Don’t let this happen to your baby. Protect against rotavirus by 6 months of age.

One out of 2 hospi ta l i zat ions for d iar rhea and vomit ing is caused by rotav i rus 2, wh i ch a f fec t s bab ies a s young as 3 months o f age 1. Bu t ro tav i rus i n fec t ion i s h igh l y p reventab le 3. The f i r s t 6 months i s the t ime to p ro tec t you r baby. Don ’t m i s s the chance . Ask you r doc to r about ro tav i rus p revent ion today.

References: 1. Glass R. Et al. Rotarvirus Vaccines: current prospects and future changes, The Lancet 2006; 368:323-32. 2. Bresee JS et al.Emerg Infect Dis 2004; 10(6) 988-995. 3. Clark HF et al. Vaccines. 4th edition (USA): 2004; Chapter 51:1327-1345.

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Every year, 2.4 million babies

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Don’t let this happen to your baby. Protect against rotavirus by 6 months of age.

One out of 2 hospi ta l i zat ions for d iar rhea and vomit ing is caused by rotav i rus 2, wh i ch a f fec t s bab ies a s young as 3 months o f age 1. Bu t ro tav i rus i n fec t ion i s h igh l y p reventab le 3. The f i r s t 6 months i s the t ime to p ro tec t you r baby. Don ’t m i s s the chance . Ask you r doc to r about ro tav i rus p revent ion today.

References: 1. Glass R. Et al. Rotarvirus Vaccines: current prospects and future changes, The Lancet 2006; 368:323-32. 2. Bresee JS et al.Emerg Infect Dis 2004; 10(6) 988-995. 3. Clark HF et al. Vaccines. 4th edition (USA): 2004; Chapter 51:1327-1345.

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Every year, 2.4 million babies

We all knew the drill. At the stroke of midnight, we would all blow our horns as loud as we could while jumping up and down, with shiny coins jiggling noisily in our pockets. My brothers would then get busy lighting the baby rockets and other firecrackers while my sisters and I helped Mom prepare the glasses of Asti and serve each a glass along with a bowl of 7 grapes each.

While the Asti will not permit us to remember what happened next, these traditions observed as we welcomed New Year is something my siblings and I will always know by heart. Though we laughed at these funny rituals that would usually stem from Dad’s sometimes odd superstitions, we now look back with fondness on those moments. Those days, forever etched into our memories form our core as persons, and part of our bond as a family.

With my own children, my husband and I pick up some of the old, but also start our own traditions for ourselves. On page 8 we asked moms to share what their old and new traditions are. In this issue on page 4 we also feature Marilen Faustino-Montenegro, who is celebrating her first Christmas as a mom, which will surely be an extra memorable one.

Wishing you many more happy celebrations and memorable traditions with your children!

Christmas with my own, 2009

Note From The Editor

CONTACT USFor inquiries, call 470.9925 or 0918.930.0313 or email, urbanmom.magazine@gmail.com

Urban Mom is a lifestyle freezine for young, modern moms. Material appearing here may not be reproduced in print or electronically without written permission from the publisher and without proper credit. Urban Mom is published by MommyMundo, a division of Creative Juice Communications, Inc.www,mommymundo.com

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Hi Janice,

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Thank you.Beann Dimaculangan-Loya

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INBOX

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFJanice Crisostomo-Villanueva

MARKETINGMicky DarantinaoTiffany de Guzman

Pauline FlavierDiane Nikolai Lopez

ADMINISTRATIVEAngela De LunaArnel Banares

PUBLISHERSGary M. Villanueva

Janice Crisostomo-Villanueva

UrbanMom

Janice Villanueva

OCT-NOV 2010 | VOL 2 NO. 3

CONTRIBUTORCover story by Jing Lejano

CREATIVE CONSULTANTJaymie Crisostomo-Pizarro

PHOTOGRAPHYJohn Mateos Ong ImagineNation

Photography

LAYOUTAnna Gutierrez

fine print “actual prize may differ from photo”

ust being close to the baby, being able to kiss and hug the baby; so sarap to touch the baby, and have

him near you,” says Marilen Faustino Montenegro, interior designer and fashion model, about the unexpected joys of motherhood. That she is oh-so in love with her three-month-old son, Iago, is obvious as she sighs and smiles about how she now spends her days and nights.

For this young mom, June 28 would always be a milestone date. That’s when she gave birth to her firstborn, Santiago

Alejo Montenegro. Iago was a big baby, weighing in at almost eight pounds, compelling Marilen to undergo a C-Section.

But while she loves all the little details of baby care, Marilen says, quite candidly, “I didn’t like being pregnant.” And why wouldn’t she? First off, she had morning sickness. And then, Marilen who suffers from asthma had intermittent coughs, forcing her to take to her bed for three weeks on her last trimester.

Photography by: John Mateos Ong of Imagine Nation PhotographyHair and make up by: Carissa Omilla of the Body Shop. Nursingwear by Mommy Matters www.shopmommymatters.com

MARILEN FAUSTINO MONTENEGRO IS ENJOYING EVERY LITTLE

THING ABOUT MOTHERHOOD, FROM FEEDING HER BABY IAGO AT THE

MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO TAKING HIM OUT ON LITTLE ERRANDS.

BY JING LEJANO

To entertain herself, she slept, watched television, and did some work on the computer. She also, quite charmingly, got into sewing.“I would sew soft shoes for my baby; the first few by hand. Later on, I bought a sewing machine,” Marilen says.

But to make her pregnancy even more challenging, she had acid reflux for the whole nine months. Fortunately, she says, “I didn’t really crave for anything. I ate healthy, no sweets. I craved for melon and apples and towards the end, the Green Iced Tea Blended Drink of Coffee Bean.”

But Marilen’s woes did not end with the reflux, she adds, “Nag-preterm labor pa ako, so I really wanted the baby to be out.”

First few weeks“It’s really the first few weeks that’s difficult because the baby doesn’t know what’s happening to him. So he’s always crying and you don’t really know why,” explains Marilen. Fortunately, through those horrendous few days, she had by her side her husband Hans.

Hans and Marilen tied the knot last January 2008. She says, “We were boyfriend-girlfriend since 2005. Five years na rin kami magkakilala…

When we were boyfriend-girlfriend, everything seems so bitin. Now, you go home and he’s still there. You can spend the whole weekend with each other. Not like before, kailangan na umuwi.”

She continues, “We didn’t have a baby right away. We had a baby after a year and a half. We were able to travel together, do stuff together. Yun yung part na nakaka-miss: yung spur of the moment, you can leave. Or he gets assigned to go to Singapore, Hongkong, or Bangkok for a week or two, and I just hop on a plane and go with him. I can’t do that anymore. Everything has to be planned with the baby.”

She adds, “With the baby, when you pack, you pack the whole house.”

While there are some things that they can’t do anymore, there are plenty of things that the two lovers enjoy doing together. “My husband is super helpful with the baby… When baby wakes up at night, he would help me change diapers. He’s really hands-on,” Marilen says.

Hans, she says, also loves playing with Iago, talking to him before he goes off to work and then soothing him before he goes to sleep.

URBANMOTHER

“ With the baby, when you pack, you pack the whole house.

With the baby, when you pack, you pack the whole house. full-term, is that she would have

a hard time losing weight. Well, breastfeeding took care of that.She says, “I’m breastfeeding exclusively. I was surprised that there was a week that I lost 7 pounds. And now, I’m maybe 8 pounds short of my pre-pregnancy weight. I gained 38 pounds and lost 30 already in three months just by breastfeeding.”

“I really wanted to breastfeed; I knew that I needed to. When your mind is set on doing it, you’ll do everything you need in order to succeed. In the first week, I hired a LATCH consultant because I was having a little bit of problem. And she taught me what I was doing wrong in terms of my position and posture. After that, it was OK na. I became an expert. By 12 weeks, the baby was also an expert already,” she explains.

Indeed, one of Marilen’s favorite part of the day is when she gets to take Iago in her arms and feed him; nothing could be more natural and intimate.

Making memoriesWith Christmas just around the corner, Marilen is excited to start making happy memories with Iago. Already, she is thinking of setting up a photo shoot with her little family for the Christmas greetings she’ll send to family and friends.

December would also be particularly busy for the young Montenegro family. Apart from the usual round of holiday reunions and get-togethers, Iago’s dedication is also scheduled in December; just in time for his ninong and ninang and Hans’ sister to arrive from the United States.

Her hopes for Iago are quite simple: She wants her son to grow up to be a God-fearing man with a good relationship with the Lord.

With joy written all over face, we couldn’t help but ask: Do you want another baby?

She says, “I’m really thinking about it. I’d want one. Ang sarap eh. Ang sarap to have a baby, to be with the baby, take care of the baby, super sarap, grabe!”

The all-important detailsMarilen’s days revolve around Iago’s schedule, which means waking up at five thirty in the morning, feeding him at noon, and putting him to sleep at nine in the evening.

Fortunately, her work schedule is very flexible. Her pictorials, she holds at her home, which is tastefully designed along modern lines. For her interior design work, she usually takes Iago to client meetings. Because she doesn’t have a reliable yaya and because she is breastfeeding, Marilen actually takes her son everywhere. “I bring him to the grocery, to the mall. He’s very observant,” she says.

One of Marilen’s pregnancy fears, apart from delivering before

On seasonal old traditions...Having a Christmas stocking where Santa will be able to leave a note for me. My Dad used to do that for me. I now do it for Sydney and Rafa. I always have happy Christmas memories and I would like Sydney and Rafa to have as well. The tradition I started with my kids is having a girl’s day with my daughter Sydney. I take her with me to Nail Spa. She sits quietly and enjoys having her toes painted.

And after, we have a snack together or head for the bookstore so she can pick out a new book.

-Sue Ann Nolido, mom of Sydney and Rafa

As a child, we always went to the Christmas Eve mass and opened presents as soon as we came home! However, since our son is still young, we just let him sleep until midnight until it’s time to open his presents and just hear mass in the morning.

When he gets older, we will go back to that midnight mass tradition because there was always that excitement building up to coming home from church to open presents which I want our son to experience as well.

Our new tradition as a family is our celebrating our birthdays by visiting a new place that we’ve never been --- it can be a local or foreign destination or even just a new museum in town. (picture attached was our trip to HK to celebrate Tiago’s second birthday)

- Anne Mac Santos, mom of Tiago

One tradition that I continue from my family is opening of Christmas gifts the morning of the 25th.

The tradition we created as a family has to do with having the boys visit their great grandparents while we’re at my parents’ house.

We asked urban moms:What is a favorite tradition from your parents that you are now practicing with your own children and what new traditions did you start with your own family?

URBANMOMQ&A

It is very important to my husband Stan because he hardly spent any time with his own grandparents, so he feels that it is important for our boys to do it. They may not understand it now, but we’re sure that they’ll be thankful one day that we made them spend time with their great grandparents.

-Jen Tan, mom of Paul and Kevin

FAVEFINDS

The 40 Weeks Before You JournalOrganize cherished mementos and treasured facts in this charming memory keeper journal. It has multiple pockets to hold important items and record every milestone as you await the arrival of your little one…Also available “The First 365 Days” and “The Learning Years”.Find out more at www.memorykeeperbooks.multiply.com.

The Stork Studioa portrait session with photographers Sofia Genato and Stan Ong of the Stork Studio immortalizes moments in time. www.thestorkstudio.com

Cast and FramePreserve memories and the uniqueness of your baby with this life-like 3D casting of your baby’s hands and feet.www.castandframe.com

BubbacakesAn adorable gift for precious little ones, Diaper cakes by Bubbacakes are a delightful way to celebrate the coming of a new baby.Diapers, pacifiers and other baby essentials presented to look like a cake in one, two, three or even four layers http://bubbacakes.multiply.com / 09178914540.

Memory-keeping is made simple with pages that are easy to fill out.

Organize cherished mementos in these roomy pockets.

Special products to help you document and celebrate special family moments

MOMS ON THE FLOORMommy Mundo organized Moms on the Floor, the only fun, floor-based activity for expectant moms and dads, and moms with babies. The half day event featured Pinoy Laughter Yoga, Infant Massage by Rome Kanapi, Breathworks by Dona Esteban and Kindermusik with Teacher Jeannie.

EVENTSINTHECITY

MOMPRENEUR MANILACREATIVITY WORKSHOPMompreneurs and aspiring mompreneurs attended Mompreneur Manila’s meet-up 2: A creativity work-shop facilitated by My Masterpiece Movement.

HOW TO PLAN YOUR KIDDIE PARTYA unique fair featuring the best kids’ party suppliers was organized by The Grove by Rockwell in partnership with Mommy Mundo. The event was an opportunity for parents to meet potential suppliers for their kids’ parties and family celebrations.

KADABRA CUPManila’s best magicians competed recently in Fun Ranch’s 1st Kadabra Cup. With support from Zest Air, Havaianas, Lactacyd Baby Bath, three magicians emerged as winners. Topping all of them was Magician Ferdie who kept everyone in awe with his unique and amazine routine.

EVENTSINTHECITY

MOMMY MILKSHAKE YEAR 4400 moms, dads, kids, runners and advocates of breastfeeding ran at the recent Mommy Milkshake, held at the Bonifacio Global City. Now on its 4th year, Mommy Milkshake kicked off World Breastfeeding Month festivities.

HAVAIANAS PLAYBACKStudent organizations from some of the country’s top universities competed against each other in Havaianas Playback held at Rockwell. This novel event brought back traditional Filipino games such as Piko, Patintero, Tumbang Preso, Sipa, and Chinese Garter allowing the participants to learn about and experience these games in a fun and festive event.

EASTWOOD FAIREastwood City mall supports breastfeeding moms and babies. Eastwood recently launched its Breast-feeding station with an event which coincided with World Breastfeeding month.

SM EVENT: YOU AND ME AND MOMMYSM Supermalls in partnership with Unicef organized the You and Me and Mommy event to cap off Breastfeeding Month. There were talks held, a mini-bazaar, as well as games onstage and a mini fashion show of nursing apparel by Mommy Matters and Au Lait.

FILLINTHEBLANKS

WRITER, STORYTELLER, TEACHING-ARTIST, MOMPRENEURCO-FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR, MY MASTERPIECE MOVEMENT (MMM)MMM’s website: www.welovemymasterpiece.comAnna’s website: www.mymasterpiecemom.com

Cortez Wonder Kids…AYLLI, age 8, turning 9 on January 19+ RAYNE (girl) & TORY (boy), twins age 5, turning 6 on December 10

1) What I love about being a momGetting to know my extraordinary kids. The more I get to know them, the moreI am inspired by who I get to be for them. Choosing to be a supermom to my three wonderkids is what makes me come alive!2) What I share with my kidsI scribbled some snippets of wisdom into song lyrics while I was stuck in traffic one day. My kids sing this song all the time… IMAGINATION STRETCH (an *ArtBeats original song)Stretch out your mind / Open your heart / Turn on your light / Embrace who you are / Jump in the game / Enjoy the ride / Flow up and down / Always be surprisedThrow out your worries / Lift the clouds from your eyes / Dance with your fears and know you’re big inside*ArtBeats = MMM’s performing group composed of a band, illustrators and storytellers.3) What makes my heart singLiterally... singing and laughing with my kids on our daily crazy car rides to & from school, as well as out of town.4) What de-stresses meBeing silly with my kids - playing, dancing, exploring, sharing stories.5) It brightens my day when my kids say“I made this for you, Mom!” My desk is filled with heart-warming notes andinsightful artwork.“We prepared a show for you, Mom!”as I am ushered to a front row seat foran entertaining song-dance-storytelling performance.6) What recharges meHugs, kisses, laughter, acknowledgment, conversations, collaboration.7) My favorite family traditionShared prayer. When we wake up andbefore we sleep, my kids and I pray to-gether to give thanks, share our thoughts, and honor the day.9) What’s always in my bagMy 3 kids’ Spark Books keep them engaged (drawing and writing) – anytime, anywhere.10) I get my parenting info from my mom, doctor, friends, books, internet…All of the above, plus I listen to my maternal instincts.

11) My favorite kid-friendly dining placesCPK, Friday’s, Fish and Co.12) Motherhood is…a gift! It stretches my imagination, opens my heart, inspires my creativity, andexpands my “being”.13) A day in my life is…an awesome ride – with ups and downs, moments of quiet and excitement, alwaysmoving forward, full of blessings and surprises.14) My husband is a supportive, witty, and funny daddy.15) Besides being a mom, I am…a writer, storyteller, teaching-artist and mompreneur. As co-founder and creativedirector of My Masterpiece Movement (MMM), I spark a culture of creativity through interactive multi-arts workshops, shows and events.17) My tips for moms planning their kids’ birthday partiesConsider substance before style, and breathe context into content. What is at the heart of your party? Create an awesome program with value and fun. Take-home value remains with the celebrant/guests when the gifts/prizes are out-grown and the décor is stored away.18) Most memorable party I planned for my own kidsMy sister Kara and I planned and hosted my daughter Aylli’s 3rd birthday party - acelebration of art, stories, imaginative play and songs (in January 2005) - it was theseed that sparked a movement.19) A great party is never withoutFamily and friends coming together and enjoying awesome art, amazing storytelling, and interactive live music.20) Of all the things in life, we should never fail to celebrateWho we are! We are the expanding universe. We are the stuff of stars. Shine and be the masterpiece that you are.22) What is life like as an urban mom?A call to bigness and adventure – trailblazing, eye-opening, perspective-shifting, possibility-gifting.

Profession:

Kids’ names and ages:

CLASSIFIEDS

2: Expo Kid 2, Rockwell Tent, Makati City16-17: Havaianas Design a Smile, Alabang Town Center (17); Trinoma (18), havaianasphilippines.com/smile23: Fun Ranch Halloween event, Frontera Verde, www.kidsrulehere.com23: Dona Elena Cuisinera Club, Cravings Eastwood23-24: Havaianas Design a Smile, Greenbelt 5 (23); Glorietta (24), havaianasphilippines.com/smile27: MomShare! Art Workshop for the Kids of House of Refuge, Call 4709925 for info on how to support MomShare or to volunteer30: Rockwell Power Plant Mall Halloween Movie Mania, Rockwell Tent, Makati30: Havaianas Design a Smile, Bonifacio High Street, havaianasphilippines.com/smile30: The Pet Club by Hobbes and Landes goes to Rockwell Power Plant, Rockwell Power Plant, Garden Plaza, 2:30-5pm17-22: “Mom’s Day Out, a Simply Maternal culminating activity”, Asian Hospital, Alabang, Muntinlupa City30: The 3rd Homeschool Conference 2010 :NATION BUILDING BEGINS AT HOME, 8 A.M. - 6 P.M. ,5th Floor, St. Francis SquareOrtigas Center, Mandaluyong, 6335174

october 2/9/16/23/30: Kid’s Brain LEGO Curriculum (5-8yrs.old), Hobbes and Landes, email mail@hobbesandlandes.com6/13/20/27: Teach4Kids LEGO Robotics Workshop (8-16yrs.old), Hobbes and Landes, Bonifacio High Street, email mail@hobbesandlandes.com5: Ultimate Taste Test 5.0, NBC Tent, 7pm. www.ourawesomeplanet.com6: Global Pinoy Bazaar, Rockwell Tent, 10am-10pm10: National Breastfeeding Conference for Medical Professionals, Henry Sy Auditorium, St. Luke’s Medical Center Global City, 8am-12nn, 0917-5614366 or email medelamoms@gmail.com20: Expo Mom Bazaar, Rockwell Tent, Makati City20: Brains vs. Brawns: A fun and entertaining way to spend a Saturday Night with friends and family, challenging different teams to a game of trivia and wit, Hobbes and Landes, Bonifacio High Street. 8-10pm, Pre-registration required, email mail@hobbesandlandes.com21: Mercato Centrale opening: A Food and Organic Market, Bonifacio Global City, email rache@diaz.ph.27-29: 3rd FLOW: SurfYogaSamba Retreat, La Union, email flowsurfyogasamba@gmail.com

EVENTSCALENDARnovember

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