SPA SERVICES AT JOHN MATTHEW

Noong nagsisimula pa lamang ang JOHN MATTHEW, isa sa pinakamalaking palaisipan sa akin ay kung paano ko ima-market ang spa services namin. Ang signage kasi namin ay JOHN MATTHEW SALON lang ang nakalagay at ang ground floor ng aking shop ay salon. Paano nila kaya malalaman na may massage and other spa services sa 2nd at 3rd floors namin?

Sa Thailand, kapag pumasok ka sa isang salon, malamang kaysa hindi na may massage services sila na available. In fact, mahuhusay ang mga Thai na masahista. Singko-sampera sa kanila ang magagaling na masahista. Pero dito sa Pilipinas, kapag parlor ay parlor lang. Kung gusto mong magpamasahe ay pumunta ka sa isang Spa o kaya sa mga bulag na nasa pasilyo ng isang mall.

Nagising na lang ako isang araw na hindi ko na pinu-prublema ang darating na customers para sa spa namin. Dagsa at sunod-sunod ang daloy ng customers namin. Ang spa namin sa upper floors ay lumalaban sa dami ng customers ng aming salon sa ground floor. Lalo akong natuwa nang minsan na nasa reception area namin si RICKY REYES (yes, si Mother Ricky Reyes!) at nagbabayad para magpamasahe. Tinanong ko sya kaagad kung paano nya nalaman na may massage services ang aming salon. Sinabi nya sa akin na ni-refer daw sya ng isa sa mga consultants nya na regular customer namin. Pagkatapos syang masahihen, nilapitan nya ako at niyaya na pumunta sa opisina nya. Gusto raw kasi nya kunin ang trainor ko dahil may bubuksan syang spa sa Calatagan, Batangas. Pumunta naman ako at binigay ko sa kanya ang trainor ko. In return, Mother Ricky gave me lots of advices in salon services and products. Ang bait ni Mother.

Minsan, nagpafill-up ako ng Customer Information Sheet sa mga customers ng spa namin. Laking gulat ko dahil 70% ng customers ko ay hindi taga Quezon City. May mga taga Las Pinas, Muntinlupa, Makati, Mandaluyong, Laguna at Batangas. Mayroon ding mga taga Pampanga, Bulacan, Valenzuela, Caloocan, Manila, Marikina, Pasig, Antipolo, Cainta at Anggono. Whew! Paano nangyari yun?

Then, I started to ask them more detailed questions and see below what the majority answers are:

1. Mas mura ang massage sa John Matthew

2. Mas magaling ang masahe sa John Matthew kaysa sa ibang spa na mas mahal maningil

3. Mura ang presyo, malinis ang lugar, magaling ang services

4. Friendly at courteous ang mga staff

5. Nakapag-pagupit na ako, nakapagpa-masahe pa ako

I must say that my efforts to promote my business to any person I meet anywhere paid off. Moreover, our persistence to improve and innovate our services is another factor that help us pave the way to solicit patronage of our customers. And more importantly, the referrals of my regular customers must be the main reason that we now own a great volume of patrons.

And with this, my appreciation to the relentless support of my customers to whom we owe much of what we achieve at the moment. Thank you very much!!!

JOHN

HAIR REBOND at P1,800 for any hair length

In our four years of everyday experience in hair rebonding, we have learned all the strategies in rebonding hair.

There are three (03) most important considerations in hair rebonding.

First, the ability to examine the type of hair. There are such terminologies in hair science namely VIRGIN, SENSITIZED and RESISTANT hair, to describe hair types. And for every hair type, a particular approach in applying rebonding chemicals is required. Asking the customer regarding the history of her hair (like if it's previously colored, relaxed, rebonded or curled) is also a necessary step. Moreover, the ability to examine the hair with the naked eyed of an experienced hairdresser who will render the service will ensure successful hair rebonding.

Secondly, the use of safe and effective rebonding product. There are probably hundreds of salon suppliers in the Philippines that claim to have safe and effective hair rebonding products. But unfortunately, less than 2 out of ten would be telling the truth. Most rebonding products available in the market are "hit-and-miss" straighteners. To make things worst, most products contain lye (sodium hydroxide/NaOH) which is a chemical use as paint stripper, drain cleaner and cleaning agent. Exposure of our scalp to lye would lead to chemical burns, permanent injury or scarring, and blindness if it contacts the eye. Sadly, more than nine out of ten salons in the Philippines are using lye-straighteners for their hair rebond and relax services. And they all have one reason for using it ...it's a lot cheaper and thereby minimizing their cost. The same reason why these salons afford to offer a hair rebond service for as cheap as P7oo to P1,000 for any hair length. I'm sure that most of you had heard of complaints from friends who had bad experience in hair rebonding.

Thirdly, the skill to perform the rebond service. Hair rebonding is the most tasky and lengthy procedure in the salon business. More importantly, it is required that the hairdresser must be well-versed as to the type of hair he is treating. For example, a thin hair would take a shorter time to set when applied with hair straightener. If the hairdresser would be very "theoretical" in following the instruction at the back of the straightener's cannister, then in this case, he will fall into an irreversible mistake. Moreover, the appropriate temperature of the hair iron coupled with the proper stroke must be observed. The application of neutralizer (the 2nd product to be applied after the straightener) has some important techniques, as well.

"Experience is the best teacher" so goes the cliche.

At JOHN MATTHEW SALON AND SPA, our hairdressers have acquired years of hands-on experience in hair rebonding. Furthermore, my diligence to ensure that my salon is using the SAFEST and MOST EFFECTIVE rebonding products (no matter how expensive it is) pave the way to achieve full customer satisfaction. In fact, most of my clientelle are referrals of those who had their hair rebonded at my salon.

For the months of October and November 2009 and in celebration of our 4th Anniversary, our hair rebond is now offerred at P1,800 for any hair length. We make use of SOFIA HAIR REBOND PRODUCT or PURELY PLANT CARE. Both products are safe, lye-free and very effective.

We also offer SCHWARZKOPF and LOREAL HAIR REBONDING at very affordable costs.

Please inquire now ...... visit or call us now at 2165034, 7250985, 09178173784, 09232449615.

See yah....

JOHN

JOHN MATTHEW SALON AND SPA, CUBAO, QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES: BIG CURLY HAIR at P800 any length

JOHN MATTHEW SALON AND SPA, CUBAO, QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES: BIG CURLY HAIR at P800 any length

BIG CURLY HAIR at P800 any length

John Matthew Salon and Spa now offers perming (curling) hair using the most innovative curling products. Our curler is called MAGIC CURLER and it specifically produces BIG CURLS which are now becoming the trend on hairstyles specially for women.

The MAGIC CURLER is the latest innovation in perming hair. It is actually another type of curler but its shape and direction is specifically designed to achieve big curls.

In the past, the problem being encountered by some customers is that the curl that most salon can do are only small curls making their hair look shorter, twisted and unmanageable.

Now, with the use of MAGIC CURLER, our salon can assure our customers of BIG CURLS.

Current trend on hairstyles has been moving towards a soft, big, curly hair. Particularly, the most popular style is a straight hair from the top until the ear level, then big curls from the ear level towards the hair ends.

Our perming products are PURELY PLANT CARE (PPC) and Akuperm.

And in celebration of our 4th Year Anniversary, our price for BIG CURLY HAIR is P800 for any length.

Please visit us now at JOHN MATTHEW SALON AND SPA, or call us for appointment at Tel. 7250985 / 2165034.

Many thanks.

John

JOHN MATTHEW SALON AND SPA, CUBAO, QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES: HAIR COLOR at 60% discount !

JOHN MATTHEW SALON AND SPA, CUBAO, QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES: HAIR COLOR at 60% discount !

HAIR COLOR at 60% discount !

In celebration of our 4th Year Anniversary, we are offering A 60% DISCOUNT on HAIR COLOR for the whole month of October, 2009.

Our brand for the hair color is called PURELY PLANT CARE (PPC), a hair color product made in Italy and manufactured using the most effective coloring pigments. It has a lasting color effect coupled with hair nourishment additives that make you hair healthy, shiny and soft.

We have complete color choices to suit your preferences.

Please visit us now at JOHN MATTHEW SALON AND SPA. Call us for appointment at 7250985 or 2165034.

Many thanks to your continuous patronage!

JOHN

Misteryo ng Hapis at Saya ni Alfeo

Every year, I am discovering two to three new friends.

Others find it absurd that for a person as sociable as I am, I could only gain so few friends in a year. My business and my affiliations with socio-civic organizations expose me to interesting and new acquaintances but it never actually pave the way for me to collect more friends. It's probably because I have this set of criterion in my mind before I could even consider a person to be a friend. And in some cases, it also takes for a situation to happen before I could confirm that the person passes the criterion.

But don't get me wrong. I am not the choosy type. I don't look at the person physically, or what he has achieved, or what material possession he has. If I will summarize my criterion in one word, it's SINCERITY.

There were lots of instances when I felt awkward answering a question as simple as "KAIBIGAN MO BA SYA?" It's because the word KAIBIGAN is a meaningful word for me. It isn't enough that I had ten or more bondings with a person for me to say that we are friends. If I hugged or kissed somebody I know in a mall, it doesn't necessarily follow that we are friends. I have been actually thinking that a word must be coined to describe someone in between a FRIEND and an ACQUAINTANCE. In that way, I wouldn't sound so unfriendly.

Just recently, I have decided to "disqualify" two persons from the list of my friends. I actually felt bad doing it. On the other hand, it's the most logical decision that I have to do. I don't want to associate myself to people who lack sincerity, and from people who ignore the value of selflessnes. "Tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are, " so goes the old cliche. If my friend is a reflection of myself, then I have to choose the right ones so that they may give a good mirror of myself.

ALFEO SALCEDO was my batchmate in high school. Thru our alumni association, we came across each other just two years ago because he has been based in Sydney for a long time. Back in high school, we just know each other by face because we belong to different sections.

It was an instant friendship. We speak the same language, we laugh at the same joke, we enjoy the same conversation topics. At first I thought that Alfeo might be another "flavor of the month" friend. I'd been keeping a close eye on him, mainly because I can feel that I have a friend in him. Until the time came when I felt his sincerity and his commitment to understand me. That was the time when I was in my deepest moment.

A month after, a question came from him while we were chatting at the Facebook. It was one question I took delight in reading and answering.

"Can we be best friends?" Alfeo wrote. It was then when I experienced what a woman feels when a guy proposes for a marriage.

And I typed just two words to answer him back: "AREN'T WE?"

I am attaching hereinbelow an email I've sent at our alumni class' yahoo group last December 2007. It was actually a response to Alfeo's email.

This must be the best email I've ever written at our yahoo group. I was in tears everytime I ended a paragraph while writing this email.

PLEASE FIND TIME TO READ :::::>

Hi Alfeo! Hayy, Queen Mother! Sabi ko na nga ba na dinadalaw ka rin ng lungkot.

Parang kang alon na di mo alam kung saang dalampasigan hahampas. Basta ang alam mo, kailangan may hampasan ka. Basta ang mahalaga, may kahihinatnan ang pagpupursigi mo. At habang nasa gitna ka ng dagat ay
maya't maya kang itutulak ng hangin. Nagpapatulak ka naman pero kailangan mo kasi ang lakas ng hangin para ipunin at pagsama-samahin ang lahat ng tubig. At kapag sapat na ang tubig at ang lakas at taas ng iyong alon, saka mo ihahalik sa dalampasigan ang iyong kabuuan. At doon mo iparirinig ang saya ng tunog ng pag-uumpugan ng tubig sa dalampasigan. Pero pagkatapos noon, kusa kang babalik sa kapatagan ng dagat. Hahayaan mong languyan ka ng mga isda. Kukupkupin mo ang mga halamang-dagat. Tahimik kang babalik sa kapanatagan. Pero maya-maya
lang ay itutulak ka na naman ng hangin .... at isa ka na namang alon.

Minsan tinitignan kita lalo na sa panahon na nakikinig ka lang at kusa mong ni-nanamnam ang sinasabi ng kausap mo. Para sa akin kasi ... yun ang pagkakataon na makikita ko ang kabilang mukha ni Alfeo. Yung mukha na nagkukubli sa likod ng masayang pananalita, ngiti sa mga labi, dulas ng dila, mapanuring mata at alistong pag-iisip. Hindi ko gustong isipin, dangkasi, na kabuuan na ni Alfeo ang nakikita namin sa mga pagkakataon na bumabangka ka at binubuhos mo ang talento mo sa pagpapatawa.

Hindi ba't madalas kang dapuan ng lungkot? Yung lungkot na kaya kang lamunin ng buong-buo. Yung lungkot na kaya kang idayukdok sa kapariwaraan. At kapag tumitingin ka sa langit ay para kang nawawala iyong sarili lalo na't ang mala-abong ulap ang tatabon sa bughaw na kulay ng langit. Iniisip mo na saan ba magtutungo ang lahat ng ito.
Bakit ba kailangang dumilim ang langit?

Parating kulang ang buhay ng isang bakla. Wala kang magiging anak at walang asawang kakandili sa 'yo. Hindi mo alam kung para saan ang lahat ng iyong paghihirap. At lalong hindi mo alam kung sino ang gagabay sa 'yo sa panahon ng iyong katandaan.

Gusto mo minsan sisihin ang tadhana...sisihin ang pagpapalaki sa 'yo ...ang iyong kapaligiran .... basta gusto mo manisi. Hahanapin mo ang karayom na magsusulsi sa lamat ng iyong kasarian. Pero alam mo din naman na wala na rin itong magagawa pa. Tutusukin lang nya ang puso mo. Ang kabaklaan kasi ay parang isang sumpa na naka-ukit hanggang sa ikabuturan ng iyong gulugod.

Tayong mga bakla (o tomboy), iisa lang ang buwan na tinititigan natin sa tuwing sasapit ang gabi. Isang buwan na makulimlim ...na minsan ay nagkukubli sa ilalim ng ulap ... na minsan naman ay nagpapalit ng hugis.... at kapagdaka'y lulubog sa kung saan. Hanggang sa dumating na naman ang gabi at kusa nating tatanawin ang kanyang pag-imbulog at para lang mawala rin uli sa ating paningin pagdating ng bukang-liwayway.

Sabi na sabik tayo sa pagmamahal. Gagawin natin ang lahat makayanan lang tayong mahalin ng ibang tao. Sa gitna ng kakaibang katauhan natin ay pipilitin nating igiit at hingin ang isang normal at pang-habangbuhay na relasyon. Gabi-gabi tayong aasa sa pagdating ng isang prinsipe na hahalik sa pisngi ng isang dalaga na habang panahon
nang naghihintay sa ina-asam asam na pag-ibig. At sa halik na iyon ay hindi mo alam kung halik ng pag-ibig o halik ni Hudas na uubos sa alindog at kayamanan ng dalagang walang hinangad kundi ang magmahal.

At minsan ay mamabutihin mo pang isipin na sana ay iwinaksi na lang sana ng dalaga ang pahihintay kaysa sa makaniig ng isang huwad na pag-ibig. Napakasakit.

At habang nagyayari ang lahat ng kapanibughuan sa pag-ibig ay tatanaw ka uli sa kalawakan ng langit pati sa dalampasigan. Maghihintay ka naman ng bulalakaw na magpapabago sa pag-inog ng iyong mundo.

Maghihintay, maghihintay at maghihintay ka. At kadalasan, kung kaylan ka na-iglap ay saka bumulusok ang mailap na bulalakaw.

At dahil pagod ka na rin sa paghihintay, ipupursigi mong maabot ang iba mo pang mga pangarap at doon mo babawiin ang kawalan mo sa larangan ng pag-ibig. Kakapit ka sa unos ng ulan at tatayo ka nang may lakas at paninindigan. Walang puwang ang pag-aalintana at pag-aalangan sa 'yo, bagkus, itutulak mo ang iyong pangarap at aabutin mo ang tagumpay.

Minsan sa paglakad mo ay titigil ka sandali, iisipin mo kung para saan ba ang lahat ng ito. Pero ipagpapatuloy mo pa rin ang paghakbang, tatakbo ka pa nga ng mas matulin. Ibubuhos mo ang lakas at talino mo at iaalay mo ito sa ibang tao ... sa iyong pamilya at sa mga kaibigan. Mabubuhay ka para sa kanila. Hindi mo na rin iisipin ang sarili mo.

Mabuti na lang Alfeo at may pinanggalingan ka. Dala mo ang lungkot ng iyong mga karanasan. Ang kurot, pait, poot, dalamhati at hapis na dinanas mo mula pagkabata ay s'ya na ring sandata mo sa hamon ng iyong kasalukuyan buhay. Kaya mong tiisin ang lungkot ng pamumuhay sa ibang bayan dahil nilinang at minanhid ka ng mas mahapding nakaraan. At alam mo sa sarili mo na kung hindi ka magtitiis ay hindi ka makapagdudulot ng saya sa iba. May kapalit ang lahat.

Nakikita ko ang pag-ikot ng mata mo sa sa apat na sulok ng iyong silid. Pilit mo itong hinahanapan ng saya pero kahit pigain mo ay isang nakabibinging katahimikan ang ginaganti nya sa yo. Lalo kang hihikbi, tatangis at lulutang sa kawalan.

Bukas, balik-opisina ka na naman. Kakayod at makikipagtagisan sa mga ka-trabaho at kliyente mo.

At sa mga susunod na araw, ganun na naman. Trabaho, trabaho, trabaho.

At bukas-makalawa, gigising ka muli para bumalik sa Pilipinas para namnamin ang saya at galak ng ating pagbubuklod.

Tandaan mo ito Alfeo, isa kang biyaya para sa amin.

Alagaan mo ang sarili mo para sa amin.

LP Jon

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Here is the email of alfeo to which I had responded ....

Hello Batchmates!

Umuulan dito sa Gold Coast (Queensland, Australia) habang sinusulat ko ito. Feeling ko, nakikidalamhati sa akin ang langit...

Six o'clock ang flight ko pa-Singapore kahapon. Tapos may 2 hours anda half na stop-over. Eksaktong 12:05 naman lumipad ang eroplano pa-Brisbane. Eleven hours na traveling time plus almost 3 hours in-between na paghihintay, nag-flashback lahat sa akin yung sobrang saya na naranasan ko last Friday dun sa party natin. Naghalo-halo ang pakiramdam ko: saya, lungkot, panghihinayang (dahil di ko na-chika lahat) at kung ano-ano pa.. Kapos ang 7 oras sa party natin!!

Hindi pa 'yan, nung pagdating ko ng bahay kanina ng mga around 11:30AM (9:30 AM sa Manila), para akong nagulat. Ang lungkot-lungkot ng unit ko!! All of a sudden, parang ipinamukha sa akin ng buhay na talaga palang nag-iisa ako dito sa Australia!!@#% Although meron din naman akong mangilan-ngilang kaibigan dito, iba sa Pilipinas!! Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero dun na tumulo ang mga luha ko..

Marami ang laman ng "inbox" ko nung buksan ko ang yahoo at hotmail accounts ko.. Halos lahat ay nagpapasalamat sa akin tungkol dun sa party natin nung Friday. Walang anuman po! Actually, ako ang dapat magpasalamat dahil ipinadama ninyo sa akin ang tunay na saya at ipinakita ninyo sa akin ang kahulugan ng salitang "iba ang may pinagsamahan!"

Maraming maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat!! Given the chance, I will have no second thought of doing it all over again!!

Punong-puno ang dibdib ko ng emosyon pero wala pa akong sapat na lakas para makaapuhap ng mga salitang magdi-describe ng nararamdaman ko sa ngayon. Ahh... Kung pwede nga lamang bayaran si LP Jon na isulat niya ang mga ito para sa akin..

Hanggang dito na lang muna at maraming-maraming salamat pong muli!

Art, Albert at Gary: Sana ay huwag ninyong paka-isipin yung mga yakap ko sa inyo. Yakap-kapatid lamang 'yun! Hehehe.

Sana po ay wala po akong na-offend sa aking mga biro specially kay Pastor.

QMA