remembering the great Ferdinand

The late Ferdinand Edralin Marcos deserves to be remembered today, September 11. My Padi was an avid fan of this former president. He told me a lot of stories about how brilliant Marcos was. From being too smart to being the topnotcher in his class. From being the best boy scout to being the most brilliant president that the country has ever had.

I was born 3 years after the birth of Martial Law. While I was growing up, my view of Ferdinand Marcos was not marred by what the masses said. Perhaps, my Padi's words mattered the most. He had a book about his life and how I wish I still have the time to unearth the said book in my parents' place. The book said that the culprit was really Imelda.

In that book (if my memory serves me right), I quote Ferdinand when he said, "When I did good, nobody remembers. When I had mistakes, nobody forgets." Maybe these were not exactly the words. But it's the same message.

I am somehow sad on the demise of Ferdi. If Imelda is indeed the culprit, poor he. But then, we are products of our own choice. Viktor Frankl said, "The same sun which hardens the clay is the same sun which moltens the wax."

This is how I want to pay tribute to the man who didn't turn out to be the best president we got. Suffice it to say, he would have been brilliant.

Sometimes, a person becomes a product of the perception of the Filipino masses. Is it too much democracy that is working for us or against us? I'm confused.

Well, brilliance is not enough.

But what was he thinking? What was he going through? How did he take in things? Was it hard? Was it difficult?

In the case of Ferdi, no one dared to personally ask.

THE ERDKINDER PLAY

The Abba's Orchard School Erdkinder students will be featuring highlights and images from the great musical play Les Miserables. The whole Erd community is now excited to do their first musical rendition on the major songs found in the play. This will be on October 21 this year. This is for the 12th Foundation Day of the Abba's Orchard nationwide. This year's theme is Music Through the years.

They say it is ambitious of us to do this musical play. But we are dreaming with the Erdkinder children. The directors may give up but not us.

Lenka's The Show

Out of boredom, my girlfriends Jade and Oreo found ourselves singing this song with me while waiting for a cab outside Mega mall at Ortigas. While singing, we enjoyed it so much that we didn't notice thirty minutes had passed.

Music indeed has power. People who are tired get refreshed because of songs. And when you sing, the singing must go on -- just like how shows must go on.

MY PILLOW'S HAIKU TODAY

The show must go on

The curtains on me don't fall

Steadfast, strong

GOD IS REAL

i know what i know and i know that God is real, He's real

i know what i know and i know that God is real, He's real

i looked to my right and i see a tree

with leaves that pop out and then fall on me

i'm sure no one else could have made that tree

i know God is real ....

i know what i know and i know that God is real, He's real

i know what i know and i know that God is real, He's real

i looked to the ground and i see a worm

that crawls in the dirt with a gentle squirm

i'm sure no one else could have thought of worms

i know God is real ....

i know what i know and i know that God is real, He's real

i know what i know and i know that God is real, He's real

i looked to the sky and i see the moon

that hangs in the night like a big balloon

i'm sure no one else could have hung that moon

i know God is real ....

When i taught Preschool, I found this ACSI song attractive. What made me blog it here is that it was the song that I taught the children at AOS Erdkinder now when they were in Preschool.

Awesome ....

A teacher never grows old ..... students just catch up ....

Watch the Official EAT PRAY LOVE Trailer in HD

I decided to post this clip for three reasons:

a. Julia wanted to be the perfect wife ...

b. Julia wanted to see what it means to be happy ....

c. Julia was in a quest ...

But on top of these all, I just happen to be a big fan .... I have seen most of her movies ...

One More Time

The Katinas are great ....

This song has been a blessing ...

Thanks to the walls of Maki and Joie ...

... That you will understand .....

Oh be careful little eyes ....

This is one of the popular children's songs that we find in our churches today ...

After a week of thinking, my introspection has told me several things and this is one of them -- to understand the root cause of any problem, you simply have to go back to how things started...

The video below has a lot of things to say ...

Thinking on their feet

It was Tuesday, July 20 this week. I asked my Erdkinder seniors to talk about trivial matters the impromptu way. The procedure was more of allowing these "children" to think on their feet. Here, a topic is given and the speaker speaks right there and then.

It was refreshing. Seeing these children do things that I did when i was younger is so much fun. And my! It was far better.

Above are Shanice, Abby, Monica and Nathan

Above are Nicole, Kim, Michiko, Julia and Shanice

Above are Kim, Michiko, Julia, Shanice and Abby

Above are Abby, Monica, Nathan and Sherwin

And the last pose for the day:

with Sherwin, Derik, Sean and Koby

The exercise that I asked them to do is to prepare them for the British Parliamentary Debate bouts that I introduced to them days ago. I am excited to see good speakers and debaters from this group. So far, they have proven themselves to be far better than me.

After all, the goal of every teacher is to make his student better than himself.

Who Am I

Thanks Papas Bong for allowing me to sing this after a long time ....

Thanks for posting the same video in my wall Maki ... (I know you are trying to say something again, and yes, I understand)

Thanks for those who are praying for me ...

Thanks for those for those who refuse to give up on such a stubborn woman like me ....

Even when I already told you to close your doors ...

Thank you Pastor Bong ...

BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY ... THEY WEEP

Hi.

Here I am again ...

I actually saw my colleague's Facebook postout saying: "Big girls don't cry." Then I made a comment and said, "Yeah .... they weep!" I was laughing real hard I almost cried.

A few minutes later, her friend made a comment to my comment. I'm sure you can imagine how it looks like. She said, " Yeah, and they whine." Nadene and I laughed again.

Then I went quiet. It made me think. I'm like an onion. I easily cry. And whatever touches my spirit makes me cry. Anyways, weeping is different. If too many people see me cry, not too many people hear me weep.

Jesus wept. I weep. Weeping is the deepest emotion that one can extend over a loss of something so special. Leaving caused me lately to weep. I am going to lose my spiritual father and friend, my spiritual family and my spiritual friends.

The Annoying Orange 3: TOE-MAY-TOE

This video has been made popular by the Erdkinder students last year ...

Although the annoying orange is indeed annoying, you'll find insights ....

THEY SAY IT'S COWARDICE

This picture was taken at the condominium back in Marikina months ago. My friends and I were trying to comfort someone who was seriously ill.

This was no ordinary picture because it was taken behind my back. I was contemplating on how difficult life is when you are an adult.

It made me remember Peter Pan who didn't want to grow up. Somehow I am like Peter Pan I realized. You see, there are "growing pains" when you become an adult.

I decided to post it here to breathe my soul and vent. When you turn your back, other people call it cowardice. However, I don't. I call it courage.

It's not easy to leave. It's not easy to lose something you love. Be it a thing, a home, a spouse, a friend, or a group of people, it can only be cowardice if you don't admit a certain mistake.

Turning your back can indeed make you appear a coward. But how can you call it cowardice when it's the most you can do to preserve the "health" of everybody? How can you call it cowardice when what you do is to sacrifice the "things" you love doing like singing, praying for people and ministering other's needs?

There are times when a person must leave -- even her home to give space of all of those people who are hurting just because of her.

Mistakes are mistakes and intentions are intentions. It dawned on me that perceptions indeed differ. Therefore, any well-meant intention can appear like a big mistake.

The kingdom agenda must go on. And those that hinder this must leave in favor of the greater picture.

As for me, I've always taught my successors that commitment is sticking to what is right. And I've failed in this area because I became a student to my own lessons. However, I maintain, that it is right to die to yourself and deny the right to be understood. Turning your back is denying yourself to explain what really happened -- not because you are a coward but because you want peace.

For a radical person like me, seeking peace is a big leap. Any histrionic person (as I was recently labelled by a good friend) seeks to be understood. But if I am indeed histrionic, I say I opt to understand first with the desire to be circumspect about things. Yes, maybe, I wasn't really looking that I am falling from a cliff. Sometimes, it needs a "yell" to remind me and say, "Jeni, you are falling!"

Is it still cowardice when you need to leave even if your heart and mind don't want to?

Is it?

from NANAY ANNE

ON CARROTS, EGGS AND COFFEE

I got this note from my nanay, Te Ann ...

Without receiving any texts and from me and without a clue on whatever is going on in my life,

she comes unexpectedly ...

She happens to be my spiritual mother and everytime I slip, fall and trip over something, she "feels" it ....

Here is what she sent me ...

God is indeed real ...

He sends people even when you don't expect them....

I hope you will be blessed by reading

____________________________________________________

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.

'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked,

'What does it all mean, mother?'
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: "boiling water."
Each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter.

'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond?
Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this:
Which am I?
Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavour. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level?

How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.

Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.
You might want to send this message to those people who mean something to you...

(I JUST DID);

to those who have touched your life in one way or another;
to those who make you smile when you really need it;
to those who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down;
to those whose friendship you appreciate;
to those who are so meaningful in your life.


May we all be COFFEE!!

THE TEACHER'S WARNING

This picture came from my colleague, Rhyz Gomez. Lately, we've experienced headaches on the children we love and teach. My! My! Adolescents are indeed challenging. We are in an environment where flabbergasting is of course unacceptable from the mouth of a teacher. We can be firm but we will always respect dignity.

However, we found ourselves laughing at the picture where she was tagged in. Thanks to Facebook . LOL! This is not to sound condescending on any of our Erdkinder children. In fact, you will fall in love 69 times to all of them.

Teachers are also humans and are never perfect. They're flawed that's why they teach. There are just days when they want to say "Hey, i told you several times" like a nagging mother. Simply because THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH LIFE .....and THEY WANT YOUR LIVES BETTER THAN THEIRS.

Wow! Kudos to Rhyz, my new Erdkinder colleague, my newfound friend and hopefully, an eternal daughter. Toinkz.

AMBIVALENCE PILLOW

REMEMBER THE STRIPED ZEBRA?

Oh my my! How can a zebra be not striped in the first place ...
I just remembered Shel Silverstein's "The Zebra" when he said ...
"Am I black with white stripes or
am I white with black stripes?"

AMBIVALENCE ...
that's how the zebra felt.

When it comes to people and relationships,
I do acknowledge that no matter how you try ...
There will be those who will like you
And there will be those who don't and won't ...

A friend has just reminded ..
You simply can't force it if they don't ..
And though I know that principle for like ages now ...
The human side of you irks ...

But, yes, on the brighter side, people have realities ...
And though my reality is yet to be understood ...
I must and I always choose
to respect people's realities...

So my knees are sharpened again ...
Saying that at the end of the day ...
It is always a matter of choice ...
to be "white" with black stripes ...
or ...
to be "black" with white stripes ..

My only option ...
is
FAITH
... in people and in their realities ...

We all have shoes to wear ....

HUA MULAN

I TOOK THIS FACEBOOK CHARACTER TEST AND THE RESULT ... I HAVE THE COURAGE OF MULAN ...
WELL, TO SOME DEGREE, I AM AFFIRMATIVE.

I LOVE MY PADI IN THE SAME MANNER THAT MULAN DID. AND I AM UNORTHODOX JUST LIKE HOW SHE WAS ... AND YEAH ... THE FEELING OF BEING "UNFIT" FOR THE KING HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE BUT WITH THE TENACITY OF AN EMPRESS... LOL!

CHECK OUT HER HISTORY BELOW...

Hua Mulan is a heroine who joined an all-male army, described in a Chinese poem known as the Ballad of Mulan. The poem was first written in the Musical Records of Old and New from the 6th century, the century before the founding of the Tang Dynasty; the original work no longer exists, and the original text of this poem comes from another work known as the Music Bureau Collection, an anthology of lyrics, songs, and poems, compiled by Guo Maoqian during the 12th century. The author explicitly mentions the Musical Records of Old and New as his source for the poem. Whether she was a historical person or whether the poem was an allegory has been debated for centuries—it is unknown whether the story has any factual basis.

THE ABBA'S ORCHARD WEBSITE

THESE ARE PAGES THAT YOU WILL FIND IN THE SCHOOL WEBSITE WHERE I WORK (www.theabbasorchard.com)

AFTER 10 YEARS OF FRUITFUL WORK, THE SCHOOL HAS PROVEN ITS EXISTENCE IN SIX CAMPUSES BY NOW.

Jenny- The Click Five

WHEN I FIRST HEARD THE SONG, I HATED IT...
AND WHY?
BECAUSE IT'S SO ME ...
UNPREDICTABLE ... VAGUE ... AND LET'S JUST SAY WEIRD ...

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER IF IT'S SPELLED J-E-N-I

JENI, the orator that was

Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death

200 YEARS AFTER A GIRL NAMED JENI WAS BORN ...
13 YEARS AFTER HER BIRTH, SHE WAS MADE TO RENDER THIS PIECE (THE FIRST TIME EVER)
BEFORE THE DMMMPSC PUBLIC (NOW MUST). ..
I THEN DISCOVERED I HAD THE GIFT OF SPEECH ...

Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775.

No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The questing before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free-- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending--if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained--we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

Out here on my own! - Irene Cara - Fama

AFTER A FEW DAYS, I FOUND IRENE CARA'S ORIGINAL VERSION OF THE SAME SONG I POSTED FEBRUARY 28 LATELY.

MY HEART LEAPT. NOTHING BEATS ORIGINAL. SOUL SINGING WILL ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE IN TODAY'S CONTEMPORARY WORLD OF MUSIC

Naturi Naughton - Out Here On My Own

After watching the movie FAME, i found this song lingering in my mind..... I am waiting for a Filipino artist to give the same justice to the artist's rendition.

Again, the strength of a woman in a showcase...

Taylor Swift- Baby Don't You Break My Heart Slow (Lyrics)

Love is a choice

1Co 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
1Co 13:2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1Co 13:3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
1Co 13:4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
1Co 13:5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
1Co 13:6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
1Co 13:7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1Co 13:8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
1Co 13:9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
1Co 13:10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
1Co 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
1Co 13:13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

ON God's Favor

It's so difficult to understand ...

You see, favor is given to those people without basis or bases most of the time. This word has something to do with grace. A person receives favor even though he does not deserve it.

In my life, this has always been true. Blessings come from the north, south, east and west and you bet, I just don't deserve it.

God's favor is one of the reasons why I am always on my knees.

On God's Direction

It was January when I learned that I will be assigned back in Cagayan to lead the Erdkinder group in La Granja.

Again, another “curve” in God’s direction in my life.

I recently learned that sometimes “you need to stop planning and just allow God to take over.”

jeni the "mephibosheth"

Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart.

Bridge:
Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

Chorus:
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,
And you've told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.

Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again.
Who am I?
That the voice that calmed the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.