So, this is how it feels to finish 24 units of teaching load in 10 weeks - very tired and looking forward to that one week rest.
No, it was not intended.
Ophine, a co-faculty, gave birth to twins and the teaching load had to be divided. I got six units :- )
On top of that, Dean wanted to experiment on incorporating ISO14051:2011 in Mapua's Graduate Class of Supply Chain Management. That's an additional three units.
An overload due to a dash of serendipity. Thank You, Lord!:- )
Looking back, the past 10 weeks were packed.
And by packed, I mean the following:
1. I was given the opportunity to run a ISO14051:2011 learning session.
2. Beb, my wife, and I received the most wonderful news that we just became a Mom and a Dad! :- )
3. I was given the opportunity to run a re-imagined 5S learning session, dubbed Super 5S :- )
4. Learned a new course, SVM 161 - Transportation System. :- )
5. And because of the former, crystallized and proved my hypothesis on why jeepneys is "endemic" to the Philippines :- )
6. Ob-Gyn visits and heartbeats! :- )
7. Heard a very troubling face-to-face confession with a co-faculty. It's very troubling that it may deserve an (psychiatric?) intervention, if my colleague is really telling the truth, because of the impact of this on how students perceive Mapua's IE-EMG Faculty. It definitely hampers the ability of the school to be true to its first function - to teach. :- (
8. A former co-faculty, Ma'am Precy Tagala, moved on :- (
9. Mapua's deepening love affair with Outcomes Based Teaching and Learning :- )
10. The impeachment of former Chief Justice Renato Corona. :- )
11. The life lessons of the Up Dharma Down's concert at Mapua.
12. The integration of new set of MEMO leaders. :- )
13. The 2nd batch of Imaj Summer Acting Workshop. :- )
14. Imaj has now a new set of manpower complement. Time to build anew.
15. To be one of the recipient of The Cardinal's Excellence Award. I am humbled.
16. Developed and delivered "EMG Goes Back to its Social Scientist Roots" seminar @MIT.
17. Developed and delivered "Getting That First Job" seminar for graduating Electrical Engineering students @MIT.
18. Lastly (but certainly not the least!), Beb's promotion. :- )
Not to be forgotten is the drastic change I witness with Chris and Rewel. Keep it up, boys! You are now walking on a straight path. And to top all that, I had the chance to receive a student-work-cum-a masterpiece.
Lord, the past 10 weeks and 24 units was tiring but I am grateful You allowed me to take the journey. Thank You po, Lord! Maraming salamat, po! :- )
"... why think like mere men!"
Sunday
Tuesday
looking back to move forward
God willing, he will be born on December.
As I reflect on this, I can't help but look back on how I was raised by Nanay and Tatay in a place known for its violence, struggles and turmoils - Tundo.
Growing up I did not know I live in a place outsiders calls "lugar at tahanan ng siga".
Tundo was home for me. A safe place.
Though we have kababata-kalaro-at kaibigan who ended up becoming drug addicts, drug pushers, holduppers, snatchers and some, I heard, killers and murderers - most turn out to live decent lives, positively contributing to society. Good fathers and loving mothers.
Looking back, I think we, Elisalde, Ellis and I, having Nanay and Tatay always at our side made the difference for us. We were sent to good schools. Tuto and I went to Colegio de San Juan de Letran in high school. Ellis got accepted at Manila Science High School. And earlier, Ellis and I got accepted in the government's special education program. We got accelerated. Jumped from Grade 3 to Grade 5.
It also helped that when we were growing up, our house was always full of relatives. Manang Nining, Manang Suling, Manang Helen and Manang Neli helped Nanay raised three energetic boys. And for everyone else who we call Manong, their situation of being transients, seamen waiting for their names to be called bago sila sumampa sa barko, on hindsight, gave us this belief that with work - one can change his lot in life.
And it is always a positive when young boys grow up in the company of men. Boys know how to become a man with men. And we, thank God, have an abundance of examples to look up to. Beginning with Tatay.
Thus, what could be a place of despair for most was home for us. A safe place.
I don't know if Nanay and Tatay knew it but it was their love for one another and their decision to welcome our relatives, who came from Iloilo and from Bacolod, into our home that helped me and my two brothers feel that Tundo was a safe place to grow up. A place where dreams begin, held and turned into reality :- )
"... why think like mere men?"
As I reflect on this, I can't help but look back on how I was raised by Nanay and Tatay in a place known for its violence, struggles and turmoils - Tundo.
Growing up I did not know I live in a place outsiders calls "lugar at tahanan ng siga".
Tundo was home for me. A safe place.
Though we have kababata-kalaro-at kaibigan who ended up becoming drug addicts, drug pushers, holduppers, snatchers and some, I heard, killers and murderers - most turn out to live decent lives, positively contributing to society. Good fathers and loving mothers.
Looking back, I think we, Elisalde, Ellis and I, having Nanay and Tatay always at our side made the difference for us. We were sent to good schools. Tuto and I went to Colegio de San Juan de Letran in high school. Ellis got accepted at Manila Science High School. And earlier, Ellis and I got accepted in the government's special education program. We got accelerated. Jumped from Grade 3 to Grade 5.
It also helped that when we were growing up, our house was always full of relatives. Manang Nining, Manang Suling, Manang Helen and Manang Neli helped Nanay raised three energetic boys. And for everyone else who we call Manong, their situation of being transients, seamen waiting for their names to be called bago sila sumampa sa barko, on hindsight, gave us this belief that with work - one can change his lot in life.
And it is always a positive when young boys grow up in the company of men. Boys know how to become a man with men. And we, thank God, have an abundance of examples to look up to. Beginning with Tatay.
Thus, what could be a place of despair for most was home for us. A safe place.
I don't know if Nanay and Tatay knew it but it was their love for one another and their decision to welcome our relatives, who came from Iloilo and from Bacolod, into our home that helped me and my two brothers feel that Tundo was a safe place to grow up. A place where dreams begin, held and turned into reality :- )
"... why think like mere men?"
Wednesday
heartbeats
I am grateful.
That I am being entrusted to be a Dad. My wife, Beb, is 14 weeks pregnant. She's sleeping now. She has to. She's having morning sickness at 10 in the evening for the past week now :- )
This I can tell you with absolutely certainty - morning sickness is a misnomer!
We already have agreed on the first name and we are still deciding on the second one. I am smiling as I write this :- )
Now, I fully understand what the fuss is all about a grainy ultrasound pix. I was inside the room when the doctor took it. I saw the pea size heart beats and the sight took my breath away. So little. So fragile. So strong. Relentless. I was smiling. My heart felt light. And once again, Beb and I had another moment to keep and to cherish in our hearts.
When the doctor asked me to leave, as my wife got dressed, I can help but slump in that typical uncomfortable hospital benches and get misty.
I am grateful.
And after four weeks, I heard it - the heart beats. And it was beautiful. I still hear it when I go back to that moment. I always want to go back to that moment.
I am grateful.
Lord, prepare me to be the Dad You want me to be. May I be reflection and a good witness for You.
"... why think like mere men?"
That I am being entrusted to be a Dad. My wife, Beb, is 14 weeks pregnant. She's sleeping now. She has to. She's having morning sickness at 10 in the evening for the past week now :- )
This I can tell you with absolutely certainty - morning sickness is a misnomer!
We already have agreed on the first name and we are still deciding on the second one. I am smiling as I write this :- )
Now, I fully understand what the fuss is all about a grainy ultrasound pix. I was inside the room when the doctor took it. I saw the pea size heart beats and the sight took my breath away. So little. So fragile. So strong. Relentless. I was smiling. My heart felt light. And once again, Beb and I had another moment to keep and to cherish in our hearts.
When the doctor asked me to leave, as my wife got dressed, I can help but slump in that typical uncomfortable hospital benches and get misty.
I am grateful.
And after four weeks, I heard it - the heart beats. And it was beautiful. I still hear it when I go back to that moment. I always want to go back to that moment.
I am grateful.
Lord, prepare me to be the Dad You want me to be. May I be reflection and a good witness for You.
"... why think like mere men?"
Tuesday
Teach?
I have to remind myself.
:- )
I have to remind myself that I teach not for those who simply want to pass. I teach because of a few good men and women who come to class to become different, better. I see them. I feel them.
Those who really want to learn.
Some even knows what they truly want as early as today. Something better is very clear in their minds. Yes, by better is really better and not simply something different nor lip service.
Lord, let me be consumed by this.
"... why think like mere men?"
:- )
I have to remind myself that I teach not for those who simply want to pass. I teach because of a few good men and women who come to class to become different, better. I see them. I feel them.
Those who really want to learn.
Some even knows what they truly want as early as today. Something better is very clear in their minds. Yes, by better is really better and not simply something different nor lip service.
Lord, let me be consumed by this.
"... why think like mere men?"
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