This is no time for a child to be born,
With the earth betrayed by war & hate
And a nova lighting the sky to warn
That time runs out & sun burns late.
That was no time for a child to be born,
In a land in the crushing grip of Rome;
Honour & truth were trampled by scorn—
Yet here did the Saviour make his home.
When is the time for love to be born?
The inn is full on the planet earth,
And by greed & pride the sky is torn—
Yet Love still takes the risk of birth.
- Madeleine L'Engle
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
God, Energy and Bea's Question
i was driving to and back from Paolo's friend's house this evening, where he's been sleeping over for the 2nd night in a row now, to bring him a fresh change of clothes.
while driving on almost auto-pilot mode, i was deep inside my self, turning over in my mind all the many lessons i learned from this morning's presentation by CENECO general manager, Mr. Sulpicio Lagarde, Jr. i invited him weeks ago to speak to my Econ1 classes on electricity generation, transmission, distribution and costs and energy efficiency and sustainability, in relation to our class lessons on production and cost theory. he surpassed our expectations by also discussing concerns on global warming and the need to downscale our postmodern energy-dependent lifestyles, as well as inspired us to do something about our laws and systems to support a more sustainable and energy-renewable lifestyle.
i was particularly struck by the metaphor that hit me of the process of generation, transmission and distribution. he said that 138,000 volts from the main generator becomes converted to only 13,200 volts by the transmission line, and even further down to 230 volts when it's distributed, because of conduction resistance. and it struck me that Energy generation, transmission and distribution is like God's Spirit and Blessings--
God is the generator and He/She yearns to give us All things Good and in Abundance, but we, as transmission/distribution lines, can only take so much, because of "resistance", and so whatever Good there is flowing through us becomes diluted in more digestible form, although they are still Good, of course.
and then i remembered one lesson i learned years ago from my Silva Method readings and courses, about an elementary principle in electricity: the best conductor is the one with the least impedance/resistance.
and i thought how this is explained now by what happens when one goes regularly and deeply into meditation practice: how one gets clearer, less "impeded", thus one experiences more Good in one's life, both as a receiver and as a channel for Good too for others.
and then my youngest, 9-year-old Bea, who has been sitting quietly in the dark back seat of the car i forgot she was there, suddenly pipes up: Ma, what's the difference between a spirit and a soul? (this has happened so often already, how the kids pick up on the direction of my secret thoughts while i'm driving, that i take it as naturally as breathing now!)
and so, inhaling deeply, i gave it my best shot, responding from my heart: Spirit is that invisible part of you which is a part of God's Spirit, while Soul is that invisible part of you which is you, your personality, your emotions, your talents and likes and dislikes, 'langga (dear one).
Bea: like twins?
me: ye-esss... sort of, except that they're together, they stick together, there's just one invisible you, and part of it is Spirit and part of it is Soul.
Bea: what's our body for, then?
me: (pause)
me: we-ell... it's like our clothes, or the car we drive, to make our way in this earth. since the earth is a physical thing, then we need to be put in something physical too.
Bea: wowwww... so it's like, we go in and out of different bodies?
me: ye-eess. after we die, we go back to the lower levels of Heaven closest to the earth, and we review our life and see how we did and what lessons we learned and what lessons we didn't learn. and then, we decide what to learn next so we can improve and get closer to being more like God. the more we become like God, the higher we go up in Heaven, until someday, we are together with God again, completely, and we never have to be apart again.
Bea: so earth is like school, and Heaven, too? there are many levels?
me: yes.
Bea: so right now, i'm also made up of some dead person's spirit and soul?
me: ye-es... and that dead person before was you too.
Bea: wowwwww.... so i'm many persons?
me: yes.... in this earth, living many lives, at different times and places, like taking many subjects, until you master them all and become perfect like God.
Bea: if God made me, and God is already perfect, why didn't He make me perfect too, so i don't have to be separated from Him in the first place?
me: (long pause)
Bea: well?
me: God did make us all perfect. And He also gave us free will. So we were perfect to start with, but with our free will, we chose to do things which made us imperfect... until we learn that it really doesn't work out for us in the end when we insist on our own way...
Bea: why would i want to do imperfect things? (Bea is our perfectionist in the family.)
me: you don't think they're imperfect when you choose to do them; you think they're perfect, especially when you haven't spent time with God a lot.
Bea: ok.
me: (silent prayer: God, where is she going with all this??? Holy Spirit, help me!)
Bea: so if i don't want to do imperfect things that i thought were perfect, i should spend more time with God?
me: yes. so you will know God's Heart. and His Heart connects with your heart more strongly. and you can hear His Heart in your heart more clearly.
Bea: ok. that makes sense.
by this time, we had arrived home.
and Bea ran out to eat her newly-bought Berry Strawberry ice cream in front of the tv.
while i-- i am left with these thoughts, and shell-shocked by the experience.
whoa, where did all that come from???
while driving on almost auto-pilot mode, i was deep inside my self, turning over in my mind all the many lessons i learned from this morning's presentation by CENECO general manager, Mr. Sulpicio Lagarde, Jr. i invited him weeks ago to speak to my Econ1 classes on electricity generation, transmission, distribution and costs and energy efficiency and sustainability, in relation to our class lessons on production and cost theory. he surpassed our expectations by also discussing concerns on global warming and the need to downscale our postmodern energy-dependent lifestyles, as well as inspired us to do something about our laws and systems to support a more sustainable and energy-renewable lifestyle.
i was particularly struck by the metaphor that hit me of the process of generation, transmission and distribution. he said that 138,000 volts from the main generator becomes converted to only 13,200 volts by the transmission line, and even further down to 230 volts when it's distributed, because of conduction resistance. and it struck me that Energy generation, transmission and distribution is like God's Spirit and Blessings--
God is the generator and He/She yearns to give us All things Good and in Abundance, but we, as transmission/distribution lines, can only take so much, because of "resistance", and so whatever Good there is flowing through us becomes diluted in more digestible form, although they are still Good, of course.
and then i remembered one lesson i learned years ago from my Silva Method readings and courses, about an elementary principle in electricity: the best conductor is the one with the least impedance/resistance.
and i thought how this is explained now by what happens when one goes regularly and deeply into meditation practice: how one gets clearer, less "impeded", thus one experiences more Good in one's life, both as a receiver and as a channel for Good too for others.
and then my youngest, 9-year-old Bea, who has been sitting quietly in the dark back seat of the car i forgot she was there, suddenly pipes up: Ma, what's the difference between a spirit and a soul? (this has happened so often already, how the kids pick up on the direction of my secret thoughts while i'm driving, that i take it as naturally as breathing now!)
and so, inhaling deeply, i gave it my best shot, responding from my heart: Spirit is that invisible part of you which is a part of God's Spirit, while Soul is that invisible part of you which is you, your personality, your emotions, your talents and likes and dislikes, 'langga (dear one).
Bea: like twins?
me: ye-esss... sort of, except that they're together, they stick together, there's just one invisible you, and part of it is Spirit and part of it is Soul.
Bea: what's our body for, then?
me: (pause)
me: we-ell... it's like our clothes, or the car we drive, to make our way in this earth. since the earth is a physical thing, then we need to be put in something physical too.
Bea: wowwww... so it's like, we go in and out of different bodies?
me: ye-eess. after we die, we go back to the lower levels of Heaven closest to the earth, and we review our life and see how we did and what lessons we learned and what lessons we didn't learn. and then, we decide what to learn next so we can improve and get closer to being more like God. the more we become like God, the higher we go up in Heaven, until someday, we are together with God again, completely, and we never have to be apart again.
Bea: so earth is like school, and Heaven, too? there are many levels?
me: yes.
Bea: so right now, i'm also made up of some dead person's spirit and soul?
me: ye-es... and that dead person before was you too.
Bea: wowwwww.... so i'm many persons?
me: yes.... in this earth, living many lives, at different times and places, like taking many subjects, until you master them all and become perfect like God.
Bea: if God made me, and God is already perfect, why didn't He make me perfect too, so i don't have to be separated from Him in the first place?
me: (long pause)
Bea: well?
me: God did make us all perfect. And He also gave us free will. So we were perfect to start with, but with our free will, we chose to do things which made us imperfect... until we learn that it really doesn't work out for us in the end when we insist on our own way...
Bea: why would i want to do imperfect things? (Bea is our perfectionist in the family.)
me: you don't think they're imperfect when you choose to do them; you think they're perfect, especially when you haven't spent time with God a lot.
Bea: ok.
me: (silent prayer: God, where is she going with all this??? Holy Spirit, help me!)
Bea: so if i don't want to do imperfect things that i thought were perfect, i should spend more time with God?
me: yes. so you will know God's Heart. and His Heart connects with your heart more strongly. and you can hear His Heart in your heart more clearly.
Bea: ok. that makes sense.
by this time, we had arrived home.
and Bea ran out to eat her newly-bought Berry Strawberry ice cream in front of the tv.
while i-- i am left with these thoughts, and shell-shocked by the experience.
whoa, where did all that come from???
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
getting better
it still comes, this gnawing, anxious feeling that eats at me, especially when i'm "doing nothing" or not doing much in line with my To Dos and my schedules... it still comes.
but i'm getting better at dispelling it now: i know my bottomline priorities and i'm kinder, gentler to my self now.
i've also adopted the philosophy that if things can't be stuffed into one full day, despite my best efforts, then they were really not meant to be done today.
i've also come to respect and honor the flows and cycles of Life as they come-- sometimes what we think should be done ASAP might usually be better off being left alone for now and allowed to take further "cooking and stewing", in the bigger scheme of things.
and then there is my meditation practice, thank God for it! it'll be 3 years now this December, and i'm getting better at intentionally carving out time and space for my self for it, and i've found that indeed, the busier one is, the more one needs this holy solitude to ground and center one's self in.
now, it has come again, this gnawing, anxious feeling that eats at me, telling me that i should be doing something else more "productive"... but i stay here, with my self, preparing for meditation.
i have learned that when this voice comes and nags me to keep "doing", most often, it's a signal for me to stop and stay ... and learn. that there is something going on inside of me, or in the subterranean depths of my life, that i need to pay attention to... but the ego is uncomfortable, would rather escape into "activities"... yet the Soul demands complete and focused attention.
and so, i stay, despite the discomfort it brings.
and so, it still comes.
and then, it'll go, i know that much, for sure, now.
but i'm getting better at dispelling it now: i know my bottomline priorities and i'm kinder, gentler to my self now.
i've also adopted the philosophy that if things can't be stuffed into one full day, despite my best efforts, then they were really not meant to be done today.
i've also come to respect and honor the flows and cycles of Life as they come-- sometimes what we think should be done ASAP might usually be better off being left alone for now and allowed to take further "cooking and stewing", in the bigger scheme of things.
and then there is my meditation practice, thank God for it! it'll be 3 years now this December, and i'm getting better at intentionally carving out time and space for my self for it, and i've found that indeed, the busier one is, the more one needs this holy solitude to ground and center one's self in.
now, it has come again, this gnawing, anxious feeling that eats at me, telling me that i should be doing something else more "productive"... but i stay here, with my self, preparing for meditation.
i have learned that when this voice comes and nags me to keep "doing", most often, it's a signal for me to stop and stay ... and learn. that there is something going on inside of me, or in the subterranean depths of my life, that i need to pay attention to... but the ego is uncomfortable, would rather escape into "activities"... yet the Soul demands complete and focused attention.
and so, i stay, despite the discomfort it brings.
and so, it still comes.
and then, it'll go, i know that much, for sure, now.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Building Futures with the IDS
Aug. 27, 2009; 1:30 p.m. - It is way past my regular lunchtime, and I have just finished my last of two IDS (Interdisciplinary Studies) 109 classes since 10:30 this morning. My stomach is hungry, yet my soul is full.
IDS 109, or Futures Principles and Futures Planning, is a major subject taken by IDS students to train them in futures thinking and in applying selected futures studies methodologies. We had the start of their group scenario building presentations on their selected and approved topics today.
In previous sessions, we did group exercises on scenario-building by using prepared data from Ging Deles’ presentation on Emerging Scenarios in the Philippine Political Environment for 2010, and Al Gore’s film documentary on climate change and global warming, An Inconvenient Truth.
Scenario-building is a futures studies method used especially when the circumstances and information are dynamically-changing and one wants to get a “hold” on what is coming, so one can better prepare and take proactive action.
In our IDS 109 class, we have distilled the method down to its essence. The students are asked to build their Possible Futures (Status Quo, Worst Case and Best Case) as well as their Preferred Future on an issue, before they outline their recommendations for strategic action.
This morning, they started presenting their own full cases, researching data for their selected issues and presenting the global and Philippine situations for these issues, before they present their scenarios and recommendations for strategic action.
In the 1030am class today, they presented their scenarios on the Futures of Work, Futures of Philippine Out-of-School Youth, Futures of Relationships and the Futures of Weapons/the Arms Industry. In the 1200nn class, they presented their scenarios on the Futures of the Philippine Militant Mass Movement, the Futures of Families, and the Futures of Food Security. In the first week of classes after Midterm Exams, more groups will be presenting on such issues as the Futures of Education, Jobs, Energy, GMO Food, Drugs, Population and even Sex!
I was very impressed with the depth of analysis and the richness of the scenarios the students presented today. Setting aside certain formatting weaknesses in the order of one or two groups’ presented topics, I felt both gratified and humbled at seeing them research information from many sources, putting this often-times seemingly unrelated information together, and coming up with analyses and scenarios that are at once deep, multi-disciplinary, experientially-truthful and achingly rich and still hopeful (preferred scenarios) despite the worst possible implications they also came up with.
For instance, the Futures of Weapons/Arms Industry group (August Baniel, Jeremy Fernandez, Shaundell Ferrer, Evrel Mabugat and Raffy Remitio Jr.) pointed out how, since war is a big, global business, to effect a just and lasting peace in the world, we must also make it more “profitable” for those already engaged in war to engage in peace. They pointed out that it’s not a question of having no money to take people out of poverty, but that the money is there, and it is just used for war.
The Futures of Family group (Laura Jane Biong, Berlyn Deoric, Ruth Ordoyo, Brian Palencia and Anne Villar) pointed out how, globally and nationally, the structure and dynamics of families are changing, facing multiple demands and challenges brought about by globalization in the context of families “breaking up” because of parents’ career and job demands and transfer to urban areas, intercultural marriages, single parenting and young children basically left to parent themselves early on. In their recommendations for strategic action, they proposed family-friendly employment environments, civic and government programs for the family, and a basic family-first orientation in otherwise business and government structures and systems. They discussed how doing otherwise have very damaging impacts on everyone concerned, affecting even our economic and societal lives.
I am looking forward to Sept. 8, when the groups resume their presentations again, with some groups even telling me that they have prepared video versions of their analysis and scenarios.
For now, times like these tell me—I am so blessed in the kind of work that I do, working with these young minds and hearts, having both the opportunity of influencing them and being influenced by them, and daily being able to shape and craft unfolding futures in a more solid and tangible manner, in my constant interactions with them.
With the IDS and students like these, the future is in good hands, after all.*
IDS 109, or Futures Principles and Futures Planning, is a major subject taken by IDS students to train them in futures thinking and in applying selected futures studies methodologies. We had the start of their group scenario building presentations on their selected and approved topics today.
In previous sessions, we did group exercises on scenario-building by using prepared data from Ging Deles’ presentation on Emerging Scenarios in the Philippine Political Environment for 2010, and Al Gore’s film documentary on climate change and global warming, An Inconvenient Truth.
Scenario-building is a futures studies method used especially when the circumstances and information are dynamically-changing and one wants to get a “hold” on what is coming, so one can better prepare and take proactive action.
In our IDS 109 class, we have distilled the method down to its essence. The students are asked to build their Possible Futures (Status Quo, Worst Case and Best Case) as well as their Preferred Future on an issue, before they outline their recommendations for strategic action.
This morning, they started presenting their own full cases, researching data for their selected issues and presenting the global and Philippine situations for these issues, before they present their scenarios and recommendations for strategic action.
In the 1030am class today, they presented their scenarios on the Futures of Work, Futures of Philippine Out-of-School Youth, Futures of Relationships and the Futures of Weapons/the Arms Industry. In the 1200nn class, they presented their scenarios on the Futures of the Philippine Militant Mass Movement, the Futures of Families, and the Futures of Food Security. In the first week of classes after Midterm Exams, more groups will be presenting on such issues as the Futures of Education, Jobs, Energy, GMO Food, Drugs, Population and even Sex!
I was very impressed with the depth of analysis and the richness of the scenarios the students presented today. Setting aside certain formatting weaknesses in the order of one or two groups’ presented topics, I felt both gratified and humbled at seeing them research information from many sources, putting this often-times seemingly unrelated information together, and coming up with analyses and scenarios that are at once deep, multi-disciplinary, experientially-truthful and achingly rich and still hopeful (preferred scenarios) despite the worst possible implications they also came up with.
For instance, the Futures of Weapons/Arms Industry group (August Baniel, Jeremy Fernandez, Shaundell Ferrer, Evrel Mabugat and Raffy Remitio Jr.) pointed out how, since war is a big, global business, to effect a just and lasting peace in the world, we must also make it more “profitable” for those already engaged in war to engage in peace. They pointed out that it’s not a question of having no money to take people out of poverty, but that the money is there, and it is just used for war.
The Futures of Family group (Laura Jane Biong, Berlyn Deoric, Ruth Ordoyo, Brian Palencia and Anne Villar) pointed out how, globally and nationally, the structure and dynamics of families are changing, facing multiple demands and challenges brought about by globalization in the context of families “breaking up” because of parents’ career and job demands and transfer to urban areas, intercultural marriages, single parenting and young children basically left to parent themselves early on. In their recommendations for strategic action, they proposed family-friendly employment environments, civic and government programs for the family, and a basic family-first orientation in otherwise business and government structures and systems. They discussed how doing otherwise have very damaging impacts on everyone concerned, affecting even our economic and societal lives.
I am looking forward to Sept. 8, when the groups resume their presentations again, with some groups even telling me that they have prepared video versions of their analysis and scenarios.
For now, times like these tell me—I am so blessed in the kind of work that I do, working with these young minds and hearts, having both the opportunity of influencing them and being influenced by them, and daily being able to shape and craft unfolding futures in a more solid and tangible manner, in my constant interactions with them.
With the IDS and students like these, the future is in good hands, after all.*
Monday, June 8, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Children's literature can build stronger relationships
"Children's literature can be used as a tool to open the lines of communication between adults and children. Not only does reading with children create bonding experiences but also lifelong memories that promote more than literacy and allow children an outlet to investigate their emotions and questions." - ANGELA RIGGS Director Early Childhood Education Department Sullivan University Louisville
Read more here.
Read more here.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Talking to Kids About the Economy
In many ways, on hindsight now, this is what my 2nd book, "Tight Times" (Adarna, 2007; available at National Book Store and Powerbooks) was about...
Read more here.
Read more here.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
"My One Boobed Mamma" now on Amazon and B&N!
My third children's book, My One Boobed Mamma, is now on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble! Yay!
(Please click on "Amazon.com" and "Barnes and Noble" above to link to the exact pages. Thank you!)
Happy International Women's Day to all the brave and soulful women out there!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
i miss the hungry years
i have not written a single new story since 2005. and that last story was "My One Boobed Mamma", which was accepted for traditional publishing by Living Waters in the USA last Dec. 23, 2007, and finally published last October 2008.
i have not written a single new story since 2005. all i did was do other writing-related stuff: create my website, do research on several story ideas and make notes but they just remain notes until now, become a member of SCBWI, bought the 2008 Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market for study (but which I haven't done so seriously and consistently until now), accept invitations to talk, present, storytell, be interviewed for newspapers and tv shows, assist my publishers in the marketing requirements of my books... all the business and networking and marketing and educational stuff, really, except the one thing that a writer does-- write.
all my stories so far published were written in those hungry years of 2003-2005, when i had just newly left my marriage, battling annulment and financial struggles, as well as work struggles chairing a department of students whom nobody else believed in but whom i was determined to build up and prove our detractors wrong, and riding on the rollercoaster of my crazy love (more like lust) lives then.
and amidst all these, i managed to write. four full-blown stories, 2 of which were nationally-awarded, 1 published internationally, and the remaining one still looking for its home but which already got the glowing review (and permission to print his review when the book is published) of the foremost peace resarcher and activist in the world-- Johan Galtung.
so, being busy now, in a good way at that, with all the fame and popularity and even little fortune, is no excuse not to write.
a writer writes, or she isn't a writer at all.
so this month alone, i've started giving notices to all my other commitments that i am ending my work with them soon, and have become more selective about the invitations i accept. i'm also blocking off my weeknights and weekends now for being with and doing the only things that matter to me most: taking the best care of my children and my self (and B)--which includes learning how to cook healthily and deliciously... and writing.
i'm going back to my hungry years.
this soul hunger demands to be fed.
i have not written a single new story since 2005. all i did was do other writing-related stuff: create my website, do research on several story ideas and make notes but they just remain notes until now, become a member of SCBWI, bought the 2008 Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market for study (but which I haven't done so seriously and consistently until now), accept invitations to talk, present, storytell, be interviewed for newspapers and tv shows, assist my publishers in the marketing requirements of my books... all the business and networking and marketing and educational stuff, really, except the one thing that a writer does-- write.
all my stories so far published were written in those hungry years of 2003-2005, when i had just newly left my marriage, battling annulment and financial struggles, as well as work struggles chairing a department of students whom nobody else believed in but whom i was determined to build up and prove our detractors wrong, and riding on the rollercoaster of my crazy love (more like lust) lives then.
and amidst all these, i managed to write. four full-blown stories, 2 of which were nationally-awarded, 1 published internationally, and the remaining one still looking for its home but which already got the glowing review (and permission to print his review when the book is published) of the foremost peace resarcher and activist in the world-- Johan Galtung.
so, being busy now, in a good way at that, with all the fame and popularity and even little fortune, is no excuse not to write.
a writer writes, or she isn't a writer at all.
so this month alone, i've started giving notices to all my other commitments that i am ending my work with them soon, and have become more selective about the invitations i accept. i'm also blocking off my weeknights and weekends now for being with and doing the only things that matter to me most: taking the best care of my children and my self (and B)--which includes learning how to cook healthily and deliciously... and writing.
i'm going back to my hungry years.
this soul hunger demands to be fed.
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