Single Moms Phenomenon Ever Rising in the Philippines

Single Moms Phenomenon Ever Rising in the Philippines

By Thinking P'Noy   1:04 AM   No comments :

At least 10 percent of the 100 million Filipinos are unmarried teenage mothers from age 15 to 19. And this single moms phenomenon is rising, making the Philippines number one in Asia in teenage pregnancies and single moms.

 

Most Single Moms Don't Care About Becoming Pregnant

I have the privilege of interviewing many single moms, and I noticed that for the college graduates, ages 23-26 is the average age bracket where one becomes a mother but not a wife.

One time, a confident single mom asked me this question: "How to determine a serious lover?"

At first, I pretended to be an expert on the subject. In reality, I didn't know how to answer her. Grappling for words, I said, "well, sex is man's greatest interest in a woman, loving or even marrying her is just second."

"If that's the case," she replied, "then it is tough to determine if the father of my child is serious about our relationship."

"That's why," I added, "a long engagement period (at least a year) is encouraged rather than engaging a sexual relationship with a man who's but a stranger to you."

I tried to explain to her that sex is supposed to be sacred, and marriage holy for they are God's. But, it seemed she wasn't interested in listening, for she was already apprehensive of losing her boyfriend forever.

The Single Moms Phenomenon
is Unstoppable and Will Continue to Rise

I believe that the single moms phenomenon will continue to invade the marriage-first-before-pregnancy culture because society as a whole is quite permissive about it. I think we, parents, have to help our daughters bear a godly perspective about life, marriage, and family.

Data from the National Statistics Office indicate that more than 37 percent of the 1.8 million babies born in the Philippines in 2008—at least 666,000—had unmarried mothers, representing a worrying increase of over 12 percent from the previous year and an upswing that has become a trend in recent times.

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Happy Family Building Versus God's Involvement

Happy Family Building Versus God's Involvement

By Thinking P'Noy   7:02 PM   No comments :

One rich man told his audience: "Well, I often told my children that success is not just real hard work, for there are many hardworking businesspeople who didn't make it to the top. I believe in luck!" Do you think this principle also applies to marriage? How to build a happy family?

 

Conviction and Faith Needed
in Building a Happy Family

Building a happy family requires judgment call and faith. Call it luck, but I have another term for it: God's blessing and intervention. Without belief in God and your life partner, then there can be no truly happy family that will come to your home. I mentioned God, because in Psalm 127:1, the Bible says that:

Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it.

God's Involvement is the Key to Building a Happy Family

Building a happy family requires the building of trust and confidence between spouses. And common faith in God is vital to reach that. Yes, shared conviction and faith.

Sin, or let's call it as the involvement of a third party, is death to the family. Avoid having an illicit relationship and you will be forever happy with your loved ones.

To bear children is another key in the establishment of a happy family. Wives, avoid being very unreasonable sometimes. And husbands, love your wife to death. Prov 19:14-24 says:

House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the Lord. Laziness casts into a deep sleep, And an idle man will suffer hunger. . . . Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his death. A man of great anger will bear the penalty...Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days. Many plans are in a man's heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand. What is desirable in a man is his kindness, And it is better to be a poor man than a liar. The fear of the Lord leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, But will not even bring it back to his mouth.

The above verses speak of prudence, fear of the Lord, wisdom, discipline, hard work and hope. These are sound principles that are necessary for establishing a happy family. And they all come from the Holy Bible---from God!

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