Definition of terms:

2. WAHMeo – Contraction of Work-at-home Mom / Chief Executive Officer. A WAHM who owns her business.

Admit it, the internet has such a huge impact to everyone’s lives this past ten years. It has revolutionized so many things–entertainment, learning, connecting with people, and most especially businesses. Social media marketing is the new PR agency. Bloggers are now the new commercial models who promote products online through their blogs and social networks. Yes, the Computer Age is definitely how we define the current era.

That is why the new workspace for an increasing number of Filipinos is found in the comfort of their own homes, inside their own computers. And their tribe will increase all the more, as the demand for virtual workers increases by the day.

Is WAHMing for you, Corporate Mommy?

I asked that question when I attended the WAHMderful Life Workshop: Real Ways to be a WAHM last April. I even brought my husband along so that both of us can explore this unfamiliar path. And after the workshop, we exclaimed, if they can do it, why can’t we?

Some office workers will say, well, that is freelance, you work when there is work. If none, you will not earn. Office work gives security in terms of salary, benefits, etc. You work hard, and loooong enough, you rise above the ranks.

My husband and I discovered we can do so much with the internet now. Virtual Assistants (or VAs) are on the rise.

While at the workshop, I discovered the Manila WAHMs Facebook group, which is instrumental in my current job description–Fulltime Mother-slash-Copy Editor. Just two weeks on my current job and I am soo glad to have found one, after a few weeks of resignation from my fulltime office job. Never thought it was possible but apparently it is!

But can you really do it at home? What if…?

Your kid wants to play with you? Then play with her for a few minutes, make her busy, then go back to work. Oftentimes I’d rather sit and work while my husband and daughter are sleeping. It’s something I have to get used to, as I spent until the wee hours of the morning working. That, or I wake up early instead to be able to work.

There is a household emergency? You need not rush going home because you ARE home with your family! But of course, who would want an emergency to happen, whether you are working in or out of home?

You’re sick? Rest is important. It’s easy to ease back to work since you do not have to deal with going in and out of the workplace.

There is no electricity? Or ther is no internet connection? Worse, my laptop broke?! I have realized this now that electricity, the internet, and a good functioning laptop are my main bread and butter. Hmmm… It’s good to have back ups, and save files every five minutes or so.

I am just grateful now that I have already started. It is a lifestyle my family needs to adjust to again. My set up works well for us because my family has my undivided attention when they are awake. Plus, I can choose to take in more work in the future (singing and teaching again, too! happy dance!).

I was also lucky enough to attend the WAHMeo workshop held last July. The workshop was an eye opener to those who really want to pursue working at the confines of their own home, but at the same time, owning their businesses. Some attendees have established jobs already, others discerning their strengths. The workshop also featured the how-tos of putting up the business, like making the business plan, applying for business names and permits, learning about taxes, setting up websites, etc. It’s taking WAHMing to the next level, and I am inspired to hear from people who have actually took the plunge and became owners of their own businesses that they run while they run their household. They’re mothers of different backgrounds, skills, and businesses, and it’s always a joy to meet new, inspiring people.

Pretty WAHMies, all in several rows!

Interested to work from home? Then this workshop is for you!

The same workshop we attended last April is having its third run, this time focusing on being a Virtual Assistant. Sounds funny at first, but it is legit work! I have heard from the experts, so now is your chance.

Click this link to know more about it.

Unilab is a proud sponsor, too!

If you are deciding to take the plunge, attend this workshop. ANYONE, even if you are not a mother, can attend!

~ Touringkitty

“I have been so busy,” so I told my husband, “that on this month of November alone I was able to achieve so much!”

Aside from my full time work at the country’s premiere cultural institution, I was able to still fulfill churchwork, prepare my children’s choir for a choral festival, attend an alumni homecoming, sing for a masterclass of one of today’s outstanding sopranos, join a recipe contest of a health store, and judge a bank institution’s choral competition, not to mention singing with one of the foremost Filipino baritones who I love!

Churchwork: I am coordinator of the music ministry, which involves attending meetings and scheduling the choirs for masses. We might be dwindling in numbers but still able to adjust ourselves to sing for all masses. And must fix that soon since Christmastime is near, Simbang Gabi is such a busy time for all. Our individual groups have their own “harangs,” or outside events as we musicians call it. Even my children’s choir have their own harang!

Keep on Singing! I take pride in my kids. They have participated in the yearly Madz et al Choral Festival since 2008. The group led us to so many windows and doors of opportunities. We have prepared for the et al since September, if I remember right, with sporadic rehearsals of the repertoire interspersed with rehearsal of new church songs and mass services. The costumes were made in one month, I arranged all the songs, and except for one which most kids have sung before and was notated, the other two were learned purely by verbal instructions! The tutti song was rehearsed through a study recording, they rehearsed the guitar part with my husband playing during soundcheck, one kid didn’t show up and didn’t tell me why. I had so much fun after I was able to rehearse all the songs in one go minutes before the show started, and we’re group number two! All praise the Lord, indeed!

(Photo below belongs to one of my members)

Alumni Homecoming: I wasn’t able to dedicate much time in convincing my friends to attend, so in our batch, only four attended. We had fun, nevertheless. And I was with my sister and mom who were both alumnae of the school as well! I was asked to sing the national anthem, an intermission number, and the school hymn, in which I even did the minus one in Musescore!

Claire Primrose Masterclass: It was another opportunity for me to sing opera! And I was so lucky to have gotten a slot. I was down with the flu so I almost wanted to back out, and I even came from choir rehearsals in the morning, so imagine my horrible voice then! But the more important thing was I learned a lot from Ms. Primrose. Will do a separate post about it soon.

(Photo below belongs to a friend)

Singing Cooking Mama: Our family buys so much stuff from Healthy Options! So when I found out about Bob’s Red Mill cookoff, I joined. My entry: no less than the lactation oven toaster cookies of course! Check their Facebook page and look for my entry! This is my submitted entry.

Judge Dredd, or Judge Late?! Blame the Thursday/payday/bonus day/day before long weekend sloooow traffic! And my poor judgment. I came late for the judging of a bank’s choral competition. But if there was any consolation, I got the rare privilege to sing with internationally-acclaimed Filipino baritone, Andrew Fernando! He invited me to sing O Holy Night with him, cos people asked him for a second intermission song. Impromptu! Good voice and super nice person he is!

Wow. Was I actually working full-time with all of the other extra items I did above?

And yes, November still has one day left, so tomorrow, I’ll be listening and criticquing a choir from our church who will join a big choral competition next week. I hope I could be helpful, so I must sleep!

Enjoy the long weekend! I’ll be working unfortunately, and I have to make up for my daughter who’s been crying “fun in the air, let’s do it together.” You prolly know what that means!

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~Touringkitty