The Organic Child: Health or Hype?

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PROMIL Organic recently held an interactive session with medical expert Celeste Gomez, M.D.. The live zoom session last Thursday, August 13, was fun, exciting and informative,  with the theme "The Organic Child: Health or Hype?"

Let"s see why and how to do #SmartWayToGoOrganic with #PromilOrganic.

Food is indeed a powerful influence on one’s health and well-being. An adage even says, “every time you are eating a meal, you are either feeding disease or fighting it.” In this era when staying healthy has, more than ever, become our top priority, how do we keep our overall health in tip-top shape? And for parents, how do we ensure that our children live better lives?

Today, many parents are now embracing the concept of switching to healthier options and advocating organic nutrition for their children’s growth and development, medical expert and a mom to a toddler Dr. Celeste Gomez, from The Medical City Pediatrics and the Institute of Functional Medicine, shares the benefits of organic nutrition and guides fellow moms in their shift to organic to help strengthen their family’s immunity.

Shifting to an organic lifestyle may sound intimidating for others. But essentially, vegetables or grains are organic if they have no GMO, synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, chemical additives, or sewage sludge. For meat, dairy, poultry, and fish to be labelled as organic, there should be no hormones and antibiotics, fed with organic grains or vegetables, no animal by-products, no GMO corn or soil, poultry must have access to outdoors, livestock must have access to pasture, and fish are wild caught and not farmed.

The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM International), a Germany-based organization of organic certifying bodies, regulates the standards of Organic Agriculture which should be maintained for a certain product to be accredited as organic. In the country, the Organic Certification Center of the Philippines (OCCP), accredited by IFOAM International, gives the Certified Organic seal to products grown using agricultural standards.

Compared to conventional food, there are a few differences between organic and all-natural. In some instances, “all-natural” products may also use artificial fertilizers or pesticides, irradiation, and GMO ingredients. On the other hand, conventional food products may use artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, fertilizer, pesticides, irradiation, and GMO ingredients. 

In addition, some food products and their packaging may also contain endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) which can decrease or increase normal hormone levels, mimic the body’s natural hormones, or alter the natural production of hormones when absorbed in the body. Some examples of EDCs in food are pesticides (found in vegetables, grains, and fruits), bisphenol A or BPA (food storage containers), and phthalates (food packaging).

While Dr. Gomez clarifies that conventional food is still nutritious and isn’t entirely that bad, its way of processing as well as presence of pesticide residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria growth add stress on our body systems. Hence, we just need to detox more. How? By choosing whole and organic food in every chance we could.

In relation to organic food, whole foods are natural products that are not processed or refined in any way. Or if they are processed, they need to be able to retain 95% of the natural nutrients. They do not need to be bought in organic options as they are already rich in vitamins and minerals as they are. According to EWG’s 2020 Clean 15, among the examples of whole foods are avocados, sweet corn, pineapple, onions, papaya, cauliflower, and broccoli. On the other hand, some examples of plant produce that should be bought in organic are strawberries, spinach, kale nectarines, apples, tomatoes, and potatoes. 

Gomez, who is a member of the Institute for Functional Medicine, further explains that Functional Nutrition is an emerging field which studies about finding the right way for each of us as individuals to use food to maximize the potential for health and wellness, specifically, by focusing on whole foods and organic choices.

“There is no single “right diet” that applies to all of us. We have different genetic backgrounds, different preferences, and different lives. We all want to be healthy, but most of us haven’t figured out just how to make food and dietary patterns serve that goal,” she added. 

The world has indeed evolved now, more than ever, and we have seen so many changes in everyone’s lifestyle. Along with that change should also be the way we take care of our family’s health, particularly our little ones, through proper nutrition. A smart way to go organic is choosing an organic milk for our children. Luckily, Wyeth Nutrition’s PROMIL® Organic knows exactly what parents need.

PROMIL® Organic is made with 100% organic milk sourced from certified organic dairy farms, following all the strict standards in manufacturing an Organic formula milk, with higher levels of DHA and AA versus previous formulation to help support the development of children over 3 years old.

Organic Certified: free from antibiotics and chemical pesticides! Only the good is in PROMIL® Organic.

“PROMIL® Organic follows strict compliance of the 95% processing level and international standards from the IFOAM Organics International. It is also certified organic by the OCCP,” says Associate Marketing Director Maria Carmela Gabunada of Wyeth Nutrition. 

It is the only organic formula milk expertly designed with key nutrients DHA, AA, iron, iodine and vitamin B12 to help the child with mental and visual development; boosts immunity with Vitamin A and C; Calcium, Vitamin D, K, and zinc to promote proper growth; and dietary fiber (oligofructose) to improve digestive health.

To know more about PROMIL® Organic, visit the following:

· Website: https://www.wyethparenteam.com.ph/products/promil-organic

· Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/PromilOrganicPH/

· YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PROMILORGANICPhilippines

Together, let’s choose the #SmartWayToGoOrganic with #PromilOrganic

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Let your kids join PROMIL® Four i-Shine® Talent Camp 6, discovering your child’s potential through fun, learning activities

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To help nurture our child’s gift, PROMIL® Four i-Shine® Talent Camp 6, a venue for children to play and learn, continuously commits into helping the next generation of talents and allow them to discover and develop skills set focused in the field of Art, Engineering, Dance, and Music.

Yvette Villegas, the brand manager of PROMIL® Four, said that the i-Shine® Talent Camp 6 brings a whole new fun, and learning experience for parents and their kids.

“We’re so excited to finally open the most exciting PROMIL® Four i-Shine® Talent Camp 6 yet, where we will witness, once again, the awesome talents of the young participants,” Villegas added. “This year, we are also bringing back our camp masters on board, who will help discover, nurture, and inspire their talents so that they will shine brightly.”

This season, the PROMIL® Four i-Shine® Talent Camp 6 showcases four different workshops namely, Music, Dance, Arts, and Engineering. Maestro Ryan Cayabyab returns as the camp master who will lead the Music Workshop, Teacher Georcelle Sy, of the G-Force Dance School for the Dance Workshop, Teacher Robert Alejandro and his team from Papemelroti for the Art Workshop, and a new set of workshops focused on Engineering to be led by Teacher Lei Sta. Maria of Engineering for Kids.

The PROMIL® Four i-Shine® Talent Camp 6 will run from April 2 to May 3, 2018. It will be conducted in different locations in Metro Manila and will be concluded through a recital on May 11, 2018 where the participants of all four workshops will perform.

The PROMIL Four i-Shine® Talent Camp 6 will also visit key cities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao via road shows to allow children outside Metro Manila to experience the thrill of the workshops.

PROMIL® Four i-Shine® Talent Camp 6 is now accepting enrollees for the summer activity. To enroll, parents should purchase any of the participating PROMIL Gold® Four or PROMIL® Four variants, which has a corresponding discount to any of the kid’s chosen talent workshop. The pre-registration, on the other hand, will be done online through PROMIL® Four i-Shine® Talent Camp 6 website.

Since its inception, the PROMIL® Four i-Shine® Talent Camp helped discover and nurture the young Filipinos’ gift in partnership with parents. It is initiated by PROMIL® Four, a milk brand, specially formulated for children above three years old. It is also the only brand that contains NUTRISSENTIALS®—the combination of the unique and important nutrients that help support mental and physical development to help Nurture the Gift, together with balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.

As parents, we know that our children already have the skills one sort or other. Some kids will have a knack for singing, while others will excel in painting.

Letting them explore on their own is essential to discover and nurture their true gifts. For instance, motivating kids to participate in various activities is a good opportunity to discover their interests. Aside from stimulating their creativity, doing this will also help push children to explore their full potential.

While they are young, allowing your kids to realize their talents is helpful in honing their skills. And as parents, we can be the number one support that they need.

To know more about PROMIL® Four i-Shine® Talent Camp 6, visit www.ishine.ph. 

You may also log on to www.wyeth.com.ph to know more about PROMIL® Four.

Celebrating Awe-Inspiring Talents

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i-Shine Talent Camp mentors, grand winners, and host Dimples Romana, are all-smiles as they culminate the successful fifth season of the first and biggest online talent search in the country

Watching your child learn and develop new skills is nothing short of rewarding. But as you do, it’s sometimes hard to remember that your child’s love and excitement for discovery is what’s behind all his or her new accomplishments. 

Young minds seek stimulation—and when your little one continues to show eagerness to learn, it’s important that you let support them him/her to foster creativity, growth, and a love for learning they that can nurtured through adulthood. 

i-Shine 5 Music Camp, Stage Camp, and Art Camp grand winners Seth Salada, Sean Bermudez, and Alliyah Umandal, through the support of their parents and mentors in nurturing their gifts, celebrate their well-deserved victory

This is precisely why PROMIL PRE-SCHOOL continues to aid parents in achieving their children’s potential by providing them with the unique combination of brain & body building nutrients which help support learning during the crucial window of talent development. Simultaneously, PROMIL PRE-SCHOOL continues to create platforms such as the I-SHINE Talent Camp, which gives kids an opportunity to hone their inherent talents to their maximum potential. 

Already on its fifth year, this year’s I-SHINE Talent Camp gave children a lot to work on, together with high caliber mentors meant to draw out their talents across various genres. Divided into three camps, each one features an expert in the field to help kids nurture their gifts to the highest potential. Teacher Georcelle Dapat-Sy and Rico Blanco team up to be mentors for the Stage Camp, Mr. Ryan Cayabyab shares his mastery of music among members of the Music Camp, and Robert Alejandro imparts his artistic vision to the creative minds being nurtured in the Art Camp. 

i-Shine 5 Art Camp mentor Robert Alejandro, together with the finalists, wave to the audience during the Talent Camp finale opening number

i-Shine 5 mentors Robert Alejandro, Ryan Cayabyab, Georcelle Dapat-Sy, and Rico Blanco watch the finalists with awe as their previous students showcase their inspiring talents

The grand culmination of this year’s I-SHINE Talent Camp was celebrated with the mentors, parents, and of course the children, who displayed everything they have learned at the Huseng Batute theater at the CCP. This year, Sean Hayden Bermudez won the top prize for Stage Camp after displaying exceptional moves and stage presence; Alliyah Umandal’s puppet art wowed judges who awarded her as the Grand Art Camp i-Shiner; and Seth Levi Salada, displayed his mastery of rhythm and took home the grand prize for Music Camp. 

“How you support your kids and nurture their brain and body are some of the best things the best investment you can make as a parent. I-SHINE serves as a way for PROMIL PRE-SCHOOL to give parents more opportunities to create unique experiences that can develop and foster potential in their child,” ends Yvette Villegas, Product Manager, Wyeth Nutrition Philippines. 

Join "I-Shine Online Talent Camp"

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Promil Pre-School and ABS-CBN launched the "I-Shine Online Talent Camp" with Kapamilya host Dimples Romana and mentor for Visual Arts Xian Lim and new mentor for Performing Arts Karylle to search for kids who have the potential to shine with their talents through Promil Pre-School I-Shine’s latest online talent camp beginning October 5.

  

This is the fourth season of Promil Pre-School and ABS-CBN as they are bringing the talent search closer to more parents and their children by launching the first online talent camp (www.ishine.abs-cbn.com) to encourage and help mothers to nurture and develop their children’s gifts through comprehensive workshops. 

This year, the talent camp expands as workshops will now include lessons in both Performing Arts (singing, dancing, acting, music), and Visual Arts (painting, drawing, crafting). 

ABS-CBN's celebrity artist, and Visual Arts mentor Xian Lim shared his love and thankfulness for his mom. “A mom’s role is always important. My mom is my shining light and I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for her, that’s why launching Promil Pre-School I-Shine as an online talent camp is a great idea because this will be more accessible to more moms and they can be more involved in nurturing the talents of their kids.” 

To join the online talent camp, moms need to register and choose where to enroll their kids, whether performing arts or visual arts in the website (www.ishine.abs-cbn.com).

Once enrolled in the online course, moms and kids will have the chance to watch and learn from video lessons each week taught by celebrity mentors Karylle, John Prats, and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo for Performing Arts and Xian Lim, Agot Isidro, and Christina Dy for Visual Arts.

Promil Pre-School I-Shine talent camp will have weekly video challenges for students in line with the workshop, which will serve as their audition videos.

Students who will emerge as the Promil Pre-School I-Shine online talent camp champions (one winner per category) will be chosen by the mentors and will win a cash prize, a roster of TV guest appearances, and a contract with ABS-CBN’s Chicken Pork Adobo, among others.

The Promil Pre-School I-Shine Talent Camp aims to help exceptionally talented preschoolers develop their full potential. It is the product of Promil Pre-School’s advocacy in developing Filipino children’s talents with the help of their parents, proper care, and proper nutrition.

Gifted kids - Then and Now , Nurturing giftedness for a new generation

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I remember these Gifted kids from 1995 TV commercial - Kiko Galura, James Flores, and Shaira Luna.

The world has long been fascinated by prodigies—gifted kids whose accomplishments at such a young age, shed light to a child’s inherent talent, intellect and precocity.

Looking back at the Gifted Alumni, they are really inspiring a new generation of giftedness.

In the Philippines, perhaps no other personalities represent the concept and reality of what gifted children are than the three who illustrated it via one of the most memorable television commercials of the 90s—Kiko Galura, James Flores, and Shaira Luna.

But what has become of the three gifted kids featured in the brand’s most prolific commercial yet? The budding poet? The promising astronomer? The medical marvel? 

First of all, they’re all grown up now and second, their accomplishments as adults are just as impressive as what they were able to deliver as kids. 

The young poet, Kiko Galura, has an established career as a publisher in one of the country’s biggest publishing houses. From making words come to life in his poems, he now provides an opportunity and a voice to other storytellers.

James Flores, who was known for his proficiency in astronomy stayed within the sciences, albeit in a different field, taking his masters in clinical psychology. From his love of the stars and their radiance, he helps bring out the brilliance in every child through outreach programs in music for children.

And finally, Shaira Luna, who was poised to enter into the medical world, grew up to become one of the most talented photographers of her generation. From her mastery of the human anatomy, she now captures the best in human form with her photography, building a successful career around her passion.

Was there ever any doubt that they wouldn’t grow up to become successful gifted alumni?

Last January 28, Promil Pre-School launched its Gifted Movement campaign by bringing together three of its Gifted Alumni, Shaira Luna, Kiko Galura, and James Flores. The three first appeared in the brand’s 1995 TVC where they became a household name in the 90s. Now, 20 years later, Promil Pre-School brought the trio back to launch the Gifted Movement Campaign where we want to create a community that supports giftedness in the Philippines.

Nurturing giftedness for a new generation.

Excellence can be achieved with the right balance of Proper Care, Proper Nutrition, and Support from Parents

It’s easy to assume things come easily to naturally gifted kids. But it’s important to remember that it’s a factor of different things that will carve out a good future for any child. 

“A gifted child can be expected to learn faster than other children, have more varied interests, have greater depth of feeling and generally be more than other children,” explains Dra. Leticia Peñano-Ho, President of the Philippine Center for Gifted Education

That said, one can only imagine how they have to struggle with expectations and the machinations of educational systems not built to support such young talent, not to mention the pressure it puts on a child’s social development. 

But environmental conditions, honing the dedication to succeed at such an early age, as well as providing good nutrition, are all factors that contribute to their development—and are all typically provided for by their family.

Also present during the event were some of the present featured gifted children, Hamzah Marbella (painting), EJ Villarin (violin), Sage Araneta (composer at age 4 and can play the piano, guitar, and drums), and the newest Promil Pre-School gifted child, Hansel Ang (piano)

To celebrate the current success of the gifted alumni, Promil Pre-School brought back together the famous trio, almost 20 years after their commercial first aired on national television. The brand’s heritage on giftedness is further exemplified through their achievements and their journey towards becoming valuable gifts to society.

“Throughout the years, Promil Pre-School has been encouraging parents to keep nurturing the gifts of their children. As we usher in a new year, we encourage others to become advocates of giftedness as well,” says Dian Yu, Product Manager of Promil Pre-School.

Parents always envision the best for their children –From providing expert care, to the highest quality nutrition, to supporting their children’s interests and endeavors. Whilst some parents are deeply involved in their children’s development, the idea remains to be unsupported and uncelebrated by most.

In 2015, Promil Pre-School is launching their Gifted Movement campaign, which is a movement to supporting and celebrating giftedness in the country. The brand aims to spark interest and gain the commitment of moms and consumers to take an active role in advocating giftedness and nurturing it.

“Promil Pre-School, as a catalyst for the Gifted Movement campaign, puts focus on discovering and bringing out the inherent talent of today’s youth, by way of providing the proper nutrition, and proper care,” says Yu.

“Combined with the support of parents to continuously encourage kids to find their passion and make learning enjoyable, there’s no end to what this new generation can accomplish, ” she adds.

And as a testament to this, one only needs to look at how these alumni successfully grew to become the passionate, well-rounded individuals they are today.

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Nurturing Homegrown Talent Can Lead to Country’s Success

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Giftedness is a term mostly associated with talent. While most believe the terms are synonymous and interchangeable, Professor Françoys Gagné, Ph. D, states otherwise. Considered as one of the most prominent names in the field of gifted education, Professor Gagné is the founder of the Differentiating Model of Giftedness and Talent (DMGT), a theory identified and used by international educational authorities to define their target population and plan intervention provisions. 

Professor Françoys Gagné, Ph. D discussing the Differentiating Model of Giftedness and Talent 

According to the DMGT, giftedness is a superior natural ability that is evident without systematic learning or teaching. Professor Gagné uses the term ‘gifted’ to designate any person who possesses a natural aptitude that placed them among the top 10% of their age group. Whereas, talent implies a mastered skill that has been developed exceptionally well. Professor Gagné claims that for gifts to translate into talents, they must be developed through a variety of catalysts. These catalysts include intrapersonal factors such as perseverance, general curiosity, intrinsic motivation, and ambition, and environmental factors like family, school, and quality of the peer group.

Nature and Nurture Working Together

(clockwise L-R) Professor Françoys Gagné, Ph. D with the Promil Pre-School team, Dian Yu, Product Manager, Rachelle Tongson, Group Product Manager, and Miko Acuna, Marketing Director, with current Promil Pre-School kid, Sage Araneta

There are over 1.27 million gifted children in the country according to data gathered by the Department of Education (DepEd) in 2010. A big number of these potentially gifted Filipinos are overlooked because of the lack of proper guidance and support.

While environment plays an important role that can aid in developing children’s raw abilities, it can also present less than ideal influences. Giftedness and talent do not flourish on their own. 

“Nurturing the potentially gifted is a shared responsibility of the family, as well as both public and private sectors, if they are to be developed maximally,” shares Dra. Letty Ho, President, Philippine Center for Gifted Education, Inc.

Celebrating Homegrown Talent and Skill

It is not enough to have the talent – It’s how the talent is utilized to achieve greater success in a broader scale, like in ones community or even country. Improvements in economic growth are closely related to the level of cognitive skills of the population.

Gifted child and award-winning violinist and pianist, Ira Aclan

i-Shine Talent Camp 3’s Grand i-Shiner Telesa de Torres

Professor Françoys Gagné, Ph. D, emphasizes that “individuals, young and old, differ in many respects: their aptitudes or potentialities, their personal qualities, their needs and their interests, their will-power and their perseverance, their investment in time and energy in the development of their talents, the characteristics of their social environment, and the qualities of significant people around them. All these elements can contribute to a person’s level of professional success; they are the ingredients of outstanding success, in school and in adult life.”

Professor Gagné’s visit to the Philippines could not come at a more opportune time, with the Philippine Center for Gifted Education, Inc. bidding to spearhead the establishment of the ASEAN Association for Giftedness, and the country showing strong economic growth.

Giftedness and talent could be a driving force for the Philippine economy to continue the steps it is taking towards becoming a progressive country. Nurturing homegrown talent can benefit the country greatly by spurring its development. 

Heritage Through Generations

For over 25 years, Promil Pre-School has been an advocate of nurturing Filipino children’s gifts into talent. With the right balance of support from parents, proper care through the right learning environment, and proper nutrition from Promil Pre-School, gifts can be nurtured into exceptional talents that benefit a larger community.

“We are one with Professor Gagné in promoting the proper nourishment of children’s gifts to become talents. This is one of those instances where proper education can really make the world of difference,” says Dian Yu, Product Manager, Wyeth Nutrition, Inc.

From National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal to Andrea Veneracion, who gave the world the Philippine Madrigal Singers, to world-class performer Lea Salonga and boxing champion and politician Congressman Manny Pacquiao, Filipinos whose gifts were developed into talents have proven to contribute immensely to the advancement of the country and building of national pride.

“This is a vision that Promil Pre-School shares with Professor Gagné. The brand was founded on the premise of making it easier for people to reach their full potentials and become gifts not just to themselves or their families, but also to their community. We believe that well-rounded and fully-developed talented individuals are those who are able to use their exceptional abilities for the greater good,” adds Yu.

PH envisioned to lead ASEAN in developing standards for the gifted

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A Philippine organization is posed to spearhead the establishment of an (ASEAN) Association for Giftedness to leverage economic growth through human capital development.

Non-profit group Philippine Center for Gifted Education Inc. (PCGE), led by Dr. Leticia Ho, is working towards creating standards for ASEAN member countries to ensure robust criteria for identification, development and nurturing of gifted children.

“While the ASEAN integration aims to unite the ten member countries into one economic, multi-cultural community, development of its human capital is definitely a vital component,” says Dr. Ho.

The ASEAN Association for Giftedness will provide a platform for regular meetings, joint researches, exchange programs and other innovations in gifted education that can help boost economies, including the Philippines’. 

“Modern growth theory has explained the vital contribution of human capital development in a country’s economic growth. Improvements are closely related to the level of cognitive skills of the population. This emphasizes the need to identify, develop and nurture gifted talents for the benefit of the country,” adds Dr. Ho.

An ASEAN Summit on Giftedness sponsored by PCGE is scheduled in October. Dr. Ho hopes that this will stir interest and encourage parents, teachers, psychologists, guidance counselors and the gifted themselves to converse and exchange ideas about how to leverage on excellence for growth. 

The summit will feature global expert Françoys Gagné, Ph. D. and his Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent. Professor Gagné, supported by Promil Pre-School, will share his belief in the need for natural abilities to be nurtured in order for one to excel.

With its long-standing thrust of encouraging excellence, Promil Pre-School has always worked hand-in-hand with parents’ support and proper care through the right learning environment to nurture gifts into exceptional talents that can benefit a larger community.

Promil Pre-School's proven heritage of success is backed up by its long list of exceptionally talented children who have brought fame, encouragement, and positive influence to their communities and the country in one way or another.

“Nurturing the gifted is not limited to ensuring that their gifts and talents are properly addressed through education, training, cognitive stimulation and other programs. Part of their nurture is to infuse values of maka-Diyos, makabayan, makatao (being God-fearing, patriotism, compassion). In this manner, the gifted themselves become gifts to others,” says Dr. Ho.

“The vital link between the gift of generations of Filipinos and the country’s success is something that we recognize and value,” says Dian Yu, product manager, Promil Pre-School. “As a long-term advocate in encouraging children to reach their full potential, Promil Pre-School will continually support efforts that allow for exceptional talents to turn into outstanding achievements for our nation.” 

According to the Department of Education (DepEd), there are 1.27 million gifted children in the country (2010 data) who may be in possession of exceptional abilities that, unfortunately, aren’t fully developed for lack of proper guidance and support.

Angel Locsin on Mastering the Craft, Nurturing the Gift, and Loving the Job

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One of country’s leading performers on the Philippine silver screen, Angel Locsin is one named Best Actress in the 29th PMPC Awards for Movies in 2013, and has been considered as one of the most awarded dramatic actresses today. From a television and film actress, she has diversified into various media in the entertainment business: as a commercial model, film producer, fashion designer and product endorser. 

Angel was recently unveiled as one of the talented gurus who will be molding the next generation of child performers in this season’s Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp. She will be joining the star-studded panel of esteemed mentors backstage: choreographer and G-Force director, Georcelle Dapat-Sy and divine diva Zsa Zsa Padilla. As mentor, Angel will be steering i-Shine participants through the acting workshops.

For 25 years, Promil Pre-School has been well known for talent development, raising awareness for parental participation, proper guidance and good nutrition as factors that play major roles in bringing preschoolers to their full potential. The Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp is one of Promil Pre-school’s advocacies, in which the talents of Filipino children nationwide are engaged. Angel is excited to see how this year’s mentees will fare under her tutelage.

Continuously mastering your craft

One of her most remembered roles is her rendering of the iconic superheroine Darna in the TV adaptation of Mars Ravelo’s classic character. But despite her fame, Angel knows that she didn’t just wake up one morning to success; she had to learn the ropes and work on her craft assiduously – a painstaking process that she knows all budding talents must go through, like the tiny tots of the Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp who will be entrusted into her care.

“Paulit-ulit kong sinasabi na iba yung honor na binibigay sa akin nito bilang isang artista... Yung ma-appreciate ka sa talent mo at yung oportunidad para ma-experience at ma-ishare mo sa mga bata yung mga natutunan mo – yung mga tinuro rin sa akin nung mga naging mentors ko when I was young (I always say that this is a great honor for me as an artist… That of being appreciated for your talent and the opportunity to experience and share to the kids what I’ve learned – those things that I’ve learned from my own mentors when I was young),” she says. “Bawat talent, bawat show, bawat acting piece na ginagawa mo, meron at meron kang nadedevelop na kailangan mo pang i-enhance… Continuous process kasi yung acting (Each talent, each show, each acting piece that a person does, you get to develop something that you would still have to enhance… Acting is a continuous process),” she adds.

The importance of proper nurturing and guidance

While she feels that talent plays a big role in how a child stands out, it’s really the combined effort and diligence taken by the child, parents and teachers that make a difference. “I think there are many talented individuals; but it’s really the masisipag (hardworking) that beat them in the end. So, kailangan talaga ng perserverance (You really need perseverance),” she points out. 

Angel also understands how crucial mentoring is in the life of a child. “Natatandaan ko pa yung nursery teacher ko nung bata ako – Hindi ko makakalimutan yung pangalan niya. (I remember my nursery teacher when I was young – I will never forget her name.) That’s how much of an impact she had on me. Nakaka-flatter na baka ganun din yung mangyari sa mga bata. (It’s flattering to think that that could also happen to these kids.) Actually, challenge ito para sa akin na mabigay ko talaga yung dapat matutunan nung mga bata sa maikling panahon (It is actually a challenge for me to give my best so the kids will get the learning they need in such a short amount of time).”

And she doesn’t discount the importance of family support, which she cites as an important factor in her own development as an artist. “I am very blessed na sila yung naging magulang ko sa lahat ng pinagdaanan ko. Hindi kami galing sa showbiz family. Napakasimple lang ng pamilya ko, pero nag-adjust talaga sila ng lifestyle for me para magawa ko ‘tong gusto ko. Napakaswerte ko sa pamilya ko (I am very blessed to have the kind of parents that I have. We are not a showbiz family. My family is simple, but they adjusted their lifestyle for me so that I could reach this far. I’m really lucky to have them).”

And this is why she likewise hopes that the i-Shine finalists will receive the same kind of support from their own. “Sana itong mga bagets natin dito sa i-Shine, sana ganun din yung mga magulang nila na nakasuporta dun sa gusto nung mga anak nila. Hindi dahil sa gusto nila, pero dahil ito yung pangarap nung mga anak nila. Sana i-encourage nila yung mga bata kung papaano mahalin lalo ‘tong craft na ‘to, at i-enjoy pa ‘to kasi mga bata rin naman sila, diba? Ayokong iparamdam sa kanila na ‘this is work’ diba? (I hope the parents support their kids’ interest because this is what their child dreams of doing, not because this is what the parent wants. They should encourage love for this craft and for this kind of work and teach the child how to enjoy it. The kids shouldn’t go through the experience thinking that ‘this is work’ because they are children after all, aren’t they?)” she shares

Achieving success in performing arts through encouragement

Angel has played many popular roles in the past, but her role as the acting mentor for Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp 3 is a first for her career. “Gusto kong bigyan ng opportunity yung mga bata to shine. Sana mahalin nila yung craft, yung industry, at hindi nila isipin na trabaho lang siya (I just want these kids to be given the opportunity to shine. I want them to learn how to love the craft, the industry, and not treat it as just a job),” she shares. “Challenge talaga siya na maturo ko sa mga bata yung kailangan nilang matutunan sa maikling panahon, pero the least I can give them is yung suporta at encouragement na kailangan nila para maabot nila yung full potential nila (It will definitely be a challenge to be able to teach these kids all that I know in such a limited time, but the least I can give them is the support and encouragement that they need to reach their full potential),” she adds.

This season’s i-Shine Talent Camp 3 is hosted by Dimples Romana, Matteo Guidicelli, and Xian Lim. The Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp is also giving away over Php 1 million worth of prizes and a contract from ABS-CBN and Promil Pre-School to the grand winner. The previous year’s Promil Pre-School Grand i-Shiner, Yesha Camille, has received quite a number of television appearances after winning the feat, and is now involved in an upcoming series with her i-Shine mentor Piolo Pascual.

Zsa Zsa Padilla shares her past experiences to the talented kids of Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp 3

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Zsa Zsa Padilla is a veteran actress, TV host, singer, and a true Philippine icon with more than 30 years of experience, but she has a new title to add under her belt - Singing mentor for Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp 3. 

The divine diva, shares her past experiences to talented kids of the present for an exceptional future.

Zsa Zsa, who was recently unveiled as one of the top caliber mentors of the show, will be taking on the responsibility of mentoring this year’s batch of talented preschoolers. Together with a panel of esteemed mentors: choreographer and G-Force director, Georcelle Dapat-Sy, and world-class television and film actress, Angel Locsin, Zsa Zsa will be guiding chosen preschoolers through singing workshops.

For 25 years, Promil Pre-School has been well known for talent development, raising awareness for parental participation, proper guidance and good nutrition as factors that play major roles in bringing preschoolers to their full potential. The Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp is one of Promil Pre-school’s advocacies, in which the talents of Filipino children nationwide are engaged. “It’s exciting to be part of something that recognizes and appreciates talent at a young age.” Zsa Zsa shares that the show is something that brings back memories of how she started as an artist.

Nurturing talent in your formative years

The divine diva today can automatically command the attention of any room she enters, but the singer reveals that it wasn’t always like that. She started out as a shy child who only got to sing in front of her family. “I grew up in a compound where we all lived close to each other,” she recalls. “When my uncles would get together in the late afternoons, they’d get the guitar and they’d ask me to sing.”

Zsa Zsa, together with her cousin whom she grew up with, Gino Padilla, learned to harness their skills while doing duets to entertain their uncles. “I always knew that I love singing. Even as a child, when I’d hear a song on the radio, I would sing it immediately. I had fast recall and my family noticed that about me,” she says. “They would ask me to learn a piece, and then I’d perform it for them. I was the entertainment. Ganun ako nahasa (That’s how I was trained)." 

While she knew she had the talent, it was her family that allowed her to gain her confidence in front of a crowd. “Singing for my uncles, that’s really my first memory of my musical background. Allowing me to sing for them was their way of nurturing my talent.” 

Through Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp, Zsa Zsa hopes to develop the raw talent of the chosen preschoolers. “These kids are curious and eager to learn, but you need to guide them while they’re still young and sensitive to change. You need to show them that they’re capable, because they’ll really take that with them as they grow up and develop their talents.”

It’s not always in the genes, but also in the environment

Though Zsa Zsa’s parents weren’t musical people, she was able to master her craft because of her exposure to music through her family. While both her daughters, Karylle and Zia, are musically inclined, she credits not just the genes, but also their environment growing up. “Karylle was exposed to the entertainment industry at a young age. During that time, she was much more interested in ballet, but she’d see me host for a popular show and she’d just take it all in. We knew she could sing, and eventually because of all the exposure to it, singing just became second nature for her.”

This is why Zsa Zsa believes that getting kids on shows like the Promil Pre-School i-Shine Camp will give them the right exposure so they can dream big early, and learn how to pursue these dreams early. “These kids are lucky because there’s a program available like the i-Shine Talent Camp. At a young age, they’ll already be exposed to the music industry, which will really help them develop to be artists,” she shares. “Promil Pre-School has provided a venue for kids that love singing, dancing, and acting to really work at their craft.”

Proper motivation to reach their full potential

Having Zsa Zsa on board is going to be a treat for the Promil Preschool i-Shine finalists, because this means they are going to be the first who will get valuable training and mentoring from a pillar in the country’s musical industry.

It will be a personal challenge for the Zsa Zsa to be firm and honest, but still encouraging with the way she guides the preschoolers. “They're very young and sensitive. They would take everything you say to heart,” she says. The first-time singing mentor plans to add a mother’s touch to her mentoring style. “It’s important to boost their confidence, but still making sure that they properly learn the craft,” she adds.

Zsa Zsa, despite the success she’s earned with the music world, also wants to share her hardships with her mentees.

“These kids really come from all types of backgrounds. I also want them to learn that getting to your dreams entails battling the odds and persistence through hardship,” she says.

 “The kids are eager to learn about the industry, and it will be my responsibility to show them the ropes, to share with them as much as I know, including the challenges that come with it.” 

While the competition might be tough, Zsa Zsa is confident that with proper guidance and nutrition, the newest batch of i-Shiners will all prove to be stars.

Catch Zsa Zsa and the rest of the Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp 3 mentors, Georcelle Dapat-Sy and Angel Locsin, on ABS-CBN.

Hosted by Dimples Romana, Matteo Guidicelli, and Xian Lim, the Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp 3 is giving away over Php 1 million worth of prizes and a contract form ABS-CBN and Promil Pre-School to the grand winner.