TS Sendong's Wrath

Tropical Storm Sendong hit out city hard last December 17.. and Christmas seem difficult to imagine with all dead and missing persons that we know, and those we don't really know, but feel their pain as they have lost not just one, but some, an entire family. For student, if they didn't lose anyone, they'd probably be having a problem with muddied books and all...

My brother's books and school items, including uniforms and bags and shoes are gone now.. They can no longer be used..

It's really sad that it had to happen right when we are about to start celebrating Christmas..

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Lootbags or Gift Bags for the Kids at Cadunayan Primary School

CDO Bloggers Inc have visited Cadunayan Primary School in Besigan and have decided to give more for the kids by providing them loot bags during the Christmas party..

 Inside the said loot bags are the following items:

 There are the choice of two biscuits..

 Sachet of Toothpaste to match the toothbrushe donated by Firefly

 Of course Guard Insect Repellent lotion sachets

 Lots of candies and toys

 With bubbles to make kids enjoy the loot

There's also P 10 each for each kid.. I hope they will enjoy their Christmas party..

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Great Savings with Straight Talk!

This post brought to you by Straight Talk. All opinions are 100% mine.

Who wouldn't want to save on communication bills? I know I do. That is why with the Internet around, I feel so much blessed that loved ones and friends who are far away are within reach. But not only the Internet.  I love the fact that some phone companies make us  feel richer, just like that of Straight Talk because we can cut cell phone bills in half. And that's without contract. I could just imagine the amount of money saved simply by switching to Straight Talk. That would mean more value for other important and relevant stuff to purchase. Or fund a vacation or two. And since there are no contracts, no surprise bills and no credit checks, anyone interested can actually apply for a line. It has great nationwide coverage and excellent reception and connectivity. To attest to that, Straight Talk users would often brag about high end phone with low costs. Imagine trusted phone manufacturers like LG, Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia and Samsung tied with Straight Talk.

Of course, you will enjoy all the apps and games you need in a smart phone with a smart plan, but without a contract. Can you imagine The power of Android phones, at only $45/month for unlimited use? Well, stop imagining, and get one now..Feel Richer with Android phones for less monthly fees.

Get unlimited monthly service for only $45 includes calls, text, picture messaging, and web. Reconditioned phones are available from $10.00 with camera, mp3 player, mobile web access, and blue-tooth capability. Great for young users!

For more information on what these phones offer, please check out these YouTube videos:

The getting richer effect has expanded... by LittleBard95

To All Educators:

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Families Need Communication

This post brought to you by Straight Talk. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have known a lot of Filipino teachers who are out of the country, serving and working to educate the people at the very country they are at.  And if you are a sister or daughter or son or even a spouse of said teachers, then I am sure you will understand that what they do abroad is because of the thought that everything you need can be at reach when they work hard to earn the money to support it.. And most of them I know are mothers who knows what's best for their families and loved ones, so they invest in things that can somehow help the family in economic situations, if not to stretch budget for some project or two. Now, I have heard so many tales about the way the families and the teachers communicate. The plan they have to sign up for, in order to save money.. That is where Straight Talk comes in. If these teachers need to call loved ones, families, even call a friend, Straight Talk helps them save a lot.  Indeed, mom knows best. Don't you agree?

The unlimited monthly service is just $45, including calls, texts, picture messaging and Internet access. That's truly amazing, right? And with that amount, you get everything, from Hook, line and sinker.. So would you rather  get a phone plan that will not give you everything you need? Of course not, right? The best catch of all is the Straight Talk International Long Distance service that is flexible and definitely pegged with the lowest rates in the market.. 

So for teachers abroad, Straight Talk is their choice indeed, because families need communication.. 

Below is a video for more information about Straight Talk:

Lessons from Jack and the Beanstalk

The above video is just one of the many ways Jack and the Beanstalk is told and retold from one generation after another. From one nation to another, from one version to another. Yes, every story is an adaptation from another, in many cases. Jack and the Beanstalk is just one of the many, where the setting, time and place may differ, but will have one similar scope and ending. In this case, the giant dying, and Jack running away with the giant's riches..  What kind of morals and values do these teach our young???

We all know, as how the story is often told, that Jack, is a happy go lucky son of a poor widow, who is not able to help his mother find the means to survive.. That is how he is always described. So, it is therefore NOT unusual that he be able to acquire riches not his own, for he do not know anything and he does not like to do difficult tasks just to be able to find enough means for him and his mom to be able to eat a square meal daily. And when I say, riches not his own, it means, therefore that he stole the riches he took home to his mother. Perhaps then, his mother did not teach him proper values and manners??? After all, mothers are our first teachers..

Anyway, why am I blogging about Jack and The Beanstalk? Well, it so happened that finally, I have seen the latest twist in this fairy tale, "Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story".

I find the twist rather logical, and if we base it on psychology, it is indeed, a far cry from the original. It is in fact, better to use the said movie to teach about morals, honesty, integrity and friendship, and even about self worth. Although, as a teacher, I find that the said lessons are not all there is in the movie, as there are more to discuss.

With this version, you can actually compare with older versions and ask your students, from grade school to college, all the challenging points in the story. Yes, what if the fairy tale was a lie? What if the giant is not at all that bad, as how Jack has described him to his mother. True enough, a lot of kids, in order to get away from trouble, would create a story or two to make their wrong right.. And if you believe without question, then the said lie becomes the truth.. After all, it is only one person who knows about the truth..  Take for example a student who says that he failed Math because his teacher does not know how to teach.. And the truth is that, he is often caught cheating on tests in Math, not listening, or worse, cutting classes. Anyone would agree that a student with that attitude and actions, will eventually fail. But as always, parents who can not accept the truth about the said failure will continue to tell people that the teacher flunked the son because she or he does not see the child's brilliance.. Worst, the teacher will be charged with favoritism.. Familiar???

Here's a bigger point.. We can not be certain that Marcos did all the crimes pointed at him, as much as Erap's, or Gloria's. We can not also say that Fidel Ramos was or P. Noy now,  is a better president as there are no charges against him, so with all the other politicians who are able to come out clean from a controversy.. Before we jump into conclusions, or believe what is written on the papers, we must first find out the truth, right? Most times, it will take years. Look at what happened in the Vizcondi Massacre and all others... Tsk tsk tsk..  Sad but true.. It takes years to find out the truth..

Jack Robinson corrected his ancestor's faults after 390 years.. In our case as people, if we want a lighter load in our next life, we must therefore make all wrongs that we have done, right.. Question now is, are you ready to face the truth and the consequences of your past actions and decisions? 

It takes time to even accept the truth.. But with acceptance comes inner joy and inner peace. And with the two, comes the right decisions and actions.. It takes time, but it will be worth it.. Imagine yourself with no baggage.. No hang ups.. Can you? I can.. 

By the way, HERE is the best part of this new version.. When the 15th generation Jack, returned what his ancestors have stolen from the giant, he not only restored a world's riches. He also earned for himself a new meaning at life.. I hope you get a chance to watch this movie on DVD as I am sure it is no longer available in theaters... Watch it, you will understand what I mean...

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Should I Apply for a Teaching Post at DepEd?

I am a Professional Blogger. I maintain 43 blogs in my name and a few in a pseudo name and alias. To me, that is my career path already. Teaching became simply a part time as blogging pays me well enough to even stop teaching. But my heart is into teaching still. I love talking and discussing in front of my students and sharing ideas, as well as getting feedback and ideas from my students too. 

Before I left for Singapore, my father told me I should have myself ranked again for the P. Noy administration may be a better one and friendlier one for teachers like me who want to work at DepEd, unlike the Arroyo administration, where I have already been ranked twice, rank 3 and rank 1 respectively, but did not get in, mainly because the principal preferred a teacher transferee who is the daughter of a teacher already at the school.  The way I look at it, it matters not which administration and who sits as president. The same people sits still at their posts and they still do what they do every year. If money is involved, then perhaps they just have to name their price, huh? What I hate most is the fact that a lot of teachers, professional teachers, with license and all, undergo the ranking procedures, and when ranked, are not even able to get the post they so entitle. A waste of time and money for those who live very far from the place the ranking is held.

Anyway, now that I am back here for a while, I am thinking of having myself ranked again. But, it is only to find out if  I will still rank first. DepEd is not a dream for me as teachers are  overworked and under paid anyway. But if given a chance, and treated properly, I can give to DepEd what I have given my previous students. Hey, I am not a mediocre teacher, and I am proud of that fact. Sadly, there's just a few of us..

It's ranking season once again.. Should I Apply for a Teaching Post at DepEd? Maybe.. Maybe when things will get better at DepEd. Maybe when the Principal is no longer at the school I have applied into. Maybe when there is already a change at DepEd.. But when??? We'll never know.. Besides, there are other ways I could lend a hand at teaching.. Besides, I am going back to Singapore, where professionals are treated well.

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