Heroic Mama

Last Sunday, I had the chance to experience something truly unique— Daytime Cormorant Fishing , or ukai , in the Kiso River at Inuyama , Aichi Prefecture with my daughter and a good friend who visited us after his MSF mission in Pakistan . The Kiso River has been home to traditional cormorant fishing for 1300 years and it is overlooked by a national treasure, the Inuyama castle , rising above the river banks. The day was filled with joy, relaxation, and a bit of history. For this article, I would like to share about the cormorant fishing in Inuyama and hope to inspire you to come and experience it. What Is Cormorant Fishing? Cormorant fishing, known as ukai (鵜飼) in Japan, is a traditional fishing technique that has been practiced for over 1,300 years. It’s a fascinating way for humans and birds to team up to catch fish, especially sweetfish, called ayu . In this fishing method, The senior fisherman or the cormorant master, known as the ushō (鵜匠), uses trained cormorants, a type of bi...

The Paris Olympics 2024 completed with a historic achievement – a Filipino male gymnast, Carlos Yulo , secured two gold medals in Artistic Gymnastics for Floor Exercise and Vault. His story of hard work and determination was inspired by many people around the world. While researching what people were searching for about him, I was struck by how many people wanted to know what benefits he would receive for his victory. Indeed, he is one of the most fortunate gymnasts in history, and he deserves all of the money, gifts, incentives, and benefits rewarded to him, given the obstacles he has to overcome on his path to victory. He has received over $1.7 million worth of rewards, including cash, a condominium, a house and lot, a car, business packages, and a lifetime supply of ramen, ice cream, waffles, and much more.  I can’t deny that I’m curious about his awards, especially since he achieved a historic victory for the Philippines, of which we are so proud. However, I’d be more interest...

Back in 2019, when I first arrived in Japan, my mother-in-law served me this fermented soybean at lunch. I could still clearly recall the small brown beans’ stickiness and sliminess, along with a strange smell. It was not love at first sight. When my mother-in-law saw that I was not enjoying it, I probably looked horrified when she saw me. She encouraged me to stop eating if I did not feel like it. However, I made every effort to gulp it and consume it all because I felt ashamed about not eating it. That was the first and last natto I had. Fast forward: now that I have a one-year-old daughter, I was already contemplating giving her a natto. I heard from my Japanese friends how beneficial natto is to the body. I was even told by some that it was quite tasty and that I should give it another try. As a mother, I wanted to give my daughter the most nutritious food on the planet. I therefore had my daughter try it for the first time and see if she would like it. My mother-in-law warned me ...

Hi there! I want to share the Four Agreements with you today so you can have more personal freedom. These are from Don Miguel Ruiz ’s book, The Four Agreements . If you have not read the book yet, I am thrilled to share with you this big idea because I firmly believe that adhering to these four agreements could change your life. These are as follows: 1st Agreement: Be impeccable with your words. “The first agreement is the most important one and also the most difficult one to honor. It is so important that with just this first agreement you will be able to transcend to the level of existence I call heaven on earth. The first agreement is to be impeccable with your word. It sounds very simple, but it is very, very powerful.” The word impeccable has a root. The word “impeccabilis” originates from the Latin “im-” (not) + peccare (“to err, to sin”). Implies not to sin, literally. When we speak without sin, we speak to ourselves and to others with words that are positive and empowering. We...

As new mothers, the journey of welcoming a baby into our lives is both rewarding and transformative. It can be too easy to forget about our well-being as we pour our energy into caring for our newborns. Yet, it is precisely during this time that practicing self-care is very important so we can be the best possible caregivers to our little ones. Our body has gone through many stresses from pregnancy and labor, and it is super important to take care of ourselves after giving birth so we will rebuild our strength, avoid any medical complications, and improve our overall well-being. Here are some self-care habits I practiced as a new mom that helped me recover fast, boosted my energy, and eased postpartum stress , which I highly recommend to other moms. 1. Get plenty of sleep and rest. Sleep is my number 1 self-care habit. With the newborn, getting a good night's sleep is not easy. Whenever I have the opportunity to sleep, I sleep. In Japan , it is a tradition that new mothers will be...

Last Sunday, my family and I went to the local park, expecting a typical day of relaxation. To our surprise, the park was buzzing with activity — the vibrant colors of koinobori (carp-shaped windsocks), music, food stalls, games, and cheerful families filled the space. Koinobori or carp streamers in the park. It was Japan’s annual Children’s Day celebration, a festive occasion that promotes the happiness and uniqueness of children. We might have missed this fun event if we hadn’t gone to the park, Children’s Day, observed on May 5th, is a time to reflect on the joys of childhood and the qualities we hope to foster in our children, such as courage and determination. The koinobori symbolize these traits, inspiring children to grow strong and healthy. As a parent, we can learn a lot from children. They approach the world with fresh eyes, endless curiosity, and a playful spirit. Here are the top three lessons I’ve learned from my one-year-old daughter that remind me to embrace life with th...

Good morning, everyone! As I took my breakfast today, I tuned into an interview with Dr. Timothy A. Pychyl , a leading authority on procrastination . His words hit home: procrastination is a challenge that many of us face, whether we're students, professionals, or parents juggling a busy life.   Everyone procrastinates. It is seen in many cultures worldwide. In the Philippines, there's a term known as the " Mañana habit ," which describes the tendency to put off tasks until tomorrow or later. The phrase comes from the Spanish word " mañana ," meaning tomorrow. We often delay tasks until non-urgent tasks become urgent, creating a mountain of to-dos that has to be completed in a rush. While some people claim to perform well under pressure, that's not true for most of us, myself included. Working under pressure can cause significant stress and anxiety, affecting the quality of your work. As a result, you might make more mistakes when scrambling to meet dead...