Maraming Salamat, 2015!

Nauuso ngayon sa mga posts sa Instagram, Facebook at kung kasya man, sa Twitter, ang mga mensahe tungkol sa mga magaganda (o kahit pangit man) na mga karanasan, pangyayari at selebrasyon ng taong 2015. Ako, gagawa ako ng simpleng blog para lamang magpasalamat sa mga taong naging bahagi ng aking buhay.

ANG AKING PAMILYA

Masakit man dahil sa taong ito ay iniwan na tayo ni Tito Pe (Alfredo E. Oris), hinding-hindi natin siya malilimutan. Siya na ang magsisilbing anghel natin na titingin sa atin at magdarasal para sa ating lahat. Kayo ang naging sanhi ng aking inspirasyon. Kayo ang aking lakas. Maraming salamat.

Hindi ako sanay na magpasalamat ng harap-harapan sa inyo ngunit alam niyo na siguro ang pagmamahal na aking ibinabahagi sa inyo!

Ang tanging hiling ko lang para sa ating lahat ay napakalusog na pangangatawan at walang sawang biyayang kung maaari'y maibagi Niya sa atin.

ANG AKING MGA KAIBIGAN

Aaminin kong hindi karamihan ang aking mga kaibigan. Ngunit para sa akin, aanhin mo man ang maraming kaibigan kung hindi ka naman nila kakilala mula ulo hanggang paa. At sila iyun. Ang dalawang grupong aking kinabibilangan.

Para sa aking mga mahal, ang Fantastic Six Plus, maraming salamat sa walang sawang pagtawa sa aking mga biro, sa walang sawang pag-intindi sa aking ugali, sa walang sawang pagpapasensya sa aking mga kamalian at sa walang sawang pagmamahal bilang inyong kaibigan. Nagkaroon man ng hindi pagkakaunawaan sa pagitan namin ni Marky, naniniwala pa rin kayo na balang araw ay magiging maayos ang kung ano man ang sa amin. At siyempre pa, higit akong natutuwa dahil napabilang na sa atin ang pinakamamahal nating sila Adrian at Melai. Nahihiya man sila at paminsan-minsa'y nagpapaubaya, binuksan natin ang ating mga kamay at isinama sa ating magandang samahan.

Sampung taon na tayong magkakaibigan. Nalampasan na natin ang sinasabi nilang "pitong taon" at sa pagkakataong ito, ang pagkakaibigan natin ay selyado na. Wala nang makakasira pa. At sama-sama tayo hanggang sa ating huling hininga!

Para sa aking mga kapatid, ang Teacherrifics, maraming salamat sa mga kuwento, biro, pasensya, suporta at higit sa lahat, pagmamahal. Hindi man tayo magkakasama na sa iisang bubong, ang Ann Arbor Montessori, nananatili pa rin tayong matatag anumang pagsubok ang mga nangyayari. Ang iba sa ati'y may pamilya na, magkakapamilya na, mag-asawa na, mag-aasawa na at patuloy na umiibig, nagpapatunay ito na ang ating pagkakaibigan ay subok na sa tibay at subok na sa tatag. 

Lahat tayo'y nakisimpatiya sa pagkawala ng ina ni Theresa at sa ina ni Onin na asawa ni Julie Girl. Lahat tayo'y nasasabik na sa pagdating ni Zayelle, ang unang anak nina Theresa at Joel. Lahat tayo'y nasasabik sa kasalang Chris at Julie at Kuya Frank at Ms. A. Lahat tayo'y naligayahan sa pag-uwi ni Lyrize mula sa Jeddah at sa muling pagsasama nila ni Yuan. Lahat tayo'y nagalak sa mga bagong kompanyang naging bahagi sila Andrew at Lyrize. At ako'y nagagalak dahil sa unti-unting pagbabalik ng ating pagkakaibigan, Rachel. Nawa'y magtuloy-tuloy ang magagandang balita at pangyayari sa atin at sa ating mga pamilya. Nawa'y maging handa tayo, pisikal man o emosyonal sa kung anumang pagsubok ang maaaring dumating sa ating pagkakaibigan.

Maraming salamat dahil kayo'y aking naging mga kaibigan.

ANG AKING MGA KAIBIGAN SA TRABAHO

Hindi kumpleto ang isang araw sa Far Eastern University kung hindi ko sila nakakasama at nakakakuwentuhan. Ang aking mga kapatid sa Interdisciplinary Studies Department na sina Ma'am Basil, Sir Kenneth, Sir Jeno, Sir Joey, Ma'am Emi at Sir Jorge at sa aming pinakamamahal na pundasyon at sandigan, Sir Manny, maraming salamat sa pagtutulungan, sa mga tawanan, sa mga kuwentuhan at sa mga karunungang inyong ibinabahagi. Inspirasyon ko kayo sa aking pagtuturo. At kung ano man ang ating mga kapalaran sa susunod na taon, nawa'y hindi tayo bumitiw sa samahang ating nabuo.

ANG AKING MGA MAG-AARAL

Sa inyo na naging kasama ko sa loob ng apat na sulok ng silid-aralan, maraming salamat sa mga hindi malilimutang pagkakataon na ako'y inyong naging guro. May mga pagkakataon man na ako'y nagalit o nagsungit, patawad. May mga pagkakataon man na kayo'y natawa sa aking mga biro, salamat sa masasarap na tawa. May mga pagkakataon man na ako'y nakatulong sa inyo, walang anuman! May mga pagkakataon man na kayo'y may natutunan sa aking mga aral, ako'y nalulugod at natutuwa!

Misyon ko na ibigay sa inyo ang nararapat na karunungan na maaari ninyong magamit sa mga darating na araw. Pahintulutan ninyo akong maging bahagi ng inyong buhay-estudyante, sa mga leksyon, proyekto, riserts, pangkatang-gawain at kung ano pa man. Kung oo man, maraming salamat at magiging maganda ang ating samahan. 

At sa Far Eastern University, maraming salamat sa pagkakataong maging isang propesor. 

2015 ay naging akin, nawa'y sa darating na bagong taon, maging akin ulit ito. Ika nga ng isang kasabihan, "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." 

Toodles, 2015!

Hello, 2016!

Mga larawan mula sa Facebook account nina Cacai Tandingan, Julie Ann Cory Jimenez, Sir Emmanuel Gonzales, Jenorie San Agustin at sa Far Eastern University (official).

Hey Bro... Haha!!!

Catchy title it is but definitely not funny (funny-walain!!!)...

Once again, I'm here with my brouhahas to tell something about something, or to write something about something...

Bet you didn't know that second semester in FEU is ongoing but I still feel the vibes of the semester break and APEC week (vacation). I don't know if I can disclose this but since it is a "national" issue somehow on Twitter, some students and even classes are still having a hard time with the schedules and class lists. Adjustment period is already over but still some students are having problems with their classes. I am also having a hard time finalizing my teaching load and my class schedule because of some unavoidable changes within the system. Hopefully, everything may come in order as fast as possible.

Nevertheless, I feel I will have a good semester at this time. New set of students and I guess, better set of students unlike the previous one which it gave me so much pain and trauma! I will be teaching Public Speaking (a first time!), Technical Writing, Research Writing, Academic Writing (others call it College Writing) and my most favorite, Literature! May God bless me in this semester!

Probably I am the last person in the world which still use this phone as my mode of communication to my family and friends. But six years ago, this was my dream phone. Back then, this was still considered as the most intelligent phone because you can do anything in it. You can do notes, plan events and meetings, take photos, listen to radio, record a video, sync to other phones and other outstanding stuff. But it's already 2015, and still, this is what I use as my official mobile phone.

Don't worry, I am planning to buy a new one (of course not like this) next year because I need to go with the times. Every time I'm with my friends, somehow I don't put this out not because I am embarrassed with this but because I'm not going with the flow with them. They own smartphones which are touched by the fingers and they can do Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and the Internet through it while my phone cannot do those. But again, I'm very glad because this "dream phone" became my phone.

The great Dona Zenaida Oris Balota will celebrate her 60th natal day on the 21st of December. I'm very excited, not because she is already 20%-discounted in all transactions, but it's her Diamond birthday (feels like her Jubilee year) and together with my siblings, we're very excited to celebrate it with her. We're not actually the typical "pa-showbiz" when it comes to celebrations but we're very glad she is able to reach sixty!

I told her that if for instance she was able to have a work, probably she's already processing her retirement. I knew the real reason why she let go of her dream to become a career woman; nevertheless, she chose the career not all woman can easily become successful, to become a mother!

I'm not a fan of One Direction so forgive me in using this picture for my next brouhaha.

It is like this, I usually include myself to a group of friends which has fancy names. During my high school days, I belonged myself to a group simply called "Cool Friends." Then in college, we formed a group called "Fantastic Six" and this was during our thesis-making moments. We playfully write it as F6 something like a key from the computer keyboard (for I have no idea what is its function). As we go along, we became "Fantastic Seven" or "F7" because a good friend became an addition to our circle. I remember we were playing our name as Fantastic Six Plus One. Then for some reasons, we went back to F6. The member of this group consist of myself, then my best friend forever Imelyn Blanco, my best buddy Andrew Quisumbing, my sister Cacai Tandingan, my daughter Charlyn Aranar and my best friend through thick and thin, through highs and lows and through ups and downs Mark Lester Pabilando. Now, my good friends, Adrian Pitel and Mary Melanie Sumaria are also included in this circle. A good friend, Sherry Mae Santos, also became part of our circle.

For our traditions, we celebrate our birthdays with Kenneth being the first and Chacha being the last. We always have the "German Moreno-ish" style of birthday celebration, Mark's birthday and yours truly. And the yearly PAMORNINGAN, in which we watch any Metro Manila Film Festival movie (we always choose Resorts World Manila) and then we eat at someplace until the next morning comes.

Then when I got to Ann Arbor Montessori Learning Center, I became part of another friendship circle and this consist of my best buddy Andrew (aside from being classmates in college, we used to be colleagues in AAM), my brother-from-another-mother Yuan, his wife and my soul sister Leelyput (Lyrize as her real name), my professor friend Chris (which we lovely call Tarroching), my beautiful sister Theresa, my powerful and inspiring friend Julie Girl, my sexy kumare Miss Arlene, my lovely friend Ms. Adona, my friendship Ms. Joy, my dear friend for keeps Alexia (Rachel as her real name), the dancer and Canada girl Sidiney (Sydney as her real name) and my dear brother Sir Phil. We call ourselves Teacherrifics due to the fact that we're teachers and at the same time, terrific. It all started when myself, Lyrize, Alexia, Andrew and Sir Phil went to then newly-opened Starbucks Coffee near the Presentation of the Child Jesus Church in BF Homes. Originally, we were meant to be called "Mondayrrifics;" back then when we usually go out on a Monday night! Then the whole thing started when we went to Ms. Adona's house (a story no need to retell) one Monday night then it became Teacherrifics.

Within our group, we also came up with certain groups. The group of Ms. Arlene, Ms. Adona, Theresa and Julie Girl with the lovely Ms. Angie was back then circle of friends. Andrew somehow comes with them during his first year of teaching at AAM. Then, I involved myself to the group which by the way, we're not yet really considered as a group. Then Yuan, Andrew and myself started another group called Ze MOA Boys, with Alexia as the one who gave us the name. She was also our "honorary" member due to the fact that she frequently comes with us. The name came from SM Mall of Asia because before, we frequent the mall to unwind, until the wee hours of the morning. Then based on the photo above, a new set of group is being formed as Midnight Memories. It started only this year when the Anots, myself and Andrew went to someplace (okay, Resorts World Manila and the usual Starbucks Coffee) and had some fun during the midnight. We were not sentimental nor nostalgic about our pasts but we just wanted to have good memories during midnight.

They are not only my barkada, they are my brothers and sisters. So no "friendship overs."

And here they are:

The Fantastic Six with Adrian and Melai (honorary members???)

The Teacherrifics

"A strong friendship doesn't need daily conversation, doesn't always need togetherness, as long as the relationship lives in the heart, true friends will never part."

I may not be the best friend you can have, or I may be your worst friend but I will not fail you. There are moments in which I will but I'm trying my best to fix it, because hands down, you are my dear friend. Here in my heart and everybody knows that you'll be very special no matter what happens. We may have shortcomings, or even the worst fights that may prolong to over a month or even a year, it's only just a phase.

Hey bro, these are my brouhahas!!! Hope you like them!!!

Toodles!!!

(photos courtesy of Google, my Facebook account and Melai Sumaria's Facebook account as well...)

The Original Brouhahas of Ziegrey Oris-Balota

Hello... It's me!

Sounds like Adele...

Well, I wanted to return on how I really write my brouhahas. Short-pieced anecdotes about what and how I feel as of the moment. And I'm ready...

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Last Friday, I watched "A Second Chance," a film by Cathy Garcia-Molina with John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo. It was the sequel of "One More Chance" shown way back 2007. For the first film, they were only boyfriend-girlfriend relationship which had a turbulent situation of breaking up, moving on, and hoping for another rekindling love. Well, they did and that's how their second film happened. This time, they were already husband-and-wife tandem, which had shown again its ups and downs. Including their dreams which were not achieved: dream house, family, famous engineering and architecture firm and a happy marriage. Then suddenly, an idea popped out on my mind; just like Popoy's mindset, "what if?" 

What if I got married, I have my partner with me, sleeping beside me but looking at the other side of the coin, why am I sleeping with this person right next to me? What if our compiled dreams that we both planned did not pursue, or worst did not happen? What if that person is not really who is suited for you? What if we don't need to get married? Then a one-liner said by the character of Janus del Prado awakened me, "duwag ka kasi!"

Indeed, marriage is not simply wearing a traje de boda and celebrating with fabulous wedding concepts and of course, love. Marriage is a sacrament and it needs to be amplified every day as possible! There may be different ways, possibly a million or even billions of ways, of making marriage as strong as possible but no couple wouldn't define it. It's because each couple has a different way of making their marriage successful. Before stepping in and before saying "I do!" you have to be a million percent of preparedness because a new chapter will soon begin and it will end for you have no idea when.

Soon enough, if it's allowable and at the same time all people think about love as same as how we look at it.

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Before, I wanted to vote Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago to become our country's next president since Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte didn't want to run (for his own good but vague reasons). In all presidentiables that we have, only Senator Miriam has the edge. But when Mayor Digong announced that he was (finally) about to run, apologies are on table but my vote will definitely for him.

Since his pronouncement, lots of criticisms were thrown to him including the famous cursing to the Pope in which according to some, media had hyped the issue but not the entire speech he made during his proclamation soiree at a hotel in Manila. Another was when he announced to the whole world that he was a "womanizer." Indeed, that's not cool but as a modern Filipino with a matured mind (sort of), why should I delve that issue to his beautifully-recorded leadership in the city of Davao. Another famous issue about Mayor Digong was the merciless justice of killing criminals. I highly doubt that he will put justice to his hand without even deciding about it. Unless otherwise to those criminals who don't need some trials. 

Then a colleague asked me about my announcement (wow!) that I'll vote for Duterte: "Why are you going to vote for him?" She was really skeptical about Duterte and with the issues encircling him was I guess her proof to me not to vote. I just answered simply, "It's because of his leadership."

I haven't been to Davao City. I can only attest through observations about the people, the city itself and the stories of Davaoenos. Indeed, they are very proud of their city. We're not sure if Mayor Digong can make the Philippines like Davao City but let's see. 

And most probably, we should learn as Filipinos not to fully depend our lives to the government. It's their responsibility to govern us, but we also have our own responsibility with each other and within ourselves.

#Duterte2016

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I cherish every moment when some of my students and former students ask help for their projects, thesis and papers. I also love how they ask me to recommend them for their on-the-job training, or for their very first work. With that, I pray for them that soon they will be at their very successful careers in whatever endeavor they wanted to.

Others, they blame you why they flunked with their studies. Obviously, these are some students in which they put the blame to their professors and these are some students which they are very careless with their studies. There is one good example: my former student who keeps on harassing and threatening me why I failed him in our subject. This is his premise: I told him that his grade was okay. As a student, I shouldn't just make it cool that my grade will be okay. Of course, I need to work harder for my next set of studies. As a disclaimer to this situation, I said "okay" to him because his midterm grade is "passed." Now, I don't know how he took it. 

He was now asking me why I failed him. And there are obvious reason that I showed him. Now, if he still doesn't understand it, it's not my problem anymore.

And those are the kinds of students which I have no idea about their future. Especially those students who just come to school to do nothing and not doing their responsibility which is to study and be somebody. Going back to my students who are asking for recommendation letters and help for their thesis, I would love to see them growing, acting and succeeding. And with those success, I would brag myself that a part of theirs is me.

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There is another anecdote that I wanted to write but instead, I'll put it in some series of haiku.

Someone has returned

And it is not really cool

Afraid to see it

Two hands intertwined

One heart's calmly demolished

The eyes will just close

I wanted to cry

But my heart doesn't allow

So it means I'm fine

Did you even see

That I'm truly existing

Or just normal thing

It's another scene

This shall pass, yes I should know

But what if, what if

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Thank you for spending a little amount of time reading!

Toodles!