Fire Alarm

these titles are sounding like an MMK episode! haha!

Yesterday, a terrible typhoon hit us, and I pray for all those who were affected by it. But Thank You Lord because I was safe in my condo, with food and electricity. I had Jean Grey, Professor X, Wolverine, Cyclops and Storm with me all day. (I decided to watch all the xmen movies because finally I understood it thanks to Xmen First Class)

At 4am this morning, the fire alarm of our condo went off. For someone who takes an hour or so to get out of bed, I was pretty fast when I heard the alarm. I was half awake and half panicking (read: zombie panicking) while the alarm was going off, grabbing my phone, my ipod, my wallet, my passport and a shawl (note the order of importance). I went out and saw all my neighbors in their pjs, pantulog, nighties, daster uy after a year of staying in the condo, we finally meet! We were checking out the other corridors, the hallways, the windows to see whether there was smoke and where it was coming from. We didn't find smoke, but went down anyways. Felt worried for the couple with two little babies both 2y/o below who were rushing outside. Some took the elevator. Ano ba guys. Since Gradeschool we did the fire drill twice a year, and it was always emphasized NEVER TO USE THE FREAKING ELEVATOR WHEN THERE'S FIRE!!!! The rest of us used the stairs, and before we reached the first floor, people were already going up telling us it was just a malfunction.

malfunction.

I couldn't go back to sleep. So I gathered myself first. (you don't know how it feels to wake up half awake and panicking na wala sa sarili. haha) Saw myself in the mirror. grabbed my ipod and wrote down "don't forget to buy nice pajamas and pantulog" next time this happens,  I should be presentable! haha! Then I packed up an emergency bag, I put in clothes and canned food, noodles, a flash light, etc.

Still couldn't go back to sleep. I wasn't as pissed as my neighbors were because of this malfunction. I thought it was a good wake up call for all of us. The fire alarm had to malfunction just so I could start packing an emergency bag, something I should've done a long time ago, even after Ondoy. We should always be prepared guyzzt! Let's not wait for it to happen, and then prepare for it, and wait for it to happen again! (admit it, this is how we roll) I'm not just talking about these emergencies, I am talking about life in general. We're already in the water, do we wait for it to get to a boiling point just so we realize that it's already hot?

nakakaprofound din pala ang pagiging half awake at half panicked. chez.

the right shoulder.

of course i'd like to start with the nega! haha!

Last saturday, while doing a show, I dislocated my right shoulder. I wasn't able to position my arm correctly on the table so my bone went somewhere, and was able to bring the bone back to where it should be after a few seconds. Though after that, my arm went numb, I was flailing my arms around just so i could do the choreography. haha! Until now it still hurts, but I thought that this is probably nothing, and contrary to what everyone has been telling me, i don't need to see the doctor because i believe it'll just heal because i'm a strong girl. HAHAHAHA But today I had to miss the morning class because it really hurt, and just awhile ago, i heard my shoulder click. Now i'm afraid, and yes, I will go see a doctor na. Matigas lang ulo ko. HAHA It got me a bit down today,  maybe also because i was sooo tired (but i love this kind of tired!) from the shows this weekend, and I just wanted a whole day to rest. But i miss my kids, so yes, i shall go to work.

But what i'm feeling more now is how happy I am--- scratch that, i am OVERWHELMED and so ecstatic, and (insert more adjectives here) what have you emotions.

My mom and brother flew in from Iloilo to watch the play, and they super loved it. Mom got teary eyed daw (huhu!), and brother got so eager to read Shakespeare after watching the play. My friend, Pinky, also watched and she looved the play. My friends from ENTA and CMT came to watch last Sunday too, and they loved the play! I'm so happy we've been getting super amazing feedback from our audience. :) I'm so happy (and happy is an understatement, i'm at a loss for a better adjective to describe what exactly i'm feeling now) that I'm part of this production, and I'm so happy with the people I am working with now. I ADMIT, It's all still surreal to me, I still can't believe I'm here and that this is all happening to me. For a split second, was thinking, do i really deserve this? Then again, with all the drama I had to go through, the 'work' I had to work on, I must say I worked hard for this to happen. And if I do really deserve it, then it was all the 'work' paying off. I am just so thankful.

As we enter the last week of our shows, can't help but feel SEPANX!!! HAHAHA (separation anxiety) I can't help it. I will super miss the people most especially! (WAAAAHHH ang lungkot pa nung song na nagpplay ngayon while i write this haha! hulaan!) I have learned a lot extremely, and as my friend Jedyne would say, I have grown. And I am just sooo thankful and happy that I have. I can't believe it's ending so sooon!!!! And while I reminisce on the three weeks we spent putting up this production, and the shows, and the-- everything, argh! SEPANX! It's always like this at the end of every production, and I usually get over it, but this time, I DON'T WANT TO GET OVER IT! hahahahahah

Parang I don't want to go to australia na tuloy. (spoiler alert! sa buhay ko! hahah charot!)

but seriously, i am just so thankful that all this is happening to me, i wish i didn't have to end so soon. thank you for this production that never in a million years would I expect to be a part of (this was just a dream that I was planning to dream on for a long time, it finally happened!), for the people you've surrounded me with (they're awesome people, i can't believe our paths crossed like this!), for letting love find me (hala!!! spoiler! HAHA), and for me becoming a better person.

Thank you Po. :)

and because of all these positive energies and emotions flooding in--- what? i dislocated my right shoulder? when?! It doesn't hurt so much now. :)

I came across this article posted by our principal on facebook.

APIR NA APIR, AGREE KUNG AGREE!!!!!!!! MEYNTEYN!!! ika nga ni @superstarmarian

article from here

If you are a parent, I hope you could get something out of this. Teachers aren't paid well, and we extend hours and hours beyond our work time just to check papers, do grades or make lesson plans to make your child's schooling worthwhile and meaningful. so please cut us some slack. Likewise, if you are an educator, this article is also for us. I understand these parents though, ANAK KO TOH EH! They trust us with their little babies, so we should do our job right.

text in red are my comments, (update: eh wala palang red sa blog ko. haha. basta yung naka parenthesis!) text in bold are stuff i want to emphasize. HAHA

What teachers really want to tell parents

By Ron Clark, Special to CNN

September 6, 2011 -- Updated 1312 GMT (2112 HKT)

Editor's note: Ron Clark, author of "The End of Molasses Classes: Getting Our Kids Unstuck -- 101 Extraordinary Solutions for Parents and Teachers," has been named "American Teacher of the Year" by Disney and was Oprah Winfrey's pick as her "Phenomenal Man." He founded The Ron Clark Academy, which educators from around the world have visited to learn.

(CNN) -- This summer, I met a principal who was recently named as the administrator of the year in her state. She was loved and adored by all, but she told me she was leaving the profession.

I screamed, "You can't leave us," and she quite bluntly replied, "Look, if I get an offer to lead a school system of orphans, I will be all over it, but I just can't deal with parents anymore; they are killing us.

Unfortunately, this sentiment seems to be becoming more and more prevalent. Today, new teachers remain in our profession an average of just 4.5 years, and many of them list "issues with parents" as one of their reasons for throwing in the towel. Word is spreading, and the more negativity teachers receive from parents, the harder it becomes to recruit the best and the brightest out of colleges.

So, what can we do to stem the tide? What do teachers really need parents to understand?

For starters, we are educators, not nannies (APIR!). We are educated professionals who work with kids every day and often see your child in a different light than you do. If we give you advice, don't fight it. Take it, and digest it in the same way you would consider advice from a doctor or lawyer. I have become used to some parents who just don't want to hear anything negative about their child, but sometimes if you're willing to take early warning advice to heart, it can help you head off an issue that could become much greater in the future.

Trust us. (tamuhhhhh!)At times when I tell parents that their child has been a behavior problem, I can almost see the hairs rise on their backs. They are ready to fight and defend their child, and it is exhausting. One of my biggest pet peeves is when I tell a mom something her son did and she turns, looks at him and asks, "Is that true?" Well, of course it's true. I just told you.(Ayaw maniwala?!!) And please don't ask whether a classmate can confirm what happened or whether another teacher might have been present. It only demeans teachers and weakens the partnership between teacher and parent. (APIR ULIT!)

Please quit with all the excuses

And if you really want to help your children be successful, stop making excuses for them. I was talking with a parent and her son about his summer reading assignments. He told me he hadn't started, and I let him know I was extremely disappointed because school starts in two weeks.

His mother chimed in and told me that it had been a horrible summer for them because of family issues they'd been through in July. I said I was so sorry, but I couldn't help but point out that the assignments were given in May. She quickly added that she was allowing her child some "fun time"during the summer before getting back to work in July and that it wasn't his fault the work wasn't complete.

Can you feel my pain? (i feel ya!)

Some parents will make excuses regardless of the situation, and they are raising children who will grow into adults who turn toward excuses and do not create a strong work ethic. (apir na apir, agree kung agree!) If you don't want your child to end up 25 and jobless, sitting on your couch eating potato chips, then stop making excuses for why they aren't succeeding. Instead, focus on finding solutions.

Parents, be a partner instead of a prosecutor

And parents, you know, it's OK for your child to get in trouble sometimes. It builds character and teaches life lessons. (IT'S OKAY? okay?) As teachers, we are vexed by those parents who stand in the way of those lessons; we call them helicopter parents because they want to swoop in and save their child every time something goes wrong. If we give a child a 79 on a project, then that is what the child deserves. Don't set up a time to meet with me to negotiate extra credit for an 80. It's a 79, regardless of whether you think it should be a B+.

This one may be hard to accept, but you shouldn't assume that because your child makes straight A's that he/she is getting a good education. The truth is, a lot of times it's the bad teachers who give the easiest grades, because they know by giving good grades everyone will leave them alone. Parents will say, "My child has a great teacher! He made all A's this year!"

Wow. Come on now. In all honesty, it's usually the best teachers who are giving the lowest grades,(I have the best teachers in Ateneo!!!! alam naaaa) because they are raising expectations. Yet, when your children receive low scores you want to complain and head to the principal's office.

Please, take a step back and get a good look at the landscape. Before you challenge those low grades you feel the teacher has "given" your child, you might need to realize your child "earned" those grades and that the teacher you are complaining about is actually the one that is providing the best education.

And please, be a partner instead of a prosecutor. I had a child cheat on a test, and his parents threatened to call a lawyer because I was labeling him a criminal. I know that sounds crazy, but principals all across the country are telling me that more and more lawyers are accompanying parents for school meetings dealing with their children. (exagg teh!)

Teachers walking on eggshells

I feel so sorry for administrators and teachers these days whose hands are completely tied. In many ways, we live in fear of what will happen next. We walk on eggshells in a watered-down education system where teachers lack the courage to be honest and speak their minds. If they make a slight mistake, it can become a major disaster.

My mom just told me a child at a local school wrote on his face with a permanent marker. The teacher tried to get it off with a wash cloth, and it left a red mark on the side of his face. The parent called the media, and the teacher lost her job. My mom, my very own mother, said, "Can you believe that woman did that?" (GRABEHHHHHHHHH! EXAAAGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GALIT NA AKO!)

I felt hit in the gut. (AKO DIN!)I honestly would have probably tried to get the mark off as well. To think that we might lose our jobs over something so minor is scary. Why would anyone want to enter our profession? If our teachers continue to feel threatened and scared, you will rob our schools of our best and handcuff our efforts to recruit tomorrow's outstanding educators.

Finally, deal with negative situations in a professional manner.

If your child said something happened in the classroom that concerns you, ask to meet with the teacher and approach the situation by saying, "I wanted to let you know something my child said took place in your class, because I know that children can exaggerate and that there are always two sides to every story. I was hoping you could shed some light for me." If you aren't happy with the result, then take your concerns to the principal, but above all else, never talk negatively about a teacher in front of your child. If he knows you don't respect her, he won't either, and that will lead to a whole host of new problems.

We know you love your children. We love them, too. We just ask -- and beg of you -- to trust us, support us and work with the system, not against it. We need you to have our backs, and we need you to give us the respect we deserve. Lift us up and make us feel appreciated, and we will work even harder to give your child the best education possible.

That's a teacher's promise, from me to you.

Bow.