Be an ALITAPTAP

I love children's stories. And I love telling them especially to my daughter. I feel like being transported into a different space and time through storytelling. I have a list of children's books that I oftentimes read to my daughter but Ang Magic Silya Ni Titoy has a sentimental value.

Ang Magic Silya ni Titoy is the very first story delivered by an Alitaptap Storyteller that I have listened to. Alitaptap Storytellers Philippines is the country's premier storytelling whose mission is to promote literacy through the art of storytelling. I remember it was Charlyn Chua who delivered the piece and I was mesmerized. I knew I wanted to be like her someday. I wanted to be a storyteller. I wanted to be an Alitaptap.

When I got pregnant, it was Ang Magic Silya ni Titoy that I bought so I can read to the baby in my womb. It was also the first story my daughter ever learned. It was the story that jumpstarted my love affair with stories for children.

When I learned about the ARTIST (Acting and Reading Techniques In StoryTelling) Workshop of Alitaptap, I got excited. It took me two years to find time and attend the workshop. I've been meaning to attend it for so long but I guess, it wasn't the right time. For P500, I got to meet one of the most admired storytellers in the Philippines - Mr. Manolo Silayan. I also met people who share the same passion. It was well worth it. The workshop taught me to engage my audience, to find ways to make my storytelling enjoyable, not only for my audience but for myself also. It also showed me how to loosen up, to be more confident and to savor every minute of being able to converse with children in a manner that appeals to them even if I am an adult.

I hope that there would be more passionate people like those Alitaptap Storytellers who want to propagate the love for reading and I hope that there would be more children who prefer reading than watching TV.

SUPERWOMOM'S NOTES: If you are interested in the kind of work ALITAPTAP STORYTELLERS do, you may get in touch with them through this number 535-4689.

ROW, ROW, DRAGON BOAT

Have you ever been captivated by the beauty of “strength” as seen through uniform strokes? I saw that beauty when a champion dragon boat team did their thing - synchronized rowing motion. Power in one fluid movement.

The beauty of Manila Bay before the sun fully shines gives drama to what looked like an ordinary practice day. They’re perfect subjects. They were very much focused and in control – these too registered well in their photographs.

They were also a nice lot. The opportunity to ride the boat and row it too was the highlight for me. It gave me a feel of how it is to be a part of the team. But being the real deal is not easy. You have to be fit and you have to have the rhythm.

The experience was both fun and exciting. But I wouldn’t be a rower. I don’t see it happening in this lifetime. For one, I can’t wake up that early for practice. They do warm-ups around 5:30. They go down the bay around 6. They wrap-up around 7. Secondly, my work place is not within the vicinity. Most of the team members go to work right after practice. It’s nice to have tried it. But for me, it ends there. But that’s me. I admire all of them for having the passion and the drive for the sport. Their being champions attest to the kind of dedication they put in to perfect their skills.

SUPERWOMOM’S NOTES:
If you’re interested to try the sport, you may want to contact PDRT Fireblades: Victor Tapic Jr. at (0916) 570-5158 or email: citation_jr@yahoo.com. You may also visit this site, http://tubbyfinch.multiply.com/journal/item/25/Schedules for other dragon boat rowing teams.

THE GREAT HAIR DEBATE

Hairstyle. It's an unending discussion. What's best for your facial shape? I for one don't know the answer to that question. That's why it took me two long months of contemplation before I decided to take the scissor challenge and cut my hair. You see, I have long (I mean, waist-long) and very straight hair. I have donned that do for 3 years, I think. I make occasional visits to the salons for hot oil and trim, but it's the same ho-hum, boring style. It's my comfort zone. It's the fuss-free hairstyle. I can even be the next shampoo commercial. I have a two-step, fool-proof hair ritual - wet hair (read: take a bath), then air-dry. I just make a pony tail for bad hair days. I have asked the what's-the-best hairstyle-for-me question a dozen of times but I think I lack the courage to really go out of my comfort zone. Then one day, it came to me, the what-the-heck moment. It's so liberating. I just got up from my chair. Did the trance walk to the salon and left it all to God. It's not a joke. I really left it to Him. I think I even said a prayer, "let this hairstylist be it." I remember her name as Patty in one of the FIX Bench Salons. I just said, "Ikaw na ang bahala." After an hour, she was happy and I was happier. My friends were so happy that I have finally made one of the most important decisions of my life. Some would call it layered with bangs. I called it divine intervention.

PROUDLY PINAY

Three women. Three sources of inspiration. Carina Dayondon, Janet Belarmino and Noelle Wenceslao - women of courage, women who gave us pride. They're proof of what Filipinas can do even if presented with seemingly insurmountable odds.

I remember hearing this... "The Philippines is a patriarchal society but it is matricentric." I looked up what "matrecentric" means - being centered in the mother. And I remember how our own household is centered on my mother. My mother does all the work around the house. If I need something, it's to my mother that I go to. If I hurt myself, it's my mother's name that I call - Nanay!!! If I got scared, it's my mother's name that I whisper like a prayer, hoping that it will ease away my fears - Inaaay!!! But I always remember how my father pays homage to what my mother does by always saying that the my mother held our family together. She's our family's anchor.

I also remember how my father would tell stories of how his own mother molded him to be the responsible man that he is. Yes, our family is indeed matricentric. And I am thankful for that. The women in our family, made me the woman that I am. They opened my eyes that my being a woman is not a liability. It is a gift... a gift I should nurture so it can work to my advantage. A gift that I should use so that I can touch people's lives. They taught me to be the best person that I can be. They showed me that women have tremendous contributions in raising a family. They reaffirmed my belief that if I try hard enough, I can make my dreams come true. Through their examples, I grew up thinking that women are no different from men, unless of course, you're talking about anatomies.

I always thought that all women think like the women in my family, until I went to college in an all-women school, whose president is also the chairperson of the most notable women organization in the country. I realized, not all Filipinas are lucky to grow up in an environment where women are respected and loved by their male counterparts. I became more aware of their issues. I became exposed to injustices, violence and inequalities against women. I started to have opinions about the commodification of women in the media. I get offeneded by double standards. I stopped laughing at dumb blonde jokes. I honestly don't know if I ever did anything that helped the women movement. All I know is that I take pride in my being a woman - to have a voice and be listened to, to do things I want, to be educated, to have a career in a field that I have personally picked, to start a family with the guy I chose to be with, to bear a child on a time I find most fitting.

I dreamed of a time when gender would be non-issue. Although there are so many things that needs to be done, my heart goes to Filipinas like Dayondon, Wenceslao and Belarmino who blazed a trail and eventually would pave the way for other Filipinas to take courage and carve their own destiny in our country's history.

Credits: Draculita and Jonas Diego for the logos

SUPERWOMOM'S NOTES:

March is Women's Month. This post pays homage to the two women in my family who contributed tremendously to my personhood - Nanay Sally and Lola Puring - I wouldn't be the woman that I am if not for the valuable lessons and examples you have imparted. I'll forever be indebted to both of you. I will love you always.

THE BIRDS

Have you seen so many birds in your life? Well, I did and I can't believe it myself. It was an invasion. More like that Alfred Hitchcock horror movie THE BIRDS. It was both shocking ang exciting at the same time. We went at the bird sanctuary at Candaba, Pampanga, a two-hour drive from Manila. Honestly, I really don't know what to expect. I just need to go to the sanctuary to have those birds photographed, not be me, but by a professional photographer. Since I would be the one in-charge with coordination I have to find out if the migratory birds are still there. I googled Candaba and that search led me to this website http://www.geocities.com/mun_of_candaba/, which I think was very helpful. I was looking for a phone number so I can contact someone from the municipality and inquire. I saw two cellphone numbers. I texted both. Then my cellphone rang, I answered it and the conversation went something like this...

Me: Hello po.
Person on the Phone (POP): Hi. Yes, the migratory birds are still there. Just go there. Do you know how to go there?
Me: Sorry po. I don't.
POP: Go to NLEX. Take Sta Rita exit. Take Baliuag and pass under Baliuag flyover going to Candaba. When you reach Bahay Pare Barangay Hall, turn right. It's around 4 kilometers going to the swamp. It's better if you take a 4x4.
Me: Salamat po. May I know who's this?
POP: Ah, si Mayor.
Me: (silence)
Me: uhmm, thank you po Mayor. We'll go there Friday.

After the call, I googled the mayor of Candaba, Pampanga - Mayor Jerry Pelayo. I think that was nice of him to put his cellphone number in the website. With me as a classic example, I knew that there is indeed a possibility that he would be pestered with a lot of inquiries, but just the same he put it there. One side story, I was told that some of the migratory birds stayed in the swamp for good because the mayor banned all hunting activities.

So we reached the sanctuary, there's this big house in the middle of the swamp. We were informed that it is owned by the mayor. My favorite is a pathway lined with trees. You need to pass through this so that you can see more birds. There were egrets, herons and other birds I'm not familiar with.

The people in the house were very accomodating. They even cooked lunch for us - rice, fried tilapya, barbecued porkchops, chopseuy, manggang hilaw, kamatis, bagoong and itlog na pula. These are the best picnic food for me. Yum. I can still smell and taste that lunch. We waited for the birds to give us the shot that we need.

Mang Jimmy, the mayor's brother-in-law, was very nice to us. He even brought us to the middle of the swamp with their pump boat.

The place was like a painting to me. Perfect color combinations. So peaceful and calm. Yet it was so real. It was like a prayer rally - the wind is murmuring its prayers, branches are up in praise, birds are doing their charismatic dance. It was simply majestic.

SAVING GRACE

I knew a lot of people who doesn’t have a savings account to their name. They live payday per payday. They have either blown their hard earned bucks by partying all night, or amassing clothes from the latest mall sale, or indulging into anything that grabs their fancy. In just a blink, the money is gone and worse, they don’t know were it all went. Hey, I am not complaining, anybody has the right to do whatever they want. They have their reasons. And I am certain that these are valid. But really, the reasons not to save far outweigh the reasons why we have to. Wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy retirement? Or have a ready stash of cash in case of emergency? Or have purchased something that you’ve only dreamed about? Wouldn’t it be liberating to know that you’re financially independent? That you have not burdened or bothered anyone for money? That you kept your dignity intact by not having the need to ask allowance from ma and pa, or borrow from friends or even pawn your ATM card to loan sharks so that you can live through the next payday.

People procrastinate. It’s human nature. It’s normal. But it is costly. When you delay, the more you need to catch up. Let me explain. I got this from Francisco Colayco’s book, Pera mo, Palaguin Mo and it makes total sense. Let’s say you’re aiming for a million bucks when you’re 60, and you’re just 28 years old. If you start saving now, you would need P31,250 every year until age 60, that’s just P2,605 per month or P1,302.50 per payday. Not bad for someone who’s living on a 15,000 salary. But if you delay, if you started saving 5 years later, you would need P37,038 every year, that’s 5,787 more. The other grain of wisdom here is - the younger you are, the more potential you have to earn more. When you’re younger, there’s greater possibility for salary increases especially since there’s more time to move up the corporate ladder. If this happens the more you wouldn’t feel the amount you need to save.

Now, are you willing to set aside that itsy bitsy part of your income to give you you’re million? There are ways to save and institutions to help you out.

BANKS. The most logical and obvious choice. You just open an account and you’re ready to go. I suggest you shun from the ATM account, especially if you’re easy to fall into temptation. Having only a bank book would make it more difficult for you to withdraw your cash.

LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES. Life insurance is often misconstrued as something morbid. It’s money for loved one when somebody dies. Although it’s true, there’s more to insurance than this. A lot of people don’t know that life insurance can be beneficial even when you’re still alive. There are insurance products that can give you cash values, dividends and endowments. There are also available options so you can tailor-fit it according to your needs and priorities. I have encountered people who feel that they don’t need insurance because they are still young. I think otherwise. Since the amount of insurance is dependent on age, the younger you avail of it, the cheaper it would cost and the earlier you would finish paying. There are some who feel that they don’t have the money for it. I have purchased my first insurance when I was just 23, and I know for a fact that there’s a way to compute for the amount of insurance your budget can buy. It isn’t the agent’s call. You can discuss with your agent about your budget and your needs and from there, she can draw up an affordable proposal for you. I also believe that the family’s principal breadwinner should be insured first. Insurance, first and foremost, exist to protect income earners and their families. It’s really a tool for breadwinners to cushion the financial impact of their lost to their family’s dreams. It’s usually belong on the least priority list but when the unfortunate thing happens, it’s the insurance that will pay everything that is on the priority list like food, rent, education, medical expenses, etc. Scout for reputable companies. It’s your hard-earned money. It’s better to invest it with companies that have very good track record. Please visit http://www.insurance.gov.ph/htm/_statistics.asp for the rankings of insurance companies in the Philippines as of December 31, 2006.

PRE-NEED COMPANIES. Pension and Education are example of pre-need products. It’s called pre-need because you’re actually buying something that would finance future needs – probably the education of your children or retirement. I read somewhere that it’s only here in the Philippines that pre-need products exist because Filipinos, generally, don’t have the discipline to save for the education of their children or for their retirement. So a pre-need company is essential to help us do the saving. Again, the same advise in looking for a pre-need company. Scout for reputable companies. We don’t want another CAP incident. Have these companies make proposals for you. Then compare them and decide which one is best suited for your need and budget.

MUTUAL FUND COMPANIES. This is another way to grow your money. Put your money in mutual fund companies and they’ll manage your money for you. Meaning, the mutual companies would invest your money so it can earn the highest possible interest it can earn. If you’re going to invest your money in mutual funds, the company would ask you to choose from, commonly, 3 fund types. Bond fund – low risk, low return. Your money is basically invested in government bonds. Relatively safe. Equity fund – high risk, high return. Investments are made in stocks. Highly volatile. Balanced/Managed fund – medium risk, medium return. This fund type is basically a combination of both bond and equity. According to research, there’s a potential for gain if you’ll invest in mutual funds for a long period of time – 5 year holding period at the very least. I sound like a broken record, but it pays to be extra cautious. So I’ll repeat this for the third time, scout for a reputable company to entrust your money. Visit http://www.pinoymoneytalk.com/2008/01/15/best-mutual-funds-philippines/#more-769 for an article on the best mutual funds of 2007.

As for me, I believe in putting your eggs in various baskets. Put some in the bank - for liquidity purposes, some in insurance – to protect your income, some in mutual funds – for capital gain. But more than any of this, start with something, SAVE. This would save you – in more ways than one.

HOT SKIES

When you're given the opportunity to see hot air balloons, I mean real ones, for the first time, you'll instantly grab it right? But if it means you have to wake up at 3:00 am with a toddler in tow, I'm sure you'll have second thoughts. But there's always a way to a good compromise. Since we wanted to see the 12th Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival, but we don't want to wake up very early just to see the balloons in flight, we decided that an overnight stay in Pampanga would solve our dilemma. We scouted for a resort or hotel that was very near Clark Field and can accomodate 6 adults and 1 kid in one room. I have 3 requirements - 1.) it should have a room big enough for me, my husband, my daughter, my sister and her boyfriend, my mother and father-in-law; 2.) it should have a swimming pool because my daughter loves to swim; 3.) food should be allowed inside the rooms because we'll bring in our own food so the we want this trip to be as cost efficient as possible. I found that place in Woodland Park Resort. It fits to a T. So we made the reservations and brought in the whole family. It was such as happy experience since it's our first. We arrived at 10:30 am. We headed straight to Clarkfield to see what's happening in the festival.

We had a picture-taking field day. Photos of aircrafts, guns, pinwheels and kites.

I was able to enjoy a serving of chicken shawarma which was divine because I really don't eat pork and beef. We headed to our hotel to eat lunch and take a nap.

At 4pm, we decided that it was time to swim. The swimming pool wasn't what we imagined - floating leaves and very, very cold water. But since my daughter is a fish, she didn't want to get out of it even if her lips have turned blue. Of course, no sane parent would agree for her to stay longer so we took her out even with so much protest.

We went back to the Festival grounds at 5pm to witness the night glow - this is when the balloons are inflated but they stayed on the ground. The effect would be similar to that of giant light bulbs. We were not so lucky. The balloons couldn't inflate because the wind was too strong. But we were able to witness the tiki-tiki dance. The burners are lighted up minus the hot air balloons. We also went to Boom na Boom sa Clark. It's like a carnival. Although we didn't stay long enough, we had fun playing the toss-a-coin-to-the square game and bingo. We won some, we lost some.

The next day, we woke up at 5am to witness the balloons in flight. I think our timing was good because we were able to witness how the balloons were inflated. Green, yellow, red, white - One after the other they flew. The cutest picks - the octopus balloon from Japan and the tiger balloon by Kellogg's. The rest of the morning we spent flying kites and waiting for parachuters.

We also went to Nayong Pilipino sa Clark Expo. We arrived around 10 minutes before 10am. We learned that there's a mass at Barasoain Church. So we heard mass. After that, I wandered around to take photos of the "old houses" and mayas lounging at the fountain.

We went back to the resort around 12nn. They allowed us to check out at 1:30 which was a good thing because we haven't taken our baths and we haven't eaten lunch. We arrived in Manila around 3:30pm. Great weekend getaway.

SUPERWOMOM'S NOTES:

Woodland Park Resort - In terms of value for money, I'm giving it an 8. We paid P2,940 for a room of six (this includes two extra mattresses). At that time, they have a promo - 20% off room rates for cash payments. The swimming pool wasn't great but it wasn't bad, except that the water is really chilly and it's not spanking clean. For more information, you may visit their website at http://www.woodland.ph/ or call (0916) 2130803.