This Mad Street Style Trend Has Finally Hit the Fashion Mainstream

Blue isn't often a colour we see rendered in vinyl.
Ellie from Slip Into Style forgoes the traditional vinyl options.

There was a time when a love for vinyl was a reference to your sizable record collection, but now this historically risqué fabric has entrenched itself in the mainstream (well, the fashion mainstream anyway). Wipe clean and high impact, every item of clothing you could think of has been given the vinyl treatment—from trousers and coats to skirts and accessories—instantly transforming any run-of-the-mill item into a serious statement piece.

The vinyl-ambivalent can rest assured that there are plenty of ways to work this look without looking like a bin-liner. If the idea of stepping out in a pair of vinyl trousers terrifies you then there are plenty of high-shine accessories around that will allow you to dip your toe in. Take your cues from Harriet Stewart who elevates her denim dungarees with a pair of red patent boots. Or, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, then the vinyl midi skirt is the thing for you. The secret is to keep the rest of your outfit simple a la Lisa Aiken (think white tee and heeled boots) and prepare to turn heads. Scroll down for our full edit of vinyl outfits.

GInvest Review: Is It Worth It?

Source:  <p><em>This was first published in 2022.</em></p>   <p>As someone who’s only starting to invest — I currently only have two investments: the one that’s tied to my life insurance (VUL) and the house we’re paying for — I was really intrigued by GInvest. Does it work? Is it worth it? Here’s a rundown of my experience so far.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What’s GInvest?</h2>   <p>It’s a platform within a platform (the GCash app) that allows you to invest money (as low as P50) in different funds: money market funds, bonds, and equity funds. Under the latter are global funds.</p>   <p>The idea behind its inception is to empower people to try investing because investing, as a concept, can be quite daunting.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">How to invest in GInvest</h2>   <p>Since it’s already on the GCash app, using the service is quite easy; it’s kind of like any other app where you fill out things and tap, tap, tap. You just have to be fully verified on GCash in order to use the service.</p>   <p>Just look for the GInvest icon on the app. You’ll be asked to take a test where you’ll find out what your risk appetite and ‘investing personality’ is. Aside from how comfortable you are about investing money, you’ll also be asked about your income and how frequent you plan on investing.</p>   <p>You can invest based on your risk appetite or invest however you want, it’s up to you. Investing starts at P50 for the bonds and local money market funds while investing in the global funds (Global Tech Feeder Fund and Global Consumer Fund) starts at P1,000.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What I did at first</h2>   <p>The minimum investment amount was really what got me interested in GInvest.</p>   <p>So I took the test and was told my risk appetite is moderately aggressive. I initially invested in the fund recommended for my risk appetite.</p>   <p>I put P100 just to see how it goes. After the buy was confirmed, which took three days, I saw the P100 turned into P99~. I put in another P100 soon after.</p>   <p>After a few days, I had P200.83 in my fund.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Is GInvest safe?</h2>   <p>If we’re talking security, yes. I’ve had no problems with my account; it’s never been mishandled by GCash in general. Even when I had trouble in the past (not related to GInvest), GCash was able to give me my money back.</p>   <p>If we’re talking about safety in terms of risk investment, well, here are my two cents:</p>   <p>The service is a way for us to try to make our money bigger. But it’s important to always remember that investing is a lot like gambling. You put your money where it might become bigger or smaller or stay the same.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Investing is a lot like gambling.</h3>   <p>If you’re promised a guaranteed return with an amount that seems too good to be true, chances are it’s really too good to be true.</p>   <p>There’s also a well-known saying in the finance sphere that goes ‘The higher the risk, the higher the return.’ And I agree, to some extent. But the word that should be highlighted there is risk. If you don’t think your heart can take a risk, don’t do it or you’ll end up with lots of regrets. As they always say, invest only the amount you’re willing to part with because there’s a real chance that things may go south.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Invest the amount you’re willing to part with.</h3>   <p>With that in mind (and thanks to local personal finance bloggers’ tips), I’ve devised a new plan to see how well this investment platform works. Here’s what I’ve been doing.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">ATRAM Peso Money Market Fund review</h2>   <p>I’ve read that government bonds are the way to go if you want a sure way to gain. Don’t expect the return to be big though.</p>   <p>There’s a fund in GCash for this under the ‘conservative’ category called ATRAM Peso Money Market Fund. The fund is described as one that ‘includes various Philippine treasury bonds.’ It’s a ‘fixed-income’ fund so you’ll always have your capital intact. (Outside GCash, you may also want to try the PAG-IBIG MP2 Fund for something similar.)</p>   <p>I placed P150 in this and it’s earned .12 so far.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">ATRAM Philippine Equity Smart Index Fund review</h2>   <p>I invested P250 in the ATRAM Philippine Equity Smart Index Fund (this is under the aggressive category a.k.a. the one for those willing to take bigger risks). The fund invests in only 30 companies, which include Globe, Ayala Corp, SM Investments, and Universal Robina.</p>   <p>As of this writing, my P250 has turned into P233.36. I remember it earning P5 a month or so ago though. I didn’t sell my funds then because I want to see where things go in a year’s time. But this is proof that you really can’t tell what may happen.</p>   <p>Some people claim to know just how the money market works, and good for them! But funds are dependent on so many things (the economy, political controversies, etc.).</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">How to redeem GInvest</h2>   <p>You can easily redeem your investment by selling your funds. It may take a few days to be sent to your GCash account, though, and it depends on which fund you’re selling. Based on experience, it takes between three and five business days.</p>   <p>Now, will I continue using GInvest? Definitely! I have a lot to learn and am still observing things and doing research, but I’m still going to continue investing. If you’re curious, definitely check it out.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">GInvest vs GSave</h2>   <p>When I get more funds on my GCash account, I will split the amount between investing and saving in my GSave (CIMB) account to see which one yields better results.</p>   <p>The interest rate offered by digital banks is notably higher than traditional ones; CIMB has a standard interest rate of 2.5% (they have a promo of 4% this year) while traditional banks have an interest rate of .125% per annum for regular savings accounts.</p>

Sadayo Beach Resort Review: Crystal Clear Waters & Tasteful Design

Source:  <p>Batangas province is synonymous with beautiful beaches, among other things. Whichever coastal area of the province you might find yourself in, it’s bound to be close enough to a beach where you can laze around or go swimming at. </p>   <p>But I bet the towns of Batangas that you know are home to stunning shorelines don’t include Bauan. Well, this could be me projecting. But yes, this lesser-known neighbor of Mabini, where world-renowned diving spot Anilao is, boasts of beautiful beaches too. We found that out, rather belatedly, when we discovered Bauan’s Sadayo Beach Resort.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://madcherry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/sadayo-beach-resort-768x1024.jpg" alt="sadayo beach resort" class="wp-image-467" style="width:400px"/></figure>   <p></p>   <p>I say belatedly because we lived in different areas of Batangas from 2016 to 2022, and Bauan just wasn’t on our radar as a beach town to visit that entire time. Thanks to a Facebook ad they ran, we discovered Sadayo Beach Resort earlier this year.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sadayo Beach Resort location</h2>   <p>There is nothing unassuming about the beach in Sitio Bubuyan of Brgy. Locloc, where Sadayo is located. It is straight up and immediately delightful. The sand is off-white and has a texture that’s between coarse and fine, making for its own charm. </p>   <p>The turquoise sea is crystal clear, allowing you to marvel at the marine life that the area is teeming with when you go snorkeling – you don’t have to venture to the deeper parts of the water to see fishes and the coral reefs they live in; their domain is just a few meters from the shore.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://madcherry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/sadayo-beach-location-1024x683.jpg" alt="sadayo beach location" class="wp-image-468" style="object-fit:cover"/></figure>   <p></p>   <p>The mountains that are like a backdrop for the beach when viewed from the sea add invaluably to the beauty of the scenery. You’ll pass through these same mountains when going to and leaving Sadayo Beach Resort. </p>   <p>It can get tight in some parts of the mountain road, which can prove to be a challenge for those behind the wheel, but make sure to drink in the mesmerizing views of the sea and the greenery when you can.</p>   <p>What scenic beauty mother nature offers, Sadayo Beach Resort tries to complement with its own exquisiteness, which is not matched by its neighbors in the area if they tried. With a tasteful but not over-the-top design sense that to me is more Southeast Asian than boho, which the place is often described as being, it not only stands out in terms of aesthetics in this part of Batangas but it is also right up there with other attractive beach spots across the country as far as vibe is concerned. Whoever designed Sadayo Beach Resort knew what they were doing.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Packages and accommodations</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://madcherry.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/sadayo-beach-resort-seahorse-room-1024x768.jpg" alt="sadayo resort accommodations" class="wp-image-466" style="width:500px"/></figure>   <p></p>   <p>The resort offers day tour and overnight packages with its various accommodations, from cottages, huts and air-conditioned rooms, all thoughtfully conceived. When we visited in May, we rented one of their huts, which had more than enough room for the three of us.</p>   <p>Their non-air-conditioned accommodations aren’t equipped with a private bathroom. But this shouldn’t be a problem because they have five (or is it six?) shared bathrooms, which in our experience were regularly cleaned.</p>   <p>Sadayo didn’t have its own restaurant yet when we visited, and that didn’t seem to be set to change in the near future. We brought our own cooked food and all the drinking water we needed, but guests have the option to cook using the <a href="https://madcherry.net/living-culture/camayan-beach-resort-review/">resort</a>’s facilities. If you’re lucky, you might chance upon the luscious turon peddled by a local there.</p>   <p>To know about Sadayo Beach Resort’s rates, you can send them a message via their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DayoSadayo/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook page</a>.</p>

13th-month-pay-taxable

13th-month-pay-philippines

Jordianne Cornejo

Jordianne is currently a brand storyteller and strategist, formerly an online magazine editor, and a writer always. When not spending time with her husband and daughter, she enjoys teaching herself to draw, re-watching Scandal, reading, and journaling. She is the founder and editor of Mad Cherry.