Sunday, April 09, 2006
Old and New Image
Each kid was telling everybody how bad s/he was, and how s/he has improved on that bad attitude. After several testimonies, a testimony of one girl JUST HIT ME. Her testimony was about her CHEATING HABITS in school. Yes, it's normal for students to cheat (though, it's still a violation), but cheating as a habit…that really bothered me. What made my heart pound harder was when I learned that almost all the kids in the circle are involved in such a dishonest act! From there, I started asking questions like "Why are you cheating?", "Do you know that cheating is bad?", "How long have you been doing that?", "How often?", "Were you caught cheating before?", "How do you feel when you cheat?", and many more.
Just so you know, I am serving as a Sunday school teacher in church, and my job is to basically teach children the teachings in the Bible. All the teachers were assigned to a designated date, and it just happened that I was assigned for this Sunday.
Anyway, I was not that ready for my lesson for them, so I decided to make an impromptu lesson plan, AGAIN. After the opening prayer, which was led by one of the pupils, I opened my Bible and looked for a good topic. Voila! Yes, SELF-IMAGE was the chosen topic for this Sunday.
At the beginning of the session [or class] I read a Bible verse relating to the self-image topic, and then I let them have some sharing. The sharing-slash-activity was for each one of them to tell everybody what their OLD IMAGE was and what their NEW IMAGE is. So we started to do the round.
Each kid was telling everybody how bad s/he was, and how s/he has improved on that bad attitude. After several testimonies, a testimony of one girl JUST HIT ME. Her testimony was about her CHEATING HABITS in school. Yes, it's normal for students to cheat (though, it's still a violation), but cheating as a habit…that really bothered me. What made my heart pound harder was when I learned that almost all the kids in the circle are involved in such a dishonest act! From there, I started asking questions like "Why are you cheating?", "Do you know that cheating is bad?", "How long have you been doing that?", "How often?", "Were you caught cheating before?", "How do you feel when you cheat?", and many more. I was in great shock when the girl told me that it's INEVITABLE for them TO STOP CHEATING; that it's already PART OF HER SYSTEM. Sheesh! Is this what's happening in our schools today, particularly in PUBLIC SCHOOLS?! Sinasabi pa naman nating "Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan" tapos ganito lang pala ang nangyayari. Cheating is only one of the cancers infesting our schools today. There are many more like DRUGS, SEX, and VIOLENCE at elementary and high school ages.
Moreover, they told me that their teachers sometimes give them the answers in their tests. Yes, even in their NAT (National Achievement Test), teachers also gave out what we call kodigo so that the students would pass, and the school would place high in the national rankings. What's the use of having a national assessment test, anyway, if almost all the students just copied from each other? [Anak ng tinapa!] Therefore, I conclude that the NAT is close to useless. Sayang naman ang effort ng DepEd...
Another thing, I just learned that some of the teachers in public schools are not LET (Licensure Examinations for Teachers) passers. So I was like, "Pwede pala 'yun?" Not a good idea, though. But, can we blame them? NO! As we all know, there is a scarcity of teachers here because of BRAIN DRAIN. Yes, the good teachers we had found greener pastures abroad and would most probably not go back here anymore.
What are left here are the newly graduated, inexperienced teachers, as well as the non-qualifiers of the LET. As soon as the new graduates of Education get their diplomas, most of them (if not all) would most likely fix everything as fast as they can to look for teaching opportunities in first world countries. After a few months or years of fixing-slash-working, they will say "GOOD-BYE!" to the Philippines. Now, what's left? Of course, the LET non-qualifiers as well as the not-so-good teachers. You know what to expect from them, don't you? I am not saying that the teachers who stay here are not good. [I SALUTE and HONOR those teachers who stay here to teach and have a good intention of catering to the educational needs of the new generation, like us.] What I am trying to say is that many of the good ones go abroad to earn bigger money to support their family (here, WE CAN'T BLAME THEM), thus the occurrence of scarcity of quality teachers for our Filipino children.
After hearing the stories of the kids about their stay in public schools, it suddenly occurred to me that I want to be the principal of their school, or the Secretary of Education, or even the President of the Philippines. Geez. The Department of Education HAS TO DO SOMETHING, indeed! I am so bothered about the education situation and system we have here in our country. I just hope that someone from DepEd reads this. Pero, asa namang maaantig ang puso nila dito. This just means that the solution to this cancer in the field of education is not for the current government to fix, but for our generation to fix.
The quality of Philippine Education used to be number ONE in Asia. Now, only ONE country is behind us from the lowest rank in Asia. Let's BRING BACK the OLD IMAGE of Philippine Education by IMPROVING its NEW IMAGE today. I hope that my generation is also readily challenged and has the care (pakealam) to solve this BIG predicament as me. A-Ja! [",]
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Destiny Fulfilled
It's been a year now since I graduated from high school. Last year was very crucial for me because of all the confusions I have when it comes to the college I will go to and to the course that I will take. Yes, time passed away in just a snap!
Ever since I was a child, I've really wanted to be a doctor, a pediatrician in particular. This is so because I really love kids. However, all came into bewilderment during the summer of last year after experiencing all the pressures I got from almost everybody around me (Hint: the BSN-craze). To cut the story short, my dreams and goals of being a doctor were all shattered at once. At any rate, past is past. I've forgotten all about it; I've moved on.
June of 2005, I entered U.P. (Manila), my dream school. I've been a University student for one year now, and up to now, I still can't believe that I am actually studying there (seriously). Sigh. Indeed, the Lord hears my prayers. Thanks to Him. *smiles*
Now, I am taking up BS Occupational Therapy (BSOT), a premedical course; still hoping to pursue my dream of being a doctor. But, honestly, when I got into BSOT, I was like, "What's this?!" Geez, I had no idea of what BSOT really is. However, after all the orientations that I've attended, and after all the explanations that I've received from upperclassmen, my knowledge about Occupational Therapy started to widen.
Here's my point. It's really irritating (sometimes, funny) for me whenever people ask me what my course is. Yes, it bothers me because almost everybody always gives me an annoying Ha-What's-That answer after I tell them what my course is. Here's a typical illustration:
Person: "Mike, ano nga palang course mo sa UP?"
Me: "Occupational Therapy po."
Person: "Ahhh... ano ‘yun? 'Yan ba yung parang PT?" or "Ahhh... ano 'yun? 'Yan yung nagmamasahe, 'di ba?"
Me: "Occupational Therapy po."
Person: "Ahhh... ano ‘yun? 'Yan ba yung parang PT?" or "Ahhh... ano 'yun? 'Yan yung nagmamasahe, 'di ba?"
[Sige, magmarunong pa! LOL. May "Ahhh..." pang nalalaman, kunyari alam, sabay biglang, "Ano 'yun?" Funny isn't it? LMAO. Minsan nga eh akala nila na sa UP-Diliman ako nag-aaral. Hello? Health Science courses such as OT, PT, SP, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, etc. are all offered in UP-Manila alone. Wala lang, just so you know, people. Smiles.]
At this point of the conversation, it signals me to go about the whole process of defining OT, differentiating OT from PT, giving examples of what OTs do, and correcting the misconceptions about OT. Okay, for all those who are still confused of what OT really is, read this:
- Definition:"Occupational therapy is skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve independence in all facets of their lives. Occupational therapy assists people in developing the "skills for the job of living" necessary for independent and satisfying lives" (http://www.aota.org/featured/area6/index.asp#what).
- Difference from PT:OTs focus on rehabilitating the fine motors skills (reaching objects, brushing teeth, using spoon and fork, etc.) of the patients, while PT's focus on the ambulation (walking, etc.) of the patients.OTs help improve the function of a person in his or her respective OCCUPATION. For instance, a typist had a stroke. Obviously he or she won't be able to move his or her hands and fingers to type. With this, an OT will make a therapeutic activity to rehabilitate or fix the dysfunction of the typist. After several sessions of therapy, the typist will bit by bit improve his or her skills in typing and function normally in his or her occupation again.PT's basically relieve the pain, prevent deformity, improve strength, develop coordination and increase functional ability of his or her patients (http://www.casa.colostate.edu/Advising/Pre-Professional/info/otOrPt.cfm).
Misconceptions:WE DON'T DO MASSAGES. OTs are not reflexologists who only take up 6-months training of massaging to work in sauna bars and massage centers. So don't call us "masahistas". LOL. We're also not nurses; we work with nurses. We are clinicians who work in therapeutic facilities to give people (children or adults) a satisfying and better life through rehabilitation medicine.
There! After reading this, I hope you already know a bit about us. So, sa susunod, hindi ka na magiging-IGNO kapag tinanong ka kung ano ang OT. Nakakapagod at nakakatuyo na kasi ng laway kapag explain ka nang explain sa mga taong hindi alam ang OT eh, kaya sinulat ko nalang dito.
To add, OTs can either focus on rehabilitating children (pediatrics) or elderly people (geriatrics), or both. Sigh. God really knows everything and He never makes mistakes. Indeed, He already planned this out for me. I may not be a pediatrician in the future, but I can be an OT who gives hope to kids with dysfunctions and disabilities. See? I'm still in the medicine field and at the same time, I'm also gonna work with kids, which I've really wanted ever since.
I love what I am doing now and no one, nothing can ever stop me. Despite the hardships that I had gone and will go through to finish this course, I am still thankful to God and to those who support me because this is what I want and makes me and my destiny fulfilled. :)
Friday, March 31, 2006
Empty Classrooms
Long time NO blog for me. Blame the 2nd semester that just passed. He-He. It was just a HARD (and I mean it) semester that kept me SO busy with school, all those acads, and other stuff. Yes, it was like a LONG walk to Calvary. Now, it's FINALLY through. Students are now in vacation...classrooms are now empty.
By the way, I just buried the 2nd semester today at exactly 4:16 p.m. right after my Math 1 finals, my last exam for the sem. LOL.
Remember my entry last January about my anxiety for the 2nd sem? Even before I stepped into it, I already heard a lot of rumors about it. They all say that it is HARD, TIRESOME, and DEMANDING. Owell, true enough, it was!
Like all those other college students out there, I have also shared my SLEEPLESS nights and COUNTLESS depressions with them. The grueling tension of studying [or cramming] every night for an exam the next day made me a LIVING ZOMBIE for several months. And oh! Hello to my new best-friend, FAILURE. Indeed, achieving a HEALTHY PAIR OF EYE BAGS was truly the best reward for all these.
But, despite with all the STRESSES and ANXIETIES this sem has brought me, I would like to thank every thing that helped me go through all these:
- MECHANICAL PENCIL & BLACK PILOT PEN that never retires from its job of assisting me in writing all my notes and reviewers;
- CALCULATOR that has been my bestfriend during chemistry, physics, and math exams;
- YELLOW DERMATOGRAPH that never fails to highlight the lines in my handouts, books, and reviewers;
- CORRECTION TAPE that never fails to maintain my test papers clean even though I have some erasures in them;
- STAPLER (and its wires) that never fails to keep my handouts in place;
- and, all the "FOTOX" I have that have been there for me in preparing for all my departmental exams (even though they already infested my room and cabinets). LOL.
Of course, I won't forget my CLASSMATES[SLASH]TUTORS who never hesitate to teach me the things I know not of, and for all my BEZ's who incessantly pray for me whenever I request them to. Guys, thank you.
LORD, I THANK YOU for making me pass ALL my subjects. (I already CLAIM it! He-He.)
The semester's over, hello now to SUMMER! :)
Monday, February 27, 2006
Ang Sa Akin Lang...
It's happening again. All those rallies, coups, and people powers - please! I just don't get why does it have to be like this?! Yes, it is the 20th anniversary of Edsa One. But, does it mean that we have to do it once more like the re-enactments in those crime expose shows? Not funny.
All those leaders and military men organizing a coup against our president are all pathetic! [Let me express myself in Tagalog starting from here.] Sige, sinong ipapalit nila kapag bumaba si PGMA? Si Ka Noli? Utang na loob... Then who? Them people who are so engrossed to put PGMA down? Think again. Oo na, nandaya na si Gloria. Oo na't nangurakot na sila ng asawa niya. Pero sino bang pulitiko ang malinis? Sino bang presidente ang kayang magbigay ng pagbabago sa loob lamang ng 5 taon? Malabong mangyari 'yun lalo pa't malala na ang kanser ng lipunang kinabibilangan natin. Sige, tanggalin si PGMA at subukang ipalit ang mga walang-utang-na-loob na militar na 'yan. Tignan lang natin kung hindi rin magkanda-loko-loko ang Pilipinas sa pangungurakot at sa pag-pa-powertrip nila!
Wala sa pagsali sa malawakang welga ang totoong rebolusyon. Wala sa coup at wala rin lalo sa presidenteng nakaupo. Matagal nang namumulok ang puso't diwa ng mga Pilipino; wala na ring natitirang pagmamahal sa bansa... Pero ang totoong pagbabago ay dapat na magsimula sa ating puso. Sa pamamagitan ng paggawa ng tungkuling nakatakda sa atin ay isang paraan na upang maipakita mong mahal mo ang Pilipinas. Bilang isang estudyante, ang pag-aaral ng mabuti ay isang pahiwatig na mahal mo ang iyong bayang tinubuan. Maging radikal sa pag-aaral at pananalangin, hindi sa kalye. Susko!
Maaaring corny o cliche-ish ang mga nasambit kong salita... Pero 'yan na lahat 'yon. Ang sa akin lang... Ang sa akin lang...
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Hello to a Better Year of 2006
Just before 2005 closes, I just want to make one more blog entry. Huling hirit, kumbaga.
What a year! 2005 has a lot of ups and downs for me, really! Tears and laughter were the main ingredients of this farewelling year.
For all the people who made this year wonderful for me, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I mean it mga bez. You know who you are. And for those people who hurt me, thank you also because I wouldn't be this strong if it weren't for you. Again, you know who you are. :)
I don't believe in New Year's resolutions because honestly, it's hard to promise. Am i right? Or am I not? Okay, here's the thing: as I have observed, in most cases, after making a new year's resolution on the first day of the year, after a week or so, you'll be back to your old bad habits. Believe me! Unless you're dead serious about your NY's resolutions, which is always a rare case.
However, I believe that it's much better if we call it "I-Will-Try-to-Decision" in exchange for "New Year's Resolution". With that, here are my "I-Will-Try-to-Decisions":
- On 2006, I will try to be more loving to all the people around me;
- be more active in church;
- be more hardworking in school;
- be a more responsible kuya to my siblings and my mom;
- be a BETTER PERSON AS A WHOLE.
A lot more follows but I can't write them all down here because it will take some time and space. All I want to point out is that as New Year (2006) comes, let's all TRY to withdraw the bad habits and improve more on the good habits that we have. There's no harm in trying, right?
So to everyone, may you have a blessed and better year of 2006! I love you guys! :)
Friday, December 30, 2005
Reunion
It's nice to go back to the past and remember those good memories you've had with your high school classmates and friends. We were just all together last March, and come June, we're off to our own different ways. Now in college, it's hard to be all together again, and I mean it. Anyway, college came along so fast and of course, it won't be complete without having reunions, big or small, with high school classmates and friends. Yes, that's fun.
Yesterday was a blast!
Couldn't describe it but that. With my all my high school buddies around, it's simply a good way to end the year.
So as afternoon approached yesterday, I hurriedly took a bath, dressed up, and went to Katipunan to meet with my former teacher in grade 7. The meeting place was Starbucks, and I was late. He-He. Whatever. At least, I got to meet my buddy from Fordham, Jared, and of course, Miss Gina. After a long time, finally, we met each other once again. We had some coffee and chit-chatted as if there's no tomorrow. It's really a relief, seeing some special people you haven't seen for a long time. Thank you po sa book and bookmark, ma'am. See you soon!
Ice came in late at 6pm and never had the chance to talk or even see Miss Gina. Too bad! But, there's always a next time so I guess he doesn't have to worry.
It was dinner time then, and we're all hungry. We decided to go to World Topps to eat but we suddenly realized that we might miss the Pyrolympics in Roxas scheduled at 7pm. So we didn't eat dinner first and hurried straight to Manila.
We're six: Me, Ice, Migy, Monchet, Andrew, and Japie. Thank goodness we fit the pick-up of Ice. Every second was specially fun. We talked and joked around endlessly inside the car as we traveresed the streets of Manila. It was traffic and we didn't realize that it's pass 7pm, therefore, we assumed that we're not going to catch the fireworks display of the U.S. Fortunately, as we were in the middle of the traffic in Roxas Boulevard, the pyro displays came out, and yes, we could see it from afar inside the car. After the U.S.A.'s pyro display, it was South Africa's turn to show off what they got.
Finally, we got to park the car somewhere in Roxas (infront of Kenny). From there, we walked to the site where the Mall of Asia is situated. It's far but it's worth it. The fireworks were brilliant. The audience whoaed in awe as the breath-taking display filled the black skies. Different shapes, sizes, and colors of fireworks were there and all the people were absolutely stunned and impressed with what they saw. The Pyrolympics ended and indeed satisfied each of its viewer, including us.
Okay, we almost forgot, we still haven't eaten dinner during at that moment and from there, we dashed straight to the nearest restaurant with seats. (Ack! All the eating places there were full, as in, FULL of people.) The place for our stomachs was Pancake House. Kinda expensive but it's delicious. Besides, we're starving. We had no time to think of the "how much?" anymore. All we wanted was to eat. He-He. Finally, we got to fill in our tummies and gained some energy to party the night away!
Bring it on! Yesternight was my first time to be in Baywalk as well as in Malate. It was awesome! I mean it. Baywalk was full of lights and color. The people there, I assume, belong to different walks of life, which is a nice and healthy sight.
From Baywalk, we headed straight to Malate-the party capital of the Philippines! Yeah baby! It was crowded there. Beer drinkers all around, entertainers scarttered all over the streets, and bars everywhere. Sheesh, being a first-timer, I was amazed. But there's one thing I noticed when we got there: Malate people love to party and have fun! And, that's what we want that's why we're there.
Just to add, Malate is a melting pot of people, but we were really shocked as we passed by a particular street exclusively for gays and bisexuals. The landmark in there is the boutique of sexy clothes, et cetera (you know what I mean). I have nothing against them, I just felt something odd in the atmosphere as we walked on "their" street because their eyes were like hawks as if they would eat us alive if we did a wrong move. He-He. No offense meant. But, it was fun though. I mean, it was a unique experience, boy! :)
A night of partying and hanging out with my peers... What more can I ask for? :)
We left Manila at around 2:00am. I got home at 3:00am. That's late! He-He. But, thank goodness I got home safely. This is an unforgetable one...
Indeed, reunions don't fail to make people happy. :) Sana maulit muli...
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Happy Birthday Jesus
Hello Blogspot! Long time no blog for me. Well, I have really been planning to come up with a Christmas entry before the actual celebration ever since I stopped making entries for my blog. This semester has been very demanding that's why I didn't manage to make at least one entry after my November 8 entry (my last one, LOL). Anyway, without further ado, let me now start with my Christmas entry:
I don't know if it's just me, but I just didn't notice that Christmas is coming. December came and yet I still don't feel its spirit. The streets and houses I see and pass by everyday are full of intricate and shimmering Christmas decors. I see a lot of people busy shopping for Christmas gifts. And, I see the media's repetitive showing and flashing of Christmas advertisements... All of them failed to make me feel the spirit of Christmas.
Yesterday I was at the mall doing my last-minute Christmas shopping (just for conformity). As I walk through the middle aisle of one of the floors in SM, I suddenly became disheartened with the picture I saw: people who are all so busy shopping as if there's no tomorrow, Santa Clauses everywhere all adored by children as if he's the one we all should celebrate for, and the grandiose decorations filling the entirety of the mall. Indeed, the world has become so materialistic today. It just saddend me for it seems that everyone forgets the TRUE MEANING OF THE SEASON.
Tumatanda na nga yata talaga ako kasi hindi na'ko nahahayok sa pagsapit ng Kapaskuhan.
Sometimes, I just envy those small kids I see, all wearing their best sweaters and feeling the cold Christmas breeeze. I just love seeing them getting excited for the 25th day of December. But what really bothers and makes me sad is that what they're really excited for is the gifts they are about to receive from "Santa" on Christmas eve - new clothes, toys, candies, et cetera. Most of them do not know who they should really be celebrating for...
[Singit ko lang: sa totoo lang nahirapan akong maghanap ng picture for this entry kasi wala akong mahanap na totoong nag-de-depict ng CHRISTMAS. Sad isn't it? :c)
Indeed, it's not about the gifts, the cards, the aguinaldo's, and the decors. But, it's all about JESUS. Let's turn our backs from the materialistic world we are engulfed in and embrace the real essence of Christmas - the birth of our LORD and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Let's all love and give, not only during Christmas time, but in our every day lives.
Now friends, I'll just leave you with these questions to ponder upon just before the celebration starts:
- How can it be, that He was the one on the cross?
- How can it be, that the scars in His hands are for me?
Think about it. Answer it yourself quietly.
That's just how He loves you and me. Happy Christmas to you and your family. Most of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!
