Writings on Faith, Family and Early Learning

A Parent’s Prayer Lord God Almighty, we come before Your throne of grace and mercy.Thank You, Lord, that we can come to You any time in prayer.Prayer knows no bounds, so we can all pray together wherever we are.You …

This was my oldest brother. His name was Carpo. I called him Manong (older brother) Carpo. My dad wanted to name him Carpo, but the priest in our hometown rejected the name. I don’t know why priests have a say in parents naming their children. So my dad named him Calixto. This is just for formality because he had been Carpo to everyone.

He was the tallest in our family. My dad said he got our grandpa’s height. The featured picture is my all-time favorite photo of my brother. A candid shot with my oldest son, who, at 13, was taller than him.

Manong Carpo married young. He married the prettiest girl in our village after his primary school graduation. So young! My dad wanted him to finish high school but preferred enrolling in a vocational school (TAFE). He wanted to be an auto diesel mechanic. My dad agreed because my brother loved running after jeepneys, the most affordable mode of transportation in the Philippines, and rode at the back (“munbittinan” in our dialect). He enrolled in San Fernando, La Union, a province far from our hometown. My dad was worried that my brother was by himself, so he requested his 3 nephews: Paneeng (Panne’), Patukoy (Pattuk), and Yah-ang, to enroll with him to keep him company. My dad helped pay for my cousins’ tuition fees. I don’t know if they finished their vocational course.

I stayed with my brother’s family to take care of his oldest child so his wife could study dressmaking. My mom urged my dad to let my brother’s wife learn some skills. So my dad paid for my sister-in-law’s vocational course. I was 5 when I took care of their one-year-old daughter. A mere child is taking care of a baby. My 9-year-old sister was also taking care of our oldest sister’s one-year-old son. We lived in one apartment in Palma, Baguio City.

I enjoyed spending some of my summer school holidays with my brother and his family when I was in high school and in college. My brother’s primary source of income was wood carving. Life was not abundant during my stay with them, but the food was always on the table. No matter how simple the food or minimalist the lifestyle was, love was evident in their family. My brother was always loving and attentive. My sister-in-law is very caring, gentle, soft-spoken, kind-hearted, understanding, patient, and humble. They fell in love very young and sustained that love for many decades. They had 8 children, but some of them passed away at very young ages.

Manong Carpo was very sociable. He had a very charming appeal. He can talk about anything to anyone. He was famous during his time. He was not a politician, but his charisma toward the local people was outstanding.

One fateful day in the 1980s, my brother went to help our relatives bring another dead relative to their home. On their way home, they met a guy who ran amok. He was wielding a big machete (bolo) towards my brother and his companions. They were coming up the mountain. The guy was going down the mountain. Unfortunately, my brother was walking in front of the narrow trail. The guy running amok brandished his machete toward the group. It was dark; only the moonlight guided them on their walk home, so my brother thought he was okay. Then he felt pain in his ear, and something warm was trickling down his back. They continued trekking the rugged trail home, more than 10 kilometers away. When they arrived home, my brother saw that his gumboots (rain boots) were full of blood, his clothes were soaked with blood, and his head was bleeding profusely. Transportation was scarce back then. It was a blessing that a jeepney was used to rush him to the hospital. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who helped Manong Carpo before. May God reward your good deeds.

The damage to my brother’s head was only determined when he was transferred to the Saint Louis University Hospital of the Sacred Heart in Baguio City. He underwent craniotomy. Half of his skull (cranium) was surgically cut and removed then the scalp was sewn. You can actually feel the brain when you press the scalp. My brother was hospitalized for a month. My dad took care of him the whole time. It was one of the most terrifying times in our family.

God is good. My brother lived for many years after this incident. When medical technology is advanced, the doctors can perform cranioplasty on him. They put a synthetic skull that protected him for more than 2 decades. The guy who hurt him was imprisoned. Sadly, he was our distant relative. He did not complete his jail time because he was paroled when President Cory Aquino paroled many prisoners during her term in office.

My brother was very supportive and proud of me. He attended my elementary graduation. I don’t know why he did not come to my secondary graduation. He attended my college graduation. He requested me to have a photo with him as a remembrance photo with his sister, who had an academic medal in university. The photo is the feature photo of this blog. The original printed copy is in their home.

When my family and I migrated to Australia, we sent him our photo taken at a kangaroo park. He went around his neighborhood and showed our relatives our picture, saying, “Look at my sister with a kangaroo.” (“Tigon yu hi ading u an ni’picture hi kangaroo”). It was their first time seeing a kangaroo in a photo.

My brother was a great event organizer and overseer. He made sure that everything was taken care of. He was the silent worker behind the scenes during all our family occasions. On my wedding day, he was the one who managed everything while the rest of us enjoyed the reception.

I helped with his medication through the years. When there was a little extra from his medicine money, he would buy lollies for his grandchildren and say, “I bought you a lollipop. This is from your Lola Zeny.”

He saw us off at the airport on our migration to Australia. It was seven years before I saw him again in March 2007.

I hugged him tightly and said goodbye to him in April 2007. I hugged him while saying, “Take care of yourself, Manong. Take care of your health. My family and I will come home again to visit you.” He replied with a reassuring smile, “Yes, I will, ading.”

Little did I know that it was the last time I saw him. He passed away 14 years ago today, 11 days before he turned 55. It may be a short life, but it was well-lived.

It took me 10 years before I went home again for vacation because I was devastated by my brother’s passing. I did not want to go home and not see him.

Writing about him evoked many vivid memories for me. I am emotionally overwhelmed every October 3 each year.

Thank you for reading, everyone. Click on the featured picture to see all the photos attached to the blog.

May we all make every moment of our life count and be grateful for each day we wake up. Life is fragile and short. Let us take care of ourselves and enjoy life to the fullest. Let us be blessings to others. Let us show and express our love to our family and beloved ones while they are still alive. Let us not wait for the last moment before we cry and to spend a lot just to see them for the last time. Give them food, flowers, and stuff while they can still eat, taste, and feel our love for them.

My Brother Carpo This was my oldest brother. His name was Carpo. I called him Manong (older brother) Carpo. My dad wanted to name him Carpo, but the priest in our hometown rejected the name. I don’t know why priest…

Today, 04 September 2022, is Father’s Day in Australia. I want to salute my husband for being an excellent father to our 3 sons. He is the kind of dad who walks the talk. He teaches lessons to our sons by example. He says, “Let me show you how it is done.” He is a very prayerful, loving, gentle, soft-spoken, kind-hearted, courageous, and calm dad. He always tells our children, “Put God first in your life. Always pray. Stay humble. Stay away from trouble. The best form of bravery is running away from trouble. Don’t put yourself in dangerous situations. Be vigilant always. Be silent when people talk bad about you. You know yourself. The battle belongs to the Lord. Enjoy being children. Let your mom and I worry about our next meal. Concentrate on your studies. Be a one-woman man.”

Darling Os, I thank the Lord for blessing me with a remarkable man to be the father of my children. You are the epitome of what a father should be. You have always said that “kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga” and that “you will know them by their fruits.” Your sons are proof of the upbringing, training, love, and care you have given them. My respect and admiration for you.

I pray that you continue being who you are: a God-fearing, loving, compassionate, kind, generous, and the best dad to our children. Thank you for being the instrument for our children to be in God’s army. To me, that is the best gift you have given our sons: to have strong faith and be able to put on the full armor of God to serve Him.

Indeed, you are one of the men described in Proverbs 20:7 – The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.

Our sons are truly blessed to have you as their dad. You are a great dad, protector, and provider. You lead our family rooted in God’s love, wisdom, and guidance. Thank you for everything you do for our kids. I am very proud of you. Well done for being a great dad to our sons, Os. Keep it up!

Lord, I pray for all fathers in the world. They are unique and tough people. You have given them the task to lead their family according to Your ways. Lord, I pray that when they feel buried by all their responsibilities, they will cast all their worries and troubles to You. May each family member give what is due to all dads: love, honor, gratitude, and respect. May faith, hope, and love reign in every home. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Here are some photos taken during our celebration of Father’s Day today. Please click on the featured family picture to see the whole blog and the attached photos.

Father’s Day 2022 Today, 04 September 2022, is Father’s Day in Australia. I want to salute my husband for being an excellent father to our 3 sons. He is the kind of dad who walks the talk. He teaches lessons t…

My two sons were talking one day. The younger one asked, “Manong Joni, why did Mum’s nephew ask Dad for Fish oil tablets instead of asking mum?” The manong(term of respect for older brother in our dialect) replied, “Because Lolo Mariano, Mum’s dad, said so.” “What do you mean?” the younger brother asked.

Joni said, “Lolo (Grandpa) Mariano told his children, someday when your siblings get married, ask the husband or the wife for favors, not your own sibling. This way, their harmonious relationship will be maintained. They will not quarrel because of you. This is for transparency and for respect of the in-law.”

To continue reading, please click the featured picture. Thanks.

On Gratitude and Generosity My two sons were talking one day. The younger one asked, “Manong Joni, why did Mum’s nephew ask Dad for Fish oil tablets instead of asking mum?” The manong(term of respect for old…

Let me talk about myself today since it is my birthday. Let me indulge in nostalgia. To continue reading, click on the featured picture. Thank you.

It’s My Birthday Today I am Zhen (pronounced as Zen, the H is just for decoration). I am a Christian, a wife to a great guy, a mother of 3 wonderful boys, a mother-in-law to a lovely girl, and an educator. My family and …

I know that one can show his love in different ways: words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and physical touch. Whatever your language of love may be, the important thing is to show your love. Be expressive! Love is supposed to be shown and felt.

Enjoy your day, readers! Take care.

Click on the featured picture to see the whole blog and photos.

Show Your Love. Be Expressive! My husband is a sweet, thoughtful, and romantic guy. His signature personality is a generous giver and expressive of his love. He gives gifts at random times. He doesn’t wait for special occa…

I have experienced debilitating and excruciating pain several times in my life. I have first-hand experience of how difficult moving is when in paralyzing pain.

I was looking for a fundraising activity where I could walk while helping others who are in pain by funding research for their illnesses. I would join the fun walk for dementia in honor of my loved ones who had dementia but the distance to walk for a month was 500 kilometers. 500 KM! That means I have to walk an average of 16 km a day. I have no time and energy left at the end of the day with my work. I thought of joining fundraising for children, but it is a 10 km or 20 km marathon on a designated day. I have no endurance for marathons.

MS, multiple sclerosis, strikes young people in the prime of their lives. The average age of diagnosis is only 30 years old, and there is no known cure. So I took part in The May 50K challenge this May to raise funds for life-changing research into multiple sclerosis. This challenge supports research into the prevention, treatment, and finding a cure for multiple sclerosis to change lives.

After intermittently walking for 13 days and with a walking speed from 3 km/hr to 5 km/hr, I finished the 50KM goal this month. Yes! I did it. 🙂 This is an incredible feat for me, considering how much pain I am in. But as the Chinese proverb goes, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” I was able to make it.

I achieved this goal this month because of the encouragement of family and friends, especially my husband and my sons, who patiently accompanied me to go walking. When I don’t feel like walking, they would say, “That’s okay, Ma. Tell us what time you would like to go walking so we will accompany you.” They took turns in accompanying me and adjusted to my speed. I was apologetic because my pace was between 3 kph and 5 kph. But they encouraged me, saying that I was doing well, knowing that I was suffering from the gout arthritis. It is manageable now, but it is still painful.

I enjoyed these 13 days of walking with my husband and any of my sons. It is just us, no mobile phones, no distractions, just the wind and sun on our face and hair. I love talking to them. It is a bonding moment that I savor. My walking buddy would take one or two photos of me to encourage me to go on. My youngest son joined the challenge as well, so he could boost my morale by going with me.

I am also encouraged by the May 50K organizers because they send regular supportive emails. I like how I am accountable to someone and motivated to achieve something. It is also exciting because the walking path is tracked online. I took screenshots of my progress. The distance covered and the remaining distance to go are updated at the end of each walk.

I have achieved my challenge this May, but I will continue walking even if it is not accounted for. Walking has always been a way of life for me since I was young. I grew up in the mountains, and I had to hike kilometers for many years. There was no other option than to walk. Some people like swimming, some like sports, some like rock climbing, some like to go to the gym, etc. But whatever it is that we want to do, let us continue doing something to keep our hearts pumping.

I promised my kids that I would do my best to stay healthy, and with God’s grace, I would see all their children and maybe their children’s children. How awesome that would be!

I hope to be there when my sister-in-law takes a photo of all of us when we turn 80! She said she would take a group photo of us when we turned 80. That is something to look forward to.

Let’s keep moving, everyone, no matter how slow it is. All the best!

I am sharing photos that were taken during my walking challenge this May.

Click on the featured picture to see the whole blog and all the photos.

My May 50K Journey I have experienced debilitating and excruciating pain several times in my life. I have first-hand experience of how difficult moving is when in paralyzing pain. I was looking for a fundraising acti…

Teenager. Now, that is a word that is either exciting or daunting for parents. Raising a teenager is a challenging role. Many teenagers often think they know everything and that their parents are old-fashioned, overdramatic, overprotective, overbearing, pessimistic, strict, etc.

Click on the featured photo for tips on how to raise and deal with teenagers.

Tips on Raising Teenagers Teenager. Now, that is a word that is either exciting or daunting for parents. Raising a teenager is a challenging role. Many teenagers often think they know everything and that their parents …

I am sharing with you what one of the parents said (click on the photo to read it) about my work as an educator, which led to my winning the Educator of the Year Award in Excellence in Family Day Care Awards in 2021. What an honor!

Please send me a message for all parents needing care and education for their children aged 6 months to 5 years old. Feel free to recommend me to your friends and acquaintances. I have vacancies at the moment. I work from Monday to Friday. Saturdays when needed.

The Parent’s Nomination Entry That Made Me the Educator of the Year in 2021 01 April 2022 marked my 13th year as an educator in Australia. I have taken care of and provided early learning education to more than 50 children. What a privilege! I am sharing with you what one …