Making Pizza with Ize

This afternoon, I was thinking of merienda and just decided to have a pizza. It is too hot outside and the nearest Pizza store is a taxi away so I decided to make our own pizza using our old bread (old but not spoiled okay). To make it more fun, I invited Ize to help me make a pizza that way it will also entice him to eat the pizza. So here it is, I present to you the artist who made my header image - Ize.

IZE: This is how you make a home-made pizza.

Here are the things that you'll need.

Here is what you need to do:

1. Prepare the stripped hotdogs, it is best to fry it first until it is cooked like your regular hotdog (this will make the hotdogs quite crispy when it's done).  Then set it aside on any container with a tissue to suck the oil from it.
2. Get one slice of bread. You can use an old bread (again, old but not spoiled). Place in on a clean surface.
3. Get 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce or spaghetti sauce and spread it on the sliced bread. You can add some more sauce as long as it covers the top.
4. Put some cheese, more would be great.
5. Put onions, mushroom and hotdog strips.
6. Put some cheese again.
7. Place inside an oven (electric or gas) and bake for about 5 minutes. If you have an electric oven, it would be best to activate upper and lower heater for 3 minutes and then use only the lower for 2 minutes so the toppings won't get burned.

While waiting for the Pizza, you can play or watch  TV with your love one. After it is done, Presto! You have your home-made pizza and you were able to bond with your love one.

Ize was so happy making his own pizza and he enjoyed the pizza that he made. You can add more toppings as it pleases you.

God bless and enjoy your day with your love one making this pizza. It's a true parent-child bonding experience.

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Father's Provision: Tribute to All Fathers

This is a tribute to all fathers out there. Happy Father's Day.

"A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society" by Billy Graham.

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1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Supplying the needs for the family is not an easy job, it is a very tough job. Parents, especially fathers, should not feel ashamed when they cannot give a child life’s essential.

The POOR PROVIDER

What might come as a surprise is that a man who offers his family MUCH MORE than the fundamentals can nevertheless be a poor provider. By giving in to every whim and materially spoiling his children or spouse, the household leader is not practicing good family management.

The WISE PROVIDER

A wise provider knows that boundaries are important in teaching loved ones self-control and discipline. Consequently, he will set limits that are in keeping with the Lord’s purpose for his family.

Mothers, sisters or women are known to be the emotional in the family. Usually, mothers are the one who provide first hand when it comes to emotional things even children’s personal needs.

But others failed to see the emotional provision a father can give.

• Fathers can offer a sense of belonging.

Parents build strong family ties by listening to their kids’ opinions and respecting their feelings. When that is the case, children know they have a safe haven from unpleasant circumstances—they feel security in a circle of people who love them unconditionally. It is like how God listens to our needs and respect what we deserve and as children of God (But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: - John 1:12), He continues to be faithful in providing us our need even if we are unfaithful to Him.

• Fathers can give their children a sense of worth.

So many boys and girls are growing up thinking they have no value. These kids try to compensate for their poor self-image through sex or drug use, but they end up even more disappointed. What a child needs is someone who will care for them someone that will make them feel special. And if they don't find it in their homes or their parents, they'll try to find it outside by being involve with frineds rather than their families. A good father involves himself with his children by bonding with his children (watch tv, movies with them, playing games, joining their children's hobbies, etc...) Anything that involves time or effort with their children makes them feel valued and this gives a sense of worth to them.

As children of God, how are we valued? How much worth are we to God? This is what the Bible tells us (Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? - Matt 6:26)

• Dads can provide a sense of confidence.

A father who expresses his support instills good self-worth and assurance in his children. Saying to sons and daughters,“I BELIEVE IN YOU NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME” - letting them know that they are unconditionally loved and if the child achieves something “I AM SO PROUD OF YOU” they will be more confident to do their best. If they failed we can say “YOU’VE DONE YOUR BEST, IN GOD’S TIME YOU WILL ACHIEVE IT.” Doing this, even if the child fails, his or her sense of confidence will not waver. Because a good father is faithful and loves his children even if they fail. Like our God the Father that loves us eventhough we are unfaithful to him (For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. - Psalms 100:5)

If this is what our earthy father can provide, what more can we get from our Father in heaven?

"If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believeth." - Mark 9:23

Did You Know?

A child’s first image of God is his earthly father. We Christians spend a lot of time discussing ways to protect or improve our witness. We need not only to live our faith in front of co-workers and friends, but in the privacy of our home too. Let us show how Jesus works in us SPECIALLY when we are with our family. If we show forgiveness, patience, and acceptance then our children will expect to find those traits in the Lord.

== Author's Note:

Again, Happy Fathers Day to everyone. This is also a tribute to my late father. "Dad, I hope my words reached you as God have used me to share His words before you. I pray that I may see you there in heaven when it is my time."

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Are You a Kind Person?

"Mabait ka ba?"

(Are you a kind person?)

"Siyempre naman."

(Of course)

It is a very simple question that any person can answer. I thought, how about if I re-phrase it? A question that will give you the same output but have more thoughts in it.

"Mabait ka ba? Kung 'Oo' ang sagot mo, gusto mo bang balang-araw maging katulad mo ang anak mo o magiging anak mo?"

(Are you a kind person? If "Yes" is your answer, do you want your children to be like you or children to be?)

Then there is a question. I'm sure everyone will think about the mistakes they have done before they answer to this question and they might probably say - "Yes but not entirely like me!"

What's with that answer? It's like there's something hidden in it. I asked this same question to my wife and she did answer the same answer I said here. I asked this same question to myself and thought, do I want my son to be like me? Ahmmm. next question please.

Here is a thought. Home is still the best school for children and parents are the best teachers. "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." - Prov 22:6. Makes sense right?

Would you believe that most lessons learned by children came from parents? And most of those lessons are the things parents DON'T teach them. What I mean is lessons that we (parents) don't want or unknowingly teach them. How? In most cases, children's heroes were always there parents. They try to imitate them/us parents. Like my son when we had a baby visitor in our house, the baby was crying that time when he told me "I am Daddy". Then I asked him, who is he while pointing at the baby and then he answered "He is Ize." (that's my son's name). Then he lightly taps the chest of the baby and said "It's okay!". I laughed at what he just did. I did not teach him that but whenever he is hurt and cry, we (me and my wife) comfort him by saying "It's okay."

We (Parents) are their role models. So we should refrain from doing BAD things in front of them but to practice it - JUST DON'T DO IT! even when not in front of them.

The most important part of children's growth is their childhood. "Their mind is like a sponge." that's what my wife's doctor told me. So be it good or bad, they'll absorve it if you feed it to them so be careful what you feed them (I mean what you teach them or show them).

That is why their is a saying "Fruits don't fall far from it's tree."? Because people think that what you are always shows and eventually your children will learn from you. But I believe that people come to realize their mistakes and when they become parents they try not to let their children be like what they used to be. Thus, making them good parents and because of that practice they become good people.

So, "Are you a Kind Person?". For your children's sake, be one.

====

By the way, before I end this article. I would like to thank God for his great blessings. I knew God will provide a way. On my previous article, I wrote about my boss not wanting to pay me for the month of March. I wrote him a letter - it's not a hate letter coz I know where it leads to. And I am glad I did it. He reconsidered everything and yesterday I just received my March salary with deductions. There shouldn't be any deductions but it is still better than not having any at all. Great blessings. Thank you God and thanks to all who prayed for us. God bless you all.

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Father VS President

When you are with a president, you will take bullets for him/her.
When you are with your father, he will take bullets for you.

When you are with a president, anyone could get hurt except him/her.
When you are with your father, anyone could get hurt except YOU.

When you are with a president, you protect him/her.
When you are with your father, he will protect you.

When you are with a president, he/she can offer you wealth.
When you are with your father, he will teach you how to get wealth.

When you are with a president, you will serve him/her.
When you are with your father, he will serve you.

When you are with a president, he/she can offer you comfort to your life.
When you are with your father, he will comfort you with his life.

When you are on a critical condition, the president is not with you.
When you are on a critical condition, your father will always be there for you.

Don't you just wish your father would run for president?

- If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

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You're Not A Monster!

From the movie Cars, Lightning McQueen, the main star of the movie is my son Ize’s favorite toy/character, etc. The story is about a rookie race car McQueen who loves to be the champion and be the first rookie to ever win the Piston Cup. Because of McQueen’s desire to win Dinoco as his sponsor against Chic Hicks and the current champion The King, he ended up in a place called Radiator Springs when he mistakenly took Route 66 instead of going to his next matches place. He was placed under public service and repair the roads he ruined.

Ever since Ize watched the movie (that was when he was still 2 years old), he loved the movie so much up to now. Lightning McQueen is Ize’s hero, his buddy, his champion, his most favorite companion when sleeping, his favorite drawn character, etc... It sometimes made me jealous to see him watching the movie repeatedly than being with me or with us (my wife). Sometimes we join him so we’ll get to be with him and interact with him. He’ll cry so much if he didn’t get to see his favorite pal, McQueen for a day.

Last night before sleeping, he was playing with his toy car McQueen while in bed so I tried to annoy him by pretending to be a monster and bite his cheeks and ears. He was laughing while I’m playing with him. I told him I am like a monster. But he said something that made me stop and this is what he said, “No you are not a monster!”. So I asked him – “What am I like? What is Daddy like?”.  And then he told me “You’re not a monster, You’re like Lightning McQueen!”. I hugged him and kissed him after that. We prayed together and we slept. I am so blessed, I could cry.

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The Fellowship

What makes a relationship work? And what makes it stronger?

Our recent hajj vacation proved to be very fun and amazingly addicting. Brothers and sisters in church all had a good time. Friendship between each and everyone grew more stronger.

Each family had their own adventure while spending with other families. Sharing their past hilarious adventures and joking with each others mischief filled everyone with laughter and joy. New memories were made to be cherished and past tribulations are forgotten.

The fun level is so great that even for a selfish reason of satisfying oneself results everyone's enjoyment. We really had a great time and we're glad we are part of this adventure.

Fellowship makes a relationship work, be it marriage or friendship and having God as its foundation made it more stronger.

If God is the foundation of your marriage, before you and your wife/husband settle something, pray. Pray for understanding coz serious matters often lead to misunderstanding and confrontations. Understand each other's point of view and try to settle things with calmness in heart, if your partner is getting tensed remind him/her that God is in your midst and both of you are trying to solve things not making it worst and continue being calm. Remember being one through marriage is not a competition, it is not about YOU anymore - it is about FAMILY.

If God is the foundation of friendship, you help each other by making each other stronger. Having fellowship with a friend in trouble is one way to make them stronger, a shoulder to rely on always gives new strength to anyone.This family of friends had their ups and downs and yet they continue to get stronger by making each other stronger.

The fellowship between a parent and a child is a great example of how God loves us. As a parent, when we are with our children, we protect them from harm, we always think of how we can make them happy, we think of the best things for them in the future. That is how God loves us.

So it is important that we always have fellowship with the people who we love and loves us, to have stronger bonds and most specially to Jesus our Lord and heavenly Father.

I am so blessed. Coz I get to enjoy every moment with my family, believing God is with us and for having such good friends.

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Last Draw

It's the start of my vacation and I am left alone with my son.

This morning I prepared a traditional breakfast for my son. Fried eggs, hotdogs, coffee (that's for me), sopas (Philippine traditional soup) and pandesal (traditional bread of Pinoys) are Pinoy's top breakfast favorites.

Actually, I cooked the sopas last night for our prayer meeting and the pandesal was always in our stock of breads since it was my son's favorite since we introduced it to him. The 3 pandesal breads are the last piece of them, have to buy more later. The sopas in the pictre is the last bowl as well. The 3 eggs are the last pieces and so are the hotdogs. I guess we really need to go shop for more stuffs.

My wife still has work, they'll start their vacation tomorrow so it's just me and my son for now. It's great to have vacation once in a while. Now, I can concentrate with my project now, my personal project.

It's vacation, so I'll enjoy this. Hope you all have your vacation (to all Middle-East bloggers out there).

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Papa Don't Preach!

Marami sa mga kabataan ngayon ang ibibigay kahit ano wag lang marinig ang mga sermon ng mga magulang nila. Ang iba ay halos di na umuuwi sa bahay nila para lang umiwas sa sermon ng magulang. “Sa araw-araw na ginawa ng Diyos ay di na naubos ang mga sermon na iyan.” ang tanging nasa isip ng iba. Feeling mo tuloy ay di ka mapagkaka-tiwalaan.

One time napagalitan ako ni Dad noon at pagkat may nagawa akong isang bagay na kung saan nag-away kami ng nakababata kong kapatid. Ang ikinaganda sa aking ama ay hindi siya madaling magalit at hindi rin ito biglang magsasabog ng galit kapag may nagawa kaming kasalanan. Sayang di ako nagmana sa kanya, kasi mukhang sa aking Mom ako nagmana. Dad made it a point na kausapin muna kami at alamin or ipa-realize sa amin ang pagkakamali namin tapos nun ay tatanungin niya kami kung ano sa tingin namin ang dapat na parusa. Siyempre lahat gagawin namin para wag mapalo, pero nung araw na yun ay di ako nakaligtas sa palo niya. Siyempre meron pa ring sermon. Ang ganda pa kay Dad, pagkatapos niya kaming paluin ay ipapaliwanag niya kung anong nararapat na gawin at bakit niya kami pinarusahan at saka tatanungin kami kung ano ang nais namin sa gitna ng aming paghikbi. Kung kaya naman niya ay ibibigay niya yung hiling namin.

Inaamin ko na most of the time ay talagang ayaw kong makinig pero di naman ako palalong bata.

“Alagaan mo ang nakababata mong kapatid dahil ikaw ang nakatatanda.” Ang palaging sermon sa akin ni Dad. “Paano kung talagang matigas ang ulo? Gusto niya nito, gusto niya nun.” Ito naman ang mga bulong ko sa sarili ko habang nakanguso tanda ng pagtutol sa kaniyang sinabi. Natatawa lang si Dad pag nakikita niya ang reaksyon ko at naaalala ko pa yung sinabi niya “Kung may mangyaring masama sa amin ng Mommy niyo, ikaw lang at ang kapatid mo ang siyang kakalinga sa isa’t-isa. Magandang matutunan mo iyon ng maaga.”

Mahirap maging pinakamatanda sa magkakapatid. Madalas ay ikaw ang laging napapagalitan kahit sa mga sala ng mga nakababatang kapatid. Inis talaga ako sa mga oras na napapalo pa ako sa ginawang kalokohan ng mga kapatid ko. “Ikaw ang nakatatanda kaya’t ikaw ang umunawa.” Ang sermon pa sa akin ni Dad. At minsan umaabot sa puntong gusto kong gumanti sa kapatid ko – ang sama ko no, di ko naman siya papatayin eh babatukan lang hehe!

Naghiwalay noon ang aming magulang noong ako ay (8) walong taong gulang pa lamang. At mula noon ay parang bumigat ang loob ko sa lahat ng bagay, sama ng loob marahil. Parang nadagdagan ng 8 taon ang edad ko noon kung mag-isip, lahat gusto kong unawain. Gusto kong maintindihan ang mga bagay na di ko maipaliwanag pero ang sagot ay di ko rin nakita. Hirap talaga ng hiwalay na pamilya, usually panganay pa ang naa-apektuhan ng husto at di ako exempted doon.

Kahit malayo si Dad ay nasa isip ko pa rin ang mga sermon niya’t pangaral at di naman nagkulang si Mom sa pagpapa-alala, she made sure naaalala ko rin iyon everyday. Di tulad ng kay Dad na medyo base, siyempre babae medyo matinis at kaya naman mas masakit sa tenga. Kaya di pa rin nawala ang inis ko. Parang responsibilidad lahat sa akin, di ko magawang magkusa dahil laging nandiyan ang paalala. Feeling ko tuloy ay di ko maramdaman ang saya sa ginagawa ko dahil nga responsibilidad ko ito.

Nung mawala si Dad, marami akong regrets. Di ko siya nayakap bago man lang siya umalis. Di ko nasabing mahal ko siya sa kabila ng lahat ng mga sinapit ng pamilya namin. Naitanong ko tuloy sa aking sarili, mabuti ba akong anak? Pero naalala kong sinagot niya iyon bago kami naghiwalay - “Napakabait mong anak, walang ibang amang di matutuwa sa iyo anak”. Ayokong maging emosyonal ng sabihin niya sa akin yun kasi parang corny, laki-laki ko na at may asawa na ako tapos yayakap pa ako sa kanya. Nung malaman kong wala na siya ay nagsisi ako, sana naging corny na lang ako nung oras na iyon, sana kinalimutan ko muna ang hiya ko. Galit ako sa sarili ko noon.

Ngayon na-realize ko wala pala sa isip ang lahat ng mga sermon niya’t pangaral, nasa puso ko pala. Kasi sa tuwing maaalala ko ang mga pangaral niya ay di ko maiwasang maluha di ko maiwasang mainis sa sarili ko. Ngayon na-realize ko ang pangaral niya na tanging kami rin lang magkakapatid ang siyang magdadamayan sa huli. Nandiyan pa naman si Mom pero I made it a point na maaasahan nila ako sa oras na kailangan nila ako. Wala na talo-talo na ito, corny na kung corny. Kahit alam kong huli na para maging corny.

Para sa iyo Dad, saan ka man naroon gusto ko malaman mong nasa puso ko ang mga pangaral mo. Gusto ko sanang marinig muli ang mga sermon mo pero ang tanging magagawa ko na lang ay ipasa ito sa mga anak ko, na marinig nila mula sa labi ko ang mga pangaral nyo.

Alam kong mas naririnig mo ngayon ang bawat panalangin namin kaya nais kong sabihing mahal namin kayo. Happy Birhday Dad!

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Benefits of Being a Father

I slept around 2am last night. My son stayed up with me. He’s looking up at me while I browse the internet. I was trying to read some articles regarding PHP programming. I looked at him and he just smiled at me. He was observing what I’ve been doing all along, maybe he was trying to read the sites I’ve been. He was maybe trying to figure out what is so interesting about letters and numbers on my screen. To check if he is really observing me, I logged in at my Picasa and checked our family photos and then I heard him commenting about the mammoth he is holding in the picture, he is really observing me. He was trying to say that he got it from McDonalds one night we decided to have dinner there. I felt happy knowing he is that curious about my work or what I’ve been doing and then I have this very thought. What are the benefits of being a father? I said, It’s time to count my blessings once again and so here they are.

1. There is always someone looking up at you.
   Whenever I feel troubled, I tend to look at myself and my condition at the office. Sometimes when I feel emotional, I feel small. In the office, I feel like I am the smallest creature there. Almost everyone looks down on me – almost. Some bosses don’t feel for their employees, some don’t care of how you feel. The more you try to tell them the problem the more they try to ignore you. So when I feel down, I just think of my son. He is always their looking up at me with a sweet smile. I have someone who looks up at me, respects me and depends on me.
2. A chance to lead.
   Have you ever felt that you can’t be a good leader? Being a father is being a leader. You make decisions not just for yourself but for the whole family. Most of the time your decisions will benefit your family and not for your own. You even sacrifice your own desires for the family. You make tough decisions to make your family survive and to surpass problems that the family is facing. All of these contribute to the traits of a good leader. So when you feel less confident, think again. Being a father is no joke, it is not as hard as the one you’ll be facing at your office. Why? You can always go and find another job if you can and want but your family is always there wherever you go. The problems we face in our family is not something we can run from, unlike our jobs that we could always let go if we wanted to.
3. Shape a new future
   We often make mistakes in our lives, the only problem is its effect. We may not like some instances in our current life like debts, poverty, broken-family and other negative aspects that we are currently facing. We may not be able to change our life now but we could lead and shape a new future for our children. We can teach them the values we have learned by teaching them the effects of our past mistakes so they can avoid the same mistakes.
4. We learn and realize new values.
   We may not always have understood our fathers during our youth but all will be realized once we stepped on their toes. The questions we have before of why our father do things will begin to have answers. We’ll realize how wrong we are and right they are.

Now, do you still feel down about yourself? I wish I could tell my father right now of how right he was before and how wrong I am. He always reminded me that I’ll realize everything when I become a father or a parent. No matter how I tried to understand him before, I can’t coz I am not in his situation. I wish I could tell him how sorry I am for the wrong things I’ve done and how blessed I am for having him as a father. He may not have been wise or a good model but he was a good person, a good adviser. All his words remained in my heart as a good testament, my guidelines towards a better future. Wherever you are Dad, thank you!

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