Unmasking True Motives

Age and experience are partners when making decisions. One's judgment is more sound out of first hand experience. How does one measure a person's intention/s? How does one evaluate messages of "heroism" instead of arrogance? How does one size up a person's generosity? It's really not a tall order in this age. One can't be misled when the background is obvious. Know the real motive from the available data. Trust more your own judgment.

People who pretend easily give away their true color. Say your privilege speech in the highest place but still your green scales will show. The aura just shows that your words are purely motivated by self-interest. The actions behind your words are not consistent. Your role modeling falls out of place. Your role does not agree to the standard of a model.

Humility is still the best virtue especially in budding leaders. You're just a neophyte in the field and you assume yourself to be great already. People will say you're great when you have proven yourself of greatness. Wait for people to say that. Right now, they want your face away from the surroundings because you have grown to be an arrogant, deceitful, and disrespectful public servant. You're no different from the rest in the government offices in the country. Shame on you. You are pathetic.

English Coordinator Goes to Science High School

I was surprised when I learned that the English Coordinator has been chosen to teach in Science High School. I admit, I was expecting somebody else will be chosen. I'm sorry I underestimated the English Coordinator.

I was more surprised when I found out that the one I expected was only rank 3. The main reason for the ranking, I really do not know but the behavior problem was stressed. I learned that he was caught unprepared with lesson plan because he didn't want to do it.

The English Coordinator is really more gentle, sweet for a man. But I appreciate the character that after a disagreement, he would drop by the office to greet me cheerfully. And he would readily cheer me up and give credit for a nice deed I have done.

I am not a wordy person, I do not demonstrate my feelings well. But I'm sure you know who's short of sort.

I am proud of the English Coordinator, Mr. Ronel Balistoy. Good luck and God bless you.

People and How They Deal with Gratitude

It happens all the time; people have different ways of dealing with gratitude. As the religious song goes: ten men received help, but only one came back to give thanks. In the real world, this is very true.

There is a different concept about getting support. Others view it as an obligation on the part of the giver, especially if the latter is family. It may be true that charity begins at home; but a "thank you" or other grateful act acknowledging the deed is very much appreciated in the family.

When the help come from others who are not blood relation, the more gratefulness is expected. The problem may arise when the receiver has low emotional quotient - all he knows is he should get the help and when he is displeased all good deed will be erased. However, some may be receiving lesser help but everytime, a grateful act is given.

This is life. The lesson is: Do not expect anything in return when helping others. On the other hand, for those who receive help: Be grateful always - help does not come all the time.

Ordeal With Mid Adulthood Disease

When I reached my 45th birthday, I started to feel great menstrual discomfort. I am accustomed to the usual dysmynorrhea; it was common that I suffer abdominal spasms during my monthly cycle. The present change was more disturbing and very inconvenient to the point of embarrassing. The heavy flow was irritating and I lose focus on my work. On my 46th year, the condition did not change; furthermore, it turned worse, even worst. I was hemorrhaging for 17 days! The doctor told me that I should have hysterectomy. But I resisted. Succeeding check-ups confirmed the doctor's findings. Still, I did not consent for surgery.

I had so much faith that with natural medicine, I can fight my ovarian cyst plus cervical cyst. I was made aware that the cysts could enlarge much to the detriment of my health. I started taking a brand of papaya food supplement without doctor's advise. I felt confident my condition would improve. Another year lapsed but the condition lingered.

A new therapeutic technology was being promoted involving electrical bed massage and was labeled miracle bed. Two beds were competing: Ceragem and Nugabest. I used both brands due to proximity of any shop to my place.

After a year of off and on therapy, I finally was motivated to see a doctor. The obstetrician had my ultrasound result - negative. But I did not stop going back to the shop whenever I had time; at most once a week. The least was once a month.

Came December 2008. A few days before Christmas I noticed a discharge on my underwear. It was extraordinary for I had reached menopausal few years ago. I was expecting it would turn to red to my

disappointment. It changed to yellow with a funny smell. It was alarming so I decided to visit a specialist right after Christmas. I was so shocked of the doctor’s diagnosis: sexually-transmitted disease. She prescribed an antibiotics and ointment. After a week, I was assured that I will be healed. Wrong. I had to see a friend

doctor and get a second opinion. He referred me to a specialist whom I did not see. I came back to the miracle bed. The whole of January, 5 times a week, I lied down the bed. Still, there was spotting but the smell improved. It was becoming watery this time. I continued till the third week of February. And I became very busy to go back. Fortunately, the discharge dried up. I know I have healed completely. I will not ignore the miracle bed. I

will go back once I have regained my free time. I have so much faith in it that I will grow old using the bed.

ABUSIVE RELATIVES OF OCWs

Filipino families are closely-knitted. Culture and traditions of Filipinos were passed on from the numerous ancestors of different races but the strongest in influence are the Spaniards having colonized the country for more than three hundred (300) years. It's a blessing and liability at the same time. As the fundamental unit of the society, the family passes on the traits and practices to the children and to the next generation. Birthdays, Christmas, New Year, Fiesta, All Saints'/Souls' Day - these are numerous occasions wherein families gather, reunite and strengthen their bond with each family member. They feel divided if one member is not present.

With the boom of Filipino workers overseas due to their desirable working practices, family members have developed a new custom in treating the members employed abroad. It involves dependence on the support of the ocw for all the family's needs: education of offsprings, birthday celebration, hospitalization, wedding, you name it. No wonder, some of them play the game on the red streets just to be able find additional income. Sad, but true.

They have forgotten about the sacrifices their ocw kin do in order to be able to support all their whims. The pitiful ocw has to work 18 hours for the overtime pay while the folks at home just spends their hard-earned money for their comfort and convenience.

The disadvantage of this is the local folks do not strive to be self-reliant. They stop schooling, remain out-of-school and worst - get hooked on drugs. Some get married and never bother to get a job. But how can one get a job when one is undergraduate from high school? This is the sad picture of some Filipinos who have ocw kin/s.

Loving is Giving Space

In loving someone, you feel you want to be beside with the beloved always. As the song goes, We are inseparable, that's how it is, inseparable." When you are with each other, as if things will not turn to the wrong direction. You feel so whole, warm, safe, content, and hilariously happy. On the contrary, you feel that if you are not beside your beloved, you love each other less. There's the saying also "Out of sight, out of mind." When you are far from each other, thoughts of going stray from the bond of one of the party is very tempting. It's crazy, you're mind is racing while your heart is palpitating. It's breaking you heart and your head gets a migraine as stomach is churning. Every muscle of your body is acidic. The reality, I myself feel embarrassed for tagging along a lot of times. I am telling the world, "I'm so desperate to watch over him, see him do all things, be around him at all times." It gives a message of immaturity, faithlessness and selfishness.

Giving space to the beloved is giving trust. It is your chance to say, "Your love is true, I need not be blue. What fear I feel, what insecurity may be budding - I have to fight and dislodge from my mind. I have to trust my love and myself. I am God's creature, sophisticated and complicated though simple in many ways. I just love to continue to love. That's the reason for my existence. Love is meaningless without sacrifice. Sacrifice makes love sweeter.

Loving Makes the Impossible Happen

One can be amazed how loving people can make impossible things become a reality. Love becomes a very potent force that things you have never done can become a reality. It gives one the drive, strength, time, faculties for one to do things for the loved one. It is a reality accepted that blood is thicker than water. However, there are people who do not show care and affection to their relatives. It is a tendency for people to ignore or take relatives for granted, especially if they're not dependent on each other. Just like any ecological community, bonds are established on the met needs - especially the financial aspect. It is ironical that loving cannot be demonstrated in every sense of the word without the facility. How can you give gifts without it? How can you give vitamins, ticket for concert, dinner in a restaurant, capital for business? It is sad that relatives who cannot provide financial support are those who are being taken for granted.

It is a material world indeed. The home cannot flourish in an empty stomach. Children will grow ignorant if parents do not spend for their education. Family members will not glow if they do not enjoy balanced meal in the dining table. They will have short life span when diseases will not be treated with costly medication. But when one truly loves, he will go to extremes just to provide for the needs of loved ones. That's the only time we can say "Love makes the world go round". Prince Valiant for all his mighty strength will weaken without his Princes Alita.

Message for Students during JS Promenade

The month of February is very special to Filipinos. We look forward to this month just as we would wait for Christmas. Filipinos are romantic by nature. We express our love to many people close to our heart by giving gifts, singing carols, cooking holiday food and many more. We celebrate Christmas tirelessly even in the midst crisis. February is the time for more expression of love and affection. Valentines Day may be over last February 14 for the world, but not to the Filipinos.We extend the hearts' day until the 28th or 29th during leap year.

Let us show our love in the positive and fruitful way. I do not say that having relationship is inappropriate. Love comes without giving any notice. You just fee it. You feel butterflies in your stomach. You get excited just by seeing the face of that special someone. But please, in behalf of 63 teachers in our wonder school, this our advise to you: No PMS. Treasure your dignity until your wedding night. It's the most priceless gift you can give to your spouse. It is heavenly to learn the art of lovemaking with your legal and moral spouse. You can face God and the society with pride. In these times that we are financially burden, the only wealth we can be proud of is our dignity.

Son Refuses to be Wed

I do not take pride in my son's refusal to be wed. I'm not trying to justify his action. It all started as a happy affair. Sheryl had to undergo treatment in order to avoid miscarriage. I wasn't expecting the close date in marriage of my only two sons; Erik being wed thru civil rites last December 8. But responsibility calls for the male to save the dignity of a pregnant girlfriend. I could feel that Teng was willing to take the responsibility. My son has grown up to be a Man. I was optimistic that he will mature more with the new development.

But alas! While waiting for the improvement of Sheryl's condition, a disaster occured. How, when and other details I was not truly aware. But I felt it was the right thing to do - not to push thru with the marriage. The hurt party hurled negative and below the belt accusations and character assasination to the whole family. I just took them peacefully. We cannot see the child. We will not be recognized at all. She is a girl, that's all I know.

In the future when she grows up, I am confident that she will search for her blood. I am now. My father is also anonymous and I long to meet him until my last breath.

NAT Regional Mock Test - A Reunion

February 17, 2009.
The mock test is the second of its kind this school year(the first was division level) in preparation for the actual achievement test nationwide on March 11. In the previous years, only one mock test was conducted. It is significant on my part for the examiners who came to my school were my fellow co-teachers from my previous assignment. Having been very busy the day before, I did not examine the list of those teachers.

Came the moment, I arrived in the office to find former fellow teachers enjoying breakfast. A few minutes of "hellos" without any pretension. From 7:00 am to 1:00 pm, I did rounds, short discourse with a few whom I felt comfortable with. Not one mentioned a word about the kind of manager I have turned out to be. I was not the perfect hostess, I admit. No words are necessary. I just felt it.