Son BA had to write an essay, “Why I Chose (name the person) to be included in Time Magazine’s 60 Years of Asian Heroes“. He is supposed to name a person who is not in the current list. He thought long and hard, I also thought long and hard. We looked at the list. There were 3 Filipinos who made it there: Cory Aquino (Nation Builder), and Eugenia Apostol & Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc (Inspiration), and Efren “Bata” Reyes (Athlete and Explorer), alongside the names of Mother Teresa, The Dalai Lama, Bruce Lee, Lee Kwan Yew, and Tenzing Norgay & Sir Edmund Hillary, among others. No Filipino made it to the Artists & Thinkers and Business Leaders categories.
Mohammad Yunnus of Bangladesh’s Grameen Bank’s fame was an excellent choice, but his name was already there. And it struck me–why not Tony Meloto of the Gawad Kalinga fame. Indeed, Tony Meloto of Gawad Kalinga, for his crusade of of building dignified housing for the poorest of the poor through the efforts of thousands of volunteeers (which he puts into real action), is an excellent choice. I even think he would win a Nobel Peace Prize someday.
Why not? BA, when he was at the Ateneo, had a long involvement with similar humanitarian efforts, like Habitat for Humanity even before GKwas established, then later with GK. This could be a topic close to his heart.
Which brings me to our own GK house, the boy’s GK house.
When son, J Angelo moved out of the house extension (made for him and his small family) to an apartment 5 houses away from our home, my 3 boys (18, 16 and 10) moved into the place they vacated. It was a move that affected us all in the family, which meant that the 3 small ones (2 girls 15 and 14, and the 10 year old boy) would finally totally move out of what used to be the family bedroom.
It was a move that would allow each one of us some space, for the 2 girls to finally have a room of their own (they moved in the boys’ former room), for the boys to have theirs, for Angelo’s young family to have their own independence, and for me and my husband to finally say that after 27 years, we have a room of our own.
Albeit the fact that 23-year old daughter Monica has been sleeping with us in our bed for the past 3 weeks now. Every time I asked her why she wanted to stay with us, and not in her own room, she always said she was having bouts of allergy in her room. I suggested that we switch rooms, to which she gladly agreed. But she said, she would still stay with us, she wanted to sleep next to me. Oh well, I am sure this is only temporary, at the moment, we are still savoring her company. Not far from now, she will also leave the coop and have her own family.
And this reminds me of Connie’s post on and Noemi’s post on Why Kids Want to Sleep in Mommy’s Bed, and the other moms’ discussions at Pinoy Moms Network, (for those of you who have not yet visited Pinoy Moms Network, we welcome you to do so).
We call the boys’ pad as the boys’ GK house–for its vibrant colors, more so because it is a place where happiness emanates, simple it may be. See these pictures–the boys wanted flashy, lively colors for their pad: red orange for the walls in the living room, apple green for the doors and bookshelf, blue for the bedroom, pink for the bathroom, mismatched with the sky blue area rug, light orange sofa, red computer chair, and blue, green and brown bean bags. It was fine with me, it was to be their own pad for the years to come anyway, and they were happy with it. For these reasons, I gamely agreed. Their happiness was first over style.
The main house is an old traditional house, a contrast to the boy’s GK pad, which continues to bring stories of joy and fun. Their friends would hang out in the GK house every now and then. Evenings and weekends are riotous, they play computer games (how they love guitar hero), watch TV and movies, they jam, electric guitars and all, tinker with the violin (the little one is taking up lessons) and so many other things. Even the girls love to hang out here, their friends, too. During the day, I myself find solace in this GK house, writing away my poems, essays, stories and research papers. And sometimes in the evening, for a change, we say our prayers in this GK house, to thank the good Lord for all the blessings He has showered upon us. The Boys’ GK house continues to be a house, nay a home, of laughter and joy!
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24 responses so far ↓
mr nice ash // Mar 16, 2007 at 2:30 am
that’s elegant to me. colorful.
all my childhood, i’ve been sleeping on the floor or sofa. i miss that. I’ll try again one of these days.
Flori // Mar 16, 2007 at 7:34 am
Hello po!
How nice naman to have a big family!
Ang dami pong personalities nun, exciting! Kaya nga po siguro your (house and) home also reflects what your family is like.
Thank you po for visiting sugoistuff.net.
I always read your blog because the posts always get to me. It’s only recently (actually, since I began blogging myself) that I’ve started to write comments.
Sidney // Mar 16, 2007 at 7:59 am
Tony Meloto of Gawad Kalinga definitely deserves the praise!
tina // Mar 16, 2007 at 8:40 am
wow… what a lovely place. i like the colors…
hehe and yeah… the children really wants to sleep next to mom and dad… kaya di sya masyado surprising….. hehehe… even meeee…. hahaha
you have a close family and sweeetttt ones too…
hazel // Mar 16, 2007 at 10:23 am
i agree with Sidney, Tony Meloto deserves it!
Isang makulay na mundo para sa mga anak mo!
ganda!
feng // Mar 16, 2007 at 11:37 am
sexy mom, the colors of your kids’ pad looks vibrant yet cozy and warm and relaxing. it’s a good thing you’ve provided the kids with such tambayan. i’m sure they’d often prefer to hang out there rather than strolling the Mall. well, i have nothing against Malls, but as we all parents know, sometimes Malling is a very expensive way to amuse kids.
btw, the post on why kids want to sleep in Mommy’s bed is Connie’s not Noemi’s. ako rin eh, i’m often confused with the two Moms.
Sexy Mom // Mar 16, 2007 at 11:50 am
Mr Nice Ash – we also do sometimes camp out in the living room, esp on rainy days.
Sexy Mom // Mar 16, 2007 at 11:52 am
thanks, Flor – each person a different personality in our home, but it is fun
Sydney and Hazel – Tony Meloto indeed merits such award and more.
Sexy Mom // Mar 16, 2007 at 11:54 am
oh, Tina – sometimes, we find ourselves asleep in different beds in our home. sometimes we end up bonding until early morning, particularly during weekends.
Sexy Mom // Mar 16, 2007 at 11:56 am
thanks, Feng. yes, malling is such an expensive pastime, the tambayan has time and again diverted the kids from malling.
i have corrected my post–i included Connie’s article, there’s really so much in Pinoy Moms Network, that sometimes i am overwhelmed.
Alex // Mar 16, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Seeing this, I want I want a place of my own! But the upkeep will kill me in the long run. We’ve got a house in the metro anyway so whatever I will pay on rent, I’d rather save.
So the boys have their won mini-frat house. Nice!
dimaks // Mar 16, 2007 at 5:30 pm
nice idea.. its a way of keeping family members bonding.
what ive been planning was a multimedia room hehe…
Sexy Mom // Mar 16, 2007 at 5:36 pm
yes, Alex, it is indeed a mini-frat house, sometimes their friends hang out or sleep over.
you don’t need to move to another place, you can just re-decorate 
Sexy Mom // Mar 16, 2007 at 5:41 pm
oh, dimaks, a multi-media room is a dream! anyway, they have most of what they need there, computers, PS, TV, DVD, electric guitars, classical guitars, violin, board games, phones…if only they could move in the piano
Gypsy // Mar 16, 2007 at 6:03 pm
I just love the splash of right green everywhere! Must be such fun to be part of a big family.
Sexy Mom // Mar 16, 2007 at 6:06 pm
yes, Gypsy, yellow green is one of my favorite colors. and being part of a big family is fun, fun, fun!
carey // Mar 16, 2007 at 8:49 pm
the multi-colored bedroom reflects your sons’ happy and vibrant personalities! having their own pad is a nice start for them to experience a bit of independence.
have a great weekend!
Gina // Mar 16, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Ganda nga ng colors, warm & vibrant! It must be fun and cozy at the same time hanging out in that “little piece of heaven/haven”!
haze // Mar 17, 2007 at 1:49 am
hi Sexy Mom Filipinos here in France are also trying to contribute for this GK ! The reason why houses are colorful mean joy, hope and love ! It is actually GK777 program! To give hope to the poor, no more slums
!
I am a member of CFC here and I am proud that our Kababayans working abroad are lending their helping hand even we are separated thousands of miles! Bilib ako sa Pinoy !
Kyels // Mar 17, 2007 at 2:19 am
I have that magazine too, Time, and it was a good issue.
(:
myepinoy // Mar 17, 2007 at 3:06 am
I too would like to see Tony Meloto in that list. A Nobel Prize is worth the man. He represents the TRUE Pinoy — an image of a great citizen of the world that has long been bastardized by the rich and famous but greedy Pinoy businessmen and politicians.
Sexy Mom // Mar 17, 2007 at 3:34 am
hi Kyels – yes, it is a good issue.
myepinoy – i agree, Tony Meloto does not only deserve a Time magazine award, but a Nobel Prize, too.
Leah // Mar 22, 2007 at 5:23 am
What vibrant colours! and well nicknamed. Hats-off to Tony Meloto and the GK program.
GK // Jul 6, 2009 at 12:58 pm
More on GK News! GK had a Global Summit held at Boston last June 12-14 this year and it’s a big success. Also, I’ve read that there are other nationalities from India and Columbia that are opt to get trainings to bring GK communities into their country. GK is a very inspiring movement isn’t it?
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