Category Archives: Family

Fun Summer Activities for the Whole Family

Summer is the perfect time to spend quality time with your family and create memories that will last a lifetime. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures or indoor activities to beat the heat, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here are some fun summer activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Outdoor Movie Nights: Set up a movie screen or projector in your backyard and enjoy a movie under the stars. Don’t forget the popcorn!
Beach Day: Pack a cooler with snacks and drinks and spend the day at the beach. Play in the sand, swim in the ocean, and soak up the sun.
Water Park: Take a trip to a nearby water park and enjoy water slides, lazy rivers, and wave pools.
Hiking: Take a family hike in a nearby park or nature reserve. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the scenery along the way.
Picnic in the Park: Pack a basket of sandwiches, fruit, and snacks and enjoy a relaxing picnic in the park.
Camping: Pitch a tent and spend the night under the stars. Tell stories around the campfire and roast marshmallows for s’mores.
Visit a Museum: Beat the heat and take a trip to a local museum. Many museums have special summer exhibits and programs for families.
Road Trip: Plan a road trip and explore a new city or state. Pack snacks and games for the car ride.
Visit a Farmer’s Market: Spend a morning at a local farmer’s market and pick up fresh fruits and vegetables for a healthy summer meal.
DIY Ice Cream Bar: Set up a DIY ice cream bar with different flavors and toppings for a fun summer dessert.

In conclusion, there are plenty of fun summer activities for the whole family to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures or indoor activities to beat the heat, there are plenty of options to choose from. Remember to prioritize spending quality time with your loved ones and making memories that will last a lifetime.

Observing All Saints’ Day in the Philippines

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Family tradition

I grew up in the Catholic tradition of visiting the cemetery to honor the dead every Nov. 1. We would brave the crowd to bring flowers and candles for our departed loved ones. The occasion itself serves as a family reunion to us. Aunts, uncles, and cousins would come to the house to share a simple meal prepared by my mom and aunts.

They would cook sumptuous ‘sinigang’ or ‘nilagang baboy’ for lunch. And before we head to the cemetery in the afternoon, the oldies would prepare ‘kakanin’ usually, ‘biko’ for our snack.

My late uncle. He raised my sister and me as his own.

No more burial grounds

It was sad that we no longer practice the tradition because there are no tombs to visit anymore. The area where once the cemetery stood for decades is now the haven of a big commercial establishment. Oddly enough, the commercial place in Alabang is said to be haunted by ghosts.

My uncle failed to recover the remains of my grandparents. But, he was able to acquire an empty place for them at the next town cemetery.

(Update) Sadly, my dear uncle passed on last June. Another family member has joined his Creator.

Light a candle

So for many years now, our family commemorates All Saints’ Day at home. I would light a candle beside the picture of my grandparents, aunt, uncles, and cousin and say a little prayer for them.

For our family members no longer with us, these candles are for you.

I also lit some candles outside our door. Our oldies said the lights from the candle would guide the spirits leading them to the other side.

Ghost tales

Aside from hearing the stories about their late great-grandparents, my kids also loved to hear ghost stories when they were little.

I think they got the fancy for horror and supernatural stories from me since I grew up watching horror flicks despite my being so afraid or frightened of creepy characters.

There are a lot of fond childhood memories to share about All Souls and All Saints’ Day but, a single post is not enough to accommodate all of them. How about you, how will you spend or celebrate All Saints’ Day this year?

Sacrifices for Loved Ones

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It’s hard to recall personal “sacrifices” that I have made for my family because I don’t consider them sacrifices but part of my responsibility as a mother and wife.

I can share with you were the occasions when I was assigned provincial assignments and did not see my kids for several days. Even when there was someone to watch over my kids, it’s different when you see them daily and monitor if they have eaten, took their vitamins, or completed their homework. I’m sure there are other moms out there who can relate to my experience.

There was another instance when I was on assignment and got stalled in the area for days. A typhoon hit the province, and no available flights were going back to Manila. I wish I can voice out my complaint to my bosses for giving me the assignment then. But they can’t do anything about it as they too were following orders from the top.

I quit my job not because I don’t love the things that I do for more than a decade, but I thought there are more important things than earning money. I wish I’d stay, but there was a part of me that says I’d had enough. I’m still a working mom at present, but my home serves as my office for online opportunities. I’m happy that I’m no longer an absentee mom but a mom at their beck and call.

How about you what sacrifices you’ve made for your family lately?