Believing in Royale Beauty and Health products

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

I'M proud to be selling Royale Beauty and Health products. I'm not registered officially but still I believe in the product because I am a user. For this piece, I will focus on the Kojic papaya soap. 

Papaya products aren't new to me since I saw my mother use papaya extract when I grew up. Allow me to deviate and engage in a little throwback of long ago and far away. 

I got my expertise in washing clothes from my mother who would wash clothes twice a week at the Tagoloan River under the acacia tree. 

I can see in my mind that her favorite spot is below the “pangpang” or cliff where the terraces of Estela Pangca is located right now. 

While waiting for the clothes to dry off, my mother would ask me to get some papaya leaves and coconut milk. She would then get the best stone, wash it and start pounding the papaya leaves and scoop the extract, applying it to her face and legs. 

I saw the green extract. After a few minutes she would also apply the coconut milk. Looking back now I think her fair complexion came from using the papaya extract since I saw no other beauty products in the house then. 

That's one of the reasons why I am endorsing Royale Products not only for the memories of my past but also because I am witness to my mother's natural beauty which was enhanced by natural extracts from coconut and papaya. 

Truth be told, a lot of beauty products are manufactured from plants, herbs, leaves and extracts. 

I am reminded of these because I believed that the crude and unsophisticated beauty tricks used in the old days are the same things we are using now. 

The papaya juice used before found its way to the Kojic papaya soap and other anti-aging soaps and products of Royale or other companies manufacturing the beauty products. 

The Royale Business Club International,Inc a health and beauty company founded in the Philippines six years ago used ingredients from the available herbs, plants, flowers used by the older generation. 

This Kojic Papaya soap moisturizes and lightens the skin and has mild peeling effect. 

It also uses coconut oil and papaya extracts. 

Two days ago I had a talk with my dear friend Nelissa “Beth” Perez Kremer who recounted that she used papaya and Perla soap while growing up in Boog, Pagadian City. 

Beth, who lives in Roanoake, Virginia, promised to order because like me she believes in the Royale Beauty and Health products. For orders of any of the Royale Beauty products contact me through dennisnene140@yahoo.com and through these link and this link.

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who worked as a nanny and is now employed as a sub-teacher and a part-time teacher assistant in one of the school systems in the Carolinas.
Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com and at http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/spdennis54. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.
You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)

Making our New Year's resolutions

Image taken from www.the-joy-of-living.com

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

Do you usually make New Year’s resolutions? If your answer is yes then you are like me and the rest of this world. We all make resolutions every year. 

And I am reminded of this question since three days from now it would be 2015. My practice of making New Year's resolutions started long ago when I was a pupil of Tagoloan Central Pilot School. 

You see, after Christmas vacation my class would be asked by our teachers to write paragraphs of how we spent our Christmas vacations and our respective New Year’s resolutions. 

I think it was then Miss Realina Tapulgo now Mrs. Dalapag who would ask these questions. She was our Grade 5 teacher in charge. Since then it has become habit every year for me. 

Many of the resolutions are actually those that we failed to fulfill last year or in previous years that were recycled in the present. Of course there are new stuff--those that are imbued with energy and are achievable goals. 

Justification
Most of the resolutions revolve around fixing one's personal life, faith, love and recently health. 

As I grow older I call these goals or resolves to jumpstart the future. I also call them guides or personal GPS. There are resolutions that are grandiose and unrealistic. 

Some of these new plans are joining a gym to get fit, writing one page a day for my column Straight from the Carolinas /(apologies to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro editor-in-chief Grace Albasin) keeping up with one's inbox, walking, eating less, studying and saving money. 

The lists are long and filled with so many ideas. But those I mentioned I consider doable and can really be done if the will is strong. 

But as most of us know, the novelty wears off as we get bored and discouraged in the coming days and we make all the justification in the world on why we stop doing it. 

Simple
We’re suddenly confronted with the daily challenge of sustaining our goals. Unexpected events throw us off course. We need to stay late at work, we can’t leave our smart phone or a relative gets sick. 

One day of missing that goal then leads to missing the next day and the next day, until we feel defeated and our goal is abandoned. I admit I am one of those who would do some and forget some. 

So this year I am making resolutions that are simple and short term. Topping my list of resolutions is to finish reading the Bible and following the doctor’s advice. 

To make this more interesting I asked some friends if they still believe in New Year's resolutions. 

Yes they still believe- in fact one of them Lynn Wolfe started one resolution last year about using Facebook less and I think she is still figuring out if she would do it. Anyway some of the answers I got from my friends are interesting. 

Determination
Mayette Rivera Bailey of Orlando, Florida still believes in New Year’s resolutions. “I would eat less because I am diabetic,” Bailey said. 

Many of us really work religiously on our health in the first days of the year  but eventually stop in the middle of the year. But some like Mayette would continue doing it. It all depends on one's will and determination. 

Mayette also wants to reduce her time on Facebook. It remains to be seen but that resolution is also shared by another Fil-American Lynn Lim Wolfe, my town mate now based in Chicago.

“Last year less FB because sometimes I can't fulfill what I set out to do because I always face the PC but I try to avoid it,” she said. Wolfe admitted that she had given up on making New Year's resolutions because it's hard to achieve no matter what one does. 

You might even consider making your own New Year’s resolution to become more resilient, to better able to find solutions and maintain your overall determination in all that you do. 

Sticking with your plan
Resolve not to let small setbacks – or even large ones – throw you off your game. Once you resolve to find a healthy determination and mindset to tackle problems one by one, you’ll be mentally and spiritually re-charged. 

Go ahead, set realistic goals, but also set an extra one – the goal of sticking with your plan when the going gets tough.

Another Fil-Am friend of mine, Nelissa Beth Perez Kremer of Virginia has this to share. “My New Year's resolution is to give more meaning and action to what I desire.” 

When asked to expound she explained that she wanted to help others and give back to society. 

“I will focus more in helping students in the remote areas in the Philippines. I was reminded of my childhood schooldays when my niece told me on the phone she cried at school because she was unable to finish copying the teacher’s lesson from the blackboard,” she said.

Lynn Polk with her grandchildren

Inputs
Kremer, who hails from Boog, Pagadian City in Mindanao, Philippines, cannot believe that until now Filipinos back home still have to write down notes. Here in the U.S. students are provided with photocopy lessons for the day. 

“I will save some dollars and help one school buy a copier or maybe there will be some generous fellas who will help me with my project,” Kremer said.

Lastly, there's this input from Lynn Lorenzo-Polk: “ My New Year's resolution is to make someone's life better, in any way I can. I'm going to focus on that”

I would add their resolutions to my list for next year. Thanks Lynn Polk, Nelissa Beth Perez Kremer,Lynn Wolfe and Mayette Rivera Bailey for your valuable inputs. 

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who worked as a nanny and is now employed as a sub-teacher and a part-time teacher assistant in one of the school systems in the Carolinas.
Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com and at http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/spdennis54. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.
You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)

My life stories: My long and fulfilling journey to teaching

My life stories: My long and fulfilling journey to teaching: by Susan Palmes-Dennis I’VE always wanted to become a teacher ever since I became more aware of the world around me.  I recall holding m...

My long and fulfilling journey to teaching

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

I’VE always wanted to become a teacher ever since I became more aware of the world around me. 

I recall holding my first class in a makeshift classroom made of old wood near the old family house fronting the Tagoloan River. I think I was in Grade 3 then and my pupils were my sisters Laura, Betty and my “little aunt” Luz Naelga who is the same age as Laura. 

My family and I in the photo

I couldn't exactly remember if my baby sister Aida was already born at that time. I also have other kids as pupils in my class who live as far as the house of Lola (grandmother) Eging Casino. 

My brothers Simeon Jr. and Ramon attended my class for a while but the lure of diving and playing “tirador” (slingshots) with the other boys proved too much to resist. 

I also have in that class the late Mary Ann Paduganan who later became the City Clerk of Court in Cagayan de Oro City. I also had the late Glafer Dagus and her sisters Brenda and Lalaine. 

Pirating students
I guess they had fun in my class as they kept coming and I had fun as I made up stories and mimicked my favorite elementary teacher Iya Puring Nabong Pacheco.  

At first I held class in our secret hideout and it became a frequent activity especially in the few days leading to the end of school season in March. Two months after, we were supposed to attend Rosary class. 

After sometime there were already non-regulars who came and started to create trouble in my class. I had to stop not only because of them but because Glafer “Pering” Dagus started her own school at their house, “pirating” my students.

She had better materials because her father, the late Benjamin Dagus, was connected to the PACD, the forerunner of the Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG).

After a while even my sisters were absent from my class and attended Pering's class. Looking back it just dawned on me that it was really funny.

Defining moment
My school materials were old notebooks and books of Pepe and Pilar and also magazines (Philippine Graphic and Free Press) that my mother subscribed to which was delivered by Ms. Pingping Villegas while she worked at the Philippine Packing Corp.(now Del Monte Philippines).

I think those classes planted the seed of my love for teaching in my mind and  Pering also encouraged me to become one as she became a kindergarten teacher in Tagoloan town. 

As a senior in St. Mary’s High School in Tagoloan town, Misamis Oriental in northern Mindanao, Philippines, my classmates and I were required to teach  catechism at the public elementary school.

I was assigned in Grade Six Section 1 three times a week. I was always excited to go there. It was my defining moment at that time. 

I can remember the students under me and that means I was ahead of them four years: Mercedes Sabio (through the years we maintained our friendship and she is a certified public accountant) now based here at New York, the late Mary Ann Paduganan, a lawyer, Urcel Casino (the beauty queen), Josefina “Jojo” Casino, who's also here in the US.

Life story
Other students include Pinky Lim, now a banker who spends most of her time working for the church in Tagoloan town, Bertilla Akut, my late brother Ramon and Eduardo Casino, Tess Gala and Marivic Yap. The list is long but they are the people I remembered in my class then.

At center Puring Nabong Pacheco. (Photo/Tagoloan Heritage USA)

I might have taught them well since they made good in their lives. My sincere apologies to those whom I failed to mention here.

Through the years my love for teaching was set aside as destiny would lead me to take up commerce as my first degree, then I took up Masteral units. 

The opportunity to teach again came in without me asking for it when I started to take up law  and worked at the 6th Municipal Circuit Court of Tagoloan-Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.


At the time, then Tagoloan mayor Arteo”Arting” Valdehuesa was defeated by a newcomer Vicente Emano who later rose to become the governor of Misamis Oriental. Sorry for the detour; I am writing my life story, not local politics.

Permanent assignment
Now back to my story. I was still taking up law at the time Judge Valdehueza assumed as Municipal Circuit Judge. He taught at the Cagayan de Oro College (COC) now known as COC-Phinma.

Judge Arting would be absent at times because of his heavy case load or he felt ill and he would ask me to teach on his behalf. It wasn't long before it became a permanent assignment for me.

Judge Arting entrusted his teaching load to me and it kicked off my teaching career in college. You never know when and where life leads you. 

I finished my law course and worked in media outlets in Cagayan de Oro City, also in Misamis Oriental, northern Mindanao in the Philippines.

I started at the local daily Mindanao Goldstar then to Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) dxCC then to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro then to dxCO and finally to COC TV/Radio.

Fulfilling
I took up Masters in Communication Management and I was invited by the College of Mass Communications of Liceo de Cagayan University to teach radio broadcasting and media ethics where I stayed for eight semesters I think.

Before I left for the US, I was teaching at Xavier University College of Agriculture's Development Communication Department.

Several years after I set foot in North Carolina, I became a member in a pool of substitute teachers in one of the biggest school systems in the US and I work daily.

Until now I could hardly process what happened along the way. I guess I continue to focus on my dream of becoming a teacher. 

I value teachers as they are among the most noble of professionals in the world. I continue to abide by the values taught to me by my teachers like the late Purification Nabong Pacheco, Godilla Eduave, Realina Tapulgo, Mrs. Apolonia Yap, Mr. Ray Abejo and Nora Lim. 

Of course I also remember teachers like Rodrigo Gape and Mr. Ranedo. It was a long and fulfilling journey indeed and I'm not about to stop now.

The Grade 6 graduating class. (Photo/Tagoloan Heritage USA) 

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who worked as a nanny and is now employed as a sub-teacher and a part-time teacher assistant in one of the school systems in the Carolinas.
Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com and at http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/spdennis54. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.
You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)

On celebrating Thanksgiving Day Fil-Am style

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

I WROTE last year about how Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in the US and how it became a national holiday. This year’s holiday falls on the 27th, the last Thursday of November. 

Thanksgiving Day is like Christmas and New Year rolled into one, when people would cook their best dishes and share their blessings with the family and their friends. 

This tradition had been handed down for many generations after the first Thanksgiving Day celebrated by the Pilgrims on the first harvest in the New World in 1621.

It is just like how we celebrate fiestas in the Philippines where we have the “anti anti” that is the second day before the fiesta and the bisperas (eve of the fiesta). 

According to American history, Thanksgiving before lasted three days and it was attended by 90 native Americans and 53 Pilgrims. Since then it has become a federal and national holiday. 

Conception Palonpon Auman preparing Thanksgiving dinner

Funny and serious
The past five years I've been going with Ronnie transferring from one home to another, sharing and partaking of their blessings. 

As you know it's best to celebrate blessings and joys with others since it would only be Ron and me at home.  I thank all for the invitations by the way.

This year I asked other friends to share their stories on how they celebrate Thanksgiving. 

Some are funny and serious; stories that deal on how they cook the bird (turkey) to the use of the best silverware as well as maintaining a good working relashionship with employers and many others. 

Lynn Lorenzo-Polk who has been here in the US for close to four decades recounted how she invited her future husband Jim and his family over for Thanksgiving.

“I never cooked a turkey before this event. This would be the first time meeting his family and everything was going to be perfect. I put that bird in the oven and an hour later, I smelled something burning and the bird caught on fire and I threw everything, pan and all, in the backyard. Talk about being embarrassed! We didn't have a turkey that day and no one will ever have one in the Lorenzo-Polk household,” she said.

Of course it doesn't mean that she no longer wanted a turkey dinner. But Lynn, a former president of the Fil-American Community of the Carolinas (FACC), would prefer that someone else cook it than her. 

She also said the Polk family have no rituals except that every family take turns having Thanksgiving dinner in their houses. 

“Before dinner, everybody would hold hands and say what they are thankful for,” Lynn said. 

Dr. Michael “Mike” Borja, incumbent FACC first vice president, said Thanksgiving is that time to reflect on the past events of one's life, “to remember the good things we have which we were brought by the people who help us.”

The Weaver family

Thankful
The soft-spoken Borja, a pediatrician, said Thanksgiving Day can be celebrated with either a feast or a simple dinner with loved ones.  Dr. Stella Lawsin remembered how her family celebrated Thanksgiving. 

“I remembered the Thanksgiving Day we had in our home a few weeks after I gave birth to my daughter eight years ago. My husband's entire family came to visit to see the baby. We used our formal wedding china and silverware for the first time. After dinner, we all played volleyball at the neighborhood clubhouse as an excuse to eat more food afterward,” she said.

From my friend Belen Alde of New Jersey who came from barangay Tiring in Cabatuan town, Iloilo province to the US in 1993, Thanksgiving Day is something she and her family celebrates every day.

“When I got here in the US, I worked as a nanny for a New York City family for 15 years. I raised their two children from birth until their eldest was 15 and the youngest was 12. I had a very good working relationship with the family. They treated me like family with love and high respect. It broke my heart when I left them but I had to move on. I still kept in touch with them after I got my second nanny job. God is great and He takes care of me that's why I am always thankful,” Belen said.

Carllyn Francisco Ave said “Thanksgiving is a daily state of mind and heart due to Jesus Christ’s unfailing, overwhelming, eternal love to me. Each day is a gift to bring Him glory and honor.”

The Weaver boys

Happy times
Originally from Valenzuela, Metro Manila, Carllyn went to the US 17 years ago and is now happily married with JP Ave, FACC first vice president in 2013. 

Another friend Evelyn Paza, the former manager of the Philippine Information Office (PIA) in Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental, northern Mindanao in the Philippines, said she can't celebrate Thanksgiving Day because she's always asked to work on that date in New York.

At least Syvel Labajo Weaver, a former native of Butuan City can celebrate the holiday with her family. 

“I received a quick education on Thanksgiving Day from my husband and his family because I arrived in the US in November of 2007. My husband's birthday is November 25th and my mother-in-law is November 23rd so their birthdays fall on Thanksgiving Day every 7-8 years,” she said.

“They have always considered Thanksgiving Day one of the most important holidays. In our house, Thanksgiving Day is a time for family, a time to thank God for all he has given us and to rejoice on what we have, not what we want. It is a time to laugh together as a family, eat a good meal and think back in all the happy times in our lives,” Syvel said.

Favorite day 
Syvel works at home, tending to her business on distributing Royale beauty and health products. Yet another Fil-Am, Concepcion Palonpon Auman said she celebrates Thanksgiving Day the traditional way.

“Of course besides feasting I remember to express my gratitude for the blessings in my life. Thanksgiving Day means being grateful and thankful since it opens the door for more blessings to flow into your life.”

Concepcion, originally from Masbate, said she came to the US 20 years ago. She said Thanksgiving Day is her favorite day because almost all Americans and Canadians celebrate it.”

“My children are always waiting for this once a year. I don't like turkey but I eat a lot of food and that's something to be thankful for.”

There is still a lot of stories to tell so stay tuned. I'll also write about the annual Black Friday event in my next blog post.

For now let me end this blog post with words from one of my favorite authors Nicholas Sparks who wrote on his book The Longest Ride: “As hard as life can be and despite all regrets there have been moments when you felt truly blessed.”

Advance Happy Thanksgiving Day to all!

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who worked as a nanny and is now employed as a sub-teacher and a part-time teacher assistant in one of the school systems in the Carolinas.
Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com and at http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/spdennis54. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.
You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)

Remembering the dead

Tagoloan town Catholic cemetery. Photo by Jong Cass

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

WHEN November comes around, my mind usually wanders back to my home country of the Philippines where we observe the annual All Saints Day and All Souls Day.

It is that time of the year when most people in the cities and provinces would go home to visit the graves of their departed loved ones. 

Over the years, it has become some kind of a family affair, a time off from our busy lives to remember our dearly departed.

Growing up in Tagoloan town in Misamis Oriental, northern Mindanao in the Philippines, I look forward to “Kalag-Kalag”  because that’s when we have food like adobo (meat stew), fried chicken,  puto (rice cake),  biko (sweetened sticky rice) or sotanghon (rice noodles) and visitors either in the house or new relatives that you don’t know then meet at the cemetery. 

It’s also the time when we gather flowers and ferns when they are abundant then make a wreath or arrange for the grave.

Prayer leader
Candles come in sizes and colors. I don’t’ know if the size of the candles has something to do with the sins or imperfections of the dead. I have no idea then that time.

During those times since my paternal grandmother Consolacion Barros was buried at Sta. Ana,Tagoloan town, the family decided to pay respects to her grave. 

Then other dead relatives would have one candle each. I recall passenger jeepneys are always full that we end up walking to Sta. Ana and then walking all the way home. 

Whenever we visit the cemetery at Sta. Ana, we recite the prayer of the dead with whoever is the prayer leader. Good for us that my aunt Julia Naelga Laluna was the prayer leader.

It is hard to find prayer leaders around this time since everyone is in need of one. This kind of work is hard because it requires a lot of kneeling and memorizing. 

Litany
I think the popular prayer leaders in Tagoloan town as far as I can remember are “Iya Tida” which I think she passed on to Nang Sima, Lola Eging Ejem-Casino, Betty Sanches and Nang Aldie Mariano. 

Of the new generation, we have the sister of Femia Dalapag and more, whose names I’m not familiar with.

Whenever I’m at the cemetery I look at the tombstones (lapida). At Sta.Ana, I see the last names as Naelga, Adis, Neri, dela Rosa, Emata, Ragandang, Ellos, Escabarte and so many others. 

Then I would usually make a quick estimate of their ages and compare it from one tomb to another. 

After a long litany of prayers via the rosary and the long lists of the dead we end up stopping by the house of Tiay Norma Naelga Adis where we ate “biko” or drink “botong” (coconut water) then it would be a long talk with the relatives. 

Full moon
The visit would be over usually at or before 3 pm, then we leave and make our way to Mojon,Tagoloan where we met other relatives also walking towards Sta.Ana.

Back then, it would be a mortal sin if we don’t pass by the house of the brother of my paternal grandfather Ignacio Naelga.  We would then eat another round of biko and adobo until my tummy hurts. 

Usually it is my aunt Vicky Pagsuguiron who would be the center of attention as 
she was the first teacher of the Naelga clan and I was just the buddy. But I think that moment made me realize how important it is to have a degree. 

That was the time when I think I was in Grade 5. From Mojon we walked to Tagoloan proper and we would be lucky if it’s a full moon. It’s good to ask by that time then since there are no jeepneys. 

By the time you walk you don’t have to worry about being hit with a face full of dust.  The following day, All Souls Day, would be devoted for the souls of loved ones buried at Tagoloan cemetery. 

Gap
This is the time when you met a lot of relatives introduced by relatives that you have to take their hands and say “amen” to show respect and be blessed. These greetings seem endless.

Prayers would be long and I think it’s the time when the person leading the nine day novena would have a lot of work to do. I wondered before if the prayers went on too long that the list of the dead loved ones were long too. 

That time I was already surprised why biko, Royal True Orange (orange soda) and egg and sometimes Fighter Wine are placed on top of the grave . I also wondered who gets to eat the food. 

I knew somebody would because the Fighter Wine is gone the following day. There’s still so much to tell during All Souls Day and All Saints Day. But one thing is sure, all those buried in the cemetery are dead. 

Through the years I’ve realized also that even in death there is still that gap between the rich and the poor. 

The rich have big lots and big roofs while those who couldn’t afford get some space to bury their dead six feet below the ground. But all of them are dead, rotting inside their tombs with just skulls and bones as a reminder of their existence.

Remembering these makes me realize how short our lives are here on Earth. It is as short as the dash placed in between the dates of birth and dates of death.

Photo by Sueng Caballero

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who worked as a nanny and is now employed as a sub-teacher and a part-time teacher assistant in one of the school systems in the Carolinas.
Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com and at http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/spdennis54. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.
You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)

Paris memories, classes and borrowing Nicholas Sparks

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

There will be people you meet in your life that make imprints on you almost on first immediate contact and they remain in your memories through the days of your life.

I call these special moments changing impressions. Persons we met most of the time defined our character and teach us how to adapt to life. For me there are only a few people that leave such imprints and make life worth living.

I also call these situations as life’s moments. I work as a sub-teacher here at the Carolinas in one of the biggest school systems in the US. As a sub you work in the elementary grades, middle or high school and there are no specific assignments.

It depends on who needs your services in a day. Unless you get lucky you get assigned to one school for a variety of reasons. If it's different schools everyday the challenges are great because you never know what would happen.

But you would always meet new acquaintances and a new environment The disadvantage is on adjusting because you don’t know the place.

Memories of Paris

If you get multiple assignments in one school you would be familiar with the school and the people and you get a sense of belonging. You know what I am saying.

All schools I’ve been assigned to are all great. In one high school (never mind the name I don’t know if there are restrictions) I’ve met a few caring and nice people that make my assignment inspiring.

It was last week when I got this assignment where a male teacher in his middle thirties would always have a smile for me while standing on the front of the classroom as we each greet the students every period.

Later he would check on me if everything was fine and how the class went along.  He shared inputs about the class as relayed by the absent teacher and would give his opinion about it.

I learened that he is French and teaches French as a subject. Mere mention of France brought some memories in a different time when I was in Paris. The teacher's name is Fresse Fabrice.

Fine job

Another teacher in the same school but in a different building is Teacher Nikki Stanton. She's also in her thirties, I think. She has this big voice that she is very effective on sweeping students to classes.

We know that students would rather stay outside if allowed to loiter before class so the school instructed teachers to always be at the hallway reminding/sweeping students to their respective classes.

Ms. Stanton is doing such a fine job sweeping students to the classrooms that just seeing her in the hallway would make students head straight to their classes.

Even while calling out students, she always finds time to call me once she sees me coming. I’ve been assigned to her class several times in the past.

I was then an EC assistant on her class but she would never forget my presence and would engage me in class discussion. At that time I was assigned to her science class and the topic was about the environment.

Museum

Since then she would always check on me also if she sees me at the corridors.

There are many others who are as caring as Ms. Stanton and Signor Fabrice. I would probably write about them in the next blog.

Wait, I still have another recollection. This time it's not a teacher but a lovely woman assigned at the school library. By the way the library is so huge and houses my favorite things called books.

That library I frequent looks like a museum of information and learning. Indeed a place where a brain is put to work if one is interested in absorbing the information and learning from the books.

It was during my planning period that I headed to the library to see what they have in store. My eyes flew to a table near the front row where books are placed vertically, making it easy to read the titles.

The heading says new arrival and one name stood out, author Nicholas Sparks whose book was “The Longest Ride”, one of my favorites. As you can see he became my favorite ever since I stopped reading hard books.

Serene, cool

At my age books of Mr. Sparks qualifies as romantic for me. I think I told you that years before I always equate North Carolina to Nicholas Sparks. He lives here and most of his book settings are located here in Tar Heels.

Now back to that lovely woman. Her serene and cool appearance gave me the courage to approach her. She immediately asked “yes can I help you?”

“I was just wondering if a sub teacher can borrow a book,” I said. She explained that since a sub isn't integrated in the system it would be hard. Next thing she asked “Are you assigned permanently?”

I told her no but said “I work here almost every week and right now I would be here until Friday (it was Tuesday when I talked to her).” Without batting an eyelash, she said why not?

I asked her if she had a copy of the Asian Herald and she said yes. I told her I write for that publication and she need not worry about me losing the Nicholas Sparks book or damaging it.

I borrowed the book on a Tuesday and finished it on Thursday. By the way, the female librarian is named Elaine Anderson.

There are still many people I met and I would share to you my experience meeting them. For now I end this story with the hope that it would be the start of a journal of sorts about my journey as a sub-teacher in the schools here in the Carolinas.

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who worked as a nanny and is now employed as a sub-teacher and a part-time teacher assistant in one of the school systems in the Carolinas.

Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com and at http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/spdennis54. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.

You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)

A one day musical treat

Taken from walnutstreet.dmschools.org

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

You know what, next to my love for reading is my passion for listening to what I consider to be good music. 

Of course I have no idea how music is made but I guess it starts with the right sounds and of course the right lyrics.

My father (Tatay) Simeon Naelga  is very good at playing musical instruments like the banjo and ukelele. He's also good at picking up beats by tapping his hands on the table. 

Would you believe that my dad's simple tapping on the table perks me up? Yes I remember now how he taught us rhythms and clapping to different beats but I don’t who among my siblings inherited his musical skills.

I'm more proficient in listening to music played in radio, TV, the Internet and in my IPhone and tablet. Singing is on my bucket list but I know I would fail because once I open my mouth all the rats would hide or the lizards would fall from the walls.

I was reminded about my “musical background” when I was pulled out of my class the other day in school because the band teacher got an emergency.

Taken from charlottelatin.com

Treasured luxury
In short I was taking care of five periods of band class here with band students, setting aside my social studies and English classes. 

Seeing the different instruments made me feel high. 

There's the baritone, saxophone, trumpet, flute, clarinet, French horn and the drums, the small and big violins and a piano at the other end of the corner.

The saxophone and the rest of the instruments were so shiny, the flute was so silver smooth in its cute tiny case. Believe me, when the students played in their first class at 9:15 am to 3:15 p.m I was transported somewhere in time, to a more pleasant period in my life when music was a treasured luxury.

The band students practiced “When the Saints Go Marching In,” “Oh Susana” and “Tom Builder” and their performances were so perfect it was as if I was listening to an orchestra.

It was so pleasing to listen to “The Lord of a Thousand Dances” and “Imperial March” as the band students took me to that time in high school at St. Mary’s in Tagoloan town, Misamis Oriental in northern Mindanao, Philippines. 

Mesmerizing
In those days, band students like my school mates Robert Valdehuesa on trumpet and Zito Guegue played under our teacher Alexander Ipulan. 

There were student conductors also who can read notes who led the band students and the way they moved their hands with a tiny stick to the left, to the right, up and above was mesmerizing to watch. 

It was one two, one two, three and four. One volunteer conductor even closed his eyes at the middle of practicing “When the Saints Go Marching In.” 

Young they might be, but the band students I had the pleasure of overseeing had a great time, laughing whenever something is out of tune. I'm not as talented as they are but even I can tell when one instrument is out of sync with the rest.

I know a band or an orchestra is a team effort and all members must act as one to play the music they were supposed to deliver to the audience. 

I was frustrated when 4:30 pm came, it was too fast. That band class was a treat of a lifetime. Bear with me as I practice my conductor pose. Here we go, “One two, three four” one two” (music fades into the background). 

Taken from schools.cms.k12.nc.us

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who worked as a nanny and is now employed as a sub-teacher and a part-time teacher assistant in one of the school systems in the Carolinas.

Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com and at http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/spdennis54. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.

You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)

Revisiting memories of my hometown of Tagoloan

Photo by Nelly Montayre

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

I was added to this Facebook group called ” Lumad Tagoloan” (Tagoloan natives) where I saw people that I knew in the past who lived in my hometown of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental in northern Mindanao, Philippines.

Aside from “Lumad”, Facebook itself gave us the opportunity of reconnecting to the folks we met early in life.  I met many of them at Tagoloan Central School either as classmates, batch mates or schoolmates.  

I am teary eyed thinking about Tagoloan Central School. I couldn’t think of a reason why except that I am getting older. Facebooking indeed reconnects.

This story is all about special moments I remembered there but allow me first to mention the names of classmates or batchmates I haven't seen in 50 years. 

Nonalyn Eduave or Mrs.Dayen Zamudio as she's now known. We were close that I can remember it well, I don’t know if she remembers it. The closeness has something to do with ranking I guess but never mind that.  We were in the same row always in row 1.  

Class picture

After graduation from Grade 6 she went to Lourdes College and I lost track of her although every now and then I would know what became of her.

The next person I got reconnected to is a neighbor, Nelcita Lao who's one year ahead of me. She is the daughter of Iyo Teting Lao and Iya Meling. I had the gall to tell her you are “Inday.” 

But she asked that she be called Nelly. She is here in the US and she goes by the name of Nelly Lao Montayre.

It took me sometime to get her name but Lynn Wolfe is a classmate of Nelly. I remembered her commenting on a class picture and little did I know that she was Jocelyn Lim. 

Next up is Gerva Celeridad. I requested to make friends with her because I know she is Gerva Tagapulot.  Gerva, Nelly and Lynn are classmates. 

Their stories

There are still many names of people here at Facebook that we met in life that I would deal with sometime soon. I asked the people I mentioned and others on what they remembered about Tagoloan Elementary School and some responded. This isn't just my story but their stories as well. 

But let me kick off this trip down memory lane. I was schooled for the first six years of my life at the Tagoloan Central School and it was the best years of my life because the things I learned there is still with me. 

Then the school became known as Tagoloan Pilot School. I thought then that the name change was because all of the students were smart then I learned that the school would become a lab for teachers to learn the different methodologies of teaching and connecting to their pupils. 

I asked many of my former classmates and batchmates about their memories of Tagoloan Central School and here are some of them. 

Nelly Montayre of San Diego, California, formerly known as Nelcita Lao said she was proud of being chosen to raise the flag during the flag ceremonies in the morning or afternoon.

Whipping

Nonalyn  Eduave or Dayen Zamudio recounted the time when a group of girls went to Baluarte to Rosemary Acac's place for a swim. She remembered Milan Dagus, Gracia Nabong and many more in the group. I was with a group but had a hard time recalling the others. 

“I can't forget this experience,” she said, explaining that she got a whipping from her mother, the late Mrs. Godilla M. Eduave, a teacher at Tagoloan Central School. 

I couldn't blame her mom since Baluarte, a barrio of Tagoloan town, is quite far from the school and it was so hot going there. There were no tricycles then. 

She continued recalling the science and spelling bee contests under Mr. Butler and Bernson who were members of the Peace Corps. “We have fun trying to sound like them,” Dayen said. 

She also recalled about the “ macopa fruits” of our neighbor Iya Tering Lee which we stole whenever we can. I remembered that the macopa tree is at the back of the building where we have our Home Economics class. 

Strong personality

Gerva Tagapolot-Celeridad remembered Mrs. Josepita” Pita” Mijares and Mrs. Abejo, the home economics teacher. She said she learned much about home skills and etiquette from them. 

Photo by Urcel C. Mulvey 

Gerva said Mrs. Abejo would order girls who got naughty in class to walk around the oval outside class with a book on their head. 

Back then, Gerva was boyish and already sported a strong personality.

“She remembers her buddies Villarita 'Rita' Paguidopon, sister of my classmate Rico and Cecilia “Tata” Valdehuesa. I understand they are close because they all lived near the public market or at Kibulda and they went home together,” Gerva said.

From our class class valedictorian Gracia Nabong-Salac, she shared this bit of nostalgia: “We enjoyed picking sampalok (tamarind) at Clea Alaud's place, picking up  guavas in Natumulan Hills at Procesa Barros' place.”

Gracia or Ace, who graduated class valedictorian in elementary and high school, also remembered taking a dip at Tagoloan River and jumping off the high Tagoloan Bridge and going home soaked to her skin. 

Game of the year

Grace recalled looking for materials for Home Economics class projects in Casinglot by crossing a river and climbing the mansanitas fruit tree of Evangeline “Tata” Gamber-Mabagos. 

Just like Nelly Lao Montayre Urcel Casino-Mulvey who is four years younger than my class 67 she remembered the flag ceremony in the morning coz that’s” when you get to see all the students especially your groupie bisan di mo pareha ug section.” Urcel added.

“The recess in the mid morning and mid afternoon where we would then play with whatever is the "in" game of the year be it biko biko, bato lata, kundesi,” she recalled.

Urcel who became Miss Tagoloan in the years ahead and a campus figure at Xavier University already foresee what she would be by saying this during elementary she love closing program because she would always be on it.

“Also at the end of each school year the presentations in which always gyud ko starring (I never starred in),” she said.

Special moments

Gregorio “Gerry” Paduganan who later entered the Philippine Military Academy and retired as Air Force General already knew about his future career then in elementary school when he was made fun of by fellow Boy Scouts.

“Papa Dodoy was one of my scout masters and at one time Mr. Balasi, yes Mr Gapi too. Knot tying always fascinated me so every time there's a contest on knot tying, I always represented my school,” Gerry said.

Lastly for me, I remembered  a classmate who didn't study for tests and I told her she can copy from me in exchange for some favors. She was a good copier that she even copied my name. Oh, Trinidad Rollenas where are you now?

I think that one episode just defined my life in the days ahead. There are still so many moments to tell the next time.  These stories are quite random because I asked from many and got a few replies. 

Next time, I'll talk about the teachers. For now, there are so many memories to remember that it crowds my mind and good. Gerry took quite sometime to recall the memories of times spent in Tagoloan Central School. 

I close my recollections using Gracia Salac's words “We experienced true happiness in timeless moments We shared our dreams, laughter and joy amidst struggles and challenges.”

Special moments constitute memories so precious that no one could erase them. Meaningful and beautiful beyond words. It stays and live in our hearts forever.”

I recalled these words as I was invited to become a commencement speaker in Tagoloan school and believe me, I almost couldn't utter a word as there were so many special moments. Yes, they stay with you even if you're in another country.

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who works as a nanny in North Carolina. This page will serve as a venue for news and discussion on Filipino communities in the Carolinas.

Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com and at http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/spdennis54. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.

You can also connect with her through her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)