The Requirement: Role of a Ninang

Filipinos have lots of traditions. One of it is having a "ninong" and "ninang" or Godparents during a child's baptismal. Mostly, the godparents are those you are closest to the parents, it may be a relative or a friend. What are the roles of these godparents? Do a child really need to have them?

Actually, godparents are more famous with Christians. A child having plenty of godparents is considered lucky indeed. Plenty of godparents means abundance in gifts during birthdays and Christmas. Also, godparents serves as the child's second parent. They are there to help the parents mold and guide the child as it grows up. They also extend a helping hand whenever the child have problems that parents couldn't handle. And they are an extension to the family, the more the merrier. You must be wondering why I am talking about grandparents here. Plainly because I am one of them.


This coming July 20 (Monday), I am going to attend a birthday celebration of my "inaanak" or god-child. My god-child is a girl and she is turning 1 year old. It's her first birthday and a gift is a must. Until now, I haven't bought a gift yet! I don't know what to buy. I got no brilliant idea in my mind. I want to buy something she could usefully use. This is the problem that I have been trying to resolve for quiet some time. I must go there with a gift, it's a requirement, or else the child's mother is going to kill me. Oh well, I guess I still have tomorrow to pick up a gift.