Sunday, November 23, 2014
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...
Saturday, November 22, 2014
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.
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.
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.
(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)
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 |
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) |
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.
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)
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
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 |
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.”
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| 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)
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