MANILA, Philippines – By now most Filipinos know that CD-R King, which traces its roots to selling blank CDs and DVDs, sells more than what’s on its name. So much more, in fact, that you never really know what you can find in that deceivingly drab bodega of a store.
Over the years, we’ve found swivel chairs, hair irons, negative film scanners and most recently, rice cookers, DSLR cameras and car stereos. And don’t forget those CD-R-King-branded HDTVs.
It’s a one-stop shop for most everyone’s basic and specialized needs, with a branch network and product catalog that can rival an entire mall.
This is no advertorial, we swear. Truth is, though: CD-R King saves you money, it saves you time, and come that birthday or anniversary or entire Christmas season when you just don’t know what to buy, it can save you a relationship.
The recent floods in Metro Manila, however, got us thinking: Can CD-R King save your life?
InterAksyon.com made another trip to our suking tindahan and tried to scour for some items you can stash in your Disaster Survival Kit. All at affordable prices, and available in most CD-R King stores nationwide:
1. Waterproof Bags (P880)
Waterproof bag
Start with a grab bag. You’ll need a good, sturdy product where you can stash everything you would need during a storm, such as flashlights, batteries, and emergency food. Its outer surface is made from material proven to be waterproof, so important documents such as passports, birth certificates, and the like can safely be tucked in here as well.
2. Waterproof Gadget Case (P750)
Waterproof gadget case
You’ll need your phones in the worst of times, so protecting them from accidental spills, drops, or bumps is a must. CD-R King’s gadget case can store phones, MP3 players, and even cameras, so you don’t have to worry about having your prized possessions washed away by the floods.
3. Wireless Child Tracker (P1,180)
Wireless child tracker
During calamities, it’s important that people stick together – and in many cases, that should be taken literally. Children have the tendency to wander, and if you keep a close watch, they could get in harm’s way. A child tracker sets off an alarm whenever your child wanders too far. Consider it a virtual tether.
4. Crank-powered Flashlight With Radio (P350)
Crank-powered flashlight
Power is a scarce resource during typhoons, and when the lights go out, we’re left at the mercy of candles. With this crank-powered flashlight, however, all you’ll need are your hands to power a super-bright set of LEDs – as well as the AM/FM radio that can give you the latest updates about whatever it is that’s keeping you in the dark.
5. Alkaline Batteries (P30 each)
Alkaline battery
Stock up. Alkaline batteries last longer than their non-alkaline counterparts, so it’s a good idea to keep a bunch of these cell batteries to operate lights or radios during a power outage. Alkaline batteries also tend to keep their charge longer, so you don’t have to worry about them losing their energy even after they’d been stashed for a long time.
6. Emergency Lantern (P380)
Crank-powered flashlights can do the job, but they’re only useful when you still have the energy to do the cranking. For lighting without the needed effort, a rechargeable emergency lantern would be a more ideal solution, so your place can remain bright during blackouts without having to unnecessarily waste your own energy to do it.
7. Mobile Phone (P599)
We’ve already outlined how mobile phones, even the most basic ones, can help save your life in times of disasters. This dual-sim “fastphone” from CD-R King can fulfill those duties as needed, as it comes with a torchlight and an FM radio. Its Dual-SIM capability ensures that you can never run out of network coverage or prepaid credits during calamities.
8. Mobile Power Bank (P680)
Your phones, or any of your gadgets, of course, will be useless if they run out of battery, so it’s a good idea to keep a mobile power bank in your survival kit just in case. This particular model stores 4600mAh of charge, which means it can power at least two of your high-end smartphones. It is also compatible with most phones, MP3 players, and tablets today.
9. Walkie Talkie (P990)
Communicating with your companions during a disaster is a key element of survival, so a walkie-talkie would come in handy just in case you need to be temporarily separated with your family. This particular model has a 3-kilometer range and is powered only by three AAA batteries.
10. Rechargeable Electric Fan (P1,180)
Flooding, heavy rains, and strong winds cause a lot of damage to our homes, but they can also be traumatic for people, especially kids. Sleeping at night, therefore, becomes a lot more difficult, especially with the power out and the knowledge that all hell could break loose anytime soon. Having a portable fan may not solve all problems, but it can provide the needed comfort during very distressful times such as disasters. Now that’s cool.
