A Fairy Tale for Klasmeyts

ONCE UPON A TIME,  there was a little book, what we normally called notebook til the big chaps at Dell and HP and Acer and other giants swiped the term to use for their downsized laptop computers.  Our little notebook was the kind with ruled paper and with bright colored tabs that say A, B, C, D and so forth.  It had a plain leather cover, in black with a red stripe running along its spine.  Its first page gave the name and address of the owner, presumably to be returned if someone found it under a table or in a theater seat or a neighbor’s lawn chair.

The notebook contained contact details of a special group, called BCHS Class 61.  This is a group that had been together for four (for some, less than four) good and memorable years, of boys and girls who were in their early teens, and attended the Baguio City High School in a city setting that could only be described as very pleasing, abundant with fresh mountain air scented with pine, and flowers growing everywhere, whether put in the soil with human hands or by Madame Nature herself.

Entries in the notebook were few in the beginning, but grew in number, in time, when the people listed in the notebook started to contact each other, updated their addresses when they moved, or when they acquired new telephone numbers and email addresses.  Soon the pages in the notebook were not enough to contain all the details of the class.

Remember Jack and the Beanstalk?  Well, the computer people took it upon themselves to model a program like the Beanstalk.  With a strong stem. With leaves that could withstand storms and winds and floods.  And a tip that could grow some more upwards, with additional leaves put into it.  Then they called it Excel Spreadsheet.  And thought of three letters that could best describe it, and came up with XLS.  When a user creates an XLS file, or plants the magic seeds into the ground to grow a beanstalk,  fields were set up by the user or goes to the next farm and borrows a grown beanstalk, also called a template. 

These fields were filled up with names, spouse names, mailing addresses, email addresses, landline and cell phone numbers. BCHS Class 61 had its own Jack, and his name is Rudy.  The notebook’s owner was Rudy, who set up the BCHSClass61.XLS so that it would be easier to find out about contact details of each other.  Alas, the notebook was lost, probably mistaken for a piece of lamb bone by  Rudy’s dog Pepperoni, or probably was left in a New York City yellow taxicab seat. Ah, but the list is still available, residing in a number of computers around the globe, thanks to the xls file. 

Anyone in Class 61 who has access to email, whether his or hers or the daughter’s or son’s or brother’s or sister’s, can have a copy, and, by the way, is updated when new entries are available.  All the Klasmeyt (Arthur’s term) has to do is to send an email to Jack, oops, no, to Rudy, and ask for a copy of the Beanst..  oops, the xls file.  And by the way, it would be good to delete older files and keep only the current one.  You would not keep the Dumaguete City  telephone directory of 2009, so why keep the old xls?  In that way, your Beanstalk is fresh, ready for use anytime, you can print it, create MailMerge (should you like to do this, Rudy can send you a tutorial – kidding only) to address your Christmas cards or Eid cards or invitations to your grandson’s christening or bar mitzvah…

The little notebook was found, all tattered, missing parts of it so no DNA  could be collected, in a dump bin in North Philadelphia.  It was shivering from below zero temperatures, and finally gave up its last gasps, with the happy thought that it had done its job and the entries are safe and warm and under loving care of each BCHSClass61 member.  THE END!

But wait a minute- there are discrepancies to this story!  And what exactly is the point of this fairy tale?  It is this: the xls is for EVERYONE to share in our group.  The benefits are too numerous to write down.  The cost is only to update your own entry.  Do contact Ja… ooops, Rudy- you know his email, or share it with a Klasmeyt so we all can have copies of the updated version. Now it is THE END talaga na.  

Old City High, Teachers Camp, in 1910

Ludy and Arman's "Apple..." in the Big Apple

Maribel Aber Joins CNN Newsource as “CNN Money Matters” Correspondent

Maribel Aber will join CNN Newsource as a correspondent for “CNN Money Matters,” a market-exclusive, multi-platform financial news service produced in conjunction with CNNMoney.com, it was announced today by Paul Crum, vice president of news operations, administration and affiliate services for CNN/U.S.

According to CNN polls, Americans consider the economy to be the most important issue affecting their lives today.  CNN Newsource has marshaled expert resources to provide in-depth, customizable coverage of the economy for its affiliates, and Aber will offer markets specific information from the floor of NASDAQ.

Prior to joining CNN Newsource, Aber concurrently anchored the PBS series “Wall Street Week” and served as host of the education-focused BrainFuel TV, contributed financial and career advice on the nationally syndicated lifestyle television program “The Better Show” and AOL’s money and finance site Walletpop, and reported for the online media outlet, The Broadway Channel.

Earlier in her career, Aber was Vice President of NASDAQ MarketSite, and oversaw the operations of the Times Square-based, broadcast studio in New York City.  In that position, she also hosted the televised NASDAQ Opening and Closing Bell ceremonies and interviewed visiting CEOs and dignitaries.  In partnership with CNN, Aber spearheaded the implementation of the 2004 CNN Presidential Election Night Coverage, live from the NASDAQ MarketSite; a production that showcased the real-time poll results of the 2004 Presidential Election. 

“Maribel is a versatile correspondent who brings to the table a wealth of experience in business, economic, lifestyle and entertainment reporting,” said Crum. “Her passion for communicating the intersections of finance and how it affects the consumer makes her a strong asset to our team at CNN Newsource.”

Aber is a graduate of the University of Virginia, and holds a B.A. degree in Foreign Affairs.  She earned her J.D. from New York Law School.

CNN Newsource, comprised of more than 800 affiliates including TV stations and local/regional cable news channels throughout North America, is the most widely distributed syndicated news service. Through continuous digital media distribution and five digital satellite channels, CNN Newsource provides partners with the news content necessary to produce competitive newscasts. This includes: CNN Worldwide's global newsgathering resources; the collective coverage power of CNN Newsource affiliates; customized live coverage of breaking news from CNN correspondents and localized CNN Money Matters reports live from the floor of the NYSE. Additionally, CNN Newsource stations benefit from CNN Newsbeam, which provides satellite time and fiber connectivity from CNN's vast global resources at lower than market rates. CNN Newsource also helps prepare tomorrow's journalists by providing service at no charge to colleges and universities through its Newsource in the Classroom program.

http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/06/maribel-aber-joins-cnn-newsource-as-cnn-money-matters-correspondent/

Nelson Olais is on Facebook!

From Nelson Olais'  Facebook page, several photos can be viewed there, on the Olais' visit to Wyoming.  Looks like you got into very cold weather there! This photo is excellent:  good balance, colors, subjects, perspective and all other good photo plusses.

Our City Hall

 

This is the entrance to City Hall, to pay your taxes.  Or update your cedula. Or to find out what the Mayor is up to. Or to chat with friends.

Baguio, Aug.2012.Ludy, Louella, Delma, Marlo

Why Teach?

To our classmates who became classroom teachers: Marlo, Charito and others, now we understand your dedication and patience, required of the profession!  To our past high school teachers, we appreciate and salute you for being moulders of young minds.

Why teach?     By Ma. Elena Dugos Sun Star August 30, 2012

“THERE is absolutely no money in teaching. If you want to get rich don’t venture into teaching. You will only end up in vain. Teaching is sacrifice. If it doesn’t hit you emotionally on a level which makes you feel elated to be called “teacher” then you have a very different calling. To be a successful teacher, you have to be intrinsically motivated.”

These words were embedded in our hearts by our former college dean Edna Marizza C. Santos, now the Vice President of Holy Angel University. Her message still reverberates in my mind and the ethics which our teachers and our Alma Mater instilled in us remain to be my guiding principle as I perform and discharge my duties as a teacher. 

In our university days, we were made to understand what teaching is all about. We were made to be aware that the rewards of being a teacher don’t come in monetary form. Likewise, we were told about the downsides of the profession. But don’t other colleges and universities teach future teachers the same thing?

I don't understand why some teachers, who chose this profession, are so disgruntled and have such a gripe over our low pay. More upsetting are the significant few who grumble over almost everything about our work. I wonder what motivated these teachers to join such a challenging and low paid profession in the first place. Is it not the love of teaching and watching children learn that should be the motivating force behind being a teacher?

I would say that if the feeling of stress over teaching, parenting and other personal responsibilities are the problems in our schools then it's obvious that being "professional, trained teachers" gives us absolutely no advantage over parents wanting the very best for their children.

I would suggest that these teachers take a break or try something else in life to regain the positive spirit. This is not to imply that I do not have dissatisfaction over the teaching job. I am aware that teaching can sometimes seem like a thankless career. Many teachers feel demoralized and overworked and face criticisms and are bombarded with unrealistic expectations from demanding and insensitive parents. Many teachers feel their profession is not respected or that their classroom expertise is undervalued.

But if there are dark days in the life of teachers, there are incredible rays of sunshine, too. Some days are also be filled with rewards. Our treats happen every time a chronically disruptive student experiences a turnaround or a slower student grasps a difficult concept. These are moments that can continue to motivate a teacher through his career. Celebrate the positive sides of the teaching profession. Remember that teachers are important and valuable to our society. Find comfort in the awesome role you are playing in many people’s lives. Remember those you have touched over the years.

One of the most wonderful rewards of teaching is having former students come back to tell you how much you influenced them. Students will sometimes write letters or notes expressing how important you were or are to them. If you remember back in your school days, you can probably think of a couple of teachers who were truly influential. Strive to be that teacher for your students, and you will be well rewarded.

Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on August 30, 2012.