Back to School + Positive Reinforcement on Animals

It’s Back to School 

It's back to school season again. June is the start of a new academic school year for most schools in the Philippines, but not yet for my niece who's an incoming grade six student because the start of classes is not until August. It was just like yesterday when she’s in grade three, time flies really. It’s only three more weeks until the new school year begins. She’s pretty much ready for school, she’s got new set of books, uniforms and we’re also done shopping for school supplies. I guess what I'm excited about is that she will get to see her old friends again and hopefully meet new ones. 

I thought the main reason for moving the start of the school year from June to August is just because it's the start of the rainy season in the country, but also to align it with the international academic calendar. According to sources, the Philippines and Thailand are the only countries that start their classes in June. To be honest, I did not notice a huge difference at all because the rainy season does not end in June, it's pretty much until the end of the year actually so there's still a lot of typhoons and class suspensions. 

Positive Reinforcement on Dogs

I’ve also been training our pets basic tricks for four years now. Jagger, our three-year-old German Shepherd just recently learned to catch food. I’m no pro when it comes to training animals but I believe that it is necessary for them to at least learn basic tricks like sit, stay, lay down, etc. Animals are more disciplined when they are taught basic tricks at an early age and they also learn to become patient and tolerant. Positive reinforcement on dogs and other animals works like a charm. We have three dogs and a cat in our household and I’m proud to say that all of them knows a trick or two. Animals will do anything for food so I make sure to reward them for a job well done. No matter how challenging it is to train pets, it’s always a rewarding feeling to see them learn something new. 

Positive reinforcement means adding something immediately 
after a behavior occurs that makes the frequency of the behavior go up.

First of JULY

Image courtesy of Rappler

Hello July, Goodbye June. It's the beginning of more rainy days to come, weather we like it or not.


Just a little bit of introduction and some interesting facts about July. The month of July is the seventh month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of the seven months with the length of 31 days. It was named by the Roman Senate in honor of the Roman general, Julius Caesar, it being the month of his birth (source: popculturemadness.com). The middle day of the year is also the month of July, as far as theory goes. For non-leap years, the third of July happens to be the mid-point of any given year. Far more interesting is that it is the month known for the highest number of US Presidents' death. Ruby is regarded as the lucky birthstone for July, according to some beliefs that a gorgeous fine Red Ruby stone brings luck to the wearer (source: www.speakingtree.in). 

I'm not really a fan of the rainy season especially if I am running out of clothes to wear because they don't dry up anymore. On the contrary, however, there are reasons to feel optimistic on a rainy day. Rainy day bring us closer to our families,  it also has a multitude of benefits to the earth including watering wild plants and crops, humidifying the air, etc.


I don't really have expectations each month but just the same, I hope that July will bring about new adventures and excitement. New month new goals.  

Bring it on July, surprise me!

Vegan for Life

Today marks my first year as a Vegan. Growing up I never fail to eat my vegetables because of all its health benefits. My mom was a pescatarian and sometimes a flexitarian. She was my inspiration to eat healthily and avoid meat as much as possible. When I was a child she would always tell me and my siblings to refrain from eating junk food, processed food including meat as it is carcinogenic (cancerous). I guess she was right all along because if I only paid more attention to my diet when I was young, then I wouldn’t have lost my gallbladder at the age of 34. 

As I grew older I realize that it is “payback time,” indeed. My diet changed drastically after my laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) operation. I decided to cut down on eating pork and went for chicken meat instead and the reason being was, it is easier to digest. Losing a gallbladder may not sound like too big of a deal since it is not a major organ, but I guess I was wrong. I experienced heartburn whenever I eat something even with very little fat content in it. I felt bloated and once in a while had constipation issues. So I increased my fiber intake, I even switched from white to brown or red rice. In spite of it all, I still feel like there is something wrong with how I live my life. It did not occur to me however, that one day I will make the switch to veganism. 

Vegetarian vs Vegan Diet: What is the difference? 

Most people confuse vegetarian and vegan diets to be the same. According to healthline.com, Vegetarian diets exclude meat, poultry, game, fish, and shellfish. Certain types of vegetarians also exclude eggs, dairy or other animal by-products. A Vegan diet, on the other hand, can be viewed as the strictest form of vegetarianism. Veganism is currently defined by the Vegan Society as a way of living that attempts to exclude all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty as much as possible.

Why the switch? 

I became vegan primarily for ethical reasons as well as to live a healthier lifestyle. At first, I was a little concerned because I am not sure if I’m ready to give up eating meat yet, but all my worries were finally put to rest after reading informative articles and watching Netflix documentaries’ “What the Health” and “Cowspiracy.” There’s a lot of documentaries that tackle how switching to a plant-based diet is beneficial to health and the environment but these two definitely got stuck in my head. 

For the love of animals

“I love animals,” I hear this a lot from pet owners including myself before becoming a vegan. We feed and rescue helpless animals, we even open our homes to neglected ones to give them another chance in life. But I still don’t think it’s fair. If we love animals, we have to love them equally not just the ones we share our homes with. Animals are friends,  not food. They feel pain, physically or emotionally just like humans do. We’re not God, so taking the life that is gifted to them is not our decision to make. 

On helping the environment

According to independent.co.uk, study finds that veganism is “the single biggest way” to reduce our environmental impact on the planet. 

Avoiding meat and dairy could reduce the carbon footprint from food by nearly three-quarter. Researchers at the University of Oxford found that cutting meat and dairy products from your diet could reduce an individual's carbon footprint from food by up to 73%. 

Health effects of vegan diets

For many vegans, nutritional choices center around taking better care of the earth’s resources and the environment, ethical issues about animal care, the use of antibiotics and growth stimulants for the production of animals, the threat of animal-borne diseases, and the health advantages of a plant-based diet. In addition, the potential of allergies from dairy products and lactose intolerance have fueled the popularity of soy-based dairy substitutes.

Vegan diets are usually higher in dietary fiber, magnesium, folic acid, vitamins C and E, iron, and phytochemicals, and they tend to be lower in calories, saturated fat and cholesterol, long-chain n-3 (omega-3) fatty acids, vitamin D, calcium, zinc, and vitamin B-12. In general, vegetarians typically enjoy a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers (source: acedemic.oup.com).

I developed an allergic reaction to poultry products particularly eggs and chicken, as well as seafood like shrimp and crab when I was a kid. I thought I have to deal with it for the rest of my life. I think that is why transitioning to a vegan diet is a piece of cake for me because I don’t have to deal with avoiding certain kinds of food anymore. 

Veganism is here to stay

Becoming vegan is not just a diet, it is a lifestyle. It’s a choice I made because my body is not a graveyard. And no it is definitely not just a phase, like what most people thought. It’s not something that will pass and soon enough I will go back to eating meat again. Education is the key to fully understand what veganism is all about. It is not enforced so please, don’t criticize vegans and disrespect just because you are not, to each his/her own. 

One thing is for sure ... once a VEGAN will always be a vegan, FOR LIFE.

D.I.Y. Notebook & Reusable Cloth Pads

D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself) Notebook

If you are into recycling and d.i.y. stuff, you know for sure that there are many ways to save money while being creative at the same time. Before I start a project, I make sure to find inspiration first. I usually pick ideas from Pinterest. 

The idea of making a d.i.y. notebook came to mind while I was putting away my niece's old books (we have donated all the books, btw) and notebooks, I noticed that there are many unused pages so I thought why not recycle instead of throwing them away? When I saw a denim covered notebook on Pinterest, I knew for sure that it will be my inspiration for this. I'm glad I found an old denim jacket from a pile of used clothes that we are looking to donate soon.

Look how thick it is

Cover (front)

Cover (back)

(Inside) Back

Worth recycling

Inside

I started by binding the pages together with a fastener, then I cut a piece of the denim jacket to the size of the front and back cover. I just basically hand stitched the inside so it will not come off. I also use a glue stick to attach the cloth to the paper cover of the notebook. Lastly, I added a gift wrapping paper to make the inside cover look a little bit artsier.

Reusable Cloth Pads Are Back

It is foldable just like disposable
sanitary napkins

Back in the late 80s until the early 90s, I remember using cloth pads during my period although disposable pads or sanitary napkins already exist. It was my mom’s advise not to use disposable pads all the time because it is dangerous and may cause cancer since it is made of plastic materials with chemicals in it. Disposable pads are not very absorbent or leak-proof back then. Cloth pads a.k.a. “pasador” in Tagalog, is not leak proof at all that is why it is for home use only.

The grey side is the bamboo

charcoal that provides protection 

against slippage and leaks

In my case, I use both disposable and cloth pads during my heavy flow days, unfortunately, I still often experience leaks. Only regular pads are available in the market. There is no such thing as with “wings” or “overnight pads” yet so imagine having to deal with the embarrassment (although later on, I realized that it is nothing to be ashamed of) and agony of removing sudden blood stains on your school uniform skirt while feeling helpless about the situation. My point is if you haven’t experienced any of these, consider yourself lucky.

After thorough research and experiments, disposable pads’ functionality has improved a lot over the years. Cloth pads have become a thing in the past, gone for good. Well at least that’s what I thought until a few months ago, I noticed that it is slowly making a comeback. Online shops selling washable reusable cloth pads (that’s what they call it now) are sprouting like mushrooms. Gone are the days when it is just a piece of cloth, now it comes in a variety of size and printed designs. There are regular and heavy flow or overnight pads. According to the product description that it is made from soft, breathable fabrics so it is less irritating. I thought hmm…really? How is that possible? I was apprehensive at first because I know how cloth pads work. I even checked out Youtube reviews until I was finally convinced that I have to give it a go. 

The outer covering is made of
soft and breathable material

I  bought my first cloth pads from The Vegan Grocer PH when I went grocery shopping for vegan supplies (yes, I am vegan). I got myself a heavy flow pad and panty liner (just one of each) since I am not certain yet if it is going to be worth it or not.

So how do you use it? First things first, make sure to wash the cloth before use to make sure that it is clean. Wash it using mild soap and water then let it air dry. I tried using the panty liner first and I must say that it is quite promising because it feels comfortable, it’s barely there. It moves a little because there is no adhesive but it did not bother me at all. When I finally have my period I got excited to try the heavy flow pad. In case you’re wondering why I got the heavy flow pad, it is because I am more comfortable with longer pads not because I move a lot but I just feel like I am more protected from leaks. So did it work? Yes, it did, and I am ecstatic about it.  Similar to the panty liner, it is comfortable and surprisingly absorbent. There’s no leak because of this bamboo charcoal thingy. Amazing right? It's very easy to wash but make sure to do it properly. Use mild soap, rinse (with cold or tap water but definitely not hot water) and dry. 

You can fold it like this

Final thoughts:

I think these reusable pads saves the day. I don't have to buy a pack of sanitary napkins every time I have my period so I must say that it is a good investment after all. It also changed my perception regarding cloth pads that it is not reliable. I have dealt with leak problems since I was a kid but now I am definitely switching to help reduce waste in our landfills to save mother earth. I have been vegan for almost a year now and if I can help save animals then it would not hurt to contribute to saving mother earth. Maybe I cannot save the world but always remember that whatever we do for the earth no matter how big or small, it definitely counts.

  

Thoughts on Home-Based Jobs // Donate a Book

Working from home

I've been quite busy with work lately I spend most of my day sleeping and working during wee hours of the morning. There are pros and cons of working from home of course but one thing is for sure, it is not for everyone. Let me start with (3) advantages of home-based jobs (for me), first off I like that I can work in my own phase. I can have coffee or restroom breaks anytime I want to. I have control of how I would like to make use of my time. Secondly, I don't have to deal with the hustle of commuting to and from work. If you live in a neighborhood where commuting is such a pain in the neck and it will take you forever to get a ride, then you'd rather stay home, less stress. Lastly, if you are an introvert like me, you don't have to worry about dealing with people you dislike. I would rather spend my time in front of the computer finding something to do than talk about the lives of other people, especially during idle time. It's so typical of a workplace setting really. Now for the cons, let me just reiterate that these are just base on my personal experience. I must say that home based jobs are not very stable and reliable for the most part. If you are expecting a fixed pay or get paid twice a month then, this is not for you. Most home-based jobs are good for extra income but do not expect it to be as good as full-time jobs unless of course, you are in the I.T. industry or a full-time Youtuber.  Home-based jobs, in my opinion, might work as on-the-side jobs. Also, you have to pay your government benefits voluntarily because they will not take care of it for you compared to on-site jobs wherein you just have to work, work, work and wait until you get paid. I guess what I just miss about working on-site are the paid leaves, holiday pay and HMO (medical benefits). Nevertheless, if you are willing to take the risk (like me) if you are really fed up of your daily work routine, then go for it for a change. 

Donate a Book

My niece's old books

I've been wanting to donate my niece's used schools books for the longest time. We've been keeping all her books from grade three so imagine how many bundles of books we already have since she is now an incoming grade six student. I am in dire need of disposing of her used books because it has taken so much space in our storage room when, lo and behold, my sister told me that she saw books being donated in SM Store. She asked me if I can research on how we can donate all the books that's when I learned about The SM Store's #ShareMovement: Donate-a-Book Project, which is the official umbrella campaign of the SM Store Corporate Social Responsibility chain. This joint project of The SM Store and SM Stationery will give its shoppers and customers the opportunity to share the joy of reading by donating used and new books to less fortunate children. Designated booths have been set up in all SM Store branches nationwide where customers can drop their donations. Every donation entitles a customer a P50 discount coupon which can be redeemed from the SM Stationery section for every minimum P500 single receipt purchase on regular-priced items at the SM Store. This program will run from May 20, 2019, until July 8, 2020, so coupons will be valid from the said dates only.

Donate-a-book coupons

What's Up?

January is almost over and it's my sister's birthday today. Whoa! time flies. So what am I looking forward to this year? A lot actually. I really wish to travel again this year and get a really nice vlogging camera so I can create more travel videos because I kinda miss traveling every year like I used to. 

For the time being, my sissies and I are quite busy with our food cart business. Every business has its highs and lows and so far I must say that it's not going too well because it's a very TOUGH competition out there especially when it comes to food because you really have to come up with something unique to stand out and get noticed. There are risks involved and things don't always go your way. Well, I guess everything is a learning process and no matter what happens, giving up is not an option, to be honest, plus it's only been three months since we started. I am so far getting the hang of everything but still have a lot of things to learn and discover so hopefully luck we'll be on our side but we are determined to keep going. 'Nuff said.

I missed a lot of good flicks but I'm glad I'm catching up a bit. So far I've seen A Star Is Born and Bohemian Rhapsody, two of the most awaited movies on my list because my sister scored a really good copy. There's just way too many movies that I'm looking forward to this year I cannot wait for reviews I depend on them a lot. So there.

Welcome Year of the Earth Pig

Happy New Year! What can I say? I survived 2018. Since this will be my very first blog in 2019, I’ll just make it brief because I still have a little bit of hangover from the holidays. I’ve been busy with decorating, meal preppin’ and all that stuff and I must say I had a blast I hope you guys did too.  

In case you want to know what I’ve been up to these past few days (and months) you may watch this video and the rest of it on my Youtube channel. 

Have a prosperous and meaningful 2019 y’all! Cheers! 

"BER" Month Update

Hello there, glad to be back here after three months of not writing anything...well, I guess it's the time of the year.  As we all know, "ber" months are up and the holidays are just around the corner. My sibs and I have a new business venture that will keep us busier until the end of the year we're crossing our fingers that it'll work out because it's something new to us. 

So far our Christmas lights are giving us the holiday vibes already because we haven't set up our Christmas tree yet we are looking at selling our old one and get a white tree. We're thinking of changing our theme to a Winter Wonderland for a change. I'm still in the hunt for holiday inspirations I want this year to be quite magical or something (lol). I'm quite busy with my Youtube channel and if you're not feeling Christmas-ey yet, you can watch this short video called Calm Before Christmas.

But before Christmas it's Halloween first so in case you're looking for makeup ideas, I'd like to share a video makeup tutorial of Valak from the movie The Nun.

That's pretty much it for now. Happy Trick or treat. Cheers to the holidays!

Going VEGAN: Because I Care

It’s only been a week since I became a vegan and so far so good, I have nothing but good things to say. Some might say that becoming a vegan is just a phase and that there are people who, after switching to a plant based diet eventually go back to eating meat. Well, we all have reasons to our food choices and my reasons for going vegan are primarily to eat healthier and live a more compassionate lifestyle. Transitioning from being a vegetarian to a vegan was not so hard after all since I’ve always loved vegetables, I cannot survive a day without greens but no one said it would be easy either.

At first, I only wanted to try a plant based diet for a week because I have doubts that I can carry on without meat or dairy but only after a fews days I already noticed that I don’t feel bloated anymore however, the most challenging part for me is eliminating dairy from my diet because I grew up consuming lots of it. I have sweet tooth, I mean who doesn’t? I cannot live without eating my comfort food like ice cream, cookies, cake, etc. but guess what? it’s not the end of the world, there are non-dairy options which I’m excited to try soon. I survived without dairy for a week and I can do without it for the rest of my vegan life.


I also wanted to lose weight I even resorted to intermittent fasting but it caused my monthly period to become irregular which is kinda frustrating so I told myself that maybe I really need to focus on what I eat and not just my eating habits. Education is the key to understand things that are a bit unclear. It’s easy to believe that vegans are not getting enough protein from plants but after watching documentaries on Netflix like Cowspiracy, What the Health, In Defense of Food and Food Choices, I learned that protein initially came from plants and that protein deficiency was never an issue but the bigger problem is the cause of cancer which most likely is linked to carcinogen found in meat. My body is not a graveyard, therefore, I have to eat food to keep me alive and well and not bring me closer to the grave. One thing is for sure, I have made up my mind to finally go vegan... there is no turning back because of all its health benefits, it is also beneficial to the environment and animals. It is best to use all available resources on the Internet for good than to believe in myths that have no basis. 

I guess my only regret becoming a vegan is not doing it sooner. I know, guilty as charged. I am an animal lover so why just now? I am a pet owner, I feed homeless dogs and cats because I feel sorry for them that they’re not lucky enough to find a loving home. I even feed our neighbor's chickens and care for them like my own until I can no longer bear the guilt. I am being a traitor by making them feel that I genuinely care yet I still eat their kind? Aren’t cows, pigs, and chickens animals too? They also have feelings and they fear for their own lives. Only God can take away the life that is borrowed and we are not God to make the decision to end the life of these animals.   I am sick of feeling guilty but it’s never too late to change and be the voice for those who cannot speak. I know I cannot change the world overnight by going vegan but what matters is that I feel better that I am doing something about the situation and not just pity these helpless animals. We only have one planet and we all deserve a life worth living. 

I love animals and I will not eat them. Veganism is not a diet, it is a lifestyle. 

My Stay at Holiday Inn Baguio City Centre

I recently stayed at the newly opened IHG hotel in the Philippines, the Holiday Inn Baguio City Centre located along Legarda Road.


The international hotel chain finally opened in Baguio last June 5th, it is a nine-story building with basement parking which features 185 guestrooms, function, and a ballroom. HI BCC will be the first international hotel franchise to have opened in Baguio since Hyatt Terraces closed back in the '90s due to the strong earthquake that devastated the City of Pines.


I worked with IHG for a few years and it's been a while since I last stayed at an IHG hotel using employee discount but this time around I'm a guest looking to experience how things have changed.


If you're looking to travel the Philippines' Summer Capital and still in the hunt for a place to stay, please watch the video blog I created about my stay at Holiday Inn Baguio City Centre.

Netflix and Some Random Thoughts

Hello there, I'm back! I guess I haven't been around for quite some time now (about 4 months, I think?) I just have to take care of important stuff, yeah that's what it is. I'm addicted to Netflix recently because it seems like forever since I watched anything that I really enjoyed I didn't realize that I've missed a lot of good stuff already. I had iZombie, Bates Motel, Alias Grace, Oh My Ghost (Korean romcom series) marathon for weeks it was all worth my time and eye strain, lol. 

I also started uploading videos on my youtube channel like my makeup tutorials and past travels because I feel like I should have an outlet where I can help people by sharing my talent and travel experiences. I'm not looking to earn money or wanna make it big by becoming a youtuber or anything like that, my channel is just about the things that make me happy. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't give a damn if I don't have tons of subscribers, all I care about is the freedom to do what I like. 

Oh, by the way, it's back to school but my niece's vacation is just getting started (she'll be in 5th grade in August) hopefully we can make the most of it by going some interesting place away from people. It would be nice to get away from time to time.