My Teaching Loads @ ICCM This Semester

My teaching assignment this 2nd semester of SY 2010-11 at this Bible college (ICCM) is somewhat challenging but interesting. Challenging, because this is the first time that I teach the courses assigned to me - Literature II (World Literature) and English III (Technical Writing), and I needed a lot of preparation to do such as making the syllabi and gathering the teaching materials. Interesting, because these are the courses I love to teach, having dreamt of seeing the world and study cultures of different societies. And as a researcher too, it is my passion to share my know-how on technical writing much more among the potential Church workers who shall be the moral and spiritual developers of our society.

Both classes have 30 - 31 students, a relatively big class compared to my classes in the past, which number can be counted by fingers, so to speak. Thus, there's a need to adjust my approach from some kind of personalized approach of before to a group or mass approach this time. More motivation is provided for my students to go more on self-study, rather than the former approach of spoon-feeding sort of.

Here are some class pictures for this semi-block courses in Literature and English, which will run till Dec. 15, 2010. (JSF)

Couples' Seminar and Thanksgiving Fellowship

Nov. 20-21, 2010, Nueva Ecija Church of Christ. There are two important activities that Sto. Tomas Church participated and conducted this week end. The first one was the Couples' seminar held on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010 at the cozy place of Leticia Plaza in Cabanatuan City. It was organized by SPKKKababaihan-Nueva Ecija, and participated by over 40 pairs of parents and young lovers. The seminar was facilitated by Bro. Melchor Maldupana and Sis. Remelie Hermoso, where the real couples renewed their marriage vows with Bro. Maldupana standing as witness. Unofficial, yet, serious, the couples affixed their signatures in a one-page contract renewing their commitments to each other. The seminar was capped through a prayer, Rose-offering to the wives and of course, a sumptuous lunch.

Came Sunday, the following day, 21 Nov., the Sto. Tomas Church hold the annual Thanksgiving celebration at its pastoral, which is also the residence of its elder Bro. Josue S. Falla. The celebration coincides with the Open House, where the extension of the elder's house has just been completed. An open space second level of the house was constructed where the fellowships and other functions of the Church shall be held. The place is located at the midst of rice field in the south and an orchard in the north, and a fine view of the sunset. (JSF Blogs)

Grandson Kyle as KAB Scout @Ateneo Grade School

At 8, Kyle Daniel F. Taruc join other boys-classmates in Ateneo Grade School in a general investiture of KAB scout held at Singson Hall, AGS on Nov. 19, 2010. He was assisted by his father and grandmother during such installation activity. (JSF)

KKK Seminar II for Nueva Ecija Church of Christ’s Leaders

The Samahang Pangkalahatang Kapisanang Kalalakihang Kristiano ng mga Iglesia ni Kristo (KKK-National) conducts seminar for Nueva Ecija churches of Christ. It was held at Cabanatuan Church of Christ on November 6, 2010. Bro. Rizaldy Franco spoke on the Concepts of God and Bro. Ruben Grande on Lord’s Supper. After their respective lecture-discussions, open forum followed as moderated by Bro. Noli Hermoso.

In the afternoon, business meeting of CLEAN (Church Leaders’ Association of Nueva Ecija) was held as presided by its president Bro. Arnold Juliano. Among others, the application for authority to solemnize marriage was discussed by Bro. Josue S. Falla, who is assigned to liaise with the National Statistics Office (NSO) to facilitate the processes. Other Church concerns discussed were the Sports Fellowship, Mutual Funds and the upcoming 81st Nueva Ecija convention in Cambitala, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija. (JSF reports)

Former Chief Justice Puno Speaks on Spiritual Enrichment; IRRI's Deputy DG Dobermann on Improving Research Management

On the first day of PhilRice 25th anniversary celebration, 2 leading personalities in the areas of governance and research administration spoke before the crowd of PhilRice family and guests, held at the Social Hall on November 3, 2010. They were former chief justice Reynato S. Puno of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, and Dr. Achim Dobermann, Deputy Director-General for Research of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

Justice Puno underscored the need for morality and ethics in the government based on Christianity, which are universal, never-changing and timeless. Man-made morality and ethics may change, culture-bounded and prone to different interpretations, while the values which Christ emulated are eternal applicable from generation to generation.

Deputy DG Dobermann, on the other hand, gave some pointers in improving research management through four factors such as Identification of things to be done, How will these be done, Funds and Who will do these (people). He narrated IRRI’s experiences, focused on human resource development, and one of a model rice institute in southern Brazil as funded by the farmers.

PhilRice is a government corporate entity attached to the Department of Agriculture and created through Exec. Order 1061 on 5 November 1985 (as amended to help develop high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies so farmers can produce enough rice for all Filipinos.

It accomplishes this mission through research and development (R&D)through its central and branch stations coordinating with a network that includes 57 agencies and 70 seed centers strategically located nationwide. (JSF Blogs)

Limited Copies of PhilRice Courseware on PalayCheck System Out for Evaluation and Reference

29 October 2010 on the occasion of the graduation ceremonies of the 5th batch of Rice Specialists' Training Course (RSTC), the 47 Rice Sufficiency Officers (RSOs) who successfully completed the rice season-long training, received each an advanced copy of the PalayCheck courseware produced by both Research and Development staff of PhilRice led by Dr. Karen Barroga.

The Courseware has three volumes: The PalayCheck (10 Modules); Facilitating Learning, Sharing, and Participation in the PalayCheck System (10 Modules), and PalayCheck Field Implementation (25 Modules).

The first volume features both the educational and technical aspects of the eight Key Checks in the system from seeds to postharvest technologies. The second features social technology related to PalayCheck system, and the third volume features the weekly activities of the PalayCheck field school which lasts for 25 weeks, hence 25 modules.

This blogger is heavily involved in the development of the volume 1, which final production into an instructional kit format is hoped to be finished by the end of the year. (JSF Blogs)