Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Our Merry Christmas - Noche Buena 2016


Merry Christmas dearies! How's your celebration?

Ours is great! We got to spent Christmas with our family and relatives after 8 years. Yup, 8 years and it's as if we were living abroad, hehe.

I'll share muna our Christmas Eve celebration because I have so many photos to share, hehe. So we went to our hometown early on Christmas eve. Matthew was so excited.


This welcome us! A frozen-themed CLSU main gate!


And where here at Daddy's home!


We had lunch at Sawmill. This is the place where we grew up and made our happiest childhood memories. Sayang lang Nanay and Tatay were not here. It would have been a perfect lunch. ☹


After that full tummy lunch, we went back to Daddy's home. The two played games on family computer.


Did you know that when we were young, my siblings and I wanted to have a family computer? Sadly, it was so expensive before that we can't afford to buy one. That's why when I saw it's back, we immediately buy one. And look who enjoyed playing the most, haha!


We just had our dinner and attended the Christmas eve mass. Family picture muna!


I failed to take photos inside the Church, where the most important events in my life happened. The same place where my mother had his last mass. The Church did changed but I can still see those familiar faces from from childhood. 

I had goosebumps when I heard the choir singing Christmas songs. They have angel like voices that never fail to touched my heart longing for my parents up above. Thanks to their retro rocket microphones.

Anyway, after the mass we got a chance, after 8 years, to take photos at the very famous CLSU main gate. As I have already mentioned it's a Frozen theme this year.


Our little boy loved it.


And so did we!


Hello Mr. Santa!


Matthew is waiting for you Santa!


Look at this boy who freely make a pose  for me.


While waiting for Noche Buena, we relaxed a little like these.


Time passed so fast, it's almost Noche Buena! Here are my three older siblings pala.


Family picture pa more.


And this is love. I wish our two sisters were here too.


Before we start to eat, Daddy A played with the lechon.


Nose to nose daw. Haha!


Merry Christmas na!


After Noche Buena, the guys had drinks. This was our eldest brother making kwentong kutsero, haha!


Which were so mabenta to Matthew. Ayan, hindi daw sya makamove on!


We would like to stay longer but we needed to rest pa. When we reached Daddy's home, Santa left these two gifts for us.


Sorry Daddy, we don't have gift for you yet. Just wait na lang, it will come soon. Hehe.

That's our Merry Christmas eve. I always wished for gatherings like this. It was so like my childhood Christmas. I just wish our parents were here too. But I know they are happier above looking at us how we spent time together and how we became closer to each other. 

I'll share our Christmas day next naman.

Merry Christmas everyone!





Read More »

Monday, December 19, 2016

Christmas is Here!


It's only 6 days before Christmas! Have you finished your gift list already? 

We been to malls for how many weekends already and finally yesterday, I have finished my gift lists atleast for my inaanaks and closed friends and relatives. Also, I am so happy also to give my colleagues and our son's teachers this simple present.

A photo posted by Maye Domencil (@mommymaye) on

Supposedly, our plan is to put some cookies and custard macaroons inside but since there's no time the mason jars ended empty. Anyway, it's the thought that counts, haha.

Oh, Christmas is almost here. My son is very excited and can't wait to open his gift from Santa Claus. Look at my little Santa under our little Christmas tree.


Speaking of Santa Claus, have you watched any Santa and Mrs. Santa movie? Can't remember? Watch this morphing gif of the faces of Santa in film (featuring actors such as Tim Allen in The Santa Clause).


and of course of Mrs. Claus (featuring actresses such as Miranda Richardson in Fred Claus). 


Cool right? Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus are well-loved Christmas characters. Everyone loves them - the kids and the kids at heart.

And of course, Christmas will not be completed without the Christmas tree. I just finished decorating ours with my DIY felt cloth bows.


By the way, if you are still looking for Christmas tree, check out Treetopia. They sell unique Christmas trees in different colors designed to match any decorating style. I love this pretty in pink Christmas tree.

But above all, we should not forget the true essence of Christmas. And that is the birth of Christ our Savior.

A Blessed and Happy Holidays to everyone!
Read More »

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Join Grab to ‘Deliver Happyness’ to 7,000 Underprivileged Kids


Christmas is almost here, and we all know that it's a season of giving and helping. So let's join Grab to ‘Deliver Happyness’ to 7,000 underprivileged kids to make Christmas merrier to everyone!


From the Press Release Kit:

Manila, 07 December 2016 – Grab, Southeast Asia’s leading ride-hailing platform, wants to make December a little merrier for everyone through its latest regional donation campaign. With Delivering
Happyness, Grab is calling for Filipinos, and the rest of Southeast Asia, to get into the spirit of year-end giving. All they have to do is to round up and pack gently-used (or new!) books, school supplies and toys – and then simply book a Grab to collect them starting December 12 to 24. Grab aims to collect 20,000 items across Southeast Asia, which will be delivered to 7,000 underprivileged kids in Southeast Asia.

“While people may wish to help the less fortunate, they often don’t know how, or where to start. As part of Grab’s commitment to improving lives in Southeast Asia, we’re using the Grab app to make giving as easy as possible – and in the process, deliver happiness to the children in our communities who need it most,” said Cheryl Goh, VP of Marketing, Grab.

Cheryl Goh added, “I grew up reading the adventures of Nancy Drew. She was a real problem-solver! I always try to find solutions and attribute my never-say- die spirit to my hours of reading. Today we read of young wizards bravely fighting the dark lord, instilling in kids a sense of justice and morals. Grab wants to call out to those who have the means to donate books, school supplies and toys. Let’s bring the joy of reading stories to thousands of kids in Southeast Asia – and give them a great foundation for learning life skills.”

Grab has partnered with non-profit organizations – in all six countries that Grab operates in: Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam – that focus on helping children in need. Each tackle issues unique to each country, such as helping to re-equip schools in the Philippines that were affected by recent storms, or giving books, school supplies and toys to kids in
rural villages in Vietnam.

Grab Philippines has partnered with rural public schools across the country to help them rebuild what
they lost after getting hit by recent storms. These public schools in Manila, Cebu, Bacolod, Baguio and other neighboring cities will be the beneficiaries of Delivering Happyness.


“With the help of our provincial offices, we have pinpointed public schools that need a helping hand after being displaced by recent storms. Delivering Happyness is the perfect venue for Filipinos to share the spirit of Christmas with underserved kids and we’re glad to be able to make it happen,” said Grab Philippines’ Country Marketing Head, Khriz Lim. Delivering Happyness from December 12 to 24. 

It’s easy for time-strapped people to donate their books, stationery and toys.

1. Start packing your pre-loved books (or new!), school supplies and toys today. 

2. From December 12 to 24, donors just need to select the ‘Delivering Happyness’ special icon in the Grab app.

3. Input their pick-up location and input the nearest Grab Office as their drop-off location.

4. Confirm the booking and wait for the Grab vehicle to pickup the donations for free


Delivering Happyness is part of Grab’s commitment to improve lives in Southeast Asia. It is an extension of a similar campaign that was rolled out in 2013 in Malaysia to deliver 2,000 pre-loved books and toys to rural libraries. The campaign was a simple and honest effort to match donors to drivers.

For more information on the Delivering Happyness campaign, check out Grab’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/GrabPH or their website, www.grab.com.

***
About Grab

Grab is Southeast Asia’s leading ride-hailing platform. Grab solves critical transportation challenges to make transport freedom a reality for 620 million people in Southeast Asia. Grab’s core product platform includes private cars, motorbikes and taxi-hailing. Grab is focused on pioneering new commuting alternatives for drivers and passengers with an emphasis on convenience, safety and reliability. As part of its innovative culture, Grab is testing new services such as social carpooling, as well as last mile and food deliveries. Grab currently offers services in Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. For more information, please visit: http://www.grab.com.
Read More »

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

A Field Trip to MMDA Children's Road Safety Park


Almost two weeks ago, Matthew had his annual school field trip. As usual, I joined him minus Daddy A this time because he has a lot of work to do. Schedule nya din kasi every Tuesday in Tarlac so ako na lang nagleave. So mommy duties muna and here's our photo before the bus left.


See that smile on Matthew's face? Really priceless.

Matthew's school field trip is around Manila lang. However, since alam nyo naman traffic sa Manila parang biyaheng malayo lang din hehe.

Our first stop was in Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Children's Road Safety Park.




The MMDA Children's Road Safety Park is patterned from Singapore's Road Safety Park to raise awareness and educates community about road dangers and safety measures, traffic rules and regulations. This is especially for children who are at risk for injuries when in street or road.  The park is just across the Manila Zoo. Naalala ko tuloy yung first field trip ko noong nasa Kindergarten ako. That was almost 30 years ago, haha!

There are scheduled orientation that's per batch or school.


The speaker discussed road safety in a way the children will easily understand and remember. 


Matthew participated well in the discussion. Sobrang daldal pa naman nya e, hehe.



After the orientation, time to walk around. Look at my little boy! Obvious bang nag-eenjoy sya?




The park showcases miniatures of traffic-related structures like bike lanes, sidewalks with curb and  drainage system. The kids were asked to line up and walk at the side walk. 


Roads inside the park are narrower and there are pedestrian lanes too. 




Road signs are everywhere too. 




The park has miniature building structures like school, office, waiting shed, gasoline station, hospital, fast food, and comfort room. It would have been more fun to see mini golf course or hockey field too. Mini golf is a great sport but the one that we have been enjoying is hockey, check out these gear reviews for kids.



This cute mini-footbridge was a hit to everyone. See Matthew climbing up?



Hooray Matthew successfully passed over the mini-footbridge! An older schoolmate help him climb down the stairs. That's what I like about students of MMA. They are polite and helpful.



Here's Matthew again! Still very active.



He tried this pedestrian tunnel too.



Before he reached the end, I heard him screaming. Ang tinis ng boses nya, haha!


Then after roaming around, the students waited here. Mukhang napagod sila.





But this little boy still has full of energy.



Finally, the students lined up again before leaving the park.



The MMDA Children's Road Safety Park is just a small park (about 4,600 sqm.) but this is a must visit place when you want to teach your kids about road safety. They will surely have fun just like Matthew and his schoolmates. I just wish I took more photos inside the park. It's difficult lang kasi I had to look after Matthew. I wish Daddy was there too, hehe. By the way, please stay tune for the other two destinations that we visited.

The MMDA Children's Road Safety Park is located at Adriatico Street cor. Quirino Avenue, Manila City. The park is open everyday, except on Wednesdays, from 9:00AM to 5:00Pm. Check out their scheduled orientation. For bookings, reservations and other inquiries: Tel. no.: (02) 882-0927; Fax no.: (02) 882-2637; Metrocall: 136

Read: A Fun Trip to City of Dreams Manila's DreamPlay and A Spectacular Musical Fountain Show

Read More »

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Ensuring Family Nutrition by Practicing Food Safety


Hello dear mothers! I know like me, your family is nutrition is one of our top priorities. Did you know that we can ensure family nutirion by practicing food safety? Here's a good article to read.

From the Press Release Kit:


The strong foundations of developing healthy choices begin at home. This is why it is important for parents to set a good standard in healthy eating, food preparation and storage that the little ones can pick-up on.

One of the most basic things that kids can learn from their parents are their habits when shopping for day-to-day necessities, and their practice when cooking and storing food in the house.

By observing proper purchasing, handling, cooking and storing, parents ensure that the family consumes safe and healthy food, and at the same time, they also teach their kids how to practice food safety that they’ll carry and pass on in the future.

So here are 7 food safety tips for every household:

1. Buy food from trusted establishments
Buying food from established and reliable retail establishments guarantees that products and other items sold there have gone through stringent quality control. This ensures sanitation and safety for the whole family.

2. Meat comes after non-perishables
When doing grocery shopping, purchase refrigerated or frozen meat and poultry after selecting your non-perishables. It’s also important to make sure that chilled and frozen goods are stored below the load line of the freezing unit, and not at room temperature.

3. Do not buy items past “sell by” “use by” and expiry date
Safety and quality may be compromised if food has expired, so be sure to always check the expiry date shown on packaging before putting something in the shopping cart. It is also important to know what these marks mean.
Sell-by date is a guide for stores to know how long they can display a particular product, and one should buy the product before the sell-by date. But you can still store it at home for some time beyond that date, as long as you follow safe storage procedures
Whereas, the “use-by” and “best before” dates tell how long the product is likely to remain at its absolute best quality when unopened. But as long as you’ve been storing the unopened item properly, you can generally consume it beyond this date, just make sure to check for off-odor, flavor and appearance.

4. Practice proper hand-washing
Several studies have shown that the kitchen in every home contains the most bacteria, which is alarming considering that this is where all the food is prepared and stored. With hands being one of the main ways to spread germs, it’s important to always wash hands thoroughly before cooking and after touching raw food.

5. Cook food thoroughly at the right temperature
Cooking food thoroughly will ensure that any harmful bacteria present in it will be killed. Some of the most common food that should be cooked well are pork, sausages and poultry. As for poultry, it doesn’t even need to be washed beforehard as long as it is cooked properly.
If cooked food will not be consumed immediately, it has to be left to cool at room temperature for at least an hour and a half before being stored in the refrigerator. Putitng hot food in the refrigerator means uneven cooling that can cause food poisoning.

6. Properly store and consume milk
Milk is one of the household staples that require proper storing and consumption. Choose ready-to-drink milk that goes through UHT treatment so that they can be stored in room temperature without the need for refrigeration until the package is opened such as Selecta Milk products in Tetra Pak cartons.  

Selecta’s portfolio of 1 litre packs includes Selecta Fortified Milk, Selecta Full Cream Milk, Selecta Fortified Low Fat Milk and Selecta Moo Milk Chocolate allowing options for the entire family. These also come with resealable caps for easy opening, pouring and storing back in the fridge.
Selecta Milk in Tetra Pak cartons stays safe and nutritious even at room temperature as long as the carton remains unopened. However, make sure to refrigerate upon opening.

7. Keep foods covered and sealed
Store refrigerated foods in covered containers or sealed storage bags, especially meat. Make sure they keep from touching each other and that it doesn’t drip on to other items. Refrigerated leftovers should always be checked daily for spoilage.
These are just some of the most basic food safety tips that should be practiced in every household. Kids at home will eventually pick-up on the pattern if observed regularly at home and will know what are safe and healthy for them.

ABOUT RFM CORPORATION
RFM Corporation is a major player in the food and beverage industry in the Philippines, specifically in the processing and manufacture of flour, bread, flour-based products like pasta and cake mixes, sauces, milk and juice drinks, and ice cream. 
RFM also operates non-food businesses, which include barging services (Rizal Lighterage Corporation) and leasing of commercial/office spaces (Invest Asia Corporation) that serves the internal requirement of the various operating divisions. 
More information about RFM is available at www.rfmfoods.com.ph.

ABOUT TETRA PAK
Tetra Pak is the world's leading food processing and packaging solutions company. Working closely with our customers and suppliers, we provide safe, innovative and environmentally sound products that each day meet the needs of hundreds of millions of people in more than 170 countries around the world. With more than 23,000 employees based in over 80 countries, we believe in responsible industry leadership and a sustainable approach to business.  Our motto, “PROTECTS WHAT’S GOOD™," reflects our vision to make food safe and available, everywhere. More information about Tetra Pak is available at www.tetrapak.com
Read More »