"Hakab Na! 2019" - National Breastfeeding Awareness Month

Our warmest greetings!

In celebration of the National Breastfeeding Awareness Month in August, Breastfeeding Pinays (BFP), in partnership with the Department of Health, SM Cares, UNICEF, and World Vision, will organize a one-day breastfeeding activity called ‘Hakab Na! 2019’.

Now on its seventh year, Hakab Na! 2019 gathers from all over the Philippines, breastfeeding families, lactation experts, peer counselors, and breastfeeding advocacy supporters, to provide awareness of the health and economic benefits of breastfeeding, promote the importance of providing proper support to breastfeeding mothers and their families, and ultimately establish the Philippines as a breastfeeding nation.

Central to this celebration is the act of mothers simultaneously breastfeeding their children and the recognition of Hakab Na events all over the country this August.

The simultaneous breastfeeding activity in SMX Convention Center Manila starts at 10:00 AM.

EVENT DETAILS

WHAT:             Hakab Na! 2019

WHEN:           18 August 2019, Sunday

Registration starts at 7AM

Event proper starts at 8AM

Simultaneous Breastfeeding at 10:00 AM

WHERE:           Function Rooms 3-5, SMX Convention Center Manila, Pasay City

(Friends from the media are requested to register at the MEDIA BOOTH.)

For more information, please contact Ms. Normi Alvaira-Herrera at +639453210811 / (02) 332 9929 or hakabna.communications@gmail.com.

You may also follow their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/BFPLibrary/

Or Facebook Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/309290256614088/

Thank you!

About Hakab Na!

Hakab Na! is Breastfeeding Pinays’ annual event to promote, protect and support breastfeeding. Now on its seventh year, Hakab Na! is a community-building activity held to celebrate the World Breastfeeding Week every year. Central to this event is the simultaneous act of breastfeeding to celebrate and spread awareness on breastfeeding and its benefits to babies, children, mothers, fathers, the whole family, and even to the entire country. 

For Hakab Na! 2018, 7,069 mothers simultaneously latched their babies in 77 different locations around the country and 1 overseas. The main Hakab Na! 2018 event at the SMX Convention Center recorded 1,692 mothers and almost 5,000 in attendance.

About Breastfeeding Pinays

Breastfeeding Pinays (BFP), a SEC-registered, non-stock, non-profit organization, is an online breastfeeding community with the primary aim of providing proper information in breastfeeding management and support to mothers and Filipino families. It is made up of mothers, fathers, other family members, doctors, midwives, nurses, and other health professionals.

Founded on January 22, 2013, it started with a small group of mothers who shared a passion in empowering women and families for breastfeeding. To their surprise, their seemingly small initiative of opening a Facebook support group ballooned into a huge community—within the first 24 hours from its creation, Breastfeeding Pinays had 200 members. Today, the BFP community continues to grow and now has over 270,000 members.

Aside from providing information and support 24/7 through the Facebook group, BFP also holds pocket meet-ups in various locations for mothers encountering breastfeeding challenges, organizes talks and seminars on childbirth, breastfeeding, and Tamang KAIN (Kid and Infant Nutrition), and has also launched various breastfeeding activities such as photo exhibits and even a fashion show featuring nursing gowns.

Further, in order to address the need for evidence-based information, awareness, and support, BFP has come up with training and certification for breastfeeding peer counselors and specialized training on relactation management. Mothers, doctors, nurses, midwives, and other individuals who work with women, babies, and families are thus equipped not just with updated knowledge on breastfeeding science, but also with counseling skills that enable them to reach out and assist families, whether in their professional practice or in their volunteer work via one-on-one or group counseling.

The Wonder Boobies Tribe, led my Ms. Kaye Cantila Herrera, won last year's OOTD contest. :)

I'm currently 9 months pregnant (36 weeks), and I decided to join this event and volunteer to help in any way I can. I believe that I'll be part of this community from now on because I also choose to be a breastfeeding advocate. :)

The Amount Of Hiring A Maid Or Helper In Singapore

People hire domestic workers for various reasons. You may be getting a maid to take care of your aging parents, your children while you work or a general house manager to get your home organized as you work. The economic conditions globally have recently prompted many families in Singapore to look for full-time domestic workers from foreign countries.

This confirms the high number of foreign domestic workers in Singapore. Many families have shown interest in foreign maids as they assume that it is cheaper—or is it lack of domestic workers in Singapore? Whichever the case, we are going to analyze and break down the costs of hiring a domestic worker in Singapore to get a more definite figure that will determine whether this option is actually cheaper or it’s just another bad business.

The monthly salary

The maid’s salary predominantly varies based on some factors like the country they’re coming from, the years of experience, and many others.

●      Filipino- $570

●      Indonesian-$550

●      Indian-$350

●      Myanmar-$450

●      Sri Lanka-$400

You’re also expected to pay for meals, medical, lodging and travel expenses on top of the salary.

Levy

As the employer, you’re supposed to pay levy directly to the government. The average monthly rate stands at $260 while the concessionary fee is $60, Although the monthly levy is expected to rise any time between now and 2019. You only pass to get the concessionary rate if there is a person with a disability, an aged person, a grandchild, or child living at the same residence as you. Here are the conditions;

1. Either you or your spouse has a young child or a grandchild who is below or at the age of 16 years, a Singapore citizen and living the same address.
2. You or one of the family members living with you is disabled
3. You live with a Singapore resident aged above 65 years
4. Agency Charges

Every agency has its own rate which heavily depends on the services listed. Many agencies don’t virtually announce their prices, but you should always expect them to command about $1000. Some little research won’t do you harm but may help shed some light on the various charges and services. Also, pay attention to agencies requesting very low agency fees as this the industry has very many scammers as well as immoral and unethical operators.

Work permit

Work permits for domestic workers nowadays cost about $30 plus an additional $30 after the application has been successfully completed. Work permits virtually take three to five weeks nowadays and once obtained can be renewed after two years.

Medical and other personal insurance

You’re responsible for purchasing insurance policies for your maid. Depending on the many coverages available, some of the basic policies include medical and personal accident insurance coverages.  The minimum costs for each include:

●      Personal accident protection: $40,000

●      Medical coverage: $15,000

There exist other insurance companies that provide coverage for both policies at a subsidized rate as a combined package. Most of them are available in premium packages that range up to $200 for 26 months.

Performance bond

If you intend to hire an Indonesian domestic worker, the hiring or renewing contracts may set you back with a slap of $70. This amount covers for the performance bond of $6,000 the full amount of money you will be required to pay if you breach the agreement.

This bond helps protect the migrant worker by making sure that the employers stick by the employment terms and condition of the contracts. Similarly, you will need to pay $40 for a bond worth $2000 if you intend to employ a worker from the Philippines.

Medical checkups and regular examinations

The maid will be required to take an initial medical test needed for your work permit application. You are financially responsible for paying this test which costs S$80. Subsequently, the worker may need to get regular medical checkups which may cost you approximately S$35 depending on the type and number of tests. Some tests are only required to be taken after every two years.

Settling in the Programme (SIP)

Another additional cost is the Settling in Programme (SIP). You will need to send your domestic manager a special program known as Settling in The Programme (SIP) upon arrival which costs S$75. The program typically covers subjects like stress management, relationships, safety, and employment conditions.

Travel expenses

Depending on where the maid is coming from, you’re entirely responsible for the air ticket for your employee. This may cost you between S$ 200 to S$600 depending on her home country. Alternatively, you can find a credit card that offers travel bonuses and benefits to help you save a couple of bucks as you will need to find a taxi or personally fuel and drive to the airport to pick the employee. In the airplane, she will need to eat and rest if the flight is a long one—all that should be covered by you.