15 years blogging. Now adding a podcast

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Celebrating my 15 years of blogging by adding a podcast entitled “Have Coffee with me”. Check it out at anchor.fm/momblogger, and also distributed at Spotify, Apple podcast, Google Podcast, Breaker, Pocket Cast, RadioPublic and more to follow.

Today, I celebrate 15 years of blogging, but 15 years ago there was nothing to celebrate. I was wallowing in a pit of unspeakable grief. On February 24, 2006, I launched aboutmyrecovery.com and I like to look back at what I wrote on 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.”

Back in 2006, blogging was what I then called my new normal. From blogger, to @momblogger, and advocate, I have achieved my now normal, a budding coffee producer. So I call my podcast “Have Coffee with me” which you can download in many places.

So why a podcast? Social audio is the future, and I want to deliver content to wherever my audience is. Most importantly, archives on coping with a loss are buried in my earlier posts and it is best to highlight them. You can still read them at certain categories such as grief, recovery tips, and grief education. I am still new in podcasting, so I am bound to encounter technical problems and being more fluent in my recording.

How am I feeling 21 years after the death of my son? I still miss my beloved Luijoe. When I recall those poignant memories with my boy, I feel sad and tear. There is a huge difference, though. 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, and a budding coffee producer. And to be always touched by an angel. Luijoe is always in my heart and in my memories.

Oh yeah, someone (whose name is too painful to mention) once told me after lecturing me and two friends that we are too old to be activists, “Now you just stay home and blog and criticize…just to be popular”

Excuse me **** , I will stop you right there. I became a blogger because of Luijoe to give hope to mothers who lost a child . . I don’t need to be popular. I would rather have Luijoe back than be a blogger.

No one is too old to blog. We all have our reasons for blogging.

Anyway, sit back and relax as I bring topics that cover my past, present and future. Expect topics on grief recovery, parenting, media literacy and coffee. Season 1 will be about grief education and my stories that I posted early in my grief recovery.

Listen to my podcast:

What I have to say on the personal attacks from a pro-Duterte blogger

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I really didn’t want to comment on the latest attack from a pro-Duterte blogger (the video has since been deleted) but I owe it to my friends who were concerned. I posted this on social media to squash the lies about my medical condition and my  life as a blogger. Here is what I wrote.

My friends have been prodding me to reply to vicious personal attacks by someone fixated in spreading lies and innuendoes. The agenda and motivation behind these falsehoods are unclear to me. But for the sake of those kind and caring people who have shown their concern, I would like to state for the record that I am NOT sick with cancer and have never claimed to be a cancer survivor.

In all my years a blogger/social media practitioner and doing advocacy work, I have learned not to dignify these baseless and vile claims, except to say that , the people who matter—my family, my true friends, and community— know my true worth. They know what I am about. And that is more than enough for me to shrug off these futile attempts at discrediting me.

I sincerely want to thank all those who sent messages of support. My heart is full. Because of you, I am more than ever committed to ensuring that truth , reason and justice prevail in the realm of social discourse and public engagement.

Grateful for the recognition at the SINAG 2015 Financial Literacy Digital Journalism Awards

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I am truly grateful for the recognition once again. Last year, I also won First runner-up, #SINAG Financial Literacy Digital Journalism Awards . The SINAG 2015 Financial Literacy Journalism Awards seeks to encourage Filipinos to become more financially prepared through well-written stories.

sinag sunlife financial literarcy award

The theme this year was “How can financial literacy help people live life to the fullest?” Topics could range from savings and spending tips, to proper attitude towards finance. Basically, anything to get people thinking about how they manage their wealth. Here are the three articles I wrote about financial literacy this year:

Teaching your kids how to handle money

Retirement planning: do I want to happen in our financial future

Each of us today has a financial future

sun life sinag award

The main winner for the digital category are Lace Llanora while the other co-winner was Abraham Lee. In Lace’s blog, she writes about her experience learning about money saving tips so she can ensure a future for her boy. Abraham learned from the challenges his family encountered while growing up. There is a wealth of knowledge from their blogs.

sunlife sinag winners

Along with the trophy and the recognition was a cash prize and a starter fund which Lace and I immediately invested at Sun Life Financial. (Disclosure: I already invested in Sun Life Financial in 2011). If not Kendrick Chua, a good friend (center), I would have not known about the Prosperity Fund.

financial advisor

More than anything else, this recognition reminds me to write more about money management tips or financial literacy. 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.

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.

If you have ideas on content, please comment below.

My Super Plan: My SUPERWISH for my family

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One wish I have for my family is to travel together this year. It is a work in progress. It can be a bit of a challenge because my second daughter will be leaving for Australia next month to pursue her post graduate studies. Now if plans don’t push through for everyone of us to travel together, it is not a big deal. I can adjust. Maybe three out of four can travel at certain points in time.

Like I told you before, my SUPERWISH for my family is simple: good health and happiness. It is important for us to be connected. No matter where we are, communication is always there. Safety is my number one concern and I need to know how my family members are whether they are in or out of the Philippines.

What’s better than owning a BlackBerry especially since it has the BB Pin. Owning a BlackBerry powered by Globe Telecom’s My Super Plan, a nifty new offering that lets you build your own plan so you can enjoy unlimited calls, text messages, and mobile data! Three of my family members own Blackberry units bought at different times of the year . All I can say it is quite convenient with its QWERTY tactile keypad and BB Pin.

You too can take advantage of My Super Plan Family Combo because it is the perfect family postpaid plan. Imagine three devices under one bill.

How to get My Super Plan Family Combo?

Getting a My Super Plan on the BlackBerry is super easy. First, select from a range of ““unli” services – unlimited text messaging to all networks or unlimited calls to landline numbers, to name a few. Then pick your BlackBerry data service, which starts at only P99 for unlimited access to BlackBerry Messenger, or P299 for unlimited access to Twitter, Facebook, and instant messaging, and unlimited surfing with access to your social networks for P599 a month. The combinations of unli plans are endless, so you can design one that suits your digital needs. When you’re done choosing, you get a BlackBerry Curve 8520 for free!

You can still enjoy the My Super Plan and BlackBerry promo with the My Super Plan 499 and Family Combo. Simply add the P99/month BlackBerry service to your My Super Plan 499, and you get the BlackBerry Curve 8520 for free! The same goes for the Family Combo, Globe’s customizable group post-paid plan. Just add the BlackBerry service to your three lines and three unli services, and everyone in the family can enjoy their new free BlackBerry Curve 8520 devices.

The great thing about the My Super Plan is that it’s very flexible. You can change the unli services each month to suit your needs. So if you find the BlackBerry more useful for Twitter and Facebook rather than surfing, you can downgrade from paying P599 a month to just P299.

As a postpaid user of Globe Telecom for the past thirteen years, this is the first time I am seeing such a great plan for the family and Blackberry at that. With My Super Plan Family Combo, I feel it is is the perfect plan that suits my wish to communicate good health and happiness 24/7.

Just the two of us. More Fun in the Philippines #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines

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“FUN is a very simple word that everyone in the world understands.” Secretary Jimenez

My husband and I hied off to Boracay last Summer. We had so much fun. It was just the two of us having fun. Our children are all grown up and it gives us the chance to travel places in and out of the Philippines. Just the two of us makes it even more enjoyable as we venture out to new places in the Philippines. I have been to Boracay alone but never with my husband. Lounging by my chair and enjoying the soft cool breeze , I spot him strolling along the shoreline of the white sandy beach. Walking barefoot on this powdery white is therapeutic.

Just the two of us, strolling and letting our feet enjoy and sink into the fine white sand as our eyes feasted on the crystal blue ocean and the coastline of the other island. So much fun to be together in a beautiful place.

When my siblings visit me here, I hear the words “oh it was so much fun.”

Department of Tourism announcement of the slogan “It’s more Fun in the Philippines” last Friday felt true. What is even remarkable is that the campaign slogan is we are all part of the campaign. You and me define the true meaning of fun and happiness. It does not mean closing our eyes to the sad realities of the Philippines. It does not mean that our government shouldn’t fix our airports, the infrastructure and other support systems. There is nothing wrong about the showing truth. There is nothing wrong about highlighting what is GREAT in our country.

“It’s more Fun in the Philippines” works especially when you know how to balance work and fun. When you know how to be part of the solution

The Filipinos are already known around the world to be one of the happiest and warmest people on earth. The campaign hopes to enjoin the whole country in creating positive buzz of the tagline. We can fix the negatives and focus on our positives. There’s more than 7,107 awesome reasons to love the Philippines, so my friend Ryan says.

I support it because I travel a lot and know how to have fun. “It’s more Fun in The Philippines” works especially when you know how to balance work and fun. When you know how to be part of the solution

The response of most netizens have been overwhelming and enthusiastic that creative ways of showing how #itsmorefuninthePhilippines are being displayed here.

You can also do it like my image above. Try the MoreFunMaker.com (If you have photoshop skills, check out Jayvee’s How to make your own ““It’s More Fun in the Philippines” Meme.

What about you? How can you make the new Philippine slogan work?

How can one be involved?

To Join in the Campaign, just tweet about things that are more FUN in the Philippines and tag it with #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines #1ForFun

Be part of the solution. It is up to Filipinos themselves to defend and make the campaign true.

Tampons 101: Freedom Guaranteed. Period

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Let me tell you how convenient it is to wear tampons over napkins. In the olden days my mom told me they didn’t use disposable napkins. I couldn’t imagine how that could be possible. Women often referred to their menstrual period as ““I’m having my rags” because pieces of old cloth were actually used to soak up menstrual fluids. Not only that, women washed the soaked blood after every change. Messy indeed. I didn’t have to use rags because in my generation, I got to use disposable sanitary napkins and a few years later, tampons came along. The sanitary napkins in the early seventies looked like a bunch of disposable cotton wrapped around a rectangular gauze that needed a belt or safety pin to tie the napkins in place. It was embarrassing to have those leak accidents. I still remember when the sanitary napkins in 1975 came out with adhesive to keep napkins in place. Though adhesives felt a bit more convenient, it left an unsightly mark on the underwear that refused to wash out.

When tampons came into my life in the early eighties, I realized how liberating it was to shift from napkins to tampons. At the beach outing with friends, I felt confidence as I wore my swimsuit.

Advantage of tampons over napkins

The main reason is of course feeling confident. Tampons offer better protection and help keep a period private. I can wear tampons confidently under shorts, a fitted skirt or my swim wear without showing unnecessary bulk. Wearing a tampon gave me the freedom to shower, play badminton, and even swim while on my period. This freedom is probably one of tampon’s biggest advantage over the napkin, making it the best option during a summer getaway.

Consider how a napkin leaks much more than a tampon can. When inserted properly, a tampon minimizes the chance of leakage because a tampon fits to the wall of the vagina and soaks up blood for a period of several hours. When one replaces it frequently, a tampon is so much more reliable than a napkin. It leaves me feeling much cleaner and fresher than using a napkin.

Facts of using tampons

Like I said earlier, myths surrounding tampons made me initially resistant in giving it a try. Some of these myths are explained below.

1. A tampon will not move beyond the vagina and get lost inside a woman’s body

It just isn’t possible for the tampon to get lost or pushed far back because the opening of the cervix found at the end of the vagina is too small to allow a tampon to pass through.The walls of the vagina also hold the tampon in place and it will stay put until you take it out.

2. A tampon does not get stuck inside a woman’s body

It is not possible for a tampon to get stuck inside you. There might be problems taking it out if you are feeling tense. Just try to relax if you feel some resistance when you pull out the withdrawal cord. Leaving the tampon a little bit longer will allow the tampon to absorb enough menstrual fluid and make it soft enough for easy removal.

3. Tampons do not block menstruation.

The tampon sits in the middle third of the vagina and won’t block the menstrual flow. It absorbs the menstrual fluid into its inner holding layers until fully saturated. When the tampon is saturated, the excess fluid just flows out of the vagina either through the tampon or outside of it.

4. A virgin can use tampons and it will not affect her virginity.

Many young girls worry about using a tampon because of an old myth that one can lose their virginity by the tampon breaking their hymen. This is not possible. Tampons are small and cylindrical and they do not go so deep as to break your hymen.

Whether one chooses to wear sanitary napkins or tampons is definitely a personal choice. It is really important to stay informed and weigh options in using tampons. Over the years, the use of tampons allowed women to be more active and have fuss-free menstrual periods. Women these days have come a long way since their grandmothers. Imagine the freedom and discretion to do whatever you like while menstruating including swimming and sports.

Pampers Salutes Moms this Mother’s Day

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In the corner of my room, lies a chest full of photo albums. Feeling sentimental over the celebration of our 26th wedding anniversary on the first week of May, I decided to unearth the baby albums of my three children.

The years passed by so quickly but these photos brings back precious memories of those impish smiles, the snuggle hugs, the peek-a-boo moments and plane trips to Cebu to visit my dad. I cannot help but smile and tear at the same time as I catch a photo where I held their soft body close to my chest. The best part is when my babies want no one else to comfort them but their mommy. Oh yes, I had the best job of all because I am their mommy. And we all know how it feels to just want Mommy and no one else will do. Yes, that is me, their mommy.

A favorite place that offered a lot of fun and comfort was the park . They could frolic and run around without being afraid of getting hurt when they trip. Oh, how they twirled and romped around here, screaming at the top of their voices. The best part of being a mom is hearing ““I love you” which came along with a bunch of wild flowers from the park. These treasured memories are always in my heart..

The park is quite a distance from the house and I didn’t want these precious moments interrupted. I made sure I used the best protection from Pampers Active Baby. I only want to give my little ones the best comfort outside of their usual home routine so they can continue playing without interruption. I know they are happy because the greatest sounds on earth ring in the air. Those giggles captured by these photographs bring me down to memory lane. These memories also affirm my role as a mother . The best part of being a mom is that my children brought out the best in me just by learning about unconditional love from them. I learned love I never could have imagined, patience I didn’t know I had, and strength when I didn’t think I could take it any longer.

Through their growing years, I watched my children bloom and at times stumble. I held their hands and let go when the time was right. I helped them find their passions in life. Truly, I am blessed to give and receive love…just because I am their mommy.
Today, Pampers salutes moms this Mother’s day with a video celebrating the uninterrupted moments of love. Hundreds of Moms shared photos and videos of their Best Fun and Play Moments, Best Giggles and Laughter Moments, Best Sleep and Dreams Moments, and Best Hugs and Kisses Moments. The chosen photos and videos have been picked and featured in the Mother’s Day Video which will be aired on TV and will also win prizes from Pampers.

Mothers around the world are celebrating in their own way. You can also celebrate Mother’s Day with Pampers by watching the special tribute video featuring Filipino Moms and Babies. Visit www.facebook.com/pampersph to watch the video today .

What a joy-filled place we have as mommies. Happy Mother’s day Everyone!

Until we can manage time, we can manage nothing else

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Until you value yourself, you will not value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.
M. Scott Peck

Time-management

Congrats Jaypee for winning a Samsung Microwave oven from my Blog Anniversary contest on the subject of Time Management. Here is his winning comment:

I would like to share one of the most effective time management techniques that I religiously followed back when I was college. I consider it as a successful plan because I managed to study and work all at the same time in the university.

I was first year college when I applied for a student assistant program in our school. The program works this way: you work for 6 hours in one of the offices in the university and you get free tuition. Of course that aint easy because we were also required to maintain a specific average grade.

So what I did was I manipulated my schedule so that most of my subjects will be on an evening schedule, making it convenient for me to work in the Registrar’s office in the morning and a little more time to study in the afternoon. At times during the semester, there were subjects that I had to take in the morning. So I talked to my immediate supervisor and worked during Saturday half-day office to compensate for my absences in the office. I became serious about it and never took the scholarship for granted that is why I carefully planned things out. Because of what I did, I managed to run things smoothly. I was a scholar from my 1st year up to my 4th year.

I am sharing this because I want people to be motivated and inspired that no matter how financially down you are, there are tons of ways if you really are determined to finish your studies or achieve anything in life.

Because of the hardwork and the sacrifices that I did way back in college, I am now a registered Electronics Engineer. And I am proud to say that “nag-sunog ako ng kilay para ma-abot ko ‘yon.”

Congratulations Jaypee.

Blog anniversary contest: chance to win 2011 Samsung New Microwave oven

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Update: Winner is Jaypee David.

How time flies! Touched by an Angel will celebrate its 5th anniversary on February 24 and I am having a small contest. I used to give cash money before , the prize money I got from winning awards for this blog. I didn’t really think of holding a contest this year until Samsung asked if I wanted to give out a Samsung Microwave oven in my food blog. I thought it fitted this blog though. Let me tell you why.

home-office
My favorite spot to work is in the dining area, close to the kitchen. It is here where I can monitor the daily tasks needed for home such as the cleaning and cooking routine . I can easily prop up my mobile gadgets and monitor certain websites all at once like Twitter, facebook and various messengers. Working near the kitchen area is one way for me to manage my time in being a homemaker and as a blogger. I see everything all at once.

home-office1
Of course, I know when to take breaks. My cat, Missy reminds me that I need to relax and take time to just chill. Isn’t she cute?

So what am I getting at with the blog anniversary give-away? and why the Samsung microwave oven?

Read More →