As our country celebrates October as the National Children’s Month, I can’t help but wonder what future our country holds for our children. The organizers of this annual observance has in mind the noble intention of raising awareness on the welfare of our country’s youth – which has steadily and alarmingly becoming more delinquent according to some NGO’s such as the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.
This is a serious matter especially sa ating mga OFWs because one key reason they cited as the cause of this problem is due to the large number of OFW-parents being away from their children — thus weakening the values of our youth. Dito sa Hong Kong, pamilyar na sa ating mga manggagawa ang makarinig ng mga masasaklap na k’wento gaya ng ‘di pagtatapos ng pinapag-aral na anak, teen-pregnancies, pagkalulong sa drugs at mga anak na ‘di makuhang magpahalaga sa hirap ng magulang na OFW. Another ominous problem that I see is, sa sobrang subsob natin sa pagkayod para sa kanilang ikabubuhay, we forget to ask ourselves: How big is this social problem? Saan kaya ito hahantong? For now, I don’t think we have immediate and specific answers except to be on guard — each family on its own!
I have few unsolicited tips that may somehow be useful to worried parents out there. I have lived similar uncertainties in the past but was rather fortunate to be able to sustain my eldest to become a practicing medical doctor today and so with my youngest who is graduating in college this year. Allow me to share some of my secrets in sustaining the enthusiasm in their pursuit for premium education.
When my eldest was in her elementary years, I brainwashed her that she would become a doctor when she grew up. I have no stable job at that time but my commitment to that brainwashing turned out to be as strong as hers which means I have to work extra harder para hindi ako mapahiya sa aking anak. Kaya, my advice to our parent-readers is to start early sa pagpa-plano ng career ng kanilang anak because it will not only make them more determined, but this commitment will also give you that extra strength to work harder.
Continuously improve your skills so that your kids will not belittle you when they get more education and become smarter. ‘Pag tawag mo, ‘di ka makakantiyawan ‘pag tungkol sa new gadgets ang nababanggit nila tulad ng mga types of computer games na “in” or mga “hot” topics nila. One way is to upgrade or educate yourself sa computer technology, because you can find almost everything they are crazy about in the internet. That way, you can still give them some sort of advice as to what is best for them, knowing what kind of games and stuff they are up to. This process will not only prepare your children towards a brighter future but will also equip you with the competitive skills when you finally rejoin your family. We should maintain a mas-informed, mas-smart image to our children to keep winning their respect.
Maintain constant but quality communication with your family. Tawag ka nga ng tawag puro away at sermon naman! When I say quality communication, I mean you must feel that your mind and your kids’ mind are one and online on the things I mentioned above. Talk BIG things and they will aspire for greatness.
Of course there are many more but lastly and most importantly, pray a lot! There are thousands of unforeseen events that could derail our dreams for our kids. Our country as a whole is now faced with a disintegrating moral values on a daily basis. Morally offensive materials abound in our local movies, TV shows, newsprints and the Board of Censors seems to be helpless or useless. Our noon-time shows are filled with indecent and sexually-charged contents, and most celebrities are not of help by leading lives that are not conducive to our traditional values, the same could be said to many of our local and national leaders. Consider Malacanang’s recent appointment of Gov. Chavit Singson as Deputy for National Security Adviser. It is common knowledge that Gov. Singson’s political history in Ilocos Sur is marred with violence as he vied for political supremacy against his cousins. His national prominence came about from his role in ousting the then Pres. Joseph Estrada. All peace-loving Filipinos know that his “role” is not borne out of patriotism but rather to protect his own life. And now, the government “rewarded” the Governor from Ilocos Sur, whose history of violence is a common knowledge, to be an adviser for our country’s national security. Unbelievable!
And so to my fellow parent-OFWs, we are faced with a seemingly insurmountable task of not only ensuring that we can afford our children’s tuition fees but must carry on the extra burden of constantly reminding our kids that decency in government exist in other countries and many of our political celebrities should not be their “role-models”. Given these scenarios, the more reason we should be vigilant and resolved to guide our children and let us not surrender “our innocent sheep to the folds of the hungry wolves in our land”.
Author: Tony Bartolome, Editor, True Friends Newsmag
*Published in True Friends Newsmag (October 2008 issue)
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