Congressman Macapagal-Arroyo (Part 2)

As she finished her term as a president, she ran as a congresswoman of Pampanga and  got the spot. President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III took her place. Now, she was being sued by the current administration about the anomalies she had which are always blocked during her term. Now, the country filed many cases against her which is related to corruption. Some may think that PNOY has something to do personally against CGMA. The president  recounted that he was just doing his job as a president and worked what he had promise to the people during election as it is in his platform: Kung Walang Corrupt, Walang Mahirap.

Currently, CGMA is suffering from an illness due to hypoparathyroid and bone diseases. Due to this condition, they planned to go abroad for some medical treatment. They demanded it for them to be given a permission to leave the country.  At first, she was under hospital arrest while waiting trial for electoral sabotage. A Pasay Regional Trial Court judge issued an arrest warrant against Arroyo after she was charged with electoral sabotage by the Commission on Elections on Nov. 25 of this year. This means that she was not permitted to seek medical treatment abroad. She was being diagnosed with Cervical Spondylosis. Her hospital arrest continued. From St. Luke's Medical Center, she was transfered to Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.

As I've seen CGMA on t.v, I got pity on her since she is suffering from a disease. But, when my teacher said, even if Gloria is in that condition, he never get pity on her since she is corrupt. She deserves things that have happened to her. (SIGH). Let's just pray and hope that justice will prevail. God Bless!!!

Congressman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (Part 1)

Few months or weeks, it's been a menu of the conversation of all Filipinos even in other country, maybe, about what Congressman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is facing today. She was the 14th president of the Republic of the Philippines and been the 2nd female president after late former President Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino. There were many cases which is filed against her related to corruption. This corruption issues was during her time as a president of our country.

As I remembered, as she was still the president, there were many issues against her. There were many anomalies when she in her sit as a president. These include the million dinner. Me, myself, upon hearing this news, I was really mad at her. How could she ate that expensive food when her people was suffering from poverty. That happened abroad. Another case is the ZTE where there pictures have been taken that could support that the issue is true. Also, I remember the Hello Garci issue which is related to the 2004 election as she won as the president against late Fernando Poe. This issue arised when a recording of a phone call conversation of CGMA and former Election Comissioner Virgilio Garcillano, talking about the rigging of 2004 election, came out to the public on June 2005. There were many attempts of impeachment against her but it didn't happen since her administration is dominated by her allies. It was blocked by them.

With these  issues I have mentioned above, I'm so disappointed with her.  My appreciation for her as a president of the country turned into disappointments and anger. If it is true, how could she do that.

I have many things to say about the issue. And, this will be on my next entry...

Pacquiao Defeated Marquez for the Third Time!

One event of this year is Manny Pacquiao's fight against Juan Manuel Marquez. Before this day came, the whole I think watched or updated themselves about the trainings that the two fighters did as a preparation for their fight which was held on Nov. 12, 2011 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Nevada. Every moves of them was one of the headlines of the news on how was their preparation for the fight or if they have techniques to win the fight.

Before this day came, boxing experts were interviewed about who did they think would win the fight and majority of them recounted that it would still be Pacquiao who would win. But, this is not the basis since we didn't know what would happen. When the day came, I must say, the whole world stopped turning during their fight. Everybody I think watched the very much awaited boxing fight of the year. Famous celebrities and even politicians never lose the chance to watched it live or just in television. In Philippines, City Gym or covered courts were filled with people where a big screen was placed to watched every fight of Pacquiao. Some took this opportunity to earn money. They people see the fight in their house for a cost but some didn't mind the amount as long as they would witness the fight. I would say that everybody sats in front of their television. What they did sowed that they supported Pacquiao. And, I am included in those people. Me, I watched the fight myself together with my parents and sister.

And, as I've watched the fight, I would say that the two were a great boxers. I must admit that Pacquiao found difficulties to defeat Marquez but still he won through a majority decisions. Yahoooooooooooo!!! After the fight, there were many issues about Pacquiao's winning. I didn't care about the issues since we all know that Pacquiao did the fight fairly and he deserved to be won. Thank you PACMAN for bringing pride again in to our country. God Bless!!!

Nov. 1 and 2 (All Saints and All Souls Day)

All Saints Day and All Souls; as you look on the calendar, these days are considered holidays or either of them would be holiday depending on the government on which day will be consider as holidays. As what we've known, halloween is celebrated during these days or before these days wherein people or youths wearing horror costumes. Wew. Also, during this days, relatives and families are reunited at the tombs of their loved ones. They pray their and have chat about the happenings of their lives while they were away from each other. I have noticed that during these days, policemen roamed around cemeteries and inspect every persons before they let people enter the area. They implement that people are not allowed to bring glass bottle, sharp objects and etc. that could be used in any bad purposes since during this time, snatchers or what we call bad-minded people grab this opportunity to victimize people like stealing things that could be sold for them to gain money or any bad intentions which is obviously could harm humans. I would say that policemen did a good step to prevent crimes during that day and let people feel that they were safe as they visit their late loved ones. As I've watch the news, I can see crowds. I can see thousands or millions of people visit in a cemetery. That's why, some just went there before the day came or right after that day just to avoid crowds.

Me, you may not believe me but it's true. I went to cemetery last Nov.1 after 8 years. Yeah, it's true. Whenever these day comes, our mother don't let us go to the cemetery since as what I have said, it's crowd there. My last visit there was when we bury my late uncle and after that, I never got the chance to come back for my parents forbidded me and my sister. What I did when these days came, I just prayed at home for the saints and for the souls. Now, that I think I'm old enough to handle myself in a crowd, I had decided to go there together with my sister and visit my late uncle and grandparents on my mother side. As I was in front of my uncles tomb, I felt like crying because for me, it's hard to accept even if 8 years had already passed.  The pain is still here. For my grandparents, I didn't got to see them when they were still alive since they died when I wasn't in this world. It was my uncle whom I bonded.

For the souls in purgatory, may they REST IN PEACE!!!
God bless everyone!

Holy Rosary Month

Catholic Church dedicated each month of the year for a certain devotion. And month of October will be for Holy Rosary. It is one of the best known Catholic devotions. Best practice for this month is to pray for the Holy Rosary but, of course, it doesn't mean that we will pray the Holy Rosary for this month. It should be everyday. As I have noticed, during this month, there were processions happen during 6pm of the day.

Traditionally, the rosary is divided into three sets of mysteries: Joyful (recited on Monday and Thursday, and Sunday from Advent until Lent); Sorrowful (Tuesday and Friday, and Sunday during Lent); and Glorious (Wednesday and Saturday, and Sunday from Easter until Advent).[1] Childrens, mothers, fathers, olds and youngs gathered at the church for the procession. As the procession pass by the house, we can say lighted candles outside or at the windows of the house. It shows respect for the Blessed Virgin Mary.

I talked about this Holy Rosary because some forgot about it. Oooooh I think most. hmmmp. It is important for us to pray everyday since this is what we need for us to be more closer to our Almighty. As I have observed our world today through news, people were suffering from calamities, wars and poverty.  People today are so cruel. They only mind material things they have. They forgot God. God is only our hope to save us from hell. God Bless!

SEMBREAK

SEMESTRAL break usually starts last week of October. It takes 2-3 weeks of vacation including the holiday in Nov. which is the All Saints Day and All Souls Day. For public schools, they only have two weeks vacation, from Oct. 26-Nov. 2. Classes resumed on Nov. 3. It is compulsory for them to follow the order of the DepEd as it is stated in the official calendar of school activities in school year 2011-2012. Private may opt to follow or change the the date as long as they will comply the 180 school days for the second semester.

Semestral break is what most of the pupils and students awaited. Before it came, they already have plans or list on what to do during this time. During this vacation, family reunions happen because November 1st Holiday. Some students stay at their ancestor's house. Some will take a vacation on the other town or countries with their families. Some just stays at their houses helping their parents doing the chores or the business they had. Also, it's not only time for family reunions but also, classmates' reunion or berk's reunion.

During the vacation, I was just at our house doing this I usually do everyday except for going to school. Also, because of this vacation, I was able to spend more time with my parents and cousins which I dearly love to  do.  To be with them always is what makes me happy. I don't think of having vacation to different towns or countries. First of all, I can't afford. Hahahahaha.  As long as I'm with my loved ones, I'm contented.

Vaacation is what most students loved. Hehehe. I'm just being honest base on what I have observed. But then, still, we love to go to school. It's just that we want to be relaxed sometime. Some enjoyed their vacation while some were not. Whatever it is, it's already over. It's already start of the class. And I must say, WELCOME TO SCHOOL. GBU.

Maasinhon Trio Wins in PGT

PGT or Pilipinas Got Talent is a franchise show from abroad. It is a show which is open to any talents; singing, dancing, magic trick and other skills and talents that could amaze the audience.This is hosted by Billy Crawford and Luis Manzano. Of course, PGT couldn't be PGT without the three buzzers and the three jugdes who are Kris Aquino, Aiai Delas Alas and Freddie Garcia.

PGT hosts, judges, staff and crew went all over the Philippines for some audition. And there were thousands of auditionees who tried their fate just for the prize worth two million pesos. After a series of audition, the contestant who got the YES of the judges will undergo elimination round. In here, from hundreds who passed the audition, there will only 36 who'll be qualified for the Semi-finals. And they will be performing and showed us what they got. There will be 6 contestants who will perform every week. And I'm to say that my co-maasinhon got a spot in the 36. Evry week, PGT will only get two from the contestant and it was based on text and online voting. And luckily, Maasinhon Trio got a spot for the lucky twelve to perform for the Grand finals. During the Grand Finals, every contestants showed their very best just to prove that they were all deserving for where they are now. It was September 22. Day after, it was the result night. During that day, our Province and City Officials and the Diocese together with the people of So. Leyte united and supported the trio to its last fight. And greatly, Maasinhon Trio proclaimed as the Winner. Yeheyyyyyyyyyyy!!!

After the result night, there were many speculations against the Trio. All I can say is that it was others fault for the lose of their bets since they didn't supported them heartily. Maasinhon don't mind the speculations since we fight it fairly up to the very last. What's important is we are so very proud of the Maasinhon Trio. We thank them for bringing the pride of our Homeland.  CONGRATULATIONS MAASINHON TRIO!! GBU!

Fe Reminiscing Her Being A Nursing Student

Nursing! Nursing Degree! Nursing Course!
 
Whoa, this is what I want. But, I guess, it was really not meant for me. When I was in high school, I always imagined myself wearing white uniform, working in a hospital and caring for a patient. But, I think, this wouldn't be because of my situation now.

All I can do is to reminisce and cherished the moment when I was a Nursing student. I cant's forget those sleepless nights making our case presentation. While making this, this our time to jam with classmates. We had food trip that time since if we are in school, we are very busy studying and memorizing our lessons for quizzes. I can still remember the feeling during our very first day of duty. Wew! I felt very nervous and innocent during that time even though we are already oriented about the happenings in the field. I can still remember our favorite subject which is vacant. We treasured every vacant of ours to sleep or to room around the stores of Maasin. We went out together for a window shopping. Hehehe. I find it enjoyable. Also, we experience to serve the community like having a feeding and lecture about health especially about dengue since that time, dengue is attacking the people around the Philippines.

All of that and more, it's still in my memory box. I treasured all of that. This is how I love my former course. Sad to say I can't be a nurse anymnore. Still, I'm so thankful since I'm still lucky for I can continue my education and have a degree which is very important. God Bless us all!

Me Being an Accountancy Student 2

"If you can manipulate news, a judge can manipulate the law. A smart lawyer can keep a killer out of jail, a smart accountant can keep a thief from paying taxes, a smart reporter could ruin your reputation- unfairly." - Mario Coumo.

Before I took up this course, I know it wouldn't be easy to be an accountancy student. As I see the student taking up this course, they were always in front of their finger-to-finger thick books. As I imagine myself at their position, whoa, I think I get crazy since I'm not the type of person who used to read books that much. I'm not that studious. 

Now, I took up this course. Way back my highschool, I never imagine myself to work as an accountant.It wasn't really crash ion my dreams. And look, what happen to me, I'm currently taking up this course. Actually, Accountancy is my 3rd choice of course. Even though I didn't like it, I just included it in my top 3 choices since it was my parents who want it. What I want is to become a nurse.  Honestly, at my first month, I cried every night since I really don't like this course. I shifted because of financial problem. Nursing is too expensive and I realize that it's to do what my parents want which is to take up Accountancy course. SIGH!

Now, as an accountancy student, I found it difficult on the first day since for me, I went back to zero. I met terms that are not familiar to me. I'm struggling every our accounting session. At first, during our quizzes, I got low scores. Whoa. So disappointed with myself. I felt like I'm a failure. But, after few days, I recovered. I studied and familiarize the terminologies and some principles. And, I got high score during drills or quizzes. I'm so proud of myself. In fact, I was not expecting a high grade on our Mid-term exam. I was the highest. Yeheyyyyyyyyyyyy...

With this, I was inspired to study more hard so I will end up being an accountant someday. Wish me luck!!! God bless you!

Me Being An Accountancy Student 1

As you read my title, you may wonder why I mention the accountancy course. Yeah, right! I am now an accountancy student. In here, you will know the reason why I shift from Nursing to Accountancy, how is it to be an accountancy student and how did I feel for shifting a different course. These questions mentioned are to be answered later. But, now, let's talk about the Accountancy Course.

The Bachelor of Science in Accountancy (BSA) prepares students for entry into a variety of fields in accountancy, including corporate accounting, accounting information systems, and governmental accounting, as well as entry into graduate programs such as law. It also equips students with basic and advanced accounting concepts, principles and procedures. In addition to doing accounting functions for business enterprises, the students are prepared for public accounting after passing the CPA licensure examination. (http://www.letran.edu/collegiate/cbaa/cbaa_acctg.php).

In here, students in their first year were taught and introduce to basic accounting principles, accounting concepts, and accounting terminology. Once the student be familiar with the terminology, they will be comfortable navigating the explanations, drills and puzzles. In here, students were pre-oriented the importance and obligations of an accountant in a company or in an organization.

1st SEMESTER

According to my research, wikipedia, semester divides the academic year into two, mostly 16-18 weeks each. Literally, it is a six months period. In other countries, they have different set of school years. In Philippines, we have two semesters for colleges and universities. It begins on the month of June and ends up on 3rd week or sometimes last week of October. There are also universities in our country like De la Salle University, for example, that used different set of school years unlike the usual school year we used to.

First semester for the freshmen are the period of adjustments. It is when they catch up and adjust on their new environment with different faces in their new school. It is a stuggling period. For me, during my first semester in college, whoa, I felt nervous upon entering the school since most of the faces are not familiar to me. There were many students seen unlike in highschool. Also, it is when I became a bedspacer. It was really hard for me to be away from my parents side for the first time. Also, classmates were different in each subject, well, some have the same but mostly has different subject each. I found it hard during the first semester. I found it difficult to adjust. WEW!!! First semester is the start of every freashmen's dream. It could be consider as the first step. Every semester is not really easy. Students experienced sleepnights making their assignments and studying their lessons, spending time in library doing some research and jamming with their close friends for a quite sometime just to relax themselves from the stressful activity that the semester had given to the students. With those, some students found it interesting and enjoyable that they continue their schooling. Also, some could discover that their course didn't fit to them that they need to shift to the other course they will like. And some may stop maybe because they found it tiring to study.

All of those were experienced by students. And now that the first semester has ended, well, thumbs up to those students for they survive the stressful half of the school year. High five for them. Good luck to all of us for the next semester. God Bless!

TYPHOON

We all know that Philippines is currently suffering from poverty. One of its reason is the effect of the calamities attacking into it. Like what had happen just weeks ago. It was last week of September and about first week of October when two typhoons named Pedring and Quiel attacked Philippines especially on the upper part of it, the Luzon.

These two typhoons brought a disaster to the Philippines. It added the problems that our country is facing now. Our country hasn't yet recovered from the result of the previous typhoons and now, there were trials again. OH MY! It was really heartbreaking watching the news about the disaster the two typhoons had caused. People were suffering from hungry since they can't get food because they were trapped by the flood which is above human level. In fact, some stayed at their house second floor while others stayed at the roofs. In order for the other victims to go from one area to another, they used small boats as their transportation. Also, some walked kilometers away just to get food whenever they hear hearsays that their are some donations arrived. They sacrificed to walk in order to feed their crying stomachs. As we can see the news, there really millions or billions maybe of damaged. From people themselves who died, their agricultural area which is one of their source of income, from the things they worked hard to buy, the schools and schools materials, to the roads that has been not used because of the landslide that trapped many commuters. That was really a damn damaged.

WHOA. I was very sad by it. I am thankful that it didn't happen into our place. On the other hand, I felt really sorry for those typhoon victims. I know even if I didn't experience it, it's really difficult. I just pray their goodness to God. It's all I can do, to pray and left it up to the LORD. To all the typhoon victims, don't lose hope. There's still tomorrow. God Bless!!!

BER Month

It was like yesterday that we celebrate Loyalty Day, have sembreak vacation, celebrate all Saints and all Souls day, Advent season and most of all, Christmas. It was like after we celebrate all of those mentioned, we slept and when we woke up, it's BER Month again. Meaning, We are near to Christmas. Time really goes so fast. We can't stop it.

Now, the season is raining. Many typhoons were coming. It's one of the sign for coming of Christmas which is rain. Also, surroundings start to become colder. Maybe, during this time, some already prepared for their Christmas celebration. They start listing things need to buy for the celebration. Maybe they already have lists of people to whom they will give their special gifts of love.

Thinking about it, now that Christmas is already coming, it excites me. For me, Christmas is really the best celebration a human could have, not because they will receive gifts from their loved ones or it's the time for family bonding or vacation but, it's when JESUS, our SAVIOR, was born. It's the main reason why we celebrate it.

So now, let's do the countdown for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. And, let me be the first one to great you a MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all. May we all have a fruitful days while this event is coming. God Bless!!!

Loyalty Day Celebration

Here we go again. It's September. Month for Intramurals or Loyalty Day celebration for most of the schools in the Philippines while others are on the other months. In Manila, there is so called UAAP. Battle of prestigious schools(universities) there like ADMU(Ateneo de Manila University), De La Salle University, UP Diliman, Far Eastern University, University of Santo Tomas, etc.! This was every year.

Here in Maasin, schools here celebrates Loyalty Day during this month of September. For SJC, the school held it on the Sept. 7-10. Well, of course, as a Catholic school, it started with a Holy Mass wherein Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDV, DD, the school president, was the celebrant. It happened on the first day, 4pm. Then, on the next day, there was a parade. It was new for all old students since we used to have our parade in  the afternoon but this time, it was held in the morning at 9am. There was also another new to students since we used to have 4 teams in College, two teams for High school as well as the Elementary. It was different teams but this year, it was different. There were only two the same teams for College, High School and Elementary. It was to promote Unity so that they can cheer with each other whether they were came from High school, College or Elemetary. The activities are still the same like games, cheerdance competition, there were muses and also Biblio-drama Contest. For MCC, I wasn't able to witness there intramurals since I had classes that time. So, I asked my friends who watched it. The team was change. From Spino and Kentro to Hydrus and Pyrus. There old teams were used for four consecutive years. According to my source, they will change team's names every other four years. Like SJC, there also cheerdance competition, games and Victory ball wherein, they had disco.

 I don't know about the two other colleges: STI and College of Maasin. I never heard any news about their Intramurals. In Cebu, most of the schools had their Intramurals for a week or more than a week.

This kind of celebration enhanced the talents and skills of every students. In here, we can discover new talents hidden behind every students. It also improve the sportsmanship between students since in every competition like this, there's always a winner and a loser. It's up to the student on how to accept it but for me, they have to accept it heartily since if they win, it means they did their best. Ahm, I didn't mean that losers didn't did their best, it's just that it was their destiny to lose in the game. For the winners, GOOD JOB. TWO THUMBS UP! For the losers, better luck next time! Never lose hope!

God Bless!

Science and Math Month

Schools in Philippines celebrates Nutrition Month during July. Now, that it is already September, schools celebrates the Science and Math Month. This was every every of the same month. They had separate themes. For Science, it is "Chemergy: Chemistry and Science Clubbing in Synergy" while for Math is "Unraveling Complex Systems".

During my high school year, I was able to witness this kind of event. First school day of September, there will be a program. Selected students will dance and sing and after that, there will be questions for all students and who ever answered it correctly, he/she will got a price. It was all about Science and Math topics. And on Monday every week, after the flag ceremony, there will be questions again and a price to those who can answer. Students were eager to answer for the price. Also, during this month, students in Model section and students who are members of the Science or Math Club will handle a tutorials. There were also Investigatory project given in every section and compete with the other.

It was such one of the interesting events schools in our country ever had. It could help the students to nurture their knowledge about this two subjects. It could help them to go beyond their skills. Others also were given the opportunity to help those students who are in need in this two subjects. It promotes unity. This kind of event could discover the knowned scientists and mathematicians someday. I hope so.

Good Luck Students.
God Bless us all!
Take care!

CHALK HOLIDAY

The ACT or the Alliance of Concerned Teachers declared September 16, Friday, of this year as a Chalk Holiday. It is not a non-working or official holiday. It is when teachers don't use chalks during their class. Its purpose is to protest to the government about its chalk allowance for teachers. This is not only for the increase of chalk allowance but for their salary as well. They demand to increase teachers' wages.

During this holiday, it doesn't mean teachers didn't proceed to their lessons. It's just that they will not use chalks. They were just using their louder voice in teaching lessons. Others just used manila paper and marker since for them, pupils or students still need visual aids for them to understand well. They weren't using the chalks for the reason to emphasize their demands to the government.

With this kind of issue, it touches my heart. This is one of the effect of the corruption happening in our country. If the money was distributed to every department properly, this will never happened maybe. I hope the government will listen to the cries of the teachers. I hope the problem of our country will be solved as soon as possible. I know it couldn't be as soon as possible. But, I just wished it could be as possible as what people think.

God Bless everyone!

Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Another year, another day of birth of our Blessed Virgin Mother!

For people to show their love to her, their respect to her, they visited and attended masses in Our Lady of the Assumption Shrine and Montecueva. They brought flowers came from their places, some bought to be offered to Mama Mary. 

I have a story to be told during the birthday of Mama Mary. She did a miracle. I wasn't able to witness it but I believe it was true since it's about the Blessed Mother. She was able to be the one who handled the bread during the Holy Communion. It happened in Montecueva. As the people describe her, She was really beautiful. They found out this miracle during the snack time of the priest and the nuns. There were only two nuns but during the communion, there were three. Upon hearing this, I had a goose bomb. Lucky to those who ate the bread the lady feed during Communion. How I wish I witnessed it.

Some may believe it while some will not. It's really up to us. What's important is to keep our faith to God and praise the Blessed Mother. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA MARY.

God bless us all!

Teacher's Month

"They may forget what you said but they will never forget how you made them feel." - Carol Buchner

It was officially proclaimed by the Malacanang Palace to celebrate the National Teacher's Month every September of the year. It is under the Proclaimation no. 242 of the Palace. It is a month long celebration in honor to all the teachers.

This kind of celebration gives us the opportunity to thank our teachers for imparting their knowledge to us. We should commemorate the sacrifices they have done just to fulfill their mission to feed us the information we need. Being a teacher is an easy profession. They have to be more patient in dealing with everybody especially those students that are hard-headed and lazy to study. Teachers make ways for them to pass. They burned their eyebrows just to make lesson plans for us students. Most of their time was reserved for us instead to their families.

Now, I'm encouraging you all to personally thank your teachers. If you rare shy to do it, just be a good student to lessen their burdens. What we became, where we are now, we owe it to them. Even those successful bachelors, they owe to their teachers. They couldn't have their professions without the help of their teachers. And to all Teacher licensure examinees, good luck! And to all teachers out there, Happy Teacher's Day! You all are our heros! God bless!

Buwan ng Wika

Every year, month of August, whole Philippines commemorates Buwan ng Wika. This is the time in which we, Filipinos, celebrate our Philippine National Language which is Filipino. This was institutionalized by Former President Manuel L. Quezon. It is our way of showing love for our own language. Filipinos united for this event, united since even if we are in different places, we celebrate one occasion. In this, it is a proof that we respect and treasured our own language.

During this event, we may see pupils or students wearing native dress or attire as their participation. They may also used our language whenever they spoke. Also, there were many games held like poem (tagalog), balagtasan, orientation(tagalog), pukpok palayok, sungka, patintero and other filipino games.

But as I was observed, some Filipinos are not fluent to our own language. They prefer to speak English since it made them sophisticated and seen as educated. Some also find it difficult to speak Filipino because they speak other languages at home, such as Cebuano, Waray, and so on. Huhuhu!

God Bless!

Maasin City Fiesta 2011

Another year, another celebration, another fiesta!

August 15 when Maasin celebrates its fiesta as Our Lady of the Assumption as their patron. Aligned with this fiesta are activities before this day came. One of this is the BEC night held on August 6, at the same time, this day is the Opening Salvo. August 7 is the SK/Youth night where in SK/Youth gathered at Maasin City Gym and had a Disco Party there. This is their way of making the SK/Youth mingle with the other youth from different barangays in Maasin. This is every year. Another activity that they held is the concert of The Maestro Ryan Cayabyab with Jimmy Bondoc and Geneva Cruz. During this concert, knowned bands here in Maasin Show also what they got. And August 14, Maasin hosted a Hiphop Dance Showdown at Maasin City Gym wherein group dancers from different part of So. Leyte joined. That was really a great showdown according to my friends who watched and never missed this talent showcases.

Month, I think, before this day came, you can many vendors around the terminal area. There were cheap household utensils, clothes, machine tools and other things that could catch people's attention. There were also what we called here Ukay-ukay. Most people preferred this since there stuffs are durable, branded and cheap(very affordable). This is what make my friends and me almost got no allowance since we always went that area and buy whatever we like. we buy not just for ourselves but for our parents also. Hehehe. Sometimes we agreed not to go to that area so that we won't get tempted with those stuffs. I can say that during those times, we didn't have savings from our allowance. We almost experience money shortage.

When the day came, as always, crowd is always present where ever you turn your head. People of different faces, different races from different places came and witnessed the fiesta celebration. With this, it made me wish that it would always be FIESTA. Hehehe.

Happy Fiesta Maasinhon! Happy Fiesta our Lady of the Assumption. God Bless!

11th Charter Day of Maasin City

During this day, Mayor Maloney Samaco - Maasin City Mayor - wants a deep relationship with the City of Davao. This is what he pointed out as he introduced the guest speaker of that event who is Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. The event was held at the Maasin City Gymnasium where thousands of barangay officials, provincial and municipal government  officials, employees, students, and non-government organizations gathered just to witness this delightful event. Thousands of people supported the celebration despite the heavy rain.

Part of this celebration was the campaign for anti-smoking of the City. In this program, stores are not allowed to sell cigarettes and when caught, there is a penalty. Also people are not allowed to smoke in public. The question and answer section of the Miss Maasin election refered to this campaign. For the Miss Maasin election, each  barangays of Maasin City had their representative, or muse, who competed for their beauty in an elimination round. And during the event, from 70 muses, there are only 10 muses left and I'm proud to say that our barangay was included. Then, from those top 10, it became three who would undergo the question an answer portion, and from these three candidates, Miss Anniversary and Miss Maasin City Fiesta was be chosen. And the Miss Maasin City Fiesta was from barangay Ascuncion and the Miss Anniversary was from barangay Tomoy-tomoy. Also, during this day, the Maasinhon trio shown their singing talent. They are the one who auditioned in PGT (Pilipinas Got Talent). It was just one of the proof that Maasinhons are talented and I'm one of them. Hahahahaha! Awarding of the barangay for the Clean and Green Category and awarding of its BHWs are  part of this annual celebration.

That was one of the eminent event I've witnessed in my entire life. I really enjoyed that day even if it was raining. Congrats Maasin City for a job well done. I salute you. Good bless you!

Maasin City 11th Charter Day

It was like yesterday Maasin City celebrated its 10th Charter Day. And this 10th day of this month of August, it celebrated again its 11th Charter Day. Time runs fast. People especially Maasinhons waited for this event.

Aligned with this event are many acitivities like an open basketball tournament which is participated by four universities from Cebu City.  They are from University of Cebu, University of San Carlos, South Western University and University of the Visayas. It was a three-day tournament. It was held last July 22 of this year. This activity is not just for the Charter day but also for the Maasin City fiesta which was 5 days after this Charter Day event.

Some competing games that are held are billiards open, lawn tennis, badminton, 21 kilometers marathon, Potpot race, sepak takraw, mountain bike tournament, taekwando, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of the Philippines KAB Olympics. Those mentioned above are just few of the activities that Maasin has as a preparation for its big day. This is their way of making people enjoy for the coming event. I hope everyone who attended. God bless Maasinhon and the rest. Have a happy day always!

SONA (State of the Nation Address)

State of the Nation Address is one of the duties of the Philippine President as stated in the Article VII, Section 23 of the 1987 constitution. It is an annual event of the Republic of the Philippines. During this event, the president stated the current condition or status of the Philippines. It was delivered during the 4th Monday of July. July 25 of this year, Pnoys delivered SONA @ exactly 3pm. It was Pnoy's second time to deliver it. Unlike past Presidents who used pure English or sometimes Tagalog-English, Pnoy used pure Tagalog which was for many a good move so that it can be understood by any level of Filipino Society.

http://www.keywordspeak.com/2010/10/president-noynoy-sona-2011-pnoy-sona.html is the site where you can read the full transcript of the SONA 2011.

I remembered in one of our class, our instructor said that at first he regreted that he voted Pnoy as the President but after he heard the SONA, his mind was being enlightened and realized that his vote was worth it. Before the SONA, he thought that Pnoy had done nothing important when after the deliberation of SONA, he realized that Pnoy did many things in our country. Many said that Pnoy take the latest administration corruption issue personal, and this is right since it was his money, it was my money, it was my parents money, it was our money whom those irresponsible politicians corrupted. Filipinos should take it personally!

Nutrition Month

“The first wealth is health.”- Emerson

“Life is not living, but living in health.” - Martial

Nutrition Month is an annual celebration regarding the nutrition itself. It is part of our Philippine Constitution. Last July 2011, the entire Philippines celebrated it with its theme: "Isulong ang BREASTFEEDING- tama, sapat at eksklusibo". Obviously, it focuses on the breastfeeding which, as we all know, is the best milk for infants. Its objectives was to encourage all sectors to help to protect, promote and support the practice of breastfeeding. In fact, breastfeeding ranks as the most effective interventions for child's survival. It was stated that the child that was raised by breastfeeding was more healthier and had higher resistance than to a child who wasn't. As what I have observed today, most mothers depends on milk which are sold rather than breastfeeding. This is because they had to work that they can't give breastfeed to their child at the same time.

It was not all only about breast feeding. Schools such as SJC participated during this month long nutrition celebration. They supported it by having a program about nutrition, having role playing or games like questioning students or pupils about things related to nutrtition.

This kind of celebration helps the students to be more aware about their health at their early age. With this, they will know what to do to be healthy. Also, parents are also aware on how to provide nutrition not only to their children but to themselves. It is one of the best Presidential Degrees that Philippine has. Good bless you!

July 1-Southern Leyte Founding Anniversary

It was like Southern Leyte just celebrated its founding anniversary and this month, it celebrated its 51st anniversary. During this time, Southern Leytenos were united in the plaza. Alluring drop-dead delighful spots  of the province were taken a picture and printed in a tarpaulin and placed in every corner of Maasin City.  Upon celebrating this, many activities were held like Concert at the park on June 29 and Ms. Southern Leyte 2011 on June 30 wherein 19 beauties from each towns competed to reign the thrown.

On the day of the celebration, as the starting of this, parade was held and lead by the Southern Leyte Governor, Damian G. Mercado. Officials from different towns, students, and government workers joined the parade. It was really a long parade with a long walk. Days before the event, we can many vendors in the Capitol Plaza wherein people visit to see the items that are sold. There is also a part of the plaza wherein products from different towns of Southern Leyte were presented and sold. Crowds were waiting for the people who joined the said parade to arrived. There were many people that even a needle can't enter. It must be amazing to be there to see many people from different towns.

Those i have said above was only described and stated by my friends who witnessed the event since I wasn't. It was because, I got fever during that time that sadly, I was able to join the long walk. I was just imagining what happened as they told me about the event. Next time, I will never let myself not to witness this
high spirited luxuriant event. You..You...yes you..Come in Southern Leyte next year and witness the event. God Bless!

CPA Honoring Ceremony

"If you have a task to perform and are vitally interested in it, excited and challenged by it, then you will exert maximum energy. But in the excitement, the pain of fatigue dissipates, and the exuberance of what you hope to achieve overcomes the weariness." - Jimmy Carter

"We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible." - Vince Lombardi

Saint Joseph College-Maasin continues bringing its name to the top. It was proven and tested by its Accountancy Department through what it got during the May 2011 CPA board Examination. Its passing rate goes higher and higher. It only means that SJC has the good quality of education given to its students. Out of 25 examinees from SJC, 18 of them passed the board examination. Although not all of them were first taker since some of them were second taker, meaning they are conditional. With this, still, it gave pride to our Alma Mater. It committed a National Passing rate of 40.50% and SJC rate of 69.23%. 

It's the accountancy department's tradition to have an honoring ceremony for all the CPA board examination passers. And, as I am an accountancy student now,I was able to witness its inspiring activity they have. May 2011 CPA passers were all invited. And the activity goes this way: accountancy students lead by the assistant dean, Ms. Melodina Orit and other accountancy instructor gathered at the SJC Gunfrida Covered Court along with the passers for a mass. After the mass, a motorcade was held and proudly presenting the faces of the passers. After the motorcade, the honoring ceremony started few minutes after wherein passers were presented to all accountancy students and was given the floor for their messages. Some shares their experiences before and during the Board Exam. Some shared some tips, just a hint on what they do to pass. Some also shared their past as how they stuggled when they were still students. As we listened to their messages, we are all inspired to be what they have got today.

Before this entry end, as I listened to those messages, I was touched by what one passer said: "Today is the best preparation for tomorrow." So, to all accountancy students including me, strive hard so we can attain our goals to become a CPA. Good luck to all of us. And for the passers, you did a very great job. We are so proud of you. Congratulations and good luck for your future works. God Bless!

Fiesta

I mentioned already before, Filipinos really really love fiesta. Every town or barangays here in Philippines had their saints their fiesta celebration is based on. Just like ours: our barangay just celebrated our fiesta as Sacred Heart of Jesus as our patron saint. People from other places gather in our barangay and visits houses they know to eat different foods the residence were preparing. Of course, lechon is always present. Almost all of the Filipinos love this food.

I can say that, as I witness our fiesta for many years, this recently fiesta we had was the best fiesta ever. It is because I had my loved ones with me. It was not all but at least few of them came. My uncle came home from abroad just to celebrate with us. Also, my best friends came. I was really happy. I went to church with them. I was bit disappointed since it is not pontifical mass since Bishop had many matters to do. That is why it was the monsignor who held the mass and it was called High Mass. I also went to disco with my friends. Disco is always present during night of our fiesta. People gathered at the barangay covered court to have a non-stop dancing with old and latest songs. Before, I never went to disco. I just stayed at our house and sleep. But with friends with me, I must go. I found it enjoyable especially in going there with my uncle.

Fiesta is so tiring yet worth it. We were very busy entertaining visitors and accomodate what they want. But, it was great since it felt like satisfying when many people came to your home. meaning, they like how you treated them. Some were I seen for the first time. Some were familiar to me since they were on our house during fiestas.

All I can say is our fiesta is unlimited enjoyable. It was an all out fun!

 Yahoooooo!

Looking forward for the next fiesta...hehehe...God bless! Sacrada Corazon De Jesus, pray for us!

My 20th Birthday

Many birthday greeting on my phone. Thanks to all of you!

Birthday is a day or anniversary to celebrate person's date of birth. This is to commemorate the very first day of our existence here on earth. I know that all humans celebrate their birthday, either in a silent way or through a party or dinner.

I remember when I was a kid. I was always excited when my birthday came. I was excited with the gifts and the party. Well, it was not a big party as you may think; it was just a simple party where my family and relatives gathered in our house for dinner and some chats or a videoke (sing-along). Although my family and relatives on maternal side always come together for other reasons as well, gathering because of birthdays is different. I find it more fun and awesome. Maybe because we were celebrating the very special days of our lives!

And now that I'm already 20 years old, no longer a baby, I still had this feeling of excitement when my birthday was coming. It's not because of the gifts. It's just that I was excited to receive greetings from the people who are important in my life. They are the people who did a great part in making me for who I am now. That's why I took a picture of those messages. Upon receiving messages from mommy Ritchiele Gelsano, Jeralden Bolo, mommy Jonilyn Esclamado, ate Margarita Almeda, Mary Grace Badeo, grandfather Georg Sander,  and Donna Rose Espinal, my special day is half-way complete. Half-way since they serve as half of my life. Without them, my life would be meaningless. It was my way of thanking them and I am so proud for they greeted me. To celebrate my birthday this year, I didn't have a party. It was just a dinner with family and relatives but before that, we went to church altogether. For me, parties and gifts are not important as long as those people I love are there for me. It means a lot to me. They are more precious than any gifts. On the day after my birthday, my friends (Yhing and Mommy Ritchiele) treated me on a snacks. I wasn't surprise with this. Lol. It's just, I don't expect anything from them as long as they remember me, it's all I am wanted for.

Yhing, me and Mommy Ritchiele eating cake

I am thankful to them for that kind of effort they have done for me. First of all, I thank God for giving me chance to borrow this life to experience on how to live this world he had created for us. Second is to my parents who take good care of me from the day I was still in my mother's womb until now that I am a older. Hehehe! I thank those people behind this life of mine. And lastly, whether you are haters or lovers, I thank you since you are the reasons why I am stronger now. I can say that I am so lucky since I am well-loved by those people I mentioned and also by many more people that I have not mentioned above.

Each of us is a gift made by God so we should be thankful with it through celebrating it. Before the celebration, it is God we should thank first. Celebrate it with God since if it is not because of him, we couldn't have this wonderful life that we had. All I'm wishing for is good health and long live for me and for those people I love. I hope, this year will become a fruitful one for me. God Bless everyone!

Fight for the cake. Hehehe. But we all got enough cake.

Opinions towards Cybersex

Cybersex, also called computer sex, Internet sex, netsex, mudsex, TinySex and, colloquially, cybering, is a virtual sex encounter in which two or more persons connected remotely via computer network send each other sexually explicit messages describing a sexual experience. It is a form of sexual roleplay in which the participants pretend they are having actual sex. In one form, this fantasy sex is accomplished by the participants describing their actions and responding to their chat partners in a mostly written form designed to stimulate their own sexual feelings and fantasies. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybersex#Criticism).

As I watched the news recently, I always hear about cybersex. It was about parents who engaged their daughters and sons to cybersex to earn money. They let their children experience it just to sustain their needs. I was intrigued by this issue since as a Filipino, it's a dignity destroyer. It degrade the pride of Filipinos.

In my opinion, I can say that HOW DARE THOSE PARENTS TO LET THEIR CHILDREN ENTER THIS KIND OF MATTER. They were really people of satan. As we all know, parents should be the one to care for their children and protect them from any harm. Upon hearing this news, I was really affected since what they did destroy the dignity and not just dignity but their whole life. I hate those parents. They should be put in jail.

With this, I asked my friend's opinion towards. And here are some of what I have gathered.

"Those who did this were lazy and useless parents. They ruin their children's life." -Margarita Almeda.

"They were parents who are irresponsible. They don't deserve to live. Instead of giving their children a heaven's life, they give what it feels to be in hell." - Grace Badeo

"All bad words for those parents. Even if they were alive, their souls are already in hell." - Janice Ramirez.

Father's Day

One father is more than a hundred Schoolmasters

 "Any man can be a Father but it takes someone special to be a dad." -- Anne Geddes 

Like mothers, fathers also have special day, Father's Day that we celebrate in June. I have read a history of this special occasion for our fathers on this site: http://www.theholidayspot.com/fathersday/history.htm. It tells us how the father's day celebration came into existance. During this day, we are celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds and the most of all, honoring our father. We are honoring for their hardworks to provide us, their children, a shelter to live,  foods to eat, clothes to wear and everything we need. All what we have now is came from their sacrifices in going to farm, facing mountains of paperworks in office, waking up in dawn to catch fishes to sell and any works they can just to earn money to provide what their children need.

My father, Martin Alico, is one of those hardworking fathers the world has. I can see those sacrifices he has done to provide the basic needs of our family, also to earn money to send us to school to get our diplomas which he never had. He always told me and my older sister to study hard so we can achieve our dreams. "Dli ko gusto na mapareha mo nahu nga wa kahuman ug college". This is what our father always told us. This statement of his is simple yet so touching and inspiring. It inspires me to strive hard in my studies.

In my childhood, I remember many moments with my father than with my mother. Whenever I woke up, he was the person I looked for. And when I knew where he is, I went there. When my father went to our farm, I joined him. When he did the copras, I was with him. I did things I can that could help him like carrying woods, gathering water, and so on! Where ever he was, I was. Also, when I had a crush, he was the one to know it first than my mother. He never scold me when I confessed, instead, he reminded me that I'm too young for that matter. As I remember, I was 11 years old when I told him I already had a crush. Hehehe! I dream to be his Junior and until now, that dream of mine still exist. It makes me happy whenever I heard people say that I got my face from my father. I'm proud of it. When I got mad, he always did everything to make me smile. I am closer to my father than to my mother. Sometimes, I got my friends' envy since they are not close to their dad unlike me. He is one of the people who always there for me, one who has loved, cared and provided for me. He is one the two most important people in the world to me. Someone I love with all my heart. He is my guardian angel, my friend, my hero and most importantly, my Papa.

I  love my father very much. What I am or whatever I have now, all of these are what I owed from him and my mother. I've had a hard life, but my hardships are nothing against the hardships that my father went through in order to get me to where I started. I love you, Papa. If I will be given another life and God will ask me whom i like to be my father, I will still choose you. This is how much I love you. Happy father's Day to all fathers out there! God bless!

Welcome Back to School

"At the desk where I sit, I have learned one great truth. The answer for all our national problems - the answer for all the problems of the world - come to a single word. That word is 'education'."- Lyndon B. Johnson

Summer is over! Raining starts. Vacation ends. School begins. It was like I spend summer vacation just yesterday. Now, it is over and classes begins. Some students are perhaps sad because they are not satisfied with their vacations. Some are happy to enter classes. They are excited to see their friends whom they missed or maybe, they are tired staying at home doing nothing.  Some are also excited to enter a new level of their education. Elementary graduates proceed to High School which, as most of the people say, are the best years during education. High schoolers go to college to take the course which could help them to be professionally what they want to be.

Education is very important to one's life or journey. It will shape one person into what they will be in the near future. It can't be taken away from you no matter what.We all know that Philippines are facing crisis today. And, I only know one solution for that. It is EDUCATION.

So, I am welcoming pupils/students to the world of education. I wish you the best of luck! One advice: Study hard at the same time, enjoy your life! Just make studies to your number one priority and not just an option. God bless!

Flores De Mayo

I mentioned it already in one of my previous blog entries: filipinos love fiestas and festivals. They are celebrated all-year  round. Fiestas are celebrated all over the country, in particular during summer months. May is the merriest among the months of a year. May is the month in which many fiestas are celebrated like the Flores De Mayo or the Flowers of May. During this event, people harvest their beautifully blooming flowers  and use them decorate the altars of their Parish Church. All towns celebrated this festival. In my place, children were gathered every afternoon of the whole month of May in Church to pray the Holy Rosary, with beautiful arranged flowers with them which are to be offered to Mother Mary. After the rosary, children marched down the aisle to the altar of Mother Mary. This festival is celebrated to commemorate the goodness and purity of the Blessed Virgin  Mary.

During my childhood, I also experienced this kind of doings every summer. This event is what most of the children awaited. I did all my chore assignment in the morning so I could attend this activity. Sometimes, my parents teased me that they wouldn't allow me to go to this event, and I cried since I didn't want to be absent. I was always excited as I walked with my friends on our way to church. It was one of the memorable moments I had during my childhood. I always wanted my flowers to be arranged beautifully since during at the end of the session, there are awards for the best flowers. During also the activity, children were guarded by big sisters, and the children who behaved best also got awards. I wanted that award that I never moved even turned my head to my side from the start up to the end of the session. Hehehe! I found it hard but I did it just for that small piece of paper where "Best Behaved" was written. I got the two awards (flowers and behaving), not each time, but at least a couple of times, I got it. I was so happy that time as if I got one bag of candies! Yehey!

It was really a funny experience. I never forget that. Today, I miss doing that. I used to have the small piece of award paper with me but unfortunately, my sister threw it away since she didn't know that I keep it as a remembrance. I felt sad but we never found it again. I just think that it was just a piece of paper. What's important is that the event is still on my mind. God bless us all! Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us!

Fe say goodbye to VSU

Being in VSU for about two months, it is one of the greatest experiences I should save in my memory box. It couldn't be erased from my mind unless I will get amnesia. Hahahaha! I had so much fun there not because of the place but because of the people there. If you want to picture out about this school, just imagine a mountain with buildings that are apart from each other. Students and staff there were so kind that your tiredness would fade when you will see all their smiling faces. I can say that studying there could be tiring in a way that the rooms are far from each other and lots of mountaing climbing is needed to reach the rooms. But, if you were in the class, you wouldn't regret that you enter this school since professors there are highly competent. This is just my opinion. It was based on what I have observed during my stay there. People there were simple in a way that they enter to class wearing slippers. It was my first time to experience it. I amazed me since I was not used into it from SJC. The school, where I came  from, Saint Joseph College, prohibited wearing slippers and shorts when we enter into the school. There in VSU, you can wear any types of clothes you want. But, there are some who wear their uniforms.

You know what? Now, I miss VSU. I miss going to the market to buy foods every night. I also miss going to Baybay proper with my roommates just to eat halo-halo in a food chain there. I miss the bell ringing to wake us up for cleaning. I miss climbing a long way up to attend classes. I miss the big dormitory where I lived. I miss my roommates whom accompanied me throughout my living there. I also miss my classmates especially my classmate named Alyssa who was always there with me to guide me, who gave me orientation about the way people in VSU lived and about the school and who is now one of my best friends. She is the one who was always my partner in every activity we had. She helped me in every difficulty I encountered during my stay there. I missed everything about that school. Goodbye VSU! I thank this school very much! More power to the school! May you continue being good in feeding knowledge to your students more like what you have nourished to me! GBU!

Experiences at VSU

While studying at VSU (Visaya State University) for the summer class, I experienced many things that I want to share with you. Experiences that I will never forget! Some of these are memorable to me since I've done it for the first time. And also, there are experiences that molds me into good. I was able to share experiences with different lives of people that I just met or people that accompanied me throughout the summer class.

The first experience was to wake up early, everyday in the early morning, around 5am, just to clean the area which was assigned to us. Every room got an area to clean. As far as I remember, I've done this for the first time. Honestly, I hate to wake up early, but I had no choice but to follow it. It was part of the dormitory's rules and regulations so I was oblige to do it. If someone violated it, fines were expected. These kinds of routine helped the students to follow rules, and in addition it trained students for some household chores. Doing it for about two months, it helped me to changed a little bit since as of now, I was able to clean our house which I never did before. Before, I gave all the responsibilities to my elder sister. This doesn't mean that I didn't do any chores in our home, it's just that I don't like cleaning that is why I didn't care much to do it. But now, I already consider cleaning as part of the weekly routine.

Another experience was that I was able to study and live alone and away from my place. I had to budget my allowance every week which I've never done before. I made sure that it would be enough for the whole week without experiencing money shortage. It was also my first time to enter into a school without someone that I knew already, someone that could be my company when looking for a rooms. Unlike my previous school where I have many friends already, in VSU, I didn't know even a single person. But I was able to cope with it since people there were so friendly and accommodating. Thanks to them!

Also, it was at VSU that I saw some animals that always wanted to see: sheep, ostrich and deer. I saw them for the first time. Hopefully I will see more other animals one day. My roommates toured me to some area of VSU which I haven't seen before. One day is not enough to roam around all over the school, as they said, since it was a big school. In fact, when I was there, I haven't gone to all places of it, maybe only half of it.

Being with different people, it's like sharing our life story. I found it interesting since we were talking about our pasts, good or bad. And there is one story which touched my heart. It was about the past of one of my roommate. She have gone many difficulties. She experienced to be one of those street children who beg from people they met. She was able to sleep in the street. She went through many difficulties. If I was in her situation that time, I don't think I would have survived from all of that. I praise her courage and strengths in striving those trials she met. Knowing her past, I can say that I'm so lucky where I am now. Even if we are poor, I know that some dreamed to be in my situation. Now, the roommate I talked about took a nursing course. I think she lived in one of bahay-ampunan (orphanage) in Tacloban city. An Australian supported her studies. I wish her all the best and lots of success! God Bless all!

Report in Health Education Subject (part 2)

I focused on making the report that I canceled all my appointments with my friends on that day. I was the one who planned the activity my friends and I wanted to do but I'm the one who couldn't make it. I just send them a message to their phone explaining. It is good that I have understanding friends. In fact, they encouraged me to do it on my best. During that weekend, my aunt came to our house and asked me to join her to go to a fiesta in her friend's place but I refused. Same to my sister. I just stayed at the house making the report. I laugh now that I remember being very busy, even when my sister asked me to stop for a while and talk to her, I didn't find the time to talk to her. I didn't join her in watching television even though the movie was one of my favorite. I never stopped what I was doing. Perhaps, you think what I did was over the limit or not normal but I just wanted to not waste any second that I have for my task. I only stopped for eating. I know my sister understood my situation. I was supposed to be back in Baybay on Monday but because of the activity for that day, I went back on Sunday afternoon. I finished my report there. I wrote it in a sheets of paper before I put it in a powerpoint. Good that there is an internet cafe in the dormitory I lived in. I consumed hours in front of the computer. I was done encoding my handouts (that I must give to our instructor and classmates) and after this, I made the powerpoint slides. I started doing these at 3pm and finished it at around 12 midnight. Before going to bed, I studied it again so that I would know what to do during the demonstration.

When Monday came, I woke up early and got ready for school since I'd still have to go to an internet cafe for the printing of my handouts. Afterwards, I went immediately to our classroom and prepared myself for the presentation. I studied and studied until the reporting started. Each group got only 15 minutes to present what we did. When the first group presented, I just listened and observed the way they present their work. And when it was my turn, just before standing in front of my classmates and teacher, I told to myself that I can do it, that I am better than the first one. This was my way to boost confidence to myself.

Then, the reporting started. I just let myself be the way it should be. I explained our topics and explained further and further. Seeing smiles from my classmates raided my confidence. I reported as if I am a real educator that time. When our teacher mentioned that there's only one minute left, I rattled but still managed to continue the presentation. I spoke fast competing to the running time. Just in time! Yipee! That was a perfect timing. As I looked at my classmates, they smiled and congratulated me. They said words that meant they were impressed with my presentation. It's overwhelming. After I reported, I went back to my seat and listened to the last two group reporters for that day since the remaining four group would just present on the next day. While listening to the other group, I felt very excited that they would finish their reports so that the result would be announced.

When the result was being announced, our teacher first commented about the reporters. He said that our group was the only group who was well prepared. Hearing this, my hope rose to win, that means to be exempted from the exam, but still, I'm not expecting 100% so that I wouldn't be disappointed. Time for the result! And the result was ...

... you won't believe it ...

... the result was that our group got exempted for the final exam. Yehey. Big hand for me! Congratulations to me and to my groupmates! My groupmates thank and thank me for what I did for them.I felt very proud of myself. I was so excited to tell it to my parents. I wanted to tell them personally that couldn't wait to go home. Hehehehe! I know, they would be proud of me. For the other group, they were given a second chance to be exempted. Our teacher gave then another requirement for them to be exempted. Aside from the reporting, our teacher required worksheets to be passed. Our group leader told me that there's no need for me to help with it. They owe me one thing as they say that they would wanted to pay me that way. I grabbed the opportunity. Hehehehe. I agreed with her idea. Hehehe! I also thank her for giving importance to my effort during the demonstration.

With the result, I proved to myself that we can do whatever we want if we will do it on our best. If we will try hard, we can make it successfully no matter how hard it is as long as you trust yourself. We should always be optimistic. Good luck to me for the next challenge! God bless!

Reporting in Health Education Subject (part 1)

At the beginning of summer class of 2011, we were divided into eight groups. For every meeting, one group should report its assigned topics. All members should have topics to be reported. Then after the report, our teacher would explain further about the topics that have discussed by the members of the group. On the next meeting, before the next report, there would be a short quiz for about 10-15 items. That was our routine for every meeting in this subject. The reporting went on until May 12. On May 13, Friday, our instructor required each group to report. Actually, this was not really a report. It was like a demonstration on how to be an health educator since being an educator to the client is one of the role of a nurse.

The topics of the reports were about developmental change of human such as infant, toddler, preschooler, school-aged, adolescence, young adulthood, middle adulthood and older adulthood. The leader of each group picked a roll of paper from a glass of bowl provided by our teacher, like in a lottery. This paper contained the topic that should be discussed during the demonstration. Our group got the toddler topic. The sequence in reporting was according to developmental stages which is from infant until older adulthood, so our group was the 2nd group to present. After this, we were given a time to meet with our group mates and talked about this activity. Upon talking about the activity, my group mates chose me to be the representative to discuss the whole topic that had assigned to our group. I felt happy that they choose me, because this meant that they liked the way how I reported. On the other hand, I felt pressured since our teacher said that if he would be satisfied with the demonstration, our group will be exempted for the final examination. The chance to get exempted was in my hands. I never promised them that we would be exempted. I just told them that I would do the best I can to make our presentation good.

I had two days (Saturday and Sunday) to prepare for the activity which would be on Monday. Actually, on the day, on my way home, I thought of quitting and would just pass the task to our leader. This was what the half of my mind said. The other side told me to go with it, that I can do it. My group mates chose me so it meant they trusted me. They have trusted my ability. And if I could do it, I can make myself proud, especially my family and relatives. With this thought, I didn't quit.

What would happen next? Would I ever finish my report even if I'm alone in making it? Would my group be exempted for the examination? These questions will be answered on the blog entry next to this. Check it out!

Informatics (Nursing Informatics)

This is not my own computer. I am writing the
blog still in internet cafe. Does anyone have a
spare computer as gift for me? ;-)

Informatics is one of the subjects required in my nursing course. Here, we learn about computers and application such as the internet, programs (e.g., Microsoft Word, Powerpoint) and so on. We are taught about this since in the hospital nowadays, technology is being used in giving services to the clients. Our teacher gave us three projects as a requirement to pass this course. One is to make a note in facebook that should be passed to her through a tag. The note should be entitled "NURSING INFORMATICS FOR ME". In composing this note, there are some guidance questions to be answered: What is nursing informatics for me? What are its advantages and its disadvantages? Is it amenable for me to adapt nursing informatics? Below is the note that I made:

Nursing informatics is a specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, and knowledge in nursing practice, nursing administration, nursing education, and nursing research. For me, it is about rendering health care services to the patients with the help of modern technology. Technology is dramatically altering the ways in which health care professionals diagnose, treat, care for and manage patients. It is our past and it is our present. Nursing informatics facilitates the integration of data, information and knowledge to support patients, nurses, and other providers in their decision-making in all roles and settings.

Nursing informatics does a great help in us nowadays. One of the advantages that nursing informatics gives is it shares data. It improves the access to medical records through what we call EMR (Electronic Medical record) in which the medical record of the patients can be accessed from several different locations simultaneously, as well as by different levels of providers. It improves data reliability. It helps to decrease data redundancy. For example, allergies and vital signs need to be entered once. Nursing informatics minimizes the time spent in documentation. It increases the time in patient care because less time is required for the documentation and transcription of physician orders. It also facilitates data collection for research. Electronically stored patient records provide quick access to clinical data for a large number of clients. It promotes flexibility in conceptual design. It also improves legibility of clinic documentation and helps to keep order with a computerized information system. Lifetime clinical record is promoted in here.

When there are advantages, there must be disadvantages. One of this is the complexity of the conceptual design process. Nursing informatics also needs multiple external databases. It needs hiring of database-related employees. A database acquires high cost. It could result into a more complex programmer environment. There is also a possibility that catastrophic program failures occur. And lastly, health care professionals can be dependent to technology in doing their tasks.

For me, I can say that if nursing informatics ensures the positive outcome for patient care, I am amenable to adopt into it. Since, nowadays, technology are being introduced to us, I am willing to yield nursing informatics. As it is used abroad and I'm planning to go abroad, it could do a great help to me in my nursing job someday.

That's what I wrote for this course. Through nursing informatics subject, nursing students were able to view about what it will be in their future job. It makes the nursing students aware about the modernization that happened in their fields. Me, I already had knowledge about computer and its application since I had computer subjects when I was in highschool, and of course through writing this blog, and now, after taking this subject, my knowledge was broadened.

Activities in speech 11

At the beginning of our speech class, our professor gave us set of schedules which should be done during our class. This schedule helped us to prepare for the activities in the coming days. It made us to be ready and not experience cramming. Upon having this schedule, still, we experienced cramming. Honestly, it is because of our habit that, when we have time, we won't work for school until last minute. Because of this, we always had cramming on our activities. One of the activities is the interpretative dance. We ought to sing a song and interpret it. We already chose a song to be sang but we never practiced on it. My partner knew the song and me, I knew only the chorus. We practiced our interpretative dance the day it should be presented. We only had one hour left to practice. I just saved the song to my MP3 and listened and listened into it with a printed copy of it in my hand. We divided the part of the lyrics so it would be easy for me to memorize my part. We just sang it together if it is in its chorus. For our interpretation also, we only used our hands. We practiced and practiced until it was time to present. Upon witnessing the performance of my classmates before us, I can say that me and my partner were better than them. And when it's our turn, we performed on our best. We didn't do any mistake on our part and we pronounced the words correctly. It was just that we were out of tune sometimes since we are not that good singers. Hehehe!

Next activity was to present a commercial. Like the last activity, we experienced cramming. The good thing was we didn't have anything to memorize. We just had to say what we wanted to say, but of course we should use English and it should be related to the product we advertise. I found it funny and interesting. Some of my classmates did their part seriously while some made their commercial into a little bit of comedy.

For the last three remaining days of our summer class, we had three consecutive activities. One activity for each day. The first activity, it was word drill. We ought to read words correctly, correct pronunciation. I got only 52 points out of 60. I found it difficult since there were some words that I never had heard before. I was confused how to read it. I just guessed their right pronunciations. For the second activity, it was a sentence drill.We should read the sentence in correct pronunciation of its words and right intonation. That was even more difficult, and I got only 49 out of 60. For the last activity, it was tongue twister. Honestly, I'm not good at it that I practiced very hard. I got 45 out of 50. Even if I didn't get the perfect score, I'm satisfied with what I got because I passed. And compared to my classmates, I got high scores.

God bless us all!

Speech Communication(Speech 11)

Speech communication is one of the three subjects I took this summer class. Through some of my friends who already finish taking this subject, I already had an expectation of what will gonna happen during this subject, I mean, the activities in this subject. From the word SPEECH itself, I viewed this subject as more on speaking up using English language. We will be taught the correct pronunciation of the word, stressed word, intonation and the proper way in speaking. Honestly, I hate this subject a little bit since I have the fear in speaking up in front of many. It's not actually fear. Let's just say, I hate to stand and speak before people. If it's dancing, I am in the game. But speech? I doubt I could make it well. Upon entering this class, we already had an speak up activity. In this activity, we were given a text. We have to memorize it and deliver it before the class. And we were graded. We were given one day to practice it. For that day, we were required to wear a business or formal attire as needed for an official speaker. We were graded this way: Mastery= 25%, Delivery= 60%, Audience Rapport and Proper Attire= 15% for a total of 100%. During the activity, waiting for my turn, I felt nervous. When I touch my hand, it was cold until the time for me to come up on stage and speak. I looked at my classmates, also our professor first before I open my mouth to start my speech. Below is the text that given into us which is to be delivered during the activity but the greetings are excluded:

"My respect to our speech instructor, Dr. Zenaida C. Dumaguing. Ma'am! (Vowed slightly). And to you, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon!

Are you nervous? I suppose you are. But why? Communication is the best thing that can ever happen to two people - to many people. When asked to speak, you are likely to exclaim: a speech? But what will I say? An invitation to a cocktail party? But how will I react when I am confronted by all those strangers? They want me to say a few words to the guests. I know I shall be terrible. What on earth will I say.

Many things! And you can do them. Listen to a confident man speak. He is, at once, convincing and brilliant, charming and entertaining. People say he is a born orator, a glib conversationalist. But nothing could be farther from the truth. He has been getting practice. He increased his speech power and learned the secret on how to speak.

You too can share the secret of his success!

This is the time - the good time!"

During my speech, I could feel that I was shaking. To calm down, I just pinched my hand which was placed at my back. This helped me to ease or lessen my nervousness. I did that until I finished. When I finished, before I came down from the stage, I saw our teacher smiled and turn her head up and down, meaning that I delivered the activity well. Yahoo! We weren't able to see or know our grades for that activity but I am confident enough to say that I passed. I was happy not just because I passed but because I was able to conquer my nervousness. I congratulate myself for a job well done! Hehehe!

Mother's Day

Who fed me from her gentle breast
And hushed me in her arms to rest,
And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?
My Mother.

Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well?
My mother.


Mother's day is annually celebrated by all countries in the world to honor our mother. But, here in the Philippines, it was celebrated during second Sunday of the month of May. It is an important occasion to pay tributes to the person who unlimitedly takes good care of us, the person who knows no boundaries in showing her love and a person who always does everything just to keep her children safe and happy. And I'm talking about no other than our mother.

Families have different ways in celebrating this important event in their lives. Some families treat their mother to a dinner out or shopping in the mall, spend time together in the park or have swimming in the beach. Some also treat their mother to a make-over like retouch, spa and body massage. some also just stayed at their home doing mother's daily routine like cleaning the house, wash the dishes and other things that is done by our mothers. They treat their mother as a Queen on that day.

Me,I didn't do all of that. I had my simple way of celebrating or thanking my mother for all the things she did to me. Being kind to her everyday and didn't give any problems to her is my way of showing my gratitude to her for taking good care of from the time I was still in her womb until now. I may not have have money to treat her anywhere or to buy her anything. All I can do is to be a good daughter to her as I can. She has no day off. She has no pay in taking good care for her family. But, we never heard any protest from her. I love my mother. What I am now, I owe it all to her. I can never be who I am now without her. There's nothing I can do to equate the things, the sacrifices you have done for us but to be a good child to you. This is all I can do. I can say that, even if we are not that rich, I am the luckiest for having a mother like mine.

Mother's day is our chance to show our love back to our mother. We should never miss this opportunity for us. One day is much enough for them since they never ask anything from us in caring and loving us. But the best way to show that we love them is to tell them every day that you love them. Be a good child to them. Let's not wait for a mother's day to come to show our love and care for our mother. Every day for me is a mother's day. and most importantly, let's pay tribute to the mother of all, The Blessed Virgin Mary. Happy mother's day Mama Mary! Happy mother's day to all mothers out there especially to my mother, Fe Alico! I love you, Mama!

Easter Sunday (Easter Party)

Now let the heavens be joyful,
Let earth her song begin:
Let the round world keep triumph,
And all that is therein;
Invisible and visible,
Their notes let all things blend,
For Christ the Lord is risen
Our joy that hath no end.

Easter is one of the most festive events in Catholic Calendar. It was totally the reversal of the image of Good Friday. During Good Friday, death of Jesus in the cross was being commemorated whereas during Easter Sunday, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death was being celebrated. Before it happened, people gathered at the church for Easter Vigil. It takes place late Holy Saturday. There, they reenacted the waiting for Jesus’ return. When it came, Jesus’ reunion with His Blessed Mother Mary was reenacted. There were also angels. After this reunion held outside the church, people marched, lead by the two people who played as Jesus and Mary, inside. Men and women joined the marching separately. Women followed the image of Mary and men to the image of Jesus.

People have different ways in celebrating Easter Sunday. Some have family gathering and have colorful Easter Eggs hunting for their kids. Some just decorate their surroundings with a motif of white and gold. Some churches also decorated the cross with flowers. Some also held Easter party in their house while others went to beach to celebrate it.

Me and my friends had an advance Easter party. We held it on Black Saturday. It’s just that we reserved the Easter Sunday for our family. We planned this kind of party a month before. We were very excited of it. The day before this day, me and my friends were texting each other about the things we were going to do for our plan. Only to know that we had to cancel it since we didn’t have enough budget for the party. We were very disappointed. What else we can do but to just cancel our planned party. We couldn’t ask money from our parents. We just accepted it and thought that there were still many time to do it. On our dismay, Jesus sent an Angel to us which was our German friend. He knew that we didn’t have the budget, so he gave us as his Easter present for us. I can’t explain my feeling that time. From disappointment to unexplainable happiness! We really thought that we couldn’t make our party but through our friend, we made it. The day before, I slept early because I was very excited. When I got in Maasin City, we bought foods and drinks for the party. We held it in Aloha Resort in Brgy. Mantahan, Maasin City. There, we met with friends, chatted, ate and swam. That was unlimited fun on that day for me. We really enjoyed it. Yipee!

That was a great Easter Sunday for me. It was my first time to experience that kind of party during Easter. I really can’t forget it. That memory was being tattooed to my heart and mind. Thanks to my friends who are the most important during the party. Without their presence, it could never be that enjoyable and memorable. Thanks also to our German friend. We owe a lot to you. Unlimited thanks for you. And most especially, thanks to Lord Jesus Christ for saving us from our sins and for giving this colorful life. Without you, we’re nothing. Eternal thanks to you. Even if we had different ways in celebrating it, the importance is Jesus is always in our hearts. God bless all! We love you Jesus.