Hi Ellen. I am from Manila, Philippines and i just think that it's awesome the way that you seek and discover talents from all over the globe...Charice Pempenco being one of them. A friend brought to my attention the fact that you expressed an interest in another Filipino artist who also got discovered via YouTube...Arnel Pineda who is now the new front man for the band Journey. His story is just incredible and has been called a "rock and roll fairy tale" by CNN in a feature they did earlier.

If you would, indeed, want to feature him in your show, i have sent you an email with all my contact details here in California and I would be more than happy to help your people get a hold of Arnel.

Thanks very much and more power!

Please to all Mothers out there if you can breast feed that is great, if you can't, you can't. Don't beat yourself up about it. Everyone has challenges with being a Mom it comes with the territory and you will always be second guessing yourself it is natural. This is coming from a Mom with twin premature boys who where tube fed for the first 3 months of their life. I pumped to feed them and had to go on hormone pills to get my milk to come in. When the first one could finally breath on his own I tried to breast feed and I only suffered Mastitis as a result. I continued to pump and then feed and when I was able to take one home and the other in hospital that was still on oxygen I had no choice but to pump and feed. My second one was in hospital and every time I was there to visit the nurses asked me to try and breast feed with my second one and he would crash and they would have to increase his oxygen support. I was tried so hard that I didn't take the time to enjoy them in hospital. My babies are now formula feed and they are healthier and strong and no issues.

This is a very important time with you and your baby don't let this topic or any other mind bearing subject take over. Do what you can do with what you have and don't listen to the negativity of your choice because your choice is probably the right one for you. Enjoy your little one the time slips away too fast. Enjoy each moment you can't get it back. Their life is truly a miracle and treat it as one.

There are many mothers, including myself, who are heartbroken over their inability to breast feed.

I produced more than enough milk. My son was breastfed exclusively for the first two months. But, there were deeper rooted issues. He was born with hip dysplasia and had to wear a bulky Pavlik Harness 24-7 for several months. He would not take the breast after he was put into this harness. I couldn't hold him close enough, and after struggling to get him latched, he would let go immediately and arch his whole body in a horrible fit. I pumped as long as I could, but no pump I used pulled enough milk. I tried lactation consultants, I tried every pump they suggested. I manually expressed milk.

The milk eventually dried up, even though I was pumping as often as I could, trying to keep my milk production up.

Today, he is ten months old. He is very, very bright and incredibly healthy. Perhaps it's because he got a good start, but he is now strictly formula fed. There isn't a day that goes by that my angst over breastfeeding doesn't haunt me. I hope to have better luck with the next child, whenever I decide to have another.

I was dead-set against formula feeding, but my son had to eat. I couldn't let him starve. To the other mothers who dealt with this dilemma, I reach out to you and say "you are not alone." To those who choose formula from the start, I am not one to judge. Nobody is. There are facts to support breastfeeding, I am not going to counter them, because I absolutely agree with them. I fully encourage every mother to give breastfeeding a chance.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go and hold my son close and remind myself that I am a wonderful mother who does everything possible to give her child everything he needs.

If you are as smart on this issue as you claim to be you would also know that it is been said that breastfed babies are said to be healthier then formula fed babies which is why I stated that she has been a very healthy baby and clearly getting what she need to thrive and grow. Now a child could "eat anything in do this" that doesn't really help promte you position on breastfeeding now does it??? Make up your mind is it breastmilk is the only answer for a healthy child or cant hey eat anything and be a heathly and beautiful child??? I also am not sure that you can read since what I posted is not that I had a CHOICE it was formula or my baby would have starved and DIED!!! I COULD NOT BREASTFEED!!! No matter how much I tried or what I tried I could not produce milk! I believe that breastmilk is best but sometime people do not have a choice and that does not mean they are bad mothers or that there child is doomed. If you want people to listen to what you have to say you need to learn to read what is written and listen yourself and you will get alot further with you mission. By the way since you seem so educated I appreciate that you are happy my child is healthy since you seem to think only you know what it takes to raise and feed a baby by the way despite be being a horriable mother due to the fact that I COULD NOT (not chose not to breastfeed)she is also a very smart baby inspite of me.

I have a 6 month old beautiful healthy baby girl...so healthy that my dr laughs at her for being "off the chart" in percentile for her height. When I was expecting I wanted to breastfeed because I have always heard that it is best for your baby and that is my main goal to do what is best for my baby. Well I must be in that 1% that doesn't produce enough milk. I feed my baby every hour, then pumped trying to get enough milk to feed her and because I listened to people say not to give her a bottle because then she wouldn't breastfeed I listened to my baby cry because she was hungry and not getting enough to eat so I started to give her formula luckily my wonderful baby would take the bottle and the beast so now I was breastfeeding then giving her a bottle to fill her up and still pumping trying to get my milk to come in all because of wanting to go what is best for my baby and the whole time feeling like a bad mother and a failure because of people like you who think you know what is best for everyone. Just because I give my baby formula doesn't mean I love her less or that I am a bad mother. She has been a very health baby as compared to my nephew who breastfeed til he was 15 months. Sometimes things just turn out how they are meant to be and only God knows what that is.

Well I am sorry that this has struck a nerve. I fully expected it would. I am also fully educated on breastfeeding and there is not one thing that can be said to defend a choice NOT to breastfeed, barring sickness or an unusual circumstance or the "very rare" not enough milk. Because your "tired" does not cut it...As I said...most mothers WOULD have enough milk if they sat down and nursed when their baby wanted, which could be alot at times. I am also certain that if you used your God given breasts to feed your baby like those glands were ment for....then soymilk wouldn't even come in the equation, because lactose intolerant babies can easily digest breastmilk. Discoveries of the benefits and composition of breastmilk are continually being made, then being added to the powders to try and mimic breastmilk. This composition is what they base the powder on. Your baby wanted to feed all the time because breastmilk is very easily digested, and I am sure you would find it easier sitting down with baby then running around washing bottles and buying that manufactured powder??

As a reply to the Anonymous post above in reference to the "manufactured powders" that are out there...Not all women CAN nurse. I didn't produce enough milk to nurse my son. He's still healthy even though he's on formula. I tried several times to nurse, because it was what I wanted to do, but not everything is easy. Just because that's your view on what's "natural" or "meant to be there" doesn't mean all women can do it. Not every woman produces enough milk to nurse their children. So if all you're going to do is judge people for their personal or needed choices that they make in their lives, then that's pathetic. There is a choice to nurse or to not to. Just because women have breasts doesn't mean they automatically HAVE to use them to provide for their children. As long as the child is being fed, let it be.

I have been reading all the posts...I really believe there is no choice, There just is no choice, there should be no "personal choice" to give your baby some manufactured powder so we can have it easier. We should not be lazy and accept what is manufactured and feed it to our growing babies thinking it is acceptable. All so we can have more free time and keep up with the jone's!!?? Our babies deserve better, working, running around, and trying to look good all the time has cost our babies. The evidence is there. Sit down, enjoy, and give your baby what it was MENT to have, what was created for the optumum development of a human brain. Just because we can't see anything different does not mean there is no difference's there. It is proven and not too dificult to find out why breast is best..for both baby AND mother. You can't dispute it...unless for instance the mother that was sick, or something like that, it could be justified, but only then. If you made that choice well then you have to accept what that choice means. Period. Can one honestly say they chose to not give their baby what any medical professional would say it the "perfect food" for the absolute best development of your baby?? Kids live on Macdonalds and fast food all the time and yes...they get by...would you CHOSE to do that though?? Compare that child to a child who eates healthy choices on a regular basis...there will be differences. I am sure you don't feed your child fast food and junk regularily. That is what formula is..."fast food for the baby" It will get them by if that's all that is available. Getting emotional about your choice not to breastfeed, while you know there cells are dividing and trying to justify your "rights" only shows guilt and also the fact that your trying to justify it to yourself. All the facts are there and I am not saying anything that every mom out there already knows.

For my earlier post i have to say sorry it is NOT directed towards Wendi. I am so sorry Wendy, It was directed towards the person who refers to themselves as C.

Sorry Wendi!!!

It is a sad day when mothers turn against other mothers...It is ridiculous to judge each other based on who breast and formula feeds. It’s someone’s right and personal choice. It doesn't make you a bad person if you don't and it surely doesn't make you mom of the year if you do. Spend less time judging and more time supporting. God bless...