It's Final, I'm Out

Whew, the title seems to be confusing. It leads to nowhere. I'm out on what?

Just like what happened to my application for a position at IAS.

I been hearing news (or should I say gossip) from 6 reliable [now - not dependable] persons even before the release of the results. I was even contacted by one of the candidates, so I thought, it just validates the claim of the 6 others I mentioned above. I'm so ecstatic and has never told this extreme joy to anyone except to my wife and my best friend at the office.

Days and months have passed and I heard different versions of the story (I do not know from which camp this tale came from) that I was not in the list of candidates accepted for the position. I have been bothered as to why these news leaked even without the official results coming from the personnel division. It seems that everybody knew except myself.

Until this time, no official list of successful candidates were posted on the bulletin boards at DepEd though some were advised to have their clearances issued before tranferring to the new IAS office.

Chess Team Tournament at DepEd

Whew! It's been a long time since I last tip my keyboards to write a blog about my experiences for the month. I have been very busy lately due to myriad tasks assigned to me. I had to focus more on my work to avoid muddling up of documents. The days and weeks have been monotonous and routinary, no diversion, whatsoever. Luckily, I was invited to play chess by my organization. It's kinda team tournament organized by DepEd and Innotech. It was a four-game battle of wits against other DepEd units (NCR, Q.C., Calabarzon, and DepEd-CO.) I had a good start - winning all my first three games against worthy opponents only to be stalled to a draw by my adversary on the last round. I'm kind of disappointed because I wasn't able to deliver a full point for my team. 'Sad to note that my game ended in a draw due to opposite bishops ending. I went out to a nearby building after my game to visit my friends and also to ease the tension I experienced during the game and returned to the tournament venue only to witness my colleagues beaten by their foes in succession. Our team scored a dismal 0.5 against 3.5 of DepEd Q.C. Had my teammates scored 2 more wins we would be the champion. We were all fighting for a gold medal award on each board but ended up losing. I shared the medal on Board 2, though. Yes, you are right. I was the only one who scored for my team.

Parable of the Pig and the Cow

The pig was unpopular while the cow was beloved. This puzzled the pig.

PIG: "People speak warmly of your gentle nature and your sorrowful eyes. They think you're generous because each day you give them milk and cream, but what about me? I give them everything I have. I give bacon, ham, etc. I give my all."

The cow replied:

COW: "It's not really what you give when you're dead. It's about what you give while your still alive."

- author unknown

Tokashiki Island Experience

Tokashiki Island: My Slice of Paradise in Okinawa

When I first hopped on the ferry from Naha, I didn’t know Tokashiki Island was about to steal my heart. The ride itself was a treat—turquoise waves, salty breezes, and the kind of blue sky that makes you forget about your phone.

Stepping off the boat felt like entering a postcard. Quiet roads, lush hills, and the warm smiles of the locals instantly made me feel at home. My first stop? Aharen Beach—pure white sand and water so clear I could spot fish from the shore. Snorkeling here was unreal. I swam alongside colorful corals, schools of tiny fish, and even a sea turtle or two.

In the afternoon, I hiked to one of the island’s viewpoints. From up there, I saw an endless horizon of blues blending into each other—sea, sky, and everything in between. It was the kind of view that makes you pause and just breathe.

As the sun began to set, the beach transformed. The sky turned gold and pink, waves whispered against the shore, and by nightfall, the stars came out in full force. No neon signs, no traffic—just me, the sand, and the universe.

Tokashiki Island isn’t just a destination; it’s an escape. I went for a day, but I came back with a lifetime memory.

A Visit to Manila Ocean Park

As a treat to my daughter's 6th birthday, I brought her and the whole family to the Manila Ocean Park. It was an amazing experience for kids and adults as well.







For additional pictures please click this >>>>

First Time Father

It was 2:30 a.m.
I was deep in sleep when a gentle nudge on my left side stirred me — followed by the quiet, urgent sound of my wife calling for help. Her face carried the shadow of worry, eyes wide, uncertain. I glanced at the bed and noticed the sheet was wet. At first, I thought it was just a spill. But no — to my astonishment, the water was coming from her. She was in the final stretch of her pregnancy, and this... this was no ordinary night.

Like a prince roused for his beloved, I leapt into action. I supported her carefully, trying not to show the tremble in my hands. She told me she wasn’t in pain — only discomfort from the fluid steadily flowing. I held her close, clipped her safely into my arms, whispered reassurances that everything would be alright. I led her gently to the bathroom. Then, foolishly thinking we could still sleep this off, we returned to bed.

But sleep had other plans.
Minutes later, another shout — this time with urgency in her voice. She had spoken with her OB-Gyne. “We need to go to the hospital. Now.”

We scrambled to pack. I showered in record time. Then we rushed into the night, hailing a taxi as the city slumbered. Inside the cab, we made light of things — joked nervously that maybe this was it. That maybe our baby didn’t want to wait the remaining three weeks on the OB’s calendar. That maybe today would be the day we’d become parents.

At the hospital, she was questioned quickly, and then — just like that — they wheeled her toward the delivery room.
Wait... what? Already?

That day, we were gifted a son. A fragile miracle. A boy with lungs too weak for this world, but with a spirit that fought for sixteen days inside the NICU. And then... he let go.

---

That was seven years ago today.
This is his seventh death anniversary.

And every year, the pain replays like a scene I can't edit. I was young. Unprepared. Maybe even foolish. I missed the chance to hold the title of “first-time father” in full.

My son — wherever you are in the vast universe, in a place I can’t reach but feel so near —
I LOVE YOU.

Always.

#everyone #firsttimefather

New Important Words

I just learned two new important words...

D - Drop
E - Everything
A - And
R - Read

It was shared by Dr. Benilda S. Santos of Ateneo de Manila University.

M - Make
E - Excellence
A - A
N - Necessity

It was shared by Dr. Churchita A. Villarin, Education Supervisor II of Region VII.

I got these information from our Regional Cluster Training of Textbook Evaluators at Ecotech, Cebu City.

Trip to Boracay Island

This was the second time my wife and I spent a weekend at Boracay Island. If you love to be spoiled and live a pampered lifestyle, Patio Pacific is the place to be. Own a room yourselves, simply gorgeous .... and the bathroom was soooo nice. It’s away from the noisy crowd but within 10 minutes you can be right were the action is. I always come back from Boracay as a renewed person.

Just finished another course, A Journey of Grit, Growth, and Global Vision

I am so happy today! I just finished another course at Philippine Normal University and I earned a Certificate in Teaching Profession. I could have finish this course last year but an abrupt stint at Okinawa, Japan made me missed the opportunity. Now, I'm back with my old fighting spirit. God is so good.

In a world where challenges often dictate the limits of one’s dreams, I chose to write a different story—one of resilience, lifelong learning, and service.

My academic journey began at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), where I earned my Master’s in Government Management (MGM). My time at PLM was not merely about obtaining a degree; it was about developing the skills and mindset to lead, serve, and solve problems with innovation and integrity.

The pursuit of growth didn’t stop there. Through TESDA, I was selected for a scholarship program in Application of Multimedia Technology for E-Education in Okinawa, Japan. This experience expanded my vision of how technology can transform education, giving me firsthand exposure to world-class e-learning innovations. It was in Okinawa where I first glimpsed the power of multimedia in bridging educational gaps—an insight since carried back to the Philippines, influencing mywork as an Education Program Specialist II.

To further strengthen my ability to shape the next generation, I pursued my Certificate in Teaching at the Philippine Normal University (PNU)—cementing my role not just as a policy leader but also as an educator at heart.

Today, I am not just applying for scholarships; I am applying for opportunities to create impact. With every milestone—from PLM to Okinawa, from TESDA to PNU—I proved that education is a lifelong journey, and that every challenge can be transformed into a stepping stone. My goal is to harness cutting-edge technology, multimedia, and education strategies to serve communities both in the Philippines and across Asia.