It takes a village to raise a child, an African proverb goes. But what if I do not trust the village? So I turn to the (rather sexist) Swahili alternative: whomsoever is not taught by the mother will be taught… Continue reading

If you are still looking for a sign to start reading books to your child, this is it. According to Carolyn Cates, PhD, lead author of the study that involved 250 pairs of mothers and their babies, findings suggest that… Continue reading

Is it ever okay to decline an invitation to be someone’s ninang or ninong? The fast answer is yes, you may refuse to be someone’s godparent. However, it is not that easy. If you are in the Philippines, refusing an… Continue reading

Last week, I made a girl cry. She is so skinny – like skin and bones skinny – and she had dark circles around her eyes. I told her to eat. Her mom said she (the girl) insists of being… Continue reading

For many Filipino Roman Catholics, choosing a child’s ninong and ninang is easy. Here are the most common criteria for selecting children’s sponspors for baptism: Parent’s siblings or cousins Parent’s friends Parent’s bosses or co-workers Sometimes, status placement is also… Continue reading

Hi, friend! Welcome and welcome back to the blog. I deactivated on Facebook in mid-May. This was neither a quasi-experiment on how I will fare without something that has been a part of my life since 2009 nor a social… Continue reading