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by Erica Jahn

Barapido: Online shop for local heritage and contemporary Filipino products

In Uncategorized
September 1, 2018
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Despite the growth of e-commerce across the National Capital Region (NCR), Philippines still lacks channels dedicated for local producers to reach out to customers living outside their local areas.

Thanks to Barapido, micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises can now widen their customer base and reach bigger markets to grow and expand. To us consumers, that also means we can now conveniently check and buy their products online!

What is Barapido?

Officially launched today, BARAPIDO INC. (Barapido), an online platform that offers a wide array of exciting, excellent and high-quality Philippine-made products and has been designed to make e-commerce accessible to everyone in the archipelago at the shortest possible time.

Founded by Negros Holdings Management Corp., a company with a proven track record in shipping & logistics, Barapido is an end-to-end online retail fulfilment service for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that enable them to harness the power of e-commerce for business growth.

Gold in Grass and Oryspa can now be bought on Barapido

What products can you buy in Barapido?

The products you can buy from Barapido online are not normally found in supermarket chains or malls. Categories of these products include food products like snacks, beverage & spirits, pantry items, healthy products. Non-food products include personal care items, spa products, home and kids products.

Some products you can buy from Barapido:

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    • Here is a complete list of Barapido Merchants:
      ☑ Aishe Footwear
      ☑ Al-joy Shoes and Bags
      ☑ Aling Nenes Buko Pie and Puto Binan Delicacies
      ☑ Amazing Foods Corporation
      ☑ Brics Premium
      ☑ Coco Plus Aquarian Development Corp.
      ☑ Delfinado Food Products
      ☑ Escaba Food Products, Inc.
      ☑ Gemsee’s Cake Shop
      ☑ Gen Sweets Tart
      ☑ Gold in Grass
      ☑ Itlog ni Kuya
      ☑ Jhaz Slipwears
      ☑ John’s Gourmet
      ☑ Joyhanna Creation
      ☑ Junk Not Handicraft
      ☑ Kitchen Angels
      ☑ Lumban Marketing Cooperative
      ☑ Magra Nutrifoods
      ☑ MDA Meatshop
      ☑ Miss Chelie Beee
      ☑ Nature’s Dew Enterprises
      ☑ Oryspa
      ☑ Patricia’s Food Products
      ☑ Ricah’s Big Bites Food Products
      ☑ Rolyolikha Handicrafts
      ☑ Romalyn’s Ube Halaya
      ☑ Samo’t Sari Handicrafts
      ☑ SLPA Lala Ladies
      ☑ Sol’s Italian Food
      ☑ Sophie’s Gourmet
      ☑ Vegetari Vegetarian Product
      ☑ Zenaida Corcuera Food Products

How to order online?

Barapido’s order system is made easy for you. With just a few clicks, you can quickly receive your product depending on your prefered delivery date.

HOW TO ORDER?

STEP 1: Go to www.barapido.com

www.barapido.com

STEP 2: Choose your local gem

Click add to cart

STEP 3: Choose your payment option

CASH ON DELIVERY

VISA/MASTERCARD

STEP 4: Expect your product delivered the next day


 Barapido created a comprehensive delivery solution for your needs. Customer may opt to avail the below delivery options:

Same Day Delivery – cut-off at 12noon; delivery within the day (2-6 pm, Metro Manila only)

Next Day Delivery – cut-off at 5pm; delivery next day (8am to 12noon)

DELIVERY FEES

For Barapido’s NCR launch, first few customers will receive introductory prices for delivery. Please note that prices may change from the initial offering:

INTRODUCTORY PRICES (NCR)

Next Day Delivery P65

Same Day Delivery P85

How to be a merchant?

There are many merchants who create amazing products but have yet to figure out how to harness the power of digital marketing. Barapido solves their major issues by providing end-to-end solutions. From online order management to warehousing, last mile delivery and collection, Barapido enables the digital transformation of SMEs.

If you are a micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprise, you can widen your customer base and reach bigger markets through BARAPIDO. You may contact this online platform here.

Photo Opp with Ms. Precious Leano of ArtRelief Mobile Kitchen at Barapido Media Launch

Why you should buy from Barapido?

Barapido founders have a long history of doing good while doing well. It participates in feeding programs for the marginalized sector and supports initiatives in education, entrepreneurship & environment.

Barapido has partnered with Sabrina’s Soup Kitchen, feeding children at the Missionaries of the Poor and Art Relief Mobile Kitchen, a feeding response team of artists, chefs & volunteers during calamities and relief operations.

The CSR component of Barapido is an integral part of its business model. For every transaction made on its platform, it sets aside some amount to support its advocacies.

Barapido is supported by three (3) major services that are designed to propel expansion in e-commerce for small-sized and medium-sized local enterprises:

1. Marketing

Effective marketing strategies for brands that match them with customers in the shortest possible time through Barapido dedicated marketing strategists.

2. Logistics

Efficient e-commerce logistics support through service provider Logistikus Express. Faster deliveries are done next-day and same-day for National Capital Region (NCR). Provincial deliveries shall be available soon.

3. Connectivity

Extensive access to the Internet through satellite hotspots via service provider BC Net. Services are accessible at free hotspots in government offices and public spaces, as well as through commercial services in major cities and provincial areas.

Through a well-designed network infrastructure in logistics, Barapido is poised to be a major enabler in e-commerce growth in the country. This platform allows participation of small players (customers and merchants) in the world of e-commerce.

For the micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, Barapido offers the easiest path into e-commerce, providing revenue growth for their brands with cost-effective measures.

My favorite products so far

During the media launch of Barapido in Bonifacio Global City yesterday, I was able to try several products. My favorites so far are the following:

  • Spoonful Desserts’ Matcha Green Tea flavored flan/ caramel custard (Php160)
  • Sinamak Spiced vinegar
  • Gen’s Cocopie (Php 250)

Parting Words

With more and more people using the internet for everyday needs and purchases, it is great to see an online platform like Barapido let local businesses make use of it to benefit them and their consumers. Truly, Barapido is not just another online shop. When you make a transaction with Barapido, not only you can buy high-quality Filipino products, you can also have a minimal charge for the product’s next-day delivery. The best part of your purchase is, for every transaction you make with Barapido, it sets aside some amount to support its advocacies! So check out Barapido now. It offers introductory prices for delivery if you order today until the end of September!

What do you think about Barapido? Which of their products do you want to order for yourself? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below! Thank you for checking my blog! For more article updates, please subscribe to my mailing list. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

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Author

Erica Jahn

Erica is a former PR pro turned entrepreneur. Her greatest joys are family, blogging, music, skin care and social justice. As a Muay Thai enthusiast, Erica prides herself on working with increased focus, humility and diligence. She believes in living a fit life doing everything with a flair of creativity and love! Stalk her social channels @thegirlwiththemujihat

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Weekend break at The Selah Garden Hotel

In Travel, Uncategorized
October 15, 2018
0

Aptly named, you can unwind and take a break from the fast-paced routines of daily life at The Selah Garden Hotel in Pasay City.

This modest but surprisingly popular urban oasis for couples, family or group vacationers guarantees its guests clean, simple yet elegant accommodations with exceptional services and amenities at an affordable price! No wonder there were plenty of guests during the time of our visit.

I referred to the property as modest because of its limited space but that is not to say it is cramped. In fact, The Selah Garden Hotel has 82 boutique rooms, an infinity pool spruced up by an eco-friendly vertical hydroponic garden system, several lounge chairs and a gazebo, a garden for high and low ropes activities, three function rooms, KTV room, a restaurant, and reception lobby with a parking space.

Fantastic Loft accommodates up to 5 people at Php 5, 100 per night with breakfast for 4 pax

We stayed at the Fantastic Loft on the third floor. The room itself is spacious with separate hot/cold shower room and toilet, dining area, living area, and an upper floor for the double beds and closet. The Fantastic Loft can accommodate up to five people and comes with free wifi access and breakfast for four persons. There is a set of toiletries in the shower room, electric kettle and mini fridge in the kitchen area, and a flat screen tv and safety deposit box. Guests have access free access to the infinity pool and to the spa and high ropes facility for an additional charge. With the room rate of Php 5,100 per night for 4-5 people, it’s really not bad to stay in the Fantastic Loft. 

While one can expect a vast open field for team building games and activities, The Selah Garden Hotel managed to strategically design an activity area that incorporates at least 10 activities. Any corporate team can be generously accommodated in this area. The previous group before us composed of 100 people. Can you imagine how fun that was??

If you’re not in a group and just feeling adventurous, you can freely take on challenging activities such as a four-storey wall climb and rappelling, a two-part zip line ride, high ropes course, and scuba diving lessons taught by well-seasoned divers and staff members.

This set of activities cost Php 750 per person. You need to sign a waiver indicating you do not have any health condition/ injury that might hinder/ endanger you while completing the course.

If you worry about falling down, I guarantee you that all the equipment are sturdy, well-inspected and assessed for risk and safety. In addition, the staff who assist are well-trained (and strong!!!).

This was my first OFFICIAL wall climb… I am happy I made it through the top! I highly recommend you try this to challenge your upper body strength and overcome fear of heights!

The said activities make the property ideal for corporate team-building events or a family gathering, say, with a balikbayan friend or relative.

If you like to conserve your energy and just lay down and get pampered, you can enjoy the spa or you can lounge by the infinity pool.

At night, you can enjoy the sing-along karaoke room whilst savouring a plateful of mouthwatering Filipino dishes. It’s indeed a pleasant way to continue bonding with your group or for me a delightful way to cap off any long day.

The Selah Garden Hotel has an ongoing promotion for the use of the KTV room. You can enjoy singing your favorite tunes at Php 6,000 for 15 people. This comes with 2 buckets of beer, a round of iced tea, pancit bihon, french fries, cheese sticks, and peanuts for everyone to share.

L-R: Lee, founder of DB Media PH, fellow bloggers Chris, Joel, Jem, Nicole, Me, Mikhaela, Karla

During our stay, we tried their signature dishes like Kare-kareng gulay, lechon kawali, ginataang laing, and brownies for dessert. If you ask me how was the food, I can say it’s flavorful and well-prepared. The soup has the right consistency, the meat skin and vegetables have the right crisp. The pork meat is tender. I couldn’t stop eating. 

The foodgasm didn’t stop that night. I ate more delectable Filipino dishes the next day at our breakfast. I can say that the dishes truly power up your day. The homecooked Filipino food will fill you and comfort you at the same time. The breakfast buffet selections: omelette bar, chicken ala king, corned beef, sweet and sour pork, fried fish, fried and steam rice, rice noodles, sausages, salted egg, mixed vegetables, hamonado…

While you can eat all the rice you want, there is also a cereal station, a mini salad bar, bread station, and fruits stand to make you feel a little less guilty in case you’ve deviated from your healthy diet.

I am proud to say I love Selah Garden Hotel and my blogger fam at DB Media PH 

How to get to The Selah Garden Hotel

The Selah Garden Hotel is located at 2715 Park Ave, Pasay City, Metro Manila. It is a 9-minute walk from MRT Taft Station.

If you take a cab, the fare should be around Php 50 – Php 60.


Contact The Selah Garden Hotel

The Selah Garden Hotel is located at 2715 Park Ave, Pasay City, Metro Manila. you may contact the property telephone numbers +632-511-1331/ +632-508-9141 or through mobile at 0925-511-1331/ 0917-630-0604.

You may also reach them through email: reservations@selahgarden.com/ selahgardensuites@gmail.com

Reserve a room

You may book a room here:


Parting Words

I enjoyed a weekend break at The Selah Garden Hotel. The challenging activities facilitated by extremely friendly hotel staff, the location, the room where we stayed, the karaoke experience, and the food—all contributed to an ultimate, memorable albeit short getaway. I highly recommend this property to tourists, “balikbayans”, and fellow locals. Here, you are guaranteed to experience true Filipino hospitality, relax, and revitalize without breaking the bank.

What do you think of this hotel in Pasay City? Do you want to stay here and try their activities? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below! Thank you for your time! Don’t forget to share this article if you know someone who’d be interested in this property.

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Filipinos can now travel to Russia visa-free for up to 8 days

In Travel, Travel Documents, Uncategorized
September 24, 2019
0

Nationals from a total of 53 countries (listed below), including the Philippines, can now take advantage of VISA-FREE ENTRY into Russia FOR UP TO 8 DAYS, thanks to the new decree announced by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev last Thursday, September 19, 2019. The free electronic visa (e-visa) entry will take effect on October 1, 2019.

This is good news to travel buffs, especially to those who want to tick Russia off their travel bucket list!

For Filipino travellers, this means saving about 50 Euros or other fees for visa assistance or the hassle of going to the Russian Embassy to apply for a tourist visa in person.

A few things to take note of before taking this free e-visa offer:

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    • (1) Only those looking to travel for (a) tourism, (b) business, and (c) humanitarian reasons are eligible for the free e-visa

      (2) The visa is only valid for stays in St. Petersburg and the surrounding Leningrad Region

      (3) The free e-visa is only valid for a maximum of 8 travel days

      (4) The application must be made no later than four days and no earlier than 20 days before the expected date of entry

53 Countries receiving visa-free treatment from Russia

Foreign states whose citizens can exercise entry into the Russian Federation and departure from the Russian Federation through checkpoints across the state border of the Russian Federation located in the territories St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, based ordinary one-time business, tourist and humanitarian visas in the form of electronic documents:

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    • 1. Austria
      2. Andorra
      3. Bahrain
      4. Belgium
      5. Bulgaria
      6. Vatican
      7. Hungary
      8. Germany
      9. Greece
      10. Denmark
      11. India
      12. Indonesia
      13. Iran
      14. Ireland
      15. Iceland
      16. Spain
      17. Italy
      18. Qatar
      19. Cyprus
      20. China (including Taiwan)
      21. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
      22. Kuwait
      23. Latvia
      24. Lithuania
      25. Liechtenstein
      26. Luxembourg
      27. Malaysia
      28. Malta
      29. Mexico
      30. Monaco
      31. Netherlands
      32. Norway
      33. Oman
      34. Poland
      35. Portugal
      36. Romania
      37. San Marino
      38. Saudi Arabia
      39. Northern Macedonia
      40. Serbia
      41. Singapore
      42. Slovakia
      43. Slovenia
      44. Turkey
      45. Philippines46. ​​Finland
      47. France
      48. Croatia
      49. Czech Republic
      50. Switzerland
      51. Sweden
      52. Estonia
      53. Japan

How to apply for free E-Visa to Russia

Russian Electronic-visas are very simple to obtain. They can be issued within four (4) days and as the name suggests, can be done online rather than through a visit to the Russian Embassy. An online application form will soon be available on their website.

What is Russian Visa

The Russian visa is a machine-readable document which is placed in the holder’s passport to be granted entry into the Russian Federation. All fields are indicated in both Russian and English, but are filled out only in Russian. The holder’s name appears in both the Roman and Cyrillic alphabets.

Types of Russian visa

Depending on the purpose of entry into the Russian Federation and the purposes of stay, visas are categorized as:

Diplomatic

Ordinary

Service

DIPLOMATIC VISA



A diplomatic visa shall be issued to a foreign citizen holding a diplomatic passport. A diplomatic visa is issued:

(1) to foreign heads of state, foreign heads of government, members of the foreign official delegations, family members of such persons traveling with them or accompanying them – for a period of up to one year.

(2) to diplomatic agents of diplomatic missions and consular officials of consular establishments, the staff of representations of the international organizations in the Russian Federation which have the diplomatic status in the Russian Federation, to family members of specified persons for a period of up to one year.

(3) to foreign diplomatic and consular couriers for the term of business trip.

(4) to officials of the foreign states who have the official status in the Russian Federation have the right to a diplomatic visa and who come for a working visit to diplomatic missions or consular establishments of the foreign states in the Russian Federation or to the international organizations or their representations in the Russian Federation, for a period of up to one year.

SERVICE VISA



A service visa is issued to the foreign citizen having service (consular, official, special) passport. A service visa is issued:

(1) to members of foreign official delegations, family members of such persons traveling with them or accompanying them – for a period of up to one year.

(2) to administrative and technical and service personnel of diplomatic missions, consular employees and service personnel of consular establishments of the foreign states in the Russian Federation, representations of the international organizations in the Russian Federation and to family members of such persons for a period of up to one year.

(3) to military personnel of armed forces of the foreign states and family members of such persons for a period of up to one year. Extension of term of stay in the Russian Federation by issuance of the multiple entry visa for a period of validity of the foreign trade contract registered in accordance with the established procedure, but no more than for five years is allowed to the military personnel of armed forces of the foreign states driving to the Russian Federation for implementation of international treaties of the Russian Federation and (or) decisions of public authorities of the Russian Federation in the field of military and technical cooperation, and family members of such persons.

to foreign state officials who have the official status in the Russian Federation have the right to be issued a service visa and those who travel for a working visit to diplomatic missions or consular establishments of the foreign states in the Russian Federation or in the international organizations or their representations in the Russian Federation, for a period of up to one year.

ORDINARY VISA



Depending on the purpose of entry of the foreign citizen into the Russian Federation and the purpose of his stay in the Russian Federation ordinary visas are subdivided on private, business, tourist, educational, working, humanitarian and entry visas to the Russian Federation for temporary residence or citizenship ceremony:

(1) An ordinary private visa is issued for a period of up to three months or on the basis of the principle of reciprocity for a period of up to one year to foreign citizens traveling to Russia for a short visit on the basis of an invitation letter.

(2) An ordinary business visa is issued for a period of up to one year to foreign citizens traveling to Russia for a business trip.

(3) An ordinary tourist visa is issued for a period of up to one month or on the basis of the principle of reciprocity for a period of up to six months to foreign citizens traveling to Russia as tourists, if holding an invitation letter by a Russian tour operator. Invitations can be issued by many hotels on request (sometimes for a fee) or through various online services associated with Russian tour operators.

(4) An ordinary tourist group visa is issued for a period of up to one month to foreign citizens traveling to Russia as a tourist in an organized tourist group (not less than five people), of holding a confirmation by an organization in the unified federal register of tour operators.

(5) An ordinary student visa is issued for a period of up to one year to foreign citizens traveling to Russia for training in the educational institution.

(6) An ordinary work visa is issued to foreign citizens visiting Russia for work purposes for a period of validity of the employment contract or civil contract for performance of work (rendering services), but no more than for one year.

(7) An ordinary humanitarian visa is issued for a period of up to one year or on the basis of the principle of reciprocity for a period of up to five years to foreign citizens visiting Russia for a scientific, cultural, political or a sport visit, religious communication and contacts, pilgrimage, charity, delivery of humanitarian aid.

(8) An ordinary entry visa to Russia for receiving a shelter is issued to foreign citizens for a period of up to three months if holding a decision of the federal executive authority authorized on implementation of functions on control and supervision in the sphere of migration on recognition of this foreign citizen as a refugee on the territory of Russia.

(9) An ordinary entry visa to Russia to obtain citizenship of the Russian Federation is issued to foreign citizens for a period of up to one year if holding a decision on recognition of such foreign citizen as a native speaker of Russian.

(10) An ordinary entry visa to Russia to obtain permission for a temporary resident is issued to foreign citizens for a period of up to four months.



(11) An ordinary transit visa is issued for a period of up to ten days to the foreign citizen for transit through the territory of Russia.

(Source: Wikipedia)

How to apply for Russian Visa

All types of Russian entry visa applications are received through Russian embassies and consulates.

Here in the Philippines, the Russian Embassy information is listed below:

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    • Address:Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Philippines, 1245 Acacia Road, Dasmarinas Village, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines

      Phone: +632 893-0190, 817-5406

      Telex: (75) 63709 SOVPSL PN

      Fax:+632 810-9614

      E-mail:rusemb@i-manila.com.ph

      Website: http://www.philippines.mid.ru/

      Consular department phone: +632 810-9581

      Fax:+632 810-95-81

Provided all the documents are ready, the process usually takes no more than 3-10 workdays for a Russian travel visa.

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    • Russian Tourist Visa requirements:
      • Original passport

        One photo (colour, passport size photo)

        Tourist invitation

        Russian Consulate Application Form

        The Russian Consulate requires the visa application form to be printed on A4 paper with right and bottom margins of 5mm.

        A failure to meet these requirements invalidates the form.

Parting Words

If you are a Philippine Passport holder, and you want to travel to Russia for about a week or less, you do not need to apply for a tourist visa at the Russian Embassy in Manila. You can just fill an application form online and obtain a free electronic visa to enter into Russia.

What do you think about the free e-visa entry to Russia? Do you want to visit Russia? Which place do you hope to visit? Let us know in the comments section below!

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