UNIQLO has invaded my closet in the last two years and has also become my comfortable, practical and quality Mommy Uniform.  When I started capsule wardrobe-ing, I got rid of those that I purchased because they were trendy which I got to use once or not more than three times.  And since then, my closet, if it was alive, was able to get a breath of fresh air and welcomed just few pieces of quality and comfortable pieces which bring joy to me whenever I wear them.  Most of these pieces are UNIQLO.

I also have a shopping confession to make.

When I like a style in one shop, I buy it in different colors, be it top, dress or pants.

I have this Uniqlo top in three colors (Navy Blue, Grey, and Maroon) What I love about this is its classic boat neckline cut, it's so great with breastfeeding (no need for cover), the fabric stretches when needed yet comes back to its original form right away!  Pair it with jeans, skirts or pants.  It's so versatile.

I have this dress in two colors.  I even wore this when I was pregnant with my youngest!

This is the other color!  I love that it hides the bulges plus it's perfect for mommies who like to carry small stuff in their pockets.  Yup this dress had two large pockets on its sides.  Lovely right?

I have this Uniqlo dress pants in two colors, cream and black!  So versatile as well!

Team Santos in matching Uniqlo shirt!  There's something for everyone in the family at UNIQLO!  Happiness!

INES DE LA FRESSANGE Fall/Winter 2018 Collection
So here's the exciting part, UNIQLO announces that it will launch the UNIQLO / INES DE LA FRESSANGE Fall/Winter 2018 Collection on Friday, August 31. The collaboration with world-renowned fashion icon Ines de la Fressange is now in its 10th season and will be available exclusively in UNIQLO at SM Megamall.
Wait, who is Ines de la Fressange?
Born in France, Ines de La Fressange was a fashion model and an international fashion brand muse. Her diverse pursuits include design, entrepreneurship, and journalism. In 2013, she re-launched her own brand, and continues to embody modern Parisian chic as a creative director.
I think I lived in France in my past life.  I have a special spot for French cuisine and fashion in my heart.  So looking at the preview of the collection excites me!

The newest collection is Ines’ modern interpretation of fashions in 1920s Montmartre, when the congeniality and delightfully cobble-stoned streets of this hilltop Parisian neighborhood made it a hub of effortless social and artistic interactions. Tweed, melton, cashmere, and corduroy fabrics underscore Ines’ paean to daily life in autumnal Paris in this authentic and elegantly tailored range of comfortable wardrobe essentials. The new kids’ line enables both mothers and children to enjoy French chic, a goal that Ines has held since the inception of the collection.

Key Items
New women’s suits capture the exuberance and elegance of 1920s styling. The coat lineup has expanded to seven items in classical styles, including a tweed double face Chester coat, light short duffle coat, and quilted coat. There are also some playful pieces, such as a vintage style Motorcycle Sweater. The sleepwear is fashionably comfortable.
The kids’ range retains the quality fabrics, designs, and finishes of women’s items and includes pea coats, velvet tailor-made jackets, dresses, cardigans, and other stylish pieces inspired by French cinema.
LOOKS
You could find the full lineup from here: www.uniqlo.com/ines18fw/ph

About UNIQLO LifeWear
Apparel that comes from the Japanese values of simplicity, quality and longevity. Designed to be of the time and for the time, LifeWear is made with such modern elegance that it becomes the building blocks of each individual’s style. A perfect shirt that is always being made more perfect. The simplest design hiding the most thoughtful and modern details. The best in fit and fabric made to be affordable and accessible to all. LifeWear is clothing that is constantly being innovated, bringing more warmth, more lightness, better design, and better comfort to people’s lives.

SARSAYA's Brand Ambassador, the Prometime King, Mr. Coco Martin

 And how fortunate that I was invited to witness the launch of SARSAYA's latest TVC with Coco Martin last week at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Quezon City.  It was a beautiful Filipiniana-themed event dubbed Exploring Local Flavors with SARSAYA®.  The program started with an exclusive #kaSASAYAn Filipino Food Walking Tour led by award-winning food writer Ige Ramos  featuring local street food and carinderia favorites within the storied walls of Las Casas.  Participants were able to sample fishballs, squidballs, traditional pancit habhab served on banana leaves, and carinderia-style adobo complemented by SARSAYA® oyster sauce.
The highlight of course of the event came when the handsome Primetime king and SARSAYA® ambassador Coco arrived and charmed everyone in attendance, including me and my sleeping baby.  He shared stories from the set of his most recent brand commercial. In it, Coco happily chimes the catchy jingle, “Lasang Oyster na Oyster, SARSAYA®!”

The Lizardos (Jace, Japoy, and Jan), Primetime King Coco Martin, myself and sleeping Damien

With Jan Lizardo and Baby Jace

When asked what his take on the success of Sarsaya® being 3rd leading brand, he shared, ”Siyempre po masayang-masaya ako. Nakaka-proud na sabihin na ang pagtitiwala ng Ajinomoto sa akin bilang endorser ng kanilang bagong produktong Sarsaya® ay nagbunga ng maganda, at naging positibo ang pagtanggap ng mga mamimili rito.”

When I got home from the event, hay, nagluto agad ako, pati the following day using SARSAYA Oyster Sauce, na-inspire kay Coco Martin.  Here they are:

Pork Adobo Con Patatas in SARSAYA Oyster Sauce

Ginisang Kangkong in SARSAYA Oyster Sauce

Will share the recipe on another post loves !:)

For Coco’s new SARSAYA® commercial and other updates, like them on Facebook: facebook.com/CookmunitybyAjinomotoPH and visit www.ajinomoto.com.ph.

My kids are spaced pretty well, 7 and 6 years apart.  It is an ideal spacing for us and indeed helped ease our budgeting and other financial needs for each child.  I said this because, belonging in different childhood stages mean they have different needs tied with financial needs.  Hindi sabay sabay ang gastusin for school or milk and diaper needs.  While it helped us personally, I didn't know that in the business world Family Planning Programs are being taken seriously by some business organizations in our country.

According to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) at the 1st National Conference on Family Planning in the Workplace, Family planning makes good business sense as it urged companies to start implementing family planning programs. 

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Usec. Atty. Claro Arellano talked abut the role of the government sector in advocating reproductive health and rights across all workplaces and encouraged employers to be part of the initiative for the growth of the country.

The conference, the first-ever to tackle the private sector’s role in supporting the implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law, brought together the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Commission on Population (POPCOM). The event also gathered 200 participants from a wide variety of industries who shared their experiences and learned best practices from UNFPA’s Business Action for Family Planning Access (BAFP) project.

A total of 200 delegates from a wide variety of industries and regional chapters of ECOP, DOLE, and POPCOM joined the 1 st National Conference on Family Planning in the Workplace.

Launched in 2014, the Business Action for Family Planning Access (BAFP) project encourages private sector engagement in family planning either in the workplace, community-based or as a core business.  Thirteen companies are currently enrolled in the program, representing various sectors such as export garment manufacturing, microfinance, canning, semi-conductor production for export, pastries, agro-industries, automotive and high-end aerospace products.

The program has been able to reach almost 1.4 million individuals through family planning sessions in the workplace and in communities.

Business benefits from family planning
ECOP President Donald G. Dee discussed how the topic was quite timely as businesses aim to remain
competitive amidst a changing labor and employment landscape.

Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) President Donald G. Dee as he delivered his opening remarks about ECOP’s initiative on mainstreaming reproductive health in the corporate agenda as a tool for business productivity and competitiveness

In the Philippines, the entrance of new young workers has significantly affected the current working
environment. According to 2015 labor force survey (LFS 2015), almost half of the labor force population consists of young workers. Over 42 million Filipinos aged 15 years and above are part of the labor force, 47.1% of which are workers in their prime reproductive age.

Meanwhile, one in ten young Filipino women aged 15-19 have begun childbearing, with 8 per cent of
these age groups already mothers and another 2 per cent already pregnant with their first child, according 'to the results of the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).
“As young people, particularly women, move into wage labor they are faced with larger difficulties
associated with pregnancy and later on caring for their infants and young children. Women in the formal sector, the wage and salary workers, are sometimes ill-equipped and unable to provide the proper health care especially during stages of pregnancy,” said Dee.

In tough economic times, Dee said, “it’s important to remember that the absence of concrete workplace health program costs money. What’s more, our case studies show that a sound health program including family planning program in the workplace is linked to improved performance and profitability.”

Dee cited the benefits companies can gain through better policies and practices such as improved
productivity through less sickness absence, cutting healthcare costs, keeping skilled workers in employment and reducing the number of people who have to cut their working hours to care for more
family members.

Bridging the Gap in Access

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative Klaus Beck emphasizes how investing on workplace family planning makes good business and how companies can help employees plan the timing and size of their family.

According to the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey in the Philippines, 49 per cent of
unmarried, sexually active women and 17 per cent of married women still have an unmet need for family planning “Today, working couples are faced with the challenge of a lack of time to access quality family planning and reproductive health services, especially in public health centers that provide these services only during working hours,” shared UNFPA Country Representative Klaus Beck in his talk.  “A workplace program ensures that these services are available where the employees are, and that they are closely supported by their co-employees on a regular basis. Workplace programs are intended to reach the working couples at their work places,” he added.
Through the BAFP program, the UNFPA hope to provide further speed to a nascent movement on family planning in the workplace so that more companies join in helping their employees, themselves and the country in the process.

My Family Planning and Work Experience
I used to be in the work force in all my three pregnancies, though spaced ideally for us, it still somehow affected my productivity at work.  It's may seem unfair or may look as if it's a discrimination to women giving birth, but it actually makes sense and it's the economic reality.  So, it's either mothers quit their jobs to focus on caring for their children (especially when there was not family planning) or continue with affected productivity and performance. 

It makes sense, business or not.  It does.

Jollibee is one of the top choices of party venue for parents who want to celebrate their child's birthday to make it truly special and memorable.  I know so because we've celebrated my children's and nephew's birthdays in Jollibee!  In 2005, still a first-time mom back then, I celebrated my panganay's 2nd birthday there.  A lot has changes since then - but all for the better.

Celebrate your child's next birthday with a Jollibee Kids Party

Recently, my nephew celebrated his 7th birthday and his parents gave him a surprise party.  I was there to attend this special occasion and experience the fun of the surprise and games for the kids, witness my own kids participate and exemplify sportsmanship during games, and of course enjoy the meal!

PARTY THEMES
There are new themes and packages for a memorable Jollibee Kiddie Party.  Here they are:

Jollibee Kidde Party Themes: Jollibee's FUN-tastic Factory, JolliTown, JolliRace, and Hello Kitty Fun Carnival

When you choose a theme from these, you have to pay either Php1,500 or Php2000 (with 10 loot bags) for the Party Favors which are the following:

• 30 Name tags
• 30 Balloons
• 15 Assorted game prizes
• 15 Party hats
• 15 Invitation cards
• 10 Trayliners
• 5 Boxes of crayons
• 1 Message board
• Jollibee Mascot appearance

OUR PERSONAL JOLLIBEE KIDDIE PARTY EXPERIENCE
My brother chose the JolliRace Party Theme and let me show you now the party favors and what to expect when you book a Jollibee Kids Party for your child:

Personalized Birthday Banner

Fully decorated party venue

15 invitations, 15 name tags 15 party hats, and 15 tray liners (Php 7.00 for each additional set of these favors)

15 assorted game prizes

Here are some of the game prizes PLUS five boxes of crayons

Message board to write your wishes for the celebrator!

Get all those mentioned above for Php 1,500 Party Fee.  Get 10 loot bags if you pay the Php2,000 Party Fee

Loot bag or giveaway content.  You may get more loot bags for Php 60.00 each

You may opt to get your cake from Jollibee for only Php 900 (Medium 8 X 12 in) or Php 1,100 (Large 12 x 12 in) If cake will be coming from outside, candle blowing during singing of birthday song is okay, but not to be eaten.

Jollibee Kids Party has leveled up their party balloon decors with balloon cake arc, balloon pillars and balloon ceiling decor.

I didn't get her name but this party host was so energetic, so fun to watch, so nice to kids, and funny!

The venue was filled with kids who enjoyed so much in games!  There were about six games in total

Some of the games played were Bring Me, Boat is Sinking, Stop Dance, and Coin Collecting

Mascot appearance is part of the Party Theme.  Jollibee had a dance number and stayed for candle blowing, and photo ops.

Dance number by Jollibee with matching blinking eyes pa!

During candle blowing and birthday wishes, Jollibee mascot stayed

There's a minimum food purchase of Php5,000.  You may avail the food party packages or Create Your Own Package (with minimum of Php5,000 SOLO food items or those not part of value meals).

The package that we got was Food Package C costing us Php 206.00/pax which consists of the following:

Jolly Spaghetti

Regular Fries

Cheesy Yumburger

Regular Softdrinks

Chocolate Sundae