I'm a Sample Room Fan

2013 is The Year for internet shopping. Filipino consumers have successfully warmed up to the idea of purchasing deals online, beauty products included. I've read up on sample-dealing sites like Hong Kong's Glamabox and Manila's Glamourbox--Don't know if that's a coincidence or an imitation. Anyway, the concept is to send customers curated samples that match their personalized info, so they get products that are most compatible with their skin-, hair-, and body-type.

It's a good marketing tactic: For a reasonable fee, buyers get to try out sample sizes of premium products instead of having to commit to the full-sized option that may not work for them. I'd like to try it out the local versions sometime, but they always seem to run out of sample boxes. There's a limited pre-order list!

Another sample-dealing site I discovered in December is Sample Room. It's genius! While similar to Glamourbox in that it carries premium/newly-launched samples of beauty products, the curating is left to the user. Upon creating an account, an automatic 100 points are given. Those points serve as the "currency" for the samples to be ordered. Each product has a corresponding "price" (e.g. Celeteque Eye Cream for 35 points, Ahava Cleanser for 60 points, etc.), and the user has the option of choosing however many items will fit into the 100-point budget. Once this is done, there is the matter of paying for shipping. (The samples are free, while the shipping is not.) In a couple of days, the products get delivered right at the user's doorstep. Neat, right?

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360"] "Try Before You Buy"[/caption]

My first experience with Sample Room was great! I was able to get Celeteque's regular-sized DermoScience Brightening Eye Tuck plus Dark Cirlces Lightener (retails at PHP299), Celeteque's regular-sized DermoScience  Restorative Ultra-Lifting Concentrated Serum (retails at PHP899), and Dove's small bar of soap (retails at PHP25). All for around PHP125. I'm not joking. I had to pay PHP100 for the shipping, as there's a corresponding delivery rate to the total weights of the products ordered. Then there was PHP20+ service charge that Globe Center charged me for use of their G-Cash payment system. That was it.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Sample Room beauty loot[/caption]

Now, here's the 2nd part of the story: Once the points have been spent, the best way to get them back is by writing reviews for those samples. 1 point is the incentive for writing the review, and the spent points are given back upon approval of what was written. Not a bad price to pay for those items.

It's a "bloodbath" though. More and more users have been signing up, so samples immediately run out. I guess the only way to get the most products out of the points would be to obsessively check on the site for any new posts. Here's hoping Sample Room has more samples to give out in future...

Tapsilog Centrale: 2013 Starts with Tapsilog

Happy New Year, everybody! My 2013 so far has been a cacophony of activity, but I'm happy for it. It's always better to be active than idle, don't you think? And at my first chance to write an entry this year, I've decided that it's going to be about one of my favorite Filipino comfort foods: the Tapsilog.

For the uninitiated, the "something-silog" translates to something (a viand)+sinangag (garlic rice)+itlog (egg). Most common "somethings" are beef tapa (marinated beef in chunks or strips) and pork tocino (marinated in a sweet sauce; commonly pink in color), known as tapsilog and tocilog, respectively. It's a versatile and inexpensive meal that can be eaten at any time of the day, comparable to Malaysia's Nasi Lemak. Tapsilogan (a roadside restaurant that specialize in -silog dishes) can be found everywhere in the city for all to enjoy with most of them being open 24/7.

My dad was feeling peckish last night, so we decided to stop by this place he was talking about that had Angus beef tapa as a premium option. We drove to Kamuning and parked in front of a small, open-air eatery that looked Pinoy homey with its dim lighting and red gingham-under-plastic table dressing. The place is called Tapsilog Centrale, and it apparently has a good following. All sorts of people come to eat, from taxi drivers and nearby residents to visitors who've intentionally trekked to its Q.C. location.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614"] Tapsilog Centrale[/caption]

I ordered a plate of their Hot and Spicy Angus Beef Tapsilog upon the recommendation of my Dad. Also available are the following Angus tapa marinades: Original, Korean, Tropical (their sweet blend), and Tropical Spicy. All orders of Angus beef are cooked in front of the dining area, while regular menu items are prepared in the back kitchen. Prices of the Angus Tapsilog range from PHP125-PHP150, depending on the marinade.

In all fairness, the place has  comprehensive menu for a simple roadside resto. In addition to all manner of -silog combinations, local and imported drinks (cans of Welch's grape soda and bottle of Starbucks coffee to name a few), sausages, and desserts are offered.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614"] Menu part 1[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614"] Menu part 2[/caption]

Hot and Spicy was neither too hot nor too spicy. Bits of chili are mixed in with the beef, but nothing too extreme. It's not too salty, but to me would definitely taste better with vinegar. Days later, I came back with a friend and ordered the Tropical marinade, which I ended up preferring over Hot and Spicy for its hint of sweetness.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614"] Hot and Spicy[/caption]

And for dessert? We tried The Dome and the Frozen Mango Brazo. Both are good. Rich chocolate mousse filling and a ganache coating over a cake dome makes for a delicious chocolate dessert. The baker didn't skimp out on the chocolate, that's for sure. The frozen brazo is available in banana or mango. It's an enjoyable treat with all its yummy layers and light meringue top-off.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614"] The Dome[/caption]

For a late night food run, this place is a good choice. Just try not to come during the dinner rush as the seats and the parking spaces are easily filled. Oh, and they have free WiFi.

Tapsilog Centrale -  11th Jamboree St. cor. Kamuning Rd., Q.C.

Hi-Lo Shopping: Lucky Chinatown Mall

If you haven't figured it out already, I am the quintessential kuripot (stingy) shopper. I see it as a talent that I can look at items in shops and know where to find the cheaper alternatives (even when it's the exact same item, except with a more reasonable price tag) and/or around how much I can get it for. Naturally, 168 and Divisoria are at the top of my shopping Go-Tos for extreme deals.

This well-known shopping mecca definitely holds its own against the flea markets of Vietnam, Malaysia, or Thailand. I'm not just talking about the variety of shop offerings or the number of vendors they can fit into a single area, but also of the "bang for your buck". Very few can beat the "wholesale" prices here, especially if you're a decent haggler. And of course, the fact that all the tiangge (flea market) shops are crammed into buildings and that those buildings happen to be built next to each other only adds to sweeten the pot. How very one-stop shop!

That said, the experience requires lots of patience, courage, and endurance. It isn't for faint-of-heart shoppers who can't stand crowds, heat, and less-than-5-star surroundings. You have to bear in mind that the area is old Manila territory and, let's just say, it isn't the safest or cleanest for anyone who prefers to look "unique" or conspicuous.

For an awesome shopping day, hit up Lucky Chinatown Mall and the surrounding area for some hardcore shopping:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="538"] A Lucky Chinatown Christmas[/caption]

Lucky Chinatown in itself has a luxury feel to it with its premium brands in addition to the usual shops you find in any other Manila mall. This can serve as a great meet-up/starting/end point to a shopping itinerary. That way, if a member of your party gets lost or would like to rest, it would be way easier to find them in the less-crowded Lucky Chinatown than in the huge and confusing tiangge.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614"] Spacious outdoor walkway flanked by Chinese restos[/caption]

The other shopping places located around Lucky Chinatown are 168, 999, and Meisic Mall, to name a few. Items sold in those bargain places are an eclectic mix from wall clocks, baby clothes, and home decor to shoes, Chinese food products, and undergarments.

DOs & DON'Ts:

DO try to go with someone who is already familiar with the Divisoria scene. Especially for first-timers, the experience can be overwhelming. Thick crowds and a maze-like line-up of stalls can drive anyone crazy.

DO get your haggling skills on, but be aware that some vendors just won't budge past the first "last price" they declare. (I know this by experience: No amount of haggling will work on some of them, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try your darndest.)

DO try to don your best "rugged" gear.

DON'T even try to wear heels. Flip-flops AREN'T advisable either. Nobody wants to have their toes stepped on and the streets outside are often littered or wet. Sneakers are your best bet for the long walk and the safety of your feet.

DO bring a bottle of drinking water to keep yourself hydrated.

DO bring some ecobags to carry your purchases in. Some vendors only give out very thin plastic bags.

DON'T store your all your money in one place. It's good to have small bills and change distributed among your pockets for ease and convenience. Just try to remember what denominations go where. (Keep organized.)

Tips:

Everyone before me has said it, and I'll say it again: Don't overdress. For the love of all that is good and holy, wear something simple. Skip ANY form of jewelry.

There ATM terminals in each mall, but it's still best to already have your shopping money at hand. Better safe than sorry.

Additional Info:

Outside Lucky Chinatown is a transport terminal. I remember seeing tricycles and FXs lined up. Not so sure about the ease of getting a cab through all the traffic, so it's best not to stay too late or until rush hour.