Teaching Is Therapeutic

 My main reason why I asked for a full pack teaching load is income.

Onset, I only computed for my available time. I teach right after my day job in one university, and on Saturdays, I teach in another nearby college. I have not anticipated that certain changes will take place in my career which are luckily positive, but somehow make my body ache because of overwork. So on weekends, my body never fails to communicate to my brain that it wants to just doze off.  

Lately, after getting to know my students better, their natural humor unstoppably emanates during discussions. While at times they tend to be unruly, they’re also easy to silence whenever I start tapping the board or the table to call attention. I guess the funny bone in me is the culprit why I cannot be as strict as I wanted myself to portray. Whenever my students start to crack jokes, I tend to get carried away.

Last night, in my technical writing class for accounting majors, the assigned group reporter conducted a game which they called “Pass the Message with a Twist.” Its difference to the traditional game was that, the players are supposed to eat a candy while relaying the message to the next player.

Team A was consisted of six tall girls while Team B was consisted of six short gals. One of the boys at the back yelled, “Maám, Team B needs three more because they couldn’t be counted as one, they could only be counted as point five (.5).” Then he noticed one of his chubby classmates in front so he continued, “But if you will add <insert name> in the group, they would be complete because her size will compensate for them all.” A roar of laughter followed.

The game facilitator then told the girls to line up so that they could proceed with the game. While Team B was forming the line, the same guy sang at the back, “Heigh-ho, heigh-ho…” in the tune of the Walt Disney’s animated film – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. My goodness, the kids were very silly!

Good thing, the petite girls were not affected at all by the joke although of course, I was a little wary also.

I hear some teachers say that their profession keeps them young. And last night, I felt what they meant. Laughter healed my tired body.

The photo below is a picture of my literature class last semester. Their attention phase was also a mind game called “4 Pics 1 Word.”

 

Discussion Attention Phase: 4 Pics 1 Word

Apart from classroom humor, when students prepare well for their classes, teachers are also pleased. 

C’est La Vie

I read in a tweet this morning that having an enemy is not bad at all because it means that at a certain point in your life, you have stood up for something.

It’s never a nice feeling to wake up in the morning to have ill baggage in your heart towards other people; but it is neither nice to let other people step on you too.

I am really thankful that my papa is still alive to take care of me. One time when an old woman berated me of my stature in life, he was immediately there to fight for me.

I realized that the love from one’s family is the most sincere of all – it knows no bounds. At the time when I got devastated, my mama and papa were there to help me through, as well as my siblings who actively contributed to my recuperation. And they still do.

Life indeed is like a wheel. Sometimes you’re on the top, sometimes you’re at the bottom. One thing I learned also is that, moving forward in life is not a chance of fate but a decision to make. I am glad that after a year of storm, things are now calmer and more peaceful.

I only pray that I could take away the sadness in my son’s eyes. He seems problematic and tiresome every time I see him lately.

Birthday of Dr. Pio Valenzuela Marks My Career Rebirth

I had posts on social media that insinuated how unhappy I was with my job. I used Facebook to flaunt my activities and accomplishments to my online friends who are my co-government employees, to help me create an image that I am a productive person, for I felt that my kiss-ass officemates were more favored by our boss and  a demolition job against me was underway.

I love my job as a writer but our office culture suddenly changed due to the leadership style of our former superior, which was quite difficult to get along with if you’re the type of employee who wears a thinking hat. I surpassed the “dark ages” of our unit when almost all of the seasoned team leaders in our department vanished one by one. Now, our present office chief was my mentor who really knows what he is doing.

Ecstatic as I was for having a new boss, I have been more than helpful to my officemates on our first major event assignment – the celebration of our local patriot’s birth anniversary.

Wreaths At The Triumvirate

At the commemoration of Dr. Pio Valenzuela’s birthday, our team decided to pursue what we did last year – instead of accepting expensive wreaths from various socio-civic organizations (which will just wither at the Triumvirate grounds), we wrote them a letter expressing that monetary cash gifts as additional funds for the Dr. Pio Valenzuela Scholarship Program would be more meaningful and practical.

Even if I was only supposed to write and to do editing jobs in our department, I welcomed additional tasks that supported our team endeavor then. When we needed students to represent the Dr. Pio Valenzuela scholars in our ceremonial fund donation for the scholarship program, I contacted my students for help. When we couldn’t find someone to lead the prayer for the event, I was volunteered by my new boss and I did not decline. Below the platform, I was also monitoring the host’s script while assisting in the program's over-all flow. The event was such a success! The mayor commended our team.

Government Personnel with the Dr. Pio Valenzuela Scholars

This event is meaningful to me. Apart from paying respect to our local hero, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, the event somehow made me feel like I’m a phoenix. My career didn’t die for long. I’m back on track.

6K for Senior Citizens, for real?

A friend asked me a couple of days ago if it is true that the government is giving Php6,000 to all indigent senior citizens. She saw on Facebook the post below, hence the question.

Screenshot from Yalehd Sotnac

 While I was pretty certain that the news was true, I didn’t know its mechanism at the local government’s end. So I called up Ms. Kat of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) at 352-1000 local 1129, and asked her if the inquiry was valid.

According to Ms. Kat, the program is not new and CSWDO has been implementing it for quite some time now. The funding is sourced from the national government.

She clarified though that the amount is not given in one go annually, but Php500 monthly. It is awarded to all indigent senior citizens from age 60 and up, who are not receiving pension of any kind.

Availing of the benefit is quite simple. One must simply submit a photocopy of his or her OSCA ID (Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs identification card) at the CSWDO. After which, social workers will do a home visit and evaluation.

It’s good to know information such as this, but it is even better to know how the program works to enjoy the privilege. 

Good Bye Office Bully

Indeed, the Lord never sleeps. The oppressed should never lose hope because God is always there to give comfort to the abused and the weak.

I have never imagined that I will be a victim of office bullying. For the longest time that I have been working as a professional, I have always deemed myself competent and skilled enough to be my every co-workers reliable partner… until barely-there common sense, insecurity, misplaced ‘loyalty,’ office politics, selfishness, and self-righteousness of some of my colleagues were successfully intertwined by the-one-who-must-not-be-named.

Prior to “that creature” leaving, “it” was voraciously ready to rip every piece of me. My long-valued friendships with my co-workers have ended under its watch, my image to some of the big bosses was distorted and badly tarnished, my supposed overtime pay that I intend to use to feed my children was denied, and I was made to appear as a good-for-nothing employee.

The little UP girl in me was crying, “How could this be? I was one of the key drivers of our department. I worked with my heart and soul for honest to goodness public service. I do not deserve this injustice.”

I gathered some courage to air my concern. It wasn’t easy. I cried a bucket of tears and asked good people around to also pray for me. After a couple of days waiting, I reaped a favourable result.

Now here I am, more empowered than ever.

“Karma” is real – whatever it is that you do unto others will ricochet unto you seven folds. Spread good karma.

How to Move On from a Failed Relationship

Exactly 10 years ago, I was a radiant lady who was full of dreams and ambitions. Suddenly, a man came along who shifted my views and made me feel that he can cut short my journey toward my goals. He made me believe that I can dream bigger and better. He enrolled me in law school, renovated my family’s house, and provided for my financial needs. Just like a totally perfect leading man which I used to read in romance pocket books, I thought, he was the one.

After eight years of living together, and after having two kids, we drifted apart. I didn’t see that coming. Any woman in her right mind would not want her family to be torn apart, but any wise woman would not tolerate to be repeatedly abused, cheated on, and disrespected. Although of course this is easier said than done, the only way to put things in better order is to move forward.

Interested to find out how am I playing this part, really? These are the things that I do:

1.       ACCEPTANCE. This is the best advice that I have read on Twitter. If bad things come your way, realize that surprising things do not happen to only you. Accept that in one way or another, the unexpected could always occur because we co-exist with a multitude of human beings with diverse backgrounds. If you’re hurt, accept that “it” happened and your situation CAN change.

2.       SURROUND YOUR SELF WITH TRUE FRIENDS. Indeed, friends are blessings from God. At times when you cannot think rationally because you are emotionally affected, these people would lift your spirits up. They may not always say the words that you would like to hear, but definitely, they will tell you things that they truly mean to help you recuperate from your bad fate.

3.       AVOIDANCE.  Avoid the places, things, or websites that would only remind you how things used to be. If you keep on entertaining your ex’s attempt to communicate, you won’t be able to move forward. Give yourself the peace of mind that you deserve. If he was not present in your life 10 years ago, it is still possible to live another kind of life without him in the next years to come.

4.       READING BOOKS. Read the bible and other inspirational books that will make you remember that you are complete and worthy even without the approval of the person who once was part of your life. Since break-ups are perfect cues that you have more time for yourself, seize the opportunity to read good books so you could improve more as a person.

5.       HIT THE GYM. It is scientifically proven that an active lifestyle not only puts one into good shape, but also empowers an individual to think more rationally when summoned to sudden pressures. Avoid stress-induced cancer cells by squeezing in some exercise in your busy schedule daily.

6.       BUSY YOURSELF. Being in a toxic relationship can zap your energy. Since you already freed yourself from a humongous stressor, it’s about time that you channel your love from just one person to chasing your dreams. Keep yourself busy not only to become productive but also to have no time for overthinking of the past.  

7.       LEARN FROM THE LIVES OF SURVIVORS. It’s also nice to talk to people who have experienced the same challenge in their lives, especially those who became happier later on. Most of them simply continued living an upright life and eventually they were blessed. Ask them how they weathered their storm and you might learn something for your own guidance.

8.       DIVERSION. Being single entails a lot of me-time. Have you had any hobbies in the past that you have neglected since your priorities changed? Now is the best time to get artsy and crafty again! Do you have wishes on your bucket list that you haven’t checked yet? Now is also the opportune moment to reach your goals one by one.

9.       BE FINANCIALLY ABLE. It’s costly to be in a relationship, right? Money matters become a headache instead of being a fuel to happiness. Now that the decision-making is all yours to handle, without the opinion of somebody else on how are you supposed to utilize your hard-earned funds, make sure that you transform yourself this time to become financially savvy. Educate yourself, invest, save, and minimize spending.

10.   FAMILY. Blood is always thicker than water. If your relationship with your biological family was severed in pursuit of a wrong relationship, now is the time to reach out again to rebuild bridges. Only your family will be willing to assist and understand you completely in your emotional, financial, and psychological ordeals. Channel back your love to them for they deserve it better than the one who pushed you away.

11.   PRAY. Every time memories rush in and you feel hurt, just utter a short prayer asking the Lord for healing rather than anguish in one corner. Ask other people to pray for you too because only God can change somebody’s heart, from being in pain to being liberated.

My Clingy Daughter

I’m supposed to go home at this point but I opted to stay longer at Valpoly’s faculty office because I know that once my daughter sees me, I wouldn’t be able to attend to my pending tasks anymore. My daughter would embrace me, would follow me wherever I go, and wouldn’t allow me to be out of her sight. She’s very clingy. And I love it. But of course, since I’m a solo parent with multiple chores to do, I couldn’t afford to devout all my time in cuddling. Mommy has to work like a horse.

It breaks my heart to hear her cry every time I would leave her at a neighbor’s house so that I could proceed to work. Her wailing is like a dagger that tear me inside but I have to close my eyes and move forward so that I could provide her a better life. Good thing, my relatives are supportive and they’re willing to take care of my daughter whenever I’m out. 

Whenever I’m stressed at work, I’d read a Bible verse and look for my children’s photos to inspire me. I stare at my beautiful kids’ photograph with thankful eyes, for the Lord has blessed me with smart, cute, and adorable sources of joy.

Hami is just one year old but you could mistake her for a two or three-year old kid. I bet she’ll be bigger than her older brother when she reaches the same age.

She loves to eat food just like mommy. She can already count from one to five. She loves to sing Frozen’s “Let It Go” and she’s also into watching Badanamu’s youtube playlist.

I love the feeling of my daughter’s tight hug. Her gesture tells me, “Mommy, you mean the world to me. Even if daddy fell astray, don’t worry, because I’m here for you and I will never replace you.”

Hamichu, you complete mommy. I love you with all my heart. (Also Kuya)