Linnaaw iti Ladingit (A Eulogy for Myself)

Iti baram, nabaawen

Iti raniagmo, inut-inot a nausawen

Iti bagim, kinagat ti lidem

Iti biagmo, pinuyopuyan ti salemsem

O Trining, apayen?

 Nagsapan ti inmo inpupusayen?

Nag-ulpit mon ta di ka man la nagpakada

Kasano dagiti arapaapmo a kunam di marebba?

Inyebkas mo idi nga agluganka iti eroplano

Ta idiay ballasiw taaw pangsukisokam baro a trabaho.

Tapno alisto makapatakder ti balay da tatang ken nanang mo

Ken makagatang tay nagmaris rosas a kotse usaren pagballogyo.

Paunay kan balasangko, nagurayka pay kuma

Adu a padas ammok saanmo pay narikna.

Dinamag mo idi a no kaanon to ngata nga adda mangayat kenka?

Sungbat ko, “Kasano met no walang forever kanayon mo ibaga.”

Wen aya, apay tunggpal biag mo , uray maysa nga Adan awan nakauna

Ket aglaplapunosanmo nga ayat ken ragsak nakasagana.

Ita nga awankan, nakadaldalus iti aglawlaw

Adu a badom ken sapatos, awan mangiwarang

Awan tay kasla mait nga agkankanta, agsalsala ti zumba

Para pakan ti aso, innaw, aywan ti ubing ken tienda.

Naasi ka, natulong ken nasayaaat nga anak ken mestra

Ngem apay di ka mamati no ibaga mi kenka deta?

Idi lawas na, aggargarakgak ka a nangyistorya

A no matayka ket baka awan man lang aglua.

 Saom ket saanmon to matan-awanen dagti kakabsatmo a mas dungdungwenda

Ken saankanto aglidayen gapu ti pinangpadpadakes ti sabali kenka.

Dispenseram ta di mi manlang kenka naipakita ti karirikna

Ta namati kami gamin a kayam amin , napnuan kat regta.

                    Ala wen balasangko, palubusan daka ngarud                        

Ta ammumi nararagsakka dita sidong ni Apo Dios

Imulam ta pusom a sika ket balitok

Awan sabali a tao a makabiddot.

Namnamaem ,maysa nga aldaw, agkakadwatayon to manen.

Ket biag nga agnanayon, intayo amin gun-oden.

This poem was written on the first sem of S,Y. 2015-2016. I've asked my students to write a eulogy for themselves in my literature class and since they did not have any idea about it, I have taken the initiative to present something I was dreading...death. During that time, I was stressed about my whole life. 

#WHOGOATTOTHETENTH POWER (Formal rants of a Teacher)

The Ten Student Categories

These categories are by far the best out there and should be taken as footnote by all teachers. They are updated, concise, easy to understand and above all – accurate. The following categories should give them an idea about how to distinguish every student so that, maybe, they can implement properly the differentiated instruction as stipulated in the K-12 program. Read and enjoy sorting.

1.  THE RED CARPET MODELS  

They walk like models along the school hallways and catwalks with their “trendy” outfit. However, they will never get into trouble because they dressed up like smarty , loyal students upon entering school grounds only to remove their uniform after the guards turned their backs.  They will again wear uniform dress codes when they get into their classrooms, then take them off again in their vacant periods (habitual).This does not tire them. Why? THEY ARE MODELS.

2. THE SNEAKERS

         Students are way too curious! They wonder what teachers do on their computers that they wouldn’t mind looking at your PERSONAL computer (looking through while the teacher is working in front of the computer or even manipulating the teacher’s PC when he/she is not around). And when they are caught, they would just smile and sit as if nothing illegal happened. AREN’T THEY THE SWEETEST?

3. THE “ARE WE CLOSE”

          Imagine a student (because he is already home) would be sending you his enrolment form (college thing) through instant messaging then he will ask you to pay for the tuition, process the enrollment, get all things done for him and finally telling you he’ll just give you the money when you see each other. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT I AM HIS PARENT/GUARDIAN/WORKER. I THOUGHT I WAS A TEACHER.

4. THE “FINDING NEMO”

          Students usually come in the first week of classes then suddenly disappear for reasons that are unjustifiable. After many days and weeks they suddenly popped out into your doorsteps at the end of the semester asking you to give them a passing grade (after all your effort of visiting, contacting and pleading them to come to school?)

5.      THE “PROXY KID”

         Because of circumstances (I just don’t know if avoidable or not) students got incomplete or probation grades. It’s not about completing the course but them tagging along their moms, dads or relatives to complete their requirements. PADRINO SYSTEM IS IN.

6.      The SMARTPHONE KIDS

        Even if you have already reprimanded (sometimes, we confiscate the phone and make them write promissory letters) them from using smartphones while having class they would still to do the same routine over and over again.  These phones serve as their lecture and assignment snapshots and  “cheat notes”  during examination Now, I came to a conclusion that smartphones are also disadvantageous to students

7.      THE ACCOUNTANT

                 Evaluation: done. Assessment: done. Enrollment: successful. Now it’s their time to shine.                    They just grab their pen, erase or substitute the exact amount in their receipts (in effort to                     trick their parents) so they could get kickbacks. (Don’t you realize how your parents work                   just to send you to school?) 

8. THE SIXTH SENSE

      Gone are those students who have the initiative to help the teachers. They will watch you from afar and worse, would escape if they sense that you have something to ask like cleaning the classroom. Those who have this sixth sense are most likely suffering also from selective amnesia because when they are done with you (meaning you are no longer their teacher), they will not be acknowledging your presence. You don’t exist ( maybe, you gave them low grades or they just don’t really like you).

9.  THE SPECIAL CLASS

      These are the students who are perfectly normal but rely on special projects to pass. They tempt you with money, books, food , and so on with the matching puppy face for you to say yes. Included in this category are students who are happier to have teachers who give modules and hold class once a week than a teacher who exhaustively discusses and grades them according to their performance. Sometimes, it’s not all about your efficiency. It’s about how you please them.

10. THE AVID FANS

      More students read facebook, twitter, instagram and other social networking sites than their lessons. They are more updated with how many likes you have for this picture or how you felt yesterday or where you checked-in than their academic status. They comment on your posts (whether negative or positive), send you private message or call anytime (e.g. asking if there’s class when it’s signal no. 2), invite you in games and group chat, question about their grades in chat etc. What’s surprising is that they their vigor in facebook is inversely proportional to their class participation.

Then after all, teachers would be asked, “what have you done as  teachers?” Yes we are accountable, but rearing our children should be our collective efforts. Parents and educators should both do their parts.  ^^ (smile lang) And lastly, YOU as student should be the most responsible of yourself.  Remember that the grades you get and the performance you made at school will determine your employability in the future.

(c) Bryan Ecija

This article was the consolidated effort of Katrina and Bryan. Both are public secondary teachers. 

SAUD ngiti at AVIS kitang mahal: AN UNEXPECTED JANUARY GETAWAY

There are times that we don’t arrive where we want to go but then, it’s just a detour for yet another 2 in 1 adventure. Some things are better unplanned and moments become more blissful when you least expect them to happen.

Johnny: We can’t possibly go there with just the two of us.

Kat: Why not? We just need to ride on a bus and a tricycle then hire a tour guide! It will be fun!

Johnny: It’s impossible.

There you go. I had to accept the fact that Tanap-Avis Falls is a lost dream. So, instead of hiking and trekking on the mountains of Burgos, we had to hastily find another destination to quench our weekend thirst. After all, we deserve it. Teaching is a stressful job, mind you! Anyway, we thought of traveling to Nueva Era, Playa Tropical Resort in Currimao and Hannah’s Beach Resort but because of financial, distance and friend/tour guide-is-busy matters,  it all boiled down to a beachy escapade in Saud, Pagudpud.

Come to think of it, the last time I went to Saud was during our summer vacation three years ago with my weird yet cool Sabsab friends. I can vividly remember because we deliberately disregarded our 1st LET review session so as to laze around the beach and enjoy our last days together before we log in to our first teaching job. I thought that Saud is not a bad idea after all.

I and Johnny hopped in an unairconditioned bus heading to Pagudpud. We paid Php 70.00 and endured two hours of butt numbing exercise till we were dropped off near the municipal hall where we hired a tricycle to take us to our hotel. We stayed in Ace Guest House and Snack Bar as recommended by Mariedel, our Sabsab friend who is living in the same municipality. We were given a big discount because the owner is her colleague. Thanks God for connections!

At exactly 5 PM we walked toward the beach which was about 100 steps away from the Guest house. Surprise, surprise! I became Johnny’s photographer all over again. Everytime we go out, I had to be behind the lens while he stands and poses as if he’s a star. Well, he is because he is the main attraction of my photo album titled WILDLIFE AT ITS BEST! Just kidding. LOL

After his narcissistic photoshoot, I convinced my friend to walk until the seashore’s edge. It was so far but so worth it! We saw three windmills standing tall on the hill, a mini hut, coral reefs, seaweeds, crabs, lake and the glorious sunset! That was our first time and I bet most of the tourists had not gone to that part consequently losing the chance to witness a beauty out of the ordinary.  

Coconut Trees!

 If only I can stay here forever.

Foamy

 Road to the edge

 Resting on my Coconut couch

 Goodbye means Hello

 Sunset by the beach

Perfect view!

We retraced our steps and finally dipped into the chilly water. Our night has not yet ended for we went out with Reylan, our classmate wayback college together with his business partner. We shared funny stories about our lovelife, former classmates, professors, grades, teaching dilemmas and future plans while filling ourselves with sticks of carcinogens, uric acid and cholesterol. Beer, barbeque and grilled chicken necks are definitely guilty pleasures! After that, we transferred venue and ate a pot of hot lomi in an I-forgot-the-name restaurant. Did I tell you that I am suffering from short term memory? First day, so far so good.

Second day. We woke up at 5 AM, sipped our coffee on the seashore, ate breakfast in a nearby carinderia and swam for two hours. We returned to the guest house and prepared to go home and face reality. How I wish I could forever take in Vitamin Sea…

 Floating like a jellyfish

Water brings me shivers

Johnny: Mariedel said that they’re on their way to Avis Falls.

Katrina: What?! 

Johnny: Shall we go?

Katrina: Are you freaking kidding me?!..Come on, let’s go!

Funny, life may have twists and turns but at the right time, we will be directed where we are supposed to go.

We rode on a bus heading to Laoag and stopped on Brgy. Nagsurot as instructed by Mariedel where we will be fetched by her husband. We waited for like 30 minutes and the good thing was that while waiting I saw Rizza, my high shool classmate who is now a policewoman. FYI, she graduated as a nurse. She looks so pretty and happy. I wondered, what if I took up the course I really wanted…would I be also smiling like her?

We hopped in a “kurongkurong” and traveled for 20 minutes until we reached the tarpaulin which says Welcome to Tanap-Avis Falls.

He said that we will trek for an hour. I expected it because I have read travel blogs regarding the falls two weeks ago. I brought neither jacket nor sun block lotion but for the sake of adventure, I was more than willing to burn my skin and get my knees scratched. At first, the hike was easy. I just have to climb steep slopes, humungous rocks, balance and pass through narrow bridges. With my training on hula hoop, jumping rope and weight lifting, I would make it! But as we were steps closer to the falls, I was losing my energy. I was always lagging behind Johnny and Mariedel’s betterhalf. I could not compete with their long strides because I’ve got short leg problems dudes! But I was firm in my decision to reach the top! After 25 minutes, we made it! We were fast, we were strong, we are survivors! Hurrah, I made it friends!

So, here are some of the photos I took during the trek. Multitasking at its finest, that’s why I was bit turtlelike in climbing. Haha. They are in chronological order.

 enchanted

 crystal clear

 virgin

 incomparable

 breathtaking

the road that must be taken

 Divine beauty

Live in the sunshine, swim the Sea, smell the wild air. Hellen Keller said it right. Life is a daring adventure or nothing. Life won’t be fun without any sense of boldness and being wonderfully lost in nature. I and Johnny were frustrated because our original plan was not followed but we do realized that somehow, we were brought where we truly belong.

Indeed, SAUD ang pag-ibig ko and kasi AVIS kitang mahal! 

Because it is 2016

Another year has passed and typically, we need to think of how to be a better version of ourselves. Bandwagon has taught us that new year's resolutions can transform us into BETTER INDIVIDUALS. 

For year of the monkey, I have listed 10 goals which are to be fulfilled until April 1, 2017. 

I love most goal no. 1 because I've always wanted to be the woman well-traveled. The pictures from my trips will be posted on this blog. Everything in there is possible but I think I can not fall in love this year yet. With all the thesis requirements in graduate school and new educational system for the incoming school year, maybe it will be less hassle if no one comes yet.  I easily get distracted in terms of love.

So there you go, my one year 3 months bucket list. This ain't monkey business!