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The epicurious mama

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“The epicurious mama”
SunStar Davao, Nov. 30, 2019

To achieve world-class expertise in any field, Malcolm Gladwell, author of the book “Outliers”, says the 10,000-hour rule holds the key. It is basically practicing a specific task that can be accomplished with 20 hours of work a week for 10 years.

Mompreneur Alexes “Leck” Flores Cruz enjoyed an early introduction to the culinary world when she began baking and selling goodies at age 8.

“My parents are both good cooks. When I was young, I was pretty amazed at how they could practically create dishes from scratch and feed many people during fiestas, family celebrations or office affairs.  I also have an aunt who cooks very well and she taught me some of her recipes. It made me love cooking more,” Leck, an MBA degree holder, fondly recalls.

Leck’s dad was likewise an ardent workaholic and perennially business-oriented. He relentlessly sold cakes, siopao, chorizo, and many more which inspired Leck to pursue her first catering business at age 19.

Seasoned home cook

“I never had any formal culinary course.  However, my countless years of experience in home cooking and checking recipes has helped me create my own dishes. Thankfully, I am also a quick study. When I travel, I watch and learn fast. In addition, I am blessed with a mother-in-law who lets me buy all the ingredients I need so I can freely experiment in the kitchen. I just love cooking for the family during Sundays and special occasions,” reveals Leck who is happily married to businessman Allan Cruz.
Her first foray into the restaurant business was Epicurious Gastropub, the first-ever gastropub in the city. Shortly after, Leck and her family opened another restaurant, BBQ Nation, located in several malls.

Something different yet familiar

“We came up with the name BBQ Nation because we wanted to create or duplicate diverse flavors of barbeque. “BBQ” stands for “Blackened, Basted, and Skewered”, which creates various flavors for the barbeque. We added “Nation” because we wanted to introduce distinct tastes from the other countries I’ve traveled to plus combine and tweak them to suit the Filipino palate,” explains Leck who also teaches part-time at the Ateneo de Davao University.



“I guess I just wanted people to try something different and yet familiar.  I wanted BBQ Nation to remind people of their home, their Filipino culture, and being a Mindanaowan. Our dishes are from different parts of the Philippines so when visitors dine, they can taste a bit of their hometown in ours,” discloses the mom of two with pride.









Food for thought

Leck’s advice for fellow moms who want to go into the food business is, ironically, “not to take any advice from anyone because every mom’s situation is different from the other”.

“I would say, just listen and check if it would work for you. And, before you become a budding restaurateur, try to ponder on the following: What is my food concept and is there anybody else doing it? What are my own strengths, skills, and time available to manage this? What is unique or special with my offerings? How do I make this food business successful? Can I sustain this?,” points out Leck who likewise runs ACrew, a consultancy service that is dedicated to helping homegrown brands with their marketing, branding, HR, and franchising.


“Being a Mom has helped me create the right balance to everything and taught me to value my workmanship more.  Putting up a restaurant is like having a baby.  You go through all the birth pains, growing-up headaches, and yet when you see them grow, it is the best feeling in the world!”, the young restaurateur gratefully expresses.
Certainly, Leck’s 10,000 hours in the kitchen have deliciously paid off!

Sincerest thanks to Leck Cruz for the photos.


E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. To view more photos, please visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.

Plant-powered food: A family game changer

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“Plant-powered food: A family game changer”
SunStar Davao, Dec. 14, 2019

The year she turned 40, Mimi Vergara-Tupas thought of learning something new.

“I do not have any formal culinary education. However, I am a person who is ambitious and enthusiastic to always learn a new skill as long as it allows me to be my best creative self,” she reveals. Mimi used to be in clothing and retail for 10 years and was founder of a homegrown fashion brand, a multiway dress label, and swimsuit label for women of many shapes before venturing into pet wellness and food.

Desiring to elevate their food brand sparked her interest to take a Raw Vegan Certification in Ubud, Bali in 2018. The mother of three explains that the raw vegan way of eating means “consumption of food exclusively from plant sources and is not processed, refined, pasteurized, nor heated above 48 degrees to preserve all of their living enzymes for optimum nutrition”.


Staying in Bali, eating raw, and mindfully listening to her body for 21 days straight opened her heart and mind to conscious consumption.


“It didn’t just provide me an optimum foundation for whole and plant-based food. It also opened up purposes that are bigger than just purely business. Right after my course in 2018, there was no way to stop me from carving a dream of a 100% plant-powered cafe for Davao,” shares Mimi enthusiastically.


Mindful eating

Mimi clarifies, however, that her family is not vegan. Neither is she. But, she has lovingly created several plant-powered dishes over the years for her family. She believes that there must be a more conscious way of consumption that is better for our health, our planet, and the environment.

Her noble aim is to create plant-based dishes and make them magically taste just as indulgent without having to rely on meat, eggs, dairy or processed food.


Clean Café has three principles in creating their dishes: health, flavor, sustainability. “We can't serve it if it’s not better for your health, or flavorful or better for the environment. That's what clean food is all about,” explains Mimi who runs the café along with hubby Jun for the financial and business development side and son Uno for the culinary aspect.





Family game changer

“My weakness in the kitchen is filled by our son Uno, who had formal training from culinary school. He is 22 and puts order in the chaos that I do in my kitchen! He also helped establish the cornerstone of our menu -- which are the breads and the doughs for our very popular bread baskets, toasts, and pizzas,” says the proud mom.


Clean Café’s dressings are made in-house, from scratch. It makes its own bread and life-changing vegan butter.  “We even whip our own cream from coconut milk. We press our juices & nutmylks daily,” she details.


Mimi admits that the plant-powered café is double the hard work compared to other commercial kitchens because it practices farm to table, and sources organic produce whenever possible. It also keeps close ties with the farmers and lets them know of the consumptions so they will be better informed of what to grow more of and better sense of purpose.


“I am sure I am not the only one in this day and age struggling to feed their family with healthy fare in the middle of all this city rush,” points out Mimi. Only a month into its operations, the hardworking mom was inspired to know that some families have joined her plant-based food advocacy in their own homes after experiencing her vegan dishes at the cafe.


This time, the tables have turnedthough because, amazingly, it’s the kids who have been clamoring for healthier options. What a family game changer, indeed!

Clean Café is located at The Compound, Tulip Drive, Matina, Davao City. Open from 11am to 9pm. Tel. no. (082) 3334133

Special thanks to Mimi Tupas, Angel Go and Natalie Wee for the photos.

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. To view more photos, please visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.

"Okay Ka Yaya Ko: The Kasambahay Manual"

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“Okay Ka Yaya Ko: The Kasambahay Manual”
SunStar Davao, Dec. 28, 2019

After twenty-five years of running a household, Manila-based businesswoman Rica de Jesus has passionately put together the first-ever Kasambahay Manual called “Okay Ka Yaya Ko: Ang Gabay para sa Kasambahay at Kasangga sa Buhay”.

The Kasambahay Manual is a basic training module that one can use to train all existing and new kasambahays.
It took Rica 12 months of research, translating to Tagalog, building content, taking videos and putting everything together to make this dream project come true.

“I am turning 50 in 2020 and this is my advocacy through Jaric Foundation Inc.: To change myself and make things right, to help all kasambahays and to help build happier homes,” she says.

“This is not a one-time kit that you will purchase but the beginning of an effort that will continue to evolve. Your purchase will help the Assumption Missions schools through my batch AC ’87 and will fund future projects of the foundation to help kasambahays,” Rica continues.


Uplifting the kasambahays

Dubbed as the first and only ready-to-use kit designed to uplift the work and lives of kasambahays, it includes “triple treats”. First is training using a simple and basic manual with videos, slides, and booklets. Second, tools are also part of the kit with one-stop shop/forms, laminates, and templates. Lastly, tips include a rewards system, God-centered living, and how to go digital.

“Everyone is busy, but our household is important. We must make sure our household runs smoothly so other parts of our lives run smoothly. The Okay Ka Yaya Ko System involves training and we need to make time for this. The system is not hard because Okay Ka Yaya Ko prepared everything already. All you have to do is implement,” Rica explains.


The Okay Ka Yaya Ko (OKYK) system recommends dividing the training into parts, preferably to be conducted by the boss or any member of the family, or any Human Resource Manager or trainor. The trainings include Characteristics and General Guidelines; Cleaning Materials and Guidelines; Good Housekeeping and Maintenance; Food Safety and Sanitation; and Special Skills and Techniques.


Happy homes

“We must remember that most kasambahays have only finished grade school. So, the training manual is tailored to cater to children, as we are starting from zero/scratch. We must be very clear to our kasambahays. We have to repeat and repeat. It is also a good idea to show pegs and photos so that they can envision what you mean,” suggests Rica.


The manual comes in a soft copy so the employer can freely edit details, rules, loans, leaves, checklist, etc. Slides can be added or deleted to tailor-fit one’s needs as well.
Rica believes that a laminating machine is a good investment so one can put reminders around the house. “Putting reminders in key areas will help everyone (including the boss) remember all the important things,” she stresses.
On the part of the employers, Rica hopes that they will be open to change their mindset. “Become an instrument for positive change. Help kasambahays and their families live a dignified life,” she encourages.

The soon-to-be golden girl envisions that “Okay Ka Yaya Ko will let our kasambahays live harmoniously in happy homes, increase their chances for success, and become a reminder of God’s blessings”.
            

Sincerest thanks to Rica de Jesus for the photos.

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. To view more photos, please visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.

Swiss bliss

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"Swiss bliss"
SunStar Davao, January 11, 2020

With dimmed lights, everybody was solemnly singing “Silent Night” in German on Christmas Eve at Liebfrauenkirche, one of Zurich’s oldest and most stunning Catholic churches.



It was a surreal experience hearing the imposing pipe organ play the meaningful song during mass. Battling jetlag, I had to force myself to stay awake to cherish this divine moment.




Almost a year ago, plans on spending Christmas and New Year in Switzerland with the family seemed like a farfetched idea. But here we were now in this captivating country, all ready for almost two weeks of Swiss bliss.


With our family members ranging from ages 2 to 84 years old, my husband Gary and sister-in-law Eileen thoughtfully prepared an easy-breezy DIY itinerary that allowed us to take in the breathtaking sights of Zurich, Lucerne, Herbriggen, Zermatt, and Interlaken at our own sweet pace.




In Zurich, our first meal was at Zeughauskeller, a rustic Swiss restaurant located in a 15th-century building, where we eagerly feasted on sausages and veal with ice-cold draft beer. 




After the hearty dinner, we proceeded to the Christmas market at Werdmühleplatz to witness the famed Singing Christmas Tree’s concert. Arranged on a vertical podium in the shape of a festive Christmas tree, choirs and orchestras from different regions perform cheerful Christmas carols regularly during the Yuletide season.





Our next destination was Lucerne where we were billeted at the lovely Keyforge City Apartments and savored one of the best cheese fondues at a local restaurant called Schiff. 




I first visited Lucerne’s iconic Chapel Bridge when I was 18; next, in 2000 for our honeymoon; and now unbelievably with my very own teenage daughters who are 18 and 13. Time sure flies!





Onboard the Glacier Express with its panoramic windows, we marveled at the spectacular view of snow-covered Alps and quaint villages. 







Bergfreund, our cozy hotel at Herbriggen, spoiled us with a glorious winter wonderland vista from our room’s balcony.








Taking a gazillion photos in the mountaineering and ski resort of the Swiss Alps, Zermatt, we almost missed the last gondola ride going up to Matterhorn, one of the highest summits in the Alps and Europe.











In the idyllic Swiss town of Interlaken, we had a memorable four-night stay at an Airbnb Swiss chalet where my three ‘Iron Chef’ sisters-in-law cooked up delectable meals for the family. I, on the other hand, willingly volunteered to wash the dishes. Teehee!






The kids begged to stay longer at the Top of Europe Ice Magic, a sublime outdoor ice-skating rink with the picturesque Swiss Alps as the backdrop.





From Interlaken, we took several train rides to reach Top of Europe in Jungfraujoch, a must-see alpine attraction and viewing point with an altitude of 3,454 meters. 








While we were wide-eyed and breathless (literally, because of the high altitude) relishing the astonishing view, we saw a Polish gentleman with a ring bend on his knees to propose to his gorgeous girlfriend. It was the sweetest sight ever!



Inspired by the ongoing Netflix K-Drama series “Crash Landing on You” which was partially shot in Switzerland, my daughters, nephews and I impulsively booked for paragliding sessions with AlpinAir during the New Year. 







Soaring high above the Swiss Alps was an absolutely exhilarating way to welcome 2020 and magically end our epic Swiss escape!



E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. To view more photos, please visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.

Inside Out : Mental and Emotional Health Matter

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“Inside Out: Mental and Emotional Health Matter”
SunStar Davao, January 25, 2020

Mental health disorders rank third in the most common disabilities in the country, affecting 1 in 5 Filipino adults, just below hearing and visual disability.”

This alarming data from the World Health Organization was shared by Dr. Val L. Gonzales, the speaker during the recent parenting talk “Inside Out: Mental and Emotional Health Matter” organized by the Davao Christian High School Parents-Teachers Fellowship held at the DCHS V. Mapa auditorium.


Dr. Gonzales is an ordained minister and licensed counselor who specializes in dealing with depression, addiction, and co-occurring disorders. He holds a doctorate degree in Theology and is an Academic Dean/Associate Professor at the School of Counselling, Singapore Bible College.

Warning signs

In the Philippines, Dr. Gonzales shares that the top 4 mental illnesses are schizophrenia, substance abuse, anxiety, and depression.

With the growing cases of anxiety and depression in teens and young adults nowadays, he says parents should be vigilant and watch out for symptoms.


He explains that “anxiety is excessive worrying that is hard to control and occurs, more often than not, for at least six months. It is likewise associated with at least three of these symptoms (in children, only one symptom): restlessness; tiring easily; lack of concentration or feeling as though the mind goes blank; irritability; increased muscle aches or soreness; and difficulty speaking.”



In order to confirm someone as suffering from depression, “he or she must have 5 or more symptoms during the same 2-week period which include depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day; markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all; or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day; among others.”


Break the stigma

    “Mental illness is the leprosy of these times. Before, leprosy was stigmatized so you got away from that person. Now, it’s mental illness that is stigmatized. And, a great part of this is because we have not been fully educated about this. We think it’s a curse; that it’s just faulty parenting. Hopefully, we will realize that there are so many contributing factors to mental illness,” reveals Dr. Gonzales.


  

As a community, Dr. Gonzales proposes that we should increase our level of awareness by organizing events like “Mental Health Week”.


He discloses that people should be educated against spiritualizing mental illness. Instead, we should integrate spirituality with emotionality. “Don’t just say, “I’m going to pray for you”. Refer that person to a professional,” he urges.


We should also promote self-care such as regular physical exercise, adequate sleep, healthy eating habits, and a balanced lifestyle. “Get 8 hours of sleep. Lesser than that, you become irritable. If you are irritable, you cannot think clearly and make wise decisions,” Dr. Gonzales advises.


       In addition, he stresses that we need to identify high-risk individuals for potential help. Seek professional help when symptoms are observed especially when there is suicidality. “Don’t let that person be left by himself. Call the parents; inform the pastor, guidance counsellor or teacher. Pay attention to that individual.”



“Moreover, establish support groups. They are an untapped resource that we need to develop and grow in our organizations,” he continues.

Dr. Gonzales likewise underscores the discovery and development of one’s God-given gifts. “The problem with many young people today is that they pursue careers that are not consistent with their giftedness. With career choice counselling, hopefully, people will do what they enjoy and like, and feel validated,” observes the father of two.



“We have to stop this idea that if we stop talking about mental illness, it will disappear. If we don’t talk about it, it will not disappear. We should talk about it because awareness precedes change. The more we are aware, the more we put ourselves in the position to make positive changes,” Dr. Gonzales imparts.




Special thanks to DCHS teacher Ma'am Farrah Silva for the "Inside Out" quote slides.

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. To view more photos, please visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.

The Lion King: A roaring homecoming musical

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The Lion King:  A roaring homecoming musical
SunStar Davao, Feb. 8, 2020

Davao Christian High School Batch 1995 staged excerpts from the hit Broadway Musical “The Lion King: Return To Pride Rock” during the recent alumni homecoming held at the DCHS V. Mapa Campus auditorium.

“We decided to hold a theater production and partner with LCB Performing Arts Center Foundation, Inc. (LCB-PACF) because from experience, they always produce terrific and well-attended shows. We chose Lion King because it’s familiar and appeals to the kids and families. The story is also about coming home which what our homecoming is all about,” says Gladys Te of DCHS Batch 1995.



The grand theater spectacle was not an easy feat as it involved a total of 231 performers of various ages who were not only LCB scholars but also regular students who had no previous professional training in dancing.


Step by step

“Working with a huge number of students from different year levels, we had to consider each one’s background and capacity. We would only teach steps according to their level of difficulty for them to be able to perform properly. Of course, with the right amount of patience and persistence, the students were able to learn their choreographies. We believe that dance can be learned depending on how you teach your students,” shares Karen Diane Lu-Alcaraz, LCB-PACF’s executive director.


“Deciding which excerpts to include and exclude was very tricky. We included scenes and parts that were necessary since our goal was for the audience to still understand the story without re-staging the entire movie. We would only add extra dances to keep the flow of the story intact,” she details.


The multi-talented Lion King cast included LCB scholars Sean Boquiren (Grown Simba), Alana Boquiren (Grown Nala), Nala Boquiren (Sarabi), Paolo delos Santos (Mufasa), Cheszka Arrieta (Scar), Chelsea Jugador (Rafiki), Danika Bea Escamillan (Pumba), Julianna Ciana Lu (Zazu), and DCHS students Rhys Fredric Gabila (Young Simba), Jeliz Grace Go (Young Nala), and Amanda Mata (Timon).


Roaring success
            
From organizing the musical production, selling show/raffle tickets and raising funds for the homecoming, DCHS Batch 1995’s Joy Uyking-Guillergan discloses that working with her batchmates again was like getting to know the same people she used to spend every day with in school but now, with older faces. “We tried to fit the work into what each one could give. We made it work. And we did it! We are very happy with the successful outcome,” she expresses gratefully.




“This homecoming isn’t only about raising funds to give back to the school, but also a gathering of the DCHS community in celebration of the school, people, students, and its achievements,” Guillergan stresses.




“The final production exceeded our expectations. It is because we couldn’t see the exact outcome of all the preparations and rehearsals while we were still in the process of mounting everything up. We could only visualize and do the best that we can for the entire production to work. It was only until then, on the day of the show, that we were able to see what we have created along with the collaborative efforts of everybody. From the lights and sound, costumes and stage design, to the performances and excerpts, we could say that it was indeed a great show!”, declares Alcaraz beaming with pride.



Special thanks to Ms. Joimie Galeos for the finale picture. All other photos were taken by the author.

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. To view more photos, please visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.

Let's get bready

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“Let’s get bready”
SunStar Davao, Feb. 22, 2020

Bread baking interestingly began as a stress-reliever for Vanessa Orig-Pacheco when she worked as a construction coordinator in Toronto, Canada.

“I was using my interior design skills making sure floor plans were correct and had the right dimensions and materials. I also had to do site visits and dealt with a lot of contractors. It was surely a stressful time for me!” recalls Vanessa, a University of the Philippines-Diliman Interior Design graduate who was based in Canada for 17 years.



So, about once a week, Vanessa would make her homemade pan de sal. “If you can imagine a stress ball you can squeeze with one hand, a two-kilogram piece of dough is an even bigger and better stress ball you can squeeze and knead with two hands. The more stressed I was, the better the pan de sal came out!” the proud Dabawenya giggles.



Eventually, Vanessa found herself enjoying the art and craft of baking bread more than interior design that she took certificate courses inBaking Arts and Artisan Bread Baking from George Brown College in Toronto.

Bread winners

“Our mom and Lola Mary are very good cooks. I’m pretty sure we took after them. Growing up, my siblings and I were always in the kitchen. It felt natural to us being in there. When we got hungry, we made snacks for ourselves. And, when we were feeling adventurous, we would invent things,” says Vanessa whose family restaurant, Café Andessa, serves their treasured recipes.









Bread baking really wasn’t part of their repertoire back then, but Vanessa just knew when she had exceptionally good bread. “It leaves a lasting taste memory in my brain,” she explains.



For example, Vanessa reminisces that the first time she ever had homemade bread was at the house of a Costa Rican friend in grade school. “It was just so good with its thin golden crust and soft fluffy white interior and that delicious yeasty smell coming out of the warm bread. Back in university, I got a summer job at the French Baker in SM Annex where I enjoyed employee discounts. So, I was really stuffing my face with all the bread I could manage to eat!” she chuckles.



Another bread experience that was an eye-opener for her was during a trip to San Francisco. She visited Boudin Bakery which is famous for their sourdough bread in the Ghirardelli Square, and after tasting them, it blew her mind. “It was malty, chewy, and tangy, and overall just delicious. That’s how I started getting curious about sourdough bread,” says Vanessa.



Dough your best

So fascinated was Vanessa with baking bread that when she and accountant-husband Robin Pacheco, who happens to be the grandson of the Reyeses of The Artistocrat Restaurant in Manila, decided to settle back in Davao, she was certain that this was the line of business they would establish. “I’m the talent in this partnership and Robin is the analytics, accountant, manager, sales, and everything else in-between,” she discloses.







Craft Breads and Pastries mainly focus on European-style bread as well as a couple of 
Filipino favorites with a European twist. They currently make sourdough loaves, focaccia, babka, brioche, panettone, and cheese rolls while pastries are still on the research and development stage. “We don’t use preservatives and dough improvers. Our only preservatives are salt and sugar. We focus on the taste and texture of the bread, and not just with how it looks,” highlights Vanessa.






At the recent “Bread Appreciation” talk organized by Park Inn by Radisson Davao last Thursday, Vanessa took the stage and discussed the differences among sourdough, straight dough, and other European-style bread to an enthusiastic audience.



























“All breads have a place in this world. What I consider good might not be good for other people. But I’ll try and narrow it down to the characteristics I like. I love enriched bread where I can taste the real butter, egginess, softness, and chewy texture. Enriched bread shouldn’t just taste like cotton that melts in your mouth. On the other hand, the lean bread’s crust should be golden to mahogany (but not burnt). Inside should be soft, tangy, malty, and chewy,” the artisan baker differentiates.







“You only need five ingredients to make a decent loaf of bread: flour, water, salt, yeast, and time. Just like life, good bread cannot be rushed. Let time take over and you will be rewarded for your patience,” Vanessa waxes poetic.



Contact details:
www.craftbreadsandpastries.com
💻craftbreads@gmail.com
📱(0995)9854744


E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. To view more photos, please visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.

Staying for summer

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“Staying for summer”
SunStar Davao, March 7, 2020

With travel plans put on hold because of COVID-19, there is no place like home sweet home to enjoy the long summer break.
Here is a list of kiddie summer activities to keep our kids busy and entertained here in the city. Check out http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/ for regular updates.
Have a happy summer!

***
           
ARTS AND CRAFTS

WHAT: GLOBALART DAVAO
COURSES OFFERED: Creative Drawing, Oil Pastel, Sketching, Clay Sculpture, Cartoon and Comic, Acrylic Painting, Poster Color Painting, and Watercolor Painting 
SCHEDULE: Mon-Sat, 9am-6pm. By appointment (Lunch break 12nn-1pm) 
SPECIAL OFFERS: Deco art, Cultural box, and Multimedia program.
SPECIAL PROMO: 5% discount for siblings and/or group of friends.
CONTACT: GLOBALART DAVAO, 301-E Palma Gil St., Bo. Obrero Davao City (near Central Convenience Bajada) Tel. no.  2219980 or CP no. 09234814333 (Sun)

***

WHAT: Summer Art Class
Tutorial classes for drawing and painting for intermediate and advance classes only
for ages 10 years old and above
SKED: Months of May and June  
FEE: Available upon request. 3-4 students get a discount.
VENUE: Tulip Drive, Matina, Davao City
CONTACT: MEAN TAN GUINOO, CP nos. (0917)3220320; (0932)9264676

***
  
WHAT: Art Workshop for Kids, Adults, and Enthusiasts
Art for Beginners/Advanced Drawing and Painting
SKED: All-year-round  
FEE: Available upon request
VENUE: Art de Triomphe, 47 Tulip Drive, Juna Subd., Matina, D.C.
CONTACT: BERNADETTE GULAR, CP nos. (0917)1127058; (0923)0823607; and landline 2339661

***

MUSIC

WHAT:Private Lessons - Voice, Piano, Guitar (12 sessions)
FEE: P6,800
WHAT: Music Theatre (Kids & Teens): Acting classes, voice lessons, ensemble singing (18 sessions)
FEE: P8,200
WHAT: Ensemble Class - Voice, Guitar, or Violin (12 sessions)
FEE: P4,500
WHAT: Musikids for kids ages 3-5 yrs. old (12 sessions)
FEE: P4,200
Early bird rate available upon request (until March 14, 2020)
CONTACT: MUSIKADEMY, 3F L & P Bldg. Loreto St., Juna Subdivision, Matina; Landline 2336776; SMS 0905-2727642.

***

WHEN: Classes start on March 17-April 1, 2020 (Batch 1); April 6-21(Batch 2); April 22 to May 8 (Batch 3); May 11 to 26 (Batch 4); Recital date:  May 29, 2020.
WHERE: Door, 143 V. Mapa St., Davao City fronting Crafters Haven of JDEG Bldg. NOTE: 12 sessions/1 hour per session.
FEE: P3,800 (voice, piano, bamboo flute, violin, drums, beatbox, guitar, bass and ukulele); PhP4,400 (saxophone & Flute). Full payment upon enrollment
CONTACT/VENUES: JDR16 MUSIC TUTORIAL, The Shoppes, Purok 34, Diversion Road Maa Davao City. For more details, call/text Teacher Jay: 09159009718 and 09465539076.


***


PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC SPEAKING AND THEATER ARTS

WHAT:Various Summer Programs for Kids, Teens, Adults and Young Professionals
COURSES: Teens Poise, Personality Development and Modeling (8 years old and above); Powerful Speech for Elementary, High School, College and Professionals)
SKED: April 20-24, 2020 (5 sessions, Mon-Fri, 1pm-3pm)
FEE: Available upon request
CONTACT: JOJI ILAGAN CAREER CENTER FOUNDATION, INC., Gov. Chavez Street; Tel: 2275602; 0917 577 7336.

***

CULINARY ARTS

COURSE: Gourmet Bites Workshops for Kids and Teens
SKED AND FEES: April 18, 2020-Cooking and Baking Class for Kids, P2,800; April 26-Cooking Basics for Teens, P2,800; May 2-Cooking and Baking Class for Kids, P2,800; May 23-Cooking Basics for Teens, P2,800
CONTACT: GOURMET BITES, Ilustre St. (Across Limso Hospital), D.C. Call 2957178 or text 09331310100 or message them directly on their FB page

***

COURSE:Culinary Summer Program for Kids, Teens, and Adults
WHAT: Young Executive Chef (ages 13-18 y.o.)
SKED: Batch 1-April 13-17, 2020, 9am-12nn
FEE: P7,500 (includes all ingredients)
WHAT: Kids Culinary Boot Camp (ages 7-12 y.o.)
SKED: Batch 1 - April 20-24, 9am-12nn
FEE: P7,500 (includes all ingredients)
WHAT: Senior Chef De Cuisine (18 y.o. and above)
SKED: Batch 1-April 29, 9am-12nn
FEE: P3,500 (includes all ingredients)
CONTACT: (ICHEF) INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL CULINARY AND HOSPITALITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP, S. De Jesus Street; Tel no.: 305 8833; (0919)9298154.

***

DANCE AND THEATER

WHAT:I-Sayaw’s 6th Summer Dance Workshop offers Ballet, Tap, Hip-Hop and Jazz SKED:Starts on April 1, 2020 (Wednesday). Culminating activity is on May 30, 2020 (Saturday), venue to be announced. THEME: Pinoy Rock Classics to Classics
COURSE:Ballet class for 3 yrs. old, teens and adults. Ballet Beginner 1 and 2; Secondary; Advanced Levels and Fitness Ballet; Tap 1 and 2; Hiphop 1 and 2; and Jazz 1 
SKED: Available upon request. Students are assessed before the finalization of the schedule that will suit them.
VENUE:I-SAYAW DANCE STUDIO, Unit 207 McPod Bldg. (Beside Ateneo High School, fronting MTS), McArthur Highway, D.C.
CONTACT:CECILE DIOQUINO-HIDALGO/CP no. (0922)8493966

***

WHAT: LCB Summer Dance Workshop 2020 with a culminating recital on July 18, 2020 (3pm and 7pm)
SCHEDULE:Batch 1: March 30-May 16; Batch 2: June 1-July 18
COURSES OFFERED: For kids and teens-ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, acting and voice; For adults-belly dancing, hip hop, jazz and tap
FEES: Adult classes: 1,800 monthly + 200 registration fee; Kids and teens: P18,000 all dances + acting and voice; 1 dance + acting and voice=P15,000 (inclusive of tickets, shirt, certificate and video and pictures of the show)
CONTACT: LCB PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FOUNDATION, INC., 48 Villamor St., Bo. Obrero, D.C./Tel. 2225205
***

WHAT: Urban Dance for kids ages 3-7 y.o.
SKED: April 27- May 27, 2020, Mon-Wed, 9am-10am
FEE: P2,500
CONTACT:ANGELS AT WORK, N. Torres cor. Vinzon Sts., Bo. Obrero, D.C./Tel. 2250208

***

SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM

WHAT: Summer Enrichment Class for ages 2-5 years old
SKED: April 13-May 15, 2020; M-F/9-11 am
FEE: P7,000 inclusive of snacks and materials
CONTACT:ANGELS AT WORK, N. Torres cor. Vinzon Sts., Bo. Obrero, D.C./Tel. 2250208

***

WHAT: Handwriting Without Tears Program
The program is a research-based multi-sensory handwriting program.
WHAT: Orton-Gillingham (OG) Multi-Sensory Reading and Math
The OG is a powerful instructional approach for teaching, reading, spelling and concepts in Math.
SKED AND FEES: Available upon request. All programs are supervised by certified instructors.
CONTACT: CENTER FOR BRIGHTER BEGINNINGS, Road 7, Doña Vicenta Village, D.C./Tel. 2242188



WHAT: SUMMER LEARNING CAMP: SUMMER ZOOFARI (for children ages 2-3 years old)
SKED: Module A: April 6- April 28, 2020; Module B: May 4- 22, 2020 (15 sessions per module @ 2 hrs per session)
WHAT:GALILEO LITTLE EXPLORER (GLE) KIDS: SUMMER ADVENTURE - EXPLORING THE WORLD (for children ages 3 - 4.9 years old)
SKED: Module A: April 6 – April 28, 2020; Module B: May 4- 22, 2020 (15 Sessions per module @ 2 hrs per session)
WHAT:MATH/SINGAPORE MATH/ ENGLISH ENRICHMENT PROGRAM (for children ages 3 - 12 years old) Number of Sessions: 8 sessions/month
FEES:Available upon request
CONTACT:GALILEO ENRICHMENT CENTER-DAVAO, 27-A Dacudao Avenue, D.C./Tel. 2210268; (0932)8008118; (0922)8501650

***

WHAT: Kiddie Fun Time for 1.5–3 y.o.
SKED: 10am– 12nn. 1st batch-May 4– 8; 2nd batch-May 11-15; 3rd batch-May 18-22; 4th batch–May 25– 29 (Mon-Fri)
WHAT: Multi-Sensory Reading for 3–7 y.o.
SKED: 10am–12nn. May 11-22. 10 sessions (Mon-Fri)
CONTACT:TENDER YEARS, #7 Gemini St., Dona Vicenta Vill., D.C./Tel. 2244884; (0933)8505356
***

WHAT:Toddler’s Playgroup 1: Age: 2-3 y.o. Activities include Skills Readiness Play and Creative Arts
WHAT:Children’s Playgroup 1: Age: 3.1 - 5 y.o. Activities: Stories, Cooperative Play, Arts and Crafts
WHAT: Kid’s Crafts: Age: 5-8 y.o. Activities: Creating usable art from simple materials
WHAT: Little Einsteins: Age: 6-10 y.o Activities: Science experiments
WHAT: Skills Tutorials (Reading, Writing, Math) Age: 4-8 y.o.
FEE: P4,300 plus P200 registration fee (inclusive of materials)
SKED: Batch 1: April 4-30; Batch 2: May 2-24, 2019
CONTACT:BRIGHT SEEDS PRESCHOOL, Dona Vicenta Road, Dona Vicenta Village, D.C. (near Chowking, across Victoria Plaza); Tel. 3003286; (0917)5400988

***

WHAT:Creative Summer Fun at Stockbridge for 5.1-13 y.o.
Karate, Dance, Voice, Arts, and Digital Literacy
WHAT: Academic Sneak Peak Week
Hands-on experience with science, explore international literacy in the library, create your own comic strip, and learn all about how to make a vlog (a video log).
SKED: April 20-May 15, 2020
WHAT: Diving In to Stockbridge Ocean Adventure!
Smart Play (6mos to 1.5), Smart cubs (1.6-2.0); Underwater Explorers (Literacy and Numeracy; 2.1-3.0; Book Surfers (Introduction to phonics and reading; 3.1-4.0); and
Reading Marines (Reading; 4.1-5.0)
WHAT: Let's Get Ready! (5.1-6.0 y.o.)-(Reading, Math, and Writing)
Around the World Class 1 (6.1-8.0); Around the World Class 2 (8.1-10.0), and Around the World Class 3 (10.1-13.0)
SKED AND FEE: Summer classes from June 15- July 16, 2020. Fees available upon request.
CONTACT: STOCKBRIDGE AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, Maa Road, Davao City, CP no. 09222501491. Tel. 3276590

***

SPORTS

WHAT: Summer Learn to Swim Program of the Blue Marlins Swimming Club with Coach Abdul BM (American Swimming Coaches Association Life+Member Level 4) in full cooperation with Brokenshire Hotels, Resorts and Convention Center for 6 years old and above
SKED: Batch 1 - March 30-April 10; Batch 2-April 13-24; Batch 3-April 27-May 8; Batch 4-May 11-22; Batch 5-May 25-June 5; Time: Morning: 6-7am; 730-830am, 830-930am, 930-1030am; Afternoon: 2pm-3pm, 3pm-4pm; 10 meetings for one hour (Mon-Fri). 1st day orientation for every batch.
FEE: P4,000 (basic) exclusive of swimming pool fee and finisher’s
VENUE: Brokenshire Resort, Madapo Hills, D.C.
CONTACT: BLUE MARLINS SWIMMING CLUB INTERNATIONAL/Annabelle ‎(0915)7960685

                                                                         ***


WHAT: Swim and Survive Program by (RLSSA) Royal Life Saving Society Australia
SCHEDULE: Available upon request. 5-10 years old: 1-3pm; 11 y.o. up, 330-530pm. One course is 5 days, Mon-Fri. Maximum of two hours per session. First wave will start on April 6, 2020 at Skyline Poolside, Catalunan Grande, D.C. North and Centro venues to be announced.
FEE:Available upon inquiry
CONTACT:Coach IPE ALIÑO, Certified SAS instructor. CP no. 09228186846
  
***
  
WHAT: Muay Thai
SKED: April 4, 2020 - July 4, 2020. TThS 10:30am-12nn (5-7 yrs old) /TThS 1pm-3pm (8 y.o. and above)
WHAT: Karate-do
SKED: April 3, 2020 - July 3, 2020. Wed/Sat 9:00am - 10:30am (5-7yrs old)/ Wed/Sat 1pm-230pm (8 y.o. and above); Sunday 9am-All ages
WHAT: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
SKED: April 4, 2020 - July 4, 2020. MWF-1030am-1200nn all ages
FEE: Packages are offered at a “per-month” enrollment basis. 1 Month - 2,000Php, 2 Months - 3,500Php, 3 Months 4,500Php. EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT - Pay and reserve on or before end of March 2020 and get a 10% discount on any of their packages.
CONTACT: LIMITLESS FITNESS & MARTIAL ARTS (E. Quirino Ave., D.C.) 2856028/09227923588
  
***

WHAT: SUMMER BADMINTON 2020 (Beginners & Advanced)
SCHEDULE: April 13-24 (Batch 1); April 27- May 8 (Batch 2); May 11-22 (Batch 3); May 25-June 5 (Batch 4); June 8-19 (Batch 5); June 22- July 3 (Batch 6); July 6-17 (Batch 7); July 20-31 (Batch 8). Mon-Friday, 9am-12nn. Start Date: April 13, 2020
FEE: P1,500.00/student (inclusive of 1 souvenir shirt, shuttlecock, court & trainer's fee)
CONTACT: Coach ROCELYN PO with Asst. Coach JUDE OLAYTA. CP no. (0933)8692313.
VENUE: HOLIDAY GYM and SPA BADMINTON COURTS, F. Torres St., Davao City


                                                                       ***
NEW!!!

WHAT: Basic Swimming Course under Coach Haroon Cali
SCHEDULE: March 23-April 4 (Batch 1); April 13-24 (Batch 2); April 27-May 8 (Batch 3); May 11-22 (Batch 4); May 25-June 5 (Batch 5); and June 8-19 (Batch 6).
Kids-Mon. to Fri. 8-9am/3-4pm; 415-515pm; Adults-Mon. to Fri. 730-830pm
FEE: Available upon request
CONTACT:  HOLIDAY GYM AND SPA, F. Torres St., DC/Tel. 2223041; (0929)7560559




Images courtesy of Davao Life is Here Facebook page and Google images.

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com.

Making the most of the 'quarantimes'

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Making the most of the ‘quarantimes’
SunStar Davao, March 21, 2020

Exactly a month ago, news about COVID-19 Patient 1 in the Lombardy Region of Northern Italy started to come out. That same night, more cases were reported one after the other.

“The school told us through their website that it was up to us if we will still let our children report to school. We decided to keep them at home," recalls Pinky Barcelona-Ruggiero, a former top model from the Philippines who is now based in Italy with her husband Fabrizio and kids Vincent, Andrea, and Isabella.

Fortunately, the majority of the parents did the same thing.

A few days later, Northern Italy was put on lockdown then eventually, as the cases became alarmingly high, a nationwide lockdown.


Because their 80-year-old matriarch Angela lives with them, the Ruggiero family strictly followed the quarantine rules to protect her.

According to Pinky, supermarkets and pharmacies remain open but only one member of the family can leave the house to buy food.

Those who go out for other reasons, like work, have to fill out a form to show to the authorities.

People who break the quarantine rules must pay the fine or go to jail for up to three months, depending on the violations.

Staying home

Pinky laments that Italy could have prevented this catastrophe if everyone listened and stayed home right from the start and did the quarantine properly. 

She observed that the Italians are very sociable and proud. They do not like to be told what to do. So, instead of staying home, they kept going out especially the young ones.

"Those in their 20s were even interviewed and they said there was no reason for them to give up on their nightlife. They thought they were immune, so they got infected," Pinky recounts.

"Sadly, they also infected the more vulnerable members of their families, their parents, and grandparents. That’s why the outbreak worsened. It’s really important to stay home these days to contain the virus,” she stresses.


Meanwhile, Mayen Sarenas, a learning specialist at the Hong Kong International School started to stay home more with her kids Ella and Jack even if there was no directive to quarantine yet in late January.

“We have not been to school since then. So, this is our 7th week of official online home learning,” says the Dabawenya.


To ensure optimal learning and teaching, Mayen set up a designated space in their home for schoolwork. She also made a general and flexible routine for schoolwork, chores, free play, indoor/outdoor play. 

In addition, she kept a journal of long-term project ideas (e.g., painting, fixing, organizing closets, sorting clothes and books) and decide which ones to tackle during each week.


"We are trying our best to keep bedtime at around 6:45-7:00 p.m. during weekdays, as was the case when school was in session. Even before the quarantine, we have been drinking green juice, but we have upped our intake of Vitamin C as well," details Mayen.

This quarantine taught their household a sense of social responsibility to keep their family and the families around them safe and healthy. They pray a lot, too.


Davao ‘quarantimes’

As a measure to prevent the spread of the dreaded 2019 novel coronavirus, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio also placed the city on community quarantine.

During this crucial time, mompreneur Vanessa Uy-Santos made a policy that only one person can go outside the house to do all the errands to limit exposure. 

Her household uses a footbath to sanitize all the shoes and slippers. She likewise emphasizes the importance of a balanced diet and proper hygiene.


Vanessa does all the office work at home and constantly monitors all their employees and stores.

As for the kids, they still study and do their activity sheets daily. Sometimes, they would help her bake and cook. They do sports in the afternoon as well.

"We get to spend mealtime together and binge-watch Netflix as a family which we don’t normally do because of work,” she shares.


On the other hand, nothing much has changed with the routine of husband and wife Jae and Julia Sta. Romana who have always worked from home. 

Their daughter Bianca just finished school and needed to be kept occupied for the duration.

"For this, we have listed down tasks for her to complete, to “buy” gadget time. This keeps her, me, and Julia productive,” reveals Jae.
To keep themselves healthy and limit their possible virus exposure, the Sta. Romanas only go out if necessary. Bicycle and walking are their primary forms of travel. This keeps them distanced from other people.

They likewise have cut back on eating meat and processed food and clean the house more often.

In general, they appreciate that this quarantine has made people much more aware of sanitation and health.

Slowing down

Wanting to still have a semblance of normalcy in their kids’ routine, businesswoman Keryl Lee-Tan implemented a daily schedule for them. 

Her daughters help their kasambahays with their chores which they normally could not do during school days. They also practice their piano or violin after schoolwork.

Sunny afternoons are spent in their backyard: biking, running around with the dog, playing hide and seek, water play and the like.


During this community quarantine, Keryl says it has been a pleasure seeing how both her kids have different ways of dealing with homeschool work as the official summer break has not started yet. 

"The quality time spent with the whole family without the daily grind of going places and rushing to appointments has been quite an eye-opener. It made me realize that life is actually better spent slower,” she happily reflects.


These families may have lost time for work but, in the end, the unlimited cuddles, leisurely meals, and endless bonding with loved ones are the little things that count the most!



E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. To view more photos, please visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.

The Phenomenal Mama's pantry-led cooking

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“The Phenomenal Mama’s pantry-led cooking”
SunStar Davao, April 4, 2020

Cook. Wash dishes. Repeat.

With most members of the family staying home for the community quarantine, homemakers are endlessly busy whipping up meals for their famished brood multiple times a day. Adding to the gastronomic challenge is the limited access to ingredients.

One such mom adjusting with the lockdown is Tina Lam-Ong, the superwoman behind social media’s “The Phenomenal Mama” and @thismommaloves. She also happens to be my childhood friend from Stella Maris Academy of Davao who is now based in Manila.

For a late-bloomer home cook like me, Tina is such a culinary inspiration. With ‘acts of service’ as her primary love language, she expresses her love for her family by preparing home-cooked meals that require a great deal of her time and effort.
The domestic goddess considers herself lucky that she has the luxury of time to cook quite well for her hubby and kids; a daily responsibility that she truly enjoys.

Food prep in the time of COVID-19

“For over two weeks now, we have been observing the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine, which means we are staying home and limiting trips to the grocery. My pantry and freezer are sufficiently stocked, and pantry-led cooking is the order of the day.  This simply means that I go into the kitchen and try to make the best possible meal out of what's already in my pantry,” the mom-of-three shares.

“COVID-19 has changed the way I do my food shopping.  For vegetables and seafood, I order online and they get delivered. But, for meat and pantry items, we go to the nearby grocery store, which, thankfully, has remained well-stocked. We have so far only done this once,” she says.
During these uncertain times, Tina takes extra care with all the items going inside the house. Everything is sanitized before they are brought in and stored. Canned goods, meat that is packaged in plastic, and everything that’s packaged in plastic, are soaked in a soapy solution, washed individually and then dried. 

“We wipe down everything that’s packaged in a box/carton with a kitchen towel that’s soaked in a sanitizing solution of bleach and water. Vegetables are soaked in a solution of plant-based baby dishwashing soap and water, scrubbed and rinsed, air-dried or blanched,” Tina explains.

Low-waste kitchen hacks

To prolong the life of vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, spinach and green beans, they are quickly blanched in boiling water and frozen in freezer-safe resealable plastic bags. The rest are dried properly and wrapped in kitchen towels (to save on precious fridge real estate) before storing in the crisper.
Part of Tina’s conscious effort of eating without waste during the community quarantine is to challenge herself to use up all the near-expiry ingredients that have been in her pantry. 

“While it is already a practice to put items with the nearest expiration dates toward the front of the shelves, it cannot be helped that certain items are just not used as often. I corralled all of those expiring in the next 2 months in one bin so I can plan my meals accordingly,” she divulges.
Before Tina plans on what to cook, she picks out an ingredient from her “consume-first” bin and everything else revolves around it.

Cooks-in-training

Online classes may have been cancelled but it does not mean that learning has stopped for the Ong kids. The hands-on mom assigned each of them to take charge of dinner once a week.


The children decide on what to cook based on existing items in the kitchen. They are challenged to be resourceful as Tina encourages them to look for substitutes in case an ingredient is not available. 


“Getting my teens involved in the kitchen is a wonderful opportunity to introduce the concept of planning meals and making smarter food choices,” she enthuses.

Even beyond quarantine, this phenomenal mama has thoughtfully equipped her children with valuable life skills they can rely on for the best and worst of days.

Tina shares more of her kitchen tips on pantry-led cooking, low-waste kitchen hacks, and baon ideas on her social media accounts.  Follow her on FB/IG @thephenomenalmama and @thismommaloves.

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. To view more photos, please visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.

City farming: Great things start from small beginnings

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“City farming: Great things start from small beginnings”
SunStar Davao, April 18, 2020

During the community quarantine, playschool owner and teacher Nita Uy-Mendoza wanted to inspire her Facebook friends with good vibes by showing different creative activities they could do at home.

“There were so many negative posts fueling the fear of almost everyone. People not used to staying at home were beginning to feel restless. In one of those activities, my family and I cleared the empty lot in front of our house which has become a dumping ground for trash and attracted flies and rats,” the mom-of-three says.
One week after, they serendipitously heard about the DC Agri Office’s “Stay at home, Magtanom!” program. 
When they expressed interest, a packet of seeds with seven kinds of vegetables was delivered for free to their house.

“We started planting the seeds in containers. Within a few days, they grew and this got us excited. That’s how our vegetable garden began,” Nita happily shares.



Meanwhile, hands-on mom Marie Fabian-Lo has been tending to their family’s mini vegetable garden beside their house for over two years now.


“I wanted to be like people who grow their own food at home. And, since I am also into recycling, I thought that re-using containers was a good idea,” she narrates.

Gardening essentials

When starting one’s home vegetable garden, Marie recommends that having good quality soil and seeds are essential. Make sure that the seeds have a high germination rate.
She suggests that one must carefully choose the plants. Study them and know how much sunlight they need in a day and ensure that their location is correct. It is crucial that you do not overwater and miss watering them. 
For seedlings, Marie sometimes uses small soda bottles, tissue rolls, used papers, eggshells, and other small containers. Bigger containers such as oil gallons, big soda bottles, old plastic pails, and basins are utilized for re-potting. A few garden tools come in handy as well. 

“I personally prefer growing vegetables such as pechay, different varieties of chili, eggplant, okra, lettuce, kangkong, tomato, kailaan, etc. Some kitchen scraps can regrow like carrots, pechay, spring onions, among others,” she divulges.
                
Being first-time farmers, the Mendozas did a lot of research via Google and YouTube. Books and leaflets about planting vegetable seeds were helpful, too.

‘Rooting’ for the family

With everyone at home, the Mendoza men, namely dad Sonni and sons Nikko and Ylai, carried heavy stuff and assembled things needed for the garden. They also helped in the clean-up of the empty lot in front of their house and the planting of the seedlings on the ground.

“My youngest child Geia and I take care of the nursery. We are the resourceful ones. Since we cannot buy materials needed for the garden from the stores this quarantine, we source out these materials from whatever we can find in our house, mostly recycled items,” Nita says.

For the Lo household, taking care of their veggie garden is a family affair, too. Husband Jay does the difficult work like putting holes in containers, carrying heavy sacks of soil, and transferring heavy pots and containers to a better location.

“I let my grade school kids Mika and Macy do some gardening occasionally. We especially enjoy harvesting the vegetables together,” Marie discloses.

Great things start from small beginnings

Growing their own produce introduced not only new skills but also imparted life lessons.

The Mendozas reveal that their greatest take-aways include these:

“Routine helps keeps boredom at bay.”

“It is never too late to learn a new skill. Google and YouTube are great teachers.”
“It is okay to make mistakes.”
“Things are easier when everyone cooperates. If everyone is not available, I am enough.”
Moreover, Teacher Nita says that she learned that what she focuses on, multiplies. “When I focus on the problems, I experience more of them. When I focus on the blessings, I experience more of them, too. I get to choose which one I want to have more in my life,” she reflects.
On the other hand, the Los love their vegetable garden because they realized that when they put their hearts into something, good things will happen. 

It has also taught their daughters the essence of the adages, “No pain, no gain”, and that “Sharing is loving”. They have witnessed how their Mama Marie often generously shares what she plants to family and friends. Her loved ones also ask seeds from her.
“Life is beautiful to be put to waste. Eating healthy food will help us live longer. I have learned to love my green leafy vegetables. It makes me feel incredibly happy and accomplished whenever I harvest something from my mini garden,” Marie declares.

For these city farmers, certainly, great things start from small beginnings!
E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. To view more photos, please visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.

Lockdown got talent

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 “Lockdown got talent”
SunStar Davao, May 2, 2020

With a lot of time in their hands, people on lockdown have been pursuing their interests, developing new talents, and taking their hobbies to the next level.

Day after day, it is such a delight to see family and friends posting their delectable gourmet creations, thriving vegetable garden, fitness regimen, among others, on social media.

Whether they are effects from sheer boredom or out of plain necessity, it seemed like the community quarantine became a fascinating showcase for “Lockdown Got Talent”.


Beauty in a bayong

“I bought some artworks from a local artist and I thought, why not give it a go? So, I borrowed my daughter’s art supplies and just painted. My first artwork was an impression of tulip flowers.  I liked what I made, so from then on, I painted eleven more on paper.  Judge Virginia Europa saw my artworks on FB and prodded me to attend an art workshop,” Tetet recalls.
From there, the mom-of-three moved to painting on canvas and bayong bags. “I am now on my 65th piece, all through the help and guidance of my teacher/mentor, artist extraordinaire, Dadai Joaquin,” she expresses gratefully.

Tetet says that the ECQ, in a way, is a blessing to her because she can paint, hours on end without thought of attending to any hearing or deadline.

Sparking joy

Tetet plans to pursue painting more, even after the quarantine, since it sparks joy.  Finishing a piece gives her an immediate sense of accomplishment, which sadly, lawyering does not. “Artworks can take a day to make while cases reach months and sometimes, years to finish. There’s instant gratification in doing art,” she compares.

Another hidden talent that she discovered this ECQ was doing her family’s haircut. “My husband and kids’ hair were already looking like Ewoks so I cut their hair using kitchen shears. However, she clarifies that after EQC, she will leave this task to the stylist or the barber, for I know they will do a better job at it than me!” she laughs.
All you knead is love

Celebrating her son’s birthday during the quarantine became a creative outlet for mom-of-four Atty. Angela “Angging” Librado-Trinidad who works as a Labor Attache of the Embassy of the Philippines (Philippine Overseas Labor Office) based in Washington, D.C.
“When COVID-19 struck and our youngest pleaded, “Ma, please try your best in doing my cake”, I relented and finally baked one,” she says.

With the help of some of her baker-friends who gave Angging all the ideas and with her doctor-husband Coco’s steady hands, they lovingly rolled and shaped their son Kico’s fondant icing cake and decorated it with his favorite Ryan’s World Red Titan and Friends characters. Their son’s excited expression upon seeing the cake was priceless!
Healthy family cooking

While working quarantined at home, Angging and her husband have teamed up to bring as many freshly-cooked and healthy meals to the family table every day.
Such a culinary routine proved to be more challenging for them since they had to thaw, cut, and mince every ingredient themselves. Thankfully, their kids have been trained early on to wash the dishes, clean, and pack away.


“My specialties are my onion soup, callos, chili con carne, and all my keto pastries. The kids like my chocolate chip cookies and red velvet cupcake. But, my husband stresses that he loves everything that I cook, probably for fear that I would turn in my resignation letter,” she jokes.

Knack for homeschool

The lockdown also unleashed Angging’s gift for homeschooling her kids, something she can do now with her work-from-home arrangement.

My homeschooling efforts are bearing fruits, I believe. We stuck with the schedule 80% of the time, and “Just Dance” became our common choice for PE. Most importantly, homeschooling made us revisit Philippine history,” she points out.
If there is something that is good about the “new normal’, it is the idea that she can listen to each and every idea that her kids bring up, and every joke laughed at as she sits across the table doing her work.
“I will not pretend that each day has been smooth-sailing and that there was not a single day that my kids and I would not argue, but I would not want to miss any single moment of it. So, I hope to “homeschool” them even after, and while they are enrolled in a traditional learning institution,” ends Angging.

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. To view more photos, please visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.

Work-from-home parents: Best of both worlds

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“Work-from-home parents: Best of both worlds”
SunStar Davao, May 16, 2020

With our ‘new normal’, more and more parents are considering working from home as an alternative way to earn income, spend quality time with their families, and keep themselves and their loved ones safe from Covid-19.

Taking that big leap from a traditional work set-up to a work-from-home environment might be an unchartered territory, so to ease your fears, let’s learn from these parents on how to take this route.

          


NAME: KATHERINE C. ANSALDO

 

     FORMER WORK: Finance Officer/Food Caterer

 

     WORK-FROM-HOME JOB:  Teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) to foreign  

     students via an online class since 2016

    

     WFH SKED: As I tutor students of all ages from 4 to 56 years old, I hold regular class appointments starting       as early as 9:00 a.m. and ending around 10:00 p.m.  

      
           TYPICAL DAY: Unlike the typical daily grind that would require one to wake up and get ready for work by                 7:00 a.m., our routine is a lot more flexible, a lot more balanced. 

QUALIFICATIONS: Employers look to experience as a worthy foundation for employment as an ESL tutor, especially when the experience is in child-rearing. Training certificates and credentials are a plus but having just the right amount of confidence when facing the camera and getting into character is always key to online teaching.

EQUIPMENT: Lenovo Core i3-powered desktop with 20 Mbps Globe-at-Home Fiber subscription

WFH PERKS:

Ø    No more commute. No more traffic. No more rush hours. 

 

Ø    Work-life balance is not a myth, it can be achieved. Even the air you breathe changes, literally. Everything becomes non-toxic. Embracing the bare necessities of having a job, earning your daily keep without the hassle of stepping out of your home.

 

Ø    Less stress, more family interaction. You get to know who you live with better. You begin a cycle of inner change. You learn to be silent and listen more attentively. You begin to nurture and be truly grateful.

 


 

NAME: PAUL B. ANSALDO

FORMER WORK: I used to have a regular 9 to 5 job, working in the construction industry, juggling roles in sales and marketing for almost half of my life.

      WORK-FROM-HOME JOB:  I write copy and content for start-up companies and individuals as a project-based freelancer.

WFH SKED: When I began working as a content writer, my hours needed to coincide with the client’s time zone. It took some time to get adjusted to graveyard shifts but I was also blessed to have had countless opportunities to work with companies and individuals who understand the value of creativity and respect the time zone that I am in.

TYPICAL DAY: We manage our working hours seamlessly interweaved with the comings and goings of a regular day at home. Since our work requires us to sit for hours and may often lead to a sedentary lifestyle, we make it a point to squeeze in light cardio exercises.

QUALIFICATIONS: One might find it easy-peasy to write compelling copy and content in today’s tech-driven world of e-commerce and getting it into Google’s first page. It’s not. You need to have a steady stream of creativity and imagination, lose the verbose, and mind the fluff.

EQUIPMENT: I sport a “detonator” PC. A bareboned desktop running a P4 3.2 GHz processor, compensated by 6 GB worth of RAM.

 

WFH PERKS:

Ø  You embrace simplicity at its core and be genuinely happy and content all the more. 

 

Ø  The biggest bonus is the opportunity to meet people globally, fostering relationships beyond borders, and learning new skill sets every day.

 

Ø  Working from home enabled us to unplug from the normal society and be worthy to be counted among digital nomads who proverbially are a “dime a dozen”. It was our mutual choice to be intentionally present and engaged in our new roles as WFH parents, so much so, that our eldest daughter just recently took a life-defining career shift and is now also working from home.

 

NAME: CHERYL P. DACER

FORMER WORK:I worked for 3 years in Tokyo as an operator of reefer ships that carried bananas from the Philippines to be shipped to various parts of the world.

WORK-FROM-HOME JOB: I am a cake artist, baker, and owner of Cake Lab. I bake cakes and different kinds of pastries. I create dessert tables and sell regular cakes in trays from home. My specialty is making fondant cakes and creating edible character figurines as toppers for my work.




WFH SKED: My working hours can be flexible when we’re not busy, around 8-10 hours.  I prefer to work later in the day because it’s not too hot to bake and I like to decorate at night because it’s quiet. But, during the holidays, it can get crazy. I sometimes must stay up for 24-48 hours to finish my work.

TYPICAL DAY:A typical day would be answering queries on my Facebook page while having a cup of coffee in the morning. I write down the details of the cakes that I need to decorate during the day, prepare all the ingredients needed, and decorate for the rest of the day. When I’m tired from a previous night’s work, I can take naps during the afternoons.  And, when the cakes are easy and I finish early, I spend time watching movies with my son and my assistant.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:I think it is important to have some inclination to art as my work requires a lot of creativity. It is also important to have patience as the details can be quite tedious. Most importantly, one must be incredibly hardworking to work long hours and rarely getting a chance to sit. 

EQUIPMENT:I use a Kitchen Aid, an oven, a chiller for the cakes, an air-conditioned kitchen, and baking pans and tools. Internet is also a must since I do most of my marketing online.

WFH PERKS:

Ø  I get to spend time with my son.  I take him to school and pick him up and we can do homework and chat       while I am working.

Ø  My son has a medical condition called Hemophilia. Sometimes, the school calls me for when he has nosebleeds or when he has fallen or hurt himself and I can immediately go and pick him up and give him the injections that he needs.

Ø  My work hours are flexible. No one tells me what time I have to start working and when I should stop. My body dictates when it’s time to rest.

Ø  I’m not required to dress up and put on make-up to work. I can work in my PJ’s as long as I’m wearing an apron and a hairnet, I’m good to go

Ø  I can watch movies, play loud music and laugh with my staff while working. It’s a very relaxed work environment.

 

NAME: JULIE FAITH PALO-LAPAZ

FORMER WORK:My first job was at a Korean academy teaching English to students for two years. I then worked for a BPO company as a communications trainer for another two years.

WORK-FROM-HOME JOB:  Our company is an online business English school that caters to Japanese professionals. So, our students range from fresh university graduates to top management officials in corporations. My job description basically entails assisting our trainers (English instructors) while they are teaching the students

WFH SKED: Being in Trainer Support Services, I work 8 hours a day and 6 days a week. The hours differ from day to day which also makes it more flexible for my home schedule as well.

TYPICAL DAY:A typical day means lugging around my laptop and earphones as I’m doing my supervisory duties while attending to the kids. During meetings, I slip into the bedroom or basement and prep my background (which is required to be white) and I wear my office shirt (instead of a blazer during the summer season) as I start my meetings both via Zoom and Skype.

QUALIFICATIONS:To be a trainer at my company, you just need to have at least two years of college to qualify. Then maintain good KPI and feedback from the students in order to be shortlisted by the Human Capital Department.

EQUIPMENT: Good working laptop; primary and backup internet; backup power supply; noise-cancelling headset and microphone; ring light; and roll-up tarp system for white background

 
          WFH PERKS:

Ø  I do not miss commuting to and from the office so working from home maximizes my time between family and work itself.

Ø  Not having to think of what to wear for work, as even though we are required to wear a blazer or our office shirt during meetings, I don’t have to worry about anything else.

Ø  Flexibility of schedule that helps me in managing the home as well as my team at work.

Ø  Safety, as I am just home and avoiding having to go out, it’s given my family the sense of security and safety that I do not have to go out especially during this pandemic.

Ø  I am a person who thrives on routine and schedules to help my life go in line with everyone else’s lives and with my work-from-home set-up, it has certainly helped me be as involved as I want to be and be as present in everyone’s lives as much as possible. 

 


NAME:MARIA LEA NOVERO-DOBLADO

FORMER WORK: I was a payroll application programmer/analyst in an integrated forest and paper company for 22 years.

WORK-FROM-HOME JOB:  I work in an online English training platform where our students are Chinese from all ages.  I conduct a 25-minute class depending on the student's chosen topic which I study or check ahead of time. The job entails me to give corrective feedback and make the lessons as fun and engaging.

WFH SKED: I start from 10:00 a.m to 9:30 p.m. with lunch, pm snack and dinner breaks for 1 hour each.

TYPICAL DAY: My day starts with me doing simple exercises and housework, then preparing for my classes by reviewing the student's chosen lessons. I catch sleep after eating lunch and snacks and after my last class, I review the next day's lessons. I end the day by browsing the internet, catching up on the news and playing brain games like Sudoku.

 

QUALIFICATIONS: You should have an excellent command in English language then passion and patience in teaching because some lessons could be tough depending on the student's proficiency level. Also, have energy and enthusiasm in teaching because this helps the students enjoy and be attentive in classes.

EQUIPMENT: Laptop or desk computer with a working camera, headset, and a strong internet connection

WFH PERKS:

Ø  Advantages would include control over my schedule as I can plot the time I'm only available and adjust it depending on other plans/commitments I have.

Ø  Work at home helps me save more as I don't have to spend any transportation fares.

Ø  I don't have to worry about the traffic or being late. It is also convenient to do other things in between like cleaning, cooking or napping on my breaks.

Ø  Higher earning potential as there are lots of online jobs out there you can try which are convenient for you.

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. To view more photos, please visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.

The kawaii world of Kitty Necy

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 “The kawaii world of Kitty Necy”
SunStar Davao, June 6, 2020

There are just some things you will never outgrow.

For Necy Lim, her penchant for collecting lovable Hello Kitty items which began when she was in high school is a hard, hard habit to break.

Working in Japan, the home of Hello Kitty, in her 20s exposed her even more to the country’s kawaii (meaning lovely, cute, or adorable in Japanese) pop culture. “For OFWs, you are known for two things: chocolates and stuffed toys. Living abroad was quite lonely and I would find joy and comfort from my Hello Kitty plush toys. They served as trophies of my hard work,” Necy shared.


She temporarily stopped collecting her Hello Kitty merchandise when she became pregnant in 2000.  In 2018, she revived her Sanrio fascination and it has skyrocketed since then.

A purr-fect homage

Now at 43, Necy’s expansive Hello Kitty collection of bags, clothing, accessories, household items, stuffed toys, among others, has filled an entire room in their house.




“We changed our bedsheets, curtains, and wallpaper to ones with Hello Kitty designs. I also began adding Hello Kitty stuffed toys on our Hello Kitty bed and drawers, shelves, and dresser,” she excitedly recalled.


Among her most treasured memorabilia are a Hello Kitty stuffed toy from Build-a-Bear; Loungefly bag; Instax camera; a human-sized stuffed toy version; and kitchen appliances.




“Currently, I honestly do not know how many Hello Kitty items there are in my room. There are just too many to count,” she expressed with amusement.

Stay pawsitive
            
Necy revealed that as a dialysis patient, her love for Hello Kitty gave her so much bliss, especially during times when she feels down and depressed about her condition.



“It may sound weird, but Hello Kitty gives me strength. I even look forward to my dialysis sessions because I get to wear my Hello Kitty clothes, flaunt it in the hospital and make people turn their heads when I pass by. It also makes other dialysis patients happy and adds color and excitement to the gloomy hospital,” she explained.



Necy is likewise grateful to discover fellow Hello Kitty lovers in communities and groups online. They bond and share their love for Sanrio’s world ambassador.


“I eventually became the founder of Hello Kitty Team Mindanao which is a group of Hello Kitty fans residing in Mindanao. I am also the administrator in online groups like Hello Kitty Collectors and 100% Hello Kitty Lovers. Personally, these groups have inspired me in my collection and room transformation. They helped me source more items to add to my growing collection, too,” Necy revealed.

Vlogging with a cat-titude

Being bored at home led Necy to discover the world of YouTube and vlogging.

“I was amazed by how people could share their personalities and interests online and even make a profit out of it. I thought, given that I am just staying at home doing nothing, why don’t I give vlogging a try? If I am lucky, I may get to earn money that could help our family financially especially for my dialysis medication,” she disclosed.


Most importantly, Necy genuinely enjoys her new endeavor. It gives her motivation as well as a sense of productivity and escape. Her YouTube channel “Kitty Necy Diary” has now more than 2,500 subscribers.


“In this hobby of ours, there may be people who would judge us but for me, as long as we are happy in what we are doing and not hurting anybody, then there is no reason for us to be affected by what other people think,” she said.


      
According to Necy, she cautions fellow aficionados not to prioritize one’s obsession over basic or more important needs. She advises them “to be aware when things become too much”.
            

However, she believes though that her Hello Kitty prized possessions amassed through the years is not a waste of money. “Money can certainly not be compared with the euphoria and comfort my Hello Kitty collection has given me,” Necy enthused.

Her never-ending love affair with Hello Kitty is undeniably ‘fur’ keeps!

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. To view more photos, please visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.

Raising young savers and investors

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“Raising young savers and investors”
SunStar Davao, June 20, 2020

Two years ago, I had the privilege of featuring the inspiring story of the Dimailig family in my article, “Starting ‘Em Young to be Money Smart”. 


In my write-up, Doris Parel-Dimailig, a full-time mom and businesswoman, together with seafarer-husband Gerald shared how they raised their sons Patrick and Jed Benedict (now 19 and 14, respectively) to become good financial stewards even at a young age.


Mommy Doris is a certified Jack Canfield Trainer of the Success Principles. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration Major in Marketing from the Ateneo de Davao University and completed her Masteral Degree in Business Management from Cor Jesu College in Digos City.


A Land Bank employee for twenty years, Doris is active in advocating financial literacy and conducts one-on-one and group coaching on various topics such as saving, budgeting, getting out of debt, and investing in the Philippine stock market. She has also given personal finance talks to various schools, organizations, and offices.

Financial literacy for kids and teens

Wanting to spread financial literacy among parents, kids, and teens, Doris recently launched her first-ever book, “Raising Young Savers and Investors: How I Taught my Children to Save and Invest in the Stock Market”.

In the book’s introduction, Doris writes that it is important to teach children how to responsibly manage money because their generation is exposed to consumerism and materialism.


She observes that“some children draw their self-confidence from having the same luxuries that their friends or other people have. They feel they are entitled to have certain luxuries, without understanding the cost”.

Doris warns that if this is not corrected early, this harmful mindset and attitude will persist throughout adulthood. She emphasizes that “teaching financial education to children will also instill in them the positive values of self-control, discipline, accountability, and generosity to others”.

Real-life stories

I loved how Doris candidly shared real-life accounts of their family’s journey to financial literacy and stewardship in her easy-to-read book. Her strategies are simple, doable, and most importantly, proven to be effective.


For instance, the Dimailigs implemented a money jar system for their kids’ school allowance to teach them the concept of budgeting. Each transparent jar is labeled as save/invest (25%), charity (5%), and tithes (10%). The remaining 60% is for spending. This system has positively influenced Patrick and Jed to distinguish their wants from needs and totally changed their attitude about handling money.


Doris taught them that “money has to be saved and invested so it will increase its value”. To illustrate this, every end of the month, the savings from the money jar are deposited into their individual bank accounts. As soon as the bank money reaches P1,000, it is transferred to their stockbrokers’ account where they can buy shares of stocks from their favorite companies.


In 2016, youngest son Jed received the Outstanding Kiddie Saver Award from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, a nationwide search for young Filipinos who have developed the good habit of saving money at an early age.


Perseverance and financial freedom

The value of long-term investing in stocks and/or mutual funds was also imparted to the Dimailigs’ loyal nanny Loveme who finished her college course while working for their household.



Their former yaya is now enjoying her job in the corporate world and sets a portion of her monthly paycheck for her investments.

     
Doris’ timely book aims to guide parents and educators to successfully teach young children and even adults valuable money management skills to build a financially secure future.


“Money is a tool to fund both our needs and dreams. Motivate our kids to save by explaining that their savings can fund their future studies, hobbies, interests, and activities based on their core values. In addition, educate them that money can be earned by working hard either through employment and/or entrepreneurship, and investing in the stock market and mutual funds”, she advised.

THEPHILIPPINES’ WARREN BUFFET. The book author with Edward K. Lee, founder of COL Financial, a.k.a. the Warren Buffet of the Philippines. Doris shares that “Filipino citizens can open an account with COL Financial via online or through their Investor Centers in Makati, Cebu, Davao, and Ilocos”.


For inquiries on the book “Raising Young Savers and Investors: How I Taught My Children to Save and Invest in the Stock Market”, please get in touch with Doris Dimailig at www.facebook.com/mommydoris or e-mail her at dorisdimailig@gmail.com.
           
E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.

Finding the extra in the ordinary

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“Finding the extra in the ordinary”
SunStar Davao, July 4, 2020

Helen Salingay-Co defines “aesthetic” as finding beauty out of every ordinary thing.

“Each object has its character and style. And, once I see its purpose and highlight it, its beauty comes out naturally,” shares the mom-of-two.
She credits the early beginnings of her creativity when she explored the fine art of gift-wrapping. 
“I always dreamt of being the receiver of a well-curated gift. The content need not be expensive. But, the well-thought way in wrapping the present warms my heart,” says Helen who is married to Gerald Alan Co. They have two sons, Giancarlo (18) and Craig Nicholas (17).

“So, I began to innovate ways on how to make a gift a little extra with its look. This jumpstarted my “sourcing habit” of any item that interested me until it evolved into documenting my creations with my smartphone,” she fondly reminisces.

Kindred spirits

In 2015, Helen came across an Instagram post about an “Unstyling Workshop”. This piqued her interest that she flew to Manila and met Kitty Bunag, Mia De Lara, Kay Isabedra, and Chuty Santos of the Craftsmith Team. The one-on-one workshop opened her eyes in valuing the everyday ordinary things that surrounded her.

“Craftsmith Team has always been my mentor in styling and photography. They played a major role in my life and have become my sincerest friends. They are way too kind in sharing precious knowledge in their respective fields of expertise,” reveals Helen.
Helen also attended the “Food Photography and Prop Styling Fundamentals Workshop” by Photokitchen organized by Mylene Chung and Nilca Hortico in Manila.
In 2017, an intimate workshop she conducted on the basics of flat lay paved the way for Helen to meet Davao moms Anna Ibarreta-Santos and Apple Chua-Quiñones.
 A flat lay is “a photo of objects arranged on a flat surface, captured from directly above”.
Spontaneous brunch sessions that usually included styling their beautiful table mess deepened their bond. As time passed by, they decided to call their close-knit group as “The Kreativ Gypsies”. The trio does intimate styling of events, food styling, and photo-styling workshops.


The Curious H      

With over a decade of accumulating props, Helen’s plethora of accessories have filled up every corner and alley of their family home.
          
Back in the day, she styled through flat lay so space was never a problem. However, as she continually evolved her photo styling skills, she needed a bigger wall to create the look she wanted to achieve.
“Somehow the “need” for a bigger playground came to mind when my family and I saw the space at La Verna High Street. We immediately fell in love with the place,” Helen recounts.

The Curious H General Store is Helen’s newly-opened playground where she can do what she loves the most – the art of gift-wrapping, prop and photo styling, small-space styling, and flat lay.

The store sells a bit of merchandise related to photo styling and rents out props for photoshoots inside the shop. There is a small space for intimate meetings/workshops as well. 

Customers who have dropped by the store gush that it exuded “BGC feels” and made them feel that “they were not in Davao”. Calming Aēsop diffuser wood scents waft through the air.

“I want to share my playground with Dabawenyos who have the same passion in expressing their creativity. I hope that just like my appreciation for everyday ordinary things, they will find an item in the store that sparks their heart and makes them giddy,” ends Helen.
The Curious H General Store is at 15 La Verna High Street, La Verna Bypass Road, Davao City.


Special thanks to Helen Salingay-Co and Dyan Nuere-Te for the photos.

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.

Online distance learning: A home - school partnership

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“Online distance learning: A home-school partnership”
SunStar Davao, July 18, 2020

As we welcome this school year, most teachers, students, and parents are preparing for the new normal with the much talked about online distance learning (ODL).

Synchronous learning is an online or distance education done in real-time. In contrast, asynchronous learning happens through online channels without real-time interaction.
Both my children had an early taste of ODL when face-to-face classes were called off because of the pandemic during their school’s last quarter. This July, my eldest daughter, a freshman in a Manila university began her college life through ODL in the comforts of our Davao home with her blockmates and professors from all over the Philippines and even as far as Qatar.

Underlying issues

Last week, I joined Dr. Queena Lee-Chua’s Zoom webinar “Making Online Distance Learning Work” organized by Anvil Publishing. For the past three months, she has been doing a series of webinars on this topic for private and public-school teachers, parents, and students.

Dr. Queena graduated from Ateneo de Manila University in 1987, with a degree in BS Mathematics, summa cum laude. In addition, she has a doctorate in clinical psychology from the same university, where she is a professor.

“Some parents are anxious now with ODL because the issues regarding their child’s learning have been underlying. And this pandemic has forced them to confront,” Dr. Queena says.
These issues include lack of discipline; distractions/indiscriminate gadget use; parent-child conflict over discipline and communication; learning independently; competition; “cheating”; among others.

Stress, fear, and anxiety brought about by the pandemic are additional issues as well.

“We cannot avoid stress, but we can learn to manage it. Fear is normal in a pandemic, but parents must calm their children and themselves by focusing on what they can do such as brainstorming on physical study space and routine, honing skills, helping frontliners, and caring for each other,” reminds Dr. Queena.

Making ODL work

Dr. Queena emphasizes that kids should have a set routine for sleeping time, waking time, classes, exercises, chores, etc. during this ODL.

“Discuss a doable routine for all. Structure the home environment to make motivation a habit,” the mom-of-one advises. She adds that “amid this uncertainty, structure provides a sense of safety. And, with good discipline, children grow up feeling confident, conscious of their actions, and responsible for them.”
The multi-awarded educator and author clarify that it is not necessary for all the students to have individual gadgets and computers. In fact, this is a good time for the kids to learn how to share their gadgets and computers and do self-regulation.

Parents may also assign a certain gadget or computer for school purposes only so kids will not use them without control. If this is not an option, set a timer/user apps as reminders to stop surfing or go offline. Likewise, one may download and print offline materials for offline study to avoid using the gadget or computer for too long.
In her bestselling book, “Helping Our Children Do Well in School”, Dr. Queena has always stressed the importance of creating a conducive environment for study. She suggests that if possible, the child must have his or her own desk and minimize distractions.

If limited space is a constraint, using earphones during ODL can also work and create a semi-private space. “The environment may not be ideal, but it should be workable for all,” she says.

Support from home is crucial

In another Zoom webinar conducted by Dr. Queena on “Establishing Online Home-School Partnership”, she discusses the role of the parents on ODL.

“Parents should not do the assignments for the kids. They should not sit beside the child and not take notes for the child. Instead, they should guide their children regarding skills, mindset, attitudes, and behavior,” shares Dr. Queena.
“Ideally, the parent leaves the child alone and works in another room. But, the parent should check on the child from time to time to see if the child is focusing on the subject, or if the child is doing YouTube. The role of the parents is not to give the content but to help their children study well. There is a difference,” she continues.

In general, Dr. Queena explains that the younger the child (especially preschool to Grade 3), the more support is needed. Teachers and parents provide the “scaffolding”. However, for high school and college students, developed good study habits should grow in autonomy.
“We must teach our children that effort is more important than whatever innate ability he or she may possess. Encourage persistence and explain that mistakes are a natural part of learning. Focus on the positive. Instead of saying they are smart, tell your child that you are proud that he or she worked hard and did their best,” she declares.
“Of course, nothing beats face-to-face learning. However, a strong home-school partnership can make online distance learning work,” Dr. Queena enthuses.

Dr. Queena Lee-Chua's books are available online through bit.ly/QLCBooks. For assistance, please email onlinesales@anvilpublishing.com.



Big thanks to Dr. Queena Lee-Chua, Anvil Publishing, Ateneo SALT head Fr. Johnny Go, Jesuit Basic Education Commission (JBEC) head Fr. Ari Dy, and Julie Tiu for making this article possible.

Digital artworks for this issue were all done by my 12-year-old twin nieces. Awesome job, Jorgy and Missy!

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.

Fifth time's a charm

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"Fifth time’s a charm"
SunStar Davao, August 1, 2020

It was two days before her due date when Gladys Gonzaga-Togonon abruptly woke up due to slight contractions at 3:30 a.m.

“I thought I was in false labor and waited for forty-five minutes. The contractions were not as extremely painful as my previous pregnancies though, so I slept again,” says the 31-year-old mom.

At past 5:00 a.m., as the labor pains increased in frequency and intensity, she began mindfully packing things to prepare for her hospital delivery. Suddenly, Gladys noticed that she was leaking a little after a contraction. In minutes, her water broke.

“As I was calling my husband Ben to get ready, I knew it was too late when the inevitable was happening,” she recalled.

Gladys was about to give birth, unassisted, at home.

Unassisted home birth

The brave mom quickly rushed to the bathroom and secured her towel. Gladys instinctively felt the urge to push as hard as she could, loudly calling Jesus to help her.

In less than ten minutes, her little one was out. Hearing the loud cry of her precious 38-week-old baby, Dwayne Benjamin, was pure music to the mother’s ears!

"Our fifth baby entered the world during this pandemic, but God had His own way of showing us that life is beautiful. I delivered a healthy 3.59-kilo baby boy by myself, right at the comfort of my throne (toilet seat) at home and in the fastest and most natural way,” she gratefully expressed.

When Gladys  went to Davao Doctors Hospital, the umbilical cord remained uncut and her placenta was still intact. She decided not to push out the placenta and waited until she and Ben reached the hospital for fear of possible risks and complications.

Labor of love

Baby Dwayne was roomed-in from the beginning because all his laboratory tests were normal. Mother and child stayed at the hospital overnight and were discharged the following  day.

“Every childbirth has a different story and each time, it was a magical moment for me, but the labor and delivery are not easy feats,” admitted Gladys.

For her four previous deliveries, Gladys gave birth via Normal Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery (NSVD) in a birthing suite and used the Lamaze method for breathing and pain management. She also had one ectopic pregnancy where her right fallopian tube was removed and two miscarriages.

The Togonons’ “basketball dream team line-up” includes their eldest Brent (aged 13); Cid (8); Gabe (5); Benzy (1.5 y.o.); and their newest “recruit” 3-week-old Dwayne.

Team Togonon

“I am blessed with a husband who is a good provider, loving partner as well as a hands- on and caring daddy. He is my helpmate in everything especially in taking turns in watching the kids,” Gladys shared.

Last September, the Togonons took a leap of faith and started to homeschool their children through the help of their church’s Discipleship Group (Dgroup), learning coaches, homeschool provider, and other homeschool families.

More than just academics, homeschooling fostered deeper connection and bonding among Ben, Gladys, and their kids.











“Aside from interest-led or strength-based learning where they became independent learners, our boys showed continuous improvement on their values, time management, sense of accountability, organization, life skills, love for others, and stronger relationship with God,” Gladys observed.

Keeping her sanity

To keep herself fit and healthy, Gladys eats a balanced diet with vegetables freshly harvested from their backyard garden. Household chores, afternoon walks, and biking around the village with the family are her forms of exercise.


This quarantine, Gladys, who is a graduate of the Center for Asian Culinary Arts, reacquainted herself with the kitchen. She also enjoys reading and tends to her ornamental plants every day.


Once a week, she and Ben meet with their Dgroup family through Zoom where they study the word of God together. Her friendship with fellow homeschooling moms has also been an invaluable source of comfort.

“And, of course, tons of prayers keep my sanity intact,” Gladys revealed.

“The best part of being a mom of 5 boys is how they show their love and affection to me. I like how they are so attached and clingy although, sometimes, it can be overwhelming and annoying. There are also times I feel like I have failed them but in the eyes of my kids, I am a supermom”, said the Togonons’ one and only queen bee.

Asked if she and Ben had any plans of adding another “team member” in the future, Gladys promptly replied, “Nah-uh! The baby factory is officially closed and sealed. Enough is enough. Thank God!”.

Special thanks to Mima Tan of Mimathology for the studio photos.

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.

Taking root: Plant momma 101

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Taking root: Plant momma 101”

SunStar Davao, August 15, 2020


You may know Jenny Uyking best as the woman behind Jenny’s Kitchen Davao where she creates intricately-designed bento art boxes and cakes, and rolls out mouthwatering homemade goodies.


Or, if you follow her on social media, you may have noticed her adorable twinning outfits with her 8-year-old daughter Natalie Kate who shares her kikay mom’s fondness for fashion even at a tender age. 


The mompreneur who works in the family’s buy and sell business is also an active barter enthusiast of Davao who loves to make gorgeous tablescapes at home.

These days, her fascination for plants has taken root, pun here intended, adding another passion project to her growing list. She is ‘Jen of all trades’, after all.


Connecting with plants

“I love plants because it helps keep me grounded. There’s something about digging in the dirt and growing living plants that settles my soul and helps me feel alive inside. Plants connect us to hope, anticipation, learning and nurturing,” Jenny, who is married to businessman Earlan Uyking, says.


“Owning a plant can improve your well-being. Aside from purifying the air, they are good for one’s mental health. Surrounding yourself with houseplants can boost your concentration and help your psychological well-being,” she shares.


Jenny reveals that a lot of her plants were given by beloved friends, customers, and family. “I’d get cuttings from people and we’d swap them. Then, I started collecting the rarer ones. It is fun to start with one inspiring first plant and then build from there. Collections are more fun when you’re learning about something new”, the busy mom adds. 





Plant momma 101

For those who want to start their own plant collection, Jenny suggests that they include gardening essentials such as pruning shears, gardening gloves, garden fork, hoe, trowel, hose or watering can, fertilizer, small stool, pots, soil tester, and digging shovel.


“Beginners can start with easy and low maintenance plants like Sanseveria, Aglaonema, Cactus/Succulents, Peace Lily, and Welcome or ZZ Plant,” Jenny recommends.



Jenny attests that the Aglaonema is one of the best indoor air purifying plants because aside from releasing fresh oxygen, it is a natural humidifier. “They like to be kept moist but not soggy so just water them two to three times a week when topsoil is dry. The plant likes bright indirect light, so they are simply perfect inside the house near the window,” she advises.

Stayin’ alive

Want to keep your plants alive? Jenny shares that it starts with getting the right plant. Choosing the correct pot and drainage are extremely important as well.


“Use good potting soil. Try your best when watering, fertilizing, and repotting your plants. Give them plenty of light but do take note that every plant has different preferences in terms of shade versus sun,” she points out.


Another enjoyable and integral part of collecting plants are the pretty pots and accessories that make them even more eye-catching.

“Before the lockdown, I scoured the department stores, local shops, and hardwares for planters and plant racks. For native-looking planters, you can buy them at Jonah’s Craft Store. A lot of online sellers are offering pots, too. You just have to check the price and quality,” Jenny says.



“Being a plant momma is not necessarily an expensive hobby, but it can be initially if you are not mindful. My plants are more than just a hobby. For me, it is a way of life,” Jenny declares.

                              

   

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.


 

From girl scout to jail officer: GSP's National Young Achiever

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"From girl scout to jail officer: GSP's National Young Achiever"
SunStar Davao, September 12, 2020

“Once a girl scout, always a girl scout.”    

This could not be any truer for Gilvee Chardyl Plana who was recognized by the Girl Scouts of the Philippines’ National Headquarters as one of the 80 awardees during the recent “Search for GSP’s National Young Achievers” in line with the celebration of its 80thyear. 

The search aims to recognize active and former girls scouts ages 21 to 35 years old for “their notable achievements within and outside the GSP movement as well as their continuous efforts to contribute positively to social, economic, environment and development of their communities and the country as a whole.”

“I have been in girl scouting for more than two decades and it has been a big part of my life since I was a little girl. It made me who I am today, from a Twinkler Scout to an Adult Leader,” Gilvee proudly proclaims.

Selfless service

Gilvee, 26, was the first-ever Chief Girl Scout Medal Scheme Awardee from the Bernardo D. Carpio National High School in Davao City where she graduated as a salutatorian in 2010.

“Immersing myself in the community while still a student was one of the best experiences I had in scouting because I discovered the needs of the people. It made me realize that this was the essence of the mission and vision of the Girl Scout in molding girls and young women in extending selfless service to the people,” she says.

“Being a girl scout is not as easy as what others think because it has an equal responsibility. I can feel the pressure when some people tell me, “Uy! Girl Scout, dapat laging handa,” Gilvee shares with amusement.

Through girl scouting, Gilvee is grateful that there were countless opportunities in developing her leadership skills through enriching seminars, trainings, campings, among others. “I also visited many places for free and encountered respected and inspiring people who became my role models,” she reveals.

Agent of change

Upon graduating with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Criminology in 2014, Gilvee worked as a Technical Assistant for Training at the GSP Davao Council. In the same year, she also passed the Civil Service Examination, and the Criminology Licensure Examination.

While working, she likewise taught Criminology on a part-time basis at the Holy Cross of Davao College. After four fruitful years working in the GSP, Gilvee moved on to practice her profession as a Jail Officer with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Region XI.

“My task is not only to protect and develop Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) but I am also trained to extend our services to other people in the community as a Community Relations Service Jail Non-Officer Task. I coordinate activities such as coastal clean-ups, tree planting, gift-giving, among others,” she relates.



“I thought I can no longer practice the fulfilling deeds that I used to do in Girl Scouting but through my profession, I have expanded my influence in doing good for others and be an effective agent of change in building a safer and better nation,” Gilvee imparts.


Congratulations to Gilvee and the other GSP National Young Achievers from all over the Philippines!

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/.

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