PROM '07

Promenade means a leisurely walk in a public place or a march of guests opening a formal ball but the popular description of it is a formal dance held by a high school or college class. But beyond all its meanings, prom (in short of promenade), does not only reflect something social but something memorable and happy. Each one of us has experienced being a lady and gentleman once we had a prom. Girls get excited and focuses their attention on what would they look like on their elegant and classy gowns. On the other hand, the guys get busy on their hair and suits for the prom. All and all, what is important is how different types of people meet and mingle.

JS Prom means Junior and Senior Prom but in our case, some of the juniors and seniors are not in good terms. This started during our intramurals. I do not know but it is already usual that seniors really are in contrary with the juniors. Now, the problem is that we are somewhat uncomfortable with them because of what had happen and we do not have a choice for we must be paired with a junior. In my case, the worst thing happened because I was paired to the person that I really do not like. For me, he was very hard headed and a very misbehaved person. He was also the pair of Razel for the boys in U.P. are quite few so our teachers decided that the boys would have two girl partners. As what was expected, our partner does not practice seriously. I have shared this experience in my previous blog. But as time passes by, we became friends because he was more behaved than the usual and he already listens when we say that he must do this and do that.

Finally, the prom came. I had a hard time with my sandals for the heels in it were very high and I am not used to it. When I arrived at the hall, every person I see was transformed into a beautiful ladies and gentlemen. Gone were those boyish manner of some girls and the boys acted as if they were really grown ups. You will get amazed with how a simple duck turns into a swan. The theme of our prom was “Blazing Trails of Legacy and Friendship” and indeed, it was. With the renewal of each junior and senior was the renewal of the friendship we made. The quarrel and uncomfortable feeling that we had were all gone. We were all smiling, taking pictures and talking. The time came when we had to walk down the aisles with our partner. Everything went well and all of us were able to walk properly. In the eating part, we also enjoyed the food and it was very delicious and after which, the prophecy and legacy was presented. We were laughing with their presentation because it was very nice and it presented the characters in our batch clearly. Our practice with our pair would have been irrelevant without the crowning of the junior prince and princess, senior prince and princess and the prom king and queen.

When, the event ended, all the bad memories during the intramurals vanished and along with us were the unforgettable memories and the precious token (it was a c.d. and small pillow) that they have given us.

A Valentine Activity

Each of us are made to complement each other, may it be through knowledge, emotions and many other. We are like letters in the alphabet that can form a word which in turn, could make a sentence and finally, can relay a message. In contrast to this, others may be easily manipulated and could be like a topographically typed message. Let us face it, people are people. You, I, and many other have flaws in our own life and two of this is not showing our love and not appreciating the person/s who have love us. We sometimes prefer to hide our feelings because we are afraid to be rejected, to be hurt and we thought that we did the right thing but often, this could lead to misinterpretation. I think no one would wish to be sad and that wish of ours to be happy could make others feel worst and be disappointed because with our wish to be happy, we tend to be silent and not express what we feel for that is the only way we feel happy.

As I think of the activity we did last Tuesday, February 13, 2007, I realized that it has been a long time since I wrote a letter to my parents and to my loved ones telling them how much I loved and appreciated them. I was happy for our English teacher gave us the chance to express our gratitude and affection towards the person special to us. Our teacher let us made a letter (an I love you and a Thank you letter) to the person/s we want to say I love you and Thank you. I really see to it that I wrote everything especially my feelings for them. It is very important for us to learn to love and to appreciate each other. Specifically, say everything you want to say, express what you feel and do not wait for the moment to stop before you realize that it was too late to let them feel that they were loved and appreciated. Maybe, it might be too late for you to say I love you and thank you and you may regret not to have done or say that thing.

Our teacher gave us a copy of a song and above it is a poem. The poem was, at first, very deep and you feel that you can’t understand it but as the song continued to play, we were able to get the thought of the poem. Our teacher was also very nice for he further explained to us what the poem really meant and the representation of the objects used in the poem. With the activity, I realized how important it is to say what you feel to the person important to you.

KYSD

Know Your School Day or KYSD is one of the school events that we, students, could participate in our school. Each of the students is given the opportunity to be a teacher, a guidance counselor, a clerk, a principal and a PED chair. All we need to do is fill up the form given by the student council and go to the subject teacher we want to. The teacher would have to approve the form and after which, the student is assigned on what lesson would he or she tackle to the class (specifically, the section where the student belongs is where he or she would teach). After which, the forms are collected by the Student Council and they see to it that each student would have an I.D. At first, the students are recognized and they are to go up the stage, to be recognized and to get the I.D. After the event, they could already start teaching at about two to three days depending on the range or time planned for the said event. When the event has finally come to an end, the students would perform the presentation they prepared for the teachers and give them a token of appreciation.

The activity is participated by anybody who wishes to be a teacher for about two to three days. I personally do not want to be a teacher for the fact that I have a difficulty in presenting in front of many people because I got easily nervous. Aside from this, I am not an effective speaker and for other reason, I do not consider myself as a very smart person and I feel that I do not have the right to teach. I am also afraid that if I teach, my classmates might not understand the topic. Maybe, I will just stick to being a student and not a student teacher.

This kind of activity is helpful for the students to be active in being a teacher and share their knowledge to everybody.

My Reflections

Whenever I see old people in the streets, I want to have a lot of money so that I could build a place for them where they could be taken cared of. In this place, they could be happy and be treated with respect and love. I do not know but it is may be because. I have too much attachment with my grandma. One time, when our CWTS Officers said that we would have an outreach program in Gasa sa Gugma(Mabolo), I was very happy for at least, we could show or affection towards them. When we would try to go the deeper meaning of having a program like what our CWTS class has planned, we would realize how lucky we are that we still have our love ones with us and that we feel so much endearment from them. For me, this was the best experience that ever happened in my entire high school life.

We left U.P. High School t bout 1:00 in the afternoon and we rode on a bus. The place was not that far and there was no traffic so we arrived early. I was one who first entered Gasa sa Gugma and I was overwhelmed by the fact that the place was quiet. Even though the vicinity was near the road, these elderly could relax and have a peaceful life. Before we could mingle with them, we need to tell the nun handling the institution. When our CWTS adviser was talking to the nun, I felt that friend was leaning at my back. I thought that she was just sleepy or something but as I turned to look at her, she was already crying. My friends asked her on what was the matter and she said that she was just touched as she look at them. While she was saying those words, I also felt the same and my eyes were close to crying. I tried to stop it and luckily, my other friend helped me to get over. At last, we were permitted to get inside. The “lolos” and “lolas” looked in amazement and confusion. Some of them were amazed that they saw other people side from those working in the institution and some are confused on who we are and what are we doing there. Most of them re outside their rooms for they have just done taking their nap. I can not help myself but cry when I saw one of the workers who transferred these aged people from the wheelchair to a seat. It was not that simple for she was transferring these sensitive people to a chair like they were just dumping garbage. There was not any sign of love or even of respect for the elderly.

I know that it was not proper for me to cry but I could feel how these aged people longed for a hug and appreciation from somebody. A place like the “Home of the Dying Destitute” should be visited by people who do charity works so that there would be a lot of us who could show to these elderly that they re special and somebody still cares for them.

WOW Philippines

“We triumph without glory when we conquer without danger” quote from El Cid written by Pierre Cornielle. This emphasizes that a person walking on the safety line makes no accomplishments worthwhile.

Our country has been blessed with beautiful spots which we can be proud of. For Filipinos like us, we re benefited by these wonderful gifts. We are very grateful that we have the distance advantage in these places unlike the foreign tourists who spends so much just to visit these havens. Examples of these places are Boracay, Siargao, and many others. Another thing our country has been applauding for is our mouthwatering food and delicacies. An addition to these is the wonderful culture we have including the different happy parades and colorful festivals we celebrate.

Even though we re a third world country, we can never deny the fact that we re visited by a lot of tourists. One main reason is because our country has been known to people who have discovered our place. Another reason is that they had been in the Philippines and they wanted to go back. Or, they really love the Philippines. Whatever their reason may be, only these tourists know. But why the Philippines? Many of them have bad experiences while having their vacation here but why PHILIPPINES?

The quote of Pierre Cornielle enters here. Why not take the risk when you know that you would be very contented on your decision. This implies to the tourists who, in spite of the danger that may happen, they are persistent in doing so. By this, they achieve more and the memories are priceless.

Significant Human Experience

I really thought that I would not have anything to write this time but I was wrong. All went right and everything was fine. My life was happy and my special someone and I are very much contented with each other. Everyday was wonderful until an event came. It was July 20, 2006, Thursday, when that experience happened. I was washing the dishes when I heard our neighbor somewhat like in panic. I thought she was only fighting with her husband because it is not new to us and that always happen. So, I continued with what I was doing. Then, my mother saw somebody in our gate and she opened it.

She saw the sister of our neighbor and the girl asked if she could use our phone. My mother asked her on who would she call for she was already crying. The girl answered that she would call her mother and asks for help because his nephew was having a convulsion and his brother-in-law was in Dumaguete. Mother, who was also in panic, suggested that they must bring the little boy to the hospital. Luckily, my father arrived early from work and offered a help in bringing the boy to the hospital. My father went to their house to assist them in handling the boy. When they were on their way to our van, they passed in front of me and I actually saw the boy who was very stiff. He likely tries to move but he can not for his whole body was hardened. I was really shocked and I got nervous because it was only at that time when I saw someone in that condition. I was trembling and I was not able to sleep so I decided to wait for them. My parents came and they said that the boy was already attended by the doctor and was already fine. The boy would have to stay for he must take some tests, especially in the brain, to assure that he would be okay. The boy’s mother said that he fell from the window because he was plying with his siblings and he tried to climb but he was not able to hold so he fell.

For me, it was the main thing we should realize and that we should live our life to the fullest because we never know when God would take it from us. We must not be awkward in doing things for ourselves and for the people we love. Just like our neighbor, it started with a simple fever and in that instant, he had a convulsion. He might not notice the significance of what has happened but in the case of his mother, that moment was very important because for any moment, he could lose her son. So, if you want to do something, do it now. If you want to say something, say it or if you want to hug somebody, do it because we never know when would our lives end?

A funny moment

It was June 13, 2006 at about 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon, when I experienced the most embarrassing and the funniest moment in my life.

On the first day of school, we only have a half-day. Actually, it was a sort of an irregular class because in the morning, we just met with our adviser and in the afternoon we are free to go home. Some of my friends were part of the presentation for the first year orientation so I have to wait for them. When they were already done with their presentation, we decided to go to Ayala and buy an accessory for our bags. We would beautify our bags because we were not allowed to wear accessories

When we were on our way to Molave, my friend saw her crush across the road. She grabbed Juna and pointed on the person across the road. Shedyl and I were bewildered because there were also two guys smiling and waving at us at the opposite side of the road. Then, I asked my friend “why were they smiling at us?” then my friend said that she doesn’t know and that she is referring to *** ********. So, who were those guys? We were laughing very hard because those guys really thought that they were the ones that we were referring to. My stomach was even aching because of that funny incident. When we arrive at Ayala, we go directly to the place where the key chains and accessories are found. Shedyl was sleepy that time and she yawns and sounded like “hayyyy”.

Then, the guy at the opposite side smiled at us. My friend was shocked for we have not yet overcome on what had happened in Molave so she decided to stay away from them for the guy and his friends were approaching us. We ran and went to the third floor of the mall. Thank God, they stopped following us. Maybe, they got tired a

nd with what we experienced, we got home just so that we would not be able to encounter another horrible experience.

Even though it was a funny experience, I was also afraid for the guys who were waiving at us might really assume that we were referring to them and that might stalk at us (this might sound crazy but some of the U.P. students have stalkers). It might have been dangerous if those guys were really consistent in following us like what happened when we were already in Ayala. Past is past and that event made us realize that not everybody in this world has good intentions to everyone. Aside from this, we realize that not everyone thinks first if they are the ones being referred to.

In this experience of ours, there was a lesson for us to learn. Now, we are very vigilant in pointing or even saying something to the right person and not just “bark t the wrong tree”. We really see to it that we do not mislead anybody.