Whenever I see a dad and child tandem sharing their musings online or offline, I can't help myself but get hooked on the discussion. In a world that is busy and has a lot of changes pertaining to parent-child relationships, it is perhaps common to see parents and child drift apart due to generation gap or differences in perspectives. Despite of these, I admire parents, especially the dads, who find ways to reach out to their children and find time inculcating their values and principles with them. This is the reason why I among showbiz personalities, I truly admire Piolo and Inigo Pascual.

On May 7, 2021 at 5:00 PM, Sun Life Philippines launched #SunTalksLite where Piolo and Inigo shared their mix of grit and action in their life and financial journey. As they were speaking, I could only say that both guys have good heads on their shoulders. Hindi ka maiinip when you watch them because they have so much insights to share about freedom, habits, money, and health, something that all of us could learn something from. 

I would like to share with you the key points of the talk that are worth remembering.

- Learn to appreciate things especially when you buy it with your own money.
- Reward yourself, love what you are doing. You will learn to appreciate your work and what you do when you learn how to appreciate yourself.

- Appreciate the mornings. Set your goals for the day. Let yourself be ready with what you do.

- Take at least 30 minutes of your life breathing. Learn how to meditate.

- Learn to divide your money and how to spend and save.

- Essentials vs wants, make sure to divide them properly.

- When you have a goal or a dream, you'll be motivated to achieve it. The journey is what matters and not the goal.

- Being healthy is a daily habit.

- Living free is spending more time with the things that you like to do with your family and loved ones.

- Critique yourself better.

- Be free to have more time for yourself which gives you happiness.

- When you start young, you secure your future to be free from debt, free from obligation--- There is freedom in your midst.

- Prayer, breakfast, workout, check plants, hike- These may protect your health and give you positive vibes.

- Simplify, simplify, simplify... Spend on things that really matter.

- Realize the important things. Invest, dapat liquid ka kapag nawalan ka ng work. Dapat meron ka to keep yourself alive.

- Regarding health, be consistent with your training. We have to have that conscious effort to live healthier physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually.

- Don't just compartmentalize but also be conscious of the things that you do daily para alam mong may patutunguhan ang araw mo.

Speaking of investments and financial security, Piolo and Inigo also shared the affordable investments that they got through Sun Life Philippines which were tailored-fit with their lifestyle. 

Like them, we may also get our own too to have a secured future. I encourage you to watch this video for more details.  

                                                 

Motherhood today is embraced by eyes that hold various forms, shapes, and sizes. Understanding that each motherhood journey is distinctly unique from others poses an essential role in helping them thrive in each path they are on. As a brand that advocates for the universal love and acceptance for mothers, this Mother’s Day campaign by Eden cheese breaks boundaries as the Mondelez Philippines brand launched their bold new film entitled, ‘Unconditional,’ directed by Carlos Palanca-Awardee, Antoinette Jadaone, during their Facebook event: Eden Speaks – A Mother’s Day Forum.

“Eden cheese is a brand that has been celebrating moms from all walks of life and their role in bringing families together for the last 36 years. This Mother’s Day, we wanted to shed light on a silent reality in the Philippines, and how important unconditional love and parental support plays in fostering acceptance and empathy for each unique motherhood experience. We want to empower and unite moms to share their personal stories about their own journey, and to showcase how we are one with them in embracing all flavors of motherhood, even in the most difficult of situations,” said Kristine Enriquez, Eden Cheese Marketing Manager. “We believe that by uniting moms from different walks of life, all flavors of mothers can be inspired by the different savor-worthy ways to bring the family together.”

The event, hosted by Issa Litton, was graced by special guest speakers such as Bettinna Carlos-Eduardo, a Mompreneur, content creator, and author; Techie Dy, Consultant of RMT-Cefam, Ateneo, and is a Ph.D. Candidate of Clinical Psychology from the University of the Philippines; and Kristine Enriquez, Eden Cheese Marketing Manager. For the past four decades, Eden has been a trusted ally of moms for providing delicious meals for her and her family. The event cements the brand’s commitment to being their ally in all aspects and facets of her life. For Eden, this translates to empowering the diverse Filipino motherhood journeys, not just single moms, through celebrating their unique and evolving roles amidst today’s ever-changing world.

During the event, Bettinna Carlos-Eduardo shared, “There were times when Gummy was growing up, that I felt it was all just me. I am to work and I am to watch after her, which is the life mindset of a typical single mom. The load lightened when I found my source of personal salvation and started to have a community of other parents. Of course I still had my mom and grandmother who would look after Gummy when I had to work. But inevitably there were several overwhelming situations that would make me ask myself – ‘how am I going to do all these things alone?’ There are only 24hrs in a day and yet a gazillion things to so! Life didn’t come with a manual for parenting, especially for solo parents. And 11years ago there were no videos on YouTube or many resources available online to help navigate through this. That would have made the road an easier one to travel."

Bettina was a single mom for a decade, but recently ‘graduated’ from the status and is married for five months now. “Motherhood did not really change when I married. It still has its set of challenges that evolve as Gummy matures. My faith as seen me through all those years and it is just a blessing to have a physical partner now to share the load and the journey. This Mother‘s Day, I celebrate both my current season and former shaping years. I look back at 10 years of the most gratifying years of my life I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. I appreciate how Eden is so courageous to speak up about and open this conversation acknowledging the many challenges of solo parents that people don’t often talk about. Just as there are many savor worthy ways to bond with your family by cooking in the kitchen with Eden, there are also many ways to showcase support for different kinds of moms in the simplest way we know how,” she added.

The event culminated with an exclusive preview of the Eden Mother’s Day film by multi-award winning director, Antoinette Jadaone. The film sheds light on the plight of this group of moms that may lack support, which is a topic often not discussed, but is quite familiar to us all and is important as it plays an integral role in nurturing the light of our homes. The film emboldens how unconditional love and acceptance empowers single moms, and moms from all walks of life. This Mother’s Day and beyond, the brand aims to unite moms and support them, so they can create many savor-worthy moments to nurture stronger family connections.

To know more, visit https://web.facebook.com/EdenCheesePH/ and check out #EdenSpeaksPH.

Muslims around the world celebrate the end of the fasting period of Ramadan with Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Breaking the Fast this May 12, 2021. It is celebrated through prayer, gifts, and lavish feast. While the country is predominantly Catholic, Islam is the second largest religion in the country. No wonder, Filipinos have become fond of Halal foods.

Halal food is prepared following a set of Islamic dietary laws and regulations that determine what is permissible, lawful and clean. Any dish can be halal, as long as the meat used is religiously slaughtered and no pork or alcohol is involved.

The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang Ilang has a Halal kitchen certified by the Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board. This kitchen dedicated to Halal food preparation serves Indian and Middle Eastern-inspired halal dishes will whet your appetite and pay homage to its traditional roots.

Designed for proper breaking of the fast, The Manila Hotel’s Ramadan Special Halal Home Buffet set comes with dried dates and juice, chickpeas hummus, Fatoush mixed salad, roti and naan bread, vegetable biryani, tandoori chicken, lamb rogan josh, vegetable samosa, and baklava. The set is just one of the three choices for the Halal Certified Home Buffet.

“Our Lamb Rogan Josh is a must-try. It’s imported from Australia and it has the spices and sharpness that will surely be enjoyed by everyone. We can also customize the food according to our customer’s request. Say you don’t like chili, we can make it milder. We can tweak a dish to please your palate while still being true to its authentic taste,” says Chef Kiran Singh, the hotel’s Halal trained chef.

Celebrate Eid Al Fitr by ordering any of The Manila Hotel’s Halal Home Buffet sets or dishes, available for takeout and delivery. Visit https://www.manila-hotel.com.ph/takeout/ for the full menu; or call 8527-0011 or 0998-9501912.

For decades, coffee had received a bad reputation. Besides allegedly triggering high blood pressure, insomnia, and hyperacidity, the Filipino habit of adding lots of sugar and cream to one’s cup has been said to aggravate diabetes. 

While there’s no denying the Pinoy coffee fan his morning cup, there is concern over the amount of sugar present in commercial 3-in-1 coffee mixes. The leading brand has 14.6 grams of sugar in one 20-gram sachet alone. Imagine how much sugar you’re taking in if you drink an average of three cups of coffee a day. 

For health-conscious individuals, especially diabetics, turning to sugar-free coffee mixes seems to be the only option. This meant enduring tasteless cups of coffee just to satisfy their caffeine fix —until Stevia came along. 

Stevia is the low calorie, zero sugar sweetener that tastes so much better than artificial sweeteners. Stevia is an herb with a sweet-tasting extract that comes from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant. It has been enjoyed since pre-Columbian South America where indigenous people used the herb to sweeten their tea and other drinks. The plant's taste stems from steviol glycosides, molecules which are 250–300 times sweeter than regular sugar. It became popular among health-conscious individuals because stevia has a very low caloric content. This makes it perfect for dieters and people who are trying to lose weight. Moreover, Stevia makes coffee and tea taste so much better without adding any calories. Aside from beverages, Stevia is also used as an alternative sweetener when cooking or baking. 

Stevia is a safe, healthy sugar substitute that can sweeten up food without the negative health effects of refined sugar. It’s also associated with several impressive benefits such as reduced calorie intake, managed blood sugar levels, and minimized risk of cavities. 

Additionally, while other sugar substitutes like Aspartame have been linked with cancer, there's no evidence linking stevia to cancer since it is a natural ingredient. This means you can add stevia to dishes and drinks without fear that you’re taking too much sugar, or that you’ll get sick a few years down the road. 

For coffee lovers, it’s also good to note that locally-made Glorious Blend coffees and instant beverages have Stevia as its natural sweetener. The blend of natural and healthful ingredients make the drink not only refreshing and safe, but also good for one’s overall health. 

The Glorious Blend boasts a full line of healthy drinks, including a 7-in-1 healthy coffee mix. This special blend is made with proven medicinal ingredients like Malunggay, Mangosteen, Calcium, Gotu Kola, and sweetened with Sweet & Fit Stevia. What’s even better is that the Glorious Blend 7in1 Coffee is non-acidic and promotes regular bowel movement. 

The Glorious line-up also includes the 3-in-1 coffee mix with Stevia; 7-in-1 choco mix; 4-in-1 coffee with Malunggay; 5-in-1 coffee mix with Brown Rice; and the MaxiTrim coffee. All Glorious Blend beverages use Stevia which has no calories, no carbohydrates, and zero glycemic index. All of their instant drinks will keep you alert and energized throughout the day. Also, Glorious Blend products are locally sourced and manufactured. Their company supports local farmers, stevia growers, and other agricultural communities. 

So if you’ve been cutting back on drinking coffee because of health problems like diabetes or hyper acidity, Glorious Blend coffee mixes are here to help. You can enjoy all the aroma and flavor of freshly made coffee all day —without the guilt! Now, you can drink coffee for better health! Glorious, isn’t it? For more information about Glorious Blend coffee mixes, check out https://www.facebook.com/gloriousblend. 

Blogging has been my source of refuge whenever I feel tired or burned-out. I am an educator and being verbal in expressing myself is expected of me but with all honesty, I can express myself comfortably more through writing. Who would have thought that I am still doing this after all these years? How time flies! I've been blogging for nine years and counting! 

Blogging was once my diversionary activity to keep myself sane while wearing different hats. In 2012, I started writing my thoughts without any niche in mind. I just wrote for the sake of releasing my stress. After some time, I placed it on the shelf due to the demands of being a mompreneur and full-time mom. In December 2013 to be exact, I was invited to become a member of Mommy Bloggers Philippines and the rest was history. That was the only time that I realized that blogging was more than just sharing my thoughts and feelings but might open doors for opportunities that were imaginable. Moreover, alongside the opportunities that go with blogging are downs too. Thinking about all the things that I experienced as a blogger, I was inspired to write about the things that I learned.

Why do you want to be a blogger in the first place? What is your purpose? What is your drive? Why do you like to start? These are the questions that I would like to ask you and I would like you to ask yourself before you start opening a blogging account. Be honest with yourself when you answer because your answers will give you the right mindset, direction, drive to start, and eventually, you will ask yourself again when you feel like giving up. 

When you have decided to start blogging, think of a blog name that best represents your blog content. Most of the bloggers I know opt to use their full names as their blog names, thinking they are more appropriate and versatile. Then they could always rebrand anytime the situation calls for it without affecting their blog names. Next, you may open social media accounts like Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook Page, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube for your blog. Make sure that your social media handles are consistent with your blog name. Preparing a media kit or rate card is also very helpful because you may use any of those when brands collaborate with you. 

Blogging is a personal thing. There are times that you may be overwhelmed with too many collaboration opportunities that you would like to accommodate all. That's a good problem actually, but always make sure to stick with your niche for consistency and not to cause confusion on your readers. It should boil down to what best represents you as a person and not just what is trendy. Also, be observant. You have to be aware of what posts your readers like and amplify their curiosity by posting the same tone of posts so that they may stay but never forget to put variety on your content. It helps when you calendar your posts. 

The rule of thumb for me as a blogger is never to fool your readers. Post recommendations and product reviews after you truly tried and tested those brands or products. Share your musings that may empower or inspire others. Share contents that represent who you are as a person. By doing so, content creation will flow naturally and you will never get tired of what you are doing because what you post or write about comes from the heart. 

Blogging nowadays is one of the best platforms for endorsements and product reviews in exchange for money, gift certificates, and products or "ex-deals". Brands and companies tap bloggers for collaborations through PR practitioners. The feeling of being asked for collaborations is flattering but always make sure that when you say yes, it is worth your time and effort. What makes it worth your time depends on your purpose of collaborating. It is on a case-to-case basis. It depends on what you think would be valuable for you so we have no right to judge you if you accept a collaboration offer for exposure and there is no payment involved. But to tell you the truth, that becomes an avenue for abuse especially if you are a newbie who is just starting to gain readers and followers. When you set a low benchmark, it affects the whole blogging industry negatively as well. As a blogger, it is best to choose wisely whom to collaborate with, someone who will respect your time and effort, who is willing to compensate you fairly, and who is sincere in building a good relationship with you and not just use you adamantly. 

Change in any aspect of this world is inevitable and it includes blogging as well. When I started, people still read blog posts and now they read social media posts or watch YouTube or Tiktok videos. Bloggers need to adapt in order to stay relevant so they go with the flow. Bloggers or "influencers" are becoming more and more aggressive and adventurous literally and figuratively. There are thousands of bloggers out there who are sharing their passion and voices. The more the merrier, right? It is definitely fun and okay. Being adventurous is fine. Moving with the flow or posting what is trendy is okay but in my opinion, always stick with what you believe in and never lose your self-respect. Never forget your values and principles. Please do not post or do something that is against your principles or will just for the sake of money, likes, and follows. Always think of the consequences of your actions. What you post or write about is a reflection of who you are as a person. Be responsible in making choices because what you do or speak online is not always about you. You also have family members to protect. Any wrong move can put your and your loved ones' reputation at stake so make the right choices. 

Your readers and followers are part of your success as a blogger that's why it is best to give back to them through giveaways but never use this as a means of bribery. It feels good when you know that your readers stay because they like your content more than the products that you give or offer. Giving good content that may help change their lives for the better is the best way to give back. 

There are many blogger success stories that may truly inspire others to start their own blogging path. There are also stories that we hear that for some, fame and fortune go to some bloggers' heads. For me, blogging is like show business and politics. If you do not constantly check your "self-awareness meter", you may forget to be humble, prudent, honest, and loyal due to so many opportunities and competition right in front of you. Always remember that in any endeavor, you compete with yourself alone and not with others. Focus on yourself, stick with your values, and never compare yourself with others. These will keep you "grounded". 

When you have the love for this craft, there is the truth in the saying, "Love what you do, then money will follow." But I would like to add to this, "If you do what you love, happiness shall follow and so does money." Blogging is always good but expect also the bad side. If you are a person who sees something good in any bad situation, your bad experiences may be your means to learn and be better. Be a blogger or an "influencer" that changes lives for the better and makes other people as happy as you are. 

I am a firm believer in "The Law of Attraction". If we put the teachings of the book "The Secret by Rhonda Bryne" in one statement, it says "What you think, you will attract." I have been practicing this for the last eight years. I may attest that it works in my life positively because I am always mindful of what I think about and it is equated with more opportunities and blessings. 

"Happiness is a choice. Never forget to chase your dreams and do something to achieve them." We always hear these words a couple of times to be motivated. But sometimes, I know that you may agree with me, we need a little push to go back on the right track or stay focused on our goals due to so many pressing issues that we encounter especially now that we are in the state of a pandemic. Those pressing issues may take a toll on our mental health, physical well-being, financial status, and even the way we prioritize things. We may tend to shift our focus away from what we think that truly matters or put our ongoing projects on the shelf at the moment. Even though that we are always optimistic and happy with our lives, we have the tendency to forget "that happy feeling" because our current situation may give us the feeling of uncertainty. That is the reason why on my end, I don't watch the news anymore to shield myself from negativity. 

To alleviate my stress, I read quotes or inspirational verses in the Bible. I also watch so many videos of life coaches on Facebook or Youtube. But what I find helpful in keeping me on my toes again are words of encouragement coming from a friend. In line with this, last Saturday, I attended an event where I felt that my perspectives/perceptions on achieving my goals and how to be happy as always were validated. I am really so glad that I have spent an hour and a half of my time hearing things that I always need to hear. That workshop-type webinar has become a sort of "refresher course" at the same time "another learning experience" because I have gained something that I don't know that might help me as I continuously work on my personal and family dreams.

Ito and Araw Mo: Build Bright Habits to Reach Your Goals by Sun Life Philippines is the event that I am talking about. It is a "learning by doing" webinar that has helped me validate my practices on how to reach my goals or fulfill my dreams and has given me a little push to never give up. Dr. Christine Carter and Mr. TJ Agulto, the two keynote speakers of the event, have served as "friends" whom I like to listen to when I need to be motivated. Here are my "takeaways":

To build bright habits to reach our goals, author, TED speaker, and life coach, Dr. Christine Carder, said...

Meanwhile, Mr. TJ Agulto of the Hapinoy Program said...

In line with this, the #ItoAngArawMo Community by Sun Life Philippines will help us how to build our habits consistently. 

We may get TIPS as we access exclusively on topics about finance, relationships, nutrition, wellness, etc. 

We may be helped by a COACH by our chance to join the straight-to-the-point and personalized coaching through the "Simple Tiny Habits Coaching Program".

We may meet EXPERTS and be supported by a COMMUNITY by providing community support and free classes on a whole range of topics that we may want to create a habit for. 

As actress  Lupita Nyong’o said, “No matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid.” So let's be part of the #ItoAngArawMo Community on Facebook! #ItoAngArawMo is about making every day count with the help of a community that may give us a little push to be always consistent with our habits to fulfill our goals and dreams. 

Paps and I have two boys, 10 and 16. For 16 years, we are bombarded with so many parenting challenges. Our home is always noisy, messy, and busy. Whenever we feel tired, we say to ourselves that a quiet home has no children in it. It is much better to have a "chaotic home" caused by our kids rather than having a spic and span abode with defeating silence.

Therefore, children are definitely the best teachers around. They are the reflection of who we are in the past. If we try to see how beautiful they are, they help us become better parents. They also remind us of the things that our parents have gone through when we were young and those memories teach us to become more empathic and appreciative.

In line with this, I have read the book Car Key Gnomes... and other household pests (Poems by Miciah Dodge and Artwork by Danie Plott) with Paps. We had so much fun! The contents of the book are poems about mischievous gnomes who are joyfully making mischief around the house, perfectly paired with gorgeous artwork. They may be hiding away the car keys, borrowing the socks or shoes, or knotting someone's hair while he sleeps. They don't mean any harm. They are just having fun. Somehow we can relate to the reason why the author has been inspired to write this book. It is his way of reminiscing his boys' mischiefs in the past while those boys were denying what they did. But in case that they were telling the truth that time, then someone else might have been to blame, and perhaps those might be the Car Key Gnomes and other household pests!

"Car Key Gnomes ...and other household pests" teaches the family about growing up and the fascination of appreciating good memories instead of wallowing in misery. Kids teach us to see the world with unblemished innocence, the essence of a simple life, and genuine happiness.

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