The Wen family in China 11-year-old son Zi Xu is a wiz with the Rubik Cube that he uses to relieve himself of the pressure from his demanding mother - (CNA/Media Corp photo)

35-year-old Korean father Doo-hak is extremely demanding of his family. He is a millionaire and owns ten commercial properties and a thriving burger shop business - (CNA/Media Corp photo)

The Philippine's Martinez family is focused on developing their son's theatrical talent - (CNA/Media Corp photo)

The Lokhan family's daughter has a genius IQ of 145. She is qualified to be as an India Mensa candidate - (CNA/Media Corp photo)

Singapore's YAP Family have two talented and creative children that they…. - (CNA/Media Corp photo)

The Wen family in China are people of means. Their focus is on their 11-year-old son Zi Xu - (CNA/Media Corp photo)

Video Beat - ASIA'S FAMILY AFFAIR on DEMAND & CNA (Channel News Asia)

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

Currently CNA (Channel News Asia) is televising a series titled 'Family Affair' that gives viewers an insight to various East Asian families' lifestyles. This show is available ON DEMAND - Follow five Asian families from five countries, as they struggle to determine what's best for their children. How far are Asian parents willing to go to help their children fulfill their hopes and dreams?

Saturday, July 06, 2019 - Update - Tuesday July 23, 2019

AN INSIGHT TO ASIAN CULTURE re EDUCATION

There is a channel in Asia that does an excellent job televising human interest stories…. which is CNA (Channel News Asia). It is a channel that we have seen being televised in Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. They claim to be viewed in most East Asian countries as well as some shows are available on the Internet ON DEMAND.

Currently CNA is televising a series titled 'Family Affair' that gives viewers an insight to various East Asian families' lifestyles. The show is televised Monday evenings with several repeats.

It is also available ON DEMAND. The main focus in the season four is a family's focus on their children's education.

As the powers that be see it in their description, the series puts the spotlight on the difficulties of parenting in fast-changing times. Follow five Asian families from five countries, as they struggle to determine what's best for their children. How far are Asian parents willing to go to help their children fulfill their hopes and dreams?

I accidentally came across this show several years ago and fell in love with it due to one scene I'll never forget. Given that English was spoken I assume that the mother and child were from Singapore.

An apparent 3-4-year-old female child was angry at her mother. While on her back squirming around under a high chair she told her mother… "I don't want you any more." SHE FIRED HER MOTHER!

What makes this season more interesting is the show includes two poor families and their struggles to survive and education is their key to thrive and survive. In this respect the series features the Lokhan family in India and the Martinez family in the Philippines.

Although having six people living in a one room residence the Lokhan family's daughter has a genius IQ of 145 managed to be qualified as an India Mensa candidate. Her grades would entitle her to receive a free college education. In the series she is challenged to maintain her grades while having to live in a crowded, busy one room situation where it is difficult to study.

The Philippine's Martinez family is focused on developing their son's theatrical talent. The mother stretches the family budget to spend money on his training and transportation for auditions while the father makes only $10 a day.

In one instance transportation for and audition cost $27. The upside was the boy is talented enough to be hired. For one job he received $100 but $80 went to talent agents. Still he cleared $20 for a days work compared to his fathers $10.

The series focus is now shifting towards their younger daughter who is felling neglected to all of the attention devoted to her brother. That is the current scenario that is being played out but she is largely ignored by her parents.

Another factor that is interesting about his family is usually when there is video of Philippine families that TV channels televise the focus is largely on how poor they are and their living in squalid conditions. Usually they live in scrap tin and wood structures.

The Martinez family live in a modest two story concrete home that is bare but is functional for their needs. The walls of the house are exposed concrete and not painted. The bottom line is this is a depiction that we have never seen of a struggling but upwardly mobile Philippine family.

The Yap family in Singapore is wealthier. They are upper middle class by Asian standards. The Yaps' have two children. Their daughter has excelled in winning singing contests but got burned out and retired. She now has a renewed interest largely based on mainly to compete with her younger brother who is winning awards that have not been revealed on the series as yet.

The 9-year-old younger brother currently struggles with his studies. The problem is he prefers to spend his time playing computer games or playing on his phone. The parents are challenging him to study more by reducing the time he can spend on playing computer/phone games and devote that time for his studies.

The Wen family in China are also people of means. Their focus is on their 11-year-old son Zi Xu who is very smart BUT is being over worked to study by his demanding mother. He's a wiz with the Rubik Cube that he uses to relieve himself of the pressure from his mother. They often argue while he doesn't hold back from expressing his displeasure.

This young man is, thus far, the most energetic individual in the series. He loves to eat and plays to the camera. He is a sparkplug. He's a miniature tons of fun.

Korea's Song family is the most interesting family overall. The 35-year-old father Doo-hak is excessively demanding. He a millionaire and owns ten commercial properties and a thriving burger shop business. The burger shop is primarily run by his 35-year-old wife who had a child when she was 15-years-old.

Their two daughters also work in the shop. Both want to create their own lives and feel cheated out of their teen years. The eldest is 20 and wants her own bakery business.

The younger daughter is still in school but also works at the shop when finished. She is anxious to pursue her education and get away from the burger shop but the father thinks making money is more important.

Their situation is an interesting dynamic since all have various interests or commitments that is domineered by the father. Basically this is a five in one sided story.

Overall this series is a worth watch for those interested in human interest stories and is ON DEMAND @: cna.asia/family-affair

OF NOTE:

What stands out to me having traveled throughout Asia since 1989 is I have never seen a parent discipline a child by hitting them. As this series exemplifies they reason with the child.

As I rationalize the result is as the children become an adults there is a love and a bond among them.

BE WARNED:

Those based in 3rd world countries where internet technology lacks the speed to view in real time and downloading is required to view, take note. After doing so the sound failed to download.

NOTE of WORTH WATCH DOCS:

1. AL-NAKBA - The conspiracy to create Israel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7FML0wzJ6A

2. The Secret of the Seven Sisters

Four men devising a scheme to take over the Middle East for their OIL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3tGUjGl8AA

3. Persona non grata by oliver stone: =

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKLpDCNBqxg Frontline

4. THE UNITED STATES OF SECRETS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufTEtGQZZ9g

National Radio text is published in five languages, Thai, French, Russian, Khmer (Cambodian language) and English, Any of our foreign language material and our Roman Wanderaugh columns is legally available ONLY on our National Radio site. Our sports, entertainment and feature programming has been broadcast on over 1000 radio stations

© Copyright: National Radio. Any use of these materials, whole or in part, is prohibited unless authorized in writing by National Radio. Contact: nationalradio@yahoo.com All rights reserved.