Living Inside My Head

I feel happy, blessed and thankful today because of successfully passing the Licensure Examination for Teachers! It's a surreal feeling for me. Thank God that all of my effort, struggles and hard-work finally came in fruition.

Today was my second time to do hosting. It's a kid's 7th birthday party. But I can say that I wasn't satisfied with the way I handled the hosting thing. I've always been shy all my life, and it has always been difficult for me to speak in front of a huge crowd. I felt so nervous and there were times that I got tongued-tied which is not good of course. Sometimes, I was lost with words; I don't know what else to say. I'm scared to know that the people out there, especially the kid's family, were disappointed with what I did. Hosting a school's party is one thing, and hosting a birthday party is another thing. All in all, I feel a huge blunder on my part. Oh my, it would surely take days before I can take things off my head. <sigh>

We had our school's Halloween Party yesterday, which was a blast. It was my first time to attend and help organize a school's Halloween Party. I totally enjoyed it. I was assigned to be the host, and I admit that I was initially nervous and anxious about the whole hosting thing since it was my first time to host a party. Good thing that I was able to overcome that nervousness and tried my best. It was a highly enjoyable thing to see the children play games and perform their song numbers while they were wearing those beautiful halloween-themed costumes! And not to mention, the trick or treat portion is very fun! This was our school's first time to have a Halloween Party so it's not surprising that it was not 100% perfect. But we've already talked about it, and we want to do better in our next party: Christmas Party. Late this afternoon, our school directress spoke to us about her evaluation of our party. Overall, she liked it. She also praised my hosting skills an

Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts,  For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,  which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them,  but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,  and He bends you with His might  that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness; For even as He loves the arrow that flies,  so He loves also the bow that is stable.

If children live with CRITICISM They learn to CONDEMN If children live with HOSTILITY They learn to FIGHT If children live with RIDICULE They learn to BE SHY If children live with SHAME They learn to FEEL GUILTY If children live with TOLERANCE They learn to BE PATIENT If children live with ENCOURAGEMENT They learn to HAVE CONFIDENCE If children live with PRAISE They learn to APPRECIATE If children live with FAIRNESS They learn JUSTICE If children live with SECURITY They learn to HAVE FAITH If children live with APPROVAL They learn to LIKE THEMSELVES If children live with ACCEPTANCE and FRIENDSHIP They learn to FIND LOVE IN THE WORLD. Author Unknown

The Indian philosopher Mahatma Gandhi said that “the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Gandhi believes “that the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man.”

I have finally got a job as a teacher...preschool teacher. After having the initial interview and the demonstration at the same day, I was told that I got the job, which really made me extremely happy! I am so excited for Monday! :)

I took the Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET) yesterday at La Consolacion College in Manila. Despite waking up early at 4:30 am, I didn't have any trouble getting out of bed. (And I love the hotel's bed. :))  I slept at 11:30 pm that previous night. Good thing that my mind and my body seemed to very well-conditioned for the exam. I ate a hearty breakfast of mushroom omelette and rice, and drank a cup of chocolate drink. I felt really full. Left the hotel at exactly 5:30. It was a rainy morning. My shoes got wet inside while I was trying to get to the school where I would be taking the exam. I arrived there at 6am. Waited at the queue and finally got inside. Went straight to my assigned room - room 217 - and asked for my seat number - 20. Interestingly, I didn't feel anxious or nervous about the whole thing. Perhaps because I've been through the process when I took up the Nursing Licensure Exam way back in 2007. And I've already took so many exams in the past (IEL

I have decided to attend the Final Coaching for the LET in a review center near our home. I am expecting to learn more topics and the techniques that can be utilized in order to have a better understanding of how to answer the questions for the exam. I was utterly disappointed with this review center. I did not expect it to be that bad since I always see banners bearing the names of its "successful" examinees. The thing is, I think I have learned more that I ought to learn through self-review. Good thing I have my review materials. Good thing that I need not to "rely" on those proctors who are so lazy and disorganized in their work. After all, passing the exam still count on the students' capabilities and their perseverance. Aaahh! Two more weeks and it's exam day already!

"Inside the light, my consciousness fades. What a strange world, Gaea. A beautiful, sad world. Maybe one day I will come to this place again? Of course. Van. He and I will meet again. That's our wish. Wishes do come true. Please. Stars glittering in the sky, please grant my wish. Please bequeath this wish even if today's memories go away. Desires racing into the sky, they will reach that man. When I realize it. When I wish for it. Good bye, Van, black-haired, clear-eyed man. I will without fail return to this world."  ~Hitomi Kanzaki from Escaflowne Prologue 2: Gaea Drama CD

A poem for my all-time favorite anime character, Van Fanel from The Vision of Escaflowne. Child of wings and green splendour Born of twisting fate and predestination In your vein flows the blood of a fabled race Inhabitants of land, water and air. Days of cloudless childhood Ended so bitterly soon When one passed away And two vanished without any trace. A land of simplicity and hidden beauty Engulfed by flames and burned to the ground Blood awakens the heart of a sleeping dragon To fight for what's left and rule the majestic skies. Child of wings and green splendor Hands are blood-stained but your heart is wounded It conceals the pain of living alone In a dark and war-torn world. Everything was lost in the hands of a manipulated fate Hope came but it stood so far away One lost heart, always on its own It's still your will that determines the fate of this world.

I lost my cellphone and wallet last August 27, 2012. My family and I had been to Trinoma Mall in Quezon City. At around 7pm, we decided to ride a bus en route to Pampanga. Unfortunately, when we were about to take the bus, two women, who pretended to be passengers, apparently blocked me from getting on the bus. They have an accomplice or rather accomplices, and those accomplices were able to snatched my cellphone and wallet in just a blink of an eye without me even noticing it. I realized that my bag had already been opened to my horror. That was it. I lost my cellphone, wallet, and all the important IDs inside my wallet. Curse them! Good thing that my cellphone was a cheap one. And my only money inside the wallet was a 1 thousand peso bill. Not that bad. My IDs are easy to get, so I am not that sad at all. Perhaps the only thing that it's rather difficult to accept was the reality that more and more people nowadays are resorting to numerous crimes just for them to be able to feed

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. ~William Arthur Ward

There is a distance that stretch between us A gap that is difficult to bridge Miles that seem so infinite And a space that extend to eternity. Driving through the silence,  I grasp at the steering wheel Enveloped by a cloud of loneliness While holding tight to a hope that flickers so far away. Even though we are far apart We are together in our hearts Somewhere out there, there is your heartbeat Your presence, an existence of contours. I had started getting used to feeling meaningless But love for you filled up my life  And your last smile is like a message from you Giving me the strength to go on. Ever since the first moment I loved you I knew somehow I would learn of the sadness that I feel right now But no matter the sadness, I will surely overcome it Because when farewell is uttered, a love is also promised. In my heart I know that we will meet again someday So let us promise that we'll always remember And hold to the memory of that day Because knowing that, I can look f

"Employment is a form of sophisticated slavery designed by the super wealthy and by a government."

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana

The start of March signals the beginning of summer season here. No rain for three months, just plain heat, sunshine and humidity. Some of my friends have already gone off to beaches and swimming pools. But not me. Summer-time is that part of the year that I feel less enthusiastic to. I just hate the smoldering heat, and the high humidity. It is just too difficult to do everyday chores, and it's even difficult to concentrate on my studies. I don't even like going to the beach or swimming.What concerns me is that, I will be taking up summer classes by April. I would have to go to school like three times a week. I will have to spend more time outside in the next three months, and that means, more times under the sun..or heat. :) Anyway, despite the hot weather, I will still try to be productive, and hopefully by the start of the rainy season in June, I've already finished what I'm supposed to do. And that's what is exciting. 

"When your history is stolen from you, you lose your sense of that history." - Hashem Hama Abdoulah, Director of the Museum of Antiquities in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

February is Love Month and certainly it's also the month that couples are especially looking forward to because of Valentine's Day. In all honesty, I don't get pretty much excited about Valentine's Day. Sure, it's the day that couples celebrate their love for each other, but I think showing one's love and affection and being sweet and romantic should not only be done Valentine's. It should be done everyday. ;)

After days of pondering, I have finally decided to chop off my curls. Although I was kind of heavy-hearted to part from my two-year-old curly hairstyle, I think it would suit me better to change my hairstyle. What made me decide to go ahead and chop off my curls? First and foremost, it's because of the weather. The weather is getting humid and hotter nowadays; hardly surprising because we are already entering the summer months. My hair has gotten really thick and unruly. Furthermore, I did not like to color of it anymore, and it has become dry because of perming. So today, I went to a salon recommended to me by my cousin. She also had her hair done on that salon and I like the result, so I called up my cousin and ask her if she could accompany me. She was more than happy to say yes, and so there we go. I had my hair straighten but before starting with the procedure, I talked to the stylist first about the condition of my hair. After that, we went ahead with the procedure, and after

My favorite flowers: white lilies.

Pavlovsk Palace, one of Russia's most sumptuous palaces. 

January 23, 2012: This is my first time to spend Chinese New Year in Chinatown. This is actually my bf's idea. Since the 27th (today) is his birthday, we decided to have an advance celebration. Good thing the 23rd is also our monthsary, so it's a pretty good timing to celebrate two events in one day. I can say that the weather was on our side that day. Yes, it was sunny, but not humid, so I was quite surprised. In this tropical country, weather is changeable, so it is a good thing that this January is a pretty good-weathered month. Anyway, my bf and I met at the bus station at around 9:30am. Took the jeepney for a 5-minute ride going to Binondo. As expected, I can already see throng of people, many of them wearing red shirts as a sign of good fortune, going through the arch which serves as the 'gate' to Chinatown. There were so many vendors, selling different kinds of lucky charms (bracelets, dragon statues, fortune plants, etc.) Amateur and professional photog

A painting depicting the ill-fated Queen Anne Boleyn in the Tower of London right before her execution, by Edouard Cibot.

Portrait of Catherine Cornaro,  Queen of Cyprus

Margherita of Savoy, Queen of Italy

One of the most beautiful and famous castles in the world, Neuschwanstein Castle was commissioned by the eccentric King Ludwig II of Bavaria. He paid for the construction of this romantic castle with his own personal fortune. This is the inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle.  Some pictures of  Neuschwanstein Castle.

I got this beautiful illustration from the a book about the Twelve Days of Christmas. 

Painting by Charles Gates Sheldon

Painting by Stephen Darbishire

"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within."

The pink topaz parure of the Swedish Royal Family. In my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful jewellery I have ever seen. Such quality of pink topaz is quite rare. The parure was created for Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, daughter of Tsar Paul I of Russia, on the occasion of her wedding to the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. (The Romanovs certainly had an eye for stunning jewels, and they have the Siberian mines at their disposal.) It eventually passed down to the Swedish royal familiy through her great-granddaughter, Queen Victoria of Sweden. The current owner of this magnificent piece of jewellery is Queen Silvia of Sweden. 

I have read numerous poems by different poets throughout history, but nothing touches me very deeply than Desiderata by Max Ehrmann. This poem has been my guiding principle in life. Desiderata  (by Max Ehrmann) Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many