When Our Picture Was Used Without Our Permission

I wanted to blog about our Canada vacation as soon as I had transferred the pictures from my camera (which I've already done), but then something happened last week and I knew I had to share it here so that you guys are also aware that this can happen to anyone. So, here goes…

Last Tuesday, I was browsing through the feeds on Facebook when I happened to come across a post from a Filipino community. Normally, I would have just proceeded to the next item on the feed, but what made me click on that particular post was the image because it was the exact same photograph of one of our pre-nup pictures taken in 2007!

when i joined tag’s pressure cooker game

It was Sunday, the 1st of December, the UAE National Day holiday. I was in the middle of making a batch of cupcakes when I received a call from an unknown number. I answered and to my surprise it was Maria Maldita of Tag 91.1 asking me if I was game to join their Pressure Cooker contest. Of course I said YES! and she immediately got ready by announcing the game and prize.

Everything happened so fast. When I heard her say “Hello Pamela!” I was so excited and nervous, which was obvious with the high pitch of my voice when I replied “Hello po!” (Syempre, magalang dapat. Hahaha). Here’s how the rest of our conversation went:

Maria Maldita: Ready ka na bang sumali sa Pressure Cooker Game?

Me: Yes po.

Maria Maldita: Ok, Pamela, sa loob ng 30 seconds, magbigay ng pangalan ng tatlong banda sa Pilipinas bukod sa Eraserheads. Go!

My brain went totally blank so I ran to the bedroom where Hubby was because (1) he had attended several concerts when he was in college, and (2) he had a shirt that had all the band names that performed in one of the concerts he had attended. Unfortunately, he was too distracted and the shirt was in the washing machine.

Me: Tatlong banda sa Pilipinas? Umm…umm…ahh…

My sister suggested a band.

Me: Neocolours?

Maria Maldita: Ok.

Me: Umm…banda sa Pilipinas…Parokya ni Edgar?

Maria Maldita: Ok. Isa pa!

My nephew suggested a name, which I later learned is a Filipino hip-hop rapper.

Me: Abra?

Maria Maldita: Abra?! Hahaha! Hindi! Isa pa. Kaya mo yan!

Me: Ahhh…umm…Six Cycle Mind? I wasn’t even sure of this answer because I don’t even know the band, but it just entered my brain. But luckily…

Maria Maldita: Yehey! Congratulations, Pamela!

I literally shrieked with happiness and relief! And when she asked me if I wanted to greet anyone, I just blurted out the names of the people who were in front of me: Guchi, Ate Ning, Gabe, Caila and Sophie. I forgot everyone else. So to all my friends out there, sorry na. I totally forgot because of all the excitement.

When I put down the phone, I didn’t even know how I would be able to claim the prize. But then yesterday, I received an SMS from 4003 with the details on how to collect it. And this morning, a staff from the radio called me to confirm if I received the SMS. Nakakatuwa! 

So what did I win from getting pressured for 30 seconds? 

2 tickets to see Eraserheads, Parokya ni Egdar and more on the 27th of December at the High Impact A2 Festival at Meydan Racecourse!

I haven't claimed the tickets yet, but I definitely will before the 26th of this month. 

 

Yaaaay! What a great treat for our monthsary!

kids for christ's got talent

As I mentioned here, the monthly activity for KFC last month was the Star Camp. Our members attended acting, singing, modelling or dancing workshops, and in the afternoon, they presented what they were taught on stage. The hall was decorated to look just like a talent show, and of course there were the 4 special guest judges we invited: Edward Divinagracia from Kidville, Rachel Selinel from TFC, Louie da Costa of Tag 91.1 and Jeff Price who is the founder of Children's Media Network.

First to present were the kids of the Modelling Workshop, where they each wore costumes of their favourite superheroes.

Iron Man and Superman

Next were the Acting kids where they acted out a scene over and over, but portrayed different emotions each time.

Caila was part of the Singing Workshop. The kids sang different versions of “What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction, and our daughter sang and strummed her toy guitar with the rock group. Naturally, I was such a stage mother that day when I saw her on stage. She was so cute! Feel na feel nya ang pagiging rakista!


The last ones onstage were the kids of the Dancing Workshop who danced to the upbeat version of “Under the Sea” and were dressed in cute costumes to portray the different sea creatures. Three senior kids represented the main characters Ariel the Mermaid, Sebastian the Crab, and Flounder the Fish who was played by my nephew Gabe. It was my first time for me to see him dance, and I was surprised that he could dance pretty well.

Here’s a short clip of what happened that day.
And to make us even more proud, the activity was reported on Balitang Middle East over the weekend.

Kudos to all the kids, parent coordinators, and service team for a successful event!

fulfilling weekend: dubai terry fox run

I have yet to blog about the great dinner we had on Mama’s birthday as I still need to copy the photos taken from my sister. In the meantime, though, let me share with you our busy, yet fulfilling weekend, starting off with the Dubai Terry Fox Run we joined last Friday morning.

As I mentioned in a post a couple of years back, except for a few years in between, I’ve been joining this annual event since my first year Dubai back in 2004. This year, there was no excuse not to join, and since Hubby was the Team Head for this month’s KFC activity, we decided to have this run be the Junior Kids’ activity. So Friday morning found our group of parents, coordinators, SFCs, and kids gathered outside the Toys R Us sign of Dubai Festival City, warming up, getting ready and having our pictures taken.

published: how we prepared caila for her new sibling

Last month, Mother, Baby & Child Magazine posted the following question on their facebook page: What is the best way to tell your child that he/she is about to have a new sibling? The question was timely because hubby and I had been preparing Caila for her little sister’s arrival, so I sent my answer which was based on experience, some tips of which I got from N@W. And early this month, I received an e-mail from the magazine’s Chief Editor saying that their October issue included my contribution. I was excited of course! For the first time, something I wrote had been published in a credible magazine that’s read by so many parents here in the UAE! Usually, there’s a mother’s view and a specialist’s view that answers their monthly question, but I noticed that this time, there was only a mother’s view (mine)…which, I would like to believe, most probably meant that what hubby and I had been doing were the right things to do. Wow!

hubby in smart parenting magazine

He wasn't featured, but his name, statements, and answers to Ate Sam's questions that she asked him were included in the article.
You can check out the Father's Day article here.
Yup, I'm one proud wifey! =)

turning 3 soon

Just a little over 3 weeks to go and my little girl will be turning 3 years old!

Hubby and I are debating whether to book an overnight stay in a hotel (just me, him and Caila) so she can swim to her heart's content and we can enjoy their Friday brunch, or have a simple dinner with our close friends at home. Whatever it will be, I’ve also applied for a leave off work on the actual day of her birthday, and take her somewhere (an activity center at the mall, the park, or wherever) as a treat so that she can play around and really enjoy her day with her dear Mommy.

it's world youth day again

This is the week of World Youth Day, which is being held in Madrid, Spain this year. If I only had the time and money, I would definitely have loved to be one of the youth (since pasok naman ako sa age limit of 35 years old) participating. I swear, if 2008 wasn’t the year hubby and I got married, both of us would have joined the others who went to Sydney, Australia for the WYD that year. This event is really something every (Catholic) person should experience at least once in his life. The weeklong activities are just fun, colorful and amazing. And then finally attending mass with the Pope as the concelebrant, along with the thousands of people from around the world who are gathered in one big field just because of one common faith is simply awesome and inspiring.

we’re in july’s MBC magazine!

I received my July issue of Mother, Baby & Child magazine this morning and upon browsing it, I saw an article featuring the My Gym Open House...and wouldn’t you know, two photos of Caila (one with Darine’s son and one with me) were in it! The article even quoted something I said and mentioned my name!

i'm in today's 7 days!

I’m so happy! A picture of me, 2 other mothers, and Chef Gert is in the 7 days newspaper today!

our few seconds of fame

Last Friday, we (me, hubby, Caila, yaya and my sister) went to Mamzar for this.
It was just like the other Dubai Terry Fox Run’s I joined in the past...EXCEPT I was interviewed by a leading newspaper. Cool huh?!