My Socially Constructed Reality

My dear Stef, I'd like to write you a letter now because I noticed you've grown a lot. . . Let me tell you why you make me happier every day. Remember the first time you woke up early and prepared breakfast then packed my baon for school? That day, on my way to school, I thanked God because I felt so lucky for having a now almost grown-up daughter. Ang sarap pala ng feeling kapag may anak na nag-aasikaso. Really. I never felt that in my whole life. When I take care of you and Cha and Danie, masarap din pakiramdam ko kahit pagod, pero ibang happiness kapag anak na ang nagpapakita ng pagmamahal. Thanks for your care. I appreciate it a lot. I feel your love every day, every night, every minute, even when I'm at work. Tuwing ititimpla mo ako ng kape, it's not just coffee that you give me, but your love, and the coffee becomes sweeter and more special. Thanks. Kahit sa coffee na pinapadala mo sa YM, ok na rin sa kin -- lol -- basta galing sa inyong mga anak ko. For ...

This morning was the interview for the Search for Model Faculty of the Year. The members of the panel include Dr. Archimedes David, VP for Academic Affairs, Dr. Nicanor Austriaco, former VP for AA, and Ms Lorie Canlas, VP for Finance. Well, what can I say? I actually enjoyed the interview but there's a doubt somewhere in my mind, that it was a good shot. I'm competing against two doctors. One with Ph. D. degree and one a real doctor who teaches at the School of Medicine. Then Ma'am Lorie kept telling me to finish my Ph. D. degree. I have no idea what it meant, or if it has meaning at all. Among the things that they asked was how my research, Charles' thesis, I mean, contributed to my growth and to the improvement of my teaching. I already forgot my answer... ha ha. She asked me how I return to AUF community the benefits that I get from attending the seminars. I gave her three answers, and I thought she was satisfied with my answers. Sir Archie didn't ask much. Bu...

Life in the academe is like a canvas. When one enters the academe as a faculty member, the canvas is just a plain surface waiting to be painted on. It is then up to the faculty to paint on the canvas, to create a design, and to choose what color to use. It is only through painting that the canvas comes alive. In conquering the white space, colors can do the trick. The color purple symbolizes royalty and good judgment. It is a combination of red, the warmest color, and blue, the coolest color. My personal preference for the color purple is a statement that may be effectively conveyed even in the absence of words. Just like preference for a color, in my case purple, a teacher needs to advocate something. This advocacy radiates and can eventually have impact on the people outside oneself. Ideally, the teacher’s advocacy must be aligned with his or her expertise. Student empowerment . Freedom with responsibility . Media Literacy . Originali...

The urge to resign as vice chair is here again. This time, I am more serious to become regular faculty, instead of handling administrative tasks. What prompted me to think about resigning again? Well, for the record, I have long wanted to leave admin. task but knowing that there's no one to take the place, I am staying here. This feeling of resigning just popped out of my mind when I talked to Tonette Orejas the other day. I was trying to convince her to teach part-time. And fortunately, seems like she agreed. Actually, a few years back, I also talked to her, with the same pitch -- asking her if she would consider teaching. And I got a yes back then. And now, I still got a yes. We just have to settle scheduling problem. She said she's only available to teach on Saturdays. But when I asked our dean about considering her to teach though she's got no Master's degree, the dean reiterates the "policy" that says, "No MA, no way." I...

Scars - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

I was invited as guest on May 5 in the program "Work Ko 'to!" at 104.1 DWAU. We talked about my jobs as faculty member, writer and ESL instructor. Edmar del Mundo was the host. Guest co-host is Marife Velasco. Smile! My AB Comm. 3 students: Kaori, Kelly, Daniel and Marife