Made It Through Mum

Araneta City’s entertainment mecca, the Smart Araneta Coliseum, brings in to the country the multi-awarded performances of the China National Acrobatic Troupe in a Christmas Show titled  “The All-new Grand China Acrobatic Circus.” The Grand China Acrobatic Circus presents the daring, the splendid, the bold and the spectacular. It features mind-blowing tricks, death-defying acts, graceful choreography loaded with color and excitement deftly presented by internationally renowned and multi-awarded Chinese acrobats. The Circus themed performance is set to give Filipinos personal firsts experience of heart-stopping shows, daring and thrilling performances guaranteed to be a hit among audiences young and old.  One never-to-missed act is the Rose Bud contortionist, a mythical fox in a trance of contortion and coquetry. Another jaw dropping act is the Peking Opera’s Huadan (heroines) in Diabolo, where performers in majestic suits intrinsically play the Chinese Yo-...

Despite challenges in the beginning, crucial support for the men’s and women’s volleyball teams came through.  PH men and women’s volleyball team for the 30 th  SEA Games For the Philippine volleyball teams, their drought of medals at the SEA Games for over a decade is a huge challenge to overcome—especially after a long, storied history of victory and domination in the regional tournament back in the ‘80s and ‘90s. While the mission was always to get Philippine volleyball back to its winning ways, the road to accomplishing that was not always easy. For various reasons, the sport was plagued by a lack of tangible support. If previous national teams were able to win, they had to do so in spite of all of these circumstances. Sports enthusiasts and volleyball fans cheer for the Philippines’ finest athletes competing at the SEA Games in Manila In 2019, however, things changed for both the Philippine indoor and beach volleyball teams. Larong Volleybal...

In hopes of landing great career opportunities and providing better lives for their families, aspiring Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) had to spend a hefty amount of money, do a lot of paperwork, and leave their loved ones back in the Philippines.  However, not everyone is as lucky as they thought. With more and more Filipinos willing to secure a job outside the country, many of them were deceived by unauthorized recruitment agencies – false documents, assigned with a different job from what was promised, and robbed of their hard-earned money. Just like this guy in this video:  https://bit.ly/2DqogWh   You might think this is funny but being a victim of illegal recruitment is no joke. To make sure you or the people you know will not be a victim of illegal recruitment, WorkAbroad.ph , the Philippines' leading overseas job site, shares important reminders when looking for a job abroad.  ✔ Apply only at POEA-licensed recruitment agencies ...

SM supermalls nationwide celebrated its first ever #happyBEARday last December 1, 2019 at The Galeon Museum in Mall of Asia. A special day dedicated not only to the cuddly and cute SM Bears of Joy- a staple side of Christmas at SM for the past 8 years, but also to pay tribute to families and kiddie supporters who take part in SM Cares, Toy Kingdom, and SM Supermalls' annual Christmas charity project that aims to bring smiles to more kids during the holiday season. The Joy Squad with SM Little Stars Achievers and the children from Tondo Four new bears aka JOY SQUAD were introduced to delight and inspire kids to reach for their dreams. Representing some of the top dream jobs of kids worldwide, the Joy Squad is composed of AJ (Ariana Joy) The Star, FJ (Franco Joy) The Savior, PJ (Paul Joy) The Hero, and CJ (Carina Joy) The Achiever. SM shoppers can now collect and bring home the four bear characters for a joyous Christmas treat for their loved ones and children...

What's your favorite bonding moment with your kids? For us it's when we brush our teeth! We even sing that Barney song "Brushing My Teeth". 🎶Oh, I'm brushing my teeth on top It's so much fun, I hate to stop But while I'm brushing my teeth and having so much fun I never let the water run, no I never let the water run ...🎶  we had fun and they learn at the same time to conserve water. This brushing time can be more exciting with Hapee Kiddie and its range of delicious flavours and colorful characters.  Brushing our teeth is an important part of our dental care routine.  It's because our teeth are important in many ways. If we take care of them, they'll help take care of us.  Strong, healthy teeth help us chew the right food to help us grow. They help us speak clearly. And yes, they help us look our best 😁.  Today there are plenty of toothpaste choices: lots of colors and flavors to choose from, and some are made just for kids...

Happy Mommies and Kiddos We recently attended a Halloween Party by Mommy Bloggers Philippines (MBP). It was our second time to attend, the first time was three years ago. No scary costumes because MBP believes that Halloween should be enjoyed by kids and is not supposed to scare them. As a result, the kids who attended were so cute wearing their costumes!  It was a wonderful event, the attendees enjoyed including the mommies because of McDo's hosts and the games they prepared. What they did was out of the ordinary, it was not your usual parlor games because everyone is involved. How I wish someone could've captured our laughter via video. Moms were obviously having fun, like taking a break from their usual routine as a parent.  We, for a moment, forgot our problems and worries. Of course, the kids loved the games,  giveaways and the program prepared by McDo especially when Grimace and Birdie arrived and danced for them! You can see the smiles of joy in thei...

Earlier this year, Manila was gripped by a water crisis. At its peak, large parts of Metro Manila had zero water supply, prompting water rationing from local governments and concessionaires. There were viral videos of condominium dwellers fetching water from their pools and barangay residents fighting around water trucks.  It was traced to the late onset of the rainy season, coupled with demand that has outgrown available infrastructure. Much was heard about the then declining water supply at the Angat Dam, Metro Manila’s main water source, and the La Mesa Dam, the emergency reservoir. But there wasn’t much talk about the Ipo Watershed, the deforestation of which is believed to be one of the root causes of depleted water supply in the reservoirs.  The Ipo watershed was declared a protected area by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) but forest cover in the watershed is now only at 40%, a drastic drop from 85% several years ago, accordi...

J's Diamond Grand Launch at Ayala Malls, Manila Bay  Grand Launch of J's Diamond Ayala Malls, Manila Bay Flagship branch (from left to right (Marion Uno, Noah, Samuel, J's Diamond Executives, Enzo, P.rinz, Sage Nathan and Andrej Euan. Last October 17, 2019, J's Diamond a renowned jewelry brand that originated in Hong Kong and has established itself in the Philippines since 2012  held a grand opening of its fourth boutique, in one of the luxurious malls in the country, Ayala Malls Manila Bay. The flagship store presented a sensational showcase of their latest captivating designs. Their new boutique possesses the unintimidating yet modish atmosphere, emanating the millennial vibe. It is designed to mirror the magnificence of their modern jewelry collection and to shine a light on their flawless creations that are well-crafted by professional artisans.  J's Diamond Grand Launch at Ayala Malls, Manila Bay Ribbon Cutting by J's Diamond Exe...

Ingredients: ½ cup glutinous rice, rinsed well. 5 cups water 1 pc pandan leaf, tied (optional) 1 pc125ml NESTLÉ® All Purpose Cream ½ small can condensed milk (108g) ¼ cupsugar 4 tbspMILO® powder Preparation: 1. Simmer glutinous rice in water with pandan (optional) while covered for 45 minutes. Stir occasionally. 2. Stir in NESTLÉ® All Purpose Cream, condensed milk, and sugar. 3. Pour into serving bowls and top with MILO® powder. Serve warm.

On its greatest Halloweek yet, KidZania Manila transforms into a ‘carnival’ for a grand “ Halloween FunFair ,” giving families a lively bonding experience from October 29 to November 3.  BGC’s premier play city holds thrilling games for this year’s All Hallow’s Eve celebration, incorporating carnival games like buzz wire, target shooting, tic tac toe, and ring toss for non-spooky, wholesome activities for everyone.      There will be a Treat Jamboree exclusive for BKidZanian CitiZens where kids, with the help of their parents, can get as many treats as they can within a specified amount of time. Expect goodies from event partners McDonald’s, Milo, Milo Nuggets, Jack ‘n Jill Chiz Curls, Quake Overload, Presto, Cream-O, Magic Creams, X.O., Dynamite, Lush, Goldilocks, and Oishi Lava Chips.  Adventure-seekers, meanwhile, will be thrilled to become astounding performers, splendid artists, magnificent tightrope walkers, and more as the jobs are tweake...

Running out of ideas for merienda? Yesterday, I whipped up a delicious and creamy snack for the family - Banana Kitkat Ref Cake. Simple yet special because it is made with love and made even more special with the New Nestle All Purpose Cream 125ml pack. Yes. The brand we use in fiestas, holidays and special gatherings Nestle All Purpose Cream is available in a smaller pack for simple feasts to cap off daily wins of the family. There are a lot of creamy creations at www.createwithcream.ph Check it out now! It's so easy, I'm gonna do some of it now! BANANA KITKAT REF CAKE Servings: 6 Preparation Time: 30 minutes Chilling Time: Overnight Recipe Difficulty: Intermediate Ingredients : 12 pcs graham crackers, crushed 3 tbspbutter, melted 1 tbspsugar 1 pack250ml NESTLÉ® All Purpose Cream 2/3 cupcondensed milk 2 pcs ripe banana, sliced 2 packs 4-finger KITKAT®, crushed Preparation : 1. Mix graham crackers, butter, and sugar. Divide into 2 por...

Mark your calendars! Starting October 5, your ordinary Saturdays will be filled with fun as GMA Network and Rebisco Topps Sarap bring back the musical-variety program, Toppstar TV featuring the cute and talented Toppstar Kids for Kapuso viewers. The second season of the program promises twice the excitement, laughter and performances as the Toppstar batch 1 kids welcome a new breed of kiddie stars on the show. The kids, who were chosen from Rebisco’s on-ground talent search all over the Philippines, will come together to showcase their skills in singing, dancing and hosting to bring out the “topps” in every kid. As part of the brand’s commitment to bring out the best in every child, every segment of the show is created to ensure that we deliver this: the  Toppstar Performance  showcases the kids’ talent in singing and dancing; the  Toppstar Games  allows the kids to play while learning n...

Kids always look forward to birthday party celebrations, but there’s no denying that the planning process can be intimidating for parents. For those who want to give the best birthday bash for their children but don’t know where to start, look no further as McDonald’s offers a hassle-free way to plan a party! Marian Rivera-Dantes and daughter Zia choose McDo Party  Take it from Marian Rivera-Dantes herself, who is seen in this   video by McDonald’s, having a breeze as she and Zia takes us through their party planning process!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQNrg_TsTe8   As one of the top birthday party destinations for kids, McDonald’s aims to make party planning as stress-free as possible. Parents can rely on McDonald’s hands-on party planners, known as Guest Experience Leaders, to stay on top of the party details from start to finish, so parents can take a back seat from the stress of planning and just enjoy milestone moments as much as t...

Nailaholics has a special place in my heart. My mommy and I spent a lot of bonding time together at Nailaholics during good times and not-so good times. The place will always be special to me, and I will support their advocacies.  On its 4th year of celebrating National Pampering Day, the day of pampering is turned into an ecologically saving act tied up with self-care.  This October 17, 2019, from 10:00am to 1:00pm, all Nailaholics branches nationwide will be generously giving FREE SERVICES to its customers who would make a Php50 donation to its cause. Participants may avail of a FREE Manicure, Foot spa, or Foot massage with every donation, where all the proceeds will go to its partner beneficiary, Save Philippine Seas Organization.  . As the world’s second largest archipelago, the Philippines has over 7,100 islands. Unsurprisingly, we Filipinos depend on the sea for livelihood, tourism, economy, and basically most of our lives. Thus, it is only esse...

I am someone you may call stingy. I count down to the cent when I compare prices. Shampoo A is more expensive by P2.25 than Shampoo B? Then B it is.  When it comes to my banking activities, it’s the same. Given the choice between a long queue on my bank’s ATM and no queue at another bank’s cash machine, I always opt to fall in line to avoid the withdrawal charges.  I’ve brought this habit to my online transactions. Over the past year, I’ve found myself relying more and more on online shopping: it saves time and spares me the trouble of traffic. From clothing to personal hygiene items, I buy what I need—and what I occasionally want—from social sellers and online shops. Thing is, the merchants I deal with use different bank accounts, while I only use one for online shopping so for a while it was a problem; I was incurring bank charges! I have long been a BPI user, and fund transfer to other banks costs P50 each. That could cover the shipping fee! The frugal/pr...

We recently heard the news on why pigs died in the areas of Rizal & Quezon City - African Swine Fever. Even if they say it's safe to eat pork, I still won't have it on the menu. We stick to fish, chicken and veggies. I discovered something that can replace pork which is also red meat, but it contains higher amounts of iron than other poultry - duck meat. Duck is a lean meat – comparable in fat and calories to a skinless chicken or turkey breast. It's also an excellent source of selenium and zinc, both of which encourage good cellular metabolism. Last Sept 10, Donny’s Choice fresh seafood, the Philippines largest seafood company and BR Group Thailand, the world’s largest purveyor of ducks collaborated in this years’ grandest product launch, DUCK DAY MANILA 2019 at Conrad Hotel & Resort. This amazing partnership together with delegates from Victoria, Laguna (Itik Festival) also proposes  September 10 to be known as NATIONAL DUCK DAY in the Philipp...