Complete ELearning Video Modules from the Coaches Academy of Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas

 Hello there!

Finally, we have the complete collection of the ELearning Modules of the Coaches Academy of Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas. Headed by Coach Jong Uichico, The Digital learning modules was produced by the basketball federation of the Philippines. As of today, there are ten videos that teaches several defensive and offensive skills and ideas.

Let me share them to you now and find out for yourself. Produced by the SBP for free, please share away. This isn't just for basketball coaches but also for PE teachers, parents and players as well.

Share, share and share.

Her are the links for the videos:

1. SBP eLearning Module 1: Strength and Conditioning

2. SBP eLearning Module 2: Fundamental Movement Skills

3. SBP eLearning Module 3: Fundamentals of Ball handling & Dribbling 

4.SBP eLearning Module 4: Shooting, Lay Ups and Offensive Rebounds

5. SBP eLearning Module 5: Basic Defensive Footwork

And here are the rest of the links:

• SBP eLearning Module 6: On and Off-Ball Defensive Principles
• SBP eLearning Module 7: On and Off-Ball Defensive Tactics 
• SBP eLearning Module 8: Shell Drill Defensive Series
• SBP eLearning Module 9: Offensive Skills: Getting Yourself Open to Receive the Ball.
• SBP eLearning Module 10: Movements without the Ball. Offensive skills.

Online Chess Clinics and Tournaments in the Philippines

 Hey there!

The National Chess Federation of the Philippines has been doing wonderful things for the country and the chess community. With the stoppage of sports almost for six months now, chess and the Federation has had a great success in continuing its projects and activities for everyone thru online chess tournaments, webinars and activities.

A couple of weeks ago, Coaches and Grandmasters' Eugene Torre and Jayson Gonzales spearheaded the National Certification and Training for Chess Coaches. Several titles were awarded in the said thee-day online workshop:

- National Trainer

- Regional Trainer

- City Trainer

- Club Trainer.

Veteran coaches as well as the younger ones, teachers and players, had to go thru written test and an actual teaching and coaching presentation. Talk about professionalizing the Chess Coaching profession in the Philippines.

Now, its not only the Federation who has been doing their jobs. Several individuals and groups have managed o support chess tournaments and webinars in the last six months---at a dizzying pace and numbers.

And starting on Saturday, September 12, FEU Online Chess Education begins:

The free FEU online youth chess lessons will start tomorrow, September 12, 2020 at 9 AM via Zoom platform. It is open to all nationwide with ages from 11 to 17 years old, boys and girls.

There are about confirmed 30 registered participants wanting to learn more with a desire to attain their chess dreams, to become a better chess player and hoping in becoming a Grandmaster. 

This maiden chess program is made possible with the support from FEU Chairman Aurelio Montinola III, who is also a chess player that during in his high school years founded a chess club in Ateneo. 

Likewise, thankful to FEU Athletics Director Mark Oliver Molina for his unrelenting support on this project. 

Former FEU Chess players and Alumni will be the instructors and lecturers who volunteered themselves to be part in this undertaking. 

WGM Janelle Frayna

WFM Michelle Yaon

IM Paolo Bersamina

IM Jerad Docena,

GM Jayson Gonzales and among others with a special participation of GM Eugene Torre.

Kindly register thru this link:

https://forms.gle/KuaCEqNTAkRMTEJP6 

For more clarifications, feel free to message our Official Facebook Page (FEU Chess Team).

#FEUTamsPride

#BraverToday

And there's the AFPI Chess Project:

"Since the start and implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine due to Corona Virus 19 for almost 5 months of continuous Free Online Chess lessons. The AFPI and its associate wishes to announce the resumption of this project from September 19 Up to December 2020. 

As AFPI President BGEN ROMEO F FAJARDO AFP (Ret) and Corporate  Secretary COL EMMANUEL C Martin ( Ret) extending their gladness and appreciation to all participants especially to more than 100 young aspirants and promising chess players who attended this program Consequently, witnessing the journey of striving and hard working young people who wants to learn and excel in chess.

The AFPI project somehow able to help  talented kids and more so the dependents of modern heroes - the nation's frontliners in coping the pandemic as they become productive in dealing and using their time wisely. 

It is our fervent prayer that all of us as a people and as a nation, we will hurdle this trial and overcome this adversity.

 And now,  it is with great joy and pride to officially announce the schedule and continuation  of this noble project of the Artillery Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (AFPI) Intermediate online chess lessons in cooperation and association with 

🔸Special Service Center, Philippine Army (SSC, PA) 

🔸Installation Management Command (IMCOM) 

🔸Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)

🔸National Chess Federation of the Philippines(NCFP)

🔸Far Eastern University (FEU)

🔸Endgame Sports Multi- Events, Inc. (ESMI)"

It doesn't end there guys. The Philippine Chess Trainers Association of the Philippines:

 

Upgrade, Learn & Apply!

Our invitation to  CHESS: Coaches, Arbiters, Enthusiasts, Club Leaders, Teachers, Parent & PCTAP Refresher.

Registration Forms thru Online may contact Ms. Jasmine Navarez thru FB Chat or Text/Call @

09453990002.

Fee: 

1,500 - New Delegates

*Inclusive of PCTAP & NCFP Membership

800 - PCTAP Members / Delegates previously attended the seminar.

*Plus Renewal of PCTAP & NCFP Membership.

For registration pls. send to 

NA Francis Ramos, 

BATCH Treasurer  

@ Gcash no.0919-2842136.  

Then, please send the copy of remittance thru chat with the name of delegates to 

NA Francis Ramos.

 

Set Up the Chess Board in 8 Easy Steps

Here is your quick guide to setting up the chess board in Eight Easy Steps:

1. Make sure you have the WHITE Square on your RIGHT.

2. Put the WHITE pieces on the RANKS 1 and 2.

3. Make sure you put the WHITE ROOKS on a1 and h1 while the BLACK ROOKS on a8 and h8.

4. Put the WHITE KNIGHTS on b1 and g1 while the BLACK KNIGHTS on b8 and g8.

5. Put the WHITE BISHOPS on c1 and f1 while the BLACK BISHOPS on c8 and f8.

6. Put the WHITE QUEEN on d1 and the BLACK QUEEN on d8.

7. Put the WHITE KING on e1 and the BLACK KING on e8.

8. Last step, put the WHITE PAWNS on the SECOND RANK: a2, b2, c2, d2, e2, f2, g2 and h2. You will put the BLACK PAWNS on the SEVENTH RANK a7, b7, c7, d7, e7, f7, g7, h7.

And you are ready to play.

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE on my YouTube Channel at #CoachFrancisVideoCenter.

  

September and Me

Hi there once again!

Have you seen David Blaine's balloon stunt over the skies of Arizona?  I should be searching YouTube on this.

For everything that has been happening, good and bad, I always try, as hard as I might, to look at the brighter side of the story. It's painfully difficult to rejoice and be glad knowing there have been thousands of deaths. Families going thru the grieving process in isolation due to the death of their loved ones. Men and women who've lost their jobs or business closed. Industries that used to be on the get-go have floundered and institutions all over the world are trying to recoup what they lost and learn the new ways of dealing with this new world of ours.

Guess what?

September is here and slowly the world is getting back to its feet. As we all ty to move along and live our lives, I can't help but look at the world around us and ask, "Do we really want to pursue the path to self-destruction?"

Violence, hatred, corruption, greediness, war, racism and everything that is perverse.

It's unfortunate.

Governments like the one in the Philippines have failed in providing its people the much-needed service in all areas of living and dying. PHILHEALTH scandals, drug-related killings and pay-offs are just some of the many reasons that has made it difficult for the Common Tao to live in the Philippines. Corruption? Systemic it has become. Scamming the Filipinos and I don't see it ending soon. COVID-19 management? Oh man!

In sports? UST is in a controversy. The Sorsogon Bubble leaked to the press all for a simple reason: players complaining about food, sickness and accommodation. Sad. Remember 2016? Just type in UST Scandals: Basketball. Unfortunate. Check out Coach Franz Pumaren's comments of Adamson University about the "Bubble".

Coach Francis Video Center

In the NBA Playoffs, OG Anonuby of Toronto Raptors sinks the triplet with.05 seconds remaining to give his team a win.

And Robert Pattinson has COVID-19.

Oh by the way!

Check out my YouTube channel Coach Francis Video Center. 

Lots of videos there. Make sure you visit and show some love by subscribing and watching.

September now and hopefully by the end of the month, Billie Joe Armstrong wakes up. 

And the whole world as well.

Philippine's National Coaches and Trainers' On-line Workshops 2020

Got time to spare for the coming weekend? Are you a parent to a child chess wonder? Are you a teacher needing some boost on how to run an online chess lesson and training?

Here's what you need, the National Coaches and Trainers' On-line Workshops with Asia's first ever Grandmaster, Eugene Torre. He will be running the show with GM Jayson Gonzales.

Join now!

Snow Valley Zoom Coaching Luncheon

Here's a webinar notification found on my Inbox:

Please RSVP (for a number count)

include any questions you have for our guest.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSclOiu7Cjb9GV29w1xprOv5MsHO-pWc1_NxfxaPE0BuSOqGrQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1

Zoom Meeting Information 

                   Wednesday July 22^nd, 2020                

     5:00 P.M. PST  

Meeting ID: 247 135 5410

           Password: Snow1961

Please Share with Coaches who would want to Join!

Don't forget to visit my Youtube Channel and Subscribe at

http://www.youtube.com/c/FBPh76

Learning in the 21st Century

Hey there!

It has been months since I last shared my thoughts in here. How have you been? How has COVID-19 "moved" you to do wonderful things for you and the people around you? It's never easy to make changes but the age-old truth is this "Change is here to stay. Either we adapt or perish".

So having said this, and knowing that our lives have been changed forever, why not embrace the idea that we are to adapt, adjust and survive?

All aspects of our lives are, and have been, affected by this pandemic. From the way we greet people, celebrate birthdays, bury our dead, eat in the restaurants, go to work, do our work, our lives will never be the same again...until that golden discovery or invention of treatment and vaccine for COVID-19. Let me clarify this: COVID-19 treatment will be available before the vaccine. At least that's what my friends and relatives in the medical sector believe. So until then, we really have to be extra careful.

And in the realm of education, yes, I happen to be a teacher and a sports coach. Our way of learning has taken a sharp turn. Don't get me wrong. With the invention of the Internet and reaching the "critical mass" or what others would love to call "tipping point", the way we learn and teach has changed and it changes with the availability of resources. Right resources.

So how does one learn in the 21st Century? Or in the 3rd millennium? Well for a start, we need to be aware of a lot of terms and widen one's vocabulary bank. Check this list:

• Social Media
• Internet
• China
• Hong Kong
• Trump
• Trumphism
• Pandemic
• All Lives Matter
• Black Lives Matter
• Nine-Dash-Line
• The New Normal
• Spox
• DDS
• Dilawan
• Cyberbullying
• Cybercrime
• Cyberpunks
• Bubonic Plague
• COVID-19
• WHO
• Earthquakes
• ECQ
• GCQ
• MGCQ
• Curfew
• LGBTQ
• Kardashian
• #Metoo
• #Pedo
• ABSCBN Franchise
• Wuhan Virus
• Online Learning
• Online Selling
• Zoom
• Google
• Yahoo
• Meets
• Zoom Bombing
• Platform
• .....

And I'm exhausted filling out the list.

If you and I, assuming we're both adults and teachers, get confused (and lost) with all these terminology, can you imagine the tremendous information learners need to grasp in a so-limited-restrictive-traditional way of learning? Overwhelming. Gigamongous! Supercalifragilisticexpialidocius!

As a teacher to the middle schoolers, I caught this simple approach early on: Let the millennials lead the way in terms of technology use. Seriously!

Let the kids lead us and be a facilitator in the teaching and learning process. You read it right, facilitator.

I'd like to share some more but for now this will do. I have created a Google Site for my academic year 2020-2021 announcements and outpouts. Visit https://sites.google.com/view/coachfrancis/home

and let me know how I can have it improved (if needed).

This Site will help me simplify my online work for the schoolyear. Hope it helps you too.

Until then.

God bless!

Mother's Day 2020 and Timeline of COVID-19 in the Philippines

It's been 54 days since Luzon and other parts of the country was placed in Community Quarantine. I've gone full beard with regular haircut to full beard and skinhead and then crew cut to no facial hair at all.

In the last 54 days, me and my family has prayed the Holy Rosary together every five in the afternoon. During the Holy Week, we were able to pray Rosary in full, with Novena prayers to the Divine Mercy of Sister Faustina.

And it has been 99 days since the Philippines had its very first COVID-19 case courtesy of.......drum roll please, a 38-year-old Chinese woman from Wuhan, the origin of the disease. The woman arrived in Manila from Hong Kong on January 21.

And then:

• February 2, 2020. Second case of COVID-19 in the Philippines. A 44-year-old Chinese male who was the companion of the first case. His death on February 1 was the first recorded outside China. He suffered from co-infection with influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

• February 5, 2020.  Confirmed third case of 60-year-old Chinese woman who flew into Cebu City from Hong Kong on January 20 before she traveled to Bohol where she consulted a doctor at a private hospital on January 22, due to fever and rhinitis. Samples taken from the patient on January 24 returned a negative result, but the DOH was notified on February 3 that samples taken from the patient on January 23 tested positive for the virus. The patient upon recovery on January 31 was allowed to go home to China.

• March 30, 2020. 128 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed on 30 March, compared to 343 cases on 29 March. 7 additional deaths reported on 30 March, and 3 on 29 March.

• April 15, 2020. A total of 5,453 confirmed cases reported in the Philippines, 55% are male, with the most affected age group 60-69 years.

• May 1, 2020. A total of 8,772 confirmed cases reported. 68.4% of cases reported from National Capital Region (NCR), followed by CALABARZON (13.3%), Central Visayas (7.6%) and Central Luzon (4.4%). The large number of cases in Central Visayas is attributed to several localized outbreaks in Cebu barangays and prisons.

And on Sunday, May 10, 2020, we will be celebrating Mother's Day. Let us all remember honor our mothers and all the mothers all over the world.

And in celebrating this very special day, let us remember Mother Mary, the Mother of God:

No Gimmicks: Free Books For Download

Hi there visitors and followers alike.

How have you been? The COVID-19 has affected all of us tremendously. Thousands have died and many more have been infected. The World Health Organization wasn't prepared at all and our own Department of Health couldn't figure a way to contain and stop this deadly virus. Together with my family, we continue to pray for the safety, protection and enlightenment of everyone from this global pandemic.

And if you have run out of things to do at home and if you have gone to visit all the spots in your house, you're probably searching for distractions. Have you gone on to develop that biceps you have been wishing to do so? Have you, just like much of the FB posters and users have done, gone on to do baking? Or have you started playing chess online again after a long hiatus?

Or are you one of the millions of readers all over the world in search of books? Free books?

Well I'm sharing the following links for you to visit. They are not mine but they will give you tons of books to download for free. No gimmicks.

Go check out Project Gutenberg

"It is a library of over 60,000 free eBooks. Choose among free EPub and Kindle eBooks, download them or read them online. You will find the world's great literature here, with focus on older works for which U.S. copyright has expired. Thousands of volunteers digitized and diligently proofread the eBooks, for enjoyment and education."

You can also visit HathiTrust Digital Library. 

"Founded in 2008, HathiTrust is anot-for-profit collaborative of academic and research libraries preserving 17+million digitized items. HathiTrust offers reading access to the fullest extent allowable by U.S.copyright law, computational access to the entire corpus for scholarly research, and other emerging services based on the combined collection. HathiTrust members steward the collection---the largest set of digitized books managed by academic and research libraries ----under the aims of scholarly, not corporate, interests."

The Internet Archives can also give you books for free. Aside from free books to download or read, they have a Way Back Machine were you can type-in a website name or link and it will show it to you.

The New York Public Library paid to parse the information in the Catalog of Copyright Entries.

But here is my newest favorite discovery, a website that "reformats" an books into newer versions of Ebooks. Ladies and gentlemen here is Standard Books. 

"Free and liberated Ebooks, carefully produced for the true book lover".

And finally, my go to place, PDFDrive.Com. You don't need to create an account to get any available book you may have in mind. As long as it is available out of 80,915,893 eBooks for you to download for free. 

Deadly Checkmate 1: Anastasia's Mate

Hi there!

So how did you get in here? Were you directed from my YouTube video on Deadly Checkmate series? This video series I am making is based on the work on GM Murray Chandler "How to Beat Your Dad at Chess".

Here is the typical pattern for Anastasia's Mate:



After watching my video on Anastasia's Mate, it's your turn to look for the checkmate and practice what you've learned. Good luck!

Exercise 1:



Exercise 2:



Exercise 3:





I hope you guys enjoyed doing detective work on Anastasia's Mate. Make sure you subscribe on our YouTube Channel here and Follow this Blog too!

Until next time!  Paalam  muna!

Enhanced Community Quarantine Extended High-Risk Regions in the Philippines

Today at eight in the morning, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases or IATF-EID, recommended for the extension of the Enhanced Community Quarantine for high-risk areas until May 15.

The announcement was made by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, as approved by President Rodrigo Duterte. These are the following areas:

Region III: Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Pampanga
Region IV-A: Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Quezon
Region IV-B: Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro
Region V: Albay, Catanduanes, Visayas, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Cebu & Iloilo
Mindanao: Davao del Norte

Did you know that the IATF-EID that was created in 2014 through Executive Order No. 168 which was issued by then-President Benigno Aquino III? It was organized as government's instrument
to assess, monitor, contain, control and prevent the spread of any potential epidemic in the Philippines.

The two busiest regions in the country, NCR and CaLaBaRZon, in terms of population and economic movement, have the highest incidence of COVID-19 deaths. Metro Manila has 4,673 confirmed cases with 310 deaths while CaLaBaRZon has 818 confirmed cases with 62 deaths as of 4 PM today, April 24,2020.

Visit Google Stats and get regular updates about the COVID-19 in the Philippines. It is important to get Regular Updates for your own peace of mind.

In the last 5 weeks of quarantine what have you done at home?

With the Enhanced Community Quarantine, we were forced to stay home. It was scary right? But it also gave us more time to be with our family. As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into a month, we learned how to cope. Some of you found ways to help, others helped in very subtle ways.

We learned to help and cope with the situation. On my part, ECQ gave me time to look into my chess and basketball video collection and realized I can share them on YT. With the videos online, there will be more opportunities and materials for viewers to stay home by watching these videos.

So I am sharing them here with the title and the links. Let me start by sharing my YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/FBPh76

"The French" Volume 1, by GM Daniel King, in 4 parts:

The French Opening Part 1
The French Opening Part 2
The French Opening Part 3
The French Opening Part 4

The second volume is also available for free.

If it helps you and you find it really interesting, you can also check out the second volume on my channel.

You can also check out the Dirty Tricks Volumes 1 and 2 video by GM Nigel Davis

Dirty Tricks for Chess Tactics Volume 1
Dirty Tricks for Chess Tactics Volume 2

I also am sharing the Complete Defense to 1.d4 by GM Jon Levitt in 3 Parts

Complete Defense to d4 Part 1
Complete Defense to d4 Part 2
Complete Defense to d4 Part 3

Here is my favorite, King's Gambit Checkmate Compilation. These are the games I played online using the King's Gambit.

As much as I would love to, and in fact would really appreciate it, if you subscribe to my channel and like our videos, it is still your choice to subscribe to my channel. But I wish you would.

And now, allow me to share some of my basketball videos. Most of these involve coaches and player development. It's been a productive seven-year run for me as a varsity basketball coach.

Let me start with The Shooting Guide Series video from my YouTube Channel in three parts.

NBA Shooting Coach Pete Townsend's Shooting Guide video 1, Shooting Guide video 2 & Shooting Guide video 3.

Here is Coach Tab Baldwin's Fastbreak and Spacing Workshop at the MVP Sports Foundation-Coaches Convention:

And the Basketball Offense by Coach Mitch Buonaguro, in four parts. It includes the following:

Introduction to Offense 5 STAR Basketball Coaching Clinic, Motion Offense Part 1 and Motion Offense Part 2. The last part talks about Late Game Plays where Coach Mitch masterfully explains the nitty-gritty of end game situations.

Coach Mitch Buonaguro of SIENA COLLEGE for Five STAR Basketball  Coaches Clinic. Go check him out guys. Such a great, detailed teacher.

In the last five year, I have been fortunate enough to participate in the National Basketball Training Center's Coaches Convention by Coaches Eric Altamirano and Alex Compton. These two guys have been prominent players in the coaches development in the Philippines.

Here are some of the videos from the Coaches Convention:

With Coach Tab Baldwin:

1. Angles and Spaces
2. On Ball Screens
3. On Fastbreak Drills
4. 2-on-1 Fastbreak Drills
5. 4-Pass Fastbreak Drills    
6. Game-like Fastbreak Drills 
7. Fundamentals of Basketball: Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3
8. Use of Screens ---Efficiently
9. Clever Guy in the Middle for Fastbreaks
10. Taking Care of the Ball During Fastbreaks

And with Coach Bret Coxsedge:

1. Cross-over Dribble and Finish
2. Put-Back Drills
3. Ball Handling and Lay Up Development
4. Offensive Rebounding Drill
5. Defending the Perimeter Shooter
6. Two-Man Drill Attacking the Basket
7. Full-Court One-on-One Drills  
8. Lateral Dribble and Finish
9. Defending the Wing-Man
10. Chase-Down Drill

Gilas Point Guard Jimmy Alapag talks about Leadership, Trust and Vision in the 2017 Edition of NBTC. I've always followed the idea that coaching is more of culture implementation. And the culture of the team is set by the coach, first and foremost.

There are many videos to watch and I hope it helps in keeping the people inside their homes with these video tutorials.

I have discovered this GIPHY Website that helps me create GIPHYS of chess games I played and chess games I wish to study.

Keep safe and your loved ones.

Semper Ad Meloria!

My Random Musing during Holy Week 2020

By now the #StayAtHome has become the call for prevention from an unlikely but fatal enemy, Coronavirus. Also known as Covid-19, it has spread to a number of countries around the world. The virus which was called as NCOV before the World Health Organization declared the infection as Global Pandemic mid-March, came out of China. You ask yourself "how many people died in China from Coronavirus?"

What is it like to stay home, be forced to distance yourself from other people while being paranoid from people about getting sick with the virus?

For one, it can be boring if you won't find a way to do something. Second, you will appreciate what you have in your life. We are bombarded with so many social media trends that for once you feel like throwing your phone away and never to pick it up until your sane enough to read through the negativity that emanates from your friends' shout outs.

Where do we go to for all the noise this world is giving us?

I have my own sanctuary, Family prayers.

Every night at six, since March 15, my family has prayed the Holy Rosary. In two days we will be celebrating Palm Sunday and I really want to catch that Sunday Mass TV. Next week is Holy Week and this will be the first time since 2005 that I wont be able to do my Visita Iglesia. #SocialDistancing and #STAYHOME, because.

For every isolation and meditation, one asks the following:

1. Coronavirus prevention tips, which one must I follow?

2. How can I prevent coronavirus?

3. Is it airborne? Various sources give differing asnwers.

4. How do I make a facial mask?

5. Sanitizer gel, how can I make one?

6. Where can I buy disinfectant sprays?

These are some of the random questions you get to ask yourself. I still have lots of 'em:

7. What are the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Online courses that can take?

8. Will we get our share from the Landbank allotment of Php 10-B Emergency loan to LGUs?

9. The so-called social amelioration program of the government, when will it start?

10. With all the chaos happening, how can we move forward and live a peaceful life?

I have some answers:

Gabbi Garcia and Khalil Ramos starts fundraiser for corona virus frontliners. Feel-good news for a world that's been broken by personal agendas and politicking. Nairobi and her gang is back today on Netflix. Go ahead and binge-watch!

Do you want peace or war? These are the guys at the forefront of every debates, arguments and unfriending: Duterte. Robredo. DDS. Yellow-tards. Bong Go. Governor Remulla and Laguna Governor.

In Hollywood, we have Trump, New York and the rest of the United States of A getting sick and not knowing how to recover.

In China, they've got the solution to every problem, and the answer to every question. And the whole world is pointing fingers at them for spreading this virus. While everyone is getting sick, China is buying, building and bullying weaker economies and nations.


Department of Social Welfare and Development must be at the center of every transaction to help people in dire need of food, housing and support. But how can you be effective when you have not expected any of these? And you haven't been preparing for anything like this?

Watching live streams of news from local news TV, one gets to realize one thing: the world as we know it is over. From news casting, to learning with Zoom as one's platform and watching the Baranggay Tanod do their rounds at 8 PM to the tune of The Purge, everything has changed and we either adapt or perish.

So will you be doing the Seven Churches Visit via the Internet? Whats the weather like in your area? Here in Cavite, it's frying hot.

Yes, schools have closed and so are the businesses and services that we once hated for duping all of us into the economy of living. The NBA season is never coming back and si is the Candidates Matches of FIDE, the world governing body of Chess.

Do you know of a place where there is no corona virus?

Do you  know of a school that operates like before?

Is there cure for this sickness?

So what's news?

I have run three chess tournaments online with my players from different schools.

I have uploaded chess videos over at my channel.

I'm sleepy now. I'll be back next Sunday, hopefully, refreshed from a week of praying and fasting.

Holy week 2020 is here and I'm officially logging off.

And my internet sucks!

Semper Ad Meloria!

Teaching and Learning in the Time of COVID-19

On top of life happening to me and my wife, raising four beautiful kids, we have homeschooled in the last ten years. We have seen our children adjust and do well in the regular classroom after their homeschooling with us.

In view of the COVID-19 situation, almost everyone is doing home learning. I found a lot of comments online about the difficulty of having to handle their children's "academic" tasks. It can be overwhelming but there are several ways to handle this perception. After all, there is so much we can do for our families.

Let me share some insights.

1.  Home time is family time.

This is an opportunity to spend quality and fun times with your loved ones. Everyone's home, no one is allowed to go out, for safety sake. With Luzon on a community quarantine (lock down right? why play with words?), we ought to stay home. Make your time with your kids fun, meaningful and light.

2. Support your child's online conference.

If your child's school has a set schedule for their daily classes until April 15, please make sure you give them the space they can use for online conferences AND the necessary WiFi connection. In our home I had meeting with my three teenagers, my wife and my 8-year-old and asked them to log-off from the internet once they see me running my online conferences with my students. I have had a couple of students struggle and miss our conferences because their internet connections were bad. It pains to see my students worry about these missed conferences. You might as well call your child's home room teacher and ask about your child's online learning program...if there's one.

At Blank School where I teach, we are using Zoom for online conference with Google Suite as our smorgasbord we can choose from. Google classroom and Google hangouts are very useful and easy to use. By default, I have Managebac platform for uploading tasks and submissions. We have used Managebac in the  last several years and its only logical to continue using it. As a teacher and a father, I don't want to add to confusion to my students' learning by introducing other platforms that are otherwise served on MB.

3. Reading with your children. 

The older your children gets, the more independent they become. This holds true to reading and other academic responsibilities.

Here's a great reminder: YOU CAN ENJOY READING with your CHILDREN at any age!   

I really think (and feel) that the secret to attracting your children to enjoy reading is by making their reading experience meaningful and enjoyable. If you are a reader like me, you would have lots of ideas on how to make this happen. If you're not but would want to make a difference in your child's reading development, then it's the perfect time to open and read those pages. I'm sure you will have fun discovering those stories and characters you've always wondered about.

And here's something that works well, with my children, my nieces and nephews and during my storytelling gig at The Children's Library by The Gokongwei Brothers Foundation:

"Tell a story from your own childhood, your own life experiences and stories you've heard from your childhood...these personal stories are more meaningful because they evoke emotions and bring you back in time when life was simple, innocent and full of wonder".

4. Do workouts and other goal-oriented physical activities.

Me in white shirt and Bunso with the 2 Balls

With the 24-7 time we have at home, there is no excuse for missing physical fitness and workouts. You have a bonus his time: Workout with your children and wife. It is time to bring out and use that treadmill you bought a couple of Christmases ago. Let that gluts (Maximus and minimus) and traps (Trapezius right?) do their work in a repetitive movement.

Our Scholastic Basketball Camp and PIT Workouts

 Ok you have younger than 10 year-old kids? Then it's more fun having them around while they mimic your reps and sets. You don't have space for these activities? Then do some stationary workouts like jogging in place, high knees, butt kicks and push ups.

It is important to to keep in mind that making these times fun and light will give your child the opportunity to spend more time with you. And keep them away from worrying about COVID-19.

Workouts Anytime, Anywhere

5. Jamming. Play the guitar, play music. Videoke-Karaoke time!

If you have, in some way, read up on the life of St. John Bosco of Sales, you would know how St. John utilized and cherished music in his half-way homes for the boys ( I guess its the same with the girls). Let me cite some quotes on the power of music by St. John of Bosco of Sales:

"The music of the young should be listened to with the heart and not with the ears."

"A school without music is a school without a soul, for music aids education. It is a most effective means to obtain discipline, morality, and help good feeling..."

"An Oratory without music is like a body without a soul."

Caveat: Your child may or may not be the next Mozart, Cayabyab or Leah Salonga but this  SHOULD NOT STOP you from enjoying music with them. Sing songs with them from TV commercials and jingles. Hum hymns and beats from Sunday service and Holy Eucharist. Listen to sounds coming from the environment: water dripping, iron gates clanging and banging, car motors broom-broom and people talking with different accents and intonations. Sounds are the basic build-ups of music. Heck, those hip hop rhymes might eventually improve their vocabulary and music sense. (wink!)

6. Art and all the (fun) work that goes with it.

Once you realize the power of DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE Learning and Teaching, everything else will be easy. The same goes with art development. Exposure and the opportunity to work with different art materials and different genres, coupled with fun times with mom, dad and siblings, it will be a breeze. 

Bringing awareness to your kids of the subtle color and hue changes, to those classical masterpieces of Caravaggio, Rembrandt and Michelangelo may sound weird or even pretentious but hey, you'll do anything for your children right?

Since museums and other artsy places are probably closed, why not make your own masterpieces with your child? These artworks can come in different forms. The more practical outputs would be t-shirt paintings or doodles, tie-dye shirts and shorts, paper and pencil drawings, heat transfers with personalized designs and lately, hydro dips.

Check out my daughters' work on my phone case:

Pat and Fides Hydro Dip Work

7. Do household work together.

As early as 2005, five years into my teaching gig, I came across a workshop that promotes household chores intentionally given to students with a simple premise: "children who grow up in families that ask them to do household chores become more responsible and confident adults". There were various studies and surveys cited in the workshop and it makes sense.

One interesting study cited was the comparison of five boarding school student population where a third of the subjects were asked to do chores while another group was not given any household chore related and still another group were given the option to participate in household work if they want to or can opt out of the chores if they want to.

The study was carried through and the subjects were followed through their adult lives. Guess what happened to the students who had to do chores? Let me give you a hint: adult living requires you to manage responsibilities from different areas of life. Adult life will almost always ask you to follow through, commit and give best effort to be successful.

Which group do you think had 4 to 6 years of doing work with expectations from school admins and house mothers?

Here's one I got from Australian Parenting Website:

"Children can learn a lot from doing household chores.

Doing chores helps children learn about what they need to do to care for themselves, a home and a family. They learn skills they can use in their adult lives, like preparing meals, cleaning, organising and keeping a garden.

Being involved in chores also gives children experience of relationship skills like communicating clearly, negotiating, cooperating and working as a team.

When children contribute to family life, it helps them feel competent and responsible. Even if they don’t enjoy the chore, when they keep going they get the feeling of satisfaction that comes with finishing a task.

And sharing housework can also help families work better and reduce family stress. When children help out, chores get done sooner, and parents have less to do. This frees up time for the family to spend doing fun things together. "

Washing the dishes, doing the laundry, preparing the dining table, preparing the dish for lunch, wiping and cleaning the window glass, disinfecting the doorknobs and sweeping the floor...there's just a lot of work that can be accomplished at home.

 The bonus? Spending time with family and cleaning up the sanctuary called home.

8. The family that prays together, stays forever. 

Whatever religion you may be part of, or philosophical adherent you choose, or any cultural membership you are with, all of these require you to reflect, meditate and pray in a superiors intelligence or presence.

Even those that claim to be an aetheist or agnostic, these guys would often look back, review and ponder upon life's situations. 

In moments of disillusion, look back and savor your life's consolations. And in moments of achievements and comforts, look back and do some contemplation.

It's never too late or too early to introduce the power of meditation to your family.

Pray. Pray unceasingly. Pray like it will be the last time you will be able to do so.

Homeschooling. 

It's a great time to be dipping your fingers into your child's education. This is the best time to share your love for reading, counting and all sorts of stuff. Now's the time. Take the chance. This is it. The most opportune time show another side of you to your children.

When the going gets tough?

Take a break. You are not in any way expected to go crazy while teaching your children.

Enjoy your family time.

And be safe, Stay safe.

Semper Ad Meloria. 

Corona Virus Disease-19 Situation Report

By now the COVID-19, which has reached the pandemic level, has greatly affected everyone all over the world. The quick scan and survey of the latest Global Situation Report 54 (PDF) released by the World Health Organization as of March 14 at 10 AM:

- 153,527 Confirmed cases
- 5,733 Deaths
- 144 countries, areas and territories with cases

You may visit this interactive map of Novel Corona Virus (Covid-19) Situation.

And in the Philippines, the total number of reported cases went up to 144 with 12 deaths. The Department of Health seeks public cooperation. In a press release, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III stated:

 “Now it is our turn to do our part in mitigating the spread of the disease. The DOH earnestly asks for everyone’s cooperation. Our front line health workers and medical personnel are risking their safety to respond to the needs of the public, all we ask is for you to do your part: practice preventive measures, go on strict home quarantine if you are experiencing mild symptoms, and help halt the spread of fake news. The success of our measures to contain COVID-19 is hinged on your participation. We will get through this together,” the Secretary added.

“At this most trying time, our strongest weapon as a nation is Vigilance, Preparedness, and Solidarity. We are seeing these values at play now as DOH is receiving an influx of support from individuals and organizations who are willing to render assistance in any way they can. Let this be a reminder for all Filipinos to step up to the plate and heed the call for cooperation,” 

It is important to be aware of the implementation of the "Community Quarantine" tomorrow, March 17, Monday. The Inter-|Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) adopts several measures when our country raised the |Code Red Sub-Level 2 of COVID-19.

Almost all events have been cancelled and the movement going in and out of the National Capital Region will be restricted and monitored closely. The Mayors of Metro Manila or NCR has issued a curfew to limit movement within the region. 

Let us all help one another. Stay home and do your basic health improvement regimen. Avoid crowded places. 

Pray.

Post on COVID-19

By now, Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak has reached a pandemic level. The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday declared the rapid spread of COVID-19 outbreak as pandemic. Pandemic level can be understood easily with this description: "114 countries have reported that 118,000 have contracted Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, known as SARS-CoV2. Nearly 4,300 people have died.

In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte announced on March 12 that the National Capital Region is to be placed on "community quarantine", playing with terms and intentionally avoiding "lock down" during his much awaited but delayed press briefing in Malacanan.

With the community quarantine following the WHO's directive for national governments to step up in addressing the virus' effect and death toll, there were so many questions arising from PRRD's press briefing.

The virus causes mild respiratory infections in about 80% of those infected, though about half will have pneumonia. Another 15% develop severe illness, and 5% need critical care.

How do we address this? Let us borrow from the many ways social media has reached us like Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Google's Gmail and Blogger, Twitter and many more.

Here is another one, this time an infographic on Effective hand washing:

Knowing the Corona Virus:

Let me share the message I sent to my Scholastic Basketball Camp-PIT Workouts players the other day:

"Hi PIT Camp family! Musta na? No classes and stay at home? Fear not the COVID-19 Virus. Here are some reminders:

1. Exercise regularly, twice a day. Morning and afternoon.

2. Eat healthy. Gulay, isda, prutas (veggies, fish, fruits). STAY away from sugary food and drinks. Mas madali kumapit ang mga bacteria sa sugar inside the body (bacterias like to stick with sweets especially inside the body).

3. Rest well. Sleep early and wake up early.

4. Drink Vitamins. Double-up on your Vitamin C intake.

5. Drink enough water. Stay hydrated.

6. There is a reason for school cancellation. May dahilan. Kasi kailangan ma-contain ang virus and one sure way is to avoid crowds. Stay home.

7. Pray. Pray unceasingly. Pray everytime you have the chance.

8. Follow what your parents and guardians are saying. Obedience is one virtue we all could learn and be protected from.

9. Social Media SHOULD NOT be Your MAIN source of information. Fact check. Always.

God bless all of us.

Coach Francis
Scholastic Basketball Camp

The First Ten Days of 2020

Hi everyone!

Happy New Year and we've got the first ten days of 2020 heavy into possibilities of war, politics and environmental degradation.

Key events leading up to the recent Iran-US confrontation reached its peak on January 3 when the US assassinated Iran's General Qassem Soleimani. Iran replied with a promise of "harsh retaliation".

On January 8, as a retaliation, Iran launches several missiles on two bases in Irag housing American troops. No Iraqi or US casualties were reported.

Trump goes to twitter while Iran's leader, Ali Khamenei, replied with "we slapped them on the face" and "that military action is not enough".

Obviously and it is a known fact, that all these published and broadcasted responses are filtered way ahead of their printing and recording to sere their own propaganda. We all know this posturing all boils down to Fuck-I've-Got-Bigger-Balls-Than-Yours mentality.

Here's my personal message to you scumbags:

"Let's give peace to all those who want it and for those who don't, I seriously hope you all leave the planet now."

Photo from AP News
(https://apnews.com/b687c7be0a03c2c6c53397c2f9406f24)

And in the Philippines, there's not much substantial "new news" except for President Duterte, VP Robredo and the crazy trending of Tala Dance Challenge.

Got anything to top this one?



And in case you were wondering what have I been doing lately to keep me away from the keyboard, I've gotten myself into a specialization course over at Coursera.

Journalism Course at Coursera

And to give you a taste of what I've been working on since November here is a 2-minute History of Journalism:

In the first ten days of 2020, what else is new?