It's a good habit to check the conversion rates before purchasing anything in foreign currency.
A quick way of doing this is to type the currency you wish to compare directly to Google.

But the results from Google are humble rates. If you are using a credit card, most likely, you are going to be charged by your bank's own rate.
To get the most accurate conversion, the easiest way is to check the rates with your bank online.

Here's how you do it in Citibank:

A lot of people have been asking me about how I shop online, what I do, what I go through. Many think that it's all complicated and that there me a lot of unwelcomed surprises (*ehem* fees *ehem*). Let me share with you everything I've learned that might help you.

The Ultimate Online Shopping Guide
for Filipino Shoppers

I divided my shopping into two broad categories, namely:

Good set for starters (Like me, evidently.)
The handles are even labeled with what they're for.
I also have a "starter" face palette to use with this and I'd be very happy to put up on this site once I go pro with this!
I love how things come in eco-friendly labels nowadays. It makes your shopping a little bit guilt-free if not at all.

Ecotools Five Piece Mineral Set, The Ramp Crossings, Glorietta, Makati, P580

Holly Sharpe Ltd. Collection Face Palette, Marks and Spencer, City Centre, Cambridge, £15 (P1,200)

This is ridiculously overpriced.
Tip: If you’re visiting another country, even say for only a few days, get a local sim from them. Most sim cards already come with unlimited data out of the box for a lot less price than P500 a day. Or even if you have to top-up, still going to be cheaper.

Did this both in the UK and in Hong Kong.
In UK, I got a sim pack from ThreeUK which offered unlimited data for 30 days, 2000 minutes of all, and 2000 texts
All for £ 20 (approx. P 1,500)
Imagine, this is for 30 days! For the same amount, you only get 3 days with smart roaming. And definitely no thousands of free calls and texts.
In Hong Kong, I got a PCCW-HK Tourist sim, which was good for 5 days. Does not offer unlimited data, though. I think I had about 3GB of data (Uhm, not really sure?? But point is, still cheaper than 500/day to update and check-in to places), which is just about enough for a few days stay.
If you don't already know, Facebook browsing, and tweeting is not going to reach up to a gigabyte in 5 days. I was using data mostly for the maps, and even the maps will not max out to more than your limit for a few days. You can top-up for unli data if you really want to. You can check out their site but I'm betting my bottom dollar it's still going to cost less that Smart's roaming rate. (Goodness, who knows how fast and reliable this data roaming is?)

For your reference:
Three UK Pay As You Go SIM (Unlimited data for 30 days)
Heathrow Terminal, London (Vending machine in exit doors going to parking lot) - £20

Hong Kong Tourist Sim Card
7-eleven , Ground Floor, Hong Kong Int'l Airport - HKD 59

Let me know if you have questions and I'd be very happy to help!

My sister came home with a present for me from an event a few days back (some advertising thing I really don't know about so I'll stop talking)..
I took out of the box a supercool bamboo speaker from Loudbasstard.
Witty name. I like it. Except that the word bass in context here is actually read as /beɪs/ so you'd probably read it in your head as "base-tard". Kinda weird, huh.
(reference: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/pronunciation/british/bass_1)

 

The packaging is made from what looks like 100% recycled material, We kind-of expected this one from a bamboo-made amplifier.

(You can get a free P300 credit by using this promo code: uberTRXGB8)

It's at times like this when you can really put things to the test.

I have recently discovered this not-so-new pay-per-ride chauffeur service that takes your cab experience to a new level:
Uber - Everyone's Private Driver
It may sound a bit overwhelming (the way I said it, maybe), but to put it simply, it's a taxi* service that let's you book a car to pick you up through an app--whenever you need it.
Basically it's just a fancier version of GrabTaxi.
But instead of riding a taxi, you ride a personal car;
But instead of having a taxi meter, they have an iPad (way to go Manong!);
But instead of paying cash, you pay with your credit card (could be a downer for some, but this actually makes it so convenient.)

I was really looking forward to trying it out. Today in Manila, we are in a bad weather under Typhoon Mario--and it really looks like I could use a good service to bring me home.

Found this interestingly cheap but attractive headphones at DataBlitz. At P 650, it's really hard to say no.
Not expecting too much, I came back the next day and got a pair, and I am really surprised to see it comes with a zip semi-hard case! (Who knew right?)

Moving on to the product itself, here's a little summary you lazy bastard,
- Build quality feel - OK
- comes with a remote & mic (the mic works with smartphones and (take note of this!) PCs with shared mic/headphones jack)
- Fabric cord - FTW! Fabric cords are extra awesome since it's better than the plasticky rubbery ones that gets brittle in time and breaks. (*cough* iPhone cables *cough*)
- comfort - Meh. It gets a little uncomfortable at about an hour using it. Leaves a pain that lasts about a few seconds. (is that normal? Not sure. I'm not a headphones-type so I it's either  THAT, or my ears are weird.)
- Design - Bright and solid. I got the purple one but it also comes in pink, black and brown. (this is what's available in DataBlitz, Glorietta 2) I didn't like how "Masterpiece" was written on both sides of the headphones, Just not a fan of huge branding label. (or is it because it doesn't say Beats Dr. Dre or something else fancy?! Quit whining you little cheapskate.
- Durability - I think I am using it for about 3 months now (way to go!) And I am a rough user, I tell you. I pick this up by the cord most of the time.
- Sound quality - Average. Not too much bass. More treble that I wanted to be there. (I may or may not just saying random audio terms here).

Seriously though, if you are not very much of an audiophile, doesn't mind the big unknown logo, and has P650 to spend (this is even cheaper than average earbud headphones), this is the way to go.

Store: Datablitz. Glorietta 2.