• Make sure your kid loves to be in front of the camera before going to casting calls. It is very important that your kid likes to undergo auditions and to do what he/she is asked to do in front of the camera.  If your kid is shy, don't force him/her to undergo auditions.  Just respect that your child is not into such kind of exposure.
• Go to a legit talent agency to have your child's profile.  Talent agencies will contact you should there be casting calls.  A child cannot get a project without an agency.  Normally, agencies get 30% commission from the child's talent fee. Take note: profiling on talent agencies are FREE.  If a certain talent agency asks you for a registration fee, walk away.  That agency will not give the best exposure and projects to your child.

My son's profile at his previous talent agency

• Practice looking straight at the camera.  It is very crucial that your child can look straight at the camera.  It is a bit difficult to maintain eye contact so make sure your children won't blink or look somewhere else while in front of the camera.
• Practice smiling with eyes wide open.  You may notice that there are no chinky-eyed people on commercials, because when these people smile, their eyes 'disappear'.  Smile with your eyes open, no squinting.  Your eyes should also radiate happiness when you smile with your eyes open.

Have a signature smile

• Wear light-colored casual clothes with minimal print.  Dress simply.  No need for formal attire during auditions, not unless specified on the casting brief.  Wearing light-colored tops will make the child's facial features and skin tone pop on the camera.  Striped shirts and blouses tend to "dance" on camera.  

Invest on light-colored tops

• No make-up for girls. Girls should look like kids whenever they audition for TV commercials.  Do not even put a lipstick because the caster will just ask the parent or guardian to remove it.  Hairstyle should be simple: either a ponytail, headband, hairclips, or no style at all.
• Read casting call requirements carefully.  Don't waste your time going to all audition schedules your agency sent you via SMS or email or Facebook Messenger.  If you think your child fits the bill, then find time to go to the auditions.  Don't go if the casting requires fair-skinned people and your child has brown skin.  Don't go if the casting requires English-speaking skills when your child is more fluent in Filipino. 
• Enrolling in acting workshops is optional.  Basic acting skills like happy, sad, angry, surprised, etc. can already be practiced at home, but if you want your child to do better like heavy drama acting or dancing, then enrol him/her at a reputable workshop.  I say reputable because there are lots of acting and dancing workshops out there but do not really give the best lessons to your children and not even give the right exposure for them to showcase what they have learned from the workshop.
• Take care of your child's teeth. Bawal bungi.  Some parents invest on putting temporary tooth caps on their child to make an impression that their child has complete set of teeth.  My son wore caps too.

Kib was wearing dentures on this short film

• Rejections are normal.  Don't feel bad that your child didn't even make it to the final casting stage.  The right project will come on its right timing.  My child doesn't look like a typical Filipino that is why he is selected for few projects only.  A lot say he looks good on the camera but then again, he has foreign looks.
• Don't forget to reward your child for a job well done.  Treat your child to his/her favorite restaurant or buy him/her a small toy.  Your child deserves that!

• It uses an open-concept classrooms to encourage student socialization
• Has small class groups for close supervision and intimate interaction (maximum of 12 students per class)
• Employs IPC-trained teachers to deliver its curricula
• Has a wide library collection to nurture the love for reading
• Has a well-equipped play area to let children's imaginations run free
• Is air-conditioned for the comfort and safety of students and employees
• Has a professional staff to assist in your every need
• Has a tie-up with a hospital for medical assistance or emergencies
• Provides accident insurance coverage in and out of the school for each student
• Employs CCTV cameras that can be accessed via mobile phones

• Language Arts
• Socio-Emotional Skills
• Numeracy
• Creative and Visual Arts
• Sciences
• Fine and Gross Motor Skills

Level 2, Kib's new challenge

A post shared by Donna Donor (@donababe) on Aug 23, 2012 at 5:56am PDT

Level 4 PACES

At the airport while waiting for our boarding

While I'm working at a cafe, Kib also answers his PACES

Sometimes, I would just bring him to a cafe just to study

Kib got this award during the Banquet Night

During our holiday in Bangkok

• Ditch heavily-processed carbohydrates, like white rice and white bread as they can cause inflammation.  Instead, go for whole grains like oats and quinoa.
• If possible, remove refined sugar from your diet.  Use a sugar substitute if you can.  Refined sugar is believed as one of the causes of constipation and it slows down food transit time in the digestive system.
• Snack on raw almonds instead of chips.  Nuts, along with vegetables, seeds and beans, are healthy, natural sources of fiber.
• Drink more water instead of drinking coffee or bubble tea.  Water helps keep our intestines smooth and flexible so that our stools can easily pass through our colon.
• Natural sources of probiotics like cultured foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and atchara (Philippine pickled papaya) are all rich in organic acids which support the growth of good bacteria.  Miso, which is used for soups and sauces, is very rich in probiotics.  Yogurt, of course, is the most popular source of probiotics.
• Choose salmon over steaks and fried chicken.  Salmon is rich in good fats which keeps our liver in healthy condition.  A fatty liver is a sign of an unhealthy digestive system and will surely affect our overall health.  Essentiale Forte P can help our liver in its top shape.  It contains essential phospholipids which repair damaged liver cell membrane, regenerate lost phospholipids and restore normal functions of the liver.  A healthy liver means a happy digestive system.
• Poor food and beverage choices, antibiotics, and stress are killing off good bacteria in our gut.  Normally our gut is filled with both good and bad bacteria, but we need more of a good bacteria to stay healthy.  Take a daily dose of probiotic supplement which can help with our digestion and stimulate the immune system.  Try to avoid eating flavored fries, which is full of carbohydrates, fats and sodium.  
• Learn more about probiotics from your doctor, schedule an appointment as soon as possible!
• Include laxative-rich food in your diet like aloe vera, olive oil, coconut water, figs, prunes, and dates.  In lieu of these foods, take Dulcolax.  It stimulates bowel movement and treats constipation and other bowel irregularities.  Dulcolax is world's number 1 laxative which gives us a relieved and happy tummy in the morning.