Every Woman

Post-Mortem of a Fire

2014-02-01T21:16:00.000-08:00

A day before the biggest festival in Iloilo City, a fire broke out and razed a commercial building.

News reports indicated that the fire broke out on January 24 at 7:40 PM at the Ledi Supermarket in Iznart St., a few hours before the highlight of the Dinagyang Festival. The fire lasted for 3 hours and required assistance of fire trucks and fire volunteers from nearby municipalities.

I read in a Rappler report that 11 stores were razed down. Most of these stores sell clothing and textile products which may had fed the fire. Here's a list of the stores affected:

CPT Pharmacy
Yoka Store
Helen Marketing
AH Trading
LGC Hardware
EC Marketing
Yankee General Merchandizing
PCSO Lotto Outlet
JB Lucky
Mercury Money Changer
Enghong Commercial

My husband took these photos of the Bureau of Fire and Protection people cleaning up the area the day after the fire while they were covering the "Kasadyahan" performances in the nearby JM Basa St.

The People We Had Helped Rebuild Their Homes

2014-01-26T07:14:00.002-08:00

If you recalled my first post regarding my fund drive for Typhoon Yolanda victims in Brgy. Bagongon, Concepcion, Iloilo, we have already gave cash to some families (see related post here). I was not able to go to the island personally. I was actually advised not to go there because the weather these past few weeks is not good for travelling to the island. I handed P15,000 to Mrs. Catherine Buenafe and she took charge of distributing the money to her neighbors.

Mrs. Buenafe accepting the cash donations last December 2013.

Here is a list of names of the recipients of the donations:

Reynaldo Olano

Jona Panday

Lorna Gabayeron

Elena Gabayeron

Bonifacio Vinalon

Herminio Buenafe

Rona Buenafe

Mary Jaene Sanchez

Joey Herbolario

RIna Camayodo

Mrs. Catherine Buenafe promised to give me photos of the recipients. However, she could not give it to me yet because she has not yet crossed to the mainland because of bad weather. I want to get photos of the recipients and the area for transparency purposes for our donors but then, I don't want also that these people risk their safety for a simple photo. I'll just post it here as soon as I get them.

Please encourage your friends to make their donations through my gofundme page so that we could help more families in the island. http://www.gofundme.com/5d0qv8

As of today, we have received $199 dollars donation. I am planning to cash this out next week so we can send funds to some families.

EDITED (January 30, 2014)

Here are the photos of the people who have received assistance from us last December.

Notice the material used for the roof. Those are tarps.

This is what was left of their house. I learned that those who totally
lost their house would live with other families whose houses were less affected.

Again, tarp material for their walls.

A Summer Getaway: Campuestohan Highland Resort

2014-01-26T05:46:00.001-08:00

The managers of Bristlecone Branch of Sunlife Financial went to the Campuestohan Highland Resort, a mountain get away that is currently getting a lot of tourist traffic, last January 24, 2014. If you love to commune with nature, Campuestohan is the right vacation spot for you.

Mt. Mandalagan in the background.

Campuestohan is situated right in the boundaries of Talisay City and Bacolod City of Negros Occidental. The place offers breathtaking views. Serving as a backdrop is the majestic Mt. Mandalagan while on the other side is a scenic view of the plains of Negros Occidental, a portion of the sea and a peek of the Panay islands. The weather is very cool which makes it a perfect summer getaway.

Sun Life Managers having fun while taking pictures
of the place. The Log Cabin stands in the background.

I first went to Campuestohan on May 2013. Back then, they only had the Log Cabin, the cabanas, Heroes' Hall, swimming pool and the children's playground. Less than a year later, the whole place had a lot of additional fun areas like the giant gorilla, zipline, obstacle course and new and bigger swimming pool in the shape of a giant foot.

Posing with King Kong.

The giant gorilla-King Kong, and the Heroes' Hall are the favorite spots of the Sun Life managers for picture taking. It was morning when we went there. Naturally, the light was quite harsh so the photos I took had a lot of glare.

The Heroes' Hall

They also have a zipline now, an obstacle course (which looks quite long) and an area for horse-back riding. I estimate the zipline length at around 500 meters, but trust me, I'm not good at estimating distances. (^_^)

The obstacle course. Or whatever they call it.

The Zipline tower. On the foreground is a replica of a helicopter relic
which is part of the King Kong site.

Some resort staff tried the zipline and did some exhibitions. This is a lucky shot. :)

The Log Cabin serves as the resort's hotel. They also have the Bonita Huts for overnight accommodations. These huts look quaint; reminds me of hobbit houses. I learned that the maximum number of persons the resort can house is around 100. They also have day cottages and picnic umbrellas for rent.

These huts can accommodate 4 persons.

Day huts near the old swimming pool. On the far background is a peep
of the plains overlooking the resort.

Situated across the resort's main entrance is the newly-constructed restaurant. From it's balcony you would have a view of the mountains. On the other side, your visual senses would be treated to breathtaking hues of greens and blues displayed by the vast expanse of the Negros Occidental plains seen from above, and a portion of the sea.

The newly-constructed restaurant.

The food in their restaurant menu are reasonably priced. We had our lunch there. We were served the all-time favorite KBL (kadyos, langka, baboy) - a pork stew with young jackfruit and lentils, cooked to perfection. We also had fish fillet and, beef strips with mushroom and gravy. It was a hearty meal. The only downside was that they don't have brewed coffee that day. I was really looking for brewed coffee especially that it was extremely cold that day and I forgot to bring a jacket.

Campuestohan Highland Resort is a dream for young children. The foot-shaped swimming pool, the festive-colored playground, the shoe house, and the different characters from animated movies. Its magic will also capture the adults who are young at heart.

The Shoe House

Foot-shaped pool.

View of the huge playground from the Restaurant's balcony.

Resort rates:

Entrance fee: P150.00/person
*Free use of swimming pool and playground

Zipline P200.00
Obstacle course P200.00
Horse-back riding P150.00
*15 minutes

Check their website for reservation and contact details:
http://campuestohanhighlandresort.com/

For sure, I'll be coming back to Campuestohan. With the kids next time. By then, I hope I will have the courage to try the zipline.

Managers of Sun Life Financial-Bristlecone Branch

Picking up the Pieces: Typhoon Yolanda Survivors

2014-01-19T06:35:00.001-08:00

These are some of the photos taken by my husband Jonathan, of the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda from Northern Iloilo. He was a member of the group called Typhoon Yolanda Story Hub. The group provided some of the photos used in compelling news articles about damage brought by the strongest typhoon ever recorded in history.

Children from Nagpana, Barotac Viejo

Trecia Ann Docejo. 2 yrs old. From Poblacion, Concepcion, Iloilo.

I don't have caption for some of these photos coz I don't have their details yet.

Embers Amongst Ashes: The Different Faces of Typhoon Yolanda Destruction

2014-01-19T06:15:00.000-08:00

My husband was one of the few photographers called to photograph the areas affected by Typhoon yolanda in Northern Iloilo. Some of the areas he covered were Estancia, Concepcion and Barotac Viejo. Here are some of the photos he took.

What's left of Sara Public Market

Boats slammed into houses in Estancia

Estancia oil spill

A public school in Estancia

I am running a donation drive for affected families of Typhoon Yolanda in Brgy. Bagongon, Concepcion, Iloilo. Should you wish to help, check out this link to know more: http://www.gofundme.com/5d0qv8

Helping Rebuild Northern Iloilo - Our Typhoon Yolanda Aid Story

2014-01-12T03:55:00.000-08:00

It's been two months since Typhoon Haiyan (Philippine name Yolanda) struck the Visayas area of the Philippines. Some of the hardest hit areas are in Northern Iloilo composed of Estancia, Batad, Ajuy, Barotac Viejo, Carles and Concepcion. Public structures were destroyed, homes were flattened, livelihood were lost, and some lives perished during and after the storm.

I had been busy with work, family matters and our donation drives, I hadn't had the time to post our relief initiatives here in my blog. I'm posting it here now for the benefit of my online (and offline) friends who contributed to our relief/donation drives. Friends from Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Australia, schoolmates from Carlos Hilado Memorial State College, and parents and students from Twin Star Learning Center - Talisay contributed to our donation drive.

Our first fund drive was done immediately after November 8. We were able to collect donated food products, used clothing and some cash. All these amounted to around P30,000.00 (US $714), both cash and goods. These were forwarded to an academic institution here in Iloilo who conducted several relief operations to the areas of Carles and Ajuy.

My friend Denel helped me bring the
donated goods to Iloilo City.

We brought the goods to UP Visayas in Iloilo City.
UPV facilitated collection of donations and brought them
to the disaster-stricken areas. Shown here are UPV employees busy
repacking donated rice and other food stuff.

Twin Star Learning Center students with their donations.

Some of the donations were brought to ABS-CBN
Sagip Kapamilya in Bacolod City.

Our second fund drive was launched on the 4th week of November. The purpose was to raise cash to be donated to some beneficiaries in Brgy. Bagongon, Concepcion, Iloilo. Brgy. Bagongon is an island barangay, about 45-minute boat ride from the mainland of the municipality of Concepcion. Relief efforts seldom reach the island. Cash donations were raised so that the beneficiaries could buy construction materials to rebuild their homes. We were able to raise P15,000 (US $360). This amount was able to help around 7 families. The said baranggay has an estimated 400 households. This means, a lot of them still needs help.

This is Mrs. Catherine Buenafe. She is one of our
Yolanda cash aid beneficiary from Brgy. Bagongon, Concepcion.

We are launching this third fund drive so that we can help more families rebuild their homes. I know that most of us have already donated. Government efforts are also being directed to the affected areas. However, these efforts may not reach some areas like Brgy. Bagongon because of their distant proximity to the nearest relief centers/operations. We are doing our best to fill this gap. Please help us help them.

Here is a short video/slideshow prepared by my niece Jeana Maeve Yandog. She helped me piece this together so I will have something to use for this campaign. The photos were taken by my husband Jonathan at the disaster area. I was most especially touched by the photo of the young girl clutching a teddy bear. After all, I am a mother.

If you wish to donate, you can do so through my gofundme page at http://www.gofundme.com/5d0qv8. Donations through Paypal and major credit cards are accepted there.

Remembering Panoy

2013-10-29T16:32:00.000-07:00

It's October 30 today. It's a day of the year we always remember. It's my brother Panoy's birthday.

He would have turned 32 this year. But our beloved brother is frozen at age 23. He died a hero in Surigao del Norte on May 2, 2005. The last time I saw him was on October 2004, when he fetched me at the Manila Airport. He was very excited to meet with me then. We had a long talk about life, family, his ambitions and plans as a soldier, and about his girlfriend Deen.

Panoy wanted to spend more time with his sisters. Bonding time, he said since we were not able to really bond during our college days. I spent my college days in Miagao, Iloilo while he spent time sweating it out at PMA. I was her big sister, especially during his elementary years when most of our elder siblings were off to college in Iloilo. I was the one who would bring him to school. Who would attend the PTA meeting when Nanay can't attend. I was the one who would wash their dirty uniforms and help coach him when he joined a declamation contest.

He would help me with my Math assignments when I was in college. He was in fourth year at the Philippine Science High School in Iloilo then, I was a sophomore in UP Visayas and I was flunking my Match exams especially in Calculus. He would answer my take home exams. Maybe it was the only reason I passed that subject.

I miss my brother. I miss his dance moves. His beautiful singing voice. His idealism.

Happy Birthday, brother. Say hello to Jesus for me.

Below is his favorite song. I'LL BE by Goo Goo Dolls

____________________I'll Be by Goo Goo Dolls

The strands in your eyesThat color them wonderfulStop me and steal my breath
Emeralds from mountains
Thrust towards the sky
Never revealing their depth

Tell me that we belong together
Dress it up with the trappings of love
I'll be captivated,
I'll hang from your lipsInstead of the gallows
Of heartache that hang from above

I'll be your cryin' shoulder
I'll be love suicide
I'll be better when I'm olderI'll be the greatest fan of your lifeRain falls angry on the tin roofAs we lie awake in my bed
You're my survivalYou're my living proof
My love is alive and not dead

Tell me that we belong together
Dress it up with the trappings of love
I'll be captivated
I'll hang from your lipsInstead of the gallows
Of heartache that hang from above

I'll be your cryin' shoulderI'll be love suicide
I'll be better when I'm older
I'll be the greatest fan of your life

I've dropped out
Burned up
Fought my way back from the dead
Tuned in
Turned on
Remembered the things you said

I'll be your cryin' shoulder
I'll be love suicide
I'll be better when I'm older
I'll be the greatest fan of your life

I'll be your cryin' shoulder
I'll be love suicide
I'll be better when I'm olderI'll be the greatest fan of you life

Oyen's Food Milestone: Pasta with Basil and Olive Oil

2013-10-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

Finally, we were able to wean my son Oyen from milk. You see, Oyen was a finicky eater. He would only drink milk from his bottle and eat only crunchy food. Anything that is not crunchy, he won't eat. That meant his diet was pretty limited. No vegetables, no fruits and no soups.

Last month, he underwent a major dental procedure meant to get rid of his decayed teeth and correct his oral sensitivity. Oyen is more or less milk-free now, except for the occasional ice cream and sprinkle of cheese. But ever since we weaned him from milk, he had been eating non-stop. Cereals, GF-chips, biscuits and bread. He looks for food every 15 minutes! He now also explores different tastes which used to turn him off. He used to crinkle his nose on vegetables and would spit out mushy fruits. Now, he eats peach-mango pies, maja blanca and rice noodles (bihon).

Today, I made some pasta for him and I'm glad he liked it. I'm sharing with you my recipe so you can try it. It's a basic pasta recipe and you can prepare it in less than 30 minutes.

PASTA WITH BASIL LEAVES AND OLIVE OIL

Pasta with Basil and Olive Oil. Healthy Yummy.

Ingredients:

250-gm pack of spaghetti

1/2 cup olive oil

2 bulbs red onions, minced

1/3 cup diced spiced ham

1/2 cup sliced button mushrooms

1 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

salt and pepper

Parmesan cheese

Procedure:

1. Cook spaghetti according to package instruction.

2. Heat olive oil in frying pan. Saute onion until caramelized.

3. Add spiced ham and mushrooms. Stir until cooked.

4. Turn off the fire and add chopped basil leaves. Continue stirring until all the basil leaves are coated in oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.

5. Combine the basil-olive oil mixture to the cooked pasta and toss until all of the pasta are evenly coated.

6. Place on a platter and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.

Serves 3-4.

I hope you'll enjoy this recipe as much as my Oyen does. Even Naya finished hers in just a few minutes.

(^-^)

NAYA AND ME Episode 3

2013-10-20T11:17:00.000-07:00

HOW TO BUILD A KITE
October 20, 2013

NAYA: Nanay, I know how to build a kite.
ME: Really? How do you build a kite? sige be.
NAYA: You follow these steps.

Step 1 - First you think.
Step 2 - Then you eat
Step 3 - Ligo anay kay bahu na ako eh. (I'll take a bath first coz I'm smelly already)
Step 4 - You build the kite
Step 5 - You get a string and tie it.
Step 6 - You go outside the house
Step 7 - Wait for the wind to start blowing
Step 8 - You run!

Me: Baw damu-damu steps ba. (There are too many steps)
NAYA: May ara pa. (There's more)

Step 9 - you smile because you're happy.
Step 10 - Go home na and go to sleep.

THE HOSPITAL

2013-09-11T04:36:00.002-07:00

Two hands clasped together
Over a rounded belly
In anticipation
Of a new life
A gift
Waiting for that first glimpse
Of that black and white image
The first picture
Of a life about to be born

A pair of arms cuddling
A new life created
Familiarizing
Protecting
Nurturing
A smile exchanged between
Two beings who made
This new bundle of joy
A new life chapter awaits

A hand holds a cold metal chair
Head bowed over
In a prayer
Fearful
Hopeful
Desperate
Mixed thoughts and emotions
Waiting for some comforting words
On what the future holds

Two frail hands clasped together
One as veiny as the other
In utter resignation
Remembering
Thankful
At peace
Ready to leave behind
A past...a life lived to fullest
The certain end is near.

*I wrote this poem today, September 11, 2013. This was inspired by my observations of different patients in the hospital while Oyen and I were waiting for our turn with the doctor.

Starting a Moon Series of Poetry

2013-08-21T17:08:00.000-07:00

The moon is a constant feature in my memory bank. There are a lot of memories in my life - happy, sad, painful - that the moon had been a witness to. Last night, a big, golden full moon evoked strong memories from the distant past. And it inspired me to write a poem. Actually, I'm inspired to write a series about the moon.

I'm a bit conscious about my writing. I'm more of a reader than a writer. Decades ago, I attempted to write poetry but somebody told me I don't have it. And so for sometime, I did not write again.

Poetry writing is a form of therapy, so I'm writing again. Even if somebody will tell me I suck at it.

Moon Series I
08/21/2013

A golden moon
Wrapped by dainty finger-like clouds
Brings back memories
From a hundred moons ago
Of coconut trees caressed by sea breeze
Of gentle waves kissing the shore
Of young, beating hearts whispering
Innocent vows towards the perfect moon
No words were required
A sigh, a glance, a heartbeat
Spoke a thousand meanings

But that was before.

A cloud's fist now wraps the moon
Veiling its borrowed light
Just like human memories
That fade through time
Just like shadows dancing
Behind a candle's shimmering light
They hide as darkness engulfs
And snuffs the light of the jealous flame
Are the memories lost forever?
Or are just waiting for the golden moon
To reveal its light again?

Another attempt at poetry, one boring afternoon

2013-06-28T01:30:00.000-07:00

I got bored last Wednesday, so I tried writing some poetry. I originally posted it on Facebook but hey, I guess it also deserves a post here on my blog.

Literary critics would definitely raise their eyebrows especially with the English title and the Filipino content. I'll try to translate it in English next time.

A Reader's Wish
(Original work, in Filipino)
June 26, 2013

Ako'y nasasabik na muling makausap
O pakinggan man lang ang mga kwento nang aking mga kaibigan
Muntik ko nang makalimutan ang mga haplos ni Gabriel
Ang mga misteryo ni Amy at Isabel
At mga matatalinong salita ni Paulo
Sa bawat araw na ako’y napapalayo
Ang mga kaibigan ko kaya’y nagtatampo?
Mga oras ko ngayon ay ginugugol sa mga guhit, anggulo
at imahe nang buhay
Kailan kaya titigil ang oras? O kaya’y bumagal?
O bumalik sa panahong nakalipas?
Upang maisaayos ang lahat at mabigyang panahon muli ang mga kaibigan
Na naging sandalan noong panahong
Ako’y naghahanap nang aking sarili?
Sana maibigay ang konting sandali na muling makapiling
Ang mga kaibigang nakatago sa sulok nang aking isipan.

My Best-Seller Siomai Recipe

2012-12-24T18:28:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas Day. And as a present for my readers, I'd like to share with you one of my best home-made recipe.

I used to cook in a diner and one of our best-sellers is my Pork Siomai. Siomai (also called shaomai or shumai) or pork dumpling is a traditional Chinese food often served as a dim sum. There are different varieties of siomai. There's the poppular pork siomai, the beef siomai, the chicken siomai, the vegetable siomai, and the fast-rising in popularity, the Japanese siomai.

I seldom cook and accept orders now because I had been very busy with a new income-generating project. But I cannot refuse the request of my Sunlife manager, Roger Galvan, to cook some for the thanksgiving and blessing of our new Sunlife business office in Bacolod last December 7. Also, my very dear friend Nida Timpangco, who came all the way from Basilan to stay with us for a few days, had been prodding me to bake some stuff. Siomai-making was a good substitute activity. It was raining really hard and Typhoon Pablo had been lashing out its powers on our area during that time. Nida proved to be one efficient assistant cook.

For the INGREDIENTS:

500 grams regular ground pork (must have considerable amount of fat)
500 grams lean ground pork
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 tablespoon black pepper
1 cup grated carrots
1 cup grated singkamas (I don't know what's it called in English; Wiki said it's called Mexican turnip)
1/2 cup grated cheese
2 Tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 cup minced red onions
1/2 teaspoon seasoning (sometimes I use Maggi Magic Sarap)
1 teaspoon paprika powder for color
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 large egg
Siomai wrappers
chopped green spring onions for garnishing

For the SAUCE:
1 cup light soy sauce
Juice of 15 pcs medium-sized calamansi
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoon sesame oil
2 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
2 tablespoon fried chopped garlic

PROCEDURE:

In a big glass or plastic bowl, mix all ingredients except the siomai wrapper and the spring onions. Mix with hand until fully combined.
Place 1 tablespoon or 15 grams of the siomai mixture in the center of the siomai wrapper.
Hold the siomai in your hand and gather the wrappers around the mixture. Pleat/fold the wrapper around the mixture until you form a basket shape. Pinch the wrapper slightly as you fold it. Press down the mixture using your thumb. Sprinkle a few chopped spring onions on top of the filling for garnishing.
To steam, put some water in the lower compartment of your pan. Brush your steamer with oil. Allow the water to boil then adjust fire to let water to just simmer. Place your siomai on your steamer and steam for about 30 to 35 minutes. Allow some space between siomais to prevent them from sticking to each other.
Remove the cooked siomai from steamer and serve with the sauce.

Siomai mixture on wrappers before wrapping. See wrapped siomai in the background.

Other optional ingredients that you can use as extenders are Chinese cabbage, cucumber pickles to make the taste a bit interesting, mushrooms and other vegetables of choice. For this one, I added some rabbit's ear mushroom for texture.

To prepare the sauce, just mix all ingredients together. Add more calamansi juice if more tartness is desired.

Siomai is best served when hot. This recipe is for home-cooking, so it is best consumed immediately. Commercial preparation of siomai requires use of curing salts and some preservatives to make the product stay longer in frozen storage. I'd post the commercial version of the recipe soon.

I haven't taken any photos of the finished product coz we were in a hurry to finish cooking and deliver it. A lot of my friends and relatives had been asking me for my recipe so here it is. Hope you'd enjoy it too.

Merry Christmas everyone!

A Happy Birthday Greeting!

2012-12-24T15:50:00.000-08:00

Carrot cake in whipped cream frosting. I made
this cake last year as gifts for friends. The nice
photo was taken by my loving husband.
Will post my carrot cake recipe here soon.

It's been awhile since I last made an entry in my blog. I had been very busy these last few months. I was busy with school, with a new job, and being a Mom to my two hyperactive kids.

I posted here an image of a cake in this article. So what's with the cake? What's there to celebrate?

Cakes are usually associated with celebrations and birthdays. And today, we are celebrating the birthday of Jesus! Happy Birthday Jesus!

Why "happy birthday" and not Merry Christmas, some friends ask. Let us all remember that it is indeed the birthday of Jesus Christ that we are celebrating this season. I know some little children think that Christmas is about those lovely Christmas trees, the abundant food and the new toys and clothes they will get as gifts. Maybe, we the adults, were not able to explain to them the real essence of Christmas. Let us bring back the focus of the celebration to Jesus Christ and not our own merriment.

To Christians, everyday...most especially today....JESUS...you are the Star!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

FS 3 - Technology in the Learning Environment

2012-10-27T05:05:00.000-07:00

Here's our groups' FS 3 output.

Repeated Reading

2012-10-06T19:34:00.000-07:00

One of our reports in our Developmental Reading course is about Repeated Reading. Repeated Reading is a learning technique to develop students' fluency in reading.

View slideshow below to learn more.

Sunday Musings

2012-10-06T19:09:00.000-07:00

Sundays are supposed to be "family days". So here I am watching my daughter Naya practice with her classmates their field demonstration for next week. My husband is with our Baby Oyen at Bacolod Capitol Lagoon having their "Boys' Day Out". Later, after Naya's practice, I hope the kids would not be too tired yet so that we can have our whole family bonding at the mall.

I was hoping I could have my day-off today. It's difficult to juggle mummy duties, online job, business to attend to, and school. Sleep hours are limited to 3 to 5 hours a day. Last week was definitely a zombie week. I think, if I'll have a blood chemistry test today, caffeine would be about 40% of my blood component. Buhuhuhu...

But then, I should stop complaining. I SHOULD NOT complain because all these are results of my choices. I chose to accept this online job (which surprisingly I am enjoying every bit of it). I chose to enroll in the Teacher Certificate program this semester (and thank God, the semester is about to end). And definitely, I chose to be a mum.

Although I work, I can afford to stay at home most of the time because of the nature of my job. But if you are a mum and you work at home, mummy duties always compete with work time. And with deadlines to beat (and work reputation to protect), I either sacrifice time with kids or time for sleep. I chose the latter.

Now, don't ask me again if that's smudged eyeliner under my eyes.

That's why, I chose not to have a day-off today. My daughter needs me today. And so, while she is practicing her dance, I am busy writing this post. And of course, working on our "Learning Object" project on family planning.

Talk about multi-tasking.

HAVE A BLESSED SUNDAY EVERYONE!

Children's Gameshow

2012-09-29T20:34:00.000-07:00

Here's a gameshow designed for Kindergarten Students. It's a simple alphabet-phonics game. I made this gameshow for my daughter Naya and as a project in our Educ Tech subject. This is supposed to be animated but I haven't found a way yet on how to upload to blogger a powerpoint slideshow with the animations and transitions intact.

P.S. Hey, I did find a way how to retain the links and animations. I used authorstream. It worked great! Watch and play my gameshow below.

Naya’s Game

More PowerPoint presentations from Rebbe julie

NAYA AND ME SERIES: Don't Want To Go To School

2012-09-28T09:37:00.001-07:00

Naya's cousins are with us these past few days. She is very, very happy since she now has a playmate at home. However, since she now goes to school everyday, she has to wake up early and has to wait until end of classes before she can play with her cousin, Ahyan.

ME: Naya, get up. You need to take a bath now.

NAYA: Nanay, why take a bath? Go to school or stay in Lola's house?

ME: Naya, you need to take a bath because you are going to school. Get up now or you would be late.

NAYA: Ahaaay...Nanay, pwede lang (if possible), absent lang ko today (I'd just be absent today). Play Ahyan and me.

ME: (is having an "Aw, shucks!" moment). Naya, you need to go to school today. Don't worry, you can be absent TOMORROW.

NAYA: Okay Nanay. Thank you. Yehey! I can play with Ahyan tomorrow. Absent ko ya no?

Hehehe...Tomorrow happens to be a Saturday. Bad Nanay - for fooling my Little Naya.

Kids are kids. They always want to play. But kids need to go to school too. They need to know when is the time for school and the time to play.

A Music Video as an Educational Tool?

2012-09-28T06:36:00.000-07:00

Filipinos are said to be natural born singers and music lovers. This is not too hard to believe considering the many videoke bars that sprouted in almost every corner of our neighborhood. Consider also that a number of households own Magic Sing units. It's precursor, the Karaoke machine, was also popular. But ever since videoke existed, it easily replaced the former. Videoke not only provides the music but also visuals that will entice the wannabe singers to sing to maximum performance level.

So what has this got to do with education? As what has been discussed in our Educ 9 class, media technology can be used for educational purposes. As a teaching/learning tool and as a medium to impart knowledge to our audience (in this case, the students). Videoke or music videos can be used as an educational tool since it can provide eye-catching and attention-grabbing visuals, can hold the interest of the audience, and with appropriate use, can be an effective tool to impart knowledge. Take for example the proliferation of Nursery Rhymes music videos for little kids, phonetics, number counting, color identification and other basic learning for nursery-age learners. It catches the attention of the little kids and at the same time, teach them that learning can also be fun!

One of our projects in Educ 9 (Educational Technology) is to create a music video. For my project, I used the song "Hello World by the Saddle Club. This song is a favorite of my son, Julien "Oyen" Sorel. He is autistic. I dedicated this project to him. Every time I play this video, he would really stop what he was doing and dance to the music. It also served as a winding down activity for him every night before he sleeps. Music videos can be used as educational tool, it can also be therapeutic too!

Here is Oyen's music video. I hope you'll like it.

The ASSURE Model of Teaching

2012-09-26T14:06:00.001-07:00

What is the ASSURE Model?

The ASSURE Model is and Instructional System Design (ISD) that has been modified to suit the needs of the teachers in side the classroom. It is a procedural guide for planning and delivering instruction that incorporates media. It assumes that training or instruction really is required and is meant for use by the individual instructor for planning everyday classroom use of media. Simply put, the ASSURE Model works like a systematic way of writing a lesson plan incorporating the use of media in instructional design. To know more about this type, click on the slideshow below:

NAYA AND ME Series

2012-08-06T06:03:00.001-07:00

My 5-year old daughter says the some of the funniest things I ever heard. I started posting it on my Facebook wall a few months ago. Some of my friends told me that they are following my Naya and Me series because they find it funny and entertaining and so, I decided to make this a category in my blog.

Naya's thoughts on ways and things remind me of the TV show in the 90's called "Kids Say the Darndest Things" which was hosted by Bill Cosby. Kids really do have their own way of viewing situations and things. Some are outright funny, some seems so mature you'd be amazed how kids could think of those thoughts.

I'll try to retrieve some of those posts from my Facebook wall and transfer it here. I hope you'd enjoy reading it too. For starters, here's our latest conversation:

EATING A PLANET

Image courtesy of www.tiki.oneworld.net

NAYA: Nanay, look at my picnic. (Showing me a small towel spread on the floor with her tea-party toys).
ME: Wow! What a nice picnic. What's the food?
NAYA: Wait, wait. (She places a rubber letter O in a saucer and handed it to me)
Here's your food.
ME: Yumyum. What is this called?
NAYA: It's a planet.
ME: A what?
NAYA: A planet.
ME: But Naya, we don't eat planets.
NAYA: Eat mo lang Nanay ang planet...(Translation: Just eat the planet, Nanay)
ME: Okay....(But how can we eat a planet?)

Talk about a child's imagination...(^_^)

The Buzz About Sun Shorts: Filipino Indie Films Tackle Importance of Preparing for the Future

2012-07-18T05:32:00.002-07:00

Piolo Pascual, Filipino actor, endorses Sun Life's "Sun Shorts".
Image courtesy of www.sunlife.com.ph

Indie films are quite the "in" thing nowadays. Every year, Cinemalaya organizes a film festival dedicated to showcasing the works of art of independent film producers. The film festival produced some of the best films in the local cinema, and also some of the best actors and actresses of this generation (talk about Coco Martin. Yammmi!).

This year, one of the biggest insurance and financial institution of this country, tries it's hand in producing short, independent films with themes about love, hope and the importance of preparing for the future. Sun Life Financials will launch "Sun Shorts" - a collection of five short films directed by selected top directors of the country. Each film will mirror the director's interpretation of how life could be brighter under the Sun.

To my knowledge, Sun Life is the first insurance company to launch such a project. As the No. 1 insurance company in 2011, Sun Life has always pioneered the roll-out of innovative and responsive insurance and investment products that caters to the financial needs of every Filipino. Sun Shorts is another innovation that would help the company reach out to a wider audience, and as a tool in achieving their advocacy of educating every Filipino to be financially-literate and financially-independent. From what I heard, Sun Life will be using the internet platform through their website (www.sunlife.com.ph), YouTube and Facebook to deliver the short films to the general public. I think, this is a great move since internet and social media are the fastest way to deliver information nowadays.

The Sun Short films will be shown beginning on July 25, 2012 at www.experiencethesun.com.ph. Below are short descriptions of each film which I lifted from their website. You may also watch the trailers of the short films from there.

Experience the Sun through "Sun Shorts"

"1945" directed by Jun Reyes. The film tackles the theme about love that transcends the test of time and shines brightly amidst the darkness of war. Brought to us by the director of the movies "The Last Journey of Ninoy" and "Crying Ladies". Main casts are Angel Aquino and Richard Quan. Showing date is July 25, 2012.

"A Life in A Day" directed by Jolly Feliciano. A young boy starts a journey of his lifetime. In a world with no guarantees, how can he protect the dreams that mark the milestones of his life?. Casts include Andre Angelo Diaz and Veyda Inoval. Showing date is August 8, 2012.

"Oh My Goth!"directed by Chris Martinez. The director of box-office hit Kimmy Dora takes on the humorous side of the generational divide as an old woman's faith and penchant for superstition clashes with a young man's cool confidence. The film stars Ketchup Eusebio and Lilia Cuntapay. Release Date is on August 22, 2012.

"The Debt" directed by Nicolo Reyes. The story follows the travails of a young man whose penchant for "quick fixes" led him into tight-hole situation and finds enlightenment and redemption from a surprising character. Janus del Prado and Joel "Fabo" Fabonan are the main casts. Release date is on September 5, 2012.

"Sun Dance" directed by Jerrold Tarog. With elegance and grace, three friends sway through life's ups and downs to demonstrate a bond that shines through in any weather. The film stars Ina Feleo, Ea Torrado and Tara Cabaero. Release date is on September 19, 2012.

For A Very Special Boy

2012-07-01T08:37:00.002-07:00

Baby Oyen at 1-year old

I first posted this on my Facebook wall. It's about my feelings and thoughts about my special boy, Baby Oyen. He is autistic, and at age four, could not yet verbally communicate with us. It is sometimes frustrating not to know what's going on in Baby Oyen's mind.

Somebody suggested that I turn my Facebook post into a poem. But since I'm not a literary writer, I'm sticking with the original format. My attempts in poetry always ends up in total failure. Anyways, in whatever form it maybe - poetry or prose - the message is still the same. I made some changes, a little editing here and there. So here it is. I am hoping someday, when my Baby Oyen will be allowed by the Lord to progress and learn how to read, he will discover this so that he would know how much I love him.

IF I AM THE RICHEST PERSON IN THE WORLD

If I am the richest person in the world, how would I spend my wealth?

I would be willing to spend it on anything that can make me read my Baby Oyen's thoughts. To be able to understand the reason behind his smiles, his tears, and his laughter.

Me and my baby

I want to see how the world looks like through his eyes. If green is green or if blue is really blue. Or if the flickering lights look like sparkling little crystals floating in the air.

If water feels like water in his palms. Why warm is cold, and cold is warm to his skin.Why he refuses to be touched on the face yet cuddles close to me when he sleeps. Why he wants to tiptoe, rather than walk flat on his feet.

I want to know how he sees us in his spinning world. Why he likes to spin things in his hands and even spin himself around. Why he likes the dogs and cats and the little birds. Why he likes to splash in the pool but hates taking a bath. Why he eats food that produces sound, but refuses those that do not.

I want to know how he processes the words we speak. Why he appears deaf to all of us but sways to the sound of music? Why the rain excites him every time. Does the pitter-patter of the raindrops sounds like music too?

Oyen playing in the rain

My Baby Oyen may not utter a word but I know his world is not silent. Who knows, his is a much more exciting world than ours.

If I have all the money in the world. I will trade it for a glimpse of Oyen's world.

See Oyen's video below. I always feel a pinch in my heart every time I watch it.

This Used to Be Our Childhood

2012-06-25T06:42:00.000-07:00

My daughter Naya, at 5-years old, is a pro in using the laptop. She knows how to turn it on and shut it down; she knows where to locate the folder for her favorite videos; she knows how to search the internet for Barbie, Dora, and Blue's Clues games. I am really amazed with her and the other kids of her generation. Some kids her age now knows how to play Dota! But, honestly speaking, I am not happy with my daughter spending so much time playing with the laptop. It's difficult to totally not allow her to use it since she sees her Tatay and I use it too.

I want my kids to be tech-savvy. To know how to use these gadgets wisely. However, at their age, I'd rather they play with other kids than with techie gadgets. But, here in our neighborhood, I no longer see children playing in the streets. My kids basically has no playmates except their classmates at school. And I find it very different from our childhood days.

In my childhood, we had playmates from school, and also in our subdivision. During my elementary days, I look forward to going home from school at 4:30 or 5:00 in the afternoon so that I can play with the neighborhood gang. We would play habulan (tag), Chinese Garter, jackstone or tumbang preso. Tumbang preso is a game similar to tag but slightly modified to include the "IT" guarding a milk can from being struck down by the other players (to know more, click here). We always look forward to playing tumbang preso every afternoon. My mother used to scold me and my younger brothers because we would all come home at 6:00 PM, drenched in sweat, knees scratched, and our white shirts soiled heavily with dust.

On weekends, we try to finish our chores in the morning so that we can play the whole afternoon. My younger brothers would go to our neighbors' house around 2:00 PM. They would scour the nearby trees for spiders and other bugs, while I make our afternoon merienda. Our afternoon snack would be boiled kamote (sweet potato), boiled cassava tubers, boiled saging na saba (plantains), or, if we are lucky, Nanay would let me cook guinataan. It is a Filipino snack made of cubed kamote, sticky rice balls, semi-ripe saging na saba, cooked in coconut milk. Sometimes, we add slivers of ripe jackfruit or shredded young coconut to make the treat extra special. This is usually accompanied by very cold Kool-Aid or Eight-O-Clock orange juice.

Our backyard was the favorite hangout of the neighborhood gang. We had a few fruit-bearing trees like jackfruit, Indian mango, santol, apple guava, and coconut. We also had kamote in our backyard. I would ask my brothers and some of our friends to dig up for these tubers and they would oblige. Kamote-digging sessions would turn into a game itself. On really hot afternoons, we would gather under the trees and tell tall tales. Sometimes, our eldest Kuya would join us. He would take out his guitar and play for us his own version of Jim Croce, England Dan and other acoustic songs. Our Kuya's voice served as background music while we play card games, spider-matches and other stuff.

On moonlit nights, you'd find the neighborhood kids on the streets again. We would play tag or tumbang-preso, or just lie down in the middle of the road and watch the stars. My elder sister could name the constellations and she would point this out to us. I could only recognize the big dipper and the Cross. Most of the time, we would just scare each other with scary stories we heard from our grandparents or those heard from the popular local radio program "Mundo Mystico". Curfew then was at 8:00 PM or else, the "tiktik" (scary nocturnal beings) would come by at 9:00 PM and take us away. We would all troop back to our houses tired yet happy, and looking forward to another day of games and fun with friends.

In our childhood, there were no PSPs, Ipads, laptops, or Gameboys. But we managed to have fun. As in real, sweaty, physically-exhilarating fun. I want my children to experience this too. A few weeks ago, I tried to interest Naya to play tumbang preso with us. She was interested but it was not much fun playing only with me and her Tatay. I wonder now: where are the neighborhood kids? Why can't I see them playing in the streets in the afternoon? We still live in the same house, same neighborhood where we used to play. The only time my kids get to play with other kids is in school or when they go to these commercial Fun houses at the malls.

Before, we are so concerned of the television replacing our nannies. Now, we should be concerned with the computer gadgets replacing our children's playmates.

“A child can teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires.”
― Paulo Coelho