Even before Tala and Jose were born, Mike and Pia already had a plan on how to choose the godparents of their children.
1. First, Mike and Pia would choose all their siblings as the godparents for their first born. They made no assumption that they would have more than one child, even though they hoped for more than one.
2. If or when they are blessed with another child, they would choose the wives or husbands of all their siblings as godparents for their second child.
3. If a sibling (godparent to their first born) is unmarried, they would choose their sibling's fiancee or girlfriend/boyfriend as a godparent. In the absence of a significant other, Mike and Pia would choose from their close family friends.
4. The subsequent child or children of Mike and Pia may have more ninongs and ninangs (but never less) than their older child or children.
Thus for Tala, her godparents are five:
1. Mike's younger brother and sister
2. Pia's older sister and younger brother and sister.
For Jose, his godparents are eight:
1. Husband and wife of Mike's younger sister and brother, respectively.
2. Fiancee (now wife) of Pia's younger brother.
3. Three of Mike oldest school friends and two of Pia's co-shepherds.
UPDATE (2015):
Tala asked why Jose had more Ninongs.
Depending on their ages, we will have to explain to Tala and Jose both the Catholic rules on godparents and the cultural peculiarities of certain Filipino communities.
First, how many? Catholic canon says "One sponsor, male or female, is sufficient; but there may be two, one of each sex."
Second, why so many? Tatay says "It's a matter of culture and security. We intend that there will always be someone to fulfil the duties of godparents to our children, regardless of future eventualities."
Third, why more? Tatay says "We're waiting for your ninangs to get married."
