“Mom, I’m bored!” These are words I dread to hear from my kids during summer, which is why I love the name of this art center whose home is at the Powerbooks Megamall branch.  They call themselves Boredom Busters, and I have no doubt they will live up to the promise of their name since keeping kids’ hands busy with arts and crafts is never, never boring!  See the run down of activities from Boredom Busters, and other providers at Powerbooks:

ART CENTER SUMMER WORKSHOPS  The Art Center at Powerbooks Megamall is now accepting early registrants for their summer art workshops! Choose from a wide range of workshops and activities: 

Art is one of the best boredom busters!

Kiddie Crafts (April 14, 21, 28 and May 5, 2009) 
Jewelry Making (April 15, 22, 29 and May 6, 2009) 
Music and Movement (April 16, 23, 30 and May 7, 2009)
Polymer Clay (April 17, 24, May 1 and 8, 2009) 
Art You Can Use (April 20, 27, May 4 and 11, 2009) 
Reconstructing Your Tees (May 12, 19, 26 and June 2, 2009) 
Creative Writing and Book Making (May 14, 21, 28 and June 4, 2009) 
Working with Felt Cloth (May 13, 20, 27 and June 3, 2009) 
Papier Mache (May 15, 22, 29 and June 5, 2009) 
Storytelling with Craft (May 18, 25, June 1 and 6, 2009) 

Choose your preferred time and venue: 
10:30 am to 12:00 pm at Powerbooks Greenbelt
4:30 pm to 6:00 pm at Powerbooks Megamall 

REGISTER NOW! Workshop fee is Php 2,500 for four sessions, inclusive of materials. Fee is non-refundable and non-transferrable. Limited slots only! For more information, visit boredombusters.multiply.com, contact Rosanne at (0917) 811-1655 or visit the Art Center at Powerbooks Megamall.

Other activities held at Powerbooks:

Storytelling Workshop with Zarah Gagatiga  April 13, 2009 (Monday) 10:00 am: Powerbooks Trinoma 
Former Alitaptap Storytellers President Zarah Gagatiga will share valuable tips and strategies on storytelling in the classroom. This seminar seeks to define a teacher’s construct of “storytelling”, and the purposes and functions for telling stories. Open only to Powercard and Powercard Plus holders who purchase any ten (10) books from the Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang series by Christine Bellen.
Summer Art Workshops 2009 by Fernando Sena  Painter and teacher Fernando Sena will conduct his popular art workshops in Powerbooks! 

Learn pencil and pen drawing, painting, watercolor and pastel! Learn to draw still life, landscapes, figures, portraits, abstract and other interesting subjects! Develop your artistic talent and creativity by enrolling in this 7-session workshop. Open to children and adults 6 years old and up. 

April 17, 24, May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2009 (Fridays) 
10am-12:30pm at Powerbooks Megamall 

Fee: P5,000 for all sessions exclusive of materials 

For inquiries and registration, please contact Powerbooks Megamall at 635-2898 to 99.
Comic Book Creation for Children  This summer, the Artists in Residence will hold a three-week workshop for comic book creation. This workshop is open to kids 9-12 years old and teenagers. Participants will learn about comic books as a form of sequential art, and eventually learn to create their own original comic book characters! 

The workshop is scheduled on April 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 27 and 29 from 10:00am to 12:00pm at Powerbooks Megamall. 

Workshop fee is P3,500 inclusive of Starter Kit materials. For more information, contact Jill or Cathy at 646-9029, (0917) 890-7950, (0915) 923-5172 or visit artistsinresidence.multiply.com.

For most of us busy mommies, we rely on yayas to help us take care of our babies and kids.  I believe having a good and trustworthy yaya is a combination of blessing, luck and training. So since we have no control over the first two, better exert effort and time in training them well so they can be real extensions of our mommy hearts and hands for the benefit of our children.

Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan and her sisters-in-law Felichi Buizon and Dr. Donna Simpao have long advocated the importance of educating our yayas through their workshops and their new project, their yaya handbook. Maricel’s The Parenting Company invites you to the launching of

the I LOVE YOU, YAYA HANDBOOK

A yaya training manual by Maricel Laxa Pangilinan, Felichi Buizon and Dr. Donna Simpao

The “I love you, Yaya Handbook” is a two-part guide containing informative articles on hiring, training, and nurturing caregivers as well as practical guidelines on first aid for children, common illnesses, developmental milestones and even fighting stress. What’s more, it comes with an audio CD containing the lectures in the handbook so yayas can listen to the trainers themselves! It’s like listening to the actual “I Love You, Yaya!” seminar in your own home. 

At the launch, learn from the authors themselves through our FREE YAYA SEMINAR! Get tips, useful information and sensible advice! You can also have your handbook personally signed!

The Launch is on February 8, 2009, Sunday 3:00 – 5:00 p.m at Fully Booked – High Street Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Speakers are Maricel Laxa Pangilinan and Felichi Buizon. A second session will be held on March 29, 2009, Sunday 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Powerbooks – Megamall Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Speakers are Maricel Laxa Pangilinan and Dr. Donna Simpao.