Posted by Teacher Ria in Teacher's Corner | 5 Comments

Blogging as a Platform for Influence.

I am glad I am a teacher in this generation. I have a high regard and great respect for the teachers of yesterday, but I have to admit I feel very lucky that I am teaching in this day and age, mainly because of the advancements in technology.

In the last trimester, I was able to explore blogging as a teaching tool. In one of our class projects, I encouraged my students to come up with a multimedia campaign for an advocacy of their choice. They had a freehand in deciding how to go about it. Several of the groups chose online media as part of their campaigns. They started blogs and social networking profiles to get their messages across.

It was a great success! Even though we did not formally launch the project beyond the class members, I was able to see how the web, and blogging, can be a tool of influence.

That experience, coupled with my exposure to many blogger events and Plurk, allowed me to consider blogs as a platform for influence, thus the birth of this particular blog. To be honest, I ‘ve been blogging since 2004 or 2005, with Friendster still, and I never saw the value of my blog outside of me and my friends until now.

Not so long ago, I read about the search for the Top Ten Emerging Influential Blogs. I honestly did not expect to be nominated at all, but I feel blessed and honored that I was! Because I beleive that blogs are indeed platforms for influence, here is a short-list of blogs that I feel are influential. This is not my entry to the writing project, nor am I guaranteeing that these will be in my final list. For me as TEACHER RIA however (the Yapatoots or personal part of me may have different ideas hehe), these are great reads:

1. The Filipino Mom Blog.

2. OFW Para Sa Pamilya.

3. Gain Smiles. Find a Hundred and Plus Reasons to Smile.

4. Project Fit.

5. of course….The Accidental Teacher.

All these blogs have one thing in common, in my opinion: they really help! Be it parenting, teaching, psychological wellbeing or just overall wellness, these blogs can be sources of inspiration and information for it’s readers. I hope this list helps out a friend and reader of this blog, Earthlingorgeous, as she tries to find her own top ten blogs for nomination. Check out her contest search here!

Posted by Teacher Ria in Autism | 3 Comments

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities.

Living with a disability, be it physical, cognitive, psychosocial or language disabilities, can be trying, not just emotionally but also financially. Doctors visits, tests, therapies and medication definitely place a strain on the family’s budget.  It is nice to hear that as of March 2009, the Persons With Disability ID is available in many local municipalities, as reported by the Autism Society Philippines. These ID’s entitle PWD’s to avail of health and medically related discounts in all drugstores and medical facilities.

On May 20, 2009, the Department of Health issued Administrative Order 2009-0011 which outlines implementing guidelines to RA 9442 (otherwise known as “An Act Amending Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, and for Other Purposes,” for the provision of medical and related discounts and special priviliges). This ordinance will surely make the lives of Persons With Disabilities (PWD) somewhat more manageable. This will also allow them to avail of services, amongst others, that they surely need. It’s kinda sad that this was not publicized or given as much attention as it should have been given. As with the ConAss issue, this seems to have been overshadowed by the controversial Hayden Kho-Katrina Halili sex scandal. I’m glad I am on the mailing list of the Autism Society Philippines, thus I was able to be informed about this.

With this order, persons with disabilities shall be entiled to at least 20% discounts on medicines in all drugstores, 20% discount on medical/dental services and laboratory fees in all government facilities (subject to guidelines by DOH and PhilHealth),  and 20% discount on the same services plus professional fees of attending physicians in private hospitals, again, based on guidelines set by DOH in coordination with PhilHealth. The rules further provide that express lanes for PWD’s shall be provided in all private, commercial and government establishments. The directive provides services not only for the physically impaired, but also includes psychosocial disabilities.

As I read through the guidelines, it seemed to me that the process of availing of the Senior Citizens discount (including getting an ID and purchase booklet from the local municipality) is the same as how the PWD discounts will work.  In the latest e-newsletter of the ASP, they pointed out PWD’s residing in Quezon City can now avail of their PWD ID card and medicine purchase booklet.

Click here for more information about REPUBLIC ACT 9442

Click here to check if your municipality is issuing PWD ID’s and purchase booklets.

UPDATE:

Thank you to Earth for clarifying that this law has been in exsistence for some time now. Read more about it here.

Posted by Teacher Ria in Arts and Crafts | 2 Comments

The World is my Oyster.

I don’t think I’ve been mum about how much my world has changed since I discovered the blogosphere. It has enhanced my life in many aspects, as well as been detrimental on occasion. Nonetheless one big lesson I’ve takes from this thus far is that truly, the world is my oyster.