Prayer for Bryan's 14th Birthday

Grandpa's prayer for the 14th birthday of his grandson to beseech the Lord to grant him the wisdom of the Lord and to be an effective missionary in the Lord's vineyard and their family would be together forever as inspired by the kid's birthday.

Praying for the birthday

The Prayer

As his grandpa, I offered a prayer for him before his simple birthday party took place.

"Our Father in Heaven, we are happy as we gather together here as a family for the celebration of Toto Bryan's 14th birthday.

"We beseech Thee, O Lord that Thou mayest bless Toto Bryan of Thy wisdom,

"That he may be an example to anyone as a true believer of Christ by fulfilling his duties and responsibilities as priest holder of thy Church,

"That he may be protected and guided in his studies in accordance with Thy will and purpose for his life,

Thank You, Lord of 'Making Us Feel Brand New'

I am indeed feeling myself of being "brand new" for your thoughtfulness on my 65th birthday. I appreciate such spirit uplifting gesture coming from you for being a part in your life and what I have done in my most humble way of serving you and  kept our friendship burning.

My wife and I are very much thankful for your greetings and also to those who have given us a "minute" gift of love especially to our children, grandchildren.

To recognize such wonderful thoughts, I have the following screenshots  from those well wishers and greeters on my 65th birthday on October 13, 2016. These greetings are  published on my personal Facebook account and on DepEd ICT Coordinators page in FB which I managed and administered:

Mural Paintings Single Out La Carlota City in Tourism

image by Mike Gonzales/Wikipedia

The small city of La Carlota in Negros Island Region has a lot of beautiful places and natural spots to attract tourist all over the country and even the world. Recently the city observed the 3rd week of September as the tourism week with series of activities which may include the following a quiz for the elementary and secondary public and private schools, mural painting contest, immortal inspired (pictures), and "costumize" corner chair making,

New to this activity is mural painting contest. Sixteen talented artists of the city participated in the 2-day painting tilt. The participating contestants used the acrylic paint as their medium materials for painting. They used the perimeter fence of the Pax Academy, a private school serves as their canvas for the painting.

Since this contest is first ever that ever introduced as one of the contests in the observance of City Tourism Week, the tourism office hopes that by next year competition would be participated in by the talented boys and girls of the 23 elementary schools and 5 high schools.

Teachers, It's a Job Well Done!

My last class observation of ,my teachers in Balabag Elementary School, Division of La Carlota City for I have two more days to go before I take my official 15-day  leave before I retire on October 14. I take this great opportunity to observe my 5 teachers.

The first teacher I observe is Mr. Ronaldo C. Valdevieso. He is teaching the subtraction of decimal numbers with zero as the placeholder. He gives 5 examples for the seatwork of his grade 5 class after his lesson presentation.

Let's Pray as the Lord Prays

Jesus prayed, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

I know many of us here have a different manner of praying, of communicating to the Lord for whatever purpose we have in need, in mind. I am citing here Jesus Christ, for He is the great exemplar of righteousness.  Since the time that I was converted to the LDS Church, I have kept and followed these 5 simple steps in prayer.
Read more ---> Let's Pray as the Lord Prays

Earthquake Drill Makes School Goers Alert, Confident

by Gil Camporazo

Not only the students and pupils of the school are prepared and ready for a natural disaster like earthquake, but the loss of lives may be prevented if they know what to do during the earthquake as pointed out by the Balabag Elementary School principal after the conduct of an earthquake drill to join the entire country of Mass Earthquake Drill which is done by the school and other government agencies simultaneously this morning.

The Balabag Elementary School in the Division of La Carlota City, Negros Island Region through its School Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (SDRRM) headed by the School Head, Mr. Gilbor I. Camporazo with the cooperation of  Brgy. Balabag Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (BDRRM) headed by Punong Brgy. Joel Rumbines conducted the earthquake drill on June 22, 2016 in line with the 2nd Quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill 2016.

Do I Deserve to Be Happy?

by Gil Camporazo

Father's Day is a tradition among the Americans and likewise with the Filipinos. It is observed every 3rd Sunday of June. Children, grandchildren, and even wives keep this momentous day to honor fathers for their exemplary contribution to their family and to the community where they live.

According to history, it was on July 5, 1908, when the first Father's Day was observed in Fairmont, West Virginia as a result of Anna Jarvis' promotion of Mother's Day in Grafton, West Virginia. It was only a local celebration in that particular place in West Virginia.

Pamilya Brigada Effective in Brigada Eskwela

by Gil Camporazo

Ready for Opening of Classes

Brigada Eskwela 2016 has put our humble school ready for the opening of classes on June 13. Our thanks and appreciation go to our active and supportive stakeholders spearheaded by our Punong Brgy. Joel Rumbines. The involvement of parents, particularly the 4Ps beneficiaries and recipients, and the youths as well. The teachers are also duly acknowledged.

Three La Carlota LDS Undergoing Hands-on Cooking

by Gil Camporazo

The Interns

Three members of The Church of  Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) of La Carlota City have undergone hands-on training in cooking at the Mama Linda's Inato BBQ and Seafoods Haus in Cebu recently.

Ronie Estardo, Arlene G. Malacaman, and Cristina Millado travel to Cebu to undergo their internship. They were met by Randy Pino, their internship coordinator on the first day. And they were met by Mary Ann, the owner of the Mama Linda's Inator BBQ and Seafoods Haus on the 2nd day.

ML Master Chef John instructed them on the basic foods preparation. They were asked on what menu they were going to prepare and cook.

Malacaman cooked soup no. 5, Lantiaw. Millado did her salted shrimp. And Estardo tackled the crispy, boneless Bakasi menu. MC John supervised them while they're cooking.

Family in Yellow Garb in Traditional Annual Outing 2016

My family members wear the yellow T-shirt to welcome the new year 2016 to signify the bright hope for the said year in all their undertakings. We do still working on for the improvement of ourselves spiritually, believing that everything would be possible for unwavering faith in Jesus Christ and in the unfeigned love of our Heavenly Father.

This year we were indeed happy for the presence of our eldest son, Dondon who has been long absence for he has been living in Mindanao for almost 4 years. Now he has made it to join with us in our New Year's revelry, in New Year's eve supper, and in our yearly beach outing to strengthen our family bonding by spending our best time in our favorite beach resort, Soleo Beach, San Enrique, Negros Occidental, Philippines.

How Lights Make You Thrilled in La Carlota

December 15 is the opening of the Festival of Lights in the small city of La Carlota, Negros Occidental, Philippines and will culminate on January 1, New Year's eve.

Nativity 2015

It is a tradition among the Mangkasanons, native of La Carlota to have a Festival of Lights every year to usher the coming or the birth of Jesus as religious observed by the Catholics and to welcome the New Year.

The plaza is filled with sea of people coming from nearby cities and municipalities to see the various glistening, glittering lights all over the place. You could overhear anyone's cheers, the wow, the amazement which the lights displayed.

From its starting date until New Year's Day, there would be a nightly Christmas presentation of songs, dances and tableau to entertain the visiting tourists, visitors and even the La Carloteños themselves. Schools, religious sectors and other people's organizations are to share their respective best entertainment.

The Theme: NEODELIC

Last year theme was "White Christmas".

This year's theme as mentioned is "neodelic" which is a combination of "neon" and "psychedelic". It could be interpreted as I see it as lights playing thrill in ourselves as we are overjoyed by the spirit of Christmas which our Father in Heaven's love through his Son.

Neodelic could make everyone in the public plaza of the small city of La Carlota mesmerize by the time all the lights on the trees, 2 main edifices are on after a short program.

The theme was conceptualized by the Tourism Department of the City with the collaboration of various artists.

The Lights

Now the plaza in this year's Festival of Lights:

The plaza in last year's Festival of Lights:

See you there.

Many Faces of Inday Carissa

Ma. Carissa Trenuela-Camporazo, we fondly call her Inday Carissa is celebrating her 22nd birthday today, December 6. She is the wife of our youngest son, Gilbor Camporazo, Jr.

Inday Carissa lives in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, Philippines. She is the 3rd of the 4 daughters of Ronie Trenuel and the late Melanie Trenuela. There are 4 of them all in the family. She is the youngest daughter.

She has the ambition to be a successful accountant someday.

The different moods and many faces of Inday Carissa with our granddaughter:

With her hubby:

Balabag Elementary School Facelifted

 Balabag Elementary School, a humble public elementary school in the Division of La Carlota, which is located at the Barangay Balabag, 7.5 kilometers from the city proper of La Carlota has improved her physical facilities in preparation for the evaluation for Seal of Excellence of the Division.

Faculty President Raffy P. Medes initiated the cleaning of the surroundings with the cooperation of the parents of the pupils. Other teachers of the school followed suit. They also maintained the cleanliness of their assigned ground and garden.

Faculty Vice President Jose Erwin Navio provided the plain sheets for the notice of nature advocacy, polite greetings, among others.

 School Guidance Coordinator Mailyn M. Miguel updated the recording data of the school from her comparative enrollment of three years, pupils academic performance, and extra-curricular activities.

Mr. Mike Pabalate and her wife, Roselyn together with Mrs. Angelica Tuala, Ms. Sarah Adenix updated the documents intended for the curriculum, minutes and resolutions adopted by pupils' organization and school governing council.

School science coordinator Ma. Juvy Tadlan took care of her medical garden with the help of her advisory pupils. Grade one teachers Ms. Mahal Demabildo and Ms. Gerose Bedlan also updated their SBM documents. Kinder teacher Mrs. Rima Jane Cadena printed out the composition of school disaster risk reduction management in blow up tarpaper.

Grade two teacher Ms. Jocelyn D. Tolosa and Grade six substitute teacher Ms. Ana Rey Abad weeded out and cleaned their ground assignment, replanted new ornamental plants and repainted the plant boxes.


Punong Barangay Joel Rumbines provided the bushcutting of tall grasses on the school ground. As overall physical improvement of the school, gratefulness is due to the PTA officers led by Mrs. Mary Jane Ramo and to the Supreme Pupils Government (SPG) led by Rainier Medes.

The school has created her image, conducive to learning, safe to the learners, and clean to the eyes of the community residents and school stakeholders.

Word of Thanks

To the pupils, parents, PTA officers, teachers and the Barangay officials, as a school principal, your services and cooperation are beyond compare. What you have shown as the physical improvement of the school is concered. I repeat this is your work, our work and everybody's work that we have made our school, a real one.

Making Family Forever

by Gil Camporazo

It is now a tradition among the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in La Carlota Philippines District, La Carlota First Branch in which we belong to.

2015 Family Week

Proclamation No. 847 signed by PH President Fidel V. Ramos on August 12, 1996, declaring the 4th Sunday of September thereafter as Family Thanksgiving Day edifies this wholesome activity among the families of Latter-day Saints (LDS), a short name for the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

This year's theme is focused on gender equality and children's rights in contemporary families.

This week-long national family celebration was culminated by a street parade, participated in by the 8 branches of La Carlota Philippines District. These may include a unit from San Enrique, Ayungon in Valladolid, La Carlota First and Second, Masville in Brgy. Cubay, Manggapsang in Brgy. Haguimit, La Castellana, and Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.

Followed by a program graced by an Acting City Mayor of La Carlota, Jacky Jalandoni III, Ramon Alvañez of Mayor's Office, DepEd Schools Division Superintendent Portia M. Mallorca, and a married couple, Dionela Flores-Madrona, head of DSWD Negros Occidental Pantawid Pamilya Operations and Mr. Juvenile E. Madrona, Visayas Coordinator, Philippine Against Child Trafficking (PACT) respectively.

Synergeia Monitors SGC Implementation

"We make education work"  and  "communities working together" show how Synergeia work with the school.

Synergeia is a coalition of individuals, institutions, and organizations working to improve the quality of basic education. Etymologically, Synergeia is defined as "a union of forces whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

They implement programs to improve basic education for nearly 1.5 million schoolchildren in 250 municipalities in the Philippines. They engage local governments, socio-civic groups, schools, teachers, parents, and students to work together in upgrading basic education.

Starting this month of September, Synergeia is fielding their key personnel to visit every school especially in public to create an opportunity on how it could be helped in "making education work," particularly here in the Division of La Carlota City.

PICC La Carlota Celebrates 113th Founding Anniversary

PICC Altar

The Philippine Independent Catholic Church (PICC) here in La Carlota celebrated its 113th Founding Anniversary with a simple, austere activity of street parade in the morning and followed by a thanksgiving mass officiated by my high schoolmate, Rev. Fr. Vicente N. Calan..

The celebration was focused on this year's theme: "To preach the message, to insist upon proclaiming it whether the time is right or not..." is taken from 2 Timothy 4:2 of the Holy Bible.

Only a handful of faithfuls and devotees joined this Sunday Mass and celebration. This could be attributable to the schism that took several years ago and this Church was compelled to have their own separate chapel and separate priest or Bishop.

What Makes Buwan ng Wika Culmination a Success?

Declamation Winner

This year's theme for Buwan ng Wika is "Filipino: Wika ng Pambansang Kaunlaran" is exemplified by a selected pupils of Balabag Elementary School in the Division of La Carlota City by showing off their best of the best talents in a short, simple and austere program.

"O pag-ibig kapag ikaw nasok sa puso ninuman, hahamakin ang lahat masunod ka lamang" at "Nang dahil sa pag-ibig, ako'y naging tao." (O love, if you enters to everyone's heart, nothing is impossible just to obey you." and "Because of love, I become a human.")

These lines were my opening statement when I gave a message to a culmination program of Buwan ng Wika.

Everything was realized and came to fruition of what we have had this afternoon because of love.

Teachers did their job perfectly especially in training these kids and making them to be on their feet to show their talents in declamation, in Balagtasan, and in vocal solo singing contest.

Looking for Grade 5-6 Electronic Class Records?

by Gil Camporazo

ECR Templates

Since the electronic class records were already implemented for grades 1 to 4 which are under the K to 12 curriculum, the grades 5 and 6 were left out for they're using the old curriculum.

A month later after the regular opening of classes in June, a need on the implementation of ECR to all grades was realized. Grades 5 and 6 should have their own electronic templates too for their class records.

It's good that those selected members of the group of teachers were ready to comply with the order and they had officially come with the said record templates for the public school teachers to use starting this school year 2015 - 2016.

Making School Dengue-Free

written by Gil Camporazo

Cleaning up the canal

Preventing Dengue in schools is one of the major concerns of the Department of Education DepEd especially in supporting the Department of Health's thrust in getting rid of aedes aegypti mosquitoes that carry a dengue virus which could kill children and even adults.

Sometime in 2011, the DepEd issued a memorandum (DM no. 152, s.2011) to support the DOH campaign against Dengue.

The theme for such anti-Dengue drive was "Eskwelahan, Simbahan, Barangay, Palengke at Buong Komunida, Sama-sama Nating Sugpuin ang Dengue."

Every public school in the country made itself busy, particularly three o'clock in the afternoon. It was initially implemented on July 13, 2011.

Gibo's Word of Wisdom

Recently the La Carlota Philippines District of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints conducted its semi-annual conference this month of August.

Gibo in pensive mood

Church leaders were always prepared for their messages on the topic relevant to the spirituality of the members.

In short, they're tasked to give their words of wisdom, words of inspiration for the strengthening and edifying of their members' faith.

Gibo, a fond name for Gilbor Jr., who is my youngest son, took time to jot down any statement coming from President Christopher Barredo, Bacolod Philippines Mission President. He regarded them as a source of inspiration.

Gibo collected them and piled them up and posted them in his FB account to share and label them as #GiboWordOfWisdom which could be considered as maxims, sayings, or source for encouragement.

I love what Gibo was doing. I want his collections which he categorized and transformed them into an image quotation be shared for the readers to contemplate upon for their way of life.

7 Words of Wisdom

Take time reading them and relate them to your life. Here they are:

Choice

Express not to impress

One step at a time

Reasons and Purpose

Recording

Riches

Service

What's your pick? Tell us about it.

How Health Becomes Wealth?

The often-quoted saying goes this way, "Education begins at home", Gil Camporazo, the school principal correlated it with "Health is wealth" as he addressed the more than three hundred pupils with their respective parents and guardians, and the teachers of his school too.

Health is wealth because of wisdom

Health should start at home. The father provides the sustenance for his family and the mother provides the vital substance for her children on the food she got and cooked. It is appropriate to say then that health begins at home. It is a common knowledge that a healthy family constitutes a healthy society, and a healthy society makes a healthy nation.

Generally, education starts at home wherein the mother becomes the first teacher of her children. The school follows that up as a formal institution of imparting knowledge to the children. This practical knowledge which the children got from their mother and the knowledge they learned and acquired from the school, had become the elements part of their wisdom. This wisdom turns into their valuable possession in life as long as they live. And when properly applied becomes their intelligence.

Setting Adviser in LIS the Easy Way

Teachers/class advisers may be bothered if they couldn't access their own grade and section in LIS, especially those first timer.

The School Head

For they know as teacher/class adviser, they're  tasked to enroll their pupils to LIS especially this school year 2015 - 2016. However, they couldn't start their enrollment for their respective classes haven't been created yet for the present school year.

Therefore, their respective classes and sections should be created first before they do the batch enrollment of their learners.

How to remedy it?

Their school head or school ICT coordinator will assign an account for them to access in LIS. And they're given a unique username and password to use them every time they access their LIS account.

Sister Elwood Missionary Work Experience

Following is unforgettable and true story of Sister Jesica Michele Elwood, who is one of the missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who served at the Bacolod Philippines Mission and was assigned in La Carlota.

                              Jesica's Story:

Sister Elwood

I served Bacolod Philippines Mission from March 2010 to October 2011. La Carlota was her longest area. She had been transferred five times from February 2011 to August 2011.

I miss the La Carlota people and I couldn't forget my experience there. I had learned a lot from the members and the investigator as well. After four months of stay, I was transferred to other area until I went home. I won't forget all the people there. I deeply care for them and I hope to see them after life and I wish our mansion would be near each on the other life.

When I was in La Carlota, I taught many people. I had no time to write all their names. But I want to talk to them and let them know a little about my present life.