Traversing HK

It's times like these that I wish I took up Mandarin lessons instead of French and Korean. The billboard signs are driving me crazy here. It frustrates me, too that no matter how good I try to deliver the English language I just usually end up doing the sign language everytime I talk to the locals.


I also cannot withdraw from their banks which is actually a good thing since that means I won't be able too spend my money. Haha. I just hate it, though that I have to ask money from my mother. It makes me think that I'm at her mercy.

The temperature never goes up to more than 20 degrees. I have four layers of clothing to protect me against the cold but it never protected me from the flu. The runny nose irritates me and it keeps me from exploring the area.

Disneyland isn't the happiest place on earth. It's the place where every person has a camera. I'm not a fan of these famous mice but what the heck.

The Road Less Travelled

Watch out! Picture overload...

Pointdisaments

Disappointments.

I’ve had my fair share of them. I’m mostly disappointed when people don’t meet my expectations and when things don’t come my way. When that happens, I fret. And when I do, I sulk, get cranky and refuse to talk to other people. I become a nasty person when I’m disappointed.

They say when it rains, it pours. When blessings come, they usually fall down softly on your roof. When disappointments come, they pound on your door demanding to be taken in pronto. I wonder why disappointments all come together at once. It seems that these gray forces of nature all connive together to make fun of you. I can feel them laughing at me now.

Today, I told somebody that I was disappointed in her. Nope, not right on her face. I, being a non-confrontational person wrote it on a piece of paper instead. I guess I was expecting too much from a person who’s considered a leader. I expected her to be efficient, responsible, and competent. You’ve guessed by now that she’s none of the above.

I was also told this morning that I can’t take the trip with my staffer in Butuan City, Mindanao for a national writing competition. They said I’m not yet a permanent employee and only those who are can get a travelling allowance from the university. *sigh*

Lastly, it’s disappointing to know that the parents of your students would rather go to somebody else than to you directly if they have complaints (I guess they’re also non-confrontational like me). I hope that JS Prom hullabaloo will be settled before the year ends.

All in the same day. I can feel their weight on my shoulders. Their laughter’s replaced by sneers.

I’m going to bed and hope that tomorrow they’ll leave and won’t bother to come back.

On Love

Your light fades...

"After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul and you learn that love doesn't mean learning and company doesn't always mean security. And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't promises and you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child and you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight. After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much so you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. And you learn that you really can endure you really are strong you really do have worth and you learn and you learn with every goodbye, you learn..."

~ Veronica A. Shooffstall

Happy Saturday!

I'm supposed to write this yesterday but I slept the entire afternoon and I did a movie marathon last night. Well, what I'd just really want to say is that I was on 7th Heaven yesterday. First, Alexa won first place in the Feature Writing category in RSPC and second, I had such a great time with my Research class with Dr. Handa!

Tomorrow is Another Day

I'm prolonging my agony by not touching my assignment for Dr. Dequilla. I'm supposed to write 10 test items in Journalism and Creative Writing as part of the university's assessment program for college students. But I don't want to touch it now. Or ever. Why do I have to be a part of that assessment team anyway? I don't want to sound like a whiney teenager but I wish somebody consulted me before making me a part of that group.

Then, there's that declamation piece my sister's asking me to write for her 6-year old pupil. I'd like to write one for her but I'd rather surf the net or read my grad school notes than crack my head thinking of a good plot suitable for kindergarteners.

Oh, and I've got loads of paper to check this week. Anyway, it's just one week more before Christmas break. On the 17th, we'll have that long overdue field trip/Christmas Party with my advisory in Bantayan Beach Resort. On the 20th, we'll continue our Christmas Party in school. I asked for an aquarium and goldfish from my SP! I've long since wanted to take care of a goldfish but I'm actually worried that I have to leave my goldfish in my room for two weeks when I leave for HK (finally bought my ticket yesterday). Then, I realized that I can leave my goldfish with the landlord since he has an aquarium himself. Yehey! I'm just crossing my fingers that my SP will really give me an aquarium on our exchange gift. I also hope it won't be too much to ask if he/she will include a goldfish with it. Throw in some pebbles and fishfood and I'll be the happiest English teacher alive.

I will miss the Teachers' Day again tomorrow. I also missed it last year because I attended a language seminar. Tomorrow I have to accompany my Blue Quill staffers for the RSPC so even if I would very much like to join the Teachers' Day celebration I won't be able to (sorry, Amethyst. I love you all!). But the year before that (my first year of teaching in WVSU) I'm glad I was a part of the ILS Teachers' Day celebration. In fact, I'm posting these pictures to show off how much I enjoyed the celeb (and to show off my new printer's scanning prowess) and yes, to remember Sir Donnie and Sir Endran.

(L-R) Sir Endran, Vanidoza, Maám Zoo, Maám Mae, and Sir Donnie

ILS Teachers' Day 2008

I wasn't around on Teachers' Day 2009 but my students gave me these! Gracias!

I'd also like to post this picture of my advisory class in ISA (SY 06-07 and 07-08). I used to teach elementary there. These students are now in 2nd year High School. I'm with the Chinese adviser here and we just got back from our camping when this pic was taken so see how dark my face was.

Miss these kids!

HAPPY TEACHERS' DAY to all the teachers of WVSU ILS! We rock!

Objectivism vs Subjectivism

I enrolled in one subject this semester. The course title is Qualitative Research and it's under Dr. Vicente Handa. I couldn't feel any luckier because my teacher's very passionate with what he's teaching us. The reason why I enrolled in this subject is because I badly need to update my research skills. There are only three of us in class so it's going to be a tutorial session instead of a real classroom set-up. No reportings for us. We just have to come to class prepared and well-read. We're starting on the philosophical foundations of research and everytime we start a discussion I'm always on the edge of my seat because I feel that my mind is brimming with ideas and that I'll blow up if I won't say anything. I've always have a soft spot for philosophy.

Yesterday, we discussed about Positivism and Post-positivism which are theoretical perspectives under Objectivism. Objectivism believes that there's only one truth. Most religious organizations are very objectivist in nature. I have no problem with that because I'm very much on the side of the church and well, I'm a bit of a moralist. Subjectivism is on the extreme end. It believes that there are several truths. What may be true for me may be untrue for you. Relativism comes in the picture.

I believe that there are abstract things in life that are really absolute such as faith, love, human dignity, human values, peace and morality. The rest can be relatively taken in. We all experience these in one way or another but we all feel that same thing when we pray and when we feel at peace. Even when human values are degenerating still we go back to them and look at it as the moral standard we have to follow. We have universal laws that are true in every culture and religion.

Truth is not relative. Truth is a gift from God. But how do we know these truths? Even that we have to be objective. Isn't the answer always the same thing? You look deeper into yourself and discern.

I disagreed when my teacher said we can't be in any of those extremes and that we have to be somewhere in the middle. I don't like that. You become lukewarm if that happens. You have to either be an objectivist or a subjectivist.

I guess for now I'm an objectivist.

Flued

I don't know how I got the flu. I have three theories:

First, I was in Guimaras Island for two days (Nov. 25-26) and while I stayed there I took a dip in one of their beaches Thursday evening forgetting the fact that I had a massage the night before. Getting wet after a massage is supposed to be a big no-no.

Second, one of our companions named Dorz actually had the flu already. I probably got the virus because several times I laid on her bed.

Lastly, I also believe I got the airborne virus somwehere in Robinson's Mall. I shopped for an external DVD player in CD-R King. I sneezed there several times.

Whatever and wherever the cause of the virus is, I'm feeling low because I can't go out. I have no choice but to take a very good rest. I can't go out to attend mass. I even declined my sister's offer to treat me out (she turned 29 last Nov. 26). It's good that it's a holiday tomorrow.

Ok, I'm excited over my new external DVD player. I bought the cheapest. It costs only P1,880 and it has 3 months warranty. It's way, way cheaper compared to Samsung's P2,800. I'm going to really take good care of it. Here's how it looks:


I also bought a new mouse pad. I chose the one with the guitar image to remind me to practice the guitar more often and enroll in guitar lessons soooooon!


I rented 3 DVDs right away in Video City right away and spent my Saturday evening watching Twilight. Eeeeew! Haha. It's for high school students.

I hope to post pictures of the Guimaras travel soon. I went there to document the Seminar-Workshop on Making IEC Materials for FITS Managers. I went there as a RACO. It was my first out of the island assignment and extension work.

RACO stands for Regional Applied Communications Officer. Now I know what it stands for. I still have to memorize several acronyms. WESVARRDEC, PCARRD, DOST, FITS, etc...

bad day?

Yesterday I threw a tantrum when my co-teachers ate the two Hershey's chocolates I've been reserving in the fridge. I wasn't satisfied with my hosting the day before so I wanted to comfort myself by eating some chocolates. Imagine my huge disappointment when I found out that three of my colleagues ate my stash of sweets.

It was actually my principal who ate it. He returned the "borrowed" chocolates with an additional Pizza pretzels. hehe.

Now I'm eating the pretzels while I'm waiting for my co-teachers to open the faculty room. Where did they go? I left my bag inside with the key. I'll probably eat my lunch at way past 1 because they won't be back soon.

Ooooooh... I hope my day won't get any worse this afternoon.

A Printer

I've been contemplating of buying my own printer for quite some time now. I wanted the 3 in 1 kind. I was finally able to do so last Saturday night. I asked my computer teacher colleague what the best printer is and he said Epson and HP are the best so far. That's just what happened. I had a hard time choosing between an HP which cost P3,290 with a P600 ink and an P3,890 Epson with a P200-P300 ink.

The Epson finally won me over. I was very happy with my purchase. This week I hope to buy an external DVD player for my netbook. I'm also thinking of getting an Internet connection. I want either Smart or Sun wireless broadband. I already have pre-paid Globe. Hmmm...

Since when did I get so techie? No choice, teachers have to try to be techie.

I'm in Love...

Move over, Literato! This is my new love... Psikolohiyo. Teehee ;-)

Love, love, love... How can you not fall in love with Psikolohiyo when you have no choice but to make sure that you meet him every night?

back to back

I’m finally back in the classroom as a real teacher. I’m the one handling the classes these days. I’m the one doing the checking and preparation of lessons. It’s like being back in my old private school where I used to toil as a slave teacher day in day out. The only difference is that my boss now is kind and lenient enough to understand my shortcomings as a teacher.

I won’t be enrolling for graduate school subjects as I want to focus on being a classroom teacher this semester.

I can’t wait for December. I’m going to Hong Kong for a two-week vacation with my mother and aunt. I’ll also seize the opportunity to give a talk to these OFW mothers. I don’t know what topic to give yet but I’m sure it’s going to be on the psychological aspect. And a bit of communication, perhaps. How to communicate with your children is a good title. I have enough time to think and prepare as I’ll move my flight to the 24th instead of the 21st. I just hope my reservation’s still standing. I’m saving like mad these days. I even bought a piggy bank just so I can save for the trip.

I just regret that I wasn’t able to make online reservations a few months back. They’re way, way cheaper. I’d like to get a credit card so I can make reservations online and travel anytime I want. I’d like to go to Singapore and make a research about the Filipina domestic helpers there. I’d also like to try Taiwan, Japan, and China. It’ll be a good start for me as I my interest in research was kindled because of that National Seminar on Teaching Innovatives.

I hope soon I’ll be promoted as Instructor II. Making researches and doing extension work will help me reach this goal.

I realize that being in a university does not make you limit your work to instruction alone. You have to accomplish a lot. I have to do work in Research, Extension, and Production, otherwise I’ll just fade away as another lousy teacher. Sometimes I wonder whether I really have to do these “works” because really the only reason why I’m there is because I want to teach. That’s my job first and foremost. I’m purely for Instruction. Hey, but no choice so here we go…

RACO

I became the newly appointed RACO one day before my birthday. The next day (my birthday) was my first assignment ever! Haha, I don't even know what the acronym stands for.

There's an exhibit of all Coco Fiber products in Tubungan, Iloilo as part of their Cooperative month activity so it was my responsibility to document the whole thing.