The Filipina Mom in Denmark

I arrived in the Philippines during the election day which the only son the late President Corazon Aquino won and in just few hours he will be sworned into office and I want to join my fellow Filipinos asking the next president improve the lives of millions of OFW’s who are hailed as the new heroes (Ang Bagong Bayani) because of their remittances that keep the Philippines economy afloat.

I’m a true blooded product of OFW my parents has been sending remittances for almost 30 years and after working for more than 25 years my father received his pension for just 1 year he suddenly died and he did not enjoyed the fruit of his labor so to speak and my mother did not received any compensation at all. The remittance we received went to college tuition and other expenses . We became degree holders, 3 engineers and 1 dentist but my mother sometimes complain why we followed their footsteps by working abroad when they sacrificed all those years away from us just to provide us a good future by finishing our education. I also asked myself that question why?

After college graduation we were very idealistic we don’t want to go abroad because we are working but after few years working hard just to pay our bills but we still depended on our parents remittances to make ends met, our salary can not provide us with life our parents gave us. My brother who has 2 children at that time blindly joined my parents and is working not as a dentist but in a restaurant although he has the possibility to practice over there he don’t have the time to go to the language school. Now he also go to the bank every month to send his hard earned money to his family and I asked him if he is happy with that, he said yes and no. He’s happy that he can send his children to college and can afford to buy what he wants. Thanks to the modern devices he can chat or talk with his family unlike during my parents time we only relied only by snail mail. But will his children will also follow suit yes maybe if the government will not improved.

I’ve been staying in the Philippines for almost 7 weeks now and I’m too sad to say it became worst pollution, undisciplined drivers, stop lights that don’t work, poverty anywhere, they say it’s cheap it wasn’t,  common commodities ar so expensive. Everywhere I go there is an SM (Shoe Mart Department store) why? because of millions OFW’s who’s family can now eat in Jollibee and buy in the department store. Excuse me, but having the biggest mall in Asia doesn’t mean we are the best or our economy is better. Because every hard earned money is spent without thinking of the future. Maybe you will say it provide jobs to degree holders who can not find any real job so they end up promo personnels in the department stores just ask how much they earn and we all know that the businessmen are profiting from the contractual basis employment.

This should only a short post but it’s really disappointing to see all the college graduates seeking  greener pasture abroad to the point that they are willing to work as a domestic helpers or au pairs or doctors studying to become nurse so they can work abroad speaking of brain drain. I don’t have anything against domestic helpers its a noble job we are losing valuable  resources now its the right time for the new goverment to act and reevaluate its policies and focus more on the long term. We can’t stop migration it’s embedded in our blood.

So I support and join fellow Overseas Filipino Worlwide in their plea to the incoming President.

Dear Sen. Aquino,
First and foremost, we extend our deepest and sincerest congratulations on your ascendancy to the highest-elected office of our beloved country through a democratic process that every Filipino can take pride in for many generations to come. The first step inherent in the process of transformation is recognizing the need for change – and our capacity to change for the better! Thus, from this point onward, we are hopeful that inspired by your convincing victory and leadership, every Filipino will assume his or her role and responsibility to change the status quo by initiating positive changes towards a better and brighter Philippines, no matter where he or she is, and regardless of what citizenship he or she now holds.
We, the Overseas Filipinos Worldwide (OFW), are a group of Filipinos based abroad and in the Philippines, representing various organizations implementing projects in the Philippines and in our host countries for many years now that are aimed to strategically harness the Philippines’ migration gains into mechanisms for the development of the motherland and our communities of origin.
Migration gains are mainly remittances by overseas Filipinos to their family members, which are now in the region of USD17 billion and are the primary source of livelihood for millions of Philippine households. At 10.8% of the country’s GDP, they are also the third biggest source of the country’s foreign currency reserves and act as primary driver for our economy, shielding us from bankruptcy during the financial crisis in 1997 and the current one. The Filipino diaspora, estimated now at about 10 million working or residing in 239 countries and territories worldwide, send back donations to various humanitarian causes, such as disaster–relief, medical missions, schoolhouses, and other infrastructure. These contributions supplement local and national government deficits and, as of 2003, have already amounted to USD218 million, per BSP figures in that year. We do not count here the investments made by OFWs in real estate and the education and health of their family members, and the money spent on various goods and services, as well as on construction, food, shelter, and other inflows that support sectors like the airlines, shopping centers, and banks. Yet, after more than three decades of overseas employment, we do not see genuine signs of poverty alleviation, and instead more and more of our countrymen leave for work abroad.

Ironically, the Philippine model of overseas migration has become a model of sorts, for other migrant-origin countries to emulate and even copy. This however does not tell the whole story or reveal the other face of migration that has escaped the serious attention of past administrations, specifically, the social costs that migration has bred since government-managed deployment started in the early 70s and up to the present, where we now see at least 3,000 of many of the best and brightest Filipinos leaving daily to take up jobs overseas, due to local employment deficits. Other nations like South Korea, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, and Taiwan, who once were labor exporting countries, have been able to get over their migration hump, as a result of their governments’ consciously harnessing their workers’ remittances and investing them to develop local infrastructure, shipyards, factories, and other industries. Convinced of the effectiveness of government programs and also trustful of their leaders’ sincerity, these countries’ expatriates and overseas workers, at great sacrifice, left their high-paying jobs overseas and returned to their home countries to lend their talents and acquired expertise in further helping their respective country’s leap towards developed status even working at low salaries. India, another migrant-sending country, is also now going in that direction. These examples serve to illustrate the dictum that migration should be temporary, that it must not be used as a substitute for development. The desirable goal of countries wishing to be strong and globally competitive must necessarily be self-sufficiency and the ability to provide its people with necessary components needed for their human development.
The advent of a new administration, especially one under your inspired leadership, is a good time to ask where the Philippines is going regarding migration, and to act accordingly. Shall we continue to send out our people and rely on remittances and without any development objectives in sight? Conversely, don’t we have the talent to formulate a road map towards self-sufficiency over a period of time, in order that the hemorrhage of talents could be stopped, that a crisis in our dysfunctional families and society at large could be averted, and so that our people do not have to take migration as a forced option? If long-term migration goals are set now, the government could in the meantime work on some basic but urgent deployment and migration issues in order to clear the way towards having a genuine and serious program on translating migration gains for use in human development. In view of this, we humbly suggest starting to look at the following:

• The government must send clear and strong signals that migration and remittances are only temporary measures to help the government prepare for a longer-term goal of self sufficiency, in which Filipinos no longer look at migration as a forced option. This must be integrated in Medium-Term Development Plans, which is currently being formulated by NEDA, and which should also include how in the meantime strategies, policies, and mechanisms for the productive use and investment of remittances could be harnessed to strengthen the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals.

• Create a position for a Special Presidential Adviser on Migration and Development, who will work with a technical working group (TWG) composed of qualified individuals who have a background in migration and development, including knowledgeable and committed migrant leaders. Among others, the TWG could conduct studies, consultations, and discussions, and come up with updated situationers and appropriate policy recommendations on how to effectively translate remittances and migrant resources to develop local economies; and to address social costs, facilitation of return migration, reintegration, mechanisms for the counterparting of funds between Filipino diaspora groups, LGUs, and development agencies for local and countryside development, incentives for OFW investments in agriculture, SME, infrastructure, microfinance, cooperatives, and other sectors that need stronger funding support. The work could take the form of draft legislation for study by Congress’s standing committee on OFWs or form the basis for an Executive or Administrative Order, whichever is appropriate or workable. The committee’s work shall be purely consultative and should not supplant the work of government migration agencies.

• Review and monitor the performance of government agencies in charge of migrant workers, such as the POEA, OWWA, CFO, and the Department of Foreign Affairs, with a view to strengthening these institutions, reducing wasteful and ineffective programs or duplication of work, giving agencies needed resources and funds for effective implementation of programs, and strengthening the capacity of their overseas offices to become centers of service to migrant workers overseas.

• · Departing OFWs contribute USD25 each as a requirement for departure and membership in OWWA and entitlement of welfare benefits. The total corpus of this trust fund is already at the level of at least PHP10 billion. The disposition and administration of this fund has been subject of criticisms, as its use has not been transparent and shown susceptibility to mismanagement. Specifically, reforms in OWWA should (1) impose strict criteria in the process of selection of people who will sit in the Board of Trustees, such that only those qualified and are committed to work for their constituents are appointed, e.g., women OFWs, sea-based, land-based, etc. (2) OWWA proceedings should be made transparent and open to public scrutiny, particularly the investment of the trust funds. (3) the incoming administration, for the benefit of OFWs and through the working group, should require from the current OWWA board an accounting of OWWA funds and how they were invested/used. To this end, the most recent COA audit of migration agencies, like POEA, OWWA, DFA, and POLO offices overseas, must be consulted.

• The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) and the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) are two small agencies that are doing important work on mobilizing diaspora contributions for development and assistance to OFWs who are reintegrating to Philippine society after working abroad. The CFO, for instance, has submitted recommendations on how gaps and barriers to enhanced diaspora contributions could be addressed, but these have never been acted upon. The NRCO, in the three years it has been created, has given assistance and referrals on livelihood and employment to OFW returnees affected by the global crisis. Their work should be seriously looked into, and whenever necessary, the appropriate level of funds, resources, and support should be given to these agencies.

• Lack of financial literacy or of the ability to use resources and incomes productively and wisely has been highlighted as a major cultural barrier among not only OFWs but also for most Filipinos. It prevents our people from improving their socio-economic conditions, despite years of employment in the Philippines or overseas. This refers to lack of savings or investment mindset and excessive spending on non-essentials. No less than an institutionalized nationwide program on financial literacy will be able to address this and should include not only OFWs but also members of their family. The BSP has been the lead government agency that has conducted financial literacy seminars for OFWs and families since 2006 in more than 30 Philippine cities and 10 cities overseas. This program could be improved and expanded through an impact assessment of the campaign and which might include providing resources for enlisting the DECS to include financial literacy and migration as part of school curriculum, starting from grade school, or the LGUs, by including financial literacy and social costs of migration in the Pre-employment Orientation Seminars (PEOS) conducted in their territories for intending migrants.

As a final note, while the recommendations above address specific OFW issues, the programs you had avowed to pursue in your electoral campaign on good governance—better access to health, education, employment and livelihood, and business opportunities for all—are all in the right track, constitute the basic elements for self-sufficiency, and provide viable options to our citizens to remain in the country and to devote their talents and resources to developing the homeland. On these, please be assured of our continued support.

Signed:

Doris Alfafara, Habagat Foundation, The Netherlands
Ren Arrieta, USA
Alex Veloso Bello, Saudi Arabia
Marvin Bionat, USA
Ding Bagasao, Economic Resource Center for Overseas Filipinos (ERCOF), Philippines
Jack Catarata, Germany
Basco Fernandez, Damayang Pilipino sa Nederland, The Netherlands
Lorna Lardizabal Dietz
Cristina Liamzon, Italy
Judith Puyat-Magnaye, USA
Mariel Vincent Rapisura, SEDPI Philippines
Leila Rispens-Noel, Wimler Partnership for Social Progress, Hongkong/Contact Person
Dennis Yaun, Luxembourg
James Zamora, Philippines

This was posted in Facebook and in this website Overseas Filipinos Worldwide

My mother called me last Sunday during  celebration  of the mother’s Day in Spain yes she live in Madrid, to greet me and my sister  a Happy Mother’s Day. I soon realized that yes I’m a mother for 4 years now and I found this poem which is very describe a mother’s life. But after all the hardships of giving birth, diaper changing, sickness and sometimes day seems like impossible especially when you are in grocery counter after a day in the kindergarten and the candies and chocolates are just just within reach even  by a 4 year kid I’m still happy to be a mom. I feel whole and appreciated when my son tells me every time he has a chance but he makes it sure to tell me before he’s going to sleep and when he wakes up ” Mor, du er den bedste i hele verden” Mother, you are the best in the whole world. Now he’s into drawing and I will post one of his ever first drawing with my smiling face and my name and I was smiling when I found another piece with may name and my age and MOR (mother)  just before he sleeps he gave me one with all the numbers of buses and train so I know where and what to take. See how thoughtful my son is. I remember my mother used to tell me then that the only way We the children or maybe women can pay the hardships of our mother is by giving birth and rasing your own children and now we’re quits no, I don’t think so I only got one she has 5. I love Mom “happy Mother’s Day.

To my Nany, Lola, aunties,friends and to all mothers Happy mother’s day. I found this poem in the net unfortunately I forgot where was it from so I can indicate my source. I dedicate this poem because it describe how motherhood change us to something even better.

Author Unknown

Before I was a Mom
I made and ate hot meals.
I had unstained clothing.
I had quiet conversations on the phone.

Before I was a Mom,
I slept as late as I wanted
And never worried about how late I got into bed.
I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was Mom
I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys or forgot words of lullabies.

Before I was a Mom
I didn’t worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom
I had never been puked on
Pooped on
Spit on
Chewed on
Peed on
Or pinched by tiny fingers

Before I was a Mom
I had complete control of:
My thoughts
My body
And my mind.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child
So that doctors could do tests
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn’t want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
When I couldn’t stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
Could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom
I didn’t know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn’t know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn’t know that bond between a Mother and her child.
I didn’t know that something so small
Could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay
I had never known the warmth
The joy
The love
The heartache
The wonder
Or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

Youth Vårsalong is Denmark’s largest art exhibition for young people. The Copenhagen City is agin hosting the exhibit and this year’s theme is titled “What I dream about”. Well, it’s interesting to see the young artist visualize their dream into various art expression modes like photographs, films, sculptures, and many many more.

Come and see the dreams of the young artists whose 220 art works were selected by a professional panel of judges among the hundreds of submitted works. The art exhibit will be opened by the Child and Youth Mayor Anne Vang.

We, are proud to announce that the Babaylan Denmark’s illustrator and cartoonist is chosen for two consecutive years to be part of this big exhibit form April 29 to 8th of May 2010 in Copenhagen City Hall and subseqently in the city hall of City Hall of Malmø in Sweden

Prior to the exhibition, a private viewing on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 17.00-19.00 hr will be held for the artists together with their parents, families and friends.

Among the 200 young artists from around, Copenhagen, Århus, Odense, Esbjerg, Aalborg & Malmø, Muir was lucky to get her chance again to participate in the yearly exhibition.

The artist impression of herself

Muir Jover is the daughter of the current Babaylan Denmark’s Chairperson, Juvy Jover.

For more information, please visit http://www.ungdomsskolen.kk.dk

Pacifier, or “sut” in Danish is probably one of the most have for parents because it makes your baby stop crying especially in the middle of the nigh,  it gives you peace and quite for few minutes or hour. Luckily my son wasn’t that wild about it maybe just a month or two and his nursery did not encourage it either.

a baby with pacifier

The choice is up to the parents just remember so if you decide that pacifier is for remember a few things:

• wait until your baby is about month year old so she/he will not be confused with pacifier and your nipples because suckling is a baby’s reflex
• don’t let the pacifier be your baby sitter just give it when its necessary sometimes when they cry they need comfort to feel the warmth of their parents remember that they live inside the   mother ’s womb for nine months. Even though they can not talk or see you have to talk to them it soothes them to hear a familiar voice.
• When buying pacifiers choice only pacifiers without any phthalates (it is a chemical they add to soften the plastic if was suspected to be the cause of reproductive disruptions for humans and babies are susceptible I will write an article about this because most of toys, lotions contains Phthalates
• Chose pacifiers that can not obstruct the nose for me I was.
• Always see to it that is clean wash it with fresh water have seen mothers who used to clean it by putting them in their mouth and later give it back to their babies whenever it fell down. I guess our mouth is a rich source of bacteria please don’t do that. Buy a holder instead like my son on the picture.
• Change when you think the rubber is too soft it might lead to choking.

I observed that the Filipinamom’s in the Philippines doesn’t  rely  too much on pacifier like  their Danish counterparts. I think the reason is we the  Filipinamoms always want to be near our child we love to hold our babies every time they cry. That’s what my nurse /sunhedsplejersker told me that we are not afraid of touch I think that’s our nature. There is always a free set of arms to hold the babies the grandparents, aunts, friends and those privileged ones they have “yayas” or nannies to pacify the crying child. While in Denmark I observed in the day care institutions and in the streets babies even they are old enough always have something in their cute little mouth a “”. I can not give any reason but it like it’s some kind of tradition or a tool to make their lives easier.

But have you wonder what they do to wane their children from using pacifier?  It usually a big deal when the children is attached to their sut/pacifier but for me the best time is to wane them when they are between 2-3 years old when they start in the kindergarten. Watch this video from MYtvDenmark about the Pacifier tree where they hang their children’s pacifier in a tree and give a little present. In the Frederiksberg Garden there is a ceratain tree that parents go to when the time has come. It like some sort of passage for their children. The video also consist of how is the kids life in Denmark. Enjoy. You can watch more episodes visit http: //www.mydenmarktv.com/ and learn abouth life in Denmark through the eyes of foreigners.

Episode #36 – MyDenmarkTV.com from MyDenmarkTV on Vimeo.

How about you ? Do you have any tradition when the time to say stop using pacifier?

Here are the list of church services I gathered in Norway and in Denmark who offer mass/church service in English.

image source: www.i-heart-god.com

Catholic Church

Oslo

St. Olav’s Cathedral
Every Sunday English Masses at 1800H

Address: Akersveien 1, 0177 Oslo
Contact Person: Rev. Fr. Amando Bergantino Alfaro Jr. and Ms. Elizabeth Helland (Church Secretary)

Contact No.: +47 2321 9573, +47 2298 2165 and + 47 9940 5608 (Mobile)

St. Joseph’s Church
Every Sunday English Masses at 0930H Every 4th Sunday of the Month: 1400H (Tagalog Mass)
Every Friday: 1800H (Tagalog Mass)

Address: Akersveien 4, 0177 Oslo
Contact Person: Rev. Fr. Redentor M. Molina
Contact No.: +47 9986 4952

Copenhagen:

Skt. Annæ’s Church
Saturday and Sunday English Masses at 1700H

Address: Skt. Elizabeth’s Allé 2, 2300 Kbh. , Denmark

Contact Person: Fr. Benny Mathew,C.Ss.R
Contact No.: +45 – 2193 4215 (Mobile)
e-Mail: bennycssr@hotmail.com
Chaplain for the Filipino Community: Fr. Joe Toms, C.Ss.R.
Contact No.: +45 5322 5232 (mobile)
e-Mail: joetoms77@ymail.com

How to get there: take 5 A from the city and get down in Tycho Brahes Alle note is already Zone 3 so it’s better stand up in Englandsvej busstop which is still zone 1 and walk around 100 meters ahead or take 3500S and go down in Englandsvej)

Sakramentskirken
Wednesday English Mass& Novena at 1700H

Address: Nørrebrogade 27C, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
Contact Person 1: Fr.Reinhold Sahner
Contact No.:+45 3535 6825 (fastnet)
e-Mail: sakramentskirken@mail-telia.dk
How to get there: Take bus no. 5A and go down in Ravnsborgade Busstop.

Sunday English Mass 1800H

Contact Person 2: Fr. Carroll Parker, Omi
Contact No.: +45 3125 5996 (Mobile)
e-Mail: carroll.parker@mail.dk

Vor Frue Kirken in Herlev
Thursday English Mass at 0930H and Sunday English Mass at 1130H

Address: Herlevgårdsvej 14, 2730 Herlev
Contact Person: Fr. Carroll Parker, Omi
Contact No.: +45 3125 5996 (Mobile)
e-Mail: carroll.parker@mail.dk

St. Knud Lavard’s Church
Sunday English Mass at 1300H

Address: Lyngbygårdsvej 1A, 2800 Lyngby
Contact Person: Fr. Alren Soosaipillai, OMI
Office tel nr: 45 87 08 88
Contact No: 50 15 52 26
e-Mail: alrenomi@gmail.com

Jesus is Lord

Oslo

Jesus is Lord Norway
Every Sunday: 1530H – 1800H
Every Thursday: 1800H – 2100H

Address: American Lutheran Church, Fritznersgate 15, 0264 Oslo
Contact Person: Pastor Gilbert Palmero
Contact No.: +47 9528-2491
e-Mail: jilnorwaychapter@hotmail.com

Copenhagen

Jesus is Lord Copenhagen
Every Sunday: 1445H – 1700H

Address: Allehelgens Kirke 43, Ungarnsgade 2300, Kbh S
Contact Person: Pastor Precy Soltes-Ofori
Contact No.: +45 3123 9778 and +45 3646 3113
website: www.jesusislordchurch.dk

Living World Bible Center

Living World Bible Cente

Every Sunday: 1500H – 1730H

Address: Geitmyrsveien 7D 0107 Oslo
Contact Person: Pastor Vic del Valle and Sis. Ana del Valle
Contact No.: + 47 4023 0603 and + 47 4024 9524
e-Mail: livingwordbiblecenter@yahoo.com

Filipino Christian Church

Oslo

Filipino Christian Church Norway
Every Sunday: 1400H – 1700H

Address: Filadelfia Center St. Olavsgate
Contact Person: Pastor John Angeles
Contact No.: +47 6084 3667
e-Mail: jpa4569@yahoo.com

Copenhagen:

Filipino Christian Church Copenhagen
Every Sunday: 1730H – 2030H

Address: Culture Hall/Kultur Sal, Drejervej 15-21,2400 Copenhagen NV
Contact Person: Pastor Raymond Osias
Contact No.: +45 2692 9314
Website: www.fcccommunities.com

Iglesia ni Cristo 1

Copenhagen:

Filipino Christian Church Copenhagen
Every Sunday: 1730H – 2030H

Iglesia ni Cristo
Every Thursday: 1900Hpm-2000H ;Every Sunday: 1000H – 1100H

Address: Brønshøjvej 12, 2700 København
Contact Person: Rossal Kiilerich
Contact No.: +45 41233679
e-mail: divinekiilerich@yahoo.com

Workship services are both conducted in English

Copenhagen Community Church (CCC)

Copenhagen:

Copenhagen Community Church
Sundays: 1100H – 1300H

Norre Farimagsgade 45
1364 Copenhagen K

I’m glad to announce that this blog Filipina Mom in Denmark finally has a logo which represent a doting mother and a child and I can say that the mohter is a Filipina because of the sun and the color of blue and red which is present in the Philippines flag. You can notice that the hair that resemble the flag covers the child which means that she imparts her Filipino heritage to her child.

Filipinamom's Logo Copyright 2010 www.Filipinamom.com

The logo was the result of creative work of Peter Molina, a talented digital Filipino artist living in Denmark which you can visit and I highly recommend his services which you can check in his website www.molina.dk. He made this logo for free so in return I will put his website link in my sidebar and I can help to advertise his work thru this blog. Thanks lot Peter.

Please bear with me if if you find this blog almost naked it is because I’m in the process of redesigning this blog starting from changing the theme although I love the old theme I want more cleaner e and easy to load theme because the old one takes alot of time to load and  I think this current theme Bueno which is free from Woo theme suits me. My old categories sucks so I’m revising it and makes it more “categorize” but I have to do it post by post so it will take a while before the final but I’m loving it.

I’m happy and proud that my blog Filipina Mom in Denmark is on the first page in google when you search Filipina it will land on the first page.  Just less than a year I tried to google it and viola I was so surprised when I saw it last October because I was not able to update regularly but the readers are still the same so I think I owe to my readers to make an effort to post regularly especially my advocacies.When I started to blog I don’t know what to write but I just write what I can think of but the wonderful thing about blogging is that it helps you to blow some steam off sometimes it serve as a therapy when I’m stressed.

I’m in the middle of revitalizing this blog but not until my exam is over. Being active on social networking specifically Facebook took all my time in my online advocacy for filipina aupairs as I administrate a fan page and my time just eaten by online offline counselling that sometimes it sucks all my energies but I’m not sad but happy to help.

look at the www.Filipinamom.com

If you look above the Filipina mom in Denmark,  the Filipina Images is second website on the first page , which a site dedicated to Filipina image online campaign which was created by Noemi Dado Lardizabal Dado and co. I applaud them in their advocacy and  I for one believe that what you see in the search engine doesn’t reflect majority of Filipinas. I’m married to a danish guy but I’m sad whenever I hear other nationalities see Filipina as one who search for foreign husband to save them from poverty or worse be labelled as golddigger or easy to get. I’m not against dating site but Filipinas should be cautious of these sites. The more the better Filipinas should make their presence in the net whoever you are beauty queen, aupairs, caregivers, domestic helpers, etc. we should make our presence on the net, inspire and empower other Filipinas both in the Philippines and abroad.

Thank you for giving time to read my blog.

People’s Power Revolution is also known as Edsa Revolution or  Edsa 1.

February 25, 1986 I was at home in the province while my father was listening to the radio 24 hours a day hoping and praying that the revolution will turn into a peaceful one. I was 4th year high school student time at that time nearing the final exam  and graduation was set to end of March. There was some kind of uncertainty that something will bad will happened just seeing those battalion of soldiers being called for reinforcement and the tanks make you feel like there will be a lot of casualties but thank God it was peaceful, the Marcoses fled the country together with General Ver.  I used to think I belong to the People’s power generation entering the college with a pocketful of dream and hope for a better future.

I vaguely remember the martial law but there something about curfew so I’m glad that because of people power revolution I was able to go home late at night without any hassles after partying/disco opps no I usually took night classes.

After 24 years I still think that it was the best thing that happened in my home country because we will not her writing or expressing our opinions if we are under military government. The Philippines politics maybe had changed, from 2 party system to multi party system or the idealism but the politician are still the same or should I say the same political clans are still in the limelight even the Marcoses are back which maybe might hinder our dream of experiencing the true meaning democracy but we should not give up.

I’m proud to be a Filipino even though I live in Denmark because of this 1986 People’s Power Revolution was the inspiration behind the toppling down of communistic dictators in Eastern Europe and the fall of the Berlin Wall and even the orange revolution in Ukraine.

Whenever I read news or forums the Filipinos are forever blaming the goverment for poverty because of corruption which I agree but let us not forget that once upon a time 24 years ago we were or I should say our parents at that time risked their lives against the dictator and by hearing and seeing it once again the oneness and the intensity of prayer and faith, we will think twice when we go to cast our vote in May.The Philippines is still young democracy compared to the European States even Denmark it took them several centuries before attaining what they have today. Thank you Ninoy, thank you Cory and the Filipinos who believed in miracles. God Bless the Philippines.

This month my son turned 4 years old and it went smoothly. We usually hold a party because he happens to share the same birthday with her aunt, my youngest sister either on our place or down her aunt’s who used to live just below us. But now my sister had move out and I was busy preparing for my school exam so I though it will just be quiet and simple just the three of us my husband, me and the birthday boy.

I just bought 50 different fruits for the kindergarten for 30 adults and children and the teachers thanked me because it was healthy and keep the young ones calm unlike the usual ice cream and cakes that the parents brought when somebody celebrates birthday at the kindergarten.The day started smoothly upon seeing his name and the flag besides it he knows it his day lucky he was the only celebrant that day. The boy was so happy with the attention where they sang a lot of birthday song and received a little book and a monkey, a noisy monkey.

At home we continue the celebration by buying an ice cream cake so he can blow 4 candles and gave him a garbage truck which he loves.

It seems like yesterday that he was so dependent of me but now he has his own mine and he can beat me to some games in the computer, yes he has his own laptop to and he knows how to use it but he’s only limited to games like on Disney and other preschool  programs on the web.

Now let me see his development based on the Great School Org

Milestones: 4-Year-Olds

A. Motor Development: Gross Motor Skills:

* running is more controlled; can start, stop, and turn
* turns somersaults; hops on one foot; gallops
* can easily catch, throw, and bounce a ball
*can brush teeth, comb hair, wash, and dress with little assistance

He can all everything except the dentist suggest that adult should brush his teeth until he old enough to brush his teeth properly.

B. Motor Development: Fine Motor Skills

* copies crosses and squares
* prints some letters
* uses table utensils skillfully
* cuts on a line

He was once good in using table utensils when he was 2.5 years old but since he started in the kindergarten he is a little backwards he don’t like using knife and fork maybe because he left-handed so kind of confusing.We will see to it that he should use the table utensils more often.

Language and Thinking Development

* uses a 1,500-word vocabulary; speaks in relatively complex sentences (“Mommy opened the door and the dog ran out.”)
* understands words that relate one idea to another — if, why, when
* continues to learn through experience and the senses
* understands, mostly, the difference between fantasy and reality
* understands number and space concepts — more, less, bigger, in, under, behind
* thinks literally; starting to develop logical thinking
* begins to grasp that pictures and symbols can represent real objects
* starts to recognize patterns among objects — round things, soft things, animals
* grasps the concepts of past, present, and future but does not understand the duration of time

In this area he’s advanced than most children in his age because by 1 1/2 years old he knows all the colors, he can count, can tell the difference between big and little and can even sing several nursery rhymes. By 2 years old he can recite and read the Danish alphabet and numbers up to 50, can recognized patterns and forms.names of animals and his vocabulary was really amazing. So when started in the kindergarten at 2 & 7 months he was actually like a 4 yr old except the last one; grasp of the concepts of time. Now that he’s 4 he can memorize telephone numbers and some common words he often reads  and master the remote control which even I sometimes forgets. He can say the days and the tomorrow and the future and when I say you only have 10 minutes he will say no 100 minutes. Amazing

Social and Emotional Development

* takes turns, shares, and cooperates
* expresses anger verbally rather than physically
* can feel jealousy
* may sometimes lie to protect herself, but understands the concept of lying
* enjoys pretending and has a vivid imagination

Socially compared to his peers he’s just needs more help because he can sometimes too dominating like he knows everything although he plays with other children but the concept of playing like fighting he’s still a baby he don’t like it. But I’ve seen him in the parlor games and he acts normal and enjoyed being playing with other kids outside his circles.

According to the About.com

As the parent of a 4-year-old, you should:

* Encourage and provide the necessary space for physical activity
* Instruct the child on how to participate in, and follow the rules of sporting activities
* Encourage play and sharing with other children
* Encourage creative play
* Teach children to do small chores, such as setting the table
* Read together
* Monitor both the time and content of television viewing (preferably less than 1.5 hours of TV, no more than 3 hours maximum)
* Expose the child to different stimuli by visiting local areas of interest

We are guilty of letting him watch too much TV sometimes more than 3 hours when he’s home and now his computer which sometime he spends 2 hours. Although he watches program and play games for his age it’s not good for eyes so we  should limit it max 3 hours for both TV and computer. He already helping me set the table and small errands and he loves it. We love going out to the park but we should encourage or invite friends for overnight to encourage him to learn to share his toys and share his territory.

He can talk like a TV journalist and very observant and one time he asked me while ” Why the girls sits when they use the toilet while the boys just stands” and lot of questions and when I don’t know the answer I say “because it does,” that’s what he always answer whenever I ask him something although it more funny in Danish.

I will congratulate my self as a mother and as a parent as I together with my husband is able to meet the challenges of raising a super active boy without any problem considering he is our first and hope not the last.

And nobody is prouder when he always say “Jeg elsker dig Mor og Du er det bedste i hele verden” I love you and you are the best in the whole world.

And we love you also. You are the best thing that ever happen to us.

In Danish we greet everybody with “Tak for the gamle and Godt nyt år” meaning we give thanks for the past year what ever it brought us pain and happiness and at the same time welcoming and wishing a Good year ahead.

Personally the year 2009 will forever etched in my memory as it had brought me pain and triumph at the same time. It was the year my father passed away which until now still hurts and can’t believe that he was gone. We spent the Christmas together as a family last Christmas 2008 after 27 years and he was full of life and so brave to go through all those operations but all of us know that it was too risky and that parting where he cried and ran after me will haunt me for the rest of my life.

My countrymen were also hit by 2 typhoons in a less than a month which leaves thousand of families homeless. My hometown is used to floods ever since I can remember we always had to move in the second floor of our house. But this time just after just one year after the strong winds of typhoon Frank which left our family house and most of the houses in my village without a roof, the recent typhoon Peping brought massive rains which suddenly left our house submerged in flood. Luckily no one was hurt and it was like nothing ever happened when you look at the pictures after they cleaned the house  but we lost a lot of  old pictures, memories of our childhood which  but it always remains in our memory.

Our house during typhoon Parma (Peping)

Another tragedy my home country just experienced after the two typhoons was the Ampatuan Massacre in Maguindanao where there was 57 innocent people consist of journalists, women, who were killed in a barbaric way that I can’t describe because it makes me puke and can’t believe that those who are responsible  can do those awful thing other human beings I think they are not human beings at all. I just hope and pray the victims gets the justice they deserved and their families may recover from the tragedy.

Last year was also a really busy year as I was so active in my community locally and abroad. As a Babaylan Denmark’s country representative I was able to attend the Babaylan europe’s Congress and conference and at the same time I had been to Odense and Norway to spearhead the Au pair conference.

It was also the year 2009 where I was able to travel to Paris, France last  and met a lot of wonderful Filipinos when I joined the annual  conference of the Babaylan Europe and I was glad to meet most of them in the city of romance. I was able to see those wonderful places where I only see in th post cards or in the movie but what I enjoyed most is the people I met especially the migrants when we joined their seminar and I realized that day I or we are so lucky in  Denmark in comparison with  the problems experienced by the Filipino migrants in France. I cried during that meeting because they remind me of my parents who were also worked hard for almost 30 years in foreign land and suffered all the loneliness just to provide us a better life. I can’t control my tears and they just let me cried. I don’t know at that time that my father was about to die and when I came home the day after I was waken up with that call…

Last November I went to Athens, Greece to join the People’s Global Action on Migration, Development human rights conference on Migrant coinciding with the United Nations’s Global Forum on Migration and development  but wasn’t able to come in time during the discussion of the aupair problems but my colleuges from Babaylan Denmark and Babaylan Holland did a great job as most of our countrymen and other NGO’s doesn’t know about it. But I was able to Attend the closing ceremonies and it was fantastic and at the same time sad to hear those sad stories of migrants all over the world.

When the two Pinoys who won the CNN/You tube Contest Paul Garilao and Ponching Orioste Jr. came to Copenhagen I became more busy by introducing them to all the Filipino events and visit relevant places like the Waste Segregation Plant and the Incineration Plant where the waste is turn onto source of heat and energy. we event met the President of the Philippines Gloria Arroyo during her meeting with the Filipino Community in Denmark. So I was told that by my friends that they saw me in TV Patrol when they were featured those two guys.

The Winners of CNN/Youtube COP15 contest Paul and Ponching with Denmark's Filipinamoms Ana and Hilda

I wasn’t able to update this blog because of too many activities and I actually too tired to do anything but my family keeps me sane especially my son who always gives me joy and I cherish every moment I spend with him and of course my husband who always supported me up 100%. And lastly I thank God for all the blessings we had received last year and God bless us for this new year.

I thought it was just a short post but I want to greet and wish you a Happy new year.