What the Stars and the Skies Tell Me About Life

Last night I was staring at the sky with great appreciation. The sky is indeed very bright and beautiful. It made me remember some happy and unforgettable experiences in my life. I wonder what caused the sky an admiring once in my sight. And then I realize that there are star filling the sky with great light. The twinkling stars caused the brightness and beauty of the sky. Yes! And I realized that in life there are also things which make us beautiful and admiring, or shall I say there are also people who make us happy. And this happiness will surely give us an admiring smile and bright life in the future, or even right now presently.

I will tell you about the stars of my life that made me shine with pride, beauty and admiration. They are my family, my loving and supportive family. When I was a naughty kid my dearest beloved parents took care of me and taught of the things we are going to do in the future when I grow up. They told me to be obedient and taught me to respect elders. They taught me how to pray to God and be faithful to Him. They taught me how to work household chores, help them wash the clothes, wash the dishes, wipe the windows and sweep the floor. They taught me everything. They punished me when I did something wrong. During that time I cried but now I realize I’m happy of what they were doing. The parents who spank their kids justly just prove themselves to be loving and caring to their kids.

My brother and sister are also the stars of my life. They made me happy when they smile. For me, we are one, because we came from one stomach, if that’s the way to say it.

As I gazed at the sky, I noticed that the dark clouds, perhaps the cumulonimbus clouds, were quickly running through the bright sky. Its dark color covered the stars. Guess how I reflected it into my life? Sometimes life has many problems to undergo. It is a challenge in which we need to fight over. These problems test us, if we are faithful enough to God and to ourselves, our skills in handling problems.

Few minutes later, it rained. And I thought that because of the problems, we shed tears. We cried and hoped it did not happen. But we always need to recover. Your family and the people who love you will surely help.

When it rained harder, I decided to go to my room and sleep. As I reflect at it, I thought there would always be a rainbow after the rain. That would be your happiness, your life shining with great beauty. The rainbow leads us to a happier and more peaceful life.

Therefore, the sky and the stars reflect our lives. They help us realize that you cannot live alone. You need your parents, family friends and all your loved ones. So, love them too.

A Love Affair with M/V Doulos and Books

Last February 13, I went to M/V Doulos with my classmates, schoolmates and teachers. We rode a Public Utility Jeepney instead of a bus. When we arrived I was filled with great astonishment for the ship’s great size. It was my first time to go aboard in a ship that big.

As we lined up ready to enter the ship, a very strict Filipino young man give us his instructions. After instructing us quickly but surely, we entered the ship which is clearly old, only repainted for it to look new. Well, there were lots of books in different sizes. There were also Christian tapes and CDs.

I know that the books are very knowledgeable about things and they are also a good source of different aspects of life, most especially values. I admired so many books. I love that Christian bible and those encyclopedias and dictionaries.

Unfortunately, I decided to go to the comfort room to answer nature’s call. I went out and urinated in the ship’s comfort room. When I was done, I went back again thinking I can still get in. But I was surprised when the security guard stopped me from entering. I told them that I was just urinating and I didn’t know that they have that kind of policy. I begged them but they did not really listen to me and they kept on repeating their words that it is their policy and they were just employees so they have to obey. Luckily, our teacher heard us call him and helped us to get inside again. When we reached the book store, it was already late in the afternoon and our teachers reminded us that we are about to go in a few minutes. I scanned the books very quickly. I had a difficulty deciding if I would buy that drawing book for little kids. I only had fifty pesos that time and the items which had that cheaper price were only the books for the kids, I mean, little kids. And I really wanted to have a souvenir book from M/V Doulos. On that time our teacher already called us to go home. I had no enough time to line up to the cashier to pay the book I had chosen. So, what I did was, I returned the books to where it was put and ran over to catch my classmates and my teachers going out of the boat.

When we were out the ship, I looked up and whispered good bye to the largest ship I had ever seen. I also said good bye to my happiest and most enjoyable experience in life. It was really enjoyable even though I did not get my admired book because I still read few pages, I mean, few short stories. I regretted that I had not bought those books as my remembrance. But I also did not want to waste my money on those silly drawing books. Actually, my problem was not really the time. The real problem was that - “I don’t have enough money!!”

On Being taught by Students

During our KYSD, teachers were substituted by students. They were allowed to teach their schoolmates to their desired subject. On my part, being taught by your fellow classmate is difficult, especially if that certain classmate is not lively and does not have a teaching technique, the technique on how to handle students to make them also alert and to help them avoid boredom. I admit that I don’t want to listen. Instead, I want to sleep or do something more important. I also admit that I was tempted to backbite the student who’s teaching us. We all laughed at that certain person. I just don’t want to tell his or her name. A moment later I realized what we were doing was wrong. I told them to stop it but they continue, and I continue too. I can’t help laughing about their teases. His or her pronunciations, gestures are so annoying.

Our room was very noisy. We weren’t afraid to do the things we are not expected to do. We weren’t afraid to be behind the lessons. We were talking different things. And all of them were not about the topic. We didn’t care what the student in front of us was doing. I felt so cruel. I sometimes pity to that certain student. I then remember myself being a teacher too. I remembered that it’s really painful to talk to the people who were not listening to you. It caused me a great embarrassment. I thought of not going to school the next day. I thought my classmates did ruin my beautiful day. Night after that day I asked the Lord where did I go wrong. Is there something funny about me? I once caught them laugh. What made them laugh? But I just said to myself that maybe they’re enjoying the subject. That decreased my sorrows. And maybe God helped me to recover my sadness.

That time I realized that in doing things such as being a teacher, we must do our best and be determined to do it. We must do it with dedication. I also realized that before having a great performance on teaching we must master our desired subject. We must first finish our studies and be a degree-holder, I mean, we must first be a professional. We must have a course in which we did offer our best to accomplish it. Being a professional must be our goal which we hope to reach. It will help us do something favorable, nice and great. Our sacrifices in achieving our goal must be prized with our achievements and our improvements. Just remember the words “Prayer plus effort is equal to success.” Always remember God on whatever things you do. “Do your best and God will do the rest.” God is very merciful. We all know that. He is always ready to help us, and we must also do our part. Our part is to work hard, sacrifice, and do our best.

See you next time in my next blog.

Reflection on Teachers and Teaching

January 29, 2007

Teachers are very important in our lives as student. They accompanied us in every success we achieved, and they are happy for us, just as our parents did. They are also sad when we get failing grades. They perhaps accused themselves why their beloved students failed, who, in return, are not trying their best. Then they tried to develop their ways in teaching. Every educated and professional men and women passed through the teachings and hard works of a teacher.

Since I was a child I wished to be a teacher. I convinced my mother to buy me a class record, a white board and a marker. I used them every time I don’t have anything to do. I played with my cousins and usually talked about the planets around the solar system. And it really became my favorite lesson, Astronomy. I memorized the planets by their positions and by their size. I also keep in mind their identities such as their color, temperature and even their circumferences. That was really my favorite subject. When I graduated in elementary, I was sad because I didn’t get the award, “Best in Science”. But I’m trying to make it now in high-school. My highest grade is 96 which I get from my Science 1-C subject. I know it is not impossible because I already liked it ever since I was young. I also taught my mind-numbing classmate how to memorize the nine planets quickly. It is by singing it in the tune of “Little Indians”. I have many ways how to learn quickly especially on my favorite subjects. In these ways I tried to figure out how I love Science in Astronomy. That is why I was really happy when I knew that UP would celebrate the KYSD, not knowing the difficulty you are going to face.

It was the UP’s Know Your School Day (KYSD) when I experienced being a teacher. I was the Science 1-C and P.E. teacher. I found it hard to teach my classmates because they are really very naughty, most especially the boys. They roam around the classroom, talk with their friends and even shout at us. The classroom was really a mess that time. I realized that being a teacher is just like carrying a cross. Many backbite you. Many talked negatively on the way you perform. I even practiced how to perform actively and nicely. After I taught them, I went to the locker and decided not to take the course that involves teaching. Actually, I really don’t know if they learned something. They only teased us and I hate it. I have my partner, Dan Clever, who spoke to them calmly. But they were really disobedient. I even spoke only a little. I must say it is really difficult teaching even to a high-school student.

Consequently, we must appreciate the diligence our teachers had shared to us. We must respect them and share to them our best so that we can pay what they had given us. We must try to have a good grade to make them happy. So, treat them as our true, loyal and lovable second parents.