“Suspended!!!”, a happy face is always attached to this word when I hear my schoolmates along the corridors shout it endlessly. I guess it’s why students love typhoons, it gives them one free day to stop classes and go home. During my days as a student, my peers and I love hearing the word “suspended!” We anticipate our teachers announce this breaking news whenever there’s a storm.

Now that I’m finished with the chapter of being a student, I recall my attitude towards typhoons in our country. I realize that I was so selfish. I only thought of what I could gain and what will make me happy at that certain period. I didn’t actually understand the realities of what typhoons bring to the country. I know, that was being apathetic and selfish of me.

Today, Filipinos are experiencing another typhoon in the country, Typhoon Maring. This typhoon is a tropical storm affecting Pangasinan, Benguet, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro and Metro Manila with moderate to heavy rainfall. It gives me the chills when I watch the news and see families losing their homes, children swimming in the flood, houses drowning and what’s worse is people killed due to this drastic typhoon. The rain is furious and intense.

I praise our heavenly God who created the earth for sparing me and my loved ones from this tragic typhoon. He placed us in a home that is not affected by severe flood and allowed our workplace to be free from any calamity as well.

I am reminded once again that my treasures here on earth is not What I have, but Who I have.

With that said, I have some tips and suggestions on What to do with your loved ones while your work or class is suspended.

1) If you are bored, then off to play board games with your folks. The iPhone generation might find this ‘old school’. Haha! But who cares, once the electricity runs out and their iPhones run out of battery, those little ones will resort to playing board games.
You can’t beat old school!

2) Watch some movies in your family room or wherever the TV is. Torrent is not far away from you. Download in just an hour and your movie is ready to be shown.

If you still want to take a risk to go to the cinemas, then it’s your call.

3) Use the kitchen and have your own Master Chef using the ingredients you have in your fridge and kitchen cabinet. Try to be resourceful and make use of whatever you have there. Be creative! Let the chef in you come out. Who knows, you might discover you have the gift of cooking and not just eating!

4) Bond over Food. My favorite bonding with my family!!! 🙂 It doesn’t need to be extravagant nor expensive, simple snacks to unite the family will do help a lot. Conversations plus food is good enough to catch up with them.

5) Hmmm…. I can’t think anymore. This is your part, to custom fit this day for your family.

I think the best thing to do today is to spend TIME with your loved ones.

Make them feel important today.

Tell them how much you love them.

Am I hearing a deep breath here? I know it’s easier said than done but it’s worth doing than saying!

So… what are you waiting for?

Turn off your computer and shift your attention to the people close to you.

Cheers,