The Sharp Plasmacluster Air Purifier with Mosquito Catcher: Your Ally Against Zika Virus and Dengue

In a tropical country like the Philippines, mosquitoes are rampant and sadly they often bring harmful diseases to mankind. As moms, we must always be vigilant for any possible dengue outbreaks. The government has so far faced these threats with readiness and practice. Recently though, another vector-borne disease is plaguing and threatening everyone’s safety.

With the recent global onslaught of the Zika virus, a disease carried by the same

mosquito breed (Aedes aegypti) that carries dengue and malaria, there has never been a greater time to truly invest and become knowledgeable on its symptoms and cures.But time spent on learning these things only means  acknowledging the mosquitoes’capabilities of infecting and invading your home.

With such great threats, stocking the right medicines or listing emergency hotline numbers won’t be enough. A better and an even more effective way to fight these diseases is to already defend and protect yourself before it even comes to you. There are many ways how to do it.

Aside from maintaining the cleanliness of your house and keeping pots and containers free of water, remember this “4s” guide from the Department of Health:

1. Search and destroy mosquito breeding places

2. Self-protection measures

3. Seek early consultation for any symptoms

4. Say “no” to indiscriminate fogging

Sharp Plasmacluster Air Purifier with Mosquito Catcher

In line with this advocacy, and with the aim of keeping Filipino families safe, Sharp brings you the Plasmacluster Air Purifier with Mosquito Catcher. It is equipped with the 5-Step Mosquito Catching Mechanism to help you protect your family right inside your home.

Health Watch: Washing Your Hands with Safeguard Protects Against Top Threat Diseases

 

As parents, we all want to give nothing but the best for our family especially when it comes to health. When it concerns our family’s health, in as much as we can, we try to make our household bacteria/virus-free. Of course, these aren’t enough to guarantee that we will be totally disease-free but taking precautions against it is such a good start. 

Recently, Purple Plum Fairy was privileged to be invited to the first ever Health Watch: World Health Day Celebration spearheaded by P&G, Unicef, Philippine National Red Cross and Safeguard. It’s a first of a series of lecture which aims to equip Filipinos with the information and skills needed to keep our families in the pink of health.

Jollibee 4th Family Values Awards: Celebrating Exemplary Filipino Families

Filipinos are naturally family-oriented, that's why we have extended families and we know each other's names from the oldest family matriarch all the way down to the so-called "apo sa tuhod or for the luckier ones, even the "apo sa talampakan" (meaning great, great grandchildren). But there are those whose love for family goes beyond one's kin, extending unconditional love to their fellowmen who are in need. And these families were the recipients of the recently concluded Jolibee 4th Family Values Awards. These were the exemplary Filipino families who had shown values that will make any Filipino be proud of being one. 

GONZALES FAMILY

I was privileged to have met these families during the awarding night held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). Among these kind-hearted families is the Gonzales family of Cubao, Quezon City (Special Citation for Persons with Disability (PWDs). It had been their advocacy to raise awareness about autism and offer support to other families who has a loved one with the same condition. In 1982, Octavio and Jean Gonzales' son Magiting was diagnosed with autism and at that has made them aware of the lack of knowledge and understanding on how how to handle such special condition in the Philippines. They used their own savings and sought help from other relatives so that Jean can undergo training in the US to be able to share what she has learned with others when she comes home. 

In 1999, the Gonzales couple established the Philippines Association for Citizens with Developmental and Learning Disabilities, Inc. (PACDLD), which provides counseling and livelihood programs for parents of children with autism, as well as art workshops for kids. In partnership with the Department of Health, the organization also holds seminars on helping identify children with disabilities, providing training to daycare teachers, rural health units, and barangay health workers. The PACDLD also put up Parent Resource Centers in different areas across the country where parents from poor communities can bring their children and get free check up and diagnosis. As of date, through the family's efforts, 10,000 families nationwide from Metro Manila, Baguio and even as far as Zamboanga. Dakila, the eldest among Gonzales kids is based in Europe but continuous to help raise funds for e family's projects. Mayumi, a teacher specializes in autism and acts as a consultant for regular schools with special kids. Octavio andh is son Marangal also provides sports trainings for persons with special needs, including boccia, a ball sport for those with cerebral palsy, and bocce, a game for people with intellectual disabilities. 

MANALAYSAY FAMILY

The Manalaysay family of Cavite City is also a proof that family isn't just about blood relation. It's more about connection and commitment. Harnin or Tatz, has been actively involved in various projects and activities for the benefit of the underprivileged kids. In 1985, Tatz has established Club 8586, a Bible study group for youngsters. The organization eventually grew to offer literacy and values formation program, sports festivals and talent enhancement activities using education to dissuade poor kids from joining fraternities. 

Since 1992, Tatz had been holding weekly tutoring lessons for street children, teaching them basic math and spelling, as well as proper hygiene. His work led him to meeting Cris "Kesz" Valdez--the young boy who was scavenging at age two to help earn money for his family, who'd often run away from home, slept on the streets and open tombs to avoid beatings from his father. When Kesz was five, he fell into a pile of burning tires and sustained severe burns. It was Tatz who had rescued the boy and eventually adopted him to become his legal guardian, raising him along with other kids as his own. 

Inspired by his foster father's generosity, Kesz established his own foundation--the Championing Community Children (C3), when he was seven years old. Under the guidance of Tatz, the young boy and his friends raised funds to provide toys, hygiene kits and slippers to poor children. Because of Kesz efforts, he was able to help more than 10,000 kids in Cavite and was awarded the International Children's Peace Prize. He was also hailed by Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu. 

Tatz, is also known as the mentor of 2009 CNN Hero of the Year awardee, Efern Peñaflorida, the man behind Dynamic Teen Company and KaritonKlasrum, which uses pushcarts as mobile classrooms to provide quality education to street children and out-of-school-youth. 

Palacio Family from Pandacan Manila are active volunteers of the Families and Children Empowerment and Development (FCED), a non-profit organization that promotes social and economic development in depressed areas in Manila. They visit different depressed areas to teach values and basic reading and writing to street children. They visit these communities on foot on a weekly basis without receiving any compensation. They also facilitate peer-to-peer activities with topics such as bullying. 

VILLA-WILCOX FAMILY

Villa-Wilcox family from San Jose, California is this year's Jollibee-Coca-Cola Global Pinoy Family of the Year. They have a special citation for education. In 2008, they've established Project PEARLS (Peace, Education, Aspiration, Respect, Love, Smiles) that provides educational, scholarship and feeding programs to underprivileged children from Bulacan, Manila, and Zamboanga, as well as Dagupan, Caloocan, Guimaras and Masbate. In 2010, the family also introduced Project PEARLS to the children of Ulingan, a slum area in Tondo that earns a living out of making charcoals. Since then, they hold weekly feeding program, offered scholarship grants and hold quarterly medical mission for families there. All the members of Villa-Wilcox family play an active role in various outreach activities of their organization. 

Special Citation: 

HAGAD FAMILY of Singapore

Special Citation for the Environment--In 2011, Hagad family bought a property in Daliaon, Davao City. They found out that the area did not have sustainable water supply and residents had to walk one kilometer to get water from a communal deep. They've funded the construction of waterworks system and worked with barangay and other experts so that the community eventually had access to clean water. They also had gift giving programs. They've given away school bags and donated medical devices such as blood pressure monitors with stethoscopes, nebulizers and wheelchairs to barangay. 

MACALINTAL FAMILY

Special Citation for Minority Groups

A teacher at Aurelio Arago National High School, Alvin observed that many Mangyan students dropped out of classes because of various struggles. They had to walk 30 kilometers for five hours just to get to class, or go by boat paying P250 monthly fee. This motivated him to establish BalayLakay, a home center for Mangyan students who live far from the campus. The family is also involved in other projects such as Hapag ng Pamilyang Mindoreño, helping facilitate pre-cana seminars for couokes who are getting married. Alvin and his brothers akso send 14 scholars to Aurelio Arago National High School.

SOLIDUM FAMILY

Another family from Pandacan, Manila uses their god-given talents and expertise to educate the public about dengue prevention. The parents are active with the Dengue Remove Program, a commissioned research of the Department of Science and Technology--National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP), with Dr, Judilyn as head of the eco-socioeconomic arm while Dr. Gilmore, serving as research specialist.  The couple created storybooks such as Moskee Ang BampirangLamok, Dinudugosi Dino, Huwag Mokong Kagatin: Ang KwentongBatang Na-dengue. Published by the DOST-NCRP, these books shed light on how people can prevent mosquito infestation, symptoms of dengue, and the actions one should take in case he gets dengue fever. The family does storytelling sessions in different Metro Manila schools that are known as dengue hotspots. Dr. Judy created workbooks and coloring books on dengue while her son, Geoff did the illustration of these books and composed two songs about dengue called Dengue Slayer Ako and Aedes Aegypti. The Solidum family holds annual Kwento Concierto, a benefit stroytelling concert. The proceeds of which goes to the dialysis fund of the pediatric kidney patients of the Philippine General Hospital. 

SERRANO FAMILY

The Serrano Family of Taguig City is an advocate of children's education. Pastor Nestor and wife Maryann, a professor, founded the Champions Alive Foundation, with the aim to provide free education to out of school youth and adults. The organization gives free review classes for underprivileged Filipinos from 15-66 years old. It's committed to help keep children off the streets and away from drugs, petty crime and bad habits. Each of the Serrano children had important roles on the said foundation. The eldest daughter Pinky serves as the free day care supervisor. Nessam leads the Alternative Learning System, an educational program for those who want to attend classes, but are unable to do so because of work. Daniel heads the family's music and youth ministry, which offers voice lessons and classes on how to play violin, guitar, organ and piano. The youngest, David, is in charge of the weekly free taekwondo lessons, teaching martial arts to 30-50 students. The Serranos also have outreach and feeding programs to impoverished communities in Ilocos, Baguio and Antipolo.

What Do You Miss Most About Your Childhood?

What happy memories do you have of being a young child that make you think either "those were good times" or "that was good parenting"?

The younger you were at the time, the better. I can not remember too much from my young childhood, besides the warm feeling from sitting in a basket of laundry just come from the dryer, the days my mom would pick me up from grade school and we would eat and talk about anything under the sun. All of these memories leave me with happy, warm feelings about my childhood. I also remember playing with my cousins and reading in my room alot and other minor incidents, but these more mundane memories don't really carry the same emotional weight.

I would like to know if other people have more happy memories from their childhoods and, if so, what are they like? If your parents created loving memories for you, what sorts of things were you doing together? I guess I'm partly trying to understand why some things stick in our minds, to become happy memories, and others don't. As well as how to help create positive memories for a child. (Obviously, "be a good parent/aunt/sitter/friend" is the default answer, but beyond that, what makes the memory?)

What does a person do when she finds that sliver of a moment when she can say she is without a doubt or pretension--truly happy? Does she attempt to freeze time and capture the moment for all eternity? Or does she simply savor the present and hope that cherished memories of the past will be enough to last her when the moment passes. 

Most people love to perpetuate every wonderful moment in life. They say that it is during childhood that one finds true happiness, a time when life was sweet and simple. We asked a random of people on what they miss the most about their childhood. You might be able to relate to them too like I did. I asked a few people on what do they miss most about their childhood and here are their answers: 

"My childhood is the best part of my life because it was perfect. What I miss most about it are not feeling any pressure, stress and emotional pain," --Rose Concepcion-Jimenez, mother of two kids

"I miss playing street games like hide and seek with my playmates. I wish I could still play those games at my age now, but it would be such a shame to do so. Nowadays, kids no longer go out of the house, they content themselves playing with a game console or ipad. Thus, they lack interaction with peers and physical activities."--Lea Jane Jonson

"How I wish I could still bathe in the rain. There's nothing like seeing the rain cascading down our body."--Bernadette De Leon

"As a kid, I used to eat sweet cotton candies, pink popcorns and hotdog waffles that smelling their scent wafting in the air reminds me of my childhood. I wish I'd still get the same excitement and the thrill over eating them and riding in roller coasters at amusement park."--Vangie

"I' m a child of the 80's. I wish I could return to those times when life was so simple and a dollar only equals to Php25.00. That's why I keep my Care Bear stuffed toy with me to remind me of the good times."--Ala Paredes

"The parent imposed rule: Afternoon Siesta or Power Nap"--Geraldine 

"Awaiting the clock to struck at 12 midnight during Christmas eve meant it's time to unwrap our presents under the Christmas tree."--Evangeline Anchores

"Being at peace with the rest of the world. Childhood meant not knowing the cruelty that lies ahead."--Jeanibelle Cuartero

"Knowing fully how to forgive and ultimately to forget. When you're a kid, you don't know how to hold grudges against other people."--Christina Agustin

"Sleeping between Mom and Dad."--Diane Ortega

Personally speaking, I miss being a kid--and by that I mean recognize no immediate responsibilities, and still be undecided about the future. So how different does the world look to you now without the rose-tinted glasses of our childhood? 

Getting old doesn't have to mean letting go of all the dreams of childhood. It is possible to be both carefree and responsible adult in equal doses. Life is wonderful and liberating as a child, but you can still try to do this now, only if you choose to do so. 

There's this quiet moment in your life when you know your life as you know it has indeed changed. Everything just feels different. Not really bad, just different. After all, the familiar can be as insidious as the unknown. So when you feel your world, your colors and your words are a bit more purple, you know you're about to turn a curve. 

Film Review: Miracle on Cell No. 7 (Korean Film)

I'm a self-confessed film buff although lately I no longer had the time to actually sit down, relax and enjoy a good film. So I had to resort to the next best thing--which is to watch via youtube videos. I recently watched Miracle on Cell No.7, Korean film released in 2013 which has earned a lot of positive feedbacks from Netizens on most Social Media platforms. In fact, I came across Miracle on Cell No. 7 only after two of my friends had posted on their wall that they are watching the said film. And because it was highly recommended by my friends, I got curious with it and decided to see the film myself. 

Miracle on Cell No. 7 is a wonderfully comical yet a touching story between a mentally ill father and her smart and lovingly adorable daughter. The father was accused of murder and rape but he's really innocent. This film reminds me a bit of the Hollywood movie entitled "I Am Sam" which starred Sean Penn and former child star Dakota Fanning. Both films had the same theme--the strong bond between the father and his daughter, they also had the same "mentally ill" Dad as the lead character who is incapable of being a Dad/fit as a father.  Although in "I Am Sam", Sean Penn's character is more mentally retardate. Here, in Miracle on Cell No. 7, the lead character is actually a doting father to her daughter. 

At the onset of the film, it has clearly established the love between the father and daughter. They were seen singing Sailor Moon's jingle (a popular Japanese cartoon in the 90's) together, they even had funny antics each time they bid each other farewell. For someone who never had the chance to experience such wonderful experience to bond with her Dad, watching the film's "happy moments" will surely be enough to tug your heart. 

There were a lot of funny moments in this film especially when the father met his fellow inmates in the prison--on cell number 7. Throughout the film, the father has proven how good his heart was. He had saved his fellow prisoner from another prisoner's hands and even the chief prison guard from an outrage which resulted to fire. You'll feel empathy when you see him yearn for his only daughter. I'd like to commend the actor who played Dad and the child who played his daughter because they were both very good. They had played true to their characters well. Watching them together during their movie highlights or special moments together will definitely touch your hearts. 

I had really been affected by the love between the father and daughter in the film. I don't know if it had something to do with what me and my beloved Mom had recently been through. I almost lost my Mom in an accident we've had last summer and having experienced that somehow had given me a more clear perception that life is really precious. We should say "I love you" more often and show how much our loved ones meant for us. We never know, one minute you could be with them and in a nanosecond, they or you could be gone. I've learned to value time, to spend as much time with your loved ones as you possibly can. Life is merely just that--enjoy it while you can. Savor and relish the moments you create for all of these will simply be part of our memories one day. 

And just like my friends, I definitely give Miracle on Cell No. 7 two-thumbs up! I would recommend this film to every family. Make sure your kids will be able to see this film so that they would understand how blessed they are to have parents like you. The film's ending may not be a happy one as I expected it to be--but at least, the daughter and her father's former inmates and friends had something to be happy about. 

I no longer wonder why the film Miracle on Cell No. 7 created waves and positive reviews throughout the Internet. It tackles on family relationship between a parent and a child--it is something that anyone can easily relate to. Quoting my former College Speech professor, Ms. Zenaida Rocamora, "Any significant human experience is worth sharing." To me, Miracle on Cell No. 7 is all that and more, thus I am sharing them to you now on my blog in the hope that you can find time to watch the said film on youtube or in videos and let the film touch your hearts the same way it did mine. 

Disclaimer: I am not compensated for this post. Opinions expressed are 100% my own.

When Marriages Falls Apart Parents Must Spare the Kids

I feel sad each time I hear stories about couples drifting apart. Coming from a broken family myself, my heart goes out to all the children within the family as they will surely be the ones to suffer. But as they say, what good would it do for both parties if they no longer love each other or they would just be hurting one another? A long time friend recently had parted ways with her husband of 12 years. Nobody said it was easy. After all, she had made her ex husband her whole life in the past twelve years. A long time ago, my friend had set aside her own dreams to play the role of a young wife. She became a loving homemaker and a 24/7 mom to her children. Her children makes her happy.  Although it all seemed that everything had been wonderful, her life wasn't exactly a bed if roses. But she had tried her very best to make their marriage last, to keep her family intact--in fact, she had given her whole to it--leaving nothing for herself--for her children's sake. Still, it ain't just enough. 

Her children's father is no longer the man she fell in love with. He became insensitive even to the needs of his own children. Sure, he used to be a good provider, but never a good father to his children. He became a gaming addict--constantly online, he's so into it to the point of forgetting his own hygiene and would often engage in petulant quarrel with either his children or his wife resulting in domestic squabbles. She hated seeing him completely immersed into online gaming that he forgets his responsibilities to his own family. She no longer knew who this man had become. And just like that, one day, he decided to leave--with his wife not knowing what to do to survive. My friend is groping in the dark to look for clues on how to get her act together and be able to stand with her own feet to raise her kids on her own. 

The sad part is that, their youngest daughter has leukemia--and needs monthly treatment, chemotherapy and other medicines. He knew how much his daughter needs money in order to survive. The daughter's only five years old and she's fighting for her dear life. Too bad, the father does not even seem to even care for his youngest child. And so, my friend pulls all the strings she could muster and tries her best to move mountains to make sure her youngest child maintains her medicines and treatments without her ex husband's help. 

When marriages falls apart and collapses, we need to spare our dear children. No matter how much the couples hate each other, they need to talk and iron out whatever kinks it is to be at least be civil with one another, just for the sake of the kids. After all, the two of you were happy making these kids therefore you should be together in raising them as well. These kids need all the help and guidance as they grow, and as parents even if you're no longer together, the support you've given to your kids should not stop.