Me and my Pupils

             Finally, I make time to post. I miss blogging, my goodness! I have so many things and stories to tell but I can’t make time write it. I broke my promise to myself that after 2 months of being a substitute teacher I will update my blog. Fortunately, my appointment was extended and I am so glad. Hooray!

Another 3 months of teaching heterogeneous pupils that is testing my patience every day and teaching me so many things that I need to learn as a teacher. Hetero class is a combination of different kinds of pupils, from fast learner to slow, kind and obedience to naughty and unruly. But I was so touched when my first appointment (2 months sub) was about to end they are always telling me not to go. I laughed when they told me that they will have a protest at the district office of the school with matching placards saying, “I-extend si Ma’am Aileen!!!”. “Ma’am di kami papasok, magrarally kami!”, they added. In my heart I am almost teary eyed that moment but I don’t want to show them. I realized then how much they value, respect and love me as their second mother. 

When they heard the news that I’ll be extended as their teacher they are all yelling and I can see in their eyes that they are happy. Others don’t want to believe at first, they told me that I was just kidding and I said no. I told them no rally will happen.

The advantage of handling a hetero class is that you will have a chance to deal with different children and it challenged me. True enough, teaching and learning is a two way process. My students learn from me and I also learn from them. Some of them are mature and some are not but there are times that what they are saying make sense. 

Here are some of the quotable quotes from my grade IV pupils:

“Hindi naman lahat ng gusto mo pwede mong makuha.”

“Lahat ng tao hindi perpekto, nagkakamali tayong lahat.”

“Huwag kang maingay! Ang mata, kamay at isip ang gumagana kapag nagsusulat, hindi ang bibig.”

"Huwag mong sabihing mahirap at 'di mo kaya, sabihin mong kaya mo...kakayanin mo."

                                         * * *

Ma'am Ai: Copy this and then answer.

Estudyante: Ma’am kokopyahin po ba?

Kaklase:Ay hindi, tititigan lang.!

Ma'am Ai: Who is your favorite newscaster? 

Pupil: Pedro Penduko!

Classmates laugh...

Pupil: Eh, Ma'am ano po ba yung newscaster?

Ma'am Ai: (smiling) Nagbabalita.

Pupil: Ah, yun po ba 'yun, alam ko na po, Pia Guanio po.

Ma'am Ai: Give me examples of compound words.

Pupil 1: Blackboard.

Teacher: Good! Another.

Pupil 2: Fishball.

Ma'am Ai: Very good!

Pupil 3: Ma'am, kikiam!

Ma'am Ai: Ano ang kabisera ng Palawan?

Pupil: Kwe-kwar-Kwarto Princesa.

Miss my Blog

I miss blogging. I've been very busy this month and don't have time to post. I started teaching again as a substitute teacher in Grade IV at San Miguel (Central) Elementary School. This is for two months and after this I'll be a full time mom again. For now, I don't have enough time to post all my experiences and stories as a substitute but surely after September 2 I will post different stories from my teaching experience. I will just enjoy this two months, do my best and try to be an inspiration to my makukulit na pupils.

"I AM A MISSIONARY AND TEACHING IS MY MISSION."

                                                                                                                            Ma'am Aileen

On being a mom

May 8, its my first Mother's Day. It's been six months as a mom and I must say that it's really tiring and stressful yet fulfilling. The commercial of Lucky Me is very true. "Ma, mahirap po bang magbuntis?, the daughter asked. Then, the mother replied, "Oo, anak pero mas mahirap maging ina."

I would lie if I would say that I don't miss being a single. I miss hanging out with my friends. I miss the adventure of going from places to another and to another. I miss owning my time without worrying about a baby crying. I miss doing what I want and no baby to breastfeed and to change diaper. But I would not and would never want to turn back to the time where I am on my own. Being a mom is rich and rewarding but it also give stain on my mood. I feel helpless sometimes. Sometimes I wanted to shout to lessen the stress and frustrations that I feel. I got exhausted and sometimes angry and in the end i will feel guilty. That is what they call postpartum depression and they say it's just normal especially to a first-timer mom like me. As time goes by I will encounter so many ups and downs as a mother. Motherhood is really a roller-coaster ride.

I won't exchange being a mom to being a single. I love my precious baby although she's hard to take care of. I love the innocence and every bit of her. I love her soft touch on my face and hands. I love how she look on my eyes, the spark of her eyes which shows that she loves me too. I love to see her smile then giggle. I love spoon feeding her and saying "Baby, mmm... that's yummy". I love hearing her cute little voice calling me "ma-ma-my" especially when she's hungry. I love humming her a lullaby and let her sleep on my chest or tummy. I love playing with her doing high fives, aligns and soft untugan.

I love my baby Raine Averie "Avie" beyond measure. She brings joy to my world and it outweighs all the hard work I've done. Eventually, she will learn how to talk and walk, run and slide, tripped and fell to the ground then stand up all by herself. Later on she can manage to feed and clean herself. Soon enough she will go to school, meet new friends and go to other places without me. I'm not sad for it's part of life of being a mother and a child should grow up. I will cherish and treasure every moment and milestone I have with her for today she's a baby and tomorrow she's a lady. I will be very glad seeing her learning the world I used to live. I learned that being a mother is not about giving birth, it's about giving the best for your child. 

There's no such thing as perfect mother, we do mistakes as we walk the journey of motherhood but what is important is that we correct it right away and learned from it so that our children will grow as good individuals. We are what our child is. Their achievement is our achievement. Their smile is our happiness. And definitely, their tears is our sadness.  Anna Quindlen is right, "Raising children is presented at first as true-false test, then becomes multiple choice, until finally, far along, you realize that it is an endless essay." Being a mother is also being a teacher and a student. you have to talk a lot but you also have to listen. You have to be mad sometimes but you also have to be patient. I have learned a lot as a mother and I will continue to learn.

Sakripisyo (Penitensya, Mahal na Araw 2011)

DAMPOL 2ND, PULILAN, BULACAN - Nandoon kami noong Biyernes Santo para saksihan ang isa sa mga tradisyon nating mga Pilipino tuwing Mahal na Araw, ang Penitensya.

Kumuha ako ng mga larawan at karamihan ay madudugo. Natilamsikan pa nga ako ng dugo kakukuha ng litrato at sa gulat ko napa-"Oh my God!" ako, napatingin tuloy sa'kin 'yung isang nagpepenitensya, nahiya ako kaya ngumiti na lang ako sa kanya sabay alis (kahiya). Hehe...

Sa una nagpapamanhid muna sila ng likod, palo dito, palo doon. Kapag wala pang dugo parang di masakit kung titignan, parang naglalaro lang kasi sila at pasayaw-sayaw pa. Kapag manhid na (siguro) kahahampas ang likod nila ay magpapapalo na sila ng kahoy na may tatlong talim na pinapahid sa saha ng saging. "Whew! I can see the blood running down on their back."

Papaluin nila ng papaluin ang likod habang naglalakad sa kalsada, tirik na tirik ang araw na lalong nagpapalakas ng daloy at tilamsik ng dugo. sige hampas...palo... Lalakad patungo sa bisita at sa bukana ay lalakad ng paluhod at dadapa sa tila nagbabagang semento na nakapormang pakrus. habang nakadapa ay may papalo sa may puwitan at hita nila.

Kung ang iba ay nagtatanong kung bakit nila ginagawa iyon, iyon ay dahil namamanata sila. Karamihan sa kanila ay may kahilingan tulad ng pagpapagaling sa kamag-anak nilang may malubhang sakit.


Nang kumukuha ako ng mga larawan may narinig akong bata na ang sabi, "Ang dami nila, hindi ko sila mabilang.". Tumutukoy iyon sa mga nagpepenitensya.

Kung makikiepal lang ako sa  usapan nila sasabihin kong, "Kahit gaano pa sila karami at kahit mabilang mo sila hindi pa rin non matutumbasan ang mga sakripisyo ni Hesus upang iligtas tayo at mas hindi mo kayang bilangin ang mga kasalanang nagawa nila, ang mga nagawa namin at ang magagawa mo pa."

All great love stories end up tragically. Like when Romeo drank poison for Juliet or when Cleopatra let herself get bitten by a serpent for Mark Anthony or when Jack froze to death just to let Rose be safe from an icy ocean. But nothing is far greater love story than Jesus laying his life as ransom sacrifice for our sins. And that love story doesn't end. How thankful we should be to God who gave his son in behalf of many. (from Meei's text messsage to me)

Pagsulat ng Tula

The Soil Tiller invited me again last April 12 as a resource speaker in Literary Writing (Pagsulat ng Tula) in their Journalism Seminar-Workshop. I'm very glad to be with my pubmates again. I'm also glad because I shared my knowledge, skills and thoughts to the new set of editors and staffs of the pub.

Narito ang ilang mga bagay na sinabi ko sa kanila na sana ay natandaan nila dahil maari rin nila itong maiapply sa kahit na anong uri ng sulatin ang gagawin nila.

• Kung gusto mo talaga magsulat, magbasa at magsulat ka lagi, dapat ay patuloy at walang hanggan.
• Kung gusto mong makasulat ng magandang tula dadaan ka muna sa pagsulat ng maraming di masyado kagandahang tula, hindi pwedeng maganda kaagad. Kailanagan masanay ka muna at doon ka matututo at kapag tumagal na magugulat ka na lang na nakagawa ka na ng magandang tula.
• Sa pagsusulat kailangan mo ng inspirasyon, marami ka pwede paghugutan nun at hindi lang lagi ang boyfriend o girlfriend mo.
• Lahat ng nakapaligid sa iyo pwede mo gamitin sa pagsusulat mo, kahit maliit o walang kwenta sa ibang tao dapat mo makita doon ang hindi nakikita ng iba. Ipakita mo sa mambabasa ang 'di nila makita. Bigyan mo 'yon ng magandang kahulugan.
• Gumawa ka ng sarili mong estilo. 
• Lahat ng bagay konektado sa isa't-isa, nasa kamay mo kung paano mo sila mapagdudugtung-dugtong.
• Kapag nagsulat ka, huwag mong isipin ang sarili mo, isipin mo ang mga makakabasa ng isinulat mo. Kailangan na maintindihan nila ang isinulat mo.

Narito naman ang isa mga tula ko na ginamit kong halimbawa sa kanila.

092609/100309

Nagngangalit ang hanging

       walang habas

                       na nagpapaindayog

sa mga puno't halaman.

Nagmamaktol ang ulang

       walang tigil

              sa pagbayo

sa ating mga Pilipino.

Nagtatampo ang tubig

                       sa walang pasintabing

               nakikituloy

sa ating mga bakuran.

Naghihimagsik ang lupang

         walang awang

                 tumabon

sa mga munting pangarap.

Nagmamalupit ang hanging

          walang habas

                  na tumatangay

sa kalawanging yero.

 

Nag-aatungal ang ulang

       walang tigil

                   sa paghagupit

sa masang lalong nalumpo.

Nananagasa ang tubig

                      na walang pasintabing

              nangingitil

ng iba't-ibang uri ng tao.

Nagrerebolusyon ang lupang

            walang awang

               naninira

sa pamilya't tahanan.

Naghihiganti ang kalikasan 

             na walang piniling

                 biktima,

sa kalupitan na rin ng tao

Naghihiganti ang kalikasan

              na walang piniling

                                  dagukin at lugmukin

sa pamamagitan ni Ondoy at Pepeng.

Narito naman ang ilang tula na napili ko na gawa ng mga umattend sa journalism seminar.

Paano

by: Marielle Apolinar

Paano ako gagwa ng tula?

Kung sa unang patak pa lang 

ng aking pluma

ay agad na nilang tawa.

Paano ako magpapahayag?

Kung ang kanilang

matatalim at mapanuring mata

ay agad na namumuna.

Paano ako tatayo sa sariling mga paa?

Kung ang mga tao 

sa paligid ang sýang sasaksak

sa aking mga mata.

What if?

by: CecileTrinanez

What if Monalisa cry?

Will you comfort her?

or just run 

because of fright?

What if fishes fly?

or birds swim?

Would you think you're daydreaming

When you're damn awake and wandering?

What if the government takes charge,

help the poor or feed the hungry?

Will our country finally escape

from the undying poverty?

And what if my pen

stops writing for a moment?

Can I finish this poem?

Will you be able to read this?

Ang Manunulat

by: Yosef Hipolito

Dakilang manunulat

Silaý instrumento nating lahat

Upang tayo ay mamulat

Sa mga balitang kumakalat.

Silaý dapat gantimpalaan

ng ating lipunan

dahil silaý nakatutulong sa 

ating araw-araw na talastasan.

Nandiyan sina Plaridel, Taga-ilog at Pingkian

na sumulat ng mga nag-aalab

n pahayagang tumuligsa 

sa mga dayuhan.

Sulat dito, sulat doon

ang kanilang husay ay naroroon

Ngayon man o noon

Silaý maaasahan sa paglipas ng panahon

Mnunulat ng komiks man o aklat

silaý bumabanat,

hindi lang para magkalat

kundi para na rin tayo ay mamulat.

If Only

by: Fernando Dionisio

I can't help but see myself

    looking unto you

Wondering what you're thinking

Am I the one you're dreaming?

I can't help myself from falling in love

    with somebody like you

Do I have a chance if I tell you this?

"I love you since I met you."

Every night when I'm about to sleep

     I pray to God

that somewhere, somehow

There will be "you and I"

Hoping...

But the reality is...

You and I will never be

You're not here beside me

You're with someone else.

If only...

Tulay (3rd)

by: Jobhert Pastrana

Ballpen at papel ang sandata nila

     manunulat ang tawag sa kanila

Malaya tayong makapagpapahayag

     sa tulong nila.

Tulay sa pagbabago

Tulay sa pagkakaisa

Tulay sa pag-unlad at 

Tulay sa makabagong Pilipinas.

Mahalaga ang papel

       na ginagampanan nila

Mga campus journalist

       kailangan natin sila.

Broken Strings (2nd)
by: Lea Jane Rodriguez

My guitar weeps
As I strum its strings
Broken melodies
Together we sing
You'll never know
Unless we start
As I sing to the beat
of your broken heart
I was shocked at the sight
Of my bloodstained finger
The memory of your death
In my mind still lingers
Music is what you breathe
But to you, I can no longer sing with
Cry me a hymn,
And I still want to die with him
Now my life is a ruin...
I just want to say...
When I die, put my guitar in my coffin.

Kung Naging Babae L:ang Ako (1st)
by: Aldhe Cruz

Sana nakapagsusuot din ako ng mini skirt at spaghetti.
Sana katanggap-tanggap na paborito koý si Hello Kitty.
Sana panloob koý hindi brief, kundi panty.
Kung naging babae lang ako, ako sana ngayoý happy.

Hindi sana ako maiinggit sa mga umbok sa inyong dibdib.
Sana taguri nila sa akin ay hindi Adan, kundi Eve.
Sana akoý sa bahay lang at hindi nag-iigib.
Kung naging babae lang ako, sa girl sana akoý aanib.

Sana mapaglalaban ko ang pagmamahalan namin ni Rocco.
Sana hindi ako inuutusan ni tatay na umakyat ng buko.
Sana katawan koý balingkinitan, hindi barako.
Sana...kung naging babae lang ako.

Missing You

April 6, after almost 2 years, I set foot again to my Alma Mater and to the office of the publication, The Soil Tiller that served as my home in my entire college life. I was just invited to be one of the interviewer to determine who will be the next editorial board by their Editor-in-Chief Sarah Mae Palaca and their adviser Ms. Imee Esguerra, the EIC of our batch. When I was already there I got the same feeling that I always felt whenever I'm in the pub office, (hindi yung parang feeling na may moomoo....) I,  was happy I'm home. I realized then how much I miss the old times, the days... no, the years I've spent with the pub and with the most amazing, wonderful, brilliant, talented, and crazy but funny individuals. (Pusa, dapat 'pag nagkita-kita ulit ilibre nila ko ang daming adjectives non ah!)

Four years in the paper...ahhh...it was meaningful and very memorable.Being a journalist is my dream and TST made it come true. I'm proud I served many students and made a difference. I can't help but feel nostalgic about it.

I miss the overnight press work and most of the time it becomes over overnight. I  miss the thrill of  writing articles and editing to beat the deadline kahit madalas hindi naman nabibeat. I miss the memo of Rommel (EIC, a.y. 2007-2008) when our articles were late. I miss how we insult each other and yet we never get offended, we just laughed. I miss the balahuraan, kulitan, okrayan, asaran at tawanan during midnight wherein nagsisimula na kaming sapian ng pagkabangag ng antok. I miss the cramming and adrenalin rush of thinking what would be the cover of our magazine issue. I miss missing the class or a quiz to cover the latest news and happenings inside and out of the campus.

I miss the ginisang corned beef na may patatas na nalulunod sa sabaw and the rice na matigas kasi hilaw pa. I miss the boodle fight during acquaintance and Christmas party...the food...mmmm...sarap! Nilagang talong at sitaw na may sawsawang buro na 'di ko kinakain, fishball, kikiam, inihaw na tilapia, spaghetti...paghalu-haluin...perfect! That's our malinamnam na hapunan na may katas pa ng kamay ng mga di naghugas, 'yung sawsawan na lang ng fishball ang pinaghugasan. Hahaha! Yummy!

I miss Nana Bebe, utangan namin ng food and snacks whenever we lacked budget. I miss the tilapia of Ma'am Mae (super concern samin yun eh hehe). I miss Manong Guard who always checked us if we have a permit for overnight and reminding us to minimize our noise. I miss Ate Aida, our publisher who annually gave us memo pad and fast drafting the copy of our issue. I miss looking for Ma'am Malou, our adviser, and finding out that she's asleep. (Love you, ma'am.) I miss the footsteps upstairs that we hear at around midnight or three o'clock in the morning and we all know that nobody's there. (Hehe!)

But most of all, I miss the people that I've been with through the ups and downs in the paper. I miss how we stand and fight for the welfare of the students. I miss our brainstorming to balance issues and let them know the truth. I miss the people who strikes their eyebrows to us but still we managed to prove to them what freedom of the press is.

I learned a lot from the publication and I'm so thankful that I've been part of the TST. What I learned and experienced in the school paper is more than what the four corners of the classroom taught me... for it is beyond theories. Blood is my ink. Ink is my blood.

Photo Art

I love pictures. I love taking pictures. I'm a frustrated photographer (hahaha). I want others to see how I view simple and ordinary things around me and make it extraordinary. I want to convey beautiful messages through my shots and let others understand what I want to say just by seeing my photos. I'm a pro when it comes to teaching but not in photography. Here are some of my shots hope you like it.

Title: EDSA

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Busy Day

Bayanihan

Triplets

This is my favorite shot, I never thought that I can achieve this shot, I don't have the best camera I just have the best angle at the best moment. Hahahahaha! Love it! My title for this is, " Mga Butil ng Pawis".







 For now, ito muna iupload ko. Next time naman yung iba. Photo is an art and I will continue taking pictures even if my hair is already gray. I will let my grandchildren see my artworks and hear them say "Lola, this is nice! Teach me how to do this. I'll be proud for they will be better than me.

Teacher's Prayer

I want to share my own prayer as a teacher. I made this when I was in fourth year college, second semester and taking up my practice teaching in San Ildefonso Elementary School (North) at San Ildefonso, Bulacan. I put this in my portfolio that I passed before the semester ends. And the prayer goes like this:


Lord Jesus, I want to teach my pupils how to live this life on Earth. To face its struggles and its strife to prove their worth.

Help me to awaken the natural curiosity of young minds then satisfy it afterwards. Help me also to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge. Help me always to remember that I am making marks that would affect eternity.

Give me patience for those who are slow to learn and for those who refuse to learn. Bless me Lord, to learn to understand, accept and shower my pupils with love for they come to different families with different stories.

When I have to discipline them, help me to do that with fairness and love. Help me always to encourage them to do their best and make it better especially to those who lack courage and confidence.

I know that it is the start of leading the pupils and nation's future. For if I help the world to grow in wisdom and in grace, and then I shall feel that I have won and I have filled my place...

and so I ask your guidance God that I may do my part ... for character and confidence and happiness of heart.    
  
Amen.

That's the class I was assigned to teach during my student teacher's days, the Grade VI - T.Tecson '09. I miss you all! Sana makita ko ulit ang ilan sa inyo hindi picture sa fb.