Seven Blessings, the more, the merrier (and an Angel Story)

June 7th, 2007 by Sexy Mom · Viewed 14081 times · 55 Comments

Ever wondered who Sexy Mom is, and the reason why Sexy Mom has 7 children?

This article appeared in the May 1997 issue of the KERYGMA and the November-December 1997 issue of MISYON. It is longish, so I decided to put sub-headings. I have also taken the liberty of updating the article (in italics).

Use of Artificial Means of Birth Control: should we or should we not?

It’s a dilemma married Catholic women face today: Should we or should we not use artificial means of birth control?

We know that the Catholic Church staunchly stds against artificial contraception. Yet in this day and age when many people believe rearing children seems to be more of a burden than a blessing, it becomes incrasingly difficult for Catholics to follow this Church teaching.

I was among those women who had to grapple wth this dilemma. But something happened that helped me make my decision and be at peace with my choice.

My Humble Beginnings

I come from a small family. I was born in Tarlac, Tarlac, on February 15, 1958. My father Elino was an optometrist while my mother Julieta stayed at home to take care of us kids. Her mother helped her raise us. Doted by Grandma, we lived a fairly comfortable, happy chlidhood.

I went to the College of the Holy Spirit for elementary and high school, then finished Medical Technology at the Unviersity of Sto. Tomas. I have 2 brothers. After graduation, I applied for a job at the Medical Center Drug Corp. and was taken as a medical secretary, (then executive secretary). I moved to the Asian Development Bank where I am now a senior secretary (took early retirement in October 2006 as a project analyst) in the Education, Health and Population Division. My officemates rib me that I shouldn’t be in this division. Part of the function is to monitor population growth and I happen to contribute to, rather than curtail growth.

Maybe I come from a small family, I didn’t mind having a big family of my own. I met my husband Alan in a party in 1976. I remember it was October 22. Three days after, on October 26, he was already my boyfriend. But we waited three more years before we got married.

Our first baby, born in 1980, was a boy, Joseph Angelo. Three years later, we were blessed with a girl we named Monica Rose.

During those times, the government was intensely promoting population control through family planning. I remember one of the slogans I heard was, “Stop at two”. Alan and I already had two–a boy and a girl. We were already one neat little family. Alan, a commerce graduate, held a high-paying job as a manager in the Philippine office of Hapag-Lloyd, a German shipping line (He is now with the Land O’Lakes Philippines Foundation). We wanted to give our children a comfortable life so we thought we should limit the number of our children.

But we are Catholics, and we knew very well that the Church is against artificial means of family planning. We were quite successful, for we didn’t have a baby for five years. And so, we thought it was time we had one more baby. I gave birth to Bernard Alan. I had a normal delivery for my first two children but Bernard was so big–9 lbs 8 oz!–I had to have a caesarian operation. So I enjoyed a 90-day maternity leave.

An Awakening

When I went back to office, I noticed a number of officemates had a happy glow. They told me they were attending a prayer meeting being held regularly in our office, and they lost no time recruiting Alan and me to attend a Life in the Spirit Semiar. We attended one LSS and our life was never the same again. God became very real to us and we appreciated our Catholic faith. We allowed the Lord to take control not only of our individual lives, but of our entire family as well. We realized we had limited His reign in our family, not submitting to His will, particularly in the number of children we have.

We saw children not as burdens–as population control advocates seemd to show. Rather, we saw children as gifts from God, created by God for a special purpose, as part of His plan to save man and bring him to His kingdom.

More Pregnancies, More Babies

With our newfound faith, Alan and I waited on the Lord, telling Him we would gladly submit to His will for our family. God blessed our faith. In 1989, God gave us Vincent Paolo. After a year, I got pregnant again, but I had a miscarriage, and lost the baby. But in 1991, the Lord blessed us with a baby girl, Angela Marie Rosario. After another two years, in 1993, I gave birth to Pauline Rose. All three kids, like Bernard were delivered by caesarian section.

After two years, I got pregnant again, but on the second month of my delivery, I started to bleed and my gynecologist said I had a miscarriage and must undergo D&C, a procedure to clean up my uterus. At this point, my doctor suggested that it would be practical for me to have a tubal ligation following the D&C, since I already had six children, four of them delivered by caesarian secton. An additional pregnancy would mean a risk to my health.

The Nagging Question

But I was faced not only the health issue. Even if I was still healthy enough to have more babies, well meaning friends and relatives said I should look at the practical side of things. Too many children meant I would not be able to give each of them “quality time.”

I thought about that seriously and I must say I asked myself often whether I was giving my children the attention they deserved.

The question nagged me. Everyone suggested to me to have a tubal ligation–everyone: my doctor, my family members, my friends, and officemates.

My husband and I decided to consult some priests. They all told us about the Church’s stand against tubal ligation and other means of contraception. So we decided that I would not resort to this. I told my doctor that I’d have the D&C but not the tubale ligation.

But even as I was being wheeled to the operating room for the D&C procedure, a tinge of doubt swam in my mind about God’s will for me. Was the decision not to have tubal ligation a selfish decision Alan and I made on our own? Or was God with us all the time?

I was still lucid. The doctor had not yet administered the anaesthesia to put me to sleep. I could have the tubal ligation now and Alan and I won’t have the discipline of family planning anymore. If we didn’t have anymore babies, we’d be able to save our money for some luxuries which we had not been able to afford for quite some time. But we were renewed Christians, we knew our Catholic faith. Didn’t we believe that these children were gifts from God, that since they were His children, He would provide for them? How I wished God would affirm my faith at that very moment!

My Angel Story

Then it happened. As my doctors and their assistants circled around me in the operating room, I saw him. He was standing at my left side, opposite my doctor, behind the assistants. The man was tall, lean, fair and very handsome–and he had wings! An angel! He stood like a guard, tenderly watching over me, with one of his wings raised like he wanted to cover me with warmth and security. I gazed at him, at least feeling at peace with my decision, until the anaesthesiologist administered the anaesthesia, and I drifted into nothingness.

When I woke up in the recovery room, he was the first thing I saw. My angel was still there on watch. He was silvery, almost transparent, but real. He brought down his raised wing and then left, passing through the closed door!

It was too beautiful a vision to share. It took me quite a while to tell my husband and family–and then much later to my friends–about my angel, who I know was sent by God to let me know He was happy with my decision.

The Final Decision

A few months after this, I got pregnant again. Since I was going to deliver by caesarian section, the issue of the tubal ligation cropped up again. And again, Alan and I wanted to seek God’s will for us. We consulted a priest we knew and he asked, “Is your doctor a Christian?”

I fact, my new doctor was, and we told the priest so. “Then, he will do the deciding for you,” the priest said.

We consulted my doctor, without telling him what the priest told us. And my doctor said ,”I will decide for you.”

So, I underwent a caesarian section, and immediately after he took my baby out, based on his diagnosis on the present condition of my reproductive organs, he had to do a sub-total hysterectomy.

I had a bouncing baby boy whom we named Alan Jr. He is today the darling of the family, doted on by his fast-growing brothers and sisters.

My Children, then and now

J Angelo is now 16 years old, a fourth year high school student at the Ateneo University. Although we could afford to pay his tuition, he applied for a scholarship and won it. (J Angelo is now 27, graduated at UP and completing his masters in economics, a problogger, a father of 2 girls and a boy coming in August).

Monica Rose, 13, is a second year high shool student at St. Theresa’s College. (She took Communication Arts at the Miriam College, and is now a senior student at the Ateneo Law School).

Bernard Alan, now 9, is in Grade 2, also at the Ateneo. Vincent Paolo, now 6, is at the Ateneo Prep school. (BA is now an applied physics student at UP, while Vince is in the HS graduating class at the Ateneo).

Angela Marie Rosario, 5, is in the Holy Family nursery school. Nex year, she will start prep school at the Miriam College, where Pauline, 4 will start nursery. (Angela and Pauline are second and third year high school students at the Miriam College).

Alan Jr. is now in Grade 5 at the Claret School in QC.

Every school year, we buy an average of 60 books and about so many or more notebooks and school supplies, and 20 or more uniforms (much much more now!).

My mother lives with us so she is in charge of the kids when I go to work (since I am now a SAHM, we share responsibilities), giving my kids the same loving care I enjoyed from my Grandma. We have one maid (to this date, our maid lives with us, all of 13 years).

With such a brood, I could not keep an orderly house, but I have always believed a happy home is better than a neat house. The children don’t give us trouble. They bring home good grades. They help each other with their homework. They discipline each other. It is such a joy to have them, really. Alan and I do not have one bit of regret that we received them gladly when God decided to bless us with these children. The more, the merrier, we truly are.

Tags: Faith and Spirituality · LIFE · Parenting and Family

55 responses so far ↓

Kongkong622 // Jun 7, 2007 at 8:38 am

Good Morning SexyMom. I noticed some things we have in common…St. Theresa’s (we’re sending our kids there), Claret (my husband went there), UP (husband again), Ateneo (me), economics (my course), law (my husbands), Pauline (my real name), Oct.22 (sister’s bday), Feb. 15 (day before Adi’s bday). Also our stand on the issue.

I had a hard time getting pregnant because of a condition in my ovaries(endometriosis). I was told that eventually I would be “baog” so I had to have kids right away. I had 2 one after the other. On my second I was asked if I wanted a hysterectomy already because my disease would come back. I declined. So did my husband. We would welcome another child..but at my age and in my condition it’s difficult.

SexyMom: hi, Cookie, yes, striking similarities, and stand on the issue. am glad to unearth and ally.
ba // Jun 7, 2007 at 9:31 am

but Bernard was so big

Oo na, malaki na ako. Hahahahahahaha

With such a brood, I could not keep an orderly house, but I have always believed a happy home is better than a neat house.

So why do you keep nagging us regarding the “cleanliness” of the boys’ house? Hahahaha. Love you mama!

SexyMom: i’d rather call it lovingly nagging, otherwise, you will have a hill of a clutter in your pad.
tina // Jun 7, 2007 at 9:43 am

My bestfriend (who is in Kenya now).. they are 12 all in all. and they were a veryy nice happy bunch!

may reason kung bakit you have lots of kids… and your kids came because you are ready..

reading about you seeing an angel… gives me goosebumps. no no im not scared. Im like that… when i feel it’s over the norm and all that. but not scared. “nahiwagaan lang”.

SexyMom: oh yes, there things that are simply “mahiwaga”.
lisaflor // Jun 7, 2007 at 9:54 am

Hi Sexy Mom! Uy, Med Tech ka pala from UST! Yung Mama ko rin! I think class of 1969 sya..hmm… baka magkakilala pala kayo hehehe. Your eldest son is my age hehe. Dapat tita tawag ko sa yo.

SexyMom: am in class 78, dear. and yes, you can even call me your tita. and my BA shares your “fondness” of math.
feng // Jun 7, 2007 at 10:08 am

this a very touching and inspiring story sexymom. now i understand more how come you decided to have 7 children. marunong talaga ang Diyos to have you and Alan as parents for these children because God knew you are able to raise them so well.

in this day and age where having children is a big leap for husbands and wives, it’s inspiring and encouraging to know one can never regret having more kids / or treating them as additional burdens.

SexyMom: exactly why we call them our “7 blessings”.
delish // Jun 7, 2007 at 10:31 am

I am a Catholic too, but not really very religious… and have always been for artificial means of contraception Still, I really admire couples who have so many children… and have always wanted a big family of my own.

I do believe that if you make your decisions out of nothing but love, then it will be choices you can live with… and sure enough, parents like you have found a way to make things work

Good luck with your other endeavors!

SexyMom: thanks, delish! choices we make–choices we are responsible for.
lady cess // Jun 7, 2007 at 11:31 am

ohh… i love this mommy dine naiiyak ako

SexyMom: hi, Cess!
Kyels // Jun 7, 2007 at 11:35 am

Wow!

Thanks for sharing the tale! I’m happy that you have such a blessed family. It’s really beautiful to have a big family; that’s what I think.

[:
rhodora // Jun 7, 2007 at 1:14 pm

My husband and I practised natural method of birth control. We were just lucky we only had one accidental pregnancy, that of our youngest and only daughter.

You are blessed, Dine. Perhaps you sort of compensated for your ‘small family’. Kung baga, tatlo lang kayong magkakapatid, ngayon naman, ibinawi mo sa pitong anak… Masaya!

SexyMom: bawi talaga, and it’s really “masaya”, though of course, like any other families, there are humps and bumps along the way, but we manage.
amicus curiae // Jun 7, 2007 at 3:42 pm

“Hi Sexy Mom! Uy, Med Tech ka pala from UST! Yung Mama ko rin! I think class of 1969 sya..hmm… baka magkakilala pala kayo hehehe. ……….Dapat tita tawag ko sa yo.” (by Lisaflor)

1969???? hello…….tita!!! hehehe. i’m nine years your junior, then, in terms of graduation. (just kidding) i believe sexy belongs to the 1979 batch.

SexyMom: thanks, AC, you are right. i am in class 78, which makes me much younger than Lisaflor’s mom.
SELaplana // Jun 7, 2007 at 4:47 pm

Hi Sexy Mom. I read your long post, but i just want to comment regarding on using contraceptives.

Actually, if you’ll study the teachings in the Bible, you can’t find God’s law or teachings that man should not use artificial contraceptions for birth control. What’s prohibited is abortion. In other words, we can use contraceptives as long as it will not cause abortion.

You’ll also learn from the Bible, the Birth Control is not prohibited by God.

If you go on searching for the truth, you’ll learn that God prohibits the couple to abstain sex.

So, there’s a little contradiction with Catholic Teachings regarding Birth Control and the teachings recorded on the Bible.

SexyMom: thanks for dropping a note. i do respect your view. as for me, i don’t think i have the capacity to interpret the Bible, i can only be guided by it. i and my husband, and my family for that matter, abide by the PRECEPTS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. and we are at peace with that.
myepinoy // Jun 7, 2007 at 5:03 pm

And that explains why you look younger than your age. He decides for you.

Thank you so much for sharing part of the manual I call The way to Live ur Life.

SexyMom: do I, really?
angel // Jun 7, 2007 at 5:35 pm

wow! 7 kids! that must be a real big challenge. but i could just imagine the fun and excitement. i like a big family too but because i got married a little early (@23yo), i think i have to be schematic about it. not in the next 5 years, hopefully and ideally.

SexyMom: thanks, Angel. enjoy your young marriage and young family, no hurry.
aMgiNe // Jun 7, 2007 at 6:22 pm

im sure its great to have a big family, really fun during reunions. i have always wanted more siblings but i only have one brother.

anyway, my uncle is perhaps your batchmate at ust, he also took up med tech. do u happen to know antonio lazaro?

SexyMom: if he is in class 78, i might have met him one time or another, there were only very few boys in each class.

and do enjoy your young marriage, and the baby who is coming very soon. good luck, and God bless you.
tutubi // Jun 7, 2007 at 7:06 pm

call that 7th Heaven

I. too, came from a “small” family of 7

SexyMom: what co-incidence! yes, 7th heaven.
Linnor // Jun 7, 2007 at 7:09 pm

That was a tough decision to make. And for that, you were (and continue to be) richly rewarded.

SexyMom: yes, we continue to be rewarded, and we are grateful.
jangelo // Jun 7, 2007 at 7:19 pm

Why don’t you tell the story about the demon/s you saw, too?

SexyMom: oh, those tiny imps when vince was born? i will, one of these days.
Yoru // Jun 7, 2007 at 9:10 pm

What a joy to have such a big family! And you started really early. 22 years old, oh my, I can’t imagine myself in that situation. I’m sure your kids are really proud to have you as their mom.

SexyMom: yes, Yoru, seems like nowadays it’s too young to start at 22.
Gina // Jun 7, 2007 at 9:26 pm

“El hombre propone,y Dios dispone.” My mother always said that. Man proposes, God disposes.
You are indeed blessed Dine because you leave it all to God.
What a lovely family.

SexyMom: Gracias, Gina, that’s true.
andro :) // Jun 7, 2007 at 11:55 pm

Yes, I’ve always known that BA was a baby! hahaha.

I found this entry very nice, and I hope that when the time comes for me, i’d have a big happy family too! Hehe.

SexyMom: i’m sure BA is still a baby at heart!
medical technology » Blog Archive » Paula Abdul Is Open To Adoption // Jun 8, 2007 at 12:18 am

[...] I went to the College of the Holy Spirit for elementary and high school, then finished Medical Technology at the Unviersity of Sto. Tomas. I have 2 brothers. After graduation, I applied for a job at the Medical Center Drug Corp. and was … …more [...]
dimaks // Jun 8, 2007 at 1:29 am

i could not agree more.. the real life testimony speaks for itself.

SexyMom: thanks, Dimaks.
pinayhekmi // Jun 8, 2007 at 7:50 am

I hope to have at least three. I’m starting kind of late so we’ll see.
carlotta // Jun 8, 2007 at 9:48 am

“With such a brood, I could not keep an orderly house, but I have always believed a happy home is better than a neat house.” – Amen to that, tita. =)

from what i perceive on your posts, you do have a beautiful family. God bless you =)
Tina // Jun 8, 2007 at 9:54 am

This is a beautiful story. I think children are a blessing too, even if I’m still single. Seeing my first godson makes me smile immediately. And there’s nothing more relaxing than the sound of children laughing.

And besides, 7 is a lucky number, and I think with you having 7 children, you’re really blessed.
chase // Jun 8, 2007 at 8:06 pm

I wanted to have 4 children or more but my dear Odd insists on only having two. Actually I am getting baby makers for that hehehehhee.

I am not really religious so I am not really influenced by what the church states or prohibited. Also I think that they take the bible so seriously and literally.
Jamaipanese // Jun 8, 2007 at 10:48 pm

very interesting post. I am a young catholic who wouldn’t want my wife on birth control either, I wonder if we’ll end up with lots of kids…not that we’d mind
Rach // Jun 10, 2007 at 1:34 am

Hi Dine. Thanks for sharing this captivating story. I think it’s wonderful how you have sought God’s guidance and how He has answered you by sending you an angel. What a wonderful blessing. I felt goosebumps as I read your post. I believe in angels and how they guide us everyday.

SexyMom: i believe we all have our angels, Rach.
Belle // Jun 10, 2007 at 3:14 pm

Dine, i, too, came from a family of 7, one death, and 2 miscarriages. so, we would have been a brood of 9.

i think that you are an angel yourself to some people. hope, i will get to experience seeing one, too.

SexyMom: so, Belle, you can really identify with my brood of 7.
and Belle, to many, you are an angel, too. i always remember that lady in the post office–the rose?
vk // Jun 11, 2007 at 3:36 am

Sexy moms, thank you, thank you for sharing me, your Mom life….
I am very happy to read and know your way of being a Mom….
The decisions that you have it are not so easy….

The kids….the way they brought up….I can’t imagine how you and your husband do these….

With all the security and the needs they have….

I can’t believe you both got it….have intelligent kids and good-Christian children’s….

Thank you very much for sharing these……

SexyMom: Vicki, it’s a life story too nice not to be shared. thanks, i am able to share it with you.
sasha // Jun 12, 2007 at 12:46 pm

This is a very good post about your family, tita! I love it!

7th Heaven dapat ang title nitong post mo, tita I’ve 5 siblings. And having a big family is way too much happier, even in good and bad times, than a small one. Mas magulo nga lang hehe

I had goosebumps reading about the angel you saw. God has his ways of telling us His decisions talaga. And sending His angel was a total blessing, tita.

Happy Tuesday po
kurokuroatbp » Memoirs in Blogs // Jun 12, 2007 at 7:04 pm

[...] On Sexy Mom’s dilemma about artificial contraception. This is about the journey of a mother of seven children to a life of spirituality and faith and how her conscience battled with the demons of practicality and health concerns. There is one very personal and moving part when Sexy Mom experienced an epiphany and saw an angel. Sexy Mom’s story is one a lot of Filipino families could relate with and learn from. [...]
brVinceFMS // Jun 13, 2007 at 8:19 am

Our faith is always a personal response to God’s invitation to live life to the full according to his designs. Our stories and experiences talk about life itself that when we seek for happiness, it’s already there, given, and it’s up to us to look for the bright side of every sad and painful moments. God gave us freewill to choose. We decide, we choose and live. How much more if we live in a good family? but unfortunately, we seek for solutions, not for meaning in every problems we meet in everyday life. Those who are poor and uneducated about self-control and natural family planning, will we blame them? What for then, instead of helping them understand what is the right way to live a happy life, than seeking for short cuts and complain to God, which in fact, we haven’t done our part, our responsibility to one another. As a song goes, “walang sinuman ang nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang…” Isn’t true? Mom, you got nice experiences to tell, have a meaningful living today
Toni // Jun 18, 2007 at 8:54 am

Dine, shivers ran through my body while reading this.

Ang galing, galing, galing mo.

First, ang galing mo magsulat. Your writing captivated me.

Second, ang galing mong ina. Bilib ako sa ‘yo. Sa inyong dalawa ng asawa mo.

Third, ang galing mong Katoliko. I admire your strong faith.

And that angel… wow.

My thoughts are incoherent but one thing is clear: You were meant to have these children, you were meant to be their mother. From the stories that you share, you are one happy family, bonded and TOGETHER. It would not have been possible if not for YOU.

SexyMom: thanks, Toni, for the nice words and thoughts. all of it is possible with God’s grace and God-centered husband-wife-children relationship.
Leah // Jun 19, 2007 at 10:44 am

Wow, 7 pregnancies! I wonder if I can handle that? Noh, maybe just 2. What a blessing indeed and your angel story is quite amazing. You are blessed truly.

SexyMom: there were 7 kids, dear Leah, out of 9 pregnancies!
raqgold // Jun 19, 2007 at 5:10 pm

hi sexymom – kaya pala sexy ka kasi 7 kids!! I admire your faith – we are also facing a dilemma on birth control. I would love to have more kids but my hubby doesnt agree coz he kept on saying, that at 54, he’s too old. I’ve been wearing my birth control on my left arm (an implant), I would either need a new implant (kse it works only 3 years) or my hubby is also thinking about vasectomy. I dont know, we still am thinking about it. But in reading your post, praying about it would be better. Am a UST90 grad!
amymd // Jun 19, 2007 at 5:51 pm

you’re really blessed, dine. and you seem to be a very good mother. hope to meet you in the future.
like you, i also graduated as med tech (my pre-med) from UST.
on my first pregnancy, i had an abortion. during D&C while i was asleep, i “traveled” with lots of angels. they were singing beautifully. the singing stopped when i woke up already in my room. i don’t if its the effect of anesthesia
Lizzz // Jun 19, 2007 at 7:29 pm

Blog Hop from PMN

What a story! I totally agree with you… A happy home is better than a clean house. I, myself belong to a big family too. My mom raised us.. all 6 girls. Five of us are now working (2 of us already married) and our youngest is in 3rd year College.

Sana ako rin makakita ng angel
kat // Jun 19, 2007 at 9:31 pm

your story is amazing! i must admit, it made me a bit teary-eyed. i envy your strong faith. a lot of people nowadays may be christians indeed, but also live their life based on convenience and are ruled by their financial capabilities. you, on the other hand, are so open to HIS will and i really admire you for that! if we all just had a little of your faith and intergrity!

and i must say, your children’s accomplishments are impressive!

p.s. i went to Miriam too (when it used to be called Maryknoll).
roxie // Jun 20, 2007 at 1:08 pm

i’m an only child so i never really had a chance to enjoy the dynamics of a big family. same as true with my hubby (it was only him and his brother). and it gets lonely at times. so we are praying for the Lord to grant us stewardship of more children.
Frances // Jul 30, 2007 at 3:07 pm

What a wonderful story especially in these times where family planning is the in-thing! I come from a family of 6 (I am the eldest at 25 and the youngest is 8 years old) and sometimes I wonder what it would be like if we were fewer: we’d definitely be richer and enjoying a more comfortable life BUT we miss out on the experience of living with another person to call little brother or sister.

Cheers!

SexyMom: thanks for sharing, Frances. You are almost the same age with my eldest–he is 27, has 2 girls (2 and 4), and a baby boy, a great blessing is due last week august. our youngest will be 11 next month.

yes, same question was once posed by my eldest girl. would we have been richer if we had only 2 children (her and her elder brother)? same answer they had with you–we are definitely richer with love in the family. And God is so good–His abundant blessings come in the most perfect moment. May God bless you and your family, and shower you with abundant blessings and love.
mac // Jul 30, 2007 at 4:20 pm

Dahil napansin kong pitong (7) anak ang naging biyaya sa inyo nang ating Panginoon, nagkaroon ako ng interes na basahin ang kabuoan nang inyong isinulat. Kami man pong mag-asawa ay naka-anim na anak at tama po kayo sa pagsasabing sila ay mga biyaya. Matay ko mang isipin, kung wala ang isa sa kanila, hindi magiging ganito ang takbo nang aming buhay, maaaring hindi namin mabatid ang pagkakaiba subalit ipinagpapasalamat namin na anim (6) ang naging anak namin. Madalas kapag pinag-uusapan naming mag-asawa ang aming katatayuan, lalo na nga sa panahon ng pagpapatala sa eskwela, ay sinasabi ko sa aking maybahay na “kung ang mga ibon nga sa himpapawid…, ay hindi pinababayaan nang ating Panginoon, tayo pa kaya..”

Sa halip na maging problema, nagiging isang panahon pa nang aming buong pamilya ang pamimili ng mga gamit sa eskwela bilang isang panahon ng pagba-bonding ika nga. Madalas nga ay natatanong kami ng mga dispatsadora kung kami daw ay may tindahan sa dami nang aming binibiling notebook, papel, ballpen, lapis atbp.

Inaalala naming mag-asawa ang mga magiging kagastusan sa kanilang pag-aaral, at siguro ay normal naman ito sa mga magulang na katulad namin. Ngunit ang nakakatuwa nga ay meron at merong dumadating na sapat na halaga upang tuloy na mapag-aral ang mga bata. Dagdag pa dito, ang aming panganay at ang sumunod dito ay pinalad na matanggap sa UP, napakalaking bagay nito sa amin sapagkat kahit papaano ay kinakaya namin ang “tuition” sa pamanatasang ito.

Ibahagi ko siguro ang isang pangyayari sa pangalawa kong anak sa panahon ng kanyang enrolment. Isang aspeto ng pagpapa-aral sa kolehiyo ay ang paghahanap ng matitirahan ng bata. Dahil nga sa ang aming anak ay “waitlisted”, huli na ng siya ay magpatala at noong panahong yaon ay malamang wala ng bakante sa dormitoryo sa loob ng UP. Nagtanong kami sa labas at nalaman namin na P1,250.00, ang kalakaran ng mga upa dito. Subalit dahil nga sa patnubay ng Panginoon, sa aming paglalakad sa loob ng “campus” ay nakasalubong namin ang aking kamag-aral noong ako ay nasa elementarya pa. Pagkabatid niya sa aming suliranin ay agad niya kaming sinamahan sa tanggapan ng dormitoryo at naipatala ang aming anak. Napakalakign bagay nito sapagkat ang naging upa ay P350.00, kada buwan, kumpara sa P1,250.00.

Sa ngayon ay patuloy ang aming pananalangin at paghingi ng patnubay upang magabayan ang aming mga anak. Naniniwala kami na ang mga munti naming pagsisikap ay masusuklian ng mga biyayang sa pat para sa amin sa Kanyang panahon.

Maraming salamat po.

SexyMom: Mahal kong Mac,
madaming salamat sa iyong sharing. totoo lahat ang sinasabi mo, may awa ang Dyos, kami ng asawa ko at lahat ng mga anak namin, nananalig lagi sa Diyos–Siya na Hari nag lahat sa mundo. at ang mga biyaya, dumadating sa tamang panahon. God bless you and your family.
Aiza // Aug 19, 2007 at 12:42 am

Kudos to you, SexyMom! Your story is an inspiration to us young wives. More power and God bless!
Emily Dy // Nov 22, 2007 at 11:47 pm

Hi Dine,

I’d like to send you a private invitation. What email can I use to get in touch with you?

Thanks,
Emily
violet // Aug 21, 2008 at 5:31 pm

hello tita dine! I hope you will allow me to call you that. I am an avid reader of your blog and so look forward to your posts….i have found them to be very useful and sharing your wisdom like this online is such a nice thing to do…I get some really good stuff…I am a mom too although I am a single parent. Your stories here are really such a nice read…hope we can keep in touch online…
Letting go at 12, Happy Birthday Alan, Jr. : The D Spot // Aug 25, 2008 at 6:32 am

[...] He just popped up in our lives, an instant blessing. His elder sister, Pau was only 2-1/2 years old then, when I learned that I was pregnant—AGAIN! It was not news anymore, as I already had 6 children at that time. But by gosh! I already had 8 pregnancies (2 normal deliveries, 2 miscarriages, and 4 caesarian deliveries), a 9th pregnancy (and 5th caesarian delivery) would be oh, so risky! I didn’t mind what others had to say, all I knew was that my angel would take care of me when I deliver my baby. For those who do not know about my angel story, please read here. [...]
vk // Sep 1, 2008 at 11:10 pm

Believe talaga ako sa faith, trust mo.

Your being a xtian….

i read n read your post….2nd time, 3rd time?

God is so good and so kind to us.

thanks
2 October–Feast of the Guardian Angels (Who is Your Guardian Angel?) : The D Spot // Oct 2, 2008 at 10:27 am

[...] Full text is found here. [...]
Reagan Agramon // Mar 19, 2009 at 10:33 am

Hi, I’m intrested on homebased online jobs, hope you could help me. I’m 30 years old, father of 2, I spent highschool on Claret School of QC just like one of your kids, thanks
katrina // Apr 21, 2009 at 5:58 pm

Hi Dine,
My name is Katrina from Skechers. I was reading through your blog and
thought to share our Nickelodeon Kids event to you and your readers.
This will be held in Fort Bonifacio Open Field on April 25. Lots of
freebies, fun games and prizes! It’s the perfect time to bring your
kids out Please let me know if you can
help me get the word out and I can send you details and pictures
Antics // Apr 25, 2009 at 4:46 am

Hello SexyMom,
I have been reading most of your blogs for like the past few days and i just cant help but say that it’s quite amazing to actually realize that reading such blogs about peoples lives such as yours can actually make an impact on the reader. Now, i believe a story is more than itself and you’ve made me realize that truth.
I admire you Ms. Dine and after reading your mission statement, i feel that you have already accomplished that mission. I know this because your blogs says most of it and also because i see how well you have raised you daughter. Yes i am a friend of your daughter and she has truly been great friend. She’s really.. i dont know, words cant really describe her but i guess it’s all thanks to you.
Thank you a bunch for being.. a guide or mentor
Our Seven–a priceless photo | The D Spot // Jun 27, 2009 at 9:17 am

[...] I thank God for my 7 (our 7), our 7 wonderful blessings. [...]
Kate // Oct 7, 2009 at 10:52 am

Hi! My name is Kate and I am working for an Events Agency. Currently we are planning an event for bloggers, more specifically mom bloggers. In this light I am in search for such netizens to interact further with that can hopefully give light to some of my queries. Please do let me know how I can get in touch with you on a more personal basis.

Below are my contact details:
email: mme.sdt@gmail.com
celphone no.: 09222752102

Would really appreciate your response to this comment and hoping to have some time to pick your mind on certain topics. Thank you in advance. Kate
Therese Panganiban // Dec 14, 2009 at 9:18 am

Hi Ma’am! I saw that you posted about Jeepney magazine. Just thought I’d share with you this piece of news:

This Christmas, Jeepney magazine is coming out with a commemorative 2010 calendar, featuring an EXCLUSIVE, ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW with music legend, artist, and advocate Bob Dylan. This holiday season, he is going traditional, as he releases an album filled with heartfelt renditions of well-loved Christmas carols. Proceeds from this album will champion the cause of the hungry and the homeless around the world.

Further to this, the calendar also features photos of the triumphant 2009 Homeless World Cup (HWC) held in Milan, Italy. The Philippine delegation to the HWC was organized by the same group that publishes the magazine. We are very happy to share that Team Philippines ranked top 32 in the world and was considered best of Asia!

If this is something po you wish to share with your readers, I can send you a press release and photo po – is it ok I please ask for your email?

Thank you for taking time to read. I wish you all the best this beautiful season.

Please have a merry, merry Christmas!
Xtine // Jun 16, 2011 at 9:52 am

A very inspiring and fitting story to read amidst the controversy that surrounds RH bill.

I also plan on having children (just two and hopefully twins). I was never really fond of kids in the first place so that i don’t think i could handle more…especially when they’re crying and screaming at the same time =).
but i guess things will be different when i’m already in that situation. If ever i will be blessed with more chikitings, i hope i will be able to handle the situation the same way you did, with so much optimism and joy.

god bless to you and your family.

The D Spot

On the joy of living, loving, learning, sharing…