"Keyboardtalks"

My Zipline Adventure

2018-04-07T20:44:00.000+08:00

One windy afternoon, I tried vlogging on-the-air as I was in the zipline at La Mesa Eco Park.

But it was an epic fail because instead of a video, my Myphone unit revealed only one insignificant photo.

It's a good thing that one of my friends was able to take an amazing video of me. :-)

Anyway, La Mesa Eco Park is an ecological reserve covering an area of around 33 hectares (82 acres) in Fairview, Quezon City.

The park offers the individuals, families and groups diverse recreation like swimming, horseback riding, touring the place in a horse-drawn carriage (kalesa), ziplining and many other enjoyable activities.

Photoshoot is obviously one of the most common purpose of visitors in the park.

And should one wish just to sit and eat or relax and savor the beauty of the place, there are many benches in the area to do so.

La Mesa Eco Park is among the most-visited attractions in Quezon City.

Amazing two-year old reader

2018-03-15T00:34:00.000+08:00

Believe it or not, Echian Jaden Navos Ruivivar is only two-year old.

But his reading ability is so amazingly wonderful.

Please CLICK to watch him as he enjoys reading his pre-loved books.

I Am a Lazy Blogger Striving to be a Better Vlogger

2018-03-13T20:06:00.001+08:00

Please support me even if I am a lazy blogger for I am now striving at the same time to be a better vlogger.

There had been a number of drafts in this blog's folder that remained as it were in the past many months or even more than a year or two... and I'm sorry.

No amount of alibis could make a valid excuse for this blog that was not updated for more than two years.

Thus, I admit that laziness conquered me and that was it.

Anyway, here I am trying to blog again... although I am not even sure if any netizen could ever read this piece of mine now.

And if you happen to visit this site, my sincere appreciation for your effort, dear friend.

Once again, I am trying to rekindle my spirit to write or blog again while at the same time, struggling to become more techie to be able to enhance the videos for my VLOG.

Yes! Believe it or not... I am also vlogging now although I can hardly edit my own vids and even with only my old MyPhone unit at hand.

I may not be a good vlogger yet I think I am enjoying it... and loving it for various reasons that I would reveal very soon. (Assuming as if someone is interested to know. hahaha)

Since I feel guilty for neglecting my never-improved blogging stint, I will be blogging about some of my vlogs here.

I may not be a good vlogger but if you think I am worth your support, please SUBSCRIBE, WATCH and SHARE my videos @ youtube channel aiOme TV

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHDSV-sYzpWLcamwSL2qpPw/videos

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHDSV-sYzpWLcamwSL2qpPw/videos

Thank you so much.

Mt. Binacayan: Step One to Greater Heights?

2016-02-10T17:09:00.000+08:00

For the first time in so many years, I went to bed barely past nine hoping yet failing to achieve the elusive good six hour sleep as preparation for an initial step to adventure that I’ve been dreaming of before my arthritic knees and earthly self’s capacity to explore heights expires to my group’s first destination – Mount Binicayan.

Mount Binicayan is one of the legendary mountain that was stopped by giant by Bernardo Carpio with his bare hands from collision that could have crushed the village along the river banks. The other mountain is called Pamitinan.

To be sure, I started the day by taking a capsule of RLR Squalene. If only I have a sufficient stock instead of the only have three capsules in my bag, I should have taken more. Yet I had to leave te other two in case of emergency.

It was a drizzling dawn when I left home at 3:34 to the nearest tricycle terminal where Ma’am Sol Paguirigan and I met and took a tricycle ride to Luver’s, Rodriguez, Rizal, where the group started to gather at four in the morning.

Couples Sir Richard & Ma’am Dang Furuc and Sir J.R. & Ma'am Joy Sabulao; mom & son tandem Ma’am Teng & Charles Sabajas; Sirs Donnel Dilidili, Alberto Velasco, JC De Vera & Elias Soriao and Ma’ams Jane Macagaling, Rio Ayuson, Marycel Jacobe, Evangeline Dizon, Rebie Paz, Roniesyl Espina, Jinky Tuscano & Cristina Davalos were already there. Later, Ma’ams Marjorie Bitong & Angel Bais joined us few minutes later.

Except for the young Sabajas, a grade schooler & Sir Sabulao, a teacher at Wawa National High School, everyone in the group teaches at San Jose National High School who decided to relax, and commune with nature by taking the a less-traveled path in Rodriguez, Rizal - that led us to the Mount Binicayan summit.

In sub-groups, we took tricycles while others rode their motorcycles to the entrance of Pamitinan Protected Landscape (PPL) (popularly known as just ‘Wawa’ to local folks), which is one of the initial components of National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS). Due to its historical significance and biodiversity richness, it was proclaimed as protected landscape by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 901.

At exactly five o’clock in the morning, Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR) Office had already 72 registrants - 16 Tour Guides and tourists from Rizal and Quezon City, 24 of whom were bound to Mount Binacayan and 32 to Mount Pamitinan. And the line for registration continued to grow longer.

I talked with one of the registrants in line, CJ, a private school teacher from San Mateo, Rizal, who said that it’s his fifth time to climb a peak in Rodriguez, Rizal yet he reflected excitement like the rest of the first time climbers.

Tour guides and tourists or mountaineers, experienced and newbie like me were required to register at DENR office prior to entering the gate of PPL with very minimal fee of Two Pesos. A table of some stuff for sale was also set up where one can buy tourist stuff like gloves and little souvenirs.

Each of us in the group contributed Eighty Five Pesos (Php85.00) for the Tour Guides. As we were twenty in the group, we were divided into three because it is also a rule that a tour guide can only lead seven to ten heads.

We also dropped by at the Barangay Office for another registration.

By five thirty, we were already treading Torres Road. Darkness still enveloped the area. Good thing, I was saved by my companion’s flashlights (I had none because I found out only last night that what I thought available at home was not working anymore and had no more chance to buy one) from possible slip or fall (lampa pa naman ako) along the way.

We had banters while walking and I wondered how many in the neighborhood was taking acre of dogs. I only heard one that seemed to withhold its bark, maybe, shy to scare the passersby. Animal silence could even be attributed to the fact that they are used to strangers going to and from Mount Binacayan.

As we proceeded ascending the pathway and began to catch our breaths, the group minimized talking (we noticed that talking while climbing is more tiresome.:-)) thus, resuming chats during short stops for picture taking.

By seven o’clock, I was already indulging myself with selfies and joining group shots by everyone’s camera and cellphone.

For the first time, I made it!

Our struggles paid off as we savor the heavenly break that Mt. Binicayan offered us.

Documenting our successful climb with a group picture at the summit of 424 m. high Mount Binicayan.

The 360-degree panoramic view was breathtakingly beautiful and the sense of fulfillment so overwhelming as I inhaled the cool fresh morning air from the summit of the 424-m high Mt. Binicayan.

The sun did not show up so we failed to capture sunrise from the top but I believe cloudy day was a blessing for me and everyone as it spared us from shedding more ounces of sweat and further struggle during our adventure to and fro the Mt. Binicayan summit.

Smiling for my cam's delight while catching breath: (l-r) Sir Elias, Ma'am Sol and Ma'am Dang.

At almost a decade and a half to senior citizenship, I dream of conquering more heights with the group with whom I enjoyed company during my first steps to a summit.

Up-close with David Pomeranz

2015-07-17T10:06:00.000+08:00

One day of October, 2014, I had a dinner with the six student journalists of Ang Gatdula, official Filipio school paper of San Jose National High School,at Robinson's mall, Cainta, Rizal before commuting to Rodriguez, Rizal.

The simple but decent dinner was actually sponsored by the school because we just came from the awarding ceremony of Division Schools' Press conference where we bagged some awards.

I was window shopping near the scalator while waiting for the students who dropped by the rest room when one of them hastily came to me to ask who was that 'persoonality' being scorted by three guards to the elevator.

To be honest, I didn;t recognize him immediately but I thouoght he was ssomebody, most probably, David Pomeranz, the renowned American artist- singer and songwriter, performer and composer. and it was confirmed few minutes later.

I hurriedly approached him with my students in tow and asked for photo op as he was about to step in the elevator.

He paused, smiled and indulged us.

He even patiently watched and waited for me as I dug my stuff full bag for my digicam.

After introducing my students, he asked where we've been and when he learned that we came from a 'contest' and had some awards, he congratulated each of them.

About five minutes later after our treasured personal encounter, my students enjoyed a free David Pomeranz' concert where the Operation Smile Celebrity Ambassador amazingly performed some of his beautiful songs like Born for You, King & Queen of Hearts, Got to Believe in Magic and others.

It was indeed an unforgettable beautiful day with David Pomeranz!

David Pomeranz in his amazing concert.

Bond of Love, Anthology of 50 Poems

2014-11-30T16:10:00.003+08:00

I was in one one of the low point of my life when a colleague asked me if I ever wrote a poem. When I replied that I did, ,she told me that she seemed to have seen my name in a little book of poems published by the Iglesia Ni Cristo.

I was so delighted even without seeing it yet. I almost begged her to bring it the following day.

So here it is - a wonderful surprise at the midst of lonesome days. My poem entitled 'The Wisdom' that was first published at a God's Message magazine issue years back was included in the Bond of Love, an Anthology of 50 Poems published in commemoration of the Golden anniversary of BUKLOD, the church's organization of married members.

This is indeed a blessing to be grateful in my lifetime.

Happy Birthday, Brother Eduardo V Manalo

2014-10-31T18:00:00.004+08:00

Greetings with love to Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, Executive Minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo. I may only had shared a "handshake" with him once but he'd been a part of my life as he continuously touches my heart and mind, like he does to millions of other individuals in the world. For me, he is the best-ever living transformational leader of these times.

A Cordial Invitation for All

2014-10-25T20:33:00.002+08:00

“Invest in the future, invest in teachers”

2014-10-09T07:52:00.000+08:00

This year’s World teachers’ Day theme, “Invest in the future, invest in teachers” summed up my experiences as a youth who dreamed of anything but to be a teacher who literally invested for the future when I took up Bachelor of Secondary Education twenty seven years ago. For indeed, it was a spur-of-the moment decision then that was bound to help me coped up during one of the lowest points in my life.

It may sound a cliché yet it is a fact that poverty did not pave the way to realization of my plans when I was young. It had instead offered me two inconvenient choices towards my future – quit my college dream or persevere to pursue a teaching course in the only state university in town.

If I couldn’t be the moon, I could be a star and take the future just the same. So with a rather heavy heart, I used the Two Hundred Fifty pesos from my mother to secure further education.

After four years of struggle as college student while I worked/served as library aide tutor, vegetable vendor and barangay secretary, I got my college diploma and passed the Professional Board examination for teachers that followed.

However, I traversed a different path of life and dared not to practice my profession until sixteen years later.

A financial tragedy hit my family that prompted me to apply for a teaching position so I can have a stable job. It was a door opened to me to a room with more open windows.

Much more than the financial compensations are the wonderful emotions which are beyond the worth of gold.

There were times when I was summoned to the principal’s office or to the guidance office because of my errant advisory class members. Which later I will tell them same repetitive lines: “Do you know that for my whole life as student before, I was never called to such offices for misbehaving? But now that I am a already a teacher, I am always called because of you.” Yet they were the same students who lead the line to offer me flowers and wave the banners for me during Teachers’ Day.

There were times when I had to ask the canteen people for pay-later foods just so I can feed students who were suffering from stomachache for missing meals because of no food to eat. Yet they were the same students who always said thank you for big and small deeds.

There were times when I felt disappointed to students who seemed so slow to comprehend simple lessons. Yet they were the same students who were all-smiles and grateful only because of line of seven grades.

There were times when I felt like emotionally tortured sounding board to students whose life were far worst than I had because at such you ages, they had dysfunctional family, extreme poverty and illicit drug exposure. Yet they were the same students who brought me happiness when they kept their promises never to give up striving for positive changes.

Through the years, hardship may increase while monetary rewards may prove just enough yet, I hope that good deeds tremendously prosper as I continue to mold the minds and touch the hearts of students through my little ways. For truly, there is a special sense of fulfillment in the teaching profession that led me to realization that my college diploma was, after all, one of the best investments I made in my lifetime.

Esquire September 2014 Issue

2014-09-16T15:08:00.001+08:00

More out of curiosity, I panicked to secure a copy of this Esquire magazine when I read posts of some friends who were so eager to have one but didn't know where to buy because it was selling like fast like good hotcakes. The issue has an exclusive feature on The 3raserheads with enclosed CD of their first new songs in over a decade..

I could have believed it because it was the only copy available at the Seven Eleven outlet that I visited. I was even hidden that maybe, someone was planning to return and purchase it. One of the crew even looked surprised that there was still such a copy in their magazine rack.

Almost a month later, I found a store in a mall that still has a tall pile of the magazine for sale. I am just not certain if the publication reprinted more due to insistent public demand.

Anyway, for those who missed the magazine, you could contact me and maybe I can do you n errand-buy & ship the magzine for you at your own expense, of course.>-)

The Wonders of Wawa

2014-09-12T11:16:00.001+08:00

Musical Firework Display

2014-07-28T16:10:00.002+08:00

Musicial firework display during the few minutes countdown to the Iglesia Ni Cristo Centennial on the eve of July 26, 2014.

The Philippine Arena at Night

2014-07-28T15:19:00.002+08:00

Pictures taken few minutes before July 27, 2014.

Talumpati ng Kagalang-galang Benigno S. Aquino III Pangulo ng Pilipinas Sa pagpapasinaya ng Ciudad de Victoria

2014-07-24T08:59:00.001+08:00

[Inihayag sa sa Bocaue, Bulacan, noong ika-21 ng Hulyo 2014]

Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat.

Tinuro po sa akin ng aking ama, na ‘pag nagtatalumpati, may kausap, tignan daw po sa mata. Pero talagang napakalawak po ng ating kailangang titigan ngayon lalo na po ‘yong mga nasa taas ng balconahe. [Applause] Sana po ay sa kasuluk-sulukan ay nagkakaintindihan pa rin tayo. Salamat po.

Binabati po natin ang lahat ng bumubuo ng Iglesia ni Cristo [applause], sa pangunguna ng inyong Tagapamahalang Pangkalahatan na si Ka Eduardo Manalo. Binabati ko po kayo sa nalalapit ninyong ika-100 anibersaryo. Narito nga po tayo ngayon upang saksihan ang makasaysayan ninyong pagdiriwang, na lalong nagbibigay-kulay sa inyong sentenaryo: ang paglulunsad ng Ciudad de Victoria. Angkop nga po ang pangalan ng lugar na ito—na may kahulugang “Lungsod ng Tagumpay”—lalo pa’t sinasalamin nito ang mga nakamit na tagumpay ng Iglesia sa nagdaang siglo [applause]. Mula po sa pagkakatatag ng Kagalang-galang Felix Manalo, hanggang sa patuloy na paglago ng inyo pong kongregasyon, tinitingala ang Iglesia ni Cristo, hindi lang sa ating bansa, kundi maging sa iba’t ibang panig ng daigdig. [Applause]

Talaga naman pong ikinalulugod ko ang pagkakataong maging bahagi ng pagtitipong ito. Personal nga po nating sinusuportahan ang isang institusyong tulad ng Iglesia sa maalab na paghubog ng inyong mga miyembro bilang mga tapat na alagad ng ating Panginoon. [Applause] Nagsisilbi po kayong tulay upang mapalalim pa ang pananampalataya ng inyong mga kasapi, at maigting ninyong ginagabayan ang buhay ispiritwal ng napakarami nating kababayan. [Applause]

Lubos po din tayong humahanga sa matibay ninyong pagsasamahan sa Iglesia bilang isang pamilya at komunidad. [Applause] Malinaw po sa akin: Hindi natatapos sa loob ng kapilya ang inyong pagbubuklod at pananampalataya. Hindi kayo nakukuntento sa pangangasiwa sa araw ng pagsamba; dinadalaw din ninyo ang inyong mga kaanib upang personal silang kamustahin [applause], at aktibo po silang hikayatin na makilahok sa mga gawain ng komunidad. Sa paraang ito, nababatid ninyo ang kanilang kalagayan at ang mga suliraning nakakaapekto sa kanilang kilos at pasya; nagagabayan n’yo sila upang mapatibay ang kanilang ugnayan sa kapwa, at ang pananalig sa Panginoon. [Applause]

Tunay pong isinasabuhay ninyo ang mga dakilang aral ni Hesukristo. Ayon nga po sa Aklat ni Juan, Kabanata 13, Bersikulo 34 hanggang 35 [cheers and applause], nang magbigay ng bagong utos si Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad, sabi po: Mag-ibigan kayo. Kung paanong inibig ko kayo, gayon din naman, mag-ibigan kayo. [Applause] Kung kayo’y mag-ibigan, makikilala ng lahat na kayo’y mga alagad ko. [Applause]

Nakasaad naman po sa Aklat ni Mateo, Kabanata 25, Bersikulo 40 [cheers and applause]. Alam ho n’yo po, napapag-isip ako, bakit mag nag-quo-quote po ako sa bible [laughter], maski matagal ko nang kasamahan parang, nabibigla ho. Anyway po, nakasulat nga po: Anuman ang ginawa ninyo sa isa sa pinakahamak na kapatid ko, ginawa ninyo ito sa akin. [Applause]

Kongkretong patunay nga po ang paglulunsad ng Ciudad de Victoria sa diwa ng pagkakaisang nangingibabaw sa Iglesia ni Cristo. Naipatayo ito mula sa buong-pusong paghahandog ng inyong mga kasapi, kaakibat ang hangaring makatulong sa mabubuting gawain at misyon ng Iglesia. Patunay din po ito sa tayog ng mithiing kayang maabot ng mga Pilipino, at sa kakayahan nating makipagsabayan sa buong mundo. [Applause]

Nandito nga po tayo sa strukturang inaabangan na ng lahat—ang Philippine Arena, na kikilalaning pinakamalaking dome arena sa buong mundo. [Applause] Tunay nga pong pambihira: Sa kapasidad na kasya ang 55,000 katao, higit raw sa doble ang laki nito kaysa Staples Center sa Los Angeles, California. [Applause]

Pero batid nating itinayo ang strukturang ito, hindi para makipagpaligsahan. Ipinagawa ito para sa banal at dakilang layuning noon pa man ay pinangarap na ni Ka Eraño Manalo [applause]—ang magtaguyod ng espasyo upang maglingkod at ibahagi ang biyaya ng Panginoon sa lokal at pandaigdigang komunidad. [Applause]

Bukod sa Philippine Arena, nasasabik din tayo sa uusbong ditong iba pang pasilidad na maghahatid ng benepisyo, hindi lang para sa mga kaanib ng kongregasyon, kundi pati na rin sa lahat ng ating kababayan. Taos-puso po tayong nagpapasalamat sa Iglesia ni Cristo sa pagmamalasakit ninyo sa ating kapwa; tunay pong [applause] ipinapamalas po ninyo ito, hindi lang sa salita, kundi sa gawa. [Applause] Maraming salamat po sa pagiging kabalikat ng ating administrasyon sa pagsusulong ng mabuting pamamahala.

Sa pag-aambagan nga po ng sambayanang Pilipino, nagbukal ang tinatamasa nating malawakang transpormasyon sa ating lipunan. At sa trabaho po nating ito ng pagsusulong ng reporma, hindi maiiwasan na mayroon tayong makakaaway. Mayroon pong iilan na anuman ang gawin ko, gaya ng pagdalo rito, ay maghahanap pa rin ng puwedeng ibatikos. Paalala ko lang sa kanila: Kung kapwa ko Kristiyano, tungkulin nating magmahalan sa ngalan ng Panginoon [applause], sa halip na maghasik ng agam-agam at ‘di-pagkakaunawaan. Bilang mga tagasunod ng Panginoon, lagi sana tayong magtulungan sa pagtataguyod ng ikabubuti ng lahat; lagi sana tayong maging bukal ng pag-asa at paglingap sa ating kapwa, lalo na sa mas nangangailangan.

Muli po, maligayang pagdiriwang po sa Iglesia ni Cristo. Nawa’y patuloy kayong maghatid ng positibong ambag at mabuting impluwensiya sa sambayanang Pilipino [applause]; pagpalain pa sana kayo ng Diyos ng marami pang biyaya at tagumpay hanggang sa susunod na daantaon.

Muli po: Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat at maraming salamat po.

Source: http://www.gov.ph/2014/07/21/speech-of-president-aquino-at-the-inauguration-of-ciudad-de-victoria/

Inauguration of Philippine Arena

2014-07-21T17:09:00.000+08:00

To God be the glory!

Today is truly a special day for the entire Iglesia Ni Cristo brethren as Philippine Arena; one of the Centennial centerpiece projects of the church is inaugurated.

The 51 thousand-seater arena situated in the Ciudad de Victoria, 75-hectare tourism enterprise zone in Bocaue, Bulacan was established by Iglesia Ni Cristo in time of its Centennial Celebration on July 27, 2014.

The magnificent Philippine Arena which worth over $200 million-worth built to withstand strong earthquakes and super typhoon winds. Its design is inspired by the narra and banyan trees and has a dome spanning over 3.6 hectares.

The church hired Populous, Buro Happold and Hanwha, respectively the architectural, engineering and construction firms design and build this structure that was featured on that was featured on Discovery Channel’s “Man Made Marvels” in December 2013.

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Photo credits to: https://www.facebook.com/EagleNewsPH

Welcome 2014

2013-12-31T23:30:00.000+08:00

My gratitude to my family, relatives, true friends for life, colleagues, clients, students and online friends who played a part in the 2013 chapter of my life.

May 2014 be a blessed year for all of us!

IEMS-Philippines

2013-10-22T02:10:00.000+08:00

I am posting these International Express Mail Service Rates @ Philippine Post Office for my own (and others' as well) reference. Because the last time I checked,it is not available in their website.:-(

Where the Red Fern Grows

2013-08-19T10:43:00.002+08:00

Don't Judge a Book by its Cover. I literally unearthed this book by Wilson Rawls with torn covers from piles of old things considered thrash by a neighbor.

When I started reading it, I was engrossed that I finished it in one sitting. Not only thrice that I cried. It's the best story of a boy and dogs that I read. And I just love these man's best friends - dogs!

When i searched the net later, i found out that it was made into a film when I was only about three years old. (lol!)

Hope to find a dvd copy of it soon.

Pedicure & Manicure

2013-06-22T12:13:00.000+08:00

A way of pampering my abused feet and hands @ an affordable cost of Php100.00 only. Thanks to ate Elsie for the patience. You're such a friend!;-)

Movie Marathon

2013-06-20T11:53:00.000+08:00

Instead of watching a movie in the mall, I watched these first batch of DVDs at home in just four days. Thanks to my sponsor friend who willingly shared his collection. I was spared from further expenses last vacation.

I enjoyed watching all eleven movies however, it's 50 First Dates that I consider the best in as much as my emotions are concerned. I was so touched that I needed a towel to dry my tears.

Topic: ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO

2012-02-11T22:30:00.000+08:00

I. PRELIMINARIES

Topic: ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO

II. OUTLINE

Profile of St. Augustine

1.Personal

2. Education

3. Family, Work & Religion

B. Context

C. The Educational Significance of St. Augustine Aims of Education

Principles of Education

1. Opposes sense experience

2. Truth is absolute.

3. Authoritarian.

4. Discipline.

5. Curriculum

E. The Importance of Augustinian Educational Thought

1. Universal Influence

2. Moral Strength

3. Retarded Scientific Growth

III. INTRODUCTION

One of the significant developments in the western philosophical tradition was the eventually widespread merging of the Greek philosophical tradition and the Judeo-Christian religious and scriptural traditions. Augustine is one of the main figures through and by whom this merging was accomplished. He is, as well, one of the towering figures of medieval philosophy whose authority and thought came to exert a pervasive and enduring influence well into the modern period and even up to the present day, especially among those sympathetic to the religious tradition which he helped to shape. But even for those who do not share this sympathy, there is much in Augustine's thought that is worthy of serious philosophical attention. Augustine is not only one of the major sources whereby classical philosophy in general and Neo-Platonism in particular enter into the mainstream of early and subsequent medieval philosophy, but there are significant contributions of his own that emerge from his modification of that Greco-Roman inheritance, e.g., his subtle accounts of belief and authority, his account of knowledge and illumination, his emphasis upon the importance and centrality of the will, and his focus upon a new way of conceptualizing the phenomena of human history

Saint Augustine was the greatest of the Christian writers. He exerted immense influence on the Church and his educational views were adopted and followed for many centuries.

IV. DISCUSSION

A. Profile

1. Personal

Aurelius Augustinus, more known as “St. Augustine of Hippo,” or simply “Augustine” was born on November 13, 354 A.D. in Thagaste, North Africa (now, Algeria) by parents, Patricius and Monica. Their family belongs to the comfortable middle class.

2. Education

He was educated in Thagaste, Madauros, and Carthage.

3. Family, Work & Religion

Sometime around 370, he began a thirteen-year, monogamous relationship with the mother of his son, Adeodatus (born 372). He subsequently taught rhetoric in Thagaste and Carthage, and in 383 he made the risk-laden journey from Northern Africa to Rome, seeking the better sort of students that was rumored to be there. Disappointed by the moral quality of those students (academically superior to his previous students, they nonetheless had an annoying tendency to disappear without paying their fees), he successfully applied for a professorship of rhetoric in Milan. Augustine's professional ambitions pointed in the direction of an arranged marriage, and this in turn entailed a separation from his long-time companion and mother of his son. After this separation, however, Augustine abruptly resigned his professorship in 386 claiming ill health and renounced his professional ambitions.

Although his father was a Pagan and his mother was a Devout Christian, Augustine, adopted the Manichean faith until he was baptized to Christianity with his son, Adeodatus by Bishop Ambrose of Milan on Easter Sunday, 387, after spending four months at Cassiciacum where he composed his earliest extant works. Shortly thereafter, Augustine began his return to Northern Africa, but not before his mother died at Ostia, a seaport outside Rome, while awaiting the voyage across the Mediterranean. Not too long after this, Augustine, now back in Thagaste, also lost his son (389).

The remainder of his years would be spent immersed in the affairs and controversies of the Church into which he had been recently baptized, a Church that henceforth provided for Augustine the crucial nexus of relations that his family and friends had once been. In 391, Augustine was reluctantly ordained as a priest by the congregation of Hippo Regius (a not uncommon practice in Northern Africa), in 395 he was made Bishop, and he died August 430 in Hippo, thirty-five years later, as the Vandals were besieging the gates of the city.

E. Context

Born on 354 and died in 430 A.D, Augustine lived his life for seventy-five years, of which only four years were spent outside North Africa. Of the seventy-one remaining, fifty-seven were spent in far-flung places like Thagaste and Hippo Regius. These places belong to Roman provinces, neither notable for either cultural or commercial prominence.

However, the few years Augustine spent away from Northern Africa made an incalculable influence upon his thought, and his geographical distance from the major intellectual and political capitals of the Later Roman Empire should not obscure the tremendous influence he came to exert even in his own lifetime. He was a long time resident and, eventually, Bishop in Northern Africa whose thought was changed during the short time he stayed in Rome and Milan, far away from the provincial context where he was born and died and spent almost all of the years in between.

From his own account, he was a precocious and able student, who loves Latin classics, Virgil in particular. However, when he was nineteen, he happened upon Cicero's Hortensius, and he found himself suddenly imbued with a passion for philosophy. It is clear from his account of Cicero's effect upon him that his passion was not for philosophy as often understood today, but rather as the paradigmatically Hellenistic pursuit of wisdom. In particular, philosophy for Augustine was centered on what is sometimes misleadingly referred to as “the problem of evil.” This problem was not the sort of analytic, largely logical problem of theodicy that later came to preoccupy philosophers of religion. For Augustine, the problem was of a more general and visceral sort: it was the concern with the issue of how to make sense of and live within a world that seemed so adversarial and fraught with danger, a world in which so much of what matters most to us is so easily lost. In this sense, the wisdom that Augustine sought was a common denominator uniting the conflicting views of such Hellenistic philosophical sects as the Epicureans, Stoics, Skeptics, and Neoplatonists (though this is a later title) such as Plotinus and Porphyry, as well as many Christians of varying degrees of orthodoxy, including very unorthodox gnostic sects such as the Manicheans.

Augustine had a philosophical framework far more pliable and enduring than he himself is willing to admit in his later works. Moreover, this framework itself forms an important part of the philosophical legacy that Augustine bequeathed to both the medieval and modern periods.

F. The Educational Importance of St. Augustine Aims of Education

Augustine continued the Christian emphasis upon the future life of man, stressing that this life is merely a preparation for the life to come. A man is educated when his moral character and understanding of his faith are developed to their fullest potential

D. Principles of Education

The following concepts describe Augustinian thought regarding education:

1. Opposes sense experience.

Man, must realize that the senses deceive him. Truth and goodness exist only in God. Man arrives at genuine knowledge and virtue after he controls his senses and frees his spirit to intuit God by reason of the supernatural life. This life is given to man when he is baptized.

2. Truth is absolute.

Truth is not discovered through experimentation. It is found within the Catholic Church alone. This truth is eternal and unchanging.

3. Authoritarian.

Truth is, defined by the Church. The individual must accept obediently whatever the Church declares as truth. The individual is not free to follow whatever direction his reason takes him.

4. Discipline.

Although Augustine deplored cruelty, he asserted that punishment is necessary for the child to learn. Because of original sin, the pupil is inclined toward evil. He must be restrained and punished physically when it becomes apparent that his evil inclinations are not subdued.

5. Curriculum.

The content of the child's education should include the secular learning of the pagans, in order to enrich the student's appreciation of sacred scripture. The study of rhetoric, grammar, logic, mathematics, science and philosophy provide a background for the student who intends to arrive at genuine knowledge in the study of theology. Augustine was in favor of censoring strictly the literary content of the child's reading, lest the child be turned away from virtue.

E. The Importance of Augustinian Educational Thought

1. Universal influence.

The writings of Augustine were accepted by the Church and, through the Church, influenced subsequent educational theory for over a thousand years.

2. Moral Strength.

The moral education of a Europe over-run by barbarians, demanded a rigorous ethical foundation in which a civilization could grow and prosper. Augustine contributed to this moral improvement.

3. Retarded scientific growth.

Passive acceptance of absolute truths retarded the free inquiry necessary for scientific growth. Furthermore, the subordination of secular sciences and philosophy to theology inhibited the freedom of inquiry and exploration necessary to higher education.

VI. Summary

Saint Augustine of Hippo was one of the fathers of the Christian church. Augustine piety established norms for Christian devotional life, spiritual growth, systematic theology, and patterns of morality.

VII. Sources

http://www.suite101.com/content/st-augustine-and-philosophy-a203041 July 14 6:23pm

http://www.examiner.com/catholic-in-st-petersburg/st-augustine-poverty-and-simplicity-and-the-great-local-treasure July 14, 2011 6:27

http://www.newfoundations.com/GALLERY/Augustine.html July 14, 2011 6:18pm

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/augustine/ July 3, 2011 11:25pm

http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agexed/aee501/augustine.html July 3, 2011 11:30pm

Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge, Vol. 2. p. 260-261

Official List of Philippine Holidays for 2012

2012-01-01T07:45:00.001+08:00

(based on Proclamation No. 295 signed by Pres. Noynoy Aquino on November 24, 2011) A. Regular Holidays – 2012

New Year’s Day – January 1 (Sunday)
Maundy Thursday – April 5 (Thursday)
Good Friday – April 6 (Friday)
Araw ng Kagitingan – April 9 (Monday)
Labor Day – May 1 (Tuesday)
Independence Day – June 12 (Tuesday)
National Heroes Day – August 27 (Monday; last Monday of August)
Bonifacio Day – November 30 (Friday)
Christmas Day – December 25 (Tuesday)
Rizal Day – December 30 (Sunday)

B. Special (non-working) holidays – 2012

Chinese New Year – January 23 (Monday)
Ninoy Aquino Day – August 21 (Tuesday)
All Saints’ Day – November 1 (Thursday)
Additional special non-working day – November 2 (Friday)
New Year’s Eve – December 31 (Monday)

C. Others

1986 EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary - February 25 (Saturday) – No classes only for schools
Eid’l Adha (Islam Feast of Sacrifice) – to be announced later
End of Ramadan (Eid’l Fitr) – to be announced later

8 Ways to Make Money Online

2011-10-22T17:47:00.001+08:00

One reason why you are reading this article now is that you are hoping to earn money, too using your computer, right? And chances are, you may be surfing the net for sometime or still a newbie, who discovered the possibility of making money online.

Following are eight of the many ways to earn dollars online. Choose your pick.

1. Blogging – you may not be a witty-keyboard ticker but as long as you can create a paragraph or two on a certain subject or love to record everyday what you feel, see, observe, etc, then blogging may be for you.

2. Affiliate Marketing – you think you have your own business when in fact all you do is sign up and promote your links. If you feel like you will be able to convince people to buy from your online shop using your affiliate link, why not try it?

3. Domaining/Domain Parking – you may not have your own home in real life but how about buying your own online home – a domain name? You can sell or lease it later; especially when you have made a website that attracts potential buyers.

4. Online Marketing – if you have product/products to sell, why not do the selling online. For sure you will not be scammed because the process will be ‘payment first before product’. But be sure though that you will not scam people yourself, ok? There are already so many fraudsters online, don’t add yourself to their population.

5. Trading-if you have money to risk and you know the system, you may try your luck here. Luck? Yes, most of the times, you will depend on luck especially if you’re not a vet yet or if you’re not guided. Don’t risk your life-time savings. You may end up with nothing but dreams.

6. GPTs – if you are patient enough to earn by cents for every e-mail read, or you have many friends willing to support you in US, Canada & UK, try get-paid-to read e-mails programs.

7. Online Surveys – if you like answering questions and filling out forms, this is for you.

8. Online Jobs – if you are jobless or with a job but meager wage/salary or with a high-salaried job but stressful working environment, maybe it’s high time you try an online job.

2011-10-21T20:12:00.000+08:00

A church from the third-world country,

Philippines

now owns this property.

The Iglesia Ni Cristo, or Church of Christ made the purchase for $700,000 as can be verified at the Pennington County records.

However, the property remains idle to date and the church remains mum on its intended use or development plans.

The Iglesia Ni Cristo, based in Quezon City,

Philippines

is currently spearheaded by Eduardo V. Manalo, grandson of Felix Y. Manalo, church registrant and foremost missionary in July 27 1914.

For over 97 years since its humble beginning, the church has already expanded to 95 countries and territories creating beautiful landmarks with its splendid edifices.

Iglesia Ni Cristo Buys a Town

2011-10-09T23:41:00.001+08:00

Acquiring through purchase a 19 Hectares (46 acres) 59 parcels of land in Scenic, the 12-acre (4.9 ha) town a surrounding area inclusive of the Post Office, Longhorn Saloon, a Dance Hall, Bunkhouse and two Stores and a Train Depot is truly conquering the area.

A church from the third-world country,

Philippines

now owns this property.

The Iglesia Ni Cristo, or Church of Christ made the purchase for $700,000 as can be verified at the Pennington County records.

However, the property remains idle to date and the church remains mum on its intended use or development plans.

The Iglesia Ni Cristo, based in Quezon City,

Philippines

is currently spearheaded by Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo, grandson of Bro. Felix Y. Manalo, church registrant and foremost missionary in July 27 1914.

For over 97 years since its humble beginning, the church has already expanded to 95 countries and territories creating worldwide beautiful landmarks with its splendid edifices.