alive again???

waaahh..... four months have passed... well... uhm... got a lot of experiences, happenings.. lessons and all sort...

i've been very busy... as usual... and don't have time to write here or i just forgot i have a blogspot???

well... the past months were really extraordinary...

september- we won the cheering competition during the university intramurals... that was really amazing!!! thank God for crowning our efforts with so much success... the whole college was very proud of us, although there were little controversies.. but i believe, we deserve the prize..

october- 1st semester ended. vacation grande??? nope... coz i spent more of my vacation doing and working for our final requirements... that was really exhausting... i wrote.. uhm... 17 news articles within three days... well it was a punishment coz i didn't pass even one. glad my professor still gave me a grade of 1.0 even though i already passed it late!!! haha..

november- a very memorable month...

we don't have classses anymore.. only two subjects, internship and thesis... but we don't go to school...

we went to Subic for the 20th advertising congress.. we were student volunteers there... that was tiring but it was really fun and exciting!!! you know, dealing with famous names in the advertising and marketing industry.. interacting with known people, the elites and the socialites... meeting new friends... and of course, visiting a very solemn and beautiful place (which i happened to visit 11 years ago...) that was all worth it...

and now... i'm on my OJT at the Manila Standard... still looking for another one to spend the half of 200 hours...

and now, there are 18 days to go before christmas... sort of planning for christmas parties... when and where are we going to spend it... but i hope on december 25... i'm at our house at the province spending the yuletide season with my family...

experience: the best teacher!

vacation grande....

hmmm... should i say "i'm thankful because we don't have classes for six consecutive days?" or "i'm thankful because we escaped the midterms that we were supposed to take?"

honestly, i'm truly grateful because classes were suspended yesterday and i got enough time to sleep... we were on the shooting of lastikman last thursday. we were dancing there, acting a little bit... too tiring! the foods were, uhm... i don't like it anyway but since we were hungry, we have no choice but to eat it. we already finished at almost 6 in the morning and i got home at 7... oh my God... i was really tired and sleepy yesterday. and if ever there were classes, i could not manage to attend not only because i was too tired, but i did not study for our exam and i could not take it if i got a low score...

well... i just realized that it's too hard really, to earn money... yaah! we were paid... not enough for what we did... or perhaps for production staffs, it is...since we were just there dancing, acting like back ups, and all that... but for newcomers like us, the job was difficult.. some of us worried because we thought that the shooting will only be until afternoon. we did not expect that it will last until friday morning...

but then, it was an experience... dealing with some artists like vhong, iya, roxanne, jake, vanna and the directors and staffs of lastikman... it doesn't happen everytime. it was an oppurtunity. vhong was there teaching us the stunts he knows and how to execute it the right way. iya was also there cracking jokes and vanna was talking to us asking for the steps (because she was abpout to act as the squad captain)...it's nice knowing that people who are famous like them deal with just ordinaries like us... i consider it as a privelege because not everybody were given the chance to experience that. well, i'm not into idolizing those people, and i'm not a fan too.

however, what we've done is something to be treasured because it will be helpful in the future...

long silence

how about a month not writing on my blog spot?

weird....

I've been so, so busy this past few weeks... sort of having an everyday training and practice of routines for the upcoming cheering competition...

kinda working on news articles for our newspaper...

but the funny thing is, I'm not doing my school works that are already piled up...

there are lots of homeworks- news articles that i need to write, but i'm not working with it...

i just ignore them and think that i can finish or do it once i find a time... like today, (since there are no classes because of the typhoon.)

sometimes, i was so beleaguered by many things and i don't know what will i prioritize... perhaps, my classmates and even my friends are thinking why i commit and commit but don't work on my acads....

maybe, they get annoyed with me when i tell stories that i find it difficult to deal with things or to balance them... and when there are group works, i complain and tell them that i'm too busy so better not give me a hard job 'coz i can't do it or finish it either...

well... i am just assuming that they do... but i hope, they don't...

sometimes, we find it difficult to tell people why are we doing such things. better be silent or just show them you are happy and contented with what you are doing...

i find pleasure when i'm busy... it gives me a lot of satisfaction and it makes me forget lonely moments that i must not think of...

not this time...

"siguro nga ito ang unang sulat dito na tatagalugin ko...
ngunit ito ay may dahilan...
may malalim na kahulugan..."

minsan iniisip mong wala na ang lahat. marami kang ginagawa. aral. praktis. sulat. wala ka ng oras para isipin pa ang mga bagay-bagay... ngunit sa kabila nito, may mga pagkakataon pa rin na kung saan hindi mo maiiwasang mag-isip. hindi lang ng mga tungkol sa paaralan. ngunit sa iba pang dimensyon ng iyong buhay. sa kailaliman ng iyong puso...

kagabi....

oo nga... kagabi, kung saan ang isipan ko'y binalot ng mga alaala. ang utak ay punung-puno ng tanong. mga katanungan na kahit saang lupalop ng mundo mo hanapin ay hindi mo malalaman ang sagot... pagod man ang katawan sa maghapong pagsayaw, ngunit mas lalong napapagod ang puso at utak na ginugulo lamang ng isang pangalan...

hindi sapat na gawin ang lahat ng maaring gawin para hindi sya maalala. ngunit sa aking paghiga, ang mga matang ito'y di maipikit kahit pa pilitin. ang utak ay lumilipad sa lugar kung saan siyay naroon. nag-iisip. naluluha. ngunit walang magawa.

"bakit kung kailan nakakalimutan mong isipin ang isang tao, saka naman sya magbabalik sa buhay mo?"

nakakapagod. ngunit bakit ganon? alam mo ng nasasaktan ka, pero tuloy ka pa rin? dahil ba dun ka masaya? kahit alam mong ni minsan ay di nya pinaramdam na mahalaga ka?

sa simpleng salita napapangiti ka? ngunit sapat na ba ito para magpatuloy ka?

kung maaari lang humiling na sana'y bumilis ang panahon para malaman kung anong mangyayari sa hinaharap...
kung maaari ko lang sanang mabasa kung ano ang iniisip nya...
kung maaari lang sanang sabihin sa kanya...
kung maaari lang sanang mangyari ang lahat ng ito...

busy.... busyhan...

4th year days so tiring.... waaaahhhhh.... i really don't know what to do.... kinda busy.....

i have a report tomorrow... I'm not ready yet... no visuals, and i haven't read anything about it...

i still have an assignment to work with...

i need to write more than five articles... am not sure but i think it's more than five... and i'm not in the mood to write even one... don't have any facts so, how will i write??? hmmmm....

sometimes, i think that I'm so irresponsible for not taking things so seriously.. i envy my friends. they always have assignments. they always have projects. they always do what our professors tell us to do... they always beat the deadline. but me, well... i always set things aside. easy easy often... not thinking of the consequences for my laziness...

i can't manage my time. and again, i don't know why... i'm always busy but i don't know if i will benefit for what i am doing...

i go to school every morning even if our class is still on the afternoon. and i always go home late.. i don't have time to unwind... don't have time for bonding with my high school friends... dont have time for myself... don't have enough sleep...

but......

this afternoon, we released our newspaper... we gained good feedbacks for a job well done... and most, our dean congratulated us....

sometimes, even if you experience all those things... hardships... lonely moments... sleepless nights... you always reap a very good harvest... and that's what i got... what we got...

for all our endeavors... for always being busy, ignoring all the assignments and projects... we achieve something... and it's worth a million achievement for making every students informed... for sharing what you know... and for making our professors so proud of us...

non sense...

Forgot I have a blog…. I was just reminded coz I’ve read “his” blog.. yahh… “HIS” blog… Waah… don’t know what to write. Just filling out the so many days I haven’t visit my site. Kinda busy this past few days. Enrollment, seminars, line up of reading materials… too many works to do… vacation is about to end and I’m still here taking all the time and wasting it by sleeping half the day…

Am stuck up in the house. Feeling like my brain was rusted. For two months, felt like I haven’t done anything productive or anything that would contribute to my knowledge. Classes are about to start and everything would seem new again… whoa!!!! Am fourth year already… my last year in college… sort of excited for graduation but a bit frightened to what will happen next… thesis… thesis… how are we going to survive..??? Wish I could click the time and then graduation…. Whooooo!!!!!

Really, I am not in the mood to write anything with sense. Next time perhaps…. And don’t know…when will be that “next time.”

worth a thousand words...

it's kinda boring staying at your house the whole day, really. and to somehow lessen it, i took my photo albums and looked at our pictures back in high school.
yeah... it's still the feeling everytime i look at those pics showing our funny moments. the places we went, the events we participated, trip-trip lang pics, barkada bonding, class pics- all of those remind me of how hard yet happy high school life is. those pictures relive every moments and it makes me feel sad when i think that we can never experience all of those again. my classmates and friends are too busy, they are far, they can't come, sort of reasons that will always hamper our plans of getting together, and it's hard. the only hope you have is to think that one day in the future, you will have time to see and talk with each other, remember all the memories you've done before, share the hardships and difficulties you've been through and brag what you have attained. it's kinda funny thinking of it. yet, it somehow excites me and challenges me to do everything i can so that if someday, we had an opportunity to meet, i can be proud of what i have achieved. hopeful... hopeful... hehe...
well... i miss them, really!! there are times when i see them in my dreams. we were happy, we were complete, we laugh and then we hug. they seem so true, yet when i wake up, they're gone. how sad...
how i wish fate would lead us to a point where our paths would cross again. like before, when we were still together. i miss them so much!! know why?? coz being with them for 11 years, and after that you'll never see them everytime like before, makes you feel so empty... so lost...

love high school!!!

Attending events make us feel good, especially when we meet people close to our hearts. People whom you only see in rare times. Last time, I attended an event and I saw my former teachers there. They asked me “how am I,” “how’s my studies going on,” “how’s my other friends,” sort of things. They said time is too quick and we will be graduating next year. I can sense the feeling of happiness on their part knowing that their students, whom they taught and trained, will soon reach that point. And I know they are proud. Teachers are truly part of the students’ lives and seeing them succeed is a much more success for them.

On the other part, I saw my Alma Mater School too. Well, we sometimes visit it during sembreaks, but seeing it now is an odd feeling for me. There are lots of changes. Even the teachers, the policies, etc. As I look at it from afar, I clearly remember all the memories and it is so saddening that I can’t experience all of them again. Only memories are left, that’s why I really treasure all of them even the simplest moment. That was my school and that was my second home. Where I grew up and where I started my dreams… It hurts when someone says something against our teachers, or in our school, and to my classmates as well. I remember, somebody told me that our batch our BRAGGARTS and CHEATERS. I can’t blame him because it’s his own view about us. It just hurt a bit knowing that he is my schoolmate and friend too (it is if he considers me as his friend). And this issue ends here…

Truly, high school life is the best! It may not be for others, but for me, it’s a YES! Of course, college life is great too… having good friends and nice professors, meeting people with different attitudes. But, nothing beats high school…

how i wish

2006 Bar topnotchers
Noel Neil Q. Malimba of the University of the Cordilleras
Deborah S. Acosta (UP)
Ricardo M. Pilares III (Ateneo de Manila)
Erika Ana Andrea C. Jimenez (Ateneo)
Maria Charizza B. Carlos (Ateneo)
Gina Lyn R. Rubio (Far Eastern University)
Anjuli Larla A. Tan (Romualdez Educational Foundation)
Karen H. Gaviola (University of San Carlos)
Al-shwaid L. Ismael (University of Cebu)
Timothy Joseph M. Mendoza (UP) and
Alain Charles J. Veloso (UP)

Of the 6,187 who took the exam (the largest batch ever), 30.60 percent passed.

I wish someday, I can be one of them…




Source: http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view_article.php?article_id=60477

lawyers wannabe...

to those who are aiming to become lawyers someday... please read this...
this was a blog written by LANBER J. DAсs and charissa m. luci, entitled "The making of a Filipino lawyer "
i read this while searching the 2006 bar topnotchers... hehe... may you, like me, be inspired by their words....
passing the bar is like being able to climb the highest mountain or being able to stand up in the face of a gargantuan tempest. the passing percentages of barristers have not been high ever since the inception of the bar exams in 1901. the highest bar exam percentage has been in 1981 with a sensational 43 percent passers. though the rate is impressive, the fatalities are still too numerous. the question is, why does the philippines has a very low passing percentage in the bar exam? is it because of the quality of the law schools or is it the quality of the students that is dipping? the life of a law studentif you are a graduate of a four-year course, you can automatically be eligible to apply for law school as long as you pass the qualifying exams and the interview. most of the time the qualifying exam for law schools consists of reading comprehension, this means that you need to have a combination of good analytical aptitude and a good command of english. as of the present, the language used in law schools is english, sometimes professors will add bonus points just because your answer to the questions is grammatically sound.now, except for some law schools, the entrance exam is not the hardest challenge for most students. rather, surviving in the school is the major goal. you may be able to pass the entrance exam but the school will do everything to filter out the deserving from those who are not.every year, you will never fail to see a scene during enrollment. when it is time to get your grades, mostly you will see some students hold back tears, sometimes they let out the sorrow and cry when they learn that their clearance has the red stamp with "debarred?? spelled out in bold. on the other side of the fence, you will see other students giving out a sigh of relief, others immediately run away from the scene to celebrate their acceptance for yet another semester.some students who are enrolled in law have not ever failed a subject before in their whole life. the scene is somewhat pathetic if you see a student cry over one subject that he or she failed while you have a couple of 5.0s in your class card. clearly, this only indicates that law school is not college, it is head and shoulders tougher.some of those who fail put the blame on some nasty professor whom they can?t adapt to. some just accept that they had not studied very well on the exam. some will try to figure a way to continue their studies, while some reject the notion of ever going back.a law student needs to read. for them life is all about reading law books as much as they can. for example, a student may only read the book of atty. ernesto pineda regarding the family code of the philippines.most of the time this is not enough in recitations, so the student reads everything he can get his hands on regarding the subject, including reading and memorizing a landmark case about a particular article.now, there are professors who give out insane amounts of cases for daily reading. if you have a class with that professor every other day, forget sleep. you will spend your night burning the midnight oil just so you can digest 20-30 cases for recitation the next day. the hard part is ? you still need to study for your other classes, so forget lunch, dinner, and c.r. breaks.one problem of a law student is how to stay up late at night to study, probably the best friend of a law student is coffee, but if you are a choosy fellow, you can opt for red bull, the official energy drink of law students. you can also stay up late armed only with a pack of cigarette, your law books, and a file cabinet full of photocopied cases. suffice it to say, it must be stressed that law school is not college anymore.if you want to be a law student, expect to decline on almost every conceivable party your yuppie friends invites you to. they don?t care about your studies, in fact most of them have the misconception that law school is just like college. but if you are a law student, you know that your time is best served by reading, memorizing and digesting cases. the fact is, not many party animals graduate in law.the serious pupil knows when to pick up the books and when to relax. this is never easy for working students, as they have to divide their time between school and work. just imagine ? a full time student can fail in a lot of subjects, that?s with full time studying.the working student on the other hand can?t even fit study time in one day. don?t get me wrong, i am not making martyrs out of working students, admirable some of them may be. there are still leech-like working students who photocopies the case digests of classmates so they can answer in recitations. some call them resourceful, maybe, but they?re more of a user type in everyday standards. that?s not even the worst case of leeching, as some full-time students can su*k dry their classmates resources without them lifting a finger to find cases in the library. this only illustrates the broad survival skills that you need to develop when you become a law student.the bar exam the bar examination started in the philippines on 1901 with 13 examinees, the language still used then was spanish. in the 1913 pre-war era, manuel roxas of the university of the philippines got the top rank with a score of 92 percent. during the war on 1944, jovito salonga of up got top honors along with jose diokno both garnering 95.3 percent. in 1954 the highest grade obtained in the bar was achieved by florenz d. regalado of the san beda college with a total of 96.7 percent.in the history of the bar exams the highest recorded passing rate was in 1981?setting a huge 43 percent passing benchmark. after this phenomenal passing ratio, the rate of passing has never gone up past 43 percent, but in 1998 the passing rate of 39.63 percent was recorded as the second best rank, though still below the 43 mark. in a surprising turn of events, after setting the second best record in 1998, 1999 has set the lowest record in bar exams history, setting a dismal 16.59 percent passing rate.

here's my song

I remember, last December 2006, yeah, before Christmas, typhoon Reming hit our province and caused a three-week black out. I had nothing to do then. No TV, no radio (thanks a lot it’s very cold and we don’t need electric fan), cellphones always low batt! No unlimited texting that time.


I was in a lonely state then, and to somehow lessen it, I borrowed my cousin’s guitar and made this song…

Hiling
A E
Ang yong tinig ay narinig
C#m D
Sa dako kung saa’y wala naman doon
A E
Ang anino mo’y sumusunod
C#m D
Ginugulo ang aking isipan

Ref:
C#m D
Alaala na lang ang naiwan
C#m E
Tadhana’y sadyang pinaglalayo

Chorus:
A E
Ang tanging hiling ng puso ay
C#m D
Makita ka kahit saglit
A E
Subalit kahit panaginip
C#m D
Ikaw ay pinagkakait
A E
Isang awitin na lamang ang
C#m D
Sana’y makarating
C#m E
Kung saan ikaw’y naroon
C#m
At ito’y maririnig mo
D
At malalaman ang nais ng puso

A Em
Lumilipad sa kawalan
Ang isip kong ikaw ang laman
A Em
Tila hanging nagdadala
C#m D
Sa aking kalungkutan

(Ref. then Chorus)

Bridge:
C#m D
Kahit isa man lang pagkakataon
C#m
Sana’y makita kang muli
D E
Kahit di makausap
C#m D-E
Ito ang tanging hiling…

-----

Hope you understand its message!!!

hopeful

I hope this will be the last. But it won’t. I wish this is the end. But it’s not.

It happened not only once, and not only twice. It always happens every time. I was immune of this feeling. But there’s nothing I could do. Only to fall and love again.

It wasn’t what I wanted. Yet this heart keeps on beating and no matter how hard I tried, it’s still him that I’m always thinking of.

He’s with another woman. He loves her. SHE is different, she’s beautiful, and she’s intelligent. That’s how he describes her. And I’m just here listening to what he says. Hoping that someday, it would be me whom he is telling and whom he is with every now and then. Whom he often thinks, whom he cares. It’s painful, really. Yet acceptance is the only way I can do.

It’s hard letting someone know what you feel. But nothing is harder than keeping it with you. You can’t help but just listen to his stories and agree to what he says. You can’t tell him what you feel. It will just be useless. He may avoid you. He may feel bad about you. You may loose the friendship you built for some time. That’s why I can’t.

I HOPE THIS WILL BE THE LAST. The last time I would fall… but it won’t!

i wish this is the end. End of heartaches, end of pain. End of desperation to someone who will never be mine. BUT IT”S NOT!

Here I am again, writing down what I feel. Hoping that someday he can read this. He may never understand. He may never know he’s the one. Uncertain I am, but I hope he will.

welcome to Puerto Galera!

We went to puerto galera last sunday, that was april 22. After five years, I reached that beautiful place again... same scenery. Nothing changed. It’s still a paradise.

Even if we are living here in mindoro, we rarely find time to go there, primarily because it's far. It would take about two and a half hours of travel from our house. It’s far really and you need to trudge a rough and winding road before you reach the place. It’s like you're traveling to Baguio. But once you reached the place, wow!!! That’s the only word you can say.

The blue color of water in the beach, the white sand, the mountainous place… what a creation! There are lots of tourists there, which are mostly Americans and Manileňos. There are many people there who are truly “negosiantes.” Tiangge everywhere! Shirts, blouses, and shorts printed with Puerto Galera, all sort, name it, and it’s available…Hena tattoo for P100. Hair braid for P200. Cottage, P1500. Every products and services cost double of the true price. Well, it’s a tourist spot, and that explains it all.

But, having been to puerto would make you feel proud that once in your life, you saw a beautiful creation of God. You will also experience a soothing feeling that you wouldn’t feel when you are just staying at your home. Nothing beats the feeling of being in one place while relaxing, seeing and appreciating nature.

there'll always be chances...

studying is genuinely hard -putting up all your priorities, setting aside those things that would interfere your studies, coping with the different attitudes of people you encounter and meet everyday, and all sort. and for almost 14 years of studying, I've been through such kind of difficulties. there are times when I wanna give up, but there are lot more times when tears would just flow from my eyes because I can't do something. so sad. but as always, triumphs would always come after defeats...

so many words for introduction... but, here's the true story...

since elementary, I used to belong in the cream of the crop. i used to be one of the honor students of the class, not to brag of. i maybe not that an achiever compared to my brothers and sister -in terms of medals, trophies, plaques and certificates they've received. i envy them for being math wizards, musicians, and awardees of different awards. i envy them because students and teachers know them for the honor they brought to our former school. and i envy them because i don't excel that much in their fields, and i haven't received many awards like them, and i was being compared at times.

well, it may hurt a bit but thinking of the little achievements i received is enough for me to be proud of myself, though it is just nothing compared to what others have achieved. and this is the reason why i'm pursuing hard now in college. i joined different orgs, joined some contests and grabbed any opportunities. it gave me satisfaction and happiness. but, fate will not give it to you at all. when i was in first year, i was given a grade of 3.0 in history [many of my classmates were also given the same grade]. and, having a 3.0 means that you can not be qualified to be a cum laude anymore. DISQUALIFIED. unfortunately, i was one. that time, i realized how wronh i was for taking things easily and i regret, for i know that i don't deserve the grade. history was one of my favorite subjects back in high school and i didn't think that History would be the stumbling block in my dream of graduating with honors. waah!!! i can't be a cum laude anymore, and why would i still continue to strive hard right? hah! that was the wrong thinking i had before. but then, i can't barely leave what i have learned to do-to study... so, i just did. luckily, for the small efforts i exerted, i became dean's lister, president's lister, and scholar of course. last recognition day, medals and certificates were given to the college's TOP SCHOLARS and i was truly proud i'm one. i was very happy then. not only for what i have received, but also for seeing my classmates and friends happy. i was also glad that many of us received that award and it made me happy more that what we gained would earn points for us in our aim to become the MOST OUTSTANDING CLASS OF THE YEAR next year. thanks a lot to my proffesors, classmates, friends, super friends, tribu and inspiration-if there is- for making my 3rd year life happy and complete, hehe...

truly, when God closes a door, He opens a window. we may not reach everything we want. we may not have anything we like. but, God will always provide and give what is best for us, of course, in the right time. he will always crown our efforts with success...

VOTE FOR CHANGE!!!

The Philippines as of now is in the utmost condition of sinking. Just riding on a jeepney from one place to another would slap you the reality of what the country is at present. See how people live in condominium-like houses under the bridges. See how others build their homes near the “riles,” while few consider their caritons as houses. See the beggars and some children sleeping in sidewalks waiting for another morning of working whole day begging alms. This scenario reveals that poverty is genuinely in the worsening state. Because of that, many Filipinos as of now are giving up their hopes that this country could still move on, the reason why they prefer to go abroad and look for opportunities there. It is ironic that many of us go outside the country because of indigence, while foreigners do come here to become rich.
The blame should be put not only to the government perse. There are some people who, because of negligence and ignorance let the officials who are now governing this country, to grasp for power. Those people who, chose the corrupt people to be there. Those who allowed themselves to be fooled in exchange of money. And those who permitted the cheaters and liars to have a seat in the government.
How would this country shift to what you call progress when there are some people who allow these things to happen?
Youths are believed to be the potent agent of change. And they should be the prime movers and the first to initiate that change. But, how this could happen when out of the 100%, half of it is not aware of what is the present state of this country. Some do not even care to know about it, thinking that they could do nothing, so they just sit down and stay calm. Just go with the flow, never knowing that this country would suffer more and become weaker and weaker until it slides down. Those youths who, without hesitations would rather migrate to other countries and leave the Philippines for good.
The other half however is the youths who never surrender and continuously strive for the betterment of this country. Youths who firmly believe that this nation could still stand in the midst of the tragic situation it faces. They are the concerned citizens who will incessantly struggle until this country would be placed on the right track. But how would these reveries be achieved when only half of the hope of the motherland do the right thing? How will the Philippines be redeemed in its weakening state?
The vision is far from reality when many Filipinos would just be apathetic. There is no other way than uniting and joining hands in order to unsheathe this country from the deep mud where it was soaked. And as youths, being considered as the only hope of this country, we should be the first to move. We should serve as the leaders of change. And for us to do that, we should select the person who is willing to serve the people and this country, and not the one who barely wants to get elected for personal purposes only.
Now, election is near. Once again, the candidates or the people who longs for power would appeal to your emotions to get your votes. Their faces, their achievements and awards, or any recognition they attained will be rampant on posters, newspapers, and television and radio advertisements that would probably permeate your minds. You will be deafened by the constant hearing of voices promising you something if you give them your vote. You will probably be allured by their beautiful and handsome faces and be admired by their brilliant minds. But then again, you should use your brain. The country’s hope is in our hands. We should vote not for popularity, not because of familiarity or personality. Vote the people who could uplift the country. We were cheated and fooled once, and we should not allow anybody again to hamper our rights. We should not let our country be governed by corrupt officials. Do not allow that there’ll be many more Filipinos who will live under the bridges, in squatters, or in sidewalks. The Philippines needs good leaders. Not liars, not burglars. The country depends on every name you will write on your ballots. Every vote counts, so choose the best one. Because only through our votes, our wants will be heard, and that’s the only way we can be heard. Show them that you are a youth who really is concerned in this country. Prove to them that you are truly the hope of the motherland.

the first time i heard "wow..."

Looking back to my last year in high school, I wasn’t really sure what course I would take. But fate intervened and led my feet to the point where I am now. Doubts hindered me first, but since I don’t have any choice, I decided to take up Bachelor in Journalism. I do love writing and that was the very first reason why I chose it. Yet, I wasn’t aware that choosing this career would cause others to ask questions, questions that sometimes make me lose hope.
Every time they ask me of my course, they would just politely nod or out rightly ask why. And I, on the other hand would just remain tongue-tied, for I know, even if I speak, they would not understand. Better if you don’t talk so you would hear nothing.
However, there came a time when those questions bothered me. And I was brought to the edge of thinking whether I will still continue or shift to another course. I was really discourage by the negative words coming from other people saying that it’ll be hard for me to look for a job once I graduated. They also say that you can’t earn money with such kind of work. And that, journalists at present are being killed with or without reasons. But still, I tightened my grip and told myself that I can do it no matter what.
I must admit, I feel a mixture of fear and hate whenever I hear such words. Fear because it is true that journalists’ life is always at risk and mine would be placed in trouble as well if I will become one of them. Hate because why would they discourage me when it is my choice? And it is what I want. Not because of the power that the press has but because I firmly believe that journalists can do something to save the country’s weakening state. To expose and propagate the truth and let the people know everything good or bad, through writing.
That was the real reason why I still continue pursuing this career. And it made me more inspired when somebody asked me one time what my course is, and when I answered “Journalism po,” he burst out with a “WOW!” I saw in his face that he was genuinely proud of me. And I was filled with so much gladness for hearing that word for the first time.
With all hopes and determination, I am now here waiting for another year-my last year in college. Though this will not be the end, I am very glad that in the three years that passed, I experienced interacting and interviewing different people- celebrities, politicians and ordinary men. I also reached different places when we are assigned on beats or asked to cover a certain event. I learned more about the media and its present condition. And I am truly proud that I belong to the few who experience those.
Despite all the hardships in pursuing goals, we need to endure it and believe that we can reach it. There might be challenges and difficulties but we should remember that it would take much time and effort for a person to achieve all his dreams. In the cycle of life, triumphs and defeats would always come around. With all of these, only a heart filled with enthusiasm and a person who is truly determined will live on and win in the battles of life.