What You Should Know About Japanese Encephalitis

There are several alarming health-related news circulating on social media in recent weeks that have created paranoia and panic among the public, especially for parents like me. While I am more aware about dengue, I am part of the majority that is not fully informed on Japanese Encephalitis (JE). Anong sakit ba ito? Saan galing? Pano makaiwas diyan?

I only knew about isolated incidents from my immediate circle of friends who already had their kids vaccinated against JE. They paid between P2,500 to P4,000 per dose, including the professional fees (rate depends on the doctors and hospitals). The hype definitely raised a lot of concerns coz we all have young children. With the increasing reports in the news and online media, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Sanofi Pasteur have come together to shed light on this disease.

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Mangrove Planting with 3rd Graders

Second Friday of the month:  Education / Kids

My girl and her fellow third graders had the opportunity to travel to a mangrove forest in a remote area in Lian, Batangas. This educational trip was part of their unit study about “Exploring What We Can Do For the Regions” for Social Studies. The field trip was done in collaboration with the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (www.ptfcf.org) and Lian Kingfisher Association. I was one of the parent-volunteers and I'm excited to share our experience with you!

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Family Friday: Dealing with Scoliosis

Around June or July, my husband was playfully massaging and tickling the boy and was surprised to feel a curve along his spine. We never noticed it before and when I checked, there was indeed a curve to the right. We suspected it to be scoliosis. He never had any complaints with his back or spine so I overlooked it for months. When I had my 3D mammogram and bone densitomerty last October, I remembered his spine and inquired about a scoliosis checkup. Eventually, we consulted a doctor and he was diagnosed with scoliosis. He recommended an x-ray immediately.

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Mom-Finds: Snap Circuits Educational Toy

Last Friday of the month: Toys / Shopping

The boy has recently been introduced to circuitry as part of his science subject. While I struggle to find "fun" learning tools and materials for him to work on, I got lucky when I stumbled upon this toy last year when I was shopping for holiday gifts online.

You see, half the time I don't enjoy buying toys for my kids coz I know most of the stuff will just be a waste of money and will soon gather dust somewhere. Okay, I'm not a fun mom, I know, I know. Except maybe for Lego and other old reliable toy brands I grew up with, I'm not a good judge of what will click with kids these days.

Discovering Snap Circuits proved to be one of the best toys I've ever purchased. Of course I asked the boy first and showed him the photo online if he wanted one. I bought 3 kits -- one for the boy, two as gifts. You can see the product links to Amazon at the end of this post. But before you scroll down, see what's inside first.

We got the Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100.  Let the unboxing begin.

I'm sorry I can't explain each and every part coz I have not studied it thoroughly. I just let my boy discover and learn about the parts on his own (parang test na rin niya yan, heehee), so I just took pictures up close and hopefully you can see and read yourselves. =)

Snap Circuits® makes learning about electronics fun and simple! No tools required. 

What's inside this Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 kit:

• Block Layout with all the parts, and it's quantity, illustrated
• More than 30 different parts with labels, including:
• Motor Fan
• Lamp
• Jump Wires
• Alarm Integrated Circuit
• Music Integrated Circuit
• Multi-Snap Wires
• Switches

• All parts are mounted on plastic modules and easily snaps together
• Includes a colored Experiments 1-101 manual
• Uses AA batteries (battery not included)
• Suited for ages 8 and older

All you need is to follow the manual and you can create the different projects in no time!  Of course, you have to understand how the parts work and what NOT to do while building. 

This boy gets a quick grasp of what he has to work with, and soon enough, after following the manual on two easy projects, he was already able to slightly modify the design for this project - the Lamp and Fan.

Spot the difference between the manual's layout and this boy's design. It worked, and that's what's important.

His lessons will involve more projects from Snap Circuits, that's for sure, and he will be graded for them as experiments. All he has to do create and explain to me how they work, para may grade siya! =) Science is his favorite subject.

Watch this 12-second sample demo of the boy's simple lamp and fan project.

See more at: www.snapcircuits.net

You can purchase Snap Circuits on Amazon.com.

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Family Friday: Diet and Food Intolerance Testing

Second Friday of the month:  Family  / Health / Nutrition

“What is food to one man may be fierce poison to another.” - Titus Lucretius Carus

That quote was from the presentation during the Hi-Precision Diagnostics luncheon which I attended recently. There, I discovered I'm intolerant to many types of food that I regularly consume, thanks to the Food Intolerance Test I took last month. Time for some major adjustments in my food choices.  It's not gonna be easy. So, what is this test all about?

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Sneak Peek of The Mind Museum

Be fascinated as you tour and experience the first world-class science museum in the country. "With over 250 inter-active “minds-on” and hands-on exhibits, the museum will be a venue that will present science as entertaining, fun, and engaging." - www.themindmuseum.org

Meet Stan, the T. Rex

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Minds At Work: Be part of The Mind Museum's 1st Exhibit Testing

"We are pleased to invite you to be among the first to experience science come alive at The Mind Museum’s first exhibit testing event: Minds at Work...manipulate and play with a varied selection of exciting and engaging exhibit pieces that will give you a foretaste of the science fascination that will greet you when the museum is completed this December." - from The Mind Museum

As soon as I received the invitation, I immediately marked my calendar for this exclusive testing exhibit. This is something I am really looking forward to attend this month.

The Mind Museum is the first of it's kind in the Philippines -- a high-tech science museum with hands-on exhibits, featuring state-of-the-art design with 5 distinct galleries that will feed the curious minds:

• The Story of the Universe: Its Beginning and Majesty
• The Story of the Earth: Its Story Across the Breadth of Time
• The Story of Life: The Exuberant Varieties of Life
• The Story of the Atom: The Strange World of the Very Small
• The Story of Technology: The Showcase of Human Ingenuity

I was instantly amazed and excited, especially for my kids, so I decided to "light a star", two stars actually, named after the boy and the girl -- making them certified donors for this world-class museum which I proudly shared here late last year. And we can't wait for the museum to open it's doors this December!

In a couple of weeks, I'll have my chance to test and experience what the museum has to offer . You too can be a part of The Mind Museum's preview exhibit this coming May 26 which will also be a fund-raising event.

Limited slots only for the first 75 donors, until May 20, so hurry!
You can sponsor one element of the Periodic Table or one galaxy for your free pass.

Here's how you can join:

Screen capture from TMM website

Be a part of the first testing exhibit!
Be a donor and sign up here now:
A Preview of The Mind Museum's Exhibit

For more information, contact:
Alexandra Limcaco of The Mind Museum
Tel. (632) 818-3601 local 3201
Email: alex.limcaco@themindmuseum.org


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Light Up Your Own Star at The Mind Museum

The Vision:  "To build a home for science and to make it the FIRST WORLD-CLASS SCIENCE MUSEUM in the Philippines. It will be our defining legacy that will give the next generation the wings to fly against the challenge of a future shaped largely by service and technology. With over 250 inter-active “minds-on” and hands-on exhibits, the museum will be a venue that will present science as entertaining, fun, and engaging." - The Mind Museum, Bonifacio Global City

The Mind Museum (Photo: from their Facebook Page)

After reading about a post about the National Geographics exhibit from Daphne's Diary, what really got me excited is the much anticipated opening of The Mind Museum at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. World-class museums are lacking in our side of the globe and with this amazing high-tech project, we all have something noteworthy to look forward to by the end of 2011, especially the younger generation.  I instantly thought of my youngsters as they are now very much aware and fascinated about evolution, the universe, the solar system and other celestial objects. Then recently, I came across Anton Diaz's post featuring the museum and how we can donate and be a part of this wonderful endeavor.

To make the story short, I am now a proud donor with two Solar Stars dedicated to the boy and the girl (well, one is still under my name as I inadvertently skipped the "gift" option, so hopefully they'd consider my request to rename it for my girl  -- Update: we got our revised certificates already).

Technically, this certificate should read "lit a star" since I only donated for individual stars and not for a cluster forming a shape, which defines a constellation.

Sample Donor Certificate (actual names will appear)

What is a Solar Star?

"They are burning balls of very hot gas that produce light. When a stars light passes through the atmosphere, it moves around giving the illusion that stars twinkle. Stars appear in clusters and form different shapes that men describe as constellations." - The Mind Museum

Go ahead and light up your own stars, constellations, or planets! Discover and learn more about The Mind Museum (TMM) and be a part in building this extraordinary landmark by sponsoring their virtual exhibits for as low as P1,000.00 (around US$24).

"Every donation is recognized by placing your name in our (The Mind Museum) website; you will receive an electronic "Donor's Certificate" via e-mail and you can post your sponsorship in Facebook. Also, when The Mind Museum opens, your name will be included in the Donors' Marker in our galleries!"

Soon, when we finally get to visit the museum, I would simply ask my kids to look up at the solar system gallery and proudly point to them two shining stars around Venus, which I had lit for them. Now that would be quite awesome don't you think? :)

Note:
I have received a thoughtful email in response to my request above, thanks to Ms. Limcaco for being so accommodating.
She further clarified:  The solar system virtual exhibit is an exhibit on The Mind Museum web site. When the museum opens, there will be a marker in the Universe Gallery that pertains to all the donors for this exhibit, likewise for those who donated for the virtual northern and southern hemispheres. There will also be a marker for those who donated to the Nature's Basic Ingredients exhibit in the Atom Gallery.  There is no actual corresponding exhibit in the museum on the solar system. They do however, have a planetarium where visitors will be able to learn and enjoy the awesomeness of our universe.

p.s.
TMM recognized my support and I was given this donor badge! Thank you!

The Mind Museum
2/F Bonifacio Technology Center
31st Street Corner 2nd Avenue
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Tel. (632) 818-3601 / (632) 856-2870
Fax: (632) 757-6122



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