Learning from Teaching

Teaching within the four walls of a room (20 years) has taught me countless lessons which now come in handy as we can't reach the outside world or function without the Internet. 

Yes, the grace of teaching has taught me values that I would never have learned elsewhere. Let me cite the four I had prayed hard for, because they were impossible to summon on my own: patience, self-restraint, giving back, and tact.

Patience: Having overstayed in a business that required “yesterday” deadlines, I looked over my staff’s shoulders and exacted from everyone speedy work. In a classroom, waiting is key. Students need space and time to think on their own.

Self-restraint: Losing one’s cool was a daily fare in my former stress-filled workplace, where accounts might be lost anytime. In the classroom, teachers who lose their cool lose their students’ confidence in themselves.

Giving back: I amassed enough knowledge and experience in the corporate world from clients and peers. These treasured trophies have to be shared or they’d gather dust and rust. I strewed them inside the classroom for students to pick up and put to use now and in the future.

Tact: Teaching is like writing. There is always a kinder word, a better phrase, and a more uplifting clause than what are on the first draft. In delivering bad news or critical feedback, I tweak and prune my initial language to encourage smiling instead of shaking.

I had never taken “role modeling” as seriously as when I was on campus (now replaced with bandwidth by the pandemic).

Most of my former students are now leaders in their chosen fields here and abroad, and although I won’t take any credit for their successes, I receive “thank-you notes” that make me feel intensely grateful for the chance to have been a part of their lives inside the classroom.

The 5%: Growing from Good to Great

"It's all good, but you need 5% more to make it great," my former boss said (years ago) after listening to my presentation to client. 

This is a variation of the Level 5 leadership concept and the book by Jim Collins, "Good to Great." Many leaders advocate it as a path to excellence, but in different ways, such as:

"Your greatness is just five extra percent of energy away."  

I used it as well on my college and MBA students in Critical Writing. "This is good! Now add the missing 5% and transition to great," I echoed my ex-boss. 

It always works. People, who want to excel need to exert extra effort.   

That was not the case with Hezekiah, who was acclaimed a good king--likened to David--in the Old Testament. While most other kings through generations did evil in the Lord's sight, Hezekiah did good. 

After his father Ahaz' wicked reign, Hezekiah put the house in order. He destroyed all pagan altars, idols, and temples. He cleaned out and reopened the doors of the temple in Jerusalem shut by his father. He re-instituted the Passover as a national holiday (2 Chronicles 30:1). Judah was revived. 

"He remained faithful to the Lord in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord had given Moses. So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did . . ." (2 Kings 18:6-7)

When the Assyrians, the world power at the time, threatened to invade Jerusalem,  Hezekiah prayed a beautiful prayer for help (2 Kings 19:19).

God, faithful as always, protected Jerusalem. And the Assyrians were vanquished (2 Chronicles 32:22).

Later, Hezekiah became very sick. He begged God to be merciful and to remember all the good he had done. The Lord healed him and extended his life by 15 years (2 Kings 20:5–7)! 

And then, Hezekiah dropped the ball. 

Instead of pursuing the 5%, he backslid big time!  When the Babylonians, who had heard he was sick, sent him a gift, Hezekiah did not speak of the Lord's goodness and of Him as Judah's one true God. Instead, he showed them his treasures, his riches, and everything in his arsenal. 

Although he was a model of faithfulness and trust in the Lord . . . although he was always rewarded with answered prayers, Hezekiah had fallen to the folly of pride. 

We are called to a life of obedience in the one true God.  We need that 5% to grow from good to great. 

PINK at the End of the Tunnel

At the rate the idiom, "a light at the end of the tunnel," is being used during the pandemic, it might soon be a cliche. 

An idiom, as we know it, is a metaphorical figure of speech, and goes beyond the literal meaning of the words. "A light at the end of the tunnel" therefore means we can see hope that the Covid-19 virus and its harrowing effects will soon vanish. 

Dating back to 1800s, as read in old publications, this metaphor for hope was popularized by President John Kennedy in the mid-1960s in reference to the Vietnam war. 

I am borrowing a part of the idiom in light of our political landscape, where we are groping. It is dark, very dark, with all the blinding political maneuverings, lies, deceit, mud-slinging, etc. And what's worse, some people I know applaud them. These have often discouraged me, making my heart sad. But by grace, I know the Lord will give us light.

With the groundswell of the people's pink campaign for VP Leni Robredo, I see this light in the May 2022 elections.    

Try skimming through these photos, which I downloaded from socmed (there are many more, but my feeble hands could only collage this much for today), and see for yourself.  

"Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!" (Psalm 43:5) 

PINKplosion

When the color pink exploded on socmed, I thought it was a fluke. It's been almost two months and the endless explosion is almost deafening.  

And then there was an explosion of an ugly kind in the political scene.

Some candidates (their powerful names appear on popular vlogs and news sites, but they remain unnamed on this blogsite on grace) withdrew their candidacy and substituted for unknowns who were used as placeholders till these superstars made up their minds. 

These are just some of the reactions I culled from various sources: 

"It is a mockery of the electoral process!" 

"It is an affront to the voters!" 

"It is about greed for power—not service to country."   

Whatever their reasons, I have decided not to cause my blood pressure to rise. So I will focus on pink, the color of hope, symbolized by VP Leni Robredo, my candidate for president.  

Why Leni? 

She espouses all the values my parents taught me and which the Lord inscribed in my heart. Her plans and platforms dovetail with my dreams for the country. Most importantly, her significant achievements and passion to serve speak of the kind of president she would be.  

As congresswoman in the 16th congress, Leni wrote the comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Bill (HB3432), and authored, among others: 

- The Full Disclosure Bill (HB 19)

- The People Empowerment Bill (HB4911) 

Even if her job description as VP specifies "spare tire" in case anything happens to the president, she rolled up her sleeves and went to work, especially during the pandemic. 

Her Angat-Buhay Program has benefited 83,707 families across the country in its first year of implementation. 

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has provided free shuttle services for frontliners and emergency workers, delivered 7,350 PPEs to nine hospitals, and provided care packages for health workers and their families. The OVP has likewise conducted free swab tests in various areas. 

During the several disasters that plagued the country (along with the pandemic), she delivered food and other goods to the victims. Many big companies coursed their donations through the OVP. 

All these expenses—up to the single centavo—have been accounted for. The OVP has been consistently given the highest rating by the Commission on Audit.  

These are just some of my researched data about her. There are more, but I usually keep one post to 500 words.

Why Leni? If not, who? 

No candidate can match her zeal in serving the people with limited budget.  

Now that the campaign is in full swing, I am dazzled by the number of PINKplosions mounted by volunteers, who shoulder their own expenses. I am documenting them, but then, again, they seem to be bottomless; it is difficult to catch all in several blogs (this is my fourth to date, and it won't be the last). 

PINKplosion, no less, in 50 photos: 

"The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil." 1 Peter 3:12 (NLT)

In the PINK of Health

A question often asked these days is, "How are you?" 

Replies vary: 

"So so." 

"Getting by." 

"Surviving." 

"I finally got my second vax." 

"I just recovered from Covid." 

Hardly, if at all, do we hear, "In the pink of health." We all want to be in the pink, but these are unusual times. 

With daily reminders like masks, face shields, curfew, and Covid-19 statistics, somewhere in our core, we feel that our health is far from reaching peak level.   

That's why the pink images on socmed give me a semblance of normalcy and make me feel refreshed and renewed. Outdoor activities like caravans, community pantries, painting dirty walls, and printing posters from all over the country and many places in the world show energized people in pink with happy, hopeful faces. 

These feel-good pictures, some with matching words, make me remember that once we were or once again we will be in the pink of health. 

Scan through them. Savor, like I do, the soaring spirit that drives this pink movement. 

In the pink—let's go there!  

"Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit."

3 John 2-4  (NLT) 

Photo credits: all borrowed from socmed 

PINK-Palette Phenomenon

For whatever reason, or by coincidence, the color pink (in every shade possible) was what people used in memes and images urging VP Leni Robredo to run for president. 

When Leni finally filed her certificate of candidacy on October 7, 2021, pink organically became her official color, sans deliberate planning. She simply went with the tide.  

She lamented her lack of campaign resources that the others have. As though on cue, volunteerism took on a life of its own.  

The movement, as many friends described the spectacle, so stunned me I immediately blogged about it. I called it a phenomenal pink-palette frenzy, for lack of better and more powerful words. 

But one blog is not enough.

The rise of pink (caravans, posters, community events, slogans, convergences, etc. on land, air, and sea) here and abroad has gone unabated till today. The creativity—from all walks of life and professions, in both words and pictures—is unparalleled. 

Here are some that my aging hands and fingers could put together in a collage. Each photo reminds me of grace, giving me hope in various ways through various means.  

This has gone beyond Leni, who exhorts her supporters, "Madaling makipagtalo, mas radical ang magmahal!" (Arguing is easy, but it is more radical to love.)  

This pink-palette phenomenon is about people uniting for a kindhearted, compassionate, and more humane Philippines.  This is about us fighting for good values in governance. 

The Lord exhorts us in Philippians 2:2, "Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind." 

Photo credits: all grabbed and borrowed from various socmed posts 

Cabin Fever, Anyone?

Being stuck at home for almost two years now has left many feeling bored, irritable, and restless. These feelings are associated with a condition commonly called cabin fever. 

This describes a person who has been confined at home for extended periods. Although cabin fever is not considered a psychological condition, it has real psychological impact on anyone, according to Vaile Wright, director of clinical research and quality at the American Psychological Association.

Cabin fever used to be a literal phrase to describe those living away from civilization for long periods, in cottages on the outskirts of the town. Today, this is a term for people who find themselves isolated from the outside world in the confines of their homes. With the coronavirus epidemic, everyone seems to have his taste of cabin fever, which spawns impatience, anxiety, lethargy, and insomnia, among others. 

Who gets cabin fever? 

"Temperament and personality are big factors," according to psychologists.  Those most likely to get it are extroverted individuals, and those with existing mental health conditions. 

On the other hand, the homebodies viewing the lockdown as a much-needed opportunity to do things they had no time for—hobby, general house cleaning, family bonding time, finishing that oft-postponed project—take longer to reach this point or not experience cabin fever at all. 

I belong to the second category. A homebody at heart, I have no complaints about staying home. I do all the reading and writing I want and be with friends on the phone or social media. 

What I had in the beginning of the pandemic was fear . . .  

1) of technology. The platform for events have moved online, and I was technologically challenged; 

2) of the unknown. People are dying in droves; economies are collapsing; countries are falling apart; workers are being fired; more people are going hungry; and undestaffed hospitals are overcrowded.   

"Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand." Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) 

To face fear #1, I hired a techie to show me the ropes. In no time, I could do things on my own, and have taken fancy to digital art. 

To face fear #2, I went on my knees, reflected on the verse above, casting down every uncertainty at the Lord's feet and asking for calming grace. 

What happened next? 

My book launches were put on hold; the Manila International Book Fair, canceled; our 77th annual clan reunion, called off; son #2 and family's trip to the Philippines, postponed indefinitely; FB has turned into an obituary; our Medical Transcription school transitioned to virtual classes; and our whole household, except for son #1, tested positive for Covid. 

Cabin fever? No. Calming grace, yes.  

I believe the Lord upended the two things I feared most to keep me going. 

Technology enables me to be together with separated loved ones, to attend more events than I ever have, to tour the world anytime, visit past eras and places no transportation can reach, giggle with giggly babies, enjoy all kinds of pets, applaud young prodigies, and scream over the golden buzzer on auditions. 

The unknown makes me ask, with joyful expectation, "Are you coming soon, Lord?"  

Photo credit:IStock

The Greatest Link

In the spring of 2018, Tony and I flew to the US to attend the 50th wedding anniversary of my oldest brother, Manong Peding—a pastor. His children asked me to speak at the reception. Instead, I prepared a slide presentation: the story of how he came into our lives and became my and siblings' brother.  

I am sharing it with you now because early this morning (November 2 in America), I shed copious tears. 

The last six slides are not part of the original presentation. I added them today, because like all life stories, the ending we envision is not usually the same ending that the Lord has for us. 

His parents were adamant. 

He searched for long-lost, distant relatives.  

Next, Pangasinan. 

Finally, a break! 

High school was a snap. 

There had to something beyond all that. 

The street kid with a foul mouth was now a full-fledged pastor. 

To a new place the adventurous new couple headed. 

Now in his 80's, and in deep grief, his health deteriorated.  

Almost Here

The number of patients waiting for the doctor to arrive increased to 30, which made the clinic secretary say, "Sorry, this is our cut-off number." She turned away all the patients who came in later.  

The doctor was due two hours earlier, but each time the waiting (im)patients asked what time the doctor was coming, the secretary always replied with, “Almost here.”  

 

 “Almost here” was two more hours later—a total of four hours of waiting time. 

“I am so sorry,” the doctor apologized as she rushed in. “My patient in the other hospital was fighting for her life. I had to stay with her.” 

We all wondered why the secretary was not honest with us. Had she explained the situation, we could have done something productive with our waiting time. 

“Almost here” promised false hope.  

In contrast, God was forthright—from the creation to the end of Jesus’ life on earth.  The Bible is clear on what we need to know to get to heaven. From the fall of Adam, we have been told that our Redeemer would come and save us from our sins. 

God tells us exactly in Romans 3:23-25 (NLT), “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.” 

He did not say, “Almost here.” It is man who thinks He will come soon, because of all the disasters, wars, and the exponential growth of evil things abominable to God. What He said was, He will come again at a time only He knows so we should keep ready while waiting.  

Reflect and pray: 

How do I deal with getting the wrong answers or excuses for someone’s delay?  

ooo