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18Aug 2015

Savor your me time with the help of Pine-Sol® All-Purpose Cleaner #SavorYourMeTime

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

I wish I had known back then as a new mom, the concept of “alone” time or “me” time. Now looking back during those days that my kids were little, it just seemed impossible to have a “me” time. I remember locking myself in the bathroom just to have a long hot shower. Thinking, I had my “alone” time, I hear my little boy wailing outside the door wondering what I am doing. Today, my kids are adults and I have a lot of “me” time on my hands. I make sure to savor my “me” time after a hectic week . While I gain gratification from the roles I play as mother, wife, and blogger , the first priority should be me.

Photo by Jay Santos. Some rights reserved

These days my “me” time is Fridays, a day at the gym followed by steam bath then relaxing at a nail and foot spa. I loved that my “me” day was also a Friday and a lovely opportunity to be with mom blogger-friends at the Sofitel. It wasn’t just a time for ourselves. We learned about the new scents and sizes of Pine-Sol® All-Purpose Cleaner and how using products in the home can make life easier for busy moms on the go.

Photo by Jay Santos. Some rights reserved

Joanne Santos, our patient Yoga instructor made Yoga look so easy. I am not used to yoga but I liked that she adjusted to most of the beginners there. I find the breathing exercises useful. Slow start—breathing deeply, in and out—fires up your prefrontal cortex, the brain’s center for higher thought.

Photo by Jay Santos. Some rights reserved

A healthy lunch was served after our Yoga Session. Tisha De Veyra, Director of Marketing for Clorox International Philippines Inc., and Renelle Revilla Delos Santos , Brand Manager for Pine-Sol talked about how new scents and sizes of Pine-Sol and how using products in the home can make life easier for busy moms on the go.

Since Pine-Sol® , it allows moms to save time and money. Instead of buying various cleaning aids for the different parts of the house and several purposes, you just purchase and use one all-purpose cleanser– Pine-Sol. There is so much you can do with Pine-Sol from getting rid of home odors, “goodbye stinky trash”, cleaning cabinets, taking away refrigerator smells, cleaning patio cushions, clean pet stains, knock out shower scum, knock out kitchen mess, disinfect hard to clean toys, de-smudge walls etc. Click here to know more ways to use Pine-sol.

Pine-Sol Cleaner Original has a distinctive crisp, clean pine scent; Pine-Sol Lemon Fresh has a smell of citrus fruits for a refreshing, invigorating, and cleaner scent; Pine-Sol Orange Energy has a freshly peeled orange scent; Pine-Sol Lavender Clean has a calming and relaxing scent; Pine-Sol Sparkling Wave leaves the bathroom smelling like a light ocean breeze.

To use, just add 1/4 cup of Pine-Sol® All-Purpose Cleaner to a gallon of water to clean kitchen floors, counter, sinks and stoves. This is great for general cleaning. A 500mL bottle gives you 8.3 gallons or 33 liters of cleaning power!

Remember , just 1/4 cup then add water to make a gallon of general cleaning power and watch the savings. You can also use it in the bathroom to clean showers, tubs, tile, floors and toilet bowls, and even for tough jobs such as deodorizing garbage cans and pet areas. You can mix Pine-Sol® All-Purpose Cleaner with water at different strengths for different household needs, unlike a premixed spray. You can tackle any challenge, adjusting your cleaning power each time.

Pine-sol gave me the five scents. I didn’t realize how heaven-scent these all-purpose cleaner was. My trusted helper took her 15 day vacation leave, but I still had an extra helper. She suddenly had to leave on Sunday due to illness. I moaned. My gosh, how do I deal with this stinky cat smell. I have four cats at home, mind you. Plus a dog! To my horror, my helper did not clean the pet area judiciously. With my face mask on, I applied concentrated lemon fresh scent, then rinsed it off with water followed by a dry mop. Voila, the stinky pee is gone. I started cleaning the surface areas of the house using a spray bottle and a dry mop (after sweeping, of course). I swear, cleaning is such a breeze. Cleaning the house has never been such a breeze. Would you believe, I was able to finish two articles in between my homemaker role. Well, I didn’t have to cook because hubby didn’t want me to wash the dishes.

Today, I just got an extra help from my sister and I will definitely use the cleaning tips I learned from Pine-sol. Surely, my helper will appreciate that her work will be so much easier. My househelp just like myself , can enjoy her “me time”, right?

(You can find the full list of the ingredients in each Pine-Sol® Cleaner here. and other FAQs)

19Jul 2015

Being a Tita has never been this “in.”

by webs ⋅ Leave a Comment

written by Toni Tiu, as originally published at , “Tita of Manila” Mode: ON!, Philippine Online Chronicles

Being a Tita has never been this “in.”

“Tita” is what you call your Mom’s sister, your Dad’s female co-workers, basically any lady who’s a generation above you. But now, Tita is more than just a title or a term of endearment. It’s a mindset, a lifestyle, one that’s not reserved only for those in their late 30s or early 40s. I recall when being a Tita made you cringe as that meant you were truly much older than most folks in the room. That’s why I was surprised seeing my 30-year-old friend brand herself “Tita” on Instagram, sharing a picture of her wine glass as she stayed home Friday night at her condo. “Tita mode. Staying in for the night,” she captioned. Being called “Tita” may still make some cringe, but because so many women are embracing being a Tita and loving Titas, the cringe can be accompanied by a little joy.

The Twitter account “Titas of Manila” hilariously captures Tita-isms and Tita behavior.

@TitasofManila Jun 1

(sees pamangkin wearing makeup) Wow artista!!

@TitasofManila May 14

* lines up at French Baker in Megamall for 50% discount on bread *

@TitasofManila May 13

*sees chubby pamangkin * Ay, napabayaan ka sa kusina, no? *kurot sa tiyan*

@TitasofManila Apr 16

You know the daughter of your Tita Susan graduated cum laude and she’s working in London now tapos ang gwapo pa ng asawa na mabait pa!

This is very much the typical Filipino Tita. From blatantly asking you about your weight gain to repeatedly asking you during family reunions when you will get married, this Twitter account captures the many Tita lines that irritate nieces and nephews everywhere. But it also captures the behavior and quirks that make Titas endearing such as not being able to resist eating butong pakwan or trying to figure out how to spring clean her collection of Fit-Flops. The personification of being a Tita is so endearing and amusing at the same time.

Buzzfeed has even published an article called 20 Signs You’re the Tita of Your Group. Funny signs include “You’re way too exhausted after a day out with friends.” (accompanied by an image of a body part with Salon Pas) and “You have a bag full of things your friends might need in case of emergency.” That is SO Tita.

Embracing Tita-ness

I’m in my late 30s, but even then I don’t feel like a Tita. However, three moments in the past month made me realize I was very much a Tita.

Incident Number 1. My officemate was complaining about a really bad headache. “You want to drink medicine?,” I asked her. “Sige, you have?,” she asked. I reached into my kikay kit and pulled out a banig of headache medicine. “O there, you get as much as you want,” I advised her. In the past, this behavior would be called being a Girl Scout. Now it’s being a Tita.

Incident Number 2. Air-conditioning in the meeting room dies. It is really hot. I reach for my bag and take out my pamaypay and begin fanning myself furiously. I realized I was the only one in the room doing that and slowly put down my fan. Abaniko in my bag? So Tita. But hey, at least I didn’t have to suffer the heat in silence.

Incident Number 3. My husband and son got me a present for Mother’s Day. Upon opening the box, I saw it was a pashmina. I LOVED it. As I wrapped the beautiful red pashmina around my shoulders, I also realized that I felt very much like a Tita at that moment. (That moment also made me realize that one can’t have enough pashminas. I want one in basic black and another in navy blue, please.)

Shawls in all colors? Call your Tita! This can be her happy place!

Being a Tita has never been this “in” because of how social media has helped make Tita-isms endearing. It’s a good thing. In Filipino culture, a Tita can be our second Mom or a mentor. Titas may have their irritating moments, but for the most part they’re really just looking out for us. When they tease you about your weight gain, they sincerely want you to be more conscious about your health. When they ask about your marriage plans, they sincerely want you to fall in love and find that “forever” of yours. In or not, at the very least, you can always count on the Tita of your group to have food in her bag.

01Jun 2015

Just singing in the rain.. What a glorious feelin’ !

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

Singin in the Rain will open on August 20 for a strictly limited season at The Theater , Solaire. You can buy tickets through TicketWorld. Call 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph . Tickets start at 1,500 pesos.

I’m singing in the rain
Just singing in the rain
What a glorious feelin’
I’m happy again
I’m laughing at clouds
So dark up above
The sun’s in my heart
And I’m ready for love
Let the stormy clouds chase
Everyone from the place
Come on with the rain
I’ve a smile on my face
I walk down the lane
With a happy refrain
Just singin’,
Singin’ in the rain

Are you familiar with those lyrics? Well if you don’t know it yet, “Singin in the Rain” is an iconic 1952 movie which starred Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly. Set in 1927, it tells the story of the first Hollywood musical, when the silver screen found its voice and left silent movies — and some of its stars behind. I remember watching Gene Kelly on TV tap dance to the rains . There are so many delightful moments in this iconic movie. Sometimes, I can’t help singing along because it is just a happy song. Remember how it was when we were kids and played with the rain?

Here is the “Singin in the Rain” from the movie.

“Singin in the Rain” has been described as “one of the most joyous dances ever filmed”. Gene Kelly explained that his inspiration for the famous street dance scene was the way children like to play in the rain.

The good news is “Singin in the Rain” will come to Manila during the rainy month of August from the producers of box office hits, CATS, Mamma Mia, The Phantom of the Opera and Wicked. I usually dread the rains because of the flood waters but I love the rain in its pitter-patter mode. The song reminds me to be grateful that the rain will kiss the dry soil .

Here is a snippet of the musical.

I was also delighted to be present during the press launch and got to meet the three main characters: Steven Van Wyk, Bethany Dickson , Grant Almirall. They presented “Good Morning”.

From Left to right: Steven Van Wyk, Bethany Dickson , Grant Almirall

The musical preserved much of the iconic movie since it was just important to serve the piece as well as the movie because people come to hear certain things and that’s what the producers want to provide. Expect glorious songs like Good Morning, Make ’em Laugh , Moses Supposes, and the classic Singin’ in the Rain.

Steven Van Wyk (Cosmo Brown)

The wonderful thing about the play is the choreography is flawlessly created with the help of 12,000 liters of water. Definitely the audience will enjoy one of the most famous dance routines live on stage, with some leaving the stage a little wetter than they arrived. The 12,000 liters of water will be poured on the stage over the course of two numbers–, the first one being the iconic SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN , as done by Gene Kelly and they see it again in the finale. All the water is is UV-treated, sand-filtered and chlorinated. It’s the same machinery as in the swimming pool except that this is pouring in the air.

Bethany Dickson (Kathy Selden)

Audience seated in the first three rows will be in for a one-of-a-kind experience because this is the “splash zone”. The audience will get a treat by being subject to a generous amount of rain water from the show during some of the dance numbers. Bethany Dickson , one of the main characters told me that the water is heated. The bonus is the first three rows will be provided with a poncho if they want to protect themselves.

Grant Almirall (Don Lockwood)

Leading the cast of 27 as the charming Don Lockwood is Grant Almirall, Bethany Dickson as Kathy Selden, and Steven Van Wyk as Cosmo Brown. Expect to be showered with everything you wish for in a musical: breath-taking songs and dance numbers, sumptuous set design and costumes with a superb score and joyous story.

Steven Van Wyk , Bethany Dickson, Grant Almirall

So if you want to watch this feel-good musical, you can buy tickets through TicketWorld. Call 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph . Tickets start at 1,500 pesos.

21Feb 2015

Journaling is a process of self-reflection.

by webs ⋅ Leave a Comment

by Ma. Rachel Yapchiongco as originally posted at the Journaling For The Soul, Philippine Online Chronicles.

Never underestimate the power of blank pages and a pen. They can immortalize thoughts, preserve memories and create lasting impressions. Think of a journal as a window to your soul. You can write whatever you want. You can share your thoughts, ideas, secrets, feelings, worries, fears, dreams, and more.

Journaling is a process of self-reflection. It lets you share a big part of yourself without worrying what others may think or how others would react.

Time flies so fast. Each day passes by like a blur. You can keep those memorable moments by writing them down on paper. In this digital age, it is now possible to create an online journal but writing by hand seems more special and intimate.

Use your journal to share day to day experiences. It feels good to share happy moments and little triumphs in life. But life is not always a bed of roses. We all have our own share of ups and downs. You can write about the good and bad times. Sometimes it helps to write down things that made you cry or drove you to get mad.

Here are some tips to help you start your own personal journal.

Find an ideal time and place to write. Write on your own time. There are people who prefer to write in the morning when it’s quiet and peaceful. Others like to write before going to bed so they can reflect on things that happened that day. Find the best time that works for you.

Look for a comfortable place where you can write without interruptions. Most people like to write at home but you are free to write somewhere else like a public library, park or coffee shop. It is all up to you.
Keep your journal personal and private and keep it in a safe place. That way, you don’t have to worry about someone else reading your most intimate thoughts and feelings.

Keep your journal simple. Begin by getting a new journal. Dealing with a blank page can be a little overwhelming especially if you’re new to journaling. Keep an open mind.

The good thing about making a journal is the freedom. There are no rules. You don’t have to be concerned about format, grammar, spelling, or how legible your handwriting is.

Sit down and think of what you want to share. Just keep it simple. The purpose of journaling is to reflect about yourself and not to impress others .

Don’t be afraid of making your first entry. There is no need to feel pressured on filling an entire page. You can write a few lines and reserve the rest of the page for another day.

Decide what you want to write on your journal. A good way to start your journal is to reflect about your life. Ask yourself if you are happy and satisfied with your life.

You can write about things that happened on a particular day. Focus on the highlights of your day. Reflect on things that you are grateful for. It can be as short as five things or as many as you can think of. Prioritize quality and not quantity.

Share simple happy moments that you might forget later on. Writing about a moment preserves it into a lasting memory. Several years from now, you can go through your journal and reminisce about the good old days. You’ll be glad that you took time to write down those precious snippets of happiness.

When you travel or visit a new place, you can share about your experience.

As you get more inspiration in your journaling, you’ll likely find it easier to write more entries from the heart. Journaling for the soul brings out the deeper essence of writing. Make your journal an intimate connection to yourself. Write down goals or plans. Express your innermost thoughts and emotions. Share feelings of love, happiness, sadness, excitement, despair, aspirations, hope, and even thoughts of hopelessness.

You can also draw or put photos on your journal. Some people find it easier to express themselves through drawing or sketching.

There will come a time when you look back at your journal and appreciate how you’ve grown and developed as an individual. Journaling also gives you an opportunity to learn from mistakes and reflect on difficult situations to make you stronger and wiser.

Journaling has been known to help reduce stress, improve mental and physical health, and boost self-esteem. Experts recommend journaling to people who are struggling with grief and loss. Writing can give you a sense of relief during difficult times in your life.

Be consistent in journaling. Try to spend a moment each day to write your journal entry. Encourage consistent journaling until it becomes a welcome habit. Write thoughts and feelings while they are fresh. It is easy to lose the raw feelings and inspiration if you postpone your writing for another day.

Sometimes life can become too hectic and busy. If there comes a time when you miss an entry, do not be too hard on yourself. Just jump right back to journaling.

When you enjoy writing, journaling becomes something to look forward to rather than a task that you need to finish. Learn to embrace the joy of journaling for your soul.

Photo c/o Flickr. Some rights reserved.

05Jan 2015

The 2014 year in review and looking forward to 2015 & beyond

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

I like looking back at the past , especially on my work as a blogger and citizen advocate and see what needs improvement in 2015. It drives me to formulate goals for 2015 and beyond. The year 2014 started out with expanding income opportunities through a partnership with my dear friend, Jane T. Uymatiao. We didn’t have a name at first and it was only in the middle part of the year that we decided on Prep2Prime Digital to encompass our experience in parenting and social media. We have a long way to go but it is a good start and 2015 will see us expand to more brands , schools , organizations and private workshops.

My life as a mom blogger will continue on, of course. It will be my 8th year. Sorry for tooting my horns. In 2014, I was honored to receive two awards in recognition for my advocacy as “momblogger” . Such recognition affirms my motivation as a mom blogger, one who advocates constructive engagement in issues on family and society. I hope the brands I want to work with , look at me as a socially conscious mom blogger more than a political blogger . I am a mother who is concerned for the future of our country, the future of our children and their community. Whatever social change we fight for redounds to benefit of corporations as well.

Moms react differently on specific issues but we all have a common concern : our children’s futures unite us. Hope you all stay with me this 2015 and beyond.

But first, this is how my year 2014 went:

December 12, 2014
Recognition at the #SINAG Financial Literacy Digital Journalism Awards

Received first runner up of the #SINAG Financial Literacy Digital Journalism Awards held December 11 at the Manila Polo Club. The #SINAG Financial Literacy Digital Journalism Awards is Sunlife’s way to enjoin online influencers to encourage Filipinos to become more financially prepared and break free from ignorance, worry, debt and financial dependency. When I was invited to submit this blog, I didn’t think I had enough posts in 2014 to be considered. I only wrote three posts for the year: Money management tips for the family, Affirmations of financial success and Making a choice for a brighter life.

December 12, 2014
Yearender with PTV 4 Veronica Chronicles

Mga isyung Pulitikal, Ekonomiya, mga Kalamidad at ang ating Pagbangon, at ang mga nag-Trending sa taong 2014. This was the question tackled in the Veronica Chronicles. Shown on December 15 at the People’s Television.

November 2014
Social media: Boon or bane?

A feature story on social media at 9 News TV or CNN Philippines

November 27, 2014
The future of Enterprise

#FutureEnterprisePH on mobility and cloud computing using the hashtag. Jane and I were moderators.

November 24, 2014
Blog Watch turns 5 years old

Blog Watch, co-founded by many bloggers, turned five years old. I didn’t realize it has been that long. Despite limited funding, we are able to collaborate with fellow citizen advocates . We partnered with Project Agos, and Juan Vote community and help out with the Scrap Pork Network .

Our fellow advocate, Tonyo Cruz, shared some 5 important things about BlogWatch and its importance to the bloggers and the blogging community.

October 27, 2014
#connectYourRights: two day of the “Advocacy Training Workshop on Internet Rights” sponsored by the Foundation of Media Alternatives

September 23, 2014
4M Jakarta Forum

The 4M Jakarta Forum brought together more than 100 professionals from 10 ASEAN countries and Europe in order to discuss the region trends, limitations and possibilities. Happy to be part of it along with Rosario Juan, Tonyo Cruz and Jonji Gonzales

September 18, 2014
Four days PCIJ training – seminar on “Governance by the numbers : Investigative Reporting & Numeracy”

September 14, 2014
How safe are our children ?

I was in Europe when I first saw a friend (@unlawyer) tweet on “People with guns in EDSA”. This happened at 2:45 PM on September 1. In Germany, that’s around 8:45 AM but I saw the tweet around 10:45 AM after I cooked lunch. I am not the only one who caused the original photo to get viral. With the help of netizens and traditional media, the tweet became national news.

August 12, 2014
#StandUpSignUpvsPork on August 25

The pork is alive and kicking. The only way to scrap the pork totally is to undertake a People’s Initiative against the pork barrel. I was not around on August 25 but I fully supported the ” Sign the People ‘s Initiative vs All Pork” which was held at the kalabaw area, Luneta during the first anniversary of the Million People March.

July 21, 2014
I am one of the signatories of an impeachment complaint vs. Pres Aquino

Photo via Kodao ProductionsAnd so, I dedicate the filing of the impeachment complaint to my nephew and the young ones who will one day become the taxpayers of the Philippines. “For putting himself above the Supreme Court and the Filipino People, I am attaching my signature to the Impeachment complaint of Benigno Simeon Cojuanco Aquino III as President of the Republic of the Philippines.

July 1, 2014
Having a virtual office

A business needs a small office outside the home so I go a virtual office at voffice.com.ph . Having a virtual office (check here for more information) is so convenient. vOffice in short for Virtual Office, gives you everything you need to efficiently run your business less the cost of maintaining a physical office. It gives you a prestigious business address, telephone & fax number, professional receptionist to answer your call, working space, full equipped meeting facilities, on-demand secretary and more. I got their Platinum plan.

June 28, 2014
Panel on evolution of media on Social Media day

May 8, 2014
Hey Mom! portal : an online sisterhood for moms

I am quite honored to be selected as one of the mom contributors for Unilab’s Hey Mom! portal. Most mom-oriented brands prefer the younger moms to engage with their products or services. I believe I have a lot to share about parenting and am grateful for being given this opportunity to share these stories outside my blog. Aside from myself, former international model and VJ Amanda Griffin Jacob is one of the celebrity contributors. Her projects revolve around motherhood which has proven to be Amanda’s passion. Actress Mylene Dizon is another contributor as a single and playful mom.

Unilab prepared this very special gift for moms just in time for Mothers’ Day—an online community made by Filipino mothers for Filipino mothers. Hey Mom! is an online portal specifically designed to be a resource for moms to access and exchange relevant information that will help in their everyday parenting tasks.

April 29, 2014

1st Future of Media Conference #futuremediaph

My friend , Jane Uymatiao and I helped organize the 1st Future of Media together with The Philippine Online Chronicles, the Vibal Foundation of the Vibal Group . It was such a huge success. The possibilities to achieve change through media and communication is limitless. The power of citizen media will increase through digital applications (apps), more collaboration with netizens and traditional media as well as the support of full-service agencies, digital marketing organizations, and foundations. The “Internet has opened up spaces for grassroots movements to emerge and seek political and social empowerment through the Web.”

April 2014
Bloggers as New Media Personalities (Carlo Ople and Noemi Lardizabal Dado)

I remember attending iBlog 2 in 2006, two months after I started this blog. iBlog has a soft spot for me. This was where I met the popular bloggers like Abe Olandres and Manolo Quezon . This time around, I talked about how I evolved as momblogger, advocating for social change. I also talked on “What is the future of blogging?” Here is the video introduction of talk:

February 13, 2014
1st PUP Mabini Media Awards: Best Blog

I am grateful to the PUP students for recognizing my work on social media. My role as mom blogger is to nuture not only my family but the community so that the future citizens will have a better future. This fourth award is such a big honor because I did not have to solicit and ask friends to vote for me (unlike other nominations where popularity voting counts). The last honor given to me was seven years ago as “Winner, Best Website, Blogs Category- 10th Philippine Web Awards- November 23, 2007”.

I didn’t realize the Awarding ceremonies and the 3rd Young Communicators’ Congress would be this huge and grand. I nearly teared as I walked down the aisle because of the awesome music. I recorded my reaction in my Bubbly Audio post.

January 6, 2014
Speaking & Consulting : Social media, Pro-active parenting & Wellness

To sustain an advocacy requires time and money that could have otherwise gone to saving up for our senior years. This is where Jane and I talked about developing our income channels yet doing what we are passionate about: advocating for social change. Why not offer our services? Though, Jane and I are invited as social media resource speakers, we don’t actively promote ourselves. For 2014, we have moved to a new direction: expanding our services to include social business consultancy, and more topics for social media and pro-active parenting with a new category on “Reinventing One’s Life”. Jane writes about this new chapter in her life.

—

The year 2014 has been fulfilling both as a mom blogger and citizen advocate for Blog Watch. As you can see, my friend Jane is so much a part of it. I started the year 2015 with ” Health is wealth ” and working on the website of Prep2PrimeDigital.com . Check it out and see why it is called Prep to Prime or P2P, for short since we emphasize the breadth of our parenting and social media experience.

The year 2015 will take me more into Prep2PrimeDigital.com to complement the activities I do as mom blogger. . When I wonder what is coming, I tell myself the best is coming, the very best in life has to to offer, the best God will send and claim it as mine.

Hope to see you all in our P2P events.

12Dec 2014

Recognition at the #SINAG Financial Literacy Digital Journalism Awards

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ 1 Comment

Allow me to toot my horns for a bit and appreciate the recognition in receiving first runner up of the #SINAG Financial Literacy Digital Journalism Awards held December 11 at the Manila Polo Club. The #SINAG Financial Literacy Digital Journalism Awards is Sunlife’s way to enjoin online influencers to encourage Filipinos to become more financially prepared and break free from ignorance, worry, debt and financial dependency. When I was invited to submit this blog, I didn’t think I had enough posts in 2014 to be considered. I only wrote three posts for the year: Money management tips for the family, Affirmations of financial success and Making a choice for a brighter life.

Photo via Sunlife

My family is no stranger to financial challenges. If there is one thing I often remind my children, it is “no matter the state of our financial situation, we need to implement some sort of money management or else all that money will be gone in an instant.” I’d like to think my children have managed their finances well. At least they are financially independent and living on their own. I am so proud of them. It is my belief that a parent should prepare their children to live on their own. I lost my mother when I was a teenager so I wanted my daughters to have a mindset of supporting themselves without me. Of course, giving gifts and a little shopping for them are just perks and me, being a mommy. I miss being a mom of little kids. I know I should have taught them more such as being entrepreneurial and starting a business of their own.

Photo via Sunlife

This recognition reminds me to write more about money management tips or financial literacy. I actually wrote a lot in the past years but it is now buried deep in the archives.

I am thankful for Sun Life for this recognition. Incidentally , I invested in Sun Life Financial in 2011 because one of the editors in the Philippine Online Chronicles was Kendrick Chua who was very persuasive with his pitch, to place some of my savings with them.

If there is anything I can share, it is that preparing for a financially secure future requires taking action today:

1.Increase your cash flow;

2. Reduce or eliminate debt;

3. Take baby steps in savings and investing;

4. Review your finances periodically;

5. Communicate with your family.

24Oct 2014

When to give a child cell phone and social media rights

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

When the youngest in our family was growing up, the Internet had just started up here in the country. I do remember having to listen to the whistling handshake of older modems as connection was established. However, what did that mean to our youngest sister? Surprisingly, when she was around twelve, we let her have access to the Internet, and I am glad to say that she is more or less well-adjusted, if not savvy about online concerns.

However, it’s important to note that before she went online, she was immersed in a family that encouraged reading (she still has her library, as do I), and that we were also very much involved in making sure that if she did watch movies, we would be there with her (for the most part). Thus, she has developed a healthy appetite for good movies… and outstandingly whacky B-movies as well.

The key, in retrospect, with how my sister was prepared for the Internet was that we had already been preparing her somehow through the way we introduced literature to her, and that also, thanks to how history turned out… there was no chance for her to be exposed to the Internet at a younger age.

Living in the Online World
That sort of preparation, sadly, isn’t possible anymore, because the moment our future generations are born, they are Instagrammed. Heck, I’ve seen my friends post photos of ultrasounds on Facebook. The idea of slowly introducing a child to the idea of using a mobile device, social media, and the whole concept of being online is rapidly becoming an exercise in futility.

Mobile phones
Yes, let’s say it clearly: most, if not all mobile telecoms do have options for parents to use when it comes to giving their kids mobile phones and keeping them safe. In general, this would be to give them limited-use mobile phones, where they can only receive calls from and call to people on an authorized list.

While that sounds safe, do remember that all phones are hackable, if you know which store to go to. Unlocking features can be done, and cheaply, for the most part.

The issue becomes even more complicated if you will give them an Android-OS phone or touchscreen mobile phone. Messing around with software is something kids can do much better than adults can.

In general, you should only give a mobile phone to your children if you think they are already responsible enough to have one. And if you won’t give them one, don’t think they won’t have access – phones are cheap now, and a simcard / phone set can be as low as 900 pesos – well within range of student savings, and can be hidden from parents. It’s better that you give them the phone, in that case.

Social Media
Now, all parents have probably read or heard about the various social media horror stories, mostly centering around how children are victimized by abusers, kidnappers, and molesters who pose as other children. Make no mistake, this is a possible scenario for every child, and this is the reason why there is a valid sense of dread for parents when they learn their kids are active in social media.

However, social media, like all online tools, is by nature neutral – it’s on how it is used that the problems start.

Reasonable solutions
One of the big issues when it comes to regulating cellphone and social media use is that what parents would define as reasonable would most definitely be unacceptable to kids and teenagers. Here are some pointers on how to manage the situation:

Be prepared to negotiate
When setting up your rules and requirements, do make sure you have logical arguments ready. Gone are the days of children following their parents without question – because if they do, you should be suspicious. For example, if you say that you won’t give them cellphones until their eighteenth birthday, then you should be honest enough to say that you are afraid that they will be kidnapped or abused. From there, you can start negotiating with them to an acceptable win-win – for example, they can only take their phones with them if they are going out with friends or on field trips. In addition, that they absolutely cannot drop a call on you. And yes, there is absolutely nothing wrong with making them work for the cellphone or mobile device they want, be it through good grades, helping around the house, or just making sure they come home on time and always ask permission truthfully when they are going out somewhere.

In the case of social media, asking for their password is an instant brick wall, so you should tell them that at the very least, you should be friended, with a limited profile access. And the younger they are, the more access you should be given.

There is nothing wrong with setting some lines that you won’t erase in the name of protecting your kids, but you should also remember that it’s the approach to the situation and conversation that will determine if they will understand and do their best to follow you, or if they only look like they are following your rules.

Also: don’t be afraid to set punishment guidelines. After all, they should still learn that breaking the rules will entail consequences.

The mobile conundrum
With iPhone, iPad, and Android mobile devices now becoming the norm, the idea of always being online and always having your system on changes the way that parents should deal with online and telecommunication rights, simply because everything they worry about with their kids is literally in hand.

One ethically questionable but effective way to control or at least monitor mobile device usage is to install monitoring applications – but this approach is a blatant issue when it comes to privacy. Another way is to use parental lock applications and limit all the uses for the mobile device. Unfortunately, this approach will, more often than not, encourage children to find ways to either unlock the functions… or get a new, “personal” mobile device.

Keeping the lines open
As scary as it may sound for parents, the one useful and proven way to protect your kids when it comes to cellphones, social media, and mobile devices is to simply set the rules, and keep your communication lines open. No amount of strict policing will cut it these days. What is important is that they understand that the rules you set are there to help them, not to hinder what they think is theirs by right.

Photo: “Instagram and Other Social Media Apps” by Jason Howie, c/o Flickr.com

Written by Richard Leo Ramos , as originally posted at the Philippine Online Chronicles

20Sep 2014

Yes, Steve Jobs, we don’t need iPads to amuse kids

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

by Racquel Erhard, as originally posted at the Philippine Online Chronicles

This article was inspired by a recent story I saw online about Steve Jobs. Did you know that Steve Jobs, the innovative former CEO of Apple, didn’t lets his kids use iPhones or iPads?

In an interview in 2010, Steve Jobs expressed concern about his children’s gadget use. At home, the technology his kids use was moderated, he said.

In that Inquisitr article, Jobs explained: “As all modern parents know, iPhones and iPads are extremely appealing to children. These little hand-held devices are state-of-the-art toys. Surrogate parents almost, capable of entertaining, distracting, and pacifying children during school holidays and on long car journeys when mom and dad’s attentions are focused elsewhere. Yet instead of thanking Apple for these extremely convenient parent assistants, should we actually be concerned about the potential harm they may be inflicting upon our youngsters?”

What the late IT genius said hit home. I have long been disturbed by people’s (and I mean both young and old) predilection for electronic gadgets. Almost nobody could sit still without having electronic gadgets on hand. Do you agree? Look around you – the train stations, the buses, the jeepneys. You would find people busy tinkering with their devices.

Focus on people in restaurants. Regardless if they are in fastfood, fine dining, bars, carinderia ni Manang, truck food stops, etc., what is the one thing all of them have in common? Yes, those electronic gadgets. Nobody could move without their handheld devices.

Imagine having a nice and intimate family dining experience. Can you imagine one where family members are focused on each other, the way family dinners should, by tradition, be? Impossible with kids and their iPhones, isn’t it?

A few days ago, my husband and I were invited to a restaurant located in a historical house dating back to the year 1400. (We are, by the way, based in Germany, my husband’s country.) The main dining area used to be the wine cellar of the house. Its cave-like atmosphere turned into a very romantic and noble dining experience. We noticed there were reserved tables for a family of about 30. The tables were elegantly decorated. Sitting in one corner was an old lady, seeming all alone even if opposite her were two teens, possibly her grandchildren, busy with their smart phones.

During that time, the old lady remained seated in her corner, while the two teens stayed put, fingers on their gadgets. It was only when the bigger crowd of guests arrived that the grandma was acknowledged! How sad is that?

I may not be Steve Jobs, and I am not technology savvy, but I know the danger these handheld devices could bring. That was the reason why early on, when my girls were still toddlers, I found ways to keep them busy especially when we were dining out.

And no, we also didn’t have to keep on visiting McDonald’s or Jollibee for that matter, to keep them busy in the play area.

Of course, there are family restaurants that offer gifts of toys or activities to keep the kids busy and not bored to tears. There are restaurants with kid’s corners featuring small tables and chairs loaded with crayons and papers or even books — sometimes even a box of assorted toys to choose from, or a computer with creative games. One fine dining area we visited even had a babbling parrot which greatly amused the children.

To make sure that the kids would enjoy the dining out experience, you have to focus on these two details:

Choose a family-oriented restaurant. There are a lot of family-oriented restaurants that automatically offer creative ways to engage kids. They would have coloring pads and crayons, they would have puzzles, they would have play corners, too.

Consider the kids’ meal time. Make sure you would be arriving in the restaurant just before, and not way past, the normal meal time of the kids. Come on, you cannot expect them to sit still if their stomachs are grumbling.

Here are some tips to keep your child busy to enjoy dining out without using handheld devices:

Books. I am sure they would have their favorite books; bring them with you! If not, you might find interesting books in the corner of the play area (or ask the restaurant staff) if you are visiting a family-oriented restaurant.

Coloring pads or books with crayons (of course!). Just in case the restaurant doesn’t have them, you might want to bring your own art supply. To keep them interested, you might want to color with them.

Drawing pads and pencils. Yes, in our family, coloring pads or books are different from drawing pads. As my girls would say ‘drawing pads are blank pages.’ Point taken?

Tic-Tac-Toe. If you don’t have any drawing pads and pencils, you might want to use the paper saucers, the straws, the sugar packets or whatever items you could request from the restaurant staff or even from your bag!

Bato-Bato-Pik (Papers and Scissors). Okay, this one is still a hit even though my girls are already 10 and 12 years old.

Saw-Saw-Suka. Another favorite game, even though my girls would always ask me to keep quiet when I sing this crazy children’s song. You could even ask the whole table to join the game!

Card games. Yes, we always bring UNO cards if we know that there would be a long wait especially if we know that the type of restaurant would not have space to play or to walk around.

Favorite toys. I have two girls so they normally bring their favorite dolls in the restaurant so they could play house. These past months, it was the Smurf family that is gracing our dining out tables though.
Pick-up sticks. Yes, those fun sticks.

Origami. You would need paper napkins or pads for this.

Rubber bands. Have you tried creating funny shapes out of rubber bands using your fingers as an anchor? Well, you should!

Try to keep those electronic gadgets at home. There are more games that would not need money or accessories to be played such as Eye Spy or Touch the Color. It’s a simple sacrifice for the short time while you are waiting for the food to be served while dining out.

Dining out is not only a way to enjoy the silence. It is not only a way to keep the kids busy while you catch up with the other adults in the family. It is also a chance to bond with the kids, in a creative, fun and active way.

Raquel Erhard blogs at Home Worked.

08Sep 2014

Study: Too much smartphone use linked to lower grades

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

Everything should be taken in moderation. So should be the use of smartphones especially for children, a studysuggested.

A survey conducted by Japan’s education ministry revealed that schoolchildren who spend more than four hours a day on their mobile phone perform significantly worse on school tests.

A report by Japanese local media said that nearly half of third graders at junior high schools in the country spend one hour or more per day using smartphones, with over 10-percent spending four hours or more.

The survey also found that over half of sixth graders at elementary schools have mobile phones.

Students who spend more time on mobile phone use, such as e-mailing and browsing Internet sites, tend to have poorer results in terms of academic performance, according to the survey.

Meanwhile according to a report by an Asia-based cable news agency, among the nearly one-in-nine 14 and 15-year-olds who use their handheld device for at least four hours daily, grade scores suffer an average of 14 percentage points across all subjects. The deficit rises to more than 18 points in mathematics, figures from the study showed.

The report also noted nearly half of all third-year junior high school students questioned spend more than an hour a day on their phones, browsing websites, sending e-mails and playing games. Less than a quarter of those in the age group do not have a mobile. Smartphone use is also prevalent among 11-year-olds, the survey found, with 54 per cent of those in their final year of elementary school having a phone of their own. Fifteen per cent of them spend at least one hour on their device every day.

On the other hand, students who spent more hours playing videogames also scored lower on a national academic test in Japan.

A blog post by the Wall Street Journal disclosed elementary school students who answered that they never played video games on weekdays answered 77% of the questions correctly on a test of basic language skills, compared to a 70.5% score recorded by those who said they played two to three hours. Elementary students who said they spent more than four hours a day playing games scored the lowest, getting only 64% of the answers correct.

Similar patterns were observed on the math tests, the report added quoting the study.

Among the test-takers, 54% of elementary school students and 56% of junior high school students said they spent at least an hour on weekdays playing games on television screens, portable handsets or smartphones. Nearly 11% of junior-high students and 9% of elementary-school students said they spent more than four hours a day playing games, the survey found.

The exam was conducted in April this year with more than two million elementary and junior high school students across Japan tested on their language and math skills. They were also given a survey with questions about their daily activities, including how much time they spend playing videogames.

The results of the survey, which is the first of its kind by Japan’s education ministry, have sparked fears that schoolchildren are “neglecting their books for the allure of the small screen.” Kazuo Takeuchi, who has studied the way youngsters use mobiles, told local media that children with the devices tend to lack confidence in their academic ability, and urged parents to set limits on their usage.

Meanwhile in the Philippines, the Department of Education reiterated the ban on the use of cellphones during class hours through its three orders, namely: Order No. 83, series of 2003; Order No. 26, series of 2000; and Order No. 70, series of 1999.

Also, in a recent interview by GMA News TV, child development specialist Clarissa Reyes stressed that more time spent by children in using their smartphones could lessen the time allotted supposedly for their studies and daily interactions.

She suggested the following for parents to guide their children on smartphone use and studies:

1. Teach them that the time spent on smartphone use on one day should be added to their study time on another.

2. Teach them to set their goals so they have the ability to plan what to do to achieve them.

3. Discipline, according to Reyes, “is according to the management of time and the priorities of the children.”

Image by Phil Campbell from Flickr.com. Pixabay image. Used under CC license. Some rights reserved.

Written by John Michael Cancio as originally posted at the Philippine Online Chronicles

17Aug 2014

A family vacation: “Find what brings you joy and go there”

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

Family vacations can be a challenge but I was determined to make it happen. Four years ago, I planned a family vacation in Singapore for the Holidays but unfortunately I had to spend Christmas day in a hospital. Finally after months of planning, we are almost at our final destination- to be reunited with our daughter. I have not seen her since April 2013 and I missed her so much. I thought of Christmas in Europe but I cannot bear the chilly weather . Summer seemed the most ideal time. When I applied for an appointment for a Schengen visa, my heart skipped a beat when I was told that it was “May 27”, Luijoe’s angel date. It is a sign! Luijoe is always with us. We always take him with us wherever we may be.

Yes, I brought a rice cooker. It may seem silly to bring a rice cooker but I wanted my daughter to still cook rice even if she is far away from home. This Tiger’s TaCook smart rice cooker is not your ordinary rice cooker too. Well, the TaCook rice cooker can cook side dishes using high temperature steam generated when cooking rice.

Expect updates in my blog as I explore some places in Europe.

This is our first time to check in at the Clark International Airport using Qatar Airways. It is quiet and less stressful to check in here. Despite the distance, I think it is worth flying out from Clark . I must say Qatar Airways has superb service.

Arriving at the Hamad International Airport , Qatar provided us a transit visa and a hotel to rest before our final destination.

The warmth of the 38 Celsius temperature outside the airport felt like a blower heating up my face.

I liked the short ride to our hotel and seeing the Palm trees and a preview of DOHA.

Qatar booked us at the Plaza Hotel. Soon I got messages on facebook and twitter from my social media friends which I have never met. I can finally put a face to that facebook like and twitter mention. What a fantastic day it was.