Teacher's teacher

Before classroom Teacher, now World Blogger

0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 6:34 PM

To even think that I would engage in Blogging as another financial undertaking is like "going to Mars" like what Matt Damon did and plant potatoes . . .
Yet life gives you these twists and turns in your life that now this Teacherallherlife inside a classroom is a World Blogger. What I mean by World Blogger is not necessarily World famous although only time can tell . . . but that my horizons are now no longer limited inside the four walls of the classroom. Now, I can blog anytime, anywhere and virtually about anything and everything!

I am 65 years old so definitely am "past my prime" whatever the phrase means. From my end however, it is not a question of being under or overage but that there is an urge or hunger in my way of thinking that if it can no longer be contained all I do is blog it. Throw it to the world of ideas!!!

/thus, if before I was a classroom Teacher, now I am a World Blogger? How about YOU???

Teachers are our election warriors so let us protect them

0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 6:07 PM

Many elections come and go but the teachers are stuck up with post election work. Then you hear of teachers who receive their honoraria at a snail pace. Will this happen again in the incoming May elections? Your guess is as good as mine.

Teachers are our election warriors so let us protect them. Let us also give them a a "pat on the shoulder" by giving their honoraria on time. If at all possible, give the money ahead of the elections.

Let us make the teachers' work easier by voting correctly. Let us allow the teacher to do their jobs without the harassment . As electorate, let us make the May elections our way of making our beloved country, the Philippines,

Social Security System needs drastic changes to cater to members' needs especially increase of pension

0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 5:44 PM

CHIZ WANTS SSS TO ITEMIZE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero called on the Social Security System (SSS) to make public its investment portfolio and explain to its two million pensioners why President Aquino was correct in his assessment that the pension fund would go bankrupt in 2029 if he did not veto the Congress-ratified P2,000 increase in their pension.

“It is about time that the SSS, with its officials earning millions of pesos in salaries and bonuses, be put under the spotlight and be made to explain in full details why the agency will go belly up if we grant the much-needed P2,000-increase in the monthly pension of its retired members,” said Escudero, the leading vice-presidential candidate.

In his veto message, the President said that enacting the SSS pension hike bill could lead to “substantial negative income for the SSS” and depletion of its Investment Reserve Fund by 2029.

The Chief Executive explained that with the pension increase of P2,000 per retiree, multiplied by the present number of more than 2 million pensioners, would result in a total payout of P56 billion every year.

Compared against the annual investment income of P30 billion to P40 billion, such total payment for pensioners will yield a deficit of P16 billion to P26 billion annually, the President said.

As such, Aquino said the deficit would seriously compromise the current members of about 31 million just to favor the two million pensioners and their dependents.

Escudero said this was the reason why the Filipino people, particularly the pensioners and their dependents, “would want to know where the SSS bigwigs have invested their contributions.”

The veteran lawmaker also recalled a statement the President made during the 55th Founding Anniversary of the SSS on September 3, 2012, during which he emphasized the role of the pension fund in helping its members.

“SSS ensures that its funds are protected made to grow so that it can continue its mission of providing viable, universal and equitable social security protection for now and for more generations to come,” read the speech carried by the official website of the Office of the President.

Escudero said it was ironic that for that anniversary celebration, the SSS chose the theme: “Kabuhayang Pinagsikapan, Seguridad Maaasahan.”

“So where are all the fruits of these contributions by these retirees? The security they were promised?” Escudero asked.

“Surely, these contributions made by SSS members that were also used to pay the millions of pesos in salaries, benefits and bonuses of the agency’s officers should have also been considered investments, investments to make sure that they use SSS funds properly so that these would get the best yield in the investment market,” he added.

Yet now, Escudero said, the pension fund is “using this excuse of poor investment yield as the reason why SSS pensioners cannot get their just increase in pension.”

“If there is anybody that should be made to suffer for the shortfall in investment income, it shouldn’t be the pensioners but those under whose care the billions of pesos in SSS contributions were put so that they could invest them properly,” he said.

January 2016 is precursor to a New Year

0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 6:07 PM

For some of us who were born last 1950, 2016 is a very long time. For us who have begun teaching since 1971, the career has been there for a long time also.

This blogger is 65 years old and has taught since 1971 so she is a senior citizen and a retiree. January 2016 will definitely be a year of new experiences being 65 years old and a retiree.

One of the more exciting events was my Zipzone adventure. Take a look

It took me to become 65 years old and a retiree to give in to the curiosity how it feels to conquer the longest zipline.

May 2016 then give us more energy and zest to New adventures and New Everything. Teacher, fellow retiree, game?

Teachers all over the world: active or not - Happy New Year

0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 5:21 PM

It may not be significant to greet because events like Christmas and New Year logically come every year but because I say the greeting for you, it is in fact significant.

Merry Christmas 2015 and Happy New Year 2016 (y) Let us try to become more interactive this New Year. May we have more energy to go on and reach out to each other because sometimes this makes our lives more entwined and interconnected. Do you agree?

So let us just limit ourselves to this beautiful message where the only reality that matters is LOVE, LOVE and LOVE, Christmas or no more. New Year or same year. Smile :)

Teacher retires, what is next?

0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 9:40 AM

So retirement becomes mandatory at 65 years old even if the teacher has not reached 15 year minimum requirement to avail of monthly pension. This is one painful fact that every teacher must take to heart if only to give justice to the years of service and avail of the fruits of your labor during your heyday years.

Sad to say however, this was not foremost in the minds of some Human Resource in-charge. Nobody usually thinks retirement will come one day. But then it does. So since the question goes: what is next after the teacher retires? To some it means a long time of travel and rest. To others, a time to make good the promise to have the organic vegetable garden! Still to others, it means, another entrepreneurial endeavor when the opportunity is given.

Thus, life remains ever challenging whether still in the work force or after retirement. It is your personhood that matters. Even being a teacher is not the most important qualification as your vivacity and versatility. So are you game teacher-retirees?

Retirement is both painful and happy event

0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 11:18 PM

Teaching, they say, is the noblest profession and after teaching for more than 40 years, I can vouch for it. It is the retirement package however that the government or private institution that you serve that can make you smile or frown.

In my case, I availed of optional retirement after 20 years in a private establishment so the take home package was not the amount expected that allows the retiree to live a decent life. This is complicated by the fact that there are still children who go to school. So the logical decision is to teach somewhere and this time in a government institution. So I did but I forgot that I have only 15 more years to spare otherwise I will not receive pension. As it happened it is the case now.

So, I may be the "guinea pig" but I was not extra careful myself to protect my rights so no one could be blamed except myself. Still the HR could have been a little cooperative and went a mile more to remind me of the precarious situation I was in.

Teaching, indeed, is the noblest profession but it is not the best paying job in the world. However, I received the best send-off retirement/65th birthday so I can never complain. Most of all my children do not mind giving me financial support or give their share to shoulder some of the bills so there is no reason to complain.

Therefore, retirement is both painful and happy event but with all the attending perks, it is still more of a happy event!

Happy Easter fellow mentors

0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 10:36 AM

It was not long ago when Holy Week began and now the week ends with Easter Sunday. How days go by now but first things first: Happy Easter fellow Mentors! At a time when all we hear are bad news any semblance of Easter spirit is a welcome respite. Over and above material things is the Easter message, that Jesus is risen Alleluia!

Education as already been shared by experts hopes to "lift us up" and makes every individual more human and humane. Mentors always make this realization ever present. May we have more mentors who believe in this.

Let us begin this dream right there in our own homes.

I may be retiring but I am not becoming retarded

0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 9:40 PM

In one of life's scenarios, I blurted out that I will soon retire when a colleague commented: "Oh, you will soon retire? so soon, you will become retarded!" This remark was one supposed to be taken as a joke although that somebody literally said it to my face. I want to believe that this guy who said it at the time it happened, did not mean it so I must take it lightly. Today, Holy Saturday, it just dawned on me that while I still take it as a joke, people out there should not be mean, said lightly or not.

Teachers, like us, have the uncanny ability to incorporate this setting in one of our class discussions. Your parents will be proud of you and the world will be better for sure. We may have all the inventions that intelligence can produce but the best is not something technology can muster, it is only education that can painstakingly nurture every person to become humane.

In my case, I have been teaching since 1972 and all through the years, I think I have done my best in the field of teaching. Then I realize I am retiring on July 1 and am still farther away from saying with confidence to the Lord: "I have done my best and admit to all the students brought to my care that I was their best teacher." Does this mean I am accepting the comment that I am becoming retarded? No, I am just accepting the part of the painful realization that life is bigger than my retirement. I will continue to become a better person beyond retirement. I may be retiring but certainly and definitely I am not becoming retarded.

Pope Francis, the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Cathoic Church visits the Philippines

0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 12:40 AM

For the visit it was first Sri Lanka then the Philippines. The dates came and went, January 15 to January 19, 2015. To this day, it was like a whirlwind for we did not have enough of his awesome smile and generous aura but he had to go back to Rome.

In my case, way back 1971, I saw Pope Paul VI up close in Quezon Memorial Circle. I cried treasured the rare moment. Forty-three years later, I say Pope Francis, on tv, and I also cried. As teachers, we realize the roles we play being the second parents of our learners, but with the Pope, he lifts all of us to a metaphysical level and there are no more categories. With Pope Francis as the Vicar of Christ, we are all brothers and sisters and he has come to tell us of God's love.

Pope Francis, we love you.