“He will die early,” said the seven-year-old boy solemnly before he walked away. I was left speechless, staring at his retreating figure. I am sharing this several years after the incident when I have finally found the inner peace to write about it.

My family and I were at a party in my sister’s house and the kid was the son of one of their guests. The boy was talking about my then sixteen-year-old son, Gideon James, who looked like he was also only seven years old because he has cerebral palsy.

I don’t know exactly how the child arrived at such a conclusion after asking me questions when he saw me feeding my son blenderized food via a tube embedded in his stomach. But I guess, as many innocent children do, he made his statement based on what he thought was true.

I wasn’t really offended. Just a little bit shocked to hear that sentence spoken aloud. The last time someone had told me, “Your son will most likely die” was when my then barely one-month-old baby was fighting for his life inside an intensive care unit incubator. He proved his neonatologist wrong and continued to defy many other specialists’ prognoses in succeeding years.

My son is a warrior and a minister. He has been fighting obstacles and overcoming them since the day he was born. He may not be able to speak nor sit up by himself but from him, my husband, my three other children, and I acquired so many lessons that we would not otherwise have learned if he had grown up “normal” like his brothers.

Over the years, our home has become a school of sorts for all the members of our family where we were taught much, over and over it seems, about patience, understanding, compassion, empathy, acceptance, faith, and prudence among many other things.

How different life could have been if my son doesn’t have cerebral palsy! And yet, I don’t think our family would have become the strong unit it is now without the trials we went through together because of our special child. 

People usually tell me they can’t imagine what they’ll do if something like this happened to them. And I assure them that they will find the strength they need if that time comes. When we got married, my husband and I never thought that we’d be given the kind of challenge we used to believe was only reserved for parents with unwavering faith and resourcefulness. Yet, we were chosen to be parents of a special child. And, so far, I believe we’ve been coping a lot better than we’d ever thought possible. 

Through James, we’ve met kindred souls who have little angels of their own. And through them all, we’ve been assured that we’re not taking this journey alone. We have a spiritual extended family with members who unselfishly share with us time, knowledge, advice, and even precious resources because they know how hard it is when you try to do it on your own. 

I have long ago relinquished the question “Why me?” because a book, written by a mom who also has a child with special needs, gave me the push to instead ask, “Why not me?” I don’t remember the exact moment, or even if I did have one, when I had that imaginary bulb light up, and I realized that I am stronger emotionally and physically, more patient, and more resourceful than I’ve ever given myself credit for. 

Turning my thoughts away from “what if” to “what now” made me accept the positive possibilities that this kind of parenting continues to teach me and the rest of my family. I’ve come to wake up in the mornings with a big thought bubble that says, “Bring it on! I will overcome anything bad this day will throw at me!”

Still, there are times, when I am far too exhausted and vulnerable, when a niggling guilt would creep up on me and make me question if I had done something in the past that makes me responsible for my child’s condition. I am just thankful that those thoughts don’t come as often as before. In time, I’ve learned to forgive myself for those lapses of self-pity and anguish and instead pat myself on the back for doing my best and managing to survive the never-ending trials I deal with every day.

Special children don’t come with an instruction manual, but their families eventually discover what would work best for them. Ours did and my son gave us that rare chance to see the world through the eyes of someone who is not willing to be defeated by his disabilities. 

The death of one’s child, I believe, is one of many parents’ greatest fears. For moms and dads of kids with special needs, that fear hovers constantly and is difficult to ignore. And yet, it is our very own special children who teach us to forget about being terrified because they are still here with us to provide light and joy in our lives.

As you read this book, whether you have a family member with special needs or not, may our story provide you with inspiration and hope that God is also looking out for you … always.

Embracing Disability This Ability

*Note: This article serves as the introduction section of my book "Embracing Disability This Ability: A Family's Journey with Cerebral Palsy" that will be launched on September 14, 2018 @ 5:30PM at the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) by CSM Publishing. Thank you for reading! I pray that you will find encouragement and hope from our story :)  

*Edited 2019: Embracing Disability This Ability is now available in the Philippines at National Book Store, PCBS, and other bookstores nationwide as well as online from Lazada and Shopee. For those in the U.S. who are interested in getting a copy, please send me a private message via the Embracing This Ability Facebook page. By the way, you can now read Chapter 1, here.

I love traveling and exploring new places, especially with my family. But on those instances when I have to travel for work, I always look forward to coming home and once more being with the people I love. 

When my husband Nonoy and I were still a young couple, we decided that working abroad and leaving the other behind to look after our four sons should never be an option. Especially since our third son, James, has special needs and requires the care of both parents, we agreed to face financial challenges together rather than choose to work overseas and earn more, but at the cost of just one parent raising the kids alone. 

We held on to our faith that God will see us through anything. And you know what? The Lord sustained us and provided for our needs, particularly during really trying times! Our prayer continued to be that if it was really God’s plan for one of us to work abroad, please let us go there as a whole family and not leave anyone behind.

In Limbo

Several years ago, we found out that despite the passing of my USAFE (United States Army of the Far East) veteran father-in-law in 1999, the petition he filed in 1993 for my husband and Noy’s sister (my third sister-in-law) was approved. Moreover, the petition could be passed on to a family member who’s willing to continue the sponsorship.

My first sister-in-law, who lives in Guam, asked us if we’d like to pursue the petition. Knowing that the U.S. is a lot more medically and technologically advanced than our home country, Noy and I started dreaming of better opportunities for James, our son with cerebral palsy, and our three other sons. Once more, our prayer remained that, God willing, He would allow all six of us to migrate abroad.

Around 2014, my two US-based sisters-in-law started doing everything they could to process our papers. They consulted an immigration lawyer who facilitated the changing of my husband’s petition category from single to married, and hired another attorney to ensure that our oldest son, who was about to turn 21, would not be denied a visa.

The back and forth submissions and approvals of documents took many, many months. Each time we thought we’d completed everything, we’d be asked to submit a certificate, another file, and another, and another until we were left wondering if that phase of submitting requirements would ever end.

For more than three years, our family felt like we were living in limbo, unable to make long-term plans, uncertain if we could really leave or not. Many times, we had prayer moments where we pleaded with God to just let us receive a yes or no answer from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services so we can be done with the seemingly endless wait and move on with our lives. 

Roller-Coaster Ride

In early May 2017, we finally received our visa interview scheduled for June at the U.S. Embassy. From experience, we anticipated more bumps ahead, but we held on to our faith that God will see us through until the end of the journey.

Unfortunately, two of our sons initially didn’t pass the U.S.-mandated medical exam and had to undergo additional tests. Only four of us went to the June interview where our eldest son, Rey, was almost denied a visa due to the “age-out” issue. Despite our pleas, the consul refused to look over the legal papers drafted by our lawyer proving that Rey was still a minor when the petition was reinstated.

We were all in tears as we approached the releasing section to receive further instructions. Obviously, it was impossible to feel elated about going home with just three visas instead of four. Mercifully, the lady at window scrutinized our documents thoroughly and told us to wait as she consulted her supervisor, who then returned our family’s thick file to the consul.

After what seemed like an eternity, we were called back to the window to be told that Rey would also be issued a visa. As always, God was watching over us!

With plans to travel together, we waited for two months for James’ and Josh’s test results, only to find out that our special child had to undergo another series of medical clearances. Although a difficult decision, we all agreed that my husband and two sons should fly ahead to the U.S. in early September so that Daniel, the youngest, could still make it to senior high school enrollment.

Josh, who was approved for a visa in August, insisted he stay behind to help me take care of James while we waited another couple of months for more of his brother’s additional medical test results. 

The first month away from my husband and two sons was tough. Thankfully, the video calls, often-teary conversations, that we made almost every day helped us to cope. None of us thought things would get more difficult, but they did.

Final hurdles

It was a long and stressful day when Josh and I brought James back to the St. Lukes Extension Clinic the day before my special child’s U.S. visa interview in October. After 13 hours of waiting and lots of hassles in between, he was finally given medical clearance. 

The next day, we encountered another problem with a missing document the consul asked for but which was already submitted during the June interview. So I had to re-submit a copy of the said file via courier a day later, unsure whether James would be issued a visa any time soon, or if they would ask again for additional papers that would further delay the process. 

With Josh’s visa expiring earlier than mine due to the additional medical tests he had to undergo, my second son had to be booked on a solo flight so he would arrive in the U.S. without any problems. This new development left James and me alone for another month.

Those weeks were probably some of the loneliest in our lives, when I realized that homesickness isn’t really tied to a physical place. Rather, it is about separation from desperately missed loved ones. Now I know firsthand that it is possible to be homesick for people, too! Our house in Alabang by then already felt like an empty shell.

As days turned into weeks with no visa in sight and no updates from the U.S. Embassy call center agents I talk to almost everyday, I began to wonder if I’d ever see my family again. Although I kept busy during the day packing and selling what’s left of our stuff, I would feel deep despair at night as I watched James sleep, while longing for my husband and other sons. Once more, faith in God’s plans kept us hoping for the best. 

It felt surreal when James’ visa finally arrived at the house and the mad scramble for last minute packing finally began. Despite my worries of how to survive a 20-hour trip with a wheelchair-bound child in tow plus four big pieces of luggage and another four carry on bags, my determination to do everything I could to be with my family was greater than any other hurdles I may still encounter.

Coming home

I was deeply grateful that my mom, siblings, and nieces arrived the day before our departure to help me clean the house and finalize everything before my son and I left for the airport. Their love and support were such a welcome reprieve from the loneliness of the past weeks. 

The date November 16, 2017 will forever remain in my memory as the day I finally found myself home again when I felt my husband’s arms around me the moment James and I emerged from LAX’s arrival ramp. All the apprehensions and exhaustion instantly faded away with the knowledge that we were, indeed, finally where we were supposed to be.

I’ve read somewhere that we will never know how strong we could be until being strong is the only option we have left. I can attest to that, given everything that we’ve been through since we started our immigration process.

I’m sharing our story to encourage other families to keep holding on to each other and to continue trusting in God’s leading in the midst of challenges and temporary separations. Have faith that He will see you through. Remember, too, that many times, life may take us to unexpected places, but love will always bring us home. 

NOTE: This story was originally published on pp. 17-19 in Family Matters Magazine's June-Aug 2018 issue, the digital copy of which can be found, here.

Good news, ladies! Singapore's number one beauty magazine is here! 

Grab a copy now of the July-September maiden issue of Aesthetics & Beauty Philippine edition that features the lovely Bianca Gonzalez on the cover. Here, the versatile celebrity talks about her beauty secrets as well as gives noteworthy advice to her young fans. 

Also, get insider scoops on the latest in beauty and fashion as A&B makes it easy for readers to find more information about the latest trends and treatments that are best for them. 

Oh, and do check out my contributed articles! I interviewed model, writer, and PR maven Apples Aberin who shared about what keeps her beautiful; wrote about Blue Water Day Spa's newest massages; and covered the launch of the SM Woman collection during Philippine Fashion Week.

There are a lot of things you'd like about this magazine. Let me know what you think once you get hold of a copy :) 

A&B is published by Mapletree Media Pte. Ltd. For more information and to get updates, like A&B on Facebook and log on to www.aestheticsandbeauty.com.ph.

Three weeks ago, countless Filipinos stayed up late to watch the first figure skater from the Philippines compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Seventeen-year-old Michael Christian Martinez made history for his country and inspired many to continue reaching for their dreams.

Behind this young man is his number one supporter, his mom Maria Teresa. Like her, other loving moms and dads also desire to see their children excel in things they like doing. Early Childhood Education specialist Marah Vasquez-Estuesta affirms that one of the most rewarding parts of being a parent is the happiness of discovery and recognition of their children’s budding talents along with letting kids find joy in developing and using these.

“From the time our children were born, we should be able to tune in and look closer at what comes easily to them and what makes them happy,” says Teacher Marah, who is part-owner and administrator of Mindbuilders Preschool in BF International, Las Piñas.

She says parents have to spend time with their children and watch them play to see what indicators of talents are being shown. “Do homework together. Keep track of their activities, what they like to collect, and take note of the questions they ask,” says Teacher Marah. “Keep observing as they grow to discover what talents they have and be their number one cheerleader.”

Please read the rest of this article in Manila Bulletin … 

Patients of the Asian Eye Institute who live in Muntinlupa, Laguna, Cavite, and Batangas no longer have to travel all the way to Makati for their eye care needs. According to VP and General Manager Mr. Alwin S. Sta. Rosa, the new satellite office is a product of them listening to 30% of their patients’ base who actually live in or near Muntinlupa.

“We are very happy to start the year with the opening of our new clinic in Alabang,” expressed Sta. Rosa who added that they are committed to bringing quality eye care closer to those who reside in the South.

The institute, established in 2001, has already served over 100,000 local and foreign patients. It is the only ambulatory eye care center in the Philippines with international healthcare accreditation and provides a full range of services and treatment options for all age groups.

Asian Eye is composed of a team of medical specialists with ten, full-time exclusive and affiliate ophthalmologists, a full-time Low Vision and Contact Lens Specialist, and a pediatric optometrist and orthoptist, most of whom obtained fellowships in their specializations at Harvard Medical School. A full-time anesthesiologist rounds out the team.

Please read the rest of my article in Manila Bulletin.

In 1988, the Philippine Jaycee Senate, now officially known as JCI Senate Philippines, conceived “The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL)” Awards. The organization enlisted the support of Insular Life to institutionalize public recognition of men and women, aged 41 years and above, who deserve credit for their exemplary contributions to society.

Dr. Lagmay, Dr. Ella, and Sec. Singson

Last January 29, JCI Senate Philippines and Insular Life honored three men who are making a difference in the lives of their fellow Filipinos. In times like these, when a lot of our countrymen are still rebuilding their lives after the recent calamities, it is heartening to know that there are individuals who continue to serve as good examples and who remind us that there are still a lot of things to be thankful for.

The TOFIL awardees for 2013 are Dr. Arsenio B. Ella for Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Development; Dr. Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. Lagmay for Geology/Earth Sciences; and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio L. Singson for Government/Public Service.

His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III was present during the ceremonies to personally hand over the trophies to the winners. In his message, the nation’s leader commended the three awardees for their contribution to “the advancement of our people. [They] have done much to elevate their fields, promote public welfare, and fuel national development.” President Aquino lauded their actions and endeavors that make them “true inspirations for our people and ideal role models whom our citizens can emulate.”

Please read the rest of my article in Manila Bulletin …

To see more photos taken during the event, please click here

Information is disseminated in various ways and one of these is through press releases (PRs).

PRs given during events

During media events, PRs are included in press kits so that attendees could have more details about whatever product or service was launched.

Ideally, bloggers should just use PRs as references to create their own write-ups. After all, they were there during the event so they should form their opinions and have their own thoughts about what they experienced. Unfortunately, a lot of bloggers opt to just cut and paste the PRs and post those verbatim on their blogs, without letting their readers know that it is a PR!

What’s the problem with that? Well, for starters, blogs were supposed to be, and started out as, a platform for personal writings. So it is very off-putting to see blogs that mostly contain PRs that were not disclosed as such. I’ve visited blogs where the first two entries seem to be written in perfect English and then, when I go further, I’ll read personal entries with dozens of grammatical errors that made my head spin.

My advice? Disclose PRs as PRs. Don’t claim them as your own. Somebody else wrote that. At least give credit to the company who provided you with it. Likewise, if you attended an event, make an effort to write a personalized post about it instead of just cutting and pasting the PR on your blog. A lot of readers visit blogs to know what the writer thought of a product or service, not to just read a bunch of specs.

PRs sent through emails

I am not saying it is bad to post PRs as is. I do that also BUT only when:

1. There was no actual event and the PR was just sent to announce something to the general public

2. I wasn’t able to attend the actual event (so I don’t have anything personal to say about the product/service launched) but want to help the company that invited me to spread the word

Of course, I make sure to indicate "Press Release" on top of the write-up! Check out examples in my other blog.

I’ve been blogging for years and have met many Public Relations Practitioners (PRPs). They often send out press releases to bloggers via email and there are days when I’d receive more than a dozen. I don’t post all of them for several reasons.

For those who don’t maintain a blog, know that the seemingly easy posting of PRs take time. Personally, I go over the write up and check if there are any typos or wrong information. Since I am a writer/editor by profession, I sometimes do catch mistakes that I correct before posting. In addition, I fix photos to minimize their sizes to make them easier to upload.

Here are some thoughts and tips that I am sure a large majority of bloggers wants Public Relations Practitioners to know:

1. Be considerate of your recipients. Don’t send out PRs without at least telling us what you want us to do with them especially if it is your first time to contact us. I’ve received dozens of PRs without any salutation, just the press release on the body of the email or as an attachment. One of the worst is receiving an email that only contains “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!” as salutation. Have the courtesy to at least send a short message asking bloggers to consider your PR for posting.

Personally, I deeply appreciate PRPs who take the time to personalize their emails before sending them individually to bloggers and start with, “Dear [name]. It makes us feel like valued partners and not word factory workers. As much as possible, I try to post PRs like those first.

borrowed from www.socialsearchmarketinggroup.com

2. Include and resize photos! Unlike magazines and newspapers, most websites don’t require big photo files that are sized in megabytes (MB). They considerably slow down the loading of webpages. So please take time to reduce the photos you send to manageable sizes. In my blog, I reduce pictures to around 100KB only. So it is really time-consuming to be resizing photos before I can post a single PR.

On the other hand, there are PRPs who send out PRs without any kind of photo. When I ask for some, I sometimes get the answer, “Sorry, we have none. But we hope you can still accommodate it.” Duh? It should be part of your job to provide bloggers with all materials especially if you are asking for free space. Don’t make the job hard for us and make us take time to research online just to find photos that would make your write-up more attractive. You see, I am averse to posting PRs without photos because I know readers won’t find it interesting. There is no point in posting an all text PR that nobody would read.

3. Keep track of who have been helping you out. I know of PRPs who indiscriminately send out PRs to hundreds of bloggers perhaps to ensure that a sizable percent would post their press release. And yet, when the PRPs finally hold an event, they also indiscriminately send out invites wherein, many times, they forget and leave out of the list the very bloggers who have been regularly posting PRs for them.

4. Make bloggers feel that the relationship is a two-way thing. Dear PRPs, we are here to help you but you should also remember to help us. It is disheartening to be asked to post PR after PR without hearing anything about being rewarded for our efforts. Yes, we blog because we like what we’re doing but we also get tired accommodating favors again and again for FREE.

We are not stupid. We know that PR firms are paid handsomely by brands. So getting bloggers to post PR after PR without any compensation may save you a lot of money. But, do you think those bloggers, who have started to feel they are just being used, would continue to maintain a working relationship with you?

That is why I am thankful for the very few PR firms I know that make efforts to show their gratitude. No, it is not about money, or tokens, or gifts. And I am not saying bloggers should be compensated EVERY TIME they post a PR. Rather, it is about give and take relationships. For goodness sakes, people in the public relations business should know that! Sadly, based on my experience, that seems not to be the case.

So, if you handle hotels or resorts and send out PRs of your promos, consider inviting loyal bloggers for a staycation so they can review your services.

If you handle food establishments and often send out announcements of your latest offerings, why not include a gift certificate to one of your restaurants so that bloggers, who have been posting about the menu again and again, could finally know what the food tastes like?

If you are pushing to promote gadgets, why not have reliable bloggers review one of your products? But please, if it’s not equivalent to the price of a car or house and lot, don't ask them to give it back. Do consider giving it to them as a thank you for their efforts of supporting you for months or years.

If you have accounts for clothing brands, offer small tokens in exchange for the publicity. I appreciate one PRP who always make sure she gives bloggers something (a shirt, a novelty item, etc.) in exchange for posting her PRs.

For the record, these are not demands. They are suggestions. I am not expecting everyone to understand where we, bloggers, are coming from. But I ask that you read this with an open mind. Perhaps then, you’ll realize I’ve made some good points.

MoneySense magazine's July-August issue features Pokwang, one of the funniest and smartest ladies I've ever met. In the article, she talks about her experiences as a former Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), growing up in a ramshackle house, and trading school uniforms and shoes with her sister before she came to be a doting mom and one of today's most-loved comediennes in Philippine show business. Of course, the cover feature includes how she manages her earnings and finds worthwhile investments.

MoneySense magazine is available in major bookstores and magazine stands nationwide. 

* Click here to see behind-the-scene shots of the actual cover story photo shoot

It's not often I get to interview celebrity couples so I'm glad to have had the chance to chat with Doug and Chesca Kramer about money matters and their family. Our interview and photo shoot happened at their townhouse somewhere in the Ortigas area. They are a handsome couple who are blessed with two lovely daughters.

I was impressed at Doug's and Chesca's answers to my questions. They gave very sensible replies which showed how determined they are in raising their family the best way they know how.

Read how they handle their finances and plan for the future. Please grab a copy of MoneySense magazine's Family issue and turn to their story on pages 37-41.

If you were not able to have a copy of our March-April Travel issue where I featured Department of Tourism (DoT) Secretary Ramon Jimenez on pages 42-46, you can now read the online version at MoneySense Magazine's website.

Secretary Jimenez said a lot of quotable quotes that I included in the article like, "Boracay is just a pile of sand without the Filipinos. You take the Filipinos out of Boracay and it wouldn’t be very much different from other places. It still will be very pretty, but it won’t be as memorable." Makes a lot of sense, right?

He also illustrated how successful the slogan "It's More Fun in the Philippines" has become and what his department is further doing to make our country the top tourist destination in Asia.

I urge you to get a printed copy of this issue because there are a lot of other articles there that will help you improve the way you handle your personal finances. Rest assured we tailor articles for the Filipino reader. My other write ups in the Travel issue include:

MoneySense, the Philippines' first publication on personal finance, is available in major bookstores and magazine stands. For more personal finance articles, tips, and information, please LIKE MoneySense mag's Facebook page and visit our website. If you want to buy back issues, please call 310-3361 or email info@moneysense.com.ph

My write up, posted in SmartSuperWomen.com yesterday, is about things we can do before, or right after, the New Year starts. Among the list is remembering all the good stuff that happened for the past 12 months.

As I welcome 2012 with all of you, let me share the following things I am thankful for in 2011:

I sincerely believe that our hearts will always have space for new friends. I am blessed to have met a lot of good people through my work and a select few (you know who you are!) have really become very close to me these past months. They have become my confidantes, my comrades, and even my shoulders to cry on. Thanks guys and gals for being there. I truly treasure you.

To my old friends who I don’t get to see much anymore, I am really glad that we have the internet to bridge whatever distances that separate us. The laughter and camaraderie remain until we meet again.

I am fortunate to have editors and clients who continue to trust me with writing assignments that I, more often than not, enjoy doing. Special thanks (in no particular order) to Jing L. and Rossana L. of SmartSuperWomen.com; Heinz B. of MoneySense magazine, Judith J. and Melody B. of BusinessWorld’s High Life magazine and HerWord.com; Amyline C., Regina A., and Irene F. of Manila Bulletin; Mel A. of CodeRED magazine; and Cora L. and Anna G. of United Business Media.

Thank you, too, to the members of the Christian Writers Fellowship for always being there to encourage and inspire me especially my Ates in the group – Grace Chong, Yay Olmedo, Jophen Baui, and Yna Reyes.

Not everything that happened in 2012 was all good. Some were painful reminders that mistakes happen and that not all people are as pleasant as they seem. As I became witness to what certain people are capable of, I’ve also discovered new things about me which made me more firmly resolve not to allow myself to be taken advantage of nor be too trusting of new acquaintances and even new clients. I have also promised myself to distinguish priorities from flights of fancy.

The past 12 months was a whirlwind that blew me into this and that direction. I never thought I’d enjoy going out this much after years of staying at home and just writing most of the time. 2011 was my year to mingle and experience a lot of new stuff that, I think, made me wiser and more discerning about many things. Thank you to the PR agencies and staff who gave me those opportunities.

I’ve always loved listening to music since I was young so having lots of opportunities in 2011 to cover events related to these are blessings indeed. I got to meet a number of talented OPM artists I admire and whose music I enjoy listening to. Thanks so much Jeman V. of OrangeMagazineTV for introducing me to the wonderful people behind Mecca Music, Polyeast Records, MCA Music, Cornerstone, and Universal Records.

After being assigned to write a review of RENT in 2010, my love for theater has grown exponentially since mostly because of Tita Toots T., Joy W., and Omar I. who opened doors to the worlds of 9Works Theatrical, Repertory Philippines, Atlantis Productions, CTE Productions, Stages, Tanghalang Pilipino, Dulaang UP, Ateneo Blue Rep, and UP Samasining.

In the past, I’d just catch whatever movie is being shown on cable TV or a DVD that hubby and kids were watching. Ten to one, I won’t get to finish the whole thing because I’d get distracted with pending writing deadlines or house chores. But when I started getting invites to premieres, I was finally able to watch and enjoy a whole movie without any interruptions. So this grateful gal wants to wholeheartedly thank the movers and shakers behind Columbia Pictures, Disney/Pixar, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Solar Movies and Events, and OctoArts Films for inviting me to your screenings.

Thank you as well to Flow G. for the invites to ABS-CBN events particularly to the press cons and advance screenings of 100 Days to Heaven and Budoy. Those are truly wonderful shows for Filipinos.

Above all the other things I am truly grateful for is my family whose individual members continue to inspire me to strive harder and become a better wife, mom, daughter, sister, and aunt. I love each and every one of you to bits! I embrace your presence in my life with a thankful heart and lots of hope for better days to come.

Even if the name Somedaydream doesn't ring a bell yet, I’d bet you have already seen the new Selecta Cornetto Disc commercial where the song “Hey Daydreamer” is featured. Watch this and listen:

Sounds familiar now? Hey Daydreamer is actually Somedaydream’s first single which continues to make waves in the music industry since its first radio airing in January of this year. Listen to the song in full (watch the electronic version here and acoustic version here) and enjoy the refreshing sound from a very talented young man named Rez Toledo who was recently chosen as Yahoo OMG Award’s Breakout Artist for 2011 and selected as one of Yahoo Philippines Icons for 2011.

Somedaydream is Rez’s solo project, the first OPM electronic act to hit big on the mainstream. He is mentored and managed by former Hale vocalist turned solo artist Champ Lui Pio, another exceptionally talented music artist. After much anticipation from thousands of fans, SOMEDAYDREAM, the album, was formally launched a day after Rez celebrated his 21st birthday last Sept. 28. I wasn't able to stick around for the actual performances but Rez did sing Digital Love, a Daft Punk cover, during the press con. You can watch the video I took here.

The album features his two hit singles “Hey Daydreamer” and “Delivery Boys”, additional tracks like “Do-do With You”, “Sing This Song”, and “Break”, plus the acoustic version of “Hey Daydreamer”. Although I’ve heard Rez sing several of the songs during a few live performances, it’s great to finally have them compiled in a CD that can be played more often.

I like Hey Daydreamer very much, but I think I love Delivery Boys more because it has meaningful messages for Filipinos both young and old. This inspiring song features Tagalog words that go, “Batang bata pa tayo at marami pang kailangan matutunan / Panalangin nating di malilimutan / Sakit sa ulo ang patalong Pilipino na di marunong makisama sa pagpaplano / Paano natin gagawin itong pagbabago”

All songs in the album are written, produced, and arranged by Rez which is quite an admirable feat for someone as young as he is. When I interviewed him a few months ago for a magazine article, I instinctively knew that this lad's passion in what he does will take him far. It’s also not surprising to hear people refer to Champ and Rez as the Dream Team because they apparently work together very well.

Please support Original Pilipino Music! Get your dose of “Happiness and Joy and Love” by getting a copy of Somedaydream's album which is now out in CDs under Mecca Music and MCA Music. I’m pretty sure you’ll also love listening to the songs. Somedaydream also has a single that's just right for the holiday season entitled “Christmas in Purple” which can be downloaded by texting SD to 2346.

And, as a thank you to the readers of this blog who keep visiting to read posts about Somedaydream, I asked Rez to sign a copy of the article I wrote about him in CodeRED magazine. (More details about that writeup here). Champ is also featured there but, unfortunately, I wasn’t able to have him sign the page anymore because he was already busy being interviewed by someone by the time I had to leave the album launch for another appointment.

So ... I’m giving away the magazine copy (the one Rez is holding in the photo) to one lucky Somedaydream fan! You'll get to know more about him (and Champ) when you read that writeup :) Simply leave a comment under this blog post about why you love Somedaydream’s music then …

1) Like the Write, Breathe, Live page on Facebook so you can tag it later. Attach or copy-paste the link of this blog post (http://mommywrites.blogspot.com/2011/12/somedaydream-releases-self-titled-debut.html) to your Facebook status message.

2) Write as your FB status: “I’m a big fan of Somedaydream and want to win the CodeRED magazine copy with Rez’s signature via Write, Breathe, Live (please tag the page).” Make sure the status is set as "Public" so it will appear in WBL's page. Philippine residents only please. Failure to comply with the mechanics won’t make your entry eligible for the giveaway. 

3) Deadline of entries will be on 12MN of December 20. Winner will be chosen through an electronic draw via Random.org and announcement will be made on December 21 in time for an early Christmas gift :) I'll send the magazine to the winner via courier as soon as I get his/her mailing address.

Edit - Dec. 23 (sorry for the delay, toxic work week): Blog giveaway winner is now announced at WBL's Facebook page. Please click here to know who it is. Thank you to all who joined. Please visit this blog often for more giveaways coming up soon :)

Mumble, the master of tap who starred in Happy Feet, is back in a sequel that introduces more memorable characters.

In Happy Feet 2, Mumble's choreo-phobic young son, Erik (voiced by Ava Acres), refuses to go along with everyone else and dance because he can't find a good enough reason to do so. Tired of being embarrassed and laughed at, Erik runs away from Emperor Land with two friends and follows Ramon, another outcast, who decides to go back to his original home.

Please read the rest of my review at here.

We, who work hard every day to meet our families' needs, could easily imagine how devastating it would be if everything we have saved up for years would disappear one day without warning. This is what happened in the movie Tower Heist to the employees of a high-end residential tower as they lose their pensions through Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda), a corrupt board member of the building.

Jason Kovaks (Ben Stiller), the ever-reliable building manager, decides to find and steal the US$20 million suspected to be hidden in Shaw's penthouse condo after he was tipped off by FBI agent Claire Denham (Tea Leoni). Kovaks assembles a group composed of fellow disgruntled employees: Charlie the concierge (Casey Affleck), Enrique the elevator operator (Michael Pena), and Odessa the housekeeper (Gabourney Sidibe) plus evicted tower resident and bankrupt Wall Street player Mr. Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick).

What happens then when ordinary guys decides to pull off an extraordinary robbery?

Please read the rest of my movie review here.

I love watching movies based on true stories because they are easy to relate to. Most times, one or more characters would even remind us of people we know and how they, too, are coping with the challenges they face every day.

The story of Dolphin Tale begins with an introvert young boy named Sawyer (Nathan Gamble) whose only interest is to mostly stay in his workshop to fix mechanical toys. He doesn't have friends and is quiet around people. He was devastated when his cousin Kyle (Austin Stowell), whom he considers a big brother, had to leave for the army because he felt it was just like the time his dad left when he was younger and never came back. 

Please read the rest of this review at HerWord.com :)

Edit Dec. 2: Wanna win a copy of this magazine with Somedaydream's autograph on his feature? Read this blog post to find out how. Giveaway ends on December 20, 2011 :)

Here's sharing something that I think fans of both Champ Lui Pio and Rez Toledo of Somedaydream would be happy to know... 

Both gifted music artists are featured in the Sept-Nov issue of CodeRED magazine! This is a family-oriented publication that has sections for both parents and their children.

A few months ago, my editor asked me to look for a young celebrity who would be a good role model for our young readers. At the time, I've met Rez twice on two different occasions and immediately thought he has an inspiring story kids and teens would be interested to know more about. Aside from being very talented, Rez seems very down to earth.

I contacted Champ (Somedaydream's manager), asked if I could write Rez's story, and we agreed on an interview date. When we all got together and while I was talking to Rez and getting other inputs from Champ (who's another very talented musician), I discovered about TreeHouse Day Care, an advocacy close to Champ's heart. I also found out that he has been a volunteer firefighter for the past three years.

So, to make the long story short, I ended up with not one, but two wonderful articles: a feature on Rez as an emerging music artist, and a feature on Champ as an advocate for children and other causes :)

Read their inspiring stories in the pages of CodeRED magazine. It's available in National Book Store, Powerbooks, and the Merriam & Webster bookstore just outside Don Bosco, Makati.