Obama and Romney Revealed presented by CNN - they are human like us!
0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 4:50 AM
CNN always makes me think. As a teacher, CNN is one of my major sources of new information and updates. With the US elections about to happen on November 6, two episodes caught my attention in CNN, namely Romney Revealed and Obama Revealed shown consecutively. If I were an American voter, the data presented were very informative. I have my own choice of course but for this blog it is good to know that Obama and Romney were presented as human like us.
One of the highlights that touched my heart was the fact that both great leaders are loving husbands to their wives and parents to their children. This is one perspective that sets the leaders apart from some of the leaders we have in other countries. May there be more of their kind.
There seems to be a great need for leaders who are human yet humane. Nowadays there is greater need for transparency especially when the future of a people greatly rests on their hands. Leaders are persons who are given the rare opportunity to serve others and their impact is so huge their influence is beyond the ordinary.
May I congratulate CNN for such admirable programs. May the American vote accordingly. I think I am an "American" by heart notwithstanding that I am a Filipino in word and in deed.
Lesson learned in moments of tragedy just as there are in moments of sheer generosity and volunteerism
0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 5:50 PM
Anderson Cooper of CNN is currently interviewing the nurse, nurse for 26 years, who helped evacuate babies during Superstorm Sandy. This alone is one lesson learned: she was doing her job she says but she tried to do her job well and quickly added, it was a team work and not her alone- humility in action.
Gary Tuckman reported about a man who did not give a helping hand to a mother whose two sons were left in their vehicle. While the man explained his side, still a lesson can be learned from this scenario, that regardless of one's situation, one has to help even if Tuckman did comment the law does not call it a crime NOT TO HELP.
What has happened in New York, New Jersey and the rest of the world is another learning lesson: that the world is a temporary residence and as such, we have to be prepared in a spiritual manner. Today, All Soul's Day and yesterday, All Saints' Day are learning dates to imprint in our minds and hearts which the Scripture captures with depth: "Death is like a thief in the night". If there is one lesson we can always treasure it is the gift of giving one's life through sheer generosity and volunteerism that even death is no longer a fearful event but a hope that greater life which has no end may jut be waiting the giver and the volunteer.
"May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen."
Teaching points in the midst of disaster: Sandy's Wrath in New York turned Sandy's Challenge
0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 11:57 AM
By now the world had already seen the damage done by Hurricane-Superstorm Sandy to New York, New Jersey and other places in the United States. By now we saw actually, physically or via cable television Sandy's wrath but in the same breath we also witnessed what this unfortunate event turned into Sandy's challenge to the victims who have accepted the pain and are now moving on to rebuild.
This is one of the shining moments - teaching moments - of the families who have lost their loved ones and through it all - even with tears in their eyes and with heavy heart go beyond the almost unbearable challenge of their lifetime. To a certain extent we can identify with their pain because wherever we come from in this world, pain, whatever form it takes, is pain and the same hearts bleed. This is the miracle that comes for amidst this purging experience is a person who looks up to the heavens and in the core of one's being lifts up to Someone who Cares Up There and Anywhere the depth and extent of what man not be worded.
We join the New Yorkers and all the residents of New Jersey in their struggle. Keep the Faith. At the end of the tunnel is a bluer sky and a limitless room for better things ahead.
We have physical storms just as we have emotional storms and both realities may leave us devastated but we can hold on to our Faith
0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 9:58 AM
CNN reports 260 patients in one New York hospital have been evacuated - newborn included -yet in the midst of this problem, professional expertise is not one thing that is lacking but is one thing that is so encouraging not one has been hurt. Generators may have filed but not the capability of the hospital doctors and staff. In moments like this, hurricanes, superstorms - physical and emotional - can hurt the surroundings and can even cause deaths as what happened in U.S. but for as long as the people who care are among us and we hold on to our Faith, life goes on with a deeper sense of brotherhood and sisterhood.
It cannot be denied that technology allows the viewers to be awed at the same time dismayed at what we see on-the-spot photos of devastation, pain and suffering on one hand and heroism, volunteerism and strength of spirit on the other. Lessons learned from the life's storms are endless and though we can only close our eyes in prayer and hope for better things, somehow life moves on and humanity emerges with greater resolve to be better prepared next time around.
New York: we love you. We may not have visited it yet but we hope to do so one day. God bless New York and its people.
Unite Nations Day: Are the nations united such that its unity is celebrated?
0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 5:33 AM
So many years have passed and here once again the day when United Nations Day should be celebrated. This teacher can not but help ask again if in fact there is enough rationale to celebrate this day if there is a big question hanging in the air: Are the nations united that its unity is celebrated?
Without being cynical, there is some semblance of unity for if there is not then wars will have its way. We just have to stay long enough to watch what is shown on the television set that disunity is a reality but so is unity. Wars and conflicts are usually magnified so we get the feeling that the world is chaotic but we have to be patient enough to let the other television channels give a balance presentations and true enough e see the glimmer of hope that there is unity after all.
So let us celebrate United Nations Day because the mere fact of recognizing it is celebration enough and another chance to give unity a chance is a gift to mankind especially the young.
Happy United Nations Day then to you out there and may unity be born right in each person's hearts.
Sainthood, canonization - its impact in today's way of life
0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 6:32 PM
The terms sainthood and canonization refer to good Catholics whose lives were lived well following the example of Jesus Christ who died so others may live. What is very important to focus on is the impact the lives of saints has for the modern person. Today, the lure of secular living is so strong that unless one remains committed to one's faith, the road to wealth and fame is indeed enticing.
Pope Benedict has been very responsive to the needs of persons who are constantly challenged to be true to their faith. Already Mother Teresa has been beatified and it is just a question of time and she will be declared a saint.for us who have seen Mother Teresa, we agree that her life is really saintly. She has always served the poor and when there are children who have no one, she always makes sure she is there to attend to them. All these actions tell us that saints are real people and upon death, their deeds are just magnified so others may be inspired to do the same in their own way.
On October 21, there is one Filipino, one from Cebu City, Visayas, Philippines, who will be canonized. His life was one that was so simple and when the time came for him to give witness to his faith by offering his life, he did.Read ore about Pedro Calungsod.
For us ordinary mortals, we are "saints" in a way whenever and wherever we help others without any ulterior motive. We do not do anything good to be declared saints. We live accordingly and lovingly. Smile fellow human beings!
A little girl teaches love for education and witnesses to its worth by almost dying . . .
0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 4:16 AM
What a way to give witness to the significance of Education, that of almost dying. All this done by a little girl called Malala,a Pakistani and to this day she is still in the hospital in England recuperating.
The facts are heartwarming and heart tugging you can not help by be very angry at the Taliban who did this to her and to the other girls. All that Malala has done was to blog about her desire to be educated and to tell the world that she hopes all girls have the same experience as she is enjoying. Is is just providential that the school's principal is her dad.
Perhaps it is not hard to understand why the Taliban did what he did because all this time because he belongs to a culture that does not encourage girls to be educated. Imagine what we take for granted as a right and in this part of the world, it is more of a miracle to be educated. Let us count our blessings even as we hope and pray that thee are less of Talibans who deprive the girls not only of their right to be educated but to be alive- to be respected as fellow human beings.
Malala, we pray for your fast recovery and we thank God for girls like you who give fresh air of innocence and strength in such frail bodies. May your tribe increase.
What can we teach our young about monogamy, polygamy . . .?
0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 2:04 AM
If there is any good point we can teach our young when the time comes, it is to learn as much as life offers them. Whatever may happen to them, they will decide accordingly and so when they have to decide whether to choose monogamy over polygamy will depend on the way faith and life will nurture his/her decisions.
As a Teacher myself and a mother at the same time, I have this strong faith in my children's decisions. This fear is going to be imbedded in our hearts for our children will have children of their own and onwards to more generations to come. What a way to view the bigger fact of life and in all of it we find out that we are only one thread in the cycle called life.
In the meantime, I go on with my present vocation to teach students to become teachers one day!
Even the weather is teaching us what's up with the world . . .
0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 1:01 AM
Just when Malaybalayan was up and going and prepared for school, the weather dampened the plan. This was unfortunate because the orders were soooo ready: hotcakes for a belated simple birthday celeb with colleagues; "cuchinta" and brownie b-day cake, a gift from Gigi on top of it. . . all sidelined by the weather that brought rain and cold winds.
What is the weather saying nowadays? It is teaching us the changes that are attached to the daily chores of living. The weather goes with one's feelings of sadness or happiness whatever one finds herself in. Sometimes, the weather determines the mood of a person and sometimes gets the better of her.
So let us make the weather get attuned with our day to day atmosphere so that it leans more on giving us the zest that we need if the day is to become more productive and more to our liking.
To the weather then, good day!
62nd year old Teacher teaches herself to keep teaching . . .
0 comments Posted by Malaybalay Blogger at 4:18 PM
What a way to say, 62nd year old teacher teacher herself to to keep on teaching but really she must because the challenging of being a senior citizen and a teacher at the same time is taking its toll. If you visit her other blog, Elderly Blues and Blows, you can sense that she sleeps on a rocking chair to make her fall asleep and when morning comes, wake up and be ready for school!
This scenario is sometimes a cause of worry for her children because her bed is ready for her but then she prefers the rocking chair because it lulls her to sleep at the same time allows her to view her favorite television shows and facilitates early wake up time ready for school.
Now, more and more, Teacher's teacher is teaching herself to keep teaching perhaps for a year or two and then decide to "retire". She is mustering this strength to keep up with the routine that goes with active living.
Anyone out there who has the same dilemma? What are some tips to improve the way to overcome? In the meantime, this 62nd year old Teacher will keep teaching herself to keep teaching for sanity and purpose.
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