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Monthly Archives: August 2008

Teaching and Activism

I am holding tutorials both online and offline. I am not a teacher by profession but Teaching is one of my passions. My mother is a grade school teacher and she used to tell me that teaching is a very fulfilling profession. Some of her students are already holding government positions and some have decent jobs and she’s happy everytime she meets them at the mall with their families and would stop and say hello and would acknowledge her wisdom and patience.

I am helping her to fix her visual stuffs since I was in grade school and I remember that my first experience in teaching was when I was in grade 5. They had an emergency conference, she went to my room and asked me to watch her grade one class. I was very hesitant at first but she told me to just give them some task so they won’t go out of the room. She endorsed me in her class and warned them that I would record the names of the noisy students and they will be punished when she return.

When she left the room, one student raised her hand and asked me, “What is our lesson for today ma’am?” I was surprised and I stood infront of the class and told them I will be reading a short story and they must listen carefully because I will ask them afterwards. I was amazed how they listen silently until I finished the story. After that I asked them to draw the characters on the board. It was fun how they gave me their own interpretations and I really enjoyed it. After that day, my mom usually asks me to watch her class everytime there is an emergency conference. Some of my mom’s students even call me madam on recess or even outside the school.

That was a great experience and maybe you would ask me why I didn’t take her field. Well, that’s another story lol :) But it seems that I was destined to teach. When I was working at Japanese Corporation, I was assigned to conduct trainings for newly hired employees, that was before I became a labor union leader. When I ran for the position as a Vice President for the company worker’s union, IWSWU (International Wiring Systems Workers Union), I gained an overwhelming votes and it’ was surprising because I was just a stranger here in Tarlac during those time. Maybe, my church activity has helped me a lot. We had 4 thousand members then. My 5 years as union vice president were spent educating my members about their basic rights as a worker. We formed an Education Committee and we held continuous labor educations.

I had my share in grievances, court battles, rallies, walk-outs and other forms of collective struggles to stand for the workers’ right both inside and outside the company premises. This has led me to the streets walking with clenched fists, shouting and asking for a change. Years of my stay as a union officer has changed me and I emerged as a fearless leader doing my speeches during rallies which is usually held in the middle of the streets and trucks serves as our stage.

Those were the years that we topple Estrada Administration. But the succeeding years after a new president was put in power, series of political killings has been exercised killing many of our allies. Most of the active leaders in different organizations which are radically fighting and stands for the call of decent wages and humane working environment were shot to death. Some of them are tagged as terrorists when in fact they were just simple workers who are just fighting for the workers’ rights. I myself was included in 10 leaders in OB Hit list in 2005 and sad to say that most on that list were already in their grave. My father who is a retired military advised me to slow down and leave my job because my life will be in great danger. I am a mother of 4 kids and in as much as I want to serve the people, I knew that my kids are waiting for me at home everyday hoping that they will see me alive. Leaving my job which I spent half of my life and the people who are defending on my leadership was the hardest part of my life. Seeing their tearful faces while I was submitting my resignation was so hard to endure. Even the tough guys who used to accompany me were crying and I was so stunned for their love and support. It took me more than a year to recover that loss and the internet has served as my healing balm.

Now, I am teaching again. I am holding IT trainings either free or paid depending on the arrangement. Recently I conducted an IT training for Martinet faculty and that was in my previous posts.

I will be creating online tutorials here but it will be in Tagalog language. I will add another page for that. Why Tagalog, because it’s for my fellow Pinoys both here and abroad. There are already a lot of trainings here in the internet for you guys who are in foreign countries.

At para sa mga kababayan ko, gagawa ako ng mga modules para madali nyong maintindihan. Magsisimula lang muna tayo sa simple o basic IT Skill. Antayin po lamang ninyo sa mga susunod na araw at ipo post ko ang mga paunang lesson natin.

Okay guys, till here and see you in my next post. Thank you for reading.

 
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Posted by on August 31, 2008 in Activism, IT & Trainings, Politics & Economy

 

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Aro Cup – Tarlac City Philippines

August 23, 2008

Aro Cup is a one of the project of our present city mayor in Tarlac City, Genaro “Aro” Mendoza. The title has been derived from his nickname Aro. It was now a yearly activity participated by different schools and colleges of Tarlac city.

The activity has started at 1:00 p.m at Tarlac State University Gym. My 2 daughters, Jessica and Sabrina were present in this activity and I asked them to jot down some important notes, pictures and videos of the said event. I also uploaded some videos in my account at U-Tube under REDWARRIORHEART.

Here are some of the list of the winning team. I lost track of the other but if you have the names and want it to be included here you can email me: redwarriorheart@yahoo.com or simply leave the names at my comment section. There are many searchers in my landing page searching about Aro cup . I tried googling it but there’s no pics and info bout this recent activity. I’m sorry guys I kept this for more than a week because of my busy schedule. I am trying to cope up  with all my works and to update my blog as well.

CHEERLEADING COMPETITION – Elementary level

Champion – Tarlac West Elementary School

2nd Place – College of the Holy Spirit (Elementary)

3rd Place – Sapang Tagalog Elementary School

4th Place – Matatalaib Bato Elementary School

HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL

Champion – Tarlac National High School

2nd Place – Tarlac State University Laboratory High School

3rd Place – Osias College

 

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