People think it is holding on that makes you stronger, but sometimes it’s letting go.

 

True to me, I have decided to redirect the usual routine I was trapped in. Yes, I was trapped into this day-to-day routine when I was too meek and had to nod to every favor they are going to entrust me. All I can do is to work hard enough to satisfy my desire to say yes to everything, to everyone at the expense of my physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

Yes, I can say that I was not good at all, because I let them enslave me and allowed myself to obey them all; hence, I was not able to have the chance to develop and stand. It may be too awkward to say these but with my twenty-two years of existence, I am not that dumb to utter insensible things. It is just that I am now an educated individual- a person who uses his intellect and applies it in order to elevate his level. I may not be like those well-known philosophers who are able to express reasons freely but with this knowledge and will endowed to me by the Mighty God, I believe it is prompt and proper that I stand up and prove them all, that I exist in this world not to be their "slave" all the time. 

 With the belief that I cannot be here on earth forever, I tried the best I can and acted as though each day is my last. This is because I am true to myself and to acquaint myself with  the standard not of men but the standard set in accordance to what is highly moral and upright in the sight of God. This is the reason why I realized to let go. Yes, I let go of the past in order for me to face the present. My attitude shown in the present will determine the kinds of fruits that I will reap in the future. After all, it is by letting go that makes me strong. 

I Praise You Lord because You Are!

Lord, You are my Light. The darkness in my world seemed to me like an obstacle that I had to conquer. I was blinded from the bounties that You Lord has in store. There was no one to guide me in my journey. NO one dared but You, oh Lord showed me Your Light and has given me HOPE to pursue righteousness and live with You. Thank you for loving me!

Lord, you are my Redeemer. I was in a pit of of sin, enslaved by my human desire. Your eyes were in tears watching me. My craving for a good life enveloped me but I did not know that you has prepared a better life for me. After seeing my struggles, You reached out Your caring hand and here I am, trapped no more from the pit. The warmth of your embrace has shown me that I am already free in Jesus! Thank you for being my Redeemer!

Answered Prayer

I ask God to forgive me. 

I broke my promise not to be in-love again. I thought I will never feel this way again after my heartache back when I wa in college. But what is happening now? God forbid, but I had fallen into this pit where love enslaves my senses. I know this is not right at my status now- the fact that I still have a family to feed. 

I ask God to forgive me. 

But what else can I do? Dumating siya sa buhay ko nang hindi ko inaasahan. Siya ang tanging tao na nakamulat sa aking isipan at kamusmusan sa mundo ng pag-ibig. Siya rin ang taong nagbigay sa akin ng inspirasyon upang sa bawat araw, alagaan ko ang aking sarili- tulad ng kanyang pag-aalaga sa akin, though we are separated miles apart. Siya ang bukod-tanging nagpadama sa akin ng tunay na pagmamahal. And above all, this special someone is an "answered prayer."

I ask God to forgive me. 

I'm in love. Each day is a cheerful day because I may not see and be with this ""love"" but it just seems that my "love" is right here beside me- smiling when I smile, laughing when I laugh, and crying when I cry. 

I ask God to forgive me. 

This is the first time I ever feel this way. And I don't want to end this. Love it!!!

The Question of the Best Personality

One's experiences determine the kind of personality that one will have.

Often times, these experiences allow ourselves to expose our deep desires and expectations. This however, does not necessarily mean that such experiences are all beneficial in building up the personality of an individual. Whatever these experiences are, one's personality is being manifested through how a person deal with the situation. Sometimes, one has a mixture of these personality types as well.

Here are the sixteen types of personalities as quantified and qualified by authorities in the field of Psychology. Can you identify which personality do you have?

ISTJ

Serious and quiet, interested in security and peaceful living. Extremely thorough, responsible, and dependable. Well-developed powers of concentration. Usually interested in supporting and promoting traditions and establishments. Well-organized and hard working, they work steadily towards identified goals. They can usually accomplish any task once they have set their mind to it.

ISTP

Quiet and reserved, interested in how and why things work. Excellent skills with mechanical things. Risk-takers who they live for the moment. Usually interested in and talented at extreme sports. Uncomplicated in their desires. Loyal to their peers and to their internal value systems, but not overly concerned with respecting laws and rules if they get in the way of getting something done. Detached and analytical, they excel at finding solutions to practical problems.

ISFJ

Quiet, kind, and conscientious. Can be depended on to follow through. Usually puts the needs of others above their own needs. Stable and practical, they value security and traditions. Well-developed sense of space and function. Rich inner world of observations about people. Extremely perceptive of other's feelings. Interested in serving others.

ISFP

Quiet, serious, sensitive and kind. Do not like conflict, and not likely to do things which may generate conflict. Loyal and faithful. Extremely well-developed senses, and aesthetic appreciation for beauty. Not interested in leading or controlling others. Flexible and open-minded. Likely to be original and creative. Enjoy the present moment.

INFJ

Quietly forceful, original, and sensitive. Tend to stick to things until they are done. Extremely intuitive about people, and concerned for their feelings. Well-developed value systems which they strictly adhere to. Well-respected for their perserverence in doing the right thing. Likely to be individualistic, rather than leading or following.

INFP

Quiet, reflective, and idealistic. Interested in serving humanity. Well-developed value system, which they strive to live in accordance with. Extremely loyal. Adaptable and laid-back unless a strongly-held value is threatened. Usually talented writers. Mentally quick, and able to see possibilities. Interested in understanding and helping people.

INTJ

Independent, original, analytical, and determined. Have an exceptional ability to turn theories into solid plans of action. Highly value knowledge, competence, and structure. Driven to derive meaning from their visions. Long-range thinkers. Have very high standards for their performance, and the performance of others. Natural leaders, but will follow if they trust existing leaders.

INTP

Logical, original, creative thinkers. Can become very excited about theories and ideas. Exceptionally capable and driven to turn theories into clear understandings. Highly value knowledge, competence and logic. Quiet and reserved, hard to get to know well. Individualistic, having no interest in leading or following others.

ESTP

Friendly, adaptable, action-oriented. "Doers" who are focused on immediate results. Living in the here-and-now, they're risk-takers who live fast-paced lifestyles. Impatient with long explanations. Extremely loyal to their peers, but not usually respectful of laws and rules if they get in the way of getting things done. Great people skills.

ESTJ

Practical, traditional, and organized. Likely to be athletic. Not interested in theory or abstraction unless they see the practical application. Have clear visions of the way things should be. Loyal and hard-working. Like to be in charge. Exceptionally capable in organizing and running activities. "Good citizens" who value security and peaceful living.

ESFP

People-oriented and fun-loving, they make things more fun for others by their enjoyment. Living for the moment, they love new experiences. They dislike theory and impersonal analysis. Interested in serving others. Likely to be the center of attention in social situations. Well-developed common sense and practical ability.

ESFJ

Warm-hearted, popular, and conscientious. Tend to put the needs of others over their own needs. Feel strong sense of responsibility and duty. Value traditions and security. Interested in serving others. Need positive reinforcement to feel good about themselves. Well-developed sense of space and function.

ENFP

Enthusiastic, idealistic, and creative. Able to do almost anything that interests them. Great people skills. Need to live life in accordance with their inner values. Excited by new ideas, but bored with details. Open-minded and flexible, with a broad range of interests and abilities.

ENFJ

Popular and sensitive, with outstanding people skills. Externally focused, with real concern for how others think and feel. Usually dislike being alone. They see everything from the human angle, and dislike impersonal analysis. Very effective at managing people issues, and leading group discussions. Interested in serving others, and probably place the needs of others over their own needs.

ENTP

Creative, resourceful, and intellectually quick. Good at a broad range of things. Enjoy debating issues, and may be into "one-up-manship". They get very excited about new ideas and projects, but may neglect the more routine aspects of life. Generally outspoken and assertive. They enjoy people and are stimulating company. Excellent ability to understand concepts and apply logic to find solutions.

ENTJ

Assertive and outspoken - they are driven to lead. Excellent ability to understand difficult organizational problems and create solid solutions. Intelligent and well-informed, they usually excel at public speaking. They value knowledge and competence, and usually have little patience with inefficiency or disorganization.

The personality types described above show us that each person is a unique individual. One  may or may not be appraised because of his/her personality type. But what's more important,  based on my EXPERIENCES, is that how one deals with the situation. At the end of the day, the ultimate happiness or success of a person does not rely on the type of personality he has but on how his personality helped him stand and reach his destination.

=)

Medalya at Pag-asa

Aminin man natin po o hindi, bawat isa ay may itinatagong lihim. Mga lihim na maaring gusto mong ibaon sa limot at muling mamuhay nang payapa, taliwas sa nangyari sa nakaraan. Ngunit, hindi maikakaila na minsan sa iyong buhay, ay namamayani ang kakaibang pakiramdam na wari ay dinuduyan ka sa langit.

Oo, maaring nagkamali ka ngunit ang katotohanang ikaw ay naging masaya minsan ay isang maipagmamalaki mo at maihaharap na naging matagumpay ka. At ito ang kwento ng aking pagbangon mula sa pagkawasak ng aming pamilya. Ito ang hindi ko malilimutang daloy ng aking buhay na tumatak na sa kaibuturan ng aking puso at diwa.

Magandang araw po sa inyo! Tawagin n’yo po akong si Rey, 22 years old, isang young professional mula sa Dumaguete City.

Nais kong ibahagi sa inyo ang kwento ng aking buhay at nawa ay mapupulotan ng inspirasyon at leksyon lalo na sa mga pamilyang Pilipino at mapaghuhugutan ng inspirasyon ng mga kabataan.

Bata pa lang kami ay binuhay kaming limang magkakapatid sa wastong pag-uugali, at may takot sa Diyos. Kaya naman mula sa panganay na anak hanggang sa pinakabunso, kaming lahat ay may respeto sa isa’t isa at masisipag sa pag-aaral.

Sa katunayan, bagamat lampara lamang ang nagsisilbing ilaw sa aming bahay, maituturing pa ring masaya at kaaya-aya ang aming munting pamilya.

Sa kanyang pagiging magsasaka, naitaguyod ni Itay ang aming pamilya. Habang abala si Inay sa pag-aalaga sa amig magkakapatid, todo kayod naman si Itay sa kanyang pagsasaka.

Dahil sa gipit ng panahon, kinailangan naming umalis sa kinagisnan kong lupa at manahanan na sa Dumaguete City. Taong 1996 ang kauna-unahan kong dating ditto sa Dumaguete. Kaiba sa nayon, malapit kami sa sibilisasyon kaya naman kahit mahirap, madali lang naman palang makibagay sa siyudad. Mula noon, nasanay na kaming mag-anak at mas napabuti pa naming mga anak ang aming pag-aaral.

Datapwat mahirap lamang ang aming pamilya hindi iyon naging hadlang upang makapag-aral kaming magkakapatid. Bagkus ay naging kilala kami sa aming pinapasukan kasi lahat kami ay biniyayaan ng matalinong pag-iisip. Masasabi kong ang kahirapan ay hindi hadlang upang makatapos ng pag-aaral kasi sa akin mismo nangyari ang ganitong karanasan. Pinuri ako ng mga guro, principal at mga opisyal ng barangay dahil sa extraordinary performance na ipinamalas ko sa aking pag-aaral. Sa katunayan, ako ang karaniwang ginawang halimbawa ng mga guro sa kanilang pag-iinspire sa mga mag-aaral sa school naming noong nag-aaral pa ako. Kahit wala akong baon sa eskwela, patuloy pa rin ang aking pagpupursige. Minsan, umiinom na lang ako ng mga tubiog sa gripo upang may maipasok sa aking tiyan sa panahon kung ako ay nagugutom sa paaralan. Wala rin kaming kuryente sa bahay kaya pinagtiisan kong mag-aral ng mga aralin sa gabi gamit lamang ang isang lamparilya.

Ako ang pambato n gaming paaralan sa tuwing may mga paligsahan sa DepEd kaya naman aktibo ako at ulirang mag-aaral. Dahil sa mga napanalunan kong kompetisyon, nakarating ako sa mga lugar tulad ng Cebu City at Bohol- bagay na ikinakatuwa at maipagmamalaki ko at n gaming pamilya. Liban sa curricular activities, naging aktibo rin akong kasapi ng school paper at pupil government kaya naman ako ang inaasahan nila sa mga ganito at iba pang larangan mula elementary hanggang haiskul. Nagbunga naman talaga ang aking pagsisikap. Sa kabila ng aming kahirapan, ako ang pinarangalan bilang valedictorian sa elementary and high school. Nakamit ko rin ang marami pang parangal katulad ng Leadership Award, Senate Medal on Academic Excellence, at marami pang iba.

Sa kabila ng ganitong mga papuri at magandang karanasan, hindi pa rin nagbago ang pagiging mabuting Kristiyano, ulirang anak, at kapatid.

Ngunit nasubok ang aking katatagan ng loob noong biglang nagkasakit si Itay. Napag-alamang mayroon siyang dinaramdam kaya’t hindi na pinayagan ng doctor na magtrabaho. Sa loob ng dalawang taon, nakaratay siya sa kama. Upang matustusan ang aming pangangailangang mag-anak, namasukan bilang kasambahay an gaming Ina. Siya ang tumatayong haligi at ilaw ng tahanan sa mga panahong iyon.

Nagsimula ang dagok ng aming pamilya sa mga panahong yaon. Masakit isiping nakaratay ang ama mo sa kama at hindi mo maipapadamang mahal mo siya at maswerte ka bilang anak na siya ang iyong ama. hindi ko iyon nasabi sa aking Itay. Pinakamasakit ay noong ginawaran ako ng mga parangal at nagbigay ako ng aking Valedictory Speech sa high school na hindi siya naming kapiling. Mga anim na araw matapos kong diniliver ang speech nay un ay pumanaw si Itay.

Nasa pagdadalamhati apa ang aming pamilya noon nang bigla ay nagulantang kami sa panibagong pagsubok. Namasukan ako bilang working student upang may maipantustos sa aking pag-aaral sa kolehiyo maliban sa scholarship na aking natanggap. Sa kasawiang palad, hindi pa man natapos ang isang buwan mula noong nailibing si Itay ay napag-alama kong may kinakasama nang ibang lalaki si Mama. Gusto kong maiyak sa nangyari. Ramdam ko ang sakit, poot at galit. Naulila kami at napahiya.

Ang masama ay nagtanan sina Mama at napabayaan kaming magkakapatid na hiwa-hiwalay.

Akala naming hindi na kami babalikan pa ng Mama namin. Isang araw, bumalik siyang luhaan sapagkat yung kanyang kinakasama ay may sarili na palang pamilya. Wala siyang ibang choice kundi balikan kami. Tinanggap naman naming siya nang buo dahil anuman ang nangyari, hindi maialis na siya pa rin ang aming Ina. Akala naming nagbago na ang Inay. Hindi pala, nakikipaglambingan na naman siya sa ibang lalaki. Masakit bilang anak na nakikita ang iyong sariling ina na nakikipaghalubilo, naklikipag-inuman sa mga tambay na lalak, gabi-gabi.

Ang masaklap, nagkaroon siya ng karelasyon at nagbunga ang kanilang kamunduhan. Nagkaanak si Mama at isang malusog na batang babae ang naging bago naming kapatid. Noung una ay hindi siya naming natanggap ngunit habang lumilipas ay tinanggap na siya naming nang buo.

Bagamat walang komprontasyong naganap sa pagitan naming mga anak niya at sa kanya bilang aming ina, ipinagdarasal ko na Diyos na ang bahala sa lahat.

Isang araw, isinugod si mama sa ospital sapagkat nanghihina at nahihirapan siyang huminga. Hindi ko alam ang nangyayari ngunit habang isinugod siya sa ospital ay para akong walang pakialam sa paligid, nagmamakaawa upang mabigyang-lunas kaagad ang noon ay nag-aagaw-buhay naming Ina. Sa emergency room, mabilis kong tinawag ang crew na mag-rereceive kay mama sapagkat hindi na ito humihinga.Matagal ding naagapan si Mama at noon ay grabeh ang aming pagdarasal. Pinagalitan ako ng doctor sapagkat malalang-malala nap ala si mama. Ang inisyal na diagnosis ng doctor ay sakit sa puso an komplikado ang sanyang sakit. Ayon sa doctor, kung hindi agad naagapan ay maaring patay na si Mama.

Wala kaming pera sa pagkakataong iyon ngunit buo ang aking tiwala sa Diyos na Siyang tutulong sa amin. Siya naman talaga ang pinaghugutan ko ng lakas simula pa man noon. Umabot din ng halos tatlong lingo kami sa ICU. Wala kaming pera, walang-wala talaga ngunit lahat ng gastos- gamot, medisina at laboratory ay naprovide ng Panginoon. Kung saan-saan ako napunta, ginawa ko lahat ng magagawa ko upang makahanap ng pera. Pinasok ko ang kapitolyo, city hall, at mga kakilala ko sa paaralan at maging ang local na radio ay nakapag-abot ng tulong. marami akong hindi kkilala ngunit napakaganda at napakabuti ng Panginoon sapagkat ginamit niya ang maraming tao bilang instrument upang matulungan kami.

Anuman ang kanyang kasalanan, hindi naming naitakwil ang aming ina. Bagkus, naipadama naming sa kanya ang noon ay gusto naming ipadama kay Itay noong nabubuhay pa ito. Ang ilang araw na pamamalagi naming sa ospital ay parang isang rehabilitasyon upang maayos ang noon ay wasak na pagsasamahan naming mag-anak. Pinatawad naming ang mama at minahal nang buo. Bawat tao ay may panahon upang magbago.

Ngayon, tahimik na ang aming pamumuhay. Nakatapos ako sa pag-aaral ko at nagkaroon ng isang trabaho bago pa man nakagraduate. Mas maganda ang aming pakikitungo sa isa’t isa. Salamat sa Diyos na Siyang nagbigay pag-asa upang arapin ang panibagong buhay. Sila ang nag-abot ng kanilang tulong upang maipadama sa aming magkakapatid na may tunay kaming pamilya. Salamat sa mga taong naging bahagi upang maging matiwasay ang aming buhay.Kung naging mahina kami sa pangungutya ng ibang mga tao laban sa kahihiyan ng aming pamilya, maaring hindi kami ganito katatag ngayon. Nawasak man ang noo’y wagas na pagmamahalan, ngayon ay muling nabuo ang aming pamilya dahil sa matapang na pagsuong sa apoy ng buhay. Muli kaming babangon dala ang pag-asa. 

Entangled

Alone and totally left by myself. Smoke. Drink. Bar. Magpariwara. Name it, and I can really do those things because of how I was and is treated in the family.

But thank goodness I never dared to get trapped and be like what those teens and persons do given the same loose treatment I used to have and am still having. Free as a bird, I could have had explored my youth and get involved in all sorts of worldly pleasures around me.

But I did not grab the opportunity. I did not left myself entangled with those stuff that only satisfy my physical needs and wants. Instead, I tried to resist. And each time I stumbled, I get up.

I admit it, there are a lot of experiences in the past that bother me from moving on. These experiences are my steppingstones in order to get up again. And again- until I will finally win the race.

I am not a perfect man because I still commit mistakes and I had those weird and naughty experiences. Yes,  I do not feel any anxiety or dismay for I know that those experiences, the ones I used to delve with in the past- however bad others may think  about what I was before, are essential for me to grow up and learn the lessons of life that are not available within the theories discussed in the four walls of the classroom.

What's more important, at least in my humble opinion, is that I enjoyed my past-really!, had fully accepted what I experienced before, and above all- I am looking forward for what is in the future.

my gift

My Gift





We have known well each other for so long


And memories are keeping us strong;

Those times we both laugh


Are times that I will never drop.




Since I do not have the material stuff

Let me offer you my warmest heart


So that by then we both will smile

'Cause of the wondrous gifts God gave us awhile.

My Special Birthday

"I do not have any material gift for you but all I can offer is my sincere and warmest greetings!"

          How wonderful! Such is one of the sweetest birthday greetings I hear for my birthday. It feels like I am like floating with the breeze and floating somewhere else. I cannot fathom the intense feeling that I have now. 

          Yes, the feeling that you are being taken care of by your friends-old and new alike, as well as those very important persons whom I was working with before. It's great that I have these people because for once and some other reasons, they were able to be part of my past. Their warm greetings and wishes give an assurance deep within that they love and care for me. Their effort even simple or not has created in me an impression- an impression that will surely last for a lifetime. Such impression is whispering me to realize that if indeed you are being good and honest to yourself and your dealings with others, you will later on reap the what you sow.

          It is with great pride and gratitude that I express my feelings now for their effort- whether simple or not, because such has make me more and more appreciate the goodness of life. I live as a simple man- thriving with love here in this marvelous and amazing world. But simple as I am, I will continue to bring with me the love that I earn from these people. These people have contributed much for the achievements that I garnered- for bringing me where I stand and where I will go.

          "I do not have any material gift for you but all I can offer is my sincere and warmest greetings!"

          These words kept on whispering through my ears. These words are sweet and are truly inspiring. Simple as it may seem to others but the message embedded thereto are going down through my heart. These and other words have meaning to me and will be part of my life already.

          At the end of the day I bow down, worship the Lord for allowing me reach this birthday, my 22nd birthday a truly memorable one.

          Happy Birthday to me!

Dumaguete City: A Glimpse

Sections 4 and 5 Under Article 2 of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines states that, "Section 4. The prime duty of the Government is to serve and to protect the people. The Government may call upon the people to defend the State and, in the fulfillment thereof…
Section 5. The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment of all the people of the blessings of democracy."

http://www.concourt.am/armenian/legal_resources/world_constitutions/constit/philipin/philip-e.htm

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The City of Dumaguete is a city in the Philippine province of Negros Oriental. It is the capital, principal seaport, and largest city of the province. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 116,392 people. A person from Dumaguete is called a "Dumagueteño". The city is nicknamed The City of Gentle People.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumaguete


However, the spate of killings that hit the City of Dumaguete indicates that peace and order in the City cannot be guaranteed anymore. Added to this is the good number of theft, carnapping and robbery cases. 


This is a concern for all of us- not just the City Government but a concern to the general public as well. There has to be a public action- concrete, vivid and clear enough to achieve solution regarding this problem. The government must enforce specific actions in order to protect its citizens and thereby encourage the growth and development of its economy. Otherwise, we would not want to see Dumaguete as the haven for all kinds of criminals- assasins, thieves, carnappers, robbers, snatchers. We would not want this to happen.


On the other hand, the public must also take their responsibility. We are now in a state of crisis. We would not let this crisis hinder the peaceful living condition in our city. The public must give their participation and full cooperation. To do this, the general public must be aware of how they can help to solve this issue. The public must get involved- young and adults alike are essential elements in taking this issue into a halt. NGO's, government agencies, youth and women sectors, local establishments, institutions and universities must be encouraged to participate and contribute to the immediate solution. Dumaguete City is rich in young and sharp minds. They must be tapped by the government too.




I for one is a Dumagueteño and am truly affected with the current condition. We can work hand in hand and together live peacefully as we embrace the tag as the City of Gentle People.
We are known to be resilient and the Dumagueteños can do much to solve this dilemma. 


It is a prime duty of the government to ensure safety and well-being and protect the interest of its people. The bothering condition of the peace and order in our city must instigate an immediate action among the Dumagueteños. 


The current situation of the peace and order in Dumaguete is not tolerable at all. It has to end. It has to be given clear and immediate attention. 

Acquaintance

Starting to have a good frnd now.   I just met him. and i am overjoyed to have him. unlike those in the past whom i considered to be good friends---- I ended up dismayed when I proved they aren’t good companions, they aren’t true to me coz they were only there for me when they want something. I just thank d Lord that for a short time, I was a good friend to them even if it ended up that they aren’t tru to me.

 ryt now, I am blessed to have acquainted with a new friend, new face, new voice. I have a feeling that this will turn out good; he have made me feel an emotion totally different from what I felt in the past. he have showered upon me his sweet concern, loving heart, patience. he has understood me better. he has a listening ear and a powerful encouragement that uplifts my senses and really believe in myself. he is  more than willing to call me his good friend. above all, he let me feel I am LOVED.

On Becoming a Mother

Once there was a newborn child. She was helpless; innocent, delicate. Her parents attended to her needs not just during those times when she cried helplessly, but every minute of her life until she passed childhood, adolescence, teenage and young adulthood.

She was like us today- capable of feeling the desire to belong, passionate about life, and above all uncertain of what might the future has in store. However, unlike our age, she did not have the ample time to avail of the glowing education we now have because back during her time, only the males were allowed by most parents to enroll in schools.

So, she ended up unfinished in her elementary studies and lo! She find no regrets because just in time, she met this man who made her heart beat not in typical way. To make the story short, she ended up living in with this man, which is a couple of years older than her. (Not bad, right? Besides, age doesn't matter.)

Their relationships were time-tested. But as the test of the times became much and much heavier....they also were growing-both in maturity and in age:) Eventually, she performed all the duties of a wife, and they lived happily.


They were blessed to have five diligent, industrious, studious, and respectful children- three versus two (female vs male) :-) They were an ideal family- not in terms of finances, but in terms of how love, care, and respect were shown in each of them.

Not until his husband got sick, so sick that he stopped from working was she forced to perform the duty as a breadwinner as well to the family. Then her husband's sickness got worst. This led her to double her time-  attend to their kids' needs and her husband's needs and at the same time work hard enough to meet both ends in order for their family's survival. For more than five years, this was the case.

Then it ended one day- sometime in April 2007. It all started just a matter of five days after their second eldest son delivered his valedictory speech in high school. Her husband died. Then life became miserably unbearable, at least that's how their children characterize what happened from then.

It was indeed a challenge to start all anew. She showed how it takes to be a strong woman- and people admired her.

But something went wrong. Really wrong. Nevertheless, I opted not to include it in this writing because whatever had happened. That belonged to the past. What is more important is what we have now. And our mother is all we have as of now. And we respect her, she has our high respects for her. Above all, we LOVE her.

Life is filled with uncertainties. You can never know what the future has in store. You will never know what challenges you ought to face. You will never have what you used to have in the past when you lost it. What is certain is that every decision you make counts much into the kind of future that you will have.

:)

Missing my Papa

I hope I can still hear his voice. 
 I wish I can still listen to his praises.
I pray I can still hug him.

He was just an ordinary man. A typical father per se. But he has a dream, a great ambition.

The ambition was not plainly for himself, but for the sake of his family. I can still remember him brag to his barkadas that someday, his son will become a notable person in our place. That someday, his son will elate the family to a better life. That someday, his children will not be like them anymore, totally opposite from the illiteracy and dirty jobs attached to them. 

That was my "Papa."

He was just a typical father, yes. But he was the greatest man I've ever known compared to Galileo, Isaac Newton, Neil Armstrong or whosoever!

He was a man with dignity, a man of reputable principle; one who fought what was right and what was morally accepted. Above all, he was more than a typical father as he provided us our needs, played at times, and disciplined us well.  He even attended regular meetings in school every time the PTCA called for one. And he was always present and interacted with people.

The wrinkled brown, yet dignified face he possessed is still vividly registered in my memory. He was a great man. He's the greatest man I looked up to.

Papa loved us. I can feel it though he never uttered those words to us.

I can still remember the laughter, the joy, the smile in our faces every time he used to play fun with all of us, his 5 children. 

But all these are plain memories now. I cannot have his tangible presence with us. I can no longer hear his voice. I can no longer listen to his praises and encouragement. I can no longer have him back. He is gone.Gone.

I always feel disadvantaged upon seeing children who still have their parents close with them. 

To see a child whose father or a mother accompanying him or her to school, or playing with them in a park, is a scene irritating my eyes. 

Right there and then, I shed a river of tears because I never had the chance to experience those basic needs of a child an now, I have been acting as the father in the family, in his place. 

I am in grief because I never had the chance to tell him how proud we were to be his children! Yes, still in grief for losing those meaningful and once in a lifetime opportunity to make him feel we are proud he was our father!

I never had the opportunity to let him know how much we care for him; that we were so lucky to have him as our Papa. I never had the opportunity to give him what he deserve to have. I never had the opportunity to show him my achievements and to tell him, all along, Mama and him are our inspiration!

The time he spent with us was so short. But I sincerely hoped he was once happy in his life to have us. 

I still believe that someday, we will cross our ways together. Surely not on this world but the life after this. There, we will surely let him know those unspoken words that we, his family had always wanted him to know. 

We love you Papa! 

Adios.

On Lesson Planning

Lesson Planning requires teacher expertise. It is a vital component of the skill which is a must for all teachers. The lesson plans created by the teacher will determine the kind of output that the learners will have and thus, a teacher must possess the meticulous and intensive studies of the various strategies and activities that will be employed during the lesson.

The things I stated above summarize my dreflection with regards to lesson planning experiences while I was on the course of Practice Teaching at Camanjac National School. Through the daily lesson plans duly corrected by my mentor, Mrs. Acabal, my skills in lesson planning are becoming more enriched each day. The learners’ outputs after each session has proven me that my styles and strategies to be employed must have been suited enough for my students’ needs, interests and capabilities.

I owe million thanks to my mentor for all her praises, advices and encouragements while I was in lesson planning each day. Credit is also accorded to my former teachers at the College of Education and as well as my teachers in the Social Sciences Department.

Thus, each day is another opportunity for me to improve more and more the way I deal with lesson planning. When given the chance to be really teaching the field into ACTUAL experiences, I believe the knowledge I acquired and the practices I had each day is more than enough for me to be more particular with the manner, matter, and methods I will use in lesson planning.

On Lesson Planning

Lesson Planning requires teacher expertise. It is a vital component of the skill which is a must for all teachers. The lesson plans created by the teacher will determine the kind of output that the learners will have and thus, a teacher must possess the meticulous and intensive studies of the various strategies and activities that will be employed during the lesson.

The things I stated above summarize my dreflection with regards to lesson planning experiences while I was on the course of Practice Teaching at Camanjac National School. Through the daily lesson plans duly corrected by my mentor, Mrs. Acabal, my skills in lesson planning are becoming more enriched each day. The learners’ outputs after each session has proven me that my styles and strategies to be employed must have been suited enough for my students’ needs, interests and capabilities.

I owe million thanks to my mentor for all her praises, advices and encouragements while I was in lesson planning each day. Credit is also accorded to my former teachers at the College of Education and as well as my teachers in the Social Sciences Department.

Thus, each day is another opportunity for me to improve more and more the way I deal with lesson planning. When given the chance to be really teaching the field into ACTUAL experiences, I believe the knowledge I acquired and the practices I had each day is more than enough for me to be more particular with the manner, matter, and methods I will use in lesson planning.

Personal Education Philiosophy

To instruct someone... is not a matter of getting him to commit results to mind. Rather, it is to teach him to participate in the process that makes possible the establishment of knowledge. We teach a subject not to produce little living libraries on that subject, but rather to get a student to think mathematically for himself, to consider matters as an historian does, to take part in the process of knowledge-getting. Knowing is a process not a product. (Bruner)

My personal philosophy of education has been changing since the first moment I stepped into an education course. However, I don't see this as something that is negative. In fact, I think that a teacher's personal philosophy of education should forever be evolving. Teachers should continually make efforts to inform themselves of new technology or innovations that help to facilitate learning in the classroom.

I believe that each student has the capacity to accomplish any goal that is set for them as long as they feel connected to what they are learning; without a link between the students and material, the interest is lost and the learning is harder and may take more time. According to Jean Piaget's theory of development and learning, a developing child builds cognitive structures, or schemes, that connect previous knowledge and/or experiences to new knowledge. This connection cultivates the student's understanding and responding to his or her environment. As a student makes progress, his or her cognitive structures increase in sophistication.

A teacher must also have positive expectations. This means believing in each student and believing that the student can learn and be successful. Students only learn as much as the teacher expects; teachers who set high expectations for their students will receive higher achievement from their students. It is amazing to see what students can accomplish when they know and sense that someone believes in them. It is my aspiration as an educator to help students meet their fullest potential by establishing an environment where my students feel safe, are comfortable taking risks with new learning, and presents them with opportunities to share their thoughts and ideas.

My philosophy of education aligns itself closely to that Jerome Bruner's Theory of Constructivism. In the Constructivist theory, the learner selects and transforms information, constructs hypotheses, and makes decisions; its focus is on knowledge construction, not recitation of knowledge. Knowledge is constructed through one's personal experiences, previous knowledge, and beliefs. For me as an educator, this means that I try and encourage students to discover principles by themselves. I give them the opportunity to have dialogue among their peers and with myself. My main task as a teacher is to present information to be learned that matches or closely matches the student's current level of learning. From what I have stated, my philosophy of education aligns itself to that of Progressivism. This philosophy greatly impacts the way in which I decide to design and develop a curriculum. My curriculum would focus on promoting progress and in improving the self and society. The emphasis would focus on the learning process; develop thinking skills, better interpersonal relationships, and meeting student interests. The students would be encouraged to be creative, express their own ideas, and appreciate the differences between themselves and others. My responsibility would be to guide and stimulate curiosity and interest in students and push them towards problem solving and scientific inquiry.

Reflection on my Philosophy of Education

One famous educator once wrote that a successful and efficient teacher is one who is anchored on truths and substantial philosophy. He must live with that philosophy and must be characterized with that philosophy. In short, a philosophy-anchored teacher is one of the essentials towards the teacher’s success. Why? It is because we can see that he has the sense of direction as to what to do, where to go and what to execute given the various problems or situations in the field of teaching.

With this, I find it an edge that I possess over the others that I have a philosophy in education which I follow. And again, I will reiterate that like the strategies of teaching, there is no single philosophy of education whioch can be considered best. Let us go back to the idea that knowledge of several philosophies is a must in order to adjust to the needs of the situation. Thus a combined eclectic approach in our daily dealings as a teacher can help a lot in order to answer the demands of this rapidly changing environment.

In the Analects, on Education, Confucius says, "Anyone learning without thought is lost; anyone thinking but not learning is in peril." I believe, as teachers-to-be, we must strive to prepare learners through academic readiness to make themselves more complete human beings. I believe that we have a responsibility to ensure for learners the most favorable environment we can for their integration of knowledge and scholarship and for the acquisition of necessary comprehension and synthesis skills. To accomplish this task we must provide for them ample and purposeful opportunities to develop and to test developing hypotheses and to encourage an advocacy of the notion that a part has coherent meaning only in the context of "the whole." If what we desire for learners is a sustained and productive response to order in flux, then we must stress the plurality of the foundations of knowledge and the diverse angles of refraction on ways of knowing.

Student Teacher's Prayer

A Student Teacher’s Prayer

I want to teach my students how--
To live this life on earth,
To face its struggles and its strife
And to improve their worth.

Not just the lesson in a book,
Or how the rivers flow,
But to choose the proper path,
Wherever they may go.

To understand eternal truth,
And know right from wrong,
And gather all the beauty of
A flower and a song,

For if I help the world to grow
In wisdom and grace,
Then I feel that I have won
And I have filled my place.

And so I ask your guidance, God
That I may do my part,
For character and confidence
And happiness of heart.

Education

Education is a lifelong process. It will pass from one generation to generation. It will not end up to the time you graduated; it will only stop when you are already breathless. Thus says Dr. Henry A. Sojor, in one of his speech engagements in the College of Education during my lower years in college.

With this, this portfolio is prepared as one of the ways in order to put the learned experiences and theories into actual practice.

Education is very much vital to one’s life. It is an instrument not only for personal transformation but also for national development. It can change or develop the behavior, traits, and the glimpse of a person.

Education can bring all the luck in life. It can make you a refined human in the future and it can also make you a good asset in the society. It is the key to thrive in life that is why notwithstanding the hardships and problems that we encounter in our daily lives, parents would seek ways, they would really strive hard, they do their best just to send their children in school.

Education is a right not a privilege. It is the obligation of the government to educate all citizens of all levels living in the country. Educating our young ones and our people should be your priority because it is the only way to have a progressive country. Especially today’s life, we are living in a very competitive world. Through education we can compete with other countries in different aspects. It is something that should not be taken for granted because the future of our country lies on it.