"Kasiya Na" (Dearest Kharece 2)

Our lovely lovely Kharece,

Some weeks ago, you turned two years old and just like in our last letter, accounts of God's grace in your life and to our family, never waned at all in your second year. And believing that one of God's many purposes in giving you to us is to display that His mercies never end, we resolved to continue making a yearly account of God's goodness in your life as long as we can so you will read them when you're bigger and see how God's plan in your life is unfolding yearly.

For your year 2, we have these specific thanksgiving accounts and we give all glory to your and our Creator, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit who as before the foundation of the world together as the triune God planned you as part of our lives.

1. Kharece, as 2018 ended, we had to release your Tita Weng back to her family in Mindanao because they needed her. And we haven't found a new Tita or Ate to help us look after you since then. It was difficult for us all and your Dad sacrificed the most. But you are one sweet kind little kid who didn't make it very very difficult for us all. God used your Lola Elsie, your Ate Joy, Ate Cindy, Nanay Rebecca every now and then to look after you with love so that each of us can still assume our various responsibilities.

2. In 2019, you were most of the time healthy, had colds and cough a few times but not hospitalized. Two weeks before your birthday this 2020, Pneumonia hit you badly again and no amount of oregano oil or "gawed" leaves or Mama's prescription meds can race with your fast infection, you had to be admitted at the hospital. But thank you for withstanding oxygen tubes  in your nose and IV inserts even when they irritate you, we were out in a week just before your birthday.

3. Thank you again Kharece for the same things you bring to our family and to every one you meet, as I accounted before-- the pure joy and happiness. You learn fast and execute what you learn and people you meet get delighted despite your condition.
"kasiya na" is how your MP blood family would term it, "kasjato" is how your Ibaloi blood family would say it. Born and bred in La Trinidad, your hometown, I would say again and again "Only by God's grace". "Kaasi ni Apo Dios" indeed.

At 2 years old, you can now walk, though a little wobbly still. But I say you are doing very very good and we are all so proud of you.

We continue to pray that God will continue to show miracles in your life, as He also continually does to us. Slowly, together, we will continue with our temporary journey in this beautiful world God has created for us.

BGC experience

We wanted to give a treat to our kids after a very long time of not having traveled together. (They got some cash gift from their Uncle Winslow and Aunt Ines and we thought for this year only, they deserve a little break from the usual). I saw this ad on Kidzania and thought since we have a friend from Taguig City, maybe it is an option (that would cut the lodging cost). So I went on with the arrangements and God was very gracious to us, it deserves some documentation so the kids can read about it later and reminisce.

Mga "Promdi" sa BGC

"We want you to enjoy BGC", said our friend and "living-in-a-condominium-at-BGC experience" benefactor. In my mind, what is BGC and what is there at BGC, and then I realized it is short for Bonifacio Global City.
Anyway, I was lucky enough to have experienced staying in 3-, -4-, 5-star hotels here and abroad. I stayed overnight in Shangrila in Ortigas city care of ADB many years ago, but this was different experience as it was first, this time with the hubby and two kids (I suddently realized it would have been nice to have brought Kharece as well), and second, it was out of the generous hearts of our friends which makes it a "thank-you-God" experience.
Riding the taxi on our way there from Victory Pasay, our taxi driver casually mentioned that BGC is previously part of Makati, but is now under Taguig City.

Kidzania

This was the main attraction which made us decide to go to BGC in the first place. It offers "experience" and that was what we wanted our children to have. It promises not just fun, but a little educational experience so why not.

Watching our kids run here and there, decide which activities to take on, and how to spend their kidzos helped us know more and discover more about them, and confirmed somehow what we already know.

 Mind Museum

Mind museum was also at BGC and was not very far from the condominium room where we stayed. It was actually walking distance so we had a chance to walk around the city. Too bad, umobra ang kakuriputan ko so hindi na kami sumama sa loob. The two boys seem to have enjoyed, unfortunately mas yung interactive things and quizzes ang naaalala based on their stories.

BGC ambiance

It is a likable city first because it is clean and the pedestrian lanes and sidewalks are friendly and safe. Its shops and markets are also a little different. I so love that colorful dancing fountain fronting uptown mall.

Anyway, overall it was a great experience for the kids, the hubby and me. We thank our couple friend who made it possible.

Relieved, director no more

I welcomed 2018 with a surprise appointment as Institute of Social Research and Development (ISRD) Director which was not welcome at all. But I had no option but accept it with a promise that if I tried and I really don't like it then I can resign after six months. I gave it a year before deciding I am not cut for leadership. I gave it a further few months, and almost three semesters into it, as early as May of 2019, the final triggers came and I filed my irrevocable resignation as director.

I am not sure where my original approved resignation letter is because it did not reach me, but I found a copy in the Records Office anyway. "Approved, holdover until new director is assigned," it reads. Anyway, since our VPRE was retiring December 2019, I just finished the year with him when he talked to me about it.

As in any work assignment, we gain experience, we learn important lessons, we contribute some, we fail some. It is not any different with directorship of an R&D center in a State University. I wrote some few reasons for resigning in my resignation letter, and these are true to some extent. Of course my real reason is I proved that I am not cut to be a leader (eventhough my acupuncturist and our church missionary say my body type colonotonia is the "leader type" hehe, but he also did say that we are the "stubborn type" which is vkind of contradictory). Also, the "trade-off principle" in economics is just so evident at least in my circumstances. As I would normally reply to the "why" queries, "BSU is better off with me as a pure researcher."

Of course, I had small dreams for ISRD, for BSU. For one, I sooo dreamed that I can steer it to a social R&D center that responds to immediate needs of clients particularly decision-makers and policymakers, the level of which local line agencies, LGUs or barangays who have research or policy questions would collaborate with your center, or use your research outputs to inform or as input to their policymaking or consider best practices founded on rigorous research. For as social researchers, we really have no hard "technologies or products", we only have information to share. And as my favorite teacher Dr. Abastilla always pointed out, it is important that information from research reach those who should read them or apply them. I sure hope the production and publication of the "Informing Policy and Practice" policy brief series will continue, however, difficult it is.

Secondly, I also hope that eventually my wish that ISRD sections be turned into responsive R&6th 0D programs and section heads as program leaders be achieved in the future. The Adoption, Evaluation and Impact studies, IKS studies, K12-related studies may have enough to constitute research programs. While individual studies are common and fine, "the force might not be with us, our results". I just hope more external funding agencies fund pure social research programs though.

Thirdly, I dreamed that I can start the collection of panel socioeconomic data for highland farming systems. At least in the field of agricultural economics nowadays, use of panel and spatial data is the gold standard for any rigorous analysis. Similarly, in  other fields like health research, cohort studies are most useful; and as I always tell the organic agriculture researchers, it is high time, BSU should invest in long-term field experiments in organic farming. I hoped that an information system can be developed where all these long-term data can be housed with proper documentation of raw, processed and publications. I sure hope after 5 or 10 years I maybe able to get another fund for another round of data collection.

Fourthly, adoption and impact evaluation is always a question at BSU. I dreamed of ISRD contributing to the monitoring and evaluation somehow in support of the other technical R&D centers. We did for example the case of Trichoderma  and it was not easy first because it was difficult to track where the adopters are, and secondly there is an ownership issue so that it was difficult to get data from other concerned agencies. When we presented in an international economic conference, somebody questioned the validity of the analysis considering that we are also from BSU, and the technology was BSU-developed. I replied that to some extent ISRD is external from the colleges or other R&D centers.

Fifth, on indigenous knowledge and gender-based studies which have become the focus of ISRD in the decade past, I dreamed that all these efforts on documentation of IKSPs result in sustainable systems of conservation or preservation, or at the least efficiency and sustainability of current systems. My challenge to researchers always is what to make of these documented IKSPs. I always cite the example of the "tea ceremony" and "origami" and "odon-cooking" in Japan, where as young as the kinder are exposed to these cultural activities, because they do "tea ceremonies" and learn "origami" in kindergarten schools, do tea ceremonies and origami for foreign students and foreign visitors, do tea ceremonies and origami among senior citizens. I also always cite the example of the "lalapet" or "linapet" which the i-Agawa people normally practice every September 30 or close to that date around Baguio city and La Trinidad. I wonder if the elementary and high school students now in Agawa know about "linapet" or do that also in their classrooms every September as a built-in activity or part of IPed. Or what do we make out of the documented indigenous governance systems? Are they to be upscaled and how?...

Finally, we  got ourselves a server for easier networking and to support database and support ISRD website, but because hiring of programmer who need not do "biometrics" is impossible at BSU, the project was taken by an ICT instructor and it is not easy. Information on what the ISRD does, what projects they engage in, who their researchers are and what are their profiles is important if collaboration with international researchers is so desired as a metrics. The founding director of ISRD (originally named Highland Socioeconomic Research Institute) said ISRD should have a website. "Before, we didn't have a website because it was not easy before, now ISRD should really have a website," Dr. Francisco commented. Anyway, it was started already but not yet populated with information. ISRD directors will come and go and whatever report, database, output ought to be more stable with the center.

Two years into this experience and I have learned many lessons that can't be had in any other setting. I treasure the experience, and to some extent, I have enjoyed it. I remember running away from "division head" thing at PhilRice, always resigning after six months whenever I do accept for lack of choice.

So what now? Well, I will always be a researcher at heart so I hope I can still work with ISRD for the rest of my stay at BSU. I still have two externally funded projects due to end this year and I have yet to have one respectable working paper from all the data we have gathered. Maybe those two projects are top priority for now. Of course, we each have our role in life, and mine, by choice, is to support my husband in his calling, and part of that is to earn enough bread for the family, and ensure financial security for them enough for them not to curse our noble calling. And so, when opportunities come, I will keep trying to try and upgrade my position, keeping in mind that at the end of the day, where we will be will always depend on God's sovereign will.

Thank you ISRD team for the support and the help. Thank you for making things very easy for me. Thank you section heads and researchers for trying your best considering your circumstances. I hope I have imparted even just a little inspiration and motivation to you not just for R&D and impact, but work ethics and integrity as well. And may this bloom and grow as you continue finding yourselves your place in this world. Shalom.

Congratulations Khane Potpot!

Our Dearest Khane,

Congratulations on passing the Philippine Science High School NCE exam 2019. You are one of 1540 from 30,986 examinees. Being staunch believers of God's sovereignty, we see that as God's grace in your life son, and we pray you will come to see it too as that.
Whether we will choose to confirm and study there is a decision point with you because doing so will have more responsibilities attached to it. You will need the discipline of waking up at 5:00 am so you can leave by 6:00am and be there by 7:30am and not be late. And while your classmates are already probably finishing their homework, you will still be probably braving the traffic to La Trinidad at dusk. Not very easy son, but not impossible. Others from La Trinidad went through the schedule and survived if that is any comfort. 

The option of you having to rent a place near PSHS CARC is a no option for us. We still cannot imagine you living by yourself in a room somewhere. We kind of still like seeing our handsome boy every night.  Of course, it will still be your preference just so long as you will take responsibility for your decisions. We will be here to guide you as much as we can.

Mama and Daddy

Our jolly good fellow Chairo turns 8

you never run out of pose chairo potpot

and here's the serious manong guapo 

ay ngumingiti din pala si kuya

always thinking of how to look funny

ngorrsssh chairo

She IS joy

Mama: She really provides joy to the family (referring to Kharece).
Khane and Chairo: No, she IS joy.

The Mentor: Remembering the brilliant Dr. Rodolfo T. Abastilla

(I am currently in a proposal preparation cum technical writing workshop and there was a mention of Dr. Abastilla and his “antics” in mentoring students in Technical Writing. I was suddenly nostalgic (natzukashi!!). I suddenly remembered that I really never paid a tribute to this one man (aside from my Dad) who has influenced me in many ways, but whom I have had no chance to thank. (He died while I was in Japan doing my Ph.D. and I mourned for a little while). Anyway,…)

Who is Dr. Abastilla?

He is “the mentor” in the full sense of the word. Not a few of his “drinking-mates” said that even while they were in their drinking sessions, they are still learning from him. His name will almost always come up whenever one talks about technical writing or writing in genera. And his “teachings” remain embedded to people he mentored and inspired.

He is “the writer”. I remember back in my PhilRice days when in our division “Social Science and Policy Research Division (SSPR), later Socioeconomics Division”, almost all the SSPR ladies were single and getting older, and biotechnology especially in-vitro fertilization was becoming more common (or that a single person can give birth). Anyway, the question during one of our coffee breaks, was, “Kanino ka mangunguha ng genes?” (of course napaguusapan lang) and without batting an eye, I said “kay Dr. Abastilla”. And they all asked “Sino yun?”  I said, a talented writer who has the genes for talented writing and mentoring.

He is more remembered in technical writing, but he is also a story writer. I remember he was boasting non-arrogantly showing his published short story in GRAPHICS, a magazine with national circulation.

He was my first employer after graduation. “Cheryll, cheryll, be patient…”, “That is false modesty!!” I still remember those words when I was trying to ask permission from him that I will not finish my two-month contract at DOST because I just got a plantilla position at PhilRice. He was then a consultant at DOST on information packaging, and he took me as assistant. “What if I continued working with him, and not have moved to PhilRice?”. I don’t have an answer to that. Whatever, one thing, at least maybe I was able to attend his wake somehow.

What is the Dr. Abastilla legacy?

He is probably the last person who would be interested in thinking about legacy, but he has definitely influenced a lot of people – highlanders or lowlanders, and students. He will always be remembered always with a “prick in the heart”.

This may end up underrating him, but if there such thing as a “Father of Mentoring on Technical Writing in the Cordillera Region”, he would be that. He has produced almost all the good technical writers in the Cordillera: Dr. Grace Bengwayan, Mr. Victor Loakan, Mr. Robert Domoguen, Ms. Zyla Macasieb+, Ms. Lily Ann Lando, Ms. Betty Listino… just to name a few I know. There are even those I do not know. Of course, in their heart of hearts, they know who mentored them.

Thank you, sir. I miss that smile and raised hand, saying my name as your form of greeting. Just speaking out and thinking out loud sir, because you taught me well that there is no phrase “voicing out”. Always, hats off, sir.

(I am not doing a good job here writing about him; if he is around he would probably crumple this and throw it out the window. But he cannot do that now; he is probably just smiling, saying "come come, Cheryll, give justice and listen to your speaker! Yes sir.)