second engines

I have an assignment this week in class, let me share to you a part of the story I submitted.

Have you ever watched a rocket leaving the earth? First it starts with a lot of fire. This is the first engine and as the fire grows bigger and the engine’s sound becomes louder, we know that the elevation will come next. The engine works as it gains speed. As the rocket progresses upwards there will come a critical moment where you blast off the first tank and the second engine starts. In due time, this big rocket is already up into space exploring the wide universe.

Leaders have passed their skills from their generation to the next. This is our culture of leadership. We lead and we learn. We need a new push to activate the “2nd engines” that will lead us further to new horizons.

In the coming elections, who's your second engine? Change will come......through us

heart obesity

You might be wondering what's the title all about? it's actually how to describe my heart upon reading Yuan's journal. Here it is:

My Favorite Person

My Father is my favorite person.
He always plays with me.
He helps me do my homework.
He takes care of us.
He protects us.

Then he made a note in one paper after our math session, showed it to me,

"I love you Dady"

(wrong spelling for Daddy, alright. May pinagmanahan. But definitely made my heart "obese" instantly)

Napuwing ako. maalikabok sa bahay,haaay.

I love you, too. Son.

scary mathematics

Yuan and Kyan just transferred to a new school this year. It was a big adjustment for Yuan - he was accepted for Grade II even if he is 6. The curriculum was way way advanced compared to his previous community school. In fact his Math textbook is intended for Grade III students! I know the adjustment period was difficult for Yuan - smallest and youngest and new(est) in class. It was indeed stressful for my Panganay.

It was equally stressful for mommy and daddy, too.

The first few Homeworks, Seatworks and assignements came - scores with more mistakes that you can easily assess "hula/chamba" factor contributed to some (or most) of the correct ones. Intervention must be done....

Everyday, upon arriving home, i open Yuan's bag and check for his notes, folders and assignments. He had quick improvements in all subject...except math. Addition of 4 digit numbers, Roman Numerals, Subtraction (with dreaded borrowing), Multiplication.

Everyday, i make 2 sheets of questions and post it in the board before i leave for office. Don't worry, it's not the sadistic type. I make sure that he will be able to answer math problems with some room for difficult ones in the latter part of the sheet. This is his assignment everyday after class. I will call home late afternoon to check if his done with his "homework-made-by-daddy".

.....and it's working. He is no longer scared of numbers. Division is just around the corner, but I'm confident Yuan can handle this. And Dad will always be at his side.

other subjects? I leave that to Marie :-)

yuan's christmas party 2008

merry christmas! - yuan mari a. andal

maligayang pasko po!

Maligayang Pasko! This year, i used the internet (Chikka server) to reply to my friends - i saved a few pesos and delivered the message just the same. Thanks to the wonderfulworld of cyberspace. Merry Christmas everyone!!!

(that's my eldest under the christmas tree a few years ago, very christmassy)

twilight

After Bangkok Dangerous, i'm now on my next not-a-movie-but-a-movie-titled blog. Books for me are like diphenhydramine - with sedating effect. This will actually be my prescription for the insomniacs, hyperactive and zombees. It works for me, i just dunno if reading books has the same effect with the general public.

Enough of the introduction. okay. While i was stucked in Bangkok, Marie called me and said she watched a vampire movie - Twilight. Not just once but thrice! It was Edward Cullen's appeal that made her go back and watch it 3x. Hmmm, i wondered why (malamang pogi, ganyan din siya kay coffee prince at nagagalit saken pagsinasabi kong kamukha ni kuya kim atienza (matang lawin) si gong yu, hehehe)?

On my first day back in office, my friend gave me an audiobook version of the twilight saga. "Now, this is cool, let's see if this will keep me awake, cuz i will definitely not read the book version, knowing that the Twilight Saga is 4 books!".

Let me try this nonconventional way of "reading". And so i started. It was the unabridged version narrated by Llyana Kadushin. Is the audiobook version as diphenhydraminic as the visual book version? To my surprise, its not! This version actually made me "thirsty" for more. Such a lovely voice! A few minutes passed and twilight consumed me. It seems i'm under the spell of Bella's voice that i have to continue "hunting" the book. Ahhh, Bella, Bella, Bella. The accident-magnet Bella, my Bella.

I guess i have to stop from here. So? did i like this nonconventional reading you might ask? I'm now in Book 3 - Eclipse. Hooked. Enchanted. Bellafied.

(for the movie version..... i'll probably stick with the audiobook version for now, i'll probably wait for the clear dvd (blue ray daw) copy in Quiapo)the hunt is on!

Bangkok Dangerous

"kailan ako lalaya? sa anino ng pag iisa? mga rehas lang ang tanaw, nanginginig sa seldang maginaw." - eheads (NGA PALA, NAKARATING NA KO PILIPINAS, SALAMAT SA DIYOS! -12/01/08)

How does it feel to be a prisoner in an invisible jailhouse? This is what i'm feeling right now. I flew here from Manila to attend a business meeting last Saturday. My flight back was booked last Wednesday afternoon. But Tuesday night, there was news that protesters blocked the International Airport leaving no choice but to stop business - all flights cancelled - until further notice. The people are demanding CHANGE. Let the prime minister step down his office and start a new era of good governance. The world will know their plea by demonstrating a peaceful protest in one of Asia's biggest airport (infact 18th bussiest in the world) - Suvarnabhumi.

Ok, this wouldn't probably take long....and so i thought. Today is Sunday, my 9th day in Bangkok. Both local and international airports here are closed. You have to go to Pattaya (+ 2hours) or Phuket (+12 hours) then fly to Cambodia or Vietnam or Malaysia or Singapore if your flight carrier can accomodate you. Everyday, the number of stranded tourists are in the thousands. 5 days post airport seige. Booking for train (earliset available booking Dec10!), car (hotel car to Phuket - 17,000 Baht!), bus (fully booked), boat or plane (prioritize nationals - Cathay for HongKong, SQ for Singaporeans, Thai Airways for those already booked) to any destination away from Bangkok is like joining the Amazing Race! Until finally, you're too tired of thinking all the possibilities.

Shop. Eat. Walk along the streets of Bangkok. Watch CNN. Sleep. Drink. Sleep. Watch CNN. Walk along the streets of Bangkok. Eat. Shop. Plenty of things to do. A lot of sites to see. But no matter what i do, the reality is - i'm stranded, i'm stucked in prison without the jailbars.

I want to go home. I miss my family.... ganito pala ang malayo sa mga taong minamahal mo, sigh....