ariellalisan.org – Homeward Bound

THIS MORNING our librarian gave us photocopies of an article from the broadsheet about DepEd’s implementing guidelines on the 6-hour workday for teachers.

I read it carefully and I realized that it actually didn’t shorten the number of hours of work in a day. It only limits the number of hours of classroom teaching to six. The remaining two hours would be spent for teaching-related activities like, preparation of lesson plans, visual aids, rubrics, home visitation, consultation, among others. It doesn’t make a really big difference.

Nevertheless, I appreciate it because it is never easy to facilitate classroom activities for more than six hours. When I reach home after each school day, I could feel that my leg muscles are sore. I also don’t talk a lot at home, else, I damage my vocal folds. I even told my mother, “Nay, sayo jud ko ani  matigulang.” [Mother, with this stress, I'll face old age early.]

Good thing, teachers who are given loads of more than 6 hours a day are entitled to an additional compensation computed at the same hourly rate of the regular compensation. That means, since I’m given a seven-hour load each day, I’m entitled to another one hour worth of compensation. (Yay, I won’t need to ask for cash advance. Haha.) However, when there’s no available funds (which is true for most schools), an hour of overtime work shall be counted as 1.25 hours of service credits.

I WATCHED the Sunday morning show on ABS-CBN Davao this morning and glad to see that the white sand beach resorts of Gumasa in Glan, Sarangani Province were featured and the place was actually compared to Boracay.

Photo from http://www.sarangani.gov.ph

However, the shots taken did not show the beach in its best shape. Driftwoods were very prominent against the bright white of sand that one would think that the beach is dirty. In private beach resorts and hotels, though, the shore is clean.

The feature appeared to me like a wake up call to the tourism authorities in Sarangani–that they have a great load to do about promoting Gumasa as one of the county’s top destinations.

WE READ books for a variety of reasons. There is one book that I definitely look forward to reading for two great reasons: first, the subject is close to my heart; and second, it is penned by someone I personally know.

I am talking about The Market, a novel of finding your way back home. See, the theme is really close to my heart as my personal blog is called Homeward Bound! There’s something about the idea of heading home that keeps me inspired. Prolly, that is because of my belief that it is natural for man to look for a place to call home–and finding home means finding happiness. So, I expect that The Market might be about the quest for happiness, contentment, a sense of belongingness, comfort, inner peace, or self-actualization.

I HAVE one reason to watch Pinoy Idol: to support a fellow Ayala Young Leader, Elizalde Camaya, who goes by the screen name Kid Camaya.

He is one of the participants of the Ayala Young Leaders Congress 2004 and currently works at the Bank of the Philippine Islands.

Last Saturday, he sang “Always Something There to Remind Me.”

Click here to read more…

The panorama of Sitio Pait is saddening.

FINALLY, I was able to acquire copies of pictures of our Earth Day Eco-Walk and Tree Growing Activity held on April 25, 2008, for the benefit of the Calminda Watershed, which covers the areas of Barangays Alegria, Bagacay, and Paraiso, Alabel, Sarangani Province.

The protection of the Calminda Watershed is one of the top priorities of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) of Alabel. In cooperation with the DENR Provincial Office of Sarangani and the Local Government of Alabel, the office designated portions of the watershed for the different schools in the municipality, the different departments of the LGU, and other organizations to rehabilitate and maintain.