Meet Roxanne

You might be wondering why it took me so long to finally have Roxanne, my Mio Aerox 155 S.

Mao ni siya ang estorya...

Year 2007, nilarga ako parents,  nagbilin na silag motor. So, kay wala namay mogamit, nagpatudlo ko sa ako Yoyo ug drive. "Dong, sakay diri, kay ato tudloan ug drive." Diretso ra sad ko sakay, naa sa likod ako Yoyo, ako maoy nagkupot sa manibela. Gikan sa gate namo, padung mi sa baybay, ug sa dihang naratol ko, nakumot nako ang manibela. "Buhi-i Dong, buhii!" Wa man gyud nako buhii uy. Gitumba na lang ni Yoyo ang motor kay lahos man gyud unta mi ato sa kural ni Mama Tit. Sus, pwerteng daghanang taw raba nakakita, sila Nang Pering, anhing Nang Erly ug uban pang mga taga baybay. Sakit kaayo ako tuhod ug tiil kay pwerteng dakoa sa samad ug pangos diay. Kay nauwaw man ko, dali ra kaayo ko nakabarog ug nidagan pauli sa balay. Pag-abot nako sa amo sala, niligid ko sa sawg kay sakit kaayo, ug naghilak, pwerteng tiyabaw. Ug sukad ato, wa na gyud ko nangambisyon nga mo-drive ug motor. 

Fast-forward 2020, nag Pandemic, ECQ, GCQ, lisod man kaayo ang transportation uy, mao naka-decide na gyud ko nga "it is about time to have one".

I hope to use Roxanne  in delivering the modules to my students. This school year will be very exciting for all of us!!! Promise, I will be very careful about driving...  

Entablado

Santacruzan 1985; I am the Constantino

The entablado or the stage of Catmon Town Plaza (now Pedro J. Monsanto Sports  and Cultural Complex) played a major part of every Catmonanon's life. Whether 'twas just for a social program or the commencement exercises in Elementary or High School , most of the Catmonanons, if not all, had experienced the honor and pride of being there. From my Yaya Luz Flores Day Care days, to my Catmon Central Elementary era, and up to my G.J.F.S. years, the entablado was always the final platform of the various memorable presentations and events.

Day Care Program Pupils of Ms. Lucia Flores a.k.a. Yaya Luz

Catmon Central Elementary School Graduation

oration, 3rd Grade

Cebu Division Level Champs

G.J.F.S. Graduation 1995

The old stage had its unique architectural design. It had a hemispheric shape and was really a work of art. Each year, I was so excited to witness how Cebuano artists painted murals on the wall of the stage with different Catmon sceneries. I don't know if there is a similar stage that can be found in Cebu with a design like that since I haven't seen one in my lifetime.

EMCEE : Catmon Summer League:  The Inter-Barangay Tournament 2012 

Last May 6, 2012, I was invited to host the opening of the the Catmon Summer League:  The Inter-Barangay Tournament 2012 . When I was on the stage, at the beginning I had this weird feeling that I didn't belong, the area is now bigger and very different from the entablado that I was familiar with. I sat in the corner for a while a tried to reminisce all  the sweet memories I had with the old entablado. The smiles I had for remembering the beautiful  things which happened to me on the old entablado made me relaxed a little bit, and eventually made me enjoy my hosting job. But still, I missed the old entablado!!!

Dance Presentation Back in High School

But If we think of the practicality of the new stage and the complex in general, then we can say that it is perfect for the modern Catmonanons. First, it can hold more people, second, the structures and amenities can accommodate modern shows and events and most of all, it has better maintenance and care.

Let us take good care of our new sports complex as we loved and cherished our old town plaza!!! And for all of us who had witnessed the grandeur of our old entablado, let's just keep the memories in our hearts and share it with the younger generations...

Teachers' Nite Fiesta 2012

Religion, Culture and Community Life

Photo courtesy of Mec J. Concha

Winston Churchill, a British politician and recipient of Nobel Prize in Literature once said, “Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a corpse.” Art is an integral component of community life. Catmon as a community of faithful Catholics stood for 175 years amidst great drama brought by the forces of nature, economics and politics. With the artistry and innovativeness of the people, tradition like “Sugat” emerged to be a favorite of all. Though this event is not unique to Catmon, nevertheless you can feel a distinctive stroke of Catmonanon creativity in it. Like any form of spectacle, the “Sugat” evolved from a simple manifestation of faith to a grand expression of community culture and life.

"Sugat" in Cebuano or "Salubong" in Tagalog is the Easter celebration of the Catholic Filipinos which never failed to be a crowd drawer in any part of the country. Minglanilla, Cebu is quite famous for this, and they call it as Kabanhawan Festival. Almost all parishes in the Philippines have their own way of celebrating such event.

Utmost jubilation reverberated in the corners of the Catmon town plaza as the angel (portrayed by a pretty girl) went down from heaven (a structure decorated to depict as such) to take off the purple veil that covers the face of the Virgin Mary. This scene was an annual sight, except for last year, when a simpler dramatization of the “Sugat” was done. We were deprived last year of the spectacle of a flying angel, and thank God it’s back! I didn’t really know what the real problem was; some say it was the lack of the bamboo poles and other materials for the “Sugatan” (the structure), others say someone didn’t like to risk the safety of the girl harnessed as an angel. Okay, okay! Let us not dig on that, because one important thing happened - at long last, the structure that was built a few years ago in the upper portion of the entrance of the gym eventually served its purpose, heaven for the “Sugat”.

Guided by the tradition, the art is preserved, yet it grows it splendor. With the use of modern technology – innovation is inevitable – but the heart of the celebration is always kept constant. That’s the Catmonanon spirit. Proud to have one!

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”.

Magtutudlong Catmonanon

Magtutudlong Catmonanon is my online personal journal. Catmonanon is an adjective which means somebody who comes from Catmon, Cebu and magtutudlo is the Cebuano term for teacher. Yes, I am a teacher who hails from Catmon but I am teaching in Carmen, Cebu right now. Wherever I will be, the truth will always remain, that I am a Magtutudlong Catmonanon.

I am publishing this blog to pay tribute to my beloved town Catmon, Cebu. Catmon is very special to my heart; I was born here, I played, I prayed, I laughed, I cried, I loved, and I am educated here. In other words, I become who I am because of Catmon.

This site also serves to pay homage to the most noble profession, TEACHING. The human race have survived and evolved as a species partly because of a capacity to share knowledge, the important task of a teacher, therefore I think, people should respect and honor teachers who did their different jobs well.

I will post here some personal events, thoughts, insights, opinions and additional stuffs like poetry and other literary works, old as well as new photographs of personal, family, campus, church, community, and other activities.

I had kept a diary when I was in high school, but I lost it. I had another diary during college days, and I still have it until now. Since blogging is an in-thing, I’d like to continue my writings through this blog. I don’t know how people will find and react to this personal site, but I just wish it will serve my purpose well, to free my thoughts and let many people know about it.