It's the thought that counts. (:

Informal Theme # 10
Blog # 10

At last! Holidays are here. This is what I think everyone has been waiting for. The time to enjoy, the time to relax and the time to bond with the whole family, this is vacation. Students, workers and most of the people love breaks, of course, who doesn’t? I can feel my body trembling with exhilaration when hearing vacations. My 2010 Christmas vacation is just simple but it is so memorable.

December 18, Christmas vacation had started. My classmates and I were so happy chatting on facebook, talking about our plans for the vacation. My family and I went to church on Christmas day and after church, we ate together. We spent the rest of the day at the house of my auntie. Everything went simple, gift-giving, eating, and thanks-giving. Me, I spent some of my time with my dearest friends. We just eat and eat and eat! Although it’s simple, all of us were happy that day.

For me, my Christmas vacation is simply amazing. It’s amazing because although we didn’t go somewhere far or we didn’t go out of town; I felt the happiness in me. I felt complete spending all of the days with my family and friends. Everyday there are plans, new plans, some plans were pursued, and some were not. I remember one day my friends and I went to a mall to watch a movie. We spent half of the day at the mall, walking around, taking pictures, and buying some things. We were so happy that time that we forgot the time! We went home late but we’re not scolded because they know that we can handle it.

Of course, I cannot forget the projects at school. I’m doing it every time the plans were not pursued! Haha. I’m spending my time doing it in my bedroom. This is my most hated part of the vacation! :P Because sometimes I feel lazy to do my tasks! But, although I hate doing projects at vacation, I still need to finish it. Even though it’s not obvious, I love school (sometimes) haha!

I’m always strolling somewhere with my friends during the vacation. We’re always eating which made me so fat already! My friends and I really love eating and strolling. We don’t have much money to go somewhere far but we’re still enjoying because we’re doing everything with a smile on our faces. We always have joke times and drama times. No one is letting others down. We always help each other.

Christmas vacation has ended and I learned and discovered new things. In totality, my Christmas vacation was awesome! It’s awesome but it’s simple. :] New Year is coming and I’m gonna have a new year’s resolution! Wie!! Happy New Year!! :D 

Good Times. :]

Informal Theme # 9
Blog # 9

Christmas party is an integral part of the celebration of Christmas. We usually do this at home, school, parks, and others. For me, school Christmas party is so cool. It’s not just the time that there are no exams, quizzes and classes in the room, but it’s actually the last day of the year in school! Yay! I can feel the excitement all over my body whenever I can here parties. This is the day to spend with my classmates and friends in the campus. I’ll see them next year already so every second should be worthy!

Last December 17, we had our school Christmas party. All of the people in the campus are wearing a big smile on their faces and I can feel that they’re so excited for the party. All of us are in our cool outfits. We also brought our costumes for the party after lunch. I brought my cowgirl costume but my adviser told me to use the Virgin Mary costume, so I became the Virgin Mary and Joseph was Emman. In the morning, we had our year level party. There are lots of games and it’s by section. We won on one game and we’re so happy! I enjoyed it although I wasn’t able to join any of the games. After the games, we ate in each of our rooms. In our section, we had our exchange gift while eating. We are all so pleased with the gifts we had received. Everyone enjoyed eating while listening to the music.

In the afternoon, we had the school level party. Each section walked on the court showing off their costumes. My costume was Virgin Mary. After showing the costumes, each section had a presentation. Our section sang and then danced. Although we’re not prepared, it was beautiful because we’re united! :] After the presentations, I thought there’ll be games because they said so but there’s none. I felt that some students got disappointed like me. I’ve been waiting for the games that I thought I’ll enjoy but there’s none. So, the students just partied there in the middle of the court. My classmates and I went there to dance and enjoy. We took pictures of us there as a remembrance. I enjoyed that day and I think everyone did.

At last, the party was done. Everyone has smile on their faces. Merry Christmas to everyone! But remember; don’t forget the reason why we are celebrating this. Don’t forget about Him, the creator. Thank Him for everything He has done to us. :] 

"Isang Panaginip na Fili"

Informal Theme # 8
  Blog # 8

“Isang Panaginip na Fili” is like an imaginary scenario. Pepe Rizal is in Paris and the year is 1891. He’s trying to finish his “El Filibusterismo”. Tunying Ibanez, a rakish illustrado who is too busy having a good time to even know who his roommate is. As Rizal tries to finish the novel, Tunying is drawn into the plot and begins to act out the character of Simoun, the evil jeweler plotting to throw society into chaos.
         

We watched the play, “Isang Panaginip na Fili”, at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City last December 12, 2010. The play was good. The voice quality of the performers is good, loud enough to be heard in the whole theater. They delivered their lines very well. You can see that they have really mastered their scripts. The performers showed a great showmanship. They have portrayed the characters they are playing very well. The lines were clear; the moves are good and full of emotions. The play touched the hearts of the audiences.

         

The director, Floy Quintos, played a very big role in the making of the play. He put the appropriate person to each of the characters. Each performer was really prepared and they really know what they are doing. I can say that they have internalized their lines before showing it. Their emotions made the play more amazing.

The production of the play was really nice. The stage was appropriately decorated. They put the right designs in each scene of the play. The lightings made it more interesting. In every scene, there’s a change in lights. The props were properly prepared too. The make-ups and clothes if the performers were fitted to the characters each one is performing. The sounds also made the play more entertaining. The sound is shifting every time the scene and emotion is changing. The singing voice of the performers adds also to the good quality of their sound. In totality, the play amazed me. Two thumbs up! 

Stunned by you. :)

Informal Theme #7
Blog #7

      

          Ibong Adarna is a popular folktale in the Philippines. It is a very beautiful bird which possesses magical powers. Its songs have healing powers that cause anyone who hears it to fall into a deep sleep and its feces can turn things to stone. The story was about the King of Berbania, Fernando, become ill. Hearing Ibong Adarna sing was the only thing that can cure the King. The King had 3 sons, Pedro, Diego, and Juan. He loves Juan so much because Juan was his favorite. Don Pedro tried to find Ibong Adarna but he failed to do it. Don Diego followed his brother, Don Pedro, and thinks that he’ll be able to find Ibong Adaran, but, like his brother, he failed. The third one who tried was the youngest son, Don Juan. He found the Ibong Adarna and was able to get it with the help of an ermitanyo. When he heard it sing, he used the things that the ermitanyo have given him.

          We watched the play of Ibong Adarna at Trece Martirez gymnasium last December 3. I can say that the actors and actresses have really mastered their scripts and speeches. They have delivered it very well. They were also able to portray the characters they are playing properly. The shifting of the scenes is very nice and clean. The play doesn’t compose of dialogues only, they have dances and songs which made it more interesting to watch. The voices of the performers, with the help of the microphones, were loud enough to be heard in the gymnasium.

          Their production was amazing. Their designs were appropriate in each scene. The props they have used were all good. The play became more entertaining because of the music they have used. They have musicians which plays lively. It adds to the entertaining factor of the play. The costumes they have used were appropriate to each of the character they are portraying. The make-ups of the performers were also good that it can be seen in the whole gymnasium. For me, the play was incredible! All of us really enjoyed watching it. (: 

Don't Leave High School Without...

Informal Theme # 6
Blog # 6 

            Buying something you’ve been saving for! Be the master of your own finances by putting aside some cash weekly for a big purchase at the end of the school year! Think of something you’re really dying to buy then use the money you have saved to buy that stuff you want. Set a realistic minimum amount you can save every week from your allowance. You can also tell your parents about your plan, who knows, maybe your discipline might actually earn something and your parents may help you, they might volunteer to finance a percentage of your expenses. After saving, go and reap the rewards of your hard work and get your goal!

            Preserving your memories! In the old days, folks had time capsules and scrapbooks to preserve all the events that take place over a year. Times are more high tech now and there are dozens of ways to make sure every school year goes down the history books right! Try to take videos of your happy and funny moments you have spent with your friends. You can upload it somewhere like YouTube or make a compilation of those videos. Then, try to watch it with your friends. It’s like reminiscing the past. That would be awesome!

            Being a risk taker! Even good girls go bad every once in a while. Just because you’re taught to follow the rules, that doesn’t mean you can’t try your hands at playing hooky even just once! After all, high school wouldn’t be a complete experience without this quintessential rite of passage. But remember, don’t take things too far of course, you might fall to something awful! Just try to do something like sneaky and creepy, but not too much. Try it once, it might be cool! 

Wake Up Right!

Informal Theme # 5
Blog # 5

Sleeping is the best kind of rest anyone could do. We feel a bit dizzy when we got no sleep. We are required to sleep at least 8 hours a day. In every task that we are going to do, we should be that active or our minds are already set so we could think well.  After sleeping, it’s time to wake up, of course! So, let’s wake up right!

The key to waking up on the right side of the bed is getting to sleep properly. It’s not just about laying down the bed and closing your eyes. Good sleep will result to a high quality rest. These are some tips on how to wake up right!

The first one is to be consistent in the time of waking up. Waking up the same time every morning even on weekends will help your body adjust. You’ll be use to it. You can set also the mood of your sleeping. If your senses are stimulated right before bedtime, chances are your sleep will be shallow. Try to switch off the lights, relax, and try to listen to some music like lullabies at least thirty minutes before hitting the sack. In the middle of our sleeping time, sometimes we experience bathroom breaks. Don’t sacrifice your water intake, but try to pace things so you’re not waking up every few minutes just to pee.  You should use your bed just for sleeping and not with other stuffs. When you use your bed just for your sleep, your brain associates it with rest right away, upping the chances that you’ll get a good night‘s sleep.

The last thing should all remember before sleeping is not to worry. Constantly worrying about being an insomniac is sure to affect the quality of your sleep. If you’re still wide awake after 15 minutes of going to bed, get up for a while and do something else. Go back to bed once you feel sleepy or tired.

Following these tips can make your sleeping time better. Feel good and wake up right! (: 

The Divine Comedy

Informal Theme # 4
Blog # 4

The Divine Comedy is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri. It is composed of 14, 233 lines and it is divided into three canticas: Inferno, Purgaotio, and Paradiso, each consisting of 33 cantos. Inferno means hell, Purgatorio means purgatory, and Paradiso means heaven. At a deeper level, it represents allegorically the soul’s journey towards God. The poem tells Dante’s journey through the three realms of the dead, lasting from the night before Good Friday to the Wednesday after Easter in the spring of 1300. The Roman poet Virgil guides him through Hell and Purgatory; Beatrice, Dante’s ideal woman, guides him through Heaven. Dante was part of the Guelphs, White Guelphs, who in general favored the Papacy over the Holy Roman Emperor. In Hell and Purgatory, Dante shares in the sin and the penitence respectively. The last word in each of the three parts of the Divine Comedy is stelle, “stars”.

Divine Comedy has a great impact to me. It affects me so much. It’s like I’m afraid to commit mistakes for the reason that I might go to hell and experience those bloody punishments. I’m watching every action I’ll do and quickly asking for forgiveness if I have done something wrong. I’m always praying to God, not to wish, but to thank Him in everything He’s doing and giving to me.  This Divine Comedy inspires me a lot, to do good to other people, to help them and share all my blessings to them. We all don’t know what would be our afterlife. We don’t know where we will go. We don’t know what will happen to us after death. So, better do your best in everything because you’ll not know when God will get your life back. Do good things to other people if you want them to do the same. 

GSP Camp

Informal Theme # 3
Blog # 3

Since elementary I’m already joining camps and leadership trainings. This high school, I’m so honored that I’m one of the GSP staff in our school. I’m the secretary and I’m trying my best to do the tasks given to me.

This year’s GSP theme is “Empowering Girls Make A Difference”. On the first day of the camp, the girls registered and I’m the one assigned in the registration table with Mrs. Arceo. Celine and Jezza helped us because we can’t manage that if we’re only two. After the registration, the investiture proper started. The girl scouts fall in line according to their patrols with their sponsors beside them. After the investiture, everyone listened to the speech of Hon. Irene Bencito. She delivered an inspirational message that touches everyone’s heart. She made each girl proud of themselves. We ate lunch after listening to Hon. Irene Bencito. I ate with the other GSP staff and Mam may, our adviser. Everyone is like praying for this camp to be successful. There’s a game after lunch and then the orienteering. I had so much fun. I can feel that everyone is happy and they’re enjoying it. Everything went fine and we’re glad. The remaining time was used for the preparation of each troupe’s presentation on the campfire.

Campfire is like what everyone’s been waiting for. The camp wouldn’t be a camp without this! A pastor gave inspirational messages and words of God which made everyone realize how really great God is. He showed some clips and read some verses from the Bible. After the inspiring messages, everyone’s excited though quite nervous for their presentations. They presented what they had prepared. All of them, including us, the staff, did a great job. The first day was a tiring day and by 10:00 pm, everyone should be inside their quarters, resting, except for the staff. We stayed awake until 2 am! We did some important things but we enjoyed staying up late.

The next day, we had a morning exercise with Mam May being the leader. After that, we ate our breakfast and then had a session, a lecture about cervical cancer. A doctor explains everything about the said cancer. After the session, the moment of truth came, I mean, the awarding! We’ve awarded the best troupe with special awards.

We’re very thankful that everything went well and we’re so relieved nothing bad occurred. :]

2010 Semestral Break

Informal Theme # 2
Blog # 2

Too much studying and no vacation make the students lose their will on learning. They’ll feel so bored at school thinking that why do they really have to study, why do they need to do all the things regarding school, and why don’t they even have a break. They are all dying to rest their minds and body, rest from examinations, recitations, projects and everything! Semestral break or what we call “sembreak” for short is what we’ve all been waiting for! It is time to rest and enjoy! Wohoo! Every second should be maximized and enjoyed!

On the day before the sembreak it’s like every one can’t wait to see the minute hand to point on 12 while the hour hand on the number 5. That only means that school is over, though not totally over but it’s like a long break, a semestral break! Time for us to be relaxed! No pressures and no problems. I love the fact that I don’t need to get up so early in the morning and prepare for school. But I hate the fact that I actually don’t have money to spend because there’ll be no classes therefore, I don’t have allowance! Haha.

This 2010 semestral break was so memorable for me. A lot of things happened, more good times than bad. I had the time to bond with my friends and family. Everyday, I feel like everything was perfect, no problems at all. Love is in the air. :] Whenever I’ll get out of my bed, I can’t stop smiling thinking that it will make the day better. Everyday, I’m hanging out with my family and sometimes with my friends. I can’t wait to do some sleepovers and swimming with my friends. We love doing those. I can still remember one night, my friends and I went swimming with some of our new friends, I was so happy that night. School was not in my mind that time. My mind was only focused with my friends. Everyone was laughing like it is the end of the world! Haha. I can feel that all of them are enjoying and I’m happy for them. Picture – taking, of course, it can’t be forgotten. Lots of photos were taken. Our big smiles were captured showing that we were really enjoying the night. Before the night ends, all of us cleaned ourselves and prepared our beds. After that, some slept already and some went out, those who don’t wanna sleep yet including me. Some of them went walking near the pool, some played in the playground and some just sit and talk. Me, I just sit and talk to a new friend, actually a new special friend. That made my day complete. I’m so comfortable talking to him. He made our conversation interesting. We talked about our goals in life and other stuffs. I’m happy with him. He made the whole occasion perfect and complete for me, actually he really made the whole semestral break wonderful for me. :]

A lot of other things happened during the semestral break but one day isn’t enough to tell all of those. But I can say that I had a very memorable sembreak, so happy, wonderful, perfect! It’s awesome! :] 

Dark Room

Informal Theme # 1
Blog # 1

            Good parents, check, good education, check, good life, check, good friends, super check! My life is almost perfect. I have lots of friends, good friends. Friends who are always there for me, giving advices when I have problems, helping me do things I can’t do on my own. At first, I thought all of my friends are true, I thought they’ll be there for me always and they’ll support me in anything that’ll make me happy. But, I’m wrong, totally wrong. Not all of them are true, not all of them want me to be happy.

            Intruders! Some of them are intruders and I hate them! Why do they need to intervene and decide things for me tho I’m not happy with it? They are just my friends and not my parents! They don’t have to decide everything for me. Yes, I admit that sometimes I need their opinions but not all the time! I also have to decide personal things all by myself! I also need some space. Not all the time they can make a decision for me. What if I don’t like it? What if I’m not happy with their decision? What if I want to be free?

            Do you know that my personal life was so affected because of your selfishness? You guys are so selfish! I thought you want me to happy, but, I’m wrong again! You want to be happy; you decide things which will benefit only you and not me. You don’t care about my feelings! I don’t want you to be my friend anymore if you’re like that.

            But I’m thankful because I learned a new important lesson in my life which will help me be out of this dark room. We have to choose the right friend. A friend who will be with you always, leading you to the right path. A friend who can make you happy. 

The Essence of True Love

Informal Theme # 8
Blog # 8 

Love is the most common, if not abused. As a result we can hardly identify the true meaning of love. Because when one is fond of a certain thing, place, person or anything that he likes most, he then directly associates it, with the word love what does love really mean?

Love is not just mere filling of doing something good but it goes further than funding the hungry and clothing the makes. It means warmth, intimacy, open-heartedness and the over whelming generosity of heart and spirit, it means a desire to know and a courageous willingness to be know. Love implies commitment to person involvement with the person’ life whatever it may cost him. Love can wait. Everyone who has fallen in love had this desire of giving something just to make beloved happy. Love doesn’t end there; one must also take the risk of losing and being hurt. When one decides not to fall in love so as not to be hurt, then that person is a coward.

Life Goes On

Informal Theme # 7
Blog # 7

          All of us surely have turning points in life, because we all have challenges and happiest events in our life. Theses turning points can also help us. We can learn from our mistakes and we can be proud of what we have done before.

          First of all, one of my turning points is my achievement in school. I graduated as the valedictorian of my elementary. That big achievement made me so happy. I really did my best to achieve that and to give honor to my family. Although I know I can’t pay back all the love they’ve given me, that is one way of showing how much I love them too. I prove them that I can do anything just to make them happy. My whole family was so happy for me knowing that I will have a good future. They said that this will be my stepping stone to success. I said to them that I will not reach that goal without them there beside me.

          My second turning point was the death of my grandparents. My grandparents are the persons who taught me the best lessons of life. They let me grow in a nice, peaceful way. I really love them as what they do. I’m so lucky to have the. They are always there to cheer me up whenever I’m sad. They never let me down. And you know what? I’m their favorite grand daughter. One time, unexpected news came. My grandparents died and I’m very shock. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how I could accept the fact that they’re not with me anymore. Tears fell from my eyes. I hug them even they’re not breathing anymore. I’m so depressed when they died. There comes a time that I’m not eating or even talking. This is the only time I experience a big loneliness.  

          And my last turning point is when I passed the Cavite National Science High School entrance exam. Before I took the entrance exam I really did not expect to pass. But when they said the students who pass the first test, I’m included and I’m very happy. I also pass the next test. And then the last is the interview. This interview is their basis to put the students in their corresponding section. This time, I have negative thoughts. I’m thinking that I’ll be on the lowest section, but when they post I’m in the Nitrogen section that they are saying the highest of all the sections. I’m grateful because I know that my parents will be so proud of me. They really want me to pass here because they know that this is a high quality school.

            Now, I want to share that those turning points have changed my life. Those things played a big part in my life. I learned to accept the truths and failures. I learned to treasure the significant moments in my life. I’m thankful to God because He’s giving me challenges in life where I can get important lessons of life and giving me chance to change or correct mistakes. Turning points play a big part in a person’s life. But whatever happens in your life, just trust God and everything will be alright. Life goes on. 

Sports: Outlet for teenagers

Informal Theme # 6
Blog # 6

“Sports keep kids off the street.”

It does not in fact keep kids off the streets; it also instills lessons that are essential in life of a student athlete. They have given us an escape from the hectic life we live and a place of childhood fun. Sports play a pivotal role in the makeup of a young athlete, especially in the middle school to high school years where student athletes are much more mature and mentally developed.

Where else can a young, impressionable youth learn values like self confidence, sacrifice, and accountability? Television, which may be the most influential tool in the lives of young adults, does not show enough of these qualities, nor is it on the Internet, or radio. Rather it is up to the parents, teachers, sports teams, clubs, and after school programs to help mold, develop, and instill these qualities into the lives of student athletes. Without them, there will be no great athletes made.

            In order to produce great and professional athletics, one important thing is finding a good core of coaches. Persons to help, lead these student athletes to success.

Another important thing is the support that comes from the community, and administration. This is very important because they need to know they are appreciated. In order to accomplish this it’s going to take investment and the most valuable investments are money and time. The more invested, the better the results.

When these things are in place, I believe student athletes will benefit and the results will be evident not only on the field, but long after they step off of it.

Sports influence people’s lives more than you’d think. Great athletics play a huge part in molding the individuals. 

Thank You Note

Informal Theme # 5
Blog # 5

To my dearest teachers,

          Thank You, 2 words with millions of meanings, simple words with complicated messages.

          Thank you for shaping our innocent minds, filling with those noteworthy lessons and significant advices. Thank you for teaching us the right way of reading, writing and counting. No one will succeed without passing on your precious hands. There’ll be no doctors to cure the sick ones, no architect to design and review the construction of buildings and structures for the use of people, and no lawyer to defend the freedom of another individual. I’m very sorry for all the wrong things that I’ve done. Without you, I will not be here in my position right now.

          Sir/Ma’am, this is your day and I want to extend my deepest gratitude to all of you. I love you.

Your student,

Maryel C. Villegas

In their hands

Informal Theme #4
Blog #4

Have you ever wondered what life could be

With no teachers in our society

Unruly crowds in everywhere I go

In the path of this life no glee no glow

In their hands, life would maybe successful

No matter how tough, no matter how painful

Serve as the weapon and inspiration

For the people all over the nation

Shaping innocent minds, that’s what they do

Teaching helplessly, they do it for you

They open windows in front of your eyes

To see the beauty under the cool skies

They do all things with pleasant attitude

So I give them my greatest gratitude

They keep on teaching us with no reasons

So I call them teachers for all seasons. 

Informal Theme #3 
How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)
 
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.


How Do I Love Thee (Sonnet 43). 
This sonnet was wrtitten by Elizabeth Browning to express her love for her husband, Robert Browning. 
This shows that her love for him is so intense that is rises to spiritual level. She loves him without intimidation. Her love was so true and she's so sincere. She loves him in that way that she loves the saints or God. She loves him more than herself. She may give up everything but not him. 
Robert was like her oxygen which was needed for her to live. She loves him more than anything else and no one can ever change that. She shows that time and death would not affect her love for him. Her love will never fade whatever happens.

My light from the darkness

Informal theme #2
Blog #2

She has always been there in times of need

Her love unconditional

As my mom, she is supportive in all I do

When I am down, she pulls me up

Advices she gives freely and honestly

She knows what's best for me

No one in the world could ever replace her

No one could be like her

She sees thru my faults and loves me still

No words can describe my mom

I wouldn't be this girl if not because of her

She told me what's right and what's wrong

One touch, one word from her 

would make the hurt go away

She always make everything perfect

She's my light in the darkness

Love your mom as what they do

Don't waste their love for you

One day you'll realize that she loves you so much

and never lets you down. :)

♥♥♥