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Prioritizing beauty at OHHH, MY NAILS! CO.

Introducing OHHH, MY NAILS! CO., opened in 2017 to offer hand and foot care services without compare.

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The business – OHHH, MY NAILS! CO. – was established in 2017, pre-Covid-19.

“We chose the field of beauty and wellness because we want to provide a place where anyone can spend some ‘me’ time, take a break from his/her busy schedule, be pampered and feel at home with the cozy atmosphere,” said Patrick King Pascual, one of the two co-owners of the biz.

“We wanted to respond to the demand/what is lacking in the health and wellness industry,” added Jaycee Ryan Tolentino. “When you go around Manila, there are only a few establishments that focus on hand and foot care, particularly nails. In the area where our shop is located, when we started, there was no establishment that focused on hand, foot and nail care.”

It helps, of course, that – according to Jaycee – they also wanted to “establish something for ourselves, to be our own boss” even if being such can be challenging. In Patrick’s words: “Being our own boss is not easy, you are on call 24/7. There are no day-offs or leaves.”

“You need to give your 101% to make sure that everything remains floating. You need to be fully dedicated. It is like raising a child, you need to guide him/her in every step of the way until you are confident he/she can be independent and successful,” Jaycee said.

But there’s also that drive because of “our employees. Next to gaining profit, we want to provide employment to different people in our own little way,” added Patrick.

GOING INTO BUSINESS

Before they started OHHH, MY NAILS! CO., “it did not occur to us that we will be starting our own business,” Jaycee said.

Just like most people who have day jobs, the co-owners were content with being salaried employees (“The usual every 15th and 30th pay”) since they had their own savings and they were able to do the things they wanted.

“But as years passed, we realized that there should be ‘more’; our priorities slowly changed. We started valuing delayed gratification,” Jaycee said.

Jaycee – who finished Hotel and Restaurant Management – said he was “exposed to different businesses and entrepreneurs, where I learned the ins and outs of how a business can grow and remain sustainable.”

It helped that Patrick – a journalist – “was exposed to the marketing side of things – like what will sell or not, how to present a product or service, those kinds of things.”

“Value your clients regardless of who they are, what their life status is. Give them the same quality of service,” Jaycee Ryan Tolentino said.

FACING CHALLENGES

“During the early months of planning, one challenge we experienced was creating a name and forming a reputation in the area where our business is located,” Patrick recalled. “We wanted OHHH, MY NAILS! to be unique and distinct.”

Another challenge experienced was hiring and training employees.

“We do not just employ people just because they have the required skills; we also look at how they interact with clients, handle pressure, and the overall quality of their work,” Jaycee said.

But these challenges were also learning experiences for them.

For instance, “when choosing services that will fit the needs of the clients, what we learned through… is a business should not immediately introduce a new product or service without doing a feasibility check,” Jaycee said.

Good marketing strategy helps, of course.

GOOD VENTURE

OHHH, MY NAILS! CO. already reached ROI.

“Before we opened our shop we created a timeline – that within two years, we should have ROI. We believe that in any type of business – micro, small, or medium – you should have a semblance of ROI within the first two years, because if you do not, your profit will be eaten up by your expenses. This is one of the most important reasons why you need to have a feasibility study and strategic planning before starting something,” Jaycee said.

For Patrick: “Any type of business can be profitable, especially if you know how to handle it and make strategies to stand out. Health and wellness is a very competitive industry, as years passed OHHH, MY NAILS! CO. somehow learned (and continuously learning until now) what the market wants – what we should focus on and consider.”

And because of this, “with utmost patience and attention to the market demands, OHHH, MY NAILS! is able to meet the needs of the clients,” Jaycee said.

OHHH, MY NAILS! CO., of course, takes pride in offering “quality service, relaxing ambience, affordability and class.”

And should you head there, try the bestsellers – i.e. packages and combos, where three to four services are already included. “It will be cheaper for the clients if they will avail these,” Patrick said.

START A BIZ

For people who may want to also open their business, what tips can the founders of OHHH, MY NAILS! CO. give?

“Value your clients regardless of who they are, what their life status is. Give them the same quality of service,” Jaycee said.

As for the employees, “treat them like family. Guide them and not police them. Give them a thousand reasons to go to work not because they need to earn but the idea of having a responsibility to their company.”

For Patrick: “Always be thankful and grateful to all the blessings and opportunities, big or small, that will come your way. Keep in mind that your business is not only to earn profit, but also to help other people.”

In the end, “love and enjoy what you are doing because it will reflect on the quality of service you will render to the clients. And lastly, always be prepared for anything,” said Jaycee.

For more information on OHHH, MY NAILS! CO., visit their Facebook page; or call (02) 8253-6466 and 0917-8078871. Find them at Waze at https://tinyurl.com/y4anrfp8.

Or simply head to OHHH, MY NAILS! CO.

BizListing

Pizza yearning in Tagaytay? We tried Pizzeria Saletta Tagaytay

Craving for Italian #pizza in #Tagaytay? We #LGBT checked Pizzeria Saletta Tagaytay.

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We’ve tried Pizzeria Saletta Tagaytay before, and we had a better-than-okay experience. So… to check if that was a fluke, baka tsamba lang, we returned to this off-the-main road pizza place in Tagaytay.

So, kumusta naman ang experience namin?

@outragemag Craving Italian #pizza in #Tagaytay? We #LGBT checked Pizzeria Saletta Tagaytay #PizzeriaSaletta ♬ original sound Outrage Magazine

Una, this place is – as stated in their name – in Tagaytay. So for those who do not dwell in Tagaytay or nearby Batangas and Cavite areas, this isn’t exactly near. Meaning, you should be willing to allocate more time and more money to visit this place.

Ikalawa, the actual resto will remind you of homes turned into eateries… like those you’d find in residential places in Bangkok (though this one offers Italian food, obviously). With an open-air setting, don’t expect fine dining level set-up.

Ikatlo, the staff’s quite good – e.g. we had an issue with parking, no thanks to the resto’s neighbor, and the care given while dealing with the issue was good. Now and then, you’d see the young owners here, too, engaging with customers. This is like a communal kainan.

Ika-apat, the food’s not bad… generally speaking.

With pizza, one of the best decisions this resto made was to offer Pizza Four Flavor (₱650), so you can try more for cheaper (usual pizzas cost from ₱300 to over ₱600). So we’ve tasted Hawaiian, Pizza Salsiccia, Quattro Formaggi, and Pizza Peperoni… all in one go. And we can say that:

  1. You can tell the pizzas were freshly made; served straight out of the oven, mainit-init pa, so tugma when eating in the cool temp of Tagaytay.
  2. Di tinipid sa sahog, so you actually get enough ingredients… not just bread.
  3. Hindi mamantika, so if you’re used to eating oily or greasy pizza, the version here isn’t that.
  4. The bread of the pizza we got had burnt parts (like: itim level burns); we just scraped them and they did not, overall, affect the taste naman, but we’re mentioning all the same.

We also ordered:

  1. Cotoletta alla Pizzaiola with Pasta Meatballs (₱260), basically chicken with pasta with meatballs. With this one, we’re sort of not impressed (sorry). True, the meatballs were better-than-okay. But the sauce was quite sweet; parang tinugma lang sa panlasang Pinoy.
  2. Cotoletta alla Pizzaiola with Pesto (₱220), basically chicken with pesto spaghetti. The chicken wasn’t bad… but it’s not something you’d remember. With the pasta naman, it was too creamy for us; it needed more pesto taste than cream (sorry).

While I won’t necessarily say that you should go out of your way to dayo this place, this place is a better-than-okay pizzeria if you’re in Tagaytay. Particularly if you’re looking for a homey, not necessarily classy venue.

Drop by… or join us as we look for more lafang venues.

Pizzeria Saletta Tagaytay is located at 1575 Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, Maitim II East, Tagaytay City.

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Checking out the offerings of Liam’s Lomi House in Batangas

For this #LGBT trip to #Batangas, we checked Liam’s Lomi House that’s trying to turn #lomi into fastfood. Popular in #LipaCity, yes; but that approach has grave impacts to the offerings.

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On the way to Nasugbu in Batangas from the Municipality of Los Baños in Laguna, we passed through Lipa City; and – craving for something “local” – we were led to Liam’s Lomi House.

Okay, this is a must-know: Liam’s Lomi House is a two-time champion of Lipa’s Lomi Festival. So yeah… having high expectations is to be expected.

@outragemag #Lomi in #Batangas? For this #lgbtq trip, we tried #liamslomihouse in #LipaCity and had doubts if turning it into #fastfood ♬ original sound – Outrage Magazine

But – removing the food vlogger BS – how was it for us, sa totoo lang?

Una, this is an extremely popular place. Nagkakaubusan ng parking, hindi enough ang seats so nag-aagawan ng tables ang mga tao, the queue to order can get really – really – long, and so on. For an open-air resto, siksikan pa rin dito.

Ikalawa, if I think of lomi as fastfood, this is what comes to mind. You know the “system” – i.e. queue to order, look for a seat, order will be delivered to you, and so on. Because of this, the place can get impersonal; don’t expect to experience the Batangueño warmth here, trabaho lang all in this place.

And now… ikatlo, how was the food?

  1. The “style” of Liam’s Lomi House is similar to lugaw. That is, they have a “base”, the basic noodle soup. This is then added with the topping you order. For instance, if you ordered lechon lomi (₱135), you get the same-tasting lomi as beef lomi (₱135) or liver lomi (₱125)… except for the topping.
  2. Aside from the toppings, this one has no other sahog. No gulay or lamas or whatever.
  3. Batangas lomi has malapot – or thick or viscous – sabaw. Almost laway-like. If you’re not into something like this, avoid na lang. Although the sabaw becomes runny naman over time.
  4. There are other offerings – e.g. various types of silog (from ₱45 for silog to ₱140 for lechonsilog, liemsilog, chicksilog and so on). Those toppings for the lomi are what you get here, too.
  5. Saving grace nila is the pork BBQ on stick. If you’re a fan of Amber’s BBQ, you’d get the appeal here. You get a properly cooked still-juicy and manamis-namis na BBQ.

Liam’s Lomi House is now a tourist trap; too many drop by this place because it has made a name na. Good for those who liked what they got. We’re happy for them.

But kami? It’s back on the road for us… as we look for more – and much better – lafang venues.

Liam’s Lomi House is located at Gen. Luna St., Sabang, Lipa City, Batangas. For more information, contact 0917 208 9535 or email liamslomihouse@gmail.com.

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Yummy (not cheap) silog meals of Sulyap in San Pablo, Laguna

Traveling to #SanPablo in #Laguna and looking for #breakfast #brekkie? Try the not-cheap but yummy #silog of Sulyap.

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One of the biggest surprises I’ve had is the lack of proper – let’s emphasize that: proper – accommodation for those heading to many parts of Laguna. Often, you are forced to stay at tacky hot spring resorts, or are forced to book entire private houses if you’re spending some nights there.

But then in sleepy San Pablo, there’s a surprise waiting – that’s Sulyap, which had already been extensively covered by mainstream media as a must-check hotel that brings you back to the olden times. Bet mo mag-stay sa hotel na Spanish era ang vibe? This one is for you.

But also deserving of coverage is Sulyap’s resto, where we headed to have breakfast.

@outragemag #LGBT traveling to #sanpablolaguna and looking for #breakfast #brekkie? Try the not-cheap but yummy #silog ♬ original sound – Outrage Magazine

Una, the venue is picturesque. Kung sana marunong mag-alaga ng historical buildings ang nasa government natin, sana buildings like this still abound in the country. You get well-preserved wooden structures, classic artworks, and so on.

Ikalawa, the people working here are attentive naman; though this is to be expected because this is not exactly a cheap place.

Ikatlo, the place actually has an extensive menu, usually catering to groups. Ang breakfast menu, in particular, has items from ₱395 to ₱420. And oo, must-try ito. We got the beef tapa and fried bangus.

Ika-apat, taste-wise, wala kang irereklamo. Using their original recipe, the beef strips are really tasty; hindi lasang de lata. The ¼ bangus, meanwhile, was crunchy… and garlicky, so masarap din. The accompanying atchara and suka were also good, and could be ulam on their own. With food, if there’s one complaint, it’s the size; medyo small ang servings considering the asking price.

Is it worth heading to San Pablo just to check out Sulyap and its breakfast offerings? Not naman, since this is quite far din. But if you’re already in the area – and if you have spare budget for what may just be an expensive version of silog – then by all means, drop by.

But off we go again, as we look for more lafang venues.

Sulyap is located at the Cocoland Compound, Del Remedio, San Pablo City, Laguna. For more information, call (049) 260-0560 (Globe landline), (049) 300-4508 (Globe landline), or 0917-182-1483; or email sulyap.net@gmail.com.

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