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 

Because "11 maternal deaths daily" continues...

...to be used to justify a piece of legislation that will mandate taxpayer-funded procurement, promotion and distribution of the "full range" of birth control drugs and devices -- and tax-funded provision of all birth control services -- here's something to make believers in the Reproductive Health Bill think more about what they are supporting:







There's another eye-opening video -- courtesy of Filipinos for Life -- about this issue, but that one is likely to remind you of Darth Vader :-)

Better late than never!

Here's our offering for May, the month on which Mother's Day falls, hence letting us feature (as we did in last year's issue) yet another batch of moms who, in one way or another, are responding to the challenges of being parents in these times --






And in a few days, the issue for the back-to-school month shall be on shelves all over.

Expecting the unexpected

There was a bit of excitement at the office yesterday. For a few minutes, some of us flocked around Myrna when someone got wind of her being expectant. Myrna's doctor confirmed it last week, and only last week did I find out that she had had two pregnancies already which both ended in miscarriage during the first trimester. "Gulat nga kami eh ("We were really surprised")," she remarked as we milled around her as we heard the news, "inaccept ko na na hindi na ako magkaka-anak" ("I've accepted that I won't ever have children anymore")." That's the reason why she has adopted a young relative of hers; also, she had given away all her hardly-used maternity clothes so she'll need to do some shopping soon. She's 7 weeks on and the bulge is starting to show.

That makes two women in the office pregnant (the other one, Carla, is due to give birth in May)! Hence, everyday I have tangible reminders around me of little human beings growing until they're ready for the world outside their mother.