WORDLESS WEDNESDAY #5 - THE TOWEL BABY

MY BAD!

So yeah, my bad. I've been so preoccupied with a lot of things lately that I wasn't able to update this blog. A lot of Filipinos were already in the news waving our flag to the world and yet, they're not yet here in this blog.

So I am making this proposal now to you. Yes you, readers, droppers, visitors. I want to receive an email from you, if ever you have someone in mind who deserves to be featured in this blog. If you think they have or you have something to offer to the world then lets shout them here.

Email me at lorindadeguzman@gmail.com about the details and some more information and I will gladly do the article. Qualifications? Simple. Filipino, anywhere around the world, who made difference, who can make all Filipinos proud.

We need more Filipinos to lift up our nation specially now where the hostage news was spread all over the world...

Proud of your website? Proud of your mom? your neaighbor? your dentist? your janitor? Lets have their story and send it to the world wide web ;)

I ADOPTED A TREE

For those of you who doesn't know, I used to be an online gamer. I started with Philippine ROSE Online then the Perfect World and Rohan. I met a lot of people and gained virtual friends. I love joining guilds and some of them actually were present on my wedding day.

It was in Perfect World that I joined a very cool guild who is actually already a community of gamers with amazingly different statuses in life. I am a proud member of the HOLY ORDER OF THE LIGHT.

This guild is composed of men and women of 15 - 50+ years old. Married and single, professionals and students. Whats more interesting is that we are not only virtual friends but in real life as well. We do regular meetups like watching movies, birthdays, level up events, and even on planting trees!



Yes planting trees. We have been in the La Mesa Eco Park and adopted trees. Gamers went out into the real world huh! I know this story have been so so late to tell now because this planting tree event of ours is so last year but this is my best way to start my green scene series.

Every week I am going to post a series of getting into the green scene. It is mainly about the warning of the global warming and to be able to spread the word of taking care of our mother earth.

I am showcasing here that once in my life I participated in a tree planting activity which is somehow a difference on my part because i did something to save our earth. I am so happy to be a part of my guild because I wouldn't have done this If I wasn't a member.

So yeah, this is me the one with white headband planting my tree.

During a small seminar about how water is so important and wasted as of today

Holy Order of the Light

The certificate after the tree planting

I wish to go back at the La Mesa Eco Park and adopt a tree again.You guys should try it too.

I hope you liked this article because I will be making more posts about saving our planet. I hope you start making one too, lets spread the word for more awareness. Before its too late...

Blogger Fiesta Meetup

Blogger Fiesta Meetup is scheduled tomorrow at the Global City Taguig. This is my first time to attend and I am so excited about it. It will be happening tomorrow starting at 6PM.

My mentor Sir Jomar Hilario will be there so I already have someone to talk to if shyness come to my nerves and have no one to talk to. It is a potluck event and I don't have any idea what food to bring. I am also gonna be making my business card later so I can have something for all the people I would meet.

If you are also going in to this wonderful event, leave a comment so we could have a chat tomorrow. If you have any suggestion on what food is the best to bring in the event, I really need you to leave me a comment. Hope to see you there..

BTW, heres the link about the event http://www.meetup.com/BloggerFiesta/19385/
and THIS IS THE LINK to the registration

LINGGO NG WIKA - WATAWAT NG PILIPINAS

My watawat dressed daughter

Yesterday, August 27, 2010. My daughter Emily delivered a poem with her classmates for the celebration of the Linggo ng Wika. They are required to wear Filipino native costumes for the event. We bought a Philippine Flag dress full of sequins for Emily.

This school activity was only practiced for a week because of their quarterly examination the previous week. But in spite of the short amount of time of practice, I must say that the kids did a very good job! I know Emily have memorized the entire poem in just a week, though she sometimes miss a few words but still she can deliver the poem very well. Just wanna give you a copy of the poem that they delivered yesterday...

WATAWAT NG PILIPINAS

AKOY

Watawat ng Pilipinas

Tatlong kulay

Tatlong talaït isang araw;

Inisip ng naghimagsik

Tatlong angkan ang tumahi

Ibinunyi

Ng sandatang bagong hasa,

Sa labanaiy naging tanda

Tinudla ng mga punglo

At sa pawis at sa dugo ay napigta,

Ang tagdan ko ay nabakli

Ngunit akoy nasalo pa

Ng bayaning nabulagta,

At nagningning sa wagayway

Nang ang bayay matimawa;

Bughaw, putit pulang likas

na kulay koy

Diwang mahal

Pusong wagas

Dugong saga,

Kaisahait sagisag ng

Isang bayan

Isang laya

Isang wika. 

Here are some shots from yesterdays event:

During their presentation of the poem

Having fun with her classmates

I have a video of their presentation but I wasn't happy about it, because Emilys face was covered by the flag that her classmate JP is holding.

This is my view from the video :(

 I guess next time they'll be having an event like this, I'll make sure that I'll be in a better position to shoot. 

Good thing that Emilys Ninang Mich is also there to help me cover this event and she was able to take photos from the side and thats where I got this photos. 

If you are wondering where Emily is studying, She is studying at the Little Children's School located at R. V. Marzan Building Makiling St. Corner Dimasalang, Manila. You can find their website HERE for more details.

HOSTAGE TAKING AT THE QUIRINO GRANDSTAND - MY STORY AND VIEWS.

Its been a while since I last wrote here. My recent posts are scheduled so this one seems updated. I just wanna blog about this hostage drama that happened just last Monday, August 23 2010 here at the Philippines particularly in the Quirino Grandstand. It is just a minimum fare away from here in my place. I wasn't happy with the result but I wasn't ashamed of being a Filipino unlike what I always hear these past few days about that scenario.

 It all started when a dismissed policeman armed with an automatic rifle seized a bus with 25 passengers aboard, most of them Hong Kong tourists, in a bid to demand his reinstatement.

Police sharpshooters took positions around the white-blue-red bus, which was parked near a downtown Manila park, and negotiations to free the hostages were under way, deputy director of Manila police Alex Gutierrez said.

Two of the Hong Kong tourists, both women, were released and were being debriefed by police, Manila police chief Rodolfo Magtibay said. Police had earlier reported that the tourists were from South Korea but later corrected themselves.

Others on the bus included three Filipinos — a driver, a guide and a photographer, Magtibay said.

The hostage-taker, identified as former Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, was armed with an M16 rifle. He demanded that he be given back his job on the police force a year after he was fired, Magtibay said.

Mendoza hitched a ride on the bus from the historic walled city of Intramuros and then "declared he is taking the passengers hostage" when the bus reached Jose Rizal Park alongside Manila Bay.

The area also includes the seaside U.S. Embassy and a number of hotels.

The curtains on the bus windows were drawn and live TV footage showed two police negotiators walking to and from the bus and communicating with Mendoza from the window near the driver's seat.

Magtibay said they were also using the driver's cell phone to talk to Mendoza.

At least 22 foreign nationals and three Filipinos were taken hostage by Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza inside a bus parked near the Quirino Grandstand in Ermita

As of 12:15 p.m, at least six hostages were already released but authorities declined to divulge the suspect's demands.

The MPD Spokesman  identified five of the six Hongkong national as Tsan Yee Lai, 40, Fuchak Yin, 10, Wong Chin Nat, 12, Fu Chang Yin, 4, and Diana Chan.

The five released hostages were taken to the nearest precinct to get their statements before taking them to the hospital for stress de-briefing.

Initial investigation disclosed that the former police officer took over the tourist bus at around 10:00 a.m. Monday.

The tourist bus, filled with Hongkong nationals, was about to leave Fort Santiago when Mendoza, who was clad in full police uniform and armed with an M-16 rifle, asked the driver if he could hitch a ride.

The driver, whom authorities have yet to identify, let Mendoza board the vehicle since he thought that the man was an on duty police officer.

As of 1:27 p.m., there had been 7 hostages released from the hijacked bus.

Chinese Embassy officials are now at the command post of the Manila Police District (MPD). They are hoping for the peaceful resolution of the situation and to ensure the security of the Chinese nationals.

Two police officers, Superintendent Orlando Yebra Jr. and Chief Inspector Romeo Salvador, have started negotiations with Mendoza.

Mendoza is demanding authorities to clear his name and be reinstated to the service.

MPD spokesman Police Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo said in a press briefing that the use of force against the hostage taker will be a last resort. He added that Mendoza's demand for reinstatement will be studied and will undergo undue process.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III has appealed to Mendoza to "honor and respect" the lives of hostages. The government is hoping that tourists will view it as an "isolated incident" and that "it does not reflect real situation of the country."

The remaining hostages in the bus have been served with food and water from people outside the bus.

She said the 22 Hong Kongers had arrived the Philippines on Friday and planned to come back to Hong Kong on Monday evening.

Joseph Tung, the executive director of Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC), said the passengers were aged between 4 and 72.

Hostage-taker former Police Senior Insp. Rolando Mendoza's initial demand was for the Office of the Ombudsman to act swiftly on his pending motion for reconsideration in connection with the administrative case filed against him and for the Philippine National Police (PNP) to reinstate him to his duty, said Police Chief Insp. Erwin Margarejo, spokesman of the MPD.

Based on records, Mendoza was dismissed from duty last year due to alleged extortion against a De La Salle University (DLSU) student whom he allegedly forced to swallow a sachet of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu).

"Ang initial na demand niya ay i-release agad ng Ombudsman 'yung decision nung motion nya," the spokesman told reporters in a news briefing.

So far, Margarejo said that Mendoza had been cooperative with police negotiators.

"He was courteous, ok naman siya. He's been cooperating," he added.

Meanwhile, several Chinese Embassy officials arrived at the Quirino Grandstand at around 1:00 p.m. and met with the assigned negotiators.

Whatever pushed dismissed Police Senior Insp. Rolando Mendoza to suddenly take on full battle gear and compromise 25 hostages inside a tourist bus?

It was probably frustration and desperation, as Mendoza's main request was to be reinstated as a policeman, insisting his name was "clean" especially with regards to the "hulidap" case.

Chief Supertintendent Rodolfo Magtibay identified Mendoza as part of the District Mobile Police Unit (DMPU). However, he was moved to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in 2008 after a robbery-extortion case in Vito Cruz, Ermita, Manila.

A backgrounder on Mendoza showed that he was once awarded a medal for being one of the "10 Most Outstanding Police" and records showed that he was often awarded for his "honesty" even doing simple good deeds such as picking money on the street and returning it to its owner.

Mendoza's family is also involved in the force, with his sibling and son being members of the PNP.

In a radio interview, Mendoza's distressed father said, "Rolando, bahala ka na sa kung ano ang gusto mo, ikaw na ang magdesisyon, ayoko na mag-comment (Rolando, it's up to you what you want to do. It's your decision, I don't want to comment anymore.)"

This is the story I got from Manila Bulletins hostage taking updates 

I am so busy here in the store, while my youngest daughter Ashly is sick with cough and colds. I'm still thinking of the laundry and stories to blog about so I didn't watch TV the whole day. I was only able to watch the TV when I heard the tension on the reporters voice on the TV because I am doing the laundry that time already.  That was around 6 - 6:30PM when I decided to stop washing clothes for a while and pay attention on this hostage drama. 

I saw how the driver escaped the bus and I was literally screaming here "TAKBO TAKBO TAKBOOO!!!" while the driver is running for his life. I am really shocked that I am seeing this scenes on TV with my daughter Emily beside me. Good thing that she is busy with her toys that time that she didn't pay attention with the news. I watched it until it was over.

It was a very sad ending. I am praying for the family of the victims and of  Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza.

Continuing the story, according to our Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, this are the things that happen off the scene:

• Senior Inspector Ronaldo Mendoza's brother Gregorio Mendoza, who is also a policeman was also in the scene. At first he was just walking around and talking to someone on his phone. Then he approached the negotiators and introduced himself as the brother of the hostage-taker and not as a policeman. He was carrying a gun that time so the police confiscated his gun since carrying a gun is not allowed when doing a negotiation with the hostage-taker.
• Vice Mayor Isko Moreno was the one communicating with the Ombudsman about the demands of Senior Inspector Mendoza. He was already able to get a letter from the Ombudsman stating that Mendoza's case will be heard so that he would have the chance to be reinstated since that is the due process of hi demand to be back on service again. 
• When Vice Mayor Isko Moreno went back to the hostage scene carrying the letter of the Ombudsman, he even showed it to Gregorio Mendoza, asking if this will be enough for Senior Inspector Ronaldo Mendoza. Gregorio Mendoza said yes, this is enough. So the two negotiators with Gregorio Mendoza altogether went back to the bus and showed Senior Inspector Mendoza the letter. But he rejected it and said it was a trash.
• Before the two negotiators left that moment, the brother Gregorio Mendoza, shouted to Senior Inspector Ronaldo Mendoza, "Tol, wag kang pipirma sa kahit ano hanggat hindi nila sinosoli ang baril ko!" ( Brother, don't sign on anything until they gave my gun back!)
• That triggered the negotiators to have a closed door talk with the brother Gregorio Mendoza because he sounded like an accessory and not as a negotiator. 
• The plan is that Gregorio Mendoza will be brought to some police station for some further questioning because he seem to know something because of the lines that he just said to his brother. 
• They went out through the back door so the media wouldn't notice this move, but Gregorio Mendoza ran to the media shouting for help that the police are arresting him. 
• So the media covered the scenario of Gregorio Mendoza refusing to be arrested, and his family refusing to give Gregorio Mendoza to the authorities. They made a scene and the media covered it all.
• Now, while this is happening, Senior Inspector Mendoza told the driver to open the TV inside the bus and saw the scene of his brother being captured forcefully by the authorities. This made him mad to release gun shots inside the bus.
• These gunshots made the driver to have an adrenaline rush of finding a way to escape and used a nail cutter to remove his handcuffs and jumped over the window. He also said that all the hostages were already dead. 
• These made the policeman to start the assault. Several assault teams have arrived near the bus.

Now, this assault showed a lot of fail moves on the police part. which took the assault longer.

• Only one police is holding the sledgehammer. The sledgehammer is even heavier than the one holding it. He seems to be having a hard time crashing the window. He even threw the sledgehammer inside the bus TWICE!
• No gas mask and not all are wearing bullet-proof vests.
• No technical skills to open the emergency door lock.
• They tried to use a rope tied on a vehicle to open the door but the rope broke so... FAIL
• Tear Gas? they're not yet sure if all the hostages are really dead.
• Lack of proper equipment
• Live media coverage which gave the hostage-taker an eye from the outside.
• Poor tactics.

Indeed, our policemen needs more training and more skills in handling these situations. This is now a wake up call for the government to act accordingly. 

Yes this is a shameful incident for Filipinos but this shouldn't be the reason to be ashamed of being a Filipino. We all have our stories. The world may hate us for this but this still isn't the reason to be ashamed of. Hostage taking happen many times. Many lives were lost, not only on this one. 

I am calling out to all Filipinos out there to still stand proud. Venus Raj made it to the top five which is another story. But what I am trying to say is that we cannot be a perfect country. We may fail on some but that shouldn't make us frown because there is more in life that we can make us proud. 

How about remembering Fe Del Mundo who invented incubators that saved the lives of many? How about the Filipino who discovered the Erythromycin which my daughter is using now. The antibiotic to fight the cough and cold virus. Do you know him? I am fully thanking and proud Dr. Abelardo Aguilar for inventing this wonderful medicine that is making my daughter feel better now. 

9 people were killed in this hostage drama, but prior to that, many people were saved by the incubator and Erythromycin. We could all mourn, but only for a while. God has a plan, sad to say that this incident is a part of His plan. We can all feel the grief, the sadness, and pain. But we can still surpass that.

We should all move forward, and continue with life. Let not the failure of the past, hold us for our brighter future. 

I pray for all the lives lost, and the grieving families. I pray for all the Filipinos around the world to stand strong, still and proud to be Filipinos...

I will remember Senior Inspector Mendoza with this picture:

Freeing the old man with diabetes. This is really something, that he has goodness in his heart.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY #4 - DO THEY LOOK ALIKE?

This is my Emily three years ago

and this is my Ashly three months ago

Do they look alike?

MUSIC MONDAY #2 - LUCKY ME

My first daughter Emily 2 years back...

The Keryma Feast - Talent

After the Run for Humanity, our plan is to go home and take a shower then go to the Kerygma Feast at the PICC. But since we are so tired from the race, Mich and I just decided to go straight to PICC and attend the first session of the Feast at PICC.

PICC is just a walk away from the World Trade Center so we got there in just minutes. The mass is not yet finished so we are early for Bro. Bo's talk for today.

TALENT. This is the topic for today. The video is kinda long, but watching the whole of it is worth the wait. This is the happiest place on Earth where I usually spend my Sunday mornings. Enjoy.

Kerygma Feast PICC, August 15, 2010

What Exactly Is Baby Sign Language?

Baby sign language is a way of teaching your baby to communicate her needs by way of hand gestures. It is based on ASL (American Sign Language) and is a simplified version for babies and children. Baby sign language is fun, it’s free and, best of all, it really works! Read on to find out more about Baby Sign Language ...

You can start to sign from birth
The sooner you start signing to your baby, the sooner he will begin to communicate his needs back to you. You can start at any time, even from birth.

Signing to your baby helps with bonding
Baby signing is a two-way activity, encouraging communication from baby to parent and back again. Mothers who sign with their babies often feel closer to them, noticing and appreciating their efforts at communication earlier than non-signing moms.

Children who learn to sign as babies often learn to speak earlier
Baby signing can act as a ‘stepping stone’ to full speech, supporting a young child’s efforts to express themselves. Research has shown that babies who have early exposure to signing often have bigger speaking vocabularies later on.

It’s easy!
You can start signing with your baby by learning a handful of signs, such as Mommy, Daddy, Milk and Diaper. Find more useful starter signs here.

Dads can do it too
Often dads feel left out when bringing up a young baby, especially if Mom is breastfeeding. Signing is something baby and daddy can do together, creating a special bond.

Signing is fun!
So many things these days are just plain hard work! Baby signing is fun – and that’s one of the reasons it works so well. At first your baby will just look at you making signs and may even smile or laugh. You may feel silly too. This is good for you and for baby. Parenthood should have as many light moments as possible.


Signing reduces tantrums
Baby signing has been proved to reduce frustration (for babies and for parents), and help children through those toddler-tantrum years. Most tantrums are caused by communication frustration, and if your child can express what he wants he is happier and calmer – and so are you!

Your friends will be envious
When you and baby are out for coffee, imagine how envious your friends will be when baby tells you she’s tired, or hungry, or too hot – just by making hand gestures? Amazing! While other moms struggle through the baby years, you and your baby will be communicating happily with each other. Be sure to share your knowledge with them!

It helps with post-partum depression
The bonding aspects of baby signing cannot be underestimated. But post-partum depression can begin at any time, even during the second year. Many early-years programs teach Baby Sign Language to moms and babies to help build communication and trust.

This article is a guest post from Misty Weaver, Chief Editor of Baby Sign Language. Check out their website at http://www.babysignlanguage.com/ also, like their facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Baby-Sign-Language/135339096490587 

COMPARISONITIS

Are you infected with "comparisonitis"?

It is mainly a term of comparing yourself to others, comparing someone with others, comparing ones work or your work with others. Its a deadly illness that will eat out all the self esteem in you. 

Comparisonitis make you feel stressed, worthless and depressed. If you are up to something good and you saw someone did it already, it will make you stop and do nothing at all. A negative emotion. A vampire that will suck out all the confidence left. You never give chance to develop your talent, your gifts to be used because your brains are eaten by this virus. 

Is there a cure?

Yes of course! STOP COMPARING! Easy huh? Just kidding. 

It will all start by being grateful. Be grateful of what you are and what you have. Its not like being yourself but its about accepting yourself. Theres nothing wrong with you. You are perfectly fine, Try to be more thankful with everything around you. (Oh, thank you for reading this article! ^_^) . Gratefulness is the entrance of positive things to come in your life. It is the antibiotic for comparisonitis. 

View it in a different perspective like instead of comparing your work with others and with your work being less, try to thank the person with whom you compare your work with because you learned something from it. Be thankful of the new knowledge that you could get from those who work better than you. 

I believe all of us are unique in our own little ways. Comparisonitis should be killed. Maintain being positive with yourself. 

If you are poor, stop comparing with the rich. Learn their ways and work harder to become rich! Be thankful you are poor because when you get rich by working harder, you become compassionate with poor people and you can inspire them with your hard work. 

Inspire. Inspiration. This should be the view of comparing. It should make your life more exciting and do more. 

Life is so short to waste time with all these negative influences. Enjoy it, savor it, be grateful and in the end we will become peaceful, satisfied and successfull...

I RAN FOR HUMANITY

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Pasay City Chapter will take the lead in this year’s commemoration of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) day with the theme “Geneva Conventions: Compassion Amidst Armed Conflict”, which aims to increase awareness on the basic principles of IHL and promote its observance in times of armed conflict.

The IHL is a set of rules which place restrictions on the use of weapons and methods of warfare. It protects people who are not, or no longer, participating in hostilities.

One of the events for this year’s celebration is the Run for Humanity where a hundreds to thousands of PRC supporters from the youth sector, 143 volunteers, local government units, NGOs and the general public will gather to participate in the said run.

“The IHL Day is observed every August 12 of each year. It is a time to review of what needs to be done to revive humanitarian law and the world’s faith in its long-lasting values. Every year, we are organizing a Walk for Humanity to raise public awareness on IHL. But this year, through the efforts of Red Cross Pasay City Chapter, we are conducting a Run for Humanity,” said PRC Chairman Richard Gordon

SOURCE

This event was held last Sunday, August 15, 2010 and I registered to run a 5 kilometer race. Since I was drunk the night before because of my sisters birthday party, I was late in the event. So late that while I was still inside the taxi cab looking for the starting lane, the runners are already running along Diosdado Macapagal, that I already laughed at myself and told the driver to bring me to the Finish lane already!

I am with my friend Mich who registered for a 10 kilommeter race (who is also late like me haha!). We ran with the 3k reistrants hoping to catch up with the 5k and 10k runners (which is quite impossible already).

So we just enjoyed the lateness and started running-walking-running phase. Here is our only shot together because I brought my camera with me:

So while doing the running-walking phase, we saw some crowds of people taking pictures with a guy whic we cannot see because of the number of people sorrounding him. When we got there we saw Chairman Richard Gordon. So we took a picture with him also.

And since Mich is registered to a 10k run, I told her to go and leave me because shes got a long way to run. I took some shots though when I reached the 5k turn, the sponsor Pocari Sweat which is my first time to try. When I reached the finish line just by walking and a bit of running (haha!) The organizers gave me my certificate already. I think I finished the 5k in about... an hour!!! hahah!

Life saver in every run

I am so half way there!

Im Done!

Tired shoes?

Wohoo!!!

Mich is planning to join a run every month and I am thinking of joining her. I may not be living a healthy life, but I am definitely in for this running lifestyle. Figaro run is the next in line for next month. We haven't registered yet, but Im still running for 5k... or maybe 10k.. hmmm...

SISTERS BIRTHDAY!

My sister Marie turned 21 last August 14, 2010. I told her I couldn't come because Emily is sick. But the truth is that I am planning to surprise her and bring Emily and Ashly there because they missed my kids so much already.

When we got there, Marie was so happy to see Emily and Ashly and so is my Nanay and Tatay to see us again.

This party was a Blast!!! Nanay and Tatay provided 1 box of Gran Matador for my sister and I prepared Blue Margarita. My favorite! haha! My Ate Susan cooked spaghetti and some chicken feet. Approximately, 20 - 30 people attended. A mixture of my sisters friend from around the neigborhood and from Jollibee where she is currently working.

A videoke was rented and a friend provided the sound system for the party which made the party full of fun with dancing and partying.

I still feel comfortable with the younger crowd hahaha! Its nice to meet my sisters colleague in Jollibee and seeing again her childhood friends having fun.

So here are some pics I wanna share but if you are a facebook friend, you'll find all the pictures with videos on my account...

Marie. The birthday Girl

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY #3 - APPLE

\

The Apple of my Eye

MY HAPPY WEEKEND

I had a blast this past Saturday and Sunday. I must say sorry for my EC droppers and Adgitizers that I wasn't able to visit your sites.

Saturday was my little sisters 21st birthday. So I went back to my hometown in Bicutan with Emily and Ashly (hubby refused to come so..) to have a sleepover and have fun with my family. I have lots of pictures to share but I uess I just have to make another post for it. Including the stories behind it and some updates about my family.

Sunday, I joined a Run for Humanity by Philippine Red Cross. I registered into a 5kilometer run with my friend mich who registered in a 10kilometer run (Whoa!). So yeah, my limbs are kinda sore as of this moment because I stopped going to the gym in a month.

After the race, we went directly to the Feast at the PICC. My Sunday date with God (In a running outfit). Its good to attend to the Feast this week because I wasn't able to come also in the last two Sundays for some reasons. So this is just a brief introduction of the three posts that I will cook for this week because I am so excited to share my weekend story because I really had fun!

So, I f you haven't subscribed, please do so now because I have something interesting to share this week and I hope I could share it with you...

Have a Great Day!
Lhen

DO YOU KNOW WHY I BECAME A PILOT?

"Amelia Earhart: Do you know why I became a pilot?

Larry Daley: I have no idea.

Amelia Earhart: For the fun of it. Why else would anyone do anything? "

             -from the movie "Midnight at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian" 

http://www.themovieblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/nm3.jpg

I just watched this movie several weeks ago on cable and this lines struck me so much. 


For the fun of it. Why else would anyone do anything? 


It made me think of how my blogging has been going on since I started it. 


Couple of years ago, we used to own an internet cafe and all I did was online gaming, watch videos on youtube, friendster and yahoo messenger. Though I've already heard of other people earning online through having their own website. I never had the motivation to learn it. I have so much time then. Im single, no kids, no boss, no pressure, no rush...


Fast forward, maybe I got bored somehow, maybe I got pressured by the fact that I am now married, with two kids, with no work, and with a very blurry future plans.


But theres only one thing that I managed to challenge myself and make sure to make something out of it - Blogging.


It was only December 2009 that I first started blogging. But since I was new to this thing, I was never satisfied with my blogs that I don't even know what to blog about. I've started a few blogs and then deleted them afterwards. 


My first reason why I want to blog is to earn online. I heard about how some people earn through advertisements and PTC sites. I've also learned lots of affiliate programs that would really generate an income if you give your attention to it.


I started Pinay Mom Journal March2010. I aim to share my everyday life as a newbie blogger, mother, housewife and an entrepreneur. Sometimes I have so much energy to blog that I could fill up a whole month of scheduled post for this blog. But there are also times that I feel so lazy to write but just read others blogs. 


It is only recently that I started to put on shoutmix on my blog and appreciated people who leave messages for me. I learned to leave messages also and so as commenting on blog posts. I do comments on facebook photos and statuses though. But it is only now that I realize the importance of interacting with your readers/visitors. 


Blog hopping really worked for me to realize this all. I learned a lot and I aim to learn some more about blogging through it. 


It is indeed fun and I do this blogging thing for the fun of it, why else would anyone do anything. Right?




Happy Weekends!

I love my FIRST COMMENTER!

EMILY AND ASHLY

I am currently working on my daughters video blog. I actually made it a few months ago but this is the only time that I thought of furnishing its design and all.

Emily is 3 years old and Ashly is 6 months. Their website will be Emily and Ashly with an address of http://emilyandashly.blogspot.com/ I'm planning to make a domain for it but maybe some other time. After they have gained their viewers online. 

Well this will be filled with lots of videos about them. My hard drive is now in critical level with all their files. I will first upload their videos in youtube. Actually I have lots of Emilys videos on youtube before and now I am going to retrieve them all and post it here. So you might get confused who is Emily and who is Ashly because they kinda looked alike when they were 0 to 6 months old. 

I hope you enjoy the videos and please do subscribe also because theres more videos here on my computer that I will upload. More everyday vids, Emily singing, dancing, our bloopers, travel and mommy-daughter stuffs. 

I just finished their header picture and badge which is made out of MS PowerPoint (I am not art/creativity/photoshop gifted so..) and here it is:

Header

Their badge will be this:

 I hope to see you all there and drop some love for my daughters if you have time. I have already listed them in Entrekids and it is already approved so you may also see their badge dropping cards on you ^^,

Have a nice Thursday,

I love

Nafacamot

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY #2 - 2 ANGELS

God sent me two angels.

BISOLVON'S ALAGANG SUPERMOM KID

My first time to join a bloggers event catered just for mommy bloggers like me happened last Saturday, August 7, 2010. It was held at Martas Cake in Serendra, The Fort, Taguig City. 

I went there with my daughter Emily because the event has a mommy-kid activity like cake and cookie decorating. I remember when I showed Emily the e-invite that I got, she was so excited that she is going to decorate a cupcake. Who wouldn't be excited when you received an invite like this:

So when we got there at exactly 1PM, a few parents and their kids were already there. Emily sat on a chair near with mine because theres a separate area for mommies and kids. Though the venue were a little small to occupy us all, it didn't matter when the kids started their fun activity of cake and cookie decorating and us mommies were already discussed with whats in store from Bisolvon. 


To start up, they showed us a presentation about the 5 Alagang Iwas Ubo Tips ( 5 tips to get rid of cough) which are the following:

1. Always wash your hands - wash your hands using soap. Apply a hand sanitizer or alcohol.
2. Avoid touching your face - avoid touching the mouth, nose and eyes
3. Cough properly - do not cough using your hands, instead cough using a hanky, to avoid spreading the germs.
4. Observe a healthy lifestlye - exercise, eat healthy foods, and sleep properly
5. Get rid of Phlegm to get rid of cough - Bisolvon is the best in getting rid of phlegm.

The main highlight of the event ( aside from the fun activity that my daughter is really enjoying at that moment!) is that Bisolvon has a new promo called the Alagang SuperMom Kid photo contest. It is very simple. Supermoms simply take a photo of her kid in action - displaying his or her best talent or highlighting an achievement.


The objective of the promo is to provide supermoms a venue to share and showcase the various talents/achievements of their children. For other supermoms to learn and bond. Any achievement will do. Supermom kids in sports, the arts, music, academics, science or other related activities that highlights  the accomplishment of the supermom's child.


From August 8 to October 8 2010 all supermoms are invited to share a photo of theirs kid's greatest achievement in Alagang Supermom Kid website at http://www.alagangsupermom.com.ph 


Prizes at stake are Php50,000 cash for the Grand Winner and eight winners of Php5,000 cash for the runner-up. 


Below is the detailed mechanics of the promotion:

1. Buy specially marked Bisolvon 120mL syrup.
2. Log on to http://www.alagangsupermom.com.ph/ register for FREE.
3. Click the Join Now button then click on Upload Here.
4. Upload a photo of your kid showing off his achievement or talent.
5. Key-in your Bisolovon unique promo code to submit entry.

How to Vote:

1. View gallery and click on your selected photo
2. Click on the Vote for this entry button to give 1 point to your chosen entry.
3. To boost votes, enter a unique Bisolvon promo code to give 50 points.

Uploading period is from July 31 to October 2, 2010

Voting period is from October 3 to November 8, 2010.

I am planning to join so I am now digging into Emily's recent photos both in school and here in our house I hope to see your kids photos in there but in the meantime I'm gonna show you Emilys photos during this event where she really had fun with those colorful icings and cupcakes and cookies...

Her Finished Cup Cake

Working with her Cup Cake

Painting the Sheep "Pink"

Her Finished cookie "yellow giraffe and pink sheep"

Her cookie monster

Like I said, this is my first time to attend a mom bloggers event and I really enjoyed it. Its also a good thing because I was able to go there with Emily. I would also like to thank Ate Tetcha of  Pensive Thoughts and Ate Leira of Mushings because they made me comfortable inside the event. It made me wanna go and attend more upcoming bloggers events whenever I am invited.

Happy Monday!