PUZZLE MANSION: Gina Gil-Lacuna Now Doing the World Biggest Puzzle

PUZZLE MANSION: Gina Gil-Lacuna Now Doing the World Biggest Puzzle 

Our kababayan Gina Gil-Lacuna, 61 years old, a retired businesswoman, a good mother, a good wife, a high school graduate, a traveler, a passionate puzzle queen and puzzle collector. She is the record holder of the largest collection of Jigsaw puzzle in the world numbering to 1,028 puzzles in the Guinness book of World Records. 

The size of her collection eclipsed the old record held by Brazil’s Luiza Figueiredo, who reigned for two years. Gina Gil- Lacuna surpassed the record previously held by the Brazilian woman five fold. Ms. Gina Gil-Lacuna was officially certified by Guinness World Records Adjudicator Seyda Subasi Gemici of Turkey last November 29, 2012. She houses her collections at her Puzzle Mansion in Tagaytay City. 

The picture above is Keith Haring Double Retrospect set, believed to be the biggest in existence today and guess what? This is an upcoming addition to Gina Gil-Lacuna's collection. 

Gina Gil-Lacuna is currently doing this giant jigsaw puzzle, which is almost 32,000-piece puzzle measuring 17 feet tall and 6 feet wide. It features a retrospective with 32 individual, brightly-colored images of Keith Haring's artwork. It is labeled as the world's biggest jigsaw puzzle. It got a staggering 32,256 pieces, weighs 42 pounds and comes in at 17′ x 6′ when assembled!  Gina Gil-Lacuna shared to us that she allots three to four hours each day to work on her puzzle.  Gina Gil-Lacuna was very keen to finish this giant puzzle by July 31, 2013 because she wants to enter this puzzle to the Guinness Book of World Record. 

Lacuna had six (6) sheets of 4 X 8 plywood and a stand ready since piecing together this huge jigsaw puzzle will be a painstaking work. It consists of just six colors plus black and white, adding to the already incredible challenge.

The 32,000 pieces build into a retrospective of artwork by American artist Keith Haring (1958-1990). Each of the 32 different images shows one of Haring's quirky illustrations, inspired by the cartooning skills he learnt from his father. Haring, believe that art should be available to everyone, and many of his works were created for charities, hospitals, children's day care centers and orphanages.  

Gina Gil-Lacuna started doing puzzles 27 years ago which she bought in Hong Kong. Lacuna solved the 5000-piece Disney set for her son, Gino, then 2 yrs. old. “Doing puzzles is not easy, that’s why I don’t get any help!”quips Gina Gil-Lacuna.

All of Gina Gil-Lacuna's on-going and completed puzzles are housed at the Puzzle Mansion in Tagaytay. 

Her puzzle collection ranges from mural-sized classic paintings and custom-made photos to toy-like wooden figures and miniature replicas of cities.

Mrs.Gina Gil-Lacuna is confident that she will retain the Guinness book of World Records title because she still have around 700 puzzles still in boxes yet to be put together to be added to her collection. 

She encourages other puzzle enthusiasts, young and old to join the said hobby either for home decorative purposes, brain exercise or for family bonding for everyone to enjoy.

Her puzzle pieces are vast and varied from ordinary flat puzzle pieces to globe puzzle 2D to 3D. And from puzzle converted personal photos to naked wooden puzzle pieces, you name it she got it.

Guests must learn to maneuver the Puzzle Mansion steep slope both in entering and going out of the Puzzle Mansion premises. They have a fun sticker with a slogan: "I have survived the Puzzle Mansion slope".

There are food stalls where one can buy mostly Filipino fare and newly harvested fruits and vegetables, kebab, pasalubong items like shirts, caps, puzzle, oil and coconut cream pie for the Puzzle Mansion guests who came to view her puzzle collections. She'll be opening a restaurant inside the Puzzle Mansion premises soon.

Puzzle Mansion 

Cuadra Street, Brgy Asisan Tagaytay City 4120

(02) 425 5195

25 Ways to Wear a Scarf in 4.5 Minutes

25 Ways to Wear a Scarf in 4.5 Minutes

I love wearing scarf since time immemorial. I even use girl_greenscarf as my twitter handle. I collect various scarves in different shapes and colors. Collecting scarf can put a hole in your pocket but it will give you so much happiness and satisfaction. It is great to know that you can own only a pair or two and wear them in 25 different ways. Imagine my happiness when I chance upon this video on Facebook. So let us all watch & learn.



This video belong to its rightful owner. I don't own this video.

UNIQLO: Opening in Late April in the Heart of Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

UNIQLO: Opening in Late April in the Heart of Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

                            

Good News to UNIQLO fans worldwide! Uniqlo's Newest Global Flagship Store Steps Foot in Hong Kong and will be opening in Late April in the Heart of Causeway Bay.
UNIQLO announced last March 3, 2013 that its newest global flagship store, the UNIQLO Lee Theatre Store, is set to open its doors to stylish and discerning Hong Kong shoppers on 26 April 2013. Imagine, this impressive new store will span three floors and boast over 37500 square ft. of shopping space in the Lee Theatre, located in the centre of Causeway Bay’s fashionable shopping district. I bet the girl in a greenscarf all over will be so thriled!

UNIQLO first launched in Hong Kong in September 2005 and currently operates sixteen stores in the city. The brand enjoys a particularly strong presence in the local market thanks to consumers’ strong enthusiasm for UNIQLO’s exceptional quality at competitive prices. Situated in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong’s most esteemed fashion district, UNIQLO’s new global flagship store will showcase the latest and greatest from the brand’s basic wear culture. Shoppers will be able to experience a distinct and satisfying shopping journey at this impressive UNIQLO location.

As a brand, UNIQLO is dedicated to designing functional clothing that comes in a wide variety of selections, all of which feature exceptional quality and fresh styles. The Lee Theatre Store will serve as a giant leap forward for the brand in the region and will certainly benefit its continuous global growth.

Hong Kong Global Flagship Store Summary

Store Name: UNIQLO Lee Theatre Store

Opening Date: 26 April 2013

Address: G/F, B1 and B2, Lee Theatre,

No. 99 Percival Street, Causeway Bay

Floor Size: 2,534 sqm spread over three floors

About UNIQLO and Fast Retailing

UNIQLO is a brand of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., a leading global Japanese retail holding company that designs, manufactures and sells clothing under seven main brands: Comptoir des Cotonniers, g.u., Helmut Lang, J Brand, Princesse tam..tam, Theory, and UNIQLO. With global sales of approximately 928 billion yen for the 2012 fiscal year ending August 31, 2012, Fast Retailing is currently the world’s fourth largest apparel retail company, and UNIQLO is Japan’s leading specialty retailer.

UNIQLO continues to open large-scale stores in some of the world's most important cities and locations, as part of its ongoing efforts to solidify its status as a truly global brand.Today the company has a total of more than 1,200 stores in 13 markets worldwide including Japan: China, South Korea, U.S., Hong Kong, U.K., France, Singapore, Russia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. UNIQLO operates an integrated business model under which it designs, manufactures, markets and sells high-quality, casual apparel. The company believes that truly great clothes should be supremely comfortable, feature universal designs, are of high quality and offer a superb fit to everyone who wears them.

With a corporate statement committed to changing clothes, changing conventional wisdom and change the world, Fast Retailing is dedicated to creating great clothing with new and unique value to enrich the lives of people everywhere. For more information about UNIQLO and Fast Retailing, please visit www.uniqlo.com and www.fastretailing.com

PHILREALTY: Inks Deal with Greenhills Properties To Build Global City Tower Complex

PHILREALTY: Inks Deal with Greenhills Properties To Build Global City Tower Complex

Philippine Realty and Holdings Corp. has inked a deal today, March 6, 2013, at Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City with principal shareholder Greenhills Properties Inc. (GPI) on a P5-billion three-tower mixed-use development in Bonifacio Global City. 

Present during the event are top officials of both companies who talked about their latest property development project, the Andrea North Sky Breeze – an exciting project located in a mixed business-lifestyle area that is currently experiencing a robust construction boom.  

Under a memorandum of agreement (MOA), Philrealty will develop the masterplan of GPI’s prime 6,400-square-meter property located near the future site of the Philippine Stock Exchange in BGC.  The new project will include the following:

•  retail
•  residential
•  office
•  serviced apartments 
•  and a hotel.

It can be recalled that Philrealty was one of the original members of the consortium that took over the privatized Fort Bonifacio. Today, during the signing ceremony Philrealty president Amador Bacani said that Philrealty seeks to raise its stake in BGC,

“This project will really show Philrealty’s renewed capability as a property developer known for building landmarks.  The location is strategic and the timing is perfect for Philrealty to put its mark on BGC,” Bacani said. 

“We look forward to this value-enhancing project and share in Philrealty’s vision of building a new landmark in BGC,” GPI chair Gerardo Lanuza Jr. said. 

The project will rise on an entire block connecting 5th and 6th Avenues as well as 25th and 24th Streets.  The P5-billion estimated project cost for this mixed-use includes the cost of land, Bacani said. 

The project would comprise three towers connected by a podium structure which would house the retail shops.  The said shops would cater to the community in the mixed-use development. 

The retail development will be followed by either an office or residential tower, Lanuza said.  He added that the upscale residential tower was envisioned to be a very exclusive, low-density development similar to the high-end La Isla project in Ortigas. 

“There will only be a maximum of four units per floor,” Lanuza III said, estimating a cut of at least 250 square meters per unit. 

La Isla, likewise a collaboration between Philrealty and GPI, was built at around the same time that the property developer put up the Alexandra residential clusters and the PSE Tektite Center in the area. 

Target completion of this project would be within the next five to six years. The group will appoint a master planner in the next three to six months, after a definitive joint venture shall have been signed, Bacani said. 

As to the funding of this project, Bacani said Philrealty would see free cash from the sale of residential units in the 31-storey Skybreeze.  At the same time, he hoped to liquefy soon the group's provincial properties.

Skybreeze tower will be offering  (two hundred eighty) 280 units from which Philrealty expects sales to reach nearly P3 billion.  This is the second of the five planned towers in the Andrea North condominium complex in New Manila, Quezon City.

Philrealty is a publicly listed property developer (Ticker: RLT) and holding company known for major projects such as the Philippine Stock Exchange Center and the Alexandra mid-rise luxury condominiums in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. The company also invested in non-life insurance via Meridian Assurance. Philrealty’s majority shareholder is GPI.

GPI is a privately held investment company focused on real estate and private equity.

How To Make A Google Docs

How To Make A Google Docs

A lot of people and businesses, not only bloggers need to make a Google Docs to gather information, survey, or to ask other bloggers to input their url and other pertinent data. Google Docs- Google's document solutions for groups & businesses.

Create and share your work online and access your documents from anywhere. Managedocuments, spreadsheets, presentations, surveys, and more all in one.

I may not be an expert but I hope to share this new found technique to everyone. Enjoy!

Making a Google Docs is as easy as counting from one to eight, So here it goes:

1. First, go to gmail and sign in
2. Then go to https://drive.google.com
3. Click Create
4. Then click Form
5. Fill up all form
6. Then click send form
7. Get direct url and send to people for them to fill up
8. All data wil be saved in one spreadsheet via drive.google.com

Enjoy!

Antistax®: The secret to healthy legs

Antistax®: The secret to healthy legs

Just like some of you, I always thought that varicose veins is a cosmetic problem. When I was invited at the launching of Antistax® at Luzon Ballroom, Makati ShangriLa Hotel in Makati City I learned that varicose veins could also be a manifestation of a much deeper health problem like an early warning signs of a progressive vein disease called Chronic Venous Insufficiency. If left ignored, this condition can have a significant impact on the legs’ function, thereby, affecting one’s mobility. It is a good thing that Boehringer Ingelheim (Phil.) Inc. brings Antistax®, one of the world’s leading anti-varicose supplements, to the Philippines. Now, Filipinos and Filipinas have a natural way to prevent many of the commonplace leg problems as

Antistax®, the first and only anti-varicose supplement in the local market, is the perfect synergy of nature and science in leg health management. It is proven safe and effective in helping strengthen and protect women’s legs from the inside out. It also helps restore and regenerate women’s natural mobility by preventing leg vein problems such as pain, heaviness (ngalay), swelling, and varicose veins.

“We are very pleased to introduce Antistax® to Filipinas who, like many women all over the world, value their legs not only for their aesthetic appeal but also for their functional value. We know that healthy legs are important in order for them to live an active and quality life and we’re certain that Antistax can help them with that,” says Mely Guerrero, Group Brand Manager, Boehringer Ingelheim’s Consumer Healthcare Division.

This is a milestone for Filipinas who have been weighed down by these leg problems, unaware of the cause of their complaints. The complacency to address their leg issues stem from a clear misconception and lack of understanding about vein conditions. But Filipinas are not alone. In fact, a study conducted among 4,000 women from 4 different countries in Europe and Latin America reveals that nearly 25% of women experience leg pain. 16% did not consult anyone about their problem and another 14% spoke to friends and family rather than their doctor. Women’s leg issues are simply trivialized into an aesthetic rather than a functional concern because they are perceived to be not life-threatening.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is a condition where leg veins are already weak and damaged, preventing them from pumping blood back to the heart. Apart from leg pain and appearance of varicose veins, it manifests through symptoms like skin changes, itching and swelling. CVI is also more common among women than men. Other risk factors include heredity, age, weight, pregnancy and prolonged sitting/standing. These signs are compounded by a lifestyle that puts undue pressure on the legs.

The key to preventing varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency is to improve blood circulation in the leg area. Good thing there is Antistax® to provide leg vein protection. Dubbed as a leg vein specialist, Antistax® is made with natural red vine leaf extract, which is known to contain a unique ingredient called bio-active Flaven™. The red vine leaf extract is made from a special variety of grape leaves which are carefully harvested and processed to ensure that the bio-active Flaven™ content is the same for each tablet.

Bio-active Flaven™ is a potent combination of flavonoids which have been scientifically proven to improve blood circulation in the legs, thus preventing common leg vein problems of heavy, achy, tired and swollen legs. It acts by repairing and protecting the vein walls to fight against the damaging process of this vein disease.

Through Antistax®, women can now do this without resorting to costly and invasive procedures as injections or surgery. With just one tablet a day, women can now take the first step in caring for their legs’ health.

To celebrate the launch of Antistax® in the Philippines, Boehringer Ingelheim commissioned five Filipina photographers to showcase photos that capture gorgeous legs of women in various shapes, sizes, and situations. Titled Legs for Life, the exhibit aims for women to understand and appreciate that beautiful legs are legs that are healthy and capable of bringing delight to people with every stride.

With Antistax®, women will no longer have to worry about experiencing leg pains and problems, and instead continue being their active self and engage in life more with their healthy, beautiful legs.

Antistax® is a product of Boehringer Ingelheim (Philippines), Inc. and is available in all leading pharmacies and drugstores nationwide. No approved therapeutic claims.

How To Commute To Tagaytay

How To Commute To Tagaytay

Option #1 By BusThe following bus companies provide transport between Manila and Batangas, with Tagaytay CIty as a major stop. Please take note that these buses travel a slow route - Aguinaldo Highway, which traverses Bacoor, Imus, Dasmarinas, and Silang in Cavite. 

• Batman Star Express
• Golden Dragon (terminal – behind Sogo Hotel and McDonalds near MRT Taft Avenue)
• San Agustin
• Erjohn
• Kirby, Mindanao Express
• Lorna Buses (starting point Lawton, passing Taft Avenue, turning right at Quirino, and left to Roxas in Manila, proceeding to Coastal Road and Emilio Aguinaldo Highway.)

Kindly ask the bus conductor to let you off in Tagaytay Rotonda.

FROM CUBAO

There are buses going to Nasugbo in Batangas parked in front of Alimall, Cubao. There are Air-conditioned buses available. I still don't know the fare as of this writing because we usually bring our own car whenever we visit Tagaytay City.

FROM TAFT

You could also try the bus terminal at Taft station. If you are coming from MRT, take the exit at the left side. You will find Crow buses going to Olivarez/ Nasugbu at the back of Dunkin Donuts/ Chowking/ Sogo. It will pass Tagaytay City.

Travel time is approximately 3 hours. So that's a pretty long ride if you avail of public transportation.

Option #2 By Van

There are vans going to Tagaytay in Mandaluyong just in front of Jollibee in Starmall, Mandaluyong.

You could also ride a van located along a street before Metropoint mall along Edsa-Pasay Rotonda. The van is going to Batangas but it will pass by Tagaytay City via Sta. Rosa exit. This will shorten your travel time to just about 1 hour and a half. The route is through Southwoods exit then to Aguinaldo highway, Silang, Cavite. 

Option #3 By private vehicle

By private vehicle from Metro Manila: 

Go to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) from any of the following points:

Buendia Flyover (Gil Puyat Flyover)
Skyway: Gil Puyat Ramp
Skyway: Makati
Arnaiz Avenue / Pasay Road Intersection
Skyway: Don Bosco Magallanes
Skyway Entrance: Magallanes
Nichols Toll Barrier
C5
Merville
Skyway: Bicutan
Bicutan
Skyway: Dr. A. Santos (Sucat)
Sucat
Skyway: Alabang South Station
Alabang
Filinvest
Susana Heights

Note: If you choose to take the Skyway after the toll plaza, get off the ramp leading to the rest of SLEX below. Otherwise you will end up in Alabang-Zapote.

• Leave SLEX at the Greenfield City/ Eton City Exit (Malitlit Exit).
• Drive along the Greenfield Parkway, passing Eton City on the right and Pramana on the left. 
• Three kilometres from SLEX you will arrive at a fork in the road.
• Take the left road which is United Blvd. 
• Drive straight ahead for the next four kilometers. 
• At the intersection just past the Southern Luzon Hospital, drive straight ahead. 
• Turn right at San Bruno Drive passing Paseo de Sta Rosa. 
• Drive straight ahead until you reach the Tagaytay-Sta.Rosa Road where you turn left across from Rose and Grace Restaurant. 
• Drive along the Tagaytay-Sta. Rosa Road for the next seven kilometers passing Sta. Elena Subdivision, Brittany, Nuvali, and Crown Asia.
• Continue until the two-lane road passing through Silang, Cavite. Landmarks are Pasong Langka, Ponderosa, and Windsor Heights.
• Follow this road until you arrive at the Tagaytay Public Market just several meters from the Tagaytay-Calamba Road. 
• Turn left here -- you will be heading in the direction of the Picnic Grove. (Meanwhile, enjoy breathtaking views of Taal Lake and Taal Volcano on your right). 
• Turn left again on Kaykulot, a single lane road just past the entrance to the Picnic Grove. The Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center is 800 meters from this point

Travel time: About 1 1/2 hours from Manila
Toll fee: I still have to recheck before posting it here.

Enjoy Tagaytay!

COFFEE BEAN AND TEA LEAF: Open House

COFFEE BEAN AND TEA LEAF: Open House

I love Coffee and Donuts! That's why I love hanging out at various tea and coffee shops around the metro.

Drinking Coffee in moderation is not bad. Your coffee and tea actually contain a group of antioxidants called flavonoids.

And guess what? March is the time of the year that all Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf fans are waiting for! And I am happy to share this information to you my dear readers! No, I am not paid to post this information. I simply love to share free information. Tan tara raran.....announcing the
Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Open House! Yehey!

Take note of the date please. On March 17, 2013 from ten a.m. to eleven thirty a.m. you and I will get to enjoy a complimentary 12 oz. Passion Guava Fru-Tea or an 8 oz. Passion Guava Tea Latte absolutely Free!

Dear Readers, please read the small prints, may exemption po ha? Please take note of that,  baka magwala kayo sa galit ( ha ha ha! Joke.) pag doon kayo napunta sa branch na walang open house at ma disappoint po kayo. God bless you!

Smile po and Enjoy!