The Thought Junkie

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Wingin’ It at Buffalo Wild Wings

A wise quote once said that you can go back to a place you haven’t been to in awhile in order to see how far you have grown. Places, just like people, have a way of reminding us of specific seasons in our lives. I don’t know about you but I can be quite the place escaper. Once I associate specific seasons of my life with certain places, I have the tendency to run away as far as I can possibly can. Places are often marked with either bad memories or good memories and the ones that I often return to are places that bring about only the good memories. It’s good to know that there are only a few places I don’t go back to but at the same time but there are also specific places that serves as an in between. One of those places is Buffalo Wild Wings (or Bdubs as I fondly call it) in Estancia Mall. Without even realizing the place has served a mix of a lot of memories and going inside it always leaves me breathless with a sense of awe, wondering what’s next for me.

As a sports enthusiast, the prospect of Buffalo Wild Wings opening in the Philippines was particularly exciting for my friends and I. We enjoyed viewing the Superbowl and this year’s NBA Finals there and love the over all vibe of the place. It holds a deep affinity for me because it’s the place my family goes to after basketball games at nearby Ynares Arena.
And while it took me awhile to go back due to personal reasons, its latest offering couldn’t help but pull me back in. You see, we all need a place to escape to. We all need a place where we can just sit down with our friends and just relax from life’s mix of big and small annoyances. I needed a good time with my girls the week after my birthday and we found ourselves delighting over Bdub’s latest offerings.
Not only did I enjoy the many servings of wings (and fried mozzarella, my favorite one!) and trying out all the different sauces, what made this particular trip to Bdubs in Capitol Commons is the fact that I faced my fear and returned to a place that brought about a lot of not so good memories in the past month (definitely not because of the food!). I faced my fear and glad I did because I don’t think there’s a way for
My friends raved about BDub’s Happy Hour where they were able to enjoy their favorite drinks for only P55/ bottle. But more than anything, it was nice to step back and just spend time with them laughing over the most random of things.

But for me, the most important part is facing your fear of going back to place and discovering how much you have changed and how much courage you have mustered since you were last there. It puts things into perspective that while some places remain the same, you don’t and the only logical thing to do is to keep moving forward. 
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The Magic Touch of Lana Johnson

I don’t know about you but one of my favorite stories to hear in the entire world is that of other women succeed. There is just something magical about women who are able to stand on their own two feet and being able to win in all areas of life. Not only is it inspiring, it is also aspirational in a sense that if she can do it, I believe I can do so too. Unfortunately, we live in a society where women are taught to pit against other women, as if there is a shortage of success when in truth, there is more than enough success to go around especially if we learn to celebrate one another instead of constantly putting each other down.
This is the reason why I enjoy hearing about strong, independent, powerful women and why I am excited to share with you the story of powerhouse publicist, Lana Johnson. I met Lana through boyfriend and business partner Shawn Weinstein (who couldn’t stop raving about his super girlfriend) and was in awe with all of her achievements in the field of Public Relations. Lana is currently the Chief Operating Officer and Head Publicist at WJG Asia. WJG Asia was launched in 2012 and have been successfully handling big time clients including Victor Consunji since then. Lana is known for her foresight and her ability to bring attention to her clients and their respective clients.

Lana, who used to dabble in TV shows and movies while also pursuing a full-time job in Marketing and Advertising, graduated with a degree in Marketing from an International Correspondence School but the different way she views things can be attributed to the environment she grew up in, “My father was an expat so I grew up traveling to different countries every few years, mostly in Asia. We would always come back to the Philippines as this is where my Mom is from.”
She also admits that from the moment she was a young girl she has always been inclined to focus on a career that involves both communication and marketing which is why it is understandable that she chose PR.
When asked what it was like to be a publicist in Manila, she was quick to share what her days are like, “My day starts with a quick work out, I will have my coffee then attend to my clients. Whether it be a shoot, setting up details for a fashion show, sponsorship meetings, PR meetings for new or existing clients. Once the details are completed, I will then attend events with or on behalf of my clients in the evening. I truly enjoy working with clients who express what they want and let you have your own approach on how to get it done.”
For her the definition of a 21st century independent woman is this and what it takes to be one, “Our generation has allowed women to succeed even more in various fields. Set your goals, pursue them, and don’t be afraid to fail.”
And this advice she takes to heart since she will now also pursue an accessory business that is set to launch not just in Manila but in California as well. She also goes on to say that aside from adding celebrity clients to her roster, she also dreams of producing a documentary or a short film to “raise awareness in regards to women’s rights and well being is extremely important to me.”

Truly the only secret to being a superwoman is knowing that you already are one and in celebrating the success of other superwomen as well.
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The Beautiful Gift Called Perspective

“If you really believe that God loves you and wants the best for you, you must believe that everything is working toward the greater good in your situation. Because it all does, pure & simple.” – Michelle McKinney Hammond
Today marks the first day of August. In a blink of an eye, we have gone the first seven months of the year and we are already gearing towards the ber months. But before all the rush begins, allow me to reflect on the first seven months of the year, the seventh one being my birthday month.
What was the first seven months of 2015 like for you? Was it excruciating? Exciting? Painfully boring? Or was it exactly the way it always has been? I’m quite sure that you have met new people and also let a few ones go. I’m pretty sure you laughed out loud and cried out in pain. I’m assured that none of the days you have experienced were the same despite the fact that your routine has not changed. You may have picked up new hobbies, dropped old ones, and even fulfilled your resolutions at the beginning of the year.
And if you’re anything like me, I’m pretty sure that as you reflect on your year, you couldn’t help but look back on the events that have made your heart cry more than focusing on the happy memories of this year. Don’t feel bad, it doesn’t make you any less human, in fact, human beings are known to focus on the bad instead of the good. It’s a bad habit we can all quit if we work on it consciously and consistently.
Without boring you with the details, I would be brave enough to say that 2015 so far has been a year of transformations. As I look back on the first seven months of the year, I couldn’t help but revel at how many prayers God answered but at the same time, also gawk at how those very prayers were nothing like what I expected them to be. As cliché as it may sound, it’s true when they say that sometimes God gives you exactly what you want to show you that it’s not what you need.
It’s all about perspective. We can constantly whine about life’s undesirable moments or we can choose to look at it from another perspective. Often when we are betrayed or when we are placed in situations that are uncomfortable, we often whine until we realize that we won’t get out of there until we learn the lessons. So it’s important to see it from another perspective: maybe the betrayal was God’s way of waking you up to the reality of the situation. Maybe it was also His way of making you appreciate everything you have neglected for the people who were not meant to be in your life. Once you get past the pain, it’s important to dig for the lessons, because that’s where the real treasure lies. Don’t waste a painful situation by missing the lessons, move forward in faith, knowing that God uses every situation in your life for good. So forgive and move forward, only the best is ahead, all you have to do is to look at it from a different perspective.

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Growing Up Pastores

High school is the place where legends are born. My particular high school wasn’t like the high schools featured on Gossip Girl and The OC for the sole reason that it was a Christian school and unlike other schools, what made you popular were not the parties you went to but how you performed as a student and as an individual. And in our alma mater, there was no more mystical bunch than that of the Pastores sisters. All four girls were tall and slender with beautiful smiles to boot and they were known not just for their looks but most especially for their history of being overachievers. It doesn’t matter what batch you belonged to, you were bound to know and interact with a Pastores somehow. They were always somehow running the show in one way or another. The brood, which is made up of Stella, Kai, Laura, and Angel, has always been known to take the lead may it be in academics or extracurricular activities. The two youngest of the bunch, Laura and Angel, have long been known as graceful ballerinas. Everyone was sure that they were on to do great things in the world and everyone was right. But what sets them apart is the fact that they use whatever talent and smarts they have to make the nation a better place.
It has been ten years since high school (yelp!) and I finally had the chance to catch up with old friends Kai (who was a year older than me in school and the one who gave me the opportunity to write for this very paper) and Laura (my younger brother’s former batchmate). A lot has happened in ten years but it was safe to say that Laura and Kai were still as overachieving as they have always been. Kai, who recently completed her Master’s Degree from the University of Pennsylvania, is now married to Kaya Natin’s Harvey Keh and is focusing all of her efforts on nation building through several non-government organizations including Excel Center for Educational Leadership. Laura, who completed her degree from Westminister College in Missouri, is also involved in Excel Center for Educational Leadership along with other NGOs. Their two sisters, Stella is a lawyer and is married with two adorable kids, Sophia and Jaden, while Angel is following the footsteps of their parents by studying to become a doctor at the University of Sto. Tomas.

For years, I have wondered what it was like to grow up a Pastores and always wondered what the secret was. But when asked about the question, they were actually quite surprised because for the down-to-earth sisters, they were simply doing what needed to be done. When asked to describe their home environment Laura was quick to say, “We are a very close-knit family made up of the corniest people ever. Our parents made sure that family, next to God, was their top priority despite their busy schedules as doctors. They never missed any parent-teacher conferences, recitals, graduations, and family dinners. I think their active presence in our lives fostered the loving environment we grew up in.”
And despite growing up equally successful, pressure and competition is not present among the four sisters and their family in general, “We grew up in a very loving and supportive environment. There was no pressure from our parents to excel in school, rather, they would encourage us to do our best. Big difference.They would reward our hard work with a little trinket every quarter of the school year to keep us going. And honestly, I think my sisters and I were all somewhat a little nerdy so we liked reading, which made it easier to study class materials. Living in a house full of girls is actually really fun! We borrow each other’s clothes, shoes, and just get along really well.”

At the end of the day, the Pastores clan proves that in order for family to succeed love, acceptance, and support is important. It’s the simple things like making time for each other, the way their parents have always made time for them that has created a home safe enough to create a breed of superwomen.
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Quenching Wanderlust with Destination Getaways

This generation loves to travel. May it be to an exotic place, a popular destination, or even a quick road trip to Tagaytay, this generation’s wanderlust is simply insatiable. The desire to go places has been so great that some people have turned their life’s passion into what they do for a living. This can be said for power couple Paolo Roces and Mia Geronimo. The couple, who I have been friends with since our grade school days in Colegio San Agustin, Makati, has turned this whimsical dream intro reality through Destination Getaways, a modern day travel agency which helps travelers make the most out of every adventure without spending much.
Destination Getaways was a serendipitous instance for the two well-traveled individuals, “Just like for most people, traveling started as hobby. We were both always curious, always thirsty to discover something new and just discover new places.” This lust for life has led to a passionate attention to the details of their travels because they simply wanted to make the most of each moment. Mia recalls, “Planning trips have always been a stress-relieving activity for me and eventually people close to us started noticing already and started asking for our help in terms of travel tips and whatnot.”
This passion turned into a business in 2014 when Mia, a graduate of the University of the Philippines and a former pre-school teacher decided to take a break from teaching. Pao, who graduated from the University of Sto. Tomas and has four Elorde branches under his belt, then spontaneously invited her to a travel agency seminar, which he believed they would both enjoy, “I knew Mia needed a breather so we just attended the seminar out of curiosity.” Before they knew it, everything was already in the works for them, “Everything went by so fast that we knew the opportunity was personally handed to us as if God really wanted us to nurture the opportunity and take care of this ‘baby’”.
What makes Destination Getaways set apart from the rest is the fact that it has this desire to help people find what it is that makes them “feel happy to be alive” and for them, more than earning, what makes their business fulfilling is the fact that they can “connect their clients with authentic and life-changing experiences as they travel in the best and most convenient way we laid out for them.” For them it’s all about experiences, “Traveling easily makes anyone a storyteller and what better way to make the world a better place by telling more beautiful stories about it?”
And when asked what it’s like to work with each other, especially since they have been together for ten years (I really believe they’re gifted with superhuman powers), “We both influence each other to live to be inspired and to be inspired to live. We dream together, we pray for our dreams together, we pursue our dreams together. We are each other’s best mentors and best critics and hold on to being the best versions of ourselves to able to share it with the world.”

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FNL: A New Way to Do Friday Nights

It’s a Friday night and the place is packed with teenagers (and teenagers at heart) rocking the place. Lights danced, speakers boomed, and most importantly, the place just reeked of joy. On the stage, a young blonde Caucasian who was reminiscent of hipsters in Brooklyn was speaking enthusiastically and the entire crowd was listening, engrossed with every word.
On paper, it seems like I have just entered just about any club extremely prevalent today. I mean where else would one spend Friday night right? But this is not the club that our culture has gotten used to. In fact, you might be surprised to think that the most happening place in the South of Metro Manila is not a bar or a club, but inside New Life Christian Church, Alabang, one of the strongest and biggest congregations in the country.
Having attended New Life since 2005, it never spoke about the perils of religion but rather always boasted of being a place that welcomed just about anyone from any walk of life. It always felt like home to me and today; it is home to over 300 teenagers who are looking for the very same things we look for: love and somewhere to belong. Friday nights have been labeled as “Friday Night Live” and this is a place where “anyone can belong and be part of a community that welcomes you no matter what your background.”
In the heart of this is Steven Chase, the hip and anti-thesis of the church that we have grown up in. But more than his appearance, it’s his welcoming aura that sets him apart, “FNL is something to look forward to. We have food trucks, great music, and the atmosphere is super chill. When you walk through our doors you don’t have to change anything about yourself. You don’t have to put up a front and act like someone you’re not. We want you, the real you.”
For Steven and his team of passionate and quirky individuals the message is simple, “It’s a place where anyone can belong and be part of a community that welcomes you no matter what your background. We want to show people the Jesus that we know, cause we’re convinced that if people can just see who Jesus really is, he’s simply irresistible.”
And teenagers, who deal with growing up, some sort of dysfunction, and just a general feeling of emptiness from all the hormones that rise on the inside, find it comforting to sing, shout, and hear the word every week in a safe environment where they are not judged by what they do or don’t do.
It’s a culture that is slowly creating a niche and becoming a light in a sometimes dark world and Steven believes that this is only the beginning, “I love what God is doing in our community. But we have by no means reached the mountaintop, not by a long shot. Don’t get me wrong; I’m blown away every month at the idea that God would trust my team and I to lead anyone. If you consider how important just one young person is to God, it’s incredibly humbling. However, there’s still a lot of work to be done and a lot of growing for all of us to do. I can’t want to see what’s down the road.”
And it’s work that I’m glad someone is doing because everyone needs to know that they are loved, regardless of what they’ve done or what they haven’t done. Someone needs to stand up and stop throwing stones, someone has to be brave enough to love without restrictions, and someone has to be big enough to let the outcasts in.

And I’m glad that there are people like Steven who are finally letting those outsiders in because at the end of the day, all we want to do is belong.
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Being Miakka

Miakka Lim just exudes of energy that’s like no other. More than her beautiful face that she’s long been known for (she’s been modeling since her early teens) and her famous pedigree (she’s the second daughter of PBA powerhouse Frankie Lim and image consultancy pioneer and former model Olen Lim), it’s Miakka’s infectious vibe that sets her apart.
She talks a mile a minute but most importantly, she talks a mile a minute about things that matter, most importantly in the field of sports. While in De La Salle University, the former volleyball standout has been calling the shots as a courtside reporter for the Philippine Basketball Association up until they switched networks a few years ago.
When asked how she became more than just the “daughter of”, especially during her earlier years in the league, she said, “I feel it really is about doing good at what you do. It’s different when you’re in front of the camera and it’s your name, it’s not your parents’ name there, it’s yours so you have to do really well.” And well she did, after years of being Olen or Frankie’s daughter, her parents are now referred to as Miakka’s mom / dad and that alone is enough to make her feel proud of her accomplishments which includes being a certified trainer of Benefit Cosmetics (yes, she’s the lady behind its famous Brow Bar that you must definitely try at least once in your life), a certified image consultant, an events host, and a sports analyst for CNN Philippines (which she considers her dream job). She’s also on her way to creating her own business in the very near future.
When asked what the best advice she received from her parents, she was quick to recall her dad’s advice to “just do it” with anything she wants to accomplish in life while reminding her to do so in a manner that does not step on anyone. Her boldness and her fierceness she credits to her mom, who has never held back in saying what’s on her mind. It’s this boldness that has allowed Miakka to speak as confidently, especially in a male dominated field such as basketball, “Without that mentality, you will not be survived. It’s a man’s world.”
But more than her achievements, Miakka defines the 21st century woman: empowered and independent. A woman who is not scared to speak her mind to her thousands of followers on social media whether about Manila traffic, beauty, or the latest sports news.
For her an independent woman is “somebody who can carry herself, someone who doesn’t need anybody else but also treats other people, kahit wala siyang kailangan from them, really well. Independence is yung kaya mo yung sarili mo and you’re not going to be ashamed because you’re a girl, be proud of what you have and who you are. An independent woman doesn’t ask anybody for anything and you’re not going to drop your life for anyone else. If that’s intimidating for other people, just continue being you, others can either run with you or run away from you but don’t let that change you.”

And for Miakka being the woman that you’ve always wanted to be doesn’t have to be complicated, in fact, it’s simple, just follow what your passions are and just do it, “If you’re not happy everyday isipin mo na lang,ang hirap gumising sa umaga. You have to find a job that you really like doing, do it now. No holds barred, wag ka magtira, always give 101 percent effort.”
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The PJF Difference

It has been a great month so far for Philippine sports with our Filipino athletes exceling in different sports in the Southeast Asian Games in Singapore. June also jumpstarts the beginning of Filipinos’ quest to gain viable spots in different international competitions including our Philippine basketball national team’s on going quest to make it to the 2020 Olympics. We celebrate the victory of all kinds of sports but in the core of every Filipino is our passion for basketball.
Our love for the game is the reason why we’re easily excited when international basketball personalities visit the country because we see our talent from a different perspective. Such talent is Paul James Fabritz (also known as PJF), an international basketball trainer to the biggest names in the NBA, WNBA, and the NCAA. Globally known as one of the top vertical jump specialists in the world, Paul was initially a D1 college player before he sustained an injury that pushed him to study the science behind performance enhancement. He was able to bounce back from his injury but decided to pursue teaching the skills needed to improve the game. What started out as teaching a couple of kids has now led to an entire team of performance specialists that bring a new perspective to the much loved sport.
Sponsored by Unlimited Sports Performance Center in Pasig, PJF Performance was brought to the country by Coach Nico D’ Haenen to give even more depth to the sport that Filipinos are extremely passionate about. Paul initially heard about how popular the sport is in the country, “I heard how popular basketball was in the Philippines and I wanted the opportunity to experience that passion and also get to work with players from the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) and see the talent over here.”
Working with top players like Mark Barroca, PJ Simon, and Dondon Hontiveros and watching a couple of basketball games here, Paul saw first hand how talented our basketball players are. From an international perspective, Paul believes we have what it takes to compete with the best, “The guys I got to work with since I got here have been very very quick, their speed and agility is on a NBA level. I feel they can offer a lot to any international league, especially the guards because of their speed.”
He also says that Filipino basketball players have the advantage of being “teachable”, meaning that even the best of the best are still humble enough to be taught and this can be a great asset.
Paul and the rest of his team at PJF Performance value the importance of mental toughness, “I think that the biggest separator is the mentality which Filipino players have of finding their zone and finding it consistently.”
His program is unique because it also includes the importance of nutrition (something local basketball players are still learning) and what players do both on the court and off the court to keep up with the athleticism now required by leagues everywhere.
As for his advice to struggling players, “I would say, strengthen your strengths, have something that separates you. You have to be able to catch your coach’s eye by knowing that one area that separates you. A coach doesn’t want just someone pretty good at a lot of things but a specialist. Just emphasize your strengths and identify your weaknesses and improve that.”

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Aging with Wisdom, Not with Lines

In a few weeks, I will be turning 27. In a way, it’s scary because in my head, I just turned 16 and all of a sudden life did a 13 Going on 30 on me and I’m now an adult with adult like responsibilities (and that means occasionally responding to text messages on time, not a day late).
It could probably just because I’m in a “getting older” mode but suddenly all conversations I’ve had with the people around me have revolved around reversing the outcome of age or at the very least, not making it show so much. A lot of people would want the wisdom that comes with age but not the fine lines that go with it. I’m not one to be particularly vain and I’m often barefaced on days without meetings or special occasions but I’ve given much thought to moisturizer and “anti” everything the moment I hit 25. What I failed to take care of, to be honest, is protecting my face under the scorching Manila heat.
Working at The Fort has given me the privilege to walk all day, everyday with just my music on without realizing that it has been damaging my skin. I’ve never been a “sun worshipper” as most bios would contain on Instagram so I never really gave it much thought until a godforsaken test said that my skin age is older than my age because of too much sun exposure. Apparently, everyone knows that the sun ages you faster than anything in the entire world (yes, even the annoying stress that goes with eliminating mean people in your life, but that’s reserved for an entirely different article all together) and even if you spend a good chunk of your day indoors, UV rays can apparently still torch your face.
So with this in mind, I hunted for the perfect sunblock to put on top of my other skincare products. This can be extremely difficult for me because a) it’s hot and b) I don’t like anything sticky. So after a few hits and misses (as in anything in life), I was lucky enough to come across Daylong.
What makes Daylong stand out for me and worthy of the space in this week’s Filipino Champions is the fact that more than just being a brand, they are committed to their advocacy of making everyone know that they need to protect themselves from the sun. More than just vanity purposes, the sun can literally be harmful to the skin and can cause unwanted and unnecessary complications if we don’t take good care of our skin. A recent study they made involving five up and coming urbanites showed that the UV Index in Manila alone is at a “very high” risk even when they were indoors and while I wouldn’t go into scientific details, it just means that UV rays are out to attack our faces any time. To counter its effects, we have to constantly reapply our sunblock at least twice a day.
It’s a small step but one that will greatly affect us in the future because as we grow older it gets more and more important to take care of ourselves because if we don’t, who else will?

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Genuine Connection in a Filtered World

It’s not a secret that we live in a highly filtered world. It’s not that we’re not genuine, it’s just that we have been given so many ways to present ourselves online that we can’t help but take advantage of it. There used to be a time when “catching up” meant seeing each other in real time over coffee or a good meal, but today, catching up meant chatting all night at the comforts of our homes. Technology definitely has it perks, it’s a great way to stay connected to the people who matter most to us despite our busy schedule. But despite the perks, I can’t help but miss the connection you have when you’re in the same room as the people you care about. However, days get so busy and no matter how hard you try, the grind of daily life just doesn’t make it easy to see each other in real time.
So it brought me much joy when my good friend Ace introduced me to Blumr. Distinguishing Blumr from the thousands app available today is its ability to mimic real time connections without actually being together in real time. An early innovation of proudly Filipino Let’s Blum It Corporation (another reason to love it, Filipino pride!) allows users to express authentic thoughts and genuine feelings as they happen. Blum is able to do this through its Blurt application which captures real life gestures by allowing the other party to view every character that is being typed by the person they are in touch with. While it may seem scary to think about it, it actually takes away the filters and the many technological walls we put up when conversing with someone on the other side of our gadgets. It’s pretty much like being in the same room as the person because words cannot be edited as we normally do when chatting online. 
The man behind Blumr, Paolo Mendoza is quick to explain, “Real and genuine relationships are essential in our every day lives. Real-time allows you to see, hear, and understand what people truly feel and think at an instant. Real–time means what you say, when you do, is precisely how you feel at that exact moment. Blumr’s Real Time Technology captures your true self and connects you closer to those you communicate with, as if you are just right next to each other.”
Released only last April 18, Blumr has already been making waves through its three major features: Blurt, Switch, and Trends. Blurt as we’ve mentioned allows one to speak to another as if they were in the same room and not halfway across the world. Switch which give users the chance to conveniently transition from one device to another while voice or video calls without interruption and Reality Check, a community where users are given the chance to celebrate what you enjoy while giving you the chance to understand what you don’t initially like. Blumr has the ability to connect people together in a genuine way that has been lost in the tech world where once must always be “polished” in order to be “liked”.
Aside from priding itself in bring genuine connection back online, Blumr also prides itself in being a purely Filipino company. Paolo along with his team of creative minds proves that the Filipinos are just as brilliant as the ones outside of the Philippines, “Our ability to adapt and excel in various fields makes us dynamic and one of the most interesting people in this realm. Having said that, the product and technology we have built and continue to innovate will place our country on the tech map. We also hope to inspire every Filipino in whatever capacity they are into.”
Blumr brings us back to the glory days of real connection: raw and unfiltered. It makes communicating seem more genuine and makes it more exciting because the person on the other end is finally given the chance to be as real as they wish to be.