As a homeschooling mom, I always seek enriching educational opportunities abroad for my children, in case they will want to try to study outside the Philippines. Recently, I came across Union Catholic High School, a top private school in New Jersey (I have feedback that confirms their claim to be a top-tier high school in their location), and I learned that they’ve been reaching out to Filipino families like ours. Through their “Beyond Boundaries” roadshow, Union Catholic representatives — Assistant Principal, James Reagan, School Counselor, Jennifer Dixon, and Elito Tanyag, Teacher of Religio ..read more

Summertime is usually a period when parents seek activities and events to keep their children engaged, aside from out-of-town trips and vacations. The more popular activities tend to involve sports or the arts. However, last year I had the privilege of witnessing young entrepreneurs learning about business and branding at a bazaar event designed especially for kids. I think it’s brilliant that we now have workshops that deviate from the usual offerings in the market. For example, Power Mac Center’s Creativity Camp offers workshops that acknowledge the diverse interests and passions of our youn ..read more

We let our 18 year old off the hook recently. I sat him down after weeks of unpleasant run-ins and he cautiously expressed his desire to withdraw from his homeschool provider so he can do the things he really wants to do and be “more productive.” Even with our unschooling setup, we have registered our kids with a US-based homeschool provider so they can have proper school documentations. Yes, our kids have more freedom to choose what to learn and how to learn them, but with a homeschool provider, we still have to conform to a certain structure and standards. For example, they can study anythin ..read more

We skipped the caves in Sagada and decided to take a walk around to see what else was there. Sagada is known for its traditional pottery and woven products, so that’s what we wanted to check out first. We saw the famous weaving shop when we arrived, so we decided to start there. The weaving shop was only about 2 to 3 kms away from our lodge, so we decided to walk up the street so we can look around the neighborhood, too. Where we were was just a street with different lodges and small restaurants run by locals. There were plenty of small food places to choose from, but since it was our first ti ..read more

Strapless bras are a popular pairing for outfits that would reveal over-the-shoulder bra straps. These bras can be challenging to size appropriately, and bras without features that allow for a reliable fit can be prone to slip down. A strapless or backless strapless bra in the right size and with features for a comfortable fit can resolve this issue. Here are four features to look for in a strapless bra. More Hooks on Larger Size Bras Most bras have hook and eye closures with three columns of eyes for adjusting the strap size. Bras in larger sizes may have four or more columns for a wider rang ..read more

We went to see Rama, Hari at Samsung Performing Arts Theater last February 17 mainly for two things: to show support and cheer for Filipino artists, and for my two older boys, Pablo and Lukas, who aspire to be as skillful as their dancing icons. You should have seen them all leaned over the entire second act! I was expecting to see exactly the same acts from when we watched Rama, Hari at the Metropolitan theater in 2023, but I was delightfully surprised to see that ARDP added a few touches that made the show even more unforgettable. (Read: Alice Reyes’ Rama Hari 2023) Last year, we witnessed R ..read more

Curfew begins at 10pm in Sagada, which left us nothing much to do but take to bed earlier than we usually do. You see, the room we were given at our accommodations,Umatan Matuba lodge, was only big enough to fit 2 double decker beds and a single bed which was occupied by Earl, the single joiner in our travel group. There was a private bathroom, which Earl opted not to use very much. (He used the common one downstairs), but there was no TV, not even WIFI to keep you preoccupied; and I think it’s because tourists that come to Sagada normally seek the adventurous outdoor activities and only come ..read more

I visited the School of Alice Reyes Dance Philippines (School of ARDP) at The City Club studio in Makati last Friday. A new class called Ballet Core Workout was being introduced and they opened it for all fitness levels, which means that even if you are not a ballet dancer nor aspiring to be one, you can join the workouts to stay fit and fab! Now, if you are a dancer, of course, you are welcome! The class is being taught by professional choreographer and dancer, and according to Pablo, a licensed Pilates instructor, Bonnie Guerrero, whose choreographic work, the romantic pas de deux for “Ano’n ..read more

A few years ago, I visited Abot Tala, a self-directed learning community for teens that met at a beautiful facility in Taguig. I remember watching my eldest son, Pablo, take to the environment so naturally, that we signed him up for some of the classes. He spent three enriching years with the community that helped him discover what more he could do, all the while growing alongside other independent-minded teens. During the height of the pandemic, Abot tala had to make some tough calls that included letting go of their beloved facility and transitioning their classes online. Fortunately, going ..read more

In recent years, the Philippines has emerged as a global leader in the outsourcing industry, particularly in the realm of Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO). This sophisticated segment of outsourcing goes beyond the traditional Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) by offering knowledge-based services that require specialized skills and expertise. In this comprehensive exploration, we’ll delve into why the Philippines is becoming a hub for KPO and how businesses worldwide are benefiting from this trend. What is Knowledge Process Outsourcing? Knowledge Process Outsourcing involves tasks that dema ..read more