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jewelinthepalace · 3 years

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Interview Story

Trust the Process

The ongoing pandemic was a phenomenon that no one ever expected to doom upon the year 2019. It caused economies to fall, societies to struggle, and people to lose those who are dear to them. However, to one specific person, these years wherein we were all locked up inside our houses had pushed them to enter into a drastic positive change. Perhaps, this is all part of the process this survivor continues to believe in despite the difficult times.

Michaela “Mykee” Medina was easy to find in a sea of people because of their booming laughter, loud voice, random jokes, and wholesomeness. They are a nonbinary person who prefers the pronouns they/them. The 17-year-old was already a ball of energy ever since the moment I first heard them. I remember going down the stairs, cramped in a swarm of chattering students, when someone suddenly laughed out loud, enough to get the attention of everyone nearby. It was not simply a laugh as it got on my nerves due to how deafening the person was. It turned out to be Mykee. I was not aware of their name at that time because they were a transferee, but they certainly left a bad impression on me. But maybe first impressions do not last because a few months later, Mykee became one of my closest and most trusted friends. I knew from the start that they were a person who had their social battery filled up to the brim. What I did not know, though, was behind all those hearty cacklings, they were the complete opposite at home.

It was last year when the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic started globally, and most students in the Philippines were forced to adapt to the distance learning setup. Many of the student population enrolled in online learning and Mykee was one them. Unfortunately, the pandemic also deprived the goofy person of their coping mechanism. “Inconsistent yung toxicity sa bahay namin. Yung coping mechanism ko nung face-to-face is gumala lagi or makipagdaldalan sa school kaya never ko naging priority yung academics kasi nag focus ako sa mental health ko, kasi dati pa hindi maayos sa bahay. Pag nasa labas ako parang mas gusto ko magsaya kaysa mag-aral. Dahil pandemic ngayon, hindi na pwede lumabas at hindi ko na nakikita mga kaibigan ko.” They were also compelled to attend online classes, to which they had a really hard time adjusting to since they were getting consumed by the mentally damaging environment. This led to periods of anxiety, especially when they had to attend synchronous classes. I also came to an understanding that the reason why the adolescent seldom attended synchronous classes last academic year for they chose to protect their peace of mind. The year 2020 was when Mykee’s mental health hit rock bottom.

The year 2021 is when students are already at their second time taking online classes, and Mykee was now familiar with the said setup due to being able to adjust to it in a year. Moreover, the teenager had also been attending more synchronous classes this academic year than before, and finally dared to recite from time to time despite the lurking anxiousness. The online learner was not able to keep a perfect attendance in all classes as there are still some courses wherein they do not feel comfortable attending. Still, they were able to maintain good grades in those courses so it is not an issue for them. The carefree individual, who did not pay attention to their academics pre-pandemic, is now taking their studies seriously and even earning remarkable grades. “Proud ako sa sarili ko kasi kahit nahihirapan ako, nag honor pa ako. Kahit sobrang pangit nung mental health ko nung 2020, nag honor pa rin ako sa MCL,” said the Academic Excellence Awardee. This year, the extrovert was also able to depend on a new coping mechanism which is playing games such as Call of Duty Mobile (CODM) and watching on Netflix despite the suffocating atmosphere inside the four walls of what is called a home. They also realized that the reason why they like playing CODM is that they were able to bask in the presence of their friends even through virtual means only, which is quite similar to their old coping mechanism.

This improvement is not possible without any effort exerted by Mykee. It may be cliché, but it is indeed true when people say that at the end of the day, you only have yourself. Thus, Mykee went through all the hardship by allowing themselves to rest. They never pressure themselves whenever they feel like their mental health is hard to handle. They are not the type to organize a schedule of when they should do their tasks because it is more important to assist their mental health. “Mayroon akong own pace kasi alam ko naman na magagawa ko lahat ng kailangan kong gawin kahit hindi ako sumasabay sa ibang tao.” This pace that Mykee set for their good enabled them to give sufficient attention to their mental health and at the same time, pass a much better quality of their activities.

However, growth does not come overnight. Once it is started, it must be continued for a long time. Mykee had already formed a plan that would have happened if not for the pandemic. They are planning to find a job at their age. This is to avoid being dependent on their parents and if ever they get to accumulate a large amount of savings, they will move out of their draining household. The achiever also noticed that back when there were still face-to-face classes, they barely contributed to group tasks and stayed that way for years. But this completely changed since the start of online classes for they were pushed out of their comfort zone. “Nung online class na, yung mga madalas kong maging kagrupo is yung mga kakilala ko from my previous school. Dahil doon, yung comfortable feeling ko na wag tumulong is nawala kasi ayoko maging pahirap sa mga kaibigan ko, kaya first time ko lang din naramdaman yung pressure na tumulong. Namomotivate ako na mag keep up sakanila. The person I like, matalino rin siya kaya ayoko mapahiya.”

Mykee is not a hundred percent okay at the moment, no one could ever be. There will always be problems thrown to our faces as days go by. What is important is we always choose to improve and not stay in the same spot. This year has been a bit better for Mykee but if they were to go back to the past and change something, they would like to immediately cut off people who were bad for their mental health. “Noong 2020 kasi, may kaibigan ako na toxic. Yung number one regret ko noon hindi ko agad siya cinut off, kaya kung kakausapin ko yung sarili ko last year, i-cut off ko na agad yung taong yun once mafeel ko na toxic na. Kasi halos two years rin ako nagtiis sa ganung katoxican kaya lumala traumas ko.” Moreover, Mykee would also like to tell themselves to trust the process, as they always kept it in mind until the present time. The process may be a bumpy road but in the end, they will always trust to be a hundred times better.

Trusting the process was always something I heard from my dear friend, but had never quite believed in myself. It was because I thought we are always in control and responsible for what happened to us. However, Mykee’s story has taught me that even in difficult times, there will still be a light at the end of the tunnel. This process they had been talking about from the start will certainly never bring us to the bad. The desperate straits are part of it, all of which will help us reach the destination that was always meant for us. This destination will always be in favor of me, for Mykee, and everyone. We do not have the same experiences in life but I affirm that each one of us may blindly put our faith in the process we are undergoing, just like how my perseverant friend did. We may not know what is ahead of us but that does not mean life will never get better someday.

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jewelinthepalace · 3 years

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BBL Task 7: Food and Travel Writing

Taste of Home: The Big Four Filipino Soups

The varying weather of rain or shine in the Philippines is not enough to stop Filipinos from savoring diverse types of food. Whether the sun emitted warmth that equated to the temperature of a hundred stoves, or the breeze brought us a cold and dewy shiver, we are always up to digging into any meal. Filipinos like sipping a hot bowl of nutritious soup at any time of the day and year. But there is a wide range of soups in the Philippines, which is why in this article, only the four most common traditional soups will be discussed. Along the way, we may also discover why Filipinos love to indulge in these at any given moment.

1. Sinigang

This sour Filipino soup is probably the comfort food of most Pinoys as it is often enjoyed by a lot of people. On a pleasant Sunday afternoon, Sinigang is what elderly people like to serve to their family members. It mainly consists of sampalok or tamarind, water spinach, green pepper, cabbage, broccoli, eggplant, diced tomatoes, sliced onions, ginger, green beans, water, and salt. The “asim-kilig” taste will crawl on the tongue, bursting into a unique and otherworldly feeling of sourness as it is what mainly defines the Sinigang. The peppers in the stew will also mix with the tangy goodness of the tamarind and is perfect for a not-too-spicy but bold and daring lunch. Sinigang can be cooked with either pork, fish, shrimp, chicken, or beef that is why there are variations such as Sinigang na Baboy, Sinigang na Hipon, Sinigang na Bangus, etc., Nonetheless, all of these are best paired with rice.

2. Bulalo

Bulalo originated from Region 4A or the CALABARZON region which is located in Luzon Island. Despite this, it is still one of the favorite soups of Filipinos nationwide for it brings a special eating experience to whom it is served. It is a broth that is made by cooking beef shanks and marrowbones (buto ng utak) until the fats and collagen dissolve. This is the cause for the prosperous and hearty combination of the beef and broth once consumed, making any Filipino want for more. Besides these main ingredients, the soup may also include vegetables such as cabbage, string beans, onions, and corn. Biting into the goodness of the beef and then following it immediately with the neutral flavors of the veggies will complement the overall taste of Bulalo. If you ever plan to visit Tagaytay City in Cavite Province, a lot of bulalo restaurants may be found there as the city specializes in serving the best bulalo in the country.

3. Nilaga

This is another local broth that may be similar to Bulalo. But this is special in its way as it is easier to prepare and has much simpler ingredients. “Nilaga” is a Filipino word which translated to “boiled” in English. Meaning, the ingredients must only be boiled to achieve the objective of forming a successful Nilaga. This can be prepared with either pork or beef meat, and vegetables such as potatoes, corns, pechay, and sitaw. Nilaga is a simple yet traditional soup that is loved by many Filipino families for it is so easy to make. The meat provides a tender bite, and the broth is perfect with rice and fish sauce or patis. The Nilaga, in appearance, is a sight of yellows, greens, oranges, and browns in different shapes and sizes. It is a view of a soothing yet warm and healthy meal against the crisp sensation that came along rainy days. Eating Nilaga also feels like a warm and relaxing embrace from a person dear to you – it is that comforting!

4. Tinola

This is yet another variety of Filipino soup that is close to the hearts of many families. It is composed of garlic, ginger, and fish sauce or patis. The union of these flavors gives birth to a taste that may be bland at first but will eventually turn into a mix of ripe and salty aftertaste. Tinola is most commonly cooked with internal organs and cuts of chicken meat, green papaya, chili pepper, and malunggay leaves which will also be good to eat with rice. This is what makes the famous “Tinolang Manok” which was even featured in Dr. Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and was often associated with metaphors. Even Filipinos in the 1800s had already enjoyed the satisfaction of eating Tinolang Manok. That is why until the present time, it is still served in households for a special lunch with family and relatives.

These four popular dishes in the local setting are the most common soups that are loved by Filipino families despite a humid, sunny day, or a gloomy rain pour. I call these dishes the “big four” because I think we can all agree that once one of them is served either for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the meal automatically becomes special and memorable to a Filipino. Each of them offers a diverse eruption of ingredients and flavors that in turn produce the taste of home we will always crave for no matter where we are. Try one now and you will be sure to forget your name!

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jewelinthepalace · 3 years

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BBL Task 6: Interview Questions

Growth

Theme: Personality Development

Interview Questions:

1. What kind of person were you a year ago?

2. What are you now at present time?

3. What are the significant changes you noticed in yourself in a year?

4. How do you feel about these changes in yourself?

5. What are the ways you do to improve in all aspects?

6. How did these ways affect your present self?

7. Are you proud of who you are right now? Why or why not?

8. What are the things you have not done yet but plan to do for your personal growth?

9. Who or what motivates you to improve as time goes by?

10. Right now, if you were given a chance to talk to your past self, what would you like to say or advise them?

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jewelinthepalace · 3 years

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BBL Task 5: Profile

Education at Home

Event: Webinar on Student Life during the Pandemic

When: Friday (October 29, 2021)

Target: MCL-SHS Students

Speaker: Michaela Isabel V. Medina

Details of the Speaker:

Bringing joy to the people around them since 2003, Michaela Isabel V. Medina had been quite known in the schools they had enrolled in for the past years. They are better known as “Mykee” and are a 17-year-old energetic individual that exceptionally stands out in the crowd when the face-to-face learning setup was still in execution. However, just like everyone else, Mykee was forced to adapt to distance learning when the pandemic arose in the country. They are currently a Grade 12 student in Malayan Colleges Laguna, taking up the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strand.

Despite the challenging situation, Mykee was still able to obtain the “Principal’s List for Academic Excellence Award” last academic year 2020-2021, finishing their Grade 11 year with honors. Mykee also copes with the quarantine guidelines by playing online games (specifically Call of Duty Mobile), training their dogs, reading, and watching sitcoms and anime.

They will deliver a motivating speech today as they managed to remarkably work under pressure through balancing academics as well as personal life and growth even with the “new normal” taking place. Even before the pandemic, Mykee was already looked upon by others with a fond smile for their personality and character. But now, Mykee continues to excel in their studies. Why is that? This future criminal defense attorney has a story to tell about how they handled Student Life during the Pandemic, for in every situation, they will continue to say, “Trust the process.”

Learning from the Achiever

Event: Webinar on Thinking and Study Skills

When: Saturday (October 30, 2021)

Target: MCL-SHS students

Speaker: Francesca Elaine L. Jocson

Details of the Speaker:

A natural-born genius with an approachable personality is what defined Francesca “Cheska” Elaine L. Jocson. She just turned 18 this 2nd of October, officially making it to legal life. Cheska is a Grade 12 Accountancy and Business Management (ABM) student in Malayan Colleges Laguna, often occupied with computations and business-minded problems. She is truly fitting to be the speaker for the Thinking and Study Skills webinar as she had tackled various academic and personal obstacles throughout the years.

Cheska had proven her excellence in academics, acquiring the Ecclesiaen Bronze Merit Award, Ecclesiaen Silver Merit Award, and Gold Merit Award consecutively during her Junior High School years. Last academic year, she also earned the “With High Honors” award. Cheska had also been recognized for her multiple extracurricular activities. For Campus Journalism, she won 2nd place for both categories of Scriptwriter and Overall Production in the Division Schools Press Conference. She also won 2nd place in the Colegio San Agustin - Interschool Spoken Word Poetry Contest, and Special Citation in the MCL Cup: Intermediate Brainmasters. Her hobbies include cooking, watching dramas, listening to K-Pop, and reading comics.

Her commendable participation and performance in both academics and extracurricular had built her resilience and equipped her with thinking and study skills that may also help us along the way. As Cheska says, “Live life to the fullest because you only get to live it once.” This also applies to studying, and from Cheska we may learn a lesson about it or two.

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jewelinthepalace · 3 years

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BBL Task 4: Diary

Nights Like This

“Mugunghwa kkoci ppieot seumnida!”

The chant from the “Red Light, Green Light” game that went viral was all I heard throughout the past week. The recent hype of the Netflix series Squid Game and spoilers everywhere on Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok was enough to make me convince my uncle to watch it with me. It seemed so interesting, and I was tired of seeing video clips and memes without knowing the context, for goodness’ sake. We agreed to watch it on Friday night once we were all free from our work and academic responsibilities that week.

Friday night came, and we did not know that my mother and her sister (my aunt) also planned on watching the series that night. So, since we were all looking forward to just one series, we decided on watching it together in our sala.

Around 8 pm, my mother instructed us to get the bed foams under the bed and on top of the double-deck inside a vacant room in our house. While I pulled it out back and forth with all my might and inhaled the dusty particles stuck on the foam, a wave of nostalgia hit upon me. It had been a long time already since we last used these foams because we usually took it out when our relatives from Zambales, who are as many as families living in one compound, slept over at our house. One time when that happened was when my other uncle, the eldest out of the four children of my grandparents, got married way back in 2017. We set up the foams in our living room so that everyone had something to sleep on. It was one of the happiest nights of my life because the celebration was so big and meaningful.

Maybe whenever we take out these bed foams, it signifies that a good memory will happen next? I, of course, just invented that. But I noticed that memorable nights do happen indeed whenever my mother tells us to take out these foams. Back to the present time, we put the foams on our long sala. Our living room was long enough to have two sets of salas, so we were able to place two long bed foams beside each other to occupy the floor of the whole room.

We then put a comfy bed sheet on each foam, and brought out the softest pillows and comforters, and laid down on any part we wanted. For me, I chose the spot in front of the TV itself so that I could have the best watching experience. My mom and 3-year-old cousin occupied the sofa right on top of the foam I was on, while my sister and 8-year-old cousin were on my left side. My aunt and her boyfriend, who decided to stay in our house for the whole weekend, occupied the foam on the sala that was far from the TV.

Around 10 pm, my uncle was already done with his work-from-home shift. That was when we started Episode 1 of Squid Game. It had nine episodes, with about 50 minutes each, so it would take us around 8 to 9 hours to finish it. My mom moved to lie down on my right side, so my uncle was able to occupy the sofa right on top of our heads. We also ordered McDonald's so that we could have something to munch on while watching. I giggled at the thought of everyone complaining that night that it had already been an hour and there was still no sign of the delivery. But eventually, it came. We paused the episode while we ate because we gathered on the round table on the other sala, and we knew we would be too busy talking with each other instead of watching.

Throughout the first episodes, I got a bit annoyed because my cousin who was only 3 years old kept running around the foams and screaming since she got enough sleep in the afternoon. It was given that it will be in the nighttime when she would be hyper, but not this hyper! I was just trying to enjoy every bit of Squid Game’s episode, but those who watched with me would often be distracted by my baby cousin. It was irritating because whenever I watched something with someone, I would prefer them to have the same attention on the show just as I do. Nood kung nood! I thought. But it’s alright, I was still able to comprehend what happened in every episode despite my hyperactive baby cousin. However, in the back of my head, I still hoped for her to fall asleep already so that we could watch in peace.

It was around 3 AM when we were already on Episode 5, and everyone besides me was already asleep. In the end, I was the only one watching while my uncle on the sofa, who was still awake, was playing a game on his phone. I chose to let the fifth episode finish before I also dozed off to sleep.

But it was nearing 4 AM when I remembered there were still a lot of dishes to wash, and there were clothes inside the washing machine waiting for me to hang them. Shoot! I’ll surely be scolded if I just let the dishes be and if the clothes smelled foul in the morning. It was such an absurd hour to be doing house chores, but I still handled them. While everyone slept soundly, I was out in our garage hanging the clothes, brain fuzzy from sleepiness. My senses however were on alert mode because I was silently praying there won’t be any ghosts that will suddenly move from the corner of my eyes. I was just scaring myself, but I can’t help it! It was 4 AM after all, and it was not a good time to be outside. I immediately went inside once I finished, and then washed the dishes in the kitchen while pondering over what happened in the previous episodes of Squid Game.

Finally, I was done. I immediately laid down on my previous spot on the foam and allowed dreamland to take me while the lights were out, and nothing can be heard but the soft snores of my 8-year-old cousin and the hum of the air conditioner.

The morning after that, we all kept waking up because my 3-year-old cousin kept on crying loudly. She might be having nightmares, I thought. My mom was also forced to interrupt her slumber and calm the baby down. My aunt and her boyfriend went inside her bedroom because it was SO noisy, it was as if an alarm clock rang, and someone kept on pressing the Snooze button. But in the afternoon, when everyone already had enough sleep, we continued Squid Game and stayed on our DIY beds for another whole day.

Our “sleepover” on our sala was not perfect, and it was certainly not the most comfortable experience I ever had, but it was certainly the happiest I had been so far. My family members and I have never done that before due to our busy schedules, but because of Squid Game, we were able to enjoy each other’s presence even just for the weekend. Maybe it was true that when we take out the bed foams, something good will happen.

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jewelinthepalace · 3 years

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BBL Task 3: Journal

The "Live" in the Living Room

I have always wondered why the central area of a house is called the living room. Sure, it may be where family members often gather. It is where guests and visitors are usually entertained. But what made humans name it as the living room? Perhaps we all have our answer to that.

Our living room is not that big, but it is an elongated room that can hold two “sets” of salas. The walls are painted pure white, with thin streaks of brown wood fastened on the outlines of the ceiling. The floorings of the whole room are light aquamarine tiles, with a few tints of white to mirror the appearance of a true gem.

The first sala, as we call it, is the one that is nearer to the main door. It has an L-shaped sofa that resembles the color of chocolate. Bright, pulpy orange and white curtains in an alternate manner adorn the window above the sofa. In front is an ash, round glass table. Underneath the table is three sturdy oval-shaped mini sofa chairs. The furniture in front of the round table is a piano keyboard that is covered with red cloth littered with touches of black. Some green candles and a pink basket are placed on top of it. The first sala is where our visitors are often told to sit because it is nearer to the entrance, and well, it has more space for seating than the other sala.

In between the first and the second sala, there are two, individual wooden chairs beside the L-shaped sofa of the first sala. Above the mahogany-colored chairs is a red, hollow case that is meant for storage of the AC’s remote. Above the case is the white, rectangular air conditioner. The soft buzzing of the air conditioner can be heard whenever it is turned on but it is not too distracting. It just produces a small, gentle sound that signifies it is properly working and doing its job to make the room cold. A grey door to a bedroom also separates the first and second sala.

The second sala is the one near the altar and has a long, black flat-screen TV on the wall adjacent to the long mahogany sofa and rectangle table. A frame compiling four graduation pictures – the four children of my grandparents – stands high and proud above the sofa, as if it was boasting to whoever saw it that “We were able to produce four children who successfully earned college degrees!” In front of the rectangular table on the second sala, is another wooden table under the wall-mounted TV that is occupied by individual pictures of our family.

A chestnut-colored cabinet beside the sofa holds the framed pictures of Jesus Christ, statues, and medals with saints engraved on them. On the wall above, the biggest and six-sided full-body image of Jesus is hung. On its left is a pink bouquet of fragrant roses that my grandmother received on her birthday in the first week of September. An inspirational story from the Bible is also hung beside the gigantic image of the Lord, and another picture of Him is above the story, but this time showing the head to the chest only. My family is exceptionally religious, that is why the altar in our living room is overly decorated. The second sala is also where we often pray for the rosary and light up candles during special occasions.

The silver, metallic sliding door on the farthest side from the entrance is the gateway to the kitchen and one other bedroom. It produces quite a loud, booming sound if closed or opened with great force because it will collide with the door frame. Beside it is a tall, brown glass cabinet that safe keeps souvenirs of my family from weddings, baptisms, etc.

I could say that our living room resembled a vintage theme. It is mainly composed of walls, ceilings, and furniture that are either white, orange-ish red or various shades of brown and almost all furnishings are wooden. But I do not think it is the appearance that makes up the living room of any house. It is simply where most of the memories are made with our family, relatives, and friends. It is where we share our laughs, where we pray, and where we catch up with the people dear to us. It is what makes life worth living. It is the living room.

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