When I was young, I really wanted to learn how to play a piano. Even my mom, it was one of her dreams that I could play a piano in church. Unfortunately, that time, we didn't have enough money for me to enroll in a private piano teacher. Since I received my keyboard, I started to learn a little. At first, without knowing how to read notes, I played melodies by hearing familiar songs. Then, I learned how to play the basic major chords by the guidance of the keyboard.

It was summer before I become 6th grade when I started to have my first piano lesson in my school. Every summer, they offer activities like guitar and piano lessons, taekwando and basketball trainings, etc to the students. Good thing, they offer at the right price. So, my mom and I grabbed the opportunity. By that time, I could read notes already before I enrolled. If you're going to evaluate their teaching, it's not worth it. They will only teach a little. Actually, I already knew most of they taught. It was just that I learned the right fingerings and additional chords from them. At the end of my first recital, I received a medal unexpectedly. According to them, the one who will received a medal is the most outstanding student. After that, it was like a graduation. They don't offer any lessons during school days. So, I stopped for a while.

The real opportunity happened when I was 14 years old. I was in my 2nd year high school that time. My dad and I talked to my new piano teacher to talk about piano lesson offers. Then, a week after, I have the books that I needed and started to have my first lesson with her. I learned a lot from her. She taught me advanced lessons even my level was beginner. Until now, she was my piano teacher. Currently, I'm in level 2 or 3 in piano. I still play higher level pieces, but of course, I need time to practice those.

About 5 years ago, I had the opportunity to share my talent in piano to my niece. Her name is Chin-chin. She's now 15 years old. She was my first student. I taught her the basic principles in music. It was a short time, while she was having her summer vacation. Then, 2 years ago, we were about to continue, but she was already taken to province.

Last Friday, October 13, 2017, I experienced being a piano teacher again. It's been a while to have a legit student again. My current student is few years older than me. He is a good looking guy. My choir mates have crush on him and find him cute and handsome. According to them, he resembles the Filipino actor, Patrick Garcia. He is currently a student of Philippine Amazing Facts Center of Evangelism (PAFCOE). It is a school of evangelism in our church. His name is Ralph. I taught him basics in our first lesson. We agreed that I will only teach him the basics in piano, because I'm still a learner as well. 

I'm glad to share my knowledge and talents to others. When you have the opportunity to learn new things, grab it. Our time is only limited. It will be a waste when it's too late.

When I was young, I really wanted to learn how to play a piano. Even my mom, it was one of her dreams that I could play a piano in church. Unfortunately, that time, we didn't have enough money for me to enroll in a private piano teacher. Since I received my keyboard, I started to learn a little. At first, without knowing how to read notes, I played melodies by hearing familiar songs. Then, I learned how to play the basic major chords by the guidance of the keyboard.

It was summer before I become 6th grade when I started to have my first piano lesson in my school. Every summer, they offer activities like guitar and piano lessons, taekwando and basketball trainings, etc to the students. Good thing, they offer at the right price. So, my mom and I grabbed the opportunity. By that time, I could read notes already before I enrolled. If you're going to evaluate their teaching, it's not worth it. They will only teach a little. Actually, I already knew most of they taught. It was just that I learned the right fingerings and additional chords from them. At the end of my first recital, I received a medal unexpectedly. According to them, the one who will received a medal is the most outstanding student. After that, it was like a graduation. They don't offer any lessons during school days. So, I stopped for a while.

The real opportunity happened when I was 14 years old. I was in my 2nd year high school that time. My dad and I talked to my new piano teacher to talk about piano lesson offers. Then, a week after, I have the books that I needed and started to have my first lesson with her. I learned a lot from her. She taught me advanced lessons even my level was beginner. Until now, she was my piano teacher. Currently, I'm in level 2 or 3 in piano. I still play higher level pieces, but of course, I need time to practice those.

About 5 years ago, I had the opportunity to share my talent in piano to my niece. Her name is Chin-chin. She's now 15 years old. She was my first student. I taught her the basic principles in music. It was a short time, while she was having her summer vacation. Then, 2 years ago, we were about to continue, but she was already taken to province.

Last Friday, October 13, 2017, I experienced being a piano teacher again. It's been a while to have a legit student again. My current student is few years older than me. He is a good looking guy. My choir mates have crush on him and find him cute and handsome. According to them, he resembles the Filipino actor, Patrick Garcia. He is currently a student of Philippine Amazing Facts Center of Evangelism (PAFCOE). It is a school of evangelism in our church. His name is Ralph. I taught him basics in our first lesson. We agreed that I will only teach him the basics in piano, because I'm still a learner as well. 

I'm glad to share my knowledge and talents to others. When you have the opportunity to learn new things, grab it. Our time is only limited. It will be a waste when it's too late.

Last Thursday, September 28, 2017, I joined the educational field trip of Manila Center Adventist Elementary School (MCAES) and Manila Center Church Academy (MCCA). The date was also the day of Mechanical Engineering licensure board examination. Since I'm not going to take the exam for some reasons, I decided to join. Thank Goodness that my 2 brothers are teachers of MCCA, it wouldn't be an embarrassment for an outsider like me. Plus, I'm currently on a vacation, so I just enjoyed everything.

There was a museum located beside the church. The tour guides discussed about the history of Revolution and the Malolos Congress. While everyone was sitting on a dark room, they discussed the history in an audio-visual presentation. The elementary students were very interested to listen and some of them were taking their notes. The notes that they wrote were a big help in their studies, especially in the Philippine History subject. After the presentation, we were toured in the historical items including the old records of the people involved in that era. As we went to exit, the tour guides leaded us inside the church. We were able to see its beauty. It's like the altar is made of gold. Though, I'm not sure if that is real.

The animals of the zoo are only few. Most of their animals are farm animals. Though, they have wild animals, but those are not in great number. For an animal lover like me, I enjoyed alot seeing different animals. I really like to pet them, but it's not allowed. There are chances that they offer for the tourists to feed the selected animals for a price. I chose to feed the bear cat. 💓 They sell feeds for the selected animals. For the bear cat, you need to pay ₱10 to feed it. I paid the price to feed the bear cat. Its food was a half slice banana on a long stick. In the Philippines, we call it "sabá", a variety of banana that I fed to the bear cat. I have the video, but couldn't upload in ameblog. So, I'm planning to upload it on Instagram.

To be able to go to the gravity car ride, you need to pass through the maze garden. For me, it was so easy to pass through. It was not so big and tricky. Since I didn't have the chance to ride on a 4x4 ride, I just rode on a luge. I don't have the picture. I only have a video as an evidence. It's like riding on a go cart. But, luge doesn't have a motor. Luge is very easy to control. All you have to do is to slide on a downhill with handlebars for steering.

After that, we went to the quick bird show. The farm animals were also located in that area. Before leaving Zoocobia, there was an exhibit of preserved animals and the bones. On the picture above, that is a preserved mouse deer. Mouse deer can only be found in the Philippines. I thought they as big as the other deer. I was wrong, they actually as small as the hand of a person. You could actually compare its size to a rat. I think they are smaller than rats.

You may also see the replicas of the houses of national heroes. Inside the houses, there is a mini museum. You may see some historical items too. Then, inside the Nayong Pilipino, there is a replica of Barasoain church and the well known, Banaue rice terraces. The tour guide discussed about the different types of houses of the Igorot tribe. They have differences in sizes and looks according to hierarchy. The Igorot tribe also presented us a dance. Moreover, they showed how they weave their clothes. They also showed how they make their things at home.

Anyway, the company showed only their show room of their products. We were divided into two groups. Supposedly, my brother and I belonged to the first group. Since bags are not allowed inside, my brother put his bag inside the van. That's why, we were late. So, the receptionist put us in the second group.

When it was our turn, I enjoyed viewing the lifesized stuffed animals. Sadly, they are not allowed to be touched. They have robotic stuffed animals that cost about ₱750, 000. Actually, all of their products are very expensive. Big companies abroad are most of their customers. I didn't buy stuffed animals from them anymore. I'm a grown-up and it's not economical to spend for it. Plus, when I was a child, I owned several stuffed toys.

My brother told me that there should be another museum that we're going to visit. Due to lack of time, the principal decided to go to the last place which is the Paradise Resort. Actually, on the schedule, we should go to the resort at 3:00 or 3:30 pm. But, we arrived at 4 pm. The resort was the place that the children were excited to go to swim. I swam for more or less an hour. Then, I took my bath afterwards to avoid a long lane of waiting.

I wasn't able to take pictures on the resort, because my cellphone was low bat. As we went home, we arrived at Manila Center at 8 pm. We were the first group to arrived. Thanked God that we were all safe and no one was injured.

It's been a month since my last update. I wasn't able to find an extra time to write a new blog. Now, whoever reads my blog, enjoy reading! 😊

Last Sunday, September 24, 2017 was my birthday of my mom. It was her 60th birthday. In the Philippines, as you entered in that age, you are already considered senior citizen. My mom doesn't want to tell her age to those who knew her. Since no one is acquainted to my mom in this blog, it's alright to mention it.

My mom invited all the members of our family to have dinner at Max's restaurant at Il Centro. It was simple, yet very memorable. I'm so glad that we are complete.

Supposedly, I should be graduated last April together with my batchmates. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to march because I failed 1 subject. Actually, in the last day of our classes way back in March, I failed 2 subjects. Thanks to the help of my classmate, we were able to give another chance. That subject was Energy Management in Industrial Plants and Buildings (ME 515). It was too late to change our failure grade, so what our professor did was to make it an incomplete grade. It was okay than sorry. Before the summer (April) classes had started, we were able to complete our grade by having an oral examination. It was like an interview with sets of questions and we are going to answer them. After my test, I got passed and got the highest grade among the students who took the retake examination.

So my 1 and only subject left was Integration Course for ME 3 (ME 592). It was a subject for the preparation of licensure board exam for mechanical engineering. I retook the course and passed it at the end of May, thanked God! I wasn't expecting to pass subject due to my absences because of my sickness. I was hospitalized on the last week of May and that was our final period on school. When I took our final exam, I didn't review at all. Plus, I just left the hospital so I wasn't feeling well that time. But, gladly and thanked God, I passed the test. Fortunately, I passed the subject!

On the month of June, I began to complete my incomplete grade in Power Plant Design (ME 511). Actually, I passed that subject, but it will be automatically incomplete when you have problems with other subject. I failed a subject, so it was affected. The requirements for completion were a complete grade list of subjects from first year to fifth year and my thesis design in power plant.

Finally, after few days, I went back to school to claim my diploma. I called first the office for the assurance if my diploma was already there. Good thing, it was already there so I went to school in the afternoon last Friday. Then, I already got my most awaited diploma!!!

I am officially graduated, but I haven't march in the ceremony. My graduation ceremony will be on April 2018. After my graduation, expect me to post a blog about the ceremony.

 Last Monday at 2 pm, as usual, we had our piano lesson at church. Currently, I'm having my vacation after I finished my program in college. While having my vacation, I decided to continue my lessons in piano. I stopped for a while because of my studies. Anyway, my schedule of piano lessons is every Monday and Thursday. After my lessons on that day, my teacher told me that I'm going to play the handbells on Saturday. We won't have piano lessons on Thursday. I will join the youth choir. The youth choir will sing and I'm going to accompany them with the handbells.

At first, I had no idea that it was an instrument. I thought that it was a name of the piece and thought that I was going to play it on piano. Moreover, I was expecting that we were going to play a piano duet.

On the next day at 1pm, we started to practice the handbells. When I saw the handbells, it was literally a set of bells. It is a percussion instrument. They have different colors depending on the note. Those have sharps written above the handle have close color on ordinary notes. The handbells that I used can also be used by children. It was confusing at first, but I easily learned the instruments.

I have seen some handbells before. They have colors of silver and gold. They are heavier, so only the grown ups could play them. The material was made of brass, unlike the handbells that I used. I saw them at Cuneta Astrodome when there was a bible seminar held there. If I'm not mistaken, there were more or less 5 people who play the instruments. It sounded so beautifully! 😳

Last Wednesday and thursday at 11 am, 2 girls from the elementary school of the church joined with me on a practice. They played mini colorful xylophones. The xylophone has 5 notes only, so it was designed for babies. Also, the piano and the organ joined with us on a practice. The actual pianist hasn't practiced with me yet. At the back of my mind, the pianist shouldn't commit mistakes, because I'm going to depend on her especially the beat.

On the program, we were in the ministry in song part. It was a part before the speaker will preach. As soon as the conductor (my piano teacher) lift her hands, we were all ready. It was new and nice experience! In fact, I didn't commit mistakes, thanked God! It was also new to the eyes of the congregation, so their eyes were fixed on me. Of course, I didn't look at them so that I won't feel nervous. I thanked the Lord for giving me an opportunity to play the instruments (handbells). I felt really so happy and blessed! 😊💞🔔