When certain concepts and trends in animal behavior is used to explain human behavior, the writer regardless of the background (whether biology or journalism) has to be careful about treading a dangerous line between being misunderstood by the general public or misrepresenting the knowledge in the effort to make it understandable.

Allow me to try this one out about fatherhood in honor of all fathers as the world celebrates Father’s Day on June 20.

As a biologist and behaviorist, I studied proximate (how) and ultimate (why) causes of animal behavior. In this blog, I just want to articulate what might already be apparent to some of us fathers…that fatherhood is a blessing.

For proximate causes, fatherhood confers immediate (short-term) benefits to men that encourage them to take on the challenging role of a father. I have a previous blog that outlines the benefits of being a father that include: making one happier, helping become a better man, improving self-understanding, and enhancing self-actualization. There’s also the benefit of having a readily available stress relief in the scent of one’s baby.

Therefore, despite difficulties, we take the plunge… into an adventure like no other. Not only because of various cultural (including religious) expectations or reasons such as: (1) men should settle down and start a family, (2) raise kids for continuance of the family line, (3) take on the God-given mandate to go forth and multiply, (4) have an insurance to old age, and even (5) add farm or house help, but also there are psychological and physiological advantages manifest in fathers.

Cultural reinforcements or emphasis on continuance of family line is a manifestation of ultimate causes (long-term benefits) to fatherhood. It is desirable for men to start a family as those that have done so are more likely to have representations in the gene pool of the next generations. The behavior of raising healthy and happy children by creating a nurturing family environment makes intuitive sense because these children are more likely to survive and succeed in contributing to the gene pool, which is an ultimate cause.

People may have a variety of reasons in taking the leap into fatherhood. But whether cultural, religious, biological, practical and other personal reasons, fatherhood simply makes sense and is thus a blessing in the long and short of it.

Three cheers to the global brotherhood of men who took on the challenge and keeping on!  Happy Father’s Day!

by Rica Emmanuele

June 5, 2010 - My summer vacation was so fun because we went to a lot of places in the Philippines. We did not ride a plane but we road our car and two ferry boats.

When we reached Luzon, we even had more fun. We saw Butanding (whale shark) and fireflies in Sorsogon. When we were on the boat going to look at the Butanding, I was so excited! We were going to see a real live whale shark at last! I jumped out of the boat two times because I wanted to see it again.

We also rode a boat along a river going to the fireflies. When we saw them, they were on a tree. They looked so beautiful. And because the fireflies are so plenty and they shine so bright, the tree really looked like a Christmas tree.

We also went to San Pablo City to see our cousins Bea and Kuya Adrian, and their parents, Tita Abbie and Tito Alan. They taught me how to ride a bike and to play Wii.

I know how to ride a bike if it has training wheels but their bike has no training wheels, so they taught me how to balance with only two wheels.

The games in their Wii were Wii Sports, Show King and Dragon ball Z. It was fun playing all of them but the best game for me is Wii Sports, especially tennis.

In Los Baños, we saw Lola Net, Lolo Crispin, Tito Ninong, Tita Tin and Tito Jay. Tito Jay taught me how to draw Manga and now I am getting good at it. Tita Tin taught me how to tie my hair and she taught me how to play dress up with matching picture taking.

I met new friends. Their names are Leanne, Utoy, (Leanne’s brother) and JM. Leanne taught me how to play Chinese Garter and Piko. Once, we even played in the UPLB Freedom Park.

Once, I had a sleepover in Forestry. It is where Tita Bing and Tito Jun live. I stayed there for two nights. There were lots of other kids older than me who were staying there.

Sometimes, we go to the swimming pool and play there. Papa also taught us how to swim.

Once or twice or thrice, hmmm I don’t know how many times, we slept in Ninang Amy’s House. She had an air bed and we slept on it. She also has lots of books. Leon and I enjoyed reading some of her books. She also has a chess board but we did not get to play with it. But all of us four kids did play the keyboards with Ninang Amy one night. Everybody likes to poke his or her fingers on the keys to make a sound, no matter how silly, weird or noisy it may come out.  But it was fun!

When it was almost time for school, we transferred to a house that was small. But then, we transferred to a bigger house beside Lake View Hotel. There, I met more people and friends.

Sometimes we play with them and sometimes I get a chance to play in the computer……… but now it is almost time for school and I can’t play much anymore because I have to get ready for it.

My favorite time in summer was when I swam in the pool with my cousins and the time when I met my Titos, Tita, Lolo and Lola again.

I will really miss my 2010 summer. It was so much fun. But I won’t forget that school is also fun……………☺

There is still another summer yet to come!

Goodbye summer 2010!

Hello school! ☺

Note: More photos of Rica's summer activities will be posted in later blogs. So please come back again soon.