Norsk Barnemuseum (The Norwegian Children's Museum)

Norsk Barnemuseum is a unique place for experiences and activities around childhood and children's culture. All members of the family enjoy themselves here.




Norwegian Children's Museum is the greatest playpen in Norway for children ages 5 to 12. In fact, it is one of the best children's museums in all of Europe. Exhibits center around almost anything related to children.



You get documentation and exhibitions, of course, but the museum also satisfies a kid's desire to play with toys -- it has the largest collection in the country. Storytelling and performances for children are also staged here.



A children's museum also evokes nostalgia and the recollection of one's own childhood. You will walk through the maze of growing up in a museum world of exhibitions, activities and theatre.





Activities include climbing up into the "Scary Attic" or visiting a secret treehouse, or kids can even embark on a journey in a toy box or whisper into "a bag of secrets."



You can paint or draw in the Workshop or embark on a Journey in the Toy Box. In the Labyrinth, you can discover new aspects of childhood, and old toys will take you back in time to your own childhood. Café and gift shop.




This is very much a hands-on museum for kids, who are allowed to play with toys as well as paint, sing, write, or whatever. The museum also has more serious exhibits dealing with children's rights around the world.




It is open Tuesday - Saturday all year round: 11.00-16.00. Sundays: 12.00-17.00. During school holidays the museum is open every day.

Holy Week in the Philippines

As a nation that highly values religious traditions, Holy Week in the Philippines is celebrated in total solemnity.

Holy Week in the Philippines officially started today, Palm Sunday. People heard mass and brought along their "palaspas" as a tradition inherited during Jesus' time. These "palaspas" after being blessed at the church will be displayed usually near the front door and windows of homes in the belief that they will ward off evil souls and bad luck from entering their homes. After Sunday, offices will only be open for two days since today, Monday, was declared holiday by the Philippine Government to celebrate our "Araw ng Kagitingan" (Day of Valor) holiday.

It's my first time to celebrate holy week in Norway. I attended the christian mass in the morning together with some of my kababayans that I just recently met. I didn't understand anything because the Pastor is using a norwegian language. They have a different way of celebrating the Palm Sunday... there's no usual "palaspas" like what the catholics have. In the afternoon, around 3pm, I'm very lucky that for the first time, I attended a filipino mass in Stavanger. I can't put it into words... when I went inside, I saw that 90% of the people are Filipinos... even the priest is a Filipino and talking in Tagalog. People carry their own "palaspas"... like the traditional way of celebrating it in the Philippines.

I remember, when holy week is coming, due to several non-working holidays, we can expect people to start up filling bus stations and national highways going home to their provinces or just maximizing their holidays by going to beach resorts, pools and other tourist destinations. Traffic jams will switch from EDSA to the North and South Expressways and other national highways. People will crowd at the usual swimming destinations and you could hear events being advertised which will take place at the famous beaches in Boracay and Puerto Galera.

Growing up my brother and I would line the streets with candles, waiting for bloodletting to begin… yep, bloodletting. Beginning at noon on Friday, we would see several men naked from the waist up and walking barefoot as they scourge themselves with ropes or bamboo sticks. It’s a form of atonement for their sins, we were told. The pinacle of this is hanging several men on crosses as a reenactment of Jesus’ crucifixion. All across town, there are dramatizations and reciting of the passion of Christ. All across the nation, the lent is celebrated with fervor and solemnity.

In reality, Holy Week in the Philippines is now different compared to 5 or 10 years ago. Before, Holy Week, people are busy preparing for Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday at their respective parishes. Washing of the feet, Seven Last Words, Way of the Cross, "Pasyon", "Bisita Iglesia" and "Salubong" are the activities that highlight Holy Week Celebration. Now, although we still see people joining these activities, its very obvious that hotels and resorts are more jampacked compared to churches. Try calling or booking rooms at beaches, resorts and even swimming pools and you will be extremely lucky to get a room.

Honestly, Holy Week is one of the long celebrations that people take advantage to get a pause from the stress and pressures from their work. It's not that they don't respect Holy Week celebration anymore, its just that people say they badly need the vacation to relieve stress.

Times have changed and I wish that Holy Week tradition will still be here when my son grow up. Hopefully, people can adapt better and celebrate the Lenten Season more than just going to the beach. I don't know how will the church adapt to the changing times, but I hope people will at least remember the true meaning of the season. They say that Easter Sunday is more important than Christmas because although we celebrate Jesus' birth in Christmas, we must also celebrate His Rising from the dead during Easter Sunday. And we should always remember his sufferings and sacrifices to save us all and give us a second chance from our sins.

Norsk way of life...

I arrived here in Stavanger, Norway last January 24, 2010. I was so shocked during my first day because I arrived around 3 o’clock in the afternoon, I see snow everywhere and sunset is around 5 o’clock, a bit early for me. I was not able to sleep early that day maybe because of jet lag . Sunrise is at 9 o’clock. My husband made sure to orient me carefully on the day-to-day living in Stavanger particularly the garbage segregation and the opening and closing of stores (unfortunately here in Stavanger, shops are open Mondays thru Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. only). My husband enrolled me in a Norsk Language Course so that I will be able to survive here in the Norsk-speaking part of Stavanger (South part of Norway). Speaking Norsk is very important if you want to get a job. Going back to school, I got to meet and be acquainted with my fellow Non-European classmates from Asia, Africa, Pakistan and South America. We all had varying personalities and we try to adapt to each other’s mood swings whenever we interact. Since I have a fellow Filipina with me in the Programme, I am so lucky to still speak Filipino everyday.

The differences from our country I have noticed after almost 2 months of being here in Stavabger are:
(1) The weather, it is now winter and before I can get out of the house, I have to wear so many layers of clothing before I can do my grocery shopping or even go to school.
(2) The language, I realized that I still have to learn a lot by really speaking their native tongue.
(3) The discipline among Norsk, since here I really had to cross in pedestrian lanes and always bring my Identity papers wherever I go.
(4) The way of learning, as my Programme is on a per Module basis. Teachers used Norsk language inside the classroom.
(5) The cost of living, as the prices of food and basic stuff are more expensive than in the Philippines.
(6) The air quality here is much better than in Manila. Cars are expensive and petrol is 1.35 krone per liter).
(7) Norsk do not eat rice three times a day, mashed potatoes and sandwiches are mostly their everyday meal.

I love the hundreds of lakes in Norway. I treasure my walks. I find it a waste to spend a beautiful day indoors. I see how people here in Norway value beautiful sunny days by spending time walking at the lake, by surfing or by picnicking. The modes of transportation are also very helpful. While back home I had to wake up very early in case of traffic, in Norway all I’ve got to do is allot at least half an hour before my class or appointment.

There are few Catholic Churches here in Stavanger, Norway but since the mass is in Norsk, I still cannot attend every week. Good thing I have met a lot of Filipinos who have stayed here for so many years already and once a month, they organize an English Mass officiated by a Filipino priest. Even if trams and buses abound, bicycling is still better because it is relatively cheaper and biking lanes are really in place. I haven't tried riding any public vehicle yet because my husband always drove me to school since he's still on vacation now. My classmate told me that one ride in a tram will already cost 45 pesos in the Philippines even if you're only going to the train station.

Exposing to Norsk way of life is an amazing experience for me. Hopefully, more Filipinos will be given a chance to visit/stay in the land of milk and honey on the years to come, for them to experience the joys and sorrows of living in Europe.

Garbage problem!!! ACT now!

I'll never forget Ondoy (Ketsana) and Pepeng (Parma) that badly hit the Philippines last year. They left hundreds dead, thousands homeless and millions and billions worth of properties lost.

Global warming made these typhoons the monsters that they are. I’m not so keen with the details but I suspect that the slight increase of water temperatures fueled these typhoons and while you may be thinking that “what’s a slight increase of temperature makes as a difference”, I suggest you review some chemistry and do some math and then come back with the numbers. (hint: Specific heat capacity)

So, what should we do about it? What can we do about it? A lot thinks that the elections this coming 2010 will be a turning point for our country’s environmental policies. After all, the government plays a very big role in affecting a lot of things. Why not start with our garbage disposal? Have a policy for collection such that people will be forced to segregate their trash. What’s the use of segregating your trash when you see the trash collectors just dump them all together?


In Norway, if the garbage collectors see that your trash is not segregated properly, they will leave your trash bag on your doorstep. Yes, even if your doorstep is some 50 meters away from your trash bin, they will take it there.


Then again, these are things that is a little bit beyond our reaches and the only thing we can do to affect change for the coming elections is to vote wisely. And I don’t like not being able to do anything else than that.

We can all help out. Trash is a very big problem. We should start reducing our own trash and dispose of them responsibly. At least, don’t throw them anywhere. A little plastic wrapping does not hurt your pockets when you put them there, does it?

I think a lot of us have forgotten that whatever we do and whatever we fail to do has an effect on everyone. After all, no man is an island. Even if you did live in an island, whatever happens in that island affects everyone else in the whole world.

We all made the world change. We might as well change it again.

My son and I love the BARNEHAGE (kindergarten) in Norway.

Everyday when I pass by a large two-story building with loads of windows, a large playground to pick up my son, I always hear the sound of laughing children in the air. This “barnehage” (child care center) was one of Norway’s many government-sponsored and subsidized child care programs. Over 76 percent of Norwegian children ages 1 to 5 are enrolled in one of these high-quality, low-cost centers, and according to the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research :

“Good day-care facilities are a pivotal factor in the participation of parents in the workforce. Good day-care facilities are also important in the context of lifelong learning, and are viewed as a voluntary start to a child’s education. Day-care institutions in Norway are educational institutions, and must comply with established national standards regarding pedagogical content. Day-care programmes are meaningful in a preventative context and provide an arena for early integration children of different ethnic backgrounds, languages and cultures. Day-care programmes also help to promote social equality.”

Child care in Norway, as in most of Scandinavia, is, as stated above, high quality, affordable (in Norway, cost is approximately $300 USD per month), and relatively accessible (long waitlists are standard). I want to promote the concept that if parents are supported in this particularly personal and critical component of their working lives, how quickly they can return to their organizations and continue contributing.

Unemployment in Norway is 5 percent, which while higher in recent months because of the global economics status, has remained stable. One does not hear of Norwegian families having to withdraw their children from high-quality child care programs because they have lost their jobs. These Norwegian (wouldn’t it be nice to substitute Filipinos here) worker/parents can focus on their work responsibilities and not be concerned that their child care situation will ever be threatened. The concept of supporting working families is clearly global. We should take advantage of learning from other countries and integrate the best ideas where possible.

For this, and so many other things - I am grateful that my son's kindergarten is so nurturing, inclusive and aware for my son. It is a combination of great teaching, love and attention to each child that makes it such a special place. This also explains my sons need to wash his hands before and after eating, respect other kids and share what he has to other kids.

I'm thankful for having a school so special for us. These past week, Zander has learned to identify colors, he has learned songs and dances, he has learned to be creative by using the play dough, - and so much more.

Zander's Barnehage (Kindergarten)

The following pictures are owned by Espira Barnehage

Espira Ormadalen nursery is flexible, modern and forward-looking. They have 130 children aged 0-6 years. These have been named after insects that live in the "valley", namely Spider.


Espira Ormadalen nursery is located just near Orstad Sport on Klepp, ca. 10 min. walk from the train station. It borders the beautiful open spaces, and a portion of the site include retained as a natural site. They have a large and comprehensive outdoor area with exciting play equipment and they even have their own barbecue area.


Their vision is simple to understand. The goal in this kindergarten is to create a happy and safe life for our children.


If children are outside or inside, whether they cry or laugh, they will be in a safe environment with adults who care about and take care of them.




Their vision also includes their commitment to natural, environmental and outdoor activities. Children who will unfold in nature and becomes conscious of the environment is even a win through to cope and contribute.