.....PrOsTiTuTiOn....

We can not deny the fact that bad elements are roaming in the world today. From snatching to terrorism, all have shown how bad man can get. These bad elements of the world today have caused dehumanizing, demeaning, and degrading effects on the people. Speaking of degrading, there is one bad element in this world existing for more than a century, prostitution.


According to Encarta Dictionaries, prostitution is defined as the act of engaging in sexual intercourse or performing other sex acts in exchange for money, or of offering another person for such purposes. With this definition, one can already see what a prostitute does. A prostitute is a girl that engages in sexual acts in turn for money. Due to its big percentage of existence, prostitution is now considered a profession by some lunatic-minded people. Well anyway, what are the reasons why there are prostitutes? Is it really a good profession?


People engaging in prostitution have their individual reasons why they are doing it. According to them, the main reason why they are engaging in this kind of activity is because of poverty. You cannot really blame them for engaging in this kind of activity because they are still people. They still must of course eat in order to live. But how can they eat if they do not have enough money. Put into account our economy today. It is very hard for us people to find a good job nowadays. Because of this, people must find alternatives to earn money. And prostitution is a very good alternative. Not only is it fast and easy, it is also a big money giver.


If the government happens to be very efficient in its social welfare services, then there would be no prostitution. Sometimes the government reasons out, that prostitutes are very dirty people because they have different sex partners. But then, do they have a choice? If they do not engage in this kind of activity, how would they survive? Even though they are very prone to STDs or sexually transmitted diseases, which are a threat to their lives, it is still a better choice to engage in this activity. You want to know why? It is because at least they are only prone to death. Unlike if you do not eat wherein you are not only prone to death, but already a destined-to-die man. To show you the relevance of this, let me give to you some examples in the real world.


According to a documentary I saw, which featured prostitutes’ lives in the streets; it showed the main reasons why they are willing to engage in this kind of activity. All the answers were just the same, all were because of poverty and the lack of money. But of all the reasons shared, one shocked me out. One girl said that the reason why she is doing this is because she wants to finish her studies. She said that she cannot rely on her parents because they are too irresponsible. With that kind of reasoning, my mind could not believe what it just heard., a girl of minor age, engaging in sexual acts just to finish her studies and get the proper education that she deserves.


I hope that the government puts attention to this problem…

A jOUrNeY we HaVE StaRteD

A journey we have started
Full of shyness and curiosity
Strangers who have gathered
Each one is a mystery


A journey we have started
Always stumbling and falling
And the struggles we have traded
Still kept us on going


A journey we have started
New friends we have found
Tightly we were binded
Never letting each other down


A journey we have started
Is about to reach its end
The memories we have shared
Will always be remembered

LOVE: An act of will not of the heart.

What is LOVE? Me? I do not know. All I know is it is a feeling, a wonderful feeling. But I think LOVE is so undescribable that not even the wisest men can describe it correctly or clearly.


I really had a hard time thinking on what love really is, if it is an act of will or an act of the heart. But after how many days of thinking, I came up with the conclusion that the heart is really the main facilitator when it comes to love.


Will, in my own understanding, is due to a person's thinking or should I say due to his or her brain. The brain, as what I believe, facilitates on the will a person makes. In making a will, a person uses his or her brain.


I know that in loving, you also use your brain. You use your brain in choosing who to love. You also use your brain if knowing if you are loving the right person. In other words, it dictates the heart on who to love, how to love, when is the right time to love, and what is the main reason why you get in love. In other words, the brain is the one which gives permission to the heart who, when, how, etc. , to love. But as the heart recieves the permission from the brain, it immediately process the feeling of love. It is the one responsible in the growth of a person's love towards someone.


When you are in love with someone using your heart, you would be humble enough to accept that person's decision if he or she loves you too or not. The heart humble itself even though it ends up getting hurt. It accepts criticisms and it is always open. The heart in other words is unselfish.


In the other hand, using your mind or brain in loving is exactly different to loving with all your heart. Using your brain in loving does not display love anymore, unless it displays a seek for pleasure. For me, the brain is the "pleasure seeker" part of a human body. It is responsible on why people engage in sex because the brain thinks that there are still other way in proving your love to someone, this is through sex. I agree that sex is really a way in proving your love but nowadays, people engage in this sacred thing not just because of love but also because of pleasure. This thing I will never allow to happen to me. That is why I will never allow my mind to be over my heart because I might end up pregnant at an early age.


Enough is enough. I have already shared my opinion to this and I chose the heart.

.....l(a leaf falls)oneliness......

I do not know if my understanding in this poetry is correct or not but I will still share my own opinion on what I think this poetry meant. Though, I am not sure if my own perception has sense or not.


We all know that the word loneliness means being alone or else being left behind with no one except your self. A person might become lonely if he or she does not have any friends to lean on everytime he or she has problems. Also, if he or she was being betrayed by his or her friends, if he or she is jealous, if someone special left him or her, if someone you love died, if you loved someone but just ended up hurting your own self, and if you know that your days on earth are already counted. We can relate many things on how people experience a state of loneliness.


For me, as an individual who barely depend on my friends, it is not easy to be alone. It is so hard for me to be all by myself because I am a person with so much friends that I can depend on, friends that will always be there for me, friends who understand me, and friends who will never ever leave me alone.


I know that time will really come that I will be alone already, just all by myself. If that time would come, I bet you I will surely die because of so much loneliness. Being alone is so hard especially if you are not used to the feeling of having no one right by your side. I know that right now I will already be ready to face the challenges on what it really feels to be alone. Honestly, I am not yet ready to be alone and I do not want it to happen because I know that I cannot leave without any one. I know that being alone may or would really cause my death. Being alone makes me lonely, exhausted, and very ill.

ReSearCH PROject

Products containing nitrate/ phosphate are disposed by 15, 278, 808 households, 5, 899 industries and 3, 392, 361 agricultural lands. Products which we use everyday like soaps, detergents, fertilizer and cleaning agents contain nitrate/ phosphate substances. According to Ansar and Khad (2005) phosphates and nitrates could cause algal bloom. Algal bloom means that there are 1000 algae cells in one milliliter of water sample. Algae count could help determine the niters/ phosphate absorption in different bodies of water since there is obvious connection of both. Algal bloom poses real danger to the environment. When this population of Algae die, they use up the oxygen gas that are needed by other organisms which leads to their death in the process. Nitrate/ phosphate substances arrive at different bodies of water through both direct and indirect sources.


The water sources used in the study were a lagoon found in Ayala Center Cebu; a river in Kamputhaw; and a well found in T.Padilla. Every water source was affected by both direct and indirect sources. A water sample of 30 mL was taken from each source for five days using the same method all throughout those five days. The samples were also taken during the same time of the day. The algae counts were taken using only a drop from each sample using a light microscope.


The counting came up with the following numbers of algae from each sample after five consecutive days of gathering: River having the greatest mean number of algae of 17.4 or 194.88 algae cells per mL while the well had the least having only 2.6 algae cells per drop or 29.12 algae cells per mL of sample. The lagoon had 6.2 algae cells per drop 0r 69.44 algae cells per mL of sample.


The study used ANOVA or Analysis of Variance to determine if there is significant difference in the Algae counts of the three samples. The data's significance was tested at a five percent level of significance with (2,12) degrees of freedom and compared them with the tabled value of 3.89. The test came up with an F- ratio of 3.81 which is greater than the tabled value thus the Null Hypothesis was neglected. The action meant that there was no significant difference in their algae counts and there is no significant difference in the river, lagoon, and well in terms of nitrate/ phosphate absorption. It has been also found out during the course of the study that the three sources of water are not contaminated with nitrate/ phosphate since their algae counts are far from the limit of 1000 cells per mL of sample.


Out of the data gathered and findings, we therefore conclude that the water sample from Ayala lagoon, Kamputhaw river, and T.Padilla well do not differ. The sources of water have the same amount of nitrate/ phosphate contamination.

Based on our findings and conclusion, we recommend the future researchers to conduct a replication of the study but with more days of gathering the water samples. Another replication of the study may focus on another water sample especially those near factories.

Oooooppssss!!!

June 13, 2006 was set as the opening for the schoolyear 2006-2007 in the University of the Philippines. Also, during this day, we, the ethnic group of the Art Appreciation class 2005-2006 were requested to present an intermission number at the Conference Hall for the orientation of the new comers, the 1st years and for their parents.

We practiced our movements from 11:00 to 12:30 noon at that very day. We came back at 1:00 for the polishing of our steps. At exactly 1:45 we, the dancers together with the musicians were called to be at the other side of the UP campus. We waited for almost one hour and thirty minutes. While we were waiting for our part, we fixed ourselves outside the conference hall and we reviewed some of our steps because we were afraid to miss some. We applied make-ups on our faces. The boys applied lipsticks on their lips too. They looked so funny and they seems like gays. Then, suddenly, at almost 3:00 at the afternoon, we were called to present our "masterpiece" as what we call it. The moment we entered the lights were turned off and it was really, really dark inside. I cannot even see my bare feet. We, the dancers, were just the one being seen by the audience. We can hardly see them because the room was so dark. Then the musician gave us the signal for us to begin with our first step. We started to dance each of our part. While in the middle of the dance, I accidentally slept because we were dancing barefooted and the floor was so slippery. I just said "oopps!" and I continue dancing my part because I do not want the audience to notice it. Thank God there were no lights, so the audience did not saw how I slept. After our presentation the audience clapped their hands soundly. It seems that they really liked the presentation. I really appreciate that. I felt happy and fulfilled. I did not really thought our presentation would be that beautiful despite the mistake I commited.

On BEiNg TaUghT By StuDenTS.....

The best teachers are the teachers themselves. For me, I will learn more if teachers or the professionals will be the one to teach me. They know more about different things happening in our society and surroundings. They are more knowledgable because it is their passion and responsibility to teach us. They are more experienced on how to make their students understand their lessons well. They know different teaching techniques on how to make the topics they are going to discuss interesting so that students will really listen carefully on what are being discuss and really learn from A-Z so that during exams they will not get a failing grade.

Last February, the University of the Philippines had its own "Know Your School Day". It is the day where the students who are deserving, worthy, and responsible will have the chance to handle things which are just meant to be done by their teachers. Students had the chance to be the principal, assistant principal, guidance counselor, clerk, and subject teachers. Students had the chance to experience how it felt to be a teacher for a short period of time. They had the oppurtunity to be respected by their classmates which are now their students. A chance to experience how tiring it is to handle a class of more than 32 personalities. A chance to experince how stress a teacher is.

I am one of the students who applied for a subject student teacher. I applied for a SOCSCI teacher together with my 3 fellow claassmates namely, Sunshine, Eldee, and Christine N. As what I have experienced, being a teacher is really tiresome but at the same time fun. We exchange jokes with my fellow classmates which were already my students.

Even if I applied for a student teacher I had also experienced on how it feels to be taught by someone like you, a student. I experienced being taught by Michael and Jann. They applied for the subject Calculus. And I bet, they were really good, I understand them very well. But I cannot deny that it was so unusual to be taught by your fellow classmate even for just a short period of time. I felt that I missed my teachers, teachers who used to teach me those lessons. But in the end, all I can say that being taught by students is not that boring as what I have thought. Instead, the experience on being taught by students was fun and exciting.

HOw I Want To BE rEMembERed aFTEr I LEave HIgh ScHOol

I am Shydel Raya of the University of the Philippines Visayas Cebu College. I am currently in my 4th year high school. I am about to graduate this coming April 18, 2007. At this time we, the 4th years, are already busy practicing for "the day". We had already come up with our graduation song and our schedule for practices. Singing our graduation song is really difficult for me because the people in our batch are really close to each other. And it is also hard for us to think that we will soon be parting our ways to open a new chapter in our life where we will be meeting again new faces and new personalities, just the same as what we experience when we entered High School.


Our batch is really the "bulabog" type. It is a mixture of different and complex personalities. For me, our batch is the most "happy-go-lucky". The deadliners and the crammers belong to our batch. But I think these are the reasons why our batch is the most loved and closest to the teachers. I am really happy and blessed that I belong in this "bulabog" batch. It was not hard for me to cope with them when I entered high school because I am exactly like them. I am noisy, happy-go-lucky, a deadliner, and a crammer.


Don't you know that I am the noisiest person in our batch. An ordinary person and student with the loudest voice. The girl with the ticklish laugh. Some of my classmates says that my laugh made them laugh too even without any reasons. They just get caught away with my laugh.


I know that my classmates get irritated of my loud voice sometimes and I am so sorry, I just cannot help talking with a soft voice. What can I do this is me, the Shydel they have known for a long period of time. Maybe some of my classmates were already used in hearing my loud voice that is why they do not feel irritated the moment they would hear my loud voice.


According to my classmates, I am frank and the "maldita" type. I am the kind of person who would really fight on what I believe in. I think they were right. But despite all these, I gained many friends, friends who are always their for me, friends who understands me, friends which I will really treasure even the days after our graduation day, friends that I will never forget. I hope that my batchmates, classmates, and friends will never forget me too. I want them to remember a noisy, frank, strong, "maldita", happy, and friendly Shydel because I promise them that I will never ever change. I would still be the same "Shydel" they have known for four years in UP High.

WHy So EArLy?

In this age of modernization, many teenagers have already engaging in relationships, specifically, boy-to-girl relationships. Old men or adults might ask why these teenagers enter relationships at their young age. Because according to them, teenagers are not that matured yet to handle relaionships because adults think that teenagers' minds are still young an dseems to be limited only in playing games. They also think that early relationships may just result to heartaches in the end. These are just some of the reasons why some parents would not allow their teenager children to engage in early relationships not until they finish schooling. But do these parents know why nowadays, many teenagers have already engaged in relationships.


According to my survey, the reasons why teenagers engage in early relationships are curiosity, trend, inspiration, and LOVE.


Why curosity? Based on my experience, my parents used to tell me not to enter or engage in early relationships. According to them it may just ruin my life and schooling because relationship at my age seems to be careless and may later result to early pregnancy. But for me, their reasons are not enough to convince me. This became the reason for me to be curious. It pushed me to try what is really wrong in entering early relationship. After trying, I do not think I was doing the wrong thing.


Trend is also one of the reasons why teenagers nowadays are so hot in entering relationships. They tend to follow the trend. For example, in a clique of friends all your friends have already their boyfriends and girlfriends, because of this you become out of place sometimes so the thing you would possibly do is to find your own and partner so that you can also go with the flow.


Inspiration is also a reason for teenagers to engage in early relationships. For me this is true. I believe that the moment you would get a partner, a boyfriend, or a girlfriend you would really pursue yourself to be a better person. You would be limited only in doing good things. You could be good in your class. You could be an honor student if you want. All these you can do as long as you know how to handle a relationship. Because I know that each one in this world should have inspirations in life whom you can offer you success and earnings in life, who can pursue you to do your best for you to succeed.


LOVE is the major reason why people not only teenagers engage in relationship with the opposite sex. They tend to long people special to them. They can not stand the feeling of not seeing that person for just even a short period of time. They seem to care to that person. They long to see them everyday. This feeling is what you call love. But so much love, for me, may result to early responsibilities like pregnancy because I believe that in proving your love to a person you must have sex with him or her. I do not know if what others believe but these is my own perception.


Engaging in early relationship may come from different reasons but I hope that yuor reason would really be love.

Live, Love, and Learn!

When there is a will, there is a way.

It was on May 16, 2006, the first day of our batch's calculus workshop.

When we were told of having a calculus workshop, I felt nervous because I do not know if I will be able to understand the different concepts, formulas, or anything about this "dreadful" subject.

Honestly, it is hard for me to deal on subjects that needs problem solving or subjects which deals with numbers. In other words, I hate mathematics. I hate it not just because it deals with numbers of different kind but because I can not understand this subject no matter how I try.

Don't you know that during my elementary life I used to be one of the bests in math in our section. Yes, it is true. But the moment I entered the gates of the university I experienced difficulties in understanding the different concepts in the subject Math. Do you know why? It is because in my elementary life our discussion were late compared to the other schools. We have not been taught any Algebra problems. This is really the problems faced by students entering high school without enough knowledge, student that came from public schools, students like me.

During the first day of our workshop, my nervousness lengthen. We were told if what section do each one of us belongs. And guess what? I was on the list of students belonging to Section C. I made a conclusion that the section where I belong was the section for the weakest in MATH. Well, I am already expecting it because I know that I am one of the weakest.

We were told that the person that will handle our section were Ranyah, the valedictorian, and Marlou, one of the Math whiz of their Batch. They have one similarity, they were both known for being two of the leading personalities when it comes to numbers.

At first, I thought Ranyah was a harsh teacher, but no, she was perfect! She knows calculus very much. We were able to understand her discussions clearly and systematically. She also jams with us. She laughs at our jokes and in return she gives jokes which can really tickle us deep to our bones. She had changed me. She made me become a better person. Because of her I became willing to study the most difficult subject on earth, calculus. That is why everytime we were given assignment I was able to do it on my own without getting help from the more knowledgeable. My classmates approaches me for some corrections. Everytime we had test I was to be one of the top scorers.

Despite all these achievements, I stayed humble. Sometimes my student teachers acknowledge me and appreciate me for being one of their best student. I felt flattered and proud of myself. That was the first time I was admired and appreciated by someone better than I. I realized that living, accepting and loving the subject you once hated is one way a person can learn.

That was a summer experience I will never, ever forget. Because of that experience I was able to improve myself disposition on a difficult subject, calculus. So I advice everyone that to be able to learn what you want to learn, live and love it first and after that I am sure you will learn that thing more than you are expecting.

TeAChing MY FellOW CLaSsmAtes.....

Teachers are really needed in our society. They are important in our society because they are the only one authorized to give education to every child. Being educated is important in this world of chaos. It give you knowledge of some things that are hard to understand. It makes you understand the different process around you, the secret behind all that is happening in your surroundings. Why the sky is blue, what is the real shape of the earth, etceters, etcetera.

Just imagine the world without teachers. Maybe the people would end up hurting each other because of misunderstandings. Maybe everyone's life would be confusing and chaotic because of so many questions entering their minds without sure answers.

Though teachers are widely needed all over the globe. I noticed that as time goes by, students entering college do not want to take up the education course. Do you know why? It is because being a teacher is tiresome and stressful. Teachers also do not receive good salaries especially if they are teaching in a public school. I can say that teachers do not have good salaries because my auntie, who happened to be a teacher in our province, told me.

Honestly, when I was still a little child, I really wanted to become a teacher someday. But because of what my auntie told me, my interest to become one fade away. I decided to just take up the nursing cource because I want it to be a ticket for me to go abroad just like my father. And also, as we all know Philippine nurses are in demand in other countries. They are also being offered a good salary.

Every end of January, our school celebrates the know your school day. This program give students a chance to teach and a chance to share their knowledge to their fellow classmates and a chance for the teachers to rest. A chance that happens only once a year. I took the oppurtunity to be a teacher for once in my high school life in UP.

I immediately applied for a SOCSCI teacher. The application was just easy. You will just approach the teacher and "bang", finished. Many applied for the SOCSCI subject because maybe our teacher does not really come to class regularly. Our social teacher to just prepare a test for our fellow classmates. Honestly, I like giving test so I prepared as many questions as I can. In the end the test was successful and I think my classmates did really learned many things from the test we gave.

I really agree that being a teacher is stressful especially if you are handling a noisy section like my section were I became a teacher for one day.

ThE ArrIvaL

My father arrived from Dubai where he is working last February 21, 2007. He returned for a short vacation suggested by the owner of the company he is working at.

It was almost 2 years after he left us, his family, to work abroad as an office clerk. It was not his first time to work abroad that is why I am already used to it, not having a father for 2 or 3 years. Even if I am already used to it there is still the feeling of sadness. Sadness brought by longing and missing a father.

I was not really expecting him to arrive that day because all I thought he will arrive on my sister's 12th birthday which is on February 24.

The day my father arrived, I was so busy in school practicing for the coming dramafest. We have to have an overtime so I called our house to inform my mother that I will be coming home late. When I dialled our number, a man's loud voice answered the phone. The voice was familiar but it was hard for me to recognize it. After how many seconds I found out that that voice belongs to my father. I was so overjoyed and overwhelmed knowing that he already arrived. I told him that I was not expecting him. He laughed and asked me where am I. I told him that I will be coming home late because of some important practices. He said "OK". I bid him goodbye and I hung the phone. I was so excited to go home that night. Because of so much happiness I informed all my friends that my father had already arrived. Do you know what they said? They asked for chocolates. What can I do they are my friends so I promised to bring chocolates the next day. When I arrived home it was past 8, maybe. I knocked the door and after it opened I saw my father. He was still the same. I mean, his face did not changed. I kissed him. And after that.. do you know what I did? I looked for chocolates. I told my father that my classmates were asking for chocolates.

I was so overjoyed that night because I got my cellular phone again. It was confiscated from me because my mother believe that it was the cause why I failed on one of my subjects during my third year in the university. Maybe she was right. But past is past. What is important was that I got my phone again. Thanks to my father.

.....Falling in Love.....at the Wrong Time.....

2007 was a new year for me and my boyfriend. When January entered I felt that our love for each other have already fade away. Maybe because he is always admiring a certain classmate of him and a friend of mine. I felt that he do not love me anymore. I felt that he long love from that girl rather than seeking love from me, his girlfriend. I seek for advices from my friends. Some told me to cut the strings attached between us while some says that it is better to talk to him and tell him my problem and on what I really feel.

One day, I was busy talking about this thing with my friend Kim while the my boyfriend was busy practicing for the legacy of our fast approaching Junior and Senior promenade. While we were talking tears run down my face. I can not believe it, I cried for just a guy. I wiped out the tears but my watery eyes was still obvious and noticeable that is why a guy friend approach me. This guy happened to be the hatest guy of my boyfriend. This guy asked me why am I sad. I told him the whole story. After hearing my side, he told me that what my boyfriend did was wrong, he was not supposed to admire other girl in front of me. He comforted me by saying many things, words of wisdom. He told me his problem regarding his family, on what happened to his mother. He made me laugh with his jokes. I felt comfort with him. Our closeness began that day.

One time while we were talking, he told me that it is possible that he might fall in love with me. I took his words seriously. Knowing this did not affect our closeness. It even strengthen our relationship. I am happy with him and maybe I will always be happy with him. We always talk even during classes. We eat together at breaktime. I spent much time with him than with my boyfriend. My boyfriend noticed our closeness and asked me if I can stop befriending that boy because he do not like this boy. It was hard for me to stop talking with this boy but I know that I should to protect the relationship between my boyfriend and me. I confronted the guy and I asked him if what he really feels for me. He answered me:"I do not know, I am not yet sure". After hearing this, I told him to prevent his feeling before its to late. But he misunderstood what I said. He thought that I was telling him to keep distance from me. But I really did not. After we talked he did not talked to me anymore. Everytime he sees me he always pretended that he did not see me. I am like a ghost to him. I do not like what is already happening. I felt that I am missing him. I felt that I long for him.

Maybe.... maybe I am already falling out of love. Falling in love at the wrong time.

WhEn I aM JeAlOuS.......

Are you a jealous person? Me? Ofcourse, I am. I do not know why and I hate it when I am. But maybe being jealous is natural for me especially that I am a girl and the eldest child in our family.

Honestly, I do not want to be jealous. When I am jealous, everything about me change. My attitude changes. When I am jealous I become bad. I become hot tempered and "isnabera". Jealousy makes me silent and being silent is not me because I am a noisy person.

I believe that jealousy is a shows insecurity and distrust. I am jealous in many ways. In the family, I felt jealous when my parents give the things my other siblings asked from them while they do not do this to me when I was at their age. Jealousy enters in me when my parents compare me to my sister and brother saying that my sibling are much better than me when it comes to drawing, writing, penmanship, etc.

In school, when my teachers shows favoritism to my other classmate I end up cursing that certain classmate of mine. I spread bad things about her/him. I become impulsive, not thinking on what will be the effect of what I am doing to other people.

In a relationship with friends, jelousy is also present. I do not want my friends to befriend others. I just want them to be friends with me, just me. I know this is selfishness but I do not know how to minimize this jealousy in me, I do not know why am I like this, I do not know why I am selfish. Because of this, I end up being left behind by others, being left alone. And I hate to be alone.

In a boy to girl relationship, I am dreadfully jealous. Honestly, I have a boyfriend. That boyfriend of mine is not my classmate but we were in the same school. I will not just mention his name. Because we were not classsmates I do not know what is happening to him when we both have classes. I do not know who is he talking with or who is he with. One day, when heading to Ayala terminal, I noticed that in our conversation he is always mentioning the name of my friend which a girl and a classmate of him. He always admire this certain girl in front of me saying this girl is beautiful, kind, etcetera, etcetera. I admit that this girl is truly beautiful and pleasant. Everytime he admire this girl, I feel jealous and I feel something cutting my heart apart. I feel angry. Even if deep inside I am bursting in tears and anger I do not want to tell him or even let him to notice it because I do not want him to feel being distrusted. So what I always do is, I smile everytime he admire this girl. This admiration did not just happened for once but it repeated until I can not take the heartaches anymore, until it came to a point that I already wanted to cut the strings attached between us. I do not want to hate my bestfriend because I believe that friend are more important than guys. I seek for advices from my friends. Some told me to talk to him first and tell him what I really feel and talk about it so that things would settled. Some also said that it is better to have a break-up because what he did was wrong. He was not supposed to to do that thing especially in front of me. Because my friends' decisions were different I became confused on what will I really do. Confusions pushed me to do other things like reading books and quotations. While I was reading my quotation book I found one quote which I think hit me so much , It says: "In jealousy there is more self-love than love". In reading this I decided to just go on with our relationship and tell him that I do not want to hear him admiring other girl in front of me.

The quotation did not really changed my disposition regarding being jealous. I am still a jealous person but not to a point of hurting others.

Why Go to School?

Education is the most important gift that parents can give to their children. Education may mean going to school. In going to school I learned many things. I learned how to count, like one, two, three, and so on. School is also where I learned to speak words using different languages like English and of course my own dialect. It is also where I learned how to sing, like singing the alphabet from A-Z.

For me school is not just for learning these things, but also I learned how to love. I learned how to love my seatmates, classmates, friends, teachers and parents.

As a friendly person, aside from studying, I go to school to meet new friends and to strengthen existing friendships. I would be nothing withouy my friends. I admit, I usually depend on my friends' decisions because I believe that they are the one who know me very much. They know what is best for me. I am really thankful I have many friends. I have special friends that are really important in my High School life. I will really cherish our friendship forever because I know that we need each other in our journey towards maturity. Honestly, my friends made me a better person. Since I enter UP I have changed a lot. A change for a better me. A better me will not come into being without my friends, they made me standing still after every problem I meet in my journey in life. My friends helped me in many ways. In exchange of the help they did for me I offer them my encouragements when they have problems. I share my secrets to them to show them that I trust them. I point out the wrong things they do, not to hurt them but to encourage them to do better for the next time.

In school, I experienced having several mothers and fathers. I am referring to my teachers. Teachers are mentors. They are the one who taught me what is wrong and what is right. Thet taught me how to solve math problems, how to use the correct grammar, and how to answer a question correctly. I respect my teachers so much. They are my second parents and guides. Despite the examinations they give I can still say that schooling is fun and wholesome.

In schooling I become involve in the lives and the activities of other people.

"Haunted"

February 2, 2007 was set as the day where the CWTS of the University of the Philippines is expected to visit the "Gasa sa Gugma" in Mabolo, Cebu City.

We were once told by our CWTS officers what are inside this home. "Gasa sa Gugma", as what the officers told us, is a home for the aged and the dying individuals. The moment I heard the word "aged" from the officers' mouth, I already thought of what will be my reaction in seeing this old and dying people. I also remembered my grandmother.

Honestly, I am a dramatic person. I am easily touched. I cry easily especially if I pity someone. Believe me! Even in watching television shows like "Wish ko Lang" of GMA-7, I still cry. I do not really know why I can not help crying.

When we arrived at the place I can feel every hair of my skin standing. The place was so quiet, seems like their were no people living in the place. We walked by the corridor of the wards. I saw people lying in their beds inside their wards. I felt my hard beating fastly. I was actually nervous that time. I do not want to see the faces of these old people because I can see my grandmother's face in their person. I do not want to talk to them because I do not want to hear their voices. Their voices seems like my grandmother's voice.

After all the strollings in the corridor, we were told by our CWTS adviser, Miss Rodel, to take all the lolos and lolas to the chapel because a mass is to be held. When I heard this I felt my bones trembling and quaking. I do not know what to do. How can I take these old fellows to the chapel if I myself does not want to see their faces or touch their old and bony body. But I did it, thank God I did. I took some of the lolas and lolos to the chapel with all my heart. I talked to them but in the end all I saw was tears falling from my eyes. I can not stop the tears from falling. I can really remember my dead grandmother in their person. My grandmother whom I failed to say "I love you" and "Thank you" before she died. But despite all the crying I still went on what I was doing and what I am supposed to do.

In talking with these old fellows, I found out that some of them were just being left by their sons and daughters. I meet an old guy who claimed that he is a retired soldier. He even showed me a scar on his right leg, which according to him, brought by a speeding bullet during the World War II. I do not know if I will believe him or not, all I care was to listen on his stories. He also said that he have children which are currently living in the United States of America where they have permanent jobs. They (children) left him in the "Gasa sa Gugma" because no one can take care with him if they will bring him in the States. After we talked, I was not bored I actually enjoyed talking to him. He was very open and does not really mind on the things I asked on him. He answered my questions briefly and eagerly.

For me, that day was so dramatic at the same time enjoyable. I was able to interact and communicate with the old people which I found then boring....but ohh! It is not. I find our conversations enjoyable and exciting. Talking to them made me remember the past. The time when my grandmother was still alive and strong. And I love it!

10 years from now.....

I am the one shaping my future. But I believed God has already planned the things that will happen to me in my life here on earth. HE knows everything about us, how will I come into being, when will I die and ofcourse, how will I die.

Because God is the only one who knows what will I be in the future I am so curious on what will I really be 10 years from now. I imagined myself with a certain profession 10 years from now. I imagined myself as a succesful nurse... maybe. A nurse because that is what my parents want for me and I also like taking this challenging profession. Actually, I had just took an entrance exam in the Cebu Normal University last December 2006. And this late January 2007 I got the result. Oh, thank God I passed. I was informed that I passed the exam via telephone call from CNU. I was very, very thankful to HIM. Honestly, I did not expect that I will pass the exam because I find it hard. Time is also a hindrance for me and that is why I was not able to finish some part of the test. I thought after passing the exam I will not have any problem anymore but alas! There is still an interview. I was told to wear a formal dress. I took the interview on a Wednesday. Because it is a Wednesday, I was forced to absent in the afternoon. I wore a formal dress thinking that I can not wear the school uniform. But in arriving I saw students from other school, just wearing their school uniform. How I wish I had just wore my school uniform because I am not really comfortable wearing a skirt. I think I look like a "manang" with what I wore that day. I was really nervous that time reminiscing on what question will be asked and if the person who will interview me is nice or whatsoever. During the interview I was asked to introduce myself and some things about me. At first I was nervous because the one who interviewed me looks like "isnabera" but I was wrong he was really nice and pleasant. He also asked me if my parents can support my schooling and ofcourse I answered him "yes" because my father is an office clerk at Dubai. He also asked me if what are my talents and what sports do I usually play. After that he stopped for a while and wrote something in a piece of paper. After writing, He handed me the paper and told me to to answer the 3 questions on the paper orally in 3 minutes. The questions were: Who sent you a card, when was that card sent, and why was that card special for you. I answered the question with all my heart even if I seem suffering of a nosebleed because I am not really good in speaking English. After the interview he handed me an answer sheet which he said to be answered only by our guidance counselor and to be placed inside a mailing envelope.

Honestly, I find the interview answerable and easy. I really had fun answering the questions being asked. I just hope that I can pass that interview so that I can study a nursing course at a respectable and known University so that 10 years from now I am already a nurse.

JS PROMENADES IMPORTANCE TO STUDENTS

I was an elementary student when I first heard about promenades. I learned about promenades because I used to watch teen shows like "Click" and "Tabing Ilog". After watching their shows regarding promenades the first thing that came out of my mind was: Is promenade relevant to students like me? My answer then was: Promenades are just a waste of time and money.

Promenades are waste of time because instead of studying, I would be very busy preparing for what to wear and how to make myself presentable and pretty for the coming event. I also need money for what I will wear and for the make up artist. I need money for a taxi ride. But I know that promenades also have something good to share to students.

Last year, February 17, 2006, was my first time to experience a real promenade. It was held in a known hotel in the Philippines, the Waterfront Hotel at Lahug, Cebu City. The venue was just a few distance away from my school, the University of the Philippines. Before that event our guidance counselor taught us different table etiquette. She also taught us how to behave properly in a formal occasion which I think I was not used to. Because of what I learned from her I realized that promenades really have a good effect on us students. During the promenade, I learned how to be a lady, a presentable lady with all the good character of a woman. I used the proper table etiquette which I learned like using different spoons and fork of different sizes. I also realized that promenades are also a perfect time to make new friends. I was able to communicate with my partner and with other year levels. This really made me happy because I am really fond in mingling with other people.

After the promenade, I realized that the money and the time I spent was really worth it. By this event, I did not only learned some social etiquette but I also learn how to make new friends and to enjoy their company. I realized that promenades are really relevant for students like me.

"THE LOOK"

THE LOOK

Strephon kissed me in the spring,
Robin in the fall,
But Colin only looked at me
And never kissed me at all

Strephon’s kiss was lost in jest,
Robin’s lost in play,
But the kiss in Colin’s eyes
Haunts me night and day.

-Sara Teasdale-

Each one of us has his or her own way of loving people. For some people, they show their love to someone by giving that someone gifts of any kind as long as it makes them happy. Others just spend time with their love ones so that they may express to them how important they are. Aside from these different styles of loving people, the most common style of expressing their love is through kissing. We cannot deny the fact that kissing is the easiest way to express your love to someone. But would it be nice if you will show your love to someone in another way? Would it be great to express your love to someone far different from the way other people do it?


In the poem, one can see that there are three men who are deeply in love with a girl. These three men are all hoping for the girl to love them in return. In order for the girl to love them in return, they decided to express their love for her. Strephon was the first to express his love for her since it was said that he did it in the spring. Robin was the second since fall comes after spring. Colin was the last to kiss but his kiss is not like the common kisses that we see everyday. He used his eyes in kissing, which not very normal to people. Even though his kiss was the weirdest, it was the one that struck the girl really hard. The kisses that Strephon and Robin gave were all lost in jest and in play. It never brought any significance to the girl. It was as if nothing has happened. What does this imply? Does this mean that the girl likes Colin more?
Well, we are not so sure about that. But what is important is that we get to know the reason why the girl was haunted by Colin’s actions. If I were to interpret the poem, I believe that the reason behind such reaction is the uniqueness of what Colin did. He did not kiss the girl the way the other men did. Colin’s action also shows that his love was a respectful kind of love. He showed to the girl that it is not only in kissing that true love can be seen. He showed that love is also shown in the meaning of the actions and not just mere actions only.


Going back to the uniqueness part, as what I have said, it is not the normal type. But being not normal does not mean that loving itself is not normal. Majority of the people who are in love are crazy. Not crazy medically, but somehow psychologically. They are crazy in such a way that they do the weirdest stuffs just to make their love ones happy. As shown in the poem, Colin was indeed crazy, crazy for the girl because who in the world would kiss the girl through his eyes? If there would be one, would you agree that he is crazy?


In the respectful part, it is pretty obvious that his kiss was not the physical type. It is not the type wherein lips are used. What does this imply? It was said in the poem that the girl was haunted by Colin’s action. Therefore, Colin’s action had a significant effect on the girl. If it had a significant effect on the girl, then it would imply that in order to express your love for a person, one does not need physical contact such as kissing. All the person has to do is just mean his actions and love accordingly, even if it is crazy for some people.

The Problem With Men or Women is that......

I remember the day when our Health teacher asked us who are better, men or women. Actually, I do not know which of the two sexes is better because each plays a different and important role in our society. Men as practiced are the one responsible in supporting his family. In other words he should find job fit for him and a job with enough salary. But women nowadays can also do this things. But one thing a man can not do is... to give birth. But they also contributes on giving birth to another individual. Now let us go to the exact side of this post. What is really the problem of men or women? I know it is difficult to answer especially if you did not have any chance to interact with the opposite sex. But for me it is just easy. I can even name more than one problem of each sexes. I know some of the problems of the two sexes because I am close to both sexes. I will just mention one problem with men or women, problems which I think the most important to tackle.


One important problem with men is that they know how to hide what they really feel. Even though it is already obvious that they are carrying something heavy inside, they can still manage to hide it and keep it just with themselves. They can be "plastic" if they want to. Because they know how to hide their feeling they seldom cry. That is one thing I do not like about them, they seldom cry. It is really unfair to us women. Some say that a man is not man if he cries. So what if a man cries. What is wrong with it? There are many ways in showing our feelings but the easiest thing to do is cry and tell your friends what you really feel. But I understand that men are really to hideous of their feelings. But I am glad that not all men are hideous. I have boy friends who are always ready to tell what they really feel.


Let us now go to the problem with women. I will just mention one problem with them. If the problem of men is that they are too hideous to show or say what they feel, A women in the other hand is to showy in showing what they feel. They are not cautious in telling somebody what they feel. They end up very frank and therefore hurting somebody. They end up hurting somebody because they are not afraid to say what they feel about certain things especially on what they see.
In other words girls are over reacting in even just a simple matter. I am not saying that I do not have this characteristic. I admit I am one of the girls who are too frank. I had even experience quarreling someone because of my frankness. But what can I do, this is the real me and I think I can not change this anymore. Same as the boys who find it hard to show their feelings to anyone or anybody else.

AN INEVITABLE DESTINY

Every life here on earth has its own ending. An ending which nobody knows except HIM. We should all accept the truth that our life on earth is just limited to a certain period of time. That is why you should spend every day of your life to the fullest. You should tell your loved ones that you love them so much because you don't know when will you die or when will they die.

I admit that I had never shown or told my parents how I love them so. It' s because I am too shy to tell them. I just tell them through the cards I give to them when there is an important occasion. As far as I remember I have never told them the sweetest line someone can receive, the phrase "I Love You". But I promise that I would tell them before I can feel that I am already gonna die.

Honestly, I am not afraid to die. But because I have not told my parents how I love them it made me the reason to have fright on dying. How I wish that I would be able to say "I love you" to them before I die. i do not want to happen that thing again when I was not able to say " I love you" and "thank you" to my grandma because it was already to late. It was too late because I was not with her side when she was about to day. I really suffered that time. I thought I can not recover but thank God he taught me how to stand up after falling down. I realized that it is also good that I did not saw my grandma dying. I think that if I was there during her last breath maybe I had collapsed. I do not want to see someone important to me dying because I know that I can not take the feeling of being lonely and missing them so much.

So I advice you to tell all the people you love the phrase "I love you" before it is already to late. You do not know when will you die or when will they die so better say it now than never because it is already too late.

A TIRESOME AFTERNOON

Sinulog is always celebrated by the Cebuanos every third Sunday of January. This year, the third Sunday is on January 21. Before this day, a procession was held and an estimate of 700 thousand people joined the procession. Thank God I was not able to join the processionbecause I cannot take this number of participants. Because of this news I can say that this year's Sinulog was the most visited. The witnesses of this year's Sinulog was so many compared to the other Sinulog celebration years back.On January 21, I was not able to attend mass because I was left in the house with my "nanay"and other relatives. My mother and my aunts was just the one who were able to attend the mass.They did not arrived in our house at the same time because they lost each other while going out of the church because there are so many people and the Basilica was so overcrowded. When they arrived we all took bath our bath because we were all expecting many visitors that day because my mother prepared a little celebration as an offering to Santo Nino.It was already lunch time but the lechon baboy we ordered have not yet arrived. At last, at exactly 11 o'clock it arrived. We decided to eat our lunch so that the moment a visitor arrive we were already thru.After eating our lunch, I decided to fetch Jezza and Kimberly from their house and invite themto eat their lunch at my house. I first went to Kim's house. When I arrived there she had not yet took a bath. I decided to just go back after fetching Jezza. When I arrived at Jezza's house, She was not there. Her mother told me to get inside and just wait for Jezza. So I did what hermother said. When Jezza arrived we immediately went to Kim's house to fetch her again. When we arrived there she was already dressed up. The 3 of us went to my house. We were just walkingbecause my house was just near their place. When we arrived, there were already visitors. Our house was so crowded. I let Jezza and Kim in and I offered them seats. I immediately preparedthem foods. After they have already eaten their lunch, they rest for a while. While they wereresting, I was also busy dressing myself. After that I told my mother that we are going to Robinson's and be right back before dark.We walked towards Robinson's place. We passed some street dancers and we stopped walking if wereally want to see one. While we were walking along San Carlos Main Campus we saw Melanie Marquez, she was still beautiful at her age. Everywhere we look was so crowded with people who were craving to see the street dance. At last, after...maybe 1 hour, we arrived at the Robinson. When we were about to enter the mall we heard shouts from the people outside the mall. When welooked back to seewho was they shouting at, we saw that it was Angel Locsin. She was so beautiful and sexy. That wasmy first time to see her in person. After that we went inside the mall we saw people sitting at every corner of the mall. They seems like tired. After a day of walking our feet felt tired, so wedecided to follow what the people was doing. After resting we decided to go out and just watch the street dancing. We saw different stars from GMA like Nadine, Jennylyn, Sheryl Cruz, Sunshine Dizonand ofcourse, Patrick Garcia. Patrick was so handsome. His skin was so fair. I wanted to see him again. Following their float was Budoy's. The famous PBA player was with him, Dondon Hontiveros, a Cebuano. He was still hansome at his age.
Many things happened to me that day. I think that was the best Sinulog in my life I ever witnessed because I was with my friends. I hope we can do it again next year.

"A BOND CALLED FRIENDSHIP"

My second home is my current school, the University of the Philippines in Cebu. Why? It is because I spend almost all of my days in school instead of spending it in my own house. But honestly, I prefer to be in school than staying in my chaotic house where all I can hear are the shouts of my brother. I wanted to stay longer in schoolnot just to study but also to find new friends. Going to school does not just mean studying but also, in making friends to everyone. In my own opinion, I cannot study well without myfriends. They are the reasons why I am still surviving in a difficult school where everyone is an intelligent individual. My friends are my inspirations. They make my day complete by making me smile and laugh with their funny jokes. Actually, majority of my friends have a good sense of humor. They also have a memorable and unique laughs.
My friends and I founded an "organization"composed of all girls. We founded this group whenwe were still in 3rd year high school. We named this group the "SJB" or the "Samahan ng mga JuniorBoys". "Junior" because we were still a 3rd student and "Boys" because this group is a circle of girls with boyish attitudes. My friends and I are very close to each other. We share are deepest secrets to each other because we have trust in each and everyone. The bond connecting us together is the bond of friendship. A bond that will not break no matter how far we are to each other. A bond with a strong foundation, love. Now that we are already in our 4th year at UP High, we now call our group the "SSB" or the "Samahan ng mga Senior Boys".
Now that we are already 4th years our graduation day is fast approaching. We will enter college and soon be parted.
Nowadays, I was already thinking if what if tomorrow is already our graduation day. If that will happen, I guess I would surely cry. I had really experienced many things with my friends during my high school days at UP. I want to treasure this memories forever so that if the day comes that we would see each other again we can still recall these mamories and laugh at it. High school life is really the best and the most exciting and memorable life of a student.Even if some says high school life is the hardest, I do not care. All I care was it was the best.I experienced happy and exciting memories during my high school. One of the unforgettable momentsI have experienced was when I met my friends. Friends who are always there for me everytime I feel down. Friends who are there to laugh with my jokes. Friends who are willing to protect me. Friends who care for me and loves me. My friends are the reason why I am still striving to maintain my grades here in UP(as well as my parents) because I do not want to be away from them. They are also the reason why I do not feel like graduating because I know that after graduation my friends and I will not follow the same path. We will soon be parted. And that really hurts me.

......BLAMED.....

Since I was still a month old, my grandma was the one who took care of me because both of my parents was still working. She took good care of me in the province. At the age of 3 years old my parents fetch me from the province. They took me from grandma because my mother decided to stop working so that can take care of me and to her other incoming children.
Even if I am away from my grandma I can still see her. She goes to our house in the city everytime there are important occasions like birthdays and ofcourse,the Sinulog. My lola is a devoted Santo Nino fan.Everytime she wanted to attend mass during the Sinulog celebration, I am always the one she wnted to be with her to guide her the right way. She also gives money to us, her grandchildren, before she leaves us. Eventhough she do not really have enough money, she still gives us what she has, even a one coin just to make us smile.
For me, my grandma is the best grandma in the whole wide world. I love her so much. I always include her to my prayers. I asked God to give her good health and a longer life.
One day, at the age of 14, we received a text message saying that my grandma was confined in a provincial hospital because of her unending cough. After receiving this news, my mother immediately went to that hospital to see if grandma is okay. I was not able to go with my mother and visit grandma because no one will be left in our house. That time, I really wanted to visit my grandma. Everynight before sleeping I always pray to God to take care of my grandma. I prayed to Him not to take grandma away from me because it will really really hurt me. When my mother arrived she said that grandma was already okay and she will soon be released from the hospital. My mother also said that grandma was looking for me and asking why I was not able to visit her last vacation as what I promised to her. Weeks later, my grandma was really released from the hospital.
On June 26, 2005, a shocking text message arrived. It says that my grandma is already dead. I was so shocked that I do not already know what to do, if i would cry or what. I took an absence for 2 days because our family is going to the province and attend grandma's burial ceremony. When we arrived at grandma's house there were many people. This people seems like staring me as I passed. I did not went immediately near the coffin. I do not want to see grandma's face. I was afraid to look at her. When my aunts saw me, they said that grandma was always looking for me. They also asked me why I was not able to go there last vacation. I was speechless and tears started to form in my eyes, ready to fall. I can feel that the people surrounding me were blaming me of grandma's death. I do not want to look at the face of grandma because I am afraid if her eyes will open suddenly and asking me why I did not made my promise to her. I did not look at grandma's face until before the day of her burial. I looked at her face and and I cried so hard as I can. I asked myself why I loose my favorite grandma, my 2nd mother and the grandma I loved the most. I asked myself if am I really the reason of grandma's death. Her face was so sad and she was so thin. I thought to myself after seeing grandma that even if she is not her with me she will always be my favorite grandma.