October 24, 2011

Goodbye, Itchan! We will miss you!

here's our tribute for you, itchan. 
you're life was a great one because it is full of happiness.
thankyou for touching our lives.
we will all miss you.
we love you from the deepest part of our hearts.

REST IN PEACE MY DEAR FRIEND
     


      xoxo








P.S.
And when I die, let my coffin be white or light blue. Let me wear a light blue dress and simple make-up. I want to have my photos in a gallery and an AVP of my memories that is continuously playing next to my coffin. I also want a continuous playing of songs and some singing sessions from my friends and loved ones on my wake. I want everyone to treat me as if I am just sleeping. I don't want to be cremated..And as you send me on my tomb, I want everyone to wear blue also. I want a simple program where people who wants to say goodbye to me express their feelings through words and for those who want to keep their message between the two of us, let there be blue balloons with brief notes from them fly in the sky to send their message for me. I know I can't stop you from crying but I want everyone to be happy for me for I will be with our Father where I will live eternally, happily and peacefully. :)

Whoever has the chance to read this, please take note of this and let my family know about this if I'll die. Of course, I don't want it to be soon but if it's God's will, I must obey. 

October 21, 2011

Itchan, you did a great job! :)

Sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam kung paano ko ilalabas ang lahat ng lungkot sa puso ko kaya naisip kong maaaring sa pagsulat dito ay kahit paano'y mababawasan ang bigat na dinadala ko. 

"Life is so good. Enjoy every second of it! :)" posted October 2 at 3:58pm. 
--Ito ang huling status mo sa facebook at ito ang pakatatandaan naming lahat na nagmamahal sa'yo. Sabi mo nga, maganda ang buhay at pinatunayan mo 'yan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapasaya ng mga araw na kasama ka namin. 

ANG BIGAT. Minabuti ko na isulat ito sa wikang Filipino para mailabas ko ang lahat ng bigat na dinadala ko. Hindi ko alam na sa isang iglap, yung taong masiyahin at masigla ay biglang babawiin sa amin. Mahirap isipin pero kailangan tanggapin. Kailangan naming bumangon kahit hindi namin alam kung kakayanin namin.

Lahat kami ay nalulungkot. Alam naming ayaw mo na magkaganito kami kaya pipilitin naming maging matatag. Lagi mo ngang sinasabi, "Ang buhay ay hiram lamang." Ipinahiram ka samin ni Lord para iparamdam sa aming lahat kung paano maging masaya at kung paano maging matatag sa oras ng paghihirap.Higit dito, ipinahiram ka sa amin upang matuto kami na pahalagahan ang bawat segundong ibinigay sa amin upang mabuhay.

Alam naming naging mahirap para sa'yo na ngumiti sa kabila ng lahat ng sakit na pinagdaanan mo pero mas pinili mo pa ring gawin yun para hanggang sa huli, masasayang alaala ang maiiwan mo sa amin. Sa lahat ng ito, maraming maraming salamat. Ang mga ngiti at halakhak mo ay mananatiling nakatanim sa aming mga puso. Ito at ang katotohanang masaya ka na kasama ang Ama natin sa langit ang gagawin naming tuntungan para unti-unti ay makabangon kami.

Lider, yan ang tawag mo sa akin. Ikaw ang lagi kong katabi at kagrupo kapag ang basehan ay apelyido. Erestain-Estupin. Natatawa ako twing naaalala ko kung paano mo sabihing, "Saan tayo, lider?" at "Sunod tayo kay lider." Kahit sinasabihan mo akong hindi nagpapakopya, sobrang nalulungkot ako dahil wala nang magsasabi ulit nun sakin. Salamat sa pagiging mabuting classmate, groupmate, seatmate, kapatid at kaibigan. Mamimiss kita sampu ng iba mo pang mga kaibigan. Mahal ka namin. 

Mula kay lider, 
ITCHAN, YOU DID A GREAT JOB!
Uno ang grado mo sa buhay na ito.


See you later, but not too soon, okay? 
We will miss you and we truly love you!


         xoxo

October 3, 2011

Hello October! Happy World Teachers' Day! :)

Teachers are big part of my life. They are the reasons behind the success of my every step in life. Since the beginning, they stand as my parents, friends and of course, my mentors not just inside the four-walled classrooms but also in my life. 

This October, we will all be celebrating World Teachers' Day. To give tribute to all the teachers who are inspiring us and play a big role in my blessed life, let me share this favorite stories of mine about them:

Her name was Mrs. Thompson. As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he didn't play well with the other children. His clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers. 

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise. 

Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners...He is a joy to be around." 

His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home is a struggle." 

His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death had been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken." 

Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class." 

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs.Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. 

Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one quarter-full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. 

Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mother used to." 

After the children left she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, and writing, and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. 

Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets." 

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. 

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life. 

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer the letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD. 

The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he'd met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. 

Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. 

They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs.Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference." 

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

It is true, teachers play a big part in our lives. As the school becomes our second home, they also becomes our second parents. To give respect to them is the best thing that we, as their students and second daughters and sons, can give to them.

Again, to all teachers, HAPPY

     xoxo