Stay The Same

This is my all time favorite inspirational song.

Stay The Same by Joe McIntyre

"Believe in yourself, you will come alive

have faith in what you do

you'll make it through♫♪♫"

A Chance to Star in a Testimonial Video

I received a call from SEAMEO-INNOTECH this afternoon. They are inviting me for a video shoot.

And I was like------- WHAT?! :-O Yeah.. I was really shocked. :-D

Sir Abel told me about their plan to shoot a video of some selected top graduates (I'm blushing hehe) of GURO21 giving their testimonials about the course. It sounds very exciting, but the date of shoot is March 31, which is also our Recognition Day. Our school head is very particular with teachers' attendance when it comes to school's special events. Tomorrow, I will ask her if it's okay to attend the shooting (I'm crossing my finger). But what if she will not allow me... (sigh) A wasted chance to become a star in a testimonial video... But I should  be positive! I know my head will understand. This is just a once in a blue moon opportunity.

Is this the start of my stardom? LOL 

Summer Class Enrolment

Our school will offer summer classes this April to May 2014. This is the announcement poster I layout to inform our community:

Bonding with Philosophers

Tonight I am having a bonding with the great thinkers of the past! 
I have no choice, I can hear their call, they urge me to read their life, accomplishments and contributions in the human kind. It seems that they want me to be become part of their league... LOL!

Yesterday, I bought two books about Philosophy, Philosophy of Man (Towards Perfection) authored by Anna Clarissa Mendoza and Edgar Apolinar and Social Philosophy by Prisciliano Bauzon. I started reading the first book and I would like to share here some of the interesting quotable quotes of the philosophers from the early period, early medieval period and the late medieval period:

"Wisdom begins in wonder" ~ Socrates
"All Politics are morally corrupt" ~ Plato
"Man is by nature a political animal" ~ Aristotle
"Better to have loved and lost, than to ahve never loved at all..."~ St. Augustuine
"If you can find a place where God is not, Go there and sin with impunity"~ St. Anselmn 
"No superior may use a subordinate for his advantage"~ St. Thomas Aquinas
"It is better to be feared than loved"~ Niccolo Machiavelli 
"I think; therefore I am"~ Rene Descartes
"Humanity should be treated as an end and never as a means"~ Immanuel Kant

My goal is to finish these two books before this month ends (I'm crossing my fingers I know I can do it). This means I really need to be more conscious with my time management. I just only have one week to go. 

My Favorite Church Song: Awit ng Isang Alagad

Every time we attend a mass, I am always looking forward to hear this song during communion. The song is about offering one's life to Christ our Lord, to become His servant or disciple. It moves me spiritually. So glad to find this on YouTube. Thanks to the one who made this video - JOELracer. :)




Lyrics:

AWIT NG ISANG ALAGAD
Performed By: Florentine Band
Composed By: Ronald Serran 

Panginoon ko, ang buhay Mong bigay
Ay minsan lang nagdaraan sa akin
Kaya bilang isang  pag-aalay
Ang buhay ko'y ihahandog sa'Yo

Chorus:
Katulad ko, marami ang tinawag Mo
Upang humayo't maglingkod sa Ngalan Mo
Tanging hiling at laging nang dasal
Maging mapalad sanang tanggapin

Turuan Mong maging bukas-palad
At matutong mabuhay ng banal
Kaya't bilang isang pag-aalay
Ang buhay ko'y ihahandog sa'Yo

(Chorus)

Verse:
Tanging pangarap ko, sana'y bigyang daan
Sa landas ko'y hawiin ang buhawi ng gulo
Ang ulap na nagsisilbing dilim sa langit ko
Tunawin at gawing ulan, laan sa buhay kong tigang
Mula sa pagkakasala, ako'y muling ibangon Mo
At umasa Kang maglilingkod sa'Yo

(Verse)

At umasa Ka, at umasa Ka, at umasa Kang maglilingkod sa'Yo

DepEd Modified School Forms

Adoption of Modified School Forms (SFS) for Public Elementary and Secondary Schools Effective End of School Year 2013-2014.

Through the DepEd Order No.. 4, s. 2014 , the Department of Education launched the Modified School Forms (SFS) to be accomplished by schools start and end of every school year. The modified school forms have undergone extensive review, and validation and consultation with end-users and Various levels of the agency. The modification will Allow the teachers to focus on the core business of curriculum delivery. 

From sixteen school forms, it was lessened to only seven school modified forms. Modification or adding of new elements without proper clearance is hereby discouraged. Below is the the matrix of the code and the name of the old school forms, and the seven modified SFS are priority will replace them:

Click to enlarge and see how the old school forms are replaced by modified school forms

Beginning the End of S.Y. 2013-2014, all public schools must use the SF-5 and SF-6, REPLACING Form 18 and 20, and the List of Graduates.

Please download the DepEd order to view the attached sample School Forms. You can download the actual SFS pre-loaded with basic information on learners based on the most recent records available from the Learner Information System (LIS) . You can also download the Excel format of these school forms from the resources of DepEd's Official Website.

To learn more about these schools modified forms, watch the instructional videos by DepEd Following:







Personal Note: I would like to commend the efforts of all the members of School Form Re-Engineering Team who shared their expertise and thoughts in modifying our school forms for the better. It's not yet being implemented 100% but I can foresee how it can save time and effort of teachers and school heads in accomplishing the student information, reports on promotion and proficiency and other school reports. The modified forms are streamlined version of the previous forms, wherein there are some redundancy of data. Through MS Excel, we can link cells to other cells, Therefore we can easily update every information like the Learner Reference Number (LRN). With these simplified forms, we can better focus on our core business which is quality instructional delivery, while the school heads can focus with faculty supervision and coaching. 

# GoEducation
# GoDepEd, Philippines

2014 Graduation Rites Theme

No extravagant attires and venues!
No collection for graduation fees!

Make graduation rites simple and frugal.

To give reverence to the resilience of Filipino spirit and its triumphs over different calamities throughout the school year, DepEd Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro urges all schools to maintain the solemnity of this occasion by remaining prudent and simple. 

For the secretary, the most important thing is to send the message of nationalism, excellence and resilience to every graduate. 

Moreover, DepEd would like to add that holding of JS Promenade, Seniors Ball, Graduation Balls and other closing ceremonies are being discouraged so as to avoid additional financial burden to parents. 

This year's Graduation Theme: "Hindi Natitinag ang Pusong Pilipino." 

For more information please download and read DepEd Order No. 9. s. 2014.


Personal Note: I admire Bro. Armin Luistro's perspectives. He wants to show that we are sympathizing with our fellow countrymen that were affected by those calamities. No doubt that keeping the graduation rites simple will be a great tribute on our triumphs over those devastating calamities, but how simple is simple?  When the students and parents heard about the news that graduates will no longer wear white toga on their graduation day, many reacted negatively. 

For parents, to see their children wear that white toga is symbolical... it means a lot for them... it means that their children successfully surpassed the challenges of the basic education requirements... it means that their children are now ready to face another chapter of their life. 

For students, to wear their white toga also means a lot for them. Graduation is one of their most important milestones in life... their white toga is like a cape awarded to them after years of diligence and perseverance in the academe world. 

I hope Sec. Luistro will also hear the plea of these parents and students about wearing toga. I hope it's just okay with him if some schools will deviate from the order "a little."

Valenzuela City State of Education Address 2014

Valenzuela City Mayor Rexlon Gatchalian is indeed a very vibrant and visionary leader. It seems that he will match or even surpass the achievements of his older brother and former mayor, Congressman Sherwin Gatchalian, when it comes to public service.

Mayor Rex, in his First State of Education Address last January 27, gave a comprehensive review on how Division of Valenzuela performed for the past three years in National Achievement Test (NAT). Armed with his statistics, he made his point clear that the Division is performing inconsistently when it comes to NAT. He said that according to the school heads, the main reason of this was the poor reading foundation of the students/pupils. Grounded on this problem, Mayor Rex shared his vision to improve the quality of education in our city through his "360-Degree" Investment Project.

Watch the video below to learn more about this project.
#MayorRex #EducationChampion

2nd IT Festi-VAL 2014

Last February 28, 2014, the Division of Valenzuela held the 2^nd IT-Festi-VAL, with the theme: “Magandang Kabuhayan Para Sa Kabataan,” at Dalandanan National High School. Nineteen public secondary schools competed for six different contest categories: Web Designing with HTML and CSS; Tarpaulin Designing with Adobe Photoshop; Logo Making with CorelDRAW; PC Assemble and Troubleshooting; I.T. Booth Contest; and Cosplay (Anime) Contest.

The program started at 8:00 in the morning with a kick-off parade/motorcade. A colorful drum and lyre corps made a colorful and spectacular opening number. Dr. Leilanie Mendoza, Education Supervisor/IT Coordinator gave her very inspiring message to all the TLE-ICT teachers and student-participants on how fortunate Valenzuela City was for having a very supportive City Mayor (Mayor Win) in helping DepEd Valenzuela respond to the call of revolutionizing  education through ICT with his WinLab (Computer Laboratories) Grant Project.

Gen. T. de Leon National High School was so fortunate to bag five places out six contests:

·         First Place/Champion in Cosplay (Anime) Contest

·         Third Place in Web Designing with HTML and CSS;

·         Fourth Place in Tarpaulin Designing with Adobe Photoshop;

·         Fourth Place in PC Assemble and Troubleshooting; and

·         Fifth Place in I.T. Booth Contest

Overall, Mrs. Tanfelix, our department head, was so happy that our students performed at their best during the contests. She was also thankful that the trainers did their job seriously in devoting their time and effort to train our student-participants.

On the personal note, I know that for next year’s IT Festi-VAL, we will perform better. How about winning as CHAMPION in all those contest categories? Yeah right… I am dreaming BIG! But anything can happen. Next year, it will be our goal to become the over-all champion of our Division’s IT Festi-VAL.

Here are some of our pics during the awarding ceremony:

We did it! Elton bagged the Third Place in Web Designing Contest

Certificate of Recognition for being one the contest facilitators
with Dr. Leilanie Mendoza

The pack of very dedicated trainers with their
very supportive head teacher, Mrs. Tanfelix (wearing red and green shirt)

The GTDLNHS Delegation for 2nd IT Festi-VAL

March - First Post

Howdy! It’s been a week since I last updated this blog and it’s because of my very tight schedules and so many deadlines. It is during this month that all teachers are preoccupied with a lot of school activities and paper works like class deliberations, quarter examinations, achievement tests, grading sheets, recognition day, graduation day, and completion of school forms.

Now I am starting to wonder if I could keep my promise to update this blog as often as possible. Well, what I can do for now is hope for the best. Sometimes, I dream of having the power to stop the time and do all the things that I need to accomplish. 24 hours a day is not just really enough for me. L

Time management is the trick I need to practice in these moments of overwhelming schedules and paper works. Budget my time wisely, because every second counts… I will see to it that my spare moments will be spent for writing and posting in this blog.

I swear, after all these tasks… I will spend just one day of total self care! J

A Relaxing Scenery from Mines View Park, Baguio City
How about a trip again to Baguio this summer? I am just excited for summer vacation!  ;-)