Give generously to each other as we honor others above ourselves, building a family who loves, encourages and enjoys one another. As a family we will give generously to others, instilling a purpose that is outward and sacrificial in God’s love.One of the most common objections encountered by parents who go into homeschooling is this: "How about the socialization of your kid?" To answer that question, here's a picture for immediate gratification:
Source: Waiting for Perfect @ aisforanteater.com
Homeschooling -- Building a Family Who Loves
A fundamental homeschooling attribute found expression in one of the blogs I stumbled upon. Building a family was mentioned in the third paragraph of the Guest Family Homeschool Mission Statement:
I Have a Confession to Make: I Am a Cold Blooded Revolutionary
Filipino culture needs to evolve, otherwise we get stuck as a nation. What we need is a revolution in mind, heart and actuation. For that I call myself a cold blooded revolutionary. I am not alone.
Are you with us?
Everything that I do in my life today is about revolution. While others rant in their blogs, columns, street marches, forum speeches, etc., I have chosen to do things more quietly.
Are you with us?
revolutionary
noun
1: one engaged in a revolution
2: an advocate or adherent of revolutionary doctrines
Source: merriam-webster.com
 |
| THIS IS THE HEIGHT OF FILIPINO HYPOCRISY. When what the Chinese needed were the words, "Sorry, please forgive us," what our authorities have given them were excuses and image building tactics. The illustration above is from http://chinocracy.blogspot.com. (Forgive me Chino for using this pic without your written permission.) |
Everything that I do in my life today is about revolution. While others rant in their blogs, columns, street marches, forum speeches, etc., I have chosen to do things more quietly.
Learn Filipino Book for Filipinos and Foreigners Alike
This Learn Filipino book available in Amazon is a fascinating find. Being a non-Tagalog native speaker myself, I see the importance of this book.
It's not just for foreigners. It is also for Filipinos who don't speak "Filipino." Yes, there are many Filipinos in the Philippines who do not speak "Filipino" as their native language. They need this book as much as foreigners.
How come? You might say.
In the latest (1987) constitution of the Philippines, the word "Filipino" got a new meaning. From then on it also referred to the "national language" of the Philippines.
The thing was, the national language up until 1987 used to be Tagalog. It was spoken by people in Metro Manila and adjacent provinces. So, the "Filipino" language referred to by the constitution was actually Tagalog, but with words incorporated from other Philippine dialects.
It's not just for foreigners. It is also for Filipinos who don't speak "Filipino." Yes, there are many Filipinos in the Philippines who do not speak "Filipino" as their native language. They need this book as much as foreigners.
How come? You might say.
In the latest (1987) constitution of the Philippines, the word "Filipino" got a new meaning. From then on it also referred to the "national language" of the Philippines.
The thing was, the national language up until 1987 used to be Tagalog. It was spoken by people in Metro Manila and adjacent provinces. So, the "Filipino" language referred to by the constitution was actually Tagalog, but with words incorporated from other Philippine dialects.
What turns men into fathers? Check this out.
I welcome this news with a grain of salt:
That, to me, does not do justice to fatherhood and to parenting as a whole.
What turns men into fathers?I welcome the fact that certain hormones act inside a man's body when a baby is born. But the danger with attributing fatherhood solely on hormonal activity is to associate fatherhood with the feminine side of parenting.
Why do men suddenly turn from macho to cuddly bears around babies?
Now, a new research answers why. A study has shown that levels of oxytocin, the ‘cuddle chemical’ released into the blood during labour, also rise in new fathers.
Not just that, their bodies see a sudden surge in prolactin, a hormone more commonly linked to milk production in new mothers.
Source: TimesOfIndia.com
That, to me, does not do justice to fatherhood and to parenting as a whole.
Secure in Father's Arms: Investigating the Pain Brought by the Hostage-Taking in Manila
Building a family has among its pillars the provision of security to kids. It is an integral part of fatherhood. It is both a reward and a responsibility to see your kids gather around you.
Why do kids love to gather around parents? They do it even when parents want to be alone sometimes. Kids simply do that. Or, they at least yearn to do that.
 |
| Police commandos assault a bus in a hostage-taking incident at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Aug 23, 2010. Source: CBC News | Manila bus hostage-taking ends with 9 dead |
Why do kids love to gather around parents? They do it even when parents want to be alone sometimes. Kids simply do that. Or, they at least yearn to do that.
Raising Kids, the Cultural Divide and Maria Venus Raj
Had cultural differences in raising kids and building a family come into play in the recent Miss Universe pageant?
An uproar among "smart" Filipinos, who wish they were the ones in front of Alec Baldwin, happened after this interview (emphasis mine):
An uproar among "smart" Filipinos, who wish they were the ones in front of Alec Baldwin, happened after this interview (emphasis mine):
The Hollywood star asked the 22-year-old Filipino-Indian, “What is one big mistake that you’ve made in your life and what did you do to make it right?”I couldn't help but squeeze my own thoughts on that question. What big mistake could a 22-year old Filipino girl possibly admit in front of the entire world, while her own mother was watching?
Raj replied, “You know what, sir, in my 22 years of existence, I can say that there's nothing major major problem that I've done in my life because I'm very confident with my family, with the love that they are giving to me. So thank you so much that I'm here. Thank you, thank you so much.”
Source: Even Bush, US journalists couldn't answer Venus Raj's question | ABS-CBNnews.com
Filipino Family Customs and Traditions, in the Eyes of Foreigners
Current Filipino family customs got a fair description in at least two sites that discussed Asian culture and tradition. I found that pleasing because they were written by foreigners.
At AsianInfo.org, the description focused on respect to elders, ways of communicating and the status of women:
At AsianInfo.org, the description focused on respect to elders, ways of communicating and the status of women:
Faithfulness to the family is a tradition that is characteristic of Filipino society. This family loyalty is apparent in the fact that there are no booming businesses for retirement homes or orphanages in the Philippines. xxx In their communication with each other, speaking politely is important as is speaking with a gentle tone of voice. xxx Unlike other Asian countries where women tend to be in more subservient positions, women in the Philippines have had high societal positions since precolonial times.
Source: Filipino Customs (www.asianinfo.org)
Think of Maria Venus Raj
Any woman who fancies herself to be Venus Raj during these times may as well think again. Here you are walking and smiling and chatting with other beautiful faces representing other nationalities and cultures. You know that, every minute, you are under the scrutiny of the most merciless of judges.
But at one point you have to muster the courage to bravely say "No" to the wishes of billionaire Donald Trump for contestants to go through topless photoshoot.
What you need at this time is a lot of inspiration.
Yet inspiration is the very thing that you are not getting much from home:
 |
| Melody Gerbasch (left, RIP) in a happy moment with Venus Raj (right). http://www.facebook.com/MariaVenusRaj |
What you need at this time is a lot of inspiration.
Yet inspiration is the very thing that you are not getting much from home:
- A bus plunged to a 30-foot ravine and killed 41 people
- As if that was not bad enough, your mentor Melody Gerbasch got killed in a horrendous car accident
- To top all of that just two days before coronation, your country just figured in a hostage-taking incident that wasted at least 7 tourists
So, You Want to Get Married and Have Kids? (Part 3 of 3)
Getting Married and Having Kids series really talks about building a strong marriage foundation (Part 1), baptism into fatherhood (Part 2) and fatherly decisions (Part 3, this post).
My mentors have taught me that there are three basic decisions that a father needs to make:
Providing for the family
Filipino culture, and almost every culture, vests the responsibility for providing for the material needs of the family on the father. These material needs primarily refers to food, clothing and shelter. Higher needs would include education and recreation.
My mentors have taught me that there are three basic decisions that a father needs to make:
- The decision to provide for the family
- The decision to protect the family
- The decision to be a moral beacon for the family
Providing for the family
Filipino culture, and almost every culture, vests the responsibility for providing for the material needs of the family on the father. These material needs primarily refers to food, clothing and shelter. Higher needs would include education and recreation.
Raising a Modern Day Knight? Absolutely!
Raising a Modern Day Knight
-- This book grabbed my attention one night as I was browsing the internet about fathers and sons. I was surprised at the popularity of the book in the search pages that I wondered why I never encountered the title in my previous searches.I saw a site that showed the first chapter of the book. I read reviews about it. I read blogs written by parents who read the book, and applied it in their own families. Boy, I was really hooked.
The book was written on the premise that men of today did not have the rite of passage from boyhood to manhood that men of olden times had. The author was saying that many boys left their homes for college without really knowing--deep inside--whether or not they were already men.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)