Why we took the "Big Leap?" - A Story About Freelancing

A lot may have heard stories about people working from home or freelancing nowadays. A few years back, "freelancing" was not really a "positive" thing. It referred to people who did not have a stable job and is just doing any form of "raket" with no structure, no standard pay rate to earn a living. 

Currently, freelancing is now considered a career option. With all the technological advancements and everything going digital. Online freelancing or online work became a big hit that it has inspired professionals and corporate employees take the "big leap." Freelancing took a bigger meaning as it now considered "Working in Freedom."

Freelancers have different reasons why they decided to take on this different career path. Some of which are the following: 

"The convenience of having your own personal freedom, daily expenses and significant cuts on overhead costs are some of the benefits I enjoy when I started working from home - all of these without sacrificing family relationships," says Angel Salamante, an Inside Sales Agent from Bulacan 

According to Jocelyn Medina-Ihalas, a Virtual Assistant and Mom of 3,

"I started working from home due to the flexibility of working hours without neglecting my role as a parent."

"To be more productive and happier in a way that I can do multitasking - doing household chores, working and spending more quality time with my family especially with my kids." added Mylin Soriano, Virtual Assistant - Quality Analyst, Mom of 2.

On the personal note, I choose to start working from home because I can no longer tolerate the stress, traffic, and pollution to commute to and from work everyday. I keep getting sick and had very frequent asthma attacks. However, despite my health condition, I had to do something and need to continue to become productive.

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How to start? Where to begin? Is this even real? These are the questions I had in mind when I started my own freelancing career. Honestly, it was not easy but I was fortunate to meet the right people to guide and inspire me on what to do. The WAHMderful Weekend organized by WAHM Manila has literally changed my life. It is because of them that I realized that having a mentor and a support group is very crucial.

Thus, it has been part of our advocacy under The Purple Secretary to promoting more earning opportunities by empowering individuals from places where there are limited jobs offered as well as to provide support to parents who are not able to work due to family obligations. One of our objectives is to help guide "newbies" in avoiding online scams or being duped by others who present networking as an online job.

Last January 21, The Purple Secretary co-presented by Dojo 8 Coliving Space held the "How to Start Your Home Based Career Seminar." The learning event focused on the basics of starting one's home based career including different work-at-home career options, tips on getting started and information on where and how to apply. We also discussed current trends, pay rates and challenges faced by online workers. 

It was a sold out event and we are very happy with the overwhelming turnout of participants. I realized that there are a lot of individuals in Bacolod who are interested to also take the "big leap." Hearing personal stories from the participants made me realize that this is more than just a learning event. It is about changing other people's lives, improving family relationships and building our own community of freelancers in Bacolod. 

This promising start would not be possible without the support of our sponsors, Nacho King - SM Bacolod, Lord Byron's Back Ribs Bacolod, Flip and Color, My Little Ikbi and Bacolod DIY Party Rentals and media partners When in Manila, Sigrid Says and Mea in Bacolod. 

To all the participants, sponsors and partners - let me take this opportunity to thank you again for supporting the event. #bacolodworkathome 

Is Your Vitamin C Safe?

The New Year gives us another chance at a fresh start. After the unhealthy lifestyle during the holidays, our immune system is just starting to recuperate and get back to normal. One sure way to speed up its recovery is to take optimum levels of Vitamin C.

But did you know, that when taking Vitamin C, we have to be careful of several factors such as the type and quality of Vitamin C because not all vitamin C are the same!

The most common type of Vitamin C is ascorbic acid. This type of vitamin C has been by far, the cheapest form of Vitamin C, but did you know that when taken at higher quantities, ascorbic acid is not exempted from harmful side effects. Diarrhea, Nausea, Stomach Cramps, Headache, Hyperacidity, Hot flushes and Heartburn are just some of the symptoms of taking too much ascorbic acid.

In the recent decade, Sodium Ascorbate has given the public the safest and most effective type of vitamin C. Bewell-C (Sodium Ascorbate) is a non-acidic Vitamin C supplement that is rapidly gaining popularity among the public as a high quality and effective brand. Bewell-C is the next generation vitamin C that provides all the benefits of vitamin C without the risk of hyperacidity.

Doctors recommend that we take 2 capsules per day of Bewell-C. Some people require a higher dose per day if they are experiencing the following:  

Flu:

People suffering from Flu virus are recommended to take 6 capsules of Bewell-C per day and 4 capsules while recovering from flu. Whereas, those who are suffering from colds and cough are recommended to take at least 6 capsules until they have recovered.

Research study also pointed out that most healthy adults get a cold two or three times a year and taking large doses of Vitamin C daily shortens the duration of colds.

Smokers and Alcohol Drinkers

Alcohol, Nicotine and other substance in cigarette causes cell damage and drains vitamins and nutrition from your body.

Smokers and those who often drink alcohol experience lower immune system and are susceptible to various diseases thus, they are required to take at least 4 capsules of Bewell-C to help maintain their health.  

Post-Surgery

People who underwent surgery are recommended to take high doses of Vitamin C as much as 6 capsules Bewell-C daily to hasten wound healing. Vitamin C is essential in the formation of new connective tissue in healing wound.

For those who need both Vitamin C and Calcium, Bewell-C plus calcium is also available in the market. Just like Bewell-C, this product also uses non-acidic vitamin C paired with organic calcium fortified with Vitamin D for stronger bones and teeth.

Bewell-C and Bewell-C Plus Calcium is available in all leading drugstores nationwide and on Lazada.com.ph Online Shopping: http://www.lazada.com.ph/bewell-nutraceuticals-corporation/ 

For more updates, follow their FB: https://www.facebook.com/bewellcsodiumascorbate

THANK YOU (From Someone Who Lost and Found The Christmas Spirit)

Christmas is my favorite time of the year - a time where people are happier, friendlier and more excited. My Christmas has always been magical. I look forward to the great food shared with my family during Noche Buena as well as get excited to wrap and open gifts. I grew up believing in Santa Claus that as early as November we start writing our letters. Christmas mornings had left me breathless as I get my Christmas wish. It was just so wonderful that I was even more excited for Christmas than my own birthday. 

However, life is not perfect. A lot of things happened. At the age of 10, my parents separated. At Age 15, I found out the truth about Santa Claus and at the Age 20, I started living on my own that most of the time I can't go home for Christmas because of work.

Despite everything, I had loved and cherished all my Christmas memories. As a young adult, I was trying so hard to bring back the Christmas joy. I decorated my little apartment by putting up a Christmas tree, dressed my dog in a Santa outfit and prepared the same food that my family usually prepares for Christmas. Unfortunately, it was not the same. 

Later on, Christmas felt more like a chore where we just look forward to 13th month pays and Christmas bonuses. The season's highlights were just about Christmas shopping, company parties, and the dreaded Christmas rush. It is the time of the year where we notice that there is no more Christmas air. December just started to get warmer. Perhaps, I had lost the Christmas Spirit. 

But 2016 is different. This year, I would like to thank my parents for giving me the best Christmas ever. After 22 years, I have finally celebrated Christmas again with my mom and dad. 

We took a break from work and was able to fly home for Christmas. 

We did not have many gifts. I did not write or wait for Santa Claus but I was complete. My parents are not back together and they still have their reasons for the separation but they have opted to spend Christmas because of me. So, Mama and Papa -Thank you for giving me the chance to have this treasured moment. Plus, a family picture that I could keep forever. 

I realized that Christmas is not about material things. It is about being with your loved ones, being nice to others and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. 

If you are just like me who has lost the Christmas spirit, don't lose hope. We all have the chance to find it again by searching for the true meaning of the season. Let us open ourselves to pleasant encounters, thoughtful deeds, and forgiveness. 

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

NOVUHAIR CELEBRATES HOLIDAY AROUND THE GLOBE

It’s officially a few more days before we celebrate Christmas and New year. Around the globe, most people are trying to look their best, new clothes, new gadgets, and new shoes, but can these makeup for looking best at what’s on top of our head, our hair!

Taking care of our mane should be on top of our list just as we go to spa to pamper our body, our hair needs pampering as well. Novuhair, Nature’s answer to hair loss has got you covered. 

As we bid adieu to 2016, throw away your difficulties on hair loss and scalp problems with Novuhair’s 19 natural ingredients. Made of herbal ingredients that include moringa oleifera, panax ginseng, virgin coconut oil and the natural essences of rosemary and peppermint, Novuhair nourishes the scalp and hair by increasing the flow of nutrients and improving blood circulation to the scalp. Novuhair also helps hydrate the scalp, maintain the hair’s natural luster and prevent early hair graying, hair dryness and itching.

The brand has helped thousands of satisfied users here in the Philippines, thus merits its fifth consecutive year of being awarded by Watson’s as the leading Medicated Hair Care Brand in the country.

Good news to our kababayans abroad and their friends, with the brand’s aim to help assuage hair problems across the globe, Novuhair products are available in Kuwait, distributed by Bee Organic Import & Export Establishment, Kuwait.  For orders, you may contact landlines +96524343885 and +96524343866 or mobile numbers +96550380380, +96565559935 and +96560755122.  Bee Organic’s showroom is located at Arabia Mall, First Floor Showroom # 15 Egaila Area, Kuwait.

Novuhair can also be purchased online through our service partner: www.regaloservice.com. Servicing USA, Canada, UAE , KSA and other Asian countries.

Locally, Novuhair Topical Scalp Lotion, Shampoo and Conditioner are available in all Mercury Drug Stores and other leading drug stores nationwide. 

For more information visit www.novuhair.com, like the brand’s official Facebook Page at Novuhair Official, and follow it on Twitter at @NovuhairNatural. You may also call the Novuhair hotlines at 4136570 and 09228830575 and order online at Lazada.