Looking Back at 2012-2013

Today, June 1, 2013, is the very first day of my summer break from work. After the commencement exercises last night, I had a long impromptu chat with my friend Ricky at the parking lot. The usual review of the year and plans for next year.

Let me take this chance to look back at the year that was.

It was a good year and we had so much to thank for. Hearing the speakers for the night, the two student awardees and the special guest,  made me feel like I am home. It was interesting to listen to the thoughts and hopes of the leaders of the batch. They spoke of how the school nourished their lives, how the school has become their home in the last nine or ten years. They saw the school as a place where thy can be who they want to be and they did. They are the product of what the school is.

About my former colleague, I have all my prayers for her. She was the "Mother" I had when I was a newbie in my school. I had this great opportunity to work with her when she was working as the homeroom teacher for the fourth graders. Tears did fall from my eyes but I had to hold back. I didn't want to make a scene nor be noticed that I was crying. I thought I would see her after the ceremony but she left as soon as she was done with her speech.

I wanted to tell you this but I never had the chance:

Dear Mrs. Z, 

Thank you for the kindness and guidance you have shown me when you were with us. The time I had with you was short, maybe less than a year but those precious times I worked with you were remarkable. You were a mother to me without trying to. You gave me reminders about being a father and about being a teacher in Beacon. You shared stories and TOBLERON whenever you had a chance. You would always tell me that I was in a good place, I was in Beacon. I know now what you meant when you said that I was in a good place, I was in Beacon. Beacon is not just a school or a place for me to teach and work. Beacon is a family. 

Thank you so much. May the Lord our God guide you thru and give you more years to shower your loved ones with the same guidance and you have given me.

And the gifts.
   
Of all the gifts I received from my students last night, there was one I received where I felt my hair on my neck stood and my heart beat faster. The gift was a letter from my student, SB. The student wrote simple but meaningful letter in Filipino. It was a letter of thanks and a letter of looking back. It was heartfelt and it was the first thing I showed my wife and kids when I reached home. So to SB, thank you very much!

For my chess this year, we claimed the MISAA Chess Championship for the first time. I am now reaping the fruits of  more than two years of ground work with the students. As always, students will come and go but those who remain are the ones who truly loves the game of chess. The way I see it, our club will have a solid line up in the next two years. With the material that I have now, both PYP and MYP will play at a much higher lever this coming school year. Will we find a way to play for the DEPED Taguig Sports Meet? I don;t know.

For my Language B class, I have learned more about my subject this year. I have become more relaxed in teaching the units and has befriended the Language B guide more. I got into Pinoy Graphic Novels because of my Pop Culture unit. And now, my own kids are teasing me that my new chess is graphic novels or komiks.

For learning support, I have had the great opportunity to be part of SENIA-Manila. My coordinator, Ms. Y, asked us to present in the SENIA-Manila's Gathering of Professionals and it was great. Thanks!

But I still need to learn something more. It is in "doing" that we learn something more. I have to be more meticulous in my documentation. I have to, I need to.

It was a great year. Another year done, another year of fun.

Thanks much, thanks much!

 

Songs for the Sick and Tired

What do you do when your home and sick? Do you watch hourly news that only speak of death, tragedy and killings made mostly by the people that's supposed to protect us? Or do you stay in bed and listen to your favorite songs?

For the past three weeks I've been sick with body pains, coughs and flu and after all the medication that made drowsy, I listened to these:


At the end of the day, it's really a blessing to have your family beside you, caring and loving wife and children: And at six in the evening, it's nice to gather as a family and pray the Angelus:

Happy birthday Mother Mary 2012

Here are my prayers and greetings to our beloved Mother Mary, the Queen of Heaven:

"Remember oh most gracious Virgin Mary

That never was it known

That anyone who fled to your protection

Implored your help

Or sought your intercession

Was left unaided

inspired by this confidence

We fly unto you

Oh virgin of virgins, our mother

To you we come

Before you we stand

Sinful and Sorrowful

Oh mother of the Word Incarnate

Despite not our petitions

But in your mercy

Hear and answer us.

Amen."

"Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed our you among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death Amen."

"Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy. Hail our lives our sweetness and our hopes. To you do we cry poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then most gracious advocate. Your eyes of mercy toward us and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb Jesus!"

Happy birthday Mother Mary!

RP's Hyper Habagat

Typhoon Gener started it then came hyper Habagat that brought water into the lives of many Filipinos in NCR and neighboring provinces.

This nameless wind that brought torrential rains destroyed properties, killed at least 10 people and made me stay at home for the whole week. 

Its a pity to see families go through such a calamity. Properties are destroyed, lives are lost and income generating work hours are gone.

But we Filipinos are resilient. We will recover from this and we will. 

With prayers and diligence, we will recover from this!

114th Philippine Independence Day

O sya sige makikisakay ako sa keyword trending online, Philippines celebrates its 114th Independence Day!

Malaya nga ba tayo talaga?

Eh sa istorya pa lang ng ating bansa ang gulo na di ba? Pati ang mga kung sino ang naunang presidente at kung pang-ilang presidente na si PNoy magulo din. Isama mo na rin ang tisoy na Philippine National Anthem natin, ang gulo.

Hindi rin naman lihim ang katotohanan na pinatira ni Emilio Aguinaldo si Andres Bonifacio di ba? At ang magiting na pintor na si Juan Luna ay binaril at pinatay ang kanyang asawa at ang kanyang biyenang babae sa Pranses.

Malupit na istorya ng ating bayan at ang mas malupit nito, pilit na ibinabaluktot ang katotohanan at itinatago sa mga Pilipino.

Nariyan pa ang mga kwentong kutsero at balasubas na sinasabi na ang Pilipinas eh isang malaking breeding ground ng ibat-ibang lahi.

Halo-halo ka'mo!

Natyempuhan ko isang dapit-hapon si Carlos Celdran sa Simbahan ng San Agustin dyan sa Intramuros habang dumidiskarte sya ng negosyo yang Intramuros Walk. Magaling si Celdran. Nasa kanya ang mga kakayahan na kailangan upang maging isang gabay para sa mga turista. At di basta gabay lang ha, may kasamang acting ito syempre. Magaling si Celdran.

At ang nakahuli sa akin ng kanyang matinding speech eh ang kanyang halo-halo speech kung saan sinasabi nya na ang disenyo ng San Agustin Church ay hindi kung ano man ang iniisip ng mga turistang iyon. Sinabi din nya na lumingon-lingon lang ang mga ito sa paligid at makikita na ang mga Pilipino ay halo-halong lahi.

Walang ipinagiba ito sa lumabas na patalastas o advertisement ng isang kumpanya na gumagawa at nagdidisenyo ng mga damit. Sinabi sa patalastas na iyon na para makasigurado kang world-class o global ang gilas o galing, eh paghaluin mo ang lahing Pinoy sa ibang lahi at hayun, Azkal ang lalabas dito. Yun nga lang, sexual harrasment cases eh baka maikaso.

Pero bilib ako sa mga tweets ni Manuel L. Quezon III o mas kilala sa kanayang online name na MLQ3. Ganda ng mga links na ibinahagi nya sa mga followers nya ngayong araw na ito. Salamat sa 'yo MLQ3. Hindi man ako sang-ayon sa pagiging miyembro mo sa diskarte ni PNoy, hanga ako sa iyong talino at galing.

Isa-isahin natin ang mga links na ipinamahagi nya:

• Official Gazette: Timeline of Philippine Revolution
• Storify: Mapping the Revolution 
• Multimedia: Philippine Revolution 
• Philippine Flag Unfurled? 
• Re-constructing colonial Philippines
• Phl National Anthem: Lost in Translation

Pero syempre marami pang dapat mailabas tungkol sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas at ng mga Pilipino. Hanggat may nagmamahal sa bayan natin, ang katotohanan ay lalabas din. At bago ko tapusin ang post na ito, heto ang isang Animation ng Philippine National Anthem:

Holy Week 2012

The Lenten Season 2012 is at its peak this week and I've already set up the activities for the remaining days leading to Easter Sunday. Tomorrow, Holy Wednesday, I'll be doing the Visita Iglesia with my wife and our starting point will be the Imus Cathedral and we'll end in San Lorenzo Ruiz Church. We will try to visit and pray in fourteen churches and I will take the chance to take as much pictures as I can after each prayer and meditation.

The holy week is a good time to reflect ton our lives, loved ones, family members, friends, colleagues and activies, achievements, failures. This is also a perfect time to renew our relationships with God and Mother Earth. The holy week gives us this chance to be cleanse our minds and souls.

It has been a very successful and productive schoolyear for our children this year. Our eldest, Patricia, placed 5th in her SPED-Fast Learner Class over-all and she bagged the Leadership Award for her batch. This wouldn't be possible without Jesus and Mother Mary's guidance to our family. For Freedom, he is doing very well with the homeschooling and his piano lessons has given him the motivation to work on something he feels comfortable with. He found his niche! For Miguel, he won the Most Resourceful Student ahead of his batch and is raring to go through the homeschooling like his kuya Freedom. we were blessed last October 27 with another member of the Family, our daughter Fides Sophia. She pretty much takes the center stage and was welcomed by her siblings with open heart and curious minds. A totally blessed year for the whole family.

Here is a YouTube video that was uploaded by a former student who I have kept in touch with because I've taught her brother chess for a very long time now. Nicole has been studying piano for about eight years now and last April 1, Sunday, she decided to upload her piano performances on YouTube. Her YouTube Chanel is Pianoismylove47.

Almost everyone in her current school have requested a song for her to play on the piano and upload on YouTube. I've written my favorites and so far, she has agreed and uploaded some of the songs on my list. Here some of the videos:

The Queen of Heaven our Mother

There's just too much going on in our lives that we tend to forget the very meaning of our living. The world wide web made it possible for everyone to connect but it also opened the floodgates for immorality, pandora's box opened.

We have to have the skills needed to sift through the millions of information available on the web, what is reliably correct, what is relatively just and what is universally true.

Here is a very nice video I found on YouTube about The Queen of Heaven, Mother Mary, our mother. I'd like to tell you this: I share the same beliefs with the speaker in the video and if you don't I'm fine with it. I expect the same from you".

Poetry Festival @ Beacon School

Poetry night in my school, Monday, December 12. This will be my first and I hope it goes well not just for me but for everyone, mostly seventh graders who worked hard on their poems. I wish I could share their works here and be amazed at how good these middle school students are.

I did a "sit-in" last week with these kids for their practice session and mighty glad I did. It was surprising to hear them read their piece. Talent really is in everyone, a matter of guidance and motivation is all they need from their teacher. Their teacher is a master and I'm glad I watched her how she handles the class superbly.

Well here is my poem I wrote while I was in Morocco around June 2009:

Isang Iglap

Isang iglap at tapos na ang anim na buwan,

Kisapmata, ihip ng hangin,

patak ng ulan.

Malapit na,

konti na lang

Pilipinas na

Mahal kong bayan!

Uuwi na, babalik na

Kapiling na,

kasama na

Konti na lang

malapit na!

Heto na

Naiisip ko na

Nadarama na

Pilipinas Game na!

Mga umagang puro saya

Mga gabing punong puno ng mga tala

Mga kwentuhang pabida

Lahat tumatawa, natatawa

Nawala'y sa bayan

Napilay, nanamlay at halos mamatay

Nalungkot, nabugnot

Puso'y napuno ng kirot

Isang saglit,

sandaling idlip

Ihip ng hangin

Simoy at amoy

Pilipinas, Pilipinas,

Pilipinas na!

Feast Day of the Immaculate Concepcion 2011

Happy Feast Day of the Immaculate Concepcion to all of you!

According to wikipedia:

The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain (in Latin, macula or labes, the second of these two synonymous words being the one used in the formal definition) of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology. It is completely distinct from the Virginity of Mary and the virgin birth of Jesus, though it is a popular mistake to confuse them. Mary is sometimes called the Immaculata (the Immaculate One), particularly in artistic contexts.

The proclaimed Roman Catholic dogma states "that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin". Being always free from original sin, she was from the start filled with the sanctifying grace that would normally come with baptism after birth. Although widely-held since at least Late Antiquity, the doctrine was not formally proclaimed until Pope Pius IX did so in 1854 in Ineffabilis Deus.

Better celebrate the Holy Eucharist today!

And here are some of the Immaculate Concepcion prayers from the ChurchYear.Net:

Opening Prayer for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Let us pray,

[That through the prayers

of the sinless Virgin Mary,

God will free us from our sins.]

Father,

You prepared the Virgin Mary

to be the worthy mother of your son.

You let her share beforehand

in the salvation

Christ would bring by his death,

and kept her sinless

from the first moment of her conception.

Help us by her prayers

to live in your presence without sin.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

New Saint Joseph Sunday Missal

Alternate Opening Prayer for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Let us pray,

[on this feast of Mary,

who experienced the perfection

of God's saving power.]

Father,

the image of the Virgin

is found in the Church.

Mary had a faith that your Spirit prepared

and a love that never knew sin,

for you kept her sinless

from the moment of her conception.

Trace in our actions

the lines of her love,

in our hearts her readiness of faith.

Prepare once again a world for your Son

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit

one God forever and ever.

New Saint Joseph Sunday Missal

A Collect for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

O God

Who by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin

didst make her a worthy habitation for Thy Son

and didst by his foreseen death

preserve her from all stain of sin,

grant, we beseech Thee,

that through her intercession

we may be cleansed from sin

and come with pure hearts to Thee.

Benedictine Monastic Diurnal

In Praise of Mary Immaculate

You are all fair, O Mary;

the original stain is not in you.

You are the glory of Jerusalem,

the joy of Israel,

the honor of our people,

and the great advocate of sinners.

O Mary, Virgin most prudent,

Mother most merciful, pray for us;

intercede for us with our Lord Jesus Christ.

New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book

Immaculate Conception Morning Prayer

Father,

you prepared the Virgin Mary

to be the worthy mother of your Son.

You let her share beforehand

in the salvation Christ

would bring by his death,

and kept her sinless

from the first moment of her conception.

Help us by her prayers

to live in your presence without sin.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God for ever and ever. Amen

The Liturgy of the Hours

Immaculata Mater Dei

Immaculate Mother of God,

Queen of heaven,

Mother of mercy,

Advocate and Refuge of sinners,

behold, I,

enlightened and inspired

by the graces obtained for me

abundantly from the divine treasury

through thy maternal affection,

resolve this day and always

to place my heart into thy hands

to be consecrated to Jesus.

To thee, therefore, most Blessed Virgin,

in the presence of nine choirs of Angels

and all the Saints, I now give it.

Do thou, in my name, consecrate it to Jesus;

and out of the filial confidence

which I hereby make profession of,

I am certain that now and always

thou wilt do all thou canst to bring it

to pass that my heart may ever wholly belong to Jesus,

and may imitate perfectly the example of the Saints,

and in particular that of Saint Joseph,

thy most pure Spouse. Amen.

St. Vincent Pallotti (1798-1850)

O Pure and Immaculate

O pure and immaculate

and likewise blessed Virgin,

who art the sinless Mother of thy Son,

the mighty Lord of the universe,

thou who art inviolate and altogether holy,

the hope of the hopeless and sinful,

we sing thy praises.

We bless thee, as full of every grace,

thou who didst bear the God-Man:

we bow low before thee;

we invoke thee and implore thine aid.

Rescue us, O holy and inviolate Virgin,

from every necessity that presses upon us

and from all the temptations of the devil.

Be our intercessor and advocate

at the hour of death and judgment;

deliver us from the fire

that is not extinguished

and from the outer darkness;

make us worthy of the glory of thy Son,

O dearest and most clement Virgin Mother.

Thou indeed art our only hope most sure

and sacred in God's sight,

to Whom be honor and glory and majesty and dominion

for ever and ever world without end. Amen.

Ephrem the Syrian (306-373)

Invocation in Honor of Mary Immaculate

Mary, conceived without sin,

pray for us who have recourse to you

Immaculate Mary

Immaculate Mary,

your praises we sing.

You reign now in Heaven

with Jesus our King.

Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria!

In Heaven the blessed

your glory proclaim;

On earth we your children

invoke your sweet name.

Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria!

We pray for our Mother,

the Church upon earth,

And bless, Holy Mary,

the land of our birth.

Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria!

We pray you, O Mother,

may God's will be done

We pray for His glory,

may his Kingdom come.

Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria!

Lourdes Hymn

Pacquiao vs Marquez III

The World Welterweight Championship between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez will settle any doubts as to who really is the better fighter. Marquez camp has, for the last seven years, believed he has beaten the world's best pound for pound Pacquiao twice while Pacquiao's camp insists they were robbed in 2004.

It is time for both warriors to settle this and the world is waiting for the result.

The match will be aired live by 10:30 in the morning at Solar Sports on November 13, 2011, with pre-fight show. Chanel 70 for Sky Cable, Chanel 35 for Destiny Cable and Chanel 31 for Cablelink. GMA Kapuso will also be airing the fight live by 11:00 in the morning via satellite and a replay of the match at 10:30 in the evening.

Pacquiao vs Marquez 3 live streaming links will be the trending for this week and I'll try to provide you these links before the fight night so check out this blog from time to time to get an update about the event.

The final match of the trilogy will be fought at 145-pound weight division, will the 38 year old Mexican Marquez win over the undisputed Pinoy Pride and 8-division world champion Manny Pacquiao send him to his retirement?

Watch the fight and find out!

Philippine Patient's Bill of Rights

It's mid-week and already I have visited two hospitals and gone through a series of diagnostic procedures to rule out herniated disc. In the last three months I have been experiencing back pains which is radiating to my lower right extremity.

The trend that I have been observing in the hospitals and clinics shows one thing: patients waiting forever for the doctors to arrive. Shit!!!

Imagine secretaries telling sick clients to wait for the doctor, either on his way or is in another clinic or hospital. These doctors would post and advertise their clinic hours on their doors and yet they will arrive an hour late and a lot of times even longer. I don't even see this practice to change in this lifetime of mine and no wonder a lot of us mortals view these paid professionals as having bloated ego even bordering on the belief that they are God.

I wish to give each of these doctors a copy of the movie Patch Adams, a slap on their face and a spit on their forgotten "Socratic Oath" to help alleviate suffering. I really wish Patch Adams include the Philippines in his yearly round the globe tour and remind the doctors practicing about his proven views and practices.

On the other hand, a lot of Filipinos still do not know their rights as a patient which is hinged on the Basic Human Rights as set forth and declared in the 1948 UN Declaration of Human Rights. For those of you who wishes to know, read on:      

Philippine Patient's Bill of Rights

Visiting Palawan Philippines

In our previous post here, I told you guys that I am on vacation and that I'll be going to Palawan Island. The day has finally arrived to do that. I'll be flying to the Island in less than five hours with my friends and already I'm giddy!

Our blogging activity will be off for the next five days while I do the following:

• Island hopping
• Hill climbing
• Photography
• Booze
• Sight-seeing
• Reflecting
• Sleeping

That's it for this post and I'd like to leave you with this game I played early this morning at ChessCube. My opponent resigned after I denied his offer of draw. Why would someone do that with a lot of time left for both of us? How should white continue here?

  

Work for Summer 2011

I'm about to end my first week of summer vacation today.

Yes you read it right, I am on vacation which ends by July 18 and so far so good. If your wandering, the school which I am in is following the Northern Hemisphere school calendar for the IB World Schools. While the local schools and people of my country busy as a bee in preparing for this Monday's back to school, here I am whiling away my time with my loving family.

There are so many ways to use one's vacation time wisely and it all depends on taste, awareness and preference. Most of my students are on a cruise, vacationing outside of the country and God knows they are scattered all over the globe and spending time with their video consoles and family. Some are diving off the shores of Palau and Palawan.

Truly it all hinges on ones taste, preference, awareness and let me add this one, finances.

Oh well! If you are like me which on a daily basis would rather sleep, pray and love, it would really help if you find an extra paying activity for this Summer of 2011.

As a teacher for the past eleven years and having worked as a storyteller for National Bookstore's Summer Reading Workshop, storyteller for The Children's Library of the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, a play therapist, school-based occupational therapist, special needs education teacher, chess coach and university senior instructor, much of the network and "jobs" that attracts me and vice-versa would be in the academe.

So far I was informed by my mentor and colleague that we have been contracted to provide a series of workshop on special education to the teachers of a Paranaque-based Catholic school. I am somewhat excited to work with professional adults again as they partake in discussion that's mentally stimulating but totally grounded on real-life situations.

But before I start all these, I'll be flying to Palawan on the 7th and stay there until the 10th of June. It will be one exciting week for me together with the PE teachers in my school. My work for this summer can wait, Palawan Philippines they say is a lot better than Boracay or Mindoro. We will see.

Typhoons and rainstorms we don't need you next week, please cooperate! 

Nestle's 100 Years "Pag-Ibig"

This touched my soul and made me cry:



Thumbs up to director Stephen Ngo, Pabrika Production and Nestle Philippines for this nice commercial "Pag-Ibig".

Start of a New World: Global Destruction

The list is piling up. Haiti, New Zealand and recently Japan. These nations were all hit by earthquakes and suffered the devastation it brought to the people and economy. The Philippines have had its share too with earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons and Tsunamis.

To make matters worse, Middle Eastern countries and those from North Africa specifically Libya and Lebanon are fighting. People are dying from all sorts of diseases and natural calamities.

Social unrest and moral decay are seen. Internet, video games and Hollywood lifestyle are the surest way to hell.

It has been written a long, long time ago. It had happened too in the time of Noah when God cleansed the world with the Deluge.

From what I've heard, this time, our generation will end with fire, not with water. Planet Earth will have to go on a restart mode and the countdown to global destruction has began fifty years ago.

Watch this video and please pray for everyone's safety:

No More NU 107 FM Station

After 18 years of home rockin' radio, Atom Henares, the co-founder of NU 107 radio station announces the end of NU at ANC's Headstart.

NU 107 has been responsible for the boom and bang of Filipino rock bands since the 80's. Why say goodbye when you can keep on rocking in a free world?

Ever heard of In the Raw? NU Rock Awards? Morning Brew? Well if have not, you've missed half of your teenage and young adult life.

Here's a video from NU Rock Awards 1997.

Goodbye for now NU 107!

Lecture-Seminar with Jesus Good Shepherd School-Imus

Last October 27, Wednesday, I shared an afternoon with the grade school teachers of Jesus Good Shepherd School to discuss and lecture on the introductory topic "Spotting and Addressing Learning Difficulty in the Regular Classroom Setting".

We started the lecture-seminar exactly 1 in the afternoon, got one long break of 20 minutes and anorher break for 5 minutes. We ended around 6 in the evening and I felt I can still share and impart thoughts and ideas about learning difficulties in the regular classroom.

Claire joined me the whole afternoon, assisting me with the presentation so I can focus on the discussion part while she deals with the technical issues of the presentation.

I would like to thank the teachers of the grade school department of The Jesus Good Shepherd School for a wonderful and learning experience you all shared with me, to Sister Ales Paz, the school principal who envisions a school atmosphere that provides an education that cares. Thanks to the guidance counsellor of JGSS too, Sister  Lolita J. Guibac.

And as promised, here is the presentation that you can review anytime you want:

JGSSNov2010 spotting.presentation

View more presentations from Francis Buenaventura.

All Saint's Day 2010

It's the 30th of October and in the last two days, I've seen how villages and subdivisions transform into a ghost town.  Filipinos have tried so hard to celebrate occasions which we do not really have cultural connections to like trick or treating or halloween celebrations.

As far as I can remember, the last week of October for my childhood meant there wont be any school and I'll be spending my days by then with my cousins in the province. I get to play with melted candle wax when I visit the cemetery and turn it into anything and be scolded by adults.

November 1 is All Saint's Day and it should be observed correctly. It used to be called as AllHallows  or Hallowmas and it is observed in honor of all the saints, known and unknown.

November 2 is All Soul's Day to commemorate the faithful departed. Lucky are the faithful for they are remembered in prayers and by the Church.

The world we are in have been ultra-globalized and the Western culture has penetrated the lives of everyone. Celebrations we Filipinos do not really relate to are now observed and celebrated by the younger ones. Octoberfest and Halloween celebration is a Western idea which we Orientals are now sharing with them. Commercialism is one of the reason why this is happening and the Internet too.

So are you going on a trick or treating this weekend?

Exploring Programs and Services for Special Needs

After ten years of working in the world of special education and rehabilitation, I am now at least about to attempt to break grounds with people in the government to lay out possible programs and projects for people with special needs.

At about 3 in the afternoon today, I'll be meeting one municipal councilor in our town to explore possible projects and proposals aimed to promote and protect the lives of people with special needs. I have so much ideas in my head right now but I need to control the urge to post them all here for now. Maybe I will list the major categories of what I have in mind:

• Conducting a census of the town's special needs population
• Training and  Education of the Children and Youth with Special Educational Needs (CYSEN)
• Awareness Campaign (Government Employees and Public Servants, Private Organizations etc.)
• Livelihood Projects for CYSEN
• Linking with Institutions and Experts in the community and other neighboring towns 

So far these are the major concerns I will be bringing on the discussion table and these ain't simple tasks. It's time to test all the theories on community development.

Semper ad meloria!

Lecture Presentation: Chill with the Grill

 Four days after my last seminar, here I am neck deep with tasks that needs to be finished or else I'll be cramming. With all the freedom I have away from structural and organizational requirements that formal employment gives, freelancing as an educator, consultant, chess coach and school-based therapist is a lot more work than I expected.

I would never want to turn in half-baked work output as it will not be good for my name or the organization that commissioned me for the job. So to calm the nerves and help me have a clear and fast thinking process, I listen to songs from MixPod.

Enjoy them as much as I do:

Create a playlist at MixPod.com