Just Passing Thru

Pets and Young Kids

5:33 PM

Taking care of a pet is not easy even for adults. The responsibility of taking care of another living is not something to be taken lightly as in a game. We can just imagine what challenges await young children aged from 3 to 5 who decide to take on the responsibility of taking care of a pet.

Recommended Pets for Young Children

When considering buying a pet for young children, there are a lot of possibilities being offered by experts including but not limited to hamster, mouse, specialty rat, gerbil, guinea pig, budgerigar,fish, turtle, rabbit,chicken, cat, dog, and pony. There are many other varieties of birds and small animals that may fit the bill as loving companions of young children in their pre-school age.

Although the temperament of most animals cannot be the same at all times, most of these suggested animals are small, sociable, entertaining, tame, and gentle. We would also notice that most of them can be put in cages when needed so as to provide young pet owners reasonable control while they take care of their pets. The rabbit, chicken, cat, dog, and pony are actually more fit as pets for older children since the responsibility is bigger, not to mention the size of the pet.

How to Determine Readiness of Child to Take Care of Pets

Not because children want their parents to buy them a pet doesn't necessarily mean they are ready. The general rule is that children who are not yet able to take reasonable care of themselves should wait a while longer. That said, young children will never be fully ready for the responsibility of pet ownerhips thus parents are expected to lend their full support to their young children.

Children who are considering to get a pet should at least understand the concept of not hurting animals. Their is great risk in pet ownership for children who are not yet able to control their excitement as they may either end up hurting their small pets or being hurt by bigger ones. Constant guidance by parents is still a necessity during this stage. It is a mistake to leave very young children alone with their pets.

Benefits and Risks of Pet Ownership at a Young Age

The primary benefit of pet ownership for young children is the opportunity to learn first-hand how it is to be responsible for another living thing. Taking care of the daily needs of pets in food, cleaning, and other necessities provide valuable learning that cannot be obtained from reading books. Children also learn the value of companionship and nurturing.

Taking care of animals may carry certain health risks including allergic reactions to animal hair, infections from exposure to animal "poop", and other physical harm such as bites and scratches from animal attack, whether provoked or unprovoked. There is also a possibility that the responsibility of taking care of the animals gets transferred to parents when the child totally gives up on the idea.

My Say

Due to my son's long-standing problem with allergic rhinitis, we never considered getting a dog or cat as a pet. We opted for lovebirds and goldfishes instead with the rationalization that our children are better off with minimized contact with their pets while still allowing them to feel a sense of responsibility. The pigeon pictured above with my daughter came to us when my daughter was only about a month old so in a sense they are of the same age. We got it from my sister-in-law's wedding which was almost eight years ago.

My children have lost several lovebirds and fishes in their attempts to take care of pets. Twice we came home to toppled cages with no birds in sight and thrice we came home to dead fishes who apparently jumped out from the fish bowl. We took the pigeon in at their insistence, probably in frustration with their earlier attempts and so we did. However, because of the common health advisory with respect to the risk of coming in contact with the bird "poop" , the cleaning part became my husband's responsibility.

I wouldn't know if they would have the chance to have bigger pets in the future. As for now, they have one pigeon to take care of. It's funny how the pigeon acts like a dog greeting its master whenever my children come home from school. Apparently, my children's efforts have paid off.

That said, I think children can learn much from taking care of a pet but it is best done when they are ready.

AMBOS MUNDOS RESTAURANT

The Ambos Mundos Restaurant Trademark in the Philippines...So the Public May Finally Know

8:32 PM

Registrant: Maria Teresa S. Gaudinez

Date of Registration: October 24, 2005

Date Filed: May 29,1997

Certificate of Registration: 4-1997-121056

Trademark: Ambos Mundos Restaurant

All businesses will have to be known by some name for identity and recognition. What most owners forget is another very important function of a name which is protection. A business name can represent the efforts and hard work of its owners towards establishing it.

Business Name Registration

Anyone who wishes to establish a business in the Philippines typically start the documentary process by registering the chosen business name with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). There are several requirements pertaining to the eligibility of a person making the application and the documents that need to be presented. An important aspect that has to be considered is whether a proposed business name is registrable or not.

DTI, in its latest provided rules and regulations have taken exception to the following and are thus not considered registrable.

Those which are or whose natures of business are illegal, offensive, scandalous, or contrary to propriety (e.g Popoy’s Jueteng Betting Place, Boobs Massage and Spa)
Names that are the same, nearly the same as or confusingly the same with an existing registered business, company, partnership, corporation, cooperative name; nor it infringes on any trademark, service mark or tradename (e.g Anne Dok’s Lechon, Jolibee, Starbax Café)
Names composed purely of generic or geographic words (e.g The Laundry Shop, Bacolod)
Names which by law or regulation cannot be appropriated (e.g OTOP, Intelligence, State College, CALBARZON)
Names used to designate or distinguish, or suggestive of quality of any class of goods, articles, merchandise or service (e.g Best Taho Factory, A-1 Auto Repair Shop)
Names or abbreviation of a name used by the government in its governmental functions (e.g NBI Private Investigation Services, DTI Trading)
Names or abbreviation of a name of any nation, intergovernmental or international organization (e.g Philippine Manpower Pooling Agency, UNESCO Marketing)
Names that are deceptive, misleading or which misrepresent the nature of the business (e.g “ABC Construction Services” where nature of business is recruitment, a business name carrying another person’s name)

Source: DTI

Business owners are expected to be given protection as provided for by the agency in relation to the use of their legally registered business names. Also, they are assured of remedies if and when a threat to such name that has been painstakingly built presents itself. It should be noted that application forms for business names have long included the "undertaking". Signing this undertaking signifies an applicant's willingness to voluntarily change the business name if it is found out that another person has prior right to such name. Partnerships and corporations are also required to register their business names with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Trademark Registration

Business owners who seek further protection of their business name can choose to register their trademark with the Intellectual Property Office. Trademark registration provides the owners exclusive right to use the mark while preventing others from using a mark that is similar or identical. It is granted to the first one who files a trademark application with IPO Philippines.

For its part, IPO considers the following unregistrable.

DESCRIPTIVE These are marks that describe the characteristics of the goods or services. Examples are “DURABLE” for shoes (describes the quality), “A LITER” for cooking oil (quantity), and so is “KITCHEN” for cooking utensils (intended purpose).
MISLEADING Marks that are likely to deceive or have the tendency to misinform the consumers about the actual characteristics of the goods or services like “BOLPENS” for pencils, “COLA” for alcoholic beverages, “BULAKAN” for sweets not originating from or produced in Bulacan.
GENERIC and customary to trade Generic marks are names of products they seek to identify. For instance, “KAP KEYK” for cupcakes, ”CAFFE” for coffee and “MAKINAH” for machines. Marks and indications that have become common in everyday language or usage can not be registered. They no longer distinguish the goods and services because they are used so often to refer to the goods and services. Example of this is “VCO” for virgin coconut oil, “DIAMOND PEEL” for services involving cosmetic procedure.
Contrary to Public Order or Morality
Marks that are against the common standard of morality. An example is “PRO-TERRORISM” for clothing.
CONSISTS OF NAMES, PORTRAITS OF PERSONS, MAPS, FLAGS AND OTHER POLITICAL SYMBOLS Marks that contain names or portraits of living individuals may be rejected unless the individual gives written consent. For instance, no one can use the picture of Manny Pacquiao as a trademark unless he is Mr. Pacquiao himself or he was duly authorized by Mr. Pacquiao.
SHAPE AND COLOR Shapes must be distinctive from the usual shape of goods or containers of the goods, in order to be considered a trademark. One classic example is the COKE BOTTLE.
Color alone is not accepted unless it is defined by a given form.
MARKS THAT MAY CAUSE CONFUSION Your mark cannot be registered if it is identical with or similar to a registered mark or a mark with earlier filing date for goods and services that are exactly the same or for goods and services that are related. Consumers should not confuse your mark with the marks of others.
Identical with, or confusingly similar to WELL-KNOWN MARKS Marks that are identical with or similar to marks that are known internationally and in the Philippines will be refused registration.

Source: IPO

A trademark is considered a very important tool in product or service recognition by the public. It is also considered as one of the primary assets of a business. The registrant can choose to license its use by others at his or her discretion depending on the growth path created for the business.

The Ambos Mundos Restaurant Trademark

The Ambos Mundos Restaurant Trademark has been registered with IPO since the year 2005. It should be noted however that it has been used by the registrant and her family for decades prior to such registration. The trademark registration was specifically sought by the registrant for protection against persons and/or entities that continue to employ all possible means to wrestle ownership and rights to the use of the business name.

In the light of recent developments, there is a need to again emphasize the fact that: There is no legitimate Ambos Mundos Restaurant main outlet or branch existing as of this time. There are persons/entities appropriating the name for their unauthorized use causing much confusion and disinformation in the minds of the public. The business names they are using consisting of Los Ambos Mundos Restaurant and Ambos Mundos Restaurant Inc., clearly infringe on the existing trademark for being confusingly similar. To add insult to injury, they have been seeking to void the trademark registration so they can permanently deprive legitimate owners of its use and thereby claim ownership of a business name, the building of which they had absolutely no part of.

The Intellectual Property Office continues to uphold the validity of the Ambos Mundos Restaurant trademark as registered to Maria Teresa S. Gaudinez. Sadly, legal maneuverings have successfully prevented the rightful owner from using the trade name up to this time.   It is our fervent hope that the Philippine legal system will protect this right all throughout. and allow us to use it without any further threat to its rightful ownership.

This information is being provided so the public may know.

My Say

Since the beginning, I have been "winning" this case in all the venues it was brought to including the DTI Office of Legal Affairs, SEC, Intellectual Property Office, Office of the President, and the Court of Appeals. Sadly, the false claimants to the name of Ambos Mundos Restaurant continue to enjoy the benefits of their illegal act while I can only continue to hope that justice will be served in due time. They have been taking their sweet time making appeals right after each unfavorable decision they get and it seems to be working for them.

It seems that while the case is under appeal, I can only watch them by the sidelines as they promote it as their own on TV and in the Internet in spite of orders from the SEC to change their business name. I even emailed one TV station which featured their lopsided and erroneous version of the Ambos Mundos story to request them to stop further airing of such episodes that can confuse the public, given the ongoing case. That TV station answered to the effect that they had no intention of affecting the case in any way and merely relied on the person they are interviewing for the contents. So when this same TV station aired another Ambos Mundos story through another show of theirs, I suppose they had no same intention, and I say this with much sarcasm.

The media seems to be quite enamored with the idea that Ambos Mundos Restaurant is one of the oldest existing restaurant in the Philippines which is actually a good thing except that these specific episodes are being used by the false claimants to further propagate a lie. This is quite a problem since what is seen on TV is usually taken as the truth so it would be a great service to the public interest if topics presented are researched more thoroughly instead of accepting the interviewees' statements hook, line and sinker.

My opponents in this case are moneyed people. The Ambos Mundos Restaurant page in this blog is but a small voice that seeks to present a side which has long been denied its chance.

That said, I wait for the day that Ambos Mundos Restaurant can finally come home to our family.

family and parenting

Halloween Fun for Filipino Children

6:35 PM

It isn't quite clear when Filipinos started observing Halloween the western style. No matter, it is quite evident that it has become an anticipated yearly event especially for the young children. More than spookiness and fright, Halloween has become synonymous to fun, costumes, and treats.

The Traditional Filipino Halloween

The traditional Filipino style of celebrating Halloween is absolutely different from the western- styled Halloween. There was a time that costumes, pumpkins, and trick-or-treats were practically unheard of at least in relation to this event. Although the fear factor was always there in the minds of children because of the obvious association of cemeteries with the dead, Filipino tradition emphasized providing attention to loved ones who have passed on by visiting cemeteries and offering prayers for the repose of their souls.

School and work schedules are purposely designed to accommodate the expected exodus of families and individuals from their usual place of residence and work in the city to go back to the provinces where resting places of dead relatives are located. This is probably the most ideal time to be in Metro Manila. With less people and vehicles, the only crowded places are found in the vicinity of cemeteries.

By the last week of October, students are having their semestral break while offices are expected to declare non-working holidays a few days before the actual official holiday. If we are to look at the Church calendar, November 1 is designated as All Saints' Day while All Souls' Day falls on the second day of November. By virtue of long-time practice however, November 1 became the official holiday, a time which is expected to be used to visit the dead.

The visit to the cemeteries is usually an occasion for Filipino families to get together with relatives they do not get to see regularly. Flowers and candles are the primary requirements for the day while food and some form of entertainment became necessary elements for the occasion. Because of the renewed interest in preserving the solemnity of cemeteries, loud music and other activities that may result to disturbance are highly discouraged if not banned.

Shopping for Costumes

The Westernization of Filipino Halloween

The traditional practices of Filipinos during this time of the year have been fortunately preserved. However, a new tradition has emerged with the commercialization of Trick-or-Treat events as observed in the wide availability of Halloween decors, costumes, and other paraphernalia. Commercial establishments are organizing Halloween events one after the other. Although western countries usually hold their Trick-or-Treat events on October 31, some do it here several days earlier because of the standing priority of going to cemeteries. The Filipino family quickly adopted the practice and Halloween produced another meaning for children which is fun.

Exclusive, posh villages and subdivisions were the ones who initiated the practice here in the Philippines. The celebrations they came up with created such a stir that soon other places followed suit. One of the more popular Halloween celebrations is that of Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City. It became so popular that outsiders or non-residents of the village want to be part of it as well.

Now, we see Halloween celebrations in many barangays and residential places all over the country and of varying economic levels. Halloween became another excuse for festive activities signalling the coming of more joyous activities for children on Christmas. Like in most foreign things we've adopted , we tend to do it in more ways than one and sometimes surpass the original.

Lining up for the Goodies

My Say

Personally, I don't see anything wrong in adopting the Halloween practice in the spirit of fun. Parents will always try to find opportunities for clean fun for their children and Halloween is just another option among many. It is a fact however that this kind of activity entails cost . Ready made costumes do not come cheap and children are happier when goodies come in larger quantities and in better quality.

It is therefore wise for Halloween event organizers to come up with ideas that will encourage more fun and creativity while discouraging wasteful expenses. Exclusive villages should also realize that there is a reason why outsiders especially those that belong to lower income groups would like to be part of their activities. That is the reality that there are people who are experiencing so much lack in material things amidst the abundance of a few that partaking of a few moments of fun and goodies become a much-awaited event.

That said, we should be aware that there appears to be certain reservations if not disapproval from the religious sector of the practice of Halloween because of its supposed association to the occult which many contradict. The decision to allow children to join Halloween celebrations is primarily a personal parental decision. It is safe to say however that Halloween fun for the Filipino children, at least in the eyes of the children themselves is simply the chance to go around in costumes and get treats.

love story

Our Love Story

8:52 AM

Ramon and Teresa

We grew up in two different worlds,

Our paths almost did not cross,

But one surprise was hurled,

And that one chance was not lost.

R: I was a regular 16-year old boy, fresh out of high school. My thoughts were on getting a college education and nothing else. I was totally unattached romantically as it was probably the farthest thing from my mind.

T: I was a mother at 16 and was committed to someone. My parents extended me a lifeline by allowing me to finish my college education. I took the chance for my daughter at the cost of making a personal sacrifice of a mutually agreed temporary separation.

R: I first saw her when we took our entrance examinations for college. I thought she was a vision in white. For some unknown reason, I made a mental note of her name.

T: I took the entrance examinations with nothing in mind but to finish college in the fastest possible time. I was hoping for a promise to be fulfilled. I was oblivious to anything else.

R: It was the first day of classes. I found my name in two sections and quickly scanned each for her name. I found it in one list and reported to that class and we became classmates.

T: I reported to class on the first day with mixed feelings of excitement and apprehension. I introduced myself to the class and told them about my child. It felt good to be in school again.

R: I felt a tinge of regret when I heard what she said but accepted the fact for what it was. I contented myself with being her classmate. Because of the alphabetical seating arrangement, she was always in front of me and because of that we often had the chance to talk. She was nice to me as she was with everybody else. I would sometimes see him fetching her from school and they looked happy together. In a way, I was happy for her too.

T: The separation appeared to be taking its toll in my relationship. In the third year of college, I was having some serious doubts about the fidelity of the father of my child. It was a suspicion that will soon find its confirmation. The betrayal came and the pain dulled my senses and was literally sucking the life out of me. First, I felt hopelessness and then anger that remained with me for so many years. This time the separation was permanent.

R: Sometime during third year college, I sensed a different kind of sadness about her. Even when she was laughing in class with the rest of us, she looked different. I also noticed that he was no longer fetching her. I wonder if that has anything to do with her unexplained sadness but I dare not ask as I knew it was too personal.

R: It was getting near our graduation. Somehow I knew he was gone from her life. I wondered if I can call her. I have been saving her number which I got when we worked on a project together. I was afraid that we will not see each other again after graduation and so I had to try. Although obviously surprised with my call, she talked with me and answered my pretend questions about our assignments. I would call her every time I summoned enough courage to do so which was not often as I was running out of reasons to call her. She would talk to me and I was happy.

T: I really didn't know how to feel about his calls. I wasn't sure where all of these was leading to. I was just happy to have someone to talk to.

Graduation came and went and we were not to see each other again until about more than a year after. We concentrated in finding work and would just talk to each other over the phone sharing our experiences in job hunting and eventually our work. The calls became more regular, expected even, and everything went well with us as friends. Then the unexpected happened...

R: One day, I called her up as usual but to my great alarm, I was informed by the one who answered that she no longer lived there. Apparently, she went with her father, two siblings and her daughter to live in their restaurant. I panicked and felt an urgency to finally let her know how I really felt. After pleading for her contact number from the one who answered my call, I called her up and felt an immense sense of relief from hearing her voice. I asked her permission to visit her which she gave with a warning that her father may not welcome such a visit.

T: Our family was undergoing a very stressful situation during this time as my father was given only six months to live because of his sickness. A visiting suitor was probably the least expected to come at this time. To my surprise however, my father simply said yes when I asked his permission. Wonders never cease!

And so it came to pass that after five years of friendship, our relationship evolved into a romantic one. We dated exclusively for ten years and watched our friends get married one after the other. Our situation was a lot complicated than theirs so we found ourselves holding back. Fifteen years ago today, we finally took the marital plunge.

It was one of the most solemn and beautiful weddings if we may say so, not because it was extravagant but because of the emotions that it had been given not only by us but also by our guests and the officiating priest who knew what we went through to get to that day. In our fifteen years of marriage, we have literally gone through the lines contained in the marital vow "for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health...".

Every day of that fifteen years represented our triumph over the various challenges we have to face. These years were nowhere perfect and that is why we are thankful we are still together. We are thankful that we have not given up.

Our Say

Five years of friendship, ten years of engagement, and fifteen years of marriage equal thirty years worth of a love story. We hope it isn't too much to ask for thirty more years together in this world. By then, we would have readied part two of this story.

- Ramon and Teresa