So Close to Heaven by Dr. Gin Planes (guest writer)

Doc Gin or Ma'am Gin as she is fondly called, is a dentist, a registered nurse, an ISO auditor, a Christian Living instructor, an emcee, a former Karilagan model, a graduate of Dale Carnegie School, a badminton enthusiast, a mountain climber, a supportive wife, a loving mother, and a friend to everybody.

    At the bus terminal in Cubao, the excitement was all over everyone’s face. With our backpacks, tents, and wind breakers, each one of us weighed 30 pounds heavier. 

    Two hours to Cuenca, Batangas, we found ourselves at the foot of Mt. Maculot. Full of energy, after taking sumptuous adobo for lunch, and yummy halo-halo as  dessert, we started climbing around 1 pm.

Earl Sales : care for a drink?

       Taking pictures every few meters, gulping energy drink, and teasing each other along the way, were all that we did as we climbed up halfway to the top.

      At 2 pm I was almost breathless, numbed, and exhausted. My chest was pounding, my leg muscles were cramping, and my eyes were blurring.

         As I forced myself to climb, thoughts of quitting bugged my mind. “What am I doing here? It’s hot, dirty and remote! This is crazy!” I said to myself. “But we’re halfway there, I could not stop now.”

    Then I tried to recall my ultimate goal……to reach the top, to reach the top, and to reach the top. Being focused on my goal sustained me for the rest of the climb.

    Yes! We made it. At 3:30 pm, we were 2000 feet above sea level. As we set foot on the campsite, I felt an adrenaline rush and an endorphin overflow. It was simply ecstatic!

Doc Gin (with Mark) : so close to heaven.......

         We pitched our tents, left our baggage, and ran to climb the “rockies”, a cliff overlooking Taal Lake. The mountains were so majestic, the lake was so serene, and the breeze was euphoric. It was breath-taking! No wonder Jesus would go up the mountains to talk to the Father in heaven.

    As sun went down and the night fell, countless stars were covering the sky like neon lights during Christmas season in shopping malls. The constellations seemed so near, as though you could almost touch them.

 

    As I tucked my head to rest, all I could only do was to thank our awesome God for the wondrous sight I’ve seen, and for the gift of life in this beautiful world He created for you and me.

WCC Mountaineers: Dean Francis Tajanlangit, Dr. Gin Planes, Suzette Bueno, Gian Carlo Celedonio, Noriloyn Madarcos, Shara Ochoa, Nathan Pardiñez, Mark Regino, Earl Sales, and Vladimir Salum.

(pictures courtesy of Dean Francis, Suzette, and Nathan)

Sir Jons (as I fondly call him) by JTF Solivar

Palma Hall

           The first time that Professor Jonas David stepped into the CAS Office as an applicant, I immediately noticed his steel crutches and thought he had polio. A lot of questions raced through my head. Can he write on the board? Can he go up and down the school building? But when he told me that he is a graduate of UP Diliman, then that gave me the strongest hint that he is physically able despite his condition. How? In Palma Hall where most classes are held, there is no elevator. Thus, everybody must use the stairs to go up the upper floors. So he must have used the stairs too! He also reminded me that we were classmates in a graduate subject in Philosophy at the same university. That’s why he looked familiar I thought!

UP Oblation

           Sir Jonas, as students fondly address him, has been teaching Philosophy and Social Sciences at World Citi Colleges in Quezon City for five years now. The 31-year-old professor believes that teaching is more than just about pen and paper, but is about getting the message across to students regardless of abilities, or in his case, disability. He is a cum laude college graduate of Philosophy, and a masteral degree holder in the same field as well. He obtained both at UP Diliman, where he also received a Phi Gamma Mu International Award in the field of Social Sciences. Sir Jonas is also a graduate of the National Institute of Information Technology, where he obtained a certificate in Web Technology. That’s why whenever a bug would hit my computer, he is the first person whom I would bother. Thank you for your patience!

            In February of 2009, Sir Jonas was featured in Manila Bulletin in a full page article entitled “Walking the Talk”, where he gave valuable insights about his struggles in life, and how he beat the odds as a person born with mild cerebral palsy. Such disorder affects muscle control and coordination, which is caused by a certain irregularity in brain development. He told me once that early interventions initiated by his father who is a doctor helped him a lot in coping up with his condition. He is aware of glances or stares he receives from people. “Just think that the reason why they are looking at you is because you are different, plain and simple. They don’t want to humiliate you, they are just curious. I think that’s one way of seeing it because if you don’t put it in that perspective, you will be depressed,” he said in the article. 

           He is proud to say that he has not heard any discriminatory remark from any of his students and colleagues at WCC. Well, save for some punch lines. A person with a good sense of humor himself, he is even the first one to crack a joke about himself, all for the spirit of good-natured fun. Students are drawn to him because of his very down-to-earth personality. Best of all, they are drawn to Sir Jonas because he serves as an inspiration.“Nakaka-inspire and nakakabilib siya sobra kasi kahit ganun yung kalagayan niya, nagagawa pa rin iyang mabuhay ng normal sa paningin ng mga students niya,” said then junior Medical Technology student Floramyr Quizon. “I have a high regard for people with disabilities who do not look at it as a hindrance to living fully,” according to then Nursing Heisi Marasigan.

PLATO

        Sir Jonas makes sure that his lectures are not just about theories and principles. He teaches his students some thoughts about life, things that his students will surely remember even after the semester is over and done with. “I want my students to realize that I did not only teach them a specific subject at the end of each semester. I want them to remember me as a person who taught them something about life – no matter how small it might be,” he mentioned in the article.

        True enough, Sir Jonas has taught his students, as well as the entire WCC community, one very valuable lesson: one’s disability should not be a hindrance to the achievement of one’s goals and desires in life. He is a living testament to this. 

        

        On a personal note, I have never heard him complain about his condition. Which makes me a bit ashamed of myself, since I would immediately complain at the slightest pain! I am sure that you my dear followers are also guilty of this. Am I right or correct?

        More power to you Sir Jons! As I fondly call him.

         

          

(photos by Ma'am Precie)

Ano ang Pinagkaiba? =)

warat :    nagkahiwa-hiwalay

wasak :    wala ng natira, nadurog 

           to the max

wakwak :   hiwa, tas’ bumuka pa

pinindot :    pi-nush

pinihit :     ikinabig pakanan o 

              pakaliwa, may gigil

bibig :    outer area lang

bunganga : hanggang loob, pati tonsils

umbok :    slight lang na bukol

bukol :    umbok na mumurahin ka

hipo :    tats tats lang (touch bobo!), 

          pasagi or dampi lang

dakma :   binigla at hindi na pinakawalan

sakmal :  bibig na ang ginamit, ‘di na 

          napigilan

ipinasok :    inilagay sa loob

isinuksok :   inilagay sa loob, tas’ isiniksik 

              pa

bungi :    ilang ipin ay missing in action

bungal :   gums ang pinaka-starring

A Million Miles Awaaaaaaay.......

   Ever since the time that I became too busy and preoccupied with work, I never had the chance to appreciate the beauty of things around me. But several weeks ago, I had the rare chance to do so. I stepped outside our humble abode, and consciously or unconsciously, lifted my cranky head towards the sky and saw the night sky flooded with stars, as if the sky was beaming at me. What a beautiful sight I thought! I was completely awed. 

   Looking at the sky makes one realize how vast the universe is, with the stars illuminating every corner of it. Here’s a trivia: the universe continues to expand. But I realized that one need not look at the sky in order to see the stars. Just close your eyes, take a deep relaxing breath, and work your way through your mind until you reach a corner in your mind. What did you see? Stars! Yes, a multitude of stars do exist somewhere in our mind. All we have to do is just think of them. What do they do? Simple, they give light to our dreams and fantasies.

A star could be anything that we wish to have.......

   The stars in our mind could also symbolize our dreams and aspirations, or the things that we want to have in life. They can range from something simple to something grand. They can be tangible like your dream house, a nice car, or travels abroad. They can also be intangible, such as success, love, or spiritual bliss. They can be anything that will make us happy and fulfilled. Such “stars” motivate us to do the best in everything that we do so that we can get hold of them, literally and figuratively.

The reachable star.......
  

   We can actually get ourselves near our “stars”. But we cannot have them all. Just like dining out buffet style, you cannot have every dish for your estomago can accommodate only up to a certain extent. One time, I was scouting for a nice pair of leather shoes at Traffic. There were several that caught my fancy but only purchased a pair. Well how many feet do I have? Besides, I did not have the moolah to get some more. We can get near our “stars”, but it does not mean that we can have them. I saw a nice watch some years ago at Rustan’s. I was able to try it on my wrist, and could have even licked it for all I care. Hey, it was a Bulgari! Sadly though, I went home empty handed for I could not afford it.

   People can be our “stars” as well. These are people that we want to be part of our lives. Have you gone anywhere near them? Paid them a visit? Sent them a message? If yes, then good for you! For those who have not, then try to reach for them since we only have one life to live. And life is too short if I may add. Are people reaching out to you? Then reach out to them too. Descend from your castle! In my several decades of existence, I can say that I have been near my “stars”. I cannot explain accurately why we were drawn to each other, in a world that’s full of strangers (yes, a Pomeranz line). Perhaps, the planets aligned themselves to give way to that magical collision. Oooooh! Sadly though, some of them lost their brilliance, and simply faded away.......

So close, yet so far away.......

        We can be near our “stars” but at the same time feel that they are a million miles away. How ironic, isn't it? Like that Bulgari watch, the more that my skin felt it, the more that I realized that I could not have it. I have also experienced a number of times that the more I become close to people and vice versa, the more that I feel that they are very distant. Why? Because I know that I cannot have and keep them. But nonetheless, I am thankful for the light they have shown me, and the good times we have shared together. As I have said in one post, there are things that are not meant to be (please search this blog for a related post).

The unreachable star.......

   I guess stars were created to be unreachable. That’s why they are high up in the sky hovering above us. What do we do with them? Nothing my dear! Just leave them where they are. What about the unreachable stars in our minds? Nothing too! Just leave them in that corner of your mind. They are better off there, so that when you close your eyes, you have something to dream about.......

 

But do not despair. Stars do fall from the sky. 

Catch me.......

      

Keep it up L.A.!

L.A. as he appeared on Filipino American Bulletin last May 2010. He is currently residing with his family in Seattle. Keep it up L.A.!

Congratulations Archie!

Congratulations HITMAN!

Wish you more milestones!






(please click related posts about Archie "The Hitman" Zapanta)

H A N D S

        Every part of our body has a definitive purpose uniquely its own. The eyes are for seeing, the ears are for hearing, the nose is for smelling, and the list goes on. The human body is a conglomerate of different parts with different functions. Though they differ in function, all of them serve one objective: the promotion of well-being. What can we consider as the most versatile? I consider our hands as the most versatile, hands down! Our hands can do many things necessary for our survival. There are essential things that only our hands can accomplish. Imagine yourself without hands. Are you freaking out already just the mere thought of it? Our hands undeniably are very all-around. Any objection? (photos by Javes Consul)

Peace !

        Peace for me is just a word. One that can be only found in the dictionary, for it is rarely applied or observed. Since the beginning of time, peace has never found its niche in the consciousness of man. That’s why I am curious as to how man coined such a word or concept, since it is yet to have a perfect counterpart in the visible world. Try to utter “peace”, and it is nowhere to be found! The closest that we can get to it though, is through the peace sign............. PEACE! 
(photos by Javes Consul)

 

Worth a Thousand

       An old adage says that a picture is worth a thousand words. A picture can mean many things to different people. No two individuals will have an exact interpretation of it. The beauty of any picture, or its opposite for that matter, is always subject to the viewer’s personal taste. Here is a montage of interesting pictures from my vault, courtesy of Javes Consul. I initially placed a caption on every photo, but decided to remove all of them so as not to preempt you of your own interpretation…….

 

Now You Know

1.Is French Toast from France? 

No! It was invented at a roadside tavern near Albany, New York, in  1724, by a guy named Joseph French.

2.Did the Japanese invent Tempura?  

No! Tempura was introduced to Japan by Jesuit missionaries in 1585. The word “tempura” comes from the Portuguese word temporras which means “Friday,” the day when deep-fried fish was eaten.

3.Is "Alfredo" in fettuccini alfredo a real person?

Yes! In 1920, Roman restaurateur Alfredo di Lelio first whipped up this rich fettuccini in a cream, butter, and Parmesan cheese sauce.

4.Is banana tree a tree? 

No! Banana is a giant herb.

5.Is banana a berry?

Yes! Berries are identified as being many seeded with a fleshy inner layer. Have you not noticed this when you eat a banana?

6.Is there a difference between jam and jelly? 

Yes! Jelly is made from fruit juice, while jam is made from cooked whole fruit.

7.Is the entire strawberry a fruit? 

No! The tiny black seeds on the surface of the “berry” are the actual fruits. They are called “achenes” and each enclose a tiny seed.

8.Is cucumber really cool? 

Yes! The inside of a cucumber can be 20 degrees cooler than the outside air. Why? Cucumbers are about ninety five percent water.

9.Do holes on crackers have a purpose?  

While baking, such holes are needed for steam to escape, keeping the crackers flat and crisp. All crackers have holes, right?

10.Does peanut butter stick to the roof of your mouth? 

It does, right? The high protein content of peanut butter draws moisture from the mouth, making it sticky.

11. Chicken or egg?

source: WHY DO DONUTS HAVE HOLES? by Don Voorhees (2004)