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Showing posts from 2014

“A Story of Christmas”

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Dr. Amparito Llamas-Lhuillier reads “A Story of Christmas” to the children. (Photos by Richard Ramos) As a mother of two growing boys, I am extremely particular on the adage that reading is a must for self-development.  So despite going home from a busy day at work tired and wanting sleep, I try my best to have the will and want to read a book at bedtime. My boys look forward to it.  Not only do they learn things they also know their Mom, or Dad, loves them so much and wants to spend time with them reading. Not all kids are as fortunate.  Thus I felt great motherly warmth for Cebu City Marriott Hotel for creating a heart-tugging event dubbed “A Story of Christmas.” One fateful afternoon at the posh business hotel, several kids from the Children’s Center of Cebu gathered at the Sampaguita Hall for a story-telling session.  I believe the kids had no idea who their grand story-teller was – none other than a renowned Cebu patroness and businesswoman Dr. Amparito

Nancy Cudis talks about Her mother's unusual breakfast time tales

I believe there is no greater compliment than a child writing praises to a parent, so when I read Nancy Cudis post about her Mom, I felt her Mom is the most lucky Mom in the world.   My mother and her unusual breakfast time tales By Nancy Cudis My mother is a born storyteller, very verbose and quite animated. Just like her own mother, she remembers many stories from long ago, even from the time when she started first grade. Mind you, not all of these are happy bedtime stories that make you smile before you sleep. These are tragic tales of the Japanese occupation, of unrequited love, of regrets, and of what-could-have-beens and what-ifs, pretty much balanced off with stories of climbing the neighbor’s mango tree (and harvesting some fruits without permission), of harvesting cacao at her family’s own backyard, and of endless talking over laundry by the riverside. Unsurprisingly, my mother being my mother—a maddening petite package of bluntness and gentleness, of fr

Outta' Town Nature Trippin' with Kids

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That's Ryan wearin' yellow and Raffy wearin' red - soooo serious with fishin'..  where did all the fishies go?      When the family decided to visit relatives for our next out-of-town trip, Davao was the first option.  My sister and her family lived there for more than ten years.  Fate had it, her family was due to move back to Cebu and that month was the last she and her family will remain there.    Of course, when one visits Davao, it has to be a visit with nature.  Davao City is in the Mindanao Region of the Philippines and home of the Philippine eagle - an endangered species.  Eden Nature Park is one famed destination there and I wanted the kids to experience that too.    Little did I know that more shopping malls were up and running in the heart of the city, specifically along the main artery J.P. Laurel Avenue.  Just cruise along that road and you will see the new SM Lanang, Abreeza Ayala and the old Poblacion with Gaisano Mall. All photos

Mommy tips on local newspaper Cebu Daily News

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I am sharing with you a page that came out last July 10, 2014 in a local newspaper Cebu Daily News in Cebu City, Philippines.  It was my first after a long, long time.  I used to maintain a column and contribute in other local papers here in the Philippines - but for totally different topics.  I'd say it feels great to be back!  

The "Mommy Book": Career Mommy

The "Mommy Book": Career Mommy : The PR Support The University of Cebu is a client that knows the power of publicity.  It places large amounts of ads and spr...

The "Mommy Book": Career Mommy

The "Mommy Book": Career Mommy : Four PR Myths any PR can do without   “I’m a publicist.”   “What’s that?”   “PR.”   “Oh! Okay… so what do you do exactly?” ...

Kids Write Funny! Enjoy reading!

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Kids can be hilarious sometimes, especially when they write!  So I've saved a few notes my boys have written through the years.  Who knows, they might have a few laughs reading them when they get older.

The "Mommy Book": Mommy Travels

The "Mommy Book": Mommy Travels : Medellin on Mother’s Day was Ryan’s B-Day Gibitngil Island in Kawit, Medellin, Cebu looks serene just before twilight; this boat fer...

The "Mommy Book": Mommy Travels

The "Mommy Book": Mommy Travels : Medellin on Mother’s Day was Ryan’s B-Day Gibitngil Island in Kawit, Medellin, Cebu looks serene just before twilight; this boat fer...

The "Mommy Book": Mommy Travels

The "Mommy Book": Mommy Travels : Kota Kinabalu for non-climbers Part Four: Getting Spoiled at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Shangri-La Tanjung Aru at Kota Kinabalu is al...

The "Mommy Book": Mommy Travels

The "Mommy Book": Mommy Travels : Kota Kinabalu for non-climbers Part Three: Strolling around Suria Sabah      When my husband got free tickets from Ai...

The "Mommy Book": Mommy Travels

The "Mommy Book": Mommy Travels : Kota Kinabalu for non-climbers Part Two: Dining at the KK Waterfront      When my husband got free tickets from Air As...

Do Everything on Your To-Do List AND Save the World Too?!

Do Everything on Your To-Do List AND Save the World Too?!

Kota Kinabalu for non-climbers

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The Sunday market at Gaya Street is a must-visit in Kota Kinabalu.  Haggling is a must too! (Photo by Richard Ramos) When my husband got free tickets from Air Asia to Kota Kinabalu, I didn’t hit the roof with excitement.   But it is an amazing treat!   So I figured there must be other attractions in this Malaysian city for non-climbers like me. True enough there were other adventures (albeit tamer) that we found to make our four-day stay truly awesome. Part One:   Shopping at Gaya Street Our first adventure was the Gaya Sunday Street Market.   All kinds of wares were for sale from the classic Muslim shawl to Sabah coffee and chocolates, to plants and animals including a dehydrated Persian cat.    The street hawkers displayed their goods on tables under tents all lined up and down the street on a weekly market that is open from six in the morning till one o’clock in the afternoon. So I asked one seller, “Why do you close at 1 o’clock?”   “Because it’s v