Adieu

Published in An Lantawan, The Official Student Publication of Leyte Normal University, Tacloban City, Philippines Vol. IV No. 2 March 2002

Before we just ignore the time that passed by We just smile, sometimes we quarrel and cry But that was just a funny memory And it is nice to remember, day by day.

I know we are going to part Even if our minds and hearts are hurt I wish I could turn back the past So we will not say goodbye at last.

They say, even if we will not be together Memories that we've shared will be forever Farewell is easy to whisper But for me, farewell is hard to utter.

But I know we could never stop the time Wishing that our journey will be fine Wishing we could reach our destiny Wishing you will not learn to forget me.

Valedictory Address (March 2016)

This was written for MJ on March 26, 2016.

To our honored guest, to our principal ________________________, to our teachers, to our parents, to my fellow graduates, friends, ladies and gentlemen good morning.

Eleanor Roosevelt said and I quote “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Six years ago, my dream to finish elementary started. Every year after that, this dream was nurtured. I believed that one day I will be able to wear a white toga and a white cap paired with black shoes. The fulfillment of that dream is today. This is it - Elementary Graduation Ceremonies.

Looking back, I used to imagine how it feels when this day happens. I imagine how happy I would be but today I experience mixed feelings. Of course, I am very happy but at the same time sad. Happy because one of my dreams is fulfilled. Sad because when I continue my journey that means my classmates and I will not be together. Not all of us will be together in the same classroom. I will not be in Catmon Elementary School anymore. I will have different set of teachers.

Today, I am also thankful. Thank you, Lord for this day. Thank you for the gift of life and intelligence. Today is made possible because of your divine guidance.

Thank you also to my parents. All of my medals and certificates are for you. Without your love and support, I will not be where I am today.

Thank you, my dear teachers. You have molded me into a better person. When I first stepped in our campus, I felt awkward because of the change of environment. As a transferee from a private school I wasn’t used to walking on muddy pathways. Plus, I wasn’t used to using the bolo for gardening. Now, I believe that things really happen for a reason. I appreciate life better because of my experiences here. Muddy pathways and gardening opened my eyes to reality that not all our wishes happen with just a click of a finger.

Thank you, my dear teachers and to my alma mater for teaching us the value of simplicity, perseverance and determination. Thank you also for believing in me. The contests – singing, quiz bee, SPG Mayor and spelling bee which you have asked me to join made taught me to believe in myself.

Thank you my dear classmates and friends. You have made my stay in our school worthwhile. I would like to make special mention to Jonamie, Cyrene and Cyrel. Thank you for the friendship.

Our Graduation Theme says Kabataang Mula sa K to 12, Tagapagdala ng Kaunlaran sa Bansang Pilipinas. Yes, we are our country’s hope. Let us continue our journey in order to reach our dream of finishing a degree so that we will be able to contribute to the development of our beloved nation. In the meantime, let us show our love by taking care of our environment, following rules and regulation, and doing good at school. Let us protect the trust given to us by our elders.

Fellow graduates, the medals, certificates, our grades and diploma are our gifts to our parents and to our teachers but all of these are just icing on a cake. The real gift we can give to them are what we are and what we will become. The icing on a cake plays a vital role to capture the interest of the onlooker but the cake itself is what addresses the persons desire to eat. Let us be persons of substance. Today, we are a successful yield of youth with veracity. May the education we acquired from our alma mater be our foundation of wisdom, knowledge, skills, proper attitude and discipline. May it be that whatever we gain will be for our own good, for the good of others and most especially for God’s glory.

Valedictory Address (March 2015)

This was written for Angel on March 24, 2015 at 6:15a.m.-7:14 a.m.

March 29, 2015. This is the day that the Lord has made! This is a special day because we experience mixed feelings of reminiscing the past, cherishing the present, and looking forward to take the next stage of our academic life. This is also the day when we give due recognition to our parents, teachers and friends.

First, I would like to thank our God Almighty for the gift of life and intelligence. Today will not be possible without His Divine guidance.

Second, thank you Papa Grin and Mama Bebilou. All these medals and certificates are for you. Without your love, support and encouragement, I would not be where I am now today.

To all my teachers, thank you. Your efforts in teaching us will never be forgotten. We started as larva when we enrolled in this school and you have transformed us into butterflies. The process of metamorphosis is not easy because it required rigorous work and sleepless nights. Thank you for letting me join different competitions in school and even up to the regional level. Joining Miss Intrams, MTAP, Science Quiz Bee, Da Math, Oratorical & Journalism contests have brought me to different places like Calubian, Leyte, Kananga, Albuera, Bato and Sogod. Thank you my dear teachers foo all those opportunities. Coupled with them are the memories deposited in our memory banks.

To all my classmates and friends, thank you. I would like to make special mention to JAMPCPJ - Judail, yours truly, Maryflor (even when you are in Cebu already), Chloe, Princess and Joecil. Thank you for the friendship and thank you for being at my side always. And to the rest of my classmates and friends, thank you for making my six years stay at Tabango Central School a meaningful one.

Steve Jobs said "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future..."

Batch 2015, let us connect the dots from the past to the present and up to the future by continuing our studies. We all know that education is education is the passport of a better tomorrow. As the theme for this year states "Saktong Buhay: Sa De-Kalidad na edukasyon pinanday." If we want quality life, then let us get quality education.

GMA's StarStruck TV Program's theme says dream, believe, survive. Let us dream big. Let us believe in ourselves. Let's find ways to survive.

Batch 2015, let us take the challenge to be the best persons we can be. God bless us in our journey.

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.