A Night To Remember

The Junior and Senior Promenade is one of my most awaited events in my entire life. What I was so excited of is how I look when that night will come. "What will be the best color of the gown that will fit me?" and "How do I fix my hair?” Questions flashed in my mind every time we talk about the preparation of the JS Prom. I know that this event is expensive and that I should be ready to spend a big amount of money. But this will not matter for I was longing and expecting for this event to happen. And at last, it was granted on the night of February 17, 2006 held in Waterfront Hotel, L:ahug, Cebu City.

The preparation for the Js Prom was quite expensive especially that it was held in a five-star hotel. But I was expecting it. I paid P 650 for the food, token, and the venue. I also bought a pair of sandals which was worth P 350 and my bag which was worth P 250. I only rented a gown and it cost P 500. And don't forget my total appearance, my hair and make-up, which cost P 410 in Juvel's Salon. Wow! I spent P 2160 just to attend this event!

But the affair was worth the effort, time and money. The venue was perfect for the occasion. We all looked like princes and princesses with our dashing outfits. Boys turned into gentlemen and girls turned into ladies. We were all elegant and fabulous that night which fit the magical atmosphere.

The food was palatable especially the chocolate cake. Actually, all food that was served was all appetizing. After eating, we, juniors, presented our tribute to the Seniors. It was a great privilege for us to present our mark of respect to them.

Time came that both parties will present their prophecy and legacy. And I’m proud to say that the prophecy and legacy clearly showed its meaning. That was really enthralling! Hail both to the Juniors and the Seniors!

The theme, "Tying Threads of Friendship", fit the second to the last part of the programme which was the Disco. The Juniors and Seniors danced both in fast beat and slow beat. We danced together as though we all forgot our fights and hatred with each other. After all, that affair was created to bring back our friendship.

Everyone was enjoying that night. We hardly noticed that it was almost time to end the programme. We sang the fellowship song and it reminded us that this is the last part of the event.

Indeed, one can really treasure this meaningful and memorable night. We should make Junior and Senior Promenade part of our lives. We are only high school once.

For the coming Juniors, just enjoy the night and make it meaningful for us all. I know that preparing for this is a difficult task to do but I assure you that your effort will worth it.
Good luck and God bless us all.

Improving Filipino Lives Through Science and Technology

Every year, the University of the Philippines High School in Cebu celebrates Science and Technology Week. It is a school event wherein all activities relating to science are applied here. These activities are investigatory projects for first years and second years, titration of vinegar for third years and Science Fair for fourth years. These were all exhibited the whole week of the event. Other related activities were also held such as Science Olympics, Research Defense, Poster-making Contests, Essay-Writing Contests and Radio Quiz.

This year's theme is "Improving Filipino lives Through Science and Technology". It is easy to comprehend what the theme tries to tell us so. The theme was explained further by the activities relating to it such as poster-making contest, essay-writing contest and Research Defense. As what I have observed, this year's research projects were all relevant for solving world's major problems.

I'm proud of my group's project which is Extraction of Ethanol from Potato, Sweet Potato and Taro. The ethanol extracted from them is one of the components of biodiesel to be used as gasoline for vehicles. This research project of ours helps lessen the occurrence of Global Warming. By using biodiesel as an alternative for petroleum, there will be less emission of harmful gases that triggers the expansion of the hole in the ozone layer. Our project is only one of the preventive measures in making our world a better place to live.

I am one of the contestants for poster-making contest. I drew a picture that clearly presented the theme. The essay-writing contest also contributed much in conveying the message of the theme. It clearly explained the problem that our world is experiencing today. And with that, we were awaken by the essays that the contestants had written.

Activities mentioned above are indirectly helping us to cope up with the problems our world facing today. The message hidden on them helps a lot in awakening people to reality. They also contribute much by having a list of solutions, such as Research Projects on different problems that we face today. Indirectly, the activities involved in the Science and Technology Week greatly contribute in the betterment of our world.

It is such a great fulfillment for us, student in UP High School that we are a great help in making this world a better place by means of different activities relating to Science.The last day in our Science and Technology Week was allotted to the Science Olympics, Radio Quiz and the Awarding Ceremony. The games in Science Olympics were supported with Physics Concepts, so we have to really think for the best angle or the best way just to win the game. The Radio Quiz had fed us additional knowledge and we enjoyed it much. The last activity for this event was the awarding ceremony. Our group won the first place in Cyberfair, a contest for the best website here in school. The GUI group won the first place both in Science Fair and Research Defense. We are so proud of them. And I am proud of the whole event. I can say that we really are a great help in improving the Filipino Lives Through Science and Technology

How Precious Are They?

Visiting institutions such as Home for the Aged and Home for the Dying Destitute seems heart pounding. You may wonder what the difference between these two institutions is, but I'll answer you anyway. Home for the Aged and Home for the Dying Destitutes are similar since they provide services, love and care for the oldies. But the difference between them is the level or age of the elders to be taken care upon. The Home for the Dying Destitute, obviously, takes care for those dying patients, particularly the aged people while Home for the Aged takes care for those elderly people only.

When we, CWTS, went to visit Gasa sa Gugma: Home for the Dying Destitute on February 2, 2007, I had an unexplainable feeling towards the environment. The place seems so quiet and holy that I only heard the whispers and murmurs of my fellow classmates. This deafening sound continued until Ms. Rodel instructed us to lead the patients to the chapel for them to attend mass. We followed the instruction and went inside the wards to fetch the patients. Upon nearing to the patients, I can see that my classmates started to feel. I, myself, started to feel the same way too. I can't go near to the patients not because I am “arte” but because I am afraid that they may not like me approaching to them after all. I only stood in an area watching the caretakers fetching the patients by a wheel chair. I saw some of my classmates shedding tears while they were struggling in getting up from their bed.

Minutes has passed until I bravely talked to one of the patients. I asked an old man about his life here in Gasa sa Gugma. And without hesitant, he shared his story to me. He revealed his experiences before he came to that place. I was so overwhelmed when he shared some breathtaking experiences that he encountered before he was brought up to that place. And that really fascinates me.

After that talk, I came near to an old man who spoke plainly English. He was so fluent in speaking English. I enjoyed talking to him because he always flatters me by saying I'm beautiful. I started believing in him. Laugh out loud!

I also went to two other men who had a slight problem with their memory. They kept on talking things that in the end they can't remember what they said a while ago. But they are fun to talk with. They were so jamming and they love talking some stuff to us. They even shared their love lives to us. I felt joy and belongingness to that place. It seemed that I am enjoying the moment.
Time has come to bid them goodbye. It is hard for me saying goodbye to them. All I did was to lead them in their respective seats to eat their dinner. By the way, they eat dinner at 4:00 in the afternoon. That moment, I came to know how they are so precious to me. They made me realized the value of taking care of those who are older than me especially my parents.

The Kiss of One's Eyes

How can we feel that we are loved? When we hear the word, “I love you”? When someone puts his or her lips on us? Or when somebody makes love to us? Is there really love from the choices above? Or are we so blind that we believe that love exists through the actions above.

Love is beautiful, astounding yet simple, and beautiful in a sense that both opposite eyes find happiness in it. Love makes us feel special, and with that, we do things which are good to the other’s sight, and that constitutes to our well-being. Love is also astounding. It is great. Every person finds love and gets love. Fool is a person who does not love for he or she will never find happiness in his or her life. We should value the greatness of love to make us feel happy and special in a way. Love is also simple. Simple is a sense that love could be expressed in just simple ways. You can see and find love through simple smiles, simple words, and a simple look.

Do you remember the time when you first admired a person? Was it his or her smile that made your head turn? Was it not his or her eyes staring at you that bothered you all day long? Was it not the reason why you wanted to know him or her better? Was it not those smiles and looks in his or her eyes that reflect his or her inner beauty? That is the simplicity of love. That was what Sarah Teasdale wanted to convey in her poem, The Look. With just a simple look of the eyes of Colin, Strephon’s kiss faded away. Colin looked at the persona with passion and love. The persona felt that love with that look. It even haunts her day and night.

See how powerful a simple look is? It won over Strephon’s passionate kiss. With simplicity, you find, love, you feel special in it.

We find love with only a look from a person. Maybe that is the power of such humility and gentleness inside that person. We may not notice the deep message hiding in those eyes when we do not care at all. It is nice to find a person who secretly loves you because we are sure that the love he or she had felt for us is deep and unselfish unlike a person that is so liberated and is so vulgar to tell his or her feelings towards another. A person who is so confident to tell his or her feelings to another person seems like not a trustworthy person. He or she could be confident enough to tell that feeling to the other person. What I am trying to say is that we should tell our feelings right there and then especially when that feeling is an unsure one. It is only my opinion based on my experiences and observations.

We could never conclude right away that what we feel now for that person is really the right one. We must know first if what we feel is really love, or is it just infatuation. That is what love really is, if it is selfless, sincere, sure and slow in developing. Infatuation is the opposite of what love really is. It is selfish, insincere, unsure and so quick to develop which is also very quick to fade. Love also begins in simple ways just like simple looks and stares. Love does not develop in kissing right away that person. That act could be a sign that the person is insecure to himself or herself that is why he or she kisses that person right away. That is not love after all. That is infatuation right?

The Beauty of a Poem

The Beauty of a Poem

How tranquil is the life
Of him, who, shunning the vain world’s uproar
May follow, free from strife,
The hidden path of yore
Chosen by the few who conned true wisdom’s lore!

-The Life Removed
-Luis de Leon

How did he write such wonderful poem? A poem with perfect selection of words and has a unique style.

How stunning is the life of the poet for he had written a poem of delicate style. I admire him for that. He really gave color to what we call, “poems”.

Poems is the oldest form of art and most flexible of all literary types. One can really appreciate poems for its diverse forms.

It has elements that bestow its beauty. First, it has a theme that conveys us the main point or idea. It also explores the real intention of the poet. Another element is the use of sound. Sound plays an important role in poetry. One can extract the theme of the poem by just studying the sound of the poem. Poems also have figurative speeches that provide the very foundation of poetry. It gives color and life to the poem. One can really enjoy reading poems full of figurative languages. There are also other elements that give exquisiteness to the poem. These are its form, voice, language, image and allusion that help us discover the main point or theme of the poem. All of these contribute much to the magnificence of the poem.

Long before, I never get interested with poems. I look at them as merely an ordinary field of literature. I did not see its importance until I knew that songs are one kind of a poem.

I thought that a poem is a merely literary art that only comprises lines and stanzas full of unfamiliar words and have no sense at all! Also, I thought that only world-known writers and authors can write a poem and poems are their means of communication or merely their language! I even thought that poems are merely puzzles that if you can decipher it, it will lead you to a key for a wanted treasure. What a shameful description from me.

I now know that a poem is a one kind of literature where themes are conveyed through keen selection of words that best fit for the message that the poet wants to express.

I also now realized that anyone can write a poem. We must not limit ourselves by mainly reading poems of other person. We must also try writing poems that would clearly express our inner thoughts and feelings. Writing poems can make us feel free and liberated. It can soothe us in a way that we can express boldly our hurts, fears, anger and bliss. One can really be proud and pleased of him/herself if his or her emotions and outlooks are conveyed through a poem with perfect selection of words.

Each poem has its own elegance, grace and beauty. We may not directly extract the theme of the poem, but by paraphrasing, we can now get the idea of it. Readers can surely appreciate the beauty of one’s poem.

What matters is, all of us can write poems. And all of us can appreciate the elegance of what we call, “poems”.

That Enchanted Prom

"Could you tell me what's the style and color of your gown?" This question was asked by my classmates a week before the prom. And almost everyone, except me, had an answer to it. I was not prepared for that prom. Honestly, I didn't feel joining it. Instead it gave me excitement, it seemed like a burden to me. P750 or more would be a great help for our Research and my other needs. But I have to join this event because this is a school activity.

Sunday before the Prom, my mother called me to go for this place to rent a gown for the upcoming Prom. I felt overwhelmed because my mother finally showed enthusiasm or the coming event but at the same time, I felt cold because I don't feel leaving the church just to choose a gown to be used for Prom. But I went to the boutique anyways. I chose the simplest gown there with no beads and no intricate style on it. I look so simple and yet elegant, my mother said. The rental for gowns in that boutique was do cheap. It is only P500 per gown. So I took it without hesitant. My mother told me that I should buy a pair of sandals that would fit for my gown. I said no. I would prefer to borrow sandals than buying them. Thank God, Gabby let me borrowed her gold-glittered sandals. It really fits my gown since the color of my gown is also gold. I just bought a golden bag for only P100. For my hair and make-up, Gabby influenced me to prefer Janjan's Salon and it costs P550. But I chose it anyways. Gabby let me borrowed accessories such as earrings and necklace that would fit my gown.

And now, for the Prom proper, everything was so perfect: the place, the program and the people. I enjoyed the prophecy. The third years did very well just to please us. Their tribute was so heart-pounding that I found myself singing with them. The legacy holders in the fourth year students presented a dramatic legacy with a music background of Gregorian chant. The food was so palatable that I kept on eating all throughout the program.

Now it's time for the crowning of the Prom Princes and Prom Princesses and the Prom King and Prom Queen. I was nominated and I didn't expect or that. But then my name was called for the Senior Prom Princess. I couldn't believe it! God allowed me to experience such unexplainable joy and gratitude. And it happened that the Prom Prince is Nico Martin Eñego, my closest friend. I am really thankful to God for the blessings that I received that day.

This program would never be exciting without the Disc part. This is where the real we will emerge. It is hard to be formal than being informal. And the only informal part of the program is the Disco part. So, all of us showed our greatest moves and grooves in the dance floor. That was the most enjoyable part of the program. One could really see the blazing trails of friendship.

But the time has finally come for us to leave that place. We sang our fellowship song with joyous voice. And off we go.

That Prom was an enchanting one for me, not because I became the Senior Prom Princess but because trails of friendship were everywhere that night. I really felt so special that night and I know that almost all the people there felt that too. My past mentality of the Prom was changed. This event was worth the money, the time and the effort. This event was really an astonishing one!

How I Want to be Remembered After I Leave High School

The scent of the trees, the chirping of the birds, the cracks of the buildings, the brownish grasses in the soccer field and the noise of the students- these are the usual scenario of the University of the Philippines High School in Cebu.

It’s hard to leave this school if you are used in coming in and out of it. I have been in this school for four consecutive years and it will be hard for me facing the reality that it’s going to be the end. Time will come that I have to leave this school. And that time would be on April 18, 2007, our Graduation Day.

What I want now is to treasure memories from this school and at the same time leave some footprints in this school. What I mean with footprints is all the memories from me that I want to be remembered after I leave High School.

It’s been hard for me staying in this school for four years. It is because you have to reach the standard of what a UP student would be. For this place is not just a middle-of-the-road, standard, second-rate school. It has no place for mediocrity; it only provides a high quality education. And with that, you have to muddle through with it.

I can say that I survived the challenges the school had set. Even though I struggled so much to have good grades, I manage to stay humble and thankful to my accomplishments. I would never graduate if I am not serious with my studies.

If I were given a legacy, that would be Legacy of Diligence. I’m proud enough to say that I have been so diligent with my studies that I almost put half of my life to it. Being assiduous, vigilant, attentive, and devoted student is the major qualities of a first-class student. This is somehow difficult to achieve but with perseverance and high-regard to ourselves, we can be what we deserve to be.

That’s what I want to be remembered, my perseverance that lead me to a first-class student. I have been so serious with my studies that God awarded me such uplifting gifts, my awards and accomplishments. I’m proud to say that I’ve been an honor student since I started schooling. Everyone can achieve that through perseverance and belief in one’s self.

Serious as what I am, I still manage to give a smile to other people. That’s what really I am: an affable, pleasant, jovial, easygoing and a jolly friend. I never tired smiling, giggling and laughing to other person’s jokes. I even laugh at the corniest jokes. I want to be remembered this way, a person who always wears a smile in her face.

But above all, I want to be remembered the entirely me. The “I” who share her talents to her classmates. The “I” who always dance with grace just to entertain God and other people. The “I” who never get tire of listening to other’s problems. The “I” who always wear a smile on her face. And lastly, the “I” who value her studies and the school itself.