Greatest Academic Fall

Second Grading Period of School Year 2013-2014

Honestly, my greatest "Academic Fall" happened this grading period because of the two consecutive weeks I didn't attend classes just to prepare for the greatest highlight of the Science Month Celebration, the Search for Ginoo at Binibining Kalikasan 2013. But it's no big deal. I enjoyed it much though. From the planning, to the preparation, to the event itself. All was fun, fun, fun. :) All of our activities during the Science and Technology Month was successful and that makes all the effort worth it.

But although I had fun, I still got a lot of lessons missed. I also feel out of the world during class discussions because of that. I've learned that next time, I need to find time for academics even if I am busy Science Clubbing. The essence of Time Management. :) I definitely know what to do next time. :)

My Teacher. My Hero

He who wishes to teach us a truth should not tell it to us, but simply suggest it with a brief gesture, a gesture which starts an ideal trajectory in the air along which we glide until we find ourselves at the feet of the new truth.

-          José Ortega y Gasset (1883 - 1955)

They say that teaching is the most noble profession and that’s something undebatable. Because of teachers, we have the existence of the professionals like lawyers, doctors, engineers, accountants, architects and many others. Without them, we could be nothing.

Teachers have sacrificed much in order for us to learn something. We students are like seeds and our teachers are comparable to water. Each passing day, they water us using adequate amounts of essential knowledge that we may use everyday. Teachers mold us to be the people we are destined to be. They guide us through the right paths and they make sure that what they do is for our benefit and not theirs. They prepare us for the bright future ahead of us. That is the role of teachers in the community: Educating people. Making leaders.

NATUREADY: Unravel the Causes. Build the Solution. Empower Science Clubbers Into Action.

Nature was once a paradise. The former proverbial heaven on earth. It is then considered as one of man’s best gifts from God because of the vast vegetation, various kinds of species (either perceptible or not) roam around and migrate from one place to another, everything we need in order to survive is here. Everything was in equilibrium not until man’s greed disturbed nature’s balance. We destroyed earth and earth’s future state depends on us and us alone.

Take a glance around you, what do you perceive? In cities, loud roars of roving vehicles, black foul-odored smoke emitted by cars and other modes of land transportation, polluted bodies of water, tons of rubbish scattered down urban streets. All of these are caused by man’s negligence and ignorance. They are all caused by OUR wrong doings. We brought forth too much sufferings to Mother Earth and now is the time for her sweet mode of revenge. Natural calamities destructed the livelihood of people causing millions, billions or even trillions of the cost in infrastructural and agricultural damage and even killing thousands of people. Nature, itself, is making its own way to make us realize that we are in the cataract of ruin. Will we wait for further catastrophic events? Or shall we make a move before it’s too late? They say that the youth holds the key to the future of the nation and student empowerment is one of the possible ways out. If we hand-in-hand help each other, we can build an eco-friendly nation and in that way, we may not be bothered by such natural disturbances.

Every person has to make a move. A move that would change the present state of Earth. A single move that could encourage the nation to make a stand for nature. A stand for the gradual improvement and retainment of the original natural equilibrium.

The Modernized Saving Grace

“Omniscient, wandering about without a home, crossing the flood, wise, and of an unlimited perception, without an equal, he shines forth like the sun, and he illumines the darkness like a brilliant fire.”

-          Praise of the Great Hero

Heroes are like ghosts.

You want to know why?

Heroes are like ghosts because as we all know, ghosts and other paranormal creatures are always around us, the only thing is we fail to discern them. Heroes are sometimes in disguise. You don’t really need to die or get fatally injured just to earn the title “HERO”, you can be a hero in your simple kind of way.

Well, my modern-day hero is my bestfriend. Hero, saving grace, knight in shining armor, savior, in general, that’s him. Before, he was like a very unconvincing and unnoticeable character in my story. Life began to shake me out of the safe zone then that was the time he appeared, like a deus ex machina, and helped me get over with the problems I am encountering. He was never a perfect person in the eyes of many. He was criticized, bullied and unaccepted by the society but he never had the guts to fight back. He let those judgements fall off his shoulders one by one. He may be is imperfect but these imperfections make him unique. He is what I call my hero, someone who is brave, has great courage and has a very strong character.

One Language. One Nation.

Language...
Every nation has its own distinct language. A language that is considered "one-of-a-kind." A language that describes the citizens belonging to that certain nation. A language that serves as the soul of the race it symbolizes. People consider language as a trademark of a certain place. A mark that we are genuine citizens of a specific country.

The Philippines has indeed a very diverse culture. Different ethnic groups have arisen. Along with the arousal of such groups, the formulation and usage of their own dialect has also arisen. That is probably the reason behind the existence of indigenous dialects like Iloko, Cebuano, Ilonggo, Pangasinense and the others. Past colonialization has also left a mark in the Philippine history. Due to the lengthy reigning period of the Spaniards, languages of some places were influenced by them like for example, Iloko dialect by the native Ilocanos and Chavacano by some parts of Mindanao and Visayas. And through modernization, the Philippines has developed a connection to other parts of the world paving a way for the entry of foreign languages like Japanese, Korean, Chinese, French and others.

The annual celebration of the Buwan ng Wika (every month of August) makes us remember that amidst the new language, there is still one language that we Filipinos must patriotically love and use. We are considered lucky to have a language we can call our own. Let us bear in mind that we are Filipinos. Not Japanese or Korean or French. Pure-hearted Filipinos. And Filipinos are united by one language. One language that could shape the nation.

Philippines Under Aquino Presidency: Is There A Change?

State of the Nation Address or SONA. It is an annual statement of the accomplishments of the reigning president which takes place every 4th Monday of July every year. The most recent SONA of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III happened last July 22, 2013 but after 3 years of presidency, is there really a change? Or there is really a change/changes but we the citizens have failed to discern it/them.

He has many plans in the field of education, agriculture, infrastructure construction and many more but the only question is, will all or most of this be put into concrete actions? He was famous for the line "Tuwid na Daan" but is this realized? Recently, a survey showed a list of the most corrupt government agencies and did he make a move about this? Well, most probably no. Another thing, the implementation of K-12 curriculum. Maybe that is the best legacy that he'll leave before he will end his term on 2016. He had many plans when he was uttering his speech during his campaign while he was running for presidency. Now, he is already halfway his term but in my opinion, his accomplishments are two miles away before reaching the half of the things he promised during the campaign. He has still 3 years to prove that he is worth his current position. 3 years more to make noteworthy legacies which will leave an imprint in our history. 3 years more to make each and every Filipino comprehend that there is really a change during the reign of his excellency, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III. 3 years to mark on the Philippine History that there was a dramatic increase in our progress during the Aquino Presidency.

A Stand for Malnutrition and Starvation

"Life is nothing but languor and an image of death.
 Life is not life without proper health."

This excerpt was stated by one of the famous classical essayists during his time and I agree that his idea about life as an "image of death and fatigue" without health is veracious. The possession of proper health by each citizen is one of the goals of the Department of Health and that is probably the reason why they decided to conduct the Nutrition Month which is celebrated every month of July. This month's theme is, "Gutom at Malnutrition, Sama-sama Nating Wakasan".

Poverty has long-stricken our land and its pressing off shots are STARVATION and MALNUTRITION. These off shots greatly affect people resulting to the arousal of certain diseases on fully grown people and syndromes or abnormalities on developing fetuses. Think of the situation of the citizens in Sumatra. Most of the population is greatly suffering from famine. A survey has also shown that collected spare food from fast food chains for a matter of 2-6 days would be enough to feed the starving people of Africa. Can't you imagine how big the percentage covered by those suffering from famine is? We, citizens of the Philippines, are lucky enough that our country is one of the countries that experience temperate climate and that makes the cultivation of vegetables and fruits easier.

Fruits and vegetables are the most inexpensive solutions to these pressing problems since they are abundant in the country. Yes. They are indeed inexpensive but look at their benefits. Each have high nutrient contents which are very substantial to us. Through these, we can be able to make a stand against Malnutrition and Starvation.

GUTOM AT MALNUTRITION, SAMA-SAMA NATING WAKASAN! 

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III
Republic of the Philippines
Malacañang Palace

Mr. Aquino:

Greetings of peace Sir!
I am Learizza Faye G. Paat and I'm a senior student of Ilocos Sur National High School situated at Vigan City, Ilocos Sur and it is indeed a privilege to have an opportunity to write to you Sir. I, on behalf of the whole studentry of the said school, am here to express our thoughts and insights about the way you preside the government of this country.

We all want to have an economically rich country so due to that desire, there is a gradual increase in the prices in the daily commodities plus the additional VAT or Value Added Tax on the supplies. but since majority of the Philippine population is undergoing poverty, they find it hard to supply themselves their everyday needs. I know that you are knowledgeable on this matter Sir but it seems that the cries of the Filipino people enter on one ear and comes out at the other. It has been almost 3 years of  your term in the presidency but our nation's progress didn't increase at all. Different bills have become laws but do this cause advancement in the lives of our people? As a mediocre student, I would like to suggest that the Value Added Tax must be removed and a salary increase of  government employees of at least 30% must be proposed to fit the needs of the people. Full scholarships must also be given to the children of the poverty state. Prices of commodities must also be decreased to suit the lifestyle of people. These things may not be pains in the butt but they are the solutions to the problems on poverty. The results may not be visible by now but sometime in the future, I know that our country will escape from poverty and corruption.

I hope that this request of ours will reach your office Sir. Thank you for the time and God bless and more power to you Sir.

Respectfully yours,
Learizza Faye Paat