For the Most Special Woman in the World

Blessed is she for hers is the power of nature to bear human kind into this world. Perfection is her beauty that nurtures the best in every child. Patience is her virtue that guides children in their preparation for an adult life.

She is a woman, one of a kind, a sanctuary of love and affection. Her tenderness and concern strengthen a weary soul. Her wisdom enlightens a gloomy home. Her caress lifts the downcast spirit in her family. Her smile germinates joy in her house. She wipes a crying child's tears away with her compassion.

She nourishes her husband and children with the meals she passionately prepares. She protects her young from fear and anxieties. She tends to be possessive and over protective because she feels what her children feels. She clothes her household with the warmth of her love.

With her instinctive knowledge she teaches her children to have sensibility in life. Before they go to school, her children learns from her their ABCs. While a father would point to their children what they did wrong, she would, in her volition, tell her children what to be done and what is the right thing to do.

She heals by her touch and embrace. She keeps watch of her bed-ridden children until they recuperate. By the side of her sick children's bed, she would whisper to God to take her children's pain away from them, and bear it upon her. She is her children's refuge.

She is the most special woman in the world. She is called in many languages, mother, mom, mommy, mama, nanay, inay, inang, nay, iloy, mudra, mamu, madir, maderaka... You can call her by many other names, but she will always be one and the same - a mother who bore the pain of labor for you to be in this world. A mother who took care of you so you find yourself to where you are now.

She deserves more than any gift that your wealth can afford - loving her back. You can never repay whatever she has done for you. Besides, she never asks that from you. A big hug, a kiss, and saying "I love you mom, and thank you mom for your love", sincerely coming from your heart is the best gift this mother's day for the most special woman in the world. If you can't physically be with her, an unexpected call from you is something she is waiting for.

To all moms in this world. Happy mother's day, and thank you for bringing us into this world and in giving us life. Thank you for understanding us, when we do not understand our selves, and when we want to get away from your protection and care because we are lost to feel that love from you. Thank you so much mama, you are a gift in our lives and a blessing unto our world.

How I feel when students fail

Marking a student's course card "R" which means repeat instead of failed, is a moment that really leaves me with a heavy heart. Some could think that I am mean when I fail students. But I never failed any, they earned that for their selves. The modest thing that I could do is to explain to them by showing the records what they have done.

Ethics and professionalism guide me, to keep any grade untouched, unadjusted to accommodate favor to those students who failed. Since there is a higher virtue that keeps me stronger on my stance, I get to feel more secure of my decisions, and I become more conscious of the various implications of this situation to my status as a teacher and as an ordinary social being who feels humanely as possibly required.

Objective as I might have been, still I have to deal with students with failing marks tactfully. One rich kid who failed in the other component of the course, passed in the component I was handling. But his midterm grade was way too low and failing. I saw him tried his best to do what I said for him to pass when he got failing midterm grade. Sadly, he did not do well in the other component. When all grades are in he got a failing mark, which I did not expect.

There were two more athletic scholars who failed under me, but the Sports director only sent me a text message for one of them. That reads: "Good afternoon Mr. Rivera. This is sir G from XXX office. I would like to ask about Student F if she could still pass your subject? Because she wont be able to play if she really fail in your subject." The director sent this message to me twice, because I did not reply first as I felt privileged not to do so.

Running in my mind is a question about what this director thinks of me. I am not market vendor for him to haggle with me. Then, I have no business with him, as he is not my student. I first replied a single word to that message: "NO", thank God it failed to be sent, and I got the chance to give him a more professional response...

"She knows were she fell short, she knows d consequence of her shortcoming, she knows as well how attendance affects fulfillment of requirements 2 pass. Her rounded off grd is 69, due 2 failure in lab. She was made aware of her chances n abscns from midterm. Let her learn focus n priority if she loves sports as student of this school."

The director's reply was brief, "OK sir, thank u." I sure do want all my students to pass, but I can only do so much. And, whatever I may do as a mentor will have no value neither yield positive results when a student does not really put his mind, heart and body to what he or she ought to prioritize. Grades are final marks of achievement, if they are not finalized they are not student's grades for their performance, but a teacher's whims and subjectivities.

A true mentor has a deep sense to make the meaning of education clearer to any student, grades are irrelevant when expected competencies in a course are met by the students. They merely become symbols of achievement and performance. Over extracurricular activities, the learning that students may obtain in the academics are more important than anything. That is, if it teaches them the values and virtues of facing life as learned men and women.

I empathize with my students based on their needs and observable patterns of behavior that needs remediation or intervention. I know what it feels to have a failing grade. I know what it takes to evaluate and measure student's learning performance. I know that my responsibility is not to preclude any student from succeeding and achieving the learning objectives.

I feel slighted when someone of my rank or coming from authority asks me such question of possibility of passing someone whose records show otherwise. I find it more disparaging to transact with other officials seeking favor or asking about chances, and of giving considerations, when everything of those has been done. I have and I always make it straight to my students to challenge their selves to exceed their expectations and mine, and so is to challenge me and my actions if I err so that I may learn too by others-self-rectification.

The True Face of Christianity

Pope John Paul II has been beatified today, a step so soon made towards Sainthood, 6 years after his death. Pope John Paul is the most traveled pope and his charisma is said to have influenced the fall of communism. Ironically, his beatification is set today on Labor day, a much left-leaning celebration.

Pope Benedict said that Blessed John Paul II "restored the true face of Christianity as a religion of hope". In his burial, the crowd who witnessed it, shouted "santo subito" exclaiming sainthood now for John Paul. Only 1 more miracle is being waited by to make John Paul a saint. This beatification to me is symbolic and meaningful, and for each and everyone the Pope had shared his life with. Watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=654_0lrerok&feature=fvsr

I reserve in my heart a pride that twice in my life I have met a "blessed" a "holy" man. The first was in 1981. I was just six years old then when we joined the throngs of people hearing the mass to be celebrated by John Paul II, in the Quirino Grandstand. My mom took me there with her wedding godmother, Lola Penny who was also my mom's spiritual shepherd, along with her two kids.

Because I was small, my mom had to carry me, when Pope John Paul II came in. There was a beautiful image of the Virgen Santo Rosario de La Naval de Manila, that got my attention. I asked my mom, who was that lady. She said, it was "Mama Mary". I asked back, "Does she know me?"

Mama was perhaps startled with my question. Lola Penny answered for her, "Of course hijo, she knows you. She knows every good little boy in the world, and she loves you, just like how Jesus loves all of us." The Pope really didn't matter to me that time, my understanding of the Catholic church's hierarchy would of course come later on in my growing years.

It was perhaps in that first encounter with the Pope that I learned about Mama Mary. I don't have devotion for her like the other religious. But from then on, I'd see my self more involved in the church, first in attending Sunday school and Catechism, then in serving as a choir and lector. I even remember that I won the first Bible quiz bee in the parish when I was 10, beating someone 5 years older than I was.

The second time that my eyes set on Pope John Paul II was in his second visit, during the last day of the World Youth Day in 1995. In the same location, where I first saw the Pope. The event's hymn sings to all that we ought to tell the world of God's love. In this way, I understand John Paul's mission of bringing the people of this world closer to God.

That said, Benedict XVI is right to say that John Paul II showed the true face of Christianity as a religion of hope. It lingers in my thoughts and feelings that beatification of Pope John Paul II ushers hope to the people he met across the world. He is a man of the new world, who kept the fire of faith burning in him and for this world, amidst the exposed errors of bishops and priests, the threats to his life, the fear doom sayers wreak, and the declining number of faithfuls in many other states.

John Paul II, to me is not only blessed, for he has lived his life a saintly life, his is the symbolic face of Christianity as a religion of hope to this world.