PCTC (Parent-Child-Teacher Conference) day is one of the most dreadful day for a teacher but not because it is a day for talking to the parents. I have no qualms about discussing with my students’ parents my students’ performance in class. I mean if I can ask them for help in correcting the children’s mistakes and pointing out their strengths, then I would gladly talk to them anytime.

It’s not that. I dread PCTCs because of so many reasons.

First, during this particular day, I usually talk for several hours, sometimes running from 8 in the morning to around 2 in the afternoon nonstop. I’m not new to talking because teaching requires a lot of talk, but to go on for several hours is just a little too challenging.

Second, since teachers have to deal with people who have limited free time, we usually don’t take CR breaks or snacks in order to not cause delays with the parents’ schedules. If possible, we take a leak or grab a bite after everyone is done. If not, then we wait, take glucomannan (appetite suppressants) or simply water, to keep us going.

Third, PCTCs can become really dreadful after talking to very discriminating parents. Because, you see, there are parents who look down on teachers and see them as servants or people of lower value. Although these types of parents only come every once in a while, they still make you feel uncomfortable and insignificant, sometimes to the point of making you doubt your self or test your restrain. (Thank goodness I have no such parents this year.)

Don’t get me wrong. I am perfectly fine with communicating, exchanging observations, ideas, and suggestions with parents. Whatever I can do to help my students, I would do so willingly and gladly. However, PCTCs have their ups as well as their downs.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve recently started biking to and from school. And for two weeks already, I’ve felt the benefits (and the pains) of my new choice of transportation mode.

You see, because biking does not cost me any money, I’m able to save a bit. As a matter of fact, if my calculations are correct, I have already saved enough to buy mateo a large can of milk from what is supposedly gas or tricycle money. Aside from this, I feel a bit healthier especially after seeing how my leg power and endurance has improved in the past two weeks. Also, since biking contributes no greenhouse gases, I’ve gained more pride talking to my classes about conservation and environment because I can use my bike as a real and viable choice for cutting down pollution.

However, as in the cases of most choices, there are ups and downs to biking. The downside of this particular choice of transportation can weigh heavily against its advantages.

For example, if getting to your place of work involves traversing elevations and slopes, cycling can become physically more challenging. I know because the school where I teach in lies on a hillside. My sore muscles can attest to the difficulty in climbing especially long and steep inclines.

Second, because cycling to and from work usually involve rolling on busy streets, most cyclists expose their face and skin to smoke and dust while perspiring. This usually leads to clogged pores and consequently acne breakout. I mean, what’s the point of biking to save money when you end up spending money for derma visits and acne treatment?

Third, because a bicycle offers no protection from the weather, a cyclist is always at the mercy of the sun. If it rains, then the cyclist and the bike get wet. If it’s hot, then both rider and bicycle get burned.

For those who are still bugging me wondering whether andrea is pregnant or not, yes she is. In a few more weeks, we’ll be done with the first trimester and hopefully be feeling okay already to start planning about the logistics and financial aspects of the delivery.

Because even though we’ve been praying real hard for a second baby, we haven’t actually laid down a complete plan for another child yet. And we haven’t fully taken into consideration all the changes that will have to happen as a consequence of having an additional member in the family.

For the baby alone we have the usual questions like: Which hospital should we give birth in? (And because St. Luke’s is now significantly farther without a car) where can we find a good gynecologist that conducts clinics somewhere near but is affiliated with good hospitals?

As for the whole family: Will we still be able to afford renting our house? Or is time to look for apartments for rent? Should we consider getting a car or can we do everything without one?

There are so many questions that come with the second baby especially because we know some of the things to expect having a little experience with mateo. This second coming is really both a joy and a pain to have. Either way, we’re still very happy and excited.

It’s been a roller coaster ride for the last two weeks especially in terms of my weight. I’ve lost a couple of pounds, gained a few, and now I’m losing some again.

You see, two weeks ago, the deadline for exams and grades, the best weight loss pill for teachers, came up. I had to stay up till 3 or 4 in the morning to finish checking, updating, and rechecking papers (mine and the those of other teachers in our department). Trudging on for almost the whole week with an average of only around 2-3 hours of sleep made me lose a pound or two.

However, right after the deadline, I went on an eating spree to celebrate. And in only a few days, whatever weight I lost, I gained back.

Now, a week after, I’m losing some again because I’ve just recently started biking. It’s been two days of biking to school and back and my sore muscles are living testaments to the difficult exercise I’m currently undertaking. I’m determined though to master cycling so I’m prepared to lose more pounds in the next few days.

I just hope the weight stabilizes so my body can adjust to the exercise faster.

Ever since we imposed a no-violent-TV-show rule for mateo, andrea and I have had less and less time for TV. In fact, we even came to the point of deciding whether we should get rid of the cable channels subscription because we don’t get to watch anymore.

It is because of this that I realized that today’s generation and violent TV culture are unfortunately interlinked. There are less and less TV shows being shown that are suitable for kids. Even Nickelodeon, the Cartoon Network, and the Disney Channel sometimes air shows that allow a little violence – the classic but perpetual struggle between good and evil featuring minor scuffling between heroes and villains.

Is there no more completely kid-friendly channel in the world? Because if there is, and if my children would benefit from watching it, then I would gladly buy a bell tv just to get it. There’s too much violence in the world already. I don’t want mateo or our next baby growing up to be just as violent as the present generation of kids.

I always thought that cancer was bad regardless of whatever case or type it may be. I was wrong. It is worse in some cases.

You see, even though cancer cases are, statistically speaking, typically fatal, there are certain types that give you more than a painful death. Colon cancer, for example, depending on stage, can make you suffer from abdominal pains, constipation, irregular bowel to no bowel movement at all, and so much more inconvenience. Compared to other types of cancer (that are often painful when metastasis has already been reached), colon cancer makes you undergo so many other things that are not just painful, but also annoyingly bothersome. (And I’m not even talking about chemotherapy yet.)

Colon cancer, similar to other types, is hard to detect at an early stage. Usually, the symptoms are observed when the cancer has already progressed which makes it harder to prevent. However, unlike more common types such as lung cancer (whose prevention method usually just involves staying away from the carcinogen), it can be addressed by taking in natural supplements or colon cleansers like bowtrol.

Anyway, whatever the case is, colon cancer or some other type of cancer, I’d still rather not get any.