The Mom Blogger is Back

I used to be active in the blogosphere but went in hiatus due to overwhelming responsibilities needing my full attention.  Because of my love for writing and freedom of expression, I am once again declaring, I'm back! 

Through blogging, I hope to reconnect and rediscover the beauty of sharing a bit of our passion for humanity. Please wish me luck, people, as I again embark on this new journey.

Cheers for the gift of life!

Adherence and Making a Difference

Wishing Thals out there a merry christmas and happy new year!  

photo credits : Cooley's Anemia Foundation

Learning, Hoping, Coping

Food For The Thals

• 

Thals have to limit food intake and we are advised to avoid iron-rich and iron-supplemented food. We have to drink tea also during meals to decrease iron absorption.

Since the following foods are rich in iron, they are a "no no" to our diet.

• oysters
• liver
• pork
• beans
• beef
• peanut butter
• tofu

Grains

• flour tortillas
• infant cereal
• cream of wheat
• Malt-O-Meal
• cereals

Fruits/Vegetables

• prune juice
• prunes
• watermelon
• spinach
• leafy green vegetables
• dates
• raisins
• broccoli
• peas
• Fava beans

:-( have to say goodbye for now to my favorite alugbati. . .

My Journey As A Thal

I have been diagnosed  as  a Thalassemic and based on research done there are a plenty of us afflicted with this chronic illness.

I am still hopeful that with today's technology and different innovations and with people who are more than willing to share their blood with us, there  is still a brighter life ahead of us, Thals.

To increase awareness on this rare disease, I have decided to re-awaken my sleeping blog.  With this, I am again re-opening a part of me with you, friends, and I hope you will join me in this journey to educate others of this illness and please, please say a little prayer for me and other Thals out there!

Thank you and may God bless us all!

Learnings of a SEADO

"Problema sa Trabaho, iSEnA mo!"

This is the tagline of the Single Entry Approach (SENA) - a reform measure carried out by DOLE to effect faster, fairer, and inexpensive settlement of labor issues and to prevent these issues from maturing into actual labor cases.  

With SENA, single entry desks (SEADs) were established in all DOLE Offices nationwide to serve affected workers and employers.  SEADOs (Single Entry Approach Desk Officers) like us are tasked to facilitate conciliation-conferences/meetings between opposing parties and help them resolve their issues within 30 days.

Our role as SEADO offers us access, privilege and the honor to be part of the lives of those requesting for assistance. Through this position, we have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of these people we are assisting. We are in a place where we can share in-depth human experiences, witness a wide range of emotions and be present when people are at a crossroad in their lives, searching for directions and right decisions. In handling RFAs, we are given a precious gift - the stories of different people and our experiences with them during the proceedings that we carry within us.

Being a SEADO made me a better and a stronger person though at times I have to weep, go home with a heavy heart, and worst having sleepless nights while thinking of ways for a speedy settlement of the issues brought about by the aggrieved party.

If I have to describe my life as a SEADO, it is a heart with many phases and faces.

I am broken and at the lowest point of my life handling RFAs like these:

• mother at odds with a daughter she is working for (monetary benefit was paid but broken relationship remained :-( ); and
• issues unresolved and you have no choice but to endorse them to proper venue and worst - simple RFAs maturing into actual labor cases.

I am all smiles when I am able to to settle issues lodged within 30 minutes, an hour, or even within the day.

Hearing the requesting parties say 

"thank you", 

"God bless you", 

and "may you continue helping people" 

is simply priceless!

Makes me feel that a place is reserved for me in heaven :-D.

I feel comfortable and whole  with these resolved RFAs:

• truck owner betrayed by his trusted driver ( matter argued upon was patched up, owner has to let go of his driver but with due compensation even if he is not worthy of it);
• hotel owner being oppressed by her worker(worker has attitude but owner being the good samaritan that she is still gave him something to start a small business) ;
• about to be displaced workers and their employer with a really big heart ( after payment of separation pay and after shedding tears and saying goodbyes to their colleagues and employer, the employer declared nobody loses his/her job for she is ready to open another business and hire all of them even if she is in a wheelchair already - I can't help it but to cry with them in joy );  and
• workers who are non-Gensan residents claiming for unpaid wages  and got no place to stay for the night while waiting for the schedule of payment on the next day(facilitated a place for them to rest that is safe and with free provision - the police station!  heartbreaking but made me smile when the worker said thank you for they were treated well there).

To sum up, I still have a lot of stories to tell in my journey as a SEADO and each story represents LIFE and HOPE!

Thank you, folks, for reading this piece and may we all have a blessed holy week ahead of us!

Christmas Toyland at SM Gensan

 

It's the time of the year that is near and dear to us and what makes it more exciting was the launching of SM Gensan's giant Christmas Tree with "Toyland" as theme last November 9, 2014 at their Event Center.

During the launch of Christmas Toyland at SM Gensan, we saw Christmas coming and somebody nice was there to welcome us - Santa Claus!

 

Aside from our guest from the north pole, there were also Christmas carolers and ballerinas to entertain SM Gensan shoppers during the launch.

 

At SM Gensan, it's Christmas and definitely it will be merry for it is the season of toys, gifts, and bright shining lights!

#merrySMchristmas , everyone!