Not like the Movies

Dear he-who-can't-be-named,

               You know, when I was a kid, I never stopped watching fairy tale movies. It draws me in whenever the Princess acts as a "damsel in distress" and a prince will suddenly enter the picture and save her. I love the part when the prince is charming, gentleman and most of all strikingly handsome. A perfect movie, that's what I always wished for. A perfect story that will end with happily ever after, but then I was brought to reality. I tried my best to make my own fairy tale but then, I failed. It was not like the movies after all.

                 The scene when we first met was wonderful. We became classmates and learned to be friends. I always look up to you as my prince, but then I learned that I was wrong. You have a girl that you could call a princess of your own and it pains me a lot. Time passed and I always felt the same towards you. I know it's a little cliche, but don't get me wrong I know someday it will be gone, vanished with the wind. 

                  It's hard for me to feel like this, burdened by the feeling that I can't ignore. Wanting to produce my own movie but you cannot be my co-star nor my leading man. I know it's cheesy but please bare with me, sorting out my feelings were never  easy. 

                 As of now I think that I already made my movie. I want to thank you for being a part of it. Like every movie there should always be a closing remark and that is the part where I'll take a step back and let you go. 

-MAOD-

Hero in her Uniform

There are countless definitions of heroes today. Is it a superstar who used his fame and fortune to help the needy in his hometown? Is it a firefighter who sees no danger in all circumstances just to save lives of people? Is it an Overseas Filipino Worker who is ready to bare the pain of being alone just to provide his family a comfortable life? But what really makes a person a hero? Words was never enough to express hardships conquered by our teacher, so I will dedicate this essay to one of the teachers I know and the person who was part of my life ever since I first came in this world and she’s none other than my aunty Magdalena Celis.

            Ever since I was a little child I became fond of her. She used to take me with her everywhere she goes and one of it was of course in school. My aunt was a teacher in Naic Elementary school. When I was still a little child I always use her classroom (2-Daisy) as my so called “Tambayan”. Being in the school most of the time  I never failed to notice how skilled she is in pouring knowledge in a student. I also noticed her temper as it was being tested by some student who never fails to annoy her. I also the discovered some new part of her that I never knew when I was a kid. Years have passed and I became a grade 2 student. I was assigned to be one of her students. I can say that, that year was one of my bests in school. It is because when break time strikes I will rush to her table and get some food without any payment for I know that she would pay it for me. Result? Complete allowance until the end of the day with a lot of food on hand. It is not only because of free foods, it is also because of knowledge and values that she thought us.

                 What else can we think of when teachers are mentioned? Their understanding, hardships, advices and care for us students. And of course, lectures, new lessons, quizzes and assignments! Those memories when they came about to tell stories and jokes with us students. Their “sermons” to us during times when we were disobedient, or lazy to pass our assignments. It’s their continuous patience and hard works for us that make them our hero. What could be in a school without our teachers? There would be no students as well that in fact, students will not be able to go to school and learn what they are supposed to learn. There will be ignorance. Having our teachers we were able to learn and understand things easier and quicker. Because of their teachings a lot of people have reached and accomplished their goals in life.

            Teachers don’t only teach theories to us but they are also sources of moral teachings. Inside and outside the campus, our teachers are our models. In relation to health and wellness, the teacher is expected to have and project a good state of both mental and physical health. Teachers are treasures in our society; let us help them be at their best so that they too can help bring out the best in our children, in their students. Our second parents, our teachers have helped a lot in the contribution of our success. They will forever be a treasure. This teacher’s day was a good way of expressing gratitude to our beloved teachers whom are the reason why we have accomplished most of what we have accomplished until the present. However, we should not only express our warmest thanks to our teachers during the 5th day of the month of October but it should always be done.            

   

To Be or Not To Be

                                                              

                                                                     To be or not to be,

      Living in a world of serenity

        Shadowed by the wisdom one seeks

      Unheard voices one speaks

            Mistakes, I've made plenty,
                    In this life of mine,
                      And I burn my bridges,
                      Here from time to time,

   Sometimes I forget,

                That I know I regret,
                  But I still don't believe,

               That my path is set,
                   

                    I will change, I will survive,

                 I will never grieve,
                   So the choice is yours,

                   Whether to discard or believe,
                 For I am not dead yet,
                 I am not in the ground,
               And in life I may be lost,
                  But someday I will be found.

Comedy of Errors

The Comedy of Errors turns out to be precisely what the title promised. It is a story about magic and illusion in a faraway country. The Comedy of Errors shows how a series of confused identities eventually leads to chaos in a community, and just how deceiving appearances can be. The reader is witness to the madness that rapidly takes over suspicious minds, and finally, the much-awaited reunion of one family. It is a farcical comedy, a fantasy in a distant country, which simultaneously arouses in the audience some degree of sympathy and compassion for the characters.

At the first act of the story, the conflict seems to rise. Being the reader I was able to think of the questions that can be asked and will be answered in the further scenes in the story. Like, what happened to their lost family members after the unpredictable tempest? As the plot rises before my eyes, my questions were answered one by one.

Confusion never left my mind for I am thoroughly confused on the two Dromios and Antipholus. Some events took turn without me understanding it. I have to re-read some part again so that I will be able to figure out the meaning behind it.

The novel was remarkably confusing but meaningful in its own ways. The story showed purity of love toward the person you care for, importance of family above all and most of all believing that one day dreams do come true even after being challenged by a raging Tempest.

A Better Life Ahead

                    This month we, the third year students of Cavite National Science High School had our National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE). It was an eye dropping test from Grammar to Verbal to 0IISS. Not just that, examinees also undergo time pressure for there is an allotted time in every part of the test. Apart from that, nervousness crept in the examinees worrying about the results of their exam. Getting a move on what is NCAE’s importance in a student’s life?

            The purpose of the NCAE is to help students determine which courses they should study in college and what sort of career they are best suited for. Like many standardized tests, the NCAE measures students' general scholastic knowledge. However, the NCAE also tests vocational aptitude, occupational preferences and entrepreneurial skills. One of the reasons the NCAE was developed was to address the issue of unemployment due to workers getting mismatched with the wrong careers. The hope is that by determining which careers they are ideally suited for, students can plan a course of study that will give them the skills and education they will need for their ideal careers. NCAE test results are only one part of the bigger picture in determining the best career fit for a student. Students shouldn't make major decisions based on NCAE results alone. Their entire school career as well as their own goals and interests should be considered when deciding on a course of study and a career.

            When “dreaming” is applied to our waking lives, though, its meaning changes. Having a guide in your dream comes to refer to an aspiration, a goal, or an aim. Motivational speakers delight in exporting their packaged inspirational messages through catchy sayings like “Dream Big to Succeed”. The problem with using this term is that it also bears connotations to the unattainable--it can be used to describe a wild or vain fantasy. I associate “dreaming” with the imagination. It is not an aspiration I can work to achieve, but rather an ideal with a minute chance of coming true. I dream of winning the lottery one day and leave it up to fate to determine whether or not it will happen.

            Goals, on the other hand, seem to be more concrete. They can be reached through hard work and calculated planning. By carrying out specific actions, it is possible to come to a desired goal. While goals can be accomplished, dreams are often relegated to bedtime and the imagination.

Values from Sport

          The school is a place where students are nurtured to become a responsible and productive member of the society. It provides a complete means of moulding students to become an employee or professional, to the chosen field of endeavour they wish to engage in. The mathematics and science subjects assist students to enhance their logic reasoning, and mathematical maturity, the English subjects polishes verbal and written communications, but what about Physical Education?

            This subject attempts to let the students have holistic and active lifestyle and at the same time learn life from valuing the essence of winning and losing.  Sports make people mentally strong. Success and failure are both parts of sports as well as life. A sportsman knows that there will be times when he will win matches there will also be times when he will lose them. A sportsperson knows how to handle defeat and thus, treats success and failure equally. This is an important life lesson too, which sports can teach a person. Besides this, another importance of sports for children or for adults is that it teaches them how to handle competition, and be fearless when facing the adversaries.

            Children and adolescents ooze with physical energy. When they are involved in sports, their physical energies are used up in a constructive way. Teenage is such an impressionable age, if adolescents are given free time they might get involved in wrong activities or may fall in bad company or may also display anti-social behaviour. Thus, the importance of sports in society is that it keeps adolescents from becoming anti-social elements, who might otherwise disturb the delicate fabric of society.

            Most of us start out playing a sport as a means of fun and recreation. But somewhere along the way, in the midst of all the fun, we realize that sports can often be a metaphor for achieving success in life, because of the lessons it teaches us about life. Sports teach us about being a part of a team, the importance of working together to accomplish a common goal. We learn to shoulder responsibility, and how to cope with defeat and failure. It teaches how to remain focused on a task for the period of time required to achieve it. We learn about consistency and concentration, how to overcome weaknesses, and go beyond our limits. 

                                     Simple  Melody

            Holding my breath I walked into a bright building with sweaty palms. My heart was pounding real hard almost escaping through my chest.

            I only have one chance to get this right.

            My name is Jessie Heartfilia. My friends call me Jes. I’m never really a brainy person, the only time when I ever got a high grade besides English is when I was a toddler funny right? That’s it. The reason behind that , I assume is probably because I am more of a…. well how do I put it ,music person? Let’s just say my keyboard and I were best friends. Because of that my parents agreed to send me here to Lost Keys Academy of Performing Arts. Unfortunately that school costs a bunch, so I would really need a scholarship.

            So here I am standing outside the large polished doors with my keyboard in my arms, filled with hesitation and doubts. This audition means the world to me right now. I knew deep down that I have to win this thing, so I could get a scholarship. If I could get my hands on that prize, everything would fall into place.

                        I bravely took a step forward and pushed the door open. Three pairs of eyes greeted me, judges make me shiver, especially that Simon Cowell look-a-like.

“Good morning.” The lady judge with spectacles cleared her throat. “Jessie?”

“Whenever you are ready” She said while adjusting and fixing her attention onto me.

            A few second with trembling hands I placed my fingers onto the keys and played familiar chords and played “Defying Gravity”. I opened my mouth and began singing, allowing the word flow through me. I felt confidence running through my veins diminishing my fears. I began to close my eyes and played smoothly, hitting the high notes and low, going from head voice to chest, using techniques that I can easily work with.

I don’t sound too bad.

            When the song finally ended, I couldn’t help but plaster a goofy smile and looked at the judges not  knowing what to expect. The judges sat there with a stoic face but clapped slowly.

            After the heart popping audition, I sat on the bench outside the audition room. I couldn’t help but notice how great they were, how talented and skilled the music was played. The more I listen the more nervous I become. Only one participant can win the scholarship, and these guys really look like they have this wrapped  around their finger.

            A few minutes later a commotion was heard. I stood up and joined the crowd. A few people already left with unexcited expressions, it was then I realized how big of a possibility I could be leaving with a crushed spirit. Just when I finally made my way to the front, as if on cue, a group of people started cheering and exclaimed happily.

“We made it !” the red head snotty girl from before shrilled as her band celebrated.

No way.

I quickly turned my attention away and scanned the paper pasted on the door. Suddenly I felt weak, very weak.

I didn’t make it. I didn’t get the scholarship.

            Turning around I resisted to look back. I just want to runaway. Running away from the place where my hopes and dreams were shattered to pieces.

            I rode a bus as soon as I got in, it took off. I was really depressed. I couldn’t utter a single word. A girl about five years old was staring at me as I heaved a sigh, maybe she’s thinking of me as some kind of taciturn. I couldn’t help it everything was down to drain. The ride on the bus was rather fast and in a blink of an eye I am already on my destination. I looked around me and noticed a light atmosphere caused by people’s happiness everywhere.

            Then, I remembered something that lift my spirits up. And that is, tomorrow is a brand new day for me, and someday I am gonna make it to stardom!

For my  JAGGER

 Each month of 26th is a wonderful day,

As we march forth in our own fun way.

Just hanging around and laughing a lot,

It is truly amazing what we have got.

I have a message for each one

Feelings of friendship cannot be undone

Pouring emotions cannot be irrational

But, this is for you my gals

For Ederleen with eyes so mesmerizing 

Everyone was stuck in a moment when she sings

Enlightens your mood when she speaks

Talk to her, and you’ll never know the clock ticks

You’ll be fantasized on the other side of her

A flower that can be a dragon when angered

Famous for her warm smiles 

That can melt your heart on a thousand miles

For Jaja with a heart whelming voice

A girl who makes her own choice

With a boyish personality she posses 

Swears she’s not going to wear dresses

Favourite color is blue

Likes to find bishie in a view

Rates them by one to ten

If she sees them by then.

When she finds a red haired man

Rates him zero point one (0.1)

For Monique with a hidden rock and roll personality

Hides in her own shell beneath the sea

Conquer challenges with laughter

Believes in “Happily Ever After”

A Cinderella in the outside 

But a Mulan in the inside

Drools over a drum set

But doesn’t know how to play it yet

Another unique personality you’ll never forget

Being her friend, I won’t regret

For Francis my Daddy

Missing tween of our dearest Jollibee

Dedicates his self for food

If his hungry, stay away for good

Serves us our brain 

In science, grades we gain

Always gets angry when he's ignored

But, approaches us when he's board

He's always there to cheer us up

If your in a state of sadness he'll approach  you ASAP  

A friendship like ours is not easy to come by,

Often the intensity of it makes me so high.

Is our beautiful friendship really only a dream?

Sometimes it feels so unreal that I must scream.

Cries of joy and happiness galore,

And that is what I most adore.

Your infectious laughter and zest for life,

But I am there to keep you from strife.

How lucky we are to have found one another,

I couldn't spend so much time without my JAGGER

I will always be there to watch over you,

To keep you safe and happy too.

Well my dears I wish you to be happy once more,

An abundance of good wishes for you guys are in store.

 New days filled with lots of happiness and laughter,

And only the very best for you from here on after.

Resurrecting our Wonderful World

            “I see trees of green, red roses too, I see them bloom, for me and you And I think to myself what a wonderful world.” This is a famous line by Louis Armstrong, referring to nature.  An explicit beauty looked forward by many. Splendour of rich resources and a reservoir of wonders. That is how we see nature BEFORE. Look around you? What can you see? A vast destruction caused by nature’s number on enemy pollution.

            Pollution is one of the biggest problems the world faces today. It is an issue that troubles us economically, physically and everyday of our lives. The contamination of the environment is also being linked to some of the diseases that are around currently. Yet, most people do not know about this problem. This shows that environmental pollution is becoming an increasingly worse problem that needs to be taken care of as soon as possible, not only for the good of the environment but also for the people that live in it. Many factors are present for why environmental pollution has become such a large issue in the world. However, if the people of the world were to address the issue it would definitely help both the environment and its people. There are many activities that can be done by both the common citizen to the governments of the world, which could severely improve the world’s environmental problem. On the other hand, if the current way the world’s environmental problem is being handled continues, catastrophic consequences can follow for the future population.

            We have to stand for nature. If we wouldn’t maybe our next generation raise might not be able to see it for long. There were little things we could do in order to save it.

             We could plant more trees to create more oxygen to keep the bad air away from the atmosphere, or we could just stop cutting down the rainforest. We are living and we need the space but we aren't the only species on this earth. Saving the rainforest is not only good for us and the atmosphere but also good for the many different species that it homes.

             We could try to get as many people as possible to switch to hybrids and other energy saving things to use less fossil fuel for energy and relying more on solar and wind energy. Fossil fuels are destroying our earth and we need to limit the use of it. Recycling is a great and easy way to help our precious planet. Everyone can help, all they have to do is follow three simple rules; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

              Let’s intertwined our hopes together and bring back the wonderful world we all grown up to.

            

A Tragedy Comes with Humor

       

            The story of Romeo and Juliet is an inevitable tragedy. Many events take place, which are quite detrimental to the love Romeo and Juliet have for one another. By mentioning marriage and death together, Shakespeare foreshadows Romeo and Juliet's tragic ending. From the very beginning of the play throughout and to the end, there has always been the intent of a tragedy, and Shakespeare uses much dramatic irony to express this. In the Prologue, the Chorus tells us that "their death will bury their parents' strife," and it does. After a heart quenching tragedy a flower of peace suddenly bloomed. Tragedy that leads to a sad ending.

            Juliet returns home to discover the wedding has been moved ahead one day, and she is to be married tomorrow. That night, Juliet drinks the potion, and the Nurse discovers her, apparently dead, the next morning. The Capulets grieve, and Juliet is entombed according to plan. But Friar Lawrence’s message explaining the plan to Romeo never reaches Mantua. Its bearer, Friar John, gets confined to a quarantined house. Romeo hears only that Juliet is dead.

            Romeo learns only of Juliet’s death and decides to kill himself rather than live without her. He buys a vial of poison from a reluctant Apothecary, then speeds back to Verona to take his own life at Juliet’s tomb. Outside the Capulet crypt, Romeo comes upon Paris, who is scattering flowers on Juliet’s grave. They fight, and Romeo kills Paris. He enters the tomb, sees Juliet’s inanimate body, drinks the poison, sadly the poison didn’t work on him and he was devastated. Just then, Friar Lawrence enters. At the same time, Juliet awakes. She was surprised that Romeo is by her side. Romeo hugged Juliet and suddenly felt a pang inside his chest. It hurts so bad that Romeo collapsed on Juliet’s arms dead.  Friar Lawrence hears the coming of the watch. When Juliet refuses to leave with him, he flees alone. Juliet sees her beloved Romeo and realizes he has killed himself with poison. She kisses his poisoned lips, and when that does not kill her, buries his dagger in her chest, falling dead upon his body.

            The watch arrives, followed closely by the Prince, the Capulet, and Montague. Montague declares that Lady Montague has died of grief over Romeo’s exile. Seeing their children’s bodies, Capulet and Montague agree to end their long-standing feud and to raise gold statues of their children side-by-side in a newly peaceful Verona.

          

Modern Day Monarch: Romeo and Juliet

A novel that was written to deliver emotions, trigger tears and most of all show the true nature of true love. A story of tangled fate of two lovers and a bittersweet tragedy that awaits them. Fate that was a power and force that causes courses of events to inevitably happen in the future. Romeo and Juliet are the fools of the heavens that are continually being used for play. Though the young couple refuses to give up on their love, they cannot escape Fate. Death that bounded their love for each other and the coffin where their cold body lies together were the components of tragedy that occurred in the story. Components that left me hanging by a moment and tears that were trickling down my cheeks one after another. After releasing my emotions I thought of an idea. Many questions flooded my mind especially” What if Romeo as able to receive Friar Lawrence letter?”, “What if the vial did not work on Juliet?” and many more. I want to devote to you my alternative ending on Romeo and Juliet’s love story:

As she stepped down the car, everyone had their eyes set on her. She was definitely stunning now and even healthier, they actually wondered why. Was there something that they have missed? Her long vintage-looking gown made her look mature enough and made her look stronger than she already is. Just in time, Romeo turned to look at Juliet. What he saw really did surprise him. It was a good decision not looking at the sketches of the undone gown after all. He groomed himself and waited for his bride to come. With Sir. Capulet escorting her, Juliet slowly walked down the aisle. There's no stopping them now, she's only a few steps further from another chapter of her life with her most beloved one. The moment which she actually had second thoughts, thinking it was still too early but now she couldn't care less; this was all she wanted all along. While walking a flashback entered her mind:

Start of the Flashback:

“ I will drink for you my beloved Romeo” said Juliet before she drank the vial. Suddenly she heard a loud knock from the door. “Young miss you have to come outside quick!” the Nurse shouted. “Your father” she continued while catching her breath “ he found out about you and Romeo” the Nurse finished. “What?!” said Juliet obvious that she was really shocked

Downstairs:

“What in Hades suddenly went inside my daughter’s mind?” shouted Capulet. “Hush my dear, it won’t do you any good” pleaded Lady Capulet. Their argument was stopped for a second when Juliet came towards them while panting. In just a blink of an eye Capulet slapped Juliet straight to her cheek. “ You insolent fool of a daughter, do you know how much trouble you just brought us? What are you thinking suddenly marrying that son of proud Montague?! Tell me Juliet, What is it?” shouted Capulet. “I love him father! He’s my everything, I would die for him!” explained Juliet while touching her swollen cheek. “How about Paris? How will you explain everything to him? You agreed to marry him and then this?! How low can you get?” Capulet shouted while shaking his daughter by her shoulders. “ I don’t care what will happen in the future all I know is that I love him!” said Juliet while shrugging off her shoulders after it she ran away. “Juliet!” shouted Nurse, she was about to follow her when someone held her arm “ Let her be” Capulet said with his bangs covering his eyes showing mixed emotions of guilt, anger and concern.

In the Afternoon:

Sir. Capulet summoned Paris for a meeting and to discuss something about his daughter and Paris’ wedding. “ A pleasant afternoon soon-to- be father.” Paris said while bowing.” I have a confession to make Paris” said Capulet while looking at Paris straight to his eyes. “What is it Sir?” Paris said while sitting on the chair. “Your marriage with Juliet will be cancelled” Capulet answered while looking outside the window.” What?” Paris said while standing up “you can’t do this to me! An agreement will always be an agreement!” he continued.”Don’t raise your voice while talking to me young man ! It is my duty to provide Juliet her happiness and unfortunately her happiness was not in your hands.” Paris can’t even utter a word and just stormed off to Capulet’s manor.

After five days Juliet was still missing and the Capulets were all worried. One day, a letter came from an unknown person and what is written shocked everyone especially when they figured out that Paris was the sender . The letter says that Juliet was held as a hostage and they have a day to continue the marriage or they will face death together. Romeo’s trusted friend Balthazar heard about that and hurried of to go to Mantua and tell Romeo the news. Romeo was terrified he went straight to Verona to rescue Juliet. In order to retrieve Juliet he has to defeat Paris in a one in one combat, as expected Romeo defeated Paris and was sent to jail by the name of prince Escallus. Romeo returned Juliet to the Capulet manor and was welcomed by a relieved and thankful Capulet. Since then, Capulet accepted Romeo to be with Juliet and the peace between Montague and Capulet started.

End of Flashback.

The moment they were already one step closer to Romeo, Juliet looked up to her dad with some unexplainable emotions. With a smile and a slight nod Sir. Capulet let go of her, handing her to Romeo. This is really is it!

Seeing her father nod and smile, Juliet smiled back at him and finally let go of him. She slowly turned to Romeo and smiled. Then, the ceremony started.

              After saying their vows, it was finally the time for the wedding ring ceremony vows.

As Romeo placed the ring on Juliet’s finger, he said, "I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness. As I place it on your finger, I commit my heart and soul to you. I ask you to wear this ring as a reminder of the vows we have spoken today, our wedding day."

With a smile, Juliet placed the ring on Romeo’s finger saying, "This ring is a token of my love. I marry you with this ring, with all that I have and with all that I am."

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." Says the priest accompanied by the claps of the crowd as Romeo uncovered Juliet’s face of her veil.

Juliet grinned as Romeo’s face neared her. She could tell Romeo was in a hurry to kiss her. And she could say she is, too. And then, they kissed. It was a quiet long and passionate one which made the people and especially the ones who covered their wedding clap ever louder. They both faced the crowd, smiling.