Last Day of the School Year

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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.