We all didn't expect this pandemic to happen.  In the past four months, we've seen many shift from office work to work from home.  There were a lot who lost their jobs.  Businesses closed down.  Parents panicked and worried about their children's education.  Lastly, almost everyone fears both their health and financial conditions - and their family's future.

Whether you have something to celebrate or just craving for cakes, yet you still don't want to go out, you can always order cakes of all kinds through Cake Rush PH!  Amazing right?  I know almost everything is now sold and available online but to shop for cakes online is something delightfully new to me and I'm sure for you too!
I had a chance to experience this due to my cake cravings one time.  I received Mommy Lucy's Red Wine Moist Dark Chocolate Cake in a can with pearl design (which are all edible by the way) and it instantly melted in my mouth!  Perfect for coffee or tea.  It has a sophisticated taste of the healthier dark chocolate and wine - a combination I love.


But that's just one of the many cake bakers and cake flavors you could shop for on Cake Rush PH.  The newest cake delivery platform in Metro Manila supporting local bakers who offers different cakes and designs for different occasions and budget range.

Here are the reasons why I recommend Cake Rush PH:

1.  Variety of Cake Suppliers - As mentioned Cake Rush Supports local bakers and this includes the following:

• Red Ribbon
• Goldilocks
• Conti's
• Mommy Lucy's
• Bakepertise
• Cheesecakerie
• Fraiche Patisserie
• Homebake Mom
• Indulge Patisserie
• Shamy Cakes
• Sweet Samthings

2.  Availability of flavors - Since we all have different tastes or favorites, Cake Rush PH knows this as well.  Choose from Salted Caramel, Carrot, Chocolate, Mango, Oreo, Red Velvet, and Ube.

3.  Offers different cake types - Although their name suggests only cakes, they also have cakes in cans, brownies, cheesecakes, cupcakes, and also cookies.  So whatever dessert you crave for, they have something to offer on their website.

4.  FREE Delivery within Metro Manila - Yes you read that right!  FREE delivery on ALL orders within Metro Manila.

5.  Same day or Next Day delivery schedule - You may even select the time slot of your cake delivery.  Plus you could also choose your cakes to be delivered for later (up to three days from date of order).

6.  Safe and Convenient Payment Channels - All major credit cards and debit cards are accepted.  You can even pay via bank transfer.  It's safe at the same time really convenient!

7.  Personalize cake with a message - Not on the cake itself though, but you can write your message on the card that Cake Rush Ph will provide.

8.  Available Customer Service Channel - What's great about this is you can contact someone for your inquiries and concerns because they have customer service team.  They are open from Mondays to Saturdays from 9AM - 7PM.

Aren't these enough reasons why you should get your cakes from Cake Rush PH?  I could go on loves!  You could even choose cakes based on your budget!  So there's absolutely a cake for everybody!  So on your next celebration or craving, shop online via https://cakerush.ph!

One of the amazing gifts this quarantine gave me is TIME. Time well-spent building or rebuilding relationships with my loved ones, improving my prayer life, doing what I love and lastly learning new skills. For me, it was baking.

I've always dreamed of baking my own cookies because I love cookies! Baking was an achievement unlocked for me and has taught me some of life's important lessons: To keep on trying; To be exact and consistent; and to be resourceful. After three tries, I was able to perfect my Chocolate Chip Cookies which I am now sharing with you.

Ingredients:

- 2 cups flour
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup butter at room temperature (you may use a baking margarine)
- 1 cup brown or washed sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 Tbsp vanilla flavor
- 1 cup chocolate chips

Procedure:

1. Mix Butter with sugar in a bowl until creamy.
2. Put egg and add vanilla. Set aside.
3. In another bowl, mix all the dry ingredients, flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt.
4. Slowly pour dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Continue mixing.
5. Pour the chocolate chip cookies.
6. Cover with cling wrap then chill for 2 hours.
7. After chilling, scoop to the size you want and lay on cookie sheets.
8. Preheat oven to 175 degree Celsius.
9. Bake for 15 minutes.
10. Take out the cookies and let it cool.

Enjoy! I never thought that I would achieve this baking momma hat I proudly wore this quarantine. Just like you, I sometimes worry where to get baking ingredients especially if I don't really want to go out. Glad to let you know that you can purchase and pay for them online at these websites.

• Lazada - www.lazada.com.ph
• Landers - www.landers.ph
• Metromart - www.metromart.com
• MyKuya - www.mykuya.com
• Fresh Produce - www.freshproduce.com.ph
• Online Palengke - www.onlinepalengke.com

For my online purchases, I usually use my PayMaya account for safe and convenient cashless transactions. This way, I don’t have to worry about transmitting the virus through cash handling or long exposure to other people.

You can easily do use PayMaya too for your own transactions. Here’s how:

1. After adding items to your cart from your choice of shopping app, proceed to the checkout page.
2. Choose credit card as the payment option.
3. Open your PayMaya app and select ‘My Cards’ then note online payment card number.
4. Go back to the shopping app and choose Online Payment card number
5. Input your card details and confirm your payment
6. An SMS notification will be sent by PayMaya, confirming your transaction

Done! It's easy, convenient, and best of all, safe! All you have to do is wait for the delivery right at your doorstep.

As we smoothly adapt to the new normal, I'm glad PayMaya is here to help us transition to contactless, secure, and cashless payments. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.  To know more, visit: https://www.paymaya.com/quick-guide. Download the app for free today, click this link: https://official.paymaya.com/CAK1/425eb133 and use my referral code: Igs628.

Remember, don't pay cash, PayMaya!

These days, we’ve all become more careful when it comes to managing our household. At home, moms clean more often than before. We wash clothes almost every day, sanitize everything coming from outside, eat healthy and take our multivitamins to boost our immune system, and educate our kids how to wash hands properly. Most importantly, we stay home as much as possible. And in the instances that we have to go out, we equip ourselves with face masks and alcohol.

We do these things to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe from the spread of the coronavirus. This is the new normal and we’ve smoothly adapted to it.

Apart from these safety measures, there’s one area that is often neglected or not prioritized when it comes to safety – transactions and payments. I only have ONE SAFETY TIP – DO CASHLESS or CONTACTLESS transactions. Whether you’re settling bills online or paying for your groceries in supermarkets, don’t pay cash. PayMaya. 



Here are just some of the transactions you can settle safely and conveniently with PayMaya:

1. Pay for online purchases

Shopping online has become a part of the new norm, now that we are being asked to stay at home as much as possible. For online purchases, using cashless options like PayMaya is safer and more convenient than COD. With this, there is no need to scramble for cash when your order arrives. You’re also able to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus through cash-handling.

You can use your 16-digit virtual card number for this, but some merchants also accept payments using only the mobile number linked to your PayMaya account.

2. Pay for groceries or medicines



I still prefer the QR Scan to pay option when paying for my groceries at the supermarket. You don’t need to hand any cash nor card to anyone and returned to you unsure if it carries the uninvited virus we’re all scared about. On top of that, you can also get a cashback of 1%, 10%,  or 100% when you pay via PayMaya QR. Safe and sulit at the same time!  PayMaya QR is available at Landers, Robinsons Supermarket, Rustans Supermarket, Shopwise, Robinsons Easymart, Robinsons Selections, Shopwise, Super8, Wellcome, LCC Supermarket, Metro Gaisano, Citimart Supermarket, WalterMart Supermarket, Budget Mart, South Emerald Supermarket, Prince Hypermart, and many more.

3. Pay bills and other government -related dues.

You don’t have to brave the growing traffic or risk getting infected outside, just to pay for your bills or government dues. You can easily do it in the safety and comfort of your home with PayMaya. With just a few clicks, you are already able to settle your bills and not worry about incurring additional charges for late payment.


4. Buy load for yourself or others.

You can also purchase load for yourself or your friends and family with your PayMaya app.  These items are also discounted so you know you’re getting more sulit deals by simply staying at home.

5. Add money to your account

To do all these things, you would need to have enough funds in your account. Luckily, adding money to PayMaya is super easy. There are a lot of ways to do this. If you don’t want to go out, you can just transfer money from your bank account to PayMaya via Instapay. You can also add funds to your PayMaya using your credit and debit card. But if you don’t have a bank account or a credit card yet, you can simply head to the Smart Padala agent in your community and add money from there!

Even if the quarantine will be lifted in the future, I’ve well adjusted to this new normal. To be honest, I like it better because so many good things had happened to me. My husband and I are more appreciative of each other. My children are closer than ever. I learned many new things like baking and extending my patience. I’ve fortified my personal relationship with God too. Even if it’s declared safe to go out, I still won’t risk my family’s health and safety. I will still do cashless and contactless transactions like how I am doing now using PayMaya. It’s fast, it’s convenient, it’s practical, and lastly, it’s SAFE. 

To know more about PayMaya visit https://www.paymaya.com/quick-guide. You may download

PayMaya for free on Play Store and Apple Store. Click HERE to download instantly. So remember, to stay safe and have contactless transactions, don’t pay cash. PayMaya! 

Since the ECQ, we’ve seen so many changes and we’ve quickly eased to them calling it our “new normal.”  This includes how masks and hats are now fashionable (when going out), how kids are schooled, how we do our groceries and food marketing, how many of us depended on online shopping and food deliveries.  Online businesses have boomed exponentially – clearly because we all want a contactless way to purchase, to pay, to get our needs, to sell or serve other people’s needs, and generally to get things done safely and conveniently.

Lalo na sa mga business owners na malaki din ang sacrifices and health risks to be able to serve their customers.  We all know that viruses and bacteria are easily passed through money or bills, yung physical na bayad, right?  Buti na lang, there’s PayMaya Negosyo App to help negosyantes have a simple, worry-free, and secure transactions.  Best of all, it enables business owners have a contactless payment channel – one that most customers also prefer!


REGISTRATION 
Ang dali lang mag-register and you get approved with 1-2 days!

1. Download the PayMaya Negosyo App (http://pymy.co/PayMayaNegosyo) via Play Store for Android phones. This will be available soon on iOS. 
2. Enter all the needed details then click next to receive a One-Time-PIN (OTP) to your enrolled cellphone number.  Enter the OTP.
3. Enter the verification code sent to your registered email address.
4. Read and agree to the Terms and Conditions stated.
5. The app will require a copy of your valid ID and also a video selfie.

That’s It!  Your registration will be processed in as fast as 24 hours and you’ll receive an SMS notification about the status of your application.


CONTACTLESS TRANSACTIONS AND MORE!
Why the PayMaya Negosyo App?  PayMaya Negosyo App is a safe, secure, and contactless payment channel you could offer to your customers.  The registration is fast and easy.  As a business owner, tracking your transactions (payments/purchases) is important, PayMaya Negosyo lets you do that!

You could accept payments from PayMaya users via PayMaya QR which can be shared in your social media business pages and chat apps!  What’s great about this is customers can receive 1%, 10%, or even 100% cashback when they use this payment method. The cashback, of course, is shouldered by PayMaya. This is a great promo merchants can offer to their customers!

You can also receive payments from upgraded PayMaya users through the Send Money function of the app. And lastly, you can accept payments from bank and e-wallet accounts via Instapay.
You don’t need to pay any monthly fees, just a 1.5% fee to be deducted on every transaction made via PayMaya QR.  You can receive up to Php 250,000 monthly and even transfer these funds from PayMaya Negosyo to a bank account for free!

Ang galing diba?  If you’re a business owner (product or service) like me, register an account with the PayMaya Negosyo App to help boost your negosyo especially as our customers shift to online payments due to the pandemic.

To start easily accepting online payments today, simply download the PayMaya Negosyo app (http://pymy.co/PayMayaNegosyo) from the Google Play store today! To know more about PayMaya Negosyo, visit https://www.paymaya.com/negosyo-merchant.

In my last blog post on things we do these days to ensure our family is kept safe and healthy these days, I invited you to tune in to PLDT Home's #StayHomeSeries Stay Healthy Program over at Mommy Mundo's Facebook Page.  The live talks they produced were relevant and timely because moms these days could get anxious about their children's health.

As a mom, have you asked these questions?

• Is it safe to bring my child out for a check up?

• My child has a slight fever and is coughing, should I bring him to ER?

• Is it safe to self-medicate my sick child?

• How do I know if my child is getting the right nutrients, vitamins and minerals he needs for his age?

It's normal for us moms to worry about our children's health especially this time of pandemic.  That's why I didn't miss the chance to watch the two LIVE talks on Mommy Mundo's Page about this popular topic.


Here were my key takeaways that will surely help many moms too:

• A child's FIRST 1000 DAYS nutrition is most crucial.  This starts from conception until the child reaches two yeas of age.  This is critical because nutritional damage that occurs during this time is irreversible.  So make sure that you eat well so your child will eat well too.
• Immunity is the capability of the body to resist harmful microorganisms from entering it.
• There are two types of NUTRIENTS:
• Essential are nutrients required that can't by synthesized by the body and must be obtained from a dietary source.
• Non-essential are nutrients synthesized by the human body so they need not be obtained directly from food.
• 5210 Every Day! - You heard this right!  This means 5 or more fruits and vegetables; 2 hous or less recreational screen time; 1 hour or more of physical activity; and 0 sugary drinks - moe of water and low fat milk.  Some more inputs, canned and frozen fruits/veggies are just as nutritious as fresh.  As parents we should walk the talk.
• Increase Immunity in 2 ways
• Natural - by eating and drinking healthy, sleeping smart, exercising, and laughing a lot.
• Supplements - by getting it from "food supplements" or what moms usually call multivitamins and minerals.  Important vitamins/minerals: Zink, DHA/AHA during first 1000 days, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Vitamin D3, Vitamin C, and Probiotics.
• Bacterial and Viral Infections are totally different
• Viruses are smaller than bacteria (smaller than our red blood cells)
• Bacteria has a cell wall Viruses has no cell wall  - both have genetic material
• Bacteria can reproduce itself (moisture and heat).  Viruses need a living organism o host cell.
• Antibiotics are made for bacterial infections.  This just simply means one cannot take just any antibiotics without checking if the illness is caused by bacteria or virus.
• Never self-medicate - there's a correct prescription of the medicines to take depending on the progression of the disease.  
• Strictly practice the following: 
• Proper hand washing - at all times.  This is the most effective way of sanitizing vs applying alcohol or alcogel
• Food safety - wash food for cooking, separate raw from cooked food, etc.
• Avoid close contact when you have cough
• Avoid spitting in public
• Seek medical attention immediately when symptoms show.
• Good nutrition, exercise and breastfeeding - all help in staying fit and healthy.
• Vaccination is the most important and effective weapon against bacterial and viral diseases
• Viral:
• Polio
• Measles
• Rotavirus
• Japanese encephalitis
• Mumps 
• Rubella
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis A
• Bacterial
• Pneumococcal
• Diphtheria
• Pertussis
• Tetanus
• Typhoid

Laundry.  These days I have to do it more often now as before.  I’m sure most of you could relate to this.  Why?  Because I believe all moms are seguristas.  We don’t want newly laundered clothes smelling as if they have been used already.  Kaya minsan inuulit ko.  Hassle diba?  I discovered that bad smelling clothes or amoy kulob is not because of sweat.  Ang bad odor ng clothes are caused by GERMS!  Yes!  That’s true.  Kaya naman my laundry partners play an important role in making sure that my family’s clothes are germ protected.  For this I use Downy Antibac with the power of Safeguard.

As a busy work at home mom of three boys, sa totoo lang, my greatest challenge when it comes to laundry is when they really smell.  Hindi ko ma-take!  I used to repeat washing the clothes that still smell even if I’ve already washed and dried them.  Such a waste of water, time, energy, and resources.  Not practical at all.  Nakaka-disappoint.  When I heard about Downy Antibac, I gave it a try instantly and the results were impressive.

Fresh-smelling clothes.
When clothes smell good, it says a lot about a person’s hygiene right?  That’s what I teach my kids.  This is one area where Downy Antibac helps me.  It makes sure that my family’s clothes smell fresh with every cycle!  Not only that!  Even if it stays long in the closet, the fresh scent lasts for weeks!  Hindi amoy aparador!


More Hugs.
Because clothes not only smell fresh but are soft to touch, my kids always say ang sarap naman i-hug ni Mommy!  Hindi nila alam mas masarap silang i-hug at masarap sa pakiramdam nating mga mommy ang nahu-hug!  Thanks to Downy’s effective fabric softener technology.  I get lots of tight hugs!

More Time.
Because I work at home, time management is really important for me.  It’s really a waste whenever I repeat a chore like laundry just because it wasn’t done well the first time.  Dito ako hindi binigo ni Downy.  With just one cycle, clothes smell really fresh.  The odor caused by germs – gone!  Hindi ko na kailangang umulit ng paglalaba.  This means, more time for other important things such as play time, teaching time, and time for doing online work.


Germ-Protektado.
These days, moms worry a lot about their family’s health and welfare.  We prioritize cleanliness, hygiene, and thus having the power of Safeguard in a fabric conditioner gives me peace of mind.  Knowing that our clothes will get the maximum protection it needs in every wash, ang lakas makapanatag ng loob ko.  When I learned that it kills 99.9% of germs that causes malodor in clothes, I didn’t think twice.  Sabi ko ito na talaga ang choice of fabric conditioner ko for my family.

I want to share with you the product test I did using Downy Antibac with the Power of Safeguard.  Watch til the end to see my usual laundry challenges, how Downy helped me with these, and if it really is effective.
So mga busy and mindful mommies, if you want fresh-smelling clothes, more hugs, more time, and germ-protected clothes for your family, try Downy Antibac with the power of Safeguard.  It’s a practical and highly effective laundry partner that will give you the peace of mind you deserve knowing that it kills 99.9% germs causing malodor in clothes.

Downy Antibac with the power of Safeguard is available online via Lazada, Shopee, also in leading supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide.  For more information, follow @DownyPhilippines onFacebook and Instagram.

It's been more than two months since we've been on quarantine and gladly forced to stay home because of the pandemic.  It's normal for many moms to prepare and get worried for the future, the safety and health of her loved ones, and how to keep everyone busy and adapt to the situation.

Since then I noticed that all of us have heavily relied on online learning, online gaming, online entertainment, online teaching, and even I upgrade my skills and do meetings online.  I guess this is the new normal for many - to do a lot of things virtually.  And not to my surprise, it's doable!  But we've got to have a faster and reliable internet connection right mommies?

There are two things that's on top of my worry list: my kids' health (vaccines, what if they get sick or had an accident, etc) and education.  Since we now get many information. entertainment, and inspiration from resources online, I get some peace of mind  knowing there are doctors doing online consultations whether on social media and even through Viber.

For my personal welfare, I do self-caring and I always encourage other moms to do so.  I wrote 100 Things To Do At Home on my blog for moms who get anxious thinking "oh my, what am I going to do next?" I personally also refer to that list, it's like a personal list which I made into a blog post.  I'm also happy I'm part of Mommy Mundo's community that helps me keep my sanity with their weekly themed mindfulness activities and live talks.  They also invite experts to talk about what moms like me worry mostly about, kids and health.  They are coming up with another one which will be helpful in answering most of medical related questions from worried moms.

Mommy Mundo will have an e-health consultation series powered by PLDT Home.  Join the #StayHealthy Moms! Facebook Live on their Facebook Page www.facebook.com/mommymundo.  Here's the schedule:

May 26, Tuesday (11 am - 12nn)
Natural Nutrition vs. Supplements in Boosting a Child's Immune System
Dr. Gellina Maala with Mikaela Lagdameo 

May 28, Thursday (11am - 12nn)
Decoding the Germ Code: Understanding the Difference between viral and bacterial diseases.
Dr. Andrea Carag with Riki Flo

I'm thankful that a lot of organizations, brands, and communities such as Mommy Mundo are offering free webinars, consultations, and talks that make mom lives a little bit easier.  Thanks also to PLDT Home's #StayHomeSeries for understanding us moms and answering to the call for trusted resources that we could all listen to and believe.  Spread the word momma! :)

The coronavirus pandemic is constantly reshaping the world as we know it. Many of us at home are practicing self-isolation and social distancing to flatten the curve; but we’re also looking for other ways to help out frontliners and those affected by the crisis.

With limitations brought about by the enhanced community quarantine, people have turned to social media to proactively look for organizations and support their causes. A group of volunteers saw the need to house all the information in one place and in response, created a microsite to readily connect people at home with those who are on the frontline.


Volunteers behind HFH have expertise in community organizing, operations, government relations, and communications, making the platform a reliable source of information to help mobilize resources in support of COVID19-related projects. To date, HFH has verified more than 100 initiatives since their launch last March 25, 2020. These organizations aim to provide frontliners and families at risk with all forms of support — protective gear, food, transportation, financial aid, and more.
More than just consolidating the efforts of various organizations, the HFH volunteers also employ an extensive verification process to validate and ensure that each organization is legitimate. Part of the requirements which they review include the institution's background, digital assets, fundraising history, and proof of delivery. These details are critical to help website visitors make informed and data-driven decisions about how and where to make donations.

But aside from presenting the supply side, the HFH website also features a real-time and needs-based list and map to showcase the demands needed nationwide.In collaboration with By Implication, Switchboard PH, and Vector, HFH developed a tool that presents hospital needs and how much of these needs have been fulfilled. The list uses color and progress bars, while the map uses both color and the size of the circle to denote quantity needed. This tool can be used by individuals and organizations alike to more strategically provide and distribute supplies. HFH is also currently working on featuring demands from vulnerable sectors, and identifying them by municipality and by barangay.
HFH continues to update its database and system to accommodate a growing list of partner organizations and monitor the status of donation drives as well. The group plans to reach out to more initiatives, communicate efforts being done in far-flung communities, and collaborate with like-minded brands and institutions with shared goals.

The call to help from home continues to inspire action. For more information on supporting frontliners and communities at risk, visit their website https://helpfromhome.ph/