The gift of giving #GivingTuesday #GlobalTeam200

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The smallest good deed is worth a thousand grand intentions.

My three siblings who are based in the US will celebrate Thanksgiving day next week. Hopefully one day I get to join them in their celebration. One thing I know is a lot of sales are happening such as Black Friday, and even Cyber Monday. Take note , for the first time, there is another celebration happening… the first day of its kind – #GivingTuesday!

There is a day of giving thanks and two days are meant for getting deals. This year #GivingTuesdayâ„¢ is the giving season’s opening day.

While the Philippines does not celebrate Thanksgiving day, the idea of a day of giving applies to anyone around the world.

What is Giving Tuesday?

GivingTuesday.org states the mission statement of #GivingTuesdayâ„¢ as a “campaign to create a national day of giving at the start of the annual holiday season. It celebrates and encourages charitable activities that support nonprofit organizations.” On Tuesday November 27, 2012 charities, families, businesses and individuals in America are coming together to transform the way people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season.

It’s a simple idea. Find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to join in acts of giving. Tell everyone you can about what you are doing and why it matters. Join a national celebration of our great tradition of generosity.

““As a society, we’re more connected than ever before. With digital tools and resources, we are better positioned to effect real world change as a community. I got involved with #GivingTuesday because I saw the amazing potential for a powerful social good movement during the holiday season.” says Sharon Feder, chief operating officer, Mashable.com

Colleen Giles Timms the co-creator, #GivingTuesday adds that “”“#GivingTuesday is a wonderful opportunity for the giving community to come together under one ““umbrella” just as the retail world does on Black Friday. I think it’s a fun and important challenge to show what a difference a day makes. It is especially exciting to see the creative and dynamic initiatives taking shape all over the US.”

Ideas to get involved in #GivingTuesday

Wouldn’t it be great to have a day for giving back? There are many ways to get involved. Businesses, non-profit organizations, families and even individuals share some thoughts to get your imaginations going.

One idea for the family is “talk about causes that are important to you, perhaps one that has had an impact on your family. Research to find a walk, bike ride, or run supporting that cause and join in as a team. Get your family, friends, and neighbors to support you. Set a goal and raise it for your cause.”

One cause I want to pass my blessing to is World Vision Philippines’ Noche Buena campaign.

For only Php 1,000 (roughly $25) , a sponsored child receives a Noche Buena gift pack which consists of essential food items and a special hand-picked present of your choice (optional) which he/she can enjoy with the family, or even the whole community in the coming Christmas Eve! For more information you may log on to www.worldvision.org.ph or call hotline +632- 372-7777.

I spent an afternoon with the Aeta children last Saturday and I could see the World Vision Noche Buena Campaign is worth it. Last year, more than 35,000 children delightfully received their Noche Buena gifts. Passing on your blessings to this Noche Buena campaign can spread the love and cheers to more children in 14 identified poor communities this year.

Soon the holidays will come and the frenzy Christmas shopping can be quite stressful. It is important to focus on the reasons for giving. “If you focus on why you’re giving – to make another person happy – it really can make you feel better and there are physical changes that underpin that.” Sydney positive psychology expert Dr Tony Grant adds that “knowing we’ve done something to improve the life of others not only boosts our self esteem and gives us a sense of purpose, it also shifts our attention away from our own stresses and worries”.

There are many other ideas in getting involved on #givingtuesday. I hope #GivingTuesday will soon be a part of family traditions not only in the US but all over the world.

Pass on the blessings to World Vision’s Noche Buena Campaign @worldvisionPH

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For only Php 1,000, a sponsored child receives a Noche Buena gift pack which consists of essential food items and a special hand-picked present of your choice (optional) which he/she can enjoy with the family, or even the whole community in the coming Christmas Eve! For more information you may log on to www.worldvision.org.ph or call hotline (02) 372-7777.

The smallest good deed is worth a thousand grand intentions.

Molina, a small Aeta girl with beautiful brown skin and curly afro-like textured hair seemed shy at first . She lowered her eyes as I smiled at her. As a nine year old girl many moons ago, I can’t blame her. I was just as shy. I wracked my mommy knowledge bank to see if I can make her smile. It’s been years since I hovered around young children and decades since I was a little girl. What did I do back then? So I asked her about the games she played at home. “Did you play bahay-bahayan? , I asked in Tagalog. Her eyes lit up when we talked of our make-believe house. I recalled that kids like seeing their photos so we played around with the camera. Among the photos taken , she liked this photo below because she smiled.

It was easy from then on as Molina warmed up to the activities for the day. So what was I doing here? World Vision Philippines invited me and other bloggers like Ferdz to interact with their sponsored kids at a Zambales community . This was a prelude to World Vision’s annual Christmas event for children where each of their 35,000 sponsored children will be given a noche buena pack for the family and a gift of their choice.

The community was a 5-hour ride from Manila but it was so worth it. I have always wanted to visit a World Vision community and the added bonus was visiting an Aeta community that I have only read in my Social Studies book. The Aetas here were relocated after Mt. Pinatubo erupted. World Vision has been helping out with the community development and educating the children for the past 16 years. Eventually, the community will become sustainable enough for them to thrive on their own.

Molina, my assigned kid and I started with bonding activities for the afternoon. One activity was to illustrate the meaning of Christmas which they would share to everyone. I asked Molina what Christmas meant to her. She looked up at me and without hesitation answered “family”. That warmed my heart because family means a lot to me too. Molina did not waste any more time and started to draw.

Her artwork were symbolisms like thought bubbles that showed the Christmas lanterns, the Christmas tree,a gift , the dinner table and love.

I helped her with the artwork explanation and shared the similarity with my Christmas celebration. Christmas is about time spent with loved ones so dear. It is also the time of year that represents an amazing time of hope and redemption. Family is a predominant theme. Being together on this special day makes Christmas meaningful to them. One girl teared as she showed her artwork to us. She misses her father and mother wished they were around. Her grandmother takes care of her now but clarifies that she is well-loved. I can totally relate to her pain. Losing a son feels like our family is not complete. I have learned to live with that loss by embracing my son’s memory in my heart. How can one explain living with that pain? That I too am in that journey.

I believe art is therapeutic to the children. Let me share a couple of them here.

All about the family.

Amangpintor Lito Circa , a World Vision sponsored child many years ago helped the kids with some ideas.

While everyone was busy drawing, Lito used his hands to paint this poignant scenery that reminded him of his childhood days at the Pantabangan from “the 70s (time where the town of Pantabangan was submerged by the water) to the present with the style of creating image of Minggan on every painting that he made. ”

Beautiful!

Just as beautiful are the artwork of each child. How can one not get touched with their drawings that come from the heart? They just want to celebrate Christmas with their family with a meal like a “Noche Buena” . What makes it even more special is the family gathers and eat together as they rejoice and feast on the Nativity of the birth of Christ.

Yes, Christmas is a time of hope. The hope that is, because of Jesus. He is the reason for this season. Christmas is about sharing, giving and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

World Vision’s Noche Buena Campaign

If you have been feeling blessed lately, perhaps you might pass on the blessings to others you know who would need them more. One to consider is the sponsored children of World Vision Philippines.

World Vision, in it’s seventh-year Christmas offering, re-launches the Noche Buena Gift campaign to give Filipinos the opportunity to share their blessings to poor families this meaningful season.

For only Php 1,000, a sponsored child receives a Noche Buena gift pack which consists of essential food items and a special hand-picked present of your choice (optional) which he/she can enjoy with the family, or even the whole community in the coming Christmas Eve!

For more information you may log on to www.worldvision.org.ph or call hotline (02) 372-7777.

Last year, more than 35,000 children delightfully received their Noche Buena gifts. With your help, we can spread the love and cheers to more children in 14 identified poor communities this year.

I believe in the saying that when “something good happens to us, let’s make something good to others. The more we share our blessings, the more that we are blessed.”

Sharing our blessings feels good because we’ve made someone else feel good.

Baroque Music is Not Your Ordinary Pling pling

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christmas village

The lighted Christmas Village caught the attention of my daughter’s friend as he entered our dining room a few Christmas-es ago I can’t remember now what Lauren told me but from what I recall her friend imagined that lilting Pling pling pling pling pli-pli-pling music playing in the background as we eat dinner and babble in our fake British accents. The way Lauren said Pling pling pling pling pli-pli-pling sounded so much like Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”.

debut.jpg

Haha I was laughing out loud because it is sort of true. I don’t play classical music but baroque music, a big difference of which I will explain later on. And no, we don’t play baroque music on dinner time alone. I play it any time of the day and have been playing it since the kids were little. I even hired Bagting Hangin, a string and wind ensemble to play it during Lauren’s 18th Birthday Party.

Before I get any further, let me explain the display of the English Village set. The Christmas Village set reminds me of Stratford-upon-Avon, a town I visited many years ago in the UK. The town is a popular tourist destination owing to its status as birthplace and deathbed of the playwright and poet William Shakespeare. My walks in the breathtaking village is so memorable, the scenery is just picture pretty and forever imprinted in my memories. When I saw this village set offered for sale by a friend, I just knew I wanted it to be displayed in my dining room. The village set is not a pretentious display of shallowness and hypocrisy but rather a collection of memories of visits to similar cottages in Stratford-upon-Avon. The ancient church replica reminds me of that time I visited the Holy Trinity Church, a moment of calm away from the bustle of the town. Both the courtyard and the churchyard itself are breathtakingly beautiful. Okay so now you know why that Christmas Village sits there.

Now on to the Pling pling pling pling pli-pli-pling music with two reasons:

First, the objective was to calm Lauren’s nerves.

Lauren was a sickly child often getting ill with asthma attacks every month. With visits to the emergency room every month, I had to do my share in making her calm and relaxed to ensure a faster recovery. I gave her “Visualizations for Mind Calming” of which the objective of the exercise is to gain practice in visualizing while at the same time soothing the mind. Calm and peaceful scenes from nature were quite helpful in erasing worries and distractions. I often said it out in a soft voice to imagine walking in a park, or in the woods, sitting by the lake, a walk on a hill or mountain, countryside or any spot that I though had a particularly soothing quality. Together with this mind-calming techniques, I added baroque music (specifically in largo beat) to get into slowed down body mind/body rhythms and manageable breathing.

Why Baroque music and why the largo or slow tempo?

Researchers have found that certain music types ease the brainwaves into the relaxed ‘alpha state’ that is ideal for Superlearning. One form of this superlearning music is the adagio movements of many baroque composers.

The adagio movements are around 40 to 60 beats per minute. In many string concertos and other works, the adagio movements often encapsulate the quintessential thematic and emotional material. However it is their 40-60 beats per minute and slow rhythm that slow body and mind functions and allow an alpha state of mind. This enables one to excel in retention and recall of materials presented in 20 minute intervals. It is also great for relieving stress.

From Baroque Music for Contemplation

There is a huge difference between baroque and classical music. The baroque music composers are from the likes of J.S. Bach A. Corelli, G.F. Handel, G. Telemann and A. Vivaldi in the 1600 – 1760. The classical music is from the time period 1730 – 1820 and right after the Baroque period. So if you want to refer to that Mike Villar’s Pling pling pling pling pli-pli-pling, it’s actually called Baroque Music.

Secondly, playing baroque music was to enhance the creativity in my children.

As reported in Ostrander and Schrader’s Super Learning, research discovered that the ideal state for learning is when the brain is in a relaxed, but aware state. And when they say relaxed, they do not mean asleep, but relaxed, focused and aware. It is at this point the brainwaves run at about 8 to 12 cycles per seconds or hertz. This is called the alpha state. Alpha is simply a state when you are calm and relaxed, in a way similar to when you whistle a happy tune, or when you daydream.

Getting into the Alpha State can be achieved in a number of ways and most of us achieve it several times during most days. At this time the mind is clear, receptive to information, and rapidly making ‘connections’, realizations and joining up deep thoughts. Many an ‘AHA!’ moment comes when an individual is in “Alpha”.

Years ago when this research was beginning, scientists were startled to discover that a certain kind of music can put the brain into an accelerated-learning state. Listening to Baroque Music was the number one method of getting into “Alpha”. Again, the research shows that baroque music at 60 beats per minute causes your brain to produce more alpha [calmness] waves. This happens on both the left brain’s analytical hemisphere and right side’s creative spatial hemisphere. When both hemispheres are engaged, the brain is able receive more information. You can retrieve information quickly because the music acts as a carrier wave to long-term memory storage.

Not that I wanted my kids to be superlearners, I wanted them to be calm and relaxed and eager to learn to the best of their abilities. No one is too young or too old to enjoy relaxing baroque music. Let me show you a music list for baroque music. Mind you, it has to be the slow movements from Baroque instrumental music featuring string instruments that give the best results.

    Vivaldi, A.

  • Largo from “Winter” from the The Four Seasons
  • Largo from Concerto in D Major for Guitar and Strings
    From Baroque Guitar Concerti
  • Largo from Concerto in C Major for Mandolin, Strings and Harpsichord
  • Largo from Concerto in D Minor for Viola D’ Amore, Strings and Harpsichord
  • Largo from Concerto in F Major for Viola D’ Amore, Two Oboes, Bassoon, Tow Horns and Figured Bass
    From Vivaldi: Three Concertos for Viola D’Amore, Two Concertos for Mandolin
  • Largo from Flute Concerto No 4 in G Major
    Vivaldi: 6 Flute Concerti Opus 10

    • Bach, J.S.

  • Largo from Concerto in G Minor for Flute and Strings, BWV 1056 (2:53)
    Bach and Telemann Flute Concertos
  • Aria (or Sarabande) to The Goldberg Variations
  • Largo from Harpsichord Concerto in F Minor, BWV 1056
    Greatest Hits of 1720
  • Largo from Solo Harpsichord, Philharmonic Virtuosi of New York Columbia Records
  • Largo from Solo Harpsichord in G Minor, BWV 975
    6 Concerti after Vivaldi
  • Largo from Solo Harpsichord Concerto in C Major, BWV 976
    6 Concerti after Vivaldi
  • Largo from Solo Harpsichord Concerto in F Major
    6 Concerti after Vivaldi

    • Handel, G.F.

  • Largo from Concerto no. 1 in F (brass)
    from Music for the Royal Fireworks
  • Largo from Concerto No. 3 in D (brass)
    from Music for the Royal Fireworks
  • Largo from Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Major op. 3 (woodwinds and strings)
    Handel: Concerti Grossi op. 3
  • From Handel’s Twelve Concerti Grossi, Opus 6, any of the largo movements can be used

    • Corelli, A.

  • Sarabanda (Largo) from Concerto No. 7 in D Minor
    Corelli: 12 Concerti Grossi op. 5

  • Preludio (largo) and Sarabanda (largo) from Concerto no. 8 in E Minor
    Corelli: 12 Concerti Grossi op. 5
  • Preludio (largo) from Concerto no. 9 in A Major
    both from Corelli: 12 Concerti Grossi op. 5
    From Corelli’s Twelve Concerti Cgrossi, Opus 6, any of the largo movements can be used.

    Telemanm, G.

  • Largo from Double Fantasia in G Major for Harpsichord
    Telemann: 6 Fantasias for Harpsichord
  • Largo from Concerto in G Major for Viola and String Orchestra
    From Telemann

There you have it, Pling pling pling pling pli-pli-pling bringing you in “reverie” state of relaxation.

With an empty nest, a staycation or a vacation works either way

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Wikipedia says the word “staycation” is a portmanteau of “stay” (meaning stay-at-home) and “vacation”. Staycation, another fancy word for spending time-off at home only made sense as our children got older.

A long time ago, being away from home meant time to be with my husband and that “pamper me day” away from the kids. It meant a time to have those lovey-dovey moments without the kids knocking on the door asking “what are you doing?” Oh yes, it was a time to be romantic without crying toddlers pounding at the door. It was also quite expensive to use hotels for these romantic tryst.

With adult kids, it gets harder and harder to invite them when we want to watch a movie or take a short vacation. It doesn’t hurt to ask though and I assure them that “no, you are not intruding into our privacy”.

Every opportunity to bring our children along with us is a bonus just like our recent staycation at Acacia Hotel Manila

Do you like staycations?

See my blog post on our recent staycation at Acacia Hotel Manila

Support Malala Day (November 10) : a girl’s right to education #IamMalala

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I cannot imagine myself just staying at home doing household chores without any formal education or worse getting married at such a young age. Education is the most powerful weapon which we can use to change the world. The right to education is “denied to 61 million children of primary school age around the world.” It was heartbreaking to read the news that fourteen-year-old Malala Yousafzai, was shot by the Taliban for supporting girls’ education.

Can you imagine your children not receiving any sort of formal education? Malala is the voice for thousands of girls in and out of Pakistan who clamor for education. All of us can help make her dream come true by calling on her government to roll out funding to encourage all Pakistani families to send their girls to school. Malala is indeed an inspiration not only for Pakistan’s young generation, but also for people across the world. Malala Yousufzai “de­feated her assailant who sought to silence her voice, which has been a source of inspiration not only for Pakistan’s young generation, but also for people across the world.”

Should her voice be forever silenced? Malala dedicated her childhood to championing education for girls like her in Pakistan. As she lies in a hospital bed, a tragic victim of Taliban gunmen, we can help make her dream come true.

We can all do something. On November 10th , let us celebrate ‘Malala Day,’ the day when the whole world honors the sacrifice of Malala Yousafzai.

Fortunately, Malala is starting on the “road to recovery and Malala Day, one month after Malala was left for dead by Taliban assassins, is an opportunity for people everywhere to come together to support the cause that Malala so valiantly represents: a girl’s right to education.”

Let’s turn our shock at the Taliban’s attack on a young girl into a viral wave of international pressure that forces Pakistan to address girls’ education.

Helping Malala can come in simple ways . Just let your voice be heard in support of Malala. Here is how you can help:

1. Sign the petition to call on Pakistan to agree to a plan to deliver education to all its children: http://educationenvoy.org/

2. Spread the word. Inform your audience of the #IamMalala campaign and invite them to sign the petition.

3. Spend November 10th in solidarity for Malala Day. Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown – the UN Special Envoy for Global Education – and his wife Sarah will deliver this petition to the Pakistani president on this day.

Honoring Malala day on November 10 will also be helping millions around the world who are denied the basic freedom to learn every day. “Girls, boys, the marginalized, rural children, child laborers — the hopes of these 61 million are represented by the struggle and voice of Malala. November 10th is our opportunity to continue to speak out in support of Malala’s vision of every child in school, learning and reaching their full potential.”

Photo via Guardian.co.uk

Disclosure: I wrote this post as part of the causes of the Global Team of 200, a highly specialized group of members of Mom Bloggers for Social Good that concentrates on issues involving women and girls, children, world hunger and maternal health.

Get to know the kids in Bolivia receiving World Food Programme‘s school meals #globalteamof200

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Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in Latin America. Out of its 9.5 million population, two thirds overall or 80 percent in rural areas live below the poverty line. The World Food Programme (WFP) provides meals to around 80,000 children in Bolivia, one of the poorest countries in Latin America, where around 40 per cent of children under five in communities like Huarimarca suffer from stunting as a result of chronic malnutrition.

Providing meals in schools such as Huarimarca School is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways WFP can make a difference in the life of a child. The children in Huarimarca face a long walk to their school and by the time they reach their school, they lack the energy to focus in their lessons. Nutritious meals provided by WFP not only help to keep kids in class, but give them the nutrition they need to grow and learn.

Watch Ximena, WFP Communications Officer in Bolivia deliver this simple request from you, dear readers.

No, Ximena is not asking you to donate. She wants to invite you to get to know some of the kids WFP is supporting at the Huarimarca School in Bolivia. Visit this link and introduce yourself and submit some questions for the students. Ximena will return to the Huarimarca School to share your messages in a few weeks. Be sure to leave your name and email, and you might be one of the lucky ones to get a personal response.


Send your message here

It’s important that children in Bolivia get the nutrition they need so that they can stay focused in school and pursue their dreams.

Disclosure: I wrote this post as part of the causes of the Global Team of 200, a highly specialized group of members of Mom Bloggers for Social Good that concentrates on issues involving women and girls, children, world hunger and maternal health.

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF gives kids the chance to help others. #GlobalTeamof200

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halloween.jpg

Halloween Trick or Treat is a tradition that my husband started in our family. As a kid, I never grew up in the Halloween tradition of the Western world but hubby did. Halloween Celebration through the years is a memory that my kids treasure because of the yummy treats and magical costumes. Though my kids are all adults now, I still decorate my home with Halloween themes without fail. I even got to join trick or treat in San Francisco when I visited my sister two years ago.

halloween-trick-or-treat4

It gives me joy to see that this tradition gives kids the chance to help others through the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF project. What started out more than 60 years ago to help children abroad during World War II has evolved into a revolution driven by kids. Thanks to this project, kids all over the world receive the help they need for happy and healthy lives.

There are many ways to help.

1. You can order Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF boxes today!

Collect donations for UNICEF in your box by going trick-or-treating or by raising funds in your own unique way. The money you raise will help UNICEF provide clean water, nutrition, education and more to millions of kids in need around the world.

A brand new cast of characters are featured on Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF collection boxes. Meet Frank, Count Change-ula, Lady Pennyworth, Bertha DeBroom, Shadow, and Patches!

2. Trick-or-Treat Online

You can also create your own fundraising webpage and share on Facebook or Twitter or email friends and family to make donations and get the ball rolling! Get started here.

3. Create-a-Character Contest

Design and submit your own Halloween character for a chance to be part of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF’s 2013 limited edition collection.

One winner from each age category (children 4–8 years , 9–12 years, 13 years and older) will be chosen and announced on Halloween, Oct. 31. You should order your fundraising kits while supplies last. The contest runs from September 1 through October 26.


Remember there are so many ways to help

  • Read the stories of boys and girls whose lives you are helping improve

It is true that for as long as we are kids (even at heart), we will be helping other children in need. Be a part of the past, present and future by participating in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF!

Disclosure: I wrote this post as part of the causes of the Global Team of 200, a highly specialized group of members of Mom Bloggers for Social Good that concentrates on issues involving women and girls, children, world hunger and maternal health.

#RIPAmanda: Her death reminds us to make a stand to stop bullying in any form.

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““Be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Gandhi

Amanda Todd shares her heart-breaking story in a YouTube video of cyberbullying that led her to deep bouts of depression and death by suicide.

This is Amanda’s story of the bullying , the cyberbullying and her death by suicide. (via Vancouver Sun_


“In stories and posts flooding Vancouver’s social media networks, #RIPAmanda is trending as people post news and condolences for the teen identified as posting the video, Amanda Todd.

In a post on its Facebook page, G Force Gym, Home of the Vancouver All Stars cheerleaders, wrote:

Today we feel the loss of our former VAS family member Amanda… I ask that we all watch her video and share her story so that her loss is not in vain. Allow this to be her legacy… Allow us all to look around & find the next Amanda before another precious spunky teenager is lost. We have a responsibility today… Is there a kid in your school that made a mistake and is being shunned? Your challenge is to be a LEADER … Be the Game Changers you are and sit with them today… reach out… smile… let them know that they are NOT alone in this harsh world. It’s always EASY to do the EASY thing; we teach you to NOT do what is easy and instead, do what is right!! You will be surprised, how many people will follow YOU when you stick up for what is Right and honorable AND, forgiving those that have made mistakes in their YOUTH is the RIGHT thing to do!!

In the video, the teen told her story that was printed phrase by phrase on sheets of paper that she held up for the camera.

““I’m struggling to stay in this world, because everything just touches me so deeply. I’m not doing this for attention. I’m doing this to be an inspiration and to show that I can be strong. I did things to myself to make pain go away, because I’d rather hurt myself then someone else. Haters are haters but please don’t hate, although im sure I’ll get them. I hope I can show you guys that everyone has a story, and everyones future will be bright one day, you just gotta pull through. I’m still here aren’t I ?” was the message accompanying the video post.

The video echoed another that the teen commented on through YouTube. That video, entitled My Story: Suicide and Bullying was uploaded by Mollydoyle18 on YouTube. It was clear from the comments that Amanda wanted to contact Molly in a private message and apparently she reached her. Commenting on Amanda’s video, Molly wrote:

““Rest in peace and fly high to Amanda Todd. I was just messaging her about almost a week ago, and I just found out that she has taken her life. She was asking me about how to be an inspiration to others and to get her video more views, and now I have found out that she has passed away… This is a terrible tragedy. I wish she could have had her happy ending.”

Bullying is NEVER okay. Rest easy, Amanda. I’m so sorry to her family. “

I cannot fathom the cruelty of these bullies. How does one even comprehend wishing someone’s death? Are kids all that mean? I have written before that bullying should be the concern of everyone: the school, the teachers, the students, the community and the government.

Amanda’s death reminds us that Bullying should STOP now.

Even if my children are all adults now, I still think of the children who may be possibly be affected by bullying. That is why I talk in schools about cyberbullying prevention. Perhaps cyberbullying is not as widespread in the Philippines but empowerment is the key. Children need to be part of the solution and not wait to be victims. I talked about taking the pro-active role in the prevention of cyber-bullying. I presented a video on cyber bullying awareness with catchy lyrics from Taylor Swift’s song entitled “Mean”.

Let us not wait for another death . All of us need to step up so others won’t get stepped on.

Bullying should not be tolerated. Bullying damages the physical, social, and emotional well-being of its victims.

““Bullying is NOT pre-wired, harmless, or inevitable
Bullying IS learned, harmful, and controllable
Bullying SPREADS if supported or left unchecked
Bullying INVOLVES everyone—bullies, victims, and bystanders
Bullying CAN BE effectively stopped or entirely prevented”

Everyone from the parents, educators, the students and community should stand up and voice out that bullying should stop. Domestic violence should stop. Preventing and stopping bullying involves a commitment to creating a safe environment where children can thrive, socially and academically, without being afraid.

STOP BULLYING. Make a stand to stop bullying in any form.

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

Goodbye Kylee

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If you are a regular reader of my blog, you must have come across the mis-adventures of our handsome cat.. Kylee, the Applehead Siamese pet kitty of my daughter Lauren. I’ve written numerous times about him: here, here, and here.

The sad news came in the middle of a roundtable discussion this afternoon about the cybercrime law. My daughter sent an SMS that Kylee died. I couldn’t be there to comfort her (and my daughter in Australia). I already knew something was not quite right with Kylee that morning. The night before, the vet came over to check on Kylee and arrived with a diagnosis that Kylee suffered a bout of pneumonia. You know I always thought Kylee would overcome this latest health battle . He suffered a stroke two months ago but Kylee managed to walk again after being paralyzed for a few days. I guess Kylee was preparing us for his death. I cried thinking he was dying yet he survived.

But today was different. Kylee felt cold to the touch as I cupped his face and stroked his fur. He let out a small meow as I thanked him for the beautiful memories and how he lived a full life. I thanked him for the joy he brought to our lives. Good thing I had cradled him to let him know how much he was loved by all of us. I never thought Kylee would leave us that day.

But why fuss over a cat? I lost five family members including the devastating loss of my beautiful son. I treat Kylee and our cats as members of our family. I am at a loss of words. Butch Dalisay who lost his pet cat a year ago, says it well:

What is it we grieve for when we lose our pets? Perhaps the passing of our own time, of affection freely given and fully rewarded, and of that rarest of relationships in this age of Facebook friendship , a pure, uncomplicated love nourished by touch and gesture instead of speech.

There are just so many memories. I recall the day I picked up Kylee from the pet store in 1999. He was so tiny that he could fit on the palms of my hand. Among the two kittens, I chose Kylee because he was the most playful . The shop owner gave me a male cat when Lauren wanted a female kitty. We only found out a few months later. Good thing Kylie (original spelling) can also be for males (Kylee).

He outlived our 6 year old son. This feline holds a special place in our family because of the memories of Luijoe playing and caring for this cat. An unusual thing happened on the day my son died. According to the helpers, Kylee slept on Luijoe’s pillow the whole day. That was the only time they saw this strange behavior . Did Kylee have a sixth sense that Luijoe died?

Kylee is a music lover who enjoys listening to the girls playing the piano by sitting on top of the piano. Sometimes he plods , paw by paw on the piano keys as he listens to his own kitty melody. Singing along with my daughter is another music activity but when he’s overwhelmed with the soprano pitch, he ends up nipping her hand. nanggigil.

I know I could not just bury him anywhere. We don’t have much of garden so I thought of pet cremation services. While my daughter was on the other line, I told her I wanted Kylee cremated. Within a few minutes, I looked for my twitter friend @angelicumOda who owned Rainbow Bridge Pet Aftercare Services but they were non-operational that week. I was glad he referred me to Dr. Manny of Pet Valley who arranged to pick up Kylee at our home. Lauren seemed happy with the funeral arrangements. Cremation is a means to permanently memorialize our pet in some special way.

I also felt that cremation is a proper and dignified tribute to Kylee’s life. It gives us the opportunity to do the last gesture of love and appreciation to a companion that we considerered nothing less than a family member and who deserves nothing but the best. Lauren chose a ceramic urn that allowed an inscription of a dedication. Since Kylee loved the piano, the urn will be placed on top of it.

I rushed home hoping I could still give Kylee one last pat before “Pet Valley” arrived. Just my luck as I drove inside the garage, the van arrived. I caught Lauren and Marco at the living room with Kylee lying on a blue blanket. We made the final arrangements including the type of urn to be used. With a heavy heart, Lauren slowly wrapped Kylee with the blanket and carried him over to the man.

It was time to let go. Good bye Kylee. Thanks for the 14 years of companionship. I patted his head. Then my husband and I hugged Lauren.

Lauren wrote about So Long Space Cat Kylee


(Photo taken a few months ago by Lauren)

Sleep well and dream your kitty dreams, Kylee. Know that I will never love another cat as much as I love you.

– Lauren