“A picture paints a thousand words…”

Yes its true, “A picture paints a thousand words…” last night was the second day of the eLearning session where I was attending. Again, sir Ray presented several topics. Let me just share on my very important learning acquired in these series of eLearning sessions.

First learning I have is on a picture or what we call images as we call it. A simple yet very important thing to be reminded of. Yes, images or pictures is very important within a story. Well, almost everybody knows that of course but one thing that strikes me most is that not everybody knows that images’ role in the story is just as good as how it goes along with it. Yes, a picture or image should always connect to the facts of the story.

It was a very enjoyable moment while sir Ray was trying to convey all of us with this thoughts. He made used of series of sample slides that really caught each and everyone’s attention.

So what’s the real point presented in here as far as I could understand it? Well, it shows several points to consider in eLearning;

1. It is important to engage learners not controlling them or manipulating in such a way the lecturer would want – this is very true. I’ve been a witness with these in attending several staff development programs.

2. In eLearning, Learners should control the learning

eLearning Learnings!

My learning experience might be different of the others. Probably because of the cultural thing or precisely because eLearning is not yet a known strategy for learning in companies and educational institutions here.

"pedagogy empowered by digital technology" It is important to realize that the term e-learning is ambiguous. It is nearly impossible to define what it is, as it has different meanings to different people”. Yes these were the only thoughts I have upon starting with this eLearning session with sir Ray.

During the session, I was keen observant to all the participants on what to do and what words to put in the chat box. After all this is my first time. For now, I might say I have already a grasp of the term “eLearning”. So this is it! A new method, unique strategy and not a boring one.

For now, I think my learning were too personal. I don’t have so much in depth understanding of the topics, at least a little perhaps. But I saw some effective strategies and methods.

I believe a lot of companies here in the Philippines needs to engage with such trainings. I can see personnel departments of some medium and large companies here needs this. A lot of their staffs needs to be capacitate.

Getting rid of Hard Water

Hard water is not hazardous to our health. In fact, hard drinking water generally contributes a small amount toward total calcium and magnesium that a human dietary needs. In instances that dissolved calcium and magnesium were very high, water could be primary contributor of calcium and magnesium to the diet.

But not everybody knows that it must be softened. Majority of the households might wonder why clothes washed in hard water often look dingy and feel harsh and scratchy. Yes, this is due to the hard minerals combined with some soils to form insoluble salts, taking them difficult to remove. Thus, continuous laundering in hard water can damage fibers and shorten the life of clothes by up to 40 percent.

Not only has that, bathing with soap in hard water left a film of sticky soap curd on the skin and in washing dishes, especially in a dishwasher, hard water may cause spotting and filming on your crockery. And these definitely posed a serious problem to each and every household.

Hence, it would be ideal solution to leave the calcium in the water, but alter its state so that it couldn't form lime scale. And definitely, the solution is either to filter the water by distillation or reverse osmosis to remove the calcium and magnesium, or to use a water softener. Filtration is definitely expensive to use for all the water usage in a house and therefore a water softener is the most affordable solution that every household has to consider.

So what can water softener do? The idea on how a water softener works is really simple. Sodium ions will replace the calcium and magnesium ions and the problems on hard water is eliminated because sodium does not precipitate out in pipes or react badly with soap. Thus, to do the replacement, the water in the house shall run through a bed of small plastic beads or a chemical matrix.

Soft water is definitely safe for drinking because softened water still contains all the natural minerals that each and everyone needs. It’s only the calcium and magnesium ions which were taken off and some sodium is added during the softening process. It is likewise advisable that softened water contains only up to 300mg/L of sodium. Thus in areas with extreme hardness the softened water must not be used for the preparation of baby-milk, because high sodium content after the softening process has been carried out.

Breaking free from classic diamond and gold

Through the years, jewelries have been part of the human evolution. History tells us of extreme demand for costly gems which set the style for an extravagant use of gold mounted with diamonds, pearls, jades and rubies. With the emphasis on lavish display and the intrinsic value of precious stones, the craftsmanship on the metal settings was neglected and became inferior. Today, trends shifted to sculptural or architectural ingenuity using pretty much cheaper silver.

But what can simple silver do? Yes, for some people over 40’s this really sounds bitter. But for those who were born not later than 70’s, this is really fashion. You can’t even miss a thing specially hanging out on conspicuous places. People even claimed this craft never goes out of style.

Cheap and simple

Unlike diamonds and gold, almost everybody can easily acquire silver works. The cost is reasonable compared to the elegance it offers. Throughout history, it has been associated with purity. It is quite soft, and malleable for use in jewelry. Since it comes with variety of styles, there’s no need to mount any traditional jewels, rather than using it a pure metal of 100%. Some metals, namely copper, are added to a molten mixture of 92.5% in order to produce the resistant, high polish whitish metal alloy known as “sterling silver”. This “925” label is often stamped in order to reliably note the fineness of the silver jewelry.

Artistic and freestyle

Stylistically, silver is like a “chameleon” that may impart a sense of age and antiquity with its blackish coloring and it can also morph into a contemporary piece of sophisticated jewelry with gem stones and it can also be plain and understated and worn daily like with many of the pieces of plain, unadorned and unaltered pieces of fine silver jewelry. Thus, you can really appreciate the uniqueness of its design. For artists, it has showed their freedom of expressions. The designers even modeled tattoos for their crafts.

Tarnish ability

It's a little known fact, but a pure of silver does not tarnish in pure air and pure water. It’s pollutants in air and water that cause it to tarnish, specifically trace amounts of sulfur gases in the air and hydrogen sulfide in water. Light speeds up its tarnish ability process. For this reason it's a good idea to store it in a zip-lock bag and keep it out of the sun.

Five Minutes Ride

It was really a roller coaster five minutes ride over a boat with my colleagues in Project Monitoring Team of European Commission - Habitat for Humanity Phils. at Lake Sebu during our Project Planning and assessment. A fun time to be toured around the big and beautiful Lake.

My Beautiful Buddies!!?

One of my unforgettable travel with my job as an NGO employee. This was at Midsayap...Thanks to a friend and a Bonsai colleague Engr. Julius Cadava!, a very hospitable person who accommodated me in his place... i don't know how to describe his place but one thing i should truly say: SUPER!!! GRABE!!!

The place is a showcase of NATURE! It was developed to be a resort...it might probably called as RIVER SIDE NATURE PARK!, that was the plans of Engr. Cadava.

If I will be back again in Midsayap, surely i will not forget to visit the place...the ambiance is so cool... so relaxing and whats more...i should say words are not enough to describe!!!

My Driftwood Style Molave

This is one among my selected collections of Bonsai materials in my garden... I've been training this for the past three years...fortunately maybe in the next coming years i will try to compete this with some local Bonsai Exhibitions in town...

My Bonsai Garden

This is my bonsai garden... after my busy schedules, i always see to it to refresh myself in my garden. I feel so relaxed when i got to see my plants developing in accordance to what i want them to be!!!
After some bonding time with my family, the next things i always do is also bond with my beautiful bonsais!!!

A place we call "HEAVEN"

This was an exuberant experience with my collegues (Kuya Tots Bonete- HBRC Site Manager, Engr. Julius Uy- PMT Technical, and Ate Bai Khan - PMT PDF) during our PDC dry run of survey for the Poverty Database Monitoring System in partnership with BLDF (Bohol Local Development Foundation).
As you would see in the picture, the place showcased the beauty of Nature. A very conducive place to relax and discern!
Yet with the beauty of nature hides a sad reality that we have this very poor brothers/sisters who seek for our assistance...in this place we could see and realize the most simple among the simplest way of living...
By the way, the PDMS will be utilized in this place to track the poverty status of the lumads in this place and likewise to detect what are the top necessities of the community of this place we fondly called "HEAVEN"

1ST MINDANAO WIDE BONSAI COMPETITION

Just recently, my bonsai club Fukal Kayo Bonsai Society Inc. hosted the 1st Mindanaowide Bonsai Show... We have our guest and judges as well the renowned international bonsai artists David Du and Chai I Chin. The 5 days event was so successful.
It was really a fulfilling experience for me...as a bonsai enthusiast. This was the biggest event so far where i participated and compete one of my bonsai collections...
The experience is really far different with that of some local bonsai competitions that i participated...hopefully, with the teachings of my mentors David Du and Chai I Chin, i will also compete with the national level at manila in the next coming years...as of now, I'm still on the process of rehabilitating some of my most selected collections...