Gift of Quills

DOCUMENTS FOR GETTING MARRIED IN HONG KONG FOR PINAYS AND FOREIGNERS

2017-03-08T20:57:00.000-08:00

This post is originally posted on my other blog.

Are you getting married in Hong Kong with your foreign boyfriend (or maybe girlfriend)? If you are contemplating on getting married in Hong Kong with the love of your life, then it is expected, as with anything, anywhere, that you will have to get on the paper work. Good thing, it is much easier to process your papers to get married in Hong Kong than in the Philippines (only speaking from my paperwork experience).

So, to be able to get married in Hong Kong, the first step is to write an inquiry (through an email) at enquiry@immd.gov.hk. This is how you will secure your first document for submission, The Notice. (see what I have written to the IMMD, here).

The Notice of Intended Marriage or “the notice” sent by the IMMD in Hong Kong will have several pages with English and Chinese texts. If you are both single (never been married), then accomplish the FIRST THREE PAGES ONLY. Do not forget to have the PAGE 1 notarized. (See how the notice looks like, here) It should be noted that if you are a Filipina, you must have your middle name (your mom’s maiden name) written in the box provided for Surname and Name on Page 1. (I made a mistake of not including my middle name the first time I sent the notice, so IMMD sent me a message requiring me (or whoever is the party giving the notice) to have the first page amended to include my middle name (as it appears in my passport), have it notarized, and send it back (yep, it costs some money, too). It is only then that your application to get married in Hong Kong will be considered and the process for doing so resumes.
The international birth certificates (yours and that of your fiancé/fiancee) should also be sent to the IMMD office in Hong Kong. It is better to send a colored photocopy of each of your birth certificates. International birth certificates means, the document should be in ENGLISH.
A photocopy of your passports must also be sent together with requirements 1 and 2. Send only the photocopy of the information page, not the whole passport.
A photocopy of the Pinay’s CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage) from PSA should also accompany the first three documents. This costs around P 170.00 pesos if requested directly from your local NSA office. If you will request for this in the mall, expect a P20.00 service fee for each copy and a week of turn-around time.
Bank Draft payable in Hong Kong Dollars or US dollars. Please be mindful that when the bank draft isn’t payable in Hong Kong dollars, you will have to shoulder the HK100-dollar handling fee. In our case, since we cannot find a bank that issues bank drafts in HK dollars, we opted for US dollars.Kindly inquire about the exact amount you will have to pay for this from IMMD. You can ask a bank draft from Maybank with a US 7.00-dollar service fee.

After you have completed all the documents, send your express mail (takes 7 days maximum from the Philippines to Hong Kong and cost between P917.00 to P1,130.00) to

The Marriage Registration and Records Office
3/F, Low Block Queensway Government Offices
66 Queensway, Hong Kong

It is cheaper to send it through your local post office (though it will be quite uncomfortable given the clutter and the number of people who go there) than to send it in satellite postal offices in your local malls (my preference as it is comfortable and accepts mails up to 6 PM). Despite your mail being properly addressed, be ready to write the SENDER and RECEIVER information twice for your express mail – one on the slip with your tracking number and the other on the plastic packet. Yes, better practice writing in BLOCK letters.

After you have sent the mail to Hong Kong, wait for some days to receive a reply regarding your schedule to get married in Hong Kong City Hall or the Cotton Tree Drive.

Anyone else who has gotten married in Hong Kong or is planning to do so?

Weekend in Paradise - Perth Paradise Resort in Sipalay

2016-12-07T06:41:00.000-08:00

This post is originally posted on my other blog.

Six hours away from Bacolod City lays a beautiful gem of Negros Occidental. The travel from the city of smiles to Perth Paradise Resort will be lengthy with towns and towns of sugarcane plantations in between. A far-flung town, Sipalay has its own unique beauty to offer. I am not really a beach bum, so for our term break, my friend and I decided to travel for the long weekend and stay at Perth. (There are many other attractions in Sipalay like the sugar beach, the caves, islets but of course, we opted for the mountain resort.)

Coming from Iloilo City, of course, Bacolod City will be our entry point.

HOW TO GET TO PERTH PARADISE RESORT FROM ILOILO CITY

From Iloilo City, head to the Fastcraft terminal at Lapuz, Iloilo City. Here’s what you have to prepare:

Tricycle/taxi fare + terminal entrance fee (P 12.00)
Weesam Express fare (roundtrip) P 380.00

When you arrive at Bacolod port, find a jeepney with the route Alijis. There are a couple of jeepneys and tricycles that wait for ferry passengers there, so you do not need to commute again from SM City to the terminal. (Be sure to confirm with the driver). They charge P20.00 per person.Tell the driver to drop you off Ceres South Terminal at Lopez- Jaena Street. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes, but if you are in doubt, ask the locals. In our case, screen shots from google maps had been handy (we thankfully weren’t lost in the city).

Be mindful that there are no direct buses going to Sipalay, so take the one with the route Hinoba-an. The six-hour trip (due to the unlimited stops of the non-aircon bus) will let you see the sugarcane plantations of Bago City, Hinigiran, Binalbagan, Himamaylan, Ilog and Cuayan.

Here’s what you have to prepare:

Bus fare (aircon) P 238.00 (non-aircon) P 210.00
food, camera or mp3 player to accompany you during the long ride (or you cansleep – this doesn’t work for me when I am commuting, though).

Along the way.. here are some sights to expect:

And just when you are nearing exhaustion…. tadaaaaaaa! You will be in Sipalay. That doesn’t end there, though.

Get off at the Ceres terminal in Sipalay. There is a tricycle parking area next to the bus stop, so you can ask one of those guys to bring you to Perth. They chargeP100.00 for each passenger, one way. Since Perth is in a secluded area, be sure to get the contact number of the driver so he can pick you up from the resort whenever you are ready to go.

Good news: The drivers do not charge an extra fee for this.

The resort usually contacts the guests so they can arrange for the pick-up by their own tricycle for the same amount. However, you will have to get off before the terminal.

Expect a ride on the 3-kilometer paved and 1-kilometer rough road.

ARRIVING AT THE RESORT

Arriving at Perth Mountain Resort, here is what you can see:

The entrance (reception/ dining area)

Dining area

The view from the dining area of Perth Paradise Resort is great. It was raining when we arrived, so this can be more beautiful on a sunny day.

Since we are staying overnight, the resort did not charge us with the entrance and swimming pool fee. But for your reference, here are the rates:

Departing from Bacolod Ceres South Terminal at 10:00 AM, we arrived in Perth Paradise just before 5 PM. It was a rainy day and my friend and I were really hungry. They have their own restaurant that serves delicious meal at such a fair price.

It takes a while for the food to be ready. The servings of the dishes is good for 2 to 3 people, so, it is quite affordable though we would have loved it better if they have the more practical combo meals. We ended up bringing our excess food to our room upstairs..

THE ACCOMMODATION

Cabana Rooms

Located just behind the reception/dining area, the cabana rooms are placed strategically for the guests to have a good view of the lagoon. Designed to fulfill the bahay kubo feel, it is made of nipa and bamboo. It also has a small balcony.

What’s inside…

ROOM INFORMATION:

2 single mattress on the floor
Good for 2 persons (max: 3 persons – 200 for additional person)
Electric fan
Common toilet and bathroom
P1000.00 (off season) or P1200.00 (peak season)

View from the Cabanas

There are three cabanas at Perth Paradise Resort. Perhaps, this is because the land area is small. The other rooms are found up the hill and the only way up and down is the plight of stairs. (My friend and I had a hard time going up to our room after dinner.)

These stairs lead you to the infinity pool with Perth Paradise Resort’s trademark view. It is in the same area where the bar and the standard rooms are located.

These day huts by the stairs can be rented at P500.00

Standard Rooms

Located right in front of the infinity pool, staying here offers the unobstructed view of the islets.

A peak inside the room (sorry for bags, we were really tired but excited)

ROOM INFORMATION:

2 Single beds / matrimonial bed and a single bed
Good for 2, but can accommodate up to 4 persons (they charge additional P200 for extra guest and P200 for the mattress)
With TV and air-conditioner
Free breakfast for 2 persons
P2,000.00 (low season) or P 2, 500.00 (peak season)

View from the Standard Rooms

Early the next day, we opened our window and saw this…

Perth Paradise Resort also has a family room (check with the resort for the specific rate)

INFORMATION:

2 matrimonial beds+ 2 extra beds
Can accommodate up to 6 persons
With TV, air conditioner, and kitchen
Free breakfast for 2 persons
P 4,500.00 (peak season) or P 4,000.00 (low season)

Magnificent View of the Islets from Perth Paradise Resort

There is also a bar at the resort (by the poolside) managed by a nice and hospitable couple.

We wanted to go boating and island hopping but the weather was not so pleasant. The water wasn’t as nice, too. So, we opted to swim and get soaked in the pool the whole morning.

On our way back to Bacolod City, we opted for the air-conditioned bus and was back in the city after about 5 hours (shorter than the way to Sipalay).

Perth Paradise Resort rates indicated here aren’t official. They are subject to change and for a more enjoyable trip, you are advised to call the resort for information. Call or text 09460590076.

How to Correct Student Essays

2016-11-26T06:05:00.001-08:00

*** This article I have written some years ago was originally published here.

Essays are known to be the most widely used assessment of learning before multiple-choice tests were invented. Students are expected to exhibit learning by detailing answers to questions in prose.

Even today, in the presence of exam types that are easier to check and grade, teachers still consider essay as one of the most reliable assessments of student learning.

Essay as a Significant Academic Measurement
Essays have long been utilized to test students’ knowledge of a subject. This is because essays require students to exert effort and dig for deeper understanding to produce a sound answer to a prompt. In contrast with multiple-choice exams, students must make use of adequate set information to answer questions rather than just recalling or associating them with given choices. As support and proof are needed to justify answers, it also makes use of students’ schema. In addition, essays help teachers assess students’ ability to think critically.

Student Suffering from Writer's Block

As essays leave room for expression of views, it is a good method to recognize the complexity of thought processes. Lastly, with writing a skill expected from almost all educated persons, essays challenge students to express their views in a grammatically and beautifully intertwined use of language.

Correcting Essays: Tips for Teachers
Evaluating students' writing is one of the most challenging tasks a language teacher may face. Essays are helpful in challenging students to express views on a given subject and should not be graded based on any general system. Other than just purely assigning numbers or letters for grades, essays are supposedly assessed with greater understanding that students differ in their efforts and accomplishments.

The following are the tips on how to correct student essays effectively.

Read essays at least twice. When correcting essays, do not start grading the first time you read. It is best to scan first to understand the ideas the student wanted to convey. Upon getting the gist of the student’s work, it is easier to assess which parts of your performance expectations were met. The second time you read is the stage when you can start identifying communication failure in the composition. Often, what we feel was expressed by the student isn’t exactly what they mean to tell us. As a result, correcting students’ writing after the first time you read may result in mistakes in understanding what was meant, leading to improperly grading them afterward.
Cover student’s name. Often times, we tend to be quite considerate when correcting or grading essays based on a student’s attitude in our classes. We can’t deny the fact that some students create good impressions and some don’t. When grading tests that do not require us to follow a specific list of right or wrong answers, we may be bias in correcting. To avoid this, it is best to fold the upper part of the essays to conceal the identity of the writers. Sometimes, teachers can even assign a number to a specific student in place of a name on the paper. With this, we can correct essays objectively and thus grade them fairly.
Make use of rubrics. Recent development in education has paved way to grading designs for more subjective tests. In correcting student essays, it is best to grade and correct according to a specific standard. Because it separates and defines different performance levels expected from student output, rubrics aid teachers in giving precise ratings.
When dealing with linguistically advanced students, a standardized rubric like those of SAT or TOEFL can be utilized. It is best, however, that a teacher designs rubrics for specific class or tasks. Remember that if the purpose of the essay is to describe, the focus of corrections will be on descriptions. Modify your rubrics to fit every kind of composition requirement with different expectations.
Use editing marks. When assessing essays, do not attempt to write all your corrections and color your student paper with red marks. Studies say that students do not generally learn when they are bombarded with what they have done wrong. Additionally, marking every part of the essay takes too much of a teacher’s time. Avoid the temptation of proofreading your students’ essays for all types of errors.

At the beginning of a term in your composition classes, it is advised that editing marks be introduced to students. This will make students discover for themselves the kind of mistakes committed and how to possibly correct them. Consequently, this can foster peer editing.
Take note of students’ mistakes. Grading the papers after you have corrected them isn’t the last thing to do. A more conscientious teacher takes note of students’ most common mistakes. This list of things that challenges students can be taken up in class the next day. By starting with the errors, students will understand further why such mistake is committed. Alternately, the teacher must provide explanations on why some constructions are considered errors and what can students do to remedy them.

When a particular student commits the most mistakes at all times, the teacher should make the student consult, or have an assistant to help developing acceptable compositions. Keeping track of student’s mistakes can help teachers identify who among the class members needed extra attention and assistance.
Include an end note. For a more traditional teacher, this might mean comments on the over-all writing performance of the student. For a more responsive one, this means formative comments. When correcting students’ essays, give honest and constructive comments by focusing on what was successfully applied or how much effort was visible in the composition. When end notes are non-offensive to students, they will serve as guides for achieving expectations. This gives them clear ideas on why a certain part is considered less acceptable and how they can do better. Be sure that end notes should serve as instruction not as a grading justification. To motivate your students, emphasize on what was accomplished rather than what was missed, and offer suggestions on how to improve their work.

Focus on what the students did right.
Return assignments promptly. Marking and commenting on essays is crucial, but teachers have to return students’ essays promptly. When students still have the enthusiasm on the result of tasks, they are eager to know how they performed. Return students’ work and be sure to review the points most of them failed to follow. Provide examples that contrast both acceptable and less acceptable alternatives. When students have their essays on hand, it is easier for them to clarify the markings and the possible remedies.

As you go along, students can identify their own mistakes and will find it easier to relate to the review of points. Consequently, they can take notes next to your markings and thus have lesser chances of committing the same mistake when doing the next task.

Conclusion:
It is perhaps challenging to correct and grade essays on any course or discipline. Assignments have different goals and expectations. Generally, no matter how divergent a student’s response is to the prompt, it is still worth some points, unless it is proven to have been plagiarized. Remember that students’ efforts deserve merits.

Quite different from other types of tests, essays demand the teacher’s full attention to make sure that they are graded based on a standard set. It also requires teachers extra time to read, re-read, assess, and correct. Because this type of evaluation has long been considered subjective, many would think that grading might be based on how good a student’s image is to the teacher.

Since it is quite tempting to look at the names of the writers while reading a very interesting or frustrating composition, teachers are to practice being unbiased by concealing identities until after grading the papers. It is expected that compositions are to be graded based on a rubric which include style, ideas, organization and so on.

Writing grades do not end the teacher’s role in developing students’ ability to write essays as they are expected to provide end notes, review points or monitor students’ progress individually. As a complex skill, writing an essay requires schema from many other subjects learned, and a responsive teacher can direct students on how to make use of these knowledge by expressing them in a logically accepted form.

How to Use Storytelling in Language Teaching

2016-11-26T05:57:00.000-08:00

*** This article I have written some years ago was originally published here.

Offering natural and ideal listening materials, storytelling in language classes is an effective tool which provides learners with necessary useful contexts. Considered one of the oldest techniques language teachers use, it continues to garnish language learning with colorful and interesting materials students enjoy the most. Naturally, language teachers and even parents have their own distinct styles which educators continually improve.

Ways of making the audience more captive to lessons is one thing teachers work on throughout their careers.

What is storytelling?
Storytelling is an art of using colorful words with some actions to reveal the elements of a story. Often done to bring joy and enjoyment, it subliminally gives wisdom to the audience. Stories often contain morals and a lesson for readers to learn. Since the use of images and actions are limited, storytelling compels the listeners to create their own mental image and expand on their interpretation of the topic. With the enjoyment it brings, retention of the message is enhanced.

Storytelling is an interactive art as it involves both the listeners and the storyteller. The way stories are told and the actions and facial expressions used by the storyteller enhance the story. Often involvement from the audience in encouraged, and it serves as a great opportunity for working on new vocabulary. It also takes many forms and inspired by daily activities that can teach lessons through the use of an easily understood sentence structures. Culturally speaking, it has been utilized to educate the young on the values of a social group they are in with the expectations that those shall be carried on to younger generations.

Why use storytelling
The use of storytelling in language teaching is an effective way of exposing students to the target language. It is an essential tool in conveying messages to students of diverse interests. Considered the oldest education practice, it has made passing of beliefs, traditions and appreciation of history to generations possible.

Here are some points supporting the use of storytelling in language classes:

1) Can be integrated in the curriculum
With many subjects taught best by elaborating on examples, storytelling is an effective way to teach variety topics. Though mainly considered an essential part of language curriculum, storytelling can actually be used in teaching history, society, and the arts. Listening to stories helps inculcate values in the students’ minds, helping them become even more motivated, driven and inspired to achieve things by learning from the mistakes and victories of the characters.

Students Listening Attentivelty During a Language Class Listening Activity

Simple listing of information lessens the processing time for understanding of the general ideas, but storytelling makes information easily remembered. Storytelling in language teaching simulates real use of words and phrases.

2) Caters to students of diverse backgrounds
Since storytelling is present in almost all cultures at any given time, it can help bridge cultural gaps in a diverse classroom. It also teaches cultural sensitivity by developing the students’ knowledge of their social roles and expectations. Telling stories from countries where your student came from creates awareness, deeper understanding, and appreciation of their differences. When students have deeper understanding of their individual backgrounds, creating a cooperative classroom with diverse cultures can be made easy.

With cultural knowledge, it is easier to foster understanding on what was actually meant by a student during discussions as some cultures are direct but some indirect.

3) Fosters understanding of the humankind
In the age of technology, economic race, and self-sufficiency, storytelling can help students understand the true essence of the human experience. Characters in the story are excellent sources of lessons for learning and building desirable behaviors and character a person needed in order to live fuller life. With the listeners’ emotional involvement, it can be utilized to teach not just language but the practices of a culture where that language is used.

It exposes students to the kind of language use in a certain territory.

4) Helps enhance listening skills
An interesting story keeps the students hooked. As they are eager to know the next part of the story, they do not only develop concentration but also sharpens listening skill. It helps students associate listening with getting information and understanding of the over-all contexts of stories.

Since listening is considered an essential language skill that facilitates learning, storytelling opens the students’ perspective on the act and widens their opportunity to maximize learning.

5) Improves imagination
Listening to stories stimulates thought processes. When teachers make use of storytelling, students are challenged to draw conclusions by creating images for characters as they are presented in the story. Judgment and inferences can often be based on the learners’ experiences, so they are likely to interpret stories by making use of their realities.

Telling a story enables the listener to immerse himself into the plot and start seeing things from the perspective of the character. This helps them develop imagination on both life and linguistic experiences.

Make Storytelling Engaging: Creative Ways to Follow

It can never be denied that despite being in a language classroom, some students, especially younger ones, lack motivation to learn. Most find no meaning in acquiring a new language and eventually become non-achieving. The teacher then is tasked to critically choose stories that will not only encourage listening but language learning. When interest in a topic is aroused, attitudes towards learning the language are changed, making it enjoyable, meaningful and comprehensible to students.

Follow these steps to make storytelling more engaging for students:

1) Choose the right material
Even a veteran storyteller needs to upgrade to new techniques, and eventually new materials that fit the interest of this generation. There is no generic formula of what is the perfect material for storytelling as it should be chosen based on the needs and interests of the audience. In most cases, we choose materials that we personally treasured and loved to listen to as kids. This would generally include fairy tales and folklore.

With the availability of fresh story books in the market, teachers are provided with many choices. When these materials don’t seem to fit the kind of audience in class, giving old stories a fresh approach can do the job. Try modifying some elements of the story you love without dropping its original message. Better yet, ask students what they wanted to listen to for the storytelling sessions by making storybooks available in the classroom.

2) Characterize the content
Bringing the characters in the story to life makes storytelling fun as it enables the audience to see, feel, and hear exactly what the character wanted them to. Remember that without emotion, stories become basically dead. It is then important that the teacher knows the stories by heart. When the teacher knows the content of the story and the message embedded in it, it is easier to characterize. Read and internalize the characters and practice them even just in front the mirror. Convey how the characters feel by making use of body language, gestures, facial expressions and tone of voice.

When the character is angry, make the audience see and hear it. Know when to shift actions and voice to help the audience distinguish between characters. Making your content interesting help foster your students’ interest in the language.

3) Maximize opportunities for literacy
Even the most reluctant reader or learner can be motivated to listen to an interesting story. Considered as one of the ways to address literacy, storytelling helps develop students’ competencies in all areas of the language by modeling oral skills, writing, and comprehension. Storytelling exposes the students to reading and listening, and post-storytelling activities help develop speaking and writing. Teachers who utilize storytelling should choose materials that fit the needs of the students and of the curriculum.

These stories should provide variety of messages, often with pictures or flash cards, to help get the message across to solicit students’ attention. Storytelling is one effective method in transporting students back in time and history. This helps shape the way they see the world.

4) Use props
As most children learn through visual representations, using props in storytelling sessions foster deeper understanding and appreciation of materials. Props help liven up the lines and hook the students making them concentrate more. Handy props are the most popular to use in classrooms. This can range from flowers, ball, doll, or a piece of cloth. The use of props in storytelling extends a child's attention span and increases their learning experiences.

Additionally, it makes lessons less boring and easy to remember. It is best to know, though, that props should be minimized to a level not distracting to students. When there is too much of them, students may be tempted to focus on them rather than to the story the teacher reads. The most widely used props are those that generate sounds for effect at a certain part of the story.

5) Involve the students
As storytelling relies on the collaboration of both the teller and the audience, it is best practiced with student participation. Tell story the way that excites students to talk and interact. Involving students can be as simple as making them repeat some lines you wanted to emphasize. Alternately, you can check students’ comprehension by asking them to act out some parts of the story. For younger learners, this can even be done by animal sound reproductions. After telling the story, the teacher can ask students for the possible ending or solicit questions for other class members to answer.

Some students can even be assigned to alternately serve as co-tellers in the beginning of the storytelling sessions. For more advanced students, retelling the story in front of the class the next day can be practiced. Involving students in lessons do not only develop their cognitive skills but enhances confidence in speaking and motivation to learn.

Conclusion
Students’ experiences are best molded with descriptive and language skills development. When students enjoy learning, they are not only creating a collection of knowledge but are constantly looking for ways to know things that interest them. With their curiosity for learning comes their perspective of the world. Studies reveal that storytelling is an effective way for increasing the literacy level. This is because it enhances all the language skills- reading, listening, speaking and writing- all in one. Because storytelling is participatory in nature, students have greater exposure to language use.

Storytelling provides an environment of rich linguistic and cultural learning. For children, it serves as a meaningful way of modeling language use. In fact, most of early education curriculum focuses more on story-based lessons. When materials are properly chosen and with teachers equipped with skills to convey stories in a more engaging and interesting ways, meeting the objectives of literacy programs are easily achieved. Being able to facilitate development in comprehension, storytelling is a great way to start teaching language students to construct meanings.

Benefits of Using Graphic Organizers in the Classroom

2016-11-26T05:49:00.000-08:00

*** This article I have written some years ago was originally published here.

Using graphic organizers in the classroom aides teachers in making concepts easier to grasp to students about topics they need to study. Education in the 21st century made learning even more fun with the integration of new study techniques. Instead of traditional note-taking, students are now able to study using visuals like diagrams or webs. With many students falling under the category of visual learners, graphic organizers play an essential role in the classroom. Considered as one of the most effective strategies for teaching and learning, graphic organizers can be used in many different areas of the curriculum. This is because it enables broad topics to be easily broken down into specifics.

What is a graphic organizer?
Graphic organizers are tools used to show connections between concepts. A spatial arrangement of ideas, it helps learners reduce broad topics into more specific and easier concepts. Also known as concept maps or diagrams, it serves as a visual aid to facilitate comprehension and connection between concepts. It helps facilitate understanding by providing a semantic association between ideas or thoughts, making the learner able to visualize ideas. Since these tools can be used in many areas of study, it is helpful to students of all age groups.

Types of Graphic Organizers

Basically, graphic organizers used in the classroom organize ideas into concepts, sequence, dates or groups. Since it is constructed mostly from ideas contributed by the students, recalling information is simple. The most popular types of these learning tools are the web, map, plots, and Venn diagram.

1. Web - This is usually utilized to give definitions, examples or list of related ideas:

2. Map - This is generally used to show the sequence of events, relate characteristics, classifications, similarities, and descriptions:

3. Chart - This is commonly used to illustrate cause and effect, enumerate characteristics or descriptions and identify parts of a broader topic:

4. Venn Diagram - This is used to compare and contrast attributes of two things:

Benefits of Graphic Organizers

Here are the top five reasons graphic organizers are beneficial in the classroom:

1. Engaging for learners. According to recent studies, students learn more when the stimulus is visual. With majority of students considered visual learners, making use of graphic organizers help put together thoughts. Since there are several types to choose from, students won’t get tired of learning a variety of content.

In addition to attractive designs, graphic organizers offer the chance to complete tasks hands-on. This enables them to break down abstract concepts into simpler ones, making classifications and communication even less challenging. As they get themselves familiar with this educational design, they can function independently after several teacher-guided activities.

2. Aid the thinking process. When students are in charge of organizing information, they do not only develop skills in establishing relationships between concepts but are also giving brains a stretch. When expose to different types of graphic organizers, they devise ways to attack the demands of the task at hand. As they deepen understanding of concepts, lessons are internalized, making it a part of schema. As ideas are visually represented, brainstorming is made easier. Additionally, as students take an active role in processing information, it gives them the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and discover their preferred learning style.

3. Improves comprehension. Truly, “a picture paints a thousand words” as even the most complicated idea can be broken down into simpler ones by simple illustrations. Textbooks used in the basic education level have a lot of pictures because imagery enhances understanding. As effective study guides, graphic organizers provide students with general overview of the topics they study, their patterns, and the facts related to the concept being discussed in the classroom.

This can enhance understanding and memorizing. In reading classes, comprehension can be out of reach as words may be too difficult, or sentences are complex. With this, students find it hard to figure out how each part completes the others and vice versa. This problem is, fortunately, addressed by graphic organizers.

4. Foster retention. The human mind stores and organizes information learned. When ideas are understood, it is easily retained in the mind, making it accessible for use when needed. With graphic organizers providing the visuals for a mental storage, remembering is supported and critical thinking skills are developed as sets of retained information are assimilated. As they visualize what was learned, manipulation of ideas that made up the schema is easy.

This in turn will aid them in expressing thoughts into words. Spatial learning tools are known to provide opportunities for extracting and remembering information. Graphic organizers are considered a type of scaffolding for learners to establish relationship between what was previously learned and the new materials being studied.

5. Helps improve achievement. In 2007, a study by Anne Ford mentioned that “learning disabilities cannot be cured, but they can be treated successfully” as she saw the role played by graphic organizers in improving the achievement level of students with learning disabilities. Further, other studies suggest that the demand for students to master so much information about subject areas hinders the achievements of even the average student. Because students, both regular and those with learning difficulties, are participants in finding connections between concepts, facilitation of knowledge acquisition was improved.

In a study conducted by Barron and Stone, it was presented that those learners with exposure to graphic organizers as study aids were able to manipulate test on vocabulary with ease. Additionally, it stated that graphic organizers are facilitative when students trained to use them were to apply what was learned from explicit instructions.

Conclusion
Lines, charts, maps, or webs that represent ideas may look elementary at first glance, but graphic organizers provide frameworks for connecting new ideas with schema. There are compelling reasons why using graphic organizers in the classroom is beneficial. First, it makes materials easier to comprehend and remembered than when lessons are just dictated or copied. It makes ideas more specific, giving the students a chance to grasp concepts at their level of understanding. When they are able to keep a clear mental picture of the topic discussed, it aids them in explaining what they have mastered orally.

Second, visual representations of topics are powerful ways to assist learners in understanding. As the exposure to many types of graphic organizers continues, students can exhibit the depth of their understating of a topic by the complexity of relationships or connections illustrated on their versions of the visual learning aid. Third, it trains students to make use of strategies that fit their learning preferences. When they master patterns of breaking down ideas and establishing connections, thinking is enhanced and learning is made possible no matter how difficult a concept is. Additionally, the quality and creativity of the student-made graphic organizers can indicate how well the student grasps the ideas of learning, indicating how much potential is present.

ESL Classroom Strategies That Compel Students to Communicate

2016-11-26T05:44:00.001-08:00

*** This article I have written some years ago was originally published here.

Introduction: Aiming for Bilingualism

Over the past decades, many countries have started to encourage citizens to adapt another language and become bilinguals, or better yet, multilingual. With this popularity of language learning, experts in English as a second language have never halted seeking for plans and designs that would ensure effective language acquisition among those who learn. For the majority of the language learners and proponents, learning to communicate in languages other than their mother tongue helps achieve progress on any chosen endeavor. Because English is the most prominent of all languages being learned, it is considered international and is often spoken in the business world.

Learning English is a complicated process. It covers four major skills namely:

listening
speaking
writing
reading

Language Ability and Success
In the field of language teaching, achieving fluency and accuracy in one’s speech is the aim. It also means that being able to communicate what one means by production of sounds is an essential part of success academically or in life. Speaking and the role it plays in learning English are imperative to one’s accomplishments. Like learning other languages, the ability to speak and convey intended meaning is of utmost importance. Looking at the records of language teaching techniques, it is clear that many educators have put more emphasis on learning how to speak above the three other language skills. The number of people devoting much time and effort learning to speak English is important evidence that it is crucial to one’s achievement in school, the workplace and the competitive world.

Interdependence of First and Second Language
The 1986 research conducted by Cummins and Swain construed that there is a strong interdependence between L1 and L2 in bilingual education. This interdependence is rooted on the fact that the first language plays an important part in learning a second language successfully. Strengthening skills in the first language is also somehow dependent on one’s ability in the second language. It has been emphasized that competence in the language used in school is important in developing academic skills and comprehension of content presented in that medium. The classroom, then, is a melting pot of developing competitiveness in the second language. With exposure to linguistic activities, students are able to improve processing and discriminating input in English. Equally important, beginners in the language tend to translate ideas first as they can’t think in the target language directly. This is quite different from what many traditional teachers expect from them. It is helpful to understand that for many who are approaching fluency and advancement in the language, code switching or translation is essential in comprehension.

Compelling Strategies
Activities in the classroom open opportunities for class members to communicate. It is through this that many teachers devote much time in designing techniques that would cater to developing the speaking skills and the participation of the students. When students face situations that demand participation or relates to interests, class members are likely to take their part in the process. Strategies and activities serve as a springboard of group sessions in the ESL classrooms. Because they are supposed to serve their purpose in developing fluent speakers, they must be properly observed and effectively practiced. The following are the most popular strategies employed in the ESL classrooms to compel students to communicate:

1) Functional Language Exposure
Often not given enough emphasis, functional or real language exposure is found to be most effective in compelling students to communicate in the target language. Because of its scope and demand, many schools may have shied away from implementing this strategy that includes the whole academic community. Success of its implementation actually demands the active engagement of the teachers, the administration and the students themselves. In many instances, students claim that they did not speak English inside the school premises because they do not find the need for it. For others, unwillingness to try can be a factor. Younger students are not as intrinsically motivated to speak in English as the adults are. Additionally, some students may consider English as an ordinary everyday language employed by people around them. Sadly, a number of students think that there is no relevance in talking to their teacher in English and thus will never be accustomed to it.

As most teachers wish to develop their students proficiency in the language, they may employ the rule on speaking and transacting business with them in English. As an influential factor in the academic life, teachers can be role models and leading the way maximizes the chance to become fluent. In 1993, research by Green claimed that a sensitive teacher is able to generate and sustain the desire to learn the language even with poorly motivated learners. Additionally, the implementation of the “English Zones” pushes students to speak in the target language to keep up with those around them or to avoid getting fined. When school zones demand communicating in English and are implementing it strictly, students are compelled to adhere to the rules while getting themselves accustomed with the target language.

When communicating in English is observed only in the classroom, it causes confusion and limits the chance to develop communicative competence. Because communication is an essential part of life, students definitely should talk with their peers as much as possible and in varied environments. Making use of this fact to develop language acquisition will establish interest in and among the students. And, because they are exposed to this strategy daily, they are likely to develop willingness to use the target language. The spontaneity in speaking and listening to others will become an essential part in language advancement.

2) Topical Conversations from Daily News
Newspapers and magazines are rich sources of timely topics that can jump start conversations. They are also fountains of vocabulary and the developments in social linguistic trends. A context-rich medium, they include a variety of topics on literature and issues that students may have opinions about. Usually, reading topics and preparing for conversations about them are assigned as homework and are stated as part of the requirements for passing English subjects. When not forming part of the syllabus, it can be treated as part of enrichment activities for reading and speaking classes. The challenge, however, comes with the students’ willingness to read the headlines regularly.

Since periodicals are an authentic material for language learning, it helps students enhance their skills in vocabulary and sentence construction. Often, as students read, they become familiar with the styles employed by writers and may even find some to adapt as their english composition technique. They also serve as a challenge to students’ comprehension and opens doors to learning things they had hardly heard of or known before. As readers, they will develop into students with social consciousness. With the information they get from what they read, students are equipped with knowledge, making them more competent in expressing opinions with confidence.

As language acquisition requires patience and consistent practice, students are to be obliged to learn the language even outside the classroom and communicate using the target language whenever possible. Exposing students to language through journalism helps them develop language processing and acceptance. When it becomes a habit, they will find production of thoughts in the target language natural and normal. Though there is a need to process information through the first language, students are likely to improve language skills through reading newspapers. These skills are writing style, analysis of content, grammar, syntax and expression of ideas through journalistic conventions. Using newspapers and magazines as language sources is beneficial in two ways- reading and background knowledge as prerequisites for speaking.

3) Oral recitation
Developing communicative competence among students can be done by having oral recitation sessions in the classroom. To be able to score well in this activity, students are to study and recall the important information discussed previously. With this, they develop the habit of reviewing lessons rather than forgetting them after the lecture. When grading recitations include the weight of the answers and the number of times each student has participated, thus, making them prepare for it.

Preparations for oral recitations compel the students to review and thus develop their dispositions in academics. Additionally, preparing to perform well in oral recitations exhibit their attitudes towards expressing what they want to say. With their level of motivation and preparation, they are likely to develop the ability to acquire language faster than others. Equally important, when students are bound to prove they can do better in class, part of uplifting status is participating in recitations and nailing the ideas teachers want to hear.

When unprepared, students tend to shy away from recitations, especially those that are graded. Failure to equip one’s self with the needed knowledge to take part in the communicative environment demanded by recitation activities results in students missing the chance to improve both on content areas and the language. When functional output is hindered by the lack of background, students are likely to fail in acquiring language as quickly as their participative peers. Because recitation also requires a quick response to prompts, it challenges both the students’ level of processing and their ability to turn ideas into oral response. Question and answer activities like this also expose the students to many different contexts by which a certain set of vocabulary can be used. It should be noted, however, that willingness to participate in oral recitations, whether voluntary or at teacher’s discretion, depends on the way students perceived themselves as communicators or as class members. This in turn will either develop or hinder their English language acquisition.

4) Class-based reporting
Often used in content areas like the social sciences, reporting can be utilized to challenge students to make their peers understand ideas by the use of personal communication styles. When given the chance to deliver reports in the target language, students will not only be forced to understand the content of the subject but to master the art of explaining it clearly.

Because good reports are the ones that are delivered in an informal way, students are exposed to authentic practice they can employ outside the classroom. Alternately, the teacher can ask some students to share what they have to say about the topics discussed. Equally important, post-reporting activities may include clarifications or explanations of ideas.

Because speaking in front of the class requires confidence, and also creates unique language learning opportunities. Students must be well-versed in the topics assigned or at its simplest form, memorize what they have to say in class. This improves not only memorization but language processing as well. As questions may be asked by class members, they have to cash in on their background knowledge and linguistic ability to make points clear. With continued practice, students develop self-confidence and competence in speaking in front of the audience, making language learning natural and even enjoyable.

Concluding Points
Teachers are equipped with abilities to make language learning fun and easy for students. With their desire to produce students who are competent language users, various strategies are employed in the classroom. Teachers are important factors in the language learners’ lives. As one of the main sources of linguistic faculity, they are to model the use of language.

Because many people tend to become bilinguals, either because of personal interests or social demands, it is essential that opportunities to communicate are observed. With English being the most widely studied second language, teachers and students can take advantage of English written materials. Learning English is not only about mastering one skill, but also requires practice in the three others. Though listening, reading and writing are as equally important as speaking, writing is viewed as an excellent starting point in developing fluency quickly.

Photo Memoir as a Writing Assignment

2016-11-26T05:38:00.000-08:00

*** This article I have written some years ago was originally published here.

Pictures Paint a Thousand Words
Writing is considered the most difficult language skill to master, so instilling this interest to ESL students is twice as challenging. With the need to use correct expressions following the standard conventions of grammar and compositions, students whose first language is not English might grasp for words to complete a single sentence expressing what was required to be written. It should be remembered, however, that when topics are directly connected with our interests, it is easier to write.Students are motivated to give their best, expressing thoughts on paper, when they are given the chance to write about something they know deeply or have experienced personally. It is necessary that teachers should devise ways on how to make writing classes engaging. Instead of compelling students to write on generic ideas, make use of significant events in their lives to produce excellent compositions.

For many English as a second language students, writing about their recent trips or picnics are easily accomplished as they have firsthand experience to jot on a page. Celebrations in the family can also be a good inspiration for writing. Additionally, these events can be commemorated by photographs serving as memoirs of significant periods of life. In the same light, photos help people remember details about places they’ve been to, people we shared good moments with, and events that made our lives happier. In other words, they are colorful and powerful narratives that can trigger students’ interests to convert them into powerful lines and stories.

Writing and the Teacher’s Role
The types of teaching strategies employed in the classroom are manifestations of the teacher’s belief. Articulated or not, they always play an important role in the way the class is carried and led to the achievement of goals. Our beliefs as educators affect our choice of resources, assessment and organization of class activities. No matter how different the beliefs may be, teachers should ensure that writing classes are made fun and interesting.

It should be kept in mind that teachers are the instruments in making students understand that like all language skills, writing follows the same rules on semantics and syntax. There are some important considerations to observe in our writing classes. First, they should provide opportunities for students to brainstorm on ideas through talking or listening before they write. This will help students direct their focus and get the sense for writing. Secondly, writing activities can be linked to reading. This is because articles students are exposed to can be used as models for writing styles, providing definite examples of how information can be arranged or structured according to what was perceived to be significant in the composition. Simply put, it shows students what good writing is like. Third and equally important, it should be part of practice to give students the opportunities to share or choose their source of inspiration for writing compositions.

As ESL writers start to brainstorm ideas for their composition, they should include their peers to add different points of view and ideas to their writing. The topics chosen and the way sentences are crafted to create the desired message do not only show possible potential writers but also gives leeway for class members to learn from less anxiety inducing sources.

The following are the ways to help to inspire writers with the use of photos in class:

1) Require a Favorite Family or Personal Photo
Students are to be asked to bring to class their favorite photos or set of photos. With this, it is sure that students picked what they think is the most interesting and, thus, will be able to share views or stories based on them. Remember that visuals are powerful in providing context for any writing pieces and students can easily start writing a topic that sparks their attention or curiosity. Because it was a free choice to bring any picture, perhaps students chose it for being stimulating and attractive. In addition, since it is something they brought from home, they are knowledgeable about the place, time, event and people in captured in print. As students take hold of their favorite photo, ask them to look for details they may want to use as the main idea for writing. Prompt them to look for something interesting or funny, to spot things that are colorful, or to describe shapes or facial expressions.

Consequently, you can ask class members to swap photos with a friend. When students bring in pictures for class, they may not only find pleasure looking at their memorable smiles or travels but they might also provide themselves with writing ideas they never knew possible. To add more challenge to this, ask students to swap pictures with their peers. Doing this will test how well they think of main ideas as they may not know the people in the pictures, or the place and time they were taken. This, however, will develop their skills in writing conventions and objectivity in compositions.

2) Scaffold Ideas About the Photo
Students asking teachers for translation, vocabulary or possible main ideas is a typical scene in ESL writing classes. With students having the ideas as inspired by their photos, the challenge comes with decoding the message in the pictures and converting them into excellent write-ups. As a teacher, being able to provide the correct information for the student is fulfilling yet tiring. Despite its difficulty, it should be noted that students must exert twice or thrice the effort to express what they want to say. Scaffolding is a helpful strategy in writing classes as it helps break up complex tasks into smaller, simpler pieces of information. Additionally, it gives teachers the chance to intervene with the students’ work and lessen, if not totally eliminate, misunderstanding of concepts and difficulties in following formal writing conventions. Because second language learners may not have enough knowledge of the topics or the rules, they are facing the trial of getting into the unknown. No matter how simple rules or words may be, this isn’t the case for many ESL students, especially those who are beginners or approaching intermediate levels. Typically, they have limited ideas on how writing should be like, how it should be organized, or how to make writings understandable to readers. When left on their own, they are bound to miss the standards. With your students holding their favorite picture, take time to ask them what they can see and which would they want to write about or would like others to know.

3) Building Vocabulary List From Pictures
They said that a good mechanic always has his toolbox full of essential tools. Writers have the need for this toolbox in the form of vocabulary, punctuation, and grammar. Some tools are used more frequently than others, but the box is to be filled with new ones regularly. Writers need to make use of the tools in the box to make writing more powerful and compelling. This is where the need for vocabulary comes in. Students can never write with limited set of words, and with the teacher’s help, this can be augmented. With the picture in hand, struggling students can be supported while helping them think. Teachers can ask questions like the 5ws (what, when, where, why, who) and the 1h (how) to help find words for the sentences. Instead of readily providing the student with words, they can be asked for the names, shapes, color or location of things found on the photo. As they arrive at answers, make them create a list, so there are words to be included in their writings. You can also require students to bring dictionary with words from their native language to English or the other way around. As they progress on their vocabulary work, encourage them to use only the English dictionary. Because ESL students tend to choose the more difficult synonym of a word, they might convey different meanings. This is where teachers can now explain the importance of correct choice of words.

4) Compare and Contrast People or Things in the Picture
Perhaps one of the most interesting challenges for students in writing classes is the task to find what they think are the differences among the subjects of the photo. If students find it difficult to choose ideas for their writing, ask them to find at least five or ten differences among people or things in the picture. If they are the owner of the photos, they might as well be triggered to look closely as they know the people or things in the image. This activity will help your students develop accuracy in descriptions and make use of the vocabulary they listed. Alternately, when there are limited elements to contrast, you can let them compare. This is where they can make use of descriptions like colors, shapes, sizes, actions, directions and so on. When the students are able to do the first two tasks with ease, challenge them to compare and contrast elements in a single write-up. Making students do these exercises will help develop the ability to analyze likeness and differences while keeping in mind that one description can’t go without the other. To make even easier for students, encourage them to make use of a graphic organizer like a Venn diagram to visualize and organize ideas more clearly.

5) Expressing Conditions Based on the Picture
Yes, pictures can be used to help students find good writing ideas and to review them on grammar rules. Another way in making students produce good compositions is to use pictures as a springboard for main ideas. Instead of asking them to just describe it plainly, you can trigger their imagination by giving them prompts like, “If I were here…” or asking them questions like, “What would you be doing if you were/weren’t in the scene?” As students are holding on to their favorite photo of landscape, park, party or overseas travel, they would think of possibilities and would be compelled to imagine what’s otherwise. Equally important, they would be pushed onto making sentences expressing conditions, making use of their prior knowledge from grammar lectures. Additionally, asking students to come up with ideas opposite to what they can see directly will enhance their imagination- a very important skill in creating great compositions.

Concluding Ideas
There is no doubt that pictures play an important part in second language teaching. This is especially beneficial when dealing with beginners or lower level students. Despite its known advantages, many instructors have not utilized this strategy in their writing classes. In getting inspirations for writing, purely reading texts can be uninspiring or complicated. Additionally, photos motivate students even before they would start writing initial ideas. It should not be forgotten that photos, whether printed or digital, are tremendously a convenient and useful tool for writing classes.

Using pictures in the class can be a good start for ESL students who are not yet skilled in writing. Choosing photos from one’s pool of favorite images at home even allow students to look back at the most interesting part of life, thus, making it easier to think of what’s to write. Because they know the background information of the photos they will have to write about, problems happen minimally. Most importantly, students will find enjoyment writing what they feel about something.

Criterion Referenced Test in the Classroom: 5 Ways to Use Them

2016-11-26T05:33:00.000-08:00

*** This article I have written some years ago was originally published here.

The Need for Testing:

Knowing the factors that affect the learning level of every student is important in providing the right type of lessons. To identify the things that stand along the way to successful learning, testing is necessary. Perhaps, the most widely known test among parents of early education pupils is the intelligence test. Most commonly used, they are intended to identify specific learning disabilities that may hinder learning. Additionally, tests for students are administered to help eliminate and lower problems that come along with the students’ cognitive difficulties. Another important factor is that classrooms with the most common testing area help in the identification of class members who are underachieving and may help them better develop with the aid of remediation or tutorials.

Developmental tests most commonly administered to first graders are used to give hints on the child’s strengths and weaknesses. Speech tests are also used to assess the type of intervention needed for those that suffer from speech difficulty. Inventories on the behavior of school children as given by the school counselors help teachers design their classroom management strategies. In addition, tests that measure abilities are intended to identify students who are gifted so they can be properly provided with enrichment activities.

Tests have long been utilized to uncover reasons students perform well or poorly in class. Despite the kind of reputation it has, a test helps the teacher in assisting the child to develop their full potentials.

Understanding Criterion Referenced Test
Otherwise known as CRT, criterion referenced tests are designed to measure how well students have learned a certain body of knowledge or subject and the skills associated with such. In everyday situations, the most common examples of this test can be the multiple choice exams people take when they apply for a driver’s license. This means that in order to pass, they must know, to a certain degree, things that deal with the specific subject which is driving. Academically, it is a type of test that measures how well a student has learned a material taught in a certain school year or semester.

CRT in mathematics includes questions that are supposed to have been taught during one’s arithmetic class. The test does not include items that aren’t a part of the course syllabus for a certain term. When learned well, most students could pass the exams and be given a certain point considered a “pass” mark.

A standardized CRT sets a cut-off point as agreed upon by a set of experts on the subject area. In contrast, those that are used in the classroom have the passing point set by the teacher. It should be made understood, then decided by a committee or the subject teacher alone. The passing limits are often decided subjectively. Commonly, when the subject matter takes part in licensure exams students must take after graduation, passing marks are set at 50 to 75 percent of the total number of items. This is done to ensure that class members have retained as much information as their professions or endeavors demand.

Experts have defined CRT as a relative value signifying one’s performance placed against a standard. They also agreed on the fact that most of the quizzes students take in school are criterion referenced in nature. It is considered as the easiest way to know if students have learned the materials or subjects taught.

Advantages of CRT
Criterion referenced tests in the classroom (when well prepared and aligned with the subject’s goals), help teachers identify points where students need extra assistance or review. CRT sees how students performed against the standard, comparing them to themselves alone, not with peers. This brings many advantages such as:

A classroom-based CRT enables the teacher to exactly point students’ weaknesses. Making test result as a jump off point, teachers can now see easily which part of the lecture or lesson needs more elaboration. When giving a test on verbs for example, the teacher whose students scored lower in irregular verbs indicates that a remedial session on the topic is needed. CRT in short gives teachers the exact point the students are having a hard time with.
Also, since students’ learning is measured against the standard or their previous academic performance, CRT makes it easier for the teacher to track individual progress. For example, a diagnostic test given at the beginning of the term can serve as a guide as to where the class should start and how broad are the students’ knowledge on the subject. Towards the end of the term, the goal of having students to master the areas of knowledge taking part in the subject studied has to be determined. When a CRT achievement test was administered at the end of the semester and a certain student gets the score of 89 percent, a big leap from that of the diagnostic test of 30 percent, it is clear that the student has prospered in the level of knowledge he or she has on the subject matter.
Lastly, CRTs are helpful in building self-esteem. This is because students’ performance is measured against their own and not with others, paving way to wider opportunities of scoring higher that they previously did. Since no two students are alike, the use of CRTs in classrooms can help meet individual needs for instruction and remediation, helping students discover what they have achieved, and develop higher learning skills.

The following are the ways to use CRT in the classroom:

1. Set goals clearly at the beginning of a topic.
Experts agree that setting goals and making students understand them before starting a new lesson help them understand the purpose of the activities. Goals and lesson objectives provide students with the idea map as to where topics are headed. This, in turn, helps them condition their thoughts and work their way to achieving the standard set. If the goal of the lesson about adjectives using three or more descriptive words when constructing a single sentence, the assessment or test at the end of the lesson must measure this condition. If majority of the students scored lower than what was expected, the lesson has to be re-taught.

2. Make tests less threatening.
Tests are often associated with causes of student anxiety and possible negative reinforcements. This, however; can be designed in a way every class member will deem it as a method to assess their learning. Before giving tests, inform students that it is intended to measure how well they have retained information from previous lessons, not a basis for punishments. When students are positive about test taking, they tend to do better and concentrate more. This makes them function better than when stressed with what penalties await them. Additionally, tests can be integrated into everyday lessons to make it part of the routine. Equally essential, frequent yet shorter tests are less demanding for students, so they can study the important points longer than chapter tests. It should be remembered that tests are to be given for the purpose of identifying weaknesses or lessons that are less understood, and not as a method for identifying those that deserve punishments. When teachers are able to identify the points by which students fall short, it is easier to design review lessons and bridge topics.

3. Set limits on test coverage.
Perhaps the most common mistake teachers can commit is going beyond what the students have mastered so far. When this happens, setting a valid standard can be difficult if not impossible. Educators have to make sure they construct tests that are focused on a certain area of knowledge. When giving tests, it is essential to define first the coverage of the assessment and what information on learning is intended to be extracted. For broader topics like nouns, it is wise to categorize the test into parts to master on its usage. Forms and inflection can be clearly seen as teachers mark and record scores of the papers. Remember not to go beyond what the topic has encompassed.

4. Develop discrimination through multiple choice tests.
Considered by many students as the easiest, this type of exams cause lesser anxiety and give students hint on the correct choices. This, however; should be made patiently, making sure every item requires the students to think and discriminate choices to arrive at the correct answers. Obviously correct answers, as a result of poor item analysis, defeat the purpose of measuring how much the students have learned from the lessons. Additionally, this enables teachers to design tests that compel students to make intelligent choices, going beyond answering literal questions. Equally important, CRTs of multiple choice design help students develop the ability to use context in understanding test items. In language classes, for example, this can be done by providing choices from which they can choose the one that best completes the sentence patterns.

5. Scaffold knowledge between topics.
It should be understood that tests are not intended to purely grade students, but instead to assess how much they have progressed from the first lesson to the present. To be able to come up with reliable achievement tests at the end of the term, it is essential that students can link one topic to another. This can be done easily by scaffolding knowledge of the topics one after the other. Simply stated, it is essential to give a review of the previous lessons, especially those items the students have difficulty answering based on the previous assessment. Again, it should be noted that items missed are not intended to be ignored, but rather a point of a future review. As topics of the entire term properly connect with one another, it is easier to design a criterion reference achievement test that covers all topics from the beginning to the last lesson of the term.

Concluding Thoughts
CRTs are useful for teachers in many ways. Flexible yet focused, CTRs are used for teachers to monitor students’ individual progress based on everyday activities in the classroom. A quick way to measure how much students have learned and mastered the concepts and skills, it is a reliable way to compare class members learning against course objectives. With most of the objectives prescribed by the school system, CRTs in the classroom level help determine how effective the curriculum design is in producing the desired academic results.

5 Reasons to Use Norm Referenced Tests in the Classroom

2016-11-26T05:26:00.000-08:00

*** This article I have written some years ago was originally published here.

Why Tests Matter

To know how students do in school is perhaps the most important function of a test. Other than assessing how students have progressed, it also tells the teachers how effective the instructions are. Testing, however, isn’t as simple as that. Throughout the years, testing has been used to identify people who can be admitted into the best universities. These tests also serve as a report card for assessing the educational standard of countries. It has been the basis of continuous education reforms intended to improve the achievement of students.

Exams and their results serve important purposes. Generally, tests, whether at the end or the beginning of classes are intended to diagnose strengths and weaknesses of the individual class members. Additionally, they are used to track the progress of learning with that of the expected outcomes. They aim to provide further motivation for students to do better and for making certain adjustments in certain programs. They can also help with the quality of teaching.

What Are Norm-Referenced Tests?

Norm referenced tests (NRT) are exams that evaluate or estimate how well someone performs compared to other members of the population. It tells whether a student performs better or worse than others who took the same test. Tests of these types are created and administered to students for comparison of performance. After the papers were rated numerically, students’ raw scores were statistically analyzed to compute for means. After this, performance levels or numerical grades are assigned. It is an effective way in identifying the differences between the class members’ performance, which might be useful in the diagnosis of learning difficulties or disability. Different from criterion referenced tests (CRT), NRT’s, measure students as compared with their fellow class members, making it easier for the teacher to track the direction of the lessons, and the effectiveness of strategies in teaching them. CRT’s track the student knowledge and NRT’s focus on where lessons can be improved.

Testing in the Classroom

The degree of attention state tests gets lesser attention than those given to classroom-based tests. Being the most frequent test taken by students, it entails major consequences that define how students are placed in the statistics of performance and achievement. Though sometimes misunderstood, tests in the classroom are main contributors of one’s grade point average, which is a very important figure in securing a slot for a university one wishes to attend.

Generally used to monitor and evaluate students’ learning and level of skill acquisition, classroom-based tests are useful in the diagnosis of a class member’s weakness and abilities, assigning of grades and monitoring of individual progress. This provides data to support teacher’s evaluation of one’s strategy and educational plans and in making decisions for curricular programs and processes.

Classroom tests are also effective in getting the overall picture of students’ achievement, whether one’s child is improving or failing. It helps teachers to easily spot weaknesses and recommend remediation. Additionally, results of exams given in the classroom give direct answers to the effectiveness of teacher’s instructions and therefore make it easier to adjust the techniques previously applied. For example, when all students get scores higher than what the teacher set as a condition for passing, it can be concluded that the instructional strategy employed is effective. Tests are roadmaps for teachers in designing lessons students can grasps easily.

5 Top Reasons to Use Norm Referenced Tests in your Classroom

Tests are given to get direct insights on student’s level of learning and mastery. One of the most preferred way of grading and ordering students rating is the NRT. The following are the five known advantages of using NRTs in grading students:

5) Ranking of students is based on the overall test performancePerhaps one of the most acclaimed advantages of using NRT’s in the classroom is the ease in grading students based on the over-all test performance of the class members. With NRT’s, teachers are able to find flexible ways of grading students and rating their performances. Unlike that of the CRT’s, where students are rated based on a standard. A classroom that adheres to NRT is more likely to rank students according to how they perform against their peers. Furthermore, many educators found NRT testing more student-friendly as it allows students to be graded in relation to their average level of achievement, making it a more realistic grading basis.

4) Ease in monitoring students’ performance as dictated by norms
When the norms or point of comparisons among class members is established, it is easier for the teacher to place students along the rank of class members who either achieve or fall out of the academic trend. Since it is quite impossible to apply one general rule for all students, classroom-based tests directly and closely exhibit what should be done to remedy students’ weakness. Equally important, the trend of class members performance can tell the teachers whether strategies employed to deliver the curriculum has been fully helpful or challenging. In addition to that, remediation and enrichment activities can be quickly decided for both the slow and fast learners.

3) Teacher-designed NRTs are motivating
Research has shown that exams designed and administered in the classroom are more motivating for students. This is because they tend to have a direct effect on their grades. Despite the annual state exams schools are to administer to the students, exams taken in the classrooms are taken more seriously as they are determinants of the general weighted average (GWA), which is essential in gaining college admission. Equally important, test results that help teachers diagnose success and challenges in learning can be obtained quicker than standardized tests that take time to get analyzed and returned to the teacher. Whatever trend is given by tests can be remedied by the teacher right away. Also, classroom based NRTs are cheaper to prepare, making it possible for teachers to design pretest and posttests.

2) NRTs are effective and flexible measuresBecause NRTs are designed to diagnose weaknesses so proper corrections can be made, they are flexibly based on every classroom’s needs. Since the over-all results of state tests cannot address specific issues in all classrooms, teacher-made exams are effective in meeting the needs of students, making it possible for their educational issues to be solved and addressed. In addition to being flexible, NRTs in classrooms are motivating for students as they feel less pressured having to reach a specified benchmark or standard, which in turn make them feel anxious and frustrated. According to research by Kennon Sheldon and Bruce Biddle, students tend to perform poorly when they feel they do not have enough capacity to pass exams which are still beyond their abilities. Such feeling can be caused of failures, and exhibits of constraints to the delivery of the prescribed curriculum. Sheldon and Biddle added that when tests are known to provide rewards for growth and effort, like higher grades and recognition, they are motivating for students.

1) Classroom tests graded through norms help build competence
If there is something great about classroom-based tests, it is their capacity to scaffold learning. Teacher made assessments are usually based on the fact that classroom lessons are constructed based on the continuum of skills and knowledge. They normally start with easier topics and gradually increase in complexity as the subject matter demands. This step by step testing bridges the topics and serves as a cue for the ones that are quite demanding cognitively. Exposures like these are known to build students ability to learn topics in increasing difficulty. Equally important, exams that do not tend to push students too hard provide motivations as they are easily achieved and aligned with what the students can do at a given period. Alexandra Usher and Nancy Kober, authors of “Student Motivation—An Overlooked Piece of School Reform,” claim that assessments should be motivating rather than anxiety-inducing.

Parting Thoughts

NRTs are useful when teachers wish to compare individual standing with that of the other students taking the same assessment. Quite different from the CRTs that test mastery and learning based on a standard set. NRTs take the over-all performance of the test takers before setting a pass or fail mark. Consequently, when a teacher-made NRT is well planned and aligned with the national standards, it can be a cheaper way to determine the competencies and abilities acquired by the students. Since not all classrooms are the same, teacher-made test makes it easier for the students to learn according to the general phase of the class and the level of performance they exhibit after test results are out. NRTs are also one of the most effective ways to tell the specific needs of a certain classroom, necessary to make relevant reforms in school systems and curricula design. Lastly, because NRTs are less harsh and often foster competition, they tend to be more motivating and specific in addressing needs.

NATURE PHOTO CHALLENGE 1: GUISI POINT, GUIMARAS ISLAND

2016-04-08T04:55:00.000-07:00

This is originally posted on my other blog.

My dream is to have a house on the beach, even just a little shack somewhere so I can wake up, have coffee, look at dolphins, be quiet and breathe the air.

-Christina Applegate

: Nature's color pallete. Guisi Point beach at midday.

Living in an archipelago, it is not quite a wonder one of my favorite subjects of photography is the beach. The clear blue waters and the fine white sand appeal much to me. Definitely, when you live on this part of the world, life is a beach!

Guimaras Island is considered "the poor man's Boracay". Many parts of its long coastline offers the fine white sand people love about Boracay, at a much cheaper price. An added perk include not being overcrowded. So, if I need to escape the noisy city life for a day, this would only need 15 minutes by boat and about 40 minutes to reach this place. Yep, you guessed it right, it is one of the places C and I went to when he first came here to visit. He loves this place as much as I do.

This specific place in Guimaras is called Guisi Point.

: Life is like a boat. One can't escape the waves.

Some of the best things to do in Guisi Point are island hopping and snorkeling. This area is surrounded by islets and gifted with beautiful corals. Nothing great comes for free though, so be ready for an off road ride in the midst of the rice fields on one side and the mangroves on the other.

: Of differences and co-existence. Different elements of nature in one spot.

While island hopping or strolling along the shore, one couldn't help but notice trees competing for its space in the middle of the sea. For me, it is often a reminder that one should not only be persistent to survive, but also strong enough to co-exist in such a diverse world.

: Beautiful collision. There is really something refreshing about listening to the sound of the waves meeting the rocks.

Personally, I love to sit round these rocks and feel the waves on my feet. This makes me reminisce childhood days when friends and I would go to the nearby beach on the opposite side of Guimaras. We were carefree and optimistic about what the world can offer, believing that life is great as long as you do what makes you happy. That means forgetting about the chores at home and letting time pass under the scourging sun.

The area is also home to Guisi Lighthouse, an 18th century Spanish colonial lighthouse that had been helping sailors for centuries. What is so special about going uphill is the fact that there are two lighthouses here; one that is new and functional, standing just some meters away from the old, historic one.

: Aerial view from where the old meets the new. Guisi beach as seen from the lighthouse by the hill.

Some years ago, I went to this place for the first time to see the abalone farm. There was no resort here at that time so we had to sleep by the small hut and a tent. It was the most serene beach area I had been to. After 5 years, when I came back, I felt sad about how the place had changed a lot. I have written about that here. Good thing is, though it is not as a private as it used to be, it looked better than the last time.

This is the first of seven posts that are originally written on my other blog.

Our First Meeting: Seeing Everything Clearly for the First Time in a Long Time

2016-04-06T05:24:00.000-07:00

This is originally posted on my other blog.

It was like having a specific word on the tip of my tongue and finally remembering it the very moment I saw him at the arrival area. Something like my unspoken "Eureka!" Sounds strange for me too, but it is right. Ah. Perhaps, for quite a long time, I loved the melody of Savage Garden's I Knew I Loved You.

After months of talking for hours every day, there we were, smiling like we've missed each other a lot. A little flashback. I felt a little nervous thinking how it would be if he is actually not my type. I was already thinking of the ways to make him feel okay just in case we don't click. Then my phone rang. It was him, asking me where I am. He just got out of the arrival area and was a bit worried why he didn't see me in the crowd. He was thinking of the worst too: that I am not going to show up and he is a plain stupid person who flew for 11 000 kilometers to see nobody.

I caught him looking at me...hmmm..on my shoes at first. haha. I am 5'5" on my kitten heels and office uniform. At 5'10", he was so neat in his white long-sleeved shirt. (He told me later in the day he likes the fact that he is taller than I am though I wear heels. haha) One of my bestfriends whom I tagged along to keep me calm nudged that I go meet him quick. He was smiling as he called my name. I gave him a quick hug and a cheek to cheek. He kissed me on the forehead. I never felt that great.

Since I was a teen, I always believe that a kiss on the forehead is the most romantic of all. It shows how much the guy respects you as a woman. That's why I said it just felt right. In fact, it feels righter than the rightest right.

"Schmetterlinge im bauch" as we always jokingly say to each other. And we had indeed.

As we held hands all throughout the trip to his hotel, I knew his hands feel like it was made perfectly to fit mine.

How about you? How did your first meeting go? <3 p="">

Romance Meets Reality 1: Paperwork

2016-02-16T19:02:00.001-08:00

This article is originally posted on my other blog.

To be inlove means to feel like in seventh heaven. Everything becomes vibrant, inspiring, and, of course, happy. Right?

On the other side of the coin, people will tell you being in a long-distance relationship is like being in a suspended honeymoon where the energy is focused on the time spent together, forgetting the other essentials.

For some, LDR means living in a fantasy world. That's until they realize that we come crashing against reality, too. We are pressured to prioritize, commit, share, and plan in closing the distance sooner.

Indeed, when romance meets reality... get ready for a head-on collision (or maybe not really).

So lately Chris and I have been contemplating on how to start with the next step in our relationship. We've been reading a lot about the process of getting married, applying for a visa, and moving to EU together. It was just startling to know how tedious it is to get our papers ready for tying the knot in the Philippines. I personally known someone who just got married here and had our online research verified by my student's account on how she and her husband (also a German) had spent 8 months to get their papers done for the wedding, and now having to wait again for the family reunion visa process to begin. (It is now on the second month and the marriage certificate from the NSO isn't available yet.) That's beside the issue of having to spend about 10,000 euros for the entire duration of the process. It is not really about the money, but it sounds really impractical.

While we were trying to figure out where to exchange our vows, I began to gather the papers we will be needing. You know, to avoid having to rush on things and not able to get everything ready ahead of time. (Add the never-ending queues in the government offices). I was lucky to be living in Iloilo City where many government offices are located.

I started with my expired passport.

I went to the Department of Foreign Affairs inside Robinson's Mall to apply for a new one and was surprised to have seen a long line by 8AM. Since I was expecting to be done quite fast like the last time I had my passport, I was a bit disappointed. I had to be in the office for a meeting with parents and I couldn't stay long. I just asked for the form and left. I filled out the papers in the office and returned to DFA early the next day. Yep, I was there at 7 AM and was given a priority number, 106. They only cater 300 applicants a day and that should give you an idea how early you should be there. I suggest preparing your requirements before going there to avoid delays.

Here are the requirements:

: Requirements for Passport Application and Renewal at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Regional Consular Office (Iloilo)

As of February 2, the day of my passport renewal, express processing is again available! I decided to avail of this. You just need to add P250.00 to get your passport ready in 10 working days. For a regular application, you need 20 working days to get your new passport.

Read the full text here.

How Travel Boosts Your Romance

2016-02-16T18:59:00.002-08:00

This article is originally posted on my other blog.

How could you not fall in love? Malalison Island in Antique is one of our favorite places.

How many times have we heard of people booking themselves a one-way ticket to mend a broken heart? I have known a number of acquaintances who have done the same thing. Most often, they would say the roller-coaster ride of going somewhere unfamiliar by one’s self brings some sort of energy that empowers the broken heart, bringing it back to life.

But, travel isn’t just for the broken-hearted. It’s definitely for those who are in love too! While you are both in love, there is also the constant need to learn how to live with each other, working things out as a couple. Even if you live just five minutes away from each other, travelling together on your own offers a whole new experience, and can lead to discoveries about the love of your life.

Chris and I met online and had been in constant communication for a couple of months before he flew to me and we became, officially, a couple. (Technically, we had been together but as true blue realists, we wanted to meet personally to hug, hold hands, kiss and have dates the way normal couples do, so we can gauge where we go from there.) With this, we would go travel together. When you are in a long-distance relationship like us, then I believe subjecting the relationship to a series of travel tests is essential.

Sol Y Mar is one of the places we love going to when we need time alone for talking but hates the long commutes.

Based on our experience, here’s why we think travel can be quite a catalyst for your romance.

It strengthens your bond through the test of communication skills. When you are both in an unfamiliar place, you are left to finding things on your own. With this comes the need to communicate clearly and compromise on certain choices you have to make as a couple. You will find yourselves trying to come up with solutions to troubles you are facing, like missing your boat rides. When Chris and I traveled to Boracay, the weather wasn’t really on our side and the cancellation of trips to the island is a possibility. We tried to talk about the possible game plan and agreed on our alternative schedule for the day when it comes to worse. Also, we would talk about the food we can try that day, of the place we will hang out for the night. So just as with anything else, travel gives you the chance to talk and have your points heard.

Read the full text here. :)

5 Things You Need to Know Before Your German Guy's Visit

2016-02-16T18:56:00.003-08:00

This post is originally posted on my other blog. Click here to view the full entry.

The moment he said he will fly to meet you, you know this is getting serious (almost always). Perhaps after countless conversations with your Deutsch (German) guy online, you may want to take this connection into a whole new level. Though there is nothing wrong with dating someone online, you should meet personally. This is because personal encounters can make you assess the person quite well, and ensure what you have actually works.

Though one may actually see red flags even when just communicating online, nothing seems to be more reliable that hearing what the person says as you look each other on the eyes or sitting side by side. His gestures are as important as the words he say. Remember that it if doesn't feel right, then it might as well not right to proceed any further. You just have to be honest about your feelings as he also invested his time, effort, and resources to see you.

To finally meet the guy is quite thrilling, right? Don't get too excited, though. Before your German guy flies in, be sure to arm yourself with some information. It will save you from the stress and will give you both a much better opportunity to enjoy the time being together.

If he wants to meet your family, then he must be really serious. This is quite a no-brainer. If he shows much interest in meeting your family and spending time with them, then he really wanted to know you deeply. Your family is an extension of yourself, and meeting them means getting an upfront idea of how were raised, the kind of parents and siblings you have, and your over-all personality around your family. Of course, when he would love to spend time alone with you but his eagerness to see who plays an important role in shaping who you are means he wants to understand you better, and this is a good sign for you.

Click here to access the full version.

How My Online Experiment Helped Me Find Love

2016-02-16T18:53:00.001-08:00

This post is originally posted here.

Love really has its own way of getting on your way when you least expect it. I bet you are now on this page as you may be in love with a German or is interested in one, romantically. I am so happy I am not alone in this.

As my title goes, it started with a little online experiment on a dating site. It was inspired by a course requirement in the graduate school that aims to set a foundation on possible topics for linguistic studies. To make it brief, I opted for a more unconventional topic which is the analysis of language use by foreign men when writing to a Filipina on a free dating site. (Curious enough? Here's the link to the findings) Little did I know this will pave way to finding the love of my life, mein Deutsch mann.

Now you may actually be wondering what he was doing on a dating site, right? My boyfriend knows another German guy whose wife happens to be a Pinay. They used to be neighbors and with what he had seen and heard from the guy, became quite curious about what really is going on in the country (of course, with its women too). My boyfriend used to have a lot of stereotypical views on Pinays. As his neighbor had suggested, he created an account on the dating site (and I am thankful he did, anyway) and got some sort of "the feel" on how many would talk to him there.

On my end, the trouble brought about by a handful of crazy things that happened in my personal life and career on that period has opted me to open my dating site profile again. I was looking for some funny things to divert my attention to. I was eager to answer some mails from quite decent guys, too. But there was just no spark. One day, I found myself looking at a profile of a guy who looks quite serious. As I have an inclination for men who look strict, I clicked on the link and found out he was offline for some time. I saw his picture on my page again the next week, and when I visited his profile he just got offline again. I said I should try again the next day, and I did. He was online, but he didn't view my profile back. I told myself there was nothing to lose, so I wrote to him and said the basic niceties which he eagerly replied to. And so we talked for the next three hours. This continued for quite some time, too.

The next thing I know, we talked on the phone for about two to six hours everyday (yep, even if we're both at work), exchanged pictures of our random days and laughed about how we agree on many things.

Then came the bouquet of roses and some small stuff.

: Truly, nothing captures a woman's heart the way roses do, <3 dd="">

I sent him a handmade card on his birthday, and the next thing I know, we are both quite clueless about where exactly do we stand on each other's life.

: A simple present you pour enormous efforts in can make a difference. :)

Then came the notice to visit me just two days before his flight. I stood at the arrival area trying to calm myself down with a cup of coffee. He got off the plane quite nervous about whether I will pick him up or he flew in for a bogus individual (just like what he had read on the blogs and forums back home).

There he was, standing neatly in his white long-sleeved shirt, exceeding the image of what I have imagined him to be, looking right at me (he said he looked at how high my shoes are) with a full smile. I know from then on that I have found the one for me. He kissed me on the forehead, held my hands all throughout the trip to the hotel, and I never felt so secured in my life.

I brought him home to introduce to my family, had a tour around (some of this in a jeepney), brought him to the office, and shocked him with some food, too.

This wasn't his only flight to me. In fact, I went home from work one day and found him drinking a bottle of beer with my brother!

We try to make the best of whatever the time allow us to do when we are together. But, this isn't all a bed of roses. We have our challenges too (this I will be writing about very soon). We both can't wait to see what life has offer us, together. <3 p="">

Who Else Are Heading to Germany?

2016-01-25T01:27:00.001-08:00

Who Else Are Heading to Germany? Perhaps this is one of the questions you ask when you realized you are about to venture into an entirely new country. After finding the love of my life (I have written about this personal account here) and deciding it is better to start a family on the opposite of the world, I started feeling a bit curious and nervous about whether I could find some new friends easily in Germany.

I personally have two friends who are married to Germans; one being my close high school buddy living in Hanover and one being my former student in the university who is about to fly to her husband in Leipzig. In our case, however, we are setting our eyes on settling in Schwarzwald (Black Forest) in the South West of Germany bordering Switzerland and France.

In the past few weeks, I had been surfing the web to find more information on Integrationkurs and accreditation of my degrees to survive and thrive in Deutschland. I am career-oriented and it can be quite boring to just stay home doing nothing by the time I arrive. On the same note, I was quite wondering how easy or difficult it is to pass the A1 exam in Goethe Institut in Manila. Any thoughts on this?

As I have this most wonderful experience in my life to date, there are just so many questions in my mind too. In fact to document the journey, I decided to make a new blog I called Becoming Deutsch. This will also be an avenue for my thoughts and for sharing the experiences with the love of my life, Chris. Quite soon, we (Chris and I) will be writing about our experiences as a Filipino-German couple to inspire and help others who are in the same boat as we are.

It is my fervent wish to find new friends, who share many things in common with me, in Germany.

Dankë schön!

Stupid Things People Say About Dating a White Guy in the Philippines

2016-01-23T09:03:00.000-08:00

Those staring eyes and some judgmental glimpses can tip you off your "who gives a shit" mode, really. You stroll around the mall, or wait for the taxi just like you usually do but people just can't stop turning around trying to check you out from head to toe. Perhaps because you are standing right next to your Caucasian boyfriend and you became, involuntarily, a specimen for public assessment.

I bet my fellow Pinays who are on the same boat can attest to the same. Though I generally find it funny, my humanity says it is okay to be pissed or to fight back when I feel violated in any way. I have my days and years on the spotlight, but this is a different case (insert laugh here). Seems to me like being hand in hand with the love of your life (who happens to be a person outside of your race, and this isn't really your fault) can trigger some attention in a place where it should be almost unlikely to happen--- my hometown. When friends and I see a fellow Pinay with a foreigner strolling around here, of course we look, and that is mostly out of admiration or utmost disbelief in such an obvious mismatch (if you know what I am saying. (winks) ) But, to stare and give a meaningful and a demeaning look is another story.

Yep, we got your point and the possible reasons by which you have your beliefs anchored (I have written about that in the past, so read it here to be enlightened), but do not compartmentalized all of us in a single, concrete category. This isn't fair, and you don't want to hear what we wanna say in response.

Being in a happy relationship and living in a quite judgmental culture can be stressful and challenging. Don't get me wrong, I never fall short of my self-assurance and confidence but things can just get to you too.

Here's the top 3 stupid things people say about dating a white guy on this side of the planet:

1. You are only looking for a visa (escape from hellhole). When I say hellhole, it doesn't just mean the corrupt society. Of course, this is an obvious reason many would choose to go somewhere else for a better opportunity, and the Philippines isn't the only one for this. Anyhow, you could hear people telling you that soon you will leave and go skiing in the Alps or maybe in Colorado or wherever the dollars or Euros keep flowing like water in a river. This river will surely become longer than the Amazon as it will go across continents to fund the "poor" family. And with this, "You are a lucky girl" reverberates often.

Another thing they might associate with you dating a white guy (or anyone outside your race) is that you are ugly or quite unacceptable for the local men. That no local guy will take you seriously or see you walk towards the altar coz you are "just isn't worth it". This is especially true as a good number of Pinays who marry foreign men have kids out of wedlock. And how can this happen? The guy will capitalize on the woman's fragile heart, and after he succeeded in pushing her to "prove her love" to him and she got pregnant, she is left to herself. What a perfect setting to find a girl with a virginity ring.

2. The white guy is nothing but a sex tourist, or a loser in his country. Okay, let us admit it, many guys we see here dressed quite trashy. How many of us have seen a much older guy in his near-rag- state T-shirt and shorts paired with sneakers with a pair of socks reaching the midcalf walking hand in hand with a girl just past her teenage years? I bet we've seen countless, right? Now, don't let this be the mascot of everyone else. Decent white men are even ashamed of this too. Not all foreign guys who fly here are out to hunt for a 3-month casual sex partner (though many actually are too),and not all local women who date these guys are leftovers (insert a solid smirk).

There might be countless stories of a foreign guy so deeply in love that he lost his sense of reality because the "exotic-looking" tanned Pinay just two-timed him. And because he couldn't find a girl back home, he will settle for the one who showed him love, though not the genuine one. Women who do this are great local entrepreneurs; earning money by capitalizing on their continuously depreciating asset (if it really is). I would like to say that if he is a loser or a sex tourist and she is an entrepreneur, then it is but fair if their paths had crossed. Sad enough for those who are caught in such a parasitic exercise though they actually offer genuine affection.

You attract what you exude, and that is for sure. A decent person would almost always find someone who is the same; and you know what goes for those who aren't. This is not rocket science. (Grinning)

3. The white guy is rich (and if he doesn't give a dime, he is too frugal, or worse, selfish). Of course, we've all heard this story. When you are dating a white guy, most people would think you have your pockets full of cash coz you hang around with a walking ATM. When you go out to eat and the guy pays for this, some people will find this as "taking advantage", and not gentlemanliness. Oh, yes, the longest money river in the world, right? Why not think about exchange rate?

People in a relationship, no matter what race, have their own bills to pay. When a foreign guy flies in, he, of course, will spend a lot of money for this. This doesn't mean, however, that he is rich. Majority of the guys will have to save up to the last penny for an entire year or two to purchase a ticket. These are hard-earned cash. Mind you, this country isn't a cheap place to travel (check out how much money the foreign guys can save travelling somewhere else in SE Asia). If you go knocking on his girlfriend's door, asking for money and expecting to received something to bet on the afternoon gamble by the neighborhood, you are bound for a disappointment,so forget about this.

Money do not grow on trees, much more from white guys. How many women who marry for money ended up on the hands of different men she tried to cash on in? This should be obvious enough many aren't rich, right?

How much patience do you have for upfront stupidity? I bet we all have very different approaches to facing this, but one thing is certain: Our humility is definitely that of humanity. You know, we also get tired of being unjustly judged.

5 Lessons Travel Has Taught Me

2016-01-16T08:05:00.000-08:00

You have to spread your wings, take a leap and see where life takes you. Ah, sounds too old- fashioned. How about, save some pennies, pack your bags, and fly? :)

But what I like better is: fly, face your fears, laugh about how scared you used to be!

The year 2015 has, indeed, been full of adventures. I shifted career and leaped into something seriously unfamiliar, opened my heart, found love and became genuinely happy again, and of course, travel to places many are hesitant to go. I have had taken small weekend trips with friends in the past few years but 2015 gets to top all of these, so far. :D

As independent, driven and adventurous as I am (and my friends are), travelling has taught me many things I never learned anywhere else. I can't wait to learn some more!

1. Lesson from Kiltepan (Sagada, Mt. Province): Never let the clouds of life hide the beauty of your own dreams. Instead of waiting for the wind to blow away the clouds and clear the view of your heaven, go on your way and emerged on top. There are certainly some ways to go around and get what you always aspire for. When people say it is too difficult to achieve, this may be because they are hesitant to jump. Be bold enough to be able to see what lies ahead in life even if this means shivering from the fear of doing them.

On cloud 9, literally. Friends and I waiting for Mr. Sun at Kiltepan Viewpoint, Sagada, Mountain Province.

The day has officially began. Sunrise at Kiltepan is nothing short of amaaaaaaaaaaazing.

2. Lesson from Sumaging Cave (Sagada, Mt. Province): Life doesn't run out of surprises, you just have to be in the right moment and venue to understand. You cannot judge everything based on what's visible, or what people say about it. We all have our consequences and this shape our perception of things. Never base your decisions on other's experiences and claims. Instead, go out of your way, face the challenge and discover your inner strength. At times, you stumble, get hurt and messed up, up you will rise knowing yourself better-- that you can do what others can't. It is okay to be scared. It is not a good idea to succumb to fears.

Sumaging Cave entrance.

3. Lesson from Islas de Gigantes (Gigantes Group of Islands, Carles, Iloilo): You may think big of yourself, but in reality you are just a small particle of the world. The world doesn't revolve for you, it doesn't move the way you please, and it will never stop a second to cater to whatever you wish. Accept the fact that though you are unique, important, and special on some people's eyes, not everyone has the same impression of you. You don't have to pretend to be accepted. Instead, learn to compromise and co-exist as this is after all a complicated world, and you are not even a visible dot from the galactic viewpoint.

Cabugao Island at midday. One of the island's trademark spot as seen from the top of a cliff.

Friends and I on one of the many rock formations.

The smaller islands about 30 minutes off the coast of mainland Panay. It takes 2 hours to travel to Islas de Gigantes, in an open sea.

4. Lesson from Malalison Island (Culasi, Antique): When you try to remove yourself from the crowd, you will see a bigger, clearer picture of almost everything. To live in the comforts of family, people, and social circle offers happiness, security and familiarity, but this hinders you from seeing what really awaits outside this zone. To go away from the familiar corners of everyday life will bring discovery- both good and not-so-good ones. The life you sometimes classify as boring can be better than the kind of life some people are happy with. The opportunities you enjoy are as scare as the means of transport and number of schools someplace else. Be thankful for them.

Mainland Culasi as seen from Malalison Island in Antique. See how magnificent Mt. Madia-as is!

The gang trying to assemble our tent by the windy sandbar of Malalison.

Nightlife in the island.

Malalison at sunset as seen from mainland Culasi.

5. Lesson from Halsema Highway (Benguet: Highest Highway System in the Philippines at 7,400 ft. above sea level, considered as one of the most dangerous highways in the world): The road to one's dream or happiness is steep, risky, and can be full of pitfalls, but it is always worth the adrenaline rush. How often do we wish for our dreams or happiness to go as smoothly as possible? I bet when given the choice, we will, in no time, pick this route. But, this is not how life operates. When we want something, I mean, something our heart truly and deeply desire, we have to take risks. It is by this willingness to take the risk and all its consequences that makes the journey worthy to be cherished and valued. Nothing comes easy, and whatever we acquire with ease never seem to end a lifetime. To get our heart's desire, we must fight --- sometimes against ourselves. But, it is always worth the trouble, the chills, and even the tears. You can reach the heavens, but be sure to look back to how much you have accomplished.

Halsema Highway, Benguet. Yep, I can feel your toes shiver.

Some sights along the Halsema Highway as we travel from Baguio to Sagada.

Indeed, important lessons in life are not only courtesy of the classroom corners or the Internet. The road can be a good teacher, too, you just have to be willing to shed some pennies (or save some for this specific purpose), and the nerve to face your fears.

What have you learned from travelling?

Top 5 Things Single and Successful Female Yuppies Understand

2015-05-30T09:40:00.000-07:00

How many of you, smart and successful female yuppies get to be told you are single because you are intimidating? While it is quite a blur why “success” attached to a woman is intimidating, it clearly is the case. Well, almost always. Depending on one’s definition of “success”, it is a possibility that a man is interested with a woman who’s at least a step ahead in the ladder.

For single and successful female yuppies, ”success” most likely mean being able to exceed pre-21^st century notion of staying at home exclusively, the outcome of life at home as managed by them, and the degree of importance their opinions have on their peers’ issues.

In this blog entry, “success” refers to the point reached in one’s career as a woman; the ones that are smart, driven, thriving, and leading in their chosen professional field. Those who take charge to get things done, whether in the group or an organization as a whole, are considered by men the most intimidating of all. If men don’t feel that way, then great! They are the gentlemen of the 21^st century, and the very ones we single and successful female yuppies are looking for.

Here are the top 5 things single female yuppies may agree on:

1. It is you, men, who set the standards of “what we are looking for”. Most men tend to shy away from women who might be ahead in the professional world, forgetting that we are on to actually challenge ourselves, and not them. In the world where the glass ceiling still exists no matter how minimal, to reach the point in our careers where we get to take the lead empower us. However, just because we take control of what’s going on in the workplace doesn’t mean we wanted the same thing in our relationships. As a matter of fact, we are interested in men who can make us stay grounded and tell us we must at least stop pushing ourselves too hard. Further, we are not choosing mates based on professional standing alone. You need not be ahead of us in the hierarchy of achievements. Just like other women, we fall for wit, dependability, sense of humor, ambitions, and compatibility. If we are managers, it doesn’t automatically make us CEO hunters.

2. Our independence isn’t a threat that we can leave the relationship whenever we want. Instead of considering this a shaky foundation, take it as something attractive. How come, you said? Well, unless you are the type of man who wanted to be smothered 24 hours a day, getting all your private messages read, your phone calls monitored, or your all-guys night out ruined, an independent woman who has her own life makes life less complicated. Because we are independent in our careers, we tend to extend that in many aspects of our lives as well. Just like us, we know how important it is unwind after a stressful week, to work overtime, or to have your free time with the boys alone. Our life doesn’t entirely revolve around you, so we don’t always go clinging on your side, requiring you to boost our self-esteem, and start a fight if we feel you fall short in doing so.

3. Rather than a competitor, we are our men’s number one supporters. Yep, yep, yep! We might be a little competitive in the workplace, but we won’t make our beloved ones feel that. In fact, as we continually progress, we inspire you to achieve the same. Don’t take it as a form of pressure; we know men have the deep-seated, century-old concern on hierarchical dominance, and we are well aware that can make him happy. So, we support you to reach that happiness. With that, we can contribute meaningful ideas on your planning, or lend a hand so you can be ahead of the deadlines. When you needed a witty corporate dinner companion, we can help you earn the boss’ positive impression; we know how it works too! We are not just eye candies who can’t eloquently answer your boss’ queries about what we are passionate about. We are capable of sharing equally relevant ideas with the boss’ wife and help you break down barriers. We want an equal partner in all facets of life, which leads us to the next item.

4. Our success in the job, monetized, will help us become financially stable as partners. Let’s face it. In today’s commercialized world, a double source of good income can spell the difference in terms of where you can build a home together, how far you can travel, how well you can provide for your kids and their education. Or maybe, how often you can enjoy fancy dinner dates that yuppies need to break free from the stressful corporate world. Stop being chauvinistic. It is gentlemanly to foot the bills for the date but that might be depressing for your budget plans, too. You see, we know how hard we must work to earn some money and we feel you. Unless your income alone can sufficiently support a convenient family life, given that everything goes smoothly all throughout, you need a providing partner as well. Yes, money can’t buy us happiness, but we can possibility do what makes us happy with the resources we have, put together.

5. We are appreciative ego boosters. We may have experience the same “another bad day in the office” thing that you have, and we know what actions are required to ease that bad day at work issue. Making you feel better do not require buying gifts alone, we understand there are priceless things that can do the job better, like preparing your favorite dish, or giving you a massage, instead of nagging at you and your failure to update about the entire day while she waited the whole day for your call, thinking you might be flirting with a colleague you must collaborate with to accomplish your tasks. We can create meaningful days while you are at work and we know that at the end of the day, it’s the little things that stand out and make us forget about that crappy day. Other than that, don’t you think a man feel a lot prouder is he is with someone many people think are intimidating to approach, and even win? Going back to that hierarchical dominance, your woman tells so much about what you are capable of achieving.

We know many men are intimidated by single and successful female yuppies whom they consider to be someone that’s ambitious, assertive, opinionated and aggressive. Of course, a relationship that’s nurturing, something which is supposed to be, must be grounded on similar personal foundations, and that can explain why successful men like their women the same. If you feel you fall short of the expectations you perceived we have, we can’t do anything about it. You see, some of us will do the first move to assure you it is okay; many of us would feel you are not confident or strong enough. We want you to remember we like our men stronger than us. Intimidation isn’t something from women. Rather, it is the issue of men.

Foreign Men and the Pinay Online Dater: A social experiment

2015-05-14T21:58:00.001-07:00

Hey there, online daters! How does the following go?

"I am 65, retired, and travelling to your country in two months. I am looking for a younger woman to live with me being there. Maybe it will continue if we like each other after some time. I can support your family every month with supply of gas, a sack of rice, and P1500 worth of groceries."

Perhaps, for many online daters who had been around the dating sites, this is an everyday thing. For the fraction of regulars, this might even mean an opportunity served right in front of someone ready to grab a chance. Who wouldn't want to live without having to work on night shifts or 8-5 jobs, and still get to be provided with such necessities? For sure they are perks... and maybe curses too.

For me, that was one of the most amusing statements I have heard in my entire existence (so far).

Basically, I can't blame him though.

There has been the decades-old view among Filipinos that goes something like "improve your race" (translated as: your kids have to at least look a bit better than you), "half-foreign breeds are just the most beautiful" (you can produce a bunch of actors and actresses), and "be practical, make your children's life better, so go marry a foreign man" ( insert dollar sign here).

The most common stereotypes. Pinays dating or married to foreigners even get stereotyped in their own country.

We love everything foreign: clothes, chocolate, shoes, language, TV shows and even mates. That's how 333 years of Spanish colonization, 40 years of US control (if we have been really freed after 1946), three years of Japanese occupation, added to what has originally been a product of interaction with Indians, Chinese, Malays and other sultanates of South East Asia, have shifted the standards of every thing in the Philippines. The colonial mentality thrives as well as it was in the previous century.

Of course, the easiest way to find a foreign man is through a free dating website. I have family members and friends who married foreign men (though not from dating sites), and I've even been into relationships with foreign guys myself. It was not a bed of roses entirely. There are major cultural misunderstandings, social stigma (though not as strong as it was previously), and confusions. Extra caution are then advised for online daters. With all that, I realized that before you jump the gun and get into an inter-racial relationship, you must be able to reflect on the following questions: Are you ready to get stared at while you both are in public? Is getting your conversation eavesdropped tolerable? Is getting labelled a "gold-digger", at some point, something you can shake off? Those are just the basics. You see, Pinoys are fond of making other people's lives part of their business, and that might be not fair but definitely existing. That's added to the fact that Pinoys are racist (check the recent research on that).

An example of how widespread Fil-foreign marriages are. Screenshot from Christian Filipina.

But there are still many Pinay online daters on countless websites, and that watered my curiosity. In one of my linguistics classes in grad school, we were tasked to study language use (English) in the different facets of life. While many chose print ads, billboards, novels and short stories, I opted for a strange one; the dating site. I was fresh from a heartbreak that time, and it was quite a good diversion too. Of course that entailed that I sign up for one site, and so I chose DIA.

Curious enough? When I presented it in class first as part of the discourse analyses project, it plastered smiles on my classmates' faces, burst of laughter from some who can relate, and curious facial expressions for those who heard them first. I admit I was personally stunned by how far some Pinays will readily go to get to that "greener pasture" aspirations. There is nothing wrong with online dating, what's surprising is how some can tolerate the kind of treatment they get from foreign men (to be fair, not all of them). Okay, there must be "good matches" for every one of us.

Here are the remarkable finds:

1. Men vary in their language choice depending on your profile content. Yep, you get that right. Not all men who sign up in dating sites are blind or frustrated; they can be choosy too. I made three profiles on the site, all varying in language ability, social status, profile picture, and means of flirtation (haha. I can't believe I can do that! hell yeah, I can do that!)

Profile A (which adheres to all the qualifications I have, definitely, no flirting) received messages that are quite respectful, educated and grammatically correct. With 30 men I observed (they initiated the talk), 26 of them claimed to be educated, can use English well enough (despite not being a native speaker), and ask open-ended questions. Two men expressed the desire to have a relationship upfront, and two have offered support for my family if I agree to live with them. On this experiment, it is safe to say that 26/30 have quite sanitized language.

Profile B (an unemployed Pinay with a bachelor's degree, decent photo, and with extreme eagerness to talk) received messages that suggested sex after several exchange of information. With 30 men that initiated contact, 23 men started getting sexual after an average of 5 exchanges. Twenty-seven of them used endearments such as "baby, honey, sweetheart" early on. Fifteen of the men asked if I am willing to relocate, and if I wanted to have a job or stay at home after marriage. Twenty-five men used contractions in their language, like u instead of "you", and 24 of them do not use proper capitalization. 'zup bby?

Profile C (a young petite woman without a college degree, directly expressing the desire to marry a white man, with a decent picture, but poor language skills) received messages that contained the words, "sexy". "hot", "steamy", "playful", "submissive" and "baby" among others. Of the 30 men that initiated the contact, 20 had asked for or left their email addresses and/or skype name right away. Eighteen men asked if she has kids, 10 asked if she is gay, 5 asked if she can do oral, and the rest said something like, "will you taste my scrambled egg?", "I want some pony ride tonight", and "Can I be your slave?"

See the disparity? Is it safe to conclude that men also want a great catch? Whatever the nationality, no one's gonna settle for anything that's least of their expectations, may it be for social status, emotional security (to be needed and adored), or sex.

2. Men showed a trend in their approach according to country/region. Socio-linguistics have told us people use language differently, and this can be attributed to the society they live in. Some are quite direct, some are not. Though it is not true to every one, most of the men from the same region have shared similarities in their approach.

Europeans: They tend to be more polite, would compliment the profile (picture or content), and wait for a response before they start asking more questions. After some exchanges, they asked direct questions and would often apologize for asking such if they realized that might be too personal. They would express early on, if they like you.Yes, call that indecent proposals.

N. Americans: Many would start with niceties, clarifies what the woman is looking for, ask if the search is successful, and would proceed to more personal questions. Many would react to some parts of the profile content, questioning its validity (like, how sure are you there are men who are scammers here?). Would take some time before they say they like you, though they would be very eager to send messages regularly. Not an easy bunch to catch, if I may say. Because theirs is a culture quite popular around the archipelago, I find them the easiest persons to relate to.

Aussies: Similar to Europeans, they would start by complimenting your profile, open up quite sooner, and would not hesitate expressing their fondness of you. Of the 10 Aussies involved with the three profiles, one had blasted comments on why the profile picture was the one in sunglasses, and that the member might be a scammer. Another had a violent reaction when the messages he sent were left unanswered.

Asians: As expected, Asians are on for something else. Majority of the Asians (East Asians) would ask about your work, educational qualifications, and knowledge of their country. If you know some things about them, they're hooked. After some exchanges, expect that they give themselves an ego boost, too. Some others would compliment your physical attributes and express willingness to communicate with you regularly (South Asians). Twelve out of 21 Pinoys who communicated asked why the woman was looking for men from overseas.

Yep, perhaps the theories on socio-linguistics are true even for communications made online.

3. Men of different age groups vary in their communication style. Perhaps it is true that with age comes experience, and with experience comes confidence.

below 30: They are fond of using endearments right away. They would also ask if the woman has a boyfriend (which of course, is ironic. If you have some one, and you are sane, you won't be there in the first place, right?)

30 to 40: Most men under this category, who are involved in the social experiment, are on for more fun talks. Most would talk about adventures. Perhaps for the 34 men in this age range, 22 have talked about how they love adventures, holding hands or kissing in public, and yes, sex. They are concerned with social status and qualifications, too.

41 to 55: Most men in this range offer practical life topics (perhaps out of their personal experiences). Many would be upfront in expressing intentions, and would continually view the woman's profile. They are the ones that will quickly have vacation plans, perhaps looking for a tour guide or some thing else. The group is also the most open-minded of all, while being practical on the side.

56 and up: Would most often say what they have to offer, and do not settle to selling themselves short. They are also the most aggressive, constantly sending messages despite not getting responses every time.

Yeah, age does matter when talking about quality of talks. That depends on the kind of topics one is looking for, or can keep up with (to some, can stand).

4. Men hesitate to admit how many females they chat with on the site. Yes, I asked men how many women they are actually in communication with. For Profile A, 20 out of 30 men admitted they chat with someone else. For Profile B, 19 out of 21 who dared answer say they have "other friends". For Profile C, 12 out of 30 said they are only talking to the woman exclusively.

You know what's funny? Of the 20 men that communicated with the three profiles (A,B and C), nine admitted they are talking to someone else in the Philippines. Of course they didn't know I was the one talking to them as well. Of the 4 men I like, nobody replied to the couple of messages I sent from profiles B and C. Kudos to the four of you! :D

It has been an exciting, frustrating and overwhelming ride. Oh, heart-breaking too. (Read previous posts if you wanted to find out why). I have gained some friends along the way, and sadly lost the dearest one two months ago.

So, fellow Pinays, be careful. Online dating sites can be a good avenue for finding romance, but it's not for everyone. Taking it from my late friend Dave, "give people masks (being anonymous) and see who they really are".

Language research is fun! I'll do a more elaborate one when I get into Post Grad (haha, God knows when). Those men I have had great connections with, when told what I was on, ended up calling themselves lab rats, guinea pigs. and cultured bacteria when they found out.

Have you been a member of an online dating site? How was the experience?

Destination Antique: Labor Day Weekend Adventure

2015-05-08T11:26:00.000-07:00

Antique was the only province in Panay island that I hadn't set my foot in; well, not until last weekend. For my bff/sistah/colleague's birthday, we decided to take advantage of the long Labor Day weekend and packed our bags to Antique, home of the highest peak in the island.

Located in the western side of the island, it borders all the three other provinces and Sulu Sea on the West. It's where the picturesque mountains meet the crystal clear sea; the very things I loved to take refuge in with the summer heat in the city. We also thought this is going to be a good practice for the long ride we'll take for our Sagada trip later this year.

We had two places to visit: Malumpati Cold Spring in Pandan, and Malalison Island in Culasi. Here's where we went to: The lines in red was the route for the first destination,and blue for the second. As you can see, it would require travelling the whole stretch of the province, giving you a good view of the sea to your left and the mountains to your right. The view is magnificent, but the bus ride will heat up your butt a lot.

Getting there

Starting point: Iloilo City

You can choose to take the bus or van to Antique from San Pedro Bus Terminal in Molo. In our case, we opted for the Ceres bus as it is comfortable, safer, leaves on time, and has limited stops. We started out from Molo terminal at 8:30 AM, going to the southern part of the province of Iloilo. The last town bordering Antique is San Joaquin. The San Joaquin- Hamtic road will make you dizzy though as it is zigzagging along the mountains and their cliffs. It would take around an hour of circling and moving from left to right so if you are prone to motion sickness, be prepared. And oh, be sure you give the handrails a tight grip; you'll surely find yourself losing balance along the way. You'll spend about 70 pesos for Molo-San Jose fare.

The first welcome as seen from Iloilo.

Travelling the whole stretch of Antique took us about 7 hours to reach our first destination: Malumpati Cold Spring in Pandan. It's the last town on the northernmost part the province, even closer to Aklan and Kalibo than to its capital,San Jose de Buenavista. There are occasional stops by the bus terminal to cater to personal needs. You know, you can't just spill it on the bus. :D

The mountains of Antique as seen from the bus.

Though the prices of food is cheaper, we decided to stopped by San Jose de Buenavista for brunch and food shopping at the local market. I believe they have the cleanest, well-organized wet market I've ever been to, so far. After buying fresh fruits and other food for our boodle fight dinner, we headed to the terminal to catch the bus going to Pandan. Getting off after another 3 hours, we've finally reached the area where tricycles to the cold spring wait for the passengers. One tricycle can carry the maximum of 4 people as the route going up near the base of the magnificent Mt. Madia-as is challenging. Drivers charge 300 pesos for the 20-minute ride along the dusty and rough terrain.

The rough road going up to the base of the mountain in Pandan, Antique. Those are our friends on the first trike.

And finally..... after 7 hours... here comes Malumpati Cold Spring!!!

Crystal clear water of Malumpati cold spring. Photo grabbed from my friend @missmarieangelie.

They charge 10 pesos for the entrance fee, and the open cottages can be rented for as low as 25 pesos.

The floor of the cold spring can be seen ,as clear as this, from the bridge.

Bamboo rafts can also be rented. Photo grabbed from my friend, @missmarieangelie

There were so many people when we arrived, so we decided to let the dust settle first and had a nap in our rented house. The concrete house has 3 rooms with a veranda and a living room available for 2000 pesos for 24 hours.

Fave sistahs and I prepping for a dip. Grabbed from @vitzkylicious13.

And so after all the rest are gone, we took a dip till dusk and did the same thing early the next morning. The water is so refreshing, and that's a great cure for the day-long travel. We swam for hours, until about dinner time.

Doesn't know how to swim? Not a problem! Grabbed from @missmarieangelie

Some parts of the spring are actually deep. Photo by: @vitzkylicious13

Yep. There's a life saver. :D Photo by @vitzkylicious13

That's a bff bonding, cold spring version. Photo by
@vitzkylicious13

There are very few people who stay there overnight, so it provided us a good party place. The area by the spring is also unlit, so our candles just shined as bright as expected. The area was silent too.

Tea candles in paper bags and polaroid pictures hanging. These were unexpected by the birthday girl. :)

This is how it actually looked like. Ain't that lovely?

Yep. That's a candlelight boodle fight dinner by the spring.

Here's with our very nice hosts....

The accommodation is on the second floor. They go home at the end of the day, so we were left on our own.

By 10 AM the next day,we left Malumpati and traveled back to the heart of Antique. We bound for the town of Culasi where our second destination was. We had our tricycle drivers picked us up to the main road and took the bus for three hours.

Then, Culasi.... here we come!

We booked two rooms at Anna Sophie Hostel which has the magnificent view of Mt. Madia-as, the highest peak in Panay, and according to myth, the home of the Visayan deities. I had read about this story when I was in college, and not quite surprising, the locals believe the peak is enchanting.

We were told that it will take at least 3 days for an expert mountaineer to reached the upper part of the mountain, though making it to the summit was made impossible by the crevasses that's prone to flooding even with very little rain. Friends and I were looking at each other, and it was like saying, "yeah... it will take us a month".

Here's that magnificent beauty as I saw from the hostel's window. Ladies and gents.... Mt. Madia-as.

The view that greets the hostel guests. I can't help but took a snap of her. Hey there,Mt. Madia-as..we've met.

Here's another pic my friend Ronie took

Mt. Madia-as as seen from Anna Sophie Hostel. Photo by Ronie M.

After the mandatory rest period... and the rain... we went out. Across the street, about two blocks away, we excitedly snapped photos of destination number 2: Malalison Island (translated as prodigal).

What a great beauty she is!

Malalison Island by sunset as seen from Culasi port.

We took a night's stroll in downtown Culasi and was excited for the island trip the next morning. We were scheduled to leave the hotel at 6AM. (The boats were also arranged by them, you just have to find a guide to tour the island which is not very difficult).

It would take 15 minutes to reach the beautiful Malalison Island. The smallboat we took can carry 4 passengers and the water was so clear you can see the corals as you cross. Malalison Island is a marine sanctuary, and it is one of the most beautiful places I've been to.

Little boat ride to the island.

The island is even more beautiful up close. It was still early when we arrived.

Touchdown Malalison. That's Mt. Madia-as in the background. Photo by Ronie M.

But here's what she looks in midday!

Malalison island at noon. Crystal clear water and beautiful day. Heaven! Photo grabbed from @missmarieangelie

When we arrived, we were surprised by the number or campers and tents that greeted us by the shoreline. Upon arrival, you will also have to pay an environmental fee of 10 pesos. The locals are very friendly and obviously used to seeing visitors. There are smiles and greetings everywhere.

Majority of the areas here have no shade, a grassy land it is, so be sure to have your sunblock handy. Here are my friends as we start our way up.

Surrounded by greens. The trail up is cool and still a bit shady.

Along the way, you'll get to see some things like this:

Flowers in Malalison Island. Photo by Erl

Beauty among the grasses of Malalison Island.

As a reward for catching your breath along the trails, expect to see something like these:

Yes, you'll be walking by the cliff in Malalison.

One of the very few trees that can withstand the environment in Malalison.

Snapped a photo as we walked to the other side, descending to the cave.

The port of Malalison as seen from above.

My friend, Ronie, in his "this is my land" gesture.:)

That's downtown Culasi as seen from the top of Malalison Island.

The rocky slopes are so beautiful, you'll forget you are walking along the cliff. Photo by Erl.

Here's where we went to with the help of our guide, Manong Loreto.

Friends and I on our way to the peak.

The trekking in Malalison offers a very beautiful view.

A little try on modelling? Photo by Erl

Other than the grasses, the only plant that can grow here are pine trees.

And my friend Erl tried paddling. It's Anne, Ronie and I in the background.

All you need to do is bravely cross the chest-level water to get to the adjacent island. The current though was quite strong.

On the other side of the island, there are two caves..

On the opposite side of the island are the caves... and here are the cavemen haha

Ascending to the highest point in Malalison island,Culasi,Antique

It would take about 2 hours to finish the trek, but we decided to take it slow and kept snapping photos of the very beautiful view around.

Halfway to go.... difficult trail down but the view in Malalison is worth it all.

Of course, a little fun will be essential

Here's our guide, looking at how beautiful the island he resides in is...

Our guide as he contemplates, looking down the sandbar. We've reached the top of Malalison Island.

Trekking in Malalison Island was so great, we wanted to do it again. The sad thing was, we just hope that other tourists who come to see the beauty of this island will help the locals not just by giving them livelihood through tourism, but with taking care of the environment. On the top of the island, we've seen plastic bottles left by those who came their ahead of us. Please, do not leave anything there. The locals can't sweep the trash after you at all times.

For those who travel... I hope you'll put this in mind: "Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures." We have been blessed with very beautiful places, so let's help taking care of it.

For an enjoyable trip to Antique, 3 days and 2 nights can be good to take a refreshing weekend from the City of Love.

Kruhay, Antique! See you again soon.

PS.

Thanks to Alex for the "checking for interesting posts" comment, I was inspired to write this travelogue tonight.

Of blogposts you wish you won't write ever

2015-05-04T23:35:00.001-07:00

Some blog posts meant something very personal to the blogger that no matter how much views they get, they still aren't worth to compensate for the loss. It goes beyond just the figures and the demographics of the blog visitors.

Beyond all the views lie brokenness, sleepless nights thinking of that special person you've lost, and the intensity of the heartache while writing the posts many would actually be intrigued to read. When I wrote posts for David, I was doing it coz I needed to pour out the emotions. You know that feeling when you feel like shouting and even if you do, it’s just not enough. Part of you is missing, and trying to put the pieces together isn't just difficult but impossible.

I know Dave is happier wherever he is. He had done so much in his lifetime. I have lost a dear friend, someone very special that we can talk about everything. The views tell me how dear he is to many, and that though things didn't go as we planned, I am still fortunate I have known him. Say what you wanna say, but for me Dave’s the “one who got away”. Blogging about loss had helped me so much. Every time I look at the maps of where the viewers are from, there is that feeling I actually knew them. They’re from places Dave had been to before or where his friends live. Perhaps they are the people he told me about, or those I have known as well.

What really made me smile is the fact that my profile gets viewed half the time. If not for Dave’s or my friends who had given their words of comfort, I wouldn't be able to take a look at all these in a positive light. Every now and then, I miss him and our conversations. He would always say, “Never let things you cannot change ruin your day”. I can still remember that clearly. So, I had to go on doing what makes me happy, chasing my dreams, and be the best I can be. For sure, that’s what he would still tell me.

for DWS #7

2015-04-19T07:10:00.001-07:00

Dearest Dave,

I remember the last few conversations we had. The one when we talked about "storms" in life popped. We agreed they only make people stronger and wiser.

I remember that when I was so disappointed not to be able to graduate from my MA this year, you told me I should never stop going forward. That as long as I am doing even the littlest of the things I needed to complete that, I can still achieve it, and that time will go fast.

Thanks for that. I always hang on that advice whenever I feel the need to rush on things.

Huh. Bogoshipo.

for DWS #6

2015-04-18T02:27:00.000-07:00

Beautiful sunsets add charm to every end of the days. Beautiful souls sprinkle magic to common days, transforming them into most wonderful ones. The sad thing is, beautiful sunsets are here to stay but beautiful souls only got one chance... Despite all that, I know I am lucky you've crossed my path.

For DWS #5

2015-04-11T08:33:00.002-07:00

Even the simplest of things remind you of special people. Because forever may not exist, go ahead and do what your heart desires. Make that someone happy, give reasons to smile, and pour as much love deserved. If all else fails, you won't have regrets. Grieve, bleed, and cry, but remember that tomorrow carries another chance.