Click here to see the video of Leyende’s Real Benefits Campaign

Tis the season of giving once more! But with all the gadgets, toys and accessories available in shops and on-line, choosing presents has become more of a chore than a thoughtful process. With everyone scrambling to the next new shiny thing, the value of handmade gifts seems a thing of the past.

What do you give someone who means the world to you? Or someone who gets the latest and trendiest each season?

Instead of adding to the culture of excess that each holiday brings, Leyende offers a refreshing take on truly meaningful gifts: the Real Benefits Campaign.

Holiday shopping takes on a new, socially-relevant dimension with the following limited-edition Leyende products:

Clean Slate Multi-tasking Face Cleanser (limited edition packaging with crocheted waterdrop phone charm) 100mL – P450.00

Wash away ignorance! For every purchase of limited edition Clean Slate Multi-tasking Face Cleanser that cleanses skin without overdrying or stripping off natural oils, you donate P100 to the Project H.OU.S.E. College Fund, which is going to sponsor the education of at-risk, out-of-school youth who undergo work-study program with Messy Bessy worry-free, ecofriendly household cleaners.

Mother Butter Cocoa Butter Body Moisturizer (limited edition packaging with crocheted sleeve made from recycled plastic bags) 100mL – P450.00

Save a Mother, Save the Future! For every purchase of limited edition Mother Butter, you stave off stretchmarks and dry skin, and contribute P100 to help UNICEF’s Safe Motherhood Program reach more expectant women in need from remote areas.

Beach Bomb (limited edition packaging with crocheted wings lariat) 50mL – P450.00

The Sweet Scent of Freedom! For every purchase of limited-edition Beach Bomb cologne, the refreshing blend of aloe, vetiver and coconut essences lifts the spirits, knowing that P100 of it goes directly to the daily needs and rehabilitation costs of the residents of  Marillac Shelter for Women.

One of the best things about being an entrepreneur is meeting different kinds of people and having the opportunity to do something new each day.

I’ve always wanted the chance to be on the other side of a radio show. One of my (embarrassing) childhood memories was pretending to be a radio DJ, reading out the news or sending out greetings or dishing out my opinion on a particular issue to my “listeners:” my little brother (and now Leyende’s Admin and HR Manager), Kline, and one of our pet cats. It’s still surreal that this year alone, I got the chance to be part of two radio shows: 88.3 FM (with Lana Junia) and last November 9, I was a guest of the Entre Pinoy Espesyal program of DZAS 702 AM!

These photos are proof that it happened! Here I am with Kuya Lem and Ms. Jo (above photo). I was very excited when Grace Estabillo, their researcher (see her photo at the end), called a few weeks before to ask me to be their guest. I’ve always been a fan of AM radio stations because it’s always been a source of reliable news, information and advice for most Filipinos for generations.

DZAS is part of the Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC) which began its broadcast in June 1948. It was officially the first radio station in the Philippines to go on-air (as KZAS). Even my mother wasn’t even born during that time! By being a guest in their radio show, it seems Leyende and I have become part of a very rich history. Needless to say, they’ve garnered so many awards through the decades, as you can see below.

Overeager and antsy, I showed up a bit too early at their Valenzuela station (quite a drive from Makati!). But Grace and the radio hosts kept me entertained. Here I am at the radio booth where it all happens! They prepared me for the interview by chatting with me about the major points they were going to ask me. It went very well and we all had fun. Before I knew it, it was over and I was on my way back to the office (where everyone was tuned in via internet radio!).

Of course, I had to give them all our wonderful products. It was the least I could do for their generosity and support for Leyende. See below the wonderful Grace Estabillo (striped jacket), and the very professional and accommodating staff of DZAS who were very warm and kind enough to take photos for me during and after the interview.

On behalf of the Leyende team, I’d like to shout out at big THANK YOU to the DZAS hosts and staff for a wonderful experience. It was thrilling to be in the booth with the pros for a few minutes. And the feedback and inquiries we received through email, texts and phone calls was tremendous. In fact, we’re still meeting new people who listened to the interview until now.

We’re grateful for these opportunities and for our new friends and supporters in DZAS!

Leyende products will be available at the International Conference on Learning and Teaching Bazaar in Miriam College, Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City from October 5 (Wednesday) to October 7 (Friday), 8:00am until 7:00pm.

Our Official Reseller, Maisara Latiph, will be there to represent Leyende products alongside Messy Bessy household cleaning products. Drop by and check out our Holiday Travel and Holiday Caddy gift sets!

Last July 2010, Leyende started collaborating with production designer, stylist and accomplished crafter, Sharon See, on creative and attractive packaging “accessories” for Leyende products made from upcycled trash. The result was a crocheted sleeve specially made for Leyende’s Beach Bomb cologne, which caught many customers’ attention at the Biofach 2010 Natural and Organic Trade Fair in Tokyo, Japan (see photo below, Beach Bomb on extreme right).

Taking the project further, Leyende decided to work on another crocheted packaging project made from upcycled plastic trash with Ann Wizer’s Invisible Sisters, with Sharon See facilitating the design and process.

The result was colorful crocheted plastic bottleneck covers that addressed our need to differentiate each product variant (without using artificial coloring on the products themselves), and our desire to help reduce consumer waste by transforming plastic trash into beautiful packaging.

Currently, another upcycling project is in the works for Leyende and the Invisible Sisters, with Sharon See’s creative direction. This new set of packaging that comes out pre-holiday season will be geared towards Leyende’s growing export market.

Photos below from Ann Wizer’s Invisible Sisters website:

Leyende is dedicated in educating, inspiring and empowering its customers and loyal supporters. We invite you to come to the first of our consumer awareness seminars, and use the power of information to your advantage.

TODAY, September 24, 2011 (Saturday)

2:00pm to 4:00 pm

Landmarks: between STI  College and Burgundy Corporate Tower

Our speakers are:

Mr. Patrick Belisario (Official representative of ECOCERT)

• Benefits of using natural and organic cosmetics and personal care products
• Importance of ECOCERT certification

Mr. Jun Minagawa (PhilShopping.com)

• Online safety and fraud protection
• Advantages of online shopping

*Bring a friend, Get a free gift from Leyende!

for more info or directions, contact:

Nelby Ramirez or Claude Santos

403-1859 or 0915-6713154

or info@leyende.com

Hi folks!

So you already know about our Super Long Weekend Resellers Sale. But at Leyende, we always strive to give our customers a better experience every time, so we are going all out this long weekend: the Super Long Weekend Sale will include our store partners, Sesou Nature Source (Market Market, Trinoma, Alabang Town Center, Glorietta) and Crossings Department Store (Shangrila EDSA, Quezon Ave., Glorietta 3)!

From August 23 (today) until August 31 (Wednesday), you can buy from Leyende  Official Resellers ALL our regular items (

except for soaps) at 25% off!!!

AND…

You will get 10% up to 15% off selected Leyende products (shampoo, skin butter, massage oils, etc.) when you buy from our store partners, Sesou Nature Source and Crossings Department Store!

Are you panicking yet?

The price drop is unbelievable, and it will be over before you know it! Contact your area’s Official Resellers or visit Sesou Nature Source outlets or Crossings Department Store now.

Go crazy over your favorite Leyende products this whole month of July! Our End of Season Sale covers our travel sets and gift packages too! Drop by the Leyende office in Makati City or buy from our Accredited Store Partners:

Sesou Nature Source – Market! Market!, Trinoma, Glorietta, Alabang Town Center

Crossings Department Store – Shangri-la Mall Edsa, Glorietta (The Ramp), Quezon Ave.

Philshopping.com

Belle and Cat Nail and Wax Studio – Esteban St., Legaspi Village, Makati

Bikram Yoga Eastwood (Wellness Row)

Allez Hop Pilates Studio –  Legaspi St., Makati

Leyende was created to fill a personal need for safe, ethically-made sulfate-free, natural and organic products. But as it turned out, there were many people out there who were looking for the same thing; many were searching for a more realistic approach to beauty and wellness.

From the start, Leyende was never just about selling bath and body products. It was a way of sharing to others the products that really worked for us while fulfilling our eco-friendly and ethical philosophy. We also found ourselves sharing simple, flexible skin care habits to many customers (who have become friends along the way) that work for different situations and schedules.

These habits soon became known as the “Bare Beauty Philosophy.”

We’d like to invite you to know more about our beauty philosophy and advocacy at our event:

Dare to Bare: an Empowerment and Wellness Soiree

When: June 11, Saturday, 2pm to 4pm

Where: One Roxas Triangle Cruzada St. corner Paseo de Roxas, Makati City (behind Mandarin Oriental Hotel)

Guest speakers:

Ms. Ana Santos

Sexual Health Advocate and Founder of SexandSensibilities.com

and

Ms. Angelica Cruz

Beauty Therapist and Wellness Consultant

There will also be an opportunity for guests to have a complimentary group consultation (Q and A) with an OBGyne from Filipinay Foundation.

Plus complimentary 10-minute hand and back massage for guests!

Please email us at info@leyende.com or text 0915-6713154 to give your details and confirm your attendance.

We hope to see you there!

Birthdays, baby showers, despedida, anniversaries — they creep up on us when we least expect it. Or how about those occasions when you have to give your male boss a token or a going-away present.

Every month, we’re going to share our gift ideas to take guesswork  out of gift-giving. For the months of May and June, we’re putting the spotlight on male-related gifts (Father’s Day is coming up, folks!). Check out our attachment for our no-frills travel essentials — perfect gifts for the men in your life!

**These gift sets are exclusively sold online via www.leyende.com, the Leyende Head Office Makati, Mercato Centrale Markets, and via individual resellers (http://www.leyende.com/official-resellers-list/) — not available in department store outlets.