Pressure....Pressure....Pressure.....Treasure!

Two days ago, my wife and I have the surprised news that the CFA 4th quarter test examination will be due this coming March 8 already. As we had just hosted mommy Myrna's two week holiday vacation in Pinas, we were anticipating a third week deadline to catch up with Zek's lessons. Immediately we shifted to cram-up mode which inevitably and unfortunately led to some "pressured" moments with Zek who pitifully must stood his ground in a tsunami of information, topics and rule changes with instant effect. Quite often, it is easy to admit our concern at how much and how deep Zek can absorb all of these that could be really considered   valuable learning experience for him.

But on our bedtime story reading from Horizon's "Miss Rumphius", I was once again re-assured  of priceless reward of teaching him despite the challenges we met. You see, Ms. Rumphius story revolved around the three things that she most wanted to do.

1. To travel around the world.
2. To go home and live beside the sea.
3. To make the world more beautiful.

And the third one was the most difficult but she did it in her most simplest way - by planting Lupines flowers that blooms and color her neighborhood every Springtime.

Expectedly, the book asked the students to give their own version of 3 important goals/plans for themselves in their life. Zek readily answered the following:

1. To study my lesson well.
2. To help mommy sweep the floor, cook food and take care of my baby brother.

For the last plan, I was actually worried that he plans to have many money so he can buy all things he likes so I ask to him beforehand to think carefully how he can make the world more beautiful as Miss Rumphius did.

And then Zek finally said it.

3. To help the needy.

I smiled because I knew deep it my heart that Zek will have a heart close to the needy people when he grows up.

Indeed, the world around him will be more beautiful then. 


(Lupine photo from Google/ufseeds.com)

Fire Drill

When I go to the ground floor, I learn that I (can) do my fire drill that I use the fire extinguisher to put out the fire. Then I go to the fourth floor to get my food (snack) and the C2 (juice). Then I go home to do my lesson. By the way, I use the fire exit stairs (that’s 20 floors high!) to go to the ground floor. 

The EDSA Shrine (People Power Anniversary)

I learned about the EDSA Shrine that Benigno Aquino go to jail but he has heart problem so he go to the USA hospital. Then he go to NAIA 1 and the assassin kill him and he escaped. All of the people were angry then Cory Aquino came, she is his wife. All the people go to church then all of the tanks try to kill them but Gen. Ramos and Juan (Ponce Enrile) try to stop them. Then all the tanks go to Camp Crame and the people protect them also. Then all the tanks go to find two people (Pres. Marcos and Gen. Ver) but they escaped.