The Ocean of My Being

I’ve always loved to read. I remember during my earliest years in elementary (grade school), the only books I loved to study and browse were the ones with stories. I loved to read the stories about Filipino families, the picture perfect family who ate together, prayed together (usually they’d go to Antipolo on Sundays), went to the beach, and had pets ( Muning and/or Bantay ). There’d be Lolo (Grandpa), Lola (Grandma), Nanay (Mother), Tatay (Father), Kuya (Older Brother), Ate (Older Sister) and Bunso (Youngest). Tatay would come home from work just in time with Nanay just finishing to set the table for early dinner. The kids would study together, with the older kids always helping Bunso . They’d always have time to play and do house chores. They’d even grow fruits and vegetables in the backyard. And, they were always the most respectful, polite, kind and happy kids. I would always imagine myself as one of the kids in such stories. Not that my family is not a happy one...

Fill in your answers and then scroll for the meaning behind it. Don't mess up the fun, do the answers first. 1. You are not alone. You are walking in the woods. Who are you walking with? -- Aya. 2. You are walking in the woods. You see an animal. What kind of animal is it? -- A tiger. (I love cats!) 3. What interaction takes place between you and the animal? -- We stare at each other. I try to decide whether to run or to stay. Then, I try to go nearer and try to pet it and befriend it. (That is, if it hasn't decided to pounce on me yet!) 4.You walk deeper in the woods. You enter a clearing with your dream home that looks like... -- A house that's not too big nor too small and that has the home-y feel. It'd be a place that would make me feel relaxed and calm just by seeing it or thinking about it. 5. Is your dream house surrounded by a fence? -- No. 6.You enter the house. You walk in to the dining room and see... -- A nice, big and clean table with 5 or 6 chairs aroun...

I am at a Net center right now researching about something for one of my classes tomorrow. My plan was just to blog-hop and try to find out what's been going on in my favorite bloggers' lives, but something made me want to update my blog. I have so much to blog about, I just don't have much time to do so. Not even tonight because the driver's already outside waiting for me. But, I'm looking forward to having our own Internet connection at home very soon as Globelines and Smart Bro will reach my place soon. How soon? I don't really know. But, at least they're saying it's going to be real soon. And then, finally, I can blog and blog-hop as much as I want to! :) Meantime, here's something interesting I got from The Caterpillar . My Lakbayan grade is C-! How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan ! Created by Eugene Villar . -- I am so disappointed about my C- grade! It's as low as my Math grade and Math was (sti...

Whenever a friend of mine shares a problem with me, I would imagine myself in the same situation. I would usually try to look at things the way I think my friend would. I would write about it. And, sometimes, I would write as that friend, meaning I would write the thoughts of such friend, based on the things s/he shared, as if they were my own. A few of my close friends know this about me and one or two would usually expect me to write as themselves whenever they share problems with me. One of them even told me that my showing her the piece I wrote, as her, about something that was bothering her helped her. She said that it was better than getting advice, which, according to her, can sometimes be stupid. Oh-kay. I have a good friend who just recently shared with me how she felt about being her father’s daughter with “the other woman.” I’ve always admired this friend of mine for her strength. She’s the type of person who’s always happy and confident. A lot of people say she’s sunshi...

I have been teaching here in MSU for almost a year now (exactly one year in June) and I’d like to say that I have truly enjoyed the whole year. I have learned so much, not only about myself, but about a whole lot of things as well. I’ve tried so many things. There are so many things that I have come to realize. And, I know that there is still a whole lot more that I am going to learn and realize. One very important realization I've had is the fact that teaching really is it for me. It’s when I’m teaching that I feel I am at my best. I always enjoy teaching, even if it sometimes gives me migraine attacks. There was even one time in one of my last period classes that I had the worst migraine attack and so while I was explaining the use of conjunctions and transition words, tears were falling down my face. I couldn’t stop the tears as it felt like my head was really about to explode! I continued and my students could only stare at me in shock! Hehe:) Oh, but t...

It was my 27th birthday last Friday ( the 23rd ). It was a really good day for me. We started the day by jogging around the MSU Oval . We planned to start at 5:30 in the morning (that's the usual time MSUans start jogging), but we woke up at around 5:40. The sun was already up and my mom was teasing us about being too late. We still went. It was really fun. I loved how my day got off to a healthy start. Hehehe:) In the afternoon, we had the Ode to the Meranao: A Poetry Concert . We pulled a very good show despite the fact that the audience was much less than we expected. I felt really proud of my kids as each one of them read their pieces. My mind travelled back to the time when I was one of the readers and I'd feel so proud reading for my people. It was such a great feeling and I'd like to think that my readers also felt the same pride. In our own little way, we wanted to infect others with the love and the pride we have for our place, our lake, our people. ...

I just came from my Saturday classes and I suddenly felt the urge to blog, and so I am here! I am supposed to be in a meeting right now, but the venue was still closed when I checked a while ago. It's either I was too early or the meeting got cancelled without me knowing it! So, anyway, I am thankful for whatever the reason was because it gave me a chance to go to the nearest Internet Center and see what's been going on around the Cyberworld. :) As always, a lot of things have happened since I last blogged. I was in Manila for a few days. I went there to look for a book in UP and to attend my Mami Che's (and Dadi Albert) wedding. I had a wonderful time. I saw many of my friends. I saw UP. I actually stayed at IC (the dorm I used to stay in). I was able to do some of the things I loved to do when I was still there. I got to walk around UP a lot. I got to eat at the restos I was a regular in. I stayed only for four days (too short), but I had fun. And, the weddin...

When somebody I know dies, I'm usually affected a huge deal. Especially if death takes away someone important and special. It makes me so sad that it usually takes a long time before I finally get over it. People would say, " Life must go on... just be strong. We will all die, anyway. All of us will someday go "there," too. They just went ahead. " Sure, I understand that. I know that we will all eventually die and that life, for us, living, must go on. I know that. But, that doesn't change the fact that for the rest of my remaining years on earth, I will never see the departed one's smile. I will never hear his/her laugh and voice. I will never feel their gentle touch. That fact alone depresses me to no end. Two nights ago, my parents and brother came home very sad. They told us (me and my sister) that Mommy Rosie (our dad's first wife) had just passed away. I could only whisper a prayer and, for a few minutes, stare at nothing in particular. After p...

I am so mad at myself right now! Every single time my big, bad, stupid mouth works against me, I promise myself that I will never allow my mouth to get the better of me again! I always promise myself that I will always be careful not to say anything that might cause any person to think badly of another person. I don't know, but I just never seem to be able to keep my promise! And, I do try! I swear I do! The last time I had a problem with my big mouth, I was so disappointed with myself that I didn't know what to do or what to think. A friend of mine misunderstood something I said and took it against another friend. It was an honest comment/opinion. I never meant for things to go bad. Because of a little comment that I made about something I was asked about, two friends of mine almost had a fight! With that still fresh in my mind, you'd think I've learned my lesson, right? Oh, but no! I recently mentioned a favor a colleague asked of me to a very good friend of...

Oh-kay! My semester is officially over. I submitted my grades last Monday. It was a wonderful semester. I was so busy that I could barely take time to breathe, but it was a fun-filled semester for me. I am just hoping that my students won't forget the things we learned in our classes. I, too, learned a lot. I learned a lot from my students and I learned a lot about myself. There were many things that I didn't think I could handle, but I was able to. I believe that every single day that passed these past months made me stronger. And, I have teaching to thank for that! When people found out that I was going to teach, some were happy and some disappointed, even horrified! - "Wow! That's great! You'll make a good teacher!" - "Hay, kailangan ng kabataan natin ang mga tulad mo! It's good that you decided to teach!" (Oh, our youth need people like you!) - "Ay, teacher lang?! Sayang naman ang utak mong 'yan!" (A teacher?...