Sem Break Activity

hello my dear students!

this is your chance to become an experienced biologist! for this semestral break we are on the field. i will require you to have your very own plant dissection handbook which will be submitted when you get back to school this november 3.

as we study morphology this second grading period, i will require you to apply all your knowledge about plants. decide what plant you wanted to become an expert with. list down all the questions you have in mind and as we go through the discovery process i hope this would get sparks in your mind. never be afarid to try out something different and something new. be at your own pace of learning, plan out when and where you will want to dissect your plant. express your creativity and resourcefulness for your personalized handbook.

experiment this out with your friends and other family members! enjoy learning and have fun unlocking some mysteries around you! you may even be delighted discovering new knowledge you thought the other way around.

BTW (by the way) i have uploaded my plant and animal dissection handbook only as your guide. still i want you to express your own individuality and originality. any questions or clarifications? leave me a message on the chat box or send me an email. i will be more than happy to help you out. Good luck everyone!

Euphorbia pattern

Leaf Venation: Pinnate

Leaf Shape: Obovate

Leaf Margin: Entire

Leaf Arrangement: Simple

Arrangement on the Stem: Opposite

Stem: Herbaceous with thorns

Latex comming out of the stem when cut off

Closer view of the leaf

My pamangkin assistant examining the flower pattern

Here’s a little botany for those who care about such things. The brightly coloured ‘petals’ on poinsettias and their Euphorbia relatives are actually modified leaves called ‘bracts.’ The flowers are in the centre, quite small and uninteresting looking. Please see my dissection handbook for a closer view. thanks

Communication between Dogs- Interrelationships

Communication between Dogs- Interrelationships

Exact methods of communication between dogs have long since been a mystery. For example: properly socialized dogs meeting for the first time can soundlessly evaluate each other in a short time. They can do this through an exchange of glances which will also decide if they will be friends or enemies. Dogs do this without any sophistiated verbal language. Dogs use various body parts to communicate with each other: various postures, and facial expressions. In most cases facial expressions and body language complement the impact of vocals (i.e. barks and growls). Odor also plays a signifiicant part in dogs' recogniton and interaction.

Body Language.

Dogs communicate Dominance by:

Humping.
Looming Over.
Urinating by lifting leg.
Lifting Tail.
Resting head on another dog's back.
Placing paws on another's back

Dogs communicate Deferrence and Submission by:
Urinating by Squatting.
Rolling Over
Tilting (or turning away) neck/head.
Hanging head.
Tucking in tail

Other gestures inlude:

Caution: Wagging tail (slowly) in horizontal motion.
Fear: Tail is held low or tuked
Content: Tail is relaxed (and stationary).
Excitement: Randomly wagging tail .
Threat: Tensing muscles and raising hackles
Invitation to play: Head low with elevated rump.

Facial Expressions.
Dogs exhibit different kinds of facial expressions. These expressions can be understood by other dogs of thesame and different species. To intimidate another, a dog would stare with it's eyes wide open, ears pointing forward, and teeth bared. A dog in a relaxed mood will have its eyes in a more relaxed mood ears relaxed (flopped), having an expression somewhat like a smile: mouth open, lips slightly back, and tongue hanging flabbily from the side of the mouth. In an anxious state, the dog would glance away and its ears may fall to the side of the head or may be flopped. While clenching its teeth, the dog's lips will be rigidly drawn back. Its tongue may or may not be exposed (depending on if it is lip-liking). If afraid , a dog would either stare forward or away with widely dilated pupils and ears pressed (back close to the head). The dog may also pant or breath hard (mouth may be slightly open or tightly closed); meanwhile, the sinews show in the cheeks through tensing of its jaws. They communicate their moods and intentions through combinations of these. Dogs' expressions may often appear undecided. It may be a mixture of completely different expressions.

Odor.

Odor communiation between dogs is fairly ambiguous. Dogs have an exquisitely powerful sense of smell. There is a likelihood that they learn about other dogs from smell. This may acount for their random sniffing habit. It is unclear what sort of information passes between dogs via this medium. It is well known however, that intact male dogs typically smell "male” (because of male sex pheromones) and that neutered males do not have this characteristic smell. The neutering process involves changing the olfactory signals the dog emits and therefore other dog's perception of it. It is possible that the "non-male" smell of neutered dogs may be thesame as that of the interval between heat periods (diestrus) or that of a neutered female dog. Odor causes differences in interactions between dogs. For example a meeting between an intact and a neutral male may not be confrontational because the intat dog does not pereive a rival- he may believe the nutered dog is female!

Dog Pattern

BRISKET: The Chest of the dog

BACK: The mass body seperating the loin from the withers.

LOIN: :Located on both sides of the backbone; the loin is situated between the ribs and hips.

HIPS: Joint- at the uppermost part of the hind leg

WITHERS: Located behind the neck, the top of the shoulders

CARPALS: The wrist and all bones of the pastern joint.

DEWCLAW: The fifth claw, very small and placed above the others.

FLEWS: Part of the upper lip (which hangs).

THIGH: The upper part of the hindlegs, below the hip.

FOREFOOT: Dog's front feet

HINDFOOT: Dog's back feet

PASTERN: Located at the topmost part of the hind legs

STIFLE: The Dog's knee- located (as that of most mammals), above the ankle, on the hind leg

HOCK: Totality of bones that make up the dogs ankle and heel (behind the ankle).

NOSE: Olfactory- the sense of smell, located at the tip of the muzzle. Used (as in all animals)
to recognize smell.

STOP: The depressed part of the skull- located between the eyes.

TAIL: Located at the rearmost part of the backbone. It is set on the rump of the dog.

Behavior and Foods Habits of Dogs

Excluding the days of menstruation of our dear Askal “Cutie” she is like a normal dog as I could observe. She wags her tail every time we get home from work. She run with the motorcycles trying to chase the motorist. She crawl under the sofa and she eats whatever we eat. Many says she has a breed of a pig because she is I think overweight and slightly obese. But she still runs fast and jumps high about 3 feet tall. Her ears are upward which means she is a natural barker which I tried to tell myself during wee hours when people on the streets makes bragging noise. She sniffs food very fast. I notice that when I get home with some meriendas and her eyeballs are staring at it. From my research these are some additional informations:

Behavior
Domestic dogs are similar to their ancestors, wolves, in that they are both pack animals with a complex set of behaviors related to determining the dogs position in the social hierarchy and their mood. There is only one leader in a pack, and often there is a struggle between members of the pack to determine who the leader is. The struggle ends with one animal on top of the other, with the submissive animal lying on its back. The dominant animal places its paw on the chest of the submissive one, and until the submissive animal looks away from the eyes of the dominant animal, the struggle continues. As soon as the submissive animal averts his eyes, he has admitted defeat and the leader of the pack has been determined. Dogs exhibit characteristic postures that reveal their states of mind. The neutral position is when a dog is calmly observing things in the environment. The mouth of a dog in this position may be open or closed. In the alert position, the dog's mouth may be open or closed, depending on the excitement level and environmental temperature. The hairs along the back and shoulders may raise without any intent of the dog to attack. The dog has simply focused his attention on some object and is curious about it. Offensive threat posture: hair raised, teeth showing, nose wrinkled, and growling may be heard. The tail is upright, although it may be wagging. A dog in this stance is ready to attack. Defensive threat: although the dog may be growling and snarling, the ears are laid back, which is a sign of submission in normal dogs, and the tail is hanging down. Greetings: relaxed face, mouth slightly open, loosely pulled back ears, tail wagging. This is the posture dogs assume when playing with family members or other dogs. Play invitation: lowered front part of body while keeping the rear end up. A dog may bark in this invitation to play, but it does not growl excessivly. Submission: body low to the ground, as compact as possible. Ears are drawn back, tail is tucked tightly under body. Submissive dogs pull the corners of their mouths back but do not show their teeth (submissive grin). Some submissive dogs assume the most vulnerable position known to dogs, lying on the backs, exposing their undersides. This position admits ultimate defeat in the struggle of dominance between dogs.

Domestic dogs can be active at any time of the day or night. Feral domestic dogs maintain home ranges that they defend against others and may move around throughout the year.

Food Habits
Puppies have different feeding habits than older dogs. A puppy needs twice as much protein and 50% more calories per pound of body weight daily in order to meet its growth requirements. A rapid change in a puppy's diet may cause gastrointestinal upsets. Puppies must feed 4 times daily until the age of 3 months, 3 times daily until 6 months and twice daily for the rest of its life. Older dogs' feeding habits are different in a couple of ways. The average size dog requires about 30 calories per pound of body weight per day. Interestingly, larger breeds need only 20 calories per pound of weight, while smaller breeds need about 40 calories per pound of body weight. A dog's diet should consist of balanced porportions of proteins, carbohydrates, fats and, of course, water. A dog can go days without food and lose 30% to 40% of it's body weight without dying, but a 10% to 15% water loss could be fatal. All-meat diets are not recommended for dogs due to the lack of calcium and iron found in meat. Diet supplements should be avoided. Human foods that can be fatal to dogs include moldy cheese, onions, and chocolate. Feral domestic dogs will eat a variety of foods including animals and fruits.

reference:
Dewey, T. and S. Bhagat. 2002. "Canis lupus familiaris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed September 14, 2008 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Canis_lupus_familiaris.html.

Reproduction of Dogs

Although our pet named “Cutie” is still a certified virgin (no joke!), she still have a working reproductive system which is evident when she has monthly menstruation. From my own observations, she is like a normal human female during her menstrual periods. My Titas normally notice her change in mood from very active and hyper from a ‘dalagang Filipina’ drama. She just sits under the sofa all day and she doesn’t even want to go out and bark at other people and try catching motorcycle riders which she usually does.

One thing that also amuses us is the also discharges red fluid from her vagina. We concluded that it’s her menstruation. When these times happen I could see my Titas looking very pity. They would normally say if only there are sanitary napkins for dogs they would surely buy some. The only things they could do is follow the tracks of red ‘blood’ from the floor Cutie left.

Well these are other important information about the reproduction of Dogs both male and female. I hope these would help some amateur people gain knowledge that would help them out in taking good care of their loved askals:

Reproduction

Breeding interval

Domestic dogs can reproduce at approximately six month intervals, though usually less frequently.

Breeding season

Breeding can occur throughout the year.

Number of offspring
1 (low); avg. 6

Gestation period
63 days (average)

Age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
6 to 12 months

Age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
6 to 12 months

Reproduction in domestic dogs is generally manipulated by humans. Feral males tend to compete amongst themselves for access to receptive females. Some feral domestic dog populations have reverted to ancestral habits where a single male and female pair (the alpha animals) dominate mating in a small, family group, or pack. Other pack members help to care for the offspring of the dominant pair.

Mating systems:
monogamous ; polygynandrous (promiscuous) ; cooperative breeder .

Domestic dogs have a gestation period of 9 weeks, after which anywhere from 1 to dozens of puppies can be born, depending on the breed and nutritional status of the mother. Average litter sizes are from 3 to 9 puppies. Male and female dogs usually reach puberty between 6 and 12 months of age; however, the time that a dog actually breeds depends on many social factors, ranging from size of breed (larger dogs need more time before they are ready to breed) and level of confidence a dog must attain before being ready to breed.

Most breeds are seasonally monocyclic, showing signs of heat every 6 months or so. The reproductive cycle has four stages: anestrus, proestrus, estrus, and diestrus. The anestrus period lasts about 2 to 4 months. Proestrus is the time when a bloody discharge first appears in a female. This is the beginning of "heat," a period that usually last 9 days but that can last up to 28 days. The end of this period is marked by the female's acceptance of a male partner. Estrus is the period when the female is sexually receptive and breeding can occur. Ovulation occurs about 24 hours after the acceptance of the male. Ova survive and are capable of being fertilized for about 4 days after ovulation; therefore it is possible for a female to mate with more that one male. Diestrus follows estrus in the nonpregnant cycle, characterized by a state of "pseudopregnancy", which is followed by a return of the uterus and ovaries to the anestrus, resting state.

Key reproductive features:
iteroparous ; year-round breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous .

Females nurse and care for their puppies until they are weaned at about 8 to 10 weeks of age. In feral domestic dog packs, puppies are cared for by all members of the pack.

Parental investment:
altricial ; male parental care ; female parental care

reference: Dewey, T. and S. Bhagat. 2002. "Canis lupus familiaris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed September 14, 2008 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Canis_lupus_familiaris.html.

Complaint letter to friendster

hi everyone! just last week i found out that one of my former student had been snatching my pictures from my friendster profile and using it as his primary photo. of course without my consent! he is now transfered to a nearby town catholic school (i think) and i do not (honestly) remember if i had treated him that bad or even said something that might upset him or anything else. actually me and his mother are in very good terms. we usually greet each other when we get across the streets of lumban. i think this kid has a serious phsychological problem that needs to be address.

as soon as my another student posted a comment for me notifying me about what Jordan (the name of my former student) has been doing on the net i huriedly look up his profile on the net and shockingly found my pictures realy set as his primary display image. i even browse through his accounts and finding some people saying profanity to him when all they are seeing is my solo picture. it was a horryfiying moment to me. another thing that shocked me was when i look into his photo album. there were two of my pictures there together with a nude picture of a man! (pennis picture to be specific) i realy felt embarased and harrased that moment. i never did realized that this thing could happen to me. and what suprised me was it is my former student. so i did what a teacher should do! i immediately send a report to friendster community that exact day.
the following days i check out how friendster has been doing regarding my complaint but only zero unread message appears on my inbox. then i thought if more people will complaint then maybe the friendster manager would me alarmed and they would prioritize my complaint so thats what i did. the following day i recived this email from them:

This message is a warning from Friendster's Customer Support department. We have received one or more complaints about your account for the following reason(s):

- Other reasons.

***This is not a Warning***

You have suspected Jordan (User ID 64168300) as impersonating you. After my investigation I could not find conlcusive evidence that they are you. I looked through your profile and could not find a matching picture. If you have more information that you can give us to help your cause then please email our support staff. Thanks

This is a violation of Friendster's Terms of Service. Please take steps to correct this. If this is not corrected, or if we receive further complaints, we reserve the right to suspend this account.

If you feel you have received this message in error, please feel free to reply to this message at custservice@friendster.com.

i realy upset about their response. what i understand about their letter is that i am the one who is making the wrong report! so this is my complaint reply:

dear Friendster Community,

i would like to clarify my complaint to JORDAN BUERANO (User ID 64168300) for using my pictures as his primary photo or display image under the following URLs:
http://photos-p.friendster.com/photos/60/68/5048606/1_361300153l.jpg
http://photos-p.friendster.com/photos/60/68/5048606/1_940491633l.jpg

the pictures i am refering was not grabed from my photo albums but it was, i think, copied or saved then he uploaded it himself without my consent.

attached herewith are the original pictures i am reffering to. you could check the original date of the file embed on the pictures.

as a matter of fact you could also see nudity in his uploaded pictures inside his photo album.

it was me who is insulted and being harased. As a matter of fact different people are using profanity in "Filipino" words to this person's name when it is my pictures they are seeing...

my image and personality is badly damaged. i am a public high school teacher and using friendster is my way of communicating with my students and friends. it was his profile that you should suspend not mine because it was me who is the victim of this all.


i could not imagine this degree of humiliation would happen to me. i have been using friendster for years, (i think you know that) and this is the first time that happed to me. i am very loyal to your company and you should also consider comparing JORDAN BUERANO's lenght of years using friendster than my membership for more than four years now. i think you should also compare the numbers of comments and testimonials posted on my profile to see my reputation as a good person.

i hope you thoroughly investigate again to see who's really telling the truth. i am looking forward for your reconsiderations regarding my complains. again it is me who is the victim and it is him who is violating your Terms of Service.


Sincerely,

Rolly B. Caidic

after two days i check out again Jordan's profile on friendster and its GONE! to my surprise! i even use his code number just to make sure he just dont change his name or sumthing but it was totally gone as in zero match found on search options.

then the next day friendster send me this email on my yahoo mail:

Re: Account warning message from Friendster.com [Incident: 081004-000638]Thursday, October 9, 2008 5:31 AMFrom: "Friendster Terms of Service" View contact details To: rollycaidic@yahoo.comRecently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support center. Below is a summary of your request and our response.

Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you.




Subject
Re: Account warning message from Friendster.com

Discussion Thread
Response (Cal) 10/08/2008 02:31 PM
Hello ,

Thank you for contacting Friendster Customer Support.

We apologize for the wording and the warning. Profile http://profiles.friendster.com/64168300 has been removed from our site. We appreciate your understanding and patience in this matter.

We hope this information helps and if there is anything else we can assist you with, please let us know.

Regards,

Cal
Customer Support

thanks God the impostor is gone deleted evaporated as in DEAD!
thanks also to all my realy friends and my dear students who also help me report this incident to friendster. actually some of my dear students personnaly confronted Jordan because they know his house. haha!

lesson learned? never ever trust everyone on friendster. and never ever put personal things such as pictures and informations on public.
i posted this event because i wanted to help other people too. if you have complaints and some problem like this never hesitate to complain or report it to friendster community. yeah they are also people not computer! they will definitely help you out! good luck everyone!
this is the original copy of the picture i am talking about...

What are reproductive technologies?

I am a Roman Catholic and I am a science teacher as well. I think we, humans, can be dimensional. Meaning we have all the reasons to be equally identified into different forms depending on our roles in life. On one side I am a believer of God on the other side I am an advocate of science. I have full respect for both sides of me and it is not a big deal because it makes me what I am now. On the onset of our world’s battle cry for a better living, reproductive technology is on the edge for bioethical debates. Between the world’s leaders (Church and Politics) it’s still a matter of personal choice. It’s us who know and understand ourselves best. We may have different responsibilities and tasks in life but we only have one body. Do not let other people affect your decisions in life. Stand for what we believe and what is right for ourselves.

On Diagrams and Instructional Materials

rolly 2a
Originally uploaded by rollycaidic

“To see is to believe!”

I have lots of personal teaching experiences about diagrams. During my first year of teaching in public school, due to lack of enough resources like instructional materials and textbooks, I always ended up summarizing the lesson on a manila paper. Writing down important details of the topic could mean great deal of time and effort. I took for granted the importance of drawings and illustrations because I thought it could also eat most of my time facing my art materials. Until I realized that describing something to my students, which they don’t even have any single clue to what I am saying, is like talking to dogs. I really had a hard time convincing them that cells are real and cells really do exists in our body. Even internal organs are hard to explain if they do not see the organs itself. No matter how much I hardly describe it to my students I think I am just a mime artist to them, acting as if things were true.

That’s a lesson learned for me. Now I am giving equal attention to lectures and diagrams. These two comes hand in hand in teaching not only science but all fields of study. True enough seeing is believing! Words are not enough to convey our thoughts. Drawings, illustrations, graphics etc. these are the teacher’s friends. They bridge imaginations into reality.

There are lots of varieties of diagrams this maybe in a form of pictures, conceptual frameworks, graphs and charts. All of these are used to present ideas which are more appealing to the eyes especially of the learners. It’s a break from the sea of grays. Modern technology like computers nowadays could also be a good medium in presenting diagrams which are fascinating and educational. Likewise improvisation, creativity and resourcefulness could also create innovative educational diagrams even without modern technology. Like the famous quotation says “pictures are worth a thousand words”.

If you were a plant or an animal, what would you be and why?

DSCN3809
Originally uploaded by rollycaidic

If I were a plant I would be a SUNFLOWER. No flower can lift spirits quite like sunflowers can. Bright and cheery, bold yet comfortable, the sunflower is a warm and vibrant plant. With brilliant yellow petals that surround the flower's center, sunflowers have an unmistakable sun-like appearance that has made them a passionate flower choice for many. For a flower which reflects so many of the sun's positive characteristics, it is little surprise that it is an ultimate ideal choice for sending sentiments of cheerfulness and sunny thoughts.

I definitely wanted to be like SPIDERMAN. His super abilities include enhanced sight, the ability to jump farther than a normal human, web that shoots from his wrists and tiny hairs on his hands that enable him to climb walls. He also comes complete with a psychic "spidee sense."

Studious rolly

Studious rolly
Originally uploaded by rollycaidic

FMA 2

Honestly, the first time I tried to read Module 1 I felt bored. I thought chemical formulas plus biology is not a good recipe. Then I browsed through the pages, it shocked me seeing more and more tongue twisting scientific terminologies that even my brain could knot remembering it all. Well, this could be the dilemma of a non-major-student-majoring-biology. I told my self that its ok since I am not yet actually ‘fully-cooked’ in this field, and it is a must that I undergone this as the first part of the course.

It was enlightening for me to read the Reader Volumes provided by our professor. It made me felt the gravity of being ‘majors’ compared non-majors. I realized that it was a big deal for me as a DST Major in Biology to understand the very-most-lowest level or unit of all living organisms and the very thought of understanding the origins of life.

I agree with the article of Prof. Hidalgo, we, teachers should not rely on the recipe-type science experiments. These activities would not deliver science literacy and it would not strengthen student’s science skills in employing scientific method since we already expect the answers or the actual result. It’s a reality that teachers, personally speaking, do sometimes avoid questions that are not expected to come up and are hard or difficult to answer. That’s why I always resort to making guide questions which I know the answers and have restrictions. But knowing the three-folds of science education made me feel guilty. Funny, looking back to my past teaching escapades when I make a lot of shortcomings and realizing never to make those mistakes again.

Points of View: Content versus Process is also revealing to me. I think ‘processes’ should have more emphasis over ‘contents’. Although both of them are very essential in scientific literacy especially for my high school students I think ‘content’ are readily available around us. You surf the internet, visit a library, read science journals and other publications… contents are all you could get. But process is one thing that anyone could not dig up that easily. It takes a lot of time, effort and hard work to perform like laboratory activities. On the other hand let us also give emphasis on the ‘skills’ part. On my opinion, it is not a matter of who wins between ‘content’ or ‘process’ or ‘skill’. Let us not forget that those three are all essential in science education. This is the holistic nature of science. The thee-fold of science education is inseparable.

Analyzing the three-fold objectives of teaching science made me come up with this conceptual framework:

I compare Bloom’s Taxonomy also known as Taxonomy of Educational Objectives and it also falls under the three-fold of teaching science. I think the very aim of science literacy is also the same with all other subjects. But scientifically speaking, cognitive domain must be focus on knowledge content about science. Psychomotor domain in science is about performing and demonstrating laboratory activities, then affective domain in science emphasizes on the interests, attitudes and appreciation towards scientific method.


Perfect Timing!

The topic on Cellular and Molecular Basis of Life is just in time with my daily schedule of topics and the learning competencies I am following. It is related to the topic that I am going to teach this week. Actually, last school year after I discussed the cellular basis of life I jump to the topic on cellular respiration. Now I realized that it is also very important for my students to know the molecular and chemical basis of life. I remember my student asked me the question “Are humans and all other living organisms also made up of atoms?” Now is the right time for me to deeper their knowledge on atoms and chemicals.

I also like the clear explanations on the topic of Other Theories on the Origin of Life. The statement on special creation is well justified. With my past experience, my class usually has a debate between science and religion and I rather not talk about it before. My students would normally asks “Sir bakit po sa Bible iba ang sinasabi?” But now it’s clearer to me.

I compare our school’s textbook Functional Biology by Rabago and the Biology by Rivero and Cao on the topic on Origin of Life. I found the illustration on Figure 1-1 Synthesis reactions leading to biological evolution very understandable. For my students, seeing illustrative or conceptual representation is easier than reading all-text topics which are not on the book by Rabago. The video is also very fun and educational as well. If Prof. Hidalgo would allow me to use it for film showing to my class that would also be more exiting for my students!

On the other hand, the Manifestations and Characteristics of Life are very technical or strictly interpreted compared to the BIO A Principles of Biology by Barrion and Zafarrala which is categorized into different sections or topics. I think it would be hard to explain to my students the way the content is presented. Content-wise I choose BIO A book on this specific topic because it is the same with our textbooks in school and my other references in school.

I also like the tabular format on the Biology A Study Guide because it is easier to understand the same with my other reference books. I have a weak point on stuff about chemicals and its processes that’s why I would like to know more about the cellular respiration. I find it hard analyzing compounds and I suck explaining them. I hope I could learn more about it so that I can clearly discuss it to my students.

Bigat-10 Reunion Batch 97

our 10th anniversary reunion video-pictures. very fun!

hanna montana 3d experience

hana 3d experience
Originally uploaded by rollycaidic

yeah i think i should be taking my blog site mor seriously. im usually not in the mood talking about my craps in life. who cares anyway! but hey its a long vacation. and i just thought what a waste of my precious time not wasting my time writing on my silly blog.

its 3:22 am, and my brain is still running mad. DSL realy makes you go crazy. i think i have watched all of the videos on the you tube more than you think. and thats one more thing that keeps me up. yeah i know now how to self examine my testicles! hehe... wtf all those videos. i also enjoyed that indian song and some racist korean faces. hehe... well more sounds like theyr juz wasting my time.

my latest pictures were taken inside our house. thats what you get when you watched too much TV most of the time. you get like to be with the TV, obey the TV as your master, think like the TV, hear like the TV, smell like the TV, feel like the TV and be the TV. now im like going gaga over Hanna Montana and Miley Cyrus with the Jonas Brothers Best of Both Worlds 3D Concert TV event of the year! whew! i even get to memorized that super long title for a concert. Hell no! its not about Hanna or Miley or Jonas its about the 3D Shades i got! isnt it cool? you get to watched a concert just like inside iMAX Theatre. Very sosyalan! btw the tight pants of the jonas brothers looks good on them. i wonder if it would also look perfectly fine with me. the last time i wore a skinny jeans were our school's field trip. and only after the tour when my bestfriend told me that my ass is eating up my pants! what a looser! i sucks! OMG! i hate it when i remember that.
hey i also saw that Miley Cyrus Scandal thing in the Vanity Fair Mag. she looks very matured on that. but hey hey hey! im telling you im not into hanna montana! honestly!!!! please leave me alone! anywayz i think you should also watch Miley Cyrus got a boobs on you tube. thats fucking funny i tell you. but please im not interested with her its just that i bump into one of the links and just it!

most of the places i've been were just around my monitor. surfing the net. haha.. thats what you get when its your first time with dsl. thanks to the very ear popping digitel. they patiently waited for me. dont they love me? i never paid my bills for 6months then retained my outgoing calls for more than a year and now they are likely to sue me. telling me to find my lawyer and im busted! well im paid now. and they really love me for that.

well i should get some sleep now. my eyes are red like a tomato and my brain is sagging like a banana! whuahaah! isnt it funny? sagging and banana? yeah right! its funny! got to go now. bye for now!

enjoy the waters

enjoy the waters
Originally uploaded by rollycaidic

BAYWATCH
By ROLLY CAIDIC

Now the arctic zephyr guzzled up my complexion
As I freely drift on an agape sea of Quezon

My body is wavering against the tide and the wind
Eyes are jammed with the playful blue sky and white kind

My ears are hauled by the hushed water around my face
As I lie down floating on the timid ocean space

Salty sea mists squish around my chilly lips
And in my nose the blue green depths of water collapse

I wrote this poem last May 3 after me and my barkada had our annual beach vacation in Real, Quezon. The name of the resort is Baywatch. My poem describes my feelings as I swim into the seascape. Going back to the sea every year is invigorating. Spiritually, emotionally and physically I am always refreshed.

My vacation is never complete without going back to the beach with friends. It is our celebration of life, our escape from life’s black-tainted ordure. Vacation day may end but our memories from the sea live on. That is our life’s bivouacs after a day of enduring our obstacle course. The sea is our own little planet where we could escape from reality. And it’s nice to know that there are friends residing inside your heart which you can withdraw strengths, inspirations and happiness.

What plant and animal specialization have you chosen?

euphorbia
Originally uploaded by rollycaidic

I chose my euphorbia plant because it is so “uso” in my town. And just outside my window I also own one. It’s bearing bright red flowers like roses just only after I bought it. Since then it stopped flowering. I don’t know if it is my fault. So I wanted to know how to make it produce beautiful flowers again and more other things about it. I could also share this useful information to my neighbor.

For my animal specialization I chose my Tita Luming’s pet dog “Cutie”. She is a chubby pig-like-askal-dog owned like a real daughter by my two “matandang dalaga titas”. I thought with their help I could observe many things about the pet and I could also help them take good care of her.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities - Collage - Morph

Step up on the table

Step up on the table!

STEP - SYC Philippines Chapter had a small ‘reunion’ at the greenbelt 3 Makati last April 18, 9pm. Bits of SYC memories were part of the dinner table but the main course were the plan of putting up a functional organization which will produce a workable project.

Menu was laid down on the table by our country representative jonizel lagunzad. We were only 6 who discussed different major concerns of the country. Most of the ingredients are poverty and youth. Another plate serves the topic on economics. Side plates also serve technology and bigger plates had focused on education. Jonizel wanted a project that would bring hope to Filipinos. That would be in a broader sense but she explains that its part of the major objective of what the project would be. Detailing the objective, it should be a self-help project and would last a longer time.

There were a lot of flavors presented on the table and we only have to choose the best dish that we could offer to Temasek holdings. The first taste test was an internet project for the host school Wawa National High School. We thought teaching students with the technology of internet, computers and web page designing and letting them create their own journal may keep good communications between the islands of the Philippines. Objective of the program is bridging the gap of cultural differences, educating the students about the internet, making them more English proficient and letting them be active and aware of the current events of the community. And so our plates were filled with great ideas on we could materialized the initial project. Same tastes of the projects were also introduced by one the SYC. But then one flavor is missing and the major taster is not satisfied.

Not until the SYC batch 'ex', as she introduce her self, open another menu for us to taste. It is ideal as she explained it based on her experiences. Career orientation is an important part of being a high school student she stressed. We can direct their career path more accordingly if we share to the students the different careers out there. We should introduce careers that are out of the box. Not like what we could dream but how we could make a living out of it. And that what catches the nose of everyone. If we could educate students as early as third year high school about the realities of different courses, we may inspire their minds the right job opportunities our world could offer. This makes Jonizel more exited about the project. She justified that it is what she is thinking earlier. About giving hope and inspiration to the Filipino children. Letting them explore the realm of possibilities and realities. Channeling between imagination and aspiration. Through this project we could let youth imagine more than they could imagine and aspire more than the reality. We all agreed that this is a perfect program! This would be a long preparation, yes it is hard but all of us agreed that the project is great and let us wait until it cooks tenderly and perfectly!

So this is the recipe:
ingredients
• Target group – Filipino youth preferably indigenous students
• Target school – (maiden host) WNHS, Lumban, Laguna
• resource persons
• work group - SYC chapter
Procedure:
• Case study of the place
• Begin with a small group like some indigent families
• Set a program or orientation
We are hoping TEMASEK would love our recipe. We'll have to wait first for everyone to agree with the project proposal.
Btw thanks to jonizel for the anniversary book! Its nice. Thanks to everyone as well.

pics are from my scrap book
courtesy of flickr

one good way of enjoying the pleasures of blogging and earning money at the same time!
I was inspired to update my blog posts because I watched this you tube video taken from mel and joey segment about blogging. It said I could earn big bucks out of blogging! Wow! and they are not just talking about pesos but dollars! Well, that’s one good motivation to keep on patching up those pieces of stuff about yourself and start making some money baby…


12 Reasons Why You Need A Blog
by: Dr.Mani Sivasubramanian

"Why Should I Blog? I Simply Don't Get It"

This post on a popular discussion forum set me thinking - and I came up with 12 reasons you should blog.

Read them and get started on your blog. Or better still, go get your blog up and running and THEN come back and read this :)

#1 - You Do Not Need To Know HTML

One of the biggest hurdles many hopeful website creators face is they don't know to design a webpage. Blogs overcome this - all you do is type into a box, and the blog software automatically converts it into a webpage and publishes it on the World Wide Web for anyone to see.

#2 - You Are 'Forced' To Keep Your Content Fresh

Blogs are essentially online diaries. It doesn't make sense to write in your diary every month or two. Similarly, running a blog itself 'forces' you to update it often. And refreshing your blog often makes it more useful to readers and consumers - and by extension, to search engines who are in the business of presenting *their* clients with valuable resources.

#3 - Your Blog Is AUTOMATICALLY Optimized For Search Engines

Search engines love fresh content. But that's not the only way blogs are powerful tools to rank high. Indeed, most blogs are structured to offer a high degree of search engine optimization.

All sections of your blog are linked together. The terms used as link 'anchors' are keyword-optimized. Categories can be created to host themed content. Navigating through your blog is intuitive. Archives can be customized, and generate hundreds of pages of content that act as 'search engine spider bait'.

#4 - You Get A Built-In Linking Structure

With very few exceptions, most blogs are structured to be a tightly integrated network of links - to other sections of your blog! It's quite easy for a visitor to get 'lost' within your blog... without ever leaving it.

Calendars link to posts on specific dates. 'Recent Post' listings point to your freshest content. Archives connect all your earlier posts. Search boxes let browsers look for certain kinds of content. And it all happens automatically, without you spending hours on creating a link structure or sitemap!

#5 - You Generate Multiple Content-Rich Pages

Every post you make on your blog is content. And by intelligently setting up your archiving preferences, you can turn each post into many different forms of content, each on a page of its own. Blog regularly for a few months, and you could end up having a 100+ page website - all filled with relevant, keyword-optimized, themed content!

#6 - You Can Keyword-Optimize Your Blog Extensively

All parts of your blog's template can be customized. And a very powerful way to do it is by inserting relevant keywords. It's a do-it-once job that will give you ongoing benefits for as the life of your blog. You can include keywords in your blog title, description, blog post headings, trackback links, comment invitations, archive titles, and category names.

#7 - You Create An Online Community

If your blog is on a specific theme, you can build a loyal readership and develop an online community. You can even take it a notch higher by tying it in with a forum or membership site. Ask for comments, suggestions, ideas and feedback, or invite reader participation. Pretty soon, your blog will be growing organically - even if you don't write a lot!

#8 - You Initiate Conversations With Readers

Of course, the first step is yours - to initiate a dialog with readers. You could do it with your blog post, asking a question or by inviting comments and interaction. Your blog will be read by an audience that's already interested in your subject or theme. This conversation will be priceless to you, the blog owner.

#9 - Your 'Inbound Link' Process - Trackbacks

Blogging is about distributed conversations online. Links are an integral part of such an informal network. Trackbacks are a kind of blog technology that make it possible - and simple! Your blog will benefit from the inbound links a trackback will bring, and you'll also get extra traffic from other sources.

#10 - You Can Syndicate Your Content Easily

Getting readers for your content is good. Getting your content out where many more readers can see it is GREAT! Syndication (via RSS feeds) is built in to most blogging platforms, giving you a quick and easy way to get a wide readership for your blog posts.

#11 - You're Creating Stuff Search Engines LOVE

Search engines exist to offer their audience a compilation of the best resources on a subject or keyword. Your blog is the answer to a search engine's prayers! By sticking to a theme and presenting the content in an organized, structured, intuitively connected pattern, your blog will be appealing to search engines in a way only a very professionally planned and designed website can ever hope to be.

#12 - You Get 'Alternate' Traffic Sources

Remember what we saw about blogs being linked and networked together? Bloggers like to share opinions with others. And when they 'talk' about you, they are going to point to your site, or a post on your blog, to show their readers what they mean. They become 'alternate' traffic sources - for YOU!

Other tools like blog rolls, furls, favorite bloggers and more can drive sporadic - but sometimes big floods - of traffic your way. And best of all, it's effortless and costs you nothing!

Not yet convinced? Well, then maybe blogging isn't quite your cup of tea. But if you trust me, try it - you just might be pleasantly surprised.

About the Author
Dr.Mani Sivasubramanian is author of 'Blog Profit Ideas Exposed - 33 Ways To Profit From Blogs" - http://www.BlogProfits.com - and 'How To Profit From RSS Feeds" - http://www.RSS-Marketing.com and publishes 8 different 'niche' blogs and has been reporting on marketing with blogs and RSS feeds since 2001.

The Daffodil Principle

The Daffodil Principle

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come to see the daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead. "I will come next Tuesday", I promised a little reluctantly on her third call.

Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house, I was welcomed by the joyful sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my grandchildren.

"Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see badly enough to drive another inch!"

My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother."

"Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!" I assured her.

"But first we're going to see the daffodils. It's just a few blocks," Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'm used to this." "Carolyn," I said sternly, "Please turn around."

"It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience."
After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with an arrow that read, " Daffodil Garden ." We got out of the car, each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path.

Then, as we turned a corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight.

It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over the mountain peak and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, and saffron and butter yellow. Each different-colored variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.

"Who did this?" I asked Carolyn.

"Just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She lives on the property. That's her home." Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house.

On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking", was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. " 50,000 bulbs," it read. The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and one brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958."

For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop. Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration.

That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time--often just one baby-step at a time--and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world …"It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years? Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"

My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start tomorrow," she said.

She was right. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, "How can I put this to use today?"

Use the Daffodil Principle. Stop waiting.....
Until your car or home is paid off
Until you get a new car or home
Until your kids leave the house
Until you go back to school
Until you finish school
Until you clean the house
Until you organize the garage
Until you clean off your desk
Until you lose 10 lbs.
Until you gain 10 lbs.
Until you get married
Until you get a divorce
Until you have kids
Until the kids go to school
Until you retire
Until summer
Until spring
Until winter
Until fall
Until you die...

There is no better time than right now to be happy. Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

So work like you don't need money. Love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no one's watching.

If you want to brighten some one's day, pass this on to someone special. I just did!

Wishing you a beautiful, daffodil day!Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.

Lumban Anilag Street Dancing Champions Trivias

magaling magaling magaling! Champion ang Lumban Wawa National High School sa Anilag Festival 2008! syempre tatak lumban magaling! check out da pics!

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trivia:

1. Ostrich feathers which costs 250 pesos were used as headress of each of the girls



2. the municipality of lumban expenses had reached more than 400,000 just for the street dancing competition!



3. 30,000 pesos were paid for the coreographers and production designer



4. 10,000 pesos were aloted each day for the food of the dancers



5. costumes were made in san pablo not in lumban



6. participants are composed of 42 male dancers, 49 female dancers, 14 props men



7. there were almost 10 professional make up artist hired



8. practices took 1 month. from 8am till 9pm. mostly 15 minute breaks only.



9. all props are authentic lumban made except for the sewing machine which were carved in paete using styro to get ease in parade.



10. the props were doubled in number, a set for the practice alone and other set for the actual competition were reserved.



11. costumes of the boys were delayed 2 hours before the actual competition



12. not all boys were wearing the same costumes inside.



13. propsmen's costumes were from last year's anilag of san pablo

story of my money

It’s all about the money!!!!

I was fully charged and energetic this morning. I slept early for the first time when DSL is not yet invading our pc at home. So I was so exited to see all my carpenters working continuously and to my surprise! Its past 8am and only Mang Vino the assistant is only around!!! WTF! WHERE ARE THE CARPENTERS! Screaming inside my head… I tried to said this to the good old carpenter’s assistant that he may leave and return AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TOMORROW. And I hope he catches that line… I was fucking stressed to my surprise that everyone is so ‘palagay’ with everything when everything is a mess.

Later that morning my head teacher texted me salary is here… well what a great timing! I can have the whole morning free going around places. Never did even thought of taking a bath crash to the school. Met the principal wammy and get my salary. Before I left the school I settled everything. I gave ‘reseta’ inside the class cards indicating the credits of my wonderful (sucks!) students. Then did some forms, thanks to mam rexy filling out my performance rating now I just had to sign those.

Now im going to sta cruz to get the money sent my mother and so the story of my money goes…

Part one

I check out big bucks how much their rate is. Said 41.75. in paete its 41.35 so I thought I can save a lot with that (big buck’s rate). I ran to RCPI to get the money. I released the money in dollars for the first time. Now im learning!!... hahah

I got around 20,000 bucks I thought enough to finish the house renovation. Then I go to sta cruz joy enterprises and bought some electrical stuff for my upcoming brand new air conditioner. It costs around 2, 300.

When I got home I paid my sister 1,700 for the credits I made yesterday. Coz I got short when metrobank was offline lunchtime I siniloan.

In munisipyo I met beth the imperial rep to show me some air cons and some nice appliances. What I have in mind are washing machine and air con. Cutting my money story short I ordered one unit of the breezy thingy and swirly thingy for 5, 700 including the downpayment one month advance to avoid the CI shows and delivery fee. Anyway the spaghetti is nice free from the paete municipal office. Good timing though. I also pay ate mhey 500. thanks tamhey!

Then, obeth the sober showed up wanting to shovel all of their hardworks for the past week. I carefully computed all of their salary then take off their advance which equals to 3,700 bucks. All goes to the three of them!

Now summing up all my money’s journey to other people’s pocket. I will be running out of money before the house gets its final touch. I will be short big time on this. Anyways,
always think positive! I’ve always wanted a decent, simple but a house that I can be proud of and tell to everyone. A house, which I can announce as a landmark. At the end of the day, its always between me and my house. And it’s a nice thing to think that you have something that you can really call your territory. I get inspired seeing my co-teachers’ houses when they tell a story about it, laugh about it, and dream about it. Now I can share mine as well.

about our house

It has been a sleepless week for me. And marina is still swimming around the television while im in front of my turtle pc for some updates and probably making the most out of my new DSL! Whaha… this is what we call as ‘sabik’. i slept for 3 hours then waited for the carpenters then sleep again. Never mind all those noise.

Yeah! Speaking of carpenters… we are now renovating our house.
Let me describe ours. Its an old ancestral house of my late father. Made of stone on the first floor then wood on the second floor. After my father and my uncle ige passed away. My tita luming and tita virgie were left probably hanging coz they are single.. matandang dalaga.. so my superhero mother came to the rescue I think. She ‘suklian’ the house and lot.

Three years ago the house is not fully divided. Problem is there is only one stairs. So some problems usually occurs. Like the veryy cute cuteee. Wtf! That little angel like my auntie would say brings terror to us! As doctors said. She has scabies and yucks!! Even my pamangkin has too. Oohh thanks to that angelz..

So let me describe what is going on in our house right now. While im in front of my pc and while everything moves around me:

1. we mixed the rooms with my tita. Moving my things to sister’s room just to give way for the repairing of the room where I will transfer.
2. there is a big hole almost in the middle of our house right now. It’s the site of my precious tita’s stairs. I hope no one get hurt especially my precious tita. Yeah right! Keeping my fingerz crossed.
3. my katokayo ‘rolly’ the 320-a-day-slow-carpenter is making all that noise making my room. Imagine spending all week just making my room’s walling and not yet the ceiling.
4. thanks to obet the-350-a-day-fast-head-carpenter is doing most of the work. He is now going to the plainer to do the stair way to heaven of my auntie. They requested to do the plainer to make it lovelier.
5. now I don’t know where to dump the good old refrigerator and the rusty washing machine. Well im planning to place the washyyy machyyy at the side of our house. I will renovate that too.
6. later on I hope they put the new poste for the support of the new division.
7. yesterday I run to the atm to get some money. Mother lily is not yet sending. Then this afternoon I will get to the RCPI to fetch some more money. Really spending way too high and to think 30,000 was gone with the wind just for the materials alone!
8. now im thinking of matmas to carry over the expenses, ohh no I won’t!!! I have a big plan for the money ohh I hope I wont get help from them. No no!
9. hey thenks to my sister who help out cleaning the dishes and cooking the rice and keeping aniel out of site of the carpentaz. Realy dangerous with a kid around. Promise! Hey thanks to johnmarie as well my pamangkin here. A little help means a lot to us.

My First FMA

“I did not become a teacher out of any sense of vocation; mine was no considered decision in the interests of youthful humanity or the spread of planned education. It was a decision forced on me by the very urgent need to eat.”

- Edward R. Braithwaite
To Sir, With Love
Looking back in time, I really don’t remember any childhood experiences that would connect my current profession right now as a teacher. I always dreamt of becoming a doctor, an architect or an artist perhaps just like any normal kiddo would aspire. But being a teacher is far from my imagination and I never encountered it in any of my dreams. I grew up in a world of sketch pads, chisels and religious images around our house. The fact that my late father was a small-time carver in Paete, Laguna did not permit me to fulfill my hallucinations of becoming a high-earning professional someday. Instead, the satirical reality of teaching comes. I ended up graduating Bachelor of Secondary Education, Major in General Science at the Laguna State Polytechnic University in Siniloan, Laguna three years ago.

As soon as I graduated in college, I worked as a call center agent in Ortigas. I thought earning high salary and working in an urbanized “cave” would fulfill my happiness. I was so wrong. A cave is still a cave. I realized that it was so toxicating. Burning up my ass in an office chair for straight eight hours and arguing to someone I don’t even see is something that no one would really enjoy. I don’t have anything against call centre agents, I think it’s also a nice earning job but I really don’t think that work is for me.

Soon enough, I passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers that year and told my self maybe I would give it a try. I trusted God for He planned my board exam and my application as a teacher in public school. I was only 22 years old when I planted my first year of teaching in Lumban National High School, Lumban, Laguna, where I am still now. Most of my co-teachers and friends ask me if I’m enjoying my work. They thought being a teacher is a very tough job. Yes it is! But I can not exactly explain why I am still teaching today. Everyday I still greet my students with a big smile and full of energy. Laughing with them, arguing about something, discovering new ideas, exploring new worlds, and even the worst of disciplining them makes me feel alive. I truly enjoy those crazy moments. Looking back again to the passage of Braithwaite, I realized that it’s maybe not my choice to become a teacher but I know my profession have chosen me. I maybe forced because of our status in life but being a teacher is not an accident. In the process I realized how education has engulfed my frustrations in life.

I am still very young in this vocation. I lack enough experiences that would help me understand most of the ups and downs of Science Teaching. Now I come to another chapter of my life. I consider being a distant student again in this virtual class is another exiting part of my career. I expect to learn more about my major subject as well as improving my teaching skill. I also expect that I would gain a lot of insights and help from my fellow classmates. I would really like to share experience with them. Through this I know I can upgrade my craft. And through this I want my students to build up their education as well. I also lack enough knowledge that would help me understand most of the modules/topics of BIO A in Diploma in Science Teaching. I hope to read more forums and help from my fellow classmates. I will also try my best to help them out. We’re just an email away.

Opportunities are never lost; someone will just take over the ones you missed. True enough, the opportunity of studying in the University of the Philippines – Open University is a big break for me. Congressman “Egay” San Luis Scholarship program really offers a great chance for us to pursue our post-baccalaureate studies in spite of our arduous work as a public school teacher.

My line of work requires a great deal of time and efforts. Weekdays are not enough to accomplish all my tasks in school. Even Saturdays and Sundays are sacrificed just to prepare all the lessons and visuals for the coming days. For this reason, studying in an Open University or distance learning program helps a lot in balancing my time and effort for different tasks.

My intension in taking up a graduate study course is to advance my level of education, which may lead to a higher degree of position and a broader scope of employment. Moreover it would be an edge to finish my education in one of the premier universities in Asia such as UP.

After I completed my graduate study course in UP Open University, I will still continue to teach Science and Technology II in public high school, conforming the contract I will sign under the scholarship. I know, after this, more doors of opportunities will open for me. I will also apply for promotion that may upgrade the level of my position. I will also venture into a deeper line of work, like researches or science investigative project, and maybe streamline my teaching strategies.

To the extent that my career will flower, I know my students will also bloom in the field of science. I will improve their skills and develop more their interest in this discipline which is the basic aim of my scholarship. Cong. San Luis’ vision is to harvest more UP Passers from students of fourth district of Laguna. That is what I am also aiming. After UP, I should be able to create globally competitive students, equipped with the latest trends in science.

An ideal UPOU student?

My “baptismal” in UPOU last second semester with Sir Ric Bagarinao was unforgettable one. I had zero knowledge and zero experience about distance learning student. It was really a roller coaster ride of learning, both exciting and very unpredictable. I had the most extreme pressures and lowest point of emotions every time we have examinations and deadline of assignments. But every end of the rides were rewarding.

If I would evaluate my past experiences and participation last semester, I am still not sure if that would make an ideal student of UPOU. I’m not an expert regarding this but there many things I learned more than our modules and online discussions. Honesty, diligence, obedience, curious, judgmental, patience, perseverance, humility… I could enumerate hundreds of desirable traits that a student should posses but at the end of it all is one thing that I am always telling my self and everyone. LOVE what you are doing and everything will follow.

“The true way to render ourselves happy is to love our work and find in it our pleasure.”
- Francoise De Motteville

Like my profession, when I learned how to love being a UPOU student, I also learned to accept all the perils of it. The UPOU student must be totally committed in his efforts towards excellence. It’s hard, very hard, and it takes a lot of hard work but the end of it all is worth it. I became conscious that it is all part of the process. And the process is yet to come. I will have more modules to read and study, more assignments to pass, more examinations to get but I doesn’t bother me at all. As long I love what I am doing I am happy and that is the most important thing.

How about the examinations?

I believe that examinations are given depending on the learning of the student. Different examination requires skills suited for the topic or the type of knowledge a teacher is trying to measure or asses, somehow. I can not tell what exactly the kind of the examination in BIO A we could have. Since our brain doesn’t stop working. From the moment that we started the modules and becoming curious about our surrounding that’s the time that we try to explain everything around us. Likewise, learning has been evolving since we started analyzing how our brain works. It’s like a child being born, learning started out as a way of acquiring knowledge. Then after a few months passed we started to adopt this knowledge to a natural way, on how knowledge and the learner exist. I don’t stop there; I am now still trying to prove more knowledge by examination. This time the focus is not only on the learner but as well as his / her environment and all other factors that may affect him / her.

The final question.

I admit I’m still very young in my profession as a teacher. I am still in an experimental stage. I have done a lot of trial and error in my teaching strategies. But I know I may fine tune my teaching career as I get old. My concept of a science is not as profound as a scientist. I’m a science teacher. That’s why everyday I always include science word drill, some science news/updates, and a good motivation for my students. There are also individualized instructions I use during activities. This would help students discover new knowledge by themselves. Also students learn from their mistakes so they use more of their brain trying to analyze the problem.

That’s my concept of science. Not just as a subject in school but something that my students could bump into everyday. I believe scientific literacy is not about memorizing hundreds of terminologies in science nor enumerating thousands of the parts of an organisms or even counting millions of living organisms. It’s about making my students’ feeling science as part of their everyday lives. Letting them explore things by applying the concepts they have learned. Criticize things like scientists do. Until I achieved this vision, I can tell my self that I am a true Scientist and a teacher.

The important thing here is that educators must be like embroider. There may be a lot of colors and textures of threads to choose from but an expert embroider know when, where, what and how to place these to the fabric in order to produce a one of a kind master piece.

I would like to end my first FMA with the Daffodil Principle:

Learn to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time--often just one baby-step at a time--and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world …

There is no better time than right now to be happy. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. So work like you don't need money. Love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no one's watching.

Baywatch

Baywatch

Now the arctic zephyr guzzled up my skin
As I freely drift on an agape sea of Real Quezon

My body is wavering against the tide and the wind
Eyes are jammed with the playful blue sky and white cloud

My ears are hauled by the hushed water around my face
As I lie down floating on the timid ocean space

Salty sea mists squish around my chilly lips
And in my nose the blue green depths of water collapse

My first leg of fully packed month of May starts with our barkada’s annual outing in real, Quezon. It almost neared the edge of vagueness when proposed schedules did not fit everyone’s calendar. Thank’s to kuya tino’s (who wanted to be called Arvin) resources he phoned up everyone on his phonebook just to settle things down. What a great timing when agie (which was hired that day) knew a new and better place we could held the outing – Baywatch! We (agie and me) arrived as soon as everyone’s brains blew out after letting them wait for us for 3 agonizing hours. I understand… The pack of wolves is there… charisma, sir lem, tino, and bitoy. They almost devoured us with their eyes! We decided to just rent a room since ranel will come the next day.

Long wait evaporates away when we reached the long end of the rainbow. To my surprise… There’s a pot of gold! Literally, the sand is perfect, the facilities are nice, service is ok and the weather is inviting. We rushed to grilling area before hitting the dark sea floor.

The following days are filled with out bursting laughter, laughter and laughter up to the brim. Beers and wines poured out every night as we serenade the dark sky intertwined with stories of life and love. We literally filled the room spaces with no gap especially during sleeping hours. That’s part of the fun and how our boredom fades away.

Now that’s what you call a vacation. A celebration of life. An escape from life’s black-tainted ordure. Vacation day may end but the memories live on. That is our life’s bivouacs after a day of enduring our obstacle course. Our little escape from reality. It’s nice to know that at the end of the day there are friends residing inside your heart which you can withdraw strengths, inspirations and desires.

For Agie, Charisma, Sir Lem, Kuya Tino, Kuya Bitoy and Ranel.