Teaching Compassion in the Classroom

In the school where I work, we have no honor's class or the so-called "star section". We group students heterogeneously. The performing and the underperforming, together in one class. Some people may view it as  a formula for disaster. That's what I also thought. Never did I know that this set-up would teach me something very essential-something I wish I learned early in life.

Simple Joys

While having my morning coffee in the store across our building, a girl with cerebral palsy came over to buy something. She had a cane to support her and two big plastic bags, containing empty PET bottles which I figured will be sold to a junk shop nearby. I do not understand what she was trying to buy but what caught my attention was the way she was trying to talk to the tindera. It was very kind; her sentences filled with po and opo. What caught my attention more was the fact that she was smiling and laughing as the trade went on.

Now I will not proceed by saying how blessed I am to be normal and complete. I will not use her as something to boost my ego. Rather, I will say how I wish I was like her in every way- that despite the difficulty and challenge she is facing she still has a way to be a blessing to others.

I wish I had that feeling of joy- that despite what life throws at me, I will still find the courage to say Thank you po, with a big smile on  my face.

Turning 24

I just turned 24 and to tell you honestly I really don't feel like it. I guess it's because I have no clue what a 24 year old person should be or should look like. Hell, I have no points of comparison. I do know that most of my relatives from the father side, got married or bore a child before they turned 24. The uncle that I lived with growing up was not yet finished studying at 24 and the other one was in Manila working at an agency that sends Filipino entertainers to Japan.

Christmas Jeepney Love Story

On my way back home from the UP Lantern Parade, I rode a Philcoa bound jeepney. There were only two passengers, a "daing" vendor and me. The driver and the vendor were talking. This is how their conversation went.

UP Lantern Parade 2014



I had the great opportunity to witness this year's UP Lantern Parade 2014. This event is the University's way of celebrating Christmas and mark the start of the Holiday break. Different colleges and organizations inside UP create lanterns out of different materials to showcase the creativity and the festive spirit of the Filipino culture.

Seeing the different works of art by the students will make any person feel proud of the creativity and the artistry of the youth today. The lanterns this year depict different faces of the Filipino culture as seen through designs ranging from sarimanok, kalesa to dancers doing pandango sa ilaw.

I was able to snap some shots as the parade passed by.