Shainne Hostalero

Photo from: jcomp/Freepik The common point of complaint regarding the communication between public agencies serving children and the media has always been the fear, mistrust, and subsequent misinformation. On one side, you have a child welfare system burdened with the nearly impossible task of mitigating the worst effects of societal dysfunction: child abuse, neglect, and child death. On the other side, you have a cast of overwhelmingly well-intentioned journalists, working under a strict deadline, who are met with a foster care system practically and - in more than half of the states - legally cloaked in obscurity. The system's culture of confidentiality invariably erodes the news media's confidence in it, resulting in a more sensationalist coverage that the foster care professionals are scared about. It is a case, which has showcased us the current warped public perception of a broken foster care system. The logical result is that myriad opportunities to engender civi...

I don't remember having a perfect skin. My skin is definitely not perfect though fair but not good. I was athletic and layas . I used to go to different places by air, land and sea and I go around UP, Manila Museums, QC Memorial Circle, and other parks in the Metro just by walking. I don't even like staying in cold places, I prefer natural breeze (that's how I grew up), I'm ginawin  by nature and I'm a summer baby. So that can explain why and also due to some hormonal thing. Nonetheless, there are days I feel and/or look pretty. Kahit minsan . Hahaha! During my first few weeks of being pregnant, I was okay. My skin is fine and believe it or not, I'm glowing. Naks!  But when I enter my 9th week into this pregnancy, my skin started to become dry. How frustrating! I had my first pre-natal check-up at 4 weeks because I'm early to know that I'm pregnant because I was always on the look out. Hahaha! So during that check-up there were a lot of things I shoul...

Photo from the Philippine Star (internet photo) November 6, 2013 was indeed memorable to the whole Philippines; the kind of memory that was far behind the good light and was way too painful to be remembered as Typhoon Yolanda (internationally named Typhoon Haiyan) a category 5 Super Typhoon hit the Philippines, particularly affected Tacloban City, Leyte. It devastated over 14 million people and 41% of it were children. More than 1 million homes were destroyed during the typhoon; 50 to 90% of the overall reported damage were health facilities and approximately 90% of schools and building have been impaired. The country mourned for all the people who died, families who got broken, and children who have been left behind. Some families were not able to be found, some of their members found dead and other were still reportedly harmed during the devastation. The Philippine Government, its agencies, non-government organizations and even international agencies and groups sent their he...

Oceans acidifying at 'unparalleled' rate Photo by telegraph.co.uk Carbon emissions can make the oceans and other bodies of water more acidic and causes calcification or prohibits a shell or the skeleton to form. Thus, the end of these marine organisms might be soon. Due to our garbage, most specifically plastics that we throw away anywhere and gets through various bodies of water, can cause damage to our marine organisms and impedes the way they form, grow, and serve the oceans. Through all efforts about eliminating and/or lessening the use of plastics, hopefully oceans and its marine life form can be saved. But with reckless and imprudent use of these materials, no matter how we eliminate and lessen its use, it can still create harm. With all the wastes we throw in the oceans or its other forms, it can drawback to us through the food we eat. Fishes that we consume can eat our waste, thus fallback to us as a consummate of our health and the drawbacks will go...

Photo from web Straw, along with other plastic materials, can be very harmful to the environment. Most of us never think twice or even re-consider using these kinds of disposable plastic straws. True enough that using straws gives us convenience and some might wonder why we need to re-think using these. Here’s some of the reason why: Straws are made up of POLYPROPYLENE – it is a petroleum bi-product; which is the same material used in automotive, textiles, and other plastic materials. Straws are among the TOP 10 Marine Debris Items 44% of all SEA BIRD species and 22% of CETACEANS have ingested plastic – straws included Plastic constitutes 90% of ALL trash floating in the world’s oceans In the last 25 years, 6,263,319 straws and stirrers were picked up during annual beach clean-up events Using straw can be of a convenience, no doubt. But in cases, we can still drink our beverages even...

PRESS RELEASE How Busy People Are Finding Time to Care The trick is to make it a part of your busy-ness. By night, DJs Sunny Bonner and PJ Paradise of the Las Vegas-based duo WeRWolvz are making clubs come alive with their powerful music. But once in a while, they find themselves in Manila not just to energize the local club scene but also to help children by volunteering their time and talents. The current editor-in-chief of Good Vibes PH, Kai Magsanoc, established her own start-up to spread positive news amidst today's sea of dismal messages. Brian Bantungan, an educator, artist, and nature builder, is in the best position to spread progressive ideas and concepts among his numerous students in St. Paul University, EJ Miranda, Red Bull marketing executive, shared his time and musical abilities to teach children how to play piano. While independent music and visual artist Amiya Velayo, who sings for and about children, expressed the importance of sharing her own time and that...

Every day, we learn something new; and every day we have the chance to make a difference, inspire other people, assess ourselves and solve our problems in the most creative ways. Today, let me share to you a very inspiring story about Louis Plante . Louis Plante Screenshot Photo of User Innovation: Entrepreneurship class video Massachusetts Institute of Technology Last night, I attended my User Innovation: Entrepreneurship class. It was about "Frame Your Problem." The topic featured Louis Plante. He is an Electrical Engineer and a Musician who has Cystic Fibrosis - a disease that causes thick mucus to build in the lungs and damage the respiratory system. The only cure for Cystic Fibrosis is through clapping or tapping the chest to create vibrations to the lungs. This type of treatment is kind of painful. Because Louis Plante wants help to cure his illness, he thought of all possible ways on how he can actually help himself; and he was able to come up with an ide...

Photo by my brother, James Hostalero PICC, Plenary Hall My college graduation  First, a big CONGRATULATIONS to all of you! I say, education is worth more than any amount of material things our money can buy. It is one of the treasures we could cherish and share to everyone forever; and to all of you who have decided to pursue and achieve your dreams; to all of you who have passed and finished your elementary, secondary and college degrees with and even without honors, soar high! You are one step closer to the betterment of our society. And, as early as now, you finally have made a difference. The best advice I could give to all of you is... Don't STOP . Don't. No matter how the universe says otherwise. Like some of you, I have so many frustrations. I can't even say that I am successful (in the universe qualifications) right at this moment, but if feeling 'happy and contented' and/or finding 'genuine happiness' are to be registered as qualifications t...

He Cares Foundation is a Christian non-profit organization that helps poor/street children in Metro Manila by providing their basic necessities such as food, clothing, medical assistance, education and spiritual support. *** I came to know He Cares Foundation through their efforts of helping children by conducting tutorial sessions every weekend, mostly Saturdays. It is a good effort by the foundation to provide assistance to children when it comes to building their base and point as they go on and reach their dreams and goals in life. Education is very important. It is one of our instruments towards success, better community and society. I do believe that if we are educated enough and if we would make use of our wisdom and acquired knowledge then we can finally fulfill one of our existential purposes - to build a better and peaceful nation. Help us educate and impart knowledge to children by being one of the great instruments of change. Be a Volunteer! He Cares Foundation...

As a Youth Advocate, I encourage everyone to join the campaign to help the Filipino youth achieve what's best for them. Proper education and the importance of it and children's rights are the things I am keen on promoting and giving to the children in all possible ways that I can - through articles/write-ups, volunteerism, donations, and spreading the good word to help those children be sent to schools, achieve their goals and dreams in life and what's truly right for them. We, even in the simplest way, can help those who are in need. Helping doesn't have to be grand; we should know that the tinniest gestures of help really do matter and could change one's life. Let's lend a hand to those who are in need of assistance. We can MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Be in the know! Support UNICEF Philippines: (To know more, click the link below.) UNICEF Philippines