Causerie with Ernani

Causerie with Ernani By: May Reah Pasayloon-Carel

Excellent. Responsible. Natural. Abreast. Noble. Inspiring.

These are some words that may be attributed to this man. His name is based on the play Hernani by Victor Hugo. Just like in a play where one is given time to show on stage, he plays a protagonist in his own life story. He knows that every chapter counts. How he portrays his role spells the difference. Moreover, he also knows the value of time. Unlike in movies, a play does not have ‘take twos.’ Thus, when the spotlight is switched on, he does the best action he could ever do.

Not all persons use their time wisely but at an early age, he spent his time doing profitable work to make more money. He did art work from Grade 5 to 2nd year college. He worked as a tricycle driver when he was in 1st and 2nd year high school and as a factory worker when he was in 3rd year high school. He was asked to design the bulletin boards of his teacher and out of the excess art materials, he made personalized bookmarks. He charged one peso per letter so the longer the name is the bigger is his income. He did all those because since then he is self-driven. He unveiled that he wanted to buy things without asking money from his parents.

He also spends his time investing in others to build better relationships and creating high-quality memories. He sings love songs to his wife, lullabies to his children, and godly hymns for God. As a teacher, he serves as an innovative teacher who advocates technology integration in education. No wonder, he was able to climb the pedestal because he knows how to use his time profitably. He does not use time merely for his own sake, he uses it for the good of his family, his students, the community and for God’s glory.

This man is blessed with a golden voice, a golden heart, and a golden mind. He is one of the ten 2015 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Teacher of the Philippines. He is Ernani S. Fernandez.

Reah Carel: What motivated you to be a teacher? Ernani Fernandez: I am inspired by my teachers to be one of them. I have seen how my teachers at Francisco P. Felix Memorial National High School in Cainta, Rizal applied the best strategies in teaching.

RC: What is your teaching philosophy? EF: My teaching philosophy is just the same with other teachers and that is to give quality education to my students. I am a product of a public school system and I’ve never been enrolled in a private school from elementary to college. But I am still very proud to be a product of public schools and a state university.

RC: How would you like to be remembered as a teacher? EF: I want to be remembered as the Innovative Teacher of Palo National High School because I am an advocate of technology integration in education.

RC: What was the greatest problem you faced as a teacher? EF: The greatest problem I encountered is the teachers who don’t like change. Even if you give them the facility materials and all the ideas for innovation they will still go back and look for possible problems instead of looking for solutions.

RC: What is the meaning of the Metrobank Outstanding Teacher Award for you? EF: This award gives me hope to my family, serves as an inspiration to my fellow teachers, and offers an opportunity to the community.

RC: There are teachers who also deserve recognition. What is your message for them? EF: The most important recognition is from out Almighty which is the blessings He always gives us. If you really have the passion in education, the qualities of being an outstanding teacher will come out. You also try to join the search. Be yourself. Be natural. Let God be the center of all your plans.

A Major Ingredient to be Resilient

Best Output during the Regional Campus Journalism Training for Division Mentors last July 29 to August 1, 2015 at Leyte National High School, Tacloban City


Mise en place!

That is the first instruction given by our instructor in Bread and Pastry Production. It rings a bell to my ears since how it is pronounced gives me a tingling effect.

At first, I thought it was ‘mess and plus’, Deep inside of me I also asked how these two words go together. Our teacher might have read my mind through my eyes because she got a piece of chalk and wrote on the board – MISE EN Place (French) which means prepare or put everything in order.

Aside from learning languages, cooking especially baking occupies a soft spot in my heart (and tummy of course!) That is why, when my fellow teachers told me they will undergo a special training for Bread and Pastry Production, I volunteered to join.

When our teacher said that our first project is a black forest cake, my heart leaped with joy. My mind has a picture of a black and white combination of the cake plus the chocolate chips that are all over it.

The reminder given by our teacher is simple. Prepare everything. It brought me back to the truth that there is no shortcut. If I want to have my output, I have to do step 1.

Mise en place. I have to prepare all necessary tools, equipment and ingredients. Then, it will be easy to do the next steps.

Even in baking, I am reminded about life. That is to take life in a step-by-step process. Most importantly, to be prepared for whatever surprises life may bring us.

Five balls of life

This was written by the CEO of Coca-Cola Brian G. Dyson.

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air.

You name them - Work - Family - Health - Friends - Spirit, and you're keeping all of these in the air.

You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls -- family, health, friends and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life. How?

1. Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.

2. Don't set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.

3. Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.

4. Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of your life.
5. Don't give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

6. Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us together.

7. Don't be afraid to encounter risks It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

8. Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.

9. Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been, but also where you are going.

10. Don't forget that a person's greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.

11. Don't be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.

12. Don't use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved.

Welcome Speech Sample

Colonel Dandridge Malone said and I quote "The very essence of leadership is its purpose. And the purpose of leadership is to accomplish task."

[Enumerate the guests] Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. We are delighted to have you here to participate and share in this Regional Supreme Student Government, Supreme Pupil Government, and Parents, Teachers' Association Forum. Thank you for coming. That many of you travel long distances serves to remind us all just how important our work is.

We are all honored to have all of you today. Your presence is an indication of your commitment as leaders in your school and community. For today's forum, prepare yourself to listen and to learn.

Ob behalf of ____________________, welcome. It's a pleasure to see so many of you here.

Leadership

John Xavier Valdez from Ateneo de Manila High School said and I quote “Leadership is not about power or charisma. It is not social class or distinction. It is not about job experience or education. It is something that transcends age, class, social distinction, gender, even the shape of one’s eyes. Leadership is about influence, nothing more, nothing less. Under this definition, every man, woman, child, in this nation of 90 million is a leader in his own right.

For most of us our concept of leadership is narrow. We are afraid to lead because once we assume the role we are expected to carry out the tasks given. We blame our local, provincial and even national leaders for the miseries that we are experiencing. Why? That’s because we don’t take the responsibility for our actions. Living in this world is not about who is to blame. Living here means being responsible for what we do and taking the consequences of our actions. Doing this is letting the leader within us come out.

We don’t have to stand on stage and use a pulpit so that we will be called a leader. We don’t have to be elected and sit on a designated office so that others will say that we are a leader. Certainly, positions are associated with leadership. But, have you ever noticed that words are not as powerful as actions?

For parents, have you noticed that your child says yes to what you say but actually follows what you do. An alcoholic father once told his son, “My son alcohol is bad for your health. Never indulge yourself with alcohol.” The son said yes. Few months after, the father was asked by the school head to come to her office. The father learned that his son was caught by the guard drinking alcohol with his barkadas. Sounds familiar? This is a common scenario in our town.

For teachers, have you noticed that students follow what you actually show in action? For instance, a teacher wondered why the students always follow her co-teacher. In her case, she always has a hard time of convincing students to pass their project on time. Why? The students were able to observe that this teacher comes to school late and submits requirements late too. Leadership then, is also associated with credibility. Words and actions should go together otherwise the disparity of the two would lead you to nothing.

For students, do you find it hard to convince your group mates to do tasks assigned to you? Let me share with you this actual circumstance. A class president of the last section of a junior class is a shy type person. Since she was chosen by her classmates to be the president, she finds it hard to tell her classmates on what they are supposed to do in their classroom. By and by, she comes to school early, puts her things on her chair, and starts cleaning the room. I told you she is shy thus, she doesn’t say anything. A classmate comes in, this classmate was able to see that their president is sweeping the room. The classmate gets a feather duster and cleans the jalousies. Two male classmates came and saw what’s going on. They got a pail and watered the plants. You see! Leadership is contagious if shown in action.
How many words do we waste then by saying we must do this and that. In the end, we find ourselves exhausted because we have been telling, reprimanding, or giving commands but nothing has ever happened. The question is, have we dared to start doing what we say?

In conclusion, let me borrow the words of Harold S. Geneen, “Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions.”

A blessed day to all of you!



9:16a.m.- 9:50a.m.

Reaching Your Dreams

"Dreams without labors are useless. Labors without dreams are worthless."

(Greetings… mention the important persons present in the affair)

Congratulations for being able to hurdle the challenges for the past years. Now, you are here to receive your diplomas. Four years ago, it was only a dream that you will be able to finish secondary education. Today is the fulfillment of that dream. However, today is not the end. It is only a beginning of another journey.

Now, I’ve got two questions for you to answer. What is your plan for your life in the future? What are the steps you will take to reach that dreamed-of life?

Many times we have big dreams but they remained as dreams because we have not done anything to reach it. Let me share with you the “eagle story”. Perhaps, you already have heard this before but didn’t just pay much attention on how this story is related to our life.

Here it goes… “Once upon a time, there was a large mountainside, where an eagle's nest rested. The eagle's nest contained four large eagle eggs. One day an earthquake rocked the mountain causing one of the eggs to roll down the mountain, to a chicken farm, located in the valley below. The chickens knew that they must protect and care for the eagle's egg, so an old hen volunteered to nature and raise the large egg. One day, the egg hatched and a beautiful eagle was born. Sadly, however, the eagle was raised to be a chicken. Soon, the eagle believed he was nothing more than a chicken.

The eagle loved his home and family, but his spirit cried out for more. While playing a game, on the farm one day, the eagle looked to the skies above and noticed a group of mighty eagles soaring in the skies. "Oh", the eagle cried, "I wish I could soar like those birds". The chickens roared with laughter, "You can not soar with those birds! you are a chicken and chickens do not soar".

The eagle continued staring, at his real family up above, dreaming that he could be with them. Each time, the eagle would let his dreams be known, he was told it couldn't be done and that is what the eagle learned to believe. The eagle, after time, stopped dreaming and continued to live his life like a chicken. Finally, after a long life as a chicken, the eagle passed away.”

The lesson of the story is this: You become what you believe you are. So if you ever dream to become an eagle follow your dreams not the words of a chicken.

At this time you might have asked yourself, what is the relationship of the eagle and my life? Well, you have dreams right? You want to be a teacher, a doctor, a lawyer, a nurse, a policeman, etc… but you know that financially your parents will not be able to support your needs to sustain your dream. Or, in other cases, your parents might be financially capable of supporting you but you have so many fears and you think you might not just be able to make it.

Mary Manin Morrissey said and I quote “You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith.”

I already have given you the first tip to reach your dream. That is, face your fears. In other words, believe in yourself. Second, plan ahead. Think of the process to reach your goal. Third, visualize your steps before going to bed. Did you know when you sleep your brain doesn’t know the difference between reality and fiction? This explains why your dreams can feel so true. It also explains why a nightmare can feel so real. Fourth, strive, fight and stay positive. Your goal cannot be reached in a snap of a finger. Surely, there are obstacles that you will encounter. There will always be people who will work against you. Never be discourages. Just stay positive and focus on being a problem solver. Finally, pray. God is the source of everything. After all, no matter what you do, if God will not bless you, you will never be successful. I know you are familiar with this quote “Do your best and God will do the rest.”

I wish that you will be able to reach the ladder of success. Congratulations once again.



8:30a.m. – 9:00a.m.

Of Sowing and Reaping

Date Written: April 1, 2011
Time: 7:12a.m. - 7:32 a.m.

The Bible states in 2 Corinthians 9:6 "The Point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." It is then very clear that in line with our Christian faith, there is a natural law of sowing and reaping. This law is as clear as the law of gravity. For example, if you plant a mango seed, you do not get an apple. You get a mango. This law applies to anything we do.

Dear students, at the start of the School Year, if you have planted diligence, perseverance and hard work and if you have sustained it, what you will reap are ribbons, medals and certificates. Most importantly, you will reap knowledge and you become a better you.

Today, it is evident that these students with honors are those who reap the fruits of their hard work. Congratulations not just to you but to your parents and teachers also.

Your parents, teachers and I are also very proud of you. For those who were not able to get any award this year, I am giving you the challenge to do better in the upcoming School Year.

Finally, I'd like to ask you these - What kind of fruits would you like to reap in the future? Why don't you start planting the seeds of those fruits today?