What a journey it has been...

“What a journey it has been. And the end is not inside. But the stars are up tonight. Ands they’re bound to guide my way. When they’re shining on my life, I can see a better day.” These are only few of Lea Salonga’s song entitled “journey”. This song is our graduation song. While I was singing this or every time the DJ plays this song on the radio, I remember my elementary years.
I remembered when it was my first time to wear a pair of shoes. My mother joshed me that I am like a robot (I was really like a robot that time because I usually wear sandals when I was a kid and before I entered kindergarten). I always remember the happy moments in kindergarten. One day, my teacher was really impressed with me so she gave me an ice candy (the school was selling ice candy that time). With just an ice candy, I was very happy. Unfortunately, I got ill so I had some absences. On the graduation day, my mother was really proud with me because I was the second honor. My teacher said that I was supposed to be the first honor student but I had absences so it made my ranking low.
I like to remember the memories because I just like to reminisce the way I live my life before.
On the first day, when I was in grade one, my teacher scolded me because I played bubbles in her class. She even hit me with a ruler. Later, my teacher gave me the same ruler she used in hitting me…..Laugh Out Loud….
I am not in class for almost one month in Grade two because my mother delivered my younger brother. He is incubated so we must stay in the hospital for days to take care of him. I have met a friend there. We started to become friends when she told me where is the way that leads to the store which sells juice. Few days later, they transferred to another ward because her brother, who was also incubated, was getting better and better. We slept under the patient’s bed. On our right was an oxygen tank. One night, while I was lying on the floor, I memorized the song entitled”Pretty Boy” by Britney Spears. I also saw one baby who died. I felt pity for her and her parents. Soon, my brother was out of the hospital.
My brother lasted for ten months. He died….I was very sad that time. I kept on asking my mother and my father to have a younger sibling. God has given me one but for a short time only. He took my brother early. Even if I don’t want that to happen, God has a reason why he took the life of my younger brother.
I remembered my first communion. Some of my friends were very nice to look at in their white dresses (just like me).
I also remembered the cheating time. When we have some assignments that are very hard to answer, we are copying each others work.
Suddenly those things ended in the Graduation Day. As I was walking through the lobby of Abellana National High School (our graduation was held there), I knew that my elementary years will end. I passed through the stage and shook my hand with Mr. Oliva. After that, is the singing of our graduation song.
“…….I won’t let the darkness in. What a journey it has been”

Everything has a reason....

Did you ever wanted to commit suicide because of your problems? Do you want to die now because of the trials that you are facing in life? Or do you blame God because He has taken a member of your family even you do not want to loose him or her?

Rev. Fr. Loloy Jumauan, a priest in the St. Joseph Parish, told us in the reflection that there was once a mother who was a devotee of St. Joseph. In every feast, she will pray the “novena” and the rosary for nine days (we all know that celebrating a feast of a saint lasts nine days.).

During the next year’s feast, again, her second son died. She did not blame God about it. But on the next year’s feast, her third son died. On that very day, she decided not to pray the novena and rosary in every feast of St. Joseph anymore because she thought that she became unlucky in praying for the said saint. That night, she had a dream. In her dream, an angel appeared to her. The angel introduced his name as Joseph. He told her not to stop in praying for him because of what happened to her three sons. He told her that the eldest son will commit suicide because of too much problems he encounter in life, the second son will be addicted to drugs and will be put into prison, and the third son would be crazy so he let them die so that their mother will have lesser things to worry and their mother cannot survive seeing the three in bad condition.

How amazing! I have realized that the saints and the angels, even God, love us very much. God even gave his own son to save us from our punishment because we have sinned. Now I know that I am poor because I have realized that every situation has a reason.

I have also researched in the internet and have read the story about the two traveling angels. It has a nice message. The two angels stopped to spend a night in a home of a wealthy family. The rude family refused to let them sleep in the guest room and instead they slept in a cold basement. The older angel saw a hole in the basement so he repaired it. The next day, the angels stopped in a home of a poor but hospitable family. When the sun came up, they have found out that the father’s cow died. The younger angel asked the older ones, “why have you helped the first family yet they have everything but in the second family, you let the cow die? They are willing to share everything even if they have only a little. They are not like the first family”.

The older angel said that on the basement, there were some gold bars hidden at the back of the hole so he repaired it. He did it because if the rude family would see the hidden treasure, they would be greedier. In the second family, the angel of death is supposed to take the life of the wife but he gave the cow instead.

See? We always complain about things especially those people who are not contented of what they have. All you need is just to believe that what the outcome will be your advantage. We just do not know. Maybe you will encounter it later….

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What a UP student is Not ?

University of the Philippines High School in Cebu is a school for the poor but deserving students. They are giving quality education to them. They are also teaching them the good characteristics that UP student must possess.

That is why UP students are often regarded by other people as intelligent, responsible and outspoken students.

One time the student council had presented a presentation about the attitude of a UP student. They compared that presentation to the movie, “First Day High”.

Up students are brainy in a way that, they are NOT showoff nut they are confident to show their skills. The members of the Glee Club, for example, present something in and outside the school in order to show to the world that they are blessed with good voices. The jazzers give their best I dancing gracefully in order to show to the people that they are talented. Some students also join quiz bee to show that they are capable of joining such a quiz bee. They are also intelligent enough to answer those questions which are asked in the quiz bee.

Up students are MVPs (Most Valuable Players) in a way that they are NOT only up to academics but they are also good in sports. For example, Stacey she is a consistent honor student yet she often plays volleyball. I think she is addicted with it. She is the Captain Ball of the Volleyball Team (girls).Mc Cherry is another example. She is also a consistent honor student and the best thing is, she is a scrabble player. She is also a good adviser. Liezl Ann Sumagaysay is a consistent honor student. She is a math whiz, a chess whiz and all the whiz in the world. Rowela, like Stacey, is a consistent honor student. She is also a member of the Volleyball Team (girls). Hazel is an honor student. She is very cheerful. She is a good badminton player. Rachel, like all of the students mentioned, is an honor student.. Like Hazel, she is a good badminton player. In fact, I want to be like Hazel and Rachel because I want to have more knowledge and improve my skills I badminton. I also want to be an honor student.

UP students are nice guys in a way that they are neither snobbish nor boastful but they are friendly and humble. We, UP students, for your information, have at least one club. The faculty and staffs required this for the students to develop their confidence to mingle with other people and meet friends. I am a member of the Campus Ministry. One thing that I have benefited with it is that I can approach people and good friends I times of need. I know that they will help me, for sure.

UP students are sossy in a way that they are NOT selfish, they are willing to share what they have to those people who are in need. I had an experience when I had no baon. Some students really shared to me the extra food that they have.

Lastly, UP students are rebellious. They are outspoken but they are NOT rude. They know how to respect other people’s opinion but if it destroys their reputation, they express what they feel in a form of a rally because of what I have said, they are outspoken.

Once again, UP students are not only up to academics, not snobbish, not boastful, not showoffs, not selfish, and not rude.

What else can you think about what a UP student is not?

Badminton

What is your favorite sport? Is it badminton?

If you will ask me, my answer is maybe because I am confused about what my favorite sport is. It may be badminton or patintero but in fairness, I am starting to like badminton..

In our Physical Education class, our main lesson is about badminton. We are assigned to find a partner. And guess who my partner is…. I will give you a hint; She is the most beautiful girl in our section. She is Kristie Malenn Auxilio . Although it is the first time for me in playing the game, she teaches me the techniques in playing the game.

She is very understanding. She understands if I have failures especially in serving. She encourages me to smash harder. Even if I have only a few friends, I was very glad when she made the first move in choosing me as a partner. Let me tell you a little bit about her. As far as I know, she is cheerful. She is also kind and she is nice to be with. Sometimes, it takes a few seconds for her to understand what we are talking about. That’s what you call ….LOADING (Pentium Seven)... Whatever! She also keeps promises. Long ago, I asked her to give me a key chain. And just this Christmas, She gave me one. She enclosed it in a wallet (she is my manita).

Let us discuss about the sport. I have learned the forehand serve. Whew! So far, it is not easy. I am having a hard time doing it because it is hard for me to do so. Anyway, Kristie is teaching me and is still encouraging me to do it better.

Unlike the forehand serve, the backhand serve is very easy. Actually, I got a perfect score in our practical test.

Even though I don’t like the forehand serve, I am often using it to be used in serving that kind if serve.

Miss Maquilan, our teacher in Physical Education class, taught us the singles and the doubles game I saw Hazel playing with Miss Maquilan. I want the way she smashes the shuttlecock because you cannot see the effort that she is applying to it .By the way, Hazel is a good badminton player that is why Miss Maquilan chose her as her opponent In fairness, Miss Maquilan is also good in playing the game. I had a dream in becoming a good badminton player someday. If I want to pursue my dream, I can really be one. But first, I should learn the skills and techniques in playing it. Second, I should apply them. Maybe I will often play the game this summer because there is only one meeting in our Physical Education class each week. And before that, I should put in mind that it is the fourth grading period. I should study hard in order to pass in all the subjects or else… I will have a B.S. (Back Subject)…. hu….hu…hu… I will have badminton as my goal. In order to reach that goal, I should follow the steps in achieving them. Those steps are listed in the book of hope, given to me by a crew of the oldest and the only floating bookshop in the universe, the MV Doulos.

I should apply some brain power. I should think what I to get my goal.I need should find a coach. Well, no need to do it. There is one person who is going to help me. That person is Kristie. Then I should never give up.

Do you have a goal? Let us fulfill it together…

She...

On April 25, 1992, seven o’ clock, a baby girl was born. Her parents are Erlinda Naraja and Bonifacio Tañola. They named her Vernie. Vernie was born in St. Vincent General hospital, in the province of Cebu. She grew and became a better person. Of course, she became like that because of her parents. They filled her with love and care. They taught her some good characteristics that a good person must possess. And because her parents are Filipino citizens, she is also a Filipino. She lives at 661 Holy Name St. Mabolo, Cebu City, Philippines.

She is now fourteen years of age. She is studying at the University of the Philippines. She belongs to section Villamor when she is still in her first year level. Now that she is second year high school, she belongs to section Benton. Her adviser is Mme. Ma. Chona Kerr. Her adviser is one of the most beautiful teachers in the University of the Philippines High School in Cebu. Vernie studies hard, as hard as she can, in order to help her parents and in order to full fill her dreams of becoming a flight stewardess or an astronomer someday.

I have the list of her favorites. Her favorite foods are fish and beans. Although she wants paksiw, she will prefer to eat beans. She also likes banana cue, especially when it is sold at Manang Liza’s store, because it is very delicious. Her favorite fruit is jack fruit. She likes to eat it when it is juicy. She had a great time eating it with her parents before. They will also cook the fruit’s seed. Her favorite desserts are ice cream and fruit salad. She likes to eat sweets especially chocolates.

Her favorite show is Princess Hours. She likes to watch eat every night but unfortunately, it will start at ten and finishes at eleven so she cannot watch. You will ask why? Hello! There are classes the day after! Sometimes she will find time to watch it because she does not want to miss every episode of it. Her favorite actor is Orlando Bloom. She started to like him in the movie entitled “The Lord of the Rings” and then succeeded by the movie” The Kingdom of Heaven. Her favorite actress is Catherine Zeta-Jones. She likes her part in the movie “The Legend of Zorro”. Her favorite girl cartoon character is Hitomi of “Vision of Escaflowne”. Hitomi has this extra ordinary talent that she can predict and change the future by using extraordinary cards. This kind of talent will bring her to another world where she is mostly needed. There, many individuals will fight over Hitomi but they will be defeated by her two knights and shining armor, Van and Alen. The two gentle men will also fight over the heart of Hitomi. Who will win her heart? Watch “Vision of Escaflowne” every morning at channel twenty seven. Her favorite boy cartoon character is Ryoma Echizen. She likes her talent in playing tennis. And because he is good in playing the said game, he is recognized to as the ”Prince of Tennis”.

Some of her hobbies are Chatting with her friends and watching TV. She also likes to play her favorite sport, Patintero. In their Physical Education classes their main topic is about badminton. Who knows her favorite sport will change from patitero to badminton. Her past time is listening to the music. Her favorite local band is the Missing Filemon. Her favorite national band is the Eraserheads. Her favorite international band is the West Life. Her favorite song is the “Huling El Bimbo” of the Eraserheads. She likes to read some books especially novels and Nancy Drew Mysteries.

She likes to stay in a quite place. It may be in the school or in a garden. Her favorite country is the Philippines. It is an archipelago that is why there are many sea creatures found in the area. She loves to see the fishes swimming. She also loves to see the corals in their glowing colors.

Her favorite day is Saturday because in that day, there are fewer things which she has to worry compared to the other days of the week. She likes things that are colored pink because it is her favorite color. She also likes t have a bird, as a pet, in their house.

She is still that simple yet loving and caring girl. ….It’s me, Vernie

Overvalue what you are!

“Too many people overvalue what they are and undervalue what they are not”
Malcolm S. Forbes


Do you feel that you are not beautiful even if you are?
Do you feel that you are beautiful even if you are not?
Do you feel that you are rich even if you are not?
Do you feel that you are poor even if you are filled with God's blessing?
Do you feel that you are dull even if you are not?
Do you feel that you are intelligent even if you are not?
I know some readers will be offended in this entry but as what I have said in the note, do not get offended by this....
Some people are thinking like this. I am going to mention no name.
I have a neighbor, not my friend, who hates me very much. I do not know what makes her feel that way.
Since childhood years, we always keep on quarrelling but I assure you that I am not the one who started the fight. In loss my patience every time she quarrels me, so I always fight with her.
Now that we are old enough to determine what is good and what is bad, she still hates me very much. I think she envies me because I have passed in UP, a school that gives quality education poor and deserving students, and knowing that the said school gives a good training to students. Because of that, she always does something that will make me feel envious with her. She always fixes her self (she feels that she is very beautiful even if she is not) and she always say to it that she meets me everywhere I go. And when that happens, she always snubs me. But, humbly, I always bow my head to show that I am still down to earth because I am, hoping that she will change someday.
Every time I study my lesson in her best friend’s house (we have electricity therefore we do not have lights so that is why I study there), She is also there. She often pretends that she is studying even if she is not. She brings with her a notebook, while holding it, she keeps on chatting with her best friends.
She also buys expensive things that are not very important only to make me fell envy. And her parents are working hard for her to have that money in her hands. And when she have projects to be done or need, she approaches me and borrows that something to me. I always refuse to let her borrow because she always depends on me. Where is the money used to buy those expensive things? Instead of buying those stuffs, she should buy references like dictionaries, books, encyclopedias and other materials needed for her projects.
Anyway, I am still hoping that someday she will change her attitude completely.
Back to the questions, I know some second years that said that they are not beautiful but, in fact, they are. If you will ask them, they will say that they are ugly, for sure.
One student also, feels that she is poor but she is filled with God’s blessing. She is not counting the blessings that God is giving to her. Even me, I admit it. I felt the same but I have already reflected.
A Sophie, in Benton, keeps on saying that she is dull because her relatives push her to believe it. They are not satisfied with her grades especially in math. ”You are an honor student, then why do you have low grades in Math?”. They always say that line but she understands them so she will say not a word. They want her to have a better future. For your information, she is very intelligent. She also helps those who have problems especially love problems. We sometimes depend on her in hard lessons and she tutors us also. She is always helping others so that is why she has lots of friends.

You are not an accident

I am your creator.You were in my care even before you were born.

(Isaiah 44:2)

Are you born with lacking parts of your body?Are you born without arms and legs?I remembered when I attended a seminar the pastor showed to us a video clip from Florida.In the video clip was a man without arms and legs. His name is Ned.(I don't know his family name )Despite of his condition, he did not accuse God.He even praised Him because He made him an instrument to let other people realize that they are luckier than him because they are born with complete parts of their body yet they feel that they are incomplete.It may be because they have no material things like money or they may have hard problems which they cannot solve in their own way.Amazingly, Ned, without arms and legs, have traveled around the world ! It is because he preaches the word of God in ever nation, race and people he meets.He lives alone but happily in his own house in Florida.He had amazed man people including those people who are present in the seminar.Like Ned,you are not an accident.your birth was no mistake or misshape, and your life is in fluke of nature. Therefore, Ned birth was not a mistake.Your parents may not have planned you but God did. Unluckily some children are born because his or her mother was raped by a bastard. But has God planned that ? I guess not! But god stated in the bible that he planned us! The bible is the word of God and that book is true.He planned you, He was not at all surprised by your birth. In fact he expected it.He also precised every part of your body.God has planned every part of Ned's body but I know his parents made a mistake when he is still in her mother's womb. Maybe his mother took some pills or had been sick so he was affected.God deliberately chose your race, the color of or skin (if you are darker ,do not worry because your possibility of having skin cancer is less because you have more melanin in you that protects you fro he harmful rays f the sun), your hair,and every feature including the nose . but these days , I always see some uncontested people dyeing their hair and some retouched their nose(especially actresses)God custom-made your body just the way he wanted it.Are you not amazed of who you are?God has made you. Don't you like it ?The perfect and the unstained one made us !we should be thankful about it!Now,you should be contented of what you have and what you are?God has also determined the natural characteristics you would possess and the uniqueness of your personality. Well, I am proud to say that I have good voice(whatever!). I also have some talents in me that I have not discovered yet. This grading, in our P.E. class,our main lesson is about badminton . Who knows?Like hazel, who is a good badminton player, I can be a good badminton player too Who knows? Like Macky, I can be an SC officer?.........Laugh Out Loud....joke only.....don't you ever believe ...Anyway, I will try my best o let other people know that I am lucky.

Information taken from :

-ate Maribel's hand out

-bible

(Isaiah 44:2)

(Psalm 138:8)

(Psalm 139:15)