Teacher therapy

“Honesty is the best policy”, an old adage would say.  This might sound a cliche but this saying has not lost its essence.  Let me tell you a little incident on this.  

I was in Subic last Thursday, October 16 to Saturday, October 18, 2008.  I attended a three-day conference organized by the speech communication organization of the Philippines.  Before the conference formally started, I tried to explore the area since the hotel where I stayed was right in front of the bay.  I took some pictures, and went back to the hotel a few minutes before the opening ceremony. 

When I was at the hotel, I sat in one of the corner sofas, which was cozy and comfortable.  Sitting there, I brought out the wallet that contains my two cell phones. I thought of texting my Admin Assistant for the things which I failed to do before I left.  Because the place was near the smoking area, I immediately stood up when I smelt of cigarette smoke oblivious of my wallet, that had my other phone, placed on the sofa. 

I hurriedly walked my way towards the seminar hall while texting.  After using my other phone, I found out that my black wallet was missing. I ran back to the placed where I sat, but the precious black wallet was no longer there.

I immediately reported the incident to the information, who turned me over to the security officer.  Immediately, the security officer ordered that all exits be closed, and that they would do the “search operation” for my lost cell phone.  I was instructed to narrate the chronology of events on paper for their report.  Afterwards, I was told that they could not assure me that they would be able to give me back my cell phone. 

With that, I started texting friends for the hotline of the my lost phone provider so that I can have my number blocked.  I was worried because it was on postpaid plan. While I was sitting on the seminar venue, my mind was busy thinking of my lost phone.  I could not concentrate because I was busy texting my friends asking for the hotline number.  After a while I saw the security officer again motioning for me to come to him.  I did, and there I was presented the black wallet wiht my phone inside!  I could not believe it!  I have lost cell phones twice, but this time it’s returned to me :-) The security officer told me one of the employees turned over the wallet to him.  What an honest employee they have!  I wanted to meet the person who found my wallet, but I was not allowed.  I wonder why.  I guess it was their policy; I was given that hunch.

With this heartwarming incident, I would like to thank Legenda Hotel and its management. If you happen to visit Subic Bay Freeport Zone, check in at the Legenda Hotel, Waterfront Road. It’s seldom to find honest people like the ones in Legenda.  Aside from honesty, they are also accommodating.  Speak of customer service. Legenda has it!  It truly lives to its name as the legendary Legenda. 

The hotel front view.  Subic Bay Freeport Zone.  October 16, 2008.

A couple of months ago, I was asked by my belly dance teacher to write a short testimony.  I was able to accomplish the request only a while ago.  Together with the words goes my pic taken by my friend, Aileen Siroy.  Thanks, Ai for making me look beautiful and super sexy in that pic

Here’s what I’ve written:   

This has been my fourth month in belly dance class.  People have been noticing certain changes in me - from my protruding tummy to a bit controlled one and from my being cranky to a more pleasant one.  The latter is a comment coming from my administrative assistant, no less, being the person that I get to have a close encounter with every day in the workplace.

With these positive comments comes the question, “where do you study belly dancing?”  And I enthusiastically reply, “At the Peak Performance Dance Studio and Fitness Center.”  So let me tell you what I love about Peak. 

Besides its range of physical fitness exercises, Peak Performance has the homey atmosphere.  To say that it has the most accommodating and friendly staff is an understatement.  I guess the staff at Peak has got the attitude of Ms. Jill, the owner, who herself is very pleasant and friendly.  Apparently, she treats every client like a family.  One can never feel being out-of-place even though he/she is a beginner in any fitness class at Peak. 

Unlike other fitness center, Peak Performance does not require its clients of membership fee. Instead, clients are given the option to pay per visit, or they may opt to get the “peak pass” which is offered in a discounted price as compared to the pay-per-visit fee. I dare say that Ms. Jill and company see to it that you get your money’s worth every session since it’s always full of fun!

Having been thru a number of fitness classes, at 42, I could say that I finally found one that fits me and my personality.  And belly dance it is!  I love its discipline — the fluid movements, the muscle isolation, the grace, and the story that goes with every dance step that Ms. Jill teaches me.  -  Badeth Cabico, October 10, 2008

Taken by Aileen Siroy during Ariane’s birhtday.  Tamayo’s Chamber, Intramuros.  August 8, 2008.

Finally, I am done with writing my integrative paper!  Yes.  I wrote the last sentence last night, and I am now in the process of collating all the references I read.  It’s like a hundred of them. 

 Now that I’m done with it, I am now on the polishing stage of a 30+-page review of related literature.  I need to weed out what’s not necessary.  After which, I’ll go and see my adviser.  Dr. Dayag, here I come!

Writing an IP is quite challenging.  And the most challenging part is the reading stage.  Imagine me reading like a hundred technical articles in apllied linguistics of almost the same topic everynight.  What a boring thing to do, indeed!  Mind you, this reading I did for 3 monhts!  See?  Well, reading and writing are relatives, so I need to read a lot in order to write something.

Another challenging part is the requirement posed on us, would-be-doctors-of-philosophy-in-applied-linguistics.  The expected output is the comprehensive critical review of literature in our field of interest in applied linguistics.  Indicentally, mine is English in the workplace. 

After the so many readings I did, I am now quite settled with the dissertation topic that I’ll delve into.  I am now settled to work on language pedagogy in the workplace, especially in the call center industry.  As an educator, I want to see if there is a big gap between academic instruction and industry practice, and bridge the gap if there is by way curricular reengineering and instructional reforms.  Hey!  the concept is becoming clearer, huh!

Wish me luck!

The school where I would like to earn my PhD in Applied Linguistics.  De La Salle University-Manila.  August 2008.