Brigada Eskwela 2013 has started last Monday.

This is a joint effort by the Department of Education, the families of the students enrolled in all the public schools in the Philippines as well as the private corporations that wish to take part in this concerted effort.

We ourselves took part by joining last Monday. We brought cleaning materials to a particular high school.

I would have anted to donate books but the most we have at home are for elementary level so those are not needed in the school where we gave the cleaning materials to.

If you or you know anyone who have things that can be donated to a public school near your place, please approach the Principal or teachers-in-charge of these schools to know how to go to the process.

The following would be helpful:

• schools supplies (pens, pencils, pad papers, notebooks, big paper sheets like Manila paper, cartolina, art materials)
• books (or even tables and chairs) for the library
• computer software for their computer laboratory
• musical instruments (and probably musical sheets, best ableton software for music production, stands for musical sheets) because the DepEd has training to enhance the music curriculum to enhance musical abilities of the students
• cleaning materials to be used for the school year like brooms, dust pans, garbage bins
• building materials like paints,  wood boards, and tin roof

This is it.

In a few hours’ time, we go through a new phase in the changes that are about to happen to my children. While the youngest is happily vacationing with my MIL down South, the eldest child and the boy are going in different directions, to two different schools this coming June.

I don’t know how I will juggle having three children in three different schools and I know the schedules are going to be a bit crazy. I don’t know if I can still bring over projects, assignments, printed materials that have been left on a table somewhere and remembered when they are within the confines of the school.

The eldest child will be enrolling for her first semester in college.

The son will have an interview to a school because he passed the school’s entrance exams.

I hope and pray that we are doing the right thing in guiding the children through the steps for the realization of their dreams.

I am also sure that my husband and I would be there for them all throughout their learning process and even beyond that, maybe even if there are employment screening at easy back ground tasks to be accomplished for them.

Am excited for both of them. I better get some sleep because we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.

Around Holy Week, I decluttered one of the cabinets. I found junk, a lot of it and I also found treasure.

These treasures that I have forgotten, remained at the back of the cabinet with the tube still ok though a bit flattened. Inside a tube is this: My horses!

I mean a cross-stitch pattern of horses I made pre-blogging era. This made me think of english riding apparel for women as well as rides beside a bubbling brook, over hills, amongst trees and beyond the horizon.

Did you use to cross-stitch as a hobby and not as a school project?

I used to have several projects that I was able to finish before my fingers were used to tap-tapping the keyboard and grew stiff after being out of practice. I took up a cross-stitch project two years ago and nothing came out of it anymore.

If there is one thing very positive about Facebook, it keeps us connected to people we have met in the past.

As a teacher, Facebook made it easier for me to “keep track” of my former students. One way or another I know what they are up to, what keeps them busy or what they feel and what their opinions are in some relevant social issues.

I can stand back and observe, put a word or two when asked, applaud (albeit virtually) when they accomplish something big or small and feel proud that I have been a part of their lives.

I may not be able to physically tap their backs for a job well done nor be there to see the boss compressor at guitar center that they recently bought nor even laugh (or cry!) with them, I know that they all have a space in my heart, whether I  still remember their names (those I do not have contact with anymore) or not.

I just hope I have a big enough heart for all of them. I am also glad that we are still “under each others’ radar” even if it is only through virtual connection.

Ever heard of Katamino?

I admit I wouldn’t know what that is if I won’t Google the term.

I bought Katamino a few months back. This is definitely not easy to accomplish even if it looks like it is easy.

The photo shows shows the shapes of the Katamino I got. I would prefer the ones made of wood but this will make do for now.

Katamino will test one’s creativity, logic, problem-solving, planning and perception on how things go together. The geometric shapes look easy to fit to make the task done but do not be too sure about how everything fits together.

Summer Vacation is officially here.

The children have their own destinations this summer and all of them, including their cousins from the husband’s side of the family are going down South to spend summer with the MIL.

Looking at the vacation photos of some of my friends make me melancholic at times because we do not have the luxury to do these things together.

For one, since the kids are away, how can we? Sure, it would be nice to dream about having a luxury apartment in paris, even if only for a few days. Sure it would be nice to walk down the streets of Paris savoring the rich aroma of food wafting from cafes and feeling the cool weather, a good enough excuse to use clothes fit for cooler climates. I can dream for this vacation with the family, can I? Perhaps in the future, when all responsibilities have been settled.

Anyway…

Another thing would be setting aside extra budget which we don’t seem to have a plenty of, especially since we have a college-bound child for the coming school year.

Someone once said that parents need not burden their children about expenses to be incurred with their schooling because as parents, we should have known better and have planned well for these things, whether or not these are still several years from happening.

But how can one do so when there is just enough to cover for immediate needs and not have extra to save for the years to come?

Let us not “judge” and tell other parents what we think is best for their children or what we think they should have done in the first place. Maybe it would help if we try to encourage other parents than try to have them see their shortcomings which I know they are very well aware of.

Ahhh… am straying away from the topic. Even if we could not check in at a luxury hotel in the metro during long weekends, enroll in fun summer activities nor head off to a dream beach destination, we know that having each other and spending time together are enough to make summer vacation fun and enjoyable.