Pick Your Planner
by Mara S. Miano, Pia B. Guballa on January 6, 2011
Planners have grown from ordinary notebooks to creative and specialized (albeit very expensive) diaries suited for different types and tastes. The typical Atenean juggles schoolwork, parties, org meetings and class consultations. We all need that one special notebook that keeps us together! Whether you’re a coffee junkie, a budding artist, or a stylish fashionista, surely there’s a planner out there suited for your lifestyle. g Magazine is here to help you in picking out the perfect one.
For the regular customer
Nothing beats tradition. In the case of Starbucks, Paskong Pilipinas style, tradition means collecting stickers for their coveted planners. The Starbucks Planner goes back to its horizontal layout, and comes in three designs: Cool Clean Stainless Steel, Stained Dark Wood Panels and Maroon Velvet Fabric. Included are the usual coupons for freebies and a flap at the back to keep your loose notes in.
How to get it: You have to complete a 17-sticker promo card to redeem a Starbucks Planner (9 Christmas beverages and 8 regular ones). A single receipt purchase of P5000 also gets you one planner. Yeah, it’s very expensive, but Starbucks says for every planner they sell, they give back to a good cause! Starbucks donates to SparkHope, a project in partnership with UNICEF for childhood care and development. They give away stickers until January 5, and planners can be claimed until March 6.
For the no-fuss go-getter
If you like your planner plain and simple, the Moleskine is your best bet. You will also love the elastic closure, paper quality and a spacious inner pocket. There are a lot of variations, but for students, the 12-month Weekly Planner is the most practical. You can have it hard- or soft-bound, in a horizontal or vertical layout, and with different colors and different sizes (Extra Small, Pocket, Large and Extra Large).
How to get it: Available in all major bookstores for P679 to P1,349, but Fully Booked usually has more choices.
For the budget-cutter
If you’re not willing to spend for a pricey Moleskine, Scribe sells a standard-size planner that looks exactly like one for much cheaper. It has the same style and layout. It also has the same elastic closure band, only with a slightly less pretty paper quality.
How to get it: Available in Scribe bookstore in Eastwood for P250.00
For the one who just wants convenience
National Bookstore also sells planners similar to the Moleskine or Scribe ones in black, red and mint green. There are daily, weekly and monthly layouts, and it comes in pocket-size and large versions.
How to get it: Exclusively available in National Bookstore for P375.00
For the hopeless romantic
Dahil ang pag-ibig, dapat inaaraw-araw. Whether you are heartbroken, lovesick or just a hopeless romantic, the “RELAX, PUSO LANG YAN, MALAYO SA BITUKA” Planner 2011 will make you laugh/cry with its lyrics and love quotes, even including those from One More Chance! It also has cute coupons saying “I love you too, tayo na.” and the like.
How to get it: The Reader’s Room in Cubao Expo, or online (http://facebook.com/wittywillsavetheworld) for P350.00.
For the fashionista
If you want a fashion planner, but hate the bulky Belle du Jour, the 2011 Vogue Planner by teNeus is perfect! It’s about two sizes smaller than the average planner (very handy), and comes with a magnetic overflap close. It also features beautiful Vogue art covers all the way from the 1920s!
How to get it: Available at Fully Booked for P448.00
For the perpetual inspiration-seeker
The introspective, sentimental soul-searcher will love this planner. It has blank lists like, “10 Must-Try Foods and Restaurants Before 2010” and “10 Places I Want To Visit Before 2012.” One quirky page that caught our attention was the “Mood Chart”. Perfect for anyone who wants more than just the typical numbered dates on their planner!
How to get it: Available for P720.00 at Fully Booked and Power Books. You can also order by bulk online at (http://www.freespeechpublications.com/order/view.php?id=1). Buy 10 or more and get a discount.
For those who can’t put their pens down
The Schutzen Planner is more of a diary than a planner, with pages for Notes, Contacts and Projects and Goals. It comes with a thick removable cover with pockets and a clip-on strap. They also sell refill notebooks so you won’t need to buy a new one every year!
How to get it: Available at Fully Booked and PowerBooks for P1195.00
For the minimalist
The Muji planner is a reflection of all things Muji – plain, simple, brandless, but enticingly customizable. It’s a red ring-bound diary with a hard cover and an elastic fastening. This planner comes in either month by month or day by day varieties so you can choose just how much space you need to doodle on!
How to get it: Available at Muji, Bonifacio High Street for P675
For the artsy-fartsy doodler
The Design Your Life planner is perfect for anyone who wishes to bring out the inner creativity in him or her! This planner is packed with cute doodles on each page, stickers, and even spaces where to stick your 3R sized photos in. It’s the sort of planner that will make organizing feel fun!
How to get it: Available at the LS Bookstore for P450
