10. Background

After the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the United Nation adopted the 249^th resolution at the 57^th session of the United Nations Conference, which was a culmination of years of work. The goal of the resolution was to reaffirm the need for intercultural dialogue o prevent segregation and fundamentalism among nations. May 21 should provide people the opportunity to understand deeply the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together or co-exist better. UNESCO is therefore appealing to its member states as well as the civil society to celebrate this World Day with more participants as possible. However, this is just an observance and not a public holiday.

9. Aims of UNESCO’s Resolution

The proclamation of this day is based on the principle that ‘tolerance and respect for cultural diversity and universal promotion and protection of human rights, including the right to development, are mutually supportive.’ In essence, it was established based on the relationship between culture and development; once the culture is enhanced, prosperity and global peace can be easily attained. The new World Day is a culmination of commitments undertaken by the international community such as the Report of the World Commission on Culture and Development, the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, the Declaration of the Stockholm Conference Action Plan on Cultural Policies for Development, and the proclamation of 2002’s United Nations Year of Cultural Heritage.

8. Why is there a need for this World Day?

This is not only to fight against the imbalances that exist in the global exchanges of cultural goods and the need for cultural policies in developing countries; but most importantly, to stress the importance of preserving the world’s most vulnerable cultures that are now heading to extinction. It can also be a means to highlight the importance of bringing awareness to the value of cultural diversity in a number of languages and in recognizing the contribution of traditional knowledge for environmental protection.

7. Events

The events organized for the World Day observance on May 21 aims to increase the understanding of issues around cultural diversity and development among the public, the non-governmental organizations, and the governments worldwide. A number of these events involved the presentations on the progress and implementations of the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. These would include seminars for professionals, the launching of collaborations between official agencies and various ethic groups, and educational programs for children and young adolescents. There will also be exhibits to help people understand the history of various cultural groups and the influence on their own identities, and celebrations to create greater awareness of cultural values and the need to preserve them.

6. What is Culture?

Every country has its own culture that encompasses their language, literature and the arts. It also involves one’s belief, tradition, values system, and way of living. Respecting and protecting one’s culture are basic human rights that everyone should follow, regardless of race, color, or nationality. Since everyone should be able to participate in the cultural life o their choice, the Convention that aims to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expression was adopted in October 2005. The Convention outlines the obligations and legal rights concerning international cooperation for the protection of cultural diversity throughout the world.

5. Things People Do to Celebrate the Event

For the observance of the UN World Day for Cultural Diversity, people can have a movie night and watch an international movie that reflects a country’s culture. The media, including some Hollywood blockbuster films had been instrumental in promoting cultural diversity not only in the past, but in present times as well. You can also have a diversity and inclusion party by showcasing products, food, or traditional costumes of the various ethic group in your country. You can also spread the word about the observance of this World Day by hashtagging or #DoOneThing in Twitter and other social networking sites.

4. The 2013 Campaign

The 2013 campaign, “Do One Thing for Diversity and Inclusion,” encourages people and organizations from around the world to take concrete action to support diversity. It aims to raise awareness worldwide about the importance of intercultural dialogue, diversity and inclusion to attain worldwide peace. It also aims to build a world community of individuals that will commit to support diversity through their daily actions; and to fight polarization and stereotypes to improve their understanding and cooperation among people coming from different cultures. This event will also be celebrated in countries that embraced their varied cultural history and acknowledge the importance and need of embracing it.

3. Popular People Involved in the Diversity Day Campaign

Well-known figures in politics and religion, movies, philanthropists, in the fields of science and the arts, etc. are used in the handouts to create awareness to this worldwide campaign. The list includes Mahnaz Afkhami, Kofi Annan, Isaac Asimov, Ruth Fulton Benedict, Jimmy Carter, and Pablo Casals. There is also Jackie Chan, the Dalai Lama, Eugene V. Debs, and other deceased historical figures.

2. How to join the campaign?

Individuals who want to join the campaign can ‘like’ the organization’s page on Facebook, DoOneThingforDiversityandInclusion; promote it by sharing it with your friends, and organize an event in your area and contact the organizers so they can put your event under the umbrella of the campaign.

1. Do One Thing for Diversity and Inclusion

There are simple things that you can do to become a part of this campaign, which may include visiting an art exhibit or museum that is dedicated to other cultures, learn about another religion, or listen to musical tradition from another culture. You can also play a sport related to a different culture, invite friends over and cook traditional food, or learn about the traditional celebrations from other cultures. You can also volunteer with an organization working for diversity and inclusion, learn another language, or spread the word to your family and friends and invite people from different culture to share your customs.

10. Andorra

Photo Source: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/europe/andorra/

This country has a total population of 85,293 as estimation for its 2013 report. Its official language is Catalan, but other spoken languages are Castilian, French, and Portuguese. Roman Catholic is the most dominant religion in this country while majority of the population comes from the Spanish group followed by 33% Andorran, 11% Portuguese, 7% French, and 6% belongs to other nationalities. They are under the parliamentary democracy, and they don’t have military forces or branches. Although there is a Police Service in Andorra which was formed in 2011, but their defense is a sole responsibility of Spain and France as part of the treaty that they have signed with them.

9. Palau

Photo Source: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/pacific/palau/

It is also known as a Republic of Palau that is situated in the Western Pacific Ocean, which is technically part of Micronesia. Its capital is Melekeok, and their official languages are Palauan and English. They were under the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific for three decades before they enjoyed total independence in 1978, but their liberty was fully acknowledged in 1994 when they entered the Compact Free Association. They don’t have military forces, but they have established the Palau National Police in 2009 since the defense assistance is being provided by the US through the agreement that they signed on October 1, 1994.

8. Kiribati

Photo Source: http://thelittleislandthatcould.wordpress.com/2012/04/09/kiribati-relocating-to-fiji/

It is situated in the central tropical Pacific Ocean, and its capital is South Tarawa. It’s government type is parliamentary republic and its last population count in 2011 has reached to 101,093. The languages spoken in this country are Kiribati and English. According to history, it was first known as Gilbert Islands in 1892 under the British protectorate. Hence, when UK approved their self-rule in 1971, its total independence followed in 1979, and their name was changed to Kiribati.  There was no military forces formed since it is being prevented by the constitution that they have established, but they have a police force since 2011.

7. Vatican City

Photo Source: http://www.nationmaster.com/country/vt-holy-see-vatican-city

It is officially known as Vatican City State or Stato della Citta del Vaticano that has 836 population recorded in 2012. The government type that they follow is under the Ecclesiastical Ruling or Absolute Monarchy, Elective and Theocracy since this is the center of Roman Catholicism where the higher authority of religion resides, which is known as the Pope. Through the Lateran Treaties made in 1929, Vatican City became an independent state. There are limited securities being sent in this country since the primary defense is vested in Italy as part of the treaty signed in 1929.

6. Grenada

Photo Source: http://www.cbt.cc/grenada.php

Its population is about 90,739 and Saint George is its capital city. It is one of the smallest countries in the Western Hemisphere that carries and uses English as its official language. It is popularly known as a “Spice Island” because of its production of cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and other spices. It was discovered by Christopher Columbus during his trail, and it’s being inhabited then by the Carib Indians. Its full independence started when Britain granted autonomy to them for its internal affairs in 1967, but they have enjoyed it at the beginning of 1974. It does not maintain military forces, but they only have a Royal Grenade Police Force since 2010, which also includes the Coast Guard.

5. Costa Rica

Photo Source: http://wikitravel.org/en/Costa_Rica

In Spanish, it is known as Republica de Costa Rica or Republic in Costa Rica in English, which is situated in Central America. Its population has reached over 4 million while maintaining the Democtratic Republic Government. For several centuries, they were known as part of the Spanish colony since 16^th century. Its first declaration of independence from Spain happened in 1821, and in 1838, their full sovereignty and freedom has been achieved after the disintegration of Federation which they were belong to during that time. They dissolved military forces in 1949, and it became one of the most progressive countries, especially in economic development, largely covering the agricultural sector, tourism, and technology industries.

4. Liechtenstein

Photo Source: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/europe/liechtenstein/

This is popularly known as Landlocked Alpine Country found in Central Europe carrying the capital of Vaduz. Its official language is German while maintaining Unitary State, Constitutional Monarchy, and Parliamentary System. It was once occupied by Russian and French troops, but declared as a sovereign state in 1815 under the Germanic Confederation. Nonetheless, when it was dissolved 1866, its full independence was attained. It became associated in Austria when World War 1 ceased, but made a monetary merger with Switzerland because of the devastating economic downfall. They don’t have military forces being maintained, and they are only relying to close-neighbor countries after they abolished it in 1868 because of the costly evaluation of it in country’s overall expenditures. Hence, they have a SWAT and Police team that carries out internal duties.

3. Marshall Islands

Photo Source: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/pacific/marshall-islands/

It is located in Northern Pacific Ocean with a total population of 54,816 and Majuro as its capital city. It was under the US administration for almost four decades before achieving total freedom and sovereignty in 1986 because of the Compact of Free Association. They don’t have any organized military forces except for the Marshall Islands Police, which was formed in 2012 because the United States is responsible in providing security to their country under the Compact of Free Association.

2. Tuvalu

Photo Source: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/pacific/tuvalu/

Funafuti is the capital of Tuvalu while carrying a 9,847 population, which was recorded in 2011. Its official languages are Tuvalun and English, while maintaining a Parliamentary system, constitutional monarchy, non-partisan democracy, and Representative democracy. Due to ethnic conflicts that transpired under the British Colony, separation of Gilbert from Ellice Islands took place, which resulted to the colonialism of Tuvalu from the British Colony in 1978. They only have the Tuvalu Police Force, but since its independence, it did not maintain or form any military force.

1. Federated States of Micronesia

Photo Source: http://coris.noaa.gov/portals/micronesia.html

It is one of the four states of Micronesia that maintains independent sovereign island status and its capital is Palikir. English is their official language and its population has reached 111,542 based on the last count recorded in 2011. Like some countries on this list, it also joined the Compact of Free Association in 1986, which was renewed in 2004. It has four administrative divisions such as Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. It has no military forces after its declaration of independence. They have a Maritime Surveillance Unit that takes care of the internal security, but United States is solely responsible of their defense because of the Compact of Free Association that Federated States of Micronesia signed.

10. Greenhill Family

Photo Source: http://top-10-list.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/The-Duggar-family.jpg

The Greenhill Family is led by parents Elizabeth Greenhill and William Greenhill who had a total of 39 children. Throughout her life, Elizabeth Greenhill conceived 32 daughters and 7 sons, the youngest of which was Thomas Greenhill, who is one of the most famous surgeons in London, United States today. Of their 39 children, two were twins and the rest were single births. The children of Elizabeth and William were all born alive, and all of them were baptized except for Thomas, who was born soon after the death of his father William. Stories say that according to Elizabeth, she and William would have had three or more children had William not died that soon.

9. Pullan Family

Photo Source: http://top-10-list.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Pullan-family.jpg

50 year old husband Roseturai Pullan and his 45 year old wife Mani is the first white skinned Indian couple to have raised the largest albino family in the history of the world. The Pullan Family is composed of eight albino members and is officially on the Guinness Book of World Records. The members of this family are all suffering from poor vision and have extremely pale skin and white hair, which are very atypical of Indian nationals. The Pullan Family claims to suffer from grave prejudice in India because of their condition. All the children inherited the albinism of their father Roseturai. Currently, the members of this family dwell inside a crammed flat in Delhi, New India.

8. Kardashian – Jenner Clan

Photo Source: http://top-10-list.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Kardashian-Jenner-Clan.jpg

The Kardashian – Jenner Clan is composed of a total of ten siblings, of which the most popular in the news are Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian and their step brother Brody Jenner. The parents of all of the ten siblings were married in 1991. The background is that in 1979, Robert Kardashian married Kristine “Kris” Houghton and they had four children—Kourtney, Kim, Khloe and Rob. When they divorced in 1990, the wife married Olympics star Bruce Jenner just a year following the approval of her divorce with her former husband. Kris and Bruce had two daughters together, Kylie and Kendall Jenner. The members of this family are all celebrities today.

7. Luiz Costa de Oliveira Family

Photo Source: http://beforeitsnews.com/r2/?url=http://top-10-list.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Luiz-Costa-de-Oliveira.jpg

The 90 year old Brazilian father Luiz Costa de Oliveira admitted to have had secret love affairs with the sister and mother of his second wife following his two marriages. All in all, he had a total of 50 children. 17 of that number were conceived by his first wife. When he remarried, he had another 17 children, totalling to 34. But Luiz Costa de Oliveira did not just stop at that. Instead, he entered into an affair with the sister and mother of his second wife and conceived 15 more children. He became romantically involved with the sister and mother of his second wife when they moved into their house to help in taking care of the rest of his children.

6. Bates Family

Photo Source: http://beforeitsnews.com/r2/?url=http://top-10-list.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Bates-Family.jpg

Headed by couple Gil and Kelly Bates, the Bates Family is a close friend of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. This family originally had a total of 18 children, but mother Kelly Bates miraculously gave birth to her 19^th child, Jeb Colton Bates, in February 2012. This family is from Lake City, Tennessee, United States and stars the American reality television show entitled United Bates of America. The miracle child of the family, Jeb Colton, is often dubbed as a miracle baby because he came out dead after failing to breathe on his own. Of the 19 deliveries, Kelly Bates gave natural births to the 14. Tied with the Duggar Family, Bates Family is known as the largest family in the United States today.

5. Duggar Family

Photo Source: http://beforeitsnews.com/r2/?url=http://top-10-list.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/The-Duggar-family.jpg

Composed of father Jim Bob, mother Michelle Duggar and their 19 children, the Duggar Family is one with the Bates Family in being the largest family known in the United States today. Of the 19 children, 9 are girls and 10 are boys, and this includes two sets of fraternal twins. This family from Arkansas, USA announced in 2012 that the immediate family would just get bigger as Michelle Duggar openly revealed that she and her husband were already expecting their 20^th child this year. The couple has been married for more than 27 years now and Michelle was already 45 years old when she gave birth to her youngest child. This family has already had several appearances in television shows such as TLC and Discovery Health.

4. Chana Family

Photo Source: http://beforeitsnews.com/r2/?url=http://top-10-list.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/The-Chana-family.jpg

Ziona Chana is believed to have the largest family in the world with a total of 30 wives, 94 children, 14 daughters in law and 33 grand children. The head of the family currently lives with all his wives and 94 children in a spacious, four storey 100-room mansion in Baktwang in the state of Moziram, India and admits to have married more than 10 women in just a span of one year. This was so because Ziona Chan has long been the head of a religious sect that permits the practice of polygamy. According to him, it takes plucking more than 30 whole chickens and cooking more than 220 lbs of rice to be able to feed his entire family every meal.

3. Daad Clan

Photo Source: http://www.whatsontianjin.com/news_images/ea6920da24295d0f788b_1.jpg

60 year old Muslim father Daad Mohammed from the United Arab Emirates had 17 wives and a total of 60 children. According to stories, Daad would have sex with his wives twice in the morning and seven times in the evening that is why he was able to create such a great number of children in his entire lifetime. His clan is now the biggest and oldest of the Dwarven clans of Ardrana. Even today, Daad Mohammed is just too mad about sex that he would divorce his wife the moment he finds out that she is no longer fertile and could conceive a child.

2. Albina Family

PhotoSource: http://www.hoggattfamily.com/Campbell/00006%20-%2019250829%20Roy%20and%20Mary%20Campbell%20wedding%20Albina%20Jn%20Bertha%20George%20Ora%20Zadok%20Mary%20Roy%20Elsie%20Hoy.jpg

None of the 64 children of Mr. and Mrs. Albina was adopted. The couple was married when Mrs. Alona was only 12 years of age and Mr. Albina was already 30. Today, Mr. Albina is already 79 and Mrs. Albina is already 61. They no longer know the whereabouts of each of their daughters and sons, and they currently live with just a few of them in a small house in Chile. Most of the children of the Albina couple are twins and triplets. Mrs. Albina very seldom gave single births.

1. Vassilyev Family

Photo Source: http://beforeitsnews.com/r2/?url=http://top-10-list.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Vassilyev-Family.jpg

The Vassilyev couple currently holds the record for the most number of children in the world. Mrs. Vassilyev gave birth to about 69 children, only 67 of which were able to survive their infancy. Of this number, there were 16 pairs of twins, 7 sets of triplets and 4 sets of quadruplets. She gave birth to all her children between the 1725 to 1765 period.

10. Airplane

Photo Source: http://www.myteenagewerewolf.com/home/lauren/public_html/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Airplane1.jpg

Also known as aeroplane, an airplane is a fixed-wing aircraft that was discovered by the Wright brothers. Airplanes are propelled forward through their propellers and jet engines and come in different sizes and wing configurations. They are used for the transportation of goods and people, in the military, for recreation and research. Though most airplanes are run by a pilot, there are airplanes today that are especially designed to be controlled by computers and remotes. According to history, the first artificial and self-propelled flying device was invented in 400BC by the Greeks.  These flying devices deviated from the airplanes of the 18^th century which featured fixed wings and separate systems for lift, propulsion and control. Modern airplanes have complex flight control systems and contain main controls that help the pilot in controlling the speed, altitude and direction of the flight.

9. Spacecraft

Photo Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cw7iNVPZpPg/T8I2btyjGgI/AAAAAAAAAtE/Q187CJAHZf4/s1600/spacetravel.jpg

Usually used to refer to a vehicle, vessel or machine that flies in the outer space, a spacecraft is used for a broad range of purposes, such as for communication, meteorology, navigation, planetary and exploration. This type of vehicle enters the space on a sub-orbital flight and normally gets into closed orbits revolving around the Earth or other celestial bodies. Spacecrafts can be used to carry people as crew or passengers while others use robots either for space probes or to support scientific research. By design, most orbital spacecrafts re enter the earth and get divided into non-winged space capsules or winged space planes. The first artificial satellite that was used to probe space was Sputnik 1 and it was launched by the Soviet Union into an elliptical low Earth orbit.

8. Computer

Photo Source: http://images.wisegeek.com/black-desktop-computer.jpg

A computer is a device that can be programmed to perform different arithmetic and logical operations. This device consists of a processing element called as the central processing unit (CPU) and a memory. Its CPU is the component that executes the arithmetic and logic operations that are inputted in them. The first computers were electronic digital computers that were developed sometime between 1940 and 1945. These computers were about the size of a spacious room and consumed power that went as much as the power consumed by hundreds of modern personal computers today. Most of the computers that are known today are based on integrated circuits and are more than a billion times more capable than the earliest computers. They are small enough to fit mobile devices such as mobile phones and industrial robots. Also, they occupy just a small fraction of the space occupied by the first electronic digital computers.

7. Automobile

Photo Source: http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00iCgEBFyIgRrp/Automobile-Motor-Cars-Mini-Car.jpg

An automobile or a car is a wheeled motor vehicle that is primarily used in the transportation of goods and people. It carries its own engine or motor and is designed to run on roads. A typical modern automobile has four wheels and has a seating for about one to eight people. It is estimated that today, the number of automobiles around the world today is about one billion and continues to increase rapidly, particularly in highly populated nations such as China and India. In 1672, the first steam-powered vehicle was designed and built by a man named Ferdinand Verbiest. His discovery was just about 65-cm long car toy that he especially made for the Emperor of China, and it could barely carry a driver or a single passenger. The first full-scale and self propelled automobile was discovered by Nicolas Joseph Cugnot sometime in 1769.

6. Telephone

Photo Source: http://www.writeupp.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/phone.jpg

Known as a telecommunications device that allows people from different vicinities and locations to have conversations, a telephone is an engineering discovery that converts human voice into electronic signals that are suitable for transmission via wires and cables over lengthy distances. Telephones allow these electronic signals to become as audible as possible to the user from the other line. Its name was derived from Greek words tele and phone, which mean far and voice, respectively. The first of its kind was invented in 1876 by renowned scientist Alexander Graham Bell, who made a patented telephone device that allowed people to talk directly with each other even when they are separated by large distances. Today, telephones are considered as one of the most valuable discoveries in the field of engineering because they are indispensable to businesses, households and the government.

5. Air Conditioning

Photo Source: http://www.devonrefrigeration.co.uk/img/airconditionin1.jpg

An air conditioner is a major home appliance or mechanism that is especially designed to change the temperature and humidity of a closed area such as a room As its name suggests, it is basically used for cooling and it does this thru a process called refrigeration cycle, though in the cooling of buildings and motor vehicles, the process of evaporation is more common. In the field of construction, air conditioners come as a complete system that can be used for heating, ventilation as well as air conditioning. The concept of air conditioning was first use during the second century, when a Chinese inventor named Ding Huan of the Han Dynasty created a rotary fan to condition the air. This appliance contained seven wheels that were three meters each in diameter. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, on the other hand, introduced in 747 A.D. water powered fan wheels for air conditioning.

4. Highway

Photo Source: http://corrosionda.com/infrastructure/highway/highway2.jpg

A public road or public way on land, the term highway refers to arterials that are controlled by a state or a provincial agency. The first modern highway systems were developed during the 20^th century, along with the rising popularity of automobiles. The first limited access road was built in 1992 in Italy, while the construction of the first autobahn started in 1929 and was opened three years later in Cologne. The discovery of highways is one of the most important discoveries in the field of engineering as they reduce travel times relative to city or town streets as well as increase the chances for the transportation of people and goods. Modern highways are helpful in the reduction of commute and travel time as well as in the creation of new induced traffic demand.

3. Optical Fibre

Photo Source: http://www.fantom-xp.com/wallpapers/29/Optical_Fibre.jpg

Optical fibre is a transparent and flexible fibre that can be made either of glass or plastic. Today, this is known to serve different functions such as a wave guide or a light pipe. The design and application of optical fibres, dubbed as fibre optics, are works of science and engineering. Optical fibres are used these days in fibre optic communications which makes possible the transmission of sounds or signals over long distances through high bandwidths. Optical fibres made of metal wires are also used to carry signal with less loss and to make possible the immunization of electromagnetic interference. They can also be used for illumination to carry images. The principle of fibre optics was first introduced during the 1840s by Daniel Colladon and Jacques Banibet. A man named John Tyndall also demonstrated the first use of optical fibre for public lectures in 1852.

2. Television

Photo Source: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-13OvYu2EeOQ/UO3o2eVdreI/AAAAAAAAAMU/ck8PQTaSdt4/s1600/old-television.jpg

A television or TV is a telecommunication device that works in the transmission and reception of moving images, whether monochrome or coloured. Its name was derived from Greek words tele and visio, which mean far and sight, respectively. The batch of manufactured televisions became commercially available in the late 1920’s. Since then, they have become common in homes and businesses and are used in advertising, broadcasting and entertainment. The first electromechanical television system was patented in 1884 by a man named Paul Gootlieb Nipkow. This was just about four years after the concept of electrically powered transmission of television images was introduced in America as “telephonoscope.”

1. Internet

Photo Source: http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/demango23/demango231109/demango23110900101/10554891-render-of-several-devices-connect-to-the-internet.jpg

A global system of interconnected computer networks, the Internet is a network of networks that is made up of millions of various private and public networks that are linked together through electronic, wireless and optical networking technologies. This carries a broad range of information such as inter-linked hypertext documents. The concept of Internet began in the 1960’s, when research on packet switching was first conducted along with the development of packet switched networks. The term Internet was coined in 1974 to refer to internetworking, which was followed by the introduction of the concept of the Internet Protocol Suite (IPS) in 1982.

10. Sheryl Sandberg

Photo Source: http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/mt/assets/steve_clemons/Sheryl_Sandberg.jpg

Born on August 28, 1969, Sheryl Sandberg is an American business tycoon who has been the chief operating officer of Facebook since 2008. In 2012, she became the first woman to have ever been elected in the board of directors of Facebook. She completed her AB Economics degree at Harvard University in 1991 as summa cum laude and was awarded the John H. Williams Prize for the top graduating students in Economics. She used to be a research assistant in World Bank and worked on health projects in India, particularly those dealing with AIDS, leprosy and blindness. She finished her MA degree in Harvard Business School where she got the highest distinction. Since 2007, she has been among the most powerful women list of the Forbes Magazine because of her unparalleled leadership skills. Before she served Facebook, she was the Vice President of Global Online Sales and Operations at Google.

9. Janet Napolitano

Photo Source: http://images.politico.com/global/news/110404_janet_napolitano_ap_605.jpg

A member of the Democratic Party, Janet Napolitano is known as the first woman to serve as the United States Secretary of Homeland Security. She has been in the office since 2009, following her six-year term as the 21^st Governor of Arizona. She was also the first woman and the 23^rd person to serve as the Attorney General of Arizona, where she pushed for innovative gun laws such as the Youth Handgun Safety Act. She began entering the public stage when she served as attorney for Anita Hill during the Senate testimony against the US Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas in 1991. Among her major achievements was her being one of the prosecutors of the first Violence Against Women cases in the United States, punishing offenders who committed acts of domestic violence. As the Governor of Arizona, she converted $1 billion deficit in year 2003 to a $300 surplus without calling for a raise in taxes.

8. Christine Lagarde

Photo Source: http://liveindia.tv/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/images/14_IMF-HEAD.jpg

Christine Lagarde is the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Union for a Popular Movement politician. As a French lawyer, she was appointed as the Minister of Economic Affairs, Finances and Industry, as well as the Minister of Agriculture and Fishing of the French Government. She was the first woman to have ever become the Finance Minister of a G8 economy and was also the first woman to have been called to the IMF leadership. Aside from being an active lawyer who held several ministerial positions in the French government, she also was the first female chairman of Baker & McKenzie, an internationally acclaimed law firm. Following her appointment, the Financial Times recognized her as the best Minister of Finance in the Eurozone. In 2012, she finished her doctoral degree from the KY Leuven.

7. Michelle Obama

Photo Source: http://www.humanevents.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/m_obama.jpg

An American lawyer and writer, Michelle Obama is known as the first African-American First Lady of the United States. She grew up in the South Side of Chicago where she attended Princeton University and Harvard School of Law. She previously worked as one of the staff members of Richard Delay, former Mayor of Chicago. When her husband ran for US Presidency in 2007, Michelle Obama was there to help in the campaign. Since President Barack Obama won the presidential bid in the United States, his wife Michelle has been a fashion icon and a role model for women as well as an advocate for poverty awareness, nutrition and healthy eating. She has been widely admired because of her decorum and sense of style. Among the advocacies that she championed was the amendment of the Human Rights Act, in which she included the protection of the LGBT people through prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

6. Sonia Gandhi

Photo Source: http://static.ibnlive.in.com/ibnlive/pix/sitepix/05_2012/sonia_upa_cong_pti.jpg

The widow of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi is an Indian politician who was elected as President of the Indian Congress in 1998. Since 2004, she has been the Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance since 1998 and has been the longest-running President of the Congress party. In 1999, Sonia Gandhi was also elected the Leader of the Opposition of the 13^th Lok Sabha where she called for a non-confidence motion against the NDA Government. During the 2004 general elections in India, she initiated a nationwide campaign to counter the “India Shining” slogan of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) by launching a slogan saying “Who is India Shining for?” She won the 2004 elections and became the Prime Minister of India, and was elected to lead a 15-party coalition government which eventually became the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), where she played a key role in making the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Right to Information Act into law.

5. Jill Abramson

Photo Source: http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Business/Pix/pictures/2011/6/3/1307100578627/Jill-Abramson-007.jpg

Jill Abramson was the first woman who held the executive editor position of the The New York Times in its 160-year history. She finished her B.A. in History and Literature Degree from Harvard University in 1976. During her undergraduate years, Abramson served as the Arts editor of The Harvard Independent and also became one of the editors of Time Magazine. She had served as a senior reporter in the Washington Bureau of The Wall Street Journal until she got her promotion as the deputy bureau chief years in 2000. With Jane Mayer, she co-authored Strange Justice: The Selling of Clarence Thomas, a controversial publication which exposed the confirmation hearings of Justice Clarence Thomas. In 2011, she replaced Bill Keller as the new executive director of Times.

4. Melinda Gates

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The wife of the richest man in the world Bill Gates, Melinda Gates is an American businesswoman and philanthropist who once served as a Project Manager for Microsoft Bob, Microsoft Encarta and Microsoft Expedia. As one of the members of the Board of Trustees of Duke University from 1996 to 2003, she took part in several Bilderberg Group Conferences. Melinda Gates also held a Director position in the Washington Post Company. Since she retired from the board of Drugstore.com, she has been actively serving the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which she established herself together with her husband Bill Gates. She has been widely recognized for her world impact through charity, particularly in the areas of health and education. She was also the one who chaired The Campaign for Children, a fund raising campaign that sought to expand the facilities of hospitals for better healthcare among children.

3. Dilma Rouseff

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Known as the first female president of Brazil, Dilma Rouseff is a Brazilian politician who previously served as the Chief of Staff of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil. Together with her partner Carlos Araujo, Rouseff founded the Democratic Labour Party (PDT) in Rio Grande do Sul where she participated in several electoral campaigns. Prior to that, she was also the Secretary of the Treasury of the City of Porto Alegre during the administration of Alceu Collares. Following her term, she joined the Worker’s Party and was appointed as the Minister of Energy. She took over the post of Jose Dirceu following his resignation due to issues on corruption. She ran and was elected President of Brazil in 2011.

2. Hilary Clinton

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The 67^th United States Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton was the wife of former US President Bill Clinton and is currently a diplomat serving under President Barack Obama. In 1977, she cofounded the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families and served as the first female chief of the Legal Services Corporation a year after. In 1979, she became the first female partner at Rose Law Firm and was tagged among the most influential lawyers in the United States. As the First Lady during the reign of President Bill Clinton, she led a task force to reform the education system of Arkansas. The Clinton Health Care Plan was also among her major initiatives, though it failed to gain approval from the US Congress. Since 1997, she has been an advocate of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program as well as the Adoption and Safe Families Act.

1. Angela Merkel

Photo Source: http://images.forbes.com/media/lists/11/2006/34AH.jpg

Dubbed as “The De Facto Leader of the European Union,” Angela Merkel is the current Chancellor of Germany and the Leader of the Christian Democratic Union. She is a German female politician who began to make a name in the field of politics during the Revolutions of 1989, when she served as the deputy spokesperson for the East German Government. Following her appointment, she became the Federal Minister for Women and Youth in 1991 and was promoted as the Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety three years after. In 2007, she chaired the G8 and was elected President of the European Council. Among her advocacies since she started politics are the strengthening of transatlantic economic relations, energy development and healthcare reform.

10. Home schooling

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Home schooling or home-based education is common among mothers. Unlike schooling in a formal setting, home schooling involves staying at home and doing assignments given by a tutor. Though this practice has been adopted as an alternative form of education in other nations, most people still believe that going to a formal school is better than staying at home to study.

Some parents opt for home based education for their children for a broad range of reasons. Most of the time, mothers who opt for home schooling for their children are those who would not want their children to get bullied in crowded classrooms. Also, these mothers believe that it is better to study at home because it is more conducive for learning and it helps children achieve better focus when studying. This is hardly possible in a classroom setting, where 30-50 students normally crowd a single classroom and not everyone gets the same attention from the teacher.

9. Vaccination

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Vaccination involves the administration of a vaccine to an infant to stimulate his immune system, thus allowing him to develop adaptive immunity to pathogens. The common notion is that when a child gets vaccinated, he is less likely to catch diseases in the future because he is already immune to those diseases. Sometime in the past, however, there was a doctor who conducted a study and published a book that stated that the development of autism and other neurological conditions stem from vaccination. Since then, a good number of mothers have been opting not to get their babies vaccinated when in reality, they should. Just recently, the medical license of the doctor who published the misleading study was taken from him because of the confusion that he spurred among mothers. Since his study was published, there came a rise in the number of communicable diseases afflicting children.

8. Cloth Diapers vs. Disposable Diapers

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Whether to use cloth diapers or disposable diapers has been a bone of contention among mothers. Both diapers have their own share of advantages and disadvantages, but mothers have got to pick the one whose advantages outweigh its disadvantages. Disposable diapers are reusable and create less waste than disposable diapers. Also, this kind of diaper is far less costly than disposable diapers because these diapers are washable while disposable diapers are not. For most mothers, however, disposable diapers are more convenient because they never have to wash every now and then. All they just have to do is to make sure that they never run out of stock.  Also, they are more breathable and convenient, because with disposable diapers, they do not need to deal with complicated folds and pins. Some mothers who prefer cloth diapers, however, complain that disposable diapers increase the risk of diaper rash among their babies.

7. Discipline

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Mothers have different concepts of discipline. For some, spanking their children is the right way to teach their children discipline, while for some, this is not the way to go. A recent study in the United States showed that more than one third of parents in the United States prefer to spank their kids so they will be forced to behave as their parents would want them to. Whenever a child does something wrong, what most parents do is spank the child so he would learn his lesson. Several mothers go up against this practice, saying that using physical force does not teach children discipline but fear towards their parents. These mothers believe that they can bring up their child into becoming well-rounded individuals even without having to inflict physical pain on them.  Mothers can choose not to become violent in rearing their children, though this is case-sensitive.

6. Organic Products

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Most mothers would prefer feeding their babies with organic products, believing that they are healthier. While it is true that eating organics allows one to reduce his exposure to chemicals, many experts believe that it is not always so. In fact, a large group of pediatricians recently revealed that parents who buy organic food for their children are actually wasting money. Experts say that to believe that organic products are more nutritious than non-organic products is nothing but a false notion because the nutritional differences between conventional food and organic food are far more minimal than most mothers think. Most mothers also use organic milk to feed their babies believing that it is more nutritious than the processed ones, when in fact, it is not worth it. Mothers who are working on a limited budget should not go for organic because they are costly. Those who have more than enough budget argue that organic is still better, though.

5. Attachment Parenting

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Attachment parenting refers to the tendency of a child to develop or form very strong emotional bond with his mother. One of the practices that lead to attachment parenting are co-sleeping with babies until they come of age, extended breast feeding and baby wearing. Some mothers believe that practicing attachment parenting allows them to produce healthier and better nurtured babies and children. On the other hand, those who oppose the practice believe that it only delays the socio emotional development and well-being of the child because he tends to become too much dependent on his mother. Today, the population of mothers is halved by this practice. Those who are up for attachment parenting argue that the practice is nothing but a simple demonstration of love, while those who think otherwise argue that this is detrimental to the development of a child and will do no good to him.

4. Breast-feeding vs. Bottle-feeding

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Determining whether to breastfeed or bottle-feed her baby is one of the first decisions that an expectant mother makes. Because the very first thing that a baby looks for as he gets out of her mother’s womb is milk, this is one of the most basic decisions that a woman makes as she enters motherhood. The common notion is that breast milk is the most valuable source of nutrition for babies because it helps defend the baby from harmful infections as well as protect him from allergies and other chronic conditions. But working mothers would prefer bottle-feeding their babies because they need to earn money and go to work. These mothers cannot afford to stay at home and breastfeed their babies the entire day, unless the earnings of their husbands are enough to provide for the needs of the family.

3. Scheduled Caesarean Sections

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Cesarean section is a surgical procedure that is performed when a mother gives birth, characterized by one or more incisions made on her abdomen and uterus to deliver her baby. Normally, this procedure is the last resort when vaginal delivery poses death risk either on the mother or the child. Nowadays, however, some mothers who are capable of normal vaginal delivery would still opt for cesarean section because it is less painful. In fact, celebrities are known to have scheduled caesarean sections even months before the due date of the baby. This practice has been emulated by several mothers today, believing that this makes the birth of the child more convenient. Those who go for vaginal delivery argue that those who go for C-sections are harder to recover compared to those who go for normal delivery.

2. Natural Birth

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Though cesarean sections are growing in popularity these days, giving birth the natural way is still generally the most preferred of most mothers. Mothers who have laboured and gave birth to their babies without the need for an epidural or medications are often prouder than those who underwent procedures because they were able to suffer the real pain of giving birth. However, some mothers are just not healthy enough to go through the natural way of giving birth so doctors prefer having them incised. Mothers who argue that those who go for c-sections are weaker should understand that what may be good for them may not be good for another.

1. Cord Blood Banking

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Cord blood banking is a practice wherein the blood from the umbilical cord of a baby is saved and stored in a facility for possible use in the future. The umbilical cord of a baby is the major source of stem cells, which are used today the way bone marrow cells are used to treat different kinds of illness, particularly leukemia. This is a more guaranteed match compared to a donor. Cord blood banking is a choice that mothers make. Most mothers oppose the idea of cord blood banking because it is too expensive, while those who are up for the practice claim that this practice is life-saving.

10. Personalized Bouquet and Chocolates

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Flowers and chocolates will never go outdated on this list. Whatever contemporary gift selections that you might be thinking for you moms, they will still love the personal and conservative effect of chocolates and bouquet of flowers. There are different online stores, and even local stores in your area that offers creation of personalized stuff, gives you the power to choose the flowers to be included in the bouquet and makes her favorite chocolates. A simple message attached to it would surely touch her heart.

9. Personalized Photo Canvas

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Discreetly sneak in to your mom’s room and find a memorable photo of her, whether it’s a solo picture of her or not, making sure that she has a perfect beam in it. You could scan it and upload it to an online photo canvas for printing. You may include titles or messages on it to really have a personal touch. You may check some local stores that offer this kind of service so you could have an actual look of their products.

8. A Floral Scent

Photo Source: http://www.allaboutyou.com/lifestyle/gift-ideas-for-mothers-day?page=9

Mothers do not need traditional perfume scents just because of the impression that they are already in another stage of womanhood, wherein most people think that they don’t need to wear fresh scents. That’s a big no! Mothers still need to exhibit the feminine side in them, where a floral scent will truly renew the feeling that they are still women, just like in days past when they were single ladies.

7. A Dinner Date

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Let your mother rest from her daily household chores where she prepares and cooks meals for you. Reserve the night for her where she won’t do any chores; where you could bring her to the coziest restaurant with the whole family. Make sure that all the foods that will be served on the dinner table are the ones that she wants and she prefers. So, this is the best time to share a perfect dinner night out with her, where the perfect accessory to this surprise dinner is your father.

6. Personalized Card

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You may shower your mother all the materials gifts that she wants, but what would really make her cry are words coming from your heart. Take time to write a note or simple messages of gratitude to her via your very own personalized card. You could buy a readymade card that has a blank space on it where you could put all the feelings that you have towards your mother. You could also order a card before hand, and include her name on it along with the messages. It’s still nice to receive cards that express one’s innermost thoughts and feelings. They are worth keeping and remembering.

5. Jewellery

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There are several jewellery items that are being sold these days, where there are encryptions of words like mothers, and other words that define motherhood, whether it’s a pendant necklace or a bracelet. Of course, find something that will fit her personality. The preference of your mother will be determined as to how much you know her. Consider her age, and ask sales clerks family members as you do your jewellery hopping.

4. Getaway

Photo Source: http://www.chfi.com/2013/05/06/the-chfi-top-10-mothers-day-gifts/

Aside from her birthday and other important occasions, mothers also need to relax. In fact, aside from fathers, they are the most tired and stressed people each day. Imagine those moms who have experienced the joy and pain of tending a growing family with lively children. They have to take care of them every day. They have to wake-up early morning, and do all what the typical domesticated responsibilities required. Giving them a perfect getaway for about 2-3 days would let them enjoy the place where none else is already a wonderful gift that they would treasure forever. For the meantime, even just this day, they would feel that they can be a queen, where they would also be pampered.

3. A Beauty Treatment

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Bring them to a spa or any salon where they could have a relaxing beauty treatment. Give them a full blown or half blown treat like a new hair style, complete manicure, and pedicure services. This will be a perfect bonding time for mother and daughters. Nonetheless, whether you’re a son, you can still award your mom with this beauty treatment. Let her have renewed skin through foot spas, and even derma treatments.

2. A Cruise for Two

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There are local cruises in your area that offer special promos on Mother’s Day. Take advantage of it. You could set-up a cruise for her and your father that will serve as a romantic getaway for them. This is one of the nicest Mother’s Day gifts that you can give to your mothers since it has a complete package of meals, floats, and other complimentary services that they will truly enjoy while sojourning the city, and witnessing the beauty of the night.

1. Fashion Makeover

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Make her feel fantastic from the very first day that she will be waking up, where she would be welcomed by a new haircut, new clothes, shoes, and to top it all, a professional photographer that would capture each moment. Consult someone who can do a home service beauty regimen and someone who knows the right clothing for your mother. Of course, the last touch of make-up will complete the one day make-over for her. The final stage will be a shopping spree for her, while you are helping her out to choose what’s best for her.

10. Mother by Cyndi Lauper

This is not a typical Mother’s Day song that was written by Cyndia Lauper. In fact, she also wrote another song entitled “I want a Mom that Will Last Forever”, which would also melt your heart. It actually illustrates and defines what a mother is, and the kind of relationship she has to her children. You’ll know the things that a mother can do through the lyrics that was written in an anecdote manner.

9. You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban

The tune of this song is normally heard and played in religious gatherings like church services, which is one of the finest contemporary hymns at the beginning of the 20^th century. Little that we know, it was originally sung and composed by Secret Garden in 2003, but this song was only famous in the United Kingdom back then. When David Foster produced this song and chose Josh Groban to it, no one ever predicted that it would hit the #1 spot in the US Billboard charts in 2004.

8. Mama by Chris Brown

The lyrics are intentionally written and dedicated to Chris Brown’s mother wherein he wanted to tell her that he appreciated the things that she did for him while he was growing up until the time that he had done mistakes. At the end of the song, he invites everyone to show gratitude for the things that mothers have done to their children. Indeed, they are always there for us whether we are in situations of good or bad.

7. The Wonder of You by Elvis Presley

This is one of the immortal songs of the legendary King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley that he sung as part of his single in 1970. He was not the first person who recorded this song. In fact, it was a single of Ray Peterson in 1959 that was composed by Baker Knight. Despite of the fame that Mr. Presley had during that time, he even asked permission from Mr. Ray Peterson if he could record this song, which he gladly allowed. It describes the kind of support that a mother can do for her child amidst the situation where no one could ever understand the flaws and imperfections that a child might commit. The song is really short, but the message it sends provides hope to any individual who is experiencing problems, that there is a mother that could give strength to them.

6. Mother Stands for Comfort by  Kate Bush

Kate Bush has beautifully sung this song with all her heart. The song is all about the unconditional love that a mother can extend to her children. It narrates that even though a child lies, a mother would not say anything about it. It explains the depth of affection and love that a mother can give, even when a child has done something wrong. Indeed, mothers would be there to comfort and strengthen us despite of our weaknesses.

5. Mama by Spice Girls

This is one of the biggest hits of the Spice Girls. This would really touch everyone’s heart, especially those who were not with their mothers anymore. This is a song that would awaken one’s heart in realizing and understanding the kind of love that mothers show. It explains that a child may never comprehend the things that a mother does for the kids, but later on, the misconception about their mother’s actions will be realized. You’ll see the depth of love that they have through their eyes. They are not just mothers, but friends.

4. Mother by Pink Floyd

The song runs 5 minutes and 35 seconds, which was sung by Pink Floyd that was released under the Wall Album in 1979. It was written by Roget Walters, and it’s under progressive rock genre. It’s about the boy who has lost his father because of World War II. He was raised alone by her overly protective mother that made him feel an outsider from the world while he was growing up.

3. Let It Be by Beatles

Indeed, mothers speak words of wisdom as the message sends by the “Let it Be” song that Paul McCartney wrote. He became inspired to write this song for his mother who died when he was 14 years old. Moreover, it was the last album of the group in 1970 that made this song historical, impactful, and full of feelings. Hence, a correction is given too that Mary in this song was not the biblical character in the Bible, but it was the name of Paul McCartney’s mother.

2. The Perfect Fan by Backstreet Boys

It was written by Brian Thomas Littrell and Thomas L. Smith, as popularized by the boy band group called Backstreet Boys. The song talks about how the mother becomes a perfect fan to her child. It narrates the things that a mother has done since he was a child until he grew up. It was a feeling of a child to her mother as to how he has been blessed because of the guidance that his mother gave to him. As one of the lyrics reaffirmed, he also wished that he could be the perfect son in order to give back what his mother has done for him.

1. Hero by Mariah Carey

This song was under the Columbia label, which was released on October 19, 1993 and sung by Mariah Carey. It’s one of the most favorite songs of the singer-songwriter despite that she wrote it for Gloria Estefan. The song can be attributed to one self, but later on, it became one of the favorite songs being sung during Mother’s Day. There was no direct attribution to mothers, but this song exactly represents that all mothers are heroes of their own worth.

10. Mother India (1957)

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A melodramatic movie about an impoverished woman who raised her son with dignity despite life’s challenges, Mother India was directed by Indian director Mehboob and starred Indian artists Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar and Raaj Kumar. This movie was a remake of the movie of Mehboob Khan entitled Aurat which was staged in 1940 and featured a poor woman who struggled in raising her sons and eventually went on top of an evil money lender. Mother India is a good choice for Mother’s Day since it demonstrates the goddess-like example of mothers. Even today, this film is ranked among the top grossing movies of India and is often described as “an all-time Indian blockbuster.”

9. Steel Magnolias (1989)

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Shown in year 1989, Steel Magnolias was directed by Robert Harling and featured the story of the friendship of a bunch of women from a parish in the Natchitoches, Louisiana. This movie was starred by Sally Field, Olympia Dukakis, Daryl Hannah, Shirley MacLaine and Julia Roberts and was based on a play that was staged two years prior to its showing, entitled Steel Magnolias. The director of the film, Robert Harling, was inspired to do the film following the death of his sister. He entitled the movie that way to suggest that women can be as delicate as magnolia flowers though they can also be as hard-hitting as steel.

8. Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)

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Directed by Shawn Levy, Cheaper by the Dozen was a story of a father who lived with his wife and his dozen kids while he was experiencing a grave struggle in his new job. This American family comedy film took its title from the biography of a man named Frank Bunker Gilbreth and his wife Lillian Maller Gilbreth who had a problem raising their twelve children. Both the title and the concept of a family having a dozen kids were greatly inspired by the story of the couple, though it greatly deviated from the original Cheaper by the Dozen book. The film was released in year 2003 and was produced by the 20^th Century Fox.

7. Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974)

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Starred by Hollywood stars Ellen Burstyn, Kris Kristofferson, Alfred Lutter III and Mia Bendixsen, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore featured the story of a woman who got widowed and had to find herself and her son a new life despite never ending difficulties. The main character in this film travelled with her preteen son through the American Southwest and tried to live anew by pursuing her career as a singer. This movie was directed by Martin Scorsese and  co-starred Diane Ladd, Leila Goldoni, Billy Green Bush, Jodie Foster, Vic Tayback and Harvey Keitel. It was in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore that Ellen Burstyn got her first Best Actress award from the Academy Awards.

6. Sophie’s Choice (1982)

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Directed by Alan J. Pakula, Sophie’s Choice featured the story of a woman who survived the Nazi concentration camps and was able to find a reason to live her life the way she used to in the character of a man named Nathan. This romantic drama movie starred Kevin Kline, Peter Mac Nicol, Rita Karin and renowned Hollywood actress Meryl Streep. In this film, Sophie was a Polish immigrant who fell in love with a sparkling lover and lived under the same roof as a young writer from Brooklyn. Sophie’s Choice won Meryl Streep one of her earliest Academy Awards for Best Actress as it is considered even today as one of her finest performances in the silver screen.

5. Gypsy (1962)

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An American musical film that was staged in 1962, Gypsy was based on a Broadway hit that featured the life of a burlesque dancer named Gypsy Rose Lee together with her stage mother Mama Rose. This movie was film-produced and directed by Mervyn Leroy and was an adaptation of a stage musical that was completed by 1959 entitled Gypsy: A Musical Fable by Arthur Laurents. This play was also adopted from another earlier play entitled “Gypsy: A Memoir by Gypsy Rose Lee. The 1959 adaptation of this play was starred by Natalie Wood, Karl Malden, Rosalind Russell and Paul Wallace and featured the songs of renowned composer Jule Styne.

4. Forrest Gump (1994)

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A popular 1994 American epic comedy-drama romance film that featured Tom Hanks, Sally Field, Robin Wright and Gary Sinise, Forrest Gump was about a man named Forrest Gump—a not so intelligent man who accidentally got involved in several historic moments. It generally depicted several decades in the life of the naive and stupid Forrest Gump who also happened to witness and influence some of the most defining events of the 20^th century. This movie was well received by critics and became one of the top grossing films of the 20^th century. It was later adapted into a television series which expanded to several countries worldwide. In total, Forrest Gump sold more than 8 million copies around the world.

3. Erin Brockovich (2000)

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Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Erin Brockovich featured the story of an unemployed single mother who eventually became a legal assistant. The main character in this movie was able to bring down a giant California-based power company that was accused of polluting the water supply of the city. Erin Brockovich starred Albert Finney, Dawn Didawick, David Brisbin and Julia Roberts who played the role of Erin. In real life, this character fought against the US West Coast Energy Corporation Pacific Gas and Electrical Company. This film can be an excellent choice for Mother’s Day since it demonstrates the empowerment of women in the 20^th century.

2. Volver (2006)

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A 2006 Spanish thriller film that was written and directed by Pedro Almodovar, Volver was about the story of a mother who died and returned to her home town in spirit as she sought to fix the tough situation she was not able to resolve within her family when she was still alive. Starred by actress Penelope Cruz, this movie featured a family of women from Madrid, including a working woman named Raimunda and her daughter Paula, as well as the mother of Raimunda and the acting head of the family, Irene. Volver successfully tackled several themes such as sexual abuse, death and magic realism and was originally adopted from the film entitled The Flower of My Secret.

1. Terms of Endearment (1983)

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Directed by James L. Brooks, Terms of Endearment was a drama film that was shown in 1983 and was adapted from the Larry Mc Murtry novel that starred Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson and Shirley MacLaine. The movie featured the three decades of relationship between a mother named Aurora Greenway and her daughter Emma. Terms of Endearment is the best movie to watch this Mother’s Day as it tackles how far a mother can go for the love of her daughter.

10. Huawei Ascend P2

Photo Source: http://eurodroid.com/2013/02/24/huawei-ascend-p2-android-4-1-on-a-1-5ghz-quad-core-processor/

Huwawei is among the newest, lightest and slimmest in the line up of quad core mobile phones in the market today. Manufactured by China-based Company Huawei, this 8.4-mm thin mobile phone has quad core 1.5 GHz processor and runs on Huawei K3V2 chipset. It is also compatible with1GB of internal RAM. Huawei Ascend P2 has 4.7 inch display, which means that it can support 720×1280 pixels and 312 pixel density images. It also boasts of its Corning Gorilla Glass 2 Protection which makes it highly damage-resistant. It has 13MP primary camera and 1.3 MP secondary camera, so it can capture and produce photos that can be as clear as those captured by actual digital cameras.

9. HTC Butterfly

Photo Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/17/htc-j-butterfly-htl21-440ppi/

HTC Butterfly is a quad core mobile device that involves a quad core 1.5 GHz Krait processor and Adreno 320 GPU. Packed with its 2GB RAM, this phone has one of the sharpest and most brilliant displays with its five-inch super LCD3 HD capacitive touch screen that can support up to 1080 x 1920 pixels and 441 ppi pixel density images. Like the Huawei Ascend P2, it also comes with a Corning Gorilla Glass 2 Protection. Its primary camera is 8 MP and its secondary camera is 2.1 MP. When this phone is purchased, it comes with a preinstalled Android OS V4.1 that can be upgraded to Android 4.2. HTC butterfly is considered as one of the most powerful quad core mobile phones that can be found in the market today.

8. HTC One X

Photo Source: http://www.htc.com/www/smartphones/htc-one-x/

HTC One X is one of the very few mobile phones today that can boast of its lag free performance. Manufactured with quad core 1.5 GHz processor that has ULP GE Force and Nvidia Tegra 3 chipset, HTC One X has one GB internal RAM and a 4.7-inch super IPS LCS 2 capacitive touch screen. Its internal memory totalling 16 GB -32GB is expandable with the use of an external SD card. The preinstalled Android OS V4.0 operating system of a newly bought HTC One X is also upgradable to Android OS V4.1.The capacitive touch screen of this phone supports 720 x 1280 pixels and 312 ppi pixel density so it displays photos that are less-grainy. Its primary camera is 8MP while its secondary camera is 2 MP.

7. Samsung Galaxy Note II

Photo Source: http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/08/samsung-galaxy-note-2-preview/

Known for being one of the best selling Android phones in the market today, Samsung Galaxy Note II has a quad core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A9 processor and comes with a Mali- 400MP GPU and Exynos 4412 Quad chipset. Its 2GB RAM allows it to store and be installed with more programs than other phones. Among the defining features of Samsung Galaxy Note II is its 5.5 inch display, which is the largest among all other quad core mobile phones. This phone also comes with an S Pen Stylus and a 5.5 inch Super AMOLED capacitive touch screen that supports 720 x 1280 pixels and 267 ppi pixel density images. Its primary camera has a standard capacity of 8 MP while its secondary camera has 2 MP.

6. Samsung Galaxy S III

Photo Source: http://www.phonearena.com/phones/Samsung-Galaxy-S-III_id6330

The last Samsung flagship mobile device, Samsung Galaxy SIII is the best selling Android phone in the world and has processor specifications that are very much similar to those of Notell phones. It has a quad core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A9 that has 400 MP GPY and Exynos 4412 quad chipset. Unlike Samsung Galaxy Note II that has 2 GM RAM, Samsung Galaxy SIII has just 1 GB of RAM. Its AMOLED capacitive touch screen is 4.8-inch and its preinstalled operating system of Android OS 4.1 can be upgraded to Android OS 4.2. This Android phone is also packaged with Li-lon 2100 MAH battery which can last for an entire day.

5. LG Nexus 4

Photo Source: http://www.broadbandgenie.co.uk/smartphones/review/nexus-4

Considered as the best quad core mobile phone to buy for cell phone users who are into buying a non-modified version of the latest Android phones, LG Nexus 4 is the flagship phone of Google Android and is touted by cell phone developers as the “perfect phone” because of its capability to upgrade automatically and at high speeds. It runs a Quad core 1.5 GHz Krait processor, with an Adreno 320 GPU and a Qualcomm APQ 8064 Snapdragon chipset. Its 4.7-inch capacitive touch screen supports 768 x 1280 pixels and 318 ppi pixel density images and is branded as True HD IPS Plus. LG Nexus 4 has a RAM of 2 GB that allows the Android Vanilla version to execute commands smoothly and fast.

4. LG Optimus G Pro

Photo Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/21/lg-optimus-g-pro-official-ntt-docomo/

A threat to the Samsung Note segment, LG Optimus G Pro involves features that can outrival other quad core Smart phones in the market. It has the most powerful processor, a sharp and high definition display, and long battery life. This quad core mobile phone comes with quad core 1.7 GHz RAM and a 5.5 inch True Full HD IPS LCD capacitive touch screen that can support 1080 x 1920 pixels as well as 401 ppi pixel density images. Its front camera is a good 13 MP and its secondary camera is 2.1 MP. Its powerful Li-Po 3140 MAH battery allows it to have an extended battery life that can last for a couple of days. It runs on Android OS V4.1 though there have been several talks that it will be upgraded soon to Android V4.2.

3. HTC One

Photo Source: http://www.anandtech.com/show/6754/hands-on-with-the-htc-one-formerly-m7

The largest flagship phone of the HTC segment, HTC One is considered by techies as the most beautiful Android handset in the market today. This quad core mobile phone comes with Quad core 1.7 GHz Krait 300, which has an Adreno 320 GPU just like the LG Optimus G Pro. However, it uses Qualcomm APQ8064T Snapdragon 600 as its chipset and it has a total internal ram of 2 GB. Like most quad core mobile phones, it also comes with a 4.7 inch super LCD 3 capacitive touch screen display that can support 1080 x 1920 pixels and an astounding 469 ppi pixels density images. It also boasts of its Corning Gorilla Glass 2 Protection which works in the resistance of shock and damages.

2. Sony Xperia Z/ZL

Photo Source: http://www.androidpit.com/sony-xperia-z-and-xperia-zl-press-images-leaked

Sony Xperia is one of the two latest quad core mobile devices with Android operating system released by Sony. It runs on quad core 1.5 GHz Krait and Adreno 320 GPU, plus Qualcomm MDM 9215M or AP Q8054 chipset that supports up to 2 GB of RAM. It has a larger touch screen display of 5 inches and has a 13 MP primary camera. While this mobile phone runs on Android OS V4 1.2, its operating system can still be upgraded to Android OS VS 1.4. Among its most popular features is its being water resistant.

1. Samsung Galaxy S4

Photo Source: http://crackerpie.com/2013/04/30/official-sksuamdk-jelly-bean-4-2-2-firmware-of-samsung-galaxy-s4-korean-version-has-been-released/samsung-galaxy-s4-render-az-2/

Samsung Galaxy S4 is the latest release of Samsung, with built-in features that allows users to utilize its entire suite of quad core processors advantageously. Dubbed today as the leader in Quad core Android phones, Samsung Galaxy S4 has a quad core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A15 and a Power VR SGX 544 MP3 GPU and Exynos 5 Octa 5410 chipset. Like Sony Xperia, its 5 inch touch screen display supports 1080 x 1920 pixels and 441 ppi pixels density images. This mobile phone comes with a preinstalled operating system that can be upgraded to Android OS V5.0 in the near future.