Children at the Crossroads: Windows to Healing in Mindanao

Amidst the hustle and bustle in the city life, little did we know that there is a growing outcry for war with our co-Filipinos in Mindanao.

War is not clean, war is not easy. War does not involve only armed combatants. War affects everyone: men, women, especially children. Armed and unarmed.

Thus, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) feels the need to take action and in little ways spread the awareness and open the hearts and minds of people who have limited knowledge and experience about the Mindanao conflict.

A child walking along the road of displaced families. A five-year old boy in Camp Afghan by the side of his grandfather, a combatant of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces. Children praying at dawn by the side of their makeshift tents along the highway. These snapshots were captured by the lenses of the celebrated photographer, Jun de Leon, as he visited Maguindanao, days after the Mamapasano incident in January.

Entitled, “Children at the Crossroads: Windows to Healing in Mindanao,”  Jun de Leon’s photographs with stories by An Alcantara was put on display from March 7-8 at the Fisher Mall, Quezon City. 

This exhibit is the 3^rd of the series of exhibits and people from the media, students and mall goers were able to witness the Opening Program of the exhibit which aims to raise awareness on the effects and impact of armed conflict in the Bangsamoro on children.

The exhibit was laid out in crossroads formation and was composed of 28 photographs. The exhibit also featured a 10-minute video capturing the faces of children, the scenery, and the people who speak about the conflict outside and within.

They are planning to show the exhibit and reach as many people as possible, and plans to take it to as many cities across the country at the soonest possible time.

This exhibit is organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), in partnership with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Fisher Mall and URC Jack ‘n Jill Puff corn.

Updated: Sunday Funday at the Kids On Bikes Ph 2016

Hi Mommies, remember my post about the Kids On Bikes PH 2016? Were you able to attend the Opening last Sunday, March 6? We did, and it was a lot of fun! Actually, days prior to the event all my 3 kids were excited about it.  It could have been a great bonding for the whole family, however I was only able to bring Athena since Jaear had to work on some stuff at home that day. Nevertheless, I was pretty sure that Athena enjoyed our mommy and daughter Sunday bike date. 

Kids On Bikes were also graced by my fellow Mommy Bloggers
Lhyzie and Richelle

Usually on Sundays we wake up late, but that Sunday we woke up early since the Registration started as early as 8AM and we still have to travel from Las Pinas to SM Mall of Asia. More than Athena, I was excited for this because I want to encourage my kids to have a healthy and active lifestyle. Every weekdays we are confined indoors and don't really have time for some active playing outdoors, so weekends' really are the best days for it.

When we arrived, the Open Grounds of SM Mall of Asia was already filled with colorful balloons and banners, parents and children anticipating the fun they'll have that day, of course that includes us!

Upon registration, we were given our Race Kit which includes, Singlet jersey race shirt, a wrist band (baller), Race number sticker and Kids On Bikes water jugs. Then the fun begins!

Athena is just 3 years old so I was expecting a bike with training wheels, but I was surprised to know that those kind of bikes are not really good for beginners. The bikes they have there was called "Strider Balance Bikes" they literally don't have pedals. Children move along by pushing the ground with their feet. Strider balance bikes are more conducive for learning as it focuses on the fundamentals of balancing, leaning, and steering without the distractions and complications of pedals or training wheels.

The bikes are only limited so it was a first come first serve basis, but as I've mentioned on my previous post that you could also bring your own bike. We didn't bring our own bike but we were able to score one and Athena just got lucky because she got a Pink Bike, Pink is her favorite color so she was very happy. Haha! Before the race officially began, I already let Athena bike along with other kids her age. 

After the registration, they officially opened the program with a few talks from the organizers including safety measures to be observed. "Gio" (Growee's mascot) was also there, and together with the kids they did some stretching and warm up exercises.

The Race then began starting off with the Fun Ride for kids ages 3-5 years old.

It was then followed by the Bike Relay for kids ages 6-8 years old 

together with their 2 family members.

 During the race, you won't see any tension from the participants all you can see is their smiles and laughter as they enjoy the moment.

In between the race, there were organized parlor games. 

There were also installed trampoline and inflatable play pen with balls within the area which kept Athena and other kids entertained aside from biking. 

The Main race for kids ages 9-13 years old started around 11AM, in this category  “The Biker Kid Of The Year” was hailed. All the other finalists will again compete on the Finale which will also be held at SM Mall Of Asia on April 9, 2016 together with the other finalists from the upcoming leg of Kids On Bikes PH which will be held on the following dates and venues:

• March 19, 2016 at the (Ayala Alabang Country Club)

UPDATE: The road to Kids On Bikes Ayala Alabang Leg is closed. For the second leg, they are redirecting the bikes and gearing up for an Easter Sunday bike race at UP Diliman Campus grounds.

• March 27, 2016 at the UP Diliman Grounds
• 

So if you missed the fun during the first round, you still have the chance to join. Nowadays, whether we like it or not kids are leading an increasingly sedentary lifestyle; they tend to spend more of their time indoors either playing with their gadgets or watching TV.  As parents we should lead a more active lifestyle by encouraging them to play outdoor sports and engage in other physical activities. That's why I am really thankful that Unilab organized activities such as this, they are reminders that being active and healthy is fun. And,in order for our kids to be able to do this, they need to have the right physical make up - they have to be tall and tough. As the slogan of Unilab's Growee vitamin says, "It’s not enough for them to be just tall, they have to be tough as well with strong bones and strong muscles" and our kids can get it from daily intake of Vitamin D!

So Mommies make sure that the vitamins you are giving your kids have Vitamin D. Give them Growee! It not only has CGF for maximum height, but also Vitamin D for strong bones and strong muscles. With Growee, "kids are not just tall, they’re tough as well".

Growee is available in all leading drugstores nationwide at the following prices: Growee Drops 15mL at P80.49, Growee Syrup 120mL at P146.90, Growee Syrup 250mL at P267.40.

Read here to know how to join the next race: http://www.shesthemom.com/2016/02/family-time-kids-on-bikes-ph-2016.html

Be Naturally Beautiful with Vitamin E!

2016 is a year for all natural, we get all serious whenever we see another DIY video on YouTube to achieve a more natural makeup, hair- do, or even a fashion OOTD. Looking natural is the way to go, achieving this looks, makes you look younger and effortlessly beautiful. Gone are the days when you put on so much blush on and foundation to cover up your blemishes, this years, trend is all about, less is more. It’s the same issue for our skin, sometimes we get so addicted using so many products on our skin. In belief that it’ll make our skin more radiant and smooth, but that’s not always the case. Using less skin care products can be healthier for you, using a skin care product that will give you all the benefits that your skin really needs.

Vita-E is SRP P14.00 per soft gel capsule, available at Mercury Drug and all other leading drugstores nationwide.

ATC Healthcare International Corp. searched for the best ingredient that gives a more beautiful and fit it into one convenient capsule of Vita-E. Vita-E contains 400 IU of vitamin E, a known antioxidant that effectively protects the cells against free radicals and gives our skin a beautiful, youthful and effortless glow. Free radicals are molecules that harm cells and contribute to the development of conditions such as stroke and cancer which Vita-E helps to prevent. These antioxidants are also essential for the maintenance of healthy skin by protecting it from UV-induced damage. 

Vita-E works from the inside making you feel and look great. Not only that Vita-E is essential in maintaining the functions of our heart, blood vessels, and nervous system, Vita-E also gives all around protection for a healthy immune system. Take care of what’s beneath and be naturally beautiful with Vita-E. Vita-E is recommended to be taken one capsule per day. 

Vita-E is SRP P14.00 per soft gel capsule, available at Mercury Drug and all other leading drugstores nationwide.

TrisoPure Baby Wash Review + Giveaway-Closed!!!

February has been a very busy month for me especially because I already started working from home, yes I'm officially a work at home mom so you see I had to deal with lots of adjustments. Anyway, I'm glad to have finally found time to blog again and for starter, here's a product review and a giveaway!

Last month, I received a TrisoPure baby wash gift pack from Pediatrica. As a mom, I have an endless quest of finding the right products for my kids so I'm totally fine with trying out different products as long as they are safe. And, TrisoPure is gently formulated for baby's skin so I'm confident it's safe. Though Brianna is already 2 years old, no longer a baby she's now a toddler (but I still call and treat her like a baby) and being a toddler means being more active which makes her more sweaty. Since Brianna turned into a toddler, we got used to using a scented baby wash for her, so the only concern I had at first is that Brianna might smell "maasim" after an active play since TrisoPure is fragrance free. Nevertheless we used it the very next day.

TrisoPure comes in a transparent glass like bottle, so everything is visible from the outside. The baby wash itself is also transparent, I'm not sure though if it's the bottle or the solution that has a pink tinge. So after getting Brianna wet with water, I poured an ample amount of TrisoPure baby wash on my palm, applied it on her body and rinsed it off with water. Unlike other baby wash, TrisoPure is easy to rinse and doesn't leave a greasy feeling. It was late in the morning when I bathed Brianna, and then all she did the whole day was just play, eat and all the usual toddler stuff. Came late afternoon, I checked on her and as usual she's "pawisin" she doesn't smell fresh already but the good thing is that she's not "maasim" either. We've been using TrisoPure everyday for almost a month already and so far Brianna didn't experience any skin irritation or allergic reactions, so there's really nothing to complain about. 

Based on our first hand experience I can definitely recommend TrisoPure baby wash for newborns to toddlers, but always remember that babies are different, not because it worked for us doesn't mean that it will be the same with others. In case of irritation or suspected allergic reaction, please discontinue use and consult a doctor.

So what are the ingredients of TrisoPure?

TriSoPure Baby Wash contains glycerin and panthenol, which maintains the skin’s natural moisture. It is also enriched with chamomile extract to soothe the skin.

TrisoPure is dermatologically tested and designed to clean baby’s skin with its mild solution. It is gently formulated at pH5 to match baby’s skin pH thus it is safe for everyday use. It is also hypoallergenic and soap-free.

TrisoPure baby wash is So Clean. So Gentle. So Pure!

TriSoPure Baby Wash is available in 170 ml for Php 155.00, 400 ml for Php 308.00  and is available in Mercury Drug, Rose Pharmacy and other drugstores nationwide!

Alright so you made it to the last part of my review which means, you too can get a chance to try TrisoPure Baby wash from Pediatrica that I'm raffling off to 5 winners! Winning is super easy, just follow the steps and earn raffle entries from the rafflecopter below.

Update: Please do all the Mandatory steps to qualify. I have added 1 more step to make the promo more exciting. Good luck to all! This contest is for Metro Manila residents only. Don't worry non MM residents, I'll be having another giveaway soon!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Family Time: Kids On Bikes PH 2016

During my primary school years, either my dad or my 2 big brothers would take me to school then fetch me back home with a bike. Thus, I also learned how to drive one at an early age and up to this date it's the only thing that I can drive. Haha! 

Now, as a mom I also want my kids to experience the same fun I had back then. But because of the fast phased life we have now and given the fact that we don't have a helper I am guilty of confining my kids indoors for toys, computer games and television watching. I know it is important to encourage our children to to be active outdoors not just to play and have fun but also to develop their sense of socialization, adventure and sportsmanship. With this in mind, we find time to let our kids enjoy an active playtime at the park or malls even just on weekends.  

I know some mommies could relate with me, well I have a good news for you! Coming weekends of March until April 9, 2016 you an your family can bond at the family fun bike carnival and race competition, the Kids on Bikes PH.

Kids On Bikes PH is an annual event with this year being the first bike-centric competition suited for different age range. Unlike most bike race and sports event, Kids On Bikes PH is the first kid-centric organic and homegrown competition. It is customized for the Filipino Kids “sa batang Pinoy”. 

Kids On Bikes PH will hail The Biker Kid Of The Year. The Biker Kid of the Year exemplifies a
happy, healthy, and tough kid.

As part of the advocacy, #KidsonBikes is endowing kiddie bicycles for the less fortunate children within our communities making one more child happy, active and healthy.

Supported by Unilab’s Growee, this event promotes good health and wellness for kids, because it is important for our kids to have strong bones and muscles. Most importantly, this event also aims to cultivate a fun bonding experience for the whole family.

The race has 3 categories:

Category 3: Fun Ride – kids ages 3-5 years old : This is a no-competition fun race for the kids. A family activity where participants are joined by parents or guardians to play in a stress free and fun mini playground.

Category 2: Bike Relay – kids ages 6-8 years old : This is a team mini bike race competition where the kid and up to two family members compete with the other teams in a relay type of race.

Category 1: Main Race – kids ages 9-13 years old : This is the major bike competition. The kids will have a friendly competition where kids will race each other to be hailed as the “The Biker Kid Of The Year”.

Check out the following dates and venues so you can schedule a fun filled bonding time with the whole family!

• March 06, 2016 at the SM Mall Of Asia Grounds (Opening)
• March 19, 2016 at the Ayala Alabang Country Club
• March 27, 2016 at the UP Diliman Grounds
• April 09, 2016 at the SM Mall of Asia Grounds (Finale)

Joining is easy and the best part is, it's free! Here's how:

• Register online at the Kids On Bikes PH Facebook page.
• Like and Click the ‘Sign Up’ button. 
• Just present a carton box of Growee 250ml (or 2 carton of Growee 120ml) in exchange for the Race Kit which consists of the following:
• Singlet jersey race shirt Race map 
• First aid kit Race number sticker 
• Water provision Kids On Bikes water jugs 
• Snack provision Certificate of participation 

• Bring your own bikes and gears. 
• A limited number of bikes & gears will be available for those without bikes.
• Race to fun!

See you there!

For more info:

Visit Kids On Bikes PH

Website: www.kidsonbikesph.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/KidsOnBikesPH

Email: info@kidsonbikesph.com