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by: Krizia Reyes

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By: Bianca Cortes

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By: Patricia Bringas

You only live once.
It is a statement most millenials are using to define their actions or decisions in life, no matter how boring or outrageous they are. However, when 2am hits the clock, you start to wonder things. Things that are usually just residing in your wildest dreams. One of these things could be, who or what were you in your past life?
I don't want to assume I'm someone popular or influential in my past life, I don't want to be a specific someone, rather I want to describe what I was in my past life. They say that life is a cycle and whatever you were or you weren't in your past life, it's going to define who you are in this life. Reflecting upon this statement, I reckon that in my past life I'm someone who lived alone. Someone who does not have anyone by her side to comfort her and to share happiness with her. This probably made me a cold hearted person in my past life. People must have hated me and no one showed me love. I was probably contented living by myself in my past life that in this life, I was blessed with family and friends who loves me as much as I love them. Maybe after the drought, life has decided to pour down on me love and warmth. That thought made me realize how lucky I am. I always took for granted the things people do for me but these things are their way of showing me how important I am to them. To sum it up, life is a blessing, an adventure. We never know what might be so we just have to be thankful for the joys and struggles we are faced with.

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by Jesselle Pampo

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by: Diane Iris Candelaria

Who has made the biggest impact on your life?

The first person who came to my mind when I was asked of this question is my father. The mere fact that it was him whom I have thought of immediately after hearing the question already proves that he is a big part of my life. There are several reasons why I instantly thought it was him who has made the biggest impact on my life but I will only name four—the most important ones.

My father’s name is Roy. He was born in the province of Surigao in Mindanao. He came from a very poor family. He was just 8 years old when he started working to help his family. He had experienced all kinds of hardships in life. Once, he told me that he and his siblings would go to the mountains every day because they needed to get big chunks of woods and carry them all the way down in exchange of candies and a few coins. He also experienced eating only sweet potatoes or corns for lunch and dinner in several days because they couldn’t afford to buy rice and meat or fish. I am so proud that he has surpassed all the challenges that he has faced. Now, without further ado, let me tell you the reasons why he has made the biggest impact on my life.

First, it’s because my father is a chef and a baker. I am so proud of him. He did not attain a college degree in the Philippines but he went to Australia to study and work at the same time. There, he became a certified chef and baker. When he’s at home with us, he cooks delicious foods that I really enjoy. He always want to see me healthy that’s why he always insist that I eat plenty amount of food that he cooks. Now, I miss those times because he’s living far away from me. I only get to see him once or twice a year.

Second, it’s because he can be a mother figure if he wants to and if he needs to. He is the kind of father who can work to provide his family’s needs on the one hand, and do household chores and take care of his kids on the other, which not so many fathers are capable of. When I was in elementary, he used to be the one to do all the household chores and take care of me because it was my mother who was working. My father knows a lot of things, actually. He is a smart man and has principles in life. He gives me advices that I really treasure and keep in mind.

Next, he can always make me laugh. He is a joker but is also a very serious man. His laugh itself is already funny when you hear it. He is fond of teasing all the members of our family including me. I love his jokes even though they’re not funny anymore because they make me happy. However, when he gets angry, it’s horrible and terrifying. His angered voice will just make you cry when you hear it. I have heard it a lot of times, though. But I still love him.

Last, it’s because my dad is a hardworking, respectful man; and a responsible, loving father. He only thinks about his family’s welfare that sometimes he forget to take care of himself. He chose to be away from us just to provide what we need. He does not want us to experience what he has gone through. He loves me and my little sister so much. He’s willing to do anything just to give us a better life and I love him so much for that. I just wish I could be with him more often and in a longer period of time. I miss my dad so much.

I don’t know if all these reasons only sum up to four but I think I have pointed out the most important details about my father. I am glad that I would be able to share this story to other people. I am glad that I would be able to tell other people how admirable my dad is. It is certainly the best feeling.