“Heimdall, open the Bifrost!” The mighty Thor often said this line, sometimes in a funny way or with utmost with urgency. But what exactly was Thor talking about? In Norse Mythology, Heimdall was the powerful Asguardian guard of the Bifrost, or the Rainbow Bridge, which connects Asgard to the other nine realms, one of which was the world of humanity. (norse-mythology.org)

The Rainbow Bridge in Norse Mythology is similar to the Einstein-Rosen bridge. “In 1935, Einstein and physicist Nathan Rosen used the theory of general relativity to elaborate on the idea, proposing the existence of “bridges” through space-time. These bridges connect two different points in space-time, theoretically creating a shortcut that could reduce travel time and distance. The shortcuts came to be called Einstein-Rosen bridges, or wormholes. Although Einstein’s theory of general relativity mathematically predicts the existence of wormholes, none have been discovered to date.” (www.space.com)

Travelling to another dimension can be done with less complex details. In fact, with this unique activity you can not only travel through time, you can also change into an animal, an alien, a robot even without leaving the comfort of your own room. This activity is called reading.

The theme for this year’s BOOK MONTH is “Reading: A Wormhole into Another Universe”. Reading is indeed like travelling into another universe. You get to run with vampires (Oh wait, you can’t run with them. They run too fast!), you can visit Mars, have tea with Queen Elizabeth, fight alongside King Arthur, or listen to the parables of Jesus. Your mind becomes the playground of the authors and your version of the story will always, always be better than someone else’s.

Apart from the exciting stories, you can actually learn to do a lot of things when you read. You get to expand your vocabulary, discover new models for writing, improve your cognitive and critical thinking skills, broaden your view of the world, and improve your grammar skills. Let’s face it, asdfghjkl doesn’t quite say exactly what you mean.

So what are you waiting for? Give your gadgets a break. Go and open your Einstein-Rosen bridge and who knows, perhaps you can write your own story and build your own wormhole to another dimension. Get lost inside a book today and discover the wondrous possibilities your mind can imagine.

This article appears in the Sept. 2018 issue of TLA Blaze. Click here to view or download a copy of this newsletter.

• Always be on time.
• Do things now, not later.
• Be nice and kind…be a true Torch Bearer.

This article appears in the June 2018  issue of TLA Blaze. Click here to view or download a copy of this newsletter.

Reading increases your knowledge and knowledge gives you power so in effect, reading is power. Joyce Carol Oates said, “Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another’s skin, another’s voice, another’s soul.”

Reading gives you the ability to delve into the minds of brilliant authors and give you a glimpse of the world they have made up. It can make you into a hero or a villain, rich or poor, an animal or whatever race you can think of. The moment you flip through the pages, you become part of the adventure.

This rare opportunity gives us the ability to empathize with others. This perhaps is how reading can change the world. Remember the first book your mom or dad ever read to you? Remember how excited you were? That sense of wonder and anticipation will remain with you as you grow older. As Dr. Seuss said, “The more you read, the more you know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

So, go ahead, grab a book again today and start a new adventure.

This article appears in the September 2017 issue of TLA Blaze. Click here to view or download a copy of this newsletter.

Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

With this promise, we can only look forward to a bright future ahead. It is our fervent prayer that, as one community, we will continue to serve as a beacon of hope to those who may find themselves lost or feeling weary. Be a kind classmate. Be an encouraging parent. Be an understanding teacher.  Each day we are given a new opportunity to do these things.

Just like what   Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

This article appears in the June 2017 issue of TLA Blaze. Click here to view or download a copy of this newsletter.

We welcome you back to your second home and we look forward to celebrating countless of milestones ahead.
Let us usher in this school year with much hope and optimism that great things are in store for us.

This article appears in the June 2016 issue of TLA Blaze. Click here to view or download a copy of this newsletter.

Webster defines revolution as “causing or relating to a great or complete change”. It comes from the Latin word revolutio, meaning “a turn around”. They say change is inevitable. It is an integral part of life and how we deal with it defines the kind of person we are. More pointedly, it alters our whole being, our relationships, and our life in general.

Bishop James Johnson Jr. has this view on the revolution of faith. He says, “While we don’t often think in these terms, Christianity is about revolution: the overthrow of one kingdom by another. Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, came to overthrow the prince of this world, save what was lost, and return it to his Father. This revolution’s decisive moment came with the Paschal Mystery: the death and resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. However, the revolution continues to specifically affect (or not) the life of every person. We are each intimately involved in how the revolution plays out in our own lives and, to some extent, in the lives of others.”

Each year, during Lent, we are reminded of why this revolution takes place. It all boils down to one word: LOVE. God’s love proffered for us a lifeline, His very own saving grace. And it is through His own Son that we are given the opportunity to Repent, Receive, and Restore our lives.

Repent for we are all sinners but we must remember that God hates sin and not the sinners. Thus, we are all given equal opportunity to Receive His grace if only we choose to acknowledge our weaknesses.

Restoration requires the grace which may only come from God. The perfect example of this is found in the parable of the Prodigal Son. Despite what the son did, his father lovingly welcomed him home.

Lent, which is quadragesima in Latin, means 40 days. It represents the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness in preparation for His ministry.

This Lenten season, let us take some time to reflect on the year that has passed, prepare our hearts to receive God’s grace, and allow Him to restore our lives. Regardless of our religious affiliations, one fact holds true: God loves us and this is the only thing we need to know in order for us to find our way home.

Reference: http://dioscg.org/

Some say the colors came from the Paradise Story told every Christmas Eve where the trees were adorned with red apples. But the most common decoration we see are the hollies, whose colors seem to stand out during the winter season. “It is said that only the holly tree consented to be cut down and its wood made into a cross to bear Jesus. Some Christians believe that Jesus wore a crown of holly thorns whose berries were originally white. As Jesus’ blood touched the berries, they turned red. The green leaves of the holly plant have come to represent everlasting life and the berries the blood of Jesus.¹ 

The verse taken from Isaiah 46:10 says: “Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure”. Declaring the end from the beginning would seem to explain the use of holly as the symbol of Christ’s birth and subsequently, His death and resurrection.

Christmas is the busiest season in the Philippines but amidst all the hustle and bustle, it is good to be reminded about the greatest gift one could ever receive this year, that is the gift of salvation.

So the next time you choose your decorations for Christmas, make sure you do not leave out the hollies and be reminded about the real meaning of this holiday season. A blessed Christmas to everyone!

1 BBC Religion, Christmas Traditions 

This article appears in the December 2015 issue of TLA Blaze. Click here to view or download a copy of this newsletter.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace.” Peace seems to be very elusive but the reality of it is, it is attainable. Gandhi was able to pinpoint the root of the problem: love of power. From cavemen to kings, wars have been fought all for the love of power.

After the First World War, the League of Nations was established with its primary mission being to maintain world peace. However, after 26 years, it failed to prevent conflict when the Axis powers withdrew from the league and started the Second World War.

The United Nations was established in 1945 to replace the League of Nations to promote international cooperation, maintain peace and security, and promote human rights¹.

If one were to look at it though, international organizations cannot dictate one person to show love and compassion to another human being. Our faith, however diverse it may be, may be the key. The Dalai Lama believes that “love and compassion are the moral fabric of world peace.²”

Our moral principles serve as our compass to do good, and to find contentment and happiness in simple things in life. Being a member of the “human family of 7 billion people”, we need to make conscious decisions that would benefit our family and our one and only home.

Dreaming of World Peace? Why not? It is definitely attainable. Start with being at peace with yourself and with simple acts of kindness. Let the ripple effect of each act reach far off places as you spread love and compassion, one day at a time.

1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations

2 http://www.dalailama.com/

This article appears in the November 2015 issue of TLA Blaze. Click here to view or download a copy of this newsletter.

The most fundamental level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the physiological needs, would dictate how man will progress to the next level. This  level includes the basic requirements for the survival of man: air, water, food, clothing, and shelter. In principle, with these five elements, one has a sure chance of survival.

However, in this day and age, the term survival of the fittest would mean adding one more element to the five: education. To be competitive, one has to gain more knowledge and skills.

Although air and water are very important elements, food supply would still spell a great difference. It is hard to make your brain work on an empty stomach. As such, school children should be given a decent feeding program by the government. Coupled with a sound educational program, we will surely be equipping future leaders with just the provision of these basic needs.

Another element that needs to be added would be healthcare. With regards to health, it is more prudent to be proactive than to suffer the consequences of a debilitating disease.  Will it be too much to ask for government funded flu vaccines for students?

With a 2.6T budget, how much are we willing to  allocate for education and healthcare? It will all depend on what we deem important. Do we send children to school just for the sake of being in school or are we really equipping them so they can, in the future, be able to give  back to the  community? It’s all a matter of choice.

---

FROM THE MOVIE “DAVE” 1993
MURRAY:I gotta tell ya, Dave.  I’ve been going  over this a bunch of times and a lot  of this stuff just doesn’t add up. Who does these books?
DAVE: I’m not sure. Can we save anywhere?
MURRAY:  Well, yeah.  But you gotta start making  some choices.

---

 

This article appears in the July, 2015 issue of TLA Blaze. Click here to view or download a copy of this newsletter.