Ilocos Escapade

After a stressful school year, our administrators decide to treat us teachers to a fun summer outing. Destination: Ilocos.

Although I know that Ilocos is way north of the country, I didn't expect that the travel time would actually be that long....around 16 hours (counting the washroom breaks). Well, the travel was pretty unremarkable from Cavite to Pampanga (probably because, I have passed those several times already). But after that, my eyes are glued to the change of scenery outside our bus. 

Arriving in Ilocos, we first went to Vigan. I was really excited to see this place because I'm a closet history buff and seeing those old houses which we call "bahay na bato" makes my mind wander through the forgotten era. Vigan did not disappoint me. Heritage City was lined up with old houses once owned by the dons and donas of the time. Souvenirs are a plenty. However, we did not buy much from the place because we still have much to discover in our next stops. My only regret, I would really want to stay there more. We only went there in passing so we have to move fast...I felt like I ate and tasted something delicious but wasn't able to digest it that much. The highlight was when we went to Vigan church and we didn't understand a word...it was in Ilokano!

The Ilocos Sur Capitol

Vigan Cathedral

The ride of our distant past

Souvenirs dot the streets of Vigan

Architectural beauties

The street of our ancestry

The street of our ancestry

Standing strong

A bass relief

Must try: A "calesa" ride

All in all, it was a fun yet short visit to one of my dream places to be in. If I have the chance to visit Vigan again, I would! And I will definitely stay longer.

so why chalkdust stories?

You ever feel so fed up with your work you want to do something else for a change? That is what I feel now as I am starting this little space on the net. I was thinking that maybe, if I have this little nook, I won't be so bummed to wake up in the morning to go to work because I'll be looking forward to go home and check this page again....or maybe not (let's see)

I graduated 2008 with a degree in communication arts. Thought I was going to be some hotshot reporter in a hotshot network. Long story short, I was too chicken to try (or lazy, I don't know) that I grabbed the first opportunity that knocked on my door - bpo. So I was there for a while, but the job of facing the dull and lifeless PC for 12 hours is just not me. So I took my bag and went home and never returned. I was happy bumming for a while, for 13 days to be exact, when an offer came for me to teach. Teach. High School. English. And like all the decisions in my life, I said yes, not really thinking about it...

And so it came...chalkdust....that pesky white substance that is both my grace and my shame - for so many different reasons. For four years now, it has been my solitary companion in chaotic class discussions. My most effective tool in teaching; my weapon of choice to burden my students (eg. composition writing); my weapon to destroy some of them or to let some shine (eg. seatworks, quizzes); my number 1 allergy....the chalkdust.

Yet, no matter how insignificant it maybe, I have to face the music - it is part of my life now. Like it or not, my days will be measured, not by how many reports I make, or the number of coffees I drink, or the pieces of paper I check, but by how many chalkdust I have inhaled...it is proof that I taught. 

So, I am looking forward to share some of my chalkdust stories to anyone who cares (or to anyone who doesn't and just happened to be directed on this page). See you in class. :)  

PS: please don't tell me.."uso na ang dustless chalk ngayon..." for some unknown reason, I still prefer the old,   white, allergen filled chalk. :)