Connection Works!

                                By Vic Odarve

Due to the perennial problems of unemployment, salary increases and promotions, and business transactions, people look a connection to politicians, celebrities and government officials, and other among the country’s bigwigs for help or assistance. In finding a job, for instance, whether government or private corporations, it is whom you know and not what you know that matters most. These connections also pull salary increases and promotions. In business transactions, connections provide a loophole to facilitate faster on the paper processing. Connections to people in higher positions really work!

Napoles entangled three senators in scam because of connection

Nowadays, employment is easier if somebody introduces you and follow up your application. It is like politics in motion. With so many applicants, connection to a person with higher position or country’s stalwarts and bigwigs prevails over qualification, work experiences, and skills. Politicians and government officials often dictate the vacant positions; hence their families and relatives and those with connections come first. That is why parents with children searching for a job in the future build up connection with politicians and influential people. Job would be easier later.

Promotions and salary increases, the vital indicators of your working performances come easily if you have someone influential within the organization. They will recommend, assess, evaluate your work, then salary or promotion follows. Such was a case of an electrician for having somebody with a close connection with the company’s president. He received an unprecedented huge salary increase that a few months later his fellow workers, upon discovery, resign from their jobs because of dismay and discouragement. Today, we understand why many of our co-workers prepare cakes and pastries, offer helps and expensive gifts that

Old generation did not know  what connection is.

please our boss, especially on their birthdays, anniversaries, etc. just to establish connections.

Whether in government or private corporations, the connection works. In government, for instance, a business permit requires approval from a layer of offices; takes longer time and sometimes red tape. But with connections to these offices, usually officials and relatives, it is just as simple as eating peanut… no need to participate in the long queue for paper processing.

The world today seems to be cruel as the poor becomes poorer while rich becomes richer. Because of connection, it is usually the poor

These Nigerian students know very well what connection means.

that suffer much depriving of employment, salary increases, and promotion. Although connection is an art of corruption in a peaceful way, in a larger sense it is synonymous to graft and bribery. Like Janet Napoles, she set up parties for politicians and bigwigs in society to establish connections. She and the three senators entangled with the law and ended in jail for graft and corruption.

Just like Einstein’s theory of relativity space-time warps and bends in the presence of mass and energy, connection destroys the moral fiber of the population and trust of the people to the government. It contradicts our values and principles; shapes a different outlook on our life. Although often perceive as a bribe, the connection still works!

Websites and Math Teachers

                                                                  By Vic Odarve

Nearly everyone is on the internet today. Whether we like it or not, we are heading to this technology. Mathematics, a difficult course, could go along with it. Web or blog sites offer the best learning outside the classroom. Teachers can post lessons not well discuss in the classrooms; students can browse the web anytime; and websites bring teachers closer to students. Today, websites or blogsites support Math teachers in many different ways.

A one year and 4 month old Atong played games by himself

Teaching him the art of browsing websites.

Madonna University math class must learn browsing after classroom

Due to limited time in the classroom, some topics are not well discussed. In some universities in Africa, math teachers handle math class size to more than 300 students. Just imagine this vast crowd that you are going to teach. Some of these students are lost in the classroom discussion. Once lost, desperation and poor motivation to learn set in. Math is like a game of chess that requires the ability to adopt a series of logical steps; demands basic arithmetic and probabilistic reasoning; and an exercise in programming and group theory.  And Math teachers, as the daily routine dictates, do the work that’s necessary to learn the subject, whether students feel like it or not. But with websites or blog sites, teachers may post additional information or explanations on topics where seem to be difficult for the students. Web posting helps students to catch up!

Not only for the teachers’ advantage that websites may bring, students can browse the web or blog at their own convenient times; or when their minds are not preoccupied with other disturbing thoughts that may hinder understanding. They can go at their own pace and repeat as they want to; allow more time to analyze difficult lessons and explore what they find interesting. The study shows that students vary in their ability to focus on a complicated skill for the length of time it takes to master it. Websites can do it. Math is like flowing water that can be learned easily when time, place, and peace of minds are there. When students feel they are comfortable to study, these are the times that understandings are at its highest level. With websites students can browse anytime; review at the best occasions and can have thorough knowledge of the topics.

Blogs or websites bring teachers closer to the students. For the past 5 years, I introduced the blog sites for the students in order to lessen the burden brought by big class size. I have three classes with 300 and more students. There, students are browsing the internet in order to grasp more the meat of the class discussion; sending e –mails for further inquiries on the topics; and interactions take place. Websites bond the relationship between teachers and their students. Teachers can easily respond students’ questions, manage course materials and track student’s participation. Since students are familiar with internet social media like Facebook, so integrating them as an extension of the classroom discussion will bring teachers closer to the students.

The problems in some African universities are two folds; only few math teachers have maintained blog or websites, coupled with poor internet services and college students’ poor background with computer programs like MS Excel. The trouble with math is, it cannot just be memorized and it cannot be forced if students do not love it. It needs patience coupled with effort in order to learn. It has its own way of learning. Probably some students never knew that math is the language of nature.

Now comes the websites and internet invasion! These are the technologies we are heading for; that even our youngsters few years old must be taught so as not to be left behind. Lots of games on computers are math in nature and kids are beginning to explore them at an early age. How much more for these African college students? It is imperative that math teachers must maintain web sites to post additional information, keep pace with the lessons, and improve the relationship. Access is just at students’ fingertips and math teachers must lead the role! Web sites are teachers’ greatest resource outside the classroom; preparing our students as workforce in the 21^st century.

Blatant Display of Abuse of Power

                                                     By Vic Odarve

Sometimes we have to pay attention to tiresome people that hit world headlines. Authoritarian rule continues sacking political rivals who are threat to his government; political warlords and members of their dynasty break the rules of legal regulations and ordinances; and wealthy business moguls and their family members seem to be worshipped like God. These pictures and many incidents are examples of blatant oppression of the poor by the powerful.

Mr Putin

Recently, Russian President Putin has acted an iron hand to its political opponent Alexei Navalny. In the final judgment, Alexie was sentenced to five-year prisons on fabricated charges with stealing a small amount of money on the sale of timber. This man is really a thorn to Putin; responsible in exposing high level of corruption in the country; organizers of anti-Putin demonstrations following the disputed parliamentary and presidential elections; and charismatic blogger and activist-thus plenty of followers. As such he could not run for public office; thus Putin has successfully removed Navalny from formal politics.

North Korea president's uncle on trial

While in North Korea, Dictator Kim Jong II brutally killed his powerful uncle, who had been considered as second in command, for allegedly attempting to overthrow the state; his uncle was stripped naked, thrown into a cage, and eaten alive by a pack of ravenous dogs. These are blatant display of abuse of power.

Not only the authoritarian rulers demonstrate their abusive powers, Philippine political warlords and dynasty, sometimes close their eyes to the established laws and regulations. Last Nov. 30, 2013, as the main gate was

Uncle executed and eaten by dogs

already closed after 10 PM, Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, together with his sister, Senator Nancy, was advised to use the other exit gate at the posh Dasmariñas Village in Makati City.

 

“Don’t you know me?” Mayor Junjun Binay said.  The mayor berated the gate guards, and his escort brandishing firearms as they got down from their vehicles. The three security guards were reportedly arrested and detained by officers of the Makati Police on orders of the Mayor. And finally, after the incident, the father who is the Vice President, merely said” A little courtesy for the mayor, please.” It is a blatant oppression of the poor by the powerful.

VP Binay

Sometimes even the family members of influential business tycoon feel themselves worthy of worship… live higher than Pharaohs and kings. A month ago, a Korean Air heiress Cho Hyun-ah berated a flight attendant in front of other passengers, made him kneel before her and ordered the pilot to take the plane back to the gate to let him off. The plane was about to take off at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport. After the incident, her father who is the owner and chair of the airline company, apologized in public and called her daughter “foolish.” A display of abuse of power!

Since biblical times, the mighty and powerful live in a fabulous and lavish lifestyle, and have the power over life and death of an individual. Some of these men don't even deserve pity; they stain themselves with the blood of the innocents; they live like a king and princes, but like everyone else, they will perish and return to the dusts.

Harmattan- a Season of Dry and Dusty Wind

                                                       By Vic Odarve

Unlike most tropical countries which feature distinct wet and dry climates, some African countries meet this unique season called Harmattan- a season of dry and dust wind. These extremely dust laden winds block out the sun for days and severely limit visibility like a heavy fog or cloudy mists and bring wide fluctuations in the surroundings  between days and nights.

Fog of dusts over the Catholic Prayer Ministry

The Harmattan is a seasonal wind, which is an extremely dry and dusty that blows at intermittent strengths from the Sahara toward the westerly coast of Africa every year from November through March. This wind builds up during the dry season when a high pressure system of the subtropical ridge stays over the central Sahara Desert and a low pressure system of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) stays over the Gulf of Guinea. The wind picks up fine dust and sand particles (0.5 – 10 micrometers) as it passes over the Sahara, and brings it all the way to Nigeria and its neighboring countries on the western coast 

Clouds of dust over the tennis court

of Africa. Every morning seems misty with fogs hovering the buildings and mountain ranges. The fogs are formed from minute suspended dust particles which find its way into homes, regardless of keeping them close. Dusts deposit on the floors, rooms, and almost all parts inside the house can be observed every day.

The foggy atmosphere sometimes causes the visibility less than 500 m and vehicles have to put their lights on during the daytime. When visibility becomes a problem, some flights are cancelled or diverted to other routes which cause airlines millions of dollars.

Air humidity oftentimes drops to as low as 15 percent, which in effect, cause the season’s temperature widely fluctuates; it is usually cool at night with temperatures can be as low as 9 °C (48 °F) and can soar to 30C (86F) during the afternoon. There are reports that due to low humidity some people suffered nose bleeding.

Due to the wind laden with dust, some varieties of crops  severely damaged; its interaction with monsoon wind reportedly caused tornadoes; and interrupt commerce and daily life for days.

As we love to see the beautiful mists and fogs crowning mountain ranges and meet all fairies and magical creatures way back to Asian and western countries, this Harmattan-a dust laden misty fog affects peoples' lives. Some people view these things differently and alter their lives – sometimes in very subtle ways, sometimes more obviously. This season brings bad tempers and poor decisions making, and worse, get their lives irritable.

Nigerian Fluted Pumpkin; Health Benefits

By Vic Odarve

If Asian and western countries have their own exotic and nourishing green leafy vegetables, Nigeria has fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis), a vegetable whose leaves and seeds becomes a part of their daily food preparation. Not only known as essential ingredients for their specialty pepper soup, this dark green leafy vegetable has medicinal and commercial values.

Nigerian Fluted Pumpkin

Fluted pumpkin is a tropical climber leafy vegetables belong to a family of “cucurbitaceae". In Nigeria, these plants are widely cultivated in the eastern part of the country by an Igbo tribe. These climbing vines are widely cultivated for its leaves. The fruit is big and sometimes weigh as much as 14 kilograms. It looks like a giant fruit from a cocoa tree… dark

At our backyard

and chalky color with a thick outer covering. The seeds are red blood in color and can be boiled or roasted for eating. It contains protein, potassium, iron, and other nutritious substance.

Nigerians, particularly the Igbo tribe, used the leaves as the main ingredients in making pepper soup. Since yams are one of the most important staple foods of Nigeria, this pepper soup serves as a sauce during eating. It is as important as fish and meat by Western and Asian people.  The young shoots and tender stem of the plants are also nutritious and delicious to eat. Almost all restaurants serve pepper soup as

Leaves are used as pepper soup

you order any foodstuff from the counter. And tasting this native sauce enjoyed by the native population is an experience that should not be missed for an expatriate.

The plant has many medicinal values. Several studies from various Nigerian universities showed the fluted pumpkin leaves can be used to lower diabetes and heart disease risks, including hypertensions; contains lots of phytonutrients which are thought to reduce the risks of breast and stomach cancers, and useful therapy for hypercholesterolemia through reducing oxidative stress and cholesterol levels. Lately, the pumpkin extract is one of the ingredients in the herbal preparations in African Traditional medicine.

In addition to its medicinal values, it can be produced commercially. Its leaves are exported to western countries, particularly England. These leaves can now be found in some European markets for research, consumption, and ingredients in some food preparations. The fresh leaves can be stored for a month in the market and retain its freshness.

This Nigerian fluted pumpkin, a nutritious vegetable with plenty of health benefits, is not grown in Western and Asian countries. And perhaps someday, they can be cultivated in their backyards, as what Igbo tribes in Nigeria are doing.

Join our Jogging, Please!

By Vic Odarve

How to get the students in shape, stay fit, and have fun? Madonna University has an answer… jogging! Every Monday morning for girls and Tuesday for boys! At 7am, around 5000 students must go out from the hostels and prepare for a 1.0 kilometer run affair. It’s a jogging time! Jogging keeps students always in shape; thus, promotes healthy life, and improves study concentration. It also keeps students stay fit; burning excess fat and enhancing the immune system. It is fun, and promotes camaraderie, as well. Now, join our jogging, please!

Morning Jogging-Madonna University,Africa

Jogging is running at a slow or leisurely pace; thus, increasing physical fitness with less stress on the body than from faster running, or to maintain students always in shape for healthy life.  Virtually all the students can do it. The school, on the other hand, believes that regular exercise enhances the student’s mental well-being along with their physical health. In fact, numerous studies indicate that a student’s achievement and physical fitness are positively related. It also helps to boost self-esteem, relieve depression, and improve concentration. That’s the way the students should be!

About 5000 students jogging

 It also keeps students stay fit; may enhance the immune system. It stimulates the brain to release chemicals which reduce anxiety and create a sense of well-being. The study demonstrated that regular exercise such as jogging brings considerable health gains that emphasized cardiovascular fitness. During jogging, sympathetic nerve fibers increase heart rate. For a 90- kg students running at 9 km/h (5.5 mph),

Manny Pacquiao jogs before fights

approximately 880 calories are burned per hour.

But for some of the students who joined jogging with thousands of their classmates are for fun. After a few minutes of important announcement the game started by stretching exercises evidently to loosen their muscles prior jogging properly. Then the students, with a loud voice chanting jogging along the 1.0 km circuitous paths in an oval university playground,

Bruce Lee jogs to keep his fighting form

offered the visitors a thousand smiling faces; and laughter could be heard along the way. It promotes camaraderie and friendship.

Today, jogging is established as both a recreational pursuit and a training tool; it is practiced by boxers and martial artists and similar sports minded individuals to get in shape, stay fit, and have fun. Manny Pacquiao, a Filipino professional boxer,  the first and only eight-division world champion, in which he has won ten world titles, as well as the first to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes, used to jog everyday in a high altitude mountain in Baguio City, Philippines months before the fights. Martial artists Bruce Lee preferred to run every day, rain or shine to maintain his fighting form. He used to run at Big Bear Lake because of the altitude-- it makes it an ideal location to train for any event. Running at high altitudes is one secret to building endurance for any fight.

For the students, jogging, as a physical education course, forms part of their curriculum. But the benefits are keeping the students in shape, stay fit, and have fun. Since physical exercise such as jogging and spiritual health are both important, one need to strike a healthy balance. 1 Timothy 4:8 puts it,” For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all affairs, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come”. So, it is clear that jogging is not only for students. God wants all people from all walks of life to have physical exercise to become physically and spiritually fit. So, join our jogging, please!

Why Workbook is Important in Math?

By Vic Odarve

Although usually smaller and lighter than textbooks, workbooks serve as an extension in classroom lecture on large class size, determine the quality of teaching and learning topics, and facilitate homework. Math courses with a class size of hundreds of students, which teachers have difficulty to facilitate a good interaction with the students, workbooks effectively filled the inadequacy. Workbooks, being a condensed course outlines from a standard textbook, serve as a teachers’ roadmap in classroom discussion and guide for the students on what topics to follow next. Further, workbook facilitates homework for the students to study at home and allow the teachers to monitor their progress.

Math Workbooks for Engineering Students

Unlike in most colleges and universities in western and eastern part of the globe, some African schools allow having larger class sizes. Here, schools allowed 200 to 1500 student class size for the general math courses in 100 levels. For engineering, mathematics 200 and up levels, schools usually have 200-500 students per class. Even with the aid of modern available equipments such as power points or slides and sound devices, a number of students which must listen and do some interaction during discussion already pose a problem. Some failed to catch up the lesson discussed on the presented slides or materials written on the board and others may not hear properly the discussion or explanation. With all these problems, workbook seems to fill up by reviewing and reworking exercises at home. Students who were less fortunate to grasp the discussion must look on the workbook and copy notes from their classmates. A scenario common in big African universities!

Workbooks for Computer  Science and Engineering

Most workbook topics are presented chronologically since math is cumulative. It is written in a clear, precise, and easy to understand as compared to textbooks. Each lesson carefully builds on the concepts students learned previously, with the problems and illustrations discussed steps by steps. Thus, this book guides the students on how the course discussion is pacing. The workbook serves as a road map for the teacher and a helpful aid for substitute teachers. Further, it provides information on the quality of teaching materials that lecturers or teachers must inculcate in the minds of the students, Students, too, would notice what is expected to learn for this semester in Math course.

As this book is also specifically designed for student’s activity at home, workbooks are usually filled with illustrative examples from simple to complex problems presented in clear, step by step manner. Practice problems, which usually followed after the completion of each topic, can be worked out and  the answers can be written directly in the book. Often times these practice problems are taken as assignments or homeworks where teachers can follow up at classrooms. Workbooks allow students to compare their solution steps from the classroom lectures; use as reference when they got stuck on the topic discussed; and offer an opportunity for easy learning outside the classroom at the own pace. The homework activities motivate and challenge students; thus math becomes useful and enjoyable…never a dull and boring! The workbook is a haven for gifted students where they can enjoy the challenge of solving the difficult math exercises and problems on their own.

 What, then if the teacher is the one who wrote the workbook?  The results are simply amazing as workbook and teacher are helping the students in unison! The workbook they are using is the language of his mind…a best picture and the most effective means of transfer of knowledge. Everybody can expect the best results; maximizing the best potential for the good of the students. Workbook and teacher are one! Thus, workbook is necessary in math!