It was two days before Christmas 2017 when our family went on a three-day vacation in Sariaya, Quezon. It took us about 5 hours to get there from San Pedro, Laguna. We were 9 on the trip including my grandmother, my aunt and her husband, my two cousins, my nephew, my mom, my sister, and me.

We stayed in a cabin at a beautiful beach resort. It is a very peaceful place and the only thing you could hear is the sound of the ocean waves kissing the shore. We brought plenty of food that’s enough to feed an army, but we weren’t able to bring our own rice cooker and grill, so we rented from the resort. It seemed like we own the entire resort because we were the only family who checked in for three days.

I enjoyed playing by the ocean with my nephew. We drew faces on the sand, dug shells, buried half of our bodies, and built a sandman. We even caught baby crabs wandering along the shore.

My cousins and I also enjoyed watching the beautiful sight while singing. My cousin, Gino, played the ukulele while the others sang in chorus.

Waiting for the sunset is one of my most favorite part of that trip, because the yellow-orange sky made me feel relaxed and satisfied.

It was two days before Christmas 2017 when our family went on a three-day vacation in Sariaya, Quezon. It took us about 5 hours to get there from San Pedro, Laguna. We were 9 on the trip including my grandmother, my aunt and her husband, my two cousins, my nephew, my mom, my sister, and me.

We stayed in a cabin at a beautiful beach resort. It is a very peaceful place and the only thing you could hear is the sound of the ocean waves kissing the shore. We brought plenty of food that’s enough to feed an army, but we weren’t able to bring our own rice cooker and grill, so we from the resort. It seemed like we own the entire resort because we were the only family who checked in for three days.

I enjoyed playing by the ocean with my nephew. We drew faces on the sand, dug shells, buried half of our bodies, and built a sandman. We even caught baby crabs wandering along the shore.

My cousins and I also enjoyed watching the beautiful sight while singing. My cousin, Gino, played the ukulele while the others sang in chorus.

Waiting for the sunset is one of my most favorite part of that trip, because the yellow-orange sky made me feel relaxed and satisfied.

Few days ago, we were tasked to held an activity about sharing our experiences as the years of our existence went by, experiences that made us weak and at the same time gave us strength. Every member shared their own stories, but only one stood out.

We listened carefully, taking in her heartbreaking but brave experience.

“My father suffered from a heart disease and high blood since birth, he was a seaman working as a ‘chief cook’ for years, before I was even born. Year 2014, my father was diagnosed with a kidney problem because the only edibles you can eat inside the ship are salty foods. Because of my father’s kidney problem, we have to bring him in the Amante Hospital for dialysis every week.

One night my father had a seizure so we brought him in the Amante Hospital immediately after that he became unconscious but we brought him in the Philippine General Hospital. He stayed there for one month, but he just stayed in the emergency room because there are so many patients who also needed treatment. After he was confined in the Philippine General Hospital and after we went home my father continued doing his dialysis yet I also got confined in the Amante Hospital because of stress and my family cannot look after me since my father was sick. That’s where we found out I have scoliosis, I stayed in the hospital for one week but it did not stop me from doing my school works.

After being confined for one week in the Amante Hospital, I was free to go. When I went home I found out my father got insane because of the side effects of his dialysis. After one week, my father had a seizure once again so we brought him in the Philippine General Hospital and he was in coma for two days. While my father was comatosed the doctor said his brain is being sucked out by his spinal cord so there was nothing we can do. My father’s figure was not a pretty sight, his body was already bloated because there are so many needles stuck inside his body.

Second day of my father being comatosed, I went to the church with my grandmother to pray for my father’s health. When I saw my mother entering the church and looking for us I was so surprised because she do not like going inside the church, my mother decided to pick me up and go to the Philippine General Hospital together. When we arrived my mother suggested to ask my father to give at least a sign if he still wanted to live because he was in his 50/50 state already but I did not agree and left the emergency room, I cannot see my father lying on that bed unconscious and look awful. I did not want people to see me break down inside the hospital.

Monday, I decided to go to school because I do not want to abandon my studies. My family said that my father was already stable after hearing my sister singing some Mama Mary songs and after hearing my voice. After doing my morning rituals I head downstairs just to see my family sitting in the living room with sad expressions and puffy red eyes due to crying. I got confused and nervous all of a sudden so I asked them.

“What are you guys doing here? Who’s staying with Papa in the hospital?”

Mother who was standing in the living room stare at me with a painful expression, “Your father is dead.”

October 6, 2014 and it was 12 in the morning, my father died. I felt like my system shut down and my mind went blank. I keep on saying to myself that ‘No, this is not true … that is not true!’

I felt devastated and hopeless because I never expected that one of my family members will die early. I managed to overcome my painful experience by claiming to myself that I will be okay soon and by distracting myself to do things that will calm me up.

I realized that life is really too short so while you still have time, tell your loved ones how much you love them. I think the first struggle I have experienced was dealing with the pain, second was the struggle with my studies because everytime I remember my father, I cannot help but to bawl and fail to concentrate. Because of these experiences, I felt lost and I tend to distance myself to others. I regret not being so polite to him while he was still alive, if I will have the chance to turn back time, I will tell my father that I am sorry for being such a stubborn child and I really love him so much. I am thankful my family gave me hope to carry on. Without them, I will be weaker and weaker. His last message or ‘habilin’ to me before he lost his breath was to become a beauty queen like Megan Young. He told me that even if he’s not with me anymore, he will still see me up there and be proud of me.”

There are two women on a cafe shop in the middle of a sunless sky and a chilly twenty-four hours of daytime, but it seems like they did not mind the weather at all as they enjoy a romantic valentines with the presence of each other. Each wearing a red colored top and a hint of love in their eyes as they smile and affection to each other.

Jana offered a huddle of red carnations as a sign of her deep love and affection for Jane, and two red heart balloons that signifies how fragile their love and happiness can be but still they fight for what they think is right.

But just like any other romantic tales their story has a limit too, they both need to part ways once again. Jane lifts her left hand and took a glance at her a178wga-1adf Casio watch when she heard the alarm, the stainless steel of gold toned case and bracelet lit as the light above them reflect on it.

The fact that she’s wearing a Casio watch gave a fashionable aura around her and complimenting the clothes she’s wearing, since it’s one of the popular and trending watch around the globe. Also a Casio watch is not only fashionable but also has its best features.

a178wga-1adf Casio watch is water resistant making it possible for you to enjoy and have fun on a beach while wearing it. It also has a built in calendar, stopwatch, illuminator, battery with one lithium percentage, and switchable between 12 hours and 24 hours formats.

Since time is important, a178wga-1adf Casio watch will make sure you are keeping track the time, date, day, and year. Although the price is a little high with the amount of 5,149.00 pesos the durability and the benefits of a178wga-1adf Casio watch is highly guaranteed!

Love is love and Casio will make sure that you will have “A Special Time” on your special day this Valentine’s Day!

September 7, 2018

It is my best friend’s 18th birthday tomorrow and we decided to give her a surprise debut party today. We have planned this for a week. We even invited her schoolmates to join us. Despite the short preparation time, we still managed to prepare and buy decorations and food. We were also able to prepare sound system and lights for the celebration.

My best friend thought that we will just have a simple ‘movie marathon’ at April’s house, but little did she know that she would be going to her own party! At first, we thought she wouldn’t be able to come, because she had other things to do, but she arrived shortly before 8PM.

While she paid the tricycle driver, I signaled my friends to get into their positions with balloons in hand and get ready for the surprise. I turned off the lights and went outside to usher her in. When she got in, the lights turned on and everybody greeted her, “Happy birthday!”

She cried a river.

She was so overwhelmed with everything and she did not expect to debut with her friends.

She was escorted by her close friend, Kobe, to her chair and the program started. We were all satisfied and happy with the result, because we saw in her eyes how happy she was.

Bridge to Terabithia is a tragic story of two best friends, Jesse and Leslie, both young students. The story revolved mostly around their friendship and their ‘secret hideout’ where they see creatures from their imaginations.

After watching the movie, I realized that I almost had the same fate as Jesse who lost her best friend. I was separated from my best friend when I entered high school and seems like I am not satisfied with how I cherished our moments together. Another realization I had is about how I regret not obeying and spending time with my father when he was still with us.

Going back to the story, I was also able to observe how Jesse transformed himself from a meek boy to an adventurous person. I find it relatable, because when I was younger, I didn’t like exposing myself to others, but when I learned how to express myself through singing, I find it easier to make friends and talk to others. I also became more optimistic after going through lots of problems when I was 14.

I believe that this movie will forever remain in my heart because I have never watched a movie I could totally relate to.

“Ma, Sinong bantay ni papa sa Ospital? Bakit nandito kayong lahat?”

I asked one Monday morning on October. I was wearing my School uniform combing my hair, getting ready for school after my 1 week of hospitalization because of pneumonia.

Mom didn’t speak a word making me conclude that something was wrong. She then sat on the couch with my uncle and his wife. They had red eyes and tired bodies. I repeated the question. Finally my aunt answered; “Your dad passed away last night.” The world suddenly stopped. I came back upstairs, went to my room and stared blankly on the wall. I couldn’t feel my whole body. I tried to convince myself that I was only dreaming. Later on I could feel my tears rolling down my cheeks and as the beads of it blurred my vision, memories came flashing on my mind.

One time, my father told me that when I was 3, I was already known as an intelligent and talented child. 2004 when my family discovered that I have a talent in singing and dancing. It was also the year when I appeared first time on T.V. when I performed a song number entitled “Tomorrow”.Sometimes I got bullied because of my two large teeth in front of my mouth but instead of being ashamed, I became proud of it. Another event happened that year was I attended school for the first time. Though I was not really an official student at that school because I was just on trial, at the end of the School Year my mom was advised by the principal to let me move on to kinder level because of my good performance.

Year 2007, my mom and dad decided to transfer me on Mater Ecclesiae School ( a catholic school) where I met new friends and teachers. I became the top of the class and also that was the year I had my first recital onstage at Pacita Astrodome, San Pedro, Laguna. I remembered singing If I ain’t got you by Alicia Keys and while singing, I remember I could barely see the audiences or hear my own voice however I still sang with confidence. Year 2010 was my year on grade four. I had won the Declamation contest entitled The Little match girl. I never thought that I could deliver a declamation piece onstage properly until that moment. That day I also discovered my talent in acting because I was able to produce tears on the climax part of the piece.

Two years later, another declamation contest was held on our school and again I became the champion. During that year, I also discovered that I have skills in writing songs, scripts, poems, and filipino short stories. On graduation day, I was awarded as the performer of the year, Music Ministry member of the year, and the most articulate student of the year.

2014, I took the chance of auditioning in The Voice Kids Season 2 (a Philippine reality singing television competition on ABS-CBN*) I remember waking up at 5 in the morning then traveling up to Starmall, Alabang and standing up for hours in a long line waiting for my turn to sing. Unfortunately after singing, the judge noticed that something was wrong on my application form. I was over the age requirement for the competition which means I can’t continue anymore to the next level. I became sad but I accepted the thought that TVK 2 isn’t for me. After all, my dad was so proud of me when he learned that I attempted to try out.

***

There was a loud knock and the flashback stopped. I quickly dried my tears and opened up the door. It was my mom. She comforted me and asked me if I could still go to school that day. I said yes because I wanted to excuse myself personally to my teachers that I will be absent for a week for I won’t be able to concentrate in school because of what happened to my father.

After my dad’s burial I came back to school. It was hard for me but I still tried to fulfill my promise to him that I will study well and achieve great awards in school. My hard work payed off after knowing that I became one of the students who got in the top 10 for NCAE exam and at the end of the School Year, I became top 6 overall on grade 9 recognition day.

During my 10th grade, I became the representative of the school for being a Junior City Official. Fortunately, I won the position Junior City Urban Development and Housing Officer. It was an amazing week-long experience where in I met new friends. We had traveled to different places on our Laguna tour and San Pedro tour. The City Mayor also treated us tickets to Enchanted Kingdom¨ before we end our term as Junior City Officials. At the end of the School Year, I was the first honorable mention and was awarded as best in reading and the most responsible student in our Moving up ceremony. I dedicated everything to my family especially to my dad.

Year 2017 when I transferred to my current school, University of Perpetual Help System Laguna. I took the HUMSS strand in Senior High School. Again, I had a new learning environment and new people to share the School Year with. Everything went great. Thesis making was challenging but it was one of the memorable experience I ever had. There I experienced sleepless nights and going into different places to conduct an interview.

Everything was totally worth it.

***

“This is what we dreamed about, but the only question with me now is do I make you proud?”

The achievers sing in success.

I can see my mother from the stage. She is wiping off the happy tears from her cheeks. I could say she’s satisfied of what I have achieved today and is confident with what’s waiting for me in the future. I know Dad could see me too and is also proud of me. Wearing this bronze medal made me proud of myself too because I never expected that I can reach this after all the struggles I’ve been through.

*A Television network

¨An Amusement park

First Recital on stage at Pacita Astrodome (2007)

With Honors at UPHSL Jonelta (2018)