Just Asking with Peter Banzon My parents want my little kids to spend summer with them but my husband and I are hesitant because my parents have a different faith and they get our kids to participate in their religious practices. I don’t want to hurt my parents’ feelings. What should we do? The issue of differing religious convictions in a family is a sensitive one. You are raising your young chi ...[Read More]
My Parents Involve My Children in Their Religious Practices
Goodbye, Old Life!
by Graciela Faustino as told to Evelyn Damian “I hated my Ate kasi favorite siya ng parents ko at well provided siya. Nagseselos ako sa kanya kasi by comparison, matalino siya at walang nami-miss na school activities. Lahat ng tours and field trips, lagi siyang kasama, dapat daw kasi. Ako siguro dalawa o tatlong beses lang naka-join ng ganyan. Ang isa pang napansin ko, ako ‘yung laging inuutusan. ...[Read More]
Starting Over in the Philippines
Tell me something about yourself. My name is Delsey Garner. I am married to a pastor and we have a teenage son. I was born and raised in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. I finished my BS in Psychology from West Negros College, now known as STI- West Negros University. I completed a few masters level classes in guidance and counseling while I was working as a college guidance counselor at my colleg ...[Read More]
What Kids Need from Their Parents
by Kim Snider I was sitting in the parlor not long ago having a pedicure, and next to me was a pretty 9-year old girl getting her nails done with her mother. She told me that her daddy and mommy didn’t let her go to a lot of places that she wanted to go, or do a lot of things she wanted to do. I explained it was because they loved her and wanted to protect her. She said, “I know.” Then, she said, ...[Read More]
Receiving God’s Blessing
How can my family receive God’s blessing?
A New Year, A New Heart
Belen Estrada is a widow and a mother to 4 children. She shares about her past and how God worked in her life. This is her story. “I grew up in Basilan. Mula pa sa pagkabata, salat na ako sa pagmamahal ng magulang kasi broken home kami. Pinaghiwalay ng lolo ko ang nanay at tatay ko dahil hindi sila kasal. Tatlo kaming magkakapatid and I am the youngest. Sabi ng nanay ko, buwisit daw ako sa buhay n ...[Read More]
Changing Direction
Katrina Bermas has been married to Mariano for 19 years. They have 3 children ages 17, 16, and 7. She tells her story of how God worked and changed her and her family’s life. Life was not easy for Katrina when she moved to Manila to join her husband, Mariano. He took a job in the city as a security guard to save money so he could process his papers to work abroad. Unfortunately, his plans didn’t w ...[Read More]
Avoid the Rainy Day Blues: Getting Your Family through Rainy Season
by Maria Rikka M. Ocena Monsoon season is my favorite season! The cool breeze gives relief after the scorching summer heat. The smell of earth and the sound of droplets of rain invite me to cuddle my pillow, relax, and enjoy the “bedtime” weather. Unfortunately, this is also the season when my skin allergy starts to attack, and cough and flu are my worst enemies. Mothers can attest that along with ...[Read More]
It’s Never Too Late: Finding Answers The Story of Robert and Rose Aldave
by Evelyn Damian “Boundaries,” referring to limitations on the influence of other people on our decisions, is not a word that is used often among Filipinos. Most of the time we just think of what we want to do and do it. Our thoughts don’t project what the end result will be. We keep going until we find our life in a mess; we lose, we hurt,we end up miserable, and then we ask ourselves, “Where did ...[Read More]
Stop at the Red Light!
An interview with Sur del Rosario, Senior Pastor of International Christian Service in Mandaluyong City by Joshua T. Kho Can you solve this word puzzle? As traffic lights are to motorists, and police are to the community, and guidance counsellors are to children, _________ are to peace and order. If you filled in the blank with the word, “boundaries,” you would have the right answer. Traffic light ...[Read More]