Zen Pencils by Gavin Aung Than

2015 found me sorely ignoring my bibliophilistic tendencies.  I've experienced dry months before, where I find myself not wanting to pick up a book, but 3 months is usually my max.  A year?  Unheard of.  Until 2015, that is.

What I did find myself craving for is a return to simpler times.  Admittedly, the big move (again) to Singapore drained me -- both physically and emotionally.  Missing family, taking care of my own little brood, and adjusting to everyday life (including work) in another country took a toll on me.

I find that one of the ways I could cope was to start doing things I enjoyed doing when I was younger.  And nothing more exemplified my childhood than hours spent with a good stack of Archie and Harvey comics (which I have my one of my titos, who was an avid collector, to thank for).  And so, that was where I reverted back to. 

Waiting for someone?  Read a comic.  In the MRT on the way to work?  Run through a few pages before my stop.  Archie and Harvey comics are an easy read, requires no heavy mental effort to appreciate, and was always a surefire way to perk me up (even until now that I am in my 30s).

But man does not live on these comics alone.  And eventually I did have moments when my favorite comic characters were not able to lighten my mood.  So on one particularly bored night, I came across a review about Zen Pencils.

Zen Pencils by Gavin Aung Than (SOURCE: http://zenpencils.com/)

PH | Easy To Learn (ETL) Books: This Mommy’s Best Friend

I started reading to the Little One when she was but 3 months old.  It started off with the Pat the Bunny Sleepy Bunny book.  Later on, we progressed to picture books (aside from continuing simple story ones).  And now she is enjoying full story books. 

It’s a good activity that I always recommend to all parents as I believe this helps little ones appreciate books more if you start them off early.  And I’ve been seeing the results, too.  She now knows all her letters and basic mathematics plus knows simple words by sight.  So happy!  J

But now that the Little One is a 2-year-old toddler, she has already developed her own story preferences.  Whereas before, it was so simple to just pick a book that will catch her attention (bright pictures being the top priority), now she won’t listen to a story unless it’s something she really likes.

For now, she’s absolutely in love with Dora the Explorer.  And as much as I would love buying her a new book at least once a week, budget permits me to be that extravagant.  Thank heavens, though, for Easy To Learn (ETL) books.

The Little One's ETL book collection

Let's Make It a More Meaningful Christmas

NOTE:  Hey! Hey!  Finally will be starting on my Philippine-based posts again!  But sit back and relax, will be writing about Singapore post-able topics again soon...  J

Hay.... Iba talaga ang Pasko sa 'Pinas; as many a hardened OFW has uttered.  It's really such a relief to spend the holidays here, surrounded with loved ones and all the familiar things that bring us comfort.

Giving...

Ways to Donate to the Philippine Red Cross

Super typhoons, massive earthquakes, and other natural calamities.  The Philippines and us, its people, have witness and experienced our fair share.  But what keeps everyone going is the generosity of those unaffected and lucky enough to have been spared.

So please, let's us all help by donating our extras and whatever little financial assistance we can spare for those who have been affected by Yolanda.

(Taken from The Philippine Red Cross website)

• Please send cash or check donations to the PRC National Headquarters in Manila. Checks should be made payable to The Philippine Red Cross. They can also arrange for donation pick-up. 
• They now also accept cash donations for the Philippine Red Cross at any 7-11 store or Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop nationwide.
• For bank deposit, you can deposit money to any one of the following TPRC accounts:

Banco De Oro
Peso: 00-453-0018647
Dollar: 10-453-0039482

Metrobank
Peso: 151-3-041631228
Dollar: 151-2-15100218-2

Philippine National Bank
Peso: 3752 8350 0034
Dollar: 3752 8350 0042

Unionbank of the Philippines
Peso: 1015 4000 0201
Dollar: 1315 4000 0090

All Check/Cash for the account of Philippine Red Cross (Swift Codes)
Banco De Oro
BNORPHMM

Bank of the Philippine Islands
BOPIPHMM

Metrobank
MBTCPHMM

Philippine National Bank
-PNBMPHMM

Unionbank of the Philippines
-UBPHPHMM

For your donations to be properly acknowledged, please fax the bank transaction slip at nos. +63 2 527 0575 or +63 2 404 0979 with your name, address and contact number.

Good bless, everyone.

November is National Reading Month in the Philippines (And The Reasons Why I Love to Read)

November is National Reading Month here in the Philippines; and in order to commemorate this great and enjoyable past time, I've decided to showcase book reviews and other related items the whole month.

So get ready, folks, as I share with you some of the wonderful tomes I've had the pleasure reading throughout the years.

The Little One enjoying her book at the Bedok Public Library, Singapore

Airport Etiquette 101 (OR What To Do To Become a Decent Human Being)

I hate to start off my "return to Singapore" posts on a bad note, but I feel that this should not be left unsaid.

PR: 10 Filipino Lads Uplift Communities Through Basketball

Ten Youth rise from 50 VisMin hopefuls as basketball legends culminate Alaxan FR National Galing Mo! Camp (L-R) 1st Row: L-R Ronnie Magsanoc, Benjie Paras, Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codinera, and Johnny Abarrientos 2nd Row: Top 10 Winners of Alaxan FR Galing Mo Natonal Camp! L-R John Ballentes, Tyke Bano, Gabriel Dagangon. Dan Audris Lagbas, Carl Soreno, MVP Rhys Jefferson Flores, Rhodelle Nagac, Miguel Plata, Michael Kent Salado,  Josuel Macarines

Hard work paid off for a group of young, aspiring cagers from the Visayas and Mindanao after making heads turn during the Alaxan FR Galing Mo Camp held at the Unilab gymnasium in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila.

Things We Forget: Sticky Notes Left in Public Places

A Singapore-based blog whose posts I've been following for almost 2 years now, thingsweforget.blogspot.com is a simple site that shows inspirational quotes written and drawn on sticky pads which are then placed all over Singapore (and beyond).

Source: http://thingsweforget.blogspot.com/

We Call for a Review of the Cybercrime Prevention Act (Republic Act No. 10175)

  

We call for a review of the Cybercrime Prevention Act (Republic Act No. 10175).  

I'm not saying to junk it all out entirely.  There are definitely some really good points that we need in effect now.  But please review the harmful ones and ensure that it is for the betterment of our society.

PR: Small-town Locals of Butuan Build “Court of Inspiration”

Through these projects, the campaign aims to give members of communities in different parts of our country pride in having personally built something that doesn’t just hone their skills, but builds their character as well.

“I was impressed at people’s willingness to jump at the opportunity to serve their community at our project in Butuan and I believe I’d witness the same level of enthusiasm in the communities where succeeding Courts of Inspiration are to be built,” says Kristine Martinez, Alaxan FR Product Director.

Driven by the desire to provide their community with its first real basketball court, locals from Barangay Ampayon in Butuan are brought together to build their own “Court of Inspiration” under the Aray Natin, Galing Natin campaign -- a collaborative effort between small-town locals and Alaxan FR to construct these symbols of community and turn them into something that moves people to aim for greatness.

PR: Yoga For Life: Oneness Through Wellness

SPREADING AWARENESS & WELLNESS:

In celebration of the 29th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, HIV advocacy group Yoga for Life --- in cooperation with the Local Government of Quezon City, The Love Yourself Project, Take The Test, Youth AIDS Filipinas Alliance, beyondyoga, Bliss Yoga Manila, and ECHOyoga --- will unite the city in an open‐for‐all yoga practice at the Quezon Memorial Circle on May 20, 2012, 4 p.m. during the "Oneness Through Wellness" event.

Yoga teachers will guide the public in a mass yoga practice as volunteers educate attendees about HIV and AIDS.  This event ultimately aims to promote health and well‐being among Filipinos, spread awareness about HIV and AIDS, and stop the stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.

Registration starts at 3 p.m. and the event will begin at 4 p.m. sharp.

Get Gorgeous and Healthy at the Ilog Maria Honeybee Farm

I've been to numerous trips to Tagaytay and yet only had just recently, finally spotted the way to the Ilog Maria Honeybee Farm, a small off-the-beaten path refuge that is slowly becoming one well-known tourist hotspot in the South.

Photo credit: Ilog Maria Honeybee Farm website

Hate Late? DOST's Juan Time Campaign

DOST's Juan Time campaign suddenly entered my mind as I, once again, found myself waiting in a booth at a corner cafe near the venue of an event I'm supposed to cover. 

Arriving at 5:45 p.m. for an activity that was scheduled (as the invitation states) at 6:00 p.m., I was sort of expecting to simply sign the registration form, be urshered in a small corner and patiently wait for the festivities to begin.  But alas!  It was not meant to be for I was "early" (as the people at the registration table said) and that actual show was moved to 6:30 p.m.!  Catch my drift?

Just chillin'

VSO Bahaginan's Volunteering Expo

VSO Bahaginan invites you to the Second Volunteering Expo on March 13, 2012 at the Intercontinental Manila, Makati City.

Entitled "Active Communities, Sustainable Future," the Volunteering Expo will serve as a platform for celebrating and inspiring volunteerism in government, non-government, corporate, and academic sectors.

For more information, please click here to view the e-poster.

This post is re-blogged from BLOGGERS 4 CHANGE.

PR: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Gives Joy by the Cupful with the 2012 Giving Journal

The giving season has finally arrived.  And with it The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s 2012 Giving Journal.

PR: OFW Remittances at an All-time High: Social Remittances as New Currency from Global Pinoys

Remittances from Filipinos working overseas are at an all-time high.  And no, it’s not just because they’re sending back US dollars, Saudi Riyals, Euros or Japanese Yen; but because our modern-day heroes are sending back what’s known as social remittances.

The Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards

GPB11: The Yellow Ribbon Movement

NOTE:  The Global Pinoy Bazaar 2011 (GPB11) series is a number of posts regarding merchants and sellers; and their unique and unusual creations, of which I had the utmost pleasure of discovering at Yabang Pinoy's Global Pinoy Bazaar 2011 (read a short introduction of my bazaar experience here.)  J

Ever notice how there is such a major emergence of "nationalistic" merchandise in the market nowadays?  Rizal wearing shades, Philippine colors on every shirt, etc. 

Don't get me wrong, though.  It's actually quite refreshing to see local varieties instead of those dang fangled "I love insert name of city not in the Philippines" shirts.

And of course you can expect one such organization to join the Global Pinoy Bazaar.

Watch from the Yellow Ribbon Movement

My Noel Discovery Bazaar 2011 Finds

We interrupt the GPB11 series to bring you a brief preview of the items one may find at the Noel Discovery Bazaar which opened just yesterday, November 18, 2011.

Noel Discovery Bazaar

GPB11: Paperpod Seedpaper

NOTE:  The Global Pinoy Bazaar 2011 (GPB11) series is a number of posts regarding merchants and sellers; and their unique and unusual creations, of which I had the utmost pleasure of discovering at Yabang Pinoy's Global Pinoy Bazaar 2011 (read a short introduction of my bazaar experience here.)  J

Ever felt guilty about throwing out even used paper?  I am.  Try as I might, I could never get over the guilt of having used a piece and then throwing it out once utilized.

Which is why I am so lovin' Paperpod Seedpaper.

Paperpod Seedpaper

GPB11: Buffala Milk Soap from Kalamilksoap Enterprise

NOTE:  The Global Pinoy Bazaar 2011 (GPB11) series isa number of posts regarding merchants and sellers; and their unique and unusual creations, of which I had the utmost pleasure of discovering at Yabang Pinoy's Global Pinoy Bazaar 2011 (read a short introduction of my bazaar experience here.)  J

My very first fashion magazine was a U.S. edition, commemorable 50th Anniververy issue of Seventeen.  A hand-me-down from a US-based tita (aunt) who was an avid subscriber then.  I was only 10 years old that time and I remember loving the pictures and the articles so much that I later on became a fan of it myself.

One of the articles in that particular issue was about how to keep skin healthy and glowing by use of natural ingredients.  And one of the tips mentioned was to add milk in your bath. 

That particular tip stayed on with me for years and you bet a portion of my very first paycheck went to a purchase of Johnson & Johnson milk bath wash.  Cheap I know, but I considered it a luxury back then.  J

I guess I've never really gotten used to liquid soap for I did outgrow my J&J brand, opting instead for the hard feel of its more solid counterpart.  But rarely could I find solid soaps that left me with that smooth, gentle feel as a milk bath wash ever did.

That is until now...

Buffala milk soap from Kalamilksoap Enterprises