On treating children

A group of children was recently invited by an organization to sing during a US$75/person high profile dinner at a 5-star hotel in the city. One would expect that the kids and their teachers would be treated properly and given the same food as those served to the guests. However that was not the case. Especially as there was no talent fee given to the children. They were instead given some unhealthy food and soft drinks, with ice, and only after some strong arguments. The children were starving before they performed. With the junk food and drinks, they were able to stave off their hunger for a short while. Then after the performance, they had to travel back to their homes and they arrived hungry and weakened. Now is this child exploitation or what?

What should schools and parents do when their students and children are requested to perform at events such as these?

I think they should have a set of guidelines to be followed by the one who invites the kids so that the health of the children will not be endangered, and their self-respect will still be intact. There are times when adults forget the fact that children are human beings, too, and they also need to be respected and treated properly. In this case, when they are invited to sing or do a presentation, proper nutritious food should be given to them, in addition to providing proper protection and safety. If they are not treated properly, it can be a traumatic experience for them, one which could have a detrimental effect on their consciousness, who knows. As they see the discrimination between them and the VIP guests, who knows what kind of thought processes are going on inside their minds, for better or for worse.

Thus it is important to consider these things, such basic stuff as the type of food to be given to them as well as the actions of adults on how to treat people. If we want our society to be better in the future, we should be teaching our children the proper way to do things and of treating people.

Hopefully the next time the kids from the above-mentioned school get invited by the same organization, or by anyone, these guidelines will be followed. The kids deserve to be protected and cared for. The school and the parents should insist on it. If there is no assurance that the guidelines will be followed, then they just have to say No.

Valentine Weekend

It’s the Monday after Valentine's Day and everyone has been asking “How was your Valentine weekend?” Usually it would just be, “How was your weekend?” But this time, due to the event last 14 February, everyone is expected to have something to share. For me it doesn’t really matter whether people did this or that related to Valentine's day as there are some people who do not really mind or think too much about it. But since for me, there are some family obligations related to this, I have to really mark it on my calendar. When I say “family” I mean my parents. That means that we children have to let them know that we remember them on this special day of the hearts. So last week I have already posted a valentine card for them. Only for them as I decided to just send e-cards to my siblings as the greetings cards are quite expensive here, esp. the specialized ones.

I was planning to call my parents to greet them but it slipped my mind during that day. Is it obvious that I was busy so I forgot all about it? I remembered to make a call at about 930 pm (Phil time) when we were already returning home after watching a movie. I tried to call many times but the networks were busy. Finally I got through and it was good they were still awake. And it was also good to hear them laugh and they sounded happy. At least I did not hear some complaints this time. In the past years, my parents would do a count-down during that day as to how many of their children (seven) would call them. So if I were one of the earlier callers, I would remind the others to call soon. Just to alert them. They have a grace period of just one day, two days at the latest, considering different time zones.

For me & Key, we had the whole day to ourselves. We had lunch at our favorite Chinese restaurant, Hong Min and stuffed ourselves with delicious food. This is just once in a while so I guess it’s ok. The joke is that “once in a while” is translated to “often”. I hope not. Then we went to watch the movie, Confessions of a Shopaholic. Call me shallow but I'd rather watch this to be entertained than all the violence and other what not on the movie screen these days. I’ve waited for this to come out as I have read all the books by Sophie Kinsella. Thus it was nothing to wait for a couple more hours for show time, so we just lazed at the lounge of Major Cineplex. It was nice to just sit there and talk, do the crossword and Sudoku, read the mags, drink root beer, and be silent sometimes. It was quite relaxing. I stopped thinking about work and other stressful things, and just enjoyed the moment. It was nice and cool, with comfy seats where you can even lean or lie down for a nap if you want.

Hours after the movie, we were still smiling, even through the following day. Then it was back to reality as we had to do our weekend laundry. However we are glad to have that experience. Wouldn’t you?

I love Christmas!

Photo by Leilani G.

Merry Christmas to all!

I love Christmas because it gives me a perspective of what love really is. Christmas eve last night Key & I spent singing Christmas and praise songs, reading Luke 2:1-20, meditating on it and praying & thanking God for His gift and His many blessings. Earlier at lunch time we had an end-of-the-year party by the lake with my officemates. Each one brought a dish or two so we had an international menu (Filipino, Thai, Bangladeshi, Nepali, Indian, Vietnamese, western, fusion). We had an exchange of gifts and also carol singing. It was good fun and we enjoyed the camaraderie as it is not often that we can get together in this informal way. By 2 pm it was back-to-office time. When evening time came, in the midst of cooking spaghetti (for a 10pm get-together party that never materialized) I remembered that I still have not called home. I was planning to call earlier but I got busy with cooking. I know my parents would be waiting and would be disappointed and sad if nobody called. So I called and had to try many times. The networks were busy, as usual. This is always the case calling the Philippines at Christmas time and new year! Finally I was able to get through and talked to my parents to greet them and give some encouragement.

I have found the internet to be very useful especially when I want to listen to Christmas songs. So for many days now I have been listening to them through imeem.com or watching them through youtube. I had a post on Christmas songs last November here which I go back to as well. Below is really very good! Thanks to Pinay Ads for the link. Happy viewing and listening!

Into it!

We are finally into it ... the Christmas activities ... we have done our shopping for gifts (almost 90%), posted most of the cards & other gifts, set-up the Christmas tree at home, started distributing the gifts, baked Christmas fruitcake for giving away ... hmmm ... are these all about Christmas? I hope not. There is more to this and we know it! Glad to read Scriptures these days that talk about Christmas, the reason for it, and why we are celebrating it. So let's not forget that and it helps also to listen to Christmas songs that talk about this. The Handel's Messiah is a very good one to listen to. I missed attending the concert this year. But I have the music here so I can listen anytime. Today's devotional is about it as well.

Another treasure I have here is the CD from Our Daily Bread which I received last year entitled, Christmas Meditation. I listen to it often now and it helps me to re-focus my thoughts and heart on the real meaning of Christmas. Also I try to share to those whom I am giving gifts and cards so that they too will think about it or will come to know.

The only thing for sure in celebrating Christmas this year is that I am away from my family. It's kind of lonely and I just have to remember to call home when they are still awake. It will only be my parents and my sister and her family (they live next door) to celebrate at home. But I guess it will not be like before when after dinner on the 24th we would have our program-program when everyone would present his/her talent, and my parents would say some encouraging words. When the grandchildren came and they visited it was their turn to do the talent show, and we aunts and uncles would give cash prizes to them. Then we would wait for midnight to strike for the Noche Buena. When we were already grown ups each one of us had his/her own menu to cook. Those were the days. I wonder when we can all be together again for Christmas. We just treasure these memories in our hearts. Am sure my Dad & Mom would shed a tear or two again this year.