Life Begins at 40

When I was younger, I was puzzled and at the same time curious about what the statement really meant. How could life begin at 40? Now I know. 

I was almost 40 when I started to experience depressing moments. Emotionally, I was down and yearning for reassurance. Doubts, insecurities... really, they go together. Physically, I learned what life begins at 40 means. I'm not sure if it is actually the age or the stressful moments that I went through early on which introduced me to hypertension. Even my friends could not believe that I have been taking maintenance medicines. They say that I'm straight. No hard drinks. Not a smoker. Doesn't stay up late at night. Disciplined when it comes to eating. Sticks to one carbo diet, and so on. Well, they didn't know that I have the genes! As a result, I have been a health card patronizer. On my 40th birthday, I gifted myself with a pair of reading glasses. I also got myself a suki card to take advantage of my "investments" at Mercury Drug Store. And one of these days, I'll try to organize the medical files that have accumulated from my visits to different doctors and laboratories. So, that's it!

Crown Royale Hotel, Balanga, Bataan

The CvSU team of developers joined the other implementing partners of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology in the eSkwela Content Development Conference on October 28-30 at Crown Royale Hotel in Balanga City, Bataan. It was my first time going to Bataan and so I grabbed the chance to join the conference. 

We were four SUCs in the group which is tasked to develop 120 modules for the out-of-school youths and adults. The other group of developers is composed of three SUCs with 60 modules. Among the CICT-sponsored training and workshops, it was the least stressful. I was just sitting there listening to the lectures and experiences shared by the resource persons. Not the usual activity that is full of tension. I brought my laptop so I could update my blog which was left untouched due to the past busy schedules. Unfortunately, there was no time to even go out of the hotel and explore the city. Maybe next time.

Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club

On October 19, Bobby was the guest speaker during the worship service at UCCP-Lipa. After the service and the short organizational prayer meetings which followed, Doren brought us to the Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club. We ate grilled bangus belly and pinakbet with matching mango cheesecake, pudding and mango shakes. I'm not a golf player nor an avid fan but I got to appreciate the greens of the 27-hole golf course. Doren toured us around the area in her service golf cart. No sweat! And it felt like we were pros though I was not appropriately dressed. I tried to have my picture taken near a hole but my heels prevented me from going any further. I just "aerated" the well-manicured ground. We also passed by the big residential houses which I thought were only utilized when the owners come to play golf. We also witnessed the irrigation of a portion by sprinklers. I wonder how many deals were made by our politicians while playing golf. Hmmmmm...

Rebonding with the NGs

It was also heartwarming to see fellow NGs during UPLB's Loyalty Day Celebration on October 10, 2008. We attended the CEAT Alumni Homecoming in the late morning till lunch. Some of the bros and sisters were already there to get our Ciento shirts with a unique and controversial design of the P100 bill. In the evening, we had our alumni homecoming at the clubhouse of the Sacay Villas. Founders of NG and alumni from different batches were there having fun while mingling with the rest of the group. Even the wives of our deposed bros were there to celebrate with us. After dinner, we were all hats up to our very good host, sis Jen! I could no longer recall the exact amount raised for the auction of a P100 bill with the UP centennial logo. The last bidder was Henry Manguerra who is now based in the US. Then, we had the hilarious "Dil or No Dil". I was one of the NG Ciento girls (the equivalent of briefcase ladies). Ha ha ha!

Reunited @ UPLB

Thirty years after the Agricultural and Rural Development Scholarship (ARDS) Program started, its grantees from all over the country gathered on October 9-10 to celebrate the occasion in time with the 90th UPLB Loyalty Day Celebration. UP Pres. Emerlinda Roman and past and present directors of the Learning Resource Center that managed the program grace the ARDS Symposium on October 10 at the SAS Room of SEARCA. During the evening fellowship and the luncheon symposium the following day, it brought me much joy to see our kuyas and ates, my batchmates Pol, Boy, and Denden (we were only four from our batch of 21 grantees), and the younger batches. We had fun reminiscing the good, old times. For sure, everyone had a story to tell about fond memories as an ARDS grantee during college days at UPLB.

Lima City Hotel, Malvar, Batangas

The meeting I attended as an RMIS coordinator of STARRDEC in Lima City Hotel on October 1-3 was serious work and fun combined. I got to meet again with my fellow coordinators all over the country and share our experiences as we have been busy facilitating the different ICT training in our respective consortia. It felt so good to laugh even in the middle of a presentation, and have fun even when we think about our work and plans. There have been problems but as they say, everybody is still there despite the difficulties. Joomla-Joomla together!