Teacher's teacher

In the United Kingdom ,  floods greeted them as the morning came and unwanted rain is still falling; in Australia, bushfire ate their forest and fire is still burning and expanding its extent of destruction; in Sumatra, Indonesia, a ferry boat sank. CNN reports, of the 225 passengers, around 200 are rescued but 25 died. For more details, see CNN.com.

Just when we cannot help but be so saddened, we begin asking: what is happening to our world? good news crop up: Efren Penaflorida, our very own kababayan, was declared hero of the year 2009-not because he did something light but he spent more than 12 years of his life, with the help of his fellow workers of the same calling to teach children while they stay in their pushcarts (kariton). Nine other finalists in CNN Heroes all spent much time serving the less fortunate.

So, once again, what is happening to our world? We can say, it is telling us the world is bound to become even worse if we do not "clean our act" by taking care of our environment, making it more green. It will also become better if all persons work together to make a difference in the lives of others.As always we should remember, we have only one world and we affect each other more than we realize.

It is not long time ago when Manny Pacquiao made the Philippines, land of brave boxers - Champion - and now, an Efren Penaflorida made our country a land of heroes as well. Teacher's teacher is teary eyed at the thought of these young people telling the whole world what and who Filipinos are!

Was it not long ago when we admitted voting for Efren and was not sure if her vote was counted. It is now water under the bridge but am really thrilled for Efren - imagine, a hero among us.

For us, ordinary mortals, don't worry we are heroes too everytime we do our household chores, study our lessons, accept the everyday challenges that come our way. But for now let us just be happy for Efren, a fellow Filipino.Thank you CNN! May I link with CNN heroes.com?

Allow Teacher's teacher to pay tribute to peace through a reflection . . .

For a long time the common notion of peace is "absence of conflict", quiet surrounding. It may still be today but there has to be more to this description. After all, one can be going through a conflict and in the middle of the turmoil realize that the other side of it is peace.

Problems that beset man and society are so complex yet deep into its basic cause is man's selfishness which we prefer to be the more apt explanation why peace never seems to happen easily.

So my dear Students, look deep into your hearts just as we do too. Peace comes when our hearts are ready to minimize our selfishness.

Oprah Network is now the "baby" that wil be the focus of Oprah's time. This will have to be if the plan of Oprah to finally put to an end her Oprah show at CBS will really push through on September 2011.TV commentators are busy giving their forecasts but in the meantime, the show will become more watched than ever as the countdown begins.Oprah will then become richer than ever too.
 
How Teacher's teacher wishes that before Oprah goes to better and bigger things, she will by accident come across Malaybalayan.blogspot.com where two blogs: Blogs at Fifty and Teacher's teacher.blogspot.com are just raring to meet her. We can dream, can't we?

Oprah, Teacher's teacher is from Malaybalay and Malaybalay is the niche of Malaybalayan. We dare you, you have been anywhere or everywhere but unless and until you see Malaybalay, you haven't seen it all. How  about it? May we give you a timetable to grace us with your presence on or before September 2011?

November 16, 2009, Monday, Malaybalay City, the birthplace of Malaybalayan received its visitor from Rome: His Excellency, Most Reverend Edward Joseph Adams, D.D. His visit was in line with the 40th  anniversary of the Local Church of Malaybalay, from April 22, 2009 to April 22, 2010. 

This visit reminds Malaybalayan of her experience of seeing in person a Pope! All catechists received, Malaybalayan included, the Apostolic Blessing. Without undermining the significance of the blessing, the momentous opportunity to be in the presence of the Pope, the Vicar of Christ, is like being in the presence of  the Most Holy One, you feel unworthy yet honored and humbled for being chosen to be there.

This visit of the Nuncio is also, in spirit, the visit of Pope Benedict XVI and this is very comforting to all the catholics all over Malaybalay - all over Bukidnon - all over the Philippines. Viva il Papa!

According to Webster, a hero is a man  of exceptional quality who wins admiration by noble deeds especially deeds of courage. Using this description, can you quietly say you have been a hero sometime in your life? Teacher's teacher says, why not? Since man is made in the image and likeness of God, a person has the inherent quality to do good - to become a hero.

If you are hesitant to claim you are a hero, let us move on and ask: have you met a hero in your life? The first persons who come to mind are our beloved parents. Then, we think of our other loved ones. Then, our teachers and all other people who express concern for our good development.

Teacher's teacher believes there is no end to do what is good to others for it comes back to one's self.  This is the beauty of man's aspirations, that as we do what is good, there is the temptation to do the opposite. The constant struggle of the "yin and the yang", the white and the black, the good and the bad is a person's mission to handle. To overcome evil and do good makes every person a hero. 

There are meetings and THERE ARE MEETINGS. The meeting between Barack Obama, the President of the United States and Hu Jintao, the Prime Minister of China is what is referred in the latter type of meeting. It  implies the  meeting of two leaders of the two most powerful countries which is in fact vital for other countries. For Obama, it is his first visit to Beijing, China as president. This meeting is held at a time when there is economic recession so the key global issues that they have to discuss include trade, climate change and nuclear proliferation. The followers are left asking, so?

Indeed, countries which are developed are worried for while they claim that they must do something to protect the world for the sake of humanity, others already know they are doing it to protect their interests. Notwithstanding this observation, we are still happy the two leaders meet and from their initiatives, other countries can also engage in collaborative ventures where a multiplier effect can take place.

For us teachers, meetings are vehicles to bring people together to plan, discuss, decide, celebrate, learn together.  Let us join the two leaders if only in the spirit of oneness with their desire to take care of this one world, mankind is in-charge of - for the present and future generations.

US-China Meeting: November 2009 in Beijing China: A Beginning for better things ahead.

One views CNN and we read about Iran's nuclear power. Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt say they also have plans to build their own nuclear weapons. Ordinary mortals are left tongue-tied and as a teacher, this information must be disseminated to young people for further deliberation.

Some points to share: With all the calamities and crises that beset mankind, is the nuclear program the best course of action? We have only one earth so we only have to put on the tv to see for ourselves how interconnected we are with each other. It is not too long nor too difficult to come to a realization that should the nuclear weapons fall into the wrong hands or a certain power-hungry prime minister or president decide to dominate another country, destruction would be unforgivable.

This leaves the ordinary mortal to what he/.she alone can do from his/her end: Pray, pray and pray for all the world leaders to be enlightened and wake up to the reality that they too are ordinary mortals. To put it
plainly: each of us will be accountable to the Creator who appointed us stewards not destroyers of His creation.

Did you listen attentively to our Philippine National Anthem, Lupang Hinirang, being sung during the Pacquiao-Cotto fight in MGM, Las Vegas? If before it was Martin Nievera's attempt at giving zest and creativity, this time it was lack of both. It was painful that the singers were divas (kuno) in their own right yet their voices did not "click"- jibe-blend at all. We cannot help but ask, did they practise? and if they did, why did they not "do something at all" up to the end of the song? How we wished Lea Salonga, the singer, sang it. After all,she volunteered. Please give this attention. Especially because Manny Pacquiao won so once again our country won. Sorry, ladies, back to the basic: plain, simple correct blend of correct