The Know Your School Day 2007 was a great success to us UPians. The Know Your School Day is an annual activity in the UP High School in Cebu where the students can experience how it feels to be a teacher, a clerk, a principal, assistant principal, and others.
This school year, I did not apply for any position in the Know Your School Day activity. I just sat down on my chair doing the casual thing as a student. As a student, I must listen to our teacher’s discussions. There were times that my eyelids are drooping down but I managed to be awake. I listened quite well because a student lecturing his or her classmates does not happen everyday. It happens only once or twice in a year and it only happens during Know Your School Day. If there were questions regarding our lessons, we can question our student teacher in a more casual way. For me, it was more or less the same feeling because I was still a student not like my other classmates that had a “change” from a student to a teacher. But I also know how it feels like to be standing in front of the class lecturing classmates.
When I was a junior student, I was a student teacher in trigonometry. I also experienced to be a student teacher in geometry when I was a sophomore. Using my experiences as my bases, I can say that the Know Your School Day activity is beneficial to us students who act as teachers. It enables us (the student teachers) to practice responsibility. Having been a student teacher, I realized that being a teacher is not so easy. You feel the pressure on you. You must not just recite some formulas and equations but you must also see to it that the students will get to understand what you are saying. You need to explain and elaborate some points that may seem hard to be understood by your students. When I was a student teacher, I realized that teaching is one of the best professions. It is one of the best in the sense that in teaching, you give what you have, and you share what you have. You cannot give something to someone if you do not have that something in the first place. Teaching also taught me on how to be patient and considerate. It taught me patience because since unnecessary noise cannot be avoided during our classes, I must be patient in handling their behavior. It taught me how to be considerate because when we checked our seat works, most of the errors of my students (my classmates) were just on rounding off numbers (I taught on Geometry and Trigonometry subjects). After teaching, I told myself that teaching is not an easy thing to do.
I am so thankful to the one who proposed this activity. We were given a chance to cultivate our being responsible. It also made us students understand the things the teachers do to us for the betterment of ourselves.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
How I Want To Be Remembered...
I know that I have a lot of mistakes in the past and I hope that people will forgive and accept me; after all, I think nobody wants to be remembered as the “bad guy in high school.” I want to be remembered in a way that people see the good side of me.
First, I want them to remember me as the guy who loves to make nonsense jokes. I want them to smile as they look back in the old days and remember that they used to laugh at my jokes not because it was a nice joke but because it was “corny” and nonsense. I would really like if they remember as the guy who sings in a different way because I have different style and a different tune in singing it. They may laugh at my way of singing but it is all right as long as I can put smiles to them as they remember me.
Second, it would be nice if they also remember me as the “soccer guy.” I admit that I am not good in playing basketball like most of the guys in the campus do, but I am quite good in soccer. I may not be the best soccer player but I always try my best to score for our team and have a nice game. I may be hot tempered at times, but I hope what they will remember in me is my passion in playing the game, my every fall and the way I run just to have a goal for the team.
As my batch mates would recall the days when we were younger, the times when we were in high school, they will remember me as one of the guys who always fall asleep during class hours. I would want them to laugh at the idea that I am sleeping safe and sound while the teacher is discussing a very difficult lesson and then, I only wake up when someone wakes me up to take up the test. I myself laugh at the thought that no matter how I rub my eyes and slightly slap my cheeks so that I cannot sleep, but still I fall asleep unintentionally. My girlfriend used to pinch me every moment she sees me sleeping during classes especially in our Practical Law class and during attending masses.
People may always remember my mistakes and the bad side of me, but I hope to find it in their hearts the right things that I have done and the good side of me. I hope that they will remember me as a tough guy with a heart. I hope that they will also appreciate the small things I have done. I hope they will remember me as me. I pray that they will remember RICHARD as a guy who wants to change for the better. I hope my friends will remember me this way (the good side of me) after so many years after finishing high school.
First, I want them to remember me as the guy who loves to make nonsense jokes. I want them to smile as they look back in the old days and remember that they used to laugh at my jokes not because it was a nice joke but because it was “corny” and nonsense. I would really like if they remember as the guy who sings in a different way because I have different style and a different tune in singing it. They may laugh at my way of singing but it is all right as long as I can put smiles to them as they remember me.
Second, it would be nice if they also remember me as the “soccer guy.” I admit that I am not good in playing basketball like most of the guys in the campus do, but I am quite good in soccer. I may not be the best soccer player but I always try my best to score for our team and have a nice game. I may be hot tempered at times, but I hope what they will remember in me is my passion in playing the game, my every fall and the way I run just to have a goal for the team.
As my batch mates would recall the days when we were younger, the times when we were in high school, they will remember me as one of the guys who always fall asleep during class hours. I would want them to laugh at the idea that I am sleeping safe and sound while the teacher is discussing a very difficult lesson and then, I only wake up when someone wakes me up to take up the test. I myself laugh at the thought that no matter how I rub my eyes and slightly slap my cheeks so that I cannot sleep, but still I fall asleep unintentionally. My girlfriend used to pinch me every moment she sees me sleeping during classes especially in our Practical Law class and during attending masses.
People may always remember my mistakes and the bad side of me, but I hope to find it in their hearts the right things that I have done and the good side of me. I hope that they will remember me as a tough guy with a heart. I hope that they will also appreciate the small things I have done. I hope they will remember me as me. I pray that they will remember RICHARD as a guy who wants to change for the better. I hope my friends will remember me this way (the good side of me) after so many years after finishing high school.
Memories
The school year 2006-2007 is about to end. Also, our time here as fourth year students is about to end.
It is now almost four years of struggling here in high school. Indeed, time flies very fast. It seems to me that everything that happened in the past is just like yesterday.
I do not know why, but whenever I think about my life in UP High and how time flies fast, I remember myself sitting in my chair in Villamor, watching the drizzle outside while tapping my “not working ball pen” against my LN (lecture notebook) in Earth Science. I can remember also that I was somehow glad that my pen was not working so that I can have the reason not to write. I can also remember the first time I slept while there was class. It was also in first year in Math subject. I finished my seatwork earlier than my classmates, so I busied myself making figures on the ceiling. Unfortunately, I fell asleep and I was waked up by my seat mate. All my classmates were laughing at me and someone told me that our teacher made fun of me when I was asleep. I can also remember the puddings that we ate when we were in first year. That pudding of our Home Tech teacher made our stomach “twitch” and it feels like everyone who ate the pudding wanted to go to the comfort room, only we were shy. That same teacher also forced six of our boys to dance for an invocation of an event. She blackmailed us by saying that we would have low grades in Physical education if we would not join the dance. Afraid of a low grade, we gave in to her demand and dance as “aetas.”
When we were in second year, the most terrible thing that happened to me was when our Algebra teacher scolded me for sleeping in classes. That really scared me. Another thing to remember was the science jingle contest. Our presentation was very horrible and we lost on that contest. In second year, we were also tagged as the worst section.
When we were in third year, the highlight was the “Kwentuhan” where each third year section presents a mini play. We had some internal problems within our section but it was solved and even resulted to unity. We lost on that contest but what mattered to me was that we were able to show our unity even when the time was running out.
ABAKADA, drama fest in theater arts, intramurals, drama fest in Filipino, and retreat were some of my highlights in my last year here in UP. We won awards in the ABAKADA (play where we enact a part of Rizal’s El Filibusterismo). I was the best actor (although there were three of us who were hailed as best actor, scores showed that it was me who got the highest score)in the Drama fest in Theater arts subject.. We won champion in the two games that I played and the seniors were the over-all champion of Intramurals ’06. We also harvested awards on the Drama Fest in Filipino. We had a successful retreat at Saint John mission last March 24-25, 2007.
There are so many things to cherish in our high school life. If given a chance, I will re-live my high school life to enjoy again and experience again things that I remember.
It is now almost four years of struggling here in high school. Indeed, time flies very fast. It seems to me that everything that happened in the past is just like yesterday.
I do not know why, but whenever I think about my life in UP High and how time flies fast, I remember myself sitting in my chair in Villamor, watching the drizzle outside while tapping my “not working ball pen” against my LN (lecture notebook) in Earth Science. I can remember also that I was somehow glad that my pen was not working so that I can have the reason not to write. I can also remember the first time I slept while there was class. It was also in first year in Math subject. I finished my seatwork earlier than my classmates, so I busied myself making figures on the ceiling. Unfortunately, I fell asleep and I was waked up by my seat mate. All my classmates were laughing at me and someone told me that our teacher made fun of me when I was asleep. I can also remember the puddings that we ate when we were in first year. That pudding of our Home Tech teacher made our stomach “twitch” and it feels like everyone who ate the pudding wanted to go to the comfort room, only we were shy. That same teacher also forced six of our boys to dance for an invocation of an event. She blackmailed us by saying that we would have low grades in Physical education if we would not join the dance. Afraid of a low grade, we gave in to her demand and dance as “aetas.”
When we were in second year, the most terrible thing that happened to me was when our Algebra teacher scolded me for sleeping in classes. That really scared me. Another thing to remember was the science jingle contest. Our presentation was very horrible and we lost on that contest. In second year, we were also tagged as the worst section.
When we were in third year, the highlight was the “Kwentuhan” where each third year section presents a mini play. We had some internal problems within our section but it was solved and even resulted to unity. We lost on that contest but what mattered to me was that we were able to show our unity even when the time was running out.
ABAKADA, drama fest in theater arts, intramurals, drama fest in Filipino, and retreat were some of my highlights in my last year here in UP. We won awards in the ABAKADA (play where we enact a part of Rizal’s El Filibusterismo). I was the best actor (although there were three of us who were hailed as best actor, scores showed that it was me who got the highest score)in the Drama fest in Theater arts subject.. We won champion in the two games that I played and the seniors were the over-all champion of Intramurals ’06. We also harvested awards on the Drama Fest in Filipino. We had a successful retreat at Saint John mission last March 24-25, 2007.
There are so many things to cherish in our high school life. If given a chance, I will re-live my high school life to enjoy again and experience again things that I remember.
Retreat 2007
Every year when the school year is about to end, fourth year students of UP High School in Cebu and some faculty members conduct retreat. It is advantageous not only to the part of the students but to some teachers and some parents as well. It is beneficial because it allows us to relax for a while, forget pressure on studies, problems, and many more.
Being a fourth year student, I took this opportunity of joining the retreat last March 24, 2007. Before eight o’ clock in the Saturday morning, we, fourth year students who wanted to join the retreat met at our UP High catwalk. When I saw some of my classmates and their bulging bags and plastics, I really got excited that I accelerated my pace to meet them. When I saw all of us, I thought to myself that that was like stargazing, only madam Gallo will not be with us and examining stars and constellations and planets and moon were not our primary business anymore.
Our retreat started right away after registration. The first topic we had was dealing with the possible outcomes if we did this and that. Every number started with “if” and we would complete the sentence. Some of the statements to be completed were, “if I get pregnant,” “if I got my girlfriend pregnant,” “if I were caught shoplifting,” and many other “to-be-finished” statements. At first, I saw those statements stupid and impossible, but then I realized that all those were possible and it can happen to anyone of us seniors. After answering religiously, we formed a group of four and discussed our answers within the group. We ended up realizing some points like being careful and prepared whatever happens.
After discussing “possible outcomes,” we did the “positive stroking.” We formed two groups. The first group was the first to sit down with eyes closed. Every member in the second group told each member of the first group words of encouragement, thanks, strong points, and other positive things. After each of the second group talked to each in the first group, we changed places. It was a nice activity because it helped us to see some goodness in us through the words of our classmates.
After that activity, madam Maglasang, the one facilitating the retreat, taught us some house rules in the monastery. We went to Saint John Mission to continue our retreat.
There were games and talks. The first thing we talked, and even debated on was about loving one’s self. In that talk, we learned that it is all right to love yourself and you should take care of yourself but not to the point of narcism. There was also a talk that said something that was true to me. In life, we are so fast and we always seem to be chased by a dinosaur that we come to point that we do not know our direction. There were many talks but my most memorable part was the open forum. It was the first open forum where both sections are present. It helped heal some broken bonds and strengthen them.
There were many things to remember in our retreat. I hope we will do it again sometime.
Being a fourth year student, I took this opportunity of joining the retreat last March 24, 2007. Before eight o’ clock in the Saturday morning, we, fourth year students who wanted to join the retreat met at our UP High catwalk. When I saw some of my classmates and their bulging bags and plastics, I really got excited that I accelerated my pace to meet them. When I saw all of us, I thought to myself that that was like stargazing, only madam Gallo will not be with us and examining stars and constellations and planets and moon were not our primary business anymore.
Our retreat started right away after registration. The first topic we had was dealing with the possible outcomes if we did this and that. Every number started with “if” and we would complete the sentence. Some of the statements to be completed were, “if I get pregnant,” “if I got my girlfriend pregnant,” “if I were caught shoplifting,” and many other “to-be-finished” statements. At first, I saw those statements stupid and impossible, but then I realized that all those were possible and it can happen to anyone of us seniors. After answering religiously, we formed a group of four and discussed our answers within the group. We ended up realizing some points like being careful and prepared whatever happens.
After discussing “possible outcomes,” we did the “positive stroking.” We formed two groups. The first group was the first to sit down with eyes closed. Every member in the second group told each member of the first group words of encouragement, thanks, strong points, and other positive things. After each of the second group talked to each in the first group, we changed places. It was a nice activity because it helped us to see some goodness in us through the words of our classmates.
After that activity, madam Maglasang, the one facilitating the retreat, taught us some house rules in the monastery. We went to Saint John Mission to continue our retreat.
There were games and talks. The first thing we talked, and even debated on was about loving one’s self. In that talk, we learned that it is all right to love yourself and you should take care of yourself but not to the point of narcism. There was also a talk that said something that was true to me. In life, we are so fast and we always seem to be chased by a dinosaur that we come to point that we do not know our direction. There were many talks but my most memorable part was the open forum. It was the first open forum where both sections are present. It helped heal some broken bonds and strengthen them.
There were many things to remember in our retreat. I hope we will do it again sometime.
Best Canteen
Our school canteen here in UP high school is not so good. In fact, it is one of the dirtiest, worst in customer service canteen that I ever saw or dined in.
First, the customer service of those working there is poor, very poor. There was one time, a girl wanted to buy an apple-flavored drink (drew). But the vendor did not want to give her the apple-flavored drink and wanted the girl to buy the orange-flavored drink instead. The vendor was clearly lazy because he did not want to stand to get the apple-flavored drink and wanted her to buy the other one that was earlier prepared ( the ice in the orange drew was already melted, and it makes the drew tastes bad). Is it not a customer’s right to choose what we want to buy?
There is another complaint on their manner of servicing their customers. Will the customers be happy if, when they buy, the change would be “credit cards?” these “credit cards” are actually small cardboards with a number that indicates the change? There is a great tendency of losing that stupid paper. Plus, since the canteen closes earlier than the class hours end, the students with paper checks cannot get their change. If they go home, and with not enough money, can they pay those “credit cards” for fare?
One thing also about its service is their lack of utensils. Will the customers be happy if when they want to eat, they themselves will have to wash the spoons and forks for themselves? They should have provided enough utensils. Sometimes, students ask, “Is this really a canteen?”
Two of the seven rights of the consumers are the right to safety and the right to a clean environment. The school canteen does not see to it that its customers are safe and have a clean environment. Have you observed the environment in the canteen? The walls are painted with dust and cobwebs. The tables are over-written wit vandals. There even were no decorations on its walls. No, there is one. It was a poster of Nestea posted when we were in first year high school. Anyway, do we not have the right to a clean environment?
We also have the right to safety. Can we consider the canteen thinking of our safety, of its customer’s safety if they sell goods that are expired? They should not sell these goods supposedly but still they sell to earn more money. Do we also not have the right to safety?
First, the customer service of those working there is poor, very poor. There was one time, a girl wanted to buy an apple-flavored drink (drew). But the vendor did not want to give her the apple-flavored drink and wanted the girl to buy the orange-flavored drink instead. The vendor was clearly lazy because he did not want to stand to get the apple-flavored drink and wanted her to buy the other one that was earlier prepared ( the ice in the orange drew was already melted, and it makes the drew tastes bad). Is it not a customer’s right to choose what we want to buy?
There is another complaint on their manner of servicing their customers. Will the customers be happy if, when they buy, the change would be “credit cards?” these “credit cards” are actually small cardboards with a number that indicates the change? There is a great tendency of losing that stupid paper. Plus, since the canteen closes earlier than the class hours end, the students with paper checks cannot get their change. If they go home, and with not enough money, can they pay those “credit cards” for fare?
One thing also about its service is their lack of utensils. Will the customers be happy if when they want to eat, they themselves will have to wash the spoons and forks for themselves? They should have provided enough utensils. Sometimes, students ask, “Is this really a canteen?”
Two of the seven rights of the consumers are the right to safety and the right to a clean environment. The school canteen does not see to it that its customers are safe and have a clean environment. Have you observed the environment in the canteen? The walls are painted with dust and cobwebs. The tables are over-written wit vandals. There even were no decorations on its walls. No, there is one. It was a poster of Nestea posted when we were in first year high school. Anyway, do we not have the right to a clean environment?
We also have the right to safety. Can we consider the canteen thinking of our safety, of its customer’s safety if they sell goods that are expired? They should not sell these goods supposedly but still they sell to earn more money. Do we also not have the right to safety?
A Movie To Remember
People say that love makes the world go round. Some say love is blind. Some say love is loving the imperfect person perfectly. A lot of things have been said about love. A lot of people defined and described love. Many tips have been formulated to have a successful love life. With all these stuffs, I still ask myself what really is love.
I have watched the movie “A Walk To Remember” and since then, I could not forget each scene of the movie. This movie is my favorite movie after all. The movie helped me realize that love is truly life-changing. A life of a person can be changed when touched by another person.
The story began with Jamie and Landon. Jamie and Landon lived in separate worlds. Jamie was one sweet religious girl while Landon was the “bad guy.” Eventually, because of Landon’s stupidity and craziness in school, the school principal punished him by giving him tasks that led him close to Jamie. Jamie and Landon belong to a school activity and this is the Spring play of the Drama Club. This event really brought them closer to each other, and eventually, falling in love with one another. Jamie touched Landon’s life and changed his cold heart. Jamie warmed it with her goodness and love for him. Landon changed for the better and became a better person. He loved Jamie and needed her which Jamie accepted Landon and gave her a chance. Too bad, Jaime had leukemia. When Landon found out that the girl of his life was dying, he could not help but break down and cry. Landon did his best to make each day of Jamie’s life happy and memorable. They shared each sweet moment together. Landon continued to love Jamie even after her death. Landon made the dream he and Jamie built come true.
After watching the movie, I realized that love is really patient and kind. Love forgives and accepts. Love gives a person the ultimate happiness he needed. Love is never selfish. In loving a person, one should always remember that getting hurt is a part of it. You are poor if you love someone because you always give love to that someone. You need that person because you love him, not that you love the person because you needed him. Love is full of surprises. Love is the unexpected. Love hurts. Love is forever.
I know that I am still too young to fully define love but I think that love does not only have one definition because love for each and every person is different. I still have so many things to learn and experience to know more about love. I may be young but I know what love is because I am feeling it right now. After all, love sees no age limit.
There is one line that I will never forget about the movie. It says, “love is like the wind. You can’t see it but you can feel it.”
I have watched the movie “A Walk To Remember” and since then, I could not forget each scene of the movie. This movie is my favorite movie after all. The movie helped me realize that love is truly life-changing. A life of a person can be changed when touched by another person.
The story began with Jamie and Landon. Jamie and Landon lived in separate worlds. Jamie was one sweet religious girl while Landon was the “bad guy.” Eventually, because of Landon’s stupidity and craziness in school, the school principal punished him by giving him tasks that led him close to Jamie. Jamie and Landon belong to a school activity and this is the Spring play of the Drama Club. This event really brought them closer to each other, and eventually, falling in love with one another. Jamie touched Landon’s life and changed his cold heart. Jamie warmed it with her goodness and love for him. Landon changed for the better and became a better person. He loved Jamie and needed her which Jamie accepted Landon and gave her a chance. Too bad, Jaime had leukemia. When Landon found out that the girl of his life was dying, he could not help but break down and cry. Landon did his best to make each day of Jamie’s life happy and memorable. They shared each sweet moment together. Landon continued to love Jamie even after her death. Landon made the dream he and Jamie built come true.
After watching the movie, I realized that love is really patient and kind. Love forgives and accepts. Love gives a person the ultimate happiness he needed. Love is never selfish. In loving a person, one should always remember that getting hurt is a part of it. You are poor if you love someone because you always give love to that someone. You need that person because you love him, not that you love the person because you needed him. Love is full of surprises. Love is the unexpected. Love hurts. Love is forever.
I know that I am still too young to fully define love but I think that love does not only have one definition because love for each and every person is different. I still have so many things to learn and experience to know more about love. I may be young but I know what love is because I am feeling it right now. After all, love sees no age limit.
There is one line that I will never forget about the movie. It says, “love is like the wind. You can’t see it but you can feel it.”
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Peace-talk After 8 Years
It was on the second to the last Sunday night of February this year when my father, mother, and I talked. We were in our living room and I was drinking tea and my father and mother were writing their class records. We talked because my sister, after receiving her “baon” for tomorrow, thanked only my mother. She kissed her on the cheek and and repeatedly said that she thanked her very much. My mother asked her if she would not say “thank you” to father. My sister just smiled, and reluctantly, and annoyingly, and sarcastically said, “thank you.” She (my sister) did not even looked at father or even faced his direction. After saying, she went straight upstairs. Mother, angry and dismayed, scolded us for that. Usually, in cases in which I am not directly involved, i will say that I am out of the story and therefor, if they want to scold my sister, I must not be included. But that night, it was different.
We had family quarrels before, but none of us had the chance to work things out because father might just beat us. Almost all of our family quarrels ended unsolved because of his threats of beating us. Not to have another problem unsettled, I asked if we, as family, could talk, just talk. I expected my father to get furious but miraculously, he did not.
We talked about why we (my sister and i) are not so close to our father, their expectations on me, on us, their hopes, their dreams for us, family bond, father-son bond, closeness, almost everything related to family. I already finished drinking my tea and still our talk did not end yet. There were times we had a dead air and the the only thing to hear was the sound of the television that was actually left on to create an extra noise. . We also talked about their childhood and how they were by our grandparents and then compared it to the way (my parents) raised us.
It was like an open forum. It was like a peace-talk between rebels and the government. But I am so glad that we had that talk. For the first time,my father listened to my side, and I listened to his side, too. My relationship with my father is a lot better now. I realized, no family problem cannot be solved if both parties will listen to each other's side, and settle the problem for the betterment of the parties involved. Too bad for me because it's been too long before we talked. If we talked long, long, before, our father-son bond would be much stronger by now. I also realized that if there is a problem, it must not be left unsolved. The problem must be settled as soon as possible.
Since we had that talk, whenever my father and I have conversation, I thank God for that talk. I should have done it before, but anyway, I am still so thankful that we now have a growing, father-son bond. I thank God for giving us that first open forum in nine years.
We had family quarrels before, but none of us had the chance to work things out because father might just beat us. Almost all of our family quarrels ended unsolved because of his threats of beating us. Not to have another problem unsettled, I asked if we, as family, could talk, just talk. I expected my father to get furious but miraculously, he did not.
We talked about why we (my sister and i) are not so close to our father, their expectations on me, on us, their hopes, their dreams for us, family bond, father-son bond, closeness, almost everything related to family. I already finished drinking my tea and still our talk did not end yet. There were times we had a dead air and the the only thing to hear was the sound of the television that was actually left on to create an extra noise. . We also talked about their childhood and how they were by our grandparents and then compared it to the way (my parents) raised us.
It was like an open forum. It was like a peace-talk between rebels and the government. But I am so glad that we had that talk. For the first time,my father listened to my side, and I listened to his side, too. My relationship with my father is a lot better now. I realized, no family problem cannot be solved if both parties will listen to each other's side, and settle the problem for the betterment of the parties involved. Too bad for me because it's been too long before we talked. If we talked long, long, before, our father-son bond would be much stronger by now. I also realized that if there is a problem, it must not be left unsolved. The problem must be settled as soon as possible.
Since we had that talk, whenever my father and I have conversation, I thank God for that talk. I should have done it before, but anyway, I am still so thankful that we now have a growing, father-son bond. I thank God for giving us that first open forum in nine years.
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