MANILA, Philippines --- "Don't be ashamed if you are a househusband. It's only proper for those husbands who do not have work, to do their share by doing the work that is normally being done by women at home so as to also contribute in improving their family life."

This was the advice of Father Edwin Corros, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI), yesterday, on the eve of the celebration of Fathers' Day today.

The CBCP official, noting the increase in the number of househusbands, said husbands should not feel ashamed if they are the ones left at home tending to their kids and doing the household chores instead of their wives.

While there are no exact figures to support the claims, Corros believes that Filipino female migrants - more than 50 percent of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) - are one of the possible reasons of the many househusbands in the country.

But Corros said that since OFWs who are being deployed are not segregated according to their civil status, it would be hard to tell who among them are actually married or single.

"Even if they say that they are married, but they did not disclose that they are separated, that can also be a problem. That's why it's hard to make a generalization, but it's possible that they (househusbands) are many," he said.

Corros said that even here in the country, one will notice that a lot of those employed, particularly in the service sector, are women compared to men. "Since the demand for jobs is changing, women are now more proactive in work than men." "We just don't know if the husbands of these women such as the sales ladies that we see working in malls, are working or not."

Corros urged children of these responsible househusbands to really give honor to their fathers, especially today, Father's Day.

As this developed, fathers are reminded "to follow the example of Saint Joseph," the patron saint of fathers and protector of the family.

"Fathers, like St. Joseph, must be just, honest, fair, humble, patient, gentle, and God-fearing. St. Joseph, as the head of the Holy Family, played an important role in the life of Jesus, much like the essential role and influence of fathers in shaping the lives of their children," Church officials said. "Fathers may invoke him for help, guidance, support, and protection for their families." (With a report from Christina I. Hermoso)