EMPOWERED MOM

A friend of mine named Claudia, plays the drums so well. At an early age of nine, she had been tinkering with her dad’s Drum Sets in the church where they go for praise and worship. Well, it’s not only that, she is in fact very good with all the different kinds of Musical Instruments. From Trombones to Trumpets, you name it, she can play it. But then, three years ago her husband died and she felt so empty, she went from minor depression to a major break down. She not only stopped playing, she stopped living..

Last year though, she reported that she was already doing okay again. She is back on her feet and she is in fact teaching the piano and note reading again. She is also training a few students as of June of this year, to play the Cymbals, the Saxophones and the Clarinets as well. As for me, I am wanting to learn the Flutes while Lili will be trained for some violin lessons.

Sometimes in life we fall down and well, it is by God’s grace that he filled the world with music to make most of us whole again.  I am happy for Claudia, I really am.

My sister Sweet and I watched this movie the other night and I still can not get over the movie– it was truly amazing.. and quite frankly, I feel it’s but timely for my soon to be trip in Singapore, where I have some notion of visiting friends and some important historical places in the neighboring countries.

This is also a journey for me to find what I am looking for for so many years. Perhaps develop the ability to stand alone, and to be far from my most cherished Lili.. So Eat Pray Love have opened the door for me.. Whatta movie..

Yesterday, Sunday, was our Gender Sensitivity Training that was supposedly last Sunday but got postponed for yesterday.  It was a good take on gender issues and even included climate change parallel to gender issues. New inputs, new knowledge, new friends met, and new determinations and advocacy.  Of course, since it was sponsored by our school, there was free food from breakfast, lunch and 2 snacks in between. We had really remarkable speakers like Dr. Carmelita Hallazgo Catarata Bojo who shared so much knowledge including the issues on gender parallel to climate change. It was a bonus topic.

Gender issues affect all of us greatly. Starting from how we call our organs to how we deal with each other as men and women and human beings in general. How women and men differ at home and at work, career biases  and limits are just some issues in the workplace. At home, most couples have a hard time understanding each other because of such issues too.

I have been attending forums of this kind because of my advocacy on women empowerment.  A personal advocacy that I want my daughter to embrace too. To be strong enough for other women to brave their own storms in life and learn in the process. But here’s the best part of this seminar: there were more men in the room than women, so it is a good one. Technically, gender issues are not solely about women nor does it center on women. But because we live in a blinded society and one with double standards, many tend to think that when gender issues are raised, it’s mostly about women. Well, if only everyone can be as lucky as me to be able to join and acquire new learning about this issue, then perhaps there would be more people who would understand.

During the break, I asked the focal person for Gender and Development at BSU, Miss Helen Escudero for a pose..

I am grateful for all her efforts as well as her team, for this seminar was put on hold for too long due to budget constraints, but this school year, finally, they made it happen.

Related Laws briefly discussed during the Seminar:

• Republic Act 7192
• Executive Order 273
• Republic Act 9262
• Magna Carta of  Women

(you can find links under LEARNING RESOURCES at my sidebar)

Of course, the topics ranged from Gender and Sexuality to Sexism and Sexist Language, Gender Dynamics and Issues and the Beijing Platform of Action by Beijing +10.. We have Miss Marilyn Jacot, Miss Leteta Abejo and Miss Leonila Cajarte apart from Miss Bojo to thank for such topics.  Atty. Phoebe Toribio and Atty. Eldred Cole were not able to make it, nevertheless, their topics were taken cared of.

Our school just had its Intramurals 2010 last week and I am so happy my student, Cindy Rose M. Lunzaga won as 1st Runner Up in the Miss BSU Intrams 2010 MOGCHS Campus. Whatever will happen to the Miss BSU Intrams 2010 MOGCHS Campus, she will automatically be the one to replace her.

Anyway, with a face and body like that, I wouldn’t be surprised if Cindy becomes a model or an endorser for television ads or even print ads. She could be the next White Castle girl or the next cadillac accessories endorser. Who knows? The possibilities for her are endless. What I love about the girl is that, she is a package of beauty and brains with wit, humor and wisdom. I guess if she will join major beauty contests and she wins them, she will still end up fulfilled and a happy teacher like some beauty queens I know who have settled to be the torch bearer for education.

So Cindy, I bid you congratulations and good luck on your endeavors. I know you will make the cut for the next major event of your life— the world where books and looks  mesh well, and children are encouraged to explore their potentials as well as live their dreams according to how they wish them to be..

If  you are, then you would probably like the new blog I have launched, “BIG BEAUTIFUL AND FABULOUS“, and I am really excited about it.. The template I found is just right, and although there is just one post for now, in the days to come, it will be filled with stories and articles about being beautiful and feeling beautiful to help anyone realize how wonderful his or her body is, guided by some scientific explanations and many other facts. We are all aware that there are some  MEAN, IGNORANT CHAUVINIST PIGS, who do not see BIG BEAUTIFUL & FABULOUS people as happy people. In one way or another, they try to instill, not only in their children, but very vocally criticize people who are BIG, regardless of some very important and notable aspects about the person.  Hey, who are they to judge? Right? And the funny thing about it is that, they themselves Do NOT have the perfect body, the brains (talk about academic achievements) nor the face to boost their arrogance, lol..  Added to that, they have not even reached your level of education or the degree of rich experience that you have.. So why let them bother you one bit? Let them say whatever they want..  Kever!!!

Gone were the days when one would argue with these kind of  people.  If you are in a rut with these people, Do NOT argue, Do NOT feel bad.. Instead of telling them “SO WHAT IF I AM BIG,  I AM BEAUTIFUL & FABULOUS, & I CAN GO ON A DIET! WHILE YOU ARE UGLY AND NO AMOUNT OF SURGERY CAN HELP YOU”… just smile and ignore them.. See, being BIG, BEAUTIFUL & FABULOUS … is an envy for them.. Because these people may not be big or FAT, but they DO NOT HAVE THE SAME FREEDOM & HAPPINESS THAT YOU HAVE…

Always remember, being a bully is a defense mechanism! And they who are bullies are the ones we should pity, and understand.. Life is phenomenal, so are we because we are after all, fabulous, lol..

By the way, I would like to thank THE DOMAIN ANGEL for my new domain,  www.bigbeautifulandfabulous.info, rest assured that your gift will be of great HELP & VALUE for those whose lives will be touched by it..

FYI: I have been busy with an offline project that is why I have not added a post yet.. But again, in the days to come, it will be what it was intended for..

Again, Thanks Domain Angel..