You know how it is. I post food photos in my Pinoy Food Photo Blog to complement my entry. Naturally, when my family eats out, I snap away at the food we order. So here was a typical scene when I first started my food blog in July 2006.
Husband: Don’t eat that yet. Your Mom hasn’t taken shots of that dish.
Marielle: (irritated) Have you taken a shot of this? Can I eat now?
Lauren: (pouting) Hurry. I’m hungry. I wish cameras are banned in restaurants.
When I received the invite for the Justice Reform Initiatives Support (JURIS) project press briefing, I raised my eyebrows upon seeing the venue was at the Mandarin Hotel. Hmm, so the Supreme Court has money to splurge on projects? That alone piqued my curiosity. I discovered that JURIS was funded by the Canadian International Development Agency at Cdn $6.5 million since it’s inception in 2003 where the implementing agencies are the Supreme Court of the Philippines, Alternative Law Groups, Inc, Office of the Court Administrator and the Philippines Judicial Academy.
Left to Right: Hector Soliman (Local Project Director), Brian W. Lennox (Executive Director, National Judicial Institute), Marlon Manuel (Alternative Law Groups Inc.), Eduardo D. De Los Angeles (Philippine Judicial Academy), Alfredo F. Tadiar (Philippine Judicial Academy), Imelda Tuazon (IBP Pampanga)
JURIS has three project components such as the Alternative Dispute Resolution , Judicial Education and Reform Advocacy Support. I won’t bore you with all the facts so just download and read more on the JURIS project and JURIS Fact Sheet.
What struck me on a personal level are two things:
I declined to appear in the Sweet Life Episode on “Comforting the Bereaved” for Lorna Tolentino’s friends. My last TV appearances left me disillusioned with anything showbiz in it. Despite the tragic elements in my life, I cannot stand embellishments injected into my life story. The segment producer tapped me to be the resource person for “A Child’s Grief” and I hemmed and hawed. I then remembered that grief education is part of my mission in life so I agreed in the end.
The guests were two young women, widowed in their mid-twenties. The focus of the segment was comforting their bereaved children. I discussed some creative projects and self-care. Every now and then I had to butt in and correct some misconceptions on Grief Recovery. Lucy Torres is quite smart but I don’t know what to make of Wilma Doesnt, her co-host. At the end of the show, I handed my calling card to the two widows. Wilma looked at me backing off as if I had some communicable disease don’t give me a calling card in half-joking/serious tone. Well, I told her I didn’t plan on giving you anyway but she kept repeating it. What the??
Apparently, she found the show’s theme so heavy and depressing that she kept whining about it. To think I was there to educate them about Child’s grief.
Since my portion covered less than 6 minutes (they practically cut half of that segment and concentrated more on Lorna Tolentino’s grief), I want to add more details that were not really discussed and which parents and guardians of a bereaved child might find useful.
I did not watch the Pacquaio-Diaz fight. I couldn’t bear to watch either one get hurt. In fact, I’ve never watched a single boxing match in full. I cringe every time a jab is aimed at either one of the boxers. For me a boxing fight is like watching a horror show. You know the kind where I cover my eyes fearing a bloody mess will unfold before me.
This is about me ( a Filipina mom) and my journey to a "new normal" after the death of Luijoe , my beautiful 6 year old son. Recovery is a work in progress.... read more?
Suicide prevention is everybody's business. Educate our community that suicide is a preventable public health problem in the Philippines. Suicide should no longer be considered a taboo topic, and that through raising awareness and educating the public, we can SAVE lives.
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Getting hate comments from someone claiming to be me or using my name or monicker? Find out from my entry, Mean-Spirited Commenter and Blogger.
Scam Hoax Alert!
If you chanced to see my name accused as a scam supporter in Timothy Elllis Cumper (alias Tim Cumper, Ellumbra) websites, you can read the true story of the Tierra Maria Estates Scam Hoax or Mayen's story and judge for yourself. Justice to the Filipina! Save our women from exploitation!
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