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From My HeartDear Readers,

As a child, Christmas time was very special to me. It was not only a time for joyful music and exciting surprises, it was also a time for wonder. Wonder at God’s love for me…amazement at the story of His birth. As I have grown older and become a mother, and now a grandmother, I continue to enjoy the celebration of Jesus’ birth and the other holidays that occur during this time of year. I am even more in love with the idea of Christmas—the birthday of our Lord and Savior. I am also more aware that God wants to participate in our whole life—not just the time we spend at church but all of our life—including our celebrations.

With this thought in mind, let me challenge you to rethink your holiday plans. Do they honor Him? Can you invite Him to be a part of them without being ashamed? Is there something you can do to make Jesus more comfortable and more welcome at your celebration? This issue of Moms is all about welcoming Jesus to our celebrations this year. As you read, you will come up with new ideas and plans. We would love for you to write us and tell us what they are.

Happy Christ-filled holidays from all of our editorial staff!

Kim

Reader’s LettersDear MOMs,

Thank you for the copies you sent me. I distributed copies to church leaders in my area and some to my professors who counsel others. I am also grateful because MOM’s magazine is a good talking point between me and my mother in law. When my academic load lightens up, or probably during the break, I will make it more systematic, so I can account for every copy you give me. Thank you and God bless you more!

From InaDear MOMs,

Mom’s magazine is a best help lalo na po yung issue ngayon, it really catch my attention and it helps me to deal with young people around me who happens to have such “false identity”. God bless po!

Friend from Facebook

Thank you for your financial help! ✷ The Neighborhood Church, Caloocan City ✷ Friend from Pateros, MM ✷ Ms. Lourdes Say of Binondo, Manila

Editor’s Page

EditorKimberly SniderAssistant Editor Evelyn DamianDistribution

Johnson LiCover & Layout

Patrick Tan

Published quarterly by

Asia Pacific Media MinistriesUnit 2608 Raffles Corporate Center,

Emerald Avenue, Ortigas Center,

1605 Pasig City, Philippines

Telephone: 914-9767

E-mail: moms@apmedia.org

Reproduction of photos and articles is

prohibited without permission.

We need a little help from our friends...MOMS has no subscription price; it is

supported completely through contributions. To help support this publication, send cash or check made payable to: Asia Pacific Media Ministries FAO MOMS. To make a direct deposit, use our BPI, C/A #2431-0042-27. All contributions are used entirely for the continued outreach of this publication. Thank you!

Photo by Alvin A

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Mind & SpiritAll Soul’s Day—More Than

a Family Reunionby Nathan Maliwat

In November, many of us remember our departed loved ones by celebrating All Soul’s Day, or Todos los Santos. Filipinos

consider this day, as one of the most important holidays of the year. The holiday was introduced to the Philippines centuries ago by Spanish priests who believed that the prayers of the living could ease the suffering and pain of the dead. The priests taught people to offer prayers to God in the hope that the souls of their dead loved ones would be purged from their sins and eventually received in heaven.

Filipinos still practice this belief in several ways. Some families organize prayer vigils, lasting the entire night, in their homes or in cemeteries. Many light candles for each member of their family who has passed on. These candles are believed to guide the spirits who visit the houses of their living relatives on All Soul’s Day. In some households, an empty chair is set at the dining table for the soul of their departed loved one. Food is cooked for them and then the food is given to needy people at the end of All Soul’s Day. Despite the sadness that remembering dead loved ones brings, Filipinos somehow find a way to add festivity to this holiday. For one thing, Todos los Santos reunites relatives from different places. Families gather, not only to offer flowers, candles and prayers for their loved ones, but also to catch up on each other’s lives. Sometimes, they spend the night sharing food, singing songs and playing cards.

As precious as this family time is, I think there are several ways we can make All Soul’s Day even more important. For one thing, we can ask God to continue comforting us for the loss of our loved ones. Additionally, we can ask Him to reveal to us how we can make sure of our own eternal destiny. We can also make this holiday more meaningful by reflecting on God’s Word. The Bible speaks a lot of truths about life and death; no other book in the world talks about life’s destiny with such certainty and confidence. It is from the Bible that we know we do not fall into deep sleep when we die but our souls leave our bodies and, if we have personally accepted Christ, immediately find their places in heaven. All Soul’s Day can be the opportune time to share this truth with relatives who may still be in dark about life’s ultimate destiny. We can share the truth that during our brief stay on earth, we can learn to know the God who created us, acknowledge His power over us, and be in a relationship with Him. This relationship with God has to take place during our lifetime, not after our death. After our life is over, prayers and candles will not bring us closer to God.

As we reunite with families to remember the dead, let us not forget the living. Let’s share with others the hope we have that conquers death. Let’s ask our relatives about their beliefs about death and what happens after it. Simple questions can lead to meaningful conversations. Hopefully, our loved ones will discover the truth about God’s plan for our lives, now and in the hereafter.

To Start a Relationship with Christ

Admit you have sinned. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

Believe in Jesus. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish; but have eternal life.” John 3:16b

Confess and leave your sin behind. Stop sinning. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

To continue growing in your relationship with Christ, fellowship with other believers, read the Bible and pray!

A wonderful gift for your family and friends—Welcoming Jesus Into Your House—is an easy to read verse by verse reflection on the Bible book of Ephesians. Meant for everyday people, the book focuses on how giving Jesus complete access to our hearts makes a practical difference in how we live our lives. This book is a must for every Filipino family. Order copies for gifts now by clicking on our website www.usapangpamilyavideos.multiply.com or e-mail us at distribution@apmedia.org or call us at (632) 9179767.

Grow as a family by reading “Welcoming Jesus into Your Home!”

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What made you decide to become a chef?All my brothers work in my dad’s insurance

brokerage, but my mom is a pretty good cook and I always hung out in the kitchen, especially when it was a holiday. All my brothers would be playing basketball but I just liked the whole cooking sensation, the rush, and the smell, everything… Part of my wanting to be a chef is just the idea of being able to feed people, being part of that experience. Most all the important occasions of life are celebrated and shared through food. By being a chef, I am a part of that.

Is healthy eating a consideration for you? I teach my children to eat a really good balance

of foods. Just last summer I did a cooking seminar for young moms; I wanted to help them be better informed about what to feed their children. My main premise is that with all the junk food in restaurants and the processed food in grocery stores, children are eating more but getting less. Food companies and restaurants really don’t care about your children. They are after your money, to profit from you. So what they put in their food is not necessarily something that is beneficial for your children. I‘m encouraging mothers not to give up the responsibility of feeding their children, but to take it back by eating more at home.

You are a restaurant owner and you are telling people to eat at home?

Yes. I advocate eating what is good for you. It all starts with eating more at home. When I teach, I talk about nutritional benefits and also the emotional

benefits children get from seeing their mom prepare the food. When I do a cooking demo, I teach people how to involve their kids in the preparation of food, how to eat properly, and where food comes from.

If you were going to give us three rules about good eating what would you say?

Start the day right with a proper breakfast. Switch to unprocessed carbs like brown rice, brown sugar, and whole wheat fiber. Cut back on eating out and eating processed foods.

What is your favorite celebration? It has to be Christmas, because that is every

Filipino’s holiday. It means family eating together. It means kids… of course making sure that they understand what Christmas is apart from the celebration, apart from the family. Christmas of course is about Jesus. It is about realizing Jesus was born being God, and saving us from our sins.

Chef, did you grow up in a Christian family?No. I graduated university in the year 2000. I took

hotel and restaurant management, but I didn’t pursue to be a chef because I wouldn’t make a lot of money. I was engaged to be married, so I became my dad’s assistant because I could get paid a lot. Right before we got married— the church was set, the dress was being made— everything just collapsed. So I started asking myself where I was heading and what I was going to do. I called a friend who I used to party with and we met up and there was something different about her. I knew that

Chef Him Uy de Baron, professionally known as Chef Cuisine trained at a French cooking school in Australia then cooked in Japan and Manila and has lately served as a food consultant (Max’s) and caterer. In September, he is opening his own restaurant in Quezon City. Although Chef Him has worked with both French and Italian cooking, he is especially known for his Asian cuisine. In this interview, he talks about food, his journey as a husband and father, and his walk with Christ.

An interview with “Chef Cuisine”, Him Uy de Baron by Kimberly Snider

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I wanted what she had so I started hanging out with her and her friends. I remember watching them. They really didn’t force anything on me. I really just followed them around and then in one of these services I found myself raising my hands and saying, “This is what I have been looking for all my life.” My faith had a lot to do with becoming a chef because when I found my identity in Christ I felt God telling me that “I have made you to be a chef.” So I quit my high paying insurance job and got a job peeling potatoes. From then on I saw God move in my career like I never could imagine.

Is it hard to follow Jesus?Not really. I thought it was because like anyone

who tries to turn their lives around, I was thinking about the things that I was leaving behind. But I reminded myself that if this is what it takes, then I know I am set up for better things. I was actually more excited about the things that were ahead of me rather than what I was leaving behind.

Did you marry the girl that you were engaged to?No. For some reason ever since I was a child I

always wanted to be married and to have kids. When I started following Jesus I said, “You know God, I have this desire but I am not going to work it out for myself anymore. I am just going to let you do it.” So I wasn’t really looking. I used to head the Sunday school in our church and my wife was one of my teachers. We were really good friends and I never saw her that way until…it just happened. After one month of formal courtship, I proposed, and six months later we got married.

How has your faith affected your family life? I had a difficult relationship with my dad. So I

was afraid that I would be like my dad as a husband and father. I had to trust God and believe that He had called me to be something more. I wasn’t afraid to become a husband and father until I became a Christian, because I just thought it was normal that if you were a teenager you naturally hated your parents, especially your father. When I became a Christian, I got a bit scared because I want to have a relationship with my kids, I want to be able to lead them to God. I want to be able to represent them. It is every man’s battle to be able to stand on God’s promise that you can be the father that He has created you to be.

Has your faith affected your marriage?Of course. It is great to be in the church we are in

right now. We can have support and we are taught that really, marriage only survives with Christ at the center of it. Being able to look up to healthy marriages in our church helps us a lot.

How are you bringing Jesus into your Christmas this year?

Really spending time with my kids and explaining to them what Christmas is about. I want them to understand what Christ did. Growing up, I always knew Christmas was Jesus’ birthday, but I couldn’t wrap my brain around what He actually did. So my wife and I are thinking of ways to sow seeds in our children so that they can have an understanding of that much earlier than I did.

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Chef Him, wife Kristen, and daughters, Nala and S

uki.

In the kitchen of his new restaurant in Quezon City.

Explaining nutrition.

Photos by Johnson Li

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Body & Soul

Paella Dinner Ingredients

Homemade Sausage with Home Fries

(Serves 4)

300 g short grain rice 600 ml chicken stock seasoned with salt and pepperPinch of saffron Thyme 5 chicken thigh fillets (marinated in paprika, lemon zest, salt, pepper and olive oil)3 red bell pepper, roasted and julienned

1 good quality chorizo de Bilbao 1 bunch asparagus¼ c frozen peas½ k fresh live mussels½ k fresh live clams1 pc lemon½ c white wineOlive oil

ProcedureUsing a paellera or a shallow pan, heat 1 tbsp of oil

and sear chicken pieces to brown, about 45 seconds per side. Set aside. Add half the roasted peppers and chorizo. Add the garlic, sauté for 1 min. Add rice. Toast for about 90 seconds. Add the wine and stir. Put the chicken back. Add stock to cover the rice. Stir once, let boil then turn heat down to simmer. Cover with foil. Cook for 20 mins. Uncover and add mussels and clams. Cover and cook until the shells open about 7 mins. Add the asparagus, peas, and remaining peppers. Cover and cook for another 5 mins. Turn off heat. Let the paella set for 5 mins.

Step 1: To make sausage: Put 400 g ground lean pork, ½ tsp fennel seeds, 3 tbsps chopped garlic, bunch of sage, cilantro, salt and pepper in mixing bowl. Mix well and form into patties. Grill or fry in small amount of oil. Set aside.Step 2: To make home fries: heat about 3 tbsps olive oil in a sauté pan. Add 2 large potatoes (peeled and cut into ¼” cubes) and toss in the oil for 2 mins. Add 1 cauliflower (cut into florets), 2 tbsps minced garlic, pinch of cayenne, paprika and rosemary. Season and cook for 3 mins. or until golden.

Serve sausage and fries with egg, fried sunny side up and apple slices.

Holiday Table on a Budget

by APMM Staff

If you are like me, by the time you buy the presents and food there is no more in the budget

for festive table decorations. Here is an idea for a beautiful table that costs almost nothing. You will need: a table cloth or a piece of tela; candles (any size or color not necessarily new); shiny paper; wide ribbon (preferably wire-rimmed); narrow ribbon; and curling ribbon. We chose Christmas colors and plain tela for our table, but you can be very creative—many combinations could be unusual and pretty.

Cover your table with the tela. Our tela did not fit, so we used safety pins to loop up the uneven edges. If you have time, you could sew it properly. Take the wide ribbon and tie bows around your candles and place them in the middle of the table. Cut snowflakes or stars in a variety of sizes from the shiny paper. Be sure to hold the paper over the table covering while you cut so the bits of paper will fall on the table and look like confetti. Place the snowflakes on the table and set the table with your dishes. Bunch your table napkins together and tie with the narrow ribbon. Finally, take the curling ribbon and make curls and place them randomly around the table.

Photo by Johnson Li

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Love & Money

New Year inspires people to re-evaluate their lives and think

about how they spend their money. In the Bible, there are approximately 2,350 verses on money, talents, treasures and financially related topics! And, 16 out of 38 of Jesus’ parables emphasize money matters. Obviously, how we use our finances matters a lot to God.

M–ake an inventory of what you have—personally what you have, not what your family has. Differentiate assets from liabilities. Assets are what you own and liabilities are what you owe. After totalling your assets, subtract your liabilities. The excess is what we call Net Assets or your personal Net Worth. “For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter.” Ecclesiastes 8:6

O–rganize and write down your plans for improving your

personal Net worth. You may need to carefully plan and cut down on your budget, or get a second job, or start a small business. God is our source of wisdom. As we seek His will by praying, studying and reading the Bible, He will reveal His plans and directions to us. “For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

N–ever waste time. Idle time makes us unproductive. “Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.” Proverbs 20:13

E–njoy life with your family and loved ones. Provide for your family, visit them, hug them. Say “I love you” to your family while you still can—life is brief. “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household,

he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” I Timothy 5:8

Y–ield control of your finances to Christ. There is nothing wrong with accumulating wealth, but we must always remind ourselves that God is the owner and we are only managers. Let the Lord handle our finances, give back to Him our tithes and offerings, seek His wisdom in managing our finances “Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.” Proverbs 22:4

A New Purpose for a New Yearby Rufina A. Fajardo

Some of us gave up a lot of things in order to become full-time wives and mothers. Now, the children have all grown up and we find we have a lot of time and nothing significant to do. The New Year is a time to start over and to

reconsider our life’s purpose. Here are some ideas to help make life more meaningful.1. Spend time in prayer. Go to a prayer mountain, or a quiet room, and take some time to reflect. Communion with the Lord can blow the cobwebs out of our minds. When our minds are clear, it’s easy to see our direction.2. Become part of a church ministry. Churches normally have different ministries to help people grow in faith and love. Ask the Lord for a ministry which will make you productive.3. Become a regular listener of 702 DZAS. That’s the AM station of Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC). They have a variety of programs that suit almost every kind of interest. “Family Matters” deal with issues related to relationships between family members. “Kasukob sa Bahay Kubo” deals with programs in agriculture. “EntrePinoy Espesyal” features Filipino entrepreneurs and how they developed their business. 4. Join a class or seminar to learn a new skill. I joined the writing workshop at APMM in January 2010, when I stopped working due to a health problem. I am very grateful for that training because now, even with my condition, I can still be productive. If you have interest in painting, you can attend painting workshops. Some excellent artists in the country offer such training. If you like gardening, experiment growing vegetables or flowers. Anything that interests you is worth learning to do.

New Year is a time when we can look at the past year objectively, and look at the future optimistically, while walking hand in hand with the Lord. We need a quiet place to pray and a heart willing to put our plans into action. As you consider your purpose in life, I wish you all best this year. God bless you!

M.O.N.E.Y. Matters in 2012by Samuel B. Lares, CPA

Many families look forward to Christmas because it is a season of joy. We have reunions where gift giving, food galore, fun and laughter are important parts of the celebration. But the real reason for the season is often neglected. Christ’s birth changed the whole course

of world history. Jesus came to give abundant life. Intentionally include times to focus your family celebration on Christ and the meaning of His birth. Here are several things you can do:

✷ Plan in advance to attend Christmas Eve or Christmas morning Church service with your family. ✷ Watch a home movie about the birth of Jesus Christ like “The Nativity Story” or the first part of

the “Jesus” film and take turns sharing what Jesus’ birth means to each member of the family. ✷ Before partaking of the traditional Noche Buena, sing Christmas carols. Have printed copies

available so everyone can participate. Then, read the Christmas story from the gospel according to Luke 2:1-18.

✷ Before the family opens their gifts, talk about Jesus Christ, God’s gift to the world and how everybody should receive Him into their lives. Pause to thank God for the gift of His Son.

✷ Ask each member of the family to save some money so that they can buy meaningful gifts for a needy person or family in their neighborhood. Emphasize that this is done to honor Christ by blessing people in His name.

✷ Send Christmas greeting cards that carry the message of Jesus’ birth to people. Homemade cards are a good idea. Challenge your kids who are computer savvy to make them.

Don’t let the season pass without honoring Jesus for what He has done for you!

Every year, I wish that Christmas could be more meaningful to our family. Do you have any suggestions?Q

A

Read MOMS onlineLog-on to www.apmedia.org/moms to read all issues online. You may also find us on Facebook (Look for “Moms Magazine”).

Enhance your holiday family time by showing this excellent film!

Enhance your family time during the holidays by showing

this excellent film! Ama, Anak, winner of the Christian

Film Festival in Manila (2008) is set at Christmas time. It

tells the story of a father-son relationship in crisis. Critical

illness gives the son only months to reach out to his father

(Tommy Abuel). Watch the drama unfold as the Christmas

miracle takes place. Ama, Anak is available for purchase

online by e-mailing us at distribution@apmedia. It is also

available at House of Praise, OMF Lit Bookshops, PCBS,

and the AP Media office.