Tuwa, The Laughing Fish
March 3, 2013 § 3 Comments
Ohh it has been so long since I last blogged but this one I really want to blog talaga.
Tuwa, The Laughing Fish is an ecological village with zero waste, they have a sustainable lifestyle that is ready for any climate change. They plant their food, they harvest their our power, they live a life they way our ancestor did with no waste and full use of what is around them in comfort. They were able to create a balance of life there in their paradise in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija. I first learned about their place when Dominic Velasco showed photos of this place a year or two ago. He was proud of what Penny, his ex wife have created (dont you love it when couple are friend after separation? Pwede naman eh, hope others follow suit the friends part not the separation part ha). Then last February another friend who is really into eco living, organic life mentioned there’s a nice place to go to daw, so I googled it and found out it was Penny’s place pala. So I immediately invited some people whom I think would appreciate such and off we went this morning. Oohh I so love the place. I wasnt able to career the pacpipicture because I was busy listening to Penny & John explain what PermaCulture is and also on what they are doing in their place and how they are able to do it. I find their life so rich and full of substance, this is the life I want to have. One day… I will have it!
For now, let me share with you their place and hopefully you get to visit it and experience it and hopefully learn and copy also from them. I feel we all owe it to Mother Earth to do our part in not wasting our resources and in making our life sustainable. I felt like it is such a privilege to be able to visit their place and hear them talk about what they do. They are selling their place so they are not accepting bookings for more than 3 weeks in advance. So do find time to visit their place now before it is sold. Or buy the property from them?
Day Trip is P850 per person; P300 for children below 5 years old & P300 also for driver’s meal. Daytrip includes lunch & merienda and a tour and lesson on how they do thing there and why they do it.
Overnight stay is P1750 yata per person inclusive of full board meals.
Their place may be back to basic but it is definitely not lacking of comfort. It is not luxurious but everything you need is there.
Check out some of the photos I was able to take.
Main House – what a welcome sight. Those duyan is heavenly with a soft wind in the afternoon.
Penny here happily sharing her advocacy/her life/her creation!
Dry Compose Toilet. Every waste is harvested to good use even fecal matters and urine. Nope there is no foul smell at all.
You pour this over the feces and they decomposed etc etc and they change the bin every 3 weeks. The last dump was a few hours before we went and yet no trace of bad smell at all. The urine container will smell if it is almost full which is also a signal to change the container.
Penny will explain to you how to use their Dry Toilet so it is really simple and easy.
Main House. Simple, cozy and fully functional.
We were given this place to rest 🙂
John happily taking about Permaculture and about what they do here in Tuwa.
Penny prepared our lunch. This is called Locavore Cuisine. Food grown within 160 km of its point of purchase or consumption.
Rocket Stove. If you hear them talk about how little resources are needed if used wisely, you will be heartbroken on how much waste we just incur on our day to day life.
I didnt take that much photos because I read a blog where the photos were shot so nicely and explanations are clearer. Please visit the blog of Triple Espresso Shot to know more.
And read also more on the official TUWA website.
Like them too on their Facebook Page.
Please help spread the words.
WhoRidesAVespa? ME!
February 6, 2012 § 4 Comments
Wow I actually had a hard time logging in and starting this post as I dont even remember what my password was na 🙂 hehehe.
One thing I learned is I salute those who regularly blogs. Either I am tamad, too busy, unorganized or spends way too much time in FB kaya I really have a hard time blogging. There’s so much I want to blog na done na ioorganize ko na lang kaso… sometimes I feel guilty kasi when I start to blog I want to be able to finish it and when Laya cries or seeks my attention na I feel either bitin/inis kasi I wanna finish or guilty kasi I wanna spend time with her. So ayun unti unti until nag stop na ako… may isang time nakalimutan ko nga na may blog pala ako hahaha. Once in a while it creeps on me and urging me to blog this and that… hopefully one time I get my groove back and blog again.
For now I am back kasi I wanted to tell my Vespa Ride Adventure. I did it via photo blog thru the my FB Album but I figured there’s still so much I wanna say, so here I am.
Ok I have always been asked by so many friends why I am ok with Didda Abet riding his Vespa. Well, I really dont think he’d be unsafe sa Vespa, kasi he is not a fast driver or a speed demon, hehe tumatanda na siya eh, so kampante ako (except during long rides in the early years). Besides, when I met him during college he was riding a motorcycle na talaga, so di naman foreign sa akin ang pag momotor niya. Tapos Vespa pa is so nice and well actually what really made be believe it is the right time for him to buy one was when he said he will buy a Vespa so he can bring Kite to school… awww swooon what a great dad diba? *rolleyes* Hinatid niya nung first day sa school, and that was the last time na din. Ang traffic daw, nauusukan lang sila kasi halos standstill ang traffic, mahirap daw kasi ang laki ng bag… methink it is simply because it is not fun to wake up in the morning IF you have to do a chore. Oh well!
Josh at 7 years old
It turned out his Vespa was a hit with all the nieces and nephews. They would want to take turns (as in turns ha, paulit ulit) around the area. Sometimes when we go home and before we go up to the unit, sila ni Kite mag one round in the area pa bago sila aakyat ng bahay. Well those were the days. Ang dami din naging changes sa buhay namin dahil sa Vespa, nagkaroon siya ng ibang world, nag oout of town siya for days with his Vespa friends, nag camping pa nga sila ni Kite with the VespaClub eh (I like it kasi I get ‘me’ time when he is aways), naging part na din ng life namin ang Vespa Club (hehe feeling ko honorary member ako, nangengealam ako madalas, hanap ako ng gagawa ng patches, ng membership cards etc etc well it’s because Abet was the club president din kasi and after his term I got to know din all the other presidents and officers and member – dapat magpakilala para mahiya naman siya sa akin if they do hanky panky with Abet *may laman haha*), may wall of Vespas na din kami sa bahay at puro Vespa na din ang naging pasalubong sa kanya etc etc.
Me and his Vespa? Once lang ako naka sakay nung bago pa yung Vespa. Naku po from our house to Greenhills Promenade lang kaso am so praning! I was just using a small shoulder bag but ang feeling bawat tatabi na naka motor or mga vendor or any pedestrian eh ang bilis lang nila hablutin yung bag ko, more than the bag it was the experience and the trauma with it that I do not want to encounter. Tsaka ayaw ko yung naalog pwet ko 😦 Hmmph dinibdib yata ni Didda yung angal ko kasi never na niya ako ulit inayang umangkas. Hehehe until yesterday, I had plans na today to meet with a friend for merienda and shop around sa Mega sana, but was told na mag UP daw kami to meet Cox (his Vespa friend na painter who did a drawing of our fam, super thanks Cox!)
I had long wanted a painting/drawing of us na talagang commissioned. I love anything and everything personalized talaga. The only thing we have na drawing/artwork of us was one done by our good friend Mike Fua for our wedding He did the 6 in our 1026 logo the nekid couple forming the number 6. Aww too bad we dont have a hard copy… hmm will ask Mike nga if he could do it for us.)
Anyway, yung nga we will go to UP daw to eat isaw and meet Cox there and mag Vespa daw kami! Ack! Ako takang taka why, biglaan, di naman namin yan napagusapan earlier, di ko maconnect why naisip niya but sige mukhang may possibility naman yung trip maging enjoy kasi nabasa ko yung experience nila Bimbo & Des nung nag Pranjetto sila eh, sige nga ma try nga besides the drawing is something to look forward to and so is the ice cream there, di ako looking forward sa isaw kasi lie low ako sa death-food dahil paalis kami sa tuesday and I dont want any possible problem besides I was devouring super yummy chicharon the past few days na, the guilt is enough. Off we go to the adventure, and let me share them with you…
trying to capture us in our 'ride'
still trying to capture us
here's what a pillion rider sees
enjoy! will do this again 🙂
The rest of the photos are in my WhoRidesAVespa FB Album.
What I learned in this trip:
1. It is dangerous but enjoyable – ride only with people you trust completely. I understand how easily an accident can happen. Pray and enjoy life! Whether or not you ride on two wheels! Life is precious.
2. The wind is really strong and stings the eye (moreso if you dont wear glasses) so those helmet with shield is really necessary unless like me you just hide behind the rider 🙂
3. You get a different perspective of the road. I notice the view more (Katipunan Area with Antipolo view), I notice the weather (nice nice weather at 430pm, my fave time of the day), you appreciate life (I felt happy as we cruise along Katipunan with the sun out but not stinging our skin, with the wind cool yet not cold, with the trees shading us etc etc) and you smell everything too, gas smell – I like; tambucho – I hate!
4. Nakaka takot pag bigla andar yung jerk lalo na if di ka ready, kaya dapat hawak ka at all times. And yung stop lights with countdown ayy super love yan.
5. Di ka pwedeng mamili bigla, bago ka bibili iisipin mo muna saan siya ilalagay!
6. It is fun to do be open to new experience.
7. It is always fun to have couple time <3.
Till the next joyride!
PS. As I was tagging Cox in the photo I googled him… whoah! Here are some articles on him that I really liked 🙂
Daniel Coquilla’s Art of Street Culture
by: Christiane L. de la Paz
Dansoy Coquilla and the View (from) Above
View his multiply site and some of his work and more about him.
Thanks again Cox! We are honored to be drawn 🙂
UPDATE:
Got the painted one na from Cox 🙂
Myra Gaye Sare
December 22, 2011 § 6 Comments
This is a long overdue post. I’ve been wanting to write this for so long but never found the chance.
I always hear people say that close contact with death changes you. I agree. 40 days ago our friend Myra Sare succumbed to colon cancer. It was quick. They learned about her condition just a month before her death. Usually when people find out about her death and the suddenness of it the first instinct is to check their own health and fear death, a number of peeps in the wedding industry are going for executive checkups soon. But me it was not the effect, instead I wish when I go I would be able to have lived a life as full as hers. Hers may be a short life (she died at 37 years old) but it was full to the brim, overflowing even. Her relationship with her kids is one I find myself leaning towards to. I vividly remember how impressed I was with her mothering skills when during the early days of Facebook when we would answer questions and post them under notes… this is hers and it knocked me off my sock! I have a very good relationship with my daughter Kite, we are close and we get along really well but we do have the usual issues, those please do this and do that first and that is what she remember me saying to her most often. But My is different, among all my mommy friends it is ONLY her kids who answered the question this way:
1. What is something Mommy always say to you?
Nik: I love u!
1. What is something Mommy always say to you?
Max: I love you!
I remember looking up to My so much after that. Her kids are normal, napapagalitan, nasesermonan, hindi perfect pero I Love You and answer nila. I am a mom and I say I love you to Kite often enough but still it is my nagging she remember more than my I Love You and mine is normal, for My to be remembered for her I Love You’s wow that is super big deal and super telling. Impressive really!
My spent the last I think 5 or 6 years of her life being a full time mom, so she monitored her kids’ every move and every growth and every development, she died not wishing she spent more time at home and less time working or being out with friends etc. I bet you she had a much much greater relationship with her kids than a lot of those who lived up to see their kids have kids! Her kids know and will forever remember their mom even when their mom left them at 13 and 10 years old. She instilled the right values and characters in her kids. And it is because she stayed home that she was also able to give back to her parents by caring for them and being there for them for their every needs. She was able to give back and serve her parents back even in her short life. Oh her yaya is with her the past 10 years! At this day and age, who else have such loyal yaya, she must be a really great person right?! Oh the mommies who read this will agree how rare it is to have yaya staying this long. And her yaya spoke too on her eulogy, that is the kind of person she is. Damn impressive right!?!
Her social life wasn’t empty too. She regularly met up with her old gang and her other friends. Heck, she even had the chance to go out of the country with friends, not once but twice! Her last three years was spent going in and out of town, checking in at the swankiest resorts for every possible occasion, her birthday, their wedding anniversary or when there is a great groupon deals; they would also regularly luxe on 5 star hotels in the Metro. She even had the chance to go out of the country with her whole family with siblings and nieces and nephews and her parents. And the designer bags we lusted for years and years ago? She got em, not one not two but lots! Like I told you she did have a charmed life 🙂
Her relationship with her husband is also one for the book. How often can you find a wife so in love with their husband after 14 years? I can feel how much love she have for Bong, as in super in love at kilig na kilig pa din siya kay Bong after all these years. And yes they do fight, as in ekek arte small stuff, like I said their marriage was never on the rocks. She was able to enjoy so much out of life with Bong. Grabe sobra siyang saya sa buhay nilang mag asawa. Something so rare and something so valuable. I think she is maybe more in love pa than when they got married, and how many couples can even say that! Grabe right?
She died and there’s not a single ‘I wish’ on her death bed. Not just that but there’s not even a need for bilin as everything is perfect in her world, of course perfect in a relative way, if it was indeed perfect then cancer wouldnt have been in the picture. But as a mom, I think you guys know what I am trying to say. There was no need to bilin her kids or bilin this and that she knew all will be taken cared of perfectly. When I hear people feeling sorry for My, I dont quite agree. I feel sad she wont see her kids grow but her life is so much more full than probably 95% of the people in this world. Her happiness cup is fuller most people too!
Because of My I am now a happier person, I now enjoy and savor each and every single day that I have, every single things that I own, and every single thing that I am able to do, I no longer dream of what I want to have, where I want to go or what I want to achieve but now I strive to have a life as full as hers. I rather live full than live long. I laugh heartier now too!
Thank you My for this important lesson in life. Those who know her or met her will know she is not a loud flashy person, but she is a very steady person, she knows what are the most important things in life and she valued them and she lived her life to the fullest! She never felt the need to brag, to show off nor to upstage anyone, she is happy in her lot. Her life is one of those who got the most quality! I can’t name a single person who had a happier life than her. Oh, according to Bong she cried when she first told Bong about the cancer diagnosis but never again after that! During her 1 month stay in the hospital, she never cried, questioned nor pitied herself/her situation. I think deep down she knows even with the cancer, she is one pretty lucky person and her life, even that short, rocked!
Thank you for your life and for all that we learned from you. We’re missing you!
Foursquare
September 26, 2011 § Leave a comment
Am so having fun with the Foursquare App. Kakatuwa kasi you get badges, mayorships and scores. I know Facebook has check ins din but its not as fun as this one and check ins in FB tends to get annoying pag solo solo lang, fun yun if you are checking in with friends. Tsaka sa FB parang nagyayaban ka lang if you check in in so many places in a day. Tsaka scary kasi you have so many friends there.
I even rely of the tips and advices left by others who checked in when visiting new restaurants. I also am enjoying the specials, kaso I think it will catch on pa lang kaya konting establishments pa lang may specials.
Wala lang wanna tell you lang am so enjoying this. But since this is kinda like telling everyone where I am at every stop I make I choose closely sino lang mga aapprove kong friends here. If I didnt approve you and you notice just tell me saan kita friend kasi minsan first name lang naka lagay so I dont approve it.
Yun lang enjoy ako makipagkulitan sa akin FourSquares friends. Nanghihinayang lang ako kasi di ko ito kinareer nung nasa Australia kami. hmmph!
See yo at Foursquares.
🙂
Parks in the Metro
September 22, 2011 § 12 Comments
Clarice posted sa N@W na may group of developmental pedia who wants to conduct free assessment for kids so syempre sign up ako for Laya. Result came out and all are great except for locomotor skills, so lagay pala na ito eh di pa naman masyadong pinapa explore si Laya, so super atat akong mag punta sa kung saang saang park with Laya to let her feel vast space and walk around and do whatever. Ito ang aming UP adventure. Am lining up parks for her to go to…
My list (got these from my FB friends)
Nuvali (super wanna go here kasi may Koi pond eh Laya is so cute when she says fish with action pa, actually 2 actions niya for fish one is from Ninang Michelle and she calls the action nnn-nang)
Eco Park (but malayo daw eh so hmm bahala na)
UP sa likod ng Oblation (sabi Tisha)
Eton Centris (ito nakita ko as in super nasa plan ko na ito maski kami lang)
TechnoHub (this came as a suggestion so maybe para sa Kanin Club!)
I want Laya to be able to touch leaves, dirt sa ground, run, madapa, and all that. Si Kite kasi halos hindi nakaka outdoor, so rare na rare and sugat so maliit na sugat may takot na agad siya, eh ako nga nung bata eh mala mapa sa laki ang sugat na nagiging langib eh. Hope Laya will be more outdoorsy. Pero saksakan ng tamad maglakad itong si Laya! Hay diyos mio. Need to force her talaga to walk.
Yun lang.
Type ko lang mag blog ng mag blog 🙂
Roasted Sesame Dressing
September 20, 2011 § 7 Comments
I saw it at Eastwood Malls Food bazaar, tasted it, loved it and bought the smalled bottle at P150 for 150ml. Ubos agad isang kainan lang (3 naman kami) bought mesclun mix at Santi’s (highway robbery! but walang ibang ganyan kaganda ang mix eh, they even have endive in it. you know of sellers ng mesclun mix aside from Santi’s?).
Dahil ang sarap nga ng dressing I bought one sa Shopwise ibang brand kasi Sesame Dressing din, kaso di masarap so tinawagan ko yung seller nito kasi nakadikit sa bottle yung numbers nila. Got na a bigger bottle at P350 for 350ml. Lasa nito yung arang salad ng UCC. Hay naka ilang kain ako, been eating it for the past 4 days. I am guessing it is healthy kasi greens eh maski I am eating it for the dressing. Oh well, am going to subscribe to Good Food Co. for their salad subscription, Rowie of Pinoy Baby from N@W’s been raving about this here and here and I am so eager to try it too. Sana maka daan ng Sonya’s Garden kasi I want the pop beans and also their dressing. Para maka salad everyday! Another dressing I like is the kamias somethign vinagrette, gift ng friendship Michelle, kaso forgt the name of the seller/brand, but alam ko nagse-sell sila sa Mercato.
Happy Salad Everyday!
Roasted Sesame Dressing
P150 for 150ml; P350 for 350ml; P550 for 1 liter (P650 for 1 liter sa DEC)
5151350; 0917.8137462; 0922.8148503
Full Disclosure: I dont know them at all, I just ask the messenger to text them and pick up from them. Dont even know their names… wala lang feeling ko lang idagdag.
Birthday and Christmas Blog Entry
September 1, 2011 § 4 Comments
Happy Birthday to our Didda Abet!
Ohh let me share his past birthday celeb, this is my fave party Election ang theme namin! Watch the teaser vids here. And listen to the speeches: Kuya Fol’s speech here and dont miss this speech of Papa Fol’s too. Now back to this year…
Since birthday niya today will just share something about him that most might not know. Did you know he is a composer? When we were not yet married he would join songwriting contests and would get in and be a finalist, awww that elusive Metropop inaasam ko pa din… 😦
Oh well, here is one of his composition, it got picked for the GMA7’s Christmas CD (Year 1995) and his song is the carrier single (ssshh only because he named the song A Christmas on GMA). So here’s now my Happy Birthday Didda Abet & Merry Christmas to all blog entry…. ber month na!
Since I am doing this blog by myself and would want to surprise Didda ito lang alam kong way to share the song. Download song here. Will paturo tomorrow how to upload sa host namin. Enjoy!
PS. Because he compose songs ] we had CDs made and it served as our wedding invite and wedding souvenir when we got married. Read about our cd here.
On our 10th anniversary (see party kwento here) we had them remade and now we are stuck with so many cds. You want one? Let me know! Will have one sent it you are in Metro Manila. Just ask for one.
Happy birthday Didda!
Personalized Gifts
August 12, 2011 § 14 Comments
I so love receiving personalized gift.
(lucky me for having friends who always send such).
Sharing them here, mag ‘ber’ months na at malapit na ang Christmas.
Here are gifts that I gave away: (click on image to go to the website of maker)
The Write Impression gave us this memo pad as gift and the year after we gave it to friends naman. (by The Write Impression | photo by Alpha)
Personalized fans with Logo
I loved having my own name in my fan. Luckily, Didda Abet‘s hometown is Lumban, the land of Barong. He got a lot of relatives there who can help us source and order these fans. So last Christmas 2008, this is what we gave away, then again last year to the some other friends. Now our nephew in Lumban is our go-to guy if there’s order for this. He found the source and can handle orders na if may bulk orders.
Personalized Picture Frame
Gave this away to kids of our friends last 2008. Was actually hoping the makers still make them coz some of my friends got new kids na but they dont anymore daw 😦 boohoo
Memo pad with their handwriting
I had Kite ask her classmates write their name in a paper and then sent it to Noky to scan and place sa top ng memo pad. Perfect for first graders huh? Kite’s gift to her Grade 1 Classmates. (by Wink – Written in Ink)
Gift Cards
Gift Cards – gifts to Kite’s prep classmates 🙂 (by The Write Impression)
Polymer Figures USB
We had this Kite USB made in Bangkok and we were so amazed.
When we saw Clay Creation here we showed her these and she added this as their line na since. For a year almost all our family & friends got this for gifts from us.
These are made na by Clay Creations. (by Clay Creations)
VCOP Officers Year 2008
This is Abet’s gift to his set of officers during his term as President of Vespa Club of the Philippines. Super aliw ako kasi pati yung color ng Vespa nila pinagaya namin. (by Clay Creation)
Maong Apron with Embroidery
My friend Yvonne (her gifts are always personalized) gave me one as gift and 2 years after ito na gift ko din sa friends ko. Love it 🙂
Floor Tote
I met Lynlyn in a bazaar in Rockwell and ordered these floor totes from her last Christmas 2009. (ordered from lynlyndy@yahoo.com)
Bag Tags
Kite’s gift to friends & classmate’s when she was in Kinder 🙂 (by Tagz Inc.)
puzzle
Ordered from a wedding supplier but she sold her business na. Gift ni Kite to her classmate sa Grade 2 farewell party.
This one is a marvelous idea kasi cost niya nasa P25 lang per pad. Erron Ocampo did all the illustrations in our 2011 W@W Desktop Calendar, aside from the illustrations on the cities he also made illustrations of Malacanan Palace, DOT Building and the Building where we stay for our message place. We found his illustration of our building too nice to just use once so I had this brilliant idea na gawing note pad and ipa print but syempre bida si Abet Rana his idea is brilliant-er izerox na lang para mas mura at mas madaling gawin. Ayun we printed it sa isang bond paper, per bond paper 4 na memo pad ng kasya, we place each name of the recipient (lahat ng kapit bahay namin na alam namin ang name ginawan namin, meron pang lobby guard, sa akin lang I have Benz Rana, Mr & Mrs Rana, Bennette Rana). Tapos pina-photocopy sa Copylandia 50 sheets per pad then pina cut ko and pina pad na lang sa Kenstar Graphics, printing press where all our printed materials are done. Ito super galing talaga. I love I love! Thanks Erron!
Picture Bag
We used to order A LOT of picture bags sa ibang supplier and they used tarp printing lang, when my sister in law Ellen who’s based in Aus said gusto niya pagawa ng picture bag ulit hinanap ko number ni tarp bag maker kaso di ko na mahanap kasi ilang years ago na yun. Then I remembered seeing this sa wall ni Charisse of Print Diva ayun this bag is a lot nicer kasi the picture is printed sa tela and maganda yung printing niya. Medyo matagal lang ang order so allot 3-4 weeks for order. Happy with this discovery!
Now here are the gifts we received naman na I love:
Notebook na may name na sa labas may name pa sa bawat page from The Write Impression
from Clarice made by Tisha
bag organizer na malaking malaki from Yvonne ulit
toiletry kit na his & hers from Willin/Beabi
kikay bag for Kite & Laya from Yvonne
Will keep adding if I see more. Sige if may maganda kayong gift bigyan niyo ako hahaha!
Laya’s Birthday Party Pictorial
August 11, 2011 § 4 Comments
Our baby Laya turned 1 last March and instead of having a big birthday party we had pocket celebrations and a birthday pictorial. The pocket parties were planned, we started with a family dinner (just people in our house), a family dinner (all of Didda’s side) and another party in Australia where we spent the summer. The pictorial on the other hand wasn’t planned it just fell into place. We had quarterly shoot with The Stork Studio and on her 9th month Sofia suggested an outdoor shoot but we were not ready for it so we had it inside the studio, but on our way home after the 9th month shoot, John said we can do outdoors the next time and just prepare a small table for four and have a small cake so we’d have a birthday themed pictorial since it will be her 12th month. That was my ‘aha’ moment and it turned into one big production number as soon as we got a nod from Teddy Manuel.
Please read more about the party, the suppliers involved and etc at W@W’s Blog or Didda Abet’s Blog or Mommy Manila’s Blog and please watch the video at Threelogy’s Blog shots from shoot of Phoeben Teocson Cinema 🙂
Am here to brag lang that the party is included in Smart Parenting’s Aug 2011 Issue on Party Special
click to enlarge
We didn’t really plan this pictorial to be a full blown party pictorial but it turned that way and we are so happy. So happy that I would even recommend this to all, both those who intend to throw a big party and to those who don’t.
Why I like it?
1. We didnt spend a fortune throwing a party for her.
2. She didnt need to endure a party she wont remember yet we have party pictures for her to enjoy when she grow old.
3. We got a LOT of pretty family pictures. We always miss having family pictures during our parties because we are all busy entertaining our own guests and when we do get some snapshot they are hurried.
4. We got to do dream set up we wouldn’t be able to afford for an actual party.
5. It is so damn fun! We were just busy looking good and having fun, no guest to care for and no program to follow!
Oh I super suggest this to other families! Now if I can just convince Kite to not celebrate her debut haha!
Guide to a Breastfeeding Newbie
August 4, 2011 § 2 Comments
I know new moms have so much on their mind and even those who are dead set on breastfeeding sometimes fail because there’s lack of preparation and all sorts of reasons come in. Some find it hard to actually pursue because they thought it will come naturally like pregnancy & birthing. Well it is but there are several bottleneck on the breastfeeding journey that I would advice new moms to learn about it and find out as much as they can. Yes online reads are very helpful but to actually join a support group is the most ideal, aside from you actually get inspiration from those who were able to do it you also get to find your support group. There is nothing more powerful than knowing people who actually did it, I think about my friend who did it and tell myself doable yan ang daming naka gawa eh.
Here are ways to arm yourself with breastfeeding knowledge before birth. (I personally think the work is 5x harder if you start seeking help when you are actually there na. I even think that is 95% why breastfeeding fails, the other 5% is medical condition na.)
1. Attend classes to learn how to breastfeed
a. L.A.T.C.H. (Lactation, Attachment, Training, Counseling, Help) is a hospital based non-profit organization established in 2006 that offers quality lactation education and peer counseling services to mothers who wish to breastfeed.
LATCH will have a FREE breastfeeding talk at The Medical City (TMC) this August 13, 2011 from 9:00-12;00 nn. Best to attend with partner/support person.
Read about What to Expect During LATCH Classes. I have never been to their class so I have no first hand info.
b. Medela Moms – they are the exclusive and authorized distributor of Medela Breast Pumps here in the Philippines, they also accept repair and check ups for pumps even if bought abroad or thru online sellers. They hold breastfeeding classes in 3 modules. I will try to get hold of their modules and schedule and price too. Will update this as soon as I get them.
Breastfeeding 101: Sept. 10 (1:30pm-3:30pm)
Breastfeeding 202: Oct. 15 (9:00am-11:00am)
Breastfeeding 303: Nov. 19 (8-10am)
To register, just email back or text 0917-5614366. Indicate if you will be accompanied or not (for the snacks’ headcount :). Fee is P500 for 3 classes
c. Join birthing classes, usually those who are interested to do birthing the natural way are also the same people who are very interested in breastfeeding. I know of two groups that offer birthing classes. That of Chiqui Brosas-Hanh & the one from Rome Kanapi. I recommend these classes to first time mom, we took it when we had Kite and we learned a lot, you dont have to want to do Lamaze or anesthesia free birthing o join the class, we joined it to learn about birthing and just know more. Classes included newborn care & touches on breastfeeding too.
Chiqui’s Prepared Childbirth Class
PCC 202
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER CLASS 2011 (4 Sundays)
DATE: (Aug. 21, NO CLASS), Aug. 28, Sept. 4, 11, 18
TIME: 2:00-5:00PM
Prepared Childbirth Class
PCC 203
SEPTEMBER- OCTOBER 2011 (4 Sundays)
DATE: Sept. 25, Oct. 2, 9, 16 (or 23, not confirmed which of the two dates)
TIME: 2:00-5:00PM
2. Join breastfeeding support meet. This is to make the journey fun and to have some people to talk to for support when the going gets tough.
a. La Leche League Phils is formed by Abbie Yabot it is an international support group organization for expectant and nursing parents. Meets twice a month, every 4th Saturday at Mothercare Greenbelt 5 at 1030am, join their facebook page to get latest update re meet schedule it changes sometimes eh. (I attend this one as much as I can)
b. The BreastFriends Support Group – join their YahooGroup for meet update, though the mailing list is inactive you can still post your questions and get the ball rolling. The group meet every 2nd Saturday in Baby & Co. Podium at 10:30am confirm muna if there is a class before attending, they require registration thru text too. (I attended this one a few times)
3. I got Nanay Lita Nery to massage me to prepare me for birthing and also massage me to help me relax and guide me in breastfeeding Kite the first time and again when I had Laya. I heard she no longer accepts pre natal massage because of her busy schedule. Actually I tried getting her services when I wanted to relax but she couldn’t fit me in her schedule. But am glad she made time for my friends who were in dire need, so I am assuming she picks whom to go to base on the urgency of the case and I commend her for that 🙂 Call Nanay Lita at 0918.5557565
Now that you have armed yourself and prepared for it. Here naman are the list of people to go to if you encounter problems Breastfeeding Counselors in the Philippines or if you need to consult or ask for help call the Latch Warmline 0917.5325643 (pls remember the people in Latch are ALL volunteer moms so there might be days when it takes a while before a reply is given) start rate for home visit consultation with Latch volunteers is at P500.
In case you are wondering what you need to buy to prepare for breastfeeding well NONE, you dont even need to buy a breast pump. Pumping is suggested when you reach 6 weeks na so wait for the need to buy before you go and buy one. I am also asked what pump I used I used Medela Freestyle Pump, I got it from an online seller. I am very happy with my choice and have recommended that too to several friends. But that doesnt mean it is the only good pump. I am actually now on a hunt for cheaper pump.
Hope this gives you a headstart for now. See you in one of the meets I hope 🙂
Mga breastfeeding friends, if you are willing to accept emails from people you dont know please leave your name & contact info or blog info sa comments so they can also go to you if ever.
MimmaBenz.com 