Up On The Mountains

Non-sense Absorber?

Perhaps, most of us have different set of friends… best of friends since high school or college… set of friends in church… in workplace… and in your neighborhood. But no matter what set/group they are in, one thing is true for sure and that is somewhat you’ve jive in something… interest… situation… sympathy… etc?

Is there any word like “Non-sense Absorber Friend”? I just realize recently that I have this one friend. Someone whom I can talk with any non-sense topic you can ever imagine. When I feel stress, exhausted, sleepy, frustrated and disappointed during the office hours, non-sense conversation makes me relieve (hahahaha). This is when the power of non-sense comes to the rescue. Non-sense joke. Non-sense comments in YM/IM status. Non-sense YM/IM conversation. Welcome all about non-sense.

I don’t know how he can jive with my non-sense-iest moment but in anyhow, I appreciate those times. Maybe he’s such also a non-sense person… waaahhahahahaha… At time non-sense makes sense.

Peace... Michael Mondelo.

Thanks for being a non-sense absorber most of the time.

'Till next non-sense IM/YM...

More than a teacher

It’s really a guts to make this stuff because I’m not actually good enough of doing this, however as I remember and witness her “tears” last March 29, 2008. I believe it’s time to do something different for a person who partly mold the better me today.

If there’s one person I wouldn’t forget during my college years, that would be the person who somehow helped me to prove the saying “first impression/s, last”. “Somehow” because I was wrong afterwards…

One day In my junior year, the first time I saw this woman walking in the hallway, I can’t help myself but to draw some impressions… “ang strict naman nitong tingnan… mukang authoritative/ diktador… strong ang personality… pero mukang matalino naman… Parang ayoko siyang maging teacher…sana.”

Opening of classes came and waallaahh... she’s a marketing professor… what a coincidence that I have decided to pursue marketing and she might be my professor then… I don’t know how I exactly reacted that time but I’m sure it’s with fear to face and taste her fierce and claws if ever.

Yah… my first impressions are correct, she is a strict person because of how firm and precise her instructions and requirements are… Authoritative and strong woman because of her confidence level in giving orders/directions and very bold in every word that comes in her mouth… and yes a definitely smart one given her PhD taken at UP Diliman.

What I’ve missed there is the last impression I’ve drawn “Parang ayoko siyang maging teacher” because if that would be true then I may not be this better me today. As far as I remembered, I may not be a person who is fond of taking notes & quotes as long as I have the opportunity. I may not be a person who had different views in criticisms and immune to work-revision issues. Lastly, I may not be this generous in different ways.

I’m fond of reading inspirational books and watching movies and chatting with friends, and I’m so excited getting some inspiring stories, lessons, quotes from these and reflect about it afterwards. And at times, taking some ideas which will directly recorded to my “‘d journal” (that’s my notebook) any time of the day as long as I have the time to stop and write. I don’t know how it’s started but I like it and it helps me most of the time, something I have in mind to start a conversation and learn from it. All I can remember is that woman who is doing the same thing when I was in school, one woman who always had this folder and pen, always taking notes from university programs. She’s the one who gave us this small sheet of paper and instructed us to note every idea comes to our mind because she believes that there’s no good memory bank to remember all the things you have, there’s no better memory than a note in a pad. Yah… maybe it’s started there…

Revisions… corrections… modifications… perhaps it’s an issue where most of us become allergic, maybe because of our ego or different level of sensitivity (don’t want to feel of being stupid when somebody is telling you that you are wrong vocally). Well… I believe I already learned to survive with that thing… isn’t that great? Yah… because I learn that when I was in my last two years in college when I was asked to fill-up activity permit, doing a lot of letters and proposals. Luckily I need to be handed it first to our adviser before submitting it to Office of the Students Affair (OSA). It’s nice to have a talk and learn from this woman again, who happen to be our JMA adviser. She’s always having her red ballpen which is ready to become empty after her commentsss, suggestionsss and correctionsss. Sometimes, just like winning the 1M Lotto Jackpot when your letter or stuff wouldn’t become wounded. On the other hand, she’s is a considerate person, she wants to listen and defend your case but she’s also a woman full of suggestions… you have to do this and to do that…. Well if you are a student… it’s better to obey immediately rather than hearing some litany from her. However, lately I realized I’ve won a lot from our encounters; I become more opened to criticisms and suggestions as I viewed them in different perspective. Moreover, learned to extend my tolerance and become immune to revisions/ modifications. And it’s good as I experienced the same in the workplace, you have to have a thousand miles of patience and tolerance for revision-related issues because of management’s pickle-minded style, it’s not that you did something wrong on your work but it’s just that the management wanted something new and something different.

Last year in college, this professor taught me different things, topics you couldn’t be found in her syllabus but lessons of life outside the world of recitations, quizzes and exams. I think, it’s her technique to put some of her own style to her students to discover things on their (students) own. Forcing her students to work hard until they find out the pleasure of getting good grades and praises. Motivating her students to excel as they realized and unveiled their full potentials. Giving unpleasant word that would annoy them (students) sometimes but that’s her means of boosting them up and encouraging them to bring the best they can be. Sharing her students whatever she have for them (students) to learn the value of sharing back again to others. Whenever I experienced or read something and find it’s worthwhile to share, I always remember this teacher and reminds me of her famous line “ilabas mo kung anong meron ka at kung ano ang alam mo para naman magamit natin (para sa sarili mo at ng iba)”. That’s the reason why I’m having this pleasure in talking and listening to people, encourage, motivate and bringing out the best in them… the way this professor did to me almost 10 years ago.

She gave-up a lot for her profession as teacher and that’s what she shared for us being her students. I believe that’s how her generosity comes… she shared whatever she has. Resources… talents… knowledge… ideas… etc and she will surely share it to you.

Until now… when there’s a chance for a small talk… she’s always telling stories… her new accomplishments… new learning… and new ideas. More than she’ll ever know, she’s always a woman sharing of something for our benefit, still… for us to learn.

She’s no longer my teacher but she’s still teaching me. Either, I’m no longer her student but I still enjoy her lessons. For me, I think teacher is not the right term for her now but a term describing to more than a teacher and that is “MENTOR” - an adviser, counselor, guide, tutor, and teacher IN-ONE.

Thanks a lot Ma'am Minnie!

Dr. Minerva "Minnie" D. Maylem is a marketing professor from Central Luzon State University - College of Business Administration and Accountancy.

**Fedong’08 (April 6, 2008 12:05 AM)

Day 1

Perhaps most of us want to start the day... or month right. On the other hand, as much as we want it to be, we don't really know what would stake and happen within the day.

Yesterday, august 1, 2011 is one of the most unforgettable day for me, why..? Well... This how it goes...

I’m not really woke up at the wrong side of the bed but i am in a hurry to press my uniform (i missed to do this the night before because i was homed late from tramway)... And cook some breakfast. But... when I’m on my way to office.. I have realized that I left my phone... Though this is not new for me but I was so concerned because I need to contact Kuya Zaldy to update the status of the ongoing Marilao’s Project. On the other hand, I didn't go back but instead headed to the office.

The day went well... Good... Queries were fixed...though there some pending activities but i believed these are bearable for tomorrow.

Before went home, I've decided to buy some groceries. I was about to dine at Liza's or Janets but I've decided to go home instead because I'm craving for some fried veggies, egg and tocino for dinner.

I was at my doorstep and trying to open my door, but the knob was stacked... The key malfunctioned... About 20 minutes of calm-wrestling in the stacked-knob... with an empty stomach... exhausted... no cp... patience is killing me... So I stop and leave behind. Though feeling defeated, I chose to be calmed... I wiped-out my sweat around my face, neck and arms... Put my groceries bags on one side... and walked- out.

Taking a tricycle ride... I went to Janets, fed my tummy and create a plan what to do next. Janet's bbq, chopsuey and gulaman saved my exhausted body.

About 10-15 minutes of rest, I've decided to go home again believing that the knob was bump... push a little enough to function now the key. But it’s not. Well, we cannot have everything... so go with the Plan B. With the feeling of distress, I leave again and took the way going to Mac/Ms My's place to get some help.

It’s good to see Mac & Ms. My again... A feeling of relief came while talking to both of them. It's been a few months since our last meeting. It’s nice to see Ms. My at her months of pregnancy.

No choice... No matter how tough it is, after 10 minutes of smashing, thanks to Mac's help, the unbreakable knob broke... at last… able to get inside and have some rest.

What a tiring day... After battling with such unwanted situations, time to rest and reflect into it.

Situations like these could be a way to treat ourselves... Could also be a way to reconcile with friends... Could also be a way to reflect on things... Is this really a good way to start the week and month right?

Sometimes, we may face such unwanted and unpleasant situations; I believe it's not really true that we don't have a choice but to feel mad about it. Yes, we can't change what happened but we have the options and can do something different about it. Testing our patience could kill us but self-control could keep us on track. At times, feeling of exhaustion could prevent us to act impulsively because rather than do it rashly... We can choose to give in or give way. Admitting our weaknesses sometimes could give us more focus, relax and the more we could think best.

Starting a day or month would not depend on the things happened on its first minute or day. Whether we are on the advantage or distressing side. All the time, we have our options. Yes, we don't have the power to control of "everything" but I believe we have the power to choose to handle of these "everything". Be calmed, be focus and to think at our best.