KENNETH PORIO | the blog

The Year of Rebuilding with Integrity

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 22:43:31 +0000

There are years that quietly pass, marked only by birthdays, calendars, and routine. Then there are years that reshape the way we see ourselves. As I celebrate my 35th birthday, I find myself looking back on a season that I can only describe as the year of rebuilding with integrity. It was a year that asked difficult questions, tested deeply held values, and reminded me that rebuilding a life is rarely dramatic. More often, it happens one ordinary day at a time, through small decisions to keep moving forward.

Not too long ago, I stood on the shores of Bulabog Beach in Boracay before sunrise. The beach was calm, the sky slowly changing from darkness into light. As I watched the sun rise over the horizon, I realized how fitting that moment was for the season I had been living through. Sunrises do not erase the darkness that came before them; they simply remind us that darkness never has the final word. Looking back now, that morning became an unexpected symbol of hope—a reminder that every ending quietly prepares us for another beginning.

The past year brought some of the most difficult professional experiences I have faced since beginning my career as an educator. Teaching has always been more than a profession to me; it has been a calling that shaped much of my adult life. Like many educators, I entered the classroom believing that knowledge, fairness, patience, and compassion could make a meaningful difference. Yet I also learned that education, like every human endeavor, is filled with complexities that extend far beyond lesson plans and examinations. There were moments when the work became emotionally exhausting, and decisions that I believed were made with care were met with challenges that tested both my confidence and my resilience.

Eventually, I made one of the most difficult decisions of my career: to step away from my position at the University of the Philippines Cebu. Resignation is rarely a single moment. It is often the culmination of months of reflection, prayer, sleepless nights, and difficult conversations with oneself. Leaving did not feel like defeat, nor did it feel like victory. It simply felt necessary. It was a decision made with hope that sometimes choosing a different path is not an act of giving up, but an act of preserving one's integrity and well-being.

Returning from Cebu to Davao was another transition that carried both relief and uncertainty. Coming home offered the comfort of familiar places and familiar faces, yet it also meant beginning again. The questions that accompany every career transition soon appeared: What comes next? Have I made the right decision? Will another opportunity come? Like many people navigating unexpected changes, I experienced the quiet uncertainty that comes with waiting, applying, hoping, and trusting that the next chapter would eventually reveal itself.

Searching for work reminded me that resilience is often built in ordinary moments that no one else sees. Behind every application sent, every interview attended, and every follow-up email was a mixture of optimism and vulnerability. It is humbling to realize that regardless of experience or accomplishments, every new beginning asks us to become learners again. Those weeks taught me patience, strengthened my faith, and deepened my appreciation for every opportunity that eventually came my way.

Today, I continue that journey as part of the Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute. Entering a new organization has been another chapter of learning and adjustment. Every workplace has its own culture, expectations, rhythms, and challenges. While the work is different from the classrooms I once knew, it continues to remind me that meaningful service takes many forms. Rebuilding does not end when a new job begins; it continues as we adapt, grow, and discover new ways to contribute. Every transition invites us to remain humble enough to learn and courageous enough to embrace unfamiliar responsibilities.

Perhaps the greatest lesson this year has taught me is that integrity is not something we demonstrate only when life is going well. Integrity becomes most visible when circumstances become difficult. It is choosing to remain respectful even when emotions run high, to seek understanding instead of resentment, to remain accountable for one's decisions, and to continue treating others with dignity even while carrying personal disappointments. These lessons are not always easy, but they are the ones that shape character long after individual events have passed.

Looking back, I realize that this year was not defined solely by hardship. It was also filled with unexpected blessings: opportunities to continue advocating for media and information literacy, opportunities to travel, opportunities to reconnect with friends and family, opportunities to serve in new ways, and moments that reminded me that life is always larger than our greatest challenges. Somewhere between airports, beaches, conference halls, classrooms, and new offices, I slowly rediscovered hope. Not the hope that everything would return to how it once was, but the hope that something meaningful could still emerge from everything that had happened.

As I celebrate turning 35, I carry forward both gratitude and optimism. I am thankful to everyone who has remembered me today with birthday greetings, prayers, kind words, and quiet encouragement. Your support has reminded me that no one rebuilds alone. While I know there are still challenges ahead, I also know that this chapter will not define the rest of my story. The sunrise I watched in Boracay continues to remind me that each new day offers another opportunity to learn, to serve, to grow, and to begin again. If the past year has taught me anything, it is this: rebuilding takes time, but when it is grounded in integrity, faith, and hope, it becomes the foundation for a future stronger than the one we left behind.

Welcome Back Myself

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 04:46:00 +0000

Hi, everyone!

I’ve been back in Davao since the end of December 2025, after living in Cebu for about 4 years.

The past four months have been difficult.

I resigned from being a teacher in UP Cebu late last year. I was so difficult to sink in, even today, that I made that decision. Bad experiences, bad decisions, and bad relationships here and there led up to that conclusion that this teaching career was not for me.

I was diagnosed last year with mental health issues, which was alongside my diagnosis of type-2 diabetes and hypertension since 2023. Today, I have been regularly on a cocktail of medications that I take every single day. With that, along with the costs of migrating back home, having to spend for medicines totally drained my savings.

Yes, while I'm not deep in debt, I am literally broke.

I’ve been looking for work, trying to figure things out, and dealing with a lot of uncertainty. I did land a role with a startup, and I’m grateful for that, but I’m also thinking seriously about building something on my own: content creation, writing ebooks, maybe an online business, something that allows me to stay close to family and eventually find financial freedom.

Good things did came though when I got home: I get to learn about how my family has been doing well, having a new pet (see picture), appreciated the changes in my hometown Davao City (especially riding the free DC Bus), got into the church I grew up with the longest time, and being able to spend quality time alone at home.

Right now, it’s Holy Week. I’m at home, slowing down, trying to return to God in the middle of all this noise and confusion. I don’t have everything figured out yet. I’m still searching for direction, for purpose, for clarity.

But this is me starting again. Quietly.

I am committing to start again, and to somehow reset my online presence. And it starts here.

Hope to see you soon in my next post.

Freedom From Lies With Hatred: Contamination From Deceitful Content Against The Church And How I Dealt It With The Truth

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 02:37:00 +0000

As an advocate of Media and Information Literacy (MIL), I am very much knowledgeable of the effects of having to deal with fake news, disinformation, and other forms of manipulation of media and information in our society. I am thankful that I have been connected with an organization that advocates MIL and helps educators deliver the best practices for dealing with the media and information ecosystem in the country.

Maria Ressa (Source: PBS.org)

In the many years of being a Christian, I was tricked on social media to believe lies about the church, and there I would like to share what just came into my mind about lies laced with anger and hatred. I remembered the documentary "A Thousand Cuts" in 2020 featuring Rappler CEO and Nobel Prize laureate Maria Ressa about what she had discovered about the problems with the information ecosystem in the Philippines and why it has become a primary target of disinformation syndicates. Ms. Ressa said in the documentary, to wit: "Facebook and other social media platforms allow lies laced with anger and hate to spread faster and further than facts, which are really boring... When you only look at content, it’s a whack-a-mole game. I want to figure out what the lie is and then look at the network that spreads the lies. That’s the nervous system."

Source: Rappler.com

Come to think of it, if we align this observation from the mainstream secular media to what I have seen from social media about the church, it perfectly aligns with how the devil and his demons had formed a spiritual nervous system, a network that spread lies that target believers and those in the church. Indeed, Satan is the father of lies and he will do everything to pull us back from the faith. One of the things the devil influenced my view of the church was the false accusations being posted on an online forum that was responded to directly by our senior pastor at Destiny Church, Ps. Carlo Panlilio. Yet despite his replies, people continued to throw falsehoods that are even mixed with hate speech. From reading those lies, I became attached to my sinful pleasures including laughing at the failures of the church.

However, I found the truth and the truth set me free. Satan is already powerless because of how Jesus overcame by giving up His life on the cross. All we need to focus on is to dwell in the truth that God has provided to us through His Word. Satan is already like a dog trying to bark, show its fangs, maybe foam in the mouth, just to instill fear in us, but because our confidence is in Christ, we just have to outtruth him for him to flee.

"Satan is like that yappy little dog: deceiving people into fearing him more than God. His power is in the lie. He is the father of lies (John 8:44) who deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9), and consequently, the whole world is under the influence of the evil one (1 John 5:19). He can do nothing about your position in Christ, but if he can deceive you into believing his lies about you and God, you will spend a lot of time on top of the pickup truck! You don't have to outshout him or outmuscle him to be free of his influence. You just have to outtruth him. Believe, declare, and act upon the truth of God's Word, and you will thwart Satan's strategy." - Neil T. Anderson, The Bondage Breaker

Today, I am freed from those lies which manifested in me as a secret, deep-seated hatred for the church. Now I continue to trust in God's people and those who are sharing the Good News that has transformed me and many others.

Keep Fighting for the Truth!

New Website, New Milestone

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 03:27:00 +0000

Finally! I just launched my new website!

In this day and age when you need to establish a personal brand to stand out, I had to take the first step in establishing my own brand of service that I provide to my clients both online and offline.

That's why I launched kennethporio.online to showcase my experience and services to the world.

Check out my website now to learn more.

Expert School of Knoweldge! (Part 1) | Kenneth Porio ONLINE

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Tue, 12 May 2020 04:24:00 +0000

Allow me to share my experience playing this cring-worthy, super old quiz game that is now archived online for everyone to play!

"Expert School of Knowledge" from 1991.

To Mama...

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Sun, 10 May 2020 02:52:00 +0000

This is a video greeting to my Mama Jessica Porio on Mother's Day this year.

Quality Improvements? Why Not?

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 00:08:00 +0000

It's really great that I am improving my quality each and every day.

In this livestreaming that I had, I explained some things that I want to improve with myself in light of the COVID-19 crisis, and also how will I take my online presence to a whole new level.

I am Meant for Something More

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 10:15:00 +0000

In the confinements of home

For quite some time, I am trying to cope with the changes coming my way as I transition from teacher to trainer and freelancer. As the "summer" term comes in the way for our school, only a number of teachers will be given a teaching load, and I am one of those teachers who won't be given load this year. As such, I will have to make do with this time to not only earn money but continue learning.

I have been contemplating on making freelancing my priority career path in the next few months. I want to see if freelancing indeed works for me compared to my full-time teaching.

Why? With the COVID-19 situation still lingering, I am very confident that working from home will be the norm, and I feel that with the circumstances I have, my career as an educator will not be sustainable in the long run.

Honestly, having a work background that was based around being an office cubicle, and later on, having contact with 30 to 40 students at any given time, was already a feat in itself. But lately, I asked myself, "how will I reach out to many more people?"

Realizing my potential

For these three years that I had being a teacher, I realized that after the COVID-19 crisis hit, it hit me that being in a classroom setting with a few familiar faces isn't gonna cut it. I am meant for something more.

My previous trip to Manila last January made me realize that I must not be confined to the four corners of my office cubicle and the classrooms of our school. I must reach out. I must go out there and help people. I must take charge to deliver the needs of my students and fellow educators who are struggling like me.

Helping my colleagues at the PAMIL National Forum made me realize how important it is for me to become an innovator, someone who has the knowledge to improve on things, someone who can be the middle-man to every educator, from LPTs to PhDs. I thought to myself on what can I do to help them, and maybe being at this professional organization will give me that answer.

I am not thinking of leaving my current school. It's just that things are becoming so uncertain given that the health crisis is serious enough to cause chaos and anxiety among people. I wanted to go out there and be that person who can help, not thinking about money, but thinking about people. I am not pursuing to earn a lot right now, but seeing people being blessed with my abilities, gives me the chance to thank the Lord for what He has given me.

Surely there is a purpose for me. I am meant for something more.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. - Romans 8:28 NIV

Remembering Victoria Plaza: The Jingle

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 07:35:00 +0000

It's been three years since I left Park 'N Shop - Victoria Plaza, my former workplace before I became a teacher.

All those memories working at the mall surely gave me a liking of how has it been since it was purchased by NCCC.

And with that, allow me to give a piece of memory from this humble place - it's famous jingle.

For those who can't clearly remember the lyrics, here they are:

Let's go and take the family
To the plaza that has it all
So easy at Victoria
All is here for everyone
Food, fashion, shops, games, and shows
It's the place where your dreams come true
So convenient at Victoria
Victoria Plaza, the plaza for all!

----------------

This jingle was played on specific times during the business day: during the opening time (usually at 10:00 AM), 12:00 noon, 3:00 PM, 6:00 PM, and at closing time (normally at 8:00PM or at 12:00 midnight during a Midnight Sale).

I used to inspect and maintain the supermarket and mall's CCTV and PA system in the last few months of my work at the mall. This is where I got the jingle which was buried in a series of folders in the PA system's computer where music is being played.

Since the NCCC takeover, the jingle was never heard again, and was replaced by the NCCC corporate jingles and theme songs that vary per department.

Surely, hearing the Victoria Plaza Mall jingle again surely brings those memories back that came with this place. I hope it doesn't get lost in eternity.

Welcome to KennethPorio.com!

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 03:54:00 +0000

Welcome to KennethPorio.com, my brand new official website!

I am relaunching my old blog as my web portal for all things I do - from teaching, studying, ministry, freelancing, and so much more!

I still have a lot of cleaning up to do on this website, so bear with me while I do improvements.

I have a lot of plans on the way as I improve my online presence and help you with your needs - from vlogs, podcasts, and webinars.

So, while you're at it, follow my social media accounts as well:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KennethPorioOfficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kenneth_porio
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenneth_porio
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/stellarboy0629

See you around!

Buhay Guro: The Students On My First Year of Teaching.

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 10:14:00 +0000

I've turned 3 years as a teacher at Joji Ilagan (aptly referred as JIB). Parang kailan lang akong umalis sa dati kong trabaho then I landed here where I met not a handful but a lot of students. Different personalities, different levels of learning, and different levels of kagandahan (talaga lang ha?!).

Well, let me describe each class or section of students I encountered so far these 10 months of teaching.

(By the way, just to let you know, the way we name batches of students are quite unique here. We name BS Tourism Management sections after airlines. We name BS Hotel and Restaurant Management sections after spices. And we name our senior high school sections after hotel chains.)

The above picture is me with the BS Tourism Management students of section "Qantas-Lufthansa" (Batch 2014) who are, as of this writing, fourth year students. They took COMED 6 (C++ Programming) in that particular semester.

For me C++ was the most difficult subject I ever taught, for the reason that's it's very very technical, and with the fact that they are not quite literate with computers and programming, I had to break down the topics as that will make it as easily digestible as possible.

This is the quirkiest batch I ever had in the college department, though. My most memorable people in this batch are the boys - Mark Luche, Matthew Natanauan, and Robi Vinson.

I would like to meet their BS HRM counterparts next semester, if chance will allow.

This picture above is section Turmeric, the 2016 batch of Hotel and Restaurant Management students. They are a small batch (all of them are transferees, re: K to 12 program). Like the spice named after them, they are colorful, flavorful and at the same time "spicy". (LOL)

In their batch is last year's runner-up of Mr. JIB 2017, Cedric Spencer Pabilona (first from left of above photo). He may not be that smart, but he is hardworking, diligent, and (for the lack of a better word) malambing. He is a talented singer, and a great entertainer at that. I'll write about this guy in another post about the video project with our Senior High students where he was featured.

With me are my

Last semester I taught them Word Processing and Presentation Making. Pretty basic subject, but workable.

Next up is section Alitalia, the 2016 Tourism Management students.

BSHRM students too - though it was my first time I worked on Saturdays.

And definitely the most interesting batch I had, the Senior High School students whom I taught Media and Information Literacy.

Such a wonderful first year. Will share more content in the coming days.

Questions to Ask (Part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 13:48:00 +0000

The year 2017 is about to be over. It started in a special way, yet it has left me with many questions - questions that needed to be answered by someone who clearly knows me - someone who can understand my condition, and someone who can love me for who I am.

Yes, I have to put this in public, over the Internet. This is no laughing matter, for I have suffered this for such a long time, and I want people to be aware of it.

The year 2017 has been kind - indeed a good year. I was able to shift careers: from a mundane, stressful and sometimes unrewarding place of retail, to the rewarding, impactful and dynamic world of teaching. Indeed, the year was a year of breakthroughs, and a start of a lifelong transformation.

Teaching is such a crucial job, and involves enormous amounts of scrutiny. It was difficult for me to adjust well, as I came from a school that didn't matter how I look like, how I smell like and how I treat people like. (You heard it right, because I am a graduate of the University of the Philippines, where freedom is gold, and proper personality is a suggestion, never a choice.) I also worked in places where you can wear, speak and act however you want, whenever you want. Yung tipong walang makikialam sa iyo, basta't ginagawa mo ang dapat gawin. That was me before.

But now, being in a school (and a tourism and hospitality school at that), hundreds of students of different ages need to get something from me, and my duty is to impart that to them. With that in mind, it involved a huge investment on myself. First off, I had to change my clothing habits. I had to buy long-sleeved shirts, coats, leather shoes, and personal effects. Basically, I had to overhaul my daily wardrobe and it was costly. Believe me, I could no longer be that "yagit" person I was back in days of being behind-the-scenes in a shopping mall or being on that cute cubicle doing nothing but make and maintain websites. I was already out in the open, and looking my best was the priority. Good thing I'm a work in progress now.

I consider myself to be messy, and mess is my definition of order. That was me before in my previous job. Because I had to repair stuff, I had to disassemble and it had to be messy. I'm not really good at organizing stuff, and that's a huge problem for me whenever I work in the faculty room. Sometimes I'll just be amazed how my co-workers are able to organize their papers, while I freak out seeing so much stuff to check. I'm still working on that.

Well, these things never bothered me, until now.

Life of a Church Worker

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 10:05:00 +0000

I love serving the Lord with gladness, and I desire to bring our church to the level where God takes us.

That is why I am dedicated to serve the Multimedia ministry of Destiny Church Davao. For almost 5 years, I have gone through a lot in serving in many different tasks of the church's media ministry - from photo and video editing, lights and sounds, to projection. My heart is for the service of bringing Christ to the people, especially those who attend our services every Sunday.

Every Sunday is an adventure. Every Sunday is an opportunity to improve, to improvise, to innovate. All that I do can make or break the church service, that is why I had to train myself all the time with the new trends in video and graphics so I can improve my craft.

Not only that, the whole week I also work for the other events and functions in church like our Acoustic Night Life, Students of Destiny Life Party, mission gatherings and many more.

Thanks to my leader Pastor Dean Malinao, our overseer Bernalyn, and my fellow teammates that you guide me every step of the way.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

-Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Introvert in an Extroverted Workplace

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 21:38:00 +0000

This is getting awkward.

I know I should not write this early in the morning, but I think this is time to take the opportunity to write up about my thoughts about being that introvert in a place where extroverts rule. And this is the most daring thing I will ever write.

In my previous line of work at a shopping mall, I was able to become who I really am because I was only one of three persons inside our department office. My colleagues are extroverted, but it was very bearable. They're only two of them. Not only that, our I.T. office is big enough and quiet enough that I can "recharge" without lots of people bothering you.

Now take that situation to my present line of work - being a teacher. Yup, being a teacher is a lot more about being "extroverted" all the time, because it involves constant interaction with your students - the very clients you transact with. My colleagues are not just two or three, but 30++ of them, including your bosses! It was a draining situation...

Yes, I am good at teaching. I know I have been improving my craft of teaching, It's just that I could not cope up yet with the need to show myself in public, spending my energy to look like someone else. I tried to become a host, a ramp model, and a performer at that, but it drains a lot of energy in me.

I need some "me" time, and I need it really.

Return to Blogging

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 15:20:00 +0000

It's 11 p.m.

Tired but not yet ready to sleep.

Yes. I wanna pass the time and with that I wanted to return to this blog of mine.

While I wanted to get myself involved in many places, nothing beats the joy of typing away your feelings on my computer in the comfort of my bedroom.

Blogging was my pasttime and with that I wanted to bring this habit back as I desire to teach my students soon about how to blog and becoming a blogger.

Yes, you heard it right. I am now a teacher.

Long story, but will share that story soon enough.

Hope to see you soon!

The 25th Kenneth: Part One

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Sun, 25 Jun 2017 22:48:00 +0000

Hello, everyone! This is the 25th Kenneth Bernejay Porio, speaking, I mean, writing...

On the 29th of June, 2017, I shall no longer exist, and be replaced with the 26th Kenneth Bernejay at the moment he shall wake up. Therefore, in the remaining three days I live on this earth, let me recall all the memories I have acquired during my existence.

I had a eventful arrival, and the people whom had contact with since the 23rd Kenneth greeted me a happy birthday and prayers. Because it was a Wednesday, my arrival was celebrated with drinks and food at the Acoustic Night Life, an event that the 23rd, 24th and me the 25th Kenneth had been.

During the next 5 months I wenth through enormous pressure and hardship, as I was tasked to help upgrade the existing POS system of my former employer Park N Shop Supermarket. I'm sure the 24th Kenneth would relate. too.

On those times, I would have to endure lack of sleep, extreme boredom and mental and physical fatigue as I have to carry all these burdens to print correspondence, make requests and carry all these bulky equipment. In the end the project was successful and the new units came up and running by the start of the holiday shopping season.

I was able to experience long distance travel for the first time (in a long time), as during the middle of October, I was able to travel to Cebu with my brother Alain Joseph. It was there I had the experience to board an aircraft. Yes, no-one from the preceding Kenneths had been in an airplane before, so it was a great experience for me.

In Cebu we were able to travel around the most-visited landmarks in Cebu, to name a few: the Lapu-Lapu Shrine, Taoist Temple, Magellan's Cross, Sto Nino Shrine, HappyWorld 3D Art Museum in Cordova, SM City Cebu, SM Seaside City Cebu, and a lot others. I was also able to brave the heights of the rooftop of the Crown Regency Hotel. It was really exhilirating! During our stay we were at our uncle's place in Lapu-Lapu City and he and his family were really accomodating.

I do hope the future Kenneth, especially the 26th, will be able to travel farther.

Before the year 2016 ended, I handed over my resignation to end my employment with Park N Shop, due 25th January 2017. It was a crucial decision, as I had to think it hard, really hard.

As a tradition, I joined my family in the year-end celebration at Camp Holiday. It was a really enjoyable experience ending the year with a blast!

In the days that remained in my employment at Park N Shop, I was planning for myself to go freelance. However, something inside me really wanted to pursue a career that has been a longing since the 10th Kenneth expressed that thought in class - to become a teacher. My leader that time had pushed me to pursue the academe, and even some of my friends had been in that career path before me. But in those years I let that thought pass on. I really wanted to pursue fulltime freelancing. Maybe it ws just me.

I was scouring through jobs on Facebook, JobStreet, bestjobs.ph, and many other sites, and passed resumes left and right. Whatever job that was there, and up to my qualifications, I applied. However, it seems that nothing worked. I tried optmizing my profile on Fiverr and UpWork. Didn't seem to work. Maybe I was just lazy or something.

Until January 23 came, when someone called on my phone. It was two days before my last day of work in Park N Shop.

"Hello, my name is Mark. Are you Mr. Kenneth 'ber-nie-high' Porio?"

"Yes, It's 'ber-nee-jay', Sir."

"Ok, sir. This is from the HR of Joji Ilagan Career Center Foundation. I saw your application for Computer Instructor. Are you available for a teaching demo?"

Teaching demo? Joji Ilagan? The look in my face painted perplexity.

"Ah let me check my schedule, sir," I said sheepishly. Because I was vacant (and I was leaving anyway), "Sige po, ano pong oras sir?"

"Are you available tomorrow, 1 to 2 PM?" the guy named Mark asked.

"Ok sige po sir."

And he gave some instructions.

I was excited and nervous at the same time. I asked permission from my department head and he said yes. On the next day, it was time.

I admitted I was not ready for it. I had my teaching demo in a polo shirt, black denim pants and black rubber shoes. In front of me was that guy named Mark, the school's dean named Ma'am Rose and a teacher named Mr. Tormis. Kinabahan ako, pero keri lang. Then I just delivered my lesson at the best I could.

But on that moment I finished my demo, the dean told me, "you have good presentation skills, you just have to improve in a few things."

After that, I waited in the student lounge. I was not expecting that I'll be hired there and then. Ayoko talaga, eh. It was never in my plans. I wanted to freelance and make money.

But it became clearer and clearer. The dream that the 10th Kenneth wanted to have was about to come true.

(to be continued on Part Two)

Career Shift

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 09:26:00 +0000

Yes. I am doing a career shift. This time, I am going to be in the academe.

In an unexpected turn of events just before I left my former workplace, I was accepted to become a computer instructor at one of the prominent internationally-acclaimed local institutions in Davao City. Honestly, I was unprepared for that event, and I am still in shock and awe.

I was just reminded how the Lord promised me during one of my quiet times: "Delight in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4) All I did was to take delight in God's graces, obey His commands and follow His ways - and that desire came: to be able to teach students, which I yearned for in years, and to pass on my knowledge to them. I believe this is also my moment to let my talents shine even more.

A new, improved, upgraded and revised version of myself is coming! I am very excited!

Welcome to my blog! (again!)

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 03:31:00 +0000

2017 is here!

And yes, it's clear that my blog has been dormant for TWO years! Yes, I'm not kidding!

Because I'm so eager to bring this "relic" back to life, I'm posting this article right now, on the 2nd day of January 2017!

Yes, to prove it, I posted a webcam shot for my fans!

If you were a reader of this blog, I'm saying welcome back! And I'm still alive and kicking after all these years being out there, somewhere.

If you just got here, well, welcome! This is my personal blog site and this has been part of my life since 1st year high school. And truly, this became a place where I send my thoughts to everyone online.

Right now I'm cleaning up the mess of this cluttered website. I'm taking off some of the widgets that has taken off the precious space and SEO juice from this site. And yeah, I'm experimenting on a brand new layout as well. So I hope you don't mind seeing random stuff floating around here.

Thanks for you patience and see you soon!

KENNETH

Happy New Year, Happy New Blog Post!

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:45:00 +0000

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's a new year, and I belive that it is high time for me to start a new chapter of blogging.

As I look forward to 2016, I wanna show everyone what I do and what can I do for you. As you may know, I have been an online freelancer, and I believe this blog will be a good starting point to build my portfolio.

Check out my new post in the coming days. Be excited!

Back to Blogging

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 02:24:00 +0000

Hello guys!

I'm baaaaaaaaack!

After a year or so of not posting anything in this blog, I am finally back to where my online presence started.

Be excited as I will be frequently posting on this blog for more updates about my online career. Be excited too, as I will soon launch my own website.

Take care!

KENNETH

The Strange Case of Watching Regional Programming

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:45:00 +0000

Posible ba gayod ya man intiende y man habla Chabacano, mas quien Davaoeño yo?

After many weeks following the Zamboanga crisis, and watching TV Patrol Chavacano, one of their regional news programs produced by ABS-CBN, it seems I now would be able to understand the context of what has been said in each report, simply because I begun to figure out the grammatical structure of the Spanish-based creole.

I don't know, but it seems I have this sort of inherent talent to pick context clues in languages that I am not familiar about. The languages of the Philippines are sort of close to each other, plus some of their words loaned from Spanish (owing to 300 years of Spanish rule) that it just needs your keen eyes and ears to learn what any local news reporter meant.

Now after a few months on exposing myself to Chavacano news reports, I begun to pick up phrases like if someone died ("con un persona el ya muri despues..."), there is rain ("...quien cay aguacero"), or the people expressed worry ("maga vivientes ta expressa lingasa..."). It's so strange I was able to understand those news leads quickly. Why is that so?

My mother tongue is Cebuano, which is generally spoken here in Davao, therefore I was initally exposed to our local news such as TV Patrol Southern Mindanao of ABS-CBN and Testigo of GMA.

But I get to be interested in the local side of the news should a local headline somewhere else becomes of national interest. For instance, during the onslaught of Yolanda (international name: Haiyan), I begun to catch up news not just from the national TV Patrol, but on its local counterpart TV Patrol Tacloban, which is broadcast in Waray-Waray, a Visayan language spoken in Eastern Visayas. They are closely related to Cebuano in grammatical structure, but with different vocabulary. Because of such facts, I was able to get some context of what the anchor was saying, and I get to know the meaning of most of the words: "yana" means "today", "tikang" means "coming from," kulop means "afternoon", tuna means "land" and so much more.

There are other regional news programming in the Philippines I have watched and I therefore conclude we share the same language family. We just speak it in a different way.

Pilipino tayo, sa isip, sa salita at sa gawa. :)

KENNETH

New Ventures

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:17:00 +0000

Hello. I am back!

For the past few months I have been contemplating in going back to blogging in order for me to launch a new platform, a platform that will propel my career to greater heights.

Right now, I have been doing my job as a technical assistant in a local shopping mall, but on the side doing some online work - translating documents for most part. But I want to go beyond that. Because of my previous job as a VA in a rather small SEO company, I want to re-explore those talents I missed to utilize, and give it a shot on earning on my own.

I am thinking of launching a new blog that would help people encourage themselves pursuing a new venture, like getting on a new job with no previous experience, or moving to a new place, or meeting a new partner. It's about being successful without looking fake.

How about that?

See you very soon, guys!

KENNETH

A New Job

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Fri, 16 May 2014 07:25:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, I was laid off at my first job for some reason I can't disclose. As soon as I took off, I printed my job documents in hopes of looking for the right job for me.

There I found a job opening in one of the large malls here in Davao, which was looking for a Technical Assistant for their Supermarket division. I grabbed the opportunity and submitted my papers. After a few grueling days of processing additional requirements, I landed on the job.

So far it has been a good experience helping the company in managing their data, in maintaining their Point of Sale systems, and troubleshooting when needed.

I do hope in the months ahead this will be a better one than I got on my first employer.

The Bus

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 04:53:00 +0000

In the past year since I got a job, I take a bus to the office, because taking it is cheaper than taking the jeepney.

Now, I'm contemplating on how I will have a transport for myself.

My dream is to have my own car, something that can readily take me to work, to church and anywhere I go with the family.

But for now... I'll settle with Bachelor Express units, especially with the aircon ones once in a while.

New Devices, New Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Kenneth Porio) — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 07:57:00 +0000

Hello there!

I'm back to blogging, and I've got lots of plans...

Recently I got hold of a used laptop from an aunt which was bought in the UK, but sold to me for cheap. Also, my recently-graduated brother, who is currently in Cebu reviewing for his Engineering board exam, leased me his Android phone in exchange to my own Droid. My Droid- an HTC Hero, was fairly aged and can't run the apps I want, so I gave it to him. His fairly new Android phone had a faulty battery, so I have to purchase one myself. I will have his phone for 5 months at most.

Now that all is set, I'll go back to blogging regularly when I have through best time to do it. So, stay tuned!