Mommy Ginger
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The Freelancer Fair 2018 — My Welcome Remarks

It’s been a few days since The Freelancer Fair 2018. I wanted to share my welcome remarks, since there are three things that I want to impart to this community. I love that I am part of this industry and I will do whatever it takes to keep us united and bonded.

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to the 3rd year of The Freelancer Fair! Wow! I can’t believe how amazing our turnout for this year is. From the bottom of my heart, thank you! Manila Workshops thanks you!

Before anything else, I’d like to thank the Department of Trade and Industry (DICT) for consistently supporting us. USEC Mon Ibrahim, Miss Emmy and the rest of the DICT team, thank you very much for supporting us for the three consecutive years that we have been running this. Also, I would like to thank the Digital Career Advocates of the Philippines (DCAP), especially to my dear friend and the president of DCAP, Genesis Reonico. I’d like to thank all of our speakers who took time out to share their knowledge with you all here today.

I’d like to thank all of the freelancing communities who are here today. I would have liked to mention you all, but you’re already too many to mention! I’d like to thank all our brand sponsors who have stuck it out with us for three years and to those who have supported us this year. Thank you, too, to my team, team Manila Workshops who tirelessly put up this event for all of us and to the attendees of this year’s The Freelancer Fair. May you pick up new ideas, learnings, gain new friends, and even new love today! Haha!

Kidding aside, I really wanted to start this welcome speech with a lot of thank you’s because my heart is truly filled with gratitude. I am so blessed to be part of this community.

Last year’s theme was Rise of the Free. And yes, we have truly risen and have made our voices heard. We made everyone know that the freelancing industry exists. And this year’s theme is Up Your Game. The reason why we thought of this theme is because we see what is to come, we see so much talent and we see the unlimited opportunities that await the Filipino Freelancer. We all need to be ready and pumped up to take on the world, Filipinos.

Today’s program is filled with a lot of amazing speakers who will give you the practical things that you need to be ready, and you will also be inspired by stories from freelancers who have succeeded during the past years.

So the things that I want to impart to you today are just three simple things that may be beneficial for you to take your freelancing profession to the next level.

Competency is useless without human decency.

Always treat others with respect and consideration. In the years that we have worked hard, we have all undergone hardships and challenges. Look at the person beside you. Nothing makes you superior enough to be granted a pass to disrespect your neighbour. We should all keep in mind that

Don’t mistake complacency for contentment.

This was actually mentioned to me by EJ, my better half and the CEO of Taxumo, while having a conversation on what would make this nation great again. We should constantly strive to be the very best we could be. We should seek for knowledge, know not only things that we are capable of doing, but get out, see the world. Learn about different things, and explore. Learn about other nations, but learn more about your nation. Strive to be a better version of yourself everyday.

No one rises without failing and falling.

When you stumble and fall, pick yourself up. When you see others fail and falter, help them pick up the pieces. When players quit, there’s no game to speak of. And this freelancing game doesn’t have to be one where there are losers. In this game, everyone CAN win. Everyone can win, because we make the rules.

I hope that today will be truly memorable for all of you. On behalf of the Manila Workshops team, welcome to The Freelancer Fair 2018 – Up your Game!

Joining The Freelancer Fair 2018? Here’s What To Expect!

Sitting here at CBTL on a holiday, working. But hey, I’m happily working! This week, my focus is on The Freelancer Fair 2018! First of all, I thought we could never ever top the number of attendees that we had last year. But we did!!! So my heart is filled with gratitude. Last year, we had 450+ paid sign ups, and reached around a little over 500 attendees. But this year… WOW! We already have around 617 attendees who have signed up online! I’m super excited to meet everyone! We still have slots available so you can register online until 11:59 PM, August 23, Thursday. For those who do not make the cut-off, walk-ins are welcome, but only regular rate tickets (Php 1000 each) will be available. We won’t have group rates anymore and promo codes will not be applicable.

I took time out to write this post so that we will all be guided on what will happen during  The Freelancer Fair 2018. We all know that The Freelancer Fair 2018 will be on August 25 at Metrotent in Metrowalk, Pasig City. Here is the map to the event: https://goo.gl/maps/TBG3f8ngnsx Registration will open at 8 am and the program will start at 9 am and end at 5pm. We highly encourage you to come early so that you will have ample time to network and meet new people! That’s definitely one of the benefits of the fair. We also highly encourage the community heads and the sponsors to be done setting up by 8 am so that you’ll all be able to entertain guests and talk to our attendees. I’m super excited because we have so many partners and community involvement this year! There will be a lot of promos and surprises from our sponsors, so please check your email! Please also save these email addresses in your contact list so that emails from us don’t go to your spam folder (these are the email addresses to save: contact@manilaworkshops.com, manilaworkshops@gmail.com and ginger@manilaworkshops.com).

What is The Freelancer Fair 2018?

For three years now, we at Manila Workshops have ran The Freelancer Fair to gather, support and promote the freelancing industry. We gathered and gather not only online freelancers (virtual assistants, social media managers, content writers, etc.), but we have opened the event to offline freelancers like photographers, fitness professionals, videographers, event coordinator, etc.

Since we have started, we have seen this industry grow and prosper. We, at Manila Workshops, specifically chose the theme UP YOUR GAME, because we feel that the Filipino freelancers need to get ready to compete globally! We have talented freelancers here, and we need to help encourage and inspire one another to continue to learn and to be the best that we all can be.

What are the Official Hashtags?

The official hashtags are #UpYourGame, #TheFreelancerFair and #FreelancerPH. Kindly use these hashtags when posting. Also, please follow and like the new page that we have created on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefreelancerfair/

Do I need to bring anything to The Freelancer Fair 2018?

Aside from the details mentioned above, there is paid parking in Metrowalk and it can accommodate a lot of cars 🙂 The venue is walking distance from Robinsons Galleria. The event will start at 9:00 am, but registration will open at 8:00 am. We highly encourage you to purchase food from our food concessionaires! Let’s help our fellow entrepreneurs and freelancers!

Registration and Entering the Venue Proper

Please wear comfortable clothing, but please no shorts and slippers please. There will be different lines at the registration area. We will have the following lines:

a. Paid online – Surname or Last Name starts with A to L
b. Paid online – Surname or Last Name starts with M to Z
c. Walk-ins / Pre-registered
d. VIPS/Bloggers/Sponsors/Communities/Media

Children 15 years old and younger can enter the venue for FREE. Kindly present a proof of their age/birthday at the registration area.We have a play area for kids! Please do not leave your kids unattended. Also, let’s be respectful of other people’s intent to listen and learn. Any behaviour that is not conducive to learning is highly discouraged. 🙂 Hope you understand!

Upon signing up, you will be given an ID, which you need to wear at all times. We will be strict in implementing this as your security is our utmost concern. At the back of your ID will be a copy of the program. You will also be given a loot bag, which you will use to keep all of your belongings and all the freebies that you will get from our partner brands and sponsors. We highly encourage you to go and learn more about each sponsor and community. There are fun games and surprises in each booth! Go and make friends!

For those who asked, yes, it is advisable that you bring water tumblers/jugs, too.

For those who are breastfeeding, please do let anyone from Manila Workshops know. They will direct you to the room where you can breastfeed if you need privacy.

SOME SURPRISES FROM BOOTH SPONSORS!

Here are the list of the promos and surprises from our partner brands and communities! 🙂

LAZADA – Get a FREE Voucher when you sign up as a Lazada Seller!

ALFOX PRINTING SERVICES – Attendees get 30% OFF when you order your business cards from us. Use the promo code TFF2018 on our website www.alfoxprinting.com. For exhibitors, we are offering a special price for pull-up banners, flyers, stickers and business cards.

INVITATIONS BY TEN – Special prizes at Invitations by Ten booth when you like the facebook pages: Be Bizy Business Workbook and Invitations by Ten. Pick a prize when you buy the Be Bizy Business Workbook (limited prizes). Buddy Bundle Discount: 2 workbooks for 1,000. First 10 buyers of the Be Bizy Business Workbook will be receiving a special lootbag! 🙂

FHMOMS – Free Social Media Marketing Online Course when you visit Fhmoms booth.

O2SPACE – Get a chance to win free day pass when you visit their booth.

THE FULFILLED WOMEN – Get P400 off when they sign up and enter the coupon code: TFW400 (https://www.facebook.com/events/262792224452991/ and https://goo.gl/forms/S3SNq3VGLvBNOfuT2)

TAXUMO – Drop by our booth and let us introduce you to our new tax concierge service TAXUMO Premium! We will also be offering a special discounted rate for our TAXUMO Business Starter Package (almost 40% off). Sit down with us for a FREE consultation on how to go about registering your business with the BIR. You can submit your requirements for business registration at our booth. Check out the requirements by visiting: https://www.taxumo.com/business-registration

CODESKITCH –

1. Exclusive discounted price for ALL our digital services for attendees – Web Development Package – Social Media Marketing – Graphic Design / Multi-media – Audio-Visual / Photography Services

2. Drop Your Business Card and Win Selfie Ring Light – one winner every hour from 11AM-5PM – Participants to drop their business card on our fish bowl – Winner will be contacted and should claim the prize on our booth during the event personally and present ID – Winner must follow our Facebook & Instagram account

URBANESSENCE – They are now open for franchise!

SUNLIFE – Those who will visit our booth and register with us will receive a token!

REGIE.PH – From Pen to Pixels: Brush Lettering and Digitizing Workshop on Sept. 29, 2018 Regular Price: Php2000 inclusive of workshop materials Special Rate for TFF Attendees: Php1750 Bring-a-buddy Rate: Php1500 for each attendee Only 10 slots available. We’ll accept a downpayment of 500 pesos today to secure a slot. Visit us at the REGIE.PH booth to learn more. Freelance Life Doodle Shirt, yung prices are 400 for the White and 450 for the Black

ALLCARE – ALLCARE will be giving out raffle prizes such as Php 200 Grab coupons, Php 500 Honestbee delivery vouchers and some free co-working space passes from our partners. All they have to do is come by our booth and sign up for our platform for free. Our platform offers discounted benefits like healthcare, insurance and other items. Each sign-up is one raffle entry.

ANN/NINA – Freelancer Fair weekend promo They will be selling their e-book bundle for P997. Nina’s Basics ng FB Masters – 5995 yung price, 40% off Promo will be from Friday to Sunday

JASS ONLINE SOLUTIONS – Build Your Freelance Website in 5 days for Php2,000.00 only! Avail Domain + Hosting Package and Get A Free Tutorial on How To Build Your Own Website For more information, please visit this page: http://www.jassonlinesolutions.com/why-you-need-a-website-for-your-freelancing-career/

SOCIAL MEDIA ACADEMY – Games and Activities:

– Spin the Wheel of Social: Get a chance to win amazing prizes (books, gadgets, courses) by trying your luck and spinning for your favorite social media platform

– #SMAisLyf Photo Contest Take a photo with the official Freelancer Fair Hashtag of Social Media Academy to win surprise goodies!

– Special Social Media Academy Batch 4 Launch SMA will be launching Batch 4 at the Freelancer Fair and we are offering a special, on-the-day only discount and payment plan to enrol in the leading social media marketing school in the Philippines And more! Simply hang out in the Social Media Academy booth to chat with mentors and other SMA alumni. You can try to hustle for some stickers and exclusive shirts that will be available ONLY in their booth.

Healthy Baby Food Ideas PH – We would like to promote an online webinar called “FAQs to FACTS” where we will talk about the most asked questions by working moms about Complementary Feeding, Healthy Baby Food Ideas and Baon Ideas. There’s no time and date yet but it will be exclusive to members only so they need to join the group Healthy Baby Food Ideas Philippines

LaVie Essentials – For the first 20 customers they get 5% discount in leather goods and 20% on beauty products plus free cable snaps!

UNIONBANK EON – UnionBank EON will be giving away an EON card to 5 lucky winners! Giveaway: Post in your Facebook or Instagram “Let’s talk a selfie at The Freelancer Fair” and use #SelfieBanking #TheFreelancerFair. Winners can pick up the prize at the EON Booth at the Freelancer Fair.

BRING CALLING CARDS OR COPIES OF YOUR WORK (JUST IN CASE)

Network, network, network! It’s good to be prepared with calling cards. Alfox Printing Services will have a special discount for those who order during The Freelancer Fair. Also, be sure to use the hashtags when posting, since a lot of the attendees will follow the event by searching for the hashtags. They might find you and your services by going through the hashtags. Also, update your Facebook, Linked-In, and other profiles prior to The Freelancer Fair 2018.

BE SURE TO INTERACT WITH THE SPEAKERS AND PANELISTS!

We have an interesting line-up of speakers, and these people are very open and willing to help you jumpstart your freelancing career. Don’t be shy to approach them!

The list of speakers and their pictures are on this page: http://thefreelancerfair.com. Some of the speakers will offer great deals for attendees of the Freelancer Fair. I will also drop my consultation rate from $100 dollars per hour t $50 per hour. You can book a consultation here: https://www.gingerarboleda.com/consult  This will be available only until the end of September.

This event is about building relationships and focusing on personal development.  I’m excited to meet you all. I’m also excited to see friends and reconnect with past attendees. We really hope that you enjoy your time at the fair.

Let’s start living the life we want to live!

Love,

Mommy Ginger

 

 

 

 

P.S. For those who haven’t bought a ticket yet, you still have time! Please visit this link: http://thefreelancerfair.com ONLY PREPAID ATTENDEES THOUGH WILL GET LOOTBAGS 🙂 🙂 See you!

P.P.S. Please join our newly created The Freelancer Fair Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thefreelancerfair/

 

Five Ways to Improve your Kid’s Critical Thinking Skills

Building your kid’s critical thinking skills today can be the key to ensuring his bright future. And I can attest to that! I’ve seen a lot of successful people in the industry who have achieved what they have accomplished because of critical thinking skills. It’s no wonder that this is one of the things that is being taught in the Seriously Addictive Mathematics classes of Zeeka.

In just a few years, job descriptions and requirements have changed. I couldn’t imagine how fast things will change in the years to come. The question is, how do we prepare our kids for what’s ahead? How do we ensure their competitive edge when the time comes?

It’s just normal for us, parents, to get worried about these things. That’s why we do our best to send our kids to school and enrich them with experiences that will help them prepare for real life.

But first, let’s define what critical thinking skills are, and how conceptual understanding skills play a role in it.

What are Critical Thinking Skills?

Critical thinking skills are defined as a set of skills that lets you observe, experience, and analyze information to establish its integrity. It is our ability to engage in reflective and independent thinking and our response as an active learner rather than a passive observer.

These skills vary in levels, but also include the following:

– The ability to observe, analyze, and interpret topics in an objective and critical way
– Reflect, evaluate, and infer different arguments and angles in relation to a particular topic or issue
– Analyze and evaluate a point of view to determine its validity and strength
– Recognize negative points in an argument
– Ability to infer and predict implications of statements or arguments
– Explain and provide a structured reasoning and support for an argument
– Ability to solve problems and decision making

Critical thinking skills are the most sought-after skills in business today. People who have critical thinking skills can be a strong asset to any organization. These people are great communicators, fair leaders, and brilliant strategists that earn well and live purposeful, meaningful lives.

Sounds too good to be true? Definitely not.

As an entrepreneur, I get to be a part of different local and international communities. And every day, I get to meet awesome people who live amazing lives.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that these folks don’t ever have problems. It’s just that they respond better to challenges and find the best solutions to make things better. That’s how I imagine my child would be like in the future. And it’s the reason why I choose to invest in Zeeka today so she could get to have the life she wants.

Today, I’m sharing some tips on how I help Zeeka improve her critical thinking skills. Most of these things are pretty simple, doable things you can do every day. Some of them are worthy investments I make to ensure her future.

How to Improve your Child’s Critical Thinking Skills

1. Read to them and ask questions.

Do you agree that reading is the key to success? 🙂

Reading is actually equivalent to flexing the muscles in your brain. Every time you read, your brain creates different connections and responses, enriching your critical thinking. You get exposed to different ideas, travel to different places, and even change the way you see things with just books.

Reading also increases empathy and emotional intelligence. Stories help kids learn more about other people’s situations and recognize emotional cues. This helps them respond properly and learn more about human interactions.

This is why I invest in storybooks and read bedtime stories with Zeeka as much as I can. I also ask her questions about what she thinks and even let her tell her own stories through the pictures in the books.

Pro Tip: Kids learn through imitation so make sure you also read regularly at home. Kids who see their parents reading have higher chances of picking up books themselves.

You also don’t have to spend big bucks on books. But make sure to get topics that your kids are interested in, like dinosaurs and spaceships.

 

2. Let them play.

Children learn best through play. It reduces stress, improves balance, enriches cognitive skills and contributes to their social and literacy skills.

While it looks simple and complex, play is actually a form of expression that helps kids develop their imagination, dexterity, and emotional strength. It is through play that children make sense of the world around them. It also strengthens their immune system and also develops self-confidence and self-esteem.

It is recommended for parents to spend at least 15-20 minutes a day playing with their kids. Not only does it build your relationship with kids, it also gives you a chance to see the world through their kids’ eyes.

Pro Tip: Let your kids take the lead when you’re playing. As much as possible, don’t impose rigid rules especially on younger kids. Let them explore different materials and let them be creative with their play. As your kids grow older, you can introduce more structured games to help kids practice understanding and applying strategies and decision making.

3. Encourage them to try new things.

Children are naturally curious, and most of them learn through trial and error. And as parents, it’s important for us to encourage them as they go through this learning process.

It’s also an awesome opportunity for us to teach kids about life skills. Challenges are bound to arise, and children can be frustrated when encountering them. With proper guidance and processing, facing these challenges can teach them the value of resilience and courage.

Pro Tip: Kids need to know that they’re safe before they try new things. Strengthen their sense of security on a daily basis by making time for them regularly and paying attention every time. Assure them that mistakes are OK, and encourage them to find solutions to these errors.

4. Pause and wait.

As much as we love our kids, it’s also important for them to learn how to be independent.

Research shows that kids who are given tasks and responsibilities at home grow up to be more successful. They also need to have the chance to learn things and process their emotions on their own.

Yes, it does hurt when we see them cry when they’re frustrated or hurt. But we also need to understand that we won’t always be there to fix things for them.

Giving them the chance to do things on their own will benefit them in the long run and also help them become holistically stronger.

Pro Tip: Get a list of chores your kids can do and assign it to them. Here’s a quick guide of tasks according to age group and abilities.

5. Teach kids to love mathematics

Kids usually find Math difficult to understand because of its abstract nature. The good thing is, there are existing supplemental Math programs that make it easier for kids to understand.

S.A.M Singapore Math let kids learn Mathematics the fun way. With tools and strategies that encourage self-learning, kids of all ages get to learn more than the traditional processes.

Students of the method increase its students’ conceptual understanding. This means children get to grasp ideas and concepts and apply it to different situations and domains.

Solving problems can get frustrating. But this level of frustration can always be a good thing especially if it builds character and grit. As kids solve more problems, their self-esteem grows. It makes them more open to ideas and more confident to face the challenges that come their way.

Pro Tip: Enroll your kids in supplementary education programs like S.A.M Singapore Math to improve their critical thinking skills. Because there is no spoon feeding in S.A.M Singapore Math, kids learn independent thinking and life skills.

If you’d like to know more about S.A.M. Singapore Math, visit the website here.

And here’s a surprise!

To avail of the discount:

  1. Register via SMS/Text by sending: PD15 / Parent’s Name / Mobile No. / Email / City of nearest SAM branch to 0917-5826867
  2. Wait for the reply with the 6 digit code and save it.
  3. Show the 6 digit code at the SAM branch upon enrolment.

*Terms and Conditions:

  1. To avail of the 15%, register to the Promo Discount
  2. Show SAM center the 6-digit code from the reply text of SAM Head Office
  3. 15% off is to be applied on the first month of tuition fee only.
  4. 6-Digit code is unique and is assigned by SAM head office
  5. Only non-SAM students can avail of the 15% discount.
  6. Promo discount is valid from Aug. 27, 2018 to Feb. 28, 2019 only.

Build your kid’s critical thinking skills with these tips! Or better yet, share more tips with us in the comments section below. 🙂

Love lots,

 

The Cutest Animals in the Newest Kids’ Show ZooMoo

The world’s first wildlife channel for preschoolers puts fun in learning about conservation!

Zeeka had a assessment test in one of the schools. She made a mistake in identifying which of these (cow, bear, chicken or mouse) is the smallest. She encircled the chicken! LOL! It just dawned on me that the reason may be because she hasn’t seen a mouse in real life. Since we’re too far from anything that resembles a forest, I think I need to show here more shows that feature animals.

I still think that science, knowledge and empathy of all thing living should be taught to the next generation. But usually, documentaries like these are way to boring. This is why it’s great to see a show like ZooMoo. ZooMoo brings excitement to learning by combining funny and adorable puppet characters, stunning animation, breathtaking nature videos, and interactive games that will help young children develop a love for animals. This channel is available on Solar Entertainment’s latest digital platform, EasyTV.

Do you know that ZooMoo has a lineup of more than 1,500 standalone episodes? These were all made by a collaboration that wildlife filmmakers and early childhood education experts from the University of Otago, New Zealand created.

What’s so cute about it is that each show has a funny animal puppet with a unique personality, strength and weakness (that they are able to overcome through the help of other puppet friends and casts). Some of these animal pals include the optimistic photographer Flash the dog, the wise and pedantic Owl, the skillful and expressive Ninja Gorilla, the inventive and adventurous Piglet, and the gentle giant Panda.

What’s cool is that this channel comes with a companion ZooMoo App that can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store! The app lets kids explore a wildlife sanctuary called ZooMoo Island where they can look for and interact with up to 300 animals.

The app doesn’t require you to have internet connection after the initial download, and parents, like us, don’t have to worry about in-app advertisements and purchases. ZooMoo’s ZooSync technology also enables users to sync their apps with the channel for more free content. Just run the app when a show flashes ‘ZooSync’ to receive gifts from the channel.

ZooMoo is available on EasyTV channel 9. Learn more about ZooMoo by visiting
http://asia.zoomoo.tv/. Follow ZooMoo online by logging on to Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/zoomooasia/, Twitter @ZooMooAsia, and Instagram @zoomooasia.

Food for Kids: Made Amazing and Healthy with Gold Seas Tuna Chunks

My little girl will start going to school this August. Last year, she would go home before lunch time. Her schedule this year goes beyond lunch, so i’ll be sending her both morning snacks and lunch. My dilemma now is how to make her EAT her food! My daughter is such a picky eater. Even if she’s hungry, she’ll just nibble a little bit into things that I send her. I’m having a hard time looking for food for kids that will be both nutritious and fun to eat.

When the opportunity to learn how to make Bento boxes came, I grabbed it. We had an intimate event given by Gold Seas Tuna Chunks and it was a session with Bento by Kat. I know about her because I follow her IG account, and what she creates is so amazing. I always love going to Gold Seas Tuna events because for one, I am a hoarder! haha! I always keep cans of Gold Seas Tuna Chunks in my kitchen. I also love going to their events because I always feel like I’m an “empowered” mom after. LOL!

The first event that I went to last year (or was it early this year; I can’t remember) was a cooking event. I was taught how to cook simple dishes (Read it here: SIMPLE TUNA DISHES THAT YOU WILL LOVE FROM GOLD SEAS TUNA) Woot woot! AND, I hardly cook, so having cooked two dishes really gave me the confidence to cook more for my family (which I did).

Then this time around, we were inspired to create our our #BentoyourGoldSeas boxes for our kids. I’m not an artistic person, so for me to complete the task, I had to step it up and listen carefully to Kat.

I was actually so proud of myself, because I got to create this!

TADA!

UP CLOSE!

So this is healthy food for kids that you can send as “baon”. The food on the lower right hand side of the YummyBox are Tuna Cakes. This is how you make them:

TUNA CAKES (7-8 patties)

Ingredients:
1 can Gold Seas Yellowfin Tuna Chunks in Olive Oil, drained
1 large Potato
1 Egg
Salt to taste
Oil from Tuna Can

1. Peel potatoes and slice into smaller pieces. Boil until soft for about 20 minutes. Drain and mash.
2. Mix the tuna chunks and mashed potatoes. Add egg and mix well.
3. Form into patties.
4. Lightly oil a non-stick skillet using the olive oil from the tuna can.
5. Fry until golden brown.

There you go! This is perfect for bringing to school. My daughter loved it!

Have you created bento boxes before? Hope you can share with me some of your recipes!