My Socially Constructed Reality

MANILA BULLETIN ONLINE YOUTH & CAMPUS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Teaching-learning English through newspaper Saturday, September 27, 2008 In teaching English language, newspapers have been proven effective as instructional tools, especially in non-English speaking countries such as Vietnam, China, and Thailand, where English through Newspaper is often a required course at the intermediate levels. In the Philippines, this method is introduced by Vibal Publishing’s new book, Teaching-Learning English through Newspaper by Ruben Umaly, Ph.D., and Virginia Bautista, M.A. "As a teacher in Bangkok, I’ve seen firsthand how newspapers can provide a daily supply of material for teaching and learning English," states Umaly. "This inspired the idea behind the book." Teaching-Learning English through Newspaper functions as an English textbook that enforces English proficiency using newspaper stories, partnering with the P...

Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to___ today.' Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6. Dream more while you are awake . Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants. Drink green tea and plenty of warm water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts. Try to make at least three people smile each day. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and ...

Amazing! I had my passport application approved in less than three hours in DFA Manila. I consider that amazing because I tried applying at DFA Clark a couple of times but I was rejected on both attempts. And I didn't understand WHY. Here's the story: On my first attempt, the evaluator noticed that my mom's last name in my birth certificate was different from her last name in my marriage certificate. When she asked me why, I said it was because she was already married to my stepfather (British citizen) when I got married. According to the evaluator, I have to show my biological father's death certificate and my mom's marriage certificate with Uncle Steve to prove that my mom in the marriage certificate is the same as my mom in my birth certificate. ANO BA YAN? I thought that suggestion was stupid. My brother and sister have their passport and my mom has her own but she didn't have to prove anything about her marriage, tapos ako ang gusto nilang magpatunay...

What Virginia Means You are very hyper. You never slow down, even when it's killing you. You're the type of person who can be a workaholic during the day... and still have the energy to party all night. Your energy is definitely a magnet for those around you. People are addicted to your vibe. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are deeply philosophical and thoughtful. You tend to analyze ...

Yesterday, I attended a seminar on parenting at my kids' school. Parents were invited to attend the seminar titled " The Carrot, the Egg and the Coffee Bean: A New Perspective in Parenting. " T he seminar made me do some reflections about my being a parent now. I guess parenting is much more complicated than being a writer or being a teacher. But of course, being a parent is also much more rewarding. In my case, my family, especially my kids, is my source of everything: happiness, strength, fulfillment, faith, and inspiration . Because of this, sometimes, even if I feel so weak, I have to pretend to be strong in front of my kids. I have to smile even if I already feel like giving up sometimes. It's because I don't want my kids to see that something is wrong. The speaker in the seminar said that PAIN IS PART OF LIFE and that THE MORE PROBLEMS WE ENCOUNTER, THE MORE OPPORTUNITIES WILL COME. He also emphasized the LAW of ATTRACTION which says WE ATTRACT ALL THAT HAPP...

Joining Dr. Umaly and I during the book launching on Sept. 15 at SM Convention Hall, Mall of Asia: Professor Lee (President, International Language Institute). Joowon Yoon (my former student), my mom (also a writer), Ms Badette Cunanan (PR Manager of the Manila Bulletin), Jung, Dea-woung (my thesis advisee), and Kevin (my Korean ESL student). "Bringing this book into your classroom is like taking with you the oldest newspaper in the Philippines and one of the best publishers in the country." Of course, another photo op with the wonderful people from Vibal and the Manila Bulletin. From left: Mr. Julius Rolando Corotan (PR Communications Head, Vibal Publishing House, Inc.), Mr. Cesar Inocencio (Editorial Coordinator, Vibal) and Ms Badette Cunanan . What was I thinking during this time that I was sitting next to Mr. Inocencio while waiting for my turn to speak? Nothing. I was just trying to make myself believe that there's nothing to be nervous about. And I guess ...

LIBRA : (September 24 to October 23) A new window or opportunity opens up. Make snap decisions if you want to capitalise but bear in mind you may have to trade freedom for financial improvement. Rewards will compensate for personal sacrifice.

I woke up this morning with so many thoughts in mind. The things that I have been pondering on since 6 a.m. till now (almost 1 p.m.) are the same things I had in mind for the past months. It's about something I've been longing to materialize. I want to resign from my full-time job. Just teach elsewhere. Find decent job in the UK. Continue writing online. Continue teaching ESL.

"We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of race, religion, or political views, that place must - at that moment - become the center of the universe." -- Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor

The tentative program for the September 15 Launching will be as follows: Brief Lectures I. Talk by Dr. Ruben Umaly (Topic: Teaching English as a Second Language through Newspapers) II. Talk by Ms. Virginia Bautista (Topic: Teaching English through Newspapers in the Classroom) Launching Proper I. Word from the Authors Dr. Ruben Umaly & Ms Virginia Bautista II. Word from the Publisher Vibal Publishing House, Inc. III. Guest Speaker Dr. Umaly's friend from the Academe IV. Word from Manila Bulletin Mrs. Paciencia Pineda V. Closing Remarks VI. Book Signing The program will start at 5:30 PM.

Experience WORDS WITHOUT BORDERS at SMX Convention Center at SM Mall of Asia. Numerous books will be exhibited and several seminars and conferences are scheduled. The book I co-authored with Dr. Umaly will also be launched on the said book fair, particularly on Sept. 15. The book TEACHING-LEARNING ENGLISH THROUGH NEWSPAPER is published by Vibal Publishing House. The book fair runs from Sept. 12 till Sept. 15, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The book is juxtaposed with my mom's books on her book shelf.

September isn't really special to me because it will just add another year to my age -- ha ha. The thought that tomorrow starts the last month for the third quarter of the year makes me feel worried. Yeah -- worried. At the beginning of the year, I expected to leave the country, even just for a trip, this year. The first two quarters are done and the third quarter is about to end as September ends, and I haven't done any preparation re my plan to leave the Philippines, even just for a while. In fact, I haven't got the time to fix my passport problem. That's more alarming. With so many things to do, I couldn't find time to do what I want to. I hope that it's not too late. Getting a passport and preparing for our marketing will be my priority this September.

"Kung ayaw n'yo na dito, bukas ang pinto. Kung gusto nyo, ipahahatid ko pa kayo sa brass band palabas ng eskwelahan." Ganun lang kasimple. Kapag may general meeting, walang umiimik kapag sya na ang nagsasalita. At walang kahit sinuman sa mga naroroon ang may halaga. Lahat pwedeng palitan kahit anumang oras. Tama naman. Pero ito marahil ang dahilan kung bakit walang tumatagal na magagaling na empleyado. Hindi pinapahalagahan ang mga tao kaya umaalis ang lahat ng may pagkakataon. Tapos nakaluklok sya ngayon sa pwesto na dapat sana ay nakalaan sa taong may malasakit sa kapwa. Paano magsisilbi sa publiko ang tulad nya na walang 'amor' sa taong tumutulong sa kanya upang patakbuhin ang pinagkakakitaan nya? Ewan.

Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ako o manlulumo sa narinig kong balita. Siya na ang bagong **** *****. HIndi na ako nabigla sa balita dahil noon pang Enero ko narinig ang posibilidad na ito . At alam ko rin na inaasahan na rin iyon ng mga propesyunal sa ********. Alam ng mga nakapaligid na tauhan ng pangulo ng bansang ito na malakas sya dito. Nakakapanlumo. Bakit kamo? Maraming nangyayaring hindi patas sa unibersidad na sya ang may-ari. Ang binabayaran ng mga estudyante, pataas nang pataas. Bawat kilos sa eskwelahan nya, may bayad. Bayad ng membership fee sa organisasyon, bayad ng tubig para sa mga estudyante sa elementarya. Pati mga guro hindi man lang mabigyan ng maiinom na tubig. Mismong mga guro nagbabayad ng tubig buwan-buwan para sila may inumin. At tanungin mo kung sino ang nagtitinda ng tubig -- ang koop na pag-aari din ng taong ito. Dito pa lang sa tubig na binabayaran buwan-buwan, makikita mo na kung anong klaseng kawalan ng concern meron ang taong ito. Ang kuya ko kas...

Congratulations to Ninang Tessa and Ninong Boyet for having such a talented daughter, Maia San Diego, who had her first SOLO EXHIBIT which opened on Aug. 16 at UP Diliman. They must be the proudest parents that day! CONGRATS MAIA! In this photo op, Maia, known to her family as Ingkay, is surrounded by writers. I wonder how a talented writer nurtures a daughter with spatial and artistic intelligence... (From left) Lesli Navarro , Ofelia Concepcion, Josie Aventurado, Maia, Tessa San Diego, and Glady Gimena

This is not the first time that I've watched THE LAKE HOUSE but until now, I still cry whenever I see this film. This film shows that indeed, love knows no boundaries. Well, the film is fictional. It's not gonna happen in reality. But the message is clear: LOVE CAN MAKE US DO THINGS WHICH WE THINK ARE IMPOSSIBLE. ********************* Communication theories in the film: SOCIAL PENETRATION THEORY by Irvin Altman and Dalmas Taylor: Kate and Alex started exchanging information about themselves. This allowed them to develop relational closeness. Of course, exchange of personal information started with knowing each other's biographical information and the information becomes more personal and intimate as they develop closeness. Knowing each other, according to Altman & Taylor, is just like peeling an onion. The outer layer of the onion pertains to the biographical info like Kate being a doctor, working at Chicago, living in 1620 N. Racine and Alex being an archite...