Never too busy for her kids

MANILA, Philippines - A busy schedule is no excuse to neglect your children’s needs. This, Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan knows only too well.

She may have her hands full with yaya seminars, a regular column in this paper and hosting stints for corporate events like the recent launch of Skycable’s Sky Select. But she’s never too busy to make sure her children get just right balance between studying for their homework and exams and TV watching. Maricel also makes sure her little ones don’t stay too long in front of the computer screens at the expense of their studies and other school work.

“The kids can only watch two shows a day,” Maricel reveals one of hers and husband Anthony’s ground rules.

Just to make sure this rule is followed, she and her husband placed the family TV set in the masters bedroom. This way, they can take turns checking on what the children are watching each day. Maricel and Anthony are also assured the children stick to the two-shows-a-day rule. And in fairness to them, they do.

The household rule on TV watching is flexible, though. Maricel makes sure it is. After all, she admits, times have changed. What worked during her time doesn’t apply to her kids anymore.

“You can’t be judgmental,” she explains.

Thus, when they tell her Spongebob Squarepants is a fun way to pass the time away, Maricel doesn’t turn a deaf ear. She sets aside whatever she’s doing and watches the cartoon show with them. Then, she takes the good points from the show and teaches her kids moral values based on it.

“Why, I even quote Spongebob!” says Maricel. Her children get the point at once.

Rule number two in handling media deals on computer use. The Pangilinan children are allowed to take turns on the computer for 30 minutes a day only. Maricel makes sure the kids follow the time limit by checking on the computer’s log in, log out items.

A child who, for some reason, wasn’t able to sit in front of the computer during his or her allotted time, loses his or her turn. How’s that for teaching the values of discipline and waiting in line?

Even the best mom needs help in making sure her growing children are watching the right TV shows at the right time though. Maricel is no exception.

That’s why she welcomes the advent of Skycable’s Digibox, which every Skycable Silver and Gold subscriber can use whenever they turn on their TV set.

The Digibox, which is attached to the TV set, acts as the intelligence center. Through it, concerned parents can check the onscreen program guide that shows the title and synopses of programs currently airing and those that will follow after that.

Based on this, parents can tell if their child will learn and have fun at the same time while watching the show. More importantly, they can tell if the show is wholesome for young eyes to see.

There are program schedules of the channels from Monday to Sunday to parents and their children can schedule their TV viewing. A child-lock feature comes with a password Dad or Mom can create and keep to themselves. This way, Junior will not see the for-adults-only TV-movie Dad watches to relax after a hard day at the office.

A channel surfing organizer lets viewers choose their favorite channels, skip channels they don’t usually watch and rearrange channel listings to their desired sequence for maximum viewing pleasure.

The Digibox also serves as the viewer’s window from which he or she can be transported to a world rich with new sights and sounds to behold.

These come courtesy of six new channels. These are channels deal on history, biography, sports and European news (Euronews). The FX Channel carries edgier shows that cater to sophisticated taste of Asian viewers.

No wonder Maricel is floored.