Bangon Pilipinas!

 Maybe some of you noticed the image at the right sidebar of this blog. Photo taken by my husband as his team was preparing to leave Mactan, Cebu for a relief and medical mission in Leyte. Among the pictures taken from his trip, this is one of the most moving and symbolic. In line with the C-130 Cargo Planes from the Philippines and other countries, the Philippine flag stood highly. There is hope, a new Philippines will rise and the world is going to witness it.

After the typhoon, a lot of rainbows from different parts of the Visayas region were seen. I had my fair share of this grace that came from Above... This rainbow and sunshine I saw from my window gave me assurance that my husband was safe helping those in need...

We Filipinos are high-spirited. We may encounter calamities of sorts, but after the great battle, we look up and still smile for the second chance, the life we celebrate as we move forward to brighter days.

Opening Our Doors To The Spirit of Christmas

Even if the country's under a tremendous trial, opening ourselves to the spirit of Christmas will help ease out the pain and sadness. Christmas is also time to give and to share. Not necessarily material, but to contribute by showing support, uplifting the spirits, moral and sharing words of encouragement to those who are deeply scarred.

The Holiday Season is the most celebrated every year simply because everyone is happy. Even if one did not receive any gift, you'll still find that person smiling...

I look forward to Christmas decorating because it gives our home a jolly feeling. Same feeling my family wants to share with everybody.

This year, I helped my mom decorate our house in my hometown, particularly the main door. My mom started by surrounding the main entrance of the house with some Christmas garlands. Then I took over. I want it simple and well- lighted. I used some old decorations from last year which is a combination of  dove birds, silver and gold Christmas balls and ribbons. It may look that parts of the garlands don't have light, it's because I used blinkers/ animated Christmas lights. A wreath made of Lavander added color and a homey effect.

After decorating the front door, my sister took- in the Douglas Fir Tree from last year. The fresh pine scent from the tree is still there. We haven't really thought of anything for the old tree. We only have lights but it  gave us a Xmassy effect. For the moment, we used it to make room for the next Douglas Fir tree that will arrive mid- December... can't wait.

Why You Need Vitamin C in Your Skin Care

Vitamin C is a well-known antioxidant for many purposes. It has been used by families for decades to improve immune function. What people might not realize is a vitamin C serum can be an essential part of natural skin care, eliminating skin damage over time. Wrinkles in the skin are caused by damage compounding over time. If you are not properly exfoliating and giving your skin the kind of help it needs there could be trouble. This natural remedy can be part of an overhaul of habit from synthetic products into a more organic lifestyle.

Vitamin C works similarly inside the body as it does outside. Vitamin C is full of antioxidants which destroy free radicals in the body. Destroying these free radicals allows the body to repair and in effect fight off infection and viruses. It works the same way when used on the skin. When you go out in the sun for too long, or are subjected to too many pollutants in the environment, vitamin C breaks up the pollutants. The pollutants take up position as free radicals in the integumentary system (of which the skin is the largest organ). These free radicals can become at least permanent damage of the skin. If the damage is not repaired, over time it can compound and become skin cancer.

It is certainly more fun to drink orange juice or eat citrus fruit than it is to take pills, but unfortunately oranges might not have as concentrated of doses of vitamin C. There are some fruits that give higher amounts of vitamin C to the skin, it takes only a little research to discover these other fruits. The fruits can be worked into skin care products which are then rubbed over the body. These products can exfoliate the skin (meaning gently taking off the top layer of skin). They will also help the body maintain moisture. Moisture is essential in skin care. Without natural liquids, the skin can not receive the necessary nutrients the body tries to deliver to them.

Wrinkles can arise when there is a build up of skin damage over time. They typically start with fine lines which are not properly treated. The use of vitamin C can also stimulate the body to naturally produce collagen and elastin. Collagen fills in the fine lines subtly over time. Elastin makes the skin more viable, flexible and more resilient to movement and initial damage from natural pollutants. In this way, products using vitamin C can reduce the effects of aging and bring to the skin a more youthful complexion. It might not happen overnight, but the effects that arise will last longer.

Synthetically manufactured products tend to appear more effective in the process of skin care. However, over time, these products are likely to produce skin damage. This is especially true with overuse. The filler chemicals might be doing more harm than good over time. They might not be causing cancer, but they may be drying out the skin or making the body dependent upon the chemicals in the serum. If the person stops using the popular synthetic products, the body might have a hard time catching back up to producing its own chemicals to naturally care for the skin.

Natural skin care on the other hand is derived from cultures where the only products people used were organic, made from the plants and other materials around them. A vitamin C serum such as the product made by Mad Hippie , for example, would be created from an orange (or another fruit) tree. The people would rub the juice on the skin (or drink it) and the effects would be felt over time. Often these effects would compound in regular usage and keep the skin healthy. Organic materials are more biologically viable than synthetic. They are naturally easier to break down and they leave less of an imprint upon the chemical make up of the person ingesting or using it on their skin.

Vitamin C can reduce the skin damage from multiple sources. It can even reverse the damage done by the synthetic products over time. The removal of free radicals from the system is paramount since it is the free radicals which cause the most problems. When damage is done to the skin, the free radicals accumulate. Free radicals do not just come from the sun. They also come from things we eat every day. Consider fast food. This is highly processed with chemicals added, many of which are not really fit for consumption on a regular basis.

Vitamin C can help improve health, but without a change in habits, there may still be problems with free radicals collecting in the body. Vitamin C can become part of a healthy skin regimen and reduce cancer causing agents as well as perpetuating the appearance of younger looking skin.

We Share Because We Care

There were lists of the "dos and don'ts" when it comes to donating that's been circulating. It's unbelievable how some people who are accepting donations will suddenly put a limit on the amount and type of donations that should come in. And these are announced via social media and sadly, on television as well. I am pertaining to "some" public figures, organizations and institutions only.

Clothes: may it be second hand or brand new. If you think your warehouse of relief items is overflowing with clothes, keep sorting and pack those for future use. It will still come in handy. The Visayas Region is big. We still have the survivors from the recent earthquake and families who don't have homes who can surely make use of those "excess clothing".

The "below 100 not advisable" no. of canned goods or other items: We understand the importance of providing in quantity. However, the message that has been cascaded can be misconstrued and demotivate people who just want to help and may not have the quantity that is being requested for.

That YOU Prefer Monetary Donation:  We understand the practicality this option can give in terms of rebuilding efforts and transportation/ travel expenses. However, it begs me to question the motives when at this point in time, our primary goal is to make sure that goods will reach the people in need. With so much monetary donations, it is sad to see that there are several towns in Leyte that have not received any relief goods day 5 after the storm.

If you volunteer or do work for charity, just do it, give all you can, don't complain and never underestimate the capability of those who want to share.

There should be no limitations to the act of selflessness. 

There's a reason why you're blessed to be instruments to help those in need. Whatever is handed thru you for additional help, please... accept it. 

For some good vibes: 
Priest Takes 3- Day Trip for Typhoon Victims

We Share Because We Care

Box of Hope is now in progress

The rescue, relief, retrieval & medical team my husband's going to be joining will leave for Tacloban soon.

Ways To Help Typhoon Haiyan Victims

Like everyone else, my husband and I are doing our best on finding ways to help our brothers and sisters at the Visayas Region. One important opportunity that knocked at our door was the relief efforts my husband's company will make as they will send employees with relief goods at the most devastated areas. When I heard about it, I cried because now I have a way to directly send help for our fellow Filipinos in need. If it's going to be allowed, I will encourage my other half to join the group as representative for our whole family and friends here in the Philippines, from America and the rest of the world.

The aftermath Typhoon Yolanda/ Haiyan has left in our country was heartbreaking. It broke my heart in an instant and I can't get over it. Spreading information on how to help and donate is one way to ease those troubled hearts. If you can, please continue to send these important and reliable information within your network as we go through this deep adversity.

In sending out donations please be advised to entrust your goods, cash or in kind to reliable groups and organizations. People whom you feel will bring your donations safely and directly to the people in the Visayas Region.

To the rest of the world... Thank you... We are truly grateful and appreciative of the continuous support and united relief efforts you've been showering our beloved country.

Please check the links below for the list of trusted international and local assistance.

American Red Cross

How To Help Typhoon Haiyan Victims

Ways To Donate and Help Typhoon Haiyan Victims

#YolandaActionWeekend! 

Abs-Cbn Sagip Kapamilya

GMA Kapuso Foundation

Alagang Kapatid 

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 It will take time to rebuild, but hope and with continuous prayers, the Filipino spirit will never fail the nation to keep moving foward.

I am he, I am he who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you;

I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4

Power of A Prayer

For my fellow Filipinos...

We will get through this...

Bayanihan Spirit will prevail....

We will never leave any of our fellowmen who are in great need...

With a prayer, miracles will come and we will make it happen.

Family Bowling

Here's the new addition to our list of family activities on weekends. We've always paid Paeng's Eastwood Bowl a visit almost every year because this is where my husband's company would hold their bowling events. At some point, my husband and I were encouraged to come up with bowling as a fun family bonding activity.

It's been years or even decades since I held a bowling ball. I never really played, as a matter of fact, I wasn't that interested when I was still young and single. I watch my friends play but often times, I prefer watching while munching on some Magoo's pizza. Okay, as far as I can remember, my last visit in a bowling alley before I got married was way back in 1995.

With the recent events we attended at Paeng's Eastwood Bowl, aside that it's brightly lit, I thought that the bowling alley itself didn't change much, the good 'ol vibes was still there.

Paeng's Eastwood Bowl

City Walk II Bldg., Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City

2 Saturdays back, my husband took the family for some bowling time. It was our eldest son's first time to play bowling. Fast learner I must say and I'm very proud of him. As for me, I wasn't expecting too much from myself since it's been years last time I played bowling. To my surprise, my first shot was an amazing strike lol! With that, it kinda boosted my confidence. While playing, we munch on some hot pizza from Magoo's.

Believe me, it's a fun way to spend time with your family. Not to forget, it's pocket-friendly and it can be one of the most memorable events in your life.