The Joy of Having A Complete Family

This is my last blog before 2010 ends…

I was suppose to write about having a family (marriage life), but I guess I have nothing to write about it since I am not a married man. Just imagine how great it is to have a family of your own. Having children waiting and excited to see you when you arrived home are such relief.

In spite of all the problems that came into my life this 2010, I could say that I am still lucky. Lucky because, my family is complete, all are in good health, all are happy with their chosen path in life. We make sure that the bond as a family is still in our hearts. Lucky that whatever happened to each of us we are all willing to help one another whenever we face any problems. I am very lucky to have my family complete.

Now that the year is ending, we are again gathered to our new house. This is our second year here. I am much exited to celebrate New Year with them. Just this morning I texted few of my true friends, I thank them for the gift of friendship. What more could I ask for? Having great friends and complete family? Almost perfect… I pity those people who lived in an extravagant life but never enjoyed the happiness of having a great family. Those people who were never complete during Noche Buena, those who were left by their sons and daughters because of their not so good attitude, those who were punished by god to be alone because they do not know how to care for others. Hopefully tis coming new year (2011), they would realize how much harm they cause others because of their wrong decisions, that they are not God to be worshipped by the people below them, that they have to care for others too and stop being too selfish, that the heaven is punishing them, not directly to them but though their family. It’s so sad that their family has to suffer because of them. It is so sad that they have to learn it the hard way. Hopefully this thing would serve as a wake up call for them. My family isn’t perfect. Most of the time, we face problems and trials in life. But together as one we resolved it. Me either is not perfect, I do bad things also. But with God’s help and guidance I came to a point where I learned to accept my imperfections and accept my faults. I felt so lucky to have been blessed and guided by God. By this I can surely say that whatever problems we encounter as a family we will help one another to overcome it.

I am happy of what I am and with what I have now. Contented with what God had given me. Problems arise every now and then and bravely I was able to resolve them one at a time.

This coming 2011 I am wishing good health and long life for my family. I wish my friends happiness and long life too. This is the time to start anew. It’s the time to realize that we aren’t perfect being. That sometimes we have to go down from our pedestal to experience the true essence of life.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!!!

When worst things becomes the best things in life….

I remember once I was asked by a former student three basic interconnected/interrelated questions. I remember him saying that was for his class and would eventually help him in making life decisions also. At first I was having second thoughts but I the end I honestly answered it.
Here’s his statement:
we were asked to: Interview someone you know who is at least 10 years older and who has a good attitude.

right off the bat i thought of you. not really because i think you are 10 years older than me but because i know you have a good attitude. :>

anyway i have three short questions.

1. what was the worst thing that ever happened to you?

2. how did you deal with it?

3. what advice can you give me about having a positive attitude in life?

there! dali lang diba? :) sorry for the little hassle that i might have caused you. but thanks anyway sir.



PS: (just so you know what this is for. ) we are also asked to write a 2-3 page summary of how can we have a better attitude incorporating what we got from our interviews.


thanks sir rey!

Whew! Here’s my answer to his questions:
1. what was the worst thing that ever happened to you?

The worst thing that I considered the worst thing happened to me was when the institution I am working with does not approved my regularization papers due to some factors/reasons which I think is unfair for me as an employee and they have to extend my probationary status for another six (6) months.

2. how did you deal with it?

At first it was very hard for me to accept the decision. I cried; put the blame to the institution for their negligence. Later on, I started to realize that I do have my faults too. After some comforting thoughts, I still decided to stay and prove the institution that I am worthy of the privilege being a regular employee. Not because I need them or they need me either; but it is because of my noble goal/vision as a teacher.

3. what advice can you give me about having a positive attitude in life?

It is not shameful to accept your fault. It won’t degrade you as a person but in fact it will make you a better person. Charge everything to experience and this will be your best weapon in facing different challenges in life.

Funny thing is same thing happened (probationary extension) just yesterday. Frankly, I wasn’t surprise about it. Acceptance would always be the key. I am so grateful to those people who are willing to fight for me and I will always be thankful to them. I don’t brag my worth, but I know my capacity and capabilities as a person and as a teacher. Teaching is my passion, the reason I am staying are my students and those people who believed in me. Practically, I need money for everyday survival and to satisfy my basic necessities, modesty aside there are institutions/companies who can offer me more than what I am receiving now. But nothing (nothing in this world) can ever replace the noble cause of being a teacher. I love my student very much as well as teaching them. That is why it’s really hard for me to let go this passion. This time I humble say that teaching is not only a profession but a vocation.
I attended an anticipated mass last night and was very grateful. Homily is all about being strong in spite of hardship in life, not giving up, being brave facing trials in life. I was so blessed I was reminded all these.
“It is not shameful to accept your fault. It won’t degrade you as a person but in fact it will make you a better person.”

From Basic to High-tech!

‎"If we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow."

When I started teaching way back 2003 I used to have visual aids and make use of chalk during discussions. I knew that visual aids are one tool that will help me deliver the lesson well and easily transfer learning to my students. I spent more than two hours every night in doing my visual aids. I sometimes keep some for future use. I continue doing this until I found out the usefulness of technology inside the classroom and to my subject [History]. For the students of 21^st century they no longer pay attention to your visual aids written in cartolina or manila paper. They are no longer happy and attentive during class discussions. It seems that they are looking for something new. The kids are becoming more and more demanding when it comes to classroom teaching. Given an opportunity to use technology inside the classroom, I took advantage of the school facilities [LCD projector, TV, DVD player, and computer]. I was able to make good use of these technologies in teaching History [and Economics] to my students. As a result, better understanding of the lesson and higher test results.

Examples of technology I used in class are [1] The use of PowerPoint Presentation in discussing the subject to my students (better if it is more on graphics and not text based), by doing so my students have concrete ideas about the topic and are exposed to primary documents, materials, and sources. [2] Letting the students build better understanding about certain issues on the subject by presenting them the topic through movies or documentarily films. Watching such help the students understand more and even relate to the situation especially in the documentary films where the issues in the society are being shown. [3] Since most of my students are fond of social networks, I took advantage of these social networks in reaching out for my students. Important announcements about the subject such as quizzes, long tests, even deadlines of projects or performance tasks are posted in these networks for the purpose of information dissemination. [4] We even created an account, in one of the well-known site, a group where we can freely send messages, links, and articles that are useful both for my students and me. This led to an easy and better communication. [5] I also took advantage of the skills of my students when it comes to websites and other related fields. I taught them how to look for useful websites that are of great help not only for History in particular but also practically for all their subjects. [6] Posting the handouts in a particular site in the net is like hitting two birds in one stone. Its very purpose is for the students to have access with the handouts [presentation in particular, the one presented in class] anytime of the day they wanted. Second is, you get to share with other people [teachers, civic or social groups, and other professionals] your work. These social-networking site helps teachers collaborate with colleagues and students online as well as upload and share lesson plans and other ideas.They can even download it, customized make some modification so that it will suit the needs of their audience/listener/students.

This is how very useful technology nowadays. What we are using and was very effective before might not be as effective as today. As teachers we have to be aware of the latest trends because before we knew it, our students might be ahead of us when it comes to what is the latest. We have to always remember this line from a Chinese Proverbs"Do not confine your children to your own learning, for they were born in another time."

Thank you to edupln.ning.com for the picture

How will I make the curve line straight ?

When a person starts to live a life on his own he considers a lot of things. When making decisions he needs to think about everything first. It’s really hard to commit mistake because once it’s done, it’s done. There’s no turning back. Life is not like encoding texts in a computer that once you commit an error you can just delete the error and retype everything.

I made a lot of crazy decisions in life. Some of them turn out good but mostly they were bad. I knew that I can not turn back the time and choose another option for the wrong decision I made. I regret all the wrong decision I made in life but given a chance to decide again I’ll choose the right one. As I’ve said not all decisions I made went bad, several were of great help for me. Most of them benefited me, my family and friends.

What really bother me are the wrong decisions I made before. How I wish I could turn back those days and have chosen the right decision and do something about it. I’m not an emotional person, I am not really the type of person that would tell everyone [only the selected few maybe] everything about my life, I don’t open up myself and problem that easily. I know I can always hide it with a smile. A lot of people told me that they are my friends and trust them but it always turn out keeping all my problems and not telling them about it. I don’t know how to cry my problems out, I am not that emotional really, I felt that I am lonely/sad about my problems but I don’t really see my self crying it out. Sometimes I wanted to cry but no tears coming out. Tears are very precious for me; maybe that is why the reason I don’t really cry that easily.

I missed my [real] friends. We don’t see each other very often; we don’t text or call all the time but I know we do care for each other as real friends. They were the ones, who knew everything about me, the good and the bad things I did in life, and I really love and trust them a lot. I entrusted everything to them. They accepted the good and bad things about me, even, that is why they were the ones who really pushes me to do things that are new in my life, they understand how I deal with things around me, supports me, and nevertheless scold me whenever I made mistake.

Of all the things I experienced in life, of all the good and bad decisions I made, of all the problems I overcome and succeed, all the battle I lost… there is only one thing I want to do in life for now… I want to make the curve line in my life straight…

Retzyer Neleb

I made an impact....

made an impact by molding his students the school, the society and the country envisioned them to be... to become - Men of Integrity

(I Love ROTARACT, I am proud to be METRO!!!)