The oceans and the shores collide

The Philippines’ rays are a gold

Our traditions preserved so old.

In all the beautiful parades,

A story is being portrayed.

Our country's history, woven,

The tongues and dialects spoken.

There is the music played and sung,

As the movements that's long and spun 

With the Tinikling quick and true,

And the Cariñosa's sway, too.

The echoes of the past still sing,

Along the dabakan, it rings.

Blessed it is, our heritage stands,

Celebrating it with held hands.

It was Alejandro’s third day of school, and as he woke up, his heart was racing, though he didn’t know why. The sun shone through his window, snapping him out of his dazed, sleepy state.  “Lola?” Alejandro called out as he got out of bed and headed downstairs.  

“I’m in the living room, Alejo!” Maricel, known as Lola Cel to the little boy, called back, pausing her chores. “Go eat your food; it’s on the table. Then take a bath, okay?”  

“Okay, po!” Alejandro replied, hurrying to eat breakfast. Afterward, he rushed upstairs to get ready for school. When he was done, he ran back to Lola Cel, proudly showing her he was all set.  “Oh! That was quick. Good job, Alejo!” she said with a warm smile, patting his head. “Let’s go before you’re late.”  

With that, the pair headed out, walking through the lively streets of Manila. But as they walked, something caught Alejandro’s eye. “Lola Cel, what’s that po?” he asked, pointing at a large, colorful vehicle.  

“That’s a jeepney. It’s like a bus, but smaller and more colorful. Do you want to ride one to school? It’s faster than walking.” Alejandro’s eyes lit up. “Opo!” he said eagerly.  

Lola Cel took his hand and led him to the jeepney, then took a seat at one of the benches. Alejandro sat quietly, his leg bouncing as he stared at the floor and fiddled with his fingers.  “Alejo, are you okay? You seem nervous,” she asked, glancing at him.  

After a moment, Alejandro mumbled, “Lola… the teacher gave us an activity, but I forgot to do it. We were supposed to write about at least two national symbols and what they mean.”

Lola Cel sighed gently, smiling at him. “That’s okay, Alejo. You have your notebook, right? We can do it now.”  Alejandro nodded, a wave of relief washing over him as he looked through his bag for his notebook.

As the jeepney started to move, Alejandro looked out the window. His worries began to fade as he spotted something outside. “Lola, what are those po?” he asked, pointing at a flower vendor's stall.

“Those are sampaguita flowers, Alejo. Did you know that it’s our national flower? It stands for purity and simplicity,” she explained.  

Alejandro’s eyes widened in amazement. “National flower? Like a special flower for the country?” Lola Cel nodded, with a smile, and Alejandro nodded back while scribbling it into his notebook. 

As the jeepney neared Alejandro’s school, he saw the Philippine flag waving at them through the wind. “Lola, that’s our flag, right? Why does it look like that?”

Lola Cel paused to explain. “The white triangle stands for freedom, the blue is for peace, and the red is for bravery. The stars represent the main islands of the Philippines, while the sun’s rays are the provinces that fought for freedom.” 

Alejandro let out a quiet “oh” as he wrote down the details, finally finishing his homework.

When they arrived at the school gate, Alejandro hesitated, holding onto Lola Cel’s hand tightly.  “Lola, what if I mess up today?” he asked softly. Lola Cel knelt and kissed his forehead. “You’ve already done your best, utoy. Just be kind, learn, and have fun. You’ll do great.”  Alejandro smiled, trembling a bit, but let go of her hand. “I will, Lola!” 

With that, Alejandro stepped into the school, blending in with the rest of the crowd.

But over time, staying current with every trend can start to feel like a chore, and the pressure to always be “in the know” can get exhausting. Plus, if you’re not totally up-to-date, people might see you as out of touch, or worse, feel left out of conversations altogether. So, are these trends just harmless fun, or is there a point where they start to do more harm than good?

First, the appeal of staying trendy; It gives a sense of belonging, allowing you to feel connected and bond over these trends. This especially applies in social settings where knowing the latest TikTok dances or songs, memes, or slang can make it easier to join conversations. It’s like an inside language for each generation to know these trends. 

They also give students a chance to express themselves and experiment with their identity. For example, take a look at fashion. It allows them to explore different styles to find a “look” that fits them and feels like their own. Even through social media, students get creative, whether by participating in popular challenges or showing off their outfits. It makes them feel like they’re contributing to something bigger than them, which makes them feel empowered.

Though, for some, keeping up with trends can feel like a full-time job, and social media plays a big role into reinforcing that. The fear of missing out makes students want to stay up-to-date, and so falling behind on these trends can make them feel excluded, out of touch, or might be left out of conversations entirely.

While trends can be fun, they can also cross the line into toxic territory. One major issue is how trends fuel comparison. Seeing others dressed “better” or “effortlessly” look good in whatever they do can harm self-esteem, as students might feel like they don’t measure up. This constant comparison can lead to them feeling like they can’t compare, self-doubt, and that they’re not enough, making it hard for students to feel confident in themselves.

Some trends also support risky or unhealthy patterns and behavior. Social media challenges, for example, sometimes push students to do dangerous pranks or tricks just to get likes and attention. Even harmless trends can cause exclusion, where only those who “fit in” are accepted, leaving others feeling excluded or isolated. These toxic characteristics of trends can turn that is supposed to bring people together into something that divides them.

In the end, trends can be both fun and frustrating. They offer students a way to connect with others and express themselves, but they can also bring added pressure and challenges. The key is finding balance—choosing trends that genuinely interest you and reflect who you are, rather than chasing every new fad just to fit in or feel accepted.

Trends will always come and go, but your self-worth and happiness shouldn’t depend on them. Focus on what makes you feel confident and happy, because in the long run, staying true to yourself will always be the most meaningful choice.

Joining extracurriculars does offer valuable perks beyond just academics. They allow you to explore your interests, and build or improve in skills you won’t get to do or learn in class. Interested in music? You can look to the IPSA’s Drum ‘n Lyre or Rondalla club to help you with that and work as a part of an ensemble. If you’re more into sports, there are the Varsity clubs to help you with training, or they can challenge you and push you to your limits in your favorite sport.

And it’s not just the school-sponsored clubs, IPSA also offers the weekend clubs. Some examples of these clubs are the IPSA Scions Gavel Club to help master the art of public speaking, or the Robotics Club to begin your journey on coding and building devices to toy around with or to help with daily life.

These additional activities aren’t just about building skills either, they can provide new experiences and perspectives that allow you to make new connections and interests. Also, many students happen to join clubs for college applications as it gives these universities a window to your character if you can manage time well, and it shows that you’re motivated. Though if you want a specific career, it’s best to aim for extracurriculars that are tailored to that career, but there’s no harm in being well-rounded, after all.

Of course, managing your time is important too. Finding the right balance means to start small, joining one or two clubs that excite you. This way, you can avoid burnout and just get a feel of the clubs for a bit and ensure that the activities you choose help and contribute to your experience at school rather than draining you. The goal here is to enjoy and explore, not just to tick off boxes on a checklist to make your application look good.

In the end, joining a club, team, or organization can make high school a lot more enjoyable, even memorable. The right extracurriculars can become a positive, fulfilling part of your school life, offering you a sense of purpose and a place to belong. So, why not give one a try? You might just discover a new passion, a lifelong friend, or a skill you never knew you had.

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The metaphor compares the muse with a flickering flame, something dangerous to approach yet something that brings light and beauty, and the narrator was like a moth drawn to it. The garden (the muse) is what protects the flowers (the secrets), and the thorns are the dangers that come with trying to see the 'flowers'. In the illustration, the tree is set on fire. This represents the muse and how its depicted as a flame, with the gate of the garden covered in thorns. There are moths approaching the garden, being the narrator, and there is fog to imply the mystery behind the muse. The tone of the paragraph is something solemn yet intimate, almost longing as the narrator reflects on their feelings. The mood is bittersweet and yearning, though a hint of frustration at the inability to connect or understand the muse.