Heroic Mama

After a little break from blogging, I’m finally back — and so excited to share a brand-new chapter of our lives! My daughter and I have just settled into our new home in Malawi , where we’ll be spending the next year. This post is all about fresh starts, new perspectives, and the beautiful (and chaotic!) reality of change when you’re traveling with a toddler. Reina transit at Narita Airport How it All Started When I accepted a mission in Malawi, I knew I needed to hit pause on blogging. Preparing for a big international move with a toddler took every ounce of energy — packing lists, forms, vaccination shots, goodbyes, and the emotional load that comes with uprooting your little one. We finally arrived in Blantyre on March 21, 2025: two checked bags, one carry-on, one stroller, and one very energetic two-year-old. The journey from Nagoya took more than 24 hours with multiple transits (Nagoya → Tokyo → Incheon → Addis Ababa → Blantyre). Surprisingly, my little one handled it well. She...

Traveling with a baby for the first time can feel overwhelming—even for someone like me who’s used to traveling. But with a little preparation and patience, it can be a wonderful experience for both you and your little one. Last week, I traveled from Japan to the Philippines with my one-year-old daughter, and I learned so much along the way. In this post, I’ll share my best tips to help make your journey as smooth and stress-free as possible. 1. Start Planning Early Passports and Visas: Make sure both you and your baby have valid passports. Double-check the expiration dates—most countries require at least six months of validity. If your baby doesn’t have a passport yet, apply for one as soon as possible. Check visa requirements. As a Filipino citizen, I didn’t need a visa, but since my daughter is Japanese, I confirmed her eligibility under the Balikbayan Program , allowing her to stay visa-free in the Philippines for up to a year. Birth Certificate or Family Registry: If you’re lea...

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...