Our Cebu Tour ..

top view of Imperial Palace Resort taken from 8th for

     February 2, 3, and 4, are our scheduled stays in one beach resort in Dalaguete Cebu. Don't want to mention the name of the resort for we were not satisfied with the accommodation and their services. Anyway, we were very excited to board a plane since this would be the first time for my eldest and youngest, I got 4 kids and they were all with me during the trip. We arrived before 6am at Mactan Airport, and from there we rode a taxi to take us to Dalaguete, a 2-hour ride from Mactan. Have seen on the map that we have been on from end to end of the island. 

     With all the tiresome trip we were expecting a warm welcome from the resort staff..but ..alas..no one welcomes us, and we were even asked if we had made a reservation! To make the story short, they had given us a room. It's a big but old family room, with a mirrored door but no curtains. Well, the beach is not as good and as clean as in Boracay, we prefer to swim in their pool. Our first night there was a sleepless one for I don't know I'd been uneasy the whole night, maybe because my knee joint was aching or I don't feel secure with the place. I think the latter was the reason for I am not at ease when in a strange and far away place unless there are many people around and hotel guards. It was raining hard that night and brownouts occurred .. creepy. Since this is not a hotel and far from the one we used to stay in Boracay, I should not expect something special to happen. We were supposed to stay there 2 nights and 3 days but I decided to go back to the city the next morning and find someplace to stay and where we could also swim. 

     From Dalaguete to Lapu-Lapu City, we were led to a five-star hotel, Imperial Palace Water Resort, and Spa..whew for just overnight ..don't want to remember that huge amount..geesh, it still aches my pocket. Anyway, I've given my kids their best time to enjoy and it's giving me happiness to see them with it. The breakfast eat-all-you-can was superb with all the different oriental cuisine. We really have a good time since breakfast time is our favorite and the biggest... ('-')...Of course, our swimming would not be complete without our Olympus underwater camera. 

     I would say Cebu is like Manila in its structure, even when we were over the city on the plane you would think from above you're still in Manila. Though we had a short time exploring the place, there are nice beaches around, and it's not that polluted compared to Manila. Traveling throughout Dalaguete and Cebu City, you would still see the simplicity of life in some remote areas to those in the city. Magellan's cross is not as big as my son had thought before. By the way, we are very grateful to the driver who gave us full service touring the city and fetched us from Mactan airport to Dalaguete to Lapu-Lapu and to Mactan for our flight. Call me for his number if you want a driver who can be trusted..('-'). And remember, when you say Cebu, it's the island, and Cebu City is within that island as well as Lapu-Lapu City.

Tears of Weeping

Some tears tell the unexpected has happened, and the things you have prayed for have been answered. Tears that say it's finally over and you're done with it. Tears that show deep and seething pain, pain that cuts like a knife. Wounded soul, hovers throughout the day. The gloomy sky seems to understand its loneliness, an advent of rain to come. No one could understand how painful it is. Weeping all throughout the night, silent weep but turbulent cry. Tears of weeping no one could discern. Cry, cry, cry, weep and weep. In between sobs, it was about to ask why .. cry it all out .. weep as much .. the black clouds of the night began to scatter as the rain falls wanting to let go all through the day.  In the dark corner, tears of weeping are heard .. it seems a bottomless pit .. does not end ..only calms like a turbulent sea that only Him can stop .. just like the tears of weeping only His arms can comfort...

Mercy...Not Sacrifice

     Reading the book of Matthews, I have come across one of Jesus' statements that do have an impact on me as a Christian, "I desire mercy not sacrifice" (Matthews 9:13&12:7). Jesus said these words when He heard what the Pharisees had asked His disciples about why He was eating with the tax collectors and sinners. On another occasion, the Pharisees condemn Jesus for allowing His disciples to pick some grains on the field and eat them during the Sabbath. At first, I thought, Jesus was talking about for people to show or feeling mercy on Him than giving their sacrifices. Upon researching, I thought I was wrong and also found out that somehow I may be correct.
      In the context of what Jesus has stated, he said those words when the Pharisees had asked questions that might be caught Him unaware (as the Pharisees had thought). For that matter, Jesus answered that it is not healthy who need a doctor, it is sick. Jesus told His people to go and find out what it means that He desires mercy and not sacrifice. Jesus also cited what David did when they were hungry, eating the consecrated bread which is unlawful for them to do and yet they are innocent. In a simple explanation, what I understood from the searches I have found, Jesus doesn't need our sacrifices if it isn't done in true devotion and faith and in love. Our sacrifices meant nothing if we don't have love. It was like, we are working all day making sacrifices for our parents, kids,  or siblings and yet we are just doing it because it is our responsibility and obligation to do so but we don't have love, all our sacrifices would be in vain. We will not be happy and contented doing all these things.

    Jesus said "I desire mercy not sacrifice" because he wanted His people to do what He has done, showing mercy for the sinners, for the lost soul, and for the broken spirit. Forgiveness for those who offended us, not being judgmental to other people, being considerate, and being sensitive to the needs of our fellows are what Jesus desires for us to do. Jesus had offered His life so He could save the sinners, find the lost soul, and heal the broken spirit. All these things Jesus had done because He loves us.  Following His example, Jesus desires for us to do His work, to make sacrifices out of love. I may be true to what I had thought first, that Jesus needs to feel that we love Him than giving our sacrifices for Him. For if we do love Him, what we have done to other people, we have done it unto Him. Follow His example and our sacrifices will not be in vain.

Quality or Formality Education?...

     Education tells who you are...does it?.. But what does education tells us?.. a stable job? success? speaking and writing in languages other than our mother tongue? proficient communication? talking confidently? good stature? Have a diploma? good manners? or rather, it's learning?..unfortunately, that's a fact now..learning comes last followed by good manners when talking about education. But what is education really mean? Education in its broadest sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people live on from one generation to the next. It occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts. Education in its narrow, technical sense, is the formal process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills, customs, and values from one generation to another, such as instruction in schools. In the latter sense, this is where the question of quality and formality emerges.

     Quality education leads and plays a major role in excellent student education. An excellent education can be done through teaching methods and a curriculum that works for the students as well as the country's present situation. In having quality education, institution sets standards of achievement. An achievement test is being implemented at a different level, from division to regional to a national achievement test. Students undergo these tests to determine if they have attained the standards set for achievement, and these tests also acknowledge the kind of educational system in which the students are enrolled. In this manner, comes the question of the formality of education.

     Formality education or rather formality of education refers to the structure and system or process being implemented for the attainment of learning. The question lies in the attainment of learning and the process, being the process as a means and learning as an end. Due to the structure of certain schools and the government agency responsible for education, the means become an end. To follow the standards set for achievement and the system and the process, the real goal was set aside which we don't know exactly who would benefit from it since learning of students as a goal was not really achieved. Teachers, Principals, Division Heads, Supervisors, etc, are busy implementing school rules and educational systems and are occupied with the submission of different paper requirements and documents as well as beautifying the school's image. Every year, you can ask students if they have learned the required curriculum that they had just passed, but I doubt if they have. 

     Quality or formality? the end or the means? ..search it and know the difference, know it deeper and think how it is..look down and read...

     Though it seems right..let's take the job as a task. Learning is for a future task...Results are obtained when the former students start their new tasks...

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