Why Women Cry

A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?"
"Because I'm a woman," she told him. "I don't
understand," he said. His Mom just hugged him and
said, "And you never will."

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does
mother seem to cry for no reason?" "All women cry for
no reason," was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still
wondering why women cry. Finally he put in a call to
God. When God got on the phone, he asked, "God, why do
women cry so easily?" God said: "When I made the
woman, she had to be special. I made her shoulders
strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet
gentle enough to give comfort.

I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and
the rejection that many times comes from her children.
I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep
going when everyone else gives up, and take care of
her family through sickness and fatigue without
complaining.

I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under
any and all circumstances, even when her child has
hurt her very badly. I gave her strength to carry her
husband through his faults and fashioned her from his
rib to protect his heart. I gave her wisdom to know
that a good husband never hurts his wife, but
sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand
beside him unfalteringly.

And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers
exclusively to use whenever it is needed."

"You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a woman is
not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she
carries, or the way she combs her hair. The
beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because
that is the doorway to her heart -- the place where
love resides."

Aaaaaw

Marty wakes up at home with a huge hangover. He forces himself to open his

eyes, and the first thing he sees is a couple ofaspirins and a glass of

water on the side table. He sits down and sees his clothing in front of

him, all clean and pressed. Marty looks around the room and sees that it

is in a perfect order, spotless, clean. So's the rest of the house. He

takes the aspirins and notices a note on the table "Honey, breakfast is on

the stove, I left early to go shopping. Love you." So he goes to the

kitchen and sure enough there is a hot break-fast and the morning

newspaper. His son is also at the table, eating. Marty asks, "Son, what

happened last night?" His son says, "Well, you came home after 3 A.M.,

drunk and delirious. Broke some furniture, puked in the hallway, and gave

yourself a black eye when you stumbled into the door." Confused, Marty

asks, "So, why is everything in order and so clean, and breakfast is on

the table waiting for me?" His son replies, "Oh that! Mom dragged you to

the bedroom, and when she tried to take your pants off, you said, "Lady,

leave me alone, I'm married'!"

The Power of the Human Spirit

>
> > > Sometimes when you know that what you do matters to people, you
end up
> > > accomplishing the most challenging task. Excellent material.
Take time
> > > to read...
> > >
> > > Please take time to read this, and share with our Pinoy friends.
> > > It> '> s not just I-me-myself, career and making money that
counts.
> > >
> > > Just want to share with you the very inspiring speech of our
guest
> > > speaker, > > Dr. Josette Biyo, during San Miguel> '> s Best
Practices Forum held at
> > > the > > Edsa Shangrila last Friday. Dr. Biyo is a public school
teacher from
> > > Iloilo who won the Intel Excellence in Teaching award in the US,
> > besting
> > > 4,000 candidates from all around the world. When asked by the
judges
> > > why > > a Phd holder like her opted to teach in a public school
in Iloilo,
> > > her > > response was, > "> And who would teach the kids?> ">
> > >
> > > The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory in
Boston
> > >> > named a minor planet in her honor. Read the rest of her
story below.
>
> > >
> > > > "> The Power of the Human Spirit> ">
> > > Dr. Josette T. Biyo
> > > 24 October 2003
> > > Edsa Shangrila, Manila
> > >
> > > Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. For a high school
teacher to
> > > speak > > before a large group of business executives for
the first
> > > time is > > overwhelming. But it is indeed a great honor and
a privilege to
> > > speak to > > the group of people who is responsible for
making San Miguel
> > > Corporation > > the top food and beverage company in the
country, and on its
> > > way to > > becoming one of the top companies in the
Asia-Pacific. I am here to
> > > talk > > about > "> The Power of the Human Spirit.> ">
Indeed, the human spirit
> > > has no > > limits. If you dream big, and you have the
determination and the
> > > will to > > pursue your dream, it will become a reality. I
dreamt of making
> > > stars; > > I was given a planet.
> > >
> > > A few months ago, I was featured in the local, national and
> > > international > > newspapers. I caused a stir to be the
first Asian teacher to
> > > win the > > > "> Intel Excellence in Teaching Award> "> in an
international competition
> > > held > > in the U.S. Since its inception in 1997, no Asian
teacher has
> > > received > > this award. But I think what created waves was,
I am a Filipino,
> > > and I > > defeated 4,000 other teachers from around the world,
including the
> > > American > > finalists in their hometown. Because of this, the
Massachusetts
> > > Institute > > of Technology Lincoln Laboratory in Boston
named a Minor Planet
> > > in my > > honor. There is now a Planet Biyo rotating
around the sun
> > > which is > > located between Mars and Jupiter.
> > >
> > > What made me win in this international competition? What made
me
> > > stand out > > from among the best teachers in the world?
My road to attaining
> > > this > > international recognition is a very long 23
years of
> > > improving and > > harnessing my craft as a teacher. I
consistently study and
> > > learn new > > skills to improve my method of teaching. I
want my methods
> > > to be > > interesting, relevant, and fun for students. For
just like any
> > > product, > > the measure of teaching success is clientele
satisfaction.
> > >
> > > I finished a B.S. Biology degree from U.P. in the Visayas
hoping to
> > > be a > > medical doctor. For lack of financial resources
however, I took the>
> > > first > > job opportunity available- teaching. Never did I
regret this
> > > twist of > > fate. The day I entered the classroom, I knew
I would be an
> > > excellent > > teacher.
> > >
> > > My first eight years of teaching were spent in a rural school.
For
> > > lack > > of teachers in proportion to the number of
students, I taught not
> > > only > > biology, but also other subjects outside my field
such as English,
> > > Music, > > and Physical .Education. The materials, equipment,
and facilities
> > > for the > > type of effective teaching I had in mind were
absent. These
> > > challenges > > however did not dampen my enthusiasm for the
job. In fact, I became
> > > more > > creative and innovative.
> > >
> > > I believe that teaching and learning should not be confined
> > > within the > > classroom. Even during those first few years of
teaching, I see to it
> > > that > > the science concepts I discuss inside the class
would have
> > > social > > dimensions. Thus, I took an active role in
school as moderator
> > > of the > > Rural Health and Science Education Committee. I
designed outreach
> > > programs > > for students and teachers. Through these
programs, students were
> > > trained > > to teach primary health care to the people in
the barangays. They
> > > also > > taught barrio folks how to make cough syrup from
plant extracts and
> > > soap > > from coconut oil. Students also gave lectures on
environmental
> > > protection > > and conservation.
> > >
> > > Those eight years of teaching in a rural school has prepared me
for
> > > greater > > challenges ahead. Working with the children of
the poor has
> > > instilled in > > me the importance of service, compassion, and
respect for human
> > > dignity. I > > have learned to love teaching, and I see
it as an
> > > instrument for > > transforming the person and the community.
> > >
> > > After eight years of teaching however, I felt I had nothing more
to
> > > give to > > my students. I resigned from my teaching job and
enrolled as a full
> > > time > > M.S. in Biology student at De La Salle University in
Manila. I was
> > > lucky > > to get a scholarship which included free tuition and a
monthly
> > > stipend.
> > >
> > > To augment my stipend, I taught as part-time lecturer in
the
> > > Biology > > department and worked as research assistant
by one of the
> > > senior > > researchers in the university. This I did on top of
my full-time MS
> > > load. > > I was so engrossed with my studies however, that I
finished my M.S.
> > > degree > > in one year and five months only, after which,
DLSU took me in as a
> > > full > > time assistant professor.
> > >
> > > Teaching college students at De La Salle University was an
> > > entirely new > > experience. With modern and sophisticated
equipment at my
> > > disposal, my > > world opened to the wonders of scientific
research. However, I still
> > > value > > the importance of nature as a big laboratory
such that in my
> > > ecology > > classes, I would bring my students to the seas of
Batangas, the
> > > rivers of > > Rizal, and the lahar-affected areas of Pampanga
to conduct field
> > > studies. > > Pursuing my Ph. D. while teaching also enabled
me to conduct
> > > researches > > which were presented in the country and abroad.
> > >
> > > Research is very exciting. It means sleepless nights,
> > > disappointments, > > physical and mental exhaustion. But the
joy of discovering
> > > something new > > in nature makes it all worthwhile.
> > >
> > > While Manila has provided me with opportunities for
professional
> > > growth, I > > still feel that my heart is in Iloilo. Thus, with
an additional
> > > degree and > > one additional son, I brought back my family to
Iloilo in summer of>
> > > 1995.
> > >
> > > In June 1995, Philippine Science High School Western Visayas
hired me
> > > as a > > Special Science Teacher. Only on its third year of
existence, the
> > > school > > welcomed my suggestions and expertise. I
helped develop its
> > > Science > > Research curriculum and introduced some
innovations for
> > > teaching the > > course.
> > >
> > > Barely a year of teaching at Pisay, I realized that my role was
not
> > > only to > > teach students but to train teachers as well.
This I do by
> > > organizing > > workshops for teachers in the region.
> > >
> > > One day, I received a letter from the students. The letter
said,
> > > > "> Dear > > Ma> '> am Josette, we know you are being
groomed for directorship
> > > of the > > school, and you would want to be the director
someday, given the
> > > chance. > > The thing is, we don> '> t want you to be the
director. We just want you
> > > to be > > a teacher. Pisay needs teachers like you. The
Philippines needs
> > > teachers > > like you.> "> Their letter touched me deeply.
> > >
> > > When I won the Metrobank Foundation Award in 1997 as one of the
> > > outstanding > > teachers in the country, the Pisay community
gave me a poster. The
> > > poster > > was a white cartolina filled with signatures of
students, teachers,
> > > and the > > non-teaching staff. In the center was a
painting of a rose,
> > > and the > > message which says, > "> You are the song that
plays so softly in our
> > > hearts; > > that gives us inspiration to aim for greater
heights and bigger
> > > dreams. > > Congratulations. We are so proud of you.> ">
> > >
> > > In 1998, I won another national award as one of > "> The
Outstanding
> > > Young > > Filipino> "> formerly known as the TOYM in the
field of Secondary
> > > Education. > > Last year, I won the > "> 2002 Intel
Excellence in Teaching Award> ">
> > > in an > > international competition held at Louisville, Kentucky
from May 10-17.
> > >
> > > In Kentucky, I presented to the panel of judges and to about
150
> > > teachers > > from all over the world my method of teaching
Science Research
> > > to my > > students in Iloilo. I told them that the
Philippines is a third
> > > world > > country blessed with abundant natural resources.
However, we face
> > > problems > > such as the rapidly declining environment and
the lack of
> > > equipment and > > facilities for scientific endeavors.
Faced with this
> > > situation, I > > introduced innovations and strategies for
teaching the course.
> > > These > > innovations included: a) building a scientific
library, b)
> > > conducting > > field studies, c) establishing linkages with
research institutions
> > > in the > > country, d) holding science forums in school, and
e) teaching
> > > students > > laboratory and field techniques which would
help them in the
> > > conduct of > > their research work.
> > >
> > > The judges and teachers from different parts of the world were
amazed
> > > that > > even in the absence of sophisticated equipment, my
students were
> > > able to > > produce quality research outputs beyond their
expectations.
> > >
> > > At this point in time, let me show to you what we do in
our
> > > Science > > Research class? ( a five minute power point
presentation of my
> > > class > > activities).
> > >
> > > I went to Kentucky with three high school students from the
Manila
> > > Science > > High School, and one student from the Mindanao
State
> > > University-Iligan > > Institute of Technology. These
students competed in the
> > > International > > Science and Engineering Fair which was held
back to back with the
> > > teaching > > competition. The students from Manila Science
competed for a team
> > > > project > > in Physics, while the student from Iligan
competed for the
> > > individual > > category in the field of Microbiology. These
students were competing
> > > with > > 1,200 other students from around the world.
> > >
> > > May 17, 2002 was a glorious moment for the Philippine
delegation
> > > in the > > U.S. When it was announced that the student from
Iligan won second
> > > place > > grand award for Microbiology, our delegation was
ecstatic. When
> > > it was > > announced that the students from Manila Science won
first place grand
> > > award > > for Physics, our group was delirious. When the grand
award for
> > > > "> Excellence > > Teaching> "> was announced, and for
the first time in the history
> > > of the > > event an Asian teacher won, and a Filipino, there
was a standing
> > > ovation > > from the crowd as the Philippine flag was waved in
the air.
> > >
> > > The Philippine delegation> '> s road to success in
Kentucky was far
> > > from > > smooth. We almost never made it to the U.S.
Our visa
> > > interview was > > scheduled on May 29 when we were supposed
to be competing in the
> > > U.S. by > > May 10. Almost desperate, we went to the Department
of Foreign
> > > Affairs for > > help, only to be told that the Office cannot
give us an endorsement
> > > letter > > to the U.S. Embassy because they cannot guarantee
that we are coming
> > > back.
> > >
> > > It was a painful experience for me and the students. Anyway,
we were
> > > able > > to get our visa on the last minute the most
unconventional way, and
> > > brought > > glory to this country.
> > >
> > > Let me show to you the scenario during the first day of
the
> > > teaching > > competition?.
> > >
> > > When I entered the judging area, one table in front was
occupied
> > > by the > > board of judges. At the right side of the room, the
table was
> > > occupied by > > the finalist from China and her supporters.
The table at the left
> > > side > > was occupied by the finalists from U.S.. and their
supporters. The
> > > center > > table for the Filipino finalist was empty. I sat
there alone.
> > >
> > > I went to the U.S. bringing a CD for my presentation. I also
brought
> > > some > > transparencies and a white board pen in case my CD won>
'> t work. Coming
> > > from > > a third world country, I was prepared for the worst.
It turned out,
> > > I was > > the only finalist without a notebook computer.
Luckily, one
> > > American > > finalist lend me his computer; but before
doing so, he gave me a
> > > brief > > lecture on the parts of the computer and its use.
> > >
> > > I was the fourth presenter. When it was my turn to present, a
panel
> > > member > > asked if I needed an interpreter. I said, > "> No
thanks.> "> A personnel
> > > from > > Intel volunteered to run my presentation. I said, >
"> I can do it.> ">
> > > After > > my presentation, they said, > "> Wow, you> '> re so
cool. You know more than
> > > us!> ">
> > >
> > > What am I telling you? That despite our country> '> s
limited
> > > resources, > > Filipinos can compete globally given the
proper training,
> > > support and > > exposure. Our winning at the international
scene may not
> > > reflect the > > general condition of science education in
the country. But
> > > with our > > concerted efforts, my dear fellowmen, we can move
this country
> > > forward and > > show the world that we are a globally
competitive race.
> > >
> > > Last May, I was in Cleveland, Ohio to present my methods of
> > > teaching to > > 150 teachers from 17 countries. I also served
as the team
> > > facilitator for > > the Spanish-speaking teachers from Brazil,
Costa Rica and Argentina..
> > > Last > > August, I gave a demonstration lesson to educators
from the third>
> > > world > > countries of Laos and Cambodia.
> > >
> > > Filipinos are indeed talented and will excel at the
international
> > > level in > > their individual capacity. But as a country,
we lag behind.
> > > This is > > because we lack the spirit of community
which is very strong
> > > among > > progressive nations.
> > >
> > > When I went home to Iloilo after the competition in the
U.S., my
> > > school > > gave me a very warm welcome. During the convocation,
students and
> > > teachers > > expressed how proud they are of me. I told them,
> "> I am very proud
> > > of you > > too. It is you who has brought me to where I am
now. Our
> > > experiences > > together has brought world attention to
the fact that hey,
> > > there> '> s a > > world-class school out there in Iloilo; a
school with world-class
> > > teachers > > and students. I told the teachers and I quote
Mr. De Quiros that
> > > > "> being > > world-class doesn> '> t mean going
internationally and showing our
> > > best out > > there. Being world-class is passion and
commitment to our
> > > profession. > > Being world-class is giving our best to
teaching. Being world-class
> > > starts > > right inside the classroom.> ">
> > >
> > > In winning this international award, I do not claim to be the
best
> > > teacher > > of the land. There are thousands of best
teachers out there,
> > > working > > silently, giving their hearts to teaching, without
thinking of
> > > benefits or > > rewards. I salute these teachers. In winning
this award, I believe
> > > I was > > just commissioned by somebody up there to deliver the
message that
> > > indeed, > > Filipino teachers can be world-class teachers.
In winning this
> > > award, I > > have shown to the world that Filipinos can be
world-class if they
> > > choose to > > be. And more importantly, I have shown to my
fellow Filipinos that
> > > they > > can be world-class if they choose to be. That if we
do our best,
> > > we can > > conquer the world.
> > >
> > > During the panel interview in the U.S., one judge asked me,
> "> You
> > > have a > > Ph.D. in Biology, why do you teach in high school?>
"> I answered,
> > > > "> And who > > will teach these kids?> "> Another judge
asked if how much am I paid
> > > for all > > my pains. They were shocked when I told them that
I am getting a
> > > net pay > > of not more than $300. a month.
> > >
> > > When your job becomes your mission, your primary concern is
giving
> > > your > > best in everything you do. Knowing that you have
contributed
> > > significantly > > towards the creation of a product which
can make a difference in
> > > your > > company and the larger community is reward in itself.
> > >
> > > Believe in what you are doing. Believe that you can make a
> > > difference. > > Believing however doesn> '> t mean you have
to stop from where you are
> > > now. > > Believing is improving your skills and maximizing
your potential.
> > > With > > determination and the will to win, your company can
conquer the world.
> > >
> > > As members of the San Miguel Family, you are lucky to take
part
> > > in the > > production of high quality and accessible
consumer products that
> > > can be > > found in every Filipino home. Your skills do not
only contribute
> > > to the > > development of the country> '> s economy, but you
also bring out the
> > > spirit > > of fun, joy, and laughter into the lives of the
people; thus helping
> > > make > > everyday life a celebration. Your capable hands can
paint a true
> > > image of > > the Filipino as a people- intelligent,
hard-working,
> > > passionate, > > fun-loving, creative, innovative, > ">
magaling!.> ">
> > >
> > > You could paint one bright picture of this country and its
people
> > > > - by > > your achievements in the workplace, your teamwork,
integrity,
> > > passion for > > success, and your discharge of civic
responsibilities. You can
> > > show the > > world that you are the new technocrats, capable
and willing to
> > > meet the > > challenges of the new order of market
globalization. You can show the
> > > world > > that you are the new citizenry, capable of making
this country a
> > > worthy > > member of the league of peace-loving nations.
> > >
> > > Be proud!
> > >
> > > Thank you very much.