Writing about Life

Take the 'A' Train

2011-07-21T20:45:00.000-04:00

@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } My very first paying job was in Chicago. After looking for a job at want ads and interviewing daily for a month, I landed one as a research technician at a laboratory located inside Wesley

If Only They Had Montessori Education

2011-04-06T13:49:00.000-04:00

When we listen to how our students are doing in school we hear the following: they can’t read at grade level, they are deficient in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), bullying is pervasive in schools. Looking at our global environment, we read that our actions are destroying the environment. As I reflect on these challenges, I can’t help but say, “If only

The Bible's Four Layers of Wrappings

2011-01-18T07:12:00.000-05:00

The first graders received their own bibles today. It will follow them through the grades. When they reach high school, they will receive another one. To make this moment memorable, considerable care was taken to prepare the gift. The bible was wrapped four times, each wrapping denoting a special significance. With children seated in a circle, each one was

Christmas 2010

2010-12-23T14:33:00.004-05:00

. Holiday greetings to you and your family. May you continue to enjoy blessings, riches, wisdom, power and strength from the Source of all. After nearly two years of renovation to bring the house we purchased up to code, it finally received the final approval from the City of Highland Park. Views of the trees from the front and back windows and the ravine nearby give the country

Phonics with Christmas

2010-12-19T19:53:00.024-05:00

The holiday season brings an assortment of objects and activities. Objects depicting the Nativity story which include - Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, angels, shepherd, a manger, stable, donkey, sheep, star, wise men from the east - can be easily purchased at local department stores. We celebrate the season of love, joy and peace by decorating our homes with evergreen trees

Thanksgiving

2010-11-23T12:06:00.001-05:00

We celebrate our national holiday of Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November. It is associated with the first thanksgiving that our forefathers celebrated with the native Americans after surviving the first year of settlement in the New World. With the help of the Native Americans the first settlers learned how to plant corn or maize, squash and other food crops that easily grow in

Why Johnny Can't Read

2010-10-13T00:38:00.001-04:00

Why can’t Johnny read? He had not been taught to read. He had been taught to look at words and say what the word says. He had been taught to recognize forms and shapes in the same way that you call an elephant, elephant and a dog, a dog by simply recognizing how it looks. Unless someone identifies that word to you, you have no way of decoding what those

Forgiveness

2010-09-06T00:52:00.018-04:00

To forgive - to let things go, to harbor no resentment, to hold no bitterness, to be willing to heal the past and start all over again – these are all easier said than done. We maintain a grudge towards somebody because it is difficult for us to forgive. We replay the event, what one said, what one did to fan our flame of hatred alive. However, once we find it in our heart to forgive, we feel

The A B C's of Life 2

2010-08-22T05:46:00.001-04:00

The ABC’s of Life A accept I accept who I am and I am happy to be just as I am. I am not my brother or my sister, I am me and this is how it’s going to be. I also accept my responsibility and perform it willingly. I accept everyone who comes on my path as fellow travelers in this life’s journey. I am content with who you are as I am content with who I am.

Small Town 4th of July Celebrations

2010-07-05T05:11:00.010-04:00

When we first moved to Glencoe, I wanted to be a part of the town’s 4th of July parade. I did not know how since we had no social connection to the town at that time. We were not part of any organization since we worked in the city of Chicago and all our affiliations were with the city. Aside from working at a Montessori school, my son Mark, 6, and I spent considerable

My Papa, a Renaissance Man

2010-06-19T17:48:00.004-04:00

It is a rare privilege to have warm, caring and talented parents. There was nothing they would not do to help you become the best that you can be. My father, who I call Papa, was known to friends, relatives and the general public as “Yowing.” Riding through town in his jeep, waves of spontaneous cheers from children and grown up’s could be heard saying “Yowing.” The

Music Begins at Home

2010-06-06T18:19:00.001-04:00

Music Begins at Home What a stirring experience to wake up at dawn with the band playing musical selections as it paraded through town heralding the beginning of the town’s fiesta. The band stopped at my grandmother’s house for breakfast. That was the seed of my love for music. The seed was watered when I borrowed my godmother’s toy piano with the

Remembering Mama

2010-05-05T20:13:00.004-04:00

I woke up this morning trying to read a note handed by my mother in my dream. I could not read the message. It looked blurred. As I tried to focus my eyes on the torn paper where about three lines were written, I woke up. Five hours later while waiting for my flight at O’Hare International Airport, I bought a book called, “The Power of Kindness,” by Piero Ferrucci. It is just the

Water, Water Everywhere but not a Drop to Drink

2010-04-26T01:24:00.000-04:00

Water is central to the life of a child in a Montessori environment. One begins with pouring water from one pitcher to another developing hand-eye coordination while experiencing joy in successfully transferring water into the vessel. Practical Life gives the child ample opportunities to use water to care for oneself (washing hands, washing face,

Assertiveness, the Middle Path Between Aggression and Passivity

2010-04-21T05:06:00.003-04:00

My father told me this story. People in India complained to the guru that the snake had been frightening them by blocking their pathway to the market with its slithering, hissing and biting if it gets close enough. The guru talked to the snake telling it to cool down and not frighten the people needlessly. The snake listened. The following week, the guru found

Siete Pasos para ser mas Feliz (Seven Steps in order to be more Happy)

2010-04-04T22:23:00.005-04:00

How to be more Happy. I read my first non-fiction book in Spanish by Dra. Isabel, entitled, “Los siete pasos para ser mas feliz,” “Seven Steps in order to be more Happy.” My message this morning is a brief summary of the important points from this book and my own thoughts on the subject of happiness. Dr. Isabel says that we look for external things to be

The Many Seasons of Hockey

2010-03-06T18:19:00.009-05:00

A farmer knows the many seasons of the field – A season for plowing the earth Sowing the seeds Tending the crops and Harvesting the grains. A boy knows the many seasons of ice hockey

Seven Coats of Paint

2010-02-23T13:02:00.001-05:00

You apply the first coat of paint on the wall. You step back and wonder why you see no color. Someone tells you, “ You have only applied the first coat. Let it dry then apply the second coat and then you will see the color.” Indeed, the color of the paint shows up after the second coat and even shows up brighter with the third. Such is the case

Get at the Root or Cause of Behavior

2010-02-12T15:13:00.002-05:00

I am responding to a question raised by a mother. Q. As a mother of a bright 9 year old girl, what can I do to stop my daughter from stealing and lying to me? I have tried punishing her, taking away privileges and even spanking and nothing seems to be effective. Help. A. When our child lies to us, we usually interpret the behavior as solely the child’s

It's a Small World

2010-01-30T00:38:00.000-05:00

It's a small world It's a world of laughter, a world of tears. It's a world of hopes, it's a world of fears. There’s so much that we share That it's time we're aware it's a small world after all CHORUS: It’s a small world after all It’s a small world after all It’s a

Remembering the Songs of the Fabulous 50's

2010-01-28T21:35:00.001-05:00

While listening to WPBT’s “Songs of the 50’s” program, I was transported back in time to the 50's while I was taking the course on technical drawing at Mapua Institute of Technology. It was my freshman year at the Doroteo Jose campus in 1956. While still struggling with the rudiments of using the T-square, drafting triangles and a

Happy Birthday, Manang Nany

2010-01-28T10:04:00.000-05:00

Happy birthday, Manang, wherever you are. You are missed, specially remembered today on your birthday as I think of you fondly every day. My heart goes out in prayer for you as you continue your journey in the heavenly world. You have been a wonderful sister, mentor, guide and friend to me. I remember how thoughtful you were. You saw me

A Journey

2010-01-23T12:55:00.004-05:00

I don't know where I'm going but I know where I have been. In my life's journey, I collected a few things and put them in this bag. Let's take a look at them. This is where it began (show a flag of the Philippines), the Philippines, the country of my birth. From the sidelines of my early childhood, I watched my father claim victory as the congressman of

My Friend

2010-01-22T20:39:00.002-05:00

I gave the following as a speech at a Toastmaster Humorous Speech Contest. Mr. Toastmaster, Ladies and Gentlemen. I am delighted that you have honored my invitation with your presence to join me on this special occasion. We are gathered here to honor my friend. I take this opportunity to publicly express my deep sense of gratitude for all that he has done for me and

On Meditation

2010-01-21T06:13:00.002-05:00

I will say a word or two on meditation. Someone requested that I address this topic on my blog. Meditation is no longer a big secret as it once used to be. Phil Jackson, while coaching for the Chicago Bulls wrote a book, "Sacred Hoops: Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior." In it he described how he had Michael Jordan and the rest of the players practice meditation. While

Haiti 2010

2010-01-19T22:26:00.000-05:00

About Haiti Words cannot capture the sadness in our hearts as we hear minute by minute, watch pictures frame by frame of the devastation taking place in Haiti, only 90 miles from our shores. We cry, we pray, we scream for help. We give what we can of the little that we have because it is in giving that we feel we are helping our brothers and sisters across the sea. We follow the news, we

On the Occasion of the Grand Opening of Marware Montessori Academy, January 19, 2010

2010-01-19T21:48:00.000-05:00

Bless this house Where children come to grow Nurtured with love, Strengthened by faith, Empowered by the understanding Of the Laws of the Universe. May all know love, Love which is gentleness, kindness, helpfulness. May all experience joy through work and play, Joy which is light, radiance, eternal youth. May every soul find inner peace And make peace with

New Year's Resolution

2010-01-18T09:35:00.000-05:00

To wake up in the morning and thank God for another day of living whatever happens during the day. To count my blessings and bless the task that is at hand as part of God’s plan. To go out of my way to say nice things to my family, to people at work for a job well done, to others for being there as a friend. To determine what has to be done at the moment and then

Life is a Cha Cha Cha

2010-01-17T01:01:00.001-05:00

Sharon Butler and Derek Millman of Dancemasters Studio Cha cha is a dance where you take one step forward, step back in place, shuffle your feet, cha cha cha. Take a step back, step forward in place and shuffle cha cha cha. I might insert a turn and cha cha cha. That’s the dance. Variations to the basic step follow the same pattern, keeping the steps in line with the rhythm

Roles and Rules

2010-01-15T02:45:00.001-05:00

Every day, I refilled the kerosene lamps with kerosene, cleaned the glass chimneys with newspaper and lit them before dark. That was my task. I liked being responsible at the age of eight. I enjoyed watching the flame and playing the role of a light bearer. My grandmother explained her 'home before dark' rule. “You can play anywhere in town when you are free from

Cacao Bean Savings

2010-01-12T12:55:00.001-05:00

If everyone learned from my grandmother about saving, we would have no financial worries. Let me tell the story. My grandmother ran a small store called sari-sari store where she sold meat dishes she cooked and other common household items. She prepared pork adobo, cicharon or pork rind and linat-an, stew seasoned with curry. She made chocolate “candy” for

Developing Attitudes of Helpfulness and Sensitivity to the Needs of Others

2010-01-09T20:00:00.002-05:00

Developing Attitudes of Helpfulness and Sensitivity tto the Needs of Others I will address a follow-up question to the one addressed on January 6th. Q. I wish my young grandchildren to voluntarily be helpful and sensitive to the needs of others. I am sad that they do not have that helping attitude more so than that they do not help me. How can I help them become more helpful to

Feel at Home, Help Out

2010-01-06T23:58:00.002-05:00

Feel at Home, Help Out This is the first blog where I answer a question submitted to me via email (jing13@mac.com). Q. How do you motivate young/teenage children and grandchildren to be more helpful in doing chores around the house? Personally, I do not need their actual help to do the chores, but it bothers me to see young, healthy persons participating in the "good" things

The Rubbing Alcohol Treatment

2010-01-06T01:51:00.001-05:00

The Rubbing Alcohol Treatment My father brought to my attention that when we apply rubbing alcohol on our skin as in a massage, it feels refreshing. The alcohol evaporating on our skin gives a sensation of coolness. We enjoy the process and we keep on applying rubbing alcohol to prolong the pleasant sensation. If we happen to have a cut on our skin,

The Fish and the Ladle

2010-01-05T23:45:00.001-05:00

The Fish and the Ladle When faced with a seemingly improbable situation, one hears the elders remind the youth, ‘Even the ladle meets the fish. ‘ The fish swimming in the ocean somehow ends up in the pot of boiling water in the kitchen, being stirred with a ladle. Under ordinary circumstances, the fish who dwells in the water would not only be so far

Bring a Bag and a Handkerchief

2010-01-02T12:37:00.002-05:00

Bring a Bag and a Handkerchief My grandmother, Mama Iyay, taught me this Philippine proverb which I will first say in Visayan for the sake of the rhyme it gives: Nangayo walay panyo Gitugutan, walay a pustan. Panyo means handkerchief. The first line says, you asked for something but brought no handkerchief. Putos means to wrap. The second line says,

The Crust at the Bottom of the Pot

2009-12-30T21:37:00.002-05:00

The Crust at the Bottom of the Pot There is a term in Visayan (a Philippine dialect), "dukot." This is the crust that forms at the bottom of the pot of cooked rice. This signals that we have come to the bottom of the supply of fluffy, soft, cooked rice. All that is left is the hardened, meshed, dried-up, over-cooked rice. While we are spooning cooked rice from the top, we

Opening Remarks

2009-12-25T02:49:00.001-05:00

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2009 Opening Remarks This is my first posting for my very own blog. I am not sure what direction the postings will take but I have a few ideas: I can report on what's happening in my life, make comments on what's happening, shape my wishes and dreams, paint the picture of what it would look once a problem is solved, post a few ideas of