And that was exactly what I got when I, along with other bloggers, was invited to a lunch meeting with the brilliant mind behind the Darwin International School System, Mr. Rolando Dela Cruz.

Being a mother of three school-age kids, I often find reasons to rant about the educational system in this country (NOT necessarily about my kids’ school ha, let that be clear… Although yes, I do rant about that sometimes)… Ok, where were we? As I was saying…

Being a mother of three school-age kids, I often find reasons to rant about the educational system in this country. There is so much lacking. Kids graduate from high school and are still clueless when they get to college. As a result, the first two years of college are dedicated to to a general review of basic subjects.

And now, there’s the proposal to extend basic education from ten years to 12 years! This proposal has a lot of potential impact on Filipino families (especially on the finance side), and it’s something that’s not being taken lightly by most.

I went to the meeting because I wanted to know what this educator had to say about the current state and issues of Philippine education.

A former UP professor, Rolando Dela Cruz’s educational background is impressive, having studied in Japan, the Netherlands and the US. He took post-graduate studies at the Darwin College of the Cambridge University in England. This was the inspiration for the school he founded – the Darwin International School System.

More than being inspired by the name, Rollie was inspired by the University’s rich cultural orientation. Whatever he imbibed during his years in Cambridge, he now shares them at Darwin International School System.

Mommy bloggers Cookie, Cess, imom, and Lynn; Prof. Rolando Dela Cruz; blogging couple Ganns and Cathy Deen; PR practitioner Claire Agbayani and her son. Thanks to Lynn Zamora for this photo.

The lunch meeting turned out to be four hours long! But I am not complaining. In fact, my mommy friends and I were telling each other that this was, so far, the most enriching blogger event we have ever gone to. We went home wiser, with new learnings to apply to parenting our children.

I also realized that one blog entry is not enough to cover all that I gleaned from those four hours. So I am dividing this into a series.

The following points are just some of the important things that I learned from those four hours.

On the real needs of the Philippine educational system: It’s not more classrooms, more budget, or more teachers. Rollie said real educational reform is “changing the mindset of the people towards the role of education.” Educational reform is not about having more budget, more classrooms, and more teachers (although it won’t be bad at all if we had these).

There has to be some deeper reform - a changing of mindsets, according to him. As a parent, I can’t agree more. The change in mindset is three-pronged: the school, the home, and the student.

• Changing the mindset of the school

Times have changed; students have evolved. Technology has made information readily available with just on click. Back in my time, I spent hours poring through books and encyclopedia at the library researching on a homework. Today, my kids just tell me “Ma, can I please borrow your laptop? I need to research for a homework.”

Are our schools riding the same wave? Do they realize that kids today are wired to be techies? Do schools realize that memorizing names, dates, places may have become irrelevant because these information are readily available with just one click? Maybe the old rote way of learning (memorization) does not apply anymore? Just a thought. (Note: These are my thoughts. I’m not quoting Rollie here.)

• In loco parentis

“In place of a parent” - this doctrine is something that some teachers today seem to have forgotten. Teachers are supposed to stand as the students’ second parents, having in mind only what’s best for them.

In  a country where many families have one or both parents working as OFWs, in loco parentis takes on a more special meaning.

Teachers have the power to make a difference in a person’s life. I’ve had a few teachers who dedicated their lives to the teaching profession. And until now, I still feel the ripples from years ago.

One of my best teachers (if not THE best), Mr. Emmett Brown Asuncion, had an impact so deep in my life (and in the lives of so many, for sure) that I will always hold him dear in my heart.

His life and words so inspired me that I find myself teaching my kids today things that he taught me back in high school. Though he no longer lives, Emmett’s legacy lives on, and will probably outlive the life of the school he founded. Emmett exemplified in loco parentis.

The same fire I saw in Emmett, I seem to have caught a glimpse of in Rollie during the meeting. The schools these two brilliant minds put up are different in many ways, but I see similarities. They both wanted to produce students with deeply ingrained values – values such as excellence, nationalism, and appreciation of culture. This was the vision that they had in their minds.

Mindset – it’s where it all begins and changes. If each teacher, each school remembers “in loco parentis” every day, imagine the change that could bring to how they teach, how they look at our children?

Coming in Part 2: Changing the mindset of the home and the student

~~~

Mr. Rolando Dela Cruz is the President of the Darwin International School System, a Bulacan-based school that has been making waves in the education industry.

Darwin is the only school in Region III that offers a full-fledged Cambridge-based Honours Program wherein all enrollees need to maintain a very high annual average from nursery to high school. As a result, 93% of all Darwin graduates pass the entrance exams to all the top Philippine schools (UP, ADMU, UST, DLSU, Mapua, San Beda).

For the past 2 consecutive years, Darwin has been the number one school in Bulacan, based on NCAE results.

Darwin offers pre-school, elementary and high school education. It has campuses all over Bulacan – in Sta. Maria, in Malolos City, and in San Jose Del Monte.

My kids won a ticket to the OREO Get Dunked event that’s happening in several malls soon. We won the ticket by completing the Twist, Lick, Dunk game at ShareOreo.com. All by my pathetic gaming-challenged self, I would never have finished the game. But my kids, wired for gaming as they are, easily figured the game out. And so they also easily completed all the levels!

So what’s gonna happen at the OREO Get Dunked event? Parent-and-kid tandems (Yikes, kasali ako????) will have the chance to bond by diving/jumping/leaping together on to a velcro wall!  Now, that’s bonding in the truest sense, haha!

There will also be other activities, such as face painting, Find the Word Game Booth, and the Sticky Dart Booth. It’s going to be a fun day of bonding between parents and kids,  for sure!

If you would like to be part of OREO Get Dunked, head on to the following malls on these dates:

SM Megamall (August 29)

Trinoma (September 12)

Market! Market! (September 26)

Festival Mall (October 3)

For more information, and if you want to get a free ticket to the Get Dunked wall, head on to ShareOreo.com. Nao na!

Our destination was the Amherst Laboratories of Unilab in Mamplasan, Binan. Six or seven years ago, I worked there for 10 months as a product manager. I still cannot imagine that I endured hours of horrendous traffic driving to Mamplasan from Quezon City and back…  But I did. Maybe I did love my job.

Anyway, it wasn’t yet called Amherst then. But I remember the Amherst plant was in its early stage of construction around the time I left the company (not Unilab, by the way).

Much have changed since I was last there. I recognize the place because of the common theme in architecture among all the buildings in the Unilab Pharma Campus. Other than that, I’d get lost.

What was I doing back in Mamplasan? Unilab invited several mommy bloggers to visit Amherst, a world-class pharmaceutical manufacturing plant. The purpose of the plant tour was to show the innovation and quality that Unilab puts into making their meds.

The plant tour was hosted by Ms. Patricia Hizon, sportswriter/caster, blogger and a mom herself. The group of mommy bloggers was welcomed with a hearty breakfast by Mr. Jack Orendain from Unilab’s Corporate Affairs. There were presentations from Dr. Lourdes Genuino of the Medical Department on choices for a healthier family, and Ms. Adi de Leon, the plant manager, on the different processes and features of the plant.

Then came the exciting part: the tour! We were required to wear scrubs (which were personalized with our nicknames, by the way ), hair caps, and shoe covers, and had to wash our hands before entering the manufacturing areas.

Some new stuff I learned from this trip:

• The Amherst Laboratories is the only EU Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)-certified pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in the Philippines.
• Amherst was named after a place in the US which is very close to the owners’ hearts.
• The plant projects to produce 1 billion tablets this year!
• There are about 160+ regular employees, and about the same number of contractual employees at the Plant. Most of them live around the area. Unilab is for providing jobs for the locals. Despite proposals to make some processes mechanized or computerized (more economical in the long run), Unilab chooses to keep the people instead.
• Unilab spends millions every month for proper waste disposal and water treatment.
• Canteen food is now a lot, lot, loooot better now than back in my time! (Of course, it was a different company then so… )

After the exhaustive/exhausting plant tour (it’s  a huuuuge plant), the mommies were treated to an afternoon spa delight in Nuvali. It was a full day of learning new things and enjoying each other’s company, even if it was my first time to meet most of the mommy bloggers.

The Amherst plant tour was part of Unilab’s Discerning Mommy campaign. It aimed to show us how committed the company is in providing high-quality products for its consumers. My kids’ daily vitamin supplements are Unilab products; we’ve been using them for several years already. Seeing the technology that goes into making the medicines makes me feel more confident and assured that I am choosing well for my family.

Photos without watermark are from Unilab.

The most practical learning was how to back-up my blog files using the correct plug-ins. Thanks to Lyle Santos, one of the pioneer organizers of Philippine WordCamps, who patiently walked me through the stages. I realized it wasn’t all that hard.

This year, I go again as a camper somewhere in between basic and intermediate. Admittedly, I have a lot of things to learn. As a blogger and web content provider, opportunities to expand and update my knowledge are always welcome.

And the lineup of breakaway talks excites me! (Break-away talks are a good idea because last year, some of the sessions I had to sit through were too techie I almost (nose)bled to death. hehe).

But the learning is just one part. This year, Mr. WordPress himself – Matt Mullenweg – is coming. And I’d love to see him, hear him talk in the flesh!

WordCamp Philippines 2010 happens on October 2, 2010 at La Salle CSB, Taft, Manila. For more information on registration and other details, visit WordCamp Philippines.

SHOES! Well, I have a few — very few– friends who can live with just one or two staple pairs. But most of my girl friends go gaga and each probably has an entire shoe cabinet all to herself.

I’m the flip-flop kind of girl, since I really do not have to dress up everyday (because I work from any virtual office). I love the freedom and the get-up-and-go-ness of slipping into flip-flops and sandals.

Anyway, a few weeks ago I got sick and confined to the home. So what does a sick girl do when there’s just the bed and the net? Online retail therapy, of course! During that one week of solitary confinement, I managed to buy a few pieces of clothes from the Facebook online store of a former school mate.

And I also found POSH. (Oh, I also managed to resurrect my Le Zerk Restaurant on Cafe World, haha!) The many evils of Facebook!

POSH pocket shoes were made for women who work and walk around in their heels all day. It’s a feet savior – when your feet are aching and blistering all over, just bring out the Poshies (which come with their own tiny pouch that converts to a bag for teh killer heels) for instant relief. POSH is also for women like me, who just like to be comfortable yet chic.

Anyhoo… The Poshies arrived yesterday. And oh, how the girls went crazy over at my FB wall! hahaha.

I love my Poshies – so comfy I think I will wear them everyday. Incidentally, I went to an event yesterday that required only closed shoes to be able to enter the facility. I realized then that I did not have a single pair of comfy non-open toe shoes! My Poshies arrived a few hours too late. Sayang, I would have broken them in.

But yes, today, I’m breaking one pair in. Teehee.

For more designs and to order, go to the website: http://www.wix.com/poshpocketshoes/home

Disclaimer/Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post, everyone. It’s a love post. It’s what I do for brands and stuff I love – share them to everyone!

But it’s also no joke when at least one of them gets sick. Because we share a family bed (yes, we all sleep together in one room… yes, teenager included ), when one gets sick, the others are in danger of catching the bug too.

Of course, there’s Nate to consider, since he is an atopic child with a lot of food and environmental restrictions.

Because I want my kids to be healthy (and because, admittedly, it’s such a hassle when one of them is sick!), I put a premium on my family’s health. As a mom, choosing to be healthy is a decision that is often solely mine to make (because husband is busy making money, haha!).

Seriously, in most Filipino households, I think mothers hold the key to this decision. We are the ones who buy the groceries, and bring the kids to the doctor for check-up. We cook the family’s food (or at least plan the menu), and prepare the kids’ school lunch. We make sure the house is clean (or train our ates to do so, hehe). Much of our family’s health is really up to us mommies.

I shared some tips here on how I keep my kids healthy.

Healthy eating is a priority (though Friday nights are often chips night – treat for the kids’ hard work week you know). For over a year now, the family has been on brown rice. Though it’s a bit more expensive than white rice, I value the benefits of brown rice. I look at it as an investment (in health) rather than an expense. The kids like eating brown rice now, although there was some resistance at first.

Our shift to brown rice was, of course, influenced by the key decision-maker - moi! Haha!

When it comes to supplements, I make sure the kids take Vitamin C regularly. My son, on top of his multivitamins, gets a Vitamin C with Zinc supplement because he contracted amoebiasis three years ago. Zinc is said to strengthen the immune system. Based on experience (his amoebiasis has not recurred in a long time), it does work.

My armament against sickness!

~~~

“The Discerning Mommy” is Unilab’s advocacy on making quality choices for the family. It is a campaign that encourages mothers to choose health – quality health at that. As the family’s real decision-makers ( face it, dads!), mothers hold in their hands the key to raising healthier, happier families.

Watch this blog for future promos and more stories on choosing well for wellness. You can also follow Unilab on Facebook at www.facebook.com/unilab, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/unilab_ph, and on You Tube at www.youtube.com/user/unilabph.

The point of writing something online is so that others can find it, read it and learn from it. Well, at least for me, this is the point. Otherwise, you don’t share something to the whole world via the worldwide web if you’d rather keep it to yourself.

As I was saying… The point of sharing something online is so that other people can read it and learn something of value to them. However, if the article is not searchable, the purpose is defeated.

Being visible online – mostly by being searchable by Google, the leading search engine – is vital especially for businesses that rely on web marketing.

This is where search engine optimization comes in. I’ve been blogging for over three years now, but I can’t say I’ve really mastered the “art” of SEO.

On August 25 and 26, SEO masters are coming to Manila to conduct a seminar entitled “Google Insider Secrets to Search Engine Optimization“.

Featured speakers are:

Simon Leung, an Optimization Specialist who used to be with Google; and Fabian Lim, an SEO expert and also Director of Click Media.

Some of the topics these two SEO experts will speak on are:

• The fundamentals of Search Engine Optimization
• The importance of being visible to Google
• Golden keywords to increase traffic to your site (woot! I need this golden knowledge)
• The importance of knowing your competitor’s activities
• How to prepare a Search Engine Domination plan

During the seminar, world-class SEO case studies will also be shared. I’m sure attendees will learn a lot from these case studies.

Who should attend this seminar? Those who are involved in web development, web marketing, online web content should go to this seminar. Professional bloggers or those who aspire to be pro-bloggers should also go to this seminar.

The Google Insider Secrets to Search engine Optimization will be held on August 25 and 26, from 8:30 am to 5:30 PM at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila. For inquiries and more information, visit GoogleInsiderSecrets.com.

Well, whad’ya know? Time flew by so fast, and Active Fun SM North is celebrating its first year anniversary already this month. We were invited again to a pre-anniversary bloggers’ party.

With the mommies and some of the kids. We were lucky to have pulled out 3 of them from the play area. Once they're inside, it's hard to get them to come out!

It’s just been a year, but I realized as I was comparing the pics from last year to this year that our kids grew up sooo quickly.

Nate - happy and excited to be in Active Fun...

...And this is him when he was told it was time to go home! hahahaha

Yes, Nate’s photo above shows how much kids love playing at Active Fun. Apples Morales (of Active Fun) says this scene is not uncommon.

Anyway, Active Fun has a whole line-up of exciting activities to celebrate its first birthday on August 18 and 19. Each ticket (at P450; P350 for Fun Club members) includes these treats: unlimited play, face painting, magic show, games, loot bags, raffle prizes, and other surprises.

I’m glad August 19 is a holiday in Quezon City – it means I can bring my kids!

• WIN ONE YEAR FREE UNLIMITED PLAY!

To celebrate its birthday, Active Fun is holding a contest for all its kiddie fans. There are two categories:

1. For kids ages 5 and below – “My Best Active Fun Photo Shot”: Submit a photo of your child in the Active Fun play area, focusing on his/her best smile, best action shot, best expression of having fun, or best interaction with other kids. Submit a 4R size photo along with child’s name, parents’ name, contact details, and a receipt for unlimited play dated within July 15 and August 31.

2. For kids ages 6 to 12 – “What I love about Active Fun”: On a short Oslo paper, draw and write a few sentences on what you love about Active Fun. This is your child’s chance to be creative! Submit entry along with a small photo of child, name, parents’ name, contact details, and a receipt for unlimited play dated within July 15 and August 31.

Prizes for each category:

1st Place: VIP Golden Pass – 1 year free unlimited play

2nd Place: VIP Golden Pass – 6 months free unlimited play

3rd Place: VIP Golden Pass – 3 months free unlimited play

Last day of submission of entries to Active Fun SM North Edsa Annex is on August 31, 2010. Winners will be announced on September 10, 2010.

For more information about the contest and for tickets to the Anniversary Events, please call Active Fun SM North EDSA Annex at 632 3323929.

~~~

IF Active Fun has Golden Pass, Blue Cross has the Blue Advantage. For more health plans for you and your family in North Carolina, visit NChealth.com.

Fu Chi Dumplings is one of those places that’s been there on Banawe Street for a while but we just kept passing by – dinadaan-daanan lang.

We noticed one fine day that we were hungry and craving for dumplings, though, that this place was often full. So we got curious.

The eatery is small, and can sometimes get a bit stuffy, especially on a hot day. Most people will probably find the food just average. But if you’re crazy for noodles (like the hub is) or dumplings (like the kids are) or pientong (like I am), this is the place.

Lunch hour crowd is a mix of different people – executives with briefcases, Banawe folk, couples, families, Chinoys and Pinoys. Once, hub and I even ran into a cousin’s wife who was buying take-out lunch. Parking is difficult as it’s limited to the slots in front of the eatery. So be there early.

Steamed pork dumplings (P60/10 pieces) - my favorite among all dumplings I've eaten so far.

Pork sparerib noodles (P120 for regular size; add P30 for more noodles)

As usual, mine is Porkchop Pientong (P120) - I find the porkchops too small, though.

I forgot to get the details of the eatery. I will do so when I eat there again, and update this post.

But there’s a fairly new place on Timog Avenue, Quezon City that serves authentic hand-pulled noodles – Kan Zhu. So now we don’t have to go far to satisfy my family’s noodle-and-dumpling cravings (which occurs quite frequently, hehe).

I was first brought there for dinner by my sister’s sister-in-law. The place happens to be partly owned by the family of the husband of my sister’s other sister-in-law, the same group that owns Mr. Choi Kitchen (another family favorite)… Bago kayo mahilo sa family tree, let’s get on with the food.

Kan Zhu’s best-seller seems to be the Braised Beef Noodle Soup (P135 for a fairly large bowl). Unfortunately, because my family doesn’t eat beef, I can only imagine that it must be very delicious, as each table seems to order this one.

Clockwise: Beef Noodle Soup; Century Egg (P70); Fuzhu - a spicy appetizer of tofu skin and sea cucumber (P70); Steamed Pork Dumplings (P65 for 7 pieces).

When I brought my hub and kids there on another occasion, we liked both varieties of the seafood noodles. We also liked the Chinese Sausage Fried Rice (P135 for a platter good enough for 3-4 persons to share). Of course, my kids will always like steamed dumplings. Though the menu says “pork dumplings”, it really is more “kuchay dumplings” because there is very little pork. But that is exactly how my kids like their dumplings, anyway.

Mixed Seafood Dry Noodles (P135); Seafood Fried Noodles (P130).

The secret to Kan Zhu’s wonderfully yummy noodles, aside from being fresh, is probably this:

A cute Chinese guy does the noodle-pulling! hehehe