Teacher's teacher

Would you believe a classmate of mine came to my doorstep - with me not remembering who she was. It was because she looked so professional and sexy at the same time! Expect a photo with the two of us in it and have a grand time deciding who is better looking!!!(Just joking)

2010 minus 1970 equals 40, yes 40 years being apart. This seems to be the trend - the feeling of retracing roots. This visitor of mine literally went around to look for us, her classmates. We decided to have a reunion this coming December. Do you have similar plans with your own batch?

Scenarios, like this, put a smile in my lips and tears in my eyes. Even 40 year separation seems not too long ago. Our features have matured but our warm and candid pleasantries are as alive and rejuvenating as ever it beats any so-called "dope" (not that we have tasted one at all). Then my attention was drawn to the present situation I am in: I really do not feel good with some people in my office. How do you try to cope with his/her presence you do not like at all. In my case, I just offer it as one of my crosses and look constructively at it. After all, five years more to go and I hope to retire and focus my attention to my travels and my garden.

So friends in blogosphere, let us organize ourselves to a support system. Let us comfort each other through our blogs and cope with the travails of everyday living. Word of comfort for me, anyone??? I will look forward to it.

August 21 is Ninoy Aquino's death anniversary so it was meaningful that while we remember a fallen hero, we revive the Girl Clubs of the Scouting Movement!

The event began with Prayer/Reflection followed by Colors, Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat and Rededication to the Girl Scout Promise and Law. The enthusiastic girl scouts sang the Girl Scout Hymn. Christy Damasco, the Council Executive, presented the participants, guests, consultants and facilitators. Lina Agnes Ocaya Eduave, the Council President, welcomed all who came!

Mrs. Lourdes A. Ouano, Provincial Nurse I shared with the girl scouts important points about Adolescent Reproductive Health. It was a timely topic to discuss what with so many young girls who seem to have boyfriends as early as twelve years old. The others even unfortunately become pregnant in their high school years! Hopefully, the participants became more aware of the choices that protect their future and decide to follow their dreams to become professionals.

Reina S. Aserios and Ana Ninfa B. Caballero, facilitators of Senior/Cadet Planning Board and Junior Journalists Guild; Radio/TV Club and Ham Radio Club respectively grouped the girl participants according to their choices what organizations to belong to. Do visit www. girlscoutsbukidnon.org to know who the elected officers were.

From Bukidnon State University, College of Teacher Education, the following cadets came: from National Service Training Program-Literacy Training Service component T7:30 class- Karen Joy Anay, Junalyn Tande, Regin Cartin, Lady Fatima Villegas, Mary Grace Habasa, Trisha Bandao, Karleen Jezza Gasper, Chiel Alvarado, Cherrilyn Gumban and Vanessa Mangasto; T1:30 class -Julie Ann Ugtal, Demi Marie Visto, Cleah Datoy, Janessa Libre, Rose Angelie Ampong, Hazel Charmaine Liman-ay,Chedette Hope Magayano, Hannah Lou Balandra and Sarah Mae Bildo.

With happy volunteers, the Girl Scouting Movement lives on!!!

My teaching career began in 1972 and I agree that more than thirty years later, I remain a student. This has become more transparent now that the internet has caught us unprepared. Some of us who lived with the "typewriter expertise" have to shift gear and painfully try to keep pace with computer technology.

The experts aptly share the thought: "Once a teacher, always a student." I hasten to add: Furthermore, a teacher is parent, facilitator,planner,instructor, evaluator rolled into one. No wonder they declare teaching as the noblest deed!

Fellow mentors , seize your moment and claim the recognition due you.

Fellow bloggers especially those who take time to read my blogs - a special comebacking hello!!!
Here goes Teacher's teacher once again rejuvenated and hoping to remain more present than absent. Certainly you can identify with some of my angst??!

Have you ventured into the "unknown"? Have you begun asking questions we refuse to entertain, mainly because they delve with mortality? Well, that seems to be my preoccupation all these many occasions of staying away.

So do share with Teacher's teacher what your experiences are along this line.

Thus far, life does look very precious nowadays especially since reaching the fifty plus ten sphere.

By the way, we have been smitten by Plants vs. Zoombies that my hours were spent overcoming these monsters. It keeps us asking how creative the creators of this game are. Who are you? Congratulations for such an exciting yet "teeth-grinding" sessions. Any tip how to play the levels shorter? It seems the "try again" has been overly done again and again our hands are over fatigued. Yet over and above our complaints, here we go - am interested to "kill the zoombies" even now.

So back to the more pressing matter of living, how are you coping?

After a hiatus, here's Teacher's teacher coming back with a bang! Teaching and Non-Teaching personnel of Bukidnon State University, Malaybalay, Bukidnon Philippines went on an educational field trip. From Teacher's teacher a sincere thank you to the Board of Regents-particularly to Dr. Victor M. Barroso, BSU president.

Some highlights: It was a trip that was both gratifying and dissatisfying. The so-called tourists were treated to various kinds of food but not to well worth seeing tourist spots. Unfortunately, the food that was served was not of the best kind so much so the others availed of it because it was served but not to savor and enjoy. The so-called scenic spots did not give justice to what tourism hopes to instill in the minds of travellers. Since the package was meant to educate, questions crop up: Was the trip meant to make good its promise to broaden the horizons of the employees and really to use the opportunity to learn and "feel good" and resolve to do better as a member of the BSU community? Will there be an evaluation after every batch of tourists so that the next time - if ever there is another one - will be better organized, scrutinized and honestly crafted? Were there others - the chosen ones - who availed of the funds intended for every employee but used it to go on an Asian tour package instead of the Pampanga-Tagaytay Philippines package? Why? Why? Why? What is the real score about it? Where is transparency? Will this always be the case because they are the chosen ones? When will this end??? Who will account for the amount allotted for each employee? Are we entitiled to know where money went? who received what? Are we to expect that when we comment like this, we will no longer expect educational trips? Will there be repercussions when the real score has to be dealt with?

Still appreciation is due where it should be - after all not every institution has this privilege. Amidst undertakings, there are always good and not so good aspects so when things are said and done, thanks goes to the people who made the educational trip possible. Someday, Teacher's teacher will write again and hopefully by then, the educational trip will live up to what it is envisioned to be. . .

Calling all those concerned who were part of the educational trips: first, second or third batch - feel free to give additional feedback. Are you brave enough?

On our part, the educational trip began when Teacher's teacher met Mindanaoan after April 25 and the grand experiences continued up to April 30. Open Malaybalayan.com for the details.

Kaamulan is a yearly celebration in Bukidnon, Philippines. "Kaamulan" is a Bukidnon term for "gathering". We have so many reasons to gather especially these days when "election fever" is upon us and more importantly when all my children have come home to witness the "Street Dancing" competition on March 6, 2010 and to be together as a family.

What used to be ordinary situation when our children are under our care, their presence is easy to expect. It becomes more difficult when one by one they graduate and find their "place in the sun". They leave "the nest" and prefer to stay in bigger cities where they rent a room and live independently. Gone are the days when they can come home anytime because they have their own commitments. While all these changes are happening, we cannot but just pray for their safey and success in all their undertakings.

Now we wonder no more because this is the path we also went through before we became parents ourselves. In the meantime, Teacher's teacher just wants to savor these few days of togetherness, no money can compensate.

Let this "Kaamulan 2010" become your "Kaamulan" too.

At a time when cynicism and indifference have become the citizen's reaction to what is happening in society, the ruling of the Supreme Court in the Philippines to consider the appointed officials deemed resigned once they run for political post, is timely. This way, the politicians cannot use their present status as an edge over the opponents. Now, there is equal playing field. The administration did not waste time of course and filed for reconsideration.

The aforementioned situation should not have reached the Supreme Court. The ones concerned should have taken upon themselves the initiative to resign but they did not, so a concerned citizen had to risk and filed the case. We really need this kind of "watch dog" and we hope they will multiply their kind nowadays.

Let us be vigilant!

Today, we went to Musuan, Bukidnon, Philippines to condole with the grieving family of Laura Dumaguit Obsioma. Janett, her husband Jess and her son, Alaine, were my companions. When we arrived, Laura's husband, Rudy, told us how our classmate died. It was unexpected since almost everyone vouched they just spoke with her; but we know death is really like a "thief in the night" such that we go when our time is up.

In our conversation we brought up why we did not see each other more often. Yes, this is one thing we seem to forego due to our busy schedule. Perhaps, we can give this more thought and consider it for future reference: visit a friend, especially someone you would normally not seek out. During this Lenten season, it can be one way to make peace with God.

Laura, my high school classmate, you met us with your unique smile when we viewed your earthly body. We sensed you were happy to see Janett and I visit you and offer prayers for you. Classmate, do pray for us too.

Eternal rest grant unto Laura O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.