Cherish Every Memory

Funerals

Going to wakes and funerals wasn’t something I particularly liked. I’d rather offer Mass and prayers for the deceased and the bereaved, unless they are very close to my family or me.

When my mother died, countless friends and relatives, even mere acquaintances, came to condole with us, comfort us, and just be with us during our moments of sorrow. It took her death to make me feel what my heart already knew: that the bereaved need comfort and consolation, that a hug or a silent presence helps in easing one’s sorrow, that a kind word about the departed can mean a lot.

Teaching Street Children

In the Philippine Daily Inquirer, an article by Mia Aureus caught my attention: Teaching Street Children How To Love.

In this article, Ms. Aureus featured the work of a nun of the Good Shepherd congregation among the street children. Every Saturday, she would invite these kids to play, plant and do other creative projects with some community volunteers.

The project is bringing so much joy and inspiration to both the children and volunteers alike. By making children feel they belong to a community of people who love and care for them, these nuns have truly shown how other sheep could be brought to one flock. The voice of the Shepherd is not only from the pulpit but also in active forms of reaching out to those who are in peripheries.

The Rich and the Poor

Few years ago a crowned Prince of the Netherlands married a commoner. So did a Prince of Denmark. And who can forget the last bachelor European Prince Felipe of Spain . Ah, the romance of it all… indeed, class distinction has become indistinct.

But not in all parts of the world.

During one of the presidential elections in the Philippines , the opposition ruthlessly pitted a high school dropout against the incumbent. The candidate they chose seemed the very image of the marginalized poor… never mind that he had become a rich actor in spite of his humble beginnings. The strategy they employed was shrewdness. It was also proven self-serving and ruinous to the plight of the nation.

Genetic Analysis

How can parents know whether the child they are expecting is developing normally? Prenatal tests now exist that give prospective parents and their doctors valuable information about the fetus. In fact, prenatal testing can detect more than 100 genetic disorders.

When I was pregnant with my two lovely daughters, I have undergone a prenatal procedure called amniocentesis. It allows genetic analysis of fetal cells whether a child will have a genetic disorder or a chromosomal abnormality such as Down’s syndrome.

Look Alike

Something fascinated me when I was a teenager. I would look at my Mother, then at my Father. Can it be that they look alike? I don’t mean it like they’re identical twins. But to me, they looked similar. After further investigation amongst relatives who were (happily) married, my theory was confirmed. Could it be that if you get married, you end up looking like your spouse?

Today’s Hunger

People in many parts of the world hunger for food. Sometimes I can even think without minimizing the shame part of it, hunger is much larger than that for food. In a world that is in many ways unfair, we hunger for justice. In a world that seems on the brink of war somewhere everyday, we hunger for peace. In a world of self-centeredness, all of us hunger for understanding, love and friendship.

Grocery Shopper

Prices are going up and times like this you should be a clever grocery shopper. A smart shopper should have fixed budget for the whole week or month; must have list items (organize it according to classification like for food and health and beauty et cetera) you need buy for your consumption at home; and miscellaneous goods should be the last priority. If you bring your child with you give him or her task in selecting cheaper prices of products in order for them to enjoy their bonding with you and to avoid tantrums.

Remembering Benigno Aquino, Jr.

He is our new hero. He is considered one of the bravest senators in his time and sincere in giving service to the people. He is from Concepcion, Tarlac from a family of politicians. Ninoy has a passion in writing. He was the adviser of then Defense Secretary Ramon Magsaysay. At the age of 22, he became the mayor of Conception Tarlac. He became Vice-Governor at the age of 27 (the youngest ever) and after two years became Governor. At the age of 34, he is the youngest Senator in the history of the Philippines. He is the number one critic of the Marcos regime. When Martial Law was declared Senator Benigno Aquino was the first person arrested and was imprisoned for 7 years before the onset of his heart attack and needed a bypass surgery in the States. In August 21, 1983, he went back to the Philippines. As soon as the plane landed at the Ninoy International Airport, he was assassinated.

How To Make Your Child Eat Veggies

Most of us, mothers, are having a hard time making our child eat healthy food like fruits and vegetables. Let’s admit it! Our children prefer to eat fried meat, or if not, junk food. Giving them these food moderately is not bad. But what’s more important is that our children must learn to love eating vegetables. And preparing veggies and making it appear more palatable, by cutting them into different shapes and combining veggies with different colors, is one great way to help us moms to convince our child to eat vegetables.

Country Dining in Banahaw

Tayabas, Quezon was one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines that I have been to. It may be a good two-and-a-half hour travel from the city, but the relaxing sights on the road and the delectable delights of their “Palaisdaan Restaurant” makes the trip worth it. The place would really let one feel you are away from the big, hurly-burly city! I remember the days when I was able to experience and enjoy the fresh air and taste the authentic food that this rural community has to offer.