It’s only my third week as a part-time college instructor and I already feel drained — physically, emotionally and even mentally.

A couple of years back, I realized that my calling is indeed to become a teacher. I welcomed this fact warmly as I’ve been conducting trainings for adult audience for more than six (6) years already and enjoyed the job immensely. Two years ago, I decided to formalize my training in teaching and took up my Continuing Professional Education Course which required me to take eighteen (18) units of education subjects so I can take the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET).

Going back to school was fun and I have realized that I am addicted to lifelong learning, that I actually enjoy schooling and wanted to take it to the next level by getting into the academe as a college professor. I took the challenge and applied for the job after I became a board passed. I passed all the rudiments of applying for a teaching position like the dreaded “demo teaching” and panel interviews. I was very ecstatic when I was finally accepted and was given teaching loads.

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The shocking news this morning included the death of the international idol: the king of pop, Michael Jackson.

The world is grieving for the loss of the an international icon, an institution in the music industry. Michael Jackson will always be remembered for his out-of-this-world, very entertaining, tear- and shriek-jerking performances. His infamous moon walk and classic hits like We are the World, Ben, Billie Jeans, Thriller, Alone, much, much more.
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This news is alarming for me as a mom. All these time, I’ve always been thankful that although the A H1N1 already spread in the Philippines, the type that entered our country was the kind which can be treated easily. This fatality from Metro Manila due to a H1N1 is indeed bad, disturbing news.

Read the details from this clip from Inquirer.net:

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 2) A 49-year-old woman from Metro Manila with Influenza A(H1N1) has died, the Department of Health (DoH) said Monday.

However, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said it could not be immediately confirmed if the woman, who also had heart disease, died due to the A(H1N1) virus.

According to the woman’s autopsy report, she died of “congestive heart failure and acute myocardial infarction aggravated by pneumonia,” Duque said.

The woman was among 17 new cases of the disease, which brought to 445 the total number of people afflicted with the disease in the country, Duque said.
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I was up very late last night finishing the replay marathon of the new teleserye of GMA channel 7, Adik Sa Yo (Addicted To You). The show is a comedy love story and stars the daughter of the vatican actress Jean Garcia, Jenica Garcia, the hunk Dennis Trillo, actor Marvin Agustin and actress Jolina Magdangal.

For some time now, my primetime TV viewing has been dominated by ABS-CBN channel 2. I am a fan of May Bukas Pa (There would be tomorrow), Only You, and Tayong Dalawa (The Two of Us). I am not really a fan of teleseryes but I find it relaxing to go home after a full day and watch a TV show you really like. I am happy that for some time now, I actually have shows I follow.
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This picture is worth a thousand words. This blog says No to Con-Ass!

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Workaholics are awaiting for this Friday’s non-working holiday. As a working mom, I really look forward to it except that just this afternoon, our training team got another request to facilitate an out-of-town teambuilding seminar on Friday. *Sigh.

It was a very stressing week. I took on a new job (which I would share with you in my next post, I am pretty excited about this) plus I have decided to finally take my masteral degree so I’m pretty worn out right now. I am juggling a lot of responsibilities since last week, being a working mom who still needs to work at home doing household chores is taking a toll on me.

Right now, all I can think of is a getaway weekend. One that would allow me to take a good deep breath and unwinding. I remember a quote I read somewhere about vacation that goes: “Vacation used to be a luxury, however, in today’s world, it has become a necessity.” more…

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My son, a grade one (1) elementary student, came home yesterday after school asking me if lola is sick of H1N1 after I told him “be good because lola is sick.” In the news, the video scandals of Hayden Kho and Katrina Halili is already replaced with news on H1N1 virus and today’s rally against the sensational issue on the railroaded Constitutional Assembly (ConAss) passage.

For the nation already frantic about the scare of the H1N1, good news to us all. The United Nation’s (UN) already came out with a comprehensive booklet discussing in full everything we need to know about the influenza virus called H1N1, otherwise known as Swine Flu. Here are the topics inside the booklet:

• What you need to know about preventing and diagnosing influenza
• Are you at risk?
• How do you catch influenza?
• How do you know you have influenza?
• How do you reduce your risk of contracting influenza?
• What you need to know in the event of a pandemic?
• How will the UN help you?
• What should you do to prepare?
• What is “social distancing?”
• How do you reduce the chances of spreading influenza?
• How do you care for yourself and others?
• What you should do if you perform a critical function?
• How do you reduce risk of exposure during transport to work?
• When should you stay home?
• What you should stockpile at home?
• What items should you stockpile to last six weeks?
• How should food items be stored?
• What medical items should be stored?
• What measures you should take if traveling?
• What should you do if you may have been exposed?
• Suggested hand hygiene techniques

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Coming from a long vacation, expectantly, our children are now used to sleeping late, even if they need to come to school early. My son, for instance, would not sleep earlier than ten in the evening. And if you allow him, he would really sleep as late as four in the morning. Whew!

Now that his classes starts at 7:30 AM, I really need to regulate his sleeping time so he can complete his needed ten hours sleep before I wake him up at 6:00 AM to prepare for his class. I started this regulation last night and I also suffered. My son won’t sleep without me beside him and he won’t sleep too when the television is on so that means I have to sleep early too and I can’t watch my favorite TV shows. Sacrifices!
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Unlike in the last weeks, the hype of the H1N1 Virus scare is now very eminent in the Philippines as the numbers of affected people in the country slowly but continuously grow.

The H1N1 is an influenza A virus subtype and is the most common cause of influenza or flu in humans. Some strains of this virus are common in human which actually includes the strain(s) responsible for the flu pandemic in 1918 which unfortunately killed about fifty to hundred million people worldwide (source: wikipedia). This fact plus the number of casualties of this year’s spread of H1N1 virus, also known as the swine flu, made the whole world panicky.

Although much has been done in the Philippines to avoid possible intrusion of the virus in the country, up to date, more than 20 identified virus carrier and infected has been identified and quarantined including the students from La Salle and an executive from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Here in our place in Marikina, everyday, there are rumors that there’s already an H1N1 carrier and sadly in the city and because of the scare, people get very worried about these hearsays.
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For years, Oprah Winfrey dominated the top list of the World’s Celebrity 100 List. This year though, she’s dethroned by the talented and beautiful lady love of the handsome hunk, Brad Pitt. Angelina Jolie is now Forbes most powerful celebrity in the world.

The annual ranking of the world’s most famous celebrities are based on their earnings estimates consist of pre-tax income between June 2008 and June 2009. Measure of power is based on money and fame.

Angelina Jolie, the highest earner and considered the most powerful,  got her streaks of luck in leading the pack this year by earning so much from her blockbuster movies and endorsements while his husband, Pitt, ranked nine (9)  in the list. Oprah, the undoubtedly powerful TV host landed second this year.
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