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25Apr 2016

What is citizenship in the digital age?

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

“The only title in our democracy superior to that of President is the title of citizen.” Justice Louis D. Brandeis

It is but inevitable that digital media is the future of media. In Ellen Tordesillas’ commentary , she cited that “ internet-based media which includes social media and blogs have overtaken print media as source of information (over 40 percent). The rise of online media as source of information for the public is both good and a matter of concern. Good because of the accessibility of information. Being informed is being empowered. But empowerment comes only with being correctly informed.”

Our challenge in social media is to make sure that we disseminate credible information. What is most important is to be responsible in providing that information in our commentaries, tweets and Facebook wall posts. Being responsible in posting information is part of being a citizen in a digital world. We can start teaching young people to be better citizens in a digital world. Start them young, and as early as kindergarten.

Digital citizenship

The elements of digital citizenship contain “the basic tenets of traditional citizenship: Be kind, respectful and responsible, and just do the right thing.” It is not a matter of following online safety rules. There are nine elements of digital citizenship which define the norms of appropriate, responsible behavior with regard to technology use. . The Concept of Respect, Educate and Protect (REPs) is a way to “explain as well as teach the themes of digital citizenship. Each area encompasses three topics which should be taught beginning at the kindergarten level.” What’s new for educators , parents as well as students — is learning how to apply these ideals to the digital age.

While the concept of “good digital citizen” is a hot topic these days, it gets quickly lumped as “uncool” when it is brought up at the dinner table. A parent suggested swapping the term digital citizen (forever) with leader such as inserting leadership qualities—like courage, consistency, knowledge, compassion, and respect—into conversations. Haven’t parents faced this challenge? Our kids understand the ‘why’ more than the ‘what’ sometimes.

Kinds of citizen

Make it cool to be a good digital citizen. A parent can pose some hypothetical situations that one work through together to sharpen their child’s online leadership skills. Another way is, to catch your child doing awesome things online. Catch them being a digital leader and praise them for it in person.

Steve Mouldey prefers to call it citizenship in the digital age which “means how we actively participate in a society where digital technologies are prevalent.” He suggests that one can “start reframing the focus of digital citizenship so that people can begin taking positive action we need to see how to be a better citizen.” The kinds of citizens as defined by Westheimer and Kahne is one way to start.

Using the examples cited by Steve Mouldey, the digital citizenship version can be the following:

Personally Responsible Digital Citizen: contributes to online campaign by sharing links, signing online petitions such as in change.org or avaaz.org
Participatory Digital Citizen: uses digital technologies and social media to organise actions that benefit society. One example is SavePhilippineSeas.org that aims to protect the country’s rich but threatened marine and coastal resources through information, education, and communication campaigns and community-based projects.
Justice Oriented Digital Citizen: uses digital technologies to critically assess society and seek out ways to effect systemic change. Aside from the thrust of voters education and other advocacies of Blog Watch, other online sites like Takebackthetech.net aims to take control of technology to end violence of women.

Being a good digital citizen is “the same as being a good citizen in the offline world, which means each one of us contributes to the whole when we learn to: Protect ourselves, respect others, obey the law, and be part of the solution, not the problem.” The youth will soon be the future citizens and even leaders of this country. Responsibility is not a matter of teaching them the elements of Digital Citizenship. Responsibility starts at home and setting the guidelines and responsible use of digital technologies.

Dahr Jamail says it well, that “an informed citizenry is the basis for a healthy democracy; independent, non-corporate media are more crucial today than ever before.”

Images from Steve Mouldey, EducatorsTechnology.com, Verafiles,org. Some rights reserved.

As originally posted on Blog Watch, Philippine Online Chronicles

24Feb 2016

10 lessons from 10 years of blogging

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

What an incredible journey!

Today, I celebrate 10 years of blogging but 10 years ago there was nothing to celebrate. I was wallowing in a pit of unspeakable grief .

I lost my precious son 16 years ago. I don’t know how I survived , but I managed somehow because here I am, blogging about the resolution of my grief journey. Before I started blogging, I was literally drowning in sorrow. Reading blog posts about parents who lost a child helped me cope but they were mainly based in the US. I could not find anyone who wrote about grief in the Philippines. I wanted to share my story and possibly offer hope that there is a new normal after the loss of a child. Losing a child is the ultimate tragedy that can ever happen to a parent. My whole world collapsed on the day my son died. To even describe the pain is not possible. The pain is gut-wrenching and indescribable.

Losing a son felt like the end of the world to me . I wanted to die along with him but I had to remember that I still had two children and a husband to look after. I knew I had to transform my pain to something that will help not only myself but everyone around me. One night as I sat down on my couch (yes that is the same couch below), I found out there was no use making sense of my son’s death but there is hope in making sense of my life. I pondered “What can I do about it now?” “How can I help?” or “How do I pick up the pieces and go on living as meaningful as possible?” The answer was getting out of my comfort zone by helping others like myself.

On February 24, 2006, I launched aboutmyrecovery.com and wrote my first post “I chose joy over sadness. It is said that grief is inevitable but misery is optional. I realized that it did no good to sit in my misery pit. It did no good for the loss of my son to lead to the loss of two. What does do good is doing good. I decided to lead the second part of my life differently and better than I would have imagined …in the name of my son, Luijoe. I know that as I reach out to bereaved parents , the world is changed in some small way for the better, and then the actions taken become my living tribute to my son. And then Luijoe is never entirely gone.”

I am bringing back the original logo of this blog to celebrate 10 years of blogging. Speaking of celebration, I don’t have a blog giveaway but instead I want to share 10 things I learned in the past 10 years of blogging.

1. When you write about yourself, it’s never just yourself.

Writing is a work in progress. I am still learning. I used to ask myself , “who would ever read my depressing posts?”. I found out the story is not really about my pain. It was what my readers could relate to. Each of us have lost someone in our lives. My blog was just a vehicle. Who am I anyway? Why should my life be so interesting to readers? It could be interesting only up to a certain point. There’s got to be a point when it is no longer talking about myself. Or even when I am there are points others can relate to .

2. A new normal after losing a loved one is possible. Being a blogger is my new normal.

Touched by an Angel in e-book format

When I look back at my grief journey, the turning point came when I became a blogger. It must have been my angel that touched me that one night.

That is why I chose to call my blog, “Touched by an Angel”.

Looking at my first post in 2006, I merely wanted to give hope to parents, siblings and grandparents that there is a new normal after a loss of a child. I did not realize that I would be touched by my own blog. Being a blogger is my new normal. Sharing the changes in my new normal after the death of a child is one way of reaching out to others. I offer hope that life can still continue on despite the pain and that pain is a wonderful teacher. Never in my wildest dream did it occur to me that this new life without my son would open doors to an even more meaningful life.

3. Develop a thick skin and stay focused on my blog goals.

I am into blogging for many reasons like all bloggers have their own reasons. I am in it for the long haul. Yes, I can be opinionated but it’s all part of being a blogger. I make a stand whether it is popular or not. My entries may have hurt a few bloggers and readers. I apologize (when given the opportunity) when feelings are hurt but it doesn’t mean I don’t stand by my entries. Bloggers should not just know the technical side of blogging. One must be able to stay on track, stay committed and hopefully stay sane. Reality is, not everyone will like you. The more high profile you are, the more the criticisms. The more successful you are, the more some people will want to see you fail. One tip I learned from my favorite blogger is to develop a thick skin.

4. Criticisms helped me become a better blogger.

It was the year 2007 when I received a lot of criticisms . I guess it was because I was so new in blogging and made mistakes. Oh those hurtful comments inspired me to prove that I will be better. Instead of focusing on the mean comments, I worked doubly hard to improve on my blogging style. I often tell myself, “you have experienced the worst pain. You will get through this.” As a blogger mentor said, “Don’t let them beat you down. Stay focused and clear headed. If you purposely inspire negative reactions, then run with it. Enjoy getting what you asked for. If you don’t and get smacked, think it through, respond with care, and keep on blogging.”

In my early days of blogging, I received a comment that I was a “trying hard blogger”.

My reply:

Yes, you are right. I am trying hard to be a better blogger. Thanks for reminding me.

5. You are essentially what you write and will be judged accordingly by your readers.

Many years ago, a blogger once opined that I don’t have credibility but do I care? No, because that blogger is not in my community. The blogger’s perception on my questionable credibility is real for that blogger. I may not be credible to that blogger but my community of readers think I am. Why do you think they want to read my blog? Why do they subscribe to my feed? Why do they follow me?

The basic equation is really:

Perceived Trustworthiness + Perceived Expertise = Perceived Credibility

6. Embrace change .

Blogging has changed a lot in the last 10 years. Social media networks started to evolve in 2007. I am known as @momblogger in twitter. As one of the early adopters of any new thing that explodes online, I got hold of my monicker when twitter became popular in 2007. My readers are more likely to follow my blog posts on social media – clicking through to my links when I post them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. From this original blog (aboutmyrecovery.com), I have three other blogs : pinoyfoodblog.com (recipes), techiegadgets.com, beautyoverfifty.net (lifestyle) and a lot of social networks often known as “momblogger”.

7. “Personal branding is very powerful because it sends a clear, consistent message about who you are and what you have to offer.”

I had no idea about personal branding nor did I want to dominate a niche on mom bloggers. I simply wanted to be called “mom blogger” as an alternative name so the younger bloggers will stop calling me “ma’am”. @momblogger was simply more acceptable. I discovered that my life as “momblogger” encompassed not just being a mom and a blogger. I nurture both my family and community. My focus as a citizen advocate allows me to bring out underplayed stories, fight for women and family issues which are close to my heart. That is who I am. It makes me happy to be of help to others and at the same time it allows me to leave my digital footprints behind.

8. Popularity is not the same as influence.

One commands attention ; the other inspires action. Brands dictate too much on their own agenda but do they really care about mothers’ needs? Have they been communicating with moms effectively? The Social Mom is well connected and influential in her community. Moms like myself who transitioned from active parenting to being involved parents must not be underestimated. Advertisers and brands seem to forget or underestimate a growing circle of Mom influencers and advocates who no longer have young kids. This group of Moms are my generation , older women, social media savvy, still involved with our families, wiser (we would like to think) after many successes and failures during our parenting years.

9. “Live to love and love to live! Relationship is everything in the Social Media world”.

This is actually a quote which reminds me about my early months in blogging. I wanted to share my blog to have a wider reach. I went to my first blog event, iBlog 2 in April 2006 and introduced myself to popular bloggers. That was my first break. From 10 readers a day, blog traffic grew to 100. Today , this blog gets a minimum of 2,000 unique hits. Followers on my twitter account, @momblogger has now reached over 20,000. My biggest facebook community is my pinoy food blog with over 569,000 followers.

The lesson is : “Focus on how to be social, not on how to do social.”

10. Content is king. Sharing is queen.

Will blogging one day be a thing of the past? Blogging is here to stay but it is changing…a lot! I use my social media networks to deliver the snippets of long form content from this blog. I want to believe blogging will continue to evolve in exciting new ways. Ten years ago, I started blogging without a clue about what was about to happen to my life. I remember my humble beginnings before Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest came. I continue to rediscover technology and see ways to improve my life and others, as well.

Ten years of blogging.

Do I miss my beloved Luijoe?

Of course , I do. Is there sadness or a tear now and then? Yes. But there is a big difference. The sadness no longer steals the joy away. The awful pain and emptiness diminished over time, as I persisted in enjoying the memories of the moments spent together, not dwelling on the times which will never happen. That pain is giving me courage to focus on my purpose in life. To live a meaningful life as a mom blogger, a citizen advocate.

To be touched by my angel.

23Feb 2016

Am a socially-conscious mom blogger . Politics is incidental

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

I am known as @momblogger in twitter. As one of the early adopters of any new thing that explodes online, I got hold of my monicker when twitter became popular in 2007.

Really, I had no idea about personal branding nor did I want to dominate a niche on mom bloggers. I simply wanted to be called “mom blogger” because I wanted the younger bloggers to stop calling me “ma’am”. @momblogger was simply more acceptable .

Well , I am a momblogger because I am a mom and a blogger at the same time. I am proud to be both. While this blog focused partly on parenting, more than half of my topics are about life in general or completely unrelated-to-parenting topics.

10 years have passed since I started this blog. I blogged about my unspeakable grief because I lost my precious son on May 27, 2000. I wanted to offer hope. Through the years, I evolved from writing on parenting , family life and grief recovery issues to being active and blogging for social good. That is aside from my tech , and food blogs.

Together with other bloggers, Blog Watch was born in 2009 in answer to a clamor in my mommy community that they wanted to know more about electoral issues. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever want to pursue the political scene. Just like any social media experiment, you never know what clicks or not in the internet.

Truly it is love of country that makes me passionate towards citizen media (blogwatch.ph and blogwatch.tv .) The thought entered me “What better way to leave a legacy to my children by making a difference in my own small way through blogging for social good” . It cannot be helped when feisty old me questions the laws, the public servants and even the issues that affect the community that I live in. I nurture both my family and community. I cannot isolate myself from the larger society. Dealing with politics is incidental. Sometimes when you want change, the best way to attain is to through political means. But politics is not an end in itself but merely a means to an end.

My feisty actions and strong opinions make me now controversial.

Am I really a mom blogger?

Boom…I am not really viewed as a mom blogger but as a political blogger. I look at myself as a citizen advocate NOT as a political blogger.

I guess I am in denial. Or not? A few years ago, I talked to a few influential blogger-friends over lunch who bluntly told me that when they think of me (momblogger), they think “political”. Some brands do not want to be associated with me (the personality behind the blog) because well, companies are capitalists in the first place. My controversial self might not be compatible to their corporate mission-vision.

It is quite disappointing to be told I am “controversial” but at the same time what good is it if I keep blogging mindlessly about brands day in and day out? or hold contests or give out freebies?

What value is in it for me? This blog will die . I will die one day. But in the meantime, I want to make my mark and impact for social good . I want to make a difference in the lives of my children, one blog post at a time…one tweet at a time. I want to do something other than blog about brands or being a brand advocate.

I do admit writing about shallow or lighter articles on my new blog “A Woman on Prime Time” which deals on taking care of myself using spa services, anti-aging products and services. Loving myself is important because when love overflows I am able to help others.

Let us look at the mom bloggers in the United States:

The average mommy blogger is 37 years old and 89% of mommy bloggers have kids between the ages of 2 and 11. They’re also socially conscious and are 85% more likely to have supported a politician based on an environmental issue, 88% more likely to buy eco-friendly products and 38% more likely to volunteer than the average mom.

And Candace Lindemann of Mamanista suggests

It is important to remember that before a lot of “mom bloggers” were moms and bloggers, they wore other hats, too. They have expertise in marketing, journalism, education, medicine, law, science, etc¦ labels have the power to empower and build community.

By that definition, I am a mom blogger.

mom bloggers —socially conscious

Indeed I may not be the average mom blogger in terms of age. I am 58 years old with two adult children. But see, I have earned wisdom through the years as a mother to three beautiful children. I am socially conscious and speak up on it.

But are the average mom bloggers in the USA considered “political bloggers”?

I am not the only mom blogger in the Philippines who is socially conscious or most likely to volunteer in charity work. Moms react differently on specific issues but we all have a common concern : our children’s futures unite us. There are the breast-feeding advocates and mothers concerned with the environment or Reproductive Health.

Is “being controversial” the price I will pay in making a stand on issues that may give positive gains on the future of my children’s children and the Philippines?

My focus as a citizen advocate allows me to bring out underplayed stories, fight for women and family issues which are close to my heart. That is who I am. It makes me happy to be of help to others and at the same time it allows me to leave my digital footprints behind.

Controversial or not, I choose to lead a purposeful and vibrant life as this blog turns 10 years old, tomorrow, February 24, 2016.

04Dec 2015

Digital technology keeps the modern family connected

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

The invite said

“Mrs. Tessa Prieto-Valdes
invites you to a wonderful afternoon
at her home with Globe Platinum!”

The first thought that entered my mind was I’d get to see her Christmas decors that I have been seeing in magazine spreads the past years. The sight of festive Pinoy lanterns greeted me at the entrance. It’s our very own Pinoy pop Christmas theme. Beautiful! Her Pinoy theme decors show native lanterns which she sourced from Eastern Samar . It is her own way to help out the livelihood of women who lost their homes when Typhoon Yolanda struck their homes and livelihood.

I have seen Tessa around in other blogger events as a host but this time, she was the toast of the hour. Tessa is described as an interior designer, a triathelete, philanthropist, wife to business executive Dennis Valdes and mother to Bryan, Tyrone, Annika and Athena.

Tessa is the new face of Globe Telecom premium postpaid brand Globe Platinum. She draws inspiration from her family, career, and socio-civic endeavors.

Like Tessa, digital technology keeps me connected to her family. With everyone’s packed schedules- pursuing diverse interests whether in the country or out of it (Her son Bryon lives on his own now while Tyrone is currently studying abroad), the advent of technology and the smartphone has proven to be a boon for the Valdes Family.

My two girls don’t live with me and digital technology keeps me connected with them through Facebook messenger or iMessage. Much as I want to be with the the good old-fashioned way of spending time together, I recognize that this can get difficult at times. We continue to stay close to each other through technology. Tessa maximize the use of messaging apps like Viber or Whatsapp and social media channels like Instagram and Snapchat. She has weekly chats with Tyrone and Bryan. Thank God for digital connections, right?

Other than connecting with family, she is grateful for these advancements in terms of her work. Aside from working on various interior design projects, she writes a regular column for a daily broadsheet, connects with readers through her own blog www.tessaprietovaldes.com and hosts Philippine Realty TV and online show Battle of the Pans at tv4me. I am sure many moms can relate to this digital lifestyle. She also has charity events like the Red Charity Ball with Kaye Tinga.

You can read more of her inspiring Platinum lifestyle at the latest December issue of Lifestyle Asia. She is on the cover.

Globe Platinum Lifestyle Plans

Tessa says Globe Platinum is a key partner in enabling her to accomplsh what she sets out to do on a daily basis. For instance , the Platinum Lifestyle plan provides her with everything to stay connected to her passions and the things that inspire her to enjoy the life that she worked hard for. The Platinum lifestyle plan includes the following:

Access to the newest devices
Unlimited all network calls and texts (A first in the market)
Rich mobile data allocation
Built-in roaming services that can automatically subscribe customers to unlimited data roaming services or
The option to enjoy a consumable roaming allocation wherever they travel,
Complimentary access to a choice of NBA, HOOQ, Spotify Premium and more of the best applications as they are launched in the market

A huge plus is the Platinum Relationship Managers (see photo below) who take the time to really get to know customers, delivering seamless, delightful and personalized service that go beyond what you need and include what you actually love.

I am not on the Globe Platinum lifestyle plan though I am a Globe mobile subscriber since 1998 and a DSL subscriber since 2007. I plan to get the Platinum broadband plan as soon as the fiber-fast connectivity reaches my village. There are Platinum Broadband plans with speeds of up to 50 Mbps for P2499 per month all the way to 1 Gbps for P9499 per month available in over 80 sites.

The good news in yesterday’s Globe Platinum launch of their new ambassador are two tickets to Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour. It’s my lucky day.

The one thing we have in common is that we both use the Globe network to connect with our families.

Thanks to Tessa for preparing this bag of goodies that she personally chose for the media gathered at the launch. The bag is made from Eastern Samar . She is helping them out by buying their woven bags, just like the lanterns that adorn her Pinoy Pop Christmas themed home.

When asked how she feels about being an inspiration and role model to people, Tessa points out, “Here’s the thing, we live in such exciting times right now , and inspiration can be found everywhere. It’s mainly what you do with it that matters. It’s the spark that lights creativity and innovation, where great things begin. But it’s on yu to follow that through.”

01Sep 2015

Feminist? Internet governance activist? Am I all that?

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

What kind of internet do we want and what will it take for us to achieve it?

(Originally posted at Three things I’ve learned at the Gender and Internet Governance Exchange, Asia on July 8, 2015.)

Two concepts glared at me: Feminist? Internet governance activist? Am I all that? See, I tread carefully around labels because I encounter people who are “allergic” to the word “feminist” or “activist”. A feminist or activist is often seen as militant or disruptive and this often spells trouble. As a citizen with an online voice enabled by technology and social media, I have the capacity to connect directly with the people who matter and who could make a change.

I didn’t want people to distance themselves from me because of these controversial labels. I pondered over these words, “internet governance activist” and as I searched for the definition online, I discovered that I am part of the internet governance group, as one of the multi-stakeholders.

I find difficulty in articulating the things I do, to advocate for social change for social good. Everything I have ever done as a blogger and on social media for the past nine years was through intuition. When I received the acceptance to the Gender and Internet Governance Exchange (gigX) I was so excited because it meant widening the scope of my advocacy. There was no doubt that the gigX would widen my knowledge on the intersections between women’s rights and internet governance. I want to transfer this knowledge to my community by sharing the three things I’ve learned at gender and internet governance exchange. Some of these lessons are interrelated but I want to highlight each of them separately.

1. The feminist approach to the internet

Someone asked me at the gigX “so are you a feminist?” I didn’t quite know how to respond to that “feminist” label because I don’t categorise myself as one. Don’t get me wrong, I advocate for women’s rights among many others but I didn’t want these labels to turn people off. After the presentation of the “Feminist Principles of the Internet”, my doubts in the “feminist” label disappeared. Now I embrace my feminism.

2. The clusters of the 15 Feminist Principles

My “feminism” reminds me of a sisterhood. In a roomful of fellow feminists and activists, we pondered on the question: “As feminists, what kind of internet do we want and what will it take for us to achieve it?” I learned about the clusters of the Feminist Principles of the Internet: access, economy, expression, consent, autonomy, agency, movement and public participation.

These are not new concepts to me but I liked the clear presentation and the affirmation of them. I initiated a movement in 2007 together with other bloggers in reshaping the Filipina image of the internet, as more than just mail order brides. Through our blogs and stories about the loving Filipina wives and “mothers”, the professionals, and the outstanding bloggers were shared on the World Wide Web.

3. Deconstructing jargons and acronyms

I use language that is accessible to my community. How is real progress going to be made if I can’t communicate the feminist approach to the internet? Thankfully, the gigX encouraged us to list down jargon and acronyms that are often encountered in the gender and internet governance spaces: intersex,patriarchy, multi-stakeholderism, World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), neoliberal capitalist, UN Commission on Science and Technology (UNCSTD), Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), Zero rating,Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA).

Communicating and transferring the knowledge of these concepts to my community was made easier due to the available resources from the gigX website, this includes training materials and tools.

My feminism will always be in the agenda of internet governance. The feminism I stand for is to work towards the dismantling of patriarchy and putting “an end to fear, helplessness, humiliation, and one that condemns violence and identifies and supports all diversities.”

I know my feminism is disruptive and the kind that I will be judged for all the time. Despite this, I do not doubt that I am a feminist.

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)

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.

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Category Archives: Blogging

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

Journaling is a process of self-reflection.

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

Recognition at the #SINAG Financial Literacy Digital Journalism Awards

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