IT HAPPENED again after almost eight years — only, it’s stronger this time.

I thought it wouldn’t rain as hard as it did yesterday. When we arrived from Marbel at about half past three yesterday, the sky was not really dark. After my last class, it started to drizzle. Then the wind started to blow. Soon after, the sky darkened and a heavy downpour followed.

The students who were getting ready to go home started to worry. There were only few vehicles on the school grounds so some of them started walking under the rain out of fear that the rain would not stop until nightfall.

I told my co-teacher that it was the strongest rain I have seen in years. She told me that it was just normal. But I had a gut feeling that if it would last for half an hour more, a flashflood of the same magnitude of the one that took place on November 1, 2000, would hit our town.

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.

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.

THE SARANGANI leg of the Earth Day Caravan happened today at the Sarangani Provincial Capitol Gymnasium, with the theme: Tubig ay Buhay, Ating Pagyamanin at Linisin.

I used to attend celebrations like this when I was in High School as a member of the Junior Ecologist Movement of our school. This morning was a new chance for me to take part in such an endeavor.

IT FEELS so great that another alumnnus of Alabel National Science High School brought pride and honor to the school for graduating Magna Cum Laude from Notre Dame of Dadiangas University.

Angelo D. Gamat, a classmate in high school, was NDDU’s class valedictorian for SY 2007-2008. He took up BS Accountancy, a five-year course, so he graduated a year after I did.

Last year, in the same university, another classmate of mine, John Theodore Lawrence M. Palenzuela also graduated Magna Cum Laude. He took up AB Political Science and now teaches at NDDU.

I SAW this picture in one of the folders I keep. I didn’t appreciate it before much as I do now. Visit Digital Detours to see my other photos.

IT IS during the prom night that girls become ladies and boys, gentlemen. So far, I have five times the excitement; I had two proms in high school, and two in college. The last one I attended took place last night, where I was as excited as the students because it’s my first prom—this time, as a teacher.