Warning!

This was my paper submitted when I applied for JENESYS back in my freshman years. My policy paper.

BATCH 2 - PHL0102086

Phoebe Joy M. Pacut

Warning!

“Ensure environmental sustainability”.

                One of the United NationsMillennium Developmental Anti-Poverty Goals is hoped to be achieved by 2015.  Herein includes the implementation of laws that should be followed to reduce the risk of losing the environmental resources, reduce half of the distribution of population without support of safe drinking water and primary health sanitation, and to achieve progress for the economic stability of over 100 million slum dwellers.

                Have we really done our part as a concerned citizen in our province or our country as a whole in achieving this goal? We may pretentiously answer yes but the reality is, most of the time, it is a big NO. 

                Last December 2009, a huge flood covered some parts of our province and in our country.  Rushing on the muddy Iponan River in Cagayan de Oro City where I used to study in high school, were logs.  I was curious where those logs were coming from.  As an investigation was done, it was found out that in the upper portion of the area was an intensive deforestation being operated by illegal loggers.  Forests were still under threat of agriculture and urbanization.  Thus, when reducing the number of trees in the forests, there will be a greater risk of severe soil erosion and more threatening of the province’s abundant biodiversity.  This brought a great concern for the extinction of species which are dependent on the forests.  Discrepancy in making laws, unsuitable rule, ineffective enforcement and lack of funds are the reasons why forest conservation is barely been solved.

                Pollution is a never-dying problem of our province.  According to my readings, only 10% of sewage in the Philippines is disposed of properly.  The remaining 90% were not treated exactly and were carried back to nature – usually to the sea.  In this situation of poor household waste management and rapid growth of population, water pollution is evident in rivers and coastal areas.  Industrial materials with elements harmful to the water bodies were found.  These problems were developed due to poor planning, ineffective management and enforcement of rules and regulations.

                Converting coastal areas into a developed beach resorts were continually harmful to the marine environment particularly to corals, mangroves and seaweeds.  Due to rapid growth of population, there is a great need for space and construction materials.  Coastal conversion has found out to be risk for the corals to be extracted for the building-up of coastal villages.  Mangroves were greatly affected by this thus reducing its number compared to the past few years.

                Leff in 1978 states that the underlying idea is that conscious organisms such as human beings are part of nature and we are in a sense mere extensions of our environment.  Thus, it certainly opens up the idea that there is a human-nature relationship.  And the most significant challenge is to find out the core answer to our problems.  I firmly believe that the answer depends on us.  First and foremost, the citizens should be fully aware at the environment’s most dreadful situation.  The effects regarding the problems are taking so slow that we barely notice it just like a frog gradually heated in a beaker.  Most of the citizens have lack of knowledge about the hazardous effects that common household products bring.   Secondly, people should gain initiatives on making techniques for an effective action on how to make changes.  They should have that skill in order to take an action suitable to be an answer to the problem in order to avoid wasting time and money.  People should be strongly motivated in solving the problems.  We must have a sound reason and that is to save Mother Earth.  No matter how hard we try in doing it and were not motivated, it’s just like we’re stuck in quick sand.  Lastly, we must not be easily be blocked by outside forces (e.g. money).  This may be hindrance to our self-regulation in solving the problems.  We must balance our economy stability and environmental sustainability.  A rich country with fewer natural resources is still nothing because when natural disasters occur, it will be spent for medical purposes, relief goods and damaged properties and livelihoods of the citizens.

                As we made solutions to a problem, we must consider its advantages and disadvantages.  We must examine its worth not just to mankind but to the world.  We must carry out a plan.  I believe that in saving Mother Earth there will be no such thing as plan B’s.  It would always be plan A and that is to take our best shot on where to put our efforts, design strategies and take an action in promoting more environmentally accountable and continuous behavior.

                This is not just a challenge for the scientists alone, but everyone to impart for the most significant challenge in where our future lies on.

                Again, let me remind you. It’s a WARNING!        

On Becoming A Teacher

Teacher

The Teacher
She must wake up early in the morning
To do her chores especially the cooking
She must rush to school to be in duty
Or else she might be tardy

She must do her lesson plan
And must cope up with the Deadlines
She must do all the works
Even if it is late and dark

The students are noisy, what a mess?
They don't listen , what a nuisance
They get zero during speed test or quizzes
And if they fail they protest

Oh! How difficult to be a teacher
So many works like a researcher
No time to enjoy life luxuries
They must work for the students future

Friends , let us understand how a teacher be
Always teaching like a bee
We must consider their hardships
To have good student for worthy leaderships.

By:
Julieta Vinluan Japson
A poem for herself and to all teachers

 I saw this poem in one of the posts in magtxt.com. Credits to Ms. Collete Vinluan Japson who posted this dated on September 20, 2012. Truly, a teacher's journey would never be that easy. It comes through ups and downs. 

A teacher, as a loving wife/husband, needs to do work simultaneously on weekends. Paperworks and checking of assignments and homeworks are sometimes brought home because it needs more attention. In that four-walled classroom with almost 60 pairs of eyes looking at you, it is a great responsibility that needs to be taken care of. A teacher also has to be fair among students to avoid commotions among these students.

Truly, it will always be that hard to be one. But through the years, you'll reflect on the past by looking in front of you the successful students that used to be students of yours and say, "A job well done. I have been a blessing."

What Do I Learn about Classroom Management?

            There is no perfect person but there is always something perfect in her.

            I live in this statement. I make the most on every turning point in my life to make people feel and realize this statement about me. Sounds risky, right? But even if nobody has become perfect, aiming to be perfect could lead you to near perfection. That makes your efforts worthwhile. I know I will never be the perfect teacher. But in any case, I know I can be perfect in something.

            My “Classroom Management” class taught me to look through the meaningful experiences prior to becoming a teacher. During the field study, I learned about how to apply different teaching-learning principles and when to apply these. I was able to share my thoughts with my classmates and friends about some learners’ characteristics and needs and how to manage their behaviors. I was able to experience observing elementary and secondary teachers to identify what are their learning objectives, learning activities, instructional materials and assessment tools used by the teachers and learn from them.

            “Maintaining the learning environment’s mood is a great challenge for teachers. This means teacher need to innovate and improvise the usual teaching strategy as much as possible to avoid bored times. Learning activities should also be made more interesting to maximize class participation.” These are kind words from my resource teacher.

            I am not perfect but I know that if I’ll aim for it, I can always let my students feel that I am their perfect teacher, perfect example, and perfect inspiration.

Electricity (An Online Treasure Hunt)

Hello class! Welcome to our virtual learning classroom! Congratulations, you have passed all the requirements to get in this last step of our online treasure hunt. Let's get it started and apply what we have learned.

Here's what you are going to do:

1. On a separate clean paper, list at least 20 appliances in your homes. 

2. Group them into the Higher Electrical Power Consumption and Lower Electrical Power Consumption. 

3. In your conclusions, give some tips on how to conserve electricity.

4. Review your answers.

5. Write your final answers on the comment box below. Make sure to click the google+ button to follow this blog.

Remember to indicate your name and section below your answers. You want your grades recorded, right?

My First BIG Steps: It's TOKYO!

TOKYO, Japan. It's TOKYO! 

When we arrived at Narita Airport, a JICE staff took us for a 2-hour bus ride to Tokyo. I was amaze by their very fast and convenient service. The bus time interval to approach the bus stop is 15 minutes (Am I right?) and a 30-second boarding time. Traffic? Well, I hardly experienced that. These are my pictures of my smooth trip going to Tokyo.

I only imagine this place. I never knew I could be there. I can only see it in movies or anime series. These pictures are series of my first BIG steps in Tokyo. I mean BIG steps, the fact that everybody walks so fast I can hardly catch them. Have I forgotten to tell you? Japan has a fine cool weather. For me, it is the best! I never have thought that the weather could be this cold since we arrived during late fall. I was only in my usual sweater, polo shirt, and jeans: an out-of-place look for a business city like this. Take a look at these pictures taken on the busy streets of Tokyo.

A Teenage Dream

Prior to our departure, we had our orientation at De Lasalle University - CSB Hotel. I was holding my passport and the documents needed to be given to the immigration officer to the airport.

It was back in my 3rd year high school. I dreamed how was it like to be in the other country. It was just a dream. A simple dream. Yet, never had I thought it will happen sooner.

I was chosen as one of the delegates for the JENESYS batch 2011. I was a freshmen college student back then taking Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education major in Physics. My roommate, who happened to be one of the first batch of JENESYS delegates, compelled me to apply for the program. Countless prayer and fasting ceremonies I have attended for me to be accepted. Good heavens, I was chosen as one.

Then, a great tsunami hit Japan. I thought my dreams were vanished; that the program was cancelled. It took me a long while to recover from my shattered dreams: the dreams that I used to brag to my parents and friends. It was quite a devastating moment for me Until, an email was sent to confirm that the program will recur next year. My hopes were then high again.

On the picture (L-R): Demi, ME, and Shige aboard on one of their Maglev train at Tokyo, Japan

The three of us: Demi, ME, and Shigenobu were rescheduled on the first flight the following day after the expected departure date due to immigration problems. We are DOST scholars. As a scholar, we should secure our travel clearances from the DOST in order to travel abroad. Due to miscommunication, we were not able to secure another travel clearances issued by the Bureau of Immigration. Japan, in cooperation with Rajah Tours, was very generous to accommodate us during the process of our documents and in our arrival to Japan. We were so much indebted to them for the encouragements and assurances after the almost-heartbreaking moment at the NAIA airport.