Diabetes and oral health care

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I got diagnosed with Diabetes on June 2000, a month after my beloved son died. It was my desire to have another baby at some point so I underwent a thorough medical checkup. The diagnosis should not have stopped me from having another baby but I felt I needed to have my diabetes under control. Perhaps it was because of my deep sadness over my son’s death that I had no desire to take care of myself. I struggled with my overweight body until there came a time that my blood pressure shot up to 160/90 which seemed so scary. My stress test showed distressing results that the doctor thought I needed Angioplasty. An angiogram revealed no major arteries were blocked. Phew what a relief.

Being diabetic made me take some changes in my life like small frequent meals, exercise, and being careful to about infections.  People like myself are 2x times more likely to develop serious gum problems.

Why?

Well, diabetes makes my body more susceptible to bacterial infection, since there is a decreased ability to fight bacteria that invade the gums. I was not aware of gum problems until my dentist fitted me with my new invisalign dental braces.  There was a time my gums became swollen. Just by sheer coincidence, Colgate sent me a two tubes of Colgate Total® Pro-Gum Health toothpaste for me to use. I am glad that I am informed of this special toothpaste that may help a lot of diabetic patients out there.

Good oral health could improve diabetes control

People with diabetes can protect their oral health simply  by brushing with a toothpaste specially formulated for gum health. A toothpaste like Colgate Total® Pro-Gum Health toothpaste can help reduce bacteria build-up that cause gingivitis, an early form of gum disease and  provides bacteria protection even after brushing.

Those with poorly controlled diabetes increase their risk of gum problems. Periodontitis can also make diabetes control more difficult. This is because inflammation of the gums can reduce the action of insulin, leading to difficulty in controlling blood sugar levels. Researchers believe that there is a two way relationship between periodontitis and diabetes.

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Moms know best when it comes to kids’s safety

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Sixteen years ago, on December 22, 1996, Lauren wrote her first journal entry. The word blog was non-existent then. These days, kids as young as 5 years old write on their own blogs. The world wide web entered the lives of my two young girls in 1995 when rules were just starting to be made. Oh they were fascinated with this new technology and making friends from all over the world. I knew I had to take a pro-active role and learn more about internet safety. I took the persona of Robotica for a kids internet site , enjoyed by young children around the world. The site had a mini tutorial on creating webpages while I was their internet safety head who listed down ““The 10 Golden Rules on Internet Safety ““ The rules were greatly inspired by my own parenting experience with my children. The guidelines are basically the same even in the age of connected technology (gaming centers, cellphones), digital devices and social media sites. It is still applicable 17 years later.

internet safety
There were no hard and fast rules. Parents empower themselves and establish internet safety awareness in their homes. One thing was clear though: I am a parent first. In the real world, one aspect of responsible parenting is never having to allow children to wander aimlessly and alone into unknown territories. So, too, in the vast cyberspace called the Internet. Responsibility towards my child’s offline needs is the same responsibility for my child’s online activities.

My kids’ safety in the internet, the school , home and extra-curricular activities is indeed my number one priority. This goes true for the quality of the water at home. Every since my babies came into my life, I always had to boil the tap water to ensure they were drinking clean and safe water. Water shops were not around in the mid-eighties so I was quite obsessive-compulsive (OC) in the preparation of clean water.

WILKINS_400mL

Then Wilkins distilled water came into our lives. As a food technologist, I am aware of the distillation process that ““uses a heat source to vaporize water and separate it from contaminants and other undesirable elements commonly found in ground and surface water. Distillation heats raw (untreated) water until the water reaches its boiling point and begins to vaporize.” I am confident that the water is not just purified of residue but bacteria as well because boiling point is achieved in the process.

There is no exception to the rule of clean and safe water for my family. Being OC reminds me of how OC Wilkins is when it comes to drinking water. Do you have stories to share as uncompromising mothers?

Mommies, aged 18 and above , please share your stories in 400 words or less about how you give your family the best love and care. You may include the challenges you faced, the lengths you’ve gone to, or the sacrifices and difficult choices you needed to make. You may write in English, Tagalog, or Tag-lish.

Writers of the 5 selected stories for publication in magazine will each receive Php 5,000 cash and Php 5,000 gift certificates for Wilkins products. The Grand winner (story will be turned into a short film) will receive Php 10,000 cash and P5,000 gift certificates for Wilkins products

WILKINS Moms Know Best Image

 

In solidarity with @carlosceldran & freedom of speech at the La Solidaridad walk

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““As far as they are concerned, I can go to heaven but I have to go to jail first.” – Carlos Celdran


More photos of the La Solidaridad walk at Rizal Park.

I make it a point to invite my husband to events I attend especially if it falls on a weekend. So one lazy afternoon, I emailed my husband about Carlos Celdran’s LA SOLIDARIDAD WALK – A Cosplay, Iphone/Android, Vintage photo Stroll, LUNETA! scheduled for Sunday at 4:00 PM. To my utter surprise, he emailed back immediately: “Yes, let’s all go. Let’s show solidarity with Carlos Celdran and the cause of free speech and expression.”

It made me smile that he wanted to dress up as a priest. It’s nothing new. Butch once played a friar role when he used to be with the UP Repertory. Of course, we wanted to support Carlos Celdran and others for the freedom of speech and expression. In fact, this should cover political prisoners as well. Free all political prisoners is also my battle cry.

luneta park walk in the park

I can shout out and say “what an awesome Solidaridad walking tour of Luneta!”. Am I glad , Butch and I went? Carlos spoke of the need for parks, freedom of speech, and Jose Rizal. I was amazed to see the almost 200 people who came to today’s free tour.

carlos celdran with my husband

I was there to support Carlos not by fighting but by celebrating Jose Rizal’s FIGHT for Freedom.

damaso 1

My husband dressed up like a friar while I wore a modern Maria Clara outfit. Butch had a lot of photo requests together with this guy who dressed up as “Jose Rizal cum Carlos Celdran” raising a “Damaso” signage.

damaso

The meeting place at the Agrifina Circle (I found out it is a word coined from the Department of Agriculture and Finance) right in front of the steps of the National Museum of the Filipino People was a challenge at first. The guard at the National Museum did not even know about it.

luneta park damaso

I was a bit disappointed that many did not dress up in costume or their favorite Rizalian era character. Good thing Carlos brought in some “bowler” hats which added color to the walk. It has been years since I got to visit Rizal Park. My husband (then my ex-boyfriend) and I walked Luneta Park in the late seventies. It was interesting to see the changes .

tour of luneta

Using my iphone, I looked at old photos of Luneta online while capturing this beautiful day on instagram, twitter and facebook so the world can see the awesome new renovations of our national park.

filipino thomas rail

There were so many families that day. Kids can run around the grass or ride around the free tranvia. Being at the park is so much better than being at the mall . Carlos told us that there are CCTV cameras all around. Even the public toilet is much cleaner. WE need more parks for our children. The sad thing is there are limited spaces for parks. People should also learn to clean up after their mess.

picnic at the park

We also checked out the new dancing fountain, the larger than life Philippine Map, the newly renovated gardens, and photographed ourselves in a ““DAMASO” Rizal Derby Hat inside our Damaso Photobooth at Art Park! A guard asked my husband “Father, do they have a permit for their video camera?”. I just had to laugh. My husband must have played such a convincing priestly role.

luneta park

Carlos capped the walk with a visit to the site where Jose Rizal was shot back in 1896. It was there where we all shouted “Freedom”.

carlos celdran1

What a wonderful feeling it is to be part of this solidarity walk, to cry for “freedom”. Butch and I sat down in one of the food kiosks and recalled the good old days when we strolled in Luneta Park.

ate at rizal park

It was martial law then with absolutely no freedom of speech. We must never forget those days. Today, freedom of speech is once again tested under the guise of “offending religious feelings” when the protest was really about the Church interfering in politics.

Raul Pangalangan articulates it in his Inquirer column:

How can Carlos Celdran be irreligious when his intent was merely to be impolitic? In other words, what we have here is not religious speech. It is political to the core. His intent was to protest the clergy’s opposition to the then reproductive health bill. His explicit message was that the Church should keep its hands off secular politics and respect the constitutional wall of separation. His symbolism, the bowler hat and funereal suit, came from Jose Rizal, and Damaso is from Rizal’s ““Noli Me Tangere” that all students are required by law to read.

carlos celdran rizal park

Raul Pangalagan adds that “when it comes to freedom of speech, irreverence is irrelevant. Nice speech doesn’t need constitutional protection. Only offensive speech does. Chairman Mao said: ““A revolution is not a dinner party … it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous.” Given the deep injustices that the Damaso caper protested, including dark episodes in the Catholic Church’s own history, Celdran’s rant was far too genteel and civilized, and only exposes the gap between the worship that is performed in the temples and the transformative faith that we must live out in our lives.”

What a fitting place it is to be here at Rizal Park as we paused to reflect our fight for freedom of speech.

freedom of speech

More photos of the La Solidaridad walk at Rizal Park.

Making a difference today: Support the E.studyante program

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My children mean the world to me.  I gave up a career to take care of them, teach them to be good and kind to others, and supplement their education at home. I loved watching my girls sing, laugh, and play together and eventually turn out to be beautiful, smart and compassionate persons. I will always be a mother in every stage of my children’s life. There is a quote that says ““a man’s work is from sun to sun, but a mother’s work is never done.’ Their needs change in every stage but they will always be my children. Even if my two girls are adults now, I still worry about their future. Like all mothers, I want to ensure my kids’ future is secure. That is one reason I turned my parenting blog to include the community that my children and their friends are in.

my children

I cannot ignore the fact that today’s students are part of my children’s future community.  Our lives are intertwined with each other.  One’s help for others including other children will impact our family. Concerned citizens  who pitch in their expertise towards community activities also contribute greatly to their children’s future

Helping produce good students who grow up to be good citizens will do good for our country. Who knows, the students of today may be your child’s future teacher, doctor, leader, or even the future President! These students will serve as an integral part of your child’s future community.

Many groups are doing their part to help public school students including private corporations like Proctor and Gamble ( P&G). One of the programs that help students is the e.Studyante Program Just by continuing to use Safeguard and Downy products for my home, I   actually help support it.

doctor one day

I will take a step further. By buying one pack of specially marked P&G products ,  I give the gift of hope to those who need it this 2013.  By pledging to buy P&G products, you help send computers to public schools. One pack gives one child a brighter future. Imagine how your contribution can help these students. Computers in the classroom brings fun and excitement to learning, lessons are captivating and engaging, many abstract subjects become tangible for students . It can also cultivate mastery of lessons and shortened period of teaching. Public schools should have access to new technology.

laptop for the children

Spread the New Year cheer by inviting family and friends to make a pledge to support the e.Studyante program by buying specially marked P&G products and to provide your home the best and laptops to less fortunate students in need.  Pledge to help your children’s future teacher, or doctor, or leader. Visit www.facebook.com/e.studyantePH.

Make a difference today and you help make a difference in your child’s future.

Don’t let your money sleep. Grow it with Money Tree.

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I was too complacent during the years I grieved for the loss of my son. I left all the financial burden to my husband. Today, taking responsibility for our financial affairs improved my self-esteem and lessened my anxiety.

Each of us has a financial future. There are few future aspects of my life I can’t control, but one part I can play to assist our family’s future is setting goals. Now that my children are financially independent, our next goal is our retirement income. Not that I will retire anytime soon, but my husband and I need funds for our senior years. Aside from real estate investment, we placed some of our savings in mutual or equity funds in three financial institutions for long term investments.

Long Term investments

A vast majority of Filipinos are only aware of saving accounts in banks and time deposits and do not know that there are other vehicles which can best grow one’s money. I am not talking of those ““get-rich-quick” scheme that reportedly duped 15,000 people, including local government officials in the Visayas and Mindanao”.

The reality is, savings and time deposits earn 2.75% or less annually. With inflation currently at 3.6% as of September 2012, the purchasing power of your money will diminish over time.

There are many options to make your money grow. One is Philam Life’s Money Tree, a one-pay investment and life insurance plan that gives you the opportunity to invest in high-performing funds that take advantage of the Philippines’ booming economy. It also offers life insurance protection to secure your family’s future.

Benefits of Money Tree

What I liked about this long-term solution is the life insurance benefit in case something happens to me. Naturally, my beneficiaries are my two children. What benefits can you exactly derive from the Philam Life’s Money Tree?

1. Grow your money’s value over the long-term

Money in the bank actually loses its value and gets eroded by inflation. I just put enough for short term needs. Bank deposits only earn 0.375% p.a. for savings accounts while one-year time deposits earn 2.75% p.a. or less. This is not enough to beat the current inflation of 3.6% as of September 2012.

2. Ride on the growth of the Philippine economy

Gain access to an array of professionally-managed investment funds which allow you to participate in the growth sectors of the Philippine economy.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde said the Philippine growth in 2012 will be well in excess of 5%. And we are certainly looking forward to 2013 being in the range of 5% as well. Not only that, Philippines is now the fourth fastest economy in Asia, and is expected to be sixth fastest growing economy in the world by 2050. Philippine Stock Exchange reached multiple all-time highs this year and is expected to continue to further grow as our economy progresses further.

3. Gain from Professional Fund Management

Benefit from Philam Life’s expertise and experience in insurance and wealth management to help you grow your money over the long term.

4. Enjoy Guaranteed Life Insurance

One gets protection including your family with guaranteed life insurance benefit of at least 125% of your initial investment.

Each of us has our own individual needs and preferences and one should also undertake individual planning. Certain financial requirements may take priority over others. For younger families, a home might be a priority over retirement during the earlier years. No matter one’s stage in life, it is important to take a long-term perspective when it comes to investing. Maintaining this discipline allows investors to reap better returns and beat any uncertainties in market. The important thing to look at is to match your goals with proper investment tools. Short-term goals may require putting money in the bank but medium to long-term goals should not be funded by short-term savings.

What are your plans? Don’t let your money sleep. Consider long term investments like Philam Life’s Money Tree. Take control of your financial future today.

To know more about Philam Life’s Money Tree, call (02) 528-2000 or click here.
You can also visit Philam Life’s Facebook Fanpage at www.facebook.com/PhilamLifeAIA and learn tips on how to plan for your and your family’s future.

The first day of Cyber Martial Law : I will not be silenced #NoToCybercrimelaw

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“The black tapes on our mouths symbolize the lack of freedom of speech when the Cybercrime law gets implement” – Lauren

The Cybercrime Prevention Act is now effective today , October 3. This law threatens our basic rights and freedoms. It works against ordinary netizens — bloggers, freelance writers, website owners, social network users. etc. — and disregards, among other things, our right to privacy and freedom of expression.

It saddens me to know that my daughter born on Freedom Constitution day (March 25, 1986) is now faced with Cyber Martial law because the Cybercrime prevention Act violates the right to free speech. I lived through martial law and I was overjoyed that my daughter was born free from the shackles of a dictatorship.

A month after the 1986 ““People Power Revolution,” President Corazon C. Aquino issued Proclamation No. 3 providing for an orderly transition to a government with a new constitution. It was popularly known as the Freedom Constitution. What a historical day to be born.


It saddens me, no wait., disappoints me that my daughter whom I introduced the internet when she was only nine years old in early 1996 faces this new law that unduly gives the Department of Justice extra-ordinary powers without due process of law to shut down websites on the Internet.

It is disturbing to read the Section 19 provision “When computer data [are] prima facie is found to be in violation of the provisions of this Act, the DOJ [Department of Justice] shall issue an order to restrict or block access to such computer data.”

I feel I didn’t fight hard enough for my children’s future when I see her tweet “It’s a sad time to be a Filipino living in the Philippines.”

It breaks my heart to see her tweet “I feel betrayed by the senators who voted yes to the #Cybercrime Law. I actually voted for some of you. ” It is a question most often asked by netizens. “Why did they vote for the CyberCrime Prevention Bill?”

How could you, President Noynoy sign this bill? I made noise together with some of your known supporters eight months ago.

I can’t believe you signed this …You of all people who won with the help of social media. I did not vote for you but my friends did. I would have thought you should have been on their side. Indeed like Marocharim stated :

It is a shame, to say the least, that a government in power – and empowered – by social media is the first to put limits on it. The political climate that brought President Benigno Aquino III and the lot of lawmakers in the Senate and the Congress was by and large shaped by the discontent in social media.

No, I will not be silenced.

Makibaka. Huwag Matakot!

STOP CYBER MARTIAL LAW

Photo credit to my daughter Lauren and Philippine Internet Freedom Alliance

Cobra Pinoy Hero Awards 2012: A tribute to everyday heroes

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Heroes are made not born. There are no automatic heroes. Sometimes it takes a lifetime of heroic deeds to make a hero. But there are everyday opportunities for anyone, even ordinary people, to become heroes. All we have to do is be aware of these opportunities.

One does not have to hold a high government position, be intelligent, charismatic or extraordinary. Most people can be heroic as the need arises.  Sometimes we just need to be inspired to move into action by being aware of everyday heroes.

 

(from left) Mark David Cerezo, Dionisio Abude and Leonilo Beltran

 

Take for instance the Cobra Pinoy Hero awards where three Grand Winners were chosen on August 29 at the Crowne Plaza. These three awardees are your everyday heroes with inspiring stories of strength, perseverance and determination.

The three Pinoy Heroes

Cobra Energy Drink capped its 3-month campaign of searching for everyday heroes from all walks of life wanting to share their experiences of victory over hardships, of giving back to those in need despite having little themselves. Around 2,000 stories were  gathered from this campaign . This is their way of taking a step towards nation building; in order to inspire Filipinos to be everyday heroes and take a step forward to become one.

Each of the three awardees embodied the greatness of a hero with their creativity, the passion  and courage to take on the awesome responsibility that came along their way.

Mark ““Rubberman” Cerezo of Marikina  learned to make sculptures out of trash and discarded rubber from shoemakers.

Police Superintendent Dionisio Abude from Davao took in the troubled youth with past crimes due to poverty and made it his mission to turn them into productive citizens.

Leonilo Beltran from  Baler,  Aurora, a former OFW electrician who founded Skills Caravan where fellow volunteers teach skills to out-of-school youth and jobless adults.

Other inspiring stories

The stories of the six other finalists need to be shared as well. Despite their limitations, these courageous men believed in themselves and made the choice to make a difference in their lives and that of others.

There is Ramil Junasa Jactin of Butuan City, a polio victim who conquered his disability in order to be able to teach and was lauded by Malacanang as an Outstanding Youth of the Philippines; Mark Eden Ellaga of Antique, a driven scholar and the very first Outstanding Student of Antique Awardee; Sherwin Abanilla who hails from Zamboanga is a volunteer of the Philippine National Red Cross Emergency Response Team and dreams of becoming a great leader someday.

Other inspiring stories came from; Benjamin Vidallon of Taguig who used to be a lumpia vendor and janitor but turned his life around and now works as a Call Center Agent and Spanish Translator.  There is Ariel John Villares of Zamboanga, a jeepney conductor and security guard by day and a working student by night. Finally we have Ramley Chio Dangla Cruz who hails from Balut, Tondo and works as a med rep but is also a volunteer firefighter/medic.

It is just fitting that the keynote speaker and presentors are heroes in their own right and wonderful role models in inspiring one to be a hero. Keynote Speaker and Presentor is Efren Penaflorida  made us proud by being named CNN Hero of the Year in 2009.  Co-Presentors  include Tony Meloto, founder of Gawad Kalinga, Illac Diaz, founder of MyShelter Foundation and proponent of the IsangLitrongLiwanag campaign as well as Major General Renato Garcia, Executive Director of the Help Educate and Rear Orphans (HERO) Foundation where Cobra Energy Drink has committed sizeable cash donations to be spread out in five years.

A pledge to work at being Everyday Heroes

 

Inside every one of us is a hero with skills that can make the world a better place. But how? if only everyone gained enough courage, creativity, perseverance and drive  to make this happen, then our world will be a better place to live in. No wonder the event ended with a Panata that a commitment will be made to work at being Everyday Heroes.

River Maya ended the event with their new single Pilipinas, Kailang Ka Magigising . Their lyrics ring true on raising awareness of bringing out the hero in each one of us. ““Sino ang magbibigay ng buhay , Sa minamahal mong Pilipinas”


 River Maya song  Pilipinas, Kailang Ka Magigising

The Cobra Pinoy Hero Awards is indeed a  tribute to these men and women who continue to inspire us to become better as a nation.  It is fitting that the Cobra Pinoy Heroes Awards recognized these everyday heroes during  National Heroes day  when the nation also recognize our heroes of the past.

Be inspired! Check out other stories in the Cobra Fan Page www.facebook/CobraPhilippines

Global Debate WISDOM: “What can the world do to stop bullying?”

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A few weeks ago, Japan Broadcasting Corporation , a TV and Online program on NHK, contacted me to participate on their monthly international debate program called “Global Debate WISDOM”. This month’s topic is about “What can the world do to stop bullying?”. I agreed to join this volunteer interview and let the Japanese audience hear my advice .

It is a fact that school Bullying is a world common problem. So far, we have seen so many different approaches and programs to end bullying. But yet, there is no perfect solution to end bullying since there are still millions of kids suffering from daily bullying at school and outside the school.

Last October, a middle school student in Shiga prefecture in Japan committed suicide after going through the intense bullying that included “practicing a suicide (choking a neck)” and “practicing a funeral”. After a boy killed
himself, school and educational board denied the fact that there were bullying. It created a huge social upheaval after many students testified that there was a bullying. By this incident, the Japanese public rediscovered the untrustworthiness in the school system in Japan.

NHK gave me the link to the Movie list interview and these two videos.

Video 1
Many US states have enacted a law that bans bullying and makes schools and teachers fully responsible for bringing in anti-bullying measures. Who should be ultimately responsible for establishing policies against bullying?

Video 2

To prevent bullying at schools, what measures should schools and teachers take?

NHK is going to introduce a part of my movie in their TV show tonight Saturday, August 25 Part1 22:00 – 22:50 and Part2 23:00 – 23:49 (JST). It is a LIVE show, so they apologize in advance if the VTRs cannot be played due to unavoidable circumstances.

Please check the timetables of broadcasts for Japan and overseas:
http://www.nhk.or.jp/wisdom/onair_en.html

Growing up with the Puruntong-Jones family

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Dolphy’s critical condition suddenly brought me back to memory lane when John and Marsha aired weekly on RPN Channel 9 in 1973. In the early seventies, there were not many TV channels and interesting shows. Nothing much to distract a 15 year old teener. The cast always have me in stitches with their antics and funny quips.


Puruntong-Jones family(clockwise from top left Matutina, Doña Delilah G. Jones, Rolly J. Puruntong, Marsha J. Puruntong,John H. Puruntong and Shirley J. Puruntong. Photo via wikia.com)

John and Marsha TV show “starred Dolphy,Nida Blanca, Dely Atay-Atayan and Maricel Soriano with a cast of include John Purúntong (Dolphy), his wife Marsha (Nida Blanca), their children Rolly (Rolly Quizon), Shirley (Maricel Soriano). Later episodes show John-John, and the nagging mother-in-law Doña Delilah (Dely Atay-atayan). It ran every week for 17 years until 1990. ”

Growing up with Puruntong-Jones family until I had my own babies is quite a long time.

So what makes it so funny? For those who have never seen the series, wikipedia gives this short description.

Marsha Jones marries the impoverished John Purúntong much to the dismay of her wealthy mother, Doña Delilah. Although her daughter married the unemployed John, Doña Delilah often paid a visit to their house along with her maid, Matutína. When money was required, she would tell her maid Matutína to go sweep peso bills off the floor. Despite this, John rejects all the financial help Doña Delilah offers his family, the result of which is a hilarious exchange of insults between the two. The show ends with Doña Delilah’s loud catchphrase “Kayà ikáw, John, magsumíkap ka!” (“Therefore you, John, have to work hard!”) to insult John’s capability as the father of the household. They end up making amends, giving each other abrupt hugs with Doña Delilah exclaiming, “Peace man!” to proclaim peace. (Source: wikipedia)

In my teens, I could not imagine marrying someone who had no job. I found the whole show quite shallow but still fun to watch. I guess it was meant to be a satire type of entertainment. Lessons learned back then was that marriage is not simply just loving each other. One needed a stable source of income to meet daily needs of a family. Another lesson learned is laughing can be quite a stress reliever.

There are now calls to bestow Dolphy with the National Artist Award considering his outstanding contribution in the entertainment industry for decades. Dolphy played other memorable roles outside of John and Marsha.

Dolphy deserves this award. Millions of us appreciated his work for many years. Growing up with the Puruntong-Jones family was very much a part of our lives. Though technical reasons will prevent the National Commission on the Culture and Arts from giving him the award this year, things can still be fast-tracked.

““we should give it to the man who made us laugh for decades.”

Connecting to audio: via Bubbly.net & Ratsada Inquirer @dziq990

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Listen

If you want to hear my audio blog and radio show, here is the schedule.

1. Through Bubbly : Subscribe through your Globe. Dial the short code **8828 . You will hear a voice prompt telling you to press 1 to subscribe.

2. Through DZIQ 990 : Every Saturday 8:00 to 9:00 AM on AM radio DZIQ 990. Or follow on Twitter @dziq990. There is also livestreaming at dziq.am for those outside the country.

So I turned 55 years old last week with a bang! Who would think I’d embark on something so totally alien? Change can be disconcerting. Nothing endures but change.

What if I am a failure? What if it won’t work out? What if ? What if? See, I realized the key to change… is to let go of fear. It was the same feeling I got when I entered into blogging in 2006. What if no one reads me? What if? what if?

So many questions hounding me as I embark into the audio world: An audio blog at bubbly.net and as a co-host at Ratsada Inquirer at DZIQ 990 on your AM dial.

Bubbly.net

I first tried out Bubbly last month to add to my social media tools. Bubblyâ„¢ is a social messaging service where people share SMS and voice updates with friends, family, fans and followers. Think of Bubbly like ‘Twitter with a voice’ . It brings social networking to mobile phones. I first tried it out for fun because I think there are times when I won’t be able to post on twitter.

One day, I got a call from the Philippines Bubbly representative inviting me to be one of their premium celebrities along with Anton Diaz and Bo Sanchez to name a few.

This is how the app looks on your phone:

Bubbly is cool. At most you can listen to 90 seconds of update. It is neither too long nor too short.

How to listen to my Bubbly audio updates:

1. You can download the app through your iPhone or Android phone. Rates apply if you subscribe to my daily updates.

2. To subscribe to your Globe Phone, just dial **8828 and press 1 at the voice prompt . Rates apply. I believe it is 30 pesos a month.

3. You can listen to me for FREE if you are following me on Twitter since I do automatic posting there . My twitter name is @momblogger

I will be providing daily updates starting today. See, I am not used to talking so I had to practice my speaking voice on bubbly. Expect me to deliver constructive engagement in issues on family and society.

Co-hosting in Ratsada Inquirer

Ratsada sa Inquirer is an infotainment show every saturday morning 8:00 to 9:00 AM at DZIQ 990 which gives you substantive insights on the rundown of the news which happened during the week. It is hosted by Den Macaranas, veteran radio broadcaster and blogger Ricky Rivera. The latter invited me to be a co-host and discuss social media news.

I wasn’t too sure if I would be good. Since it is an AM station, it is a necessary to speak in Tagalog or Taglish. Tagalog is not my first language so I have problems with my accent and grammar. I can speak Cebuano though. During my first appearance on June 16 , I invited @tweetnirizal to join me. It turned out pretty well at least that was the feedback I got. My husband who I specifically told to stay away from the radio listened to it the whole time. He said I was good. Coming from him (my worst critic) then I believe I must have been okay .

Was it beginner’s luck? There I go again. So insecure of myself. I have to believe in myself that continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights. My only security is my ability to change.

Listen

If you want to hear my audio blog and radio show, here is the schedule.

1. Through Bubbly : Subscribe through your Globe. Dial the short code **8828 . You will hear a voice prompt telling you to press 1 to subscribe.

2. Through DZIQ 990 : Every Saturday 8:00 to 9:00 AM on AM radio DZIQ 990. Or follow on Twitter @dziq990. There is also livestreaming at dziq.am for those outside the country.

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