Corona Defense Team holds Press Conference to announce a "bombshell"
0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 3:08 AM
In Club Filipino (Greenhills, San Juan, MetroManila Philippines) is still holding a press conference as I write this blog. The "bombshell" of a news: A reliable source tells the Defense Team that Executive Secretary Ochoa is calling as many Senator-Judges to defy the order of the Supreme Court to give Temporary Restraining Order" to open the dollar accounts of the Chief Justice. What teaching moment can we get from this fresh twist? That no less than our President is not interested to give due process and whatever and whoever is concerned, this piece of information is very dangerous and we pray that Pinoy should do something fast before things get out of hand. Remember, the Filipinos are worth dying for, whether they are in favor of the Administration or not. Another teaching moment: Usually one prepares for a hearing but the more you view the Impeachment Trial, the more you observe that the Prosecution team shows how unprepared they are. Perhaps in the bigger scheme of things, they know there is a plan B like "phone the senator-judges" and use their affiliation to the utmost and make sure they impeach the Chief Justice.
President Pinoy, we respect your Office. High hopes have been given to your new administration. However, we cannot help but comment on the way you can be very harsh with your comments. Imagine, say unsavory remarks to someone who is with you in the same gathering? You are a President now. You are the President of every Filipino, whether this Filipino voted for you or not.
The Filipinos can only take so much. In the world of twitter and blog, a joint force can be done to oust you, why not? If not in the real sense, at least in the hearts of Filipinos who have only respect to Ninoy and Cory, your parents. Cory never ran after the murderers of your father even if she could have done so.
"Hinay hinay" lang Presidente . . . (Slow down President . . .)
P.S. One of the Defense team members shared: 100 Million pesos per senator might be released to do just this - to defy the TRO given by the Supreme Court not to allow the opening of the dollar accounts of the Chief Justice.
Let us pray that all this talk from the Defense Team will be made clearer tomorrow when the Impeachment Trial resume . Let us pray for Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to "walk his talk" and take the initiative to clarify this "bombshell".
P.S. One of the Defense team members shared: 100 Million pesos per senator might be released to do just this - to defy the TRO given by the Supreme Court not to allow the opening of the dollar accounts of the Chief Justice.
Let us pray that all this talk from the Defense Team will be made clearer tomorrow when the Impeachment Trial resume . Let us pray for Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to "walk his talk" and take the initiative to clarify this "bombshell".
Death is a teaching moment that mothers should tell their children about. . .
0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 2:00 AM
There was one time when I attended a vigil in one rural area. the father was inside the coffin. It was without preparation of how to react that overcame me for one of the little boys approached the coffin and within hesitation knocked the glass and told the father: "Why are you still inside there when it is already morning? Join us". How would you react if you were there? To this day I could not recall how I managed to go through the scenario and remained sane. Months later the mother visited us and stayed for some nights with us. Would you believe a rare bird circled our house and went around the room where the mother, then turned widow stayed. the following day she went home and decided not to transfer in the big city.
The aforementioned scene led me to suggest to mothers to tell their children about death. When my husband died, the children were already in the elementary, high school and college so it was not so difficult to accept death. How about those in very early years, 3-7 years old - how do we prepare them? Please share how you did it for I would not know from experience. . .
However, death is very meaningful if dealt with in the context of faith. It must be difficult if we just talk of death as the end of one's existence. Seen in the eyes of a believer, death is a gateway to a life which has no end.
Volunteer's woe: "Why in the world am I doing volunteer work?"
0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 12:10 AM
Volunteerism seems very alive these days. In the forefront are mothers who leave their children almost every Saturday to help the less fortunate brothers and sisters - usually typhoon victims whose pleas for help go to deaf ears. Then there are single ladies who go with these mothers and use their own money to pay their meals after distributing the relief goods but they go home with smiles on their faces because they have helped especially those they have never met all their lives. But then . . .
There are days when other so-called volunteers join them and instead of lightening the load of hands needed to fill up the gap, these so0called volunteers come with "airs" with such feeling that they make the people around them feel inferior or furious why they have to come at all. So some volunteers, in the hope of maintaining sanity shout: "Why in the world am I doing volunteer work?"
This piece is written then to ventilate this side of volunteer work that has to be accepted with patience and faith that the ones concerned will wake up in time and realize that life is short and anyone can become the volunteer or the victim anytime soon. God forbid!
Let us join hands then in praying over these misguided "messiahs" and with God's timely intervention, the good will triumph as always!
Many events, sad to say, more sad than happy ones, all teaching moments but can our heads and hearts cope?
Let us begin with calamities that seem to have no end in coming and leaving every victim, haggardly devastated:
In Mindanao, Typhoon Sendong is noteworthy.Volunteers somehow keep the fire of hope burning but as Mindanaoan has attested, they are becoming fewer everyday and with different agenda they alone can tell. Teacher'steacher was witness to the genuine service given by a small group of friends who pitched eleven to fifteen tents with love. We met the the foreigners who compose All Hands Volunteers who go around the world to empower disaster victims to move on. Being a senior citizen who blogs under Malaybalayan.blogspot.com we were spared the physical strain so what we did was to pray for the safety of all those who spent the whole day pitching tents for others.While this scenario was before me, the teaching moment becomes the learning moment.
While Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City are still not yet fully healed from their losses come 6.9 earthquake in the Visayas especially in Negros Oriental last Monday, February 6, 2012. Our hearts are lost again with words how to mourn with the victims. We could only pray. God alone is their strength because the agencies of government say they are doing their best but we know better . . . a teaching moment indeed and a learning realization of the lack of genuine care from fellows as against God's promise of things of heaven not of earth.
One only has to "google" to find out what is happening all over the world and you will agree that unless we consciously make it happen, there are just more things to cry over, worry over than to rejoice and celebrate.
So do we agree that with all the many things, the many events there are also many teaching moments . . . while the learning moment depends on you!
Signature campaign might be in order and in this regard, this blog volunteers to be the forum for a possible legislation lowering the retirement age to 55 years old and a minimum of 10 years of teaching service whether in the private or government institutions. Why 55 years old? Ah, you need not reach55 to understand the plight. Experts tell us that life begins at 40 and your best at 50 so 55 is just about the ripe time to still avail of the remaining energy left in your system. Why 10 years in service? Ah, once you reach 50 and over, your body becomes more and more prone to leisurely movements. Imagine not falling asleep until dawn, like 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. and job demands you wake up at 6:30 to be ready for 7:30 a.m. class, agghhh! It is time to retire (retire to means, tire again?)
In Elderly Blues and Blows of Malaybalayan.blogspot.com we strongly recommend Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero to pioneer our request for a legislation to the effect that 55 years old be the mandatory retirement age, with a minimum of 10 year service in either private or public educational institution. If it can also be indicated that our pension be higher and other benefits that will make our retirement years more productive and senior-friendly.
If you do sign up include your e-mail address and other details so we can send these data to the good senator and if there is need bring this up as one of the criteria for electing them or not this coming 2013 . . . Any first signature?
A rescue is a rescue and the rescue of Iranians by Americans is praiseworthy
0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 5:11 PM
Pirates came whoever they were. Iranians were the ones victimized for whatever reason. Americans were around in the territory and true to their calling to rescue no matter the race, they rescued the Iranians! Whatever is your leaning - pro-American or not - this act is noble.We hear so many criticisms against the Americans but being generous and helpful seem ingrained in their training.
No matter what then, let this trait be emulated by any nationality. We are all human beings with the same need for others when we can no longer protect ourselves. To the rescuers, our hats off. Teachers like this very much and indeed nothing beats action over words. "Walk your talk" is overused but its impact can never be understated.
Retirement is everyone's business, teacher or not, young or elderly
0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 11:41 AM
It is interesting to hear from a medical doctor in Talk TV that one can still live a vibrant life even after 60. The reminder however is to live a clean life at 30 so dementia and other signs of getting old can be delayed even when one is past 60. Topic like this is supposed to be recorded in Elderly Blues and Blows but decided to have it in Teacher's teacher. This is in connection with retirement that teachers entertain when they reach 60, 62 or 63 - not 65 because it is the "end of the line" so to speak. this is so for those working in government. this is the case of Malaybalayan who hopes to avail of this in 2015.
Retirement indeed is everyone's business,teacher or not,young or elderly. This is so because one has to begin now before it finally happens. Already the makings of a hobby should already be in place. Perhaps a plan for some business venture or entrepreneurial initiatives should already be entertained. Active life need not end once you reach 60, rather you become independent with your ideas and have the capacity to implement your creative ideas financially and emotionally when the retirement cash package reaches your hand.
Ah, how we wish we knew better before we reached 60! Young minds, take it from us - be ready this early just as we make do with what life has offered us even as we wished we could have been better prepared or informed.
Christmas andNew Year clebrations came and went: After thought impressions
0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 4:47 AM
Christmas and New Year celebrations happened but to this moment the following after thought impressions keep bugging me:
* Many did not like Christmas to happen the way it did; so many died, so many in pain because of Typhoon Sendong which came and went yet its ill effects were so much to bear;
* December 24 - Christmas Eve remained a day before Christmas because many were not ready to celebrate Christmas Day. Since 24 had to give way to 25 the day happened but the hearts of the faithful were focused somewhere else;
* The next big event came, New year's Eve - but the feeling of empathy with those who lost almost everything kept the atmosphere still nostalgic and pensive so the midnight celebrations went on but not the usual fun fare just that December 31 ended and gave way to January 1.
* For the Teachers, the Pinoy "cash gift" did not really amount to the P10 thousand as promised because for the first time, the tax was enforced in the midst of the already sad Christmas season. Whatever is the reason, the reason cannot be accepted by the teachers for not only is it a first time but it was announced in the guise of giving more yet only for a moment and then bang! tax got almost half of the amount. What a cash gift. Up to now, the "bad taste remains in our tongues" and forever to stay - until the same Christmas cash gift comes along under the guise of whatever it will be. Then we had a bargaining agreement and the expected P17 thou became P14 thou but when the money actually reached us, it became P5 thous for some; P8 or P9 thou for others depending on one's salary. This time BIR is saying the law has always been there that beyond P30 thou must be taxed. Why now? Why not a moratorium and a perhaps when enough explanation is acceptable, then perhaps then . . . but not now. Still it was and so all the expected money - went back to the government which is supposed to make the employees happy. Then to add to the injury, the City government received a memorandum from the National Treasury that it should not give cash gift to nationally paid employees which included the teachers. So to this day we did not receive the usual P5 thou. If you can only hear our complaints and grunt, Mr. President Aquino, it may be worth your time to reconsider. But then, Filipinos and educated as teachers are, the days went by and we are still here back to school, back to work.
Someday, things will become clearer and more understandable . . . someday. After all, money is not everything . . .
In the Philippines, classes were supposed to resume January 3 of 2012. All places which were spared from Typhoon Sendong went on with the day's activities but not in places which were heavily affected by the typhoon like those schools which became the evacuation centers located in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City. Many other places are not directly hit but the message is clear: when the area is damaged due to environmental calamities, the entire city suffers; ultimately the entire country is called to help.
Help? How? The order was: back to school but where is the school? or if there are remnants to talk about, what is the state of affairs the facilities and school materials finds itself? One positive note though is that when these things happen, the teachers and the pupils go the distance. Media coverage show us how they clean amidst the rubble and all the destruction is right in front of everyone but Filipinos have this resiliency to say: life goes on no matter what.
Today.com providentially discussed the "will power instinct" which is timely for all concerned. Teachers and learners can find comfort in this instinct which is what education is all about. The saying: "someone can be schooled but not educated" is timely because the experience we gather from the "university of Life" comes to anyone ready to be educated by life's experiences- whether you are in school or not. Another saying is similar: "Experience is the best teacher."
So as to the query, where is the school is query no more for only the building has been damaged but not the will power instinct and the optimistic perspective that in time it will come to pass and life goes on. To all you out there who are still reeling of pain and anger, we pray that sooner rather than later, better things will catch up for our faith is more than all these terrible realities . . . a rainbow is just out there waiting . . . smile a little and soon enough . . . you will come to realize: life will find a way of bringing in better opportunities, greater realities to come before you know it.
An elderly teacher yes, but a human being first . . .
0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 8:40 AM
Television episodes nowadays focus on the est of their shows up to end of 2011. For other shows, attention is given to forecast for the New Year, 2012. Chinese Feng Shui tells us that 2012 is the Year of the Water Dragon. It is interesting to note that it describes the New Year as a transformational, life-changing year. It even adds an encouraging note: 2012will be abetter year compared to 2011: a good year to improve oneself.
Comments like what the Feng Shui experts say are offered as foods for thought for by now every person knows you alone, with your God and family, who can put all these perspectives to action. All the promise of a better year is nice to one's hearing but it will not bear fruit if the person concern does not do something about it.
Fengshuimall.com presents the forecast for the tiger - where my birth year belongs: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998 and 2010 as follows: We have very strong and venerable traits like self confidence, bravery, courage, charm and everlasting supply of energy. While these are positive traits we are still reminded to watch out for these same traits might lead to arrogance, and self-destructive behavior. We have a brilliant outlook in 2012. We have to trust our instincts but we do not let our guard down.
As they say, if you want to know your own horoscope, "google it" and the rest is up to you. Remember the saying: "Do your best as though everything depends on you but pray as though everything depends on God."
This elderly blogger-teacher accepts the fact that she is an elderly teacher blogger but a human being first - someone who, like you, hopes to have more, do more in order to be more to borrow the famous line.
To you my loyal followers, only my best wishes for a prosperous 2012!!!
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