‘Me’ time
Sun.Star Davao, March 29, 2008

Becoming a busy parent does not mean that you have to forget your own needs and interests.

Once in a while, we greatly deserve our precious personal or ‘me’ time to either just relax or be given opportunities to learn and constantly improve as individuals. After all, it is said that “love and care for others” starts with “love and care for the self”.

This summer, I have compiled a variety of enjoyable and useful activities you and your hubby can pursue.

Know how to scuba dive, drive, cook or make a dress! Have the courage to enroll in a basic computer course. Turn your favorite hobby into a thriving business. Speak in a relevant foreign language. Be extra prepared for home emergencies.

As parents, we should continuously enrich and educate ourselves. And, remember to have lots of fun, too!

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LIFE SAVING SKILLS

WHAT: Home Medical Emergency Training
Topics include making your home kid-safe; introduction to basic first aid for the home; common home medical emergencies; proper calling of medical help; what to do in case of fire, earthquake, and tsunami; home safety and fire safety tips.
*Minimum of 35 participants per training session. This program is highly recommended for nannies as well.
SCHEDULE: April 20 (Sun)/8am-5pm
REGISTRATION FEE: P300 (inclusive of 2 snacks, lunch and training certificate)
VENUE: Davao Shanghai Restaurant Function Room, R. Magsaysay Avenue, DC
CONTACT: KNIGHTHAWK RESCUE TEAM (An active member of the Davao City Disaster Coordinating Council)c/o RISTY LIBRE/Tels. 2210819/2228332/3002395 or BING BANZUELO/Tel. 3019663

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WHAT: Standard First Aid Training, Adult CPR for Lay Rescuer with Basic Water Safety for 18 yrs. old and above
SCHEDULE: Available every week/7 sessions/8-5pm
FEE: P800
CONTACT: PHIL. NATIONAL RED CROSS, Manuel Roxas Ave., DC/Tels. 2240217/2276650

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BUSINESS SKILLS/HOBBY ENHANCEMENT

WHAT: Various courses in the following fields:
ARTS AND CRAFTS: Basic Dressmaking/Basic Tailoring/Basic and Classical Balloon Arrangement/Advanced Balloon Arrangement/Photo Transfer to Balloon/Beadworks, Fashion and Accessories/Bedcover, Comforter, Pillow Cases, Curtains and Quilt Making/Commercial Candle Making Business/Scented and Decorative Candles/Cosmetology/Mastery in Hair Cutting and Style/Photographic Silkscreen Printing/Photo Image Transfer/Photo Thermal T-Shirt Printing/Silicone Rubber Mold and Figurine Making/Wood Framing Business/Electroplating Business/Fiberglass Making/Gift Wrapping, Packaging and Ribbon Technique Making/Alginate Mold Making for Self-Replica/Art of Glass Blowing/Basic Book Binding/Glass and Metal Etching and Key Chain and Paper Weight Making
COMPREHENSIVE COURSES: Advanced Fresh Flower Design/Mastering Therapeutic Massage/Basic Event Planning and Wedding Coordination/Floral Bouquet Arrangement/Fresh Flower Arrangement and Shop Management/Home Spa 1, 2 and 3/Jewelry, Cellphone Appraisal and Pawnshop Management/Jewelry Cleaning and Electroplating/Setting Up Laundry Business/Setting Up Printing Business/Organizing a Beauty Parlor Business/Wedding Planning and Coordination/Shiatsu and Significance of Touch Therapy
INDUSTRIALS AND CHEMICALS: Car Care Products/Cosmetics and Skin Care Products/Detergent, Dishwashing and Fabric Conditioner Making/Fruit Juice and Puree Making, Formulating Textile Ink/Herbal Soap, Bath Soap and Transparent Soap Making/Homecare Products/Janitorial Products/Haplas Ointment Making/Peanut Product Making/Perfume and Cologne Making/Preventive Maintenance Products/Salad Dressing, Mayonnaise and Sandwich Spread Making and Seasoning Mix Making
FOOD AND CULINARY: Advanced Cake Decorating and Sugar Flower Making/All Chicken Special Menu/All-Time Filipino Cuisine/Cake Baking and Decorating/Catering, Restaurant, Carinderia and Fast Food Business/Chewing Gum Making/Cookies, Pies and Cupcakes/Commercial Breadmaking and Bakery Management/Culinary Food Preparation and Catering Services/Fishball, Siomai and Kikiam Making/Fish Processing/French Cooking/Ice Cream Making/International Cuisine/Meat Processing and Meat Shop Operation/Pangnegosyo and Pasalubong/Pies and Pastries/Pizza Pie Making/Siopao and Siomai Making/Special Bread Making/Native Kakanin Pangnegosyo and Vegetable Salad Making
SCHEDULE/FEE: Available upon request
CONTACT: PANGKABUHAYAN SEMINAR CENTER (A Technology Research and Training Institute),Rm. 201, Dona Segunda Bldg., CM Recto St., DC/Tels. 2255034/2276089

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WHAT: Fashion Design/Dressmaking/Cooking and Baking/Housekeeping
SCHEDULE/FEE: 24 hrs. (P6,250) and 14 hrs. (P5,150). Student will choose their own schedule.
CONTACT: JOJI ILAGAN CAREER CENTRE FOUNDATION, INC., Chavez St., D.C./Tels. 2275602/2263783/2210315

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WHAT: Certificate in Culinary Arts/ Halal Cooking/Truly Asian Cooking/Lifestyle Courses/Therapeutic Cookery/Baking and Pastry/ Cakes and Chocolates/Catering Operation/Restaurant Entrepreneur Program (curriculum combines 20% theoretical and 80% actual hands-on)
SCHEDULE/FEE: Available upon request
CONTACT: MOST INSTITUTE DAVAO, LTS Bldg., Magsaysay Ave., DC/Tel. 3035991

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WHAT: Various programs in Cooking, Travel and Tour Guiding Services, Front Office Services and Housekeeping
SCHEDULE/FEE: Commercial Cooking: P13,000 inclusive of ingredients and materials; Travel/Tour Guiding/Front Office Services: 10 sessions/P3,500; Housekeeping: 10 sessions/P4,500
CONTACT: ST. JOSEPH TECHNICAL ACADEMY, 3rd floor, Maxima Siasu Bldg., Lizada Cor. Magsaysay, DC/Tel. 2272392

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DIGITAL IMAGING WORKSHOP

WHAT: Southern Exposure: Digital Imaging Workshop with Parc and Borj (first come, first served basis only)
SCHEDULE: Batch 1:April 5(Sat); Batch 2: April 6 (Sun)/8am-6pm
FEE: P 3,500 (inclusive of snacks and lunch)
WHAT TO BRING: Laptop or PC's / pen and paper/notebook, extension cord
SOFTWARE REQUIRMENT: CS, CS2 or CS3
VENUE: Lispher Inn- Conference E
CONTACT: KAT MERCADO/Tels. 2262820/2242225

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COMPUTER

WHAT: Information Technology Power 2003 (Introduction to Computer with Windows 2003 and Outlook, Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point 2003/Surfing the Internet, E-mail and Chat)
SCHEDULE: 24 sessions/schedule available upon request
COURSE FEE: P4,000
REGISTRATION: P300
CONTACT: GENETIC COMPUTER INSTITUTE, Door 599, 2nd floor Tongson Bldg., Sta. Ana Ave., DC/Tels. 2244643/2255953/Cellphone no. (0917)6229081

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FOREIGN LANGUAGE

WHAT: Conversational Chinese (Fookien/Amoy and Mandarin) lessons (*Note: Fookien/Amoy is the Chinese dialect used in the Philippines while Mandarin is the national Chinese language)
SCHEDULE: Mandarin: Starting April 8 (12 sessions)/TTH/630-830pm; Fookien/Amoy: Starting April 9/WF/630-830pm
FEE: P3,500 with materials (CD and hand-outs), light snacks and coffee
CONTACT: NANCY UYKING, 2nd floor AG Uyking Bldg., M. Inigo cor. Lapu Lapu St., Agdao, DC/Tels. 2277015/3000861/Cellphone nos. (0922)8501568/(0917)7047195

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WHAT: Conversational Chinese (Fookien/Amoy and Mandarin) 2008 Summer Enrichment Program
SCHEDULE: Batch 1: April 8-29/TTH/Mandarin 1-4pm/Fookien/Amoy 8-11am; Batch 2: May 6-27/TTH/Mandarin 1-4pm/Fookien/Amoy 8-11am
FEE: Available upon request
CONTACT: MRS. SIU LAN LIM, 778 Lapu-Lapu St., DC/Tels. 2242244/2241789

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DRIVING

WHAT: Driving Lessons for 16 yrs. old and above
SCHEDULE/FEE: 30 hrs (P14,200); 20 hrs (P9,600); 15 hrs. (P7,300); 10 hrs. (P4,950); 7 hrs. (P3,500) and 5 hrs. (P2,550). Fee is inclusive of free 2 hours orientation and 8 hrs. of lecture on defensive driving, rules of the road, preventive maintenance and making driving easier
CAR MODELS AVAILABLE: Toyota Altis and Toyota Vios
REQUIREMENT: Student driver’s permit
CONTACT: A1 DRIVING CO., INC., GGo Summit Bldg., JP Laurel Ave., DC/Tel. 2254284

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WHAT: Driving Lessons for 16 yrs. old and above
SCHEDULE/FEE: 10 days-1 hr/day (P4,600); 5 days-2 hrs./day (P4,700); 7 days-2 hrs./day(P6,450). Fee is inclusive of orientation and lecture on defensive driving, rules of the road, preventive maintenance and making driving easier (3 Saturdays: 9am-12nn or 2-5pm).
CAR MODELS AVAILABLE: Honda City, Honda Jazz and Toyota Vios
REQUIREMENT: Student driver’s permit
CONTACT: APO DRIVING INC., McArthur Highway Crossing, Sandawa, DC/Tels. 2993176/2971241

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WHAT: Driving lessons for 16 yrs. old and above
SCHEDULE/FEE: Refreshers Course: 5 hrs. P2,500/7 hrs. P3,450; Beginners: 10 hrs. P4,800/15 hrs. P7,050; 20 hrs. P9,400; 1-2 hrs. a day/Mon. to Sat.; With free lecture 3 hrs. every Saturday. Session 1: Fundamentals of Motor Vehicle and Car Maintenance/Session 2: Traffic Rules and Regulations, Registration, Licensing, Penalties/Session 3: Advanced Defensive Driving and Road Safety Tips
CONTACT: TEC DRIVING ACADEMY, Dr. 3 Lapena Bldg., McArthur Highway, Matina/Tel. 2984210; 239 McArthur Highway, Matina, DC, infront of Matina Executive Homes/Tel. 2977734; and JP Laurel Ave., DC/Tel. 2254210

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SPORTS

All sports programs below are by WIND AND WAVE DAVAO, PDA Bldg., Sta. Ana Wharf, DC/Tels. 3053483/3003483/3007914.Website: www.windandwavedavao.com.

WHAT: Diving 101 (Introductory to Scuba Diving)
SCHEDULE: Every 3rd Sunday of the month/1 session only
FEE: P999 inclusive of free use of well maintained scuba gear, dive guide, Wind and Wave Davao souvenir shirt, boat fare, buffet lunch, and a personal photo and video clip CD.
VENUE: Talikud Island

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WHAT: Open Water Scuba Diving Course/Advanced Open Water Diver Course
SCHEDULE: Anytime/Three sessions: 1st session-lecture/briefing/2nd session-pool session/actual open water dive/3rd session: 3 open water dives
FEE: P8,300 (promo rate) inclusive of scuba diving gear rental
VENUES: Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort, Wind and Wave Davao Dive
Shop and Europool

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WHAT: Windsurfing Intro Course
SCHEDULE: 1 session
FEE: P990 inclusive of instructor, use of board, rig and life vest

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WHAT: Kayak Paddling Intro Course
SCHEDULE: 3 hour-session
FEE: P495 inclusive of use of kayak, paddle and life vest
WHAT: Kayak Paddling Basic Course
SCHEDULE: 5 hour-session
FEE: P1,100 inclusive of use of kayak, paddle and life vest
*Note: Transportation/Resort fee/Food on client’s personal account; students must be physically fit and comfortable with water

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OTHER SERVICES:
WHAT: Organized Island Hopping (Barkadahan)
SCHEDULE: Every 2nd and 3rd Sunday of the Month
FEE: P399 inclusive of boat fare, buffet lunch and a personal photo CD
VENUE: Talikud Island

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Most of the kiddie swimming, dance, music and art summer courses I featured in my March 8 and 15 issues also offer classes for adults. Check them out at www.mom-about-town.blogspot.com.

(E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com)