Thanks for the laughter we've shared
All the times you showed that you cared.
Through the years we've been together
I never felt like I'm no other.
All the times that I'm with you
Completed my life but you never knew.
For we only knew that forever
We will share this happiness together.
Though rough winds shake my day
Still, you're here and made me feel okay.
You shared your shoulder for me to cry on
And showed me your loving attention.
We've always thought it would last
For a lifetime we won't be apart.
Fate's been unkind for both of us,
All the bliss ended in just a blast.
I can't decipher if it's God's will
Never believe it was for real
All I thought it was just a dream
That when I woke up, you'll be here.
But the dream seem so long and endless
It's like you're lost in the wilderness.
I am sure you'll never come back
In an instance you missed your luck.
If only I could summon Death!
To bring your life back on earth.
If only I could I'll really do...
My life has no worth without you.
We never had the chance to bid goodbye
To end this heartache in just a sigh
I know you also feel the pain
You're also crying like rain.
Sometimes I wanted to ask God,
Why did He let this happen?
But I have no right to question Him why
For all we have is a borrowed life.
God is waiting for you, above
Farewell to you my love...
Friday, December 12, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Pay it forward
I remembered yesterday while I was filling up the form as I signed up for this blogsite, about my favorite movies. One of my favorite movies is PAY IT FORWARD. This movie is very idealistic in turning the world into a peaceful one, where everybody shares, loves, and generous with each other. If only the viewers can absorb and internalize the message of the movie, it is not impossible to have peace in this world.
Pay it forward; it is the formula one can use in order to spread generosity, love and peace on earth. If you received a favor or anything from someone, then pay it forward, not with whom you received the favor but to other people who need your help. It is like a networking where you have to outsource or to connect with other people, thus creating a bigger network, a network of kind, loving and generous people. Here is my experience earlier relating to this topic.
This afternoon, while I was in a hurry going to school (that was about 12:30 PM), I haven’t ate breakfast even if it’s already lunchtime and I am really starving but I have no time to waste because I have to attend an orientation at 1pm. So I decided to buy the usual brownies from a vendor at the MRT (a rail transit) station so that I have something to eat as I alight the train. When I was on the train, I was thinking of what shall I write for my blog, lot of things came into my mind. Then we arrived at Taft Ave station, I rode a bus, still thinking of a good topic for my first formal post (since I had a warm-up post this morning as I signed up). My mind being pre-occupied, I forgot the feeling of hunger because of the excitement of writing a blog.
Then I alight from the bus at the waiting shed near the airport and waited for my last ride going to school. As I was waiting, I noticed this old man, a beggar with his old gray hair, the cracks of his thick yellowish skin was very eminent, and his mouth was half-opened breathing softly, his eyes closed while his old face makes an aura of weary and hunger. He was lying on the dusty floor. His hand is open and waiting for alms. My heart was very touched by this scenario, I realized that I am still lucky because my hunger will not last that long as what this old man is living with. Few people were also there standing at the waiting shed, waiting for their ride, but none of them seem to notice the old man (or they were just ignoring him?), and I was staring at him, thinking of how could I help him. I am not rich and I am just a student, I don’t have enough money to give, how could I help this old man? I was really pity, yet guilty.
Then I looked at may bag and saw the brownies that I bought. Without a second thought I got it from my bag and handed it over him. He was very surprised and suddenly got up; he seated and laid his back on the pillar of the shed. As he opened the packaging of the brownies, his eyes were at glow, for the thought of having something to fill his stomach. No words came from his mouth. The brightness in his eyes was already a sign of gratitude, that he was pleased with what I gave him. The people around seemed touched; guilty perhaps as they saw how the old man appreciates the little brownies I gave. One by one, they got something from their bags to give the old man. A not-so-old lady, who looked like a teacher, gave him a pack of biscuits; then a sales lady gave him a pack of juice. Maybe they also realize that they too can help even with those little ways of generosity. As I was riding the FX taxi, I was very happy that somehow I’ve helped this man and has been an instrument to wake up the people around, that we also have social responsibilities to our less fortunate brethren.
One of the principles in life my late father taught me is to live by the golden rule. He would always remind me, “Do not do unto others what you don’t want others do unto you… Always think: what if you were in his place? What would you feel?” If we were at the shoe of the old man (although he doesn’t have shoes, lol), how would we feel, being ignored by the passersby, that all we want is just something to eat? Most of us never realized that we were very fortunate that we are able and capable of having the life we’ve always wanted. And never did we know that sharing just “a bit” of these blessings would certainly help and make others happy.
Christmas is near and it is the season of sharing. May we share the blessings and the favors God has given us, to those who were out of our network; to someone we don’t know and especially to someone who’s in great need. Pay it forward. Happy Holidays.
Pay it forward; it is the formula one can use in order to spread generosity, love and peace on earth. If you received a favor or anything from someone, then pay it forward, not with whom you received the favor but to other people who need your help. It is like a networking where you have to outsource or to connect with other people, thus creating a bigger network, a network of kind, loving and generous people. Here is my experience earlier relating to this topic.
This afternoon, while I was in a hurry going to school (that was about 12:30 PM), I haven’t ate breakfast even if it’s already lunchtime and I am really starving but I have no time to waste because I have to attend an orientation at 1pm. So I decided to buy the usual brownies from a vendor at the MRT (a rail transit) station so that I have something to eat as I alight the train. When I was on the train, I was thinking of what shall I write for my blog, lot of things came into my mind. Then we arrived at Taft Ave station, I rode a bus, still thinking of a good topic for my first formal post (since I had a warm-up post this morning as I signed up). My mind being pre-occupied, I forgot the feeling of hunger because of the excitement of writing a blog.
Then I alight from the bus at the waiting shed near the airport and waited for my last ride going to school. As I was waiting, I noticed this old man, a beggar with his old gray hair, the cracks of his thick yellowish skin was very eminent, and his mouth was half-opened breathing softly, his eyes closed while his old face makes an aura of weary and hunger. He was lying on the dusty floor. His hand is open and waiting for alms. My heart was very touched by this scenario, I realized that I am still lucky because my hunger will not last that long as what this old man is living with. Few people were also there standing at the waiting shed, waiting for their ride, but none of them seem to notice the old man (or they were just ignoring him?), and I was staring at him, thinking of how could I help him. I am not rich and I am just a student, I don’t have enough money to give, how could I help this old man? I was really pity, yet guilty.
Then I looked at may bag and saw the brownies that I bought. Without a second thought I got it from my bag and handed it over him. He was very surprised and suddenly got up; he seated and laid his back on the pillar of the shed. As he opened the packaging of the brownies, his eyes were at glow, for the thought of having something to fill his stomach. No words came from his mouth. The brightness in his eyes was already a sign of gratitude, that he was pleased with what I gave him. The people around seemed touched; guilty perhaps as they saw how the old man appreciates the little brownies I gave. One by one, they got something from their bags to give the old man. A not-so-old lady, who looked like a teacher, gave him a pack of biscuits; then a sales lady gave him a pack of juice. Maybe they also realize that they too can help even with those little ways of generosity. As I was riding the FX taxi, I was very happy that somehow I’ve helped this man and has been an instrument to wake up the people around, that we also have social responsibilities to our less fortunate brethren.
One of the principles in life my late father taught me is to live by the golden rule. He would always remind me, “Do not do unto others what you don’t want others do unto you… Always think: what if you were in his place? What would you feel?” If we were at the shoe of the old man (although he doesn’t have shoes, lol), how would we feel, being ignored by the passersby, that all we want is just something to eat? Most of us never realized that we were very fortunate that we are able and capable of having the life we’ve always wanted. And never did we know that sharing just “a bit” of these blessings would certainly help and make others happy.
Christmas is near and it is the season of sharing. May we share the blessings and the favors God has given us, to those who were out of our network; to someone we don’t know and especially to someone who’s in great need. Pay it forward. Happy Holidays.
Monday, December 8, 2008
ENGLISH PLUS IS A PLUSH
I admit that I am not fluent in English, especially through oral communication and I know most of us do. Not only the Pattseans are experiencing this deficiency but most of the college students, especially those who doesn’t have a strong foundation in English language during their high school. Having such difficulty would also mean a lesser opportunity in landing on their dream job. This might be the reason why the school administration has implemented and added the English Plus Program, a required additional subject for all graduating students and should be taken as part of the requirements for graduation, by hook or by crook.
We don’t have enough knowledge regarding this program. It is just surprising that all graduating students were required to enroll the subject, amounting Php3,500 which should be paid upon enrollment (in full). Well, a very huge amount of money to be paid in such an ambush! I don’t know if this program is mandatory as required by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), but still it is very expensive.
Well, is English Plus really a plus or just a plush? On the brighter side of it, it is very beneficial to the students to improve their English language. BUT, is it really effective? Or is it just another English subject taken for granted? For a 40-hour-long English course, is it really possible to make these students fluent in English? Or might as well enroll in a call center training academy who offers English proficiency for only Php1,995,or even lower, and can be paid in cash or installment basis. They also provide kits for references and exercises. And such training is more feasible to transform their students to speak in English fluently and might as well help them find a job, nonetheless, in call center industry (it might be very far from the aviation course, but at least, practically it is better than being unemployed). However, it is the English proficiency training we are most concerned.
Indeed, why is it necessary to enroll a single English course to improve our English proficiency, the fact that we have five or even six English subjects enrolled as part of our curriculum? That only proves that those English subjects we have taken were useless. Useless in the sense that we have to take another English program just to cover up the defect of those English subjects that should have improved our English proficiency. The sad thing, we have to pay for it!
Under the present economic crisis, it is very untimely to require the graduating students to enroll such course. It would be very pleasant to make it optional, rather than mandatory. Anyway it is just an additional subject. Taking the course might be an advantage for those who can afford. And for those who cannot, may just take the risk in finding a job and answer with confidence during interviews. For an instance, the Review Classes for the Aeronautical Engineering Board Examination is optional. It is up to the graduates whether to take the review classes or not, in PATTS Review Center or in other review centers. It all depends on them, otherwise this just an aid for them to pass the board examination and not an assurance. English plus either is still not an assurance. And is merely a waste of time and money since it does not guarantee the students to be proficient in English after enrolling the course. Instead of adding such course, the school administration, particularly the Language Department, should have enhanced the campaign of the existing English subjects for the advancement of the English proficiency of the students. In relation to this, they should employ more English instructors, effective and qualified enough to teach English subjects, most especially in Oral Communication or Speech improvement. And rather than this English plus program, they should have added Speech Laboratory for the Speech Improvement subjects instead. Such laboratory class should be equipped with manuals and hands-on training using computers in order to be more effective. It is more acceptable since it can be paid in installment, just like the laboratory subjects of the technical courses. There is a lot of way to improve the English subjects. And such improvements "may" not mean additional fees. The fact that we enrolled it, we paid for it, therefore we should get the most out of it. The performance of the medium of instruction will reflect on the students. If the graduates are found to be poor in English, therefore, it means that those English subjects they have taken were “in a way” ineffective or the campaign in English proficiency of the institution is weak.
To end up, English Plus might be an immediate solution, but it is not the cure for the deteriorating English proficiency of the students. It still lies on the English subjects under the curriculum and more on the students. It is like putting a band-aid on a wound; it just conceals the wound for a moment but does not heal it and might even worsen it. It is the English PLUSH.
We don’t have enough knowledge regarding this program. It is just surprising that all graduating students were required to enroll the subject, amounting Php3,500 which should be paid upon enrollment (in full). Well, a very huge amount of money to be paid in such an ambush! I don’t know if this program is mandatory as required by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), but still it is very expensive.
Well, is English Plus really a plus or just a plush? On the brighter side of it, it is very beneficial to the students to improve their English language. BUT, is it really effective? Or is it just another English subject taken for granted? For a 40-hour-long English course, is it really possible to make these students fluent in English? Or might as well enroll in a call center training academy who offers English proficiency for only Php1,995,or even lower, and can be paid in cash or installment basis. They also provide kits for references and exercises. And such training is more feasible to transform their students to speak in English fluently and might as well help them find a job, nonetheless, in call center industry (it might be very far from the aviation course, but at least, practically it is better than being unemployed). However, it is the English proficiency training we are most concerned.
Indeed, why is it necessary to enroll a single English course to improve our English proficiency, the fact that we have five or even six English subjects enrolled as part of our curriculum? That only proves that those English subjects we have taken were useless. Useless in the sense that we have to take another English program just to cover up the defect of those English subjects that should have improved our English proficiency. The sad thing, we have to pay for it!
Under the present economic crisis, it is very untimely to require the graduating students to enroll such course. It would be very pleasant to make it optional, rather than mandatory. Anyway it is just an additional subject. Taking the course might be an advantage for those who can afford. And for those who cannot, may just take the risk in finding a job and answer with confidence during interviews. For an instance, the Review Classes for the Aeronautical Engineering Board Examination is optional. It is up to the graduates whether to take the review classes or not, in PATTS Review Center or in other review centers. It all depends on them, otherwise this just an aid for them to pass the board examination and not an assurance. English plus either is still not an assurance. And is merely a waste of time and money since it does not guarantee the students to be proficient in English after enrolling the course. Instead of adding such course, the school administration, particularly the Language Department, should have enhanced the campaign of the existing English subjects for the advancement of the English proficiency of the students. In relation to this, they should employ more English instructors, effective and qualified enough to teach English subjects, most especially in Oral Communication or Speech improvement. And rather than this English plus program, they should have added Speech Laboratory for the Speech Improvement subjects instead. Such laboratory class should be equipped with manuals and hands-on training using computers in order to be more effective. It is more acceptable since it can be paid in installment, just like the laboratory subjects of the technical courses. There is a lot of way to improve the English subjects. And such improvements "may" not mean additional fees. The fact that we enrolled it, we paid for it, therefore we should get the most out of it. The performance of the medium of instruction will reflect on the students. If the graduates are found to be poor in English, therefore, it means that those English subjects they have taken were “in a way” ineffective or the campaign in English proficiency of the institution is weak.
To end up, English Plus might be an immediate solution, but it is not the cure for the deteriorating English proficiency of the students. It still lies on the English subjects under the curriculum and more on the students. It is like putting a band-aid on a wound; it just conceals the wound for a moment but does not heal it and might even worsen it. It is the English PLUSH.
First Blog
This will be my first entry. Well, before, I used to have a Friendster blog. Hmmm way back 2005 when it was last updated. That blog contains poems that I've written while I was courting someone. I'll probably have a separate blog for that. Well, this will just be a warm up for me. I have a lot of topics in mind. Ironically, I don't know where to start with.
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