GOOD OLD PRACTICES

Lola Aida was a very old-fashioned woman. Its already year 2000 but she was still using the house policies that she grew up with. But her grandchildren were happy in following them. Mr. and Mrs. Caldo liked these practices, too. Every day at 6 oclock in the evening, the whole family said their rosary, then the children kisses the hands of the elders as a sign of respect. During school days, nobody was allowed to watch television. The children studied and slept early to wake up early for the next days school or housework. One day, the Diaz family arrived home from the States. They were close friends of Lola Aidas grandchildren and children. When they came to invite Lola Aidas grandchildren, she could not refuse them. The two families went to rest house in Tagaytay to enjoy each others company. They stayed there for two weeks. The Caldo children enjoyed but they seemed not to understand whether they liked or disliked the way the Diaz children spent their time. The Diaz children liked to listen to loud music most of the time and they stayed very late at night. They had no particular prayer time. Their only spiritual practice was to hear mass on Sundays. They didnt kiss the hands of the elders as a sign of respect. A week later, the Caldo family had another invitation from the Diaz family. Its going to be my birthday, Ken Diaz said. We will celebrate it with more fun again. Dont fail to come. So Lola Aidas grandchildren were all present again. After the celebration, they went to the park. It was already 9 oclock in the evening but the Diaz children seemed not to feel that it was getting late. Oh, Im very, very sleepy. Are we not going home yet? Bart asked. He was the youngest of Lola Aidas grandchildren. Bart slept the whole time until they reached home. Now, it was the Caldo familys turn to host the Diaz children. They scheduled it for two days. Lola Aida did not mind the modern ways of Diaz children. They did the the usual things they practiced at home. The Diaz children witnessed the way the Caldo children were raised at home. They saw how refined the Caldo childrens manners were.

They prayed before and after eating, kissed the elders hands, used po and opo in their conversations and they were very careful in handling things at the right time. The Diaz children were so impressed by the Caldo children. When they went home, they told their parents about them. They liked to follow and apply them in their own home. The Diaz children promised that even when they go back to America, they would follow the examples of the simple life of Lola Aidas family.