25 Math Short Cuts | Math Made Easy.

Perhaps two of the most meaningful gifts that Yue received last Christmas (at least in terms of educational purpose) were these books from MATH-Inic - Algebra Made Easy as Arithmetic and 25 Math Short Cuts. 

Christmas gifts from MATH-Inic!

Yue and I only managed to flip through the pages of these books during the Christmas break as we had been too busy with family gatherings and stuff (it is the season of partying, after all). We finally had the time to read the books properly during our very recent 5-day stay hospital. Yue got admitted for pneumonia last Saturday, and one of the the things that kept him preoccupied whilst there - aside from eating and watching cartoons - (no gadgets for him during that time) was this book, 25 Math Short Cuts.

25 Math Short Cuts.

Written by Mr. Virgilio 'Ike' Y. Prudente, the creator and founder of MATH-Inic, this book was first published in 2014, in celebration of MSC's 25th Foundation Day. MSC is the first and only school in San Pablo City which specializes in Math, Science, and Computing - an institution also founded by Sir Ike.

Now on its fourth printing, this book contains practical algebra tricks for everyday use. For students, these simple tricks can help them solve problems and equations easily and might help in improving their grades.

An overview of the book and the author.

My initial thoughts as I skimmed through the pages of this book was, "Homaygad, numbers! I can't believe I'm seeing all these numbers again!"

You see, Math and I were never friends. I won't deny it - I struggled A LOT with Trigonometry and Calculus back in high school. I was probably the only student at UP Rural High School (or at least in my batch) to be part of both the Advanced English Class and the Math Remedial Class during my junior year, lol.  Also, that wretched 4-point-oh I got in Statistics back in college was the only eyesore in my otherwise nifty TOR.

But as Yue and I read the book carefully, understanding each short cut presented, and solving the exercises as we went along, I started to see Mathematics in a different light. I was like, "Why didn't this book exist when I was still studying?!" My life could have been much easier in high school had I learned all about these tricks when I was younger, lol.

One of the many 'math tricks' you will find in this book.

For Yue, however, it's a different story. He loves numbers, and numbers seem to love him too, considering how he excels in Math. That being said, he enjoyed 25 Math Short Cuts from the get-go. The title of the book alone was enough to pique his curiosity, and he really did immerse himself in this book, with matching 'oohs' and 'aahs' as he applied the short cuts to the math exercises.

Math Short Cut #3. Subtraction without Borrowing.

Math Short Cut #12. Dividing by 4 and 8.

Aside from numbers, equations, and exercises, this book also contains 'Math Stories' - snippets of Sir Ike's life and career and how he incorporates these math tricks into his daily activities. I really enjoyed reading these stories, as it gave me a glimpse of how Sir Ike is as a father, as a friend, and as a mentor.

A Math Story.

Similarly, you'll get a 'feel' of how impressive Sir Ike is based on the testimonials from several academic and public personalities. The book's foreword, for instance, was written by Mr. Cielito Habito, former Director General of NEDA and Sir Ike's batchmate in Philippine Science High School.

About the Author.

All in all, the book 25 Math Short Cuts makes a great supplement to your child's Math lessons. True to the MATH-Inic motto, this book turns Math haters into Math lovers, and Math lovers into Math masters. The book is easy and fun to read (just don't let the numbers intimidate you), and can be read however you want it - in order, or by skipping to the chapter that you find most interesting or useful. If you're a hustler with numbers, you can probably finish this book in one sitting. Yue and I took our time, 'digesting' all the information (remember, I'm quite the slowpoke with numbers, lol) as we read about the short cuts one by one.

Thank you for the gift of knowledge, Sir Ike!

You can get your own copy of 25 Math Short Cuts online via the official MATH-Inic website. Each book retails for Php 250 each, or you can purchase it as a bundle with the Algebra Made Easy as Arithmetic for Php 500. And yes, they ship anywhere in the Philippines!

Outside of the country? No worries! This book is also listed on Amazon!

Follow MATH-Inic on Facebook for promos and updates.

What to Expect | The Unexpected Arrival.

Last week, I made a quick trip to the post office to claim this parcel.

This box was heaaaavy!

Turns out this box contains these.

Finally! They're here!

The What to Expect series, which I won from a giveaway way back in February! After almost three months, my prize finally found its way home, haha!

This was actually WTE's third attempt to ship out my prize. The first box didn't make it to the Philippines and was 'returned to sender'. The second box went to parts unknown. It didn't reach my doorstep, and neither did it came back to WTE headquarters. I wasn't expecting for this to come, but guess it's true when they say the third time's a charm. The third shipment finally made it to Philippine shores. Yay!

So exactly what is What to Expect?

What to Expect When You're Expecting is the brainchild of Heidi Murkoff; she originally came up with this guide book to help expectant moms sleep better at night. What started as a simple project has now become a phenomenal bestseller, with 17 million copies in print and read by almost 93% percent of pregnant women. The book has been heralded as the 'pregnancy bible', and is now in its fourth edition.

With the success of this first book, Heidi went on to write What to Expect The First Year and What to Expect the Second Year. The series is now a worldwide success, and is published in over 30 languages.

New babies on my bookshelf!

At this point, the What to Expect the Second Year is the most useful to me, as I have a toddler who needs a bit of work on the tantrums, anger management, and discipline department. In between taking care of the little man, doing the house chores, blogging and my freelance writing gigs, and watching my Kdramas, I try to spare an hour or two for this book. So far, I'm enjoying and learning a lot from every page of it.

Here's an excerpt from Chapter 7, Disciplining Your Toddler.

"So be the calm in the storm as much as you can. When your toddler has done something that makes you angry, take a few moments to cool down before you attempt a disciplinary action. Then, respond. Calmly explain the error of your toddler's ways and what you plan to do about it.


A little too late for that - already lost your cool? Don't worry if you can't always slam on the temper brakes. Again, you're only human, which is actually important for your only-human child to know. As long as the tirades are relatively few, far between, and short-lived, and aimed at your child's behavior, not your child, they won't interfere with effective parenting, or even with your overall discipline strategy. 


When you lose it, however, be sure to apologize for it: 'I'm sorry I yelled at you, but I was very angry'. Adding 'I love you' will let you know that sometimes we get angry at people we love, and that's okay."

The little rascal. :)

I'm glad to be the lucky winner of Mommytot's giveaway, and the recipient of these wonderful books. Thank you, Mommytots! And many, many thanks to Mr. Dan Weissbrodt and What to Expect for never giving up on sending the package to me. I truly appreciate all the effort!

Cheers to the crazy, beautiful world of parenting! :)
Shared with Green Monday, Blue Monday, and Wednesday Whites. 

Join | Iris and the Dragonflies Giveaway!

Iris and the Dragonflies is a novel written by Rosemary Danielis. The book is all about an eleven year old child named Iris. Unlike all other children, she prefers staying on the creek instead of playing with her friends. She also do not like going to school, not because of her resistance for learning but because of the fact the she can't relate with her classmates. Her only friends are the dragonflies. It amazes her how she can connect and relate with the said creatures.

 Nonetheless, Iris is a special and loving child. She cares for the environment and enjoys doing great things for everyone. Her deep connection with the dragonflies became stronger especially when she learned about her destiny.

My most favorite conversation in the book is this:
Iris: "A journey? Where am I going?"
Lea (dragonfly): "It's a journey into the future. Don't worry Iris, you are not alone. We are all in this journey together."

The relationship of Iris with the dragonflies is exceptional. It was only with these creatures that she learned the true meaning of friendship. This novel is a certified must-read! It's perfect for all ages. You can read it yourself and allow Iris to bring you back to your childhood days. You can also give this book to your kids and teach them about how Iris managed to fulfill her destiny.

If you wish to read Iris and the Dragonflies, enter on the Rafflecopter below! Six lucky winners will receive copies of the book - 5 Kindle versions and 1 Paperback copy (autographed)! Wait, there's more. One winner will be randomly chosen to win $25 gift card to spend on Amazon. The giveaway will run from April 7 to 21, 2012. This review and giveaway is written and prepared by I Heart Giveaways.

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