I AM A TEACHER

November 7 2007
Ms. Jeniffer S. Francisco
Reflection

I AM A TEACHER but I never dream to be one. If not because of my parents who encouraged me particularly my mother I will never be a teacher by profession. As I can still remember when I was a child I saw my mother performed her different roles in life- a mother, to her children, a wife, and a career woman ( an elementary teacher ). There were several instances when my father and mother had misunderstanding because of her job. I also witnessed how she handled some difficult situation in made decision for her family and profession. when one of my siblings got sick and mom had to attend a seminar. but she never gave up those situation made me realized that being a teacher is not so easy theres a lot of responsibilities attached to it and you will never become rich in terms of worldly possessions, that's why when I took the entrance exam in college,education is never included in my choices. But every time I asked my mother..." Why did you choose to be a teacher, even if you know that you will never become rich? But her answer is always the same every time she answered, enthusiasm and pride is there......" I am not after the materials things or worldly profession but I am keeping my treasures in heaven. her answer made me ponder, and I become curious. until I become a teacher and now I understand what she meant. treasures, she's referring to were good deed she'd done to her students when she was still in the teaching profession. even now, she still wanted to teach but because of her health condition she can't materialized what she wanted.and I felt sorry for her. I know how much she loved teaching. she committed her life for her students and gave her best for her profession. as my legacy, I'm continuing her dreams. with my teaching experiences for almost ten years I had an in depth understanding of what my mother was saying. treasures are the good deeds you've done to your students. touching and changing their lives to become worthy individuals.

I am very grateful to my parents especially to my mother, i9f not because of her I will never experience the joy of being GOD's instrument of his noble mission

Sapagkay Kami'y Tao Lamang ( A reflection on being more human ) Father Ruben J. Villote

November 4 2007


Ms. Jeniffer S. Francisco



" Sapagkat Kami'y Tao Lamang" is a song about our human condition. While it acknowledges the moral primacy of conscience. ( Kahit Diyos na ang may Utos ), it also humbly accepts our human powerlessness over the dictates of our feelings and emotions. ( Damdaman din ang siyang Nasusunod ). However the song can be made to sound like an act of surrender to our human weakness, an act of despair or even over the impotence of man to transcend himself. ( O, kay saklap ng Buhay! )
The human condition is not really as bleak and bitter as the song would want as to believe. If there are bleak and bitter cases of human misery, depravity, and other over publicized symbols of man's surrender to his weak and fallen human nature, there are also brave and beautiful cases of human achievements, virtue and a thousand other unpublicized symbols of man's triumphs over human weakness. But it is often our weak and defeated side that we seem to want to glamorize- the unfaithful husband, the wayward wife, the prostitute, the bandit, the married priest - and we try to get the audience to shed a tear, hero- worship, and even emu-emulate them for " being human " Sapagkat sila'y Tao Lamang ).
We don't seem to realize that being truly human is to proudly accept the fact that we have the power to become the best thing in all creation precisely because it is the human person, and no other, that God created in his own image ( Gen 2 ). To belittle this fact is to say that man is only an animal, and that human society is a society of animals that look like men, and men who look like animals. If this is what we call " Human condition," then sapagkat kami'y tao lamang which means to reject the capacity of man to rise above his human condition, is not a love song but a dirge.
But man is not tao lamang ( Only Human ) in the sense that he must always succumb as a rule to his baser nature. Man is tao, yes, and he is proud of it because being tao ( Human ) means being Lord, not the slave, of God's creation. He can be a slave if he wants to- slave to money, power and his body- but then, being a slave means being less human.
Sapagkat Kami'y Tao Lamang, therefore should never be used as an excuse for irresponsibility. Instead,it should be taken as a humble acceptance of the fact that man alone ( tao lamang ), without his God, is bound to fail. " Without me, " Christ said, " you can do nothing" ( John 15:5 ). for being merely human can be a boringly close- ended existence. It begins today and ends tomorrow. Everything merely human exhaust itself, and even our most exciting human experience of fulfillment leaves behind and after taste of sadness. And yet the human heart reaches out for some more as if it is made to be happy with what is here and now. And if it does not find it anywhere, it cries out, " O,kay sklap ng buhay."
But this is what it feels to be merely human precisely because being such means being alone without the consciousness of an in exhaustible presence. This presence is what the easter experience is all about. It puts man in the context of a constant living presence which makes him shout with joy, " Hindi na ako tao lamang sapagkat ang Diyos ay kasama ko." ( I am no longer merely human because God is with me ). This "theological" reflection on the song may sound irrelevant to those who do not believe, but those who believe know that it is true because they see it alive in stable and happy marriages, in joyous and meaningful celibate lives, in honest and committed public service, in beautiful and lasting friendship. These serve as symbols of the human possibility of being man-alone and yet also being- with- someone to a point were one can say with conviction, " see, if I can do it, you can do it, sapagkat tayo'y tao nga pero hindi tao lamang!"


Fr. Ruben J. Villote, Sapagkat Kami'y Tao Lamang? and other Filipino christian reflections ( Manila: communication Foundation for Asia, 1980 ),pp. 5-7








Textual Analysis


I agree with Fr. Ruben J. Villote that the song Sapagkat kami'y tao lamang is man's surrender to his human frailties or weaknesses. Beings must be judged not only to their origins but also as to their ends, it is now time for us to look into the end of man. Is he just a forlorn leaf tossed about by uncaring winds? Is he just a biological accident with nowhere to go? If the impetus for life's beginning comes from someone bigger than man, then its directions and terminus must be relevant, If we believed that we are God's masterpiece then all life is cut out determinately toward an end, which is the fullness of being. this stems from the only tree realities of life, Truth, and Love, realities which converge in the reality of the absolute thou. Man's end is God. Man seeks God because God is good. every activity, scientific or artistic, academic or technical, has for its purpose the realization and attainment of something good. It is possible for man to mistake what is good for him, but it is quite impossible for him not to desire that which is good. But the human intellect does not always comprehend what is true, and the will, weakened as it is by human frailties, does not always desire what is really good. too often he yearns only for imperfect goods of this earth: The money, The glitter, The prestige, The power, all like secondhand objects, when he could have the "real thing," these ( thought not all the time ) and the sum mun Bonum or God.
Good maybe imperfect, that is, that which can satisfy limitedly the different powers of a human being. It maybe perfect, that is, that which can satisfy completely and without end the totality of a human being. as there is only one absolute last end, so there is only one perfect Good-GOD.

Marvelous is the name of the Lord

November 4 2007


Ms. Jeniffer S. Francisco




One Sunday morning, when I turned on the television, I was caught by a usual Sunday T.V. program showcasing the T.V. Mass and the celebrant was Fr. Mario Sobrejuanite.
The part of the mass that fascinated me and left a great impression was that, when the priest gave the homely and share his readings and experiences about the gospel. these are the important points that trucked me.

• Never claim that the power is yours, it is from the Lord.
• The real secure man is truly a humble one- we should not be proud and arrogant of what we achieved, but we should be thankful for it is a blessing.
• We don't have to prove our wealth for it is already known.
• Always give credit to the Lord for our accomplishments.
• The name of the Lord is Marvelous - always give credit to the Lord for his marvelous deeds.

• Those who do good just to be recognized are being payed for what they have done and they will not be rewarded in heaven.

Therefore, we don't have a reason to be proud and arrogant and belittle others, for everything that we have and achieved are blessings from the Lord. And we should returned to the Lord what he deserves.

How do I view Death?

November 4 2007


Ms. Jeniffer S. Francisco




Several times I've been at the crossroad of life and death. Thank GOD He give me a chance to live. I am not afraid to die but what hinders me are my children. From my readings I quote " The last inscrutable limits is the ultimate boundary of death which has been strikingly neglected in the literature of modern ethics, but which is a constant theme of existentialist literature. This has strengthened the impression that there is something gloomy and morbid about this philosophy. But it all depends on the attitude we take towards everyday life. If this life is sound and healthy,there is something in this objection. But the existentialist thinkers do not agree.they offer evidences to show that this life is governed by ambiguity and confusion . these are manifested in a loss of self and distracted care of things. This everyday life misunderstood its limits and evades its real responsibilities. It is not sound and healthy. The existentialists find this judgment strikingly confirmed by a close study of the common attitude towards death.
Death is an evident limit that every person must face.But in everyday life, we find ourselves constantly evading and suppressing the thought of death. It is not a subject for polite conversation. When unavoidable, it is referred to in indirect and euphemistic ways. Great pains are taken to conceal his approaching death from the stricken person . Many devices are used to evade this inescapable fact.
One admits that this death is certain, but when it will come is indeterminate. these are the clear-cut. But one introduces an interesting qualification he says; Yes, it is certain sometimes, but not right away. This is a significant dilution of the facts. His immediate cares and plans are safeguarded. His life is not projected to the very end, but only up yo the certain point. This segment is perhaps exempt from death. The test is vague and confused. Up to a certain point,uncertainty is similarly excluded. after awhile, yes uncertainty. But not for a little while. This is clearly an evasion, for the evident truth is that death may come at any moment. certain moment must be protected from this future. One thinks of his life as a series of successive events, one following after another. Death itself is a last event which will finally be there but maybe for sometimes postponed. these equivocations are false and unauthentic, a flight from the boundary of death.
The authentic person does not run from any fact. He meditates upon it-not as a finished event that will sometime be there, but as the end that lies ahead of him in terms of which he can project his existence as a whole. He knows that it is certain, and that it may strike at any moment, even the next. He does not try to dilute these facts. How will this influence him? Will it not drive him away from all postponement, and lead him to recognize the importance of this very moment? Must he not act now in such a way that should death strikes, His whole life may have some total significance? will he not, then, try to gather himself together and strive to concentrate the4 whole of his being in decisive action here and now? As the existentialist sees it, this is not morbid, but rather the way of integrity and freedom.
So far we have considered certain external phases of human being; being-in-the-world, with others and the final limits that restrict this being. Now we must turn again to the constitutive phases of this being; awareness, care, time, and history. these also maybe maintained in a authentic manner. I strongly believed that life is a gift and death is certain, it is not something to be afraid of but something to prepare for. So while I'm living in this world I make the best because when death comes I have nothing to regret for.

" Always keep the candle lighted"

November 4 2007


Ms. Jeniffer S. Francisco





I regularly watched the Sunday T.V. Mass in Studio 23, Where Fr. Mario Sobrejuanite S.V.D was the celebrant. I liked the way he explained the gospel. H e used analogies in making things simple out of complexities. As I recall the homely last October 21, he shared a poem about 2 frogs, who both fell in the deep cream. The first frog accepted his fate, then bade goodbye and drowned. While the second frog could not accept to die without doing anything. He said " I can't give up and I wont give in." So, he just swam and swam over the cream until it became hard and the frog came out and survived.
According to him persistence is the name of the game. To continue hoping and believing that victory will come. It is so easy to succumb to discouragement, but persistence to do good will overcome evil. And remember that faith is not always walking in the light but persistence in believing while walking in the dark.

Why? And Why? Behind the Why?

November 4, 2007

Ms. Jeniffer S. Francisco






As I stood amidst the crowd of different people from all walks of lives,with different faces and stories,phenomenally brought together by a common aspirations. I silently listened to their real drama, then I asked myself-" Am I not satisfied of what I have now? Why do I have to continuously studying? I reflected and finally find the answers to my questions- YES!,I am not yet satisfied of what I have now and what I give to my family. Just like other parents, I want to give the best for my family...... and education is the answer. But pursuing my post graduate studies is not easy, especially to a mother like me, who is playing several roles in my own untelevised drama. A daughter yo a paralyzed mother, A sister, A wife, A mother to two children and a career woman. several times I've encountered hardships and trials that my human weakness almost dragged me down.But through the help of my understanding mentor who keeps on encouraging me to go on till the end, and also my determination to give my family a better and brighter future serves as the motivating factor to keep me going. There are times that I asked myself the same question but I am not convince of my answer, as if I am just convincing myself that all my sacrifices is really for my family or maybe it is only for my personal satisfaction. sometimes I feel guilty when my kids asked me.........." Mommy bakit ka pa po nag- aaral eh teacher ka na? "And I answered back......." Para ma permanent na si mommy at ng hindi na tayo mahirapan finacially........"Which is not really true because for a fact that even if I finished my post graduate studies there is no assurance that I will be given a permanent appointment. Nowadays, its so hard to be given a permanent appointment.But one thing is for sure, I am happy of what I am doing.I keep on burning the midnight oil not because I want to get high or decent grades for I know, grades do not really measure intelligence rather they gauge. Grades is not the driving force to keep me going. It is best to look at the larger picture, as I recall the old fable of the stone cutters: A visitor to a city found three men cutting stone and asked what they were doing. The first said," I'm obviously cutting stone, " The second replied; " I'm making a living for my family."The third declared with enthusiasm. " I'm building a cathedral. Its clear who among the three reaped joy and success from an otherwise tedious job. This assumes that what I am doing is indeed relevant to my life calling. I find dignity and meaning of my existence.

Nature's Wrath

October 30 2007



Ms. Jeniffer S. Francisco






You might have already read in the news paper or heard over the news about the alarming change in the climate in the world. this may have not interest you,since your attention is on political issues that confront our country especially the granting of presidential pardon to former pres. Estrada.you might have also wondered why the weather is quite not natural (experiencing. the freezing temperature in early morning and the heat of the sun when it is already 8 o'clock or nine) but since you have a lot of work and you are a busy person you think that this no worth your scrutiny. you might have heard somebody saying that there is a news that Aruba will be the first country which will be wiped out from the global map because of the rising sea level but you feel that it is impossible to happen or you must not care since it will not affect you, your not a citizen of Aruba anyway. But my friend; I am telling you, these occurrences are not worth our apathy. Before not deciding to know about these, think twice, you might wake up someday floating amidst the ocean; no more land to be found.This is not only an issue in America but it is a social issue of the whole world.
If we see the reason behind this,it can be revealed that it is due primarily to the increase of carbon dioxide and other gases in earth's atmosphere.while it is true that we need these gases to ensure the habitability of our planet because these provide heat to its surface,he abrupt increase in their amount led to the sudden increase of earth's temperature posing dangers already to us. we cant blame anybody else except ourselves for this occurrence . the global warming we experience is not a product of natural occurrences rather it is due to excessive human activities. by burning fossil fuel, use of chemical sprays, oil, and clearing out forests we paved way to the occurrence of this environmental concern. the evidence to this is overwhelming and reliable.
All indications are pointing to the fact that this crisis will pose immeasurable dangers to humans. Scientist have already seen the association between the catastrophic events that hit several countries in the world with this. they agreed in saying that this caused the number of hurricanes to double in 30 years. They also claimed that this will caused the glaciers to melt, making plants and animals react negatively to it. some species were even forced to change habitat forcing them to get nearer to the pole. the biodiversity is reported to have reduced causing the abrupt process of extinction several species of flora and fauna.
This is not the end of the story about the perverse effects of this problem. scientists are one in saying that if the increase in temperature will not decrease, people will experience the catastrophic consequences. Death will double in the next 25 years, global sea level will rise and sea will engulf low lying countries like Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and parts of Scandinavia, heat waves will be more intense, droughts and wildfire will occur more often, like what happened in California, the arctic ocean will be free of ice by 2025, and by this time more species will be driven to extinction. This is the sad reality that we are facing right now. But although our situation may appear to be hopeless, we can still do something to save mother earth and ourselves. In fact it is our moral obligation to do so. It is not yet too late for us to move. Let us just remember that we are contributors to the increase of carbon dioxide. By not burning things and by controlling our use of appliances, and chemical sprays which do emit CO2, we can help in helping the world not to experience the ill fate waiting ahead. Let us try to be more careful and conscious this time of what we do. Let us asses if our actions will further the damage we've caused to our planet. We know exactly the fact that there is no other planet that can offer life to us except this.
We are now being called to act, and it cannot Accommodate any postponements. We should act now before its too late.......before we regret of doing nothing to save this planet for the next generation.