Why? It just dawned on me of whats going on with us a couple of weeks ago. Almost a month ago our daughter Jean told Bob and I that she found a gown that she likes for their Junior prom. Bob and I saw how she really liked the gown, you can just see it in her eyes. So the next day I told her that when she gets home from school we will go to the gown shop and we will rent that gown for her.

So my niece Bebe and I went to the gown shop since Jean was still in school having volleyball practice. Anyway, when I saw the gown, I can’t blame Jean for liking the gown, because it’s really is gorgeous and stunning. I can’t wait for her to wear it. So I paid the rent for it and told the owner of the date of the prom night. According to Jean its going to be on February 24th,2012. So I booked the gown for the said date. The owner said that it includes hair and make up for the price. I really like the deal and I felt its cheaper than I thought with the combination of gown, hair and make up. So the gown was set to be used by Jean on the 24th of February.

Prom Gowns: More fun in the Philippines?

Well, a little over a week ago Jean just informed us that the prom night might be moved to the 17th of February. We were shocked. Wow, I told Bob how many parents does he thinks already rented a gown or tux for their kids? He just said probably a lot.  For me it’s inconsiderate of them not to inform us right away. And guess what that was over a week ago, until now they didn’t tell the kids yet what the date for sure for the prom night. Like right now we are still in limbo. Is it going to be on the 24th on the original plan or the 17th? It kind of annoyed me. I payed already for the gown. We might lose out on our down payment for the gown if they won’t hurry up here, not just that somebody already rent the gown that Jean wants on the 17th. It really bugged the hell out of me that they didn’t inform us right away what really their plan is. Like when we went back to the gown shop early last week somebody already signed up for that gown on the 17th. I know how Jean really likes that gown. I hate for her to not have that. She was really excited to have that gown though.

Jean is looking forward to the Prom!

I was gonna call the school and do a little bit of talking with them.  I know they would not like it. I already complained something to them last year. I could tell they didn’t like it. I don’t want Jean to be in the middle of it, so I just keep my mouth shut right now. We’ll see when would I stay calm about it. That’s one of the differences between the school here and the States. In the States, on the first day of school the teacher will hand the parents all the schedules of activities on that school year. Here they will hand it to the students later, in some schools. Some schools you will have to keep on guessing for the schedule. It’s kind of the norm here. I am used to it now with my kids and nieces and nephews  in school.

Oh well, we’ll see when we will know the real schedule of Jean’s junior prom. We already know when Aaron’s Junior prom is since last year. It’s going to be on February 17th. If ever Jean’s prom happen to be on the same date as Aaron, the Martin’s house will be as busy as the bee. It’s either Bob or our nephew will drive Jean and Aaron to the venue.

February really is going to be busy month for us here with Valentines Day, the junior prom for the kids and Bob’s 50th birthday. Wow big events. It’s really more fun for us here in the Philippines!

Cheers!

Filipino Baby

After the end of the summer when the boyfriend came back, the daughter of my helper and the boyfriend were getting cozy. The parents of my helper were even mad about it. Well the daughter just would not listen to them. My helper would seek advice from me. I tried to talked to the daughter once when she came here to my house. Even though I don’t have a job for her that day I invited her over to talk. When she came here at the house I could tell the changes in her physically. I already had something in my mind and just didn’t asked the girl that day. The next day when my helper came back to work, I asked my helper if she noticed her daughter throwing up in the morning or something. She said no because “she’s not in my house, staying with my sister”. I told my helper to just observe her daughter because I think she might be pregnant. She said okay. After 2 weeks my helper informed me that her daughter was pregnant. She was really devastated. I can’t blame her for that. My helper was really crying here at my house. Just to ease some pain away from her I told her that hey, you are not the only family that suffered like that here in this world. It happens to some members of my family too.

The daughter now is 5 months pregnant. She’s 16 years old, and the guy, he is i think 17 years old. The boyfriend has no job yet because he is graduating in high school this coming March. The parent of the guy said, their son will have to get a job after graduation to support his girlfriend and child. They are not going to help out big time because they have the siblings of the guy to support too. I asked my helper what she thinks of what happened to her daughter. She said to me that “I never fail to tell her that I don’t want her to follow my footsteps. That I want her to finish up her studies. She would just give me a smirk. I told her, I wished I was given the chance to go to school before. I gave her the chance to do it. She never listened to me when I told her not to be out during night time and don’t hang out too much with her boyfriend, she might get pregnant. It happens what I feared for.”

I guess now the daughter was sorry that she’s pregnant at the early age. The guy was not really there all the time to support her emotionally. She knows now that it’s going to be very difficult for them since both of them had no job. They both rely on their parents and relatives for financial support. My helper has 2 other daughters to support too. So it’s going to be a hard ride for all of them. My helper told me that she’s telling her daughter to start saving for the delivery of the baby. It’s not cheap to give birth here even if its in the house with the midwife. They are starting to gather baby’s clothing now. Like I told my helper that the hardship right now is just the beginning. They have to worry about later the food, clothing, medical and the schooling and more.

Somebody from the family were interested to adopt the baby when he/she’s born. My helper and her family are thinking hard and weighing their options. That’s what she told me anyway. I told her to really talk to her daughter and boyfriend about it. Think about what’s best for the baby. If they can handle everything why give up the baby. I told her that it’s not going to be an easy decision for them. I told her to pray and asked for guidance from up above.

I wish them all the luck!

Hi Feyma,

I will be attending a family wedding in Davao in the spring, and will be one of the Ninongs.

As a westerner, I am researching what that means, but cannot really get a good handle on what is expected of it, especially coming from the west.

Can you give me some short concise advice. I learn a lot from your site, but havent seen this term yet.

Much appreciated,

Bill

I emailed Bill back and answered his query. I was thinking of making his inquiry into a post here on LiP. I was thinking their could be more like Bill’s questions there that doesn’t really know much about being  godparents here in the Philippines. So that’s why I made this post for you guys that’s new to the godparent thing here.  Some of you might be shocked of being a godparent here. Some weddings/baptism there could be like 30 God parents. 15 males and 15 females. Some would even be more than that. They always say the more the merrier. More people will help then when troubles come for the couple. A lot of shoulders to lean on that’s what they say. Hopefully not big troubles though. But just in-case, a godparent should be there to support emotionally for the couple. They will also there for the couple in good and bad times.

Bob in his Barong Tagalog, with our daughter Jean

Well, for a wedding attire mostly are formal. Some bride and groom they will have clothing for you already it might be included in the package with the wedding planner for rental. The clothing might be like the one we have here for the guys, we call it “Barong Tagalog”. When my husband Bob was asked to be a ninong, he almost always wears barong for the occasion. With my kids being the secondary sponsor like grooms men they were provided by the couple with barongs and the undershirts that goes with it. Or you can buy for yourself at any malls here. But if you are not with the regular size as the Filipino men, you really have to go the the tailor shop they will make it for you. Some are more spendy though. It all depends on the fabric that you like. Or you can just wear slacks and formal shirt.

You will have to bring a nice wedding gift for the couple. Nowadays, most couple will now registered at the bridal registry at the big malls. Just ask the bride and the groom, they might have registered themselves in one of the malls. I remember when one of our worker got married. They told us they were registered at the bridal registry at SM and NCCC. So I went there and at the mall they made a print out of what they were asking. I really liked it. It is more convenient. You don’t have to go through headache of double guessing what the couple needed.

After cutting of the cake and the toss the garter and stuff, the couple will have their dance. In our culture the family of the lady will pin money to the groom’s clothing, and the family of the groom will pin the money to the bride’s dress. I guess the godparent will pin the money to either the groom or the bride. You can also skip that since you already brought gifts for them. It is not mandatory.

I am trying to remember if I have already been a ninang before to a wedding. I think a long time ago I did. If I remember I didn’t make it and I asked one of my family member to substitute for me. I paid the fees but just have somebody there to attend in behalf of myself.

I will also tell here about my parents being the godparents in a small town. They’ve been asked to be a godparents a lot of times, like a few times a month. It’s either my dad or my mom would be asked. Since my dad had a position in our barrio, a lot of the young people when they get married they would asked him to be the their sponsor. I saw sometimes when those couple that my parents being the godparent with had marital problems. They would be at our house talking to my dad. They would asked advice from my dad and mom. As you know, in a little town the troubled couple mostly would asked the priest, since they have to travel to see the priest, it would be easier for them to see my dad or their other wedding sponsor on our town for that matter. Just by talking to the godparents it must really helped them. Some of those troubled couples before when I was young  are still married until now. I saw them sometimes when I’m visiting our farm and me and my siblings were talking to them and they happily reminisce to us the good advice that my parents gave them and they are so thankful for it. It made me proud and wanting to be good to the godchildren that Bob and I have.

To all of you who were asked to be a godparent good luck and have fun.

Cheers!

Oath Taking for Philippine Dual Citizenship

Finally Bob told me to go and inquire at the Bureau of Immigration here in Davao City, and ask them what I need to apply and what kind of papers do I need to get. Also if I can apply the kids now too? Or should I wait to apply for the kids later after I’m approved? So there I went one day a little over 6 months ago, and did inquire. I just asked the guy that was an expert for the dual citizenship there at the Immigration office and he directed me to the one in-charge of the dual citizenship office here Davao. He gave me some papers to be filled and I told him that I also had 3 kids that I want to include. I asked him if I should apply them with me or if I should wait after my application be approved? He told me and advised me to apply the citizenship with the kids with me now, so that its not going to be another hassle for me and do it all over again. See I was told by that friend before that I had to send my papers to the US since my kids were all born there, that I need so many paperwork, and that I have to pay a lot for the lawyers for that. So that’s why I decided maybe I should apply for myself first and the kids later after I was approved. To be honest I kind of believed her on that at that time. Bob encouraged me to just don’t listened to that friend and just go to the immigration office and ask them. I’m glad that I listened to what Bob was talking about. I was so discouraged when my friend told me how much she was charging and how much would be the cost to apply and everything.

One of the requirements you will have is an oath taking. Since we are in the province they allow the lawyers here do it for them. I asked the immigration people if they knew some lawyers near the immigration office. They told me of a few lawyers nearby that specialize about immigration. So off I went to the lawyers office. I’m glad I went, he is really a nice guy and he knows what papers I need to do. In short at least it’s less of a hassle for me. So I had my oath taking and the kids taken there at the lawyers office and he took care of other papers that needs to be notarized.

On the application papers, they list down what was the requirements. Just follow all that and make a copy. Pass the original copy to the bureau of immigration in Manila and the photocopy to you. Follow the order on the requirements paper and at the same time arrange the photocopy the way you arrange it to the original copy that you pass at the BOI Manila. The reason being, if the immigration officer in Manila called you up and ask question regarding your application, at least when the officer talk about certain paper to you, you know exactly what papers the officer was talking about. DON’T FORGET TO PUT YOUR CONTACT NUMBER: Home phone number and your cell phone number. Please don’t change sim pack while your papers on the process. They might really get a hold of you. For me, before I mailed my paperwork I went back to the immigration office here and showed the dual citizenship in-charge if my paperwork were all there and if I need anything more or am I lucking of papers. When the in-charge saw it he said it was all there and then he gave me the name and address of the person in BOI manila to send my applications to: He told me to send it to the courier that registered it. I used LBC for it. I sent my application middle of last year. He told me since we are in the province to wait around 6 months for it. I told him wow, that long, he said to me so many applicants too from other areas that they have to take care of so too. So I waited. He was right, around almost at the end of December I heard from the BOI office in Manila. Holly molly, my paperwork was lucking of notarized from my lawyer in the back of the application. My BOI officer here gave me BI FORM: MCL-08-01 PETITION application papers that was lucking of VERIFICATION in the back of the paper. Make sure to look in the back when receiving that papers form from the BOI office. After you fill out the paper have a notarization from the lawyer . I have to do it  for me and the kids. So I went to the BOI and told him what was requested and they gave me the correct paperwork. I sent in my paper works few weeks ago and now I am waiting. I don’t think it will take a long time for them to approved.

Honestly, I am so thankful at the bureau of immigration office here in Davao. The dual citizenship in-charge were really nice people and willing to assist me. I’m really thankful for that. Also the person that contacted me from the Bureau of immigration in Manila, she was nice and helpful to me in answering what kind of paper work I need to pass to them. She texted me and when I asked her on the text, she answered back timely. I even called her and asked her who should I send the papers that was lucking. She texted me the name and address. It was not a difficult process.  I was done in a day or two. You know I  have to apply for 4 people including myself. So think how thick my paperwork be. But it was worth it. Now just waiting for my dual citizenship approval.

Thinking of applying the dual citizenship? Try it, its easy. You can do it. For those that applied here and abroad congratulations to you.

Cheers!

Really we have pumpkin here in a can, imported from the States. And it costs a fortune to buy it. Since Bob doesn’t really like to eat food coming out from the can, I have to be inventive to make the recipe of what we have here in the Philippines. It worked out most of the time. I have to find what’s the best substitute from it that we could find here in the Philippines.

Bob saw a recipe on the internet about how to make a pumpkin pancake. As you all know we don’t grow pumpkins here in the Philippines. Instead we got so much squash growing here at any places from the 3 islands of the P.I. My sister and my brother-in-law grows squash at their farm too. That’s where Chris got started eating squash. He likes it a lot.  So when Bob saw that we still had some left over squash puree on our fridge he then search on the net of a good recipe for squash puree aside from pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread. Really its an easy recipe to make.

Here is a video of the original recipe that Bob saw on the Internet:

Here are some pictures of my cooking process, the recipe is below the pictures.  Click on the picture to see a larger image.

Here’s the recipe that we use below:

Ingredients: (Mix all dry ingredients in a separate bowl)

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground all spice
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 tbsp white sugar

Mix all liquid ingredients in a separate bowl:

• 1/2 cup squash/pumpkin puree
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil (canola will do too)
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp grated lemon zest (sometimes i don’t use it and it still taste good)

Procedures:

1. Mix all the dry ingredients well.
2. Whisk all liquid ingredients, then when its smoothed put the dry ingredients and continue to whisk. If you want thinner pancake just add a little milk. Just eyeball it.
3. Heat a frying pan (griddle) on medium high heat with olive oil, canola oil or vegetable oil. When the pan is hot put a ladle of that squash batter on the hot pan and let it cook for like 3 minutes on each side or until the bubbles form on the pancake and it is brown on the side. While the pancake is cooking try to lower the heat of the stove so that the pancake will not get burn right away.
4. You can put butter on top with jelly, maple syrup, or cinnamon sugar. Or any toppings you want.
5. If you want to make it into waffles, just don’t add any additional milk to the batter. You can put any toppings you want too.

Well, I hope you will try the recipe and let me know what you think. We’ve been making squash pie over Thanksgiving. It’s super yummy. We’ve been letting friends taste it and they liked it a lot. Hey, we paid P600 per order of pie before like 4 years ago. Now we are making our own. Loving it.

Hope you guys have a good and fruitful New Year! Stay safe!

Watching and reading on line, it’s just so hard looking at the pictures. It just break my heart seeing the body of people all lined up and washed away by the water. I just can’t imagine the fears of those people especially the children before they died. I’ve heard from a family that they heard a story. A doctor just went home from his duty at the hospital and he went to the bathroom. He died there inside because he was just trapped there. He didn’t know that there is already water gushing outside his house. Stories like that really make you cry. The pictures speak for themselves. Devastation all over there.

Typhoon Sendong hit Northern Mindanao

I was seeing on line a man carrying a kid. I am guessing that was his child because he was crying looking at the lifeless kid on his arms. Just as I was typing this post, the death toll was almost to a thousand. My gosh, they even had to dug up a hole and buried all the dead. No more medicine for embalming and no more caskets available. Can you imagine the feelings of the family seeing one of their loved one just be buried in mass grave?  It would be a nightmare. But nothing they could do about it. No medicines came yet for the dead people. If they will not do anything with the bodies other people would be really sick there then from the bad odor.

Just looking at the pictures, it really reminds me of the Japan tsunami. Cars were piled up all over the place. Some were even on top of the gates and houses. The debris was just all over. It really worries me how can they clean up the place right away. Just by watching on TV, I don’t think they even started yet. I don’t know if they got help from Manila. As always everything has to come from Manila though. I’ve heard big officials from Manila will be coming to see the damage. Hopefully they will send help right away too. I don’t think they even asked help outside the country yet. I know lots of other countries willing to help out.

All in all I know that the Filipino people were united in helping. I’ve seen Filipinos that live abroad gathered money and stuff to sent to the people in Cagaya De Oro and Iligan. Companies like LBC were also helping out. You can just drop off stuff to their branches anywhere in the world and they will send the items to the in-charge here in CDO and Iligan area. Good thing we are using them for our shipment here locally for our business. I liked it that they really tried to help out.

To all our friends here that lost their loved ones on that typhoon, our heartfelt prayers and condolences to you guys. Also for those who lost their houses and all their belongings we are praying for you guys quick recovery too. I know its a sad holiday season for you all. We are praying for guidance and wisdom.

The Girls on Christmas Giveaway 2010

In Bob’s family they consist of his parents, Bob & I and kids, Bob’s brother & his family.  My first experience celebrating Christmas with them was when I was in the States. That time his dad was still alive. It was fun having him as we prepared dinner early so that we could start the opening of the gifts earlier too. My first Christmas experience with them, we opened our gifts at around 7pm on Christmas eve. With slow opening of the presents we end up finishing up for almost 4 hours. With the talking and story of why we bought certain presents and stuff. It was really fun and exciting. Bob’s dad could always guess the presents he was getting even before he opened his gifts. He just shook the present and viola he already guessed it. Even if we brought the presents with us right before opening. He was really something. I felt he had a third eye. .

After opening, we would talk and had fun with our presents  for like an hour or so. Time for us to head home preparing for Santa’s swinging by our house. We had to prepare cookies and milk for Santa and the sugar for the reindeer. Then the next day kids and adults would have fun getting what Santa left on our stockings and at the Christmas tree. Its all unwrapped presents he left there at the Christmas tree. Wow the kids really had fun.

Later that day we will have Christmas dinner at Bob’s parents house. Mom would cook really good stuff for all of us. She prepared pies a few days before Christmas and some other food that needs long preparation. Mom was also preparing rice for me of course. Sometimes I forgot to bring with me my rice cooker to their house. As you know they don’t have rice cookers with them. Somehow she knows how to cook the rice in the pan. It turned out good though. They even eat rice with me sometimes, only thing they put gravy on it. ha ha ha, not my rice.

The following year all of us decided that we would eat dinner around 3pm, so that we can start opening presents by 5. So that we still have time to talk and hang out. We said that because the family keeps growing (with few grand kids coming) and it would take longer then. Really that turned out better for all of us. Kids had more time to enjoy playing with their toys and the adults had the time to chat and reminisced the past Christmas they had. It was fun for me learning more about what Bob and his family did before and also learning the culture. I’ve listened to the story of the family and they asked me about my family and the life here in the Philippines. It was good conversation for us learning both cultures.

Bob and I incorporate both of our cultures in our celebration now. It is good for us to teach our kids now. Its up to them if they want to carry both cultures with them when they had their own families. I know they all like the way we celebrate Christmas and the Thanksgiving. They told me that they like the way it is. I am also hoping that they will continue what Bob and I stated 10 years ago now. The giving of gifts to the less fortunate people. That would really make me and Bob happy if they did. That’s one thing that was added to both our celebration now.

Make a donation to this year’s LiP Christmas Drive!

On the early morning of the 24th of December we go and distribute the presents for the poor. Usually we finished up around 3 or 4pm. Try to rush home and start preparing for our dinner and Noche Buena. It’s just really a simple dinner just like any regular dinner day for us. The only difference is we will eat earlier. Then after the cleaning up of the table and stuff, the kids will then prepare the chairs in front of our Christmas tree in preparations for the opening of the Christmas presents. Being so many people in the house we have to start a bit early. We open our presents one person at a time. The person that receives the present has to show everybody what they got. Then after opening we prepare the table for the Noche Buena. It’s not really as fancy as the other Filipino families. We will have the Filipino snacks and other finger foods and drinks just to keep us awake. While waiting for midnight the kids will play outside. Here in Davao firecrackers are strictly prohibited which I am thankful for. I don’t hear injuries here compared to other cities here in the Philippines. Still have some hard headed people here would not listen, they go against the strict laws against firecrackers. But rare though. On Christmas day we will have a big dinner for all of us family. We cooked ham, scalloped pineapple, mashed potato, beans, rice and some other Filipinos dishes and pies. We will just lounging around the house and enjoyed each others company.

Anyway, how about you? How do you celebrate Christmas? Feel free to share, we love to listen to your stories!

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

Honestly they are more friendly to Bob if I am not around. Like when I first met them, the head of those kids asked me where are we heading that morning? I told him that we are going to the downtown area to get something. Bob kept on talking to them, the leader of the kids particularly. While he was answering Bob I could tell that he is not really talkative while I am there. I think he doesn’t want me to hear when he speak English to Bob. I don’t know why his so shy towards me.  He might think I will laugh at him when he speaks English, I really tried to speak Bisaya in front of them . Really I understand their shyness, I am just so happy that they felt comfortable in talking to Bob. I could see too that they tried to speak Bisaya to Bob and they all enjoyed each others company.

Bob & JJ

When we went there to bring the ball, the rest of the kids were not there. Bob wanted to go to the basketball court and shoot ball with JJ, but I guess his parents were sleeping, he had to watch their little store for them. He was happy to get the ball but also kind of shy still because I was there. See, when Bob promised to give him a ball, I wasn’t there. I don’t know if he thinks I will get mad that he asked for a ball.  I told him when he got the ball to share that to his friends, but he will be the in-charge of the ball. He can just keep it for them. He happily agreed.

Every time I pass by that area I never see him or his friends. See that area where those kids hangs out, is so near also to the place where we catch our motorcycle route on our subdivision. But for some reason, when Bob walks by on that area,  almost a every time, those kids will be there playing or talking. Of course they will be happy seeing Bob. I think I heard them called Bob “Uncle Bob”. Really they are respectful kids. They just really are shy, but its okay though.

Make a donation to this year’s LiP Christmas Drive!

I was thinking that we can give some gifts for Christmas to him and his friends. His friends really need our help, they really are living below the poverty line. But even with the struggle they have in life they still managed to give a smile to us whenever they see us. Sometimes we saw them on the basketball court playing games using their flip flops and an empty can (the game is called tumba-lata). I’m pretty sure next time I will be seeing them they will be shooting at the hoop there with the basket ball that we gave them.  If you want to donate to our LiP Christmas Drive this year, use the “Donate” button above, all proceeds will go toward helping poor people in the Philippines.

Thank you guys in advance for making some kids have a big smile on their faces and families food on the table during Noche Buena on this holiday season. Lets all be united in sharing a little bit of what we have to the less fortunate people here in the Philippines.

Happy Holidays to all of you!

I decided to decorate the house early for Christmas this year. I started decorating like around the middle of November. I decided to decorate the whole house instead of just the Christmas tree only. It was fun for the kids helping me out putting the decors. I am still trying to finish up putting up my Dickens Village which is almost done. I am just trying to change the bulbs of the houses and putting the snow, then I’m done. My wreaths are all up, one on our living room the big one and one on our entrance door. My Santa pictures are up on the wall already and the Santa throw was already put on our living room couch.The monks were up too on the chicken hutch.  Hmm, guess we are just waiting now for the party.

Happy Thanksgiving to all LiP Readers!

It was fun showing it to our maid all the decor though. It was her first time seeing lots of decor and with some story with some of my decorations. It is also her first time getting gifts. So its really going to be fun. She’s really amazed of the stockings that we have put near our tree, since we don’t have fireplace here. It really is amazing seeing her face when my niece Nicole told her that Santa will come here in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve.  She asked me then if its true. Hey, what can I say when my 7 year old niece right in front of me. Big SIGH and SMILE… lol…

It’s going to be a good Thanksgiving. A lot to be thankful for from God for: Having good and loving family and stays in good health all throughout the year. Having  friends and meeting new friends and distant relatives here on LIP/Facebook and our other sites. Also our LIP drive keeps growing and stronger.

It’s going to be a good and busy Christmas too. We are looking forward already for our LIP drive. Pretty soon we will prepare the stuff for the poor. Now I am starting to feel the spirit of Christmas. We really are excited to give to our less fortunate people here. Thanks to you guys for your help, at least we can make some people happy during the holidays. It’s really a good feeling to give. I thank you all for helping our less fortunate people here. It’s really highly appreciated by us and those poor people. God will shower more blessings to you and your family.  If you can help bring a smile to a poor Filipino family this year, why don’t you consider making a donation, big or small, to our LiP drive by using the “donate” button at the left.  All donations will go 100% toward giving food and gifts to poor families here in Mindanao.  We appreciate all assistance on this.

HAPPY GOBBLE, GOBBLE DAY EVERYONE! GOD BLESS!

PEACE!!!

While Bob and Sakura were talking I was also talking to her grandmother. I asked the grandma if Sakura was born in Japan? The grandmother said that Sakura was born here in the Philippines and never been to Japan and never met her dad. I guess when the mom knew that she was pregnant with Sakura, she decided to just stay here in the Philippines for good after giving birth. Sakura was not supported financially by the dad.

Girl in Jeepney

I don’t know if the mom just didn’t tell the father that he had a child here in the Philippines. It is sad to see a young and beautiful kid struggle in life and to think she could have a better life if she had been supported by the dad. She’s studying in the public school. The grandparents are also struggling to support her, but they are working very hard to support her. I don’t really know the real story of the dad not supporting Sakura, and I don’t know the real reasons why the mom did not ask for support from the father. Hopefully later Sakura will have the courage to find her dad, or the dad will find Sakura.

So I thought that they were all living together, the mom and the grandparents and Sakura. The grandmother said that ever since Sakura was born, the grandmother and the grandfather were the one taking care of her. The mom will support financially but its the grandparents were the one raising her. When the mom got married a few years ago. The mom wants Sakura to move in with her and her husband. To her surprised the grandparents of Sakura didn’t allow the mom to bring Sakura with her. The grandparents were just to scared that the new husband might do something to Sakura. You know the horror stories sometimes of the step-dad abuse the stepdaughter.

Honestly we can understand both sides. The grandparents want to protect Sakura, but, what if the husband of the mother is a nice guy too. They didn’t give him a chance to bond with the kid. But on the other hand, what if he is one of those lunatic guys too that’s abusive to the kid. Really we don’t know what’s going on with them. They are the one knows what’s going on with their lives.

Really I was just sad for her. I wish to God that she could have a better life. I mean she had a pretty good life with the grandparents, I know she was really loved by them. I know also that there is more to life than material things. But what I mean also for her to go to a nice school, eating really good food, living in a nice house, with a few gadgets. Don’t take me wrong the grandparents gave her what they could. It was just sad that the mom did not raise her and she will never know her dad ever. Just by talking to the grandmother I don’t think they will ever reach out to the dad. Really my heart goes out to her. She really seems a very nice and well behaved kid. I told her before we got off from the jeepney, for her to study hard and be a good girl always. I really wish her well. I gave her one of my business card and told her if ever she needs anything to contact me. Geez, I really hope she will get a hold of me. I want her to know my kids.

Good luck to you my new friend. All the best!