Celebrating Moms | Moms Magazine by Asia Pacific Media PH

Volume 18 / Issue 69 / 2021

EDITORIAL

To Start a Relationship with Jesus Christ Admit you have sinned. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 Believe that Jesus is the only Savior. “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 Confess and leave your sin behind. Stop doing and thinking things that displease our Heavenly Father. “If we confess our sins ….” 1 John 1:9 Invite Jesus to be your Savior and the Lord of your life. “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12 To continue growing in your relationship with Christ, have fellowship with other believers, read the Bible and pray.

L-R: Patrick, Delsey, and Johnson

MOMS EDITORIAL STAFF Editor: Delsey Garner Cover & Layout: Patrick Tan Distribution: Johnson Li

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Leap of Faith Christian Church, Nueva Ecija

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Published quarterly by Asia Pacific Media Ministries. Unit 2608 Raffles Corporate Center, Emerald Avenue, Ortigas Center, 1605 Pasig City, Philippines. Telephone: 914-9767. E-mail: moms@apmedia.org. Reproduction of photos and articles is prohibited without permission. 2

MOMS MAGAZINE

Table of Contents EDITORIAL

From My Heart 3

From My Heart Dear Readers,

CHIKA-CHIKA

Mother’s Time with the Heavenly Father 4 WISE CHOICES

When I think of my Nanay, I think of the word ‘humility’. Her principle was, “if you just humble yourself, you’ll have less trouble”. I don’t remember her being prideful. Pride is the opposite of humility. Proverbs 16:18 says that pride brings destruction, and my mother was able to escape that destruction/trouble because she always chose humility. In this issue, we are going to honor moms who gave their best to fulfill their role as a wife and as a mother. As you read the articles in this issue, may you be reminded of the wonderful things your mom has done for you and how she has impacted your life. Let’s remember to appreciate our moms and celebrate them in words and in actions. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! Only by Grace, Delsey G.

MOMents with Kids 6 MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Nanay, Inay, Mama, Mommy 8 FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING

Keeping You and Your Baby Healthy 12 Stuffed Ampalaya 12 ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS

“Ang asawa, pwedeng palitan, pero ang nanay, hindi!”? 14 Last Issue

CHIKA-CHIKA

Mother’s Time with the Heavenly Father by Maria Lucia G. Jimenez

he demands of life being a wife and mother of 4 sometimes gets most of my time. The Lord always reminds me to put first things, first, which is to make Him life’s top priority. I remember years ago, we attended a conference, and the minister shared ranks of priorities and challenged us to write down the ranking of each (God, Wife/Husband, Children, Work/ministry). I always had this in heart. So, I’d make it a point to wake up early, set a “quiet time” to read His word and journal. As years passed, many times I’d miss my time set for Him & I’d feel guilty. Then I realized, I was going through the motions of “doing” not enjoying fellowship with Him. My perspective changed when my husband came from International House of Prayer. He shared that devotions with our Heavenly Father must lead to encounter. Now, I am excited daily to see what Papa (God) has to share with me through His Word in His presence. Psalms 16:11 says, “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” I remember about the life of a monk named, Brother Lawrence, in book entitled, “Practicing the Presence of God”. In any given moment, he would enter into the presence of the Lord. He’d meet with God while he was doing the dishes, cleaning the yard, etc...

MOMS MAGAZINE

He continually sought God. This became a bedrock in my life as I did my best in the hustle and bustle of life, our Papa is willing to meet us in every situation. When I think about this truth, I am reminded of this short article, I read by Kelsey Shade entitled: “A Screwtape Letter for the Unappreciated Mom”. This article highlights areas of our lives that we need to protect if we want to recognize and encounter Papa in our daily routine. • Our Attitude: If we are always exhausted or cranky, it will impact the unity we have with our husbands and family. • Our Focus: We have to learn to broaden our focus beyond our pains, struggles, and difficulties. If we can broaden our focus to look for Him, we will begin to see and recognize God’s presence in the little things of our lives. • Our Values: It is easy for us to value productivity over everything else and not correctly value rest. Sometimes the most important thing for us to do is to rest and take a moment to listen for our Heavenly Father. • Our Sense of Worth: Our worth as a person is not found in our role as a wife or mother. We are complete in Christ. We are loved because God has chosen to love us. Nothing we do can change this love that He has for us. We must never lose sight of this. • Our Satisfaction: It can be hard for moms to feel a sense of satisfaction because our work is never done. When we are exhausted, we can begin to resent the sacrifice and effort that we have to exert for our families. We can develop a feeling that all our kids and husband do is take, and all we ever do is give. Let’s remember the sacrifice our Papa made for us. He loves us and offers a peace that is greater than our situation. Our Papa knows how to satisfy the desires of our hearts if we let Him. So dear mothers like me: Always remember who you are in Him. You are His beloved! Enjoy your time with your Papa. He is waiting for you.

WISE CHOICES

MOMents with Kids by Erlinda S. Apoli

ime flies and kids grow rapidly! Watching them grow and accomplish one milestone after another is a fulfillment of parenthood that can never be replaced by anything else. For several years, my husband was always away because of work. Life was not easy then for a working mom like me as I tried to balance work and family, but in his absence, I managed to spend time with my kids as much as I could. I read bedtime stories to them, played bahay-bahayan with them, danced with them, and even asked them to join me in washing the dishes or do the laundry. However, there was a time I chose my job over my daughter’s first lead-role performance in school. I regretted that decision because I missed an opportunity to see my 4th grade daughter accomplish another milestone in her life. Well, I tried to console myself by saying “moms are not perfect; we make wrong choices sometimes, but we can make up for the lost time.”

Erlinda’s husband with her daughters.

Indeed, investing time with the kids is hard work but it’s worth the investment. My husband was good at this because even though he was far away, he really took time to communicate almost every day. And every time he was home, he would always spend time playing with the kids. One of the most valued play times was ‘horsey-horsey’ with their daddy where dad played horse and the girls sat on his back. Playing with them was a stress reliever for him. I took videos of special moments like this. In fact, some of these captured moments were played on their eighteenth birthday. It spiced up the party and the guests couldn’t stop laughing. Spending time with the kids is discovering their unique personalities and individual potentials. The time we

Erlinda with her family

invested on our daughters reaped tremendous rewards. They grow up secure, confident and respectful. They aren’t perfect, but they have developed a healthy self-image, so they are able to express themselves properly. They also know how to acknowledge their mistakes and to apologize when necessary. This character was not built overnight. As a matter of fact, they still continue learning every day. When times get tough or when they find making decisions difficult, they can easily seek advice from us without fear or inhibitions. Once, our teenage daughter asked me something about boy-girl relationship issues. My heart beat fast; apprehension surged up; and I started to worry. I gave myself time to think and pray. I knew I had to answer wisely, otherwise she wouldn’t understand and rebel. Suddenly, the book “Reach for Life”, flashed in my mind. I let her read on ‘Love and Dating’ (page 420) where a statement says, “There is a difference between being in love and real love...”. I

explained the important details once in a while until we reached page 421 where another statement says, “It’s much better to be single until you’re really ready. Remember: You don’t need someone to be someone.” I felt relieved when she eventually displayed a now-I-understand expression on her face and uttered appreciation of what she had just learned. It was a special quality moment for both of us and it saved her from making a wrong decision. Dr. Peter Tan-chi calls it “Magic Moments - These are the times when you are together, and they suddenly open up.” Another insight from him; “The more you spend time with someone the greater is your influence on the person. So, the more you spend time with your children, the greater is your influence over them.” Doing things as simple as watching movies, painting the room, or playing word games together with our kids is a fulfillment. These moments have great impact on them; they will never forget because, for them, these are the best times!

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The following are articles written by moms honoring their moms.

“A mother’s heart is the child’s classroom.” - Henry Ward Beecher by Reah Bunsoy Padla

“M

other”, “Mommy”, “Nanay”. No matter how you call your mother, she’ll always have a special place in your heart. I thank the Lord that my mom is still around because most of the things I know about motherhood, I have learned from her. She showed me the importance of being present in the lives of our children and I choose to be just like her, always wanting to be there for my two sons. My mom taught me about selfless love. She loved me and my siblings and placed our well-being and happiness above hers. I will forever treasure the time when I was printing the last pages of my thesis. She stayed up late with me, making sure my classmates and I were well-fed and comfortable. In that moment, I told myself, I really want to be like my mother! In the past year, I am grateful for being able to spend time with her after years of not living together. She is helping me with my new baby. What a blessing to have her around during this pandemic! I cannot imagine my “Quaranteam” without her in the picture. Lockdown isn’t as bad when mommy is around! Whenever I’m around her, I like the sound of “Mommy” coming from my mouth as it makes me feel like a kid again. When I feel anxious and worried, I find myself retreating to my mom’s room and just finding solace in her presence—like that little girl who used to cling to her mother. I sometimes wonder if I’m a good mother. But then I remember my mom and the good role model she is. So yes, I know I will be okay. I just pray that someday, my kids will look at me with admiration the same way I adore my mom.

Food Was My Mom’s Love Language by Wina Velasco Javier

he kitchen was an integral part of me and my three sisters’ early childhood training. We were carefully trained to properly slice and peel the ingredients and how to cautiously gouge the dirt from potatoes. From peeling off garlic skin to pounding the cloves in the mortar, mom would check on us and made sure that not a bit of garlic was left. She’d often say “ singko din yan, simutin nyo yan “ (that’s worth five centavos, make sure to use it all up). Our mom made sure that we were fed with delicious and healthy meals. She also made it a point to share generously whatever dish she created. She always went out of her way carrying an extra bag full of goodies to give away. I remember my mom in a hundred and one ways about food, more particularly her special ‘ampalaya’ (bitter melon) recipe. I vividly remember her original quote about ampalaya in her preaching to her Christian friends; “ Wag kang magtanim ng ampalaya sa puso mo “ (Do not plant the gourd of bitterness in your heart). My then suitor, and now husband, was actually picky when it came to food. He didn’t eat many vegetables and definitely not ampalaya! On one particular visit, my mom made her specialty dish, “stuffed ampalaya”. She literally forced him to taste it! He ate it but swore that he would never eat ampalaya again. I have inherited the same cooking magic from my mom. My husband eats anything now and I didn’t have to force him nor my children to eat what is served before them. I’ve learned the love language of food from my mom, and she was proud of us four daughters who became good cooks like her. Mom, I do miss you and sometimes I cry in a corner wishing you’re still here. I can’t claim I’m your favorite, but you impressed in me, in so many ways, that I am very dear and special to you. I love and miss you.

Wildflower by Carla M. Labitoria

o write about my mother would be like a fused description of a garden as a vivid tapestry of colors, an abstract art and the powerful breaking of the waves in the ocean. We were never well-off, but I grew up thinking that we were comfortable and thriving, or at least my mother did her best for us to feel so. She would cook us delicious meals and even when we were financially struggling, she still managed to put decent food on the table. We’d get that “special treatment” from her whenever we get sick, and I can still remember the warm happy feeling every time she tucked me into bed. My mom was an interesting mixture of having a strong personality but soft-spoken and kind-hearted. She was God-fearing. Through her, I learned how to talk to God through prayer and to always trust in His ways. She was my example in how to be kind and generous without asking for anything in return. Now that I’m a parent myself, I have come to believe that being a mother is one crucial role. The way we treat our child will impact how they treat others. Mama, my best friend and K-drama buddy - thank you for being my hero! You always had my back through tough times. Your strengths, weaknesses and unconditional love as a mother have molded me to become a better person. You had your own share of pain and suffering, yet you remained to be courageous and kind. You never asked for anything in return. Like a wildflower, you continued to grow beautifully amidst harsh conditions. I love you and I truly miss you! Thank you, Mama - for everything!

FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING

Keeping You and Your Baby Healthy by Dr. Claire Celiz-Pascual

hether you are pregnant with a newborn baby or breastfeeding, there are added challenges and concerns about the health of our family during the pandemic. The best defense is to take care of ourselves and here are some tips on how to do it. Nutrition The Food and Nutrition Research Institute has developed the “Pinggang Pinoy” that recommends food choices for pregnant and breastfeeding moms. You can find out more on this online. Here are some helpful points: Go foods: Choose whole grains like brown rice, corn and oatmeal. They contain more fiber and nutrients than refined grains and lower the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Grow foods: Include fatty fish in the diet like tuna, sardines and mackerel 2-3 times a week to provide essential fatty acids for the child’s brain development. Consume dairy products and other calcium rich foods like dilis and small shrimps for strong bones and teeth. Glow foods: Enjoy a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and take green, leafy vegetables which have high iron and folate content to support the increased requirement during pregnancy.

Other tips: Limit intake of sugar-sweetened beverages to reduce the risk of obesity and tooth decay and take time to understand nutrition information on product labels to help make smart food choices. (SOURCE: https://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph/index. php/116-pinggang-pinoy)

Exercise When choosing the type of exercise during pregnancy, it is important to ask your obstetrician and discuss options during your early health visits. Here are the benefits of exercise during pregnancy: • reduces back pain • eases constipation • promotes healthy weight gain during pregnancy • improves your overall general fitness and strengthens your heart and blood vessels • helps you lose weight after the baby is born

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When the OB gives you that go signal to exercise, keep in mind that certain changes in the body during pregnancy and after delivery can also affect the way you move: • hormones cause ligaments that support your joints to become more relaxed • the extra weight in pregnancy shifts your center of gravity • your need for oxygen increases

Vaccines Routine vaccines are encouraged and play a vital part in protecting your health and the baby. Your doctor may recommend the following during the time of pregnancy: tetanus, hepatitis b, influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. I hope you find these tips useful particularly during these uncertain times. Enjoy this God-given gift of a new baby!

Stuffed Ampalaya by Wina Velasco Javier Ingredients • 1 whole ampalaya (bitter gourd) • 1/2 cup ground pork • 1/4 cup dried shiitake mushrooms • 3 cloves garlic • 1 medium onion diced • 2 tsps cooking oil • 1 tsp chili garlic with taosi beans • 1 tsp Hoisin sauce

Directions 1. Cut ampalaya into round pieces, about 1 /12 inches. 2. Remove the seeds by scraping them off with the help of a bread knife. 3. Boil dried shiitake mushrooms until tender, chop into small pieces. 4. Sauté garlic, onions, pork and add seasoning according to your taste. You may increase spiciness. Set aside.

• Sugar-optional

5. In oil, sear both sides of ampalaya and stuff it with the sautéed pork. Cover and simmer a bit for 2-3 minutes.

• Salt and pepper

6. Serve as topping for hot rice.

• 1/2 c tsp oyster sauce

ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS

Just Asking with Peter Banzon

Have you heard of the statement “Ang asawa, pwedeng palitan, pero ang nanay, hindi!?” It’s a claim that a mother is of more value or importance than a spouse. It is a statement I disagree with but it raises an important question. Is it possible to side with my spouse without dishonoring my mother? How?

any conflicts arise when there is a misunderstanding concerning the roles that a mother and your spouse plays in your life. When you were a single person, you were subject to your mother and submitted to her because you honor her as God commands children to honor their father and mother (Exodus 20:12). But when you got married, a change of relationship took place. You and your spouse became one flesh. Your spouse become a very important part of your life. The saying “ang asawa pwedeng palitan pero ang nanay hindi” runs contrary to God’s principles. Both your mother and your spouse hindi pwede palitan. The Bible says concerning your spouse “What God has joined together let no one separate.” (Matthew 19:6) Though you are still commanded to honor your mother, you are not subject to her anymore. You have started your own family and are subject to your husband as head of the home (Ephesians 6:22). When there is a conflict between your mother and your spouse you need to examine the cause of the conflict and see where the problem lies. If your mother is at fault, you must lovingly point this out to her. If your husband is at fault in the issue, point this out to him as well. When you take your spouse’s side because he is right, this does not mean you dishonor your mother. By standing on issues and not personalities, you do not set one against another, rather you are laying a sound principle for resolving conflicts.