"The struggle is real."

That is what you will hear from most people who at first can't understand the situation, but once they get to experience it, they will soon realize that what others say is real and undeniable.

It is easy for us to say to escape an abusive relationship but in reality, it isn't especially if there are lots of factors to consider why some people opted to stay.

Netflix series' Maid is about a young woman who finds the courage to set herself free from an abusive relationship. Alex Russell (Margaret Qualley) leaves her live-in boyfriend in the middle of the night together with her two-year old daughter, without any idea on where to go. With no money and no family to rely on, Alex sought help from the shelter for abused women. Alex worked as a maid (thus the title) to start on her feet again and to provide for the needs of her daughter. She started writing to apply in college in Missoula, Montana, and left her hometown to start a new life there.

Women who experienced violence and abuse in their previous relationships can easily relate with the series. They know how hard it is to start again especially if you do not have money. Alex took a leap of faith of leaving the house with nothing on her pocket. All she wanted was to be free and to provide her daughter, Maddy, a good life.

In addition, this series also show what emotional abuse is. It does not need to have bruises and wounds to be considered as an abused individual. 

Here are the five things why I love this movie series:

1. It is relatable. Yes, even if you didn't come from an abusive relationship, any woman can easily relate with the main character. You can feel the stress, the complexity of her situation, the helplessness, the will to fight, the determination to succeed, among others. 

2. You don't need to have bruises to be regarded as an abused individual. Psychological/verbal abuse does not leave any scars or bruises in the body. Alex is obviously an abused individual as she seemed to be blank at times. She may not exhibit the "classic" looks of a psychologically abused person (e.g. downcast, crying all the time, depressed, etc.), but as you continue to watch the whole series, it's becoming very obvious. She appeared to be stoic and apathetic and clueless. 

An abused individual who does not show the very obvious looks does not mean he/she does not need help. You need to probe further and try to put yourself in the abused individual's shoes to feel and realize that he/she needs help.

3. It is hard to start all over again if you don't have money and don't have a strong support group. In the movie series, it seemed that Alex was an unlucky girl: she was a product of a broken family, her father used to abuse her mother, her mother has a mental disorder, her friends do not believe that she was abused, and she did not have a job. Alex was a woman who does not have anywhere to go. However, there were concerned women who guided her to get back on her feet.

I always say to my single mom friends to find ways to earn money to raise their kids and do not rely on the financial support of the absentee father. Expect that the financial support will be not enough or worse, no support at all.

4. It is hard to escape a relationship when your confidence is shaken. It is a reality that if a woman's confidence was shaken, she becomes fully dependent on the abusive partner. She feels that no one will love her anymore because of her ugly past. In the movie, there is an abused woman who went back to her husband despite being abused over and over again. The woman felt incomplete because she left her husband even if she is not happy in the relationship. 

If women will only realize that they can have a life after leaving an abusive relationship, they can be truly free in spirit and in truth.

5. Mothers will do everything to protect their children from an abusive relationship. Alex only wanted the best for her daughter. She will do everything to give her daughter a good life without seeing any form of abuse from her estranged partner. It was also shown in the middle of the series that Alex's mother also left her father because of abuse. 

It is an instinct that mothers don't want their children to be raised in an abusive relationship. I have seen a lot of mothers wanting to leave their domestic homes because of abuse. They also wish that their children will not witness and be victims of abuse too.

I pray that all women in abused relationships be free and find their peace with the Lord. The Lord is the only one who can free them and give them the lives they deserved. God is the god of the fatherless, so don't fear that your children will grow up without a father figure. 

Maid is a movie series that every woman should watch!

Exposing our kids to the wonders of nature is a healthy activity. They can breathe fresh air, appreciate God's creation, and to see more green. They say that color green is refreshing to the eyes.

Apart from appreciating the wonders of God's creation, going on nature trips with your kids can also teach them valuable life lessons. They can learn how to take care of the environment, to learn about survival tips, to learn about different plant and animal species, to have good physical health, among others.

However, please take note that going on a nature trip is not a glamorous activity. Expect to get dirty and to climb and crawl in an awkward manner. It is very important that you are wearing comfortable attire. 

Here are some tips for you on what to wear and what to bring when you go on a nature trip with your family:

1. Shirt--must be cotton or dri-fit, brightly colored, optional to wear long sleeves for extra protection. Wearing brightly-colored shirts on nature trips can help rescuers to easily locate lost hikers. They do not camouflage with the environment.

2. Bottom--dark color, can be leggings, jogging pants, or shorts, but if you wear shorts, make sure that you avoid things that would leave a scratch on your legs.

3. Footwear--hiking sandals, rubber shoes with tread (trail running or cross-training), or hiking shoes. These shoes are really built for nature hiking, have a better grip on rough, muddy, and mossy surfaces. Sandals, slip-ons, and leather shoes are not made for hiking. 

4. Bag--backpacks or beltbags are ideal because they will make your hands free. Crossbody bags can also be okay, but the distribution of weight is unequal, plus the straps might get caught on branches and rocks.

Of course, don't forget to bring water and some crackers and candies because going on a nature trip can really be tiring. You can also bring a towel to swipe off the sweat and changing clothes.

I encourage families to expose their kids to nature than going to malls to shop and play in arcades! 

It's so hard to get a schedule for passport renewal these days. It all started with the pandemic started in March 2020. No courtesy lanes until now, meaning, and if you are in that category, you have to send an email to your chosen branch to ask for the availability of slots. 

When I renewed my mom's passport last year, I sent an email to DFA Cherry Antipolo to secure a slot. I decided to pick up the passport because if I chose the delivery option, my mom's passport will be voided immediately. If my mom's renewed passport will not be available before she leaves the Philippines, she can still use the old passport for departure. 

We almost didn't get the renewed passport because of the second lockdown the government had implemented in August 2020. I made an appeal to DFA Cherry Antipolo if I could get my mom's passport because she was about to leave the country that week. Good thing, it was already ready for release that time and I just asked my mom to write an authorization letter so I could pick up her passport on her behalf. She was able to fly out of the country using her new passport.

Now, it's time for me and Kib to renew our passports.

I know that we won't be able to fly immediately even if the travel restrictions have been lifted, but a lot of friends have advised renewing our passports as soon as we can because if we have those in hand, we can leave the country anytime we want. 

And so the search for passport renewal schedule had started...

It was really challenging for me to get an available slot every time I check DFA's website. Usually, I could see available slots past midnight, but this time, it was a random opening of slots. The open slots are only good for 1-2 weeks and slots are only limited per day.

Below are the tips that I could give to you so that you can book your passport renewal in the shortest time possible.

1. Find slots on the exact hour. Yes, if you start looking for slots ten or twenty minutes after the hour has passed, you won't see any available slots anymore. Make sure to open DFA's website at the exact hour. As for the time, I really cannot say what is the best time to check because it's really random. I was able to secure slots when I checked the website at 11PM.

2. Have your passports ready when you secured a slot. Make sure that you have your passports ready when you have already found an available time and venue so that you could easily enter the details of your passport. It does not mean that you have reserved a slot, it's yours until you have saved it. I reserved for an earlier available slot, but when I finished entering our details, the confirmed time is already different. Your typing skills will be challenged a lot, haha.

3. Only have 2-3 people for group appointments. Since there are only limited slots, only reserve slots for 2-3 people in a group. Actually, I heard another tip that book for one person at a time. Again, it depends on how fast you type.

4. Choose debit/credit card as a payment option. There are only two options to pay: Over-the-Counter and Debit/Credit card. I made a mistake by choosing the Over-the-Counter option because I have to pay for it at a Bayad Center outlet in 24 hours to secure the slots. I tried going back to the payment option but the system would not allow me. Choose the Debit/Credit card option so that you will be able to immediately settle the fees.

5. If renewing passports for the minor, bring ALL documents as proof of identity and filiation. I understand that this is to protect the minors from child trafficking, so to be sure, bring your child's PSA copy of the birth certificate, school ID, school registration, and any other proof of identification. My son was asked for additional IDs maybe because he matured. I didn't bring any other proof of identification but I have my laptop with me which I used to show to the DFA examiner. I also showed my son's proof of enrollment as well. I explained that he had no school ID because he is a homeschooler. His Japan visa was used as additional proof of identification instead.

I asked other homeschooling families if they were asked to show other proof of identification of their children. Some said yes, some said no. I guess it really depends on the DFA staff who checks the documents. I guess one reason why I was asked to show other proof of identification is that my son and I use different surnames in our passports (he uses his father's surname, I am using my maiden surname). Nonetheless, I do not want to question the reason for additional proof because they might also ban me from getting a passport in the future. We must also learn to be submissive to the authorities and comply with the requirements.

6. Do not wear earrings or a necklace during the appointment. This is only to simplify things when the DFA personnel will take your passport photo. You will be asked to remove your necklace and earrings anyway. 

7. If you are sure that you will not commit mistakes on your online application, try to look for a schedule at a temporary satellite office. The application process at Temporary Sattelite Offices is faster compared with the regular satellite offices because they only receive applications without a need for corrections. I committed a mistake in entering the wrong place of birth during the online application process. If I booked a slot at a DFA Temporary Satellite Office (SM Aura, Robinsons Las Piñas, Robinsons Magnolia, SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM Olongapo, Newport Mall, San Pedro Laguna, SM Seaside Cebu, SM Lanang Premier Davao City, Robinsons Novaliches, Robinsons Lipa, SM Manila), my online application will be rejected since there is a correction. The regular satellite office, though, will only receive applications with only 1-2 corrections. If there are more than two errors that need to be corrected, the application for renewal will be rejected and you have to undergo the process again. Make sure that all your entries are correct so that your appointment at DFA will be easy-peasy.

8. Opt for delivery of your passports if you are not in a hurry. I opted for pick-up so that my current passport will not be invalidated. I only have to bring the passports upon pick-up of the new ones so that the DFA personnel will punch holes on our passports. You can pay the delivery charges during the online application process or you can also pay it on-site. 

Please note that the delivery may be delayed compared with the option of pick-up. I have heard stories that there are passports that cannot be located and remain undelivered for months.

There you go, good luck on your search for a passport renewal schedule!

Carlos "Botong" Francisco's ancestral home is located at 217 Doña Aurora St., Angono, Rizal

Who is Botong Franciscso?

You cannot miss Botong Francisco's house, you can see this in front of his house

The "Mutya ng Pasig" artwork is the one on the right

Botong Francisco's bust

National Artist Award

Carlos "Botong" Francisco's medal as National Artist. It was awarded to him posthomously

Angono, Rizal as Botong's Hometown

It's easy to spot the street where Carlos "Botong" Francisco lives, it has an arch and a marker

Botong's Ancestral Home

Photo op with Carlos "Totong" Francisco II. You can see his artwork at the background

I love visiting zoos. It's my way of seeing animals that I don't see on a daily basis. I want to see animals with my naked eyes instead of seeing them from books. I also want to see these animals alive than seeing them in museums. 

Whenever we visit zoos, I also try to avail of the 'extras' in the zoos, like having a photo with the animal, feeding the animals, etc. because I know that maintaining a huge number of animals costs a lot, and availing of the extras will help augment in the overall maintenance of the zoos.

I also like Kib to have a passion for animals. Bringing him to zoos is my way of teaching Kib about these animals and for him not to have any fears with them. It is also my way of teaching Kib to have a passion for animals. 

Kib and I had visited zoos both locally and internationally. We had been to Ark Avilon, Avilon Zoo, Mini Zoo at Residence Inn in Tagaytay, Manila Zoo, Kinder Zoo, Manila Ocean Park, Hong Kong Ocean Park, Ueno Zoo in Japan, Davao Crocodile Farm, Puerto Princesa Crocodile Farm, Zoobic Safari, Malabon Zoo, Las Farolas, Island Cove, among others. We also visited some animal sanctuaries like the Bohol Bee Farm, some butterfly gardens, fruit bat sanctuary in Boracay, tarsier habitat in Bohol, the pawikan (sea turtle) sanctuary in Bataan, Sta. Elena Fun Farm among others. I wanted Kib to have the best travel experience by going to places where he would learn a lot. This is part of our homeschooling adventures. 

Manila Ocean Park experience with the sea lion

Posing with a fruit bat in Boracay

Kinder Zoo inside Manila Zoo

Palawan Crocodile Farm

Bohol Bee Farm

Lyger Animal Sanctuary in Pililia, Rizal

I know, some of the animal rights activists will disagree with me, but I also have valid reasons for liking zoos.  

1. Zoos, in a true sense, are not only meant for entertainment. They are established to provide valuable information about animals to visitors. Zoos are also places to study the behavior of the animals and to provide experts with answers they needed to further help the animals of the same kind in the wild.

Ocean Park in Hong Kong

2. Zookeepers make sure that the animals have good living conditions. It may not be the ideal one, but they make sure that the animals have enough living space for them to grow and get the daily exercise they need.

Flamingoes in Ueno Zoo, Japan

3. Zookeepers also find a way to know the animals. They know if the animals are in good mood or not. It is also part of educating the visitors. They also remind the visitors to treat the animals with respect even if they are in enclosed areas. Visitors can ask any questions about animals to the zookeepers.

4. Animal rights activists will say that animals are better in the wild, but with what's happening in the world (modernization, illegal killing, and selling of animal parts), do you think animals still have a fair chance to live on their own? 

We already heard of animals dying because they do not have enough food to eat. We also heard seeing wild animals roaming on the streets. This is because they are looking for food. These animals have no food in their usual territory, that is why they go out of their comfort zones to look for food. Moreover, most wild animals do not include humans in their diet and they only resort to eating humans when there is no more food to eat in their territory. 

For me, it's better for animals to live under the care of humans because their health will be closely monitored and they will be fed well instead of them living in the wild with uncertainty because of the poachers who are interested in selling their parts in the black market.

Now that we are in a pandemic, visits to zoos are limited. As a result, zoo management is having a hard time coping with the expenses of feeding the animals. Animal rights activists say that the animals should be released in the wild to give them a fair chance to hunt for food. However, wild animals that have been fed by humans for a long time do not have hunting instincts anymore. What is the assurance that these animals will survive in the wild?

5. Zoos are also places for animal research. There are zoos that have facilities where they can study the animals more. Not all the time zoos are regarded as evil places for animals. The people working in the zoos are also finding ways to release animals bred under their care in the wild, especially the endangered animals. 

Pawikan Conservation Center in Morong, Bataan

Let us not demonize zoos. I support zoos because it is my way of learning about the animals that I only see in books. I want to see these animals alive than seeing them in museums. If zoos are not invented, safari or jungle trips will be very costly and only a few people can actually see these animals in the wild. I know that some people will disagree with me, but let us agree to disagree, okay? 

Every woman is extraordinary and has different needs. Despite the differences among women, each woman is beautiful in her own way.

When it comes to hair care, every woman has different needs for different types of hair. Some have colored hair, wavy hair, straight hair, curly hair, among others. Each hair type needs special care. Moreover, the hair is what makes the woman fantastic, confident, and strong.

Pantene 3-Minute Miracle has different products in this line that can cater to a woman's hair care needs. It can be either Collagen Repair, Keratin Smooth, or Biotin Strength. If paired with Pantene Total Damage Care Shampoo, a woman can have a Salontastic-kind of hair!

Let's take a look at Anne Curtis-Smith, Kylie Versoza, and Gabbi Garcia, the chosen Pantene women for Pantene's latest campaign.

Strong like a Biotin Beauty

Anne Curtis-Smith is a classic epitome of beauty and strength. A multi-talented host and actress, Anne is currently busy taking care of her daughter, Dahlia. She is currently using Pantene Biotin Strength for her hair because it keeps her hair strong. She does not have to think about hair breakage and hair fall anymore.

Pantene Biotin Strength 3-Minute Miracle does wonders by repairing three months' worth of hair damage in three minutes! It strengthens and nourishes the hair from root to tip.

Smooth like a Keratin Beauty

Confident like a Collagen Gal

I am all up for growing your money. I am now in the stage where I need to prepare for my future needs, like saving up for Kib's college, retirement, and critical illness. 

I am now exploring all options available for me to grow my money. I have been asking friends and consulting bank managers for the best option to grow my money actively and passively. As you know, I have a full-time job and I also do side hustles like blogging opportunities, writing opportunities, selling stuff every now and then, and maintaining our online business, Katsa Co.

One of the things that I prepared for the future is getting life insurance with VUL and critical illness rider. Insurance advisors advised me to add up to the current insurance policy that I got, but I have to review my finances first if I can still afford to get another policy.

You see, while having life insurance is a must for everyone, it is not also easy for some to pay for it for years. The first life insurance policy that I got when I was in my 20s lapsed after four years of paying because I didn't fully understand the importance of saving for the future. Maybe I was still young at that time. I got single pay insurance nine years ago because I preferred a one-time payment instead of paying for it for years. I only got a full insurance policy four years ago when I was financially ready to pay for the insurance for 15 years.

Why did it take me so long to get an insurance policy and be serious about it? 

To be honest, there were some agents who tried to offer me insurance in the previous years, but I didn't avail of it because of a lot of reasons. First, I still couldn't afford to get a new policy since my income was not stable at that time. Secondly, I got intimidated by the amount that was quoted to me. The insurance agent didn't believe that I couldn't afford that amount and even jested that I was just being humble. Thirdly, I lost faith in the insurance. The insurance agent who offered me my first insurance policy didn't really guide me after my policy had lapsed.

Good product but bad agents.

Despite my bad experiences with insurance agents, I still opted to get insurance after the death of my father. I started to realize its importance since I'm a single mom. I do not want my son to be left behind with nothing should I pass away unexpectedly. 

Sadly, not all agents sell insurance with integrity and honesty. There are still insurance agents who do not disclose everything about insurance. They will only highlight the good points. While I understand that they are also salespeople, I just don't like that they are sometimes pushy and will make you feel that you made a wrong choice if you didn't sign up for an insurance policy.

I became a part of the insurance industry for a short time too, so don't think that I don't believe in insurance. I educated myself about the ins and outs of the industry, but sadly, I can say that it is not for me to make it a career. 

I had a short chat with a friend and we talked about finance. She mentioned that the first thing that people must learn first is to study their cash flow and budget before leaping into getting an insurance policy and investing. People should learn first how to spare an amount without being forced to do so. 

Don't get me wrong. I will still encourage people to get insurance, but get a policy when you have already established your cash flow. Insurance can be costly too, and paying it for 10-15 years is a long commitment. Be mentally and financially ready to pay for the policy that you will be getting so that your money will not go to waste. A lapsed insurance means that you are giving away your premiums to the insurance company for free. It's a loss at your end because you were not able to sustain the payments.

Again, insurance is good, but it has limitations. Let me point it one by one:

Insurance is good, but it is not your ultimate source of financial freedom in the future. There are lots of ways to grow your money, ranging from short-term to long-term financial goals. Like any other investment option, the investment component of an insurance policy depends on the market performance. It still depends on what kind of investment you chose for your insurance, so it is not guaranteed. Moreover, you can only enjoy the fruits of your labor in insurance when you paid your insurance in full and didn't withdraw any money. Meaning, insurance is considered a long-term investment plan.

Insurance is good, but do not put all your money into it. Diversify your liquid assets. Insurance is a long-term insurance plan. Diversify your assets by having short-term, mid-term, and long-term investments. 

Insurance is good, but you have to learn first how to do budgeting and managing cash flow. Before getting an insurance policy, make sure that you have good cash flow. Getting insurance is a long-term commitment, so if you do not have enough budget for that, do not commit to getting an insurance policy no matter how hard the agent convinces you and makes you feel guilty about not getting it early. Do not be pressured on getting insurance if you really cannot fulfill paying for it for a long time.

Insurance is good, but it is not always an investment. It can be also considered as an expense. For the first few years of paying insurance policy, it is an expense. Your money will not yet start to grow because, for the first three years, you are paying for the administrative charges of the company. Only a small portion of the premiums that you pay are invested. You will only start to feel the earnings on your policy from five years and up, but it still depends on the kind of funds you have put your money into it. As a policyholder, you must also be knowledgeable about the market trends. Your insurance agent will not give you tips on where to place your money, not unless you asked for their advice. 

Insurance is good, but it is not liquid. Liquidity means that you have cash that you can easily withdraw or use during emergencies and pleasure. While insurance policies promise growth in your money, you cannot easily take some of it. Withdrawing from insurance takes a lot of paperwork. It is not like you go to the bank and fill out a withdrawal slip and go home with cash. Withdrawing from your earnings from the insurance needs several days of processing. Moreover, you cannot enjoy the earnings from your insurance policy in its early years. As I've mentioned above, it takes time for your money to grow.

Insurance is good, but not all financial advisors are adept at discussing finance topics with you. Yes, not all insurance advisors are knowledgeable in discussing finance with you. Like any other professionals, insurance advisors also study to know more, and not all of them attend masterclasses to be better in their craft. There are some who already settle with what they know. Moreover, there are classes offered by the insurance companies that are paid.

Insurance is good, but the claiming process is tricky. During the process of signing up for the insurance, the advisors would make you feel that it's easy to file a claim as long as the requirements are complete. However, there are cases that the death of an individual is in question, like suicide or accident, which makes the claim a bit complicated. The beneficiaries have to provide other proofs to prove that there is no foul play. Moreover, the documents that need to be filled out for the claim are a bit complicated. 

Insurance is good, but it is not always cheap. Yes, insurance policies can be expensive if you decided to get them at a later age. That is why financial advisors tell you to get insurance while you are young. There are also cases that an individual may have additional premiums depending on the kind of lifestyle he/she has. However, there are what you call term insurance as low as Php100,000 that you can renew annually if you cannot afford full insurance from big insurance companies. You can get this from micro-insurance companies. SingLife (under GCash App) can offer insurance as low as the amount mentioned earlier. It's still better to have minimum protection than nothing.

Again, insurance is good, but I would advise you to explore different options to grow your money. I will be coming up with another blog to give you ideas on where you can invest.