Nicquee's Nook

First Day SAHM

Today marks the day when I am officially unemployed. Hubby said last night it is not funny. We have talked about it before but looks like we have some unfinished business there.

I am just waiting for my uncle who is asking me to design a sticker. After that, I, Ate Meriam and the girls are off to Divisoria to shop for loot bag stuff for Maxyn’s first birthday. I know it is kind of hassle but I really want to DIY Maxyn’s party as much as I can. I really hope the girls will cooperate and will not throw tantrums.

Wish us luck! I will also take this opportunity to buy something for the PMC Second Grand Meet-Up on November. 🙂

Big School or Small School

Less than a month from now, classes will officially start here in the Philippines. I should be cramming now because Ayex is not yet enrolled.

As you may know, she started schooling at the age of 2.8yo in our hopes to improve her social skills. We actually got more than that as she came home with new knowledge everyday. But after she graduated from pre-nursery, she did not want to enroll for the next school year. She said schooling makes her tired. So she was an out of school kid last year.

This year, she will be 4.5yo come school time. Our pediatrician recommended that we already send her to school so she will not be bored and left behind by her peers. Also, her boredom is already driving us nuts. I have narrowed down the schools near our area and she has picked her choice.

It is our first time to really send Ayex to school and we are clueless what to follow. The school Ayex wants to go is a big one. Mon wants to check the other nearby smaller schools. I am ok wherever she goes because from what I heard, these are reputable schools. But when Mon asked why Ayex should go to a big school, I was not able to answer him. I really do not know where should we base our decision.

How about you, are your children attending a big or small school? What made you decide to enroll your children in their current school?

The Philippines Holds First “Spring Cleaning Day”

I got this message from my personal Inbox today. I do not usually receive press kits and when I do, I read the content first thoroughly. I make sure it does not have anything that contradicts my beliefs but rather upholds them. And this one is something really worth sharing to all of you.

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Five cities in Metro Manila will demonstrate how the country can save lives, time, and money, as they join the first-ever “Philippine Spring Cleaning Day (PSCD).”

In its goal to push for cleaning and sanitation as one of the most effective ways to lower the country’s disease burden, representatives from the Department of Health (DoH), UP-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP), Reckitt Benckiser, Lysol, and several local government units are calling for better sanitation through the institution of the first Philippine Spring Cleaning Day.

On May 11, there will be a simultaneous cleanup across five cities, namely Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Manila, and Pasay.

“We hope to educate as well as to encourage the habit of cleaning and disinfecting of Filipino homes through this annual event,” says Marichu Gozun, Senior Brand Manager of Lysol.

According to a joint study commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), at least 20 million Filipinos are exposed to poor sanitation. This means that one-fourth of the Philippine population has poor hygiene practices, do not have the benefit of an accessible and safe toilet, or do not dispose of human waste properly. The fact that less than half of Filipinos wash their hands after using the bathroom is a very telling statistic that speaks of the country’s unfortunate attitudes towards cleaning and sanitation.

Being one with the PSCD’s advocacy to educate Filipinos about the significance of cleaning and disinfecting, DoH Environmental Health Chief Dr. Rodolfo Albornoz says that families should be mindful of the harmful effects of poor sanitation not only on their health but also on other aspects of their lives.

For instance, poor sanitation affects productivity. “The rhinovirus–the virus responsible for approximately 50 percent of the cases of flu and the common cold in both adults and children–causes Filipinos to lose an average of eight school or work days a year,” shares Dr. Albornoz. Consequently, poor sanitation also results in increased economic losses.

The campaign’s concentration on household cleaning is highly significant because proponents of the PSCD believe that even the home, which is supposed to be every family’s place of refuge, can be unsafe. They note that bacteria dwell on everyday things in the home that are taken for granted. “What people do not know is that they are more likely to get sick from germs and viruses in their own homes than in any other place,” says PIDSP President Dr. Lester Deniega.

UP-NIH Executive Director Dr. Lulu Bravo agrees. “We invite everyone to take part in this initiative and join the fight against diseases,” ends Dr. Bravo.

Indeed, intensified cleaning and disinfection will go a long way towards helping the country save time and money, reduce economic costs, and increase productivity as well as people’s overall health and productivity.

Be part of the first public and private initiative for cleaning and sanitation, and join the Department of Health, Lysol and partner organizations as they celebrate Philippine Spring Cleaning Day on May 11. For more details, log on to www.philippinespringcleaningday.com and like us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/philippinespringcleaningday.