Davao bus firms advocate breast feeding through units

DAVAO CITY — As the world marks breast-feeding week beginning Aug. 1, more than a thousand bus companies here are modifying seat arrangements in their units to allow mothers to breast-feed in private.

Health Assistant Secretary Paulyn B. Rosell-Ubial said the decision of bus companies to reserve second row seats, with proper cover, for breast-feeding mothers is the first in the country, and a concrete push for the campaign to wean children away from synthetic milk.

She cited the National Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 1999 which revealed that the country ranked bottom in the world in the number of mothers breast-feeding their infants. While there are no data if the government has made headway in its campaign, mini-surveys conducted by the Health department showed misconceptions about breast-feeding still exist.

"There are still misconceptions when [in fact] 99% of mothers can and should breast-feed," she said, adding that doctors should share the blame in perpetuating the misconceptions and for promoting powdered milk as an alternative.

Maryland F. Sy, president of Southern Mindanao Bus Operators Association, said 1,200 of their buses would be equipped with breast-feeding areas. The breast-feeding seats were piloted by Metro Shuttle, a major Davao bus company last year.

"So, far I received no complaint even during peak season," Ms. Sy said. She said drivers and their aides were also instructed to prioritize breast-feeding mothers similar to persons with disabilities.

"So if somebody is already sitting on the breast-feeding seats, they would have to stand up and sit somewhere else," she said.

It is but proper to give a seat to breastfeeding mothers. How can they feed their babies when they are standing.

Councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad, committee chairman for women and children, said the city government looks at breast-feeding as part of the reproductive health component of the Women Development Code of Davao City.

Data from the Local Health Support Division of the Center for Health and Development showed there are only 14 breast-feeding stations in the region, nine of which are in Davao City and five in Davao del Norte. The Davao City Overland Transport Terminal has one air-conditioned breast-feeding station that is open 24 hours. Annabel P. Yumang, officer in charge of the division, said next on their agenda is to put breast-feeding rooms in ships and ports. — J. B. Escovilla
http://news.google.com/news/search?pz=1&ned=en_ph&hl=en&q=breastfeeding+mothers

The Gatecrasher

The death of Tita Cory has brought memories on my mind. When I was working at the Ramon Magsasay Award Foundation one of our added task was to escort Awardees during their visit to the Philippines. I was assigned to escort an Indonesian couple HansBague Jassin and his wife. H.B. Jassin is Ramon Magsaysay awardee for Public Service. He was recognized for preserving Indonesia's literary heritage. After a luncheon meeting with the Director of National Library we proceed to Malacanang because the Awardees have a meeting with President Cory. Unfortunately my name wasn't on the list of the visitors, but my companion' s name was there,
and they don't want to leave me, they told the guards that they won't go inside without me. The guards won't allow that and they are left with no choice but to allow me to go with them. I was able to see the President, giving a short speech to honor the awardees. She was a simple lady w with little make up and the signature yellow dress. It's good that I have a picture although not so clear because it's black and white. She has done a lot for the nation in her simple way. Her death was expected because of her illness, but maybe it is her time to go she has live her life to the fullest. She left a great legacy and that's democracy.

10 Things I Like about MMLDC

1. The hospitality of the people working there. I always feel that I am "at home".

2. The scenery you feel closer to nature and to the Creator.

3. The food it's delicious and it is always served with a smile.

4. The clean rooms and toilets.

5. The learning ambience a place to learn a lot of things and to be trained.

6. The swimming pool and the gym to help you become physically fit.

7. The chapel for spiritual nourishment.

8. The beautiful art works that you see at the Academic, Residence, Creativity and Food Hall.

9. Environment friendly.

10. World class.

I have been working in MMLDC for almost six years. It seems that I didn't notice the time passing by. Many things has happened and now MMLDC is celebrating its 10th birthday.

It feels great to be part of this company, considering that it's world class and has maintained its standards for ten years. I have learned a lot and I owe it to the company that has become a part of my life since 2003. Cheers and my wish is more years and more clients to come.

Is Blogging an Art?

Blogging is like a higher form of journalling. It is about writing.

Here are some tips on Blogging

You have to treat blogging like a higher form of journalling. Self expression is considered an art and in blogging you express yourself but it doesn't require excellence to do it. The only difference of blogging and journalling is when it's personal you can write whatever you want while when blogging you have to consider your audience or the reader.

When you're writing about yourself and your experiences, don't forget to include your environment, current issues and events and the people around you, their ideas and how they contributed to what you are writing about. Your audience will not be interested in your solo photos but the events of your life, surroundings, experiences, etc.

Don't be random. Don't tell every single detail of your life. Conceptualizes each post. Have a topic in mind , organize your thoughts and there must be unity of ideas.

Express yourself as smooth and as coherent as possible. The language should be easy to understand. Add wit and humor so as not to bore your reader.

Don't under estimate the power of publicity. Join blogging contest, communities and forums and exchange links with as many bloggers as you can. Always update your blog.

BLOGGING CLASS THAT WAS NOT MEANT TO BE

I am oblige to write about my blogging class which I wasn't able to attend even if I was there at AIM. A week before the scheduled class, I was excited for that date to come. In preparation I was looking for a laptop to borrow, but of course who's that kind soul who will do that, fortunately there was one, the husband of my sister. I was also thinking of buying a new one but someone has to convince and perhaps by force will tell me to buy it. An employee offered me his notebook for a cheap price but still new, it has been some months since he bought it. I grab the offer and bought it after bargaining for a fair price and besides I needed it badly for the class, but I would like to think that there's some kind of jinx that is attached to the notebook because I wasn't able to attend the class. I went to AIM early morning of Saturday after being scanned by the guard, he told me that our instructor has no schedule for that day. I patiently waited for an hour to wait for a some kind of miracle to happen, lo and behold the miracle didn't happen. I got bored and it seems that my effort turned futile. I decided to have my picture taken by the guard to have a souvenir shot from AIM and perhaps for evidence purposes that I was really there on that day. I decided to leave and went home, my sister was surprise to see me home before lunch and I told her my predicament. She treated me to a delicious lunch at dampa, and I also treated her to a cooked crab which she was imagining for a week. We enjoy the food so much that I have forgotten my failed blogging class. I tried to email my instructor and there was some miscommunication on their part the class was at a different venue and it was too late to be there for I only knew it late afternoon. I was thinking do I still need to attend it, after so many readings that I have done and after blogging for years already. My answer is YES the eagerness and enthusiasm to learn is still there.