Ways to donate for typhoon Ondoy victims

Our countrymen affected by typhoon Ondoy needs all the help they can get, so let's do what we can to help them in our own little ways.

If we cant physically help them, we can still donate via Philippine National Red Cross.

SMS and GCASH

For Smart users:
Type RED<space>AMOUNT to 4483. We can send the following amounts: 10, 25, 50, 100. P2.50/msg.

For Globe users:
Type RED<space>AMOUNT to 2899. We can send the following amounts: 5, 25, 50, 100, and 300. P1/message.

GCASH:
text DONATE<space>AMOUNT<space>4-digit M-PIN<space>REDCROSS to 2882.

OTHER WAYS TO DONATE:

Monetary Donations

1. CASH or CHECK
Please send cash or check donations to the PNRC National Headquarters in Manila. Checks should be made payable to The Philippine National Red Cross. They can also arrange for donation pick-up.

2. BANK DEPOSIT
Account Name: The Phil. Nat’l. Red Cross

METROBANK
Port Area Branch
Peso Acct.: 151-3-041-63122-8
Dollar Acct.: 151-2-151-00218-2
Type of Acct. : SAVINGS
Swift Code: MBTC PH MM

BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS
Port Area Branch
Peso Acct.: 4991-0010-99
Type of Account: CURRENT

BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS
UN Branch
Dollar Acct.: 8114-0030-94
Type of Account: SAVINGS
Swift Code: BOPI PH MM

For your donations to be properly acknowledged, please fax the bank transaction slip at nos. +63.2.527.0575 or +63.2.404.0979 with your name, address and contact number.

Credit Card
Please fax the following info to +632.404.09.79 and +632.527.0575:

Name of card member, billing address, contact nos. (phone & mobile), credit card no., expiration date, CCV2/ CVC2 (last three digits at the back of the credit card), billing address, amount to be donated.

In-Kind Donations

LOCAL
Please send in-kind local donations to The Philippine National Red Cross – National Headquarters in Manila. Theycould also arrange for donation pick-up.

INTERNATIONAL

1. Send a letter of intent to donate to the PNRC
2. A letter of acceptance from PNRC shall be sent back to the donor
3. Immediately after shipping the goods, please send the (a) original Deed of Donation, (b) copy of packing list and (c) original Airway Bill for air shipments or Bill of Lading for sea shipments to The Philippine National Red Cross–National Headquarters c/o Secretary General Corazon Alma de Leon, Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila 2803, Philippines.
   

The PNRC does not accept rotten, damaged, expired or decayed goods. Though the PNRC appreciates your generosity, they also discourages donations of old clothes as they have more than enough to go around.

For online donations you may also visit their website at www.redcross.org.ph

Business Permit

Here is a list of government agencies that a start-up business needs to register with:

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

• This is where you register if your enterprise is a single proprietorship. The agency will issue a certificate of registration of business name.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

• If your enterprise is a partnership or a corporation, this is where you will register. It will issue a certificate of registration.

Cooperative Development Authority (CDA)

• If your set-up is a cooperative, register with this body. The agency will issue the certificate of registration.

Local Government Unit (LGU)

• You register with the municipality or city where you will set up your business. This office will issue the business permit/Mayor's permit plus the business tin plate.
  

Barangay Hall

• You register with the specific barangay in the municipality or city where you will operate your business. This office will issue the barangay clearance and barangay business permit.

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)

• You register your business with this office and apply for your business’s taxpayer identification number (TIN), registration of books of accounts, receipts/invoice and the like.
  

Social Security System (SSS)

• You register your business as an employer/self-employed, and your workers as employees. This office will issue an SSS number for your business, for yourself, as well as for your workers.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)

• If you employ more than five workers, register your business with this agency. The DOLE is asked to promote gainful employment opportunities, protect workers and promote their welfare, develop human resources, and maintain industrial peace.

Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF)

• RA 7742 requires all SSS members earning at least P4,000 a month to register with this agency. HDMF administers the Pag-Ibig Fund.

Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth)

• The New National Health Insurance Act (RA 7875) as amended by RA 9241 requires all employers of the government and private sectors and their employees to register with this agency. PhilHealth manages and administers the government health care system.

source: http://www.entrepreneur.com.ph

How to make beaded slippers

Wearing slippers (tsinelas) as a fashion statement began just a few years ago, but thanks to its extreme comfort and versatility, this trend is here to stay. Women treat flip-flops like dressed-up sandals.

Materials needed:

• Long nose pliers, P35 to P120
• Fishing line (30mm thick), P40 for a big roll
• Heavy duty glue gun, P200 to P300,
• Small glue stick, P3 to P5 per piece, (All available at hardware stores)
• Scissors
• Needles
• 1 pair of plain rubber slippers or flip-flops, P25 at wholesale price (available at department stores or Divisoria)
• 1 to 1.5 yards of satin or organza ribbons, P4 to P8 per yard
• Various accessories (i.e. beads, pearls, sequins), P0.05 to P10 per piece. (Both available at fabric stores)

Getting started:

1. Check the flip-flops to make sure there is no damage or defect, and the surface is clean and dry.

2. To provide a strong base on which to secure the accessories, you’ll need to wrap the thong especially on the top middle part where the toes are inserted with a ribbon.
   

3. Keep wrapping the ribbon around the thong, continuously using the glue gun as you go to secure placement. Make sure the ribbon lies flat on the thong, especially on the top middle part where the toes are inserted. Finish on the upper part of the flip-flop, so as not to make the wearer uncomfortable with the bump the glue may form.

4. It’s best to plan how you want the accessories to be placed on the thong. Once you’ve decided, cut about half a yard of the fishing line and thread it through the needle. Sew on the accessories, stitching from the top middle part going downwards, and making sure that the knotted part is on the top of the thong.

5. Survey your work to check that both sides have a balanced design. Then, tie a strong but clean knot on the end for durability.
   

Tips:

When starting out, don’t buy too much of the same accessory. You don’t want to invest all your profit on one item when you only really need a small amount.

Keep a good supply of sturdy needles. The rubber thong material on which you’ll sew the bead is quite hard and thick.

How Much Will You Make

Jaja Beltran of Colors and Me spends about P47.25 to create a pair of child-sized flip-flops, and sells them for P65 – P75 to dealers, and P90 to P100 for outright sales. With these figures, Beltran already recoups her P1,000 starting capital after selling about 20 pairs of flip-flops.

source: http://www.entrepreneur.com.ph; photo: http://www.sulit.com.ph

My Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2009

This would be my last entry for July as I'd been quite busy with domaining. During my 5 months of blogging, I'm really glad to have gained a lot of friends.

Anyway, I'm joining Janette Toral's writing project. It seeks to identify emerging blogs that has an impact to its readers, and I would like to nominate my Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2009:

1. Roy The Struggling Blogger
2. Tambay of My Talambuhay
   
3. Golden of One Proud Mom, One Proud Wife
   
4. Angel Cua of Father Blogger
   
5. EdZee of EdZee Web Logs
   
6. It's me Tey of Happy Mommy Ako
   
7. Snow of Dear Bloggery
8. Rob of Social Media Philippines
9. Kelvin Servigon of Kelvinonian Ideas 2.0
10. Dee of Tales From The Mom Side

This project would not be possible without the following sponsors:

Absolute Traders, My Brute Cheats, Business Summaries, Fitness Advantage Club, Events and Corporate Video, Events at Work, Dominguez Marketing Communications, Red Mobile, Budget hotel in Makati, Lucio C. Tan Group of Companies, and Blog4Reviews.com.

Come on guys! We still have time to support our emerging bloggers! Cast your votes now!

How to Make Polvoron

Just like pastillas, polvoron has become a favorite gift to give to overseas friends and family. There is such a huge demand for polvoron that in a survey conducted by the Business section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer last 2007, Goldilock’s Bakeshop named polvoron as their top-selling item—it sold more than their cakes!

Materials & Ingredients needed:

• Mixing bowl
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Wooden spoon
• Saucepan
• Japanese paper or cellophane
• Polvoron molder, P24
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups powdered milk
• 1 1/2 cup melted butter
• 2 cups sugar
  

Getting started:

1. On a pan, toast flour in moderate heat for about 15 minutes, or until light brown, stirring constantly to avoid burning.

2. Remove the pan and transfer the mixture into a big bowl.

3. Add the powdered milk, and toss for another 3-4 minutes.

4. Add sugar and melted butter. Mix well.

5. Fill the polvoron mould with the mixture, press it hard by using a spoon, then release it. If it is still too loose, add more butter or olive oil. Make sure that you could pick up the polvoron without it crumbling straight away.

6. Place the polvoron in an airtight container, then chill in the fridge until firm.

7. Carefully wrap the polvoron individually in japanese paper or cellophane.

8. Keep the polvoron refrigerated until you want to eat them. You can store them on the fridge for about a week, or you can freeze them.