He is the Reason of the Season

“Christmas is not just a time for festivity and merry-making. It is more than that. It is a time for the contemplation of eternal things. The Christmas spirit is a spirit of giving and forgiving.”—J.C. Penney.

"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas."—Calvin Coolidge

As they say, “Lasts are reserved for the best.” Definitely, yes. Before this year bids goodbye, the merriest, happiest yet most meaningful event of the year comes first. It is when Jesus Christ, our savior, was born on the 25^th day of December, away in a manger in the fateful city of Bethlehem. With the power of Holy Spirit, God gave His only son to the world through Virgin Mary and Joseph of Nazareth. Lighted and guided by the bright star signaling the birth of Him, three wise men came and offered their precious gifts to the new born King. Because of this Christmas is celebrated in the whole world. He is the reason of the season.

Christmas is the season giving/sharing, forgiving and showing love. Sharing/ giving gifts are not necessary during this time. Simply, sharing of what you have, sharing the blessings you have received, giving the greatest love to all, and of course, sharing time with your loved ones. To us Filipinos, Yuletide season is the time when we are with our loved ones, sharing happiness, spending the time and feeling the true essence of the celebration together     . During this season, we are all jolly and seems like it’s our last day above the Earth. Yeah. We should be. ‘Coz it’s the best time when peace calms us down. Forgiveness is given to those who hurt our feelings, as forgiveness is also given to us. Forgiveness is one of the fundamentals of true love, and during this festive, reconciliation normally occurs. Persons that were otherwise divided come together as one.

Christmas day is the day to show love—the greatest love that connects the souls of each individuals. This is the day of Jesus Christ, for Jesus Christ is love, that He gave His life to carry our deadly sins.

The true essence of Christmas is with us. It goes beyond sharing or giving time, happiness and blessings, giving our forgiveness and most importantly, spreading love to all.

“Christmas means a spirit of love, a time when the love of God and the love of our fellow men should prevail over all hatred and bitterness, a time when our thoughts and deeds and the spirit of our lives manifest the presence  of God.” —F. McDougall.

Climate Change: A Threat to Everyone

Take a look around you. Everything changes. Nothing’s perpetual. The leaves are falling from where it slings. Friends are coming in and out of our lives. Life is a rotating wheel—now in your darkness, somehow tomorrow is the best. No one discerns what will happen today, no one expected what happened yesterday, and no one could tell what will happen the next day. For life is a great prediction that changes every hour, every minute.

The world is warming up, the cools down in an instant. What a great threat isn't it? It’s Climate Change— the change in the statistical properties of the climate system when considered over long periods of time, regardless of cause—the change that will put our lives in darkness. Man contributes a lot on this deadly phenomenon. The daily activities of him that elevates the high risks of climate change. The burning of plastics and eliminating trees are few of them. Burning of plastics arise the levels of heat-trapping gases causing the ozone layer of the Earth to widen its hole. Another concern is that of the absence of trees. Absence that would definitely erase the planet due to insufficiency of heat-absorbing agent. If you want to live more years, plant more trees. But if you want to live a thousand more years, let us educate people.

As they say, “Prevention is better than Cure.”  And that’s what we can only do — prevent the causes of climate change. Start now and save the earth tomorrow.

Globalization of English Language

This year’s English month celebration, English language expanded all throughout the world with the theme, “Going Global through the English Language.” The globalization of English Language brought more of its significance.

English Language is known as the universal language, international language and also as the Lingua Franca. It was also known for its importance in many fields of studies like in engineering, medicine and probably in education. Most of the countries in the world use this language as the medium of instruction. With this, men from different nations would understand each other further, and the English Language would be the bridge connecting all the countries as one.

In entertainment, newspapers use this language so that everyone could read the piece. In the recently held Miss Universe 2013, English language `was also used. In the Question and Answer Portion, candidates would deliver their answers through translation so that everyone could understand it.

These only proves that English Language goes global and highly used up significantly.

Egalitarianism For All

EQUAL RIGHTS: EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Our life and the living things around us that comprise the world where we are living are the utmost gifts we ever received from God. At that very moment when an offspring arouse at thy mother’s womb until it was brought to life, his rights are born, too. In this difficult world that is full of struggles and challenges, you have and you should know your own rights to circumvent undesirable things to happen like of being discriminated. You are also indulged to discern the rights of your environment to attain equality and stimulate equal opportunities to all.

Generally, equal rights are being dishonored. Usually, this happens in work offices. Discrimination is one of the main reasons why there are people who couldn't attain nice work, as well as equal opportunity was not implemented. They are not given the chance to prove themselves and show what they've got because the people interviewing them are just merely looking at their personality cover, instead of studying their background experience for the desired work and their abilities to do the tasks. Another factor for not being hired is the status of your family. If you are poor, you would probably be rejected. One more is the connection to the company. Frequently, those relatives of the company are hired immediately even without checking their background status.

Another form of discrimination is the gender discrimination wherein the capabilities of women are not properly distinguished and are bringing by men. They were also abused and treated badly—which is an illegal conduct.

Let us be equal to everyone—rich or poor, pretty or ugly, normal or disabled, boy or girl—everyone whose alive have equal rights and should have equal opportunities. Because with the fact that we are all created by only one, we are breathing the same air, we are living in the same planet, under the only sun. NO one deserves to be discriminated for we have equal rights.

Change for Better

It was already the end of another quarter.

It’s hard for me to get over this previous grading. I got a low grade. In fact, it was my lowest grade ever in my high school life.

But, I learned a lot on this subject that I could apply on my everyday’s life. I knew that my blogs affects most of my grades. My laziness is the only thing that opposes me to do so. Sometimes, I mean, most of the time, I am sluggish to do my drafts or even I did, I was not able to post it up. But, I think, I did better this grading period. I am hoping that this wouldn't change and I swear, I will do my very best to be better for the next quarters. And that I will exert more efforts on my studies.

Absence of Teachers--- Ignorance for All

There are uncountable questions on what hero do really mean. Is it a superhero with supernatural powers that fights felonious ones? Is it an opulent man that helps the destitute? Is it an Overseas Filipino Worker who is ready to beat the pain of being alone just to provide his or her family a comfortable, relaxing and better life? Is it a man who offered his own life just to save his fellowmen? What do really heroes and heroines mean? What makes them conceptualize the nature of a hero?

Even in modern age, there exists a hero and heroine. No one knows that even the folks we are with everyday are heroes. Maybe we would think of monuments to recognize our previous heroes or heroines, or maybe the streets, buildings, schools, towns and other more were termed after their names. But, except for those great men and women, we also have those persons that are our strong foundations to become a better individual that molds, guides, develops and directs us, beyond circumstances of life. We are with their guidance for approximately ten (10) months in a year, four (4) weeks in a month, five (5) days in a week and ten (10) hours in a day. We almost spent most of our childhood years with them, and so they are. They are our TEACHERS.

When talking about teachers, most probably that would visit your minds are the lessons, home-works, projects, and outputs. But not their sacrifices, right? Not their hard works, nor their pain. If we could just realize the sacrifices they have offered and still offering. If we could only discern the significance of our teachers. And that of, without teachers, there would be no professionals. There will be ignorance in the society.


At this juncture, wherein I will soon be leaving another level of learning and about to face harder, yet most significant part of learning, I can say that my teachers and I made a remarkable memory. They bequeathed me real life lessons as well as school lessons. And of course, home works, projects, and outputs can't be left over. And most of all, the "sermons" that we are receiving most of the times. These are the factors that strengthened my personality through my heroes . . .my teachers.

Arise Mother Earth

ARISE MOTHER EARTH

I woke up in a place like no other else

Flying alone in the outer space

Staring in a way I used to know

Halla! No doubt! It was mother Earth that I saw.

No one can refuse, it was once a paradise

With tall trees swaying and smiling at all time

Together with clean air travelling here and there

Oh! How I love its status.

Now, you can see the polluted world

With poisons and garbage dumped everywhere

Absence of trees in the mountain range

Oh! I can see the nature on its darkest.

 

I heard Mother Earth crying and sobbing

In a dark, hazardous empty pit

Begging for someone’s ears to have a look at it

Saying the words, “Help me please! Help me please!”

 

I asked myself on this Earth’s state

What I have done on my Mother Earth?

Should I blame myself and feel the guilt?

Or take my last step to arise it again?

This poem of mine concentrates on what’s Mother Earth’s state by now. As of today, our Mother Earth was on destruction. But we can still arise it from death and absence by changing our everyday’s bad habit. We can be all science clubbers because a science clubber cares to its environment especially mother Earth.

My Truly Life's Hero

          At this present times wherein new era of civilization arises, heroic concept of man starts to fall. Beyond fast occurrence of modern technology, poverty in our republic follows proportionally. As a family, parents needs to prevent the poverty entering the family.

          My parents are my modern day heroes. Why? Simply because a hero doesn't only mean dying and fighting for the nation. Heroes sacrifices as well as helps his or her love ones without any hesitation and doubt but with whole heart. Based on my own definition of a hero, my parents are truly my life's hero. My father Ertone A. de la Cruz is a farmer while my mother Catherine R. de la Cruz is a housewife but frequently helping my father. Everyday, they are on our crops, suffering on the extreme heat of the sun and on every teardrops of the rain, just to make our life better, send us to school, dress us properly and make us eat not lesser that three times a day. Likewise, they were providing us more than enough love and care that no one can equal. They are truly my heroes. 

      Even the ones whom we are with everyday are heroes. See? We could be heroes in our very simple ways. So, start acting the proper heroic acts.

Unity for Prosperity

Pagbubuklod sa Iisang Wika

Ni Bienvenido A. Ramos

Di-makitang ugnay, katagang may pakpak

Na anaki’y sisiw na sisiyap-siyap;

Kapag nagkaiba’y—isang pagwawatak,

Kapag nagkaisa’y isang—pagyayakap.

Nasisid mo rin ang lalim ng titik

Sa lawang damdaming dalisay, mainit;

Ang di maunawa’ykung bakit . . . kung bakit

May perlas na pulong hinati ng sakit?

Oo’t magkalaro ang mga pampangin

Tuloy rin at ugnay sa mga damdamin;

Ang iisang lahi’y bakit hahatiin

Sa maraming wikang kayhirap maligning?

Paris ng tahanang hindi mabubuo

Kung walang pag-ibig ng pagkakasundo;

Ang di pagkakaisa’y isang paglalayo

Kaya bawat binhi’y isang pagkabigo.

Hindi nakikitang gintong tanikala

Na ang binibiting ay puso ng Bansa;

Kung tanikala ma’y hindi pagkadusta

Bagkus pagbubuklod sa isang paglaya.

     I chose this poem of Bienvenido A. Ramos that will best highlight the celebration of Buwan ng Wika 2014 with the theme "Wika Natin ang Daang Matuwid," because aside from it is subjected with languages, it also explains the theme further through symbolism. Each of the five stanzas needs deep thinking to be able to interpret the message of each. Understanding each of the stanzas and compiling it in only a phrase results to an important message of the poem which is to give significance to Filipino language.

     Filipino is the national language of Philippines, not Korean, not Latin, not Spanish, nor any other foreign language. But we can't deny that most of the Filipino youth prefers to use foreign languages than Filipino. However, we can still arise our language higher than those foreign ones.

     I believe that the Filipino language is the instrument in uniting the 7,107 islands in the archipelago. Through this, Filipinos from Batanes to Sulu would understand each other. If every Filipinos is in unity, we can easily attain prosperity. With this, we can face all the hindrances towards our way to richness, TOGETHER.

SONA, Straight Path Towards Awareness

       This year's State of the Nation Address of our Honorable President Benigno S. Aquino III served as communication between him and his countrymen, wherein he stated his excellency within four (4) years of his administration. As a student, I should know the progress and developments of our country. And through this SONA, I was able to be aware of our nation's improvements. It awakened my realization and corrected my speculations that nothing good is happening in his administration. It's a great mistake.

        Reading his speech, word by word brought me pleasure and contentment. Pleasure, for I know our country is progressing and improving continuously; and contentment for his excellency. It is also good to know that one of his achievements governed the youth, through providing scholarships to all levels of education. Most of the programs he executed were in lined with education. Few of them were as follows: solving the problem of insufficient number of textbooks, chairs and classrooms; answering the very expensive cost of each textbook by lowering the designated price; and enduring these programs as time goes by. For the agriculture sector, he said that we are already exporting rice to the worldwide market, not like before that we are importing thousand tons of rice to eat with; faster crop productions and higher income for farmers and producers. For the fishermen, he brought the cold storage facility which helps  preserving of fish's freshness. For our health status, he implemented the Phil-health for every Filipinos and the budget for medical infrastructures and for better health services. Other concerns of his SONA were concentrated on the calamities, housing programs, protection programs, SSS insurances, and many, many, many more.

         Through this SONA, I hope Filipinos knew the developments of our country and realize that we can still stand by our feet behind hindrances that we are facing with.

SINGLE OBSTRUCTION: VARIOUS SOLUTIONS

"There are countless solutions for every single obstruction"

    Hunger and malnutrition are partners-in-crime. Both of them contributes bad effects in different aspects of our lives: physical, mental, intellectual, social, spiritual, and emotional. But, for every problem, expect various solutions.

    Hunger is a chronic undernourishment or outright starvation. It greatly influences the continuing high rate of malnourished cases. It affects hundreds of millions of individuals. The world produces enough food to feed its entire societies, but the truth that it is not distributed equally among rich and poor or through nationwide boundaries. Moreover, environmental factors including drought, famine and virulent diseases, and likewise man-made or artificial factors such as war, can produce massive starvation.

      Malnutrition is a dietary condition caused by lack of healthy foods or excessive intake of unhealthy foods in the diet. It is characterized by wide group of health problems comprising of weight loss, stunted growth, and weakened resistance to infections and diseases that can lead to severe ailment or worst, to death. Malnutrition is the nearest possible result of hunger. Individuals suffering from hunger due to food shortage are mostly malnourished through the absence of nutrients from the food undertaking hunger. Furthermore, not all excesses are good. Over-nutrition, also known as obesity, increases the high risks of having diabetes, heart diseases, arthritis and other more.

     On this rare kinds of problems, the best solution is prevention. The best prevention we can make is to eat healthy foods such as vegetables and fruits to be harvested in our backyards. But, first to do is to establish a simple vegetable garden for future uses. This will lessen the hindrances of food shortage as well as undernourishment. Another simple way to avoid these problems is to have and maintain the proper diet. Proper diet helps in balancing the nutrient intake of the body. In addition, proper health education will also contribute higher progress in prevention of hunger and malnutrition. If somebody will be high health educated person, he will know how to manage himself properly and definitely away from high risks of food shortage and undernourishment.

Message to the President

Ilocos Sur National High School

June 25, 2013

To our Dear Honorable President Aquino III,

President of the Philippines

                               Good day to you, sir.

                                It's a great opportunity and I am deeply honored to send a simple letter to our respectable president.

                                Recently, whenever I visit any reliable website in the internet, or open the television for the news, I didn't frequently heard nor see any update relating on you, nor for any progress of our nation, Mr. President, instead the news contain mostly of the crimes and discrimination happening in our country. I thought you were always out of the country. It seems like you didn't even care about the happenings in the government under your administration. One of the most recent is the "sex for flight" operation for the Overseas Filipino Workers leaving or coming in our country. I didn't even heard any comment of yours about this government issue. Not intentionally to disrespect you sir, but I think you are not paying much attention on our country's concerned issues, and for the fact that you are not doing your pledge to lead our country toward the straight path to progress.

                              These are just some of the concerns of us, the students and the future generation, as a Filipino citizen.Please don't get mad at me, sir. I am just telling what I've observed recently. I am also hoping that you will lead us to the straight and right path to progress before the year 2016 come.

                              Goodbye, sir. This ends my simple message to you. Thank you and have a good day.

Respectfully yours, 

Regine R. de la  Cruz