MioFightsCancer.com

Dec. 9: Kiddopreneur Bazaar

2012-12-02T15:00:00.000-08:00

When I was younger, I used to bring a lof of my Mom's homemade goodies to school like yema, cheese balls or pastillas and sell them for P8 each because Mom said I shouldn't sell them for less than P5.

This added to my allowance and my classmates from Grade 2 all the way to Grade 6 loooooved these treats! They were gone by recess time.

Mio came home one afternoon asking for another pad of his crosswise pad paper and I wondered why he ran out of it too often. He told me a story that his classmates kept asking him to draw for them and so he obliges. I explained that the paper cost money and that some people actually pay to buy his artworks, told him the same story I just narrated earlier and encouraged him to sell his drawings for P5. The following day, he came home with P20, a smile and I bragged a bit on Facebook only to find out that he might get in trouble in school for that. So I took it back and asked him to return the money to his classmates. Ooops.

I'm telling you this story because I think being entrepreneurial is good. So I'm really thrilled that we've been a part of such a cute and responsible project like the Kiddopreneur Bazaar. The energy is so high, it beats any candy store actually!

So we usually join this to sell the greetings cards, notepads and gift tags that feature Mio's artworks to help raise funds for cancer. This year however, on December 9, Mio will be having his own drawing booth and will sit there the whole day to draw for you. He may have an artist's temperament that day so I'm not sure if he'll be able to accommodate portraits but he'll definitely indulge you with a drawing of his ninjagos, bakugans or Adventure Time. He hasn't decided on the prices yet, but since he's not a very sociable young man, I'm hoping this "new thing" he volunteered to do will get him started on the right foot. So I hope you can drop by, or volunteer to help out at his booth, because we'll need kids to sell with him :)

Sharing with you his business plan for Kiddopreneur! I think it's cute ;)

See you on December 9, Sunday at the Alphaland Mall! :)

Save the Date: November 15-18, 2012

2012-11-05T17:04:00.000-08:00

Mio Fights Cancer will be selling fresh stocks of the Mio Alphabet and NEW DESIGNS of the iPhone 4/4s cases PLUS! Samsung S3 cases at the Global Myx International Gift Fair! We hope to see you there!

Thank you!

Global Myx Gift Fair @ The Eastwood Mall Atrium

FS: iCANCERvive Baller Bands, P75

2012-10-24T06:13:00.002-07:00

We still have iCANCERvive baller bands for sale at P75.

Order them along with your iPhone 4/4s case or Mio Alphabet notepads/ greeting cards/ stickers

and get your shipping within Metro Manila FREE :)

CHOOSE YOUR COLOR:

Yellow - survivor, childhood cancer

Orange - leukemia

Red/ Burgundy - lymphoma, multiply myeloma

Pink - breast

Dark Blue - colon

Blue - prostate

October 21: Livestrong Day

2012-10-18T08:51:00.004-07:00

In the Philippines, cancer is the third leading cause of death. Yet there are very little cancer prevention programs or consciousness programs. What does this mean? With little awareness or concern, for your relative, friend, officemate or you, this may mean, recognizing it too late, diagnosing too late or less chances of surviving. In the Philippines, cancer survival rates are low.

Team Philippines Benefitting LIVESTRONG works to change these facts because we know we live in a society where change can easily be done. But we just need your support. In our society, spreading knowledge is about creating the numbers, coming together as one group of individuals who empower each other, and demand change. Think about your friend or family member, or that story you heard from someone else – those people who have faced cancer, are fighting cancer or whose lives were forever changed by cancer. They are the people we are coming together for.

Every year, Lance Armstrong celebrates his induction into cancer on October 2nd. Team Philippines, supports this organization because we believe that the Lance Armstrong Foundation is one that attacks cancer holistically. The fight is not only about the research or the medication. It is about the people who are fighting, their families who are strong and struggling, the lifestyles that keep us healthy and cancer-free and the awareness that we need to take action.

This year, we will hold the Philippine event on October 21^st, a Sunday. It is a bike-and-run event designed to unite, inspire, and empower people affected by cancer as well as to promote the need for healthy lifestyles. The proceeds of which will support local projects that furthers the advocacies of LIVESTRONG.

The LIVESTRONG Foundation was founded in 1997 by Lance, whose mission is to inspire and empower people affected by cancer, to unite people to fight cancer through programs, experiences, taking aim at the gap between what is known and what is done, for cancer prevention, providing access to screening and care, research – to improve the quality of life for cancer survivors – that you must not let cancer take control of it.

The annual event is now known as LIVESTRONG Day Philippines, hosted by Circulo Verde, an Ortigas & Company development in Calle Industria, Quezon City. Thankfully, we are not alone in this fight. Organizations like the Ortigas & Company have been gracious in extending their support. Aside from Circulo Verde supporting us, we have Makati Medical Center, Nattural Quality Corporation’s Ampalaya Plus, Booster C energy shots, Gold’s Gym, MyTAG, San Miguel Beer, Manila Water, Enduro & Trifemme Sports, Multisport magazine, BikeBros, LoopBikers, PasigMTB, mtb.ph, the Pasig City Running Club, and Multiply.com for our online all-mode payment portal.

Coming together empowers, it is our strength. It reminds us that we are not alone in this fight and there are many others that need our support.

Last year, Team Philippines Benefitting LIVESTRONG asked the Philippines to imagine their world without cancer.

This year, we ask for your strength. We believe that coming together, fighting as an entire society gives strength.

We encourage everyone to come. We believe that Unity is Strength.

See us at www.livestrongdayph.com for registration and other event details, or email us at livestrongdayph@gmail.com.

PS. Mio Fights Cancer will be there to sell the last batch of our iCANCERvive baller bands along with our phone cases. We hope you support! :)

Bazaar! Oct 12-14 in Eastwood Mall

2012-10-13T00:28:00.002-07:00

Hope you can drop by the Grand International Bazaar at the Eastwood Atrium, Ground Floor of the Eastwood Mall and purchase some of our products. Perfect for Christmas shopping! Items range from P20-P300 ONLY! We're sharing our booth with www.lifeafterbreakfast.com featuring Alessa's hand-stamped tote bags and cards worth P150. They're absolutely cute!

Remember, an accumulated purchase worth P1,000 qualify you to win an iTouch or iPod Shuffle from iStudio :)

Hope to see you there!

How To Order Your StART With Mio iPhone Cases

2012-09-26T22:49:00.001-07:00

1. Email miofightscancer@gmail.com with subject "iPhone case order";

2. State your name, complete address for shipping, design # and quantity;

3. Wait for our confirmation email with details on shipping cost;

4. Deposit total amount + shipping fee within Metro Manila to BDO SA 3520070809 account name Jose Emilio Mendiola; and

5. Scan or take a photo of your deposit slip and email on the same thread as your initial email order.

We'll ship your iPhone cases soon as we receive your payment. Order them now!ü Thanks!

Design No. 5 is out of stock

New Products!

2012-09-26T07:02:00.000-07:00

Have we told you that Mio's off treatment and just needs to attend monthly check ups and blood tests to make sure that he stays in the 84% of kids who do not relapse in the first year of being chemo-free? :) So Dr. Allan Racho and Mio Fights Cancer are together in arms to organize the much awaited annual angels christmas party where over 200 kids with cancer and blood diseases come together and celebrate life, family and receive the gift of inspiration from hundreds more of teenagers and adults who have been heealed of cancer :)

So to help do this, see quoted tweet below:

"Help @miofightscancer help other kids! New products to be sold at the AGS Fair this weekend, Sept27-29! StART with Mio artwork collaborations with Ronie Villanueva, Robert Alejandro, Elbert Or & Electrolychee launch our iPhone 4/4s cases retailing at P200 each. Raffle for iTouch still up for grabs so start shopping for your Christmas gifts while making a memorable Christmas celebration for chemokids possible! Email miofightscancer@gmail.com with your name, order, qty, delivery address. Ü"

By the way, the little girl, Hannah, who wedding gown designer Veejay Floresca helped is continuously receiving chemo, thank you to everyone's kind donations and awareness, Veejay's beautiful dresses were sold in a jiff! More updates soon!

Love & Light to everyone! <3 br="br">

Paying Forward: 2 Kids Need Our Help!

2012-09-09T04:16:00.002-07:00

Dear Mio Fights Cancer supporters,

Mio's latest bone marrow extraction and spinal tap showed normal results and will be up for observation for the next 2 years, claiming that he will fall under the 84% who don't relapse in the first year and the 90% of those who survive without cancer cells coming back in the second year. This is all possible because you have helped him and for that we are eternally grateful :)

As some of you know, Mio's Mom (that's me) is a Makeup Artist specializing in bridal makeup and a Theater Arts graduate from Ateneo. I am honored to have the opportunity to present two more ways on how we can continue spreading out our blessings and fight cancer through two mediums close to my heart <3 p="p">
I reposted a blog entry by renowned bridal gown and Philippine Project Runway finalist, Veejay Floresca who is helping a baby girl named Hannah who is suffering from Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia too. He is selling 2 of his dresses at 50% off and will donate all the proceeds to the little girl. Whoever buys it will also receive FREE Bride Only Hair and Makeup from me so I please spread the word to brides-to-be :)

this is baby Hannah

The designer, Veejay Floresca and the dresses for sale

Secondly, there's a play coming up in November and Cancer Warriors Foundation bought one show. Proceeds of the ticket sales go to a 3 year old girl named Georgia who is suffering with Erwing's Sarcoma stage 4 (spinal cancer). I really hope that we can mobilize and extend help to these princesses. Below is their letter:

Dear friends,

Camp Rock is coming to the Philippines!!!

We are very excited to be able to announce that we have secured a prime time show on November 24th at 3:30pm in an effort to raise money for Georgia's Smile Fund and Cancer Warriors Foundation!! Fantastic prime seating available with High Tea sponsored by the Hotel Intercontinental Manila.

Georgia is a courageous and beautiful 3 year old little girl, born in the Phillippines and adopted by two wonderful teachers at BSM. She was diagnosed with stage 4 Ewing's Sarcoma (Spinal Cancer) in June of this year. Her parents have been amazing at helping her through the biggest battle of her life however they need our help. The treatment and medidcation she needs is expensive and without it, she cannot fight. Part of the proceeds will be going to the Cancer Warriors as they are doing such fantastic work for all the other children whose lives are also changed forever by cancer.

Disney's CAMP ROCK: The Musical, based on the hit Disney Channel Original Movies Camp Rock and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam (starring teen idols Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers) will fire up your stage with over a dozen songs, including “This Is Me,” “Can’t Back Down,” “It’s On,” and “We Rock.”

Secure your tickets NOW by emailing georgia.smile.fund@gmail.com or by texting/calling Emma on 0917 584 0083. Ticket prices vary from 1,600php to 600php.

Make a difference to many people’s lives and have a fabulous afternoon at the same time.

All funds raised will be given to Georgia's fund (www.gofundme.com/georgiasfund or https://www.facebook.com/groups/KeepGeorgiaSmiling/) and Cancer Warriors Foundation (https://sites.google.com/site/cancerwarriorsfoundationinc/home or https://www.facebook.com/cancerwarriorsfoundation).

Thank you,

The Keep Georgia Smiling Team

Finally, Mio Fights Cancer will help Dr. Allan Racho host his annual Angels Christmas Party on December 22 and we're looking for a venue to hold this event along with performers, food, party hosts, a Santa Claus, game booths and give-aways for over 200 kids with cancer. Former patients (aka cancer survivors) of the pedia-oncologist will be present to help inspire the families of current patients. Any help would be appreciated.

I hope you can support these 3 things by reposting or reblogging this. Truly appreciate it. Thank you so much!

veejay floresca brides: Let's help!

2012-09-07T06:09:00.001-07:00

veejay floresca brides: Let's help!: Few minutes ago, I got a letter on Facebook from a good friend, Dr. Sweet Tappan, about the condition of baby Hannah, Dianne Panto's daughte...

Best News By Far ü

2012-07-03T00:00:00.001-07:00

Freedom from Cancer

2012-06-13T01:54:00.001-07:00

Post-Independence Day and we inch closer to Mio's last few chemotheraphy sessions :)

We've received so many blessings throughout Mio's ordeal and we'd like to help others in our own way too. This is our first step to fully pay forward.

iStudio was generous enough to give out several items that we can raffle off, the first being this iPod Touch 8gb :) we still have stocks left from the StART With Mio and Mio Alphabet merchandise over at www.chicify.com

So for a minimum purchase of P1,000 of any Mio Fights Cancer product/s, you will be qualified to win this brand new Apple product (you can even choose if you want the black or the white one)! We'll raffle it off after Mio's last chemotherapy session on August 1, 2012 to celebrate MFC standing for Mio Fights (other kids') Cancer from here on! :) don't forget to tweet @miofightscancer / email miofightscancer@gmail.com as per instructions on the Chicify graphics :)

Thank you for all the prayers, love and lessons. We hope you stay with us in fighting for kids' rights to live a normal life in spite of any adversary.

thank you for our iPad too iStudio!

Healthy Options

2012-05-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

I was recovering from chicken for the most part of March and it was unfortunate that I had it at this age. I was deathly terrified of having it and felt so helpless alone in a room for a good 3 weeks and it was even more depressing that Mio had to be isolated from me for a full month. So I wasn' t able to hold or hug my child or see him for 30 days!

A lot of my friends talked about how March was such an unlucky month and although I'm not superstitious, I was extra careful in making decisions particularly career-related ones and those that had to do with the family (although I failed at the financial aspect of it as per usual).

My friends throughout my pox ordeal aside from television and internet was a generous bathing in oatmeal soap, baby salves and natural oils to help moisturize my skin. I was quite disappointed with over the counter soaps that literally had 3 pieces of oatmeal scattered all over a P50 bar soap which wasn't helpful at all, I suspected. I had to search for the nearest reseller and orchestrate a rather difficult pick up and delivery logistics for me to get a hold of By Nature soaps that we have here in the Phiilippines. They're handmade soaps sold at bazaars that I learned of years ago as a contributing writer at Marie Claire Philippines and I can't get enough of how the all-natural stuff seem to be benefiting me as I use them longer. The benefits have been astounding and I would like to share with you some tips to get you started on healthier living. I am lucky to be surrounded by great advise (see my earlier post on Noelle Hilario's insights) and people who have a good influence on my life choices. I will share below the products I use, for now I hope these tips help:

1. Read the labels of the products that you buy.

Commercial products may or may not contain harmful materials, and as consumers, it’s important that we know what goes into the products that we use.

2. Get informed.

In this day in age, information can obtained with a press of a button. The internet has a wealth of information and I think it’s important that we maximize this opportunity. One can make healthier lifestyle choices when he or she knows what’s good for him or her. A good website to browse through is www.naturalnews.com. The website publishes articles on studies made on sicknesses, natural remedies and a lot more.

3. Explore.

There are plenty of alternatives to our current lifestyle, and opting for a healthier lifestyle needs a bit of courage and an open mind. Did you know that you can use fine iodized salt to stimulate hair growth? Ideally, we should only use commercial shampoo once or twice a week, to allow our scalps natural oils to moisturize our hair. Given the weather that we have, it's hard not to wash your hair with shampoo everyday, but if you stay at home most of the time anyway, why not give it a try?

Check out my loot so far:

Makeup loot from Human Heart Nature

Natural Feminine Wash from Human Heart Nature

Moisturizing Shampoo from Human Heart Nature

Interestingly, a glass of water with a slice of lemon can do wonders to your body.

More on this in The Amazing Health Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water.

Moisturizing oil lotion from BY NATURE

Chicify.com: Shop for a Cause

2012-05-09T21:34:00.002-07:00

Last April 14, 2012, Mio and I joined the Kiddo-preneur Bazaar in Alphaland Southgate Mall where we sold Mio's artworks.

Also, we then relaunched the StART With Mio artworks by printing the awesome designs of various collaborators on notebooks (see more information on the collaboration HERE). Chicify.com is giving away these notebooks for every single purchase worth at least P2000. Thank you Chicify! Visit Chicify.com now!

Help and get a chance to Win!

2012-04-11T00:12:00.000-07:00

As I've been announcing since Easter, Mio Fights Cancer will be at the Kiddo-preneur Bazaar again this weekend and we're excited because the last one was so fun and packed with energetic and creative kids! Everyone was so cute selling their own knick knacks and some kids were even doing the rounds shouting "cookies for sale!"

One of Mio's classmates even beamed to his Dad later on, "I sold a lot of flyers!" which was funny! Haha. I wonder what anecdotes we'll gather from this stint and we have a new mix of young sellers (if you're interested to learn how to sell, help Mio, meet him and his friends, send us an email at miofightscancer@gmail.com with your name, age and the time between 11am-6pm that you can come help).

For now, we'd appreciate if you spread the word to BUY FROM BOOTH #3 if you decide to visit the Kiddo-preneur Bazaar and be attacked with cuteness!

Just so you know what you can get, especially those who are fans of Mio's work from last year's Mio Alphabet, we're selling them by sets now. That means that you can get a box of greeting cards, gift tags, a sticker and a notepad for a discounted price, nicely ribboned by Mio himself so they're perfect gifts too (why don't you hoard some letters for the initials of your Mommy friends, your own mom or wife in time for next month's Mother's Day?)

We're also taking orders for what's left of the StART With Mio 16x24 gicle canvas artworks which will be on display at our booth PLUS! We're launching the beautiful artworks in button pin magnets/ bottle openers, keychain/ mirros and notebooks!

Finally, our young volunteers will get a gift from Adarna House and those buying items worth P1,000 or more get a chance to join our raffle draw. Mio Fights Cancer is giving away something spectacular -- as in awesome Drawsome levels for those buying from our booth this Saturday. Winner will be announced through this blog and notified through email and SMS.

So, will we see you this Saturday? :) please spread the word!

Help us at the Kiddo-preneur ü

2012-04-06T23:01:00.003-07:00

Happy Easter friends!

It's Mio's bday yesterday and the what-to-do-after-the-long-weekend summer dilemma is up! We're planning summer in the city activities that you can join us in but first....

The 2nd Kiddopreneur will be this coming Saturday, Apr14 at The Tents @Alpha Southgate Mall from 11am-6pm. There will be awards for Highest Sales, Best Service, Most Original Concept, Most Photogenic Booth and Best Ad.

If you have a kid aged 4-16 years old and want to help Mio Fights Cancer sell our art stuff (or have an idea we can do especially for the Kiddo-preneur like a booth raffle we can raffle off for those buying anything worth P500 or up), please let me know if you're free for a planning session (let's make an ad altogether too) on Monday 2pm in Eastwood (post-bday merienda on us!) and what time between 11-6 you're free to sell on Saturday.

The event also features talks on how to save for kids ü please email miofightscancer@gmail.com with the names and ages of your kids who can participate (subject: kiddopreneur for MFC and reply "name, age, monday mtg yes/ no, sat time if yes/ no")

Thank you!

PS. We need the following:
1 - donated items for our booth raffle;
2 - prizes or gifts for our kiddie sellers;
3 - a decorator/ interior designer to jazz up our booth;
4 - investors so we can "abono" for our products!

Thank you!

Valentine's Date!

2012-02-13T16:40:00.000-08:00

The perfect Hallmark holiday is heeeeere! And I woke up to Mio's sweet Valentine cards made from the education.com worksheets we did over the weekend.

I'm inviting all of you though to celebrate this season with butterflies and kites at the Ateneo Kythe Week :) will you be dates to kids with cancer and their families?

Hope to see you there!

Celebrity Living Feb. 2012

2012-01-31T22:05:00.000-08:00

It's out now and you should grab a copy because it's packed and we're featured in it :) hehe

Solving Problems

2012-01-29T15:57:00.000-08:00

Manic Mondays.

For most people, it's the start of yet another hectic work week and the beginning of waking up too early to get out of REM stage for those off to school.

To a household of a grade schooler, this is normal. In fact, as I recall my own grade school days, I had to open to gates of our school (literally!) since we were up at 4am and off to school at 5 just to beat the awful traffic of Commonwealth Avenue. Now, a stone-throw away from Mio's school means we buy us an hour and a half.

That's just one problem we managed to solve through time. Everyday though, adult problems haunt us like the plague and when kids act like their problems are bigger than ours, there's a penchant of remorse on our part.

Once, Mio cried over his Math homework three times! To be fair, it was a ridiculously difficult word problem involving 5 animals, hens and horses, all of which had 12 legs together. He had to find out how many hens and how many horses were there...... yes. There was just 1 horse and 4 hens. How did we come up with that answer? As adults we think it was common sense but to a seven year old, it was a century's worth of solving the freakin' math problem! Lo and behold we find out from the teacher weeks laters that homeworks aren't graded (now don't tell him that because we're teaching him to do his homework on his own... which is also the result of realizing that we should allow him to make his own mistakes. In his homework at least).

That afternoon I fondly recall as the Mystery of the Math Problem, I managed to ponder on these things:

1. It's ok if he makes a mistake. Of course it was daunting on Mio that for the first time in his elementary life we were telling him to let it go and leave the problem unanswered if he really couldn't solve it on his own. I tell you, we tried to explain how to get to that answer but given that they were doing Singapore Math which was alien to our drills and old vertical arithmetic, who knew if we were teaching what was logical correctly? So we told him that it should be alright for as long as he did his best.

2. Crying makes us upset. That whole crying wasn't entirely about not solving the math problem (makes me remember the day my Dad told me not to cry IF I don't win the elocution contest because there was not point crying over spilled milk. It was my first exposure to a classic cliche which I hold dear to my heart up to this day). We were getting frustrated too because that was a homework over a weekend which we were excited to spend NOT arguing. So I had to explain that the high-pitched voices and repetitive explanation wasn't because he couldn't answer it. It was purely because he was crying over something that should be simple and non-meritorious.

3. Guessing is not equal to solving. If it involved having to guess the answer, then that wouldn't be problem solving assignment, would it? That was just plain multiple choice. So I had to tell Mio that his teaches wouldn't give him a problem he wasn't equipped to solve. We were certain that they discussed a new school of thought or problem solving skill before being assigned that homework to supposedly practice on. In fact, when he gets too frustrated over things like this, I annoyingly remind him that he's dealing with cancer which was more than what most adults can handle and he's crying over Math?! Geez.

My point is, upon realizing these 3 bullet points, I was slightly embarrassed because I found myself learning from these points. Don't they apply to our daily household, work and relationship problems?

It's apparently all Elementary and another cliche reminds us that everything we needed to learn in life we knew in pre-school, right? Patience goes along with solving problems and I think that our generation had it harder for good reason. We read books page by page and wrote drills on the blackboard with yucky chalk not just to suffer but to value the process of learning. So in spite of the rise of the many video games, I encourage Mio to play with toys that he can touch and feel-- read books that he can flip and ear-tab, expose him to old games like chinese garter, jackstones and do crafts like origami and puzzles.

origami frogs made by Mio & Tita Clems

that's Mio with his Tito Mac playing origami cars after flying paper planes out our window!

cute origami hearts Mio surprised me with after an out of town trip for work last Friday

Today is Puzzle Day according to education.com so I'm sharing with you some PUZZLE IDEAS!

1. If you're missing puzzle pieces, don't throw out your old puzzle. You can use them to teach your child how to form letters! Find out how here.

2. If you're tired of the puzzles that don't make sense, use a drawing (the old ones that your child makes for you which the pack-rat in you tries hard to keep! Haha) and cut it up so you can test your child if he knows how to put it back together. Check out detailed instructions here.

3. Or find time to make your own puzzle! Found these blank puzzles in Muji. A great (but pricier) craft afternoon activity.

Try solving a puzzle or Sudoku once a day. You'll find comfort and find that life shouldn't be that hard. Happy Puzzle Day (everyday) everybody!

Art & Articles

2012-01-27T04:54:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I get schitzo with this parenting thing.

One day I'm ecstatic and get 100+ likes on a Facebook status proclaiming Mio's outstanding grades and then the next is my frustration about his incessant crying over nonsensical things (like my new haircut).

It's partly hormonal as it's that time of the month so I'm sure most Moms out there can relate to this never-ending internal conflict.

I turn to co-parents for advise and a breather and I'm confident enough to say that it's hard. Parenting is hard. And our kids-- no matter how much we love them-- will drive us insane without a balanced parenting style.

Sometimes, I turn to the "experts" in the guise of published articles and they're great help (whether you agree or just find your parenting method challenged with what they have to say).

THIS one in particular is a good read which I applied when Mio exuberantly announced that he got the awards in Best in Language, Reading, Math, Art, Penmanship and Filipino along with a 1st Honor Award for the 3rd quarter. Instead of pointing out that he's a smart boy, I said thank you and that I was proud of him because he got those grades from working hard in school, listening to teacher, studying on his own and diligently doing his homework.

To cap off this post on the universal perills of motherhood, please hope on over to the International Museum of Women's website where you'll find Rebie Ramoso's interpretation of a portrait Teresa Barrozo took of me and Mio when he was 5 years old :) We're happy that we get to be part of this since the artwork will be used for their materials to move their cause (of supporting women around the world) forward.

My Love is Steadfast graphic artwork by Rebie Ramoso

based on Teresa Barrozo's photo

of Jasmine & Mio Mendiola

Single Moms Listen Up!

2012-01-11T19:04:00.000-08:00

My parenting trend for 2012 is going as planned (so far!) and teaching RESPONSIBILITY is a tough act. Even tougher for single moms if you imagine.

Thankfully, single moms are not alone. They are not one and the same (sing parenting and being alone)! And that's exactly what this month's Working Mom magazine talks about. Get a copy and you'll find photoshopped meeee :D hehe (konti lng naman!)

I am excited to share this with you because I'm happy to give insight on taking care of kids (with or without cancer) because parenting in itself is already tough. So I hope that inasmuch as you are helping Mio, in this little way, we help you back :)

Help is abound and I was lucky enough to witness the creation of a masterpiece called the Happy Even After Solo Mom's Journal at the Viviamo! headquarters. I think single moms are a rare breed and we have to save them! So I wanna know how many we are out there who Ana Santos, the author can help! I'm giving away a Happy Even After Journal and this month's Working Mom January 2012 issue to 2 lucky single moms! Here's how:

1) Like this post (leave your contact details in a comment below);
2) Join/ subscribe to www.miofightscancer.com; and
3) Like the Mio Fights Cancer Facebook Fan Page.

Winners will be draw on January 31, 2012 and will be notified via email and SMS. Hope to see lots of likes!

Parenting Trend for 2012

2012-01-01T22:09:00.000-08:00

In my book at least.

Every year is different and quite distinct when raising an only child in an ever-changing household. There's the cuddly first year, the terrible twos, the tantrum threes and so on and so forth. The fourth year I would say was value-integration where I had to teach him the difference and the power of the words YES and NO. His fifth showed me HIS strength and his character more than anything else-- it was the time we discovered he had cancer. His sixth year was building his character. He went to big school, made friends and thrust his sheltered life onto a competitive setting. It was the year that I decided that he wouldn't be the big fish in a small pond anymore.

Last year, his 7th, was all about independence. Doing things on his own, deciding what was best in different situations, going with his friends or cousins with little (but still with!) supervision. In the Philippines, we're very much attached to relatives and extended families are very common-- cousins living in one compound, grandchildren growing up with grandparents, etc.Since I had Mio, I had resolved to absorbing the most that I can from advice and help from other people. His condition adds to that because so many people obviously care about his well-being. But you know how the saying goes, "too much of anything is not good" so balancing opinions and giving options is really a tough thing to do.

In 2012, my parenting trend will be about RESPONSIBILITY. I used to say that I'd get him a dog when he turns 7 but I have to put that on hold. Responsibility is a big thing. At my mature age of 29, I still get accused of being irresponsible when in the middle of a heated (rather emotional) argument with my own family. My personal snide comments about the most responsible man on earth may soon change if our 3-year pre-trial case improves but where I have control, I will do what I can with the best of my abilities.

So being in-charge of his things when we go out, doing his homework, FINISHING HIS FOOD! and teaching him to budget his "allowance" (aka the money he got over the holidays not meant for donations but as gifts) are the few things that I would like to address. For me though, I intend to limit my responsibilities to the things that are immediate and within my own household (is using our yoga ball considered one?). That's a start.

With that, I greet you all a Happy New Year and Mio's photos from today so far (yes, grounded from not finishing his food and short of a play date with his loving cousin Sophie which causes me much distress and heartache -- but still reaps satisfaction and lessons anyway)!

Mio Christmas

2011-12-28T22:12:00.001-08:00

Before we end the year with a bang, let me share with you Mio's vacation highlights. How did your kid spend the holidays? :)

We don't spend much on decorations but we really spend time putting up the tree :)

This is how our annual Christmas day is like -- a clan reunion with my paternal side,

the Mendiola-Gabriel clan!

and after Christmas, I had to go up to Baguio to do makeup and host a beautiful wedding so Mio and his Tita Clems got to do all the turista things in Baguio now that he's old enough to appreciate it. :)

Christmas & Children

2011-12-23T22:39:00.000-08:00

Nevermind the hustle and bustle of the adult reunions left and right. Christmas is for kids and it's all that matters!

When we told Mio the big secet about the man behind Christmas, he wasn't devastated at all. It happened last year when his only Christmas wish was an insanely expensive wii. I had to tell him that once upon a time, a man named St. Nick wanted to remind kids about the true meaning of Christmas so he went around and gave prents to children. (luckily, a nice Fil-Aussie lady played Santa last year).

God gave his son to us on a beautiful Christmas morn. And we have our children to remind us of our wonderful childhood too. It's a great way to bring family and frends together and no tragedy or flood can dampen the spirits of those who believe in the spirit of the holidays.

Mio hand-picked his Sendong donations and when we said another boy wanted a Lightning McQueen toy from the first movie, it was his idea to also include one of his.

When I was younger, The only times I could buy a new dress was during my birthday and Christmas and I always had an outfit planned in my head! No child wouldn't want to stand out so Kids of Bayo's Holiday 2011 Collection of quirky color-blocked pieces should definitely be on your wish list for your kids or part of one of their reunion presentation ensembles! (case in point, today's reunion assigns ladies in floral outfits and the boys in plaid!)

POPS OF COLOR
Break the yuletide monotone (of jewel tones or black, red, green or white) with these shades of fun!

Jaycee blazer, Php795

Diane shorts, Php645

Casey top, Php645 & Remy shorts, Php695/ Php725

Mardi jacket, P825/ Php875 & Tiani dress, P825/ Php 875

BLURRING THE LINES

Mix 'em or curve 'em -- these lines are far from just going in one boring direction.

Lorin dress, P895

Naila dress, P875

Breigh jacket, P1,095 and Atarah t-shirt, P545

Dhara t-shirt & Jam jacket, P895

PLEATS PLEASE

Even if you'd have them play and run around, I'd let the girls be girls. It's Christmas after all! (put the boys in something extra special too like collared shirts or fancier jackets to change it up)

Mya blouse, P875 & Rexanne shorts, P745

Nadja dress, P895

Cyrin blouse, P645 & Oni skirt, P645

Martinique romper, P895

Merry Christmas everyone! :D

Mio Alphabet is EVERYWHERE!

2011-12-15T03:26:00.000-08:00

Please hover over these links and find that our cutsie things are featured and well loved on print and online! Love lots!

Kate Alvarez's Blog Kate Was Here

Mabuhay Magazine, December 2011 Issue

Wanderrgirl herself, Arianne Serafico's definition of a meaningful Christmas

Future Entrepreneurs

2011-12-15T03:14:00.000-08:00

The other week was a fun rainy weekend when we participated at the Kiddopreneur Bazaar at the Rockwell Club. It was a learning experience both for the kids and us parents! Here are a few fun quirks to note:

1. Keep the kids entertained.

We had a coloring station ready just in case the kids got tired and wanted to sit down. I guess that reinforced the "art" in the items Mio made and Mio's "rest" was drawing too so that worked to our 24/7 advantage (at least for the 6 hours we were stationed there). That's Mio with Gabriel and Luis.

2. Delegate and rehearse!

Luis was splendid distributing the flyers but later on, maybe after hearing the rest of his friends saying, "stickers for sale! cards for sale!" he started screaming too and we heard him say "flyers for sale!" Hilarious!

3. Like any other staff member, don't let your sellers go hungry!

Amare's Oreas saved the day! We had to start at noon so some of the kids haven't eaten and took turns taking breaks. Phew!

2. Even if they're all over the place, kids take their work seriously.

Rocky, the rowdiest of the group cracked us up when he said, "hey guys! Hey guys! Listen up! We're not here to play, we're here to work!"

That's Rocky by the rack and Xavier "chatting" with Mio. Haha

It was a great experience pooling together Mio's cousins and friends that afternoon. To all those who helped and bought, THANK YOU SO MUCH! :D

We'll be at the Greenmeadows Bazaar this weekend, Dec. 17 & 18 for our LAST BAZAAR for 2011! Hope you can include our greeting cards, notepads, stickers, magnets, mirrors, tags and gift wrappers in your Christmas lists!