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NARRATIVE ESSAY

Basketball

  One day our captain’s office learned over, we thought of letting my peers joined then we decided to made our jersey. The next day I’ve start opening the first game immediately, so I headed to raising up so my chair my head that I will not be bash because of so many people watching the first game, I joined league and then first five called the first five which I am included and started the first quarter of the game, I have a lot of stocks but I did not come in because I was nervous and the 2nd quarter finished the score was only 37-43 our opponent and then started, 3rd quarter. My coach entered my nerves again but in my mind I needed to score to not humiliate the spectators and then I passed the ball to my partner in the three point line and shot I was very happy and seemed like I was lost in the chest because I shot with in the three point line. And then my team stole the ball and again I’ve been back to three point line back to back to what I did and since then I’ve been in the 3rd quarter and finished the 3rd quarter. My score was 19 points we only have 61-72 with 11 points in the opponents lead and started the 4th quarter. I’m nervous because I did not know whether we will win or lose because our opponents are not as strong as they are and I’ve been in 4th quarter I’m very nervous as the noise in the court is so crowded and because I’m focusing on it. It started with the ball in my hand, immediately dribbling the ball first I went through the same lay-up shot. The spectators were shouting. I lost my bearings again and then in the middle of 4th quarter, we lost our defense and our opponent picked up two scores of our only opponents and finished the ball game.

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Travelogue

More photos of our trip in Manila! :)

[see post: https://itsfictionnotatall.tumblr.com/post/171794655015/travelogue]

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TRAVEL IN TANDEM (Travelogue by Crisha Reyes and Shekina Dolorito)

Here are some of the pictures we had during our trip to the National Museum of Anthropology in Manila.

[see post: https://itsfictionnotatall.tumblr.com/post/171794655015/travelogue]

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Facing the Waves a Memoir by Kenneth Jhob G. Lasala

PROLOGUE: TRANSITION

                       I ran quickly as if someone is chasing me. The weather is freezing; I am soaking wet. It seems I cannot find what I was looking for so I run again and lurk around non-stop to a place I am not familiar to. I can’t catch my breath so I stop at a building and take some rest. A teacher called my name, it was my classroom adviser. I saw new faces, new atmosphere, it was my first day as a high school student and yet my clothes were wet, but anyway this is a new beginning. I am now a Grade Seven student.

                       I slowly entered the classroom. It was so different; yes, I know I am not an elementary student anymore. I can’t afford to act like a child in front of everyone. I need to act accordingly; I need to think before doing something. Without further do, I approached a chair.

 CHAPTER 1: NEW BEGINNINGS

                       I sat quietly at a vacant seat in front. Although, I have some acquaintances with my new classmates, I can’t seem to calm myself. I am so nervous that I cannot think straight at all. Everyone is so quiet and serious until a voice came, “Ma’am, good morning, may I excuse my son?” it was my Mom. My mother is the one I am looking for; she forgot to give my allowance. I just approach her very quickly, get what I needed and return to my seat right away. However, it seems that my classmates are laughing, I can’t understand why.

                       The mood became lighter after that visit. Some of my classmates are now talking to each other. Though we are still new to each other, I don’t think it will take long for us to be friends. So I think of something so that I can talk to someone. I have started a conversation with one of my classmate, his name is Leimar.

                       “Hey, from what school are you?” I asked. “I came from Our Lady of the Holy Rosary School, you know? The private school somewhere in the highway going to Amaya”, he answered. The conversation lasted for a couple of minutes. We talked about our elementary days and somehow we enjoyed the talk.

                       I tried talking to my other classmates inside by asking them about their previous schools. It was a great start.

                       A few minutes later our next teacher came. She introduced herself to us. Blurted out some school rules then make us do an activity. I freaked out. I am thinking what kind of activity she is going to make us do right at the very first day. Well the activity is a self - introduction with a twist.

ADJUSTMENTS AND INTRODUCTIONS

                       “Ok class good morning, I am Ms. Jil Arbonida your Journalism teacher”, she introduce herself to us casually. “Today we will have our first activity, since it is the first day of classes, and I know your first time being a high school student, I would like you to do a self introduction but the thing is you’re not going to introduce yourself, instead you are going to introduce your classmate”, she said. Well I was kind of okay with this activity. I have already talked to someone enough to introduce them. Confident as I am, I raised my hand and volunteered.

                       Everyone has a surprised look on their faces as I broke their silence by volunteering. I stand in front and without further do I started, “My dear teacher, Ms. Jil, my classmates, I would like to introduce one of my recent acquaintance, his name is Leimar.” My performance is good, at least that’s what I think, and I manage to impress my classmates and also my teacher. My other classmates also did well in their performances.

                       After a few days, everyone’s shyness and nervousness seems to fade. They’ve manage to do some casual talk with each other. I think I understand the aim of the activity that is given to us. Because of that we manage to break the chains of adjustments. We are going to the stage wherein our relationship is deeper than that of just being classmates. We are going to with each other for four years after all.

                       However, by the time we were comfortable with each other, another challenge is bestowed upon us. Another school work, it was a group activity.

RELIABLE GROUPMATE

                       Due to the new curriculum’s strong campaign for cooperative learning, group activities are enforced to students. By the way in my case, I don’t mind being in a group as long as everything’s going to be fine. As usual we are asked to count one to five and those with same numbers are group mates.

                       My group mates somehow trust me; they’ve chosen me as their leader after all. Actually I can finish the activity by myself, but since this is a group work I divided the task in hand. As for assurance, I already have a back-up finished work, just in case they cannot do what I’ve asked them.

                       Surprisingly, they’ve passed a good work, no maybe even better that what I expect. We got a good score because of our teamwork and cooperation. That feeling is very great, having a success as a result of working with each other, I can feel that we are group, I am not alone anymore. The feeling is even greater than me finishing everything.

                       After that, I have come to a realization that there are things that you cannot do by yourself or it’s just that it is fun if you are doing it with others. Well as people said, two heads are better that one. There are always reliable group mates that will support you all through.

                       They are always there to help me and I am always there to help them. It was a harmonious relationship when we have a group activity. Cracking each other’s brains, laughing when we fail, smiling when we succeed and sometime passing the activity to someone when nobody wants to do the work, it was so fun. However, things been getting harder to deal with. Overcome by pressure a conflict arises and cause a huge downfall.

CONFLICTS AND DOWNFALL

                       Things get rough, the deadline is near and everyone is pressured to the point that they are stressed about it. The atmosphere they emit is very heavy. It is very hard to breath; I cannot see any smiles from their faces, just annoyance and exhaustion. Everyone is thinking of a way to get through, in the midst of silence she spoke, “Guys, maybe we should do this”. It was a nice suggestion, a very good one. However one of my classmates rejected that idea,” no I think it is better if we do it like this”. Some of my classmates supported this idea and some supported the previous one. This is where the conflict started.

                       Their ideas are both good. Even I cannot decide which the better one is. Actually, I myself have my own suggestion but their aura consumed me. I feel that if I butt in to their clash I’ll die instantly. Well I have no choice I just let them do what they want.

                       They’ve continued to reason out why their ideas are better. They’ve stood for what they believe in. Even though it is unintentional the group started to divide. They went to their own comfort zones.

                       With just a simple conflict, our harmonious relationship is ruined. The students of our class become separated into different groups. The thing is each group excelled in something; they are achievers in their own league. However, for me this is not a good thing, for me this is a huge downfall. From being a group, we ended up being a gathering of individuals. The good relationships just become a formality. This continued up until the end of the school year.

CHAPTER II: NEW STAGE

                       My Grade Seven ended not so well. My relationship with my other classmates got worse because of our differences in our ideas. I’ve pushed my stand till the very end and so they did, but in the end I am the one who adjusted. I ride along with all their schemes, I even entered their world. By agreeing on all the things they want, by pretending to be a friendly person, I’ve pulled through that year.

                       However, the next year I decided to change, I told myself that I won’t mind them anymore. I will just focus on my studies. That year, I ended up being only top eight in our class which I am really disappointed, well anyway, this year will be different.

                       That is what I thought but suddenly she came into my life. She walked in front of me, smiling; she was so beautiful, like an artwork. My heart is beating fast, I can’t describe the feeling. Then I told myself that the change can wait because a rose is blooming and smiling at me.

SMILES AND ROSES

                       That girl is my classmate since elementary. What I know about her is that she is a very mean in person. I can’t even remember if we even talk to each in our elementary days. Another is that her friend, Gwyneth, is someone I really wanted to avoid back then. But surprisingly, I never thought that she could smile like that.

                       I have decided to just observe her every day. I stared at her from time to time; I even follow her secretly sometimes, yes like a stalker. Because of that I came to know her more; her address, her favorite color, favorite show, hated subjects, her mannerisms etc. Little did I know that I am slowly falling in love with her.

                       I have noticed some changes happening to me. It seems that every time I am thinking of her, she is the only one inside my mind. Whenever we meet, I cannot look at her directly which is something unusual. Even my face becomes red and my heart beats fast whenever I am near to her. There was even a time that I fumbled while talking to her due to nervousness. My life became colorful. She became important to me to the point that she is one of my reasons why I go to school. As long as I saw her even once, my day is complete.

                       Even though this is the case, my grades did not drop instead it got higher. I realized that being inspired gives you extra power that can help you anytime. I even feel that I can go even higher from now on as long as that smiles and roses are with me.

DEVELOPMENTS

                       “Hey Leimar will you help me with her?” I asked. “Well of course I will help you”, he answered. That time my feelings for her grew more that only staring at her won’t cut it anymore so I asked my friend Leimar to help me do some moves for me to show my feelings to her even in a simple way.

                       Leimar first suggested that I should talk to her occasionally. He told me to keep the talk as natural as possible. He said that I should start something that both of us are interested. I followed his suggestion and waited for my chance.

                       One day, I saw her struggling in Math. Since Math is one of my strengths I took this chance to talk to her. “Hey, for that problem, you do it like this then that and here’s the answer”, I explained. “Wow, how did you do that and you make simpler than what in my notes says”, she respond. That was a pretty nice response maybe this is my opportunity so I offered something to her “If you would like, I can teach you”. “Oh yes that will be very helpful, thank you very much”, she said.

                       Because of that I manage to establish a relationship wherein I can freely talk to her just like what my friend Leimar suggested. Even though I am just helping her to study, somehow I can show my feelings because of the effort I exert each time we had our study session. Every time she thanks me for my effort, the feeling is very blissful. The time and energy I’ve spent is worth it.

                       The developments continued for the rest of the year. My grade 8 life was all her, my feelings for her and my wonderful experiences with her. I even manage to talk to her every day. I was happy. I even reach the top six this school year, I wondered, maybe because I am inspired.

TURN TABLE

                       I thought that this will be a good year for me, however a painful event occur. It was a night before my dad’s departure; he is celebrating because after that day he is going back at work from vacation. He even brought his best friend for them to drink some liquor.

                       A few hours later my dad got drunk and as usual he is going to get mad and will try to release his hatred. But today is different; he turned the table angrily then he took a knife at our kitchen and went in front of my grandpa’s house. There he shouted “Hey! I am going to kill you! Get out there! You were always like that, butting in to my family’s affairs. I am the father of my family; I can take care of them myself. Leave us alone.” I can understand my dad’s feelings; he is a former drug addict, he even attended rehabilitation centers, paid for his sins behind bars, he changed himself, took a job and tried his best to raise us, but he thinks that my grandpa still not acknowledge him as someone capable of supporting us.

                       After a while, my grandpa, carrying a blunt weapon, get out of the house as if he is really going to fight. My dad and grandpa approach each other and were going to attack each other. Working together, we stop my dad and grandpa from fighting. We carried our drunken father back to his bed.

                       The next day, surprisingly, my dad did not take his flight. Instead he apologizes for what happened. My grandpa did forgive him. After that they had a very serious talk. With a very refreshing face my dad returned as if a new him is born. Fortunately, my dad is given a chance to take a flight again, so he can return to his work though it is delayed.

                       Although that scene is somehow traumatic, I am still happy because they have to a closure. I think their talk were all about how is our family will be from now on. All it took is a turning table for their long hatred to stop.

                       That year, my grade 8 days are fulfilling I get to experience different scenes in life but little did I know that more challenges are about to come the following school year.

CHAPTER 3: TRANSFORMATION

           I was able to grow as a person after some incidents I have experience during my grade eight days. Falling in love and experiencing traumatic scenes can change a person after all. My view of the world has change. Though sometimes I still act like a child but my thinking is that of an adult. I was able to decide logically, set my priorities and manage my time. I would like to know how much I’ve grown and this time as a grade nine student I will put it into test. I want to reach the top and beat the person I respected the most, AirahApulog, our absolute first honor.

           Summer vacation is over. Everyone is busy; it’s back to school after all. Just like always, each and every person inside the classroom is talking about their summer adventures and how they enjoyed it. I never cared about their over the top summer memories, I mean it’s full of crap and exaggerations but I listened anyway for the sake of socialization of course.

           It’s time for our first subject and just like with the previous years we will start again with self-introductions. I keep telling myself that this year’s introduction will be entirely different than the previous year. For the sake of my dad working abroad, also to impress my special someone, I want to show them how much I’ve grown, my transformation. It is time to show them the new me.

NEW ME

           I am only waiting for my turn but this time there is no nervousness present inside me, it is just me practicing my lines and working on how to improve my performance. I am next, I stand up confidently approaching the front facing everyone. I started my introduction, it only last for a couple of seconds to finish. While I am doing it I saw their eyes fascinated, I can tell that they’ve notice it, they’ve seen a new person, the new me.

           From that moment I have gained credibility. Some of my classmates trusted me as someone capable. I become the leader to some group activities not just in Math which I am very good at. I lead them very well, we got good scores, I have started the quarter very well. After that things become look good for me.

           Unlike before, I was not able to ace my exams because of my carelessness; I don’t read instructions, I don’t review my answers. But now it’s different, I can see the difference between my exams scores back then and now. Another aside from being careless, my problem before is that I don’t do my assignments. I spend my time to things that are less important. Though that is the case before, now I am doing all of it, I manage my time so I won’t get stressed.

           I really think that my new self can reach the top. I have manage to fix the flaws I have in the past. Each day that passed are fulfilling; I am really living my life now. However this is also the time I am caught to a huge dilemma.  

DILEMMA

           Dilemma is a phenomenon wherein an individual is having a huge difficulty to decide or choose from his/her given options. This time I am experiencing it. Remember the guy I asked for help for me to show my feelings to my special one? Apparently, he himself is making moves to her and little did I know that they are already close to each other. I was betrayed. It was so painful, I don’t know what to do anymore. Then, before I know it, I am forced to decide. Should I do something? Or let things by? I chose the latter and observe things first.

           The day has come, it was her birthday, I’ve got nothing for her, I chose to observe first after all. Well nothing special had happened for the mean time but his surprise came in the afternoon. As fas as I remember his surprise for her consist of cut-outs, he let my other classmates help him to hold the cut-outs. The girl is blind-folded then he remove the blind-fold then that’s it. For me that surprise is not that much but when I look at her face, her smile and appreciation to what Leimar did is the real thing. It makes me wish I can do the same.

           I came back thinking again but this time, I changed my decision. I am going to do something about it. I may lose the battle but I will win the war. My comeback will be in February, Valentine’s Day.

           Buying gift is child’s play. The problem is the money. Right now my funds amount to zero. “Tssk”, another dilemma I am having, should I sacrifice some of my allowance or choose a simple gift. I chose the earlier because I wanted to buy a gift she can consider special. I need to lose something to gain some after all. I don’t want to compromise anymore. I want to reach a turning point.

TURNING POINT

           It is time for my fateful day. I’ve already finished shopping for my gifts. Well it’s just a couple of chocolates but my feelings are there. My three month’s worth of savings just for this day.

           I have already done my research so I know where her house is but actually I went to Ferdie’s and asked just to make sure. This is it, I am in front of her house, I’m so nervous but without further do I called her.

           Dogs started to bark. Yes, dogs, there are many of them, I was afraid to get bitten but still I called for her with a louder voice. Good thing she heard me. She approached me, asking why I am there. “Happy Valentines, here take my gift it’s for you”, I said. She happily accepted my gift and say her thanks as an appreciation of what I did. That time I already know that we were not meant for each other.

           Her face as she accepted my gift is different. I mean at the time Leimar surprised her, her face was more happy and colorful while when it’s me, she is just being considerate. No feelings came back for me, just mere appreciation. It’s painful, not only I lost the battle but I also lost the war. It took me a week to recover and moved on. From that moment I just focused myself on my studies.

           I have achieved many things after that day. I won 1st place in “Gayang Gaya SiyangSiya” a contest wherein I impersonated Adolf Hitler. I also won back to back in Editorial Writing English on our SPJ week. Not to mention my grades keeps getting higher and I ended up as Top 3 in our class. Well no need to mention, I am still far from reaching the boss, Airah.

           That heartbreaking moment is a turning point in my life. I have manage to use the pain as strength to keep fighting. I am only getting started. This school year helped me grow even more; by realizing the pain I become stronger than ever. I can do more things from now on. Next year will be interesting.

CHAPTER 4: TRAINING GROUNDS

           Time sure flies fast. Before I know I will be graduating Junior High. They keep pressuring us, telling us to be good students, we are leading the school paper after all. Though that is not the case for me, as someone who is not needed, I am not pressured at all.

           One of the darkness our curriculum has is that they are doing a labeling with its students. I don’t know if everyone thinks the same but this is what I believe. “If you don’t have it they don’t need you”, you are not given importance, they won’t even bother to train you. I realized this because me myself have yet to compete in DSPC considering the number of years I am in SPJ but for the first time I’ve qualified to their intensive training.

           It is quite embarrassing that I am competing the spot with two grade eight students. I want to take the spot because it will be very shameful if I loss to grade eight. I write, write and write. I did my best to every article I pass but it’s no good. It’s pretty obvious that I am falling behind the standings. In the end, I am not chosen.

           I realized that writing is not really for me. I don’t belong to this field. However, just to clear my frustrations I tried reading our school paper the previous years. I tried to find what I lack, I want to know what my writing missed. After doing that I am convinced that I really am not fitted here.

           The articles I have read are something that can please the judges. It was so sad, I cannot call it school paper anymore, it was not for the school, the paper is made for the judges. Just to continue the prestige of our school, our school paper have stoop so low. I can see the writer’s hardwork in their article but I cannot hear their voices as to what they really wanted to say.

           After that I swear to myself that I won’t become like them. This school year will be my training grounds before Senior High and I won’t let them influence me up until the very end. I don’t belong here. I will find the place where I belong.

THE PLACE WHERE I BELONG

            I have gotten over my frustrations with regards to the results of the intensive training. After that I started to search the place I know, I belong to. Then I saw Mr. Almonia the coach of the baseball team. An idea come up, “that’s it why don’t I try joining sports”, I said to myself. With new expectations coming I talked to Mr. Almonia in MAPEH department with joining his team in mind.

           “Sir, I want to join the baseball team”, I speak lively. “Oh! I know you, you’re from journalism right?” he asked. “Yes sir, anyway please let me join the team”, I replied. He told me to come back tomorrow for practice. I was excited, thinking that I will be doing something I’ve never done before, I am all fired up.

           The next day, I went to the field right after the class. There, I saw the other students who wanted to join the try outs for baseball like me. “Okay time for warm up, jug 10 laps across the field”, said our coach who just came. We started lining up and jug as we are instructed. At first it was easy, but when we reach the fifth lap I notice that I am falling behind. The others are leaving me, it’s hard to breathe, I feel dizzy and very tired. Fortunately, I’ve finished the 10 lap jug however, I am already worn out, I cannot move my legs and it is just the start of the training.

           Next, we are asked to do some drills and we will be doing it for half an hour. I’ve tried my best to keep up and to avoid falling behind. With an undescribable face I’m having I’ve finished all the drills. After that is the real training, catch and throw.

           At first, I am having difficulty catching the ball, I am bew to baseball after all. Sometimes I got hit but sometimes I catch the ball frequently. The training is over. That is the longest two hours in my life. It’s very tiring but every moment is fulfilling. I swear to myself that I won’t quit, I will stay here, to the place where I belong.

SHOES AND SPECULATIONS

           I’ve been doing well in my practice in baseball. In fact I have already secured a spot in the first nine. Though everyday is tiring, I don’t regret joining the team. It was more like ‘why I haven’t done this before’ that is the feeling I am experiencing now.

           One day, we are doing some practice with hard liners. It was the most painful training, one mistake then it’s ouch. It requires many movements and changing of positions. At one time, while I am doing this training, my shoes broke. I was asked to leave for a while to find some shoes for training. Knowing this both my teammate and classmate ‘EJ’ give me some spiked shoes the next day. He said that the shoes did not fit him so I should not worry. I thank him afterward.

           What he told me after is what’s important. “Are you going to be okay? I think joining baseball will make your grades lower. Aren’t you going to beat Airah?”, EJ said. “You know EJ, the moment I’ve decided to join the baseball, I already speculated that this will happen. Indeed, as the things as they are now, I won’t beat her but I am fine. In fact, right now is the happiest I can be. I don’t regret anything so don’t worry EJ”, I replied. “Oh is that so? Good for you Kenneth”, he said.

           With the shoes he gave me. I am back to practice. We enjoyed our youth drenching in sweat. Spending our days under the sun. Ignoring all speculations building up, we spent the year playing.

           Well all good things come to an end . I finished being top 8 in our class, well that is not bad considering I miss a whole grading playing baseball. I have trained myself this year as planned. I’ve upgraded both mental and physical strength of my well being. I think I am ready to become a senior high. However, before that is a peaceful goodbye. Time to bid farewell to my dear classmates.

PEACEFUL GOODBYE

           Everyone is in their uniform. They have their parents with them. Some smiled and some are serious, variety of emotions filled the SPJ hall as we attend our moving up ceremony. This will be the formal closure of our 4 year relationship. Though most of it is for the sake of socialization, part of me is screaming, I don’t want to lose them.

           A music played. It was the graduation march. One by one we approach the stage, received our diploma and took a picture with our parents. It was a wonderful experience. I can see my classmates in their very best faces or maybe their image of relief as they overcomed a huge obstacle. I am holding tears not of sadness but of joy.

           Next, as the program proceed we are to sing the songs, ‘Glowing Inside’ and ‘Thanks to you’ as a commemoration for the efforts of our parents and also for ourselves who survived this ordeal. The emotions of each and everyone can be feel as we end the program with a message from ‘Gwyneth’ our class valedictorian, well nobody really recognized her as one but anyway her message for everyone are really from her heart.

           The program ends, everyone are telling their goodbye’s with each other. As for me, I am contemplating about what happen for the last four year, I am thinking of what I will be from now on. After that I bid farewell with everybody.

           It was a very good year. I am satisfied. However, I need to get over with it. I am now approaching Senior High School. I am still undecided so I choose General Academic Strand. This will be a new challenge to me so I want a jump start.

CHAPTER 5: MATURITY

           I’ve finished Junior High with no problems. I enjoyed my vacation to its fullest. I’ve been gathering many rest as I can cause I am set to a battlefield. I need to get a hold of myself to keep up, Senior High is not easy after all. It was around the month of May, the day of enrollment. Three days before that I am still thinking what strand should I enter to.

           Since I am still undecided, I go for GAS (General Academic Strand). I don’t want to rash myself deciding, it was a crucial one after all. It was the safest choice to make because it can direct you to any fields. So I have made my mind, I will go for GAS. Few days later the time has passed the enrollment has come.

           It was a sunny morning, a summer day indeed. I patched myself up preparing for the enrollment. I brought a single pen and remembered all my basic information to easily fill up my form. Though, it is not surprising the line is very long, well it is the first day, what do you expect? I didn’t notice that it was Martin who is at my back.

           “Hey! Kenneth we’re taking GAS, don’t mess up the form okay?” he said. I didn’t respond actively out of boredom, I just nod my head to express my answer. We were planning to request for us to be classmates anyway. I am next, the guidance counselor give the form, I filled it up no problem after that we speak our request. “ Well what do you know, maybe? I think?” he answered.

           After that we leave, however when I looked back I saw sir Justin’s face, he was not smiling, as though as if he is telling me that our request won’t happen. I know, I understand what he meant and I know that rejection will be for the sake of both me and Martin. I just smiled back at him, give a face that understood everything. Oh great! This will be a great beginning. This will be a jump start.

JUMP START

           As expected, he didn’t fulfilled our request. Martin is assigned to GAS-K while me is on GAS-J. Well for me that might not be so bad, we’re neighbors after all. We can see each other’s faces during our break time and that will be good enough for the situation. Anyway, speaking of my classroom, all I can say is that it a ‘disaster’. Why disaster? Our room only had a single fan, also we lacked chairs and have an hip-hop adviser. He entered the classroom with earphones on, walking while following the beat of whatever he is listening. Oh my God! What a disaster indeed.

           As usual, we had our introductions, orientations and rules and regulations. That is pretty tiring, repeating a single thing all day long? I can’t do that. Then someone came, as if God have fulfilled my prayers, that something new will happen. Oh! What a surpries, it’s him, Sir Justin. “Okay, who wants to transfer rooms?”, he asked. Without thinking I raised my hand, trying to escape that hell. It’s good that I am considered.

           We are brought to section N, a newly formed section out of nowhere. Well, all I can say is that it’s worse than before. No teachers are coming, we literally spent hours on day dreaming and praying that something better to happen. Then after a few hours, sir Justin came back. Since there is a conflict in schedule, it was decided that we in section N will be divided into different sections. I was transferred to class A an ABM (Accountancy and Business Management) section. It is said that our first semester will only cover core subjects so me being GAS wont be a problem.

           However, that is not the problem, the problem is that class A is where my new special one belongs, AirahApulog. I was happy even that is caused by some random jumping into different sections.

           How ironic that my great jump start falls to the place where I wanted to. I fall to become a classmate of where I fall into. But little did I know that being captured by her charm will be the start of my shouldered responsibility.

SHOULDERED RESPONSIBILITY

           First three weeks, it was boring as hell. DepEd should really work on a better diversion; using the oriention as a lame reason to cover their failure to complete the teachers for each section. I’ve felt pity for Cornell University because all of us thought of burning it literally on our minds. The reason? Cornell Note Taking System. All of the teachers has this lesson, what’s more the multiple intelligences in addition. Well anyway these three weeks of hell went fast and we finally had our normal discussions of lessons.

           Two months have passed from our first day. It was the time for the SSG elections. Some of the Junior High students are looking for a representative for the MAGKAISA partylist for our year level. My special someone, Airah became interested, she approached me. “Kenneth run for governor, I will be running for your party”, she asked. Actually I don’t want to run, however she had a very powerful pressence, my answer should’ve been ‘no’ but what came out of my mouth is ‘yes’. With that I filed my certificate of candidacy with some of my gathered co-party. We had a meeting, a strategy for us to win.

           We had our campaign, I just spew some nonesense, something the audience wants to hear. I believe that lying is necessary to get votes, all that is needed is to prove something after the election. The election came, I’ve got confidence, I had good feedback to my speeches after all. In the end, it was a landslide, out of atleast 400 senior high students more than 300 favored me to become the governor. It was successful, all my efforts and hardwork just for her request. Well she won also and another one of my co-partylist. The rest came from KAMAG-ARAL.

           Just to impress er, I’ve put myself into a pinch.Since I am already there, I acted with the weight of an SSG governor. I am the representative of the whole senior high school. I know it will be difficult but I’ll do my best to cope up. Having the authority and power I’ve learned about riding the flow.

RIDING THE FLOW

           After winning the position, everyone had high hopes. In my campaign I’ve promised so many things after all; separation of junior to senior, sound system, functional comfort room and curfew. I speak all these promises just to win the election. However it was actually very hard when the time comes to fulfill these promises.

           I started with the most easy out of all my promises, the sound system. All I need is to request it to our principal, wait for the approval and arrival and that’s it. So I immediately went to the principal’s office. “Good day, Mr. Mercado, I am the SSG governor of Senior High, I would like to address some concern”, I said. “Okay what is it about?” he answered. I told my concern about the sound system.

           “Why do you need a sound system? How big is the sound system you needed? When will you be needing it?” a barrage of questions came. I was shocked, those are so many questions. Thank God I was flexible enough to answer all of them well. He agreed to my purpose, he promised me that the sound system will come by next week. I was happy for the result.

           After that meeting, there is something that I realized, that I am a different person now, that my action won’t be my own action anymore. That everything that I will do will be reflected to senior high. That is why, I need to get a hold of myself. I need to change, I need to do something about this. I need to ride the flow, go with the system and always be ready at all times. I am not only Kenneth JhobLasala anymore, I am the governor of Senior High.

           To further improve myself, I need to get used to work. I need to increase my workload so that no task can surprised me. I’ve decided to play baseball again. I want to challenge myself how far can I handle all of these in my current strength. With this conviction I found what I needed, that is fulfillments and realizations.

FULFILLMENTS AND REALIZATIONS

           Sweat are flowing continuously, itching to catch every ball that comes, I’ve hold my breath non-stop just to keep up with our current pacing. During class I do my best to get higher marks as possible. In the afternoon, I play as hard as I can to secure a spot in the roster and leave no regrets. It is not simple, being a good athlete and a good students at the same time and also being the governor of Senior High. Everyday is tiring. I do nothing at home but to take rest but that is only what you think. I go to the market for our dinner, cook our food and wash the dishes.

           I am so tired that I want to quit all of this crap. I even think of not attending school to took some rest but I can’t. I love school, I love education, I love my teachers, I love my schoolmates and I love playing baseball. Now I knew why can’t I quit. Even though I am tired of doing all this these things, I realized that it is because I love what I do, that I can muster some strength to carry on. That even though I am hurt, I can smile because my effort comes with passion. This realization serve as another challenge for me, I need to do the things I love without abandoning any of them and in order to do it, I must improve, I must get used to it until I am fulfilled.

           This fulfillment will take me to higher heights. A place even me haven’t reach. I would like to see the view over there, feel what it is like to stand over there. In order to do that, I must improve myself again and again and again.Well, learning don’t stop after all, it’s limitless as long as you accept its lines. I need to do that much, I am planning to raise my family when I grew up after all. What are you thinking? That I might grow old being single. I won’t let that happen to me. I have dreams and I want them all to be fulfilled.

However, whenever there is fulfillment and realizations it always comes with disappointments and rest

DISAPPOINTMENTS AND REST

           It was a tight situation, the score is tide. One mistake and we will lose the game. Tack! The ball flew far away, approaching me, I run trying to catch the ball. Yes! I caught it, but it does drops out of my hand. The runner scored and we lose the game. I was very disappointed at that time, thinking all the training I had, it was all wasted. We lose because of me, if only I caught it, we would’ve a chance.

           I was depressed at that time, blaming myself for the loss. I even had nightmares of it, I can’t sleep well. In order to move on, I called all my teammates to talk. “Hey guys! About the game, I am sorry, we lose the game because of me.” I said. “What are you saying? We lose as a team. Don’t blame yourself, you are not the only one who made a mistake. Cheer up, Kenneth! Next year, we will rock the Provincial Meet.”, our captain said. Holding my tears, I thank them. I realize that I’m not alone, my disappointments are my disappointments too. It was good to have your team at your back. We all swear the same thing after that. We promised that we will do well next school year, a comeback for our school.

           After the talk, I went to the faculty to greet my teachers. We did some talk and home after. I was with Ms. Rhea on my way, we took the same tricycle. I talk about the game, my dissappointments and my feelings at that time.”Well, atleast you will have your rest, you can focus now on your studies”, she replied. “That might not be so bad”, I said.

            I’ve felt lighter at that time. As if a burden have been lifted from my shoulders. I see, now I understand, so this the gain you get from losing. After that I am  back to work. A simple student, a governor to add, this senior high have been giving the fun I’ve always longed for. I was looking forward to myself in the future. What will happen to me from here and beyond.

FROM HERE AND BEYOND

            Being a Senior High school student is very fun. I’ve always enjoyed it. With this enjoyment I am experiencing, it’s quite disappointing that I need to decide on a major situation, switching of strands. I’ve been always wanted to become a teacher, school has been always my paradise after all. However, the problem is my family, I wanted to support them and give them a fulfilling life. In order to do that, I need a huge salary, something a teacher won’t have, that is why I’ll become a seaman. Since, I really wanted, I went for HUMSS, my plan is I become a seaman and support them first. Once they are stable, I pursue education. Going HUMSS will make it easier for me.

           My semestral break went so fast because I spent it to the provincial meet literally. I already enrolled myself and switched my strand. I think I am ready for second semester. I ended my fist sem with an average of 93.97, that’s not bad considering I played for a whole grading period. I wonder how I will fair this time.

            Next paragraph, first three weeks I am at HUMSS-I, new classmates, teachers, and subjects to deal with, when I can say that I will manage somehow the learning areas in HUMSS; World Religions, Discipline and Ideas in Social Sciences and 21st Century Literature, just needed focus and understanding.

            Since this is my last topic in chapter 5, you won’t get that much information. However, if you are curious about me, you can always observe my daily school life. You will go to the 4th floor though. There’s so many things that I haven’t included in this chapter. However, one thing is for sure, my story won’t end here. In fact, this is where it will start. You may like to know my story, well what do you know? You are maybe curious about my story because here and beyond, it’s not over yet.

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TRAVELOGUE

How do you spend time in Manila?

Travel in Tandem

               Manila— being the city of the Philippines, is the most visited place in the country. There are plenty of people, tourists from all over the country and the world are visiting Manila. Out of curiosity my friend, Crisha Jane Reyes and I, Shekina Viel Dolorito decided to explore and travel to Manila trying to discover the beauty that people even from different parts of the world are trying to see and experience in there. The trip that we had served as both relaxation and an adventure to the both of us.

               First, we planned which places in Manila we’ll be visiting first. Since Manila is a huge place you would never want to get lost in, we listed down places that are quite nearer and familiar to us and that list includes Rizal Park, the National Museum and SM Mall of Asia. We also considered our budget before we go for travel. We decided to have a minimum of five-hundred pesos as our budget for transportation and food expenses. Of course, since we’re still students, we also have to ask for our parents’ permission before going out with just us. Saturday, March 3 this year, we decided to make our planned travel possible. We waited for each other in McDonald’s Tanza where the buses going to Kalaw are stopping. From Cavite to Manila our estimated travel was around an hour and thirty minutes. With Rizal Park as our first destination, we went to Kalaw and first ate in ChowKing.

After filling our stomachs with Beef Chow Fans and a Wanton Mami, we made a short walk to the National Museum which is just a walking distance from where we came from. Supposedly, we are going to visit first the National Museum of Fine Arts but along the way, we saw a man on the street acting not so normal that made us take a U-turn. Good thing is that there are two museums near the park and that made us decide to just enter the National Museum of Anthropology. It was just around 9:30 that time so we had to wait for another thirty minutes for the museum’s opening which was set to 10 o’clock. While waiting, we took a somehow long walk around the park and had a pictorial while we’re walking. Finally, after 30 minutes, they opened the museum. There was already a line of people in front of the museum waiting for their turn to enter. We were excited as we reached the staircase of the museum. We took a picture and entered inside it. Because of the museum’s reminders, we checked in first and put our bags in the baggage counter. After that we finally had a walk and looked at the museum’s artworks and masterpieces. It was as if we were brought back to the past and the history was brought back to life. It was fun seeing people from other countries inside, curious about the history of our country. We also saw people with disabilities having trip inside and some students in their fieldtrips. It was tiring but all worth it because of the knowledge and beauty we gained and saw from the inside.

               Moving forward, we went out of the museum and took a walk towards the monument of Rizal. It was a long and tiring walk because aside from the distance is somehow far from the museum and we already had a long walk inside the museum, we were walking under the scorching heat of the sun. After taking pictures in the monument of Rizal, we walked towards United Nations Avenue to ride an UV express going to the Mall of Asia. It was really hard to cross the street of Manila despite its traffic lights. Even looking for something to ride into was really hard. After ten minutes of walking and waiting, we were finally able to head to Mall of Asia. The ride from U.N. Avenue going to MOA costs 25 pesos per head which was really good news for us. The first thing we had in mind the moment we reached MOA was to eat. Having McDonald’s MOA as the first fast food chain we saw, we immediately entered and ate in there. It took us an hour and thirty after we exit McDonald’s.

               It was just around 2 o’clock in the afternoon when we decided to walk around the mall. We went to the footbridge going to the sea side to look at the huge Ferris wheel at the distance. There are so many people below because of an event that time. It was such a waste because we were really planning to stay until the sun sets in the sea side but it was closed due to the event. This just made us realize that not anytime, and not every moment that we visit SM Mall of Asia in Manila, the sea side will always be available for sun set viewing. It was really somehow disappointing when we knew about the sea side to be used for an event. We really planned for MOA to be our last destination and for the sunset viewing to be the ending of our travelogue. But from all the fun and enjoyment we had and the experiences and moments we shared with each other, we realized that no matter how tiring roaming around Manila is, seeing the beauty of its view, the sound of the cars, the people from different places and countries having fun and smiling, and all the happiness and lessons that place has, it was all worth the trip. Manila is a place full of history and beauty and we were yet to discover all of those. We know that we saw from our travel are just few of Manila’s exquisiteness. There are still many places and secrets that we are yet to discover. So, for our next travel, from the lessons we had from this trip, we will make it sure that we’ll be able to uncover and explore more of Manila and the secrets it has.

               Before ending this travelogue, we would just like to give a piece of advice and tips regarding the things we should be reminded of before we proceed to our trip to Manila:

TIPS ON TRAVELLING TO MANILA

1.         Plan before you go – always plan your trip before you go. It’s really hard to travel without any plans in you. Plan not just where you want to go but also the things you should be having with you and the activities you want to do on your trip. You can always search about the place you want to visit through the internet.

2.        List down places in Manila where you want to go – aside from choosing the place you want to go to, you must also check on the parts of that place that you can visit. Like in Manila, Manila is such a huge place you may get lost in. In order to keep you travel at pace, you must select places you only and really want to visit.

3.        Make sure all your things are ready before you go – always make sure your things are complete before your travel. Once you are on your way, you can never come back immediately to get the thing you left most especially if you’re going to travel far away.

4.        Make sure you have a travel buddy – your travel will all be worth it if you have someone with you. Travelling alone is a bit boring because you get tired yourself and you have no one to accompany you that is why it is much better to travel with someone by your side.

5.        Bring extra money – having extra money and a budget for your travel is the most important thing to consider because you will not enjoy the trip if you have no money to use to buy things you might like along your trip.

6.        Bring extra patience and lots of energy – above all, this is the most important thing a city traveler must consider. You must always have the patience and energy to travel in Manila. Since Manila is a huge city and there are lots of people in there, surely there will always be traffic. We all know that traffic is really annoying, it will surely make you not enjoy your trip. And not every time, there are always vehicles that are available in there to send you to your next destination. So you will really need a really long patience to wait and extra energy to travel in Manila.

Standby for pictures! Wait and see how beautiful Manila is! :)

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WAYS TO SOLVE WAKING UP EARLY PROBLEMS

           Many people can’t wake up early because they lacked of sleep and spending their time using gadgets and playing online games and etc. So that it will cause bad consequences like being late in school. What will need to do? Where do we need to start? How to solve this kind of problem?

           Base on my research, expert said that don't go at the bed at 12:00 if you cannot wake up early, than earlier you plan to wake up, the earlier you should go to bed. Also expert said that if you have a home work or project in your school, do it after class and finish it ,so that your mind will not thinking and you can sleep at the right time.

           And the last, think about the consequences of being late at the school, all we know that all of the school have an attendance requirement to observe your movement and to know what will need to do if you are always late in your class.

           We do not want to stay awake without doing too much, and it’s a good idea to sleep early so will not able to late at school. It is better if the activities we cover early, so we can rest early and to get right on time on the school.

           To sum it up, the urge to wake up starts with us. We need to fix our sleeping habits and time priorities. We need to start these ourselves because as everyone knew, time won't wait us to wake.

- Angelo P. Tamio

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"Rainbow as the sign of hope"

Life is full of ups and downs. Not all people have a perfect life, but every struggle or trial in life can give us a lesson that can help us be strong enough to pass all obstacles. I thought that life is just a thing to do just live and continue living but it changed when I faced the most painful struggle in my life. I was just 12 back then when my father was gone, he was a very loving and caring father I could not wish for any other father just only him. That time I thought that I had a perfect famil but I was wrong, it was just only in my mind because that time I never had a hard time. I never knew that it will happen so I can prepare when it comes but I'm not prepared when it happened and it happened in an unexpected time because that day is important to my parents because we are going to celebrate their wedding anniversary but came up in celebrating his death. I asked God why he took my father all of sudden because my father is just only 32 years of age and he had a lot to do with us but I never had an answer coming from God even a sign I just incuse in my mind that it was his time and God had a reason for what happen so, I had to accept even if it's not easy that my father will never be with us anymore. It's hard to accept but it's for the best to make our heart be in peace and also to us to be happy even though I feel incomplete because he was gone. I know that even he was not here with us he is still watching and guiding us even when I can't see him. We should not place ourself in loneliness because nothing good will happen if we stay in rhe past, we should forget past and start a new. Because life will never sto teaching and also don't stay in the past because could'nt procure the peace in our heart. Even when it happened I knew in myself that my father is still in our heart heart and will never forget. And also to the people in our side will not permanently stay with us time will come that they have to leave for theirs own sake . Acceptance is the best way to make ourself out from what hardful things happen to ourself. We know that life is too short so we need to live to the fullest. We don't know when one of our family member have to leave for good. We don't know when it would be. Even if my father is gone the loneliness of being away from him fades a little because of the loving people around me, they fullfil it by making me happy even though that happiness is not the same as my father gave, but I am very thankful because of them I'm still here standing and more stronger in facing every struggle in my life. I know that they are behind me helping me to pass it and also our beloved God who is guiding us because he knows that we can pass it. Don't lose hope they say that there's a rainbow after the rain in short there's still hope waiting in the end. -Jecel M. Andrade

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“A SHELTER’S LOST HOPE” A TESTIMONIO OF JONALYN G. LASALA

           It was a bountiful month of December year 2008. I was about to obtain one of my life wishes, owning a house.  The decision has been made the time when my husband Aristotle G. Lasala was doing very well in his job as a seaman at Magsaysay Corporation. He said that it was already the time that our family should own a house. Giving consideration to his wish, as her wife I started searching for available housing near Tanza; reason being my kids are enrolled there. This was the time that I met Mrs Joyce Mendoza, a teacher of Felipe Calderon Elementary School.

           Mrs Mendoza was offering a house that is named after her that is still in the process of payment. She suggested that we are to continue paying the house and she will give the ownership rights to us. I agreed to her suggestion a long as proper documents were to be made for the transaction.  Then as the transaction goes, each of us prepared necessary documents to strengthen the deal and the both of us signed the “deed of sale contract” as a proof of our agreement; we also prepared witnesses for the said transaction. A week after the deal me and my family moved in to our new home. My family successfully moved in last January 2009 at Lavanya Subdivision.

           Though the monthly instalment of our house tends to be a bit much to handle, I sorted it out by managing the expenses wisely. With this, my five kids and I, faced every day with smiles even being at the edge.  I should say that the community there was nice; my neighbours were easy to get along with, my kids were actually making friends their age.  It was this moment that I told myself that life was fun and fulfilling. Not until what happened the following year.

           May of 2010. I was at my final month of expected delivery, consecutive struggles been encountered by my family; we had a really hard time pay for the monthly instalment. Actually we failed to pay for three consecutive months from January to April. This became a problem when I gave birth to my 6th kid. The stress built up as it crawls my entire body. It was a miracle that we managed to collect the amount needed for necessary expenses. I thought everything will be okay at this point but it was not. It seems that “First Solid” the company broker that is responsible for the payments of all houses in that subdivision we have lived in, issued a buy back, a document that states that I don’t have the capability of paying for the house anymore and therefore I should . Knowing my rights, I didn’t give up at this point, but it is at this time that me and my family’s life became a living hell.

           The thing that I didn’t understand is that the balance that I was paying is not accepted. They just said that it is too late; a buy back was already issued. I didn’t accept this situation because it was their fault in the first place. I was giving birth to my child and I managed to let them know of this situation, I informed them that I might not be able to comply for the payment to the following months because of my situation and they agreed. That is why; I was shocked that our home was issued a buy back. Knowing this I refused to give up. Then, they started harassing us by using dirty means.

           The harassment started the following months I was issued a buy back. They started the harassment by cutting off our water supply. It was clear to me and my family that this harassment by the brokers, since the water lineage were connected to their tank. They did this knowing we were paid to their water bills. Our everyday became very hard. Not having our own water supply, some of our neighbours let us use theirs.  Every day we are to fetch enough water for the whole day at our neighbour’s house; this scene became a norm for us and had been dragged out for the following months.

           Seeing my kids suffer, I didn’t let things happen. I consulted a lawyer as to how I should handle this situation. The lawyer that I consulted came from the Philippine College of Criminology (PCCr), he was the dean of that school. He said that I had a fight if this issue was brought at the court. He emphasized that we should not leave, we were to stay as long as there is no decision coming directly from the judge. Since that house was sold to ours and we have a legitimate “did of sale” contract, he said that that house is ours no question. This well improved my confidence for the fight.

           The processes were dragged for a long time, even our financial status been taken a huge damage at this point; because of attorney’s fees etc. It was a really hopeless situation for the both me and my family. In the end I gave up, though I still continued to settle deals and making documents that will support my claims for the judgement, I can’t stand the sufferings that I saw to my kids the previous months. We earned a really huge debt, there were also no signs that the opposing party of having the intention of giving up, backing here is the logical choice. My husband also said to stop, that I already done enough, that I already protected our rights, it was just the system that is wrong. My husband also said that I should use this social injustice a lesson so that I will learn in the future.

           Even it is the case; I was not able to accept it. Deep inside me were questions that still lingers in my body even now; why did I fight, for what reason I gave my hardest for, do we have justice at all. The thing is, today I can say that I already moved on but as a lesson from the fear and sufferings that me and my family experienced, we never took another house after that. We just rented somebody’s home. Well I think I’m still afraid to go back to those days that we have suffered; no water, not much to eat, huge debt etc. Though it was my desire to fight that led us to those sufferings I didn’t regret it even once. Though I lost it all, the hope for justice that I still clung till the very end, the shelter called family remained kept and gave me strength that shaped as to who am I right now.

Jannelle Riza C. Lamela

Kenneth Jhob G. Lasala

[itsfictionnotatall-blog]

FOOD BLOG <3 

[itsfictionnotatall-blog]

food blog

I decided with my partner, pelaez to visit the place of mall of asia (MOA) to find food that we may use in our topic on our food blog while we are walking,we first looked for the restaurant or food outlets that inside so that we can add some information related to our food blog after walking all over the mall of asia, we noticed one food outlet named “santinos pizza”  of course the food there were pizza and we know that the one slice of pizza costed $22.00 and there were many flavors presented the flavors were : hawaiian madness, pepperoni surpresa, bacon sausage boranza and the last was barbecue beef and mashrooms. i think that all of those flavors were very delicious especially it we try to experince eating it. the name of the flavor wem very refreshing to hear and very exciting to try. if we order one box or one order of pizza box it will lost $228.00 for 8 slice. we have chosen this kind of food because most of the people in that place (MOA) really want to taste that pizza and it is also popular.                    Our trip in mall of asia has mot yet ended because after we have eaten pizza we, experinced also to drink  “Masatami shake ice” that had also flavors that were: Bubble gum Shave ice, Buko pandan ice with azuki beans,Nata de coco and pearls. this product was very delicious and also poppular to all people there and it cost $90.00

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"A Life that Matters"

(Personal Essay)

Living in this world is not easy. Everyone will encounter different problems, hindrances, pains and troubles in life. Anyone can say being in this world is a great big challenge because you yourself are the one who can make yourself survive in this paradise that is full of mazes. Those mazes are the challenges in your life, that you are the one who can decide if you will accept it or not; if you will survive it or if you will just let it run and change your way of living.

“No man is an island”; a much known sayings of every people in this world. It is true that no man can live without anything here, in this beautiful place. A place that full of trials which makes every people compete and do their best just to prove themselves and others as well that they can do it. But it is not problems and trials that matters and always to happen. There are times that everyone will feel at ease in living. There are times that anyone can say it is good to live and be here in this world. This happens when someone had survived and surpassed the challenges he/she accepted.

My life is not perfect at all. ‘Cause for me, there’s no perfect living. Why and how did I say so? It is simply because my experiences in life reflect on how I managed myself as a person. It reflects how I shaped myself as a human being. My life is not perfect, because I am not a perfect person, too. I made mistakes; I did a lot of wrong to myself and to others as well. I’m only human; I have committed sins. Everyone committed sins. That’s why there are no perfect people at all. The thing here is that, whenever a person or someone have made mistakes, it matters how he/she made a way on how he/she can do a right thing. How he/she can do to change what he/she have done to.

There were lots of people around us. In our everyday living, different people we have met and encountered. If you would look and analyse them one by one, you can say that a simple person means a lot in this world. Let us compare a rich person to a poor one. Yes, you will probably see their physical appearance because that’s what our eyes can see. But why can’t we see and feel them not just by their physical appearance? Why don’t we try to see their inner attitudes? How they tend to be a human? How they show to others that how can people like them will contact by their own way of mingling? Everyone have their own flaws. Even a rich person can make mistakes. If you just based on a person’s status in life, it is literally obvious that those rich people can be in a high position. And those who are poor are always on the lower one. But it’s not always happening that rich persons are on high places consistently. Time will come that there’s a sudden thing that will make them down. Time will come that a poor person can achieve his/her life because he/she has passed the trials that he/she have accepted. Time will come that those poor persons who are always suffer and on the low position in this society became a successful ones. Not just because they have passed their life in a way that they do their best to do it. It is because they believed in their selves; they believed on what they can do, they have strived harder because of a certain goal in their life. What am I trying to say is that everyone in this world was equal. Yes, maybe we can say that it is too impossible to happen, that everyone in this world was equal. Why? Because what and where we are always looking and make based is on the societal statues of each person. But in the eye of our Almighty God, we are all equal; even

those poor people that tries to make them high and have a better and ease in life. Everyone’s life has its own values. It can be seen on how someone handles their own life.

It is true that it’s good to be here in this world and be alive. It doesn’t matter how much we have and own a lot of material things in life; it doesn’t matter how much we kept a treasure. What truly matters is how we live our life to the fullest. How we make a valued living even in a simple life. It’s not bad to dream high. It’s not bad to become a successful person and own a lot of things in this world. What’s important and truly matters is that you didn’t trample a person. What truly matters is how you strived harder and prove yourself that you can do it and you can be someone special whose life is a gift; whose life is a blessing and whose life truly matters because that was the true essence of life; that was the essence of living in this world.

~Erika France S. Demillo

~March 11, 2018

#ALifeThatMatters

#PersonalEssay

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Rochelle May M. Bondal

What I learned in my life stood on my own feet, learn to be afraid of god and the parent, make good manners to avoid trouble and to make people feel good to others because I'm also going to change my mind to regulate and learn follow what others are saying and I know for myself what the wrong and wrong work is or will be. As a firstborn I will do everything to improve my parents' view of me, if I make any mistakes that make me immediately correct my mistake to avoid being hurt by others about what I did wrong everywhere I also find a bad or bad work I will tell them about my changes. But I realize that many people are doing something wrong more than good things.

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Autobiography

I am Ivan L. De Jesus, born on October 19, 1999 the youngest among my four siblings. When I was in Grade 4, I can say that I really am a trouble maker in my school. At such a young age, I’ve already done cutting classes and all those are because of my other classmates and 'tropa' who had a big influence in my childhood. Until the guidance counselors knew about what I’ve been doing in school. They sent a letter to my mom and told her everything about how I was acting badly in school. I saw my mom crying when she was in the guidance office and that really made me feel guilty for everything that I have done. She's so important to me to the point that I love her more than I love my life. I made a decision that changed my life.

At the age of 11, I did some tryout when I heard about our school joining the annual Intramurals in Tanza. I was accepted and was able to enter the game as a player. It was my first fight competing against Our Lady of Holy Rosary Parish School (OLHRS) in the game table tennis. I felt so nervous especially that my competitor is good in playing that sport while I was still a beginner in that game. However, I did not expect that I will be winning the game or even belong to the runner ups either. But expect the unexpected because I won 2nd place also with the help of my fighting spirit.

Because of this I felt motivated in trying to play another sport which is basketball next. It might actually be surprising for nobody knows that I really am a sporty person. This time, in this game and sport, we worked as a team facing the players of Imus basketball team. We played carrying the name of our school and with the help of our coach and teachers, who watched and supported us in our game, our classmates’ cheering for us, we won the game and brought home the medal. All these achievements are just a start of my journey— a journey that I want to continue until I gain the success that I deserve.

- Ivan De Jesus

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              My mother was only 20 years old when she gave birth to me on a cold midnight of July 12 ,2000 in Bautista Hospital, Caridad, Cavite City. She told me that when she saw me, she was shocked because I am just as small as a 1.5 liter bottle and is enough to fit in a shoebox and weighed just about 2580 grams.  My mom named me Crisha Jane Alejandro Reyes which came from a milk commercial. She told me that the kid named CJ in the commercial made her so amazed because of her talents and intelligence. She said that she wanted her baby to be like the kid in the commercial so she thought of a name that is fitted to the two letters C and J and then she came up with my name Crisha Jane. 

              As time went by, my life as a child became more exciting. I entered Sailormoon Day Care Center when I was only 4 years old. I spent my first year of being a grade school student at Bunga Primary School because the other school refused to accept me because of my age which is 5 years old, and there I achieved to be on the honor roll (Top 3). Furthermore, I continued my schooling at Maximino V. Pangilinan Elementary School as a Grade 2 Student and luckily I am the Top 2 of the class. My journey as an honor student continued when I was in Grade 3, I was the Top 3 of the class, Grade 4 is top 3, Grade 5 is top 5 and Grade 6 is top 6.

              I am finally in the new chapter of my life, I entered Junior High School in Tanza National Comprehensive High School and I became part of the Special Science Curriculum where I met my second family, the most amazing and funny people I’ve ever met. Until I graduated Junior High School with me a top 10 of the class. 

             To talk about myself, I am fond of listening to music and dancing because for me it is a great way to escape reality and one way of expressing myself. My love for music pushed me to learn how to play the guitar and is also a great help for me since I love singing. 

             Moreover, I also have two little brothers, the elder one is Zyril and the youngest and cutest one is Jireh Azrael. I can also say that we are a family of shy people, well except my dad. My dad always wanted me to join a lot of singing contests but I rejected him since I have very low self-confidence. I always thought that I’m not that good in singing because I always thought that I am better when dancing. I also love acting, I love challenging myself by trying different kinds of characters.

              From the very start I always want to be a performer and an actress but I know that it would be hard for me but still I am hoping that one day. I will be achieving that dream. For now, I dream of becoming a Psychologist someday.

              In my 17 years of existence, I cannot deny the fact that I’ve been through ups and downs. I can say that I rode a rollercoaster ride because of many problems I’ve been through. There was this time that I can’t help but to cry myself to sleep every night. I felt so helpless, I felt so down that I want to just rest for the rest of my life but still I managed to stand up, to push away all the fears and problems that’s holding me back.

               As I end this story of mine, I want all of us to realize that life is important. Yes, problems are inevitable but you can surpass them with courage and with God in your heart. Always remember that we must not let the things, our fears and problems to stop us from growing.

- Crisha Jane Reyes

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          My dad once told me, “Your mom gave birth to you full of bravery and all.” January 2, 2000, a day after welcoming the New Year, I was born in Del Rosario Hospital, Tanza, Cavite. According to my dad’s story, my mom was calm when they arrive at the hospital he said that she even told the doctor to give her a cue when to start laboring. It must be because my mother is a nurse. However, they had a problem taking me out. Due to position in her womb having my feet first instead of head, the doctors couldn’t pull me out .that was when they started performing a cesarean operation to my mother. My parents decided, when I was a month old to name me Shekina (a name/word from the bible) Viel (a name of a ship, my dad told me that I started to say the word “daddy” but refuse to say “mommy”. When I reached the age of one year old he told me that I began to hold cleaning materials and even imitated my mom as she cleaned our home. After properly learning how to walk and run faster, there was one night I run out of the house on the middle of the road with no one’s notice. About when I asked about why I run out he told that it was because I was looking for my mom. As I grew up, I started being clumsy. There was one time when I stepped on a cabinet and hugged the huge SHARP television and it fell on me. Another one is when I cart wheeled on our bouncy bed and bounced off it back first on our glassed cabinet. The next thing I knew I’m being sent to the hospital crying and got my back stitched still crying. 

          I was really studious since I was a little kid. My parents have been teaching me since I was just one year. My dad told me that I knew and memorize all countries and its capitals all over the world. When I reached the elementary level, I grew up to be competitive. I participated in SUDOKU competitions and recorded 8 seconds for a 6x6 puzzle and a minute for a 9x9 puzzle as my fastest time. I also participated in storytelling and reading comprehension in my 3rd grade. It was in my 6th grade when I got engaged in journalism. I became a more meticulous person as I was set to compete as a copyreader and headline writer. That was also my first airplane ride going to Palawan competing for the same category.

          My love for journalism remained until my high school level as I entered the class with Special Program in Journalism. I was just as typical yet weird student those times. I always wear white socks and even had bangs for my hairstyle. Since I was still childish those times, I really wasn’t able to retain my characteristic of being studious. However, due to the curriculum I was in, I became a part of the radio and television broadcasting group. I even won conferences and gained experiences. This also made me ride the plane more than three times going to different places in our country.  

            But my life is not only about achievements. I’ve been through many unpleasant and life changing moments as well. The hardest part of my life is when I lost my mom when I was in my sixth grade. Brain cancer took her away from us. We were really broken those times. The woman who we used to be with everyday and sleep with every night was gone. Until now, the pain still remained in my scarred heart. My family continued to experience hardships. There are times when we are short in money and there are also times when our electricity and water supply gets cut off. We surpassed all these hardships because of our determination and love for one another. Of course if there are hardships in life, there will still be beautiful and unforgettable experiences. There are moments when we eat together and have good conversations about what has happened to us and that make us one. Even the simplest things/ moments in our life make us happy and contented. 

              In line with my achievements and experiences, I dream to be a trust worthy journalist some day. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a nurse because of my mom. But everything changed when journalism came to my life. I am currently on my last stage/ year in senior high school. As a graduation student in the 12th grade, my aim is to graduate with good grades, enter a good university of my choice and be able to finish my studies to work and help my family. I want to have a job that fits my personality and my choice of course and to be able to have a settled life ensuring my family’s life. Living is indeed challenging it is up to you if you will go with the flow over river full of sadness and hopelessness and or go against it make your life in to a beautiful and worth living one. I chose to pave my way with a rocky and difficult road to a beautiful and bright future .now is not the time to give up. Every end in our life is just a start of something new and better we can create for ourselves.

- Shekina Viel Dolorito

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I’m Rochelle May M. Bondal I was born with my mother on october 11 1999 in the tejero general trias cavite in our house and gave birth to my mother was my carmen but just because our house was lacking in our money so my mother was home. kinder me to enter me near our house, grade 1 of my mother at the tejero elementary school for me to just visit our house. one day a teacher who mistakenly made me cry and stoned a blackboard eraser and I was crying because of the pain of eraser staining to me. Grade 5 held at our school Ms. Tejero and Mr. Tejero joined me and gave me my adviser signing with relatives to make a signature, every time I go home from school I'm accompanying my mother to sign what my adviser gave me, February 16 2011 performed the Ms. Tejero and Mr. Tejero 1st runner up my brother and Mr. Photogenic, I'm the 3rd runner up. Grade 6 we've been working for our school. Grade 11 I was first ashamed of me not like the previous ones who did not interact with classmates I did not know what to do with what I was thinking about right then maybe I fell and did not meet the grade 12. Grade 12 had been fun I'm so kind to my classmates and I'm doing my best to make friends.

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            I was born in our house in Tramo, Tanza, Cavite. I am Jimmy M. Lorenzo, son of Ernesto L. Lorenzo and Jocilyn M. Lorenzo and I have three siblings— one brother and two sisters. My father told me that when I was a kid, I like to play toy gun. Also my father was the one who taught me to read. Unfortunately, when I was little, my younger sibling died because of hydrocephalus. Because we are short in budget to pay for the hospital bills, we were forced to sell our house causing us to rent a house until now. I just want to have a good job to make my family’s life better. A year later, I entered elementary as a 1st grader because I wasn’t able to enter kinder due to my age. I was a really shy person. I remember when I was in my fourth grade, I learned how to gamble and that year was the worst because my mother left us going to Visayas and she did not come back until now. I remember our elementary graduation day the most. We had it while it’s raining and because of that heavy rain, my black shoes got tore and there was plenty of mud in it. So to be able to attend the graduation properly, I wore another pair of brown instead and it made me happy because I was able to climb up the stage to get my diploma. I was already in my 9th grade and I haven’t stopped gambling yet. Things changed when I met this lovely girl named Lucy. She changed me and taught me so many things in life. I stopped gambling because of her. I was really happy because I was able to get my certificate of completion and moved up from Junior High School to Senior High School. In just a bit of time, I will finally be able to get my diploma and graduate from high school with my beloved family and Lucy watching me climb up that stage of my dreams.

- Jimmy Lorenzo