Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity

Teacher's Day is celebrated in Singapore far different from the way we celebrate it in the Philippines. Back when I was a kid at school, I remember that we only give small tokens - personally made cards or cut-out flowers done in an artistic way or if Mom and Dad are a bit richer, probably a chocolate bar - on that special day and classes go on. In here, it is or school holiday and teachers are given more lavish gifts; Josh gave his teachers boxes of specially made brownies - definitely not done by me, of course.

Now that Josh is attending real school - he's in nursery - I am learning quite a lot about this country's educational system. If you think that a Nursery class is such a breeze, I tell you now that it is not that easy both for the child and the parents. Things that were taught in school have to re-inforced at home. He really needs to learn his letters and numbers at this age else he'd be left behind; whilst in the Phillipines, you can attend Primary 1 (or Grade 1) without going through that kindergarten stage; the kid might need to do some catching-up but he will definitely survive.

Singapore has a higher standard of education but it is both taxing to the child and the parents; I have seen it in my officemates and friends, not to mention how hard it is to get admitted in some of the schools you might have in mind. Just to enter Primary 1 is a tedious process; they have different tiers for admittance and each tier has its own number quota, so what schools normally do is balloting or giving out queue numbers at a specific date; so if you did not make it to the quota, tough luck find another school. School year starts in January and as early as June parents of incoming Primary 1 students are already busy scouting for the best schools; some even go ealier than that by voluteering at their desired school in order to get a priority slot.

I remember when I was on my Junior year in high school and we moved from Mindoro to Palawan, my Mom and I went to the Palawan State College's high shool office in the morning to ask if I can transfer to their school and later that afternoon I already attended my first class in that new campus. As for Josh, who will start his K1 next year, I am going to start looking for the best Catholic school. I actually want him to go to La Salle but it's quite far from our place, else we move house.

Bargains aren't really cheap

There's a huge reason why I don't shop at Sim Lim Square - a six storey building housing stores selling IT products. The place is so vast with different stores selling almost the same products. The first time you'll step inside this place, you'll be overwhelmed by the orderly chaos of people moving around jumping from one store to another and of hecklers giving away flyers.

Since the redemption centre for the O2 speaker, which I got for free when I bought my Atom, is in this building I had no other choice but to wade through throngs of people looking for a good deal. After redeeming my speaker, I looked around the store for a good case for my PDA phone; I saw one leather case and another hard case. I liked the hard one and asked the store help for the price; she said it costs $49. I went to the next store as Herman was looking around as well; they have the same leather case and that silicone cover that makes your gadget look like it's wearing a very thick condom.

I asked him to come with me back to the old store as I am really poor at haggling. The previous store help was gone so we asked another and got a lower price of $45. Thinking that we got a good bargain and since the store is an authorized 02 dealer, we bought the pretty looking case. After a few minutes of window shopping, we finally decided to leave, but only after checking what's on sale at the ground floor. Well, to my dismay I saw that the case I just bought at the 5th floor is being sold at the lower floor for only $35!

I went home downhearted yet still ecstatic that I found the best looking case I could find. I simply promised myself that I'll buy another one in pink and I'll make sure that I'll buy at the ground floor.

Dream come true

One of my biggest dreams had come true and that is to own a PDA phone; not just any PDA phone but an O2 Xda Atom. After two years of making do with my Nokia 6230, I had finally bidden it goodbye and gave it its needed rest.

I haven't read a technical manual in such a long time - probably since my very first hand phone - but this time I had to read it front and back; it was quite amusing nonetheless. Three days since I got this new gadget, I am finally getting the hang of it.

Now I can write my entries while watching TFC in our living room far from our PC or while being bored at a children's party. That is why more entries are coming. Yes, I am making this entry on my new ATOM.

Idol Material

Since TFC is not airing the new show Philippine Idol, Filipinos outside of the country are very thankful to that there's youtube.com and some zealous fans willing to record each show's episode. The auditions are over and I've seen them all.

Watching my countrymen go through the tedious audition - and quite a frightening one, considering that it is the Mr. Ryan Cayabyab on the other side on the room - I've come to really appreciate the vast raw talent of the Filipino people. There were those usual jerks or jesters who are either tone deaf or simply just full of themselves, but in the midst of it all are pure gems. Some were even good yet they didn't made the cut or were given the golden ticket.

After seeing those three episodes (auditions for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao), I couldn't wait for what's to happen next, and even more hate what Singapore Idol offers. Those who were rejected in the Philippine Idol auditions could kick each of the finalists' butts in Singapore Idol. Just hearing what the judges had to say on these two shows illustrate the difference in the level of talent that they could pluck out from this international hit franchise. In the Philippine Idol, they are looking for someone whose voice is developed; in Singapore, on the other hand, they are looking for someone whom they can develop.

Pinoys rock! Bigtime.

Sleuthing

JK Rowling treated Harry Potter fans with some good stuff for the past few weeks. She had revealed some answers to other puzzling stuff, such as whether Dumbledore is really dead (he's not going to pull a Gandalf) or what Hermione would see in the mirror of Irised. What I am particularly interested in was what she said about Petunia, who is Harry's aunt, that there is a little more to her than meets the eye.

So many theories had come up on how the series would end or how Harry would finally defeat Voldemort, like what Jo said no one had guessed it yet. I would like to make a guess - wild as it may be - about Voldemort's downfall. It has been discussed that the "power the Dark Lord knows not", which is love - something that Harry has a lot of - is the key to it all and that Harry would die by sacrificing himself all because of that love. Some even suggested that it could be Ginny, Harry's current ex-girlfriend, who would sacrifice and block that Avada Kedavra curse, just like what Lily, Harry's mother, did the first time. Fans of Snape are banging up on the idea that it would be the hero's former Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who would save the day and die for Harry. Tragic Harry/Hermione shippers think that it would be Harry's girl best friend who has a huge inclination of dying for the hero just to prove that it is Harry whom Hermione loves the most and not Ron.

My theory is going to play on some replies JK Rowling gave in some of her interviews. She said that Harry's eyes are going to play a crucial role in the series and that there is something more to it with Petunia, and that we would learn them a lot more in the last book. Harry's eyes already did wonders in the Half-Blood Prince with Slughorn, and I bet that the second person to be affected by it would be his aunt. Jo mentioned sometime ago that there's someone who would discover his or her magical abilities at a later stage, and I think there is a good chance that that person is from the Dursleys.

After all these years of abusing Harry, I am leaning more on Petunia finding redemption. She'd see her sister through his eyes and that this love of family would kick in and that she'd do the same thing her sister did: die for Harry.

Why am I posting this? Because I want some proof that I thought of it before the seventh book is released and even before they might think of it in Pottercast's canon conundrum.

Maybank's Le Crescendo

Here are some of the pinoys working in Maybank Singapore:


The dinner and dance was great fun! Even though I didn't win, three members in our table did; Ernie even won the 2nd price: 32" LCD TV.


More pics here.

Clothes Horse

What is it with girls and balls? I am not pertaining to the round things that bounce or to the ones in a man's crotch; what I want to talk about is that grand party where people dress up and mingle, and partake in such a luxurious frivolity. We are going to have a dinner and dance in our company this Saturday and I can't help but wonder about the different outlook between genders on this coming affair.

Men are more laidback and are just coming because of the great food and of the chances of winning in the lucky draw. Women, on the other hand, are just as excited about the grub and of the prizes, but it is their look for the night that plagues their mind for the past week or so – what to wear, what type of make-up and hairstyle, the kind of shoes, the jewellery, to go to the beauty salon or do-it-yourself; the list seem to be endless.

Sometimes I just wished I hadn't signed-up to join this party, but then again the girly itch kicks in and I'm off to the mall to buy all the things I'd ever need to glam up.