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14May 2015

EXPO MOM 2015: #MOMMANIFESTO happening on May 22-25 at the Glorietta 2

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

Hello mommies. Let me share some mom activities from my friend, Mommy Mundo Founder Janice Villanueva.

This mother’s month of May, Mommy Mundo encourages moms to go on a journey of mindfulness and self-discovery through EXPO MOM 2015: #MOMMANIFESTO happening on May 22-25 at the Glorietta 2, Palm Drive, Makati City.

I remember I was there with fellow mom bloggers in the 2009 Expo Mom and we even had our own “Mommy Bloggers” booth.

Now on its 8th year, Expo Mom is the biggest gathering of progressive, active moms showcasing the latest in family-oriented product innovations and parenting trends in a fun, fulfilling environment.

Mommy Mundo Founder Janice Villanueva observes, “Moms are so caught up in the little things or the busy-ness of life, we either end up losing sight of the big picture, or we fail to appreciate the joy that simple moments can bring.” She adds, “What will help us live meaningfully is to live mindfully. Through self-awareness, we realize what’s important in our lives, and we are able to direct our energies to create the kind of life we aspire for, for ourselves and our families. Thus, through Expo Mom, our biggest annual event, we engage moms through our Mom Manifesto campaign, a virtual journey to mindfulness and missioning.”

Expo Mom 2015, featuring over 50 booths alongside talks, demos and fun activities onstage, will be a celebration and culmination of this 5-week Mom Manifesto campaign. The Mom Manifesto journey begins on April 22 when it launches online at www.expomom.com/mommanifesto. Designed by Mommy Mundo founder Janice Villanueva and family life expert and certified psychologist Michele Alignay M.A., the workshop consists of a 6-step program to be fulfilled within a five week period, with each step just taking 15 minutes minimum from each mom participant. With self-awareness as a goal by the end of the program, moms will be able to come up with a guiding statement or her #MomManifesto. All participants are oms are invited to post their #MomManifesto statements on the wall that will be set up at Expo Mom 2015.

In addition to this key event highlight, moms can also look forward to Expo Mom 2015’s trademark fair of its top mom-approved and mom-tested products and services . The event is particularly proud of giving a home to aspiring and established mompreneurs who have developed products for their fellow moms through the years, exhibiting there goods alongside top mom and baby brands in the country. Expo Mom 2015: #MomManifesto is co-presented by Cordlife Philippines, supported by Huggies, Cycles Mid Detergent, Fern-C, Nurture Nook, Pioneer Insurance, JoomaJam, Wang Videography, ImagineNation Photography, and media partners Working Mom Magazine, Rappler, WheninManila.com, Crossover 105.1, Newlyweds@Work, and venue partner Glorietta and Ayala Center.
In lieu of entrance fees, donations in cash and kind (books, school supplies, clothes, shoes) will be accepted at the expo. All proceeds will go to MomShare’s partner beneficiary, Childhope Asia Philippines, to benefit literacy and health programs for street children under its care.

For more information on Expo Mom, go to www.expomom.com or follow Mommy Mundo on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. To know more about Expo Mom’s Mom Manifesto campaign, visit www.expomom.com/mommanifesto.

12May 2015

LEGO, the toy brand my kids love, at the 1st official LEGO® certified store in the Philippines

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ 2 Comments

I never realized the value my children placed on their toys until my daughter interviewed me for her research paper a few years ago on “Toys and Games I played with” for her Psychology course.

She said “Thank God mom for the girly and not so girly toys”.

In this day of digital toys and gadgets, I believe parents should never forget that the best toys for children are ‘open-ended’. Such toys encourage children to play using imagination, creativity and problem-solving skills such as blocks, balls, cardboard boxes, dress-ups and crafty bits and pieces

My three children loved LEGO blocks. They had lots and lots of LEGO blocks. They had the larger DUPLO blocks when they were toddlers. At that time. LEGO was sold in disassembled bricks, so they were free to create any figures their young minds could imagine. Even until the age of nine they spent all afternoon ignoring their Barbie dolls and instead built fortresses, houses, schools and whatnot. No wonder, I gave the Barbie Dolls away to my younger nieces. It was gathering dust.

During those days, LEGO blocks were sold at Gift Gate and were very expensive. I bought the LEGO blocks in Hongkong or the USA. Kids are blessed these days because the first official LEGO certified store just opened in the Philippines, today May 12, 2015.

When I periscoped the initial photos at the launch, many people were clamoring for the address. Well, it is located at the same building as Kidzania at the Park Triangle ( Along 11th avenue , 32nd street , Bonifacio Global City, Taguig ). Here is the map:

Everybody seems to be excited with this grand opening.

Did you know that seven LEGO sets are sold over the counter every second around the world? If today’s launch is any indication, I believe that is true.

There was a long queue waiting outside after the media launch.

Both young kids and young-at-heart LEGO fans ( Adult Fans of Lego or AFOLs ) will love the variety and the exclusive collectors sets and product lines unique to the LEGO certified Store only. What are these unique lines?

First of all, there is the Pick A Brick (PAB) where you can buy the LEGO elements you need individually. This great for your very own unique LEGO creations. Pick A Brick is sold for a minimum purchase of 100 grams at 679.79 pesos per 100 grams.

Second unique line is the Build a Mini (BAM) which allows you to build your very own customized mini figure by choosing a headwear, head, torso, legs and tools/accessories. Each BAM set includes three customizable mini figures which cost 499.75 pesos.

Third, you can now enjoy the Monthly Mini Build (MMB) program, a hands-on monthly event where kids ages 6-14 are invited to build seasonal and exclusive LEGO Store mini builds. The best part is no purchase is needed. Children below 6 years old will also be allowed to join , as long as an adult or guardian will be present during the activity.

I noticed LEGO now offers sets like the newly released Simpsons. Of course the old ones like Ninja Go and Star Wars, Minecraft are there. What caught my eye is LEGO friends which is more feminine than the usual LEGO sets.

Shelves are stocked with sets geared toward girls and boys based on ages and dexterity.

What I like the most about this new store is their mission to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow. LEGO and LAJ Marketing Philippines in partnership with World Vision will collaborate together for the “Rebuild Classrooms Project. The project aims to help children in target Area Development Programs to have access to learning facilities through the renovation and construction of classrooms and other school facilities.

Today, LEGO started selling 5,000 pieces of the 30302 Spider-Man Glider V29 for only 50.00 pesos in support of rebuilding classrooms in Malabon. I got five pieces which is the maximum purchase per person.

In addition to the Spiderman set sale, LEGO will also donate 100 pesos on your behalf for every 20pcs My Own Creation (MOC) entry you send in via Instagram which represents “EDUCATION”in order to help raise a total of 500,000 pesos for this project. In my instagram account, I assembled a book to symbolize education.

Visit the LEGO certified store at the Park Triangle ( 11th avenue corner Rizal Drive, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig )

12Apr 2015

Yaya meals: What’s the fuss about?

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

Is the Yaya Meal really an issue?
Is it justified, or overblown?

This is a question raised to some women interviewed by the Manila Bulletin, Sunday Lifestyle issue. The issue arose from an encounter at the exclusive Balesin Island Club. The Balesin Island Club does not find the term “yaya meal” discriminating and inappropriate. “Maggie Wilson-Consunji first brought the issue on social media through her April 4 post claiming that a certain staff barred Consunji’s mother from ordering the same meal as their family helper’s, saying that it was a “yaya meal”. I don’t claim to be the authority on yayas, or the household help but I have had years of experience dealing with yayas. In the interview with Manila Bulletin, I wrote my opinion on the matter.

The “yaya meals” does not shock me anymore. I think I have seen it all. Let me cite two examples. In the mid-nineties when my kids were much younger, I had to bring along a “yaya” in our out-of-town trips. This exclusive resort club in the South disallowed “yayas” to enter the women’s changing room. What is the point of bringing a “yaya” if I can’t even bring her along to help me with the kids? This caused some angry members to file a complaint to the management. A year later, the policy now allowed “yayas” to enter the room. Good thing, but that was not the end of it. Another instance was this snobbish country club with a sign that “yayas” are not allowed to dine inside their restaurant. If there were smart phones at that time, I would have quickly snapped a photo to share the snobbish attitude of this elite club. The “yayas” are such a blessing to mothers. I consider them part of the family and until now, my old “yayas” keep in touch. Though there is an employer-employee relationship, I treat them as family members, most especially when we eat out. They sleep with my kids, eat with them in restaurants and I allow them to order anything they want in the menu.

Ines Bautista Yao, thought the yaya meals “is being blown out of proportion (like a lot of issues nowadays). Ines seems to think that in social media, “it has gotten just that much easier to have an opinion and to be crazy passionate about it”. I disagree with her because in social media, one raises an issue to seek changes for social good. This is not simply about ranting about an establishment. For Maggie, it is seeking to right a wrong even if Balesin management disagrees. Apparently, Balesin just made it worse by referring to this “yaya meals” as hullabaloo.

Jamie Lyn Arcega, said “Instead of “yaya meal”, why not just “chicken/pork adobo”? In fact, Agoo Azcuna Bengzon adds that “the meal itself should just be on the menu, and if it suits the person’s palate and budget, anyone should be able to order that particular meal.”

I find the “yaya meals” label so degrading , no matter how delicious it tastes. Why even label it as as “yaya meals” ? I blame the employer and Balesin for treating “yayas” to such indignity, just because this person is a “yaya”. It is discrimination, plain and simple.

08Apr 2015

How I Bought Car Insurance without Making a Single Phone Call

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

Every January, my phone reminds me to automatically renew my car’s insurance policy. This year was different. I told my husband that I want to see the different rates among the top car insurers in the country. And instead of making phone calls, I checked MoneyMax.ph, a website that lets you compare car insurance premiums from different companies. A friend introduced me to this innovative portal mid-January while we had coffee and talked about careers, personal finance and technology. What great timing.

On the MoneyMax website, I put in the details of my 5-year old SUV and gave my email address and phone number to receive a quote for comprehensive coverage.

It is so convenient and easy to use. The following day, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a call from a MoneyMaxPH Comparison Advisor who confirmed my inquiry and answered my questions. After a few minutes, I received a quotation listing five insurers, which allowed me to compare my options more easily.

There are three major factors when choosing an insurance company. “1. Reputation: Ask around and see what others are using and judge by their experiences. 2. Financial Capability: The bigger net worth, the better coverage and service you’ll receive. 3. Stability: Have they been around long enough and have weathered crises? Then chances are, they’re stable enough to lean on in troubled times.”

When faced with various quotes, it still pays to do your own research on the reputation, financial capability and stability of the insurance company. Choosing the lowest- priced car insurance company is easy, but I like to make sure the final choice is reputable enough and will cover you adequately after an accident or Acts of Nature. MoneyMax.ph partnered with some of the best insurers in the Philippines which makes it easier to find the right car insurance that fits your needs.

Among the quotes from my MoneyMax Comparison Advisor, Federal Phoenix seemed to be the most attractive. It has an affordable annual premium and a lower participation fee of 4,000 pesos. However, I don’t decide based on the premium cost alone. I’d rather pay a few extra pesos and be assured my car insurer is there to pay when I file a claim. In the end, I chose Mafpre Insurance, because I am familiar with this company and have filed claims before without problems. I also appreciate their after-sales service where they send gentle reminders that my car insurance policy needed to be renewed.

It’s good to see that the comparison quote shows the “Acts of Nature” cover. Back in 2009, I had no idea that the “Acts of Nature or Acts of God” was part of a comprehensive cover which led my husband to choose a low-cost policy because of the savings. I could not claim the “Acts of God” for one car when Typhoon Ondoy flood waters inundated our home. The Philippines has its share of natural calamities and even if one does not live in a flood-prone area, every car should get that protection.

I looked around for other users of moneymax.ph and arranged an interview with Jennifer Canoza, a wedding and events coordinator who drives her SUV from her home in Sta. Mesa to events in Metro Manila and as far as Batangas. Having bought her car in 2013, Jennifer relied on an insurance agent who recommended People’s General. She had no problems with People’s General except that she wanted to see if she can get a better deal from other car insurance companies.

On the second year, her insurance agent gave a quote of 20,000 pesos. She researched online to check reviews of other car insurance companies. Besides finding a low-cost policy, she also wanted to buy insurance from a reputable company that responds quickly to claims. A friend told her to visit MoneyMax.ph. To her surprise, she received a call immediately from a MoneyMax Comparison Advisor upon submitting her request online. She was reassured that their quotations comes from the top, reputable insurance companies with a good track record. The following day, she received an email with the quotation of five insurers in a tabular format. After more discussions with her MoneyMax Comparison Advisor , Jennifer chose Federal Phoenix for its easy installment payments and savings of four thousand pesos. Jennifer added that she liked the personal service of her MoneyMax Comparison Advisor who guided her every step of the way.

It’s good to have a resource that lets you compare different insurance premiums, and provides advisors who can answer any question you might have about the policies. Let’s see if MoneyMax has a better recommendation for me when I renew my car insurance in 2016.

04Apr 2015

My brother’s battle with Leukemia

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ 13 Comments

April 3 is the 16th death anniversary of my younger brother, Oscar. He died from a failed stem cell transplant. He was only 40 years old. Oscar was diagnosed with Acute myeloid leukemia (AML-M4) on September 1, 1996. Getting sick of leukemia is a logistical nightmare especially if one is looking for blood type AB donors.

A caricature of my brother in 1982 when he managed our bakeshop, Sally’s Home Bake Shop

Our family worked diligently to support Oscar in his search for a cure, spanning hours and hours of research and inquiries through the internet and electronic mail. Research revealed that Oscar needed a stem cell transplant upon remission but unfortunately, he relapsed before we found a hospital within our budget. Cost of stem cell transplant ranged from 7 to 20 million pesos in 1998. The cheapest transplant was in Israel. To raise funds for his transplant, we put one of our properties for sale.

Fortunately, Oscar was eligible to participate in a Clinical trial at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in Bethesda, Maryland. My sister’s friend who worked in that institute informed us of the clinical trial which was already in Phase 3. This phase is the second to the last step prior to making it a protocol among doctors. The stem cell transplant , medicines and hospitalization were free. Luck was also on our side because my sibling-doctor was an exact tissue match. The hospital required us to raise money for his board and lodging outside the hospital. Total budget for the 6 month stay was estimated to reach only 600 thousand pesos. Everything seemed perfect.

Oscar made the brave choice to undergo a stem cell transplant, knowing that there was a 50-50 chance he would survive, and that he had to take that risk. (View videotape of his reflections after the transplant )

The stem cells never had a chance to grow because of sepsis. After 6 months in NHLBI, the doctors sadly announced that he had to return to the Philippines. I guess the doctors decided they couldn’t do anything for him so they sent him home. Oscar, thin and black from the radiation treatment arrived on March 29, 1999. I held his frail hand and prayed quietly that God deliver him from his pain.

He smiled at me ” At least, we did not have to spend our inheritance to pay for my treatment”

We talked until he was tired. Knowing his days were numbered, I slept beside him that night .

Oscar held on to the hope that there was a chance to recover . Inspite of his optimism, he prepared for his death. He videotaped instructions for his two sons on how to run his lechon business, deposited college funds , dictated his last will and testament and discussed other matters.

On April 3, 1999, Oscar suffered a brain hemorrhage and died a few hours later.

When a sibling dies, all future special occasions will be forever changed. There will be no more shared birthday celebrations, anniversaries, or holidays. There will be no telephone calls telling of the milestones of a nephew or niece. The sharing of life’s unique and special events will never again take place.

In tribute to the memory of my brother, I created a memorial site which includes midi files of his compositions and some photos and legacies. I can just hear him playing his award-winning musical piece, Pangarap ng Musmos which is now a church song. Oscar is having a blast playing the piano with my son, my mom, dad and Ruben, another brother in heaven.

26Mar 2015

That Thing Called Perseverance

by webs ⋅ Leave a Comment

by Lean Panganiban, as originally posted at the Philippine Online Chronicles

This article also goes by the alternative title: “Hugot lines from graduation/commencement speeches of famous celebrities.”

I know the feeling. There is always that yawning and obsessing over the ticking of the clock while your seatmate’s tummy is obviously ruminating on what to eat after the ceremony. But every so often, someone actually interesting is invited to deliver a few notes of wisdom and quiet the tummy rumbles and sighs.

These speeches from famous celebrities deliver all the feels.

Jim Carey (to the graduates of the Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa)

“Like many of you, I was concerned about going out into the world and doing something bigger than myself, until someone smarter than myself made me realize that there is nothing bigger than myself,”

“My soul is not contained within the limits of my body; my body is contained within the limitlessness of my soul.”

Who would have thought Jim Carrey can turn a commencement speech into a biology blurb? Did you know that he also received an honorary degree of doctor of fine arts during the ceremony? It was indeed some kind of an awesome show and tell!

Stephen Colbert (to the graduates of Northwestern University, 2011)

“Thankfully dreams can change. If we’d all stuck with our first dream, the world would be overrun with cowboys and princesses. So whatever your dream is right now, if you don’t achieve it, you haven’t failed and you’re not some loser – but just as importantly – if you do get your dream, you’re not a winner.”

Leave it to Stephen Colbert to make the normal drag of a graduation day into something entertaining!

Steve Jobs (to the graduates of Stanford University, 2005)

“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And, most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.”

Mr. Jobs delivered this to the students of Stanford a year after he was diagnosed with cancer. The speech is an impassioned and candid commencement address about getting fired from work, following your dreams, and living fully.

Amy Poehler (to the graduates of Harvard, 2011)

“I can only assume I am here today because of my subtle and layered work in a timeless classic entitled Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo.”

Amy offered the graduates words of wisdom gathered from her own life experience. She urged them to count on others and take to heart the knowledge that the world is filled with smart people. Her good grasp of the human folly helps her deliver her perfectly timed and non-cruel punchlines. Now, who wouldn’t love this lady?

Bono (to the graduates of the University of Pennsylvania, 2004)

“I hope you’ll pick a fight and get in it. Get your boots dirty, get rough, steel your courage. Make one last primal scream, and go. Sing the melody line you hear in your own head. Remember, you don’t owe anybody any explanations. You don’t owe your parents any explanations. You don’t owe your professors any explanations.”

Don’t you wish Bono talked at your graduation?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erLem1Zijmo

Oprah Winfrey (to the graduates of Harvard, 2013)

“Build a résumé that doesn’t simply tell a story about what you want to be, but who you want to be.”

What’s the queen of talk’s Ivy League advice to the graduates? Make your resume a story about your purpose!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMWFieBGR7

J.K Rowling (to the graduates of Harvard, 2008)

“The weeks of fear and nausea I have endured at the thought of giving this commencement address have made me lose weight. A win-win situation! Now all I have to do is take deep breaths, squint at the red banners, and convince myself that I am at the world’s largest Gryffindor reunion.”

Eight (8) year after her visit, people still talk about her speech and still find inspiration in it. Publisher Little Brown will even release the speech as a book!

Ellen Degenneres (to the graduates of Tulane, 2009)

“And I thought, what if they find out I’m gay? Then they’ll never watch… I finally decided that I was living with so much shame, and so much fear, that I just couldn’t live that way anymore and I decided to come out… It wasn’t to make a political statement, it wasn’t to do anything other than to free myself up from this heaviness that I was carrying around, and I just wanted to be honest… I lost my career. The show was cancelled after six years. The phone didn’t ring for three years. I had no offers. Nobody wanted to touch me at all. Yet, I was getting letters from kids that almost committed suicide, but didn’t because of what I did. And I realized that I had a purpose. And it wasn’t just about me and it wasn’t about celebrity… I was offered a talk show. And the people that offered me the talk show tried to sell it… Most people didn’t want to buy it because they thought nobody would watch me. Really, when I look back on it, I wouldn’t change a thing. I mean, it was so important for me to lose everything, because I found out what the most important thing is, is to be true to yourself. Ultimately, that’s what’s gotten me to this place. I don’t live in fear, I’m free; I have no secrets and I know I’ll always be OK, because no matter what, I know who I am.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glauQaj0x6I

Sandra Bullock (to the graduates of the Warren Easton Charter High School, 2014)

“The rule is, you have to dance a little bit before you step out into the world because it changes the way you walk. It changes the way you walk out in the world.”

She went on to share the thoughtful bits of advice she says she’s been giving to her son, 4-year-old Louis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCz1tfT4WtI

10. Peter Dinklage (to the graduates of Bennington College, 2012)

“The world might say you are not allowed to yet. I waited a long time out in the world before I gave myself permission to fail. Please don’t even bother asking. Don’t bother telling the world you are ready. Show it. Do it.”

His speech is only 28 minutes long. But frankly, this could inspire anyone. This man made good life choices!

*“The graduates” by Luftphilia courtesy of Flickr. Some rights reserved.

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.

03Feb 2015

Shopping for car insurance? Read the fine print.

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

Buying a new car is exciting. My ten year old red car was breaking down so often in the early 90s, that fixing it was not worth it anymore. While the law requires a basic level of car insurance called third party insurance, I wanted more coverage. Comprehensive insurance is the type of coverage I apply for, ever since the brand new car of a family member was forcibly taken away at the parking lot in Ortigas center. He had no choice but to surrender the car keys because a gun was aimed at him. Fortunately, the family member was not harmed. The sad part is the car was not insured for theft. Goodbye 800,000 pesos! One never imagines that a car will be forcibly taken away from us and I didn’t want that to happen to my brand new family car.

I only had two requirements that my car insurance policy:

1. The Market value of the car, in case of theft
2. Reputable insurance company

Shopping around for car insurance were limited to accredited companies of the car companies. The world wide web was not yet around so I had to rely on word of mouth or familiar names that I had seen on TV or the newspapers.

I picked up lessons on car insurance policy in the past 20 years. The car insurance can be very pricey especially in the first few years. The insurance expense was not a burden with just one car but I had to reconsider another insurance company when I got a second car. It pays to get three quotations. This second insurance company was more affordable than the previous one. This insurance company lists a table for each car model and the appropriate premium. Not content with the default premiums, I always requested for a discount and I got it. “Ask and you shall receive” is something I learned.

The most painful lesson of all is not reading the fine print. The relentless rains from typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) in October 2009 resulted to severe flooding in Luzon, particularly in Metro Manila. We were not spared , with waist deep brown waters inside our two-storey house. This included the three Honda cars in the garage: a seven year-old black CRV, a 10 year-old Silver CRV and a two month old white sedan. I did not worry about the damage because I was just grateful that everyone was safe.

The time came when I called the three insurance firms about their coverage. I discovered the comprehensive insurance of our 10 year-old SUV did not contain Acts of God (or Acts of Nature). Only our seven year-old SUV and the newly bought sedan got full coverage. I received 320,000 pesos, a percentage of the market value of a seven year-old Honda CRV, which was 600,000. It was not enough to buy a new car but together with the insurance claim of the white car, I was able to buy a brand new SUV. My husband was the one who junked my usual car insurer and got another one because it was very cheap. I never bothered to find out why it was cheaper by 3,000 pesos. The ten year old SUV was sold for scrap and I used it to make a downpayment for a second-hand car.

So now, my requirements for car insurance must have this criteria:

1. Acts of nature
2. Market value of the car, in case of theft
3. Reputable insurance company

I recently learned that 9 out of 10 Filipinos overpay for car insurance. I always compare insurance policies to ensure I get the best value for my money. I used to compare via the phone but now I can do it so much easier these days online! MoneyMax.ph compares all major insurance companies and policies to get you the best deal. It is totally free and independent.

My advice: when you plan to buy a car or renew your policy make sure you compare with www.MoneyMax.ph.

14Jan 2015

A flexible work environment and my vOffice

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

Remember what I wrote about the benefits of having a virtual office? Not just any virtual office, but this vOffice that I am registered as platinum member. One of the benefits is having a prestigious Bonifacio Global City (BGC) address at One Global Place which is my main vOffice. Not only do I have a virtual office in the Philippines, I can also use the virtual office spaces in Malaysia, Indonesia, Melbourne, Ho Chi Minh, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong and Bangkok. I can use meeting rooms in over 30 locations worldwide. A Virtual Office like vOffice.com.ph offers mobile workers like myself the benefits of a serviced office environment but without actually renting physical space. With virtual office space, I pay a fraction of what I would to rent a physical location, pay for insurance and staff the office.

I like that vOffice has a portal for my use. I can reserve a meeting room in real time. There are 8 hours of meeting room every month in my Platinum plan but I can unlimited use in the lobby of One Global Place.

vOffice in Makati

The vOffice Boutique Center on the Penthouse of Mavenue Building does not offer unlimited use of their lobby unlike One Global Place in BGC. Even if Mavenue branch is smaller compared to One Global Place , I find their conference room adequate for my needs. One can fit 10-12 people in here. The best thing in having various vOffice location is the convenience. Sometimes, people prefer to go to Makati instead of BGC.

There is a whiteboard, a TV monitor and an outdoor view of the roofdeck.

The conference room faces an open balcony which can be used for event space that include the use of this room. I’ll get back to this later.

vOffice Premier/desk (vWorkdesk)

The conference room was too spacious for me so I decided to use the vOffice Premier/desk (vWorkdesk) which still had some vacancies. The vWorkdesk is place to get some work done and at the same time having a premium business address, phone number, receptionist to answer your calls in your business name and meeting facilities when you need it. The vWorkdesk is not for me since I am very mobile. This is quite useful for startups and the small entrepreneur that need an office space without placing huge investment cost on the lease.

vWorkdesk can be leased for a minimum of 1 month but you can avail of discount for longer term lease.

So what is included in the vWorkdesk?

1. Quality working desk and ergonomic chair

2. Fast wired or wireless internet for you to plug in

3. Backup internet service provider

4. Professional office setup. Not a call center environment

5. Unlimited light snacks, coffee, tea, filtered water and occasional beer

There are even drawers beside each vOfficeWorkdesk for storage of files.

There is an ongoing promotion of 9,500 pesos a month for long term lease. Check the vOffice website for more details. It is nice to know that there is real time chat with a service representative.

Event space at vOffice Boutique center in Makati

Like I said earlier, there is an event space outside the meeting room. One has an amazing skyline with plentiful parking space and centrally located right on Makati Avenue. It costs 20,000 pesos for 4 hours use, inclusive of roof deck area and meeting room. Additional hours is at 5,000 pesos an hour.

The event space is 66 square meters. The lease includes a sound system, PA system, Smart TV for presentation, couch seatings, electricity, and great view of buzzing Makati Avenue.

For other needs, vOffice can offer assistance and recommendations in food and drinks catering service, cocktail bar setup, mobile lighting, DH, sound system solution setup, additional tables, chairs rentals, and PR agencies

New branches in Cebu and Makati for 2015

I am excited with the opening of their second Makati branch in Rufino Pacific tower on February 2015. You might want to check the rates offered. I love that there is a Cebu branch in the Cebu Business Park, opening this first quarter of 2015. That now makes a total of six branches (two in the Fort, two in Makati and one in Cebu). The best part is you can have a meeting room in all of these branches, depending on your plan and number of hours per plan.

There is so much benefit for start-ups and entrepreneurs that need to keep operating costs low while developing a professional corporate image. Read again the benefits of a virtual office. If you do need a virtual office or vOffice Premier/desk within minutes, check out the website of voffice.com.ph for their limited time offer for discounted rates. Now as low as 500 pesos a month for their lowest plans.

It’s a new year and there are new goals for whatever work you do. Depending on your needs, now is the time to consider a virtual office or Voffice work desk.

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.

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Category Archives: Lifestyle

EXPO MOM 2015: #MOMMANIFESTO happening on May 22-25 at the Glorietta 2

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My brother’s battle with Leukemia

That Thing Called Perseverance

Journaling is a process of self-reflection.

Shopping for car insurance? Read the fine print.

A flexible work environment and my vOffice

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

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