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Friday, July 31, 2015

Breastfeeding and Work, Let's Make It Work 2015

It's almost August and it's Breastfeeding Month once again. And because this year's theme is "Breastfeeding and Work, Let's Make It Work", I'll be sharing you a post related to it. 

2 years ago, I was still working out in a corporate world when baby was still less than 6 months old. I can't imagine how tiresome it was lugging around my cooler and pumping paraphernalia, commuting to and from Libis and Binondo everyday; worrying if my milk stash will be enough for baby and the hassle of sterilizing bottles and pumping gears, storing milk and all that when I got home from work. I took the courage to pump on my desk with cover as we don't have a lactation room in the office. All my colleagues even the boys knew that I was pumping because we were only in 1 common room. I didn't mind. I won't give up on breastfeeding because I know that it is what keeps my baby healthy.

One day, my preggy colleague asked me how much to avail a pump. I was using a Medela Swing Maxi and I didn't want to discourage her thus I kept the price to myself and told her that there were cheaper brands available in the market and Spectra was one of them. This conversation took place last April 2013 when suddenly I saw a post on BFP giving away pre-loved breast pump. 


I joined the contest and here was my entry:
When I was pregnant, I took time to attend various breastfeeding classes. Now I'm still able to exclusively breastfeed my 4.5 months old baby despite having to work away from home. Recently, my 4-month preggy colleague asked me on the cost of buying a pump. I recommended her the Spectra because it's the cheapest double electric pump that I know. And when I saw this giveaway, I immediately thought of winning this for her. I was overjoyed to hear that she have decided to breastfeed her baby as she was inspired to see me pumping in the office everyday. Her name is Ruby Libo-on, due on Sept. She works as a warehouse staff while her husband works as a security guard. Their combined salaries barely meet their monthly expenses for a family of 3. Not being able to breastfeed her first born really ate up a chunk of their income.

And surprisingly, my entry was chosen! I was so happy for my colleague Ruby. "Ask and you shall receive." When I informed her about the good news, she was so thankful and committed herself to breastfeed her second child.


Ms. Abie went to our office to hand over the breastpump to Ruby last July 2013.


Now that I've been away from the company for a year, I thought of interviewing how her breastfeeding journey went. Here's an interview with Ruby Libo-on.

Sally: Ilan taon na ang inyong anak na nagbbreastfeed? Hanggang kelan niyo balak magpasuso sa kanya at bakit? 

Ruby: 1 year and 10 months na siya ngayon. Hanggang gusto pa ng anak ko, hangga't may gatas pa ako kasi healthy si baby saka malaki din yung na save sa budget.

Sally: Base sa inyong sariling karanasan, ano ang nakita ninyong benepisyo sa batang napasuso ng gatas ng ina kumpara sa hindi? 

 Ruby: Mas healthy kasi si baby pag sa akin dumididi, hindi kagaya sa formula na sakitin gaya ng panganay ko dati, sakitin kasi formula siya.

Sally: Ano ang trabaho niyo at tuwing kelan ang pasok ninyo? 

Ruby: Inventory assistant, Monday to Friday yung pasok ko. 


Sally: May breastfeeding area ba ang inyong opisina? 

Ruby: Wala pero my area naman na pwede mag pump.

Sally: Paano ninyo nagawang ipagsabay ang trabaho at pagpapasuso sa inyong anak? 

Ruby: Pag sa bahay ako direct, tapos nag-iiwan ako ng gatas. Tapos pag sa trabaho naman, nag-ppump ako.


Image from Ruby.

Sally: Maari niyo bang ikwento ang pagsusubok na naranasan ninyo habang nasa trabaho at sabay ang pagpapasuso?

Ruby: Pag sa trabaho na ko binibigyan ko ng oras yung pag-ppump. Yung baby ko kasi naiwan sa bahay so nag-iiwan na lang ako ng milk para sa kanya. Umiinon talaga ako ng maraming tubig saka mga liquid na pamparami ng gatas. May time talaga na parang kumokonti yung milk ko, ininuman ko ng malunggay capsule.

  Sally: Anu-anong mga bagay ang nakatulong sa inyong pagtagumpay sa pagpapasuso?
  
   Ruby: Kumain at uminom ng pamparami ng gatas. Tiyaga sa pagdadala ng pump para my pasalubong na milk pag-uwi kay baby. Saka bigyan talaga ng oras yung pag-ppump para hindi mawawala yung gatas.

  Sally: Ano ang mensaheng maibabahagi ninyo sa kapwa nating nanay na nagdadalawang isip kung kakayanin bang magpasuso habang nagtatrabaho? 


Image from Ruby.
   Ruby: Tiyaga lang talaga sa mga nanay na gusto magbreastfeed. Bigyan talaga ng oras yung pagppump para may maiuwi na gatas para sa anak. Malaking tulong talaga magpabreastfeed kasi nakakatipid talaga. Saka isipin mo din yung health ng iyong baby.

So there. Hope you were inspired somehow to breastfeed even while working away from your baby. 

August 8, to be exact, marks my 32nd month or more than two and a half years of my breastfeeding journey. As a breastfeeding advocate I have written quite a number of post of my personal experiences which I would like to share them with you here.

2013

2014

2015

Before I end my post, let me invite you to join the most-awaited event during the month of August, Hakab Na 2015, now on its third year! 



For more details, pls. visit: http://hakabna.com/ or 
FB event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/384992915044541/

So excited for tomorrow! Long day ahead! Hope to see you there!

Mommy Sally

Saturday, July 11, 2015

My Journey Towards Becoming a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

My Breastfeeding Journey

Last Sept. 2014, I attended the first batch of BFP Peer Counselors Training and one of the requirements is to submit a one-page story of my own experience in breastfeeding my child. Today, I thought of sharing it to everyone here and hoping to inspire co-mommies to breastfeed.

Within a few minutes after giving birth to my baby girl last Dec. 8, 2012, she was brought to me to latch to stimulate my breasts. That time, I can’t see any drop of milk yet but I’m not disheartened because I was fully aware of the do’s and don’ts of breastfeeding which I learned from the classes that I had been attending when I was still pregnant. My baby was immediately roomed-in with me after all the initial check-up. That first night we hired a resident mid-wife to help us get through the night since we didn’t know how to handle a newborn. She also assisted me in bringing baby to latch on while I was half asleep. I grew up from a non-breastfeeding family thus it is not surprising to hear members of my family advising me to supplement baby with formula milk while waiting for my milk to come, even the pedia prescribed us formula milk. I was glad my informed hubby was there to support and back me up. We were able to bring home baby on the second night and that was the start of my sleepless night. My mature milk came out on the third day. My breasts got engorged and thankfully I have many mommy friends to consult and ask for help. I also consulted Ms. Abbie Yabot’s help which she visited me on the 5th day to check my latch and show me different breastfeeding positions. I didn’t invest on any lactation supplements instead I just constantly let my baby feed on demand. I even followed ge-lai rituals during the first month. She was exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months (no water, no vitamins, etc.) and then complemented with regular solid food starting 6 months until now. As soon as I returned to work after my 2-month maternity leave, I let baby feed on bottle, with my stored milk, when I'm out. Then I experienced nipple confusion when baby was still 4 months old. Luckily, with my persistence and determination to succeed, I was able to bring her back to my breast. From then on, I decided to stay at home most of the time so that I can continue direct feeding her and to ensure a successful breastfeeding journey. Despite having a flat nipple, I was able to overcome and feed on both breasts. I'm also proud to say that I rarely give her frozen milk since I'm aware that refrigerated milk is better than frozen one. And I'm happy to have a stable milk supply, producing just enough milk for my baby. Until now that she's 21 months old, I don't have any plans of weaning her yet. Thanks to Breastfeeding Pinays for giving the right support to all breastfeeding moms.

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Hands-On Parents While Earning Summit

Majority of parents nowadays chose to be hands-on with their child's upbringing and development and that includes myself. I have been a stay-at-home mom for a year now and life has been simpler. Simpler meaning there's not much social activity to brag about except for my toddler's milestone diaries. Everyday we challenge ourselves to keep our expenses at a minimum so as not to use up our hard-earned savings. Sometimes, I would be tempted to apply for a full-time job outside just to satisfy my thirst for adventure but looking at my lovely daughter, I really can't. I invite you to read this post on how I enjoy being a hands-on parent to my toddler.

When I saw this upcoming event entitled "Hands-On Parents while Earning", I got interested with the line up of program. However, upon checking out the learning fee, I was saddened because it's too costly for me. Sigh!  But I am sure that this H.O.P.E. Summit would be a nice event to consider attending as the speakers are really experts in this field, being hands-on to their kids while earning.     

Event Details

The mommy behind this big parenting event is none other than Ms. Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag, bestselling author and inspirational speaker. Hands-On Parents while Earning or H.O.P.E. Summit is set to happen on August 8, 2015, from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM at the AVR of PLDT TelTech Building, Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City. This whole day workshop on hands-on parenting and working smart in the new millennium seeks to inspire and teach parents how to marry hands-on parenting with earning for the family.

Friday, July 3, 2015

Nikidom Roller Bag: Coolest School Bag Ever

Exactly two weeks ago, a sample school bag arrived at my house for me to test run and it's the prestigious Nikidom Roller! Baby and I were so excited to open the package. 



What is Nikidom Roller?


Nikidom Roller, a brand from Spain, is a revolutionary stroller bag best known for its almost 7-inch-sized giant wheels and is the sleekest looking bag in the market for children aged 7-12 years old. It is designed by a mom tired of seeing her children carrying heavy backpacks, stroller bags that breaks easily long before the school year is over, and bags that are cumbersome for children to carry around. 

Below are some photos I took of the product showing the different angles.

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Learning is Fun: Bookay-Bookay 2015

Hi book lovers, you might want to check out this book sale by WS Pacific Publications, Inc. or popularly known as Learning is Fun. They are having a mini BOOK-ay BOOK-ay event where all books displayed are at 35% off the tag price. You might ask why it's written up to 50% off. I think it's because some of the items are 50% cheaper than the retail price. That's my assumption because some books have tag prices of SM, TRU, etc and I was able to compare the mall's price. But I heard they will retag the books to their discounted price already by Monday. Anyway, last day on July 1!



Sharing to you some of the pictures I took when I visited last June 27.






Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Trial Class at Cambridge Binondo

One fine afternoon last March, I visited my friend at her office tagging along my toddler just to have a short play time with her toddler. Then just before we part our ways, I thought of dropping by Cambridge since it's just within their building. We went together to check out the place and inquire for the rates as well. The complete name of the school is Cambridge Child Development Centre, a Singapore International Preschool. 

March 26. Two toddlers playing at the 'outdoor' playground of Cambridge.

Upon entering the class area, the toddlers ran loose towards the outdoor playground while the mommies were attended by Teacher Kevin to discuss their curriculum and fees. I personally felt excited while he was showing to us a photo album of students in action and how they conduct their class. Their approach is Project-Based Ecological Model or PBEM for short. I wasn't able to observe this during the 3-day trial class but you can research more about it here.



So we went there March 26 and because the summer class will be starting soon, April 6 right after the Holy Week, we weren't allowed to schedule a trial class already. The next available schedule was on May 4 which means our April will be vacant. Anyway, we were told to bring a pair of slippers, toothbrush and toothpaste and a set of clothes. 

Fast forward to our first day of trial. We came in 15 minutes late despite that it's a 10-minute walk from our place. I'm actually the one excited since it's my first time as a mom to bring my child to a school. It's quite challenging to wake a toddler up, rush her to eat breakfast, change clothes and prepare her baon. Upon arriving at the center, everybody was busy since the sessions have already started. Baby A was assigned at the toddler class, separated from my friend's toddler. 

The whole time I accompanied my toddler inside and observed the surrounding, from the students, teachers, materials, lessons, teaching method and of course Baby A's reaction and performance.


May 4, 2015. Day 1 of the trial class.
Circle Time 

The first thing that I noticed was the class is just a handful. They started the class with action songs to engage the small kids and to warm them up. The teacher assigned to her class is Teacher Nicole, or T. Nicole for short. She was one of the Chinese teachers so they were conversed and taught with both English and Chinese songs and lessons.


Their syllabus

Thursday, June 18, 2015

My 30-Month Old Toddler

It's been months since I stopped writing about my motherhood journey here. I'm so sorry about it. But if you have been following me on my Instagram account, you would know the updates on my child's development. I regularly post pictures with brief caption on Instagram as my only me-time is at night time while breastfeeding my now 30-month old toddler to sleep. 

There are lots of questions running around in my head. Some of them are:
1. How to correct and feed my picky-eater toddler well and increase her weight?
2. Where to begin and go about homeschooling my toddler?
3. Should I worry if my toddler is not yet fully potty-trained at her age now?
4. How to support my family's finances while being a full-time mom?
5. How to slowly wean my toddler from breastfeeding and train her to sleep without being carried by me so I can be more productive?

Since last December when Baby A's yaya had left us, I became more hands-on with her that's why I wasn't able to blog for so long. I would bathe with her, wipe after her pee and poop, feed her, carry her to sleep in the afternoon, play with her and even bring her along to Divisoria wet market or just out for a quick grocery or bank errand. It's very exhausting really if you don't have a trusted or able yaya to cover up for you. To add to that, our family just got scammed big time but that's a different story.


Walking courageously to Divisoria with my toddler
Baby A helping me wash her dirty clothes. No maid that time. (March)

Last January, I started handling workshops for Manila Workshops particularly Road to Retail sessions up until last May. I learned to stand by the challenges and be responsible for the result of the event. I learned how to prepare the materials, to coordinate with the attendees, to do post-documentation and even got to meet a few successful people. But because it's hard for me to divide my attention, doing this online job while worrying about my toddler's development, I decided to temporarily stop until I'm ready to interact with people or until I find the solutions to my concerns. 


at The Open Space, Makati

I'm happy that my toddler is on track with her developmental milestones. Based on my observation, she is good at:
1. picking up words heard from people talking or books being read to her
2. has clear diction or verbally inclined
3. loves to sing along, can even invent words using a familiar tune
4. loves to dance along, can even dance ballet without prior lessons
5. has sharp memory or recall
6. sociable and can easily mingle with people
7. has sense of humor, for example: she appears in the air instead of the person's hand; she imitates people walking weirdly, and many more.
8. she loves being massaged in the head or simply enjoys the pleasure of being tickled


home-service massage

9. she loves to drink Yakult, Dutch Mill, goat's milk/fresh milk with cereal or anything cold


at S&R
10. she loves to eat raisins thus I mixed it with her oatmeal as a cheat
11. of course, she loves cakes, ice creams and chocolates just like her mom
12. she loves to ride merry-go-round, kiddie trains and going to playground
climbing the slide
13. she has strong muscles such that she can hung herself and swing like this
14. she is showing signs of independence, for example: she wants to walk up/down the stairs by herself; she wants to switch on/off the light herself; she wants to carry her backpack; she can open and drink water from a jug all by herself and many more.
15. can complete a 10-piece puzzle
16. knows how to pray

Overall, I can say that she is indeed an active and fast-learner kind of toddler that it dawned on me whether it's time to enroll her to a preschool. How shall I enrich her this summer? It was already too late for me to scout for summer activities suitable for my then 28-month old toddler. But looking back now, it turned out that we had a jam-packed month of May after all! What we did last month deserves a separate post. Stay tuned! :)

Mommy Sally 

PS. Okay let me give you a sneak peek of what we did last May:
1. We attended 3-day trial class at Cambridge Binondo.
2. We attended 1 week Vacation Bible Study at Gerizim and had field trip at Avilon Zoo.
3. We enrolled her for a 15-day Summer Fun batch 2 class at Sacred Heart School.
4. We joined the 1-day Lil Preneur bazaar at San Lorenzo Village, Makati (June).
5. We've started setting up our mini classroom at home.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Cities by Carla de Guzman

PRESS RELEASE

Cities is Carla de Guzman’s first original novella. The story is based on the theory of multiple universes, the idea that somewhere out there are worlds where the choices you make are different from the ones made here. Carla writes about the cities that have inspired her and changed the way she sees the world, in the hope that her readers will want to travel there too. 

Cities is available in print and via Smashwords, CreateSpace, and Amazon. Please contact the author for more information.


Celia has dreams.


She dreams of going to Seoul for a scholarship she never took, of leaving everything behind and moving to New York.

In all those dreams, she finds herself attached to Benedict, the boy she has always loved, but who doesn’t love her back.


Ben believes in parallel worlds.


Worlds where things you didn’t do come true—worlds in which he goes to London and falls in love with Celia, where he shows up on the day she needs him the most. He believes that dreams are glimpses into that parallel world, and it’s not a coincidence that Celia’s been having them too.


But here, now, they’re in Manila. It’s the day of Ben’s wedding, and a typhoon is raging through the city. How will these dreams and unmade decisions change their lives? Will they bring them closer together or drive them farther apart?

Carla de Guzman (ck.deguzman@gmail.com) had horrible handwriting as a kid. That didn't stop her from writing, though. Riddled with too much energy and a vivid imagination, she started writing every midnight. She grew up with her toes in the sand and her bags packed and ready to go on adventures. Her books are chronicles of her journeys, with a little romance mixed in.

When she’s not sitting in a plane or working, Carla writes for her blog, Some Midnights (www.somemidnight.wordpress.com) and for When in Manila.


Note: I will edit this post as soon as I have time to finish reading the e-book. Thanks! :)

Thursday, February 5, 2015

PLDT KaAsenso's Cyberya: Start Your Own Mini-Internet Cafe Now!

Since the time I became a stay-at-home mom mid last year, I could feel the sting every time I see my friends traveling, dining out and sporting something new. I learned to embrace a low-profile life, to believe that less is more, and to use our money wisely. My very reason for leaving the corporate world is to spend more time with my family. I ventured into blogging even if I'm not a born writer, I joined Manila Workshops as an event director, and later on started my own online business, Binondo Pabili, finally after how many years of mulling over. 

As you noticed, everything is online-based now. Internet has made it easier for us mommies to look for online jobs, do online selling or shopping, chat using social media sites and at the same time be updated with the latest happening. As long as we have an internet connection, we can easily wear different hats or what we call as work at home.

Last Monday, Feb. 2, 2015, I was invited to attend a press conference to launch the upgraded services of PLDT KaAsenso. One of the services that caught my eye is Cyberya, which is an all-in-one internet café package that comes with broadband at up to 2Mbps and a complete PC set with a 24-month warranty and after-sales service. 





A Cyberya unit can be operated thru a one-peso coin, which gives users four minutes of surfing time. At such an affordable rate, it basically enables anyone to have internet access! The best thing about Cyberya, though, is that it allows any entrepreneurial Pinoy to start their own internet café business. Here’s how! 


All you need is an initial capital of P7300 and this already covers the P2,300 Installation and WiFi Modem fees for the broadband as well as the P5,000 down payment for the Cyberya unit. Monthly fees include the following:
    For the broadband: P1,300
    For the unit amortization:

  • For the first 3 months: P500 (PLDT KaAsenso gives its subscribers a leg up so that you can adjust to managing your business for the first 3 months of operations)
  • From the 4th to the 12th month: P1,632
The PC package, if paid in full, costs P18,599 (for surfing unit) or P23,799 (for gaming unit). 

In a month you could earn up to P4,800 per month!



You can even earn your investment back in just 5 months with P4,800 monthly earnings!



Best of all, the application process is easy. You just need an ID and Barangay Permit plus the necessary fees and you're good to go. It comes with free streamer and customizable headerboard where you can put your business’ name! 



For more info about Cyberya, you can visit their website HERE or read the FAQs HERE.

Aside from Cyberya, PLDT KaAsenso has other products such as
1. Plan 1888 - most affordable minigosyo package ever which comes with high-speed internet at up to 3mpbs plus the ever reliable PLDT landline, no upfront fees are required




2. Store Watch - for an additional P99 per month, minigosyantes can view live feeds using their smartphones, tablet or laptop so they can always stay on top of the business wherever they are; a security bundle that allows minigosyantes to remotely monitor their businesses such as the Cyberya


3. Wifi Zone - for an additional P299 per month, minigosyantes can offer WiFi access as an additional come-on for more customers to visit their stores with free or paid WiFi; subscribers can also create a customizable log-in page which can help further promote their business




PLDT KaAsenso, the microentrepreneurship arm of the telecommunications leader, salutes hardworking Filipino minigosyantes in their quest to give their families a brighter future by ensuring success in their businesses. They are here to empower us Filipino minigosyante by providing a more productive livelihood endeavors through their products.

PLDT KaAsenso team

According to PLDT Vice President and Head of Home Marketing Gary Dujali, PLDT KaAsenso products and services are tailor-fit to the needs of minigosyantes or microentrepreneurs who are driven by their desire to provide a better life for their families. "Filipinos are naturally very resourceful and really find creative ways to provide for their family. The role of PLDT KaAsenso is to provide them with simple, yet innovative and affordable technology solutions so they can be more efficient and productive leading to a better family quality life and making their hard work and sacrifice all worthwhile."


Mr. Gary Dujali, PLDT Vice President and Head of Home Marketing

Want to hear some testimonies? Watch these videos of some Pinoy Minigosyantes who made it successful with their Cyberya units.

 








So what are you waiting, get your own Cyberya units now! Make it 3 units to give you more profit and faster return on investment. You just need to look for a good location with high foot traffic, operate with longer hours to cater to more customers and make sure that there's no existing internet cafe near your vicinity. You just need a small space to operate Cyberya, with a width of 19" including the table (16" excluding), length of 25" and height of 47".


Picture with other mommy bloggers

When I got home, I immediately shared this good news to my husband. Hopefully we'll try to get a unit in due time. I love the idea, if only we have our own space. Whether you own a sari-sari store, a salon, canteen, you can add a Cyberya to your pool of businesses. This small investment is worth a try!

Photo with Ms. Maan Del Carmen.

Thank you Ms. Mabie and Ms. Maan for the invite!

PLDT KaAsenso

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PLDTKaAsenso
Website: http://pldtkaasenso.com/

Mommy Sally

Friday, January 30, 2015

Grand Baby Fair Year 5

Happy New Year dear readers! Well, year 2015 is not that new anymore as the first month is about to end. Of course I won't let January pass without posting anything so I'm now here to share with you my experience at Grand Baby Fair Year 2015! Their theme this year is Jungle Safari.

Can you believe, it's my 3rd time this year to attend the Grand Baby Fair at SM Megamall. Check out my previous post HERE. And you know what keeps me coming back? Their swag bag! For a minimum single-receipt purchase worth P3,000, you'll get a loot bag full of useful products worth around P1k.




I know you want to see what's inside the swag bag so here it is. The coolest of them all is the Zoo Bin! Other items include: Enfant soap and baby book, Pro-Lacta, Poten-cee, Working Mom magazine, a glass, Avent Via cup, Mimiflo fan, Cerelac, a sponge, Huggies and MamyPoko diapers, Lactacyd products, Hapee kiddie toothpaste, pen from Castle, pen from Cordlife, Cycles, Nivea, Farlin wipes, Tiny Buds rice powder, Johnson's baby power, and a plain orange umbrella (was not able to take a photo).



I, together with my mommy friend Edel, went here during the preview sale yesterday Jan. 29, 2015 (Thurs). We just registered online, presented our Mom card at the entrance and we're in. What got my attention was their giant moving stuffed animals by the entrance and by the stage. They looked so real and great for photo ops! I would really love to have photos taken with those but I just chose to use the time to go through the booths since we went there past 6pm already.

Let me show you some of the booths I found interesting.

Caste booth - I love their Olaf decor. My baby had been using Castle pillow and bolsters.

My Bulileet booth - nice toddler dresses, eyeing for my toddler but can't afford, haha!

Irdy booth - my baby loves to play with ride-on cars but I won't spoil her on that.