The New Me

You know, kids can be nasty when dealing with other kids their age. That I discovered even when I was still in elementary school. I wasn't a victim of physical bullying but I was called by many names. Classmates called me negra and Cofradia too many times to convince me that I was ugly.

In fairness to my mom, she never told me I was one. In fact, I still remember her calling me mestiza because, as she told me, I had eyes that were always wide open. She saw the best in me and encouraged me to hone my gifts. I excelled in school and in the arts.


This is me in high school.
Still, the name callings were more powerful than all of my mom's words of comfort. They made me feeling inferior about myself. My lack of confidence showed even when I was already enrolled in UP. While my classmates wore slinky shorts and short-sleeved shirts to school, I chose to wear ones that hid my dark-skinned frame. My goal then was to be as invisible as I can be and to go through the 4 years just doing my own business.

The new me emerged when I met my husband. Ours was a whirlwind romance. Let's just say that we got married only after 11 months of being together. I was fresh out of college and starting my career in a publishing company. But I took the risk and left everything to be a full-time housewife. I'm glad I did. By the way, it will be our 10th year anniversary in January 2010!

I guess my husband swept me off my feet because he was the only person whom I felt had sincerely appreciated my worth. Like my mom, he lifted my spirits up. And throughout the years, he has always said amazing things about how I look or how I do things at home. I slowly regained the confidence I had before the name callings began.

After four years of being a full-time hands-on mom to our only child, I decided to reinvent myself. I enrolled in graduate school and took a Masters degree in Education from UPOU. After that, I saw myself teaching preschoolers and gradeschoolers who made me feel even better about myself. To them, I was the Superwoman. They don't call me negra. Instead, with a tight hug and a kiss on the side, they lovingly call me "Teacher Mauie". The toddlers who are still bulol call me "Teacher Mommy!"

It was also during the same time that I discovered blogging. Through blogging, I was able to meet new friends and acquaintances. I was also able to meet mentors who taught me the ins and outs of online writing jobs. I'm not teaching anymore as I am now working in my home office for two foreign clients and one local online encyclopedia. With my current work-at-home status, I get to manage the household, take care of my kid after school hours, blog, and work all at the same time. Somehow, I got to continue the publishing career that I left when I got married.

My son is more bolero. My siblings have always kidded me that I brainwashed my son into thinking that I am gorgeous and sexy. But I didn't. I think it's automatic for children to find their moms beautiful, don't you think?

Me with the extra pounds and all but I feel gorgeous and sexy because my boy tells me so!
This is the New Me. I may be fifty pounds heavier, just a shade or two lighter in skin color, but my self-confidence is back. I strive to have a regular exercise routine, to follow a beauty regimen, and to think happy thoughts to stay looking young. With my family appreciating the inner me, I get inspired to constantly improve myself and my craft.


The New Me with GlutaMAX, the recent addition to my beauty regimen.
GlutaMAX, See the Results!

From our family to yours...

Discovering The Lopez Link

I seldom watch shows on TV nowadays because I'm online most of the time. What I usually do is visit sites that will give me the same information that these shows give. Just recently, I got to discover the Lopez Link.

If you are familiar with the Lopezes of ABS-CBN, then, you'll easily identify what the Lopez Link is all about. It is actually the online arm of the Lopez Group of Companies. The Lopez Group of Companies is responsible for projects such as the Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig and A Run for Pasig River. I browsed through the LopezLink 2009 Year End Report and I'm quite impressed with all the activities that the company has accomplished.

Knowledge Channel, by the way, is also brought to the public by the Lopez Group of Companies. I have always been a fan of Knowledge Channel. The channel has positioned itself as an important supplement to kids' regular school lessons over the years. The government also recognizes its role in educating Filipino children. In fact, Knowledge Channel and Department of Education renew basic education tools development partnership.

I encourage you to visit the Lopez Link to be updated on their projects and events. Register as a user and participate in the forum to let others read what's on your mind. I did. I posted a reply to the thread "teaching the Save the Pasig campaign to children". You can click on the link to see what I have written and reply to the thread, too!

Litratong Pinoy: Paskong Pinoy

Hindi ko masyadong feel mamili ng regalo ngayong Pasko. Parang mas naging mahirap kasi ang buhay ngayon taon. Pero alam niyo naman, sa ating mga Pinoy, hindi pwedeng hindi mairaraos ang Pasko. Iyang Belen na iyan,pintura and white glue lang ang aming binili. Gawa ang lahat sa . Ang mga tao ay gawa sa taka (dyaryong hinulma gamit ang pandikit). Ang kubo ay galing sa mga tuyong talahib na ginupit sa mga bakanteng lote sa aming subdivision. Ang ilaw naman ay mga ginamit din noong nakaraang taon. Sa ganito lang siya nagsimula noong isang buwan. Konting imahinasyon at creativity lang ang kinailangan para magmukhang napakaganda.Kesa ibili ko pa ng mga bago at mamahaling dekorasyon, bibigyan ko na lang ng bonus ang aking mabait na alalay sa paggawa ng aming munting Belen.

I'm not too enthusiastic about Christmas shopping this year. I feel that life has become harder this year. But we Filipinos have a way to cope and to go through celebrating Christmas. This Belen outside our home is made of recycled materials. We used old newspapers and glue, dried cut grass, and old Christmas lights. We just bought glue and some poster colors. All it needed was a little imagination and creativity for it to be even more beautiful. I'm just going to give what I was able to save as bonus to our houseboy who made all of these possible.

Rap's "Man in The Mirror"

I'm so guilty for not updating this blog for more than a week now. I'm swamped with my online writing duties that I cannot even update my blogs as of the moment. Despite my busy and hectic work schedule, the 24-hour mommy in me gave me the energy to attend my son's school activities. This December, he's busy with his singing engagements in school as part of the Grade School glee club plus he also joined this year's Solo Singing Competition.

I'm leaving you with this video for now. He won Second Place out of eight Grade 3 and Grade 4 contestants. Not bad for a first time contestant, don't you think? Hope you enjoy! And oh, my sister was the one who took the video as I was taking pictures. So blame her if you find the video too wiggly. Haha!

I'd Like To Win This For My Mom

My mom retired from her work at an international financial institution in 2006. She's been there for 26 years before she felt the need to give herself a break. When I was still living in my parents' home, I would often transfer from my room to my parent's room just so I can see her putting on her make-up in the morning. When she comes home in the evening, I would also watch her removing her make-up and putting on her night cream. Now that she's retired, she seldom puts on make-up. I bet she doesn't put on her night cream, too. I guess, she doesn't feel the need for it anymore and thinks that it's already luxury for her to buy beauty creams.


This is why when I heard about Earth's Anew Rejuvenate Line Contest, I grabbed the chance to win the products for my mom. I would love her to pamper herself again just like the old days. I am also sharing the good news to all of you since the contest is open not only to bloggers but to Facebook users as well.

Here's how you can join:

For Bloggers:
1. Write about the contest in your blog and write why you would like to receive the Anew Rejuvenate Line.
2. Make sure to link your post to the URL of this post.
3. Leave a comment here with a link to your post.

For Facebook account holders:
1. Write about the contest in your Facebook status and tell your friends why you would like to receive the Anew Rejuvenate Line
2. Make sure to put the link of this post in your status message.
3. Leave a comment here with the URL to your Facebook status message so I can verify.

Read this to see why you should join the contest. By the way, the contest is open until January 30, 2010 which makes it a perfect 35th wedding anniversary gift for my mom since they'll celebrate it in the 27th of the same month.

What are you waiting for? Don't let this chance pass!

P.S. If you have a contest where I can win something for my Dad, please let me know. Hahaha! Am I kuripot or what?!?!

The Importance of Sleep

Last November 21, 2009, I attended the Johnson and Johnson Bedtime Discoveries event held in the Manila Peninsula. The event was hosted by Christine Bersola-Babao. That day, I and the other mommy bloggers and mommies-to-be, were taught on the importance of sleep for children especially infants. We learned vital information from pediatric pulmonologist and sleep expert Dr. Luis Rivera of Asian Hospital and Makati Medical Center.




So get your pen and paper ready because here are some bits and pieces of what I have learned that day:

SLEEP IN BABIES

• Babies can have a light but lengthy sleep lasting 20 minutes or more.
  
• A shorter sleep cycle, lasting 50 to 60 minutes, is the most vulnerable period of night waking.
• Babies don't sleep as adults do. They have twice as much active, or light, sleep as adults.

STAGES OF SLEEP

• Hypnagogic State - "pre-sleep stage marked by visual, auditory, and kinesthetic sensations.
  
• Non-REM Sleep - consisting of four stages.
• REM Sleep - rapid eye movements, high frequency brain waves, paralysis of large muscles, and dreaming.

FUNCTIONS OF SLEEP

• REM Sleep - consolidation of new movements; role in learning; absent in lower mammals.
  
• Non-REM Sleep - people deprived of all sleep show greater time spent in non-REM sleep the next night.

WHY SLEEP?

Sleep is important for the development and function of:

• Growth - During sleep, 3x more growth hormones are released than when babies are awake. There are more opportunities for growth during baby's first few months of life than at any other stage in life. This is because they experience longer times in deep sleep (where growth happens).
  
• Immune system
• Learning and memory
• Health of cardiovascular system
• Hormonal functions - insulin resistance
• Body metabolism

AT 3 MONTHS OLD

• Most babies are able to sleep for most of the night but may wake up again in the middle of the night.
• The babies that have developed good sleep associations are able to go right back to sleep while the ones with the wrong associations cry out.
• A transitional object (a stuffed toy or blanket) should be incorporated into the bedtime routine.

AT 5 TO 6 MONTHS OLD

If baby is still waking up at one or more times during the night:

• Condition the child to fall asleep on his own by putting him in bed while still drowsy, but awake.
• Most children will show improvement in a few days and will be sleeping through the night in a week or two.

Use the Progressive Approach (Ferber Method) in which the child is left to cry for gradually long periods of time before returning to him briefly.

WHY SLEEP EVALUATION IS IMPORTANT

• Sleep is important for baby's optimal functioning.
• Sleep affects every aspect of a child's development.
• Sleep problems in children are common and can be chronic. Common sleep problems in babies include Day/Night Reversal, irregular sleep patterns, sleep regulation, and night-time wakings. These can continue as they grow older. They are treatable and preventable if managed appropriately.
• Sleep problems in children can have a major impact on the family. Mothers who are sleep-deprived can have post-partum depression.

SOME WAYS TO TELL IF YOUR BABY IS NOT GETTING GOOD SLEEP

• habitual snoring
• snorting, gasping, or choking
• pauses in snoring/breathing
• increased respiratory effort
• bed-trashing or restless sleep
• unusual and bizarre sleep positions

THE IMPORTANCE OF A REGULAR BEDTIME ROUTINE

• effective learning comes from repetition
• babies learn associations and patterns

THE JOHNSON'S SLEEP STUDY

• A 3-week study done in the US led by psychologist and pediatric sleep expert, Jodi Mindell.
• Clinical evaluation of baby's sleep with the use of a before bed routine and the Johnson's Baby Bedtime Range.

CALL TO ACTION

• Make sufficient sleep a family priority.
• Learn to recognize sleep problems.
• Talk to your baby's doctor about sleep.
• Embrace good sleep habits.
• Perform the Johnson's Baby Bedtime Routine

THE JOHNSON'S BABY BEDTIME ROUTINE

• Step One: Give your baby a warm bath or punas.
  
  
  The bath will signal your baby that she is on her way to bed. Use warm water, coupled with gentle lathering touch to soothe baby.


• Step Two: Massage.
  
  
  The soothing steady motion of the massage helps baby relax even more.


• Step Three: Some quite time.
  
  
  Spend some quiet, light,activities with your baby. This will drift her off to sleep. Most moms put powder after diaper change to keep baby comfortable during the night. Apply the powder on your hands first before spreading it to your baby's skin to prevent possible inhalation.

I definitely learned a lot from this event. I had a good time with my fellow mommy bloggers, too. Thanks to Johnson and Johnson and Nuffnang Philippines for making this happen. The Johnson and Johnson marketing people guarantee that this is only the first of what's to come for mommies and babies so stay tuned!

LSM 2nd Trimester Exam Reviewer for Grade 3 Christian Living

LSM Grade 3 CLED 2nd Trim Exam SY 2009-2010

You are free to reprint it should you find it useful as long as the watermark is left unaltered. The contents of this reviewer should only be used for personal purposes. I would also appreciate link backs to my site. :)

Contents:

• Jesus, The Word Made Flesh
• Stages in Christ's Life
• St. Francis of Assisi and The Eucharist
• The Sacraments
• The Sacrament of Reconciliation
• The Holy Mass
• Mother Mary and The Holy Rosary
• Celebrating Advent

The worksheets I am posting were either used by my son or the students in my tutorial center. As such, the course guides that were used in making these reviewers were only the ones issued by their respective schools. For worksheet requests or for sharing your kid's course guide, send me as message through mail [at] the24hourmommy [dot] com. I will try to furnish one but that will still depend on my available time and references. :)

LSM 2nd Trimester Exam Reviewer for Grade 3 Filipino

LSM Grade 3 Filipino 2nd Trim Exam SY 2009-2010

You are free to reprint it should you find it useful as long as the watermark is left unaltered. The contents of this reviewer should only be used for personal purposes. I would also appreciate link backs to my site. :)

Nilalaman:

• Kayarian ng Salita
• Pandiwa at Aspekto ng Pandiwa
• Pang-uri at Mga Antas ng Pang-uri
• Magkasinghulugan at Magkasalungat na Salita
• Pagsusunod-sunod ng mga Pangyayari
• Mga Salitang Pareho ang Baybay at Bigkas; Magkaiba ang Kahulugan
• Sawikain o Idiyoma
• Pagbibigay ng Angkop na Pamagat
• Pagkuha ng Pangunahing Diwa

The worksheets I am posting were either used by my son or the students in my tutorial center. As such, the course guides that were used in making these reviewers were only the ones issued by their respective schools. For worksheet requests or for sharing your kid's course guide, send me as message through mail [at] the24hourmommy [dot] com. I will try to furnish one but that will still depend on my available time and references. :)