Online Learning V 1.0

I got this recipe from the website  http://www.marketmanila.com/archives/tapang-baka-beef-tapa 

1. To the meat,  add 3 - 4 tablespoons of soy sauce with 8 - 10 smashed cloves of garlic.
2.  Add a tablespoon of sugar and 3 tablespoons of rock salt.
3. Season with ground pepper.
4. Mix well and put into a plastic container.
5. Refrigerate for two days before cooking.

As much as we are all genetically unique… endowed with different traits… we are also a product of x number of years growing up with our own God-given parents, different set of friends, unique experiences and varying economic conditions. Conclusion: we have different behaviors.

After being US for so many years, we decide to pick a partner for life. At the beginning, we have great expectations that we will easily get along with this person. Oftentimes, there are no warning signals when we wee dating out with this person. Then one day, you will wake up realizing that this person you married is not the same person you went out with… this person you call your spouse is so different from what you expected.

And then comes the struggle to change each other… you say, you want your partner to change because you care for him, because she’s all that matter to you and that you want her to look good in the eyes of others. However, deep inside we know that we want that person to change because his behavior annoys you or that you just want to get  her to think the way that you do.

Well, the sad truth is you cannot change your partner. He behaves in a way that makes sense to him. She behaves based on her life experiences and what she perceives is the truth.

The bottomline is… the only person I can change is ME!

So if your spouse is not as loving as you think that he should be, then be the first one to love him. If your son is disrespectful, first be respectful to him. If your friend has a hard time saying sorry for mistakes she committed to you, say sorry even if you didn’t do her wrong. So… the path to a great relationship begins with changing myself!

There’s really no point in arguing with your loved ones. What have you proven by winning an argument? You might end up winning your point, but you risk losing the love and affection of the other. Aren’t we commanded by Jesus to love one another as we love ourselves? Therefore, by hurting the ones we love, we end up hurting ourselves. And we end up hurting our relationships. And life is all about relationships… with a friend, colleague, parent, or your spouse…

In an argument, you may have successfully proven your point, but you end up alienating the other. You’ve proven them wrong… so what, they’ll still think they’re right! You may have won the battle, but you lost the war!

Kung saan, saan na napadpad
Naglakad, lumangoy at lumipad
Tuwing akala ko, pag-ibig ay tunay na
Hindi pala

Nung hindi na nakatingin at saka ka dumating
Nandyan ka lamang pala
di ka lang nagsasalita

Ikaw pala aking hinahanap
Ang bahaghari ko sa likod ng ulap
Ikaw ang hulog ng langit sa puso kong napunit
Dahil sa dramang paulit-ulit
Kanina ka pa ba nariyan
Ikaw pala

Ang aking hinahanap hanap
Ikaw pala, awit na di matanggal sa aking isipan
Di na mahalaga, kung saan ako dalhin ng hangin
Basta’t nandito ka sa aking piling

Nung hindi na nakatingin at saka ka dumating

Nandyan ka lamang pala
di ka lang nagsasalita

Ikaw pala aking hinahanap

Ang bahaghari ko sa likod ng ulap
Ikaw ang hulog ng langit sa puso kong napunit
Dahil sa dramang paulit-ulit
Kanina ka pa ba nariyan

Ikaw nga ba?

            wari ko’y matagal din tayong di magkikita
                                                    ayoko na tuloy isipin
       na mawawalay ka na sa akin
                                        bibilangin ang mga gabi
                                                hanggang tayo’y magkitang muli

                    wari ko’y magiging maligaya ka
                                nasan ka man patungo alam mong
                                    nandito ako
                                          wari ko’y alam mong hahanapin kita
                        araw-araw na ikaw ay wala na

            sa iyong pamamaalam…
 dadalhin mo ang puso ko 

                               
                       Pikit matang managinip
        mahahanap mo AKO sa isang malalim
                                        na sulok ng IYONG isip…

My Love,

I am so sorry that I left you on your own. I never knew you will be lonely. I’ve always thought that you have your family and friends there anyway. While I… while I endure the hardships here alone. I want you to know that you were always part of my plans. The reason why I went here is that I was carving a future for us. I don’t blame you if you had to leave, I missed too much of your birthdays; valentine’s and our anniversaries. I’ve become a stranger to you.

If I could turn back the hands of time, I wouldn’t have left you for I know now what matters most in my life… my relationship with God, with my family and with YOU! Now I pray to God that you will be successful in all of your undertakings in life. May you find someone who’ll be able to provide you the nurture I was not able to give you in my absence.

Don’t worry about me, your lost led me closer to God. I submit to His perfect will. I believe that He is about to provide me with someone who truly needs somebody like me. Before I end this letter, I want you to know that I love you and that I will always cherish our memories. Thank you for coming into my life.

’til we meet again,
Jopes

⁴ Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud,

⁵ doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;

⁶ doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;

⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never fails…

Dear Mars, Love will find its way… it always does… no matter how long I have to wait, no matter how far I am from you… time and space make my love grow stronger… love endures all hardships, all pain, all trials… every mistake is forgotten… every wrong is forgiven… love is given freely and received freely… love is about committing one’s self unconditionally to you… love will see US through… Jopes

Well I woke up this morning with Morningwood… if you’re thinking of something else, well I am talking about the band Morningwood. I woke up this morning and the first thing I did was to play Morningwood in my iPod. They rock! Weird name, though, for a band fronted by a female. I played the song "Nth Degree" in my car last night like 5 times in a row. Fun, catchy song, …might end up at the top of whatever charts or countdowns.  Check out my friendster profile to watch the video. "M.. O.. M.. O.. R.. M.. O.. R.. N.. I.. N.. G.. W.. O.. O.. D."

I was never a teacher when I was in the Philippines. I was a lecturer.

I implied to my students in the Philippines the value of being independent … to be competitive! I teach my students here in the US the value of helping each other… to be cooperative!

I forced my students in the Philippines to understand biological concepts that they might not even hear again for the rest of their lives. I teach my students here in the US practical applications of the biological concepts… skipping all abstract ideas that they might not even need to know.

I had my students in the Philippines learn science by listening to me talk, talk and talk. I teach my students here in the US learn science by doing.

I had my students in the Philippines learn science by listening to me talk some more. I teach my students here in the US learn science by talking about it among themselves.

I thought I was a good teacher then. My experience here in the US made me a great teacher!

… and I am ready to bring all my learnings back home!

Monday…

Start of a new week…

For some reason my mind says not to go to work today.

So I didn’t.

Homesickness struck me again. Last night I had a good meal celebrating my feat (i lost 10 pounds in 3 weeks). Somehow, today when I woke up I don’t want to work. None of those blessed kids… no… not today!

I called home. that took care of some of my depression.

I started my concept paper for a class that I’m taking. My words just won’t fit so I had to stop and continue later.

I did some core training at home… I’m still reminded that I’m in a far away land.

Had a haircut… still it didn’t seem right.

Went out with Anton; Did some grocery and binged outside. Nope. Still not the solution.

The weather is not cooperating neither. It’s like rain, shine, rain, shine, rain today.

Still went home depressed as this morning. So I decided to go to church to finally unload everything to God.

On my way to St. Francis Church I saw the most beautiful rainbow in my life. It didn’t take time for me to realize that God is sending me a message. He is telling me that after the rain, there is new life… there is hope. Whatever cross we are carrying right now, there is a reason for all of that. 

I just had to chronicle this day. This is one proof that God is always with us, He never abandons us. And when you had enough of life’s suffering already, He shows up in one form or another to encourage us to continue. It can be your Dad or Mom giving you call. It can be a text message from your friend. For me… it’s the rainbow.