I am actually referring to our first week of school for this school year 2015-2016.

Why rugged?

Before classes ends last school year, we already anticipated for our transfer in our new site beginning this school year. However, considering that the building was not fully done yet, we were informed that the Turn-Over would take place anytime of June or July.

Then came a short notice from the Division Office two days before FIRST DAY OF CLASS that the building will be turned over on the 3rd of June that is why our Principal call for an emergency meeting on a very Sunday so we could planned out everything within just short period of time.

Actually, we are already used to pressures but not as tedious as this. So our dear Principal, who has the burden of this all, delegated to us some of the important roles and mine was the layouting of the programme, the tarpaulin and the conceptualization video (a sort of a history-themed video). I did all those things for two sleepless nights.

Sunday night- I started layouting for the tarps...

Monday. Opening Ceremony in school.We were being introduced to both new and old students. We actually had a very lively morning. After the convocation, I started for the video trying my best to utilize all the resources that were only available-including my strength and patience... Then came some personnel from the Division Office (DO) informing us that we need to transfer immediately (as in on that very day!) to the new site and should conduct our classes there. Can you imagine the pressure of the preparation for the Turn-Over Ceremony ADDED WITH our need to pack all our belongings for the IMMEDIATE TRANSFER? Then as we became wiser in managing our time, trying not to waste any seconds of it, another news broke out that our transfer was put in abeyance because the contractor didn't allow us to occupy the  new building prior to its Inspection- again, can you imagine the adrenaline rush that was suddenly interrupted with another breaking news thus consuming all our energy and draining us slowly? Indeed, it was such a chaotic Monday- so full of surprises!

Tuesday- I helped our Principal for the layouting of the programme which was revised for a couple of times because there were so many data that needs to be added or deleted. While waiting for the corrections from the DO and the Mayor's Office, I started sorting my belongings, trying as much as possible to declutter all those unnecessary ones. Good thing I have the presence of some of my students who helped me in packing my stuff. Added to my pressure during that day was the fact that I cannot transport my stuff to the new site because there's a limited truck used for the transportation and they prioritized all the chairs and tables. I don't have enough resources too to rent a vehicle that could transport mine as what my other colleagues did. Well, I just cannot imagine how I was able to get through the day. During night time, I finalized my video until wee hours of the morning...

Wednesday- the BIG Day. Everybody seems too pressured as shown on their faces (including mine). I was really nervous coz my laptop isn't working properly and I couldn't even decide for myself on where to setup all my things. Basically, I was the operator of the day. My day started with such an ignore-the-way-I-look expression. I even had a heated argument with my hubby who was just trying to be of help during that time. And so my mood became consistent for the whole day. My video wasn't presented anymore because of time constraint and technical issues, plus the screen projector didn't cooperate during that day as if the projector was aware that I was in great pressure. And since we never expected the number of UNEXPECTED GUESTS, we opt not to take our supposedly sumptuous lunch anymore because we run out of budget. Good thing there was a burger being rationed around- that helps a little... I am actually very excited that finally I already have my own classroom for my advisory  with individual toilet- just merely thinking about it did a little magic in lightening up my mood. Later that afternoon, I managed to transport all my stuff with the help of the Barangay-provided vehicle. I didn't call it a day until I unpack my stuff.- Indeed it was a very long day. Oh, I almost forgot... this day also marks my first year in service with the DepEd (so timely!)

Thursday- everything seems becoming normal despite the fact that it was very hot and dusty (which we need to overcome until the rainy day). During that day, I finally meet the majority of my students. We had an election of officers as well as cleaners assignment. I was also able to discuss to them the school rules and regulations. I could only hope for a better class this year, way far better than last year...

Friday, still a period of adjustment but so far, everything is good and in order...

I am looking forward that this school year will end with a blissful experience among my students.

A rugged week indeed!

Barely a week from now, classes will start. I am excited to see my new students for Grade 10. I am also excited because finally I will be handling Technical Drafting for Grade 9 and 10. 

So, what to expect this coming school year?

New faces (since there are many transferees on my advisory class), new strategies and new perspective. As much as possible I want to uphold the DepEd thrust: giving quality education.

All I could wish for is a smooth academic year ahead of me.

For the second time around, I was asked to design a tee shirt for reunion. Then I wonder if I could have this new business venture (apart from tarpaulin designs). Well, just give me your comment if you found this cool and worthy of an investments:

and these:

I feel like giving it a try!

What do you think?

Lavender is amazing with the numerous ways its fabulous buds, stems, full fragrances and deep lavender colors can be used. We think of lavender in candles, soaps, perfumes, sprays, bath products and such, but it is also a culinary delight in the kitchen and can even be used to bathe your dog!

The old-fashioned harvesting of acres of lavender fields in late June and July happens when silver buds fill up with fragrant oil. When ripened into a vibrant lavender color, the buds and stems are removed, preserved in cool water, and placed in cool and dark barns to dry for weeks. After sorted and cleaned, they go to specialty kitchens and workshops, where hand-made unique products and gifts are created. 

Some examples of exquisite lavender products for your own use or as a perfect gift are below.

Lavender Mini Sampler

This beautiful basket of four favorites allows an enjoyable soaking with a tub aroma ball followed by a massage and body oil. A sachet can fill a special drawer with a wonderful fragrance, and a citrus lavender fragrance melt will give your home a heavenly smell. 

Lavender Sugar

A seven-ounce jar of sugar infused with lavender buds adds a sweet and flavorful twist to baked goods, especially Creme Brulee and shortbread cookies. 

Lavender Dryer Bags

This set of three bags filled with aromatic lavender buds adds a long-lasting aroma to your laundry for 30 to 40 dryer cycles each. 

Lavender Neck Wrap

Delivering the right therapeutic temperature, heat this aromatic wrap in the microwave for 30 seconds or chill it in the freezer.

Lavender Dog Bath

Yes, even the dog needs to smell good! The gentle scent also relaxes a dog that is not happy about taking a bath.

This tarp says it all...

Happy birthday Pastor John!

Be there when it happens....

If there's one thing that I could thank technology the most -it would be the convenience of online shopping. Online shopping does not only offer convenience, it could also offer big discounts which you can rarely experience when you go mall shopping.  Mostly, we can avail discounts when we have discount coupon code. 

As practical customer, we always go for sale items or brands that offers great discounts. In my experience, I have a great time online shopping at Lazada when I was given the opportunity to avail an item from them at P1000.00 off. Then I became their regular customer. in fact I ordered my first tablet pc through them, then another tablet, then a power bank and last was a heavy duty flashlight. But during those purchases, I have not known about iprice yet. 

Email subscription with Lazada and even to other online shopping stores or companies will only give you limited or occasional coupons, however, with iprice, they offer discount coupons EVERY DAY! This company is the leading platform for online shoppers across seven markets, namely:Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand and Vietnam. Their existence is a great help to online customers who loves shopping at the comfort of their home. They offer coupons to leading online stores like Lazada, Zalora, Romwe, Agoda, Amazon, Wego, Glasses Online, Melissa and a whole lot more. 

Check out for their other products:

Subscribe to their email now and experience a one stop shopping destination right at the comfort of your home.

Happy are we who believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, our Ultimate Savior. He is the Lamb who cleansed us and redeemed us from eternal condemnation. Everybody knew this truth yet only few believes...

How many of us are thoroughly convinced that Jesus paid all our sins through His dying on the cross? How many of us believes that our good works has nothing to do with our salvation but rather it is just the result of our faith in God?

We need not be crucified literally on the cross again because Jesus Christ already did that in our behalf over two thousand years ago.

God completely redeemed us and all we have to do is to put our complete trust in Him.

Are you still not convinced? Read your Bible so you will know.

Be blessed everyone!

Celebrate the arrival of a new puppy in the home by making dog gift baskets. These baskets can include almost anything that you can imagine for a new puppy, and you can make other ones for pets in the home before the puppy arrives. Make sure the basket that you make has items that are for the gender of the new family member. 

There are a few ways that you can start making the basket. You can get a plain wicker basket, or you can use something that will also be used with the animal, such as a bed or a bag to hold all of its supplies. Start with the treats for the puppy. These should be something soft for the puppy to chew on while having vitamins and nutrients that the dog might not get from food. You can add a small bag of food in the basket, but most people know that puppies like to plat as well. Some of the toys that you add are balls, bones, stuffed animals and squeakers. You can also include grooming supplies and items to make the puppy feel secure at night in the new home. If you are making a basket for someone else, don't forget to wrap it in some way so that everything stays in one place

My first-time experience as an adviser to a graduating class was indeed full of bitter-sweet memories.

Bitter because you cannot deny the fact that there were those students who failed short of my expectations- that is instead of getting serious with their studies, they engaged themselves in rubbish things thus affecting their supposedly brighter future.

Sweet because these students trusted me that much that they never have any second thought in sharing their life to me. They seek refuge and advice from me and I consider that sweet because not all teachers were given that opportunity. Sweet because through these students, I was able to value things that is more important than earning a living- that is giving premium time to my kids and guiding them until their age of independence.

Those ten months of teaching and sometimes being a parent to them was not an easy task. I often caught myself unguarded every time I heard sad stories experienced by them with their families. I have a student who was forced to work because the parents could not afford to send her to school anymore and since she needs to attend to her work most of her time than to her studies-it truly affects her grades. There were also those students who thought getting in love is the best and most exciting part of their lives and get impregnated to my great dismay. There was also this student who was not able to march during the graduation because of financial constraint.

As a teacher, that was a whole lot of a burden because when I was at their age, I also experienced some of their problems. I can actually relate to most of them but the only difference is that I have this definite goal in my life to finish my studies and I am equally blessed because I have a mother who is willing to sacrifice a lot just to meet this goal. Sadly, some of my students need to survive on their own-without a parent to help them. That is why I cannot expect superb school performance because their minds are too preoccupied as to what to do next in order to survive.

Nevertheless, I am still thankful to God for the strength and wisdom that He gave upon me in becoming not only a teacher, but also a friend, a mother and a sister to my students. 

In the world of the fine arts, sculptures in bronze stand out above other expressions of the artistic mind. Particularly in the style of modern art, shiny, almost gold-like bronze figures convey a form as few other materials can. 

Today, thanks to the Internet, artists have a potent platform to present their achievements and talents through their own artistic websites. No longer restricted to an occasional art exhibit, distinguished artists, such as Jean-Jacques Porret, are now able to present their passions, love, focus and vision for life. 

The Online Studio and/or Art Gallery

However, bronze sculptures are not the only expressions of art found at these studio websites. Whether they be drawings, sketches, paintings or the many other mediums used to present their specific creative form, artists today have a vehicle to drive his form and a window into his soul that anyone can enjoy looking through. In referring to works of bronze, one dedicated sculptor has said, "Bronze primarily interested me because it is the most demanding material which is responsive and sweet to the touch."

The uniqueness of imagination, sensitivity and personality can be seen with other works as the artist's spirit rises to new heights through the web pages of an official website. Online visitors can now enter an inner sanctum, if you will, of an artist's mind, soul and heart. 

As a true master of the Expressionist school of art, Porret, along with so many other passionately dedicated and talented men or women, have now found an additional platform most appropriate for these modern technological times. Click here to see how one artistic website has become an art gallery, a creative studio and a gateway of Expressionism for others to appreciate.

It's funny how we used to complain before God about having no permanent job and living such a very frugal life and when we finally have one, we complain again because we can't have enough of our needs and wants in life.

Funny because we tend to be discontented about so many things. And our discontentment sometimes or most of the times gave us the best stressful moment of our lives.

What's more? When some of our friends seems have a very carefree, easy-living and happy life, we tent to envy them- well that's normal I guess.

As for me, I used to be contented with what I have until I got a family of my own. I didn't say I am complaining that I have them, in fact I am so happy to have them however, the fact that I cannot give them all they want is what bothering me the most. I thought what I have is already enough but I was absolutely wrong.

How about you? Can you feel me? Can you empathize with me?

Honestly, I am a very dedicated worker. I work with better outputs as much as possible. I do not procrastinate immediate tasks, I always have been a result-oriented person. However, some incidents in my life reminded me somehow that I have my limitations. That no matter how efficient I could become, I would still have to overcome failures and more challenges.

As a teacher, my patience has been really tested. If I would really take my job too seriously, i might be left in the middle of nowhere-unable to think correctly. But somehow, my job helps me also to know myself better, my best and worst attitude. I also learned how to be flexible.

I know I still have a long way to go in order to become an ideal teacher.

I still have so much to learn about.

I could only hope and pray that God will be with me all throughout my journey.

A PowerPoint presentation can often mean the difference between a winning and losing bid for an important client, or perhaps the difference between getting promoted at work, or having to give congratulations to a competing co-worker. So it goes without saying that if you're wanting to impress your boss, a client, or a prospective client, you'll want to put together a professional and elegant slideshow that showcases all you have to offer.

But there may be instances where you don't have the time or energy required to create a winning slideshow. Or, you may not be familiar with more recent versions of PowerPoint. If this is the case, you'll want to outsource your slideshow needs to a professional company that specializes in slideshow creation. Cost-wise, the majority of PowerPoint designers charge by the hour, though some may charge by project. It's important to consult with a designer ahead of time and to give them a detailed idea of the type of slideshow presentation you're looking for. This way, you both know the expectations, as well as the estimated fees. Depending on the complexity and detail of your presentation, you can expect the overall costs to be in the ballpark of a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand dollars. But again, you'll want to consult with your designer for a more specific quote.

Rainy days and Mondays sometimes gets me down...

That lyric of the song just came randomly on my mind.

It's Monday, another manic Monday.

I've got so many things to do, many papers to check, many deadline to beat yet I do not have the complete energy to do it. I felt like 'exhausted' even if I wasn't able to start anything yet. 

There's one thing in my mind that somehow bothers me- Can I survive the rest of the day?

I could only hope so. 

I was part of the school team for Early Registration Campaign which brought us to 3 elementary schools. Our last stop was at Taguanao Elementary School. It is quite far from the city proper and it was surrounded with mountainous area. When we get there, it somehow brought my memory back in my elementary school in Bukidnon. I just love the ambiance. It was just a small vicinity and there's only one section for the sixth grader-our main target.

I met one special child student. He is already 16 years old and perhaps the oldest among the class. He write slowly. His adviser filled up the Early Registration form for him then I assisted for the second copy. What struck me most about him is that he is very patient in copying all the data on the first form. I instructed him to write CDO instead of spelling it out yet he opt to copy everything on the first form. Upon leaving, he is the only one who waved us goodbye.

Grade VI- Generous

He might be having a learning deficiency, but his patience and determination will surely brought him farther to his dreams.