Yamaha Launches Apparel Line At SM City Davao

Yamaha, the company famous for its motorcycle line is launching their apparel line during a six-day exhibit being held at the SM City Davao from April 8 to April 13. The exhibit is dubbed as the "Yamaha Evolution: Feel the Excitement 2008".

The exhibit features the Yamaha Motor Show, the Yamaha Experience (showing off their latest big bikes), the Yamaha Experience (test riding, student riding) , Special Events which includes the Bamboo Kitty Girls and a Trial Bike Show.

Here's a line-up of the event:

April 8-13-Yamaha Motor Show-Atrium
April 8-13-Yamaha Experience-Parking Lot
April 12-Special Events-Parking Lot C
April 12-Trial Bike Show

What's Your News?

Just came back from a very short vacation in General Santos City and here I am cramming for a thousand and one blogging and writing responsibilities that have been pending since last week. How about you, what's your news? Got to hurry!

Unionbank Explanation On PayPal Fiasco Illogical

I am still uncomfortable with my PayPal deposits via Unionbank because of the discrepancy that happened just this week. The amount which appeared in my account record is way below the expected amount withdrawn from Paypal. However, what is more disconcerting are the events following my written email to Unionbank about the discrepancy which has remained unanswered up to now.

My mistake. I did not get a printscreen of the transaction. When I checked back, the P1,900 something wrongly deposited to my account disappeared. What more? The transaction fiasco itself disappeared from the online transaction box like Houdini's Magic.

After hounding the bank staff she agreed to connect me to the 1-800-188882277-not-so-hot-hotline and after several attempts we were able to talk to the operator who lo and behold! said she was seeing my accounts and the transactions I made and there was no transaction reflecting the P1, 900 deposit made to my account nor the transaction withdrawing the same amount from my account. So was I lying to myself and to her just so I can make a blog entry out of it? Whew!

The customer rep said that at the time I complained about the questionable transaction they were still updating the system and maybe my account has not yet been updated. Well, I am no bank term genius but what I understand from an un-updated account is an account that is supposed to show the exact money I had before any transaction has been made. So why was there an update, meaning I got a new deposit?

She insisted that my account has not yet been updated that time and when I told her again about the wrong amount appearing there, she kept on repeating that same keyword phrase that would have landed first page in Google due to repetition.

I was stupid enough not to get a printscreen of that transaction so the next time any of these happen to you make sure you get a printscreen so you have some form of evidence when they deny everything.

Davao Bloggers Welcomes Summer With Campo Agua Resort Tour

So what happens when Davao Bloggers meet up?

Food, fun and photo-ops but not necessarily in that order. It's my first time to join the Davao Bloggers group and proved that I was normal. I always carry my Canon Powershot A540 (nakakahiya itabi sa Super Pogi na EOS ni Jojie) with me wherever I go and I take photos of everything; even the food at home I have to take photos of first before they are allowed to eat. Now I know there is nothing abnormal about me because it was lunchtime already and Campo Agua's crunchy and mouth-watering deep-fried tilapia and hito were already beckoning to our stomachs but the guys were completely unmindful and proceeded with photo-ops! Well, perhaps, that was a strategy because once the eating started everything was going, going, gone....

Campo Agua is hands down a kiddie resort and nothing beats the kids market. It boasts of an interactive water playground with water hydrants that kids can control just like they were sailors. For those who have the pleasure of meditating while waiting for the fishes to catch the bait then the 2-hectare fishing ground of the place will entertain them for hours.

The Valderamas also have a crocodile farm, with 300 crocodiles in the farm being fattened in preparation for breeding but no worries but the farm is far away and they don't eat humans for lunch (how about dinner?)

Campo Agua is a favorite place for my family. Sometimes, we just go there to swim since the pool is safe for kids and much more for adults who do not know how to swim. What more, it is really fun and provides several hours of bonding for family and friends. I keep coming back for the kinilaw na bangus though--so yummy and I even started making it at home but nothing beats eating kinilaw na bangus at Campo Agua thanks to the relaxing ambiance of the place.

Kenneth Valderama, the accommodating owner of Campo Agua, said he has more plans for Campo Agua but that's another story which you should watch out for at The Edge (Davao's newest business newspaper) next week.

I think this is my first time to go on a location interview ever since I started my home-based business and career three years ago and it's fun thanks to long-time pal Jojie (who is very good not only in layouting, T-shirt printing, photography, etc.etc...pero secret land ha---magaling mag breakdance si jojie ha!ha!) and the rest of the Davao Bloggers ----Blogie, Migs, Andrew, Winston, Dominique, Chikai and Maria. Did I miss anyone?

Off To Campo Agua Resort For Bloggers Tour

It's final! I'm joining the Bloggers Tour of Campo Agua in Sirawan, Toril today. Called up Jojie (who's organizing the tour along with Blogie) yesterday and confirmed the arrangements. I'm still here blogging though since i'll just meet the group at the resort while they will all be meeting at Jojie and Rhonson's studio at MTS at 9AM.

I've been to Campo Agua a lot of times and I have always enjoyed my stay there. Even the whole family enjoyed not only swimming but also eating the sumptuous dishes and fishing! We are usually the first people there arriving at 7Am and we are the last---leaving at 6PM. That's how nice the place is especially for those bringing kids with them.

Jojie said the kinilaw na tilapia is yummy but I haven't tasted it yet---tried their kinilaw na bangus though and I got hooked it is now a regular fare in the house. I was trying to get all my photos of Campo Agua (one of which came out in Working Mom with Brylle and his dad on the photo) but can't seem to find any no matter how I rummaged through my CDs and all so I am using Jojie's beautiful and scenic photo of the resort.

Unionbank Where Did My Money Go?

"Don't make me angry, you won't like me when I'm angry" might as well be the slogan Unionbank for clients who complain a lot and i belong to that group. Huhuhuhuhu. It has been two hours since I emailed Unionbank about the discrepancy in my PayPal withdrawal and when I checked out just now, even the P1,900 they deposited to my account is gone! waaaaaahhhhh.....And not even a word as to what happened! And by the way, I sure would like to tell Unionbank to shove their 1-800-1888-2277 number on their ---wherever---since up to now, I still can't access the supposedly HOTLINE customer care.

Unionbank's PayPal Bloopers

Is Unionbank efficient enough to handle PayPal remittances, not only for its debit cards but also for savings accounts?

This question did not accidentally enter my mind. I just had a very bad experience with Unionbank's PayPal remittance services. It may be called a minor blooper in the ordinary world but for a bank as big as Unionbank (who may be handling millions of dollars and accounts for its clients) this is not only a blooper but it speaks bad about how it handles its accounts---big or small.

I was waiting for my PayPal withdrawal of $196.19 so I kept on checking my online account with Unionbank. Funny but when I checked this morning only P1,905.81 was reflected. Either the peso-dollar rate has plunged to P10 per dollar or Unionbank committed a booboo in its data entry. I was just watching TV earlier to check the business news so I know the peso-dollar rate is P41.80 to a dollar. Which means Unionbank's data entry personnel or teller or whoever the hell is in charge of converting dollar remittances to peso is grossly inefficient.

To make matters worse, I called up the Victoria Branch and asked for the error to be rectified but the lady merely told me to call their toll free number as they cannot do anything about this. PERIOD! I may have lost it somewhere along the internet while cruising but isn't customer service also a part of the bank's local branches' commitment?

And to rub it in, I called up the 1-800-1888-2277 (which I memorized and can recall even while I am asleep) is always busy. I managed to get in after dialling 20 times (or more!) but a stupid recording on the other line says: "sorry, all our customer representatives are busy.....". I waited until the recording got tired and the line went pfffttt.. So I dialed again and got the busy tone.

There goes the hotline that's not so hot after all...