It's true, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  But one thing's for sure, in God's eyes, we are ALL beautiful.  Dark or white, short or tall, long or short hair, we're all beautiful.
In one of the brand marketing workshops I attended, a notable speaker said that one of the best-selling products (thanks to marketing and knowing exactly what its market wants) are skin whitening soaps and lotions.  Filipinas have a mentality that becoming light-skinned is beautiful.  I used to believe that when I was younger because I was really dark then due to my swimming lessons and training.  I've always thought I was ugly because I was dark.

Thankfully, I am past that stage and skin color shouldn't be anyone's standard of beauty.  I agree that dark or white, we're beautiful!  Dark Skin versus White Skin. Does it really matter? Does one always have to be superior over the other? SkinWhite is saying otherwise.

Dr. Rolando Hortaleza, Chairman and CEO, Splash Corporation

SkinWhite recently launched their newest campaign about women making their own choices when it comes to beauty.  And each of our choices should be respected and unquestioned.  Whether you go dark or white, skin color shouldn't be a characteristic to determine that one is better than the other.  I've witnessed friends and even celebrities get bullied or bashed online for their skin color.  Too white or too dark - they got body shaming.  It's a good thing that these women stood up for themselves and the choices they made.  I am with SkinWhite on no to body/hair/race/gender/skin shaming.

SkinWhite used real twins in their campaign to represent beauty, whether one is Dark or White.  It doesn't really matter.  It sent a powerful message that people should be well-respected for the choice they make on what beauty is.

Joy and Jean Negosa

Sheena and Brigitte McBride

Bianca and Diane Danga

Louise and Shen - not ad models, mukhang models only, event attendees

Louise and Michelle, again, not ad models event attendees only.  Michelle could pass as a celebrity and model!

Watch SkinWhite's boldest ad yet which sends a powerful message about beauty - whether you're Dark or White.
“It’s all about choice”, says Rachelle Layda, Marketing Manager for Whitening
of Splash Corporation. “SkinWhite is a brand that empowers women to choose. A choice to
define their own standard of beauty. If you choose to have dark skin, you are beautiful. If you
choose to have white skin, you are just as beautiful. The choice is yours, and SkinWhite
respects that choice”.

Remember, Dark or White - You are BEAUTIFUL!

Seeing differently as a SAHM makes my family happier and healthier.

When this family photo was taken, I was still working as a program manager and campaigns strategist in a fast paced industry - at a time when my life was already slowing down. Little did I know that during this time, God was preparing me to become a stay at home mom. The fast paced career no longer fit my life as a new mom to my third child. My priorities, my plans and my motivations slowly and beautifully changed.

As a SAHM, I now #CDifferently

Suddenly, what I thought was too important for me to give up (my stressful career) lost its luster that I turned my back on it and focused on what gave me fulfillment and happiness the most - my family, especially my children.  This was a major life and family decision I and my husband made.  It was beyond the comfort zone I have been living for almost 20 years (as a working mom with regular pay and generous company benefits).

A year into being a SAHM now, I see things very differently.  I was wrong into thinking that there's lesser life (to none at all) after resigning from the corporate jungle.  In fact, I blossomed, I made real connections to more people, I gained new friends, I rekindled old ones, I get to do things my heart yearns, and pursue more dreams too.  The fears I had shattered instantly as I continuously pray for God's guidance as I obey His will and achieve what we prayed for - His provisions and the realizations of His plans for me.

I love being with my youngest all the time!  Here's Damien with playmate Ysha.

To share with you, here are some of the things I now see differently as a Stay-At-Home-Mom or SAHM:

1.  Staying at home is harder than I thought. Being a corporate mom all my life made me too proud that I thought because I work in an office and bring home half the bacon, I was doing a lot for the family.  My career was too important to me that time and to be honest, I never ever imagined myself to resign and stay at home.  I've always envisioned myself to be working until I physically am able and to retire until all my kids finish school.  But God has other plans for me.  AND I am glad He did.  My life slowly transformed after my mom died, when I got married, and when my husband and I accepted Jesus in our hearts.  Now I realize how harder it really is to stay at home and do all the mom duties.  It's physically exhausting, mentally challenging, and patience testing.  I was humbled by this experience and though taxing as it is, I wouldn't ever regret deciding to stay home and focus on my ministry - my family.

2.  No amount of money could compensate a mom's presence for her children.  Like what I mentioned, I was full of myself when I was still working - I thought I could always compensate for lost time and spend quality time when I am physically present with my kids.  Now I see that both quantity and quality of time are important to help make your kids grow well-rounded, secured, and feel loved.  For how can I have quality time when quantity is compromised?  I learned this from a parenting talk I attended a few months ago.  It stuck in my head and helped me become more intentional in spending time with my kids and being really "present" for them by being with them in full attention and not half-wandering off to social media lalaland or other work commitments or getting dibs on online shopping sales!

3.  Work at home never ends. I used to be a project manager and campaigns strategist who used to create concepts and execute them given a well-calculated timetable.  But when office hours end, my work ends or maybe extend a bit, but it ends til the following day.  Now, I can attest and I am with many SAHMs in saying that work at home never ends.  From the moment my eyes are wide open in the morning, until it's about to close late night (and sometimes even in dreams), I work. I try to reach an extra mile in everything I do for the family and for the home, out of pure love for my family and obedience to God's plans for me.

4.  Self care is a NEED not a WANT.  Since work never ends at home and I tend to give my all to my children, I need to take a break by doing self care.  How can I give from an empty cup?  I need to refill that cup with self-love.  Having time for self-care or self-love is not selfish.  It's refocusing the used up energies from the daily draining grinds at least once a week so I would be rejuvenated and feel good about myself.  Most of the time, my number one enemy is myself.  I beat myself up with mom-guilt, with incompetency, with feeling I'm not enough, and feeling like a failure.  I realize that no one is perfect anyway.  A messy house is a sign of a home where real people live.  A mountain of dishes or laundry means a well-fed and well-dressed family.  I may not always have an Instagram-worthy house, but at least I know I am present for my family and they are happy to see me there, taking care of them.  I stopped beating myself with all these guilt because with God, my supportive husband, and smiling kids on my side, I know I am enough.  But still let's go back that though I know my value, I still get so exhausted and recharging is a must.  Happily my husband supports this and never sees this as a time away from them nor make me feel guilty for not spending time with them instead.  I do self-care by going to a nearby salon, by having an hour of massage for those overused and tired muscles, attend events or simply meet up with friends to connect to the world outside home.  Self-care is a need for every stay-at-home-moms and we shouldn't feel guilty about loving ourselves.

5.  Prioritizing Health Is Self Care Too.  Because as a SAHM I feel I am overworked, HEALTH becomes a priority self-care for me.  Now I see the importance of health all the more.  Among anyone in the household I feel that I should be the last one to get sick, my husband tells that too (at least we're on the same page!)  I've also never took our health and wellness more seriously when I became a SAHM.  Now, I take extra steps when it comes to my family's health. My husband and I never miss taking our dose of Vitamin C for immunity to sickness.  But this isn't any Vitamin C.  We recently switched from Ascorbic Acid to taking Sodium Ascorbate.  We switched to Vitagreen-C, a non-acidic and safer Vitamin C supplement which doesn't harm our bodily environment.  Prioritizing health is prioritizing ME.  Moms need this kind of self-care too!
Why Do We All Need Vitamin C?


Why Vitagreen-C?

• 100% plant-based Vitamic C
• It's non-acidic making it stomach-friendly.
• It's easily absorbed in our bodies and retains better.
• It's anti-stress, anti-aging, and anti-allergy.
• It protects against cancer (which thrives in an acidic environment)
• Helps in glycemic control and heart decease.

I learned that cancer and other critical illnesses I am so afraid of, thrive in an acidic environment in our bodies. That's why I switched our Vitamin C brand to a safer and non-acidic one -Vitagreen-C. I wouldn't have noticed these things and discover many more if I didn't turn my back from corporate and decide it's time to be a more present, involved, and become a more intentional mom.
I'm sure these wonderful moms also believe in the product and had made a switch as well! :)
But apart from taking this daily, it's also important to live a healthier lifestyle by doing these:

• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat vegetables and fruits daily.
• Exercise regularly - move move move!
• Avoid junk food and sodas.
• Be careful with sugar and salt intake.
• Steamed, boiled, grilled foods are better than fried.
• Take mental health seriously - always pray.

I recommend that you also make a healthier switch of your brand of Vitamin C.  Switch to a safer and non-acidic one, switch to Vitagreen C.  Vitagreen-C is available from BETTER HEALTH PH on Facebook and Instagram.

How about you? Have you made a life-changing decision that let you see things differently? Please do share!

Even before I became a stay-at-home-mom, I already love cooking.  I started cooking  when I was still single and starting a career in the marketing and communications field.  Being able to earn a living independently and purchase grocery items that time was my entry to real adulting.  As a single career woman finding her place in the jungle called the corporate world, I felt so accomplished when I did my grocery shopping, decided what to use in the pantry, brought food on the table figuratively and literally.  So it's not accurate when one equates cooking to just being a mom.  Anyone can cook whether you're a mom or not yet one.  Even dads and single men do.
Cooking is like therapy to me.  Cooking is also a love language for me - service.  I love cooking.  That's why I always get excited to be invited in food-related events or discover new cooking partner such as the newest Knorr SavorRich Liquid Meaty Seasoning.
Yesterday, the first ever meaty seasoning in liquid form in the country was launched by Knorr at the Greenbelt 3 Open Park.

What made the experience more fun was discovering the new and special cooking ingredient with mom friends I love and to get to meet new ones too!
Turn your ordinary dishes into an extraordinary one.  Elevate your fried chicken to the best tasting one.  Make every dish you prepare for yourself and your family, mom or not, rich and intense in flavor with every bite.  Take home a Knorr SavorRich Liquid Meaty Seasoning and try it at home.  Recipes will soon be uploaded onto Knorr's official website www.knorr.com/ph.

The new Knorr SavorRich Liquid Meaty Seasoning is available in Chicken and Pork flavors in leading supermarkets and groceries nationwide, at a suggested retail price of Php6/16g, Php85/240g, and Php150/480g.

Last weekend, I had a pleasure to learn more about the brand and its advocacy to not only love ourselves by taking care of our hair and skin, but to also love the planet. 

Pro-environment personalities/influencers were invited in front to share how we all could contribute in making our planet a cleaner and better place.  Small acts of love go a long way. 
As simple bringing our own reusable straws, utensils, and water bottles or bringing eco-bags for shopping, and supporting brands which are eco-friendly and cruelty-free, we can already make a difference.

So what makes Love Beauty and Planet different from other beauty brands and how do they really show love to the planet?   Here are some amazing and admirable facts about them:

1. The ingredients are sustainably sourced from around the world such as Morocco, Comoros and even the Philippines. Yes, the Philippine coconut is one of their main ingredients used globally.

2. Their products are easily rinsed saving 10 seconds of shower which may result to supporting the drinking water needs of millions of people.  How?  The brand infuses fast-rinse technology into their conditioners, which means that it will break down and wash off faster, leading us to use less water in the shower.

3. All their bottles are made with 100% post-consumer recycled made from 100% recyclable plastics.

4. Used bottles may be deposited in selected SM branches/Watsons so they may recycle, reuse, and reduce waste.

5. The hair care and body care products are also certified vegan and cruelty-free, with
zero silicones, dyes, parabens or colorants.

6. You get a FREE eco-bag for a limited time when you buy at least three bottles of their products!

Knowing all these intentional efforts from the brand to help save the planet, is enough to make me really love them and make room for their products in my favorite things on earth!

More photos from the launch: 

I hope many other brands will follow suit and think of how they will greatly contribute to preserving and healing our planet and not contribute more to wastes that many generations after our children will inherit. Thanks #LoveBeautyAndPlanetPH for coming up with well-thought eco-friendly products which help make us and our planet more beautiful each day.

Can't wait to celebrate the season with #SmallActsOfSummerLove with Love Beauty and Planet?  Head on to select Watsons stores and ecommerce retailers to experience Love Beauty and Planet’s summer collections today.

For more information, log on to www.lovebeautyandplanet.com/ph or follow them on FACEBOOK, and Instagram.

I'll be honest, when I was single or even a new mom, I would always turn down meetings set by friends connected to the financial institutions selling me the investment and also insurance ideas which at that time I was allergic to.  Heard of, "Coffee tayo?" or "Open-minded ka ba?"  I thought they were asking for a date, hindi naman pala.  Either business proposals or insurance proposals.  I stopped saying yes to those invitations a long time ago.
I guess it had a lot to do with financial literacy, which of course was very low for me.  It also has a lot to do with influences from the family, my parents and brothers - who also didn't see investments or growing money was important.  I was taught to keep on saving and put savings in the bank - but that too, I didn't religiously do.  I remember the first 5 digit money I earned from a raket, I just spent it on shopping!  Had I known better, wish I invested it and it could've been worth a million or more now (that was almost 20 years ago!) It became a pattern: Earn, shop, help pay bills, party, save a little, loan - I was spending more than I earned.  Aaahh young and reckless me!  Nakakainis.

Fast forward to not so long ago, I was introduced and became more open to investing (that includes mutual funds, VULs, stocks, and more) back in 2012 and when I realized how much money I wasted on expensive coffees, night outs, and excessive shopping, I said to myself, the unwise spending had to stop.

Since then, I got myself a VUL, invested some in mutual funds, enrolled in UITFs, got a memorial plan, got 2 burial boxes (as investment and also for preparation when I get to my final destination) and presently still looking for means to diversify.  Naks, big word right?  Diversify.  I learned that also from the financial advisers I have been meeting and asking for advice.  The most important thing I did was to - START.

INVESTMENT - BIG WORD, SCARY WORD
Mostly, people get scared of investments because of the following reasons, tell me if relate ka:

1. Investment sounds unreachable or expensive.  Did you know that for as low as PHP5,000 you can already grow your money or invest it in mutual funds?

2. Trust Issues.  Why will I give my money to someone I don't really know and trust them to manage my money and make it grow?  What if they just run away with my hard-earned money?  That's why only trust in well-known financial institutions such as First Metro Asset Management, Inc. or FAMI to help you with your financial goals.

3.  Traditional thinking.  Like me I was taught to just save.  Having savings is not at all bad especially if you're saving for an emergency fund you could readily withdraw should the emergency arise.  Again, emergency cases ha, not mall SALEs.  Did you know that the money will grow more in investments compared to just storing them in banks?

4.  Financial Literacy or Lack of Knowledge.  We always hear about self-care.  Learning new things and being open to new things like financial or investment ideas is also self-care because you invest in yourself and with it you make better decisions for your and your family's future.

SMART WOMEN INVEST
A Financial and Investment Literacy Workshop
Last March 21, I was among the few women who joined First Metro Asset Management, Inc. (FAMI), the fund management subsidiary of First Metro Investment Corporation, when they hosted Smart Women Invest, a financial and investment literacy workshop specifically catered to help Filipinas transform from savers into investors.  FAMI tapped two of the country’s leading female finance experts to help their fellow Filipinas in their journey towards investing: FAMI’s first-ever female president Karen Roa, a 25-year expert in the field of finance, and Ms. Rose Fres Fausto known as FQ Mom.
Figuring Out Finance
Roa and Fausto engaged an eager audience of fellow go-getting women in an animated discussion about finance. Roa said, “Finance doesn’t have to be as daunting as it seems. Women can do it—and excel in it, too.” Both agree that part of self-determination is mastering the art of handling money.
One of the highlights of the workshop was the online FQ Test, which determines the participants’ standing in terms of Financial Intelligence Quotient (FQ). Fausto said: “In order to have a high FQ, women must first understand their relationship with money." She also added that "those who didn’t fare well in the test need not worry because their FQ scores are not cast in stone. They can be improved by tweaking some of their money habits and unleashing the female characteristics that are actually good for investing, allowing them to go beyond saving.”

The best part about a healthy FQ is that its concepts can be learned and, in turn, shared with the family. Fausto said, “Women are large influencers in their community so a woman with high FQ can be a driver in raising children with smarter money sense, build a career and investment life that is fruitful and lucrative, and even lead a household and home that is sufficient and stable. Again, with fortified FQ—women have proven once again that they’re on top of their game.”

I  agree on this because when I first took an FQ test, I had the first failing grade of my life.  But being the competitive me (competing with myself that is - bettering myself always), I didn't let failure stop me from learning more about this aspect.  Now, I can proudly say after being open to financial concepts, investments, and preparing for a brighter future for my kids, my FQ test is in flying colors.  I am surprised myself because I didn't think I would love the financial and investments concepts because to me they used to look just math and numbers, which I was allergic to before (kaya ako nag-Communication Arts major in college eh!).  But now, I appreciate it all the more because it's practical, it's real, it's for my and my family's future.

Securing a Financial Future
I know how moms like us worry a lot about our kids' future, their education, our jobs' security, how to earn money (more money) while our bodies are able - to be able to put them to savings or investments, our own retirements, our future as non-earning senior citizens, and even to our hospitalization or other expenses when emergency comes, and lastly, our place when our earthly bodies retire.  I know because I also worry about them but it lessened seriously since I started investing on myself by first BEING OPEN to financial and investment concepts, second by SAYING YES to it, and third, by STARTING.

With bloggers Lace, Minette, Joy, and Ms. Karen Roa of FAMI.

Thanks to FAMI for the workshop which was very timely done - on Women's month.  I was affirmed that I made the right decision for myself and my family.  That's why I opened another mutual fund I entrusted to them. Why do I trust FAMI?  As a member of the Metrobank Group, FAMI holds a veritable reputation in asset management. FAMI’s mutual fund business is adept at promoting savings mobilization and advocates investment literacy, making it the perfect partner for women to learn, live and start loving finance.

Roa said, “This is our way of thanking the women who attended our workshop. The First Metro Consumer Fund is invested in industries that benefit from the Philippine family consumption and expenditure pattern. These are industries supported by women and mothers in our country. This is a great way to start their investment journey.”

Last Wednesday, I had the pleasure to be in a group of women in an intimate discussion with Senator Risa Hontiberos (Princpal Sponsor and Author, Senate) on the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law or RA11210 at The Parenting Emporium.

With Principal Sponsor and Author or RA11210, Sen. Risa Hontiveros

I remember this law was already in the talks when I was still working a year ago.  Moms in the work place were all joking to avail of it right away.  And of course to be able to avail this expanded maternity leave, we all have to get pregnant again.  I remember how it was just every working mom's wish, now it's actually happening!

Though I may not be part of the work force anymore, I rejoice with all my working moms friends and all working mothers in general both in the government and private sector for this development even those belonging to the informal economy who's had at least three (3) SSS monthly contributions a year before giving birth.

More than anything, this law is a celebration of motherhood as she extends her bonding time with the newborn during the crucial first few months of life, establishes breastfeeding pattern or routine, is given a longer time to recover physically and past the baby blues, and comes back to work in tip top shape and pink of health. To begin talking about getting over a new mom's baby blues would require another long post.  I feel joyous that finally, working mothers' after childbirth needs and health conditions are now recognized and are addressed fairly by this law.  It's about time because other countries have long time implemented this with even longer number of days. 

An intimate discussion of the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law with other moms at The Parenting Emporium

Sumptuous dessert buffet by Mamachows (my personal faves are the lactation cookies and cheese cupcakes)

I experienced maternity leaves twice in my last workplace. When it was time to.come back, I found it hard to leave my infant behind feeling as if the maternity leave wasn't enough. It sure was heartbreaking for me, but I (and many other working moms for sure) had no choice, but to come back to work.  Every day I had to cry before leaving the house and condition myself on my way to the office.  I wasn't able to establish a healthy breastfeeding routine with my second.  At that time as well, there weren't any proper nursing area, no massive community support for breastfeeding, limited available breastfeeding products, and educational materials weren't as present as they are now.  That's why, I had to pump in the restroom crying and feeling sorry for myself, feeling as if I wasn't giving my best to my newborn, which of course affected the breast milk I produced.  I learned that I wasn't over the baby blues when I was back to work immediately.  Had this 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law been enforced back then, I would have been over my postpartum blues, I would have established my breastfeeding routine and milk production without unnecessary stress, and I would have been back to work feeling thankful to the company I work for for not taking me away from my newborn too early - and in tip-top shape.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I am really thankful about this law even if I won't be able to avail of it anymore.  It is because it's inclusive, it's definitely pro-working mothers of different status whether married or single mom.  To better communicate the beauty of this law to you, I will be posting the FAQs for your reference:

1.  Who can avail of the 105-day Maternity Leave?
All covered female workers in government and the private sector, including the informal economy, who gave birth after March 8, 2019, are entitle to 105 days maternity leave, with an option to extend for 30 days unpaid.  Solo mothers shall be given an extra 15 days above the 105 days.

2.  How many times can Maternity Leave be availed of?
Under RA 11210, Maternity leave can be availed of at every instance of pregnancy, miscarriage or emergency termination of pregnancy.

3.  How many days leave does a covered female worker get for miscarriage?
For miscarriage, a covered female worker will be entitled to 60 days.

4.  How much maternity leave monetary benefit will be a covered female worker be entitled to?
Female workers in the public sector and the private sector shall now be entitled to full pay.  Employers from the private sector shall be responsible for the payment of the salary differential between the actual cash benefits received from SSS be the covered female workers and their average weekly or regular wages.  This is subject to the following exceptions:

a.  Those operating distressed establishments;
b.  Those retail/service establishments and other enterprises employing not more than ten (10) workers;
c.  Those considered as micro-business enterprises and engaged in the production, processing, or manufacturing of products or commodities including agro-processing, trading, and services, whose total assets are not more than Three million pesos (P3,000,000.00); and
d.  Those who are already providing similaror more than the benefits herein provided.

5.  What about the DADDIES?
Any female worker entitled to maternity leave benefits may, at her option, allocate up to seven (7) days of said benefits to the child's father, whether or not the same is married to the female worker.  The female worker's leave is then reduced to 98 days.

6.  How does this harmonize with current Paternity Leave law?
The current Paternity Leave law grants 7 days paternity leave to the father of the child, if he is married to the female worker.  Thus, a married new father can enjoy as much as 14 days leave (7 days Paternity leave and 7 days under RA 11210).  An unmarried new father, on the other hand, may enjoy 7 days allocated leave.

7.  What if there is no father?
The law provides that in the death, absence or incapacity of the father, the benefit may be allocated to an alternate caregiver who may be a relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or the current partner of the female worker sharing the same household upon the election of the mother taking into account the best interests of the child.

8.  What about informal workers?
Female workers in the informal economy are entitled to maternity leave benefits if they have remitted to the SSS at least three (3) monthly contributions in the twelve (12) months period immediately preceding the semester of her childbirth, miscarriage or emergency termination of the pregnancy.

9.  How do we ensure that employers comply with the new law?
Whoever fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of this Act shall be punished by a fine of not less than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) nor more than Two-Hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00), and imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day nor more than twelve (12) years or both.  If the act or omission penalized by this Act shall be committed by an association, partnership, corporation or any other institution, its managing head, directors, or partners shall be liable to the penalties provided in this Act for the offense.  Failure on the part of any association, partnership, corporation, or private enterprise to comply with the provisions of this Act shall be a ground for non-renewal of business permits.

As explained during the discussion at The Parenting Emporium with other moms (who by the way came up with so many questions and raised many scenarios such as household helpers, contractual employees, etc.), this law is retroactive. Meaning, even if this is not finalized at this time, once the IRR has come out with the fine prints and details of this law, carefully considering all possible scenarios, all working moms who gave birth after March 8, 2019 shall be covered.

So there you have it working moms!   This is definitely one great news to all mothers, working or not, because this is a win for all women in general.  As they say real queen mothers fix another queen's crown.  Let's rejoice for every mothers because finally, a voice for us is being heard!

Mabuhay ang RA11210!  :)