Licensure exam

I'm planning to take the LET or Licensure Exam for Teachers. I attended a PRC forum headed by Mrs. Mangubat, the OIC of the OPT.

Anyways, the list of documents to be submitted seems to be endles,s but if I want to continue practicing this profession, then it is only right that I get a license. And the only way to do that is to take a licensure exam for teachers. I had already planned to do that after I finish my masters degree in education and that is what I am going to work on in the next two months.

The filing of the application started last Jan. 2, 2006. For first timers, like me, the deadline is on the 31st of May. But why wait for the deadline to draw near? Might as well file it early and avoid the rush. I've already compiled the list of documents that I need to submit. They are the following:

• birth certificate - original and photocopy, printed on NSO security paper
• marriage certificate
• transcript of records - original and photocopy with the scanned picture of the examinee, both for the undergraduate course and education / masteral units in education, with the date of graduation and S.O. number
• diploma - original and photocopy if the date of graduation is not stated in the transcript of records
• 2 passport-sized pictures with complete name
• 2 window envelopes with metered stamps

I think that's about it. Sounds easy, but it's not. Especially if it involves lining up, travelling somewhere. Now I moan about the fact that my college university is too far away from where I live. As for the birth certificate, I can order it over the phone and have it delivered. If not, I know where to get it.
It's only the TOR from college that I need to work on. And that was what I worked on today. I admit it's been a long time since I've been there. Probably 4 years ago, when I went there for my graduate school application. I was planning to take my masters degree there despite the distance. It was my first year of teaching in the school that I was in, and I learned that changed my decision about pursuing my masters degree. I went there and bluntly told the Chairperson that I was withdrawing my application. I could never forget that day, at least the feeling that I got. The Department Chair seemed cold, rather unfriendly. A contrast to the department chairs in college. They were friendly and seemed approachable. I have forgotten her name. Who wants to remember an unpleasant person anyway?
And that was the last time I went there. I haven't been back, not until today. There are definitely big changes there. For one, you can no longer cross Katipunan Ave. going to Gate 3. There are MMDA fences there. If you were commuting via UP, you'd have to get off at the overpass close to Jollibee and National Bookstore.
Then I walked to the walkway, going to where I thought the Registrar's office was. But it was no longer there. The guard told me where their new location was. There was a building being constructed where the orgs used to be. I walked farther to get to the Registrar's office. It was now bigger and more spacious. The lady there was very helpful. And told me to come back the week after, on the 22nd. I had a problem with the picture, though. I have to have a new picture taken with my name on it. Oh well. When I come back, they are going to scan the picture, and so it will be included in my TOR.
After that, I headed to Jollibee for breakfast. I would've wanted to go to National Bookstore, but it was still closed and I was in a hurry to go home and avoid the traffic.

Life in a pandemic

 It has been years since I last posted in my blog. 

Too many things have happened since then. 

Of course, we didn't see that a pandemic would happen in 2020. I remember the weeks leading up to the lockdown in my city, where my son and I went to Santa Cruz at the beach. It was a cold February day but we had a great time. Fast forward a week or two later, we were at the museum as usual. I think the country due to it's rhetoric brushed off what we were seeing in China as something surreal and would not happen in the U.S.

But sadly, the worse of it did. Luckily, I lived in a city where we took it seriously. Our county health officer had a two week stay at home order for everyone. My principal on a Friday asked me to send home all my students' books and work related papers which I did. Then we later on learned that we were supposed to prepare work for them to do for the next 2 weeks. I went to school, made copies and then sent them home. We hunkered down for the next 2 weeks. Then the weeks became months and before you know it, we could only go outside to get groceries. We had to work from home. That's how the school year ended and the new school year started. 

It was difficult year learning how to use technology with my students. Trying to set work boundaries but it was also a year where my son and I spent a lot of time learning things together. From reading books, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Because of Winn-Dixie, etc. We took walks around the neighborhood and talked about a lot of things. 

There was also a lot of hate and racism rhetoric brought on by the president against Asians or anyone for that matter who wasn't blue-eyed and blonde. And that brought a great divide aside from the whole mask wearing or not. Then there was the anti-vaccine sentiment. As a foreign worker in this country, we had to be vaccinated for certain things. I couldn't even get a green card unless I went to see a doctor and showed all the immunizations that I had. I am guessing that many of these people have never travelled outside of the country, hence their very narrow view of the world...it's all about the "greatness of America." They have never heard of Europe, Asia and other continents of the world. I would never travel with my son even back to my own country if he wasn't vaccinated because many diseases are preventable with a vaccine. 

And now finally, back to school after a long time working from home. 

Lessons Learned from Great America's Winterfest 2019

My son and I have started a tradition in December. We started going to Great America's Winterfest December in 2017.

We stayed at the nearby Hilton because it starts at 5 pm and closes at 10 pm. The first time we went, it wasn't that crowded at all. Although there were a lot of people in such a tiny space (we only stayed at Planet Snoopy) since he is too young for the bigger rides, we were able to enjoy the rides that he wanted. What I didn't like though was that it felt like parents were cutting into the line. I know, not a good example. We were able to take pictures and we went back the next day for the same fun experience.

December 2018 was also a great experience for us. As usual, we stayed at the Hilton. We were planning to do the ice skating but it was closed due to some issue. It wasn't horribly crowded too.

Fast forward to December 2019! Oh, wow. First there were crowds everywhere! He was able to do a few rides before it got really crowded! Like extremely crowded. We always went Friday and Saturday and maybe next year, we won't go during those days. We paid for the cookie decorating activity. I bought the tickets online ahead of time and just printed them out. Lesson learned from that, do it last because you will be holding a big box with 4 cookies. I did like it. The cookies were pretty big and we didn't feel like we were being pressured to finish things right away. We just took our time. I think we were there for more than 30 minutes. Mrs. Claus was there and sang a song with my son. That was sweet. After dinner, we tried going into the rides again but the lines were just soooo long. So we headed back to our hotel and put our feet up.

Saturday night was worse. We did ice skating first because I wanted to make sure that if it was going to be cancelled later on, at least we had the opportunity to try it. As usual, I bought tickets ahead of time and printed them out. You do need to sign a waiver for everyone and we got our skates. Make sure to wear socks! Then we went to the skating rink. It was full of people but we were able to get in. At some point, they didn't allow some people to go in because probably the capacity was reached which was good. I have to say that I am no good at skating but since my son is little, I had to be on the ice. I was busy hanging the sidelines. The people watching the entrance and exit were very helpful to make sure that I don't embarrass myself. My son on the other hand was happy to go on his own. He fell a couple of times but he enjoyed it. I think we were there for about an hour and a half until they had to close the rink. I think they needed to do something with the ice so it's great to skate again. But my son and I were done for the day. He had a blister but he was happy. My feet were just tired.

We tried going in the rides but again, it was crowded. I think we just ate dinner and walked around. Took some pictures and then went home.

These are the lessons I learned:
1. Go on a weekday.

2. Buy tickets ahead of time. 

3. Do the cookie decoration activity last so you won't have to lug around a big box of cookies around the park.

4. Do the ice skating activity first.

Now that I have written this here, I can look back at it when we go in 2020. This is one tradition that we enjoy doing.

I miss blogging!

Provinces and regions of the Philippines (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of the things that I don't seem to have a lot of nowadays is time...Time to watch the news in the Philippines, time to blog, time to....etc. etc. etc. But I do love being a mom to my very active soon-to-be 22 month old little boy.

So, I thought, since I have time (for now, since it is summer break), then I can go back to blogging a little.

I would say a lot has happened since my last post. I don't even remember much about what I wrote in that. Only that I haven't blogged in a bazillion years, but what's new eh?

This summer, I have grand plans of restarting my special ed blog (like this isn't more than enough) and then writing something more personal in that blog as well. And then posting something in my TpT store (not that its going to earn me big bucks like the other teachers who really invest their time to make nice worksheets which I really appreciate since I buy their stuff), but its a start.

Maybe I should start with making a list of things to do this summer, hopefully, before summer ends. That will make it easier for me on what I want to really spend my summer doing, other than taking Jacob to Gymboree and Toddler class of course.

Now, on to Cake Mania for a while and then to making that almighty list!

Here's to a busy summer blogging! Yeah!

Where did 2012 go?

Image via CrunchBase

I was watching Damages on Netflix when I accidentally pressed on my bookmarks and I saw my blog which I haven't written at all in like ages. The last entry that I had was back in 2011. Wow, and 2012 is almost over.

I looked at my old entries and it brought back good memories of the past. For example, the first time that I drove without a GPS. My poor Yaris lasted only six months but it was a great car which took care of me. Oh well. I still use a GPS though or my phone to get to my destination. Remembering street names was never one of my strong suits.

So, here I am, with 2013 fast approaching. There are many things that are different now and in a good way. First, I finally completed my Level II credential. Second, I have a new baby boy, Jacob, my pride and joy. And third, what's the third? Well, moving back to San Jose. Funny is, I never wrote about moving away, I did for about two years in Pleasant Hill but I still worked in San Jose. I guess in a way, San Jose / Cupertino area is my home since this is where I first lived.

And now, back to watching my show....til next time.