Featured On - Californila

Californila.com – Shop from the USA and Ship it to the Philippines

June 13, 2018

Shop from over 150,000+ Online Stores and we'll ship it straight to your address in the Philippines. Get it as fast as 7 - 10 days via Air Cargo or 30 -45 days via Sea Cargo.

Owning A Piece Of America

March 30, 2018

Owning A Piece Of America - Season 3 Episode 2 Season 3 Episode 2 With Host Faith Bautista and guests - Ishka Villacisneros-Tusjakova owner of Californila Business and Lemuel Balagot owner of LA Rose Cafe.

Californila.com Warehouse TV Commercial

February 9, 2018

Shop from your favorite US Online Store and we'll ship it to your address in the Philippines (or anywhere in the world!). Daily Air Cargo shipments and Weekly Sea Cargo shipments to the Philippines.

Another Young Filipina Businesswoman is Making Waves in the US

April 9, 2017

What started as a “pakisuyo” became a lucrative business for an enterprising young Filipina. Ishka Villacisneros-Tusjakova is the 27-year-old founder of Californila, a ‘personal shopping’ online store where customers from Manila can purchase items which are only available in the US. She said that the idea behind Californila goes back to the Filipino tradition of sending balikbayan boxes. With the money she earned from her part-time work in a cafe in California, she would buy send items for her friends and relatives in the Philippines. Image from FemaleNetwork.com Soon enough, her friends and…

Calm over the horizon

March 25, 2017

Many years ago, I worked for my parents who own a video production company. Because it is a family business, you inevitably end up wearing many hats and being the czar of many different jobs. I mainly managed projects and worked as a video editor. On production, there were times that I was called on to work as an audio tech and was made to wear headphones on long production days. In those days, having a really good set of headphones that picked up every nuance of sound was essential to making sure the client got what they needed. First impressions. Naturally, my first impression of these…

This Filipina Businesswoman’s Life Has Changed Because of Online Shopping

March 24, 2017

Ishka Villacisneros-Tusjakova is no stranger to hard work. In fact, at 11 years old, her parents had already exposed her to clerical tasks in their company—an experience which trained her to multi-task and eventually challenged her to become more enterprising. Now at 27, she is the owner of Californila, a fast-growing personal shopping online store that provides Manila-based customers with items only available in the US. What started out as pakisuyo and padala now provides Ishka more than just stability, but a means to provide jobs for her relatives and friends while also allowing her to…

Inspired by clouds

March 22, 2017

Take your time.I’ve got a Fujifilm X100s. It runs about $1300. It’s easily the best camera I’ve ever owned. I take care of it as best as I can, but I don’t let taking care of it impact the photography. Let me elaborate on that a bit better. You’ll get better at each section of what we talked about slowly. And while you do, you’ll be amazed at how much easier it all is and how the habit forms. The best way to get better at photography is start by taking your camera everywhere. If you leave your house, your camera leaves with you. The only exception is if you’re planning for a weekend bender —…

Meet the 27-Year Old Filipina Whose Online Business Is Making It Big in the US

March 22, 2017

Ishka Villacisneros-Tusjakova is no stranger to hard work. In fact, at 11 years old, her parents had already exposed her to clerical tasks in their company—an experience which trained her to multi-task and challenged her to become more enterprising. Now at 27, she is the owner of Californila, a fast-growing “personal shopping” online store that provides Manila-based customers with items only available in the US. What started out as pakisuyo and padala now provides Ishka more than just stability, but a means to provide jobs for her relatives and friends while allowing her to follow her…

Make it clean and simple

March 20, 2017

Create your header preset in just few clicks. Just the other day I happened to wake up early. That is unusual for an engineering student. After a long time I could witness the sunrise. I could feel the sun rays falling on my body. Usual morning is followed by hustle to make it to college on time. This morning was just another morning yet seemed different. Witnessing calm and quiet atmosphere, clear and fresh air seemed like a miracle to me. I wanted this time to last longer since I was not sure if I would be able to witness it again, knowing my habit of succumbing to schedule. There was this…

When you are alone

March 18, 2017

You will remember the people more than the place. When you are alone for days or weeks at a time, you eventually become drawn to people. Talking to randos is the norm. I’ll never forget the conversation with the aquarium fisherman, forest ranger, and women at the Thai market. It’s refreshing to compare notes on life with people from vastly different backgrounds. When you meet fellow travelers, you’ll find they are also filled with a similar sense of adventure and curiosity about the world. Five days of friendship on the road is like five months of friendship at home. It’s the experiences that…

Real time design tools

March 7, 2017

Just the other day I happened to wake up early. That is unusual for an engineering student. After a long time I could witness the sunrise. I could feel the sun rays falling on my body. Usual morning is followed by hustle to make it to college on time. This morning was just another morning yet seemed different. Witnessing calm and quiet atmosphere, clear and fresh air seemed like a miracle to me. I wanted this time to last longer since I was not sure if I would be able to witness it again, knowing my habit of succumbing to schedule. There was this unusual serenity that comforted my mind. It…

Stumbled the concept

March 3, 2017

If you’re not sure how much time you are actually spending on various tasks, use a tool like Rescue Time (their free version is excellent!) which runs in the background and tracks where your time is being spent. It can even send you weekly reports so you know exactly how much time you wasted on Facebook, or spent in your email inbox! You can assign different websites or programs/applications on a scale of very distracting to very productive, so you can see at a glance things like: which days of the week you’re most productive, which times of the day you’re most productive, and the sites on…

Time is passing by

March 2, 2017

CSS selectors all exist within the same global scope. Anyone who has worked with CSS long enough has had to come to terms with its aggressively global nature — a model clearly designed in the age of documents, now struggling to offer a sane working environment for today’s modern web applications. Every selector has the potential to have unintended side effects by targeting unwanted elements or clashing with other selectors. More surprisingly, our selectors may even lose out in the global specificity war, ultimately having little or no effect on the page at all. Any time we make a change to a…

Hey DJ play that song

February 18, 2017

Many years ago, I worked for my parents who own a video production company. Because it is a family business, you inevitably end up wearing many hats and being the czar of many different jobs. I mainly managed projects and worked as a video editor. On production, there were times that I was called on to work as an audio tech and was made to wear headphones on long production days. In those days, having a really good set of headphones that picked up every nuance of sound was essential to making sure the client got what they needed. Keep me dancing. Naturally, my first impression of these…

Me Myself and I

February 8, 2017

Many years ago, I worked for my parents who own a video production company. Because it is a family business, you inevitably end up wearing many hats and being the czar of many different jobs. I mainly managed projects and worked as a video editor. On production, there were times that I was called on to work as an audio tech and was made to wear headphones on long production days. In those days, having a really good set of headphones that picked up every nuance of sound was essential to making sure the client got what they needed. First impressions. Naturally, my first impression of these…

My tech travel setup

February 6, 2017

MacBook Pro Robert Capa, a famous photojournalist once said, “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” It’s not just about zooming in with your lens, either. It’s about getting physically closer to people and getting to know them better. It’s also about spending a little time with a stranger before taking their photo. That helps build the trust and comfort that’ll come through in your pictures. Walk up to your subject with a simple wave and a smile to help communicate that you mean no harm. Ask permission to take a photo if they speak the same language as you. If you…

Learn the rules first

February 2, 2017

I was recently quoted as saying, I don’t care if Instagram has more users than Twitter. If you read the article you’ll note there’s a big “if” before my not giving of said thing. Of course, I am trivializing what Instagram is to many people. It’s a beautifully executed app that enables the creation and enjoyment of art, as well as human connection, which is often a good thing. But my rant had very little to do with it (or with Twitter). My rant was the result of increasing frustration with the one-dimensionality that those who report on, invest in, and build consumer Internet services talk…

The new brand identity

January 30, 2017

I stumbled upon the concept of margin while reading a post by Michael Hyatt, which led me to design my ideal week. Richard Swenson, M.D. (who wrote the book: Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives) describes margin like this: Margin is the space between our load and our limits. It is the amount allowed beyond that which is needed. It is something held in reserve for contingencies or unanticipated situations. Margin is the gap between rest and exhaustion, the space between breathing freely and suffocating. Last year I wrote about why booking too…

Sounds from the streets

January 28, 2017

Many years ago, I worked for my parents who own a video production company. Because it is a family business, you inevitably end up wearing many hats and being the czar of many different jobs. I mainly managed projects and worked as a video editor. On production, there were times that I was called on to work as an audio tech and was made to wear headphones on long production days. In those days, having a really good set of headphones that picked up every nuance of sound was essential to making sure the client got what they needed. It’s safe to say that because of my unique professional…

A day alone at the sea

January 25, 2017

Just the other day I happened to wake up early. That is unusual for an engineering student. After a long time I could witness the sunrise. I could feel the sun rays falling on my body. Usual morning is followed by hustle to make it to college on time. This morning was just another morning yet seemed different. Witnessing calm and quiet atmosphere, clear and fresh air seemed like a miracle to me. I wanted this time to last longer since I was not sure if I would be able to witness it again, knowing my habit of succumbing to schedule. There was this unusual serenity that comforted my mind. It…

Some amazing buildings

January 18, 2017

Minimalism and geometric. When you are alone for days or weeks at a time, you eventually become drawn to people. Talking to randos is the norm. I’ll never forget the conversation with the aquarium fisherman, forest ranger, and women at the Thai market. It’s refreshing to compare notes on life with people from vastly different backgrounds. When you meet fellow travelers, you’ll find they are also filled with a similar sense of adventure and curiosity about the world. Five days of friendship on the road is like five months of friendship at home. It’s the experiences that bond you together, not…

Working from your home?

January 14, 2017

01. Wake up at the same time every day. Naturally, my first impression of these headphones is based off of the look of them. They have a classic over-the-ear style that is highlighted by a blue LED light that indicates the power for the noise canceling. The padding on the ear pieces seems adequate for extended usage periods. They are wired headphones, but the 3.5mm stereo mini-plug cable is detachable. Something else I noticed right of the bat was the very nice carrying case that comes with them. It has a hard plastic exterior with a soft cloth interior that helps to protect the surface of…

Awwwards best websites

January 8, 2017

I was recently quoted as saying, I don't care if Instagram has more users than Twitter. If you read the article you’ll note there’s a big “if” before my not giving of said thing. Of course, I am trivializing what Instagram is to many people. It’s a beautifully executed app that enables the creation and enjoyment of art, as well as human connection, which is often a good thing. But my rant had very little to do with it (or with Twitter). My rant was the result of increasing frustration with the one-dimensionality that those who report on, invest in, and build consumer Internet services talk…

Trust in your intuitions

January 8, 2017

Once I gave the headphones a thorough once-over exam, I tried them on. As I mentioned, they have a classic over-the-ear style and just looking at them, the padding on the ear pieces seem adequate and the peak of the headband seemed to be a bit lacking, but you don’t really know comfort unless you try on the product. So, I slipped the headphones on and found them to be exquisitely comfortable. Once I gave the headphones a thorough once-over exam, I tried them on. As I mentioned, they have a classic over-the-ear style and just looking at them, the padding on the ear pieces seem adequate and…

Top Deejay Headphones

January 4, 2017

First impressions. Many years ago, I worked for my parents who own a video production company. Because it is a family business, you inevitably end up wearing many hats and being the czar of many different jobs. I mainly managed projects and worked as a video editor. On production, there were times that I was called on to work as an audio tech and was made to wear headphones on long production days. In those days, having a really good set of headphones that picked up every nuance of sound was essential to making sure the client got what they needed. Many years ago, I worked for my parents who…

Paving the way for technopreneurs: Start-ups at UP JMA’s NEXT

December 12, 2016

Technopreneurs, or technology-based entrepreneurs, have been rising as of late. They’re often run by young entrepreneurs, usually millennials, with a purpose in mind other than making money: public service, pursuing their passion, etc. These companies seem to come out of nowhere and become success stories seemingly overnight. They start off as an idea, and blossom into something that’s suddenly the talk of the town. They cater to things you wouldn’t have thought of, or may have but never had the chance to pursue. The University of the Philippines – Junior Marketers Association (UP JMA)…

Exclusive – Young Pinay Entrepreneur Creates Successful Online Business With Only $50

November 8, 2016

Ishka Villacisneros-Tusjakova is a 27-year-old Filipina migrant who lives in Los Angeles, California. She created a website called Californila.com (formerly Stuff2Shop) - “a Personal Shopper and Shipper” site that been very popular with Pinoys who love imported goods.” What was her inspiration? Shopping. Specifically, she enjoyed the products and the shopping experience offered in the United States. It didn’t take too long before her relatives and friends to asked her to purchase items and commodities from American retailers in their stead. She happily took this opportunity to answer…

With only US$50, LA-based Pinoy millennial starts successful online shopping business

November 4, 2016

Ishka and pre-Christmas deliveries. Photo by Ishka Ishka Villacisneros-Tusjakova is 27 years old and lives in Los Angeles, California. She may seem like your regular Filipina migrant who is starting her family abroad, but in fact, she singlehandedly built an internet empire that capitalizes on Filipinos’ love for imported goods. In her teens, she built Californila.com, formerly Stuff2Shop, an increasingly popular website that acts as your “Personal Shopper from California to Manila.” Whatever stuff you want in the US, Californila will personally purchase for you. It acts as your personal…

5 Influential Filipino Women – 21st Century Literature

November 3, 2016

When you hear the word “influential”, most people would immediately think of Henry Sy or John Gokongwei. In fact, majority of our presidents and leaders are men. However, there are lots of strong independent women in our country just waiting to be discovered. 1.Encarnacion Alzona Encarnacion Alzona was the first Filipina to complete her doctoral studies and national scientist. She was also an advocate of women’s suffrage. She explained that if women are permitted to vote, men’s respect for them would likely increase because “a person enjoying full political…

Californila: Your Personal Shopper from California to Manila

March 4, 2015

Filipina entrepreneur, Charmaine “Ishka” Villacisneros, was fortunate enough to experience the exciting world of American shopping for most of her life. Moving to the state of California, she had access to the latest gadgets, novelty items, and other unique products that folks back in Manila could only dream of having. Having that opportunity, she would send items that are worthy of sharing to her friends and relatives in the Philippines by means of balikbayan boxes. It wasn’t long before others took this as an opportunity to obtain commodities from American retailers, with her as their…

How Pinay turned joy of shopping into a business

November 28, 2014

MANILA, Philippines – Charmaine “Ishka” Villacisneros may look like just any ordinary young woman. The eldest of 3 children, she graduated from De La Salle University Manila with a degree in BS Information and Communications Technology Management. Charmaine was already passionate about her chosen field even at early age. She was computer-savvy, creating graphic designs for some companies when she was 11. She even became a part-time payroll manager for a call center in Ortigas when she was 14. When she turned 18, her parents migrated to Los Angeles to seek greener pastures. She immediately…

Californila.com Official Video

May 13, 2014

Californila.com is your personal shopper from California to Manila. Californila was established to accommodate online Filipino consumers. Not all U.S. online retailers will ship directly to other countries that’s why Californila is here, your personal shopper from California to Manila. It is the most convenient and cost-efficient option for shipping your online purchases from the US to the Philippines, if you are not in a hurry. Californila offers a variety of products, from the latest gadgets to the trending fashion, you can shop whatever you want from our online store or any U.S online…

Californila: Direct shipping of online purchases from US

December 12, 2013

Online purchases from the US are not always delivered directly to the Philippines. But Californila makes this task their business, making them your personal shopper from California to Manila. Get to know more about them and their line of personal shopping.