Best POV

It was only once that I had been with a kid who has special needs. It was not a pleasant experience. I was still a grade school teacher back then and he is a grandchild of the owners of the school. The parents were thinking to actually include the boy in my class, so he sat in with my second graders. The fact that I was not trained to handle his kind did no favor to me. It was like all hell broke lose in that day. The class was fascinated to him, as they know that something is different about him. It was not my best day as a teacher and I seriously thought of resigning if they insist that this child will be my student. Thankfully, that was the last time I saw and heard of that child. I have nothing against children like him. I just know that I am not the best teacher for him and my class will be unmanageable should he be in it. If there is one good thing that happened when I met him is that I realized that taking up Special Education as my Masters degree would be a bad idea. I know myself enough to realize that I am not built to undergo much stress and responsibility to deal with this kind of student. I sincerely salute the dedicated teachers of these special children.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon has the most unique point of view in a book. He is Christopher, the autistic and gifted hero of the story. He has his own world but he is independent and productive in real life. He bases everything in logic, rules and order but he doesn’t know what feelings and emotions are. The book offers a detective work, adventure to the big city and family drama. What set the novel apart is that it welcomes us to an unreachable realm which most ‘normal’ people misunderstands or ignores and be aware, hopefully freed, from our misconceptions and misjudgments.

Is He Crazy Or What?!

Teddy Daniels is a US Marshall summoned to investigate a missing patient in the infamous Shutter Island. The said place was a prison cell to the most dangerous criminals with mental illness. Together with his partner, he should find Rachel, who drowned her own children to death, and lock her up again in her cell before she commits another gruesome murder. But this task proves to be a challenge, as Teddy’s own dark past taunts him. He started seeing her dead wife again, who was killed in an arson of their own apartment and his past as a soldier during World War II with the death camp and Nazis, keeps on playing like a movie in his head. To make matter worse, he suspects that the doctors in the island conduct illegal medical operations and experiments with the mental patients as specimens. And he started to question his sanity and reality when he believes that he was also drugged with the pills, liquor and cigarettes that causes his hallucinations and drove him in the brink of losing his own mind as he try to uncover the secrets and conspiracy in Shutter Island. Or so it all seems.

The tandem of Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese in this movie defined what a thriller and mystery movie should be. It should have an intriguing storyline and gripping plot, creepy and sinister cinematography, intelligent script and superb acting. This movie will make you think, to fit all the pieces of the puzzle and grip the edge of your seat as you too will doubt everything that you have seen and heard on what is real and what’s not. Not until there was another point of view you will realize that that is already the truth, weather you want it or not, you just have to accept it, just like what Teddy sadly did at the end.

Northern Pilgrimage

Having a vacation to take a breather is a welcome change in my everyday routine. A long drive going to the north is way better than taking the road going to Ortigas just for once. To look at the mountains, beaches, greeneries of the province rather than the hustle and bustle of the metropolis; to be with friends and families rather than deal the drama of the urban life.

For this year’s Holy week, we packed our bags and our way to the hometown of my dad in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur. They have a different kind of celebration for this special holiday. We participated in the procession of different saints from the church going around the town. They also prepared some elevated stage made out of bamboos to re-enact the life of Jesus until His death.

My favorite activity was when we visited several churches for the Visita Iglesia. The churches in Ilocos are old but well preserved. The architecture is unique and truly breathtaking. We even went to the bell tower to take some pictures! And the finale was to enjoy halo-halo, empanada and corn in the church park under the shade of big trees.




I really appreciated the warm welcome of my family whenever we are there. They cook yummy foods for us and willingly tour us around. I really loved it when my Tito Ador and my cousin, Marnelli, gave us a calesa ride! Their farm was really charming with the animals, plants, nipa hut and the fresh air, it was the perfect place to unwind and relax.



Vigan City is the place to be when you are in Ilocos Sur. After a sumptuous dinner in the house of my Tita Luz, I hopped in a motorcycle driven by Marnelli and me and my other cousins made a convoy going to Vigan. We had a picnic eating Mc Donalds’ ice cream and Jolibee’s Ice Craze in Plaza Burgos while having a fun talk and being entertained by the ‘kakulitan’ of my young pamangkins Kyle and Princess with my cousin Joseph as the leader for trouble.



For our last night, we went to Heritage Street for a shopping trip and photo shoot. The place was like a time capsule with the calesas, brick roads and vintage houses. We were immersed with the culture and tradition that Ilocos has to offer. And the best part was when I received cute, quirky t-shirts from Tita Liza and my sister, Nica.





I really enjoyed this year’s vacation in Ilocos. I felt the sincerity of the people, I appreciated the beauty of the place and I had good memories to keep.

Superb!

Korean wave continue to pound the islands of the Philippines. And their most recent exploit was the successful concert in Araneta Coliseum of one of their famous export, the Super Junior. A dozen of young Korean lads danced, sang and charmed their ways into the heart and sanity of the minions of fan girls.

It is useless to even try to resist the Super Junior. The fun and electric beat of their songs can make one enjoy dancing to their grove. The energy that they emit makes the girls go ga-ga over their performances, screaming with their moves and chanting their songs. And each member of the group has his own cult of giddy, swooning, fainting followers.

I may not be a convert, but now I have a new understanding about this continuous rampage of Korean wave. Though we can’t fully understand the lyrics of their hit songs like Sorry-Sorry, it is fun to dance with its’ beat. Doing an interpretation of Puff the Magic Dragon might be juvenile but it is childlike and endearing. Cross-dressing in one of their act just shows how secured they are to themselves and how willing they are to entertain their fans.

The individual performances of the Super Junior might be not be one of their strengths, but once they dance and sing together, they become a force to be reckon with. And until there are willing supporters who enjoy their act, Korean wave will continue to be an
influential and thrilling part of pop music in our country.

PM1 Batch 2

I have been working since I graduated from college but this is the first time that my colleagues surprised me with a birthday cake and song. This coming August will be my third year being part of my current company. I can still vividly remember how I practice to gain the neutral accent that was required so that I will be qualified for this job. I also often discussed my interest to teach on-line with my fellow teachers from my last school which I think cost me my last teaching gig. After several job interviews, I finally landed on my job as an English teacher to Korean students.

Being an EIA is an enjoyable, fulfilling and an easy work. You have a schedule to follow, students to deal with and lessons to discuss. Most of the students are polite, so I enjoy talking with them. Throughout the course of the class, I can notice that they’ve made improvements and gaining more confidence and that gives me a sense of fulfillment. It is not really hard because I have free time in between classes.

It was a blessing that the admin gave me more responsibilities when they promoted me as a Team Leader. It challenged me to put myself out there, to deal with people and be of help to my co-teachers. I’m happy the higher ups saw something special about me and believed in my capabilities. They entrusted me with a position that I can acquire more knowledge and skills on being an English teacher and opportunities to gain the expertise on being the middleman between the administration and my fellow EIAs.

I define myself with so many factors, and one of them is my work. I have a positive perception about myself because of it. My team is doing well and my students kept on renewing with me. I think I am doing a good job and I intend to continue to strive to be even better.