Thanks to Google, I found out that I won’t be having a stress-free Friday tomorrow *insert grumpy, disgruntled employee look*. I will still report to work.*sigh*
Here’s the announcement from Malacanang.
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It’s probably one to the most talked-about topics in every workplace today. All Saint’s Day is declared to be a non-wokring holiday but, unfortunately, it falls on a Saturday. Some of my officemates are asking whether tomorrow would be declared as a non-working holiday, too. So far, there is no official announcement from our HR or from DOLE. I can’t access their website for some weird reason.
In the meantime, let’s just wait for further announcements.
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My brother E.J., My mom, My Lola, My Tito, My Tita
Last Friday was one of the most unexpected days in my life. I was shocked when I heard the news that my grandmother passed away after spending 10 days in the ICU.
Thursday evening, she was in the state of coma and nobody knew what will happen to my Lola Leda. Not even the doctors could tell when she will wake up. Friday early morning, she never woke up and died. It was my cousin who texted me at around 1 in the morning to inform me that lola was gone.
Today is her burial and I feel bad that I’m not able to come to her burial. I tried all means to go to South Cotabato but unfortunately, there were no available possible means to go to her burial on time.
I decided to post my final words for Lola Leda which I hope my mother would read this during the mass. I hope lola can read this:
Summers with lola back in Marbel were one of the most memorable moments I had with her. To some, equating your own lola with food might be weird but whenever my mom would mention lola’s name or of Marbel, food always comes in my mind. Guava jelly. Jams. Leche flan. Fried grasshoppers. You name it! Lola can cook it for us. Well, except with the fried grasshoppers. For clarification purposes, Lolo buys along the highway going to Marbel.
When lola left for the States years ago, I surely did miss her cooking. But that never stopped me from longing lola’s specialty foods. Oh, no! Whenever I’m in a restaurant, I always order leche flan if they have it in their menu. Too bad though, they don’t have fried grasshoppers but for those carinderia/restaurant owners/cooks who are reading or listening to this, I strongly suggest you insert that in your menu!
All of you who are present in lola’s burial have your own stories to say about my Lola Leda. Too bad I am not there to hear those stories – stories I may not heard of about my lola. But one thing is for sure, you all have great stories to tell about lola. She may not have been the richest lola that ever lived, but for me, that is not important. Her love shown to my titas, tito, my mom, my cousins and to my great lolo is just ordinary and simple. But with her love coupled with a strong faith in the Lord makes her the greatest lola. Super-Lola Leda (perhaps Superman’s long lost grandmother unpublished and unknown to Superman fanatics). Not only she had been a great lola, a mother, and a friend to everybody, she’s also a great daughter of the Lord. Even in her death, she affirmed her faith. And because of that, I am sure she is happy in heaven with a Father whom she loved ever since. For us who are left here, she will truly be missed especially her ever ready smile which truly resonates the kindness of her heart.
While I am writing these words, my heart cries whenever I think of lola. Yet, I pray that her body and soul may rest in peace together with lolo and may her spirit transcend this world and find a better place in the hands of Heavenly Father.
Yes. We may have lost a soul today but God gains another angel.
One of my friends said, we are no experts in life but if there is something we need to know about it, it is not about how long you have lived your life but it’s about how much you have loved.
To my Lola Leda, this is an understatement because she practically did both. She lived a long life and loved so much.
I miss you lola. Sana may durian din dyan sa heaven. You have graced my life more than you’ll ever know. I love you, Lola Leda.
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Yesterday, I was prowling the streets of Dumaguete in search of a Wi-Fi spot. I ended up in a convenience store where Internet connectivity was free. While I was busy surfing the Internet and checking my emails, I noticed a Korean, who sat beside me, inspecting what I was doing. (I wished it was a cute Korean girl.) The guy then asked me if I was using a laptop. I humbly said yes.
And so, fear changed to a casual chit-chat with a Korean.
He asked me about my laptop because he wanted to replace his old one. Then I asked him what happened to his old laptop. Apparently, it was stolen from him. Someone grabbed it from him in broad daylight while he was strolling around the streets of Manila.
I felt sorry for this guy who visited the Philippines for a vacation but unfortunately victimized by someone else’s need for money. The fact that my kapwa Filipino did this was even more embarrassing. I wanted to explain to him that it can happen anywhere – not just in the Philippines. I just hope he’s not mad at us.
I always believe that we, Filipinos, are born resilient, wise, and resourceful. We should not resort into stealing for easy money.
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Yesterday, I was teaching two of my student assistants some computer fundamentals and the basics of computer hardware and software troubleshooting. One of them is a struggling Information Technology freshman student and the other was a Physics major.
As I was watched them teach and learn from each other, I can’t help but feel fulfilled as their supervisor. Once I’m no longer connected here in this university, I hope they can use and share the knowledge I imparted to them in the future.
Somehow, I see myself in them when I was still struggling with IT and in my college education – in general.
To my student assistants: Even if some of you guys gave me some major pain in the ass, I still admire all of you for your hardwork and dedication to your chosen field.
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Photo by Dems Demecillo (The Negros Chronicle)
Yesterday, I got a copy of President Estrada’s Speech given in front of the city officials, school administrators, students and faculty of Silliman University held at the Luce Auditorium last September 25, 2008. A copy of the speech can be downloaded here.
While I was never a supporter of Erap and some of his programs (including the all-out war against the insurgents in the South), I agree to most of his claims in his speech (assuming he made it himself). Let me quote some of the text and give my opinion about what he said.
Part I. The Government and the Youth
Before he got to the meat of his speech, he greeted the audience with all the formalities and gave advices if ever one of audience will become the next president of this country. One of his advices was and I quote:
“…do not lie and steal because if you do so, like the present tenant of Malacanang, you will have to barricade yourself in Malacanang with electric fences and containerized vans, afraid to face your own people.”
Now, here’s someone who’s tarnished with graft and corruption and was convicted with plunder giving an advice to the intelligent audience about not stealing and not lying. Ironic. But, I just laughed my hearts out when I read this. Forgive me, Mr. Ex-President, but weren’t you the one who was convicted stealing money from the Filipinos?
Erap also said that we are living in a corrupt country where different institutions, from the national government down to the local government, from the executive department to the congress, from the judiciary department to the electoral institution, and from the military institution down to the police and law enforcement agencies, are tarnished with corruption. Perhaps it is true that only the academic institution is saved from corruption.
Even the church, who should serve as the moral watchdog of our country, is also tarnished with corruption.
Erap quoted Rizal and said,
“The youth is the hope of the motherland….The idealism of the youth can rectify the excesses and perversities of this and past generations. They can redeem this nation and restore it to its once pre-eminent and respected position in the community of nations.”
True enough. The youth is the hope of the motherland. We can change this nation. But change should not be left to the youth. Like a father who teaches a son, the father must set an example. The ones who are sitting in power should set GOOD example to the youth. Otherwise, we will always live in an endless cycle of graft and corruption, immorality, and dishonesty and the youth will unconsciously become what they do not want to be.
Part 2. Poverty and Education in the Philippines (to follow)
Part 3. Insurgency in Mindanao (to follow)
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After recently passing the Civil Service Professional Exam, I think I should write something for those who are thinking and are planning to take the upcoming exam this November.
Before I share my tips, I should say that the Civil Service Exam is not something to be afraid of. If you took the NSAT exam when you were still young, then this exam should be easy for you.
Before the examination day
- Review, review, review. In my case, I bought a reviewer at National Bookstore that costs P250.00. Some say you can take the exam without the reviewer. Well if you are confident enough that you can answer all the questions without the help of a reviewer, then, by all means, go ahead. Trust your stock knowledge. But for those first-time takers like me, a reviewer can give you an overview on the type of tests and some possible questions in the exam. I remember having two or three questions in the reviewer that were exactly in the exam. Understand how those questions in the reviewer were answered. Some reviewers are generous enough to include the answers and some solutions especially to some math problems at the back portion of the reviewer.
- Complete the requirements ahead of time. You can check all the requirements in PRC’s website. Don’t wait for the deadline. Don’t be like me who almost did not make it.
- Plan the number of minutes you will spend in one type of exam. The exam is scheduled for three hours. Don’t waste your time in a particular question. Move on to the next. You’ll be spending a lot of time in the reading comprehension and paragraph development type of questions.
On the day of the examination
- Be early. Go to the testing area at least an hour before the start of the exam. Be sure you bring extra pencils, an eraser, a pencil sharpener, a bottle of mineral water, and of course, your examination permit. Once you get there, you still have to look for your assigned room, comply with other requirements, and acknowledge your attendance. After that, settle down. Talk to your seatmate/s. They might treat you for lunch
- Pray. Ask for guidance. God works in miraculous ways.
- Enjoy the exam. And when I say enjoy your exam, it doesn’t mean you have to goof around with your answers. Just be positive and think happy thoughts when you’re answering the questions.
- Don’t cheat. Self-explanatory.
After the exam
- Give yourself a break. Treat yourself to lunch. There’s no other way that can relieve your mind than a heavy lunch.
- Check the Internet for the exam results. Check the PRC’s website or ask around. Post questions in forums or check other blogs. There are some bloggers who are generous enough to publish the results in their own blog.
- Be happy with the results. If you passed, thank everybody who helped you pass. If you failed, then don’t be disappointed. I knew some people who got discouraged when they found out they failed the exam. There’s always a second time.
Good luck!
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Yesterday morning as I was preparing to go to work, I watched a morning show that featured a little boy named Roly in celebration of the National Children’s Month. Roly stopped going to school to earn extra money to help his parents. He starts his day by waking up early at five in the morning and starts walking for an hour to reach the place where he sells his rags made by his parents. He eats egg and a cup of rice for lunch that costs P22.00 in his favorite store everyday then continues selling his rags. Then, he goes home late at night — sometimes with money and sometimes with none at all.
The morning show wanted to grant Roly’s wish. They asked a famous actor to exchange one of his items to be able to grant Roly’s wishes. As they were unveiling the cloth that covered Roly’s gifts and perhaps his dreams as well, you can see the expression in Roly’s face filled with hope that he can finally stop selling rags and go to school.
Table number 1 unveiled baskets of grocery items.
Table number 2 unveiled a brand new bicycle.
I was in shock. I can tell in Roly’s eyes that he was disappointed.
I, then, asked myself how can baskets of grocery items and a brand new bicycle fulfill Roly’s dreams? Was the morning show only had TV ratings in mind instead of granting real wishes and perhaps ultimately change the lives of the people they feature? Was Roly a victim of media publicity and network rivalry?
Instead of baskets of grocery items and a bicycle, why not give Roly a scholarship even to a public high school? Why not give his parents a stable livelihood so Roly can continue going to school? I’m pretty sure the network has all the connections needed for him to go to school. Come on.
They brag to be the number one TV network in the country for 55 years and that’s all they can do?
The morning show should help people not by giving them material things, in monetary or in-kind, but something to help themselves. After all, true service for the Filipino is not measured by the number of stomachs you have fed but by the number of people you have helped to feed themselves.
Give man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.
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