Helping abortion workers find freedom

There is something grim about praying for people who commit grave harm on others -- not the kind that involves mentioning them and their rehabilitation and then that's it (though a sincere prayer said this way of course gains merit as well in the eyes of God). I'm talking about keeping them in mind for an extended period of time, just like I did for the second time several days ago.

It was a day or two after news of the cash-for-baby-organs being carried out by Planned Parenthood broke out that I decided that my rosary for the day would be offered for everyone involved in that organization -- current and past. So for nearly 30 minutes, my heart and mind were fixed on the scenes from the Gospel, praying the prayers to please the Lord, and doing it all for abortion providers. It had quite a sobering effect.

I recalled the first time I did a similar thing -- it was around 2008 or 2009 and my co-worker Petrufied and I decided to participate in the Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity in our own way. It was an annual event carried out in schools across the US and a few other countries whereby students keep silent the entire day and hand out materials  that express their life-affirming values and explain why abortion is wrong. Most of the participants put adhesive tape over their mouth with the word LIFE written on the tape. We didn't do it that way but I remember Petrufied wore a bright red and black bandanna around her wrist like a cuff (I don't remember what symbol I used, though).

On that day when I prayed the rosary, my sole intention was all abortionists out there. It sure felt strange offering prayers for people whom you knew killed babies regularly and for a living, but since they were committing such atrocious acts, I did my best to pray with as much attentiveness, love, and spirit of penance as I could.

It's easy to regard abortion workers as "the bad guys" because let's face it -- no matter how one twists and turns the issue to make abortion look like a necessity or a noble service for women or a selfless thing to do or the saving grace of poor women, it is basically the killing of a human being. In fact, it is considered a failure when the baby survives. Imagine calling something a success when the growing baby inside his/her mother's womb dies as a result of the procedure.

I just had a thought: if an abortion doctor or anyone who assists in abortions happens to be reading this, I assure you that hope is something you will get out of this, so let me get right to what I had set on sharing when I started this post. Abby Johnson, a former director of a Planned Parenthood facility in Texas, left the industry several years ago, but her journey didn't end there. She had the abortion clinic workers in mind when she put up And Then There Were None, a non-profit organization that helps clinic workers leave the abortion industry. More than 100 workers have broken free of the industry since And Then There Were None opened its doors so far. There really is hope. Have a look:






And Then There Were None website

And Then There Were None Facebook page

Does Planned Parenthood offer discounts on fetal parts bought in bulk?

Who knows if such an inquiry would one day be brought up by some company or shady characters in the black market when Planned Parenthood makes an underground "Up for grabs! Healthy heart-and-lungs package from 24-week-old, and freshly harvested fully developed liver!" announcement?!

The latest news regarding Planned Parenthood is revolting, but it is only the latest of a string of practices that worsen already serious societal ills and which glaringly show why Planned Parenthood deserves to be shut down. The recently disclosed evidence showing the abortion provider's trafficking of fetal organs shouldn't distract us from the fact that it is still responsible for the death of more than 300,000 human lives every year.

And just in case you have allowed some people's dazzling arguments to convince you so that a part of you doubts the humanity of babies in their mother's womb, it's really simple:

This and this are worthy reads to bring you up to speed and help you form your own judgment on the issue. And more developments on the investigations to be conducted by the U.S. House of Representatives and five states (as of this writing) are here.

In other news...

Let's get 'graphic'

And some "women's advocates" in my country are stubbornly pushing for a law that ignores all these.

I sure hope my faith -- and that of many others -- in the Supreme Court of the Philippines to do the right thing and uphold the Constitution will be justified. April 8 -- the crucial date.

How Life is going around the world

Would you like to go around the world in 8... headlines? Here's a glimpse of news and features concerning life and family matters.

Bolivia says no to abortion: Recognizes "right to life" from conception
by Youth Defence | La Paz, Bolivia | LifeNews.com | 2/17/14 7:16 PM

A judge in Bolivia has ruled that abortion is considered a crime and that the law of the land recognizes the ‘right of life from the moment of conception’. 



Pro-Life students fight back after University of Alabama crushes free speech
by Kristan Hawkins | Montgomery, AL | LifeNews.com | 2/17/14 11:26 AM

Today, Students for Life of America is calling for the University of Alabama to reverse their decision to tear down a pro-life bulletin board and issue an apology to Bama Students for Life.



DOH exec: If RH Law is junked, implementation still on
By Camille Diola (philstar.com) | Updated February 17, 2014 - 3:55pm

MANILA, Philippines - A Department of Health (DOH) official admitted that the contents of the controversial Reproductive Health Law can still be implemented by the agency even without the measure.

Doctor Ruben Siapno, DOH National Capital Region assistant regional director, said in a recent media conference that family planning services can still be provided even if the Supreme Court decides that the law is unconstitutional.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Monday ordered changes to a draft of new criminal legislation in response to an international outcry warning it would severely limit justice for victims of domestic abuse, his spokesman said. - See more at: http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/afghan-leader-orders-changes-womens-rights-law#sthash.1BDrlxzj.dpuf

Belgium poised to complete legalization of euthanasia for children
February 17, 2014

Euthanasia is a culture of death which knows no boundaries.  Once begun, it spreads like cancer to include additional diseases, conditions and even age groups.  The latest domino to fall is action in Belgium to legalize euthanasia for children.  Yes — for children.  In December, the Belgian Senate voted for legalization by a 50-17 vote and the Chamber of Representatives followed suit last week by an overwhelming vote of 88-44 with 12 abstentions to approve.   

King Philippe, Belgium’s constitutional head of state, is expected to sign the legislation into law.



Urgent: Tell the FDA what you think about "three-parent" embryos
Sunday, February 16, 2014

On February 25th and 26th, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be having a meeting to discuss allowing the technique that creates embryos with three genetic parents to proceed to clinical trials. The "three-parent" embryo technique is also called mitochondrial replacement, maternal spindle transfer, or oocyte modification. 



Pope urges engaged couples to build marriage on "rock of love"
By Elise Harris

Vatican City, Feb 14, 2014 / 08:35 am (CNA/EWTN News).- During a special encounter with engaged couples, Pope Francis emphasized that to love someone forever is possible if we are humble, and that marriage should be a celebration filled with joy.



"She will live on forever within Iver": Canadian "brain dead" woman gives birth to healthy son
By Peter Baklinski / Tue, Feb. 11, 2014, 13:32 EST

VICTORIA, British Columbia, February 11, 2014 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A Canadian father and husband is experiencing an impossible mix of emotions at the birth of his first child followed by the passing of his wife, who was declared ‘brain dead’ by doctors in December.



Disabled brother inspires Alex Bilodeau's gold medal run
Reuters, Feb. 10/ 6:15 pm EST

ROSA KHUTOR, Russia - Alex Bilodeau toiled for fours years to retain his Olympic moguls title on Monday but said that was nothing compared to the struggles of his inspirational brother, who has cerebral palsy. - See more at: http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/disabled-brother-inspires-alex-bilodeaus-gold-medal-run#sthash.rIx5w3xE.dpuf

ROSA KHUTOR, Russia - Alex Bilodeau toiled for fours years to retain his Olympic moguls title on Monday but said that was nothing compared to the struggles of his inspirational brother, who has cerebral palsy. - See more at: http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/disabled-brother-inspires-alex-bilodeaus-gold-medal-run#sthash.rIx5w3xE.dpuf

ROSA KHUTOR, Russia - Alex Bilodeau toiled for fours years to retain his Olympic moguls title on Monday but said that was nothing compared to the struggles of his inspirational brother, who has cerebral palsy. - See more at: http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/disabled-brother-inspires-alex-bilodeaus-gold-medal-run#sthash.rIx5w3xE.dpuf

Where woman and child are cared for

Till recently, the only things I associated with Ireland were U2, St. Patrick, the four-leaf clover (I'm not sure why), and The Corrs. Starting around four or five years ago, however, my regard for that nation has changed. Why? Because I learned about the importance that the Irish place on family and children -- so much that it's the only other country I know besides the Philippines in which the people see abortion for what it truly is -- murder -- and thereby persistently defend the right of every human being, including babies still in the womb, to live. They care about everyone.

I learned from a friend living in Ireland about a pro-life march/rally just hours before it was due to start. The Vigil for Life held on January 19 drew some 30,000 people -- all demanding the country's leader and the ruling party to keep abortion out of this very life-loving nation.

Here are a couple of videos I've watched several times already!









The Irish people rock!!

Among the organizers of the huge event were Youth Defence, Life Institute, Pro-Life Campaign, and Precious Life.

* See more photos and additional coverage on the Vigil for Life Facebook page 

Let the tiny ones speak...

... even though in reality, they need us born ones to be their voice.

* Translation of Tagalog text: I AM PRO-LIFE! Hopefully you are, too. The RH Bill is one step toward legalized abortion in our country.

* February is PRO-LIFE MONTH in the Philippines!! Information about the different events can be found here (update: the Eucharistic celebration on Feb. 26 will be held at the main church in Antipolo instead of the Manila Cathedral). International speakers Michael Voris of RealCatholicTV.com and Luana Stoltenberg and Kay Painter of Operation Outcry are flying in for a series of speaking engagements, the schedule of which is here.

Reality, accompanied by the valse

Makes you think, huh?

Learn more at Filipinos for Life

Life around the world in 5 headlines

Here's a look around the world without leaving your living room (or wherever you are as you read this). In just five stories one gets a picture of the varied perspectives on the value of a human being's life. There's more good news than bad here; fortunately, there's always hope as long as one is alive! But one sure can see red sometimes, especially when getting news of the latest scheming measures that a certain global organization is up to again.

So, how's life around the world? Get a glimpse from these excerpts (followed by links to the full articles):

They direct their book to those who, having received a devastating diagnosis, have decided, or are still in the process of deciding, to continue their pregnancy knowing that their baby’s life is expected to be brief. Yet their positive and encouraging approach to these heartbreaking realities paint the choice of abortion as a sad mistake and a missed opportunity for emotional growth and healing.
.....
Because of the shared pain, courage, faith, and, often, wisdom of the mothers and fathers who relate their experiences, any reader can achieve a better understanding of what it means to be a mother and a father:

“As a mother, I have always felt that it was my job to identify what my children need and give it to them. Sometimes those needs are simple and straightforward–clean laundry, a healthy meal, a hand to cross the street safely. Maggie’s needs were not like those of my sons. She needed us to give her a safe and peaceful transition from one world to the next. Carrying Maggie to term did that for me–it gave me the opportunity to ‘mother’ her until she didn’t need me anymore.” ~ Alessandra (p. 345)

"A Gift of Time: Continuing your pregnancy when your baby's life is expected to be brief" at MercatorNet

**********

Roger Kiska of the European Center for Law and Justice said he was “overjoyed” by the new Hungarian constitution, calling it a victory for democracy, for life and the family, and for Hungary. Kiska said he found “shameful” the attempts by the European institutions to undermine the Hungarian government, a government overwhelmingly approved by popular electoral vote. “I hope that Hungary stays strong in its convictions because what is at stake, life and the family, are too high a price to pay simply to appease the bureaucrats in Brussels.”

"New Hungarian Constitution recognizing life 'from conception' signed into law" at LifeSiteNews

**********

The UN is about to ask governments to fund the vaccination of every girl in the world against the sexually transmitted disease HPV, human papillomavirus. The controversial campaign could cost as much as $300 per person, totaling billions.

Dignitaries who launched the campaign at the UN in mid-April included a prominent African first lady, leaders from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the American Cancer Society, and the contraceptives manufacturer PATH.

"UN wants billions for STD vaccination scheme" at C-FAM

**********

This is disgusting. CBSLA News has glorified an elderly woman selling suicide kits as “death with dignity.” From “91-Year-Old Grandma Sells Suicide Kits To Help Terminally Ill Die With Dignity”:

Meet Sharlotte. Like a lot of grandmothers, she likes to keep busy. But while some grannies sit and knit scarves and afghans, this 91-year-old has a decidedly different hobby. She makes suicide masks… Sharlotte, who sells her controversial kits for $60, demonstrated how they work in front of our cameras.
.....
Opponents to changing the law point to one of Sharlotte’s clients, a 29-year-old Oregon native. He wasn’t suffering from a terminal illness. He opted out because he was tired of dealing with his chronic depression. His suicide touched off a major controversy. And now, a group called Californians Against Assisted Suicide wants to stop Sharlotte and her masks.

"Media pushes suicide assistance" at Secondhand Smoke

**********

The meeting between the 7-year-old boy and the 31-year-old man began awkwardly, as meetings of strangers often do. But then young Jacob Kowalik sized up the adult, and began to drop his guard.

They played tic-tac-toe. They talked about hockey. Jacob and his parents invited Marshal Davis to their house for pizza, Jacob's favorite meal.

There also was a gift, a husky dog stuffed animal, though it wasn't for young Jacob. It was FROM him, a small token of thanks to this man who'd given Jacob a gift that the boy was too young to fully understand.

"Jacob's donor: Bone marrow transplant forever alters two lives" at MSNBC

Tropical smiles

The cover alone can make one hanker back to carefree days of childhood. Did you ever experience splashing about in a swimming pool (or at the beach) and not wanting to get out of the water till your teeth were chattering and lips were turning blue? The mere smell of chlorine beckoned to me every time, and it usually took wrinkled fingers to get me out of the water :-)

Only five days to go till the end of the month, but summer ends a long time from today! Practically a whole month -- or more -- of skin-scorching sunshine and sweltering humidity. Well, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the sun :-) In the meantime, let the infectious smile of this 12-month-old baby cool you down.

If you're happy and you know it...

Better late than never... so here's the cover of the magazine's March Issue. We're big on things natural, homemade, "low-tech" at Baby -- ideas, play things, concepts that are more real than manufactured images, authentic than contrived, nature-based than commercial. I guess you could say that we do our best to keep things real. So when it comes to the covers, we strive to remain as genuine as possible in presenting the babies. Only natural blush on the little ones' cheeks, not too much sparkly accessories that spell "high-end" or "expensive" and nothing that would make the child look like an adult. Class does not have to be equated with luxury.





I love the way the paper garland gives the child a close-to-home look (I'm not sure what exactly that means, but I liken it to being down-to-earth and really friendly). These were made from pages of old glossy magazines, and 9-month-old Amara had a ball crushing them in her hand (good thing we made several for the shoot!).

In the course of completing this issue, the pursuit of happiness was on my mind a lot. In fact, some of the things that Rev. Fr. Eugene David (one of the people I interviewed for an article on the search for happiness) said makes for substantial rumination. I had asked him about what he thought of the oft-used line that goes "Gawin mo kung ano'ng makapagpapaligaya sa 'yo (Do what will make you happy)." His reply:

"I remember a quote from St. John Bosco which summarizes my thoughts on this matter. He said 'Run, jump, shout and do whatever you like as long as you do not sin.' I would then add something to the dictum you mentioned to make it complete: 'Gawin mo kung ano ang makapagpapaligaya sa iyo basta huwag kang lalabag sa utos ng Diyos at huwag kang mananakit ng iyong kapwa' (Do what will make you happy as long as you do not disobey the commands of God and you do not hurt your neighbor)' ...It does not matter what you want as long as you are happy and contented with your life without offending God and anybody else."

"Only in God will [man] find fulfillment and happiness because he will find soon enough that he exists and is created for the sole purpose of loving and uniting himself to God, who is the only one who can fill his emptiness."

Is it surprising, then, that insulting others, or prioritizing huge profits over time spent with the family, or maintaining an illicit relationship makes one feel miserable at some point? It seems that no matter how much we try to deny it, doing the right thing and finding happiness are meant to go hand in hand.

So, if you wanna be happy for the rest of your life...

Overloading on cuteness

For now, just a photo of the magazine's February issue! Can you feel the love? :-)






(Clockwise, from top left: 9-month-old Marco, 6-month-old Cross, 12-month-old Range, 12-month-old Ginger)

Precious child

Talk about dreamy.

"French country" is how I call it -- the theme that characterized a precious baby girl's 1st birthday celebration I attended a few days ago. "Sweet soiree" couldn't have been more apt (which is how the mom referred to the gathering in the invitation). Here are some snapshots I took around the place. How nice and refreshing it is to be in a kiddie party that is devoid of the usual cartoon characters, fastfood table fare and eardrum-blasting banter of overzealous hosts. This was one pleasant gathering that celebrated a sweet child's coming into the world.

A special edition

I can't help but think back to days when the cover shoots I took part in normally involved people whom society refers to as "celebrities." Whether I was a freelance/staff writer assigned to interview the subject, or one of the editors tasked along with the rest of the team to come up with a striking cover concept, having a celebrity as part of the package always meant a certain degree of... shall we say, "studied spontaneity" in front of the camera. At least in my experience. I say this because I now have the benefit of perspective, seeing things in the context of the kind of pictorials I have been taking part in since joining Baby Magazine three and a half years ago.

Capturing images of a person accustomed to kleig lights, to doing and saying things for a crowd, and to the attention/open admiration of fans, is radically different from that of a person who is still beginning to get acquainted with his immediate surroundings. There is also a world of difference between being able to tell someone to hold a certain pose (and to ask him to do the pose again) and being at the mercy of a little person who has no concept of poses and to whom requests of poses will make no sense. A model is trained to project in front of a camera; a baby goes about with complete spontaneity. Which is why when a baby ends up flashing a most adorable and animated expression, while still being natural -- and long enough for the photographer to capture it -- it is always a cause for celebration and thanksgiving!

The cover shoot for Baby mag's September issue took place on a Tuesday afternoon. We decided to do it at the family's home instead of the previously decided play facility in a shopping mall so as to put 19-month-old Tio completely at ease. We wanted him relaxed, comfortable and happy. I think we succeeded in that.



For one thing, his entire family was there (even an aunt and cousin dropped by to join the fun). Also, there was no need for him to adjust to a new environment since he was completely familiar with everything in sight. The only "new elements" were the Baby mag staff who were there plus photographer Karen Ilagan.




So, when it was time to play over at the "little blue playground thing" in the garden, Tio was all set and raring to go! His mom said the Little Tikes play set was part of the boy's physical therapy sessions for months, which started when Tio was barely a few months old.




Obviously, he was having the time of his life :-) The minutes we spent out in the garden, after all, were during the latter part of the shoot, after he had warmed up considerably and was probably regarding the whole experience as mere play. Here he is with his mom as we were about to wrap up --




Earlier, he probably found it weird that we seemed to be trying to keep him entangled between his mom's knees and attempting to have him stay on the floor the whole time! He was pretty dynamic, though! He wiggled, he crawled, he broke away from his mom, then for some moments he would smile, stick out his tongue, cover his mouth or wave at his "fans" who were cajoling him the whole time. Then we moved him back again, far enough from the camera in case he broke free and crawled his way toward the photographer. This was the routine for quite a while.




Photographer Karen was one patient shutterbug! She gamely waited, slid across the floor to catch a good angle, called out to Tio to coax a smile, shot away, called out some more, laughed with us everytime the little boy did something amusing. And she was quick to keep shooting when Tio -- as I personally had been hoping and praying for -- stayed put for close to a minute, I think, seated beneath his mom's legs, looking happy and animated. Was it going to be a good shot?




I think we got six or seven shots framed almost perfectly, in the way we were hoping for. We selected what we deemed the best one, where the charming 19-month-old boy with the extra chromosome that made him even cuter, looked absolutely happy and contented, just like the way a child who is loved and cared for by his parents and siblings ought to look.




Baby magazine is published by Marathon Publishing Co. and is sold at major National Bookstores, all SM baby department stores, Babyland (Robinsons Galleria, Shaw Blvd. near Cherry Foodarama and Eastwood Mall), Bufini, Mio Magazine Shops, selected Powerbooks outlets, and Big & Small Co. Shangri-la Mall.

Are you going with the high-tech flow?

I have often wondered how -- amid all the apparent advantages of growing up in this age of computerized, push-button and automatic everything -- children and teens will learn the art of waiting.

How would one teach his child the virtue of patience when things can be accomplished quickly and easily? Need to find a piece of information? Go look it up in a library. Need to find a book? Head for the card catalogue and look for it. Need to talk with a friend on the phone? Go to the telephone and dial his number.

Want to play a song from an audio cassette tape? Hit fast forward or rewind till you find it (and learn estimating in the process).

Planning a meet-up with friends? Set a time and place (no "bahala na, will text you later" option). Wait if someone is 5, 10 minutes late (no "wru?" option and no re-sending the message 3 minutes later out of impatience when there's no reply).

Looking for entertainment? Create your own games, make your own playthings, use objects around the home and transform them into a bridge, a bahay-bahayan, a fort for the toy soldiers... the options are endless. Use your imagination.

Want to make a "Happy birthday!" or "Welcome home!" streamer? Get some Manila paper, pencils, colored markers, crayons, and use your creativity (no computer-aided printouts).

Want to communicate with people from foreign countries? Write letters by hand, seal the envelope, go to the post office and mail the letters. Then wait at least a month for a reply. Be patient.
The way I see it, there's a lot that today's world has to offer kids, but these kids are somewhat deprived. Of what? Well, unless their parents are pro-active and discerning, they miss out on opportunities to learn and grow in patience. There are invaluable life lessons that cannot be learned from texting messages and spending hours on Facebook.





Check out Baby Magazine's June issue for some insights on all this high-tech gadgetry surrounding our children and (almost) taking over our lifestyle. More about it from Petrufied.

Reasons and seasons

Well, a lot has happened the past several weeks. Work has piled up, the sweltering heat has become a daily "force" to reckon with (and made daily productivity a mighty challenging goal), campaign season came and went, and the national and local elections took place. Now we have a President-elect and the inevitable post-election controversies.

It was a very eventful past month, and much had me quietly pleading for divine intervention. Needless to say, the outcome of various undertakings didn't go the way I would have wanted them to; other situations had me seeing just why God is spelled with a "G" instead of a "g" and that entertaining even for a moment the notion that a creature would know better than the Creator is plain silly (and more importantly, indicative of a lack of faith).

Still, some situations continue to be baffling while keeping me hopeful that we shall one day see the entire tapestry of life's goings-on, understanding and appreciating the non-intrusive orchestration of events by the One who knows all things, as well as the reasons behind those events.

As for less complex matters, the reason behind the appearance of this fuschia-clad baby on the cover of our current issue is clear and simple: she is endearingly cute!





That's Kara Judielle Sacrez in all her lacy cuteness, photographed by Kristin Rodriguez of Little People Lifestyle Photography at Cupcakes by Sonja.

Baby magazine is published by Marathon Publishing Co. and is sold at major National Bookstores, all SM baby department stores, Babyland (Robinsons Galleria, Shaw Blvd. near Cherry Foodarama and Eastwood Mall), Baby & Co. (The Podium and Power Plant Mall), Bufini, Mio Magazine Shops, Procreation Shangri-la mall, Big & Small Co. Shangri-la mall.

He's got the look

Ready for anything in the cold climate -- Pitti Uomo

Classic for the gentlemen -- New York City

Style ought to be effortless, darling




Uh... right. And suited to the weather.

Haha! Effortless and suited to the weather.

Too cool to care about image -- Paris

Color can dictate your palette of emotions for the entire day -- Florence

Style, ease, economy of movement -- Milan

Effortless style, comfort, and moves whichever way he wants. Loves the tropics.
Ready for anything.

* All photos except tropical baby and freezing girl in bonnet from The Sartorialist

When you've got 5 minutes left...

... for online time, you do as I do. Put a "refer post."




Here's Baby magazine's latest issue, and it's all about getting ready to welcome your first baby! But as always, there are other topics somewhere on its pages that have nothing to do with the issue's theme. Really informative read here. Go to Petrufied for some interesting tidbits about it!

Things that make me go "ooooh!"

An 11-month-old in action.

First, she sits pretty...




Then she discovers the soft carpet and the fun she can have on it with her favorite stuffed toy...





Then it's crawling galore! Photographer Krissy Rodriguez gets down on all fours as well to capture the baby's spirited nature for a nice photo for a magazine cover.




How does it turn out?











Know more fun stuff about Baby Magazine's February issue here

Wishing for a 'winter wonderland'

Life in the tropics is wonderful. And when one of my brothers -- who resides in the US with his family -- complained about the chore of shoveling snow from the driveway at this time of the year every year, I embraced my tropical corner of the world even more.

Still, I find myself charmed by the sight of snow-covered houses, snow-capped mountains, and fellows all-bundled up making their way through snow-lined roads on movies scenes depicting a slice of life during wintertime (think Home Alone, Jack Frost or even some of the Harry Potter flicks). Couple that with lyrics such as "...A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight, walkin' in a winter wonderland..." and one can get sort of wistful for some snow apart from the ice in a freezer that badly needs defrosting.

I was hankering for a "winter wonderland" of sorts when we were considering ideas for the Christmas cover of Baby magazine. So I got a little kick out of seeing the Christmas tree dusted with "snow flakes" among the trees at Collect 'n' Cherish, that store in Shangri-la Plaza mall that sells all things Christmas. And a bit of those snowy branches even made it to the cover, so I'm quite contented.



As usual (and probably to the chagrin of some people in the retail or marketing industry), we included articles on the kind of generosity and giving that has little to do with buying, buying and buying some more. There's also something in there to give readers ideas on fun ways to celebrate and make the most of the season (and vacation time) with the family without spending much. One of my favorite topics in this issue is teaching kids resilience starting from a very young age.

This Christmas is bound to be a very, very different one for the many who were directly affected by the destructive typhoons our country experienced in September; add to that the families and other loved ones of the victims of the Ampatuan massacre in Maguindanao. So probably it will be a bit harder for some of them to appreciate the spirit of the season and the things that the birth of the Savior stands for: simplicity, poverty, self-giving. Hopefully, those of us around them will be the ones to help them see that there is much to be thankful for even amid times that challenge the human spirit.

On the cover is 11-month-old Maka Carpio -- who seems to be saying "Hi, there!" or "I'm here", photographed by Krissy Rodriguez of Little People Lifestyle Photography.