My Alma Matter

The memory of my elementary school is always a part of my life. I can never forget the school that molded me and shaped me into a better person. I really love my school very much!

I can still remember the times when I was in that school, I was still in grade one. Every teacher knows me because I’m a very naughty child. Even if I’m a girl, I always play with boys during my grade one level. I’m really like a tomboy at that time. But I know that I’m still very young at that time, that’s why I still have that childish prank. I don’t know why at that time that was my behavior. I still can’t imagine myself having that manner. Maybe because I’m already a teenager right now.

I know that in that school, it is where I grew up and changed myself. Every time I went there, the teachers will always say that I’m already a teenager. It’s true but I’m still shy because I still have the mind of a child. It’s a little funny but it’s true.

In that school it is where I have found the people that love me. And I love them also. The memories that I have in that school is still very fresh in my mind.

One also that I cannot forget was when I was still in grade five. Our teacher is a very good one. I liked her very much as my teacher. She understands me very well. And do you know the saying that, “Bird with the same feather flocked together?” That’s also the saying in my situation with my teacher in grade five. I can’t really forget the time when she makes jokes. She’s a very funny person. Every time I see her, I always smile. That’s why she asked me if she looked like a clown to me. I just want to smile, whenever I see her. She’s a very important person to me. Sometimes, she is absent because she had a fever. I was very sad, and I don’t feel well that I’m in school. It’s really hard to have a day without the person that makes you smile. I don’t feel comfortable on that day. I don’t know if I’m going crazy.

And the most unforgettable experienced was during my grade six level. I’m also very close with my teacher at that time. I have already gone with her to Ayala and to other malls. That was very fantastic! And we also have our retreat at Eco- Tech. That was also a very unforgettable experience. I was very happy at that time because we have bonding together. I really didn’t sleep well at that time.

We already have that foundation of friendship before we graduated. It’s really good to have a bonding together with your classmates before graduating. Until now we are already separated. Others are in other schools. I can’t believe that time went on to fast. Next time I know that we were graduating. I don’t really want my grade six year to end because I’m happy in it. But I understand that everything must change. But now, I’m still visiting my Alma matter. I’m very proud to introduce my school, where I grow up. My school is Lahug Christian School!

How did I celebrate the sinulog festival?

Sinulog festival is always celebrated in Cebu every year. I too celebrated the Sinulog festival this year.

The Sinulog festival was Sunday, and I’m so happy that it is Sunday because were going to have a mission. I’m so excited about the mission because I know that with this mission we are serving God.

I arrived at the church early because we planned to have the service early because of the mission. I’m so excited that I arrived at the church so early.

After the service, I’m leaping with joy. I know that our mission will start soon. I can’t eat my lunch because of excitement. I can’t wait to start our mission.

After lunch, we got ready for our mission. We are going to Plaza Independencia to spread the Salvation of Jesus Christ, in short, we are going to evangelize people. Evangelizing is helping people to accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior and Lord. And that’s a very big mission for me, because we know that every one soul that is save, the whole angels are rejoicing in heaven.

At last! We already arrived at the Plaza Independencia! We are going to start our mission soon! After gathering and praying for the success and safety of the mission, we started the mission. We were in pairs. Ate Lovely and I are the partners.

It’s not easy to approach people that are walking. We had a hard time in approaching people because they are walking and it’s difficult to stop them. But still we have to have enough courage to approach people because it’s our mission. And besides, God also did suffer for us so this mission is not enough to thank Him. Mostly we evangelized boys because they are the ones who are that are willing to listen than the girls. We are really very happy every time a soul will accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior and Lord. We were having a hard time to talk to people because some people are roaming around to collect money from the people. I’m really disappointed with these people. One incident is that when we are about to talk with the girls when suddenly, a man approached us and ask for some donations for the church. That’s why the girls went away. That incident really upsets me because those girls are not yet saved and they already lost their chance to have their salvation.

Our mission is almost finished! It’s getting dark in the park. We all gathered around and counted the people that we have evangelized. And it’s very good because all in all, we have evangelized one hundred six! Isn’t it a good harvest? We’re so happy for having a good harvest. Even if we’re exhausted, we’re very happy because in this way we have served God and it’s also our way of thanking Him for what He has done in our lives.

I’m still looking forward to the opportunities that will come to have that mission. It feels really good to serve God.

My teacher Fina

Teacher Fina is our librarian when I was still in grade six. When I was still in grade five, I didn't notice her at that time. One time, I met her at the stairs, I was about to greet her good morning, but she got an angry face when she's not smiling. My fear overcomes me, that's why I wasn't able to greet her. But it's really that her face is ugly, the truth is that she is beautiful. I am just to shy to talk to her.
When I turned to grade six, she's already the librarian of our school. I often went to the library to read lots of story books. I didn't know when that started, but I found myself already talking with her comfortably. We spent most time talking together, and we enjoyed each other's company. Until every break time, I always talked to her.
Everyday, we grew closer to each other. Until we already shared lots of our problems, experiences, and many more! I shared a lot of my secrets to her that my parents don't know about it. Every time I'm sad, she's always there to cheer me up. We are always laughing every time we are together. Every time I have problems, she's always there to help me. I don't know how she did it, but she knows if I have a problem or none. I didn't even tell her about it but she would just say, "Common tell me your problem. What's the matter?" I asked her how did she know that I have a problem, her answer is, "I can see it in your eyes." she said. Honestly, she is one of the persons who understand me. She's very nice to me and she is also very funny. We have shared a lot of experiences and problems.
Now that she's married, I thought that our relationship will stop. But it didn't stop, right now we are still communicating to each other even if we don't see each other everyday.
Now, she is still concern about me even if she already had her own family. I'm always happy for her. I always tell her that I love her so much. The same with her also, she also told me that she loves me.
I know that she is not just a pass away in my life. She will always be in my heart, no matter what happens. She has taught me a lot of lessons in life, that have left a foot print in my heart.
I really don't know why I always get close with people who are older than me. Maybe God really planned everything so that whenever I'm down, somebody will always lift me up. We also have lots of moments together. She's always there to inspire me whenever I'm discouraged. She will always be my teacher Fina.
Having her in my life is a very big thing for me to thank God. I know that it was God who really put her in my life so that I can have someone to help me with something that I need someone to lean on to.

Everlasting Love

Everlasting love is different from all the other. I can say this because, I've experienced it too. Just like the love that God have for us. He died for us, therefore He loves us so much. Not just that, He will always love us forever and a day.
We cannot love other people unless, we go to the source. And the only source of this is God, and God alone. We can never give love if we haven't experienced His love first; for us. I thought that I can give love freely without feeling His love, but I was wrong. The truth is, it doesn't matter that the one you love doesn't give your love back because, God loves us so much. It doesn't matter if we lack love, because God is there loving us, and no love can compare His love for us. Even if our parents doesn't love us, the good news is He will always love us.
There are many kinds of love in this world. And mostly the teenagers right now have the wrong definition of love. They say love is just a thing that is a relationship. But the truth is that love is an attitude. Love is not happy with evil. It is not happy with bad things. It is happy with the things that are good, and with the things that are worthy to have. Just like having the plans for the a good future together. But of course, we must also seek God's will for that matter.
Other people are looking for the right person that will love them, and they will love it also. But how can they find that person, if they're looking it in the wrong place? Many people look for these people in bars, and many other places. And they tried to ask for an advice to other people, but how can they have the right advice if they ask the wrong person?
And also for the married couple right now, when they were still sweethearts, they always said "I love you" to each other. But now that they are married, I don't know. Mostly they will never, say anything to each other. And also if they walk together, the wife is walking ahead maybe ten meters away from her husband. Is it still everlasting love? Of course not! It because, there ax is no longer sharp. And through the years that they've been together, they didn't sharpen there ax. And that's why even if how hard they work out, if there ax is dull, then they cannot finish the work fast. That's why there are lots married couple right now are having divorce, without knowing that it's a sin in the eyes of God. That's why we have to keep our ax sharp.

What is Love?

Love is an attitude. That's my definition of love. When I was still young, I thought that it is called love when two people run away because they love each other. But I was wrong, because I have read in the Bible that love do the right thing. In 1 Corinthians 13 that love is patient, and it is not happy with evil. Love is happy with the truth. And if we experience love that is like that, we can say that it is true love. I really thought that my mother really loves my father because she gives her virginity to my father. But I realized that I was wrong because maybe it was just her way to escape. After what she have done, she escape to her responsibility. I don't think that she went to Japan to earn more money because she loves us. I thought at first that I love my love ones more than I love myself, but I learned lately that you cannot give what you don't have. So if you don't have love for yourself, then you cannot love someone. I thought this is not true but I came to realized that it's true.
I'm so lucky, in terms of love. Even though my mother left me and I have no love for a mother, God sent lots of people to love me. In the past, I don't know what love means and how it feels to love and to be love. I was so curious about that word in the past. I thought that unless I'm still young, I cannot love. But I was wrong, because everyone can love. I thought at first that when I like a person and I care for her/him, it's just admiration and I just like her or him. But I came to know that it was love.
Loving someone is a very comfortable thing to do, because you don't have to be someone that you're not. With someone that you love, he or she knows what the person is that he or she is loving. When you are with someone that you love it's like that you don't want that moment to end. I can say this because, I too have experienced it myself.
I can really say that my love ones know me for who I am. I don't really want to pretend that I am that. If ever they have notice something bad on me, I can't blame them because everyone has negative side. Not all is perfect. Now when you love someone, you have to make sure that you love him/her for he or she is. You should not find something that he or she don't have. You have to know her or him for who he or she is. But I've known a person that had no negative side. Maybe I don't know all that is in her. But for me even if there is negative in her, I still love her, because that's what true love is.
Love is not just a word for me, because love is sacred. Just like what Jesus Christ did for us. He died on the cross just to save us from our sins yet we still disobey Him. Even though we are so disobedient He still died for us. That's what true love is! Love is patient and it will do everything for the person that he or she loves.

Books

I wonder what books I want. When I was still young, I always look at books that have attractive cover. It's like viewing the books outside appearance, and when the outside appearance is not beautiful the book is not good to read. Sometimes I also look at the title of the book. If I don't find the books title interesting, I don't like the book already. My best friend told me that it's not good to judge a book by it's cover. But I never listened to her. I keep on reading books that have attractive pictures. But I came to realized that it's not the pictures that makes the books good to read but it's the content of the book.
Everything changed when I read the Bible. I was so down at that time and there in the Bible, I found the answer to the situation that I'm in. I found the Bible so inspiring and it lifted my spirit at that time. The Bible that I read was not an attractive one. It had a brown cover and had old style of book. I found the Bible there to help me whenever I'm in my world of confusion.
Books are like treasures in our lives. We can never live without books. They are the things that gives us knowledge in things that we don't know. Now that I learned something from that experience, I now read books that are not so attractive but the content is very amazing. Even if how much we get the knowledge of the book, the treasure of the book is still there, it still remain the same. It was never taken, and the full knowledge is always ready to share its knowledge to the next reader. It's like that you get something from that particular thing but it didn't lost anything. That's one of the significance of a book.
Books are really part of our lives because they are not just things that are things. They are no ordinary things because they help us to have more knowledge in the knowledgeable world that we don't know about it. We can never learn something if we don't read a book, and if we don't even care to read it. Reading books is a good hobby because it can enhance your mind to be sharper. And even better to think faster and have more ideas to any situation. It can help us to think more wise answers to the questions and help us have good lookout of life.
You can never find a solution to a problem if you don't have enough knowledge for that particular problem. Just like the Bible, every problem that you have, the solution is there. It's a mystery how books are made, and it's very interesting to write a book. But before you can write a book, you have to read first a book to have some ideas in making books.
I always want to write a books but I don't know what to write about. I always want to have a masterpiece of my own, just like to write a book. But first I have to read more books for me to have that ambition. I hope so, someday.

All About Me

Everyone is different. I can really say that every person has different personality from the other. Being unique is a characteristic in each one of us. Everyone is special and we are fearfully an wonderfully made. No one is like us in this world. We are the only one in this world, and nothing will be like us. I, myself is also different. I have a different attitude, different personality and many more.
I just wanna tell about myself. And here's my story......
When I was still young, maybe five months old, my mother already left me. Isn't it unfair? I grew up with my father and my grandparents. I am still lucky because they love me and cared so much for me. And in return I love them also. I don't even know the story of my father and my mother. I don't know the reason why they were separated. But my grandmother told me that my mother went to Japan and worked there. When she went back here, she didn't tell them that she was returning. What she did was that she kept it as a secret. But my father found out that she is already here in the Philippines he went to fetch her at her mother's house. But she wouldn't want to go home because according to her our house is to far. When she went back to Japan and when she return again, she already had another boy with her. According to her, the boy was only her friend. Then later my father found out that my mother is committing adultery. Until now, I haven't talk with her sincerely. I don't even know her full name! Her birthday and what is she. I don't know why she left and in fairness I didn't do anything to her. My neighbors always asked me if I didn't missed my mother. I would just smile. I can't imagine for thirteen years she was not there to care for me. She didn't even mind what I am now. I'm already contented in living without her because I can do nothing about it. She already had her own family and I have mine. But my question is am I not her daughter that even to talk to me she can't do it? I don't wanna know the history of my father and mother because it only remembers me the thing that she did to me. But I'm not angry with her. If ever she would talk to me, I would. I was still young when I said to myself that I would never miss her because all my life, she's not there. But until one day, a news reached me and it really hurts!! I don't know what to say but I can say that I have to accept the truth. My mother is no longer there so I have to accept it. It's a burden in my heart because I didn't even have time to tell her that I love her even though she left me. I never had a chance to talk with her about how I feel. I never had a chance to embrace her. It's really a burden! But I have to move on. Anyway, there are lots of people who loved me. And right now I'm very close to the people usually older than me. And now, my life is this. Making everything to keep going. Sometimes past really hurts, but no matter how sad it is, it's alrealy

Reflections on Teachers and Teaching

Being a first year high school student in UP High is not that easy. There are lots of pressures, and hardships. You have to chase the time! In my elementary years, I always waste time. But now that I'm in high school, I have to make sure that no time is wasted. Even though sometimes, I am tempted to waste it.. In UP, there are lots of events. It's my first time to some of the events. I can really say that it's very enjoyable in UP. Even though there are lots of pressures, there are also lots of enjoyment.
One of the biggest event that I can't forget is our KYSD. I have already experienced teaching my classmates in the elementary years. But not the whole one hour. During my elementary years, I was only assigned to report about a certain topic of the book. Not like now in KYSD, that I discussed the whole chapter! I can't believe if I can do it! But I did! Teaching a number of students is not that easy. I was one of the teachers in Science A. Actually, I am applying for Science C, but Madame Gallo told me that it is good for me to apply in Science A. I hesitated because in Science A, it is chemistry. I told her that I can't understand chemistry very well.. But she told me that we are already in Biology. I finally agreed because I love Biology. Teaching and explaining in front of the class, not all are listening to you, is not easy. It's very uncomfortable to explain seeing someone not listening. And besides, I have to make my voice louder and have to write all the important details in the blackboard. And because you are the teacher, you have to explain very well the topic, which is hard to do. How can you explain very well if in front of you, while you're talking, they're also talking? Even though I'm trying my best to explain very well, still they can't understand because others are very noisy. I really experienced a hard time. I have realized that if it's hard to be a student in UP high, it's harder to be a teacher in UP high. Because they are the ones who are trying to do their best of the best to teach us! Even though when you look at them teaching it's just easy. But it's not! Because I myself have experienced it. And also in times of examination, we can say that they're very lucky because they are only making the test. But we have to understand that they themselves have experienced that in their school days. But even though it's very hard to teach students like me, also enjoyed teaching them. At least I have the experience, which I will never forget. Perhaps next year, I'm going to apply more subjects to teach. Hoping that next year, it will be better and the students will have more respect and good attitude towards us. And hoping that they will apply so that they can also experience.

What the Stars and the Sky Tell me about Life

Stars. For me stars are my dreams. When I'm watching the stars, it gives the determination and feelings to reach for them. For me stars are faraway and it's hard to reach. Just like my dreams, I still have to encounter lots of hardships and challenges. I know that without them, my life will not twinkle. Because I know that without my dreams, in the future my life will not twinkle. Stars are things that my heart desires. It's like that you want something but the time has not yet come for you to have it. Looking up the stars in the sky makes me wonder what would I be in the future. Stars tell me that "You have to persevere! You have to reach us!" It seems real. Looking at the stars is a way for me to reflect each event that happened in my life. It's like thinking mistakes that happened in the past and making up my mind not to repeat it again. Being a person trying to be the best that I can be. But of course stars are not only my dreams but they are also the persons that are making my life shine. Just like my love ones. They are the ones that are there whenever I need someone to talk to. I can say that stars light my night when there's no sun. Just like my love ones. They are there that serves as my light whenever I'm in darkness. The sky is telling me that life is not always a sunny day. You will always have to pass nights and darkness. Just like the sky, it will always have a day and a night. Life is not always perfect. But for me life as a Christian had a different joy in my heart. Having a different joy like that in my heart also helps me to persevere. Looking at the sky is like viewing how big it is. And its like thinking that in the future you will also have your big responsibilities. Whenever the sky has no stars, it's like the dark hours of my life. As I have said, life is not perfect. Everyday your looking for something that would make your life complete. The sky is something so mysterious. We never knew why the sky is there, why does it exists, what is it made. The question is really "why". Just like our lives, life is a mystery for us. We never knew what's going to happen next. As for me, I'm just waiting and learning on the One above. He knows what's going to happen next. As for me, we can really compare our lives in some things, where we can relate things to our lives. Just like the sky, and the stars. I can really say that its hard to overcome challenges in this life, but we have to go on. We need people and inspirations for us to survive. We need other people to help us carry the burdens of life. We need a break to have a refreshment in order to think things that are need to be settled. One way on how we can refresh is looking at the sky and the stars at night and reflecting. We have to make the best for our lives.

My Christian Life

My Christian Life is really an adventure. When I was still in grade one, every summer I always attended a "Daily Vacation Bible School ( DVBS )". Actually I grew up with a catholic family. Every summer, I never missed a DSVBS. Until now, that I'm already in high school. Last year, I am already one of the teachers. When I was still in grade five, when I attended the DVBS, that was the time that I accepted God as my personal savior. When I became one of the teachers, I never thought that God is slowly drawing me back to Him. I was really enjoying with my teaching because I thought that aside from serving God, I also enjoyed a lot. Now, when DVBS was over, all of us, teachers, had an outing. That was Saturday. The next day was Sunday, I didn't went to Cebu Christian Center Church ( C4 ). That was our church. One of my friend ask me why I didn't go to church. He said that everybody was looking for me. So, I promise that next Sunday, I will go there. So, I promise that next Sunday, I will go there. So, when Sunday came, I went there. But until there only. Ate Grace, one of my favorite teacher in DVBS, always urge me to join the Bible Study. I disregard her invitation. I didn't listen to her. My reason is that I don't know where to take my lunch.. The service every morning starts at 9:30, and will end up at 11:30 or 12:00. But there came a time that Ate Grace invited to have lunch with her at the Manila Foodshoppe. Ther are 6 of us. That was the time that I attended the Bible Study. I never forget that our first topic was Sin. I really learned a lot. I learned about salvation, I learned about what the Bible is really to us, and now powerful It is! And many more. From that time, my week is not complete whenever I missed one Bible Study. I thought that learning all those things makes me a nice Christian. But what I didn't know is that it's not yet enough. Until Ate Grace invited me to join the C4 Christmas Camp. I was so excited that I registered right away. I'm sure that I will learn lots of things in the camp. Fortunately, my parents permitted me to go. I learned more that just what I've expected. Because on December 29,2006, it is where I fully surrendered my life to God. I surrendered it to Him 100 percent. I didn't hold back anything. After realizing the sufferings and sacrifices that He did for us, offering our life to Him is not enough! After that camp my faith became stronger and my relationship with God is deeper. Now that I have surrendered m life to Him, I'm sure that I will have to face challenges, sacrifices, and sufferings. And I have given God the full control of my life. And thanks also to the one, that God sent, as an instrument. My beloved Ate Grace! I still have lots of things to face with this life..........

Being a Teenager

Being a teenager is not that understandable. Because et requires a lot of changes. I can say this because I too has been experiencing this. I could really compare the changes during my primary level, intermediate level, and now. I know that mostly teenagers parents think that their child is still a little girl or a little boy Yes, we understand that we're still young but it doesn't also mean that we think that we can be independent. We only want them to realized that we are still young but have more mature minds. Yes, we knew that we don't know all the things in this world. But we would just like to say that we're growing up! Maybe they just need adjustments because we changed. We all know that as a person grows he/she undergoes changes. We are also growing up, therefore we changed. Just like when I was still in my elementary years. I love to play and run. Especially at lunch time, I'm always running. I played a lot of games with my classmates, mostly boys! I'm a little tomboy at that time. But when I reached grade six, I no longer want to play rough games. And I'm starting to admire boys. Yes, it is what they called "crush". But when I had a crush it will only last for a few hours or maybe two to three days. Isn't it weird! I myself don't understand why. It's just suddenly there and it suddenly disappear! It's really hard to understand. You know, something that it;s like a puzzle. But maybe it's only a part of growing up. The feeling of having more time with friends, with fun. But of course all my friends that I want to be with are all Christians! Just like me! And mostly the persons that are closed to me are older than me. And I'm very closed to my teachers during my elementary years. Maybe I'm growing up now and have that target in life for me to have a good future. Now, last December 30,2006 was the last day of our Christmas Camp. And that time I saw someone. He is good-looking and also a Christian. Even though we are group mates, I haven't notice him in the last few days. I only notice him on that day because he borrowed my jacket. I thought to myself that this will soon fade away. I was suppose to have a crush on one of the fourth years. But after two days, it soon faded away. But this person I met in the camp is different. Until now, it still never faded away. But of course I'm still young. I'm only limited to that. I still have to ask for God's will. Maybe after a few more days, this will soon fade away. Maybe. All I can say is that I am no longer a child, not yet a woman, it;s just something in between. It's just the middle that has lots of things to understand. The question is usually "why". Teenagers' life is really an adventure!