Some readers have asked where they can see photographs of the medicinal plants listed by journalist-turned-chef Bert Clemeña. Reader Manuel Kiok has very kindly provided a link where readers can find photos of medicinal Philippine plants, at least.

I have seen the photos. Several of the plants are not included in Bert’s list. Being a chef, his list focused primarily on herbs, particularly those used for cooking.

But the site provided by Kiok will add to the readers’ information on the medicinal values of common Filipino plants. Visit https://www.filipinoherbshealingwonders.filipinovegetarianrecipe.com/ for photos of some of the country’s indigenous plants that are reputed to be medicinal, as well as information on what their benefits are.

Readers may also want to visit the Flora Filipina Expo 2012 on Feb. 23 to March 12 at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City. Organized by the Philippine Orchid Society, there will be vendors there who may be selling the plants they want and even give advice on propagation. There will also be lectures by experts.

Call 9294425 or (0917) 8485468 for more information. You may also e-mail [email protected] or visit www.philippineorchidsociety.com.

New mobile services

Prepaid mobile phone subscribers will be happy to learn about the new services being provided to them by Globe Telecom Inc. Some subscribers are already aware of one of the new services—the Load Watch that provides real-time updates on their balances.

Peter Bithos, Globe senior adviser for consumer business, said the service was designed to allay fears of subscribers that their load was being stolen by the network, because every time they checked their balances they were usually lower than what they expected.

The service, Bithos said, informed subscribers how much they had used, their current balances, and when they would expire. Some people complained that the updates were issued so often they had become annoying. But most other pre-paid subscribers are quite happy to get the regular reminders.

Another service Globe launched to make life more convenient for prepaid subscribers is the adoption of just one code for all services. Instead of having to key in different codes and sending them to different numbers, subscribers only have to enter *143#. They will then be presented a menu of services—existing promotions, international roaming, etc. By entering the number of the service they want, they are brought to the relevant subdirectory and so on.

Two other pieces of good news, as announced by Chee Loo Fun, senior adviser for consumer marketing: Facebook access would be free until the end of the month, and the network was bringing back its Immortal promo-no expiry loads.

Key in *143# to find out how to avail of these offers and other details.

Online shopping

Charles Rufino wants to invite readers to experience the convenience of online shopping by visiting www.babiestotoddlers.com. He said their company catered to parents and pregnant women, offering hard-to-find items for children, from infants to toddlers.

“We carry a carefully selected assortment of the finest quality baby gear, nursing and feeding accessories, baby aids, variety of wooden mobiles, and more,” he said.

Rufino said many Filipino consumers are beginning to realize that their fears that online shopping was unsafe were unfounded. There were many safe and secure payment schemes available to online shoppers. By shopping online, customers could avoid long trips, traffic, crowds and long queues, he pointed out.

Send letters to The Consumer, Lifestyle Section, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 1098 Chino Roces Ave. cor. Mascardo and Yague Sts., 1204 Makati City; fax 8974793 /94; or e-mail [email protected].