Money don’t make Pinoys happy because they’re used not having it
A recent study mentioned that money alone does not make Filipinos happy. According to a report of Ma. Ceres Doyo in Philippine Daily inquirer, a study was made by a Doctorate in Educational Psychology holder Ma. Gladiola M. Santos, present dean of College of Sciences of Adamson University. The said study stated that most of the respondents made family and friends as their reasons for being happy.
It is good news! In this wearisome, sometimes frustrating period in our country, Filipinos are still happy.
The study admitted however that the limited number of respondents could not be representative of the entire Filipino people and hopes that it could be a “…first phase of a ladderized study that would involve bigger samples from different regions until we can get a truer estimate of the picture of Filipino.”
If asked in my point of view, I could say the main reason why money does not make Pinoys happy is that we are used not having it. Money is hard to come, even for hard working wage earners especially now that oil and basic commodity’s prices rise at the speed of light.
It’s a defense mechanism. If you don’t have money, avoid thinking too much about it. For if you do, it will make your miserable life more miserable or worse-hell.
At least we Pinoys know how to cope in this era of corruption, political and economic uncertainty. That’s what make’s life beautiful, surviving a crisis.
But the study does not mean that money is no big deal for Filipinos. Definitely money is a big deal, for with that piece of paper and few pieces of coins lies survival.
Just like in the case of new hired teachers who have to endure months without salary. And if ever, the teacher receives salary, it is just enough to sustain existence.
In teaching, they say money is not what will make one happy but the fact that one becomes an instrument in educating the next generation. However, there will be sure times when salary not received makes the morale of the teacher very low. That hard earned money is very much needed in order to deal with other life predicaments. The low morale could in turn result in poor teaching performance.
I’m sure the case is the same with other Pinoy wage earners.
It is indeed high time that lawmakers fast track (asa ka pa?)the bill increasing the salary of teachers and other wage earners.
Heck, let’s not talk too much about money alright? Other reasons aside from family and friends that makes Pinoys happy is sex and pets. The result of the study tempted the researcher to conclude that “sex is only as important as one’s pets as a source of happiness” for Filipinos. Really? Will you trade your wife for a pet?
***
Say a prayer once in a while.
(For comments, add nailbite3@yahoo.com in friendster and make a testimonial.)
Saturday, June 14, 2008
THE GREAT DIVIDE
THE GREAT DIVIDE
It had been quite some time that I was able to fill this column. Reason is I had been very busy in my profession as a teacher. After almost five years of experience as a private school teacher, I am now in the public school.
After more than three months in the public school, I can’t help but compare it to the private schools I had worked with.
It was here where I saw the great divide between those children “who have” and those “who have nots” in life.
When I came to public school, the room assigned to me has a leaking roof. Everytime it rains, my pupils ready the buckets and the mop. While I am having my lecture, one pupil has to mop the floor or else we will be walking in a slippery wet floor.
As cleaning materials, we have a handful of old brooms and a dust pan without a handle. That means I have to buy the needed materials in order to maintain the cleanliness of my classroom.
Books? What books? Oh! I forgot, we do have some books-one. As in only one for thirty eight pupils in our Science subject. Four Reading Books and well, at least half of the class have books during Filipino and English. Well, one good way to teach them the value of sharing huh?.
Of course, in private schools the school’s administration provides the facilities and the needed repair of rooms. The children even have their own books and workbooks.
In private schools, most children don’t just have bags but they use trolleys. Because their school materials are heavy for them to carry on their backs. While with my pupils right now, I should already be thankful everytime half of the class brings their notebooks with a pencil. Most of them can’t even afford to buy decent clothes for school. Some of my pupils has to wear tattered clothes in school.
However, I never have any regrets being in a public school. Why should I? It was here where I discovered that teaching is more than earning money but a calling. A calling to serve those who are lesser in life.
Teaching is indeed a noble profession, much nobler if you dedicate it to those who can’t afford an education with complete classroom facilities, books and learning materials.
I would like to express my thanks to the administration of Altavas Elementary School because of their help that I was able to adjust quickly in the public school. To Sir Rolando Doroteo, our Principal, the heads of the different departments, my co teachers and of course, my pupils.
This space would also like to take this opportunity to call the attention of the DepEd and national government officials to do something to improve our system of education. If they envision a Cyber Educated populace in the future, perhaps it could be a better start if we repair the roofs of classrooms and provide more books to our learners.
Have a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year everyone. Welcome 2008!
***
(Comments and suggestions? Email to nailbite3@yahoo.com.)
It had been quite some time that I was able to fill this column. Reason is I had been very busy in my profession as a teacher. After almost five years of experience as a private school teacher, I am now in the public school.
After more than three months in the public school, I can’t help but compare it to the private schools I had worked with.
It was here where I saw the great divide between those children “who have” and those “who have nots” in life.
When I came to public school, the room assigned to me has a leaking roof. Everytime it rains, my pupils ready the buckets and the mop. While I am having my lecture, one pupil has to mop the floor or else we will be walking in a slippery wet floor.
As cleaning materials, we have a handful of old brooms and a dust pan without a handle. That means I have to buy the needed materials in order to maintain the cleanliness of my classroom.
Books? What books? Oh! I forgot, we do have some books-one. As in only one for thirty eight pupils in our Science subject. Four Reading Books and well, at least half of the class have books during Filipino and English. Well, one good way to teach them the value of sharing huh?.
Of course, in private schools the school’s administration provides the facilities and the needed repair of rooms. The children even have their own books and workbooks.
In private schools, most children don’t just have bags but they use trolleys. Because their school materials are heavy for them to carry on their backs. While with my pupils right now, I should already be thankful everytime half of the class brings their notebooks with a pencil. Most of them can’t even afford to buy decent clothes for school. Some of my pupils has to wear tattered clothes in school.
However, I never have any regrets being in a public school. Why should I? It was here where I discovered that teaching is more than earning money but a calling. A calling to serve those who are lesser in life.
Teaching is indeed a noble profession, much nobler if you dedicate it to those who can’t afford an education with complete classroom facilities, books and learning materials.
I would like to express my thanks to the administration of Altavas Elementary School because of their help that I was able to adjust quickly in the public school. To Sir Rolando Doroteo, our Principal, the heads of the different departments, my co teachers and of course, my pupils.
This space would also like to take this opportunity to call the attention of the DepEd and national government officials to do something to improve our system of education. If they envision a Cyber Educated populace in the future, perhaps it could be a better start if we repair the roofs of classrooms and provide more books to our learners.
Have a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year everyone. Welcome 2008!
***
(Comments and suggestions? Email to nailbite3@yahoo.com.)
BIR should improve its services or else…
BIR should improve its services or else…
“Ga pang galaiti sa kaugot!” This Akeanon expression could best describe my feelings to the present system of Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). I’m lost in words to translate it in English so I loosely translated it as *@#$%&*() *@#$%&*()!!!...
I would like to clarify that it is not the staff of BIR Aklan that I’m referring to here but the whole system of BIR.
Here is a narration of what happened to me and you be the judge if I’m my feeling is unjustified.
I applied to BIR for a transfer of Tax Identification Number (TIN) last December since that my TIN was obtained in Marikina last year. I was informed that I really have to make a long distance call to BIR Marikina, inform them that I need a transfer of TIN and fax a certain form. So I dialed the number given to me last December 18, 2007 at around 2:30 in the afternoon. After almost an hour of listening to a ringing phone with nobody answering, I gave up and thought to perhaps I should just try calling some other time. Perhaps they are busy preparing for the Holiday season.
Came January 3, 2008. Perhaps the personnel of BIR Marikina are not busy anymore so I called in the morning of that day around nine o’clock. After more than an hour, still, a ringing phone with nobody answering. I again tried in the afternoon but I only heard the same ringing phone and failed to talk to anyone from BIR Marikina.
My third try was last January 16. Since it was our “sad-sad”, I was able to sneak and have the time to call. I tried calling at around 8:30-9:15 in the morning. Still the same ringing phone. So I went to BIR Kalibo and informed them about my case. They explained that perhaps the number does not exist anymore since that they only took it from a BIR table calendar. I was given two new numbers. This time one number “does not exist” and the other one is a residence that has a Bisaya accent maid who told me to call at night “kase wala pa amo ku at di ku alam yan”. I returned again to BIR Kalibo. This time, I was given the number of BIR’s service center or call center. After a pretty voice that said “for inquiries, press 1” at last I was able to talk to a call center agent who gave me two new telephone numbers of BIR Marikina.
The two numbers are ringing but nobody’s answering. I dialed the two numbers alternately-and after another almost an hour try, at last somebody answered the phone! Wheeewww! Thanks God!
But the celebration was shortlived when he informed me that he was just a janitor and he gave the phone to another pretty voice who said that I called the wrong department and so she gave me the number of the department she claimed could help me.
Excited, I dialed the new number. It was ringing but nobody’s answering. Ohhh…perhaps everyone in BIR Marikina are so busy that nobody can pick up the phone. “Just try, perhaps somebody will pick up the phone.” I told myself. I gave up dialing when I saw the time is already twelve o’clock. Perhaps this afternoon I can try again… Came one o’clock and I returned to Pantelco with the familiar faces of the lady at the counter and the guard smiling beautifully to me.
Dial, just dial and hope that somebody in BIR Marikina will take notice of the ringing phone. Argggg!!..it’s already two thirty in the afternoon. Been inside the booth for almost an hour and a half dialing and
listening to ringing phone that even though the headset is away from my itching ear, I felt I’m still hearing a ringing phone.
I gave hope. This phone thing won’t do. Perhaps I should just return to BIR Kalibo and try asking for other remedy to my TIN problem. Anyway, all I need is a transfer of my TIN number.
And so, here I am again in the same office I had been twice this morning. The solution-write BIR Marikina through snail mail. I asked if there’s anyway I can access or contact BIR Marikina through the internet. “Internet? Sir, basi maayawan ka lang.” is the instant reply.
Well, in the age of information technology, the letter was sent in the hope that someone from an office who can’t answer a ringing phone will have the time to read a letter.
Still, I tried the internet thing. Anyway, even though “ayawan ako”, I have enough patience since that I have no choice. The result? Page not found for the services I think could help me.
I felt cheated by BIR that day. And why not? Isn’t it that the main reason why BIR exists is because the government has to tax dry the people so that it can fund its propaganda of booming economy and “better services” to the people?
Is BIR just after hardworking people’s money? Don’t a taxpayer like me who is the lifeblood of the Bureau deserve a better service? It just makes me sick every time I see big tarpaulins and billboards that say “this is where your taxes go” with faces of politicians smiling like a toothpaste endorser but see CRACKS on an UNFINISHED road concreting project. Then one just has to wonder how much was the kick back and the millions of pesos that was stolen from the taxpayer’s coffer.
Corruption is another story. They can have stealing galore if they want. They can be rich thanks to a poor me. I am already numb to corruption… but please, at least the BIR should have the nerve to do something to ease the taxpayer’s burden by providing better services so that taxpayers won’t have to lose precious time and productivity just for a simple thing as a Tax Identification Number.
If Friendster helped Magdalo leader Antonio Trillanes win a senate house and the CPP-NPA and MILF can utilize the internet for their causes, how much more the government?
I won’t be surprised if someday, we will just wake up with Jose Ma. Sison as our president if this kind of system won’t be fixed this early!
BIR fix your services, or else…
***
(For comments, email at nailbite3@yahoo.com)
“Ga pang galaiti sa kaugot!” This Akeanon expression could best describe my feelings to the present system of Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). I’m lost in words to translate it in English so I loosely translated it as *@#$%&*() *@#$%&*()!!!...
I would like to clarify that it is not the staff of BIR Aklan that I’m referring to here but the whole system of BIR.
Here is a narration of what happened to me and you be the judge if I’m my feeling is unjustified.
I applied to BIR for a transfer of Tax Identification Number (TIN) last December since that my TIN was obtained in Marikina last year. I was informed that I really have to make a long distance call to BIR Marikina, inform them that I need a transfer of TIN and fax a certain form. So I dialed the number given to me last December 18, 2007 at around 2:30 in the afternoon. After almost an hour of listening to a ringing phone with nobody answering, I gave up and thought to perhaps I should just try calling some other time. Perhaps they are busy preparing for the Holiday season.
Came January 3, 2008. Perhaps the personnel of BIR Marikina are not busy anymore so I called in the morning of that day around nine o’clock. After more than an hour, still, a ringing phone with nobody answering. I again tried in the afternoon but I only heard the same ringing phone and failed to talk to anyone from BIR Marikina.
My third try was last January 16. Since it was our “sad-sad”, I was able to sneak and have the time to call. I tried calling at around 8:30-9:15 in the morning. Still the same ringing phone. So I went to BIR Kalibo and informed them about my case. They explained that perhaps the number does not exist anymore since that they only took it from a BIR table calendar. I was given two new numbers. This time one number “does not exist” and the other one is a residence that has a Bisaya accent maid who told me to call at night “kase wala pa amo ku at di ku alam yan”. I returned again to BIR Kalibo. This time, I was given the number of BIR’s service center or call center. After a pretty voice that said “for inquiries, press 1” at last I was able to talk to a call center agent who gave me two new telephone numbers of BIR Marikina.
The two numbers are ringing but nobody’s answering. I dialed the two numbers alternately-and after another almost an hour try, at last somebody answered the phone! Wheeewww! Thanks God!
But the celebration was shortlived when he informed me that he was just a janitor and he gave the phone to another pretty voice who said that I called the wrong department and so she gave me the number of the department she claimed could help me.
Excited, I dialed the new number. It was ringing but nobody’s answering. Ohhh…perhaps everyone in BIR Marikina are so busy that nobody can pick up the phone. “Just try, perhaps somebody will pick up the phone.” I told myself. I gave up dialing when I saw the time is already twelve o’clock. Perhaps this afternoon I can try again… Came one o’clock and I returned to Pantelco with the familiar faces of the lady at the counter and the guard smiling beautifully to me.
Dial, just dial and hope that somebody in BIR Marikina will take notice of the ringing phone. Argggg!!..it’s already two thirty in the afternoon. Been inside the booth for almost an hour and a half dialing and
listening to ringing phone that even though the headset is away from my itching ear, I felt I’m still hearing a ringing phone.
I gave hope. This phone thing won’t do. Perhaps I should just return to BIR Kalibo and try asking for other remedy to my TIN problem. Anyway, all I need is a transfer of my TIN number.
And so, here I am again in the same office I had been twice this morning. The solution-write BIR Marikina through snail mail. I asked if there’s anyway I can access or contact BIR Marikina through the internet. “Internet? Sir, basi maayawan ka lang.” is the instant reply.
Well, in the age of information technology, the letter was sent in the hope that someone from an office who can’t answer a ringing phone will have the time to read a letter.
Still, I tried the internet thing. Anyway, even though “ayawan ako”, I have enough patience since that I have no choice. The result? Page not found for the services I think could help me.
I felt cheated by BIR that day. And why not? Isn’t it that the main reason why BIR exists is because the government has to tax dry the people so that it can fund its propaganda of booming economy and “better services” to the people?
Is BIR just after hardworking people’s money? Don’t a taxpayer like me who is the lifeblood of the Bureau deserve a better service? It just makes me sick every time I see big tarpaulins and billboards that say “this is where your taxes go” with faces of politicians smiling like a toothpaste endorser but see CRACKS on an UNFINISHED road concreting project. Then one just has to wonder how much was the kick back and the millions of pesos that was stolen from the taxpayer’s coffer.
Corruption is another story. They can have stealing galore if they want. They can be rich thanks to a poor me. I am already numb to corruption… but please, at least the BIR should have the nerve to do something to ease the taxpayer’s burden by providing better services so that taxpayers won’t have to lose precious time and productivity just for a simple thing as a Tax Identification Number.
If Friendster helped Magdalo leader Antonio Trillanes win a senate house and the CPP-NPA and MILF can utilize the internet for their causes, how much more the government?
I won’t be surprised if someday, we will just wake up with Jose Ma. Sison as our president if this kind of system won’t be fixed this early!
BIR fix your services, or else…
***
(For comments, email at nailbite3@yahoo.com)
Friday, June 13, 2008
What makes Cyber Education exciting?
What makes Cyber Education exciting?
With all the controversies hounding the ZTE Broadband Deal, I can’t help but be sad because the supposed to be pure intention of a better education is being pestered by corruption.
Corruption is another story. However, when I first heard about the cyber education project of DepEd, the first question that came into my mind is that will it really benefit the majority? On my part as a teacher, will it make my job easier? http://www.deped.gov.ph has these answers and I quote:
Cyber Education’s Benefits for Teachers
Cyber Ed will enhance the capability of DepEd to deliver teacher training to close to half a million public school teachers nationwide.
• Unlimited access to professional development materials
Cyber ed will bring our teachers from all over the country closer to quality teacher training activities and professional development materials. We will ensure that they will be provided the much needed training they need to significantly improve teaching and student learning, no matter where they are.”
• Frequent in-school “virtual” training from certified experts and countrywide collaborative learning and courseware development
Cyber Ed will be able to ease the limitations of the cascading model for teacher training currently being utilized. Through Cyber Ed, teachers will be able to receive training from the best instructors first hand.
Under the Cyber Ed Project, Virtual Training Studios will be created to allow DepEd officials and training experts to interact directly with DepEd’s 470,004 public school teachers. These studios will allow frequent direct professional development sessions for the teachers. Computer-based training materials and standby Training Support Experts will also be available to supplement live training broadcasts.
• Also, teachers will no longer have to travel long distances to gain access to training since these will now be available at the school level.
• Meanwhile, the national teachers will be the ones in-charge in ensuring the accuracy of the content. Thus, classroom teachers will have more time to focus on follow-up activities that will reinforce learning.
Indeed, the CyberEd Project is a very good way to deliver quality education to our students and it offers opportunity for teachers for professional growth.
But then, I don’t really think that it has to cost billions from the people’s money. There are lots of cheaper ways to do it. There are a lot of websites that offers sharing of ideas and even soft wares for free. For example pinoytambay.com offers forums for different IT professionals. Their forum helped me a lot every time I have problems with my computer. Although right now, they don’t have forums for teachers, but if our government will utilize websites like this, for sure the cybered project will be more exciting knowing that it costs less.
(For coments, email: nailbite3@yahoo.com)
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