Family

Driving along EDSA a few days ago, I chanced upon outgoing U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney being interviewed on an early morning talk show on DZMM on AM radio. The well-loved ambassador talked about, among other things, what she liked about the Philippines. During her stint in the country, she got to windsurf and go island-hopping, and said there are so many activities one can do around here.

Then she was asked what valuable lesson she learned from Filipinos. And she said we taught her the value of family.

Oh yes. Have you seen on TV the jampacked bus terminals at this time of the year? People are all in a hurry, with bags and boxes in tow, to go home to the provinces to celebrate Christmas and New Year with their families. And the airports--oh the airports! My sister and her family just arrived from LA last Sunday night after a grueling 35-hour travel (LA to Schenzhen to Hong Kong to Manila to Batangas City). My brother arrived from Tokyo a few days before Christmas and said it took an hour for his luggage to appear at the carousel.


We do love and value our families. We may be spread out in the world due to the OFW diaspora, but in this holiday season, we connect by air, sea, land, or if that's not possible, by Internet or phone, to our loved ones. Give your family a hug tonight, will you? Then pop the champagne bottle and celebrate the coming of a new year. Happy new year!

BOOK OF THE WEEK: 100 Ways to Live the Word features 100 people from all walks of life showing how they apply God's Word. Read my story there. :-) Published by Philippine Bible Society


VERSE OF THE WEEK: A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. Psalm 68:5-6