GIfts of breastfeeding

"Gifts of breastfeeding"

Sun.Star Davao, Sept. 12, 2009

“This is free. This is safe. No doubt about it. This is the best!”

This has been the constant campaign of mothers who believe in the “gifts of breastfeeding”.

“While the truth remains that all mothers are capable of breastfeeding their babies right from childbirth, many are still deluded from this fact and still opt to sustain their child’s health and well-being with food that is derived from artificial and processed animal milk”, shares Sharmila Barretto-Ong, one of the founders of the breastfeeding support group Mommysense.

Mommysense is composed of Dabawenyo breastfeeding mothers, who, back in 2004, banded together to support each other as they go through the challenges and joys of breastfeeding. The group eventually grew to provide various activities including forums with experts to discuss the different concerns on modern parenting.

The vision of Mommysense is “to build a network of breastfeeding mothers and to provide practical, realistic and sustainable support and advice about breastfeeding to mothers-to-be and nursing mothers”.

“Since the members of Mommysense have been successful with breastfeeding our children through the support of families and friends, we would like to “pay it forward” to other breastfeeding mothers by coming up with worthwhile projects”, discloses Mary Allyn “Lyn” Buyco-Tan, another co-founder of Mommysense.

In line with the celebration of World Breastfeeding Week, Mommysense presented “The Gifts of Breastfeeding”, A Mommy Meet and Skills Seminar last August 29, 2009 at the SM Event Center.

“The seminar aimed to provide much-needed extensive and practical information to mothers about the health benefits and management of breastfeeding”, reveals Lyn who is also the event chairperson.

“We wanted to highlight the woman’s capacity to personally provide for her young since breastfeeding is not only a privilege given to the child but is one of the recognized rights of the child”, says Sharmila.

Touted to be the “most informative, most exciting and most prestigious breastfeeding seminar Davao City has ever seen”, the awaited event started with a motorcade from the SM Mall parking area to the business districts of the city. This was the initial activity made to create public awareness and invitation to the upcoming event in the afternoon.

“The queuing of participants started from the mall’s opening hours even if the announced registration forthe affair started was 12:00 noon. Most mothers in attendance were expectant mothers and mothers presently breastfeeding their babies”, describes Sharmila.

“The audience, by and large, consisted of mothers and babies. Before the seminar started at 1:30 pm, the participants were entertained by the project’s sponsors. Moreover, Circular Home Pre-school provided activities for toddlers, which was right beside the play area that SM Davao provided. Happy Face Party Haus amused the kids with face painting, puppet show and balloon animals”, adds Sharmila.

The event which was superbly hosted by media personality Jojie Alcantara, a breastfeeding mother herself, dwelt on important subjects such as “Look Forward to Breastfeeding” by Alexandria Hao, “Starting to Breastfeed” by Lyn Tan, “Breastfeeding and the Working Mom” by Atty. Jennifer Ong and “Infant Massage” by Dr. Evelyn Siasu.

Aside from the thorough discussion on breastfeeding, City Councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad, the chairperson of the Davao City Women and Children’s Welfare Committee presented some special information regarding the city’s support to the same cause by the improvements now provided in public utilities and other public areas.

After the very instructive yet enlightening marathon topics, there were entertainment, give-aways, and raffle items given to the gracious participants by generous sponsors The Oak & Acorn, Mary Kay, Margie's Bakeshoppe, Cycles, SM City Davao, Pro-Lacta, Reliabuild, Johnson & Johnson, Crocs, Natalac and ABS-CBN.

“Our total number of registered mommies and mommies-to-be was 554! We are so grateful to all the moms who came to the event; some even carried their babies the whole time. We were expecting around 200 to come so the sponsors only prepared give-aways for 200 moms, at most 250. We were so overwhelmed by the response, but promise next time, we'll be more prepared”, assures Lyn.

“The Gifts of Breastfeeding” seminar not only stirred up interest but created the heartwarming assurance that there is and will always be the mother’s selfless love and care for her children.

“No matter how difficult the thought of breastfeeding maybe, the satisfaction…the benefits… the fulfillment and security of both mother and child will always bring them forward and ahead of the rest!”, ends Sharmila.

Special thanks to Lyndon Ong and Natalie Wee for the event’s photos.

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit www.momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com.

Great news!

Kumon Philippines will be conducting its free 2009 Education and Parenting Seminar Series in key cities in the Philippines from May to October 2009.

The Davao City leg is scheduled on September 12, 2009 at the SM Cinema 1, 2:00-4:30 p.m.
For other schedules in Pasig City, Las Pinas City, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu City, Lipa City, Iloilo City, Pangasinan, check out the attached poster.

Limited seats only!

Register in advance by logging on to www.kumonparenting.com

Loving the same woman the third time around

"Loving the same woman the third time around"

Sun.Star Davao, Sept. 5, 2009

Just like Ninoy Aquino’s touching poem to his dear Cory, “I Have Fallen in Love with the Same Woman Three Times, Bert Dakudao not only fell in love but married his wife Ellen (nee Arceo) three times during a span of 60 blissful years.

Back in 1947, 24-year-old Bert stood as the best man of his cousin Espedito Pison in Bacolod City when he got married to Conchita Arceo. Eighteen-year old Ellen, Conchita’s younger sister, was the maid of honor.

So smitten was Bert with the beautiful Ellen that he would regularly visit her in Bacolod from Davao City where he was living and working at that time.

Two years after the long distance courtship, Bert asked for Ellen’s hand in marriage from her oldest brother Bert Arceo and her oldest sister Nena Arceo-Ramos.

On September 3, 1949, Bert and Ellen were united in holy matrimony at the Bishop’s Palace in Bacolod City at 6:00 a.m., the only mass schedule in 1949. Fr. Anton Arceo officiated the solemn ceremony. A sumptuous breakfast reception followed at the University Club of Bacolod City where around 150 guests attended the affair.

After their wedding, Bert brought his lovely wife to Davao City where they settled and raised their family. They had four children, Bobby, Inday, Vicky and Binggoy.

Even if the Dakudaos were preoccupied with their real estate and agriculture business, Bert always found time to dabble in carpentry and Ellen developed her culinary skills as their family grew. Together, they enjoyed the game of golf and forged most of their lasting friendships on the fairways and greens of golf courses all over the Philippines.

For their 50th golden wedding anniversary, Bert and Ellen celebrated this important milestone at the Marco Polo Hotel where the renewal of vows was concelebrated by Monsignor Guillermo “GG” Gaston, Fr. Rodolfo Malasmas, S.J., Fr. Renato “Ning” Puentevella, S.J. and Fr. Patrice Pickart, PME. After the mass, more than 300 guests from as far as the U.K. and the U.S. enjoyed cocktails, dinner and, of course, ballroom dancing, one of Bert and Ellen’s greatest passions.

Ten years after, close family and friends from Davao, Manila, Bacolod, Bicol and Cebu gathered again as Bert and Ellen renewed their marital vows for their 60th diamond wedding anniversary held in advance last August 15, 2009. The intimate affair was held at the family residence and officiated by Fr. Ning.

The following day, a grand dinner reception was held at the Marco Polo Hotel where the Dakudaos’ most cherished family and friends came in full force to be with the well-loved couple.

Top wedding planner Annie Lim elegantly decorated the ballroom with exquisite flowers, lanterns and impressive ceiling works while All About Cakes’ Tanya Rabat-Tan whipped up the three-layer fondant wedding cake with the initials D and A as the topper.

In lieu of gifts, the Dakudaos requested guests to donate to their chosen charity, the Davao Welfare Action Foundation, Inc.

Bert and Ellen opened the dance floor to the tune of “You Belong to my Heart”. They were then followed by the Dakudao children and guests.

Over 200 guests were treated to good food and non-stop ballroom dancing which lasted until the wee hours of the morning.

That night, Bert and Ellen “felt extremely blessed to be in the presence of their children, grandchildren, great grand children and friends whom they have made through the years”.

“With God’s grace, the secret of our 60 years of marriage is that we have a true partnership and our marriage’s foundation is based on love, trust and respect”, Ellen reveals.

Still as radiant and ageless as the day he met her in 1947, no wonder Bert fell in love and married this same wonderful woman three times!

We share photos of the happy occasion by Imagine Digital Fotofun.

E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit www.momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com.