Instituto Cervantes programs talk on the Filipino identity with Ambeth Ocampo, Sionil José, and Zialcita

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Instituto Cervantes, the cultural arm of the Embassy of Spain, is organizing a series of colloquia by Filipino intellectuals about aspects of Filipino identity with Hispanic traces, to be held at its Intramuros branch in Plaza San Luis Complex, Real St., Intramuros.

The first colloquium in the series, which will be held on March 18, Wednesday, at 2 PM, will be about the view of Filipino identity by writer Nick Joaquin (1917-2004), arguably the contemporary Filipino who knew best how to interpret and value the Hispanic legacy in the Archipelago. In this discussion, historian Ambeth Ocampo will present the historical setting during the important milestones in the life of the National Artist for Literature, while fellow National Artist Francisco Sionil Jose will focus on his friend as a literary figure and as a person, and anthropologist Fernando Zialcita will talk about the Filipino identity as envisioned by Nick Joaquin, also known by his pseudonym "Quijano de Manila."

Dr. Fernando Zialcita, who obtained his M.A. and Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Hawaii, teaches at the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the Ateneo de Manila University and heads the Cultural Heritage Studies Program. He specializes in Heritage and identity, art and its cultural context, and interfaces between the foreign and the indigenous. Dr. Zialcita has written various articles on the Spanish influence on the cultural identity of Filipinos.

Dr. Ambeth Ocampo, former chairman of the then National Historical Institute, is a history professor at the Ateneo de Manila University as well. He was awarded the Premio Manuel Bernabe by the then Centro Cultural de la Embajada de Espana en Filipinas and a Premio Quijano de Manila from the Instituto Cervantes Manila.

National Artist for Literature, Francisco Sionil Jose, received awards both in the Philippines and in other countries. His novels and short stories, which depict class struggles and colonialism, have been translated into 28 languages.

The lecture is open to the public. Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis. For further information, please check out Instituto Cervantes’ Facebook page: www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila, or call Instituto Cervantes at (632) 8526 1482.

7 Things to Keep You Busy After Your Early Retirement

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Getting your early retirement is an achievement. It is a privilege desired by many who are sick of the hustle and bustle of the working life. But life should not stop there. You only retired from work, not from having fun!

You have dedicated your yesteryears making yourself financially stable. It’s time to let yourself engage in things that you may have forgone before just to achieve what you have today. Your retirement from work should not be boring!

Check out these fun and interesting diversity of activities and side hustles to keep you busy after your early retirement.

1. Start your healthy eating habits.

Choosing to eat healthy meals is something you may have missed while you spent years working and earning money. You were so busy chasing time, beating deadlines and prioritizing things that didn’t include making yourself a hearty meal.

Now is the time to say good bye to those instant noodles, three-in-one coffee and other fast foods that you used to take just because you don’t have time for yourself. Since retirement gives you all the time you want, all you need is the willingness to start making the effort.

Take your time shopping for all the healthful food you see at the grocery store. Watch videos from YouTube and don’t be afraid to try cooking nutritious recipes. This is also a perfect time to delight your family make up for the times you weren’t home to prepare their meal.

2. Read books.

Recover all those books that you once had to give up just because you had to prioritize learning stuff related to your career. It’s time to awaken your bookworm self for you now have the all the time in the world!

Visit the nearest bookstores in your place. Take time scanning through synopses of novels you tried to ignore before. There’s no need to hesitate whether to buy the whole set of a series or not. It’s time to reward yourself! Reading is now for recreation, and not as a requirement.

3. Go to the gym.

You did well in establishing yourself financially. Now is the time you work on enhancing your physical self. Sign up for a gym membership and get yourself a personal trainer. Make doing exercise a habit.

As you gained experience and wealth from working over the years, you may have also gained fats and muscle pains. Set a goal with your trainer and exert extra efforts in achieving that goal. Change the way people look at retirees.

4. Challenge your body.

Your journey to achieving physical fitness is not just about going to the gym. Engage yourself in other exhilarating activities such as running a marathon, cycling for miles, hiking or even rock climbing. Learning how to skateboard is also a must-try!

Don’t worry, you need not become an expert of the mentioned activities. You only have to challenge your body a little. Discover the things you didn’t know you’re actually capable of doing. 

5. Travel.

You may find young people filing for vacation leaves to go on trips trying to keep a work-life balance. What those young people feel can never be compared to how you feel when booking your one-way ticket and not minding when to schedule your return ticket since no boss anticipates when you are coming back.

Make a bucket list of the places you’ve always wanted to visit. Don’t mind how much you will be spending for what you are about to gain is priceless. You will not just get a glimpse of beautiful places; you also get to meet new people.

6. Create side hustles.

Retiring doesn’t require you to work harder. It doesn’t prohibit you from working either. You could always choose to keep earning so you have unlimited funds for your future recreational activities and travels.

There is no easy way to further sustain your retirement, unless you win the PCSO Lotto or the Singapore Pool 4D Lottery. You may opt for businesses or jobs that are done online so you still manage to spend more time to relax at home with your family. It’s also an edge if you choose a field that you are passionate about so you won’t just work to earn, but also to have fun.

7. Get a hobby.

You may go back to the old hobbies you had to abandon before, or better yet, get a new one. It’s always delightful to discover something new. Exciting must-try activities include enrolling in an art class, learning how to play an instrument, taking up a new sport like tennis, setting up movie marathons, and even volunteering in organizations.

6 Effective Tips for Infant Oral Health and Hygiene

Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/baby-care-caucasian-cheek-child-17327/



Wazzup Pilipinas!

Oral hygiene forms an integral part of our overall health and it is equally important for our young ones. Sometimes, we tend to believe that primary teeth will any way shed and it does not require any extra attention. Sadly, children are prone to tooth decay and many teeth problems begin much earlier than we expect it to be. Once a tooth decay reaches Blame it on the current lifestyle and exposure to processed food, fighting against tooth decay has become a necessary evil.

Your infant’s teeth need some extra attention too and if you find it difficult to comprehend where, to begin with, then don’t worry. In this article, you will discover easy yet effective ways to take care of the oral health and hygiene of your little one.

SourceSource: https://pixabay.com/photos/vegetables-vegetable-plate-paprika-4873856/

1. Choose an age-specific cleaning routine

A clean mouth and teeth are the first step to oral hygiene. The food and formula milk particles that remain in the mouth of the child can cause bacteria to attack, thus, causing problems like early childhood caries. Cleaning the teeth every day ensures that bacteria in the mouth do not get any sugar to combine with, and hence preventing potential chances of decay. The cleaning routine for your infant may, is a little different than adults. Choosing a plan specific to their age is very important. If in any case, there is tooth decay, then your dentist may prescribe you a stainless steel crown that would help repair the tooth and prevent it from further decaying.

From birth to six months you must wipe the gums of your baby with clean gauze or a soft wet washcloth. Right after your child feeds, you must wrap a wet washcloth on your index finger and gently massage the surface of her gums, moving from one direction to another, making sure that the entire surface is wiped clean.

When the teeth start to appear around the age of 6 months, you can go for gentle brushing using a soft bristle brush. You can consult your dentist for the type of toothpaste to use.

2. Keep an eye on the sugar consumption of your child.


What causes cavities? By now, it is clear that sugar attacks teeth bacteria to form early cavities, hence, the dentist suggests, no additional sugar to be given to your child before the age of 2. However, eliminating sugars from their food is nearly impossible. Infants are picky and can demand food that might not be good for their teeth health. Avoid foods that are high in sugar content. Even a cup of fresh-pressed juice contains a huge amount of sugar. Also, everyday food items such as flavored baby food, juices, and even medicines have a huge amount of sugars in them. Keep an eye on the sugar content of such items, make sure you rinse every time they consume hidden sugars.

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3. Avoid bottle decay and wean the pacifiers.

Tooth decay that usually happens in the front teeth of a child is known as bottle tooth decay. If you put your baby to bed with a bottle having anything sweet, such as juice or even formula milk, the prolonged exposure to it can cause caries to develop. Make sure that your child had their last meal way before bedtime. You can put water in the bottle to pacify a fussy child. As your child grows, you can introduce a drinking cup to her. Unkempt pacifiers and bottles are major culprits in causing bacteria to build-up in a baby's mouth. Therefore, you must thoroughly clean them before use. You can avoid saliva transfer from your mouth to the baby by not sharing their cups and feeding spoons.

4. Get a dental appointment within the first year of age.

By the time your child reaches one year of age, or his/ her first tooth starts to appear, you should make an appointment with a dentist, as suggested by ADA. Your dentist will thoroughly check your child's teeth for any potential trouble such as a bite formation and teeth spacing. At the time of the eruption of the teeth, he will also provide an appropriate guideline and care for comfortable teething. Regularly check your infant's teeth for any brown spots or erosion, if there is any sign of irregularity, you must seek immediate dentist appointment.


5. Allow them a healthy munch between meals.

It is necessary to maintain a pH balance of your baby’s mouth. The acidity in the mouth can cause tooth enamel to corrode and thus lead to decay. The pH level drops when a child consumes anything sweet or acidic, and it takes almost 20 minutes for saliva to neutralize these effects. With everyday activity, the caloric needs are more for your child and to suffice that you may be giving them frequent meals. The consistent disruption of the pH balance can create an unhealthy situation for your infant teeth health. You can give them crunchy foods to chew in between the meals that help in maintaining a healthy balance in their mouth. Fruits like apples, peaches, and carrots act as a natural scrubber to teeth and can help maintain good oral health. Calcium-rich foods, such as unsweetened and unflavored yogurt, can help strengthen their tooth enamel.

6. Inculcate good habits.

As a primary caregiver, you need to understand the importance of early intervention in your child's oral health. Habits that they learn in early years stay a long way. By the age of one, a child develops an understanding of routine habits and it is a perfect time to inculcate a brushing routine in them. ADA recommends at least two minutes of brushing twice a day. You can make brushing a fun activity for them by playing a two-minute song while brushing their little pearly whites.

A strong foundation leads to a better future. As your infant turns into a toddler, he/she may start to experiment more with the food. A strong and healthy set of teeth will ensure that your child gets maximum nutrition from the food they eat. Taking care of them in infancy is the beginning of a life-long healthy lifestyle.