My Teacher Rocks!

I can still remember that scene. 

Way back in my junior year in high school, I slipped at the center stairs of our school while I was going down stairs for the flag raising ceremony. It was a hard one. When I tried to get up, I was limping. Even if it was quite painful, I tried to walk as normal as I could. Luckily, I was able to reach our line.

Then, something that I didn't expect happened. My adviser who happened to be my Advanced Biology teacher told our class that I slipped while I was going down stairs. She did not see me. Her best friend, our chemistry teacher, told her about the incident. She asked me if I wanted to go to the clinic. I said that I’m okay and thanked her. She asked me to stand up and walk towards her. Because I can still feel the pain, I had a hard time in standing and was still limping when I walked. She laughed at me. She asked me again if I’m really okay. The class was already giggling. I nod and told her again that I’m okay. She asked me to take a sit. While I was walking towards my sit, she made a remark about my weight. “Ang laki mo kasi.”(it was like an implicature that I slipped because I am fat.) I felt ashamed about myself. I was longing to build a relationship with my teachers but sadly, that incident made me feel that I had to shield myself from the people around me. Although, there was an initiative in my part to be friendly to my classmates and schoolmates and I slowly began to build relationships with some of my teachers, a part of me remained guarded. I was a wallflower until I finished my high school. Introversion was my escape. I was afraid to be made fun again because of my figure.

Before I entered college, there were nights that I was crying while I was embracing my pillow tightly. I was really praying. “Lord, please bring me to a course where I shall bloom. I want to grow as a person. Bring me to a course where I could hone my skills and pursue excellence. Please give me kind professors and classmates whom I could treat as brothers and sisters. I don’t want to be alone anymore. I don’t want to be lonely and desolate again.”

I knew God heard my prayers and remembered my tears.

ABE came as a blessing to me. I was blessed to have my Mama Ces and my ABE IV-1 siblings. We have been together for almost three years. We have shared a lot of things together. My siblings taught me how to slowly guard down my shield. They made me feel that I can be a human. I don’t need to create those walls anymore. They loved me and accepted me for who I am. Because of their treatment and attitude, I learned how to open up and express myself. From being an introvert, I am now an ambivert. We saw one another in our strong points and weak points. We shared a lot of tears, laughter, pressured moments, “petiks modes”, trials (loss of family members for some of our blockmates), the execution of our hidden talents, and some “kulitan” moments to name a few.

Our Mama Ces is an amazing woman. She is an epitome of beauty, grace, and passion. She always guides us and never fails to let us feel how much she loves us. She is always there to give a hug and a pat on our shoulder whenever we are sad. She is our stern critic but our great ally. She would point out our mistakes and help us to correct it. Because she does not want us to be brats, she would reprimand us in a spank-like manner to remind us that she will not tolerate our wronging. We sometimes hurt one another but she does not keep records of wrongs. She always reminds us to choose to give an act of kindness to those who are mean and unfair. She really become our second mother. She is a dedicated teacher who does not care if she looks like a stand-up comedienne inside her classroom. She passionately discusses each lesson so that we shall not forget it. She talks like her lessons were carved in her heart. You will be amazed when you see her facial expressions and reactions as she retell her mythology stories. You would adore her how she speaks in her Hermione-like accent in front of the class while she discusses the different kinds of paragraphs, the grammar rules, the theories behind tree diagramming, and the different kinds of public communication. Your brain will be wrecked if you’ll see how she parses different kinds of sentences in tree diagrams. You would be curious why she is crying while listening to your classmates during their speeches. You would laugh out loud when you heard her recount her clumsy stories like how the tricycle drivers reacted when she slipped at the stairs of her condo. You would be inspired if you would listen at her experiences and stories as a teacher.

I want to thank this lady. She has a big heart that radiates an immense amount of love. I never thought that I could meet someone like her – a mentor and a professor who would help you to bring out the best in you. Once upon a time, a teacher made me feel inferior and ugly; today, a teacher made me realized my worth and value as a young woman in training. Thank you Ma’am Ces for making me feel that I should not be afraid to pursue my dreams, for making me realized that I should not be too hard at myself, for assuring me that it’s okay to make mistakes because what matters the most is how you bounce back from those mistakes, for showing me that real love is not a keeper of wrong, and lastly, for being an example that it takes perseverance, passion, dedication, humility, acceptance, and patience to become a real mentor and teacher.

Because today is the last day of the National Teachers’ Month, I just want to tell the world how blessed we are to have you dearest Ma’am Ces. J

Happy Teachers’ Day! This one is for you.

I love you.

Liz

Ma'am Ces and I while we were checking the papers. :-) Courtesy of Ma'am Joy Anne (Oneechan)

I, Ma'am Ces, and Gaths at the Community and Extension Services office. :-) ( Ma'am Ces took this groupie.) 

The Next Time

Taken from: http://www.inside-magazine.org
URL: http://www.inside-magazine.org/en/poverty/uploads/

The next time that you see someone who is in need, give a hand.

Don’t hesitate. Just give offer your help.

You will never know the impact of a kind act unless you do it. Sometimes, it takes some courage to help. But I tell you, you will never regret it.

The next time that you see an old lady crossing the street, give her assistance. Maybe, your simple way of helping her to cross the street may put a smile on her gloomy day. Your act can remind her that there are people who are still capable of loving her.

If you see a child begging for alms, don’t hesitate to give him some. I know that you might think that a certain syndicate might use the kid, but God knows your heart in giving. Whether he might be involved in a syndicate or a simple child who just longs to feed his hungry stomach through your little coins, it doesn’t matter. As long as your heart is pure in giving, your simple act will not be in vain.

If you see a man or a lady who let a child to sit on his or her lap in a jeepney, have the initiative to pay for the child’s fare. Maybe they were short that is why they cannot pay the ample fare. Imagine the little hardship that they have to endure during the trip. They maybe handling some little baggage that their hands. Can’t you see the child’s discomfort? He has to balance himself and keep his arm at the handle. Spare those eight pesos for the kid. Draw that simple smile in his face. Let him remember that he should not stop believing that kindness still resides in others’ hearts.

If you always ride the LRT/ MRT to go to your school or office, greet the guard with smile.  Some of these guards are still sleepy because of late night a duty that’s why they easily get irritable and sour. Greet him with a smile. Be respectful. If you want to be respected, show how to respect. Don’t forget that these guards are humans too. They need to be loved and respected too. They also long to rest and eat. They also want to be treated well. Greet the guard who would inspect your bag with a “Good morning” and say “Thank you” after he inspected your bag. Your little act of respect can brighten up his day.

The next time that you see your mother preparing for market, accompany her at her market duties. Public markets maybe noisy, and the wet and dry section might not smell nice, but it would be nicer if your mom has someone who could help her to carry all the things that she has bought. Anyway, it’s your family’s supply for the entire week. Don’t complain. Just help her. Be happy that you have the money to buy what you need. A lot people groan in hunger. Be thankful that you are carrying all these little blessings.

The Thank You Bucket

taken from: http://www.dimpleprints.com
url: http://www.dimpleprints.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/make-a-list.jpg

“Make a list.” Anita said to her daughter.

“What kind of list, Momma” Keith asked her mother.

“Whatever kind you want,” said Anita, “Just make sure that it should not be less than 500 words”, she added.

“Okay, Momma,” said Keith. “When is it due?” asked her further.

“Before supper” said Anita.

“But… Mommmm…” whined Keith.

“No buts, Keith. Do what I ask you to do.” commanded her mother.

“Okay, Sweet Momma”, said Keith. “Will I have a reward for this?” she inquired.

“How about a box of cream puffs from your most favorite pastry shop?” Anina retorted.

“Great!” exclaimed Keith.

Keith got off on her feet. She ran upstairs to her room. She quickly opened the door and went straight ahead to her study table. She got her G-tech pen and a couple of papers. She was about to write something when she suddenly stopped.

“Wait a minute. What shall I write?” she asked herself.

“Should I write about my most favorite sweets or should I write about my most favorite subjects?” she said while placing the base of her pen at her lower lip.

“Eureka!” said Keith.

“I now know what I shall write for my list!” she exclaimed!

She then found herself jotting these words:

“12 Little Things that Keith Thank for:”

       1.       I’m happy that I’m a grade one student already.  Thank you Jesus!

       2.   Mommy let me help her to bake some cream puffs last Sunday. Yipeee!

             3.   Little Keith will soon be called as Ate Kate. I’m gonna see Philipp in three months!

 4.   I have a pair of purple mittens with my initials. Mommy made it for me.

 5.  Daddy brought me a box of cream puffs when he came home last night.

 6.   Daddy and I had a story telling time last night. He told me the story of Jonah and

       the big fish. Daddy told me that Jesus loves me. I love Jesus too!

 7.   My Grandma gave me a pair of pearl earrings. 

8.     Daddy hugged me last night until I slept.  

9.   Last Month, I prayed to God that I long to have a baby brother. Last Monday, Mommy   

      and Daddy told me that I’ll have a baby bro! I named him Philipp. Daddy and Mommy    

      gave his second name. His name would be Philipp Stefan. I shall call him “Philly”.

    10.  Tomorrow, we shall decorate little Philly’s nursery. 

    11. Teacher Jenny told me that I shall play the violin at our school program. I am grateful!

    12.  Daddy promised me that every day; we shall have our story time. I’m looking forward   

           for that!

She happily finished her list. She put some designs in it. She got up from her chair then ran downstairs.

“MOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!” called Keith.
“Yes, honey?” said Anita.

“Here’s my list”, said Keith.

Anita saw the pink flowers that were drawn using the colors that she gave her. She read each line carefully. She can’t help but to smile.


“You’re such a gem, my love,” said Anita.

“God bless you, sweetie. Such a huge heart for a 7-year old kid,” she kissed and hugged her daughter tightly.

Ma'am Yen's Legacy

“Try to read Yen’s work. Take a look on how she writes. Give an eye to details. Study her style and try to adapt it” my coach in an essay writing contest said to me.

I then added Ms. Maree Angeline Reyes at Facebook.

I saw her Facebook and was amazed how she was able to create a world outside her Facebook account. She has this habit to post her weather report on her wall. I was wonderstruck while I was reading. It seemed like I was dragged out of my chair. She toured me in a world that was only recognized by her eyes. She described a scenario as vivid as she could. It was like I was at the scene where the star was she and the persona that she was talking about.

After I have read her notes and Facebook posts, I followed her blog.

This is where my story will start.


Here it goes…


Ma’am Yen Reyes used to teach at the university where I am studying. During the last Summer Vacation, she migrated to Canada. She is my former coach’s super friend that is why her writing style was made as an example by my coach. Sadly, I never had the chance to have her as my professor. She is one of the professors that I dreamed to have. Even if I wasn't able to have her as my mentor, her blog posts taught me a lot of things.

Ma’am Yen has the ability to find beauty in pain and seek hope in suffering.

I have noticed that even if most of her posts were about the heartbreak that she had to endured, and the bothering that she had to deal with, still there was a ray of hope in every post. I find it interesting that for someone who was trapped in the midst of hurt and frustrations, she was able to divert these things into something that was worth reading for. Ma’am Yen is a true blood writer. Even if she did not have a formal training in writing, she has this charisma to lay out her cards while being true to herself and to her readers. Her creativity and genuine character were the reasons why I grew fond of her. Actually consider her as a “senpai” (senior). Because of my fondness to Ma’am Yen’s character, I have influenced my friend, Ate Rosella. I am happy that Ate Rosella was given the opportunity to have Ma’am Yen as her mentor professor for her TESL class.

I always thank Ma’am Yen whenever I have the opportunity. I always tell my blockmates that Ma’am Yen is a gem because she is a rare find. Yes, I do not know her as much as her students; but her posts showed bits of her heart. I find that heart beautiful because it has the ability to find joy in sorrow and hope in despair. I just hope that one day, when she already picked up the tiny pieces of her shattered self, the world may hear her story.

Dearest Ma’am Yen, thank you for redefining the word beauty. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to take a glimpse of how beautiful your heart is. Thank you for being an epitome of change and courage. You may be a wounded warrior but your resilience is your best weapon that is why you always rise up as a victor. Thank you for i felt that I am not alone during my sad moments. There were times that I have found my solace in your writings for you sometimes pen the words that were subconsciously residing within me.

I can’t wait to see the new you when you come back. Canada gave you an opportunity to start of something new. Someday, I want to meet you again and give you a hug. You will always have a special place in my heart.


This post is especially dedicated to you my dear Senpai. :-)

To Love at All is to be Vulnerable

To Love at All is to be Vulnerable

photo credits to Zen Pencils
URL:http://zenpencils.com/comic/103-c-s-lewis-to-love-at-all/

I love you…

I sometimes think that this is the most commonly- used and high exploited sentence in the English language. It is easy to say “I love you” to someone without meaning it completely.  To others, showing “I love you” by simply hugging someone and giving him/her a kiss on his/her cheek is an effortless act.  Because it is very easy to create a façade that you love someone, there are times that I doubt it when somebody will tell me that he/she loves me.

What is my reason why I sometimes doubt it when I hear the words “I love you”?

Simple because it hurts to be cheated and taken for granted.

For someone who is affectionate and genuinely means every “I love you” that she says, I find it difficult to cope up with hurt, most especially when it was inflicted by someone whom I treasure the most. 

Once, I have a friend who is a bit older than I. I used to call her Mamii as my endearment to her. We have been friends for almost 5 years. She knew a lot of things about me; I even disclosed some of my secrets to her. Then one day, I found out that she made up a lot of stories that had affected the relationship of my two best friends. She even told people some things about me. She sent some hate text messages to me and accused me that I did stuffs that I did not do. I was hurt, deeply hurt. All of these occurred months after I was anointed as the youth leader in our youth ministry.

In this aspect of my life, God chastened me.

At first, I find it difficult to approach her. It was like this: “After all the years that we have been friends and after all the things that you have said to me, you have the guts to act as if nothing happened? You can’t even say you're sorry? What kind of person you are? Do you even think that you still have a place here? Do you still hope that after all the things that you did to me, things will still be the same as before?”

That was my mentality before I came to my senses. 

God used our Pastor to rebuke me and remind me of what love is. After a while and a couple of talks with my Pastor and my accountability partners (Mom and my sister), I have realized this:

“Lizette, admit it. You were mad and pissed because you felt that she challenged your leadership and authority. You were angered by the fact that she cannot obey you and she even plotted something against you and to others. But that should not be your attitude. You must learn how to overcome evil with love. You must love the people who oppose you and bless those you curse you. As a leader, you do not have to worry about your flock, God’s hands are upon them; they will never go astray because God looks after them. You must learn to love and love and love. We are all sinners in need of a Savior. Nobody is holy; nobody can say that he or she is upright. No mistake is lesser than the other because a mistake, no matter how worse or worst it is, will always be a wronging. No sin is graver than the other; a sin will always be an offense no matter how small or big it is. You too are a sinner. You do not differ from her. You also need a Savior and your heart also longs for forgiveness. Forgive her. Give her a chance. Forget that and start a brand new page.”

I have already forgiven her. Yes. I really did. With all of my heart and soul, I can freely say that I have already forgiven her.

In deed, I must say that healing goes hand in hand with forgiving.

Forgiving is a matter of firm decision. It is a day-to-day decision that you make. When you forgive, everyday, you say to yourself that you are choosing to forget the wronging that was done to you. You are choosing love that person rather than to hate him or her. When you forgive, you are freeing yourself from the bondage of hate and revenge.

Healing takes place when you fully accept the fact that when you love, you will be hurt along the way. Your heart may have a couple of cuts and blemishes, but here's the good thing: it can be healed. When you forgive, you allow your scars to gently heal day by day. An open wound heals fast whenever you treat it with an iodine solution and let it be exposed to air. A scab will appear and underneath that, a new skin is being formed.

Same goes with heart wounds...

Forgiveness is a like an antidote that heals the person who was wronged and the person who has done the wronging at the same time. It is like a penicillin; it prevents the bacteria called hostility and animosity to eat up your heart.

With this story, I truly believe that to love at all is to be vulnerable.

 Before I discover the essence of forgiveness in love, there are times that I doubt people who says “I love you” to me. Now, I choose to believe it. Knowing that in loving someone, you may be hurt along the way, but then as long as you have a heart that is open to forgive and let go of bygones, love will always find you. You will always have the reason to love and to be loved.

After all, who am I not to forgive? God love me first; I only have the ability to love and spread it to others because God through His Son, Jesus Christ, is the first one who loves me despite these frailties that I possess.

Therefore,  I’ll choose to love, I’ll choose to be vulnerable and to forgive.

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket — safe, dark, motionless, airless — it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside of Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.”

C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Love is Waiting

via Flickr; cc: Azoomer
url: http://www.flickr.com/photos/azoomer/3905790137/

Once there was a young girl who has a lot of older friends. She treated these older friends as her sisters. These friends loved to tell her stories of their adventures. One day, they told her a story about a young boy. The young girl listened intently because it was the first time that her older friends talked about someone who was near of her age. That young boy was an extraordinary one. He was talented and a jack of all trades. He can do a lot of things that was why people adore him. He was actually a people person.

Out of curiosity, this young girl looked out at the young boy at his Friendster account. She was quite amazed that the young boy was a writer. She herself was a neophyte writer. Because she was able to read some of her sister’s works and the works of the young boy, she was inspired to pursue her budding love for words. She kept on writing and writing. She always had a little notebook and a pen. She even brought a notepad to fill each pages. She began to have a fascination to high-end ballpens and leather notebooks. Soon, she found herself saving for a piece of G-tech pen.

One day, the young girl met this famous young boy. He was wearing his white three-fourths shirt and brown cargo pants when she met him. It turned out that the young boy was a handsome one. He got the looks and he was intelligent. Immediately, he became the younger girl’s apple of the eye. The problem was the younger boy always wore a straight face. He seldom smiled. The younger girl thought of a way to start a small talk. Since she was the one who was assigned to distribute the giveaway for the event where she met the young boy, she decided to give him one of the red cranes.

Soon, the young girl and the young boy became friends. They shared stories about one another. She learned about the young boy’s story of defeat and triumphs. Soon, she found herself as one of the young boy’s adviser. She was like a sister to him in so many ways. She became one of the young boy’s consultant whenever he was about to enter something that was important. She even became his confidante in some of his ventures. But what she did not expect was that she became his human tissue paper in some of his personal problems. They became good friends. They were helping one another in order to have their better selves.

Time came that the young girl turned out to become a fine lady and the young boy turned out to become a gentle lad.

One day, the gentle lad talked with the fine lady. He told her a story that she did not expect. He told her that he was about to court the girl that he likes very much. He asked her if she could read his poem that was especially dedicated to the girl that he likes. He even added that she too is a lady and she knows the stuffs that could make a girl happy.

It hit the fine lady.

She was hurting.

Because she considered him as his best friend, she helped him out. He thanked her. Due to his gratitude, he gave her a tight hug.

That was the last time that she had an opportunity to bond with the gentle lad.

She decided to keep a distance to him for a while in order to view things in a different perspective. She was hurting deeply. She had realized that all the while, she has a romantic affection for the young lad.

Once, she heard that the first cut of a young love is the deepest.

And right now, she was experiencing it. Pain was unfathomable. Hate and self-pity began to creep at her heart.

For weeks, she mourned secretly. She thought she could handle it on her own.

Because the burden was too heavy for her, she kneel down. She cried her heart out to God. She let herself be vulnerable because she knew that God listens at her groaning.

She cried and cried and cried…

Her eyes were like fountains that sprinkled tons of salty tears.

She opened her bible.

This was what she saw:

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.                                                                                         

She wiped her tears, fixed herself, and prayed once again.

With what she had read, she made up her mind:

Father, until the season comes for me to pick the rose a midst the garden, please keep my heart asleep and create in me a heart that is filled with wisdom and fear for You. Make me whole and mold me. Guard my heart and help me to become the lady that You want me to be. I give it all to you. I'm handing my future to the Great Playwright. 

She went out of her room and did her daily routine.


For now, this is how her story will end.

Shakespeare’s Legacy: Macbeth

(To catch up with the 31 day challenge, I’m writing my Day 1 and 2 on the same day.)

I am an English Major. I study at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines which is situated at Manila. Today is the last Thursday of my 3 week Christmas Vacation. It is for this reason that I started to do my workloads.

I have just finished reading Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

My copy of Macbeth

I need to study this novel because I am the script writer for our Shakespearean Literature’s play. Since my classmates know that I love classics and writing, they have entrusted me to make the script. At first, I was quite hesitant to do it. In my previous post, I have told you that I have some inferiority issues. That explains why I was hesitant at first.

As I delve and devote my time in reading Macbeth, I had learned some life lessons:

As a leader, greed and selfish ambition should not have a place in your heart.

At first, Macbeth was a noble man. He was able to defeat the King of Norway and the Thane of Cawdor at the same day. This heroic act of him brought him prestige and honor. But his nobility was tarnished when he upheld the prophecies of the Three Witches. He easily believed these prophecies when the prophecy about his new title was fulfilled. This built contempt in his heart which pushed him to murder King Duncan for him to become the new king and his loyal friend, Banquo so that no one will cut his lineage to the throne. Because of his greediness in power and his selfish ambition to build this line to the throne, he was able to commit a series of crimes.

Things that are hidden will never be secreted for a long time; moment will come that it will be disclosed and revealed in public’s eye.

Lady Macbeth revealed the crime that she had committed with Macbeth through sleep talking and walking. She and her husband, Macbeth ordered that the wife and children of Macduff be killed. Together, they plotted the treacherous murder of King Duncan while he was at their castle. Because her conscience was stricken with guilt, she unconscious confessed these crimes to her pillows and she was witnessed by the doctor and her gentle woman. They were able to record it because the doctor had written everything that she said. Macbeth’s series of killings revealed his real intentions which pushed the mob to revolt and fight against him.These were just some of the proofs that all that is hidden will be disclosed in its appropriate time.

No man is an island; our relatives and loyal friends are there to share with our troubles.

When King Duncan was murdered, his sons, Malcolm and Donalbain flee from the castle where they were staying. They went to England and Ireland respectively. Malcolm found a refuge in the house of his uncle, Siward and he found a loyal ally in the person of Macduff. Together with these nobles, the young Malcolm was able to dethrone and kill Macbeth. He took what originally belonged to him and he promoted the entire nobles and kinsmen to become the first Earls of Scotland. Without the help of his Uncle Siward and Loyal Thane Macduff, he will never be successful in avenging his father’s death and free Scotland from Macbeth’s tyranny.

These were just some of the lessons that I have learned from Macbeth. I had some goose bumps while I was reading the book. I never thought that Shakespeare’s work can be as interesting and as beautiful as Macbeth. I’m looking forward to finish the script to see my block mates to perform each character. Cheers for Macbeth! I rate it with 10 out of 10 stars.