thing to do is LOG IN your BeamAndGo username and head over to our STORE PAGE. Scroll down and under “Food Padala” category, choose from six different Langhap Sarap Meals that your want to purchase for your loved ones!

STEP 3. ENTER YOUR BENEFICIARY’S DETAILS.

Fill in your beneficiary’s FULL NAME, MOBILE NUMBER, and COMPLETE ADDRESS. Siguraduhing kumpleto ang address, at mas maganda kung ilalagay mo rin ang landmark para mas madaling ma-locate ang kinalulugaran ng beneficiary mo. Also, be careful lang sa pag-fi-fill in ng details para siguradong matatanggap kaagad nilang ang iyong sorpresa!

Here’s a TIP: Don’t forget to use your CASHBACK and CREDITS para maka-discount sa iyong padala! Sa bawat padala mo, makakaipon ka rin ng CASHBACK na maaari mong gamiting muli sa susunod na padala mo thru BeamAndGo.

STEP 4. PAY THRU BEAM AND GO’S GROWING PAYMENT CHANNEL PARTNERS WORLDWIDE.

Last step is you can now proceed to checkout. You can pay via credit card, debit card (PayPal), online bank transfer,  at kung gusto mong magbayad ng cash, pwedeng-pwede kang pumunta sa remittance centers na tumatanggap ng BDO deposit, PNB Overseas Offices, and through our partners – Pacific Ace (Hong Kong & Macau), CanPayBills (Canada), and PayRemit!

AND THAT’S IT! Upon receipt of order, Jollibee will contact the beneficiary within 48 hours to confirm his/her preferred date and time of delivery, dine-in or pick-up. And voilà! Ganoon lang kadali, Kabayan! Hassle free na, nakamura ka na at nakaipon ng cashback, nasorpresa mo pa ang iyong minamahal sa Pinas ano mang okasyon, wala mang okasyon. Talagang hindi problema ang distansya basta naka-BeamAndGo ka!

Order and Delivery Policy:

1. The processing schedule of transactions is from 9AM to 3PM (Philippine Time). Transactions received after 3PM (PHT) will be processed the next day.
2. Jollibee Delivery is available in selected key areas across the country from 8AM – 9PM (Philippine Time). For areas not covered, the recipient/beneficiary has the option to dine in or pick-up the meal package provided at the Jollibee store of his choice. For the list of Jollibee stores nationwide, click here.
3. The beneficiary or representative should present any valid government ID to our rider /store representative upon receipt of the Jollibee Padala Meal Package for verification purposes.
4. The intended recipient/beneficiary agrees to accept delivery of the products at the agreed time and place of delivery. If the recipient/beneficiary is not in the agreed time and place, the order shall be considered sold and non refundable.

Ano pa ang hinihintay mo? Ibida na ang saya sa pamilya with their favorite Langhap Sarap Meals! Subok na rito sa BeamAndGo at simulan na ang wais na pag-sorpresa sa minamahal mo, dagdag pa ang mas wais pagpapadala ng iyong perang kinikita!

BONUS: Do you also want to make sure na sa pangangailangan ng pamilya napupunta ang pinaghirapan mong pera? Huwag kayo mag alala dahil pwede ka ring mag-#GroceryRemit thru BeamAndGo ! Here are the Convenience Store, Gas Station, Supermarket, Department Store, Fast Food Restaurant, and pharmacy merchants of BeamAndGo!

Wanna learn more about the smartest way to remit? Don’t hesitate to watch this video!

 

 

 

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OFW SHOPPING ADVICE: Saan sa Isabela nga ba laging namimili ang inyong pamilya?

Employer abuse…
Contract switching…
Mag-isang nagkakasakit…
Utang…

Ilan lang ‘yan sa araw araw na suliranin na kinahaharap ng Overseas Filipino Workers  sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo. Bukod pa d’yan ang alalahanin kung sa tama ba napupunta ang perang katas ng dugo’t pawis nila once na maipadala na nila ito sa kanilang pamilya sa Pinas.

Ito ang pangunahing problema ng ating mga Kabayan na layuning tugunan ng BeamAndGo sa pamamagitan ng Talavera Supermarket/ Hypermart gift certificates.

Friendly Talavera Supermarket crew are always ready to assist BEAMers with their smiling faces.

Beginning 1977, Talavera Supermarket has been a humble neighborhood store catering to the people of Cauayan City and neighboring towns. Almost 50 years later, it has grown into a multi-million business venturing in retailing and wholesaling, providing complete selections of the cheapest but quality items for Isabelino families’ grocery needs. In short, ito na ang naging takbuhan ng mamamayan ng Isabela when it comes to grocery shopping!

Talavera Supermarket eventually became the number 1 preference of Isabelinos when it comes to grocery shopping, as well as a medium to help their own community. They started venturing on different advocacies, hosting events for all ages, and supporting numerous campaigns and programs for the betterment of specific sectors in Isabela community.

Hindi ba’t nakakalambot ng puso na sa simpleng pag-bili mo lamang ng iyong pang-araw araw na pangangailangan ay parte nito ang napupunta sa mabuti at nakatutulong sa kapwa mo Isabelino?

Isabelino shoppers do not only appreciate how much accommodating their crew is, but also the variations of food selections easily available at Talavera Supermarket!

Maasahang fresh at tama sa timbang ang mabibiling karne dito sa Talavera Supermarket.

Sa “Kusina sa Talavera”, kumpletos rekados ang pan-sahog ng pamilya sa ano mang putaheng Pinoy ang nanaisin nilang ihain. Kaliwa’t kanan, makikita ang kumpletong panlasa sa paborito nilang ulam.

Siguradong hindi magugutom ang inyong pamilya dahil dito sa Talavera Supermarket, mapa anong klase ng karne o isda, prutas o gulay, pang-rekado o sahog, lahat kumpleto!

Hindi na kailangan pang magpalipat-lipat ng pamilihan para lang mabili lahat ng kailangan sa iluluto tuwing karaniwang araw man o may handaan, dahil tanaw na tanaw ng inyong mga mata ang maayos na nakahilerang pagkain at sangkap. Ituturo na lang o dadamputin, isa-isa’y mache-checkan lahat ng nasa iyong listahan!

Lahat ng hanap mo para sa ano mang putaheng Pinoy, available at sariwa sa Talavera Supermarket!

At dahil mahalaga ka sa BeamAndGo, ipaaalala muli namin sa iyo ang dapat laging tandaan tuwing mamimili.

Be a smart shopper and wais Kabayan with these shopping tips:

1. Always make a shopping checklist. Tulad ng lagi naming pinapaalala, iyong mga kailangan lamang talaga ang dapat na ipamili. Kung walang listahan, there will surely be a tendency to just grab anything you see that you instantly think you need even if you really don’t. Avoid impulse buying. Stick to your list!
2. Make sure to buy vegetables and fruits you plan to eat. Mabilis masira ang gulay at prutas kahit na ilagay pa ito sa refrigerator kaya mas mainam na mamili ng siguradong maihahain sa loob lamang ng ilang araw para makaiwas sa pagtatapon ng hindi na mapakikinabangan.
3. Look closely at the price tag. Maging mapili sa pamimili dahil may mga items na mura na, kasing-kalidad pa ng mamahaling bilihin. Huwag magpapalinlang sa presyo!
4. Buy at your community’s most trusted supermarket. Excellent customer experience ang isa sa pinaka dahilan kung bakit binabalik-balikan ang pamilihan kaya mas may kasiguraduhan ka sa pinaka-paborito ng mamamayan.

SALE SALE SALE kahit na sa home furnitures!

Syempre hindi lang personal care o pagkain ang maipagmamalaki ng Talavera Supermarket dahil maaari ring makabili ang pamilya ng home furnitures sa discounted na presyo! Kahoy, marmol, bakal, stainless, o glass man ang yari, may pagpipiliin ka!

Kaya naman BEAMer, ‘wag nang pahirapan ang pamilya sa Isabela sa pamimili ng grocery needs nila. Grocery remit na and send them Talavera Supermarket gift certificates sa halagang Php 500 up to Php 12,000.

Your family may redeem their GCs at the following TALAVERA SUPERMARKET/ HYPERMART branches in Isabela:

• Talavera Hypermart (Main Branch) – Talavera Corporate Office, Roxas St., San Fermin, Cauayan City, Isabela
• Talavera Supermarket Jr., Quezon St., Cauayan City, Isabela
• Talavera Hypermart Roxas – Taganas St., Bantug, Roxas, Isabela

HOW TO AVAIL OF TALAVERA GCs?

Madali lang ang pagsali sa BeamAndGo! The first step is you need to register your personal account at www.beamandgo.com. Just key in your full name, location overseas, and your valid email address or mobile number. And take note, FREE lang maging miyembro ng BeamAndGo community.

Once you’re already done with the registration process, simply log in your account at piliin ang TALAVERA SUPERMARKET.

Just show the SMS with the serial number and confirmation code, and provide a valid ID to the Customer Service booth

It’s up to you kung ilang worth Php 500 GC/s ang iyong ipapadala at kailangan ng iyong pamilya. Mas marami, mas masaya! Make sure rin na tama ang full name at contact number ng iyong recipient hanggang sa mag-proceed na sa payment. Simple lang ito dahil pwedeng-pwede ka magbayad via credit card, debit card (PayPal), online transfer, thru our sales partners Pacific Ace, iRemit, PayRemit, PNB o sa kahit saang remittance centers that accept BDO deposit.

Your beneficiary will receive transaction codes via SMS once your transaction has been processed. At kapag i-reredeem na nila ang gift certificate, pupunta lamang sila sa Customer Service ng Talavera Supermarket at ipapakita ang serial numbers at isang valid ID for verification.

Masayang nakakapamili sa murang halaga ang ating BEAMers sa Talavera Supermarket!

After that, cashless nang makakapamili ng sariwa, dekalidad, at murang pamilihin ang inyong pamilya mula sa pinaghirapan mong pera!

Easy lang ‘di ba?

Kaya mag-sign up na sa www.beamandgo.com at bumili ng gift certificates for your family para sure na sure na masaya ang salu-salo nila dito sa Pinas!

Pwede din niyong panuorin ang video na ito para maintindihan ng maigi ang benefits kapag kayo ay magpapadala ng gift certificates sa Philippines mula sa BeamAndGo!

 

Sama-sama sa Paskong Pilipino!

The hardest thing about working abroad is being away from our loved ones. Kung tutuusin, mas mahirap nga ito para sa ating mga Pilipino because we are very close with our family members. Kung may araw na pinaka-ramdam natin ang pagmamahal ng ating mga kapamilya, it would be Christmas day. Nagsasama-sama ang lahat para sa noche buena. Ang lahat ay napapakanta, napapasayaw, at napapasigaw, lalo na kapag oras na para buksan ang mga regalong pamasko. Ang pagsabi nga ng “Merry Christmas!” ay parang pagsabi na rin ng “I love you,” dahil ramdam na ramdam natin ang pag-ibig sa panahong ito.

Pinaghahandaan ang Pasko sa buong mundo. Kung hindi ka man makakabalik ng Pilipinas ngayong taon, you can definitely have fun and celebrate wherever you are. Prepare a simple gathering with your OFW friends and cook your favorite Christmas dishes. Pwede rin kayong magbunutan para sa inyong exchange gift, pumunta sa mga pasyalan, at dumaan sa simbahan para magpasalamat. Sabay-sabay niyong tawagan ang iyong mga kapamilya sa Pilipinas sa pag-celebrate niyo! Kahit nasaan ka man, ka-Beamer, magiging masaya ang  iyong Pasko.

Whether or not you can come home to the Philippines for Christmas this year, walang makakapigil sa iyo sa pagsabi ng “I love you” sa mga taong mahalaga para sa iyo. Just as always, we at BeamAndGo, would like to help make this Christmas as wonderful as possible, para sa iyo at sa iyong pamilya.

Kasama sa ating Christmas culture ang bigayan. Gamit ang BeamAndGo, you can always give love by sending Supermarket GCs to your family!

Supermarket GCs are practical presents you can send to your family and friends during this season. Tamang-tama pa ito dahil magagamit nila ang GCs para makabili ng pang-noche buena! Ang mga ingredients ng mga family favorites tulad ng spaghetti, hamon, queso de bola, at iba pa ay siguradong mahahanap mo sa mga partner merchants.

Mahahanap mo din dito sa BeamAndGo ang Christmas Packages na pwede mong ipamigay. From grocery packages, beauty items, to gadgets, mahahanap mo dito sa BeamAndGo. Nakatipid ka na, mapapasaya mo pa ang iyong mga kaibigan at kapamilya! If you still have some last minute Christmas shopping to do, ‘wag kang mag-alala! We’ve already listed gift ideas for your family members in our previous blog posts.

Heto ang para kay ate, kuya at bunso, kay nanay at tatay, at sa iyong sweetheart.

Hearing your loved one’s voice and seeing them on your screen is one of the ways you can feel like home. Ngayong Pasko, or any season for that matter, remember that your family is just a call away. Sa mga panahong miss na miss mo sila, hindi mo kailangang malungkot. Using your smartphone, tablet or laptop, you can be transported miles away back to your family’s warm embrace. Here are some other ways you can easily connect to your family in the Philippines.

Kung ka-video call mo ang iyong mga kapamilya, makakasama ka na sa buong celebration, diba? Wala kang mami-miss! Mula sa kwentuhan, pagsalu-salo sa noche buena, at sa pagbukas ng mga regalo, naroon ka!

Technology can be very helpful in keeping your family close. Magagamit mo ang social media sites like Facebook to see what your friends and family are up to. Mga messaging apps naman like Viber and Line, para makausap sila.

Ang BeamAndGo naman ang kaibigan mo sa pagpapadala sa mga mahal mo sa buhay. Nagagalak kami na nakakatulong kami sa paghatid ligaya sa inyo at sa pamilya mo sa Pilipinas. Ang sarap ng feeling na parang kasama narin namin kayo sa pag-celebrate ng Pasko.

Mula sa lahat ng bumubuo ng BeamAndGo, binabati namin kayo ng “Maligayang Pasko”! Enjoy the holidays, Beamers!

Mag-Noche Buena kasama ang pamilya even while you’re abroad

When you live far away from your loved ones, any form of communication is vital. Bilang mga OFW, we consider technology as our best friend. Ito kasi ang gamit natin to keep in touch with our loved ones sa ‘Pinas! Gamit na gamit natin ito, especially during the moments we can’t make it back home. Kaya para sa ating mga kababayang OFW na hindi makakauwi sa papalapit na Pasko, don’t worry! Heto ang mga paraan para maka-bonding ang ating mga mahal sa buhay, even when we are miles away:

Mag-chat

If there is no need to make a call, sending a text or chat is the most convenient way to relay your message to your friends and family. Hindi mo din kailangan gumastos ng malaki para mag-text sa mga kaibigan at kapamilya mo! Basta may wifi or data connection ka, makakausap mo sila. Okay ito, especially kung iba ang time-zone ng kausap mo. Kung tulog man siya, siguradong mababasa niya ang message mo pagbukas niya ng kanyang cellphone.

Isang paraan para maging updated sa buhay ng mga kapamilya mo ay ang paggamit ng social media. Kapag friends kayo sa Facebook, Twitter, at Instagram, makikita mo ang mga updates sa buhay nila. Pwede mo pang gamitin ito para maka-chat sila, tulad ni Kassy at ng kanyang mommy. They use social media to keep in touch and maintain constant communication. Kaya nga close pa rin sila, kahit nasa Dubai si mommy at siya ay nasa Pilipinas.

Aside from social media, there are a ton of messaging apps you can choose from. Ilan sa mga ito ay Viber, Line, WeChat, at WhatsApp. Iba-iba sila ng special features pero lahat ng ito ay pwede mong gamitin to chat with your friends and family.

Pero teka muna, may gagamitin na ba ang mga mahal mo sa buhay para maka-chat mo sila? Kung wala pa, you can send a Kata i3L using BeamAndGo as a gift to your loved one this Christmas! Perfect ito to for chatting and mobile browsing. With a 16 GB Storage + 1 GB RAM, you can download your favorite social media and chat apps and see them on the 5-inch IPS super HD display. It has an 8 megapixel front camera and 13 megapixel back camera para makapagsend ka ng pictures sa mga mahal mo sa buhay!

 

Send a Kata i3L to your loved one today!

Tumawag

Para sa mahaba-habang kwentuhan, itawag mo na lang yan! You can even subscribe to your network’s most affordable IDD promos to call your friends and family. Pero mas madali nang tumawag, basta may internet ka. Most messaging apps already have a voice call feature. Kahit nasaan ka man sa mundo, pwede kang tumawag. Convenient diba?

Syempre, dapat may load ang mga kapamilya mo, para maka-subscribe sila sa iba’t ibang promos ng kanilang networks. Just visit your network’s website or call their hotline to inquire about their different promos. Ang iba pa nga ay may free Facebook at Viber!

Send eLoad using BeamAndGo!

Mag-Video Call

Ang pag-video call na marahil ang pinaka-magandang paraan to keep in touch. 10 years ago, naririnig lang natin ang mga kausap natin using our phones. Ngayon, pwede na rin natin silang makita sa screens gamit ang ating computer, phone, o tablet.

Ngayong Pasko, send a Kata T mini 3 to your family! Sino man sa inyong bahay ay maaaring gumamit nito para makatawag sa iyo:

Choose between the RAM 1GB + ROM 8GB version or RAM 2GB + ROM 16GB version, kung kailangan niyo ng mas malaking memory. May 3000 mAh battery ito na tatagal kung gagamitin niyo itong pang-video call. Kitang-kita niyo pa ang inyong kausap sa 6.95″ HD display nito at kitang-kita ka din nila dahil may 5 megapixel front camera ito at 8 megapixel back camera.

For other Christmas gift ideas for your parents, click here.

Ilan sa mga paboritong video calling apps ay ang Skype, Google Hangouts at Facebook. Kung computer o laptop ang gamit mo, you just have to open the website of your chosen video calling app using your browser, register, and make the call! Ang dali lang! Skype and Google Hangouts are known for their reliability. Facebook, on the other hand, is an all around platform. Besides being a social media platform, magagamit mo ito sa pag-chat at pagtawag. With just a few clicks, makikita mo na ang ngiti ng iyong pamilya habang sinasabi nila na miss ka na nila.

Ano man ang gamitin mo to stay connected with your loved ones, ang importante ay nadadalian kayo sa paggamit nito.  Hindi mo man nakakasama ang inyong pamilya, nakikita at nakaka usap niyo naman sila. These advancements in technology make it easier and cheaper keep in touch.

Now, it’s even easier and cheaper to send love to your family using BeamAndGo! Click here to know more. 

Balik-Pilipinas 2: Kain Tayo Dito!

Tunay ngang malaking bahagi ang pagkain sa ating culture dito sa Pilipinas. A lot of our kababayans abroad, or even Filipinos simply away from their hometowns miss the food and the memories that come with it. Food is one of the things that brings us together. Dahil dito, tinanong namin kay Malou, Joelyn, Monica at Francis kung ano ang mga namimiss nilang mga ulam at delicacy sa kani-kanilang mga hometown.

Para sa mga ingredients ng mga paborito mong ulam (at iba pa), nandito ang ating mga partner supermarkets, Beamer!

Magpadala na sa iyong mga mahal sa buhay ng mga Supermarket GCs:

Malou, Ilocos Sur

“Ang puso ko ay nasa Ilocos talaga kasi nandoon ang mga mahal ko sa buhay,” Malou tells us. Her mom is from Davao, where she spent 3 years to study. Lagi siyang nasa Manila, but her heart is in Vigan, where her papa is from. Kaya as soon as she had a chance, she bought a small property in Ilocos Sur. Sabi niya, isa sa mga paborito niyang memory ay ang pagluto ng kanyang papa para sa kanilang pamilya:

“Namimiss ko talaga yung sariling recipe ng father ko, ginisang tahong. Pwedeng ma-preserve ito, kaso matrabaho ang pagluluto. After he passed away, ‘yung brother-in-law ko na ang laging nagluluto. As in sobrang sarap niya magluto! Specialty niya ang sinigang na bagnet at lomo-lomo (soup made with pork and other internal organs). ‘Pag nauwi ako sa Vigan, gusto kong matikman agad yung Vigan longganisa. Halos araw-araw kong almusal yun!”

Antique shop in Vigan

Carayan River

Sinigang na Bagnet

Aside from these, madami pang food and delicacies ang mahahanap mo sa Ilocos. Malou also loves to eat what they call jumping salad, fresh live shrimp with tomatoes and salt. “Bubuksan mo nang maigi, tapos kakainin mo ng buhay pa!” Naliligo pa nga sila Malou sa Carayan river, where you can catch the shrimp. Their other delicacies include sinigang na bagnet, puki-puki, and the famous Vigan empanada. You can find delicacies in public markets, roadside stores, and even supermarkets in Ilocos, like Johnson’s Supermart. 

Kung taga-Ilocos Sur ka, sign up na sa BeamAndGo! We’ll be offering Supermarket GCs for establishments near you soon.

Since Malou lives alone in Manila, what she misses the most is her family. “Mas masaya ang kainan, ‘pag kasama ko ang pamilya ko.” Whenever she misses Vigan, she can always cook Vigan longganisa to remind her of her hometown.

Related: Balik-Pilipinas: What Makes You Miss Home?

Joelyn, Pampanga

Joelyn at Sandbox, Porac, Pampanga

Si Joelyn naman, taga-San Fernando, Pampanga. Tumira din ang kaniyang pamilya sa Middle East dahil doon nagtrabaho ang kanilang ama. Pero hindi nila matiis at bumalik din sila, lalong-lalo na when they remember her mother’s cooking. Joelyn’s mom usually cooks adobo or sinigang. “Sa amin, we add gabi (taro) and  tamarind seeds as part of the ingredients. The soup is more gooey and it tastes better. My mom is a Bisaya so she doesn’t really cook Kapampangan food that much. My dad is the real Kapampangan rockstar.” We asked Joelyn how it’s like to live in the culinary capital of the Philippines. Hinding-hindi ka raw magugutom doon! Madaming restaurants, turista ka man o local. Kahit nga sa kapit-bahay ka lang pumunta, siguradong masarap ang nakahain!

“Nothing beats the original sisig of Pampanga! This recipe is made from pig ears, cheeks, snout, and liver. Whenever we have guests to tour around, we bring them at Aling Lucing located in Angeles City. You can taste the best ever tasting sisig served in a sizzling plate. This delicious dish which was traced as early as 1732.

You can also try eating frogs here! It’s called Batute Tugak, and it tastes just like fried chicken. Another exotic dish, Camaru or cricket is also a must try! It’s a crunchy delicacy like chicharon. And who wouldn’t miss the chance to eat bringhe—a savory rice dish comparable to paella. Pampanga is also widely known for having the best tocino because of Pampanga’s best.”

Camaru (fried crickets)

Sisig

Susie’s Kakanin

Susies’ Palabok

Joelyn’s family loves to eat. Lagi itong kasama sa kanilang bonding experience. They visit restaurants that offer familiar dishes, like Susie’s palabok and kakanin. She tells us that most of her favorites are just simple, but it reminds them of a lot of memories they have together. The moments with family are what matters — whether at home, at a restaurant, or shopping for ingredients at Jumbo Jenra. Sabi pa nga niya, “what will always make me miss home is the peace of mind I get when I’m with my family in a place that binds us together. The delicious food is just a bonus.”

Monica, Metro Manila

Monica having dinner with her family

Growing up in the capital of the Philippines gave Monica a chance to try out different food. Since Metro Manila is the hub of the country, lahat ata ng ulam at pagkain mahahanap mo dito! Pero syempre, wala talagang tatalo sa masarap na home-cooked meal. Her family’s specialty is a dish cooked with red beans and pork or beef. We asked if there’s a secret ingredient and she laughingly said, “yes, but that’s a secret!”

Ingredients for Filipino dishes are easy to find! Wherever you go, may wet market o bilihan ng mga ito. Kung gusto mo ng isahang bilihan, dumiretso ka na sa Super 8. All branches offer a wide variety of offerings, from household items, to clothing, and groceries. Pero bago ka mamili ng groceries, basahin mo muna ang aming tips para siguradong kasya ang budget mo. 

Manila offers a wide variety of delicacies, which are specialties of some provinces but can be widely found around the metro. Some of Malou’s favorites are suman, sapin-sapin, banana chips, and pancit malabon. Whenever she has relatives or friends who visit Manila, sinasamahan pa niya ang mga ito para bumili ng pasalubong.

Francis, Davao

Sikat ang Durian na galing sa Davao. Isa ito sa mga hinahanap-hanap na prutas ng mga turistang bumibisita. Francis shares with us how easy it is to find it in Davao, especially during Durian season.

“If its durian season, you don’t need to make an effort to find Durian. To be precise, you can smell it everywhere in Davao which actually what durian is famous for, aside from its heavenly taste. And even if it’s not Durian sason, you can still find a few at Magsaysay Park, one of the places in the city where it is always available.”

Durian, a must-try in Davao

NCCC, Davao is one of our partner Supermarkets at BeamAndGo. You can send Supermarket GCs to your family members in just a few clicks. Hindi ka na mahihirapang magpadala!

Kung wala ka pang BeamAndGo account, sign up na dito!

Francis’ dad usually cooks for their family. Ang paborito niyang ulam ay ang kinapasayan (whole chicken soup). Para siyang tinola, but with a twist — the secret ingredient: slices of bananas! “It adds a little sweet taste to the usual tinola. It completely changes the general taste of the dish.” Another tip from Francis, when cooking kinapasayan, you should use organic chicken.

Kinapasayan

“This is the core of the dish. If it’s not then, it will not taste as good as the organic chicken. I’m not sure if others will like it too, but what I’m sure of is that it’s worth trying!

I remember when I was young, my father and I went out of town just to get the organic chicken. By the time we got home, we prepared everything we needed for the dish. He asked me to slice the chicken’s neck but I said “I don’t want to do it because I pity the chicken” My father then said, “Son, this is the chicken’s purpose, to be eaten by mankind. If we eat it, it will achieve its purpose. Then the chicken will be happy, so I did it. As we ate our dinner, I surely knew that I liked the chicken alive but I realized I liked it even better on my plate.”

The food we have been accustomed to is a very significant part of our lives as Filipinos. Pero kung titignan mo, mahalaga ang pagkain natin because it brings us together. We love eating with the people close to our hearts. Kaya sa susunod mong kagat ng paborito mong ulam, remember the fond memories you have eating it with your loved ones. And remember how BeamAndGo is one of the ways you can show them how much you love them.

Hanggang sa uulitin, Beamers!

Balik-Pilipinas: What Makes You Miss Home?

Missing home is a feeling we often experience, especially as an OFW living far away. Home is where the heart is, ‘ika nga nila. At para maiparamdam na mahal mo ang pamilya mo sa iyong hometown, subukan mong magpadala gamit ang BeamAndGo.

To learn more about BeamAndGo and our services, click here.

Tinanong namin ang ilan sa mga Beamers what it’s like to live in each of their hometowns — from their simple experiences to the memories they cherish the most. Ito ang kwento ni Raizza, Tom, Angela, at Shelly.

Raizza, Bicol

Raizza is from Albay, Bicol, home of the infamous Mayon Volcano. The last time she’s been there was a year ago, October 2016. Swerte raw kapag nakikita mo ang Mayon ng buo. Kadalasan kasi, natatakpan ito ng mga ulap. Fortunately, Raizza always gets to see Mayon’s true beauty every time she visits.

For someone who spends so much time in the city, Raizza enjoys the slow pace in Bicol — yung feeling na hindi nagmamadali o minamadali. She says it makes one appreciate the little things that go by your day even more. Here’s how she describes coming back to her hometown of Albay:

“As cliché as it sounds, maririnig mo sa umaga ang mga tumitilaok na manok. I’d still be half

Raizza’s favorite: tablea chocolate & binugtong

asleep by then, but I’ll always remember that my provincial home would be alive and bustling as early as 4:30 am. Maghahanda si Lolo at Lola para sa 5 AM mass at para mamalengke. ‘Pag 7 AM na, halos lahat ng nasa bahay ay gising na upang magsalu-salo. Siguradong nakahanda ang paborito kong tablea tsokolate at binugtong, a Bicolano delicacy made of glutinous rice with coconut cream wrapped in a banana leaf. Very similar to suman, only creamier.

After breakfast, I’d usually have somewhere to be in the city. Either bibisita ako ng mga friends ko from childhood or iikot lang ako para magliwaliw. Ang masaya diyan is there’s barely any traffic. I prefer going around the area via tricycle or jeep.

Raizza’s family at Biggs

‘Pag in the mood si Lolo at Lola, lalabas rin sila kasama ang rest of the family. Usually, in the afternoon mamamasyal kami sa LCC Mall in Legazpi. Sasamahan ko ang Mommy ko at Lola ko na mamili sa department store. Kapag dinner, walang tatalo sa iconic Biggs food chain. Meron nito sa LCC Mall kaya it’s good narin na nandun kami. Biggs is a famous diner (and the biggest fast food chain in Bicol) that serves western food with a Bicolano twist.

 

Maaga natatapos ang araw kapag nasa probinsiya. By 7 or 8 pm, handa na ang lahat na matulog at mapahinga para sa susunod na araw.  No pressure at all thoughout the day, kaya you always feel so relaxed.”

We also asked her what she misses the most. Sabi niya, it’s being around with her grandparents. Besides the satisfaction of having her favorite people around, the calmness and serenity of the environment. Fresh na fresh and hangin at hindi masyadong mainit dahil sagana ang mga pananim at puno sa paligid, as she would say.

Tom, Iloilo

Tom is from Jaro, Iloilo City. Ang huli niyang punta doon ay noong May 2016. Iloilo is known for it’s virgin beaches, batchoy,  heritage sites, and modern jeepneys that roam around the city. Coming back to his hometown always excites him. And whenever he does, he makes sure to spend a lot of time with his family and friends.

“Every time I visit Iloilo, I always make sure that I’m doing something each day. In the morning, Its either I try new restaurants, maybe visit the beaches or maybe just chill outside my home and enjoy the fresh air. At night, we go out and drink because the night life scene in Iloilo’s crazy.”

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Tom remembers how delicious the food is in his hometown, especially the seafood. He even says, “you can never go wrong with the seafood in Iloilo. They’re huge and you can get them for a very cheap price.”

Angela, Negros Occidental

Angela was born in Escalante City, Negros Occidental. The last time she visited was three years ago before she entered college. The province of Negros is quite known for their festivals: Pintaflores at San Carlos City, Panaad and Masskara at Bacolod, Manlambus Festival sa Escalante City, and a lot more.

Angela shares with us her favorite memories in Negros:

“I feel happy whenever I’m on a vacation in my hometown because I get to see my family and friends. Nakakapag-bonding kami. Catch up catch up, ganon. Andun ‘yung nostalgic feeling everytime uuwi ako. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam.

Simple lang ang buhay sa probinsya. Doon, kapag may vegetable garden ka, mabubuhay ka na! Ang hanapbuhay ng mga tao ay simple lang din, kumakasya lang ang kinikita nila sa pang araw-araw na pangangailangan. Laging kumakayod, bawal magpahinga. ‘Yung iba, umalis na papuntang ibang bansa para magtrabaho, tinitiis nilang malayo  sa kanilang pamilya para lang mabigyan sila ng magandang buhay. Kaya saludo ako sa mga mahal nating OFWs na kinkaya lahat matustusan lang ang pangangailangan ng kanilang pamilya. Mabuhay po kayong lahat!”

Para makatulong sa mga OFWs with families in Western Visayas, may partner merchants ang BeamAndGo sa regions na ito. Kasama na dito ang Gaisano Capital, Iloilo Supermart, at Prince Retail.

Marami ka pang ibang puwedeng pagpipilian dito!

Ang pagpapadala mo ng BeamAndGo Supermarket GC ay isa sa paraan ng pagpapakita ng pagmamahal sa pamilya mong, miss na miss mo na. Here’s what Angela misses most about her hometown:

“The spirit of Bayanihan. Sa probinsiya, madaling lapitan ang mga tao, lalo na sa panahon ng pangangailangan. Namimiss ko na din ang fiestas doon. May sayawan kasi doon sa ilalim ng buwan at mga niyog kapag fiesta, dito wala kasi di naman uso ang maingay na fiesta, at wala namang puno ng niyog dito sa Maynila, haha! One of the memories I cherish is nung nagpunta ako ng Panaad Festival sa Bacolod City, kasama ang kaibigan at pinsan ko. Pakiramdam ko halos nalibot ko na ang buong Negros Occidental!

Siguro kung may namimiss man ako ng sobra sa probinsya ay ang pamilya ko. Naalala ko, bago matulog ay ang pagdadasal namin ng sabay-sabay. Pag-gising naman sa umaga ang routine namin ng mama at mga kapatid ko is magwalis sa bakuran. Iba kasi talaga kapag kapiling ang pamilya, lahat gumagaan.”

Shelly, Davao

Shelly at GMall, Davao City

Shelly is a proud Davaoeña. Her hometown is in Davao City, a coastal commercial center near Mt. Apo, the Philippine’s highest peak. It is also notably famous for Philippine Eagle and a place where you can get a lot of fruits and crops. Shelly tells us that aside from the numerous beaches and resorts, maraming mall sa Davao: Abreeza Ayala, SM, NCCC and the famous GMall. We also asked Shelly how it’s like in living in her hometown. Ito ang sinabi niya:

“Waking up in the Land of Promise is a great feeling. You are truly home safe with the people you spend everyday with. You can just go around and plan what you need to do for the day without worrying too much because the city has friendly beautiful men and women who love peace.

A typical day for me would be waking up with my coffee, doing routines at home, going to the mall. I actually like going to GMall, the place has variety of items from their supermarkets, food chains, to department stores. It’s a one-stop shop. And this mall really has a lot of affordable things to offer. Jeepneys pass by the mall making it convenient for commuters and shoppers. Taxis are everywhere too. It’s amazing to be here and every place is definitely accessible in the city.

Sleeping at night is one of my favorite things. Karaoke is limited to 10 PM so you can sleep soundly, hearing the chirping birds and animal friends in the background. And yes, I am living in an urban city but I can still feel like I’m in the countryside too. That is what most of us desire, I guess.”

Shelly misses the peaceful environment in Davao the most — how people treat you kindly, how they follow rules, and the lovely weather to match.

Ito ang mga namimiss nila sa mga lugar na kanilang kinalakihan. It’s such a good feeling to look back on those moments and places that have significant places in our hearts. And just because we don’t come back regularly, doesn’t mean we can’t show the people we miss how much we care for them. Sending Supermarket GCs using BeamAndGo is one of the ways to do so. Kahit saan pa man ang hometown mo, siguradong may option ka dito!

Send Supermarket GCs now!

 

Kadto ta sa Iloilo Supermart! Bonding ideas para sa mga kapwa OFW

Marami rin ang lalaking OFW. Yun nga lang iba siyempre ang kadalasang trabaho nila. Sa maraming mga lalaking Ilonggo, isa na sa pinakamadalas na trabaho ang pagiging marino. Ibang klaseng pakikipagsapalaran sa malalayong lugar at wala kang ibang makita kundi barko ninyo at ang parang walang katapusang dagat. Tubig lang sa kaliwa, sa kanan, sa harapan, at sa likuran. Iyan ang buhay marino at sa araw-araw, alam mong miss na miss mo na ang asawa mo at ang mga anak mo.

Ang ilan sa kanila, nilalabas ang lungkot sa pagpunta parati sa gym kung may gym ang barko. Kung wala, jogging na lang nang katakut-takot. Ganyan talaga habang nasa laot at habang malayo sa pamilya.

Kapag nakarating na sa Pilipinas uli, aba, gimik na! Shopping na! Ilabas na ang lahat ng frustration na hindi kasama ang pamilya.

Start Now: Provide for your family’s basic needs! Click here to choose from BeamAndGo’s wide range of supermarket partners.

Ganyan si Captain Dondi Acuesta. More than 29 years in service bilang isang marino na nagdadala ng tanker vessel sa iba’t-ibang lugar – Sweden, Germany, Norway, at sa iba pang lugar sa Europa. Galing no? Pero kung tatanungin ninyo siya, ano ang sasabihin niyang mas gusto niyang gawin?

Mas gugustuhin niyang pumunta ng Iloilo Supermart kasama ang asawang si Agnes na 26 years na in service sa government. Ngayon naman, siya ay isang School Registrar sa Iloilo State College of Fisheries.

Malalaki na ang mga anak nila. Si Tom ay isang Creative Professional sa BeamAndGo, si Pearl ay isang account manager ng isang fashion styling company, si Ereka ay nag-aaral ng Culinary Arts sa College of St. Benilde, at si Doneza, aba, first year proper na sa med school.

Bili na! The family can’t wait!

Hindi biro ang makapagpalaki ng ganyan. Hindi rin biro ang buwan-buwan mo silang hindi kasama at hindi nakikitang lumaki. Kaya nga sobrang halaga ng mga bonding moment sa mga lugar na tulad ng Iloilo Supermart. Sa sandaling panahong iyon, bawing-bawi na ang mga panahon ng pangungulila.

Kuha na ng BeamAndGo GC para sa Iloilo Supermart!

Halimbawa, to celebrate, gawa na ng spaghetti! O kaya pangahasang gumawa ng La Paz batchoy sa bahay. At para maganda, kailangang bumili ng sariwang karne at iba pang mga sahog. Alam ninyo naman, kung hindi sariwa, iba ang lasa. Swerte lang at sigurado kang sariwa lahat sa Iloilo Supermart. Malapit na sa bahay, maaliwalas pa, masarap pa ang mga benta.

Gusto mo mas mag-manage ng iyong finances?

Tumingin lang dito.

Puro good time na lang ba?

Family bonding e pero paano ba maging good parent sa loob ng isang supermarket? Kasama sa mga pagsubok nina Dondi at Agnes ang maituro sa mga anak nila ang tamang paggamit ng pera. Sabi nga ng matatanda: Hindi iyan tumutubo sa puno.

Idea 1: Compare prices. With a place like Iloilo Supermart, you don’t just have one brand of spaghetti sauce. Look at all the varieties available. Tapos, isipin mo: Ako ba ay sobrang walang oras o tinatamad na hindi ko kayang maggisa at maghalo ng tomato sauce at giniling na karne at keso? Baka mas marami kang magawa at mapakain kung sa halip na ready-made ang bibilhin mo, ikaw mismo ang magluto.

Idea 2: Learn to window shop for future planning. Ano kamo? Walay ka pang kwarta kaya tingin lang muna. Tignan mo kung anu-ano kaya ang magandang ihanda. Halimbawa, para sa isang darating na birthday. Baka may gusto kang panregalo. May pera ka na ba? Baka kailangan mong mag-ipon. So, ipon muna! Ganyan din kasi ang turo nina Dondi at Agnes sa mga anak: Kung wala ka pang pera, wag manghingi. Pag-ipunan mo ang gusto mo. Kung birthday mo, puede ka sigurong manghingi pero kung hindi, sariling kayod, di ba, anak?

Ito kaya? O ito? Ay magugustuhan nila ito!

Idea 3: Don’t give too much allowance. Kids, don’t ask for too much allowance. Yung tipong sakto lang. Ano ba ang kailangang pera sa school para makakain? Yun naman dapat ang allowance e. Kung may gusto ka, save 10% ng baon. So kung may PHP 1,000 per week, aba, dapat naman at least may matitirang PHP 100 sa dulo ng linggo. Isipin ninyo na lang, kung PHP 100 kada linggo, sa dulo ng isang taon, mayroong PHP 5,200 siguro ang isang bata. Hindi na biro iyon!

Idea 4: Andyan ang BeamAndGo. Gamit na ng mga digital gift certificate para siguradong mabantayan ang lahat ng gastos. Mas madaling mag-budget gamit ang mga GC ng BeamAndGo. Wala nang hassle, aalagaan ka pa nang todo sa Iloilo Supermart.

Madaling mag-manage ng gastos basta gamit ang mga GC.

Ganyan dapat ang mga magulang: Kailangang magturo magtipid at pahalagahan ang pera pero, kapag puede naman din, salu-salo na. Habang wala pang bagong lakad si Daddy sa kanyang barko, game na game na. Kain na muna lahat!

Punta na sa BeamAndGo website at pumili na ng gusto mong GC!

 

 

You can pay via credit card, debit card (PayPal), online bank transfer, at any remittance centers that accepts BDO deposit and through our partners, Pacific Ace, Payremit and iRemit!

Opinion: The middle class OFWs and the cost of higher income

It was the year 2010.

Having been voted by more than 15 M Filipinos, President Noynoy Aquino delivered his first State of the Nation Address (SONA). His electrifying speech against corruption and the culture of “Wang-wang” or special treatment to VIPs was a hit in local press and the business sector.

A photo of President Noynoy Aquino. Credited for fixing the fiscal policy, reducing foreign debt, and tightening of spending. During his term, income taxes were unchanged. Good or bad for middle class?

Back then, I was working in one of the largest Universal Banks in the Philippines and was drawing a moderate salary but it was not enough for me to be financially free.

Related: Did you know that as OFWs, you can send remit smarter to your families’ household needs from groceries to medicine?  Register now for free and let BeamAndGo help support your family needs

Like many middle class college degree holder employees, my dream was to own my own house and be financially independent. I asked myself the question,” How long would it take for me to accomplish my noble aspirations? 20 years?”

So in January 2011, I finally boarded the cheapest flight to Singapore after months of deliberation with my family.

I armed myself with the very small stash of savings from the past 4.5 years. That’s it! #Bahalanasibatman ika nga but I was confident with my qualifications. So I bid goodbye to my parents, lola, and friends. It was painful, hard, and dramatic. A month after, I landed my first job to oversee the marketing and fundraising programs of a Singaporean NGO. I drew a salary more than 5 times my take home pay in the Philippines.

There were many things I learned while working overseas from cooking, washing of clothes, moving flats, and even dealing with abusive landlords (that’s a different story). But the most important is sending cash remittances back home and its enormous repercussions if not planned wisely. I could just imagine how much more I’d saved and invested if BeamAndGo was already available with its digital gift certificates on supermarkets, medicine, and other basic needs. If you don’t have an idea how it works, just watch this video below:

From my own personal experience and from the testimonies of dozens of OFWs whom I’ve personally met, many of us choose to work overseas because of better employment opportunities and lower taxes.

I will emphasize this because I want our next President to focus on the immediate welfare of middle class Filipinos. You can be assured, just like the millions of Filipinos who left their families, I will be watching your first State of the Nation Address! All of you promised to reduce taxes.  I will be taking down notes and I will hold you accountable. Tandaan niyo, sinabi ninyong lahat na babawasan niyo ang taxes. We are not endorsing any candidate but what we want is for the President to walk the talk, make the biggest sacrifices, and lead by example.  Don’t we all deserve this?

While OFW remittances has been widely acknowledged as the driver of the Philippine Economy (USD 29.7 Billion in 2015), the high costs of absentee parents, loneliness, and risks to life on both physical and mental are enormous. That subject cannot be brushed aside because their are serious concerns. Just read the story of a domestic helper who took her life a few days ago here.

We invite our fellow OFWs to become a member of the Beamer family. It’s a community for OFWs where we freely share stories and provide advice on a range of topics from saving, budgeting, and money allocation, to healthy nutrition.

Not long ago, my blood pressure went up to 160 / 100 in Singapore, when I gorged on chicken rice almost everyday. That was before I noticed that all of my Singaporean friends were eating vegetables and fish soup. Did you know that the mortality age in the  Philippines is 68.5 years as opposed to Singapore at 84.5 years? Stop the chicken rice,  friends!  If you want to learn practical tips on how to live longer, sign up at BeamAndGo now.

I was in Laoag, Ilocos Norte last Saturday delivering a workshop with Vanessa Cartera, our director of sales, to retired OFWs on the keys to claiming victory in both health and finances. One of the highlights was the subject on 8 dimensions of Wellness. I will discuss more on our findings and also learnings from the participants in my next blog. We will give you tips from Dr. Raymond Escalona, a lifestyle nutrition specialist, on how you can reduce the risk of cancer and live a healthy lifestyle. We thank the Laoag City LGU and its Community Affairs Division for inviting their OFW associations to attend.

But right now, since we only have less than 30 days before we elect a new Chief Executive, let’s  watch the debates attentively and cast our vote according to our conscience, wisdom, and knowledge on what is best for our country. There are more issues from poverty alleviation, crime, drugs, women’s rights, contractualization, and K-12.

We have less than 30 days before we elect a new President. Let’s move away from personality politics and focus on knowing how our presidential candidates will solve our nation’s issues.

I believe it’s time to lower income taxes. There are 1.3 M of us OFWs that can cast a vote and make a difference. We will never forget all the days when we thought about quitting, when we reluctantly left our families, and when we almost lost hope in life. But we can always choose to change the game. We may find the ideal president who can walk the talk.

If you are an OFW and you like what you read, join the Beamer Support Community now. We’re now helping 80,000 Filipinos and you could easily be one of them. Together, let’s cast our votes and be heard by our government.

Kwento natin bilang OFW: Hindi tayo nag-iisa Vol. 2

Handa na ba kayo sa isa pang set ng mga kwento ng mga kagila-gilalas na pakikipagsapalaran ng ating mga Beamer? Mga nanay silang lahat at hindi tayo sobrang naiiba sa kanila. Maririninig mo kaya ang sarili mo sa mga kwento nila?

Di mo pa nakikita yung ating Unang Yugto? Click ka lang dito.

Experiencing the most of life: Karen Jaque

Kilala natin ang kwento ni Karen ng Iloilo: Pumunta siya ng Hong Kong para sa pamilya. Ang hindi natin masyadong naririnig ay ito: Gusto rin niya ng bagong karanasan.

Para sa marami nating kababayan, halos buong buhay nila, doon lang sila sa lugar nila. Maaari itong sa probinsiya nila o, para sa iba, sa mismong barrio pa nga. Si Karen, ngayon ay gumagala na sa malilinis at malalawak ng kalye at building ng Hong Kong.

Matindi ang ligaya na nabibigyan mo ng mas magandang buhay ang pamilya mo pero may halong lungkot pa rin, siyempre.

“Sobrang nami-miss ko ang mga anak ko, si Brian at si Sandy. Sana ma-appreciate at maintindihan nila kung bakit wala ako sa tabi nila while they’re growing up. Nandito ako sa Hong Kong para sa edukasyon nila. Hindi lahat ng gusto nila ay maibibigay ko. Yung best na makakaya ko lang.”

Mula sa malayo, kayang-kayang ibigay ang best sa tulong ng BeamAndGo. Nasubukan mo na?

Halina at maging miyembro na ng BeamAndGo. Mag register na para masimulan na namin matulungan kayo sa pagbigay ng mga advice sa mga usual na isyu at problema.

Every centavo counts: Judie Anne Lauron

Wala nang asawa si Judie Anne at bagong salta lang sa Hong Kong at ang layo na nga naman nitong buhay niya sa Hong Kong sa kanyang buhay sa Mindanao. Para sa kinabukasan ng mga anak ang kanyang paghihirap at pagtitiyaga.

Hindi biro sa bagong salta ang mawalay sa mga anak lalo pa’t sa kanila na lang umiinog ang buhay niya. Buti na lang at tunay na mabait ang amo niya at pinapauwi-uwi naman siya. Kaso nga lang, naisip ni Judie Anne na ipagpapaliban na lang ang pag-uwi dahil magastos nga naman. “Yung ipapauwi sa akin, I-pera ko na lang pag umuwi na talaga ako.”

Ganoon dapat mag-isip ang isang Beamer. Oo nga’t malungkot minsan pero para sa higit na ikabubuti ng mga anak natin, dapat kaunti pang tiis. Plus, andito naman nga ang BeamAndGo para tumulong na hindi mapunta sa mali ang perang ipinadadala mo.

Si Darna: Precilla Anares

Parati siyang sinasabihan ng anim na anak na umuwi na sa Iloilo pero bilang nanay, alam niyang hindi pa siguro panahon. Mahirap ang buhay sa lugar nila sa Iloilo at malaking tulong ang pagpupursige niya sa Hong Kong para makapag-aral nang maayos ang mga anak niya.

Sila ang D-family. Si Dario ang asawa nitong si “Darna” at ang kanilang mga supling? Sina Darwin, Dariel, Dianne, DJ Diet, at Daylin.

Siyempre, hindi naman puro ligaya ang bunga ng kanyang pagpunta sa HK. Pag wala ang magulang, wala ang magulang. Sabi nga niya, “Mahirap ding wala ako doon sa amin kasi ang mga anak ko hindi makapag-aral nang maayos. Nagbabarkada, siyempre walang nagdi-disiplina nang maayos sa kanila.”

Ano ang gusto niyang ipaabot sa mga anak? “Mag-aral kayo nang mabuti dahil mahirap talaga maghanap ng pera. Ang pinaghirapan ko ay dapat ginagastos n’yo sa mabuting mga bagay.”

Kaya nga siguro Beamer na ngayon si Darna.

Para sa pangarap sa mga anak: Genalyn Magaso

Labintatlong-taon na sa Hong Kong si Genalyn. Beteranong-beterano na kung tutuusin.

Dating midwife si Genalyn pero hindi nga naman ganoon kalaki ang kinikita ng isang midwife sa Pilipinas at hindi talaga magkasya sa mga pangangailangan nila. Tubong Davao siya at naisipan niyang pumunta na lang ng Hong Kong.

“Umuuwi ako every two years pero mahirap. Nilalabanan ko na lang (ang lungkot) kasi pangarap ko talaga sana na gaganda ang buhay nila t sana matupad ang mga pangarap nila.”

Para sa mga tulad ni Genalyn at ng marami sa atin, ang pagkatupad ng pangarap ng mga anak ay siyang mismong pagkatupad ng sarili niyang pangarap.

Habang nasa malayo, alagaan natin sila sa tulong ng BeamAndGo. Sa pagtutulong-tulong natin, makakaya iyan.

Ano ang kwento mo?

Sigurado kaming may sarili ka ring kwento. Sa Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Middle East, o saan ka man, gusto naming marinig ang kwento mo. Share mo naman sa amin. Huwag ring magpahuli sa pagiging isang Beamer. Sign up ka na sa www.beamandgo.com!

Easter: Time again to Share God’s gifts

Filipinos are known for truly valuing their faith and living it in their daily lives. This is probably why one of the first orders of business when a Filipino goes abroad, or anywhere for that matter, is the search for a church.

It is also quite the order of business to find ways to help

Kain po!

people in need. That seems part of being Filipino as well. Ondoy, Yolanda, at iba pa, parating nagkukumahog tumulong ang mga Pilipino sa ibang bansa kahit hindi nila kilala ang mga natamaan ng kalamidad. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. There’s no such thing as helping only people from your church or subgroup. When there’s a disaster, a true Filipino will help whoever needs it.

But what about those times when there is no disaster? Some people seem to forget that help is also needed and appreciated even if times are relatively safe and peaceful.

This is the case with Pastor Jun Sibuma’s church. Just like many churches, this one relies heavily on the support of the immediate community and those who go there to worship. As you can expect, there are times when things can get tough and celebrating God’s blessings can be in danger of being compromised.

Lahat naman tayo naranasan natin ito kahit papaano. Birthday na walang handa. Pista na walang lechon pero okay lang. At least may spaghetti o pansit. Wag na lang Pan de Amerikano. Pan de Sal na lang.

Familiar situation?

Fortunately for Jun Sibuma of the Glorious Church of the Nazarene in Dasmariñas, Cavite, he had a good classmate in his elementary years with whom he has kept in touch. Tonet Ramos is a Resolution Specialist based in Sacramento, California. Pastor Jun says of Tonet: “We chat often that’s why every time she has a plan to give anything, she always sends a message (first). Basta sinabi nya gagawin nya. Kilalang-kilala ko s’ya napakabait n’yan.”

Church members getting the goodies using their BeamAndGo gift certificates

Tonet thought of looking for people who could give her some help in passing on some goodies to her friend and his church. It was in this way that she learned of BeamAndGo CEO, Jonathan Chua. She was impressed not only by what Jon was doing, she was also quite impressed with the platform to make things easier and safer for OFWs to send support back home – BeamAndGo. Tonet mentioned her concerns to Jon who helped her set up her account and making sure she didn’t have any problems. Later on though, browsing the site on her own, Tonet saw how easy it was to get things done with the BeamAndGo site.

This case was rather unique for BeamAndGo since this was not a case of an OFW sending support to a family member. It was someone who wanted to ensure that her help and expression of the Christian spirit of giving was sure to get through. Times of giving can both be a wonderful yet emotionally draining experience for an OFW who learns that the well-packed boxes of goodies for their loved ones can get to the family home opened and lacking contents.

Siyempre hindi kumpleto ang party pag walang candy!

Buti na lang kay Pastor Jun, walang ganoon dahil sa BeamAndGo.

“Iyong transaction napakadali at walang kahirap-hirap. Basta sinabi mo gift check sa BeamAndGo, aasikasuhin agad.”

They got all the stuff conveniently in Super 8 in Dasmariñas, Cavite and when he was asked to describe how he and his church members reacted upon getting the gift certificates from BeamAndGo and when they finally were able to claim all the goods, his response was simply, “Happing-happy. Masayang-masaya.”

Jun adds that, “Mga ilang taon na rin s’yang nagbibigay sa amin. Basta mayroon si Tonet. Hindi madamot at sobrang bait ‘yan kaya maganda ang ugnayan ng church kay Tonet. Kumare ko, classmate ko, at friend kong super generous yan at marami syang tinulungan.”

Jun sent his classmate a message as soon as he received the GCs, which was a very short time after Tonet sent them, and also after his group was able to get the goods from their neighborhood Super 8. He also praised the excellent all-around service given to him from the beginning to the end of the transaction.

The spirit of sharing throughout the year

The Filipino is a person who shares and this is easily seen in this story. Tonet is a person who has been blessed and she shares these blessings with friends like Pastor Jun.

While many of us do send our loved ones back home material expressions of our love in every grocery bag, medicine, insurance plan, etc., perhaps it’s time that we go beyond the family. There are others who also need our help and BeamAndGo will make sure that your help gets to them in the best possible way.

Now that we’re in the Easter season, we commemorate  Christ’s suffering and celebrate His resurrection. With something this special, isn’t it time to send your loved ones and those who need it most something they can truly enjoy together?

Punta na sa BeamAndGo website and let the sharing begin!

Kain na!

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If you want to give BeamAndGo a try, don’t forget to sign up for your free account at www.beamandgo.com. Avail of a 7% discount on your first transaction by using the promo code: BNG7 on the payment page.

Have a solemn Holy Week, Beamers!