Teacher's teacher

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.

There I was giving my commencement Speech to Elementary Graduates. I wanted to say many things yet all I could muster were 5 points which when looking back I should not have said it the way I did. What were the 5 points:

     1. Be schooled but more so be educated;

     2.  Live up to the pact we have made today;

     3.  Parents: "Pray as though everything depends on you but pray harder as though everything depends on God;

     4.  Whatever you have become, give it back as a gift and others use it as tool for nation building, and

     5.  Dream the biggest dream you can muster and work at it.

The points seemed to be the only points that came to my reflection. Yet, this speech did not capture what I wanted to say for the delivery did not turn out the best I could have done. I should have been closer to my audience and tell them from the heart:

     To the Graduates: You have graduated. This alone is an achievement in your life. Savor today's success. Hopefully, we will meet each other again, and by then you are graduating from high school. Later perhaps, college. One step at a time guys. One step at a time.

     To you parents: You have facilitated today's success of your children or your adopted son/daughter- as a guardian. Savor today's success with your child. Hopefully we will meet each other again and by then your children are graduating  from high school. Later perhaps, college. One step at a time Pa and Ma.

     To all of us around the graduates, as mentors, relatives or neighbors, let us promote a conducive atmosphere so that our youth can NOT but do good to realize their dreams in life.

     To God be the glory for everything that He allowed to happen so that the world which He entrusted to us be a manifestation of His glory.

No wonder even speeches can also cover so much for some of it should not be said and after much thought and after the event, better and deeper foods for thought come along. At least I tried.

As a senior and elderly, the question is as fresh as ever: Why are the crime doers lording it over crime busters?

One has just to sit in front of a television set to see the world beset by these very confident evil doers: robbery, hold up, murder, rape, intense protests that lead to destruction and loss of life, bullying that sometimes leads to suicide of those being bullied, persistent racial discrimination even to this day etcetera, etcetera . . .

Let us bring all these crimes closer to home. A freshman college student (16 years old) was raped by a married man who has children of his own; this rapist is known to have done it to a number of girls - he stationed himself in front of schools to take a good look at his next victim . . . as though he had all the time in the world although they say he has the financial means and the connections. Then we hear of rape victims who are differently-abled we are left gnashing at the culprit for being so inhumane and utterly evil.  A college instructor was attacked, "almost beheaded", robbed and left dead on the road, few miles from his home while his parents were waiting for his arrival. Many other scenarios all you and I have to do is to look around our own little communities and take a more active interest in caring what is happening. So what do we do after all this awareness? Do we give up and agree that indeed the crime doers do lord over the crime busters?

Tentatively as a senior and elderly crime watcher, I must admit there are occasions when I can only entrust everything to God for what can old people do who do not have the power, the financial means and armament to back up should they receive threats themselves? However, deep in our gut, because of our belief in the basic goodness of persons, we canNOT give up and give these evil doers the time of day. They may get away with the crimes they have done for they are used to it they have become calloused and "heartless" but the crime busters remain in their posts. May there be more crime busters who hold their posts in their own homes, in their barangays, in their respective communities, in their own regions and countries. The good will always triumph over evil says God so in God's time, in God;s time.

So as to the question why do crime doers lord over the crime busters, the real answer is: in God's own time they never do!

When you sea of people in an auditorium you are already awed at how many people are involved for any graduation. then when you shake hands with every graduate you think all the more what the parents have done to make the day extra special for their graduates. So what is a good gift for a graduate?

From experience, a gift is always a nice gesture of care. Sometimes, we expect a gift to look expensive so it means you are special. Sometimes, the wrapper also says you are not taken for granted for the gift is well thought of. Yet while all these are good to consider, a gift is better all the time if it is something that comes from the heart. Most of all, presence is more important than presents. Since we are aware of the financial condition of the family, gifts matter but not that it is the only thing that matters. A hug or a kiss from parents and siblings is more meaningful than a package which we know can be bought anywhere for as long as one buys it. Nobody can buy a hug or a kiss or love shown through one's time spent during the whole graduation rite.

So what is the best gift you can give to a graduate? Love, the ever genuine love that makes any event significant and memorable. Love is the best gift which does not need money. Most of all it is a reality everyone is capable of giving!

Grade VI Teachers of Malaybalay City Central School

Heidi E. Palmada, T2 Adviser VI-Beryl

Irene A. Dinlayan, T1 Adviser VI-Ruby

Susan T. Manalo T3 Adviser VI-Emerald

Jerlinda J. Taghap, T3 Adviser VI-Jade

Francia D. Pailagao, H.E. Teacher

Jerry A. Lava, T1 School Paper Adviser, English

Lenilyn G. Sarauz, T1 Adviser VI-Chrysolite

Federica B. Melig, T3 Adviser VI-Sapphire

Sylvela Anglique B. Macapundag, T1 Adviser VI-Amethyst

Persie B. Respito, MT2 Adviser VI-Aquamarine

Leonora J. Dumaque, MTI Adviser VI- diamong

Valerie de Leon, MT2 Adviser VI-Gold

Mrs. Ma. Antonietta S. Reburiano, Elementary School Principal

 HONOR ROLL of the Graduating class, Malaybalay City Central School, 2011-2012

Daisy Monica Venci Orate 

Dennise Johnfled Pabillaran

Princess Lou-Adarne Carpentero

Maria Teresa Reyes Flores

Jairah Francisco Paguray

Melu Jaen Homoc Bago

Allen Mae Palmes Apolinares

Special Mention

Thimothy Richard C. Estrada

Nathalie G. Solatorio

Jerick E. Achacoso

Sandi C. Tuyogon

Bea Roselle J. Somera

                                                        Adrian Alvinson B. Nazareno

Liezel B. Tulang

Brent Louisse Guinita

Anne roselle L. Asibal

RustinVincentM. Ocab

Princess Mary Edjulie T. Pocong

Mary Charish Diane D. Quinal

Kreeschianelle Dew L. Aclo  

Being the Commencement Speaker and fulfilling part of my promise to tell the whole world about this graduation, the list of Grade VI teacher under the leadership of their principal is posted. Furthermore, the pupils who were declared members of the Honor roll and Special Mention are posted.

To the Teachers, Kudos for the good job at teaching the 462 graduates. to the Honor Roll and Special Mention groups, Congratulations!

Excerpts, excerpts . . .

Do you know someone can be schooled but NOT educated? This means someone can go to school for a long time but never gets educated. This "schooler" does not use whatever is learned to actual use: remains disrespectful, disobedient, unhelpful and unwise. Yet, someone as young as you are, are not only schooled but are educated as well so you are respectful, obedient, helpful and wise.

As your Commencement Speaker I am given the opportunity to share what I learned from all the experiences I did not just go to school to learn but got educated along the way. I will share r talking points and end with some practical tips.

     First point: Remember I am an elementary graduate of Malaybalay Elementary School myself, graduated First Honorable Mention. I would like to acknowledge my teachers Ma'am Guzman, Ma'am Gamboa, Ma'am Rosete, Ma'am Lim, Ma'am Barroso, Sir Romo,  Ma'am Cruzado. My prayers to my mentors who have already passed away and are now in God's embrace. That's why we have to be grateful for the elementary education, basic education, we received. A very big round of applause to our teachers in Malaybalay Central Elementary School. 

     Second point: Today, you are graduating from the elementary. High school is waiting and with it comes bigger tasks that demand discipline. It will mean new friends, some good and some not so good. Your parents will be your best reminders of what lies ahead. At this juncture, may I request all the graduates to stand as we enter into a pact.Please raise your right hands and repeat after me: I _______________ (say your name) commit myself to complete my high school education and if at all possible pursue a college degree. Doing this I use it as my gift of learning to the next generation who will in turn use it as their tool for nation building. So help me God.

     Third point:In the course of responding to life's trials challenges, use this survival kit like a Girl Scout or Boy Scout. Make sure you have the correct priorities in life: God, family, country. Be a leader when there is need for one but a member when it is called by the moment. Some ways you do but some times, your family matters the most and in some occasion, let God. At this juncture, look at your parents lovingly and give them a "flying kiss". Let us give our parents and our guardians, a very proper round of applause.

     Fourth point: Struck with inspiration, I came up with a poem just for you, dear graduates. (This poem was already shared in an earlier blog...) Gift of Learning then and now shared to MCES graduates of 2011-2012.

     Fifth and last point: Malaybalay is the city I was born in and also the place where I'd like to be buried in. In your case, you have just hurdled elementary so you still have a long way to go. DREAM BIG and allow yourself to dream even bigger.

     Beloved graduates, may these five talking points be some foods for thought you can bring home with you and do something as you go on responding to what God has prepared for you.

     CONGRATULATIONS and GOD BLESS.