Baket Nawala Ako ng Matagal?

Hello! This is my first word for this week. Phew!

Matagal-tagal din akong nawala sa blogworld ah. I was suppose to tell all of you, but then I have apprehensions. I planned to place scheduled posts na lang muna, but then I don't want to do it since I had no topic in mind and I was so lazy that time. Lol. Anyway, I was out for a while (was it for a while?..just wondering...) because we had a Teachers Summit in the lofty and lush mountains of Mapawa Nature Park in Cagayan de Oro City. This was my third time to have this kind of activity since I was absorbed by this company. We always do this every year, after each school year. Sobrang kakapagod ang activity, although at the same time rewarding din siya since I got to see my previous friends, co-teachers and mentors. Isa lang talaga ang reklamo ko; para atang magkaka-blisters ang pwet ko sa kakaupo sa kakakinig ng mga plenary sessions. Anyway, this activity was quite memorable and a learning experience as well.

Pagod na ako ngayon and I want to show the pictures but I don't have the cord for my phone. I was supposed to make blog updates via my phone but walang signal dun sa bukid na yun at kung meron man ay dapat I have to strain and stretch my neck and be stationed at one specific place to locate the signal. *sigh* It was a four-day experience up there in the mountain, an experience of team building, work policies review and management, rekindled friendship and moments of enlightenment (lalo na sa health aspects; e.g. bad effects of "hydrogenated" ingredients, healthy food, carcinogenics and excitotoxins, and mga nakaka-nosebleed na mga informations). Some can drive me nuts, but gives me an ethereal experience!

Sige, kain muna ako. Thanks sa mga nag-comment. Lavet!

On Accomplishments

Wow..finally i'm done with my PTC. So tiring, yet so rewarding. There are so many things to plan now ,and , put to action those plans. Hahaiz..Natapos din. Prepare na naman for the next maka-nosebleed na mga work. 5 days na Teacher's Summit, vacation galore (sleep all day ang drama), and then summer camp class (madugong work load na naman)... Well, i'm enjoying every bit of it, yung tipong dina-digest ko ng piece by piece. Work can be demanding but ika nga ni Grover Cleveland, "Honor lies in honest toil." Oh di ba? Kahit naman bleeding to death na ang work attitude mo, at least it's an honor for you. Self-fulfilment kung baga. Lol.

things na na-accomplish ko for today:
1. Finish the DepEd promotional report
2. my PTC (parents-teacher conference)..finally done! aww..it's been a week na since i've been doing this noh!
3. Materiasl Inventory report - sumakit likod ko dito..huhuhuh..
4. assist sa Graduation practices - oi finally!...hahahaha..'gratz for the graduating class and moving up Casa children..wetowew!
5. matulog ng maaga (10:30 pm!)..kagabi pa to actually..feeling refreshed na me now..
6. kumain ng sundae, pagkatapos ng post na ito..wahahahaa..

I miss Timmy, cute boy...

On Picnic and Tug-of-War

This afternoon, the children had picnic to formally close the school year. Hehehe. I'm giggling right now. It was a blast! So much fun. 'Yon chibogs to the max ang mga bata, at siyempre kami na din. It was a potluck, so sharing ang message noh. There were pizzas, cakes, puto, pasta, chicken, cookies and dozens of hungry mouths. Lol. After eating, we played the "walang kamatayang" tug-of-war and mind you, the dusts on my feet and my shirt are not enough to tell the real story. Sobrang saya talaga. A good way to end the school year...Laughter.
Siyempre, una mga Grade 1 vs Grade 2. Hala bira! It was a struggle. Kung baga, "eat the dust baby!" yung drama. It was quite windy outside and...dusty, as well. Pero tuloy pa rin. Ika nga nila, tuloy ang laban. So hila, hatak, hila, hatak...and guess who won? It was the Grade 1 students! Then next, Grade 3 vs Grade 4. Pull, pull, and more pull. And the Grade 4 won. Then comes the most exciting part, Level 1 vs Level 2 children. Of course, sangkatutak ang dami ng Level 1. Still, go pa rin sina kuya at ate, wanting to prove something. And there goes the small guys itching to beat their senior schoolmates. Hatak, hila, hatak, hila.... Dust, sweat, frowned ad struggling faces were the silent witnesses of that game. Bira doon, hatak dito. Hulaan nyo sino nanalo? Of course, the Level 1. But ayaw pumayag ng mga kuya, so a rematch was done. And still the older ones, proved to be unfavored by their number, lost the game. They just end it with a smile.
It was a great day! I'll post the pictures next time. ;)

Quotes and Thoughts

Innocence ages, wisdom lives forever.

Touching Lives

Once God has touched you, you’ll
never be the same.

"There’s no time to waste, there’s so much to celebrate."

Yes, there’s so much to celebrate to life than any other else in this world. When I was so preoccupied with things that this human heart crave for,I learned that everything was dull, lifeless and empty. Vague as it may appear but I knew i already lost something that was meant to be worth rejoicing at that moment. The details no matter how visible they were, my eyes were yet stigmatized by an obvious spectacle. Yes..it was near but my eyes are focus on something far beyond this reason could attain.

But lately, realization spanked me in my face. It’s as if everything is clear. The fog is removed. I learned to value life not because life has more to offer but it’s that I can offer life, a life that is far beyond this little hands of mine can give. I understand that each little act of kindness in itself the blood of life, the one that sustains all. I wondered why our existence continues to run its phase here on earth and it dawned upon me that it’s because of those little kindness that I gave and received everday. Such kindness too little to add a weight on the scale yet too big the equivalent in the heart of those needing it and giving it. To give means not to love but sustain love. Love, the all powerful life source where humanity gets its strength and survival continually begets life.

Before I don’t know where can i find such inner peace and communion. The one intimate relationship that this heart longly search. I tried everything to find this peace. And I realized that I found it in the smiles of a pupil, in the corners of the classroom, in the piles of books, journals and papers. I just laughed the idea but i savored every moment of it.The hands of God working here inside this place of solitude. I valued each of it. The work of the innocence was my work of ignorance dawned by mystical knowledge. Knowledge that only God can offer. The children I am handling now are the incense offering that i will offer in the altar of the Most Loving Father. And this children in whom I sow the seeds of love and joy will grow and rise with their Father. And I,
being the gardener will watch them. For once in my life, I somehow touched lives that touched also mine.
PYS6Z4W6649F

Life is a teacher.

When i was still in high school, I pictured myself landing in a job where chalk and boards are present. I do not imagine myself in a classroom jampacked with pre-pubescent or pubescent individuals. To cut it, I don't see myself immersed in a place of teaching, with myself as a teacher. But life sometimes is just so unpredictable. I'm a teacher now. Yes, no chalks but marker pens, with youngsters of different characters some of which can drive you insane. I can just easily get out of this setting but, you see, it's my fifth year now. Flipping back through the past chapters of my life as teacher, I can't do anything but be mesmerized by the carousel of experiences. They became my teachers. Every day, they make me a child. And everyday, I build a child. Sitting there on my chair and attending to every child's needs and whims (hehehe), I can't help but flash a smile. This is not me. Hehehe...But when I see the children, when I envision what will they become, I came to realize that there are times that one has to sacrifice something to build another one. I have to forget myself and think of what I can impart to these children. It's hard but it's fulfilling.
Life is a teacher. And my life as a teacher starts every day.

God Magnified

Today was filled with work and busyness. I can't help but be amazed about the children in my class when they wrote their essay about the great lesson that I presented to them. The story of "God With No Hands" somehow brought different reactions among my students. Some realized that there is somehow a scientific explanation behind the creation of the whole universe. It's just so fulfilling to know that the story really had an impact in their young minds. "God is powerful" is the main core of their explanations which was rather uncommon for their age to fathom. Aside from that they realized also how vast the universe was and how everything in this world follow God's rules. We give them the key to the universe and today I did it. As I give the key I see in them the good stewards God want them to be. I know I must focus on what they are to become rather than what they are now.

First

Hehehe..I am smiling. Well, another was done yet another fulfillment was accomplished. I cannot help but smile. :) Today we started the first day of school and it was quite an amusing experience. Of course all the students were from the previous school year's. The reaction was quite taunting, "Few students only? A boring class." Caught off-guard with that comment huh. But the reaction later changed when one student a time filled that seemingly spacious classroom. Greetings here and there. Mixed reactions actually. It caught the emotional man inside me. The initial reaction was then just a cover-up emotion for self-adjustment. Hehehe..Children really are quite exceptional. In every way I say. Hehehe...

The first students that were there were Jules, Lance, Abby, Airah, Bea and Joel. I really miss these young souls. It's just so fulfilling to see them working quietly and with so much concentration. Hmmm..Brings the proud teacher out of me. Hehe..I just smile and thank God. A fitting way of ending the day. :)

Excited

There will be four days before the start of the class and I am already excited and nervous at the same time. You see there will be new and old students in my class. Whew! For the record, this will the first time I will handle a class by my own without being under the wings of someone senior to me. I know there are so many expectations. All things will be crucial for this journey. I really don't know what is laid for me in the future. But one things is for sure that there will be a roller coaster ride ahead. There will be plenty if ink on my canvass and it will be a little messy but it will be fun. There are times I wonder why life is quite enigmatic. I remembered last night when I watched Forrest Gump (boy, I love the movie!), I wonder why things are so complicated to others while for others seem to be like a big woven tapestry of adventure. Still others simple. But for me, life is fun. And I am always ready with my brush. Hehehe.


Some of my latest photograph. ;) Well, it's just a click away.

The Parting

painting using strings

They say that parting is the hardest thing to do. But I say it's a memorable one for me. Today is the last day of our summer camp. There's so many things that were done for the supposedly last day. Well, the children that once entered here from the beginning of the summer class wears that face of uncertainty but now as I can see they were leaving the school with face marked with utter confidence and enjoyment. Well, it swells my heart every time I see them with those smiles and sometimes chuckles. These things were always an enigma of what it is to be a child. These young souls I know will someday continue the cycle of life. I am always hopeful that they will always endeavor to do their best in whatever role they will play in the scheme of life. Like the strings of paint, no matter how coiled the paths are but if you look at the whole picture and be as bright as the colors as always, constantly you will build a beautiful artwork.

A Tinge on my Basket

my painting of fruits

In the basket of fruits, I realized that we are like the baskets. The teachers are like baskets and the children are the fruits. We do not choose what kind of fruits God placed in our care. But we know that each fruit gives color and beauty to a simple-looking basket. So that when someone sees this basket he will utter, "Oh! what lovely and tasty fruits. A nice basket of fruits!" In return, we receive a recognition just because the fruits that we bear. I always learn new lessons from my children. There is always a new path for each journey. A tinge on my basket. A color of their own.
Whether we are new or an old basket, each fruit that we have will always leave a memory. A tinge on our basket.

The Picture Tells It All

The luminarias.

The song.
The Puppet.
Vacation Bible School or VFE (Values Formation Education) did really make a great experience afterall.