Play Pilipinas: International Conference to Tackle Issues on Children’s Play and Development this October 21 to 23

(I have posted about Play Pilipinas before here. I think it would be a great event to attend if we had the extra cash for it! hehe ;-) Anyway, I am sharing this article about it from Smart Parenting's website for those who are interested. You can also go directly to the Play Pilipinas website here.)

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Academic experts and child advocates will present the latest developments on the study of play as it relates to child welfare during a three-day international conference, Play Pilipinas, set from October 21 to 23 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Save the date: October 7, 2011 (First Friday)

Why October 7, 2011?!!

Here's a clue:


Yipeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! Praise God!

P.S. Wanna know more? Please go to the ROCKERs site here. ;-) Godbless us all!

Lego Pilipinas Exhibit at SM Mall of Asia

I received an e-mail yesterday from Janice of Mommy Mundo, inviting me to the formal unveiling of the first-ever LEGO Filipino theme event, with guest of honor, Secretary Alberto Lim, to join in the celebration of the Department of Tourism's campaign, Tara Na, Pilipinas! The unveiling will be tomorrow, August 18, 2011, Thursday, at 1:30pm at the SM Mall of Asia Atrium, Pasay City.

Sadly, I don't think I will be able to go, as we are gearing up for the ANCOP Global Walk on August 21. I am helping out to document the event (via live streaming too hopefully!).

Anyway, the LEGO exhibit runs until August 27, so maybe we can bring the kids for a visit there another day! ;-)

The LEGO Pilipinas, Tara Na! Exhibit

Travel the spectacular Philippines with an 18x30 ft Philippine map with famous regional landmarks such as Luneta, Fort Santiago, El Nido Resorts, Vigan, Batanes, Bohol and other interesting Filipino sites – all built with LEGO bricks!

 

Together with the Department of Tourism, we will promote the Philippines in this fun and exciting family event!

The 1st HAPI Homeschool Kids Fair

Have you ever wondered if homeschooled kids really know how to socialize?

Do you want to meet with other families who homeschool or are considering homeschooling?

Are you looking for a venue to showcase your homeschooled child’s talents and projects? 

Do you have homeschool books and curriculum that are just sitting around in your house but could be put to better use? (If you have books from Catholic Heritage Curricula or Sing, Spell, Read, Write and Math-U-See books, please do bring them! I'd love to check them out and take them off your hands! :-) hehe)

Well, LOOK NO FURTHER. You can experience all these and more at the 1st Homeschool Kids Fair, sponsored by HAPI. 

This will happen on May 21, 2011, 8AM to 12 Noon at the Valle Verde 5 Activity Center, Pasig City.

Fees:

To attend only: P100.00 / head

To display or perform: P50.00 / head

To join the Book Exchange: P150.00 / table

Please find below the forms to register for the fair:

1. Step-by-step Registration Procedure

2. Registration Form to attend the fair

3. Event Guidelines for project display, talent performance and book exchange table

For inquiries, go to HAPI’s Facebook page or contact Irma Chua at 929-4933, 0921-712-7640 or email her at bihadjaj@yahoo.com. You can also check out the Homeschool Fair's event page on Facebook here. 

This event is open to everyone, even if you are not homeschooling, though only homeschooled kids can take part in the exhibit/performances. :-) Hope to see YOU there dear reader! :-) God bless us all!

Update as of August 6, 2011:
You can read about my take on the Homeschool Kids Fair on Philstar.com here. :-)

HAPI and its upcoming events :-)

The Homeschool Association of the Philippine Islands (HAPI), which was formally launched last year during the 3rd Philippine Homeschool Conference, is a non-profit organization for homeschooling families led by a team of dynamic, creative and committed individuals (including my friends and fellow Catholic moms Martine and Ate Rita of CFA). Currently, HAPI's core group is chaired by Edric Mendoza, Chairman of the Philippines’ first recognized Homeschool provider, The Masters’ Academy (TMA), and the U.S. HSLDA's official representative to the Philippines. 


The letters of HAPI also stand for its objectives:
H – ype

One of HAPI’s main goals is to correct misconceptions on homeschooling and to provide the right information on what it really is. By God's grace, HAPI has so far been able to provide the Department of Education with facts and proof that show that most, if not all, homeschoolers are at least 2 levels higher than the regular students, as far as academic achievement is concerned. Hopefully, this will open DepEd's people's minds to accept homeschooling not just as an alternative learning system, but to consider it just like any other school.

A – pproval Seal

HAPI hopes to make its approval seal as a standard seal that will be placed on products and services that are homeschool-friendly. (Incidentally, the Catholic Homeschoolers Summit that we at Pure Passionistas are planning this year already has a HAPI seal! Yehey! Please do pray that it will become a reality this August!) 

P – artnerships & Perks

Being a member of HAPI means you will be entitled to discounts in selected bookstores and other shops, plus additional perks on the field trips you are planning. :-) I really commend the HAPI team for this aspect, since I am all for the frugality and practicality of homeschooling myself! :-)

I - nformation

HAPI aims to provide reliable and helpful information to assist all types homeschooling families, including independent homeschoolers. Yipee! :-) So even if we decide to go with US-based curricula like CHC or Five in A Row we will be able to get useful, relevant info from HAPI. :-)

Other benefits of being HAPI members include DepEd updates on important policies that affect the homeschooling community, information on accreditation procedures, directory of homeschool providers, support groups and services, HAPI calendar of Events, and free downloads.

In line with its goals of promoting homeschooling among Filipino families, HAPI has organized some exciting events for homeschoolers and wannabe homeschoolers and parents who are curious about homeschooling. 

1. THE HAPI ROADSHOW
The first leg of this was held on March 26, at McDo Hill in Alabang, and targeted mainly homeschoolers from the South. It was the first among 2 road shows lined up to rally homeschooling families and inform everyone about what HAPI is all about. 


For those who missed this, watch out for the next one scheduled on April 9 at the Medela House. Details below: 

• Program starts at 10am
• Registration fee: Php50
• Scholastic Books will be having a Book Sale! :-)
• Anybody can sign up for membership. HAPI annual membership fee is Php500 for the principal member and Php250 for the supplementary members.Road show registrants are entitled to FREE MEMBERSHIP valid until December 2011.

2. THE 1ST HAPI HOMESCHOOLERS FAIR

This event will feature the homeschoolers’ talents in live performances, artwork exhibits, and more, and will also be an opportunity for book exchanges among homeschoolers. 

3. THE 1ST CATHOLIC HOMESCHOOLERS SUMMIT, A HAPI-APPROVED HOMESCHOOL EVENT 

Spearheaded by Pure Passionistas
This is the tentative logo :-)

August 13, 2011, 8am-6pm

Program includes Holy Mass, Exhibit, 2 Main Sessions and 1 Workshop, Recitation of the Holy Rosary and Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary

4. THE 2011 PHILIPPINE HOMESCHOOL CONFERENCE 

October 22, 8am-6pm

Venue: TBA

This provides a venue for equipping and personal interaction among homeschooling families.

Hope to see you around, homeschooling friends and families! :-) Let's continue to pray for one another and promote the benefits of homeschooling to others!

Filipinos Unite Under God For Life!

This is a delayed post. I was supposed to post it at 3am this morning (March 26). Fell asleep before I could post it, that's how tired I was! LOL! :-)

I am going to try to make this short and sweet. :-) It's almost 3am and I want to get recharged enough for this Saturday's activities - going to attend an awesome private warehouse sale for selected Mom and Baby brands, and of course, bond with the kids before their Papa leaves for mission to Siquijor on Monday. :-) We might drop by SM Megamall for the free Cyberzone event in the afternoon too. Bo Sanchez's internet marketing mentor Jomar Hilario will be speaking about working from home and virtual assistant work! :-) It's sure to be a packed Saturday ahead! :-)

Anyway, I couldn't help blogging about this afternoon's (March 25 in the Philippines) event. Earlier today, our family was privileged to be part of the Filipinos Unite Under God For Life Rally at the Luneta Grandstand (you can read more detailed reports about it here, here, here and here.) Yup, the WHOLE family was there i.e. the kids were with us. Remember my earlier post where I said I hoped they would grow up to be pro-lifers too? Well, I guess today was a good start. We joined other fulltime workers from the CFC Home Office on the bus to Luneta, along with my dad and Ate Joy (thank You Lord for her! :-) She has been such a great help to us!). 

Anthony and I are SO proud of our kids, Timothy Alan and Alyssa Therese. :-) They were relatively well-behaved during the six hours or so we spent at Luneta. We had no seats/chairs with us, but thank God for perfect timing - 2 days earlier we had bought a playmat/spill mat on sale for only P100 at Toys R Us, and I brought that along so we could at least sit on something on the ground. There were only slight tantrums on Tim's part (he wanted to play on the grassy part of the Grandstand, which by the way was PACKED with pro-lifers!) and two weird undress-me-I-don't-want-to-put-on-a-new-set-of-clean-clothes episodes with Rysse during the Mass (our apologies to those near us who got distracted by the sight of Rysse butt-naked, saying "Ayaw!" every time I tried to dress her! LOL!). 

Aside from that they were little angels, and even if they ended up really dirty by my standards (there were times when they would even lie down on the mat, which had been trampled on by people passing by! Haay) and didn't even get a chance to get cleaned up when we got home (near midnight) because they were fast asleep (I just ended up wiping them down with lots of wet tissue and changed their clothes), hubby and I are so happy and proud that they were with us to stand for life! :-) 

Anyway, if you want to know more about what actually went on at the Rally, you can check out the news articles I mentioned earlier: here, here and here. Although the most accurate reports/articles would be from the Filipinos for Life website. I will also be writing a more detailed article about the Rally for the Ugnayan Supplement of the April Issue of the CBCP Monitor - coming out soon! :-) Will post the link once it's up! :-)

In the meantime, here are some pics from our camera (didn't get to take much pictures, but am waiting for friends who had SLRs to tag me on FB! :-) LOL!).  So proud to be Filipino right now, and to be Catholic! :-) Not like how I felt after the sad and tragic event that happened at Luneta last year. At this very moment, I know and believe that united under GOD, we Filipinos, whether at home or abroad, CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! :-) Filipinos Unite Under God For Life - not just today, but until we are called Home. :-)

Making A Stand For Family And For Life

The RH Bill has been an issue of debate among many in the Philippines lately. People from both sides have been saying a lot of things to defend their respective stances. Some have even resorted to slander, others to literal verbal abuse. Many, though, have little to no idea at all about what the RH Bill is all about. That’s the saddest part of it all.

Truth to tell, there are probably many Filipinos out there who are against the RH Bill, not merely because of their faith, but also because of the scientific reasons why passing the bill will be disadvantageous to the Filipino people. (To those of you reading this who are pro-RH, I do urge you to read on. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, so I hope you won’t mind me airing out mine here.)

I am one of those people who are against the RH Bill. I am quite vocal when it comes to all things that are for building up and strengthening the family, and am decidedly pro-life in my convictions. This is my stand not just because I am a Catholic and a member of a community that is pro-life, but also because I am a member of the human race. Even people from my beloved alma mater, which is known to be “secular” in nature, are against the RH Bill! I believe that all of us, no matter what religion or nationality, have this innate characteristic to foster and care for life in all forms. Our fellow human beings – Muslims, Buddhists, and even some atheists recognize the value of human life.

My Facebook profile picture

More than anything else though, my main reason for being pro-life is because I am a mother and have experienced the miracle of life firsthand – in my womb, and outside of it, as a mom who provides the best nourishment for her children, her breast milk. As a mom, I only hope and pray that my kids will learn to love and cherish life in all forms just like my husband and I do.

To read more about my being a pro-life mom, please click here to view my article on Philstar.com's Unblogged Section . 

Happy Feast Day of the Annunciation and International Day of the Unborn everyone! :-) 
P.S. If you are free later at 4pm, come be one with us as we unite for LIFE at the Luneta! :-) Stand up, be counted, Pinoys! Hubby and I will be there with our kids and our CFC community. :-) (I declined invitations to two press conferences because I believe that this event is much, much more important and relevant! :-) Hope to see you there as well, dear friends!) If you can't be with us physically, watch us LIVE at http://cfcprolife.co.cc/ :-) Be blessed always!