Anvaya Cove Beach and Nature Club, Philippines

“Anvaya” means “family” in the ancient Sanskrit language...that's the first thing that you will read when you visit Anvaya Cove's main website (http://www.anvayacove.com/) and that's also how you will feel the moment you enter the resort. The place is very serene and kid-friendly.  And the people working there are all so kind and courteous.  It does feel like family.

Early last year our family visited Anvaya once again. Though it wasn't my first time to go there, it was my first time to stay overnight. My dad got us adjacent Lagoon Terrace rooms which i highly recommend. All their rooms are located in an area separate from the clubhouse. If the weather permits, a walk to the room is always enjoyable. You'll find yourself surrounded by lakes and parks which is almost a rarity in the busy Metro Manila.  December to February are the most ideal months to visit since the weather is nice and cool. On hotter months, you can always opt to take the golf cart back to the room. They have plenty waiting by the lobby so you almost never have to wait.

I'd like to share some pictures with you. Most pictures were taken during our visit.

Taking the golf cart to back to our room

Watching the ducks swim by the pond

Trying to catch the worms on an early morning

Enjoying the lounge bed in front of our Lagoon Terrace rooms 

Receiving area of the Lagoon Terrace

They also have a SPA that i will try next time. Photos below are taken from the Anvaya website.

The Spa rooms

This is where you can get foot massages

Group massage

I am definitely looking forward to our next visit to Anvaya. It's the perfect weekend getaway for the family.

Check out the map below for the best way to go to Anvaya (via SCTEX).

Learn more about how to visit Anvaya Cove by visiting their site: http://www.anvayacove.com

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Travel the World in 8.5 Minutes

This video is Uh-may-zing! It's currently #1 on my playlist. Check it out and share with your kids.

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Name Your Grapevine and Win a P5k GC from The Spa!

If you have been reading this blog for a while now, you will know that i am a big fan of Caudalie products.  The main reason i love Caudalie is because its products are made from grapes and thus contain high levels of Polyphenols. 

I learned about the benefits of Polyphenols over 5 years ago in my quest for natural beauty and wellness. I am currently using an eye cream that is rich with grape Polyphenol. Studies show that this same substance in some woods explains their natural preservation from rot.  Now can you imagine why it will be good for our skin? Moreover, can you imagine the benefits of high polyphenols in our body? Hello fountain of youth!

Growing up, i must admit that i am not a big fan of grape juices. It reminds me of an old cough syrup that i hated. When i gave birth in 2006, a lot of family and friends gave me Welch's grape juice drinks - they said it's very good post-natal as your body recovers to its pre-natal form. So i did my research and my findings made me change my mind about grape juice - specifically Welch's.

About Welch's:

• Made from whole Concord Grapes with no added sugar, flavouring or colors
• Rich in Polyphenols - that antioxidant that will keep you young and healthy
• High in Vitamin C

Have you heard the saying that drinking a glass of red wine can lower your chances of cardiovascular diseases? Well, it's true. It's because of the Polyphenols from the grapes of that red wine. For non-alcohol lovers and kids, you can still get the same benefits from drinking a glass of natural grape juice daily.

I now see the benefits and i know taste can be acquired. With a few ice cubes on a hot summer day, i can imagine enjoying that Welch's grape juice with my family. 

Now, for another good news! Welch's has an ongoing promo on Facebook called "Name Your Grapevine". The intention is really to build an online network of mothers who can support each other in any mom-related concern.

Here's how to join:

1. Participant must be a fan of Welch’s Facebook page to be a qualified winner.
2. Participant must post the photo entry with at least 3-5 mom friends, name their Grapevine (or the name of their group), include the hashtag #MyWelchsGrapevine, tag Welch’s PH and their mom friends in the photo. No hashtag and same photo entry from a group of mom friends will not be considered a valid entry.
3. Promo period will run from March 10-April 7, 2014
4. The entries will be judged on the following criteria:

            Quality of photo – 30%

            Grapevine Name – 30%

            Overall creativity – 30%

            Facebook likes of the entry – 10%

5. Announcement of winners shall be done weekly.
6. Claiming of prizes will be announced upon announcement of winners.
7. Weekly winners will receive The Spa GC worth P5k and a Welch’s gift pack. Four (4) participants will receive a Welch’s Gift Pack as a consolation prize.

8. Moms tagged in the photo entry shall be the ones to avail The Spa Party Package.
9. There will be a documentation of the spa party for moms to be posted on Welch’s Facebook page.

Go ahead! Share your barakada picture and get a chance to win a SPArty for you and your friends!

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Are Your Kids Protected?

Last December, some members of our family had severe bouts of diarrhea and it was just awful.  Most of us had to take oral hydride tablets to avoid getting dehydrated. My mom almost wanted to admit me to the hospital for dextrose - but thank God my friend sent some Oral Dextrose which i diligently drank every hour.  During those days, one of my fears was really getting my kids infected. I know that diarrhea could be dangerous for smaller children as they're more prone to dehydration.

Ria Tanhuatco-Trillo interviewing Barbie Almalbis-Honasan

A few days ago, I was invited to attend a talk at the Makati Shangri-la Hotel by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).  GSK launched a No Hope Lost campaign to educate parents to vaccinate their children.  The discussion focused on the top two leading causes of mortality and  morbidity among children less than 5 years of age.  Upon hearing 'pneumonia' and 'diarrhea', the mommy in me listened intently. I've heard of friends and families with kids getting confined due to pneumonia and diarrhea. I knew there were risks but i honestly did not realize the gravity of it. 

Facts about Pneumonia:

• Pneumonia is the single greatest cause of death in children worldwide. In fact, pneumonia is the leading cause of illness and death among Filipino children less than 5 years old. National statistics show an estimated 37 Filipino children die of pneumonia every day.1

• Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung which affects primarily the microscopic air sacs known as alveoli. 

• Symptoms: cough, fever, chills, headaches, loss of appetite, wheezing, chest pain, fever, and rapid or difficulty breathing.

Facts about Diarrhea:

• Diarrhea is defined as having loose or watery stools at least three times per day, or more frequently than a normal individual.

• Complications: Acute cases can lead to significant fluid loss and dehydration, which may result in death or other severe consequences.

• Cause: Rotavirus Gastroenteritis (RVGE) is the common cause of diarrhea and severe dehydration in young children.

• Rotavirus infects virtually every child within the first 5 years of life, irrespective of race or socio-economic status. That is why it is called a “democratic virus.”

On top of the above facts, i also found out that the Rotavirus can stay on solid surfaces for several days. So it's very easy to get infected. This idea frightens me because daughter still thumb sucks once in a while.  I can only imagine the things that she has touched before the thumb goes to the mouth.

Here are some tips that protect your children:

• Exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months (yay! check for both my kids)
• Adequate nutrition
• Vitamin A supplementation. Make sure it's included in your child's multi-vitamins
• Frequent hand washing
• Vaccinate

SoMoms on the Commitment Board

I was surprised to learn that a lot of parents are still not aware that there are vaccines available to prevent Pneumonia (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine or PCV) and Rotavirus (Rotavirus Vaccine or RV).  We had both our children vaccinated early on and you should too.  Both vaccines can be administered to infants as early as 6 weeks of age. It is important to follow the correct vaccination schedule as the Rotavirus is more severe and frequent in infants aged 3 to 24 months.

Parents, please ask your pediatricians about these vaccines and protect your child from these lethal diseases.  As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure.

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Winners of the 9-Day Cycles Giveaway!

Congratulations to...

1. Yhie Nocasa

2. Phoebe Dy

3.  Maria Alyssa Pascual Buenconsejo

We shall be contacting you separately for the prizes. Feel free to also reach out to me at densfan@gmail.com

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