Painting the Town 'Green'

I went to Los Banos, Laguna today for my enrolment. I enrolled in a post-graduate distance education course in UP Open University and although payment for the course fees can be done in any PNB branch nationwide, I opted to drive 2 hours to Los Banos (where the main office of UPOU is) to once again visit a place very close to my heart. After all, I spent 6 years of my life in this place having spent my college years and two of my professional years there.

Nothing much has changed although I noticed the traffic jam was a lot worse but, good thing, traffic officers were a lot more visible and the drivers are more disciplined. For instance, traffic officers help keep the pedestrian lanes open during traffic jams. The enrolment only took 20 minutes, you must say it's a waste of my time (and fuel!) since I spent a total of 4 hours driving to and from Los Banos. Maybe, but I'm just glad I made the visit.

My 14-yr-old niece accompanied me in this trip. We stopped by South supermarket for an 'emergency purchase' before going home. To my delight, our purchase was placed in a recyclable brown paper bag better known locally as 'supot'! This wasn't actually a total surprise since about two years ago when I accompanied my husband to visit an old friend in UP Los Banos (UPLB), I was also surprised that the snacks I bought from 'MiniStop' were placed in the same brown paper bag. I asked the cashier and he told me that it's in fact a town ordinance -- the business community in Los Banos is using recyclable paper bag to which I loudly applaud!

All along, I thought the use of the brown recyclable paper bag was just within the immediate vicinity of UPLB which is really known for its environmental conservation efforts being the 'caretaker' of Mt. Makiling -- not knowing that the practice goes beyond Bgy. Maahas and as far as in Bay (pronounced as Ba-e) where South Supermarket is. I am also glad that even big establishments such as South Supermarket and Mini Stop which have their own branded plastic bags participate in this 'green' effort!

A trip to Los Banos is not complete without buying its famous 'buko pie' (coconut pie) and shing-a-ling (I'm not sure how to describe it and what's it made of but it's just crunchy and yummy!). Of course, I had to bring one for my family. Again, to my pleasant surprise, the shing-a-ling was placed in a recyclable brown paper bag!

The townspeople of Los Banos isn't just showing their concern for the environment through the use of recyclable paper bag. It is deeply rooted in their hearts! A local tourist who just bought some buko pie threw some trash out of the window of his car before driving off and without hesitation, one of the hawkers selling 'meringue' reminded the tourist 'Boss, please 'wag po kayong magtapon dyan!" ('Boss, please don't throw your trash there'). To his embarrassment, the tourist opened the door of his car and picked up the trash he threw and drove off.

For this reason alone, Los Banos makes it to my list of ideal places to live in for somebody like me who takes 'green' efforts seriously. If Los Banos can do this, why can't other towns follow? I am not asking for a total shift to recyclable paper bag and banning plastic mineral water bottles in an instant but we very well know that small steps can lead to bigger accomplishments!

Go green!

Swakto! -- Stik-O Snack Pack

When you think of wafer stick, you think of Stik-O, perhaps the 'common brand name' attached to wafer stick as one would say 'Colgate' to refer to toothpaste or 'Coke' to refer to cola.

Kids love Stik-O! My nephews and nieces (even the eldest at 15!) love Stik-O. Kids buy Stik-O at 1-peso each from their favorite sari-sari store (Ma & Pa store). They come in big jar of about 100 pieces and is being retailed for 1-peso each.

For a time, Stik-O was available to kids who only have a peso or two in hand through their neighborhood sari-sari until it became so much of a hit it started introducing different SKUs and flavours as well. The first SKU I noticed was half the size of the original one which was about 380 g and then the short ones in very small jars (ideal for traveling and quick, small treats) at around P17 each.

Last week, as I continue to hunt for good snack items for my kiddo, I came across my latest find -- Stik-O in snack pack! It costs less than P6 each and contains 4 wafer sticks. It's ideal for my little one who's allowed only 2-4 wafer sticks a day since she tends to finish the small jar in one sitting! No matter where we keep this small jar, she always finds it and finish it in one go! At least with the snack pack, we can easily control her Stik-O craving!

I'm just glad Ecco Foods Corp is coming up with different pack sizes to suit the needs of its consumers!

Now it's time to try the different flavours of Stik-O!

Product name: Stik-O Snack Pack

Product Description: Chocolate wafer stick

Size: 4 wafer sticks in one pack

Price: P6

Manufacturer: Ecco Food Corporation

'The Regular Consumer' Rating: 4 out of 5 ticks (a personal favorite)

O, Cream-O!

I have known Cream-O since high school which was more than 15 years ago! Way before Oreo became popular in the Philippines and dominated the local market in its category. My Dad would buy me Cream-O in a gift pack (its only available size or SKU then) of 10 individually-wrapped Cream-O-goodness. 

(Credit goes to xiemaine of friendstertalk for this photo)

Cream-O is a chocolate-coated choco cream sandwich cookies. They are a treat for those with sweet-tooth like me and a very good (and cheap) alternative to imported chocolates or cream sandwiches out there. For a time, Cream-O only came in big packs (10 in a pack or was it 12?) and since I became more and more conscious of my sugar intake, I refused to buy them since having 10 pieces within easy reach can be really tempting.

Just this week, while I was shopping at Shopwise Alabang for biscuits and snacks for my 19-month-old toddler, I came across the smaller packs of Cream-O to my pleasant surprise (although I have no idea when it was introduced in the market, it was the first time I saw it in the supermarket)! 

Each contains two pieces and retails for P7.25. I immediately compared the price of this 2-piece Cream-O to the bigger pack of 10 (or 12?) which retails for P54 and I could still save P10.50 or more by buying multiple packs of this 2-pc pack than the bigger one. Another advantage of the smaller pack is the fact that I can now have 'small treats' (I didn't buy them for my kiddo since it's too sweet for her) without the 10 piece choco cookie within easy reach! I ended up buying three small packs.

The reason for the bigger pack to cost more than the retail pack is obvious. With the nice packaging of the bigger pack, it can pass as a 'small gift' to a friend or to somebody you're courting (if you are a cash-strapped teenager!) and also because each choco cream sandwich cookie inside is individually foil-wrapped adding to the cost of production.

The product was also rebranded Cream-O Premium, the suffix 'Premium' aptly describes the positioning of this product over its sister product Cream-O choco cream sandwich which does not have the chocolate coating. This Cream-O (without 'Premium') was launched to directly compete with Nabisco's Oreo.

Overall, I still welcome this change from Cream-O. It is about time the manufacturer, Universal  Robina Corporation makers of the mega brand Jack n' Jill line of products, introduce a smaller SKU of this well-loved product. Not only the product will have a wider market, it also is adding 'pogi' (good/handsome) points to its brand equity! More importantly, it is reaching out again to long-lost 'creamoholics' like me!

Product name: Cream-O Premium

Product Description: Chocolate-coated choco cream sandwich cookies

Size: 1.20 oz / 34 g per 2-piece pack

Price: P7.25 (at Shopwise Alabang)

Manufacturer: Universal Robina Corporation, Philippines

'The Regular Consumer' Rating: 4 out of 5 ticks (a personal favorite)

Say No to Bottled Water!

In the movie 'The Ugly Truth', Abby (Katherine Heigl's character in the movie) has a list of criteria she looks for in a guy. Criteria that according to Mike (Gerard Butler's character) describe the 'ideal woman' and not the 'ideal guy'. One of those criteria is a guy who is responsible enough to the environment that he doesn't mind drinking tap water instead of ordering bottled water in restaurants.

Alas, a film that advocates something close to my heart! I refused to drink bottled water for quite some time now due to the plastic bottle's bad effect on the environment. Apparently, these plastic bottles never decompose causing harm to the environment. I have bought for myself a steel reusable water bottle (picture on left) so I can carry it with me wherever I go. Be it in my car when I'm on the road or when I'm in the mall or in the gym (naturally!) or even in restaurants if I think the latter's tap water isn't safe enough to drink. 

 

(By the way, if you're wondering why I bought 'steel' bottle instead of reusable plastic bottle which my toddler is using when we go out of the house, picture on right, it's because water tastes better or tastes more natural when stored in steel bottles than in plastic water bottles. I have a very sensitive taste buds. I can even detect if the brand of the delivered drinking water in our house changes. Why reusable plastic bottle for my kid? It's because steel bottles can be very heavy for her especially when filled up with liquid. The one on the right is from 'Familia' a local brand of plastic ware which guarantees durability and made up of non-toxic materials. It retails for P149.75 while the one on the left is made in Japan and retails for P169.)

In the movie, Abby and Mike both agree (independently though) that tap water is the same as bottled water which has a lot of truth in it. If you're in a place like Singapore or Davao City in the Philippines (Note: The tap water in  Davao City was tested to be as clean as the waters in Switzerland, equivalent to the 'cleanliness' of mineral water not just regular bottled water. The only type of consumer water cleaner than Davao City's tap water is distilled), you don't need to buy bottled water especially now that I heard plastic bottled water is now banned in Singapore. To which I loudly applaud! Come to think of it, bringing your own bottle of water instead of buying bottled water will save you money and the benefit is far greater -- you're helping our Mother Earth! 

The 'green revolution' is an advocacy very close to my heart. I may not yet be a 'green activist' but I contribute in my own little way. For instance, I refuse to take plastic bags whenever I go shopping especially if the item/s can fit my bag or I see to it to bring my own reusable shopping bag. I also ask the 'bag man' or the cashier clerk to lessen the use of plastic bags if I have no choice. Yesterday, I bought earphones for my Ipod from the MacCenter and the cashier looked at me with question marks all over her face when I refused to take the 'bag' for my earphone and the printed marketing collateral she was giving me. I did browse through the brochure so their efforts were not wasted but since any of the items did not interest me, I gave it back so others can still read it (read: paper conservation). The same happened when I bought a pair of sunglasses. The saleslady even asked me to just keep the 'plastic bag' but I refused. I have also stopped my monthly subscription to several magazines. Not only I saved money, I have made my own contribution to tree conservation.

Please don't think that your little efforts are futile or won't affect our environment. If millions of people collectively think their little efforts are useless, then it will really be the sad reality. But if these millions of people would do their little part to helping the environment, imagine what we could achieve!

Sweet Tooth

Let's kick off this blog with a 'harmless' review of this unassuming sweet treat.

It's called 'bukayo' in Batangas or more widely known as 'matamis na mani' (literally sweet peanuts) in Tagalog, a Philippine delicacy. The label says 'peanut brittle' which pretty much what it is except that I refuse to call it that because the 'peanut brittle' I know comes from a place called Baguio with shredded peanuts and mostly comes in plastic jars.

My Dad got this in Batangas for I'm not sure how much. It's nothing extraordinary from the other similar products I have tasted before even the P1 ones the size of a 10-peso coin. This product is about 6 inches in diameter.

What I appreciate about this 'sweet peanuts' is the amount of peanuts it contains. Most of the 'bukayo' out there have more sugar in them than peanuts. Although I must say the peanuts are not well-selected since I can see and taste some off-tasting and burnt peanuts here and there. The 'sugar' coating may also be sweeter than usual but is not sticky and doesn't have the burnt taste and color. Although Mercy's (the product's brand name) could further improve the sweetness of this simple dessert as well as the packaging.

Overall, I'd give this simple sweet treat 3 ticks.

The Regular Consumer

I am the regular consumer. I don't have any special set of skills to be an authority on consumer or product reviews but I believe any consumer has the right to voice out his/her opinions on products or services s/he buys or avail of or even encounter. After all, it is our hard-earned money that pays for these products and services.

This blog is all about giving a voice to the regular consumer. This isn't meant to attack products or services when I hate them or when they do something inexcusable nor this isn't about endorsing any of these products... This is about...

. . .just voicing out what I think.