"Mikee, who portrays a mother, has markedly improved as an actress. She was effective in her dramatic scenes without going melodramatic. Unfortunately, her character is one of those who ‘die’ in the series’ early episodes. Does this mean an early exit for Mikee? I hope not, because her presence on the small screen is a welcome relief from the now boring practice of casting the same pool of overexposed actresses doing the rounds of soaps."

Source: Andy Bais, Philippine Daily Inquirer

The show is about a magical clay pot that makes mouth-watering dishes through the help of its adorable owner, Cookie. Adding star power are real-life sweethearts Geoff Eigenmann and Carla Abellana.

Stop, cook and listen as the show tries to serve the kind of fun you hunger for.

Source: Dolly Anne Carvajal, Philippine Daily Inquirer

At the forefront of the Philippine delegation, which will march 29th in the order of the OCA protocol, is flag-bearer Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, whose storybook triumph as an 11th-hour entry in show jumping of equestrian at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan boosted the nation’s spirit at a time when hearts were torn after the loss in the Filipino passion that is basketball.

“We were moved by her message in the send-off First Friday mass for the Asian Games. She provided us with so much inspiration," noted athletes from different disciplines.

Cojuangco-Jaworski arrived Thursday along with athletes from billiards, swimming and taekwondo, as well as her father, the president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, Jose Cojuangco Jr. He will join dignitaries, members of royal families and heads of states at the grandstand of the “Island in the middle of the Sea," the popular English translation for Hai Xin Sha.

In an hour-and-a-half-long pre-parade show, China will display poetry in motion with songs that speak of the purity in children’s hearts and dance numbers that personify Hongmian, a flower well-loved by the fishermen who gave rise to the city nestled by the Pearl River.

Pearl’s wharf will host 45 boats that will represent all the member countries, for the Hai Xin Sha gallery to marvel at. while a fireworks show commences from around the stadium and the grandiose Hai Xin television tower, now a tourist attraction because of its height and colors.

Just before the torch arrives for the lighting of the Games cauldron symbolizing the ongoing games, acrobatic shows, a puppet show, and a melodrama depicting the former life of Guangzhou will be unveiled before hundreds of thousands expected to attend the quadrennial sports event.

People’s Republic of China President Hu Jintao will then declare the Games open, and OCA President Sheikh Ahamad Al Fahad Al-Sabah deliver his remarks.

Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee Chairman Liu Peng, the country’s Minister of the General Administration of Sports, will be the first to rise to welcome the athletes and delegates soon after China’s national anthem Yi Yong Jun Jin Xing Qu is played.

The traditional athletes’ oath and torch relay will culminate the opening ceremony.

Source: KY, RCJ, GMANews.TV

Cojuangco-Jaworski was named the Phl team flag bearer during the sendoff rites hosted by the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission Friday at the Philsports Arena.

“I was told that I would just be sharing some inspirational messages from my Busan experience. I was really surprised they gave me the honor of carrying the country’s flag in Guangzhou,” Cojuangco-Jaworski said.

Cojuangco-Jaworski, whose last-minute golden feat in Busan gave the Filipinos a third and final gold in the meet, accepted the duty and privilege upon the approval of his father, POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and the recommendation of PSC chair Richie Garcia.

“As her (Mikee) father, it would not look good if I name her the flag bearer. But since it was a request, it’s up to her,” said Cojuangco.

“It is only fitting that someone in the stature of Mikee, who brought honor to the country as a former Asian Games gold medal winner, be our flag bearer in Guangzhou,” Garcia, for his part, said.

Cojuangco-Jaworski will be the second “non-participant” to carry the country’s flag in an international sports conclave after pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao
did the same chore in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Chessers Eugene Torre and Wesley So, shooter Tac Padilla and cue artists Rubilen Amit, Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Efren “Bata” Reyes were among those also considered to be the flag bearer.

Torre is Asia’s first grandmaster, So is the country’s highest rated player, Padilla is an eight-time Asian Gamer, Amit and Reyes are former world champions
while Bustamante is the reigning 9-ball king.

United States-based tanker Miguel Molina, the original flag bearer choice for the Beijing Games who later gave way to Pacquiao, was also considered.

Source: Joey Villar, The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines — Former equestrienne Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski will return to the Asian Games as flag bearer of the 188-man Philippine team that will compete in the 16th edition of the meet slated in Guangzhou, China on Nov. 12 to 27.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia made the recommendation during Friday night’s send-off party for athletes at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

“It was a great honor to be asked as a flag bearer of our country,” Cojuangco-Jaworski said. “I was surprised because I was only told that I would be just sharing some inspirational messages from my experience in Busan.”

Cojuangco-Jaworski was referring to her feat at the 2002 Busan Asian Games in South Korea, where she won the gold medal in show jumping at the last day of the quadrennial meet. The country finished with three golds, seven silvers and 16 bronzes in the said edition.

“It is only fitting that someone like Mikee will be our flag bearer in Guangzhou,” Garcia said. “She has brought honor to the country as a former Asian Games gold medalist that can inspire our athletes.”

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. gave his daughter the choice to decide, saying: “As her father, it would not look good if we name her as a flag bearer. But since it was a request, it would be up to her.”

“She has been dedicating herself to sports for as long as long as I can remember. She deserves it,” Cojuangco added.

Cojuangco-Jaworski became the first “non-participant” to carry the country’s flag in the elite competition scene since world-class boxer Manny Pacquiao carried the honors at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Source: Kristel Satumbaga, Manila Bulletin

Mikee, who started her equestrian lessons when she was 10, says she is willing to conduct programs so that more athletes would follow her footsteps.

Mikee admits, though, that handling such programs can be challenging and that as much as she loves her sport, she understands that government has to prioritize people’s needs.

“Mahal ko ang sports ko, pero mas mahal dapat natin ang mga tao, which is why in a country like ours, mahirap humingi ng support sa government at private sector lalo’t alam mong maraming mas nangangailangan na dapat unahin (I love this sport but it will be difficult to ask for government and private sector help because people’s needs should be prioritized),” says Mikee.

She notes that logistics is one of the challenges for aspring equestrians in a developing country like the Philippines.

But Mikee says she never loses hope that equestrian sports in the country can be developed to the level of other sports such as basketball.

“Ang kagandahan kasi ng basketball basta may bola ka at ring pwede na, unlike sa amin na ang daming kailangan i-consider pero gusto ko sana talaga na mapansin ang equestrian dito. (The good thing about basketball is that you only need a ball and the ring unlike in our field where there are so many things to consider),” says Mikee, adding that large and safe areas are needed for the equestrians and their horses.

She also looks forward that soon, equestrian competitions can be held in non-exclusive areas for enthusiasts to further improve their skills.

“Its always been a challenge since the bulk of horse enthusiasts belong to exclusive areas. But some people need to realize that once they have a certain level of enthusiasm for horse-riding, they can do it,” she says.

Mikaela Maria Antonia Cojuangco-Jaworski has been a competitive equestrian, winning in international competitions such as the bronze medal in Shizuoka,Japan at the age of 16.

She also won the gold medal at the Asia Pacific Equestrian Championship in Australia in 1995, and another gold medal in the Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea in 2002.

Although she had to rest from competing for a while, the 5-foot-7 Mikee says she still rides a horse at least twice a week and when she has students to assist.

Source: Marjorie Gorospe, loQal.ph

In a media presentation at the MTRCB office in Quezon City, actor Ricky Davao said the television studies conducted by ANAK TV stressed the need for parental supervision when children are watching television.

Since television is a very powerful medium, Davao called for more parental intervention on the watching habits of the children as some shows emphasizing violence, sexual aggressiveness and the like may have a negative effect on the children.

He, however, acknowledged the importance of children watching television, citing that a rightful amount of parental control maybe beneficial intellectually to the children.

“Mahirap naman excuse me for the word na maging tatanga-tanga ang bata kung hindi manood ng TV ang mga bata lalo na ng news programs,’’ Davao said.

With the studies conducted by the ANAK TV and the MTRCB on television, parents have become more aware of the dangers of unsupervised watching of television.

He also recognized the media as an effective tool in disseminating information to parents on the importance of supervision and never-ending education on what TV programs the children should view.

Mag Cruz Hatol, secretary general of ANAK TV, emphasized that the study made the parents aware that the networks are not in the business of child development the same way that the television set is not a babysitter.

He noted that not all hours of a child’s day should solely be devoted to watching television, saying the study known as the Columbia Study aids the ANAK TV and MTRCB implement steps on how the public can safeguard their children against excessive and unaccompanied television viewing.

In the more or less 12-minute film showing, it showed the negative effects when the child is left most of the time in the care of the maid by both working parents.

The film shows the child growing accustomed to having full control of the television’s remote control, allowing him to view violent and sexually explicit scenes on television without proper adult supervision.

ANAK TV spokesperson Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski said compared to the 2003 findings the Columbian studies of 2010 showed that the free TV networks have adjusted their programming options offering shows that are more sensitive to child audiences.

The study concluded that there are dramatically reduced scenes with sexual suggestiveness, glorification of crime, promotion of wrong morals, cruelty to animals, extreme violence, intolerance and objectification of women on shows featured between 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the month-long study from April 26 to May 25, 2010.

Source: Chito A. Chavez, Manila Bulletin

Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski lives a busy, busy life—so much so, in fact, that even her husband, Pasig congressman Robert “Dodot” Jaworski, couldn’t understand her drive in the early days of their marriage. “[Dodot] would say, ‘How can you be a good mom if ang dami mong ginagawa?’” Mikee shares in the April 2010 issue of Good Housekeeping. “Ang sinasabi ko naman, I need to believe in myself in order to raise good kids, and for them to believe me or respect me. Maybe they will love me, but will they be proud of me?”

Indeed, even after having three sons—ten-year-old Robbie, eight-year-old Rafael, and two-year-old Renzo—this Asian Games champion equestrienne still manages to find time for her riding students at the Manila Polo Club, and to actively participate in her cousin Noynoy Aquino’s presidential campaign. This, in Mikee’s mind, is the best way to show her kids how to live full lives: leading by example. She says, “I want my kids to have a certain amount of independence, and I also want them to have a certain amount of dependence… So I am hands-on, obsessive-compulsive to a certain degree, but since I’m busy, then naba-balance siya.”

After over a decade of motherhood, Mikee has discovered that the relationship between parent and child is reciprocal—you learn things from one another, as long as you keep an open mind. Here are a few life lessons that this celebrity mom has learned from her kids—giving her a well- balanced outlook on life in the process.

ON LOVE

Every child is unique, and Mikee has learned that the manifestations of love among her children are just as distinctive. “It’s different with each child,” she says, describing one son’s expressive capacity and another son’s more subtle affections. The important thing is to make sure that each child knows exactly how much he or she is loved—and never doubts it for a second.

ON RAISING A FAMILY

“The most important job of a woman is to raise her family well,” says Mikee, who thinks full-time working moms who don’t have her flexible schedule are “amazing.” Without a doubt, motherhood is the toughest (and most rewarding) profession a woman can undertake—which is precisely why all our mothers are heroines.

ON LETTING GO

Perhaps the hardest thing for a mother to do is to let go of her children once they start to grow up. If growing pains are difficult on the kids, imagine how it must be for their moms, who were there every step of the way! Mikee’s advice? Anticipate the letting-go process, and prepare yourself accordingly. “Sinasabi ko sa sarili ko, it’ll come, so when the time comes, hindi masyadong malakas yung blow.”

ON BOYS

Growing up in an all-girl family didn’t exactly help when she became a mother to three boys, but Mikee takes it all in stride. Part of the joys of being a parent is discovering new things through your kids and believing that, just like you, they’re going to turn out alright. “There are things about boys that don’t make sense to me,” Mikee confesses. “But what I’ve learned is that they’ll be OK!”

Source: Stephanie Castillo, Good Housekeeping

The two day four round competition international competition, organized by the Federation Equestre Internationale and hosted by the Equestrian Association of the Philippines.

Mikee and 16-year old Rustic Rouge competing against six other participants, finished with only one knockdown.

The Philippines competed in zone 9 against Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand,Indonesia, India and Hong Kong in three levels.

The Philippines Cat C was won by Xavier Virata while Cat B winner was Lucas Lorenzo.

The event was held March 20 to 21, in cooperation with the Manila Polo Club, supported by Pancake House, The Medical City and Inter-Asia Marine Transport.

1) Pre-screen the shows your children will watch, if possible.
2) Sit and watch with them, if you care to find the time.
3) Be consistent and vigilant, if you don’t want to lose your authority to imaginary heroes. Not even to Superman.

Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski
Athlete/Actress, mom to Robbie, 9, Raf, 7, and Renzo, 1

I’d like to think Dodot and I are in control of what our kids watch on TV. There are only a few channels the kids are allowed to watch on their own. Other than that, we make sure they are supervised.

Of course, we don’t let them watch shows with violence and sexual content. There are shows that are produced for children but feature characters with bad behavior that kids really shouldn’t see. We watch out for these shows, too.

I think there should be rules for watching TV. There should be a fixed schedule. On weekdays, our kids are allowed to watch TV only when they’re done with homework, or at night. We encourage them to play outdoors. We’re not too strict on weekends, pero sila mismo, they prefer playing to watching TV. As much as possible, we really try to be there when they’re watching.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

These are facts presented by Bayan-anihan – Gawad Kalinga and the Department of Agriculture’s food sufficiency program, initiated by multi-sectoral partners – which aims to eradicate hunger in the country by empowering families to produce food for their own consumption by simply setting up sustainable food programs in every impoverished community.

To spread the word, Bayan-anihan launched former actress and champion equestrienne Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski as their lead Hunger Warrior.

At the said launch held recently at Linden Suites in Ortigas, Mike Dimagiba, executive director of Bayan-anihan, gave the overview of what Bayan-anihan is all about.

Bayan-anihan aims to feed for life. How? As explained, each family is given a 10 square meter plot of land where they can farm, and are equipped with the necessary tools they need. The beneficiaries are also provided with training programs, seminars and community building campaigns which allow them to learn proper methods of farming, gain information on nutrition, gain culinary skills, and take part in a community which recognizes the hard work that they are able to put into their fields.

According to Dimagiba, real hunger is defined as one family eating only once a day and that meant eating instant noodles only. This happens to 20 million Filipinos. Hunger is also more pressing now with the recent typhoons.

Tony Meloto, chairman/executive director of Gawad Kalinga (GK) Community Foundation, said that their goal is to make Filipinos producers, to create abundance for all.

Department of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap reiterated the alarming rates of hunger cases in the country and that these can be prevented through the help of a food sufficiency program like Bayan-anihan.

He proudly presented that to date, there are 107 Bayan-anihan farms established in Luzon feeding over 17,000 Filipinos. At the end of the year, Bayan-anihan will go national, rolling more farms in Visayas and Mindanao — feeding half million Filipinos in a target of three years living up to “Goodbye Gutom! Farewell to hunger for life.”

Mikee, a budding farmer

Plan Philippines and Anak TV spokesperson Mikee expressed at the launch that she is so excited to join another endeavor – Bayan-anihan as their Hunger Warrior. “I always want to learn something, experience something new. I want to use this as a means to help my country,” she said.

Unknown to many, farming is Mikee’s newest hobby. “May farm kami in Tarlac. Like others, Dodot (her husband) and I also had our share of failures and disappointments [in farming]. We realized the value of patience and the fruits of hard work. Dati hindi ako kumakain ng sitaw pero masarap pala kainin kapag tanim mo,” she jested.

In spreading the word as a Hunger Warrior, Mikee expressed, “It’s like a fairy tale being fulfilled. This is something I pray others will be absorbing or excited about, for our future generations.”

All-out support for Noynoy

Asked if her action has something to do with her campaign for Sen. Noynoy Aquino (Mikee announced her and husband’s support for their cousin in his presidential bid in 2010. Also at the launch, Mikee was accessorized with yellow bracelet and her bag has a yellow ribbon design), Mikee answered, “Totoo namang kinakampanya ko si Kuya Noy e. Pero kinakampanya ko din ang Bayan-anihan. Sana hindi lang maging sarado ang pag-iisip nila. Kasi hindi ko naman ito ginagawa para sa akin. Sayang naman kung meron pala silang makukuhang benefits from something like this na hindi nila makuha dahil lang sarado ang utak nila. Now if they try it and it doesn’t work, then let’s try something else. But if they try it and it works, then good. But if they never try it, then they will never know.”

She added, “We have to realize that whatever we do to our country, it’s something we do to ourselves. I believe the No. 1 problem in our country is crab mentality, tapos gaya-gaya na, kanya-kanya na. Then it’s stressful because the context becomes ‘who has more?’ when actually hindi yun ang batayan ng quality ng isang tao. You might want to think of the collective good muna before the personal interests.”

Excited for Christmas

Christmas, according to Mikee, is her favorite season. “Excited ako. Ako yung parang bata,” she said. Having three children – all boys (nine-year-old, four-year-old and one-year-old), Mikee related what their Christmas will be. “Last year, we started Kris Kringle, with the family growing. Sobrang saya, so this year, we’ll do it again.”

When asked if they would want a girl in the family, she replied, “Okay na yung two boys actually. Gusto namin magkagirl kaso boy pa din yung sumunod. Happy naman na kami.”

Like Mikee, anyone can battle against hunger and be a Hunger Warrior, too. To learn more about Bayan-anihan, you may visit its website, www.bayan-anihan.com.

Source: Jecelyn V. Macahindog, Manila Bulletin