Why not here and now?

We have just concluded the First Philippine Parenting Convention. What an event! The biggest event we’ve put together, next only to our wedding nine years ago. People would think we were tired and wasted after mounting a four-day event, but honestly speaking, I didn’t feel tired at all – in fact, I was truly relieved and refreshed. Having organized something like the PPC, I feel great seeing another vision become a reality. There were many things that we learned and are excited to do in the next convention and surely, many memories were shared not only among our team members but also among the delegates, sponsors and speakers. I’d like to share with you a glimpse of the convention and for starters, the speech Anthony and I as convenors made at the opening of the convention. Here goes:

Anthony: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! Ako po si Anthony.

Maricel: At ako po si Maricel.

Anthony and Maricel: And we are parents! Welcome to the First Philippine Parenting Convention!

Maricel: It is you guys who deserve a round of applause for being here today.

Anthony: "A Parenting Vision." Yon po yung topic namin.

Maricel: What is a vision? A desire, a hope, a yearning. Isang pangitain, isang pangarap, isang mithiin, isang layunin. A dream with a deadline.

Anthony: Gusto kong magpapansin. Less than 20 years ago, as we learn from studies conducted by top ad agency McCann Erickson, 90 percent of our youth looked up to parents as role models. Today, less than 40 percent consider parents worth emulating (We are sure your children are part of the 40 percent). A 50 percentage point drop for parents! The power of media? Perhaps. How about the failure of parents?

Maricel and Anthony: Gusto naming magpapansin.

Maricel: Nais kong matutong magmahal. Anthony loves me but he can certainly love me more.

Anthony: Maricel’s doing a good job. But as Jim Collins says, "Good is the enemy of great!" She can certainly do "greater love." We believe – and have been witness a couple of times – that the best way we can show love for our children, is to show love for each other first. Mahirap yon. Lalo na kung si Maricel (Maricel and Anthony in a duet) ang dapat mahalin.

Maricel: But God makes us able when we are available.

Anthony and Maricel: Nais naming matutong magmamahal.

Anthony: Gusto kong magpakatotoo. Nagbago na ang mundo. Magulo at gugulo pa raw. Sabi nga ni Dee Hock, ex CEO and now CEO emeritus of Visa International, "The only way to survive today is to be a chaord." Chaord. Chaos and order. A person who has accepted that chaos in the world today is the norm. And we are here not to seek order but to help provide order.

Maricel: Jim Collins, author of the Book Good to Great, discovered the first most important attitude found in the leaders of today’s greatest institutions is the capacity to ABF: to Accept the Brutal Facts. Less than two decades ago, to change a channel you needed to stand up, turn the dial, and choose among five or six options. Today, we can flick through hundreds of options using the handy remote. It was easy to demand attention from our kids in the past. Today, we are but one option. Brutal, Yes ... but Fact.

Anthony and Maricel: Nais na naming magpakatotoo.

Maricel: Wish ko lang na dumami ang oras ko. In over 15 years as a management consultant, Anthony has discovered the one greatest challenge that has faced professionals, that they have struggled with the most: Balancing time between work and family.

Anthony: In stress management, we learn that the key is to balance our demands against our abilities. The more demands over abilities, distress. The more abilities over demands, EUstress or positive stress. Too much abilities, no demand, distress again. So, in the end, we really have only two options: We either increase our abilities, or lessen our demands. But the fact is, every time we choose to lessen, a whole new barrage of demands besets us. Dagdag na lang nang dagdag ... para na lang panganganak ni Maricel. We have some ideas on how to better manage time and stress, but we need more answers.

Anthony and Maricel: Wish po namin, dumami ang oras namin.

Maricel: Gusto kong bumait (pero sana mauna siya). There are many things we want to do. But we can’t do it – at least not alone. That is why it is a privilege for us to have the opportunity to come together with speakers, and trainers, and professionals, and experts, and fellow parents ... for in unity, there is strength.

Anthony: Please raise your right hand. Tap the shoulder of the person to your left. Now say, "It is a privilege to meet you." Now, raise your left hand. Tap the shoulder of the person to your right. Now say, "It is my honor to teach you a thing or two."

Maricel: Some of our mentors and personal advisers are in the audience. You know who you are. We want to thank you for your love and support. Anthony and I wouldn’t be together, if not for your love and intervention. But we can get better, so please stay on.

Anthony and Maricel: Gusto naming bumait at sa tulong ninyo at ng Panginoon, ito’y magagawa.

Anthony: Sana maulit muli. (Para maka-bawi naman) Sponsors who are willing to bet. A round of applause for our convention sponsors led by PLDT (and subsidiary companies) and Goldilocks. Sana maulit muli. Exhibitors willing to invest. Speakers willing to share. A quad media willing to cover.

Maricel: Sana maulit muli. An expo and convention where kids are more than welcome to join.

Anthony: Sana maulit muli. A Gary V. willing to perform and waive... no not fees, just the signing of the contract. Suppliers willing to negotiate. A staff willing to work their hearts out ... even if less than five percent of them are parents. I’d like to thank the BusinessWorks staff, our production team led by direk Freddie Santos and volunteers, some coming as far as Cebu just to serve you the next two days. A round of applause for these future parents. And of course, sana maulit muli. Parents like you who are willing to give this initiative a shot.

Maricel: We’d like to acknowledge – at this point, parents who not only gave this convention a shot – but who gave of themselves, their time, resources and all the love within them to support not only this convention, but both of us all our lives.

Anthony: I’d like to acknowledge, and may they please stand up: My parents, Engineer and Mrs. Donato T. Pangilinan. My father will give a testimony later this afternoon on "how to and how not to" raise nine children.

Maricel: Also, my mom, Imelda Avanceña. She flew all the way from Singapore just to join us . I love you, Mom.

Anthony: Some people ask, "Why?"

Maricel: Still others ask, "Why not?"

Anthony: We ask ... (Anthony and Maricel simultaneously) "Why not here and now?"

Anthony: We wish you a great convention.

* * *

Next week, watch for snippets from the different workshops. Share your thoughts at: mommytalk@businessworks.com.ph.

"I love you, yaya" seminar on Nov. 23 at : Avalon Condominium, Ortigas Ave. Call or text: 721-3575/0917-9264699/0918-9293129 for details.