I learn

I learn
from the smell of dried leaves
from the sight of blank sheets
from the touch of wrinkled skin
from the taste of spoiled wishes.

I learn
from the silence of the wind
from the roar of the tides
from the turmoil of the clouds
from the strength of the sun.

I learn
from the hard work of the soil
from the wealth of the ocean
from the wages of the devoted
from the truth of the unfortunate.

I learn
from the shouts on the streets
from the whispers of clandestine lovers
from the hails of feigned churchgoers
from the blood shed of warriors.

I learn
from the most glamorous get-ups
from the tattered of his sleeves
from their make believed happiness
from their victorious sighs.

I learn
from the lowest of creatures
from the proudest monsters
from the most sublime feature
from the scariest beast.

I learn
from the look upon your face
from the sadness in your stare
from the joy on your lips
from the droop upon your shoulder.

I learn
from the unwritten essays he wrote
from the muted songs she sang
from the blank canvasses he painted
from the unspoken love she conveyed.

I learn
from the infancy of the old
from the wickedness of evil
from the humble dominance of good
from the misunderstood language of man.

I learn
from the humility in your entrance
from the painfulness of your exit
from the grandeur of your return
from the faith that you will.

(I posted this poem earlier in Mangoes, Bamboos and Poems of this site)

I accidentally browsed over a site on poetry. I tried registering and luckily, the administrator gave me a space. I think that was months ago but I wasn't able to post a single poem because I feared nobody would read it. You see, the poems I read posted on this site are really great. I mean, what is my poem compared to their creations. Just last week, I recieved another invite from them, this time, they made a newer format and it seems more friendly for me. So I tried. I started posting. Then with my poem "I Learn", here is what two poets have to say:

You'll do for me

Superbly written. Well done.

Thus, I step further to reach my dream and have that one big star inside my pocket. Wishful thinking? What do you think?

"First love never dies."

Sounds so teeny-bopperly (if there's such a word), but I think it's true. Don't get me wrong though and if you know my husband, the more that you have to read on first before getting into your own conclusions.

My first love? Well, I have to clarify: My first two loves inded never died. They may have faded somewhere in my history but they never really left. They are still in my heart and will always occupy a special place in my heart. Intrigued?

Let me then introduce them to you before your brains get atrophied and I get myself in real big trouble. They are:

WRITING and

READING.

Gotcha!

WRITING and I have a baby, her name is CABAnata, she now resides at http://blogtext.org/CABAnata and I hope you like her and visit her as often as you can so she won't get bored with all the words all written over her, yet nobody finds time to read through her.

Actually, she has a younger sister, her name is also CABAnata (you know, I got stuck with the name) but she resides in http://everypoet.net/poetry/CABAnata and she's making a name of her own in the field of poetry. She's gaining popularity like her older sister.

As for READING and I, we broke up sometime ago and we're just trying to patch things up lately. So I just gave birth to our baby. Fortunately, I can't think of a better name than call her CABAnata. She lives not far from a mouse click. Her haven is called http://www.shelfari.com/CABAnata  and she's still finding some ways to get to have more friends like her half-sisters. Hope you provide her with such comfort as you do with her sisters. You know, she has a lot of books to share you. A lot of insights. Get to have some time knowing her.

Have a nice day everyone! And thanks for making it your habit to just drop by.

With The Fifth Mountain, Paulo Coelho turns his talent for spiritual fiction to the story of the Biblical prophet Elijah. Like a blossoming flower, Coelho opens up the brief account of Elijah's flight from Gilead and his time in Zarephath. He deepens the prophet's character by revealing the thoughts, doubts, and discoveries that Elijah must have experienced as he struggled to find his course in life amidst the confusion of war and political turmoil. When being a prophet of the God of the Israelites is like a warrant for your death, concerns about your chosen path are sure to arise. Perhaps it is this believability in Coelho's retelling that makes it so evocative, or it may be the bit of Old Testament wisdom he brings to popular literature of the 20th century: "the words of the lord are written in the world around us. Merely be attentive to what happens in your life, and you will discover where."

- A review I carelessly cut and paste from Amazon.com (please pardon me from doing so)

This is one of my favorite novels. Actually, I love all Coelho's books. And I hope, with the four lessons I learned from this novel, you can at least pick out one for you to live by. I wrote these lines from the book itself because I was afraid to re-phrase them for fear of not capturing the dramatic lessons in its full context/essence. I find them very timely with my recent decision-making hubbub. And so, read on...

1.  

They continued on their way. The boy asked why the soldiers were training so much.

"It's not just the soldiers, but your mother too, and I, and those who follow their heart. Everything in life demands training."

"Even being a prophet?"

"Even to understand angels. We so want to talk with them that we don't listen to what they're saying. It's not easy to listen: in our prayers we always try to say where we have erred, and what we should like to happen to us. But the Lord already knows all of this, and sometimes asks us only to hear what the Universe is telling us. And to be patient."

The boy looked at him in surprise. He probably understood nothing, but even so Elijah felt the need to continue the conversation. Perhaps when he came to manhood, one of these words might assist him in a difficult situation.

"All life's battles teach us something, even those we lose. When you grow up, you'll discover that you have defended lies, deceived yourself, or suffered for foolishness. If you're a good warrior, you will not blame yourself for this, but neither will you allow mistakes to repeat themselves." 

2.  

A child can always teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires.

3.  

For in the final analysis, He had given His children the greatest of all gifts: the capacity to choose and determine their acts.

4.  

"How can a man cast from his heart the pain of a loss?" asked a woman.

"No. But he can find joy in something won."

Elijah turned, pointed to the top of the Fifth Mountain, forever covered with clouds. The destruction of the walls had made it visible from the middle of the square.

"I believe in One God, though you think that the gods dwell in those clouds on the Fifth Mountain. I don't want to argue whether my God is stronger or more powerful; I would speak not of our differences but of our similarities. Tragedy has united us in a single sentiment: despair. Why has that come to pass? Because we thought that everything was answered and decided in our souls, and we could accept no changes."

"Both you and I belong to trading nations, but we also know how to act as warriors," he continued. "And a warrior is always aware of what is worth fighting for. He does not go into combat over things that do not concern him, and he never wastes his time over provocations."

"A warrior accepts defeat. He does not treat it a s a matter of indifference, nor does he attempt to transform it into a victory. The pain of defeat is bitter to him; he suffers at indifference and becomes desperate with loneliness. After all this has passed, he licks his wounds and begins everything anew. A warrior knows that war is made of many battles; he goes on."

"Tragedies do happen. We can discover the reason, blame others, imagine how different our lives would be had they not occurred. But none of that is important; they did occur, and so be it. From there onward, we must put aside the fear that they awoke in us and begin to rebuild."

I think, the lines spilled them all. I need not say a word...

My poems are showcased in this site:

http://www.everypoet.net/poetry

To browse my entries, go to:

http://www.everypoet.net/poetry/blogs/cabanata

I maintained my CABAnata to encompass all that I am made of...

The President said that the peso is gaining its stability and appreciating in value. The advertisement I saw last night was as ironic as it was presented. A woman (mother) was talking about how her burden of raising a family has grown lighter because of the low price medicines the government has to offer. While I have just been to the grocery store and fortunately found out how unfortunate my one thousand peso bill has become. Milk increased in price from fifteen to thirty pesos (or more). Isn't it that this is the most important item mothers like me should buy especially so when raising your kids, especially those with babies?

Just a thought to ponder on anyway...

But why did I start my CABAnata in such a pessimistic manner. Well of course to exaggerate my point and well of course, to rationalize my decision of going to the US.

Let me again quote the following details (as fact) from Wikipedia:

Population in Diaspora

There are more than 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide, about 11% of the total population of the Philippines.^[1]

Each year, the Philippines sends out more than a million of its nationals to work abroad through its overseas employment program. Others leave to become permanent residents of their country of destination. Overseas Filipinos are typically known to be as doctors, accountants, IT professionals, engineers,^[8] entertainers, teachers, nurses, military servicemen, students, bar girls, domestic helpers,^[9] housekeepers,^[9] and caregivers.

Did I drive my point clear?

If it still seems vague to you, well, here is what I want to say:

"Get your butt the hell out of the Philippines if you want to finance your dreams and make them come true."

Did I sound so unFilipino? Well, not. I was just stating a painful fact. Painful because I am hurting for the millions of Filipino migrant workers who sacrificed leaving their families just to give their love ones the best opportunities they could offer (which is unlikely achieved in their own hometown). And the more pain I feel as I browsed down :

According to estimates by the Central Bank of the Philippines, overseas Filipinos are expected to send back $14.7 billion in remittances to their ancestral homeland in 2007, up from $14 billion in 2006.^[10]

Again I ask: Where does this sum amount of money go?

Decision: I have decided to take the risk and plunge into the unexpected than breaking my bones working here more than ten hours a day with a take home net pay of nine thousand pesos which would only last one week before the next pay day.

Fact: I'm not leaving for good though. I just want to earn ample wealth (so to speak) to build a better house (without the termites) for my kids, send them to the best schools until they finish college and they can finance their own further studies if they wish to. And of course for my studies again because I really wanted to take up Clinical Psychology and put up my own clinic or further my knowledge in Special Education so when I come back here in the Philippines for good, I can put up my own SpEd school and regular school that mainstream children with special needs without fear that their fees are wasted because individualized services due them are not given or provided for.

Another Fact: My American Dream is just a stepping stone, not an end in itself. In short, I'm just taking advantage of the opportunity. Bluntly I say, "Ginagamit ko lang ang Amerika para matupad ang pangarap ko para sa Pilipinas."

Last Fact: I only sound like I hate the Philippines.

You see, when my time comes, I want to be as prepared as possible that even the people I would meet in Heaven is already playing in my wild imagination. But actually, death is still something I don't want to entertain because I have two little kids I wish to see grow and accept the world's challenges in my presence. Though creepy, the two books by Albom I just read made me realize that life is better lived if one considers death as something that comes unwarrantably.

Death distinguisheth not the kings from the subject, the wealthy man from the pauper, the old man from the youth, the wise man from the fool. Death maketh equals of all men. The size of the palace, the speed of the chariot, the title of thy breastplate and the gold thy possesseth matter nary a bit. Death surely conquereth thee when thy hour is nigh. It is thy truthfulness to thine conscience and loyalty to thy God that shall save thee from the wrath of eternal fire.

Death is indeed indispensable. It comes like a thief in the night. Or even at daybreak that even the most powerful has no authority to command death to depart from him. And if I shall meet my Creator, these are the people I might meet or say want to meet:

1.            my Father

This time, I won't be afraid to disclose my anger with him. Afterwhich, I would tell him how much I love him and longed for his presence in my growing up years. If given the chance to choose a father, I would still choose him. Why? Because the blood, the genes, every little fiber that traverses into my system that made me ME comes from him. He who has left me wounded but remained the father whom the Father had bestowed to bring me to life. Therefore, we are both blessed to be the father and daughter that God planned us to be. The pain and suffering that he has caused the child in me to grow immaturely and carry the burden as head of the family was destined to be for without these, I won't be as strong as I am now. Decisive. Principled. These are the lessons he has taught me.

2.            my Mother

God made a woman soft as a rose's petals, shed tears to wash away the pain and a tender touch that can encourage even the most coward of all beings. This woman became my mother. She has the gentleness of a shepherdess, the calmness of the breeze but the firmness of an authority to respect. That of which, guided as to grow in full bloom in the absence of a father. The merit of bringing in harmony the hatred that filled our hearts to something of worth is my Mother. And I owe her this life of warmth and compassion behind a facade of firmness.

3.            someone I don't expect to see

Whoever this person is might have been someone who has taught me something. And that something is what I am looking forward to of knowing when that time comes.

4.            Carl Rogers (just a product of my imagination)

This renowned psychologist might tell me that he has taught me how to be more affective in my approach as a Counselor and Educator – to talk more with the heart than by always trying to rationalize things. Mr. Rogers had made me realize that feelings are exclusive to every person. And that, a counselor should see beyond what is visible – from the nature of a client's stare, to his fidgeting fingers, to her breathing, and her feigned smile, to his eye movement, with the droop of her shoulder, or in the animation in his voice and the stature of his or her own very words. Self-actualization. Thanks for the powerful words.

5.            a former reader of this blogsite (just another sinister hallucination… don't feel creepy)

This someone has encouraged me to write even the most stupid of my ideas. I have an average of twelve readers a day eversince I started this site and these patient souls who so everyday make it there habit to read a line or two inspire me to make use of these words called Byblos originally created by the Egyptians that of which the Greeks of long ago has modified adding five more letters (the vowels) to the bunch of letter symbols which they baptized as the alphabet. A name now used to define the new form of writing which I over-use (I hope not abuse and misuse) to elucidate the core of my existence – that of which I am created for. Thanks to you who has taught me the virtue of just being ME.

How about you guys, who do you think will your five people be? Let me know so we can write them in this blank canvass others call BLOG but I name LIFE…

Pinutol ko ang recollection ko about Mama in my previous CABAnata dahil nanlalabo na ang aking paningin sa di maampat-ampat na pagtulo ng aking luha. While re-writing this part of my life, despite the number of years, I still can feel in its most vivid form the pain I felt four years ago. Kaya ngayon ko na lang ulit ikukuwento at sa paudlot-udlot pang paraan. And so again, I go back to that day…

10:45. We were ordered to go to the second floor where Dr. Luisa Ordoño was waiting for Mama. Yes, she's expecting her. And who knows who else is waiting for Mama. Or should I say, what else awaits Mama.

The doctor welcomed us with a compassionate smile. They started the procedure. I was asked to go out of the room. I waited. Have you noticed how many times I have waited? Now I'm starting to hate the time element. It's dragging me to insanity. Bad thoughts do their thing everytime I'm waiting there all alone.

I felt the presence of death at the sight of Mama's chemotherapy room by merely looking at the closed door. After a while, I hated the emptiness I felt. And I hated being there. Even cursing my brother for leaving. It seemed to me that I had all the burden of torture all dangling at my back.

After an hour of painful agony, the doctor called me in. we started talking but even I could not hear my own voice. My thoughts were wandering about the fragile figure behind the curtain next to the doctor's table.  I can trace the silhouette of tube from Mama's arms to the hanging vial above her head. I can imagine the red liquid traveling in her weak veins. Killing not just the cancer cells but each and every healthy cell in her system. I hear my heartbeat like newly beheaded elephants if there's such. I can almost feel it about to erupt in my throat. Then I nervously handed to her the ultrasound test result.

Then there it was! The infallible confirmation of the painful truth signaled by the doctor's sudden change of facial expression – the meeting of brows and the constant movement of her head from side to side, the non-verbal cues made my heart thump even harder… even louder… even faster. And in slow motion like from TV drama series, Dr. Ordoño spilled out the reality I've been fearing to hear. And I wanted to squeeze the doctor's neck when she pragmatically told me Mama had only six months to live.

I thought then that a bomb just blew infront of me. or a thunder signaled the earth to open and engulfed me. But I now realize, nothing is more painful than what the doctor just said. Nothing is worse than predetermining the death of my beloved mother.

"You are not God! How dare you limit my Mama's life! How unfeeling you are to be so utterly frank!" But my thoughts worked faster than my mouth, it didn't have a single chance to burst out what's inside my heart… my mind and my soul.

Then the room grew so quiet I could hear Mama's tired breathing at the other side of the room. I started bargaining… hopelessly… for the life of my mother. But my tongue seemed caught up somewhere in my esophagus and it took me sometime to extricate it and find my own voice. But then again, I felt if I say a word, I would just break into tears and that's one last thing I want to happen especially so when Mama is around. So I decided I'd rather not open my mouth. I end up just staring blankly at the doctor.

After sometime, I regained my strength to activate my vocal cords. My cramping muscles finally found their state. I spoke up. But as I'm recalling that moment when I finally had the courage to say a word, I can't remember what I said. All I can think of are the stunning feelings of pain… of hatred… of anger… To whom? To what? To which? I'm not sure of…

The procedure was through. I engulfed Mama's hands in mine as we went down the stairs. Her tired eyes looked back at me. I stared and saw within their depths the loneliness inside. I clasped her hand even tighter trying to take-off its chill. I didn't know what to say.

Ronald arrived and we headed home. On our way, I broke the news when she asked. At first, I was hesitant. I wanted to lie. But what for? I wanted to be honest. The kind of honesty she deserves. I know this honesty would break her. But deep in my heart, I know, I was doing the best thing.

After a few minutes of speechlessness, she said a word – an offering to God. She was about to say another line but she suddenly threw her hands in faithful surrender to the will of God and heaved a sigh with a smile, tears on both sides of her eyes. Her smile is carefully hiding a cheerful hollowness. How ironic, but that was what I saw. An empty look which broke my heart and makes me question the giftedness of life. But at one end, there is a grateful recognition of one great power who lovingly designed her path that led her to Him.

The entire day and the days after that day passed in a stupor.

One night, I had a dream. I was trying to go against the current, setting assail in my boat which was borne back ceaselessly – paddling towards life. But the darkness of death's tunnel is like whirling water pulling Mama away from us. I shouted until my throat started to sore. Then she was gone in the dark. Gone… gone… gone…

I suddenly woke up. My breathing erratically fearful. I gasped for my breath. Everything seemed so real. The bluish-violet in Mama's skin. The blood. The look in Mama's eyes. The touch of her warmth when I tried to pull her close to me. I reached for water and started to say a prayer. Then my thoughts drifted back to the past years. The happiness and the hardships we have been through. Every single moment. Every single smile. Every single tear.

Then there I was, wallowing in amorphous anguish and hatred… and rebellion… to God's ultimate betrayal from my having faith to Him – a good God so they call Him, but why? Why now? Why Mama? Yet at the back of my mind, it's not what I really wanted to do; but it was more attractive than facing the reality of mama's death. Because of such feelings and sordid thoughts, I felt as though I was nothing. That I was less than a worm creeping underneath the earth to feed myself of my own putrid thoughts.

Then reality hit me.

The way of the world: Ashes to ashes. That, I should accept. But still, reality is like a fetid alley I don't want to get through it as much as I can. It gets into my soul like fork grating across a blackboard.

Again another voice tells me (like the way I read it from a book, I think by Zafra) that life is a continuum of pain suspended only by death.

"Is it better this way?", I asked.

"Yes!", He powerfully said.

"Why?"

"Because this will end everything your Mama had been through. She'll be happy where I'll lead her, I assure you. I am paying back all the hurt I have caused her to endure. Let her be… Let her go…"

The assurance pacified my aching soul. Then I went back to sleep.

Now, I have not fully recovered but I have slowly accepted Mama's death. It's difficult though.

"Mama, I bid you goodbye!"

"Tant dis pur toi." So much the worse for you. Rest now my Mama.

And I thank you for the love you put inside my heart with which I will share with others still, especially to my two little girls who sleep here beside me – so weak, so fragile… they need my strength and my love to live on in this great big world.

Thank you Mama. "Tant dis pur toi!" Goodbye Mama. Rest now… Rest now…

REPUBLIC ACT No. 9258        March 2, 2004

AN ACT PROFESSIONALIZING THE PRACTICE OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING AND CREATING FOR THIS PURPOSE A PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Republic of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
Metro Manila

Twelfth Congress
Third Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-second day of July, two thousand three.

Republic Act No. 9258             March 2, 2004

AN ACT PROFESSIONALIZING THE PRACTICE OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING AND CREATING FOR THIS PURPOSE A PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

ARTICLE I
TITLE, DECLARATION OF POLICY, DEFINITION OF TERMS

Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004,"

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared a policy of the Senate to promote the improvement, advancement and protection of the guidance and counseling services profession by undertaking and instituting measures that will result in professional, ethical, relevant, efficient, and effective guidance and counseling services for the development and enrichment of individuals and group lives.

The State recognizes the important role of guidance and counselors in nation-building and promotes the sustained development of reservoir of guidance and counselors whose competence have been determined by honest and credible licensure examinations whose standards of professional practice and service are world-class and Internationally recognized, globally competitive through preventive regulatory measures, programs and activities that foster their continuing professional development.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:

ARTICLE II
THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF COUNSELING

Section 4. Creation of Professional Regulatory Board of Guidance and Counseling - There shall be created a Professional Regulatory Board of Guidance and Counseling, hereinafter referred to as the Board, Under the administrative control and supervision of the Professional Regulatory Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, to be composed of a Chairman and two (2) members who shall be appointed by the Philippines from a list of three (3) recommendees for each position submitted by the Commission from a list of five (5) nominees for each position submitted by the accredited and integrated organization of guidance counselors.

Section 5. Powers, Functions, Duties and Responsibilities of the Board. - The professional Regulatory Board shall have the following specific powers, duties and responsibilities.

The policies resolutions and rules and regulations issued or promulgated by the Professional Regulatory Board shall be subject to review and approval by the Commission; however, the Board's decisions, resolutions orders which are not interlocutory, rendered in an administrative case, shall be subject to review only if on appeal with the Commission. The decision of the Board and/or the Commission may be appealed to the Court of Appeals in accordance with the Rules of Court.

Section 6. Qualification of Professional Regulatory Board Members. - The Chairman and members of the Professional Regulatory Board, at the time of their appointment shall;

Section 7. Term of Office. - The members of the Board shall hold office for a term of three (3) years or until their successors shall have been appointed and qualified. They may, however, be reappointed for a second term. Of the members to be appointed for the first Board, one (1) member shall hold office as Chairman for three (3) years; one (1) as member for two (2) years; and one (1) member for a term of one (1) year. Any vacancy in the Board shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term only. Each member shall take the proper oath prior to assumption duty.

Section 8. Administrative Supervision of the Board, Custodian of its Records, Secretariat and Support Services. - All records of the Board, including application for examination and administrative and other investigative cases shall be under the custody of the Commission. The Commission shall designate the Secretary of the Board and shall provide the secretariat and support services to implement the provision of this Act.

Section 9. Compensation and Allowances of the Board. - The Chairman and members of the Boards shall received the compensation and allowances comparable to the compensation and allowances received by the chairman and members of existing regulatory board under the Commission as provided for in he General Appropriations Act.

Section 10. Grounds for Suspension and Removal of Board Members. - The president of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the Commission, after giving the concerned member an opportunity to defend himself/herself a proper administrative investigation to be conducted by the Commission, may remove and suspend any member on the following grounds:

Section 11. Annual Report. - The Chairman of the Board, shall after the close of the fiscal year, submit an annual report to the commission, giving a detailed accounting of the proceedings of the Board during the year and embodying such recommendation as the Board may desire to make.

ARTICLE III
EXAMINATION, REGISTRATION AND LICENSURE

Section 12. Examination Required - All applicants for registration for the practice of Guidance and Counseling shall be required to undergo a licensure examination to be given by the Board and the Commission in such places and dates as the Commission may designate in accordance with Republic Act No. 8981, subject to compliance with the requirements prescribed by the Commission.

Section 13. Qualification for Examination. - In order to qualify for the examination, an applicant must, at the time of filing the application be:

Section 14. Registration Without Taking Licensure Examination. - A person who possesses the pertinent qualifications required for admission in the examination for registration as guidance counselor pursuant to the provisions of this Act maybe registered without examination: Provided, That the applicant files with the Board within two (2) years after its creation, an application for registration and issuance of a Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card by submitting credentials showing that the applicant before the effectivity of this Act;

Section 15. Scope of Examination. - The examination shall cover the following subject areas'

The Board, subject to approval by the Commission, may revise or exclude any of the subjects and their syllabi, and add new ones as the need arises.

Section 16. Report of Rating. - The Board shall, within ten (10) days after the examination, report the ratings obtained by each candidate to the Commission.

Section 17. Ratings in the Examination and Re-examination. - To be qualified as having passed the licensure examination for guidance and counselors, a candidate must have obtained a weighted general average of seventy-five (75%), with no grade lower than sixty (60%) in any given subject. However, an examinee who obtains a weighted average of seventy-five percent (75%) or higher but obtains a rating below sixty percent (60%) within two (2) years from the date of the last examination. The subjects or subjects retaken must have each a rating of no less than seventy-five (75%) in order to qualify as having passed the examination.

Section 18. Oath-Taking. - All successful examinees shall be required to take a professional oath before any member of the Board or any officer of the Commission authorized by the PRC, or any officer authorized by law.

Section 19. Issuance of Certificates of Registration and Professional Identification Card. - A Certificate of Registration as a guidance counselor shall be issued to any applicant who passes the examination or who is registered without examination, bearing the signature of the Commission Chairperson and Chairman and members of the Board, and official Seal of the Board.

A professional identification Card bearing the registration number, date of issuance, expiry date, duly signed by the Commission Chairperson shall likewise be issued to every registrant who has paid the prescribed fee.

Section 20. Roster of Guidance Counselors. - The Board, In coordination with the accredited professional organization, shall kept a roster of the names, residence and office addresses of all registered and licensed guidance counselors and the said roster shall be made available to the public upon request.

Section 21. Integration of Guidance Counselors. - All registered/licensed Guidance Counselors whose names appear in the roster of guidance counselors shall be united and integrated to their automatic membership in a one (1) and only registered and accredited national organization of registered/licensed Guidance Counselor which the Board, subject to approval by the Commission, shall recognized and accredit after consultation with all existing organizations of registered and licensed Guidance Counselors and, if possible with all those who are not members of any of the said organizations. The members in the said integrated and accredited national organizations shall received benefits and privileges appurtenant thereto upon payment of required fees and dues. Membership integrated organization shall not be a bar to membership in any association of Guidance Counselors.

Section 22. Indication of Certificate of Registration Number and Professional Tax Receipts (PTR). - The Guidance Counselors shall be required to indicate his/her Certificate of Registration number, the date of issuance, the period of validity of the license, including the professional tax receipt number on the documents he/she signs, uses or issues in connection with the practice of his/her profession.

Section 23. Practice Through Special/Temporary Permit. - Special/Temporary Permit maybe issued by the Board, subject to the approval of the Commission and payment of the fees the latter has prescribed and charged thereof, to the following persons:

The permit shall, among other things, include these limitations and conditions for a period of not more than one (1) year subject to renewal, the branch or specialty of guidance and counseling, and the specific place of practice such as clinic, hospital, center, school/college/university offering the course of guidance and counseling. The Board, subject to approval by the Commission, shall prescribe rules and regulations on the implementation of this particular section.

Section 24. Denial, Suspension, Revocation of a Certification of Registration, Cancellation of Special Permit. - The application for registration and the issuance of a Certificate of Registration may be denied for any of these causes:

The Certificate of Registration may be revoked or suspended, or the special permit may be cancelled for any of the above- enumerated causes including the following: fraudulent acquisition of Certificate of Registration and/or special permit; abetment or tolerance of illegal practice by unqualified person through the use by the latter of Guidance Counselor's Certificate, or special permit; Violation of any provision of this Act, Rules and Regulations of the Board and Commission and other policies thereof, including the Code of Ethics, and Code of Technical Standards or Guidance Counselors; unethical, immoral, dishonorable or unprofessional conduct; malpractice; guilty of drug or alcohol abuse impairing his/her ability to practice his/her profession; and practice of the profession during period of suspension by one whose Certificate of Registration had been suspended by the Board.

No certificate shall be denied, revoked or suspended or any of the reason herein provided, until after sworn complaint in writing against the applicant or holder thereof shall have been filed and heard in a public hearing or upon request, behind close doors.

Section 25. Reinstatement. - A person may apply to the Board for reinstatement of a certificate the issuance of which has been duly revoked at any time after the expiration of one (1) year from the date of revocation of the said certificate. The application shall be in writing and shall conform to requirement provided by the Board. No certificate shall be reinstated unless the Board is satisfied that a good cause exists to warrant such reinstatement.

Section 26. Appeal. - The decision on the denial or refusal to issue Certificate of Registration, the revocation or suspension of the Certificate of Registration, or cancellation of special permit by the Board shall be final unless appealed to the Commission within fifteen (15) days from receipt of the decision. The decision of the Board and/or Commission may be appealed to the Court of Appeals.

ARTICLE IV
PRACTICE OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING

Section 27. Prohibition Against the Practice of Guidance and Counseling. - No person shall (a) engage in the practice of guidance and counseling without a valid Certificate of Registration and the valid Professional Identification Card or a special permit; (b) make representations to the public or to third person as a licensed Guidance Counselor during the time that the licensed has been revoked or suspended, and, (c) allow anybody to use his/her license as guidance counselor to enable such unqualified individual to engage in the practice of guidance and counseling.

No corporation, partnership, association or entity shall operate a guidance and counseling office or center, or otherwise engage in the practice of guidance and counseling without securing a permit from the Board, which shall be issued only after it has satisfied itself that such establishment is properly staffed by duly licensed Guidance Counselors

Any unethical practice of guidance and counseling as may be defined in a Code of ethics and Code of Technical Standards to be prepared by the Board in consultation with Guidance Counselors, is prohibited

Section 28. Right to Privilege Communication for Guidance Counselor. - A certified guidance counselor who is allowed to practice guidance and counseling in accordance with this Act, without the consent of the client, be examined as to any communication or information which has been acquired while attending to such client. The protection accorded herein shall also extend to the records and secretary or clerk of a license guidance counselor, who may not be examined concerning any fact, the knowledge of which has been acquired in such capacity.

Any evidence obtained in violation of this provision shall be inadmissible for any purpose and any proceeding

Section 29. Foreign Reciprocity. - No foreign Guidance Counselor shall be admitted to the examinations, or be given a certificate of Registration, or be entitled to any of the rights and privileges under this Act unless the country or state of which he/she is a subject or citizen permits Filipino Guidance Counselors to Practice within its territorial limits on the same basis as the subjects or citizen of said country or state: Provided, that the requirement for certification of Guidance Counselors in said foreign state or country are substantially the same as those required and contemplated under this Act: Provided, further, That the laws such states or country grant the same privilege to Filipino Guidance Counselors on the same basis as the subjects or citizens of such foreign state or country

Section 30. Funding Provisions.- The Chairperson of the Commission shall include in the Commission's Programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.

Section 31. Assistance of Law Enforcement Agency. - Any law enforcement agency shall, upon call or request of the Commission or the Board, render assistance in enforcing this Act, including all the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by prosecuting the violators thereof in accordance with law and the Rules of Court.

Section 32. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act,

Subject to the approval of the Commission, the Board shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations, in coordination with the integrated and accredited professional organization, to implement the provisions of this Act, which shall be effective after fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or newspaper of general circulation.

Section 33. Penalty Clause. - Any person who violates any provision of this Act and the rules and regulations issued by the Board and the Commission or commits fraud in the acquisition of Certificate of Registration or Special Permit, shall be punished with imprisonment of not less that six (6) months but not more that eight (8) years, or a fine of not less that Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or both in the discretion of the court.Section 34. Separability Clause.- If any part of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the remaining parts not affected thereby shall continue to be valid and operational

Section 35. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, circulars, rules and regulations and other issuances, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Section 36. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect one (1) month after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

This Act which a consolidation of House Bill No. 5253 and Senate Bill No. 2126 was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on January 20, 2004 and February 19, 2004 respectively.

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines

By Isah V. Red

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando, Komiks King Carlo J. Caparas and mega producer Donna Villa led the launching of five new komiks titles at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ Leandro Locsin Theater in Intramuros, Manila.

President Arroyo said her administration “fully supports the creative growth of the komiks industry which is not only a popular form of entertainment but an artistic vehicle for values education and employment enhancement.”

Arroyo praised Presidential Medal of Merit Awardee director Carlo J. Caparas and his wife Donna Villa “for staging the Komiks Karavan nationwide and forged partnership with Sterling Publication headed by Gerry Lim to provide the komiks industry new avenues for growth.”

Formally launched by the President were the new komiks which carries Carlo J.’s name in the title including CJC Filipino Klasiks, CJC Super Funny, CJC-OFW Superstories, CJC-Gwapo and CJC Tagalog Klasiks.

Among the fresh novels include Carlo J.’s Gagambino, Kroko, Saan Pupunta ang Pusong Sugatan, Ang Hiwaga ng Kadena de Amor, Andres De Saya, Beauty Queen, Panday Kid and Blanco Negro.

Other new and exciting komiks novels include Gilda Olvidado’s Daang Patungong Langit, Rod Santiago’s Elastica and Bangaw, Joelad Santos’ Maximo Kamao ng Maso and Mundo at Langit, Nerissa Cabral’s Pagkislap ng Tala and Sa Muling Pagbabalik, and Elena Patron’s Sukob sa Puso, among others.

The special affair culminates the Komiks Kongress launched by the golden couple exactly 150 days ago at the same venue inside the historic Walled City.

Carlo J. and Donna Villa jointly told newsmen that the grand fiesta celebration also capped the staging of the couple’s Komiks Karavan, which hopped around Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Boracay, Silay City, Bohol, Bulacan and other parts of the country.

Yesterday proved to be a major media event with 100 percent attendance.

Practically it served as reunion of writers, reporters from major newspapers and other publications as well as major and big TV channels.

Also in attendance were officials of Sterling, about 350 dealers, agents and distributors nationwide.

The Sterling Group of Companies of the brothers Henry and Jerry Lim were attracted to venture into the komiks business after learning about the caravan mania from newspaper reports and after conducting feasibility study and surveys nationwide of its market potential.

The comics writers who showed up were Elena Patron, Nerrissa Cabral, Gilda Olvidado, Citadel Mariano, Vic Poblete, Joelad Santos, Ofelia Angeles, Mike Relon Makiling, and many more.

The illustrators are Hal Santiago, Abe Ocampo, Nestor Malgapo, Karl Comendador, Nar Castro, Rico Rival, Steve Gan, Joey and Louie Celerio, who are both sons of the late national artist Levi Celerio, Rod Santiago, Jun and Rod Lafamia, Christian Santiago, Thor Infante and Jose Mari Mungcal, among others.

Also gracing the affair were other ranking government officials including NCAA executive director and presidential adviser on culture Cecile Guidote Alvarez, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino chairman Dr. Ricardo Nolasco and Commissioner Joelad Santos, also founder of the Filipino Institute of Komiks, Arts and Sciences (Finkomarts), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office director Manoling Morato, Polytechnic University of the Philippines president Dr. Dante Guevarra, and representatives from the Commission on Higher Education, and Department of Education and the International Theater Institute- Unesco Philippine Center, Lady Charity Rosario Uriarte of PCSO, and chairman Koni de Guzman of PAGC.

It will be recalled that almost a year ago, the KWF cited Carlo J. as people’s champ, and hero of the Filipino language by awarding him with the coveted “Gawad Komisyon sa Wika,” marking the annual celebration of the “National Language Month” last August.

Carlo J. attained stardom with his over 800 comic novels, 200 of which were all box-office hits including Bakekang, Ang Panday and the like.

The artists group praised Carlo J.’s and Donna’s gratefulness to President Arroyo as the first sitting president, who honored and recognized komiks’ role in education, and information dissemination.

The President awarded Carlo J. and five other legends in komiks with the prestigious Presidential Merit Award at Malacañang Palace last Feb. 28.

Komiks in the Philippines flourished in the mid-’60s and reached it’s Golden Age before Martial rule days with copies being sold in the range of 300,000 to 500,000 a day, until the business slowly diminished after the Edsa People Power Revolution.

The first proof of komiks in the Philippines is rooted in Dr. Jose Rizal’s Ang Pagong at ang Matsing.

The craft of komiks was popularized with the entry of so- called legends in Filipino komiks notable the rise of Antonio Velasquez, who is dubbed as father of the Filipino komiks, with his Kenkoy series.

Three for Belo

Belo… A name synonymous to beauty, a brand that redefines excellent service and trusted by the most influential celebrities and industry icons.

Three of the most loyal female endorsers of the Belo Medical Group hop on board for Dr. Belo’s latest venture. Belo Essentials is a skin care whitening product line that is affordable for the mass market.

Zsa Zsa Padilla, Regine Velasquez and Lucy Torres support the latest endeavor of prominent dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon Dr. Vicki Belo to give every Filipina a chance to live the promise of being Belo beautiful everyday.

Because of her vision to make the Philippines the most beautiful country in the world, Dr. Belo, with the help of her daughter Cristalle Belo Henares, extends the powerful Belo brand to the skin care whitening category that would reach more Filipino households. The products were developed with the same passion and expertise that went into making the Belo brand what it is today.

Created by Intelligent Skin Care Inc., an affiliate of the Belo Medical Group, Belo Essentials will be synonymous to the image of effective and safe skin care products that the Belo Medical Group has been known for.

Since this is the newest baby of Vicki and that her daughter Cristalle is at the helm of the new company, her son Quark Belo Henares, an award-wining film director, enthusiastically took on the creative side of the launch. Quark, together with ad agency Publicis Manila, captures the Belo Essentials concept into a stunning beautiful 30-second TV commercial.

The three celebrity endorsers, each famous in their respective expertise in the local entertainment scene, naturally make it a point to take good care of their skin. All of them certainly know the importance of skin care in their line of work and make an effort to religiously maintain their star white skin.

With Belo Essentials, every Filipina may finally get an affordable firsthand experience of the Belo care and expertise and in effect, be as Belo beautiful as their favorite stars.

(from the Manila Standard Today)

It's never quite easy to live a life when you have a lot of responsibilities - milk for your newborn, including diapers, monthly vaccination expenses for the baby, school fees for yourelf and your kids, electric bills (It's good here in the province we don't pay for water. And good for us, our phone is pre-paid), transportation expenses, food and food and food and some more food... That sometimes, eating becomes so stressing everytime you pull a hundred but can only buy a meal for the day, more painful that is, only for yourself. Now I'm just earning for food and my fare. How about my kids? Good for them because they have an Uncle and a Granny who provides for their clothing and other chuvanels expenses.

And so I move on to my decision-making process...

I e-mailed three of my aunts the other day. Asked for their opinion about my application in the US. Told them my litany of worries and fears. Basically, it's all about raising my kids in my absence (OA mang sabihin, but I really fear that six months - one year of not being with them... them growing in my absence). Fear that after not seeing me for a long time, they might forget that I am their mother -- the one who carried them in my womb for nine months and almost died in giving birth and with Yumi, while conceiving. I fear that Bea would not be able to maintain her good academic performance. I fear that Yumi might not be able to grow as sweet as her Ate. I fear that my husband might not be able to provide the warmth of both a father and a mother to my kids. I fear a hundred and one fears that I almost crack into tears just by merely thinking that I might leave them.

All of my aunts told me one thing: SACRIFICE!

And yet another point: OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS ONLY ONCE!

I got their point. Aunt Cely told me that my father was away from us for more than ten years, yet, we grew up as good as we are now (not bragging!). Well, maybe, we could raise our kids better than that for I would only be away for a year or so. And would eventually take them with me.

Hell, well!!! I'm talking about my fears but I forgot one principal aspect of all these: FAILING THE EVALUATION AND INTERVIEW!

After writing my entry yesterday, I almost grabbed my unit and log in to blogtext to delete my entry. I told myself, "Why am I writing all these stuff and letting the whole world know how I might fail in taking this great risk?"

Yet another side of me said (which of course I chose to follow because here I am writing a second entry in my new found CABAnata), "I might fear a lot of things, sometimes even myself, but one thing is for sure, I don't fear failing."

Why do I say so?

Because FAILING is just an offshoot of what is there on being human -- the struggle of making the most out of what you have as a person, using at the most your God-given self -- TRYING.

And this is what I want to share to my readers (if there are some...), that failing is not something to be afraid of but it is something to be proud of because you transcend the majority of people who do not experience failure, not because they are good at all aspects but they are afraid to take the risk and content themselves in lying under the guava tree, waiting for the guava fruit to ripen and fall right into their mouths.

Well, I'm not Juan Tamad. I will welcome each opportunity as they come until all my puzzle pieces will fall into place.

And like Pareng Leo Buscaglia said, "Taking risks makes one human for risking nothing is only of death."

May God bless me, my family and all people who take the risk of striving to transcend their humanness to completion, if not to perfection.