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[koichanne]

Disconnect to Reconnect

The youth today is too focused in the internet to the point where it gets too toxic for them. Too conscious on how much likes they get whenever they post a picture, and some value the amount of followers they get. It’s as if their eyes and fingers are chained to their phones, social media slowly consuming their attention and time. They’re so connected to the internet and in social media that they forget to reconnect with the real world, that they become alienated with one another when their phones are stripped from their hands.

6 AM on the dot was the scheduled departure from Stella Maris College. The break of dawn, the chirping of birds and the numerous yawns from each student can be seen and heard around the High School covered court. Tired faces deprived of sleep. Inside the bus, friends were seated to one another, the two advisers can be seen chatting at the front with the driver, and some can even be seen rushing to complete their Retreat Letters, or commonly known as RL’s. Before the bus started to make its journey to Tagaytay, due to popular belief, it is only right that there should be a prayer with a rosary before travelling to a distant place, especially if there are graduating students on board the bus.

The bus ride to the retreat house was quite calm in a way, some can be seen listening to music on their phones, some were sleeping, tired of waking up so early in the morning, and some were playing games while talking to their friends. When you look out the window, you can see the whole world go by, and eventually everyone in the bus dozed off. The smell of the fresh cold air greeted everyone at the retreat house. It was peaceful, there were bushes of plants and flowers, a great place for a photoshoot later on.

Fr. Christopher Tibong, OFM was the retreat master and moderator for the next three days of the retreat. For the first activity of the day, morning snacks were served and after 20 minutes, Fr. Christopher called the whole batch to the meeting area where he discussed about values and his life experiences. Then he instructed everyone to group themselves according to their respective Responsible Teams, or commonly known as RT’s and scatter around within the retreat venue. Every now and then you can hear people crying, some out of pure joy and happiness, some are because of the sorrow, anger, and sadness that they felt while opening up to one another. It went on for about an hour or so before the class were called back in the meeting place for another discussion.

Then came around dinner time, the kitchen staff never failed to serve us delicious meals. Graduating students of Stella Maris College have been using this retreat house for a long time now. Batch upon batch have come and go from this retreat house and came home full of positivity, appreciation, and love. Participating in a retreat has its ways to change one’s viewpoint after being disconnected from the internet and social media.

Discussions went on through the whole night, but the class advisors that came along, Mr. Rain Rubio, and Ms. Marife Corpuz, warned the students that everyone should be sleep early and that lights out will be on full effect by 9pm. On the second day, the students got the chance to revisit the graveyard of the FMM sisters near the retreat house. The sun wasn’t out at the time, crickets can be heard, frogs can be heard rustling around the bushes, and the night breeze was cold enough to send a shiver down your spine. Upon reaching the graveyard, the sun was beginning to shine and can be seen between the mountains in the distance. There was a clear view of the Taal Volcano on the edge of the graveyard. The students were had a task to do; to each find an FMM sister to pray over and ask for guidance. White crosses were lined up in both sides, the grass was well tended and taken care of, and some even had flowers placed by in small vases.

The routine of AM snacks, discussions with Fr. Chris, breakfast, and lunch. By the time it was the afternoon, Fr. Chris discussed about the importance of speaking up, fighting for what is right, and praying for those who need it the most. Eventually, he instructed the students to stand up on their tables and say share to the whole class what they wanted to fight for. Some had an emotional breakdown due to how the topic is for them. After the activity, the students were sent out to eat their snacks and take their siestas.

The night came around and Fr. Chris led the mass with the students. Each one had a responsibility and task to do, some were altar servers, some were part of the choir, and some were even documenting the entire mass. Happiness can be seen written on the faces of each one of the student, even the advisers. The following day was the last day of the retreat, Fr. Chris had his last discussion to the class and expressed his thoughts on the whole experience with the whole batch of Grade 12 students. It was time to say goodbye, but the students couldn’t leave without saying a proper ‘thank you’ to the kitchen staff for preparing and serving everyone delicious meals and making sure that they were all fed and satisfied.

On the bus ride home, everyone was doing their own thing, some can be seen reading their Retreat Letters, some can be seen using their phones after three days of not using it to reconnect and update their friends and families. Reconnecting with the real world, communicating with other people face to face, and appreciating the nature that surrounds us is a breath of fresh air. After the retreat, the students realized the value of disconnecting from the internet every once in a while, that it can have a positive effect on their well-being, and that they are less stressed compared to when they have their noses stuck to their phones.

[koichanne]

The Symphony of Being Awake

    As I lay down, I found myself staring at the plain ceiling in my room, wearing my earphones and listening to songs that have always been trying to calm me down. Whenever the clock strikes at twelve, silence then occupies the whole area of it. It was a time that I felt free and more of myself. I was alone, but I knew I have someone with me, and that is music. Once I hear the sad strum of the guitar, the gloomy keys of the piano, and the beat that cries for help, a flood of tears gushed down my ashen cheeks. My lips trembled as I cried. Deep emotions stirred with no other outlet but through my long-lasting sobs. The sound of wailing and suffering echoed throughout my room, and I made sure that no one will be able to hear it besides me. Why does music affect me so much? I realized that it was because of me relying on the songs I hear that I became doubtful of people around me.

    Music lets me feel something but later on, it is also comparable to pain killers that serve as my temporary fix whenever things were heavy especially at night. As the stars twinkle brightly and the faint clouds briskly float by the glowing moon, agony filled my heart. Failures, regrets, and expectations flashed inside my head. Loneliness hunted me down as I am remembering the things in the past, how people regret having me in their lives, how they made me feel that I wasn’t enough and how they suddenly left me out of the blue. Music is my sleeping pill. I can’t stand a day without listening to music. It comforted me when I’m down and motivated me to always carry on. It releases all the emotions locked inside of me. Music became my medication to relieve all the pain. It makes me forget the voices inside my head. It calms me down and tells me what to do. The songs that I listen to, represents what I feel. Music is my safe haven. With it, I feel secure that my problems would remain between me and the verses.

    Like a person treating another person as his or her “Tahanan at Mundo,” I relied too much on music. I allowed the harmony to represent who I am and what I feel.  I let my life revolved only on music because I don’t want to be a burden to anyone. I was too afraid to open myself to others and to listen to what they might say until a person came into my life. He was a childhood friend of mine, however, we lost contact with one another for years. He is someone that I wouldn’t expect to reach out with. This person is a friend that always asks me if I am okay. He was the one that told me not to be scared of anything such as expressing myself and what I feel. It took a lot of time for me to open up myself but he was able to wait until I did. The two of us also help one another when it comes to our problems regarding family, friends, and studies. Even when he’s far away, he always makes sure that I wouldn’t feel alone and that a friend like him will always be by my side. He pushes me to do better and to move forward for my future. This person helped me to hear and understand the voices that have always been reaching out to me. He made me understand more the side of my parents which I ignored before. Truly, this friend of mine made a huge contribution to how I view my life now.

    With him, I realized that opening yourself to others isn’t bad after all. At first, it will be difficult since it will make us feel vulnerable however, it’s also nice to get things off our chest. We should not withhold our feelings or bottle up our emotions for nothing. I realized that someone can also be a piece of music that will comfort me every time. There is someone that will be willing to listen to my problems and help me overcome or resolve them. I learned the essence of listening to others and my surroundings. Some people out there just want the best for us but then, we are choosing to not hear them out. An old quote once said that no man is an island, meaning every person needs someone in their lives and one should not fight any battle alone.  

[koichanne]

Embracing the Flaws and Quirks of Life

    “Am I not beautiful?” one of the million questions that had been stuck inside my head ever since when I was in 6th Grade.

    I wake up every day with hesitations of going to school. I keep on wondering how I look in the eyes of the people. “Why does everyone seem so perfect with their appearances?” All these questions became too heavy to carry, so sometimes tears stream down on my face without me knowing. It was at that moment where I felt that the whole world was against me. The words that I heard became knives that keep on stabbing me up until now.

    I remember vividly how my life changed. It was a beautiful morning, my mom prepared me a mouthwatering breakfast with a creamy chocolate milk drink that has a sweet smell and a smooth mouthfeel.  I was on my way to school when the morning blaze suddenly touched my skin. It gave me a sign that there is a blessing that will come, which will make that day different from others. While walking, I thought of random events in my life that I can share with my friends. It was just a typical day, I thought. I imagined that I would be laughing with my seatmates as we talk about our crushes or any hilarious things that we did in the past. However, realities have failed me.

    I entered a four-cornered room filled with students dressed in their uniforms. Some are studying, while some are just having fun. One can definitely sense the good relationship of the students with one another. I smiled as my classmates greeted me a good morning, and then I quickly ran to my friends and joined in their conversation. I see this place as my second home, but I never knew that this safe place of mine will turn into something I feared the most.

“Good Morning class!” our teacher greeted with a booming voice making every one of us return to our proper seats and be silent. After that, our teacher gave us a fleeting smile and focused eyes that seem to have a proper announcement to tell.

“All advisers were told that there will be a book parade next month, and thank God the book given to us is an easy one.” She continued. Everyone in the class started whispering, filling the room with excitement and curiosity.

“What is it Ma’am?” a classmate of mine said.

My teacher replied, “A story that everyone probably knows, The Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”

    The book parade is celebrated every month of November in our school. Each section in all grade levels will be given a book that they need to present to the whole school in any form they want. The most common is by doing a stage play. Since the 4th Grade, teachers would always give me the lead roles. However, with this one, I knew I wouldn’t be able to get picked since I don’t resemble the characteristics of the main character, Snow White. I have long hair, and my complexion is not light-toned, which is the opposite of how snow white was described in the book. My teacher requested me to talk with her outside, and I was shocked when she asked me if I wanted the role.

“Do you want to do it?” she asked while offering me the book.

I was hesitant at first, so I asked while murmuring, “why me ma’am?”

    Then she answered by saying that I was the only one who she thinks can put a lot of effort into the role. Thus, I accepted it since it was my teacher’s request, and I also don’t want to waste any opportunity given to me to show my talents.

    As we returned to the classroom, my teacher announced what we have discussed in front of the class, and I didn’t expect how their responses will be. I saw the disappointment in the eyes of others. However, it was different from what they showed. Their cheers came in an uproar, and everyone congratulated me with a wave of applause, louder than the thunder. For a moment, I felt confused about how they acted, but I did not let it get into me, for it will just ruin the mood.

    The discussion about it continued when our teacher was choosing for someone who can play for the next role, and after that, she assigned me to take care of the other characters. Since we are more than forty students in the class, it is unavoidable that some wouldn’t be able to join. Therefore, I picked the ones that needed more exposure and also the ones that lack co-curricular activities since, in a public school, a student should always participate for the reason that it may affect their grades.

    The day ended as quickly as I expected it to be. I went home safely, and then I shared the news with all the people in our house. Even at first, I already felt the love and support they have given me for this, so I knew I had to work hard and make sure to win. On the next day, I was not expecting that there will be people who will be mad at me. When I arrived at school, I heard that some parents complained about why their children are not part of that said activity. I didn’t know what to do at that time. It was a good thing that my teacher confronted me and said that she already explained, and I shouldn’t be worried about it since she was the one who assigned me. Afterward, I thought everything is already good, but then some of my classmates started calling me names and saying things such as

“You are not fit for the role! I mean, look at yourself. You’re not even white!”

“Why don’t you just plan on bleaching your skin?”

“Others were more suited for the role! Why you, out of all of us?”

“You are not really talented.”

“You were just chosen because you were the teacher’s pet!”

    They continued making fun of me, and it even reached social media. There were posts that even though my name wasn’t mentioned, it was still evident that it was about me. I was bullied for my physical appearance, specifically my skin tone, and also belittled for my talents and skills. I never told anyone in my family about this until my friend approached my mother and told her everything. My family was really furious when they knew about it, so they went to the principal’s office even if I already begged them not to do so. I can still remember how my mom cried in front of the people who made fun of me.

“You have no right to hurt my daughter because even we are trying our very best not to hurt her.” She said while sobbing.

     I was not also able to hold back my tears as my mom said that. It was a time that I wouldn’t and couldn’t dare to forget because I realized how much my mother loves me and cares for me. In the end, they said sorry and promised not to do it again. I was delighted that we settled everything before graduation and ended everything in good terms. In addition, we also won as the champion in the book parade.

    I experienced many things in life that affected me in all aspects, and this is one of those. It changed how I interact, my actions, and almost everything about me. Even after the whole thing, this experience of mine still has an impact on my life at some point. Because of what happened, I became a shy person. I am frightened to show my God-given talents because I believe that others were better than me.

    Being confident about my physical appearance has also become hard for me to do. Every time people would say that I look beautiful, I don’t usually say thank you because I am too afraid that they were not really serious about the compliments they gave. I came to hate the skin color that I have similar to what happened before about my hair. People also made fun of me because of my naturally curly hair, so my mom allowed me to get my hair rebonded, and up until now, that was still the biggest regret I have in my life.

    I am ashamed of the fact that I have let others dictate to me what is considered beautiful and what is not. I listened to everything that they’ve said, and that showed how fragile I was. I questioned what God has already given me because I wanted to ask for more, which is wrong and unacceptable.

    As time passed by, I reflected on many things that have helped me to carry on with my life and shaped me into the person I am now. That day was indeed beautiful and a blessing in disguise because it trained me to become a strong person. It was also because of that event, I wanted to pursue more a profession that will help people that have been abused physically or mentally.

    Each one of us is beautiful and talented in our own unique ways. I have come to realize that we cannot have everything we want, but that doesn’t mean that we are not as good as others and that we are not worthy of their respect. Without this experience, I wouldn’t appreciate more myself and the value of life that is given to me.

    We shouldn’t let others question our looks and try to be someone that we are not for them. We are beautiful whatever skin color or race we have, that is why you should never be afraid to show and tell the world that you are beautiful.

[koichanne]

An Escape from Reality: Onto Cagayan Province

     Cagayan is a province of the Philippines in the Cagayan Valley region in the northeast of Luzon Island. It is richly endowed with mineral and forest resources. Picturesque beaches, cavernous caves, verdant valleys, thunderous waterfalls, swift rapids, breathtaking vistas are the initial Cagayan's nature's delights and wonders. English and Filipino are widely used and spoken in Cagayan. Predominant local languages are Ilocano, Ybanag, Ytawes and Malaueg.

     Last December 2, 2019, my cousin, ate Michelle, asked me if I wanted to come with her there and spend our Christmas break with the family. We also used to live there when I was a child, so this will not be my first time going. I talked to my parents and even begged them to allow me to go, and after days of convincing, I finally got them to say yes.

     Going there from Manila will take you a 14-hour long drive. Three bus lines ply their route to Cagayan, namely, GV Florida, Victory Liner, and Everlasting. We made an early reservation to GV Florida because it's the holiday season and numerous people will probably visit their provinces. The bus fare is 1000 pesos. However, I had my student's ID with me. Thus, I got a discount, and I only paid 800 pesos. When I packed my things, I brought a lot of clothes because I was expecting to go to different places.

     Our trip was last December 20, 2019. The bus left at 5:30 PM and we arrived at Pattao, Buguey at around 6:30 AM. During the trip, I listened to songs from local Filipino artists such as Eraserheads, Hale, and Cueshe to set my mood. There are 3 bus stops, giving the passengers a chance to eat dinner and breakfast. One of the food chains we saw at one of the stops was the Pink Pantry. It is owned by GV Florida, and the setup was close to a carinderia store. They have many dishes that are displayed in front, and you'll have to pick in there. They also have a small grocery shop where you can purchase some snacks and refreshments. By the time we got there, my stomach was already screaming for food. With this, we fell in line quickly. I ordered beef caldereta, while my cousin ordered pork adobo. The food was excellent; however, for a student like me, I think it was too expensive. After finishing our meal, we had to run back to the bus because they were preparing to leave already.

     Thankfully, we arrived at our destination. As I stepped my feet outside, I already felt the cold breeze that I have been longing for. The ground was wet, so it must've rained the night before. Usually, the weather here is rainy every December to January, so it's better to go here during the summer. The bus dropped us to Pattao Public Market, or they call it the plaza. From there, we rode a tricycle going to our house. Seeing our house once more made my heart jump into excitement. We ate our breakfast and went again to the plaza to buy something to eat for lunch. As we went to the marketplace, I noticed that it was still clean, and I even saw some familiar faces. They also called me by my nickname, which is Totoy. Here, you'll see huge varieties of fresh vegetables and meats. Outside, there are also some "ukay-ukays" where its price ranges from 10 pesos to 100 pesos. People started coming, filling the place with a whole lot of noise and crowd, since it's "palengke" day every Wednesday and Saturday. People are yelling, and I can already smell the stuffy stinking air of sweat.

     Around 9:30 AM on the same day, me and my classmates from nursery and kindergarten went to Greenstar Park. It is located in San Vicente Road, Brgy. Bulala Camalanuigan, Cagayan. The entrance fee at the park is only 100 pesos per head, and the cottage rental costs 300 pesos. However, they offered a 50% discount because of the holiday season. Thus, we only got it for 150 pesos. Their pool is open from 8 AM to 8 PM every day. Like other swimming places, they are also strict with the attire. The employees of the facility aim to maintain the peacefulness and cleanliness of the area. The only recommended swimwear are white shirts and sandos, board shorts, cycling shorts, boxers, swimsuits or trunks, and rash guards. You can also rent a room here for as low as 1000 pesos and the whole place for special events such as birthdays and wedding receptions. I think it is an excellent place of relaxation for the entire family. The area is located near the main road, so going here will not be tricky. We went home at precisely 5:00 PM because we don't have a personal vehicle and the last trip of the jeeps in Cagayan is at 5:30 PM. Unlike in Manila, jeepneys are available 24 hours.

     Another part of my vacation here is going to Aparri. It is a coastal municipality in the province of Cagayan. The city has a land area of 286.64 square kilometers which constitutes 3.08% of Cagayan's total area. It is the nearest place where you can find 711, Jollibee, Mang Inasal, Savemore, Mercury and a shopping center called NOVO. Going here will take you an hour or less, depending on the speed of the jeep. We've been to Aparri thrice. The first thing in our itinerary as we got here was to buy something for our Christmas celebration. We ate first at Jollibee; however, it was too crowded, and we had to wait an ample amount of time until there is an available seat. I ordered my favorite, which is a 2 piece burger steak. After we ate, we went to Savemore Supermarket and again, the place was filled with various people. The crowd is rushing to buy ingredients that they need for their Noche Buena. 

     On my second time in going to Aparri, I am with my cousins. We left the house at 3:00 PM, and we arrived at around 4:00 PM. Our primary purpose was to eat at Wings Crave. It was a small restaurant, and we ordered their famous unli-wings for only 215 pesos. They had rules that must be considered and followed, such as no sharing of food and no leftovers because you will be charged with 100 pesos. We had to hurry eating because the last trip of the jeeps was at 5:30 PM.

     My third time going here was with my aunt and my cousin, ate Michelle. We went to buy the needed ingredients for our Media Noche. I got the chance to go inside Aparri Public Market and compared to the Market in Pattao, it is much bigger, and the people are much crowded. I got to buy fresh fruits like orange, grapes and kiwi for my grandparents. Then, we went to the "ukay-ukay". Here they also offer great discounts in their apparel, such as bags and tops priced at only 10 pesos. One thing that I had bought was a beautiful fitted red dress with floral designs. It caught my attention because it has its retro style vibes, and it seems to fit my size. After that, we went to Savemore once more. I tried filming something for my travel vlog inside; however, the guard approached me and said that it is not allowed. He even asked me in a respectful way, to delete the videos I took. We left at around 4:30 PM and arrived at 5:10 PM

     My vacation here in Cagayan wouldn't be fun without the quality time I had with my cousins while going around Pattao. We drove using our e-bike to witness the beauty of nature much more. We also went to the homes of our childhood friends to have a talk with them for a while. Fun fact! They have a different term for streets here, which is zones. Even though I didn't get a chance to go to other places, I am still happy that I had time to relax with an air that is a light, silvery dream. Soft and pleasant like the scent of fresh-cut grass. 

     Aside from the things that I did and places that I went, there are also other attractions that you can visit here in Cagayan. First is Aguib beach or some people call it the Boracay of the North, it is one of the most beautiful beaches in the northeastern part of the Philippine Map. It is located at Sta. Ana, Cagayan. The beach is known for its clear and pristine turquoise waters with powdery and fine white sand enclaved in a lush and verdant mountain which make up for the paradise that it is. Next, is Palaui Island, also located at Sta. Ana Cagayan. It is an island off its shore that offers so much. Palaui Island is made up of volcanic debris. It is home to a fishing community without electricity and commercial accommodation. Its main attraction aside from its beaches is the Farol de Cabo Engaño, an 18th-century lighthouse built by the Spaniards that guides ships entering and leaving Sta. Ana especially those using Port Irene and San Vicente, as well as those traversing the Babuyan Channel and the Philippine Sea.

     Cagayan is my first home, and It never failed to astonish me by the beauty that it possesses. The people here are also amiable and welcoming. They give smiles to everyone, and they talk with respect. My visit here serves as an escape from my reality. I enjoyed every moment that I had, and I got to appreciate more the beauty of nature. My trip here made me realize to take a step back if there are too many problems to carry. Give yourself a rest and a time to reflect so that you will be inspired to go back and face all these challenges. 

[koichanne]

The Voice of My Nation: An Autobiography of Nicole Anne L. Tropia

      I am Nicole Anne L. Tropia, and I was born on February 4, 2003, at Toran, Aparri, Cagayan. My parents are both Ilocano. My father, Allan B. Tropia, is from La Union while my Mother, Ferdiliza V. Lobendino, is from Cagayan Valley. Up until now, they are still not married, and when I ask them why, they would always tell that there is no need for that kind of thing. Recently, we didn't expect a blessing to come to our family. I had my sibling after 16 years, and her name is Allizah Jeanne L. Tropia. The reason why it took a long time for me to have a sibling is that I'm not really fond of having one. I remember telling my parents and other members of my family, "Magpapasagasa ako kapag nagkaroon ako ng kapatid." My family was cautious when they told me about the pregnancy of my mom because they thought that I meant what I said before.

          My family and I are music lovers. We sang along to old CD's, vinyl, and cassette tapes that we have in the house. Collecting old records has always been my family's hobby. Going to different antique shops and record stores is how I bond and spend time with them for a day. Here we get to talk about artists in the past and their contribution to the music industry. A reason why I also love going to antique shops is because of its musty smell together with the vintage set-up and classical songs playing in the background.

          Aside from my mother and father, I was also raised by my grandparents, whose love for me is as deep as the oceans. They are the ones who inspired me to serve and do something for my country like what they did. My grandfather from mother's side, Tatay Rogelio, is a retired Soldier, a Dentist, and a Barangay Councilor. At the same time, from my father's side, Lolo Pido is also a Barangay Councilor and a Farmer. For me, they are my heroes, and I am very proud of them for dedicating their whole life to serve the country and provide the needs of its people. If the sugar rush was a person, then I would be that for my grandparents would always tell me that I was a lively and energetic kid. Every morning they would invite me to go with them to the market, and I will always look for my "Darna" costume to wear. People in the market would always tell me, "Totoy, salaan da kami man mut!" meaning if I could dance for them. "Totoy" is a nickname of mine given to me by my family. They got it from Vhong Navarro's song "Totoy Bibo" which tells about a kid named Totoy who loves to dance in front of many people. Up until now, whenever I go home to our province, people would ask me “Ikaw na ba si Totoy? Dati sinasayawan mo lang kami.”

          At the age of 3, I already started schooling at Pattao Day Care Center in Cagayan Valley. I was the top 1 of our class with an award for consistently being neat and clean. After finishing nursery and kinder in our province, my family and I moved to Metro Manila. Here, I studied at a public school near our house, which is Libis Elementary School. As a child, moving to a different place is quite tricky. I was not used to the surroundings and also the people. However, I found my way of adjusting with the help of my parents, especially my mom. She is supportive of me when I was a child. She would always push me to join different co-curricular activities in our school, whether it is dancing, singing, acting, modeling, drawing, and even cooking. Before, I also joined a gymnastics class in our school; however, after three years, I stopped because we had numerous practices.

          Starting from 4th grade, teachers would always give me the lead role in our book parades. I was enjoying the opportunity given to me to show my talents until the 6th grade. The book given to our section is "The Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." I was not expecting to get the lead role because, in the first place, my skin color is not light-toned, but still, my teacher chose me to play the role of Snow White. Some of my classmates bullied me because of that. Starting then, I lost my self-esteem and my interest in doing things. This event truly made a massive impact on my life.

          As I remembered, my elementary days are also just full of games and stories with my friends. We spent our free time sitting under a tree and talking about our dreams or anything about ourselves. Before, being an only child is challenging because I don't have someone to play with and lean on to every day. Nevertheless, I never really felt alone because I have my friends with me. We usually stay at our house a lot of times and play Barbie's and Legos. Sometimes my mom would also invite them for a sleepover.

          After graduating from elementary, I transferred to a private sectarian school in Quezon City, which is Stella Maris College. When I was in Junior High School, I became quiet and reserved. I wasn't able to show and enhance the talents that I had before. Stella Maris College is a school that I will never forget. Here, I met kind-hearted people. They welcomed me and treated me as a family. I didn't also excel in my academics until 9th grade. My friends, especially Angelica Lorenzana and Frances Lavinia Martin, have pushed me to study hard and do better in my academics. Since then, I became a consistent achiever. I can genuinely say that it is the most significant achievement that I had at that time.

          I continued working hard for my academics, and I moved up from Junior High School. Now, I am a Senior High School student under the Humanities and Social Sciences strand still in Stella Maris College. Senior High School is a time for me to find again and establish my old self. I promised myself to not let any chance to walk out the door, so I joined an organization in our school called Nexus. This organization is responsible for documenting all the events within our campus. There, I slowly found my passion in the visual arts, such as photography and videography. In our subjects, I was also given the opportunity to showcase again my talents in performing arts. Being a HUMSS student has sincerely unleashed the creativity within me. I am now able to speak and perform in front of many people without being afraid.

          In 11th grade, I became the top 7 of our batch. I am truly grateful for this milestone in my life. I have regained the confidence that I had before, and I have adequately expressed myself to other people. Now that I am in the 12th grade and an incoming college student, I have applied to various universities. First is my dream school, which is the Philippine Military Academy. However, I wasn't lucky enough to pass the exam. I felt disappointed with the results because it has been my dream ever since to be a soldier for my grandfather. I had a hard time moving on, but my friends and family made me feel better by telling me that I can always try again, and there are other ways I can do to help and serve my country. Aside from PMA, I also applied to other universities such as the University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and Saint Louise University in Baguio City with the course of BA Film and BA Psychology. At this point, I'm not sure where life will take me, but I believe that no matter where it is, I will always try hard and exert all my efforts to achieve all my dreams.

[koichanne]

- I N T R O D U C T I O N -

    Hello! My name is Nicole Anne L. Tropia. I am 16 years old and a senior high school student under the Humanities and Social Sciences strand at Stella Maris College. A little introduction about myself, I love fashion. You will usually see me thrifting clothes at old boutiques and secondhand shops.

    Aside from fashion, I also love music. My family and I are music lovers, we spend time listening and singing along to old CD's, vinyl’s, and cassette tapes that we have collected ever since.  During my free time, I play instruments like the guitar and the ukulele. I am a huge fan of international and local bands such as 5 Seconds of Summer, One Ok Rock, Eraserheads, and Rivermaya.

    Recently, I also discovered my love and passion for visual arts and that made me consider becoming a film director in the future. I find it amazing how a simple photo or video can create an impact to someone's life. I am actually a member of the Nexus Organization in our school. This organization is responsible for documenting all the events within our campus.

    Moving on, I have a very interesting nickname at home. My family calls me "Toy" or "Totoy." They got it from Vhong Navarro's song "Totoy Bibo" because when I was young, being talented and all, I was bit of a show off. But as I reached puberty, I became a little quiet and reserved.

    If I were to compare myself now to a certain thing that would perfectly describe the very me, I would say a Rubik's cube. Maybe because I am a girl who is still figuring herself out. But in knowing myself, I am someone who is determined and willing to explore new things just like a Rubik's cube that changes and forms different patterns.

That is all, thank you!