Call and Answer - BNL

You shall not hurt me again

I woke up at 4:00 am and she was still in my mind.
My eyes drifted to my table to her letter. I don't want to read it again. I know I shouldn't and so I kept my head on my pillow and closed my eyes.
It's amazing how at the same time I realized how self-absorbed she is, I also admitted to myself that no one can replace her. I'll never love the same way again.
So this is how it feels to get my heartbroken repeatedly, pummeled several pieces and when I thought I can nurse my wounds and finally heal, here it goes again.

All she ever thought about is herself. What she needed, what she wanted. What was my sin? I was with her for more than half of my life. How can I forget? How can I move on? The saddest moment was realizing she never

She'll never hurt me again, I vowed to myself. She can't come near my heart again. The bludgeoning stops now.

I got up, went to the bathroom and splashed water on my face. I looked at my eyes, blood shot from crying and my scarlet nose. I have to stand tall from this, I tell myself. There is no other alternative. The proverbial "Sink or Swim".

She never loved me. I just happened to be there for the last ten years to hold her and be with her, but I was deluding myself.

The hurting should stop now, I thought as I cold water from the shower poured on my face. I have to get out of here.

Intermission

Multiplying from now on.

Sayonara!

Think about it...

"Now go, sleep on it, think about it" she said, as I hurriedly stuff everything in my rolling bag. Even student teachers get to be on the behavior chart too, I thought. It's been six weeks of being with little seven-year-olds and it is still an uphill battle.
I imagined myself as a ypimg padwan learner, under the tuteledge of an experienced Jedi master. Last phase and the begining of a new hope.
One thing I didn't take into consideration when I choose teaching as profession is how much my own flaws get magnified to myself and *gasp* whoever else that I encounter. I've learned early on that just as dogs, children can smell fear and ill-preparedness. Yet unlike dogs, children are merciless. Now I've realized their power to stir my emotions by just looking at me.

Think about it, she said. The words still rings in my head. Maybe it wasn't really a rebuke but more a gentle reminder from a caring master to stand still and let the Force permeate my skin and tell me what to do.

For Good - Kristin Chenoweth

Invictus

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

- by William Earnest Henley

__________________

Ah, exquisite! I think this poem is now on the top of my list of favorites.

I just watched the film with the same title and I was struck once again by the unifying effects of sports, especially team sports. I this case, the sport is Rugby and South Africa's victory at the 1995 rugby world cup helped the country in their much needed recovery after abolishment of Apartheid.

In the film, Mandela asked Pienaar, " How do you lead your team?" and Pienaar answered, " By example, sir." Very simple, yet the best answer I think. It wasn't the first thing that came to my mind, I was thinking more in the lines of motivation and inspiration, yet it is true; before we can inspire and motivate as leaders it is best to lead by example and in severe cases, it is also useful to draw upon the example of others.

I saw a great parallel in teaching. As teachers, we are leaders. In these troubled times all the more we should be leading by example as well as employing the examples of others in order to guide our students in becoming good citizens. We are building our nation, one class at a time and what we are doing is similar to what nation builders such as Nelson Mandela did.

Abscond

Abscond - to depart secretly and hide oneself.

Pinakamagandang lalake

I seem to be in an OPM (Original Pinoy Music) mood today because I keep remembering the songs I like from my favorite Filipino Artists! This one I just heard today at SOP. I searched it on youtube and I liked the video as well. The title means "most good looking man (in the world)". It's about how he felt like the most good looking man in the world when he is with a certain girl. It was funny how he invited the most sought after (and most handsome) actors in the country to appear in the video, including his own father.




Yeah....yeah

Wag isipin
Ako'y nagbibiro lamang
At wag sabihin
Ako'y nagyayabang lamang

*
Ngunit di ko na, inakala na
Ang isang tulad mo
Ay iibig sa, isang tulad ko
Akala ko, hanggang panagip na lang

**
Ako na yata ang pinakamagandang lalaki
Sa mundo sa piling mo
Pagkasama kita ang nadarama

Ako na yata ang pinakamagandang lalaki
Sa mundo...

Yeah....yeah

Di malaman, anong nakita mo sa'kin
Di katangkaran at gwapo lamang sa dilim

(Repeat *)

Ako na yata ang pinakamagandang lalaki
Sa mundo sa piling mo
Pagkasama kita iba ang asta

Ako na yata ang pimakamagandang lalaki
Sa mundo...

Yeah......

(Repeat **)

Yeah...yeah...yeah

Urong-Sulong

Ah, another fun little ditty that reminded me of puberty:-) Regine Velasquez is one of those singers who shaped my generation. This song "Urong-Sulong", directly translated means, "backward-forward", is my favorite song of her. It's also one of her early songs. If you will notice the upbeat tone, it's a signature of the late 80's and 90's filipino pop songs that I like so much. Here she talks about someone who is hesitating (hence the backward-forward thing). She also reassures this person/guy that he must not be shy or hesitant because she likes him too.
I'll post the lyrics later!

Maybe!

A little-known fact about me is that I always like Randy Santiago's songs. He is an actor, singer, composer, and got really famous in the 80's when he used to have a show called "Lunch Date" which is like an early prototype of popular noon time shows.
This song "Siguro" (Maybe/Probably) is my favorite because they lyrics are funny. The song is about this guy/person who is asking a girl if she had a fight with her sweetheart/boyfriend. He keeps saying it's probably better if he is her boyfriend. He proposed some suggestions while promoting himself as better than her boyfriend. He does this in his typical funny way.
If you can understand Tagalog, I hope you enjoy the humor of this song. If not, come back in the next few weeks because I might have the translations then:-)