today's necessities

 

All of these, you can probably consider as COVID 19 or the Novel Corona Virus (do we still call it that, though?) protection starter kit. I've been working on collating things like these that are actually Philippine-made because, you know, the best thing to do nowadays where recession is everywhere, is to support everything local. This is the only thing that can keep our countries' respective economies afloat.

I only ever buy made in China things very rarely now. Only when I see there's no other way but to do so. Everything else I go for from everyday necessities like these to skin care and beauty products are all Philippine-made therefore making them Pro-Philippines, Pro-Environment and Pro-Poor. 

Anyway, onto the items on this list:

1. MEDIPLUS Disposable 3 Layers Face Mask 

I think I bought this one at Php 299 but still, it's quite a good price for 50 masks in a box. It's gotten cheaper now since it came out, yes. I got mine for the family from Lazada Philippines because they can now conveniently link your shopping account to your Gcash account, if you have one, and thereby makes it easier for one to purchase anything.

2. & 3. 3 PCS Washable Cotton Plus Organic Face Mask in WHITE, also available in BLACK here 

I'm still contemplating getting this one in both colors. My dad brought home a mask that's of this kind that's made in China for my mom and I sometime ago but I never really used it. So this is something I'd rather get, also for the family. If one at least gets a pack each, that'd be 6 masks in total for the family already. 

Oh, and also, feel free to follow Cotton Plus NCR on Lazada Philippines for more of these great Philippine-made products that keep us all safe from contracting the virus, yes!

4. 10 PCS Sterling Premium Face Shields 

Bought about three of these when news broke out that we're all going to required to use face shields when going outside. It took a while to get to where I am but I was able to get all three so it's all good. Plus it's quite durable and can last a while with multiple uses so it's definitely good value for money.

Sterling is generally known here in the Philippines as a stationery brand. They sell mostly notebooks, paper and more. But that they've turned to making face shields as well and I saw that they now also make face masks, the single use, disposable kind, so well...yeah, they're doing their part to help out more now as well. Might as well support them, too. Their face masks are kind of pricey at Php 390 compared to Mediplus's that's below Php 250 right now but still worth getting if you're thinking of supporting our local producers and makers for these things.

5. Printed Disposable Masks, also available in non-patterned but different colored here 

If you're bored of the usual blue on the outside and white on the inside face masks then you're going to like these in pretty blue and multi-colored patterns and in different colors.

Materials that are used to make this may be from South Korea but they are manufactured here in the Philippines. So if you'd like to support the Filipinos on their team to make these, then go for these. They'd break the monotony of using the using blue and white ones, yes, and make wearing masks less boring outside.

I'm thinking of getting these in pink or yellow next since they're about the same price I got the Mediplus ones in. Yeah, must make the most of the money I have on Gcash.

6. Indoplas, Disposable masks for only Php 99 a box of 50 or so pieces here.

They're in Shopee and I haven't really ordered much from Shopee for a long while now although I have been thinking so for just as long. The thing with Shopee is that I got used to ordering from it using COD (cash on delivery) payment method. I don't think they allow Paymaya or Gcash still, in there. But it seems now, they do allow online bank transfers or so which is good. Credit card payments as well. So let's all see how this goes. It still holds however that unlike Lazada, they still do not have the convenience of allowing customers and sellers alike to link their Gcash accounts, if they have any, to their accounts on site. Where selling and buying is concerned, I've been volleying between using Gcash, Paymaya and online payments more so that I don't have to carry a lot of cash with me. Haha. It's just, much more convenient, to be honest. It's good that we have a lot of options now for online payments than anything, yes. Bottom line, I need to explore Shopee more.

So yes, let's go to Indoplas. Indoplas is a company that makes or manufactures medical tools. So if you go to their Shopee page, you'll find that they have a lot of those. If I'd continued being a nurse way back when I first started college, I'd've had this one bookmarked. But coming from a family of mostly medical practitioners or health care givers, I've had them bookmarked now or followed, I guess, since I discovered them there recently. They usually manufacture medical tools. So given that they are such, it's no surprise they priced a box of their disposable masks at Php 99. It's the cheapest I found on this sort. I'm also sorely tempted to get their electric thermometer or automatic thermometer. It seems to be of Japan quality which is tons better than the China made ones and priced just right...hmn...we'll see.

On a side note, I've thought about 3M products too and was of the impression that some 3M products are manufactured here. I just...happen to not have a lot of information on that one yet but I'll get back to y'all here on that one, one day soon.

Honorable mentions or, more accurately put, some bonus items not on the photo above:

7.  KN95 face masks in 10s, 30s and more

While crafting this post, I looked up DecoPro, the maker of these KN95 masks online and yes, they are Philippines-based. Some of the reviews on the page for this one do not look promising but hopefully, the more people patronize their product, the more they can improve on it. 

If you find the usual disposable, medical grade masks uncomfortable because it does hardly offer the right fit (it's fine for me, though, I only use it for hours while outside anyway) for some and the ear loops can be, well, flimsy for some, you can always go for this KN95 that likely offers better fit.

8. Island Souvenir shirt with free washable mask 

I've already ordered my 3rd washable fabric mask from elsewhere but THIS IS just GREAT value for money. I love Island Souvenir stuff even though they can skew towards the expensive side when one buys them in store. Their t-shirts are of good quality---really soft and light to wear, so, soooo comfortable---and I'm looking to stock up on some, particularly this one on the link on number 8. Cool, minimalist-ish design plus free washable facemask for under 200 Php? Yes, I'd get this one in a heartbeat. Maybe, err...one day soon. I still need to stock up on some white shirts, mostly v-necks since I have a lot of round necks already. I'm not really that much into printed shirts but I'd been easing into them as of late.

And that's it for this post. Yes...please, PLEASE do support local despite China-made products being very sellable these days due to their cheaper, more competitive prices. WE NEED TO KEEP OUR NATIONAL ECONOMY AFFLOAT and we need to support our own Filipino makers, workers and more. Even if one has to spend so much on something that's Filipino-made, keep in mind that it's worth it because someone that's also Filipino had a hand in making it and thereby know that quality we are looking for. 

local fun find: my pretty little blings

L-R: Sideways wishbone necklace in gold,  Eliana knot bangles (options include matte black, gold and silver), Overlapping mini ball ring (options include matte black, this pretty gold and silver), and Queen head piece (more like head chain, right? of course, the two terms are interchangeable, I guess...) in gold

I've been looking for local online stores since forever ago that sell mostly varied accessories or more like jewelry at affordable prices---at least prices within my reach anyway---sans the sort of still pricey shipping fee every purchase from them comes with. Domestic couriers or shipping establishments here charge exorbitant fees that to anyone purchasing stuff from online stores would be hard put to do combined shipping on one-time purchases to make the most of said fees. Anyway, I lucked in on stumbling upon this one while I was looking around for body chain harnesses and pretty, pretty and still really rad head chains in the interweb earlier today. I felt I sort of needed an alternative source for the most minuscule, dainty things I've since been obsessing on putting in the varying parts of the body they're meant to be put on to Zalora, the local store I frequent close to the abode, the little jewelry/varied accessories stall me and the regular, consistent shopping partner (in crime? yes) frequent in the local Ayala mall and regular shops like H&M, Forever21 and UO to name a few. This recent discovery was pretty timely. These four are what struck out to me while browsing the site along with a couple of their chokers,dainty lariats they funnily called dangling necklaces? huh? and the curb tubed long necklace that was a late discovery (read: I stumbled upon it like, after I finished making the collage). I'm definitely going to see about getting some stuff from them soon. Their midi rings or knuckle rings are pretty tempting along with the head chain...and that minimal-ish knot bangle...hmn...

Other things on my lookout list when it comes to jewelry they don't have on site and I have difficulty searching for everywhere local include dainty ear cuffs and ear hoops (like, really thin and borderline microscopic ones...I die for those...) and still, the harness body chains (I sort of have something specific in mind for this it's been a frustrating hunt so far...but I lucked in on a few finds not so local friendly as they're mostly to be imported and pretty pricey for the average RP denizen). I'll continue looking around for more of those. Etsy has been a good place to start searching so far but it'll be a while before I can commit to a final purchase or at least a shopping/buying decision. I'm incredibly picky when shopping online and offline hence why I hardly do these days. Window shopping and collage wish listing has become more me as of late. 

Random note: I don't really say 'bling' as much as I can in real life and even try to avoid the term in writing (blog post crafting?) because...I don't know...I find it too fancy, too gaudy a term for something with just five letters? My mind works in the weirdest ways, that much we've established here henceforth it's now one word I use sparingly or as necessary---specifically when the situation calls for it. 'Accessories','baubles', 'pieces' or even my favorite Buffy-speak term 'thing'...complete with the dash before it, take the place of that one for me. Weirdly, I'm writing this (something random that popped in my head) down while thinking about how it's pretty ironic since I like the film Bling Ring after having seen it once---no such concrete connection as the word is in the movie title, that's all. 

bye bye summer, hello stylish vision for fall/winter 2016 /17

 

(my collage)

 from left to right: ZALORA black cami playsuit with lace trim, MANGO black velvet dress, MANGO black zipped biker jacket, MAX STUDIO colorblocked shawl cape, ZALORA navy scalloped hem skirt,  RAM Jewellery gold elegant cross bracelet, RAM Jewellery pink gold/rosegold thin nail bangle, ZALORA beige or nude heel sandals with front knots, VELVET silver occasion bow heels, RUBI black croc dillon boots

What I'm currently thinking for the fall-winter season although fall/winter here in the tropics is all rain. I haven't been able to post any outfit shots this week due to it, rain. It rains in the afternoons lately this week.  

Yep, everything is from Zalora as when I'm not window shopping elsewhere for stuff---Forever21, UO, etc---I'm usually just settling for there. Zalora is actually a really convenient, one stop place online for me to shop stuff if I feel like my wardrobe needs updating. I also go there to window shop online to keep me from browsing shops in real time in the numerous malls we have here. I find malls, nowadays, a tad too crowded and it flares up my social anxiety issues. I'm not really very good with being around a lot of people as a natural-born introvert. I only go there now when I'm meeting with the best girl friend/s and maybe to watch movies but for anything else except may when accompanying the mum to the occasional sunday trip to the houseware section of a department store and the grocery store there...I don't really wander into clothing, shoes and bags stores there anymore much lately. Some of my favorite stores---What a Girl Wants, cue me, crying rn--- have closed down anyway so sometimes, I don't see the point of going. 

Shopping habits-wise...I haven't been shopping as much lately either. Before, when I stayed in Dumaguete City for school, thrifting was a norm. I frequently went when I'm done with school stuff that I find stressful. I went almost every other day or every weekend but I never bought anything as frequently either, I just go there to browse mostly. Lately, as there's little access here to those that carry good vintage finds, I hardly really go anymore. The last time I bought something from Zalora was a month ago or so. Before last month's purchase, I think my last purchase was when I came back from a Cebu trip around April or May. Last time I shopped from any mall boutique or the department stores...I don't really remember anymore. I've been more about investing on more versatile pieces lately, I'd rather buy things I could wear in whatever way possible than impulse buy whatever I can get my hands on or find wherever I am...although...I usually don't really have anything in mind I need and want to buy when I go online store browsing or window shopping in the mall/s or even the thrift store. Shopping online or offline at least twice or thrice a year is enough for me. If I could even go with shopping just once a year, I'd be good, even. I'd like to think I have a pretty good handle on my spending on most days. I'd rather spend most money now on traveling or something else much more useful. But don't get me wrong, I still do love fashion and everything about it, clothes, shoes, bags etc.

It's a dark colored palette for me this latter half of the year but I'm not exactly sure why. Haha. I guess they were the things that attracted me in the online store, Zalora. I've been dressing in lighter colors during the day however, as it is eternally sunshiney here unless the skies threaten to rain, then it's gloomy, dark-ish until the late afternoon and night time. I suppose it's a sign that sunny summer, my favorite season, has passed. Also, I've been feeling really cold lately. I woke up cold tonight from a quick nap from the late afternoon until the early evening. Hmn...faux leather biker jacket; trivial but yeah, yummy (?) velvet dress---the u-back detail is really, really good, though; black crocodile leather detail boots; and a random silver heels for going into parties to brighten up the dark-ish palette...yes, yes and yes. The shawl cape, I can picture being used in the mountains when I get the chance to go there somehow. I'm not sure when, haha. I've been itching to go however and to the hotsprings and beach as well. I know, crazy that I want to go there when it's been raining more and more, right? I mean it's not exactly summer anymore but an escape elsewhere but the city would still really be so, so nice these days. It should be enough to keep anyone (especially me) from getting too depressed. In my case, I've been known (mostly by myself) to get season depression at this time of the year so a trip somewhere else sunnier is always a welcome distraction for me. 

It's a good thing I have SOLIDEMO's Orange track to keep me perked up these days. It's a recent release. Such a feel good sunshiney summer track along with Da-iCE's Paradive one. Thank heavens for really good summery stuff from the favorite all-male jpop groups to carry me through the rainy seasons at least until early next year or so.