WATCH: Hayden Kho shares favorite moments with daughter

MANILA – Hayden Kho is one proud father as he opened up about his favorite moments with Scarlet Snow, his daughter with fellow celebrity doctor Vicki Belo.

In an interview with SmartParenting.com.ph, Kho said he is always involved in Scarlet Snow’s various activities for the week – reading class every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, swimming class every Wednesday, gymnastics every Friday, and music class every Saturday.

“I always try to catch her early in the morning, paggising na paggising. That’s her best mood, ‘pag bagong gising siya. We read books together. We’re really trying to make her love books,” he said.

“Bathing time is one of our favorites. But in all her activities, I’m always involved,” he added, noting that he still accompanies his daughter in the pool even if he does not know how to swim.

But out of all his moments with Scarlet Snow, Kho said putting her to sleep is his favorite moment: “My favorite is ‘yung pagpapatulog. Whenever she falls asleep on my shoulders, champion!”

“Ang hirap kaya! Ang hirap magpatulog ng baby. ‘Pag nakatulog ‘yan [sa ‘yo] parang you want to celebrate. You want to shout. Kaso tulog,” he said in jest.



In another video uploaded by SmartParenting.com.ph, Kho recalled the day Scarlet Snow was born.

He said his experience as an intern at a hospital in Manila helped him prepare for the arrival of his baby with Belo which was born through surrogacy.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Mark Zuckerberg boasts he can change a nappy in 20 seconds

BERLIN, Germany - Facebook founder and chief Mark Zuckerberg, whose first child was born in November, on Thursday boasted that he could change a nappy in 20 seconds.

"I am competitive guy, I time myself to get and better, and I got down to 20 seconds," the 31-year-old told an audience in Berlin where he was receiving an award from German publisher Axel Springer.

"The trick is to slide the new diaper under the old one," he added.

Zuckerberg's Facebook page, which is "followed" by more than 43 million people, regularly features pictures of him with his wife Priscilla Chan, baby daughter Maxima and pet dog Beast. He has also posted a photo of him changing nappies.

Despite his massive wealth, Zuckerberg -- depicted in the Hollywood drama "The Social Network" as a socially challenged computer geek -- still turns up at the office in a t-shirt, jeans and sneakers, topped off by his trademark hooded sweatshirt.

Touching on his famously dressed-down style he added: "I have colored ones (t-shirts) too but I wear them only the weekend."

As they announced the birth of their daughter in December, Zuckerberg and his wife said they would give away 99 percent of their shares in Facebook -- valued at some $45 billion -- in a philanthropy initiative "to improve the lives of all those coming into this world".

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Why you should cut down on buying 'designer' coffee

MANILA – Spending on designer coffee can be costly if computed on a yearly basis.

Buying a cup of designer coffee at least 3 times a week will cost about P500, which amounts to P2,000 for 12 times a month, and balloons to P24,000 in one year.

“If they realize that, I don’t think a lot of people would be taking designer coffee everyday because you spend at least P120 on a small cup of coffee,” Lei Sison, managing editor of Smartparenting.com.ph told ANC’s “On The Money.”

Sison believes P24,000 can be spent wisely on other things, such as a vacation or on an investment.

“You could probably plan a trip and start a holiday fund using that amount. I know some people who use their money to invest in a condo unit,” Sison said.

“Any investment of that value is never a waste. It’s an investment you could use maybe 10 years from now,” she added.

Sison said P24,000 can also be used to fund education expenses; medical emergencies; or retirement.

But for those who can’t kick the habit of drinking coffee on a daily basis, Sison suggests investing on a coffee machine to avoid paying for an expensive cup.

“We invested on a single-serve coffee machine, which tastes as good. The coffee tastes as good but I only spend about P20 to P40 a cup. Initially, the investment will be there but in the long run, if you keep using it, I think it’s worth every peso you pay for,” she said.

Other coffee alternatives are the 3-in-1 variety, home brew, or single-drip servings.

“If you make it a regular thing, if it’s a daily thing, you should just save the designer coffee for more special occasions. Maybe your daily coffee can be from somewhere else, somewhere more affordable. That way too, it becomes something it’s meant to be for—a treat. Then it really becomes something special,” said Sison.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

How to give kids Christmas gifts that will last a lifetime

MANILA, Philippines - For lolos and lolas, saying no to their grandkids is hard to do. As the responsibility of disciplining them no longer falls on the grandparents, they can’t resist to pamper the young ones with expensive toys as Christmas gifts.

But before you splurge and give them items that will hold their attention for a few minutes, hours or at most days, maybe it’s time to consider getting them something more long-lasting.

Nowadays, more parents are forthright in saying that they would prefer the gift of cash that can go towards a college fund for their children. Given the astronomical cost of tertiary education, this makes a lot of sense. Tuition fees in private schools rise by almost 15% every year, and this does not cover miscellaneous expenses such as allowances, books, and related expenses.

If you choose to contribute towards your apo’s college education, not only are you giving something of value to your grandchildren, you are also helping the kids’ parents – your kids – save up for their child’s future.

Although the thought of receiving college funds may not sound very exciting to a child, rest assured that they will definitely thank you for it in the years to come.

The magic of compounding

Don’t think that you need to fork over a huge sum in order to give this type of present. You can start by giving your grandchild (through his parents or guardians) an amount that can serve as a starter fund for his college education. You can add to this fund every year — perhaps during your grandchild’s birthday and during the holidays — while letting the magic of compounding work wonders on the fund. Compounding builds on earnings of an asset's reinvested earnings. Twenty years down the road, when that little smiling baby is a young adult all set for university, that fund that you started will surely serve him well, and will make his parents equally happy.

Just to let you realize the power of compounding, here’s how it works: If you invest P10,000 today at 6%, you will have P10,600 in one year (P10,000 x 1.06). The reinvested P600 grows with the original amount of P10,000. If you continue to earn the same rate of 6%, your investment will grow to P11,236 (P10,600 x 1.06) by the end of the second year. The increase in interest grows each year, as your interest earns interest. The longer you keep your money invested, the more you stand to earn.

If your grandchild is one year old today, you have around 17 years to let your aguinaldo compound. The more time you have, the greater the growth potential. In fact, you can start a fund for your grandchild while he or she is still in utero. Of course, you can put money towards an older grandchild’s education, but the earlier you do it, the bigger its earning potential.

Below are some ideas on how you can give your grandchild the aguinaldo that will last a lifetime:

1. Purchase an education plan.

An education plan gives your grandchild a fixed amount of money to cover college expenses starting at a specified time, usually when he turns 17 years old. Depending on the plan you purchase, the education plan may come with life insurance and accidental death benefits, and a contingency fund should the payor (you) pass away during the payment period of the policy. Premiums are usually payable from 5 to 7 years.

2. Look at high-interest earning savings accounts.

Savings accounts are easy to open for your grandchildren. You can ask the child to come with you to the bank and you can make the initial deposit for him. That will be quite an experience – and a moment to capture using the camera from your mobile phone. Later on, you or other family members can add to this fund.

3. Open an investment account in his name.

There are various entry-level mutual funds or unit investment trust funds that would allow you to put in as little as P5,000. You can add to this every so often, or the parents can also inject additional funds when they can. Of course, you can also put in a much larger amount and allow it to grow over time.

4. Pay attention to the legalities.

Bank accounts for your grandchild will have to be in a guardian’s name, held in trust for your grandchild, until he comes of age. Make sure that this fund is accessed by a responsible adult who will use it for its intended purpose.

5. Make it fun.

Your grandchild might not explode into a dance of joy when he receives an envelope, but there is a way around the initial disappointment. Present your gift imaginatively. Perhaps, you can ask him what he wants to be in the future and tell him that you’ve just given the gift that will make his dream come true.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan has message for fellow moms

MANILA -- Actress, TV host and parenting advocate Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan gave a gentle reminder to fellow moms just a few days before Mother's Day.

In an interview on radio DZMM on Thursday, Laxa-Pangilinan noted how most mothers still try very hard to do everything right for their family at their own expense.

She stressed that it is perfectly fine for moms to ask for help, whether in raising children or doing household chores.

"Humingi tayo ng tulong kasi hindi natin kaya lahat," said Laxa-Pangilinan, who has written a number of parenting manuals and children's books. "Hindi ka na magiging blessing sa kapaligiran mo; magiging pabigat ka kasi dadalhin mo lahat."

"'Yung mga magulang, lalo na 'yung mga nanay, sasabihin nila minsan na 'ginawa ko na lahat, binigay ko na sa inyo ang lahat, pigang-piga na ako o pagod na pagod na ako.' Hindi na blessing 'yun, nakakabigat na 'yun sa iba. Humingi tayo ng tulong," she added.

Laxa-Pangilinan said most mothers usually turn to their spouses or family members for assistance, but she said that help can also come from a friend or a colleague.

She said mothers only need to consider these two factors: "'Yung hihingan mo ng tulong dapat willing siya na tulungan tayo, hindi 'yung sapilitan. Number two, 'yung stable, 'yung kakayanin niya na tulungan ka sa normal niyang kakayahan."

When asked to react if working moms should be approached differently from stay-at-home moms, she said: "Lahat tayo working mom. There's no such thing as a non-working mom. Nasa bahay ka, nasa trabaho ka, lahat tayo nagtatrabaho so importante lang talaga na gampanan natin 'yung mga ginagawa natin nang buong puso."

As the Philippines celebrates Mother's Day on Sunday, Laxa-Pangilinan said the best way to treat a mom is to simply give her what she wants.

"Kung kunyari gusto niya ng oras, bigyan mo siya ng undivided attention. Kung regalo, bigyan mo siya ng pasalubong. Kung words of encouragement, bigyan mo siya ng love letter. Iba-iba 'yan depende sa style ng pagmamahal na sa tingin mo ay kinikilig siya," she said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Small kids may need Halloween fears eased

Parents may think children of all ages enjoy scary masks, ghostly decor and haunted houses, but a U.S. expert says some kids may find them too frightening.

"Most children can't distinguish fantasy from reality until they are about age 4, so knocking on a stranger's door in a clown suit can be confusing and scary for younger children," Deborah Best, a child psychology expert and professor of psychology at Wake Forest University, said in a statement.

To avoid unnecessary shrieks of terror, try to experience Halloween through the eyes of your child, Best suggested.

"Rather than surprising kids younger than age 5 with costumes you like, let them choose. Toddlers especially love trying on familiar items such as their parents' clothes, so a big hat and colorful tie might be all the costume he needs or wants," Best advised. "Talk about his costume, try it on, build it up and let him get familiar with it before it's trick-or-treat time. And if on Halloween night he still doesn't want to dress up, that's OK, too."

Some children might be wary about trick-or-treating. Help ease a child's fears by trick-or-treating before it gets dark and starting at a neighbor or friend's home where the child will meet a familiar face, Best suggested.

Seeing other children having a good time might put a fearful child in the festive spirit, but if that doesn't work, take your cues from the child and head home, Best said.

source: upi.com