Bakit tinatangkilik ng OFW families ang NCCC Supermarket sa Davao at Palawan? Alamin!

The life here in the Philippines is undeniably hard. And as the breadwinner of your family, the last option you have is to work overseas for them. However, it is really fulfilling when you are able to provide their daily needs.

Ilang buwan o taon ang pakikipagsapalaran mo sa ibang bansa kasama ang iba’t-ibang uri ng tao. Mahirap, pero ‘yun ay tinitiis mo para sa ikabubuti ng iyong pamilya.

So, if you are an OFW that has a family in Davao and Palawan, keep calm, because this blog is for you! Tanungin niyo sila kung alam nila ang NCCC Supermarket! Siguradong alam nila! Kahit si Digong (President Rodrigo Duterte, alam na alam yan!)

Upgraded architectural design sa pinaka bagong branch ng NCCC Mall in Buhangin, Davao City!
📷 | PhilRetailers

NCCC Mall is Davaoeño family’s forever homegrown mall!

NCCC offers affordable prices to your household needs! Make sure you compare prices of local versus imported. Sa NCCC, malinaw ang price tags color yellow pati narin mga signage!

BeamAndGo’s mission is to help Overseas Filipino Workers to make their lives better. Hindi na bago sa amin na makarinig kung paano lang nawawaldas sa wala ang pera na ipinapadala nila. Kaya andito kami para mabigyan kayo ng best service even if you’re a million miles away.

Let your family shop at NCCC!

Founded in the year 1978, NCCC Supermarket has over 40 branches scattered across the Davao Region and in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.  Tulad ng BeamAndGo, NCCC Supermarket is committed to serve people with all their basic needs at the best priced quality products. 

Suportado ng NCCC Supermarket ang local farmers, kaya’t ang mabbiling mga prutas dito, tiyak na fresh, organic, and more nutritious.

Summer just around the corner! Kaya’t panahon na ng paboritong prutas natin mga Pinoy! Kung safe at fresh na grocery items lang din naman ang hanap niyo, dito ka na sa NCCC Supermarket! Meron silang wide selection of products, and in addition to that, locally produced ang mga mabibiling prutas at gulay dito because NCCC advocates buying from our local farmers!

Kung ang kailangan naman bilhin ng pamilya mo ay ang pang-araw-araw na gamit sa bahay, sapatos, damit o pang-regalo, don’t worry! Dahil hindi limitado ang pag-sa-shopping dito.

Kumpleto ang brands na maaaring pagpilian ng pamilya dito – kumporme sa presyo, sa amoy, sa laki, sa dami, o sa tatak, mabibili nila!

At dahil nais kayong matulungan ng BeamAndGo at ng aming trusted merchant partners, through our digital gift certificates, makakabili na ang ‘yong loved ones ng grocery needs sa NCCC Supermarket. Hindi sasakit ang ulo mo dahil they will give you the highest quality of customer service!

Here are the branches of NCCC Supermarket available at BeamAndGo and pick the nearest for your family:

✔️ NCCC Supermarket Main Magsaysay (Uyanguren) – R. Magsaysay Avenue, Davao City
✔️ NCCC Supermarket Mall Tagum – National Highway Magugpo East, Tagum City
✔️ NCCC Supermarket Lacao – 89 Lacao St., Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
✔️ NCCC Supermarket Centerpoint – Centerpoint Matina Pangi, Davao City
✔️ NCCC Supermarket Calinan – National Highway Across Public Market, Brgy. Calinan, Davao City
✔️ NCCC Supermarket Panacan – Km. 13 Panacan, Davao City
✔️ NCCC Supermarket Nabunturan – Public Market, Poblacion Nabunturan, Compostella Valley
✔️ NCCC Supermarket Sto. Tomas -G/F Chiu-Ta Bldg. Feeder Road 2, Tibal-og, Davao del Norte
✔️ NCCC Supermarket Cabantian – Km. 10 Brgy. Cabantian, Davao City
✔️ NCCC Supermarket Monkayo – Purok 5 Poblacion Monkayo, Compostela Valley
✔️ NCCC Supermarket Samal -Brgy. Villarica, Babak, Island Garden, City of Samal, Davao del Norte
✔️ NCCC Supermarket Lupon – E. Aguinaldo St., Corner Comara St., Lupon, Davao Oriental
✔️ NCCC Supermarket Sta. Cruz – Jose P. Rizal St., Sta. Cruz, Davao del Norte
✔️ NCCC Supermarket Mati – Madang St., Public Market, Mati, Davao Oriental
✔️ NCCC Supermarket Panabo – KSJH Building Quezon St., Sto. Niño Panabo, Davao del Norte
✔️ NCCC Supermarket San Pedro Palawan – San Pedro, One Asenso Shopping Mall, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
✔️ NCCC Supermarket Maa Sentro – Ma-a Road, Ma-a, Davao City, Davao del Sur

How to avail of gift certificates from NCCC Supermarket?

Since BeamAndGo was born to help, 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, profession, 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?

Next thing to do is LOG IN your BeamAndGo username and head over to our STORE PAGE (upper right side). Select NCCC SUPERMARKET as your chosen product and ikaw na ang bahala kung ilang worth PHP 500 GC/s ang ipapadala mo para sa ‘yong pamilya. Of course, sigurado namang magiging masaya sila kapag mas marami!

2^nd to the last step is you need to fill in your beneficiary’s FULL NAME and MOBILE NUMBER. Be careful lang sa pag-fi-fill in ng details para sure na matanggap nila ng maayos ang transaction codes.

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 and through our partners – Pacific Ace (Hong Kong & Macau) and iRemit!

Just go to the customer service counter, show the SMS that contains the codes, and present a valid ID!

When everything is processed, your recipient will receive transaction and confirmation codes from us. Right after na matanggap nila ‘yon, they are able to redeem their goods at the nearest branch for them. Dadalhin lang nila ang isang valid ID at ipapakita ito sa Customer Service ng Redemption Center ng NCCC. Since we have your recipient’s details, our beautiful and handsome Customer Service team will assist them.

Cashless nang makakapag-grocery shopping ang pamilya mo sa pinakamalapit na NCCC Supermarket sa kanila thru BeamAndGo!

Gusto mo ‘yon? So ano pa ang hinihintay mo? Subok na rito sa BeamAndGo at simulan na ang wais na pagpapadala ng iyong perang kinikita. Not in Palawan or Davao, huwag kayo mag alala dahil available narin ang BeamAndGo nationwide! Here are the Convenience Store, Gas Station, Supermarket, Department Store, Fast Food Restaurant, and pharmacy merchants of BeamAndGo

DAVAOEÑO OFW families’ number 1 shopping center – bisitahin!

Believe it or not, karaniwang scenario na sa OFW families na ang perang pinapadala ni Kabayan, hindi lahat sa pangangailangan ng pamilya napupunta.

Believe it or not, may solusyon na ang BeamAndGo para sa karaniwang problema ng mga OFWs na ‘yan, lalo na para sa mga tubong Mindanao, dahil merong Gaisano Malls na partner namin d’yan!

GMall of Davao facade – architectural design ✔️

Sino nga ba namang hindi makakakilala sa pinaka-sikat at nangungunang shopping mall sa puso ng mga Davaoeños? 

Since it’s official opening in 1997, almost 22 years nang walang sawang nagbibigay serbisyo ang Gaisano Malls sa Davao community. Parami nang parami ang mga mapagpipiliang shopping stores, fast food and restaurants, and leisure activities na matatagpuan dito, kaya’t talaga namang ito ang “one-stop shop” at tiyak na hindi mawawala sa listahan ng mga dayuhan mula man sa Maynila o sa ibang bansa. Kaya naman ang inyong BeamerKada, muling bumalik sa GMall of Davao – GMarket and GStore para mag grocery and home shopping!

“All necessities available. Plenty of food options to choose. A large supermarket for your daily needs. You can get cheap clothing and stuff.”– shopper from Singapore

Related: Masubukan nga! OFWs buy their groceries in Davao

First stop – GMarket

Pagdating sa shopping mall, siguradong Supermarket ang laging pinupuntahan ng mga tao, mamimili man o hindi – magtitingin-tingin lang kumbaga. Aminin, gawain mo rin!

Kaya’t nang binisita namin ang GMall of Davao, nag-grocery na rin kami! Dito, nasaksihan namin kung bakit patuloy na tinatangkilik ng mga mamimili ang GMarket!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Tip: Mas mura ang karamihan ng Davao products dito! Swak sa budget na pampasalubong para sa mga bumibisita!

“A strategic mall within the walking vicinity from Roxas Avenue. We even bought our souvenirs from the groceries as it is cheap, reasonable and ‘local’.” – tripAdvisor user

Meat and Seafood Section
Kung minsan ka nang nakapamili rito, siguradong alam mo kung gaano nakakamangha ang pagkahaba-habang hilera ng mga manok, karne at seafood sa iba’t ibang brands na available. Singhaba ng palabas ni Coco Martin? It’s for you to find out!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Next Stop – GStore

Pamorma essentials for as low as PHP 75, available sa GStore! Presyong ukay, Kabayan, pero ang quality, pang branded! Talagang nakakamangha!

Kung home appliance and furniture naman ang hanap mo, aba’y kumpleto sila dito – DISCOUNTED PA! Makakapamili ka pa sa iba’t ibang yari, kulay, at laki. Aprub talaga!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Napakarami pang maipagmamalaki ng Gaisano Malls, hindi lang sa napakaraming shopping stores, kundi sa vicinity, ambiance, and of course, everyone’s favorite – promos and discounts!

They are always ready to cater to the various needs and all of these are at most competitive price to fit their budgets!

Gaisano Mall Grocery Padala thru BeamAndGo is the solution for OFWs!

Para naman siguradong sa pangangailangan ng pamilya sa Davao mapupunta ang iyong pinaghirapang pera, BeamAndGo teamed up with Gaisano Malls! This means that OFWs may send Gaisano Mall Gift Certificates to your families dahil available na ‘to sa www.beamandgo.com! Maaari nilang gamitin ‘yan to buy items at GMarket at GStore ng Gaisano Malls!

Your family may redeem their Gift Certificates at the following branches Gaisano Malls located in the heart of fast growing cities:

✔️ Gaisano Mall of Davao – JP. Laurel Avenue, Davao City, Davao Del Sur

✔️ Gaisano Mall of Gensan – J. Catolico Sr. Avenue, General Santos City, South Cotabato

✔️ Gaisano Mall of Digos – Quezon Avenue, Barangay Tres de Mayo, Digos City, Davao Del Sur

✔️ Gaisano Mall of Tagum – National Highway Briz District, Magugpo East, Tagum City, Davao del Norte

✔️ Gaisano Mall of Toril – Corner National Highway, Lim Street, Davao City, Davao del Sur

HOW TO AVAIL OF Gaisano Malls GCs?

Madali lang ang pagsali sa BeamAndGo! The first step is you need to register your personal account at www.beamandgo.com. Simply type 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 Gaisano Mall GC. Valid na ‘yan sa alin mang Gaisano Mall na malapit sa pamilya and it’s up to you kung ilang worth Php 500 GC/s ang iyong ipapadala at kailangan ng iyong pamilya. Mas marami, mas masaya, mas malaki ang diskwento dahil buwan-buwan, may discount code ang BeamAndGo para sa iyo!

Here’s a tip: Tumuktok lamang sa aming Facebook page para sa discount codes!

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, online payment (TNG), thru our sales partners Pacific Ace, iRemit, PayRemit, PNB, Can Pay Bills o sa kahit saang remittance centers that accept BDO deposit.

I-present ang code at isang valid ID sa customer service center for verification.

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 Center ng Gaisano Mall at ipapakita ang serial numbers at isang valid ID for verification.

Success!

After that, cashless nang makakapamili ng sariwa, dekalidad, at murang pamilihin sa Gaisano Malls 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!

Is your family not in Mindanao? Walang problema dahil ang Supermarket Gift Certificates ng BeamAndGo, available nationwide!

Mga sikat na Festivals in Davao: Adto ta Didto! Celebrations that make OFWs miss home!

Davao is home to a lot of our hard-working kababayans. Aside from being hard-working, kilala ang mga Davaoeño at Davaoeña sa pagiging malinis, disiplinado, masayahin, at festive. From family gatherings, such as birthdays and weddings, to community gatherings like fiestas, celebrations in Davao are definitely something to look forward to. Kaya nga hindi natin masisisi ang ating mga kababayang OFW for missing their hometown while abroad. Sino ba ang hindi makaka-miss sa masarap na pagkain sa handaan, sa sayawan at kasiyahan, at syempre, ang pagiging malapit sa mga kapamilya at kaibigan?

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

Kung kailangang mamili para sa mga handaan sa Davao, GMall ang dapat puntahan!

Send GMall Supermarket GCs using BeamAndGo!

Uuwi ka man sa Davao bilang balikbayan o bibisita bilang turista, heto ang mga celebration na hindi mo dapat palampasin:

Araw ng Dabaw

Kung uuwi ka ngayong summer, isakto mo na sa week-long celebration ng Araw ng Dabaw! Sa linggong ito, the people of Davao celebrate their foundation as a city. From March 10 to 16, kaliwa’t kanan ang kantahan, sayawan, cultural performances at competitions. Magsusulputan ang mga vendor ng local food and delicacies na siguradong nakakatakam. Hindi mawawala dito ang paborito nating Durian at iba-ibang pagkaing gawa dito.

Sa huling araw, may masaya at makulay na paradang magiikot sa Davao City. Ito ang pinakamasaya at nakaka-enganyong bahagi ng celebration na ito.

Kadayawan Festival

 

Sino pa ba sa atin ang hindi pa nakakarinig sa Kadayawan Festival? It’s one of the most popular festivals in the region and in the Philippines. Nagdadagsaan ang mga turista sa Davao para makisama sa kasiyahang ito!

Every third week of August, Davao celebrates its abundance of culture, harvest, life, and oneness of the people. Nakakatuwang masilayan ang mga tradisyon ng mga lumad, mga tribong muslim na binibigyan ng pagkakataong ipamahagi ang kanilang kultura sa Kadayawan. Makikita ang mga ito sa Tribuhaning Pasundayag Cultural Show at Tribuhanong Dula games. Sikat din ang sayawan sa street dance parade o Indak-indak sa Kadalanan. Dancer groups from all over Mindanao come to showcase their culture through music and dance. Another highlight of the festival is the pageant, Hiyas ng Kadayawan. This is where the smart and beautiful young women of Davao compete to become the representative of Davao’s colorful culture and tradition.

Like Araw ng Dabaw, Kadayawan also ends with a parade. Pamulak Kadayawan is a parade of flowers and fruits by communities, organizations, and businesses. The flowers and fruits symbolizes the abundance of bounty in Davao.

The parties and festivities don’t just stay on the streets. Different establishments, like GMall, participate during these festivals by having sales and bazaars. Mas marami kang mabibili, kahit may budget ka, kapag may piyesta!

‘Wag mong kalimutang magpadala ng BeamAndGo Supermarket GCs para makapaghanda ang iyong pamilya ng inyong mga paborito!

Related: Balik-Pilipinas 2: Kain Tayo Dito!

Aside from these festivals, the different communities in Davao and its neighboring provinces celebrate their heritage during different fiestas. Pagpapakita ito ng pasasalamat para sa mga biyaya. This is why a lot of festivals celebrate bounty and agriculture: Palay Festival, Banana Festival, Durian Festival, etc. Marami din ang fiesta para sa mga santo at santa, o mga sinaunang diyos ng mga ninuno sa Davao. But one thing Davaoeños and Filipinos are most thankful for is being with loved ones to celebrate life. Wala talagang tatalo sa piyestang Pinoy dahil nandito ang lahat ng makakapagpasaya sa atin.

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.”

Processed with VSCO with f2 preset

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!

 

Filipina in Japan gives her thumbs up: “BeamAndGo is here to help your families.”

No matter how modern and fast-paced our lifestyles may have become, ‘di mawawala sa ating mga Pilipino ang pagiging matulungin. Bayanihan is one of the most admirable attributes of Filipino culture. Galing ang salitang bayanihan sa bayan — meaning nation, municipality, and community. Kaya naman, we are always willing to lend a helping hand to the whole BeamAndGo community.

A lovely family picture of Gina and her children

By sending Supermarket GCs to your family in the Philippines, mas madadalian ang pamilya mo sa pag-budget ng mga gastusin. Tulad ng pagpapadala,  isa sa mga bihasa sa pagpapadala ng Supermarket GC ay si Gina–isang loyal Beamer from Japan. Sanay na siya sa pagpapadala ng GMall Supermarket GCs sa kanyang pamilya. 

Sa BeamAndGo, we have a 24-hour promise: your family will receive the gift certificates in 24 hours or less. Sign up na para makapagpadala ka na!

In a change of events, Gina sent Supermarket GCs for Super 8 instead of GMall to her daughter, Arisa. Sinubukan nila ito dahil bumisita ang kanyang anak sa Manila. To make sure na makakarating sa kanyang anak ang kanyang ipinadala, Gina contacted Angela, our customer service representative. Nang malaman niyang nandito si Arisa, sinamahan niya ito at ang kanyang mga kaibigan sa kanyang pamimili sa Super 8 Libertad. 

Arisa’s friends and our extra smiling Customer Service representative, Angela

Dito sa BeamAndGo, gusto naming convenient at smooth ang experience ng bawat Beamer. Kaya naman Angela is more than happy to help Arisa in her grocery shopping sa Super 8.

Isa ang Super 8 Grocery Warehouse sa mga supermarkets na pwede mong pagpilian! Super 8 branches are located in Metro Manila, Cavite, Antipolo and Northern Luzon. For the full list of branches, click here.

Habang namimili si Arisa, kasama ang kanyang mga kaibigan, ibinahagi niya kay Angela ang kwento ng buhay nila. More than 30 years na pala ang kanyang ina abroad. She has been working more than 2 jobs, para masuportahan niya ang kanyang pamilya dito. Si Gina lang rin ang nagpapaaral sa kanyang anak and Arisa has always been thankful.

Arisa, her brother and her tita – regular recipients of Gina’s gift certificates

Hindi man daw vocal si Arisa pagsabing mahal niya ang kanyang mama, she always makes sure she shows this in all other ways. She does this by being studious as a Tourism Major at Holy Angel University, Angeles, Pampanga. Pangarap niyang makapagtapos, makakuha ng magandang trabaho, at makapag-ipon ng malaki. She wants to be successful para makatulong sa kanyang mama at magkasama na sila.

Masaya kaming maging bahagi ng kwento ni Gina at Arisa. More than making it easier for Gina and Arisa to budget and to save on remittance costs, gusto naming mapanatiling close ang bawat pamilya ng ating mga kababayang OFW. Masaya din kaming makatulong sa bawat Beamer, kahit saan man pa kayo sa mundo!

We’re always ready to help you in any way we can! Just send us an email at customerservice@beamandgo.com, our customer service representatives here will gladly assist you. 

The favorite brands you love from Luzon to Mindanao are now available in BeamAndGo. Don’t forget to sign up now and start sharing to this your friends!

 

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!

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!

Masubukan nga! OFWs buy their groceries in Davao

The head honchos at BeamAndGo have been hearing a lot of good things about your experiences sending good stuff to your loved ones. Since we also want to have some of that fun, CEO Jonathan E. Chua and SVP Albert Christian Go made their way to the Davao City Gaisano Mall (GMall), and tried to act like they were the recipients of an OFWs love and concern.

Bago pa namin ibahagi ang magandang kwento sa GMall, our question is, are you already a member of BeamAndGo? Wala pong bayad ang registration at lagpas 80,000 OFWs na ang binibigyan namin ng tulong at karagdagang alaman sa wastong paraan ng pagshopping sa grocery.

Ano pa ang hinihintay niyo? Halina at mag register sa BeamAndGo 

Albert and Jon with our friends from GMall

Sabi nga ng mga signage sa pagdating pa lang nila, “Davao: Life is Here.” Oh, di ba? Mukhang fun nga talaga sa simula pa lang.

Pagdating nila ng GMall, kita kaagad nila ang dami ng mga pagpipilian. When we chose our partners, we made sure that you, our members would have the best choices available. That’s why we have GMall for all you guys.

Related: did you know that BeamAndGo has more to offer than just supermarkets? Click here to find out

Jon took the lead by going around the spacious and very

Mukhang gustong gumawa ng banana que ni Jon.

clean shopping area. He took a basket and started getting the good stuff! Ano ang kinuha niya? Ano pa? Pilipino pa rin iyan kaya dapat may spaghetti at saging!

Si Albert naman, feeling healthy kaya mga gulay muna ang tinutukan. Siyempre pa, sariwa lahat ang hain ng GMall dito at sobrang matulungin pa ang mga tao.

Gulay, gulay, gulay

Ewan lang pero may plano atang magluto itong dalawang lalaking ito. Biro lang yan! Ang binili nilang groceries ay para sa mga OFWs katulad niyo – ang OFW Watch.

Pagkatapos ni Jon mamili, eto na ang pinaka-test: Pumunta na siya sa kahera para tignan kung ano nga ba ang mga nararanasan ng mga mahal ninyo sa buhay pag namimili sila gamit ang tulong ng BeamAndGo. Siyempre pa, sobra nang dali nga, ang sarap pang malaman na talagang matulungin ang mga taga-GMall. Ipakita mo lang ang cell phone mo kung saan nandoon ang digital gift certificate na galing sa BeamAndGo, solb ka na!

Ang mahiwagang BeamAndGo digital gift certificate

Tulad ng lahat ng tao, takot din si Jon at Albert na hindi magamit nang maayos ang pera nila kaya gusto talaga nilang subukan kung paano nga ba bumili ng mga pangangailangan gamit ang sistema namin.

Ayan. Nakapamili na. Happy-happy na!

Kung dati, enjoy kaagad pag Davao ang pinag-uusapan, mas lalo pa ngayon! Sigurado ka nang mapagkakatiwalaan mo ang mga merchant ng BeamAndGo tulad ng GMall na may 5 branches sa Mindanao (General Santos, Digos, Toril, Tagum, and Davao) . Patuloy pa kaming nagdaragdag ng mga bago kaya sabihin na ninyo rin sa amin kung ano ang mga supermarket, department store, o mall diyan sa inyo. Kung wala pa sila sa BeamAndGo, makaaasa kayong hindi magtatagal, mga Beamer na rin sila.

O, kapwa Beamer, padala na sa Pilipinas! Punta na sa BeamAndGo at magsimula na sa pagshopping!

Ayan. Nagsalita na sila. The Philippine Presidential Debates

We recently had the Presidential Debates with all five candidates present. Vice President Jejomar Binay, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Grace Poe, former DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago were there to present their case. The event was held in Cagayan de Oro City and shown through GMA 7.

BeamAndGo tends to agree with the recent Rappler report saying the event was more about personality. Ganoon naman talaga dito sa Pilipinas. Mahalaga ang personalidad at kahit pa maraming marurunong daw na nagsasabing dapat plataporma ang mas mahalaga, ang mismong pagkatao pa rin ang tinututukan ng mga Pilipino. Kahit ano pa ang tulong na maaaring maibigay halimbawa ng mga tulad ng BeamAndGo, marami lang talaga ang nakasalalay sa mga ihahal natin pagdating ng Mayo.

Hindi naman yata mali ito. It’s really just a matter of being able to balance the two. Una, kung hindi mo mapagkakatiwalaan ang tao, walang mararating ang kung ano pa mang plataporma. Parang lang ‘yang magiging palamuti sa damit. Porma lang.

Kailangan talagang mapagkakatiwalaan ang isang tao kasi sa loob ng anim na taon ng panunungkulan ng isang Pangulo, maraming bagay ang maaaring mangyari. Nariyan na ang mga biglaang trahedya. Nariyan din ang mga OFW katulad ni Albert Go na pumuntang Singapore dahil sa matinding isyu ng income tax at high cost of living sa Metro Manila. Ang kaniyang blog post Lowering Taxes and preventing a balikbayan controvery ay isa lamang sa mga kwento ng milyon-milyong kababayan natin na nagkaroon ng oportunidad sa ibang bansa.

Can this or that candidate react fast enough, effectively enough without pointing fingers?

Photo taken from GMA 7 video.

Pero, hindi rin puedeng personalidad lang. Mahalaga ang plataporma. Kung wala itong kwenta, para namang mangmang ang ating Presidente at madaling itulak dito at doon ng kung sinu-sino depende sa ihip ng hangin. Sabi nga ng bansag isang comedy show noong late 80s hanggang early 90s: Ang Pambansang Panggulo.

So how now brown cow?

Dapat balanse. Since the Presidential Debate is still fresh in our minds, let us deal with the personalities first. We’ll deal with the platforms in a later post. (Kalma lang, ha? Gagawin natin iyon. Wag mag-alala.)

Wala tayong kakampihan dito. Babalikan lang natin ang mga sinabi nila mismo noong Presidential Debate sa GMA 7. Hopefully, this will give us a good glimpse on who these people are and what priorities they have so that we can see if their priorities align with ours. We also won’t make comments here whether their claims are valid or not. We will just focus on what they said. It is up to you to determine if you believe something can be done or not given the time frame the candidates themselves give.

VP Jejomar Binay

For VP Binay, the main problem facing the nation is poverty.He asserts that he was able to help make Makati the way it is now – rich and prosperous. He stresses that he is a decisive and effective leader who is not bogged down by analysis-paralysis (ibig sabihin, hindi siya napaparalisa dala ng kakaisip). He also pointed out that there was underspending in government which led to under-performance. It is because of this underspending that some people have died without having received the necessary medicine.

On the issue of political dynasties, his position is that as long as a person is qualified and is willing to serve, this should not be a hindrance to public office.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte

Mayor Duterte focused on the problems of crime and corruption. He promised to clean up the country and rid it of crime and corruption within three to six months. He explained that he will go after criminals and even put them to death as long as these actions are according to the rule of law. He said he would use the military and the police to go after these lawless elements.

He said that corruption was still the problem of the Philippines and that as long as there were incompetent or corrupt officials, things would remain the same.

Being from Mindanao, he also touched on two major issues: The national budget allotment of Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Basic Law. He complained that only 19% of the infrastructure budget was given to the area while 65% went to Metro Manila. He then asked how Mindanao was to develop with such a disparity. He is an advocate of federalism (allowing each region or state to have its own power without having to rely on the power of the central or national government) adding that he’d even offer this to Moro National Liberation Front chief Nur Misuari.

Senator Grace Poe

Senator Poe said her administration would allot 30% of the national budget for Mindanao adding that it was important for jobs to be created in the region. Her plan included the creation of a Mindanao Rail system, cementing around 2000 kms of roads, and the rehabilitation of dams to generate electricity. She expects these projects, especially the one for road creation, to provide temporary jobs but with the long-term benefit of attracting more tourists and investors to the area, which would then create a more steady job market.

Regarding the controversial BBL, she says there should be more transparent discussion of issues and should involve Maguindanaons, Tausugs, Badjao, and other groups like indigenous peoples and Christians.

She approached the issue of nation building from the point of view of being a mother. She admitted being the newbie of the bunch but insisted that she had already seen what was needed by the government. She continued by saying that one does not need a long tenure as an executive to realize that the government’s help in things like transportation was sorely lacking.

She advocates change in agriculture calling for free irrigation and the creation of agri-industrial zones where the Departments of Agriculture and Trade and Industry would work hand-in-hand to promote the products of farmers. Included here is replanting of coconut trees to maximize the yield per hectare and identifying what high-value products should be planted by our farmers so that they reap the maximum benefit for their labor.

Former DILG Secretary Mar Roxas

The former DILG Secretary opened up the whole affair with his “driver” analogy asking what kind of driver would be best for a country. Unsurprisingly, he ended the analogy saying that one with the proper experience and the confidence of his former employer would be best.

He touted the achievements of the present administration saying that the economy had improved as evidenced by the numbers of the National Economic Development Authority and that Mindanao has had twice the amount of infrastructure in the last five years as compared to the 12 years prior to that.

He also spoke on the need to help the country’s fishermen by means of granting non-debilitating loans, providing them with fish-finder technology, and setting up post-catch facilities in the areas where the fishermen operate so that fish are sold fresher and profits are bigger.

He did not deny that he, himself, has had a good life but shared that it was such a life that he also wished for all Filipinos, one that was free from hunger and fear and one that allowed a person to freely dream.

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago

Senator Santiago was her fiery self though a little less than what most people were used to.

She lamented the fact that though there was so much corruption, hardly anything had been done about it. Regarding all the promises made by her opponents, she addressed this by saying it was so easy to make promises but it was much harder to talk about implementation. She focused on the poverty programs mentioned and asked where the money would come from to get any of this done.

She called for a bigger budget allocation for education, rural infrastructure, social welfare, and health care for the poor.

She also spoke on the issues of political dynasties and the problem with China. She advocated negotiations with China and other Asian countries adding that both the Americans and Chinese were merely trying to impose their will on the Philippines. She also expressed her opposition to political dynasties while admitting that a much clearer definition of what constituted such should be made.

 

Photo taken from GMA 7 video.

Okay na?

Elections are not one-shot deals. We need to keep a close watch on these guys who make a lot of promises but may just point fingers at other people when things fail, people are already complaining, and blame is being hurled. Sisihan na kumbaga.

Why is this important? The President of the Philippines can easily determine how good or bad the lives of your loved ones will be for the next SIX years! Just imagine what a lousy President can do to the education of your children. Di ba gusto mo ring makauwi sana at hindi na umalis sa Pilipinas? Kung magaling ang Presidente natin, baka maging totoo iyon. Kung hindi, baka matagal pa ang kalbaryo mo na malayo ka sa asawa’t anak mo.

Isipin mo na lang din: Kaya nga nandito ang BeamAndGo para makatulong sa iyo at sa iyong pamilya. Makapagpapadala ka ng pagkain, gamot, at kung anu-ano pa sa kanila. Hindi ba maganda kung sa gobyerno mismo nararamdaman mong panatag ka parati na maaalagaan mo ang mga mahal mo sa buhay?

Meron pa tayong mga panahon para magpasya. Wag sana nating isarado ang ating isipan. Itong mga debateng ganito ang isa sa mga maaari nating gamitin para kilatisin nang maayos itong mga taong gustong mamuno sa atin.

BeamAndGo friends in Hong Kong Salu-Salo event

多謝: Salu-salo ng mga OFWs sa Hong Kong!

 

Nagkasama, nagkita, at nagsaya ang mga Beamers, kanilang mga kaibigan, at ang mga kasama natin sa BeamAndGo sa isang salu-salo sa Hong Kong at kasama ang Mindanao Hong Kong Workers Federation (MinFed).

Nagkatuwaan ang lahat sa mga games at mga raffle na ginawa. Aside from the games and raffles, there was a lot of sharing and enjoying each other‘s company. Ganoon ang Pilipino. Pag nagsasama-sama, may tawanan, mahalan, at siyempre pa, kainan! Para mas maganda, nagbigay ng mga regalo ang I-Remit at Generika Drugstore. May duda pa bang mahal tayo ng mga merchant natin sa BeamAndGo?

Sa Generika pa lang, sampung tao na ang nakakuha ng mga t-shirt at may sobrang swerte pang nakakuha ng Php 1000 na gift certificate na maaaring gamitin sa BeamAndGo. Sigurado at ligtas na ang pagpadala sa Pilipinas ng pambili ng gamot, libre pa. Saan ka pa?

Sa I-Remit naman, may mga nakakuha ng powerbank (hindi na sila malo-low batt!), selfie sticks, mga multi-purpose mesh cases, sling bags, at windbreakers! May pang selfie na, may pamporma pa sa panahon ng taglamig. Wagi!

Nandoon ang mga bida natin sa BeamAndGo – si Jonathan E. Chua, Albert Christian Go, Vanessa Cartera, Tom Acuesta, at Raizza Encinas. Nagtulong-tulong silang lahat para siguraduhing buo ang barkada lalo pa’t pagpapasalamat at patuloy na pagtulong ang pinag-uusapan. Namigay din sila ng mga naggagandahang mga BeamAndGo t-shirts.

Sikat na sikat dito siyempre ang MinFed. Pinasalamatan talaga sila sa event na ito dahil na rin sa mga naging pagsuporta sa BeamAndGo at sa pagtatanghal ng kulturang Mindanao sa ibang Pilipino at sa mga ibang lahi. Makikita ngayon ng iba na hindi lang Luzon o Visayas o dili kaya’y Metro Manila lang ang Pilipinas. Hindi kukulangin sa 26 ang mga miyembro nilang dumating.

Sabi ni Cindy Pesidas Encabo, kasalukuyang namumuno sa MinFed, ang pinakaproblema nga raw ng mga nagtatrabaho sa Hong Kong ay ang paglustay ng perang padala nila.

Narinig na ninyo siguro ang kwentong ito: Magpapadala kunwari ng Php 1000 ang isang OFW para sa groceries ng pamilya sa Pilipinas. Malalaman na lang ng kawawang OFW na kalahati lang pala ang ginamit sa groceries. Ang natira, pinanlibre na ng mga kabarkada ng kanilang paboritong toma o alak.

Dahil sa mga digital GC ng BeamAndGo at sa pagtuturo sa kanila, mas naging handa na ang isang OFW sa mas siguradong pagpapadala sa Pilipinas.

Naikwento ni Cindy na nung una, nagdududa pa sila dahil daw hindi pa naman matagal na kumpanya ang BeamAndGo. Pero natuwa silang lahat nung nasubukan na nila kung gaano kadaling bumili ng GC at ipadala ito sa pamilya sa Pilipinas. Hindi lang ito sobrang daling gawin, mas maganda pa ang naidudulot nito sa mga mag-asawa o sa iba-ibang mga kapamilya.

Halimbawa dito ang mga mag-asawang dahil hindi nagkakasundo sa pagbili ng pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan, nauuwi sa sigawan. Dahil sa BeamAndGo at sa mga GC nito, hindi makapaglulustay ang isang tao ng perang padala ng OFW.

Kita mo na? Nakatutulong ang BeamAndGo para mas magkaunawaan ang mga mag-asawa habang napangangalagaan ang kapayapaan sa pagitan ng mag-asawa.

Mga masasayang Beamer kasama si BeamAndGo CEO, Jonathan Chua, si Vanessa Cartera at si Raizza Encinas.

Siyempre, we also had visitors. HelperChoice was there to give a short talk on how they could help OFWs especially in finding good employers and protecting themselves from abuse.

Ganito talaga dito sa BeamAndGo. Masaya na, marami ka pang makikilala para hindi ka malungkot. Bukod pa doon, may mga matututunan ka ukol sa pag-alaga ng pera mo. Sagot ka namin. 

Baka hindi ka pa namin member. Para talagang matulungan ka namin, punta ka lang dito. Hihintayin ka namin. Kapag di pa kayo kumbinsido, panuorin niyo na lang ang video ng Salu-Salo sa ilalim.