Made It Through Mum

Mama, I'm bored!  Who isn't? Pandemic breeds boredom for many. As parents, we should think of ways and activities to keep boredom at bay. I will share with you some of the activities we did to keep ourselves (especially the kids) from being bored. These activities kept them entertained and taught them a thing or two.  Ways to cope up with boredom 1. Learn to do manicure/pedicure - this is part of my hygiene and I want to impart this to my kids. Aside from that, I love cleaning my nails. Btw,  Nailpolish used is hypoallergenic so it's safe for the kiddos. Ways to cope up with boredom 2. Let the kids make snacks -  we accomplished one of Lady's Choice #DoItTogether Co-creation activities ~ Egg Mayo Sandwich Relay Challenge. This is a fun Go Grow Glow sandwich-making activity for 2-4 members of the family that teaches values such as positivity and teamwork. 3. Play board games - imaginative play. Children receive creative stimulation by making their designs with bl...

In commemoration of Dr. José Rizal’s 160th birthday and his 125th death anniversary this year, Vibal Foundation recently announced the launch of Isaac Donoso’s critical edition of Jose Rizal’s El Filibusterismo and E. San Juan Jr.’s Sisa’s Revenge: José Rizal’s Sexual Politics and Cultural Revolution.  El Filbusterismo José Rizal’s El Filibusterismo serves as the thrilling denouement to his first social novel, Noli Me Tángere, which exposed the ills of a decaying Filipino society enfeebled by colonialism. In the book sequel, Rizal tantalizingly employs two divergent paths of the social disease’s inevitable and natural progression—either a slow, debilitating cancerous spread or the body’s sudden collapse into a violent paroxysm of anarchy and terrorism. This bilingual quincentennial edition, the latest addition in Vibal Foundation’s Filipiniana Clasica imprint, is a faithful reproduction of the edicion principe published in Ghent in 1891 and includes a comparative annotation of...

  Your immune system is your body’s defense against disease-causing agents, like bacteria, parasites, and viruses. This is the reason you need a strong immune system, so it can function optimally and keep you from getting sick. An immune system boost is particularly important nowadays with new, more contagious viruses just waiting to make you ill at the most inopportune of times. Popular immune system enhancers include citrus fruits, such as oranges and apples, and vegetables, like broccoli and red bell peppers, as they are rich in vitamins and minerals. But to further enhance a healthy immune system, a study says our body will need the mineral zinc, which is more than just a remedy for cold symptoms. It is vital for a variety of reasons, including strengthening the immune system.  Aside from these natural, citrus fruits, you may get zinc from Zinbee, a pioneering zinc supplement that contains zinc gluconate, which the body may absorb more easily than the other forms of zinc...

BDO Unibank is advising its clients to download its mobile apps only from official app store platforms to ensure the security of data.  The Bank’s mobile apps, namely, BDO Digital Banking, BDO Pay, BDO Deals, BDO Securities Mobile App, BDO Checkout, BDO Merchant, and BDO Unibank SG, can be downloaded for free from: Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=www.pay.bdo.com.ph   Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/ph/app/bdo-pay/id1381315990   Huawei AppGallery: https://appgallery.cloud.huawei.com/ag/n/app/C103937877?locale=en_US&source=appshare&subsource=C103937877   Meanwhile, clients who are unable to download mobile apps are encouraged to use the web version.  BDO advises against downloading its mobile apps from unofficial app stores and other websites, which may offer outdated versions of these apps or worse, including malicious software or malware.  Scammers use malware to gather confidential information that ma...

  Try these tips for better parenting in the new normal Whether we’re ready for it or not, parenting changed during the pandemic. As everyone has to work or take classes at home for their health and safety, the needs of a parent have evolved. If you’ve been struggling a little to match the demands of parenting in the new normal, worry not—here are a few tips to help you adapt to these times. Set a schedule Make a plan for yourself and help your kids plan their day. First, organize your day so you can focus better on your necessary tasks. Then, help your kids organize their day so that the important things during their online classes are prioritized. This will allow them to look forward to relaxing and unwinding after all the schoolwork is done. When kids know they have some rest and recreation time to look forward to, they’ll be able to participate better in their remote learning. Encourage healthy routines in the household Maintaining a proper and healthy lifestyle is consi...

  Why Everyone Needs a Trip to a Spa When thinking about spas, the same imagery comes up for most people: soothing music, warm steam, soft towels, and face masks.  Decadent pampering has one purpose: helping us unwind and reset to feeling comfortable and happy again. But, unfortunately, spas have fallen out of popularity in recent years. Instead, people try to self-pamper at home but end up just sitting with face masks while watching television or scrolling through social media. Everyone deserves better than that. Here are the top reasons everyone needs a trip to a spa within the next year. Pampering Yourself is Good for Your Self Esteem We're all told that we shouldn't be too proud at a young age, but it's okay to appreciate yourself and see your value.  By pampering yourself, you're showing yourself that you deserve good in life and that you have intrinsic value.  This boost to your self-esteem could make you next in line for a promotion or able to snag the r...

  We were already experiencing a global learning crisis, as many students were in school, but were not learning the fundamental skills needed for life It’s not only entrepreneurs who have been struggling through the pandemic—schools have also been doing their best to survive and continue operations for the sake of students and teachers. One example of how a school has heroically met the challenge of the pandemic is Manuel S. Enverga University (MSEUF) in Lucena, Quezon Province.  Manuel S. Enverga University (MSEUF) in Lucena, Quezon Province Founded in 1947 , the university has provided many generations the hope of learning and a brighter future. When the pandemic struck, the university had to adjust its administrative operations to assure the safety of its teachers and students while continuing to provide quality education.  MSEUF had to shift to a combination of online learning and asynchronous modular learning for their students, as the community quarantine prohibi...

  Negros Occidental has always been a cradle of delectable food. Rich in history, Negrense cuisine is a result of endless tweaking and testing, of constructing and deconstructing, all for that elusive adaptation that a household could call its own – “a family recipe”. And always, the process was swayed by Spanish, Chinese, and Malay cookery. But times have changed, and so have the influences. Filipino taste has learned to welcome Thai, Indian, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Korean flavors. So we asked three young Negrense chefs, what’s the fate of Negrense cuisine? To what ends will they take Negrense cuisine? What borders are they willing to breach?  Chef Don Colmenares In three separate editions in August and September, Negros Season of Culture will feature Chef BJ Uy of East Bite Asian Kitchen, Chef Don Colmenares of Berbeza Bistro, and Chef Nico De Asis  of Portiko Café and Lounge. Their cooking styles and techniques are unique to themselves, but their Negrense hearts a...

  In line with its disaster response advocacy, BDO Foundation recently assisted communities hit by heavy rains triggered by Typhoon Fabian and the southwest monsoon. Supported by the St. John the Baptist Parish Church and St. Michael Parish Church, the foundation provided aid for more than 5,000 families in nine barangays in Calumpit, Bulacan and Masantol, Pampanga. Local officials and volunteers led by parish priests Fr. Ventura Galman and Fr. Roland Moraleja distributed the relief packs containing food, rice and drinking water to disaster-stricken beneficiaries. The corporate citizenship initiative was also backed by BDO branches. BDO Waltermart-Malolos branch head Emelita Crisostomo and BDO Pampanga San Fernando-MacArthur Highway branch head Rowena Evaristo helped the foundation coordinate the delivery of the relief goods. Masantol, Pampanga BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank, mounts relief operations for Filipinos affected by natural disaster...

  Following the success of Happy Homeschool last school year, Vibal continues its independent homeschool program for Kinder to Grade 10 for SY 2021-2022 . Enrollment is now ongoing, with classes officially starting on September 20. Vibal’s Happy Homeschool now offers MAPEH and Computer in addition to the five major subjects English, Mathematics, Filipino, Science, Araling Panlipunan. Combining DepEd’s K-12 Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs) curriculum and interest-driven learning, learners will attend online classes taught by Vibal’s licensed professional teachers, take offline modular self-paced courses, and will join non-academic programs and special courses based on their interest and learning journey. Supporting Independent Homeschoolers With independent homeschooling, parents can avail themselves of flexible curricular options for their children. They don't have to enroll with a DepEd-accredited school or homeschool provider but can conduct homeschooling on thei...

At a time when we are mostly apart, the bonds among family members and loved ones are more important than ever. And we can show them we care with thoughtful gifts when our presence just can’t be assured.  The coming Mooncake Festival on September 21 marks the end of the autumn harvest and it is traditionally a time to give thanks to the gods. As we adopt certain aspects of the Chinese culture, it has become symbolic and synonymous with expressing gratitude—something we can and should all do despite the challenges that have beset us since last year. Along with gratitude, the upcoming celebration also focuses on prayers and togetherness. The Manila Hotel helps you plan for gifts for your loved ones to show them how much they mean to you. The special, hand-crafted mooncakes make the perfect gifts this season, and you can get them at a discounted rate when you order from now until August 20, 2021. The Early Bird promo gives buyers 30% off for purchases of Solo Boxes (PhP288 nett) or Bo...

  Gerald.ph Pioneers Cold-Chain and Sterilized Food Delivery in Metro Manila: Frozen Goods are Delivered Virus-Free at −20°C Right to Your Doorstep Do you need to stock up on chicken, beef, or pork during the lockdown but want to make sure that these arrive clean and virus-free? Are you craving for fresh salmon but not confident that what you’d get isn’t sterilized or fresh enough for your grill? Are you anxious your frozen veggies would turn soggy and not be safe to eat when the courier rings up? Gerald.ph is here to banish all the fears, uncertainties, and anxieties that surround getting frozen or chilled foods delivered right at your doorstep as frozen, cold, and fresh as they were first flash-frozen. Only Gerald.ph delivers your favorite foods at −20°C from their freezer to your home! This quality assurance also comes with a guarantee that deliveries have been sterilized and thus far from the dangers of a Covid-19 infection. Eliminating the Fear of Frozen Foods “People ...

PhilPlans, one of the country’s top pre-need firms, has extended its special cash programs until September 30, 2021 , to assist planholders who may be affected by the still ongoing pandemic especially given the threat of a new surge due to the Delta variant. “Given the higher risk that this more dangerous variant poses to the health of our families and its potential impact on their finances, we thought it best to extend our special cash programs as a way of providing a much-need financial lifeline for our plan holders,” said PhilPlans President and CEO Monico V. Jacob. Jacob noted that the special cash programs may be very useful in particular to planholders in Metro Manila during the return to enhanced community quarantine on August 6-20.  Launched in the early days of the pandemic in 2020 , PhilPlans’s special cash programs were extended to 30,661 planholders and their families with a total of Php6.55 billion as of June 30, 2021 . Of the said amount, Php2.28 bi...

  A Philippine-published book has made it to the top of Amazon’s list of “Hot New Releases.” Vibal Foundation’s Boxer Codex: A Modern Spanish Transcription and English Translation of 16th-Century Exploration Accounts of East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific entered the number-one slot in “Hot New Releases” under the historical study reference category on August 2. The Earth’s Biggest Bookstore Amazon, the world’s largest online marketplace and bookstore, has an algorithm that showcases the recently released titles that are most bought. To be included in the Hot New Releases, which is essentially the Best New Sellers list, Amazon’s algorithm looks at the paid sales of a recently released title. Aside from being the number one new release in Historical Study Reference, Boxer Codex has also reached number 19 in the Southeast Asia History top list as well as number 38 under the History Encyclopedias category. A New Hope for Filipino Publishers In an interview, Vibal Foundation E...