A Semantic Malfunction

These are just some of the things that reminds me of my teaching life. I guess it all started under the shade of a tree of our church. Under that tree, I was with youngsters of about 11-12 years old and I was teaching them their catechism. When I was in high school, I used to be a catechist in our parish. I will never forget those wonderful years of my life because I felt so happy and complete with what I am doing. During that time I felt as if I have hit the target of what I am supposed to be doing with my life. I thought that I have discovered the gift that remained hidden inside me throughout those years. I have come to the conclusion that teaching must be the right job for me. However in those years of being a catechist, I never thought of myself as a classroom teacher. I have actually imagined myself as a teacher of a different sort, a teacher who stands in the pulpit and preaches the word of God and a teacher who celebrates the mass. I felt that I wanted to be a priest. ...

Allow me to give you 5 reasons why teaching is the best job ever. Here it is: (1)   You'll get tons of workload; (2) you have to smile even in your worst days; (3) you'll meet the most notorious student; (4) you'll have to take on multiple professions; (5) and you have to love even when it already hurts . Ahhh… Ok, that did not sound very optimistic right? But I promise you that if you read further, I might just be able to change your mind and heart about the teaching profession. 1. You'll get tons of workload. One of the main tasks of a teacher is to prepare a learning plan and execute it. He/she has to do it each and every day. At the end of each school day, a teacher has to check mountains of test papers and worse, tons of essays. To make the work even more burdensome, there are other school forms that must be accomplished. But no matter, each carefully prepared lesson plan, each mark and constructive comment on the student's paper, and each data on the ...

A Bosconian will always think of Don Bosco (I am referring to the school, Parish, or Youth Center) as a home. It is our one and true home as a Bosconian. And whether you are a Bosconian from a certain Don Bosco setting and you chanced to visit a different one, you cannot but still feel a sense of kinship. This is an experience of mine in my trips to different Don Bosco settings. I began to wonder why there is always a sense of affinity as I go from one Don Bosco setting to the other. After much careful musings, I think I was able to realize why. Different Don Bosco settings share similar characteristics and it is so effective in forming young people to be good Christians and honest citizens. So my dear friends, you know you're in Don Bosco when… 1. There is a big and open space The reason behind the big and open space is for Bosconians to be able to run, jump, shout, and make noise. Bosconians need a big space so that they can enjoy themselves and enjoy the company o...

The summer season is almost over, and the time has come again to prepare ourselves for the upcoming school year. The previous school years have a lot of things to teach us as students. Now is the time for us once again to start fresh and be a better version of ourselves. Let me give you 5 simple tips to better prepare yourself for the coming school year. 1. Organize your things First and foremost, it is our duty as Bosconians to be the ones accountable for our own things. Although we have our parents to prepare for our stuff, it is not their duty but ours. We should be the ones viewing our checklist of school materials whether we have completed it or not. It is but time that we take some responsibility for ourselves. 2. Mentally prepare yourself Aside from preparing ourselves physically, you have to set your mind that the summer season is almost over. We must avoid a gloomy face because summer is ending. Rather, we must put on a smiling countenance and be optimistic for ...

A Bosconian's identity is always marked with a great devotion to the blessed mother, Mary Help of Christians. It cannot be otherwise because Don Bosco himself did say that a young person who enters a Salesian setting was brought there by no less than the Blessed Mother herself. And as a Bosconian starts to get immersed with the Salesian spirituality, he/she cannot help but to have a deep devotion and love for the Mother Mary. On a personal note, when I was young, I never had a relationship with the Blessed Mother. I never ever had an inkling as to her significance in my life. My thoughts of her bordered only on the statues of her that I see everywhere. When I became a Catechist at the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Paranaque, I think that at that moment, God planted a seed in me which will eventually help me grow a love for Mary. In our shrine's Oratory, we always prayed the rosary every Saturday and we will sing Marian songs. Every time that a feast of Mary...

If you are looking for something different and unique, I think Don Bosco- Canlubang is the right place for you. I do not want to talk anymore about the quality of education that this school has or the great facilities that it already possesses. What I really want to talk about is the character which I think that this school alone has. Let me give you 5 reasons why a young person like you should be a Bosconian. 1. Bosconians are God-Centered. What is the point of having all the knowledge in the world if we Bosconians do not have God in our life. Bosconians are Men and Women who love God and love everything about God. For a Bosconian, God is not someone high up in the air who can't be reached. Rather, God is someone who accompanies us every day in our victories and struggles. For us, it is cool to be friends with Jesus. 2. Bosconians are Socially Responsible. Bosconians do not live in a cloud, but we are rooted to the ground and are vigilant to w...

L-R: Roxas, Duterte, Santiago, Poe, & Binay, the 2016 Presidential Election Candidates On May 9, 2016, I had the chance for the very first time to participate and vote in the Local and National Elections 2016. I had to vote far away from home because I am registered in the modest little town of Mabini, Pangasinan. Apparently, an uncle of mine is running for mayor in that town, and he needs all the support that he can get from his relatives to vote for him. I am happy to say that he was able to win a very close fight against his opponent. I am not at all unsure with my vote for my uncle because I am pretty certain of his character both as a leader of the community and as a father to his children. However, I was quite unsure with my vote for the governor, vice-governor, and all the other candidates for the positions needed for Pangasinan. It is with a heavy heart that I have to vote for people that I do not know. I just had to trust the instinct and advice of my relatives, h...