As previously mentioned that Aowa as charged by DTI was to “cease and desist business operations“and that if they are at the malls they have misrepresented themselves. After my scam experience we felt that these “thieves” must not be allowed to further scam people so that my daughter filed a formal complaint with the Mall management against Aowa. Mall management found her allegations deserving their attention so that today we were invited to a meeting with the Aowa and the Leasing department of the Mall.

They informed us that after review of the case they found the complaint meritorious and as they searched the internet, they found the charges on the net alarming and therefore immediately suspended Aowa operations at the mall. He was also emphatic that there should be full reversal of credit charges. This is the very reason why we do most of our shopping at this mall because they are so consumer oriented.

As we rest our case and learn from this experience we invite others who have been scammed, as called for by Assistant Secretary Angel L. Pelayo, to be vigilant. File your complains with mall management somehow they too will listen to you for they stand responsible to have leased mall space to Aowa. I may have lost 2 work days but it was worth it. There is just NO offer too good to be True!!!

Wednesday was a regular date night for my husband and me, and we had 3 agenda for the evening: 1. book a Family Room for a Christmas Socials, 2. have a light meal at the mall and 3. watch a movie we have kept tab on. We were able to book the room but did not have the meal nor watch the movie we were excited to see instead we were SCAMMED by Aowa. What was even worst was that we were preparing to cut up the credit cards after we have paid off the final balance. My story is the same with all the Aowa scammed stories all over the internet, these are but few of those sites:

• TipidPC.com(pls. scroll down a little)
  
• Super SawSaw
  
• Official Website of the Republic of the Philippines>Forum>Reklamo
• google search: aowa scam

I realized I was scammed when I searched the internet and found no International affiliation and then all the scam stories unfolded before me. I am truly grateful for the hundreds of people who decided not to keep quiet but make their voices heard by posting their complaints so that I too decided to have my voice heard. Also I am grateful to my daughter for doing her own research and found this very important piece of document in the archives of DTI:

DTI-NCR Slaps Formal Charge Against Aowa and Homesonic

(http://www.dtincr.ph/news.php?id=12)

In this Department Administrative Order No. 7, Series of 2006 (DAO 7, 2007),

“The formal charge asks for the issuance of a cease and desist order, ordering the two firms to permanently cease and desist from continuing in its business operations. An administrative fine will also be imposed for each count that these companies may be proven to have committed.“

So what actions did I take against this unscrupulous, illegally operating company.

• Called HSBC credit card division toll free number (180018888555) for the cancellation of the transaction and stop payment to this merchant. The problem is that I was not the card holder and my husband was on travel. It was after several hours that he was able to contact the Credit Card Division of HSBC. He was informed that the cancellation has been posted however the items needed to be returned and from scammed stories I knew that Aowa may not honor the cancellation.
• During my waiting time, I filed complaints to DTI Online and DTI-ncr (consumer complaints)
• I emailed and texted a relative connected with DTI and this was her firm admonition “do not transact business with Aowa, we have closed many of their outlets“, I guess her advise came a bit late.
• Armed with the DTI DAO 7, 2007, printed copies of all your scam complaints and the Aowa stuff they gave me I went to Makro because the items were from their showroom in Makro even if the transaction was completed in the Mall. What a Rigodon!!!
• Before talking with the manager I first went to Makro management, unfortunately all supervisors were on seminar and talked with the head security. Good enough I guess!!! I told him they were leasing their space to an illegally operating company as I showed him the DTI DAO. And I asked him to assist me in case Aowa-Makro will not honor my request for cancellation.
• Calmly, I entered the Aowa showroom and asked to meet with the manager. After presenting him with all documents he told me he was in no position to accept cancellations but rather I can fill up a feedback form. I told him ” I really do not care, if you will not accept them, then I am going to leave all these items at your front door and have a Makro guard sign the document that I have left them at their doorstep” and take pictures that indeed the items were there.
• Finally, he accepted the items and prepared documents for the cancellation of the transaction and they even wanted me to sign an affidavit that I was not going to file a complaint against them. But the finality of the cancellation will come from the head office and that payments were made only on Friday!!! What was dubious about this final step was that they did not even have a computer and a printer and had no intention of giving me a copy of the cancellation!!!
• NOTE: While I was transacting the cancellation they were busy polishing and waxing the items I returned some of which I have used!!!

As I was completing the cancellation, my daughter was at the mall, hopefully she will share her experience. And she has set up a meeting with Mall management-Aowa- and the two of us.

The questions that came to my mind was: first) Why DTI local branch offices did not execute the DAO charge against Aowa and has allowed this company to operate in malls and even have a seemingly “legitimate personality” because of their presence in established malls. Second) Have the Malls not been provided a copy of the directive against this company to “cease and desist operation“Third) Why are they allowed to transact business with credit card companies, since they no longer have a legal personality as per DAO charge.

What can we do to stop their operation:

Show Mall management the DAO 7, 2007 for this is an illegally operating company!!! and other documents particularly the scam stories or go to DTI. Study the ruling on this case as the link above is just a summary of the entire charge.

Join me in emailing HSBC and other credit companies for they are coddling an illegally existing company and every mall in the country where Aowa is operating with the link to the DTI directive. They may not listen to a single email but with hundreds of us emailing them then we definitely will be heard. Remember that this case is now for EXECUTION of the DTI order.

My children’s excessive computer gaming and tv watching has been a constant dilemma for me. The unfailing counsel to play less internet games and watch less “telenovelas’ have fallen on deaf ears. School grades have started to plummet and sometimes, they would not do their chores , and I was becoming a desperate Mom! On the other hand, I was gaining weight, a great contributor was my job as web researcher, and loosing the fight against belly fat. My blood pressure was rising and have actually been diagnosed as hypertensive.

Norman and I started having our morning walk, some 6 years ago. But my job, the children’s schedule and, recently, Norman’s constant travels have put a stop to our wonderful morning exercise together early in the semester. After much evaluation and scouting for the right equipment, We decided on Dance Dance Revo by Konami as my exercise regiment

I never realized what a blessing it would be for our family. Dance Revo has become a fun family activity on a regular basis. My children played with each other and how they love to compete. They watched less tv and played less computer games since they were dancing!!!. They also have wholesome exercise plus the opportunity to develop timing and rhythm. As for me, Dance Revo helps knock off the drowsiness and hopefully decrease my weight. An hour’s exercise is equivalent to 2.5 miles jog!!!. There are dance workouts for different levels of physical activity and the songs are so hip. I hope to graduate from my beginner status in the dance revo to the basic status. The higher the level of activity, the more calories burned as measured by the calorie counter. Dance Revo is one “techie” activity that we understand our children and have fun together.

Our Champions are Mickey and JJ with Marrise tailing behind them and down the line of achievers are Norman and myself - we do not even win against our 7 year old son, Joshua!!!. And mind you, he is so thrilled - here is a game he can beat us by a wide wide margin!!!. So he practices incessantly

There is an increasing demand for area rugs as floor coverings for hardwood flooring. This floor accent are so varied in designs, shapes and colors that will satisfy every homemaker’s need. There are several types of rugs:

• Wool rugs: The best quality floor covering are popular for their versatility, quality and are long lasting. Each rug, different from the other. Wool rugs or sheepskin rug is the better alternative to nylon, olefin or other synthetic carpet which give off toxic chemicals. Wool rugs are safe, healthy and non-toxic.
• Silk rugs: True silk rugs are made from the pupal covering of Asian or mulberry moth or bombyx mori. Silk is used to make Oriental rugs because dyed silk is a fiber with rich, saturated colors, and a distinctive, almost translucent luster. Unscrupulous merchants pass off artificial rug as silk rugs, true silk rug is warm when rubbed while artificial silk rug remains cool.
• Mercerized cotton: Mercerization is a treatment for cotton fabric and thread that gives fabric a lustrous appearance. The process is applied to materials like cotton or hemp as defined in Wikipedia.
• Rayon like mercerized cotton is cellulose, chemically treated to produce viscose, later versions of artificial fiber are acetate, nylon, acrylic and polyester.

The least expensive rugs are the machine made rayons while at the other end of the scale are the more expensive Hand Knotted rugs. These rugs are usually made in China, India, Turkey, Pakistan and Iran. These rugs are made from wool, silk, camel or goats’ hair because of their strength and better quality hand knotted rugs are those that have higher knot count per inch square.

What is a Persian Rug? Rug weaving in Persia or Iran dates back to biblical times as evidenced by the archaeolgical discovery of Pazyryk carpet found in the ices of Pazyryk Valley, in Altai Mountains in Siberia. Persian carpets were so popular that it was found in the great hall of many ancient Palaces. Today, Persian rugs may mean oriental rugs with tradional designs.

The changing climate patterns have resulted in such extremes in weather conditions as excessive rainfall in some places and drought or heat wave in others never before experienced. And such has affected the lives of thousands and thousands of people from Africa to Asia and to the Americas and Europe. Many have lost their lives or their loved ones, others their homes, important possessions and many more. Our Church leaders have continually admonished us to prepare for such adversity:

“Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to “prepare every needful thing” (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we can care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops as they care for others.

“We encourage members world-wide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings. The First Presidency, All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, Feb. 2007, 1

Noah built the ark in fine weather and Joseph, Ruler of Egypt, built the storehouses in times of plenty . It will be wise for us to follow the admonition of our prophet and leaders to build our own storehouses depending upon our capacities.

72 hour kit or 3 day emergency supply. Basic items includes food that needs no cooking nor refrigeration and water supply. Additional items as family finds necessary can be included:

• personal hygiene and sanitation
• change of clothes
• flashlight
• sleeping bags
• Identification for young children
• footwear
  
• money in small changes
• medicines
  
• Rationale: If there is a necessity for us to flee our homes in times of fire/floods or other calamities, we can survive before help arrives.

Pack all items in a carry-all bag, to be located in an accessible part of the house close to the exit of the house.

A year ago, we started to assemble emergency kits for each member of the family and placed them on top of our book shelf. A few months later and on a regular check up of our emergency kits I discovered the biscuits and candies gone and some of the canned goods. It became an easy target for the kids in their constant foray for food!!!. And one of my sons even said ‘you should thank us because we discovered that the biscuits have gone rancid‘. We found that a better option for emergency kits is the survival kits on the market. These kits are compact with all the basic items you need in an emergency and shelf life for as long as 5 years!!.

My Mom gave me her priced diamond earrings after my graduation in the University. It was beautiful and one she wore only on special occasions. I remember the glow of her face and her beautiful smile as she wore her jewels. I do not know if it was because of the diamonds or because of the event she was to attend!! As I faced many challenges in raising my family, I turn to her for comfort and wisdom even if she is long gone. I try to recall how she faced the different trials of her life and from this I learn to face my own difficulties.

Now that I have four beautiful daughters, i would like to pass on to them something that will make them smile and remind them of their own Mom. At Classic Jewelry you have a wide variety of choices from diamond pendants to bracelets, stud earrings and rings. Today, jewelry designs are more chic and classy. Take a look at their line up of jewels in the comfort of your own homes. Here’s one I really like, three stone rings. They are breathtakingly beautiful!!

The present economic climate is so volatile that public trust in financial institutions is waning. Jewelry can be a valuable asset for us and for our children in the future. Value of fine jewelry will continue to rise over time so that investment in such is a wise decision.

As we meet for Pre-school Convention in April or May each year, there is the constant question . . .Who’s going to be moved this year ? We have been through a total of 5 moves to 5 different cities in the country on account of Norman’s job plus the 18 houses we rented in these places. It is as if we are always on a grand vacation. Our transfers includes Ozamis City in Misamis Occidental for six year then back to Zamboanga City. From Zamboanga we were sent to Manila for a year. From Manila we flew to Cagayan de Oro in Misamis Oriental for another six years and now we are in the beautiful city of Davao.

A constant nightmare for us is the safety by which our items would arrive in the area. Refrigerators, ovens and computers are sensitive to movement while furnitures can be damaged by mishandling. A dependable moving company is very important to make the relocation more successful and hassle free. At movers dot com you get multiple quotation from different Moving Companies. The primary consideration for accreditation is safety. You can also choose from the wide variety of services they provide including moving boxes!. Plus the International Movers which can help you in your overseas relocation needs.

Moving is both emotionally and physically stressful. When my children were very young, our transfers was an adventure for them so that they were thrilled by the prospect of a new place, new house, new friends and neighbors and new school! . But as they grew older they became attached to their friends that the transfers became more difficult.

The Relief Society members of Matina Ward gathered together for the First Cooking Festival sponsored by the Team KaToque of Matina RS. We were grouped into 6 different teams with the objective to cook an inexpensive “baon”.

Group I:

New York, New York (shared by Sis. Apao)

You will Need:

Loaf Bread, jumbo size
Sandwich spread
Graham Crushed
Cheezee cheese
Eggs
Spiced Ham (Purefoods)

Here’s How:: Remove bread ends. Flatten the bread slices with a rolling pin. Spread sandwich spread and layer with cheese, ham and eggs on each slice of bread . Roll the bread slice as in cake roll. Coat each bread roll with graham crumbs. This is also great for a Family Home Evening snacks.

KABOY

You will need:

1 kl Kamote, boiled & mashed
Little sugar
1/2 kl langka
1 c condensed milk
Lumpia wrapper
Oil
Peanuts

Here’s How: Mix all Ingredients. Wrap 1 1/2 tsp. of filling on a lumpia wrapper then fry.

MELONADE

You will need:

1 pc melon (small, 300g)
1 can pineapple juice
3/4 c white sugar
1 T calamansi juice
2 c Water

Here’s How: Combine all ingredients. Stir. Serve with ice

Group 2

Sauteed Pechay with Eggs

You will need:

1 kl Pechay
1/4 kl Ground pork
4 pcs Tomatoes, diced
1 pc Onion, diced
4 clvs Garlic, crushed
1/2 pc Beef cube
1 cup water
4 pcs eggs
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:

• slice off pechay roots. Wash thoroughly then slice crosswise.
• Saute the ground pork in garlic, onions and tomatoes until well cooked
• Season with salt and pepper
• Add water and beef cubes. Correct the seasonings according to taste.
• Add pechay and mix well.
• While the pechay is cooking, scramble the eggs in a bowl.
• When the pechay is partly cook, make a well in the middle and pour the eggs
• Let cook for 2 - 3 more minutes and mix well.
• Transfer to a large platter and serve while hot.

Divina is the big sister par excellent!!! of my two older daughters Val and Mickey. She was one of my daughters’ many piano teachers, a friend and best friend. Talking to her is so comforting . Despite her academic success as a College Professor she took the time to teach piano to young boys and girls, tutor different subjects and still be the primary President of the Ward. She married a great guy (Joseph G.) who was my boys Young Men President. They are now in Bacolod and have two fantastic kids.

One Mom told me, “I couldn’t imagine how Divina earns teaching piano to our kids”. She said, after piano lessons, she takes them out for a burger and drink. She must be spending more than what we pay her!!!. That is Divina. She was the choir pianist in the Cagayan Stake Choir, a really talented musician and now the best Mom.

Justine was four years old when I baked a pirate ship for his birthday. It had chocolate coins for the pirates treasure and candy rings as window holes. He is now 18 but still remember that first “special cake”. Looking back, it was not as beautiful as the more commercial birthday cakes, but it had stood out in the memory of my once little boy.

My cooking has progressed through the years and have learned one very important lesson and that is to use quality made products. How frustrating is it for your kitchen appliance to breakdown in the middle of a baking or a cooking session!!!. Good buys does not necessarily mean cheap. Good purchases are those that are long lasting, easy to maintain and with extended warranty. Product review and forums available on the internet has also helped me make a better decision. And more recently I came across ShopWiki on the net.

At Shopwiki you are able to browse not only the sponsors of the site but all e-stores. So that it is easy to compare product prices, shipping costs, review closely both positive and negative comments about the item. It also includes a detailed Buying Guide of the item (ie. Dishwashers or Ranges..) I think this is good, you can take your time in reviewing the product and if available make a store visit if one is close by. Brand by brand you can make an intelligent decision in the comfort of your home and be able to buy the item you really need.

For cooking aficionados, like me, the kitchen section is my favorite site as I am always on the look out for something new. This section definitely has them from appliances to camping kitchenware to dinnerware and even soy milk makers!!!You definitely will enjoy your visit.