welcome 2012

i admit there were really moments when i was so silent. there were times i opted not to write anything or shared whatever "bits and bobs" that were going on in my life. when those times come, it doesn't mean i am bidding goodbye to my passion to write. nope! it only means, i am only giving myself a chance to be quiet and lighten up. whether i am happy or otherwise, i just sometimes feel the need to give in to silence and solitude.

well, for those who know me well, i know this is not surprising to you. you know my mood swings. and you know exactly what propels me to write. when you don't see me posting anything on my blogs, it never does signify i have forgotten my inclination to writing. i still write though but in my journal, log or planner. So, for those who do not really know me, better be quiet if you have nothing good to say!

honestly, the year 2011 was really hard. it was in fact the hardest year i have ever experienced in my entire life. it seems that all things in life were mixed up together and have caused so much confusion in my head. i have reached the point of really wanting to say "ENOUGH!" and then lose my sanity. i know this is rude but you see, life was just so unfair. i may not be able to put everything here in detail but really i find my life so unfair. i hope one day, i have all the answers to these questions. i hope in due time, i will have the peace of mind that my heart so desires.

God, i don't ask for anything beyond what i need but even meeting my needs have strained my faith a lot. i have let go and i said i LET GOD but still i saw something was wrong which i just couldn't define. my kids are growing up. they are trying to understand what we are going through but for so many times, it was I, who mostly had a hard time understanding life.

i don't expect for anything. i just want peace and at least make my heart have its share of joy and peace. things had really been strenuous with me and i hope and pray that by 2012, life would be very different and a victorious one!

i choose to fight. i choose to survive. I choose to move on! This is my life and no matter how annoying some people are sometimes, i have no choice but to accept them as they are and choose to change myself for the better.

i am looking forward to a better year in 2012 - at work, family, friends, studies, other things and most especially in spiritual aspect.

I am giving God full control this year and ahead!

happy 2012!

challenged

I woke up this morning feeling light and bright. Nothing compares to the beautiful feeling of being kissed by the sun when you go out in the open. It feels so enchanting to be under the spell of the sun. No matter how cold I feel inside, the touch of the sun’s comforting and reassuring brightness gives me the energy to be productive, more than yesterday’s.

I have been waiting for so many things to come yesterday. A special person’s message, a call from a dear friend, a package I expected to arrive a month ago (LOL), an opportunity I hope could not refuse, my sisters’ reply to my messages, and energy to head on to my research and etcetera, etcetera but none of the above did arrive. But I was still productive though…I have successfully met with my students and had lively discussions with them. I promised that this time, I will be totally different. I will be more focused and determined to achieve something in every endeavor I take. I have realized that some other things can wait…And, well, it pays to wait. I waited; have waited and will keep on waiting for things worth waiting for. Just like last night…

When you await the bliss of the moonlight spills on your head, you would fill the light sensation of the day no matter how dark it is outside… no matter how the clouds covered the beautiful skies, and the rain poured heavily on the peaceful ground, later, somehow, yes later, you would still see a glow of light somewhere and a rainbow peeping down on you from somewhere.With bated breath, I look forward for that light at the end of the tunnel as my best friend chaesa used to say..ah, uncertainties, indeed they are myriads and uncountable and…agonizing!

Summer came and ended like a flash yet the so-many things I had in mind that I wished to do weren’t done as I have anticipated. With all the busy skeds I had during the recently concluded season, I have never realized that it has already been flying, yes, flying away from me...I could only wish that it would break one of its wings so that it stays here longer. But I couldn’t do anything about reality…time flies so fast…

Though I didn't have enough time last summer and obviously I didn't quite enjoy my time off, somehow, I had wodnerful time reflecting on things, life, my future and all of the things that I want to do. Let me tell you... it is a pretty long list and I hope that I will have enough time and energy and money to do everything. Right now, I feel like I just want to travel. I want to venture out and see the world. I talked with my colleagues, Arnold and Cesar about travelling abroad perhaps to Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia in one of our not so-busy days…avail of promo on plane tickets and accommodation.. These plans came about in one of our dinners at izzy’s..we discussed so many things regarding having fun outside work…a real fun, okay? I don’t know if this could ever come true..I have started processing my passport though so that when it happens, voila, I am ready…at the back of my mind though, something is telling me that I am just dreaming but somewhere in my head, a throbbing willfulness that is, strongly hopes that this will materialize after we’re settled with our post graduate program now at Mindanao State University – IIT. Again, at the mention of it, I am having goosebumps and to that effect it feels like I am swirling and twirling and spining round and round...the idea about having to finish my thesis ow in a matter of 3 months makes me super duper dizzy…ROLF!!! God help me, I am certified getting so paranoid now…

The other day,my heart was bleeding for something but thanks to Sir mcbins who called me to join him and sir petz. Mam ces and mam myrna followed after a while. He brought a half-gallon ice cream. I felt so low and down but a cup of ice cream made me feel like a little child who easily forgets his cares… We consumed the icecream and along with it, my burden also melted like heated ice cream. Perfect. See, I have quite learned that I should not fret in life…all I have to do is just give myself a break and feel like a child…Hmmmm…I could still taste the chocolate and mango flavored ice cream…and still hear the echoing laughter of these wonderful people! YAHOO!

What else, I actually allowed myself to have a break last weekend . I joined the rest of my high school batch and attended wawa’s birtdhay party. Everytime the batch meets is like a reunion. I am happy just how these things are falling into place…I love my batch, i love my friends and the camaraderie. Everyone is simply gracious and wonderful!

I don't know what I am going to do today. I think that I am just going to relax some more. But how can I relax with a million thoughts in my head? Even in my sleep I dream about what I am supposed to do. I woke up very early today, say 4am just to start writing but when I started to do so, all the words just slipped off and drowsiness took over. Today, I mean right now, I am thinking of all the things I could write about yet I can't seem to get hold of the right word to start writing. I always end up blogging around and and all these blah blahs…here I go again!!!

One thing I was thinking about for sure is going for a driving practice even without a car yet, and maybe have my own cheapest vehicle one day…. It probably is expensive. Whatever!!! I still think that it would be a fun thing to learn though. Notice how you like to learn something that isn't going to be forced upon you later. You enjoy the freedom of learning and the pleasure of acquiring change. I believe so much in change…Right, things can happen overnight…beyond our imagination…so in all that I do I hope to make things right and face the challenge in life squarely and boldy… According to Cesar, my colleague and friend, what challenge there is to fight the beatable foe; to dream the possible dream; or even reach the reachable star? With that I pause and say, if that’s the case, life could be SO MUCH BORING…so thank you GOD for allowing trials; thank you God for all the challenges that I have to face; and thank you God for making my life so beautiful and colorful. Indeed, nothing compares to the beauty of life when it is spiced up with obstacles and circumstances as these make life more worth fighting and living for!

having a good family relationship

It’s human nature to feel socially wanted. It is the nature of man to have the sense of belonging and the desire to love and to be loved. This need is part of the basic needs of man for survival. Accordingly, no man is an island. This saying suggests that man, by nature really needs someone to talk to, confide with, and share life with. Just like the other basic needs of man, social interaction which makes up the social life of man is an important tool to building good relationship.

When we talk about family relationship, we do not only refer to the parents and children relationship but it also comprises the connection it has to those around them. In other words, a family relationship is a springboard and a connection to any other relationships. It means that if one relationship is a failure, it follows that another relationship may not work out as well. And if family relationship is good, so is the relationship of these members to other people outside the family.

Accordingly, a family is the smallest unit in the society. Without a family, building a society would be impossible. Politicians and other government officials are nothing without the family that binds every single entity in the society. It is the family that interacts, builds, socializes, patronizes and makes the society a harmonious and a beautiful place to live on. That is why it is called a society because it refers to people and their role in it. Now, the family plays a very significant role in the society not only because it procreates, interacts and multiplies, but more so, the family is the important cast of characters in the drama of life. They make and unmake issues in the society.

Because family is important, it becomes the central point or the very focus of scrutiny. Too much is expected of a family and most importantly, the basic pattern of social interaction largely depends on family relationship and interaction. Most often than not, a child’s behaviour is always attributed to how he / she is being raised in a family. The behaviour of a child is most often a reflection of how he is being reared in his home. He is mainly influenced by his parents’ and siblings’ attitudes and behaviours. So, if something is wrong in the family, it will always show in a child’s performance and attitudes towards other people. The pattern of social interaction is seemingly distorted thus needing to be addressed. However, if a child is raised in a very loving and happy family, the child grows emotionally healthy and socially capable. He is very sociable and shares a peace-loving countenance thus creating harmonious relationships with other people around him may it be in school, workplace, or even with the neighbours. This is why the government is very keen to addressing family problems and making it as the focus of their programs so as to build a society that is united, peaceful, harmonious and loving.

The question now is how do we attain good family relationship? Communication is an important element that sometimes is overlooked in the family. Too much familiarity oftentimes causes communication gap and eventually leads to misunderstanding and broken homes. The principle is always and the same. We need to open up and share our thoughts and emotions with our loved ones, with our family, more specifically so as to attain understanding and harmonious relationships. According to Isagani Cruz; “we cannot give what we do not have”. This statement posits that if we don’t have a good relationship with our own family, how can we even better our relationships with other people? It certainly takes a lot of effort to be able to do so. If we do not possess love for our family, if we do not care for our very own wife, husband, siblings, brothers, sisters, how much harder would it be for us to love others? The saying “blood is thicker than water” is always true in this sense. No matter how irresponsible our husbands are, how ugly and unattractive our wives be, no matter how immature and bully our siblings are, we have to accept and love them because they are us and we are them. The principle goes this way, “I am a reflection of my family “in the same way that “my family is a reflection of me”.

Moreover, the Bible is very straightforward about giving instructions to husbands, wives and children. The Bible says, “husbands love your wives”, means husbands should not treat wives as helpers and simply as their better half but his “total person”. It means to say, husband cannot exist without the other and so it goes the same with the wife. The Bible also says, “wives submit to your husbands” do not mean you follow everything he says and tells you even if it means destroying your reputation and your family. Submission means giving in to his headship in the family, not overpowering but clinging on to his plans. But to the husbands, it does not mean, not listening to the wives’ voices and plans. It simply means give each other a chance to be heard. It’s tough, and it is indeed a taxing responsibility. But very fulfilling indeed. After all, it is what we have sought for in marriage, we want a harmonious and peaceful family, so there’s no other option but to follow what the Bible has to say. Further, the Bible also says, “children obey your parents…” and “honour your father and mother…” These are both found in the Holy Scriptures in the Apostle Paul’s letter as well as in the Ten Commandments. If we intend to have a longer and beautiful life, we ought to follow this rule. As to our siblings, didn’t God ask Cain where Abel was after he slew him? And Cain deliberately denied by asking “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Obviously, God made it clear that He wants us to care for our own brothers and sisters. And once we do that, we are guaranteed of a beautiful relationship with other people. Say, a perfect friendship like Jonathan and David; a beautiful in-laws relationship just like Naomi and Ruth as well as a beautiful husband-wife relationship just like Boaz and Ruth. More examples can be gleaned from the Bible that will tell us how important good family relationship is to God and of course to humanity.

The question is how? As a college teacher, I believe so much in the power of communication. I believe all we have to do is communicate effectively. Make sure understand and you are udnerstood. If there are problems and ways we don’t like from any of our family members, then speak up. We need to learn to share and open up. There’s no better solution than to tell the problem straight to the one concerned so that it can be properly addressed.

I have thought of some important ingredients to having a good family relationship and these are:
1. Values: respect and helpfulness, trust and honesty, obedience and acceptance, fidelity and faithfulness, forgiveness and generosity, understanding and love.
2. Learn to submit, learn to give way, and learn to listen. Know when to talk and when to keep quiet. Learn to be generous not only materially but also be generous with your time. Spend quality time with your family.
3. Share. Laugh and cry with them. Share your deepest concerns and secrets with them. Go out and have fun with them just like the old times when you were still boyfriends and girlfriends or when you were still kids.
4. Do activities together. Go to church together, pray together, go to the beach, watch movies together, share the old jokes, sing, dance or jog with them.
5. Make God as the center of your family.

Remember, even if you do all these, man in his limitations will be exhausted at the end of the day so that doing all these things or maintaining all these acts would be taxing. Sometimes, we tend to flare up, get angry and run short of patience and understanding. We have little energy left for our children to work with their projects and assignments or too occupied with our own problems that we tend to ignore our partner or sibling’s little qualms. This is human nature. But God’s nature is different. He never runs out of resources so that when we fall short in doing these for the family, we need God’s sustaining grace.

In short, the ultimate source of a harmonious family relationship is God. Once we allow Him to dwell in the midst of the family or allow Him to be the center in the family, all these other things will just flow and follow. Unless we have beautiful relationship with the author of marriage who is God, the best lover, our bestfriend, Heavenly Father, our faithful brother, only then can we attain the truest meaning of good family relationship.

managing a challenged life

let me tell you that what i am going through right now with my masteral studies is not easy. probably, if this opportunity happened 10 years ago, i would have probably been more productive. today, i see it nothing more but just a compliance to the school's requirement for vertical alignment.

it took me three years to finish my first masteral degree. it was also like beating myself hard and cracking my nutshell just to be able to make it. with 2 kids to attend to, a "special" father to take care of, a husband to think of who seemed not to understand my plight, a very demanding job (lots of IG's to make or revise), and all other little concerns but no matter how little they were have in a way effect to my studies.

it was like passing through a needle's eye when i graduated from my Master of Arts in Education, major in English. it was no wonder that in between thesis writing and proposal defense i had so many hyperventilation attacks, suffered vertigo, i tuned insomniac, and worst migraine became a constant company and some stress-related symptoms surfaced in my feet. it was embarrassing that i had to go to my doctor for over-breathing only to be asked to breathe in using a paper bag. it was kindda funny but cute and i learned from it. the next time my hv attacked, i did the therapy by myself. i suppose it went that way for almost the entire school year. most unforgettable of all, was spending new year's eve at Capitol University Medical Center. I was confined after christmas due to extreme stress caused by following hectic class skeds, involving in school christmas activities and beating my proposal defense. every single activity was successfully attained but my health gave in. i was admitted in a suite room, with extra superb privacy (i have always dreamed and wanted , the hot and cold shower, multi-channeled tv, refrigerator, a space for the kids to loiter around...perfect amenities for a hotel room but definitely for a woman who thought was dying at that time, these could never be enjoyed as much as appreciated.

now, i am seeing this again as another experience i think i have already gone through. however, this is tougher and more pressured than ever. the exams are strenuous, requirements are heavy and time-consuming, professors are really up on their standards and we keep our toes on tiptoe to catch up with them. we have to finish though by hook or by crook. we still have along way to go. i guess, the idea about not marching on graduation this march has already sunk in to our system that we never thought about it anymore. what we are up to now is to pass the comprehensive exams, proceed with the thesis writing which most of us are now into data gathering. hopefully by first week of march 2010, we should be ready for the final defense then. then off to final revision and book binding.

So, with or without graduation, even if we will not be marching down the graduation aisle, even if we will not be wearing our academic gowns, we are still optimistic that we will really finish our thesis and submit it before summer.

we are looking forward to be free from all these hassles by summer so that at least we can concentrate with our work at the same time enjoy the luxury that summer time offers. hoping to go somewhere else (that somewhere still i don't know where, LOL) where i can be alone and gather myself back (as if i am really shattered)...honestly, i am too tired and burn-out that i wanted to let go of this surmounting agony i am feeling inside. just don't know how. God knows i am too weak emotionally and physically right now.

and maybe, part of the long-range plan is to enroll (again, LOL) in our doctoral program, if not at MSU-IIT, the rest of the guys are considering Cebu Normal University (CNU)...let's just see what will happen then. well, my concerns for now aside from maels, are my kids. whew!

i had a bad start of the year. my kids got sick. apple went through neurological check and medication for polyposis and thanks God she is now recovering especially from migraine. we went to an ophthalmologist, she was advised for a new eyeglasses due to astigmatism. her vision is still fair with 20/25 but she still needs to wear her glasses for protection and prevention. few days later, while apple was still on medication, red had fever and later was found out to have german measles. i brought him to his pedia for proper medication. since gm is a viral illness, the doctor advised him to be confined for isolation to avoid contamination. however, due to financial constraints and considering i have my classes i could not set aside, i opted not to admit him to the hospital which the doctor approved with the following condition that red had to be taken to the hospital on the following dates given for check up.this was also for the purpose of preventing possible complications. it was really tough spending few hours sleep just to attend to the little boy's qualms. again God, our Jehovah Rapha and Jehovah Jireh provided healing and provided our needs for the kids.

never ending suffering. never - ending sacrifices...never ending trials and challenges...but all of these are nothing because i serve an INFINITE GOD who sees and understands, who supplies and makes everything under control.

one day to go and i will have my last exam for maels, then the rest will be agony in waiting for the result. What will I do without YOU Lord.

i live in YOUR sustaining grace and mercy.

Life is precarious

Life is precarious. It is indeed changing. Well, an old adage says, “change is the only constant thing in this world”, everything else is changing. From his perception down to his beliefs, outlooks and emotions, man is changing. Well they say that there is no other way but up and once you are up there, you go can’t go higher than up because it’s the ultimate destination. And while we are still battling with .life, with everyday challenges, and circumstances, we can’t do away with the fickleness of our hearts and mind. We can’t deny the issue on decision making, on weighing things out, on picking the right choices. Whatever. We tend to sway, and drift away from our stand because foremost the human heart is above all deceitful. We are supposed to guard our hearts in everything that we do.

I have a very relevant experience to life’s precariousness. I know there have been choices and decisions in my life which have total effects to the person that I am now today. And I am aware that there is SOMEONE greater than I am who is in control of all these happenings. But I wonder why, despite HIS being there with us all the time, man fails? Human err? People commit mistakes? Why can’t we just be perfect? No matter how hard we try, we can’t just be perfect!

I figure out there can be no other way to make things perfect for us but to LET GO and LET GOD. I could never forget how my life used to be. I was such a happy, carefree, laughing girl but inside I was grieving, searching and empty. When I started going with friends, I saw the difference in life. I saw how people should be treated. Fair enough if you got the money and the looks but sorry if you have nothing to show off for rejection would be your best friend. I felt that. I grew up trying to make myself loved and accepted but I always found myself sulking in my pillow, soaking it with tears, demanding for an answer to every question. Until I fell in love, got hurt and fell out of love. I trusted no one and not even myself. Then I got myself hooked into believing that there is really no hope for me. One day, I chose the road less travelled. I went to a Christian seminary, where I found myself. The many questions were answered and wrong beliefs were corrected. Yet somehow, I was still seeing some loopholes and I couldn’t seem to understand the purpose of my being. Life was so perfectly imperfect.

However, it was in that imperfection that I have learned to come and understand that God allowed these imperfections for me to need Him. He wanted to make me feel the emptiness so I would let HIM fill in the void inside; he let me see my weaknesses for me to need His strength.

I was lost. And He found me. I drifted but he kept holding me. I ran away like a prodigal daughter but he brought me home again. Again and again, I stumble and fall but he is always my Savior. So, no matter how precarious life could get with me, I know that God’s steadfast love is more than able to keep me holding still to His saving grace and love.

Life: a matter of chance or choice?

Is life a matter of choice or chance? Is it a decision or destiny? All at once, we know just what to answer. And we are too good at justifying things. We give our reasons but which reasons are sometimes not reasonable enough. Or maybe sometimes, we give reasons which “reasons” itself does not know. We answer hypothetically, mathematically, theoretically, biblically and sometimes even ridiculously! We know, deep in our hearts the real answer to this question. However we allow ourselves to be influenced by our thoughts, our experiences, our beliefs and our ideals!
Observe how one of my students, a mechanical engineering student named Harold Rotor, answered this question in an essay i asked them to submit in my reading class. He wrote and I quote:

“Life is not a matter of chance but a matter of choice. It is the effect of what we did in the past. Destiny maybe compared to the algebraic equation Y=CX. Destiny is not constant (C). It is the Y or the independent variable. Y depends on the X, where X is the input. When X is small, the Y will also give a small value and when the X is big then Y will also give a big value.
The value of Y may also be positive or negative. When x is negative the Y will also turn out to be negative and when the X is positive the Y will also turn out to be positive. The principle is the same with destiny. The result maybe big or less, good or bad depending on our input. It may always necessarily be instant but surely it will happen as it should be.
Life on the other hand is a condition or course of living. Our existence in this world is life itself. A person is said to have a life when he/she still has the capacity to breathe.”

Mr. Rotor asserts that life and destiny are interrelated. Destiny is how we live our life. His life and destiny lies entirely on him. He believes that there is a God who has the authority in every individual, as well as believes that God gave us the freewill. He gave us the mind to decide on our own. God’s authority is like the traffic enforcer. He gives us the right way and the right timing but it depends on us whether we follow directions or not. But most often than not, human as we are, we tend to disobey traffic rules and so as disobey God. But then again HE is still there to watch over us. HE may sometimes use methods that we think are incomprehensible to human thoughts but surely God does not do anything that would totally harm us. HE always has the purpose for everything. We just have to follow the right direction, that is, wait for the right time and the right way to go.


Here's what I got from this site on what destiny is all about: http://www.akgupta.com/Thoughts/destiny.htm

"One of the greatest and everlasting debates of humanity has been about the role of destiny in the lives of human beings. There was a time when it was almost an accepted fact of life that each and every event was governed by destiny of human beings. Astrology was considered a science. Then with the advent of modern times the importance of role of destiny as a concept started losing weight. Today, belief in destiny is considered a superstition by majority of people. And rightly so, since there seems to be no evidence for the irrevocability of destiny.

There are three schools of thoughts about fate. The most prevalent these days seems to be the one which says that there is nothing called destiny or fate. This line of thinking says that human beings do possess free will. All our successes, failures and actions are governed by the decisions we take. If we take correct decisions and act accordingly, no one can prevent us from achieving what we want to. If we fail, it must be due to something wrong on our part. We have the option to take decisions using our free will. In this line of thinking, fate is considered a superstition at worst and at best one can regard it as a psychological defense system to cope with the failures in life. Whenever you fail in some endeavor or whenever something happens which is not in accordance of your wish, you use it as a convenient scapegoat. You say, it was your bad luck which caused you to fail. Otherwise, how could you fail? You are never ready to accept that it was you who was responsible for the failure. It may have been due to some bad planning, lack of efforts in the right direction or outright failure to correctly judge the realities of your goal. But since it hurts to accept that you were the one who committed the mistake, you take shelter behind the concept of fate and blame it on your karma. This relieves you of the terrible pain of knowing and accepting the defeat."

Well, what then is life to you? A choice? a chance? a destiny? fate? Whatever your answer to that question is, let us reflect to the ultimate truth, the Bible, which provides a wonderful promise and assurance about God's beautiful purpose and plans for our life. His plans are great. He plans a good future ahead of us... He tells us that our existence has a purpose but it's all up to us how to make this purpose in us be realized. His Word says, (in GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)"I know the plans that I have for you," declares the LORD. "They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope."

Then, Let's choose to hope in HIM, for nothing compares to a future filled with hope. It is said that "Life with Christ is an endless hope, without HIM , a hopeless end..."(anonymous)

drawing back the curtains of yesterdays

I don’t know how to start sharing my story but let me do it in my own simple way. From the very start God has placed this unexplainable inspiration in our hearts. He has inspired us with one loving and God-fearing mother and a hardworking and very supportive father.

I was born to a very God-fearing mother in 1973. I had 5 other older siblings and one younger sister. My parents were farmers and we lived in the farm somewhere in a remote barangay in Bukidnon where we owned a small farm lot. According to my older sisters and brother, life was so simple way back then. We were raised the Christian way and were even named after Biblical names and religious characters (Emmanuel, Loida, Leah, Naomi, Meriam, Dorcas {that’s me}, and Joan {Joan of arc}). Mother nurtured us in God’s words. My father was a sympathizer then. I could just say how blessed we are to have a mother who had the heart for God and His word. She was really a woman of God.

One fateful day came in our life unexpectedly. Our father who was only 37 years old had a stroke attack due to hypertension and was confined at the hospital. I was just barely 4 years old that time so I couldn’t exactly remember what happened. The next thing I knew we were already moving from our old house in Bukidnon to Cagayan de Oro City. Accordingly, the doctor said my father’s condition was a helpless case. We were just throwing our money. Back then, our little assets in the farm were sold and leased. There was nothing left for us but the family (siblings and our mother) holding on to our faith that God will make a miracle and heal our father. Father was totally bedridden. He was fed through a feeding tube and discharged his fluid and waste through a catheter. His eyes were all white and mouth was tightly closed. He looked limp and lifeless. Because of financial problem and the doctors’ statement regarding my father’s condition, we discharged him from the hospital and brought him to the city where we built a small hut at the cliff side of a mango plantation in the outskirts of the city. We had to pay the monthly lot rental. Since the oldest was only 15 that time and my other siblings were 13, 11, 8, 6, and youngest was 1 year old and 8 months (I was 4 then), my sisters did not know what to do with our life. But they helped mother the best way they could in earning money for our daily sustenance. Mother went to do laundry, sell peanuts, vegetables, balut and penoy, and other pinoy specialty (puto, kutsinta, suman etc) which she had only as consignment. My sisters would take turn in attending to our father while the rest would help mother do the laundry and ironing or vending.

We went to a born again Christian church (Pentecostal Church of God) whose members were so accommodating and loving. They took care of us and helped us in many ways as well as prayed for and with us. Mother was a faithful servant of God, prayerful, soul-winner and an active deacon in the church. She did not make poverty as an excuse for her going or not going to church. Her love and faith for God was extraordinary. As a young girl and who was always at home, I was always tagged along in her Bible studies and other fellowships with her, including in her vending. My other sisters took turn in going to school. While the other sister was in college, one had to stop and work as a housemaid of a Chinese family just to be able to help. One sister named Leah did not go to school for 11 years. She was the one who personally took care of our father when mother was not around. She would bathe him, change him, and feed him. She was only able to attend first day of class in her freshman year but after 2 weeks she stopped and decided to attend to our father instead. It was only after our oldest sister Loida graduated in college and started her teaching job, that she was able to go back to school but this time, not as freshman student but as college student. She passed the acceleration exam and was automatically moved to enroll in college. The eldest brother (only son) Emmanuel, did not have much time at home as he spent most of his teenage and bachelor’s life away from home as a working student. He lived in the school where he graduated mechanical engineering after years of toil and labor.

Mother was a faithful giver too. There were times I asked her to buy bread because we were hungry; she told me she had nothing to buy. I told her I saw money inserted in her bible; she said we can’t touch it because it was her tithes. At first I did not understand that but every time I see all God has blessed us with, I could only say God is real and would silently say thanks to Mama for that legacy of faith in God and generosity to others. She had the heart of a servant. She was always willing to help others. Despite her being busy in the church and activities, she always had time for papa. She would take him for a jogging at the sports center or brisk walking along the highway. Mama was so proud of Papa and we have seen how much she took care of him. Her love for him was genuine and sacrificial as papa would sometimes act like a baby. He had the tendency to hurt us as his way of getting our attention.

The most amazing thing that has happened to us is that father got better and has recovered physically from his stroke. It was mother who always massaged him every night and early morning before she left for work. Until one day we were all surprised that papa could already walk and eat by himself and finally could start talking. He started to remember things. Although he could not remember everything but who would have thought that he would still live and survive and much more, recover with no medication anymore? It was all because of God’s divine miracle. My sisters were all active youth leaders and so am I. we were involved in mission and church work. Each of us had our own family now except our youngest and still celebrating the faithfulness of GOD IN OUR LIVES. He has been blessing us all the way not necessarily in material aspect but most importantly, spiritually.

In 2001, our beloved mother went ahead to her creator. It left so much sadness for us because we miss her but definitely not sorrow because we are happy that she’s finally home. It has been 31 years already since that fateful night happened, and now I am 35, I enjoy taking care of my father. He is now 70 years old. Still healthy, active and I just thank God for all that He has blessed us with. In return we also want to bless others through this testimony that God will never leave us nor forsake us. In Papa’s disability, our divine Father is just ever loving, generous, faithful and true.

The Solid Foundation

"Life with Christ is an endless hope; without Him a hopeless end." – Unknown

The Holy Scriptures talk about our life being likened to a house which in some instances, some homes are built with strong foundation thus were meant to last while some crumble easily when strong winds blow or are drifted away when flash floods come unexpectedly. Accordingly, the ultimate "difference is not in the severity of the storm but in the quality of the foundation upon which the structure is built." (Kenneth Osbeck)

Once we build our house with quality foundation, we are rest assured that no matter =how strong the tempest may be, or how wild the wind blows, it will stand still because of its strong foundation. and so with our life, once we lay our life in Jesus Christ alone, our strongest foundation, no storm so strong, wind so wild, flood so high and deep could ever shake us because we have HIM in our hearts and we are safe in HIS HANDS. Trust no one but God alone!

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11)

on the wing on life's plight

Awesome MySpace Comments & Myspace Layouts

Every time I look at the tapestry of a butterfly, I look at it as a metaphor of myself, how I have been fighting and struggling in life and allowing myself to be blown away by the breeze of time. I flutter my wings wherever the wind ushers me to but I land on beautiful flowers in a garden called serenity where I get my nectar of strength so as when the next blow of the unpredictable winds of time come, I will be swaying beautifully and gracefully with it with neither fear nor angst.

Everyday, I see myself transforming into different colors and I have learned to love every bit of life there is in it. I add each hue to my existence to be able to create a perfect and amazing portrait of God’s masterpiece…

If given a chance to see in three days

Have you ever heard or come across the name Helen Keller, the woman who became blind at an early age but never lost hope of seeing the world?

She has often thought it would be a blessing if every human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time. According to her, darkness perhaps would make her more appreciative of sight and silence and would teach her the joys of sound.

If she got so much pleasure from mere touch, how much more beauty must be revealed by sight? If given three days to use her eyesight, she wished to divide the period in three days. On the first day she would want to see the people whose generosity and companionship had made her life worth living. She would like to see into their hearts true friendship. How many of those whose eyes are normal can see the inner nature of a friend? Isn’t it true that most of those seeing people grasp casually the outward features of a face and let it go at that?

Then she would feast her eyes on the face of a baby; so she could visualize the innocent beauty which presides the person’s consciousness of the conflicts which life develops. Then Helen should like to see the books which had been read to her and which had revealed to her the deepest mysteries of human life.

In the afternoon, she would like to take a long walk in the woods and see the beauties of the world of nature, and glorify the splendor of the colorful sunset.

On the second day, she wishes to arise with the dawn and see for herself the exciting miracle by which night is transformed into day. This day she would like to go to the museum to get a glimpse of the past of the past and present world, especially the art museum. The paintings of Michelangelo, Picasso, and other great world painters would surely amuse her. Artists used to tell her that for a deep and true appreciation of art one must educate the eyes.

In the evening of the second day, she would like to spend at a theatre or at the movies. How she should like to see Hamlet staged, Pavlova Pirovette in her light fantastic toes. How wonderful to see grace in motion.

On the third day, she would like to spend in a workaday world, a world where men do brisk business. The city becomes her destination. Helen would stand in a busy corner merely looking at people. When they smile, she is happy; when they are determined, she is proud; and when she sees sufferings, she is compassionate. At a later time, she would make a tour of the city – to the slums, to factories, to parks where children play. Always, her eyes will be opened wide to all sights of both happiness and misery; so that she may probe deep and add understanding of how people work and live.

On the night of the third day, Helen would like to engage in many serious pursuits. 0of course, in those three short days she could not have seen all she wanted to see. Only when darkness had again come should she realize how much she had left and seen.

She gives one piece of advice to those who see: “Use your eyes as if tomorrow you would be stricken blind”. But of all senses, to her, sight must be the most delightful. (taken from previous class readings/topics)

Questions: To my "Reading Students", have fun reading and exploring and most of all have fun answering the following questions too. Copy the questions please. See you around.

1. What is being talked about in this essay?
2. Who is being referred to in the title?
3. Accordingly, the sight is the most delighful of all senses. Why?
4. If you were depived of sight and given chance to see in 3 hours, what is the most
important thing would you like to see? Why?
5. How will you descibe the following things to somebody blind?
a. the color red, blue, yellow, green, white, black (choose only one color
to describe)
b. the environment
c. yourself


"Prof. D"

Letting Go

Why it is always easy to get hold of something yet hard to let go of it? Why the hardest part of one’s life is letting go of something or somebody that is so special and treasured? Just imagine ourselves like a little child who holds his kite securely and tightly as it sways and flies in the wide blue skies when we tighten our grip on the things we don’t want to lose. We make sure it doesn’t slip off our hands. Then when it slips off and fly away, we cry so hard like a helpless child who doesn’t want a new kite but the one he just lost. Isn’t it funny? We want to run after it. Fly if we must just to catch up with the “lost kite” in us. It’s frustrating, isn’t it? With just one loss, we end up decimated and find it hard to get back and start all over again.

Why is that so? It is simply because we don’t want to let go of whatever we are holding and whatever we are comfortable with. We don’t want to start anew and find a fresh beginning. In short, we are scared of “change” hence, resistant to it.

Indeed, letting go is a hard-hitting decision to make. It requires much thinking and strong determination to do so. It is done for a very good reason and a very healthy motive. Not selfish motives. I have tried doing so.

I have experienced letting go of a crush, a dream, an ambition or a job I loved so much. I have let go of a very special person, a toy, a plan and even a relationship. I have experienced how it is to let go of a loved one (my mother), and yes, of a friend. But I have come to an epiphany that perhaps, I only let go of these because there seemed to be no other choice. Am I right? I let go, yes, but I lamented over it, I mourned. I grieved. And perhaps, we all have every good reason why we want to keep them and never let go of them because these are beautiful things and worthy to be kept and treasured. But still we let go.

But looking on the other side of the coin, how ironic it is for us to find it harder to let go of bitterness, of anger, of our pains, of unpleasant experiences. Why do we keep them and harbor them in our hearts? Why can’t we just let go of them and free ourselves from the tormenting pain and anguish they bring in us? Why can’t we just liberate ourselves from the torturing guilt and blames?

Letting go is a choice. It is a decision to make. It is just like avoiding sweets and chocolates and pasta because we are into “no-to-carbo” diet. It is the same with deciding what course to take in college or where to go for a vacation or which car to buy. They’re all the same. It is just similar to giving your best dress to a friend or a favorite toy to a needy or giving your last peso to a beggar. But why do we exert more time on thinking about the negatives rather than the beautiful things in life? Why is it easy to love than to forgive? why is t easy to give love than to do away with hatred and resentments?

Letting go is done with unfettered will. If we really intend to live life to its fullness then we have to choose to live a life that is free from guilt and torment, free from anger and bitterness, released from all ill-feelings against something, somebody and most importantly from one's own self.

According to a Latin phrase “carpe diem”, letting go is just like seizing the day. One can never seize the day unless he lets go of what is keeping him from doing so. Accordingly, we will never be able to receive new blessings if our hands are full. Unless we open our hands and release all that we are holding, all that keep blessings away, we will never be totally blessed in abundance.

Letting go is not freedom for what you are “letting go” but it is freedom for yourself. Letting go of something means “letting go of yourself” that is, freedom from self.

on dreamality

I have read Mr. Bob Coy's book entitled "Dreamality" just few days ago. I am so lucky to have bought one from a book sale (which is not necessarily cheap but at least cheaper than the original price). I had it reserved at the cash counter area and waited for almost a week to be able to purchase it finally as I could hardly wait to have my own copy of this book.

Dreamality is an inspiring book as it talks about understanding God’s own heart for us and the reliving of our dreams which have been extinguished by our frustrations, anger and bitterness. It awakens our spirits which have long been toppled down by our selfishness and conceits as well as egoistic principles.

Dream is God’s gift to mankind. It is a vision which God has endowed man with. It shows the other side of man’s spirituality and his connection to God. Dreaming is the totality of humanity’s hope to lead meaningful lives filled with purpose. This purpose is based on God’s. God’s purpose towards humanity transcends his (man’s) finite existence just like Joseph the dreamer. Limited as we are, God in His infinite wisdom has already crafted a wonderful and colorful life ahead of us.

According to him, no one doesn’t have a dream as every human heart beats to dream and to hope. It’s just that some of these are still in the horizon waiting to be realized, to be materialized. It’s just a question of waiting for the perfect time and faith in God. Why do some people seem to fail in their dreams? Is it the absence of God in their lives? Nope. It is the absence of faith in God. It is because of man’s faithlessness and impatience that they stop hoping and eventually give up dreaming. Dreams are not meant to be slept on…They are meant to be realized, to become a reality.

Somewhere along the way, while we are bombarded with unexplainable harsh conditions, we end up letting go of our dreams. We let them fly like birds freeing them from our cage of hopefulness and faith. Setting our dreams free is equivalent to replacing our optimism with pessimism. Instead of encouraging ourselves, we pamper the feeling of inferiority and cynicism.

I agree with the author in his belief that hope can actually be revived. We can still rekindle in our hearts the expectation of something more as God is our dream- deliverer as well as the fountain of our dreams.

There is nothing wrong with dreaming and dreams aren’t impossible. God even wants the best and grandest of everything our human mind could ever think of. It’s our petty faithlessness that makes our dreams fail. We should think big, hope big. Think grand, hope grand and dream grand. God can make that come to reality.


Basically our problem why most of us fail is that “we fail to dream because we dream to fail”. Should we only dream to succeed and reach them, we certainly reach and succeed…that is the essence of dreaming and achieving. But we must not forget that all dreams should be authored by God and in lined to his will.

Lest we forget, always be reminded that we dream not to satisfy and gratify ourselves but to glorify God and enjoy him forever. When we see our dreams at a distance and think that we can never attain these, we have one assurance that will never falter; God wants us to make heaven’s dream our reality so that we can serve the purpose of glorifying HIM and enjoying His presence forever.

Lastly, the author leaves us a picture of which we are to choose from. Will we let go of our own dream and allow heaven’s dream to become our reality? Accordingly, the ball is in our court. All we have to do is to complete the journey in life by connecting to the DREAM GIVER then we can hold in full grasp the abundant provision, supernatural power and shining excellence of a God-given dream. Then live a dreamality.

Let me quote the authors’ final statement in his book “It is my prayer that you will be encouraged to seek the same heavenly Father I have. He’s the only One powerful enough, wise enough and good enough to restore and fulfill heaven’s dream in your life.”

The value of friendship

It is such an excruciating experience to be rejected by somebody whom you consider a real friend. In a flick of a finger, what you most treasure in the present may vanish like haze in the future. It is so frustrating to think that no matter how genuine you are to a friend, you can never expect for a hundred percent ROA (return of affection, not return of investment). You try to be good, to be calm, to be understanding, to be cautious, to be who you really are…and sometimes, you suppress your own wants, your own needs, your own desires just for the sake of friendship and yet, you end up frustrated. Alone. deserted. It happened to me. Don’t ask me who. It just happened. Or maybe there wasn’t really friendship between us. But I was true and so sincere. But I just can’t understand why. I am not any mind reader to be able to decipher what’s going on inside the person’s hypothalamus (lol)…whatever. I am just an ordinary person. I am not Nostradamus. How will I know what’s this creepy-crawly thing inside the other person’s mind? At first, I had difficulty in dealing with it, but experience itself taught me how to handle this. I am not a passive person but I am trying to become one. It helps to be one actually.

Moral lesson? You can not just please everybody.
Another moral lesson? No good things last forever.
Best lesson? Nothing endures forever…
Lesson learned.

Divine visit

It’s not the kind of visit that you think it is. The whole family went to “Divine Shepherd” yesterday, October 31, 2008 to visit mama’s graveyard. Today is supposedly the day for visits but we decided to go there yesterday to avoid the heavy traffic and the congestion at the park. The place was still quiet, peaceful and clean, which I am sure today is in total havoc with too many people, the scorching heat of the sun, the inconvenience at the comfort room (which actually does not give comfort), and the rain that poured earlier (just like last year). The long walk to the highway (vehicles will not be allowed to get in) is tolerable but not the congested area. There were only few people at the park yesterday, too few compare to the crowd there is today I am pretty sure.

One thing I was so amazed about was the grand preparation of families who were there to prepare for today’s gathering. The memorial park had lost its morose spirit, its serenity, its solemnity…Yesterday, it was so lively. It was exaggeratedly jazzed up! Dressed up with lots of balloons, flowers, food stalls, toys, and even a wide screen for film showing and music! Rock music, as if there was some kind of a concert or a disco party…it has become more of a carnival or a picnic area than a funeral park. The glittering lights were so lively and too paradoxical of the lifeless lights buried six feet below the ground.

My crazy thoughts spun like whirlwind…couldn’t help but smirk at the sight. What’s this? I am glad people change…and i do too...I used to hate these dates. In fact, aside from Good Fridays, November 1 and 2 are my most dreaded dates of the year ever. I hated these days because it gave me an unexplainable loneliness and grief. I used to think that these days are meant for grieving and lamenting. My idea of these dates was entirely different from what I have seen on American movies, and read from novels and magazines. Those media actually talked about party and celebration but from my own experience, way back my ILAYA life, it was a moment of remembering our loved ones' death and grieve over it, over and over again. Although we didn't practice that in the family, but that was the belief i grew up with. Such a misconception!

Now, I have realized, it is a moment of celebration and more appropriately a commemoration of, not the death but the life, our loved ones had once beautifully spent with us. It’s always good to remember having them in our lives. Just like mama. We know she’s not there anymore. Her flesh, just like ours, is but temporal. What’s lasting and eternal is our spirit and I am very happy for her. All her earthly cares and worries are over. No more tears, no more pains. She’s now in heaven and will be there for eternity.

when you're down, reach out to HIM

There are really moments that you need to pause for a break and check yourself…are you still there? Am I still here? Sometimes we forget that we are here and yet out of this world…it is only when we are hurt and bleeding that we realize we need someone to turn to…talk to…someone whom to confide our hearts and thoughts…but what’s more painful is the feeling that you have no one to turn to…to lean on when the world shakes you to your ground…then you pause and look back, and notice yourself groping alone in the dark…then you look behind, there’s no one…you look around, there is no one…has everybody deserted you? You wonder. You cry…You look down and look at yourself with so much pity then hate yourself…but don’t! You haven’t probably looked everywhere yet…look up. He’s there looking down on you lovingly with arms wide open…reach out to him.

I NEED HIS HANDS

I remember the last precious moments our mother spent with us before she went to that paradisiacal place. Even just the thought of it gives me so much pain. This pain isn’t that of loss for I never have lost her, not even in a single second but this is of my longing for her. She’s right there right now and she’s happy. That’s enough to relive me from crying but honestly tears are now blocking my sight keeping me out of keys. My vision is so blurry. My heart is eager to let loose of that something which keeps me wobbly for there are so many tears in my heart that never reach my eyes. My best friend Theresa used to say that line which I never fully understood what she meant way back high school. She probably had been keeping something in her heart that she just couldn’t let go of which cause here heart to cry but which tears do not reach her eyes. Now, I came to understand that. So this is how it feels. These are actually tears of longings, of loneliness, of nostalgia, of so much yearning for our dearest mother. Right, the tears have blurred my vision but not even ocean of tears can ever wash the memories of her out from us. She hasn’t left us. She just went ahead. We may not see her now in this muddled world but we see her often in our hearts. She lives here always as she owns this special place in our hearts. One thing we are so proud her is the legacy she left in us and that will forever stay, the legacy of faith, love and contentment. She had a happy spirit, an optimistic countenance, a beautiful outlook in life, a hopeful life, an extraordinary person she was!

It has been seven years. 7 fruitful years. That was a long time ago. She went to heaven on October 11, 2001 at 11 in the evening. It was the most hurtful experience we ever had experienced in the family but on the one hand, a triumphant bliss. She died a peaceful and happy death just as she wanted and prayed for. She was all ready to meet her CREATOR. I know and we felt it that her arrival to heaven had really caused great jubilation and celebration. I could hear the angels singing in joyful jubilation, I could hear the blowing of the trumpets of the heaven’s gate guards welcoming her...I could see her walking on the heaven’s golden floor. She was holding hand and in hand with her Savior, as He showed her the entire Kingdom she had long been dreaming of. I could see her beautiful smiles as tears rolled down her cheeks in awe to that glorious rendezvous with HIM…I could see her meeting other people she knows way back her stay here who have already gone ahead of her…I could feel the unexplainable joy, the eternal bliss. I could just imagine (But I know my imagination is quite limited) the magnificent sight, the splendid views which were all but a vision she kept praying about…then in a flick of a finger, she took hold of that promise, the heaven’s gate opened and welcomed her home.

That same hand that comforted her when she cried to him during the times when our father got sick held her hands. That same hand that prayed with her for her children and her husband, held her to see the glorious scenery. That same hand which comforted her in times of her distress and adversities held her hand and showed her the way to heaven.

I want the same hand to touch me right now. I want the same hand to heal my broken heart and wounded spirit. I want the same hand to lead me to life eternity. I want the same hand to guide me to where my mother is right now. I want the same hand to tap on my shoulders and tell me that everything is going to be alright. I need HIS HANDS.

for NE26 - What is life?

have you ever thought of this?

everyday i look at life as something i should be facing with utmost preparedness. it is a continuous battle that we need to see to it we ain't caught off guard. there are so many instances, situations, events and circumstances in our lives that we thought are part of our destiny. we believe so much on destiny and rely on it. we have forgotten our role as participant of these big events in our lives. these things that are happening to us are not fated to us but are consequences of every decision we make. in other words, as an old adage goes "destiny is not a matter of chance, but a matter of choice."

should we just let that fatalistic spirit subdue our minds and hearts? we are not here in this big and chaotic world just to fulfill what has been fated for us like Oedipus who killed his own father and married his own mother...that despite having tried his best to evade from that prophecy still unknowingly fulfilled it? or was it ignorance?or simply his hardheartedness that has made these prophecies come to pass? or examine the life of Paris who was prophesied to bring about doom and fall of Troy...He was thrown away to the forest, far away from fulfilling what has been said to be his destiny...but didn't he cause the battle among Trojans and Greeks over one wrong decision? that hasty decision he made to elope...or abduct Helen?was that fate? or a choice?He didn't think of the possible consequences and sure there were... and Achilles who was fated to die in the Trojan war, disguised as a girl so as not to go to the battle field but eventually ended up in the battle despite his parents' disapproval...while his immortal mother Thetis made sure she dipped him in the river of immortality at the river Styx, (the river that separates Hades from the land of the living) to make him invulnerable from death's scythe...But even his invincibility didn't spare him from his own demise...was that a choice? or simply fate?

Let's take a look at the life of Moses...he was an Israelite who became one of the great rulers of Egypt and eventually the deliverer of the Israelites from the bondage of slavery in the hands of the Egyptians. He was prophesied to deliver God's people. He was prophesied to fulfill what God has planned for the Israelites...the task was hard especially dealing with hard-headed people! (non-believers, murmurers, doubters, and name it, there were really those kind of people in his leadership...) but why did he do it? was it fate so he had no choice? or was it a decision he opt to follow? What if Moses did not follow God's command? would that mean the Israelites would have still been Egypt's slaves up to this time? Nope. God would have used other people in lieu of Moses then...He never runs out of resources. Then why was moving out from Egypt still hard for Moses and the Israelites if God had ordained Moses and those days for deliverance?well, it wasn't God's fault..but the Israelites'...

so. the fulfillment of whatever prophecy requires participation of people involved. they do not only happen out of the blue. they happen out of decision...conscious decision and conscious actions...because we are not robots.. we are human beings endowed by God with human intellect, willpower and emotions...that's why we should always put into considerations whatever decisions we are about to make, they may make or unmake the beautiful life that God has prophesied, promised and purposed us to have. .

life is a play. God is the director, we are the actors. thus we should do the best and the greatest performance of our lives...like on a stage play, we give our best, our innermost self and our hearts to what we do...

life is a ship...we keep sailing in the ocean of beauty, uncertainty, problems, etc. but we keep sailing and should not lose track with our compass point...we shouldn't be afraid even if we are in the middle of a storm because HE IS OUR CAPTAIN...HE IS IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING. No amount of storm can allow our ship to sink so long as the CAPTAIN IS THERE...

life is a battle too...God is the Commander-in-Chief, we are the soldiers...we only listen to what he tells us to do...as to a warrior's motto, it says, "no retreat, no surrender..."

life is beautiful...It is an art where God is the Artist. He paints beautiful colors in our lives to make it livelier and attractive, exciting and interesting...He adds hues to every detail of our lives because HE CARES AND LOVES US SO MUCH FROM THE VERY CROWN OF OUR HEAD DOWN TO THE VERY SOLE OF OUR FEET...AND EVEN TO THE VERY MINUTE CELL in our system...We are God's perfect MASTERPIECE...

Don't be afraid with life...let's take it light and easy with the Director of our life, Captain of our Soul, Commander-in-Chief and Greatest Artist, we shall enjoy life more beautifully and to the fullest...

Carpe Diem!!

Instruction: (for NE26)
1. post your 1 - paragraph comment about the article. what can you say about the topic? do you want to share something else about life? you have any suggestions or negative comments? write them down below by clicking COMMENT (then write your comment in the comment box)and pls don't forget your name, and click anonymous button before publishing. then lastly, click PUBLISH POST..that's it!
2. in a 1/2 crosswise, write your thesis statement and explain why it is so. submit on Tuesday, august 23, 2011, class time.
3. see you in the class on tuesday, august 23, 2011.