Today's IN thing: Sharing Personal Facts

Recently it became a popular topic in text messages and Facebook.  Exchange of posts/messages went from one account to another - 20 Facts About Me, 10/15 Facts About My Crush/My Love, etc.

I haven't really traced how it started and whose idea gave birth to this sharing of personal facts.  My Google search led me to a number of posts and images about this not-so-new subject.  I came across this thing when my daughter received a so-called nomination through a text message on 10 Facts About My Crush/Love from her friend.  She was tagged to share her own personal facts.  She did and sent it to chosen friends via SMS, giving OBVIOUS descriptions of her recent crush in school.  When another FB friend challenged her with '15 facts about my crush', she took it differently as she posted on October 6, 2014.

Replying is not compulsory.  Those who received her message simply followed what she followed from her textmate - (1) answer/make list, (2) nominate/tag those he/she wants to respond and (3) make sure to send it to those nominated/tagged .  It so happened one of her friends responded to her text message by posting his answer in his Facebook account.  Then the process became viral-like among her FB friends, just the way a chain letter works.

I thought of starting a similar thing among my FB friends who are mothers.  It could be a way of breaking the boredom of using FB the usual way and know more about them.  So here's my version with a lot of 'smiley' images from different sites:

 
Sharing personal facts allows us to know our friends (and even friends of friends) better.  Sometimes, we discover things which we didn't know before.  It would be fun tracking the flow of facts-sharing in Facebook. This chain gives way to interaction via social media, to follow posts and reconnect with old time friends.  Some enjoyed it for sure, while others felt otherwise.  

It's safer then to take precautions not to share too much information about our selves.  If we want privacy in our lives, then either we limit what we share in or simply ignore/cut off the chain at our point by not responding to this type of sharing.  To keep private things private takes a personal decision, and not any chain of sharing facts will dictate it.  There are no rules in this sharing and no standards to follow.  Just answer from your heart and perhaps, just enjoy the process.

Caring for Mother Earth, Caring for Life

Mangrove planting has become a popular activity for people to address environmental concerns to save the earth.  Researches show the inclusion of planting mangrove trees in different government programs from the national levels to the local government units, including General Santos City.

THE Parents-Teachers Association and Green Warrior of HTC, together with the CENRO and local PNP personnel  responded to this need on August 16, 2014.  The HTC personnel, parents and students planted young mangrove trees along the shores of Sitio Minanga, Brgy. Baluan, GSC.  This is just part of our efforts to contribute to the programs on environmental protection.

Taking care of Mother Earth remains a vital issue through these years.  There is a long-term need for restoration of the world we live in.  There is a continuing call for each one of us to take responsibility through various activities aimed to save the earth.

Each time we do something to take good care of our environment, we take care of God's gift of life.   Every time we do even small things to protect our world, we protect life in effect, including our very own lives.

Let's continue to do our share and encourage more people to care for the one and only one earth we live in.

#GenSanCity
#HTCmangroveplanting
#GreenWarrior2014

What Motherhood Means to Me

At hand is another ‘Mother’s Day’ to celebrate.  My thoughts travelled fast as I thought of the past fifteen years in my daughter’s life.  Just like any other 'mudra', I love bringing back the memories of motherhood, watching my daughter progress in the different stages of her existence.

Infancy and childhood years had passed. Teenage life came in.  What could be more exciting part of motherhood than seeing your child’s transition to adolescence?

As a child, she loved kiddie books, cartoon movies and her portable music player.  She said goodbye to them when she chose to buy music magazines, watch teen films, admire the guys and music of One Direction and tune in to MYXX or download the latest music and dance craze of her generation via the internet.  She loves dancing, but explores more on her love for music through singing and playing different musical instruments.  In all these, I have to give her my support.

In her infancy, Bea used to crawl like a mermaid pulling herself by the seashore.  She later walked with assistance until she eventually learned to walk on her own. At her teens, she had to bid goodbye to learn going places confidently with friends.  I became second choice to the company of her peers.  I have to keep her protected through unceasing prayers that she will always be safe wherever she goes.

She gave away some kiddie toys, girly dresses and shoes the past years to share her stuff to younger kids.  A lot of shirts, shorts, and jeans then became her closet staples.  While her pleasure as a child was the company of her toys, she now finds delight with her own dresser filled with scents, combs, accessories and gadgets.  Her love for fabric dogs has turned to finding joy on ‘Bubbles’ and ‘Pinky’, real puppies that we both take care of.

Crushes and admirers - they are many of them already, but how can I forget her very first crush, Gerald Anderson when she was only 8 years of age?  Yes, we talk a lot about boys.  She keeps different secrets with different friends, but there are certain issues she can bravely speak about to no one but me.  We have our own girl talks as mother and daughter.  I’m just grateful that I am here to answer her teen issues using Biblical teachings and real-life situations, including questions on love, sex, courtship, dating and marriage.

More changes will come in her remaining teen years, changes that are surely no different from what other teens her age go through. I have to keep the faith that there is always a loving God who shields her as she goes out of her cocoon like a caterpillar blossoming to be a lovely butterfly.  As a mom, my love will allow her to shine and soar to reach her dreams.  Being here to guide and watch my daughter gracefully transform in life spells the real essence of motherhood.