Love will Sacrifice....

The story all started during the first day of school in Summer Fall High. Tasha entered the gate of the school with hesitation. Tasha was a multi-talented girl. She can act and sing very well. It was her first day in the said school and she did not even know whether she will be meeting plenty of friends on that day. The school principal, Mrs. Baggins, introduced her to her new classmates but there was a sea of blank faces and her classmates did not even utter a single word to greet her or say something to her. Tasha went back to her chair still smiling and sat at the vacant chair at the corner. The teacher called her to let her introduce herself personally. “I am Tasha Mirkwood and I will be staying here for the whole school year”, she said shyly. She went back to her chair and listened to the teacher as she continued the discussion. The bell rang and suddenly three girls approached Tasha and introduced their selves. The one with a black hair spoke first, “Hi I am Anna”, and the girl in red introduced herself too, “this is Jenna and I am Diana”. “Nice meeting you”, said Tasha. They toured Tasha to the whole campus and they passed along the student’s alley when Tasha noticed that there will be a musical play and an audition will be done the day after the first day of the school year. Tasha auditioned and she passed the audition. Time flied so fast and there were practices here and there.

Until one day, she met a boy named James. At first Tasha thought that he was just a nuisance to play but she proved herself wrong, James was a one of a kind boy. James and Tasha did not feel that soon they would be close to each other. They got along with each other so well and became lovers, until the day of the play. On that very day, James had a very strange dream, that her love would die in that very night right after the play because she will be hit by a car. James thought that his entire dream was true so he woke up and found out that it was only a dream. He went to school still bothered by that much unexpected dream. The long-awaited hour has finally come, the play. They were all excited, and Tasha approached James and asked him if he was ready for that moment. James nodded his head and kissed Tasha on the cheeks wishing for good luck. James really loved Tasha so much. The play started and all went well, the audience applauded the play for they really enjoyed the play. The play was at its best and everybody congratulated each other for a job well done and James gave Tasha a hug. James asked Tasha to go out for dinner and Tasha went with him. While they were walking on the street, James noticed that everything seemed to be familiar him but he could not remember where did he encountered those stuffs; he could not remember his dream. As they were about to cross the street, there was a fast speeding car that was fast approaching, and to be able to do something to save somebody’s life, guess what, James did protect Tasha, and suddenly the lights went out. And there were sounds from an ambulance, and there was silence.

Leaving the Portals of UP High

University of the Philippines High School in Cebu also known as UP High is an establishment that gives democratized access to the underprivileged. This means that they offer a quality education to those individuals who could not afford to pay for a good education in schools where you have to pay for huge amounts of tuition fee. The graduates of the school easily get job opportunities. What makes UP High unique? Many things are considered that will make UP High extraordinary. Here, the students enjoy all the wonderful things while learning intelligently; they have very good teachers and very good subjects.

As I leave the threshold of this highly acclaimed school, I will always remember the sweet memories and moments that I spent together with my friends. I was able to laugh, cry and develop my talents at their best. I enjoyed the moments that I was with my friends where we used to sit on the benches near our classrooms and chat until we ran out of topics. I will always remember how we went through the different tests and trials where we always hoped that we will just pass them, because as the saying goes, “you always pass failure on the way to success”. Here in this school I was able to make plenty of friends that I can say are true friends, friends who through thick and thin will never leave you hanging in the air. We get so attached to each other that it is very difficult to separate our minds and line of thinking.

I consider being an UPian as extraordinary; I can also say that my school is an amazing school because I think that it is the only school that offers a quality education with no tuition fee at all. All you have to do is just to pay a contribution. It is the only school that gives a Calculus course for the senior studes and a Research or Technical Writing for its Junior and Senior students. For me, offering this kind of courses will give the students training as preparation for the future undertakings of its students.

Few days to go, I will be leaving the school. I am quite happy and quite sad because I am sure that I will really miss all the crazy things that I did in this school together with my classmates and friends. I will be happy because I will be graduating from a very prestigious university and sad because this place is so special to me. Why? Because there were lots of special memories that are already contained in me that I will forever cherish and treasure. Special things will be a part of my memory.

As I graduate and leave the gateways of this amazing and wonderful school, I know that the things that I was able to do will really occupy a special place in my heart and I will always remember that I was once an UPian and part of Batch 2007, the batch that will always be special in everyone’s heart.

What a Week?

March 23, 2007
Friday, 10:05 PM

Few weeks to go…

After a not so long preparation for the fourth periodical examination, at last I was through with it and I was somehow relieved. The exam started last March 21 and ended on the 23rd. the exam was very alright, only that some items in the test were unexpected. Although some items there I was not able to study, maybe that is why I had a hard time answering those. Right after the examination in Physics, we had our Social Science Test, an extension of the test which we had on the second day of the examination. I really read the notes which I got from our book only to find out during the exam, that most of the items were taken from the notes which he had given, but the test was quiet fun. Our exam does not end there; we have to take the periodical exam in Music, where we have to play our own composition in preparation for our graduation. I was amazed with some of the composition of my classmates, because they got very nice melody as well as well-written lyrics. Our music periodical examination went well. I went home together with my close friends and we walked along Molave St. to get to Ayala. I was carrying my guitar when I rode the public utility vehicle.

After the very hectic schedule of the exam, I am now preparing for our recollection. I was really very busy as I prepared my things but I am thankful that my relatives are very supportive to me. I am happy that they are always there for me. There was only one thing that was really missing inside my bag, the extra battery for my phone, it was lost, and I could not find it. It is always better to bring an extra battery rather than charge your phone because charging will really take time.

Our recollection will be held at St. John’s Mission Monastery in Banawa, Cebu and some of my classmates who have been there before told me that the place was very nice and cool. I was excited to be in this place because it is new to me.

After this recollection, exactly one week after, I am going to prepare again for another camping, a reunion camp that is sponsored by RAFI, that is the Timawa Explore, which will be held at UC-METC in Mambaling, again another camp preparation. But I am sure that this camp will be worthwhile.

I will just stop here because I am very sleepy now. My eyelids are dropping and needs a stick to prevent them from falling, no just kidding.

Write to you soon.

Time to Reconcile and Love

Retreat may mean to withdraw from the war or end and pull back or pull out the troops being deployed in the war.

Last March 24-25, I had my retreat together with my batch mates. Not to retreat because I joined in a war and have to retreat because I lack ammunitions, but to reflect on myself and think about it. In the morning of March 24, I had to go to UP first because there were sets of activities which were held there. Just like the “Positive Stroking” activity, although I already experienced one when I had my camp, but I could not help it, tears started to flow from my eyes. It was a nice activity because it really made me happy because it made me realized how I was appreciated by my batch mates and classmates, and it also showed how we appreciated each other’s presence in our lives as high school students. I took my lunch at Brown Gates since the hired jitneys were not yet there. After 30 minutes, the jitneys arrived and at around 1:30 PM, I departed together with the group, to the retreat venue. The place was very peaceful since it is away from the main road. The road in going there was just like that of a roller coaster because it really is an up and down.

When I arrived there, I was amazed with the place, because it was big and wonderful. One of the sisters there showed us where the girls’ quarters are and I immediately arranged my things there. Our country is not the biggest but at least, we all fit in. I enjoyed my room mates since they are my friends. After sometime, we had to go to the session hall to listen to the series of talks prepared for us. I was able to attend an adoration session and was able to confess my sins. I learned so many things and even reconciled with my friends whom I had a small fight with. All of the reconciliation and all those other stuffs during the night, when we were about to sleep, the last activity for that day. We were given candles and we have to give it to someone whom we have offended and ask for an apology. I did it and was able to be forgiven. I slept and had only very short hours of rest because I have to wake up early to take a bath and prepare for that Sunday’s departure. I had my breakfast at the dining area of the vicinity and had a very beautiful time. I went back to my quarter and got my bible and went to the session hall for a short activity and a bible sharing. After the bible sharing, I attended the mass, and after which, I packed up my things and prepared for our departure.

I left the area with my heart with a less burden left. I was happy that I was given an opportunity to experience such activity because I now do not have to worry about things. And learned so many things that will be applicable to my future undertakings in life.

Flying High

I always dreamt,
A creature that will reach the clouds.
Enjoy all the 24 hours,
In just flying hither and thither.

Butterflies in the fields,
Birds in the sky,
They reach the unreachable
Because they fly.

Reaching the stars
Would really make them happy
It is just like touching

the hands of the Lord.

Loneliness: A Poem Critic

It requires a lot of analysis in understanding a poem. Poem possesses a different form since it may tell a story in just few words and then you can understand the story behind it. Just like the poem written by E. Cummings entitled Loneliness, and is one of the poems in the world which has a unique and distinct structure. At first, I thought that the poem was just a poem which means nothing because I saw that the poem possess a very different form and it really required a full analysis in understanding it. It was extraordinary because it is not like those other poems that I see in books or anywhere.

Loneliness and inside the parentheses, a leaf falls. The poem’s structure has a very influential or should I say a very meaningful form. It projects a figure 1. And I see that when I say that loneliness, it means one. Because, being lonely means that you are alone in that very moment and you needed space to have time to understand things. And when a leaf falls, I can imagine that the leaf is just only one. I noticed that if one does not really speculate and really examine the poem, one cannot really see that the poem has a special meaning or thing that it is trying to imply.

The poem may imply so many things or meanings. It may mean that one is very low and down and there is a feeling of seclusion or oneness. I can see that that during the time the poet wrote the poem, he is lonely and imagines himself down and troubled. A man when he is lonely may feel that he is like falling down on the ground just like the leaf that falls from the branch of the tree. And when the leaf will fall, it will fall to the ground or earth and by the time that is already there, then it will be alone and will only be one.

I see this poem as a complicated poem but mean many things. It has a crucial meaning and sense. It is very difficult to understand at first and it really took my time. But although it is very complicated, but then it was just okay because the poem already expressed a thousand meanings in just a few words or lines. I do not know who the speaker in this poem is or what the persona present in this poem is.

Reading a poem is a very hard task because you have to understand and know what the underlying meanings are in that particular poem. It requires a very broad analysis and understanding.

What should be done to help solve the cases of flooding?

In the Philippine setting, seeing floods around the country is not a new thing for me as a Filipino.

Flooding is the situation being experienced by a place after a heavy downfall of rain where the water cannot easily flow. Mostly affected by the flooding in our country are those places which are located in an area that is probably a half meter below sea-level as well as the areas that are near those places which do not have a proper drainage system.

I always see on TV the areas in Metro Manila where people are so busy rescuing their things so that they will be saved from the rising level of flood. I always question myself, what are the government officials and those people concerned doing to help solve this problem?

As the world continues to grow, the technological advancement is also growing. I always see the effects of the things that man wants to expand their horizons. The mountains are being converted into subdivisions. The urban areas are being molded and shaped to become rural areas. See how man would transform the great creations of nature. They cut trees and some do not bother to replace the cut trees, they do not even care whether the balance of the ecosystem will be affected or not. This cutting of trees is one of the many reasons why our country experiences flooding when it rains hard.

Another thing is that the drainage system is not properly taken care of. Although the system would affect the flow of water but still there is another factor that greatly affects the flow of the water. What could be that reason? Is it something related to politics or is it something visible but are sometimes neglected?

I believe that proper waste disposal is a thing that should be considered and it should where our attention should be. The discipline of the people in the community is something that really needs to be exercised, the discipline matters. If only we have the discipline to throw our waste properly, our garbage would not be walking around the city streets making our streets to look very untidy and dirty. Aside from making the aspects of cleanliness, the garbage also contribute to the clogging up of the drainage system.

I think that the problem here is the proper waste disposal of the society. Only a few people in this country know how to segregate and locate the proper trash bins. What I mean by waste here are not only the waste that we eliminate everyday but also the wastes like papers, plastics and all other thing that cannot be used anymore. I could not understand why is it so difficult to follow rules and policies but it is easy to neglect them.

What we all need right now to help prevent the clogging up of drainage systems is that we should have a proper discipline regarding the proper waste disposal and another thing would be that we could also plant trees in our surroundings. By joining our hands together, we can create a different future.