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.

PACEM Eco Park, Antipolo

PACEM is Peace and Care for Earth Ministry
You can see butterfly farms, mini zoo, herbal garden, seashells museum among other things at PACEM.

Interested to visit PACEM? Here are additional details:

From Monday to Friday, from 8.00am to 3.30pmOn Saturdays from 8.30am to 12.00noon.For inquiries pls write or call:********PACEM*********Center for Peace and EcologyAssumption Antipolo Sumulong Highway, Antipolo CityTel.(+63-2)696-3274 or 697-2354
P85/head

Photos and other info, please visit here.

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

Open-ended questions, smart kids, traffic sensors, dream perspectives, PETA

Thanks Tito Danny! You will be missed.

Open-ended questions
Interviews encourage open-ended questions. They have the power to elicit deeper thinking and meaningful conversations. Parents are encouraged to ask open-ended questions to start family bonding.

One way we do this is through our daily roses and thorns. I found out about this from Pastor Herald Cruz who talked about parenting in my kids' school. He shared the Obama's roses and thorns which lets the kids share the best and worst part of their day. Every night, before we do our story time--we are in Book 10 of Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events--kids have to share what was their most and least favorite parts of their days. Then we pray and give thanks for them.

My 8-year old boy never fails to give the answer: I am thankful for the computer. Day in and day out, believe me!

Our beloved pets: Sunny and Myeh!

Smart kids

We noticed that our 8-year old's best friends are the smartest kids in his class. We asked him and this was his answer:

I only befriend the smart kids at school because they are the only ones who understands.

Traffic sensors

Passing through an intersection, our 8-year old suggested to his dad that there should be traffic lights with sensors. So that when there are no cars on the other side, the green light for those with heavy traffic can still go on and drive.

Throwback photo of us fit girls trying to get slimmer

Dream perspectives

Our two kids were discussing their dreams last night. Couldn't hep but laugh when I overheard our 8-year old asking this:

Was your dream in 1st person or 3rd person?

Kids reaction to my blog
I told my kids that I keep a blog to house my journal of our experiences. I have been very forgetful, and the blog will remind us what those past years have been. I read to them several posts I found very funny. While I was already cracking up reading the first few lines, they were cringing.

Lenny Kravits 
One of the early video games we let the kids play is Guitar/Music Hero. Most of the songs were rock classics, and not the usual pop songs the kids know. One of the songs included was Lenny Kravits' Are You Gonna Go My Way. So imagine our amusement when recently, we caught our 8-year old humming to that song.

A very sloppy picture without much thought about composition

Peta Theater's Art Zone
My friend and I recently attended a PETA parenting seminar. It was my first time to be at PETA Theater's building. They are located at the back of Quezon City Sports Club, near St. Lukes. Their building was impressive. I know that was a product of much labor and sacrifice. It felt chilling being within a structure build by the country's geniuses of theater and music. Yes, I was able to spy several theater greats like Kuya Bodjie Pascua, Direk Soxy Topacio, musician Noel Cabangon among others. It was great that there's a place like that where enthusiasts can hang out and be in the company of these wonderful, talented and accommodating stars.

PETA or Philippine Educational Theater Association started as a Martial Law protest group, if I remember it right. So imagine my surprise, finding about their other programs which include theater acting for kids, writing as well as storytelling. They have regular weekly offerings. How come I didn't know about this when we were still QC-based?

To Label or Not to Label Reflection Paper on Totoy Guro’s Special Education Labels in the Philippines

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Totoy Guro is a blog written by a Filipino teacher. It is a personal space on the Internet where he shares his insights, notes and personal experiences as an educator in the Philippines. The article listing Totoy Guro’s reasons for espousing the use of “labels” for children with special needs (CSN) is a good insight from a teacher’s perspective. Totoy Guro enumerated that using labels for CSN strengthens the teachers’ roles because labels identify the exceptional students’ needs in the classrooms. He also opposed the use of euphemisms for exceptionalities as this prevents people from truly understanding what needs understanding. He said euphemisms promote gossips and unfair labels among children, parents and even teachers. Instead, he recommended public and classroom discussions to educate everyone about exceptionalities.

Reading about students’ exceptionalities and special education (SPED) has opened my mind about the topic. The most experience and knowledge I have about it was a special classroom in my high school where the lone SPED teacher conducted lessons to students with disabilities. These students joined their class the same way regular students would, but gathered daily in the SPED room long after the regular students have gone home. Inside that room was a mystery unknown and uninteresting to me until now. 

Totoy Guro’s piece on using labels gave me an overview of what regular students, CSN, parents and teachers stand about exceptionalities. SPED and exceptionalities are facts of life everyone should accept, deal and live with respectfully of one another. As a parent and future educator, I know that having correct diagnosis of students’ learning disabilities is beneficial for the concerned student, parent and family of the student and most especially, the teacher. It is the start of addressing the necessary accommodations, therapy and changes in order to make the CSN succeed at school.

Totoy Guro has freely used the term label to mean this diagnosis. However, I understand also the possible negative reaction of those who oppose the use of labels for the stigma and wrong connotations they give. The same way that our society today has opted for politically correct phrases and terminologies in order to appease people groups coming from diverse backgrounds and concerns. Adopting politically correct phrases though is synonymous to watering down the issue, if not totally evading it. The problems with using labels then is miscommunication and lack of respect for those who are different from us. Job 6:25 KJV says, “How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?” Right words set us towards the correct path. Arguments divide people, familites and societies. We need and deserve truth all the time, but we need to serve it with love, respect, understanding and encouragement all the time too.

Reference/s

T. G. (2011, September 3). MY LIST WHY “LABELS” FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ARE GOOD [Web log post]. Retrieved June 19, 2016, from https://totoyguro.wordpress.com/2011/09/03/my-list-why-labels-for-children-with-special-needs-are-good/#comments

Living Heritage Academy - School of Tomorrow Home School

Another option for home school provider is Living Heritage Academy's School of Tomorrow. Some friends have done home school with them for almost 10 years already and they have good feedback. Here are some details I have found out about them.

School of Tomorrow Curriculum
PACES or the Accelerrated Christian Education curriculum which drew mixed reactions from friends and online responses upon checking. This curriculum allows a kid to work on his/her own pace, which strives to promote mastery of each lesson before moving on to a new one.

Getting Started with School of Tomorrow's Home School

1. Kids are required to take diagnostic test, at Php1K diagnostic fee per student, offered Mondays to Fridays from 730am to 4pm at the office of SOT in MJS Avenue, Manila Japanese School Levitown Executive Village Brgy. Don Bosco Paranaque City
2. Required documents for each child include:
   Report Card
   Birth Certificate
   1x1 ID picture in 3 copies
   

Fees for School of Tomorrow's Home School

• Php 15k registration fee per family which covers bond fee, orientation, academic adviser, annual fellowship every December (one-time payment)
• Php 2500 per student registration fee (recurring)
• Php 3k per student annual academic fee (recurring)
• Php 4k school materials (varies per level, may be payable in quarterly installment mode)

Other details about School of Tomorrow's Home School
Academic adviser are available for consultation through email, phone or personal visit. A one-hour orientation is offered to newly enrolling families, free of charge.


Details:
School of Tomorrow's Home School
MJS Avenue, Manila Japanese School Levitown Executive Village Brgy. Don Bosco Paranaque City
Getting there
In SM Bicutan, take tricycle in Bldg A. P36/special fare for the usual 10-20 minute ride.
Contact person: Ms. Dolores

Aguinaldo International School Manila

A friend told me about Aguinaldo International School in Manila. She said a friend's kid goes there and mentioned to her of the very affordable tuition fee. She knows I may transfer my kid/s.

Aside from having a multi-culture exposure, sports include soccer and swimming. Mandarin is being offered along with other languages.

After a quick Google search, I landed on the home page of Aguinaldo International School. The website has a detail as to how much the yearly tuition fee for 2012-2013 was. I called to inquire about transferring kids and here's what I found out:

• Incoming grade schooler needs to take a written exam
• Papers required include clearance from previous school
• Interview with the school principal
• P10k off for early enrollment (P38,800 for Pre school, P58,500 for Grade School) and miscellaneous fees included already
• Grade 1 schedule is 730am-230pm
• Near UN Avenue LRT Station which gets flooded

6-year old Erap Joke, Kids are really naughty, Android's accelerometer, What's inside God's heart, Packing for a swimming outing

While trying out a new game on the computer, our 6-year old asked her dad: "What's the next step?"

Dad: "It says there press any key."

6-year old: "Where's ANYKEY?"

Naughty by nature
Grabbing the chance to teach my kids about life lessons, I immediately veered our conversation to drive home a point: parents should be respected and not hurt.

Mommy: "You came from inside my tummy, that's why I am your mother. Mothers shouldn't be shouted at."

6-year old: "But you get mad at us too." (Caught than taught, eh?)


Not giving in, mommy answered: "That's because you are naughty."

6-year old: "Kids are really naughty, mommy!"

:D

Kids are kids. :)

Playing with past tense
Excited to share his latest triumph, my 4-year old announced:

"I lock-ted the auto rotate, dad!"

God's heart
While on a long road trip, the kids with their cousins were looking for ways to entertain themselves. It came to a point when they did questions and answers.

4-year old: "Does God have a heart?"

8-year old: "Yes!" enthused his cousin.

4-year old: "Where is it? I know, we are all inside of God's heart."









Swimming outing list
Summer in the Philippines means vacation time and swimming time. Packing well means a better swimming outing, so here's my default list:

1. Waterproof bag or any plastic container to put all those wet swim wear
2. Set of clothes to wear after swimming
3. Shampoo and conditioner - if swimming in pools, it is best to wash away the chlorine in your hair. Ideal is to wear swimming cap.
4. Towels - bringing extra never hurts
5. Comb or hairbrush 
6. Deodorant - sun will make you sweat, better be protected
7. Body splash or moisturizer - more common here, lotion
8. Water - bring back the loss water from perspiration and swimming by drinking lots of fluid

Food and drinks are assumed covered!

Memory backup, Kid suggestions, Ilocos Norte and Pagudpud

Age has turned my topsy-turvy memory in a more chaotic state. Thanks to my daughter, I have needed help.

"Remind me that we need to buy this and that at the supermarket." We go buy at the supermarket and I am gently of what I earlier told her. Her impressive memory and persistence prove to be a useful backup to my otherwise short term memory.

She loves to go to school. There's no problem in waking her up, and getting her ready.

Within reach
While passing urine in the rest room, my preschooler boy remarked, "Why is our light switch placed so high? Creatures like me find it hard to reach!"

"How then should we place it?"

He argued they should be placed low enough for everyone to reach.

Top view of Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Norte with Manong Ador

Part of our emerging family tradition is to spend the New Year's eve in a new place. Partly to avoid the smoke of the fireworks, though we've observed that the smoke is the same anywhere we go.

This time we headed to Ilocos Norte. Took a low price airplane Cebu Pacific on sale seat on our way there and toured around Laoag City. It was sad that it was a weekend when we were there. The city's museum is impressive.

I love it that riding the kalesa is not as pricey as compared here in Manila. Fare is like that of tricycles, which is Ilocos Norte's equivalent of the jeep. P10/ride per head when we went there. Jeeps are reserved for town-to-town trips like when we went from Laoag to Paoay to visit the World Heritage Church there. We also visited a chicha-corn factory.

Corn, garlic and salt are materials abundant in Ilocos Norte, that's why chichacorn rules there!

Afterwards, we took a bus to go to Pagudpud - Luzon's Boracay. If I remember it, the fare from Laoag to Pagudpud is P60/head.

In Pagudpud, we met Mang Ador. A tour guide/tricycle driver. His number is 0948-794 0255. He toured us around Pagudpud, and the nearby towns. He even helped us look for our accommodations. He said that local tourism is a big boost in their livelihood and that the local government is helping them get proper training.

If you're Ilokano, you can read this!

We chose to visit the lighthouse of Bojeador, South East Asia's tallest. It's on top of a hill, so it really has a breathtaking view of the sea below. At summertime, visitors have to walk from the bottom up. We were lucky that Mang Ador's able tricycle took us at the steps of the lighthouse.

On our way, we had lunch and I ate their pinakbet version. I find it a bit salty. Perhaps because salt is so cheap there? Pasuquin's rows and rows of road-side salt stores are nice to see. Mang Ador chose the Bagnet, the pork chop of Ilocos Norte.

I love their green grapes. The seeds make them real healthy. A kilo is P80.

The windmills of Bangui were giants guarding the shore. They make this scary sound that my little boy doesn't like. They say that it supplies 40% of the province's power needs.

On our way back, we took the bus and it was expectantly uncomfortable. It was cheaper. We had no choice. All throughout the 12-hour trip from Laoag to SM North, the bus kept on stopping to load vegetable produce from farmers who had contacts in Manila. From the smell of it, we rode with onions and pepper. The other vegetables didn't smell that strong.

Before boarding the bus, I was able to try their empanada. It's a marriage of lumpiang toge and kwek-kwek. It's either I am not a great fan, or the one I tried wasn't very well prepared.

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

1955 - 2011, Woman's belly, Customer Service Rant and A Class of Perry

The death of Steve Jobs this month, October 2011 was mourned by the whole world. As an Apple fan, I bid farewell to his contributions and passions which have changed a whole generation's digital preference. I envy his desire for excellence in all things, and his laser-like focus in doing and finishing a job.

May this world see many other Steve Jobs-like minded people in terms of that.

My 3-year old boy couldn't keep his eyes off this cereal box. He even asked me to watch videos in YouTube of girls like this. Yes, I really got a boy, alright!

Value vs. price
I used to look at the price tag alone, but one big thing that Apple changed in me is to look at the value of products. It's customer service is impeccable, which makes the whole experience of owning an Apple device really worth every cent. This identifies the success of Apple too, since its customers have been turned into brand ambassadors.

Lately, I have crossed out Max's Restaurant off my list since I was served damaged vegetables, they were well cooked but the carrots and cabbage had bruises on them. I am not a cook, but I won't serve those kind to friends. As a restaurant, they should have been more quality-oriented. I ordered a 20 pax seating and yet a simple request of heating the soup was not accommodated.

LG was another disaster. The Android phone bought there, two weeks after it has been purchased does not automatically rotate. Went to the concept store where we bought and was told that we had to visit another LG branch since their computer used to diagnose problems has been down for a week already. In short, it took us two weeks to have the phone fixed. Turns out something's really wrong with the board of the phone.

A customer is the most important visitor on our premises, he is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favor by serving him. He is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so. ~ Mahatma Gandhi

That same day too, eating in Tokyo Tokyo, I ordered for the fish donburi with egg giving the specific instruction for it to be well done. The order came and I got a half-done sunny side egg. I told the waitress of my earlier request and said that's really how they cook it. I tried to ask her if she can go back to the cook to request for it to be fixed. Some seconds later, she came back with the same egg and the reason that it can't be done. Why do I have to put up with this kind of treatment, I won't go to anymore Tokyo Tokyo.

Lastly, buying at a Baby Company Boutique, I had to wait for like 15 minutes in order for the previous transaction to end. The cash register was broken and they were doing it manually, with a trainee. Double whammy! I was already set to leave but husband said it's fine so we waited for our turn.

At this point I was already thinking if it's the Filipino mindset? But no, I get better service and customer relations in my local bread store.

All Perry
My youngest has started loving his school and his classmates. He's now able to tell stories of what happened in class. He does not dish out all these excuses to not go to school anymore. And lastly, he shows interest in writing, a task he used to hate a LOT.

I can still remember his story last summer when he was attending preschool orientation classes. He told me that his classmate named Perry was painting and some spilt on his socks, then another classmate named Perry was dancing very funny. While another one named Perry built a train toy using blocks.

I investigated on the names of his classmates. There was only one boy with the name Perry. He thought all of his boy classmates then were named Perry?

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.

On James Soriano's take on the Filipino language, Baby Alive, Cars 2

Majority of Filipinos are offended again - this time by Mr. James Soriano's article about the Filipino language.

Was not able to read the article in full, because it was not available in the web site of Manila Bulletin, and had to really research to grab a copy of it.

Language, learning, identity, privilege
By JAMES SORIANO
August 24, 2011, 4:06am
Ithink
The Manila Bulletin


MANILA, Philippines — English is the language of learning. I’ve known this since before I could go to school. As a toddler, my first study materials were a set of flash cards that my mother used to teach me the English alphabet.

My mother made home conducive to learning English: all my storybooks and coloring books were in English, and so were the cartoons I watched and the music I listened to. She required me to speak English at home. She even hired tutors to help me learn to read and write in English.

In school I learned to think in English. We used English to learn about numbers, equations and variables. With it we learned about observation and inference, the moon and the stars, monsoons and photosynthesis. With it we learned about shapes and colors, about meter and rhythm. I learned about God in English, and I prayed to Him in English.

Filipino, on the other hand, was always the ‘other’ subject — almost a special subject like PE or Home Economics, except that it was graded the same way as Science, Math, Religion, and English. My classmates and I used to complain about Filipino all the time. Filipino was a chore, like washing the dishes; it was not the language of learning. It was the language we used to speak to the people who washed our dishes.

We used to think learning Filipino was important because it was practical: Filipino was the language of the world outside the classroom. It was the language of the streets: it was how you spoke to the tindera when you went to the tindahan, what you used to tell your katulong that you had an utos, and how you texted manong when you needed “sundo na.”

These skills were required to survive in the outside world, because we are forced to relate with the tinderas and the manongs and the katulongs of this world. If we wanted to communicate to these people — or otherwise avoid being mugged on the jeepney — we needed to learn Filipino.

That being said though, I was proud of my proficiency with the language. Filipino was the language I used to speak with my cousins and uncles and grandparents in the province, so I never had much trouble reciting.

It was the reading and writing that was tedious and difficult. I spoke Filipino, but only when I was in a different world like the streets or the province; it did not come naturally to me. English was more natural; I read, wrote and thought in English. And so, in much of the same way that I learned German later on, I learned Filipino in terms of English. In this way I survived Filipino in high school, albeit with too many sentences that had the preposition ‘ay.’

It was really only in university that I began to grasp Filipino in terms of language and not just dialect. Filipino was not merely a peculiar variety of language, derived and continuously borrowing from the English and Spanish alphabets; it was its own system, with its own grammar, semantics, sounds, even symbols.

But more significantly, it was its own way of reading, writing, and thinking. There are ideas and concepts unique to Filipino that can never be translated into another. Try translating bayanihan, tagay, kilig or diskarte.

Only recently have I begun to grasp Filipino as the language of identity: the language of emotion, experience, and even of learning. And with this comes the realization that I do, in fact, smell worse than a malansang isda. My own language is foreign to me: I speak, think, read and write primarily in English. To borrow the terminology of Fr. Bulatao, I am a split-level Filipino.

But perhaps this is not so bad in a society of rotten beef and stinking fish. For while Filipino may be the language of identity, it is the language of the streets. It might have the capacity to be the language of learning, but it is not the language of the learned.

It is neither the language of the classroom and the laboratory, nor the language of the boardroom, the court room, or the operating room. It is not the language of privilege. I may be disconnected from my being Filipino, but with a tongue of privilege I will always have my connections.

So I have my education to thank for making English my mother language. 

*Reprint of Mr. Soriano's article came from the view point of Mr. Tonyo Cruz.

Addicted to the imperialistic colonizers
I agree 100% with every point raised by Mr. James Soriano. His observations and sentiments are the realities of life. I know of some parents whose kids flunk in the Filipino subject at school. This prepared me to make Filipino a strong foundation for my kids' life.

As Filipinos, I want my two children to master the language, for it is ours, and it is beautiful.

Read the poem of Gat Andres Bonifacio about Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa, or listen to F. Landa Jocano or Mike Coroza dish out those old, pure Filipino sentences and you'd be impressed. My 5-year old girl hooted for more kundiman songs when I brought her to a concert.

For story time, we have English and Filipino books. We speak Filipino when we are outside the house, and when we are at home, we practice speaking in English. This is in preparation for Mandarin, which I want my kids to learn too.

Children are intelligent beings. Batibot knows that and that made them successful. Expose them to a new language for two years, and they would be proficient in it. Consistently talk with them in that language and they will flourish in whatever dialect, language you throw them.

Sadly, a lot of Filipino parents choose English as the mother tongue of their children for the exact points that Mr. Soriano raised - we are impressed with the American Dream. We are 'honored' to have Paris Hilton come over the Philippines to design a real estate property, when in the United States, nobody takes her seriously. Deep down, we desire to be the colonizers who abused us and left us thinking low of ourselves.

Proud to be Filipinos
This has got to stop with my kids. I am fortunate enough to come from a poor family. My limited access to imported goods sheltered me to love the Philippines - sickness and all. My husband let go of a lucrative offer to work in the US and start our family there, because he does not want to step over a colleague who is in line for that job.

We pay our taxes diligently. We obey the traffic rules. We pray for our leaders. We segregate our waste. We buy Pinoy products. We mold our kids to love and live excellently for the Philippines. We dream that we will live to see that day, with the America going lower and lower, when the Philippines will be a positive contribution to the world - not just cheap source of manpower.

Long way to go
Though it is a lot of work and a long time a coming, every day is a step closer to that.

The parents' goal is to help their kids find out that niche they are meant to fill, conquer. The soonest they discover it, the better for all of us.

A monster, where?

Thinking for the country

My country is on its way towards the right path. A year down his 6-year presidential term, P-Noy performs satisfactorily in my opinion. His first SONA speech boasts of accomplishments that the Filipinos have been wanting to hear. Yes, there are still a lot of work to do and it is not good to be satisfied at this low level. Yet I understand the mess of the whole system that merely six years may not correct.

Will be continuously praying for P-Noy and the Philippines.

Nursery 2 reading skills
A month after formal preschool, I find my 43-month old boy still struggling to wake up early in the morning for school. His teachers say he listens to them and has learned to open up with his classmates. I noted an eager inclination to count things, but Carlos still interchanges numbers after 12.

I came across this online pre-reading screening test to gauge kids' readiness and found Carlos to be on the second tier. So he's average.

I'm happy. I admit feeling stressed when hearing about preschoolers taking on all sorts of extra-curricular activities - martial arts, music, sports, tutorials. I haven't sent Carlos to any other schooling but I plan to enroll him to Wushu lessons when he turns four.

Walking to school on PE day

I remember that we enrolled Lois to swimming lessons when she was this age. It has been our family goal to learn a new skill every year and for this year it will be:

1. Daddy - Teaching license
2. Mommy - Driving
3. Lois - Piano
4. Carlos - Wushu

Improved cognitive skills
I checked on how Lois was doing in class, with new classmates and earlier schedule and her teacher said she behaves like a big sister, helping out classmates if she can. She also admitted that she belongs to a class with has improved cognitive skills.

My dream for Lois - and Carlos too, is to learn as much as she can so that when she is full grown, she will help a lot of Filipinos. I tell her this, but her young mind seem to not grasp it. Her face turns sour whenever I bring it up, I feel the 20th century mom reaching to a 21st century kid in action.

How to complement little girls
Read this agreeable thought from Baby Center's Violet's Mom blog - Don't complement little girls on how they look, instead choose to talk about skills.

I totally agree. With younger and younger girls getting their period, we do not want to raise little girls who would turn out to be just bomb shells in the looks arena. We want to have girls who would become achievers in all sorts of endeavors - math, sports, engineering, design, teaching, science, you name it.

How do we do it? Lisa Bloom says, "Teaching girls that their appearance is the first thing you notice tells them that looks are more important than anything. It sets them up for dieting at age 5 and foundation at age 11 and boob jobs at 17 and Botox at 23. As our cultural imperative for girls to be hot 24/7 has become the new normal, American women have become increasingly unhappy. What’s missing? A life of meaning, a life of ideas and reading books and being valued for our thoughts and accomplishments."

Hinilawod
Hinilawod, Philippines' pre-colonial oral literature treasure, considered the longest epic in the world is set to be staged on September 3-4, 3PM and 8PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

My kids are encouraged to watch with their families. I have invited some family and friends, but since it is still several months away, they do not want to say yes yet. Just the same, I am excited to have my kids watch this. I'm sure I would enjoy, but I don't think they would endure two-hour plays? Got to ask their classmates' moms when they are watching for better chances of good behavior.

Grammar quirks
Lois: Why aren't you lookating at me? (Why aren't you looking at me?)

Seeing through other peoples' eyes

I had to leave with Lois and daddy has to work. No yaya, only Kuya duds, who is helping us out temporarily, to look after Carlos. Gave them P50 for tokens and juice to buy from The supermarket - Carlos' favorite.

Six hours later, Lois and I came back. Carlos was deep asleep, obviously tired from his afternoon treat. The following morning, both kids ask me again to bring them to the game zone.


Why we went away
The kids will be starting school soon and I have extra hand through Kuya Jordan, so I decided to attend my small group, after more than six-months of hiatus.

My group is an all-women's group which study the Bible and organize travel, outreach activities and I missed them a lot.

Tinker Toys creation - helicopter

When they saw me again, they all said I looked fatter. Though more were commenting on my daughter whom they haven't seen for a long time. They all said she has grown to become a big girl. Most asked if she was already starting grade school because she looks so tall already.

Somehow, all of their comments gave me a different perspective of the my daughter. Yes! I see too, how big she now is. Far from the toddler that I used to carry. I don't need to mind her now anymore. She can handle her self. I can even give her directions!

Even the MRT agrees. Lois is 'required' to pay now, because her height exceeds the train meter's.

KLove promo
Husband loves KLove. He always leave it playing on for all of us to hear at home.

One ongoing promotion they have is to complete the sentence: I am a living proof of God's love (blank). Listening to the contest rules, I wondered what I would put in place of the blank. Does my life really prove God's love? Do my kids see in me a godly woman? I whispered a prayer and praised God for mini-moments like these which bring me back to what's important.

I am a living proof of God's love, my life now has meaning and fulfillment. Far from the empty, hard-to-fill cup I used to live. I know that I am here on earth for a purpose, and my every day unfolds that purpose.

Washington Sycip
One prolific organization that I admire, and wish to grow even more is HistokyKo.Org

One recent activity they had, which I missed was a talk given by great Filipino business sage Washington Sycip. When I saw a DVD of the event selling for P200, I bought it and learned a lot from the talk. Sharing the insights I have taken down:

1. KT Li of Taiwan introduced computer to all age group that's why Taiwan is what it is now, a small country giant in IT manufacturing. To learn more about his life and emulate him that husband may fulfill his dream of leveraging IT to reach the Philippines' poor.
2. A person who cannot read or write is 99.9% sure to be poor. - Washington Sycip
3. Asked what he taught his children, Mr. Sycip said to provide good education for his children, thinking that afterwards, they will not depend on him. He even relayed how his parents sent them to the public school, even if they can afford the private school; and make them walk or take public transportation, instead of being driven around. Further convinced to lead simple lives to empower more the kids. Thinking comfort and luxury spoil kids.
4. Examples of leadership, good leadership is lacking in the country. Reminded even more to model good behavior so the kids may see. I often require the kids to be cordial and respectful to  the elderly, while I myself am shy. Things like that.

Overheard
We have met up with Ninang Rachelle quite often this month. She drove for us. Some funny moments between her and Carlos:

Rachelle asking CD: Did you see that other car? Or are you near-sighted?
Carlos: Me, I am excited!
Who wouldn't we're going to the pool to swim.

Kids are pretending to drive while seated at the back. Ninang Rachelle was annotating her driving. Curious if the kids are following her, she asked:
Rachelle: I am going to turn left. Where are you going?
Carlos: We're left-ing.
Oh, he's going to turn left too.

Deciding to eat via drive-thru, Ninang Rachelle asked:
Rachelle: Do you want anything?
Carlos: Yes! I want anything.

Maybe they added 'anything' in their menu?

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.

The War at Home by HK columnist Chip Tsao

The Russians sank a Hong Kong freighter last month, killing the seven Chinese seamen onboard. We can live with that-—Lenin and Stalin were once the ideological mentors of all Chinese people. The Japanese planted a flag on Diàoyú Island. That's no big problem-—we Hong Kong Chinese love Japanese cartoons, Hello Kitty, and shopping in Shinjuku, let alone our round-the-clock obsession with karaoke.

But hold on-—even the Filipinos? Manila has just claimed sovereignty over the scattered rocks in the South China Sea called the Spratly islands, complete with a blatant threat from its congress to send gunboats to the South China Sea to defend the islands from China if necessary. This is beyond reproach. The reason: There are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as HK$3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong. As a nation of servants, you don't flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.

As a patriotic Chinese man, the news has made my blood boil. I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell everyone of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China.

Grimly, I told her that if war breaks out between the Philippines and China, I would have to end her employment and send her straight home, because I would not risk the crime of treason for sponsoring an enemy of the state by paying her to wash my toilet and clean my windows 16 hours a day. With that money, she would pay taxes to her Government, and they would fund a navy to invade our motherland and deeply hurt my feelings.

Oh yes. The Government of the Philippines would certainly be wrong if they think we Chinese are prepared to swallow their insult and sit back and lose a Falkland Islands War in the Far East. They may have Barack Obama and the hawkish American military behind them, but we have a hostage in each of our homes in the Mid-Levels or higher. Some of my friends told me they have already declared a state of emergency at home. Their maids have been made to shout 'China, Madam/Sir' loudly whenever they hear the word "Spratly". They say the indoctrination is working as wonderfully as when we used to shout, "Long live Chairman Mao!" at the sight of a portrait of our Great Leader during the Cultural Revolution. I’m not sure if that's going a bit too far, at least for the time being.

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