Day 7

Day 7 na ng panandaliang bakasyon na tinatawag na sembreak.



Langit itong maituturing para sa mga estudyante. Paraiso naman para sa mga gurong katulad ko.



Bago magsimula ang sembreak, iginuhit ko sa hangin ang plano para sa susunod na 11 araw ng kalayaan. Anim na araw para sa pagrerelax at lima naman para sa mga trabahong dapat tapusin.



At matapos ang pitong araw, panay pagrerelax lang ang ginawa ko. Haha. Ang sarap kaya.



Ang sarap magpakabata sa paglalaro ng Plants Vs. Zombies, Chuzzle, Peggle, Bejeweled ( haha).



Nakatapos din ako ng isang nobela--ang The Twenty-one Balloons ni William Pene du Bois. At kasalukuyang binabasa ang e-book form ng The Graveyard Book ni Neil Gaiman.



At naisip ko, isa nga talaga akong procastinator. Aware ako sa bagay na yan. May mga bagay na dapat gawin, pero, pinagpapaliban. Pero, gagawa at gagawa ako ng paraan para matapos ko ang dapat tapusin bago pa matapos ang sem break.

10.10.10

When I was a child, I was a numerologist.



I always believed that my class number had a greater effect in my over-all class rank. That my contest number would determine the result of the contest. I would then add, subtract, multiply and divide just to come up with the result I wanted.



I am not just a lover of words, but of numbers too. Have I told you that my first choice in college is not education (a very wrong decision)? It was B.S. Mathematics. And I guess the Lord was putting me to a test when he put my name in the wait-listed students.



That happened for a reason. God didn't let me win (once) third in MTAP when I was in grade six. He wouldn't let my teachers give me the Best in Math award when I was Grades 3,5 and 6. And He wouldn't let my Grade 4 classmate Jonathan Sy transfer to another school the next year after getting the Best in Math when we were in fourth grade. God never runs out of a plausible explanation why things happen the way they do.



I guess I have somehow established the fact that I have (a bit of) inclination to numbers. And perhaps this reason is enough for me to have the confidence teaching Math to fifth graders.



Warning: Digression Ahead



Today is October 10, 2010. 10.10.10. Today, I am no longer a believer of numerology. Jesus Christ has erased all those fancy, mundane beliefs. I am a God's grace dependent now. Yet God made sure that I'll remember this "seemingly cryptic" date when the news from Kuting reached me.



He also let me realized that it's possible to be a word-lover and number-lover at the same time.



P.S. Thank you God for giving me my first computer.

Dear Strega Nona

I met Strega Nona when I was in college. I found her in the library of my Children's Literature professor. And from that day on, I fell in love with her....story.



I tirelessly waited for the day that she would be part of my personal collection. Thanks to my favorite bookshop for giving me a copy of her stories.



I love reading aloud her stories to a young audience. Strega Nona and Big Anthony (and Bambalona) make us laugh and believe in the power of imagination, words (and magic).







Last week, after reading and (chanting the magic words of) Strega Nona, I asked my second grade pupils to write Strega Nona a letter. I am overwhelmed with their outputs. Their responses are just so authentic. As a teacher, I am proud that at their very young age, they are able to come up with very meaningful (and funny) responses. I've also noticed that they were so involved and engrossed with the activity.



Here are the unedited letters of some of them. (Note: Most of these pupils are ESL or English as Second Language learners. I also decided not to edit them to "preserve" the authenticity of the "children's voices".



Happy reading!



***************

Dear Strega nona,



i want to borrow your pasta ball many people is want to taste your pasta because iwant taste your pasta



From Pupil A



***************



Dear Strega Nona, i am one of your fun i want to borrow your pasta beacuse manny People is want to taste your pasta



Dear big anthony what is the taste of pasta wow you eat the all pasta in to your town that is so manny



From Pupil B



***************

Dear Strega Nona,



can i borrow Your magic pasta pot and Your mgic ring and can You teach me Your magic. Ypur so very funny and can you teach me your song



Love

Pupil C



***************

Dear Strega Nona,



Can I borrow your magic pot beca-

use there are so many people that is hungry and I want to help them and I will just return next year, mon-

th or week. well bye for now I will just give you another letter.



Love, Pupil D



***************

Dear Strega Nona



When is your birthday

are you hands some



From Pupil E



***************

Dear Strega Nona



Can i borrow your magic ring?

Whem is your birlhday?

because i will athend in your birlhday.

Tank you. love



Pupil F



***************

Dear: Strega Nona



can you be my Friend and I

read all your story’s and all your books are Good. Do you have more Storys



Love

Pupil G



***************

Dear Strega Nona,



Hi, Strega Nona! I’m Pupil H--a Grade 2 pupil-- one of your fans. Is Big Anthony’s deeds being good now? I have also a favor, can I barrow your magic ring? Because my birthday is getting near. So that I’ll feed many noodles for many people

God bless!



Love,

Pupil H

***************

Dear Strega nona,



Make me Some pasta and i’ll be your Grandmother Can I barrow

magic Ring and if you

have Facebook i’ll add,



Love,

I



***************



Dear, Big Anhtony



Do you have Girlfriend

I wonderWho is that is



From Pupil J



***************

Dear: Strega Nona,



Your stories is very beautiful

and I want to borrow your

magic ring I want to be

your friend and How old are you

now?



Love,

Pupil K



***************



Dear Strega Nona



I want to buy your magic

ring and i want to be your

grand mother



Love

Pupil L

***************



Dear Strega Nona



Strega Nona

can you teach me your mgic

tricks and your magic things

and how to make a pasta

pot and what is big

Anthony doing there in italy

and if you do that i’ll be

happy gratia Love Pupil M



***************

Dear Strega nona,



i want to borrow your pasta ball many people is want to taste your pasta because iwant taste your pasta



From Pupil N



***************

Dear strega nona:



Strega nona can you teach me how to do

magic Strega nona can you be my

best friend where do you leave can you

be my friend in face book thank you

you have a wife



Love,

Pupil O





Thank you Tomie de Paola for giving us Strega Nona.

Tatlong Diyona

Dahil sa isang patimpalak sa Facebook--tulaan sa FB, nalaman kong (kahit papaano ay) kaya ko ding magpaka-makata. Narito ang tatlong diyona na nakatha ko sa "ningning ng karimlan". (Hindi ba Meralco?)

#1 Sipilyo



Wala kang pinag-iba,

'Sang bulaang propeta,

Pangako'y panay bula.

 

#2 Anino



Sino ang mas mapalad?

Ang tunay o ang huwad?

Ang lihim o ang lantad?

 

#3 Gabi



Gasera'y 'yong sindihan,

Iguhit mo ang buwan,

Sa ningning ng karimlan.

 

 

Soup # 1

walang duda

ito'ng araw na 'yon

na

wala kang paki

alam sa ruta ng

d

y

i

p

na sinasakyan

na nakikilipad ka

sa mga

i

b

o

n

g

lagalag

na

wala kang maisip

na panghihinayang



hangga't may papel at

s e n s i l y o

sa 'yong kalupi

patuloy kang magpa

pailanlang

kung saan ka man dalhin

ng kutserong inaararo ang daan



maiiisip mo

ito ang araw na 'yon

walang duda



walang takot

na makikipag

sapalaran

walang takot

na ngingitian ang bawat maka

salubong



bukas-tengang makikinig

sa ku

wen

tu

han

ng mga ka ta bi



makikihikbi

makikingiwi



wari'y walang

hanggan

ang lakbayin

wari'y masaya ka

kahit 'di mo alam

ang iyong

r

u

t

a



sa bawat ungol

ng makina

tuwing

titili ang busina

kada may

papara

muli mong maa

alala



ito'ng araw na 'yon

walang duda

Vagrant

Vagrant

Slippers, purse, coffee

Driven, happy(ly), aimless

Mumbling, stumbling, crumbling

Where are you now?

Will I ever find you?

Nag-NCBD ka na ba?

Bilang pagpupugay sa lahat ng mga Pilipinong sumusulat, naglalarawan at gumuguhit ng mga librong pambata, ipinagdiwang namin ang ika-27 National Children's Book Day o NCBD ngayong Hulyo 20.



Lubos akong nasiyahan dahil sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ay naipagdiwang ko ang NCBD bilang isang guro. Noon ay sumasapat na sa akin ang panonood ng mga pagkukuwento at pagpapapirma ng mga libro sa mga manunulat at ilustrador tuwing ika-20 ng Hulyo.



Pananabik ang unang dumapo sa akin nang mabuo sa isip ko ang mga maliliit na selebrayson na maari naming gawin sa klase. Sumidhi pa ito nang malaman kong nabigyan ang aming paaralan ng limang makukulay na poster para sa naturang pagdiriwang.





Kanina ay ipinagdiwang namin ito. Isang matamis na huni sa akin tuwing maririnig kong binabati ng mga bata ang sarili nila ng "Happy NCBD!"



Sa intermediate level (Baitang 4-6), ginanap namin ang Finals ng Book Trivia Quiz Show. Ang mga katanungan ay nagmula sa mga librong nagkamit ng PBBY-Salanga at Alcala Prize at Palanca Award. Ibinukas ko sa lahat ang maliit naming silid-aklatan (na nasa aming silid-aralan) upang lahat ay makapagbasa ng mga naturang aklat.



Hindi mapapantayan ang ligayang nadama ko tuwing nakikita kong nagbabasa ang mga estudyante namin. Pakiramdam ko, nagawa ko na ang tungkulin ko bilang isang guro ng Pagbasa.



Narito ang ilan sa mahigit 35 katanungan na naisulat ko:



A. Ano ang pangalan ng pinsan ni Raquel na may pambihirang buhok?

B. Saang bayan naninirahan sina Ampalaya at iba pang gulay?

C. Ayon sa kuwentong Xilef, ano daw ang dapat gamitin upang mapigilan ang mga titik sa paglipad?

D. Sino ang sumulat ng aklat na Unang Baboy sa Langit?

E. Ilang dagang-bukid ang nanirahan sa puno sa kuwentong May Alaga akong Puno?





Bukod sa trivia quiz show, nagkaroon din kami ng patimpalak sa pagrerebyu ng mga aklat-pambata. (Ilalahatla ko dito ang ilan sa mga gawa nila.)



Sa high school level naman ay nagsagawa din sila ng boom trivia quiz show mula sa mga pamosong libro ng kanilang henerasyon gaya ng mga gawa ni Bob Ong, Stephenie Meyer,J.K. Rowling at iba pa.



Mapalad ang mga bata dahil mas napapayaman ng mga ganitong pagdiriwang ang kanilang kabataan. Sana, sa mga gawaing tulad nito ay nahimok silang patuloy na mahalin ang pagbabasa. Na sa edad nila ay masabi at mapatunayan nila na "Ang nagbabasa ng libro, laging panalo".

Quickie Post

Time started: 8: 41



Wow. The enemy has been attacking me . He once caught me off guard last week, but I won't let him stop my momentum.



Yesterday, I lost my four-year-old MP3 player/ flash drive. I had been using that MP3 player as a teaching aid. I play different background music while my pupils are copying the notes on the board. I also used it to record the voices of my students during our speech class. I have around 200 songs--both secular and Christian music--saved in that petite gadget. All of my important school/work files are there.



Then yesterday, while I was waiting for my turn in the ATM in PNB-Lagro, a crooked man, stole it from the pocket of my backpack. I just realized that it was missing when I was about to return my wallet in my bag--the pocket was left open.



The funny thing about this unfortunate event is that the snatcher forgot to get the earphones and charger of my player. It's "low-batt" already. How can he use it? He should have asked me first how to use it.



Last month, I lost my phone. Then this July, it's my MP3 player. Material things don't really last. I should be more careful and cautious next time.

I So Like My New Layout

Dear blogger.com,



After weeks of having a lost-in-html-codes worries for this li'l blog of mine, I am now relieved.



Thanks blogger for the new layout designs. Thanks for helping the not-so-tech-savvy people who love doodling words but not deciphering codes.



Thank you for the free hosting ( Did I use the word hosting correctly?)



I hope that you would make blog layout designing more user-friendly, especially for people like me.



Cheers,



Jerson

I Feel Good

I so miss my weekly dose of senti moments here in blogspot. Work has been eating up most of my time. But unlike last year, which was my prima salvo of teaching, work no longer embitters my hard-days night.



At times, we couldn't explain why certain things are happenings to us--especially the ugly ones. We are tempted to ask God to free us from such things. But when the time comes that we are through with that experience, we soon realize the significance of that event in our growth.



Now, I am executing my tasks as a teacher religiously. I have come in full terms with myself that I am a teacher. That lessons plan are to be done before the actual teaching of the lesson. That keeping a friendly and orderly classroom is possible. That raising your bars high is a blessing in disguise. That pupils look up to you, so you must be a good model to them. That I have to surround myself with individuals who would create a positive impact on my life. That I am created to be of service to others. That with God, burning out is impossible.

Ang Sarap Maging Guro

Hunyo na (at hindi nalipat ng Setyembre), pasukan na naman. Dati-rati, kwaderno, mga panulat ang inihahanda ko.



Nami-miss ko ang pagtatahi ng mga de-spring na notbuk gamit ang karayom na pang-cross-stitch; ang pagdidisenyo ng unang pahina ng notbuk--pangalan ng asignatura, pangalan ko at guro ko; pagko-cover ng mga notbuk na kailan ko lang naperfect; pagtatasa ng lapis bago ihiga sa pencil case at pangungulit sa nanay ko na bilihan ako ng bagong bag at uniform.



Pero, ngayon, kahit ako na 'yong titser na mag-i-inspect kung kumpleto ang gamit ng mga bata, lalong sumidhi ang kasabikan ko na pumasok sa paaralan. Tulad ng unang taon ko bilang guro, na-e-excite pa rin ako na bumalik sa paaralan at makita ang mukha ng mga dati at bagong estudyante.



At bilang isang guro, pinaghahandaan ko rin ang bagong taong-pampaaralan gaya ng



- pag-e-evaluate ng mga strengths at weaknesses ko

- paghanap ng solusyon upang ma-improve ang mga dapat i-improve

- syempre ang paborito kong classroom structuring, kung saan ay nagbigay ako ng maikling presentasyon noong training namin. Ididikit na lang ang mga displays na ginawa ko.

- paglilista ng mga istratehiya na pwede kong magamit sa iba't ibang asignatura na ituturo ko

- paghahanap ng mga websites sa internet na pwedeng makatulong sa aking propesyon

- pagbili at pagbabasa ng mga librong pang-titser





Ang sarap maging guro. Ang dami kong natututunan.

The Birthday Bucket List

On the third of June, I'll be turning two-wenty-two. Natutuwa ako sa number na 'to kasi nauulit ang number 2.

Naisip ko tuloy ang overflowing GRACE ni God na pagkalooban ako ng madaming-madaming  SECOND CHANCES.



First of all, I wanna thank the Lord for the life He has added to my years and the years He is adding to my life.



And to make this birthday extra-special and memorable, I thought of creating a bucket list, or simply must-dos before Thursday midnight ends. I heard of this idea from a friend of a friend. I like the idea, so I'm duplicating it.



Here is the partial-official LIST.



1. Smile at 22 random people.

2. Give a hug to 22 people I personally know.

3. Give a high-five to 22 random persons.

4. Leave 22 one-peso coins in 22 different places.

5. Read 22 children's books in the net through  the International Children's Digital Library.

6. Do 22 push-ups.





That would be all for now. Aww! Sana magawa ko 'tong mga 'to.



Anyway, I want to share the famous poem Casey at the Bat which was published in June 3, 1888. Exactly a hundred years, before I was born.



Nahanap ko din ang ilang malalaking June 3 events.

Bud and Lucky.

i guess it's no accident that i read two books consecutively that are very similar in many aspects. and i didn't plan to read them in such sequence.





last month, i perused Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis. It talks about a boy who escaped from his foster parents to look for his father. This month of May, I was able to find  The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron and finished it in two days, enjoying every page of it. The story circles on  a girl named Lucky, obviously, who is also an "orphan" in some ways because his father left her to his ex-girlfriend after Lucky's mother died.



anyway, i am just amused after finding so many similarities between the two books.



They are both for children. 

The lead characters are , i think, 10 years old.

They (main characters) both lammed/ escaped.

They (main characters) both have a survival bag/kit.

They (main characters) both found out that they are loved at the end of the story.



Both books won the Newbery Medal. Bud in 2001 and Lucky in 2007.

So, should I say that there's some formula behind every good story?

Di na Ako Uu-LET

The long wait is over. My worries popped like bubbles when I had seen my name in the list of new teachers released by PRC.



Thank you Lord for this early birthday gift. I may have not made it to the top 10, but my friends , many of them, copped the spots. And that made me happier. And my school also performed at its best with a hundred percent passing rate in both levels.



There is enough reason for me to celebrate :)

The Power of Lucky

As a book-bunter who traverse the jam-packed world of Booksale Booksale and other second-hand bookshops, I rarely get hold of Newbery  books  that were given award in  the last ten years.



Usually, the Newbery books in my collection are the winners of the award during the twentieth century period (90s down to 30s). No, they are not the first edition of the book so they don't smell as old as their age.



Some of the Newbery (medal and honor) books I have are the following:



2001 The Wanderer by Sharon Creech

2000 Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

1996 The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

1994 The Giver by Lois Lowry

1991 The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

1990 Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

1984 Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
1982 Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary

1981 Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson

1978 Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

1977 Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

1977 Abel's Island by William Steig

1971 Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars

1971 Sing Down the Moon by Scott O'Dell

1970 Sounder by William H. Armstrong

1968 From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg

1963 A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

1962 The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

1953 Charlotte's Web by E. B. White

1952 Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes

1948 The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois

1945 The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

1941 Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry

1936 Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink



Wow. I never thought that I have more Newbery books than I've imagined. The ones in red are those that I have read.



What motivates me to collect such books?

Simply because of the fact that they are Newbery award-winning books. They are regarded by the American Library Association as the best children's books published in the US in a particular period of time. The prestige of the award attracts me to crave for the books. And I have faith in the committee which chooses the recipients of the award.



And earlier today, I chanced upon a recent winner of the award while I was rummaging for books in Booksale-SM Fairview. I knew it was a Newbery book even if the award logo wasn't on the cover. It feels like heaven when I laid my hands on it. I got more flabbergasted when I saw the price tag--P45.00. "Am I in a dream?"



2007 Newbery Medal Winner: The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron, illus. by Matt Phelan



I rushed to the counter and purchased the book. Baka may iba pang makakita.

Waiting is...

Whoooh!

I was hoping that the PRC would be posting the April 2010 result today. It's been almost a month of sudden palpitation when thoughts of the exam result would cross my mind.



My LET-directed life is still hanging by a thread. I still don't know if the careless mistake that I made has totally ruined my LET result. I was in a haste when we were told to detach the answer sheets. The proctor instructed us to detach only the last page, what I did was the superlative--all three pages.



A co-Reading major confessed that she also made the same exact mistake a year ago. (Reading majors think alike just like great thinkers.) And lo and behold, she surpassed the test. I hope my fate goes with hers. And I do have faith that God would give the desires of my heart.



So, here comes another week of letting-my-thoughts-meander feats just to avoid the anxiety of waiting for the exam result.



"Father into Thy hands I commend the exam's result".

POTS Number 1

Running in circles

Green, blue, orange lights

Fledglings twitter, bats monger.



Where are thee going?

Two...three laps and counting

Thump. Thump. Thy heart's beating.



Shouting cicadas drowning thy fears

Endless pavements choking dreams

Stuck and mosquito-bitten.

Pasok sa Banga!

Dumating na ang araw na pinakahihintay mo. Magagamit mo na ang kapangyarihang ibinibigay ng isang demokratikong pamahalaan. Matapos ang ilang buwan ng kalituhan at pag-aagam-agam, magkakasukatan na.



Aminin mo man at hindi, kabado ka. Paano kung iluwa ng makina ang balota mo? Paano kung hindi gumana ang powers mo na baguhin ang takbo ng kasaysayan sa pamamagitan ng isang piraso ng papel ?Paano kung may ibang umangkin ng pangalan mo ? Paano kung hindi mo mahanap ang precinct mo (na dati akala mo ay precint, as in presinto) ?



Kahit na nakinig ka nang mabuti sa voter's education sa telebisyon at radyo. (Nakabisado mo na nga yata ang kanta ng Sexbomb mula intro hanggang extro with matching giling), dinadaga pa rin ang dibdib mo. Pero sa loob mo, inaalo mo ang sarili mo at pinapayuhang maging kalmado. First time mo e, normal lang ang ganyang pakiramdam.



Kaya gumising ka nang maaga, thirty minutes bago sumapit ang alas-siyete. Naglakad ka dahil naniniwala ka sa kapangyarihan ng ehersisyo. Nagsuot ng pulang polo (bilang suporta sa ihahalal mong pangulo). Nagbaon ng panyo at payong (na sobrang nakatulong habang pumipila.



Habang papalapit ka sa pamantasang pinagdarausan ng eleksyon, bumulong ka ng isang taimtim na panalangin para sa bansa ( na minsan mo lang ginagawa). Nakasalubong mo rin sa daan ang iba't ibang mukha ng mga kandidato, at sinabihan mo silang, "Sana 'wag kang  magtatangkang mandaya". Sana rin ay narinig ka nila kahit pa mga plastik at papel lang sila.



Nabuwisit ka sa mga taong namimigay ng sample ballot. Bawal na ýon 'di ba? Pero di ka man lang naglakas-loob na sawayin sila. Sabi mo lang, "Mayroon na ako niyan" kahit ang totoo kodigo lang ang gawa mo. Pero may punto ko, dagdag basura lang kasi ýong ipanamimigay nila. At saka di ka naman bumoboto nang straight, at informed vote ang ika-cast mo.



No'ng papasok ka na sa silid na hinanap mo ng kulang-kulang ten minutes, namukhaan mo ang isang guro sa paaralang pinasukan mo no'ng high school, kabilang siya sa BEI. Tinawag ka pa niya. Jefferson. Kahit 'di naman talaga ýon ang pangalan mo. Bigla kang nag-daydream. "I wish, I wish with all my heart, sana may special treatment ako kagaya ni ___________". Ambisyoso!



After almost 5 minutes, natapos ka rin sa pagshi-shade. Naglub-dub-lub-dub ang puso mo nang makita na tumagos ang marker sa likod ng balota mo. Pero di ka nagpahalata na kinabahan ka. Tumayo ka na at nakalimutang dalhin ang pseudo-ballot secrecy folder papunta sa PCOS machine. Sinubuan ang makinang hayok sa boto at crinoss mo ang mga daliri mo.



Matapos ang mga limang segundo siguro, kinausap ka ng piping makina.



"Congratulations! Your vote has been registered."



Dinumihan mo ang kanang hinlalaki at ipinunas sa malinis na papel at nagpa-kyutiks ka sa isang nail specialist na isang impressionist. Kinapos ka sa budget so isang daliri lang ang nadumihan nakulayan.



Paglabas mo, marami na'ng customer ang naghihintay na magpakyutiks din. Tiningnan Tinitigan mo sila, at sabi ng isip mo, "Next time, gumising kayo nang maaga. Pero ok lang ýon, hanggang alas-siyete pa naman pila."



Haaay...ang sarap bumoto.

Teachers

Some teachers are made to do big things. Some are created to do greater things.

-J.R. Capuyan, May 2010

On Being a VJ

Volunteer Jerson (VJ) is back.



After almost two years of dormancy as a volunteer (for various causes), I finally had the enough conviction (and time motivation) to reincarnate the dying passion for volunteerism in me.



No, I wasn't apathetic about everything that is happening in our country. I read the news ( Philippine Daily Inquirer almost every Sunday); watch Unang Hirit, 24 Oras and/or News on Q ( our idiot box projects a good reception of GMA 7 and not those of the other networks'); listen to Rockedradio in NU 107.5 every Thursday night (thanks to my CD-R King MP3) and immerse in intellectual banters with my co-teachers.



But I guess those things aren't enough to show that I care for my country. It's like the adage," Faith without action is dead."



I miss my Alitaptap storytelling days and I-Clic teaching stints.



When I was still an undergraduate, I promised to Oble that I would serve the country who "sent"me to school.

That I am not an in grata.



Ha-ha.



Look at where I am right now. Count the number of things I've done to help a fellow Filipino.

Nah, 'tis better to count the stars when you wake up. There's hope that you'll find a couple or two.



Redemption.



Today, I joined a group of San Joseños in conducting a FREE College Admission Test Review which would end on June 5. The review is open to all high school students (yeah, not just to incoming seniors) living in San Jose del Monte. There are about 150 participants--coming from different public and private schools in our city.



Guess what subject I volunteered to teach.

English. Tama! (ala-Ai Ai intonation)



It feels so great to be a part of a worthy cause. Life becomes more worth-living. This experience taught me the value of giving without expecting anything in return.







(photo courtesy of google map)

Gordon for President

LET's Over

LET days are over. Matapos ang ilang buwang paghihintay (mali ka, hindi pagrereview), e sumabak na nga ako kanina sa kauna-unahang Licensure Examination for Teachers o LET ng aking buhay. (Sana ay wala nang repeat performance.)

January 29, 2010 nang magfile ako, kasama sina Kim at RV sa PRC-Ever sa may Recto. Doon na nagsimulang bumilis ang tibok ng aking puso tuwing mababanggit ang LET. Sino bang hindi kakabahan, e major TEST ng buhay 'yon e. Mala-UPCAT nang konti ang feeling. Ang pinagkaiba lang, kung sakaling di ako pumasa ng UPCAT, pwede pa akong kumuha ng PUPCET o test sa PNU (na pareho ko namang hindi kinuha), e sa LET, kapag di ko naipasa, no choice kundi umu-LET.

Bago ako magpatuloy, magti-thank you muna ako sa lahat ng taong nagpakita/ramdam ng suporta at nagsama sa akin sa kanilang mga personal prayer time. Salamat sa lahat ng college friends, co-teachers, blockmates, orgmates, high school buddies at siyempre sa aking pamilya. Thank you housemates dahil isang linggo akong nagbuhay-don dahil may excuse ako para bawasan ang pagtulong sa mga house chores at matulog, este, magreview hanggat gusto ko. Salamat sa pampi-pressure :) 

Salamat kay RV na nagpahiram ng hiniram niyang LET reviewer at nagturo sa akin ng probability, permutation at ilang EDRE concepts. Sa iyo din Shawie, na nagpahiram ng PNU reviewers na mukhang espesyal daw dahil PNU almuna ka :)

Anyway, back to the LET thing.

Hindi ko na-receive ang letter ko from PRC na mag-iinform sana kung saang lupalok ako magti-test. Buti na lang meron sa Internet. Thanks PRC! Salamat sa pag-a-assign sa akin sa San Andres, Malate, Manila. Hindi naman pala siya gano'n kalayo mula sa San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. Kinailangan ko lang umalis sa bahay ng 3:30 para nasa Aurora Quezon Elementary School na ako by 6:30 a.m. Mama ko ang nag-insist na umalis ako nang ganon kaaga. So quarter to five pa lang, nasa Quiapo na ako. Nag-pancakes na lang ako sa Jollibee Recto habang naghihintay na magbukas ang MRT. Nakakatuwa dahil ang daming nakaputi na may dalang plastic envelope.

Bago magsimula ang exam, e di nag-fill out kami ng forms, something na matagal ko nang hindi nagagawa. Akala ko hindi ako magkakamali. Patapos na e...dun pa ako nagkamali ng punit ng answer sheet. Dapat pala isa-isa lang. E, ako, tatlong answer sheets agad ang tinanggal. So, alam na, kapag hindi lumabas name ko sa list of passers, na-invalidate ang test ko. (H'wag naman sana.) Pero feeling ko, di naman yun major mistake, kasi yung code sa tatlong answer sheets ay iisa lang for one examinee.

LET BLOOPER: Sabi ng proctor, mag-pray daw muna kami. She asked a nun-examinee to read a prayer printed in a short bondpaper na 12 Arial Black yata ang font. It was supposed to be a solemn communication with God, pero nung basahin na ni Sister X ang part na "Lord, help those who will take the Nursing Licensure Examination", nawala ang concentration ko, pati na rin siguro yung iba. Humirit pa si Sister X ng "Make them nurses who heal blah blah". Wala na. After we said Amen, nag-comment yung proctor. "Ay, pang-nurse pala yon."

There are three sets of test for those BEEd majors--general education, professional education and content courses. 150 questions per subject. Ang haba ng time na binigay. From 8:30-1:30 general educatio at professional education. 2:30-6:30 content courses naman. Hindi ko na-consume ang lahat ng oras (which is favorable sa mga proctors). 11:45 at 4:00 ako natapos.

Pinakamahirap yung content courses. Professional at general education, so-so. Sumakit nang sobra ang ulo ko matapos ang 6 consecutive typographical errors sa Filipino at math part ng content courses. Walang salungguhit, kulang ng choices, walang operations, pare-parehong options. 

Ini-expect ko na pang-gradeschool ang content ng CONTENT COURSES, dahil nga BEEd major ako/ actually Reading major), tapos bigla na lang may 3rd year at 4th year Math. At dahil waterloo ko ang science, nahirapan din ako. May mga common sense questions naman. Kailangan lang gamitin ang analytical skills. Effective din ang elimination method lalo na kapag di ko alam ang sagot.

Sa prof ed, may mga subjects na wala man lang ni isang tanong na lumabas, like LAWS/mga batas. Nag-rush pa naman ako sa pagmememorize.

May part pala sa LET na nangako kami na hindi magle-leak ng mga questions. So, hindi ko pa naman siguro naba-violate yon. Anyway, isang buwan pa ng anxiety o kawalan ng peace of mind (?) dahil sa susunod na buwan pa ang result. I-ta-try ko na lang na huwag munang isipin ang LET at magpapakalunod sa trabaho this summer. Basta, sabi ko kay Lord, magiging masaya ako, anu't ano pa man ang regalo niya sa akin :) 

P.S. Salamat pala kay Kim na taga-UP din at 169 batch mate ko. Dahil sa kanya, may nakausap ako during the lunch break.

Sana 100% passing rate ng Diliman :)

Checkpoint

 Err.

Enter kadramahan. Mabeberdeng acacia ng Acad Oval. Pasok hangin. Ihulog ang mga dahon ng acacia. I-stretch ang kamay at saluin ang mga nahuhulog na berde at dilaw na dahon. Loser. Wala ka na namang nasalo.



Talo ka sa isang scrabble game kanina sa lexulous. Di ka man lang umabot sa top 5 sa blitz. Tinamad kang magreview para sa exam mo this Sunday. Gusto mong mag-top pero, feeling mo hindi mangyayari. (Nah, where's your faith?) Kasi naman, di ka nakakapagreview nang maayos. lagi kang nadidistract ng mga unwanted thoughts. Lagi kang nag-o-online. As if naman, may sarili kayong connection sa bahay. As if may sarili kayong PC. As if marami kang perang pang-rent.





Haha. Ang ambitious lang talaga.



So magtuturo ka pa rin next year sa dati mong tinuturuan. Nakakatawa lang kasi binawi mo yung resignation letter na binigay mo. Kasi naman, di masyado pinag-iisipan ang mga desisyon.

Rash. Pero in all fairness, excited ka pa ring magturo. You realized na boring ang buhay kung walang pressure from work. Kung walang ginagawa. Feeling mo isa kang professional bum.



Ang dali mong magbago ng mga plano. Ngayon, gusto mong magturo sa public school. Maya-maya, gusto mong magtrabaho sa US (kahit hindi teacher). Pera. Pera-pera na nga lang ba ang buhay?



Enter Stacie Orrico: There's gonna be more to life...



Haaayy.. ang dami mo pang bigas na kakainin. Feeling mo mature ka na mag-isip. Pero based on what's happening in your life, you're like a teenager who gambles on anything that catches his interest.



Errr. There's more work to be done. There's much weight to lose. Kaya h'wag bumitiw sa mga pangarap sa buhay. Do not let the world dictate your actions. At isiping maiigi ang consequences ng bawat action na gagawin.



At huwag ring bitter. Treat everyone as if they are better than you (which is true, in one aspect or another).

At huwag ding magpaapekto sa mga labels sa'yo ng mga tao sa paligid. Only you and you're God know what's in the core of your heart.



So cheer up, young lad. Huwag syaangin ang oras sa mga bagay na walang kapararakan. At huwag rin namang hayaan na hindi ma-enjoy ang mga biyaya ng Diyos :)



Every once in a while, i-checkpoint ang puso.

S-T-A-Y

S-till

T-eaching (for another)

A-cademic

Y-ear

I had submitted my resignation letter (which I wrote in a rush) and  'twas accepted.

After three weeks of goodbye-school-goodbye-students mode, tables turned.

I gained back the serenity. The chance of doing things better than the first time you did them.

The security of having some coins in my pocket. The passion which was put off before, now I am tendering.

Last Day of the School Year

5

4

3

2

1

It's over. School year 2009-2010 is over (at least for my pupils). After  months of seemingly endless requirements and examinations, their journey as fourth graders has finally come to an end. And as a neophyte adviser, I made sure that the last days are as memorable as the rest of the school year.

We thought of having a closing party. During our two-part celebration of good-byes and happy endings, they delivered their farewell speeches. Even the shy students were encouraged (or coerced) to say their final message for the class and for their teachers.

Most of them were apologetic for their naughty behaviors, talkative disposition. But they were also thankful to everybody who made their fourth grade experience extra-enjoyable.

During lunch time, we ate together what they brought. I told them that they could bring any food that they feel like sharing to their classmates and teachers. Fortunately, two students brought a chocolate-chiffon cake and packs of fruit juice. I also allowed them to  bring their cameras. mobile phones and PSPs  for taking pictures.

As a tribute to their teachers, I gave them blank papers in which they would write their message for each teachers.

Since there were two sections in grade four, we agreed to have some short program in which the pupils would  showcase their talents by group. There were different acts which we have witnessed. Dancing, singing, jokes-cracking, role playing and other "uncategorizable" talents.

The program ended with the personal message of selected students for me. My co-teacher and also grade four adviser was the one who facilitated this. It feels great to hear your students talk about things from their hearts. I was so proud as teacher when they were thanking me for not giving up on them, for including games and fun activities in our lessons and for simply teaching them. There were emotional pupils (yes, at their age) who activated their lacrimal (tear) glands before they could have spoken.

For the finale, I gave my speech while on the verge of breaking into hysteria. Tears of gratefulness, indeed. I thanked my pupils for being (so) cooperative and willing to learn from me. I thanked my co-teachers for being the wind beneath my frail wings. I thanked and  am still thanking God for making me a teacher.

When the other section left our classroom, we proceeded with the raffle of the things we have in the room. Subjects'corners, designs in the room, quotations on display, books and some personal things like knick-knack boxes which I had brought to school. This was a great way of getting rid of the trash things which I need to clean afterwards.

Last 30 minutes of class. We reminisced about the past school year. The songs they memorized for the different programs, the dance moves they rehearsed and the fights and peace-talks they had. We also played "Paint Me a Picture" in which the scenes that they painted were about the different activities we did.

For the final prayer of the year, I prayed a short sincere prayer. (This time I didn't cry anymore.) Then, the boys  and the girls had their group hug. And finally, as a class we hugged each other. I was at the center of the throng. Then we jumped ten times. 

I bid them good-bye for the last time. And they answered back in their sweet voices,"Good bye and thank you Teacher Jerson". And one by one, I hugged them and said my final advice to them.Then, they walked out of the door.

Sizzling Siobhan Magnus

I''m rooting for this girl to win this year's American Idol title.

After watching her performance tonight, I realized that it isn't Crystal nor Didi who is the hottest among the girls ( and the boys).



Siobhan's

fearless

eccentric

vocally-athletic (?)

unpredictable.



She reminds me (and you) of Adam Lambert's nondescript repertoires. I hope she keeps on pulling off performances like the one she has just delivered.



Note: Photo courtesy of: http://image3.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID11363/images/resized_American_Idol_Siabhan.jpg

So, how was the interview?

I just found out that the position I was aiming isn't the one I was thinking.

The post said that they were looking for a Reading Teacher. But, lo and behold, during the interview, I found out that they are looking for a Project Consultant. (By the way, I applied in the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books). They gave me an overview of the responsibilities of a full-time consultant. And I was overwhelmed.



I said, "Honestly, I don't think I have the enough experiences to do the job."



So I thought I was going home, from Ortigas with a very downcast face. Then suddenly, the guy who interviewed me ('coz there were two of them), who was a former professor in our college, "unethically" (quoting him), asked me if I could work for his reading center. I was flabbergasted.



This is hitting two birds with one stone.



May isa na akong pagpipilian. More to go. Thanks God!

Super Lolo

Kailan mo unang nalaman na may putok ka?

Kailan ka unang gumamit ng Rexona?

Parang amoy bulok na bayabas, di ba?

Pag naamoy ng iba, mahihilo sila.



Kanina, nabulabog ang mundo ko.

Pagpasok ko sa klase ng mga batang edad-sampu,

Nagsusumigaw sa baho ang amoy ng b.o.

Inilabas ko agad ang panyo, sabay labas ng kuwarto.



Bumuwelo ako, bago simulan ang pagpapayo.



Bigla ko tuloy naalala ang mga kaklase ko no'ng elementarya na parang may dala-dalang bomba sa magkabilang kili-kili. At puro babae sila. Ang gaganda pa naman no'ng iba. Sayang lang talaga.



Pero sa klase ko kanina, lalaki ang pinagmumulan ng maantot na amoy. Sana lang talaga bukas ay di na siya mangamoy. Pero, sakali man, handa ko siyang bigyan ng deodorant na nasa sachet.

Kapayatan

Malapit nang magtapos ang Pebrero. At ilang araw na lang, magtatapos na naman ang taong pampaaralan. Pero hindi ko pa rin nangyayari ang isa sa mga bagay na inaasahan ko.



Bata pa lang ako, balingkinitan na ang pangangatawan 'ko. Sa minsang pagbabalasa ng mga lumang larawan, walang pinagkaiba ang pigura ng aking katawan ngayon sa hitsura ko limang taon na ang nakakaraan.



Hindi ko alam kung saan ako may deprensya. Hindi naman ako mahirap pakainin. Halos lahat ng ihain sa 'kin, sinusunggaban ko. Pero bakit wala pa ring pagbabago? Wala rin naman akong karamdamang nangangailangan ng medikal na atensyon (sa pagkakaalam ko).



Dati, sabi ng ilang kakilala, dahil daw sa pagiging "schoolaholic" ko. (Do'n sila nagkamali.) Minsan kasi nalilimutan kong kumain (lalo na kung walang makain), lalo na kung maraming dapat tapusing gawain na kailangang ipasa (bilang crammer naman ako). Siguro rin, dahil sa biyahe. Uwian kasi ako sa Bulacan dati. Minsan, nalilipasan ng gutom. Hindi kasi umuubra ang tubig at Presto creams-vanilla falvor na pan(t)aid-gutom habang bumibiyahe.



Kaya nung makagradweyt ako, sinabi ko sa sarili ko na "Jerson, dapat tumaba ka man lang nang konti sa unang trabaho mo. Bilang, may pambili ka na ng pagkain." Mayo nang winika ko yan sa sarili ko.



E, anong petsa na? Pebrero na. Buto't balat lumilipad pa rin ako. Halos lahat ng mga kaibigan na makakita sa akin, walang ibang komento kundi



 "Uy, nagda-drugs ka ba?"

 "Sinong, fitness instructor mo?"

 "Hanger ka ba? I wanna hang-out with you e."



Dati, akala ko, normal lang ang metabolism ng katawan ko. Pero, parang pabilis siya nang pabilis habang tumatanda ako. Pakiramdam ko, wala pa sa limampung porsyento ng sustansya ng kinakain ko, ang nakukuha ng katawan ko. Kakalungkot.



Tapos akala ko, pag naging guro ako, tataba ako. 'Yon pala, hindi. Tiyak na salik din ang "stress" sa pagpayat o pagtaba ng tao. Hindi kaya maubos-ubos ang mga suliranin sa araw-araw ( na normal lang naman). Isang malalim na haaay talaga sa kapayatan ko.



Sa kabilang banda, may mga magagandang naidudulot din naman yata ang kapayatan. Pero wala na akong balak isa-isahin pa.

Second-hand Books

Ninety-percent of my books are second-hand ones.



Hindi ko inakalang magiging kolektor ako ng mga aklat, higit pa lalo ay mga pambata.



Galing ako sa pamilyang hindi bumibili ng libro. No'ng grade 1 ako, may lalaking nag-aalok ng mga libro ng mga alamat sa klase namin. Lahat kami ay namangha sa makukulay na pabalat. Binigyan pa kami ng order slip na kailangang ibigay kinabukasan. Kaunti lang yata sa amin ang bumili. Karamihan ay nakibasa na lang sa katabing may kopya ng Si Langgam at Tipaklong at Ibong Adarna at iba. Isa ako sa kanila. Wala kasi kaming ekstrang pera para sa libro. Pagkain, renta, pamasahe, baon ang umuubos sa kita ni Tatay.



Noon kasi, mahal ang libro. Noon kasi, hindi pa sikat ang mga tindahan ng second-hand books.

Ngunit nang madiskubre ko ang Booksale Booksale, nag-iba ang pananaw ko sa pagbili ng libro. Hindi pala kailangang maging mapera para mahalin nang lubusan ang pagbabasa. Kaunting barya at mala-higanteng pag-ibig sa pagbasa ang kailangan upang maging bibliophile.



Madami-dami na din akong naipong libro sa bahay at sa silid-aralan. Sa mahigit dalawandaang libro ko, Php 250.00 yata ang pinakamahal at Php 5.00 naman ang pinakasulit.



Hindi ako nahihiyang sabihin na second-hand ang mga libro ko. Pinagyayabang ko pa nga sila lalo na kung bestseller o award-winning ang nabili ko. Idagdag mo pa ang presyo.



Sa mga susunod na araw ay ilalabas ko ang mga larawan (lang at hindi na ang presyo) nila.

Soon-to-be-Unemployed

My contract ends this March 31, 2010.

The feeling of separation (from my students and co-teachers and friends) starts to haunt my jeepney rides, leaving me close to staging a drama because of those wet eyes.



Nagsisimula na rin akong mag-isip kung pa'no ko sasabihin sa mga estudyante ko na hindi na nila ako makikita sa susunod na taon. Labis na lungkot ang nadarama ko sa tuwing ini-ensayo ko sa gunita ang mga pangungusap ng pamamaalam. Maingat dapat. Piling-pili. Dahil sa lumbay na ito, isang kuwento ng pamamaalam ang pumasok sa isip ko. Sana lang ay maisulat ko ito bago pa dumating ang huling araw ng klase.



March 31 marks also the day where I would be part of the millions of Filipinos who are jobless. And I don't want that day to dawn on me. That is why, I am scourging the net for job vacancies which match my skills and interests.  I am looking for a post in an NGO that is big on education and literacy. I have sent e-mails to NGOs I know, but none of them  has responded yet. Hello NBDB, Ayala Foundation, Sa Aklat Sisikat, World Vision? I know I'm not from the College of Social Work and Community Development, but I believe that I have so much help to offer. (Naks! Oozing with confidence).



Haay. I might end up teaching again (which I also love to do). It's just that, I want to try the other fields before I commit my years to the teaching profession. If I would teach again,  I hope that it would be in a "big"school which is also big on taking care of their teachers.



 Habang hindi pa ako p'wedeng lumiban sa klase, panay e-mail na lang muna ang mga job application. Ang problema, ang hirap ding maghanap sa internet, kahit pa maraming job-serach engines. Iba pa rin ang walk-in application. Iba pa rin kung nasa lugar ka mismo ng job fair.



So for now, I will just lift my hands and pray and believe that all these things are working together for a brighter future with the Lord.

Churchless

I consider myself churchless (I don't know if such word exists).

I'm churchless for six months already.

No. I am not an atheist. I know that there's a Divine Being who is the Alpha and Omega of everything. I am no Bertrand Russell who believes that nothing deserves certainty. I am not good at skepticism.



I am proud to be a Christian. His follower. His son. His servant.



Usually (and ideally), Christians are part of a fellowship (  a state of being together; companionship; partnership; association; hence, confederation; joint interest.)*. They do bible studies; attend prayer meetings; praise and worship God through music. They enjoy being hand-in-hand in ministerial works.



For six months, I have been missing a lot as a non-fellowship-ing Christian. I have been a NPC (No Permanent Church) Christian. No. I am not hopping from one church to the other. I ain't no kangaroo. It's just that I couldn't "find" the church where I would grow. The sad thing about it is that I allowed six months to pass on without doing any effort to pray for one. Perhaps, I should start prioritizing this in my prayer concerns' list because it has been taking its toll on me.



I have started feeling spiritually dry. Some of the fruits of the Holy Spirit are no longer evident in my life. I easily give in to temptations and temper calls. My devotionals, songs (in my MP3) and prayers are the only ones which make me believe that I'm still a Christian.



God is just so good that He has not let me lose my faith. That He let me realized these things before it's too late.



Being churchless is no good.







*http://www.dictionary.net/fellowship

In Transit

transitive

whom?

direct

what?

yes

object.



active

doer?

passive

receiver?

voice.



panlunan

pamanahon

pang-abay

kailan?

saan?

ewan.

Break

This blog is on a break.

The blogger is on a break.

He is broken.



Broken spirit.

Tired body.

Shattered dreams.



Twisted mind.

Diced hopes.

Pounded passion.



Soar.

Rise.

Phoenix.