A 40-day countdown with a purpose

As you read this, I would have achieved another milestone in life — turning 40! (on Oct. 30)

They say 40 is the new 30… or dare I say, the new 20? Joke lang. Age is just a number… And speaking of which, on Twitter (via @tintinbabao) I did a 40-day countdown to my birthday.

In these 40 days, I tried to do something each day... something which I haven’t done in my 40 years, something new and exciting. Also, I went back to doing some of the little simple things which I missed doing for the past years.

Does life really begin at this age?

Counting the days to my birthday, I find myself reflecting on life’s many blessings: Family, friends, work and dreams that have been realized. Even challenges and trials are all blessings.

Turning 40 makes writing this column on my birthday month extra special. In the last decade or so of my life, two important things have shaped my decisions — being a parent and protecting the planet that is the source of this very life that I am thankful for.

Realizing how intertwined these two things are, I am motivated moreover to continue learning, talking and living my advocacies.

Last Sept. 11, Parentin.tv ran its third Talk Series. In partnership with St. Luke’s Medical Center we held the first parenting seminar at the Henry Sy Sr. Auditorium of the world-class medical institution at the Global City.

Close to 300 members of www.parentin.tv and walk-ins packed the venue. The crowd — a mix of parents from different economic and social status, was not the usual seminar crowd that one would expect in this place but I was very happy. As a parenting advocate, seminars that enrich the knowledge of parents should not be limited to those who can afford it but more importantly, to those who can’t. I hope to reach out to as many parents as possible.

More than half of the attendees stayed up to the last speaker. Among the highlights were the talk on the how-to’s and importance of financial preparedness delivered by PSBank marketing head Trust Dept. Andrew Caw, the importance of age-appropriate sex talk with children by Love Institute’s Maribel Dionisio, investment opportunities by Prulife UK, healthy recipes shared by Doña Maria Healthy Rice, a captivating talk on the spiritual side of parenting by Pastor Erwin Amador and a breastfeeding talk by Nona Andaya Castillo.

Planting trees with Antonia and Sen. Legarda

One of St. Luke’s Medical Center’s consultants Dr. Valerie Guinto, an OB-GYN-Perinatologist introduced the state-of-the-art facilities and services of the newly opened hospital. While this branch of SLMC is truly bigger and far more modern, the good news is that the same world-class services can be availed by patients for just the same value.

In between topics, parents and children roamed along the corridors outside the venue to check out various items from mompreneurs and other small biz. Among them were Jenny Ong’s Mama Baby Love, Jane Cu’s Mama Au Lait, Bessie Colet’s Nursingmom, Jonie Cheng’s Mamaway Nursing Wear, Audrey Chua of Au Lait maternity wear and Rianna Trinidad of Funky Feet, Susan Lao of Melodies for Kids personalized CDs. The same group of businesswomen prepared a mom-powered fashion show that displayed the flexibility of their products, adjusting to a woman’s body changes from pregnancy to nursing stage.

Gift packages from Baby Company, David’s Salon, Nikon Home Appliances and SCJohnson were raffled off every hour, much to the delight of the audience. First Food Links Sulit Pinoy Food Cart awarded a franchise to a happy Parentin.tv member for the most number of referrals who attended the event.

To make my birthday countdown exciting and memorable, I did activities that would represent the three elements: Air, land and water.

For air: I tried the Zipline. I have this recurring dream of me flying in the skies, never falling. And I finally did it. In reality, somehow “flying” like superman through the Zipline experience. I did it! 200 meters back and forth, in more than a minute. Experiencing it with my dear friends and the Kookiberks. Conquer your fear of heights and do the Zipline.

For land: Julius and I did the house blessing and ceremonial groundbreaking of our GK Art 2 Heart Village at Amparo Novaliches. (More of this in my next column.)

For water: I experienced the Water Ball fun at the Fun Ranch C5 Pasig. “Walking on water” inside a see through inflatable. So much fun. You’ve got to try this one with your kids. My daughter had so much fun.

For fire: Maybe I will try to cook a new dish. I bake a lot, but I’m not really a frequent cook. I only cook pasta and adobo.

Fifteen days before I welcomed the big 40, and as part of my birthday countdown, I planted 40 malunggay trees with my children, five-year-old Anya and nine-month-old Nio, my close friends and kumares, at the Zonta Headquarters in Taguig. I specifically chose to plant malunggay because I am a breastfeeding advocate and in that place, there are a lot of mothers and children who can benefit from eating this vegetable and at the same time, it could be a source of a livelihood program.

Special thanks to all the Zonta ladies, headed by Ms. Carol Ilanillo, president of Zonta Club Makati environs, Ms. Ada Mabilangan, Rosie Go, Vicky Weineke, Iva Anastacio, Georgitta Puyat, Cristina Belton and Woman Today Magazine editor-in-chief Monica Aveo for making this wish possible. Thank you, Sen. Loren Legarda for being with me as I planted the trees. Thank you for taking time out from your toxic senatorial daily schedule to surprise me with your presence. Thank you to the pre-school kids of Zonta for surprising me with a touching birthday song number... Wow, I felt so special, feeling like Audrey Hepburn being given a tribute. Thank you!

A day before, I hosted the launch of Sen. Loren’s United Nations book titled Redefining Development at the Shangri-La Makati. The book challenges local and global leaders, and citizens to re-think the kind of development that we want to pass on to the next generation. Her message inspired me to continue my advocacy on the 3R’s: Reduce, Re-use and Recycle; continue looking for greener options and make it a mission to help our one and only planet.

Here’s to more years of life here on Earth as I’m finally, and officially a member of the big 40 club. Hello wrinkles, hello gray hair, hello more blessings!

Birthday wishes also to fellow Octoberians: Dr. Bootsie Alejandrino, Korina Sanchez-Roxas, direk Joey Reyes, Aila Marie Amoyo, Katkat de Castro, Crispina Belen, Tita Edna Labos, Mam Tess Cancio-Suplico, Rikki Kwek-Mathay and Tito Boy Abunda. I wish you joy, peace and good health.