Are we prepared to K-12 Education Program?

K-12, according to government's official site, is considered as the basic education needed to equipped him/her with fundamental knowledge and be competitive globally.

It consist of 1 year in Kindergarten, 6 years of Primary Education, 4 years of Junior High School and 2 years of Senior High School. Implementation is effective 2013-2014 school year.

Photo Credits: verafiles.org

For my child to prepare in this new system and be accepted in a reputable school, I would initially enroll him/her first in a preschool class or toddler/playgroup class. Some schools nowadays expect that kids are knowledgeable in ABCs, 123s, colors and shapes. In fact, the school will have to undergo student assessment before they accept new students. If Kindergarten is for 5 yrs old, Preschool is for 4 yrs, Toddler or Playgroup is 2-3 yrs old.

I let my eldest join playgroup class for socialization since she does not have someone to interact with at home (aside from her nanny). The 2-hr session consist of singing and dancing and storytelling and playing. She's 2 yrs and 5-month old then. Two years after, she started Nursery, then Kindergarten. She'll be in third grade this coming June 2014 and still enjoying it.

This summer I let my youngest join a toddlers class (still for socialization development). However, seems like teaching style is different, maybe because its a different school. Nevertheless, I'm sure, their teaching style is not effective. Letting a toddlers sit on a chair for 2 hours while the teacher is discussing alphabets and numbers and shapes and colors or giving materials for them to color or write or read, I doubt if its a smooth sailing class. I still want the way where children learn through songs, dance, stories and play.

The government should review the system. Is it quantity over quality? Too may levels but are the contents really present for the students to grasp the fundamentals? There are successful Pinoys that excel and they came from a 10-year basic education. Are they resolving the root cause of the education system's problem?

How about you moms out there? Are you prepared to K-12?

Food Trip: Banana Cake

Because we were not able to make it to the swimming class. 
Because she has nothing to do while waiting her brother (who is attending summer class for toddlers). 
Because she needs to do anything so she has something to write on her English assignment's "My Summer Vacation".
For whatever reasons, she's currently in for a cooking class. And yes, she totally enjoyed it. In fact, she baked something for me last mother's day - banana cake.

 Her version of banana cake:
(recipe from her cooking class teacher)

Ingredient:
3 pcs green bananas
3 pcs large egg
1 cup white sugar
1 cup/ 8 oz butter at room temperature
3 cups cake flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup peanuts

Procedure:
1. Pre-heat oven at 350°F.
2. Mashed bananas.
3. Combine eggs, sugar, butter, flour and baking soda.
4. Fold in mashed banana followed by 1/2 cup peanuts.
5. Put the batter in the baking pan and top it with the remaining peanuts.
6. Bake for 30-45min or until wooden stick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

Simple gestures... affects me big time.

My Kids: Same but Different

Both loves to swim.

Both likes noodles.

Both enjoys sipping soups.

Both are sweet and loving.

Both enjoys playtime with Papa Taniel.

But...

She likes to write.
He likes to sing.

She likes sweets.

He likes salty.

She's reserve.

He's carefree.

She can wait.

He is impatient.

She's the peacemaker.

He's in for a battle.

She pays attention (though had to remind her twice or thrice :D).

He ignores me (unless I'll do the spanking).

She easily gets hurt, yet easily pleased.

He seems numb but takes time to console when hurt.

Do I freak out? Maybe? 
However...

She is 8 yrs old; 

He is 2 yrs old;

Way too early to compare? 

Will they change? 
For better? 
For worse? 
Hhmmn... I think we, as parents play a big role on it.

Even if the nurturing is the same, there will always be that something that makes every child different. 

Surely, we will embrace their individuality. For now, let them enjoy the kid in them.

{Only in Pinas} When commuting gets tough

Here in Cebu, jeepney is commonly used public utility vehicle. It is cheaper than taxi. There are buses, but only used for long distance travel. Sadly, we don't have train. Habal2x (motorcycle for hire) is highly not recommended since Pinoy drivers are (not all but outnumbered by) reckless.

So for commuters like me, jeepney is okey for my 10km ride to the office.

Though its a cheap ride, I still expect to be comfy. To at least still feel sane as I arrived in the office. But seems like commuters here are treated inhumanely. I don't know with other routes but riding a Consolacion-route wide jeepneys is tough and upsetting. 

What's worse, seems like everyone accepts to be treated this way.

Look at this chair. 

Two people had to occupy on this and will pay the same fare as the one sitting on the bench.

See our knees too close to those sitting in the middle.

Sad! Only in the Philippines!!!

Wake up LTFRB-7!

Note: This is based on personal experience.

A visit at Woodford Reserve Distillery

Able to visit the company's main office, which is located at Lexington, Kentucky for a 3-week training. It was bad timing in terms of weather condition considering it was one of worst winter season of Lexington thus, I was not able to explore the city. Good thing though, the weather turns good on my third week that I was able to visit a bourbon distillery. Thanks to Josh!

We went to Woodford Reserve Distillery, one of the best bourbon in America, according to our tour guide. He said that for their bourbon to meet the desired taste and having used the correct ingredients as well as the right charred barrel, it has to be aged for 8 years.

The 1-hour tour cost 7US$. It started at the main hall where introductions are made. 

We went to the mash room / fermentation room. He explained that to have the best quality bourbon, the right ingredients should be available. Kentucky water fits right for bourbon due to being an iron-free filtered through limestones. Mixing of ingredients and adding yeast and how the ingredients transform to alcohol happens in this room.

Next, we went to the distillery room where they are using pot still, its a copper-colored kettle I may say. 

In the same room, filling of the barrels also happens when distilled alcohol reaches a certain alcohol proof. The tour says that barrel plays an important role in making bourbon since it stays in the barrel for 8 years thus it should be correctly charred. Then we went to the storage room where barrels are kept. Its like a waiting room and once it matures, the barrel goes to the bottling room where the bourbon is filtered, bottled, packed and ready for consumer's consumption. The white distilled alcohol turns brown after 8 years in the barrel, this is the evidence that the rbarrel does play an important role during storage.

We were brought back to the main hall where we were given chocolate bourbons and a shot of Woodford Reserve.

To drink the bourbon according to the guide is to smell it first, second is to take a sip and let it roll in your tongue and feel the sweetness and the burning sensation, third is to put some rock ice on it and wait for 10 seconds to take another sip. 

I'm not fond of bourbons, but the sweetness and the burning feeling once swallowed really feels good.

More about Woodford Reserve can be found here.