And then there were three...

And then there were three...

I grew up believing that I am one of the blessed individuals with really, really good eyesight. I would boast that I can read the smallest font without difficulty. I would not account that strength to my genes because my father has been wearing thick eye glasses as early as he can remember rather to the million of squash that I ate since I was small.  That is also the reason why I make it a point to feed my girls with squash as often as possible.

Until my Directed Research 1 came... I started with one pair from Ideal Vision at .75 grade, the mildest as the Opta described it. It was followed by another pair just because I kept on forgetting the first one.

First term hasn't ended yet but I am already oj my third pair! It started with a migraine that lasted for days.  I was scared that it was due to my worsened hypertension but no. It was my aggravated eyesight...

Blame it on the journals and reflection papers I required my five citigov classes; blame it my really small SAMSUNG Young; blame it my shortlived chatmate; and blame it on the rain... I dont think there is nothing nor no one in particular to blame. I am aging. Its bound to happen... ang importante, I can still see, read and I look great on my reading glasses!! Hahaha

Dani Girl... with my girl!

Last week, I got an invitation from my TSAA co-parent to watch "Danni Girl". I had no idea what this play was all about and I was too busy to do my usual background check. But, I thought that it could be a really good opportunity for Elle to bond with her classmates outside school.

Initially, Elle was supposed to just go on her own with her classmates and I will just wait outside and do my readings. But, I learned that most of my co-parents were going so I also went. Elle was of course ecstatic to learn that I had a change of heart.

The play was about a young girl named Danni who had leukemia.  She was battling the big "C" with her mom and her "guardian angel".  She later met another boy with cancer and together they tried to look for the answer to the question, "Why Cancer".

The play brought back mixed memories of my Ninang Telly while she was battling the big "C" years back.  Then, both of us knew it was coming but did not anticipate that it was that soon.

Why Cancer? I always thought that everything happens for a reason. That even bad things can happen to good people just because... it has a reason. But, why cancer? Nobody knows... its just part of the grand design of life...

I cannot remember watching a movie nor a play that I cried that much. Thank God it was dark inside RCBC auditorium!

But, Elle noticed me and asked "Mama are you crying because you think I will get sick and die like Danni?" Surprised, I was not able to reply immediately. So, Elle continued, "You know, Mama I will always drink my vitamins, drink milk and eat healthy food so that I will not get sick. So, don't cry na..."

Couldn't stop crying again after hearing that from Elle. She is such an angel! I love her and Bien soo much! Yes, everything that is happening around us doesn't need to have a reason. But, I know that I have my girls because God loves me very much.

Teaching LOVE

Teaching is really a labor of love. That is why a few years back when my hubby advised me to go back to teaching I hesitated. Deep inside I know that I have a calling for the academe but I thought I was not ready for it... Just imagine all the hard work I had to put to it. Preparing the modules, powerpoint presentations, talking points, examples and even reading the reflection papers and checking exams one by one. To add to that the requirements of PhD, publication, research and community engagements. And, the emotional preparations you have to put up to keep the discussion flowing, not bore your students, disappointments, "favorites", impatience... etc.

Maybe it is really the "mom" in me why I am now in the academe and surviving it one day at a time. Every time I seem at a lost, I always look at my students and think that soon my girls will be like them and they need someone to guide them not just in terms of their academics but how to approach life.

I really don't ask much. Yesterday, I got a note from our brother president that I got a salary increase. That's great. But at the end of the day, its really the love and respect that my students are giving me that keeps me going. Its the thought that when it is my girls' turn to be students (hopefully in DLSU:-)) they will also encounter someone who will really care for them.

Maybe, I am in the academe caring because I had teachers who really cared for me back then... To my School of Economics and Development Studies program professors, maraming salamat! Special mention na lang kay Ninang Cristela Goce Dakila. Yes, I will survive my PhD:-)

Ang Usapang Borrowed Wife...

(Reposted from Facebook)

Buhay nga naman...

While doing my readings, I overheard my girls discussing GMA 7's afternoon telenovena, "The Borrowed Wife". Bien asked Elle what a "borrowed wife" is and Elle explained that it's like Papa borrowing Tita **** to be his wife... Total silence, then... came Bien's cry!!!

"But, I don't want Papa to borrow a wife!!! What will happen to Mama?!! I don't want borrowed! I want Mama! Diba they are married?!! They love each other?!

Speechless, all Elle could say was "Mama, can we watch Frozen now?!" Hahahaha

Basically, the reason why I don't want my girls to watch telenovelas. Minsan mas complicated pa siyang i explain sa mga readings ko! Tara at mag Frozen for the nth time na lang tayo mga anak!