And do you know that it’s National Arts Month this February?
Arts hub/my workplace from Tuesday to Friday. Fitness hub during weekends.
So, let me invite you to some of our activities this whole Arts Month:
Wednes-Date with Orlina: Filipiniana Sunsets
Filipiniana Sunsets started late last year, and has gained viewership through the people who pass by the CCP Ramp for an evening jog. Sad, but this wonderful one-hour showcase of everything Filipino — from dance to music — should gain more viewership!
I really suggest those schools who are planning to do their educational trips to watch this FREE show. Yes, you’ve read it right, it’s FREE! Show starts at 6PM.
With Mamma Mia now playing at the Main Theater, Filipiniana Sunsets is now at the Liwasang Aseana across the Tanghalang Pambansa, set on a backdrop of a beautiful sculpture of Ramon Orlina. Oh, what a lovely way to end a midweek evening!
PASINAYA 2012: The CCP Open House
This is an annual activity of the CCP where you could use your five senses in experiencing art. See, hear, touch, smell, and taste art in all possible venues at the CCP!
For a small donation of twenty pesos, this one-day treat is so worth it. You can even volunteer to help facilitating the shows and workshops, as there will be so many groups performing.
This year’s highlight is the Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo, and it’s the first time CCP is doing a regional theme.
Bring your whole family, invite your friends, classmates, and workmates, even strangers to experience art. And maybe, just maybe, we can all inject a little ka-arte-han to everyone.
”Hindi nagbabago ang taon. Ang nagbabago ay ang pagkakataon para gumawa ng mabuti. (The years don’t really change. What changes are the occasions to do good.” — Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales in his New Year’s Day Mass, Shrine of Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Happy New Year from our love-filled household!
The quote above started my year right. It was all about opportunities, after all. The calendar changes but they’re just mere numbers if we do not make the most out of each day that passes.
2011 had been both good and bad to me. It was a year filled with work (wow, after one year of hiatus!), taking care of the household — the Schatzihaus, the hubby, the baby — breastfeed, breastfeed, breastfeed, managing church duties, dealing with like-minded and different-minded people (hard work, I tell ya), and so much more! Oh, it was such a fun 2011.
I’m filled with good vibes this year. More work coming, blessings abound, family in good health. And since this is Day 4 of 2012, I will share four New Year’s Resolutions which I pray I can all accomplish:
1. Clean up
My closet, my baby’s closet, my files and music sheets, my phonebook and messages, my Facebook and Twitter friends list, my email. Just typing this makes me think if I could really find time for it!
2. Dig deeper
When the collection basket passes your way, do you even care to put even a few coins in it? Or do you look at the ceiling instead and ignore it?
Last year, our church had a couple of fund-raising activities — a concert and a raffle. It was our community’s way of reaching out to the needy.
Little did everyone know Sendong’s wrath would close the year. Everyone did something to extend help. But of course, we do not help only when there’s a calamity like this. Help doesn’t stop there.
So this year, I’ll dig deeper in my pockets to extend more help to more people in need. As our beloved Rector would always say: mabuti nang ikaw ang tumulong, kaysa ikaw ang tinutulungan.
3. Avoid envy
Okay, okay. I admit it, I easily get envious especially when I read status message and blogs, especially mom blogs.
Moms looking beautiful in their fab outfits, juggling work and raising a child, having a fantabulous vacay here and there, having well-behaved babies (ours, despite being a girl, is very hyper! But we oh so love her!), etc.
So to solve this, I will read blogs only once a day for a few minutes, the same amount of time I take my vitamins.
4. Promote breastfeeding more
2011 was a banner year for breastfeeding and I’m so blessed and proud to be advocating this. I’ve turned my formula-fed family into a breastfeeding-believing community. I’ve asked so much questions, answered doubts about it, blogged so many times, even visited a new mom in a hospital who needed that pep talk in breastfeeding her preterm baby. The often unnoticed image of the Blessed Mother nursing her Baby Jesus in our church is now frequented by devotees and curious ones, myself included. I never fail to pray that through Her intercession, the Lord may bless this little child He entrusted us. And we’ve enjoyed this unique, no, make that NORMAL experience for the past 16 months and counting!
We’ll all do better this year, right? After all, there’s so much to be thankful for, one of which is witnessing another calendar change.
You wouldn't want to miss this concert for sure. Click here for details.
…And that, my friends, is how I think December 17 and 18 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater will be!
Ten years ago, I was a freshie at the UP College of Music. Back then, I just hear the Philippine Madrigal Singers on CD, their 1997 European Grand Prix tour recording. No clue at all that I’ll be participating in the same competition ten years after.
I didn’t even know that Ma’am OA, or Prof. Andrea Veneracion, passed her baton already to Mark Anthony Carpio in 2001. And who would have thought he will become my choirmaster, my ever-reliable and super great assisting artist during my recitals, and fast forward to today, a good friend and one of our Principal Sponsors for our wedding!
I definitely owe a lot to this group. The long hours of rehearsals and countless performances made me a better and more sensitive musician. The long trips abroad gave me a new cultural perspective of both our country and of other countries. Plus we gained a lot of pounds, er, I mean, friends! We were taught how to live in a suitcase at very young ages. We missed our families but we come home to them with a sense of accomplishment. The preparations for concerts and competitions gave us loads of patience, strength, perseverance, and trust. Add to that, Filipino pride — something I will always be proud to proclaim. We became friends, sometimes enemies, then friends again.
I know I grew better as a person and as a musician after joining the Madz. And I never regretted the eight years I spent in college — well-spent eight years, I know.
And I am really grateful to Sir Mark. He entrusted me the most nerve-wracking position in the Madz (in my opinion, next to the Assistant Choirmaster) — the pitchgiver.
(Should I be explaining what is a pitchgiver any further? I don’t even know if it’s supposed to be a Madz secret! Sorry, guys!)
Beyond Madz duties, he even accompanied me in the piano for all my four recitals in school (in school, it really pays to have a GOOD pianist, and Sir Mark is absolutely GREAT!). I know it was too much to ask from him but still he gladly did, for most of us singers who were also students in the College of Music. We’d always find time to rehearse despite our busy schedules, and he would always be ready to accompany. He’s such a gifted, kind-hearted, generous man.
Enough of the reminiscing now. May I now invite you to take part in this wonderful night of singing? Make that two nights, this weekend, December 17, 8PM and December 18, 5PM, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater.
I take pride in being a part of Batch Carpio! As our way of thanking the Lord for the gift of music, and thanking Him for the past ten years Sir Mark has successfully took over the helm of the Madz, we will reunite with the current batch and shall sing a few songs on the second part of the concert!
Thank you, Sir Mark, for being a mentor, inspiration, and friend. I’ll never forget what you told me before, that our mission as Madz and even beyond Madz is “to spread the Madz way,” and to create a Singing Philippines, as what Ma’am OA envisioned. It’s now evident in the many choirs and conductors who follow our lead.
Once a Madz, always a Madz!
~ Touringkitty (now back in action!)
Note: I will sing on the 17th so see you on that day!
The Blog Carnival's Logo by Mec (www.mecasmom.blogspot.com
“Welcome to the Milk Mama Diaries Carnival (December). For this month, we want to honor breastfeeding for having enriched our lives and blessed us, maybe even empowered us, in a way that only breastfeeding can. Please scroll down to the end of this post and check out the other carnival participants.”
Being able to sustain breastfeeding for almost sixteen months is the greatest gift I have ever received and given. I credit my success to the Lord Almighty, my newfound devotion to Our Lady of La Leche, my family and friends who supported me from day one up until now. And with the looks of it, both my daughter and I are not ready to stop anytime soon. Not just yet.
Along with the gift of breastfeeding, I have also received other “gifts” that naturally came with it, which I now have realized. Allow me to share some with you:
1. The Gift of Commitment
I chose to breastfeed. And I prepared myself for it. I did my homework — research, attend La Leche League meets, talk with moms who had similar experience or at least can share some of their knowledge. Commitment is also a choice. I know I was willing to commit to be with my daughter especially in the first few months, when no one else at home knew what breastfeeding was all about. The same commitment I have used even when I have to work. Thankfully, I can work part-time so I pump occasionally. Never had and never will result to formula.
2. The Gift of Confidence
I and my daughter are notorious public breastfeeders. I stopped using breastfeeding stations after a snooty nurse from the mall clinic didn’t allow me to get in because I had a stroller. So we nurse anytime, anywhere. I am confident to breastfeed in public also because I’ve learned the tricks of it (though at times it’s a challenge with my cute squirmy daughter!). So far, no nasty or malicious looks, no guards preventing us to do so, thankfully. My husband is ready to protect me and fight for me if anyone does so.
3. The Gift of Communication
Breastfeeding is my advocacy. God allowed me to use social media, such as this blog, joining blog carnivals, posting tweets, status messages, to encourage more moms and families to breastfeed. Though I didn’t push through with my LATCH training as lactation counselor, God still allowed me to sort of act like one by visiting a new mom in a nearby hospital and giving tips to her new breastfeeding experience. Likewise, my husband supports and promotes breastfeeding through his blog and joining blog carnivals — so far he’s joined two Milk Mama Diaries carnivals and he doesn’t mind if he’s the only dad who joins! I’m one proud wife and mom here!
4. The Gift of Camaraderie
Breastfeeding gave me even more new friends! The La Leche League meets, Babywearing meets (another advocacy as well), blog carnival, tweeting, fb-ing, the devotion to Our Lady of La Leche, opened doors and windows to more like-minded moms. Camaraderie even if some of them I haven’t met in person, but the empowerment, inspiration, and prayers they’ve given is more than enough.
“Most of our choices require confidence and courage. It takes a lot of courage to choose to speak up and to let someone know how you feel, especially if that person has authority over you. It takes confidence, on the other hand, to try new things. It takes confidence and courage to put yourself first.”
I conquered breastfeeding problems in the early days like sore nipples, almost no sleep because baby feeds sometimes every 30 minutes, oversupply, reflux. I didn’t follow our pediatrician’s and other people’s recommendation to give formula because they say I have a small baby. I know they may mean well, but I didn’t give up on breastfeeding, simply because I want to tell them that breastfeeding is normal. I resist, but I persist.
It will surely take some more time to make people realize that the female breasts really are meant for feeding the baby. It’s the “breast” gift we can give to our children.
And before I forget, Merry Christmas from our breastfeeding family!
During our recent Iloilo trip. We breastfed in the plane, at church, at any empty chair when our baby wants it!
I began December on a happy (and literally high!) note!
Lemme say this first (on an E above high C): TOURINGKITTY IS BACK! Yipeeee!
Our family of three plus our new helper/yaya (finally, after months of being helper-less! We had her for a month already) flew to Iloilo, my husband’s homeland (for five years!) for a concert with Koro Madrigal, the Alumni of the UP Madrigal Singers. Well attended, well applauded concert!
It was Aria’s first ever plane ride! So was our helper’s, so we were all excited and nervous! But thankfully, with God’s grace, He gave us safe travels, yummy food, a nice hotel room, good health throughout the trip. You see, my mom was supposed to join to take care of baby while the parents are singing, but unfortunately, she got sore eyes, which my baby also got two days after we arrived in Manila.
Anywho, it was a fuss-free, complaint-free trip with our toddler, who really enjoyed the experience, not to mention, the food. She eats a lot and likes to taste whatever’s in my hands, or my plate. Likewise, being the first-time mom, I was super happy and proud to just breastfeed her while on the plane–she slept through the whole flight! While other babies cried themselves to sleep (yeah I think I’m being gung-ho already about breastfeeding that I do it anytime, anywhere! So breastfeed, mommies!).
This month also is the time for choir performances. I don’t know why but when you think of Christmas, you think Christmas Carols in SATB. And choirs in morning shows, malls, everywhere! Tell me, which choir doesn’t have even one gig outside their usual church service?
So tis the season to promote concerts as well!
First up, the Philippine Madrigal Singers Christmas concert. It’s their Christmas concert/culmination of Madz et al festival/tenth year of Mark Carpio as choirmaster of the Madz. This will happen on December 17, 8pm and 18, 5pm. As an alumna of Batch Carpio 2003-2008, I was invited to sing! So please do watch on the 17th!
I can’t make it on the 18th because of this: the Shrine of Jesus Children’s Choir will sing Christmas songs at Alphaland Southgate Mall at 5pm.
Hope to see you on both events! Touringkitty is really back!
For those who know me well, I love being a busy bee. Literally everywhere, singing or teaching or singing still, catching a flight to wherever, watching movies, having frap in a nearby cafe with my hubby and friends, at church every Sunday and on special occasions and meetings, ad infinitum.
Back then, I seemed to have time for everything.
But when I became pregnant, I chose what I only want to do. I dropped everything for the baby in my womb. And it was the best decision I made.
Now my hands are quite full.
I thought it was easy. I quit my job, gave birth, breastfed (because it was SO MUCH EASIER than formula feeding!), we had a daytime helper who cooks, cleans the house and does almost all household chores so I can concentrate on the newborn.
Or so I thought.
When Aria was a few days old, I was even working! One arm holding her, the other typing away script guides. I’ll ask food from our helper (thank God for them!) and voila, food and drink in front of me! Aria gets hungry, no problem! She breastfeeds and goes back to sleep in my arms, waiting for another three hours when she gets hungry again.
Months passed and things got even harder for the mom with only two hands and that little ball of energy! She’s got so much that I can’t cope up. I got back to part-time teaching and singing which I so missed, was reinstalled as music ministry coordinator (being a church volunteer takes dedication, I know, but being in the music ministry is even harder because of rehearsals almost every week! I do hope others would come to understand that), plus the helper all of a sudden disappeared (note to self: DON’T treat a helper again with Chicken-all-you-can, else it’ll be her silent despedida haha).
Add to that, the more my baby became mobile, the more it’s hard for us to change her diaper, give her no-squirm baths, make her sit for more than five seconds in one place. You can’t leave her inside her crib because she knows how to climb over it. She’ll jump up and down her walker and scream on top of her lungs if she’s hungry, bored, sleepy, or if she wanted to walk.
It’s hard. And I only have two hands.
There are days which I wish I’d have another pair hands, or even two more, so I can do everything I have to do.
I do as much work as I can when baby is asleep. But most of the time, I end up sleeping, too. There was even a time I was lying on my side and holding my laptop (it’s quite small — a Sony Vaio Pocket Style PC, and I’m selling it, PM me!) while I was checking emails when suddenly, I fell asleep. Next thing I know, I was awake and beside a half-awake Aria who was thirsting for milk.
The past months I was forced to learn how to cook. Hence, the recipes I’ve been posting. I am having fun, though, and I want to learn a lot more, so that I will not have to serve nilaga or tinola or adobo almost everyday!
And thank God for family who babysits when parents have work! My mom and sister happily (but tired afterwards) babysits when they can.
But on a much lighter note, I’m proud that my daughter learned to sing “I Have Two Hands,” following the last syllables of each line, raising both her arms mightily and clapping them on cue. She’s achieved so much in the past two months alone and I’m one proud mama.
I look forward to more busy days spent with this little girl, that’s why my heart always breaks when I leave her for work. Much more when I come home to her, smiling happily, and shouting: Mama, mama, dede, dede!
“Welcome to the Milk Mama Diaries Carnival (November). For this month, participants share their experiences on extended breastfeeding. This includes tips to moms with young babies, as well as barriers and myths which discourage extended nursing. Please scroll down to the end of this post and check out the other carnival participants.”
“Now, really, she still breastfeeds at 14 months? Isn’t she too old for that?”
“She must be biting you a lot with all her teeth coming out!”
“How can you sing and travel with baby in tow?”
“You should stop already, there’s formula anyway.”
“She must be beside Mommy all the time because Mommy is her food. Poor Mommy. That’s why she can’t work.”
These are just some of the many statements, questions, comments we’ve been getting lately. And I always address them with a smile.
Wow, 14 months. 14 months! To me, breastfeeding my daughter without giving her formula is the biggest achievement I have done, more than winning the Grand Prix, more than finishing a degree with honors. I just feel proud, even prouder now that I have reached the one-year mark.
And no, we’re not stopping soon. Why?
1. Because she doesn’t need formula. And we can’t afford formula. Really, we can’t. I know my husband works really hard to provide for our needs but who would want to spend on expensive formula milk when you can provide your own?
I take what the priest said in the homily during the Feast of Our Lady of La Leche Mass I attended: Kaya tayo asal hayop kasi gatas ng hayop iniinom natin (The reason why we act as animals is because we drink animal milk). That was a tough thought. Now I want to breastfeed Aria even longer, for as long as she likes!
2. Because it’s so much easier! Pop the boob out and you’re good to go. Portable (you bring just yourself and the baby–no bottles, warm water, milk containers), economical (no need to buy expensive stuff–a shawl, tube or tank top underneath a loose shirt and you’re good to go), space saver (who needs a big diaper/baby bag?).
3. Because the family can sleep longer. My husband benefits from this more, and he will be forever grateful that he didn’t learn preparing formula. Even middle of the night waking is a breeze. I just let her nurse and she goes back to dreamland. We’re co-sleeping and no fear of SIDS.
4. Because I don’t want smelly poop. Yes, I just love a breastfed baby’s poop scent, even now that she’s heavy on solids!
5. Because I don’t want to introduce a pacifier, nor a bottle teat. I’d rather nurse her when she cries for reasons aside from hunger (sleepy, bored, hurt, sick). I know she can really be talkative and loud and screams a lot at times but I still will choose that over a baby with a pacifier in her mouth.
Note: we introduced Medela Calma but unfortunately, after a couple of months and now that she’s got eight teeth, she just chews the teat. We’re cup and straw feeding now!
6. Because we don’t want to get sick. Save two or three times of having colds during the first year, both my daughter and I haven’t gotten seriously sick. And we are assured of a smarter baby and reduced cancer-risk mommy!
7. Because it’s the only exclusive thing we do together! I know I’m being selfish, but my husband, or my mom, or my sister, can play with her all day but when it comes to quenching her thirst for milk, it’s only me.
8. Because, surely, when she weans (not anytime soon, please!) I’ll truly treasure every nursing moment we had — the sleepless nights, hours of carrying to avoid reflux, two hour marathon nursings, five seconds quick thirst-quenching nursing, biting episodes, crazy nursing positions and calisthenics my baby had discovered, the sudden pulling off my shirt even in front of a priest and demanding ‘dedede’ until she gets it, the nursing to soothe aching gums, booboos, separation and stranger anxieties, and nursing to sleep. The list is endless!
I know my friends and maybe other non-breastfeeding readers, too will get dismayed, envied, or ashamed (I hope not!) that breastfeeding just didn’t work out.
The keyword: TRUST.
Trust your body that it can make milk, even if at times you don’t feel or see it.
Trust your family that they’ll support you (or if not, I, on behalf of the many breastfeeding moms, counselors, breastfeeding-friendly doctors will!).
Trust in the Lord that He prepared your body for this challenge, which is really just a kick-off from pregnancy. There is a lot more to come!
~ Touringkitty
Other stories of moms who went past the first year mark:
I appreciate Book Sale more now that I have a child. I used to just browse for books and often end up with nothing. Now, every trip to Book Sale we go straight to where the board books are.
Yup, board books. We got a handful already, and we haven’t stopped buying. Yet. Especially when they come super cheap!
My recent discovery were these lovelies:
All in good condition! The CD is even included in Rhinoceros Tap!
What if I told you that these three cost less than a thousand pesos? Actually, less than three hundred pesos! Isn’t it great?
Now, you might ask, who is the author of these books? She is no Mother Goose or Dr. Seuss but I tell you, she’s amazing!
Friends, meet Sandra Boynton! I was surprised to find out she’s American because her humor sounds English. Check out her super funny website (scroll over her name and the link is there).
The first book we bought was But not the Hippopotamus, which my husband purchased from a book sale at their office. It talks about a hippo who doesn’t belong, but in the end, he was invited by all the other animals. Simple, really cutesy doodles of animals, easy to follow rhymes.
Meanwhile, the two other books I got from Book Sale store at our nearby mall.
The first I took notice of was the Rhinoceros Tap. I was surprised that it was from the same author, and that it has the CD inside, for only P140! Really a good buy because the book is in super good condition and not taken out from a library! We played the CD immediately upon getting home, and the little one danced to the original jazz tunes. Super like!
What I liked more about this book are the notation and chords found on the latter half of the book. Pictures and big words are on the first part. Sight readers that we are, we sang along while the CD is playing.
The last book, Snoozers, is for kids, just like ours, who has a hard time sleeping. So I read to her the melodious rhymes as she kept on running around our bed. So long as she hears the rhymes and sees me flapping the book, she sits down and listens.
I really appreciate also that Aria shows a love for books. She gets all her board books before snoozing either for a daytime nap or for bedtime. She isn’t eating them anymore unlike when she was just a few months old, but she kept on flapping them and blabbering as if she really can read.
What other books can you recommend? Share them here!
Dads, oh, dads. If you only knew what sacrifice it is for us moms to breastfeed.
Daddy, Baby, and I were happily eating lunch at a Japanese restaurant (my baby had Sukiyaki!). A family of three (Mom, Dad, Baby Girl) and another man (maybe he’s a brother of either of the couple) sat on the table beside us. The mom took out a nursing cover and I silently said, brava for breastfeeding!
But here’s the glitch. The bad, insensitive dad was raising his voice to her wife, telling her not to put too much spice on her food. Understandable, because probably they have a baby who’s sensitive to different tastes of breastmilk because of what the mom eats or had reflux. But to raise voice, nah!
Here’s another incident: the dad was rushing her wife to eat because he’s hungry! Why, isn’t her wife supposed to be fed because she’s feeding someone else? He kept on yakking while playing with the baby: “ay, kawawa naman si Daddy, gutom na gutom na, ang sarap pa naman ng pagkain, o?” Then to his wife: “bilisan mo na, gutom na ako!”
I was able to talk with the poor girl who was now holding her baby when she stepped out of the restaurant after she ate. She really ate quick. Aria and I finished eating as well and were waiting for Daddy to settle the bill. I really would like to tell her how insensitive her husband was! But I held my tongue. I then found out the baby was exclusively breastfed for six months already and the baby has started solids and drinks water. She isn’t working and takes care full time of the baby. Another brava for you, mommy!
Her insensitive husband doesn’t know the word appreciate.
Man, it’s all hard work for the mom! I know you dads also work hard for the money. But you should also consider how hard work it is for us moms to take care of the baby. It IS a job, a career. Daddy-ing is ALSO a career!
So, to that Dad we saw, watch your words, especially when you’re in public. Save your nastiness when you’re at home.
No, he doesn’t pop the boob to our daughter. He told me, if only he could, he would. But I’m proud to say that he is a breastfeeding dad in more ways than one.
My husband is my number one cheerleader. When he gives me that smile and that thumbs up when I breastfeed, I know he supports me. Especially on the first days and weeks, he’d prop up a pillow behind my aching back, massage me, give me water, burp the baby, carry her for an hour because of fear of reflux, change diapers in the wee hours of the evening. He’d gladly give into my requests, too — please turn off the TV or lower the volume (my baby means business when feeding haha), hand over the iPod, turn on the internet, get lampin for my sweaty baby, etc.
My husband is very careful with his words. I never heard him complain that the baby’s becoming too clingy when we breastfeed. Sure, my daughter has her moments when she wants me and only me, but I noticed that there are precious activities only she and Daddy can enjoy, like reading, tickling each other, talking gibberish, walking (with Daddy’s assistance), and strolling around the mall.
Also, I never heard him complain that he’s hungry already because he knew that I should eat first because I need the energy to feed someone else.
He’d have side comments, like, maybe we should try toddler formula eventually (but I won’t, sorry!). Or during those early weeks when I feel really exhausted and wanted to give up, he’d tell me, we can always switch to formula. Nothing harsh.
My husband promotes breastfeeding in his own little way. He puts his two passions into good use: writing and breastfeeding. Through his blog and joining blog carnivals, he has promoted breastfeeding in his own little way. And he acknowledges the many good benefits of breastfeeding to me and my daughter (not to mention, his pocket!).
When I was pregnant up until now, we pray for a normal, healthy, happy, smart, strong, beautiful baby. And breastmilk gave us all of that and so much more. Seeing how Aria grows makes us really proud parents.
It has been 13 months of breastfeeding and we don’t plan to stop anytime soon. We enjoy this unique experience so much that we wish we could convince more pregnant couples to at least try breastfeeding. We tried. We had no idea we’d go this far. Thus, we are really grateful.
