Sunday, August 31, 2014

Nature

Inseparable
     The moon is the source of light at night. Its temperature is not high as the sun and the light coming from the moon is not so bright like what the sun gives. When we’re talking about the moon, of course we should not forget the star. We see it every night and the night will not be complete without the moon and the stars, but we ever ask ourselves what does the moon and the stars symbolize in our lives?

     The moon and stars are inseparable entities, just like us, we cannot live all by ourselves. We were not living just for our sake. Can you imagine life without our families and friends? Of course it’s not possible. It’s like seeing the moon alone and sad in the wide dark sky. The moon reminds us that no matter how big and stunning you are, you still need someone who will stay with you.  Life is a long journey like the sky with its endless size, shows that person being alone is lonely and miserable. Moon is very powerful and sometimes it shows itself as a super moon but no matter how big the super moon is. It was incomplete with the stars on its side. God is great and smart to show us by his creations some lesson that makes us realize how blessed life is.

    The moon together with the stars lightens up the dark nights telling us that no matter how dark the situation we've been through someone will help you light your way. They were not put in the sky just to give glimmers in the night but to remind us something, something that some of us are not able to see.

Posted via Blogaway

Lady of Faith

       The world was created where people at first live happily and peacefully. Different circumstances were given to people to measure their strength and prove the worth in life. Time had run so fast and the world was field of changes. Happiness turned to sadness and for some people peace is just an idea; just an idea. Father God was thinking what He can do for His people. While he was in the middle of unwinding He saw the Lady of Faith walking in his colorful Garden. He approaches her and showed what people on earth was doing. The Lady of Faith agreed with him that world has changed and some people became selfish and cruel. Father God commanded her to help them because except from Him the Lady of faith has also the knowledge about the people's faith.  The Lady of Faith kept on thinking what she can over it. Everyone has their definite faith and destiny, it’s just that time is the key for it to happen. She kept looking at the Spring of Truth and Lies; looking and observing everyone in the earth doing their own stuffs. At the right site is a man shouting to his drunk and tipsy son, at the upper side is a woman crying because of the lost of her daughter, at the upper part is a boy asking for him to grow old faster and at the bottom part is a man asking for a second chance to his wife. "Chance!" she said. It’s what she’s waiting for. Something came up to her mind, now she already got a plan. She would find 3 people who will let her learn about the chances in life; second chance that will change their life around.

The Monster Boss
     She’s the first person whom the Lady of Faith has found. She's the monstrous boss an employee can ever met. She's an amazing woman of her time, a fruit of a broken family but she grew as a persistent and hardworking person who aims to give her mother and siblings the best life she can ever provide.

     She was 5 years old when her father left them to work into a far province and never returned no letters, no words, and no reason at all for leaving them. Her mother was the only one who worked for their living and for her schooling with her 3 siblings. It was never easy for Therese to be a working student but she really pursued for it thinking that education is the only way in which she can help herself and her family. She was right, after graduating with her bachelor’s degree in business and finance; she also graduated as cum laude. She was immediately hired in one of the most prestigious company of restaurant chain in the Philippines. At the age of 30 she was able to get the position of an executive director of the said company, but behind those successes is the heart hard as steel. Therese grew up a stunning and fierce lady. The coffee- brown colored hair extending to her lower back, white skin and the height of a 5-feet and 7 inches make her look dazzling. 

      The gorgeous figure and lovely face that’s given numbers of compliment by her bosses and the people around her. She is very beautiful indeed but when it comes to her personality as a boss, no one would ever give comments because of the fear that one may be fired out immediately. Therese Castanieda;  the name that is well-known in the entire company. Each and every one of her employees knows her dedication to work and undying fighting spirit. Each of them was able to witness Therese throwing piles of papers because of anger; shouting when one of them has done anything that will make her head hot and fuming. She even kicked several swivel chairs in their office when someone scattered a bad issue about her. She is real monster in a body of beautiful and gorgeous lady. But the Lady of Faith will give her something that will twirl her world around.

The Face Off
      It was Friday morning; Therese came so early because she doesn't want to be late. It was 7:45 am when she reached the office and she easily noticed the line of people at the front desk of the office. She remembered that she fired out a janitor last week because of its unproductive performance and now the office is hiring for another one. Her secretary met her halfway to give her the schedule for the day. 3 meeting in the morning and after lunch with the client, paper to sign and a meeting later in the afternoon. She was so used to it. While she was walking through the front desk and passing by the new applicant, there is someone who was looking at her all the time; a man in mid 50's wearing a cream polo and an old maong jeans, wrinkled forehead and his eye in the left side has cataract covered wearing and old and slightly blurred eyeglasses.

      It’s another day of tiring work for Therese, seeing piles of papers in her desk; she has to grab a coffee. She asked for cup to her secretary and she started doing her stuffs. It was passed three in the afternoon when she finished her meeting. She went straight to her office to take a rest and prepare for another one. As she entered she saw a man cleaning inside, the new janitor and his face looked familiar. He immediately went to out of her office.

      Days had past and Therese kept wondering about her new employee. His name is Erning and it’s not familiar to her but every time she looks upon his face there’s really something she feels that she already saw him before.
      It was Thursday morning when Therese notices that Mang Erning was not around. For the past two months Mang Erning was very consistent and hard working. He came to office early, much early than Therese and it’s his routine to clean Therese’s office first. For that day her office was not that clean and Mang Erning was absent. Another day came and Mang Erning was not yet around. While she was in the middle of signing some files her she receive a call from her secretary, Mang Erning was in the hospital, and he was bumped by a car when he was crossing the street going to office last Thursday. Her heart beats fast. It feels like there are hundreds of drums beating inside her heart. She asked herself why she’s was affected like that even if the man was just new to her. Compared to Mang Erning she spent more time with her secretary more than enough to know her as a co-worker and a friend. She ordered her to fix what’s needed for the hospitalization of the man. It is one of his benefits as an employee of the company. It was late in the afternoon when her secretary submitted some paper for her to sign. She was browsing Mang Erning’s Papers when something got her attention; Renato  Salazar Castanieda. She doesn’t know what to do, what to think and how to react. Her face became pale and her hand seemed cold as an ice. The man that left them all these years; them who left them without any explanation, the man that made her pursue her life even more to achieve what she has right now and the man who leave a very deep scar in her innocent mind and heart.
Her world stopped for that moment, the monster boss became a little child who doesn’t know what to react, the woman who was known for being a strong and brave boss has nothing to say now.
For the very first time Therese when out of her office early before the office time ended. All of her staffs were wondering and surprise for what she looked for the whole day. Their amazing and monster boss was so uneasy.
      She doesn't want to go home yet but she doesn't know where to go. The last thing she knew, she was heading to the hospital where her father was admitted.
She is now in front of the room where Mang erning was admitted. She doesn’t know what to say to him after all this years. What will she do? She made up her mind. She not yet ready to face him after what he has done. She was about to leave when the nurse came out of the room and asked her if she’s related to the patient, she doesn’t know what to answer but something just busted from her mouth, "his daughter". When she entered the room she saw her father lying in the bed. The man woke up and got surprised of her visit.

"Ma'am I’m sorry for the disturbance and absence. I wasn’t expecting that you will visit me.” Said Mang Erning
"So how was your" she replied trying to be casual. 

"Uhh... My foot was still under observation. The doctor said that it was badly hit but I feel better now.
"Who’s taking care of you" she asked.

"There’s none Ma’am, living on my own.” He replied with a trace of sadness in his face.
"Where’s your family?" she said while looking around the room.

"I Left them Ma’am and it was the worst thing I’ve ever done in my entire life and I regret it all these years. I love them, I really love them. My eldest daughter is maybe as same age as you. She’s smart and so responsible. I always pray for her success and my family’s safety. I missed them but i don’t have the guts to face them."

“Why did you left us?" she asked will tears fell down to her face.

 "Ma'am??" he replied confuse and surprised.

“You didn’t remember me? My face? My voice?"

"Isay?  But how? Is this true? Am I dreaming?" said Mang Erning while trying to get up.

The monster boss turned to a little girl seeking for her Dad. After the years of being stoned-heart, her heart turned to a soft pillow that was full of longingness.

"I don’t what to say. I wasn’t expecting this. I’m sorry Isay. I know I have no right to face you. I’m sorry for what I've done for our family."

She was nothing to say but hugged her father.

     The Lady of Faith was watching Therese and her Father. She felt fulfilled as she blew the butterfly she’s holding in her hand.

Posted via Blogaway

The Lost Love

     He's a type of man who never smile, a man with a beautiful hand and a man of fortune.
His picture in my mind doesn’t let me sleep at night. A tall man with fair skin, his wavy hair that makes him look so arrogant, the coat and tie that shows his status in the society,  his thick eyebrows that add to his manly look and his brown eyes that shows how tired he is.
It all started when I met him in coffee shop where he used to have the most expensive coffee, the most luscious slice of a cake and holding the most famous magazine in town.
     That was the 19th day of March, 5 years ago. I was craving for my favorite cappuccino while on my way home so I decided to drop by to Coffee Match, my favorite cafe. It went straight to the counter and ordered for a cup. I saw the wall clock and it was 5:21 in the afternoon. I just found a vacant spot at the left corner of the cafe. I sit there as I watch the sun set with the red orange colored ray spilled out in the light blue sky. It was a lovely site that made me imagine myself standing at the rooftop of a very high building watching the sun setting down as if it was so close to my eyes. Then suddenly I saw a man sitting in front of me, holding a book written by a famous writer with also a cup of coffee in front of mine. He looked so familiar; I was thinking where I saw him. The book, the coffee, the suit and the hands, it was him! The man setting at the left corner of the cafe, as soon as I realized it, I immediately stand and ask for apology. But to my surprise he put down the book and asked me to stay.
     That afternoon was so magical, the sun set, the coffee, the man sitting in front of me and myself standing at the other side of the table. It was the first time we had coffee and we had the 2nd time, the 3rd, 4th and until I wasn't able to count the times we had coffee in that table.
     We started a formal relationship by asking me out on a date where he took me on the rooftop of a very high building which he owned. It’s where we watched the sunset exactly the same time when he asked me to stay with him in his cafe. We had a happy and unusual relationship. We brought changes in each other. I taught him my simple ways of living and he gave me things that I never had in my life. We went biking, eating street food, cooking lunch during weekends, going to market and going to church. He used to surprise me every morning cooking breakfast for me. He made me dressed like a queen, took me out on a date that every girl will dream of. There were times that I feel how big our difference is but he makes sure that we worked out on our differences. It’s been almost 5 years of happiness and sharing my life with him but our fairytale ended up so soon. Faith had been so playful to us.
      Now I’m sitting on the left corner of the cafe where we used to talk about funny stuffs and seeing him laugh. I remember the night when I gave him the letter I wrote to say goodbye.

My love,
   " ...........I’m sorry for doing this. We had beautiful times together. You made my life complete. Thank you for everything you've done to make me happy. I always wish for your success and happiness. Stay with your wife and make good memories together as what we have done for the past 5 years. I will always love you and pray for you.
                                                                                                                 Love,
                                                                                                                   Ria
      That was the most painful decision I’ve ever made but I have to do it. Tears keep falling from eyes and my feet wanted to run towards the door to go back to him, hug him and tell him how much I love him but i have to stop myself. The moments we spend will remain and lessons we learn will teach us how to be strong. Loving is doing the right thing.
      Now I found myself dreaming and staring at may plane tickets as finish the last drop of my cappuccino. Its 10:43 in morning and I have to catch up with my flight. I hope that everything will turn up well for me and him.

Posted via Blogaway

MEMOIR: Surprise!

“ Kapag hindi  mo kinuha ‘to hindi ako tatayo dito”
While he was kneeling down at the center of the street holding a bouquet of red roses with a mixed smile and discontentment on his face because his surprise was quite unsuccessful.

                February 14 2012,  it was our first Valentine’s day ever. It was just a typical day and another day of practice for cheerleading as a preparation for the school’s intramurals. We were on our way to my practice when he saw gumamela plant and pick a flower from it, he gave it to me and said “Pasensya ka na, wala kong pera ito na lang muna regalo ko. Happy Valentine’s day!”. I was really touched and I gave him a hug saying “Wala yun, ang importante naka-abot tayo ng Valentine’s day”. When we reached the place he said that  he will just wait for me in our “tambayan”.
                It was already 6 pm and our practice was not yet done when our friend texted me that my boyfiend was in trouble and I have to go in our “tambayan” as soon as possible to help them fix the trouble. I was really worried and my other friends rushed with me in our “tambayan”. While we are on our way one of my friends suggested to take the other street as a shortcut and we agreed. While we are walking I saw  familiar image standing at the end of the street waiting and holding a bouquet of rose at his back. One our friends saw me and shouted “ Ay mali mali!!! Nandito sila!!” . My boyfriend looked at his back and he saw standing looking straight at him. One of our friends told us “ Naghihintay kami akala nmin doon kayo sa kabila dadaan” as they keep on laughing that their surprise was not that surprising. He just said “bulilyaso!”  As he walked away from us and kneeled down at the center of the street and said “ Kapag hindi  mo kinuha ‘to hindi ako tatayo dito”. I was really surprise and a little bit ashamed because it was exactly the dismissal time of PLmar and a lot of students witnessed that he was just kneeling down at the front of the gate. That was a very amazing feeling and until now it’s one of the most memorable things that we kept on looking back.

                Now, we are turning three years and getting stronger. That was not just a “kilig moment” in our relationship but its one thing that makes us realized how lovely our relationship is and how he treasures me for making such effort like that. It just proves that even how many trials we've been through were still strong to face it and we stay happy every day. For us, it is not the surprises and gifts we have for each other but it is on how we grow together, understand and love each other’s imperfections.  From “kilig moments” turned in to a matured relationship; that is how we describe what we have right now.

Latest Trend

21st century Classroom Assessment
        Assessment is one way of knowing your student’s ability, weakness, accomplishment and achievements. Teachers have many ways of assessing their students such as assignment, observation, project and seat works. Above all of these ways, there are times that a teacher wonders how to find ways to assess his students by using other ways not just the conventional ones. Most of the school today focuses on the different types of pencil and paper tests and neglecting how to assess students in the actual performance of a task. I found some new trends in classroom that will definitely help teachers to know their students ability within different domains.
Katherine Bradley sighted 4 new different ways in classroom assessment;
1.       Demonstration or Performance Assessment
 Students were given the chance to demonstrate a particular task that shows his or her mastery towards the subject matter. Example: the students will do a stage play that shows evidence in the mastery of different elements in a theater play.

2.       Portfolio assessment
This is a collective project where students put pieces of their work accomplished in a particular span of time given by the teacher. This shows the development of the students in doing his or her in the sets of tasks given by the teacher.

3.       Oral assessment
This assessment gives chance to those students who are not good in writing but shoe exemplary talent in speaking.  The teacher may do a question and answer activity, storytelling and public speaking. This one is another way of boosting the student’s confidence and discipline in speaking in front of numbers of audiences.

4.       Project assessment
In this assessment students are given the chance to demonstrate competency in completing the project. Students are given enough time to think, plan and conceptualize the output that is expected from them.
 Aside from those type of assessment there another types I read from another source.

  1. Peer review -This type enables to student to cooperate with his or her partner in doing reviews in their topic. This gives them the sense of responsibility to cooperate and do their part as a partner in order to make a successful exchange of ideas within the group mates.
  2. ExhibitionExhibition makes the student showcase their talent and works. Exhibits are one of the good activities where sets of different talent and work pieces are being put in specific gallery or place where lot of people get to see their outputs.
Learning can be more fun if student’s abilities will be accommodated and assessed properly. We are in a rapidly evolving world which means newest thing today may be the oldest stuff tomorrow. Let’s get classroom and assessment be a part of the changes because student are the evidence of change. Students easily adapt to modern times and their capabilities are evolving so fast that’s why conventional assessment may not be so suitable in determining their knowledge and skill. As teachers, creativity is always a tool to get along with the ever changing world.


Sunday, August 10, 2014

Movie Review

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

 Charlie and the chocolate factory is the second adaptation of the 1964 British book of the same title written by Ronald Dahl. The movie was showed in different theaters all over the world in year 2005 and directed by Tim Burton. I was able to watch the movie twice, first when I was in grade school and recently that was about 2 weeks ago. The movie was so amazing and of course unrealistic. There flow of the story was good but the first scenes of        Willy Wonka’s flash back unclear for me because I find it a little bit confusing. The flashback was triggered one of the characters and Willy was like remembering someone who is quite different from his appearance that why it was a little bit unclear if the boy was him or someone who used to be closed to him. Maybe that mysterious or ambiguous part is essential for the movie to have that surprising element or at some point it adds to the viewers curiosity and I admit I became more curious because of that part. Especially in considering the viewers were kids, sometimes flashback leads to confusion.  In addition to that, the accent sometimes bothers the viewers.  When I first watched the movie, I remember having hard time to understand the character’s dialogue. Well it was really expected for Filipino kids who’s not used to movies having that British accent.
In contrast with those confusions, the movie was really great. It awakens every child dreams of fantasy and chocolate craving. The graphics and the visual effects were really great. The props were huge and it’s really caught the attention of any kid and kids at heart. As a viewer I’m not fond of films with too many visual effects and that’s where Charlie and the chocolate factory won my heart. The film was not really into special effects but the graphics were really good. I was able to research about the film and based on interviews and write-ups about it, the film minimized the use of too much special effects because they want the young actors to feel that as if they were working in a realistic environment.
When it comes to the actors, they really gave justice n portraying the characters.  They have great acting skills that can draw out the viewers from reality. Personally, I love Johnny Depp’s manner of handling his character. I love the mysterious type and clumsiness of Willy Wonka. At first I felt afraid of him because he was like acting so weird as if he was planning something bad for the kids. Freddie highmore as Charlie was so suited for the character because of his face that looks so ignorant and sweet and the rest of the characters were really great and contributed a lot to the story. The film has a good script that gave a good flow for the story. The actors, the screen writer and the filmmaker have good teamwork to produce a great film like this one. Based on write-ups, the director with his whole team made this film really close to the book version. They made this film to be every child’s imagination.

To sum it up, I believe that the core of every film lies of the values embedded with it. Charlie and chocolate factory left a room for everyone to think about our attitude, our ways, and our personality. The second time that I watched the film was translated in Filipino language and there was a line that I can’t forget, “Ang maiiwan ay siyang hindi bulok ang pagkatao.” by Willy Wonka. The film remind us that no matter how difficult life is, there is no greater possession than you family. Love, acceptance and forgiveness are the keys to the real happiness.

Poetry- Life's Reflection

Colours- Rhyme royal
Andrea Dietrich

I'm lavender; Im apple-tartness green;
 or colored cream like fleece- a peaceful ewe.
Pastel, I'm hushed;when gold or red, I peen
Like ice crem of a most peculiar hue,
I'm Baskin-Robbins licorice-flavor blue,
I'm fanciful as pink and rare frown
Reflecting sequins of my rainbow gown.

Life is a Camera
Florence lean Begona

Life is a bed of thousand diff’rent scene
Sad, happy, scary and mad we may shot
Whatever scene and glimpse no one may seen
It captures each time everyone has got
Get focus on important and good spot
Develop the bad things you’ve said and done
From negative to positive be one



Where the Wind Blows - Quatrain
I followed one day a spring breeze at play.   – aimbic pentameter
It seemed not to know where to go.              – aimbic tetrameter   
And aimlessly, I - like a butterfly                       – aimbic pentameter
meandered with it to and fro.                           – aimbic tetrameter   

Among bright blue bells, it tired a spell.       – aimbic pentameter
Recovering, it picked up speed.                                      – aimbic tetrameter   
Alongside a rill, I ran with a thrill                      – aimbic pentameter
just to know where the breeze might lead.   – aimbic tetrameter   

My heart filled with song as I danced along,   – aimbic pentameter
careening through meadows of green.             – aimbic tetrameter   
then the breeze dove into a large grove,         – aimbic pentameter
the loveliest I’d ever seen.                                  – aimbic tetrameter    

No longer a breeze, it whipped around trees.            – aimbic pentameter
It whistled while beckoning me,                                                      – aimbic tetrameter   
and as it passed through where tall redwoods grew, – aimbic pentameter
I was following, wild and free.                                           – aimbic tetrameter   

In that beautiful place, it changed its pace           – aimbic pentameter
and got stronger, for the breeze goes                   – aimbic tetrameter   
where sturdy trees thrive. I felt so alive!              – aimbic pentameter

I have been to where the wind blows.                   – aimbic tetrameter    



Dream to discover
Florence Lean Begona

To dream is to discover what you are,
What your heart wants you to pursue
It opens your eyes to what’s near and clear.
Know what life awaits and bids you

Don’t let time pass you by wasted and inert.
Be dedicated and diligent!
For dreams will push you to where you will fit
Work hard and seize the day you spent

Try to hear words you've never heard
Look for the door of your dreams.
Don’t be disturbed with hush and murmurs,
Seek your way in to lightning beams

Discovering is knowing what’s beyond,
Beyond what you can do and try
Don’t settle with the “just” and “fine” by others.
Achieve for good and best to fly

Learn to explore the world of your what if’s;
This will lead you to longest trip
Swim to the ocean of life and get the golden gift
Soar the high sky and set to leap.