Keeping it all together: the Family Bonding website

All work and no play makes Jill a dull girl. Sadly, this is the reality in present times -  not just among individuals, but within the family, the basic unit of Philippine society. In our quest to pay the bills and keep body and soul together, some things have to be sacrificed, like precious  time with our loved ones. That is why a proper work-life balance must always be achieved.

I am actually reminded of a study I chanced upon recently. It’s called “The Vanishing Values of the Filipino Family.” These were the results of the survey conducted by Alveo Land, a subsidiary of Ayala Land, among their clients and other interest groups. The results were no less unnerving. It found out that:

- Nine out of 10 Filipinos believe that social values are already disappearing in the Philippines, foremost among them respect for others, and especially elders. Only one out of five perceived their parents to be worth emulating.

- There is hardly time for family bonding. About 60 per cent of Filipino home owners are working overtime. Roughly half of those surveyed spend less than four hours a day with their children, and one out of five Filipino spouses do not spend any time at all with their partners. As a result, couples now argue about their lack of time together, more than arguing about finances or differences in parenting styles. This is worsened by the fact that 50 per cent of Filipino families don’t go out for family vacations.

- One fourth of the respondents feel that health and fitness is an important aspect missing in their lives, and half of the population confess to not having any health or relaxation activities at all (unless you find staring at the computer a detressing activity).

- One third of all Filipino homeowners feel unsafe in their communities. Among such attributes as orderliness, accessibility and the like, safety and security in the community is the most underserved need.

- The last concern was the lack of religious expression. One out of every five Filipinos no longer attend church of any kind. The urge to do good deeds and perform charitable acts is strong within Filipino families; however, this desire is not necessarily backed up with concrete follow-up action.

What is good is that the Ayala real estate group has launched its parenting portal through its  masterplanned suburban project, the Verdana Homes Mamplasan in Laguna. I checked out the site at familybonding.com.ph and found it awash with useful tips and family-oriented activities you can do to benefit your children.

Among the components of the website are Tips for Families, a Family Calendar for posting of related activities, a Family Forum for the discussion of important topics, the  Family Blogs where one can share stories and online Polls.

Users can have real online interaction with fellow parents so that you can share common concerns and be each other’s support network. Aside from this, the Verdana Homes people also conduct live coffee talks and on-site activities to bring parents, their children and the extended family together.

“No one can deny the popularity of the Internet. Instead of treating this medium as an enemy, we utilize this influential medium to provide more expedient, but nonetheless sincere and exciting ways for urban Filipino families to bond,” explains Jennyle S. Tupaz, Alveo Land’s Division Manager for Project Development.

It is nice to see companies like Alveo Land take the initiative to push for the preservation of the Filipino family. We’ve always admired Alveo projects for their top-of-the-line amenities and comprehensive approach to housing. This approach makes sure that no man is ever an island, but lives harmoniously with the greater community. With Family Bonding, we can now see all of their nurturing action on the Web.

Dalaw na!

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