Swimming Course for Php900

A cheap yet great course for your child to take this summer is Red Cross's Water Safety Course. For 900 pesos, a participant can learn to swim 9 strokes including ways to survive in a body of water for a long time - most likely enough time for someone to get rescued.

I believe we all need this. What if you are on a boat that suddenly sinks? Or on a plane that had to crash land on water but eventually went down too? Or would you be able to save a loved one who's drowning or would you just join him sink? I believe these could really happen because I've seen one person die in the sea as he got pushed from the ledge of a boat we were in. Not just that, my daughter, who now has several medals from swimming, almost drowned 4 times while she was young. It was good that she was very small yet then and I had been able to lift her without struggle. But what about now?

Not only is this good for those who do not know how to swim, it is also good for those who do know how to swim but would like to be lifeguards. But you must be physically fit as they will ask you to swim in the sea. The PNRC Rizal Chapter will have one such course this May, 2009. For those interested, please call them at 631-3592.

Gimme' A Break! - 2009 Summer Activities for Kids

Summer's here. To avoid having bored children at home (who eventually become cranky, more often than not), here are some of the things they can do:

Swimming
1. Summer Swim Camp with Coach Joey Andaya
Coach Joey, as we fondly call him, is one of the best, if not the best, coach in the Philippines. With his background as SEA Games gold medalist and his stint as National Coach, it will be a privilege for the swimmer to join him and his team during this activity where the coach promised to share his expertise.
Date: March 30 to April19, 2009
Location: Lingayen, Pangasinan
Fees: 3000 Php (Training Fee for the whole duration)
50 Php/day X 21 days (pool fee)
150 Php/day x 21 days (dorm)
600 Php (miscenllaneous fee)

All inquiries and reservations should be directed to Coach Joey Andaya at mobile number +63(916)6462978.

Photography

1. Digital 101: Photography and the Computer by Jay Alonzo
March 9, 11, 13, 17, and 18, 2009, 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. at the Alcove (Filipinas Heritage)

The workshop focuses on the following:

Factors affecting photographic output
Basic understanding of light
The digital camera and its functions
Exposure setting
How to see and take better pictures
Basic image manipulation and output considerations

There will be photo assignments, critiquing, and a photo clinic. The only requirement is to bring a Digital camera, preferably SLR. Venue is at the Reading Room, Filipinas Heritage Library, Makati Avenue, Ayala Triangle, Makati City (across The Peninsula Manila)
FeePhp 4,000.00 inclusive of handouts, meals, computer use, and certificate.
A pre-registration fee of Php500.00 (non-refundable) is requested on or before March 2 with a 10% discount to be extended payments made prior to the deadline. For inquiries please call 8921801, send an SMS to 0917-5594417 , email salvador.jd@ayalafoundation.org.

2.
Digital 101: Photography and the Computer (With Photo Trip and Exhibit)
Schedules:
Summer Class Batch 1: April 4–5 (9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.)
Summer Class Batch 2: April 18 –19 (9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.) -->

The workshop is designed for digital-camera users who want to learn the basics of photography. The focus will be on:

Factors affecting photographic output
Basic understanding of light
The digital camera and its functions
Exposure setting
Taking better pictures, and improving the way one looks at pictures
Basic image manipulation and output considerations

The workshop will also be conducted by Jay Alonzo. Fee is also 4,000 Php. For inquiries, please call 8921801, send an SMS to 0917-5594417 , email cruz.ct@ayalafoundation.org.

3. Photoworld Manila

The Photoworld Manila has published its 2009 Schedule for its Basic Photography Workshop
Fee: P3,500 (5 Sessions) which includes film and developing for manual camera users courtesy of Fujifilm.

SATURDAYS:April 25, May 2,9,16 & 23May 30, Jun 6,13,20 & 27July 4,11,18,25 & Aug 1August 8,15,22,29 & Sep 5September 12,19,26, Oct 3 & 10October 17,24, Nov 7,14 & 21November 28, Dec 5,12,19 & 26

SUNDAYS:(NEW!)March 22, 29, April 5, 19 & 26April 26, May 3,10,17 & 24May 31, Jun 7,14,21, & 28July 5,12,19,26 & Aug 2August 9,16,23,30 & Sep 6September 13,20,27, Oct 4 & 11October 18,25, Nov 8, 15 & 22November 29, Dec 6,13,20 & 27

The Venue of the workshop is at the Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila. Inquire from the FPPF Secretariat (Tel: 524-7576).

This is the first of a series of blogs for the activities for summer. Please come back soon to check or subscribe to my blog. Thanks.

Wheat Grass and Swimming - Any Connection?

Don't you think it strange to relate wheat grass to swimming? But when you really come to think of it, these two have a common denominator of being able to affect health.

I've heard of wheatgrass for some time now but I came across an exhibit at the Tiendesitas today of a company that endorses the plant as a health drink. Of course I was interested. For one, I'm an advocate of anything and everything that has an effect on health as my profession would dictate. Second is that I'm am currently part of a swimming competition organizing team and I've injected the idea of packaging the sport as part of a healthy lifestyle habit. It would only be natural to me to look into something that would be a potential exhibitor or sponsor.

I became more interested in the product when they had said the magic word (or words) - live enzymes! It hadn't been long since I had told my daughter's team the importance of adhering to probiotics. After all, one of the not so pleasant effects of swimming would be coming from the presence of undesirable bacteria in the water. With probiotics though, the risk of contracting diseases from water-borne microbes would be controlled by taking in bacteria that would naturally fight these unwanted "creatures".

So, I'm hoping that this company would join us during the competition. They seemed interested and excited in my proposal as I had been in both the competition/exhibit and their product.

Investing on Swim Gears

As a nurse, I normally advice people to take swimming as a form of exercise. It offers the most extensive workout with less chances of trauma to the body.

My daughter has been under training with the Flying Dolphins Team since last year. She has scoliosis and that sport will be good for her. We used to buy an expensive brand of swimsuits and gears. Lately, the members of the team have one by one changed their swim attires to the long sleeved ones. Naturally, Ikee wanted one too. I, on the other hand, have also agreed for her to buy one of those because it will protect her from the harmful UV rays. But, then again, we just bought one swimsuit for her lately.

Fortunately, we discovered a store in Makati. Just last Wednesday, we bought for her a wet suit (it is used for swim training and diving too), a pair of aqua socks (for her fins), and a long sleeve top. All these we got at the price of just one swim suit and we're so happy about it. Now, I'm thinking of buying some stuff from there and selling it at just a little higher than the price at the store. They have discounts for bulk purchases so that might be a good venture. One problem though is that there's only 1 more month left in the summer break. So, it might not be practical to do the business now. Maybe next year.

Oh My Poor Back! - Scoliosis Management

Scoliosis inflicts anyone in any age or gender and there's really no special reason for doing so. In fact, in the Philippines, it is present in about 4 out of 10 girls. The sad thing is that there is really no cure for it. But the good news is that it can be managed.

With prompt attention, further curvature of the back can actually be prevented. Take it from me. My daughter has it. And I try to support her in most things that she needs to do. Her treatment includes daily exercises which could last anywhere from 30 minutes to more than an hour depending on how fast she does each exercise. I have to help her with some bending that she does only to stabilize her. She goes to swim classes every week to build stamina and she wears a body brace which covers just below her neck to her hip.

When we found out about her scolio, she was devastated having been told that she has to do the management until she's 18. And that if her scolio progresses, she'll have to undergo surgery. I felt so bad for her too because we were also told that the chances of it progressing was 50/50 since she was only 13 then and her bones were so soft yet.

We had a visit to her orthopedic surgeon and her orthotist and they have both give us a thumbs up on the results so far. The secret really is prayers, prompt attention and compliance to the treatment. All the components of the treatment has to be done. We still have 4.5 years more but with God's grace we will overcome it.

For consultation, please get in touch with Dr. Acedillo and Dr. Bate of the Medical City, Ortigas Blvd., Philippines. for swimming, get in touch with Coach Efren Jocson, head coach of the Flying Dolphins Swimming Team at the ULTRA Swimming pool every weekend.

Great Year, Great Summer

For many kids, summer just means a long break from school. They get excited at the thought for about a week. But after that week, boredom sets in. That is why every summer I think of ways for Ikee to spend it productively. There were many times we'd go to the beach or a pool but a majority of her summer days is spent learning something. Children need to be kept busy not only to keep them from getting bored, they also need something to write on when school starts again. Here are tips on activities you might want to have your child do during that long vacation:

1. Take a swimming lesson at the ULTRA in Pasig. Ikee is now a member of the Pasig Flying Dolphins Swimming Team and goes to training regularly every weekend even during the school year. The team's head coach is Efren Jocson. The fee used to be less than 3 thousand (I'd like to let Coach Efren tell you personally) for the whole summer. I think they meet twice a week for 2.5 hours per meeting. Don't mind coach's yelling. He's not mad. In fact, my daughter adores the guy. He does it for emphasis. hehehe Not bad huh?

2. Enrol in one of the courses offered at the Pasig Catholic College. There are many courses which your child can avail of. Ikee took up Arts/painting, journalism, and swimming from there. It costs more or less 2,500 php per course with the exception of swimming which incidentally Coach Efren taught too.

3. Enrol your child in one of the courses at UP. I never sent Ikee there because it's too far but I would've if distance was not an issue.

4. Organize a cooking class. I used to do that here in the house. I'd gather Ikee's friends and have them make bread. It was fun because they get to eat what they make. It doesn't cost so much either.

5. Have regular picnics at a park nearby. For Pasig residents, we have a choice of going to the rainforest or the Fort Bonifacio. The La Mesa Ecopark is a good place to go to but it gets too crowded during the summer. I hear Marikina Ecopark is a good alternative but I have yet to see the place to recommend it.

6. If there's extra money, try going to Donsol or to Sagada. These are places which I'm sure your kid will be interested in going to. Donsol to watch and swim with the whale sharks and Sagada to check out the beauty of the mountains.

7. You can go camping. We like going to caleruega in Tagaytay. there are other campsites though - in caliraya and in antipolo. Munting buhangin also has a camping area. Just check out their website.

If you have better suggestions please let me know so I can share it here too.

Summertime need not be an expensive period for the parents for the kids to enjoy. It just needs a little research and creativity.

A great summer for kids need not be expensive. Th