Teacher's teacher

I was watching a replay of  "The Firm" written by John Grisham chronicled by Channel AXN today, April 29 when it hit me, there is an instance when it is ok somehow it's only a house. The scenario was when one of the characters inherited a house and being a woman she wanted to in it. Since she was married to the other character who happened to be her companion in the Witness Protection Program he was adamant of the thought that not only was he married but now would be in a house. He did not like the idea but the lady said she wanted a home and so she wanted the house.

A movie is a movie is a movie so we could give it this context. We are saying and teaching that given the fiction part of it then perhaps the cast just acted it out so the whole thing is just a set up so what's the fuzz? However if it were a real life situation then the mechanics is completely changed. The parties would have given it much thought and the context of it all is love for family and what it stands for. then it is ok for the former to be understood why they may have a house but it is ok for the latter to understand why they need a home!

A house is only the physical set-up of a home.  A home goes deeper than the material structure and the amenities that can be bought. At the center of the home is the love that binds the married coupe to a love blessed by God and man. It is a web of relationships that make every member of the home bear even the unbearable. In the ideal world, it is good to make a house a home!

This makes me think if after all the ups and downs we had gone through, we are a home. I say, humbly and hopefully in faith, we are.

What a way to learn but it is true. You insure an item because it will be paid for the next three years so in case it gets stolen, you will have protection. Then coincidentally, the unfortunate event happened and the motorcycle which was insured got stolen! Then through the years, there was much commotion as to who would go about the process because now the company which got the insurance paid was no longer as interested as before to help how to go about the process. the details are just so painful to go through again.

Now, the company went on collecting and even went as far as pursuing a legal action after all these years when in the first place the insurance was supposed to pay it. Learning point: Do not have anything be insured unless the details are so detailed the points are clearer that daylight. From experience, to avail of the befits promised is so difficult your anger is enough to kill you or give you high blood pressure!

Take note: Insurance is a good perspective but its promised benefits? too much to be desired!

What a shock to see the video on tv that a Filipino caregiver slapped and mistreated a patient who has Alzheimer. Asa senior citizen and a teacher, I preferred to write under my blog as teacher and not under my blog as a senior citizen because the culprit is a Filipino caregiver and this is not a typical one. Filipinos are famous for their diligence and good bed manners and genuine care for the sick. The majority of Filipino workers especially those who work abroad are specifically chosen because they are very loving and tender. this s0-called Filipino caregiver must have a story to tell why he did what he did but is not the Filipino caregiver who works out there- away from home - caring and serving the strangers for the sake of the family he/she truly loves even to separate from them is painfully unbearable-bearable.

May the real culprit come out soon and explain to the majority of Filipino workers why bad actuation like the one did by this "sick" so-called "caregiver that this is definitely the "rotten" egg in a basketful of excellent eggs. 

For us teachers, this is one opportunity to remind the young under our care that wherever and whatever will become of them in the future, do it well and whether some look at them or not, there is nothing better than to be good and genuine in one's work.

So as a teacher may I explain to anyone out there that a person may be developed according to one's culture but other factors come in. One's love for work is honed according to how life treats the person. Each of us has much to overcome and trials can make us bitter or better. This genuine service to one's fellows is all the more deepened by one's religion or faith life.Basic among all these is one's family where as a child and growing up years, values have been planted and hopefully deepened through the years.

To the families who have been served poorly our apologies and a plea not to generalize because we are really good people. Philippines, humbly saying, is the only Christian country of Asia. We Filipinos, as a people are basically God-fearing but like any other human being, some of us have demons to fight. We definitely need salvation from the consequences of sin.

May you find in your heart to forgive . . . 

Many have been said about teaching. It is a mission; it is a vocation. We rarely focus on the presumed consequence that it is also earning one's livelihood. This is a nice observation because for us who have been teaching for more than 30 years are still wondering why we have stayed on if it is only for salary's sake. The more accepted one is that teaching is both a mission and a vocation. It is a mission because we have been sent for this specific function to "lift up" the minds of the young and other learners. It is a vocation because we are called and we have responded positively to this calling to live most of the years of our lives with the privileged position to develop the minds of every learner.

Then comes grades. Here we are in fact in this very important duty which at the very moment we call the loneliest instance. This is being said not in the context of being sad but precisely because in the process of computing grades many factors have to be considered and only the teacher has the ultimate responsibility to compute it and give it justly. So here comes the teacher and indeed all senses are set to finish the task. Wish this teacher well!

Precisely because every person is unique so it goes that conflict is part and parcel of any social relationship. It is when the conflict becomes so hurtful and disrespectful that there is need to do something about the tension. The process alone can be a learning moment for every person involved. 

This talking point also reveals the role of words that we use in every conversation we engage with anybody around us. Some of the words that we use have nuances that are very inhumane that to say it to a sibling becomes multiplied in damage. It shows that you have become doubly disrespectful and uncaring as to what the terms you attributed to the one you hurt can be misconstrued.  

A particular scenario is the one that recently happened between two actresses who are siblings: the other is no longer as active as she used to be while the younger one is the one who is in the limelight. The older sibling filed a case against her younger sister for moral defamation and grave coercion. The text messages have been submitted as proof of the untoward messages hurled by the younger one to the older one. You have to read it to feel the words. Visit www.PEP.ph and analyze the text messages. 

In the meantime, let us never forget that the family is our first home. You can lose everything but if you have your family, everything is still yours. Quarreling is part of family life and as we already know, even this pain can be a learning moment!

It is hard to think of summer without thinking of some kind of vacation to a place outside of home - whether local, regional, national or international. One's dream journey is of course to go abroad what with all the exciting but affordable package trips. This is the summer blows in store for those who have not traveled to Hongkong, Macau, Zhenshen, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur. This Asian tour can become your trip of a lifetime such that all other trips are not as scary as we used to think. However, this same trip can become your Summer blues if you did not prepare enough or you were not given the necessary kits how to manage when you are part of a package tour. There is no dilly dally, slow movements if you want to hurdle the schedule which will really be demanding  on your alertness and energy.

This early, at least before May comes, learn how to cope with what might be expected of you by keeping your- self fit and healthy. Take your regular vitamins and if possible, exercise. Prepare your prepare rubber shoes, your favorite handy carry all bag and most comfortable get up.  Make sure you are going with family or well chosen friends. We hear of traveling companions who quarreled when they reached their destination because one of them felt she was left unattended or not given enough time to keep pace. The owner of the hotel was so aghast looking at middle aged women shouting - at least - using their native tongue so not everybody knew what the shouting bout was all about. All the other members of the group were disheartened and would you believe, when they went home, coincidence perhaps, one of the group members died due to anxiety and added stress!

Learning how to cope with summer blues and blows begins with your own attitude towards life and what it is all about. After all, one can stay at home and come up with productive activities enough to fill your entire summer. Whatever you decide, ENJOY!

"Go to the world and subdue it". . . the bible teaches us so even with the Holy Book we are already taught to take care of Mother Earth.

Then here comes summer, another opportunity to implement this huge task as stewards of this One. Mother Earth. Let us begin with our own homes: Are we supporters of "Re-use, Reduce, Recycle" movements? Are the children doing their share? The hope is with good home management the "domino effect" is within reach and the recipients are the bigger communities where you and I function and earn our living.

Summer 2012 has already made us experience the extreme heat that your eyes will be glad for having sunglasses on otherwise, migraine and more migraine is a likely visitor all throughout the day. Even the mere thought of going somewhere to have some fun is already not "fun" to think of for the transportation services are enough to dampen your expectation of convenience and peaceful journey. 

If there is one great teaching moment this summer, it is the realization that all these years we did not give Mother Earth her due but IT IS NOT TOO LATE. We must give better care to MOTHER EARTH ASAP.

As you peruse magazines and/or surf the net, we are made aware of the young people engage in crimes. At least we still see some of the youth engage in positive activities like sports and arts and even "kid"preneurship. How then should we encourage every young person to indulge more on something that promotes well-rounded personalities? One easy strategy is to begin at home and then followed up by teachers in school: Good Manners.

By Good Manners we refer to what is basically respect for parents, siblings and virtually every person. It implies harnessing the goodness placed by God in every person's heart. We know when something is good or bad because we are made in the basic goodness of the Maker.

Teachers do not refer only to teachers in school but parents who take care of their children; guardians who make sure the children they are in-charge of are properly guided and are doing activities for their good; community leaders who are concern for every resident in their barangay thus promote bayanihan and neighborliness.

Good Manners: Where are you Teachers? I no longer fear for they are everywhere doing their share in their little ways, God Bless You!

In another blog, Elderly blues and blows, the plea was for the younger bus passengers to keep us gentle ways towards the senior citizens, in this particular talking point, it is to learn how to act when riding a public transportation - driver, conductor and passengers alike. 

First talking point: Are the passengers getting their money's worth? their human rights as persons and their rights as consumers? As a passenger myself, there are more occasions when we do not deserve all this inconvenience. Imagine you have to literally go through big bodies, male and female alike, to fight for your desire to travel. One time, I sprained my shoulder due to tugging my bag and avoid losing it. When I finally entered the bus, it was obvious there was no more space so there was no choice but go down, bags and all. All this time, the conductor did not care what was happening. the driver all the more had no qualms whatsoever as to what was going on among the passengers in the bus he was driving. this is the sad plight of everyone. Nobody cares and this happens everyday in any terminal -m at least in the Philippines (? Pls. correct if this is not the case in your own Phil. situation.)

First learning point: As passengers in a public transportation, we can only say we get the learning that even before any bus transportation be allowed to serve the public, there should be enough training given to anyone concern that passengers must be treated with care. They have no reason to feel that they are mere passengers who must be thrashed into the "dungeon" of a bus. As passengers, we learn that we have to go beyond our duty as travelers. We must do everything in our power to tell the transportation owners that we deserve respect and fair treatment in matters of bus fare and services due as consumers. We must make the transportation owners they cannot become rich at our expense.

Second talking point: Good manners and right conduct must be observed by all parties in the bus experience.  The passengers should not talk as though the public bus are theirs. they should not gossip all throughout the journey because other passengers are just dying to "kill them" especially if they  know some of the "cast of characters" in the gossip. the conductor should have the "finesse" as he gives the tickets. He cannot just call out if one already has ticket and give one across somebody else, allowing his "armpits to be almost directly on the face of a female passenger who in turn called him bad names". the driver should not be talking so loudly with fellow drivers who have joined him as free passengers for the moment and their so-called joke about  passengers who put on balm of some kind that make them party to being "old and nauseous". 

Second learning point: We should know by now that life is better than this facet of our existence. We can go on with our travels without hurting others. We take the bus and sit there. We take out a book and read and in the process learn something. We can listen to music through our mp 3 or 4 and be happy with it. We can nap and be peaceful until your destination comes. What a peaceful world it would be if every person, every bus passenger, every man or woman, indulges in more proactive ways than destructive ones. SHALOM!

Imagine 11 seasons of American Idol. Every year there is rumor that it will not last long but time goes on so with American Idol. Now on its 11th year,  American Idol, like all the other singing contests are good venues to hone the talents of the young. For us in the Philippines, we view the singing contest more intensely if there is a contestant which has Filipino blood. Like Jesica Sanchez, she may mention more her American Mexican blood but she does acknowledge she has Filipino blood as could be seen in her Mom.

The young also need avenues of their talents which will not only develop their special skills but direct their energies towards positive and more proactive directions.

Let us join our hands: teachers, parents and concerned guardians to encourage the youth to join contests that will truly hone their God-given talents just as they use these as vehicles to develop their personalities holistically.

Even in scriptures, dreams play a role in giving a message which even the one concerned is left unprepared but because of faith, responds to the message in a positive manner.

 In our day to day existence, our family, being the most important facet when considering what to do or not to do dreams may just serve as a way of wishing but not really hoping it can come about. Dreams do teach us to believe in the impossible.

Winners for example of lottery or other major draws must be pinching themselves up to now how they made it. I did this myself when I won hundreds of thousands without knowing that it was my machine that won the jackpot. All the people around me shouted for joy but all of them were looking at me, finally my daughter whispered and told me I won. What! a dream come true. But then, situations do not happen all the time so we prefer dreams that give us opportunities to hold on to the good scenarios for life. Like my daughter got a grant via International Visitors Leadership Program and was allowed to visit four states in United States of America without applying for it. She got it through the great system of UNA in recruiting possible participants in ways they alone know. Now, my daughter is back and if the dream comes true, if the job comes and allows us to live in USA, this is the dream that is bound to be impossible to happen, but we can dream, can't we?

So I believe dreams teach us to believe in the impossible . . .

It is sad to know that others live and  die without seeing many parts of the world other than one's place of birth. For those who travel far and wide, it becomes very clear that it is a good opportunity to learn and later teach others how to experience the same.

My family in a way is fortunate because we have lived in various parts of Mindanao and the Visayas and visited Manila many times. In all these occasions you learn many things and to this day remain awed at how we managed to overcome the highs and lows.

How about international travels? In the past blogs I shared our trips to Hongkong, Zhenzhen, Macau, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and again I am awed at how we made it with limited financial capability. It is not hard to accept that this financial limitation is sometimes a good thing for we gave more attention to our being together and not buying or engaging in a shopping spree which was not really possible anyways.

With the most recent adventure of my daughter whereby she was nominated and chosen to become the only Filipino and sole woman participant in International Visitors Leadership Program and stayed in United States of America for more than a month. The dream of all dreams if for the family to have the journey of our lifetime by planning to go the USA in God's time but with my daughter doing her share to facilitate the fulfillment of this dream. Give us three years and with God's blessing, expect me to write our family's experiences of the four seasons: summer,spring, autumn, winter with New York as the key city where we dream to live someday.

Travel is a very good opportunity to learn and later teach others how to experience the same . . .

Each one of us is called by name and so even God had a name if He wanted to save mankind and so he became Emmanuel (God became man) and his name is Jesus. In Jesus we can identify our human frailties, temptation, suffering and death. In Lent we saw all these events. But in Easter, the Jesus who died did not remain dead but was risen. Jesus became the Christ. For the ordinary learner this is the reason for all the Lenten celebration, that even Jesus had to die to redeem us but Jesus rose from the dead which the Christians hope to experience if we remain Christians.

So today, Easter Sunday, each of us has reason to really rejoice for our life now takes on a significant meaning: to die in Christ is really to rise with him. This alone is the core of every Christian Faith and we should therefore evangelize. Happy Easter to you and you and you!

If there is one reality that is difficult to force, it is inspiration. While this is the state this teacher is in, let me be one of  the  first mentors to greet you few hours before it finally comes: HAPPY EASTER!

Every moment that comes our way is like another gift given by the Maker. Teaching moments are always there but it is not all the time that we take the moment to heart so everything that we sacrifice for can just go to waste. There are many temptations in life that to go against the desire to succumb to it is beyond you. It is almost as though the Hand of God must  first touch you before it sinks into your awareness that He has made His point and you and I have to finally wake up. Listen attentively. Pray.

This Easter, let it be one of the rare moments when the Hand of God finally touches you and I to the realm of change only He can plant into our personhood.

Fellow believers, Happy Easter! Fellow mentors and parents, Celebrate the Resurrection Loved Ones and Experience God's Presence. HAPPY, HAPPY EASTER!!!

Sometimes it is too much to bear when parting with and from loved ones happens but the thought that one day soon time will allow the two to see each other again, all the pain is worth the gain. Just like Holy Week, we know in faith that Jesus, the Christ has already risen, every year, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Good Saturday are apt reminders that before long, Easter Sunday is just around the corner and what a celebration!

My daughter left for United States of America last March 3. She was nominated and chosen by the US embassy, through  the Ambassador of USA to the Philippines, Harry Thomas to become part of International Visitors Leadership Program. IVLP is like "manna from heaven" when it was least expected for even Irene was not ready for it. The great call came and it was decided with the little time she had to be ready to leave for USA. Everything happened and after a month and so many memories to record and definitely reflect upon, she is now in JFK International Airport enroute to the Philippines, back home . . . The future is reason enough to celebrate even as the experience of IVLP will be present in our life for a long time to come. Thank you IVLP, thank you Harry Thomas, Thank you Life.

Parting with and from loved ones makes us cry but when time comes to see each other again, ah, happiness, joy, jubilation and all other emotions intact . . . tell you why life is LIFE.

There are more questions about life than answers. It is always good to ask. Like What happens after graduation? After Holy Week, what happens? How are you doing today in your own timeline?

Life is what we make of it and everybody repeats this like a mantra. Yet it is never easy to make anything of life. At least for bloggers, we have a tool to meet halfway through our blogs so blog and blog - live and live.

I would say to any graduate, let this moment be another graduation to mediocrity and onwards to creativity and productivity. What this means, its point is to urge each of us to keep on and while others may not finish some undertaking this is their graduation challenge: one graduation onwards to another; one hurdle to overcome so what else is new?

This is equally the message of Holy Week: life tells us the cycle of life - up then down, then up then down . . .finally up! Believers prefer to think of life as spiral not cyclical because trials are means to do better and find out for ourselves that when we have done everything in our power and it does notwork then it is time to believe God can take over.

So questions like what happens after graduation or after Holy Week, what happens are only some of the endless questions that make life what it is.

Days come and go so there is need to distinguish ordinary days from special days and finally holy days. Like this year's holy week. It is a holy week because:

       * persons go out of their way to look deeper into their faith life;

       * we try to use this week to experience Jesus in our lives;

       * the week takes another perspective of what normally is just any day - it is a set of days that captures the passion,death and resurrection  of our Savior, Jesus, the Christ;

      * people pray it be holy not for the sake of Jesus but for Christians who ardently need to find the meaning of everything in life most especially the pains, sorrows, death that everyone experiences and should it be the end of the line, that it will find a transcendence that comes only from the Holy; and

      * a short week for what is supposed for a lifetime so find during this week the gift of reflection and openness to what life is - after all - a life that makes every person feel the ambivalence of living: life vs. death.

In truth, Holy Week is not only this week but all the weeks of one's life that is always a challenge: to become holy or not is a continuous struggle. We pray for each other this Holy Week and in the other weeks that come our way. May this Holy Week then really be holy because even in our blogging we do not just communicate but we also pray for each other wherever we are.