Showing posts with label Children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Children. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Dealing with Lice and Nits

What could be more irritating than the lice and nits on your kids' head? If this has not yet happened to your child, chances are, he or she won't get exempt, because these parasites know no gender, age or status. It infests anyone.

In some places, this a big deal among parents. A child can be subjected to ridicule, or much more, left alone by his classmates and playmates if he is found out to be with nits and lice. School administrators would usually advise parents whose kid has the infestation to clean up the child first before sending he or she  back to school.

I guess everyone had her own personal encounters with nits and lice. Hence, it would not be difficult to tell whether or not your own son or daughter has these. And what's the biggest sign? Of course, head scratching.

This is always a trouble for me, because every time my househelp goes home to the province, she gets back already infested. And who gets to suffer? My family, especially, my kids.  So, we now normally ask and check our househelp if she has lice. And if she has, we let her use lice-killing shampoo, or worse, ask her to cut her hair, if she happens to have a very long mane.

The life stages of head lice can be divided into three. It starts as nits or lice eggs that hatch after seven days before they turn into nymphs. Nymphs are the most itchy and very difficult to find that even a fine-comb cannot sometimes prove its purpose. They grow into adult lice in about another week.

Head lice survive on human blood. Its life span is about 30 days. If a louse (singular form of lice) falls out of the head, it will surely die in about two days, without its blood-food.

This infection can be treated by over-the-counter medicines usually in the form of creams or shampoo. But the most effective counter measure, however, is more on prevention.

Because kids are the usual victims of these parasites, we should teach our children some hygienic tips, like the non-sharing of combs, hats, scarves, and other personal belongings such as hair clips, pony tails or head bands. Also, treat members of your family having lice or nits as soon as possible before the infestation spreads to every one in the house.

At the first sign of nits on my kids, I manually pick on these irksome "grits" immediately and wash their hair using a head lice shampoo. Years ago, Quell was the only lice shampoo that I knew of. I am thankful that there are other choices available in the market now. For this kind of problem, my family uses Licealiz.

A product of Lamoiyan Corporation, Licealiz is definitely Philippine-made. The shampoo boasts of its conditioning formula that leaves hair soft, and a soothing coolness on the scalp. It is also non-toxic, hence, parents should not be bothered if frequently used, although it is recommended to apply the same twice weekly.

With this kind of product, gone are the hard days and hassle treatment just to get rid of those crawling irritants from our kid's head. 

Saturday, January 8, 2011

SINULOG 2011: The Many Faces of the Holy Child

Various images of the Most Holy Child Jesus or the Sto. Nino are now on display at the Ayala Center Cebu in line with mall's celebration of the Sinulog Festival 2011. 







The exhibition of the Sto. Nino icons is an annual event organized by Ayala Center in cooperation with the various owners of the statues, one of whom is Msgr. Chris Garcia, who also led the blessing and opening of the exhibition on January 7, 2011.  

About 20 different replicas are shown today, but according to the organizers, there are others coming, and the public will be able to see a total of 60 statues.  Most of these icons are already family heirlooms of devotees who generously lent their images for such exhibit.


Apart from the exhibit, the Sinulog fever is very much felt at the Ayala Center: the Christmas decors were immediately replaced with the colorful Sinulog banners and ornaments; shops redesigned their windows to fit for the festivities, and, of course, discounts as high as 50% are the order of the sale day -- all in the name of the Sinulog fiesta. 


//rmism//

Friday, January 7, 2011

Viva Pit Señor 2011

Sinulog comes from the vernacular term, "sulog",
referring to the current of the water that moves
forward and backward, hence the Sinulog dance style 
Sinulog 2011 officially kicks off today with a solemn mass held at the erstwhile home of the Holy Child Jesus in the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in downtown Cebu City. 

The mass was followed by a parade to the Cebu City Sports Center and a formal opening and launching program at Fuente Osmeña, which featured the Mandaue City Children's Choir, Cebu's dancesports troupes, and the presentation of the Ms. Cebu 2011, among others.


Preceding Sinulog's official launch was an opening salvo termed as 'Walk with Jesus' held on January 6, 2011. Approximately 20,000 devotees were reported to have attended the procession at 4:00 in the morning that started from Fuente Osmeña en route to the Basilica for the dawn mass and installation of this year's Hermano & Hermana Mayores.


The set of activities had long been geared to its place covering from December 1, with the Sinulog Street Fair, up to January 21, 2011, with the "Hubo Mass" Ritual. 

In this rite, the Sto. Niño is removed of his prince-like vestments and made to wear ordinary clothes.  Priests explain that this symbolic tradition tells people that only when one becomes like a little child can he enter the gates of heaven.   

Highlights of this year's festival include:

January 8     - Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan Dance Competition
                     Venue: Cebu City Sports Center
January 9     - Sinulog sa Kabataan- Dakbayan
January 12   - Ms. Cebu 2011 Coronation Night, Waterfront Lahug Hotel
January 15   - Fluvial Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño
January 16   - Sinulog Grand Parade 

The most expensive tickets for the Grand Parade pegged at P600 ($14.00) had been wiped out sold, according to the festival's organizers. Those who have not bought their tickets yet, P500 ($12.00) and P400 ($10.00) worth are still available.  Spectators are advised to bring rain protectors in going to any Sinulog event because of rainy weather predictions for the days ahead, and not to bring any firearm as there is a special gun ban effected solely for the duration of the occasion.

Scroll down for the complete Schedule of Sinulog 2011. Viva Pit Señor!


Dec 01 – Jan 31, 2011
Sinulog Street Fair, Osmeña Blvd.
December 11, 2010
Sinulog Poster Making Contest @ Emall
December 15, 2010
Sinulog Photo Exhibits @SM City
January 2-30, 2011
1st Sinulog Softball Cup
Janaury 2, 2011 (Sunday)
Sinulog Fun Run
Sinulog Musicfest (Band Competition)
Presentation of contestants and announcement of 6 finalists
Sinulog Best Dance Crew announcement and presentation of 6 finalists


January 06, 2011 (Thursday)
Opening Salvo: Walk with Jesus
4:00 AM
Assembly Time (Area) Fuente Osmeña
4:30 AM
Start of Walk-Fuente Osmeña Blvd. – Basilica del Sto. Niño
5:30 AM
Installation of Hermano & Hermana Mayores 2011


January 07, 2011 (Friday)
Sinulog 2011 Kick Off
Sinulog Photo Exhibits through the years @SM City Cebu, Ayala Center Cebu, MCIAA
2:00PM
Solemn Mass (Basilica del Sto. Niño)
3:00 PM
Launching Parade (Basilica del Sto. Niño to Cebu City Sports Center)
7:00 PM
Opening and Launching Program, Fuente Osmeña featuring Mandaue City Children’s Choir, Dancesports Team Cebu and Dance Troupes from Cebu’s schools and universities
7:30 PM
Ms. Cebu 2011 Presentation, Fuente Osmeña
8:00 PM
Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM
Streen Party Bands


January 8, 2011 (Saturday)
Sinulog sa Kabataan – Lalawigan
8:00 AM
1st Sinulog Football Cup at the USC Talamban Football Field
1:00 PM
Parade of Participants, Capitol Site to Cebu City Sports Center
2:00 PM
Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan, Cebu City Sports Center
4:30 PM
Awarding of Winners
6:30 PM
Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) DepEd, Cebu Province
8:00 PM
Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:30 PM
Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands


January 9, 2011 (Sunday)
Sinulog sa Kabataan- Dakbayan
4:00 AM
Cebu City 2011 Marathon – www.cebumarathon.com
8:00 AM
1st Sinulog Football Cup at the USC Talamban Football Field
1:00 PM
Parade of Participants, Plaza Independencia to Cebu City Sports Center
2:00 PM
Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan, Cebu City Sports Center
4:30 PM
Awarding of Winners
6:30 PM
Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)
University of San Carlos
8:00 PM
Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM
Concert @ the Fuente O, Street Party Bands


January 10, 2011 (Monday)
6:30 PM
Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña)
University of Cebu
8:00 PM
Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM
Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands


January 11, 2011 (Tuesday)
6:30 PM
Cultural show (Fuente Osmeña)
University of San Jose-Recoletos and Cebu Institute of Technology
8:00 PM
Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM
Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands


January 12, 2011 (Wednesday)
9:00 AM
Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)
6:30 PM
Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña)
University of Southern Philippines-Foundation and Salazar College of Science and Institute of Technology
7:00 PM
Ms. Cebu 2011 Coronation Night, Waterfront Lahug Hotel
8:00 PM
Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM
Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands


January 13, 2011 (Thursday)
9:00 AM
Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)
10 AM – 3:00 PM
Photo Shoot Sinulog Festival Queen , SM City Entertainment Plaza
7:00 PM
Sinulog Festival Queen Parade of Costumes @ SM Northwing Lobby
6:30 PM
Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña)
Cebu City Division
6:00 PM
Balik Cebu, Welcome Party @ Ayala Center Cebu
8:00 PM
Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
8:00 PM
Handumanan @ Ayala Terraces
9:00 PM
Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands


January 14, 2011 (Friday)
Visual Merchandising Contest
(Dept. Stores and Malls)
4:00 AM
Walk with Mary (Area) Fuente Osmeña-Sto. Niño
7:00 AM
Misa de Translacion (Motorcade)
9:00 AM
Solidarity Meeting (All Competing Contingent /
Floats / Higante / Puppteers) @ Cebu City Sports Center Gym
6:30 PM
Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña) University of San Carlos
7:30 P.M
Cebu Popular Music Festival, Cebu Coliseum
7:30 P.M
Sinulog Festival Queen 2011, Cebu City Sports Center
8:00 PM
Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM
Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands


January 15, 2011 (Saturday)
6:00 AM
Fluvial Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño
8:00 AM
Vibration and Big Bike Rally by Vmax Owners Group
9:00 AM
Re-enactment of the Baptism of Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon Basilica del Sto. Niño
2:00 PM
Solemn Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño
7:00 PM
Sinulog Fireworks Competition @ SM City Cebu
7:00 PM
Street party @ Fuente Osmeña and Plaza Independencia
8:00 PM
Gala – Passionata a Cultural Heritage Celebration in Honor of Sto. Niño de Cebu @ SM Cinema I
8:00 PM
Kasadya Nite Mardi Gras @ Ayala Center Cebu
8:00 PM
Handumanan Concert, USP-F Theater for the Performing Arts


January 16, 2011 (Sunday)
SINULOG GRAND PARADE
4:00 AM
Mañanita Mass @Basilica del Sto. Niño
6:00 AM
Pontifical mass with His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal
9:00 AM
Sinulog Grand Parade Carousel Kick Off
7:00 PM
Grand Fireworks, Cebu City Sports Center
7:30 PM
Street Party Bands, Fuente Osmeña


January 17, 2011 (Monday)
1:00 PM
Awarding Ceremonies, Cebu City Sports Center


January 21, 2011 (Friday)
“HUBO”
4:00 AM
“HUBO Mass” Ritual @ Basilica del Sto. Niño


January 29, 2011 (Saturday)
1:00 P.M
Screening of Finaslists Short Film/Video Documentary Contest
6:00 P.M
Awarding Ceremonies Photo Contest and Video Documentary Contest @SM City Cebu
1st Sinulat Awards, Sinulog Literary Awards for Short Story Writing, Poetry, and Essay Writing @ SM City Cebu


January 31 – Feb. 10, 2011
Photo Exhibits “Winning Photos Sinulog ‘10 @SM City Cebu


For more information: Call 253700, 2545010, telefax 4164548


//rmism//

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Despicable Me

A few days ago, I had a TV-thon with my kids.  We watched The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Tom and Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes, and Despicable Me.  The kids surely had fun. But of all three flicks, one stood out to be their ultimate choice: Despicable Me.

Released in July 2010 by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment, Despicable Me is an animated 3D movie about a supervillain named Gru (Steve Carell), who, in his quest to steal the moon, had to use three orphans, Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Grier), and Agnes (Elsie Fisher), against his prime opponent, Vector (Jason Segel).  

Softened by the cuteness and innocence of the children, he later had a change of heart leading to the rescue of the orphans who were kidnapped by Vector in exchange for a shrunken moon.

Orphans Margo, Edith, and Agnes
Despicable Me has become my kids' favorite since the first time they viewed it. However, they were made to understand of a  number of things: 

-- how lucky they were for not being orphans and not to be able to meet Ms. Hattie (Kristin Wiig), who forced children to sell cookies and put them in a "box of shame";

-- that it's not nice to have a despicable attitude; 

-- that it's not good to be a villain in reel or real life; 

-- that it's good to help but not for furtherance of an evil plan; and

-- it's not legal to steal the moon or to take anything that you do not own.

My youngest daughter loves the movie so much that she want it to be the last thing she would see right before sleeping, even just for a fraction of it, or even for five minutes, then she would fall into slumber. What she loves most are the parts when Gru tells the bedtime story and when some minions photocopy their yellow bottoms.

Same with my eldest daughter. She also loves the film that every time she says "please", she now accompanies it with "pretty." 

Well, Despicable Me is not at all despicable to me, or to my kids. It's actually a loveable one!

//rmis//

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Conference on Children and their Fractured Families In Baltimore, Maryland

Protect our children, take care and love them
Disrupted adoptions, parental abduction and immigration are just among the issues that will be taken up in the conference entitled, Fractured Families: The Causes and Consequences of Children Separated from their Families Across International Borders.  The event will be held at the University of Maryland in Baltimore on November 4 and 5, 2010.

Ambassador Susan Jacobs and Hon. Peter J. Messite are set to give the keynote addresses for the first and second day, respectively.  Amb. Jacobs is the Special Advisor to the Office of Children's Issues, a newly created position for the protection of the interests and welfare of children.   Hon. Messite is Senior Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, and who formerly chaired the Family and Domestic Relations Law Committee, Maryland Judicial Conference from 1991 to 1993.  Judge Messite was designated as U.S. representative to Judicial Network under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of the International Child Abduction. 

Presenters for the event are:

1. Dr. Howard Altstein - social worker educator and author;

2. Christina Baglietto - Regional Adviser for Latin America for the ISS/IRC and UNICEF consultant;

3. Dr. Allison Blake - Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Children and Families;

4. Dana Chou, interim Director for the Children's Services at Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service in Baltimore;

5. Michelle Brane - Director of the Detention and Asylum program at the U.S Women's Refugee Commission;

6. Kathleen Cleary - Executive Director for Consortium for Children;

7. Stephen Cullen - head of the Miles & Stockbridge's Family Law & Private Clients Group

8. Howard Davidson, J.D. - directed the American Bar Association's Center on Children and the Law since 1978, and Chair, U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect;

9. Dr. Jean M. Geran - an expert in international child protection and family policy;

10. Geoffrey Greif - professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work;

11. Nathalie Lummert - currently manages all Migration and Refugee Services' (MRS) programs for immigrant and refugee children;

12. Debbie B. Riley - Executive Director of The Center for Adoption Support and Education, Inc., an independent post-adoption organization in the Baltimore-Washington area;

13. Kathleen S. Ruckman - Incoming Branch Chief, Office of Children's Issues;

14. Prof. Jana Singer - faculty member of the University of Maryland School of Law;

15. Miki Stebbing - Accrediting Entity Liaison for the Department of State; works with the designated accredeting entities to implement the Hague Adoption Convention and the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000;

16. Professor Maureen Sweeney - directed the Immigration Clinic at the University of Maryland School of Law since 2004; and

17. Wendy Young - Executive Director of Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), a non-government organization founded by the Microsoft Corporation and actress, Angelina Jolie to provide legal services and advocacy to the thousands of immigration and refugee children who arrive alone in the U.S. each year.

The United States International Social Service and the University of Maryland School of Social Work are the main organizers of the conference, and supported by the University of Maryland School of Law, Rutgers School of Social Work, and the Wittig Associates.

//rmism/110410/ppp

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