Why, My Love?

Dear Love,

                   Milady, my one and only. The person whom my love will be bestowed. With you, I shall conquer the seven seas. You are the apple of my eye. I promise I won't hurt you at all. I promise I'll be careful with your heart. Though I pretended hard to be, I wanted your love and consolation more than anything else.
                   Could we talk about us? My friends say I'm dreaming my life away because of you. Do you think I should keep right on dreaming? My heart is at your command. I was telling a star last night just how wonderful you are and why I'm so in love with you.
                    Remember  the first time I held your hands, I was sure I'll be the lucky guy to own those hands, the hands on whose fingers I'd be proud to see wearing my wedding ring. It's funny that I couldn't get rid of the habit of calling out your name at the creek that I'm so used to doing. I'm sorry I never took the time to look after your heart. I'd like to be able to nurse it back to health. I'm sorry I let my foolish pride took away so many good years out of our lives. I've pushed you too far. I'm sorry. Now you can have anything you desire, but just don't ever leave me.

                                                                                                                Still waiting,
                                                                                                                      Shepherd

When Baby Bear Jumped.....

             November 11, 2011 was really a day to be marked at my calendar. 
             First of all, It was the birthday of my mom, who turned 42, and by our Filipino teacher, Mrs. Tolentino. 
             Second, it was the day of our fieldtrip. Fieldtrip! I mean after months of eye brow burning, it is about time to relax and enjoy ourselves.
             We were assigned on Bus 6. Our section will be going with 3 C. Our tour guide, who introduced himself as Kuya Noel(he would prefer Ate!), made the trip fun for us. He cracked some jokes, then asked students to perform using his microphone. 
              We arrived at MOA at about 11 AM. We went inside Science Discovery where we had fun at the same time learning valuable information. One of those that I would not forget was the "Jump Baby Bear". Honestly, it was pretty lame. The fact that it is makes it memorable!
              Next stop was Myths of The Human Body. There we had fun at viewing real bodies from donors who intend their bodies to be of use to the people. We were also able to view specimens of fetuses at different stages or forms. That makes me wonder if they were intenionally aborted or what (Sorry for the term).
              Last stop before happy hours was Kulturang Pinoy. In here, we had sing and dance performances. We watched a video about how much our parents mean to us. I admit that I had a teary eye as a watched the video.
             I spent 4 happy hours at MOA with Marco, Argel, and Mayas. We went to the Xbox Corner and played there for an hour, then ate dinner and stroll around the mall. By the time we were called upon going home, we were very much satisfied with what had happened. We hope that another trip like this wold occur.

Blog 1: My True Hero

Sheer bravery shown,

A man with his principles.

He whose name's Andres

Not Super, but Hero

This short story is about what teachers sworn to fulfill:

A Teacher's Dream

by

James G. Fabiano

One of my favorite days was happening.

We all made a large circle around a picnic table covered with hamburgers, hot dogs, and every type of salad I had ever seen. It was the end of school party, at a colleague's house who lives on a lake in Nottingham, New Hampshire. The conversation started out easy and comfortable.It centered on the just-completed school year. To my dismay, most of my colleagues started to discuss how our school was being destroyed by the lack of funds, schoolboard politics, and a lack of values in the underclassmen and underclasswomen, (God, I hate being politically correct), brought to school from their homes.

The conversation also centered on how our profession was becoming the political fodder of both state and national policy. After a while, the conversation grew vicious and because I had just finished my fifth Old Brown Dog I made the mistake of opening my mouth.

"Does anyone remember why we got into teaching, in the first place?"

My question produced silence from all of my co-workers in the circle. The silence didn't last long because it was replaced by a unified display of the 'who the hell made you king of arrogance' look.

"No, I mean it! Does anyone remember the philosophy which made all of us take the vows of celibacy, servitude, and of course poverty?"

Well, a veteran history teacher, whose longevity in the school almost outweighed his size, asked me to remind them of what their philosophy was. In other words, he took me to task. Being the storyteller I am, I told the group that I would use a metaphor to describe what 'teaching' is to me.

I tell them that the beginning of each year was like taking a group of young men and women to the base of a mountain. Always observing my students, I see that they are afraid and uncomfortable with what they were expected to do. I tell them that for the next 186 days I will show them how to climb the cliffs, and reach the plateau that was above the clouds and seemingly out of reach.

Then, we start the climb by having me show them how to put one foot in front of the other; how to use their hands, legs, and more importantly their minds to reach the next stone. All my kids start to fall. I tell them that it is OK to fall; to make a mistake, because this is how we all learn, and get better at what we are trying to do. Some of my kids give up and simply fall down to the bottom of the mountain. I try and encourage them to continue but they simply do not want to take the chance to fail. I feel bad, yet I realize that I can't help everyone: I can only try.

Looking around my small group of colleagues I notice that everyone is listening. I smile, take another sip, and continue. Halfway up the mountain, I see that my kids are beginning to build up a confidence in themselves. They help each other toclimb to the next level. Every now and then a child falls, but, the farther we climb up the mountain, fewer children make the decision not to continue. Now it is no longer a case of me showing them how to climb, as they work with each other, and find easier and better ways of achieving success. Every now and then I fall and I find my students helping me now. Students become teachers. We all become one, in the knowledge that we need each other to continue, and thus succeed.

We finally reach the plateau and are dumbfounded by what we see. We observe the colors of life; the greens of their futures, the reds and oranges of their passion, and the blues of all their dreams. The air is new and clear. There are no clouds on the plateau, just an image that everything is do-able and achievable. I walk over to the edge where the view is even more dramatic and beautiful and tell them to come to the perimeter with me. They hesitate and tell me that they are still afraid. I chastise them; I teach them once more and tell them that they earned looking out at their futures. That, because of their hard work and perseverance, they have become competent in everything they attempt to do.

They come to the edge of the plateau. I push them off.

And I watch them fly!

The group surrounding the picnic table, which was now half-filled with food and empty plates, stayed silent for the next few minutes. An English teacher told me that I should write down my thoughts. I just smiled and said I probably would. I always do! The conversation then turned very positive. It became filled with hopes and visions of the next school year. Yes, a favorite day of mine was coming to an end, with another favorite day not far away.

The day when I group my students together, and tell them how we will climb the mountain.

The End. 

I am dedicating this story for all of the teachers out there. We, students are fortunate to have such mentors guiding our way to success. The road to victory is a steep one, yet there they are, ready to push as whenever we get blown away. They might be not like the ones we watch on cartoons having special powers and abilities, but their dedication to educating us is already comparable to the best heroes of all. So, I would like to say Thank You To All Teachers.

What Ya' Gonna Get?

             Seriously, no one wants to take examinations and tests. But we need it- we need to comply. So I began to ask myself to what is the NCAE for.
              "National Career Assessment Examination"- the meaning of the abbreviated NCAE. 3rd year students are to take the test(though formerly taken by 4th year students). 
              It is said that we students take the test to help us in choosing the right course for us. It assesses the skills of the student, to which field he or she would be the most successful. While most students take it easy on getting tests like these, a few others take it seriously, especially those who belong to less fortunate families who needs assurance that their child would be finishing college and have a job.
              I began to think of my parents who were abroad; how they get their backs twisted and bodies wearied just to get the two of us to the best schools who can really give quality education. I saw how ungrateful I was to them. I thought that the best way to repay them is to do best in my studies and soon get a job. I wanted to help them, so I took the NCAE seriously.
            For all those out there who are going to take the same test, I advise to take it seriously and  think that there are others that rely on you.

The Tree I would Be.

          If I was a tree, I would be a Narra Tree. The Narra Tree is known to be our country's national tree. It symbolizes the strength and sturdiness of us Filipinos; the way they never back down against any challenge life may throw at them. Narra, though a large tree, is rose-scented. We, Filipinos, always thought to be inferior to other races, actually have more grandeur than all of them.
          I myself think that we should look into the Narra Tree as a symbol of us Filipinos. We are not fragile; we are not weak. We are merely beings who haven't discovered the greatness within us. I haven't find that greatness inside me yet, but I won't stop until the time that I would look at myself in the mirror and say that "Ricky, you're great" Just like the Narra Tree, I would stand boldly and bravely against any obstacle that I would face. And of course, I would tell the world that this great man was a Filipino.\
        I would say that I am not a giving tree. I believe that when you say "giving", you say "too generous". I don't give everything I have- I share them, and leave some for myself.

Intramurals....Experience

    The first day of the year's intramural is a great day. I mean, Mother Nature answered our prayers and it did not rain that day. I, maybe of all people, was the most excited, though no one actually saw me being hyper or something. I did not sleep well the night before. I ate little food- all I was thinking was about if I'm going to be of any help to our team or not. I have never played volleyball before, so I fear that I would be the cause of my team's defeat.
     Well,  the schedule wasn't followed, as usual. Mrs De Vera gave a quite long but challenging speech to us. I liked the speech, but it would be a lot better if we were on some kind of shade for the day is extremely hot and we don't have anything to cover us.
      Next to her speech is the Cheer-Dance competition wherein 25 students from each year-level will try to make a cheer and outshine each other. I am actually impressed with our representatives, especially for their uniqueness for being the only group without a musical accompaniment. I think this is really a great thing to start the year's intramural.
      I enjoyed watching all of the sports, though we would always end up being the third placer. I was very happy that we won the championship in some games, especially in Basketball, which was really unexpected because our team was facing a much bigger, more experienced opponent.
      Above all, what really makes me to remember this year's intramural is the fact that there was somebody to support you, to cheer for you. Thus, we all ended up the year's intramural with a SMILE.

Shakespeare's Sonnet 116

Sonnet 116

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
   If this be error and upon me proved,
   I never writ, nor no man ever loved. 

I. Recalling

         a. List 3 or 4 things that love is not according to Sonnet 116.

                   -Love is not love which alters when changes occur or bends with the remover to remove.

                   -Love is not Time's fool

                   -Love does not alter with hours and weeks, but rather , endures until the last days of life.

         b. List several things that love is according to Sonnet 116

                  -An ever fixed mark that looks on tempest and is never shaken

                  -The star to every wandering bark.

II. Interpreting

          a. What is the meaning of the image of the star in lines 7-8?

                  - It means that love can be measured but can never be fully understood

          b. How does this image apply to love

                  -You can see how much a person loves someone or something, but no one can actually understand it, since its value can never be known for it's a mystery.

III. Extending

          a. Do you agree or disagree with the speaker's interpretation of love? Why or why not?

                  -I agree, since it is true that many have endured hardships because of love. It is also true that love doesn't change through days nor weeks, but through a lifetime.

Intrams No More

Ricky: Ma'am, is the rumor true?
Mildred: What rumor?
Ricky: The Intramural is going to be postponed!
Mildred: Well, it is not yet official, but there is a possibility.
Ricky: But why Ma'am?
Mildred: I guess it is because of conflict in the schedule of activities. The Division Schools Press Conference will be held at the same time of the week. 
Ricky: But I mean, how many would be included in that contest to postpone the whole event?
Mildred: Well, I don't know how many, but I assume that they will number around 15.
Ricky: Why do this always happen?
Mildred: Ha ha. Don't be so sad  Ricky. It might be postponed but it will still be pushed through some other time.
Ricky: Ma'am I look forward to that. I ALWAYS will.
Mildred: By the way, what sport are you planning to join at?
Ricky: Uhm.I was thinking of joining in Sepak Takraw, but Marcell keeps on persuading me to join Volleyball Team. Do you think I should consider his offer?
Mildred: Well, if you would want to try a new sport, why not? There's no harm.
Ricky: Wow, I just realize that you are right Ma'am. Thank you for advice. See you again.

Fearless indeed...

Everyone's struck with fear

When calamities are near

The fearless is what we seek

Truly courageous as we speak

With only their WILL as their weapon

They charge into the depths against the demon

Having one thing in mind

To save some other's hide

Music is Just Too Broad

"A simple beat can create rhythm"

      Music is simply magic.

     Everyone was born to create music. The mere existence of ears give proof to this. We are just too lazy to explore the potential in oneself. If he can, you can too.

      Yes, I know each one of us had a moment when you would unknowingly sing somewhere, then you would realize how embarrassing that was. I was a victim of that. We listen to music when we are happy, but then again to times when we are sad and devastated.

      From these mere actions, we can see what we humans truly are. We are very much expressive of our thoughts and feelings. Through music, one can let out what is inside of him. Music was created to be man's tool of expression.

      I listen to music because I love to. It is not difficult to see how much I am tied with music. Still I can still see how much far am I from understanding the truly value of this. I am yet a small bud, patiently waits for time to run out of wind, where it can bloom and outshines all.

My Reason for Living.

  Why do I live? I don't know. Being a small portion of a fraction of the population, I feel insignificant. They said that everyone has a purpose in life. I can't think of any purpose for the world to need me. Maybe it's me who need to do something. Maybe I need to be a professional. Maybe I need to show my worth to everyone. I would do something