GreenBucks

My maternal side relatives are mostly farmers. They live near the farm land that they till, getting fresh produce for lunch or supper.

I remember as a child I used to go to my maternal grandparents home to spend weekend with them. During summers we would sit in my grandfather’s carabao-drawn cart to go to where the fresh produce can be had. We would get the sweet potatoes, gather vegetables like string beans, radishes, onions, garlic and other that I can’t remember what.

My grandfather had several carabaos then. I see other farmers have horses and cows but it was a mystery why my grandfather didn’t have them. Perhaps the upkeep is more expensive like having some horse supplements or maybe milking machine for the cows.

He didn’t also have pigs, although there were a number of chickens that are just left roaming around in the compound.

I miss those simple times when having a good run in the field and eating cold turnips were some of the thngs I looked forward to.

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I have blogged about motorcycles in different circumstances:

• This post had a photo about a family riding in one small motorcycle that spell disaster if ever a mistake is made.

• What about the Ducati motorcycle of Yellow Cab Pizza post?

• Some of the Batangas Racing Circuit photos that I posted? Yes, there were some superbikes there.

Motorcycles are here to stay, that s for sure. Nothing wrong there except some of the things that the riders do that get them in trouble. They ride fast. They don’t wear their helmets on their head but rather wear these on their arms/elbows (duh?). They ride with 2 other riders. They drive even if they are intoxicated,which is the leading cause of accidents in the country. They ride without safety gears.

So it is any surprise that in Asia, in the Philippines, motorcycle accidents happen day in and day out?

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The cases of people, even children, with obesity is rising steadily.

So who do we turn an accusing finger at?

The fast food for offering hard-to-resist deep-fried and high in calorie food offerings?

The candy and chocolate manufacturers for making their sweet offerings very much appreciated by those with sweet tooth?

The bakeshops, donuts stores, dessert and pastry chefs who continually experiment with so many yummy concoctions that are hard to resist?

No not them really, they are not entirely to blame for this obesity problem.

Have we looked at how we live our lives?

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There are probably millions (documented and otherwise) Filipinos working overseas. In fact, its bound to happen that someone knows somebody who has a family member, whether one or both parents, siblings, cousins and other relatives working abroad.

One can find them almost anywhere, from the crew of vacation cruises going to the Bahamas to those who work in the hotel kitchens and restaurants in the different countries. They take care of the children of families they work for or take care of the aging people needing assisted care. There are those who work for las vegas hotel reservations while others work as nurses, doctors and therapists in hospitals all over the world.They sail big commercial ships while other teach the children in other countries.

These hardworking people send home billion dollars worth of remittances that help keep the economy afloat. Yes, the families back here whose members are working overseas have purchasing powers.

But…

Due to the economic woes all over the world, there is of course, a significant dip in the money being sent home. Purchasing powers are cut, and (drastic) measures of saving for the rainy days are being practiced.

Not bad to cut on the purchases since one can never know how long the jobs can be kept knowing the vulnerability of the world economy is.

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Last week and this week had been two very relaxing weeks for me. I didn’t have to go to work so there was really no hurry. I did get to wake up early, before the sun was up for my eldest daughter who is being fetched around 5:30am by the school service.

After she has been fetched, I go online. During that time I prepare breakfast.

After breakfast and the younger children had eaten and bathed, I go back to my online world while lunch is starting to be cooked. The kids play or watch DVD or read storybooks or play with their Play-Doh.

After lunch, I nap. Sometimes for an hour. Sometimes more than that.

This routine had gotten me in trouble.

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This generation of young children is probably one of the most profitable generations when it comes to consumerism. The children being the target of invasive advertising where truth is distorted and where there is no clear line dividing what is real and not real is happening right before our eyes.

Children younger than eight easily believe what the ads are telling them. I know because I have two children in that age bracket. They think that just because a product is seen on television endorsed by good-looking children mean that they have to get those products on our next trip to the supermarket.

I do not subscribe to their wishes easily. Not because the children in a TV ad are eating vegetables as a result of the use of artificial flavoring mean I must have that too. Not because beautiful children with beautiful smiles use a certain brand of toothpaste mean I have to get that for them too. We gotta be more practical than believing in TV ads that aims to make a profit.

How can my children have a higher IQ by just drinking a certain brand of milk if I do not teach them how to use their thinking skills?

For me, good products do not need blatant advertising.

These products being advertised do not just center on food items which are most often than not bereft of nutritional value, but extends to clothes, toys, must-have electronic gadgets, events, and other consumables.

Excessive materialism and believing in products because of advertising are just a few things we can teach children regarding consumerism. Not everything should be carried from the supermarket aisle all the way to the ringing retail pos systems or in other words, cash register.

So what should parents do?

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