Blogging is like an outlet for me to share my feelings and I guess my fears. It's also a way of keeping my writing skills from rusting.
I'm not really good at expressing myself,in writing and especially verbally, I tend to edit my words. What i write and speak does not necessarily reflect my thoughts and feelings. I don't know why but the more I write the more open I become. I now disclose more of what I think and feel. I guess am also thankful that I have friends that push me to work on my blog (thanks you guys",).
For me this is also I way of documenting my journey through life so that when I read again the things I've put here I'll remember the moments,")
Again,Thanks guys for having me here.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
The year
This year is full of travel for me.
I went to Batangas,Lago de Oro, with Eduardo,Janice,Honey and Adam,although we didn't have much fun. First off, half of the day was spent traveling,transfering from jeep to bus to jeep to bus to jeep....ewan. This was around June.Then we weren't able to swim in the South China sea of that resort cause the winds were strong and the waves were big. We ended up just eating a late lunch and swimming in there not so clean and sanitized swimming pool.Although we were able to get free towels...a small consolation for the disappointment. At least we had a stop over in Tagaytay to drink coffee and iced milk in Starbucks, overlooking Taal volcano and lake which was shrouded in mist. THanks Adam for the free drinks,hehehe!
And then for the first time I went to MOA,hehehe! La lang,it's just that we had fun taking pics there.
And yeah we had our pictorials in Fort Santiago and San Agustin Church. Which was fun and some people thought it was in Hongkong because of a shot that Third and Jan choreographed. The one which they had me standing over the wall of the fort overlooking the Pasig River and across the river were the buildings in Quiapo. It was nice cause Third was able to not include in the picture the shanties along the river. That's why people thought it was in Hongkong.
Then we had our team building in Nasugbu,Batangas. It was also fun. Finally I was able to swim in the South China Sea,hahaha!Naunahan ta mo Duard! But the sand was "black" and there was like zero to non-existent waves. But the activities were fun plus the drama, the near drowning and concert (videoke)and the eating and drinking and most especially the company more than made up for the not so nice place. This was in the first week of September.
Then we went to Boracay...Eduardo,the things I had to say and do just so I can join you guys in this extravagant b-day celebration of yours! You guys know that. My rosary,my tears, the rush....haaay!We thought we were already late for our flight and we were like running to the gate and just when we were done with the 2nd inspection we found out that our flight was delayed. And there we were feeling as if we were in the Amazing Race. One Japanese passenger that was also in the flight that we were in got irate with the airline employee because they did not change the status of the flight on their bulletin. They gave us free dinner...ummm I only ate the rice and the sauce of the chicken afritada. And our flight which was supposed to land in Caticlan, ended in Kalibo and we had to take a two hour bus ride from Kalibo to Caticlan. Oh, and by the way Third said the landing of the plane in Kalibo was scary, which sort of escaped me cause I was asleep the entire flight time. I also slept the entire time we were traveling in the bus. We ended up in Boracay already late at night...ummm something like 11:30pm.
My team is planning to go to Puerto Galera for November for another team bonding,hehehe!This is one of the reasons why am having a hard time making up my mind,hey!
Eduardo,Janice and I are thinking of going to Ilocos,though we are not yet sure when,hopefully we can also go to Camarines Sur next year,hay so many plans no money,hehehe!
What a year and it hasn't ended yet!
I went to Batangas,Lago de Oro, with Eduardo,Janice,Honey and Adam,although we didn't have much fun. First off, half of the day was spent traveling,transfering from jeep to bus to jeep to bus to jeep....ewan. This was around June.Then we weren't able to swim in the South China sea of that resort cause the winds were strong and the waves were big. We ended up just eating a late lunch and swimming in there not so clean and sanitized swimming pool.Although we were able to get free towels...a small consolation for the disappointment. At least we had a stop over in Tagaytay to drink coffee and iced milk in Starbucks, overlooking Taal volcano and lake which was shrouded in mist. THanks Adam for the free drinks,hehehe!
And then for the first time I went to MOA,hehehe! La lang,it's just that we had fun taking pics there.
And yeah we had our pictorials in Fort Santiago and San Agustin Church. Which was fun and some people thought it was in Hongkong because of a shot that Third and Jan choreographed. The one which they had me standing over the wall of the fort overlooking the Pasig River and across the river were the buildings in Quiapo. It was nice cause Third was able to not include in the picture the shanties along the river. That's why people thought it was in Hongkong.
Then we had our team building in Nasugbu,Batangas. It was also fun. Finally I was able to swim in the South China Sea,hahaha!Naunahan ta mo Duard! But the sand was "black" and there was like zero to non-existent waves. But the activities were fun plus the drama, the near drowning and concert (videoke)and the eating and drinking and most especially the company more than made up for the not so nice place. This was in the first week of September.
Then we went to Boracay...Eduardo,the things I had to say and do just so I can join you guys in this extravagant b-day celebration of yours! You guys know that. My rosary,my tears, the rush....haaay!We thought we were already late for our flight and we were like running to the gate and just when we were done with the 2nd inspection we found out that our flight was delayed. And there we were feeling as if we were in the Amazing Race. One Japanese passenger that was also in the flight that we were in got irate with the airline employee because they did not change the status of the flight on their bulletin. They gave us free dinner...ummm I only ate the rice and the sauce of the chicken afritada. And our flight which was supposed to land in Caticlan, ended in Kalibo and we had to take a two hour bus ride from Kalibo to Caticlan. Oh, and by the way Third said the landing of the plane in Kalibo was scary, which sort of escaped me cause I was asleep the entire flight time. I also slept the entire time we were traveling in the bus. We ended up in Boracay already late at night...ummm something like 11:30pm.
My team is planning to go to Puerto Galera for November for another team bonding,hehehe!This is one of the reasons why am having a hard time making up my mind,hey!
Eduardo,Janice and I are thinking of going to Ilocos,though we are not yet sure when,hopefully we can also go to Camarines Sur next year,hay so many plans no money,hehehe!
What a year and it hasn't ended yet!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Blog of the month-August
Hay naku!Buwan ng wika.Alam ba natin ang ibig sabihin at kahulugan ng pagdiriwang na ito?Bakit nga ba natin ito ipinagdidiriwang pa?
Bakit pa kung nasa gulang na tatlo o di kaya apat ang salita na mas ginagamit at mas binibigyang halaga na ituro ay ang wikang Ingles. Para san pa at mas may timbang kung magaling kang mag-Ingles, sa trabaho,sa paaralan, sa pagkakaroon ng kaibigan at lalo na sa lipunan. Para san pa at hindi naman lahat ng tao sa ating bansa nagsasalita ng ating Pambansang Wika.Para san pa't hindi nga lahat eh marunong magsalita ng ating Pambansang Wika...mas magaling pa sila sa mga salitang banyaga. Para san pa at kapag sinabing Pambansang Wika ang naiisip agad ay ang salitang Tagalog.
OO,nga at ang mga palabas sa telebisyon ay isinasalin sa salitang Pilipino pero gaano katama ba ang mga tao?Ilan ba ang mga palabas sa telebisyon na angkop sa mga batang manonood ang naipapalabas sa mga istasyon sa ating mga tv?Sayang nga lang at wala na ang mag palabas na nagtuturo ng mabubuting asal ng mga Pilipino,ang mga ugaling Pilipino,lalo na ang paggamit ng salitang Pilipino. Meron pang mga kwentohan at mga bugtong.
Hay!Sayang,sayang at hindi na naabutan ng henerasyon na ito ang mag kwento ni Kuya Bodjie,ang mga karanasan nina Gingging at Ate Ningning.Hindi na sila nakapaglaro kasama sina Pong Pagong at Kiko Matsing,hindi na sila nakasilip sa bolang kristal ni Madam Bola...sayang.
Naalala ko pa dati noong mayroon pang Little Miss Philippines,nagbibilang ang mga bata ng pakanta gaya ng pagbibilang sa palabas na ATBP...ganoon din ang pagsasaulo ng alpabeto.Natutunan nila dun pano magbasa sa wikang Pilipino...sayang talaga.
Ngayon sinasabi natin na mas magaling tayong magsalita ng Ingles kesa sa mga Amerikano kahit na ito ang kanilang pambansang wika....tayo?
Are we proficient and fluent in conversing and speaking in our mother tongue?We don't even know how to speak in our vernacular how much more our so called National Language when a lot of Filipinos still do not accept Pilipino as the National Language saying it's Tagalog.
Hay kailan kaya tayo magkaisa...kailan kaya natin masabing ako ay Pilipino sa isip, sa salita at sa gawa.
Bakit pa kung nasa gulang na tatlo o di kaya apat ang salita na mas ginagamit at mas binibigyang halaga na ituro ay ang wikang Ingles. Para san pa at mas may timbang kung magaling kang mag-Ingles, sa trabaho,sa paaralan, sa pagkakaroon ng kaibigan at lalo na sa lipunan. Para san pa at hindi naman lahat ng tao sa ating bansa nagsasalita ng ating Pambansang Wika.Para san pa't hindi nga lahat eh marunong magsalita ng ating Pambansang Wika...mas magaling pa sila sa mga salitang banyaga. Para san pa at kapag sinabing Pambansang Wika ang naiisip agad ay ang salitang Tagalog.
OO,nga at ang mga palabas sa telebisyon ay isinasalin sa salitang Pilipino pero gaano katama ba ang mga tao?Ilan ba ang mga palabas sa telebisyon na angkop sa mga batang manonood ang naipapalabas sa mga istasyon sa ating mga tv?Sayang nga lang at wala na ang mag palabas na nagtuturo ng mabubuting asal ng mga Pilipino,ang mga ugaling Pilipino,lalo na ang paggamit ng salitang Pilipino. Meron pang mga kwentohan at mga bugtong.
Hay!Sayang,sayang at hindi na naabutan ng henerasyon na ito ang mag kwento ni Kuya Bodjie,ang mga karanasan nina Gingging at Ate Ningning.Hindi na sila nakapaglaro kasama sina Pong Pagong at Kiko Matsing,hindi na sila nakasilip sa bolang kristal ni Madam Bola...sayang.
Naalala ko pa dati noong mayroon pang Little Miss Philippines,nagbibilang ang mga bata ng pakanta gaya ng pagbibilang sa palabas na ATBP...ganoon din ang pagsasaulo ng alpabeto.Natutunan nila dun pano magbasa sa wikang Pilipino...sayang talaga.
Ngayon sinasabi natin na mas magaling tayong magsalita ng Ingles kesa sa mga Amerikano kahit na ito ang kanilang pambansang wika....tayo?
Are we proficient and fluent in conversing and speaking in our mother tongue?We don't even know how to speak in our vernacular how much more our so called National Language when a lot of Filipinos still do not accept Pilipino as the National Language saying it's Tagalog.
Hay kailan kaya tayo magkaisa...kailan kaya natin masabing ako ay Pilipino sa isip, sa salita at sa gawa.
Friday, August 1, 2008
pressure!
Working in a whole new environment and type of job that I really was not prepared for made me realize that no job is an easy job.
People seem to have this belief that working in a call center is easy, the hard part is just the night shift but actually it's not all the glamorous. For me the turning one's self into an owl(sleeping in the day and awake at night) is not worth it. Plus you really don't earn that much.What we the transpo,food and clothes you have to buy and have washed coz you don't have a uniform.
Yeah right...no uniform but have to wear business casual, so one needs to buy more clothes so as not to keep wearing the same clothes every week and fade them out. More blouses,slacks, black shoes and heels...grrr!Things that I don't want to be wearing always!
Plus the pressure...of hitting the goals...helping with the teams variance and all that. Listening to irate callers,"slow" and sometimes callers who are not using their common sense. Thank God I haven't encountered obscene callers,rude yes but bastos not yet and hopefully never.
Hopefully I'll last long enough not to disappoint my family and friends.
This simply is not the kind of job for me. It's hard for me to be short or impatient with people especially the elderly.
I will survive and work hard given the time frame I have given myself.
People seem to have this belief that working in a call center is easy, the hard part is just the night shift but actually it's not all the glamorous. For me the turning one's self into an owl(sleeping in the day and awake at night) is not worth it. Plus you really don't earn that much.What we the transpo,food and clothes you have to buy and have washed coz you don't have a uniform.
Yeah right...no uniform but have to wear business casual, so one needs to buy more clothes so as not to keep wearing the same clothes every week and fade them out. More blouses,slacks, black shoes and heels...grrr!Things that I don't want to be wearing always!
Plus the pressure...of hitting the goals...helping with the teams variance and all that. Listening to irate callers,"slow" and sometimes callers who are not using their common sense. Thank God I haven't encountered obscene callers,rude yes but bastos not yet and hopefully never.
Hopefully I'll last long enough not to disappoint my family and friends.
This simply is not the kind of job for me. It's hard for me to be short or impatient with people especially the elderly.
I will survive and work hard given the time frame I have given myself.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Blog of the Month - Answers
* Why do you think the world is not fair?
The world is not fair because the benefit of one person is a lose of another. For every winner is a loser and it allows us to work harder.
* Which would you choose - the devil or the deep blue sea? Why?
Err... the devil coz you can bargain with? Deep blue sea coz...
* How do you like your death scene would go?
I just want my death to be smooth and painless, not a burden to others and remain beautiful. He he he! As if! Seriously... painless and peaceful... loved and not a burden... basta short, painless and peaceful with my face looking peaceful.
* If you are given a chance to be an undercover agent, what role would you like to take (e.g. Gracie Hart, Josie Geller)?
Gracie Hart... tough and beautiful... wear gorgeous gowns Ü and trained to be a lady... queen. Ü
* If GMA is going to step down as the President and you are to assume her position, what would be the first thing that you'll do as the new leader of the country?
If I'll become the new President, I'll first replace the DOJ Secretary!!! Increase the tax on cigarettes!!! Remove all posters of those that have names and faces of any politician... all in one day! Only mine should be placed everywhere. Ü
* If you are not who you are today, who should you be?
I should be the only daughter of Bill Gates. Ü Running a foundation that helps children with special needs and put Paris Hilton to shame with my fashion and charity works, Ü excluding my movies and shows done to raise funds.
* What do you think is the most abused word that it already lost its essence?
"I love you." It seems these days it's easy to say "I love you" even to strangers and not mean it.
* Which is more logical, love begins with one hello or the trouble with hello is goodbye?
The trouble with hello is goodbye coz one way or another, we say goodbye, may it be due to misunderstanding, distance, communication or death.
* Given the chance to replace one of the judges of the American Idol, whose seat would you want to take and why do you think you're better than him/her?
Randy... coz I don't say "Dawg" in every sentence.
* Who do you think in our class doesn't deserve to be an Apo ni Einstein and who do you think should be there instead of him/her/it?
Either PP or LG. Neil Yee should be there or Menchie Laspoñas.
* Among the TV celebrities, who do you want to be gone for good (from the industry)?
Willy Revillame? Coz he is kinda insulting and bastos and irritable. OA pa!!!
* Given the option to only choose among Philippine showbiz actors, who do you want to be the father of your child?
Dolphy? talent, intelligence and sense of humor. Ü
* If it wouldn't be Jose Rizal, who do you want to be our National Hero?
Andres Bonifacio... Makibaka!!!
* If you are color blind, what is the color of the sky?
White Ü
* What is the thing men could do that women are not capable of?
Give sperm. Ha ha ha!
* Bonus:Sino ang mas matalino, ang pari o ang Igorot?
a. Pari
b. Alkalde
c. Mamamayan
d. Ako
The world is not fair because the benefit of one person is a lose of another. For every winner is a loser and it allows us to work harder.
* Which would you choose - the devil or the deep blue sea? Why?
Err... the devil coz you can bargain with? Deep blue sea coz...
* How do you like your death scene would go?
I just want my death to be smooth and painless, not a burden to others and remain beautiful. He he he! As if! Seriously... painless and peaceful... loved and not a burden... basta short, painless and peaceful with my face looking peaceful.
* If you are given a chance to be an undercover agent, what role would you like to take (e.g. Gracie Hart, Josie Geller)?
Gracie Hart... tough and beautiful... wear gorgeous gowns Ü and trained to be a lady... queen. Ü
* If GMA is going to step down as the President and you are to assume her position, what would be the first thing that you'll do as the new leader of the country?
If I'll become the new President, I'll first replace the DOJ Secretary!!! Increase the tax on cigarettes!!! Remove all posters of those that have names and faces of any politician... all in one day! Only mine should be placed everywhere. Ü
* If you are not who you are today, who should you be?
I should be the only daughter of Bill Gates. Ü Running a foundation that helps children with special needs and put Paris Hilton to shame with my fashion and charity works, Ü excluding my movies and shows done to raise funds.
* What do you think is the most abused word that it already lost its essence?
"I love you." It seems these days it's easy to say "I love you" even to strangers and not mean it.
* Which is more logical, love begins with one hello or the trouble with hello is goodbye?
The trouble with hello is goodbye coz one way or another, we say goodbye, may it be due to misunderstanding, distance, communication or death.
* Given the chance to replace one of the judges of the American Idol, whose seat would you want to take and why do you think you're better than him/her?
Randy... coz I don't say "Dawg" in every sentence.
* Who do you think in our class doesn't deserve to be an Apo ni Einstein and who do you think should be there instead of him/her/it?
Either PP or LG. Neil Yee should be there or Menchie Laspoñas.
* Among the TV celebrities, who do you want to be gone for good (from the industry)?
Willy Revillame? Coz he is kinda insulting and bastos and irritable. OA pa!!!
* Given the option to only choose among Philippine showbiz actors, who do you want to be the father of your child?
Dolphy? talent, intelligence and sense of humor. Ü
* If it wouldn't be Jose Rizal, who do you want to be our National Hero?
Andres Bonifacio... Makibaka!!!
* If you are color blind, what is the color of the sky?
White Ü
* What is the thing men could do that women are not capable of?
Give sperm. Ha ha ha!
* Bonus:Sino ang mas matalino, ang pari o ang Igorot?
a. Pari
b. Alkalde
c. Mamamayan
d. Ako
Friday, June 27, 2008
Blog of the Month -Questions
If you could turn back time what would you change?(you have to change something!)
If you could go back and relive history, what part of history would you want to live in?(history that is written in books)
If you are a magical/mythological creature, what would you be?Why?
Why do you like a particular Roman or Greek God?
Why do older people always say enjoy your youth?Especially your singlehood?
Do you really HAVE to be IN love to get married?(not due to other extenuating circumstances)
What would you want to solve...epidemic,oil spill, or prostitution?Why?
What of the five senses are you willing to give up?Why?
If you have only one of the five senses left what would you chose?Why?
Who would you rather be with?the one you love or the one who loves you?Why?
If you could go back and relive history, what part of history would you want to live in?(history that is written in books)
If you are a magical/mythological creature, what would you be?Why?
Why do you like a particular Roman or Greek God?
Why do older people always say enjoy your youth?Especially your singlehood?
Do you really HAVE to be IN love to get married?(not due to other extenuating circumstances)
What would you want to solve...epidemic,oil spill, or prostitution?Why?
What of the five senses are you willing to give up?Why?
If you have only one of the five senses left what would you chose?Why?
Who would you rather be with?the one you love or the one who loves you?Why?
Blog of the Month -Freedom
Freedom....something that a lot of people have sought for, fought for and died for. Is it all worth it? Is it all worth the sweat, tears and blood? Is it worth sacrificing all that you have?Can one really achieve real, true and absolute freedom?
If absolute power corrupts absolutely, what does absolute freedom result into?Utter chaos? Probably...I remember what happened in Bruce Almighty when Bruce (played by Jim Carey) who took on the role of God granted every people's wish and request...it was chaos.
If we are given absolute freedom, no rules, no restrictions, no nothing....then we would probably end up killing each other, cause nothing can stop us anyway.
What hinders us from having absolute freedom?First our basic humanity...we respect other people and we an innate sense of looking for something, some being or explanation higher than us. Our God (I'm not saying He is made to make people behave)is a higher being that we all look up to and believe in. He gave us the freedom to chose. Freedom to please him or not...Freedom to love him.
Love...we chose who we love but in turn we lose our freedom...in our desire to please we chose to do things the person we love expects of us.
Communal living...in our desire to be accepted by our community we follow what is the norm and what is the "common" or the "usual".
Can we ever truly have freedom?
If absolute power corrupts absolutely, what does absolute freedom result into?Utter chaos? Probably...I remember what happened in Bruce Almighty when Bruce (played by Jim Carey) who took on the role of God granted every people's wish and request...it was chaos.
If we are given absolute freedom, no rules, no restrictions, no nothing....then we would probably end up killing each other, cause nothing can stop us anyway.
What hinders us from having absolute freedom?First our basic humanity...we respect other people and we an innate sense of looking for something, some being or explanation higher than us. Our God (I'm not saying He is made to make people behave)is a higher being that we all look up to and believe in. He gave us the freedom to chose. Freedom to please him or not...Freedom to love him.
Love...we chose who we love but in turn we lose our freedom...in our desire to please we chose to do things the person we love expects of us.
Communal living...in our desire to be accepted by our community we follow what is the norm and what is the "common" or the "usual".
Can we ever truly have freedom?
A New Move(?)
I did not imagine that one day I would end up working in this industry. Not because I don't want to but because I just can't see myself working at night. And doing the same thing over and over again.
Not being a hypocrite the main reason why I am in this industry is because the pay is good,") but it is stressful. it's all new an kinda of challenging especially for someone that is not electronic savy...like me.
Well...anyway as soon as I have what i need and want I'll probably make major moves and decisions in my life,")
Not being a hypocrite the main reason why I am in this industry is because the pay is good,") but it is stressful. it's all new an kinda of challenging especially for someone that is not electronic savy...like me.
Well...anyway as soon as I have what i need and want I'll probably make major moves and decisions in my life,")
Monday, June 2, 2008
Blog of the Month (May) - My Bucket List
Things I want to do and have inmy life before I "kick the bucket"
I wanna have
Go on
Go to
Jerusalem
Be part of
I wanna touch/cuddle
I wanna own
I wanna ride
Janice's Bucket List
Eduardo's Bucket List
Jessa's Bucket List
I wanna have
- a music video
- a documentary
- a portfolio
Go on
- a cruise
- a pilgrimage
- backpacking
- on a safari
Go to
- Vatican City
- an oceanarium
- Greece
- Disneyland
- Warner Bros. Studio
Be part of
- a medical mission
- a charitable institution
- building homes
I wanna touch/cuddle
- a dolphin
- a tiger
- a wolf
- a whale
- a lion
- an eagle
- a bear
I wanna own
- a house with a library, prayer, entertainment and recreation rooms
- a utility vehicle AND a luxury car
- a laptop
- an iPod
- a PSP
- a big flat TV
- an all terrain vehicle
- a beach house
I wanna ride
- a gondola
- a horse
- a balloon
- a fighter jet
- a race car
- a cable car
Janice's Bucket List
Eduardo's Bucket List
Jessa's Bucket List
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
For Now
It’s been ….three, four years since I came back to Butuan from Manila and it has been a really something. I’ve become a bum, a volunteer and a SpEd teacher.
My first six, eight months I was a bum. Well not a bum bum but rather just a bum. I do still have responsibilities at home like washing dishes, folding and sorting clothes, sweeping and polishing the floor and cooking food. Still, I was a bum. Dependent on my parents to give me money for snacks, or if I wanna go out and watch a movie or something. It was really boring. At first, like the first 3-4 weeks, it was fun and relaxing. I mean, you know I don’t have to think about anything but my day to day chores. No pressure, no responsibilities and I don’t have to worry if I have enough money to buy food or fare. But then, I got bored. I felt so cooped inside the house. There were times that I felt suffocated, sometimes feeling like I’d go nuts from doing nothing but sleep and eat. I felt like I’ve read almost all books and magazines inside the house due to boredom. I felt like I’ve memorized all the Harry Potter books we had at that time (which was like books 1-5). And it also felt like my brain’s turning to mush from lack of interaction. So I decided to look for a job or something to do.
So, then I became a volunteer. I applied for a job but the center that I was recommended to didn’t have an opening for a PT at that time so they said I could be a volunteer and I accepted. Well it was helpful. I mean becoming a volunteer helped me coz I could go out of the house at least 3 times a week. I also had money granted the money was still from my parents but at least it was spent on other things not just food. I was not gonna go bananas since I was no longer cooped inside the house. My social skills were being tuned again as I could get to interact with people not my family. I could see and experience things and the happenings beyond my subdivision. I was also able to help and learn in the process. I learned to be patient, more observant and less “demanding”. I also met and interacted with people who had a part in my life. I even became a “volunteer” at the City Social Welfare and Development office with a promise of a job, (how naive of me!) I was able to go to places in Butuan that if it was up to me I wouldn’t be able to go to. I was able to interact with people of different walks of life and different priorities. I was also able to experience what’s it like working for the city government (there was a lot of time wasted, a lot of red tape, catering to politicians and the usual fal de lals of a government agency). Being a volunteer also sort of eased me back into the hustle and bustle of being part of the workforce.
Then I became a SpEd teacher…..the position was offered to me at my lowest and I guess the most vulnerable part of my professional career. I must say, I accepted the offer readily and eagerly. I want to work already! Although I have worked with special children before and I have volunteered in the center for a good, well, more or less six months, it still didn’t prepare me for what a SpEd teacher has to be. When I started, most of the kids enrolled were children with autism. They are kids that usually have impaired social and communication skills ( if you’re really curios about autism you can check my blog on that topic). Anyway, so I’m in a whole new program and the person that was supposed to orient me on the whole SpEd thing was somebody that was also sent as a temporary replacement. Plus she was kinda implementing, errrr... introducing new policies and other stuff. It was kinda fortunate that the kids just got off from summer and some of them were also newcomers to the SpEd program as well. So on my first day, well….let’s just say that after two months I felt like I jumped at the deep end of the ocean. It was both overwhelming and exciting. It was both fun and tiring. I mean when I was a bum I wanted to have mental exercise, well I got it all. As a SpEd teacher I got physical exercises from chasing after hyperactive kids and making them sit on their chair to finish at least one activity. I also got my physical exercise from assisting them in their activities. I got mental exercises from being creative, like thinking of ways and means to make an ordinary lesson interesting to a special child. Be creative like, you know making an ordinary letter identification exciting and not monotonous. And of course we had to incorporate letter writing, coloring, object identification and other artsy stuff. My friends have known me as a very unartistic person so it was quite a challenge for me to be creative and artistic for my lessons. And the paper work to be done was ummm…daunting… I mean a report every weekend on a communication notebook and a formatted paper per child. And I, well, we had to write there on the paper all the activities we did everyday (which by the way had to be like 5-6 activities in a day!policy!) and the child’s responses to the activities and some other stuff. And we had to like personally make the activities everyday! Aaaarrrggghhh!It was really intimidating. So I get rather emotional. I mean as a PT I was more used to the bullet style of writing and here, it was all in paragraph and descriptive form. Plus one tends to get attached to the kids, so if they sort of backslides, I get frustrated especially if it’s a kid assigned to me. I also get really happy when a kid could write his name already and independently. It makes me so proud when a kid could greet me “Good afternoon Teacher Ann” or “I love you Teacher Ann” spontaneously without prompts or cues. It makes everything, all the hard work and tears all worth it just to see a kid achieve something that we regular people all take for granted. It’s really amazing.
But my journey is still not finished. I still have a lot to learn and a lot of things to experience. I hope it’ll be as fun and as exciting as I had gone through the past years.
My first six, eight months I was a bum. Well not a bum bum but rather just a bum. I do still have responsibilities at home like washing dishes, folding and sorting clothes, sweeping and polishing the floor and cooking food. Still, I was a bum. Dependent on my parents to give me money for snacks, or if I wanna go out and watch a movie or something. It was really boring. At first, like the first 3-4 weeks, it was fun and relaxing. I mean, you know I don’t have to think about anything but my day to day chores. No pressure, no responsibilities and I don’t have to worry if I have enough money to buy food or fare. But then, I got bored. I felt so cooped inside the house. There were times that I felt suffocated, sometimes feeling like I’d go nuts from doing nothing but sleep and eat. I felt like I’ve read almost all books and magazines inside the house due to boredom. I felt like I’ve memorized all the Harry Potter books we had at that time (which was like books 1-5). And it also felt like my brain’s turning to mush from lack of interaction. So I decided to look for a job or something to do.
So, then I became a volunteer. I applied for a job but the center that I was recommended to didn’t have an opening for a PT at that time so they said I could be a volunteer and I accepted. Well it was helpful. I mean becoming a volunteer helped me coz I could go out of the house at least 3 times a week. I also had money granted the money was still from my parents but at least it was spent on other things not just food. I was not gonna go bananas since I was no longer cooped inside the house. My social skills were being tuned again as I could get to interact with people not my family. I could see and experience things and the happenings beyond my subdivision. I was also able to help and learn in the process. I learned to be patient, more observant and less “demanding”. I also met and interacted with people who had a part in my life. I even became a “volunteer” at the City Social Welfare and Development office with a promise of a job, (how naive of me!) I was able to go to places in Butuan that if it was up to me I wouldn’t be able to go to. I was able to interact with people of different walks of life and different priorities. I was also able to experience what’s it like working for the city government (there was a lot of time wasted, a lot of red tape, catering to politicians and the usual fal de lals of a government agency). Being a volunteer also sort of eased me back into the hustle and bustle of being part of the workforce.
Then I became a SpEd teacher…..the position was offered to me at my lowest and I guess the most vulnerable part of my professional career. I must say, I accepted the offer readily and eagerly. I want to work already! Although I have worked with special children before and I have volunteered in the center for a good, well, more or less six months, it still didn’t prepare me for what a SpEd teacher has to be. When I started, most of the kids enrolled were children with autism. They are kids that usually have impaired social and communication skills ( if you’re really curios about autism you can check my blog on that topic). Anyway, so I’m in a whole new program and the person that was supposed to orient me on the whole SpEd thing was somebody that was also sent as a temporary replacement. Plus she was kinda implementing, errrr... introducing new policies and other stuff. It was kinda fortunate that the kids just got off from summer and some of them were also newcomers to the SpEd program as well. So on my first day, well….let’s just say that after two months I felt like I jumped at the deep end of the ocean. It was both overwhelming and exciting. It was both fun and tiring. I mean when I was a bum I wanted to have mental exercise, well I got it all. As a SpEd teacher I got physical exercises from chasing after hyperactive kids and making them sit on their chair to finish at least one activity. I also got my physical exercise from assisting them in their activities. I got mental exercises from being creative, like thinking of ways and means to make an ordinary lesson interesting to a special child. Be creative like, you know making an ordinary letter identification exciting and not monotonous. And of course we had to incorporate letter writing, coloring, object identification and other artsy stuff. My friends have known me as a very unartistic person so it was quite a challenge for me to be creative and artistic for my lessons. And the paper work to be done was ummm…daunting… I mean a report every weekend on a communication notebook and a formatted paper per child. And I, well, we had to write there on the paper all the activities we did everyday (which by the way had to be like 5-6 activities in a day!policy!) and the child’s responses to the activities and some other stuff. And we had to like personally make the activities everyday! Aaaarrrggghhh!It was really intimidating. So I get rather emotional. I mean as a PT I was more used to the bullet style of writing and here, it was all in paragraph and descriptive form. Plus one tends to get attached to the kids, so if they sort of backslides, I get frustrated especially if it’s a kid assigned to me. I also get really happy when a kid could write his name already and independently. It makes me so proud when a kid could greet me “Good afternoon Teacher Ann” or “I love you Teacher Ann” spontaneously without prompts or cues. It makes everything, all the hard work and tears all worth it just to see a kid achieve something that we regular people all take for granted. It’s really amazing.
But my journey is still not finished. I still have a lot to learn and a lot of things to experience. I hope it’ll be as fun and as exciting as I had gone through the past years.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The Irony
I’m a Physical Therapist, I graduated from a Physical Therapy program, and I had worked as a Physical Therapist but circumstance and the need to find a paying job landed me as an assistant SpEd teacher. (I guess God also placed me in such position to teach me certain things).
When I was still in school, I told myself I don’t want to be a teacher. I don’t have the diligence and penmanship to be a teacher. I don’t have the creativity needed to be a teacher. I like to cram and I don’t like making projects. I said to myself I want a job that’ll allow me to leave the work at the workplace and just chill at home. Plus, I don’t like wearing uniforms, I mean you know, skirt and blouse and jacket, aarrgghh! And the constant primping and stuff (basing on the “young” teachers in my primary and secondary school days). I mean, even my own teachers who were kinda “old” had to wear make-up and stuff. Teachers had to stay neat and clean and all, which is something I’m not really good at. I mean I’m not mangy and scraggly and all, but if I had to wear white it’ll surely have some dirt at the end of the day. I also felt that I couldn’t behave the way teachers do, all prim and proper, with their bags and umbrella and folders and stuff (yuck!). I like to be able to sit anywhere I want (like the floor!) and I don’t want to be hindered by an itty-bitty bag and a humongous one full of books and folders and student’s paper and all that (bleeh).
When I interned (back when I was in college) in our pediatric clinic, I told myself, I don’t want to work with kids. They cry a lot, they whine, they cry a lot, they spit, they whine, they cry a lot, they drool, they cry a lot. Imagine having a one-hour therapy session with a kid that’s crying all the time (my ears, my ears, save my ears!). And then one had to be really hands-on with them since kids can’t understand verbal instructions (especially coz they’re special kids). And since they cry a lot one had to be extra vigilant in knowing the reason why the kid’s crying. Is the kid hurt? Hungry? Sleepy? Or just being plain manipulative? (I’m gonna go crazy!). And since they’re kids you have to contend with the parents. I have to explain their kid’s condition (especially if it’s their first time), what they need to do, what has to be done and some other stuff. It’s like having a patient times two or three (if Dad’s included) or four (with yaya). Aside from the frustration over a crying or manipulative kid, I also had to face parents that are still in denial, noncompliant caregivers and yayas that think if it’s therapy time it’s their “breaktime” (am I getting bald?).
But lo and behold! I became an assistant SpEd teacher. I accepted the position for several reasons. The most important reason being I want to work, like a real work, with compensations worth the job. Or at least a paying job that allows me to no longer ask money from my parents and at least contribute some amount in the family expenses. So there I was a SpEd teacher.
As a teacher it was rather intimidating and overwhelming. I mean it wasn’t like I didn’t know what the children’s cases were but still to be actually working with them on a daily basis for two hours straight was really daunting. Well granted I wasn’t alone, I mean there were two of us to 3 kids in the morning and 5 kids in the afternoon all with the same diagnosis (on my first semester)and it wasn’t the first time for all of them, still. There were days that I just want to cry. There were also days that I was so overwhelmed, what with the daily preparation of activities which by the way were all made by us, teachers (5-6 paper-pencil based activities), every weekend report to the parents written on a communication notebook and a formatted paper, it was like…what did I got myself into. I mean all my friends know I am not the most creative and here I am drawing shapes and letters and objects and what else. I make cut-outs and stuff for the kids. I was even able to hone my “paluma” skills, hahaha! And am not the most patient person and here I am a teacher, to special kids no less. It was like…what did I get myself into? The things that I told myself I don’t want to do are the things that I’m doing. But at the end of the day (more like at the end of the sem) when you see the progress the child has made, it makes you smile and be proud and say yeah, I had a part in his development.
What’s funny was that when I joined a Christian community, Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon, I was more active than usual at their social program which is involved with young boys ages 5-16. I even became an assistant leader for a time. We’d go to their shelter every third Sunday of the month. The place is like a shelter for abandoned and orphaned young boys. So we’d go there and have some activities like playing with them or watching a movie or doing arts and crafts and stuff. And of course the activities must have a Christian value in it or something. I mean this is not “teacher” thing but it still involves teaching and being responsible for a child’s formation!
And then the irony of it all is that, I accepted an offer to teach anatomy and physiology to a bunch of college kids. Ha! So like I have to make hand-outs for them and study my lessons and study the bones (ah!the late nights!). I had to make quizzes and exams. I had to bring chalk and an extra bag for my stuff. And I have to compute their freaking grades! Getting frustrated every exam time coz like almost half of them failed and like on their midterms only three out of eighteen passed (can I kill somebody?). Thank goodness their quizzes helped in pulling their grades up! An they did well on their two moving exams”,).
Well, it was lots of fun. The whole teaching thing and working with kids was like a roller coaster ride of emotions. The drools and tears (by my special kids) and haggling (by the college kids) there were all worth it (I guess) because at the end of it all I was able to help in molding a young and not so young mind. (,”
When I was still in school, I told myself I don’t want to be a teacher. I don’t have the diligence and penmanship to be a teacher. I don’t have the creativity needed to be a teacher. I like to cram and I don’t like making projects. I said to myself I want a job that’ll allow me to leave the work at the workplace and just chill at home. Plus, I don’t like wearing uniforms, I mean you know, skirt and blouse and jacket, aarrgghh! And the constant primping and stuff (basing on the “young” teachers in my primary and secondary school days). I mean, even my own teachers who were kinda “old” had to wear make-up and stuff. Teachers had to stay neat and clean and all, which is something I’m not really good at. I mean I’m not mangy and scraggly and all, but if I had to wear white it’ll surely have some dirt at the end of the day. I also felt that I couldn’t behave the way teachers do, all prim and proper, with their bags and umbrella and folders and stuff (yuck!). I like to be able to sit anywhere I want (like the floor!) and I don’t want to be hindered by an itty-bitty bag and a humongous one full of books and folders and student’s paper and all that (bleeh).
When I interned (back when I was in college) in our pediatric clinic, I told myself, I don’t want to work with kids. They cry a lot, they whine, they cry a lot, they spit, they whine, they cry a lot, they drool, they cry a lot. Imagine having a one-hour therapy session with a kid that’s crying all the time (my ears, my ears, save my ears!). And then one had to be really hands-on with them since kids can’t understand verbal instructions (especially coz they’re special kids). And since they cry a lot one had to be extra vigilant in knowing the reason why the kid’s crying. Is the kid hurt? Hungry? Sleepy? Or just being plain manipulative? (I’m gonna go crazy!). And since they’re kids you have to contend with the parents. I have to explain their kid’s condition (especially if it’s their first time), what they need to do, what has to be done and some other stuff. It’s like having a patient times two or three (if Dad’s included) or four (with yaya). Aside from the frustration over a crying or manipulative kid, I also had to face parents that are still in denial, noncompliant caregivers and yayas that think if it’s therapy time it’s their “breaktime” (am I getting bald?).
But lo and behold! I became an assistant SpEd teacher. I accepted the position for several reasons. The most important reason being I want to work, like a real work, with compensations worth the job. Or at least a paying job that allows me to no longer ask money from my parents and at least contribute some amount in the family expenses. So there I was a SpEd teacher.
As a teacher it was rather intimidating and overwhelming. I mean it wasn’t like I didn’t know what the children’s cases were but still to be actually working with them on a daily basis for two hours straight was really daunting. Well granted I wasn’t alone, I mean there were two of us to 3 kids in the morning and 5 kids in the afternoon all with the same diagnosis (on my first semester)and it wasn’t the first time for all of them, still. There were days that I just want to cry. There were also days that I was so overwhelmed, what with the daily preparation of activities which by the way were all made by us, teachers (5-6 paper-pencil based activities), every weekend report to the parents written on a communication notebook and a formatted paper, it was like…what did I got myself into. I mean all my friends know I am not the most creative and here I am drawing shapes and letters and objects and what else. I make cut-outs and stuff for the kids. I was even able to hone my “paluma” skills, hahaha! And am not the most patient person and here I am a teacher, to special kids no less. It was like…what did I get myself into? The things that I told myself I don’t want to do are the things that I’m doing. But at the end of the day (more like at the end of the sem) when you see the progress the child has made, it makes you smile and be proud and say yeah, I had a part in his development.
What’s funny was that when I joined a Christian community, Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon, I was more active than usual at their social program which is involved with young boys ages 5-16. I even became an assistant leader for a time. We’d go to their shelter every third Sunday of the month. The place is like a shelter for abandoned and orphaned young boys. So we’d go there and have some activities like playing with them or watching a movie or doing arts and crafts and stuff. And of course the activities must have a Christian value in it or something. I mean this is not “teacher” thing but it still involves teaching and being responsible for a child’s formation!
And then the irony of it all is that, I accepted an offer to teach anatomy and physiology to a bunch of college kids. Ha! So like I have to make hand-outs for them and study my lessons and study the bones (ah!the late nights!). I had to make quizzes and exams. I had to bring chalk and an extra bag for my stuff. And I have to compute their freaking grades! Getting frustrated every exam time coz like almost half of them failed and like on their midterms only three out of eighteen passed (can I kill somebody?). Thank goodness their quizzes helped in pulling their grades up! An they did well on their two moving exams”,).
Well, it was lots of fun. The whole teaching thing and working with kids was like a roller coaster ride of emotions. The drools and tears (by my special kids) and haggling (by the college kids) there were all worth it (I guess) because at the end of it all I was able to help in molding a young and not so young mind. (,”
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
My Thanks
Having time in my hands and somewhat feeling weak emotionally, spiritually and mentally, I thought of the people that has helped me become strong and to continue fighting on and living life. I guess, what I’m trying to say is that I want to thank the people who has in a way influenced me and helped me become who I am now.
Generally of course, I’d like to thank all my teachers from preschool, high school, college and even until the reviews for imparting their knowledge, experience and caring enough to teach the basics of life and in survival. My friends and acquaintances who in one way or another helped me in developing my identity. From my old neighbors to the friends that I had made while vacationing at my father’s hometown and to my present friends and barkada, thank you. To those people who have passed my way though cursory or significantly I also thank you.
There are also people that I want to specifically thank.
First, I want to thank my parents, my father and mother. First for giving me the freedom to understand life and for not restricting my “curiosity”. I want to thank you for always supporting me even though at times I have disappointed you. Thank you for continually being patient and understanding especially in those times when I seem to be lost and confused. Thank you for not pressuring me and for giving me time to come to a decision. Thank you for accepting my decision and for allowing me to return to your fold. Thank you for all the opportunities you have given me like allowing me to go to a school that was kinda far from Butuan, for allowing me to travel to places like Puerto Galera, Tagaytay, Baguio and Ilocos. Thank you for giving me time to breathe and relax. For always being patient and loving and caring, thank you.
To my siblings, though we quarrel and really get on each others nerves, still you loved me and supported me in the things that I do and in the decisions that I have made. Thank you for the times that you have made my life easy. To my sister thank you for letting me borrow your pants (“,). Thank you for helping me in my school projects that requires artistry and excellent fine motor control. Thank you for your patience and for being considerate. I’m sorry for the times that I’ve been a bitch to you. To Kuya thank you for the use of your phone(“,). Thank for the discman and all the gadgets and books that I have that you financed in buying. Thank you for the words of encouragement and wisdom (hehehe!). To my little brother, thank you for the times that you have been a driver and my sundo(“,). Thank you also for your patience especially in teaching me how to play the guitar which until now I still don’t know how. Thank you for teaching us how to drive the car even though your Ditse crashed it into a tree. Thank you for being my errand boy(“,)
To Eduardo, thank you for listening to me, for putting up with my idiosyncrasies and sarcasm. Thank you for sticking with me and for considering me your bestfriend. Thank you for doggedly keeping in touch with me even though I tend to be uncommunicative and not sociable. Thank you for putting up with me and pressuring me to do the best that I could in what I have to do. For all the trust and for always taking me along in your projects and ideas. Thank you for always updating my friendster and multiply account hehehe! Thank you for staying as my friend. Thank you for your faith in me.
To Berna, thank you for accepting me as your friend. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your life and for teaching me to be calm and patient. Thank you for your patience and trust. You know that you are the closest friend I have since college. Thank you for letting me bother you in times of distress and boredom(“,). Thank you for not allowing myself to wallow in misery and self-pity. You know that you are one of the very few people who had the patience to stay around me. You have helped a lot in coping with the stress of being away from my family. Thank you for always being there for me.
To Pauline, thank you for introducing me to Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon, which in a way helped me in understanding and communicating with God. Thank you for the people that you have introduced me to. Thank you for teaching me to be more approachable. And thank you for believing that I can take the responsibility of one of your projects in Lingkod. Thank you for the trust.
To my auntie-cousin, Te, thank you for always keeping in touch and for listening. I will always remember our walkathon in Ayala(“,). And our sitting around doing nothing but talk and discuss life. Thanks for being my ate.
To Erica, you are the first friend that I had in college. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to keep in touch but I’ll always be grateful to you for befriending me and staying friends with me. Thank you.
To Jason, thank you for introducing me to LOTR and to the realm of dragonlance and other worlds. Thank you for keeping in touch and for listening and giving a different view on certain issues. Sorry for the times that I’ve been pushy and blunt.
To June, thank you for helping me cope with the pressures of studying and being away from home. Thank you for being my connection to Butuan, though you never knew it our conversations has helped me in dealing with me own dilemmas and indeed you have helped me in some of my decisions, (remember I asked you wither I should drop a subject or not and you told to just continue with it cause I’m not gonna get my money back anyway). You were also able to direct me to a different perspective in certain issues.
To Cling, thanks for sticking with me when we had to take that summer class. It was fun and one of the most memorable reports I had made, SocSci II. hehehe!
To all the people that the Lord has seen fit to send my way to teach me and mold me thank you.
Thank you Father for all these people that has influenced me to be what I am today.
Generally of course, I’d like to thank all my teachers from preschool, high school, college and even until the reviews for imparting their knowledge, experience and caring enough to teach the basics of life and in survival. My friends and acquaintances who in one way or another helped me in developing my identity. From my old neighbors to the friends that I had made while vacationing at my father’s hometown and to my present friends and barkada, thank you. To those people who have passed my way though cursory or significantly I also thank you.
There are also people that I want to specifically thank.
First, I want to thank my parents, my father and mother. First for giving me the freedom to understand life and for not restricting my “curiosity”. I want to thank you for always supporting me even though at times I have disappointed you. Thank you for continually being patient and understanding especially in those times when I seem to be lost and confused. Thank you for not pressuring me and for giving me time to come to a decision. Thank you for accepting my decision and for allowing me to return to your fold. Thank you for all the opportunities you have given me like allowing me to go to a school that was kinda far from Butuan, for allowing me to travel to places like Puerto Galera, Tagaytay, Baguio and Ilocos. Thank you for giving me time to breathe and relax. For always being patient and loving and caring, thank you.
To my siblings, though we quarrel and really get on each others nerves, still you loved me and supported me in the things that I do and in the decisions that I have made. Thank you for the times that you have made my life easy. To my sister thank you for letting me borrow your pants (“,). Thank you for helping me in my school projects that requires artistry and excellent fine motor control. Thank you for your patience and for being considerate. I’m sorry for the times that I’ve been a bitch to you. To Kuya thank you for the use of your phone(“,). Thank for the discman and all the gadgets and books that I have that you financed in buying. Thank you for the words of encouragement and wisdom (hehehe!). To my little brother, thank you for the times that you have been a driver and my sundo(“,). Thank you also for your patience especially in teaching me how to play the guitar which until now I still don’t know how. Thank you for teaching us how to drive the car even though your Ditse crashed it into a tree. Thank you for being my errand boy(“,)
To Eduardo, thank you for listening to me, for putting up with my idiosyncrasies and sarcasm. Thank you for sticking with me and for considering me your bestfriend. Thank you for doggedly keeping in touch with me even though I tend to be uncommunicative and not sociable. Thank you for putting up with me and pressuring me to do the best that I could in what I have to do. For all the trust and for always taking me along in your projects and ideas. Thank you for always updating my friendster and multiply account hehehe! Thank you for staying as my friend. Thank you for your faith in me.
To Berna, thank you for accepting me as your friend. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your life and for teaching me to be calm and patient. Thank you for your patience and trust. You know that you are the closest friend I have since college. Thank you for letting me bother you in times of distress and boredom(“,). Thank you for not allowing myself to wallow in misery and self-pity. You know that you are one of the very few people who had the patience to stay around me. You have helped a lot in coping with the stress of being away from my family. Thank you for always being there for me.
To Pauline, thank you for introducing me to Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon, which in a way helped me in understanding and communicating with God. Thank you for the people that you have introduced me to. Thank you for teaching me to be more approachable. And thank you for believing that I can take the responsibility of one of your projects in Lingkod. Thank you for the trust.
To my auntie-cousin, Te, thank you for always keeping in touch and for listening. I will always remember our walkathon in Ayala(“,). And our sitting around doing nothing but talk and discuss life. Thanks for being my ate.
To Erica, you are the first friend that I had in college. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to keep in touch but I’ll always be grateful to you for befriending me and staying friends with me. Thank you.
To Jason, thank you for introducing me to LOTR and to the realm of dragonlance and other worlds. Thank you for keeping in touch and for listening and giving a different view on certain issues. Sorry for the times that I’ve been pushy and blunt.
To June, thank you for helping me cope with the pressures of studying and being away from home. Thank you for being my connection to Butuan, though you never knew it our conversations has helped me in dealing with me own dilemmas and indeed you have helped me in some of my decisions, (remember I asked you wither I should drop a subject or not and you told to just continue with it cause I’m not gonna get my money back anyway). You were also able to direct me to a different perspective in certain issues.
To Cling, thanks for sticking with me when we had to take that summer class. It was fun and one of the most memorable reports I had made, SocSci II. hehehe!
To all the people that the Lord has seen fit to send my way to teach me and mold me thank you.
Thank you Father for all these people that has influenced me to be what I am today.
Blog of the Month - The Death of the Sound
It’s been ten years and yet my friends can not help but still rage on about the Miss Saigon incident back in high school… To be honest I, myself still go on about the whole thing. I don’t know why but that whole incident still rankles. You know, like it still pisses a lot of people probably due to the unanswered question, Why? I mean why did we lose?
Talking about the whole Saigon thing also allowed me to explore why until now I am still annoyed at the fact that we lost. I mean if this is plain sour graping then this is too much and “so melodramatic.” I guess at that time I was angry because yeah, we lost and I was frustrated and I so badly wanna win. But now, looking back, and exploring my current feelings I feel rather indifference vacillating with anger and indignation that stems more from a sense of injustice and betrayal.
Injustice. At the fact that the effort we made on the whole production was not recognized. I mean, I can safely say that at that time everybody cooperated and did their part. Yes, there were squabbles and hurt feelings but all in all the whole section worked. We worked as a team. Even the boys are present and accounted for during practice and dress rehearsals. They even provided and looked for their own costumes not waiting for the others to provide them with what they need. They memorized their lines and practiced their choreography until such time as they deemed it perfect. Classmate would coach and help other classmate memorize their lines and dance routines. The production staff and the props people were able to produce the bed needed for a scene, an “iron and steel fence” that we have to borrow from, I believe, the gym. The people assigned to produce the background and other stuff were able to produce a relatively good helicopter and the props people were able to make it “move” as if ready to take off. And let’s not forget we had to “import” a child that acted as Kim’s son. That kid that we had to coach and “train” to cry and act his part. Oh, and yeah the change in scenery was highlighted by the fact that we have background changes and I must say the transition from one background to another was rather smooth. I feel that an injustice was done to us at the fact that we poured our hearts into making this production the best that we could.
Betrayal. I feel betrayed at the fact that the very people we thought would be there to guide us and help us were not there.( I’m not trying to blame people here this is just what I feel.) And if the whole thing is just a students only production then why did the other group had a “coach” from the Drama Club adviser herself! And why is it that the other group is composed of students from more than one section! And if the case is that all students of one teacher can be “merged” then why were we made to shoulder all the expenses of the production ourselves? Why were we not given or at least there was a suggestion of names of students that could’ve helped us, like in the making of props, background and such? Betrayal at the fact that nobody “defended” us when there was a question of why they won. I feel like we were left to fend for ourselves. (Now I’m getting pissed again) I mean people tell us our play was good and that some teachers even shed tears during the dramatic parts of the scene….but why? Why is it that nobody defended us at that time? And everybody knows that one of the crucial elements for a good story is a climax…and the other group did not have a climax! (for crying out loud!) what was their climax? The kissing scene? Which I must say looked pretty awkward. I must also mention that there was a change of one judge in the middle of the contest…
These days I try to shrug the whole thing off and think that it never happened…but I still don’t wanna interact with, you know, them.
See also:
Janice's Blog of the Month
Eduardo's Blog of the Month
Talking about the whole Saigon thing also allowed me to explore why until now I am still annoyed at the fact that we lost. I mean if this is plain sour graping then this is too much and “so melodramatic.” I guess at that time I was angry because yeah, we lost and I was frustrated and I so badly wanna win. But now, looking back, and exploring my current feelings I feel rather indifference vacillating with anger and indignation that stems more from a sense of injustice and betrayal.
Injustice. At the fact that the effort we made on the whole production was not recognized. I mean, I can safely say that at that time everybody cooperated and did their part. Yes, there were squabbles and hurt feelings but all in all the whole section worked. We worked as a team. Even the boys are present and accounted for during practice and dress rehearsals. They even provided and looked for their own costumes not waiting for the others to provide them with what they need. They memorized their lines and practiced their choreography until such time as they deemed it perfect. Classmate would coach and help other classmate memorize their lines and dance routines. The production staff and the props people were able to produce the bed needed for a scene, an “iron and steel fence” that we have to borrow from, I believe, the gym. The people assigned to produce the background and other stuff were able to produce a relatively good helicopter and the props people were able to make it “move” as if ready to take off. And let’s not forget we had to “import” a child that acted as Kim’s son. That kid that we had to coach and “train” to cry and act his part. Oh, and yeah the change in scenery was highlighted by the fact that we have background changes and I must say the transition from one background to another was rather smooth. I feel that an injustice was done to us at the fact that we poured our hearts into making this production the best that we could.
Betrayal. I feel betrayed at the fact that the very people we thought would be there to guide us and help us were not there.( I’m not trying to blame people here this is just what I feel.) And if the whole thing is just a students only production then why did the other group had a “coach” from the Drama Club adviser herself! And why is it that the other group is composed of students from more than one section! And if the case is that all students of one teacher can be “merged” then why were we made to shoulder all the expenses of the production ourselves? Why were we not given or at least there was a suggestion of names of students that could’ve helped us, like in the making of props, background and such? Betrayal at the fact that nobody “defended” us when there was a question of why they won. I feel like we were left to fend for ourselves. (Now I’m getting pissed again) I mean people tell us our play was good and that some teachers even shed tears during the dramatic parts of the scene….but why? Why is it that nobody defended us at that time? And everybody knows that one of the crucial elements for a good story is a climax…and the other group did not have a climax! (for crying out loud!) what was their climax? The kissing scene? Which I must say looked pretty awkward. I must also mention that there was a change of one judge in the middle of the contest…
These days I try to shrug the whole thing off and think that it never happened…but I still don’t wanna interact with, you know, them.
See also:
Janice's Blog of the Month
Eduardo's Blog of the Month
Blog of the Month Part 2 (February) - Things that Remind Me of my [Existing] TAF Friends
As a rather “silent” blunt and sometimes scathing person (which is probably one of the reasons why it took me a long time to find my own “click”), I count myself lucky that I have friends that are still with me all these years. They stubbornly kept in touch and kept me updated with the rest of our friends, stubbornly dragging me to parties and events that allowed the group to bond and update each other.
These friends I value more because of what I learned from them and for making me become a better person (I hope).
Eduardo – Well, for me he is the group’s leader. He usually organizes us and starts up parties and events that bond the group. He’s also sorta pushy and pressures us to do stuff…like this blog (hehehe). I also remember the “flying carpet” back in elementary(“,) And then there was the time, back in high school, when he made me a courier of his gifts and flowers. And then the time he sent an SMS while I was in the middle of the Agusan River riding a motorized banca telling me…secret!hehehehe!
Janice – I’ll always remember Janice as a really big basketball fan…Purefoods right? Her artistry has always impressed me and her patience and loyalty to her friends.
Junnah – What I remember most about Junnah is that she has a great voice and really nice hair (quite recently her glutathione biz). I also remember her being called as “lousy cadet” and “goody goody” coz she tends to say good things (bordering on lies or to put it nicely really, really stretching the truth) about stuff that if it was Eduardo or I commenting would have been really, really mean. And yeah, her vanity on her hair for me is…well, imagine (back in high school) walking from our THE classroom which is like a 100 or so meters to our PE class with an umbrella over her head and combing her hair.
Leah – I remember her for listening and sympathizing with me on certain things that have happened (remember my Nasipit experience with Janice A.?) And her good fine motor skills in our THE projects. Also she’s remarkable for her patience and diligence in transferring texts from a book to her notebook like word for word. I remembered I borrowed one of her notebooks to be checked as mine at one point in our high school career. hehehe!
Honey – I remember Honey for her agreeable personality. For me Honey seems to avoid conflicts of any sort. I also remember her and Janice’s crushes and their code names”,) Also that she gets easily affected by what other people say especially about her (like there was a time somebody thinks she’s not good enough to be in the choir) and she cries readily.
Sam – I remember Sam to be always, if not usually, surrounded by girls back in high school…I dunno why… may be because they already know he’s “safe.” I also remember studying at his house and being tutored by Ma’am Egam (remember our practice exam?) hehehe! Also I remember the times when he’d asked the driver of the motorized trisikad to drop me off first and go back to his place or he’d pick me up at home.
Kimberly – I’ll always remember Kim as somebody calm and collected. She rarely gets ruffled and I don’t remember Kim’s voice really raised in anger.
Ian – With Ian, I’ll remember him as somebody soft-spoken and kinda polished. I don’t remember seeing Ian angry. And we usually hangout at their place if not at Junnah’s. And yeah, I’ll always remember him as a Boy Scout.
Edelyn – I used to be “scared” of Edz (until now) coz am not sure if her sarcasm is just a joke or it’s the real thing. I remember her being at odds with my younger sister when we had a practice to my house.
Guy – I remember Guy for letting Eduardo go to his house (Guy’s house) to practice for a Values Ed presentation while the rest of the group including Guy are still in school.
I also want to say thank you TAF…for putting up with me and staying with me. Thank you for your patience and for believing in me.
Thank you dear friends(“,)
Anna
See also:
Janice's Blog of the Month
Eduardo's Blog of the Month
These friends I value more because of what I learned from them and for making me become a better person (I hope).
Eduardo – Well, for me he is the group’s leader. He usually organizes us and starts up parties and events that bond the group. He’s also sorta pushy and pressures us to do stuff…like this blog (hehehe). I also remember the “flying carpet” back in elementary(“,) And then there was the time, back in high school, when he made me a courier of his gifts and flowers. And then the time he sent an SMS while I was in the middle of the Agusan River riding a motorized banca telling me…secret!hehehehe!
Janice – I’ll always remember Janice as a really big basketball fan…Purefoods right? Her artistry has always impressed me and her patience and loyalty to her friends.
Junnah – What I remember most about Junnah is that she has a great voice and really nice hair (quite recently her glutathione biz). I also remember her being called as “lousy cadet” and “goody goody” coz she tends to say good things (bordering on lies or to put it nicely really, really stretching the truth) about stuff that if it was Eduardo or I commenting would have been really, really mean. And yeah, her vanity on her hair for me is…well, imagine (back in high school) walking from our THE classroom which is like a 100 or so meters to our PE class with an umbrella over her head and combing her hair.
Leah – I remember her for listening and sympathizing with me on certain things that have happened (remember my Nasipit experience with Janice A.?) And her good fine motor skills in our THE projects. Also she’s remarkable for her patience and diligence in transferring texts from a book to her notebook like word for word. I remembered I borrowed one of her notebooks to be checked as mine at one point in our high school career. hehehe!
Honey – I remember Honey for her agreeable personality. For me Honey seems to avoid conflicts of any sort. I also remember her and Janice’s crushes and their code names”,) Also that she gets easily affected by what other people say especially about her (like there was a time somebody thinks she’s not good enough to be in the choir) and she cries readily.
Sam – I remember Sam to be always, if not usually, surrounded by girls back in high school…I dunno why… may be because they already know he’s “safe.” I also remember studying at his house and being tutored by Ma’am Egam (remember our practice exam?) hehehe! Also I remember the times when he’d asked the driver of the motorized trisikad to drop me off first and go back to his place or he’d pick me up at home.
Kimberly – I’ll always remember Kim as somebody calm and collected. She rarely gets ruffled and I don’t remember Kim’s voice really raised in anger.
Ian – With Ian, I’ll remember him as somebody soft-spoken and kinda polished. I don’t remember seeing Ian angry. And we usually hangout at their place if not at Junnah’s. And yeah, I’ll always remember him as a Boy Scout.
Edelyn – I used to be “scared” of Edz (until now) coz am not sure if her sarcasm is just a joke or it’s the real thing. I remember her being at odds with my younger sister when we had a practice to my house.
Guy – I remember Guy for letting Eduardo go to his house (Guy’s house) to practice for a Values Ed presentation while the rest of the group including Guy are still in school.
I also want to say thank you TAF…for putting up with me and staying with me. Thank you for your patience and for believing in me.
Thank you dear friends(“,)
Anna
See also:
Janice's Blog of the Month
Eduardo's Blog of the Month
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Blog of the Month - My Ideal Wedding
It's February and it's getting kinda suffocating in the sense that "love" is in the air; and though try as one might the pressure of getting a date on the so-called "hearts day" is getting ridiculous. But then, like I've said try as one might, you can't helped but think of your ideal "lovelife".
Personally, when I do get married,I want the wedding ceremony itself to be simple, romantic and intimate. I really want it to just be me, my husband-to-be, our parents and siblings and five or six of our closest friends, who will serve as our witnesses, maid of honor and bestman and the rest of the entourage. I want it solemn in a small church or chapel full of flowers and just one singer to sing our wedding song. We'll make our own vows and our parents will give us messages in the church. It'll probably be around afternoon and everybody will be in our favorite colors probably blue and yellow. Of course, all the girls will be in a dress and all the boys will either be in a coat and tie or a barong. The dresses will be sort of summery and flowing. Of, course the wedding dress will be a full skirt with a veil no train if you please. It will be sort of a short sleeved dress with some lace and bead work. The groom of course will be in a barong.
The reception will be a whole lot different. It will be fun and boisterious. All our relatives and friends will be invited. There will be a separate party for the kids with a clown, and bubbles exhibition and animal shows and stuff. Then a separate one for the teenagers with dancing and bands. And also for the oldies, with their vidoeke and ballroom dancing and all.There will be fun and games. Games that the whole family can join. I want it held in a beach with a pool and everybody can have a pool party, a campfire or a barbecue. There will be dancing and bands and stuff. People getting to know each other and stuff. That'll be great.
Now the honeymoon....well somewhere nice and peaceful...somewhere cold. Where we can coddle by the fireplace, toast marshmallows and have hot chocolate. Where we can do snowboarding(hehehe!) or he can teach me how, and have a snow ball fight and make angels in the snow. Where we can stroll after dinner and just be together.
To have all of the above, I guess I'd need a husband. My ideal mate would be somebody who is God-fearing and spiritually strong and mature. Course, I'd want him to be taller than me and patient, especially with me. Somebody who is responsible and can decide things in a snap. Somebody who has principles and stand by his decisions. I'd also want him to be easy to talk to and can make me smile.
Happy hearts month!
See also:
Janice's blog of the month
Eduardo's blog of the month
Personally, when I do get married,I want the wedding ceremony itself to be simple, romantic and intimate. I really want it to just be me, my husband-to-be, our parents and siblings and five or six of our closest friends, who will serve as our witnesses, maid of honor and bestman and the rest of the entourage. I want it solemn in a small church or chapel full of flowers and just one singer to sing our wedding song. We'll make our own vows and our parents will give us messages in the church. It'll probably be around afternoon and everybody will be in our favorite colors probably blue and yellow. Of course, all the girls will be in a dress and all the boys will either be in a coat and tie or a barong. The dresses will be sort of summery and flowing. Of, course the wedding dress will be a full skirt with a veil no train if you please. It will be sort of a short sleeved dress with some lace and bead work. The groom of course will be in a barong.
The reception will be a whole lot different. It will be fun and boisterious. All our relatives and friends will be invited. There will be a separate party for the kids with a clown, and bubbles exhibition and animal shows and stuff. Then a separate one for the teenagers with dancing and bands. And also for the oldies, with their vidoeke and ballroom dancing and all.There will be fun and games. Games that the whole family can join. I want it held in a beach with a pool and everybody can have a pool party, a campfire or a barbecue. There will be dancing and bands and stuff. People getting to know each other and stuff. That'll be great.
Now the honeymoon....well somewhere nice and peaceful...somewhere cold. Where we can coddle by the fireplace, toast marshmallows and have hot chocolate. Where we can do snowboarding(hehehe!) or he can teach me how, and have a snow ball fight and make angels in the snow. Where we can stroll after dinner and just be together.
To have all of the above, I guess I'd need a husband. My ideal mate would be somebody who is God-fearing and spiritually strong and mature. Course, I'd want him to be taller than me and patient, especially with me. Somebody who is responsible and can decide things in a snap. Somebody who has principles and stand by his decisions. I'd also want him to be easy to talk to and can make me smile.
Happy hearts month!
See also:
Janice's blog of the month
Eduardo's blog of the month
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Blog of the Month (January) - How Can I Make Butuan a Better Place to Live in?
Thinking about marriage and family made me think about where I want to live and where I want to raise my family.
Currently, I live in Butuan City, the so-called capital city of CARAGA...
Growing up here and living more than half my life...I don't think I want to raise my family here. Why? you ask. Mainly because the growth and development of Butuan is so sllloooooooowwww that a snail can outrun it. I was already in my last or second to the last year in high school when the first Jollibee was opened. We used to have a Shakey's but it closed after...hmmmm... four/five months? The first "mall" was opened when I was in my last year in college....uh! DUH! Thus we had McDonalds and Pizza Hut...Well, Greenwich was opened a month or so I guess after Jollibee.
The "mall" by the way is three or four stories and opens at nine and closes at eight and their last full show in their cinemas is at nine. I don't think we have a five star hotel here...or a fine dining restaurant.
When I do have a family, I'll raise my children here if Butuan has the following:
If and when Butuan has a really nice and secure park, complete with sand box and swings and slides and seats for children to play. Also a park where families can have a picnic in relative peace where you don't have to worry about people getting your stuff or kids asking money or food from you while you and your family are eating. A park where you can fly a kite, play frisbee or just jog around or walk your dog.
Also I'd want a museum...like a children's museum where kids can touch the items displayed and play with them. Where they can be educated too, outside the classroom. An interactive museum...yeah, that's it!
A zoo too, where kids can actually see the animals they can only see on tv or in books...
The above would be really fun.
And yeah a play center, where working moms can leave their kids knowing that they are safe and well taken care of.
See also:
Janice's blog of the month
Eduardo's blog of the month
Currently, I live in Butuan City, the so-called capital city of CARAGA...
Growing up here and living more than half my life...I don't think I want to raise my family here. Why? you ask. Mainly because the growth and development of Butuan is so sllloooooooowwww that a snail can outrun it. I was already in my last or second to the last year in high school when the first Jollibee was opened. We used to have a Shakey's but it closed after...hmmmm... four/five months? The first "mall" was opened when I was in my last year in college....uh! DUH! Thus we had McDonalds and Pizza Hut...Well, Greenwich was opened a month or so I guess after Jollibee.
The "mall" by the way is three or four stories and opens at nine and closes at eight and their last full show in their cinemas is at nine. I don't think we have a five star hotel here...or a fine dining restaurant.
When I do have a family, I'll raise my children here if Butuan has the following:
If and when Butuan has a really nice and secure park, complete with sand box and swings and slides and seats for children to play. Also a park where families can have a picnic in relative peace where you don't have to worry about people getting your stuff or kids asking money or food from you while you and your family are eating. A park where you can fly a kite, play frisbee or just jog around or walk your dog.
Also I'd want a museum...like a children's museum where kids can touch the items displayed and play with them. Where they can be educated too, outside the classroom. An interactive museum...yeah, that's it!
A zoo too, where kids can actually see the animals they can only see on tv or in books...
The above would be really fun.
And yeah a play center, where working moms can leave their kids knowing that they are safe and well taken care of.
See also:
Janice's blog of the month
Eduardo's blog of the month
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