When Justin Crisostomo was 8, his mother left to work overseas so he and his brother could go to a good school.
“My dad told us, ‘Tayong tatlo lang dito sa bahay, walang ibang tutulong sa atin at walang ibang gagawa para sa atin. Matututo tayong mabuhay ng nagtutulungan at maayos. Para sa inyo rin ito.’ He taught us life skills in and out of the house,” said Justin.
While his friends played on weekend mornings, he cleaned their house and polished the floors with a bunot (coconut husk). Justin’s father cooked while his older brother did the laundry. They took turns doing the dishes and cleaning the toilet.
“In the afternoons, my friends came by so we could play. The…
Keep on reading: A dad’s lessons on keeping kids grounded