Professional Skills vs Academic Knowledge, Travel Goals, Embracing YOU

Are professional skills more valuable to graduates than academic knowledge? Does a higher degree get your foot in the door, or does your past work experience count for more? And beyond this, how valuable are professional skills vis-à-vis work experience or academic credentials?

I am having my first PhD classes this month. Despite my educational credentials and almost similar work experience vs. my partner who is into IT (I am currently in the education industry), our salaries have 8x disparity to his favor.

Education is very important. A degree is a winning ticket to turning lives around economically. More important than the school where you came from, is also the kind of degree you take as well as your character, goals and dreams.

An act of kindness can help you as much as the person you’re helping out.

Bucket List: Japan

Day 1: Tokyo Shinobuya
Day 2: Ghibli Museum
Day 3: Tokyo Dotonburi & Shibuya
Day 4: Shinkansen to Kyoto
Day 5: Kyoto
Day 6: USJ
Day 7: Osaka Castle
Day 8: Airpot to Kanzai

God, when we focus on You things get alright.

In order to love who you are, you cannot hate the experiences that shaped you.

Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles, Pampanga Tourist Attractions, Exceptional people, Math as a language

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When in Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles, Pampanga, might as well do these:

1. Visit the Salakot Monument - a stage with the design similar to the Filipino farming hat called salakot and commemorates the complete turnover of the whole Clark Freeport Zone to the Philippines. The place used to be a US Army Base. Viewing Fee: Free
2. Old Canons - in front of the Clark Museum, these canons were from Spanish warship named Seville around 1778. Viewing Fee: Free
3. Clark Museum - know the background of the whole place, what it was originally and how the place was transformed to what it is now. Viewing Fee: P30/head P350 fee for tour guide
4. El Kabayo Riding Stables - Get all the western cowboy you want with this version of the Wild West complete with horses, stables, picnic trails and more. Entrance Fee: P50 Horseback riding 20-mins P150, Calesa ride - P200, 45-minute forest trail ride P300.00 All day joy ride P700 Getting there: From Clark proceed to duty-free shopping area. At the intersection of C.M. Recto Hwy. and Gil Puyat Ave., turn right to picnic grounds toward Mabalacat gate. Or enter thru Mabalacat gate.
5. Nayong Pilipino - A theme park of Philippine landmarks, this is the modern version of the one used to be near NAIA. Entrance fee: P50
6. Zoocobia and Paradise Ranch - An open zoo where you may interact with the animals, feed them and pet them. Paradise Ranch on the other hand is nature park on top of the mountain. There's a pool. Entrance Fee: P500/head
7. Clark Parade Grounds - Open field with a lot of history, offers a jogging path and huge space for events.
8. Bicentennial Park - Near the Clark Parade Grounds, has a pavilion, stage, play ground for children
9. Picnic Ground - Ideal for family picnic, has biking lanes and bikes for rent

Yes you are! ctto

Exceptional People 

The truly exceptional focus on cultivating their inner worlds and the more soft-spoken qualities of their character because they know to be wholly successful, it takes being a really good human being. ~ Sherrie Campbell

Exceptional people are:
1. Gracious - To be graceful is to be strong and assured in who one is, even in the midst of challenges
2.  Kind - consistent in how they treat, think about, and speak to others - even those they don't care for. they can love someone even if they do not like them. If they cannot say something nice, they have the control to remain quiet.
3. Composed - the less they react, defend, explain, become fearful or controlling, the more command they have over a situation. abiding
4. Fearless - They know it takes courage to love fully, to change themselves when necessary, to feel deeply, to take risks even when it is scary and to chase their dreams with passion and an unwavering tenacity. Be all there
5. Deliberate - clear and persistent on who they are and what they want to be
6. Intelligent - smart about the world around them and inside them
7. Humble - do not see life as being all about them, in fact, they prefer to celebrate the accomplishments of others as much as their own
8. Honest - simple, upfront, gentle, but direct in the "being" of who they are, dependable and authentic
9. Loving - warm toward others and kind to themselves

Math as a language - ELISA MARIA GUERRA CRUZ, Benbowm C, at Stanly, J. (1980) "Sex Pagkakaiba sa matematika kakayahan: Katotohanan ng artepakto" Science, Volume 210, 12 Disyembre 1980.https://my.vanderbilt.edu/smpy/files/2013/02/ScienceFactOrArtifact.pdf

OECD (2015), Ang ABC of Gender Equality sa Edukasyon:. Aptitude, Behaviour, Kumpiyansa, PISA, OECD PublishingHttp://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264229945-en

Adventure Resort in Norzagaray, Bulacan - Entrance Fees and Rates

My brother learned about Adventure Resort while watching a GMA-7 morning TV show. They say it gathers swimming, rapelling, zip lining and wall climbing all in one destination.

Since we're taal Bulakenyo, the place may be a closer summer destination. Sharing with you the rates of their facilities as of March 2012.

Daytime Rates and Other Charges

Entrance:

Adult Php125 

Kids Php100

Cottage for 15 persons+ - Php500

Package promo per head: Swim - zip - rapelling - wall climbing - Php300

Per facility rate:

Php120 - zip line

Php85 - wall climb

Php75 - rapelling

Some guidelines: white shirt only, no maong bottoms. Food may be brought inside, but there's a cafeteria serving short orders. No alcoholic drinks allowed inside, even Emperador Lite.

You may want to also check these links for photos and other details about the resort:

• Bulacan Philippines Tourism
• Bulacan Resorts
• Here In The Philippines

DENR's Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife in Quezon City

Inside that cage, perched on the dried log is a Philippine hawk eagle.

Last time I visited the place was when I was 12 years old. Back then, it was still known as the QC Parks and Wildlife.


Why we went there
It was no-school day for the kids because of the Quezon City day non-working holiday. For a change in scenery, we visited the park named after the Philippine president namesake Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife.

It's along Quezon Boulevard, a bit walkable from the MRT Quezon Ave. station if you don't mind sweating. However, you may take any jeep that passes that road and pay the minimum fare of Php8. It's in front of the Philippine Lung Center, and beside semi-private Lungsod ng Kabataan or Philippine Children's Hospital.

A lot of endemic animals may be seen at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife - I think all of them?

What to see inside Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife
For the Php3 for kids and Php5 for adults entrance fee, one may stay and roam around the huge park. I spotted some informal settlers near the forest trail, their houses looked like they are.

Don't expect Avilon Zoo level in terms of quantity of animals, and maintenance. The place is run by Department of Environment and Natural Resources. They have an office at the Visayas Avenue side of the park. That means government institution. You may park on this side, by the way.

The zoo is open until 4PM so we visited that first. However, I was distracted with some tall cages in between trees and found out what they were. The trail led to a series of bird cages that I think are 5-star for animals in terms of accommodation among all the zoos I've seen. Why? Because trees are inside and they are really tall and wide structures. The birds may fly a bit more freely.

This Philippine Hawk Eagle is not inside a cage, intentionally left there for picture loving Pinoys

The foliage in the place almost resembled a rainforest, giving the animals more shelter. Honestly, you wouldn't think you were in the heart of the metro if you're there.

The path also led to a nipa hut of various types of fish, a small pond of numerous turtles. There were unused swamp-ponds, and I was almost at the look out for crocodiles. Though I'm sure there aren't, it seems that's how forest-like the place is.


Overweight crocodile and snake
Inside the main zoo, there are cockatoos, eagles or lawin, Philippine Eagle Owls, Philippine Serpent Owls, bats, monitor lizards or bayawak - theirs looked very old and gaunt, crocodiles, snakes, monkeys.

This is a fine-looking animal, and looks like a Philippine meerkat. Though I'm not sure really.

Treehuts
Picnic areas are available for free, and if you're lucky, there are huge nipa houses where you may stay. They are really big, comfortable to fit 10 people.


Stage Area
There is also a stage where perhaps cultural shows are done. When we visited the park, a meeting of all-men and all-women groups were being held simultaneously. Surrounding the stage are seats enough to fit 100 people.


Man-made lake
From the stage, we were able to see a floating house on stilts on the man-made lake. Ill-prepared, I didn't let the kids wander off there thinking dengue-causing mosquitoes are present.


Who goes there
I was surprised to see lots of SLR-toting people, with made-up models with them. So this is where camera enthusiasts meet?

There were also lots of students in uniform - elementary, high school, college. Families with little babies have picnics too.


What I love best
There were many other mini-zoos around the place, right side of the main entrance. However, I didn't check them out. I was thinking bad guys may lurk and rob us? Or the kids may trip and the ground was not very clean, because of the rain.

There were a lot more that I didn't check. However, I was glad to chance upon the HARIBON with the Manny Pacquiao tarpaulin poster in it. I have read in the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife houses a Philippine Eagle because it is blind and therefore it may not thrive in the wild.

They need their clear vision to hunt for food. So the blind, young eagle stays there. It has the biggest cage, though it would be better to make it thrice bigger just to see it fly?

Cars 2, Rooftop hydroponic greenhouses, Edouard Martinet, Steve Jobs, parenting tip from Dr. Kevin Leman and Pinto Art Gallery in Antipolo

Thanks to the long weekend from P-Noy, my kids were able to go on a date with their Ma Dahls to see Cars 2 in 3D. They love it, of course.

"Carlos was very excited he kept on jumping on his chair," my little girl told me about her brother.

They got tired from too much fun that they slept early that day. Good start for this 3-day school week. :)

Planting fun and nobility
The world is going back to agriculture. Noting organic as the way to go. As a lass from the province, I am at home with the land. That's why I want my kids to experience slow life in the rural farms. We haven't had the chance to do that.

I have heard of hydroponic farms in Tagaytay which supplies salad greens to five-star restaurants in the metro. Hydroponic started in the Middle East where they used water to hasten the planting cycle. Now, this practice is being implemented in New York on un-utilized rooftops through Bright Farms.

Edouard Martinet - sculptor
It would be really freaky to see crawling insects like these. Seamlessly sculpted from metal, these creations look like they are the real deal.

Artists are really innovators and dreamers. They see things that aren't yet there, and their eyes perceive things that are already there in a very different way.

Goodbye Sir Steve Jobs
People don't know what they want until you show it to them. ~ Steve Jobs

10 Laws of Steve Jobs

One shining claim of the US is Steve Jobs and Apple - amidst the gloomy picture their country is painted now. The world respects this guy highly, because he changed the world several times. His personality and attitude settle for none and that make him stand out.

We have shifted to the Mac experience slowly some two years ago. They say that once you've experienced it, you won't settle for anything less. From a single Mac laptop to all things Mac in our house, that's how we've been Steve-fied.

The world will need another fountainhead that will steer excellence and perfection now that he left Apple as CEO.

Unhappy parents 

Dr. Kevin Leman  advises parents to utter, a simple and calm "I'm very unhappy with what I see/hear "...turn around and leave.

It works with 4, 10, 17, not to mention the 20 year old. I call it " parental poker". Every parent has to learn to play those cards just right. It works. Kids don't like it when mom/dad are unhappy!

I have tried the Leman book Have a New Kid by Friday and I agree 100% with his sensible parenting tips. Though sometimes I forget, being reminded consistently of parenting the Leman way proves effective.

Take for instance a conversation I had with my daughter's classmates' mom. She told me that her son didn't want to go to school anymore. When she investigated, her son admitted that he fears school because the teacher might get mad at him when he fails to write his name. The boy said the teacher looked like ghost when she got angry. My daughter never mentioned anything about her teachers getting mad. She is, perhaps, used to serious looking mom when I deal with her the Leman way.

Pinto Art Gallery in Antipolo, Rizal
My share of the long weekend climaxed yesterday, when together with my small group, we went to the Touch of Glory Prayer Mountain near the Gozon compound in Boso-Boso, Antipolo. After having our lunch there - I ordered their famous arrozcaldo, we visited Pinto Art Gallery. It was a gallery and a private collection exhibit hall of Dr. Joven Cuanang, a director of Neurology at St. Lukes Medical Hospital.

The facility lies behind a famous restaurant named Laya. I don't know if the people who eat there know about this treasure tucked behind the gate inside the Sierra Madre Grand Height Subdivision.

The Mediterranean inspired design of the whole place worked around the natural landscape of the place. There were trees shooting inside the roof of the veranda. Huge boulders of stones were incorporated at the main art gallery as if they were in exhibit too.

I also liked that in between the art houses are green gardens with welcoming lounge areas. The garden used endemic plants - saw black bamboos there - both ornamental and palatable ones. I only found out that citronella leaves look the same as lemon grass there.

Pinto Art Gallery is a place I will go back to - bringing the kids with me next time. There was a pre-nuptial photo session ongoing when we had our tour. And yes, we were toured by one of the artists in display there too - Mr. Jim. All the featured artists are Filipinos and they are AWESOME creations there. More power to Filipinos supporting the Philippines art and nature.

Evoliving at Nuvali, Taxi Boat and Picnic

Coi feeding at Nuvali. Or are these carps?

Lois is five years old now. We wanted her to experience something new now that she's a year older. We asked her if it would be riding a horse, bike or boat. She chose to ride a boat.

Nuvali was a family-friendly neighborhood which offers a taxi boat around its man-made lake from 8am-5pm. It's also popular for its fish feeding where guests may buy Nuvali fish food for P15/pack. So one Sunday, we trooped there and invited some family to make the celebration more meaningful.

Getting there was easy. There were enough directional signages along the road from Sta. Rosa exit. Or it really helped that husband and sister-in-law are South-side residents. They are Laguna natives. :)

We also have a printout of the locational map from Nuvali's official website. There's a new u-turn area to get to Solenad, the commercial area of Nuvali, they say. Though I think not taking it would still work. 

Solenad Lunch

We had our lunch at Yellow Cab. There are lots of places to eat at there – poshy restaurants to affordable meals. Then it was taxi boat ride time. It costs P30/person. Ma Dahls treated every one. :) 

The boat ride took them under a tunnel/bridge then around the fountains. The ride was fast and water splashes are guaranteed, sending the kids screaming with glee. 

 

After lunch, we checked the tiangge area near the parking. There was a live band playing when we arrived. Not sure if that's there all the time. They're good, playing acoustic songs. I heard them sing a Christ Tomlin followed by a Glee TV show original. The performers encourage the crowd to step up and sing with them via an available microphone. They project lyrics of the songs so it's easy. I wonder if the volunteers know that the performance is broadcasted at the other side of the restaurant row?

The tiangge offers clothes, toys, fashion accessories, food and some house furniture. There was a signage which states that Nuvali doesn't support piracy, but I noticed that some toys are China-made, which is somehow confusing.

We were thinking of renting some bicycles at P60/hour. You have to have a valid ID to do this. We decided against it, not because we don't have Ids but because there are no kid bikes.

Picnic for Lois

For a short picnic, we trooped near 7-11 at the Convergys Building. Or I think that Evo Tech Bldg. Anyways, they have a spacious lawn in front and we already saw some lying on the grass. Carlos had a grand time running around the greens. He never mind that it was 3pm and the sun was scorching hot. Lois was nibbling with her friends, showing me the hand-painted banig bag she did at the Nuvali Open House. Baby Skid was fast asleep, perhaps tired and lulled by the winds.

Nuvali Residence?

Are we going back? Not really. It's a nice experience, a good treat for the people of Sta. Rosa and of Nuvali. Though I wouldn't desire to live there. Houses and lots go for P2.5M+. A 500sqm lot only is around P5m I guess. My ideal place definition is different. Plus the toll rates going to Manila are costly. It's not for me, we'll it's way above what we can afford. :D

Picnic without mats?! What kind of organizing is that? Hehehhe!

But the kids enjoyed it, the same way they did QC Memorial Circle. My kids are really growing up different. Just the way I want it.

How to enjoy a plane trip with young children and Filipino Fish at Manila Ocean Park

A long overdue post, publishing it finally after some spring cleaning of my dashboard blog. Carlos and Lois enjoyed their first air flight. Not much fuss, thank you very much. Food was key, and tiredness. By the time we were flying, they were both sleeping.

For more frequent fly-ers with kids, these suggestions may help:

1. Prepare quiet toys. Don't put them out until you have really ran out of things to distract the kids with. The novelty of the airport and the airplane may provide a lot of interesting things to check and observe. Once you've explored them all, bring out your guns, I mean, those quiet toys - like books, puppets, washable crayons, etc.
2. Crocodile mouth. With all that pressure changes, you may never always have the medicine or the chewing gum solution. A neat tip, do the crocodile mouth. Ok, it may be another animal with a big mouth. Point is to prevent ear popping by making the kids open their mouth wide.
3. Observe your kid. You may be too engrossed on the time, or the luggage you may not notice your kids' cues of tiredness or sleepiness. Children are easier to manage before they approach their emotions' peak.

Manila Ocean Park

Located behind Quirino Grandstand, along Manila Bay is the expansive Manila Ocean Park, a Singapore-an investment if I am not mistaken. We trooped there one Sunday afternoon for some family bonding with the Laguna people. I was not so excited to go in, but I was not left unimpressed.

What I liked most with the showcase was that most of the fish there are endemic. I don't know if this is because they use salt water from Manila Bay, after 5-layers of high grade filters, or because they patronize local marine life? I liked it so much that they have Filipino terms for these popular fish. I wouldn't know Finding Nemo's Dory, voiced by comedienne Ellen de Generes, is a labahita if not for the trip.

I also liked the attention and planning they gave to the facility. They planned on how people traffic is just one way, so there's no missing the shops and restaurants occupying their space. It felt like we were the fish hooked on their bait. Mapapatingin ka talaga, kung hindi man mapabili.

She's not pretending her hands are binoculars, she's just shying away from the camera. :)

Yes, there's a giant lizard at the Manila Ocean Park!

Chains on the seats? Either they don't want the arrangement ruined, or some people steal them?

It can grow up to 12 meters and live for 100+ years. I once heard marine biologist Boni Commandante say that it is possible that from these giant clams or taklobo came the early writing method of our ancestors as found in the Angono Cave archeological site.

If you belong to the Batibot generation, you are familiar with Sitsiritsit Alibangbang. This fish may be called bannerfish, but to us, it's the Alibangbang.

Lion fish or Umay - Umay

Tita Tin

While visiting Nangni Che in Sheung Wan, Hongkong, we talked quite a few about relative Tita Tin whom we met there. She has helped Nangni Che settle in Hongkong when she transferred there from Dubai since she's been there for over a decade, in fact she is an HK resident. She showed Nangni Che around, and shared her flat while Nangni Che was still looking for her own.

As I was giving Lois a bath, I engaged her in a conversation to avoid the shrieks and squeals. It was 17 degrees average while we stayed there, and taking hot baths aren't very fun for us all. I pointed out the two scrubs at the bathroom.


"Lois, why do you think Nangni Che has two bath scrubs?" I asked.

Lois simply replied, "Oh, one is for Tita Tin and the other is for Nangni Che."

"But I do not see Tita Tin here in Nangni Che's place."

"She's here when we're not. So when we leave, she will come here and take a bath."

Whoa! Her logic sent us all laughing. Lois was already able to conclude about relationships even though things are not directly told her. These kids really has magnificent minds.

On the Road to 'Formal' Learning

We'll be enrolling Lois to Meridian International Learning Experience in April. Yes, we've taken the step towards school already. There is no question about the school anymore. We want the kids to learn to love God and our country, not just good old, education. This is also the reason why we'll be moving near the school. It's a lifestyle change for all of us.

Honestly, this was not our original plan. Our target was to send Lois to school by 2010 when she's already 4.5 years old. But things were changing. We were seeing Lois transform into a sponge with all the bad things getting absorbed. She would titter over John Lloyd's billboard in Edsa because she claims she is Sarah Geronimo. (Well, that's a bit better than being Marian Rivera, her original matinée idol.) She would be too shy when we're with other people. And she would hurt little Carlos as if he is not her relative.

So with great faith we scheduled for her assessment. I was hoping she could get to Nursery II already, so she will not be the oldest in her class. But her age by June does not meet the requirement. So I thought it's better that way, than be able to save up on a year and create a tortured pupil out of her. Off Lois went inside the Nursery I classroom while Daddy Paul and I were interviewed by the Directress of the School. She briefed us that Lois will be lovingly disciplined and that we should teach her English as by Prep, they will be introducing Mandarin already.

Funny, but I found myself fidgeting while Lois was inside the classroom. I was curious if she was participating, I was hopeful she was having fun, but I was also afraid that other kids might have told her something nasty that would make her hate school. It was just 30 minutes of waiting for Lois to finish her assessment, but it felt like the longest 30 minutes. Awww, I'm a parent of a pre-schooler I cannot believe it.

Learning on his own

BabyCenter.com says at age 16-months, kids could normally use up to 10 words. Well, our Carlos could easily dish out 20 words:

1. ball/shoot/dunk
2. bike
3. airplane
4. car
5. dog
6. taxi
7. bird
8. juice
9. mama
10. daddy/Poh
11. ate Lois
12. bubbles
13. hand/paa
14. tree/halaman
15. bye-bye
16. uh-oh
17. blocks
18. toys
19. cd
20. baby
21. light
22. moon/star/sun

No, I am not proud. I am euphoric. As the second-born, he did not receive the same attention and care as Lois. But he's ok. In fact, he's better. He shrugs himself up after he falls, he takes medicines without fussing, he eats ALL vegetables and fruits and he's happier.

What a blessed family we are.

No fun

After shopping for books at M/V Doulos, Grandma Dahls asked Lois:

Ma Dahls: Did you enjoy our Doulos trip?

Lois Sourly said: No!

Surprised, Ma Dahls asked: Why not?

Lois: Because the ship didn't move.

Ma Dahls: Why did it not move?

Lois: Maybe there's no gasoline.