IFC AD
Publisher’s Memo
Note from the Editor
I have been looking forward to featuring this inspiring young woman on our cover. It’s not only because she’s one of the most popular young moms on social media. It’s not only because she is an active, hands-on mom to her super charming son, and not only because her life story is worth sharing. I have been wanting to have Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio on Urban Mom because I have known her since she was a teenager. And seeing her now as a strong, smart, and positive influence to young women and moms everywhere makes me so happy!
In a few years, my sons will graduate from university, and I have to tell you that I just can’t wait! For the past two decades, the all-encompassing goal of my life has been to raise my children into good, upstanding citizens. And it brings me so much joy to see that my efforts have not gone to waste. I am proud of how my children have turned out, and I am excited to see what they’ll do next.
Rica has so much to share and lucky for us, she is blessed with a talent and passion for writing, as you can read from her blog. She is also always eager to learn and grow, making her perfect for our learning-themed issue. I hope you find inspiration in reading her story as we did.
Which brings me to the question that my son Sam has been asking me for the past few weeks: “What are you going to do next, Mom?” I suppose they’re so used to seeing me going on all cylinders that they’re curious to know what I’ll do when I can finally take it easy. It’s simple really, I’m going to go back to school. I am going to learn how to play a guitar. I am going to travel to different places. I’m going to take a few online courses too. I want to know more about ancient Greece and Emily Dickinson. I want to learn how to code. I want to know about neuroscience. There’s so much I have still to learn, and so I just can’t wait! How about you? What do you want to learn more about? Let’s learn together!
MAY - JUNE 2015 PUBLISHERS Gary M. Villanueva Janice Crisostomo-Villanueva EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jing Lejano ADMINISTRATIVE Arnel Banares CREATIVE CONSULTANT Jaymie Pizarro LAYOUT Jansene Alegre PHOTOGRAPHY Stanley Ong Urban Mom is available for free download at www. mommymundo.com/urbanmom. For inquiries, call 470-9925 or 0918 930-0313 or email urbanmom@mommymundo.com. Urban Mom is a lifestyle magazine for modern moms. Material appearing here may not be reproduced in print or electronically without permission from the publisher and without proper credit. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers. Although considerable care and attention has been exerted to verify the listings, the publishers are not liable for any inaccuracies in the information. Urban Mom is published by MommyMundo of Creative Juice Communications Inc. www.mommymundo.com Follow Mommy Mundo at
Dear Urban Mom, I had so much fun reading your story on Patty Laurel and Kelly Misa. I have followed the careers of these talented women for years, and I am happy to see them all excited as they enter another phase of their lives. I wish these women all the best! I’m sure they’ll make the most awesome of mothers! Cheers! Teresa Duarte
WRITE US! The chosen letter sender wins a Bensimon Sneakers. (Subject to size and color availability) Email us at urbanmom@mommymundo.com and you might be chosen as the winning letter sending to win our special gift.
Learning is easy with these thingamajigs. FOR MOMS
FOR KIDS
Thread it! DMC yarns 3 and embroidery threads, with its wide range of colors
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Practice your pose. Empower MP-2941R Printed Yoga Mat is extra thick, giving you added comfort while you stretch. Made of rubber, it is non-slip and comes with a pocket for your valuables. www.lazada.com.ph
and textures, are absolutely essential for knitters and cross stitchers who want to come up with fabulous work. www. facebook.com/DMCPhilippines
Toys handmade. Let your 6 child discover letters, numbers, and shapes with soft, handmade plushies from Ant’s Pocket. They spell hours of fun for the little ones. www. facebook.com/AntsPocketPH
Study in style. You’ll love 4 taking down notes in class all the more when you use
Sing a song. JoomaJam 7 makes learning oh-so fun with its kid-friendly songs,
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Shape up! Fun Poly Dots 8 are cool and ready to use, allowing your child to
the beautiful stationery items from the Daphne collection at National Book Store. They’re available in four patterns. www.nationalbookstore.com.ph
helping parents and kids have a meaningful time together. Joomajam.bandcamp.com
Write well. Craftsters 2 who have rediscovered calligraphy will be happy
to note that Craft Carrot offers all sorts of supplies for their passion, including ZIG Calligraphy Pens with Oblique and Square points in three tip sizes. The online store has metallic and neon colored pens too. www.craftcarrot.com
Bento bets. You’ll find it easy to turn your children’s baon into beautiful bento creations with tools and kits from Bento Mommas. www. facebook.com/bentomommas
experiment with shaping and molding. What’s more, they can be used over and over again. www.fattybraintoys.com
Gymboree PreSchool For ages 2 to 4 years
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Come and see why children love Gymboree what makes our program so unique. www.gymboree-ph.com
They say that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. But as numerous studies have borne out, you apparently can. More importantly, adult learners like us stand to gain so much more when we go on a quest for further education. Learning new skills not only opens up new career opportunities, it also builds up self-esteem, keeps minds sharp, and moods happy!
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Take classes. This is the traditional way of getting an education. Go back to university. If you’re not up to working for your Master’s degree, then take a few audit classes to help you get into the college groove. Of course, there are other learning institutions where you can take a course or two like SoFA Design Institute for fashion and design, Photo World Manila for photography, and Young Artists’ Studio for drawing, sculpture, and video production, and Enderun Extension for culinary, pastry, and entrepreneurship, among others.
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Teach yourself. Another way of revving up your skills set is by going online, and learning new stuff by yourself. You’ve probably heard of an anecdote or two of people learning how to play the guitar or do makeup through YouTube. Well, you can do that too. Here are other sites which you might want to check out: eHow, MAKE Magazine, Lifehacker, Work.com, Howcast, VideoJug, and Zen Habits.
Just do it! Last but not least, just go ahead 3 and do it! According to the Learning Pyramid, students retain 90 percent of what they teach someone else or do immediately, 75 percent of what they do, 50 percent of what they discuss, 30 percent of what they see, 20 percent of what they see and hear, 10 percent of what they read, and 5 percent of what they hear. When we practice what we’ve learned, we start making mistakes, which help in pointing us towards the right way of doing things. So go ahead, read your books, listen to lectures, and do your research. But afterwards, when you’ve figured out the ABCs, just do it!
FREE ONLINE COURSES
The Internet is a treasure trove for learners looking to pick up a new skill. Here, some websites offering courses for free! 1. Speak better. Take the University of Washington’s Introduction to Public Speaking. Check out www.coursera.org/ learn/public-speaking 2. Read faster. Improve your reading skill and comprehension through Spreeder, a free online program. Check out www. spreeder.com 3. Learn to code. Harvard University is offering an introduction to computer science course online for free. Check out its Code Academy at www. edx.org/course/introductioncomputer-science-harvardx-cs50x 4. Learn to draw. Pick up a sketchbook with confidence by learning the ABCs of drawing at www.drawspace.com. 5. Pick up a new language. At Duolingo, learn how to speak French, Italian, and Spanich for free. Go to www.duolingo.com.
Learn Something New Today! photo taken from www.dreamstime.com by Martinmark
How do we keep our brains churning? There are different ways by which we can learn a new skill. Here are some of them:
Rica Peralejo Bonifacio found her voice in her blog, Wanders & Wonders. But what’s more exciting is what she’ll do with it next! Text by Jing Lejano Photography by Stanley Ong Make up by Inglot Accessories by Moonstone Designs Shot on location at Mindchamps International, 20 th Drive Corporate Center, Bonifacio Global City
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o be honest, it took quite a bit of time for me to get over the fact that Rica PeralejoBonifacio is now a mother. I’ve always remembered her as the bubbly little girl from Ang TV, and so when I finally came face to face with Rica, the mommy, I was a bit surprised. She is, of course, still as pretty as ever, but there is a sense of purpose to her these days, something which might not have been quite obvious back then when she was still flitting from one showbiz “role” to another: teeny bopper, dance queen, scream queen. But if there is one role which Rica absolutely enjoys, apart from being mom to Philip and husband to Joe, it’s being a student. At 26, while her colleagues were busy with their careers and their love lives, Rica took the road less travelled and went back to school. It was at the Ateneo de Manila University where Rica took up Literature in English, and had the most amazing time of her life. Although she was
dead tired most of the time, as she still had a morning show to go to, Rica discovered so much about herself during her four years in university. “If I could get paid to be a student, then that’s what I’m going to do. I would just keep producing papers. My husband once said that he has never met anyone who would, after watching a really great movie, would say, ‘Oh my God, this is a really nice film. I want to write a paper about it!’ But that’s really my expression. If I’m in awe about something, I need to write about it.” But as much as Rica enjoyed going to school, she shares, “I really often asked myself: ‘Am I doing the right thing?’ That’s opportunity cost. No matter how you look at it that was four solid years of my life where I couldn’t accept other jobs. But somehow, I knew that I needed to do it for myself. By that point, I realized that work is not everything. Even if I had a nice career or I earned a lot, I realized that that wasn’t enough to give me a fulfilled life. I knew I had to do it, and I was so happy!”
Hello World!
Finishing school gave Rica a new lease on life. She not only started climbing mountains, she also started publishing her own blog. At first, she just documented her climbing adventures, blogging on work stuff on the side. But pretty soon, as her life took on several dramatic turns— finding the love of her life, getting married, having a baby—the blog evolved into some kind of wonderful. Today, it’s one of the more popular blogs in the country, introducing us to a Rica who is not only smart, funny, and adventurous, it also gave us a peek into a Rica who is strong, formidable, and oh so loving! Readers naturally gravitated to her wit and sincerity; brands quickly noticed her growing influence.
“I’ve always had a thing for writing. When I was young, the best way I felt that I could express myself was through writing.”
But for Rica, blogging only reinforced her passion for writing. She shares, “I’ve always had a thing for writing. When I was young, the best way I felt that I could express myself was through writing. For example, if my mom was celebrating her birthday, I wasn’t the type to verbally say ‘Happy birthday’ or ‘I love you,’ but I would write it.” Apart from her blog, Rica also writes a weekly column for the Manila Bulletin, something she is particularly grateful for. Because she had to follow a weekly deadline, it gave her a sense of discipline. She says, “If you ask me, what fulfills you? I wouldn’t say acting. I wouldn’t say dancing, probably singing, but not even. But when you tell me, write for this, kinikilig talaga ko. And I’m only beginning to have a sense of where it’s going.” She shares, “I entered 2015 with no plans whatsoever. You just keep writing and writing, and later on, when you gather them all together, it already has a form. Now I’m beginning to see, ‘Hey, maybe someday I’m going to be an editor, someday I’m going to publish my own stuff.’ But I haven’t had the time to sit down. It’s hard when you’re a mom. You have to juggle all these things at the same time. I can’t work as fast as I want to but I trust God has his perfect time.”
How motherhood changed Rica... “My world turned upside down. We are all aware of how hard motherhood can be. It’s like climbing a montain. When you climb a moutain, you always think: ‘Why am I doing this? Should I just go down?’ But then you’re way too far into it, so you have no choice but to keep on. When you are subjected to things that you have no control of, you actually discover that you can do a lot of things, like I’m a master of one-handed operations nowadays. I wouldn’t have known that about myself if I didn’t become a mom.”
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t’s not surprising to find that behind Discovery Depot, that delightful hub of toys that are developmentally appropriate and absolutely safe, is one passionate mother. After all, who else but a mom would be so conscientious and meticulous when it comes to playthings which children have fun with every day.
“Having children let me get in touch more with my humanity.” Sherry Siy, mom of two and founder of Discovery Depot, says, “I love the fact that Discovery Depot toys are good for children and good for environment. We know that the products we offer have a positive impact on child development and society.”
Having come from an entrepreneurial family, Sherry says, “The entrepreneurial mindset is something I imbibed while I was growing up. What I saw that I liked was that my parents were always there for me. They were working hard, but they had flexibility of time to be with us children.” Sherry was on a hunt for wooden toys for her son Marcus when she stumbled on the Wonderworld brand. She instantly fell in love with the brand, and set her mind on bringing it to the Philippines. She has since discovered equally exciting educational toys for Filipino children. Her ultimate goal: “We’d like to see a Philippines where every parent chooses a toy not on the basis of price or countless functions, but a toy that educates and develops the physical, mental, emotional, and social skills of their child.”
when she launched her blog, www.teachertina. net, which advocates progressive education and other family issues. She has since become a favorite resource person in magazines and newspapers because of her intelligence and wit. Teacher Tina only decided to be an educator when she started bringing her eldest child to UP-CDC. She says, “I was so inspired with her teacher that I wanted to be one myself.”
“I get inspired to teach whenever I see the creativity of my students, the strength and passion of my co-teachers, and the support of the families in school.” Being a part of a child’s learning process excites her so, and nothing saddens her more than seeing kids who don’t want to go to school.
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earing Teacher Tina Zamora talk about progressive education before a group of inquisitive parents, one could only hope that today’s educators are as insightful and eloquent as her. The directress of Nest School for Whole Child Development, a progressive school offering preschool and elementary education, Teacher Tina gained the attention of parents everywhere
A mom of three, Teacher Tina says, “Being a mother and a teacher at the same time made me empathize on the plight of parents as they raise their kids and send them to school. Being a Family Life and Child Development specialist, I believe that I can only achieve my goals as a teacher if I work with my students’ parents. Since I have kids too, it is easier to work with families because we go through the same challenges in our parenting life.”
Mom Manifesto is your mommy mission come to life. It is a visual declaration of your life’s purpose. It will serve as your beacon, a light to guide you through your mom journey, allowing you to be mindful of your every thought and deed, making sure each contributes to your life’s purpose.
Are you ready to take on a mission, mommy? It’s going to be quite exciting, and at times, nerve-wracking. It will require you to put on your thinking cap, do a bit of drawing, some computing, and a whole lot of analyzing, but at the end of it all, you will be a changed woman! And yes, it is a mission that’s totally possible! Mommy Mundo’s latest project, the Mom Manifesto campaign, invites moms on a five-week journey of mindfulness and self-discovery. The Mom Manifesto campaign is a series of online workshops designed to help moms discover their mission in life and formulate their Mom Manifesto statement. Developed by Michele S. Alignay, MA, Registered Guidance Counselor and Parenting, Relationship, and Family Life Specialist, and Janice Villanueva, Mommy Mundo Founder, the campaign calls for moms to be more mindful of their thoughts and actions and in the process, deepen their purpose as mothers. Villanueva observes, “Moms are so caught up in the little things that they sometimes lose sight of the big picture. We’re always thinking of what I should do next that we fail to ask ourselves, why I am doing these things in the first place? Why I am here? What is my life’s purpose? What is my mission?” Through a series of online activities, including a pop quiz and a drawing exercise, moms are given the tools to gain a more insightful knowledge of themselves— their daily routine, family history, parenting style, goals, and interests. Not only are these activities free, they are also convenient and easy to take. Just download the exercises, and complete them at your own pace wherever you may be. Each will only take about 15 minutes to make. What are you waiting for? Be a mom with a mission! Join Mommy Mundo’s Mom Manifesto campaign!
HOW TO JOIN: • Every Friday, from April 24, a downloadable worksheet will be posted on www.expomom.com/mommanifesto. • It will only take 15 minutes for moms to complete the activity, which she can accomplish wherever she maybe. • Participants will be asked to complete their assignment by Monday. • Post photos or updates of your Mom Manifesto journey on your social media accounts or share it on Mommy Mundo’s Facebook page. Don’t forget to include #mommanifesto hastag. • By sharing your journey, you will get a chance to win P10,000 worth of momapproved and mom-tested product picks at Expo Mom, the biggest gathering of its kind showcasing the latest in family-oriented product innovations and parenting trends, which is happening at the Glorietta Activity Center from May 22 to 24, 2015. • There will be a total of five activities, with the last to be posted on May 22, 2015. • At Expo Mom, post your Mom Manifesto on the Mom Manifesto Statement Wall and join your fellow moms as you shout out your mission to the world!
Instead of going to the mall or hiking off to the beach, how about taking a class with the whole family? Being classmates with your children puts a new twist on bonding time. It not only gives you the opportunity to spend time with your kids, it also tells them that one is never too old to learn a new thing.
Googly & Gooeys: 2015 Watercolor & Brush Lettering Workshop Spruce up your lettering skills in this workshop. Learn how to make inspirational quotes and cool name plates with watercolors. Date: June 13, 2015 Venue: Fully Booked Alabang Session fee: P2,600 Contact: www.googlygooeys.com COOKING Shortcrust by Peachy Juban: Desserts and Sauces Everybody loves desserts, and you’ll learn how to make Belgian Chocolate Mousse, Creme Brulee, Panna Cotta, and Banana Crepes in this class. Date: May 20, 2015 Venue: Academy One Building 293 A.Aguirre corner Gov.Santos, BF Homes Paranaque City Session fee: P3,500 Contact: peachyjuban.com; shortcrust@gmail.com The Cookery Place: Kitchen Connection This is a fun class where kids and adults learn how to make comfort food together. One group consists of two adults and two kids up to age 12. Date: May 26, 10AM to 1PM Venue: Unit 2 G & H Kensington Place Condominium, 1st Ave. cor 29th St. Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Session fee: P7,000 per group
The Cookery Place: Mommy/Daddy and Me Here, a parent and his child get together to make pizza and pasta. Date: May 15, 2PM to 5PM Venue: Unit 2 G & H Kensington Place Condominium, 1st Ave. cor 29th St. Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Session fee: P4,000 per pair Contact: thecookeryph@gmail.com LIFE SKILLS Manila Workshops: Managing Family Income and Budget Here’s a finance workshop for couples who would like to know more about balancing family income and planning for the future. Date: May 30, 2015, 1PM to 5PM Venue: Best for Families Headquarters, #29 1st Street, New Manila, Quezon City Session fee: Couple rate is P,1200 Contact: manilaworkshops@gmail.com SPORTS Perkins Twins Tennis Academy: Learn how to play tennis through a curriculum adapted from the USTA (United States Tennis Association). Available programs include: Leap Frog for ages 10 and Under, Xcite for Junior Tennis Players, and Adult Tennis (18 and over) Venue: Edsa Shangri-la Session fees: Leap Frog/Xcite P6,800/8 sessions at 1 hour per session; Adult Training P7,800/8 sessions at 1 hour per session Contact: www.facebook.com/ perkinstwinstennisacademy; info@theptta.com Suntumog Kali: Get fit with the whole family. Learn the moves of Filipino Martial Arts (FMA). Venue: 2nd Level, Metrolane Complex, 20th Avenue corner P.Tuazon Blvd. Cubao, Quezon City Session fee: P250 Contact: www.suntumogkali.bravesites.com; filipinomartialarts11@gmail.com
It’s a Date photo taken from www.freedigitalphotos.net by stockimages
ARTS & CRAFTS Craft Manila: Crafting Leather Cuffs Make up to 10 leather cuff bracelets with your teenaged kids! Know how to measure, cut leather, and add snap buttons. You’ll also learn how to make simple embroidery stitches and fashion a braid out of leather. Date: May 17, 2PM to 5PM Venue: Unit 302, Pasay Road Condomium, 926 Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City Session fee: P2,000; only 10 participants per session Contact: craftmnl.com
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Mommy Mundo Leads 1st MomSchool
Moms and dads had their pen and paper at the ready for MomSchool, a Mommy Mundo event dedicated to orienting parents about the ABCs of schooling. Teacher Ryce Calunsag of The Learning Library spoke about raising bilingual children. Vin Dancel talked about using technology and music to teach kids English and Filipino in a fun and interactive way. In photo, Teacher Tina Zamora of Nest School gave parents tips on how to choose the right preschool for their children. www.mommymundo.com
Aranaz Unveils Spring/ Summer Collection
Smart at One Direction Concert
Smart Communications, Inc. recently sponsored One Direction’s On The Road Again Tour at the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds. Smart also gave away tickets to lucky subscribers. www. facebook.com/SmartCommunications
For its Earth Chameleon Collection, Aranaz goes for the dusky allure of the exotic in its natural and organic signatures. Lush details are rendered onto metal cutwork, handcarved wood, and hand embroidery. The collection is now available at Aranaz stores in Greenbelt 5 and Power Plant Mall. In photo, Amina Aranaz and guests. www.shop.aranaz.ph
Lex N Go Bento Workshop
Lex N Go collapsible containers held a bento making workshop at Common Thread in Rockwell. The workshop was facilitated by bento artist Kat Maderazo (in photo) with Gouache lunch bags as event partner. instagram.com/lexngoph/
Belly Blessed Mamas at Pregnant Pause
Batik Dyeing at L’Indochine
Moms had a grand time at L’Indochine’s first workshop led by master crafter Alessandra Lanot of Life After Breakfast. The participating moms were taught the elements of batik dyeing. www.facebook.com/ ShopLindochine
Infanticipating moms enjoyed tips and treats at the latest edition of Mommy Mundo’s Pregnant Pause. Inglot, a cosmetics brand from Poland, gave prettifying tips to the mommies while Monica Eleazar Manzano, yogini mama and attachment parenting advocate, facilitated a relaxing prenatal yoga session. All belly blessed mamas went home with a starter pack from Huggies Philippines. www.mommymundo.com
Caltex and Robinsons Partnership
Robinsons Rewards Card (RRC) members can now use their points to redeem P1 discount for every one liter fuel purchase at participating Caltex stations nationwide following an agreement between Caltex and Robinsons. In photo: Robina Gokongwei-Pe, Robinsons Retail Holdings President; Jessy Mendiola, Robinsons Rewards Card Brand Ambassador; and Peter Morris, Chevron Philippines Country Chairman. www.caltex.com.ph; www.facebook.com/RobinsonsRewardsCard