Brigada Eskwela 2012

Each year, two weeks before the opening of classes in June, parents, teachers, students, civic and business groups, local government units, non-government units, and other community residents will help one another for the annual school maintenance program called the BRIGADA ESKWELA.

This is actually my fourth BRIGADA ESKWELA since I entered the teaching profession in 2008. But this year is somewhat special for me. The reason, I finally have a classroom to prepare for the School Year 2012-2013. I was given my first advisory class last school year, but I was unlucky enough to have my class literally 'under the mango tree.'

Learning was fun under the mango tree!

Thank God this year, I am assigned to a classroom. My class will be occupying the dilapidated Modular Building, the first building built at Carmen National High School since it was founded. For quite a few years, it was not used to hold classes, but since we lack classrooms we need to recycle the old building into a room conducive for learning. Yet, I am so happy for this improvement, it is much better than holding a class under the mango tree!

I was really tempted to call the producers of the show Extreme Makeover hoping that they will make a classroom makeover episode. But no, thanks, I need to rely on myself and with some concerned students for this task.

Briefing with our principal, Mrs. Fedilina C. Entero before the start of Brigada Eskwela

Cleaning Time!!!

Transferring the chairs to my assigned room with the help of some students.

Painting the wall with apple green color to have a fresher look.

I know I still have many things to do to make this place a great learning avenue for my students. Wish me luck guys!!!

World Teachers' Day 2011

I just had one of the happiest moments in my teaching career. Yes, the occasion made it very special, today is our day, today is the "World Teachers’ Day 2011." I know that teachers from different "rich" private schools received expensive stuffs from their students, but for us in public schools, we were beaming even if we just received a simple note of sweet and kind words appreciating our importance in their lives.

The note from my sister Christie Marie, completed my day, it brought me to tears. Thanks to my colleague Mickoy Lerazan who made an extra effort of contacting special persons of her co-teachers to give some surprise messages from our dear ones.

So touched with my sister’s message, here it goes:

I love you Inday Christie.

I am truly blessed this year! I graduated from UP for my Master's of Education degree last April and I finally received my appointment as a regular teacher last February. I know that these blessings have corresponding responsibilities. To be dubbed as a teacher a hero, that is a great challenge. Nobody's perfect, that is very cliche, so to live up to the title as hero requires great sacrifices.

Some of my colleagues are already more than 10 years as teachers and still they are counting for more happy and fruitful years as educators. Their secret of how they last long in this field is their dedication, and for the simple happiness upon a hearing a student saying "Thank you Sir/Mam! You are one of the reasons why I am successful today."

Happy Teachers' Day to all my colleagues anywhere in the world!!!

Teaching Drama

A self-photograph from my old phone, inspired by the Stage Musical, Chicago.


Cristy Martel receives her Best Actress trophy.


Pearl Joy Celades showing her emotion on stage.


Japhet Villaber with his award winning performance.



In my wildest dreams, I want to become a famous stage actor in Broadway! Yes, I want to share the stage with Lea Salonga, Hugh Jackman and Merryl Streep. It's an impossible dream, but dreams are for free. So Mr. Ares, dream on!!! LOL

I am an avid Drama fan, musical or just pure spoken lines. I think many people love to hear radio plays, watch soaps on TV and movies on DVDs or in the big screen. But for me, the best shows are performed live. I mean if you watch actors performing live in front of you, you will also be infected with the adrenaline rush they are experiencing. You can feel in the air the excitement and the other emotions they are showing.

As what Hugh Jackman announced during the 81st Academy Awards, "the Musicals are back!" I was so elated to hear that. My love of musicals started when I had played Rolf of the Children of Mary, Catmon Unit 1992 production of Rogers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music. From that time on, I tried to grab every opportunity to watch musicals on stage or just any type of drama.

As the English teacher, I'm always looking for strategies and methods to deepen the educational experience of my students in in their classrooms as well as outside of it. To help my students understand and appreciate Drama better, I organized the English Drama Festival 2009 last March 20, 2009 for my five English classes. It was really fun! My students were all enjoying and we presented an instant entertainment for everybody.

I had gained new insights about the mechanics of Drama and how to make better productions in the future from our Drama Festival. I discovered new talented students and I encouraged them to perform and participate in the different academic as well as in other extracurricular activities for the next school year.

I will really miss this batch!

Curtain falls...

Proud Teacher

Many people were flabbergasted about my decision on shifting career, from being a Physical Therapist to become a Secondary School Teacher. What surprised me most are the negative reactions I got from the people I never thought would react that way, my friends who are teachers. They really discouraged me of pursuing this career. They have their different reasons, and surely they can validate them; but still I stick and remained firm with my decision on becoming a full pledge educator.

I think that I am called to be a teacher; a true vocation that I believe will enable me to attain self actualization. To treat patients as a Physical Therapist and see their progress is very self fulfilling, but I feel that there are greater things I can do as a teacher. To be the students guide, to open doors for varied experiences in life, to touch their hearts and to motivate them to reach the highest peak of their goal are the things I like to do as at teacher.

All these things are the reasons why I took up teaching. I know there will be more surprises and trials that will come along the way, but at the end of the day I will be proud to say, “I am a teacher”.