Gordon underscores hard work and diligence in raising a family

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon has called on more than 400 newly-wed couples to instill among themselves the values of hard work and diligence in raising their families.

Gordon stressed the importance of these values during the yearly mass-wedding in Paranaque City officiated by City Mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr. and sponsored by Vice Mayor Gustavo Tambunting last Feb, 14, Valentine's Day.

"This is the start of a new chapter in your lives as married couples. It is important that you put God at the center of your family and you must also have the values of hard work and diligence so that you may raise your family well," the senator said.

"You should both work hard and work together in building your family. You must let each other grow," he added.

Gordon pointed out that the ingredient to make a marriage work and have a stable family is for the husband and wife to realize and act on their respective roles and responsibilities.

He encouraged the couples to inculcate in their children Christian values that would mold them into better individuals. He also told them, especially the husbands, to work hard to be able to raise their families and ensure that their children would receive formal education.

He stressed that education of the children should still be a priority of every Filipino family because the absence of education would lead to an absence of choice, which results to poverty.

"Poverty is the absence of choice. If we do not strive to give our children the education they need, they would grow illiterate and uninformed on many things, which would lead to a harder life" Gordon said.

"Edukasyon dapat ang No. 1 sa inyong mga priorities. Kaya kayong mga magulang, pilitin ninyo na makapag-aral ang inyong mga anak (Education should be No. 1 on your priorities. That is why parents should strive to send your children to school)," he added.