A Difficult Decision

I've been neck deep with the things I have to do as I've been juggling between tasks - trying to start studying for my NCLEX exam, looking for volunteer work and some trainings, and preparing for the swimming competition which my daughter's team is hosting. Once I heard a wise old man say that when you want something done, you gotta give it to a busy man. Well, for one, I'm not a man. hehehe...

Like today has been tight. I had to finish doing the invitations for the coaches along with the forms that had to go with the each invite. Earlier on I had intended to visit my aunt who is in St. Luke's Hospital, go to the nearby hospital to apply for hospital training, go to the Heart Center to pick up dad's lab results, and finally go to the RMC to apply for the completion of the IV cases I need to get my IV license. I have to decide whether to do the job for the competition or to prioritize my NCLEX exam. But you see, a commitment is a commitment. That is why I am so glad that I'd have the chance to review for the NCLEX some time in September instead. That would give me time to finish the task I have to do for my bebe.

So, what am I saying? You have to forgive me for my absence here. Anyway, you'll notice that I have a new website for the competition. Thus, you'll know I have really been working.

You Gotta Swim, Child!

Shortly after the Milo Novice Competition, as I was doing some chores at home and was having some light talk with my daughter, I asked how her swim training was. Her face lit up as it always does when she talks about something that catches her fancy. "You know mom, one coach approached me today and told me that I can already transfer to another school because I can already be a scholar just from being a swimmer." "So, what did you say" I replied. "well," she said with a little smile forming at the corner of her lips, "First I told her that I probably can't because my focus is my studies. But she kept saying I can do those together - be a varsity swimmer and be a good student too. I gave a couple more reasons why I shouldn't be a varsity swimmer yet but she kept giving me rationalizations. Finally, I told her, I am already an academic scholar. To which she replied "ah ok"."

That was really funny. You should have seen how she had sort of chuckled as she was narrating her little tale.

The point is that she still kept swimming despite her hectic schedule? You know why? Because swimming helps her in oh so many ways. In terms of her health, Ikee is now no longer a sickly child as she was before. Since she started to train regularly, she has only been sick twice for the whole school year. Whereas before, she'd be sick about 5 times at the minimum. Plus it has helped her with her scoliosis. As for her studies, she's now sharper and gets even better grades. As for her social life, she is more friendly and is better able to communicate with others. She used to be so shy that you'd have to force her to talk and make friends or sometimes to even approach someone she already knows. She now has more friends of her age than ever. She has learned so many lessons in life and at the top of the list is time management. Although she still is the last one to come of the shower after swimming, but at least now it doesn't take her a minimum of 1 hour to come out. That's been cut in half. The only real reason she comes out last is because she has to wear her brace. Thus, my whole family agrees she needs to swim every weekend.

Yesterday, I was at the ULTRA and saw one of her teammates at the Pasig Flying Dolphins Swim Team who does not come to training regularly anymore. It turned out that he's so busy with school that he can't seem to find time to train. I did tell her that he needs to go because it will help him in his studies. Maybe Coach Efren strongly agreed to what I said that he blurted out "that's what I keep telling them! Your grades shouldn't be poor just because you're training."

Why should it be? Swimming makes the blood circulate better. Thus the necessary nutrients are sent to the brain and to all the other part of the body more efficiently. Not only does the blood bring nutrients, it brings oxygen to the brain. It is able to get rid of toxins and wastes from brain cells as effectively too. Therefore, when all things are in good shape, the brain is able to do its work and a lot more with less effort. The end result? The person gets more alert and consequently, gets better comprehension. Comprehension leads to retention - that is you are able to retain what you understand. In fact, when preparing for a difficult examination, it is advised to get some form of exercise to be alert. And what's the best form of exercise? That's swimming!

Swimming in a team teaches discipline, efficiency, resilience and cohesion among the members of the team. Those things are not taught in school. They are learned outside of the four corners of a classroom. I should know. I'm a teacher too.

Of course there's a little sacrifice when Ikee swims. We have to skip going to places we like more often than not because her priority is to swim on weekends. She gets tired after training so we still can't leave in the afternoons. Only at night when she has gotten enough rest. But, we can live with that. Besides, it makes us save some money in the process. I guess that's why my husband likes it so much too? Aye, darling?

Swimmers Get Hungry Too! - ULTRA Swimming Pool

We've been going there every weekend. Yet until the present time there has been no considerable improvement on the canteen facilities of the ULTRA swimming pool. In fact, as of late, the canteen on the separate building very near the pool has not been serving any food other than those junkies - softdrinks, chips, coffee, some and instant noodles. Perhaps, the only things that can not be classified as junkfood are the bottles of mineral water and c2. And to think that swimmers at the ULTRA are mostly there for training except during the summer when there are children enrolled in Learn-to-swim programs. These guys definitely need food to counteract the hypoglycemic state and water to rehydrate after a hard training. I wonder what the administration is planning to do. Or, are they planning to address this issue at all?



The ULTRA is not just a venue for professional athletes. It is also a place where families go for fun and fitness. It is a place where friends meet to bond and have a good time. It is a venue for corporate activities. It is also a place for developing potential sports representatives of the country to foreign competitions. It can generate funds for the government to use for other sports and recreational activities. In other words, the ULTRA swimming pool is a valuable asset to the country. I sure wish the people in the position to make a difference will do so for ULTRA and its clients.

If the ULTRA admin is incapable of managing the poolside, I'm sure Coach Efren Jocson would be glad to help. It will only take a little talk and some negotiations to tap the man.

IASCO Learn To Swim Graduation and Competition

We got so exhausted today.

I'm so amused at the thought that children in the Learn-to-swim summer courses of Coach Efren's company, IASCO, really have fun learning that it is almost for any parent to ask their children to go home from there. Like today, for instance, the LTS at Ciudad Grande, Pasig had their graduation at their pool, along with the LTS of ULTRA and Lexington. As a tradition, the children were asked to swim the whole length of the pool before they are allowed to get their certificates.

Having received their certificates, the swimming competition among all the students began. Even the Flying Dolphins Team members were allowed to compete but only against each other. Well, what can you expect? They are going into the Amateur swimming so they can't compete with the children who are just coming out of an LTS program.




Each child got a medal to show off even when they came in last. This is a strategy for them to be encouraged to continue swimming and it has proven effective for a number of years already. That's what's good with Coach Efren and IASCO. They're so good at motivating the kids. Well, some kids get to cry every now and then during the lessons. That's how it is when you have a perfectionist for a coach. But, dear old (oh, please don't tell on me) coach Efren has his way with kids. He's tough but is dear to them. I don't know how he does it.



The affair today was a success. Perhaps one of the main reasons for it is because the parents are so involved with the chilren. In fact, the graduation committee, composed of parents of the swimmers, prepared practically everything that had to be done for today's event. Of course, coach Efren, IASCO, the coaches and the Flying dolphins lent a hand on some minor details but that was it. Congratulations to both children and parents are in place.

There was food from the morning till the end of the day. On top of that, all the swimmers got to play at the pool. The children really enjoyed the day. That's what really matters.

Pasig Flying Dolphins Website

Actually, it's the Internationa Aquatech Specialists, Inc. (IASI) website. IASI is the company of Coach Efren Jocson who is also the Head Coach of Pasig Flying Dolphins. The contact numbers are there.

Incidentally, Coach Efren and Guchie announced 2 weeks ago that the Pasig Flying Dolphins Team will go to Mindoro for a competition some time soon - either on the last week of March or the first week of April. I have not received any word as to the arrangements and fees there.