The Saga of a Lifetime

RIA Winter Show 2010

2010-12-19T06:03:00.000-08:00

Just recently the children proudly showed their all out performances during the show held on 11th December 2010 at the British Club premises. From Russian Dance to Bollywood craze. Parents could hardly believed

what their children can make or do in RIA. With hard work, patience and cooperation among the teachers and

staff, the success of the show was overwhelming. What more can i say ? Let's have a look.

the russian dance performed by the nursery class of
teacher margaret and teacher sarah

the birdie dance performed by the LKG class of teacher gloria.
that's me with the little boy sujit

the chef dance, pat-a-cake performed

by MY beautiful class, prep/reception class

the macho kids performing the Matador ....great boys!

an indian love song performed by my special children

the barbie dance performed by the reception and LKG class of teacher amber and teacher anne

the alphabet song rendered by the reception class of teacher amber

the most awaited part, straight from bollywood let's
welcome the LKG class of teacher anne performing
Bam Bam Boli.
Oh my..Tyrone was not happy..but show
must go on!!!

the finalle with teacher eldara, the dance instructor,
teacher mustafa,
teacher ahmed and teacher amal and teacher safa
on stage.

amazing performances , great children!!

Cherry Tree Trot Charity Event Pictures

2010-12-19T05:16:00.000-08:00

The Cherry Tree Trot is a fund-raising race organized by

the American Wowens Association [AWA] in Bahrain to

raise funds for the physically and mentally-challenged.

So far, this is the biggest racing event held annually in Bahrain.

RIA School is one of the loyal supporter of the event.

I will have some pictures posted with some of our

Special Children participants

I am back!

2010-12-18T23:39:00.000-08:00

OMG! My last post was September 2009! For awhile i have forgotten my Saga....and have to pick up pieces to get back. Anyway there are lots and lots of thought to share ......am just thinking where should i start....let me count the ways as they said. Well.... to proceed i have to visit blogs of my friends here....long time friends like Michelle's Michteryosa and When Silence Speaks, Arlene's Midlife Dancing and Sunshineforlife, and Annie's dverythotofu. Three friends which for awhile have inspired me to blog. They are almost perfect bloggers and every thoughts, every moments shared have been put to writing.
My saga , my life's reflection......HERE I COME!!!

A Child's Mind

2009-09-30T04:51:00.000-07:00

A boy named Fred like thousands of other children left homes, pets and a predictable life that lies ahead when their world was suddenly washed away by typhoon "ondoy" that hit Manila on Saturday, 26th September. In their young minds they wonder why? is it okay or is this normal ? are my friends okay somewhere? do they experience what we go through at this time? Literally those are very simple questions but deeply hard to explain to young minds. And since the society that we live in is surrounded by a 24 -hour news of images of grief and horror around the world, which millions of children watched in televisions, it will inculcate in their young minds that the world they live in is a complete mess and unfair. The information taught in school like the "conservation of natural resources " to avoid flood and other calamities, community hygiene and more that are being taught in school are useless and has no effect at all. Consider yourself a child watching news in television over and over again. It never stops. The rain keeps pouring, the flood water keep rising, militants and terrorist keep gunning and bombing, men in uniform keep combating, day after day. And because you are still a child and still learning to manage the boundary of space and time and what is real and what is not, you maybe thinking that the nature's devastation and mens' destructions are a common type of occurence and can happen everyday in life. So please tell me. Are our young children deserve these kind of surroundings? The nature's disasters maybe is an exemption. But how about human being's distructions?

Parent's Rage as Schools Shut.

2009-09-22T02:50:00.000-07:00

Yes, this is the big issue now in Bahrain. Parents are angered by the temporary closing of schools to combat the spread of swine flu virus. Not even that. Teachers are also much worried as they will not be compensated for the days and months of school closure considering that the school year has just started recently. There are schools in Bahrain which are not stable enough to compensate teachers without depending on the school fees. What happened to the schools who are left in a distressing situation then? How about the children ? Most of the parents in Bahrain especially expatriates , are working parents and the children are left with the housemaids. Are the parents' sure that the elderly children or their teenagers would not sneak out and meet friends outside and go to malls? Why not also close the malls and parks ? Is this making sense? Hope the Ministry should make a quick decision about this matter and the results should be "Back to School Now".

"One Day One Goal" September 21

2009-09-22T00:26:00.000-07:00

We have united the world yesterday in our own way at the RIA Center http://www.ria-institure.com/ to raise awareness of Peace Day. A group of youngsters played football match with a score of 1/1 and was attended by people of different nationalities. The Al Ghalia Group http://www.alghalia.com/ donated food and refreshments which everybody enjoyed after the match. It was a very successful event to celebrate Peace Day.

2009-09-18T10:11:00.000-07:00

I just want to share this photo taken on our christmas lunch 2008 . My colleagues and i really enjoyed the lavished lunch organized by the school administration. I am seated third from right.

2009-09-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

Talking about my daughter, Precious Joy, she passed the Nursing Board Licensure Examination last March 2009. [take one] I am very proud of her and she really deserved it. I know she has gone through so many trials and hardships especially financial condition while in school. I admitted that at times my remittances were late but she made it and find means to cope up with the situation. At the moment, i am on the process of getting her to work in one hospital here in Bahrain. Hope everything will be finalized after the EID holidays.
This photo was taken after her oath taking.

2009-09-18T08:41:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been almost 3 months since my last post. And there are lots of happenings that need to be written down. The institution, RIA [ Rehabilitation Institute of Active Learning http://www.ria-institute.com/ which i am employed at the moment as a teacher is doing well and the academic school year 2009 - 2010 has just commenced. Prior to that the very busy summer camp program made me exhausted but it was such a great reward because every child was happy and contented with the activities. The Yoga session handled by Christine Gordon, the school principal and administrator herself and Arts & Craft handled by me were the highlights of the camp. It was one of the best kids summer camp happening in Bahrain this year. There is an up coming event on September 21, the World Peace Day that will be 3 days from now, and it will be a remarkable day again for the children. Am sure this school year is more challenging year for me. I am having two additonal special need children in my class. But i will miss one autistic child, Melissa . She and her mother has gone back home to Philippines for good. And i really miss her. Good luck my dear child.

Melissa at work.

My New Career

2009-07-03T05:19:00.000-07:00

September of last year 2008 I resigned from my job at Al Bander Hotel &; Resort http://www.albander.com/ and moved my way to RIA. An institution for children with special needs. Wow!! To work with this kind of children is a very challenging job. But i love it. It's a feeling of fulfillment for me. Maybe because i am almost at the tip of getting fed up with life and come to realized that i need a change. A fulfilling change. I've had enough of my very emotional and gloomy life that needs to be rekindled with utmost brightness. Fortunately I was able to get the chance to work with these kind of children. They are wonderful kids and need attention from people besides their family. At the moment i handled 10 children with special disabilities.

Myself together with some of my pretty Indian national colleagues.

Precious Joy Calundre

2008-04-14T05:57:00.001-07:00

The precious name of my daughter.I could not imagine that she is already 22 years old last March 29. She was only 10 and in grade 4 when i started my travel abroad. I leaved the country and have them taken cared of a distant relative of mine but i made it a habit to keep on monitoring their daily and weekly activities while i was away. Thanks God she made it into a descent and good young woman. Her elder sister, Ate Cecille has been her good example of what life will be in an early marriage and not be able to finish school. Sometimes i felt guilty for not giving more attention on her [Cecille] when she was in her teens. I knew she was a very weak young woman then. I have to admit that. She was not strong enough to handle her all- out effort to win or succeed her awkward teens life. But no regret, she is a caring mother of 5 sons now. She is just 26 years old last March 27.

I missed the Graduation Ceremony.

2008-04-14T05:26:00.000-07:00

Long time before the 25th of March came , plans were almost finalized that i have to be on my daughter's graduation day. But everything changed. One week before her final march for her award , i have decided not to go home, instead promised that i will be home on christmas 2008. That was a hard decision of mine because i really wanted to be on her side in taking her award, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Fr. Saturnino Urios University in Butuan City, Mindanao, Philippines.

Exactly on that day at the right time, when she came up on stage to recieve her award, i phoned her. She was very happy and i was too, no matter how far was the distance between us on that moment, we embraced the feeling of success and the fulfillment of our wishes that one day she will be the instrument of a life beyond poverty.

The month of June and onwards will be busy in preparing for the review and board exams.

I just hope and pray that she will be lucky enough to be one of the passers.

Christmas from a distance.

2007-11-22T05:51:00.000-08:00

I've spent Christmas away from home for 12 years now. For the first 3 years, it was a terrible nightmare. I was [and still] based in a strange place like the Middle East where christmas is not celebrated. As the years rolled by, in a Muslim place, i've come to realized that i should have found a job wherein December was an option to take a holiday and spent Christmas with my love ones. And maybe my Christmas would be a happy and memorable one each year. Inshalla one day all my Christmas thoughts will be materialized when i leave this place for good. When it will be? God knows. HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Lunch Time Partner No More

2007-11-19T03:09:00.000-08:00

It's very sad to think that my lunch time partner will be soon my lunch time partner no more. Two weeks ago Mitch has told me about a job her husband Derrick got from a reputable international organization which requires him to start soon. A job which both of them think, will give their family a more brighter future. Whatever their decisions are, i am very happy for them because i know and i am sure that this will be the right time for them to make the first big step towards exploring the future. We don't know what might be the future ahead. But as i knew Mitch, a strong woman of passion and determination, a happy and prosperous tomorrow lies ahead for them.

The Link of Friendship

2007-11-08T22:41:00.000-08:00

"My lunch time Partner"and me have known each other for almost 9 years now since we met at the staff quarter. In the beginning it was just a normal acquaintance since we work in the same organization until present. Close friendship did not blossom yet until it was meant for us to have lunch together [ more than a year now] during our working days. We started to point out some jokes , share each other's food, talk about her lovely derelle and good looking husband derick, and so much more. She calls me "Ate" and find myself more comfortable with her as the days go by. She is an artist in her own smart way. The fact is, her blogs will clearly describes her intense love of art and profound love for her family and the eagerness to multiply friends. We go on to be a lunch partner and surprises and discoveries of who we are and what we are will come along the way as we journey on foot towards the cafeteria.

A Child's Lifetime.

2007-11-08T00:14:00.000-08:00

This could be a long or maybe a short narrative of my childhood. But i will make it sure that everything will be narrated without hesitation. I was thinking that to write about my child's authobiography would be a difficult one, because as i continue my thougths , it seems that the fact is most likely links to the present.

I still recall the vast happenings my brother and I shared with our parents. I was 6 years old then and my brother 3 . I remembered that day when we were in an airport and i was crying and and clinching to my mother's skirt, trying not to be detached from her. She and my younger brother were off to go somewhere, away from my father and me which i came to realized later that both of them are heading to my mother's hometown. My father explained , not the truth but the fantasy that the next day the senses of my mother will still be clinging in our household. As years passed by, i realized that, the "airport scene" was a history of my lifetime which lingered in my imagination till' the very moment. The vital importance to confront my father have been forgotten in the excitement of new discoveries for a normal child like me.

I spent my childhood with my father in a company compound owned by a well-to-do family in my hometown. My childhood was a tough experienced for both of us, being him fulfilling the duties of a mother too. When i reached the age of 9 my father realized that i have to learn the basic things a mother has to teach her daughter. So i was sent to my father's sister family household where i have experienced not only love but the pleasure of what a family is. I spent the rest of my puberty age in my father's relatives which was about a thousand miles away from home. After my elementary grade, my father decided to take me back home which i called my own. So there i was, back to the place where my heart have melted, but not anymore at that moment. I have learned so much, but the thoughts are always with my mother and brother, which was a big loss of my childhood lifetime. My father had been very supportive and had molded me into a better and independent person.

A spring of Inspiration.

2007-11-07T05:27:00.000-08:00

If i had my life to live over, i only have two options, that is: I would rather start my childhood barefoot, picking flowers, climbing hills, rides merry go round, dancing as the wind blows and let myself carried a fascination of a child's dream OR i would rather start the day when i fall in love and commit myself to the person who fathered my children. But to my dismay, my marriage life was a nightmare. As the days crips in me, the only inspiration that keeps me away from a gradual decline are the creatures i had carried inside my womb and have grown up into a lovely and beautiful persons. Yes, my dearest friends, the fetuses we have created and sprung into life are incomparable joy ever felt as we march life into an unknown path. Our children are our winter, spring, summer and fall. If there is no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant. If there is no spring the summer would not be fun and if there is no fall life would be so dull. And if you would not feel the spring of inspiration, and not taste the adversity, prosperity would not be so gladly welcome. One day i will be gone and lie in peace with the Lord, and the only ultimate joy i will carry with me is to see my inspirations blosoom into a remarkable being and ready to embrace life as it is. Then i will go............. peacefully.