Switchfoot Concert Live in Manila

Rarely do we find a band rocking the stage for a good cause— but that’s what’s in store for us come September.

Switchfoot is arriving in Manila for their first ever concert in Manila as part of their Asia- Pacific Tour, which will benefit the International Justice Mssion (IJM)- a Christian-based non-profit organization devoted to upholding human rights. Their concert will be held on September 10, at the Cuneta Astrodome. Rock out with one of the biggest names in alternative music today.

Their latest CD is Oh Gravity

1. Oh! Gravity.
2. American Dream
3. Dirty Second Hands
4. Awakening
5. Circles
6. Amateur Lovers
7. Faust, Midas, And Myself
8. Head Over Heels (In This Life)
9. Yesterdays
10. Burn Out Bright
11. 4:12
12. Let Your Love Be Strong

Be there to witness how Switchfoot’s lo-fi indie swan song evolved to underscore their edgier and profound musical sensibilties that parallels their advocacy of human rights and active stand against oppression, slavery and other socially relevant human rights issues.

Switchfoot live in Manila will kick-off on September 10, 7:30 PM at the Cuneta Astrodome. See you there.

Synchronized Breastfeeding Event

By Belen D

At 10AM today, Matthew and I were participants of another Guiness world record attempt–the Synchronized breastfeeding event. Twenty or so other countries participated in this attempt but my friends Nona Castillo and Dr Elvira Henares Esguerra were the organizers of this event in cooperation with World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA).

Despite the storm (continuous rains since yesterday) and the possible floods along the way, Matt and I travelled to Technology Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) building in Taguig this morning and got there at 9:30AM. Fortunately, classes had been called off so there was less traffic. Surprisingly, most of the flood waters had also subsided along C5.

At exactly 10AM, we all breastfed our children while Nona recited a prayer she composed. After one minute, we most probably made a world record! We must have gathered over 40 mothers and children (the minimum number is 25 mothers with children per site) despite the storm.

Matthew gamely breastfed and smiled for the cameras. Matthew and Elvira’s son Larry were running around and playing the whole time while the press people were filiming, taking photos, interviewing us. I got interviewed by Reuters’ Philippine staff. We ate a healthy vegetarian meal prepared by Nurturers of the Earth (Nona’s NGO that promotes indigenous food, which included breastmilk, in order to preserve our environment as well). Although the host of the event, Edu Manzano, and the senators who wanted to be present (Chiz Escudero for example), the bad weather prevented them from travelling to the site. TESDA officials and the media were there (GMA7, Reuters, etc) so we hope to get a lot of media mileage in the news later today or tomorrow.

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Philippines Lead Worldwide Synchronized Breastfeeding Event

Children for Breastfeeding and World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will stage Synchronized Breastfeeding Worldwide on August 8, 2007 at 10 a.m. at your local time. Read more at BreastFeedingworld.net

Now why would I promote breastfeeding in a Shopping Blog? Simple. Mothers need not look far to search for the best milk for their babies. For developing countries like the Philippines, breastfeeding is a natural food that can help alleviate poverty. Not only is it the gold standard for infant feeding, but it comes free and in such beautiful ‘packaging’

Breastfeeding advocates in Philippines will lead 20 other countries in the first-ever global synchronized breastfeeding event next week. The Synchronized Breastfeeding Worldwide event will gather mothers from 21 nations across the globe. On Aug. 8 at 10 a.m. in their respective time zones, mothers will breastfeed their babies.

Mothers from countries such as Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, the United States, Uganda, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine were expected to participate in the event.Their goal is to promote breastfeeding as still being best for babies . Hopefully the powerful media can convey the messages of the breastfeeding campaign in this manner.

1. To promote exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life and continued breastfeeding beyond two years.

2. To promote the consumption of indigenous foods for complementary feeding.

3. To revive indigenous nurturing practices that sustained breastfeeding in the past.

4. To inform the public of the benefits of breastfeeding to both mother and child.

5. To inform the public of the hazards of formula-feeding and the use of bottles, rubber teats and pacifiers to maternal and child health.

6. To emphasize the need to observe the international standard of ethics that discourages the sponsorship of milk companies and companies that produce other babyfood, bottles, teats and pacifiers in any breastfeeding promotional activity.

7. To recognize the commitment of breastfeeding mothers and honor them.

8. To emphasize male support and involvement as a major factor in the success of breastfeeding.

9. To mobilize children to support breastfeeding mothers.

10. To mobilize resources for the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding.

Please spread the word about this Filipino-initiated, record-breaking event that will show the world that breastfeeding is making a strong come-back and should be promoted. Dr Elvira Henares-Esguerra (a dermatologist and a lactation consultant) and Nona Castillo (also a lactation consultant) are the organizers of this latest breastfeeding advocacy campaign. These two dynamic women are the most active and effective advocates of breastfeeding her

For questions on Breastfeeding, contact
The Breastfeeding Clinic:
Your Partner from Pregnancy to Parenting
(Managed by two International Board Certified Lactation Consultants)
Nona D. Andaya-Castillo, IBCLC
Elvira L. Henares-Esguerra, MD, FPDS, RPh, IBCLC
Telefax: 632-889-1105
Mobile: 63-919-839-5555

Breastfeeding Websites in the Philippines

• Nurturers of the Earth: A Support Group for an Earth-friendly Lifestyle
• Children for Breastfeeding, Inc.