How to maintain a swoon-worthy body & soul ala Giselle Sanchez

I've always loved Giselle Sanchez.

As a child I saw her on TV in Sineskwela. (I idolized her & Mamu Tintin Bersola Babao because of that science show! hahaha) We watched her in Shake, Rattle & Roll & Kadenang Bulaklak.  She registered so well on camera as she delivered her wild antics & jokes.  Watching her made life seem a bit lighter.  At that time, it was rare to find female comediennes who looked good while being hilarious.  

When I was 11, she hosted one of our Family Days in school (her sister Mauie was my batchmate) I was starstruck.  I envied Mauie for having her at home for most of her life :p Her success story was inspiring for an awkward & self-conscious pre-teen like me.  I didn't do well in sports, my teeth & ears were too big for my face, and I suffered from painful pimples.  Teens often overreact to problems; I felt like my efforts would never amount to anything.

My parents told me that when you're confused on what you need to focus on or what you want to pursue, you can either pray for inspiration and/or study the lives of the people you admire so you would know where to start.  "Try to emulate the positive values of your role models to improve your life."    

Giselle Sanchez served as my life peg.  When I joined pageants, I tried to copy her shoes & clothes, I went to UP for College. I had my pimples checked and treated. Heck, I even married an engineer too. haha. 

I bashfully told her all that when we both worked in CNN PH more than a decade after gradeschool.  It was a delight to bump into her in the makeup room.  I was pregnant at that time & she offered tips on how to eat so you can maintain (or even improve) your body once you become a mom.   She generously shared what she knew about Ge Lai (the Chinese method of bouncing back to health after giving birth) & I was able to try some of the tea & food she recommended after giving birth to Leji.  

Looking back, I'm not sure if that is related to why it was easier to lose weight after my first pregnancy; I wasn't able to buy the tea/tonic/body heat generating food after Leon.  Tandem feeding drained the hell out of me.  There were days after several vtrs & tandem feeding in traffic (yeah I scrambled to get back to my modelling career shortly after giving birth; seeing other adults was my way of overcoming post-partum depression).  Leon would still latch overnight then I really couldn't get out of bed even just to eat or drink water the morning after.  Zombie mode to the highest level. But I think breastfeeding was still worth all the effort and pain; I have no regrets.  I should have just invested in Ge Lai delivery instead of waiting for someone to buy the tea, tonic & cooking herbs (for soup) from Binondo :p

Fast forward to half a decade after the makeup room encounters, Giselle  guested with us on Cignal One PH's Inay Ko Po :)  If you weren't able to catch it live, you may still watch the episode on Facebook, Youtube or on Cignal Play.  You may also try the link below:

Inay Ko Po with Giselle Sanchez

She added another feather in her cap by winning Miss Noble Queen International for the Philippines  before 2020 ended despite the pandemic.  It was Patricia Javier (2019 Noble Queen of the Universe) who urged her to join so she would have a bigger platform for her advocacy: supporting homeless families.

She flaunted her bikini body (live in the show!) to prove to her bashers that her photos online have minimal retouching. She looks as young as her teenage daughter!

She shared to us her secret on how to maintain a flawless body in your 40s: "You have to eat only a fistful of food each meal; and you have to fill your stomach every 2 or 3 hours."  She said you shouldn't deprive your body of good food otherwise your health will backfire.  She also reminded the moms watching: "Dapat laging nagdidilig!" She explained that you have to nourish your relationship with your husband/partner at least once a week for better well-being; you really have to make time. You reap what you sow.

Let Love be Your Miracle

Are you praying for a miracle?

I pray to St. Therese of Child Jesus (the prodigy of miracles) so she would intercede for me whenever I can't sleep because I am anxiously waiting for something.  I learned about this prayer one HS play rehearsal in the Valle Verde 6 clubhouse (near my friend, Yasmin Sanchez's house).  Apparently, you have to distribute copies of the prayer every time a wish was granted/ answered by God.    

Miraculous Invocation to St. Therese

Let us pray:

O Glorious St. Therese,

whom Almighty God has raised up to aid

and inspire the human family,

I implore your Miraculous Intercession.

You are so powerful in obtaining every need

of body and spirit from the Heart of God.

Holy Mother Church proclaims you “Prodigy of Miracles…

the greatest saint of Modern Times.”

Now I fervently beseech you to answer my petition

(mention in silence here)

and to carry out your promises of

spending heaven doing good on earth…

of letting fall from Heaven a Shower of Roses.

Little Flower, give me your childlike faith,

to see the Face of God

in the people and experiences of my life,

and to love God with full confidence.

St. Therese, my Carmelite Sister,

I will fulfill your plea “to be made known everywhere”

and I will continue to lead others to Jesus through you.

Amen.

 

We have St. Therese in our family altar as we believe she really aids us in our petitions.  I seeked her help when I applied for universities, when I wanted a life partner, and when I wanted to join beauty pageants. She's quite awesome.  

Some people even base her answer to their queries by looking at the color of roses.  My religion teacher in Grade 6 said red roses meant "marriage", white meant "religious vocation", while yellow meant "single blessedness." I don't know, I've never tried asking for this kind of sign but I heard it helped enlighten some people so they would know which path to take.  

Currently, I listen to St. Therese podcasts on Spotify to help release my anxieties before bedtime.

"Like lightning striking twice..."

Miss Universe mom Miriam Quiambao & her sweet hubby Ardy Roberto guested in our show, Inay Ko Po.  Beauty pageant fans gush that Miriam is ever-blooming despite the pandemic, and we asked for her advice.

Inay Ko Po 2021 Valentine Special

The couple shared with us the happy news that they are expecting their second miracle baby at 45!  Doctors diagnosed the couple to be partially infertile and they were candidates for IVF.  They adopted a child when their first attempt at IVF failed.  Then, three years later they managed to naturally conceive with just a little diet modification!

Miriam gives so much hope to women from all walks of life: to those who are barren, single, depressed, divorced and even to those who are still searching for their purpose.  She assures the single that there is no problem being single, but there is a problem when you don't have a strong relationship with God.  She claims that when you have that foundation, miracles are ready to flow into your life. You just have to be more receptive to it.

 Happy Valentines' Day!!! 

2021: Year of Good Food :D

It's now officially 2021 according to the Lunar calendar.. a year to work hard and put our core skills to good use!  As our new year's resolution, we're trying to eat more healthy food.   I'm also trying to cook more awesome stuff at home :)  It's the year of the Metal Ox so I got inspired to buy more silver colored kitchen stuff (excuses, excuses...haha).

My fave Breville Multi Cooker needs to get repaired (it was overused during ECQ :/).  I still haven't mustered enough courage to go to the repair center so I just purchased a Kyowa Pressure Cooker online.  It's a multi-cooker too (with a heavier lid).  I also splurged on a dehydrator (for veggie chips! I'm obviously obsessed) & a foldable washing machine (in case we need to relocate again to an island :p).  

So far, so good.  The kids are enjoying working as taste testers :p Kindly share your fave pressure cooker & dehydrator recipes!  

Also please check out Harina't Magnegosyo's new Youtube Channel. 

Make Your Own Potato Focaccia Bread

Cheese Taisan Cake with Dayap!

You may also watch our episodes on Facebook and on Asenso Pinoy (A2Z Channel 11, Channel 20 on Cignal) every Saturday at 6:30am!

Whole Wheat Raisin Bread

We're cooking up more episodes with San Miguel Mill's Master Baker, Chef France so stay tuned! :)  Just message me if you have suggestions or substitutions ;) Just tag me @chotfernandez with the hashtags #Patacake #harinatmagnegosyo & #asensopinoy so we can see your post.  You may also email rlegaspi@sanmiguel.com.ph for inquiries about the ingredients used in the recipes. Enjoy & stay inspired this new year! Cong Xi!

How to Avoid Being a Narcissistic Parent

I love talking about myself and sharing my experiences to people I care about.  This quarantine season, I guess my kids don't have much choice other than to listen to my stories or listen to vloggers on Youtube haha.

However, in our show on Cignal One PH Inay ko Po, Positive Parenting Specialist Ria Campos Lopez warns parents of being too narcissistic at times when they try to correct or discipline their kids.  She says we should choose our words carefully when we try to relate to our children.  What are the signs of narcissism in parents?

Cignal OnePH Inay ko Po Oct 10, 2020

1. THEIR LOVE IS CONDITIONAL

"I only love you if you'll obey me."

Obedience is actually a cherished virtue as God calls us to honor our parents. However parents shouldn't encourage insecurities. Children shouldn't be made to believe that if they fail to do something or achieve their goals, their parents would think less of them. They should be encouraged to explore their interests so they would eventually become the best versions of themselves. They shouldn't be too scared of committing mistakes. A better way of saying this would be: "Mommy/ Dad would be happy if you could help." or "God smiles in heaven when He sees you do kind things."

2. THEIR LIVES DEPENDS ON OTHER PEOPLE'S VIEWS

"Don't wear that! What would our neighbors say about me?"

It's good to love thy neighbor but you cannot really love others if you don't love yourself first. Sometimes it is better to consider your child's feelings first before thinking about how your neighbors/relatives would react to your parenting style. Ria suggests that kids should be encouraged to be independent early on. As soon as they are able to communicate, they should be allowed to pick what to wear and select what they want to read or play with.

Parents have the option to limit their choices if necessary. For instance, if there's a formal event they could select from two pairs of shoes. But the shoes presented by the parent should all be formal. If the kid insists on wearing more comfortable, casual shoes, the parent may also consider selecting an outfit that wouldn't reveal too much of the footwear. They could compromise. As much as possible, it's not a good idea to force anything on anybody. Kids are even excused to go home early if they're too tired to finish the party.

3. THEY NEVER VALIDATE YOUR FEELINGS 

"Stop crying! I'm so tired with all the work here."

It's ok to let off some steam. When kids become noisy or aggressive, sometimes it's because they can't verbalize what they want or they're overtired. This is very hard to do, but reacting negatively would just complicate the situation. Ria suggests that we should deal with what the kid is feeling & allow him/her to let it out. You could divert his/her attention by giving another book/toy/activity.

If you are too tired to handle the situation, try hugging the kid or getting him/her out of the stressful environment until he/she manages to calm down. If there is another caregiver/parent present who's less stressed at the moment, it is better to delegate the task of processing the kid's feelings to him/ her then deal with your feelings in a separate room.

4. WHAT MATTERS MOST IS HOW THEY FEEL

"Don't be noisy! My head is starting to hurt because of you!"

It's ok to let children be aware of other people's discomfort to develop empathy. However, it's dangerous to blame them outright for a certain negative feeling, illness or condition. A better way of saying this is: "Mommy isn't feeling well today. Can you please be more quiet?" or "Dad has to focus more on his workload. Can you try to go to the other room so he could finish what he needs to do?"

5. THEY ARE UNPREDICTABLE 

In the morning: "Wow you're such a happy helper!"

In the afternoon: "What did you do? You're such a troublemaker!"

It's never helpful to assign nasty labels on children. This is quite challenging as everyone struggles to be consistent in presenting good behavior. When young kids aren't in their best selves, take it as a sign. They may be: 1. lacking sleep/rest 2. hungry 3. overstimulated 4. needing/wanting attention 5. just experimenting 6. anxious in not being able to do what they want to do/ where they want to go 7. upset that the parent isn't sticking to their routine.

Consistency is a hard thing to master. But with prayers, perseverance, and patience hopefully we could all raise happier, emotionally fit children for a better future.

God is Good: Catechism for Young Kids this Quarantine

Deprived of proper socialization outdoors, my kids and I resort to watching kids play in vast playgrounds on Youtube.  We watch them enjoy and run freely.

We also rely on Youtube for online masses and religion lessons. We opt for videos that show other kids praying, singing, dancing, coloring and doing good deeds.  Since they are visual and kinesthetic learners, this is how I introduce gradually the Four Pillars of the Catholic Church.

The pillars are defined by the Catechism of the Church. Catholics should be formed in all four of these areas, both in knowledge and in experience. The Four Pillars are:

1. Creed - the beliefs of the Catholic Faith

2. Mass/Sacraments - how we worship

3. Christian Prayer - through prayer we grow in our relationship with God

4. Christian Living -  we are called to respect life and human dignity, and to work for justice and solidarity.

My 5 year old sometimes question: 

1. "Could God really hear prayers? Will candles make Him notice my prayer better?"  

2. "Is Jesus really in the mass? If He still exists why can't He talk to me like how He talked to Moses or Noah?"

3. "Isn't it scary and gross if you would eat Jesus' body? Won't that be ouchie for Jesus?" 

4. "Why does God allow some people to die alone? Don't you think that's unfair?" 

5. "Why do my pets die? Will they become God's angels too?"

Here are some of the things I make them watch online as a substitute for Sunday school/ religion class. These actually help me explain some of the concepts more conveniently:

1. Catholic Sunday Mass with Children (Archdiocese of Singapore)

Leji enjoys a bit of dancing and singing before the mass.  She likes the introduction to saints and the beatitudes.  They have a bit of role playing too & artwork sharing.  My daughter feels like she has a lot of classmates whenever we watch this.

2. Kids at Mass Online (Lourdes, Toronto)

Leji enjoys the games & colorful cartoons brought about by the multi-cultural catechists of Our Lady of Lourdes in Canada.  Sometimes she likes Kelvyne's (the host) explanation better than the priest's homily.

3. Children's Liturgy of the Word

Heidi Witte from the US aims to build "spiritual muscles" and briefly explains the ten mass parts with songs and stories.  She has just started her channel last March. She has a gentle soothing voice; my kids like her style.  She's fond of utilizing mosaic art while walking through the mass.  It's like having a friend as your teacher.

4. Superbook

Our classic TV fave is now on Youtube HD!  Sometimes we watch the 80s/90s versions too just so I could reminisce (Yeah Leji indulges me every now and then haha).  It practically applies gospel story lessons in Joy & Chris' daily lives so that the kids could relate better to the message.  Most of the time, I search for the story in the gospel or in one of the readings so that it's in sync with the mass. 

5. Kid's Mass (St. Benedict Catholic Church)

We can't travel; so watching mass from different continents help ease the longing for travel and pilgrimage.  The kids' attention span is quite limited though; we try to limit distractions but oftentimes we watch the mass in parts (like a series on Netflix).

6. Message in a Bottle by Fr. Joshan Rodrigues (Archdiocese of Bombay)

Fr. Joshan from India animatedly suggests activities that are reminiscent of a school recollection/retreat. We like their colorful cartoons too.

7. Stories of Saints

Kids need special heroes & heroines to look up to.  Probably this year we could celebrate All Saints' Day at home with a mini dress up party.  Watching short cartoons is a fun way to introduce them to iconic servants of our faith.

To encourage them to pray the rosary, I urge them to form their own rosary on the floor out of loose crystals (gifted to us by Lola Lyn).  We light a a candle pail near the cross (for Apostle's Creed) and a nice Himalayan salt lamp beside Mama Mary (for Hail Holy Queen) with five crystals in between (1 Our Father, 3 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be). Then we lay out more crystals good for 1 mystery. We use 1 for Our Father, 10 for Hail Mary, 1 for Glory Be.  2 yr old Leon finds it very challenging not to mess the arrangement.  Leji holds on to a giant blue rosary (from her Ninang Rachelle) just so she wouldn't get distracted. :p  

Anyway, these are just tools to help them with their concentration/focus.  Hopefully when the experts get to come up with a safe vaccine for Covid-19, the kids and I could venture out and do more. Kindly message me if you have comments/suggestions in helping them grow in faith at home :)

Teaching Life Skills to Small Kids

Kids are naturally curious.  They want to know more about society and the world we live in.  They want to feel they are needed and that they could help in one way or another.

However, despite their good intentions, sometimes things don't turn out so well.  They spill food and water.  They can't fold clothes symmetrically. When they're very young, chores take longer than it normally would because of their questions.  Or because of their desire to improve/repeat things. Some even intentionally spill stuff again and again just to test how you would react.  Or they like certain things so much (like tissue paper or gift wrappers), they just want it all over the place always.

I'm not so fond of multitasking.  It takes a lot of willpower not to get annoyed.   

Covid-19 forced us to all stay at home and be with our kids far longer than we're used to. We're all out of our comfort zones.  Instead of complaining about their barbaric tendencies, we should seek help from the heavens and try our best to look on the bright side.  Now we have more time to teach life skills to our children!  We should impart to them the joy of getting things done.

Beng Feliciano of the Parenting Emporium believes in this and offered some tips in Inay Ko Po on how to get your kids involved at home (without losing your mind haha).  She says it's cool if you could start as early as possible.

1. Be specific with instructions

Sometimes the kids are quite clueless how they could help.  They see highly efficient adults all around them; they don't want to get in their way of doing things.  It's quite intimidating.  

For really young tots, Beng suggests that one could try to ask him to throw his dirty diaper in the bin or his soiled clothes in the hamper.  Toddlers who already know colors could sort white from dark colored laundry.  Some could be asked to wash toddler-safe plates and utensils in their sink (with the help of a kiddie ladder) or even hang clothes on hangers with clothespins.

For older kids, ask them to read labels when they use certain products.  They should study machine instructions carefully before they're allowed to operate them (especially the pricey ones).  They could also get involved in prepping ingredients for their favorite recipes in the kitchen.

2. Ease into chores for children

Show the kids how you want it to be done.  Be patient.  It takes at least five hours of daily practice for an average person to master a specific task.  Treat clothes folding and cabinet organizing like an origami class.  It takes time and focus. Some even incorporate working songs to encourage cheerfulness while helping.

3. Go easy with reminders and deadlines

Beng suggests making a chore chart for the kids.  Families with multiple siblings could have assigned days of the week for specific tasks.  Those who can't read yet can use symbols or drawings.  Beng discourages doling out cash to "pay" your own kids for their services.  She says they have to learn how to enjoy the pure satisfaction of helping out.

It's easier said than done, but we have to take small steps every day.  Hopefully our kids would all grow into responsible adults with a great love for God and life.

For more parenting tips and learning activity suggestions you may want to watch Inay ko Po on One PH :)

https://www.facebook.com/OnePHonCignal/videos/1264787953885227

Or check out the Parenting Emporium!

FACEBOOK: @theparentingemporium

CONTACT NUMBER: 0917 177 4366

EMAIL: theparentingemporium@gmail.com

Smart & Secure: Expomom Money Talk Quarantine Edition

I'm grateful to God He allowed me to start young. Somehow.

We're not super billionaires, but my parents were avid fans of insurance and investments.  My paternal grandmother apparently was a fan of buying "cheap" real estate here and there. So despite having 11 kids (3 died in childhood), passing away early in her 50s due to cancer, and her husband losing his leg & job due to diabetes they managed to thrive.  The investments increased in value and we continue to thank her up to this day.

A lot of my parents' investments failed (they couldn't afford to continue paying some of the Sunlife plans  and a time share they started in the past due to financial problems here and there triggered by small businesses and decisions that didn't work out).  Thank God, others provided what we needed to get by especially around the time when my dad almost got blind due to diabetes complications.  These were the educational plans from Eternal.  I was in college at that time when he lost his job abroad.  (That was around the time I started ushering events and modelling.) All three of us were able to graduate and have better jobs later on, my parents still own their condo & their rental apartment, and somehow life turned out better than it was before.