My Student's Reflection Make Me Feel Like I've Done My Job Well

I just want to share an excerpt of an essay that one of my students submitted. Multiply these sentiments 34 more times and words like these make me feel like I have done my job.

Our subject matter now is Poverty and Inequality and I have asked my students to interview minimum wage employees and reflect on their findings.

"After interviewing a minimum daily wage worker, I noticed how hard it was to have a family when you earn P481.00 a day. From analysing it further, it became evident on how everything was costly and having P481.00 a day was not enough to survive. The minimum wage was too low for any worker to survive at least one day in the Philippines, unless you were lucky enough to have extra savings for daily needs.

It was only after writing this paper that I realized how fortunate I was. It also taught me to be grateful of what I have today, that I shouldn’t complain about what I have because I am lucky enough to have these things in the first place. It makes me feel bad because I would sometimes criticize the way a janitor cleans or a waiter’s slow service. Because of interviewing him I wanted to be more considerate of the people who work hard under a minimum wage salary."

Lin Manuel Miranda in Manila!

I saw the local version of In The Heights last year and we really did a fantastic version of the show, capturing the spirit of the immigrants trying to make their way in American society. I saw that the writer and the actor who played the lead in the original Broadway production was actually in Manila, and the video above shows that he was indeed, in the curtain call of the production last week. Would've been great to see him but oh well, wrong timing for me! Alabanza is my favorite song from that musical. In a way, it's some kind of prayer for me whenever I feel I need God's help!

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Brunei Darussalam's National Day

I really had fun tonight as I attended the Brunei Darussalam National Day along with Mama and Ate Mimi.  It was actually Ate Mimi who gave us the invitation, since she had a friend in the Brunei embassy.  The affair was held at the Rizal Ballroom of the Shangri-la Hotel in Makati.  Our very own Department of Foreign Affair's Secretary was there along with Brunei's ambassadress to the Philippines and they made speeches and cut the cake for this 28th year anniversary of this tiny country's nationhood.

I really enjoyed the food and even if there was no pork, there was still meat in the form of the chicken.  Their noodles was also pretty interesting, although it tasted different from our more tasty mami noodles.  I also got to make friends with some young kids whose parents worked for the embassy.  It was great to see them in their national costumes.  I was actually curious about the malong which they placed around their waist.  Apparently, you'd have to put a belt around it so it will stick, otherwise, it would fall. 

Of course, we had our pictures taken everytime!  The "Brunei-ans" were very friendly and hospitable enough to accommodate our endless photo requests!

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Laying All the Hope On God

I don't know when exactly I decided to just lay everything on God.  I think when I was 17 years old and I was off to college and I was even unsure whether I'd study in Manila.  Our family then was so tight, financially, it's a miracle we got through that stage in our lives, intact!  I think that's the time when I just said to Him, ok, I'll do my part, and if I get what I want, then maybe You willed it, because I know you wouldn't give me something that is not good for me.  From that day on until now, even on days when it just seems so hopeless, I still believe that He will get it through to me. And He has - every single freaking time!  It's really a miracle.  I guess, sometimes He does it photo-finish just to make sure He and I are still on the same page - and so that I won't get too proud too much!

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Theatre Review: Isang Araw Sa Karnabal

I caught two plays from the currently running Eyeball: New Visions in Philippine Theater at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last Sunday.  One of the plays was entitled "Isang Araw Sa Karnabal", written by Nicolas Pichay, a play which won the Palanca Award in the One Act Play category.


Sheenly Gener and Yul Servo served as the couple in this show that I caught and the play was quite interesting since it interposed a love story into a case of a daughter left by a desaparesido.  It was alternately funny and sad and there was never a dull moment as you slowly discover what this relationship is really about.  Sheenly's character has never found her father and because of that, she's now having issues about it, while Yul, plays her boyfriend, who, only appears to Sheenly now, after disappearing for a few months.  All these issues are discussed and acted out and you really feel that a denouement and a climax is reached in the end when both characters thresh those issues out.

It's a pity they had to play to a thin crowd.  More Filipinos should know about what the CCP is offering since their works are not only entertaining but thought-provoking too!

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