MANILA, Philippines ? Today?s parents can thank technology for keeping them connected to their children all the time. Whether they?re stuck in the office, out of the country or running errands, mobile phones mean that their kids are always just one quick call away.

Seven busy parents share their cell phone secrets?how often they call their kids, what they talk about, their unforgettable conversations and their tips for other parents who always want to stay in touch.

Nikka Abes
Mom of five-year-old Javi and three-year-old Rafa

Staying connected: ?The phone keeps me in contact with their nanny so I know where they are, what they?re doing, especially when they?re not at home.?

Speed dial: ?If I know they?re home and under their lola?s care then I call maybe once a day. I call more often for more complicated schedules out of home.?

Talk, talk, talk: ?We talk about what they?re doing, what they did in school, what they ate, if they drank their medicine, etc.?

One thing I tell my kids every day: ?That I love them.?

Unforgettable phone conversation: ?When my youngest asked if he could have a baby brother after he updated me on what he had for lunch!?

Ruby Gan
Mom of twenty-year-old Martin Francis Tee Ten and eighteen-year-old Raphael Francis Tee Ten

Staying connected: ?Mobile phones keep me updated on their whereabouts. Since Martin is involved in a lot of school activities, he keeps me posted if there will be meetings that will keep him in school. Raphael commutes to UP and that makes me a bit antsy. His text messages keep me updated. When I am abroad, I call them to make sure they are not late in waking up for school. I cannot imagine living my kind of life right now without the mobile phones. I would forever be worrying wondering where they are.?

Speed dial: ?In a day, I call them two to three times. Calling is a lot faster than waiting for text messages.?

Talk, talk, talk: ?We mostly talk about what they need in school. When I was in New York so many years ago, mobile phones kept us connected. I would call them to find out how they were, what?s happening in school, etc. It would always have a bittersweet ending because I wish I would never have to end the call.?

One thing I tell my kids every day: ?Take care. Ingat. Mwah!?

Unforgettable phone conversation: ?When Martin called me up while I was in Bangkok. He was so worried because he found out something happened to a friend. He was thinking of how I would take it so he called to make sure that I was fine. I was so touched!?

Sheree Gotuaco
Mom of three

Staying connected: ?Only my eldest who is 11 has a cellphone. It helps a lot with coordination and schedules, especially if there are last minute changes.?

Speed dial: ?We mostly text to each other unless something needs an immediate action. My eldest usually calls me at the end of the day if I am not yet home and it is later than usual.?

Talk, talk, talk: ?We discuss mostly their whereabouts and what they need to accomplish for the day.?

One thing I tell my kids every day: ?That I love them.?

Tips for other parents: ?Cellphones for responsible kids who are old enough can be a big help.?

Jules Yanga
Mom to twelve-year-old Tiger and six-year-old Nigel

Staying connected: ?We assigned a postpaid mobile phone for the house which the kids or our helpers can use to call or text us anytime we are at work or out or out of the country. Tiger has had a pre-paid mobile phone since last Christmas. The phone helps a lot especially in coordinating schedules of the kids, checking on their safety and most of all, in keeping in touch with them even if we are not around.?

Speed dial: ?My husband and I call them, on the average, three times a day. When there is school, we call and text to check on their current location while being driven and if they have arrived in school or at home. We call and text to check if they have eaten and taken their vitamins, and if we?re going home late, if they have done their assignment, etc.

Talk, talk, talk: ?We talk about everything! My kids call about the most mundane things?like if they can use the aircon or if they can use the Internet to watch Guitar Hero videos on Youtube. One time, I called the house and Nigel asked me why dinner is for evening and why breakfast is for morning. My kids ask and talk about the darndest things!?

One thing I tell my kids every day: ?We have a standard daily dialogue. It?s always, ? I love you so much. I miss you already. I love you the most.? Sometimes, when they start to feel icky when I make lambing on the phone, they just say ?Iloveyoumissyoubye!? in five seconds or less.?

Tips for other parents: ?1. Answer their calls all the time. If you can?t pick up right away, text them to text you. And return their calls! Believe me, we need to practice what we preach in preparation for the adolescent years!
2. Please don?t forget to teach your kids about proper phone etiquette.
3. If your child wants to have a personal mobile phone, give them a pre-paid mobile phone so he learns to budget his load allowance.
4. Make sure the phones in your house can reach your mobile phone at any given time. Landlines should have NDD/IDD capacity. Mobile phones should always have load if it is not postpaid, especially in cases of emergency.
5. Bottomline, it?s important to let your kids know with certainty that they can reach you anytime they want and need to ?especially if both of you are working parents. Giving them the option to stay connected as often as possible, even if you are not with them, assures them and minimizes any sort of anxieties they have. The lines of communication always always always have to be open.?

Dindin Lagdameo
Mom to thirteen-year-old Luigi and eight-year-old Reese

Staying connected: ?We got them phones for them to be able to get in touch with who will fetch them since school traffic is always a riot. Eventually, it became helpful for busy days. They?d call to check how I am and vice versa. In a nutshell, it?s like having each other even when not physically together.?

Speed dial: ?I call them once or twice a day.?

Talk, talk, talk: ?Besides errands or school requests, we usually tell each other that we miss each other. They love to call me asking me to come home already and that they miss me and love me so much.?

Unforgettable conversation: ?Early this year, I had this frustrating episode at work, I felt so bad and wanted to quit altogether. Then, the phone rang, it was my little girl. ?Momma, you know what?? Pause. ?I love you. You?re the best. You know, I miss you so much. What time are you coming home?? That was priceless.?

One thing I tell my kids every day: ?Besides study hard, enjoy their day, be good to the people around them... I love you!?

Tips for other parents: ?Staying connected with your kids is very important... it?s communication. It?s being able to share your thoughts and feelings that matters. That we will always be there for each other, no matter what.?

Annie Naval
Mom of ten-year-old Gabby and eight-year-old Nina, her inspiration for SMARTALK, Smart?s latest innovation, the ultimate in unlimited calls.

Staying connected: ?I?ve only allowed my kids to share one cellphone and this was only recently. Now that they do have a mobile phone, I feel more at ease knowing that they can call us anytime?and that we can call them anytime too.?
Speed dial: ?I call them at least once a day.?

Talk, talk, talk: ?Especially when I am out of town, I call them to ask how their day was, what they were doing at that very moment, are they being good, have they eaten, did they finish their homework, etc. Then, they ask me when I am coming home and what pasalubong I will get them.?

One thing I tell my kids every day: ?That I love them and to be good.?

Unforgettable conversation: ?Every conversation is precious but one of the funniest ones was when they asked me to settle this so-called ?issue? by answering this question: Does Santa really make all the toys himself or does he also go to the malls to shop if he knows he is running out of time? I told them Santa shops too.?

Tips for other parents: ?Talk to them and have fabulous conversations! Talk, talk, talk?it?s what makes the bond really stronger. Let them talk about the most trivial and mundane things (like what happens next in the video game) and show them that it is important for you to know.?

Mon Guinto
Dad to six-year-old Sabine, three-year-old Matteo and one-year-old Basti

Staying connected: ?My phone allows me contact with my children every afternoon so I can check how their school day was. The school contacts me too, in case of an emergency.?

Speed dial: ?I call them every day at about 4 p.m.?

Talk, talk, talk: ?I ask them how their day went and if they learned anything new in school.?

One thing I tell my kids every day: ?That I love them and that I?ll be home soon.?

Unforgettable conversation: ?Normally, our conversations would go like this:
Me: ?So Sabine, how was your day today??
Sabine: ?Oh-kay.?
Me: ?Did you learn anything new??
Sabine: ?Yes. Wait. Matteo wants to talk to you.?
Matteo: ?Daddy??
Me: ?Yes??
Matteo: ?What time are you coming home today??
Me: ?Around dinner time. How was your day today??
Matteo: ?Ok.?
Me: ?Tell me about it later. I love you.?
Matteo: ?Love you.?

Tips for other parents: Any tips for parents who want to stay connected with their kids? ?If you work like me, set a particular time to call to check on your kids. Three minutes of chit-chat with them does wonders for me at work!?