"...I was particularly attracted to the little bahay kubo of a family in one of the squatter areas..."
Challenge to All Homemakers
by Ameling Daez, originally published in Mothers Magazine of Metro Manila.
One need not be rich or have a college degree to turn a house into a home. The important ingredient is a strong desire to make it happen and this is what we call LOVE.
In the early 70’s my husband ran as a candidate to the Constitutional Convention. As I campaigned for him, I got the chance to visit many areas in the 1st district of Manila. I entered manu kinds of homes and it struck me that it takes very little to recognize the homes whose homemakers loved their profession. I was particularly attracted to the little bahay kubo of a family in one fo the squatter areas. There were lik cartons piled neatly one on top fo the other and these serves as a cabinet for the things of her husband and children dand for their mosquito net and kumot. She made curtains for her small windows from rice sacks and tied them on the sides. Her kitchen ware were clean and tidy and were put in big plastic containers which she must have picked up from other peoople’s refuse.
It was very apparent that they had no means but it was mroe apparent that the homemaker wa s a woman who knew how to love and that love mad her creative and ingenious.It was so heartwarming to see how she managed to keep her little nest tidy and in order. I also saw the happy expression on her son’s face as he greeted us, "Magandang gabi po!"(Good evening["po" is a term to connote respect]). It just proved to me that one need not have a big house or riches to be happy, clean and live with self-respect. That homemaker really made an impression on me.
Today everytime I enter a house, right away I am aware of and feel the warmth and the passion of the homemaker. I see her interest, her artistry and her love.
One need not be rich or have a college degree to turn a house into a home. The important ingredient is a storn gdesire to make it happen and this is what we call LOVe. Yes, that ingredient that made that young man and a young woman decide to say "I do" not too many years back has to continue to grow, to manifest itself in the home.
Many familes take a year to prepare for a beautiful grand wedding for their children but hardly any preparation for the son to become a good husband an provider and for the daughter to become a good wife and mother.
Many times I tell my children and their friends "To get married, that is very easy. To stay happily married is a woman's lifetime challenge." As a woman maturesin her marriage, her heart has to become bigger in ordfer to give more, to help more and serve better. I always add," Before marriage, the man courts the woman. After the marriage, the wife courts the husband."
Important Note: This article was originally entitled "Challenge to All Housewives" and was originally published in the recent first issue of Mothers Magazine of Metro Manila. Vol.1, Issue 1. Mothers is published by Flame Ministries Inc. for Teodora (Couples for Christ’s Ministry for the Empowerment of Women). If you would like to get your own copies of this magazine please call them at their Metro Manila number 727-0681.