Aside from being called Biancs by her friends, she was at times called Binky an endearing and adorable nickname she acquired from her aunt. If you ask her if she would ever want her name to be changed, she would want to be called Bianca Isabella. She would only add the suffix “la” because she felt that it was pleasing to the ear. 

        If the fair Bianca ever had her own child, she would name her daughter Carrenina Isabella. She has a certain attachment to the name Karenina, but she wanted to change its spelling so that others would not totally associate the name from Leo Tolstoy’s novel, “Anna Karenina”. The Isabella would be derived from the name she wanted for her own.

        For a son’s name she would choose Isaac Leon Christopher. The name Isaac sprung from Isaac Hempstead, an actor from the HBO television series franchise, “A Game of Thrones”. Even the name Christopher was from the full name of the lead actor, Kit Harrington, who played Jon Snow from the television series. She was inspired from the famous Hollywood actor, Leonardo DiCaprio, which is why she wanted to name her son from the clipped word of his first name. 

        Bianca owns two Chow Chows, a Chinese dog breed that is also referred to as “the puffy-lion dog” because of its thick mane and golden color. She owns one male which her neighbor named Koppie. The female one she named Pixie. This is because she was very fond of fairies when they bought the dog. She also once owned a Shih Tzu named Bambam but the cute little creature unfortunately passed away in 2009. 

-Kamille Salazar, 3ELS2

Original version:

            There is one particular person that, I can say, really made a big impact in my life and continues to do so. I look up to her and mostly rely on her when it comes to wisdom about life itself. Whenever she has stories to share, I would intently listen and take mental notes so that if ever I will be the one put in the situation as her, I would know what to do. Another reason as to how she continues to make a huge impact in my life is her personality. She is a goal-setter and a go-getter. When she puts her mind to it, she really works hard and puts in every effort to make it happen. I admire her for that. Whenever I would tell her my plans for the future, she would always encourage me and tell me words of affirmation for me to push through my dreams. The main reason as to why I consider her the person who really made a great impact in my life is because she is a woman of faith. I can say this in full confidence because I am with her every day. Each passing day, I can see how she lives her life trusting God in every decision she makes, in any situation she is in, and even in the failures she experiences.

            I know it is typical for a little sister to look up to her big sister and I am not ashamed to be part of that population of little sisters who do so. I admire her for being strong in every situation she is in. I appreciate her for being the best sister anyone could ever ask for. She is the epitome of a sister who is worthy of the clichéd statement, “I want to be like her when I grow up.” 

Chloe Elijah L. Malicdem
3ELS2

It wasn’t until I was older and more aware of the issue of my weight that I started to accept who I am and what my weight is. I started surrounding myself with friends who didn’t make my appearance into a big deal. I also had this realization that no matter what society perceives me, it will never be satisfied with what it sees so might as well not care about what they think and just love myself the way I am. I also found out that there are certain advantages to being skinny, one of which is being able to fit into an already full FX with it still being roomy for people other than myself. Another advantage is being part of the feeding program which is hello, free food; I can’t say no to that and lastly, if a zombie outbreak were to occur I would probably survive longer. 


Carido, Hannah Lesly S. 
3ELS2

As a child, I admit I am one of those who are mature enough to know what is going on in my life. I am aware of the things adults thought wouldn’t make sense to a child who’s barely five. I always knew my family was not the best, we weren’t perfect but we weren’t also happy. People around me would label me as smart, and because of that I was pressured to always achieve things, to stay in the upper level of my classmates and to never be removed from the honor roll list. Perhaps many would think my mother was the one who keeps on insisting this to me but in reality it is my aunt. You see, my aunt is a very intelligent woman, and being the eldest out of us cousins, I was the first to experienced being pressured. At first it was easy, I was still a kid, lessons those days were not too much of a world for me especially because I can consider myself someone who is an easy learner. But came the time when I thought everything is not enough. I was very active even when I was in elementary, so I had a lot of extra-curricular activities. And believe me when I say I am doing my best in every contest that I am in, managing to win even just a place. And then I was home where winning a place seems so unappreciated. My aunt would always tell me I can do better next time, that I should be 1^st place. I was mature, yes, but I was also a kid; and being a kid meant you should obey what the adults say, so I follow and it came to the point that even winning 1^st place and being among the top students seems never enough. By the time I graduated elementary and high school for me was a new environment, I said to myself I wouldn’t be what I was like before, so I was relaxed. I did not struggle too hard for grades and I didn’t have a care being in the honor roll. It was worth it. Maybe people would think that I am stupid for doing so but they weren’t the one who experienced what I experienced. They weren’t the one pressured by my aunt, my family, the people around me and even my whole school to always be on top. I was happy, I became an average student in high school and I was okay with that.

There is a reason why my aunt made a big impact on my life. I didn’t really put my mind into it but apparently, being pressured grows into you. Even without someone who constantly nags me to do my best; I know in my mind that I became someone who always wants to be at the top. I thought I resisted it, but it came to me that striving for the top almost came natural for me, like I was born with it. And so once again I saw myself being who I was back in elementary and I didn’t regret it. Not because of the pride that comes in it, but because I have come to accept something as vital as this in myself. That I am not who I am if I am not the Jhelo when I was a kid. Sure I can control it but embracing who I really was, I think is important than caring what other people would think about it. And so I thank my aunt for pressuring me in everything that I do for I know I grew up to be someone who is ready for whatever difficulties that may come. I survived and accepted that phase of my life and now it is time for others to do the same.

        
        After that, I told my parents what happened. They were alarmed and contacted my aunt who was a lawyer then to make a report to my school. They even interviewed my other classmates to record the bullying they had experienced from our class bully. We were called in to the principal’s office to discuss the allegations against him two days after the incident. I was there with my parents and he was there with his. His father was a police officer but mostly stayed quiet during the discussion while his mother kept talking in her son's defense. Everything was a mess and he was suspended for maybe a week then.

      
 I still held a grudge and was afraid of him even after he transferred schools and even when we were already in high school. I had moved to Cavite then and when I went home to our province for vacation, I saw him again and my blood still boiled. I cringe every time I remember the incident but only for the embarrassing things I said to him. It's something I would wish to never have happened, but looking back, I admire little me for being brave enough to stand up for her friends and herself.  

 

Being shy is something that I need to overcome especially right now that I’m in college because being a college student is a big step from high school. In high school, you have friends who are closer to you because you’ve been with them longer, so you know in yourself that you can always count on them easier. Unlike in college, you have to make new friends and knowing that I’m shy, it would be a hard thing to do. But, I’ve learned that as time passes, you learn to adapt and blend with new social groups because if you stick only with your previous friends, you will definitely not be comfortable with anyone else who you don’t know and that is just pathetic. 

I’m not saying to leave your old friends, but to expand your circle of friends because, at this young age, you will meet a lot of new people and being nervous around them is not always acceptable. Things could go really awkward and that is also not good. 

To end this, I’m not fully changing myself from being shy because that is who I am and I’m proud of it. I just need to learn when is the right time to be. 

It would be unfair to credit only one person as the biggest impact on my life; many have shaped and influenced me, turning me into what I am now. 

My family has shaped my life, turned me into someone independent and adaptable who can assess, accept, and adjust well to the changes and unfamiliar conditions I encounter. They taught me to dive headfirst into difficult situations, even though anxiety would pull me back. They raised me liberally, so that I learn to take responsibility for my actions and the consequences they bring. They were always there to support me, in the end, but they wanted me to learn on my own first.

The friends I made in high school that are still in my life now taught me how to be loyal and how to keep in touch with the people I value, and how to give importance to things that really matter. They were with me for milestones I overcame and provided companionship in difficult times; I now know how to be a companion to others. The friends I made in college taught me to take life into my own hands, to be comfortable in my skin and to be selfish once in a while—I used to let people walk over me but they taught me that putting myself first is not always a bad thing. They taught me that I will meet difficult people in my life, but it is still possible to love them. They made me more understanding and more considerate. All these people have made a huge impact in my life. 

Rhafaela Bacal, 3ELS2

    I’ve always been closer to my mom than I am with my dad and I don’t mean that to isolate my dad in any way. It’s just that I find it easier to communicate with my mom and in general, I am more comfortable opening up to my female relatives rather than my male ones. She has always been the one who comforts me in my lowest moments and I’ve witnessed firsthand her unwavering faith even when faced in the harshest or what seems to be hopeless situations. I’ve faced battles with my mom and I sometimes can’t fathom how strong and faithful she remains despite the circumstances. Whenever I seem to be losing hope and faith, I draw from her and she helps me turn to God for she always believes that despite anything and everything, God will never fail us.

    One of the harshest battles I’ve fought with her was when my dad got hospitalized in Japan while we were on vacation there. My mom and I had to stay there longer because my dad was still incapable of flying back to Manila and we weren’t expecting to stay longer so we encountered a lot of problems in terms of finances, accommodation, and physical, mental and emotional fatigue. My dad was difficult to take care of because of how grumpy and stubborn he gets. There are times when I get frustrated because of how I sometimes feel that he doesn’t appreciate mom’s efforts. There were also times when I broke down and cried because of how scared and overwhelmed I was with everything that was going on yet my mom remained calm and collected as she told me to be strong for my dad. We grew tired and weary with each day that passed by. I was truly worried that my mom may suddenly collapse due to lack of sleep and her maintenance medication for hypertension also ran out and we couldn’t just buy any because we were in a different country. Our hospital fees were also really expensive because of how advanced the technology in Japan is and I can feel the stress my mom was undergoing as she tried to figure out a way to pay all of them. I honestly thought I wasn’t going to be able to enroll. Thankfully, she had a Japanese colleague who was kind enough to vouch for us in paying the hospital bill. Mom always told me that there’s nothing to really be worried about because she withdraws from heaven and that God always provides.

    Finally, when dad was given permission to fly back to Manila, we were all set and more then excited to go home. However, our flight wasn’t a direct flight and the plane needed to refuel at Taipei. During our flight to Taipei, my dad became unconscious and unresponsive for a couple of minutes which caused distress among the flight attendants and passengers. He eventually regained consciousness but the flight personnel had to arrange for a doctor in Taipei to check on my dad and of course, give the go-signal if he is fit to fly. Upon arriving there, the doctor said he can’t fly back to Manila and he has to stay at least overnight in a hospital nearby. My mom was begging for us to be given permission to fly back to Manila already because she doesn’t know anymore where to get help and money and it was also our first time in Taiwan. I too was worried a lot but looking back to what my mom and I had gone through in Japan, I told both mom and dad that whatever happens here, God will not abandon us. So my mom finally calmed down and we went to the nearest hospital. The Philippine Airlines representative in Taipei was kind enough to assist us with communicating and handling the fees so after an overnight stay, we were finally able to go back to Manila.

    There was so much more that happened but this was more or less the gist of our struggle abroad. It was when I truly felt mom’s unending strength and faith from which I was able to draw from as well. After everything that happened, I told myself that I want to be as strong as my mother. She kept me sane when I was almost losing my sanity due to the circumstances I was in. She also strengthened my faith in God and I am forever thankful that God gave me her as my mother and as my ultimate role model.

I belong to a broken family. I have two older brothers and one older sister, I am the youngest. When I was a little kid back then, I’m the only one who is always left in the house because my older siblings are in school. When my siblings are not around, I always caught my parents fighting. I saw them hurting each other physically, emotionally, and mentally. As a child I can't do anything about it. I tried shouting "Tama na po" over and over again, but it didn't work. I found out that my dad had an affair, he was secretly seeing this woman for almost nine years, and they had a daughter who was exactly the same age as mine. At the age of eight, my parents decide to file an annulment. Filing an annulment is not easy; it is a due process and you really need to prepare a lot of money. During the process, we talked to their lawyers; they want us to choose between our parents who we want to live with. As a kid, I can’t understand what's happening to our family that time. I don’t want to choose between them; I just want them both in my life as I grow up. 

I begin to hate life. I questioned God, of all people in this universe why do I need to experience this thing?

I cried, a lot.

I became a rebel. 

But I felt someone is embracing me. 

That’s the time when I realized, it is God. I just felt His wide open arms; comforting me, whispering, “Don’t worry. I am right here, my child.” 

As I grow up, I’ve realized, what happened to me made me stronger. Today, I live with my mom together with my siblings; my dad visits us from time to time. I just thank God even though my family is not perfect he had better plans for us. Now, my family is happy and at peace.

by Mary Jolina J. Francisco

 She always encourage me to be independent. She actually taught me how to commute at a young age and allowed me to travel abroad alone, because she believes that I can and it will help me as a person. That’s why whenever I think that I am so attached to people; I always remind myself that I was once good in being independent so I shouldn’t dwell on it so much. 

She also reinforces perseverance. Even though I was rejected in auditions numerous times she still encouraged me to try again, because she knows that I can. That’s why whenever I feel disappointed about the outputs I am providing, I always take a step back and work on it again. 

And lastly, she strengthened my sense of responsibility, she often allows me to go socializing with my friends, because she knows how talkative I am and she also wants me not to be secretive or rebellious at some points. That’s why every time I go out, I always put in mind that they trust me and I know what is right and wrong.

My mom is a cut above the rest. I am thankful for her regrets, her morals, and her words of wisdom, for these all caused a huge impact in my life.

          Being shy is something that I need to overcome especially right now that I’m in college because being a college student is a big step from high school. In high school, you have friends who are closer to you because you’ve been with them longer, so you know in yourself that you can always count on them easier. Unlike in college, you have to make new friends and knowing that I’m shy, it would be a hard thing to do. But, I’ve learned that as time passes, you learn to adapt and blend with new social groups because if you stick only with your previous friends, you will definitely not be comfortable with anyone else who you don’t know and that is just pathetic. 

         I’m not saying to leave your old friends, but to expand your circle of friends because, at this young age, you will meet a lot of new people and being nervous around them is not always acceptable. Things could go really awkward and that is also not good. 

         To end this, I’m not fully changing myself from being shy because that is who I am and I’m proud of it. I just need to learn when is the right time to be. 

Bullying never stopped from my early pre-school days until college. It never stopped giving me too much pain in which my mental health is affected. It began at an early age when I was offended by certain words that either make me cry or angry. 

The most traumatizing experience in bullying took place in high school, when most of the students bully me by either verbal abuse or violence. In most incidents, I either become angry of sad depending on the pain I can endure. The result of most incidents would end up being discussed in the guidance office. One such incident happened when they were playing with handkerchief as whips. Then, by playing with those it ended up injuring my eye. This incident made me realize that it has been too much for me to handle. Because of what everything happen, I had to go a psychiatrist to fix my problems. 

By being nice to people, they would later abuse the kindness that I give. With around four years of being a victim, I realize that it may become a lesson in order to grow. It is the very characteristic of the person that gets hurt. It gives the person mental pain that may result to a student having depression.

Original file:

It was December of 2013, my last Christmas with my father. My family doesn’t have a typical setting like most families have. My parents are not separated but we live in different houses; my dad would stay in his house while my sister and I would stay at our grandparent’s house and my mom and brother stayed here in manila. It’s weird that my father and I are not living under the same roof considering that his house is just blocks away from ours, but due to some family issues it’s the situation that we were in. 

For years I have been going to simbang gabi because they say that when you completed it God will grant your wish and for years I have wished for the same thing –it’s for my family to be complete on Christmas day (I’d wish for every single day but I thought it was too much to ask). 

I was about to give up when it happened, December 2013 my family traveled from Quezon
 Province (my hometown) to Manila for us to celebrate Christmas here. It was the first time that I witnessed my family complete and with no reservations; by family I mean with my grandmother, father, mother and two siblings. I remember I mumbled something like siguro natakot na si God na mawalan ako ng faith kaya nya tinupad wish ko. 

The six of us went for a road trip and we ate in various restaurants; from December 25-28 we were in paradise. I remember before we went back to Quezon my dad cooked his famous sinigang. I can still remember how he was so happy that time that we all ate together as a family. 

Nonetheless as every great story comes to an end, our paradise did too; December 29, 2013 we brought my father into the hospital because of chest pains. That night before I went home he told me to stay but I said I couldn’t so he said mahal na mahal kita anak and that was the last words I heard him say because the next day God sent his angels to fetch him. 

It was a sad new year for each one of us but it was the best Christmas a little girl could ask for, that is why even after what happened whenever someone asks what my happiest moment was –it’s that Christmas when God finally heard my prayer.  

    
      I was always the shy girl in class. I did not talk that much. I was always too afraid to speak because of the fear of being judged and embarrassed. I think my confidence at that time never really grew because of my experiences during my childhood.

      I was born with allergies that made my skin get scars and people always noticed it. It always felt like they were rubbing it on my face, telling me that it was such a waste having been born with such condition. My playmates and even my own family and relatives would always tease me, saying that I am like a Dalmatian with all those spots on my skin and I felt so helpless at that time. 

      As a kid trying to find herself and starting to build up confidence, I felt like I was already neglected and the world had always been harsh to me. All I can do at that time was to hear what they were saying and cry.

 

      When I was in kindergarten I have experienced being called a turtle by my own kindergarten teacher because according to him I move so slowly. I remember that one time when I was the last one to submit my work for our activity that day, then my teacher said that if I would be getting an award, that would be in the title of 'the slowest student in class' and my classmates would always laugh at me.

 

      Also, I will never forget those times when I was so afraid to attend our mathematics subject when I was in my second or third grade. Whenever the subject before that class would end, my heart would already start to beat so rapidly because I was too nervous, then my stomach would lurch and my knees would start to tremble. I always tried to find a way to miss that subject. I would even pretend to be sick to be able to go to the clinic and not see our math teacher. Every single day our math teacher would call my name for recitation, and then the next moment would be her, embarrassing me in front of my classmates for not being able to answer the math problems written on the board. She even told me that it was such a waste to have a pretty face if I am this stupid.

 

     I have always thought that I was stupid, that I was not good enough, and that I have no worth, because those were the things that the people around me at that time would always say and would make me feel, not until I met my friends now that I am in college and those people that I have not lost contact with during my elementary and secondary years.

 

       My friends accepted me for who I am. They never told me that I am boring even though I do not talk that much because they know that it is just who I am. They gave the encouragement that I have never received before. They have always been supportive and never made fun of me to let me down. They always make me happy. They are my little balls of sunshine. When I was broken, they were there to comfort me and never judged me. I have learned to trust again because of them and think that people are not as bad as I thought they were. Thus, they helped me gain confidence to love and believe in myself even just a little. God indeed gave me the best that I need to be able to heal.

My parents used to always teach me how to be an “ate” that at some point I got tired with consistently having to be responsible, understanding, and sacrificing my needs before his. I was a child and I didn’t fully grasp the concept of being an “ate” and why it’s important for me to be the better person. But I finally understood the significance of my role when my parents started fighting a lot. It took a few years and the fighting almost broke them apart, taking the whole family with them. When my parents fought, they’ll forget about us and I had no choice but to take care of myself and my little brother. I often did my best to distract him and not let him witness the fights. Sometimes, I even had to fill in the role of my parents so that Israel can eat, bathe, do his homework, and even wash his bum after a trip to the bathroom. Because of that we got to spend a lot of time together, resulting to a closer and stronger sibling relationship.

My parents might have been the ones who taught me how to be an “ate” but it’s my love for my brother that made me learn on my own how to really fulfill my role. Being the first born and a big sister didn’t just teach me how to be responsible and understanding, it also taught me how to be a leader, how to be patient, how to really listen, and how to be compassionate. However, don’t get me wrong, Israel didn’t give me an easy time and we still fight from time to but it’s nothing I can’t handle. He really shaped me into how I am now and I couldn’t ask for a better sibling than him.

 

Never in my life did I rank happy moments. For me, in every single day that I get to live, there is something to be blissful about – may it be a professor’s joke, a crush passing by and saying “hello,” or friends I can hang out with after classes.  Now that I am probably required to think about a genuine, happiest moment, all I could think about was probably the day when in graduated in high school from St. Paul College of Makati. To be honest, the idea of finally graduating was not the one that put my heart at glee. It actually made me cry for I have to leave behind some people who had been very close to my heart, and the clubs like the school’s publication which I had been a part of. What made me immensely happy was the fact that my ‘separated parents’, for that single day, managed to set aside their differences, to join me in the graduation ceremony.

It was two days before my birthday when I marched to the stage of the gymnasium wearing a light-yellow ‘toga’ with my mother by my side to receive and put on my medals. It was on that same day when my father sat on the plain white plastic chair, several meters away from where we stood, taking photos of my mother and I with huge smiles on our faces. Many people who had an idea of my parent’s separation might say that they were just undeniably good at pretending that their relationship was normal, but who cares? I was happy and no one can turn that smile into a frown. The six medals I received were just a small fragment of the overflowing happiness. Besides, things like that only have ‘notional’ values. It was during that event that I realized that the presence of the people I love mattered the most, and that was the best award that I received. It was painful to see things fall apart which is why seeing things somehow fall back together, even for just a short while, gives me a surreal feeling of hope. A hope that cannot be undermined for it is every child’s dream to have a complete family.

They said happiness is a choice, but I would like to think of it not just a personal choice but of a collective choice. My parents knew (based from experience and from societal view) that a graduation ceremony is among the highlights of a person’s life, and is often celebrated collectively. Our choice to celebrate the completion of my high school education as one family brought me immense and unfathomable happiness. I do hope that in return, I get to make them experience the happiness that I have felt. Now that I am in third year college, I can already say that I am looking forward to my next graduation, and by 2018, I hope, I get to write another genuine happy moment. 

But looking back right now, I think it is the happiest moment of my life, because everyone still managed to make it despite the heavy traffic that night. Although it already happened two years ago, I still remember the feeling I felt that night because it was undeniably irreplaceable. I can still remember everything that happened that night, from the beginning of the program until the end, I can still remember the feeling of not having to remove the smile on my face because, for me, that night was beyond perfect, if there is such thing as beyond perfect. 

 

My whole family was there, and by whole I mean even my real father’s side. Considering the fact that my parents are not together, it is very unusual for me to see them all at the same time, at the same place. It was actually the first time that I got to be with my mother’s family, my step-dad’s relatives and real father’s family all at the same time. It was the perfect celebration for me because I know it cannot happen again, even if I want to. The only one missing was my Lola, but I’m sure if she was still alive that time she wouldn’t miss my debut celebration, maybe she would’ve been one of my organizers too. Aside from having my family that night, my high school friends whom I got to see only a few times after high school graduation were there. Not only that, my church friends also came despite coming from an event at our church. Of course, that night wouldn’t be complete without my college friends; they even came from their provinces just to go to my celebration. Who wouldn’t be happy at the thought of that?

 

I think I considered my debut celebration as the happiest moment of my life so far because the preparations I’ve been through were stressful. I even cried for a few times because I kept on thinking that everything was going to be a mess, but it didn’t. Everything that I was stressing about didn’t matter that night anymore, everything was just perfect for me, although there were some complications and my Lola wasn’t there.

 

Turning eighteen has got to be one of the memorable events in a girl’s life, well, at least for me. And I spent it in the venue I wished for, the gown I imagined, and most importantly, with the people I love and cherish the most.

 

I couldn’t imagine that night in any other way. I loved it just the way it is.

                Most would describe me and my sister as complete opposites. My sister is a complete saint; she always sees the good side of other people even at the worst situations. I see the good in others too, but I am the more practical one. My sister, she has a lot of hopes and dreams for everyone. She believes that everything she can do, everyone else can do as well. She organizes her time really well. Even as a young girl, she knows how to manage her time; academics, organizations, friends, sports, etc. I really admire her especially when we were still in the same school, I would always be so proud when people would ask me if I was related to her. She was the top student from pre-school until 6^th grade. In high school, she transferred to Manila Science High School then, in college, she took up Political Science in UP and right after graduating, and she went to Law school, still in UP, where she is at the moment. Aside from her intellectual abilities, my sister has made a huge impact on me because of how pure her heart is. She is the kindest and most understanding person I have ever known; even more understanding than my mom. She is the most humble and supportive person. All adjectives are in their superlative forms because I believe and I know that she really is the most wonderful person in everything that she does.

                 I never tell her how much she means to me and how much impact she has made in my life, but little does she know, every time I am required to do an essay about someone who is important to me, I always choose her as my topic. She has inspired me to be the best version of myself through good times and bad times and to seek God wherever I may be. My faith in God became stronger because of how she brought up His goodness and His unending love for all of us. She influenced me to find and see the goodness in others even when it seems like there’s none. Most importantly, she inspired me to believe in myself. Ever since I was little, I’ve always had very little faith in myself. I never believed I could do anything unless she tells me so. She pushed and still pushes me to act upon my dreams and do what makes me happy. My sister had always been my biggest fan and I appreciate how she never runs out of patience when dealing with me. I believe that I am indeed blessed to have a sister like her. Anyone would be lucky to have her in their lives because of the delightful vibe she brings and how beautiful she is as a person. 

                In my life, there have been a lot of people who have influenced me in ways both good and bad. One of the biggest influencers is my English Professor in college, Ma’am Elizabeth Kapulong. She is an amazing and remarkable teacher. I admire the way she cares for her students and the way she delivers her classes is truly great. Back when I was still in AMV, Ma’am Beth was my professor in 2 English classes and our RESTW class so she knows me very well; she even admires the way I talk and sometimes make fun of it. There was never a day that I wasn’t called to recite just because she wanted to hear me talk.  

During that time, I’m enjoying all my English classes and struggling to pass my Accounting subjects which made me think a lot about my future and I even started to question why I’m even in AMV. It was hard but I pushed through, studying for long hours and having sleepless nights just to try and pass my Accounting quizzes and exams. Then one bad moment came, I was already about to be a 4^th year graduating student when I failed a few subjects and had to leave AMV. I applied in the Faculty of Arts and Letters (in UST) with the major Communication Arts but I wasn’t let in because the program was full and then I thought of what Ma’am Beth said – “I recommend you to the Faculty of Arts and Letters, try for ELS!” and so I did.

Ma’am Beth had a big influence on where I am today. She inspired me to do and pursue what you want in life. The moment I told her that I’m already in AB ELS, she told me that I’m right where I belong and that she wants to give me a hug. My heart was filled with joy and I truly feel happy with where I am. Up until now, Ma’am Beth and I keep in touch and I still look up to her and I know that one day, I’d like to thank her because she inspired me in ways bigger than she thinks. Thank you, Ma’am Beth. 

Euri T. Camus
3ELS2

I have always been my dad’s “beautiful baby girl”, and believe it or not, I still am even until now. I mean, imagine, I am the eldest child but he still treats me like a princess. He always reminds me and my brother to be the “better Ibarra”, but I believe that no one can ever surpass his efforts. He is the rock of the family; He is our source of strength; He is the one who always understands even though it’s not his fault. I am very blessed to have him as my father, and I’ll never get tired to try harder just to make him proud.

IBARRA, ALYSSA JOY L.
3ELS2

Every time I pass through the boys department, there was this one boy who always teases me, like every single day. He was short, chubby, and he has a wavy hair. I don’t know his name because I don’t really care about his existence. But he started bullying and teasing me so he really caught my attention. I was not afraid at all but he bothered the hell out of me because he was too rude.

 I was so exasperated that one day, I went straight to my teacher and I told my teacher that her student won’t stop teasing and bullying me. She was surprised when I told her what was happening and that is why she called the boy immediately. I was waiting outside, and then I saw my teacher with the bully. I saw the embarrassment in his eyes and I will never forget that moment because I was laughing inside. My teacher got mad at him and made him apologize. He said sorry and of course I said apology accepted. Ever since that day, he never looked nor said a single word to me.   

The loved ones that came into my life and, of course, those who are already in my life before I was even born are those very important people that I can say that put huge impact in my life. My parents, of course. My mother, who is the best woman I know, gives me nothing but moral and emotional support ever since I’ve had my anxiety and understands me whenever I come through arduous situations even when I could not share what’s going on in my head. My father provides everything that a child ever needs and more. He is very patient and tolerant to my attitude towards life yet still not complaining and continuously providing even when life gets hard sometimes. My current best friend, Ruzel, has definitely created room for herself in my heart that nobody else that I know can get into it anymore. She is my other half and we went through a lot together yet she sticks by my side and I stick to hers. 

These people made me feel loved and valid despite my anxious and panicky heart that could probably lead into something unbearable. Now, when I’m being asked who the person that gave the biggest impact in my life is, I say, it’s Sam. 

After all the harsh and insufferable things I’ve been through in relationships, self-hatred, unhappiness, and in life generally, he just made it all go away. Ever since I met him, I finally have a reason to be the most grateful that I could be at all times. He has now become my happiness and there is nobody else that I want to love but him. It’s either I have him or nobody at all. 

He gives me that specific kind of love, or let’s say the most special kind of love that I deserve all this time, that I’ve been waiting for all my love life. Every time I look at him, all I think about is how much I love him and how felicific I am to have him that no words can describe. He is beyond perfect in my eyes, he is so beautiful, and I cannot believe that he’s mine. Even his presence affects my current mood such whenever I feel down, he just simply smiles at me with those shimmering eyes, then I become completely fine that I forgot I was in a bad mood before that. 

He is the love of my life and I have no idea what would happened to me if he’s out of my life for good. Happiness is my priority and that is one of the two most abundant things I receive from him aside from his love. The rest he provides is just a bonus. 

 

I knew I loved her the moment I met her. She held my hand while we were strolling on a life blended by intelligence, venture, devotion, and failure. She stays on my side either in good times or bad times. She inspires and motivates me to be the best that I can be, every single day. She has taught me to appreciate even the smallest thing in life. She informed me all the things I needed to know. This woman is my source of strength and power; she never hated me no matter how disappointing I was. She picked me up when I was stumbling down, with my dreams and hopes with me. She loved me when I couldn’t even love myself, simply because she sees me through my insecurities and fears. She never gave up on me. She showed me how to be independent, brave, beautiful, brilliant, and tough woman. She is definitely my constant, my other half.

 

Every time I hear the question, “Who has made the biggest impact in your life?”, only one person consistently and swiftly pops on my mind, and it’s my mom. I literally don’t have any idea where I would be if she wasn’t with me all the time. No words would ever be enough to describe how valuable she is to me. She made me the person I am today. She is truly the most valuable gift God has given me.

ENG 209

Kamille Salazar is an embodiment of the famous Latin phrase Sui generis, meaning “of its’ own kind”. The name she was born with has different meanings in three languages, which she certainly lives up to-- perfection in Arabic, free-born in French and a servant of the temple in Latin.

Camille was a popular name given to female babies all around the world during the 90’s. Her father, not wanting to follow suit, modified the spelling with a K instead of a C. In the present day, she is often fondly called as Kam Kam, Kams, Mille, or Kambal.

Although no known folktales are connected with her given name, she intends to make one of her own. Just like how she came up with her pet’s name, Brownie and four distinct feminine names when the time comes that she be blessed with children.

Autumn, which denotes the third season of the year when fruits are gathered and leaves fall, is a name she intends to give to one of them. Gemstones must also have a certain appeal to Kamille, for she has the names Sapphire and Amethyst in mind as well.

Ultimately, Athalia, a queen in Judah during the c. 841 – 835 B.C, is the last of her choices for female names.

Not forgetting the boys, Kamille pictures them being named as Sebastian Lucas which symbolizes “venerable and bright” or Caleb Jaxon which denotes “bold and to which God has shown favor”.

 I studied in an all-girls school ever since my preparatory years. Being in an all-girls school, things like cool lesbians and lesbian couples are considered famous and “in”. During my 5th grade, I was unfortunately put in a class where the school’s big bully was in.  I remember that day; it was around lunchtime when I had the urge to pee. Since we were not allowed to pee in the other year’s washroom, I ran upstairs to use the washroom designated to 5th grade students. I was running along the hallway when I accidentally bumped into my classmate, who’s a famous person in school, also the big bully’s crush. Later that afternoon, I went to the washroom with a friend of mine and I was surprised to see the big bully with her other friends. She approached me and grabbed me by my collar and asked me about the incident that happened earlier, surprisingly, people stirred up the story by adding that I “kissed” her crush. I tried to push her away and told her that nothing like that happened, she wouldn’t believe me and held my collar tighter. I was terrified during that moment, luckily, she calmed down and told me not to talk to my classmate again. 

I’m not really sure how I overcame that experience but one thing is for sure,  I remained nice to her and to her friends. One day, she just came up to me and apologized for what she did. Maybe my kind gestures mixed with fear softened her heart. From then on, no one ever bullied me.  

I would like to say that my parents made a big impact in my life, but they mean to me beyond being just an impact. They are not just that, but I owe my very life to them. If they haven’t fallen in love with each other, I would not have existed right now. They were and will always be responsible for my well-being as a daughter. Since I grew up in a conservative family, I learned to preserve myself in ways that a typical daughter will not do. My mother has always taught me to be graceful and prayerful while my father has always reminded me to be smart.

With all these stories, I grew up believing that I could never be happy with anyone except my parents care. I have been contented with the fact that I have them and that I will forever be dependent on them. Being so baby girl, I even promised them that I will be the first nun in our family. I was this submissive to them.

I had an older sister. Thirteen years ago, she was diagnosed with a grade 4 brain cancer… she died 3 years after. If there was ever a perfect adjective to describe her, I’d describe her as beautiful, with a thousand more meanings behind it. She was too beautiful inside and out that everybody in our school wants to be just like her. They always look up to them. I have and will always look up to her. 

I was only 9 when she died, and her death made a big impact to me. I can still remember the pain of sleeping in a double-size bed alone, watching romantic-comedy movies by myself, going to prom twice without the help of a sister, doing English assignments not mindful of the correct grammar, getting bullied by my two older brothers, because I was alone and because I lost my sister at an early age. Her death was too painful that I felt losing myself.

My mother has always taught me to be graceful and prayerful while my father has always reminded me to be smart…because that’s exactly how my ate was. From her death, until now, and up until I grow ip, I have promised myself to live up to what she left. I can say that what I am now is because of what she was before, and I think that is something, that is an impact I will forever carry with in me.

 

- Ingalla, Marie Carmella DR.

3ELS2

 
I am the eldest of three in my family. Even though I did pray willfully to have younger brothers, I had sisters instead. However, the level of intimacy that my sisters and I share, do vary a lot. I do admit that I rarely bond with the sister born next to me, Princess. 

Since we are all girls, fights are to be expected; and it is mostly with her. We fought a lot during our younger years and somehow mellowed out in adolescence. I can still remember how a simple play house could turn into world war 3 in just a span of minutes. That is how rowdy we can get. However, I could not make myself hate her; because that is what a good big sister should be; taking the role of the loving eldest. 

 I never really expected anything from her except the distasteful words we often throw at each other. That is why when she handed me a box of munchkins as soon on my 17^th birthday, I am stunned. I am astonished by the gesture. Her tight hug and happy birthday greeting opened the flood gates. I even failed to compose myself to give my thanks. I really do love munchkins but what I appreciate the most is the thought that after all those times we hit each other with brooms and sticks; she still loved me as her dear sister. I may not say this to her in person for it might get to her head but that is the happiest day in my life even up until now. It made me realize how really cute my younger siblings can get, that fights are just a part of growing up. Moreover, it made me think that it is also fun that I had her as my younger sibling. It was only a box of munchkins, but it meant the world for me. 

 

     She is a type of person that is a perfect fit for “actions speak louder than words”, well, for me. She’s my idol, I like how hard working she is even though we have really strict parents that sometimes she cannot handle. She’s brave, knowing that a lot of people have already tried bringing her down, and sometimes all the pressure from my parents is often on her because she’s the eldest. She still asks me if I’m okay even though I really am. Her ways of teaching me how to be strong is different, and I can’t explain it. I remember when we didn’t talk for like a month or two, I didn’t know what to do, I was lost, and it’s kind of a different “lost” when that happened. But I’m glad that we are finally talking, knowing that she will be far away from me. And right now, she really is not with me anymore, she is on the other side of the world. At first, I was worried and scared because I don’t know what I would do in my last year in a half stay here, in the Philippines, because I know there are still many things that could happen, and of course, I need and want her to be here when things happen. I stopped myself from crying at the airport because my mom doesn’t want any of us crying when someone leaves, because according to her, it’s not a good sign. We want my sister to be successful in her new journey, and so I gave her my time during the day of her departure although I have a lot of things to do, and I don’t regret giving her most of my time. I just kept in mind that I’m still going to see her in our graduation, and here I am, working hard, being brave, being me, and patiently waiting for that day to happen. I’m glad that even though she has things to do on the other side of this world, she still gives me her time. She still finds a way for us to communicate, online. At first, I didn’t feel comfortable not seeing her around at home, but then I got used to it because we talk on viber, I can feel that she is with me. And even though my brother didn’t survive, she has been both my brother and a sister to me, my best friend, my partner in crime, my buddy, and the like, and guess what? The hug that we gave each at the airport, was our first one. 


Sarmiento, Jonalyn A
3ELS2

 

 

When I was small I went to a tiny school, with tiny classmates, in a tiny island. It was really a small school and it had a small number of enrollees, everyone got along very well except for me. I never knew the reason why, but my classmates would not talk to me when we were in grade one. In my class we only had four girls the three were very close. I was left out. I was shy around guys so being friends with them was out of the question, and besides, all they do is tease me. At that age they never really talk to you seriously. I remember when we were practicing graduating in the preparatory stage when the teacher asked us to pretend we were wearing graduation hats and asked as to move the tassel to the left. The teacher told us to pretend that our hair was the tassel and to hold a piece of our hair and move it to the left. My classmate who was sitting beside me grabbed my hair and pulled it so hard I cried. It was never clear to me why she did it but I knew then, that she didn’t like me. One day, when we were attending our flag ceremony the girl in front told me that she was sorry for not talking to me and told me that if she did, the girl who hated me would tell our other classmates to ignore her as well. I got used to being ignored until grade 4 when I found out that that girl has transferred to a different school. I never forgot her name and swore that one day I would make her feel what I felt when I had no one to talk to. I later gained friends and had a pretty normal student life until I graduated and entered high school.

            It was my first day and I was very shy I didn’t know how to make friends because I grew up with the same classmates every year so I never really experienced making new ones before. I adjusted pretty quickly because some of my old elementary classmates became my classmates in high school again but during lunch I had a difficult time because my old classmates had to go home to eat and I had to eat in the cafeteria. As I entered the cafeteria I saw two students who was in the same year as me, they smiled and invited me to join them. They were both very nice the boy was funny and was really smart; the girl beside him was very pretty. She had a slim figure, pale skin and a small face. She spoke really well and was very kind to me. We got into talking and later found out that we went to the same school before. I was surprised because I know all of my classmates by heart because we were few and we were together for almost nine years those that transferred were my precious friends but I did not remember her. Surely I would remember anyone who was as nice and as pretty as her and then I realized it. It was so long that I almost forgot, but I could never forget the hurt it caused me. That name that I swore to never forget resurfaced in my mind. So, I told her that I once knew a girl who owned that name. Her eyes beamed and told me it was her. She changed her name when she transferred school. At first I didn’t know how to react the girl who bullied me was right in front of me. I wanted to yell at her and asked her why, but then I realized that she wasn’t the same person as before. I just jokingly told her about how she was so mean to me. She was surprised and told me that she doesn’t remember why she did that and apologized to me. Of course I forgave her and we became friends afterward. She transferred again when we were in 3rd year high school. I didn’t see her again until I was a first year college student when we bumped into each other in the hallway of the AB building in UST.  
-Ruzel Pearl Raqueno
3ELS2

                However, this issue stopped when I realized what was keeping me away from having nice friends. It was because I was trying too hard to fit myself in the groups that do not have the same personality as mine. It felt great when I finally found people I am comfortable with.  I do not have to fake the things that I like just in order for them to get along with me. Another thing that contributed to this was the fact that I became so conscious in having friends. I now think that this is a ridiculous thing to do. Making friends should just come naturally. You may need to do some things for it, but do not be so crazy about it. Making friends should be fun.

                Now, I have friends whom I am really happy with. They are awesome. They may not be a lot, but they always make me happy and relaxed when I am around them.  They bring positivity into my life. I love them!

Through the course of my life, I have accumulated a lot of happy moments. There are some that I have shared with my friends, but most of them, I have shared with my family. Honestly, I couldn’t pick a specific happy moment that I consider as the happiest moment of my life, as I have so many memories that I treasure. But I have thought of the most recent moment that I have become genuinely happy.

It was January of this year, before the new semester began to run its course. My team from an organization which I am a part of went for an out-of-town getaway. It was supposed to be just in Cavite, we opted to have a swim-on-the-pool after the team meeting kind of itinerary. However, this did not push through because we started late and had a lot of agenda to talk about. By the time we finish, it was already two in the morning and it was too cold to jump into the pool’s water.

Since we didn’t feel sleepy at all, we talked about how it would be nice to see the sunrise by the beach. I don’t know what happened next but we found ourselves riding in a bus that is bound for Nasugbu, Batangas. We were dropped along the road and we walked our way to the beach, just in time for the sunrise. We sat there, as our feet sank on the soft sand. We welcomed the breeze of the ocean and the sound of the waves as the ray of the sun started to show up. We took a dip, got ourselves covered in sand and took a dip again. The experience was just so magical that I consider it the best morning of my 2017.

After Batangas, we decided to eat lunch in Tagatay. We found a                decent restaurant that offers seats, exposing a 180 degrees view of the Taal Lake. It wasn’t that humid that day, the wind was blowing in our faces as we ate their house specialty, Bulalo. It was the perfect way to warm our insides from the cold weather. The restaurant also had some sort of a ‘harana squad’ who serenades the guests with love songs, making the mood tug our hearts.

I never thought I would have so much fun with people I barely know. Before, we just meet for organizational tasks, but spending time with them this way made me appreciate them more. It was like I’ve seen them unguarded, just free and being themselves. They are strangers, turned friends, turned family.

By the time I reached my apartment in Manila, I was so tired, not to mention I haven’t had a decent sleep yet. Physically my body was drained from all the commuting that we’ve done, but emotionally I was happy. I have always been dying to have a spontaneous trip with very spontaneous people. And it happened! Not only that, I get to cross “Visit the beach” from my 2017 bucket list!

-Michelle Marasigan

3ELS2

 

In the future, she would like to name her child “Leo” if it’s a boy and “Calypso” if it’s a girl. These two names are her favorite characters in the book series Heroes of Olympus. Calypso is indeed a unique and sweet name of a girl. At present time, Lorraine owns a Shih Tzu. She named it Summer which is quite exceptional for a dog.

Lorraine has two nicknames—Achi and Raine. Her family calls her Achi most of the time. When asked about the chance to change her name, she said that she would change it to Ella, because it’s a simple and classy name.  Also, it’s her favorite movie character in the movie Ella Enchanted portrayed by Anne Hathaway. 

It was a nice experience to get to know more about another person. I only asked a few basic questions about her names, her future children’s names and the like but I have discovered a lot more than that. I had a glimpse of her life by knowing her favorites and some facts about her and her family. It is true then, that it’s not so hard to know a person if you would just directly ask things about him or her.

                Every people face ups and downs, but there will always be a happy moment in your life. There is no only one happy moments in my life, most especially when I’m with my loved ones. If I talk about one of happiest moment in my life, it is when we went to Japan to celebrate my 18^th birthday there. I didn’t celebrate the usual 18^th birthday with an extravagant party, because I chose to travel with my family. I didn’t expect that my parent will grant my wish to travel, but they made it possible. It was not my first time traveling with them, but it was the happiest travel I had, because I’m more matured to appreciate their culture and other things they have. Until know I’m still amazed whenever I go to airports and riding an airplane. Whenever I ride on an airplane I always look on their stewardess. 

When we’re there I was the one who made the itinerary, where we will go and where we will eat. We went to different tourist spots there. The tourist spot that stunned me is the Tokyo Skytree. It is the tallest tower in the world it’s approximately 634m high. Besides that I got the chance to cross the famous crossing in Tokyo, the Shibuya crossing. Before we go back to the Philippines, we went on biking and buy pasalubongs .

 This is the most unforgettable moment in my life, because this was the last trip we had with my father. 

-Czarina Fraulien M. Mabilangan

But I have a say on that, I think the greater part of our happiness depends on our dispositions not our circumstances. I am happy for almost every day of my life, because I chose to be one. I am happy discovering something new, and I am happy growing up as a person. 

And as I age, a whole new set of people partake in my happiness..

I can say that I am falling in love with different kinds of people every day. 

I feel something for different types of person, an indescribable feeling that this person right in front of me belongs in my life. I don’t know if it was love, attraction or just plain interest but it was like the world just began to spin, everything that I’m doing at the moment, they just all finally made sense. 
 
 

It was literally the most magical, mystical, and frankly, indescribable feeling in this world. It happens, suddenly and without hesitation. I’m aware that this feeling might destroy me in the end, but you know what, i am (suddenly) brave enough, and I want to risk it all.

-Noreen Penullar

Another happy moment in my life was when I attended junior prom in high school. It still feels surreal until now. Somehow, “Today was a fairy tale” playing in the school grounds, the stage with its pink curtains, the tables with their fancy decorations and ornaments, and the good friends I was with seems like a perfect scenario in my head. Many things happened that night and no, it’s not the naughty, wild type. It’s actually the first time I talked to people I haven’t been acquainted with before. And my friends, stunning in their beautiful gowns, asked me to dance. We were in a circle in the middle of the dance floor and just enjoyed the music and each other’s company. We laughed, hugged, danced, talked and some even cried.

There are many small things that could somehow make you happy every day like being with your family and friends, talking to someone you like, taking your pet for a walk, etc. And even though sometimes, you may feel down, just remember that everything will be fine in the end. Lastly, there’s this song that I really enjoy listening to and the lyrics go like this:  “There’s a rainbow always after the rain”.

 They say that the people who made you the happiest can be the same ones that can make you hit your rock bottom.

But I have a say on that, I think the greater part of our happiness depends on our dispositions not our circumstances. I am happy almost every day of my life, because I chose to be. I am happy discovering something new, and I am happy growing up as a person. 

And as I age, a whole new set of people partake in my happiness.

I can say that I am falling in love with different kinds of people every day. 

I feel something for different types of people, an indescribable feeling that this person right in front of me belongs in my life. I don’t know if it was love, attraction or just plain interest but it was like the world just began to spin, everything that I’m doing at the moment, they just all finally made sense. 
  
  

It was literally the most magical, mystical, and frankly, indescribable feeling in this world. It happens, suddenly and without hesitation. I’m aware that this feeling might destroy me in the end, but you know what, i am (suddenly) brave enough, and I want to risk it all.
 
 -Noreen Penullar

 

                When I was a still a kid, I always dreamt of going to college and being an adult. I imagine myself having classes in a university and having friends with people I barely knew. I always thought that it was exciting that I couldn’t wait to be in it already. College, although considered almost like hell by students, means so much more to me. Even the vast amount of paperwork to be done, projects to accomplish, and exams to pass, it amazes me. I learned new things in college and I grew extensively in the three years I have been in college. I have so many people who I am friends with, I got to be active in an organization, I had the opportunity to serve my fellow students and really, there’s nothing else that I could ask for. College taught me to think like an adult more, because it holds that uncertainty about the things you want to do and I think that it is worth it. Nothing can beat the amount of sleepless nights I had spent on doing assignments, projects and reviewing for quizzes and exams to the amount of happiness that I gain just by being in college, learning and staying with my friends. I am happy because college honed me to be a better version of myself and having to learn how to deal with the real world once I graduate.

                Happiest for me not just matter in major events, it also accounts for the smallest of joys we experienced. Entering college was something you will have a love-hate relationship with but the moment you graduate and leave the four walls of the university knowing you are not going to enter one again, you will feel that burden go off. You will fall happy because you graduated but that sadness will creep inside of you, making you wish you could go back in time just to experience all the things you did again. That’s why entering college is the happiest moment of my life because leaving it would be the saddest.

Proofread by: Chloe Elijah L. Malicdem

I overcame the “shyness stage” when I started to join dance performances during my elementary days. I did not overcome it that easily. There was one time that we were having a performance and my dad was taking a video of it. My family is fond of documenting such performances. I saw my dad holding the video recorder and I sense that he was only focusing the video on me and not the whole group who was performing with me. My shy side went out and all throughout the video, when we got the chance to watch it, I was covering my face with my hands with every possible dance move that I can make. I felt bad and ashamed because it kind of ruined the whole purpose of the video. When they saw me getting all shy about it again, my parents reassured me that I still did a good job and suggested that maybe next time, I would not cover my face while dancing again. Since then, I have learned my lesson and try not to be shy anymore. 

Reflecting to my current self, I think I have already overcame being shy. But there are still times that when I am around a lot of people, say a social gathering, with no familiar face in sight, I still tend to get out of place and to be too shy to mingle with others. Most of my friends’ first impression of me also shows my past in being a shy person. They would say that at first, they thought I was a quiet, reserved, shy person. But once they really get to know me, they would see that I am really not any of those. I think my tendency in being quite reserved during the first meeting is that I like to observe people. And after I observe them, I decide as to how we can get along well. 

Proofread and edit by: Jhelo V. Mercado

 

For years I have been going to simbang gabi because they say that when you completed it God will grant your wish and for years I have wished for the same thing –it’s for my family to be complete on Christmas day (I’d wish for every single day but I thought it was too much to ask). 

I was about to give up when it happened, December 2013 my family traveled from Quezon
 Province (my hometown) to Manila for us to celebrate Christmas here. It was the first time that I witnessed my family complete and with no reservations; by family I mean with my grandmother, father, mother and two siblings. I remember I mumbled something like siguro natakot na si God na mawalan ako ng faith kaya nya tinupad wish ko. 

The six of us went for a road trip and we ate in various restaurants; from December 25-28 we were in paradise. I remember before we went back to Quezon my dad cooked his famous sinigang. I can still remember how he was so happy that time that we all ate together as a family. 

Nonetheless as every great story comes to an end, our paradise did too; December 29, 2013 we brought my father into the hospital because of chest pains. That night before I went home he told me to stay but I said I couldn’t so he said mahal na mahal kita anak and that was the last words I heard him say because the next day God sent his angels to fetch him. 

It was a sad new year for each one of us but it was the best Christmas a little girl could ask for, that is why even after what happened whenever someone asks what my happiest moment was –it’s that Christmas when God finally heard my prayer.  

Note: below is a screenshot of Alyssa Ibarra's edit

I would like to say that my parents made an impact in my life—but they are more than just impacts, they are beyond that. They’re not just anyone else, they are the ones whom I owe my life to. If not for their love, I would not be existing right now. If not for their care, I would not be as well-groomed as I am right now. Since I grew up in a conservative family, I have learned to reserve myself in ways that other daughter might not care about. My mother has always taught me to be graceful and religious, while my father has always reminded me to be smart.

With all the stories they have imbued in me, I grew up believing that I could never be happy with anyone else except my parents. I have been contented with the fact that I have them and that I will forever be dependent on them. Being the baby girl, I even promised them that I will be the first nun in our family—which something that I would feign innocence in every time it becomes a family topic.

However, ten years ago, something surpassed the “huge and beyond normal impact” my parents gave me—my sister. I had an older sister. If there was ever a perfect adjective to describe her, I’d describe her as beautiful, with a thousand more meanings behind it. She was too beautiful inside and out that everybody in our school wants to be just like her. Everyone looks up to her, especially me. But I guess, even God favors her so much, He wants to save her from the cruel and catastrophic world we are all still living in. Thirteen years ago, she was diagnosed with a grade 4 brain cancer, and 3 years later, she was fetched by God’s angels. 

Her death made an impact to me—also a huge one, but it was also piercing, breaking, and shattering. I was only 9 back then. I can still remember the pain of sleeping in a double-sized bed alone, watching romantic-comedy movies by myself, going to prom twice without the help of a sister, doing unsupervised assignments, getting bullied by my two older brothers, and all the things that we promised and were supposed to do together. Her death was too painful that I felt losing myself.

My mother has always taught me to be graceful and religious while my father has always reminded me to be smart because that’s exactly how she was, my sister. From her death, until now, and up until I grow older, I promised myself to live up to what she left. I can say that, what I am now is because of what she was before, and I think that is something, this is how I carry the huge, but also piercing, breaking, and shattering impact she made on me.

There are many happy moments in my life even if it’s not noticeable because I am usually quiet about my experiences and I don’t really share what I feel to others. But if I would recall, one of them would have to be when I was 8 years old; it was when we had an extended family vacation. I was with my cousins back then who are now in Canada. For three straight days, I remember us waking up early every day and the first thing that we would do is head straight to the swimming pool which was in the 5^th floor of the hotel we were staying at. In our swim suit and flip flops, we rode the elevator all excited and oblivious about what others think about us. We would stay in the pool until our fingers and toes get wrinkly. As a result, whenever we would have a “throwback” and see our dark as chocolate complexion, we just tease each other and laugh at the way we looked. 

Another happy moment in my life was when I attended junior prom in high school. It still feels surreal until now. The song “Today was a fairy tale” by Taylor Swift was playing in the school grounds, the stage was covered in pink curtains, the tables had fancy decorations and ornaments, and the good friends I was with completed the perfect scenario. Many things happened that night and no, it’s not the naughty, wild type. It’s actually the first time I talked to people I haven’t been acquainted with before. And my friends, stunning in their beautiful gowns, asked me to dance. We were in a circle in the middle of the dance floor and just enjoyed the music and each other’s company. We laughed, hugged, danced, talked and some even cried.

There are many small things that could somehow make you happy every day like being with your family and friends, talking to someone you like, taking your pet for a walk, etc. And even though sometimes, you may feel down, just remember that everything will be fine in the end. Lastly, there’s this song that I really enjoy listening to and the lyrics go like this: “There’s a rainbow always after the rain”.

Edited by Michelle Marasigan

It wasn’t until I was older and more aware of the issue of my weight that I started to accept who I am and what my weight is. I started surrounding myself with friends who didn’t make my appearance into a big deal. I also had this realization that no matter what society perceives me, it will never be satisfied with what it sees so might as well not care about what they think and just love myself the way I am. I also found out that there are certain advantages to being skinny, one of which is being able to fit into an already full FX with it still being roomy for people other than myself. Another advantage is being part of the feeding program which is hello, free food; I can’t say no to that and lastly, if a zombie outbreak were to occur I would probably survive longer. 


Carido, Hannah Lesly S. 
3ELS2

She is the type of person that is a perfect fit for “actions speak louder than words”, well, for me. She’s my idol, I like how hard working she is even though we have really strict parents that sometimes she cannot handle. She’s brave, knowing that a lot of people have already tried bringing her down, and sometimes all the pressure from my parents is often on her because she’s the eldest. She still asks me if I’m okay even though I really am. Her ways of teaching me how to be strong is different, and I can’t explain it. I remember when we didn’t talk for like a month or two, I didn’t know what to do, I was lost, and it’s kind of a different “lost” when that happened. But I’m glad that we are finally talking, knowing that she will be far away from me. And right now, she really is not with me anymore, she is on the other side of the world. At first, I was worried and scared because I don’t know what I would do in my last year and a half stay here, in the Philippines, because I know there are still many things that could happen, and of course, I need and want her to be here when things happen. I stopped myself from crying at the airport because my mom doesn’t want any of us crying when someone leaves, because according to her, it’s not a good sign. We want my sister to be successful in her new journey, and so I gave her my time during the day of her departure although I have a lot of things to do, and I don’t regret giving her most of my time. I just kept in mind that I’m still going to see her in our graduation, and here I am, working hard, being brave, being me, and patiently waiting for that day to happen. I’m glad that even though she has things to do on the other side of this world, she still gives me her time. She still finds a way for us to communicate, online. At first, I didn’t feel comfortable not seeing her around at home, but then I got used to it because we talk on viber, I can feel that she is with me. And even though my brother didn’t survive, she has been both my brother and a sister to me, my best friend, my partner in crime, my buddy, and the like, and guess what? The hug that we gave each at the airport, was our first one.

       Never in my life did I rank happy moments. For me, in every single day that I get to live, there is something to be blissful about – may it be a professor’s joke, a crush passing by and saying “hello,” or friends I can hang out with after class. Now, since I am urged to think about a genuine, happiest moment, all I can think of was probably the day that I graduated in high school from St. Paul College of Makati. To be honest, the idea of finally graduating was not the one that put my heart at glee. It actually made me cry for I have to leave behind some people who had been very close to my heart, and the clubs, like the school’s publication, which I had been a part of. What made me immensely happy was the fact that my ‘separated parents’, for that single day, managed to set aside their differences, and joined me in the graduation ceremony.

       It was two days before my seventeenth birthday when I marched to the stage of the gymnasium wearing a light-yellow ‘toga’ with my mother by my side to receive and put on my medals. It was on that same day when my father sat on the plain white plastic chair, several meters away from where we stood, taking photos of my mother and I with huge smiles on our faces. Many people who had an idea of my parent’s separation might say that they were just undeniably good at pretending that their relationship was normal, but who cares? I was happy and no one can turn that smile into a frown. The six medals I received were just small fragments of the overflowing happiness. Besides, things like that only have ‘notional’ values. It was during the actual event when I realized that the presence of the people I love mattered the most – the best award I ever received. I admit, it was painful to see things fall apart which is why seeing things somehow fall back together, even for just a short while, gives me a surreal feeling of hope. A hope that cannot be undermined for it is every child’s dream to have a complete family.

       They said happiness is a choice, but I would like to think of it not just a personal choice but of a collective choice. My parents knew (based on experience and societal perspective) that a graduation ceremony is among the highlights of a person’s life, and is often celebrated collectively. Our choice to celebrate the completion of my high school education as one family brought me immense and unfathomable happiness. I do hope that in return, I was able to make them experience the same degree of happiness that I have felt even if their primary goal for being with me was to celebrate my hardwork and dedication to my studies and organizations. Now that I am in third year college, I can already say that I am looking forward to my next graduation, and by 2018, I hope, I get to experience and write another genuine happy moment. 

My family is composed of my mother and father, and four daughters. I am the eldest and my parents never imposed strictly authoritative. I was raised to make my own decisions, to think for myself and to handle any situation that came in my way. I was raised to lead my sisters.

My family has shaped my life, turned me into someone independent and adaptable who can assess, accept, and adjust well to conditions I encounter. They taught me to dive headfirst into difficult situations, even though anxiety would pull me back. They raised me liberally, so that I learn to take responsibility for my actions and the consequences they bring. They were always there to support me, in the end, but they wanted me to learn on my own first.

I was never good at making friends, and only retained the most important ones from high school. In college, I joined an organization and now I have too many friends to count. They stayed beside me through hard decisions I  have had to make, even if the hard decision was to choose myself above them. 

The friends I made in high school that are still in my life taught me how to be loyal and how to keep in touch with the people I value, and how to give importance to things that really matter. They were with me for milestones I overcame and provided companionship in difficult times; I now know how to be a companion to others. The friends I made in college taught me to take life into my own hands, to be comfortable in my skin and to be selfish once in a while—I used to let people walk over me but they taught me that putting myself first is not always a bad thing. They taught me that I will meet difficult people in my life, but it is still possible to love them. They made me more understanding and more considerate. All these people have made a huge impact in my life.

Rhafaela Bacal 3ELS2

        Aside from being called Biancs by her friends, she was at times called Binky an endearing and adorable nickname she acquired from her aunt. If you ask her if she would ever want her name to be changed, she would want to be called Bianca Isabella. She would only add the suffix “la” because she felt that it was pleasing to the ear. 

        If the fair Bianca ever had her own child, she would name her daughter Carrenina Isabella. She has a certain attachment to the name Karenina, but she wanted to change its spelling so that others would not totally associate the name from Leo Tolstoy’s novel, “Anna Karenina”. The Isabella would be derived from the name she wanted for her own.

        For a son’s name she would choose Isaac Leon Christopher. The name Isaac sprung from Isaac Hempstead, an actor from the HBO television series franchise, “A Game of Thrones”. Even the name Christopher was from the full name of the lead actor, Kit Harrington, who played Jon Snow from the television series. She was inspired from the famous Hollywood actor, Leonardo DiCaprio, which is why she wanted to name her son from the clipped word of his first name. 

        Bianca owns two Chow Chows, a Chinese dog breed that is also referred to as “the puffy-lion dog” because of its thick mane and golden color. She owns one male which her neighbor named Koppie. The female one she named Pixie. This is because she was very fond of fairies when they bought the dog. She also once owned a Shih Tzu named Bambam but the cute little creature unfortunately passed away in 2009.

Edited by Euri Camus:

                In my life, there have been a lot of people who have influenced me in ways both good and bad. One of the biggest influencers is my English Professor in college, Ma’am Elizabeth Kapulong. She is an amazing and remarkable teacher. I admire the way she cares for her students and the way she delivers her classes is truly great. Back when I was still in AMV, Ma’am Beth was my professor in 2 English classes and our RESTW class so she knows me very well; she even admires the way I talk and sometimes make fun of it. There was never a day that I wasn’t called to recite just because she wanted to hear me talk.  

During that time, I’m enjoying all my English classes and struggling to pass my Accounting subjects which made me think a lot about my future and I even started to question why I’m even in AMV. It was hard but I pushed through, studying for long hours and having sleepless nights just to try and pass my Accounting quizzes and exams. Then one bad moment came, I was already about to be a 4^th year graduating student when I failed a few subjects and had to leave AMV. I applied in the Faculty of Arts and Letters (in UST) with the major Communication Arts but I wasn’t let in because the program was full and then I thought of what Ma’am Beth said – “I recommend you to the Faculty of Arts and Letters, try for ELS!” and so I did.

Ma’am Beth had a big influence on where I am today. She inspired me to do and pursue what you want in life. The moment I told her that I’m already in AB ELS, she told me that I’m right where I belong and that she wants to give me a hug. My heart was filled with joy and I truly feel happy with where I am. Up until now, Ma’am Beth and I keep in touch and I still look up to her and I know that one day, I’d like to thank her because she inspired me in ways bigger than she thinks. Thank you, Ma’am Beth. 


-EURI CAMUS
3ELS2

We had a classmate who we can’t help but bad-mouth and make the subject of our insulting jokes: with her bulging eyes and an annoyingly high pitched voice, she was always the center of our destruction. So one day, we decided to keep her Math book, my fellow bullies said that I should put it under my chair, below my stack of books. So I did, thinking that it won’t affect me because by the end of the class I would return it to her.

But, I actually forgot to give it back. 

So the dismissal came, and I was playing tag with my friends when I accidentally slipped and bumped my mouth in the staircase. It bled so I rushed to the clinic. From afar, I saw the girl, whom we loved to bully, together with her grandmother talking to my adviser. Having seen her then, I completely forgot her book being with me so I just shook it off and went straight to the clinic. 

When I arrived the following day, with a facial mask covering my protruding mouth, my adviser started reprimanding me and asking me to return the book. But I kept on denying it, because I clearly don’t remember it being with me. 

She accompanied me to my locker, and to my surprise—and horror—I found the Math book!

Up to this day I can still clearly remember how shiver went down my spine when I discovered her book with me. How the word “dumbfounded” flashed in my forehead when my fellow bullies told our adviser that they were not accessories to the crime. How my mom said that she won’t come to the principal, or else for sure I’ll be kicked out the school with all the words she is going to say. How my sister narrated during the family dinner how the principal, who was a nun, described me as “She has an angelic face, but her actions…” 

And yes, that was my first and last year in that school.

Hillary Atondo
3ELS2

Proofread/Edited: Marie Carmella Ingalla

 

Through the course of my life, I have accumulated a lot of happy moments. There are some that I have shared with my friends, but most of them, I have shared with my family. Honestly, I had trouble choosing the happiest moment of my life, as I have so many memories that I treasure. Fortunately, I have thought of the most recent moment where I became genuinely happy.

It was January of this year, before the new semester began. My team from an organization which I am a part of went for an out-of-town getaway. It was supposed to be just in Cavite, we opted to have a swim-on-the-pool after the team meeting kind of itinerary. However, this did not push through because we started late and had a lot of agenda to talk about. By the time we finished, it was already two in the morning and it was too cold to jump into the water.

Since we didn’t feel sleepy at all, we talked about how it would be nice to see the sunrise by the beach. I don’t know what happened next but we found ourselves riding in a bus that is bound for Nasugbu, Batangas. We were dropped along the road and we walked our way to the beach, just in time for the sunrise. We sat there as our feet sank on the soft sand. We welcomed the breeze of the ocean and the sound of the waves as the ray of the sun started to show up. We took a dip, got ourselves covered in sand and took a dip again. The experience was just so magical that I consider it the best morning of my 2017.

After our spontaneous trip to Batangas, we decided to eat lunch in Tagaytay. We found a decent restaurant that offers seats exposing a 180-degree view of the Taal Lake. We ate their house specialty, Bulalo while we felt the wind in our faces. It was the perfect way to warm our insides from the cold weather. The restaurant also had some sort of a ‘harana squad’ that serenades the guests with love songs, making the mood tug our hearts.

I never thought I would have so much fun with people I barely know. Before, we would just meet for organizational tasks, but spending time with them this way made me appreciate them more. It was like I’ve seen them unguarded, just free and being themselves. They are strangers, turned friends, turned family.

By the time I reached my apartment in Manila, I was so tired. Not to mention, I haven’t had a decent sleep yet. Physically, my body was drained from all the commuting that we’ve done, but emotionally, I was happy. I have always been dying to have a spontaneous trip with very spontaneous people. And it happened! Not only that, I got to cross “Visit the beach” from my 2017 bucket list!

-Michelle Marasigan

3ELS2

 

Being shy is something that I need to overcome especially right now that I’m in college because being a college student is a big step from high school. In high school, you have friends who are closer to you because you’ve been with them longer, so you know in yourself that you can always count on them easier. Unlike in college, you have to make new friends and knowing that I’m shy, it would be a hard thing to do. But, I’ve learned that as time passes, you learn to adapt and blend with new social groups because if you stick only with your previous friends, you will definitely not be comfortable with anyone else who you don’t know and that is just pathetic. 

I’m not saying to leave your old friends, but to expand your circle of friends because, at this young age, you will meet a lot of new people and being nervous around them is not always acceptable. Things could go really awkward and that is also not good. 

To end this, I’m not fully changing myself from being shy because that is who I am and I’m proud of it. I just need to learn when is the right time to be.

The reason that I picked this specific moment is because being in the same school since kindergarten up to 4th year high school is a huge milestone for me. One thing that I liked about this school, which is Montessori De Sagrada Familia, is that it was established in 1997 which is the same year as my birth year. 

Everyone else is saying that school is your second home which is true because that place is where you will start building and shaping yourself for your future. It is also the place where you will find your true personality. For me, I’m saying that MDSF IS my second home. I mean, I really felt like it was because going there since my first day as a student and leaving after 16 long years wearing a uniform with the same logo under a toga really made me very emotionally happy. As I am writing this, I’m starting to reminisce my memories in that school and knowing that some of my closest friends are still around is enough to make me very thankful because it gave me my second family. I’m also very grateful for all the life lessons that school taught me. 

On graduation day, as my name was called to go up in the stage, the moment that I received my diploma and of course, my loyalty award really made me happy because I really felt like they’re saying that, “Here you go, you earned it.” It was like the last page of the last chapter of a really big book that I’m reading and I finally finished it. 

                This happiest moment of my life is every time I got to know more about myself. These are the moments when I seem to realize the things that I love doing, the people that I love to be with, or the career that I will take. I love when these instances happen because I always feel like I know very little of my personality, and this ignorance has affected me in a bad way. It has caused me some things like losing my confidence, or finding life boring. Therefore, I am very thankful whenever I learn something about me.

                Finding out my true self is always a wonderful experience, but how do I get this moments of enlightenment occur to me? At first, I did not really know. However, I think that I am now figuring it out a bit. I observed that they happen whenever I try a lot of different things out, and be with a lot of different people. It is kind of a trial and error process for me, and I seem to start loving it now. I love how I am discovering myself slowly and happily.

                This happiest moment of my life is every time I got to know more about myself. These are the moments when I seem to realize the things that I love doing, the people that I love to be with, or the career that I will take. I love when these instances happen because I always feel like I know very little of my personality, and this ignorance has affected me in a bad way. It has caused me some things like losing my confidence, or finding life boring. Therefore, I am very thankful whenever I learn something about me.

                Finding out my true self is always a wonderful experience, but how do I get this moments of enlightenment occur to me? At first, I did not really know. However, I think that I am now figuring it out a bit. I observed that they happen whenever I try a lot of different things out, and be with a lot of different people. It is kind of a trial and error process for me, and I seem to start loving it now. I love how I am discovering myself slowly and happily. 

    The past two years of my life were a struggle: two years of tears and pains. Nonetheless, the R101 week of the university-wide organizations in UST paved the way in changing the course of my life.At first, my purpose in entering UST Campus Feast was just to have a break from the struggles that I have in life. I want to keep myself busy during that time so as not to become sullen on my own once again. Besides, the word ‘love’ and ‘healing’ were just abstract thoughts for me during those times; however, God is great because He allowed the righteous people to enter in my life so as to show me that love and healing are real.

                Among the members of the UST Campus Feast, Emmarie Joy Gerones is the one who made the big impact on my life. They call her ‘Emms’ for short, but I call her ‘Achi Emms’ as a form of endearment while she calls me “Mei-Mei” back. It was me who thought of these endearments. “Achi” is a Chinese word which denotes the position of an elder sister or “Ate” in Filipino counterpart. On the other hand, “Mei-mei’ is a Chinese word for ‘little sister’. Achi Emms and I were just at the same age, but I call her ‘Achi’ because she is more spiritually mature than me. Achi Emms brought back the Light (God) into my life. She was the one who made me feel so loved. She was the one who reminded me that God will never be angry at me because I am His precious daughter. She was the one who made me realize that I am worthy to be like Jesus. Above all, she was the one who saved me several times from the suicide attempts that I had.  Without Achi Emms, I won’t be reminded of how precious life is despite the storms coming in. 

                Achi Emms is a Thomasian student from the College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD). In the Campus Feast, she is one of the Executive Board and an active youth servant in all of the Ministries. Yes, this may sound as an overstatement but she’s really part of all the Ministries: Warmth, Documentations, Music, Liturgy and Intercessory, Dance etc. One of the things that made an impact on me is the fact that she’s also a broken person yet she still manages to be a vessel of healing from God. What makes her special for me is that I could  feel Jesus speaking to me through her. I remember that  I was told by the other members from the UST Campus Feast that Achi Emms was one of the few people who got to experience being filled with the Holy Spirit during one of the worship nights at The Feast. According to Achi Emms, from that day on her mission became clear to her; that is, to be a reminder of God’s love and healing. 

                If she’s able to read this, then I would like to say ‘THANK YOU’. Thank you,  Achi Emms because you brought back my life’s purpose. You may not be my biological sister, but I am more than blessed because you have embraced me as your own sister. Thank you for always being there. Thank you for not getting tired of hearing my sad stories. Thank you for influencing me to be a vessel of God’s love and healing for others who are in pain right now even though I am also a broken person. Lastly, thank you, Abba for allowing me and Achi Emms to establish a relationship with each other so we could serve You more!

Fights are expected since we are all girls. Unfortunately, Princess and I do fight a lot. We fight a lot during our younger years, and somehow mellowed out in adolescence. I can still remember how a simple playhouse could turn into world war 3 in just a span of minutes - that is how rowdy we can get. Nevertheless, I could not make myself hate her because that is what a good big sister should be - taking the role of the loving eldest.

I never expected anything from her except the usual unpleasant words that we often threw with each other. For this reason, when she handed me a box of munchkins on my 17th birthday, I was stunned.

Her tight hug and birthday greeting opened the floodgates. I was speechless to the point that I failed to give my thanks. I really love munchkins, and what I appreciated the most was the thought that after all those times we hit each other with brooms and sticks, she still loved me as her dear sister. I may not say this to her personally for it might get to her head - it was the happiest day of my life because of her. It made me realize how cute my younger siblings can get, and fights are just part of growing up. Moreover, it made me think that it is fun having her as my younger sibling. It was only a box of munchkins, but it meant the world to me.

Growing up with them gave a lot of pressure on me. Majority of us graduated from the same school, and whenever our teachers find out that we’re related, they always tend to compare us. Way back in high school, I’m just an average student. To be honest, I’m not the type of student who study hard (I don’t even know how to study that time) I’m not bragging anything, but seriously, I’m just an ordinary student who walks around the corridor and doesn’t have any plans for her future. 

I’m used to be compared with my cousins and my siblings. I think they saw me differently from them. They are the students who graduated with honors and awards; they are the students who go to the library from time to time. And, me? I will always be the student who is called by the guidance office; I’m the student who doesn’t care about awards and honors. I guess I’m different from them. 

Maybe I am ‘just’ me who is different from all of them. But one thing that I am proud of is that, I enjoyed my school life.

by Mary Jolina J. Francisco