Goals for 2017

Hello there! I have absolutely no idea why I still keep this blog site when I don't open it very often. No one reads it any way. 😑

Well I'm going to make a list of what I intend to do this year. Consider this as my bucket list.

1. Take up swimming lessons - I can swim actually but I'm not an efficient swimmer. I get tired easily and this would be a problem if I ever do plan to join a triathlon.

2. Take the comprehensive exams and pass them - I need to do this so that I could enroll in my Thesis 1. Speaking of which that would lead me to number 3.

3. Enroll in Thesis 1 - Yup. I'm determined to finish my graduate school. I should be finished by 2019.

4. Join a short film contest - I have to start somewhere if I do intend to become a film director. I do however need a very good digital camcorder. 😢

That's it for now. See you next time. 😀

Life Began at 40 (At least for me)

After a two year hiatus, I'm back! Hopefully. =)

A lot has actually happened between my last post and this one. Admittedly, there have been times that  I should delete this account. No one is reading it any way. But I guess my writer instincts just got buried underneath the rubble of too much work and study. Now that it found its way to rise from the grave like a zombie hungry to eat someone else's brain, here goes my accomplishment report for 2015.

The first time I have heard "life begins at 40" was during the younger years of my life. It was probably in a movie. Naturally I did not understand what it meant. I finished the movie anyway (which I can't remember). Years and years after, I'm now 40 years old. What do I conclude then? Let me show you.

Belated 40th birthday surprise

I started joining fun runs which I used to criticize. I couldn't actually understand where is the fun in the run. But a colleague of mine encouraged me to run since I was jogging with my sons every afternoon. Lo and behold, I've been joining fun funs ever since. Where's the fun in the run? It is finishing the crossing line!

Nat Geo 5K

Li-Ning 10K

Milo Marathon 10K

Clash of Clans 16K

Subaru Marathon10K

Freedom Run 10K

Run United 10K

Heroes for Children Run 10K

Pinoy Fitness 21K

Brown Race Marathon 21K

Further blessings came in my way when:

I was able to choreograph for the UST High School Faculty Foot Groovers with me this time as a back up dancer.

St. Crispin joining me as fellow back up dancers 

Being stranded for almost an hour in the middle of Angat Dam because the motor of our boat died out on us. All in the name of community development with UST Rotaract Central.

UST Rotaract Central

Two bike rides with my sons.

Heroes Trail

Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes

Winning the USTFU elections as a Board of Director.

At the College of Engineering with my Kabalikat Partymates

The movies that I have watched for 2015 in chronological order.

1) Taken 3

2) American Sniper

3) Jupiter Ascending

4) Kingsman

5) Insurgent

6) Furious 7

7) Avengers: Age of Ultron

8) Pitch Perfect 2

9) San Andreas

10) Ant Man

11) Magic Mike XXL

12) Terminator Genisys

13) Minions

14) Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation

15) Fantastic Four

16) Heneral Luna

17) The Last Witch Hunter

18) Mocking Jay Part 2

19) A Second Chance

20) Star Wars: The Force Awakens

21) Honor Thy Father

22) Haunted Mansion

23) Beauty and the Bestie

24) Walang Forever

25) Buy Now, Die Later

26) Nilalang

27) My Bebe Love

28) All You Need is Pag-ibig

Thank you Lord for all of these! You complete me! 

Here's to 2016! Cheers!

Just Two Words: Pitch Perfect

Saint Christina 2012-2013

This class is probably one of the most memorable non-advisory classes I had, if not the most memorable one. Somehow, I was instantly drawn into them although it did not really show at the onset. I don't know why. There is just something in them that makes me feel welcome.

Christmas Party 2012 with Fr. Jay Miranda, O.P. (Regent, UST High School)

Our "relationship" pretty much started out just like any other section a teacher and a class should be. So it was not very special if you want to call it that way. I come at 1:00-2:20 in the afternoon; I do my thing and they do theirs. Nothing out of the ordinary really. Until they began their first taste of junior competition: the bulletin board making.

Intrams Day 2

Most of them, if not all of them, were pumped up with the contest. For me, I felt that they had a "class spirit" at the start of the year. Well they did not win but it got them united.

Christmas Party 2012 with Fr. Jay

Then came several more contests, one after another. Their biggest heart break came when the Aliwan Festival contest was held during the Filipino week celebration. They came prepared, fully armored with all the heavy guns and tanks with them. But I guess it wasn't enough as the others came with heavier guns and armories. And so disheartening as it may seem, somehow I had to remind them that they have to do better the next time and motivate themselves to rise up to the occasion. And I'm glad that they did.

Aliwan Festival at their classroom

Their biggest triumph though was wining almost all the major awards during the Benavidez Film Festival (I hope I got the contest right.). Saan ka pa makakakita ng klase na pumunta pa ng napakalayong lugar para magshoot? Para talagang mga artista eh.

Link to Choral Recitation where they won 2nd place:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=542507615779376&set=o.427561820607280&type=3&theater

And after all those defeats and accolades, it was still pretty much the same for all of us. Except for one boy who kept on following me whenever the opportunity arises. His name is John Victor Lopez, or JV for short. His reason? He was frequently out of the class as he is a member of the Glee Club. They were preparing for a contest that they will be joining. And because of that, I called him "New Student" as I don't get to see him frequently. 

JV (wearing red shirt), with Denzel, Johann, Liam, James and Gabriel with the author

And so he would be asking me on what did we do inside the class and I would kiddingly say: "Sino ka?" or "Yes new student?" In his defense however, I was also frequently out of the class as well as I had to attend to some coordinator duties. And thus I was labelled as "New Teacher." It did not offend me really. In fact I was amused with it. And this routine of ours actually continued all the way until December. I tagged him with my "concert" at the HS auditorium because he wanted to hear me sing. And that was it. It's the "Start of Something New" as the lyrics of High School Musical 1 would put it.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=546339512062853&set=vb.100000604285710&type=3&theater

However I distinctly remember that I did not really start warming up to them until one boy was so much affected with a failed relationship with his ex-girlfriend. Rodolfo Alfonso III, Nuj as he was called by his friends, did not really hold back his emotions. I would see him crying before the start of my class with them. And so this would lead me to bring him three times to the guidance office. It wasn't really my business to ask what was wrong, but I did anyway, to which he did not hesitate to share his story. The rest, just as they say, was history.

The author (left) with Nuj (in the middle) and Jasper (right)

During the 3rd quarter completion day, JV stayed with me in the laboratory where I was checking papers. He asked me if I wanted a copy of the movie "Pitch Perfect." And being the movie buff that I was, I gladly accepted his offer. Instantly, I fell in love with the chick flick. The story wasn't really sophisticated. It was the music that I was really engaged into. I was so into it that I bought the original soundtrack. 

Pitch Perfect Original Soundtrack at PhP 650.00

This probably picked up the momentum for me. And so in preparation for my come back as the dancing lord of UST High School (modesty aside, I do dance quite well I should say), I wanted St. Christina to be part of the dance as well. Instinctively, I really wanted them to join me because it would be a lot easier for me to gather just one section rather than asking the others to join the performance. And so without batting an eyelash, I asked their adviser, Sir Danny Balance, they could be part of the routine. He gave me his blessing and so immediately I posted at their FB group page about it.

JS Prom (from left to right): Hillary, Angela, yours truly, Mrs. Ramos, Glee (crowned Prom Princess), Mrs. Torres and Merry Rose

One person actually volunteered upon posting it. Ron, was the very first among the students who said yes. Then JM was forced into it followed by Echo and JV. Echo asked if a friend of his, Rovi from St. Clement, could join us. Thinking that I only had four dancers at the time, I said yes since many did not respond to my announcement. I was kinda specific though. I wanted "great" dancers and not just someone who could dance. Then the others slowly came into the picture: James, Gab, Gabriel, Denzel, Adrian and the only rose among the thorns, Nina. Little did I realize that it was only Ron and JM who were the "great" dancers and the rest wanted to join for the fun of it. Hehe.

Tina Fellas / Manuboyz (The crew from St. Christina plus one guest from St. Clement)

(in front from left to right: JM, Denzel, Echo, Nina, Adrian, JV, Ron, Rovi and yours truly,

at the back from left to right: Gab, James, Gabriel)

And so with in a little over 3 hours combined (We had breaks of course!), we were able to complete the medley The Sign and Please Don't Stop The Music from Pitch Perfect. But it did not stop there. Ron asked if we could extend it a wee bit more so that we'll get more air time. And being the welcoming teacher that I was, I said ok. So the original 3 plus minutes routine was extended to 9:45 upon the inclusion of the Universal Motion Dancers and Streetboys Medley. Whew! Talk about energetic dancing.

We were able to pull this off. It was tiring, sweatful and literally breath taking, but it was all worth it. I got them to perform. That was it. My relationship with the class started to build up with them as the catalyst.

First performance during the High School Week

And we got to do this again during the Family Day 2013. It was hot because the sun was so up in the morning. The stage was hot because it was painted black. Everything was just hot literally. And so with some minor adjustments to the routine, it was made longer because it now became 10:30 minutes. Now I could truly say that I came into a complete circle. I had the best performance of my life. So did they.

Second performance during Family Day 2013

Link to High School Dance Performance:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=578304278866376&set=vb.100000604285710&type=3&theater

Ending the school year was bitter-sweet. My only regret was I had 8 months to have had a wonderful relationship with them. But it was only in the last two moths that I got to know them well. I never played favorites with any of my students. But I can say that this is my favorite class. No! I dare say that they are my favorite class for this school year!

Dinner at Mang Inasal's after the Dance

Every time I come into their class, I am always at my best. I look forward everyday to see them and share my knowledge of chemistry. I always feel pleasantly happy to interact with them. I know that I am in a home away from home at Room 204 from 1:00 to 2:20 pm. Truly I will miss them. But I must let them go so that I can meet new students and they can meet new teachers.

Intrams Day 1

However as I said to them, the door of me being a teacher has closed but a new door as their friend, brother or father has opened for them to choose. And this would be one door that would remain open for all of them.

Intrams Day 2

So it has truly been a Pitch Perfect year for me with them. Undeniably the most memorable one that I have. Thank you dear St. Christina. It has truly been a pleasure and an honor to be part of your class.

Tina Fellas / Manuboyz

This is Mr. Frederick Roy A. Manubay, your ex-chemistry teacher, now signing off...

12 Personal Crowning Moments for 2012

Let me recall the highlights of my life for the year 2012:

1) One of the first faculty members to enter the newly constructed UST Quadripavillion: January 26, 2012 

2) Hosting the Ideal Young Thomasian Personality with my best friend Maria Teresa Casado-Ramos: February 15, 2012

3) Activity Facilitator at 25th Anniversary of Brighton Venturers Summer Camp: May 25-27, 2012

4) Resource Speaker for Public School Content Training at Marinduque: May 28-31, 2012 

5) Reappointed as Science Department Coordinator for SY 2012-2012: June 01, 2012

< No Picture, Sorry =( >

6) Resource Speaker at Center for Educational Measurement, Inc. at Hotel Intercontinental Manila, Makati City: October 12, 2012 (UST High School K to 12 Science Curriculum Implementation: Problems, Processes, Promises)

7) Getting high grades at my Master of Science in Chemistry Education (UST Graduate School) in spite of the hectic schedule: 1st Semester, June-October 2012

8) Appointed as Adviser of UST Rotaract Central (a university-wide organization): October 12, 2012

<No picture again. Naaliw ata yung mga Xtina at nakalimutang kumuha ng picture>

9) Doing Oppa Gangnam Style (Matagal ko ng gustong gawin ito) at St. Christina's Christmas Party: December 20, 2012

< No picture nanaman. Sorry ulit. =( >

10) Singing with live accompaniment (Actually piano lang. Hey I don't get to often do this ok?) during the UST High School Faculty Christmas Party: December 21, 2012

11) Three years na pala akong adik sa Facebook: 3rd Anniversary, December 30, 2012

12) Eto ang the best na nangyari sa akin ngayong taon. To top it all I have gained new friends and brothers from another mother: No particular date. It happened in 2012.

So I guess 2012 was a pretty good year for me. Cheers to every one! Happy new year and may God continue to bless us all! =)

A Mama's Boy Eulogy (long overdue, that is)

Susan A. Manubay
November 26, 1950 - June 08, 2010

When you lose one of the important people you love, your perspective in life changes dramatically. You begin to realize that life is short and you begin to understand that you have to make the most out of it. You will never know when God will call you back and into His loving arms. Such was the fate of my mother. She died at 59 years of age while her parents died at around 70+ (father) and 80+ (mother). But rather that talking about her death, I will be talking about the colorful life that she had. This is my way of immortalizing her.

She was the first born child of Alfredo Acosta Sr. and Zosima Kinol (November 26, 1950). The siblings have the "academic intelligence" gene as most of the Acosta children graduated with honors during their elementary, high school and college years. According to her, life was hard because they were 10 in the family and being the eldest entailed her to help my grandparents. House chores were obviously part of her routine as my grandmother took care of her other children and my grandfather had to go to work.

She got married to Mario Manubay, Jr. and had 5 children. Like her, I was the eldest of the brood. Like her as well, I was given the heaviest responsibility. And although I can't really say that my childhood life was as difficult as hers, the lessons of being the eldest have been passed on to me at a young age. I had to be the most understanding, the most giving, the most patient, the most forgiving, the strongest, the protector, the role model, and anything and everything in between those adjectives. In other words, the perfect son and sibling.

Of course this idealism has caused much strain between her and myself during my teenage years. Hey I was generally a good kid in my defense. However I rebelled against my parents, to the point of resentment, because I could not see the point that they were trying to tell me. I was what you would call "a rebel without a cause." And I made their lives difficult until a life-changing incident happened during my 3rd year high school. I don't plan to discuss it here since it is not my story but hers. However it was a complete turn around for me. From then on, I tried to listen more to my parents, especially to her.

She was my inspiration because she believed in me. She believed in my talents and my capacity to do good to other people. She saw my independence was my strongest asset. And although this independence has somehow made me distance from my family, she knew that I was a child who could not be stopped easily. At a young age, I knew what I wanted and she didn't stop me from pursuing my dreams.

Upon graduation from college, I immediately got my first job as a teacher at UST High School. My father constantly cut out classified ads from newspapers with advertisements such as "Wanted: Chemist." This happened for about a year. Then, I remember her clearly telling my Dad that if it was my choice to become a teacher he should respect that. And that my fate as a teacher would be different from that of my aunt (my dad's sister who was also a teacher).

My mom was a helpful person. If she has the capacity to help, she will. She has helped countless of my siblings' friends who became her "instant adopted children." She managed to help out her family in one way or another. She was a generous person even to her friends. It was one of the lessons that she had left with us. "If you have the resources and the capacity to help another one, you should do it because you are morally bound to do so." She also taught us to never to be envious of those people who are in front of the line because if we look back, the line is much, much longer than we could ever imagine.

There was no favoritism among my kins. However I felt that she gave her all out trust to me in the decisions that I would make. Sure I would still commit some fumbles along the way but she left me with my instincts and her upbringing to go along with me. Unlike my brother and sisters, it was most often a "yes" for me rather than the opposite.

When my parents separated, the role of being the eldest child shifted to being the provider. At that time, I wasn't ready for the task. I was just in my early 20's when this responsibility was forced down to my throat. Thus began my emotional roller coaster of my life. I made some bad choices then. But she didn't look at me the way that everybody did. She saw that I will be making a comeback because I was a strong person and that she believed in me.

Eventually I did make a comeback. Things became great for me at work and my life. At this time, she was already diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. We dealt with it for the last three and a half years of her remaining life. But even during her sickness, she still believed that we will get through this one way or another. She already accepted the fact that death will come upon her and it was only a matter of time before it happens. In that time span, I could say that it was our best years together as mother and son. It was my turn now to return back the favor. Together with my siblings, we took care of her in her time of need.

Yes it was again very difficult for all of us. We were all drained physically, emotionally, spiritually and financially. But she did not show any sign of weakness. Her faith kept her going. So did I. Until finally the Lord decided to take her away from us because it was her time. There were no regrets for her part because she left us with no unfinished business. And so on June 08, 2010, she left this world to join her parents together with her Creator.

This mama's boy misses her a lot. If God would grant me just one wish that would last for 10 seconds, I would say just to be with my mom and hug her for the last time to say i'm sorry, thank you and I love you.

Cheers to you mom on your 62nd birth anniversary! We may not see each other but I know that you are forever in our hearts. Until we meet again, mom.

Post Scripts About the Retreat

Wohoa! After 7 months of hibernation, I'm back!

The inspiration to write for me is just like a thief in the night. I don't know when it will come. But when it strikes, it hits me like a car. Bam! And then I just have the uncontrollable urge to write down my thoughts or else I cannot sleep.

Well here am I with the inspiration to write down again my thoughts about our recently concluded retreat. I have been in absentia joining school retreats for as far as I can remember. Perhaps 3 years? This is of course excludes the centennial retreats held by the university in 2011 and 2012. So it has been something like 5 or 6 years since I attended the last retreat sponsored by my school.

Of course my reasons then were valid. I had to take care of my ailing mother who was suffering from chronic kidney disease. She had her dialysis every Tuesdays and Saturdays. And every Saturday, I had to accompany her to the hospital. When she joined my brother Jesus Christ, my Saturdays then became free. Needless to say I could now attend to whatever Saturday activities that I can join in. And this particular retreat was one of my firsts again.

The retreat is what I would call spiritually refreshing. Yes truly it was rejuvenating. The theme of the activity was about faith since the Catholic church declared this liturgical year as the "Year of Faith." And I guess everyone must start with some degree of belief on why we are all gathered there.

The approach of the retreat master was comedic. Laughter was an integral part of his method in delivering his message across. For me there were no dull moments with Fr. Romy. It was just a wonderful experience of learning God's message. Most memorable lessons were:

"Kahit tapakan, lukutin at kung ano ano pa ang gawin sa iyo, hindi nagbabago ang halaga mo."

"Ang tunay na pagpapatawad ang magpapalaya sa iyo."

"Umayos ka. May misyon ka pa."

Bonus to that retreat of course is the bonding with my friends since we don't usually get to have "sleep overs" if you want to call it that way. Plus I gained a new brother! What else could top that?

With my friends before the session

In closure the best experiences happen when everything is unplanned and let God open it up for you. Truly this retreat is a memorable one!

Teacher Predicaments

I can truly say that I can relate with this picture. It has been 15 years since I've started teaching at UST High School and there are parents who would staunchly defend their child. Not all parents are of course like the ones on the right. My worry is that there might be an increase of those kind of parents who will do it out of "love" for their child.

Poor teachers then.

I have witnessed parents not coming to Parent-Teacher Conferences because they simply don't have the time and they are busy with their work. Period. I have seen worse cases scenarios where students have been failing most of their subjects and the parents find out too late that their child will not be readmitted because of multiple subject failures.

In my own humble opinion, I think some parents have a twisted, if not wrong, connotation of teachers acting like "second parents". Yes the family code has explicitly stated that teachers have special parental authority (I'm not sure if in loco parentis is the same here.) over their charges since they are minors. But no where in the family code does it state that teachers become the substitute parents. And by substitute parent, that would mean giving all parental obligations to the teacher in which they should be doing in the first place.

Yes teachers love their students but this same love cannot be provided by the teachers in the context of parent-child relationship. We are constantly reminded to be fair to our students and no special treatment must be exercised inside and outside the classroom.

We are also taught in education classes that genuine concern for the well being of our students is one of the greatest attributes of any teacher. And I agree with that. But this concern is limited to the confines of the walls of the school. What happens when the student steps out of the school? Shouldn't this concern be a partnership between parents and teachers? Sadly there are families where the house becomes a boarding house for their children where they eat, sleep, study and play.


If this sad plight of teachers would continue, then it would mean the slow but painful demise of education. How I wish it was 1969 again.