• The main purpose of talking to your baby is to stimulate or turn-on her amygdala, hippocampus, and fusiform face area. These are the major parts of the brain that is involved when you talk to your newborn

Before reaching one year old, Emily could do puzzles designed for three to seven years old. At two years and four months, she could write six letters which are letters E F O T P and D.

People would think that Emily is born to highly-intellectual parents since it is common knowledge that heredity accounts much for a child's intelligence. Yet Emily's parents have average IQ. The secret lies on how her parents and other family members talk and interact with her since infancy.

"There is an art on how to talk effectively to a newborn and every parent and family members must learn how this is done to make their children smarter at a young age," says Dr. Leonardo Leonidas in one of his talks here in Iloilo City. Dr. Leonidas is a Filipino doctor who is a retired assistant clinical professor in pediatrics of Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, U.S.A. "The main purpose of talking to your baby is to stimulate or turn-on her amygdala, hippocampus, and fusiform face area. These are the major parts of the brain that is involved when you talk to your newborn."

Emily is one of Dr. Leonidas's patients from his pediatric practice who is now a budding teenager and is consistently at the top of her class with good behavior. "At three years old Emily was able to say and pronounce clearly: otoscope, stethoscope, and ophthalmoscope. She could write her name and she knew such words as: biology, zoology, and enunciation."

According to Dr. Leonidas, what made Emily advanced in development at that age is that she spent a lot of time with family members who read to her frequently especially educational books such as the alphabet. Her mother and grandmother take turns in reading her about 20 children books a day. She also listened to music for children and bible CDs, and wasn't allowed to watch TV or videos. In addition, they practice the "newborn talk" when she was a baby.

Dr. Leonidas shared few pointers on how to do "newborn talk" to babies. He said that when talking to the baby, one should hold the baby directly in front, with both hands from about 10 to 12 inches from the baby's face. "At this distance, your newborn baby could see clearly your eyes and face. The baby will learn how to speak by imitating your lips and mouth movement."

He adds that when the baby opens his/her eyes, you should call his/her name at least three times. Then talk to him/her for about 10 to 20 seconds and stop talking. The volume of your voice should be a little louder than your usual one so that the baby can hear you clearly and will focus on you rather than on his/her surroundings. "You should stop talking to give the baby the chance to process what was just said. Give the baby also about half to one minute of silence. Then talk again for about one minute with a happy, smiling face repeating the process."

Dr. Leonidas emphasizes that you should talk in short sentences and make your period a smile with a happy face since showing a happy face is extremely important to turn on the fusiform face area (FFA) of the baby's brain. "Your happy face and soothing voice turn-on the brain structure that promotes joint attention. The foundation of normal socialization is joint attention between you and the baby. Babies whose FFA and amygdala are not adequately stimulated during the critical first 12 months of life have higher risk of developing language delay and behavioral problems," says the doctor.

He further advised that the "newborn talk" must be done at least three to five minutes, four times a day, during the alert, happy time of the baby. This exercise is best for the baby's mental and cognitive development.

Dr. Leonidas has been recommending this method of talking to a newborn for more than 15 years before he retired. With his years of experience in pediatric medicine, he assures parents out there that the "newborn talk" does work. Based from his patients and other studies, parents who followed this method and frequently read to their babies have children who are advanced in cognitive and language development.

Starting from infancy, parents have to take steps to ensure that their children will grow to become happy, intelligent adults. "The children are the future" might be an old, over-used cliché, but nevertheless true.*

School's out, fun is in! Summer break is the perfect time for families to spend vacation together. I asked a few family and friends what is their most memorable trip that they would highly recommend to TNT readers searching for the perfect getaway this summer. Singapore came out on top of the list. The country's tourism forms a large part of its economy due to its many tourist attractions, as well as its promotion of medical tourism.

MERLION

"One of the first places we visited when we came to Singapore is Sentosa Island, which to me is the best place to go to if you are looking for fun and pleasure. It is also where the Merlion, Singapore's most famous landmark, can be found," says Salve Salazar, a researcher.

The Merlion is a mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish designed in 1964 for the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board. It was used as the agency's corporate logo from 1966 to 1997, but today continues to be regarded as Singapore's icon and is prominently used in souvenir items. The fish part represents Singapore's beginnings as a fishing village, while the lion head represents the country's original name Singapura which means "lion city". "We learned that there are only five authorized Merlion statues in Singapore including the one we saw at Sentosa Island, and two at Merlion Park," says Salve.

TIGER SKY TOWER

"While we were at Sentosa, we went up the Tiger Sky Tower and were captivated by the beautiful landscape of Singapore." The Tiger Sky Tower is Singapore's tallest observatory tower, rising 131 meters above sea level. Tourists enter an air-conditioned cabin that slowly ascends to the tower and are treated to the panoramic views across Sentosa and Singapore's Southern Islands along the way. It is said that on a clear day, one can even see the neighboring countries Malaysia and Indonesia. "The view is spectacular even during night time," adds Salve. "The cabin can accommodate up to 72 persons and admission rates are S$15 for adult and S$ for children.

UNDERWATER WORLD

"The Underwater World is another must see while in the island. Our time at the oceanarium was filled with fun and education as we got to meet different marine life of different species and see beautiful corals. It was a great underwater experience as we journeyed through the tunnel housing rays, sharks that don't look fearsome at all, and other kinds of fishes and creatures that live under the ocean. There is also an exhibit hall at the first floor of the facility wherein one will get to see several marine and freshwater creatures on display.

BREATHTAKING SHOWS

"We also watched Songs of the Sea, an award-winning waterworks showcase. It was a magnificent presentation that held us all spellbound. The music was great and its pyrotechnics and computer effects were so amazing. The show costs S$10. I recommend this show to anyone who visits Singapore." Songs of the Sea operates in the sea which spectators can watch from ashore. It is a multi-million dollar production designed by world-renowned and internationality acclaimed Yves Pepin.

NIGHT SAFARI

"My family and I love the Night Safari. My kids really enjoyed seeing the nocturnal animals, as well as riding the tram that toured us around the park" says Emma Yturralde, my belly dancing classmate.

Located in Mandai Lake Road, the Night Safari is one of the popular parks in Singapore visited by tourists especially families all year round. It is the world's first wildlife park for nocturnal animals, a rainforest set in artificial lighting. It opens to the public from 7:30 p.m. until 12 midnight. For $50, visitors will get to see and experience the three major attractions in the park, the Creatures of the Night Show, Night Safari Tram and Walking Trails. "In the Creatures of the Night Show, the spectators are introduced to animals that are not normally seen in traditional zoos during daytime. The first showing is at 7.30p.m. which tends to be crowded, followed by an 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. shows. The audience seated in front are sometimes asked to participate or volunteer during shows," adds Emma.

The Night Safari Tram will get you around the park, hence, you will be able to get to the other attractions without much effort. The management charges S$10 for the ride. During the tour, a guide narrates in front, making the tour very educational. "We got to meet different animal species, which we usually see in movies or TV shows only. We greatly enjoyed the trip, especially my children."

There are three walking trails in the park - the Leopard Trail, the Fishing Cat Trail and the Forest Giants Trail.  "In the Leopard Trail, we had the chance to see various night critters such as bats and flying squirrels, as well as the clouded leopard and Malayan civet. In the Fishing Cat Trail, one will see otters, Indian Gharials and Malayan Flying Fox, while in the Forest Giants Trail is a vast variety of flora and fauna and its inhabitants of bats, lemurs, owls and squirrels. There is also a swing bridge which is about 15 meters long," Emma narrates. "The Night Safari must be in the itinerary of any visiting tourist in Singapore. Not only is it highly entertaining, but it is also very educational. It will be a great experience for families."

Read more about Singapore's tourist destinations in my next article.*

Boracay is still without doubt the most popular beach in the country today. Up-scale and budget resorts were fully-booked this Holy Week as hordes of local and foreign tourists invaded the premiere summer destination for some chillin' under the sun.

Last month, our family, the Maquino clan, was in Boracay for a grand reunion-vacation. It was quite chaotic and challenging at times organizing everyone as there were 42 of us, but over-all it was a very memorable and happy vacation as the days and nights were filled with fun and camaraderie.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Our Tita Ros and family, on hiatus from their busy life in the USA, prefer to stay somewhere away from the busy crowd of the White Beach. Searching the internet for a more quiet and exclusive hideaway, they found the perfect resort - Monaco Suites de Boracay. Located in Manoc-manoc, this pricey (a two-bedroom suite costs around P36, 000 per night) and grandiose hill-side resort, overlooks Caticlan and offers a panoramic view of Bulabog beach and the sparkling blue ocean. It is about 10 minutes away from the White Beach, but transportation is not a problem as the resort provides free shuttle to its guests, which leaves every 45 minutes. The guests are dropped off at the Coffee House (in Station 2), where they can take a short tricycle ride to the D'Talipapa and D'Mall for some shopping, or walk their way to the beach. The guests are also treated to a free cup of coffee while waiting for the shuttle to pick them up to return to the resort.

Monaco guests can cool down in its dolphin-shaped pool which is five meters deep at both ends, hence, not suitable for children. The downside of this resort is its very small beach, which is quite rocky, not good for swimming at all. Guests who want to swim on the beach are brought to the Coco Loco Bar in Station 3 by the resort's free shuttle service. There, they can safely leave their things and go swim to their hearts' desire.

The rest of the family (the "locals") prefer to stay near where the action is so we booked several deluxe rooms at Villa Criselda in Station 2, a budget, yet functional resort. Its plus factors are its accessibility to the D'Talipapa and the beach which are just about a minute or two away by foot. The Deluxe Room costs a very affordable P2, 500 per night, but would cost even less during lean season. It accommodates four persons as it has two double beds, and other room amenities include aircon, TV, refrigerator and hot and cold shower. The standard room costs P2, 300 and is a little smaller but can also accommodate a maximum of four persons, having the same amenities as the deluxe room except that it has no refrigerator. The resort has free 24-hour hot water for your coffee or tea in their canteen, and provides five-gallon drinking water with table top dispenser upon request, which costs P100 per container. I know it is expensive, but it is a lot cheaper compared to purchasing bottled water. Villa Criselda has a common kitchen, which is quite spacious, and the guests can use the resort's cooking and dining utensils free of charge. Much to the delight of my cousin CJ, as well as my nephews and nieces, the resort has free Wi-fi. One can see them huddled in front of the laptop, accessing their Facebook accounts 'til the wee hours of the morning.

Security is not a problem in both resorts as they have security guards patrolling the area round the clock.

FUN IN THE WATER

Our vacation in Boracay wouldn't be complete without adventures in the water. First was the Banana Boat Ride, which charges P200 per person for a 15-minute ride. Since I am not as adventurous as the rest, I chose to stay at the speed boat with my two-year-old niece, Marie. It was quite a thrilling, albeit bumpy ride, as huge waves incessantly hit our boat (my butt hurt the next day!). I could hear the shouts of my relatives at the banana boat every time the waves hit them. Proof that everyone is having fun!

After the ride and seeking more excitement, Portia, my lawyer-cousin, decides to go parasailing with her son Nonoy, and our younger cousin CJ. While the rest of the group stayed at the beach to swim, I joined Portia's group as I wanted to witness how it is done. Sitting on the sailboat with my nephew Sean, it was quite exciting to watch them fly at first. However, after a few minutes I could already start to feel a little seasick since the sailboat is just floating on the sea, dancing with the waves. I was so thankful when the ride was finally over. Parasailing costs P1, 500 per person for a 15-minute thrill in the sky. Portia swears it is all worth it.

There is also the island hopping, which in my opinion is not as much fun at all, as the beaches look the same anyway. The only memorable part of this activity is the snorkeling. The younger members of the family gamely dove on the waters too see the beautiful corals down there, while the less-daring and not-so-young ones stayed on the boat.

Jet skiing is another "must" when in Boracay. It is a water sport that my cousins from the US regularly indulged in back home. So it is not surprising that they went jet skiing on their very first day in Boracay. Thirty minutes on the Jet Ski cost them P1, 500 per person.

Of course, there are more water activities that we can enjoy while in Boracay but due to limited time, we were unable to do so.

SEAFOODS AND MORE

Breakfast for us means Andok's, which is just around the corner from Villa Criselda resort. With a budget of P65-75 per person, we can choose from tapsilog, tocilog, longsilog, and cornsilog. Of course, their trademark fried chicken, pork chop, and pork barbeque are never absent in the menu. Monaco guests, on the other hand, are treated to a bountiful buffet breakfast fit for a King, free of charge. With the cost of their suites, it is only but fitting that they serve their guests only the best.

Since we are a huge group, we have our lunch daily at the D'Talipapa in order to fit our budget. We purchase fresh seafood and vegetables in reasonable prices and have a nearby restaurant cook it for us. Cooking charges at the D'Talipapa ranges from P100 to P200 per kilo depending on the dish. One dish we had the restaurant cooked for us which I found expensive is the Fish Sinigang. They charged us P130 for the soup and another P100 for the vegetables they placed on the dish, totaling P230 per kilo. Grilled stuffed squid costs P180, grilled pork/fish costs P130, and steamed talaba is the lowest at P100.

Villa Criselda also offers cooking services and charges a cheaper P80/kilo. For guests who want to cook for themselves, the resort charges a minimum of P300 per day, per room for the use of the LPG. On our third day in Boracay, when we were already quite sick with the thought of another breakfast at Andok's, my Mom decided to cook breakfast and lunch for us. We paid P400 for the LPG which is quite a bargain considering the number of persons who ate those two delicious "home-cooked" meals.

The suites at Monaco have well-equipped kitchens, and it is there were we cook and gather for our dinner. We just purchase food from the wet market and bring them to the resort. The cookwares are small, though, so cooking has to be done in batches which is quite time consuming.

In our last night in Boracay, the family gathered at Don Vito Ristorante Italiano where we were treated to gastronomy of food choices of Filipino, Western and Italian dishes, amid the soulful music from the live band. After dinner, we were entertained with a fiery performance from their marvelous fire dancers who are very agile and graceful. The rest of the evening was spent walking around, stopping by Epic Bar, simply immersing ourselves in the pulsating nightlife of the island.

The next day, we were all so sad for the vacation to end, our legs dragged on our way to the van that will take us to the Cagbang jettyport. Not only do we hate the thought of leaving Boracay, but we also didn't want to part ways again with our beloved auntie, uncle and cousins from the US who are flying straight to Manila from the Caticlan airport. What made the whole five-day affair very memorable is that it further strengthened the ties that bind our family together.*

By Rosmar M. Villalon
NEWS AND OLD

Close your eyes and imagine yourself being surrounded by tigers, or feeding one with your bare hands.  Do you find it frightening or thrilling? For me, it is both.  I had my first encounter with tigers one summer vacation with friends, and it was indeed an experience that I will never forget.

After our tour of Baguio, we headed to Subic Freeport for an adventure at Zoobic Safari.  It is the only tiger safari in the country and is located in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone Group 1.  In this 25-hectare amusement park, we spent almost half a day where we had an exhilarating encounter with Siberian tigers and other exotic animals such as wild boars that roam around freely in their natural habitat.

FORBIDDEN CAVE

Our first stop is the Forbidden Cave where almost total darkness and humid air greeted us upon entrance.  There displayed are replicas of animals such as tigers, snakes, lizards, iguanas and wild birds.  I wasn’t impressed much with the “cave”. In fact, I remembered being impatient and wanting to have the tour ended since it was so hot inside.  Just imagine my delight when I saw daylight again.

TIGER SAFARI

Here we rode an orange and yellow colored jeep surrounded by steel bars to protect us from the huge Siberian tigers.  I felt a rush at my first sight of these superior animals of the wild.  They were either lazing under the sun, cooling off in the pool or roaming around freely.  At first, some tigers gave us a brief glance while others generally ignored us.  I assumed that this is because they are already used to tourists, or are not hungry at that moment (thank goodness!).  Then our guide opened one small window and showed the tigers the treat we have for them – a dressed chicken, which cost P200 at the time.  With the guide waving the chicken, a tiger slowly approached us, and we went giddy.  When he started to open his mouth to take the chicken, we all felt fear for the guide who might have his hand bitten off, which, of course, didn’t happen.  Then the tiger jumped on top of the vehicle, where he stayed for a few minutes while we drove around the safari.  Without doubt, this encounter was the most thrilling part of the tour.

SERPENTARIUM

We got a chance to view different sort of reptiles up close. We were introduced to the lizards, turtles and iguanas, as well as to a variety of snakes.  It was fascinating to come face to face with the awesome pythons and boa constrictors, which are normally portrayed as venomous killers in movies.  At the Serpentarium, they don’t look as menacing.  The python reminded me of Prony, or better known as the Bohol Python, who I got to meet when I toured Bohol a few years back.

SAVANNAH

Savannah is also quite memorable for me because I find the pot-bellied wild pigs so cute!  I know some would find me weird after saying this, but they are quite adorable and there seem to be hundreds of them roaming around freely, some frolicking in the mud while others mingle with the ostriches that tower over them.

CROCO LOCO

Croco Loco holds many similarities with Palawan’s Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center.  Here we also found a pit full of snapping crocodiles a few feet below us as we walk over the steel grated walkway.  A friend purchased another chicken, which she dangled to the waiting hungry crocodiles.  One crocodile gingerly approached it and his several attempts to bite the chicken earned shrieks from us.  Feeling a bit famished later, our group decided to buy some snacks to tide us over at the Crocodile Café.  There we got to observe the crocodiles from a glass observation area.

AETA TRAIL AND SHOW

Here we had a chance to interact with the indigenous Aetas in their village, see their homes and cooking areas.  Male Aetas welcomed us, wearing wide smiles and blue loin cloths; showing off their bodies which would put Derek Ramsey to shame.  They performed tribal dances for us, and we were surprised to see that they are good dancers and very agile.  Of course, we didn’t miss the opportunity to have our pictures taken with these indigenous people, who don’t look like some Aetas we see begging on the streets. The ones in Zoobic look respectable (in spite of being half-naked), and some are even good looking.

Zoobic Safari is quite a wild ride, a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I highly recommend for those who want to explore a jungle safari and see Siberian tigers without leaving the country.  If interested, contact your travel agent or check out Zoobic Safari’s website at http://www.zoobic.com.ph.*