The Highlight of the Year

Just when I was about to give up, something wonderful came along and it changed the way I think about my future. I was having dinner with my aunt on the seventeenth of November, and I told her that I wasn't feeling good. Obviously, the day wasn't nice to me. And then I received a call from our school directress.

Two miscalls. Not one but two. Oh no. My heart sank for a moment and I immediately reflected on my activities in school that day. After sending a risky text message ("Hi Teacher! You miscalled two times po."), I was really hoping for the best... hoping that I didn't do something wrong. And then my phone vibrated. It was our directress.

I couldn't believe it. What did I do to deserve this? I felt cold. My heart beat faster.

Our directress was in a happy mood. She just called to say "CONGRATULATIONS!!!" At first, I had no idea why she said that word. And then it hit me. "I passed the LET?", I said. Oh my goodness. I can tell that she was extremely happy and excited. And I think she was in her car when she called because I heard vehicles beeping and honking. Karla and Serie also sent me messages. I literally jumped and screamed after I put my phone down. Kinilig ako.

That night, I felt like I won the lottery. It was the happiest day of my life.

LET stands for the licensure exam for teachers. I took the LET last September 25 along with Karla and Kaye. Out of 10, 000 plus educators all over the Philippines, only 22. 68% made it. And I'm proud to say that I'm one of those who made it. I'm also proud of Karla and Kaye and my other friends because they also passed. :)

Unlike the others who post polaroid photos on their wall, I have these instead.

My LET journey was not easy. I had to make sacrifices for the sake of LET. I turned down a couple of invitations too to give myself a time to study. I didn't do a "super hardcore study" though. There were days when I was too lazy to read. But I tried to discipline myself because I was aiming for a goal. That is to pass the LET. For instance, I know I'm not good in memorization so I made notes written on small pieces of Manila paper to remind me of the theories, theorists (how can we forget our best buddies Piaget, Vygotsky, Pavlov, Skinner, Bruner...), philosophies, philosophers (um, hello Aristotle and Plato!), mathematical formulas and equations, and the like. There was a time when my cousins from abroad came to visit but I wasn't able to see them because I was in Manila, studying in the review school. Kahit na super tempted ako na mag-absent pero hindi ako pinayagan ng elders. There was also a time when my friends from PLICA decided to watch Zombadings (an indie movie). I've always wanted to watch that movie and when the opportunity came, hindi ako pwede. Everyone was there, except me. While they were watching the movie, I was staying in a hostel near the review school, preparing for my last two review sessions with our coaches. I stayed there for 2 nights, 3 days. Good thing my room had a cable TV, an aircon, and a wi-fi so my days weren't boring after all. But still. And the biggest sacrifice I made was waking up early in the morning just to be in time for the review class. The school is located near the Katipunan area and I live in Laguna. North and south. Both ends. Just so you know, all these things happened over the summer and the first few months of the new school year. And if you're wondering why I enrolled in a review school that's miles away from home, it's because I wanted to meet new people, learn new things, to become more open to what is around me.

Despite everything... despite all these sacrifices... everything was truly worth it. What I learned from my LET journey is something I will treasure forever. I'm glad and proud to say that I didn't learn from books but from experiences too. Hence, I learned in a meaningful way.

You can reach your goal long as long as you try your best and work hard for it. There is no room for giving up. Don't be afraid to let go of your comfort zones. Think outside the box. Having said these, I realized that true learning begins when you go beyond the norms. Kahit mga little things or acts lang yan, they'll go a long way. Just like the new ad of Globe says, "break free, go lang ng go". Don't forget to pray too. Praying to God is the most powerful weapon, in my honest opinion. Hindi Ka niya pababayaan lalo na pag nakikita niya na you're doing your best. Trust me. ;)

Because we don't twinkle... we shine! :)

This note welcomed us when we entered Teacher P's office. How sweet of her. :)

The unexpected gift!

And Teacher A (the head of our sister school) came all the way from Green Meadows just to give Kaye, Karla and I this cute glass-like tumbler from Starbucks! She's one sweet lady too. :)

 Photo courtesy of Karla. Polaroid effect, yours truly.

Last but definitely last the least, our photo. That's Kaye, Karla, and myself smiling from ear to ear. We are the new professional teachers! And we are sooo ready to teach minds and touch lives. :)

This would not have been possible without the help of the people around us. A big thanks to our respective families, our PLICA family, and friends for their never ending support. Let me take this opportunity too to thank Ms. Alice and Sir Albert and the people I've met along the way for inspiring me. God, thank you for everything. :)

If you walk away, everyday it will rain...

Not a super big fan of the Twilight Saga (haha pero okay lang talaga kahit panoorin ko ulit yung movie) but can I just confess that I'm really in-love with Breaking Dawn's soundtrack? Oh yes I am! I have to agree with Karla when she told me that the soundtrack consists of chill, relaxing, sweet yet melancholic songs. Great selection indeed! It Will Rain, Turning Page, Love Will Take You, Requiem on Water, and A Thousand Years are forever on the loop. I have no idea when will I ever get tired of listening to these songs. Well, I doubt it. ;)

Here's Bruno Mars with his amazing performance of It Will Rain on The X Factor USA. Don't forget to plug those earphones of yours while watching the video! :) 

The Day I Gave Edward and Bella a Second Chance

When I was still in college, I read Twilight for the sake of being curious and just to be in the know. At that time, people my age (specifically girls) were so mesmerized by Stephenie Meyer's masterpiece and when they talk about how sweet and loving Edward Cullen is, I feel like I belong to a completely different universe. So imagine how I felt when I got to share my thoughts about Edward Cullen to my then room mate, Mela. It was awesome and cool. :))

However, I wasn't able to appreciate it as much as I appreciate Harry Potter. It took me months to finish the book because of school requirements. Priorities first! For this reason, I lost my interest and I totally forgot about Edward and Bella. And did I mention that I fell asleep while watching the movie adaptation on my laptop? I woke up when it was about to end. Sad, isn't it?

Fast forward to a few weeks ago, Teacher Mariel gave me something which I cannot refuse. She gave me a deluxe complimentary pass of Breaking Dawn Part 1! It's like a ticket for you to watch a movie for free. I don't usually get complimentary passes so I told myself, why not give Edward and Bella a second chance? :p

I watched the first screening of Breaking Dawn Part 1 with my brother a while ago. It was strange to see kids inside the cinema (but they're with their parents/guardians of course!). I thought teenagers would dominate the whole place but I stand corrected when I saw adults (probably in their 40's or early 50's) too.

I'm sure critics have had expressed their opinions about the movie by now. Well, in my honest opinion, it's not as great as Harry Potter (do I sound biased? Haha!) but it's a pretty decent and interesting movie. Every scene had me glued on the big screen and I felt the kilig again, most especially during the wedding of Edward and Bella. However, mind you, Breaking Dawn is more than just a movie about the love triangle of a vampire, a werewolf, and human being for it also focused on the importance of family, friendship, and moral values. You'll actually learn something good from it. And if there's one character that has a big impact on me, it would be none other than Jacob Black. Regardless of his good looks, I admire him for being brave, for fighting for what he believes in, and for doing what he think is right.

If given a chance, I would watch it again. 

Well, on a different note, I love the movie's soundtrack. I've been listening to Christina Perri's A Thousand Years for hours already!

"...don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years... I'll love you for a thousand more... I will be brave, I will not let anything take away what's in front of me... One step closer..."

This song! It makes me teary-eyed. It's so sweet and sincere. Haaay. :) 

A Typical Day in School

Let me share with you some of my random conversations with the cute little kids at school. I love talking to kids everyday because I learn a lot from them.

While inside our directress' office, before the start of our 9am class...

Adorable Kid 1: Where is Teacher P?

Me: Maybe she is on her way. Why, do you miss her?

Adorable Kid 1: Yes!!!

Me: But you saw her yesterday...

Adorable Kid 1: Um, yes! I saw her yesterday a while ago!

Me: *trying to control my laughter*

During my enrichment class for the Preschool 4 kids...

Me: *looking at the adorable kid 2's hand* I see, your teacher didn't give you a star. Perhaps, you didn't listen to her.

Adorable Kid 2: Hindi! Ayoko ng star kaya wala akong star sa kamay koooo! (I have none because I don't want a star on my hand)

Me: O_o

During my enrichment class for the Preschool 2b kids...

A kid was crying loudly because he's not yet ready to go home. I was with Adorable Kid 3 and we were about to start our writing session. Take note: She's only 3 years old.

Me: Okay, Adorable Kid 3, let me see your beautiful hand writing *big smile* :)

Adorable Kid 3: *starts writing* 

(while writing her name)

Adorable Kid 3: Ano ba yan! Ang emo-emo ni *insert crying kid's name here*! (He's so emo!)

During my tutorial session with an adorable three year old boy, while coloring the things that start with the letter Bb...

Adorable Kid 4: Teacher, I only watch Chef.

Me: Why only "Chef"? *I assume "Chef" is either Masterchef or Junior Masterchef*

Adorable Kid 4: Kasi gusto ko maging cooker pag laki ko! *smiling with twinkling eyes* (Because I want to be a cooker when I grow up!)

Me: *trying to control my laughter* Oh, that's nice! You want to be a cook or a chef when you grow up! Can you cook for us? I'll go to your house. ;)

Adorable Kid 4: Hindi mo naman alam bahay namin eh! (You don't know where our house is!)

Me: *thinking of a palusot* Well, I know your house. It's near the school, right? :)

Adorable Kid 4: Malayo yun eh! (It's far!)

While helping my grade 3 student spread some glue for her arts project, tutorial class in the afternoon...

Adorable Kid 5: Teacher, si *insert her classmate's name here* at ako, ang tagal na namin classmates. Simula K1 hanggang ngayon. (Teacher, we've been classmates since we were in K1)

Me: Why, you don't want to be classmates with him?

Adorable Kid 5: Gusto po. Kaya lang, ang ingay-ingay niya sa classroom at isip bata pa. (It's not that I don't like him. It's just that he's too noisy inside the classroom and he's so childish)

Me: Woah. So does it mean you think like an adult now? ;)

Adorable Kid 5: Hindi naman po. Basta hindi na po ako isip bata. (I'm not childish anymore.)

Me: Okaaaaay. Let's go back to work. ;)

The bottomline is, when you work in a school and when you talk to kids, expect the unexpected. Never ever underestimate the way kids think because they are capable of blowing your mind away. ;)

We don't twinkle because we shine

Photo courtesy of Karla

I will tell you why soon. :)

The Adventures and Misadventures of the Three Musketeers

When Hazel told me that there's a bazaar at the World Trade Center in Pasay, as soon as I got home, I already asked my aunt for permission. I also called my dad on the phone to tell him about it. As always, they had second thoughts but they eventually gave in when I compromised. I said I wanted to try something new, like commuting from Sta. Rosa to Buendia with my colleagues in school. They don't need to worry about the gas and toll fee since we'll be commuting and we'll try to be back by 5pm, so I could attend mass with them. It was a deal. So last November 5, Hazel, Serie, and I braved the unpredictable weather just to be at the Super Sale Bazaar. It was a day full of adventure.

We got so surprised when we saw the long line outside the World Trade Center. It was crazy! And we even got more surprised (and a little bit confused) when we realized that the majority of those who were in line were guys. We were able to got in easily since the ladies' line was empty. When we were inside, we saw people wearing their cosplay costumes and no booths. Then it occurred to us that we were in the wrong event. The Super Sale Bazaar was at the small room located beside the World Trade Center. Kaya pala! Imagine how the three of us laughed. That's why we felt so indifferent. Haha!

It was a relief when we finally reached our destination. We were welcomed by cupcakes, gellato, and other sweet stuff. Yes, this is our thing.    

 

Gellati gellato which we never got the chance to taste! It looked so yummy!

We spent approximately two and some hours inside, looking at displays. There were a lot of interesting items from different booths. I saw some familiar people and even those who are making a niche in the fashion world (fashion bloggers). I had a fangirl moment when I saw Patricia Prieto and Lisa Kahayon in person! I never expected to see them there! I was supposed to ask Patricia to have a picture taken with me but I became so shy. :l

Anyway, here's a picture of me and Hazel while shopping at Happy Boon's booth. We weren't prepared for this! Got the picture from the shop's Facebook page.

I looked so stressed while Hazel looked so pretty and fresh. Haha!

   And here are my purchases from the bazaar.

Top/Dress from Happy Boon

Boat shoes from Tutum

We went to SM Mall of Asia after looking around because there are more food selections. Haha! We rode a cab instead of the shuttle because it rained like there's no tomorrow. We ate lunch at Sizzling Pepper Steak. Look at those cute sign boards! All you have to do is flip them...

...when you're okay with your order and don't need anything...

...or when you need anything/assistance.

Here's what Serie and I ate: Beef Pepper Rice. I forgot what Hazel ordered. Hihi.

 

 

 

Perhaps, you already know them if you frequent my blog. Haha! :p

Hi Serie and Hazel!

I didn't regret commuting because I had a great time with Serie and Hazel. Haay, commuters' life. Fun times!

Just in case you're wondering if we made it by 5pm, well, we didn't. But I was just in time for mass so everything was absolutely fine. ;)

The weather makes me feel sad

The weather in the Philippines is definitely unpredictable. It's so hot during the day but heavy rains pour come night. No wonder why a lot of people catch cold and fever nowadays due to weather changes. It doesn't feel like Christmas season too, because it feels like we're still stuck in the month of May, June, July, and August... also known as the "rainy months". Like what Elmo Magalona said in his tweet before, the rain makes everything more dramatic. Maybe this is the reason why I feel sad. Or upset. I don't know.

On the brighter side, I selected songs from my player which I think are perfect for this kind of weather. Or if you feel like the way I do right now, I do hope that these will cheer you up.

Wonderwall by Oasis

As Long As It Matters by Gin Blossoms

Fix You by Coldplay

Tomorrow is another day. Let it be good to all of us. Think of happy thoughts.

Dreams Do Come True

These days, it's not that easy to get the job that you want. You have to go through a lot before you finally land on your dream job. A series of interviews and tests come along the way and you have to be brave enough to accept rejections.

I know how it feels to find a job and how it feels to be rejected because I've been through these things last year. I was just a fresh graduate from DLSU and I felt quite nervous yet excited about sending my resumes at different preschools. So imagine how I felt when I finally got accepted at the preschool where I can see myself grow and be a better teacher. I cried on the day I received a call from the directress and thanked God for the wonderful opportunity. I will never ever forget that. Moving on.

My fellow Humblebee Ekai wasn't an exception. She also experienced what I experienced last year. She bravely took risks and never gave up. Some weeks ago, she surprised everyone, including herself, when she got accepted as the Editorial Coordinator of Meg Magazine and her boss is none other than the Bianca Gonzalez! I was so thrilled when I learned about it and I congratulated her as soon as I read her tweet and her sister's status on Facebook. It's truly worth the wait. Indeed, everything happens for a reason. Dreams do come true.

This pretty young lady will go places. :)
*photo taken from her blog, Life in Euphoria*

If there's one thing I learned from her, it's about not giving up. You have to keep going in order to reach that goal or dream of yours. Sometimes, you will feel like you're a failure or worthless but also remind yourself that making mistakes is okay because it helps you grow, learn and become a better person. Don't stop trying and believe in yourself. Lastly, keep the faith. God knows the best for you. What's happening to you right now is a part of His plan for you. 

To Ekai, if you're reading this, I just want to say that I'm so proud of you! You've come this far! You deserve to be in that position. Please don't forget us when you become famous, okay? :p Good luck and God bless. See you soon! Animo! :) 

P.S. Please visit Ekai's inspirational blog too. For sure, you will love her positivity too. :)

The Reflection

Feeling sleepy while the mass is ongoing is quite inevitable for me. Whenever the mass ends, I feel bad because it didn't turn out to be as meaningful as I expect it to be. My mind usually wonders off the great halls of the church, most especially when it's time for homily. Sometimes, I participate in singing the songs but it's not effective. Nakakahiya talaga kay God at sa mga taong nakapaligid sa akin. So yesterday, before leaving for mass, I drank a cup of brewed coffee to keep myself awake.

The coffee didn't fail me. I was full of energy from the beginning until the end of the mass. I was able to listen to the readings, the psalm, and the gospel. And I understood the homily. For the very first time, the priest's homily became meaningful to me. I got so affected and I can't help thinking about what he said. He made sense.

Does my life have direction? 

Where am I going? 

What have I done/accomplished so far?

Do I ever cross the mind of the person I think about every single day too?:p

Okay, please ignore the last question. Haha! Haay, I hope I don't drown in my pool of thoughts. Well, on a lighter note, at least my brain is working double time. :p   

And in another life, I would make you stay...

"Sometimes, when I miss you, I put those records on... I should've told you what you meant to me..." 

- The One That Got Away by Katy Perry

In my honest opinion, this is the best song of Katy Perry in her album, Teenage Dream. This song isn't new to me because it used to be my last song syndrome last summer. I'm also glad the music video came out already. I love it! It's so touching. :')

When you have the chance, go tell the people you love that you love them... what they really mean to you... before it's too late. :)

Of Traveling and Living Abroad

A few days before my birthday, I had a small talk with Hazel about the countries we'd like to explore and I'm glad to know that she also dreams of traveling the world one day. It was a brief yet meaningful exchange of thoughts and she somehow inspired me. Yes, I want to go to a lot of places but, unlike Hazel, I never tried searching for random flights that fit my budget to make my traveling dreams come true.

Oh well.

Recently, I noticed that some of my batchmates (from gradeschool, highschool, and college) have moved in to Singapore, to follow their dreams and reach their personal goal. Well, being lost in a new place, learning new things, and meeting new people are a whole lot of fun, but nothing beats that priceless feeling you get when you're with your family and loved ones after a long day at work. It must have been really hard for them to leave the special people in their lives. But this is the life. Sometimes, we have to go through some twists and turns and make big decisions (should I take it or not?).

James, a childhood friend once asked me, "If given a chance, would you live in a foreign land?" That's a tough question, I must say. It took me some time to collect my thoughts, before I finally answered him. After five or ten minutes of debating with myself, I bet he was a little bit surprised when I said "no". As of that moment (until now, actually), I haven't considered writing "to live in another country" yet in my bucket list. I haven't pictured myself living abroad, away from my family. Perhaps, I'm not yet ready to leave the life that I have here in the Philippines. Traveling, on the other hand, is a different story.

But maybe, just maybe, there will come a day when I'd change my mind, make a big decision, and consider living abroad. We'll never know. ;)

Close to Nature

It was a sunny and a little bit windy afternoon so I decided to go out and just walk around our garden. I borrowed my brother's camera because I had a gut feeling that I'd take photos of things that interest me. I wasn't wrong when I saw the fallen leaves from our santol tree on the grass. The leaves reminded me of autumn because of their colors... brown, red, and orange. For some strange reason, I also felt that I wasn't in the Philippines. 

Auntie Sari once said that it's nice for me to walk around the garden to appreciate nature's beauty... God's gifts ika nga. Indeed, that afternoon, I got to appreciate what's around me. I loved the feel of the grass on my feet. I loved the gentle wind that caressed my cheek. I enjoyed watching the chickens that roam around our garden, looking for food (yes, we have chickens at home but we consider them as pets). It was quite relaxing and I somehow had forgotten about the things that usually occupy my mind. I think I should do this more often.

Since the camera's with me, I didn't let the chance of having my pictures taken pass too. I looked for a spot where I can put the camera, set the timer, and then ran back and forth our garden to check if the shot's okay. Unfortunately, my solo picture was a big failure so I had to call my brother to help me out. :))

   

Better! I put on the 1960's and vignette effect on the photo to add a bit more drama. ;) It was also the day I felt like a model. Haha! What if I submit this photo to Candy magazine's website? Will they choose me as the It Girl of the Week? Haha! Just kidding. Going back, can you see the leaves that surround me? By the way, I commend our kuya gardener for doing such a good job in maintaining the look of the garden. 

Another thing. I'm fond of browsing through the site of fashion bloggers like Patricia Prieto and Kryz Uy. I've always admired these fashion bloggers and the people who are passionate about fashion, because they can really make a simple dress or pieces of clothing look more fabulous. I visit Candy Magazine's website from time to time to get some ideas too. Anyway, I got inspired by them so I also took photos of what I wore. :p

     

Top: Just G | Shorts: Bench | Belt: Pop Culture | Ring: Quiapo

Cupcake necklace (hardly visible): Kids of Bayo

Bag: Given to me by Auntie Sari

Sandals: Mario D' Boro, SM Department Store

Disclaimer: My solo pictures were taken by my brother, while the rest, by yours truly. :)