• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Momma 'N Manila

Growing through parenting

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Nourish
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
    • Cheers
    • Guest Recipes
  • Advocate
    • Autism
    • Best Buddies
    • Down Syndrome
    • Special Needs
  • Gather
    • Crafternoons
    • Entertaining at Home
    • Events
    • Mothers Who Brunch
    • DIY
  • Review
    • 4 KIDS
    • Dining
    • Travel
    • Home & Hearth
    • Health & Beauty
    • Giveaways
    • Fashion
  • Nurture
    • Education
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Yoga
  • MWB

Best Buddies

Playing Catch Up

I’m sad.

I had a bit of a problem last month with the blog.

I updated a bunch of my plugins and did all this technical stuff to keep everything neat and up to date, and somehow something went awry. Turns out some of the updates had bugs, we had to roll back the blog till the last update that was saved and left unscathed, which meant that I lost a bunch of posts on DS awareness.

I had plans of getting everything fixed and back up and running as quickly as possible. But as many of you know, life happens and things don’t go exactly as we plan.

The first quarter of the year is always the busiest for me. January is usually when we focus on Autism Awareness. February is reserved for Down Syndrome Consciousness Month as well as my son’s birthday celebrations. March is always busy because it is Best Buddies Month and believe, you, me, this month is just as busy as the two months that came before it.

I will try and catch up on the backlogged posts. But because there are so many other things going on, I wanted to at least get something out there so that I can tell you all just how much I have missed writing and letting you know what’s going on.

The most devastating thing is that I had a bunch of guest posts published and new ones queued for Down Syndrome Consciousness Month and I lost them too. Because I have those posts saved in other places, I can definitely revisit them and publish them at a later date.

But for now, I will share with you the week that was…

Last week was jam packed with Best Buddies Philippines events and I wanted to share them all with you now. 

It’s as if time escapes me every single day. I’m trying to fit in as much as I can while still managing the home and taking care of the kids. But to be honest, so many things are falling through the cracks.

BALANCE. BALANCE. BALANCE.

On Thursday March 16th, Best Buddies Philippines launched their first art exhibit with over 32 paintings all completed by artists with special needs. These acrylic on canvas paintings featured collaborations done by our Citizen Buddies during Vico Cham’s last birthday.

Since Vico has opened Vico’s Artism Gallery, he has welcomed artists of all abilities to attend art classes with teachers who can further the artistic skills of all individuals.

To learn more about the inclusive art therapy classes that Vico’s Artism Gallery offers, visit their FB page.

The featured artists will be donating 20% of the proceeds to Best Buddies Philippines to further inclusion through our friendship programs

On Friday of last week, we were able to train 8 new ambassadors. These 8 new ambassadors will join Vico, Jessica, and Ian in our roster of self advocates. They will attend Best Buddies events, and be given the opportunity to speak publicly at different events around the metro.

Best Buddies Philippines Ambassadors L-R: Jessica, Ian, Cojie, Randy, Nicey, Dacki, Andie, Clarence, and Vico

On Saturday morning we met with almost 60 new public and private school teachers. Jennifer Allen, our International Programs Director facilitated this training, arming these educators with the tools they will need to bring Best Buddies back to their respective middle and high schools.

How exciting is it that we had teachers from as far as Sorsogon, Lipa, and Valenzuela attend this training?

On Saturday night, Best Buddies Philippines was welcomed into one of Manila’s premier dance clubs for a Teen and Adult Dance Party that would have our Buddies dancing NON-STOP for four hours straight.  

This photo totally amazes me. These are our buddies, our parents, our faculty advisors, and supporters of Best Buddies dancing the night away (which they did for four hours straight) in a place that is safe, secure, and a real live nightclub. Not many of our Buddies have experienced this kind of dancing like you are totally free, and we are so thankful that Prive Luxury Club believes in our mission of social inclusion. They gave our Buddies an experience that they will remember FOREVER. 

The image that remains in my head from this evening?

Watching our Buddies laughing, grooving, and getting lost in the music, the lights, and the truth that everyone in that place “gets them.” We all jammed together. We all let loose and had perma-grin from all the good clean fun that we were gifted for that evening.

That evening? That was social inclusion at its BEST.

All for BEST BUDDIES.

Will still try and play catch up. I have so many hugot posts lined up. This year has been amazing and eye opening for so many reasons. We are coming up on graduation for all of my kids in the different stages of their educational careers. But for now, I will leave you with the fun that we had and our newly trained ambassador Andie who was rocking it out on the dance floor at Privé.

 

 

This is how our Ambassador Andie Cruz gets down during our Teen and Adult Dance Night @priveluxuryclubbing! #inclusion #priveluxuryclub #bestbuddiesasiapac #bestbuddiesdlsz #bestbuddiesph #bestbuddies #downsyndromeawareness #autismawareness #danceparty #dance #fundraiser #foundation

A post shared by BestBuddiesPHL (@bestbuddiesphl) on Mar 18, 2017 at 10:49pm PDT

Happy Best Buddies Month!

 

Best Buddies Philippines
http://www.bestbuddiesphilippines.com/
https://www.instagram.com/bestbuddiesphl/

Unilab Foundation Inc.
http://www.unilabfoundation.org/
https://www.instagram.com/projectinclusion_ph/

Vico’s Artism Gallery
https://www.facebook.com/Vicos-Artism-Gallery

Prive Luxury Club
https://www.facebook.com/PriveLuxuryClub/

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related


« Pixi X ItsJudyTime
Vitamix Philippines »

Hello and Welcome!


Hi! Here is where I share my thoughts on yoga, cooking, crafting, raising a special child, exploring, eating, playing, and living in Manila.
READ MORE

You can also say hi or email me at mish@mommanmanila.com

Twitter

Tweets by @mishaventajado

Pinterest

Recent Posts

  • Waterside BBQ Brunch Buffet at Solaire
  • LUMOS RAY Projector Review
  • A Grapeful Summer with Taste Australia
  • Suite Treat Mommy Weekend at Marco Polo Manila
  • Weekend Grills at the Bay City Café

Archives

Categories

Recent Comments

  • Ran on Waterside BBQ Brunch Buffet at Solaire
  • michelle on Waterside BBQ Brunch Buffet at Solaire
  • Ran on Waterside BBQ Brunch Buffet at Solaire
  • michelle on LUMOS RAY Projector Review
  • Angelie G. Y. Melsbo on LUMOS RAY Projector Review

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM @mommanmanila

mommanmanila

@alabangtowncenter is capping off the summer seaso @alabangtowncenter is capping off the summer season with  up to 70% off through a 10 day sale in over 100 stores, mall wide. Painting The Town Red will have up to Php100k worth of daily prizes too! 

But if you  visit  this weekend and spend Php 5000 or more (single or accumulated receipts) you can try out the #HumanClaw and win gift certificates to shop, toys, and fun and useful treats! 

Download the Zing app you can enjoy even deeper discounts too!

@migaventajado was such a good sport and was happy that he took home gift certificates for Php1000 each from @themetrostores.ph AND @rustansph!!
Do you? Gelli doesn’t. 😜 Join me on Tuesday Do you?

Gelli doesn’t. 😜

Join me on Tuesday at 4pm for another episode of @kitchen143 where we dive into another conversation about preparing our kids and families for hybrid and face to face school.

@kitchen143 
@rappler 

We will also be partnering with quite a few brands that will make #BackToSchool just a little easier:
@uvcareph 
 @themayakitchen1 
 @brightbrands.ph 
@yumboxph 
@candishhhbakes 
@thesysufoodhub 
@claraoleph 
@treetopjuice.ph 
@smuckers.ph 
@jifphilippines 
@berrysdeliph
Creamy Lemon Garlic Pasta by @gi.aventajado last Creamy Lemon Garlic Pasta by @gi.aventajado  last night for dinner. I loved that every time I bit the rigatoni, it was cream filled!

Will be sharing this recipe on @kitchen143 soon! 

#recipe #diy #cookingathome #cooking #homecooking #delicious #yummy #yummyph #yum #letseat #teamgellibean #fresh #itswhatsfordinner #dinner #meatlessmonday
How did you get so big, @gelliaventajado? You hav How did you get so big, @gelliaventajado?

You have given me so many gifts through your extra chromosome. As your 11th birthday draws nearer, I’m thinking of ways we can celebrate with you. I’m counting my blessings because you chose me as your momma. 

#gellibean #theluckyfew #t21 #downsyndromeawareness #downsyndromelove #downsyndromeawarenessmonth #ndss #upsyndrome #aintnothingdownaboutit
I always love getting together with like minded pe I always love getting together with like minded people. @akiko.guevara is not only the Chairwoman of the Board of @specialolympicspilipinas, she is also a stakeholder. She is a #halfie like me and has strong roots both here in the Philippines and in the U.S. 

@ericsonperezj also grew up in the states, graduated with a teaching degree, (like me) and is the Headmaster of @thevanguardacademyph. He is a pillar in the community and a good friend. He has believed in @bestbuddies_ph from the beginning, and has always supported our initiatives.

L👀k out for something fun coming soon! I’m excited to come together for the sake of #inclusion. 

#inclusionmatters #bestbuddiesph #specialolympicspilipinas #thevanguardacademyph
We are still figuring out and solidifying our morn We are still figuring out and solidifying our morning routines as we send some of the kids off to school and log on with some of the kids to zoom.

Some days we are super early and some days we are chasing time. The beauty in this, is that while we are figuring things out, we are working with the kids to assess and adjust as we go along. It’s a great lesson on going with the flow.

How about you guys? 
How’s back to school for you?

Join us in the conversation with @carolatmanila @kayecatral @gellinamaala.md 

@uvcareph 
@themayakitchen1 
@brightbrands.ph 
@yumboxph 
@candishhhbakes 
@thesysufoodhub 
@claraoleph 
@treetopjuice.ph 
@smuckers.ph 
@jifphilippines 
@berrysdeliph
Happy to be preparing meals for my parents. Someti Happy to be preparing meals for my parents. Sometimes lunch is simple with meat and @realcaliforniamilkphl cheese, with crusty bread and a big bowl of soup. 

Simple. Easy to prepare. Comfort.
Lunch for the big girl and snack for the little gi Lunch for the big girl and snack for the little girl. @yumboxph Presto is a bigger container for bigger appetites. It’s sustainable. Easy to pack and easy to clean. #Yumbox Snack Box for the little girl is the perfect size for a 4 hr day at school. 

#WhatsInMyYumbox

@unileverfoodsolutions_ph Not Chicken Burger, breaded and fried like Katsu. White Rice. Pickled Radish. @tasteaustraliaph Premium Produce 🍊Shredded Lettuce and roasted sesame dressing because I ran out of cabbage. 

Little girl got the same but she loves #NaturesCandy and gets @california.raisins.asean and @welchs_ph to help boost immunity too.
Swipe left to see how far we have come in a year. Swipe left to see how far we have come in a year. #AlwaysLearning 

@kitchen143 
@rappler 
@seamoraone
Last week’s episode episode was so informative a Last week’s episode episode was so informative and full of different ways we can prepare our kiddos for hybrid and face to face school.

What else do you want to chat about as we settle into the new school year? Join us next Tuesday at 4pm for another conversation in @kitchen143.

Special thanks to our partners for this upcoming episode:

@uvcareph
@themayakitchen1
@brightbrands.ph
@yumboxph
@candishhhbakes
@thesysufoodhub
@claraoleph
@treetopjuice.ph
@smuckers.ph
@jifphilippines
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 · Blog Design by Fancy Girl Design Studio

Copyright © 2022 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...