Sec Villanueva Visits TESDA_ Ilocos Norte Provincial Office and LSI classroom

" Study very well and make the TESDA Family feel proud of you"  were the inspiring words that Director General Joel Villanueva gave the to the TWSP ( Training For Work Scholarship Program) English Language Training Trainees of the Language Skills Institute TESDA- Ilocos Norte during his visit at TESDA Ilocos Norte Provincial Office today ( July 20, 2012)

     During this activity,  he was able to have some time to bond with the TESDA Officials and employees of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union. Aside from that, Director Villanueva also had the chance to check on the Language Skills Institute - (LSI) classroom, ask on the total number of working units on the said classroom. and have photo opt with the trainer, trainees as well as the administrator. 

Language Skills Institute's English Language Trainees pose with TESDA's Director General Villanueva (middle), LSI Trainer Ms. Honeylynn Inocencio (right) and TESDA-MAIS Administrator Mr. Regino Sebastiam

    Right after his visit at the LSI classroom, the party was invited to have his lunch at the function hall but according to him, he already has eaten his meals before heading to the provincial office. What caught his attention then was the pitcher of freshly made buko juice that was on top of the table.Since Buko juice is his favorite,  he and his party  decided stayed for a while to share stories and bond with TESDA heads over a pitcher of cold and freshly gathered buko juice. 

        As a backgrounder, TESDA- Ilocos  Norte and Language Skills Institute Visit is a part of his 2 day stay at Laoag City,  Ilocos Norte to communicate and meet scholar trainees as well as  Provincial Office Staff, Training Institutution Heads and Government Officials of the different cities and municipality of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. 

           Furthermore, TESDA's TWSP scholarship covers the provision of a free 100 hours  English Language Training Program in order to prepare trainees to be fully competent in terms of Language Skills Ability. The said LSI- English Language Training is being handled by its host school, TESDA-Marcos Agro Industrial School and Trainings are held at the  Language Skills Institute on the second floor of  TESDA- IN Provincial Office.

      

Getting to Know 6 Classes of the Ran Online Characters

 

                      Hello once again my dear readers, I am once again here to share my fondest thoughts about a classical MMORPG game named Ran Online. For a long period of time now, this game has continued to amuse its players ( that includes me hehe) by means of allowing them to play the role of a student who gets to hurdle fights and challenges with common people who got possessed by an extra ordinary  spirit and transformed them into mobs and monsters. This time, let us get to know the 5  different classes where these online heroes belong.

1. Archer class - Archers are not the ordinary students who just use bows and arrows to protect themselves, depending upon their builds and skills, this character could attack enemies even at a far distance with the help of their long range and massive killing skills. Having yourself play the role of an archer gives you several options for its personality in the ran world. These characteristics could be created if you build your character using any Dex. Vit, Pow and Int options. Among these characteristics, experts say that Dex built archers make it easy to become part of a party as most party members would want to benefit from the character's evasive chant skill.

2.Gunner Class - Is one of the latest class that has been introduced into the campuses of every school. Just like any other character, its skills could be based on either Biology, Chemistry or Physics. Before the merger of e-games and level up games, the Chemistry (Dex) type of gunner used to be the deadliest type among other characters during duel challenges as its DPS or most people call poison has the ability to kill its opponent thereby deducting its exp points.

 

3. Brawler Class - This is one of my favorite characters as it is the cheapest type to handle. It is considered cheapest because this class only needs to acquire gauntlets to combat its enemies. Aside from the fact that I myself  personally own a character of this type, brawlers are considered experts in terms of close combat challenges. Talking about their build, brawlers could be Dex, Int or Pow or you can also mix and create a hybrid type for this character. 

 4. Swordsman Class -  These students are also called samurai as they are characterized by the huge swords which they usually carry as a tool for battle. For the sake of versatility, a mixed build is the most suitable build for this type. In my own point of view, I would suggest a mixture of Int and Dex since dex characters make it difficult for mobs to deduct points for their lives when being hit and Int skills are known to provide high damage. Thus, putting together these 2 characteristics would enable you to create a character who is capable of canceling the skill of your opponents in a PK, Duel or CW encounter.

5. Extreme Class -  Right after the creation of the gunner class, Ran online administrators decided to launch the extreme class of characters who were described as the mutated version of the classical three characters which are archer, brawler, shaman and swordsman. What makes this character distinct over other classes is its ability to transform itself into two classes depending upon the combination which the owner chooses for the character. A perfect example would be an Archer- Shammy type of character. In this case, your Extreme Class character can kill mobs using its bow and arrow plus it also has the ability to revive dead characters using its wand or spear. 

6. Shaman Class -  Despite the existence of male shammies, this class is what I consider as the most girly type of student in the entire campuses of Ran World. Every time I see shamans, I am always being reminded of my former character who supposed to get married in the wedding hall but due to my busy schedule at work, I wasn't able to have it marry its partner (hehe). Seriously speaking, I have actually observed that most shammy characters are being piloted by female gamers because its main task is to heal and provide supporting buff to its party mates.  Aside from that, shammies are the well loved class of students not because of their girly task and features but because of its ability to cast MH ( Massive Haste) which enables the target character to move faster than the usual speed. 

           So here are the 6 types of Ran Online Classes which you could choose to Pilot and  take care of once you have finally decided to enter the hobby of being enrolled in an Unusual Online Gaming Academy. Thus, I would say go for it and start creating a character that suits your taste and personality as they serve as an icon of yourself into the RAN ONLINE WORLD. 



photo credits:  

t2.gstatic.com
ranonline.e-games.com.ph
img.webme.com
2.bp.blogspot.com

5 Pakbet Iloco Variations Served in an Ilocano Turo-Turo

          Alright, here's another Turo-Turo article for those Food lovers out there. Oh my Gosh, it seems that I can't get a hang out of the Food topic which I have been creating these past few days. Last week, It suddenly came to my mind to get an inspiration from a usual "turo-turo" where I love to eat my meals during lunch break. This time, what I would like to share you guys are the things that make me feel proud to be an Ilocana. Yes, you are right, I am an Ilocana and I love eating Genuine Ilocano dishes such as Pinakbet simply because I find it mouthwatering and tasty. This time, I am going to let you have a peek on what typical Pakbet  dishes are typically served in an Ilocano Turo-Turo. So if you guys are ready, the let us begin our Pinakbet adventure.

Pakbet a Saluyot with eggplant.

Dish Number 1 - Pakbet A Saluyot -Aside from the famous Pakbet Iloco, "Pakbet A Saluyot " has always been a signature dish for Ilocanos as most people believe that a true blooded Ilcoano is someone who loves to eat Saluyot (Jute). I am aware that this food has this saliva like juice which sometimes makes it a bit awkward to eat. However, if we try to consider its various health benefits and the unique cooking procedure of Ilocanos to this dish, the awkward feeling of eating this food would surely be replaced with appreciation. 

"Bagbet" : A yummy treat for everyone

Dish Number 2 -Bagbet -   If you are someone who loves to eat meat and you eat less veggies here's one dish that you have to try. "Bagbet" got its name from the combination of pinakbet and bagnet (these are two common dishes genuinely found in the ilocos region). Pakbet is a manner of cooking where the veggies are being steamed and mixed  Bagoong or fish paste while bagnet is a local way of cooking meat and frying it several times to make it crispy. When these two dishes combine, we are able to come up with a softer texture of bagnet with the exotic saltiness of pakbet.

Siling Haba Pakbet to spice up your meals

Dish Number 3 - Pakbet na sili - If at any rate you would find time to visit one of the Turo-Turos in Ilocos, you would be able to see this long and slender green chili ( siling haba)  being served with a wrinkled look and treated with "bagoong". This dish is what we  call  as Pakbet na Sili. Some people would perhaps ask about the spice brought by these chili, well based from my experience as an adventurous  Ilocana , I would say that the spice depends upon the size and length of these chilies.Experts say that the longer and the chubbier the chillies are, the spicier they are. Thus, this dish is just fine enough to create an ample spice and chilly flavor after taste upon eating. 

Ampalaya Pakbet: An Iloco way to treat bitterness

Dish Number 4 - Pakbet na Ampalaya ( bitter melon) -  Ampalaya or Bitter melon is a common ingredient for the traditional Pakbet Iloco (mixed vegetables cooked in fish paste) recipe. As a variation, most locals would love to solely cook its fruit as pakbet. Its bitter taste when mixed with the saltiness and sourish taste of tomatoes make it just as appetizing as any other Filipino dishes. As an additional ingredient for the  sole Pakbet na Amplaya, locals tend to add deep fried meat to vary its pure bitter melon taste.

Have a plate of this uniqe Daludal Pakbet

  

Dish Number 5 - Pakbet a Daludal ( young taro stem) -  Locals sometimes call this dish as paksiw na gabi but I would choose to call this as Pakbet na Daludal as ilocanos cook this food in the same manner as they cook "pinakbet". This pinakbet variation is done by using stem and leaves of young taro being cooked with tomatoes, local fish paste ( bagoong) and sauteed meat. Since taro stems are characterized by leaving an itchy feeling to our taste buds when eaten, expert Ilocano cooks suggest that these young stems need to be thoroughly washed and mixed by means of shaking the casserole instead of using laddle. 

         Gee, I am pretty sure that this "Pinakbet Tour" made all of us feel hungry and  be excited to have a taste of these various Pinakbet dishes. Thus, I believe that the best way to realize their respective" yumminess " is to start earning money for a trip to Ilocos  a start feeling this unique culinary experience of eating Pinakbet.








photos courtesy of google.com
 

5 Reasons Why People Love to Eat in Carinderia

         

  Hello my dear readers, It is indeed great to be back to my blog posting job once again.Things have been too hectic these past few weeks so I didn't have much time to get in touch with you dear friends. Let me guess, I bet most of you are already eager to get to know about what is installed for you today. Well, for today's article, I decided to write something about food and eating. 

Yeah, that's right. I am well aware that most people love to explore different places and seek for something unusual that may satisfy their stomach. This is the main reason why I decided to come up with a feature about 5 Common Reasons Why People Love to Eat in Carinderias. Did you hear the word "Carinderia" ring on your ears??? I knew it...I knew that you could relate to this topic that I am about to share to everyone that is why I would not keep you wait any longer.

   

       To start with, People most especially Filipinos would rather choose to eat in a "turo-turo"( This is the other term for Carinderia) rather than in renowned fast food chains or restaurants simply because "turo-turo" or Carinderia has already played a great role towards provision of Genuine Filipino Dining Experience - What makes eating in a "carinderia" unique is the unusual way of choosing your food from their menu. If most typical restaurants would have their menu board  or menu books where costumers could choose what they would want to eat, Carinderia gives you the chance to point at the displayed food samples and they immediately get and serve the product of your choice. This so called "turo-turo" (pointing technique) to choose the food is indeed a unique experience for someone who would want to know what it feels like to eat in a local restaurant.

Number 2, History tells us everything -  Unknown to many Filipino People, The spirit of Carinderia dining originated in the Pre- Hispanic Time when Indians would put up small stalls just to sell "Curry" dishes. Sources tell us that "Carinderia" used to be called "Karihan" which obviously means a place where one could eat curried dishes. As time passes by, the tradition of selling curried dishes in a typical "karihan" has evolved towards selling several options of dishes particularly home- cooked Filipino dishes. From then on, the word Karihan has already been changed to Carinderia.

Number 3,  It serves home - cooked meals - As part of Filipino tradition, most Carinderia owners are those people who love to cook dishes for their family and in order for them to earn a little for their living, these people try to expand their cooking services not just to their family members to their clients as well.  This scenario then gives us the  reason why most Carinderias are guaranteed to sell genuine home cooked meals for everyone. Aside from that, Filipino hospitality also gives the reason why home cooked food are usually served in small restaurants. Since most Filipinos love to travel and move away from their hometowns, Carinderia's serve as an avenue for someone to feel at home even when he is far.

Number 4,  The food is Cheap - There isn't any best way to experience eating genuine Filipino dishes than having your meals in a Carinderia. Despite the fact that it doesn't have good looking food attendant and the ambiance is a bit informal compared to high class restaurants, it gives you the assurance that you get satisfied with what you eat at a very low price because this is the primary goal of every Carinderia that has been put up all around the country. Every owner always makes it a point to showcase their cooking expertise through creation of locally made dishes and make every costumer realize its mouth watering taste at a very low price.

Finally, It is safe - This I guess is the most important factor why several individuals love to eat in these small food houses in the locality. Since most of the ingredients are directly brought in the market, it gives an assurance that they always use fresh items for their dishes. Aside from that, since most of the food they make are home cooked, the cooks make it a point that they never use much artificial flavorings to make their dishes tasty.

Gee, I guess blogging about Carinderia made me feel hungry (hehe) I gotta go everyone as I need to go and grab something to eat from a Carinderia nearby my place. I hope you too got inspired to someday try to be a street smart person and try having a genuine Carinderia Dining Experience.



photo credit:2.bp.blogspot.com

   

5 Places to Visit with Your Family this July 4

There's nothing better than seeing a blast of red white and blue fireworks at Empire State Building every 4th of July

July 4 marks a very memorable day not just for Americans but for Filipinos like me. If we take a look at history, this date symbolizes the very reason why United States is now called the Land of The Free and the Home of the Brave. As for my fellow Filipinos, July 4 is indeed a day to remember mainly because this is the day when The Filipino and American Bond became closer. This day is called “Fil-Am Friendship Day” in the Philippines.  Knowing that July 4 reminds us of several historical memories, it is indeed great to educate our children about the importance of July 4 to the kind of freedom which everyone enjoys nowadays. I guess, giving our family a tour to 5 of the Historical Places in US would be a worthwhile experience to pay tribute to every hero who has risked their lives to make us enjoy our liberty.   So if you are excited about these places, then here they are:

1.       Mount Rushmore National Park – There’s more than just the identity of a mountain with US Presidents’ Faces that is worth seeing on this site. Being found in the vicinity of Black Hills National Forest, this landmark has a lot to offer every Independence Day. For this year, the staff plans to provide various educational programs and tributes which I believe everyone would find informative and worth remembering.

2.       Mystic Seaport – This is a museum where you could find Charles W. Morgan which is known as the oldest commercial vessel. Being dubbed as a National Historic Landmark in 1967, this ship is undergoing a major restoration process to make it look more presentable and attractive to people by July next year.  History wise, the ship was able to withstand 37 voyages in the entire 80 year- whaling career.  Aside from the historical ship, mystic seaport also promises must see art galleries and museums that are perfect for visually inclined art lovers.

3.       USS Arizona- Remnants of the Past Pearl Harbor Bombing where 1,177 crewmen lost their lives while protecting United States against Japanese invaders lie within the vicinity of this historical monument found in the Hawaiian Islands. This must see monument provides one of a kind experience to bring you back to Japanese –American warfare days through different visitor facilities. One catchy event which you should try to see with your family is the audio tour that is dubbed by actress Jamie Lee Curtis, daughter of actor and Pacific War veteran, Tony Curtis.

4.       Freedom Trail – This is a historical site found in Boston Massachusetts, this 2.5 mile walk leads every visitor to the discovery of the way of living in United States. Here, our families would find 16 historical sites ranging from graveyards, churches, building and many more. By means of visiting this place, our  families get to have a feeling of belongingness as we track and walk down the its red path while discovering how Americans earned their liberty from Great Britain.

5.       Empire State Building -  Found towering along the 5^th avenue in New York city is the Huge Empire State building which is a must see site in United States. Aside from the fact that this building’s name was taken from the city’s nickname, its venue is also where you can find the 9/11 bombing site where the US World Trade Center stands. For this upcoming US Independence Day, it would obviously be a good idea to drop by the 9/11 bombing site to pay tribute to those whose lives has been taken by the terrorist attack in 2001, then head on to the top of the tower to witness a breath taking fireworks display sponsored by Empire State Building staff themselves.

Gee, I know that everyone is pretty excited to have their Holiday this Independence Day as it is a perfect time to bond with our family as well as pay tribute to our heroes by means of visiting these 5 Historical Places in US.

 Photo credit:  http://media.sacbee.com

5 Ways to Release Your Sadness

photo credit: images.tribe.net

Recovering from extreme sadness due to several factors such as break-ups and family fights make us feel frustrated and feel like it is the end of the world. We tend to be in despair searching for some ways to let go of this burden that keeps bothering us but it just seems to stay. In short, the more we try to find ways to just forgive and forget, the more that the  ghosts of these pains run after us. As a consequence, we end up loosing our self esteem and start thinking that we will never get that kind of self fulfillment which we have dreaming of. If you could relate to this scenario, then you have to start betting your boots, as this article is a must read for you. What you are about to read right now are simple ways which you could use to release whatever ill feeling you have been keeping deep within you for a long period of time.  These strategies are ones which I myself have tried and tested to be effective towards picking up the broken pieces of your heart and eventually  feel enlightened and ready to face another life's challenge. Here are the 5 Easy Ways to Release Your Sadness.

  1. Write - Putting your thoughts into writing would help you let go of the moments which you do not want others to get to know. As a writer and a teacher, I am someone who tries to     keep a positive image to other people. This is the reason why I keep my problems for quite some time then later release them by scribbling whatever comes out of mind. There are also times when I need to write a letter to someone a hate most and say everything ( as in everything) that has brought me painful memories. After doing that, I end up burning  the written article and I would feel better.

2. Treat Yourself - Several self-help books that i have read said that the only  only way to be sure to yourself is to learn how to love yourself. When you feel sad, you can't help but feel angry and rejected and you find it difficult to move - on. You don't have to worry that much because being melancholic simply means that you have given way too much to the one who had brought your sadness and you just can't take the fact that he only neglected you.  To find a solution to this problem, all you have to do is start giving yourself a lion share of pampering. Go and make yourself look pretty and handsome or perhaps you could go shopping and buy a new pair of jeans or shirt that would somehow make you look confident and cool.

3. Meditate - Meditating simply means giving yourself some quiet time when you get confused about everything. This is one way of making your thoughts, feelings, and body system be harmonized  to each other which in turn will enable you to have a peace of mind. To some religions, meditating is one form of having a conversation with God. But as for myself, I believe that meditation is one way of temporarily  skipping from the chaotic world of problems through silence and I also believe that it is through silence where you could find enlightenment.

4. Socialize - Aside from the various advantages of the previous mentioned options to relieve your sadness, another way to release your problem is to socialize with the people whom you trust more. Try attending some parties where you could meet new friends and have some fun and adventure. It pays to laugh a little even when you are in distress as it only takes few muscles to smile and more muscles to from.

5. Pray -  This is the most important thing that you have to do in order to survive trying times. Regardless of your religious beliefs and ideals, asking for the divinity of your God to turn your winter days to summer would definitely work well.

So there you have everything that you need to do when you feel that all of  the things that you have been wanting to do and achieve have all fallen out of order. Just don't think so much of your sadness because I know that there's someone out there who is writing the perfect life story for you and this sadness of yours is just a part of it. Cheer Up.

English Language Students Ramp 4 Faces of A Rock Star Inspired Call Center Applicant Fashion

                Its nice to have you read my blog once again dear readers!!! . I am right now saying this greeting with a hug and kiss coming from me (mwaahugggss) .

                  Oh well it is pretty obvious that I feel very happy and fulfilled today  because my TESDA - LSI - English Language   students liked and enjoyed the activity that I have prepared for them today. This has something to do with dressing up and fashion , since I believe that one among the many ways to acquire confidence in terms of language abilities is to be physically and mentally comfortable.To break the monotony of usual lectures, I ought to teach them how to carry themselves with confidence and style while wearing clothes that define who and what they are through a 3- phase fashion challenge. That included putting on make up, kitty heels relay and of course their favorite dress-me-up activity. On the last phase of the challenge, my learners were given the chance to compete per team as they dress up their models intro three different images which include dressing-up a fashion and advertising, avant-garde and rock star image of a teacher and call center applicant respectively. Among these three dress up challenges, the idea of wearing a rock star inspired call center applicant outfit  caught most of my attention because I know that It would be difficult to bring out a rock star image and maintain the standards of professional mode of dressing. I particularly liked their outputs and this is  the reason why I am sharing you the 4 Faces of A Rock Star Inspired Call Center Applicant Clothing. I can now see that you are pretty excited to take a look at them. Thus,  I won't keep you guys waiting.

 

Here are the Rock star inspired call center wannabees  1,2,3 and 4  in counter 

 clockwise order

1. Rock Star Inspired Call Center Agent Wannabee Number 1: This female locked inside the man's body is  the model who is holding the baton in the photo. According to his group-mates, their inspiration was Lady Gaga and they also say that his outgoing personality enabled them to come up with the said concept. To site his outfit further, his classmates decided to use  a red inner blouse which they say symbolizes the model's active personality. They topped the fabric with a black blazer paired with black pants and dark rock star sunglasses with large hoop earrings for  accessories.  During the deliberation, I told the group that the outfit rocked but they have overdone the styling. If I were the employer, it would most likely appeal to me that the applicant would merely go into my company just to flaunt his image and the huge earrings would surely be irritating for the applicant once he gets into his station and wears his headset. My over all rating : 5 stars.

 2. Rock Star Inspired Call Center Agent Wannabee Number 2 : The boy next door has been transformed by his stylists into Harry Potter's Rock Star Version, you may not have seen his clear eye glasses but during the judging and deliberation, they made him wear  eye glasses which gave him that professional image. The rock star aura became evident as he put on his black long sleeved shirt which was rolled up to depict a less formal personality. They also let him wear a printed black and white necktie plus his hairstyle was a bit spiked to further create their target image. As a judge, I told them that their creation had a balance between professional and rock star clothing. They were able to make the model look honorable with his rock-star inspired smart -casual outfit. My over all rating: 10 stars.

Rock Star Inspired Call Center Agents Wannabee Numbers 2 and 3 during the presentation and deliberation

3.  Rock Star Inspired Call Center Agent Wannabee Number 3: This licensed criminologist  model ramped her way while projecting the Rock Star Inspired Call Center Applicant Outfit. We can vividly see in the photo that her hair has been pony tailed like a fountain and her clothes are obviously all black. The group paired her outfit with a Rock Star inspired leather black belt and a customized hand bag made from a knotted long sleeved blazer.  The group's creativity to come up with a customized bag just to have an accessory that matches the outfit impressed me. I also liked the confidence and projection of the model as she made me believe that she was a part of what she was wearing. In other terms, she really looked and acted like a real rock star fanatic. Despite the fact that I was impressed with their ingenuity, her hairstyle captured my attention. Since the task was to come up with an applicant that has to have a touch of being a rock- star, I would say that leaving her hair untied would create a more professional image. My over all rating : 9 stars

4. Rock Star Inspired Call Center Agent Wannabee Number 4: She's the simplest yet one of the prettiest in the group of models. Despite being the only girl in their group, her male stylist was able to capture an Avril Lavigne inspired call center applicant. Her outfit was really simple but her beauty and style rocked the whole class. The group dressed her up wearing black topper with plaid inner blouse and stripes necktie. For her bottoms, she wore black jeans paired with high heeled black shoes and a silver chain accessory that hang on her pants. As for her hairstyle, the stylists decided to make it look simple and untied yet neatly combed. As for my impression, She Rocked My World....I was speechless. My over all rating: 10 stars

Okay, I have finally finished introducing you the 4 Different Rock Star Inspired Call Center Applicant Outfit as modeled and styled by my Language Skills Institute Students. I hope that you guys enjoyed reading this article and I look forward to have you share this to everyone. Who knows, you might be the next person who will rock BPO ( Business Process Outsourcing) offices in your very own Rock Star Inspired Wardrobe,