Monday, April 9, 2012

Lessons Learned From R.E.A.D.I.N.G.

My existence would be mind-numbing deprived of books.  Reading is my life. I read everything from brochures to newspapers, magazines to bible, and my favorite are novels from random authors. Moreover, every time I finish reading, something inspires me or even teaches me lessons I am not learning over my day-to-day experiences. Here are some of those:

1. In a fight, if we choose only to defend, the best that we can hope for is a draw. But, we have big brains. We should be able to figure out how to win. Right? A good way to know how to defeat an enemy in battle is to know beforehand how he fights.

2. Things cannot always go your way. Learn to accept in silence the minor annoyances, cultivate taciturnity and consume your own smoke with an extra draught of hard work, so that those above you may not be annoyed by the dust and soot of your complaints. –Sir William Osler

3. Never make your home in a place. Make a home for yourself inside your own head. You’ll find what you need to furnish it – memory, friends you can trust, love of learning, and other such things. That way it will go with you wherever you journey. – Tad Williams, Stone of Farewell

4. Success in not rare – it is common. Very few miss gaining some of it. It is not a matter of luck or contesting, for certainly no success can come from preventing the success of another. It is a matter of adjusting one’s efforts to obstacles and one’s abilities to a service needed by others… Most people think of it in terms of getting; success, however, begins in terms of giving. – Henry Ford

5. Excellence is not something that can be produced or sold in the market place, it cannot be legislated by the government, and it cannot be conferred upon you like a college degree. It can only come from within yourself, and – at its highest – it is painfully born out of a restless dissatisfaction with things past, and sired by an insatiable hunger for the unattainable. – Roger M. Blough

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Table Tennis and the Unwasted Skill

I am completely aware that time is passing too fast that it has already been one year and five months since I was last able to play table tennis with my teammates.

First, let me begin with how I learned this sport. I was playing and competing 10 years now but the establishment of the whole thing was unanticipated for badminton was my sport until that day during my last year in elementary altered the picture of the whole kit and caboodle. My friends are playing it and I feel like wanting to learn it as well but under no circumstances, I never envisage myself to exist finest at it.

Humbly I say that due to days, weeks, and months of intense training I was marked the best player in the class, in the school, in the district, and even in the province. In fact, during 2003’s Palarong Bicol at Camarines Norte I received two gold medals for being the winner in Single A and mixed double. The dejected part was I could not participate at the Palarong Pambansa attributable to peace & order stuffs in Mindanao where the event was held, it was then going through a conflict.

After a year of improved playing, I bid cheerio to my elementary years and went to High School at Sipocot National High School where table tennis was not highlighted. I was overly avid to play, nevertheless that certainly not transpire until my senior year when the school acts as one of the host schools during the River Meet. Concisely, players are looked-for so I applied and was so glad to be selected. However due to three years nonexistence of training, I did not make it even to championship match.

My career in playing table tennis was in full swing again when I was selected to be a player of Camarines Sur State Agricultural College (now Central Bicol State University of Agriculture) in the State Colleges and Universities Athletic Associations or SCUAA-Bicol held at Sorsogon State University during my first year in college. In the course of training, I was told to play “double” but I was not good at it since I was trained to be a “single” player. There are problems for the reason that Luis, my partner and I cannot even win a single match set against female players from different school in the course of tune up. Consequently, we are not expectant to win at the SCUAA. To cut the story short, it was the other way around. Out of the blue, we never drop a single game in doubles. At any rate, we exited silver medalists because it was a team competition. Subsequently, my team was constantly a candidate in the championship. Throughout my four years attendance in the SCUAA, champion trophy never bump into us for it was always Bicol University winning home the trophy. Anyhow, my team was three times first runner up and one time third runner up, the latter was during my sophomore year.

At this instant, I am already a teacher for one year and have been 17 months dearth of playing. The first photograph further down was captured at embarcadero the night next the awarding formal procedure during my last appearance in SCUAA. We had a little bonding moments and a while for us to purchase knick-knacks as keepsake.

That flair of me will not be fruitless. Since I am sharing my knowledge to my students, one day it will be my skills in playing table tennis that I will share to my students. I am waiting for that day, hopefully this school year 2012-2013.

 From left: Bryan Kim, Kriszel, me, Celine, Priyanca, Gaspar, Lourdes & Ma’am Michelle (she is not our coach she just go together with us during the team’s get along). Perchance you can observe only three males are in the photo, which was because we cannot find Mark before we leave.

From left: Gaspar, Mark, Bryan Kim, and Jerome (me) during the awarding ceremonies. We are not in our playing uniform because our games concluded a day before the awarding.

Monday, April 2, 2012

APMI-Pasacao Memories

It has been 10 months since I first set foot on the ground of APMI-Pasacao Campus and it has also been 10 months since I was sharing momentous events with the students and teachers of the said institution. There are ups and downs but I cannot think of the downs anymore. I will not renew my contract so I'm super going to miss everything it in specially those people I shared endless laughter with.

So, here are just some of the happenings I will definitely miss. These are photos worth keeping and sharing! ^_^

This first photo was taken when I first go out with my co-teachers for beach.


During Joy's birthday!

The banner clearly describes this event.

Awww.. This one happened when only four third year students came back to school in the afternoon. That day was my last regular class.

APMI 19th Foundation Anniversary pre-parade...

After Buwan ng Wika program.

After the Private Schools' Day at Buhi, Camarines Sur.

When I joined my Fortitude students in a trip to beach and we end up going to Mainit.. Literally speaking, the water is hot.

My advisory class, FORTITUDE! :)

I'm with my co-teachers in a beach overnight...

We SAY BEST JUMP! Hahah

Christmas parade..

Christmas Dinner and Ball...

APMI-Pasacao Family S/Y 2011-2012

These are the people I will definitely MISS a lot.

There are still a lot to post but these are all the photos needed to show my short stay at APMI. It was a story I'm going to remember FOREVER!! :))

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Tribute to LET Passers: My Speech

I was browsing Facebook this pre-lunch, 11:10 to be exact, when Ms. Marideth Agravante asked me if I could share my feelings being a LET passer at this very event. I was hesitant, (in fact) very hesitant because I do not think I can give you something to inspire you. Nevertheless, nag-logout na siya! What can I do? Nasabi ko nalang, part na ini kang pagiging teacher! So, let me try… *inhale, exhale* I cannot feel anything! Nope, I was just kidding.

Prior to September 25, 2011 (My Preparations)

I want to pass the examination so I enrolled in a review center and sacrificed my weekends for those very tiring and mind-blowing meetings. I also bought a 2010 edition of LET Reviewer and tried to read all its content with understanding. I was also lucky because I was teaching General Science, Chemistry, Physics and Environmental Science; so it was a review every day for my major subject. However, there is one thing I did that helped me the most to survive that exam and we all call it FAITH. Faith in me that I can do it and faith to Him, our dear God, that he will guide me, give me strength, wisdom, and peace in that fight. Well I guess every preparation was worth it. At any rate, we are rewarded accordingly.
Let us skip the day of the examination… That was very tiring especially the major subject! It drains my mind there were maaaaany computations.

It was 9:30 PM of November 17, 2011 while I was with my co-teachers watching Praybeyt Benjamin when a message stopped my heart from beating for a few seconds. Finally, the LET results were disclosed to the public. I was nervous and a devil is whispering “Jerome, pagnag-bagsak ka nakakasupog, ano nalang ang mukhang iaatubang mo sa mga taong bisto ka?” That was not comforting so I tried to think clearly while my co-teacher was looking for my name and it was like BOOOOOOOOOM… There was 1831 Jerome CaƱa Begueja on the list. I was very happy and as if, I was released from a 20 years of imprisonment. Imagine? No, that was exaggeration.

The very first person that entered my mind was my mother so I sent her a message. A moment later, a reply came saying “PRAISE GOD!” That is my mom, she always gives thank to the Lord and perhaps that is her way of congratulating me. Before going to bed, I thanked God for that very wonderful gift.

Passing the LET is not a walk in the park, it is hard because if it is easy, why there are still those people who cannot pass the examination even after taking it for more than three times? Therefore, as a sort of advice to you future teachers “read, read, read, read, and read.” You will claim your prize for sure. Another thing, after graduating this noblest profession, immediately go through the exam and pass it. You need to be self-motivated; no one can help you during the examination but yourself. Sorry, I tried to look for more encouraging words but these are just the basics you need.

By the way, I want to thank all the teachers of the IDE/CDE for molding us and bringing out our best shots. Future teachers, you are all at safe hands.

Lastly, since I enrolled in a different review center I was required to take the Mac Board before allowing me to have my TOR. I failed that examination but I was still given certification if I will return to take the same exam again. The problem is I opt not to return. Now that I have passed the LET, am I still required to take the Mac Board? No! That is my way of thanking Mrs. Villaflor.

Before I end, let me leave you with the recipe of success told by William A. Ward:

Study while others are sleeping; work while others are loafing; prepare while others are playing; and dream while others are wishing.”

Good afternoon!
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