In our fast-paced world today, the cherished tradition of family mealtimes has taken a backseat to our busy lives. Gathering around the dinner table, sharing stories, and savoring home-cooked meals sometimes feel like a distant memory. But this activity is actually rooted in Filipino culture—we even have a unique term for it: salo-salo.
For Filipinos, salo-salo means more than having a meal together, it's a timeless tradition that strengthens family ties and relationships and even adds a sprinkle of magic to our lives.
To bring families closer and celebrate this togetherness, food brand CDO hosted Tara, Kain Tayo: CDO Family Salo-Salo last September 24, 2023, at Ayala Malls Circuit, Makati City. The daylong event was brimming with excitement, games, opportunities to learn, and a variety of engaging activities for the whole family. It was also live-streamed on CDO's Facebook page and YouTube channel so families at home could tune in and be part of activities.
Hosted by Karen Bordador, the event had a star-studded lineup of speakers, including celebrity parents Julius and Christine Babao, and Dimples Romana and Boyet Ahmee; content creator Ashley Garcia, and child and family expert Dr. Gail Galang.
All of them shared their valuable insights on how to keep family bonds strong in the modern age, offering diverse perspectives and sharing relatable experiences.
Here’s what you missed at Tara, Kain Tayo: CDO Family Salo-Salo:
On effective parenting and the realities of raising a family
At the event, Julius and Christine, a celebrated couple in the Philippine media landscape and parents to two teens, were joined by Dr. Galang, whose expertise includes child psychology, effective parenting strategies, and the cultivation of robust family connections, to discuss the real-life hurdles and challenges faced by Filipino parents today.
According to Dr. Galang, striking the right balance between being a strict parent and a lenient one is a complex but essential aspect of effective parenting. We don’t want to stifle our children's independence and creativity, but we also don’t want them to grow up with a lack of discipline and structure.
“It’s actually not easy being that type of parent,” Dr. Galang explained. “As an adult kasi, you have expectations. If you are a high-achieving adult, gusto mo yung kids mo, they will also achieve, and they will also do better in life. Hindi sila mahihirapan so they can enjoy the lifestyle that you have.”
“Sometimes, parents feel that, ‘When the kids fail, it’s my failure.’ If you detach from that and see the value of failing, it will help them become more resilient, more persevering, and learn life skills,” she continued.
For their part, the Babaos pointed out how parenting has evolved through the years. “Keep in mind na bagong henerasyon ‘to. Hindi na ito yung kinalakihan natin, na tayo po ay napapalo, nakukurot, at nasisigawan ng ating mga magulang. Maging conscious po tayo na iwasan na natin yon,” Julius said.
“Pati yung mga challenges sa kanilang buhay ay maaring maapektuhan ng mga ginagawa natin sa kanila,” he added. “Mas maging mapag-unawa po tayo sa ating mga anak, at mas maging open po yung linya ng komunikasyon natin.”
Christine agreed, saying: “Habaan ang ating pasiyensiya. No judgment. Kung maaari, huwag pagbuhatan ng kamay ang ating mga anak kung sila ay nagkakamali. Kasi kung sila ay pinagalitan ninyo, sinaktan ninyo, dadalhin nila iyan paglaki.”
This tip about maintaining open and honest communication with our children was echoed by Dr. Galang as it allows us to understand our kids’ perspectives, needs, and concerns.
“Listen to them, see if they need help, [but] if they don’t need help, don’t help,” the child and family expert said. “Sometimes, may sinabi lang yung anak na problema niya, difficulty niya, yung parent, you do everything to make it easy. That’s not what they’re looking for. Baka, they’re looking for someone to just listen to them. Now if they ask for help, then help.”
Ultimately, our goal as parents is to create a loving and supportive environment where our kids can learn, grow, and flourish.
On understanding the Filipino youth
Ashley, who effortlessly juggles her roles as a content creator, fashion designer, and college student, talked about the fascinating topic of understanding today’s youth, drawing wisdom from her personal journey.
Kids opening up to their parents about tough topics isn’t easy, but it's crucial when we want to nurture trust and understanding in the family. It takes courage and vulnerability on the child’s part because emotions can sometimes run high.
“Personally, I think there are very different parenting styles. I think to each their own naman pero kailangan mo talaga maging open,” Ashley said. “We can say that Gen Zs are very pragmatic and practical and they care about mental health a lot.”
It's essential to consider each other’s comfort level and boundaries and choose the right time and place for discussions. We also need to take care of how we talk about our kids' physical appearances.
“For example, [when] criticizing your child’s appearance, it’s one thing to care about your child’s health and well-being, pero it would be okay if you are not too critical with what they look like,” she said. “Actually, doon pumapasok yung three-second rule na if the person cannot change it in three seconds, don’t say it anymore. Like for example, yung lipstick sa tooth. Pero yung tigyawat, 'wag mo na lang i-point out.”
When it comes to dealing with disagreements between parents and children, we need to remember that it’s all part of the family journey. These clashes often stem from differing generational views and ways of communicating, so patience, empathy, communication, and most importantly, respect and love are all essential.
“I think conflicts in any relationship naman is normal. I think conflict is healthy, it’s just a matter of perspective lang talaga,” Ashley explained. “If you turn those problems into learnings, and in return, you use yung learnings na ‘to, ma-ca-carry out mo na siya sa buong buhay mo.”
Ashley also shared this tip for the young people in the audience who find themselves in conflict with their parents: “Make it a point to ask forgiveness first. Kahit minsan feeling ko, mali nila. Pero in return, parang wala namang mawawala sa iyo if you say sorry first. I think it will make sense someday. Again, yung mga intentions [ng ating parents] are always coming from a place of love and care.”
On parenting in the digital age
For the final talk during the event, Dimples and Boyet took the stage to discuss the joys and challenges of raising kids in today's tech-savvy world. With phones and tech being an everyday part of life, it’s easy for our children (and us) to get attached to these things.
Dimples narrated how she and her husband learned to navigate this reality with their son: “Si Kuya (the couple’s older son) likes trivial things, so mahirap siya pagbawalan. Magaganda yung mga pinanonood niya eh. Pero, si Boyet kasi, ‘Kuya put down the phone, put the iPad down.’”
“Pero nag-mellow down ako,” Boyet said. “Kasi I came to realize, gadgets, they need it. So, what I do, I grab the basketball and ask him for a one-on-one.”
The couple also underscored the importance of setting ground rules for tech-free meals. With no gadgets to distract us at the dining table, meaningful conversations and connections within the family flourish.
One of the merits of raising a family in the digital age is how technology is helping us parent our children regardless of physical distance. Gadgets allow us to communicate with our kids who are studying in schools far from home, helping us keep our emotional bond strong and offer guidance from afar. However, technology still can’t replace our presence in their lives.
“We literally learned this the hard way,” Dimples said. “Because we don’t instill very strict rules, we let [our kids] thrive, and last time, na-trigger ako.” The celeb mom explained that her husband had to visit their daughter who was in Australia to remind her that what she does still affects the family.
“Listening is very important [dahil] iba-iba rin ang mga bata,” she added. “May mga 18-year-old na marunong na makinig, may mga 18-year-old na hindi pa marunong makinig. You have to adjust. At the end of the day, we course through life based on how we feel. There’s always a conscious effort on how we can listen to them.”
That said, using food to bond with your children is a timeless practice you can do even now. Preparing meals together, sharing family recipes, and enjoying delicious dishes, all of these create precious memories and strengthen family connections. The simple act of sitting down to eat and engaging in conversations fosters a sense of togetherness that lasts a lifetime.
As a final word to the wise, Boyet said: “Do not limit [your kids] because those are the tools they will use in the future. There are pros and cons, and what I like about gadgets now is easily accessible ang mga family members natin na malalayo—like my daughter. Make sure you balance the gadgets, especially within the household.”
Aside from these insightful discussions, the Tara, Kain Tayo: CDO Family Salo-Salo event was chock-full of fun games and activities for the family.
There was the Funtastyk Ring Toss, where players had to shoot rings onto CDO cans, and the exciting Idol Balloon Dart, where popping balloons meant winning fantastic prizes.
Event attendees also got a chance to win exciting Hanabishi prizes during the raffle. Some lucky participants went home with goodies like coffee makers, electric floor fans, rice cookers, oven toasters, and gas stoves. The grand prize winner even received a Samsung 55-inch Smart TV. To keep the fun going, contestants also took part in games like Guess the Emoji and Pinoy Henyo, with mouthwatering CDO food prizes up for grabs.
Food influencers Shine Dee, Jujumao, and "Cooking Ina Master" Hazel Cheffy also attended the event, armed with recipes such as CDO Sweet Ham Sliders, CDO Karne Norte Puff Pockets, and CDO Idol Cheesedog Croquettes. The three demonstrated how to whip up these family-friendly dishes live at the venue.
In an interview during the event, CDO Foodsphere’s VP for Marketing Theresa Chong shared that the event was mounted to promote quality family mealtimes. And, in celebration of Family Month this September, the brand decided that it was the perfect opportunity to have the event on a Sunday, which is regarded as a family day.
According to Chong, CDO realized that establishing family connections has become quite a challenge these days. There's a growing generational gap as parents juggle work commitments and teens and young adults lead their own lives outside of the house. The concept of “family” has evolved as well, expanding beyond the confines of the home.
At the end of the day, Tara, Kain Tayo: CDO Family Salo-Salo reminded everyone of the importance and true essence of salo-salo. This heartwarming practice of eating together as a family is more than just having delicious food; it's about coming together, sharing stories, and creating lasting memories.
Learn more about CDO and its products by checking out CDO’s official website and Facebook.
