MOMI BERLIN

PERSONAL NARRATIVES, MOMMY TIPS, AND THRILLING DISCOVERIES TO MAKE DAILY LIFE THE HAPPIEST

Grow wise with Philippine Proverbs

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Habang maikli ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot.

Ito marahil ang lagi kong naririnig sa aking ina hanggang sa ako ay magkaisip at maunawaan na sadyang hindi parehas ang istado ng buhay ng tao. Ang iba, ika nga nila, ay pinanganak na may kutsarang gintong nakasubo sa bibig nito. Ngunit ang higit na nakalalamang ay yaong mga isang kahig, isang tuka.

Hindi naman kami nabibilang sa anumang grupong nabanggit. Hindi kami nakatira sa isang marangyang bahay, ngunit hindi rin naman kami naghihikahos sa buhay. Simple lamang ang aming tahanan.  At sa loob ng tahanang iyon malimit ay umaalingawngaw maging umaga man o gabi ang tinig ng aking magulang.  Busog ako sa  kanyang mga matatalinhagang pangaral.

Nang lumaon, kasabay ng aking paglaki ang mga pangaral ni nanay.  Sadyang hindi siya napapagod paalalahanan ang kanyang nag-iisang anak mula sa “nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa” hanggang sa “kung may isinuksok, may madudukot,” at “ang may malinis na kalooban ay walang kinatatakutan.”

Ngayon, ako ay mayroon na ring mga anak. At kung babalikan kong muli ang mga pangaral ni ina, masasabi kong kung ano ako ngayon ay dahil sa mga katagang malimit n’yang bitawan at ipabaon sa akin.

Aking napagtanto sa pagtungtong ko sa paaralan at sa pakikisalamuha sa tao na ang mga bukambibig na malimit bigkasin ng aking ina ay mga salawikain (proverbs). Sila ay sadyang masarap bigkasin dahil ang mga pinagsama-samang pariralang ito ay para bang patula kung wikain. Sila ay nagpapahayag ng gintong aral at lubhang makahulugan at naglalayong magbigay patnubay sa ating pang-araw-araw na pamumuhay.

Pinaniniwalaang ang mga salawikaing ito ay  mga kasabihan ng ating mga ninuno na patuloy na nagpasalinsalin hanggang makarating sa ating makabagong henerasyon. At salamat na lamang sa mga makabayang tulad ni Gng. Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz na sinikap pagsama-samahin sa iisang basahin ang mga kasabihang ito.

 

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Si Gng. Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz ay isang kilalang manunulat ng pambatang aklat at maraming beses nang nagkamit ng parangal.  Ang kanyang akdang Gabriela Silang ay nakatanggap ng National Book Award citation for excellence.

 

 

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Si G. Eisen V. Bernardo ay naging tanyag sa kanyang Mag+Art project, koleksiyon ng mga magazine cover at classical painting mashups.  Ang kanyang mga artwork ay lumabas na sa hindi bababa sa 500 online articles at sa mahigit 30 bansa.  

 

Kayat ganun na lamang ang aking galak nang ako ay makatanggap ng imbitasyong matunghayan ang book launch ng Philippine Proverbs ni Gng. Sta. Romana-Cruz. Kasama rin sa maikli ngunit masayang pagtitipong iyon ang magaling na si G. Eisen V. Bernardo. Siya ang mabusising gumihit at nagbigay ng kakaibang kulay sa koleksiyong ito ni Gng. Sta. Romana-Cruz.

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Itinaguyod noong 1991, ang Tahanan Books Manila ay naglalayong palaguin ang hilig ng mga bata man o may edad na sa pagbabasa ng  mga aklat na nagpapakita ng kultura at kasaysayan ng bansang Pilipinas.

Ang Philippine Proverbs ay naglalaman ng 105 pinakanatatanging salawikain na isinalin sa iba’t ibang dialekto sa Pilipinas katulad ng Ivatan, Kapampangan, Cebuano, Hiligaynon at iba pa.  Ito ay inilathala ng Tahanan Books Manila, isang eight-time winner ng National Book Awards for Children’s Literature at nakapaglimbag na ng mahigit sa isang daang mga aklat patungkol sa mga kwentong pambayan hanggang sa siyensya at maging mga kalinangang bantog.

Ako ay mapalad na nakapag-uwi ng librong Philippine Proverbs.  Hindi na ako nakapaghintay pang umuwi sa aming tahanan upang basahin ang aking bagong aklat.  Sa aking pagbyahe ay binuksan at ninamnam ko na ang laman nito.  At kay sarap basahin ang mga kasabihang nakalathala sa libro ni Gng. Sta. Romana-Cruz na mas lalong binigyang kulay pa dahil sa kaakit-akit na mga guhit ni G. Bernardo.

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Sa aking pagbabasa, muling bumalik sa aking alaala ang mga pangaral ni ina na naging pamantayan ko sa aking pamumuhay.  Masasabing dahil sa mga kasabihang ito, naitanim sa aking kaisipan ang kabutihang asal, pagmamahal sa kapwa at bayan, pagkakaroon ng takot sa Diyos, at pagpapahalaga sa oras, salapi at ilan pang mga bagay.

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Ilan sa mga mommy bloggers na lumahok sa book launch kasama sina Gng. Sta. Romana-Cruz at G. Bernardo.

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Laking tuwa ko nang mapaunlakan ni Gng. Sta. Romana-Cruz and aming hiling na magpakuha ng litrato kasama ang aking pitong taong gulang na anak.

 

Narito ang ilan sa mga nakakaaliw ngunit sadyang malaman na mga salawikain sa aklat na Philippine Proverbs:

 

Kadakol ngani a payong may buhok, pero pira lang a may hutok. – Bikol

All heads have hair, but not all heads have brains.

Andi lay manoman telek, ng ag samay toon ag ondengel. -Pangasinense

No one is more deaf than the one who refuses to hear.

Dili tanang magkatawa malipayon. – Cebuano

Not all who laugh are happy.

Madali ang maging tao, mahirap ang magpakatao. – Tagalog

Easy to be born a man, hard to act like one.

 

O, diba?  Sadyang kay sarap basahin.  Maaaring mahirap arukin ngunit kung ating nanamnamin,  sila ay mga bukambibig na naglalaman ng karunungan.  Sila ay para binibigkas sa pamamaraang makata ngunit tinutumbok nito ay mga pangaral o paalala sa nakatatanda man o nakababata upang gabayan at iwasto ang mga pamantayan sa buhay.

Nagmamadali akong umuwi pagkatapos ng pagtitipong iyon.  Nais kong ibahagi sa aking mga supling ang bitbit kong munting aklat na puno ng matatalas na pananalita ngunit umaapaw sa karunungan at aral. At isa sa nais kong mabasa at maunawaan nila —

Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa.  – Tagalog

Mercy resides in God, deeds reside in men.

Hanggang sa muli!

INVITES/ Write and Illustrate your Own Storybook for Children

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I have one dream. And that is to write a book. I particularly would want to be an author of a children’s book. It wouldn’t hurt, too, if I make the illustrations as well. I see no problem, though, if it’s a collaboration between me and any of my sons.

I find this illusion nearing its reality when I heard of a storywriting workshop to be conducted by Dr. Joem Antonio, a published children’s author and a father of two.

I would want to write a children’s book because I believe there are so many lessons learned to share. Dr. Antonio affirms, saying that “People want to impart a good number of lessons they’ve learned to [those] younger than them.”

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Dr. Joem Antonio reading a book to his daughter.

To address this, he designed a three-hour crash course called How to Create your Own Children’s Storybook.  He has since taught the course at a number of venues, most notably at Fully Booked in Bonifacio High Street, where many book lovers frequent. Participants of the crash course included parents, teachers, uncles, and aunts. They all share the same aspiration- to make storybooks for the children around them.

Most of these attendees had no experience in creative writing or visual art. But they all loved kids, and that was enough to motivate them to learn storywriting and illustration for children. They learned the methods and tools that would help them create a 32-page children’s storybook.

The how to write,  I guess, can be taught.  But I doubt myself if I could make a decent drawing. Dr. Antonio says he’s no good at it, either. He may have a Ph.D. in Creative Writing and six Palanca Awards, but he claims that his hand always betrays him.  Things changed, though, when he learned how to draw on the computer using a commonly-available program. “[The tools] you need to create your own children’s storybook are most likely in your computer already,” he notes.

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Sa Tapat ng Tindahan ni Mang Teban illustrator, Jomike Tejido (L), and writer, Joem Antonio (R).

Past students of the course have asked for more in-depth training, so Dr. Antonio designed three more modules on children’s storywriting, illustration, and book layout in greater detail. Together with the crash course, the four modules form the Children’s Storybook Series, with 12 hours of training in total.

He offers these courses and more through Storywriting School, a learning community of teachers and students of storywriting.  For more details, you may visit  www.storywritingschool.com.

So you want to be an author of your own storybook for children, please find schedule and place of workshop here.  As for me, I will surely find time for this.

Better reserve a seat now.

MOMI WANDERS/ 10-course meal at Bale Dutung

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“Come in very good mood and come hungry!”  says Mary Ann Tayag on her email to me as I arrange for a media appreciation cum culinary tour for a favorite client.  She encourages us to wear comfy clothes as we will dine in a silong.  She will prepare a ten-course meal for us.

Sounds too exciting!

Travel time from Manila to Angeles, Pampanga is two hours.   Bale Dutung is inside the Villa Gloria Subdivision in Angeles, Pampanga.  A private residence of popular chef  Claude Tayag and his lovely wife Mary Ann, Bale Dutung welcomes guests and visitors on special occasions or weekend to sample some of the best Filipino and Kapampangan dishes.

The place gives great emphasis to the charm of rustic living.  Almost everything is made of wood;  the setting is so laid back.  The vista, so soothing and serene, undoubtedly encourages visitors to relax and somehow leave all worries in a while.

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Lunch usually starts at 12noon.  Very gracious of Mary Ann to wait for latecomers – us.   Everything has been arranged, our dining table at the couple’s  silong;  big enough to accommodate around 50 pax.

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To welcome guests, Bale Dutung serves a glass of cold and refreshing dalandan juice with cubed muscovado for each.

Then Mary Ann, the lady of the house, warns us:  “we are about to experience a  degustation in 10 parts.”  She requests guests to pace their eating as a full 10-course meal awaits them.  Serving portion though will be  smallish because of again, the number of courses.  Those who cannot resist having their seconds may ask for another serving.

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1)  Three different dips –  pesto, taba ng talangka and buro are perfect toppings to any cracker.  Mary Ann  advises guests to try the pesto first with the cracker then follow it with the taba ng talangka and lastly the buro.  After sampling all three, visitors may now experiment and try combine pesto with taba ng talangka or pesto with buro — their choice.  The buro I know is smelly and is truly odoriferous, but the buro Bale Dutung is serving emits no foul smell at all.  Mary Ann wittily remarks,  “it would turn off a lot of people if we serve them the authentic smelly buro.”

2)  Ensaladang Pako served with fresh tomatoes, onion and quail egg is a perfect appetizer to start any meal.

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Mary Ann shares her pako experience story.   When Gibo Teodoro announced his bid for the presidency, his household served food good for more than a thousand pax.  Gibo’s fave is pako thus his mother ordered pako at Mary Ann’s.   There was a shortage of pako at the Tayag’s  garden thus Gibo’s mother imported pako somewhere at P300 per kilo.  The Tayag’s price is only at about a hundred.  Too expensive for a fern which abundantly grows in different towns in the country.  The increase in price might be because food enthusiasts would often describe pako salad as something for the rich and famous.

The ensaladang pako is somehow crispy and slimy yet its fresh taste is perfectly complemented with the sweet and sour taste of the vinaigrette.

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3)  Bale Dutung’s  version of chicken inasal with talangka rice.  Mary Ann requests guests to first try the food served as it is, without any condiments, because it is how the chef wanted us to taste the food anyway.  These are chicken butts and they are said to be the best part of any bird. 

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A 1998 vinegar served together with the chicken inasal.   The Tayags ferment their own vinegar — naturally — in these jars.

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4)  Adobong pugo with chicken liver.  Mary  Ann advises guests to try the chicken with the bread then follow it with the chicken liver.  I like the chicken and the liver but not the small pandesal.

5)  Talangka sushi. I do not eat Japanese food.  I try this simple roll though of rice with crab fat on top.    The taste — neat.

6)   Fried hito  wrapped in a mustard leaf.  I remember Mary Ann telling guests that the hito  inside the mustard leaf will neutralize the saltiness of the fermented shrimp sauce and buro.

Lucky us we share the date with somebody who is celebrating his birthday that day. Claude’s famous pan de bagnet — on the house!

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A helper patiently chops the bagnet,  serves it in a bun then stuffs it with greens and veggies.  She pours  a slightly salty dressing.

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The helper reveals that they get the bun from French Baker.  I thought they bake them themselves.  The lady helper might have realized she disclosed something that should be kept a secret thus she keeps mum on my other inquiries.

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7)  The bagnet is extremely juicy and its rind is very crunchy.  Others ask for a second serving while I prefer to visit the other table — the do it yourself lechon taco.

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8)  Lechon tortilla.  Lechon meat flakes topped with home-made kimchi, slices of tomatoes,  onions and kinchay then wrapped in a tortilla.  Not able to enjoy this that much, perhaps because of the kimchi.

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9)  Bone collector or the delicious shabu (bone marrow in adobo sauce)

The effect of eating this meal may be likened to the after effect of consuming shabu.  Mary Ann instructs us to take a sip of the adobo sauce using the straw and scoop out the meat from the bone marrow using the popsicle stick.

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This is my friend Marie trying to sip the sauce  from the inside of the bone. I try it as well  — very demurely — but feel nothing.  Mary Ann warns us that we might feel a little dizzy as the meat goes up our head, just like the effect of the shabu.   Nothing, though, maybe because I am too cautious.

10) Sisig!

The very gregarious Mary Ann shares that pregnant mommies during their time were given sisig for sisig makes babies’ bones strong.  As time passes, it is the dear husband of the preggy mom who eats the sisig especially if paired with ice cold beer.

I only ask for a small portion of sisig, but anyone may ask for a second serving.  Consists of parts of the pig’s head, chicken liver, calamansi juice and onions, this sisig needs no liquid seasoning nor chicharon.

11) Bulanglang kapampangan.   Sinigang for me is something real sour.  But the Tayag’s sinigang is not exactly a sinigang but a bulanglang.  Its texture is almost like a gravy with a sweet/bitter taste, may be because of the very ripe and fresh guavas they use. It also has okra, gabi, and panigang na sili.

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12)  Kare-kareng laman dagat is so beautiful you just can’t resist taking photos of it.  The experience of sampling it is just as awesome.  Squid, prawns, and mussels cooked in a savory sauce thickened by peanuts.

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13) Tibok-tibok.  Made from coconut milk and carabao milk, this creamy pudding has a very thick and lush texture.   Best paired with Bale Dutung’s very own brewed coffee — a mixture of half kapeng barako from Batangas and half of kape Arabika from Benguet.

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Chilled ginger drinks and water are constantly replenished on our table.  Service is well-trained and orchestrated by Mary Ann. Each plate and meal are quickly served or dished out — with a smile and a kind reminder not to hurry but just sit back, relax, eat, and enjoy.

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Bale Dutung serves 3 kinds of set menu:  1)  Kapampangan, 2) Anthony Bourdain, and the 3) Lechon 5 ways.  The Kampangan and Anthony Bourdain menus are at  P1850 each person while the last set menu is at P1750 per individual.  We opt for the Anthony Bourdain set menu, a menu named after the famous American chef, author and television personality.

Bale Dutung may also arrange lunch and merienda for security staff, drivers, and yayas for a fixed price of P150.  Children seven to eleven years old are half rate.

Do I find P1850 too expensive?

May be.  But with the experience that we had…  with a 10-course meal plus the bonus pan de bagnet  cooked by a renowned chef and artist…  with a hostess who by the way is the lady of the house and treats each one as a true VIP…  us dining not in an ordinary restaurant but in the chef’s house… funny stories, trivias about the food and ingredients, and more kwentos…  and of course with a personal appearance of the chef towards the end of the service.. I would say that the Anthony Bourdain meal at P1,850 per head is worth every centavo.

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Ms. Mary Ann Tayag, our amiable hostess.

A reservation is a must.  Call 0917-5359198 or check www.baledutung.com.

Also, unlike in buffets, we may eat as many as we can but normally without pacing.  At Bale Dutung, the very kind Mary Ann would help us pace our eating with each meal served in small portions leaving our stomach full in a right way.

How to get there?  Take a Victory Liner bus.    Check www.victoryliner.com for the schedule of trips and to locate the nearest bus station.  Get off at Angeles City.  Bale Dutung is located at Paul corner Francis Avenues inside the  Villa Gloria Subdivision in Angeles City.

That’s me before the 3-hour meal on the left (with manong driver at the background), and still me on the right before the kare-kare.  So full and happy!

Thank you, Ms Marivic del Pilar of Victory Liner for your generosity and kindness.    Sa uulitin.

MOMI WANDERS/ Pampanga Visita Iglesia 

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A well-liked practice during Maundy Thursday is the Visita Iglesia, which engages one to visit seven Catholic churches to meditate on the Way of the Cross.

My first Visita Iglesia outside Metro Manila was years ago with three good friends. We toured Pnoy’s hometown and visited some of Tarlac’s well-known churches.

The year after that, husband agreed to accompany me.   Together, we traveled to Pampanga with 43 other elderlies and devotees to carry out not exactly a pledge but a religious tradition.

The trip though was more than a religious experience. It helped  us appreciate our history and culture  even more.

1.  Sta. Lucia Parish Church, Sasmuan

sta. lucia parish church in sasmuan, pampanga

Sta. Lucia Parish  Church is considered  as one of the most oldest churches in Pampanga though, it looks  very much in good condition.  We later  found out that  the entire structure was destroyed and replaced by a new one with only the facade and belfry remaining as the original pieces.  The drastic renovation took place last 2000 under the strict order of then parish priest Rev Fr. Alvin Modesto Manalang.

The church attracts devotees from all over the provinces to honor Sta. Lucia and pray for their petitions.  She is believed to be a miraculous saint.

The church’s interior is very light and airy, with all its side doors wide open to accommodate visitors and devotees.  Its stained glass windows feature a gorgeous collection of religious icons.

A large image of the Lady of Fatima stands in front of the church, where a number of ardent followers kneel down and pray.

I appreciated the stained glass windows more than the retablo.  With its rich tapestry of curves and knots, I was not able to figure out any hint of its architectural influence.  It has a dome which, I guess, does not complement the retablo either.

Just outside the church and very much within its compound were vendors selling all sorts of  paraphernalia, from rosaries to bracelets, religious icons to even fans and candles.

Since its Maundy Thursday, we got to witness the famous penitensya in Pampanga.  A ritual performed by flagellants, the procession has become a huge event attracting thousands of local and international tourists. As a well-known tradition of the Filipino catholics, the penitensya has participants stripped to their waist and would whip their backs with burolyo to 1) atone for a particular sin, or 2) have their prayers granted,  or 3)  have achieved a higher spiritual encounter or vision.   The number of the burolyo’s pieces indicate the number of years the penance will be performed.

2. Immaculate Conception  Parish Church, Guagua

Construction of the Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Guagua, Pampanga is said to have started as early as 1641 under the administration of Fr. Jose Duque, a famous church builder and was a key personnel in a unification campaign among Pampangueños in 1660.  Improvements followed as the parochial building’s parish priest changes over the years.

History says Fr. Antonio Bravo painted the church in 1862, while  Fr. Paulino Fernandez constructed the dome in 1886.

The interior of the church is of ionic order.  The columns look slender with lines carved into them from top to bottom.  The columns’ bases are large with lines over them which looked like a set of stacked rings.   Scrolls above the shaft complete the look of the retablo.  The main altar as well is the main attraction of this parochial establishment.

Just like in any other places of worship, vendors awaited devotees outside the church.

3.  Betis Church, Guagua 

I was in awe.  Indeed, Betis Church is the Philippines’ version of the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.   This oldest church in Pampanga likewise has well earned its prominence as one of the finest churches in the province and even in the country.

Intricately painted on its ceiling and walls are awe-inspiring 19th and 20th century images of the Holy Family, selected scenes from the bible, catholic saints and figures, and a number of cherubs.  The antique carvings are reminiscent of the great works of Italian renaissance masters like Michaelangelo.

Built in 1660, with construction headed by Father Jose de la Cruz, Betis Church is preliminary made of wooden materials.  Fire broke inside the church thus was rebuilt using concrete materials in 1770.   In 1939, late Spanish friar   Father Santiago Blanco directed the beautification of the interior of the church.  A native painter by the name of Macario Ligon was commissioned to paint the ceiling of the church. Later in 1970s, Ligon’s assistant and nephew Victor Ramos restored 80 percent of the ceiling and mural paintings.  The intricacy of the paintings and architecture indeed reflects how these artists spent their time, effort, and mastery to finish the artworks, and how powerful of an inspiration God can be.

By looking at the church’s ceilings purely gave me a feeling of prayerful silence.  I knelt and prayed in one corner and as I glanced at others, they seemed to have been in deep conversation with God as well.

Declared a national treasure by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Betis  Church also serves as a favorite destination for art critics and enthusiasts.

Upon entry, several volunteers have placards that read NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY.  My companion explained to me that flash photography could harm the pigment on the paintings thus, may explain why church officials do not encourage flash photography inside.

4.  San Guillermo Parish Church, Bacolor

Half-buried by lahar from Mt. Pinatubo, San Guillermo Parish Church in Bacolor, is first constructed by the Augustinian friars in 1576 on the lot of Don Guillermo Manabat, a rich landlord believed to be the founder of Bacolor. An earthquake destroyed the structure thus a new church was erected in 1897 under the kind guidance of Father Manual Diaz. However, in 1991, Mt. Pinatubo erupted which half-buried the church.

Only half of the original facade of the church can be seen today, and town folks painstakingly relocated the altar and the retablo  under the dome.   Centuries-old statues saved from lahar now adorn the retablo.

The main entrance is just once a window in the facade.  The ceiling is evidently lower and the arches of some of its once high windows already touch the flooring.

On the right wing of the church is a tunnel like entrance going to a museum where antique images of saints, vintage photos, and even the gold-painted altar table are proudly displayed.

This heritage church was used as the monasterio for the ABS CBN primetime show of Santino’s May Bukas Pa.

 

5.  Sta.  Catalina Church, Arayat 

One of the oldest churches in the province, St. Catherine Parish Church in Arayat is also best known for its classical architecture.  Its interior has a simple foundation.  Everything seems very symmetrical and very orderly.  The walls look newly painted or at least kept so clean one would think it is newly painted. We learned from town folks that the ceiling and main altar have all been renovated. The original stone of the façade has been covered with cement and painted off-white and grayish.

6.  San Bartolome Parish, Magalang

Just like Sta. Catalina Parish, San Bartolome Parish Church looks so orderly and clean. It has the same interior painting as that of Sta Catalina Parish.

images in cover to commemorate the death of Christ

7.  Holy Rosary Church, Angeles

The walls of the Holy Rosary Church clearly display a Romanesque architecture.  Its walls are too thick and massive.  It has round arches, decorative arcading and large towers.

I read from one literature that “if the walls of Sto. Rosario Church could speak, it would surely tell tales of colonial exploitation, of a town’s ascent to progress and most of all, of a people’s deep faith , unshaken by the horrors of wars, natural calamities and other tests of time.”

Constructed from 1877 to 1896, the Holy Rosary Church was constructed by the townspeople of Angeles City through the Spanish colonial government’s force labor system named “polos y servicios.”  Still during the Spanish rule, the backyard of the church was used as an execution ground in shooting down Filipino rebels and suspects.  Few years after its completion, the church was converted into a second division hospital by the American troops during the Philippine revolution.

An elderly told us that most local devotees would join the Good Friday procession where bare-footed followers of the Apung Mamacalulu would walk from the church and around the city complex.

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So there you have the list.  This coming Holy Thursday, you may want to go up North for your Visita Iglesia.  Of all the churches enumerated, The Betis Church is really worth the time next to San Guillermo Parish Church.

Happy Visita Iglesia!

MOMI WANDERS| Visita Iglesia at Tarlac

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My underpaid writer friend — this is how she describes her occupation — says it right.  Tarlac is known for being the bailiwick of the Aquinos and the Cojuangcos.  And unknown to many, this province has many churches worthy of your visit. I, together with this friend, toured Tarlac for a day, chronicled each trip to Tarlac’s select places of worship, and took a few interesting shots.

Two of husband’s friends, Maui and Arvin, made our Visita Iglesia more exciting, fun, and easier.  Though equipped with a travel map, still, without the two boys, I am very certain we might have been lost along our way.

 Visita Iglesia at Tarlac| 1st stop:  Santo Nino Parish, Bamban

a 1938 church at Bamban, Tarlac

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MOMI INVITES/ Summer Reading Camp now on its 3rd Year!

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Get ready to see Filipino stories come alive and take home a part of them with you thru art- as we open our doors for the 3rd Summer Reading Camp this April 17, Sunday, from 10am to 4pm!

It will be a whole day of reading, storytelling and art activities for kids aged 3-12!

There will be teepees setup “camping in the city style” and three corners for them to explore namely:

READING CORNER –where they can borrow and read all the books they want from our Book Mobile Phils mobile library on site

ART CORNER – where they can unleash their inner artist by engaging in art activities related to stories read to them

STORYTELLING CORNER – where thay will listen and watch as children’s stories come alive via The Storytelling Project team and Ms. Isa Mijares.

ADVOCACY CORNER– where our partner NGO Black Pencil Project will be hosting a Paint-a-Pencil activity where blank pencils will be designed by kids and parents, and will be donated to BPP’s partner schools nationwide.

Aside from participating in these events, Adarna House will also be selling books on site at affordable rates.

An exciting surprise awaits the first 20 early birds (to arrive on the day) from our partner La Pomme Home.

Plus you can bring home a souvenir photo from our photobooth.

This event aims to rekindle and encourage a genuine love for reading in Filipino children, by spending one whole day doing reading related activities, ALL FOR FREE.

To register your child, please fill up this form http://goo.gl/forms/mQiPVXbpQb

The event is in partnership with Black Pencil Project, The Storytelling Project, La Pomme Home, Canon Philippines and McDonalds.

Activities are as follows:
8-9am Registration
9-10am Launch of Book Mobile Phils, Signup for the Book Mobile Phils Readers Club
10am-11am Storytelling sessions by The Storytelling Project
11am-12noon Art activities
12noon-1pm Paint a Pencil with Black Pencil Project
1-2pm Storytelling by The Storytelling Project
2-3pm Art Activities
3-4pm Closing/ Certificates for participants who completed the whole day event

See you all there!

MOMI TIPS/ All Clean with FatOut

· 16 Comments

Are you all clean? Clean inside and out?

For sure we all heard from our parents to take a bath, brush our teeth, tidy our hair, and stay prim and presentable at all times.   It’s because hygiene is very important to ones health. However, staying well-groomed does not guarantee us to be clean from the inside, too.  Most of us, sad to say, would forget to take care of our inside — the colon.

Worry no more because FatOut can be of great help.

FatOut helps make our digestive system function effectively.   When our colon is cleansed, it pushes out undigested waste, clearing the way and helping us absorb good nutrients better. With a healthy colon, our digestive system allows us to easily pass undigested waste through our system which can result to having lesser risk of  digestive problems and disorder.   It also helps us, in a way, lose weight.

Now, have I piqued your interest?

FatOut has the revolutionary Sweep and Shred Formula which helps in cleansing our colon and trimming down our fats. It has Psyllium Husk which sweeps and cleanses toxins in our colon, and Green Tea Extract which shreds and burns our fats.

To simplify:

  • FatOut eliminates hard-to-digest fats and helps detoxify the colon.
  • It nourishes the digestive system that helps in proper bowel movement and digestion.

 

What is the Sweep and Shred Formula for?  It can help us lose the pounds without putting our health at risk.

 

How do we take in FatOut?  FatOut should be taken daily, before every meal, preferably with a warm glass of water.   It is  available at all Mercury Drug stores and other leading drugstores nationwide for SRP P125.00 per capsule.

So, what are you waiting for?  Stand out with FatOut!

For more information about FatOut, visit www.facebook.com/ATCFatOut.

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Have you been waiting for your Fairy God Mother? Then wait no more! FatOut is giving you the Ultimate Royal Treatment with The Chinita Princess, Kim Chiu! Get ready to be pampered and meet your Idol, FatOut’s newest endorser Kim Chiu! What are you waiting for? Go hit the nearest Drugstore and buy FatOut now! In order to receive a royal invite all you have to do is:

– Collect all receipts and foils of your FatOut purchases
– Register your receipts online to make your entry and tickets valid. Here’s the link! http://bit.ly/FatoutFansDayInline image 1
– Claiming of Royal Invites will be 1-2 weeks before the event.
For questions, visit https://www.facebook.com/ATCFatOut and send us a message! 🙂

* This post does not form part of any invitation to sell.  The product was given to msbolin for trial, after which she will provide an honest review.  But she nonetheless expects FatOut to be one of her favorites.

2016 Goal/ Be effortlessly beautiful

· 1 Comment

For 2016, I commit to being all natural.

In the early part of the year, I would get all serious watching those DIY videos on YouTube to achieve that natural makeup look, hair-do or even that fashion OOTD.

Less is More

Looking natural, I believe, is the way to go as achieving this look makes one appear younger and effortlessly beautiful.  And so, putting on too much blush on and foundation to cover up my blemishes will have to take a rest.  This year, less is more for me.

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MOMI MUSINGS/ isang libo't isang dasal o higit pa

· 34 Comments

Marahil, kung ihahambing sa text message ang mga dasal na natanggap ng Panginoon noong nakaraang Sabado, malamang ay walang tigil sa tunog o pagvibrate ang mobile phone Niya.  

Sinamahan ko noong Sabadong iyon ang aking anak sa UP Integrated School (UPIS) upang kumuha ng entrance exam. Katulad ng napakaraming magulang ng araw na iyon, ako ay lubos na naniniwala sa kakayahan ng aking binatilyo.

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Napakaraming magulang, akay-akay ang mas nakababatang supling, ang nagkumpulan sa bangketa, kalye, at maging sa harapan mismo ng eskuwelahan.   Ang iba, mayroon pang bitbit na sanggol; kabilang na ako sa kanila.  Lahat kami, iniwan ang mga gawain sa bahay man o sa trabaho upang hindi lamang magpakita ng suporta sa mga anak kundi ihatid sila sa sana’y magiging susunod nilang paaralan.  Lahat, marahil ay nagbabakasakaling palarin ang anak na makapasok sa prestigious school na iyon.

Nang aking isa-isahin ang bawat mukha ng mga magulang, bakas sa kanila ang lalim ng pananampalataya sa kanilang mga supling. Higit pa sa tiwala at pag-asa, sila ay lubos na nananalig sa kakayahan at talino ng kanilang anak. 

Bakit ko ba naman nasabi iyon? Sa daan-daan o marahil higit pa sa isang libong kumuha ng pagsusulit, tanging 15 lamang ang papalaring matatanggap. 

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Opo. 15 lamang sa lahat ng sumailalim sa entrance exam na iyon ang kukunin upang makapasok bilang grade 7 sa school year 2016-2017 sa UPIS. 

Walang duda, umaapaw ang dasal sa itaas maging hanggang ngayon.

* Second son will be graduating from grade school, hopefully with honors, this March 20, 2016.  I am somehow sad that he won’t be bringing home the Valedictorian medal as his class ranking tremendously dropped from first to fourth honors.  Anyway, grades do not measure intelligence, as what we often hear.  More important, though,  are the friendship earned, values learned, and wisdom developed.

What makes a child gifted and talented may not always be good grades in school but a different way of looking at the world and learning.

                                                                            –   Charles Ernest  Grassley,  an American politician

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