2015 in Books and Lessons

"Das lesende Madchen" by Johann Georg Meyer von Bremen

Goodreads makes it easy!
Please click here to see my 2015 in books, courtesy of the awesome Goodreads site.

The stats are depressing, though. 29 books read, out of my goal of 52. *sigh* It's worth noting, however, that the 29 books do NOT include the romance novels I read, or what my mother calls "those trashy novels." Hehe. They're like chocolates for the soul. As I grow older and more cynical, I find that these romance novels give me hope for mankind, that there IS love and passion and joy that I have yet to experience but no doubt exists for others and hopefully, in the future, for myself.

29 books out of my goal of 52 books for a year. Ugh. Then again, I'd like to think that I did more living than reading.

And as for lessons, a student of mine asked me to answer three questions for his article for the school newsletter. Here they are:

1) What did you learn about yourself from this past year?

I learned that I need to rest and take time to recharge, instead of saying "yes" to everything. Productivity is good but rest is important, both for the body and the soul. I also learned that I am capable of commuting all by myself, even in "dangerous" places and at night!

2) Explain a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015.

I learned how to cook! Haha, I also learned how to commute to unfamiliar and far-away places, clean the toilet, do the dishes, and buy groceries. Hopefully 2016 will have more opportunities for me to hone my domestic/explorer skills!

3) Given all your experiences, insights, and lessons learned from last year, what's the best advice you could give yourself for next year?

*sings a la Elsa* "Let it go....."

We should let go of the things we cannot control. I am a bit of a perfectionist so I struggle with this, but last year taught me that less is more, that letting go is liberating, and that freedom in all its forms is a future to strive for.

Happy new year to all of us!

Previous Years in Books posts:
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007 (a partial list)

Trial by Jury: A Philippine Premiere

It is rare that one gets to watch an almost perfect performance of opera in Manila. The only complaint an audience member could make was that it ended too soon (running time was under an hour)! But everything else was as perfect as perfection could be, a shining testament to what happens when there is proper funding and when all the members of the production are the best in their field (when you get the likes of Floy Quintos to direct, Ohm David for set design, etc.). It was an unforgettable evening!

A few musical snobs (or rather, a few musically discriminating aesthetes --  to be politically correct) might say that operetta is not on the same level as grand and epic opera, but to those people, I say: "Pah!" Having seen my share of Italian verisimo operas, tragic and comic alike, I must say that watching an English opera was a special treat. There is truly no substitute for word-for-word comprehension, and comedy works at its finest with lightning speed wit that had the esteemed  and distinguished audience laughing heartily, just as if they were watching a HIMYM episode. 

It certainly had all the plot ingredients for it! The lecherous old man judge, the suited-up dandy, the plaintiff's counsel (whose character, of course, HAD to be graduate from UP Law ;), "Where else?" ), the innocent-kuno bride-to-be, the closet gays, the judgmental ladies... it was one hour of non-stop frolic and not-so-clean fun!

I was particularly struck by the amount of sheer talent on one stage last night. When one reads the program and the names listed therein, one is struck by the fact that it is a veritable Who's Who of the finest singers and production people in Manila.... the opera equivalent of a movie that's sure to be in the running for an Oscar. Pick any member of the ensemble or "chorus" and there's a distinguished career/background to go with the pretty face and voice, with the likes of Master's degree holder from the Royal College of Music, London, soprano Anna Migallos... top voice teacher and multiple award winning soprano Camille Lopez-Molina... and of course, the highlight of the evening were the performances by the singing lawyers, Dot Ramos-Gancayco and Kay Balajadia-Liggayu! Proof that there are really super women amongst us who can excel in any field of endeavour, be it law or the arts.

Congratulations to the UP Women Lawyers’ Circle (UP WILOCI) and Zonta Club of Manila I for mounting this production! If you have the chance to see their upcoming shows, DO seize the opportunity because shows of this standard don't come along very often!

Revival

There is this lovely painting entitled "Drinking Coffee and Reading in the Garden" by Edward Johnson, and to me, it represents the ultimate luxury in life: leisure time to do just this! Not necessarily in a Philippine garden, with all the ants that might take sips from your coffee. But somewhere nice and peaceful... perhaps a cafe, or a park.

It's the middle of summer, and I'm so happy to have had some chances to read, stroll, have dinner with friends, watch concerts... and everything done leisurely! The older we get, the more frantic the pace of life becomes. And so these oases of calm and quiet are precious moments of renewal. And since this is my first blog entry of the year, it's also my way of reviving my dormant blog.

The revival of spirit, of creative impulses is the first task of any teacher during the summer. We love our jobs but the stress can eat away at one's passion, and so we use the summer to soak in all the art and culture that we can get, so we can pass it on to our students during the school year.

I am struck by how stilted, how forced my "voice" is now. Evidence of a rusty hand at recording one's thoughts. All the more reason for me to continue blogging!

Now tilt your head sideways, so you can read my Summer To-Do List.

Now tilt it back to normal. Isn't it refreshing? A simple change of perspective can make everything so different! And that's what this summer is all about.

I've ticked off quite a few of the items, and am looking forward to doing No. 2 and No. 3 soon! Especially since it's National Heritage Month and the National Museum is open, free of charge, all month! :) Oh Spolarium, it's been a decade since I've last seen you!

Revival of spirit, renewal of passion. That's what summer is all about. Not the beach parties, nor the drinking sessions by the seashore. But a simple breath of fresh air to breathe new life into the beautiful one we already have. (Going out of town would be nice but rather expensive and not very teacher-friendly, budget-wise.)

Have a great summer!

2014 in Books and Blessings

This year, I've tried something different... instead of posting all the individual titles, I merely put the covers in one picture:

What a wonderful year it has been! Close friends will know that 2014 brought unique trials to our family, but we remain confident that, as long as we stick together, and with lots of help from up above, we will be able to overcome these challenges!

I'm especially grateful that I still get to squeeze in reading despite the ever increasing work load (a fact of life: the work load doesn't get any lighter. It keeps getting heavier! haha, which does wonders for one's figure because I end up losing weight even without exercising!)

I'd like to thank Goodreads for the pictures of the 43 books I've read in 2014, not counting the eight "trashy" romance novels I guiltily snacked on, hehe. (OUTLANDER is an exception because it transcends the genre!)

And since I've read too few to come up with a "Top 10" list, here's my humble Top 5 Reads of the year:

1. NORTH AND SOUTH by Elizabeth Gaskell. Best $0.00 purchase on Kindle, ever! And it is now my favorite book OF ALL TIME. It has brought so much joy to my life, and now all I want to be in life is to be like Margaret Hale, the unforgettable and oh-so-admirable heroine in the book.

2. MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Victor E. Frankl. Who better than a Holocaust survivor to write a book about the meaning of life? It's the kind of book that's useless to highlight, because you'll just end up highlighting everything. I will be rereading this book every few years or so, it's THAT important and inspiring.

3. STRINGS ATTACHED by Joanne Lipman and Melanie Kupchynsky. This book made me cry. It is part murder mystery, part tribute to an incredible teacher, and ultimately it is about the redemptive power of music in everyone's life.

4. ABSOLUTELY AMERICAN: FOUR YEARS AT WEST POINT by David Lipsky. I loved it because of the patriotism and idealism that comes out from this wonderful description of a school like no other. It gave me ideas on how to teach patriotism in the context of a Philippine school.

5. I AM MALALA by Malala Yousafzai. She is the Anne Frank of our generation. And with the recent brutal attack of a school in Peshawar, Pakistan, this book has even more significance. Whenever I feel down and start wondering if one person can make a difference, I remember Malala and I am hopeful again. But what struck me the most from this book is the revelation that Malala became what she is because of her incredible father, a hero in his own right. Mr. Yousafzai, thank you for raising a heroine.

The biggest blessing that 2014 brought me is the gift of Friendship. A new friend made, old friendships further deepened... there is no peace like the peace of being one's crazy self amidst people who are as crazy as you!

Here's to another year full of friends, books, food and love!

Previous Years in Books posts:

2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007 (a partial list)

Limoncello

                                                                     (Photo credits here)

Limoncello has been one of my great discoveries this sembreak. It is Italian in origin, a beverage made of lemon and other things, but not quite as sour as lemonade and infinitely more refreshing. It is VEEEERY addictive! Apparently it is taken in between or after meals, to cleanse the palate. But in my case I have no problem downing it like a thirsty camel after trekking through the Sahara.

The sembreak is, I suppose, like limoncello. A refreshing taste in between hearty, heavy doses of Life. Come to think of it... limoncello is sweet and sour, like Life itself!

We become what we do, I think. Some might disagree, but it can't be denied that one's profession changes someone, either for the better or for the worse. Mine, I think, has altered me so greatly that sometimes I need to pause and think about who I am, without the apellation "Teacher" before my name.

I've come to that advanced stage in life when the doors that remain open are not as many as the ones that are closed, but now I think it's not necessarily a bad thing to have less options open in life. It teaches one gratitude. Who is happier: the bird with infinite directions to fly towards, or the rabbit with its single hole, surrounded by its loved ones? If happiness be pleasure (which it isn't), then you might think the bird is better off. But a multitude of options can paralyze one into inaction, and the homely rabbit with its conviction and its clear cut direction in life is to be envied.

I am turning into that rabbit. I am becoming *gasp* a mature lady of a certain age, though I certainly don't feel older! And yet I've been described as having an old soul. I suppose the nature of my profession has exposed me to several lives, to the point that I feel as if I've lived (albeit vicariously) several of them. That's why I'm grateful to be surrounded by children every day. Seeing the world through their eyes makes me realize how important it is to NEVER lose our childish sense of wonder, of delighting in the 'shallow' things like toffee nut latte and rainy school days.

And another thing: I've been granted the privilege of seeing how students I taught in the past have turned out, after a year or so in college. It's humbling and immensely gratifying… like seeing a report card in the flesh. And it just makes me grateful for the twists and turns in my life, the unplanned as well as the seemingly inconvenient ones, because they all make sense when you see that your life's thread was entwined with another's for a purpose. And it is a beautiful reminder of how the "chaos" in our life is actually all part of a Master Plan.

The emptiness will be filled up. The momentary sorrow and pain is from the soul forge, turning the dross into gold. And if there is a twinge of sadness at the thought that the sembreak is over far too soon, there is the comforting thought that we can only appreciate the beautiful days if we experience the bad ones. And how lovely that the "worst" days of my life are spent doing meaningful work, and that toffee nut latte will be coming soon!

On Record Keeping and Memory

"Registrar" is not one of the most glamorous words in the English language. Like its cousin word, "librarian," the word conjures up images of a cranky spinster who sits in an office all day, typing up grades and printing them upon request. To teachers and members of the academe, it refers to a rather high administrative position. Both interpretations imply a certain age brought about by lengthy record-keeping experience.

I was given the additional duties of a Registrar this school year, on top of my other teaching and coordinating duties. Apart from it being recognition of my advancing years (!!), it is both an honor and a huge responsibility, and I have to say that my surviving the first quarter of this school year is a testament to God's sufficiency in supplying much-needed grace!

There are some who think that Registrars are mere glorified clerks/secretaries engaged in mindless reproduction of numbers that sum up the entire life of a student in a piece of paper. I've met quite a few registrars in the past who seemed to believe so, and took no joy in their "mundane" job.

I beg to disagree, and not merely because I happen to be one of them, now.

In all past societies (except, perhaps, in this post-modern, money-centric materialistic one) it was the Record Keeper, the Keeper of Memories, who was held in the highest esteem. In our Filipino prehistoric society, it was the Teller of Stories who held that sacred place, as this was the time before we wrote down what our ancestors passed on from generation to generation.

I am now one of the Record Keepers. I am the Keeper of Memory in my small corner of earth, and it is no small thing. Each grade I input, each transcript I process, is basically the sum of an entire life writ small, compacted in one historic document that will someday be the basis of a person's acceptance (or rejection!) into a college, a path that will lead to a person's job and membership among the productive members of society we all strive to be.

And I suppose it is the same for ALL of our jobs. No matter how "small" or "inconsequential" we think we might be, we actually have a very important role to play in our community, in our office. We live for others, regardless of occupation, and in this light, no job is too small. "There are no small roles, only small actors," as theater people say.

I'd like to think that my typing skills (made considerably faster by further training in piano! Hehe) are being put to good use now. And that my role as Registrar is a natural step for a History teacher such as myself.

This very act of blogging, of adding words to an online record, is not only a way to pass idle time, to practice letting the creative juices flow. It is my way of attempting to control the flow of time in some small way, by marking it, by trying to create meaning from it. The flow of the river of life is very quick. Six years ago I was a novice teacher, and a blink of an eye later, I'm a Registrar inputting high school grades for students I taught in Grade One.

Here's to six more decades of history-making, and history-recording!

On Beauty

I'm addicted to beauty.

No, I don't mean that I'm kikay. (If anything, I think I need to learn how to be more feminine, ahehe!)

I mean, I conscientiously seek beauty. I go out of my way to collect great pictures, haunting pieces of music, exquisitely phrased sentences and beautiful thoughts carefully copied down in my diary.

I suppose that's partly why I took up Music in college, and had a blast. I was surrounded by beauty, day in and day out. I immersed myself in it for half a decade, honing my instrument (my voice) and discovering the infinite shades and degrees of beauty, whether in music, visual arts or theater arts. It made me even more sensitive to beauty than usual.

There is beauty in truth, and truth in beauty. But beauty can also deceive.

We live in a world that places far too much emphasis on physical looks. Sadly, not every beautiful form contains within an equally beautiful soul.

Possessing little physical beauty myself, I've often wondered what it must be like to be drop-dead gorgeous or strikingly handsome. They say good-looking people have things easier in life. But I suppose it's also challenging for them, when people see them and focus solely on their face or body. I know quite a few pretty ladies who tried to make themselves uglier just so they could experience less harassment on their daily commute.

The flesh withers. Body parts sag. Chins double and triple with age. The challenge is to age gracefully.

Instead of focusing on physical beauty, I really need to focus more on having a beautiful soul, a beautiful mind. Easier said than done, because part of being a girl is wanting to be pretty all the time. I need to keep reminding myself that beauty is not just about the long, straight hair, the flawless complexion, the hour glass figure. Beauty is in the inner grace with which a woman performs her daily tasks, with a gentle voice, a loving hand. There is beauty in a healthy body, regardless of how many pounds it needs to lose. There is beauty in the twinkle of the eyes, in an open mind and a caring heart. There is beauty in white hair, because it represents the crowning glory of wisdom earned through years of nurturing others.

We are all beautiful, because He made us so. And several authors (C.S. Lewis included) have written extensively about how God uses Beauty to draw us to Him. It is an indicator of our soul's divinity, of our longing for the Ultimate Beauty to be found in Paradise.

So at the end of the day... at the end of our lives... let us pray for the grace to leave our home, our office, our world a more beautiful place than when we first found it.

Have a beauty-full weekend!