Last October 18, I received an invite from Miss MJ of MARS Ideas Inc. stating that I would have a chance to experience MOM AND ME FUN CIRCUIT on the October 19. I didn't hesitate to accept the invitation because I knew that my eldest son would surely enjoy it so much! 

After confirming, I was sent another e-mail stating that I should fill-up and submit the form. After doing so, I received another e-mail acknowledging my confirmation which included four attachments for printing: the flyer of the event on October 19, the map of the pick-up point, waiver for signing, event guidelines , and of course the e-ticket!

All the things that I needed to know and what to prepare were already there! No need to ask questions. Wow, the team members were very organized! I had a nice first impression on them!
 

I told Ross to sleep early. I decided not to squeal our Saturdate. He would not sleep the whole night due to too much excitement.  

The next day, I told him to dress up and briefed him about what would transpire during our trip while we were on our way to the pick-up point! 

As I did the briefing, I could see the glow and excitement in his eyes! He was so enthusiastic and he couldn't wait to start the adventure. 

Let me give you the details of our mom and son date at MOM AND ME FUN CIRCUIT...

PICK-UP  POINT

As I mentioned earlier, the map of the pick-up point was sent as an attachment to the confirmation e-mail. It was clear and easy to follow. Locating the bus was hassle-free too! Well, going to the location earlier helped. We didn't want to panic nor be in a hurry. We arrived at the location at exactly 11:30 AM, just right on time as stated in the event guidelines.

 

By the way, PICK UP POINT IS AT BANK DRIVE, ORTIGAS CENTER PASIG CITY BEHIND SM MEGAMALL A! 

I was impressed with the bus. It was new, comfortable,  smelled nice, and WIFI ready too! The temperature was just right---not too cold nor hot. We were warmly welcomed by the staff with friendly smiles on their faces. Miss Ann, one of the organizers, gave us free copies of Smart Parenting and Travelife Magazines plus flyers from sponsors after receiving and checking our e-ticket. 

When there were three pairs of moms and kids already, the television was immediately turned on so that the kids could watch Ice Age while moms read the magazines and filled-up the stubs for the raffle. It gave us things to do while waiting for others to arrive. At exactly 12:10 PM, the bus headed off to our first stop! Miss Ann did the briefing and made sure that all of us were okay.

1ST STOP: The Picture Company- Rockwell

We were asked to bring our valuables and lined up as we moved to our first stop. As we entered The Picture Company, I observed that all moms and kids were very, very excited! We were asked to stay in one of the rooms were Miss MJ led the getting to know portion. She asked the kids to introduce themselves and their moms/dads. Then Miss Nikki, the branch manager, gave a short briefing about the logistics of the pictorial including how and when we could get free hard copies of our chosen photo. Parents were encouraged to choose among the nice props and costumes so that the kids could look their best during the pictorial.

There was no dull moment with the kids. It was an opportunity for them to get to know one another. While waiting for their pictorial, they chat and played together while we, parents, were very busy choosing costumes and props, and dolling-up or looking after our kids.

The pictorial was fun! It went well. The best pair (the most photogenic mom and kid) was chosen--- Miss Che and her adorable daughter, Chelsea. They won a prize from The Picture Company! Isn't it cool?

Then we were asked to return to the bus and get ready for our 2nd stop! We were given free Del Monte Juice to quench our thirst! The staff was helpful enough to collect our trash after our snack time. 

2ND STOP: Mabuhay Restop

Mabuhay Restop was near the Jose Rizal Monument in Luneta. There was no traffic and we arrived on time as expected. We watched "Halo Halo Win"  stage play, written by Nestor U. Torre with Music Composed by Ryan Cayabyab. Both adults and kids enjoyed the play---in short it was well-written and well-performed that we didn't realize it was time for us to go to our 3rd stop! It was indeed an awesome performance! Many lessons could be learned from the play like loving your siblings, honesty, fairness, bravery, reliance, integrity, empathy, and much, much more!

 
Before we left the place, the kids had their trick-or-treat too! Oh! The smiles and joy on the kids' faces were priceless!

3RD STOP: CCA Manila

It was a long trip from Luneta to CCA Manila in Katipunan but the staff made sure to sustain our growing excitement.  They facilitated a raffle and gave fabulous prizes from the sponsors. 

They asked Zoe and Chelsea to sing for us and both of them were given Center for Pop Music Philippines Gift Certificates to hone their talent in singing! New best buddies Zack and Tobby also won gift certificates from Coach and Kids Taekwondo! They were so excited to attend their Taekwondo class together!

If kids could sing very well, mommies too! We would not let our kids beat us! Mommies Rose and Ada sang their hearts out as we approached CCA Manila. :)

Loot bags were distributed as we went down the bus. We already brought all our belongings with us because this was our last stop/ DROP OFF POINT. We didn't have to ride the bus after our cookie decorating session.

Kids couldn't hide their delight when they entered CCA Manila. They couldn't wait to start! The place was sophisticated and comfortable. Even from afar, we could see and hear the demo by the pastry chefs clearly through the big television in front. Each of us was given a set of apron, toque, and hand towel. We all looked like professional pastry chefs. 

The cooking room on the third floor was clean and tidy. We were asked to be in groups of three. All our materials were prepared and we all had  ample spaces to work to. We followed what the chefs taught us! It was so cool!

We did cleaning up as we went. Miss MJ had a wrapping-up of what transpired during the day and we had a group picture taking afterwards. 

We all went home with happy thoughts.  This was indeed an event to remember. It was all worth it! 

We were still euphoric at dinner time. When I asked Ross about what his most favorite part of the trip, he said "EVERYTHING!!!!" with gusto.

Imagine in just Php 750 parents had a chance to have a special one-of a-kind bonding moment with their kids at the same time meet new friends, get fabulous prizes and freebies, and new good memories to keep. 

Kudos to the creative and dynamic MARS Ideas Inc. Team for creating this unique, unforgettable, and fun event! 

I encourage all parents out there to let your kids experience MOM AND ME FUN CIRCUIT! You may also invite your family friends to join you to make it more enjoyable!

 

Click THIS to know more details about MOM AND ME FUN CIRCUIT's upcoming events this October, how to join, how to avail free tickets, and links to MARS Ideas Inc.'s Social Media Sites for latest posts and updates regarding  new events this November.

 Click THIS to see more photos! 

I've been teaching for 14 years now and as I look back, I realized that a teacher's subject designation is simply a decorative post that was assigned to him/her due to his/her academic specialization. Teachers in general are simply people with excess awareness of their humanity that they simply want to share it with others. A teacher is an individual that has the capacity to make people dream, cooperate, aspire, succeed, and most of all fail. You might be wondering why I gave so much emphasis on failing? 

Failure is a powerful tool that enables a teacher to create a "TEACHABLE MOMENT". A fragment of time where a person is stripped of his defenses and biases and is simply "intellectually and emotionally naked". Most parents will definitely disagree with me but I am also a parent. When a person fails he is simply put on state of confusion where his self image that was built on his early successes are simply shattered. Most parents tend to abhor failure because they want their kids to develop their full potential and unparalleled self-confidence. Traits that are perceived to be necessary to gain success later on in life. 

My son is quite competitive and if I might add quite gifted intellectually which tends to make him over confident to the point that he neglects strengthening his fundamental skills in school. As he grows up, he continued to develop his own identity based on how people see him parallel to the things he can do best. Success in his endeavors gave him self fulfillment but most of his learnings and realizations were from failures. It enabled him to know himself more and it gave me the window to challenge him more to be better than who he is now. Personally, watching my son fail is very painful but it is necessary. Because it made him more resourceful and it allowed him to see his limits and is simply forced to overcome them. Allowing him to look for more options and in cases where options are very limited, made him think out of the box. But there is a catch, in those moments of confusion we as parents should be the very people that would make him realize his life lessons and be the guide to them. 

Next time your kid comes home defeated, smile for there will be a day that he will come out a better person - stronger in all aspects. 

UNICEF Auction for Action to fund Play-based Learning 

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE AND WATCH THE VIDEO TO KNOW THE COMPLETE DETAILS ABOUT THE EVENT: 

UNICEF Philippines - Support us - Auction for Action

I learned about Trick or Treat for Unicef when it was launched in my son's school when he was in Grade 1 a year ago. They were asked to wear superhero costumes. It became one of my son's most memorable activities. 

I invite you to read more and find out why this campaign is not just an ordinary trick or treat. It's meaningful because it can help children who are in need.

 

UNICEF's Trick-or-Treat Year 2 Now Nationwide

To celebrate October as National Children’s Month, UNICEF kicks off Trick-or-Treat Year 2 in a big way by making it nationwide! 

The Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF Superheroes campaign brings special meaning to Halloween by giving children an opportunity to learn the value of helping other children in need. Instead of asking for candies and treats, children can collect money in a special Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF box. This year's Trick-or-Treat focuses on children affected by the conflict in Zamboanga. The funds raised will help them go back to school, give them access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, and ensure their good health and nutritional status. 

"UNICEF relies entirely on voluntary donations to fund its work for children in the Philippines and worldwide. With Toy Kingdom's support, we hope to raise more funds and awareness on how children can help other children in Zamboanga through Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF. The situation in Zamboanga profoundly affected a large number of children so every contribution counts and everyone can do something to help," said UNICEF Philippines Country Representative Tomoo Hozumi. 

The grand launch party held in the SM Megamall Event Center on October 5 featured fun games, superhero appearances and a special performance by UNICEF National Ambassador Gary Valenciano. 

Dubbed as the original Kids Helping Kids® campaign, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is celebrated by many children and families around the world and has since raised more than US$167 million to help children in need globally. Launched in the Philippines last year, the program raised over Php400,000 and distributed over 4,000 donation kits in malls and participating schools. 

 

Register for your free Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF donation kits at all Toy Kingdom branches nationwide from October 1 to 31 or until supplies last. All donations can be turned over to any SM Bill Payment counter (SM Department Store, SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket, and Savemore) nationwide. Children and families who turn in their donations before November 30 will receive a certificate of appreciation and surprise gift via mail!

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF 2013 is made possible through Toy Kingdom, SM Megamall, SM Supermalls, SM Cares, Philippine Star, Summit Media, MagnaVision, Media Pool, Sumo Sam and Krispy Kreme. Participating Toy Kingdom branches include SM Aura, SM Bacolod, SM Bacoor, SM Baguio, SM Batangas, SM Cagayan de Oro, SM Cebu, SM Davao, SM Fairview, SM General Santos, SM Lanang, SM Iloilo, SM Lucena, SM Makati, SM Marilao, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Pampanga, SM North Edsa, The Podium, SM Southmall, V-Mall and Lucky Chinatown Mall.

About Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF

The tradition of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF began in 1950 in the United States, when Philadelphia schoolchildren first went door-to-door at Halloween collecting money in decorated milk cartons to help children in need around the world.

They raised a grand total of US$17, kicking off a campaign that has since brought in millions of dollars each year to help UNICEF provide medicine, better nutrition, safe water, education, emergency relief and other support to children in more than 150 countries. 

Millions of children now participate in Halloween-related fundraising campaigns in the United States, Canada and Hong Kong, China, among other places. In these campaigns, children go far beyond trick or treating in scary costumes with the familiar orange UNICEF collection boxes in hand. Children and young people take part in various fun and educational events that help them gain a better understanding of child rights and the challenges facing children around the world – including poverty, killer diseases and armed conflict. 

This global campaign, now in the Philippines, has raised more than US$167 million around the world and remains an inspiration to the young (and the young at heart) to further the cause of children everywhere. 

Watch these videos about Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF 2013!

Trick-or -Treat for UNICEF -- Sing along with The Halloween Song...

Laura Marano explains the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF Program 

Adapted from: 

UNICEF Philippines - Support us - Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF

Click the link above to see the original article,  know the Frequently Asked Questions about the event and how to share the article to your blog, website and social media. Sharing will help kids in Zamboanga who are in need. :)

My best friend, Cristina Abella, shared this on Facebook. Honestly, I have no knowledge about who made it nor where it started. I just thought it would be nice to share it with you, my dear readers.

Look at the tree and choose the one that is immediately most appealing to you. No peeking with the results,  please!

Don’t think about it too long, just choose, and find out what your choice says about your personality. Write down your choice in the comment box. It would be fun and it is also a nice way to know you more! By the way, I chose 2!

The results!

1. You are a generous and moral (not to confuse with moralizing) person. You always work on self-improvement. You are very ambitious and have very high standards. People might think that communicating with you is difficult, but for you, it isn't easy to be who you are. You work very hard but you are not in the least selfish. You work because you want to improve the world. You have a great capacity to love people until they hurt you. But even after they do. . . you keep loving. Very few people can appreciate everything you do as well as you deserve.

2. You are a fun, honest person. You are very responsible and like taking care of others. You believe in putting in an honest day's work and accept many work-related responsibilities. You have a very good personality and people come to trust you easily. You are bright, witty, and fast-thinking. You always have an interesting story to tell.

3. You are a smart and thoughtful person. You are a great thinker. Your thoughts and ideas are the most important. You like to think about your theories and views alone. You are an introvert. You get along with those who likes to think and learn. You spend a lot of time, thinking about morality. You are trying to do what is right, even if the majority of society does not agree with you.

4. You are perceptive and philosophical person. You are a unique, one soul of your kind. Next to you there's no one even slightly similar to you. You are intuitive and a bit quirky. You are often misunderstood, and it hurts you. You need personal space. Your creativity needs to be developed, it requires respect of others. You are a person who clearly sees the light and dark sides of life. You are very emotional.

5. You are self-assured and in charge. You are very independent. Your guiding principle in life is 'I'll do it my way.'. You are very self-reliant and know how to stay strong for yourself and the people you love. You know exactly what you want and are not afraid of pursuing your dreams. The only thing you demand from people is honesty. You are strong enough to accept the truth.

6. You are kind and sensitive. People relate to you very well. You have many friends and you love helping them. You have this warm and bright aura that makes people feel good when they are around you. Every day, you think about what you can do to improve yourself. You want to be interesting, insightful and unique. More than anybody else in the world, you need to love. You are even ready to love those who don't love you back.

7. You are happy and unflappable. You are a very sensitive and understanding person. You are a great listener who know how to be non-judgmental. You believe that everybody has their own journey in life. You are open to new people and events. You are highly resistant to stress and rarely worry. Normally, you are very relaxed. You always manage to have a good time and never lose your way.

8. You are charming and energetic. You are a fun person who knows hot to make people laugh. You live in a state of harmony with the universe. You are spontaneous and enthusiastic. You never say no to an adventure. Often, you end up surprising and even shocking people. But that's just how you are. . . You always remain true to yourself. You have many interests and if something proves of interest to you, you will not rest until you acquire a profound knowledge of this area.

9. You are optimistic and lucky. You believe that life is a gift and you try to achieve as much as possible and put this gift to the best use possible. You are very proud of your achievements. You are ready to stick by the people you care about through thick and thin. You have a very healthy approach to life. The glass is (at least) half full for you. You use any opportunity to forgive, learn, and grow because you believe that life is too short to do otherwise.

Isn't it fun? Have a nice day! Can't wait to read your comments!

These websites also shared this personality test.

I would like to share this article about the summary of Plan International and Women and Gender Institute of Miriam College's study about the national situation of girl children in the Philippines.

• Look for the patterns and trends of violations against the rights of girl children in the Philippines in existing reports and government data

• Present the conditions of girl children in key areas outside of Metro Manila through focus group discussions

• Discuss existing national policies, strategies, and programs to address those issues

------------------------------
References:
1United Nations Children’s Fund. (2012). State of the World’s Children 2012: Children in An Urban World.
2 United Nations Children’s Fund. (2011). State of the World’s Children 2011: Adolescence, An Age of Opportunity.
3 A series of focus group discussions with girl children were conducted in three areas: Bicol, Iloilo, and Agusan del Sur. Rural/urban dimension were considered in identifying specific sites for the FGDs. Specifically for Agusan del Norte, the target respondents were the Mamanwa children, while street children were the target in Iloilo, and abused children in Bicol.
4 Based on the National Statistics Office “Gender QuickStat” Fourth Quarter of 2011.
5 Philippines Overview. World Bank, Available at http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/philippines/overview. Retrieved on 10 June 2012.
6 From 1999 to 2009, the UNFPA reported that the number of teenage pregnancies has risen 70 percent, from 114,205 in 1999 to 195,662 in 2009. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). 2011. Annual Report.

Courtesy: halftheskymovement.tumblr.com

Courtesy: www.cnn.com

This project was launched last October 11, 2013 to celebrate the International Day of the Girl. This project runs until November 30, 2013.

The promotion of the importance of education is the first step to start change. Information drive such as this can make a lot of difference in the society's perspective about giving  opportunities for girls to pursue education .

When I was a kid, all I dreamed of was someday I would have a happy married life. I wanted my children to feel blessed and loved. I wanted my whole family to be contented---to have enough and be thankful if blessed more. We would stay together, help one another grow, and live life to the fullest.

I belong to a broken family. I know how it is to lurk in pain and see my parents drift apart. I don't want my children to experience the same situation---to mature hastily just to cope up with problems. I want them to have a normal, happy childhood. 

I prayed to God, through the intercession of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, to give me a man who would be a good husband and father to my children. After years of waiting, my prayer was finally answered. 

I am married for nine years and all I can say is that I AM LOVING MY LIFE AS A WIFE AND MOM. I have a husband who respects and loves me and our children unconditionally and brings out the best in us. As a dad, he is firm but gentle, asserts that he is the man of the house but does it kindly and lovingly. As a husband, he is strong when I am weak, supports me in all the things that I do, and never fails to compliment me when I reach my goals and aspirations.

My dream is already fulfilled. Now it is my dream that all women in the world who have the same dream may find a perfect man who would be accorded the same respect and love that we share in our family. Women and children have the right to be happy and should not be abused nor taken for granted.

 A message from World Vision

Why Dreams

Dreams are the foundation of all hope. Dreams grow in us, fill our hearts, give us courage, and lead us into the future. Dreams make us believe in the possibilities of tomorrow.

When we share our dreams, we reawaken old dreams and realise new ones. When we share each other's dreams we help one another make our dreams come true -- sharing ambitions and fueling hope together.

#Dreamshare was created to share our dreams with you, and you sharing your dreams with us. It's about supporting the dreams of children around the world so they can come true.

 

Dreams

  Sharing your dream

Join the #Dreamshare blogger link-up! 
Click this LINK to know the details.

Share your dream on #Dreamshare Dreamwall
Click this LINK to know the details.
Dreams on Facebook
Post your dream video, photos, and story on Facebook with hashtag #dreamshare and encourage your friends and family to do so, too.

Dreams on Instagram

Share "dream" photos on Instagram with hashtag #dreamshare and bring out the iphone-ography of your followers.

Dreams on Twitter

Tweet your dreams with hashtag #dreamshare and inspire your tweeps to do the same.


You may watch the following videos about #Dreamshare

Sharing dreams | World Vision #Dreamshare 

World Vision Youth #Dreamshare: My dream is... (Promo Video)

 

 

ManilART 2013 on its fifth year is at once the venue to support new talent, celebrate icons, and advance art appreciation into the cultural mainstream. 

ManilART 2013 is organized by the Bonafide Art Galleries Organization (BAGO) and supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). It will showcase Philippine contemporary art through exhibitions of the country's finest galleries, as well as forums, workshops, and various activities for aficionados, artists, collectors, and investors.

Last year, more than 40 art galleries, 500 artists, 11,000 guests, and 1,400 artworks on display. It fulfills ManilART's thrust to be the premier international art fair in the country. But it propels the goal even further. It is hosting the event on October 9 to 13,2013 at a brand-new stage, the recently opened SMX Aura Convention Center in Taguig City, which promises to be a more urbane location worthy of carrying the best in Filipino art. 

ManilART 2012 at SM Mall of Asia

ManilART is keen to develop partnerships that likewise aim to promote local art and art appreciation. Click this LINK to become a partner.

To learn more about ManilART 2013, visit the following links: