ASH International Language Tutorial Center

What: ASH International Language Tutorial Center is offering high quality language courses in Chinese, English, French and Japanese for only PhP1,999. The duration of each language course is 40 hours. The regular price for this is PhP6,000.

Who are the teachers: At ASH, we boast of our language teachers who are native speakers of the languages that they teach. We can guarantee that you'll never complete a 40-hour language course without getting the maximum learning that you can get from a native language speaker who teaches the language that you want to learn.

Who are our students: Our students are mostly composed of students and young professionals who want to achieve mastery of the language programs they are enrolled to for school, work or hobby.

Where: ASH has 2 branches. One is in Greenhills. The other one is in Makati.

Greenhills - Unit 1405 Atlanta Center, Annapolis St., Greenhills San Juan
Makati - Rm. 904 Rufino Tower, Ayala Avenue, Makati City

When: You can enroll anytime and we'll let you choose your preferred schedule. To know more about the schedule of classes, please see the contact information below.

How to contact: You may contact us via 945-7595 from 10am to 7pm, Mondays to Fridays. You may also send us a message via our Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/ASH.INTERNATIONAL or email at ash_ilc@yahoo.com.

Cha-Ching: More Than Just A Cartoon Program

My earliest experience in handling money started when I was in high school. I lived in Manila away from my parents to stay in my grandparents’ house. That’s when I started to realize how I love my freedom and independence so much, even as a young child. As much as there are enjoyments, there are also responsibilities and one of them is handling my own finances.

I am thankful to the Lord for giving me hardworking and responsible parents. I couldn’t remember a time that I was in lack. I believe that the first experience of every child in handling their own finances start when they discover how their parents or elders handle their own. The way the latter handle money provides a kind of blueprint to the children until the time that they’ll do it on their own. My knowledge of my parents being hard workers and responsible managers of money became some sort of an invisible guide that became my source of help whenever I need to make financial decisions.

Though I don’t consider myself a real spendthrift, I wasn’t also a saver. This, I believe, is what’s brilliant about Cha-Ching. It laid out everything that happens to money, which can be understood by an ordinary child. Earn. Save. Spend. Donate. When I was a child, I only know about receiving and spending. I didn’t know that saving must be in between that. I didn’t know that I can actually set a goal and stick to it so that I’ll be able to have extra cash whenever I need it. I also didn’t realize that even as a child, I can earn too and contribute to my disposable income. Also, I didn’t realize that I can reduce my spending so that I will have more savings. All of these concepts are explained wonderfully through Cha-Ching. What’s more beautiful about the program is that it encourages the children to think about others. One’s money doesn’t just go to one’s self. This is why “Donate” is also part of the four things that happen to money.

Honestly, I can definitely relate to all the characters in Cha-Ching. I have become a meticulous money manager like Prudence. I have become careless spender like Bobby. I am now a young entrepreneur like Justin. I know the value of giving too like Charity. I have experienced working hard and saving a lot like Zul. I have become a spendthrift too like Pepper. But in my life right now, I think that I am more of Prudence, Zul and Charity by choice. I chose to become a combination of a meticulous money manager like Prudence, young entrepreneur like Justin and generous Charity. I actually have a special spot for Prudence inside me. I used to keep an Excel file in my computer that helps me allocate my income for all the expenses that I have so when payday comes, I already know what to do. I love the detailed work of allocating and computing and saving that Prudence teaches kids to do.

5 Admirable Things About Pru Life UK's New Campaign

1. The insurance company who listens.

When I saw Pru Life UK’s new video on YouTube as well as its brand credo, I was caught by the company’s consistency and commitment to “listening” to their customers. Hearing it straight from the agents shown in the video, it is very apparent that the company is striving not to become a run-of-the-mill insurance company. They want to become the "insurance company who listens". In the video, one of the agents said something like “We don’t just talk about insurance. We want to become a source of hope.” These words stayed with me for a little while.

Being a marketer who advocates “listening” in this day and age where nearly everyone wanted to become the best and the loudest “talker”, my admiration goes to Pru Life UK. They are very consistent and committed to their own brand credo that goes “Always Listening. Always Understanding.” In that aspect, they had become a good communicator. And good communication is very important in any business, especially for them, who need to understand perfectly the needs and wants of their customers.

Because of this campaign, I was able to understand Pru Life UK more. In my mind, they have taken the spot of the “insurance company who listens”. If they stay consistent and committed to their brand credo, they'll draw people to themselves - for a quick chat.

2. Smart move to use social media.

Being a company who listens, using social media, the “media of the people”, is a very very smart move for Pru Life UK. Social media, as I see it, is a "listening" medium, more than an advertising medium. It’s different from all other communication channels such as TV, radio and print, which are all focused on talking about brands. In social media, you can’t just do that. In social media, you must learn how to listen or understand what the people in social media want. And if you were able to produce a message that they like, prepare for stardom. If they don’t, you have successfully wasted your advertising budget.

Life is like that in social media. Why? Because it’s about the people, not your brand. But when you learn how to listen and find out what people want, you’ll be greatly rewarded. It all boils down to good listening and understanding of your consumers.

For a brand that wants to take the positioning of the “insurance company who listens”, I highly recommend to materialize this brand credo over the “media of the people”. Pru Life UK’s bold attempt to do their campaign in social media, I believe, is strategically aligned to the very DNA of their brand.

3. Short video that focuses on the emotions.

Pru Life UK is an insurance company. Imagine if they focused on explaining their products and services in their videos and websites. Clearly, the company knows that no one will be interested to hear about their products and services and how these things work, no matter how good and beneficial these things are. It will be very boring. Thus, they focused on the benefits.

In the 33-second video of Pru Life UK, they focused on dreams, aspirations and feelings. The video made me feel good and made me want to know more about the company, which is why I searched for them over the Internet, which then led me to their good-looking website.

When an ad leads a person to be curious about a company that the latter searched for the company over the Internet, the ad did its job.

Watch the new video of Pru Life UK here and see for yourself.

4. Simple campaign page filled with eye-catching memes.

The key to creating good websites is simplicity. Yes, I know. You want to say a lot of things about your company and how good it is. But remember, you must be able to make your visitors care about it first.

When I saw the new campaign page created for Pru Life UK named “Life’s Little Secrets”, I saw colors and pictures and inspiring messages. It made me want to click them. And when I did, it allowed me to share them with my friends.

Again, the “insurance company who listens”. To think, these memes and quotable quotes are not directly about Pru Life UK’s products and services. But it’s about their customers and what they stand for. Their customers are dreamers. People who want to achieve things. People who, in way or another, need the help of insurance companies like Pru Life UK.

Life’s Little Secrets website may not be directly talking about Pru Life UK’s products and services, but in my mind, it is the kind of company that wants to do more than just that. It’s a step further towards winning the hearts of the people who want to win.

To check out their new campaign page, please click here.

5. The insurance company with a heart.

Insurance agents who have built strong relationships with their clients, a brand credo that speaks of the importance of listening, and a campaign strategy that is consistent with the brand’s positioning. As a marketer, I can’t help but admire Pru Life UK. Being a dreamer and a potential client myself, I appreciated the company all the more.

Because of the five things enumerated above, I have come to understood Pru Life UK more, from both standpoints of a marketer and a potential client. A lot of companies should learn from Pru Life UK.

A Special Day

I spent almost half of my previous year in China learning how to speak Mandarin Chinese. I was one of the scholars of a foundation in the Philippines chosen to undergo a five-month training to learn about the language, culture and history of China. Every day, I will walk for more than twenty minutes from my dormitory to the teaching building in Fudan University. It was a long walk but I have no complaints as long as I get to eat my favorite Chinese bun every morning. After classes, I’ll have lunch with my classmates and then go back straight to the dormitory for my homework. During weekends, we’ll go to the church and then visit the must-see places in Shanghai. During my first few months, this has become my routine. It’s almost exactly the same every single day- until one day.

“Why don’t we organize a Filipino event?,” one of my fellow Filipino scholars suggested during a lunch time. “We are thirty-seven here. It is possible. We have artists, dancers and singers among us. I’m sure we can come up with something special to introduce the Philippines to everyone.”

Few months earlier than that, my classmates witnessed a presentation from the students from Mexico inside one of the buildings. Aside from some pictures, my roommate took home with him an overly sized hat that the Mexicans used as a prop during a dance. A few months passed, the Swedish had their turn. This time, they taught the crowd a dance for couples that the Swedish perform during festivities. It was a wonderful opportunity to experience the culture of other nations through those presentations. The amount of efforts they exerted fueled our passion to create our own "special day" for all of them.

A few weeks later, the Filipino Day was born.

A Date With God

This is the most "anti-religious" blog post I have ever written.

If you consider yourself anti-religious, I thank God that you have stumbled upon this place. I am an anti-religious too. A couple of months ago, I decided to drop religion and pursue a relationship with God. I believe in God and I know that He doesn't need my religious rituals and repetitive prayers. What He wants is my heart and after everything that happened in my life, I decided to give it to Him. From that day on, my life changed forever.

Don't get me wrong. I belong to a church because I also believe in building relationships with other people. I do not want to believe in a kind of god that doesn't want me to care for other people. This is why I believe in Jesus.

But I don't consider this a religion. Early Christians didn't. They even used to gather in their own houses and serve each other willingly and without compulsion. This, for me, is relationship. Relationship is not about obligation. Religion is.

In my pursuit of having a relationship with God, I believe He had led me to the people who had helped me a lot and also to some verses in the Bible that gave me a glimpse of His own heart. I hope that you will also give yourself a chance to experience what I have experienced. If you will only allow God, I believe He will lead you too to whichever will be able to help you.

Below are some of the things that some people do with God. These are not enumerated to be done as a ritual. The key is not in the act itself but it in your heart's desire to be in His presence. The key is in practising His presence. Then let everything flow from there.

I hope this list will be able to give you an idea in your mind on what you can do. Again, the key is in practising His presence. It's the beginning of everything.

1. Think of Him in the morning.

A lot of revelations are given to me by God during my dreams and whenever I wake up. Sometimes, I receive verses from the Bible and one time, there had been an instruction for me to check a particular verse. When I found it, it happened to be a very relevant verse that I needed to read during that time. When you wake up in the morning, practise His presence and He will lead you to many wonderful revelations that will amaze you.

The only reason why you should enroll to the E-Commerce Entrepreneur Program of DigitalFilipino.com

Something wonderful happened. While I was creating a promotional blog for the E-Commerce Entrepreneur Program being offered by DigitalFilipino.com, I decided that I will not be using the usual style that I use whenever I blog.

I work best in creating a list of ideas that I want to share about a particular topic and then expound on each idea. I was supposed to create a list of reasons why one should enroll to the E-Commerce Entrepreneur Program. But while I was writing it, I felt different. I paused, stopped typing, procrastinated a bit, took a quick walk away from my working area, went back, thought for a while and then began to type again.

I decided that I will only be focusing on the single most important reason why one should enroll on DigitalFilipino.com’s E-Commerce Entrepreneur Program.

This time, I shall be typing this blog post from the heart.

I had been working with Ms. Janette Toral since August of this year and words can’t fully describe how thankful I am for two things – freedom and experience. Freedom doesn’t only pertain to seeing myself working inside any café at any time of the day (though that is very very feasible for my case), the job also gave me the freedom to pursue what I wanted to do – from reading the novel that I want, to doing my tasks in my local church every Tuesday and to browsing any website that I admire. Sadly, a regular daytime job doesn’t allow things like these. What’s sadder is that most employers still see these side activities as “distractions”. And I completely disagree.

Without reading the novels that I want to read, I don’t know how will I able to make the most creative copies that I needed to create to attract as many Likers that I need for a particular post. Without attending my local church, I don’t know where I will get additional strength that I need. Without visiting the websites that I admire, I don’t know how else I will appreciate the very importance of user experience whenever we create websites.



These aren’t distractions at all and it’s sad that some employers still box their employees and impose too many rules that actually hurt the creativity of their people. I can never count the times I said “God, thank you.” every time I see employees lining up in trains after a tiring day at work. I’m already out of the rat race. If only they knew that there are more opportunities today than there were five, six years ago.

Second is experience. This is my collective word for new knowledge, opportunities and skills. Where else was I able to learn to appreciate digital marketing in the light of the many fields that need it such as music, photography, real estate and others? Where else was I able to get the chance to talk to a huge crowd at no less than the SMX Convention Center? Where else was I able to learn how to tweak WordPress, a blogging platform that I avoid at all cost because of my ongoing love affair with Blogspot? All of these things happened to me because I chose to be a startup entrepreneur.

Mediactiv8, the startup social media marketing agency that I am currently building is the very offshoot of the program I underwent under the mentorship of Ms. Janette Toral and it is the same “person” that she hired during the time when my dream to “do it on my own” is running wilder than ever in my veins.

Why do I need to tell you these things?

Friends, the future is in E-Commerce Entrepreneurship. Tony Gaskins Jr. said, “If you don’t build your own dream someone else will hire you to help build theirs.” If you want turn your dream into reality, you have to start somewhere and I believe that startups aren’t called “startups” just because. I believe they are once dreams. Dreams that were once fleeting above the heavens, persistently chased by a dreamer who never stopped believing that it will come true, caught by the dreamer’s net and then brought down to earth.

Do you have a dream business? Do you believe that one day, you will also stop running in the rat race? Your time has finally come.

DigitalFilipino.com’s E-Commerce Entrepreneur Program is not just a course in digital marketing. It is a movement, an advocacy. DigitalFilipino.com had been in the business of encouraging the growth of e-commerce entrepreneurship in the Philippines and abroad since the year 1997. Think about what you were doing back in 1997. In my case, I was still in Grade 2, and I will never be able to touch a personal computer yet until I reach Grade 5. But back in 1997, there is already someone who believed that e-commerce will grow in the country and will provide more opportunities for Filipinos.

Today, e-commerce had truly arrived. You will see it in the many online businesses here and there as well as the many startups being built that are anchored on e-commerce. If you desire to build one, I hope that you consider getting help from us, from DigitalFilipino.com, and you will be assured that you will be supported until your e-commerce objectives and bottom lines are attained.

Why you should enroll to the E-Commerce Entrepreneur Program of DigitalFilipino.com?

It's because of your dream. And as your fellow dreamers, we want to accompany you in your journey.

Shall you have questions, please feel free to contact me anytime via 0917-838-7545 or via markjosephdelgado@ymail.com. You may also know more about the program by visiting http://certified.digitalfilipino.com/.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. The program is already ongoing, can I still join?

Yes, anyone can join this program whenever they are ready.

2. Are the videos of the learning sessions being uploaded?

Yes, all the videos are to be uploaded on the learning platform.

3. Will there be consultation sessions?

Yes, consultation sessions with Ms. Janette Toral is to be held every Monday, 7 to 8pm along with the weekly webinars.

4. Will be able to join the E-Commerce Creators Boot Camp?

Yes, part of the perks of enrolling to the Digital Entrepreneur Program are the accesses to the different boot camps including the E-Commerce Creators Boot Camp. To know more about the other perks, please visit http://certified.digitalfilipino.com/membership/.

5. If we registered as an SME or Corporate, can we change attendees?

Yes, SME and Corporate members are allowed to send different attendees for any session limited to the slots allotted for them.

7. How long is the subscription?

The E-Commerce Entrepreneur Program is a 22-week intensive mentorship program but being an automatic member of the DigitalFilipino Club, enrollees are entitled to one year of online learning and consultation. To see the other benefits, please visit http://certified.digitalfilipino.com/membership/.

8. Are there face-to-face sessions aside from the webinars?

Yes, face-to-face sessions are to be held at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business in Rockwell Center in Makati City from 9am to 5pm. The dates are Oct. 14, 21 and 22.

5 Important Lessons I Learned from an Inspiring Missionary Couple I Met During the Viral Series

Viral. The most recent series in Victory is entitled as such. It spoke about the special role that we play as Christians in light of the Great Commission. As a social media marketer, this series held a special spot in my heart for it also spoke about using social media to spread the good news of salvation.

During the last installment of the series, I was blessed to have met a couple who shall be sent for a mission overseas. As they sat down, I saw them smiled at me. Then I smiled back. Little did I know that they will be introduced to the whole congregation later on by Pastor Noel Landicho. And that also later on, I will also be approaching them and will be listening to their amazing stories from their mission trips.

My desire is to honor God through this post and also to inspire those people who have the heart for the missions to pursue what God has called them on earth for.

1. A prophet is without honor in his own town.

There is one burning question that I asked to the couple. “Why are missionaries being sent to Israel? Aren’t they supposed to know more about Jesus than us?”

The wife’s response surprised me. She said, “The Jews who believe in Jesus are the ones who are actually telling the missionaries to reach out to their fellow Jews.” Then I was reminded of what Jesus said in Mark 6:4, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.”

If no one believed in Jesus in his own town, how can we also expect the Jews to believe their fellowmen?

When I realized this, I actually was amazed at how God uses people from other nations to preach to His own people. I was reminded of what was said in Romans 10:14, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”

2. We are living epistles.

We don’t need to preach the gospel in order to preach the Gospel. By simply living our lives as true Christians we become “living epistles” and in God’s perfect time, people will notice us and will be the ones to ask us about our lives.

This is what exactly happened to the couple I have met. The husband loved her wife so much as instructed by God in the Bible for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved His church. And what kind of love is that? We know that Jesus offered no less than His very own life for His church - for us.

His love for his wife reverberated and was seen by their friends in those countries they have visited. Soon enough, people began to ask. That’s when the couple grabbed the chance to share their faith.

As living epistles, we must always remember that those who do not read the Scriptures, read our lives. In 2 Corinthians 3:2, Paul said, “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.”

3. “I want to have what you have!”

I won’t forget my Foundation for Victory classes. One of the pastors told us about the story of the early Christians, especially the ones in Rome. There was a time when the Christians in Rome were fed to the lions in the arena, for everyone to see. When the non-Christian Romans expected to see fellow Romans running and screaming for their lives, what they saw astonished them that they shouted to the ones below, “I want to have what you have!”

The Christians remained steadfast in their faith in God while being devoured by the carnivores.

Surprisingly, the couple also received this kind of plea from the non-Christians they have met. They said to them, “I want to have what you have!” When they shared this to me, I was immediately reminded of what I have learned in my Foundation for Victory classes. Truly, the life of a Christian shines through everywhere he goes.

4. Even the apostles are believed to have been called during their teenage years.

The apostles, except for Peter, are believed to be young men when they were called by Christ. Some said only Peter was mentioned to pay tax with Jesus, a duty for all Jews over 20 years of age during those times. Also, only Peter was only mentioned to be married, as Jesus healed his mother-in-law in Matthew 8:14-15.

Whether this is true or not, when I heard this from the couple, I began to realize how important it is to reach out to the young people all the more. The youth are the future leaders of the country. If we win them for Jesus, we are winning the majority. I am very thankful that God placed me in a church that has the passion for the youth.

5. To be a part of the missions is a privilege, not a task.

Whether we like it or not, the world will end. Whether we believe it or not, the Gospel shall be preached in the whole world.

As a believer I know that I will be saved because of my faith in the Son. And yes, I know that even if I decided not to participate in any way in the missions, I will still be saved.

But do Christians really just stop there?

In Matthew 18:19, Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.” As we are already saved, we are also called to be instruments of God’s reconciliation with other people.

But the truth is, actually, God doesn’t need us. Even if we decided not to participate, I’m sure He has other ways to preach the Gospel in the whole world to fulfill what was written. But that’s not the point. The point is that we have a great God, the God who has invited us to share with His passion of letting the world know of His love for all of us.

Knowing that the Great Commission is a privilege and not a task, an invitation and not an obligation, isn’t it more awesome if we decided to say “Here I am, Lord. Send me.”?

May you say yes to Jesus today.

10 Reasons to Believe that Tagaytay Highlands is a Modern Day Countryside Dreamland

Enjoying my time at the viewing deck with Taal Volcano behind me

I was very privileged to be taken by one of my ex-bosses and a good friend, Rick Manzano, in one of the most highly-esteemed real estate property in the whole archipelago, Tagaytay Highlands. It was a great place to catch up with a friend and to be in awe with the beauty of nature and man's craftsmanship all at the same time. Saying that I had a great time is an understatement and to help me preserve the experience, I am blogging about it now.

Here are 10 reasons to believe that Tagaytay Highlands is a modern day countryside dreamland.

1. It’s just an hour ride from Manila.

It only takes 60 minutes from Manila to Tagaytay Highlands taking the Sta. Rosa/Eton exit. You can even cut this 60-minute ride to lesser period of time if you take the Batino exit, which is exclusive for the club members of the Highlands.

2. All year round Tagaytay cool weather.

Being in Tagaytay, people in the Highlands enjoy this all year round cool weather which is one of the major reasons why people (mostly from Manila) visit Tagaytay often.

3. Perfect view of Taal volcano.

The Highlands is a perfect spot to look at Taal Volcano. From the viewing deck, I was amazed to see the whole lake as well as the mountains surrounding it. I never had this kind of amazing view yet even as a child who used to visit his relatives in Batangas, which is actually very near the volcano and also has a good view of it.

4. The life of exclusivity.

While we are at the viewing deck, Rick told me that one has to become a member of Tagaytay Highlands first before one can buy a property in it. To become a member of the club, one has to undergo a strenuous screening process that involves background checks, interviews, paper works and referral from people who are already members of the club.

26 Photos of Filipino Street Foods That Will Make You Homesick for the Philippines

Banana cue, turon, tokneneng, hotdog, kikiam, samalamig and softdrinks.

6 Important Realizations While Eating in Masuki Restaurant in Binondo

1. You can actually mix beef and chicken in a dish.

I have never seen any dish like the noodles I ordered in Masuki. There was beef and chicken in it and it tastes really good. I have no complaints.

2. Siopao sauce is being spooned before.

I got used to eating siopao with the sauce being pressed from a plastic bottle or a sachet. It was my first time to eat siopao in a place where I should be using a Chinese spoon to scoop the siopao sauce out. I will describe it as a high Chinese society kind of dining experience. No plastic bottles. No sachets. Let’s be authentic Chinese here.

3. Noodles and siopao make a perfect combo meal.

This is another first time for me. I have never eaten a bowl of noodles and a siopao together. Not yet. Until, I came to Masuki. It was great.

4. Chinese people are great manual workers.

Carbs on carbs on carbs? With the kind of diet like this on Masuki, it was pretty easy to figure out that the original patrons of the restaurant are those who need energy the most. Who else can finish a bowl of noodles and a siopao in one sitting?