| Another reason to prepare for danger, or pregnant woman fights back thief (yeah I really did) |
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| 07:50pm 12/11/2012 |
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My overall reaction is one of anger at encountering firsthand someone who would prey on the helpless. I write this to warn you.
Everything seemed normal as I entered the elevator. A man slightly taller than I, with no distinguishing characteristics, got in with me. I pressed the button for the top floor, and asked him which level he was going. My level also, he said. Maybe a guest of the neighbors, I'd never seen him before.
As soon as the door closed he grabbed my handbag and started hitting my head and shoulder area. I am 8 months pregnant.
The first thought I had was I could take this guy... I felt no fear at all, his blows didn't hurt, and I sure as hell didn't feel in enough danger to let go of my bag. I started screaming to draw attention to us (and cause I was so angry, how DARE this guy hit a pregnant woman), and I STARTED PUNCHING BACK. If I wasn't lugging around 15 extra kilos and a watermelon sized belly I would have started kicking him as well. Thank goodness he didn't have the presence of mind to use anything but his fists, and thank goodness his punches honest to God sucked.
I shoved him with my shoulder and back against the wall to prevent his punching me, which was successful, but also gave him the brilliant idea to choke me. Not so good for me, but thank goodness his technique was even more dismal than his punches. I was still roaring like an angry lion and fighting back with my elbow (reminder, next time use headbutt). He somehow punched the second to top floor button and pushed me out. I was screaming "Help me! Help me!" (multicultural country, figured I'd reach the biggest audience), managed to throw myself up the stairs and bang on our door. When my brother came out and tried to help me I sent him straight to chasing the guy, I was so angry. An unknown neighbor came running up with some sort of bat and I told him to get the guy too.
What was I thinking? Our neighborhood has been safe and quiet for years. There are kids and senior citizens who use the lifts and can't defend themselves. I was soooo mad!!! I would have run down all those flights of stairs if I weren't pregnant, screaming bloody murder, and chased the guy.
OK long story short... I wanted to make all of you aware that danger could happen to any of us at any time. Take some time to plan with your family what's the right thing to do. Think of nasty situations and make your contingency plans.
For those of you who say I was foolhardy, or crazy, or stupid, yeah you're probably right. Maybe the right thing to do would have been to just give over my bag. But growing up with some street smarts helped me judge I could fight in this situation, so I did. Hopefully it'll guide me next time to give over if I'm in real danger, but I cannot describe to you how enraged I was to be carrying a baby and have some moron try to hurt him (hindi ko talaga naisip sarili kong lagay).
Siguro kung nasa Tondo ako, tumakbo or nagmaka-awa na ako, pero hindi eh, yung gago payat na palpak pa yung suntok. Wala po ako pasa or kahit anong nararamdaman (I have no bruises and don't feel any pain anywhere right now). Oh, except my glasses are awfully crooked from being punched.
We do have police and forensics reports already. We reached out to as many neighbors as possible to warn them. I am so going to continue classes for my family on self defense and martial arts (hello PE1 ni Sir Tom Pena ng UPD from XX years ago, nagamit ko yung elbow smash mo sir. Derecho naman po talaga ako sumuntok mula pagkabata so hindi po pwede sa inyo yung credit). But most of all I wanted you to know, even the smallest effort to prepare yourself may make a difference later on.
Be safe everyone.
EDIT: I didn't specify a lot details due to the investigation still being ongoing, and I didn't want to post the wrong conclusions (for example was I followed or did our neighborhood safety really change). Here are the lessons I've learned though:
1. Always check around to see if there's anything or anyone unusual. Get to know your neighbors' faces.
2. Something can happen anywhere, and it could be anyone. Don't think it'll always be the big hulking guy who looks dangerous from afar.
3. Again, go through scenarios with your family and help everyone figure out what to do in case of an emergency.
4. Learn some basic self defence (how to dodge or block blows seems really important now).
5. If you don't feel comfortable about a situation, let it go (I should have stepped out of the elevator the moment the guy followed maybe? I didn't even realize that until now).
EDIT #2
A lot of people are saying I should have given him my bag and I would have been safe. First of all, he didn't say or threaten anything, he just started hitting me as soon as the door closed. Second, since he didn't press any other button until I fought back, so I assume he intended to stay for a while. I didn't keep my bag on purpose, actually, because all my concentration was on fighting back this a$$h0le who could have chosen a yaya or mom with little children, or one of our nice neighborhood aunties with bags of groceries (yeah yun talaga naisip ko so nalimutan ko matakot - maybe not smart of me in other situations). Or worse, he'd really targetted a pregnant woman with the intent to hit her and not just steal her stuff. I guess my subconscious maldita was just making sure he didn't get any satisfaction.
The only thing I'm unsure of right now is what should I have yelled to bring people faster? Apparently "Help me! Help me!" can just be interpreted as a domestic squabble :-/
Nov 14 - the police called me to confirm they caught the suspect. He admits to targetting pregnant women. Does that mean he got others before me? Ohhh I should have hit harder. Ang kapaaaaal.
Guys, let's make a positive outcome from this, if you have suggestions on how to defend yourself, kids, elderly, etc please let me know. I'll try to make a more coherent entry to share. |
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Read 2 - Post |
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| For Sol |
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| 07:01pm 11/02/2011 |
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Overheard: two guys walking out of the gym.
A: You know that song that goes "I've got soul but I'm not a soldier"?
B: Yeah mate, I know that one.
A: Soul but not a soldier... how does that even make sense? Actually, it makes TOO MUCH sense.
B: Yeah mate, you're right. |
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| Bunutan number 2 |
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| 06:57pm 11/02/2011 |
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Totally forgot to take a photo or video for posterity. Tooth number two is indeed out, thanks to the RC Corvette lil boy got from Tito Noel. He was laughing with glee.
Yung nanay niya lang ang dapat maging matapang hehe. |
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| Andres Anifacio atapang atao, tinanggal ang ngipin biglang tumakbo |
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| 01:01am 11/12/2010 |
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I have a high pain threshold, and usually put up with whatever happens (gashed limbs, sprained ankles, that huge cyst that grew in my abdomen) until such time that the doctor can get rid of it. I skip pain medication if I can get away with it.
However, when it comes to the little boy, apparently I'm a pushover extraordinaire. He's been having (and I quote) a "wiggly tooth" for nearly a week now. We encouraged him to keep wiggling it in the hopes it'd fall out naturally. Today however, it got pretty loose but was still strong enough to keep its place.
Of course Super Paranoiac (that's me) came up with the worst possible scenario. What if he loosens it in his sleep and CHOKES on the thing? No one in the house can do the Heimlich. Thus Operation: "Get rid of tooth before bedtime" was set in motion.
Wena tried putting it in a floss knot the whole day but the tooth just kept slipping out. When hubby and I got home from work, the tasks got delegated - I'm the knot expert, he can do the brute force grunt work. A quick check on Google and youtube to perfect our technique yielded an extra bonus: crazy vids that helped put the little boy in the mood for getting rid of his tooth.
Here's the one with the rocket:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miweVYarikY
There were also ones that got rid of teeth using Nerf guns, and bow & arrows (di ko naisip ito nung bata ako ah!)
After several failed attempts with different kinds of floss and tooth positions, I finally managed to get the perfect knot in the perfect loop. Please note after every completed knot I ran out of the room because I couldn't bear to watch the pulling.
Hubby was also a bit softhearted and didn't use full strength, so first attempt ended in a small flow of blood. It wasn't really painful based on his expression, but our minor panic attack from the blood transmitted to the patient. A second pull and out the tooth went, thankfully stopping the impending cry little boy was testing.
I'm not exaggerating about the not painful part.. he was romping around talking about the tooth fairy once he had the tooth in his hand. *whew* Nanlalambot pa rin tuhod ko hanggang ngayon. Just waiting for him to go into deep sleep before putting in 5 dollars for the tooth.
And before you say anything about the amount, remember there's 19 more where that tooth came from! Kaya ko pa kaya yung next rounds?
Bye first baby tooth!
Happy boy planning to spend his tooth fairy money
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Read 1 - Post |
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| Tis the season to be crafting |
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| 09:47pm 21/11/2010 |
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Been too harrassed with a lot of things to blog about anything, but at last, something for Sol Sarah Jeanie:
Some of this month's output in crafting below. Too lazy to shop and lug home tree and decor, so I made a tiny one for the flat from what started out as a rolled cone of newspaper.
Decided this year would also be the year of mailing relatives I'm not going to see, so prototyped some cards, here are some of the better results of my trials and errors :)
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Read 6 - Post |
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| Career ambitions |
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| 01:39am 20/08/2010 |
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Tonight's cab ride was brought to you by a small, calm Uncle driver whose mad driving skillz averaged 80 kph on turns and more than 120 on the highways. Left Novena at 23:47 arrived in Tampines at 00:00. Must've been the leather driving gloves.
Back in the day I thought it was an adventure to become a cab driver, but the lack of magandang banyo in Manila was not exactly encouraging.
The problem over here, however, is too much recycling. Chancery Hill Road, Chancery Hill Walk, Chancery Lane.... gah. Maybe they should make a reality contest about cabbies instead, with points for fastest arrival time and best decor. |
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| World Cup purge |
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| 06:16am 12/07/2010 |
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Let me just get this out of my system so I can grab a couple more hours sleep. It was a hard fought finals match, but I can't fairly say it was a great game with all the yellow cards and fouls, mostly from NED. I chose to cheer them on because a) ITA, GER, ENG, FRA were gone, JAP and SKR didnt make it, and I'm not usually an ESP fan. They're the hot kontrabidas who give spice to the usual teams for me historically.
There were a few attempts (memorable for me are the ones from Robben and Van Persie), but most of the game each side's attempts were going wide. Iker Casillas was unbreachable for Spain (not to mention very very hot hahahah), but I was already nervous at the get go because in my opinion NED's defense had holes in it - they had plenty of great saves, but also moments of looking back to see a Spanish player taking a shot with no orange jerseys near enough to stop him. Eventually, luck ran out as Iniesta got a goal in.
Sad for NED, and I was curious how they would have matched up in a penalty shootout. Guess we won't know. ESP played a good game, and I can console myself with gratuitous Iker closeups and articles in the next few days.
P.S. That psychic octopus is really German, his level of accuracy this world cup is ridonkulous.
P.P.S. Someone help the commentator pronounce the Spanish names. His Shabby Alonso and Shubby were driving me crazy.
P.P.S. Muller wins golden boot, take that Maradona.
P.P.P.S. And was there any question of Iker winning the golden glove? |
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Read 2 - Post |
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| Grand-parented! |
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| 02:11am 04/06/2010 |
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The grandparents are visiting over the school holidays, and have been excitedly updating me about the little boy's every quote. He has zeroed in on the diabetes issue of the lolo who is very very much a sweet tooth.
Lolo: Can I have ice cream?
Lil boy: No! Only me, because I am a small child.
Lolo: Why can't I have ice cream?
Lil boy: Because it has sugar!
Lolo: Can I have cheesecake?
Lil boy: Lolo stop! I will make this toy car into a big car, and then we will drive to a cheesecake store and I will lock you in the car.
Lolo: (pretends to be very sad) You will lock me in the car?
Lil boy: OK, I won't lock it but you stay in the car while we have cheesecake.
Lolo: Can I have ice cream?
Lil boy: No! Cannnoooot! (Yes he switches on the local accent at will)
Lolo: Why can't I have ice cream?
Lil boy: Because I don't want you to die.
Everyone pauses - out of the mouth of babes nga naman
Lola: Say instead that you want him to live 20 more years.
Lil boy: (complete with big cute eyes) Lolo I want you to live 20 more years.
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In unrelated news jogging in the park was fun, like running in a cloud of perfume since the trees and bushes were flowering like mad. Love this town, but also felt a twinge of homesickness. Mad props to hubby for joining my midnight exercise attempts. Cannot wait to be back on Asia shift.
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Cannot wait to work on something new as well. I can't take the half-baked status of having the accountability but not much control. I'm sure we'll all prefer to accountable for something that no one else gets to screw around with.
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Good night all, I hear the "Hooowheeeee!!" of Angry Birds in the background, sign that we should all get to sleep. |
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| Andres Bonifacio, atapang atao... |
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| 11:35pm 28/05/2010 |
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I just found some pics of my boss in FB... he is grinning madly as he rides a zipline through the Costa Rican rainforest. He also does kayaking in white water for fun, and was quite actively campaigning for a broom hockey teambuilding last winter (said sport apparently involves street shoes, brooms, a puck, and the skating rink in front of the hotel...
... which we managed to push back on by reminding him we couldn't show up for work with broken ankles or wrists, yeah?).
The reason I bring this up is we have a standing threat to bring him to a videoke session if he ever sets foot in Manila, and for the first time I saw what might have been apprehension in his eyes. Guess we all really do have an Achilles heel? |
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| Parented! |
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| 08:42pm 25/05/2010 |
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That's a spin on Marshall's "Lawyered!" phrase from HIMYM.
So setting expectations has paid off. Before entering the toy store I say "Today we look only, you can buy something when it's sweldo ok?"
Last Saturday I forgot myself and picked up a toy and said "Oh, this is nice. You want this one?"
Lil boy answered:"Put it down, Mom. You said 'look only' today." |
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| magulong usapan |
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| 10:47am 27/02/2010 |
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So lil boy has had half a year's worth of preschool Mandarin, and I've had 2 mp3s' worth of lessons (hahaha which is half a step above nothing). We've been trying to stick to the talk in one language policy to lessen confusion (ask in Tagalog, answer in Tagalog). But sometimes everyone's zany tendencies break out at the same time. Especially today with Leeny in the house.
Me: No!
Lil boy: Yes!
Me: Pu yao (don't want)
Lil boy: Yao! Yao!
Me: Ayaw!
Lil boy (naughty grin): Yao! Yao!
Me: Dapat 'gusto'. Ayaw!
Lil boy (naughty grin): Want! Want! |
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| Karpentero |
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| 02:50am 17/02/2010 |
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Argh, hindi ako makatulog.
So I manhandled a table into shape while hubby and Bucs were jumping around gathering gold (i.e. getting the feel of Super Mario). Ayoko talaga magpatulong but Bucs screwed in two of the screws cause he said mukha akong hirap na hirap. Hey, I like the "dirty" work... first, it burns calories; second, you get something useful at the end of it; third, it usually means I got something from a furniture store (yehehess!); last, it keeps my Norm Abram persona alive.
I loooooved the New Yankee Workshop. I used to watch episodes of that on end. He makes everything look so easy, and coming out with something built from scratch at the end just makes me really happy. My favorite thing is when he uses the router to carve out gorgeous curves in wood cylinders (dowels?).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGBCLvQDBxE
I want power tools! (Ok I also still want those Forever 21 turquoise satin heels and that nifty green Kate Spade tote in case you decide to recheck entries for gift ideas, hun). |
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| The power of Paul |
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| 08:34pm 11/01/2010 |
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Lil boy saw me drawing and wanted to draw as well. He gets his own paper and then gets my pencil.
Me(teasing tone): Excuse me, that's my pencil. I will give you your own pencil because you're bothering my work!
Him(grinning back): But, but, but... I LOVE bothering you. Because I LOVE you. |
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| Hoping for the best |
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| 02:22am 06/10/2009 |
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One of my dear friends is going through a difficult time right now and needs prayers and good wishes. Please let everything be all right. |
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| Hell Week |
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| 10:35pm 10/09/2009 |
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Casey from Chuck always says to get ready for some major pain. I would never have been ready for last week's ordeal no matter how many times I heard that. Giving birth was a cakewalk compared to last week.
On Thursday evening at 7 PM I started feeling funny, with a dull ache in my abdomen and some dizziness. It quickly escalated to terrible pains so I called hubby to come to the office and pick me up. I was feeling bad enough not to stand up from my desk because I didn't want to walk the corridor and lobby alone. I saw Kleng leave the floor but felt too weak to call and ask her to go down with me. Thank goodness Bert passed by, on his way to grab some dinner, so he helped me down and waited with me until hubby came.
We eventually got to the Tan Tock Seng emergency room where they started running tests. The pain was getting pretty bad every so often, but tolerable mostly. Palpations on my abdomen, ultrasound, and a KUB X-ray all indicated I had a large ovarian cyst in me. They were saying there were no gynecologists in TTSH but admitted me for an additional CT A/P scan the next day. Scan came up the same - 10 x 12 x 17.5 cm cyst in my abdomen, probably ovarian. By this time everything hurt - sitting, lying down, breathing, and I was in agony most of the time. I tend to tolerate pain, so actually screaming into pillows was something new for me that I don't ever want to go through again.
Now, the kicker - on Saturday morning they released me from TTSH because only a gynecologist should remove the cyst, and advised me to go to KKH on Monday.
By Sunday 4 AM my abdomen had gotten even more swollen and I was screaming into pillows again.
530 we were at KK, and the doctors swiftly prepared me for the operating room (thank You Lord!). In a couple of hours the cyst was gone but I then had to contend with all the stuff a post-op has to go through. I will not go into detail but suffice it to say I view sitting up, walking, and sleeping on my side with new fondness, plus as of today I am still terrified by my chances of having to cough.
The white-hot pain of a stitched up stomach is much better than having that huge thing in me though. Now to continue getting better... there's all these weird little things like being able to type just fine but I can't grip a fork and spoon properly, and being required to drink 8 pills every 8 hours.
Next please! No more looking back!
Oh and if you're not faint of heart - here's what they took out of me - that's my tummy and the surgeon's hand next to it. CLICK AT YOUR OWN RISK. it's near lunch.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/freelysaid/scan0001.jpg
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| 6 words to strike fear in the hearts of men |
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| 12:58pm 20/08/2009 |
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"Mommy, I want a real pet." The species of said request differs daily. The current favorite is kitten. Followed by puppy. Fish, bunnies, hamsters and turtles are also accepted by the Boss. I am torn between giggling at the cuteness or slight stabs of guilt when I walk into the bathroom as well -- the tabo (water dipper) is full to the brim, small rubber whale and turtle floating in our "aquarium". Lil boy lovingly changes the water every day (or he has done so for the past four days at least). Lolos, please do not go out and buy any live animals - we will eventually satisfy this request when we can get our own place. In the meantime, must resist the "Mom, pleeeeeeease?" |
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| Left behind |
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| 08:55am 18/07/2009 |
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Someone has to seriously cut back on the baby talk. Me: Paul, does your tummy still have an ouch? Paul: (nods with serious expression) I have a sensitive stomach. In other news I think nag-uumpisa na siya mag-Chinese pero hindi naman niya magamit sa aming mga hindi marunong. Does "fao" mean notebook? Paging Raine, Natz, Leen...help! |
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| There is a light at the end of the tunnel |
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| 07:00am 27/03/2009 |
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Bucs, para sa iyo ito. ATP bus tunnel... hehe. Figuratively I am encouraging you, but literally nambubuyo ako baka gusto mo kaming damayan. P.S. Hubby, this phone's camera isn't bad at all. Ano masasabi niyo sa composition though? |
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| Petition to PSHS BOT |
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| 06:28am 24/03/2009 |
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Reposting Ninna's entry here: "Once again, students being approved for graduation even if they did not meet the requirements to graduate. http://www.petitiononline.com/pshss/petition.html I have signed the petition. Standards have to be upheld. School pride has to have meaning. Efforts for four years have to stand for something. If the BOT is regretting the 1/3 rule to graduate, they should revoke it. Not eat their words by letting failing students graduate." |
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