Recollection For Confimation

Early morning when I woke up, I became tired. It is because of the stargazing last night. I should complete my eight-hour sleep but because of the activity, I slept late.

Last night, instead of watching the moon through the binoculars and the telescope, we watched Shutter. The LEADER was full of screams. Minutes later, Ate Gabby turned the television off. We are not allowed to watch horror movies when we are in the stargazing. And besides, we are also disturbing other people who are living near the school. We watched Princess Hours, instead. But before that, Ate Gabby warned us not to scream if there are kilig moments. The chapter is not yet finished but I am already sleepy.

I went back to the open field. I did not bring any mat so I slept on the mat of Brigitte. And besides, there is no person who will sleep there because Brigitte will share a mat with Mary Jale.

I went home to eat my breakfast there. At seven thirty, I went back to school because I will have Mme. Maglasang I the Recollection of those who will take the sacrament of Confirmation.

When I reached the school, I found out that it is still seven forty. I saw the mentors with Sir Basadre. I think the will teach the students in public schools again. Chic, who was one of the mentors, approached me. She handed me with her and her brother’s Baptismal Certificate. She said that she is willing to join the recollection but the students in public schools need her. She knows that they thirst for knowledge. They needed her very much.

Few minutes later, my co-members of the service team, Sweenie and Christlyn, came. I saw the car of Mme. Maglasang coming. She asked me to go to Sir Basadre and ask for the key of the faculty room. We will have to open it because the key of the LEADER, where the recollection will be held, is there.

Later we prepared the tables, chairs and the visual aid needed for the program. After doing it, we, the service team, were assigned to stay at the registration table where the students and their parents or godparents will sign.

Sister Karien also came. She is from the Community of St. John located in Banawa. She helped the students understand what a confirmation is, before they will take the sacrament. While Sister Karien is having the recap, about what she discussed in their catechism, I learned a lot of things.

I learned what a sacrament and a confirmation really is. A sacrament is the food for spiritual life. It is the step that helps us achieve a better Christian life or union with Christ. It is any person, event or thing with the capacity to reveal to us the deeper realities of our existence.

A confirmation is a closer union with the church. The Holy Spirit strengthens and empowers to actively spread the faith.

Why do I need to be confirmed? What more does it gives compared to Baptism? How can the sacrament of confirmation help me in my Christian life?

In Baptism, we are forgiven from original sin while in confirmation we are given judgment of good and evil. It is the passive to active service.

I also learned about our church. It is a group of people who worship and believe in God. It is founded by Christ. The first priest is St. Peter, one of his apostles. It is also founded by the people’s strong belief in God. We also had a game. Actually, Christlyn and I were the quiz masters.

After the recollection, I went home and slept until five o’ clock in the afternoon.

ASEAN Summit

ASEAN stands for Association of Southeast Asian Nations .The twelfth ASEAN Summit was held in Cebu, Philippines. The people of Cebu really prepared for the Summit. Some of the officials who really cooperated were: President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Governor Gwen Garcia, Vice Governor Greg Sanchez, Mayor Tommy Osmeña, Vice Mayor Mike Rama, Mandaue Mayor Teddy Ouano, and Hon. Ace Durano.

The summit should push through on December ten to fifteen but a typhoon hit Cebu on the second and third week of December 2006.Becaus of the typhoon, it was postponed. It gave the officials more time to prepare and beautify the province. The summit was officially held on January ten to fifteen, 2007.me. Logarta asked us to take some notes about what is going on to the province.

Some of the delegates who came before the summit were Laos Prime Minister Bousone Bouphavanh, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Badawi, Myanmar Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Soe Win, Brunei Prime Minister Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah , Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Indonesian Prime Minister Bombang Susilo Yudhuyono, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung , Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen , Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thai Prime Minister Surayua Chulamont, Timor Leste Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta, Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Australian Prime MinisterJohn Howard, and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.

The countries represented were Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Korea, China, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Some accomplishments were:

*agreements

-Instrument of Extension of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia

- Instrument o Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia

-ASEAN Convention on Counter Terrorism

*declarations

-Declaration on the Deposit of the Instrument of Accession of the French Republic to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia

-CEBU Declaration on the Acceleration of the Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2005

-ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers

- CEBU Declaration towards One Caring and Sharing Community

*statements

-Statements of the DOHA Development Agenda of the WTO

- Statements of the ASEAN Leaders of the 12th ASEAN Summit on a Debt Equity Proposal for Funding United Nations Millennium Development Goals Project

-Joint Statement of the Third Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia –Philippines-East Indian Growth Area (3^rd BIMP-EAGA).

Some Cebuano people were affected by the changes. There were negative and positive effects. Some negative effects were the houses of the squatters and the sidewalk vendors were demolished. They have no more places to sell their products. There was a heavy traffic. You can not go directly to your destination. Classes were also suspended. We experienced make-up classes.

The positive effects were: the roads were very nice to see until now. There is no more traffic and you can pass directly in the market. The Tourism in Cebu also improved because of the summit. The foreigners went to the Sinulog Fiesta.

Information taken from:

the notebook of Senied Milcah Ponce.

The Visitation

When I woke up his morning, I was shocked when I looked at the clock. It was already six o’ clock in the morning! My mother is still searching for firewood because we will use it for cooking. I still have to fetch water in the artesian well.

Just as my mother arrived, I was done fetching water. After taking a bath, I was surprised when I saw an apple in the table. You may think that I am ignorant in apples but for your information, I am not. We sometimes have an apple in the table. My mother ate the apple while we are going to the waiting shed.

I arrived in the school at seven fifteen. It is just fifteen minutes before the time. I reviewed my notes thoroughly because we will have a test in health, our subject in the second period. I thanked God because I have answered all the questions that our teacher gave us.

It was lunch break when the vice president of our scholarship came with his wife and two Japanese, A lady and a teenage boy. The lady is twenty years old while the boy is fifteen years old. To think that he is just fifteen years old and he was very tall. I am going to be fifteen years old this April and yet he is much taller than me. I think that he inherited those characteristics to his parents. They came for Yvon, who is a new recruit to become a scholar. The vice president also brought the kimono that I asked from my foster parents. We will use the kimono in the family day because we will dance the “Japanese Parasol”. My foster parents also gave me some goods and face towels.

Few minutes later, my stomach ached. It is because I have not eaten my lunch. While I am eating, my classmates asked some questions about my sponsor. I answered all their questions.

This afternoon, in our homeroom class, Mme. Kerr asked us to fix ourselves because we will have a picture taking. We are taken one by one. Mme. Kerr followed the alphabetical order. After Mme. Kerr has taken us pictures one by one, she took it by barkada. I was with Macky, Cherry and Rosalina that time. After that some love teams were taken. The first in the line are Milcah and Aldrin. Then Kristine and Samuel, Jamaica and Paul, Kristie and Levi, and the last but not the least, my very own beast friend Kathleen with Rangie. Mme. Kerr planned to take our pictures by batch but it is already time. “Verns…..” someone called me. It was Sweenie. She remembered the thing that Mme. Maglasang told us yesterday. We have to go to the guidance room at lunch break but I was busy talking with those Japanese. Mme. Maglasang said that we will talk about it tomorrow in recess time. What we will talk about is the Recollection for the sacrament of Confirmation. We will be the quiz masters for the games. We are also assigned in the registration table.

After that, I went home. I walked from Lahug to Mabolo. I studied my lessons in English. I slept early. I still have to do some things tomorrow

Am I a good daughter or not?

“A family that prays together stays together”. Some people say and believe in this saying. Even me, I believe in that but it is impossible for me to have a complete family. Do you know why?

Years ago, when my mother is still thirty-six, she fell in love with a man who has a wife already. They meet in their meeting place everyday. There are many people who hindered their love for each other. Until there came a day that they vowed that no one can ever separate them. And because of that forbidden love, I became whole, meaning my mother became pregnant.

But few months later, my father changed. He became cruel. I think he was given a magic potion. One thing I hated most is, he said that he want my mother to go to the abortionist to abort me. See how cruel he is? My father wants me to die!

Because of the love of my mother, she did not go to the abortionist and I was not aborted. Yehey! She gave me a chance to live!

On the twenty-fifth day of April, my mother was brought to the delivery room. She should be caesarian because It will be difficult for me to be safe if she will not be operated that way. The doctors put some anesthesia in her body to lessen the pain.

Few minutes later, a baby girl was born. She named her Vernie. It was me. My family name was supposed to be Tanola but because my mother and father were not married, I am bringing the family name of my mother. I was named As Vernie Naraja.

My father started to be close to me but not to my mother. I do not know the reason why.

From then on, my father started to give the things that my mother can not afford. Another good news also is that the wife of my father transferred to another place because she will do some business there. She will sell some junk foods, soft drinks and barbecue there.

When I reached at four years old, I stated to be curious at things. I saw a poster posted on the wall of my father. There was a list of the members of the family of my father written there.

I asked father about it. He explained to me everything that had happened. Despite of young age, I understood everything.

Presently, I always saw a family that goes somewhere together. I am easily jealous especially when they are filled with laughter. But anyway, I am trying to be a good daughter to my parents. I will study hard to prove to them, especially to my father, that I am worthy to live.

In UP,I am now experiencing great challenges. One of those challenges is to have good grades. This grading, I know that my parents and sponsors will not be happy anymore. My grades went down. I will not be an honor student anymore.

Mme. Lapa told us that we became lazy. If she asks us if we understood the lesson, we would say yes even if we do not. Mme. Logarta also said that we became lazy. She even said that we are not retarded then how come that we are wasting time for something else? In computer also Ms. Avergonzado said our grades went down. It is because of our project. Although we have passed the partial of it, it is late. It is because we misunderstood the deadline. We thought that we will pass it a week after our periodical test but because we misunderstood, we passed it four days after the deadline. She also said that we will pass our project until midnight.

Because of my low grades, do you think that I am a good daughter or not?

Are You A True Friend?

What is a true friend? For me, a true friend is someone you can count on. She is always there for you. She is like a pillow. Hug her in pain. Embrace her when you are happy.(according to a quote from Jamaica Hope Diva's notebook)But what if you made a mistake which is the reason why she is ignoring you?I admit it. I am that friend, the one who made a mistake. Because my grades are lower than hers(when we are still in the first year level), I strived hard to be an honor student. When we will have a test,I will ask how many points she got. Sometimes she will not tell but, because of stubbornness, I always force her. If, again, she will not tell, I will ask the one who checked her paper. I made our scores as a basis if I excel or not. I knew it .I became selfish. I became an honor student in the last two gradings. My parents and sponsors were very happy about it. But I ,who became the honor student, was not happy. I have noticed that my friend is avoiding me. Night after night, I ask Him about the reason why my friend is ignoring me. I am crying while asking Him about it. I waited a few minutes. silence was everywhere. Until.....an answer came to my mind. He sent this from heaven!....."You have became selfish....you only did it for yor own sake ......you did not even thought about your friend ....you cannot accomplish your goals if you act that way.....Remember my laws......... the ten commandments..." I understood what have I done. Next morning, Mme. Kerr asked us to write about what we feel about our classmates. We will have no worries because the names will be kept confidential. After we have passed our papers,she called us one by one to tell us what our classmates feel about us. The next day, it was already my turn. I went towards the lobby of the faculty room. I was shaking I am nervous When i reached Mme. Kerr's table,I asked if many people hated me. she said that is one of my weaknesses. I think everything negatively. Some said I always say that I have no this and that. One of my friend said that I use our scores as a basis if I excel or not I knew who is it .She asked if it is true. I said ," Yes ,madame". I know I made a lot of mistakes .I should correct them as soon as possible. Now, I am correcting it little by little. The Lord made Rhea as an instrument. She is the reason why we are now friends. I owe Chiong a lot. We are now friends. We even have additional friend,Rhea. The three of us eats our lunch together. I am happy with them especially when Rhea talks about something. We hang-out together,too. There is one time when I am not feeling well. I had stomach ache. It happened in the periodical test. I did not study with them. I had to take the special test for biology if I will not take the test that afternoon. But the special test for biology is much harder than the usual test. So I decided to take the test despite of the pain I had. After teh test, I ask for forgiveness to them .I am not there when they studied together. Fortunately, they forgave me .I knew that they are true friends . I knew also that I am not a true friend but I am still trying to be one.

On Being Taught By Students

Being a teacher is not an easy task. You have to have a mastery of the subject matter. You have to give lessons to the students. Sometimes you will have a hard time especially when your students are stubborn and naughty. It will be a disappointment for you because you have spent so many nights making the lesson plan, making tests, computing scores and grades and making stuffs like visual aids, etc. Those stuffs will lead you to stress so you have to take stresstabs...(laugh out loud). But before that,you will face many steps to become a teacher. You shall study B.S. Education. In your studies you will teach some students in different schools. You will have a series of demonstrations. After studying, you shall take the mastery for the subject matter which you will handle. There, more and more demonstrations will you face. you should not complain about it because it will improve your teaching skills. After you graduate,you will apply for the position. In the hiring, there are many applicants, for sure. You will face a series of interviews. those who were hired will now enter the world of learning. Being a student is just easy. you just have to listen to the teacher, understand what he or she teaches and put it on your brain pockets so when time comes that you need to use those informations,it is just easy for you to remember. Remember, study is the use of mind to get knowledge or the use of mind to learn about something by reading,investigating or memorizing. If I am asked to be a teacher , I would say yes and no. Yes because I love teaching students and no because I don't like to spend my nights making the lesson plan. In the "Know Your School Day", I applied to be a teacher in Home Technology II but unfortunately , I was not hired. That is why I was taught by my fellow students. Sometimes you cannot understand the lesson. The reason may be -the teacher did not discuss the lesson thoroughly or the students asked questions which are misleading. Some student teachers were conscious because of stage fright. Afraid of committing mistakes, they bring with them notebooks,books or papers which has a summary of the lesson they have to give. In case they cannot answer the questions asked by the students, they ask the questions to the teacher directly or write those in a paper and ask it to the teacher later. There is a shocking experience that I will share to you. In our Biology class(first period),where Hacie and Jamaica is assigned,John Paul made a reaction that made Hacie very angry. He did not listen to the discussion. He chatted with the boys ,instead. Some boys were easily tempted with him. They chatted until the end of the first period .On the second period, they already listened to Stacey and Nympha.I do not know if Hacie told Mme. Carvajal about it but if you want to know,ask her later.

Overnight Stargazing

/stars.jpg">

It is Friday night. We usually have stargazing on a Friday. I arrived in the school at six twenty. I became sad when I knew that I am the only person, among the Sophies, who arrived. My sadness ended when Kristine came. We also saw Jamaica. She will be fetched by her father. I thought she will join the stargazing but the truth is, she won’t. There are only few Sophies who joined the stargazing.I went to the store, with Krystal, to have a dinner. After that, I found out that Jamaica is not there anymore. Maybe her father fetched her already.Because it is still six thirty, I waited at the catwalk. While waiting, I saw the moon. Little by little it is coming out. But few minutes later, the clouds covered it. I felt sad. I knew that if it would rain, the stargazing would be cancelled. When I asked Mme. Gallo about it, she said that there will be a full moon tonight. It is expected to have a good weather. “Think positive” I said to myself. I wished that the moon will really come out.Few minutes later, the moon really came out! It is very overwhelming to see the moon shining brightly in the sky. Under it was the Waterfront Hotel. It is very nice to see the colored lights of its roof. From purple, to green, to light blue, to dark blue, to maroon, to violet and so on.

Soon, Mr. Christopher Go arrived. Mme. Gallo told us to go to the leader because Mr. Go will have a short lecture there. He discussed about his discovery, the red spot junior. He showed us some pictures of the storms of the planet Jupiter. The pictures were taken by the Hubble space Telescope. Its speed is Four hundred kilometers per hour. It is two times as big as the earth.Actually, he attended the meeting in the DPS,(I don’t know what is its meaning), with other members like a certain Chad, who studies about the tenth planet. It was nicknamed Xena but its name is really Eris. He even said that small people are not people. Many students reacted of what he said.He also showed some pictures of the Oval BA taken by the New HorizonSpacecraft. It is the fastest vehicle ever made by man. It reached the moon within three hours after launching. Unlike Apollo11, it reached the moon for more than a week. The New Horizon Spacecraft reached the Jupiter over a year. Comparing it to the Galileo Spacecraft, it is much faster because it took Eight years before it reached Jupiter.This week is the National Astronomy Week. It is the last Venus transit. The next Venus transit is after One hundred Fifty years.On February, they will have a meeting about the global warming in Jupiter. It is due to the homogeneous temperature of the planet from pole to pole. Unlike Jupiter, the Earth has an extreme temperature in the equator and extremely cold temperature from pole to pole.After the lecture, Ella, Who is the Emcee, awarded a certificate of recognition to Mr. Christopher Go.We will have a Saturn watch this coming March. It will be held in the University of San Carlos school grounds. I hope we will enjoy just as we enjoyed it this month.