Charlotte Mason PH Homeschoolers' Year-End Picnic

To cap off our homeschooling term, we joined the Charlotte Mason PH Homeschoolers' Year-End Picnic organized by no other than, Gina of Our Living Learning Community.

Photo credits to Vim Pangantihon

This free event was participated by Charlotte Mason Homeschoolers and also those interested to the said method. I saw new and old faces and met new like-minded Mommas during this quick outdoor event. It was held at the UP Sunken Garden.

Praise Dance Concert 2018

Whatever day, whatever circumstance, there will always be a reason to Praise!

Saints Dance Ministry in partnership with Elevate presents:

PRAISE DANCE CONCERT 2018

Dec 8, 3PM

Main Hall, CCF Center

Ortigas East, Pasig City

Ticket price: PHP 100

Special Job, Opportunities Fair Set for PWDs

A special job fair has been slated exclusively for persons with disability, promising disadvantaged members of the community in Metro Manila with employment, livelihood and training opportunities, the Department of Labor and Employment announced yesterday.

The event is a joint undertaking with the Rotary Clubs of District 3830 in observance of the International Day for persons with disabilities. The exclusive offering is also part of the anniversary celebration of the labor department which turns 85 this year.

Baler Adventure 2018

Last November 02 and 03, we went to Baler, Aurora. Although we went there for a different purpose, we took the opportunity to do some side trip and visited fascinating tourist spots the city boast of.

#LittleManGael Talks Version 3

I'm back with my second son's compilation of his witty talks! Reading these brings delight to me. 

I hope you enjoy!

On Fire! Philippine Homeschool Convention 2018

Last September 22, I attended ON FIRE! Philippine Homeschool Convention 2018 at SMX Convention Center, SM Aura, Taguig City. It was my first time to attend in my five years of homeschooling! I've been wanting to attend this conference and fortunately, it was made possible after I won a FREE ticket from Our living Learning. Thanks, Gina!

Top 5 Visually Stunning Movies to Enjoy on Your Mobile Phone

Our way of viewing films has changed ever since smartphones emerged. We are no longer limited to watching through television, theater, and other large media devices. Smartphone technology has revolutionized media accessibility as it gives us the freedom and mobility to consume media on a whim. For instance, we can simply watch our favorite film while commuting to work, traveling around the country, or during lunch breaks.  This is certainly one way to momentarily escape from the boredom and drudgery of the daily grind. To further feed our artistic cravings and urge to get away from the mundane, here is a list of visually stunning movies to enjoy on your mobile phone:

Animation with Blender

Last week, we started another Homeschool Year, Gabi's vacation is over. But you might be wondering what he is up to during his last vacation.

Well, aside from devouring books, playing piano and drawing, he is also into animation.

5 Years of Homeschooling

We had our first day of homeschooling yesterday. We are still using the AmblesideOnline Curriculum following the Year 4 Weekly Schedule for my now 6th Grader. As for my toddler, I don't have a fixed schedule yet. He is still 4 yo and we still have 2 more years to make things “formal” for him. For now, we will continue with what we usually do, which I previously shared here.

#LittleManGael's Journey to a Better Vision - Part 4: The Big Day!

Dear Gael,

Remember this day, September 17, 2018.

This day was your big day, your IOL implantation, the start of your new and better vision since you were born.

The last week of waiting for this glorious day was like the longest week for me. I was so paranoid because we need to make sure that you will not catch a cough, colds or any kind of sickness lest the operation will not push through. But I'm always reminded that if this is God's will, nothing can hinder it. Many are also praying and encouraging us to rest in God's sovereignty.

#LittleManGael's Journey to a Better Vision - Part 3

The night before we went back to the hospital, I prayed for a good weather. However, in the morning it was raining. Despite the weather, I left home with two boys in tow.

It was hard and I kept complaining in my mind. But I praise God because when we reached Estrella, it wasn't raining anymore. We arrived a few minutes before 9:00 AM in the hospital. I claimed the laboratory and X-ray results and praise God, I don't see anything alarming. 

#LittleManGael's Journey to a Better Vision - Part 2

 

Last Wednesday, we went to the hospital where Gael will have his IOL Implant. I didn't wait for hubby to accompany us because he'll need at least two weeks before he can file for a vacation leave.

We met our Optha and she checked both my boys' eyes for free, yes for FREE! Praise God for generous doctors who are using their expertise in serving God! Both my kids had an eye test with their glasses on. She gave instructions and several requirements in preparation for the operation. On the other hand, she said Gabi is not color blind and his eyeglasses are still good.

#LittleManGael's Journey to a Better Vision - Part 1

I first mentioned my second born's eye condition on this post. I am so grateful to all the people who have helped us during his Cataract Surgery. My half-brother Doctor helped us to connect with other doctors in PGH and by God's grace, the operation went well. So Gael has been Aphakia (absence of the lens of the eye) since then and his glasses helped him a lot with his vision.

Pasig River Master Plan Completed!

The PRRC, in collaboration with UP PLANADES, designed the Pasig River Integrated and Strategic Master Plan (PRISM) with a vision that by 2032, the Pasig River and its surrounding basins are resilient life-sustaining ecosystems that are able to support diverse human needs and biodiversity towards inclusive, harmonized, and balanced development co-managed by competent and adaptive institutions with responsible and empowered communities.

Philippines' Pasig River contends with China's Yangtze River for Asia River Prize Award

The Philippines' Pasig River, the cradle of early Manila civilization, has been selected as a finalist in the first-ever Asia Riverprize by the prestigious International RiverFoundation (IRF) which recognizes and rewards organizations who are making a difference through effective river basin restoration and management programs. 

Vivo Endorsers are Dropping Hints on Next Flagship

Daniel Padilla on Twitter teased fans with a new visual. 

Vivo’s Filipino endorsers have been throwing hints on their social media accounts that something new is coming soon.

Teen King Daniel Padilla posted a photo of himself with a gradient pink and blue background and the words “Go Beyond,” tagging Vivo Philippines' account.

Other Vivo endorsers Darren Espanto, Julie Anne San Jose, Maymay Entrata, Maris Racal, and Paul Salas also posted the similar photos on their Instagram pages.

Reflections from Used Books

Who doesn't like half-priced and affordable books?

If I have all the money, I would want to buy new books but if you're on a financial struggle, used books are there to save you! I'm kind of obsessed right now in finding old living books at a used bookstore. It’s always like finding a treasure! I believe our financial crisis should never deter us from reading, there's always a way.

AmblesideOnline Year 3

Gabi with his favorite AO Year 3 Books:
Pagoo, The Children of the New Forest, and The Princess and the Goblin

This week marked the end of another year of our homeschooling; our 4th year of homeschooling, 2nd year using Charlotte Mason and AmblesideOnline Curriculum and 1st year as Independent Homeschool. 

We were able to do four school days only for this school year. We set aside a day for rest from school work and it has been propitious for us. We had it first on Fridays but eventually chose Monday since we always have busy weekends due to different ministries we are involved in.

AO Chronicles Part 2

 

As we wrap up our last Term for Year 3, allow me to share you some tittle-tattle of my kiddos that I've collected. Of course, only AO Mommas can relate to this.

When Parenting Becomes Tough

There was one night when our eldest Gabi was not feeling well. He doesn't have a fever, so it's more like a headache. He refused to do chores because he requested to be on a rest. So we didn't give him any chore for the day but instead instructed him to rest and go to bed early. 

When we were sending him upstairs to sleep early, he did not obey. Instead, we saw him reading. So hubby gave him a consequence for disobedience. He has to wash the dishes (sometimes we use chores as consequence) and he cried hard because he said he is not feeling well. We explained to him that we understand that and that's why we want him to rest. But he did not take heed of it. While crying he said we want him to be sicker because we are giving him a chore. But he has no choice because the consequence has been given already. I know it may sound cruel but my husband said he needs to learn the consequences of his actions. 

Sibling Love

My boys are sometimes like a cat and a dog. They argue, they shout at each other and they fight (thank God not physically) just like siblings would usually do. But they like to be with each other and they love one another.

We have three rules at home: obey, respect, and always tell the truth. We got that from our Pastors in CCF and we decided to embrace the same rules, years back. If they break any of these, there will be a consequence. We do spanking and sometimes natural logical consequence especially for the eldest. We are using a butt-friendly spanking rod for our tot which was sold at our Church.

Favorite Quotes: The Princess and The Goblin

We finished the book The Princess and the Goblin by George Macdonald, and it is one of Gabi's favorite book for Year 3. Here is the synopsis of the story:

Princess Irene's discovery of a secret stair leads to a wonderful revelation. At the same time, Curdie overhears a fiendish plot by the goblins. Princess Irene & Curdie must make sense of their separate knowledge & foil the goblins' schemes. ~ Goodreads.com

Homeschooling the Early Years - AO Year 0

“In this time of extraordinary pressure, educational and social, perhaps a mother’s first duty to her children is to secure for them a quiet growing time, a full six years of passive receptive life, the waking part of it for the most part out in the fresh air.” (Vol. 1, p. 43)

My toddler Gael, who is now 4 is not yet formally homeschooling. We decided to delay him unlike the eldest who started at a very young age. His Kuya Gabi started reading at the age of 5 and was accelerated to Grade 1. This was back in the days when he was still in the conventional school. There are pros and cons to that and when we started homeschooling, we want to do things differently.

Handicraft # 4: Basic Stitches

We just wrapped up our Term 2 and we were able to make another handicraft for this term. We worked on 10 Basic Stitches per son's request.

Filipino Biography: Emilio Aguinaldo

Emilio Aguinaldo was our next in our Filipino Biography. We were discussing whether he is indeed a hero or not because he ordered the execution of Andres Bonifacio, the Katipunan's Supremo.

Here, I am summarizing his contributions to our country and we will leave the question to you, whether he is indeed a hero or not.

REVIEW: KB Alpha Arbutin Silver Soap

When I reached the age 30s, make-up is no longer my priority. I want less make-up nowadays but more to skin care. I guess it's the perfect time to take skin care seriously because I am not getting any younger. Although aging is inevitable, taking care of the skin is still a must. Thus, this explains why I am always on a quest to search the best products for me and of course my pocket.

I am blessed to receive this KB Alpha Arbutin SIlver Soap from Yumei Mi-se to try out.

Ready To Homeschool – A Primer on Homeschooling

There is no better way to educate a child other than homeschooling. I've witnessed so many positive impacts this brought on my children. Not just academically, but more so, in their character and values.

I have been blessed to know first hand what are my children's struggles, fears, and even worries. It is a privilege to be able to assist them in trying times. We share so many struggles and victories on this journey and I know there will be more to come. Thanks be to God for His grace bestowed upon every homeschooling families. It may be stressful at times but it's also rewarding.

These and many others will not be possible had we not made this very important decision. So, if you are considering homeschooling or you want to know more about it, this is your chance!

Handicraft # 3: Loom Bands

This is a quick and easy handicraft to do. From small rubber bands, you can make just anything out of it: bracelet, ring and any kind of accessories. Gabi learned doing this back in the days when he was still going to conventional school (before we decided to homeschool).

The Importance of a Well-crafted and Professionally Written Resume

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are mine.

Graduation is fast approaching. After College, what's next? Whether you plan on taking a break or immediately hunt for a job, a resume is something you need handy.

A resume is a means of presenting yourself to your prospective employer. A well-crafted and professionally written resume will help you in your job search journey. Thus, you should give the content and presentation a due thought. It is said that it takes only 15-30 seconds for an employer to look at a resume before making the initial decision on candidates. So, you need to make sure that you will not lose that opportunity.

Filipino Biography: Andres Bonifacio

We finished reading the life of Andres Bonifacio from the Great Lives Series of Tahanan Books. We sketched his picture to conclude our studies on his life

"We learn history because those people in the history books were real people with their own battles to face in life, and we can not only get to know those people, but we can look at how they dealt with the issues they faced in their own day, and perhaps take courage from their example to face our own battles. ~ AOPatioChats"

A Drop of Water: Experiments

We finished the book, A Drop of Water by Walter Wick as our Science for AO Year 3, Terms 1 and 2. Each topic in this book consists of short lessons (no information overload) which aren't difficult to grasp. There's a corresponding experiment for you to be able to see and experience it for yourself. So, I'm sharing here the collection of the experiments we did.

Unconditional Couples Retreat 2018

Your marriage is an opportunity to showcase God's unconditional love to your spouse. Every day, you live in dependence on God's grace, mercy, and forgiveness and you bend it out toward your spouse as an extension of God's grace, mercy, and forgiveness. We have an amazing privilege of presenting a picture of what God's love is like, not just to our spouse but also to those around us. 

REVIEW: Mejie Slimming Coffee Plus Collagen

I'm a confessed coffee drinker, it is my most consumed drinks which started when I worked on a graveyard shift. Now that I'm a fulltime Mom, I just can't get it out of my diet since it keeps me awake. Hehe. I usually consume 2-3 glasses of it a day.

I recently shared in my IG account a slimming coffee which I received from Yumei Mise along with other skin care products. 

Php 250.00 per box of 12

I Am Married to a Carpenter

My husband Romel loves woodworking a lot! Every time he has spare time after work or on weekends, he prefers doing items from wood. Even when he is sick, he is always itching to have his hands work on woods. He is not just our Tsep Dad, but our house carpenter too.

Super Blue Blood Moon 2018

We didn't miss the opportunity to witness another spectacular phenomenon, the Super Blue Blood Moon last January 31, 2018.

Life with Glasses

Our eldest son got his pair of glasses last January 28, thus the start of his life with glasses.

Who would have thought that our kids, Gabi and Gael will be both wearing glasses while me and my hubby both have good eye vision (20/20)?

Learn Why International Travel Insurance is Necessary

Travelling is in everyone's blood. Most of us are already filling up planners with go-to places. We love to travel every now and then. It is the most rewarding thing we can think of after an exhausting day at work. We travel to discover new places or break from our usual routine of life. It is something that we should be able to do at least once in our lives.

2017 Highlights

Welcome, 2018!

Year after year, the Lord never failed to reveal himself to us in a very special and personal way. He keeps on surprising us every now and then. For this post, I just want to look back on the previous year and how the Lord has been so faithful to our family in causing things to happen for our good.

2018 Reading List

Since it's already new year, I really want to force myself to read more. I have a couple of books I got which I never got the chance to read. This year, I want to really carve out time for my own personal reading (outside of our school books), for my own intellectual growth and joy.

Handicraft # 2: Paper Sloyd - Year One

Handicraft is one of the elements in a Charlotte Mason Education because of its many advantages. One, in particular, is Paper Sloyd. It is also known as a Living Math since it is incorporated in many geometric concepts.