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)

Being an addict. . . . .

Mr. Daniel Nellas ,our teacher in Health Class, asked us to photocopy the research of Kenneth Gallardo and study about it because he will give us a test.

Imagine! Ten points in every number! This will be the main part of my grade in Health this fourth grading. Some of the information that I have learned are:

(1)What is DRUG ADDICTION?

-Drug addiction is the condition where a person takes a drug compulsively, despite potential harm to themselves., or their desire to stop.

(2)When is a person addicted? Is it necessary that the person dependent on the drug is also addicted with it?

-No. A person is addicted if he exhibit compulsive behavior towards the drug and has the difficulty in quitting it .

It is not necessary when a person is dependent on a certain drug, he is addicted in it. To qualify as being dependent on a drug ,a person must:

(a)take the drug regularly; and

(b)experience unpleasant symptoms if they stop, which makes the stopping difficult.

(3)Do you know that there is such a thing as substance abuse?

-It can occur with or without dependency, and with or without addiction.

-It is any use of a substance , which causes more harm than good.

Actually, the addictive nature of drugs varies from substance to substance, and from the individual to individual. It is your own choice.

(4)What are the two components of DRUG ADDICTION?

-Its two components are :psychological dependency and physical dependency.

-Physical dependency occurs when a drug has been used habitually and the body has become accustomed to its effects. The person must continue to use the drug in order to feel normal, or its abuse will trigger the symptoms of withdrawal .

-Psychological dependency occurs when a drug has been used habitually and the mind has become emotionally reliant on its effects, either to elicit pleasure or relieve pain, and does not capable of functioning without it.

(5)Have you already heard what chipping is?

-Chipping is also a term to describe a pattern of drug use in which the user is not physically dependent and sustains “controlled use” of a drug .

(6)Why do people use drugs?

-people use drugs because of the following:

=misunderstanding of the word “drug”

=enjoyment (they enjoy the short term effects)

=excitement (risk taking)

=poor self (image)

=as declaration of independence

=adventure

=peer influence (their friends use them)

=boredom

=curiosity (they are curious about the effects)

=anger, hurt or rejection

=self medication

=relaxation

=inaccurate information about the effects

=drugs are easily available

Some examples of regulated drug, which are approved by the government, are:

-acarbose (for type two diabetes);

-acebutolol , amiloride and amlodipine (for hypertension);

-alprazolam(for anxiety);

-azelastine (for allergic rhinitis);

-etc.

Some examples of phrohibited drugs are:

-Diethylstilbistrol (DES)

-pipyrones

-etc.

Illegal drug are everywhere. They may be found in some illegal factories

and plantations or in drug pushers near you. You should beware of those things.

I hope the drug pushers will soon be caught and the illegal factories

and plantations will be raided

Information taken from:

www.google.com

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.