'Papa Jesus, Please Help Bongbong To Be A Good President For The Philippines,' Says 6-Year-Old Whose Mom Voted For Another Candidate

It's been a week since the elections. While other people are unfriending and blocking each other on social media due to opposing views, a mom reminds parents to focus on instilling good values on their kids. 

A mom from the Smart Parenting Village shared how her daughter responded when she learned about the partial and unofficial results of the 2022 Philippine presidential elections. 

Mommy Jasmin Ledesma Nazareno, 39, from Naic, Cavite shared an anecdote to the private Facebook group of over 80,000 moms and dads. We sought her permission to share her story.

She posted, "My 6yo daughter knows Isko is the presidential candidate I am supporting. After I voted and while having our late dinner she keeps on asking me who's the winner."

She said, "Wala pa, pero mukang meron na, maybe Bongbong."

Her daughter asked her, "Are you sad?"

She said, "A bit... But it's okay. That's life, sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. What we can do right now is to pray that whoever wins will be a good president/leader."

And when they were about to go to sleep, Mommy Jasmine was surprised with her daughter's prayer.

She prayed, "Papa Jesus, please help Bongbong to be a good president for the Philippines."

How to introduce elections to kids

Parents in the SPV lauded Mommy Jasmine for her daughter's response. 

One mom said, "Congrats parents for raising her well."

Another mom said, "You are a good example, mama."

Mommy Jasmine told Smart Parenting that her daughter, Maria Angela, got curious about the elections when she saw the campaign posters outside their home. "My daughter asked me, "Why so many posters in the streets? Dun na nagsimula ang introduction ko sa kanya about campaign and election. I said Filipino people are going to vote for the next president."

"She asked who I am going to vote. I told her I am supporting Mayor Isko, because I believe he's the most qualified. She asked, "Why?" Then I introduced the works of Yorme in Manila through basic explanation that a 6-year-old child would understand," she adds.

Mommy Jasmin said her daughter knew that she was supporting her presidential bet because she has been watching livestreamed videos about the Manila mayor.

"While having dinner, we were watching the news and the partial tally votes coming in. My mom and I were also conversing about it, that was the time she asked me, "Who's winning? Who's the winner?" That time, kahit pala tanggap mo na una palang before election na di mananalo ang candidate mo, makakaramdam ka talaga ng sakit at lungkot," she explains.

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"But I have to tell her what's really happening so I said maybe Bongbong... medyo teary-eyed na ako noon."

That's when Mommy Jasmin learned about how empathetic her daughter has become.

"When I said I was a bit sad, nalungkot din sya. Pero alam ko hindi sya gaano nalungkot dahil sa natalo si Yorme, kasi she's just 6yo at di pa siguro kalawak ang understanding nya about it. Nalungkot siya kasi nalungkot ako, ang Nanay niya."

"Then that's the time I told her to just pray. I told her, "Sometimes we win sometimes we lose." That's what I always tell her kasi whenever she gets disappointed like kapag natatalo siya sa game, etc."

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Mommy Jasmin's proud moment happened when they were about to sleep. "I never thought maaalala nya yung sinabi ko, na whoever wins, we have to pray for him/her. Nung narinig ko yung prayer niya, napaluha ako. Napaka-pure ng puso ng anak. Talagang naniniwala siya sa power of prayers. I was so proud of her and humbled."

We asked Mommy Jasmin what message can she impart to other parents who have yet to explain the election results to their kids.

She said, "Maaaring iba iba tayo ng paraan ng pagpapalaki at pag-didisiplina sa ating mga anak. Maaaring maapektuhan sila ng paraan natin ng pagdedesisyon, kagaya na lamang nitong nakaraang eleksyon. Pero higit sa lahat, ano ba ang goal natin para sa mga anak natin?"

"For me, it is to instill the good values sa pagkatao nila, respeto at pagmamahal. Sa paraan na tama, mabuti at ikalulugod ng Diyos," she adds.

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She also shared how parents can comfort their kids, when they are the ones who are feeling down.

"It is normal to go through the stages of grief like anger and sadness. As our kids go through that, we parents must be there, feeding them hope and positivities."

"Let's guide them as they finally reach acceptance, and continuously learn on how to be a Filipino citizen that loves and respects his country and fellowmen, she adds."

Find out how couples decided who to vote for in the recent elections, here.