Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod College Guidance Center

Career Service Examination Schedules

2011-03-28T14:56:00.000+08:00

Career Service Examination - Paper and Pencil Test for Professional and Sub professional levels on May 22, 2011 and October 16, 2011. Filing of application is now going on. Deadline is on April 7, 2011.

PSG Seminar Workshop and Caribbean Invasion!

2011-01-21T10:01:00.002+08:00

Seminar Workshop on Current Trends and Practices

in Counseling and Psychotherapy

Caribbean Resort, Golden Field Commercial Complex, Bacolod City

January 14-15, 2011

Trivia for the Month of December

2010-12-11T08:56:00.000+08:00

The first psychology laboratory was founded in Leipzig University, Germany by Wilhelm Wundt. One of his students brought psychology to the United States of America and established the first psychology laboratory in the US.

Where was the first psychology laboratory in the US established?

What are you waiting for? Email your answer, name, year and section to college_guidance@csab.edu.ph for a chance to win a gift certificate!

Notes:

1. Only bonafide college students of CSA-B can participate.

2. Only entries from the OFFICIAL SCHOOL E-MAIL ADDRESS (ie. you@mail.csab.edu.ph) are accepted.

3. The first to submit the CORRECT ANSWER will be declared winner for the month.

4. The name of the winning participant will be posted on this web page.

5. The winner will claim the prize at the College Guidance Center and present his/her valid school ID to Sir Michael.

To our previous winners, please give chance to other students.

Conflict Management and Peace-building Workshop

2010-12-07T14:58:00.003+08:00

Conflict Management and Peace-building Workshop

San Lorenzo Ruiz Retreat House

City of Kabankalan

Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod Guidance Services Center in collaboration with Niall O’Brien Center for Peace, Pax Christi International and Columban Partners in Mission organized and conducted Conflict Management and Peace-building Workshop at the San Lorenzo Ruiz Retreat House in Kabankalan City last December 4, 2010.

Seventeen Church ushers and usherettes, who are also students from Binicuil National High School - Poblacion Extension, participated in the said workshop. After the opening prayer and the national anthem, Fr. Brian Gore, the director of the Niall O’Brien Center for Peace, gave his inspirational message and the overview of the programs of the Center. Jack Pamine, the administrative officer of the Center, gave the background of the workshop.

The participants together with the facilitators engaged in a lively introduction through a game called, “Tell Me!” where they shared their names and their favorites with one another. This was followed by a self-awareness activity. Participants identified their strengths, weaknesses, interests and sources of support through a paper mosaic they made.

The afternoon session resumed after a lavish meal from San Columbano. The session culminated in the activity called “Bilog ang Itlog”. The participants were divided into four groups and each group was given an egg, adhesives, bond papers, art papers, magazines and scissors.

The groups had to make an attractive and durable package for the egg to stand an 8-foot fall. They were also tasked to compose a short jingle to advertise their package. The members of the groups eagerly did their share in the preparation of the egg package. After the allotted time, their packages were ready. The participants passionately advertised their package and let their priceless package fell.

After the lively activity, a lecture on Conflict Management followed. Sources, types and effects of conflict were discussed as well as the ways to handle and manage conflict.

The workshop concluded with a group processing, evaluation and prayer for personal reconciliation as the beginning of peace-building in the community.

The workshop was co-facilitated by four senior psychology students. Also present were Fr. Ricon Dagunan, rector of Saint Francis Xavier Parish, the coordinators of the parish youth organizations and the Sisters of the Rural Missions who heartily accommodated the team.

Basic Counseling Workshop - 2nd Batch

2010-11-17T16:20:00.001+08:00

Basic Counseling Workshop

Guidance Services Center

Student Center Building

Colegio San Agustin - Bacolod

November 13, 2010

1:30 – 5:00 PM

Click here to see more pictures here.

October's Trivia Winner

2010-11-15T17:04:00.001+08:00

Jonnel Gubat, a senior BSCS student, submitted the correct answer last November 2, 2010 at 1:48 in the afternoon. His answer to the question was Socrates, which is the correct answer.

Devotion to Truth:

Even after he has been convicted by the jury, Socrates declines to abandon his pursuit of the truth in all matters. Refusing to accept exile from Athens or a commitment to silence as his penalty, he maintains that public discussion of the great issues of life and virtue is a necessary part of any valuable human life. "The unexamined life is not worth living." (Apology 38a) Socrates would rather die than give up philosophy, and the jury seems happy to grant him that wish.

http://www.philosophypages.com/hy/2d.htm

Pilgrimage with our Partners in the Diocese of Kabankalan

2010-11-09T13:35:00.000+08:00

Trivia Question for the Month of October

2010-10-30T11:43:00.000+08:00

What is the name of the famous philosopher who said, "An unexamined life is not worth living." ?

What are you waiting for? Email your answer, name, year and section to college_guidance@csab.edu.ph for a chance to win a gift certificate!

Notes:

1. Only bonafide college students of CSA-B can participate.

2. Only e-mail entries are accepted.

3. The first to submit the CORRECT ANSWER will be declared winner for the month.

4. The name of the winning participant will be posted on this web page.

5. The winner will claim the prize at the College Guidance Center and present his/her valid school ID to Sir Michael.

To our previous winners, please give chance to other students.

Trivia Winner for September!

2010-10-26T16:54:00.000+08:00

Mary Chris Centina, a third year Psychology student, submitted the correct answer last October 14, 2010 at 8:55 AM. Her answer was Kurt Lewin, which is the correct answer for the question.

Kurt Lewin (1890-1946) is considered to be the father of social psychology and in Cartwright's words, "when the intellectual history of the twentieth century is written, Kurt Lewin will surely be counted as one of those few men whose work changed fundamentally the course of social science" (1951: 159). Lewin's contribution to social psychology in general and to the theory and practice of planned change has been well documented and described (Patnoe, 1988; Burke, 2002). Lewin's influence is everywhere in contemporary management: running meetings, work design, training, team development, systems change, leadership styles, participative methods, survey feedback methods, consultation skills, change theory and action research. In the words of Kleiner, "Nearly every sincere effort to improve organisations from within can be traced back to him, often through a thicket of tangled, hidden influences" (1996: 30).

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/64723/kurt_lewin_the_practical_theorist_for_the_21st_century/

September´s Trivia

2010-09-24T10:28:00.000+08:00

Who is considered as the Father of Social Psychology?

Clue: He is famous for the "Field Theory".

What are you waiting for? Email your answer, name, year and section to college_guidance@csab.edu.ph for a chance to win a gift certificate!

Notes:

1. Only bonafide college students of CSA-B can participate.

2. Only e-mail entries are accepted.

3. The first to submit the CORRECT ANSWER will be declared winner for the month.

4. The name of the winning participant will be posted on this web page.

5. The winner will claim the prize at the College Guidance Center and present his/her valid school ID to Sir Michael.

To our previous winners, please give chance to other students.

PSG Orientation

2010-09-15T15:37:00.000+08:00

Peer Support Group Orientation

Guidance Services Center

September 14, 2010

4:00 - 5:30 PM

Gift Certificate Goes to a Future Teacher!

2010-08-27T13:12:00.002+08:00

Jheyric Varona, a BSED 3C student, submitted the correct answer last Wednesday at 10:35 AM. His answer was August 28.

Saint Augustine is considered as the Father of Christian Psychology and his feast is celebrated every August 28.

Trivia Question for the Month of August

2010-08-25T08:55:00.000+08:00

When do we celebrate the feast of the Father of Christian Psychology?

What are you waiting for? Email your answer, name, year and section to college_guidance@csab.edu.ph for a chance to win a gift certificate!

Notes:

1. Only bonafide college students of CSA-B can participate.

2. Only e-mail entries are accepted.

3. The first to submit the CORRECT ANSWER will be declared winner for the month.

4. The name of the winning participant will be posted on this web page.

5. The winner will claim the prize at the College Guidance Center and present his/her valid school ID to Sir Michael.

To our previous winners, please give chance to other students.

Trivia Winner for the Coffee Day!

2010-08-18T07:52:00.000+08:00

Tracy Ann Escalante, a BSN1 student, won the P100 gift certificate last August 6, 2010 for answering the surprise question during the "Painom Sa Guidance" .

Just like her, you might also win a P100 worth of gift certificate! Just visit us regularly at http://csab-guidance.blogspot.com and watch out for the trivia of the month!

Free Drinks at The Guidance Services Center!

2010-08-04T10:45:00.001+08:00

Free drinks will be served on Friday, August 6, 2010 from 1:30 - 5:00 PM.

Limited offer, FCFS!

Teen Sexuality Seminar

2010-07-28T11:13:00.001+08:00

Teen Sexuality Seminar

AVR, Colegio San Agustin - Bacolod

July 27, 2010

2:30 - 4:00 PM

Trivia Winner from the College of Nursing!

2010-07-26T17:46:00.000+08:00

Lara May Del Olmo, a BSN4-A student, submitted the correct answer last Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 11:29 AM.

Her answer was Carl Jung, the correct answer for the trivia question.

Carl Jung dreamt a great deal about the dead, the land of the dead, and the rising of the dead. These represented the unconscious itself -- not the "little" personal unconscious that Freud made such a big deal out of, but a new collective unconscious of humanity itself, an unconscious that could contain all the dead, not just our personal ghosts. Jung began to see the mentally ill as people who are haunted by these ghosts, in an age where no-one is supposed to even believe in them. If we could only recapture our mythologies, we would understand these ghosts, become comfortable with the dead, and heal our mental illnesses.(http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/jung.html)

Trivia Question for the month of June

2010-06-30T00:36:00.000+08:00

What is the name of the psychologist who is famous for his theory on the collective unconscious?

What are you waiting for? Email your answer, name, year and section to college_guidance@csab.edu.ph for a chance to win a gift certificate!

Notes:

1. Only bonafide college students of CSA-B can participate.

2. Only e-mail entries are accepted.

3. The first to submit the CORRECT ANSWER will be declared winner for the month.

4. The name of the winning participant will be posted on this web page.

5. The winner will claim the prize at the College Guidance Center and present his/her valid school ID to Sir Michael.

To our previous winners, please give chance to other students.

Workshop on Basic Counseling

2010-06-07T11:54:00.000+08:00

Workshop on Basic Counseling

4th Floor, Student Center Building

Colegio San Agustin - Bacolod

Guidance Services Strategic Planning

2010-05-11T14:36:00.001+08:00

Guidance Services Strategic Planning

April 17, 2010

Kabankalan City: Self Awareness Workshop with Little Way Group

2010-04-15T11:15:00.001+08:00

Last April 6, 2010, the members of the Little Way Group had a glimpse of the module that they will use in facilitating workshops in the Diocese.

The group underwent a self-awareness activity called My Paper Mosaic. In this activity, papers were cut into human figures and were distributed to each participant. Strips of colored paper were used to represent their strengths, weaknesses, interest and source of support. Everyone worked excitedly.

When everyone had their mosaic ready, everyone took turns in sharing and interpreting their work.

Most members of LWG are already retired and senior citizens but the activity reminded them of their younger years and made them feel like they are children again. According to them, the activity was very helpful. Despite their age, they had discovered something new about themselves and they had gifts, which they never appreciated before.

Mr. Nick Alayon and Mr. Michael Brian Arcedas from the Guidance Services Center of Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod facilitated the activity.

Happy Easter!

2010-04-05T11:14:00.000+08:00

Happy Easter!

"Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen."

Trivia Winner Revealed Cupid's Wife!

2010-02-20T15:05:00.003+08:00

Zhene Drilon, a 3rd Year BS Psychology student, poses with the gift certificates she won after answering the trivia last February 13, 2010 at 12:53 PM.

Her answer was PSYCHE, which was the correct answer for the February's trivia question.

Eros (Greek name of Cupid) went to the heavens and asked Zeus to intervene. He spoke of his love for Psyche so eloquently that Zeus was moved to grant him his wish. Eros brought Psyche to Zeus who gave her a cup of ambrosia, the drink of immortality. Zeus then joined Psyche and Eros in eternal marriage. They later had a daughter, who would be named Pleasure.

http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/psyche.html

February's Trivia! Fall in love this February!

2010-02-12T11:34:00.005+08:00

Who is Cupid's wife?

Answer the trivia and win P100 worth of gift certificate!

Did you know?

The heart is the most common symbol of romantic love. Ancient cultures believed the human soul lived in the heart. Others thought it to be the source of emotion and intelligence. Some believed the heart embodied a man's truth, strength and nobility. The heart may be associated with love because the ancient Greeks believed it was the target of Cupid. Anyone shot in the heart by one of Cupid's arrows would fall hopelessly in love. Because the heart is so closely linked to love, it's red color is thought to be the most romantic.

Did you know?

Husbands who kiss their wives before leaving home in the morning have been documented to live five years longer than those who do not.

We have a winner!

2010-01-27T12:03:00.000+08:00

Elvin M. Singson, a 3rd year BS Psychology student, submitted the correct answer last January 25. His answer is Ivan Pavlov, which is the correct answer for our trivia this month.

Classical conditioning was the first type of learning to be discovered and studied within the behaviorist tradition (hence the name classical). The major theorist in the development of classical conditioning is Ivan Pavlov, a Russian scientist trained in biology and medicine (as was his contemporary, Sigmund Freud). Pavlov was studying the digestive system of dogs and became intrigued with his observation that dogs deprived of food began to salivate when one of his assistants walked into the room. He began to investigate this phenomena and established the laws of classical conditioning. Skinner renamed this type of learning "respondent conditioning" since in this type of learning, one is responding to an environmental antecedent.

http://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/col/behsys/classcnd.html

What are you waiting for? You could be the next winner! Just visit our site from time to time and answer the trivia of the month. We give a P100 worth of gift certificate!

Trivia Question for January

2010-01-25T09:33:00.000+08:00

Who is the proponent of Classical Conditioning?

What are you waiting for? Email your answer, name, year and section to college_guidance@csab.edu.ph for a chance to win a gift certificate!

Notes:

1. Only bonafide college students of CSA-B can participate.

2. Only e-mail entries are accepted.

3. The first to submit the CORRECT ANSWER will be declared winner for the month.

4. The name of the winning participant will be posted on this web page.

5. The winner will claim the prize at the College Guidance Center and present his/her valid school ID to Sir Michael.

To our previous winners, please give chance to other students.

Beginning EARS Echo Training at the College Guidance Center

2010-01-15T20:35:00.006+08:00

Thirty-three psychology students and four guidance associates together with their director participated in the two-morning sessions of the Beginning EARS (Empathy, Assistance, and Referral Services) training last January 14 and 15, 2010. EARS is a student-run organization of Cornell University that offers counseling, training and workshops (http://ears.dos.cornell.edu).

Mr. Nick Alayon, the Guidance Services Center director, inspired the participants with his opening remarks. He stressed that empathy is not just putting oneself into the shoes of the other but is something far beyond. Empathy is entering the world of another human being and experiencing the world in that perspective.

The first session focused on the attitudes and attending behaviors peer counselors possess. These behaviors are a great help in the efficiency of the counseling process especially in its initial stages. The following sessions further immersed the participants into the realm of counseling.

According to the psychology students, the two – morning sessions were very inspiring and very helpful for them as peer counselors.

Ms. Lucille Arcedas, who had completed the first level of the EARS training at Cornell University, facilitated the training.

First Winner from CASE

2010-01-15T09:20:00.001+08:00

The prize for our December trivia goes to Michelle Tiangson, a 3rd year psychology student, who submitted the first correct answer on January 14, 2010 at 12:32 PM.

The answer for our December trivia is Edward Lee Thorndike.

Thorndike’s major contributions to psychology were the methods that he developed for educational psychology. This is the main reason for him being called the father of modern educational psychology.

http://faculty.frostburg.edu/mbradley/psyography/thorndike.html

Trivia Question for December

2009-12-11T10:51:00.003+08:00

Who is the "Father of Educational Psychology"?

First Winner from the College of Nursing!

2009-12-02T10:41:00.001+08:00

Alvin Sarmiento, a BSN2 student, submitted the correct answer last November 26.

The answer to November's trivia Question is Virgilio Enriquez.

In the field of culture and personality studies, Virgilio G. Enriquez, considered the Father of Filipino Psychology, identified KAPWA, “shared inner self,” as the core value of the Filipino personality. In kapwa psychology, the “other” is not regarded as different from one’s self but acknowledges the similarity of one’s self with another human being. All the other Filipino customs and values ascribed to Filipinos by foreigners such as Filipino hospitality, hiya (shame), pakikisama (going with the flow or agreeing with the majority), utang na loob (debt of gratitude) emanate from the core value kapwa. (Enriquez 54, 1992). (Tita Pambid)

http://www.language.berkeley.edu/ucfcp/unit15/intro.php

Trivia Question for the Month of November

2009-11-26T14:56:00.002+08:00

Who is the father of Filipino Psychology?

What are you waiting for? Email your answer now to college_guidance@csab.edu.ph for a chance to win a gift certificate!

Notes:

1. Only bonafide college students of CSA-B can participate.

2. Only e-mail entries are accepted.

3. The first to submit the CORRECT ANSWER will be declared winner for the month.

4. The name of the winning participant will be posted on this web page.

5. The winner will claim the prize at the College Guidance Center and present his/her valid school ID to Sir Michael.

To our previous winners, please give chance to other students.

Psychology and BSN Students Together!

2009-11-21T12:59:00.011+08:00

Team-building Workshop at the College Guidance Center

One student nurse received her gift as early as November 21! Early Christmas at the College Guidance Center?

Ten first year student nurses participated the team-building workshop at the College Guidance Center. The unwrapping of gifts reminded each of the participants that they are gifts. They may come in different packages yet the real gift is within not the wrappers. Each person is a gift for others as long as the person opens and allows himself to be given and shared with others. This was strengthened by the second activity which stressed on the knowledge of oneself through making self-mosaic and group sharing.

The second session culminated in the activity called “Bilog ang Itlog”. The participants were divided into two groups and each group was given an egg, adhesives, bond papers, art papers, magazines and scissors.

The workshop concluded with the participants filled with enthusiasm to share themselves to their community and to accept themselves and others as gifts for each other.

The workshop was co-facilitated by six members of the Psych Cell Society who had previously attended similar workshops at Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod and at the University of Saint La Salle.

Early Christmas at the College Guidance Center? Everyday is Christmas not just at the College Guidance Center but everywhere as we encounter others and share each day with them. We are all gifts for each other after all!

"Banana na na! Peer counselors teaching their little BSN brothers & sisters the Banana Dance"

Banana Dance still!

NLE?

Self - mosaic!

BSN1 students with their self-mosaic

Preparing the egg

Strategic planning! =)

Where are the eggs?

The hen will lay it later in the coop! =)

Egg inside!

Pakyaw's egg!

Forget the egg! Pose for the picture!

Laugh it out!

2009-11-16T15:18:00.004+08:00

Doctor, doctor, I keep thinking I am a set of curtains!

Pull yourself together, man!

Doctor, doctor, I keep thinking I'm a bell.

Well, just go home and if the feeling persists, give me a ring.

Doctor, doctor, people tell me I'm a wheelbarrow.

Don't let people push you around.

Doctor, doctor, I keep thinking I'm invisible.

Who said that?!

Doctor, doctor, nobody understands me.

What do you mean by that?

Doctor, doctor, People keep ignoring me!

Next!

Doctor, doctor, No one believes a word I say.

Tell me the truth now, what's your REAL problem?

Doctor, doctor, I feel like a pack of cards.

I'll deal with you later.

Doctor, doctor, people keep telling me I'm ugly!

Lay on the couch, face down.

Doctor, Doctor, I can't stop stealing things.

Take these pills for a week; if that doesn't work I'll have a color TV!

Doctor, doctor, I keep thinking I'm a spoon.

Sit there and don't stir.

Doctor, doctor, I'm manic-depressive.

Calm down. Cheer up. Clam down. Cheer up. Calm...

Doctor, doctor, I keep trying to get into fights.

And how long have you had this complaint?

Who wants to know?

Doctor, doctor, I can't concentrate, one minute I'm ok, and the next minute, I'm blank!

And how long have you had this complaint?

What complaint?

Doctor, doctor, I feel so short!

No problem. Hop up on the couch.

Doctor, doctor, I feel like a small bucket.

You do look a little pail.

Doctor, doctor, I've only got 59 seconds to live.

Wait a minute please.

Doctor, I have a ringing in my ears.

Don't answer

http://www.workjoke.com/psychologists-and-psychiatrists-jokes.html

Another Winner from CABECS!

2009-10-26T15:22:00.001+08:00

Crisandra J. Ablao, a 4th year BS Tourism student, submitted the correct answer on October 26, 2006.

Her answer is Augustine of Hippo, which is the correct answer for this month's trivia question.

Trivia Question for the Month of October

2009-10-16T08:51:00.005+08:00

Who is the father of Christian Psychology?

What are you waiting for? Email your answer now to college_guidance@csab.edu.ph for a chance to win a gift certificate!

Career Planning Workshop

2009-10-14T14:48:00.002+08:00

The College Guidance Center, in partnership with the graduate students of the University of Saint La Salle – Bacolod, facilitated a career-planning workshop at the testing room of the Student Center Building, Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod last Friday, October 9, 2009.

Eleven graduating psychology students of Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod participated in the said workshop. The activity commenced with a morning prayer depicting the beginning of the day and the beginning of life followed by the story of the three trees. The story described the dreams of the three trees. Though at first they thought that their dreams were never achieved but in the end, their dreams were realized in another and a more meaningful way. They reached beyond their dreams and their hearts were fulfilled and contended.

A lecture on strategic career planning followed. The SODI model on career planning was introduced to the group and careers awaiting psychology graduates were presented. The participants were divided into two groups where they shared what made them choose psychology, their top two career choices in psychology and the person they want to become after five years.

The game “Samson and Delilah” brought more fun and action to the next part of the program. After the game, the participants were given pieces of paper with job titles written on it. Some participants were called to act out the jobs on the papers they got and those who got the same joined them. As a consequence, those who joined the wrong group performed the “Banana Dance” which entertained everybody. The group then had a lecture on decision-making. The simple steps to take and the process of responsible decision-making were discussed. The importance of decision-making was emphasized for the realization a dream is based on decisions made in every given opportunity. The workshop concluded with group processing, evaluation and giving of certificates.

Michael Brian Arcedas, Charlene Rivera and Winona Pandan, students from the graduate school of the University of Saint La Salle – Bacolod, facilitated the workshop.

You are so special to me...

2009-10-07T09:48:00.003+08:00

October the Month of the Holy Rosary

2009-10-01T14:02:00.001+08:00

October and the Rosary

Tradition holds that October has been celebrated as the month of the rosary since 1571, and the victory of the Catholic League (an alliance of Spain, Venice, the Papal States, Genoa, Savoy, and Malta) over the forces of the Ottoman Empire who were seeking to take over Italy in an effort to move into the heart of Europe. It was October 7, 1571 when the battle was fought and the Catholic League was able to overcome the Ottoman forces.

Prior to the ships sailing off towards battle, Pope Pius V prayed the rosary, asking for Our Lady’s intercession in victory, and every man on board carried a rosary. For this reason, as soon as the men returned from the battle, the good pope declared a feast day for Our Lady of Victory. A rosary procession was offered in St. Peter’s square after the victory and in time the whole month became associated with the rosary, rather than just one day. Pope Pius XIII officially established October as the Month of the Rosary in the 1884.

http://www.aquinasandmore.com/index.cfm/title/October-and-the-Rosary/FuseAction/store.displayArticle/article/145/

Feast of the Little Flower

2009-10-01T13:54:00.002+08:00

St. Therese of Liseux
"The Little Flower"
(Feast day:October 1)

Therese Martin was the last of nine children born to Louis and Zelie Martin on January 2, 1873, in Alencon France. However, only five of these children lived to reach adulthood. Precocious and sensitive, Therese needed much attention. Her mother died when she was 4 years old. As a result, her father and sisters babied young Therese. She had a spirit that wanted everything.

At the age of 14, on Christmas Eve in 1886, Therese had a conversion that transformed her life. From then on, her powerful energy and sensitive spirit were turned toward love, instead of keeping herself happy. At 15, she entered the Carmelite convent in Lisieux to give her whole life to God. She took the religious name Sister Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. Living a hidden, simple life of prayer, she was gifted with great intimacy with God. Through sickness and dark nights of doubt and fear, she remained faithful to God, rooted in his merciful love. After a long struggle with tuberculosis, she died on September 30, 1897, at the age of 24. Her last words were the story of her life: "My God, I love You!"

The world came to know Therese through her autobiography, Story of a Soul. She described her life as a "little way of spiritual childhood." She lived each day with an unshakeable confidence in God's love. "What matters in life," she wrote, "is not great deeds, but great love." She lived and taught a spirituality of attending to everyone and everything well and with love. She believed that just as a child becomes enamored with what is before her, we should also have a childlike focus and totally attentive love. Therese's spirituality is of doing the ordinary, with extraordinary love.

Therese saw the seasons as reflecting the seasons of God's love affair with us. She loved flowers and saw herself as the "little flower of Jesus," who gave glory to God by just being her beautiful little self among all the other flowers in God's garden. Because of this beautiful analogy, the title "little flower" remained with St. Therese.

Her inspiration and powerful presence from heaven touched many people very quickly. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI on May 17, 1925. Had she lived, she would have been only 52 years old when she was declared a Saint.

"My mission - to make God loved - will begin after my death," she said. "I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses." Roses have been described and experienced as Saint Therese's signature. Countless millions have been touched by her intercession and imitate her "little way." She has been acclaimed "the greatest saint of modern times." In 1997, Pope John Paul II declared St. Therese a Doctor of the Church - the only Doctor of his pontificate - in tribute to the powerful way her spirituality has influenced people all over the world.

http://www.littleflower.org/

Feast Day of the Archangels

2009-09-29T08:56:00.003+08:00

Michael, Gabriel and Raphael

September 29

Angels—messengers from God—appear frequently in Scripture, but only Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are named.

Michael appears in Daniel's vision as "the great prince" who defends Israel against its enemies; in the Book of Revelation, he leads God's armies to final victory over the forces of evil. Devotion to Michael is the oldest angelic devotion, rising in the East in the fourth century. The Church in the West began to observe a feast honoring Michael and the angels in the fifth century.

Gabriel also makes an appearance in Daniel's visions, announcing Michael's role in God's plan. His best-known appearance is an encounter with a young Jewish girl named Mary, who consents to bear the Messiah.

Raphael's activity is confined to the Old Testament story of Tobit. There he appears to guide Tobit's son Tobiah through a series of fantastic adventures which lead to a threefold happy ending: Tobiah's marriage to Sarah, the healing of Tobit's blindness and the restoration of the family fortune.

The memorials of Gabriel (March 24) and Raphael (October 24) were added to the Roman calendar in 1921. The 1970 revision of the calendar joined their feasts to Michael's. Each of these archangels performs a different mission in Scripture: Michael protects; Gabriel announces; Raphael guides. Earlier belief that inexplicable events were due to the actions of spiritual beings has given way to a scientific world-view and a different sense of cause and effect. Yet believers still experience God's protection, communication and guidance in ways which defy description. We cannot dismiss angels too lightly.

http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1153

We Have a Winner!

2009-09-23T09:41:00.007+08:00

ST. THOMAS OF VILLANOVA

(September 18)

ST. THOMAS, the glory of the Spanish Church in the sixteenth century, was born in 1488. A thirst for the science of the Saints led him to enter the house of the Austin Friars at Salamanca. Charles V. listened to him an oracle, and appointed him Archbishop of Valencia. On being led to his throne in church, he pushed the silken cushions aside, and with tears kissed the ground. His first visit was to the prison; the sum with which the chapter presented him for his palace was devoted to the public hospital. As a child he had given his meal to the poor, and two thirds of his episcopal revenues were now annually spent in alms. He daily fed five hundred needy persons, brought up himself the orphans of the city, and sheltered the neglected foundlings with a mother's care. During his eleven years’ episcopate not one poor maiden was married without an alms from the Saint. Spurred by his example, the rich and the selfish became liberal and generous; and when, on the Nativity of Our Lady, 1555, St. Thomas came to die, he was well-nigh the only poor man in his see.

http://www.catholic-saints.info/roman-catholic-saints-s-z/saint-thomas-of-villanova.htm

Our winner for the month of September is: May Hope Santiago BSA-3. She submitted the correct answer last September 18, 2009 at 11:42 AM.

Trivia Question for the Month of September

2009-09-18T09:37:00.004+08:00

Who is the Augustinian saint known as the father of the poor, the almsgiver and the model of bishops whose memorial is celebrated today?

Notes:

1. Only bonafide college students of CSA-B can participate.

2. Only e-mail entries are accepted.

3. The first to submit the CORRECT ANSWER will be declared winner for the month.

4. The name of the winning participant will be posted on this web page.

5. The winner will claim the prize at the College Guidance Center and present his/her valid school ID to Sir Michael.

To our previous winners, please give chance to other students.

Trivia for this Month

2009-09-16T09:51:00.002+08:00

Trivia for the month of September will be posted on September 18!

Good luck!

Trouble Sleeping? Just Breathe

2009-09-01T11:18:00.005+08:00

If your mind is racing and you are having difficulty falling asleep, a few minutes of simple but effective breathing exercises can help calm your nervous system on a chemical level and lead to greater success in hitting the sack. The awareness and control of breath has been a central component of yoga, martial arts and Taoism for thousands of years. There are dozens of different methods and exercises you can explore through a good teacher or book. The practice of breath control in yoga is called pranayama. I'll detail a simple pranayama exercise here that is particularly effective for falling asleep called alternate nostril breathing (that's "nadi shodana" for the Sanskrit posse out there).

Alternate nostril breathing is a great way to clear obstructed nostrils, balance the yin and yang energy of the body and focusing the busy mind on the present for a deliberate and calming exercise. When our nostrils are unobstructed, we involuntarily alternate breathing through one or the other about every two hours. Breathing through your right nostril stimulates the left side of the brain (intellectual, analytical, rational thought) and prepares the body for physical action (yang energy). Breathing through your left nostril stimulates the right side of the brain (creative, emotional thought) and prepares the body for passive mental activity (yin energy). If both nostrils are not clear, breathing will become imbalanced and so will the energy in your body.

When you are feeling restless at bedtime, head outside (weather permitting obviously, but even in wintertime, you can certainly spend a couple minutes on a balcony or porch in brisk air), sit in a comfortable chair and begin the exercise. You will likely have a really hard time focusing your mind on only the breathing exercise. Establish a rule that whenever your mind wanders away from the breathing exercise to other random thoughts, you have to start over. With practice, you'll develop the esteemed ability to relax and center -- not just to calm the mind for bed but any time the stresses of life are closing in.

Alternate nostril breathing is performed as follows: Take one hand up to your face for blocking nostrils. For example, your right thumb will close off your right nostril while your right index or middle finger will close off your left nostril. Block off the right nostril and inhale fully (notice how your inhale and exhale will be slower since you are only using one nostril). Pause at the completion of your inhale and switch nostrils by using your finger to block the left nostril and releasing your thumb from the right nostril. Exhale through the right nostril, inhale through the right nostril, then pause and switch to exhale through the left nostril. Thus, you switch nostrils in the middle of the breath cycle. To complete a cycle of 10 breaths, count each inhale/exhale as one. After your complete your breathing session, you can return to bed with a calm brain and hopefully induce a good night's sleep.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/trouble-sleeping-just-breathe-505000/

Happy Fiesta!

2009-08-28T14:23:00.005+08:00

Happy Fiesta Colegio San Agustin - Bacolod!

MyHotComments

Christian at 33, a priest at 36, a bishop at 41: many people are familiar with the biographical sketch of Augustine of Hippo, sinner turned saint. But really to get to know the man is a rewarding experience.

There quickly surfaces the intensity with which he lived his life, whether his path led away from or toward God. The tears of his mother, the instructions of Ambrose and, most of all, God himself speaking to him in the Scriptures redirected Augustine’s love of life to a life of love.

Having been so deeply immersed in creature-pride of life in his early days and having drunk deeply of its bitter dregs, it is not surprising that Augustine should have turned, with a holy fierceness, against the many demon-thrusts rampant in his day. His times were truly decadent—politically, socially, morally. He was both feared and loved, like the Master. The perennial criticism leveled against him: a fundamental rigorism.

In his day, he providentially fulfilled the office of prophet. Like Jeremiah and other greats, he was hard-pressed but could not keep quiet. “I say to myself, I will not mention him,/I will speak in his name no more./But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart,/imprisoned in my bones;/I grow weary holding it in,/I cannot endure it” (Jeremiah 20:9).

http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/byname.aspx

Trivia Question Answered!

2009-08-20T09:05:00.005+08:00

The First Mass

Further on, seeing that they were reasonable men, Magellan offered them food and drink. The islanders brought with them food placed on white Chinese porcelain wares. This confirmed further Magellan that he is now truly in the East. That day, Magellan struck a pack with the chieftain Rajah Colambu. Then, on March 31, 1521, in this Island of Limawasa, the first Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated by Father Pedro de Valderama. This Mass was attended by both the remaining crew and the natives. At the consecration, all the canons saluted our Eucharistic Lord. After the Mass, the natives expressed their desire to be Christians and for this, Magellan planted hastily a big cross on the top of the hill. This was the first Holy Cross planted in these isles, and it was the Easter Sunday when they do it!

(http://www.sspxasia.com/Newsletters/2001/Oct-Dec/A_short_Philippine_History.htm)

Carol M. Montojo BSC-3 (MA) submitted the correct answer last Sunday at 2:37 PM.

Good luck Agustinians!

Trivia Question for the Month of August

2009-08-15T09:08:00.008+08:00

Today is the Feast of the Assumption of Mary!

For our trivia this month:

Who celebrated the first Catholic Mass in the Philippines?

Clue: He is an Augustinian Friar

What are you waiting for? E-mail your answer, your name, course and section to college_guidance@csab.edu.ph for a chance to win a gift certificate!

Notes:

1. Only bonafide college students of CSA-B can participate.

2. Only e-mail entries are accepted.

3. The first to submit the CORRECT ANSWER will be declared winner for the month.

4. The name of the winning participant will be posted on this web page.

5. The winner will claim the prize at the College Guidance Center and present his/her valid school ID to Mr. Michael.

Trivia Question for August

2009-08-13T12:46:00.002+08:00

The trivia question for the month of August will be posted on August 15, the feast of The Assumption of Mary.

Peer Counselors' Workshop

2009-08-03T16:49:00.002+08:00

The College Guidance Center, in cooperation with the Psychology Cell Society, conducted a team – building workshop at the fourth floor of the Student Center Building, Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod last Saturday, August 1, 2009.

Thirty-two members of the Peer Counselors’ Group participated in the said workshop. The activity started with an opening prayer, which depicts man as the dwelling place of God, despite his/her situation. Fr. Willie graced the occasion with his very inspiring opening remarks. According to him, Augustinian peer counselors are men and women with others. They are known to heal sometimes, remedy often and comfort always. Comfort always – extend time in order to be present and to hear the cries of the poor. They live according to the message of the Gospel values that Augustinian counselors are for the poor, for the weak and for those who need them. Fr. Willie hopes that after the workshop, the peer counselors will be renewed, inspired and very much ready to face the tribulations as peer facilitators.

The facilitators of the workshop were Ms. Jessamine Calma and Ms. Lucille Arcedas. Ms. Calma is a member of the Teresian Association and has been facilitating team-building activities in Cebu, Manila, Bacolod and wherever she is assigned. Ms. Arcedas had taken 1.5 units in Foundations of Leadership at Cornell University and she has been conducting various workshops in the Diocese of Kabankalan.

The first activity was a game on the unwrapping of gifts. Each person is a gift for others as long as the person opens himself/herself to be given and shared. The first session stressed on the knowledge of oneself through making self-mosaic and sharing with the group. The second session was the Gift of Presence in a Team, which was started with the “Mine Walk”. A triad was formed comprising a blind, a guide and one by the side (observer). Inputs and processing followed each activity.

The closing activity was the affirmation of one’s giftedness as “the salt of the earth”. The participants exchanged blessings to each other with a gesture while saying to one another, “You have been blessed, be a blessing to others.”

Laugh it out!

2009-07-29T14:36:00.005+08:00

Laughter helps us feel better. It suspends worries and problems. Laughter is a gift we can give to others. People begin to feel good about themselves. It can also help them see their problems with a different perspective. We all have experienced tension being reduced in our bodies when we laugh. When our bodies are tense and our minds are closed, laughter is the medicine that relaxes us and offers a dose of positive self-esteem. We feel more self-assured and self-confident when we laugh; we feel better physically and mentally.

One of the greatest benefits of laughter is that we get an aerobic workout, one that doesn’t require a membership to a club or the purchase of special clothes. Laughter enhances respiration and increases the amount of oxygen in the blood. The diaphragm is used when we laugh. When we laugh, the movement of the diaphragm stimulates the stomach, kidneys, and liver, acting like an internal massage.

Research indicates that our bodies contain natural substances, such as endorphins and encephalons that help us free from pain and illness. Stress disrupts and slows the glandular secretions of these chemicals. It also restricts blood vessels. But laughter prompts the brain to block the manufacture of immune suppressors like epinephrine and cortisone and speed up the production of immune enhancers such as beta-endorphins. These endorphins are 200 times more powerful than heroin!

We should remember that LAUGHTER:

Lightens the load;

Avoids negativity;

Unites hearts;

Gathers people together;

Heals heartache;

Tickles the soul;

Energizes the human spirit; and

Restores us to wholeness and holiness.

-from Live Laugh and be Blessed Anne Bryan Smollin

Trivia Question for the Month of July Answered!

2009-07-23T12:40:00.006+08:00

Did you know?

The Greek name for a butterfly is Psyche, and the same word means the soul. There is no illustration of the immortality of the soul so striking and beautiful as the butterfly, bursting on brilliant wings from the tomb in which it has lain, after a dull, groveling, caterpillar existence, to flutter in the blaze of day and feed on the most fragrant and delicate productions of the spring. Psyche, then, is the human soul, which is purified by sufferings and misfortunes, and is thus prepared for the enjoyment of true and pure happiness.

Reference: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/psyche.html

Reynaldo A. Omandac. Jr., a BSA-3A student answered the trivia question last Wednesday, July 23, 2009 at 2:56 PM.

His answer was butterfly which is the correct answer to the trivia.

Trivia Question for the Month of July

2009-07-16T09:19:00.011+08:00

The Greek letter Psi is used as a symbol for Psychology. Where did this symbol originate?

What are you waiting for? Just e-mail your answer, your name, course and section to college_guidance@csab.edu.ph and be the first one to receive the much coveted gift certificate!

Clues:

The Greek name for this "lovely insect" is psyche which also means soul. What is this "lovely insect"?
Look at the figure intently, what insect can you think of which we closely associate with our superstitious beliefs

Notes:

1. Only bonafide college students of CSA-B can participate.

2. Only e-mail entries are accepted.

3. The first to submit the CORRECT ANSWER will be declared winner for the month.

4. The name of the winning participant will be posted on this web page.

5. The winner will claim the prize at the College Guidance Center and present his/her valid school ID to Mr. Michael.

Launching of Trivia Questions!

2009-07-14T17:58:00.005+08:00

Trivia questions will be posted on this page and a gift certificate worth P100.00 will be given away monthly!

Should you have inquiries regarding this topic, please give us a call at our local numbers 166 and 175. We are very much willing to attend to your questions.

Trivia question for the month of July will be posted on July 16, 2009.

Pointers to Lift a Bad Mood

2009-06-01T12:54:00.004+08:00

Going Up! 7 Pointers to Lift a Bad Mood

By Dr. Maoshing Ni

No one can live a long and healthy life without the will to go on; sometimes mood swings can make us feel that life is too much for us. A bad mood not only gives you a gloomy outlook, it also lowers your immune function, leading the way to illness. Here are some suggestions to lift your mood, your spirit, and your health.

1. A Laughing Matter

"Laugh Therapy," pioneered by Norman Cousins, has turned out to have real substance. Research has discovered that laughter and joy boost immune functions, especially the production of the natural killer cells that help defend the body from illness and cancer. Laughter also increases the release of endorphins - compounds that give you a sense of well-being - in your brain. Without a doubt, joyful people liver longer and healthier lives. So read your favorite comics, watch your favorite comedies, and laugh it up!

2. Amino Acid for Restored Mindset

When an imbalance or deficiency is creating a bad mood, the Europeans use supplements of a natural compound found in human cells to regulate mood and restore a healthy mindset. SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) is produced from methionine, an amino acid that plays a role in the production of uplifting neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. One study indicated that SAMe worked on patients who had unsuccessful results with conventional antidepressants. To get a boost from SAMe, take a supplement combining it with vitamins B6 and B12.

3. Hands-On Healing

Human touch increases the production of endorphins, growth hormone, and DHEA, all of which lengthen your life span and lower the negative impact of stress. Studies have found that patients who are regularly touched recover faster than those who are not touched. So give someone a hug and feel both of your moods improve.

4. Boost Your "Youth Hormones"

You don't need pills to flood your body with a rejuvenating flood of growth hormones. Research has found that doing squats and leg presses will greatly increase your natural production of the "youth hormone". Increased growth hormone translates to an elevated mood, among other physical benefits. Keep it up with weight training, knee bends, push-ups, and rowing.

5. Take a Bracing Breath

Breathing correctly is important for dispelling the toxins and wastes from your body; in fact, it is estimated that we expel only about 30 percent of toxins in our bodies through the bowels and bladder-the rest is all respiratory. Breathing is also a great way to clear your mind, boost your energy, and improve your mood. Practice deep, slow, rhythmic, breathing daily with mind-body disciplines such as tai chi, yoga, qigong, and meditation.

6. Smell the Joy

Research has shown that smell has a definite impact on our bodies and minds. When you stimulate the olfactory nerves inside your nose, you activate the limbic system of your brain, which is associated with moods and memory. This concept is instrumental to aromatherapy, a natural health tradition that makes use of the healing powers of plants with strong scents.Aromatherapy recommends treating depression with jasmine, eucalyptus for exhilaration, and grapefruit to increase alertness and joy. Just put a dab of the essential oils from these plants on your temples, back of your neck, or acupressure points. Another option? Boil the herb in water and inhale the steam through your nose.

7. Feel Fine with Flowers

There is a reason that flowers are the traditional get-well gesture. Colorful flowers have a powerful influence on moods; they can uplift a patient's mood and even combat stress. One study found that during a five-minute typing assignment, people sitting next to a flowering bouquet were more relaxed than those who sat near foliage-only plants.

I hope these tips help the good feelings flow! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me. May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

-Dr. Mao

Reference:

http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/6715/going-up-7-pointers-to-lift-a-bad-mood/

Best and Worst Brain Foods

2009-05-07T10:00:00.009+08:00

Best and Worst Brain Foods

by David Zinczenko, with Matt Goulding a Yahoo! Health Expert for Nutrition

If you want to make the right decisions in confusing times—Time to refinance? Explore a different career? Root for the singing spinster or the 12-year-old?—you need to pay special attention to what you eat. That’s right: Your grocery list can help with your to-do list. That’s because the right foods are a kind of clean-burning fuel for your body’s biggest energy hog: Your brain. A study in the Journal of Physiology makes the point that, though your brain represents only 2 percent of your body weight, it makes 20 percent of the energy demands on your resting metabolism.

On our new Eat This, Not That! Web site, we rounded up the best foods to munch on when you need a mental boost—and found studies that show, in fact, that you can be up to 200 percent more productive if you make the right eating choices. Stock up on these items to halt mental decline, jog your memory, sharpen your senses, improve your performance, activate your feel-good hormones, and protect your quick-witted sharpness, whether you’re 15, 40—or not admitting to any age whatsoever!

FOR SHORT-TERM MEMORY

Drink This!: COFFEE

Fresh-brewed joe is the ultimate brain fuel. Caffeine has been shown to retard the aging process and enhance short-term memory performance. In one study, British researchers found that just one cup of coffee helps improve attention and problem-solving skills.

Not That!: ENERGY DRINKS/TOO MUCH COFFEE

Ever heard of the concept “too much of a good thing”? If you OD on caffeine—too many cups, a jolt of caf from the late afternoon onward, a Red Bull cocktail—it can mess with your shuteye schedule. Sleep is reboot time for your mental computer, and you don’t want to mess with it.

FOR LONG-TERM MEMORY

Eat This!: BLUEBERRIES

Antioxidants in blueberries help protect the brain from free-radical damage and cut your risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. They can also improve cognitive processing (translation: thinking). Wild blueberries, if you can find them, have even more brain-boosting antioxidants than the cultivated variety, so book that vacation in Maine now. The berries will ripen in July.

Not That!: THE UNRIPE AND UNREADY

Here’s a cool tip: if your favorite berries are out of season, buy them frozen. The freezer locks in peak flavor and nutrients, so the berries’ antioxidant capacity is maxed out. Those pale, tough, and expensive off-season berries usually ripen on a truck, rather than on the bush, so they’re nutritional imposters compared to the real thing.

TO THINK FASTER

Eat This!: SALMON OR MACKEREL

If the Internal Revenue Service picks you for some up-close-and-personal auditing, you’ll want to be on your toes when they vet your deductions list. So put salmon or mackerel on the grocery list. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fishes are a primary building block of brain tissue, so they’ll amp up your thinking power. Salmon is also rich in niacin, which can help ward off Alzheimer’s disease and slow the rate of cognitive decline. Not That!: FULL-FAT ICE CREAMNot all fats are created equal: Beware foods high in saturated fats, which can clog blood vessels and prevent the flow of nutrients and blood to the brain. Ice cream is not a brain-health food.

TO ENERGIZE:

Eat This!: HIGH-PROTEIN SALAD WITH VINAIGRETTE

The oil in the dressing will help slow down digestion of protein and carbs in the salad, stabilizing blood-sugar levels and keeping energy levels high. Build your salad on a bed of romaine and spinach for an added boost in riboflavin, and add chicken and a hard-boiled egg for more energizing protein.

Not That!: PANCAKES OR BAGELS

MIT researchers analyzed blood samples from a group of people who had eaten either a high-protein or a high-carbohydrate breakfast. Two hours after eating, the carb eaters had tryptophan levels four times higher than those of the people who had eaten protein. The tryptophan in turkey is one of the reasons you crawl off for an afternoon nap after Thanksgiving dinner. So watch what you gobble.

TO CALM DOWN

Eat This!: LOW-FAT YOGURT OR MIXED NUTS

Scientists in Slovakia gave people 3 grams each of two amino acids—lysine and arginine—or a placebo, and asked them to deliver a speech. Blood measurements of stress hormones revealed that the amino acid-fortified guys were half as anxious during and after the speech as those who took the placebo. Yogurt is one of the best food sources of lysine; nuts pack loads of arginine. Not That!: SODAA study from the American Journal of Public Health found that people who drink 2½ cans of soda daily are three times more likely to be depressed and anxious, compared with those who drink fewer. So Mountain Dew is a Mental Don’t.

TO CONCENTRATE

Eat This!: PEPPERMINT TEA

The scent of peppermint helps you focus and boosts performance, according to researchers. Need to reach Chicago before nightfall, and you’re stuck in traffic around Cleveland? One study found that peppermint makes drivers more alert and less anxious. Not That!: CANDYSugary foods incite sudden surges of glucose that, in the long term, cause sugar highs and lows, leading to a fuzzy state of mind. So you’ll need to avoid all the attention-busting sugar bombs on this list of the.

FOR GOOD MOODS AND GRINS

Eat This! ARUGULA OR SPINACH SALAD

Leafy greens—arugula, chard, spinach—are rich sources of B vitamins, which are key components on the assembly line that manufactures feel-good hormones such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. According to a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, a lack of B6 can cause nervousness, irritability, and even depression.

Not That!: WHITE CHOCOLATEWhite chocolate isn’t chocolate at all, since it contains no cocoa solids. So it won’t stimulate the euphoria-inducing mood boosters like serotonin, as real chocolate does. Grab the real thing, the darker the better. More cacao means more happy chemicals and less sugar, which will eventually pull you down.

FOR SHARPER SENSES

Eat This!: 1 TBSP OF GROUND FLAXSEED DAILY

Flax is the best source of alphalinoleic, or ALA—a healthy fat that improves the workings of the cerebral cortex, the area of the brain that processes sensory information, including that of pleasure. To meet your quota, sprinkle it on salads or mix it into a smoothie or shake. Not That!: ALCOHOLThis one’s obvious, but worth mentioning anyway. A drink or two can increase arousal signals, but more than that will actually depress your nervous system. This makes you sloppy, not sharp. Want more of all of the best and worst foods in America? for the complete list of drinks, snacks, drive-thru foods, burgers, salads and everything else under the sun!

6 Natural Tips for Deep Sleep

2009-04-17T09:55:00.004+08:00

6 Natural Tips for Deep Sleep

By Dr. Maoshing Ni

1. Relaxing Rituals to Rest Easy

In Chinese Medicine, nighttime is yin time—or, simply, when the body takes care of itself instead of your desires. Proper sleep is required for your body to repair itself and regenerate. To reach deep, restful sleep, your spirit and heart must be calm. Excessive worry, anxiety, and depression can all disturb the spirit and activate the mind—making it near impossible to fall asleep and stay asleep. Rituals to sooth your spirit and induce a sleep response before bed include soaking your feet in Epson salts for 15 minutes, writing all of your thoughts in a journal to get them out of your head, and practicing relaxation before bed, like the Stress Release meditation below.

2. When Food Disturbs Sleep

When you eat late, you wake up tired. Your body will be busy digesting your dinner while you are trying to sleep, so you won't feel rested in the morning. Do not eat anything for at least three hours before bedtime. Also, cut back on eating bacon, cheese, chocolate, ham, potatoes, tomatoes, and sausage, especially before bed. These foods contain tyramine, which inhibits neurochemicals like norepinephrine and can cause insomnia. And, of course if you have sleep problems, caffeine should be cut out.Eat for sleep! Try eating more grains at dinner; carbohydrates tend to make people sleepy. Another snooze snack is a warm cup of milk; because milk is rich in the amino acid tryptophan, it can sometimes aid in deep sleep. Mix in natural vanilla flavoring for a soothing snack. Or if you prefer, eat 1 cup of natural yogurt an hour before bedtime.

3. A Peaceful Place for Sleep

Your sleeping environment makes a huge difference to the quality of your sleep. Do everything you can to create a quiet and cozy atmosphere. Ideally, your bedroom should be located in the quietest area of your home. Keep the décor minimal. Lighting should be dim and any music that is played should be soothing. Research has found that lavender, vanilla, and green apple are among the best scents to help lower anxiety and induce sleep, making these smells a good choice for a scented candle or heated essential oil. Try to limit your pets to outside of the bedroom because their movements will keep with your body from fully relaxing into deep R. E. M. sleep. As much as possible, your bedroom should be only for sleep.

4. Exercise Enables Sleep

People with regular exercise routines often sleep better and have fewer incidents of insomnia than those don't get regular physical activity. Exercise promotes sleep and improves sleep quality by altering brain chemistry. Exercising moderately for 20 to 30 minutes three times a day, combined with meditation or tai chi in the evening, will not only help you fall and stay asleep, but will also increase the amount of time you spend in R.E.M. sleep. In fact, for some people, exercise alone is enough to overcome sleep problems. Exercise in the morning or afternoon, but do not exercise for at least two hours before bed.

5. Herbs to Sleep Tight

A calming tea before bedtime can ensure a good night's sleep. Drink valerian or passionflower (or passiflora) tea before bedtime every night for one month. Simply steep 1 to 2 tablespoons of the dried herbs in one cup of hot water and drink just before bed. Or look for one with the traditional Chinese herbs zizyphus or jujube seed, bamboo shavings, and oyster shell, which soothe the mind and spirit. You might also try Calm-Fort/Sleep formula with useful herbs like lily bulbs, polygala and turmeric that help manage stress and calm the spirit while relieving restlessness and insomnia.

6. A Sleep-Friendly Meditation

I had one patient with insomnia who also felt anxious and even a little depressed. In addition to acupuncture and herbal therapies, I decided to teach her a stress release meditation that she could do before bedtime to help with her anxiety. I am happy to report that she is now sleeping like a baby.Try this Stress Release meditation, which works for the majority of my patients who have sleeping problems: Sit comfortably or lie down on your back. Slow your respiration to deep, abdominal breathing. Utter the word "calm" in your mind with every exhalation. Focus on relaxing each area of your body in sequence, from the top of your head to your toes. Starting with the top of your head, inhale and then exhale while visualizing your scalp muscles relaxing. Say "calm" in your mind. Repeat this with each body part as you move down through all body parts, front, back, and sides, in succession: your face, throat, chest, arms, stomach, abdomen, thighs, knees, legs, ankles, until finally you reach your feet. When you've relaxed your feet, visualize all the tension in your body leaving through your toes as dark smoke. Practice this for at least 15 minutes before bedtime.

Source: http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/17735/6-natural-tips-for-deep-sleep/;_ylt=AjCiUy6HnOTM2qsQrxw3SP51kIV4

Saint Valentine's Day Love Tips!

2009-02-13T11:00:00.005+08:00

How to Know if He Loves You?

Girls are a bit apprehensive when it comes to their relationship with a guy. It has been noted that men hesitate to express their love or feelings and end up laying a false belief for themselves. It is not only difficult but even more complex to analyze what a man desires and what is going in his mind. The question whether he loves me or not usually bothers every girl. But, with one ideal solution it is possible to know the actual love of the guy for you. Tips to Know if He Loves YouDon't worry damsels, here are some useful tips to know whether your mate/partner or lover really loves you or not:

A very obvious one when he takes interests in your matters like work schedule, it means he is really concerned with you and loves you.
Whenever a guy keeps a track on your habits, remembers whatever you do and say simply indicates his love for you.
When a guy wants to spend more time with you, dates out with you at places of your choice and share the your favorite pastimes then he is madly in love with you.
If he gives more importance to his friends even if you are sick or in need of him shows his lack of interest in you.
Changing of topic when you discuss about your future with him is not a good sign of a healthy relationship with your love.
If he doesn't want to spend time with you or don't ever want to go out with you in public and never introduces you to his friends mean he does not love you.
When he calls you or message you just to chitchat with you means he deeply loves you and was finding any reason to talk to you.
If he is really concerned about you and loves you then he would always take out time from his busy schedule.
When he keeps looking you when you are around and suddenly takes off his eyes when you look at him shows he's in love with you.
When he praises about you to his friends, family and others means he truly loves you.
His every action will make you believe he loves you.
If he changes his plans or cancels them last minute then he is surely avoiding you.
If he is trying to be friendly with you and tries to make an effort to know more about you shows signs of love for you.
You can make out from a person's eyes. The person in love with you has special shine in his eyes when he's talking to you.

How to Know if She Loves You?

Today, guys find it more difficult to know whether the girl whom they are dating or with whom they are seriously in love shares the same feeling for him or not. Now-a-days, girls have made it trend to flirt out with guys openly. In case your girl too is putting you in a confusing state of “she does” or “she does not” then here are some tips to figure out whether she really loves you or she is just being nice to you. Signs to Know She Loves You Given below are some ways to know if she likes you and want to carry on a long-term relation with you:

If she cares for you and always take interest in your activities then she truly loves you.
If you come to know from her family and friends that she often brags about you shows her love for you.
If a girl tries to get closer to you by touching your hands, shoulders or cheeks means she likes you.
If she keeps staring you when the conversation is on depicts that she likes you and want to say something but is shy of that.
When a girl blushes on your talks and keep praising you in front of your friends then she loves you.
When a girl does not respond to the messages or calls given by you it means she is trying to avoid you.
If she doesn't want to declare it in public or make some excuses when caught by your close friend in public by saying, “ he's my friend”, shows her disinterest in you.
If she never praises you and keeps counting flaws in you means she's trying to dissolve the relation by taking these flaws as the base.
A girl is deeply in love with a guy is she accepts his family no matter how they are.
When she talks to you very nicely after a long time means she is in need of you and is talking to you merely for your company as she has no other solution.
If she always encourage and motivate you to go ahead with your plans then she is an ideal lover and is sincerely attached with what you want from your life.
If she wants to spend some time with you and want to help you out in every project or assignment means her love for you.

http://www.stvalentinesday.org/how-to-know-if-she-loves-u.html

7 Foods That Fight Anxiety

2009-02-06T16:18:00.002+08:00

Bills arriving in heaps? Gas prices sky-rocketing? Summer love turned sour? Regardless of the cause, there's a counter-intuitiveness to the goodies we turn to for comfort. Take the classic-curling up with a pint of ice cream. It's a total backfire. Why? Sweets are insidious: After the initial rush, the body's insulin response kicks in, causing a sudden blood sugar drop that triggers the release of stress hormones. Soon you're feeling more jangled than you were before you inhaled that whole container of Chunky Monkey. And alcohol, of course, is a wolfish stimulant in calm sheep's clothing.

But true comfort foods do exist.

1. Berries, any berries

Eat them one by one instead of M&Ms when the pressure's on. For those tough times when tension tightens your jaw, try rolling a frozen berry around in your mouth. And then another, and another. Since the carbs in berries turn to sugar very slowly, you won't have a blood sugar crash. The bonus: They're a good source of vitamin C, which helps fight a jump in the stress hormone cortisol.

2. Guacamole

If you're craving something creamy, look no further. Avocados are loaded with B vitamins, which stress quickly depletes and which your body needs to maintain nerves and brain cells. Plus their creaminess comes from healthy fat. Scoop up the stuff with whole-grain baked chips-crunching keeps you from gritting your teeth.

3. Mixed nuts

Just an ounce will help replace those stress-depleted Bs (walnuts), give you a whopping amount of zinc (Brazil nuts)-it's also drained by high anxiety-and boost your E (almonds), which helps fight cellular damage linked to chronic stress. Buy nuts in the shell and think of it as multi-tasking: With every squeeze of the nutcracker, you're releasing a little bit of tension.

4. Oranges

People who take a 1,000 mg of C before giving a speech have lower levels of cortisol and lower blood pressure than those who don't. So lean back, take a deep breath, and concentrate on peeling a large orange. The 5-minute mindfulness break will ease your mind and you'll get a bunch of C as well.

5. Asparagus

Each tender stalk is a source of folic acid, a natural mood-lightener. Dip the spears in fat-free yogurt or sour cream for a hit of calcium with each bite.

6. Chai tea

A warm drink is a super soother, and curling up with a cup of aromatic decaf chai tea (Tazo makes ready-to-brew bags) can make the whole evil day go away.

7. Dark chocolate

Okay, there's nothing in it that relieves stress, but when only chocolate will do, reach for the dark, sultry kind that's at least 70% cocoa. You figure if the antioxidant flavonoids in it are potent enough to fight cancer and heart disease, they've got to be able to temper tension's effects.

Source: www.yahoo.com

Recruiter Roundtable: Keys to Success in 2009

2009-01-06T16:09:00.001+08:00

In light of the troubling economic climate and tightening job market, what is the one thing that job-seekers must do in order to be successful in landing a good job in 2009?

Exhaust All Options

Tell everyone you know about the type of position you are looking for, network online and at industry events, go on informational interviews, work with a recruiting firm, take on temporary assignments, and be flexible when meeting with prospective employers.

When developing your cover letter and resume, quantify the value of your contributions to previous employers, including how you helped cut costs, reduce inefficiencies or improve profitability. There are opportunities available, but job seekers will have to work harder to find them and cannot afford to leave even one stone unturned.

-- DeLynn Senna, executive director of North American permanent placement services, Robert Half International

Network With Smarts

Candidates must be building and strengthening their network -- ideally before it's needed. Find networking events to go find other like-minded individuals and connectors. Build your online presence through your social networks and be an active participant in the community. And remember to give more than take -- share your knowledge, help others be better, and invest time in building strong, long-lasting relationships. These are the relationships that could turn into future job leads.

-- Lindsay Olson, partner, Paradigm Staffing

Flexibility Is Key

Stay open to opportunities in new or related industries, companies of a different size, or in a different location; and be aware that with the advent of technology, a new location just may be your home office.

Be flexible. You may or may not have to travel a bit more, take a different title, or give up some of the perks you've had in the past to assume your new role. All things being equal, if you're flexible around these topics you're chances of getting hired increase considerably.

-- Cheryl Ferguson, recruiter, The Recruiter's Studio

Diversify and Listen My advice is two-fold: Be ready to diversify the ways in which you communicate your experiences AND listen well.

First, make a laundry list, just for yourself, of all the projects, contributions, ideas, etc., from your last three positions. This is what's not on your resume. It jogs your memory about how you have differentiated yourself. You'll recall and distill examples of your success, and you'll be ready for more questions.

Second, listen closely to what the recruiter and/or hiring manager is asking you. They are looking for something very particular, whether the opportunity is leadership or entry-level. Walking someone through your resume or citing examples that they're not seeking could hinder your ability to seem specific to their job. You want to be very clear about your transferable skills and your willingness to adapt to their environment.

-- Ross Pasquale, recruiting/sourcing consultant, Monday Ventures

Tailor Your Resume

The most important thing that job seekers must do in 2009 to be successful is to diversify the content of their resumes based on the roles that they are applying for. For example, a job seeker may have worked in the past as a Java engineer, and also obtained project management along the way. However, a resume that is oriented strongly toward being a Java engineer has only a slight chance of being considered for a project-manager position.

For job seekers to increase their chances at success, they should shape their resumes to reflect relevant matching skills with the job posting(s) they are applying to. By doing so, a recruiter and/or hiring manager will more easily understand how a job seeker's past experiences apply to the posted role. This method increases the chance of being considered a strong candidate, receiving an interview, and, ultimately, a new position.

-- Joanna Samuels, senior account manager, GravityPeople

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-recruiter_roundtable_keys_to_success_in_2009-621

Merry Christmas Augustinians!

2008-12-18T09:39:00.001+08:00

MyHotComments

Listen to Our Hearts...

2008-12-11T17:36:00.003+08:00

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and drove the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car, shouting, "What was that all about and who are you?Just what the heck are you doing?That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money.Why did you do it?"

The young boy was apologetic. "Please mister ... please, I'm sorry... I didn't know what else to do," he pleaded."I threw the brick because no one else would stop..."With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car."It's my brother," he said."He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up."

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out his fancy handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay.

"Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger.Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the little boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!

God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice: Listen to the whisper ... or wait for the brick

http://misyononline.com/misyonforum/

Perfect Memory

2008-12-09T17:52:00.001+08:00

Can you get a photographic memory?

People born with true eidetic (photographic) memory are rare. Some autistic people have skills that lead them to develop a photographic memory, says Dr Pamela Heaton of Goldsmiths' College.

A study of London cab drivers found that their brains changed over time in order to retain their encyclopaedic knowledge of the city's streets. There are no exercises that will improve your memory overall, says psychologist Dr Marie Poirier of City University London, but if you put in the time, you can stimulate parts of it.

''For example, get a friend to show you objects on a tray for three minutes, then cover them. Try to recall what they all were.''

http://www.readersdigest.com

Prayer Needed!

2008-11-27T17:44:00.000+08:00

Dear friends,

Let us pray for our fellow Augustinians who will be taking the Nursing Board Examination this coming November 29, 2008.

Let us include them in our prayers.

Sharpen Your Brain With a Good Lie Down

2008-11-24T18:24:00.003+08:00

Ever been caught short on a creative idea? Can't think of that niggling last answer in your crossword puzzle or even what to cook for dinner?

Here's a hint: put your feet up and lie down - being a couch potato is great for boosting our brain and our creativity. So says Dr Darren Lipnicki from the school of psychology at the Australian National University, who conducted research on how neurotransmitters are released.

He tested 20 people, who were asked to solve 32 five-letter anagrams, such as "osien" and "nodru" while standing and lying down. His findings? We are smarter and more creative lying down than standing up.

It seems less of the neurotransmitter noradrenaline is released to the brain when you're horizontal, so your creative thinking isn't as impaired.

http://www.readersdigest.com.ph

Psychology Through the Years

2008-11-10T10:55:00.003+08:00

PLATO(437-347)

According to Plato, God creates the world out of materia (raw material, matter) and shapes it according to his “plan” or “blueprint” -- ideas or the ideal. If the world is not perfect, it is not because of God or the ideals, but because the raw materials were not perfect. I think you can see why the early Christian church made Plato an honorary Christian, even though he died three and a half centuries before Christ!

Plato applies the same dichotomy to human beings: There’s the body, which is material, mortal, and “moved” . Then there’s the soul, which is ideal, immortal, and “unmoved”

The soul includes reason, of course, as well as self-awareness and moral sense. Plato says the soul will always choose to do good, if it recognizes what is good. This is a similar conception of good and bad as the Buddhists have: Rather than bad being sin, it is considered a matter of ignorance. So, someone who does something bad requires education, not punishment.

The soul is drawn to the good, the ideal, and so is drawn to God. We gradually move closer and closer to God through reincarnation as well as in our individual lives. Our ethical goal in life is resemblance to God, to come closer to the pure world of ideas and ideal, to liberate ourselves from matter, time, and space, and to become more real in this deeper sense. Our goal is, in other words, self-realization.

(http://webspace.ship.edu/psych/)

PSYCHOLOGIST OF THE MONTH

2008-08-11T11:57:00.005+08:00

THALES of Miletus

Surprised? Isn't he the father of Philosophy?

Yes he is! Most of us have read that Psychology was derived from Philosophy but read what follows and we might be thinking otherwise!

Greek philosophy didn’t begin in Greece (as we know it); It began on the western coast of what is now Turkey, an area known then as Ionia. In Ionia’s richest city, Miletus, was a man of Phoenician descent called Thales (624-546). He studied in Egypt and other parts of the near east, and learned geometry and astronomy.

His answer to the great question of what the universe is made of was water. Inasmuch as water is a simple molecule, found in gaseous, liquid, and solid forms, and found just about everywhere, especially life, this is hardly a bad answer! It makes Thales not only the nominal first philosopher, but the first materialist as well. Since ultimate nature was known in Greek as physis, he could also be considered the first physicist (or, as the Greeks would say, physiologist).

We should note, however, that he also believed that the whole universe of material things is alive, and that animals, plants, and even metals have souls -- an idea called panpsychism.

http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/greeks.html

Monthly Features!

2008-08-09T11:02:00.004+08:00

Watch out for our monthly features on this web page!

We are also soliciting ideas, suggestions and comments. Just e-mail us and we will take necessary actions! We will be very glad for your support and cooperation!

CSA-B Guidance Office Now On-line!

2008-08-09T10:32:00.000+08:00

In the desire to reach out and to help the students of this institution, the guidance office decided to go on-line! Students will have more access to the guidance services and at the same time learn more on using technology as a medium of communication and information dissemination. Please send your e-mails to csab.guidance@gmail.com for inquiries. It is always a pleasure to serve!