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Hindi ako naniniwala sa reinkarnasyon. Hindi ako naniniwala na kapag namatay ang isang tao ay maaari siyang bumalik bilang ibon, halaman, o pusang nakahiga sa bintanang tinatamaan ng araw tuwing hapon.

Hindi ako naniniwala sa mga ganoong bagay. Katulad ng hindi ko paniniwala sa parallel universe sa ideya na may isa pang mundong umiikot kung saan magkaiba ang naging desisyon natin, kung saan hindi tayo nagkahiwalay dahil lamang sa maling panahon at pagod na mga puso.

Ngunit nakapagtataka, no?

Kapag ikaw ang dahilan, ang dali kong talikuran lahat ng paniniwala ko.

Dahil kung totoo man ang reinkarnasyon, nais kong bumalik bilang isang pusa. Hindi dahil gusto kong magkaroon ng siyam na buhay, kundi dahil alam kong mahal mo sila. Alam kong sa bawat pusang lumalapit sa’yo ay may lambing kang hindi mo kayang ipagkait.

Gusto kong maging pusang pupulutin mo sa kalsada, iyong dadalhin sa bahay, papatulugin sa tabi mo habang umuulan.

Sa ganoong paraan, kahit minsan man lang, mararamdaman kong minahal mo ako nang walang pag aalinlangan.

At kung totoo man ang parallel universe, sana mayroon doong bersyon nating dalawa na hindi nasaktan ng pagkakataon.

Isang mundong hindi tayo naging “muntik.” Hindi naging “pwede sana.” Hindi naging kwentong tinapos bago pa man magsimula.

Baka sa mundong iyon hindi mo kinailangang piliin ang iba at hindi ko kinailangang matutong mabuhay na dala dala ang pagkawala mo.

Baka doon sabay tayong tumanda. Sabay nating pinanood ang paglipas ng gabi, habang ang mga pangarap natin ay hindi na kailangang ipagpaliban.

At kung kailangan kong maniwala sa mga bagay na walang siyentipikong patunay, sa mga kwentong hindi kayang ipaliwanag ng lohika, gagawin ko.

Dahil mas madaling maniwala na may ibang mundong naghihintay sa atin kaysa tanggapin na dito sa mundong ito hindi talaga naging tayo.

Paniniwalaan ko ang bawat alamat, bawat teorya, bawat imposibleng bagay kung ang kapalit naman nito ay ang pag asang makakasama kitang muli.

Kahit sa ibang buhay. Kahit sa ibang mundo. Kahit sa anyo ng isang pusang hihiga sa kandungan mo habang dahan dahan mong hinihimas ang kanyang balahibo.

Dahil kung may mundong hindi ikaw ang dahilan ng pagluha ko, at hindi ako ang dahilan kung bakit natuto kang lumayo

sana doon, sa wakas, matutunan nating mahalin ang isa’t isa nang hindi tayo nasisira.

Saan kita matatagpuan, O Panginoon? Saang paraan mo ako muling tatawagin? Tulad ba sa Emaus, sa simpleng hapag, na sa paghahati ng tinapay ay unti kang nakikilala?

O sa gitna ng dagat ng aking pagkadismaya, kung saan walang laman ang lambat ng aking pagsisikap, ngunit sa iyong utos na muling sumubok, doon kita matatagpuan sa bagong pag-asa?

Saan kita matatagpuan, O Panginoon? Sa umaga bang tahimik, sa pampang ng aking buhay, na maririnig ko ang iyong tanong, “May nahuli ka ba?” At sa pagsunod ko, saka kita makikilala?

O sa gitna ng aking pag-iwas at hiya, katulad ng babaeng Samaritanang umigib sa init ng araw, darating ka ba upang makipag-usap, at doon ako bubuksan sa iyong katotohanan?

Makikilala ba kita kahit ako’y tila bulag walang makita, ngunit puso'y sumisigaw, umaasang diringgin mo ang aking dasal? O darating ka sa oras ng lungkot, tulad ng ginawa mo kina Marta at Maria, at magbibigay ng buhay sa gitna ng sakit?

Saan kita matatagpuan, O Panginoon? Sa katahimikan bang halos di marinig, sa banayad na hangin na dumarampi lamang, at doon kita mararamdaman?

O sa isang karanasang di maipaliwanag, tulad ng apoy na hindi nauupos, na kahit di ko lubos maunawaan, alam kong ikaw ang naroon?

O sa pagtawag mo sa akin, sa gitna ng aking katahimikan, na tulad ni Samuel, ako’y gigising at tutugon sa iyong tinig?

Saan kita matatagpuan, O Panginoon? Sa mukha ba ng aking kapwa lalo na sa mga aba at nangangailangan? Sa mga taong mahirap mahalin, na siyang hamon mong aking yakapin?

Saan kita matatagpuan, O Panginoon? Sa alin mang paraan na piliin mong magpakilala, isa lamang ang aking hinihiling:

Kapag natagpuan kita, turuan mo akong umibig tapat, buo, at totoo, O Panginoon.

Since I become a college student, I always hear the phrase "once a teacher, always a student". That is too obvious in a sense that once I became an educator, I will need to update myself by attending seminars, talks, conference to keep me on a "trend" of what teachers should do and how to deliver a message or lessons.

Looking and focusing on this reality makes me tired already. I always say to myself "why do I need to attend on those things and be like a student again?" I just want to teach children and be with them. In latin there is a saying "non progredi, regredi," not progressing is regressing. So it is a reality that I need to work on those things in order to be a great teacher to my students. But there is also another way of learning in teaching, not just through seminars but also by being present on you students. Being with them makes you understand who they are. As an educator you will learn from their experiences the approach that will be most effective to use in order for them to learn. There is a great advantage in knowing your students and their background. Truly it is a noble profession because we are able to enter into the heart of our students and be a true guide for them. So aside from dealing with conferences, have time also to know your students. I think that is also a good way of updating.

After two school years, face-to-face classes is now going to implement again by the Department of Education. Together with this is the suggestion of optional wearing of school uniform. Students may wear any attire they want. The reason? because of economic losses and increasing prices due to Covid 19. Some may agree because they do not need to avail uniforms while others are opposing it because for them wearing school uniforms teach us a lot of values.

Upon reflecting on the said issue, I realized certain things. First, it can be a source of social discrimination, some people may avail classy clothes and use them during class while others who do not have enough money will settle on the usual clothes they wear. In effect, class division is visible. It can cause discrimination against poor people. Second, having uniform teach us to be responsible. I remember when I was in Junior High School, I am the one who wash my uniform so that I may use it the day after tomorrow since I only have 2 polo. Forgetting to wash it may result in me cramming to do my laundry late at night or wearing it while still a little bit wet. So it teaches me that I should be responsible to clean it or else I will be the one to suffer. Lastly, it teaches me to be presentable. How I dress talks about the event or activity I am attending to. In that case a class, so I need to wear what is required and that is a proper uniform. It also speaks about discipline since though I am not comfortable with it I learn to adjust and discipline myself that It is the required attire so I need to follow.

Living outside the seminary, a lot of people already ask me what education major did I take. And without hesitation, I proudly tell them that it is Values Education. Most of them cannot believe that the course even exist because they taught that those teachers in Values are just place their but it is not their majors. In effect they will somehow couldn't believe it and show their disappointment to me in taking that course.

I couldn't believe that that is their thinking. Much more than it is may be the reason why they did not take it seriously. Also, it is already innate to us to know right and wrong so why need a Values professor. Those realizations made me more firm and proud that I take this major because I feel that it is much needed in our times today. Also, seeing a lot of moral dilemmas that is happening in our society today makes me think of how can I become an effective teacher in the future.

During my college years, when I asked who my favorite teacher was? there is always one that comes to my mind immediately. She is a professor who always makes a comment on my test papers. A teacher always has something to say whenever I recite it in her class. She always gave feedback and challenges after I took her oral exam.

She is the person I admire the most because she knows how to touch the heart of her students using her kind words and challenges. For the past two semesters that she handled us, the class will not end without a word that challenges us to become better Catholic and a follower of Christ. No wonder why she loves words, it is because she also draws a word from the Bible, the word of God. I admire her also because maybe words of affirmation is my love language. Nevertheless, who would have thought that her word of challenges to me makes me happy. She encourages me to help my parents have their wedding at Church and she continuously does it and says it to me. Until last April, my parents had their Church wedding at Don Bosco. After that, I immediately contacted her and thank her for the words she gave to me. If not because of her I might not think of those things.

For the past years, we have been assessing students focusing on their academic achievements to know if they learn something or not. As a future Values Educator, I find it difficult to assess if my students will learn something in our subjects if I will be based only on their intellectual capacities. Teaching Values is I can say more of the heart that is why it is difficult to assess. Looking at the Filipino learners and a study made on them, I’ve learned that they have different acquired Values as they mature and proceed on stages of school grades. Based on this research I can say that it is a good material to have in preparing the lessons that I will go to teach to my students. In terms of assessment, it is better to make probing questions for them to check themselves regarding their certain values in life.   

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