(Story and Photos By Leony R. Garcia) Beautiful tapestries in lovely and happy hues adorn the homey office cum art center of St. Francis School-VSA arts Philippines, Inc. in its headquarter in Quezon City. VSA stands for Vision of an inclusive community; Strength in shared resources; Artistic expression that unites us all.  Being displayed along with the handwoven clothes are threads of various kinds and colors, and products made out of these clothes – from cute kikay bags to eco and lady’s bags, wallets, passport holders, hats, headdresses, scarves, shawls, vests, t-shirts, unisex tops and dresses. Taking the center stage of the art room are two Japanese handlooms which is called Saori. And here’s the amazing revelation: the tapestries were woven by the talented students with disabilities and special needs of St. Francis School using these cute, portable handlooms from Japan. VSA Executive Director Becky Santos with visitors from Daiso Japan, Bernice and Melanie ...

Green Apple is the first and only accredited clinic by Myofunctional Research Company (MRC), an Australian based dental concept technology, to offer intensive dental care using their orthodontic appliances. The clinics are located at select Ayala Malls nationwide. Dr. Urbi is the president and founder of the dental clinic. The doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) and diplomate of the International Board of Orthodontics (DIBO), has always believe in prevention rather than correction. He has introduced his young patients to Myobrace (Myofunctional appliances) which looks like a mouth guard that kids need to wear during bedtime and at least two hours a day at playtime every day for one to three years, depending on the dental child's case. Myobrace which works best for five to 15-year-old kids is a multi-cutting edge apparatus that properly expands the dental arch of a child while he or she is ...

I love coffee. The stronger it tastes and the aromatic it smells, the better for me. That’s why I always enjoy a trip to coffee shops and coffee-tasting or cupping activities. The Sunday coffee date with select friends from the media and blogging community was one memorable experience if only because we would be tasting coffee in Antipolo. Horray! Tayo na sa Antipolo… known for its manga, suman and kasuy. If you have not been to Antipolo for the last 10 years, like my husband and I do, you will marvel how this area in Rizal have grown by leaps and bounds. There are now more malls around and various business establishments. But the best thing is the road-widening that took place in Sumulong Highway. Coffee buddies and business paertners, from left: Dan Tarraya, Francis Guanco, Joshua Tarrya and Jojit Restauro Because it was a Sunday and our host, PR practitioner Ginny Guanco, provided van service for us, the travel from Cubao was a jiffy. In no time at all, we were ush...

Cute, little bugs bunny! Buck teeth may look cute on young kids. But as they grow older and into the teenage years when their teeth become crowded and misaligned, the once cute Bugs Bunnies automatically become eyesores – and a case of concern among parents.  More so, when they develop facial abnormalities and bad oral habits.   Angeline’s upper teeth started flaring up due to overcrowding. Then her misaligned lower gum due to overstaying baby teeth had caused bad shape to her seemingly undeveloped chin. When we had the courage to have the (2) baby teeth extracted, she already had a lopsided face (or tabingi ang mukha in the vernacular). Worst, her lower gum has resembled the V shape. When Dr. Gamaliel Urbi saw her for the first time at his Green Dental Apple Clinic in Trinoma Mall, Quezon City, he readily offered to have her teeth corrected “on charity” as part of his personal advocacy of helping kids attain their full potential – by ‘giving’ them the bes...

Folk dances reflect the traditional life of the people. All over the world, folk dances are showcased and used as a form of cultural exchange among nations. Folk dancing is usually associated with social activities. That’s why no fiesta or festivity in the Philippines is complete without folk dancing.   Yearly, the Bayanihan Folk Arts Foundation hosts the Fiesta Folkloriada, an international festival of folk dance held in December at the at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Under the auspices of FIDAF (Federation of International Dance Festivals), The Fiesta Folkloriada of the Philippines, a project of the Bayanihan Folk Arts Foundation in partnership with the Ambassador Alfonso T.  Yuchengco Foundation, gathers a select group of five dance companies from the different parts of the globe to conduct cultural exchanges in various parts of the Philippines, teach and learn from each other and perform in a grand finale with the Bayanihan, the...