Health & Home (Mar-Apr 2016)

CONTENTS

March-April 2016 6 I Couldn’t Change My Son

By J. Grant Swank, Jr.

A father finally gives up changing his son for good and for God

8 God’s Mirror

29 Babywearing: Bundles of Wonder

By Liza Marie M. Montillano

By Janet R. Tolete

Where everyone looks beautiful

Why some moms carry their babies as kangaroos do

11 Money Lessons From Mommy

By Rose Fres Fausto

Mother knows best...even in finance

14 The Tape Case

By Johanna C. Gallermo

What you gonna do with that cassette?

16 Of Hostesses and Guests

By Arceli H. Rosario

How to open your heart and home the hospitable way

18 Rivalry, Competition, and Cooperation

By Lucile B. Tañalas

The best way to play the game of life

21 Lemon Squeeze: Secret to a Healthy Life

By Arlene May G. Corpus

Why it’s such a hit among the health- conscious

23 Bicol’s Gem: Caramoan Group of Islands

32 A Mango for Jessy

By Samjee Kallimel

God honors a little girl’s prayer

36 Soybeans: Brain’s Potent Pill

By Rowena R. Antemano

Scientific proof that this seed helps neurons grow

ABOUT THE COVER

Michelle Angela Maravilla, triathlete, part-time consultant, and full-time homemaker, wears Baby Alessa in a proudly Pinoy hybrid wrap. For more on babywearing, please see page 29.

38 Can You Throw a Sponge at God?

By Marlo Schalesky

A modern parable on how God handles our insults

41 Getting a Shot? Oh, No! Oh, Yes!

By Evelyn V. Almocera

Preparing your children for the pain

44 Created in God’s Image

By John T. Baldwin, L. James Gibson, and Jerry D. Thomas

What our unique abilities as humans tell us about the Creator

By Jherson Jaya

Survivor’s favorite location, at last!

Coming Up...  How Can You Plant Seedless Grapes?  Who’s Paying for the Wedding?  Swimmer's Ears  Feminine Care  Zambales: JEST Camp’s Hunger Games  Singkamas: Summer’s Savory Snack  Rice Poisoning

27 Charge Your Summer

By Ryan J. Martinez

Power sources for your gadgets this season of fun in the sun

Photos in this issue are by rogeRGSabio unless credited otherwise.

Columns 3 Toward the Mark

By Mamerto M. Guingguing II

Continuing the Legacy 4 iContact

Compiled by Dexter O. Quiñones 10 Personal Answers

By Arnold C. Serra

Praying for a Boyfriend 15 Dear Doctor

By Linda L. Varona

Blurred Vision in a Diabetic

20 Consult Your Lawyer

By Silvino L. Sumagaysay, Jr.

Trade Secret 34 Food for the Family

By Miriam R. Estrada

Family Meals: What’s Your Style?

39 Subscribers Section

By Maria Luisa E. Galiza

Grateful Subscriber

40

43

46

Share a Thought

By Janet R. Tolete

Do Fish Take a Bath?

By Ryan J. Martinez

“We, Men” Speak Word for the World

By Ryan J. Martinez

The Divine Surety Children’s Corner

Grace

in the Act

Model not subject of article

I will always remember how much value my friend puts on the way God looks at her. She’d look at herself in the mirror and would confidently say, “Ang ganda ko talaga!” (I am really very beautiful!)

I

would often look at myself in the mirror and say, “I’m so fat.” When this feeling surfaces, I would try my best to resist the self-criticism I unmercifully unleash against myself.

Later I tried to make the most out of the fact that I am my worst critic. I started my journey in search of healthy diet tips and routines to trim down my waistline. I read everything I could get my hands into about weight loss— from valid library references to rusting myths.

Not one of the many health articles I’ve read missed this crucial requirement: water. This may sound completely off, but during elementary and high school years, one to two glasses of water got me through the day. Too much water intake made me vomit, or so I

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March-April 2016

God’s Mirror

By LIZA MARIE M. MONTILLANO

thought. Drinking more felt like my stomach was overflowing with too much liquid that vomiting would be a nice idea.

Now that I’m trying to pull the scale down, I had to set an alarm on my phone to consistently remind myself to drink water.

And boy, it took a lot of forced gulping for me to at least reach the minimum requirement.

Working out is also the ace of the game—something I learned the hard way. My PE I at the Adventist University of the Philippines in Silang, Cavite, was jogging. I was completely out of reasonable senses when I

thought I could pull it off. Alas, it was beyond torture!

With every jog, I could feel my knees heating up and my shirt drenching in sweat. I couldn’t even get enough air despite my wild gasps. Oddly enough though, soon after the semester was over, my body started missing the routine. One day I just said, “I want to jog.”

Removing junk foods and soft drinks from my diet was not much of a deal-breaker because I’ve never been a big fan to start with. I have to admit, though, that I would occasionally give in to a couple of bites and sips.

Bicol’s Gem: Caramoan Group of Islands Text and photos by JHERSON JAYA

T

en years ago Caramoan was just a dream. Unspoiled and hidden from public eye, its paradise-like beauty remained unadulterated.

Now Caramoan is a dream destination, its beauty enhanced further for us to appreciate and enjoy. The moment I stepped on my first island in Caramoan, I was ready to forget Manila. Everything was so alluring and mesmerizing. No wonder several seasons of Survivor shows were shot in this location, and will continue to be one of the show’s favorite places.

Caramoan is a first class municipality in the Bicol Region with less than 50,000 inhabitants.

It has more or less 70 kilometers of irregular coastline surrounded by the vast Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean on the north. Aside from Caramoan’s numerous islets, it has 10 major island-municipalities that are open to the public.

To reach Caramoan, my friends and I took a four-hour scenic ride of zigzag roads and rolling hills from Naga City, the jump-off place to this tourism gem. Lush green landscapes, Mayon Volcano’s towering beauty, and the farm life of rural Bicol were frequent views that kept us awake during the butt-numbing trip.

Upon reaching Caramoan, we were greeted by an ordinary beach with black sand. Of course, we were a little bit disappointed as we climbed the boat that would serve us in our island-hopping trip. But not for long.

Health & Home March-April 2016

23

Charge Your

Summer

By RYAN J. MARTINEZ

W

ho doesn’t look forward to enjoying the summer days away from school or the workplace? This respite from work or family responsibilities helps us recharge and revitalize.

So, what’s your favorite summer getaway? Swimming in the beach?

Hiking and camping in the mountain?

Biking your way to out-of-the-way places? Walking or commuting to explore towns and cities?

Before you start the fun, don’t forget your checklist on what to bring. For sure, you will bring your precious USB-charged electronic

gadgets like camera, cellphone, tablet, MP3 player, etc.—things you can’t live without.

Yes, these gadgets have become an essential part of our life. They capture precious moments, help us stay connected with our family and friends, and keep us from getting bored. But these devices are only useful as long as they have power.

To enjoy a hassle-free summer escapade without worrying about “low batt” or “dead batt” issues, these tools can help keep summerfun-seekers on the go.

pho to/p ixabay.com

Power bank A power bank is a battery backup,

basically an external battery, in a sealed case. Power banks are also known as power stations or battery banks. This device allows the user to store electrical energy (like depositing money in the bank) and then later use it to charge an electronic gadget (like withdrawing money from the bank).

Power banks usually have a dedicated input socket for receiving power such as a USB socket. For a faster charge, use a wall socket adapter instead of a computer or laptop.

Capacity

Mobile Phone

Tablet

5,200mAh

2 full charges

approximately 50 percent full charge

1,500mAh 10,000mAh

1 full charge

9 full charges

N/A

approximately 100 percent full charge1

Be sure to charge your power bank before leaving your place for a sure power backup to charge your gadget with anytime, anywhere.

Health & Home March-April 2016

27

Babywearing: Bundles of Wonder

By JANET R. TOLETE

Y

Mommy Mish & baby Alessa

ou might have seen them in malls, parks, airports, schools, or even in the office—mothers looking like kangaroos, wearing their babies in what looks like a sling, a backpack, or a curtain. What are they doing and why?

Babywearing is just that— “carrying or holding a baby or young child by means of wearing a baby carrier.”1 The trend is just gaining popularity here in the country, but it has actually been practiced in various cultures around the world, including our indigenous people.

Dr. William Penton Sears, an American pediatrician, popularized babywearing as an important aspect of what he calls “attachment parenting.” 2

An “outside womb”

“By extending the womb experience, the babywearing mother (and father) provides an external regulating system that balances the irregular and disorganized tendencies of the baby,” Dr. Sears observes.3 “The womb lasts eighteen months: Nine months inside mother, and nine months outside.”

Based on his clinical experience, he lists other benefits of babywearing: less crying, more time for learning, and better exposure to human activities and interactions.

Breastfeeding partner Mommy Karen & baby Mia

Babywearing also makes breastfeeding easier. Being close to each other makes it instinctive for both mother and baby to bond and breastfeed. Some types of carriers also work as nursing bibs or covers, making it more convenient to breastfeed even in public.

Some Filipina babywearing mothers actually stumbled upon babywearing after researching about breastfeeding.

“My main reason was to breastfeed my baby anytime, anywhere discreetly and hassle-free,” says Gladys Anne Compuesto, a hemodialysis nurse in Pasay City.

Part-time business development consultant and triathlete Michelle Angela Maravilla also loves wearing her 11-monthold Alessa while taking care of her eldest, Anika, 7.

Health & Home March-April 2016

29

Healthy, happy

Babywearing International, a global support group for babywearers, cites how carrying makes babies and mommies healthy and happy. 4 Skin-to-skin contact between mother and child, such as what is also achieved through babywearing, has been repeatedly proven to increase weight in premature babies and those with special needs.

Babywearing also comforts the mother herself as she becomes more familiar with her baby and more confident in her role as a parent.

Their bond is naturally enhanced and post-partum depression can even be addressed.

Mommy Joanne and baby Jamie

Mommy Jade and Daddy Joseph with their boys

illustration/freepik.com

Sherry Jade Fudolin, who also breastfeeds and babywears, explains how she feels closer with her sons now by wearing them, sometimes even with just a malong.

“I want to carry Blane [her toddler] so I could make up for the lost bonding we could have had when he was still an infant. I was working then and only saw him when I got home late at night and cuddled him only on my days off. For my youngest, Zef, I wear him because I don’t want to miss a thing while he’s growing,” Jade recollects.

Simply practical

Parents don’t need to subscribe to attachment parenting, however, to appreciate the practicality and convenience of baby­ wearing, as illustrated in households with no househelp.

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March-April 2016

Thushara Bilog, a flight attendant, attests to this. “I am a hands-on mom with no yaya.

Babywearing gives me the mobility to do other chores while carrying him around with me. Also, wearing my son assures me that he is being held and carried safely and securely. And of course, I get to cuddle and kiss him anytime!”

Janina Micca Perez, a workat-home mom, also testifies how babywearing enables her to perform her multiple tasks as a career woman and mother.

“We live on the 6th floor of a walk-up building. I have to run errands from time to time that require me to go out. We have a stroller, but it’s bulky and I can’t bring it down the stairs while carrying a nine-kilogram baby. The carrier helps me move around with less hassle.”

While on the go

Traveling also becomes more convenient through babywearing.

Roselyn Sumaila, a fraud analyst in Cebu, cherishes her flights to her Manila office and back with her little one. “I usually travel alone with my baby and a hand-carry luggage.... I love the feeling that she sleeps close to my chest.”

Meanwhile, Michelle Lee Matias, an IT consultant, shares this interesting story: “One unforgettable experience was when I was able to bring Joie to an outreach mission trip in a Dumagat village in Bulacan. We had to walk for three hours just to

Mommy Shara & baby Dylan

photos courtesy of babywearing mothers

“Since I am also exclusively breastfeeding, it works hand in hand with babywearing. After nursing, some babies would still want the warmth of the mother, being carried and held, and with the help of babywearing, you could do that while doing other things,” Mish adds.

CHILDREN’S CORNER

By JANET R. TOLETE

FISH CARWASH Silly question

Do fish take a bath?

—Roger, 6 years old

N

ot really but they do something to get cleaned.

Fish don’t really take a bath like people. They are always wet anyway. Unlike little boys and girls who are almost always dry and get wet just to get cleaned up or take a bath, fish need no bathing. But like any other

animal, fish need some cleaning, too.

Parasites, dead or diseased scales or tissue, mucus, bacteria, and algae can cause discomfort and diseases to fishes and big marine animals like manta rays, sharks, and turtles. To get rid of these pests, these animals visit cleaning stations like a carwash.

Bigger sea animals, the “clients,” drop by big rocks or corals in the ocean’s reefs, the so-called cleaning stations, to avail of the services of small fish and shrimps, the “cleaners.” The most common cleaners are small fishes like wrasses (e.g., Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse) and gobies (of the genus Elacatinus), and shrimps (e.g., the skunk, whitebanded, or Pacific shrimp).

To get rid of these pests, these animals visit cleaning stations like a carwash.

Cleaners perform some sort of a dance to attract clients. Sometimes, though, clients just drop by regularly. Moray eels, groupers, snappers, and other bigger sea animals come near the cleaning station.

What’s amazing is that they hold themselves still, open their mouths and gills, and let the small cleaner fishes do their job—without eating them as they usually do!

Scientists call this relationship symbiosis. The big fish get rid of parasites and unwanted elements, while the small fish and shrimp happily feed on what they clean up.

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March-April 2016

photos/123RF.com

Fishy washy

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