I wasted 1 hour just to make this slideshow!

A simple slideshow featuring different places, different people under different memories. Although majority of them are from my studies, working trips and other personal events, I hope you'll enjoy watching it and leave a comment after. You may also leave a request for more slideshows. (I dare you! :D) Thanks a lot and I hope everybody's happy forever! (Define hope! LOL)

Where I've Been, Memories, Work, Studies! Slideshow: Keith’s trip from Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines to 4 cities Baguio, Urdaneta (near Dagupan, Luzon), Bolinao and Labrador (near Lingayen) was created by TripAdvisor. See another Philippines slideshow. Take your travel photos and make a slideshow for free.

theDose's REVIEW: Jash Bagabaldo - (My Missing) Picture Frame

I like the uniqueness and musicality of your song. It seems that you've been recording for a long time now.
Please be careful on how you enunciate some of the words though. (Although it is understandable since you are wearing braces)
I love how you made the video. It's entertaining and very suited to the rhythm of your song.
It's a good idea to involve your friends in the video too. Thumbs up!


Galing at Astig ng Pinoy!


Watch the Video! Click me.

Free Online English Speaking Class! [Done]

Title: Let's Speak in English! #3 [for Intermediate Low Level only]
Time: Monday, October 17, 2011 07:00 AM (CST), 20:00 (PST)

English as Second Language (ESL)

Let's try to speak in English!

This is a continuation of the series of classes that I've conducted.

Broaden your perspective about things and learn how to speak your mind in some of the issues that we will be discussing. The issue for this class would be HEALTH (Colds)!

Note: This class is only intended for students who are in the Intermediate Low Level. Using headset for the class is also recommended.


REGISTER NOW: http://teacher-keith.blogspot.com/2011/10/free-class-lets-speak-in-english-3-for.html

10th Q&A Monday

It's already the 10th Edition of Q&A Monday!
Thanks for continuously asking great questions and I hope my humor and practical answers will satisfy them.


What's your favorite app on your mobile phone?
asked by Formspring
My favorite app in my phone is the colorful and sweet Fruit Slice. I used to have Angry Birds in my phone, and it should have been my favorite now, but I deleted it because it takes a huge portion of my memory.
Hope I'll find time to download Angry Birds and play it again. Both of these games are highly interactive and very addictive.


party? or bed time?
asked by 3OH3
A very easy question.I would prefer party! haha.. But this is highly relative to my mood. If I'm not in the mood like when I am depressed or just simply tired, then, certainly, I would just stay at home, take a rest and sleep all night.
If it happens that I am really in the right mood and I am happy, Partying is the best! Let's go party people! :D


what was your dream job when you were a kid?
asked by AskCamryn
When I was a kid, I dreamed of being an astronaut. When I was in elementary, I wanted to be a doctor and when I entered college, I took up and finished Nursing.
That's a real dream-come-true story huh? :D 
And I can tell myself that dreams really do come true! hahaha.. :D


What is the main feature of a website that you like the best?
asked by houstonassassin 
The best feature that a website can offer is if it provides ways on how the audience, readers or visitors could interact and comment on its contents. Second to this is the degree of innovation or uniqueness of the website.
All of our voices should be heard. This could make or break a website depending on how comments are moderated and how will the comments be accepted by the Web ADministrator..


No school wooo hooo! what do you do to celebrate Labor Day?!?!?!
asked by FredFigglehorn
I am certainly not celebrating the Labor Day. Here in the Philippines, many workers are conducting rally and protests in the streets to call for increase in the minimum wage at this day.
But, as for me, I'll just stay at home and take a good rest. It's a holiday after all.  ;)


How do you say squirrel in other languages????
asked by FredFigglehorn
LOL! very funny question! I can't think of a direct translation of squirrel in our very own Filipino Language but we might as well directly borrow it and change its spelling to: SKWIREL.
Is it that different? NO! haha.. :D


How are you right now?
asked by tamaguilar
I am perfectly fine, a little bit sleepy now, but I can take it. I mean, your questions are all great and I am having a good time answering these questions.
Hope you'll continue asking more thought-provoking questions! And I also pray that you may always be blessed by God with good health and happy life. :)


If you could go on a road trip with any person, dead or alive, who would it be and where would you go?
asked by lhives
Of course, If I could go on a road trip, I will go with my girlfriend. And, if it is possible, I may also think of bringing with me my family and some of my jolly friends.
In that way, this road trip will be 100% fun and enjoyable! I would want to go to Pagudpud or any beach with white sand will do like in Bolinao or Zambales.


do you believe in miracles?in wat way?
asked by kathyish
I certainly believe in miracles. Sometimes, we really don't understand things that are happening in our surroundings and even the experiences that we have in life with our own thinking and these things may be miracles and there's simply no reason behind them. They're purely magnificently magical and mystical and what we should do is just to admire them.


Ask me anything :DD
asked by anonymous
haha.. This is a very hard question to answer! haha..
Hmm.. My questions would be, "What is your name?" and "What is the real question that you want to ask?"
I think this is just an alibi question.. haha.. :D


You think you have more interesting question?
Ask them now and I may answer it in the 11th Edition of Q&A Monday!

Nursing Updates: July 2011 NLE Oath-taking, Nursing as an Oversubscribed Course, Hilot, etc.

ANNOUNCEMENT:



REGION 1 - DAGUPAN CITY OATHTAKING CEREMONY


Venue: Dagupan People's Astrodome
Date: October 5, 2011
Time: 8am to 12 noon
Attire: Gala Uniform (white shoes and stockings)
Note: Registration on Sept. 9 & 10 at PMS office.
Fee: P1,050.00 plus P400.00 PNA membership fee
*only 2 guests are allowed

[NEWS, OPINION]


TUCP, CHED urges graduating High School students not to take-up 5 "oversubscribed" courses: one of which is NURSING

I feel disheartened by this article featuring the statements coming from Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).
The problem that the Nursing Profession faces today is not new to me. I am actually experiencing it right now. But the bad thing about these statements is that it hinders high school graduates to choose freely what course they really want to take in college.
Indeed, it is correct to say that Nursing (or any of the five courses stated in the article) are somewhat or "extremely oversubscribed," but the thing is, these organizations can't tell these students to "avoid" or "stay-out" (of) the aforementioned courses.
In the case of Nursing, these statements could be of much effect especially to the Nursing Education. I think they failed to consider that having decreasing amount of nursing student (or even total absence) could lead to even more unemployment in the said profession as this could result to laying-off of many Nursing Educators.
As matter of fact, this situation is currently happening right now and these press releases could even aggravate this condition. I hope that organizations like TUCP and CHED should consider the effects like what I've stated above before "urging" the graduating High School students to avoid these professions.
And the thing is, I believe that there's still future that awaits these students in the Nursing Profession. Many developed countries are having an increasing aging/ elderly portion in their population and this either directly or indirectly means that they'll evetually need to call for other health care providers (like Nurses) coming from outside their country to provide care to these people.
It is not new to us that the Philippines is one of the top producers of  Nurses worldwide.

"Hilot" as a future career

The idea of taking up the "Hilot" / Massage Therapy course is good. It's new to me that being a "Hilot" is in demand and even high-paying right now but I also honestly think that it's a good vocational course to consider too: for as long as the student really want to take it up.

TUCP's say about the Mass-Oath-taking

Though TUCP said something bad about Nursing (telling that it is oversubscribed and even urges graduating High School not to take it in college), it is good that it is in favor about the idea of pursuing the Mass Oath-taking of the July 2011 Nursing Licensure Examination (NLE/ NLEx) passers.
I hope that the Philippine Nursing Association (PNA) and ADPCN's call to continue the aforementioned ceremonies will finally be heared and approved by the PRC-Board of Nursing as soon as possible.



RELATED ARTICLES:


No frills oath-taking for nurses

The board of nursing of the Professional Regulation Commission will start administering the nurses’ oath on September 25 but will do away with the lavish oath-taking en mass in keeping with the government’s austerity measures.


Labor department spokesman Nikon Fameronag said that all those who passed the nursing board examination can take their oath at the PRC office in Manila.


Nursing schools which prefer to conduct the mass oath-taking can do so even without officials of the nursing board or PRC. The school dean may administer the oath, he said.


PRC chairman Teresita R. Manzala earlier said the mass oath-taking was scrapped to save on government funds, but the Philippine Nurses’ Association opposed the move, saying that no government money was being spent for the ceremonies. The nurses used to fork out money to spend for the oath-taking venue, souvenir program and related expenses. Each nurse was required to pay P600 for the venue, equipment and other expenses, the nurses’ group said Vito Barcelo

Source: ManilaStandardToday.com, retrieved at 16:52 UTC+8


Stay out of 5 college courses
Written by : ERNESTO F. HERRERA, Tuesday, September 06, 2011

THE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has urged young Filipinos to stay out of heavily oversubscribed college courses if they want to increase their chances of obtaining gainful employment after graduation.


The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has already identified at least five extremely oversubscribed programs: teacher education, nursing, business administration, information-technology, and hotel and restaurant management.


Compared to potential labor market demand, there are now far too many fresh graduates of these five courses, and large numbers of new students still going into these programs.


We’re afraid the huge oversupply of graduates of these programs has made it exceptionally difficult for them to sell their skills to employers.


Fresh high school graduates as well as college students who could still shift courses should instead consider going into science and technology as well as agriculture and fisheries—programs that have been singled out by the CHED as undersubscribed.


Students can also check the career guide section posted at the Bureau of Local Employment website at www.ble.gov.ph, which contains a series of occupational briefs or summary information about hard-to-fill and highly in-demand occupations, to aid students in planning their university courses and workers who would like to shift careers.


Even the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has advised students and workers to consider taking health-related courses other than nursing, as this paper reported last Monday.


“With the continued glut of registered, yet, unemployed nurses, alongside with the recent developments highlighted by nurse-volunteerism in hospitals and institutions, I encourage students and workers to look at other healthcare professions if they want to get employed quickly,” said Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.


Baldoz issued the statement as the new batch of successful examinees of the July 2011 Nursing Licensure examination further increased the surplus of nurses in the country.


TUCP has been pushing for the opening of new foreign labor markets and the creation of local employment programs for the growing number of jobless Filipino nurses. It has also been pressing for the shutdown of substandard schools that it said have been defrauding nursing students and their parents.


Baldoz pointed out that there are other job opportunities in the health and wellness industry besides nursing.


“The Health and Wellness industry has been identified by DOLE’s Project Jobsfit as one of the 12 key employment generators that will provide more employment opportunities,” Baldoz said, adding that the industry has the potential for absorbing the most number of Filipino workers in the next 10 years.


The Labor chief said that other careers under the industry, such as optometry, physical therapy, pharmacy, medical technology, clinical and internal medicine, surgery, radiology, wellness massage and spa/massage therapy are occupations that are expected to propel more employment opportunities both local and overseas up to 2020.


“These kind of careers are in-demand not only in hospitals, but also in laboratories, clinics, health maintenance organizations, public health agencies, pharmaceutical firms, research institutions, scientific equipment companies, physicians’ offices, and schools offering clinical laboratory science programs. Indeed, their licenses can bring them to greater heights and greener pastures,” Baldoz said.

Allow oath-taking of new nurses, labor group urges PRC, DOLE

I urge the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to reconsider their decision to scrap the traditional oath-taking for the 37,513 nursing graduates who passed the July licensure examination.


The TUCP supports the appeal of the Philippine Nurses Association Inc. (PNA) for the ceremony to proceed as scheduled on Sept. 25.


Nurses consider the ritual a celebration of their profession. In a way, the observance also honors parents and families who have invested in a big way in the nursing education of their children.


The PRC earlier cancelled the ceremony at the prodding of the DOLE, which cited the need to conserve public funds.


However, the PNA has countered that the government has never spent any money for the formal service to begin with.


The nurses themselves have been paying P600 each to cover the cost of the venue, equipment and other expenses, with the extra collections going to the Board of Nursing, the PNA said.

Source: ManilaTimes.net, retrieved 16:53 UTC+8



Students urged: Avoid 5 oversubscribed courses 
By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star), September 05, 2011 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines -  The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) yesterday urged students to avoid five oversubscribed college courses to increase their chances of getting employment.


TUCP secretary-general Ernesto Herrera said the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has identified education, nursing, business administration, information technology, and hotel and restaurant management as “extremely oversubscribed” programs.


“We’re afraid the huge oversupply of graduates of these programs has made it exceptionally difficult for them to sell their skills to employers,” Herrera said.


“There are now too many fresh graduates of these five courses, and large numbers of new students still going into these programs,” he added.


Herrera said high school graduates and college students who could still shift courses should instead consider going into science and technology as well as agriculture and fisheries - programs which have been singled out by the CHED as undersubscribed.


Meanwhile, Herrera asked the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to reconsider their decision to scrap the traditional oath-taking for the 37,513 nursing graduates who passed the July licensure examination.


He said the labor group supports the appeal of the Philippine Nurses Association Inc. for the ceremony to proceed as scheduled on Sept. 25.


“Nurses consider the ritual a celebration of their profession. In a way, the observance also honors parents and families who have invested in a big way in the nursing education of their children,” Herrera said.


The PRC earlier cancelled the oath-taking for nurses to save on government funds.

‘Hilot’ future for young Pinoys

Believe it or not, “hilot” is not a thing of the past but the future for young Filipinos.


The labor department yesterday advised students to become massage therapists, locally known as “hilot,” to easily land a job.


Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said DOLE has identified the health and wellness industry as one of the 12 key employment generators that will provide more employment opportunities in the coming years.


Baldoz said wellness massage and spa therapy were identified among the in-demand skills in the next decade.


“Massage therapists who have completed formal training programs and have passed the licensure exam are likely to have very good job opportunities,” she said.


Aside from “hilot,” other in-demand skills are optometry, physical therapy, pharmacy, medical technology, clinical and internal medicine, surgery, and radiology.


“These occupations are expected to propel more employment opportunities in the industry, both local and overseas, up to 2020,” Baldoz said.


She said the nursing graduates, who successfully passed the licensure examination last July, will increase the number of unemployed people in the country.


“With the continuous glut of registered, yet unemployed nurses, alongside the recent developments highlighted by nurse-volunteerism in hospitals and institutions, I encourage students and workers to look at other healthcare professions if they want to get employed quickly,” Baldoz said.


The labor chief said workers in the health and wellness professions have entry level salaries ranging from P8,000 to P12,000 per month but may go up to P20,000 or higher after years of experience.


Abroad, the average salary is about $6,351 per month or higher.


“These kind of careers are in-demand not only in hospitals but also in laboratories, clinics, health maintenance organizations, public health agencies, pharmaceutical firms, research institutions, scientific equipment companies, physicians’ offices, and schools offering clinical laboratory science programs. Indeed, their licenses can bring them to greater heights and greener pastures,” Baldoz added.


DOLE urged students to check the summary information of all health-related courses in the career guide section posted at the Bureau of Local Employment website at http://www.ble.gov.ph.


The career guide contains information on hard-to-fill and highly in-demand occupations to help students planning their college courses and workers who would like to shift careers.


Meanwhile, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) called on private companies to revive and strengthen their apprenticeship programs and hire qualified trainees as part of their workforce.       


TESDA director general Joel Villanueva said there is a need to push the apprenticeship program “because it has always been proven that the best place to acquire skills is in the workplace.”


He said these training schemes not only enhance partnership between the industry and technical vocational education training providers but also ensure a steady supply of best job-fit and ready workforce.

Source: PhilStar.com, retrieved 16:55 UTC+8

Helpful Links:

NLE July 2011 Update # 8 "Attire and Regional Oath-taking"

NLE JULY 2011 UPDATE # 7 "Yes to Mass Oath-taking"

NLE JULY 2011 UPDATE #6

NLE JULY 2011 UPDATES 1-5

VERIFY YOUR NAME AND NLE RATING

COMPLETE LIST OF PASSERS FOR JULY 2011 NLE

PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOLS IN THE JULY 2011 NLE


* You may also want to read about the TOP 10 NURSING MUST-READS!

What can you say about these articles? Leave a Comment below!