Hello mommies! I am embarking today on an ambitious new series of mini daily devotionals intended for us mothers. I am no expert when it comes to faith, but I would like to take you with me in my journey to the Lord’s heart.

Our daily (Monday to Saturday) devotionals are easy-to-read, with complimentary bible verses that could help us live out our role as the ILAW NG TAHANAN, just as how the Lord intends us to be. As the “Light of our Homes,” we can also be a “Light of the World” as we shine Jesus’ light on our respective families. Matthew 5:16 says “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

We can only share our light though if we are shining brightly and plugged in to the one true source of light in this world — JESUS! So let’s unplug ourselves from our worldly cares, and take a couple of minutes to get connected and intimate to the ONE who will make us shine our brightest.

Today’s devotional

For our pilot devotional, I invite you to meditate on PSALM 119:105 which says “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

As they say, motherhood does not come with a manual. We, mothers do it with much experimentation, trial and error, and sometimes one mistake after another. Not  all moms have the luxury of a support system who can help out during challenges like caring for the baby, sick kids, logistical and scheduling nightmare especially for working parents, and making difficult and even painful decisions for the family, etc.

Through all these challenges though, let us take heart in knowing that there is one book that could help us navigate through all of the messes, stresses and heartaches that come with being a mom. Reading the bible daily, and holding on to God’s promises tether us moms to the most stable foundation we could ever find. For everything in this world changes, relationships are not forever, moments are fleeting, and resources and situations can change at a snap of a finger. But the Lord will stand by us forever. Let us use His words as a lamp for our feet, and a light to our paths.

Here are some concrete bible passages that guide us our motherhood journey:

Hebrews 12:11

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Proverbs 31:26-28

She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”

1 Peter 5:2-3

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to read Proverbs Chapter 31 so we could dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: How can I use the above-mentioned bible passages in the current challenges that I face as a mother?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, allow me to follow your gentleness and humility as I go through the rigors of everyday parenting. Inspire me with your words with the help of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

The post Daily Mini Devotional: Light of the home, light of the world appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

One of our duties as mothers is to disciple our children and plant in their hearts, the seeds of faith that will help them become followers of Christ. As a new mom back then, I was not able to take this seriously other than the usual religious rites my children must go through. The daily rigors of meeting their basic needs such as breastfeeding, bathing, and then later on cooking, tutoring, among other activities were the front and center of my motherhood journey.

But now that they are growing and developing their own personalities and character, I was roused to the fact that I should start taking discipling even more seriously. I figured that investing in their spiritual growth is intrinsic since life is short, and no parent can say that they can always be there for their kids when they face life’s challenges. Life happens, we can all get called by our Creator anytime.

Investing on our child’s spiritual growth

One of the reasons why I am eager to invest in my children’s spiritual growth is the fast-paced changes of this modern world. It really is scary that we are living in the present times, and depression and suicide are but common solutions despairing people turn to when life’s challenges seem to overwhelm them.

By trying to help my children nurture a personal relationship with the Lord, I get the peace of mind that even if I am no longer here on Earth, they know whom to turn to for guidance. They will know whom to run to when their problems are too big for them to handle. They would not have to resort to vices, to other people who might break their heart and not truly look after their good, and they would not even think of ending their lives. 

Encouraging kids to follow Jesus

I want them to know that by following Jesus, and abiding by the Lord’s commandments, they get shielded from huge troubles. While they could not understand this principle fully given their young age, there are ways to explain it to them that they could understand. And as moms, that will be our challenge.

And the good thing about taking on this challenge is we get to accomplish God’s commandments while we are at it. Deuteronomy 6:7 says “Teach them to your children. Repeat them when you are at home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working.”

Moreover, teaching our children (and others) to abide by the Lord’s commands also come with a promise to those who teach. In the Gospel of St. Matthew, it was said that “Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:19)

Four ways to plant seeds of faith to children

So here are some ways we can plant the seeds of faith into our children’s hearts. No matter what age they are, I am sure you can adjust these suggestions based on how they could understand and absorb it:

1. Introduce Jesus to them. Talk about Jesus at home by teaching your kids how to pray and making a habit out of it. I taught my children to pray before and after meals and before sleeping at night. Tell them about your past experiences and how God has helped you with all that. Teach them to thank the Lord for everything.

2. Bring them to church. No matter what religion you belong to, it is important to bring your kids to church. And it is not just enough to bring them and to make them observe the religious rites. Explain it to them, and try to explain the priest or the pastor’s message for the week in terms they will understand.

3. Expose them to the Word. If there is a catechism or Sunday School in your church, then by all means bring the children to them. It is important to expose them to the good news of salvation in a way that they will understand. Read the bible with your children and try to impart some snippets of messages that they could understand. If they are into gadgets then download a bible app for them to discover and use. 

4. Make learning about Jesus fun and understandable. Purchase or borrow kids bible story books and read it with your children. If they are older kids, then buy or borrow age appropriate devotionals that they could read during their daily quiet time. Let them watch films and videos about Jesus and the Bible. The Chosen is one of the best series to stream and watch as a family. You can watch it for free online in their official website here.

All the above mentioned ideas will be more effective if you become a good example of Christ follower to your children. If they see Jesus’ light in you, then they are bound to bask in that light. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16). As parenting experts say, “children will follow your example, not your advice.”

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

The post How to plant seeds of faith in your child’s heart appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

In my motherhood journey, one thing I have learned is that no matter your situation, mom life will never be too easy. It is the best thing that can happen to you yet it can bring about challenges that are not for the faint of heart. For both the joys and challenges that it brings, I believe having a consistent prayer routine is the most essential habit we need to develop and nurture so that we could be the best moms that we could be.

Having a consistent prayer routine in our daily life means we know where our strength comes from. It is like having a home amid the busy rigors that motherhood brings. Whether we work out of the home from 8-5, we work from home, we are a full time housemom, or we work part time, we all need to go back to our Creator, worship Him, thank Him for every blessing, seek His counsel and ask for His help.

Consistent prayer routine benefits the whole family

I remember our Parish Priest quoting a saying that we should pray at least 30 minutes a day, but if we are too busy, then we should pray for an hour. Some may find it counter intuitive to have quiet time with the Lord first thing in the morning, when everyone is supposed to be rushing or preparing for the day ahead. But really, devoting one’s time to talk to our Sovereign King will help transform our lives for the best.

Since we moms are the “ilaw ng tahanan” we need a source of energy. We could not afford for our light to go dim. Moreso, we cannot afford to be broken. The whole family will be affected if we lose our “light.” Jesus is the light of our lives, and we moms should go to Him consistently for a recharge, and filling of energy or the Holy Spirit. This can be achieved through a consistent prayer routine.

The routine that transforms family life

Once we moms get transformed, our homes will even be better managed, our kids and husband will be better cared for, and our whole family will be centered to the Lord. If you think there are areas of improvement in your character as a mother, a wife, or a family member, or if you want to grow spiritually, or simply need fortitude as you face challenges in your life then this consistent quiet time with the Lord will carry you through all your difficulties. It will not remove problems in your life because problems are a given in life; but it allows you to cling to the Lord who will be with you through deep waters, raging rivers, and flaming fires (Isaiah 43:2).

So how do we carve out a consistent time for prayer?

We all have different situations, but we as humans are creatures of habit. What time do you usually pray? Every morning? Before sleeping? You can keep this prayer time and just augment it to add a quiet time with the Lord plus bible devotional and reading so you could go deeper in prayer. Need a prayer guide for your routine? Please check out this past post on how to start a personal relationship with God.

If you do not have a usual time for prayer then identify first if you are a night owl or a morning lark. If you are a night owl, then that means that you could dedicate some time to pray to God when everyone is asleep and you can be alone in one area of your home. If you are a morning lark, then that means that you can dedicate time for prayer before everyone else is up in the morning.

Cannot find the opportune time early in the morning or late at night?

We are all at different phases of our lives. Those who have super young children could schedule consistent prayer times during their child’s nap time. Those with school children could dedicate time while their kids are in school. Those working 8-5 could eat a bit quicker and allot time during their lunch breaks.

Most office buildings do have chapels, empty conference rooms during lunch break, a roof deck, or a nearby garden where we could spend time with God and read the word.

If we get disrupted a bit by our children then we should know that the Lord understands. It may be best to get them fed already and address some of their needs during the time we will take so that they will not cut into our prayer time. I remember a bible reading when Jesus was supposed to go somewhere to pray and then the people saw Him so he had to address the needs of the sick and the hungry first, and then He left to go pray (Matthew 14:23). I am no bible expert but to me, this means that we can take some time to take care of urgent needs no one else could address for our children, and that He would understand that. Moreover when our kids see us devoting consistent time for prayer, it becomes a tangible and powerful message to them that they too should set time for prayer and fully rely on Jesus.

Finding the energy to maintain a consistent prayer routine

Once you have identified the best time for you to have quiet time with the Lord, then the next challenge is being consistent.

Some may ask how will they find the energy to wake up at least 30 minutes earlier or stay up 30 minutes later than they should when they already lack sleep as is? Well discipline is key. Maybe we should turn off the TV or put down our phones a bit earlier than we normally would so we could get enough sleep or have the time to thank the GREATEST PROVIDER who gave us all things in our life for us to enjoy. Isn’t it about time to prioritize quiet time with Him? As the Gospel of St. Matthew says: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

Importance of a prayer routine

Setting aside time for prayer and bible reading reminds us about our humanity. That our lives are fragile and it needs anchoring because without it we could easily get shaken. Even Jesus modeled the need for quiet time with the Lord. One of these instances where recorded over at Mark 1:35 “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.” And this goes on because He excuses Himself to be alone with His Heavenly Father, to pray and seek His counsel.

As for my parting shot, I would like to share with you another bible verse that could hopefully encourage you more to have a consistent prayer routine: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

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As moms, we have a lot of relationships that are going on in our lives. Relationship with our spouse, our children, our parents, our siblings, friends, neighbors, churchmates, officemates, name it.

But do you ever prioritize the most important relationship in your life? Does it even exist in your everyday life?

Relationship is different than religion

I have learned that having a personal relationship with the Lord is different than practising one’s religion. We can all be going to a church every Sunday, but do not have an intimate relationship with the Lord. But what does it mean to have an intimate relationship with God?

Having a close relationship with the Lord is much like cultivating a relationship with a fellow human being. If you want to establish a relationship with someone what do you do? You try to talk to the person, spend time with him or her, find out about his likes and dislikes, and try to please him. It is the same with having a relationship with the Lord.

How to cultivate an intimate relationship with God?

The best way to cultivate a relationship with the Lord is to have daily quiet time with Him. Start the day communing with God exactly like how the scripture tells us over at Matthew 6:6 “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

So what do you tell Jesus? Tell Him what is in your heart. Talk to Him like how you would talk to the Creator of our universe, the best father on earth, the most merciful boss, the greatest teacher, and your “bestest” friend ever. Pour your heart out — your fears and anxieties, joys, and every little thing you want to thank Him for. Do not just jump the gun with a laundry list of all your prayer requests.

Should there be a prayer format for all these?

If you are not comfortable praying spontaneously yet, and have been accustomed to prayers that are taught to you in Church or school then by all means start with those, and then add your own personal thoughts.

I remember a teacher saying that a good acronym to remember is the word ACTS, as a good guide for a prayer format:

A – Adoration (Show adoration to the Lord by worshipping Him as soon as you start your prayer time. You can start by saying “All powerful and ever living God, I praise and worship you for this opportunity to talk to you today. You are my Sovereign King, my Almighty Father…” and then add all the titles of the Lord that have been true to your life. Tell him that all glory, honor and praises are His and that you will bless His name for all your life.)

C – Confession (Confess your sins to Him and ask for forgiveness. Ask Him to reveal to you your character flaws that you should work on, and then repent on these sins. Example: “Lord God, I am deeply sorry about my failure to stop myself from being covetous about my officemate’s new Luxury bag. I will try my best to not be materialistic and just be plain happy for her for the gift she bought herself…”

T – Thanksgiving (At this point, you can already thank the Lord for everything He has done for you. Specific things, little things, big things, everything you want to thank Him for)

S – Special Prayer Requests / Supplication (Lastly, you can mention your special prayer requests. Some people have a prayer list that they bring to the Lord every time they pray. Whatever these are, please do not forget to say intercessory prayers for people you know and people you don’t know).

Inter what?? Intercessory. These are prayers that you pray for people other than yourself and your closest family members. For example, praying for flood victims, for the orphaned, the abandoned, the incarcerated, those who have passed on etc.     

One of the best preachers I have encountered said that another good guide to use is the word CAST. Yes, the CAST which St. Peter mentioned in 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” And guess what? The meaning of all the letters in the acronym of CAST is exactly the same as the ACTS acronym that the teacher I am quoting mentioned above.

What to do after praying

After praying, I strongly suggest that you have a bible reading time. My favorite preacher says if a person reads the bible for like 15 minutes a day, he would have finished the whole bible by the end of the year. Well you do not need to do that if you are unwilling to devote that much of a time.

Just have a daily devotional that you can read, and then dive deeper with the suggested bible reading for that specific entry. I have earlier written a blog post on how to start a daily devotional, and you can read it here.
It may take some time for you to get used to the routine, but once it becomes a habit, you will not only get to know the Lord Jesus Christ more, but you will also attain the Peace that only our Almighty God can offer.

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

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Hi fellow mommies! Happy Easter to all of you and hoping you all had a meaningful and restful holy week. Like most of you, our little family has little traditions in commemorating our Savior’s week of Passion, Death and Resurrection.

This of course were put on hold physically because of the pandemic. This year however we are very happy to resume these activities face to face

Finally back in Physical Church

Now that there are physical masses already after two years of pandemic, I am just as happy that I could finally bring my children to attend the Ash Wednesday Mass, Palm Sunday Mass and all other Eucharistic Celebrations during the holy week.

During Ash Wednesday, my two littles were a bit surprised by how they look after the priest marked their forehead with ash. I remembered they were so young during our last Ash Wednesday Mass.

During Palm Sunday,  they are as usual happy to have their own Palm Fronds or Palaspas. My two younger ones even shrieked a bit when they too got sprinkled with holy water.

Of course, we also attended the Maundy Thursday Last Supper Mass, and then the Way of the Cross the next day. On Saturday, we attended the Easter Vigil Mass, and then the next day, joined our Church’s Easter Festivities.

Annual Family Tradition

We also had our own Easter Celebration at home — one which we do annually. We set up a little egg hunt for the kids. Over the years, we have gathered dozens of plastic eggs which we just store and reuse the following years. We of course add more or replenish whenever there is a new kid, or if we lost some.

This year, I am packing happy yet simple surprises that could hopefully make the kids Easter this year sweeter and more fun. As usual, I found the exercise so relaxing. There is something with packing in candies and sweets in plastic eggs — finding its pairs and all, and hiding them in little nooks and crannies in our little abode.

Thanking the Lord for the Opportunity to celebrate with the Family

I thank the Lord for giving us the opportunity to do this for the kids every year. I am just hoping that in time, they will remember this and do this with their own. If you are having trouble with bringing kids to church, hope you can find time to read this previous article we posted on bringing babies and young children to church.

Special remembrance to my mom who really takes time to boil eggs, task us to color them, and then hide them early in the morning our garden for us to hunt. Family traditions and simple faith wins

Food for the soul

At this point, I hope you can allow me to share with you one of the bible passages that I hold on to, this time from the Book of Proverbs:

“A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall never be moved.”

Proverbs 12:3

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

The post Happy to be resuming Easter Family Traditions appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

My daily devotionals took a twist today as my two younger kids decided to join me. My little boy made a bookmark featuring one of my favorite bible verses, particularly that from Deuteronomy 28:5 — “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.” This verse is posted in our refrigerator, as I find it so special given that I am an amateur home baker and I find myself needing to fill my basket to continue preparing food and nourishing my family.

I am so proud that little shot tried his best to make his bookmark look good. He used his sister’s brush pens. Shob on the other hand did her own devotional. I gave her a guide before on what to do during this time. It is basically a set of questions that I wrote in the back cover of her devotional notebook. There is nothing so hard about the guide questions, it is all age-appropriate and can help her reflect on God’s words and write about her thoughts in her journal.

Quiet time with the kids

I am just happy that while I was in my “Dalmanutha” Shob suddenly approached me and asked for a bible passage. Since she knows how to locate passages just by having a copy of the bible address, she got to read Isaiah 43:4. which reads:

“Because you are precious in my sight, and honoured, and I love you. I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life.”

She reflected on this verse and wrote in her journal. As for me, I proceeded with reading my devotionals, study prompts, and my bible. This is all followed by journaling. The littles were happy, and I am happy too. I didn’t realise that they have grown enough to have a quiet time with me already. time indeed flies. Just a heart-warming day for me, and I am sharing it with you.

How to encourage the kids to devote time to the Lord

I am no expert in this topic, but like what our Parish Priest says, “we can never tell our children what they should do, we can only influence them.” So if they see you routinely reading The Word, they too will likely get interested in it. Of course exposing them to church and church activities, as well as lessons in school will also help deepen their faith. Singing praise songs also help and seeing scripture around the house are encouraging as well. In fact answering even their simplest of questions helps too.

It will also help to get them their own bible. There are kid-friendly bibles out there – not the bible stories for kids but real bibles where they can learn to find verses using bible addresses. Give them highlighters, a small ruler, pencils, and a journal notebook intended for their own devotional. Sticky notes are inspiring too!

Journeying to God’s heart with young people in tow

Anyway, knowing in your heart that you have younger people willing to go with you in your journey to God’s heart is but enough fuel to keep on going towards the light. But as they say, progress over perfection. Baby steps in faith do count

May you have a peaceful day ahead. Shalom!

A Happy Homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

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Hope everyone is having a great day so far. Sharing with you my daughter’s artwork. Well we all love our kids’ artworks right but this one is very special to me. She gave it to me when she heard me trying to troubleshoot a situation so that things will go well with our home schedule.

It made me thankful because in her young age she knows the value of scripture and trusting the Lord. As adults we get to struggle on that when we try to make sense of what is happening around us.

Little hearts that trust the Lord

I am just thankful that God has given me this little soul, a lifelong bestfriend, that reminds me that He has my back and the whole world in His hands.

Sharing with you the bible passage I keep in my heart as I try my best to teach my kids about God, His words, and His powet. Hope it will inspire you too.

DEUTERONOMY 11:18-20

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.”

Thanks for stopping by everyone, and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

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Here are some bible verses for overwhelmed moms that are just like me. I love my children to bits but there are times that I really am exhausted and drained beyond words. I should not be complaining at all because motherhood is a gift from God and so is the good health of everyone in the family that gives them energy to become little critters. But as a human person, exhaustion can be inevitable.

Bible Verses for Overwhelmed Moms

My day usually starts at 530 in the morning and after the children’s bedtime at seven, I do the chores and then do my writing gigs. Just as I hit the sheets, someone would suddenly whimper and would need to be attended to. Whoever is that whimpering is would ask to be nursed (I am tandem feeding two little humans). The tandem will then alternate throughout the night requesting to be nursed. Until the youngest one would wake me up for another day.

Day in and day out, this has been our routine, and one thing that helps me keep things together as a Nanny-less mother is our nightly bible devotion. We try our best to read and comprehend what God has to say  and what it means in our lives.

The days are long but the years are short

I always remind myself about this phrase, because whenever I look at my eldest, this phrase echoes in my ears. And so is that Indian proverb, that says “Children Tie the Feet of their Mother.” It reminds me to slow down and enjoy the Grace and Blessings of being a mom.

I’ve read somewhere that in all those days of sheer exhaustion, we should lean on the Lord and ask our heavenly father for strength. After all He was the one who entrusted these little humans to us, and as our Father and Provider, it is but right to call on to Him and hold on to His words for respite, strength, and inspiration.

I am not an expert on the bible, nor am I a very religious person. But I keep the faith, and I try my best to teach the Word to my children. I myself take comfort in the Written Word because at the end of the day, it is the one thing that can comfort us in both physical and emotional exhaustion.

14 Bible Verses I hold on to when I am too tired to Mother

Allow me to share with you the bible verses that I cling on to, every single mothering day – and most especially on those days when I feel like I cannot wash another plate, another butt, another load of diapers, and another pair of dirty hands. Here goes:

1. Corinthians 13:4-8. When I feel like I am at a loss because of exhaustion, when I’d like to yell and unleash the monster mom inside me, I try to remember the lines in this particular passage. I feel like it is God telling me how I should parent my children, specifically the lines that I highlighted: “Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

2. John 10:10. I always remember this one article that I have read about not letting the enemy steal the joy of mothering your children. And reading this passage grounds me into appreciating God’s abundance through the children that I have to mother. “A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.”

3. 2 Corinthians 12:9. When I feel like I’m not good enough for my children because I tire easily, I get impatient sometimes, and I am not the very cheerful mom I have always hoped to become, I remind myself about God’s promise in this verse. “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

4. Psalm 61:2. This verse just comes to me each time I think I’d break down from tiredness, mental exhaustion, and mundane domestic concerns that have piled up. It is just so perfect for me to remember “When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

Grace for the weary mom.

5. 1 Kings 17:14. Here’s a verse that assures me whenever I worry about material things and provisions. I always know in my heart that God will always provide, and this passage is my favorite reminder. “’The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the land.’”

One of my favorite verses, as it reminds me that God will provide.

6. Ephesians 4:29: I think this passage is a message on Positive Parenting. On days that I have yelled or forgot about the many graces and blessings my children’s high energy mean, due to sheer exhaustion and frustration I re-read this passage. “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

7. Philippians 4:13. Mothering can be very overwhelming, and this is one of the bible verses that I keep on repeating on my mind whenever I feel like pushing the “self-eject” button because of sheer tiredness and being overwhelmed with the many back-to-back chores and responsibilities. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Let Christ be your source of emotional and physical strength as a mom.

8. Psalms 147:4. Here’s another verse that I hold on to, and remember as I pray and reflect about the day that has passed and the days ahead. A passage that assures me that I am not forgotten by our Father in Heaven. “He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.”

9. Psalm 46:10. This verse is one of the best assurances that I have read, as I become anxious about my kids’ health and safety given the present times, as well as in keeping at bay all other usual worries any parent may have about their children. “Be still and know that I am God.”

10. Philippians 4:19. Another assurance from the Lord that grounds me whenever I have worries about our future, our needs, and other worldly things that in reality, I should not be worrying about too much. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

11. Proverbs 31:25. For me this is a passage that assures all tired mothers like me, that God has our back and got us covered so we should not worry too much. “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”

12. Isaiah 43:2. In those days when I am too overwhelmed, I have this verse to hold on to. When postpartum hormones, lack of sleep, sheer tiredness, and overwhelming chores get the better of me and I feel like drowning. This passage reminds me of the wonderful promise of the Lord that he will never abandon us. “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.”

Bible verses to lift up weary moms.

13. Ecclesiastes 3:11. This phrase reminds me that everything is in the right place, and is happening at the right moment because God is in control, and this is actually His plan, and what He wants to happen. That I should trust and believe always. “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

This verse always reminded me that there is a season for everything, and that raising young children is the current season of my life, and that this time is planned and perfected in God’s will, so I just have to keep the faith.

14. Joshua 24:15: This verse helps me keep our focus, keeps us grounded on our whole family’s mission here on earth. When it gets overwhelming, it helps to get reminded that I as a parent, and our whole family is here for the Lord. We are not here to please anyone, except for Christ, and we should act so accordingly/ No need to be anxious about other people and what their thoughts may be. And that we should not forget our religious obligations and charity works, because it will please God.  “But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.”

This passage grounds us about our mission as a family, which is to obey and serve the Lord.

So there you have it, thank you for taking time to read my sharing and reflections. I rarely write about these stuff because it is all me, and I know that as your web author I should be writing about what will interest you.

But since I know that there are tired moms like me who may be reading this, at least I can point them to where they can find solace amid the beautiful chaos that is mothering littles.

Till next post everyone. If you have the time, hope you could drop by my Facebook page and hit the like button, so you can receive regular updates from Happypinaymommy.com direct on your newsfeed. You may also follow us on our Instagram and Pinterest Accounts! I cascade on a daily basis inspirational quotes, bible passages, as well as other helpful mothering cascades ion our social media accounts, so I hope you could find the time to hit the like or follow button in these pages.

Thank you so much!

A Happy Homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy.

Leaving you with this video on God and motherhood.

Where to buy Carrier Oils in the Philippines

The post 14 Bible Verses for Overwhelmed Moms appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Visita Iglesia Churches are the seven or 14 churches visited by Catholics to pay respect to the Kristo Entierro and at the same time pray the Stations of the Cross

UPDATED POST: I originally intended to just update our Facebook page with our suggestions for Visita Iglesia Churches this 2017 and 2018. But since some may not be using Facebook as a search engine, i still decided to post our suggested 2018 Visita Iglesia churches here in our blog.

Four years ago I have written about my suggested Manila Visita Iglesia Route here, and then followed by a post about Makati Visita Iglesia Churches to consider, and then after that for Visita Iglesia in Quezon City.

2018 Visita Iglesia Churches to Consider

This time however I came up with a simplified approach, ready to be shared to friends and family who are planning for the most meaningful and best route for their Visita Iglesia 2018.

Makati is home to many historic churches and shrines which are perfect 2018 Visita Iglesia Churches to consider.

We usually visit seven churches, and try our best to consider churches that have not been part of our 2018 Visita Iglesia Itinerary last year.

We haven’t done a “pure” Marikina City Visita Iglesia, so here’s what I have researched:

Marikina Churches to Consider for Visita Iglesia

Some time ago, I remembered doing the Paranaque Route:

Prior to having children, this had been our Visita Iglesia route:

This is another itinerary i took way, way back:

For those hailing from the North, here’s a Quezon City Central Visita Iglesia Church List:

Will try to update this within the day because Mommy Duty calls already Mandaluyong and Pasig peeps I owe you!

For those of you who may have other Visita Iglesia Churches or Route Suggestions, please, please drop me a line thorugh my facebook page so i could include your suggestions when update this post.

Have a meaningful Holy Week Everyone!

Leaving you with this video explaining the whole concept of Visita Iglesia:

Product Review| KAYPEE BABY Nursing Wear, Breastfeeding-Friendly Blouses and Dresses

The post 2018 Visita Iglesia Churches for Manila appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Looking for Baptismal Party Souvenir Ideas for your christening or Dedication celebration in the Philippines? Here are some Suggestions. (Photo Credits to E Clay Souvenirs and Accessories)

One of the concerns of most parents who are about to have their baby christened is the Baptismal Souvenirs that they will give away to their guests.

There are tons of ideas out there, and it can get overwhelming really. There are a lot of considerations in choosing for Baptismal souvenirs, and apart from matching the theme, it should of course fit the budget, and for me – it should be practical. Practical in a sense that it would not just get tossed by the guests as soon as they come home from your party.

After attending too many binyag and dedication parties in the Philippines, and seeing a lot of possible souvenir items out there, here are some of my suggested –

Baptismal Party Souvenir Ideas:

1.Succulents – Giving out succulents is somewhat cool, and of course, can be useful as a plant décor in your guest’s home or office. It is not so expensive too as it can go as low as P40.00 each in Dangwa. For those who may not have the time to brave the traffic to that part of Manila, then it may be best to just order online – after all some stores can customize a greeting and a label for each pot. Check out my past post on this to get the list of online and physical stores that sell succulents for giveaways.  Below meanwhile is a photo of one of the souvenirs that Go Green Giveaways supply to their clients. Check out their FB Shop here.

Go Green Giveaways supplies Succulent giveaways for Binyags, Birthdays, Weddings, and event Corporate Events. (Photo Published with the Permission of Go Green Giveaways)

2. Baby Cologne Spray – This is fun and fab especially when nicely packaged like this one from Provence Fragrances. Of course clients get to choose the scent and according to Provence Fragrances, their clients often choose kiddie scents for kid-related events such as baptism and first and seventh birthdays. The kiddie scents match the sticker label which has a theme/design related to kids, price range is usually around P40.00 to P60.00 per bottle. Here is a link to their FB Shop.

Cologne Spray made by Provence Fragrances makes a nice and refreshing giveaway for a Christening Celebration. (Published with the permission of Provence Fragrances)

 3. Scented candles on a jar or tin — These are welcome gifts for me as it is always relaxing to light up a candle during stressful days. Check out Party Favors PH’s FB shop here.

(Post continued below)

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You may also want to read:

• Birthday party loot bag content ideas
• Ideas for Thank you Tokens for Ninongs and Ninangs
• Where to buy DIY Party Supplies
• Children’s Party Event Stylists in the Philippines
• Children’s Party Caterers in the Philippines
• Nine Christening Baptismal Party Reception Venues
• Fastfood and Restaurants with kiddie birthday party packages
• Where to buy supplies for your DIY Candy Buffet
• Shops that sell Bento Tools and Accessories
• Baptismal Requirements for Catholics
• Where to order Bento Party Meals for your kiddie parties
• Where to buy Christening Gowns and Outfits
• Where to buy Mason Jars in Manila
• Online Shops that Sell Essential Oils
• Maid, Yaya and Driver Agencies in the Philippines
• Where to buy Yaya Uniforms

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4. Hand sanitizers — talk about useful stuff, this one will surely be used up by your guests especially if you were able to choose a generic clean scent that they will like. You can do a DIY hand sanitizer here, or go the hassle-free route and order from various suppliers out there like The Gift Corner. The gift corner can feature the name of your child and then the date of his christening in front, and then some of his stats at the back portion of the bottle. Price range is at P25.00 to P40.00 per piece with a minimum order of 30 pieces. Clients have five scents to choose from and they can request for the color of the gel that will be used for the sanitizer. Check out their FB Page here.

Hand Sanitizer as Christening party souvenir. The Gift Corner offers five scents and clients can choose the gel color. (Photo published with the permission of The Gift Corner)

5. Kiddie stool — it may be too big for your guests to lug around but hey most parents say they have been able to use it at home as well — kiddie stools or stools for home service manicuristas (haha very titas of manila). One of the highly recommended suppliers is Handicrafts Atbp you may check out their FB Shop here. I canvassed from different stores and the price range usually for mini stools is at around P90.00 to P95.00 apiece and then a bigger kiddie stool at around P185.00 per piece.

6. Anything on a mason jar — yes, the mason jar is useful already to begin with now put in something sweet and yummy, then that will be a great giveaway to bring home. Some put candies, color coordinated jellies or mallows, cookies or what have yous in the jar and tie it up with a cool ribbon and piece of cloth to match the event’s color motif. Check out my past post on where to buy mason jars and candies for candy buffet if and when you will allow yourself to be bitten by the DIY bug. Do not forget to find ribbons in this past post too!

7. Personalized Mini Pillows — you can always give out pillows to your guests. These are usually useful in the car or even in the home. Just be mindful of the design so it is important to commission a supplier who can create that fab token for your guests. Try Mommy Grace of Imprints. Price range is at P90.00 to P150.00 depending on the design.

Mini Pillows are a plush, useful party giveaways! Check out these personalized mini pillows from Imprints. (Photo published with the permission of Imprints)

8. Rosary or Rosary Bracelet— I have attended a lot of catholic christening parties that give out rosaries as souvenirs. This one from Party Favors PH looks lovely.

Rosary is a usual giveaway during Christening Celebrations in the Philippines. (Photo taken from the FB Page of Party Favors PH)

If you want a nice rosary bracelet, then you may want to check this out from E Clay Souvenirs and Accessories.

Rosary Bracelets that are uniquely designed by E Clay Souvenirs and Accessories. They come in nice, elegant boxes too! (Photo taken from E Clay Souvenirs and Accessories’ FB Page)

9. Polymer Clay Refrigerator Magnets— are cute and functional, and would definitely be a happy souvenir to take home coming from a party. Look at these adorable magnet giveaways from E Clay Souvenirs and Accessories Price range is at P55.00 to P200.00 per piece depending on the complexity of the design. Check out their FB Shop here.

Clay magnets make a cute baptismal party souvenir. These are handmade by E Clay Accessories and Souvenirs. (Photo published with the permission of E Clay Souvenirs and Accessories)

So, there you have it. I will be updating this post as I come across more binyag party souvenir ideas. If you have the time, hope you could drop by my Facebook page and hit the like button, so you can receive regular updates from Happypinaymommy.com direct on your newsfeed.

Thank you so much!

A Happy Homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy.

Leaving you with this video on DIY Binyag Christening Souvenirs:

School Lunch Baon Ideas – Part 3

The post Baptismal Party Souvenir Ideas appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Here are the Requirements for Catholic Confirmation in the Philippines. (Photo Credits)

I was about eleven years old when I had my confirmation alongside my older brother. I do not even remember what took place during that ceremony, nor where we ate right after.

A quick research though defined confirmation as “the perfection of Baptism.” The priest lays the hand on the person to be confirmed to signify the descent of the Holy Spirit  on that person. She or he will be then anointed with Chrism to “seal the gift of Holy Spirit.”

Anyway, going back to my story, fast forward ten years later, one of my closest childhood friend had to get married at 20.

And that was when I realized another importance of the sacrament of confirmation or” kumpil.” You need to receive this sacrament before you can get married or receive the sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Anyway, usually confirmation is offered in Catholic  schools and even in parishes for children about 8 to 16 years old and have already received their First Communion. So for those of you who would like to have your children confirmed, go to your parish church and inquire about the schedule. If there is already a confirmed schedule you can then ask for their specific requirements, but basically here are the —

Requirements for Catholic Confirmation in the Philippines:

1. Baptismal Certificate — You must present the baptismal certificate to your parish office. If your parent does not have a personal copy of your Baptismal Certificate, you can get your baptismal certificate in the parish where you have been christened. You usually will have to request from the parish office a copy of your baptismal certificate, and depending on your parish, they will give you a set time or day when you can pick up your requested copy. They may or may not also require some fees for the certification. Bring an original copy and a photocopy, they may require to see the original certificate and ask you to leave the photocopy with them.
2. Accomplished Form – Your parish will ask you to fill out a form on the request for confirmation, where you will have to put in some personal information, which may include the date you were baptized, and the Parish where you have received the Sacrament of Baptism so make sure you have that information with you.
3. Pair of Ninongs and Ninangs or Witnesses – Lately some churches have been more conscious about the Ninangs and Ninongs for Baptism, so expect that some parishes (I am not saying all) may require that you present a copy of your would-be ninong and ninang’s baptismal certificate. Otherwise, just have their names ready, in case you would have to indicate that in the form.

 (Post Continued Below)

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You may also want to read:

• Pinay Local Party Resources — Where to buy DIY Party Supplies, Where to Buy Supplies for Candy buffet etc
• Local Resources on Pregnancy – Where to shop, breastfeeding preparation, maternity photoshoots
• Where to buy Menstrual Cups in the Philippines
• Online Shops that sell Menstrual Cloth Pads
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• Lady of La Leche, St. Gerard, and Other Patron Saints of Motherhood
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• All about Cloth Diapering — where to buy various brands, online stores that have promos, order custom made
• Local Breastfeeding Information — Buy Efficient Pumps, Lactation Cookies, Breast Massage
• Requirements for a Philippine Passport for Babies
• Seven Pinoy Ulams under P100.00

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4. Confirmation Fee – The amount that you would have to pay for the confirmation rites would highly depend on your parish.
5. Attendance to the Seminar – There is an orientation seminar prior to the confirmation rites, and the schedule of which will be confirmed with you upon inquiring with your parish office. A priest or the lay person who will conduct the seminar will be orienting you on what the sacrament is all about, what will be expected of you as Catholics, as well as the importance of the ritual in your life as a catholic.

Make sure that on D-day, you will be at least 10-15 minutes early, and that you are dressed appropriately according to the Church’s Dress Code – No skimpy and revealing clothes, no shorts, no slippers. Bring a white candle with you.

If and when you badly need to get confirmed, like if for instance you would have to get married ASAP, there are some parishes that conduct confirmation services all year round. You may want to check out the San Miguel Parish in Malacanang Compound in Manila, if they still conduct year-round confirmation services.

Again, please do not assume that these are the ONLY requirements for Catholic Confirmation in the Philippines, as these may slightly vary from parish to parish, so when you inquire, make sure to get a copy of the requirements from your church.

On my end, I will update this post, if and when I would learn more. Thank you and hope you can stop by happypinaymommy’s Facebook page to receive happypinaymommy.com’s regular updates straight on your newsfeed.

A Happy Homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

Leaving you with a video on Catholic Confirmation in the Philippines:

Eight Filipino Recipes Under 100 Pesos 2016 Edition

The post Requirements for Catholic Confirmation in the Philippines appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Are you looking for shops where you can buy Baptismal Gowns Outfits in the Philippines? (Photo Credits)

If you are already planning out the christening or baptism of your baby then this post is for you.

I earlier wrote about the baptismal requirements for Catholics in the Philippines in this post, and we know that the next question is where to buy the outfit or baptismal gown.

I was lucky because Mamita sent a Christening gown for Achi to wear many years ago, since we were able to preserve it, we just have it dry cleaned as needed and it has been passed on to shobe and all.

Anyway, for those looking for baptismal gowns —

Here are some places where you can buy Baptismal gowns outfits in the Philippines:

1. Department Stores — Rustan’s has a great selection of baptismal gowns for you to choose from. If you want something more affordable but still nice then you may head to bigger SM department stores like SM Makati and SM Megamall for better choices. My ex-officemate J, meantime swears by Landmark Makati when it comes to affordable yet fab formal wear for babies and kids so you may want to check it out too.

2. Mothercare — their bigger stores have more choices, and I think I saw some at their BGC branch and in Greenbelt 5.

(Post Continued Below)

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You may also want to read:

• Under P500.00 Buffet Restaurants for Baptismal and Kiddie Parties
• Philippine Requirements for a Catholic Baptism
• Nine Christening Baptismal Party Reception Venues
• Where to order Smash Cakes
• Children’s Party Event Stylists in the Philippines
• Baptismal Party Souvenir Ideas
• Ideas for Thank you Tokens for Ninongs and Ninangs
• Fastfood and Restaurants with kiddie birthday party packages
• Local Party Resource: Where to buy DIY Party Supplies, Shops that sell sweets for DIY Candy Buffets, Where to Order the Yummiest Lechon
• Requirements for a Philippine Passport for Infants
• Where to buy Chewblings and Teething Jewelry
• Online stores that sell affordable and personalized clothbooks
• Local Breastfeeding Information: Where to buy milk boosting supplies, pumping needs and accessories, recipes for breastfeeding mothers
• Local Cloth Diapering Info: Where to buy CDs with birthstats, WAHMs that customize CDs, Where to buy Christmas-Themed Diapers, Local Online Stores that sell BumGenius cloth Diapers
• Local Baby Wearing: Where to buy Tulas, SSC Accessories, and Tula-Print Fabric

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3. Baclaran — My friend, D, runs to Baclaran for just about anything. And she says if you have an eye for fab designs then you can just land in Baclaran a more affordable version of the one you saw at the mall. She says the christening gowns here has the same quality as those in the department stores at less than half the price! The stalls are just in the periphery of the Baclaran Church, so after paying a visit, why not shop around?

4. Lazada — if you do not want to be bothered by the epic traffic situation then Lazada is your best bet. They have these cute little buy christening outfits that are quite cheap like this baby tuxedo set, which you can buy here for P999.00. They have quite a few gowns like this chiffon dress, which you can buy here  for just P800.00.

5. Baobao babies — this FB store has traditional christening gowns that are on hand. The prices range from P2,800 to P3K++ as of posting. The gowns come with caps and booties. These are really nice and lovely – white and ecru usually. Check out the designs here.

6. Celestina & Co. — if your baby is somewhat older, or if you want a non-traditional gown and just a formal wear for her then this is the online store to go to. I love this shop actually because it makes choosing clothes for babies and young kids a lot easier. They have tons of accessories to. Check out their website here.

7. UPDATED 11/19/2015: Periwinkle — Thanks to my dear friend Mareng H, for letting me know that this shop sells Christening outfits too. Apparently my inaanak, Sophie, wore a Periwinkle Pina Gown during her Christening. She says the range of Christening outfits there are around P2,000.00 at that time. Periwinkle has branches in ATC, all Rustan’s Department Stores, Shangri-la mall, Eastwood, and even in Marquee Mall, plus a host of other bigger and popular malls. They also have an online shopping site through Zalora, here.

8. UPDATED: Sept 03, 2016: Cudsly.com –– This shopping website also has christening and baptismal gowns for both boys and girls. Check out the selection here.

9. UPDATED: Sept 03, 2016: Shopee.ph — Find brand new  and pre-loved baptismal and Christening gowns in this new shopping and selling site. Download their mobile app via the app store or google play, or shop from their website here.

So there you have it. I am sure there are other places and Online Shops where you may buy Christening gowns and baptismal outfits in the Philippines. I will be updating this post as I discover more. For the online stores, I included the links of the shops so that you could personally check on their prices and product availability. If you have the time, hope you could drop by my Facebook page and hit the like button, so you can receive regular updates from Happypinaymommy.com direct on your newsfeed.

Thank you so much!

A Happy Homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy.

Catholic mommies, you may wanna watch this:

https://happypinaymommy.com/2015/11/09/happypinaymommy-coms-wahm-of-the-week-9-mommy-aiko-cortuna/

The post Where to buy Baptismal Gowns Outfits in the Philippines appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Baptismal Requirements for Catholics in the Philippines. (Photo Credits)

Times have changed. When my eldest child had her christening everything was a breeze. the Baptismal requirements for Catholics back then were not as many as what we have now. Just fill out church form, choose a date, pay a stipend, list down the names of the sponsors, and bam! you go to the church on your scheduled date, bring candles with pretty ribbons, and christening is done.

Two years after my eldest kid’s christening, one of my BFFs got me to be one of the god parents of her cute, adorable child S. She asked for a copy of my Baptismal Certificate because it is now required by the church. She also mentioned in passing that she chose the church she chose because it does not require god parents to attend a seminar. Did not gave it much thought, until now that I remembered making a blog post out of it.

So apparently now, there are new baptismal requirements for Catholic families like us.

So for you catholic readers, here are the Baptismal Requirements for Catholics in the Philippines:

1. Church – It would be better if you will have your child baptized in the Church that has jurisdiction over your residence. If not they will require you to ask for a clearance/endorsement from your parish church.

2. Schedule – Some churches require a couple of weeks’ lead time for the schedule of your child. In our parish it is encouraged to register/schedule the appointment around one month before. Even then, most weekends are already fully booked especially the individual christening schedules, so would be best to go four to six weeks before your intended date.

3. Individual or Group – It is cheaper of course to join a group baptism, but some families prefer an individual schedule.

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You may also want to read:

• Where to buy Baptismal Gowns and Outfits
• Nine Christening Baptismal Party Reception Venues
• Baptismal Party Souvenir Ideas
• Children’s Party Event Stylists in the Philippines
• Birthday party loot bag content ideas
• Ideas for Thank you Tokens for Ninongs and Ninangs
• Fastfood and Restaurants with kiddie birthday party packages
• Local Party Resource: Where to buy DIY Party Supplies, Shops that sell sweets for DIY Candy Buffets, Where to Order the Yummiest Lechon
• Lady of La Leche, St. Gerard, and Other Patron Saints of Motherhood
• Where to order Smash Cakes
• All about Cloth Diapering — where to buy various brands, online stores that have promos, order custom made
• Local Breastfeeding Information — Buy Efficient Pumps, Lactation Cookies, Breast Massage
• Requirements for a Philippine Passport for Babies
• Seven Pinoy Ulams under P100.00
• Where to buy Babywearing Stuff in the Philippines
• How to get a US Visa for your baby
• Where to buy chewblings and teething necklaces for your baby

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4. Payment – I cannot put in an amount here simply because churches have varied charges. Basically this will depend on how many sponsors/witnesses you have so the more ninongs and ninangs your child will have, the more you would have to shell out. The only guarantee our parish church has is that if and when you ABSOLUTELY have no money to spare for your child’s christening, they can do it for free, you will just have to wait for the mass baptismal schedule for that particular period of time. Of course it would be weird if you availed of this, and then during your party you’d have friends over for a drinking spree. I think this should be availed on an ‘honesty system’ basis.

5. Child’s Birth Certificate – Most parishes would like to have this as soon as you register for a christening date. They will just ask for a copy i think, not an NSO or CTC, but just the same bring your original copy, and have the photocopied one to submit. My parish’s requirement may be different from yours when it comes to documentation.

6. Parent’s Marriage Certificate – Parents should present a copy of their catholic marriage certificate. For those married under civil rites, as well as common law / live-in couple / single parents, you will be interviewed by the Parish Priest. OF COURSE THE CHURCH WILL NOT REFUSE TO BAPTIZE YOUR CHILD no matter what the circumstance is between you and or your partner.

Ninongs and Ninangs

7. Sponsor’s Catholic Baptismal or Confirmation Certificate – You just need a minimum of one pair for you to have a sponsor or ninong and ninang. Our Parish accepted the Baptismal Certificates of our BFFs. IF your chosen ninong or ninang does not have any of these, then she can still be a ninong or ninang to your child, but on paper, he or she will just be a “witness.” Only those with Baptismal Certificate and/or Confirmation certificate will be included in the Baptismal Certificate of the child.

IF the godparents you chose for your child are non-Catholics, they may still be godparents, but just like those without any requirement to present, they will just be ‘witnesses’ to the Christening. I am guessing of course that this is because being a God Parent also has a lot to do with religion and faith, so you should share the same belief as the God Parents of your child. I may be wrong though so ask your parish priest. *wink*

Also, it just came to my attention that some parishes have a maximum number of sponsors – five in the case of the parish of my friend. I am thinking if you have more than that number, they could still be ninongs and ninangs, but not just on paper.

8. Seminar – Parents and God parents are required to attend an at least two-hour parish seminar usually conducted on weekends to give way for working parents. Parents can choose which date to attend, as long as it is before the christening date. In our parish, this was fun and informative – basically about the sacraments, and the role of parents and god parents in the life of the child. I advise that you bring some light snacks and bottled water for your godparents because some could go for three hours, and there is no free snack 

9. Celebration of the Actual Baptism – Make sure to be prompt, and would be great if you could be in church 15 minutes before the schedule.

10. Candles – Some parishes provide free candles. But if you would like to personalize your candles and wax catchers then by all means bring your own  NO NEED FOR LIGHTERS OR MATCHES and you will know why during the seminar 

11. Dress Code – No special dress or baptismal gown is required. All that you need is an all-white clothing for the baby and a white cap or mini veil. If you forgot about this, or do not have the budget for it, most churches will provide you with a white cloth to drape on your baby. There is a religious symbolism to it, I just forgot – sorry Father S.  But of course no one will prevent you from having that really cool christening gown for your baby. After all this is a milestone event.

Of course parents, sponsors, witnesses and guests should abide by church dress code so no spaghetti straps, minis or micro minis, haltered dresses, and plunging and backless blouses or dresses for females, and no sandos, and shorts for males.

12. Photography and Video Coverage – Some churches do not allow too much photos and videos during the celebration, and that they just set a specific time for this. Just ask your parish about this upon registering your child for a christening appointment, so you will be informed of the guidelines.

So there you go mommies, hope you had an idea on what to prepare for the Christening Rites. I suggest that for busy mommies, prepare the requirements even before registering your child so you would not have to go back and forth to the parish, Have a couple of dates in mind too.

More important is what comes after – and no it is not the party. It is how we will raise our child to become a good Christian.

You may want to watch this video:

https://happypinaymommy.com/2015/06/21/where-can-you-buy-cloth-diapers-in-manila/

The post Baptismal Requirements for Catholics in the Philippines appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.