Aired Monday to Friday, on GMA 7 from 9:30 - 10:00 a.m., the program is hosted by well-known stage and tv personalities, Junix Inocian and Ces Quesada, two parents who are keen on learning alongside other parents about the most important job in the world -- parenting.
The show features practical tips and information to help parents deal with day-to-day child rearing issues, as well as other concerns that need some reflections or long-term planning.
The tone is informal, relaxed and builds on parental wisdom gained from research and experience. It is practical but also reflective, analytical without being didactic. PG is made up of several informative segments.
"Usapang PG" features a discussion with a resource-person of topics relevant to parenting and child-rearing such as marital and family relationships, understanding children as they grow, value formation, rights of children and children and mass media.
"Pamilyang Pinoy" is a VTR feature on celebrity parents and their "secret" on successful parenting.
"Look Who's Growing" is a daily feature on the development milestones and characteristics of children from ages 0-13, to help parents plan age-appropriate activities and provide materials which will help them as they grow.
"Parents, Take Note" is a thrice-a-week feature which provides parents with useful tips on various topics ranging from values education to health tips that have to do with discipline and teaching about responsibility.
"Childwatch" is the program's public service component in cooperation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
"Rated PG" updates viewers on currently available books, journals, magazines, audio and video cassettes, film and other materials relevant to Filipino parents and caregivers of the 90's.
"Ganito 'Yon" provides parents with step-by-step on-camera instruction on how to make toys, games, masks and educational materials at no cost, using found objects in and around the home.
"Pasyalan Time" features places to visit like museums, bookshops, toyshop, games and entertainment sports for the whole family.
PG is one-half of a back-to-back family package that includes PCTVF's pioneering show Batibot, now airing daily on GMA7 from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m.
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The television version of PG, hosted by Junix Inocian and Ces Quesada regularly features "Childwatch," a segment on daycare centers and the youth-related services of DSWD and CWC.
Common problems of daycare centers include overpopulation of children, limited books and educational resources, irregular payment of daycare workers, deterioration of physical structures, scarce food supplies, and limited space and equipment.
Donations like books, toys, food supplies, educatiional materials, construction supplies and financial contributions are needed. These may be sent to: "Childwatch" c/o Philippine Children's Television Foundation, Inc., No. 12 Saint John Street, Cubao, Quezon City. For further inquires, call 725-84-80 or 724-28-29.
To highlight the condition of these centers, PG, the television show, will feature the following daycare centers: Brgy. Dungon-B in Iloilo; St Joseph's in Cebu; Carangkangin Camarines Sur; Brgy. Marinas in Sorsogon; Mosqueda Heights in Guimaras and others.
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As parents, the main job of supporting our children and providing their basic needs from conception and birth onwards, falls squarely on our shoulders. Whether by design and planning or just as a matter of course, we begin to take on this all-important task the moment that women conceive and we become expectant parents!(fathers included!) The rewards are special, fulfillment unparalleled.
But being a "good" parent takes a lot of work and is not easy - even when you've read all the latest books and magazines on the wide range of issues related to parents. It's tough even if, like some of us, you have degrees in family life and child development and education. The bottomline is, when we and our kids are involved, it means all of our hearts and minds and bodies act up, each one unique and creating all kinds of chemistry and energy, so we do need all sorts of strategies to make the best of each parent-child interaction -- whether trivial or close to crisis proportions. Some of us can be cool and relaxed about it, some are more anxious, close to paranoid. A good number are probably somewhere in between. To each his or her own style. We do learn a lot from our own parents -- what to do because it worked for us as well as what not to do because we did not like it ourselves as children. But we can also learn from one another. And that's what PG is all about -- parents learning from one another.
After all we do need all the help we can get to be able to do the best in the most important fulltime job we've taken on -- being a parent!
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Budgeting is a tricky skill to master - especially when there's not much to budget. Undeniably, the family's finances are directly affected by the country's economic status. What can parents do to cope with the economic crunch and avoid conflicts due to money matters? Some common survival techniques are careful planning and budgeting, taking on multiple jobs or simple thriftiness - spend only on essential expenses, introduce children to "Mr. & Ms. Hand Me Down". But an innovative approach that parents can adopt is to explain to their children the family's financial status. They should try and share concerns with the family instead of keeping it to themselves. Because of the information boom, kids today are more open to the environment around them and a well-guided explanation of the family's financial status will help children manage their own expenses or at least, live within the family's means.
Another aspect of family life that has experienced change is the redefinition of traditional gender roles. Yes, in this age of skyrocketing prices, the father can't be the only one who wears the pants in the house - moms have to earn a living too and of course, have a life of their own. Likewise, fathers need to help take care of the baby and wash the dishes. As both parents join the workforce, mothers should take advantage of day care centers, health care plans and other support systems. After all, the child's welfare is still the family's first priority.
And then there's the media - the ever-present force that influences family lifestyles and children's values every day. Its negative effects like having too much sex and violence have always been a concern of parents. However today's media has never been as widespread and accessible, and competing for the child's attention has never been as stiff. To this, parents must adopt a more active participation in guiding children. Remember, TV (or in today's world, the computer) should not be a surrogate yaya. Parents can regulate TV viewing, accompany children while watching TV, discuss and choose programs. They can also write to TV stations and engage in media education activities. In a sense, parents must campaign to put the child's welfare first in today's media.
There are many factors in today's living that give parenting in the 90's its unique challenges. It is to these challenges that parents must rise up to ensure that families remain united and strong. It is not an easy task. But if parents don't loose sight of their children's welfare, then they will always be on track. After all, the school, mass media, church and society may influence every aspect of a child's growth but his welfare still rests on the family surrounding him. As stated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child., "Family life remains the single most significant social factor for the survival, protection and development of the child."
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PG: Paano nagsimula ang magandang pagsasama ninyong mag-asawa?
PETE: Sa tanong na yan, para mo na ring tinanong kung anong personalidad namin. Kasi, it takes two to have a marriage.
Puwede nating sabihin na you can learn a lot of the answers from the song "Silent Night, Holy Night." Siya ang "Holy Night", ako ang "Silent Night" kaya sa aming marriage, all is calm, all is bright. Kidding aside, siguro sinuwerte kami na ang aming personalidad o aming karakter ay merong pagka-compatible.
I'm not a very assertive person. Si Boots, ganoon din. Hindi kami confrontational personalities. Pareho, kaya it's so easy for us to adjust to each other. Ang 32 years naming pagsasama has always been characterized by a dialogue between the two of us.
PG: How is Boots as a wife?
PETE: Maski na ikalaki ng kanyang tenga, she is an ideal wife for me. I always say that kasi I think she is a better wife to me than I am a husband to her for the simple reason that I know my shortcomings. I think I'm more selfish in many ways than she. Si Boots, mabait, very generous. Ako, medyo may pagka selfish pa. I'm trying to do something about it but I have to admit, I am so, that's why I always say she is a better wife to me than I am a husband to her.
PG: Kailan kayo nagpasya na gusto na ninyong magka-anak?
PETE: When I decided I wanted to marry. I was already 24 when we got married. Girlfriend ko na si Boots noon so we talked about it. Sabi ko, sige i-plano na natin ang wedding next year. Pero ang nangyari, instead of having that planned wedding, nag-elope kami all because of dare. We're not really too sure of it... it was our decision anyway. Kasi the night before, eh na dare kami pero we laughed it off tapos the following morning napag-usapan pa rin namin. We started to dare each other and because we were daring each other, iyon, natuloy kami the following day.
BOOTS: Iyong first baby namin was a honeymoon baby actually. After that, nag natural family planning kami. We were hoping that at least every two years kami magkaka-anak. More or less, nasunod naman. One and a half years ang pagitan ng dalawang una, three and a half iyong pangalawa't pangatlo, at two and a half iyong pangatlo't pang-apat.
PG: How is Boots as a mother?
BOOTS: Boots as a mother is better than Boots as a wife. Ganoon din ako sa mga anak ko. Pareho ang trato ko sa mga anak ko the way I treat Pete.
Hindi ako estrikto sa kanila. Hindi ko ini-impose yung aking mga gusto sa kanila. Guidelines lang yung binibigay ko usually because I like giving them a chance to decide for themselves. Kahit noong maliliit sila, pag pupunta sa tindahan, halimbawa, sinusuggest ko lang yung "baka ito ang gusto mo, ito ang bagay sa iyo, size Y siguro ito." Tapos, sila ang nagde-decide din kung anong gusto nila.
Halimbawa, when it came to choosing their college course, hindi na namin sinasabi sa kanila na "eto ang kunin mong kurso." Apat na batayan lang yan. Apat na guidelines ang binibigay namin sa kanilang lahat. Una, gusto mo ba ang kursong kukunin mo. There is nothing worse than taking a course na ayaw mo... na kukunin mo dahil gusto lang ng mga magulang mo. Pangalawa, kaya ba ng utak mo. Kasi, kung hindi kaya, humanap ka na lang ng mas madaling kurso kasi nagsasayang tayo ng oras, ng pagod mo at ng pera. Pangatlo, kaya ba ng bulsa natin.
PG: Paano ninyo inaayos 'yong conflict pag nagkakaroon?
BOOTS: Pinag-uusapan namin 'yon. We try to listen to them and we take into consideration ang pagkakaiba ng panahon nila at panahon namin. Halimbawa, kung mga bagay na walang kinalaman sa moralidad, it's a matter of taste. Pinapabayaan namin sila, we just give them our opinions pero sila ang nagde-decide. Ngayon kung bagay na may kinalaman na sa tama at mali, doon ay talagang isinasaad namin 'yong nasa isip namin. Sa awa ng Diyos, wala naman kaming conflicts when it comes to issues na mayroong moral implications.
PG: Ano ang pinakamaha-lagang lesson na naituro ninyo sa mga anak ninyo?
BOOTS: Siguro ang maging mapagkumbaba. Iyong huwag abusuhin 'yong kagandahang loob ng ibang tao. Kagaya n'yan na medyo kilala naman 'yong magulang nila. Sinasabi namin na wala silang karapatan na maging abusado sa mga ilang prebilehiyong ibinibigay sa kanila as children of celebrity parents. Dapat pa nga ay maging mapagkumbaba sila at maging mas considerate sila sa iba lalo na sa nakaliliit sa kanila.
I believe, we've always made it known to them na ang pagkakakilala sa tunay na katauhan ng isang tao ay kung paano n'ya tinatratro 'yong mga mas maliliit sa kanya at kung ano ang pananaw niya sa kapangyarihan, sa kayamanan at sa prebileyo na ibinibigay sa kanya.
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Newborn until Six Months Old
Mga kagamitan:
1) 2 magkaparehong lata. Maaring gumamit ng lata ng juice o kahit na anong lata na kayang tungtungan ng paa ng inyong anak. Kailangang walang laman at malinis ang mga ito. Siguraduhin ding buo pa ang ibabaw at ilalim ng lata. Maaring gumamit ng lata na ang sukat ay 7 inches (taas) at 4 inches ang diameter.
2) 2 pirasong lubid na may haba na 48 inches o masmahaba pa.
3) Masking tape
4) Barbecue stick o tingting o kahit na anong stick
5) Can opener
Napakadaling gawin at gamitin ang juice can stilts:
1) Itayo nang pabaligtad ang isang lata sa mesa. Gamitin ang can opener upang gumawa ng butas sa magkabilang gilid ng lata. Kung maaari, gawing triangle and hugis ng mga butas.
2) Ilusot ang lubid sa dalawang butas ng lata. Upang maging masmadali, gamitin ang tape para idikit ang dulo ng lubid sa stick at pagkatapos, ilusot ang lubid sa mga butas. Itali ang dalawang dulo ng lubid para magkadugtong ito.
3) Ulitin ang 1 - 2 hakbang para sa pangalawang lata.
Sa paggamit ng juice can stilts, ipatong ang mga paa sa mga lata - isang lata sa kanan at ang isa nama'y sa kaliwang paa. Habang naglalakad, gamitin ang lubid para mahila nang pataas ang mga lata at masiguro ang bawat hakbang. Kung nahihirapan sa paglalakad, pahabain o paikliin ang lubid (depende sa tangkad ng inyong anak) hanggang maging maayos ang pag-hakbang.
Isang mahalagang paalala! Huwag gamitin ang juice can stilts sa loob ng bahay dahil baka masira ang inyong mga sahig. Sigura-duhing sa labas lamang ng bahay maglalaro ang inyong mga munting higante.
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Parent's Guide is produced by PCTVF -- an independent, non-stock, not-for-profit organization committed to maximizing varied forms of mass media - television, radio, print, video production - for education. It is best known for Batibot and Pin Pin, 2 award winning and pioneering educational TV programs tailor-made for Filipino kids.
PCTVF has also ventured into multimedia projects and expositions in a continuing effort to reach out to a broad audience - children and adults. It is a pioneer in educational television and radio within a commercial broadcast industry, relying on research-backed curriculum and program development processes that ensure age-appropriate content and formats.
In this latest TV show launched for parents and care-givers, PCTVF partners with 2 institutions equally committed to the best interests of children. GMA 7 has been a pillar in broadcasting programs that educate kids and guide character development while Wyeth Philippines supports the nurturing of young minds and talents through its products, and commitment to supporting health educators and professionals. Wyeth is also the staunch supporter of the Philippine Association for the Gifted.
PG's three-way partnership will hopefully pave the way for more programs in support of Filipino children and families.
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STAFF
Cha Rodrigo
Managing Editor
Aleli Salazar
Augie Rivera
Andy Cawagas
Writers
Feny de los Angeles-Bautista
Editor in Chief
PG Newsletter
1997
#12 Saint John Street, Cubao, QC
Tel. 724-28-29/725-8480
pctvf@philonline.com.ph