..the famous Boracay Island

Last summer my family and friends had fun at the famous Boracay Island. We were so amazed of the powdery white sand beach and crystal clear water. Aside from swimming there are other activities you can do. Like island hopping, helmet diving, snorkeling, parasailing, kite boarding, and a ride on an ATV (all terrain vehicle). Also we did not miss the famous fire dancer at night.

Though during our trip there were some rain but still my kids enjoyed swimming.

We were on our way to island hopping.

My friends went on a helmet diving.

This is the famous fire dancing at night.

The kids want to go back next summer. Let's see:)

Let's Save Together

Whenever I surf online I can see Ensogo ads anywhere. Ensogo is an online shopping site. The group started in 2009 in Thailand. It became popular so they set up here in Manila in July 2010. Ensogo stands for Entertain, Social and Go. Their trademark is Let's save together.

The site is really exciting, it has new deals every day from 50% upto 90% off . The more vouchers you buy the more savings you get. Visitors can choose from restaurant deals, vacation, hotel and travel deals, they even have car cleaning service. You can buy the voucher in 3 easy steps: log in to the site, choose the promo and confirm, and click to get your voucher and you will receive a confirmation through your email.

It also has Ensogo raffle giveaway, by joining and answering their survey visitor will have a chance to win prizes. If you're looking for the best offer always visit Ensogo.

Scary Dengue!!

DENGUE HEMORRHAGIC FEVER is an acute infectious disease manifested initially with fever.

>Signs and symptoms:

>Sudden onset of high fever which may last 2 to 7days.

>Joint and muscle pain

>Weakness, skin rashes, abdominal pain

>Nose bleeding when fever starts to subside

>Vomiting of coffee-colored matter

>Dark-colored stools

We just got out of the hospital, my kids were infected by the famous 'dengue fever'. First was my youngest daughter who is only 6 years old. She had a fever for 3 days, she had undergone CBC and platelet count but was still within the normal range value. We went home but the next day we noticed rashes on her skin we went back to the hospital for another platelet count. Now the platelet went really low and she was admitted to the hospital for 3 days. She was given paracetamol and antibiotic.

After 3 days in the hospital, our eldest daughter started to show symptoms of dengue fever. She had a high fever, muscle pain and was vomiting. Anything that she ate, she threw it out. We had her undergone CBC and platelet count, but the platelet count was still high. The doctor advised to admit her to the hospital because she might be dehydrated since she continued to vomit. The next day her platelet count went low. Then she had cough and abdominal pain. They x-rayed her lungs, there was fluid also her liver was enlarged. Red rashes started to appear all over her body. We stayed in the hospital for 5 days.

It was really a nightmare, my two kids were both infected by this dengue virus. Especially my eldest daughter, she was crying because of abdominal pain and can’t sleep because of cough. She had fluids in her lungs. It was her first time to be admitted in the hospital.

Dengue fever is a life threatening disease. Maintaining cleanliness in our homes and communities can prevent the breeding and spread of dengue carrying mosquito. At home we can eliminate mosquito breeding places by covering all water containers, cleaning roof gutters and canals regularly. Use mosquito repellent regularly, keep our doors closed and windows screened. As of now, there's no commercially available dengue vaccine.

Everyone hears about the plant 'tawa tawa', they say it treats dengue fever. But the Department of Health advised to not depend on the said plant since it's not yet scientifically proven.

While my children were in the hospital my Mom bought a dried tawa tawa plant from her neighbor. We boiled it and mixed its water to Nestea then put sliced lemon so the kids won't be able to smell the dried leaf scent. Because if they knew that it was a boiled plant they won't drink it. The tawa tawa plant helped them increase their blood platelet. My eldest daughter stayed in the hospital for only 5 days unlike others were admitted for more than a week.

I agree with the Department of Health, this is only my opinion, though tawa tawa helped increase blood platelet we still need to bring the patient to the hospital. So our medical professionals can check the patient for other complications of dengue fever.

Help your Teens manage stress

Adults are not the only one who experience stress, kids too. My eldest daughter is now a freshman in high school. Her school starts at six o'clock in the morning, so she has to wake up by 4:00 am, then the class ends at three in the afternoon. Whenever she comes home she'll just eat snack then start her homework like research for their science investigatory project, Math problems, prepare visual aids for their reporting and even drawings for their story telling. Then review lesson for the next day. She goes to bed by 10 pm. School is really demanding, she's enrolled in a Science Oriented Class, a special curriculum of DepED for public schools.

As a Mom I'm really worried that it might affect her health. I always plan activities for our weekends so she can relaxed. Like going to the mall, at the park, playing badminton, or jogging. Also during weekends I allow her to play online or chat with her friends in Facebook, but it should be after doing her homework for Monday.

I noticed that she has a high level tolerance for stress, she never complains. Always her comfort zone is her anime drawings. She feels good whenever she's with her Manga book.

For more information I read books and searched online about fighting stress at school. I learned some tips like:
-Listen to your child. Ask what’s wrong let the child express his/her feelings.
-Commend your child for doing a great job on his/her exams or class reporting.
-Support involvement in sports and other prosocial activities
-Keep a positive atmosphere at home.
-Tell your child you will always be there.
-Teach the child to eat healthy food.

I always prepare foods with high nutritional value. Aside from drinking 2 glasses of milk everyday I serve them meals with fruits and vegetables.

What are your Marriage Habits?

I heard from one of the afternoon TV show that 'marriage is a very complicated business'. Two people live together with different personality, different life experience and different expectations.

While growing up I always encounter this quotation "love is patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It does not hold grudges and hardly even notices when others do it wrong".

I got a friend who's also married and I ask him about his marriage. He said that from the start they set house rules and put it in writing and even framed it. Funny right, but it worked for them. Whenever one of them violates they go back to it and talk.

While reading online I got this page 'Seven Habits of Successful Couples'. I really really liked it.
-Give each other pleasure do not cause pain
-Create love and friendship rituals
-Create a safe space for open and honest sharing
-Work together to resolve conflict and crisis
-Turn toward each other, rather than away
-Schedule time for love
-Create meaning in your relationship

Writing down and exchanging each others expectations is really effective. You don't have to guess anymore. Constant communication is important, let's try to know our spouse deeper,know his/her thoughts, feelings, desires, and dreams.Share it with each other and dream together. By these, you two create and share the meaning of life together.

I am not a perfect wife, this 'Seven Habits of Successful Couples' I will give it a try.

The Power of First Vitaplus Natural Health drink

First Vitaplus is not only an everyday health juice it can also help protect us from diabetes,anemia, heart problem, leukemia, colon cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, cough and colds, psoriasis, fever, UTI, insomnia, hypertension, goiter, kidney problem, dysmenorrhea, diarrhea, rheumatism, arthritis, hyperacidity and hemorrhoid.

The malunggay (Moringa Oleifera) has antibiotic property, it can lower blood sugar level at the same time normalize the blood pressure. It boosts energy when eaten regularly because of iron, we all know that iron helps fight stress or over fatigue.

Dahon ng sili (Chili leaves) improves metabolism and can help menstrual problem to women. It also lowers blood sugar level and cholesterol. Chili leaves has capsaicin which is a cardio vascular stimulant. When it's in our body there is fibrinolytic activity and that prevents formation of blood clot.

Saluyot (Jute leaf) it is rich in fiber thus it prevents constipation. The most important benefit of the leaf is their high antioxidant property, primarily in the form of Vitamin E. Vitamin E helps protect our body from cell damage that can lead to cancer, chronic heart disease and eye cataract. Jute leaf contains anti-tumor promoters, Phytol and Monogalactosyl-diacylglycerol, that can reduce risk of cancer.

Kulitis or Uray (Amaranthus leaf) it is also rich in fiber and has astringent property that helps skin problems like excema, psoriasis, and hives. The leaf is high in folate, iron, calcium and zinc.

Talbos ng kamote (Sweet potato leaves) it has iodine. This is a beneficial food for diabetics, studies on animals have revealed that it helps to stabilize blood sugar levels and to lower insulin resistance.

It's hard to commit to ourselves that we are going to eat this five vegetables everyday. But, having this health drink everyday and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is an investment. I will not be worried 5 or 10 years from now because I already have what my body needs. Me and my family has been drinking Vitaplus for 5 months and no one from us got sick we have enough to fight stress.

So many testimonies from Filipino patients that First Vitaplus saved them from their sickness.To my readers, if you know someone who's been sick for a long period of time you can leave a message to me, our company, First Vitaplus can help.

Do your kids eat vegetables? How about a health drink that's made of vegetables?

As a Mom we all want our kids to be healthy and we use the food Pyramid as a guide for a healthy food choices. The pyramid says that we need 3-5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. I never had problem letting my kids eat fruits but with vegetables it's still under negotiation.

Just recently I discovered a natural health drink called Vitaplus. It's made of 5 different vegetables that can be found anywhere here in the Philippines. These are MALUNGGAY (Moringa Oleifera), SALUYOT(Corchorus Olitorius), DAHON NG SILI (Capsicum Frutescens), KULITIS OR URAY (Amaranthus), TALBOS NG KAMOTE (Ipomoea Batatas). It's flavored with Dalandan (Sweet Orange) so everyone can enjoy especially the kids.

MALUNGGAY (Moringa Oleifera) has vitamin A and C, calcium, iron, and potassium. It can rebuild weak bones, enrich anemic blood and nourish breastfed babies. Ounce per ounce, it has the calcium of four glasses of milk, the vitamin C of seven oranges and the potassium of three bananas.

SALUYOT(Corchorus Olitorius) has vitamin A, B, C, iron, calcium, phosporus, protein and fiber. Reported to be demulcent, deobstruent, diuretic, lactagogue, purgative and tonic, it may also be a remedy for aches and pains, dysentery, enteritis, fever and pectoral pains.

DAHON NG SILI (Capsicum Frutescens) is an excellent source of calcium and iron, a good source of phosphorus and vitamins A and B. It is an important gastrointestinal deoxidant and a remedy for Intestinal Inflammation, Menstrual Cramps, Ulcer, and Varicose Veins

KULITIS OR URAY (Amaranthus) is a very good expectorant and an effective astringent especially in stopping liquid bowels. It has been reported that a decoction of the root relieve ones breathing from acute bronchitis. the dried leaves contains iron, calcium, fiber, beta carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, and ascorbic acid.

TALBOS NG KAMOTE (Ipomoea Batatas) Its roots are high in calories and vitamin A and the leafy tops are eaten as vegetables. The tops, especially purplish ones are used for diabetes and the crushed leaves are applied to boils and acne.

To all Moms like me we can now end our worries for the kids not eating vegetables because they can now drink it with Vitaplus. Instead of buying sodas, flavored powdered juice, artificial fruit shake why not choose Vitaplus. It's affordable and really a healthy drink.