CHange: It starts with me

There are non-stop problems that are happening in this world. Sometimes it causes pain and vain and much as all, it may cause a war. Change is what we need in this world so that peace will manage and serenity will govern.

I am only an ordinary man but I was full of aspirations in life. My aspirations which are not only concentrated to myself but moreover I am aspiring for the best of my world where I am living.

When 100 plus students including I from Ilocos Sur National High School joined the 8^th National Leadership Training for Student Government Officers, we became stronger leaders as we promised to ourselves, "WE WILL CHANGE FOR A BETTER COUNTRY." As we were shouting inside the Benitez Hall at Teacher's Camp, Baguio City, "AKO ANG MAGSISIMULA NG PAGBABAGO," we were hoping that the future leaders of our country will lead us not into the wrong one but rather for a better one.

I may not be expressing much leadership in our school but by just simply picking candy rappers in our campus might have a continuous effect. Someone might see me picking that little garbage, and also do that. And another person might also see him and do the same until everyone will make a difference in this world. By following all the rules and regulations of the school, we students will make progress. That’s it. A change for development and unity for improvement.

Yes, I am only a student but I have a big part in this nation. Even though I’m not that powerful, at least I have contributed for the world’s improvement and development. I promise- "I cannot do everything but I can do something and that something will help a lot in transforming and improving everything to a better one."

IS THIS FIESTA?

Fiesta is like a tattoo in Filipino’s tradition that can not be removed in their own culture. Every municipality in the country, Philippines has a so called fiesta pertaining the feast of the patron or patroness of their town.

As the 25^th day of January comes, different preparations are done at the Heritage City of Vigan. And it’s because it is the day of their festivity which is called the Longganisa Festival. Longganisa is a native delicacy in Vigan and as their number one product; they are praising their patron which is St. Paul and thank him or that good product to raise money.

During that day, I didn’t really felt the essence of the festivity because I was so tired. I had to wake up early because we CAT officers of Ilocos Sur Sur National High School are going to attend the grand parade. I was so excited for that because when I was still young, I was mesmerized by the CAT Officers parading before. Since then, I said to myself “I’ll be one of them” . And now, I am one of them.

The parade went good for me excluding the hotness of the weather and muscle pains I am still happy because rumours say that we were the best performing CAT-1 unit during the parade. After which, my friends and I went to MCDO for our own refreshments not knowing that we CAT-1 unit must go to our school to attend a meeting. So after eating, we rushed to school. Upon arrival, the meeting was dismissed and the only word that struck my mind is “I’M DEAD”. We friends were scolded by our commandant. We tried to explain but we have no fight to him.

That’s my experience last January 25 and I treasure and consider it as a good memory to cherish and keep. Even though I didn’t enjoyed the festivity, I enjoyed having with my friends.

Days of this Quarter

At this time, I am now one step closer to my graduation. Another chapter of my High School Life is ending and I am getting there. I can’t imagine that yesterday I was just a freshman, familiarizing the different cycles of our high school, but now I am already a senior and yet graduating.

Anyway, I would like to reminisce some happenings of this third Quarter.

There were times that I had not attended my classes because of some Extra-Curricular activities such as the Division Schools Press Conference, the Regional Press Conference and the Vigan City Longganisa Festival. Because of these, I missed lessons that gave me difficulties and became nervous to our periodical examination but thanks to the DEPED memorandum order stating that “ no grade of a student shall go down if he or she represented the school for contests “.

But I tell you, I still learned much this quarter. In ICT, I learned how to make a web design using the Microsoft Frontpage but got a little bit mad because we don’t have a computer to use at our schools computer room because our computer before malfunctioned. For that reason, we installed frontpage to my loptop. Me and my groupmate made it but unfortunately we were short of time because of those Extra-Curricular activities. I also encountered the different font attributes, image attributes, href attributes to enhance the html links. I found it hard especially; we need to use the right tags and other stuffs during our hands-on activities.

Aside from that we have to make an indie film. For that, we needed to sleep over at the house of our colleague and finish it. And we seriously had a sleepless night.

This Quarter was a tough one. And I hope that the next Quarter would be easier and lighter.

FIREWORKS

The old year has gone. Let the dead bury its own dead. The New Year has taken possession of the clock time. The merry year is born! Like the bright berry from the naked thorn! New Year, a new life, a new chapter, and a new challenge.

New Year celebration is very common in this world. Each one of us have different beliefs according to this celebration. Most of us Filipinos collect twelve to thirteen different circular fruits and display it on the dining table, scatter some coins at the floor, were red shirts or even polka doted clothing and lit some fireworks so that bad spirits would go away and let the good spirits stay.

Most people in this world have New Year’s resolutions. They do this for them to improve their personality as a human being. Some take this as an opportunity to rejuvenate themselves and stand from the mud that they sunk through. And some took this as guidance in taking the right path. But through the years that has gone. I don’t really have resolutions for myself because I am already contented for what I have and for what I am. Everything really changes but the “REN” you met from the first year of our friendships would still be the “REN” that you will encounter in the future.

As the fireworks blasted in the sky, I myself felt a new hope. A new hope that would encourage me to be still in fighting for my life.
Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbours, and let each new year find you a better man. A prosperous NEW YEAR!!!!!

For the First Time

Every people in the world celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, which do they call Christmas. As they say, Christmas is the time of sharing, loving and giving. People buy gifts and exchange it through their families and friends. They intend to wait until Christmas Eve ends, and encounter Christmas at twelve midnight.

According to some analyses, Filipinos are the ones who celebrate the longest Christmas. Because when the month of September strikes, they are now starting to shop for Christmas gifts, start putting Christmas decors and more.

Different cultures and different traditions may only be the one which create our Christmas unlike from each other. But no one and nothing could modify the true essence of Christmas which is great affection, everlasting love and faithfulness to God.

As a Filipino teenager, wishes for Christmas are rolling into my mind. The number one wishes are materialistic things. But, I came to realize that no material thing could ever change the love that my family are giving to me. And that’s the BEST Christmas gift I would ever have.

This Christmas, I was lonely. Because, I’m the only one who attended “misa de gallo” at our parish and have “noche buena” at our dining table with chairs unfilled and just me silently eating. At that time, negative insights are starting to infect my mind. And because of that, I felt a Christmas without my family beside me. But that is just okay compared to all the past Christmas years that I’m with them laughing and bonding. Even though I felt that they are not with me that day. I was not standing alone because I have my friends who also love and care about myself. I am so lucky.

Before I end this simple composition, I would like to say that the most meaningful Christmas gift I have now is my life, because without it, I would never see the beauty of this world where God created for us to live and care for it. Don’t let Christmas only be at December 25 but let it each day. Merry Christmas!!!

Good Felowship

Don't you know that Filipinos are considered one of the most happy person in this World? Yes, they are, because in every circumstances and challenges that may come in their lives, they don't forget to burst their sweetest smile. That is one of the best traits or values of Filipinos. That is why , they are ideal working abroad. The chores are done due time and do some chores without being told so.

When the month of November comes. The Ilocos Sur National High School Celebrates the Filipino Values Month celebration in cooperation with the Values Club. Different Extra Curricular Activities were held and those activities were sponsored by the theme " Magandang Pagsasamahan tungo sa maayos at maunlad na lipunan".

This theme portrays a big lesson. Truly, values are learned everywhere. It maybe in friends, community, school but much important is the family. The family is responsible in giving descipline to a child. The family is the number one who acts as model to their offspring. They are the ones who guide the child so that he would take the right path and prevent trouble. Progress is very important to a country. But its useless without good fellowship. They say that children are the key to the future but without their parents guide , it wont happen. All of us must have unity. Stop all those in pleasant activities. Come and lets have one goal.

Good felowship and unity is important to build a strong Republic!

Break,.

The 2nd to the last semester of my high school life is over and I am now step closer to my graduation. High School really is the best chapter of schooling. Here, you'll learn many things. You'll have your first crushes and first love. Time truly runs so fast and I am hoping that there will still be like a "high school" for my next chapter to tackle. .

The days before our semestral break was so heavy and hectic. We had so many projects to make and lessons to rush due to some disturbances just like extra-curricular activities. On the week scheduled for our quarterly examinations, a strong typhoon headed to our country, and because of that, classes were cancelled for 2 days. We students thought that there will again be no more semestral break just like last year. But luckily there was .

The only thing I wanted to do when our semestral break commenced was to sleep and get some energy. And that's the reason why I did not joined the 1st Raniag: Vigan City Twilight Festival. My classmates kept on convincing me to join the said festival but I stood strong on my decision not to join it.

For me, The most significant day that happened in my semestral break was when I, together with my aunt went to Baguio and have a visit. We went to its tourist destinations just like the Mines view park, Mansion house, Our lady of Lourdes grotto and many more. I had so much fun when i went there and I remembered the days when we where there for the national leadership training held at the teachers camp, Baguio City. The next day and we were home. October 30 2010. The said festival happened, and i went to watch my classmates compete. All the contestants where very good and very creative. At first, I was afraid to keep close to Mr. Rabaca because i did not joined the group, he even bumped me when I was watching the street dancing. But it's just okay. I know that he's just joking me. Even though, my classmates didn't won. I'm still proud of them, imagine, they could make a such awesome performance like that in two days and the only inadequate were lights.

Let us not forget the all souls day and the all saints day. For us Filipinos, It is the day of visiting or dead beloved ones at the cemetery and offer some prayers and light some candles for them. I was happy on this day because we as family were complete together.

That was my semestral break. A Semestral break full of happinnes and memories. :)