PHILIPPINES: How To Raise Patriotic Kids (Or At Least Try To!)

Our friends in the U.S. have just celebrated Independence Day and I’m sure they did so in a variety of ways. We here in the Philippines celebrate our Independence every 12th of June, and although our celebrations may not be as grand as our friends in the West, we all do our best to make sure we commemorate the freedom that was won for us oh-so-many years ago by our national heroes.

I have a confession to make though — I wasn’t always a patriotic Filipino. Growing up overseas in Brunei, away from my motherland, I could be classified as what many of us call nowadays a third-culture kid. I kept trying to fit in with my classmates and friends, who were a mixture of native Bruneians, some Malaysians, and a few other nationalities (including Filipinos).  I remember even being a bit ashamed of my origins, as I used to associate being Filipino with being poor or not so well off. (Shame on me, I know!) (more…)

Tina Santiago-Rodriguez (Philippines)

Tina Santiago-Rodriguez is a wife and homeschool mom by vocation, a licensed physical therapist by education and currently the managing editor of Mustard, a Catholic children's magazine published by Shepherd's Voice Publications in the Philippines, by profession. She has been writing passionately since her primary school years in Brunei, and contributes regularly to several Philippine and foreign-based online and print publications. She also does sideline editing and scriptwriting jobs, when she has the time. Find out more about Tina through her personal blogs: Truly Rich Mom and Teacher Mama Tina.

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Travel Itinerary for the Week of July 9th!

On Monday we will be in Arkansas with Margie Bryant, who talks about a subject that many of us parents feel conflicted about. Do you spank your children? How does your culture feel about that? Margie tells us her thoughts.

On Tuesday, we head to Minnesota to hear from Galit Breen. Galit is looking for poetry and artwork submissions from children for a wonderful project. Come read about what it is – you’re guaranteed to hope your kids will want to participate!

On Tuesday evening, we have a moving social good post from Lauren, who went to Hong Kong to adopt a child with autism, who would otherwise have been institutionalized.

On Wednesday, fasten your seatbelts for a flight to the Philippines! Tina tells us about how she felt ashamed of her roots when she was growing up, and how she is now trying to raise her children to be proud of who they are and where they come from.

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World Moms Blog

World Moms Blog is an award winning website which writes from over 30 countries on the topics of motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. Over 70 international contributors share their stories from around the globe, bonded by the common thread of motherhood and wanting a better world for their children. World Moms Blog was listed by Forbes Woman as one of the "Best 100 Websites for Women 2012 & 2013" and also called a "must read" by the NY Times Motherlode in 2013. Our Senior Editor in India, Purnima Ramakrishnan, was awarded the BlogHer International Activist Award in 2013.

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Travel Itinerary for the Week of June 18th!

On Monday we will visit Toronto, Canada, where Kirsten Doyle has something to say about online friendships. She worries about the day her children get old enough for social media and email, and yet many of her own friends are people she has never met in person.

On Tuesday, we head to Brazil to hear from Eco Ziva, who recently got a dog! She tells us about how she acquired it and gives us an account of her canine adventures.

On Wednesday, we will be in India, where The Alchemist talks about the weather! It is hot there, very hot, and she tells us how she copes. She also reveals the real reason we changed the publish time on World Moms Blog!

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World Moms Blog

World Moms Blog is an award winning website which writes from over 30 countries on the topics of motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. Over 70 international contributors share their stories from around the globe, bonded by the common thread of motherhood and wanting a better world for their children. World Moms Blog was listed by Forbes Woman as one of the "Best 100 Websites for Women 2012 & 2013" and also called a "must read" by the NY Times Motherlode in 2013. Our Senior Editor in India, Purnima Ramakrishnan, was awarded the BlogHer International Activist Award in 2013.

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Travel Itinerary for the Week of June 11th!

On Monday we will check in with Dee Harlow, who has her hands full as she prepares to move herself and her family all the way to Laos. She tells us how she copes with the stress of trying to get everything together.

On Tuesday, we head to Kenya, where Mama Mzungu talks about how she hired someone to help out in her home. Initially very uncomfortable with the cultural and historic connotations of hiring such a person, she has now mostly made peace with it.

On Wednesday, we will be in California with Polish Mom Photographer, who is baffled by all the fuss surrounding the topic of breastfeeding. Why are women put under so much pressure to breastfeed, and then told not to do it in public? These are some of the questions she ponders.

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World Moms Blog

World Moms Blog is an award winning website which writes from over 30 countries on the topics of motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. Over 70 international contributors share their stories from around the globe, bonded by the common thread of motherhood and wanting a better world for their children. World Moms Blog was listed by Forbes Woman as one of the "Best 100 Websites for Women 2012 & 2013" and also called a "must read" by the NY Times Motherlode in 2013. Our Senior Editor in India, Purnima Ramakrishnan, was awarded the BlogHer International Activist Award in 2013.

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Travel Itinerary for the Week of June 4th!

We’re starting this week in a beautiful corner of the world. On Monday we will be in Cape Town, South Africa with Mama Simona. As a former nanny with some impressive qualifications, she was perfectly equipped to have a smooth-sailing birth experience. Or was she?

On Tuesday, we head to India for another birth story, this time from Fire Crystals! She gives us an eye-opening account of how her hospital treats the birth experience and the new mothers who have just gone through it.

On Wednesday, we will be in Washington with Tara B., who lives far away from the family she grew up with. She tells us about how she took her two-year-old to a place she likes to go when she’s missing her family and needs to find a sense of peace.

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World Moms Blog

World Moms Blog is an award winning website which writes from over 30 countries on the topics of motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. Over 70 international contributors share their stories from around the globe, bonded by the common thread of motherhood and wanting a better world for their children. World Moms Blog was listed by Forbes Woman as one of the "Best 100 Websites for Women 2012 & 2013" and also called a "must read" by the NY Times Motherlode in 2013. Our Senior Editor in India, Purnima Ramakrishnan, was awarded the BlogHer International Activist Award in 2013.

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