gopher's back

... and after several months, i'm back!

just give me some time to dust off the cobwebs in this place, and i'll be ready for business.

a thank you note

I received a handmade thank you card from one of the graduates. It contains a note and a wacky picture of the faculty inside. The note reads:

For your good humor and the jokes that wake us up during class. For being my academic adviser, and the helpful study tips you gave us for Thera Ex 2. For your praise and for teaching us the proper intonation of “very good.”

It feels nice to be appreciated :)

thank you

summer plans update 2

Trying to keep track.

CTS stuff:

• CTS renovation will start on Saturday. Yep Black Saturday. The contractor feels he doesn't have enough time to finish by the end of May. We had to help him out with the papers with CPDMO. I'm so thankful Alma is there to help with all the signing.
• The new aircondition units for the clinic just arrived. We now have 4 split-type aircons. One for the SI room, one for the iso rooms, one for the intern's lounge and one for the CS lounge. We also have two new window-type aircons for the AA OT area and AA ADL/Hydro area. Plus we have 3 new blowers for the AA comfort room, AA SP rooms and AA OT treatment area. Some of the units have already been installed but we have to work on the power source for the other units.
• The contractor for the new blinds arrived earlier to make the final measurements. Its going to be a busy summer but come June the clinic is going to be brand new!
• The graduates donated half of the excess money they gathered for the Christmas Party to the clinic. Thanks to the new alumni of the college!
• The database project is nearly complete. What's left is encoding the data and sorting all of the inactive patient charts. We will resurrect one of the old computer solely for the database of the clinic.

Geeky stuff

• Already meet with the previous coordinator of PT142 to discuss problems with last years run. This subject needs careful planning and monitoring. I'm excited. I also emailed last year's course team to ask for their comments and suggestions.
• Cathie emailed me the copy of the blog study we are going to work on. EJ already gave his approval. I just need to talk to the dean.
• I fixed up my desk a bit. Something we faculty rarely get to do once the classes start. I got to purge a lot of papers (scratch paper heaven). On Monday, I plan to organize my files.

Non-geeky stuff

• Nothing planned yet.
• Tried Chef Bruce's new opened resto at Rob Galleria, Hyphy's (pronounced as HIGH-fees). The sisig pasta was good but it becomes overwhelming after a few bites. I think it needs more pasta to control the amount of the sisig with every bite. The interiors look good and the service is good.

skateboards on the wall

sisig pasta

It will be Maundy Thurday in a few minutes. I'm thinking if I'm going to do a visita iglesia to help me reflect.

Have a blessed holy week everyone.

summer plans update

I'm going to blog my progress to keep me on track. :)

Geeky stuff:

• downloaded last year's PT 142 and PT 153 syllabi (syllabuses?haha)
• reviewed and documented my personal thoughts about the topics and how it was ran last year
• things to do: study the course eval last year, talk to last year's coordinators (that would be EJ because I was the PT 153 coord last year), gather the thought of the faculty about the course

Non-geeky stuff

• Got switchfoot tickets courtesy of Grace! Yey. I missed the the script concert tonight. Bawi na lang. :)

poster from gigs.com.ph

things to do this summer

Ever since I decided to discontinue with my program, my head is spinning with things I can do with my free time this summer. I'm writing it down here so I won't forget. I have a lot of free time this April and May but I will be swamped with work come first semester. So I need to use my time wisely. Mr. Crammer will start to work early. hahaha. This will also serve as my goal list.

Ok. Things to do this summer:

1. Review and revise the syllabus for PT 153: Thera Ex 2. I need to look at the course evaluation, rethink the content and send the revisions to the team before the second week of May. This will give them more time to think about the course and the subjects they would like to teach.

2. Review and revise the syllabus for PT 142: Assessment in Physical Therapy. This is trickier compare to the first one because it is a bigger subject. I need to meet with the previous coordinator aside from reviewing the course eval. I hope i will be able to email the revised syllabus for comments by the 3rd week of May.

3. Transcribe the FGD with the clinical coordinators and analyze the data. This I should do soon. I will be using the analysis of the data during the CAMP vision and mission. This should be done before the VMG on the 26th.

4. Revise the research proposal that I will use for the thesis of the incoming students. I plan to use parts of my management study. Either the interview of clinic managers of pediatric centers to determine the most effective way to decrease the waitlist, or continue with the telephone interview to determine the perceptions of caregivers of patients in the CTS waitlist about waiting. This will take a longer time to finish. I hope I can submit it for technical review by the first week of June and for ethical review right after that.

5. Work on my paper for publication. I will try to have the SERVQUAL study I did with the students two years ago. I want this to be a surprise. I hope to get a response by June. So that means I have to work on it ASAP.

6. I have several projects on-going at CTS at the moment. I need to supervise them during the summer:

a. Renovation of the CTS pedia

b. Updating and improving the database - i need to find a suitable program for this

c. I plan to do an actual audit of the existing waitlist and do it as a study. I've read articles like this before. It would also be good for publication.

7. Think about topics for the EBP paper next semester. I need to have this ready by June.

So there. Looks like its going to be a full summer. But I'm not dreading it. There is no pressure and I work better that way.

Of course, there's the May Visayas-Mindanao trip to look forward too. I'll still get to swim this summer and not just in papers. hahaha

and another academic year comes to a close

It was a tiring but productive day. It was University Graduation Day!

I woke up late. Haha. Actually, I woke up at four AM but I made the mistake of closing my eyes again. When I got up it was 6:45 already. The assembly time is at 7:00 at PICC and I'm still at Pasig. I got out of the apartment at around 7:30. I took an FX to Makati and then a cab to PICC. The traffic was moderate to heavy! I should have taken the train. Needless to say, I was was late. This is my 3rd time to attend the university grad and I been late twice. Oh well, next year is another year. I did get to hear the last part of President Pascual's speech, and I still got to see our students as they went up the stage. Congrats again to everyone and to the cum laudes!

The ceremony is not that different from the previous ones. They still played that kulintang march I love in lieu of Pomp and Circumstance. CAS still had the most the number of students and laudes. There was a lightning rally as expected. This year its about expressing their disappointment over the UP budget cuts and the tuition fee increase. Speaking of being disappointed, I didn't like the valedictory address by UP Manila's only summa cum laude. It was just ok. Nothing heartfelt. It was like cliches woven together into a speech. I actually liked the speech of the lightning rally leader better. That one was delivered well and with conviction. I especially liked the part when he was about end and the introduction to UP Naming Mahal was already playing. It gave me goosebumps, I tell you.

After the ceremonies, the Chancellor treated all of the faculty to a delicious lunch at Emerald Garden. They served big crabs and shrimps! Thanks chancy!

When we returned to the college, I had to rush to CTS to talk to the contractor about the renovation plans for the summer. I also had to rush my documents for my grad school application. (Yup! I'm applying in a new program.) Today was the last day of submission. I was able to submit fifteen minutes before the office closed. Whew! Buzzer beater again!

Next week is holy week. Work at the college will finally start to wind down. I've already made geeky plans for the summer. Haha. I'll post that next but for now I will rest.

102nd commencement exercise

double chin a la cervical collar

OT, PT SP faculty

the expected lightning rally

speaking with conviction

waiting for the emerald lunch

2011 college graduation

The college held the recognition rites for its 2011 OT, PT and SP graduates at the Philam Life Auditorium this morning. As Ma'am Mia said, the ceremony was "heartwarming, sincere and precious."

For the benefit of those who, like me, did not experience a separate college graduation apart from a university graduation, the recognition rites is a ceremony held by the college to honor its graduates. The graduates are presented with their certificates of completion (which is different from the official university diploma). It is during the college graduation when the college recognizes the outstanding students: the merit awardees (those with GWA 2.0 to 1.76), the laudes, the best interns, and the best thesis presenters. The graduates also get to wear their sablays during the event. They get to wear their academic togas during the university graduation when they are conferred their respective degrees.

This is different during my time. Back then, the awards were given during the Seniors Over At last Party (SOAP) and the scholastic awards were presented during the university graduation. As of present, there are no more official graduation parties except those organized by the students themselves.

The college graduation has a more "homey" feel because the graduates of the college are really the center of attention. For some, they consider the recognition rites as more meaningful and memorable compared to the university grad.

This year, we had the very engaging Ms. Alexandra "Sandy" Prieto Romualdez as our guest speaker. She is the president and CEO of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and a high school batchmate of Ma'am Mia.

It was quite the event! The university officials commended the college for a very organized and efficient(!) recognition ceremony. But more importantly, the students were very satisfied and happy. And they should be! Graduating from the college is bragging right. Haha. But a right one should use in moderation.

There are THREE PT cum laudes this year: Kevin Arao, Jess Daet, and Diana Que. Nicole Prieto was awarded the Best PT Clinican (welcome to the club - haha. yabang!). Dean Polly's thesis group composed of Jess Daet, Albert Pagdato, Danica Dalmacion, Allain Lou P. Padlan, Gem Robis, and Luika Watanabe, bagged the Best Thesis Presentation Award.

Congratulations to all the awardees and congratulations to the graduating batch of 2011!

Up next: Board Exam. Good luck!

the classic Philam Life red tiles

registration

i still don't have a decent sablay pic

going up?

walking along Ma. Orosa

heading back to the College

land and fire

Last Monday I went with Royson to Batasan to meet with my adviser to tell her about my decision. Unfortunately, she was sick so I wasn't able to talk to her personally. I just emailed her instead.

On our way to Batasan, we passed by several shanties on fire! The black column of smoke was already visible as far away as Araneta Avenue.

I heard from the news later that day that these were squatters who refused to be relocated. I think one person was reported dead. I'm not sure if there were more.

Sad. You don't know who to side with. The illegal settlers who now lost all of their property and for some, their love ones, or the legal owners of the area who cannot use the land because it was, if you think about it, "stolen" from them by these illegal settlers.

Why can't just people follow the law and think before they act? Hay naku!

pillar of black smoke form the burning shanties

cutting my loses

I was at a loss the past week. I was at a crossroad. Crossroads are never fun but, just like everything that we have to face, it is a learning experience. You learn things about yourself and the people around you.

I have decided to call it quits. And being so near the end of my program, my decision is not a popular choice among my friends, co-workers and bosses. But knowing myself, I know it's the right choice. I'm happy with my decision. It's a decision I should have made three semesters ago when I came back.

I wrote my adviser an emotional letter explaining my decision. I was supposed to tell her personally today but she was sick so thus the letter.

I'm sharing it here because I think its the best way to explain my decision to those who care to know the reason.

I just want to clean my slate and start fresh. Because I know wherever I'm headed, I'm going to make waves!

Two years from now, when I'm wearing that blue hood, I will read this again and smile and say "I knew it! I was right!"

- - -

Hi Ma'am,

I hope you are feeling better.

I went with Royson to Shopwise Barasan earlier to inform you of my decision. I spent the weekend to reflect on my possible courses of action and finally, I have made up my mind.

I'm going to cut my loses.

I think and feel that will not be able to finish all of my requirements given the time and my lack of focus and motivation. I don't know what happened why I lost my drive. Probably because I let the whole thing dragged on so long the way it did. It was my fault compounded by other factors. I feel I am not the same person who sat in your financial management class eight years ago. My circumstances have changed and so did my interests. The career path I drew for myself years ago is now different from the career path I am on. My path is now towards being an educator in the academe. The PT clinic/hospital I wanted to put up back then is now temporarily shelved. Perhaps, one day my path will change again and lead me to that. We'll never know, but for now, I am happy with where I am headed. And with that, I would have to say goodbye to the program.

I don't feel its a big loss though. It's too bad that I will not get the degree but the things that I have learned and have applied will always be with me. Enrolling in the course also gave me a chance to meet you, and other wonderful teachers like Ma'am Jen and Ma'am Myra. You have no idea how you have inspired me to be a better student and a better teacher to my own students. For that I am eternally grateful.

Thank you ma'am for the support and the guidance. Thank you for giving me a chance to grow. Rest assured that I will use all the things that I have learned.

I am now planning to apply at NTTC to take up MHPEd. I am actually excited about it. When I'm finished with that degree 2 years from now, I plan to combine the things I know from both programs and apply it to the college :)

I hope one day I get to work with you again. Thank you again, ma'am, for everything!

clinic pre-renovation

Our generous ninang agreed to help with the summer renovation of the pedia section of the clinic. The walls and ceiling will be repainted and the floor will be retiled. We will also have that almost 20-year old wooden toy cabinet dismantled to give room for the new metal cabinets we ordered. The sink will be retiled as well and the anay-infested cabinets below it will be removed. Lastly, we'll have the upper part of the door changed to glass and new window screens will be put in place.

We emptied the clinic and placed everything at the adult-adolescent section. Its a little cramped there now but its still functional.

Hopefully, the construction will be finished by the end of May in time for the start of another academic year.

main entrance

wooden toy cabinets

more toy cabinets

main treatment area

to the sensory integration room

isolation room and sink area

dora at the iso room

sink area and comfort room

more iso rooms

crossroad

i'm giving myself until today to reflect and decide.

will i cut my loses or will i go all hercules?

in the end its just me who is going to decide.

my enemy is just ME.

training scenes

I work in Manila but I live in Cavite but most of the time I crash at my brother's place in Pasig to the point of overstaying my welcome. Haha.

There are three routes I usually take from Lifehomes to Manila: bus to Quiapo, MRT-LRT straight to Pedro Gil, or FX to Makati then a cab to work. Lately, I've been taking he train. It's the fastest but the most tiring. Unlike with the bus or the FX-cab routes, I cannot sleep when I'm "training". When there's nothing to do aside from standing my ground, I usually whip out my phone and take pictures.

Here are some of those "training scenes".

center aisle

dreaming of mcdo

gum! tsk tsk tsk

with the students gone

traveling with dad

bus ride to Cavite - different mode of transport, same problem

retro pics posts

With my new phone, I can now transfer my cam pics to the computer. I find it difficult to do with my previous phone. So now expect a barrage of retro photo posts. Hehe.

One of the major reasons why I transferred my blog from multiply to blogspot is because of the latter's poor picture storage. So I'll be keeping my pictures here from now own. I also have a photobucket account but I usually forget to upload there. Blogspot is my savior.

my phone! definitely, my phone!

Finally, I bought a new phone! I've been surviving on a borrowed phone for the longest time (Thank you friends!). Thanks to the "haggard pay", I have one to call my own. Haha.

It's a my|phone QW28 Duo. I went a thousand pesos over my budget but I got all the features I wanted. It's a dual sim wifi ready qwerty phone with bluetooth, a camera and an mp3 player. Not bad, not bad at all.

Now, all I have to do is buy a protector. Anybody know where I can buy a nice one?

gopher phone

research day

Today the graduating PT student presented their researches in the annual research symposium of the college. The seven groups worked the whole year with their thesis advisers from writing the proposal to data collection and analysis to manuscript writing and presentation.

I arrived late at the event (because the LRT broke down and because I woke up late). I missed Ma'am Mia's Gawad Centenaryo Professorial Chair Lecture and the first two groups of students who presented. Darn! I wanted to hear Ma'am Mia's clinical reasoning research.

I sat at the back and tried to tweetcast the whole event. I was fairly successful. Haha.

Here's a rundown of the researches that were presented:

Aguila, et al. "Physical activity habits of UP Manila students"

(presented by RA Borlat)

Rotor, et al. "Clinical reasoning of two Filipino physical therapists in out-patient clinics: Preliminary results of a qualitative case study"

(presented by Clariz Patricio)

Bandong, et al. "Perceptions of Filipino older adults on physical activity"

(presented by Zoila Dayao)

Gorgon, et al. "Physical therapy for people with dementia: exploring the required competencies

(presented by JR Canono)

Gomez, et al. "A pilot study on the perceptions of Filipino adults on physical activity"

(presented by Mae Ang)

Mendoza, et al. "A review of the waitlist and wait times in the Clinic for Therapy Services

(presented by Ren Dizon)

Magpili, et al. "Awareness of clinical obstetricians-gynecologists about the role of physical therapy and referral pattern in obstetrics and gynecology at the Philippine General Hospital

(presented by Albert Pagdato)

Congratulations to the students and their faculty advisers for a successful symposium. I'm proud of my group for answering the panelists' questions so well. Too bad they lost their chance to win the Best Research Presentation Award because they submitted their materials late. Overall, it was a very good effort. They presented and discussed the results well without overwhelming the audience with the numbers. Their powerpoint could use a little adjusting though. It was hard to read from the back. One more edit and the paper is ready for binding.

The symposium was the students' last hurrah! After this, it just make-up clinical duties and then GRADUATION. And another academic year comes to a close. (sigh of relief)

(photo from Ma'am Mia's blog)

roar of a choco

I love chocolate! Actually, I love food in general. I was reminded of how lucky I was and my sweet tooth as a child because I got to eat a lot of chocolates every time my Pa would come home from Saudi. (Yeah! I'm a typical pinoy child of the eighties - a provinciano middle middle class with a parent working in the Middle East.)

Of all the chocolates my Pa would bring home back then, it's the Lion Bar that's my favorite. I could finish three or four bars in one sitting. I was reed thin back then so there were no worries about getting flabs. Oh how I miss that sweet chocolate taste. I think it was in the early 90's when I last tasted that particular brand.

Based on my internet research, I learned that the original Lion Bar was made by Rowntree but by the start of the 90's they sold it to Nestle. Nestle still sells the bars but they've changed the recipe. Too bad!

I think I'll search for a Nestle Lion Bar soon and see for myself if the taste did indeed change. Haha.

Everyone has fond memories of childhood. Mine is a bar of chocolate goodness that roars back with every bite.

photo credit: 205gti306gti

ethical last day

Last Friday was the official last day of classes. Next week is just for exams, exams, and more exam. After that, it's "hello internship!" for the kids (all of them I hope).

The ethics class ended the sem for the students. In groups, they creatively reported on solutions to different ethical dilemmas. And if there's one thing these smart students are, its creative. It was an interesting and fun way to end the year.

I'm proud of these students and I can wait to see them strut their stuff in the clinics. Good luck with the exams!

Meanwhile, the sem is not over for the faculty especially for us doing graduate studies. Good luck to us too!

of course the year can't end without some picture taking

pareng Oble paid the class a visit

and the crowd went wild!

with students Cez and Sophie

(pictures from Cez' FB page)

death of common sense

Got this from Betchay

Obituary printed in the London Times

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;

- Why the early bird gets the worm;

- Life isn't always fair;

- and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realise that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;

I Know My Rights

I Want It Now

Someone Else Is To Blame

I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realised he was gone.

photo from Thinkstock

gudjab teach!

Just a quick blog while I rest from working.

I received my teacher rating today. At the end of every semester, the teachers are "graded" by the students using a teacher rating scale devised by the college. It's a 51-item tool with questions ranging from grooming to classroom discipline to actual teaching and exams. Space is also provided for comments and suggestions. For me, more than the numbers, its the written comments that has the biggest impact may it be positive or negative.

I can't help but smile as I read what the students thought about how I taught and handled my classes. It really feels nice to be appreciated by your students. That plus knowing they are learning and striving to get better makes everything wort the while. I did get some feedback regarding my occasional tardiness and how I sometimes get easily frustrated. (Duly noted, sirs and ma'ams.) But overall, I was overwhelmed with the positive things they wrote. At one point, I can't actually believe they were writing about me! :)

To my students, thanks for the kind words and the useful suggestions. You don't know how your comments inspire me to do better.

Cheers to teaching and learning!

see the (new) look

I was finally able to make a banner for the blog. Looks a little simple but it will do for the time being. Now it looks like a proper blog. Haha. IMHO, a blog is not yet considered"proper" when it lacks some sort of personalization. I also added the ambigram my friend Revilo made for me a few years back to add to its "properness". Hehe

Ok, so there you go. Now back to the papers. *grins*

bustos daw! dining pinoy style

He is the new pinoy youtube sensation (well, fairly recent, at least for me because I only heard of him today) - Mikey Bustos. I saw someone quote him on twitter, "Op kors, redhorse"; watched his video "tutorials"on youtube; and laughed my head off. In the tradition of Rex Navarette, Christine "Happy Slip" Gambito, and other pinoy comedians who grew up in a different country with the vantage point of someone outside looking in, he presents a brand of comedy that highlights the idiosyncrasies (i hope i used that term right) of Filipino culture.

This video talks about some of the dining habits of pinoys. Honestly, this video, aside from making me laugh, made me hungry. I want some rice with my KFC!

acoustic fray

I want to perform this onstage. Naks! But looks like I'm gonna need some lessons: voice lessons, piano lessons and k-hon lessons. That sounds expensive. Oh well, its free to dream.

Boyce Avenue's cover of the Fray's "How to Save a Life"

lens for change

This project aims to raise awareness regarding persons with disability (PWDs). A chance to showcase their strengths, talents, and abilities: how they transcend the barriers of disability. We hope that this project will influence the views of students and other people in the university towards disability. Changing their views will be a stepping stone in building an inclusive UPM community. You can download the forms here.

midyear goals

I believe that when you write down the things that you want, you will achieve them!

So here are my midyear goals!

By the middle (June) of this year (2011), I will...

... have my own apartment.

... have my degree in MHA.

... have one published research.

... have a new QWERTY phone with a camera, MP3 player and internet features.

... have monetary savings of at least 10,000 pesos.

I want to list more but I have to keep it realistic. I'm keeping my fingers crossed as I work.

Lord bless me! Thank you!

peyups, ang galing mo!

I was listening to my random playlist, when this song started to play. It has been three years since the centennial celebration but this song still gets me whenever I hear it. School spirit strong is, in this one. Forever proud to be a UP alumnus he is.

UP Ang Galing Mo

UP Centennial Band

I

Narito kami nagpupugay

Sa unibersidad ng aming buhay

Ikaw pa rin ang binabalikan

‘Di pa rin malilimutan

Ikaw ang UP naming mahal

II.

Salamat sa iyong mga guro

Salamat sa iyong pagtuturo

Taglay niyo ang kahusayan

Taglay niyo ang karunungan

Hinubog niyo kami sa kabutihan

REFRAIN I:

Sandaang taon na tayo

Lagi ka pa rin sa aming puso

Kaya’t kami’y sumasaludo

UP ang galing mo

UP ang galing mo

III.

Wala nang iba pang maihahambing

Sa talino mo’t angking galing

Daanin man sa siyensiya

High-tech man o kahit ano pa

Ikaw UP ang nangunguna

IV.

Sa iyong mga dugo ang kasaysayan

Dumaloy sa pag-unlad ng ating bayan

Sagisag ka ng kagitingan

Bandila ka ng kalayaan

Pag-asa ka ng mamamayan

REFRAIN II:

Sandaang taon na tayo

Lagi ka pa rin sa aming puso

Sandaang taon na tayo

UP ang galing mo

UP ang galing mo

REFRAIN III:

Sandaang taon na tayo

Lagi ka pa rin sa aming puso

Sentro ka ng pagbabago

UP ang galing mo

UP ang galing mo

Sandaang taon na tayo

UP ang galing mo

UP ang galing mo

thank you for your time

Got this from Bambi.

A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door.

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams.

There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

"Jack, did you hear me?"

"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.

"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.

"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.

"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important. Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.

Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly.

"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.

"The box is gone," he said

"What box?" Mom asked.

"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died, returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read. Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.

Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved:

"Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."

"The thing he valued most was...my time"

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.

"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.

"Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"

lost night

I went home to Cavite last night to get some work done (I need the peace and quiet) and to see the folks. It's been three weeks since I last saw them. Unfortunately or fortunately, I left my (borrowed) laptop's power cord at school! Nyark! The laptop's batteries are non-functional and it won't turn on without the cord. No cord means no laptop; and no laptop means forced rest and no work done. Hay! I should be panicking by now. So much to do! So much to do! Well, at least I got to breathe fresh air for a change.

in your north face!

I met up with my friend Roselyn today to get the original black north face back pack I ordered. She got it from a friend in Vietnam and she's selling it for just 2K which is much much less compared to its mall price.

I'm always in need of a new resilient backpack. Careless is an understatement. I leave it anywhere and stuff everything in it. Betchay calls my backpack paper purgatory. Once a sheet of papers goes in my bag, it takes centuries before it sees daylight again. I call it a stereognosis backpack. One needs their streognosis (identification of objects by touch without the benefit of sight) intact to find anywhere in there. Haha. I hope this new north face will last longer than its predecessors.

I'm excited to use it for the Visayas-Minadanao trip we are planning for May. Yey!

gopher's new black borealis

New Blog

I decided to create a new blog! Yahoo!

Actually, its more like reviving and continuing the old blog in a different address. This is the 2nd reincarnation of "departing from wasteland" (DFW). Blog-city was its first address then it was transferred to Multiply when blog-city closed down. Nowadays, Multiply is like a ghost town with the advent of Facebook and Twitter. Its not as exciting as before. So I finally decided to resurrect DFW on the very stable and dependable Blogspot. And here it is!

I don't have time now to spruce up the site and P(F)ersonalize it. Heck, I don't even know if I have time to write anything given the hectic sched. I just want the birth pains to be over and done with, not that theres a lot. :) I just want to put it up before procrastination sets in again.

And so a new chapter begins in chronicling my life (for future scholars and movie makers to study) as I continue my search for the borders of wasteland.