BLOGGING FROM MAKATI, MANILA

Manila Bay Walk

I was brought to Manila finally, after dreaming for so many years of setting foot on the soil of the Philippines, on Monday, 28th August 2017. This time I was accompanied by an ex-student of SMKTUN (SPM batch 2009) Mr. Muhammad Ariff Mohd. Nizam who agreed to join me when I put forth the suggestion during our meeting in the month of Eid.

We will be returning home tomorrow after roaming around the city for 3 days, and I am happy I have successfully made it to the 9th ASEAN country.

TWO WEDDING RECEPTIONS FOR THREE PAIRS OF BRIDES AND GROOMS

26th August 2017 ~ There were two wedding receptions of SMKTUN's I attended today at Taman Universiti - for three pairs of brides and grooms. The first one was the receptions for siblings Ms. Haslinda Sahrom (SPM batch 2004) and Mr. Aminuddin Sahrom (SPM batch 2006). 

The other one was the reception for Ms. Hamimah A. Latib (SPM batch 2008), whom I taught her English when she was in form 1 and 2. How time flies. *sigh*

Thank God there were only two invitations this school break. It was such a great relief not having to eat too much in one day.

Congratulations to all the brides and grooms on the start of something beautiful and wishing you all a lifetime of happiness.

THE PREFECTS' ANNUAL END OF YEAR LUNCH

25TH AUGUST 2017 ~ The Prefects of SMK Dato' Jaafar held its annual end of the year lunch today at Berjaya Waterfront Hotel, Johor Bahru. Many administrators and teachers could not make it this time as it coincided with the first day of the one week school break.

It was a short event and everything ended by 5:00 p.m. Everybody seemed to be happy by the end of the session, hence the objective of the programme was successfully achieved.

MY COLLECTIBLE ITEMS ARE SUDDENLY EXPANDING

Puan Nadzlina Daud, a friend/ex-colleague from SMK Taman Universiti was very kind to present me with a box of money packets. She being a hardcore collector herself told me she has many more at home. How could someone have so many different money packets in his/her collection?

I, on the other hand, do not have any to offer to give or to trade. I will have to give her something else in exchange.

I will now have to buy a new album to store all the newly-received money packets. I am delighted as now I have a hobby to focus on during the one week school break.

JUST ANOTHER MEETING/BRIEFING SESSION

The meeting/briefing this time brought my friends and I, the English teachers, to another school - SMK Dato' Bentara Luar, Batu Pahat. I think I spent more time and energy in the car driving to the venue and back home than sitting in the meeting room.

However, it was still a fruitful outing for me as I managed to stop at a few places (as planned) on my way home. 

There will be more similar sessions to come real soon.

THE LAUNCHING OF A PATRIOTISM PROGRAMME AT PLAZA KOTARAYA

Sometimes if I am unlucky, I would have to attend a programme outside school after school hours. In conjunction with the month of patriotism which is held in August annually, the Johor Bahru District Office launched "Program Negaraku Sehati Sejiwa" [translate: My Country, One Heart One Soul] at Plaza Kotaraya, Johor Bahru.

everybody was given a small free flag

There were dance performance, poetry recitations and singing patriotic songs by kindergarten students which people enjoyed watching the most as the kids were really adorable in their colourful costumes. Other than that, there was an adult choir group, a speech by an officer (thank God there was only one speech) and a prize giving ceremony.

Everything ended by 3:30 p.m. and I managed to get my "mee rebus" and Dunkin Donuts before running out from the building through the heavy downpour to get to my car parked somewhere very far away.

SAMPLE PT3 ESSAY FOR NOVEL - A CHARACTER FROM "MOBY DICK"

QUESTION: Based on the novel you have read, write about a character you can look up to and give reasons to support your answer.

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Based on the novel "Moby Dick", the character I look up to is Ishmael. I choose Ishmael because he is a brave person. This can be seen from the early event of the story.

Ishmael has been a sailor earlier but decided to become a whaler instead as he is a brave and adventurous person. He wants to visit exciting new places and to see the whales. He loves his life on the ocean and it is never boring. He even feels sad when he is not on the ship.

It is evident that Ishmael is a brave character when he signs up to be a whaler on Pequod. However before that he meets an old man on the road, Elijah. Elijah warns him of the danger ahead and the evil Captain Ahab, but this does not stop Ishmael with his plan.

When he finally sees Starbuck on board, Ishmael has been warned again of the dangers and risks. According to Starbuck, whaling is a hard life. He has to be strong and fast and will have to be away from home for many years. Starbuck also tells Ishmael about Captain Ahab whose leg is taken by a big whale. This again does not make Ishmael change his mind.

In conclusion, Ishmael is the character I can look up to as he is brave. He has shown that we have to be brave in facing challenges and adventures, and to experience new things in life to succeed. I hope I can be like him when I grow up.

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NOTE:
Using the same evidence, you could also answer other questions related to character traits like "determination" and "being adventurous". Or you can answer similar questions like "a character I admire/like/love" etc.

You can also use the same content to respond to the question for the theme of the novel (bravery), moral value (bravery) and a lesson you can learn (we must be brave). Will provide other sample essay using the same evidence later. 

AN IMPORTANT EVENT FROM "MOBY DICK"

WHAT DID I FIND SCATTERING ON THE ROAD AT THE MARKET?

What did I find scattering on the road at Pasar Borong Pandan today, late in the afternoon? Six money packets for Eid but not to worry - they were all empty. I was not sure why they were left at the parking lot, they could be dropped by accident or thrown intentionally.

However, I should be excited as those have already been added to my collection of money packets. I am not a hardcore collector though, I just collect any money packets I could get hold of. And I do not do any trading activity with other collectors.

I now have 194 different designs of money packets, which I started collecting more than 10 years ago. I will need six more packets before buying a new album. 

THE DAY THE HELICOPTER CAME (TO SCHOOL)

We are most of the time too busy with our work. We keep repeating the same routine, day in and day out, until life becomes mundane and monotonous. Then, suddenly there is one small thing happening that gets us a tad excited. We simply abandon the mountainous heap of workload on the table and become happy again, at least for a short moment. That was the day when the helicopter landed on the school field.

WHY? The Sultan of Johor's Princess was getting married and the Police helicopter needed a huge space to park. We at first thought it was there to ferry the royalties, dignitaries and ministers, but it was stationary when it was not on patrol duty.

It landed for the second time at about 3.30 p.m. when most of the teachers and students had already gone back home. Those who were still in school went closer to the helicopter to get themselves photographed and even had a chat with the policemen/pilots on duty.

Just imagine what would happen if we were taken for a helicopter ride after that (which never happened). We were still a bunch of happy people nonetheless.

VISITING THE STUDENTS OF SMK TASEK UTARA 2

12TH AUGUST 2017 ~ I was invited to conduct a short workshop for PT3 English Language at SMK Tasek Utara 2, Johor Bahru. I don't really go around doing this thing anymore as I find it is very challenging to make people sit down, listen and focus throughout the session most of the time.

There were about 100 students who came for the workshop. The slot started at 9:00 a.m. and ended at 1:00 p.m., with half an hour break in between.

I hope those who had really listened and did all the tasks assigned would benefit fully from the knowledge and experience sharing session.

BIDDING FAREWELL TO A FRIEND WHO WILL BE GOING FOR HER PILGRIMAGE

We were invited by Puan Ida Amiza to her house in Bandar Dato' Onn for a feast before she and her husband leave for their pilgrimage trip to Mekah. Puan Ida is an English teacher in SMK Md. Khalid and we use to meet for district/state level meetings. This gathering was some sort of a sending off event where one could wish the hosts all the best of luck as well as to seek for forgiveness for all the wrongdoings, and pray that we would meet again.

May Puan Ida Amiza and her husband have an easy journey in the holy land and hopefully we will see each other real soon.

"ROTI CANAI" AND COFFEE SESSION AFTER SCHOOL

I had to go to Taman Universiti as I had to but some things from a few shops there. It was rather late after school and I had not had any lunch, so was already thinking of "roti canai" [local flat bread] from a restaurant I used to visit. Then I remembered someone who should be in the vicinity to accompany me for a late coffee session at Warisan Noor Restaurant.

It turned out someone else was here too. As the saying goes, two is a company, three is a crowd, in a good way.

Thanks Mr. Amirul Husni and Mr. Amirul Hakim [SMKTUN's ex-students SPM batch 2010 and 2011, respectively] for the time. Please be prepared for the next "roti canai" session some other time soon.

THE ACTIVITY AFTER ATTENDING A LONG MEETING

I had to attend a meeting at SMK Gelang Patah (again) so this should be the best chance to get Pn. Rokiah Junoh a.k.a Kak Kiah, an ex-colleague who is more like a sister to me, for a gossiping session. The last time I met her was on the 12th day of Eid about two months ago. [Read about it HERE]. So we went to this place called Anjung in Nusajaya and had lunch at the food court there.

Sitting in a meeting for long hours is definitely not good but there should always be a way to make it some sort of a blessing in disguise.

Thanks Kak Kiah for the time gossip over lunch. Too bad we couldn't stay long as she had to get back to the office. Hopefully there will be other meeting which will be held at Gelang Patah after this.