Everyday Adventures: events

My Other Career: Being an Events Director

By Mommy Donna and Kib - January 25, 2016

One thing I learned from working from home is to be flexible and to be always open to opportunities. A work from home individual should always have a passion to grow and develop oneself. Working from home somehow helped me to be more mature and professional in dealing with other people because it is very important to build trust to people even if you only see each other virtually.

On my earlier blogpost, I've talked about how I started to become a work from home individual. It was purely accidental, but for the past nine years that I have been doing it, I never had any regrets. I love the freedom that it gave me, to be able to work anywhere and anytime and at the same time, being able to really monitor my child's growth and development. I feel proud and accomplished on seeing my son growing up to be a fine young man who fears the Lord. Though my parental responsibility over Kib has still a long way to go, but I know that I have planted the right seed in his heart and for sure he will not depart from it :)

My primary work from home is being an ESL Online Teacher to foreigners. I really love teaching! I also like learning from my students' culture and sometimes I would also ask them to teach me basic phrases. There was a moment in home homebased career that I worked as an Administrative Officer/HR Personnel at a homebased call center. I also sometimes do Virtual Assistance whenever my services are needed.

However, there's this one homebased career that I am into right now that somehow I also wished to do in an office setting before, which is to organize events. I know I'm a people person, but there are times that I feel shy talking with people especially when I would try to close some deals with them. I feel I do not have a talent in doing sales.

I saw this job post in one of the work-at-home groups at Facebook and I just got interested in applying since it was a work-from-home job. Well, actually, there are times that I need to go out of the house since I need to have a meeting with some prospects and do logistics too. So there, I have been working at Manila Workshops since 2013 and so far I'm loving it, hihihi...

Got starstruck at these two lovely ladies at Work-At-Home Expo 2015--Marilen Faustino-Montenegro and Anna Meloto-Wilk #wahsuccess #wahexpo2015

A photo posted by Donna Donor (@donababe) on Sep 26, 2015 at 5:10am PDT

There are times that I also get sad especially when the turnout of the events was not the one I expected. Anyway, they say that failure is a part of success, and somehow it also helps me improve the workshops that I personally handle. It's really a continuing process of learning and evolving so that I will be become better at my craft :) I guess I've convinced myself that I REALLY have a talent in talking with other people (so ironic that I still can't believe that even if I was an HR practitioner and a teacher in the past which are both people-oriented careers, haha) and to close business deals with companies, wee!

At Manila Workshops, basically I handle First Time Parents workshop series. This series is our partnership with The Parenting Emporium. First Time Parents topics are gearing towards helping expectant parents to prepare for pregnancy, delivery, newborn care, breastfeeding, and baby and toddler care and nutrition. This workshop series is really designed to cater to the needs of people who are really interested in taking care of their child from 0-3 years old. Although the topics are for parents, we do also welcome singles and parents who need refresher (age gap of their children is huge) in this series. Basically, anyone and everyone who wants to know more about the topic!

Shameless plug, I will be holding my first First Time Parents workshop series this January 30th and February 6th, 2016. I do hope that you can invite your family and friends to attend this workshop. You may check the details of the event on this link: http://manilaworkshops.com/events/ftp2016-janfeb.

I am excited for 2016. I prayed to the Lord to bless all the workshops that I will handle, to bless the sponsors, the speakers, and the participants. I am praying for the success of the first run of First Time Parents workshop series that I will handle.

Watch out for more parenting workshops at Manila Workshops this year! Please support me, haha :)

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Who, me? A Media Girl?

By Mommy Donna and Kib - October 15, 2014

Writing is my frustration. I know I can write but I have doubts about my ability to write. I started this blog just to document my son and I’s adventures and misadventures, but when I share my write-ups to my friends, they get happy and somehow get inspired too so I guess I was able to unleash the writer in me. I must admit that I’m still lazy to write as I don’t write regularly to my blog. Thanks to my blogger-friends who never fail to give me tips and inspiration to continue developing my writing skills.

Recently, a writing opportunity knocked to my door. My boss at Manila Workshops, Ginger, asked me if I wanted to write for Manila Reviews since she is already too busy to attend to some of the media events. I immediately said yes because I’m also curious about this kind of write-ups and activities. I read the blogs of my friends who attend events so I feel privileged that I will be a part of this activity too.

The first event that I attended was for Teddy's Bigger Burgers. It is a Hawaii-based restaurant, which opened its doors to Philippine market. So happy to be part of the pre-opening as I like American beef so much. Since I am new in this kind of event, I am still a bit shy and clueless on what to do. My son was the one who broke the ice that I was able to exchange business cards to some people there. Good move, Kib.

Kib with the Teddy's Bigger Burgers founders, Ted Tsakiris and Rich Stula

The next event that I attended was for Calpol Philippines. It is about the launch of their campaign against dengue fever in partnership with Department of Health. The stage mommy feeling in me kicked when Kib was invited by the General Manager of Glaxo SmithKline to go up to the stage with him.

Kib's moment on the stage together with Mr. Jeoffrey Yulo

Kib with Ms. Suzie Entrata-Abrera, host of the event

I represented Manila Reviews at the Media Appreciation Party of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. My son felt that he is one of the press that he was also taking pictures of the event. There were also photo opportunities for him because he is the youngest in the crowd, and even he was asked if he wants to model for a magazine! Talking about opportunities!

Kib posed at the display outside the ballroom at EDSA Shangri-La Hotel

Kib took pictures of the event too!

These two lovely ladies had a photo opportunity with Kib because they find him cute

Kib played pretend with his new-found friend Ram of Breakfast Magazine

Kib with Ms. Lexi Schulze, the host of the event

I was also fortunate to attend the launch of Sharp Calculators' search for Ten Young Outstanding Mathematicians in the National Capital Region. I was so happy to learn that they are also opening the search to homeschoolers.

Do you think Kib will be one of them?

Kib with Mr. Atom Araullo, the host of the event

I have also written for Zalora both for Manila Reviews and Manila Fitness. My writing assignment with Zalora was a bit challenging because they don’t want to make it sound that it is for them, it is more of a spin-off write-up for them.

A screenshot of the article that I have written at Manila Fitness

A screenshot of the article that I have written for Zalora at Manila Reviews

I have attended Blogapalooza this year, the biggest event for bloggers for this year. I was still a bit hesitant to attend because I felt that I am not a full-pledged blogger yet, but my blogger-friends encouraged me to go since this is a good opportunity to connect with companies and bloggers.

Kib at the giant tarpaulin at the main hall of SMX SM Aura

Kib with Bogart the Explorer

With all of the opportunities that were given to me, I guess I need to take writing seriously now. I am so thankful that I was able to meet new friends and establish connections and since we are homeschooling, I do not have to worry about schedules. I can bring my son everywhere I go and he shines to the places and events that we go to. It is truly a new adventure for us! I’ve made a promise to myself that for next year, I will try to write to my blog more often and with the help of my blogger-friends, I know I can do it.