PCAP Gathering @FoodbytheCourt

 I had a blast at the PCAP Gathering yesterday (February 10, 2024) at Gil Puyat, Makati City.  For the first time, I was able to attend a group of chess arbiters, players, and owners.

Not only that the food were free - some games offered so many prizes for the interesting games.  There were also raffles.  My wife and I unexpectedly won two of them.  Yeheey.  One of the events was called "Chess Palaro" wherein each team composed of five members will play against 3 other teams.  I was just a substitute because I have not yet found a team, luckily, an arbiter back-out at the last minute due to previous commitments.  My group was so lucky that we tied for first (1-3) after 2 difficult games and won a very lucrative prize.  

Atty. Paul, the PCAP Commissioner, Chairman Michael Ong Chua, and Engr. Jojo of Team Camarines offered a substantial number of prizes for the participants.  Hats off to them.

I am looking forward to another PCAP event. 

Served as a Learning Manager during the MATATAG NTOT

 I accidentally landed a Learning Manager (LM) stint during the MATATAG NTOT last Febuary 5-9, 2024 at the Red Hotel, Quezon City.

Last Friday, February 2, two of my colleagues and I were called at the Office of the Director, NEAP and we were told that they were lacking 9 LMs and 6 documenters for the event.  I was hesitant at first since I have no training whatsoever on that kind of undertaking. I was about to back-out, but I remembered that I already have the Travel Authority (TA).  I thought I will just be a participant.  

After 30 minutes of discussion with Dir. Lea (NEAP) I accepted the task to be an LM since time is of the essence.  Additionally, I was also looking for leadership and management training, I thought it would be a good time.

Came the date of the workshop, I led the group of Grade 1 participants composed of CLMD chiefs, PSDS,  education supervisors, principals, school heads, and master teachers.  My tasks were assigned the group to have management of learning (MOLs), introduce participants, help the participants to be comfortable during the meeting, take photos, and the lists goes on and on.  I should fill the gap and patch it. 

I never knew that the work as an LM will be so taxing, but just like a knight helping her damsel in distress I took the challenge. I religiously performed the itinerary; it is quite boring - yes but it's worth it.  What were the challenges during the event? Too many to mention.  During the break, the elevator was full, the food was sometimes not delivered on time or perhaps lacking, the air condition was not that cold during the afternoon, the internet connectivity was poor, etc.  But I can't complain. I know it is a part of a learning process.  The ideal scenario was that all things must be working but really, it's not.  So I need to be patient, or the facilitators must.

With 600+ participants, 18 classes (break-out rooms), and a number of Program Management Team (PMT) - the event was really challenging. It's good that Director Lea (NEAP) and Director Sam (BCD) who guided us along the way.

At the end of the training, I learned that on the bidding documents there must only be 8 break-out rooms stated but the facilitators didn't know that even the participants.  Well, I just keep on complaining!

I just realized that there was a story behind a story.  As a leader, I must be patient.  What an experience.

A Brief: Socorro A. Pilor

 I had the opportunity to introduce the Director of the Instructional Materials Council Secretariat (my former boss) years ago.  I never knew that I would find this piece of the document that I long kept in my files.  In an effort to digitize all my data, I am recording them at Blogspot. Here it is ladies and gentlemen:

x x x x x x 

She finished her Bachelor of Science in Education major in Mathematics and minor in English at St. Paul College as cum laude and completed her Master of Arts in Teaching major in mathematics at the De La Salle University as a scholar of the Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines.

Immediately after graduation from college, her alma mater asked her to teach math in both high school and college departments and English in the high school department.  After six years and in search of better opportunities for professional advancement, she applied at the Division of City Schools, Manila, and was assigned to teach at the Manila Science High School.

As a teacher, she had the chance to undergo a Teacher Training Course for Foreign Students at the Tsukuba University in Japan as a MOMBUSHO scholar for one and a half years.  She also had Training in the Development of Computer Teaching/Learning Software for Science and Mathematics at the SEAMEO-Regional Education Center for Science in Mathematics in Penang, Malaysia.

She was a member of the Coaching Team that trained student contestants in mathematics competitions.  The Team was awarded a Plaque of Recognition as the Coach of the First Place winner in Level IV, Regional Level, and a Plaque of Merit as the Coach of the Second Place Winner in the National Tem Competition, among other local awards.  In recognition of her dedication to her teaching profession, the Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines awarded her a Plaque of Recognition as an Exemplary Secondary Math Teacher.

She considers her former students who have succeeded in their own fields as her best award - the most recent of which is the 2010 Metro Bank Outstanding Teacher Award.  The recipient of the award for the college level, Dr. Raymond Sison who is a professor at De La Salle University, was her student at the Manila Science High School.

She joined the Instructional Materials Corporation (IMC) and later on the Instructional Materials Development Center (IMDC) in various capacities such as Instructional Materials, Development Officer III, Supervising Instructional Materials Development Officer, and an editor of mathematics textbooks.  Her unwavering dedication to her work was recognized with a General Manager's Award by the IMC in 1992 and a Certificate of Recognition as Outstanding Employee by the IMDC in 1994. 

Ms. Pilor started at the Instructional Materials Council Secretariat as a Creative Arts Specialist IV.  She became the Chief of the Evaluation and Training Division before she assumed her present position.  

Ladies and gentlemen, help me welcome Ms. Socorro A. Pilor, the Executive Director of the Instructional Materials Council Secretariat of the Department of Education.

x x x x x x 

You Don't Have to Put All of Your Eggs in One Basket

 I have not posted anything here in months because I was so busy with my other tasks at the office.  Also, I am too engrossed in my role as a YouTuber.  For your information, my YT channel has reached a milestone, it has more than 1,500 subscribers, reached more than 4000 watch hours, and is now eligible for Ads. You can visit my channel and you can make some comments at As Good As I Can Be it is now running Ads and I am just waiting for the PIN for it to be monetized.  Please, don't forget to subscribe too.

You might wonder what comes to my mind to say something about the title of my blog.  Well, it goes this way.  I have two friends at the office who happened to be skillful and talented and they were promoted recently.  I am so happy for them, Mam Judy, also my Kababayan, was promoted from PDO III to Senior Education Program Specialist (SEPS) while my dear friend, George will be promoted from SEPS to Learning Resources Supervisor in DepEd Sorsogon City.

The abovementioned colleagues were so brilliant that they were entrusted with so many things at the office, e.g., Judy was tasked to perform duties in all procurement activities while George was tasked with National Math Programs at the office.  They were the lead roles without assistants, I am so afraid of what would happen just in case someone got sick or somebody went on a leave of absence. 

Now the challenge, because opportunity knocks - which anyone, of course, would grab.  Judy was promoted by another office a month ago while Goerge will be in DepEd Sorsogon City in August. Voila!  The positions will be vacant and there was a need to train new employees.  I am praying that our office will be able to get competent people like them.

Moving on, I felt that as a leader, you have to assign people other than the focal person(s) some vital tasks so as not to experience similar challenges in the future.  Hopefully, the problems will be over by now or in the coming weeks since new employees will be at the office soon.  

Tawa Muna Tayo

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Guys, 

These jokes are not mine, I just got them from friends and some details were from the internet.  Let us enjoy the day.  Nakuha ko pa eto during the Covid19 pandemic, nahalungkat ko lang mula sa baul.  Mga malulupit na tanong. Credits go to the Owner(s).

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I am Lito san.  I graduated with a Bacherlor of Sayang in Agree Culture Engine Erring.  Suma Kumbati.  Personal Belief: "My brain is divided into two parts: the right and the left.  On the right nothing is left.  On the left nothing is right."

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Teacher:  Good morning class.  Today I will discuss a lesson about Ethics 101.  But before that allow me to introduce myself.  I am Ms. Elena Pruke.  With an "R" ha. Miss Pruuke for short.

Students: Nagtawanan ng mahina.

Teacher:  Ok class.  Eyes on the board heto ang pag-aaralan natin sa buong semester. (Si titser itinuro ang syllabus at ilang details na nakasulat sa board.

Students:  Thank you Ms. Pruke.  (Medyo nagtatawanan pa rin.)

To cut the story short natapos na ang semester.  Another sem ulit.

Teacher: Ok class, Good morning. Nakakatuwa naman at kayo ulit ang mga students ko sa Ethics 102.  For your information Nakapag-asawa na ako ng foreigner kaya hindi na ninyo ako mapagtatawanan (may pagmamalaki).  

Teacher ulit: Ako na nga pala si Mrs. Elena Prekprek.  With an "R" ha.

Student:  Tawanan ulit. 

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Tatay:  Anak kumusta ang exam mo? Anong score mo?

Anak: Zero po Tatay.

Tatay: Ok lang iyan anak.  Pasensiya ka na, iyong kabobohan mo nakuha mo sa akin.

Anak:  Ok lang iyan Tatay.  Buti na lang hindi ko nakuha ang kapangitan mo!

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Patulong sa sagot alam kong kayang kaya nyo ito: 😜😜😜

Leakage-  questions in the latest UPCAT. Kindly read thoroughly and figure out the correct answers.

[1] Kung ikaw na si Batman, sino ang bahala sa yo? Give three examples.

[2] Sino ang kumagat sa logo ng Apple, at bakit hindi niya ito inubos?

[3] Kung may UPCAT, bakit walang UPDOG? Elaborate.

[4] Sa produktong Crayola, ano ang pinagkaiba ng yellow green sa green yellow? Explain using logarithmic functions.

[5] Kung ang 1 kg ay may 1000 g, ilang grams naman ang meron sa Instagram? Show your solution.

[6] Kung sa Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas may “”Panahon ng Amerikano, Hapon, Kastila at Pre-Colonial”, kailan naman matatagpuan ang Panahon ng Kopong-kopong? Ilahad ang mga mahalagang pangyayari at magpakita ng archaeological evidences.

[7] If men are from Mars and women are from Venus, bakit sila nagpunta sa Earth?

[8] Should you give up or should you just keep chasing pavements? Expound.

[9] Ano ang meron kay Brand X at galit na galit ang ibang brand sa kanya? Explain.

[10] Masasabi mo bang fair ang Ms. Universe kung lahat ng contestants at judges ay galing sa Earth? Explain.

[11] Kung walang kamay ang mga ibon, then why do birds suddenly APIR? Ipaliwanag.

[12] Sabi ng iba, napuntahan niya na lahat ng sulok ng mundo. Paano mo masasabi na may “sulok” ang mundo kung Oblate Spheroid naman ang hugis nito? Explain and draw your answer on a 1/4 sheet of graphing paper.

[13] May nalunod na ba sa lalim ng gabi? Kung meron, enumerate.

[14] Bakit ang tawag sa building building kung tapos na siya? Justify.

[15] Is this the real life? Or is this just fantasy? EXPLAIN.

[16] Gaano kadalas ang minsan? Enumerate.

[17] How did Adele set fire to the rain? Write the chemical formula.

[18] Kapag ang ipis nahulog sa tubig na may sabon, dudumi ba ang tubig o lilinis ang ipis?

[19]Bakit pababa nang pababa ang ispaghetti? Explicate using Newton’s Law of Gravitation.

[20] Does the moonlight shine on Paris after the sun goes down?

[21] Kung ang nakatusok na baboy ay barbeque, ang nakatusok na saging ay bananacue, bakit ang kabayo, carousel?

[22] Ilan ang butas sa isang cracker ng skyflakes? Illustrate.

[23] Bakit pag rush hour tsaka mabagal ang daloy ng traffic? Explain your answer using sign language.

[24] Nasaan ang Edge of Glory? Write your final answer in nautical miles.

[25] Ang breakfast ba at dinner, pwedeng ilagay sa lunchbox? Prove your answer."

New Vacancies at DepEd Central Office

 Dear Friends,

Do you have what it takes to be a government servant?  Well, this is your chance to be one.  The Department of Education is looking for dedicated and talented people to join the biggest public organization in the country.  The deadline for applications is on December 29, 2021. Apply now!

Mindoro Tamaraws Booked Quarterfinals Berth in PCAP

Dear Readers,

Last Saturday, July 17, 2021, the Mindoro Tamaraws made history by qualifying to the quarterfinals berth of the just concluded Play-in of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) sponsored by SGM Wesley So via online tournament through Zoom by upsetting the ever-reliable Palawan Queens Gambit team with a score of 11-10 in the first match and subduing them again via a score of 17-4 in the second match.

With the consistent scorers of Team Mindoro, the heroics of the Arena International Master Joselito Asi from Calapan City proved to be a huge surprise as he drew with WIM Beverly Mendoza in the blitz game and then won in a seemingly losing position in the final stretch of the rapid game.  His victory proved to be crucial as the team needed 2.0 points to advance to the second match since the score was 9-10 in favor of Palawan team which has a twice-to-beat advantage by virtue of its higher ranking.  On the brink of defeat and in a losing position, AIM Asi mated WIM Mendoza during the panic time thereby helping the Tamaraws moved to the second match with the score 11-10 thereby leasing a new life.

The Tamaraws fielded the same team members while the Queens reshuffled their board placing during the second match.  Since the Mindorenos gathered some momentum during the first match, their team continued to rake points and led 4-3 in blitz and needed only 7 points to win.  

During the Rapid match, however, boards 1 and 2 fell victim to accurate moves of the Palawan Queens early in the games and the players had to wait for the results of boards 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7 for the complete scores.  

It was like waiting for eternity as the break-out room where the teams were assigned was so silent due to the importance of the games.  A few moments later, points were being written in the Zoom chatbox by the 5 Mindoro players signifying that they all won their remaining games.  What a sigh of relief, and the rest was history for the Mindoro Tamaraws!

Team Mindoro is thanking its sponsors and benefactors - Mayor Arnan C. Panaligan of Calapan City, Mayor Romulo "Muloy" Festin, LGU-San Jose Occidental Mindoro, Atty. Paul Elauria (PCAP President), Team Owner Mr. Justin Tan, and others. 

Team Composition:

Team Owner - Mr. Justin Tan

Team Manager/Board 1 - AGM Emmanuel Asi

Team Coach/Lady Player - ACM Michella Obaza Concio

Lady Player/Board 2/Import - WFM Szente-Varga Fruzsina (Hungary)

Lady Player - AFM Cylliz Kaessa M. Merilles

Seniors - Cesar Cunanan and Marcelo Abeleda

Homegrowns - USNM Rainier Labay, AGM Nezil Arj Merilles, Ronald Berdera, 

                         Zejih Angelo  Merilles, ACM Richard Allen Sicangco, and AIM Joselito Asi

Eliminating Diabetes: Rotary Club of Manila

 Thank you so much Rotary Club of Manila and your transformational leaders for sharing your precious time and resources at the Claro M. Recto High School, Division of City Schools, Manila last December 4, 2020.  I was one of the recipients during this time of pandemic and I am so proud of your efforts.  May your tribe increase! #rotaryclubofmanila #rotaryinternational

 

Lifelong Leadership Congress

Good day friends from everywhere.

I had the opportunity to attend this important event sponsored by the Career Executive Service Board (CESB) this November 2020.  Mind you, it is just the first day of the workshop and I felt that I was overwhelmed by information already.  

First and foremost, I had no intention to attend this important activity for I thought it was only for the Career Service Executive Eligibles and not for the Career Executive Service Written Examination (CESWE) passers like myself.  But the very moment that I received an email from CESB inviting me to go to that event I immediately grabbed that opportunity.

Here I am after answering the Adversity Quotient (AQ) and the  GRIT Gauge Assessments (GRIT Gauge) I felt that I was a renewed man.  AQ discusses one's ability to respond constructively and GRIT Gauge reliably predicts performance, learning, agility, resilience, tenacity, and well-being.

I did poorly on the first exam but recovered fully-well on the second one.  Amazing!

I have been attending various activities of CESB before but this one is giving me great satisfaction. 

Helping Cats in the Time of Turmoil

  I am not really a cat person, but yesterday was different.  

Amidst the strong wind and heavy rain caused by Typhoon Rolly, I found a mother cat carrying a little kitten using her mouth (back and forth through the hallway near our condo unit) in Binondo, Manila.  She seemed to be in panic mode looking for a safe place due to the scary weather condition. My attention was not really directed to them as I was preparing for a big chess tournament by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines which was a Rapid Open Tournament via Tornelo.   

However, as the wind continued to blow the mighty cat with a kitten repeatedly appeared in front of my door too.  I saw them through the screen and I felt so disturbed.  I hastily opened the door and let them in. BTW, my family was feeding two other bigger kittens (from the same mother) outside the Cluster 3 building so perhaps it was the familiarity that kept us connected.  

But as I wipe the mother cat and the kitten, she went near the door for almost a minute and I wondered why would she leave her kitten?  I open the door and she ran so fast and after 2-3 minutes came back with another kitten.  She did it 3 times until she got all her babies totaling 4 in all.  Whew!  

I am so proud of this mommy's heroic acts of saving her moggy. I took the bigger kittens too to have them reunited.  

I am not sure if I will return them outside the building after the storm since they do not have caretakers, but to tell you frankly.  I am beginning to love them!

Vacancies at DepEd-CO (Batch 66)

There are vacancies at DepEd CO now.  If you are interested, the deadline is on March 6, 2020. Join now!

Batch 64: New Vacancies at DepEd Central Office

DepEd Central Office welcomes competent and dedicated people of all backgrounds.  Join now -  work together and inspire others!

Batch 62: New Vacancies at DepEd

Hello guys,

Sharing you the vacancies at DepEd-CO.  Join now.