My friend and I were sprawled on the floor one lazy Sunday afternoon about 20 years ago, enjoying good coffee that came straight from a fellow writer’s pantry, when he suddenly asked, “What on earth are the wings for in sanitary napkins?” The day was just another one of those sweet, slothful moments we’d have especially on Sundays. That’s how the talk about bosom started. 

“They save women from accidents.” I told him.
I had my back flat on the floor trying to relax when my Rainbow Bright man-friend persisted in stirring the conversation towards women’s stuff. “So what did women wear before the invention of bra?” I knew he’d never stop so my mission for the day was to answer his bosom queries.

The revolution of the bosom
One of the most interesting part of history happened in 1913, when New York socialite Mary Phelps Jacob realized that she needed something that did not poke out visibly from under her silk garment and the plunging neckline of her sheer evening gown. The corset was the only acceptable undergarment that time and all the inconveniences of wearing one pushed her to create something that women would be thankful for in the next centuries. (I, however, was saved from all that because I was told I was a male Indian warrior in my recent past life.)

The backless brassiere was patented sometime in 1914. Surprisingly (and like most women who get bushed easily), Jacob got tired of her business and sold it to the Warner Bros. – the bra-makers, not the movie-makers (as strongly pointed out on the article on “The History of the Brassiere”).

Although it was Jacob who revolutionized the brassiere, some interesting things about bosom supporters have already started happening way before her time. In 1875, a no bones, no eyelets, no pulleys and no laces or  under-outfit was manufactured. Everything they removed from that undergarment made it a little less barbaric, however still crude.
So, from the no-more-menacing-attachments called the “union under flannel”, it improved to the “breast supporter” in 1893. This time it came with the less complicated hook-and-eye for a lock.

Union under flannel

 

Finally in 1917 during the World War I, the War Industries Board called on women to stop buying corsets. Halleluiah! It was the time in history when 28,000 tons of metal were saved, and women actually started to breathe properly.

If you're a female reading this, consider yourself lucky now that brassieres are pretty things not made from bones. 

It’s mid-October and it’s already the unofficial second month of the Christmas season in the Philippines. It is November. I started writing this a few weeks ago and obviously didn’t get around to finishing it. Busy is good and busy would not leave my side lately. 

My family and I have yet to decide about buying a Christmas tree this year. We’re a family that moves around a lot, so a Christmas tree for us has been out of the question. We once bought an eight-foot tree which ended up rotting after staying too long in storage. We could not fly the tree to the island, and we had rentals that did not have enough space. It was a tall one and more than a meter in diameter. Now I’m asking myself, what were we thinking? Then I remember that it was Cole who asked for it. He was around eight that time and wanted a brightly-lit tree in our quaint home for his birthday. It was an old but well-maintained, oddly-shaped apartment quietly tucked somewhere in the Teacher’s Village -- just a few years before Maginhawa became famous for its food festival and living there was not all too hyped up (and expensive) yet. We left our decorations hanging the entire year and packed them all up when it was time to move again.

Cole was born on December 24, by the way. {I had quite an eventful albeit “laborsome” Christmas eve once upon a time.}

As if on cue, our five-year old daughter asked us to play Christmas songs on the first week of September and the music hasn’t stopped since. I’ve found myself mumbling around the “12 Days of Christmas” song, taking quick breaks from my chores to check the lyrics online and see what it was that ‘my true love gave to me on the fifth day of Christmas’. The song never ends inside your head. You get to the 12th day of Christmas and you’re back to wondering what it was again that you got on the seventh day. And if milking maids still exist. 

Do You Say ‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘Happy Holidays’ or Happy Halloween, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year?

Not everyone around the world share the Filipinos’ enthusiasm for a (very) long Christmas season, unfortunately. Campaigns against premature Christmas decorating are quite baffling for the rest of us who enjoy the lights, the colors and the seasonal effect of Christmas. I don’t mind seeing brightly-lit Christmas trees {or zombified Santas} around me the entire year although I also delight in the thought of being followed around by zombies or Regan McNeil in the dark. My enthusiasm for things are mystifying, so I’ve heard.


So, is it a call against excessive use of electricity because we’ve gone far from the simple old stocking to 3D tech-y trees? Is it a cultural cry, or a religious one perhaps? What is it that make some people tick and hold up signs against early Christmas decorating? It could be one or all of that, but it seems like the war is targeted towards retailers who send off a sense of panic to consumers once they start putting up huge holiday sale signs even before Thanksgiving. In the U.S. people hold their breath and tighten their belts for the Black Friday sales. But if madness sales begin even before Thanksgiving, the “pressure” and “stress” related to shopping also affect people prematurely. Not everyone is happy about that, so to lessen the impact of the so called shopping rush and the negative association of the retail madness to Christmas, giant retailers started saying ‘happy holidays’ instead of merry Christmas’ to address the concern. 

I know, I know. 

A petition  to Stop Premature Christmas Decorating was posted at Change.org and got the support of 12 very unhappy people. And because I find it entertaining, I’m sharing the petition here with you:

Every year, millions of Americans watch in horror as stores around the country start selling Christmas decorations before October has even arrived. This is a tragedy that must be stopped. Innocent Americans are subjected to endless hours of agonizing advertisements for christmas sales. Somewhere right now, a small child is writhing in agony as his eyes are assaulted by QVC Christmas sales. Help stop this madness. Think of the the children.



My son and I were walking inside the mall last October 28 when he suddenly said, “This is very confusing. Christmas songs are playing and there are Halloween and Christmas decorations everywhere.”

“Welcome, once again, to the ever so wonderful country called the Philippines where entertainment is at its best. Make sale, not war,” I told him.

One of life’s valuable rules: Wait until you get to the other side to decide whether life should be taken too seriously or not.

We don't have Black Friday in the Philippines, but there is crazy day sale every single day. The possibility is endless when it comes to shopping. Even a tight budget is not a good enough reason not to hoard because clothes can go as low as PhP 50 (less than a 1 USD). The sales are everywhere and they happen all year round. You just need to know where to go and who to take with you. 

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There are lessons to be learned out there. Photo courtesy of Rajkamal Singh

There is that one train that everyone is going crazy about, so I hopped on it and found myself gladly entertained, especially since the latest season of “The Walking Dead” is taking damn too long to reach our spectrum. I find myself in a very hypocritical position saying this because generally I’m not the kind who likes zombie movies. However,  I came back from a weeklong out-of the-country mommy trip to a family that had to be peeled off The Walking Dead TV series. I did not succeed with the peeling, but they did a good job at getting me stuck. Now I want to have Morgan’s skillful but unaggressive fighting skills with the bo, Michonne’s arms, Daryl’s fearlessness and former-delivery-guy-turned-zombie-killer Glenn’s mettle. 

The last Korean movie I watched was Miracle in Cell Number 7, which, like this train, stirred up my curiosity. How, in my vulnerable humanoid existence, would I not be intrigued by all the talk, the memes and the references to “Train to Busan”? I found myself almost asking our Korean clients what the trains to Busan are like, but shut my mouth for the good of all. 

“Train to Busan” (written and directed by Yeon Sang-Ho) is well laid out -- formulaic, as Mr Young liked to put it, but with a few good surprises in all the right places. I like how it’s fast paced. There was no stopping from the first bite and there was no waiting -- something that I’m not willing to do in a zombie movie. My “morning after” realization of the movie included the fact that I did not know anything that pointed to the history of the virus. I initially thought that I just got lost in translation, but found out that the answer may be in the prequel “Seoul Station” also by Yeon Sang-Ho released in August this year.

While I’m still trying to decide if and when I’m going to watch “Seoul Station”, I can’t help but think of the life lessons I picked from the sequel’s eventful train ride. You can’t have possibly missed the glaring realities yourself.

1. Being too hardworking may be counterintuitive. 

One Wii per household only please. Photo courtesy of tiffanyyong.com

We all are zombified by the idea that we have to kill ourselves to earn, often forgetting that the ones we’re working hard for suffer from our absence {whether it’s physical, emotional, psychological, or worse, all of that.} Hard work is good, but it becomes pointless when it does not serve its purpose, unless you’re just another masochist who can’t find better things to do with your time. For instance, parents are oftentimes programmed to think that until they sweat blood, they’re not being  parents enough. Stop for a moment and think about what time spent with your loved ones can do. Once the biting starts, all that money you’re working so hard for will be nothing more than useless junk.

2. Selfish people are like Pokestops. 

He who shuts the door dies last. But dies unhappily nevertheless. Photo courtesy of heavenofhorror.com

They color the map. {I’m apologizing as early as now to Pokemon fans who might find this statement blasphemous}. You can’t make it your mission to eradicate them since that will be such a waste of your lifetime {you only have less than 120 years, remember?}. It is how you react to bad people around you that matters. They work very hard at making you unhappy and if you let them, you’re good as dead. Fate takes care of what needs taking care of. 

In your life story, it’s not how fast you ran to get to the last train of salvation that matters, but how strategically you ran to make it to the end. 

3. Be appreciative. 

Be better than this. Please? (Photo courtesy of hdonline)

Of course we like to think we all are. However, we oftentimes  put a price tag on our appreciation. How about the little things? I don’t mean it about something that you can put in small boxes. Be grateful about that smile on your kid’s face because that too, like everything else in the world, can change.

4. Help others as much as you can. 

Not all important meetings require you to wear crisp, clean shirts. (Photo courtesy of Joys of Asia)

You never know who’s going to lend you a hand in times of adversity. You don’t want to paint that pretty face of yours with shame one day.

5. Maintain a good sense of humor and save the world. 

We all have a favorite guy in every movie. I'm so favoriting this one. Photo courtesy of askkpop.com

When you read or hear people say that you’re taking the world too seriously, they may be right. If you can’t at least make one person smile every day, rethink how you want to be remembered, in case you’re the first to go in a zombie apocalypse.

6. Love. Just love.

Photo courtesy of flickeringmyth.com

Love, let it be known and don’t take time for granted. We don’t have that much time. 

7. Sing. 

The best way you can. Photo courtesy of popinquirer.net

Learn how to sing. Don’t sing all the way to American Idol -- that can be traumatic. Sing your way through life no matter how many times it changes its tune. You have no idea how much stronger you get by simply listening and learning the rhythm of life.

More importantly, sing...because it’s what makes you human. Until a new breed of singing zombies come along, singing will save your life. 

“Home” is a very strong theme in Yeon Sang-Ho’s stories -- whether it’s getting there or finding where it is. What I think resonated with the viewers is not so much that it was a zombie movie, but the subliminal suggestion that in one way or another, we’re all trying to get home. To someone. To something.

And sometimes we need to be chased to get there. 

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Whenever my siblings and I would have the sniffles, our father would take the time out of his busy schedule to drive us down to the beach. We lived in a coastal city, and as kids, we were taught that there was nothing that the sea could not cure -- and that a clogged nose certainly had no power over seawater. Relying on sea breeze to relieve my asthma attacks and the seawater to make colds go away was something we got used to growing up. It is a kind of natural remedy that we would want for our kids today, if only we were not living in the big city and many, many hours away from the nearest swimmable beach.

In the last two years, my husband and I made the big move to go natural with our choices in food, skincare and supplements. It was not easy when we started out because not only years of relying on chemically laden products made it convenient for us since they were easily available in groceries and stores, we also inadvertently became creatures of habit. We would rely on over-the-counter medication for coughs, colds and allergies. It wasn’t until my husband and I came across several researches on the potential dangers of using cough and cold medications (especially on kids) that we hit the brakes real hard, rethought our choices over and decided that there was no other way but to go the natural way. We also realized that the decongestants we relied on over the years did nothing for us, but pushed us to the sack only to wake up the following day with a cold worse than ever.

Our Search for the Best Natural Decongestant Ended with Humer

There are several nasal decongestants available in the market, and we have tried a couple of those brands. When we stopped giving our family medication for colds and allergic rhinitis, we turned to nasal decongestants for relief. They worked just fine, but as a mother, I am always in search for the best one out there.

My kids and I were introduced to Humer during its launch in Makati recently. I could not be any happier when I found out that Humer is a non-diluted formula, which means that all the natural elements from clean seawater and mineral salts have not been stripped off through any kind of mechanical processing. The seawater from Humer is sourced from a protected site in Brittany, France, and is rich in trace elements such like copper, manganese and sulfur and all of them helps to protect, to strengthen and to regenerate our nasal mucosa.

Dave Perianes, Humer Country Brand Manager

Humer does not only offer a decongestant, but also specific solutions to certain kinds of nasal problems. They come in easy-to-use bottles with nozzles that break down the seawater into gentle micro-droplets, significantly decreasing battle time with your more sensitive little ones whenever you need to administer it. I certainly had problems using other nasal sprays that would drip and could not be used while my toddler was lying down in bed all fussy and sleepy.

Nasal Hygiene Introduced by Humer

Has anyone ever asked you if you cleaned your nose? That would sound odd, right? But that person certainly knows something we don’t. Dr. Kristine Gutierrez discussed the importance of nasal care for a better breathing experience during the launch. I could not help but think how we could be religious in cleaning our other body parts and forget about our noses when they’re doing the vital job of filtering the air that we breathe. Living in the metro definitely doubles the hard work of our noses, and it’s just about right that we give them proper care.

Cleaning our noses should be a part of our daily routine, and if you’re not sure about how to do it like I was before, the easy and convenient way would be to use the Humer Nose Hygiene. It is an isotonic nasal spray that does the job of cleaning and moistening the mucus membranes inside the nose. A quick spray on each nostril and you’re done. 

Bringing Home the Goodness of Seawater

The most important addition we made to our medicine cabinet a few weeks ago are the Humer Nose Hygiene and Humer Blocked Nose. I have been using the nose hygiene regularly and I swear by its high marine salt concentration. After I use it, I feel {and sound} like I just came out from sea swimming, only better. Attika, our four-year-old daughter has been using it for two days now and she would tell me, “It does make me feel better. Later again please.” I tell you, this feisty one does not lie.

Am I a Humerific Mom? I definitely am!



If symptoms persist, consult your doctor. ASC Ref. No.: U050N072216H

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Heather Von St. James, mother, pleural mesothelioma cancer survivor, advocate. Photo courtesy of fredhutch.org

Where we are is an amazing world -- yes, often a chaotic place, but the presence of some people in it defies everything that makes us feel we’re all just in one big ball of a mess. Some of these people extend a hand to make sure we make it through hurdles, and some live to inspire us -- reminding us never to give up and just fight because sometimes, that is the only option left for us.

The magic of the internet paved the way for Heather Von St. James and myself to “meet”. I’m telling you her story today because I have committed to helping her spread awareness about a disease called mesothelioma, and because hers is a story that could spark hope in places where there is none. 

Everyone is living on a fast lane, and when we experience shortness of breath and fatigue and we look back at a pale person on the mirror, we shrug it off and say, I’m okay. Heather, however, wanted to know what was causing her to be sick and went to see a doctor. After a series of tests and biopsies, she was later diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Meso what? Exactly Heather’s thought when she was told she had mesothelioma cancer, because it is a disease that rarely affects women. What had caused it? She was only 36 and was told that she had only 15 months to live. 

Heather was not only young, she had also just given birth to a beautiful baby and wanted nothing more than to dedicate her life to raising Lily, and to continue living the life that she and her husband Cameron had been building together. That had to change -- a battle was heading her way and she was determined to win it.

Cameron, Lily and Heather. Photo courtesy of cancerclub.com

Why should we be concerned about asbestos exposure?

Heather’s father would come home with a jacket covered with asbestos. She had no idea that by simply being near it would have a serious impact on her health many years later. She was only nine when she was exposed to asbestos, so why was she diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer more than two decades later? The microscopic, fibrous mineral could remain dormant in the human body for up to 30 years. Sadly, the damage that asbestos does to the body is often not detected until it has reached a later stage. According to mesothelioma.com, “The relative five-year survival rate for mesothelioma is about 10 percent, a number that is significantly higher than it was a few decades ago.”

Asbestos is a substance that was once considered ideal for construction because of its low cost and availability. It was prefered because it was effective for moisture, acoustic control and thermal insulation. Asbestos was not only cheap, it was also a “versatile” substance that was mixed into paints, adhesives, appliances and metal ware. Basically, there was a time when it was everywhere.

A campaign against the use of asbestos was launched worldwide 20 years ago, but unfortunately, the substance is still being used in most countries today. In Asia, there is still a huge concern over possible asbestos exposure because of the vibrant construction industry. In the U.S., the use of asbestos is still legal.

What do we need to know about mesothelioma?

I have not heard of mesothelioma cancer until I read Heather’s battle with it. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is specifically caused by asbestos. It affects the membrane lining of the lungs and abdomen. There is no known cure for mesothelioma, but treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery could help increase the life expectancy of a person affected by this type of cancer. 

Heather had to go through extrapleural pneumonectomy, which meant that her affected lung, as well as the left half of her diaphragm, the lining of her heart and her sixth rib, had to be removed. The greatest concern prior to her surgery was the fact that she had just recently delivered a baby.

Fast forward today, Heather is celebrating her 10th year as a mesothelioma survivor. She is a mesothelioma advocate who has actively been working on campaigns to raise awareness about asbestos exposure and mesothelioma. She has engaged people in spreading this awareness, and  has tirelessly been empowering and inspiring other mesothelioma survivors and their families around the globe.

I am hoping that in my own little way, I can help in making people aware about the presence of this invisible killer in our environment. Please join Heather Von St. James in spreading awareness about mesothelioma and her call to ban the use of asbestos completely. Learn more about her and mesothelioma at The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog.

Heather’s story has inspired me to pay tribute to other cancer survivors who have made an impact in my personal life. Read that story on my next post.

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It is the beginning of the school year for most private and public schools here in the Philippines. School kids are embarking on a new journey {gladly, I hope} and I wish for all of them to make the most out of this academic year. May they have the insatiable thirst for learning; create healthier relationships with people at home, in school and in the community they revolve in; be far from sickness so they can enjoy a great balance between academics and extracurricular activities; have lots of time for play and for exploration. Most of all, I hope that parents and teachers will allow these young people to stop and smell the flowers from time to time, go stargazing at night, eat meals together away from the television or any gadget {with or without wifi}, gravitate towards books and move away from social media; go walking with family and friends to explore new things and places as often as they can, and find the real meaning of love {the one that doesn’t come with a price tag}.

May they be taught that learning is not about going through books in haste and memorizing loads of information all at once, and that it is about taking bite-size information, processing this well and learning the practical application of this knowledge in real life. If they ever get to Stochastic geometry and realize that they will have no practical use for this later in life, may they still appreciate the opportunity to exercise their brains, as we all need to do that to prevent cognitive decline.

Opening speech for SY 2016-2017 ends here ~ Principal of the Two-Desk Home School

The Freeschool Project

Whether our kids are attending traditional or progressive schools, or are homeschooling like we are, we as parents are always on the lookout for age-appropriate learning materials and activities to supplement our kids’ learning. The web is a wonderful place to find free printable lessons, curricula guides and lessons for all subjects in all levels, but the load of information could get overwhelming sometimes. Some free printables also get squashed in a page full of advertisements. We are lucky there are other homeschoolers who offer free lesson guides online to support other homeschooling families like us. 

As part of Cure for Monday’s project for the year, we will be sharing free printable lessons and study guides in the hope of reaching those who direly need them. A couple of moms emailed me asking if it is possible to homeschool with a VERY tight budget. I told them that the web is a good place to start if enrolling at a homeschool provider or buying books is impossible for now. We have been independently homeschooling for years and have informally created our own curricula, and I know that the internet is a rich source of information when it comes to creating lessons. It is challenging, but not impossible. 

This time we want to help in our own little way. However, since I’m mostly a one-woman army here at Cure for Mondays, the curricula, guides, projects, lessons and activities that I will be able to share here will be ones that we have created for our own homeschooling program; thus, they will be for 8th grade and Kindergarten this year. We will try to build it from there. 

The Department of Education has the complete  K to 12 Curriculum Guides online. It is a comprehensive guide and it will really be helpful for those who are exploring homeschooling independently, but want to adhere to the curricula offered by DepEd. 

Again, everything is challenging, but not impossible. And, sharing is quite a fine, fun thing to do! 

You can find the printables at the lessons+artwork+projects tab on the upper left corner of our page. 

Join Us!

We would be very grateful if you could share with us and our other readers lessons, lesson plans, study guides or learning materials on any level {K to 100-year-old learners}. Please submit only ones that you have personally created, and we will make sure that you will be credited for your contribution. 

The project is young and so are we! E-mail us at cure4mondays@gmail.com for your contributions.  

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A big, big thank you to Irene Erasga for creating these wonderful kindergarten lessons. 

We'd love for you to contribute your own lessons, too! Lessons, activities and projects may be on any level. We want to reach out to K to 100-year-old learners. E-mail us at cure4mondays@gmail.com for your contributions. 

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It’s a drink you can make in three minutes or even less. You can go ahead and make this refreshing orange soda right now, or you can read on before you hit the kitchen. 

Soda. Soft drink. Fizzy pop. Did I make the last one up? Who doesn’t love the fizz it makes in your mouth followed by a burst of flavor that coats your tongue with sugar that won’t come off unless you brush it like crazy? 

I used to really like soft drinks. As a kid, it was a part of most of our meals, and we regularly had five meals a day; six if you include midnight snacks. Allow me to refresh your memory: breakfast, mid-morning snacks (also called recess in school), lunch, mid-afternoon snacks (merienda), dinner and midnight snack -- just in case you think I’m going bonkers with the number of meals I just mentioned. 

I have fond memories of all of those years of sugary (mis)adventures especially that our paternal grandmother baked the yummiest goodies day in, day out. My mother also filled our fridge with leche flan, sweet fruit salads and cakes. And, we had an entire fridge dedicated to soft drinks alone, and no, none of those were for sale. I cower in fear whenever I think about it.The sweet reminiscence will stay locked away forever as I’m not repeating that kind of diet with my family today. There is so much scientific and medical evidence pointing to sugar, and its other forms hiding in many different names, as human’s number one killer. Thank goodness mainstream media is picking these studies up and are beginning to talk about them. I hope they really pound on this one so that more and more people will listen.

If you think about it, a lot of the people you know may have religiously avoided fats, but not sugar, in their diets yet still suffered from diseases known to be “caused by fats”. I have lost family and friends mostly to heart disease, different types of cancer and complications caused by Type 2 Diabetes. My father suffered from diabetic retinopathy and went through six years of dialysis because of acute renal failure, secondary to diabetes. Most of them avoided fats, but were not wary of the sugar hiding in their favorite food and drinks such as powdered juices, ready-mixed coffee (the 3-in-1 variants), “juices” in tetra packs, ready-made iced “tea”, powdered milk and even “health drinks”, soft drinks, sugar-free drinks, just to name a few. 

Some of the well-known effects of too much sugar in the body include obesity, diabetes, heart disease, accelerated ageing {yes, those wrinkles you see are not only from the sun}, disruption in the process of cognition in children and heightened stress and its symptoms. Sugar feeds cancer cells, too, according to studies. This is only a short list. 

Good Health is a Choice You Make for Your Kids, Too!

But like I always tell people: your health, your choice. Your kids’ health? Still your choice, so why not make better choices for them? Nothing makes me cringe more than the sight of moms in restaurants drinking fresh fruit juices while the kids are given soda. Doesn’t that make you go whaaaat?! 

No, kids can’t have as much sugar as they want just because they’re kids. Kids are human beings who acquire taste and develop diseases if we don’t train them early enough to stick to healthy options in food and drinks. 

I know people who can’t live without soft drinks while also admitting that they know how dangerous these drinks are. A 12-ounce can of regular Coke, for example, has 39 grams of sugar -- that’s equivalent to 9 ⅓ teaspoons of sugar. You can ignore that, but consider also that that is way, way more sugar than you need for a day.

I admittedly have moments when I crave for a can of soda. It is, after all a taste I got accustomed to growing up. But ever since reducing our sugar intake at home for almost a year now, it has become so much easier to avoid sugary stuff. Our kids have never liked sweets, so when I came home with cupcakes one time, both kids took a nibble and said, “Sorry mommy, it’s too sweet.” Guess who finished all the cupcakes?

My cravings for sweet food and drinks have significantly decreased over the last few months. I now enjoy the natural sweetness of fruits, so the fizz and the burst of orange in this drink is truly heaven sent!